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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/16/2020 Blackhawks cont'd 1188232 Can Coyotes find consistency in their power play before 1188264 Don’t be that guy: Blackhawks apply peer pressure to play in games? keep safe during Phase 3 1188233 Coyotes preparing for aggressive Nashville offense early 1188265 A flat salary cap could affect next deals for Dylan Strome, on in training camp Dominik Kubalik 1188234 Arizona Coyotes need ‘fast starters’ in NHL’s sudden return to play 1188266 Finnish forward Joonas Donskoi chose Avalanche in free agency last summer. He’s now having a career year. 1188235 Bruins’ named a finalist for coach of the 1188267 Avalanche’s Cale Makar named finalist for NHL rookie- year of-the-year award 1188236 David Pastrnak is back with the Bruins, and he’s starting 1188268 Anything is possible at this when it comes to the Avs to knock the rust off and Bowen Byram 1188237 Start times set for Bruins’ first two round-robin games 1188269 Cale Makar says “the college route” prepared him for the 1188238 Bruce Cassidy a finalist for Award NHL and Calder Trophy nomination 1188239 David Pastrnak makes first appearance on ice for Bruins 1188270 Cale Makar named finalist for 1188240 Bruins Notebook: Veterans expected to lead Bruins through ‘unique’ situation 1188241 NHL Awards: Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy named 1188271 Blue Jackets’ a finalist for NHL coach of Jack Adams finalist year 1188242 NHL Awards voters showing no respect to David Pastrnak, 1188272 Coach John Tortorella takes cautious approach in Blue and it's a damn shame Jackets’ return 1188243 David Pastrnak makes his debut at Bruins camp 1188273 Blue Jackets seeking stingy, defensive mindset as they Wednesday prepare for Maple Leafs 1188244 Bruins takeaways: David Pastrnak is finally back, and the club will need him 1188274 Stars interim coach takes to the ice for the first time during training camp 1188245 Calder Trophy finalists: Injury cost Sabres' Victor Olofsson 1188275 ‘It’s an honor’: Stars’ Miro Heiskanen set up for a trip back his chance to the Olympics with Team Finland in 2022 1188246 West Seneca native Sean Malone leaves Amerks, signs 1188276 Can the Stars avoid another disastrous start? A ‘totally with Predators different’ training camp is a good start 1188277 Inside the Dallas Stars’ quarantine workouts at Jamie Flames Benn’s pool house/home gym 1188247 FAVE FLAME EVER: Moving on to Round 2 1188278 The Next Ones: Can Miro Heiskanen be the next Drew 1188248 Flames goalie Rittich anxious to prove himself in playoff Doughty? spotlight 1188279 Goalies get into a groove on Day 2 of Stars camp, but who 1188249 SNAPSHOTS: Flames coach dispels rumour that will be No. 3? training-camp splits are fitness Red Wings 1188280 When NHL snubbed Red Wings' , Mike 1188251 John Forslund will work for NBC during playoffs; Ilitch handed his rookie an envelope Hurricanes have replacement in mind 1188281 15-month-old son of former Red Wing Kyle Quincey 1188252 Empty, silent PNC Arena prepares Canes for unique battling brain cancer playoff atmosphere in 1188282 Red Wings 1940s all-decade team: The Production Line leads the way of unforgettable nicknames 1188253 5 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks camp, including a wide-open competition and Malcolm Subban 1188283 Oilers' Athanasiou getting big shot on top-scorer Draisaitl's smoo wing 1188254 Column: Can you compromise on the Chicago 1188284 Ethan Bear has pivotal role to play in upcoming Oilers- Blackhawks nickname? I went through a similar crisis of Chicago series conscience w 1188255 Blackhawks goalie Malcolm Subban readying for ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ with absent 1188285 COVID-19 interrupted Huberdeau’s career year with 1188256 Blackhawks’ Dominik Kubalik amazed to be Calder Trophy Panthers. Can he do it 4 months later? finalist: ‘I just couldn’t believe it’ 1188286 Here’s why the Florida Panthers actually like the early 1188257 Blackhawks shuffle hockey operations personnel to adjust start times against the Islanders to flat salary cap era 1188287 NHL releases return-to-play schedule; Panthers to play in 1188258 Chicago Blackhawks forward Kubalik named Calder the afternoon Trophy finalist 1188259 How Malcolm Subban is preparing for potential 'opportunity of a lifetime' 1188288 Kirill Kaprizov working on getting to U.S., joining Wild 1188260 Why Blackhawks' Phase 3 training camp has had an extra 1188289 ‘I am looking forward to this’: Kirill Kaprizov ready for his intensity Wild tenure to finally begin 1188261 Report: Defenseman Ian Mitchell officially signs with 1188290 ‘It’s Marcus Foligno, your teammate!’ Wild welcome Kirill Blackhawks Kaprizov in style 1188262 Blackhawks' Dominik Kubalik named 2019-20 Calder Trophy finalist 1188263 Source: Defenseman Ian Mitchell officially signs with Blackhawks 1188291 Stu on Sports: Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to impress at 1188324 Why Timo Meier's Sharks contract extension looks shrewd Canadiens camp in new CBA 1188292 Penguins' strength up the middle poses a matchup 1188325 With the Sharks and everywhere else, Tommy Wingels left problem for Canadiens his mark on hockey 1188293 Unprecedented circumstances create the ideal conditions for Jesperi Kotkaniemi St Louis Blues 1188326 Parayko back on the ice after missing first day of Blues camp 1188294 Will finish have impact on who starts in for Predators? 1188327 As Blues ramp up for playoffs, the first step is 'getting the legs moving' 1188328 Blues get Blackhawks as their exhibition opponent 1188295 Islanders coach , with little time to evaluate, 1188329 Parayko back on ice for second day of Blues camp likely to go with veterans 1188296 Islanders coach Barry Trotz unsure if he'll wear a mask behind the bench during NHL restart 1188330 Lightning’s expects training camp excitement 1188297 MSG Networks has exclusive rights to Isles, Rangers to taper off qualifying-round games 1188331 Lightning reaches 100,000 meals milestone for Feeding 1188298 What we’ve seen through two days at Islanders camp and Tampa Bay what’s to come 1188332 For the Lightning, success means creating playoff intensity in a hurry 1188299 Impressive Rangers rookie Adam Fox left off final Calder Trophy shortlist 1188333 Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe gets first real chance to 1188300 Igor Shesterkin ‘outstanding’ in first bid to keep Rangers’ teach with Toronto starting job 1188334 Leafs prospect Nick Robertson had 55 goals in 46 OHL 1188301 How to watch NY Rangers in the playoffs: MSG will air games with Peterborough this season. qualifying round series 1188335 The Toronto Maple Leafs and one of their biggest TV 1188302 NY Rangers camp takeaways: Adam Fox snubbed for personalities, Paul Hendrick, have parted ways, with Calder; Igor Shesterkin shines Hendr 1188303 Rangers' Igor Shesterkin picks up where he left off when 1188336 The winding tale that brings John Tortorella and Sheldon season was halted Keefe back together 1188304 LI's Adam Fox not a Calder Trophy finalist, but he says he 1188337 Robertson bugging his Leafs teammates, but it's all good isn't disappointed 1188338 Robertson's adjustment to NHL pace, intensity continues 1188305 MSG Networks has exclusive rights to Isles, Rangers as Leafs get deeper into camp qualifying-round games 1188339 Paul Hendrick signs off from Leafs 1188306 10 things we’re seeing at Rangers camp so far 1188340 Leafs try to keep it real 1188341 Team Matthews vs. Team Andersen: Inside the Leafs’ training camp scrimmages 1188307 Close-knit Flyers getting focused as training camp picks 1188342 Why Nick Robertson is going to force his way into the up Maple Leafs lineup 1188308 Flyers’ named finalist for NHL’s , credits team’s response to Oskar Lindblom Canucks n 1188359 Patrick Johnston: Rathbone has skill, brains and potential 1188309 Flyers coach Alain Vigneault on NHL bubble: ‘We’re the to help Canucks in NHL lucky ones' 1188360 Ed Willes: Days of Canucks' back end being pain in team's 1188310 Flyers' Vigneault takes rightful place among Coach of the butt could be over Year finalists 1188361 Canucks' Brandon Sutter misses Day 3 of return-to-play 1188311 Flyers training camp observations: A 'dangerous card,' practice 's game, more 1188362 Ben Kuzma: Canucks' wizard Hughes handles heat, 1188312 NHL awards: Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault named named Calder Trophy finalist finalist for Jack Adams honor 1188363 awash in Calder calibre with Quinn 1188313 2020 NHL playoffs: Flyers shirts on sale for fans Hughes nomination 1188314 The playoff lineup: Analysis, scenarios and big questions 1188364 Relative newcomer Tyler Toffoli brings playoff experience the Flyers must answer to Canucks 1188315 Kris Letang: A new NHL-NHLPA CBA is ‘what’s the best 1188343 focused on postseason, not free agency for the game’ 1188344 Golden Knights to name before next season 1188316 Penguins’ power play remains a focus in run-up to NHL 1188345 Rookie Peyton Krebs feels welcome at Golden Knights postseason tournament training camp 1188317 Double Team: Bob Errey helped turn around the Penguins 1188346 Captain seeking: Who will Peter DeBoer name Golden and Sharks Knights’ captain? 1188318 Mark Madden: NHL’s return plan has sound foundation, 1188347 Surprise invite: Top prospect Krebs arrives at Golden but things will still get weird Knights’ training camp 1188319 A look at how Toronto ‘hockey bubble’ will be set up for 1188348 VGK’s Robin Lehner On COVID-19 Era: ‘You’ve Got To Penguins Have Something To Look Forward To’ 1188320 'Best coach in the game:' Jim Rutherford surprised Mike Sullivan not a Jack Adams finalist 1188321 Penguins get to work on power play in Day 3 of camp 1188322 The Penguins need the best version of Jared McCann to win the 1188323 As the NHL bubble approaches, don’t forget: Sweden is a cautionary tale 1188349 After being stuck in rut, time off for Capitals could be an advantage 1188350 Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov left out of Calder Trophy finalists 1188351 The biggest ‘what ifs’ in Capitals history: What if Lars Eller never scored the 2OT goal? 1188352 Capitals top prospect Connor McMichael an option to play in postseason, according to Todd Reirden 1188353 How Capitals players grappled with the decision of whether to opt out of the 2020 postseason Websites 1188365 The Athletic / Hot Seat: 10 players who could pay the price if they don’t prove their worth 1188366 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Which fans have lived both the highest highs and lowest lows? 1188367 The Athletic / The Next Ones: Can Miro Heiskanen be the next Drew Doughty? 1188368 The Athletic / Former Sportsnet personality Nick Kypreos follows ‘trends’ back to sports talk 1188369 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs framing camp as competition for playoff roster 1188370 Sportsnet.ca / How Canucks' relationship with Jack Rathbone led to his signature 1188371 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Kotkaniemi surging up depth chart with strong start to camp 1188372 Sportsnet.ca / 'have a lot to prove' in critical playoff run 1188373 Sportsnet.ca / Why the battle-tested Jets could be a sleeper team come playoffs 1188374 TSN.CA / 'A house divided' scrimmage series pits Frederik Andersen against Auston Matthews 1188375 TSN.CA / High-flying Nick Robertson turning heads at Toronto Maple Leafs camp 1188376 TSN.CA / Minor hockey under scrutiny for racism complaint policies 1188354 Maurice has Jets roster all set 1188355 Jury still out on the Winnipeg Jets defence 1188356 Laine scraping off some rust 1188357 Laine's game like lost luggage: 'Still far away' 1188358 Adversity in their pocket, 'strong-headed' Jets eye COVID Cup

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1188232 Arizona Coyotes

Can Coyotes find consistency in their power play before play in games?

Jack Williams

Arizona Republic

Having the one-man or two-man advantage on the ice has not been something of consistent success for the Coyotes in the 2019-20 regular season.

While the Coyotes were able to elevate their numbers by the time the season halted in March, February saw the team sitting in the bottom five for fewest shot attempts and bottom 10 in a handful of other power play stats. At the break, the Coyotes' power play percentage was ranked 14th best in the league at 19.2.

Wednesday's practice was focused in on special teams, running full units for the first time since March. Coach Rick Tocchet said he saw urgency in his players to improve the power play.

"We saw some video on what Nashville is doing and I saw some urgency and some guys talking after," Tocchet said. "I haven't seen that as much in the past and I saw more communication. You have to start somewhere I saw that there was a lot more engagement."

Tocchet said he really saw a spark in the unit from forward Phil Kessel. Kessel, who has been a constant on the first line of the power play unit, had a team leading nine power play goals and 14 power play points with Arizona in the regular season. He had a similar presence last season with the Penguins as he tied in goals with 12 and had a team-leading 36 power play points in 82 games.

"He's a new guy coming into here, even though he's a veteran, and he was very clear cut about what to do on the power play and you could tell it just started getting the ball rolling," Tocchet said. "I'm a big believer in peer pressure with each other, and as coaches we're going to be in there directing, but when players push themselves good things happen."

At the same time as Arizona is looking to improve one facet of its special teams, the Predators are doing the same, except on their kill. At the season pause, Nashville was in the bottom three for penalty-killing percentage at 74.6. Following the firing of in early January, Nashville let in only 14 goals on 72 penalty kills.

"Whenever any team is struggling in any category, the key is to stay with it and relax," Tocchet said. "I've been on teams where frustration comes in and all of the sudden people are on different pages. We can't wait two weeks from now and turn it on. Even though today [Wednesday] was a big day for us, the next time we practice power play, I hope we have the same intensity we had today because it goes a long way."

For those on the unit, they see the postseason as a second chance to turn the power play unit into something special. Forward Derek Stepan said everything resets at the end of the season.

"In a normal season, when game 82 ends and you start game one of the playoffs, everyone's power play and penalty kill is at zero percent and it doesn't really matter what you did throughout the year," Stepan said. "Power play and penalty kill are such a big part of the playoffs and it's really easy for a power play to get hot and stay hot."

Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188233 Arizona Coyotes scored this season and has the ninth best power play in the league, something the Coyotes will be working on in practice on Wednesday.

A large number of exhibition games feature rivalry matchups similar to Coyotes preparing for aggressive Nashville offense early on in training the Arizona-Vegas game, including Montreal-Toronto, Philadelphia- camp Pittsburgh and Florida-Tampa Bay, among others.

When the postseason begins in earnest, the Coyotes will open their Jack Williams series against the Predators on August 2 at 11 a.m. Arizona time. Game 2 will follow on August 4 at 11:30 a.m. and Game 3 is set for the following Arizona Republic day, August 5, at 11:30 a.m. All other dates and times for the series are to be determined.

In normal cases, training camp may feel like the same basic skills being worked over and over again, day in and day out. However, as the Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.16.2020 Coyotes head into a play-in series against one of the top teams in the Western Conference, training camp offers something new everyday.

After wiping off the cobwebs and getting back into the swing of things as a full team on Monday, head coach Rick Tocchet focused in on his team's ability to break the puck out from their own zone to create scoring opportunities. Early on, Tocchet continues to stand by his word that each practice will have a different theme.

"Today (Tuesday), we mapped out that we were going to work on our breakout and transition game," Tocchet said. "We watched video today for about 15 minutes, discussed it and then practiced it. We'll map out each day like that."

There's an emphasis placed on getting an offense flowing in your own zone against any team, but Nashville's aggressive style, which the Coyotes have experienced first-hand, further heightens the importance of the skill. In their last meeting on Dec. 23 in Nashville, the Predators caught fire offensively early – scoring two goals on 33 shots by the midway point of the second period.

"They (Nashville) have a heavy forecheck and that's why breakouts are important," Tocchet said. "It's five guys participating in the breakouts and we stress that (in) the routes to get back quickly. I watched that game, and I didn't think the shot chart was indicative of the game early, but that's Nashville. They come out flying and put pressure on you right away."

Having the Predators' aggressive approach in mind, the Coyotes took the same route in making sure their players were ready for everything they will have thrown at them. Practice saw both forwards and defensemen playing similar roles cycling through the breakout – playing with pressure, playing without pressure and even two-man advantage situations.

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun said the cycle looked good for it being the first time it's been run since March.

"I think there are somethings that we need to work on that will help us against Nashville and I think we were doing that today pretty well," Chychrun said. "It's a huge part of the game, especially for our team. When we're breaking the puck out well, it's usually when we're playing our best."

Chychrun, who is a part of the younger Coyotes core and has not seen playoff ice in the NHL, knows that Nashville brings an aggressive presence to the ice that will heighten even more in the postseason. The Predators are fifth in the NHL for most shots per game, averaging 33 shots over the season.

"Their defense is very aggressive and they take some risks," Chychrun said. "They like to play a really high-risk, high-rewarding style. I think if we stick with our system, we'll have a lot of chances offensively. It's just a matter of execution."

As a team that has been described as "not quiet, but not super loud" by forward , being vocal is what Chychrun said will be key into having an efficient breakout against an aggressive team.

"When we're communicating, we're helping our teammates out and it makes the game a lot easier," Chychrun said. "When we're talking, we're usually playing our best, moving back into the zone quick and supporting the play early. You've got to work for your teammate and be in a good position for your teammate."

The Coyotes will get a taste of a different style of play before facing the Predators, as they will face the Vegas Golden Knights on July 30 at 7 p.m. in an exhibition game. Vegas ranks in the top 10 in overall goals 1188234 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes need ‘fast starters’ in NHL’s sudden return to play

BY MATT LAYMAN

JULY 15, 2020 AT 10:58 AM

The sudden restart of the 2019-20 NHL season means that teams who have slow starters probably won’t get to stick around very long.

Each club will play only one exhibition game — the Coyotes’ is on July 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights — before playing in the postseason tournament that will determine a Stanley Cup champion. That’s it. Just a few weeks of practice and one exhibition game separate a months-long layoff from the biggest games the Coyotes will have played in years.

Arizona better hope it doesn’t need a lot of time to find a groove.

“Well listen, some guys, after the summer and they start the season, you get fast starters,” head coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday. “And then you get the odd guy, some guys that they’re a little bit slower as the season goes and then they progress and they hit their stride as the season goes on. We need all fast starters. We can’t afford, if we have 18 slow starters, we’re in trouble.

“I would like to see us have 23 or 21 guys in the lineup that are fast starters. That’s a great question because if you are a slow starter, you better change your thought process mentally and us coaches have to help you to be able to hit the ground running.”

As Taylor Hall put it to Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf, momentum probably isn’t worth much anymore. Leading goal-scorer Conor Garland and goaltender Darcy Kuemper, for example, are going to have to find their old game and do so immediately. The same is true for teams as a whole.

“I think if you thought you had momentum going into the break, I don’t really think it matters at this point in time,” Hall said. “This is probably a blessing for us. We were playing well, but we couldn’t find a way to win games in a row and gain traction in the standings. So this is really a second chance for us. I think a lot of guys in our room, we have a great attitude about it. I think there’s probably guys around the league that are maybe a little bit indifferent about playing, but we have a group that’s really excited about the chance that we have.”

Through the first month of games in 2019-20, the Coyotes’ power play started off at a respectable 21.1%, good for 15th in the league. The penalty kill, though, took some time to come around, sitting 21st in the league through October at a 79.4% rate. There are plenty of other factors that can play into that apart from it being the beginning of play after an offseason, but it remains true that shorter sample sizes don’t always represent what is supposed to happen in longer trends.

If a line combination or starting goaltender isn’t working out, Tocchet could be forced to make a change quickly. It’s a short leash when the Coyotes are playing in a do-or-die, best-of-five playoff series.

“Yeah, it is a short leash,” Tocchet said. “We talked about this, I talked to some of the players. Yeah, obviously some guys have a little bit longer rope. But once this thing goes, we need to see what your best is right away. I can’t be afraid — or any coach in this situation — can’t be afraid to pull the trigger on something and go with something else quickly, because you can’t wait too long.”

Arizona Sports LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188235 Boston Bruins scorer (23-26—49) and an All-Rookie selection in the AHL. Holding a sizable lead in the Atlantic Division in March, the Bruins planned to promote him and assess whether he could help their playoff run.

Bruins’ Bruce Cassidy named a finalist for coach of the year He had to wait a few months, but the 21-year-old was happy to be included in Phase 3.

By Matt Porter Globe Staff “Little bit of relief. A lot of excitement,” said Studnicka, the youngest player in camp. “I think I spent a good portion of the quarantine in the Updated July 15, 2020, 6:57 p.m. past couple of months trying to get better, trying to get stronger, so I feel prepared for what’s ahead.”

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has been close, but has not lifted the trophy. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.16.2020 This could be the year.

Before making another run at the Stanley Cup, the man known as “Butch” received a high honor of his peers. He was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as top coach, as chosen by the broadcasters. The winner will be chosen during the conference finals.

Wallowing for no time after a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in last year’s Cup Final, the Bruins were one of the strongest and most prepared teams in the league this season. Before the COVID-19 outbreak halted proceedings March 12, Cassidy’s crew had been No. 1 in the NHL standings for five weeks. They finished with 100 points (44-14-12) and won the Presidents’ Trophy, and will play for top playoff seeding in the Eastern Conference in a round-robin series with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington beginning Aug. 2 in Toronto.

The other Jack Adams finalists are Columbus’s John Tortorella, whose Blue Jackets held strong through injuries and the free agency departures of superstar Artemi Panarin and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and first- year Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault.

Cassidy was also a Jack Adams finalist in 2017-18, his first full season with the Bruins after supplanting Claude Julien in February 2017. The Bruins finished 50-20-12 and their 112 points were second to Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference.

Cassidy’s 161-66-34 record with the Bruins gives him the highest winning percentage among active NHL coaches (.682), and ranks him fourth among Bruins coaches in that category, behind two men who helmed the Big, Bad Bruins — (.738 from 1971-73) and Bep Guidolin (.736 from ’73-74) — and Cooney Weiland (.698 from ’40-41).

Krug getting prepared

Cassidy’s power-play expertise is reflected in the team’s success (25.2 percent, second in the NHL) and the numbers Torey Krug has produced. Cassidy said he’s not stressing over the idea Krug could be racking up man-advantage assists for another team next year.

“My guess is every roster, every year, what, 20 to 25 percent of the players are at the end of their deal,” he said.

Krug, who is 29 and among the game’s elite offensive defensemen, said Monday he would discuss contract figures with general manager Don Sweeney before the first puck drops in Toronto. After that, his focus is on ice, all the time. He did acknowledge, for the first time publicly, that he might have to “prepare for free agency.”

Cassidy, who is close with Krug, would only address the situation with him if “I feel there’s stories out there and I sense a little bit of discomfort in the player. I try not to mess around in a player’s business. That’s his decision going forward.

“But a guy like Torey I’ve had for a long time,” said Cassidy, who was Providence’s coach when Krug turned pro in 2012. “I have a lot of conversations with him anyway. Some to do with hockey, some to do with the power play, some to do with life. I suspect I will at some point, because it’s Torey … we’re not going to get too deep involved in it. It’s about being in the moment. You’ve made a decision to be here. Stay in the moment, everything will take care of itself for the most part.”

The Bruins have young restricted free agents-to-be Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk. Cassidy said he would offer similar guidance to players who were feeling “antsy” about the future, but he wouldn’t meddle.

Studnicka relieved, excited

Jack Studnicka, whom the Bruins are grooming as a top-six center, should feel confident. As a first-year pro, he was Providence’s leading 1188236 Boston Bruins In trying to find his way back, Pastrnak is far from alone among his 32 teammates at Warrior. Teammate Ondrej Kase, facing a similar quarantine after traveling from Czechia, appeared for a brief spin after David Pastrnak is back with the Bruins, and he’s starting to knock the practice, along with Trent Frederic. Both are expected to join the group rust off for the first time Thursday.

Participants in the main practice: forwards Pastrnak, Anton Blidh, Paul Carey, Nick Ritchie, Zach Senyshyn and Jack Studnicka; defensemen By Matt Porter Globe Staff Connor Clifton, Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril; and goalies Dan Vladar and Max Lagace. Updated July 15, 2020, 6:52 p.m. Cassidy, speaking before the practice, said the team’s strength and

conditioning staff added a Wednesday maintenance day for most of the Sporting shaggier than usual hair and a playoff-ready beard, Bruins right players. Veterans Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand wing David Pastrnak entered Phase 3 on Wednesday. were among the first Bruins at Warrior once voluntary Phase 2 skates began June 8. Pastrnak, two days late to summer camp because he was quarantining after traveling from Prague, joined a small group of Bruins working out The whole team will have Sunday off. Cassidy did not report any injuries Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena under the direction of skills coach Kim among the group. Brandvold and goalie coach Bob Essensa. It is early enough in the return-to-play camp, Cassidy noted, that players He looked a bit rusty as he cruised through drills early in practice. This can catch up. Pastrnak, who exudes a kind of infectious enthusiasm, can was expected, given the 120-plus days the Bruins had been dormant. help others in that regard. Even in-season, Pastrnak doesn’t always look spectacular in practice. “To see how he practices, he’s always moving full speed and always He missed several passes, shot into goalies’ chests, talked to himself finding ways to be creative and to be better,” said Studnicka, a prospect and smacked his stick on the ice. His legs were there, but his hands had at center. “It was definitely fun to share the ice with him.” yet to arrive.

But the smile came at the end of the session. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.16.2020 After torquing a series of one-timers from the right circle, he called on Brandvold to feed him at the top of the left circle — his customary office on the power play, from where he sent home a bunch of his league-high 48 goals all those months ago. Pastrnak coiled and fired, and some familiar rink sounds rang out: stick hitting ice, puck hitting boards and pipe.

“He looks great,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, who didn’t closely monitor Pastrnak’s overseas training.

“I anticipate he’ll pick up right where he left off, but time will tell on that part. Timing is important this time of year for everybody. Can’t help but think it’s going to be off a little bit, so the team that gets it back the quickest, the individuals that get it back the quickest … especially with his shot.”

That shot has scored one-timer goals at a better rate than anyone in the league over the past three seasons.

During the 2019-20 regular season, Pastrnak scored with more volume and difficulty than most anyone in the league. He cashed in on cross-ice feeds from Brad Marchand and Torey Krug, no-look wristers against the grain, quick snapshots from in tight, and sledgehammer slapshots off the rush (ask and Pekka Rinne). His most dangerous weapon is that one-timer.

According to data tracked by thepointhockey.com and provided to the Globe, Pastrnak finished third in the regular season among forwards in one-timer attempts (147). His Rocket Richard co-winner, Alex Ovechkin, led the league with 203.

But Pastrnak led all players, even the Czar of the Circle, in one-timer goals (20). For the Bruins, it’s a gift that was worth the wait.

The Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final last season without Pastrnak at full speed. He broke his left thumb in February, costing him five weeks, and aggravated it during the second round against Columbus. With an achy top hand controlling his stick, he finished with nine postseason goals and 19 points in 24 games, firing more and finishing less. He shot 11 percent on 133 shots in 24 playoff games, after hitting on 16.2 percent of his 235 shots in 66 regular-season games.

While the B’s were the league’s stingiest team in 2019-20 before the pause — goalies and Jaroslav Halak captured the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed (167, or 2.39 per game) — it’s tough to imagine them escaping Toronto next month, much less avenging their Game 7 loss in last year’s Final, without their 48-goal, 95-point scorer in peak form. His coach believes he will get there.

“It will take some time,” Cassidy said. “He’s got a great one-timer. His release is second to none in the . Let’s hope that’s up to speed. Until he gets out there and plays at a high speed with people around him, it’s anybody’s guess. But I anticipate he’ll be fine.” 1188237 Boston Bruins

Start times set for Bruins’ first two round-robin games

By Matt Porter Globe Staff

Updated July 15, 2020, 8:36 a.m.

The NHL set times for two of the Bruins’ three round-robin games when the NHL season resumes in Toronto.

They will face Philadelphia at 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and play Tampa at 4 p.m. on on Aug. 5. Puck drop for Aug. 8 against Washington remains undetermined.

In the round robin portion of the NHL’s return to play plan, the top four teams in each conference play each other once to determine the 1-4 seedings for the playoffs. This means the Bruins, leading the NHL in points by six, could finish fourth.

In the qualifying round, teams seeded 5 through 12 (based on points percentage) play best-of-fives series to advance to the next round.

The eight remaining teams in each conference advance to play a bracket-style tournament in best-of-seven series.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188238 Boston Bruins

Bruce Cassidy a finalist for Jack Adams Award

By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 4:01 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at 4:01 p.m.

Bruce Cassidy probably won’t make his ultimate professional dream come true until he raises the Stanley Cup over his head, but the Bruins’ coach is being recognized increasingly as one of the best at his job.

For the second time in three years, Cassidy was named one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award as the top coach in the National Hockey League.

Cassidy, who led the B’s to the league’s best record in the coronavirus- shortened regular season after coming one win short of the Cup in 2018- 19, is up against the Columbus Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers’ Alain Vigneault.

Tortorella, who kept the Jackets in the hunt after enduring major free agent defections and numerous injuries during the season, may be the favorite for the award, but Cassidy very much belongs in the conversation. He led the B’s to a 44-14-4 record and their third straight 100-point season. The Bruins were trending downward after a long run of success under Claude Julien when Cassidy took the reins in February 2017, but he has amassed a 161-66-34 record for a .682 winning percentage and he’ll be making his fourth trip to the playoffs when the league goes to its unique 24-team tournament next month.

While Cassidy instituted a more up-tempo, attacking offensive style when he took over, the B’s never lost their defensive identity. This year, the B’s allowed the fewest goals (2.39 per game), were second in power play (25.2%) and third in penalty kill (84.4%).

In 2018, Cassidy finished second in voting in the league to , who led the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to an improbable run to the . No one but Gallant had a chance of walking away with the hardware that year, but Cassidy is right in the mix for the award this year. The award is voted on by the league’s broadcasters.

Boston Herald LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188239 Boston Bruins to play. They’re professionals, so I expect Torey will give 100% and deal with whatever he has to deal with down the road in terms of his contract.”

D spot up for grabs David Pastrnak makes first appearance on ice for Bruins Jeremy Lauzon appears to have the inside track on the third pair right side defense spot next to Matt Grzelcyk, though Cassidy pointed out both By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald Clifton and John Moore are in a healthier position to compete than they were at the time of the pause. Whoever fills the spot, the coach feels PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 3:37 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at good about it. 3:43 p.m. “We’ve got eight guys who can play in the league,” said Cassidy. “Cliffy played in the Finals last year, Johnny Moore has played a lot of playoff hockey. Lauzon is the only one that hasn’t, so that will be a question Most, if not all, was right with the Bruins on Wednesday morning. The B’s mark for him going forward. How does he react to that, how does he leading goal-scorer and Rocket Richard Trophy co-winner David handle it? I think he’ll be fine. He’s a good kid, works hard, stays in the Pastrnak, held out of the first two days of Return To Play camp because moment. I don’t think he’s one of those guys who’ll overthink it. So we of international quarantine regulations, was finally able to hit the ice at have the luxury of putting whoever we want there. Cliffy’s a right stick, so Warrior Ice Arena on Day 3. he’s comfortable on the right side. John Moore’s not as comfortable on His unmistakable unruly hockey hair jutting out from under his helmet, the right side as Lauzon as a left-handed shot. Neither is Grizz for that Pastrnak joined a handful of call-ups and a couple of regulars for 45 matter. So that has factored into the decision. At the end of the day, we’ll minutes of drills before he set up post-practice in the left circle as skating play our six best. Lauzy went in there and played (on the right side) and coach Kim Brandvold fed him passes for his patented one-timers. gave us an element of size, grit, some abrasiveness that I thought we were lacking at the time when he went in. So good timing for him and he There was no goalie in front of him, but he didn’t miss much. took advantage of a situation, played to his strengths. We like what he’s done.” Whether or not Pastrnak is behind his teammates as far as fitness, execution and timing remains to be seen, but coach Bruce Cassidy Anders Bjork on the conundrum of trying to pack for a possible two- suspects he’ll be ready for game action on Aug. 2. month-plus road trip: “I don’t know how many shoes I’m going to bring. I think that’s my main concern.” “Pasta’s always in good shape, so I’m sure he did what he needed to do to get ready over there. We didn’t monitor them on a daily basis. Let’s get If there’s anything keeping Cassidy up at night, that’s not it. him on the ice and see how he is. I suspect he’ll get right back up to speed,” said Cassidy. “He’s a guy that loves the game, so I’m sure he “I’m going to be critiqued for wearing the same thing every day and was around it in some capacity, whether he was rollerblading, skating, they’re probably going to be accurate, because I’m not bringing 10 suits,” firing pucks, whatever he was doing in his spare time. He’ll be like the said the coach. “It’s going to be a pretty generic wardrobe and hopefully I other guys. I’m sure it’ll take a little bit of time to get going. I anticipate come out of it with a lucky tie or two.” he’ll pick up where he left off. Time will tell on that part. Timing is important this time of year for everybody. You can’t help but think the team that gets that back the quickest, the individuals that get it back the Boston Herald LOADED: 07.16.2020 quickest, especially with his shot, will (succeed). He’s got a great one- timer, his release is second to none in the National Hockey League, but until he gets out there at high speed with people around him, it’s anyone’s guess. But I anticipate he’ll be fine.”

With the B’s medical and training staffs’ decision to give most of the regulars a day off the ice on Wednesday, there weren’t a ton of players working out in semi-public view. Forwards, Anton Blidh, Paul Carey, Nick Ritchie, Zach Senyshyn and Jack Studnicka; defensemen Connor Clifton, Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril; and goalies Max Lagace and Daniel Vladar were on the ice with Pastrnak.

According to Studnicka, Pastrnak came ready to work.

“He’s an unbelievable talent,” said Studnicka. “Obviously, his year speaks for itself, how he was able to contribute offensively on such a consistent basis. To see how he practices, he’s always moving full speed and finding ways to be creative and be better, it was definitely fun to share the ice with him.”

For whatever reason, Pastrnak’s Czech countryman Ondrej Kase did not skate with the group — the NHL has become hyper vigilant about privacy with the coronavirus pandemic — but the former Duck did hit the ice at Warrior Ice Arena for the first time since returning to Boston, skating with fellow outcast (for now) Trent Frederic.

Cassidy said that he may or may not chat with Torey Krug about his contract status, but he generally stays away from those discussions with players.

“Only if I sense there are stories out there and I sense a little bit of discomfort in the player,” said Cassidy. “I try not to mess around in a player’s business. That’s his decision going forward. But a guy like Torey I’ve had for a long time, so I have a lot of conversations with him anyway, some to do with hockey, some to do with the power play, some to do with life. So I suspect I will at some point because it’s Torey and I’ve had him for such a long time. But we’re not going to get too deeply involved in it. It’s just about being in the moment … everything will take care of itself for the most part and we’ll go from there and see where it goes if he wants to talk about it. Then again, the player sometimes doesn’t want to have those conversations, either. That’s their personal business. They’re here 1188240 Boston Bruins The NHL announced Tuesday the Bruins will have an exhibition game before the season-opener. Columbus will skate against Boston at 7 p.m. on July 30 in Toronto.

Bruins Notebook: Veterans expected to lead Bruins through ‘unique’ David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase remained the only two players not in situation camp, but Cassidy hopes they’ll be able to skate by Wednesday and be part of the full group by Thursday. He plans to give a maintenance day to players who’d been here working out in Phase 2 on Wednesday. By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald If Pastrnak and Kase can be up and running by Thursday, he doesn’t PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 5:58 a.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at expect them to be too far behind…. 8:18 a.m. After being highlighted by Cassidy for his solid play on Monday, Anders Bjork was bumped up to skate on the Bergeron-Marchand line and Karson Kuhlman skated on the Krejci line. No, Bjork is not expected to At the end of the formal portion of Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice knock Pastrnak out of his spot on Bergeron’s right side, but Cassidy Arena, there was a meeting of the top Bruin minds at center ice as Zdeno stressed that Bjork can push for a shot somewhere in the lineup. With the Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Krejci and Torey Krug addition of Nick Ritchie and Kase, Bjork had found himself out of the huddled together for what looked like a purposeful conversation. lineup for a few games before the pause. What exactly was said is not known, but it’s a good bet that it had “There’s competition for him,” said Cassidy. “We like Anders as a person something to do with the highly unusual situation they have found and we like him as a player, but we’re going to play the 12 best guys. themselves in and exactly how they’ll lead this team through this two- He’s certainly in that mix. Is he automatic? No. So for him, this Return To week camp and the 24-team tournament toward what they hope will lead Play, these practice sessions are more important than for some of the to a uniquely satisfying Stanley Cup win. They have as good a chance as other guys because you don’t have a lot of games to prove himself.”… any team to win it, but they have to get there first. Around the boards Whether he was making a statement or not, Chara conducted his Zoom call while wearing his pale blue face covering. Tuukka Rask took a shot shot that stung him midway through practice and had to leave briefly, but he returned to finish out practice. … Trent “This is definitely a test for us in many ways,” said Chara. “We’ve just to Frederic has not practiced with the team yet, but skated after the practice go work with the health department and people who are tying to find the on Tuesday with skating coaching Kim Brandvold. … Anton Blidh, Urho best solutions. Everybody has to take some responsibility to do what it Vaakanainen and Daniel Vladar did skate with the group after missing takes to get past this pandemic.” Monday’s practice. … Assistant coach Kevin Dean remains sidelined, but Coach Bruce Cassidy made it clear he’ll be leaning on his leaders, Cassidy had expected him to be ready soon. perhaps a little more than usual.

“We’ll ask them to police a little more maybe,” said Cassidy. “But we’re Boston Herald LOADED: 07.16.2020 asking all the individuals, you have to be more responsible just because of the coronavirus. It’s that simple. This isn’t just relatable to hockey. It’s all the pro sports that are trying to start up, it’s college sports that are trying to get going, it’s communities, it’s on everybody to social distance, to mask up when necessary. And it’s even more important, because if one person gets infected, it could go through your whole team and it could hurt your chances if that were to happen, especially with the protocols.

“So we’re leaning on everybody here, all the individuals that are planning on being in the bubble, to take care of themselves the next two weeks and we’re hoping they’ll be responsible. And we’re asking the leadership (to help). I don’t know that it’s every day that we’re drilling it into them, but can we carry that message and make sure that players understand what’s at stake? Because (those) guys have been through it a little more, the sacrifices required to win the Stanley Cup. And our players listen to them. We hope that that’s the case. Other than that, it’s what we’ve always asked of them – be the best players at practice, demonstrate good work ethic, tutor when you can the young guys off the ice, show up to play, play hard and play the right way.”

While some may wonder if the winners of this year’s Cup will have an asterisk by their names, Cassidy believes it will mean even more to win it this year with the added sacrifices it will take.

“This is a unique situation for whatever team wins this, and maybe for a lot of the sports as they get going. I think it will be remembered differently for maybe it being the ‘bubble year’ or however it’s going to be phrased. It will mean a little bit more,” said Cassidy. “I think the guys that are leaving their families will have to pull on the rope, but that’s where the young guys will as well. It’s not easy to be contained and not be able to go where you want, do what you want, when you want, but that’s where the young guys have to pitch in a little more as well, knowing these guys are leaving their young children and their wives for an undetermined amount of time. That’s a big sacrifice. It’s part of the job requirement this year, but that’s the way it is. But that’s where the young guys are going to have to step up a little bit, too,and we’re going to talk about that as well. It’s not always incumbent on the veteran guys to be big brother. There are certain situations where, yes, we need it, we want it, they’re willing to do it. But there’s also a situation here or there where little brother can pull on the rope a little harder too, the days that some of the veteran guys may be dealing with some of issues back home that they’re not able to do because they’re in a bubble.” 1188241 Boston Bruins

NHL Awards: Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy named Jack Adams finalist

By Joe Haggerty

July 15, 2020 1:08 PM

In two of his three full seasons guiding the Boston Bruins as their bench boss, Bruce Cassidy has been recognized as one of the best in the NHL.

Cassidy was named a Jack Adams Award finalist for the second time in his three-plus season stint as the head coach for the Boston Bruins as he was honored along with Columbus head coach John Tortorella and Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault by the NHL on Wednesday afternoon.

After guiding the Bruins to a trip to the Stanley Cup Final last spring, Cassidy led the Bruins to the Presidents’ Trophy this year as the B's were the only hockey club to hit the 100-point mark when the regular season went on pause in mid-March. Cassidy has been open-minded in his approach to coaching the Bruins, has worked exceedingly well with the veteran core and the younger players and isn’t afraid to innovate with creative solutions based on the ever-changing circumstances surrounding the team.

The Bruins finished the regular season with a 44-14-12 record for 100 points in 70 games, six more than the next-highest team (St. Louis Blues, 94 points in 71 games). It is the third-straight 100-point season for the club under Cassidy’s tenure, and the Bruins led the NHL in goals against average while finishing Top 5 in goals per game, power play percentage and penalty kill effectiveness in a stunning display of all-around strength from this B’s team.

In his three full seasons as head coach of the Black and Gold from 2017- 20, Cassidy has the team ranked in the Top 10 in nearly every major statistical category in an impressive show of consistency: 143 wins (2nd), 319 points (2nd), 3.21 goals per game (6th), 2.52 goals allowed per game (1st), 24.9 power play percentage (2nd), 82.6 penalty kill percentage (T-3rd) and 50.8 faceoff win percentage (T-9th).

The Jack Adams Award is given annually to the coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success as voted on by the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188242 Boston Bruins recent seasons. And Marchand is a Hart Trophy-level player in his own right these days in the prime of his NHL career.

But it’s Pastrnak who has become the driving offensive force and game- NHL Awards voters showing no respect to David Pastrnak, and it's a breaking phenomenon on that line, and for the entire Bruins team. damn shame Only MacKinnon, Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty and Auston Matthews generate more shots on net than Pastrnak, and Pastrnak is now the By Joe Haggerty biggest power play weapon in the entire NHL at this point in his career. Pasta finished with four more PP goals than anybody else in the league July 15, 2020 1:25 PM and is the focal point offensively for the Bruins at both 5-on-5 play and on special teams.

Panarin had a 40-goal scorer as a teammate in Mika Zibanejad on the BRIGHTON, Mass. — David Pastrnak made his long-awaited debut at Rangers this season, and as mentioned earlier, MacKinnon spent Bruins camp on Wednesday and will undoubtedly be back at his usual pockets of this season on a similar “super line” with Rantanen and spot at right wing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand on the Landeskog. unstoppable Perfection Line when the entire group takes the ice together on Thursday. So why is Pastrnak getting the Rodney Dangerfield treatment when it comes to his teammates and fighting for NHL Awards respect after Unfortunately, it looks like that’s going to be the biggest fanfare when it leading the NHL in goals scored all season? comes to No. 88 over the next couple of weeks. The NHL’s leading goal- scorer and the B’s first Rocket Richard Trophy winner was overlooked for Perhaps we’ll all be surprised and Pastrnak will get his just due when the the Award when the three finalists of , Nathan Hart Trophy winners are announced. More likely, he’s paying his dues MacKinnon and Artemi Panarin were announced by the NHLPA on this season for national recognition when he had a chance to be only the Tuesday. third player in the last 20 years to hit the 60-goal mark if he’d gotten hot in the final month of the regular season (had it been played). The award is voted on by the players, of course, so it was interesting that Pasta didn’t make the cut this time around. But it will also likely will serve It's a damn shame Pastrnak won't be recognized more for this season's as a preview of Hart Trophy finalists for the NHL’s MVP when they are greatness. announced later this week. The expectation is Pastrnak will once again be left out in the cold for national NHL award recognition despite The good news: Pastrnak is 23 years old and just scratching the surface numbers equal or better to Panarin, and superior stats in just about every of how dominant he’s going to be for the next 10 years or so. But it’s too category when compared with MacKinnon. bad that one of the best Bruins seasons in the franchise’s near-100-year history is going to be largely ignored by NHL Awards voters who should Even Pastrnak himself said he would have voted for Draisaitl as the Hart have been paying more respect to the best right in the league winner if it was up to him when talking about it with reporters a few weeks these days. ago.

“For me, it’s absolutely no question,” said Pastrnak. “For me, Leon Draisaitl was showing up the whole season. A lot of people say, ‘Oh he’s Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 playing with Connor (McDavid).’ Connor was hurt for a month and he brought it up even another level. For me, it’s absolutely no question it’s going to be and should be Leon Draisaitl. The way he played this year is absolutely no question for me.”

It feels like it should also be “no question” that Pastrnak deserves to be one of the finalists for these awards.

Sometimes when it comes to the NHL Awards, players start earning nominations and votes a year after they break through into the national hockey media consciousness. That may happen with Pastrnak even as he led the Bruins with 48 goals scored after basically leading the league wire-to-wire this season. Pastrnak finished tied for third with 95 points in 70 games played, led the NHL with 20 power play goals and finished tied with Draisaitl with an impressive 10 game-winning goals on his résumé.

Panarin had as many points and more assists than Pastrnak along with a better plus/minus, but one could argue it wasn’t even for a playoff team with the Russian playmaker because the Rangers wouldn’t have made the cut if it weren’t for the unique 24-team tournament this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pastrnak had more goals, more assists, more points, a better plus/minus, and more points per game than MacKinnon, who also played on a very talented line with players like Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog for most of the season in Colorado.

So what’s the big reason that Pastrnak isn’t getting the credit he’s due?

Some of it is that he’s just 23 years old and still emerging as one of the NHL’s best players. But the biggest reason is that NHL Awards voters — and his peers — are discounting his accomplishments because he skates on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. The argument goes that the other players are more valuable to their teams because the quality of the roster, and their teammates, isn’t as high as it is with the Bruins and the Perfection Line.

The truth when it comes to Pastrnak and rating him?

The right winger drives that Perfection Line for the Bruins these days. Of course, Patrice Bergeron is the two-way anchor and the best defensive forward in the league who's also become a perennial 30-goal scorer in 1188243 Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak makes his debut at Bruins camp Wednesday

By Joe Haggerty

July 15, 2020 10:24 AM

BRIGHTON, Mass. — The Bruins are close to getting the Black and Gold band back together.

David Pastrnak made his first appearance in Return to Play camp on Wednesday morning at Warrior Ice Arena with a smaller group of young guys, which leaves Ondrej Kase and Trent Frederic as the only players that have yet to suit up for practice three days into the proceedings.

Pastrnak just finished up his mandatory quarantine period after traveling over from the Czech Republic and Kase has been doing the same thing while the Bruins get ready for the next few months of hockey. The expectation is that the B’s will have their full group of players on Thursday and skate for a couple of days before everybody has an off-day from camp on Sunday.

Anders Bjork has done a fine job filling in on the right side with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand over the last couple of days, but one would expect No. 88 to be on his rightful place on the Perfection Line starting on Thursday.

Haggerty: Bergeron has words to live by for NHL

The good news is that it appears just about everybody came into this camp in tip-top shape and the Bruins have been able to run quick-paced practices while getting into a pretty relaxed flow of things even with the COVID-19 circumstances making it a highly unusual and risky situation.

“Our medical and strength guys said that after a couple of days that it would be a wise thing to do,” said Bruce Cassidy, of the core veterans getting a day off in the middle of the week. “I’ve been saying all along that I thought the recovery part would be important because I thought our guys would stay in shape, and sure enough [we were] right.

I think this has been fine. We’re back to work, we’re back in the building and we’re back around people we enjoy being around doing what we enjoy doing. So far it’s been fine. There are some protocols you’re not used to. We’re all wearing masks when we’re in the hallways even though we’ve all tested negative. I think that’s just an everyday walk of life now.

"I think the real test over the next 10-12 days is when you leave the building and who you’re going to be around. Then once you get into the bubble preparing that you’re going to be there for a length of time if you have some success. Right now I think guys are enjoying it, to be honest with you. We’re behaving differently in our day-to-day routine, but we’re on the ice, working, and playing hockey doing what we love to do. Those things supersede all of the little things we need to be mindful of [during the pandemic].”

Here are the Bruins players skating Wednesday aside from Pastrnak: Jack Studnicka, Connor Clifton, Nick Ritchie, Jakub Zboril, Anton Blidh, Zach Senyshyn, Urho Vaakanainen, Paul Carey, Daniel Vladar and Maxime Lagace.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188244 Boston Bruins “We’re back at work. We’re back in the building. We’re around people we like being around,” Cassidy said. “We’re working. We’re doing what we enjoy doing. So far, I think it’s been fine. There’s just some protocols Bruins takeaways: David Pastrnak is finally back, and the club will need you’re not used to.” him For example, Cassidy displayed a green lanyard that he and everybody who has player access must wear at all times when they’re off the ice. Masks are worn in the hallways. By Fluto Shinzawa Studnicka gets the call Jul 15, 2020 The Bruins’ original plan was to promote Studnicka in March. They wanted to rest Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci before the playoffs. They also wanted to evaluate whether Studnicka could help in the The hair, longer than it’s usually kept, rippled like never before as its postseason. owner blazed around the ice. It just so happened that the promotion came four months later than Or maybe David Pastrnak was just skating really fast. planned. On Wednesday, two days after most of his Bruins teammates hit the ice, “Little bit of relief. Lot of excitement,” Studnicka said when he was Pastrnak made his post-shutdown debut at Warrior Ice Arena. After informed of his postseason inclusion. “I think I spent a good portion of the completing the NHL-mandated series of tests following his return from quarantine in the past couple months trying to get better, trying to get Czech Republic, Pastrnak joined a limited group of mostly youngsters for stronger. I feel prepared for what’s ahead.” a 45-minute spin. Studnicka finished the shortened AHL season as Providence’s leading The right wing’s legs looked like they were in midseason form. The 24- scorer (23-26—49). His AHL career may be over. The Bruins were year-old flew around the ice, popping crossovers and burying his edges pleased with how he developed as an all-around center as a first-year into the surface. pro. Pastrnak completed his session by posting up at the left circle, his When the playoffs begin, Studnicka is likely to start as an extra forward. preferred workspace. With skills coach Kim Brandvold feeding him pucks, He is behind Bergeron, Krejci and Charlie Coyle at center. If he plays Pastrnak unloaded approximately a dozen one-timers before calling it a right wing, he’d have to contend with Ondrej Kase, Anders Bjork, Karson day. Kuhlman and Senyshyn. “To see how he practices, he’s always moving full speed and always Studnicka, 21, is the youngest player in camp. His parents, naturally, are finding ways to be creative and to be better,” said Jack Studnicka, who probably more worried about Phases 3 and 4 than their son. practiced alongside Pastrnak. “It was definitely fun to share the ice with him.” “I’m 21 years old and can kind of make decisions for myself,” Studnicka said. “They’re comfortable with me being here. They understand it’s a Pastrnak is as critical to the Bruins’ fate as any of the 33 players in camp. tough time and unspoken of time. I’m sure my mom back home is a little He is a self-starting finisher with numerous clubs — one-timer, snap shot, uneasy. But she supports me 100 percent. They know I want to be one-on-one wizardry, off-the-rush lethality — in his bag. nowhere else but here.” The Bruins expect to have zero trouble keeping pucks out of their net.

Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak have the crease on lockdown. The Bruins allowed 106 5-on-5 goals, fewest in the league. They had the The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 NHL’s third-best penalty kill (84.3 percent).

It may not be as easy for them to put pucks away. They scored 141 5-on- 5 goals. Seven of the 13 teams that scored less are out of the playoffs. If Pastrnak left his hands overseas, the Bruins will be in trouble.

“I’m sure he’ll take a little bit of time to get going, but I anticipate he’ll pick up where he left off,” said Cassidy — who was nominated Wednesday as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award — of his 48-goal man. “Time will tell on that part. Timing is important this time of year for everybody. I can’t help but feel it will be off a little bit. The team that gets it back the quickest, the individuals that get it back the quickest — especially with his shot — it will take some time. He’s got a great one-timer. His release is second to none in the National Hockey League. Let’s hope that’s up to speed. Until he gets out there and plays at a high speed with people around him, it’s anybody’s guess. But I anticipate he’ll be fine.”

Scaling back

Pastrnak and Studnicka were joined by Nick Ritchie, Anton Blidh, Paul Carey, Zach Senyshyn, Connor Clifton, Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril, Maxime Lagace and Dan Vladar. Ondrej Kase and Trent Frederic skated on their own after practice.

The regulars were given the day off the ice as a scheduled rest day. Director of sports performance and rehab Paul Whissel and head performance coach Kevin Neeld made the recommendation in advance. The entire team will have Sunday off.

“We want to manage the recovery as well as possible,” Cassidy said. “That was our expectation. That would be our challenge in getting the guys into top condition. They’ve taken care of that. They’ve done a good job of it as a whole.”

Cassidy has been monitoring the emotional state of his players as well as their physical form. After three days, Cassidy said it was clear that everybody was happy to be back in the rink. 1188245 Buffalo Sabres

Calder Trophy finalists: Injury cost Sabres' Victor Olofsson his chance

Mike Harrington

Jul 15, 2020 Updated 15 hrs ago

Ahigh ankle sprain that kept Buffalo Sabres winger Victor Olofsson off the ice for 15 games also cost him a shot at the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.

Olofsson was not named as one of the three finalists for the award Wednesday in voting conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. Defensemen Cale Makar (Colorado) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver), widely considered the top two candidates, were named finalists along with Chicago's Dominik Kubalik.

The first two were easy choices. The third one was not so obvious, as Kubalik was picked over Olofsson and other strong candidates Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox and Pittsburgh blueliner John Merlino.

After a 30-goal season in Rochester in 2018-19, Olofsson had 20 goals and 22 assists in 54 games for the Sabres this season. He was derailed in the third period of the Sabres' Jan. 2 overtime win against Edmonton, when he suffered the non-contact injury as he got a foot stuck in a rut in the ice and went down.

At the time of the injury, Olofsson led NHL rookies with 16 goals and 35 points and had already been named NHL Rookie of the Month October and December.

Olofsson's 42 points finished tied for fourth among NHL rookies with Fox. Olofsson and Dallas' Denis Gurianov finished tied for second in goals for rookies with 20, behind only the 30 tallied by Kubalik.

Hughes led rookies in assists (45) and points (53), becoming the third defenseman in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to top rookies in scoring (Brian Leetch 1988-89, 1966-67). The 53 points were the most by any rookie blueliner since 1991-92, when Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom had 60.

Vancouver's Elias Pettersson won the award last year and Hughes is trying to make the Canucks the first team to win it in back-to-back years since Boston in 1967 and 1968 (Orr and ).

Makar was second in assists (38) and points (50), leading rookies with 0.88 points per game. Only three other rookie blueliners in NHL history have averaged as many points per game in a single season: Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 with the Rangers), ' Larry Murphy (0.95 in 1980-81) and Calgary's Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84).

Kubalik became the first Czech-born player in NHL history to pace rookies in goals as well as the third to reach the 30‑goal plateau, joining Detroit's Petr Klima (32 in 1985-86) and Petr Prucha of the Rangers (30 in 2005-06). No Czech has won the Calder.

The league also announced that Boston’s Bruce Cassidy, Columbus’ John Tortorella and Philadelphia’s Alain Vigneault have been named finalists for the Jack Adams Award for coach of year. That award is voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association.

The NHL has canceled its annual awards show in Las Vegas to announce the winners. The league says it will hand out the awards during the conference finals at a time and format to be announced.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188246 Buffalo Sabres

West Seneca native Sean Malone leaves Amerks, signs with Predators

Mike Harrington

Jul 15, 2020 Updated 16 hrs ago

West Seneca native Sean Malone, who has spent the last three seasons as a key role player for the Rochester Americans, has signed a one-year, two-way contract for the 2020-21 season with the Nashville Predators.

The team announced the deal Wednesday and said it is worth the new minimum of $750,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level.

Malone, 25, had 12 goals and 30 points in 58 games for the Amerks last season, finishing tied for second on the team in scoring. The 12 goals matched his career high of two years ago and were tied for third on the team. His plus-15 rating was the best among Rochester forwards.

Malone, a Nichols School product, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 draft by the Sabres and spent four years at Harvard. After the Crimson lost in the 2017 Frozen Four semifinals against Minnesota- Duluth, Malone signed with the Sabres and made his lone NHL appearance in Buffalo's game at Florida on April 1, 2017.

His career was derailed by a knee injury suffered on the first day of training camp in 2018 and Malone played just 38 games due to injury for the Amerks in 2018-19. The Sabres did not re-sign him and he instead played the pandemic-shortened season with Rochester on an AHL-only deal.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188247 Calgary Flames You gave the goalie enough of the vote over seventh-ranked German Titov so that the No. 10 Brathwaite moves onto the second round.

But the biggest 1990s upset in our poll — in terms of capturing votes — FAVE FLAME EVER: Moving on to Round 2 belongs to hard-nosed winger Sandy McCarthy, as he knocked off goalie Trevor Kidd.

Todd Saelhof The other six battles of the ’90s revealed no surprises.

Publishing date:Jul 15, 2020 Theo Fleury, Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts landed respective landslide victories over Rick Tabarracci, Todd Simpson and Derek Morris.

Now that the boys are back on the ice, the battles for spots on the Sergei Makarov, Robert Reichel and Phil Housley also advanced to Calgary Flames post-season roster are heating up. Round 2, although they were all pushed by their opponents in the first round. Ronnie Stern captured one-third of voting against Makarov, while Same thing goes in our FAVE FLAME EVER challenge. Cory Stillman got more than 40% of the vote against Reichel and Valeri The battles are getting hotter as we move from the first round of our Bure took 43% of the ballots from Housley. massive 64-player tournament into Round 2 of the NCAA March 1) Theo Fleury, 94.8%, vs. 16) Rick Tabarracci, 5.2% Madness-esque bracket. 2) Joe Nieuwendyk, 96.7% vs. 15) Todd Simpson, 3.3% We’re again wanting your input as we try to determine the favourite Flames player of all-time. 3) Gary Roberts, 93.1% vs. 14) Derek Morris, 6.9%

So we’re down to 32 talents who plied their trade with the Flames at 4) Sergei Makarov, 66.5% vs. 13) Ron Stern, 33.5% some point in the last 40 years. 5) Robert Reichel, 59.2% vs. 12) Cory Stillman, 40.8% And we have broken it down into four decades, with eight players — and four battles — representing each of the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. 6) Phil Housley, 57.0% vs. 11) Valeri Bure, 43.0%

But we need your help to determine Round 2 winners. 10) Fred Brathwaite, 55.8% vs. 7) German Titov, 44.2%

So we’re back for another round … 9) Sandy McCarthy, 62.7% vs. 8) Trevor Kidd, 37.3%

Join us online at www.calgaryherald.com to cast your ballot, as we try to 2000s track just who is the most favourite Flames star of all. There were no upsets in the 2000s, although one battle came right down In the meantime, let’s look back at the results of Round 1: to the wire.

1980s That was Dion Phaneuf, the eighth-ranked player of the decade, squeaking past two-way-talent Stephane Yelle. Everybody loves Lanny … To nobody’s surprise, landslide victories came for over And Al. Chris Simon, Miikka Kiprusoff over Rene Bourque, Robyn Regehr over Jordan Leopold, Craig Conroy over Denis Gauthier and Martin Gelinas That was evident in the first round of voting in our 1980s bracket. over Kristian Huselius. Lanny McDonald was among the landslide winners of our eight ’80s got two-thirds of the vote against Marc Savard. battles. And Rhett Warrener took nearly 63% of the ballot in his battle with McDonald, Al MacInnis and Kent Nilsson all won handily in respective Matthew Lombardi. duels with Reggie Lemelin, Colin Patterson and Guy Chouinard. 1) Jarome Iginla, 97.4%, vs. 16) Chris Simon, 2.6% The only upset of Round 1 among our top-16 ’80s talents was a minor one, as Doug Gilmour grabbed 63.6% of the battle vs. Jim Peplinski in a 2) Miikka Kiprusoff, 98.7% vs. 15) Rene Bourque, 1.3% win by No. 9 over No. 8. 3) Robyn Regehr, 96.5% vs. 14) Jordan Leopold, 3.5% A near-upset saw No. 11 Joel Otto push sixth-ranked Hakan Loob to the limit, before the affable Swede prevailed with a touch over half of the 4) Craig Conroy, 94.6% vs. 13) Denis Gauthier, 5.4% ballots. 5) Martin Gelinas, 92.6% vs. 12) Kristian Huselius, 7.4%

In the other three battles of the Flames’ first decade: feisty Tim Hunter 6) Daymond Langkow, 66.7% vs. 11) Marc Savard, 33.3% pushed Joe Mullen before the American sniper scored just over 60% of the vote; Jamie Macoun got 22.5% of the voting against Mike Vernon; 7) Dion Phaneuf, 51.5% vs. 10) Stephane Yelle, 48.5% and Gary Suter prevailed over Paul Reinhart by being the mark on two/thirds of the ballots cast. 8) Rhett Warrener, 62.7% vs. 9) Matthew Lombardi, 37.3%

1) Lanny McDonald, 92.2%, vs. 16) Reggie Lemelin, 7.8% 2010s

2) Al MacInnis, 92.5% vs. 15) Colin Patterson, 7.5% Only one upset happened in the first round of the 2010s bracket.

3) Mike Vernon, 77.5% vs. 14) Jamie Macoun, 22.5% But it was big.

4) Kent Nilsson, 88.0% vs. 13) Guy Chouinard, 12% That saw No. 10 Elias Lindholm manhandle seventh-ranked Jiri Hudler by capturing more than 70% of your votes. 5) Joe Mullen, 60.6% vs. 12) Tim Hunter, 39.4% There were two tight battles along the way, with Sam Bennett just getting 6) Hakan Loob, 52.4% vs. 11) Joel Otto, 47.6% by Brian McGrattan in a No. 8 vs. No. 9 challenge and No. 5 Mike Cammalleri eeking out a narrow win over No. 12 Alex Tanguay. 7) Gary Suter, 66.6% vs. 10) Paul Reinhart, 33.4% Otherwise, it was pretty much chalk. 9) Doug Gilmour, 63.6% vs. 9) Jim Peplinski, 36.4% Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk 1990s and Mikael Backlund — all current Flames — eased to respective Fred Brathwaite’s tenure with the Flames was short-lived, but he proved victories over Matt Stajan, TJ Brodie, David Rittich, Olli Jokinen and popular in his three seasons with the club after joining the team’s injury- Curtis Glencross. riddled crease crew following a stint with Canada’s national team. 1) Johnny Gaudreau, 85.2%, vs. 16) Matt Stajan, 14.8% 2) Mark Giordano, 94.9% vs. 15) TJ Brodie, 5.1%

3) Sean Monahan, 78.8% vs. 14) David Rittich, 21.2%

4) Matthew Tkachuk, 92.8% vs. 13) Olli Jokinen, 7.2%

5) Mike Cammalleri, 53.2% vs. 12) Alex Tanguay, 46.8%

6) Mikael Backlund, 75.6% vs. 11) Curtis Glencross, 24.4%

10) Elias Lindholm, 71.0% vs. 7) Jiri Hudler. 29.0%

8) Sam Bennett, 54.7% vs. 9) Brian McGrattan, 45.3%

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188248 Calgary Flames Hellebuyck will certainly be among the hat-trick of finalists. There should be an inquiry if he doesn’t win it.

“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Rittich said. “Hellebuyck is a really Flames goalie Rittich anxious to prove himself in playoff spotlight good goalie and I just have to show I’m better or I can be better than him in this series and just win three games and keep rolling.”

Wes Gilbertson He has to win the starting job first.

July 15, 2020 6:43 PM MDT Rittich, who posted a 24-17-6 record, 2.97 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 48 regular-season appearances this past winter, could benefit from the lengthy lay-off. After returning home to the Czech Republic, he had plenty of time to mentally reset and to recover from a This guy loves to wisecrack. nagging elbow injury. What will come out of his mouth next? Anybody’s guess, really. Now, it’s time to let his play do the talking. Calgary Flames goalie David Rittich gabbed with reporters via video “Every single goalie wants to start in playoffs,” Rittich said. “It’s up to conference Wednesday and had just signed off — a salute-of-sorts, coach who’s he going to pick, and it’s up to me and Talbs how we’re followed by a ‘Thanks, see ya!’ — before popping up in front of the going to work hard and how we are going to be ready for playoffs. The monitor again for one last chirp. last call will be with Wardo.” “I’m muting you,” laughed one of the Flames’ communication staffers, stopping Rittich mid-who-knows-what. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2020 But what about once the game starts? Will Big Save Dave be silenced then?

In an empty arena, with plenty of live microphones, will the ramblings of Rittich become a soundtrack of the Flames’ summer restart?

“You’re maybe going to hear me, maybe not,” Rittich teased. “It’s up to you how your ears are working.

“It’s going to be probably a lot of Czech/English words in the air there,” he added later with a grin. “Hopefully not swear words. I’m going to try to keep it low because the cameras are going to get everything.”

Before Rittich worries about being bleeped out on the broadcast, he has to win the spotlight first as Calgary’s go-to goalie.

The 27-year-old logged the bulk of the starts for the Flames this winter — and even scored a late invite to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game — but Cam Talbot was making quite a push for the top job just prior to the pandemic pause.

Undoubtedly, the biggest battle of Training Camp 2.0 at the Saddledome is between the two candidates to be between the pipes for the Aug. 1 opener against the Winnipeg Jets.

“Quite simply, it will be the best guy coming out of camp,” promised Flames interim coach Geoff Ward. “We made that clear at the beginning to the guys coming into camp, and that will be how we determine it. So intrasquad games when we get to them and the exhibition game will obviously play a big role … It’s just part of the philosophy — we are going to play the best 20 players that we have. I think we owe it to everybody here to do it that way, so ultimately that will be how the decision is made.”

Rittich certainly hopes that it plays out differently than it did in 2019.

After time-sharing with Mike Smith for most of the season, No. 33 was just a spectator for the Flames’ first-round flop against the Colorado Avalanche.

Smith was their top performer in that series, so there was no second- guessing the crease-call, but that didn’t make it any easier for Rittich to watch in a ball-cap. He still doesn’t have even a minute of playoff action on his NHL resume.

“Obviously, it was hard. Every single goalie wants to play, and it was the same to me,” Rittich recalled after Wednesday’s workout. “When I didn’t start one game, I was kind of sad. Not mad. Not rattled. Just sad I didn’t get the opportunity to start even one game. It’s probably the biggest opportunity for me right now — to be starter in playoffs and get some games, get some experience.

“And hopefully, hopefully, we’re are going to go a long way.”

Among the key ingredients for a deep playoff run, great goaltending is usually near the top of the list. It’s no coincidence the winning twine- minder is almost always in the conversation about frontrunners.

What makes the Jets a frightening opponent in a best-of-five qualification series is the fact their backstop is currently the best in the biz. Connor 1188249 Calgary Flames teams — Edmonton’s special-teams are excellent — so our special teams are going to get a real good test.

“So I think for everything that we need to see (before) a playoff series, I SNAPSHOTS: Flames coach dispels rumour that training-camp splits are don’t think you could have picked a better opponent for us to play than fitness Edmonton, to be honest with you. Because I think it’s as close to a playoff simulation as we’re going to get, against a team that I feel is a really, really complete team and deep team. So we like the fact that we’re Wes Gilbertson going to play them in an exhibition game.

July 15, 2020 5:17 PM MDT “And the guys aren’t crazy. They know what’s at stake. This is an exhibition to get ready for playoffs, so I’m sure both teams will have that

in mind.” Calgary Flames interim skipper Geoff Ward can’t reveal the exact reason OFF THE GLASS for these strange training-camp roster splits. Three days into training camp at the Saddledome, still no sign of “Circumstances” will remain the company line. That’s not going to forwards Dillon Dube and Buddy Robinson. Both are “unable to change. participate,” which is all the NHL and NHLPA will allow clubs to say about Ward, however, wants to rule out one potential explanation. He stressed health/injury status … Two of Calgary’s most reliable centres — Mikael the nine gents — including several key contributors — in the afternoon Backlund and Derek Ryan — may already be dealing with nagging wave are not being separated as some sort of punishment for their post- injuries. Backlund made an early exit from Wednesday’s skate and didn’t pause fitness level. return, although Ward told reporters later, “I don’t really have a high level of concern with it.” Ryan disappeared midway through Monday’s opening “I’ve heard a bit of a rumour out there that people think that some of this session and has not been spotted on the ice since … Congratulations to stuff may be due to shape, and it certainly isn’t,” Ward told media Calgary-raised Cale Makar, confirmed Wednesday as a finalist for the Wednesday, bringing that topic up himself. “I’ve been impressed and the Calder Trophy. It must have been a proud day for the local programs that coaches and management, we’ve all been really impressed at how the helped groom the Colorado Avalanche rookie rearguard for primetime. guys have come in and the shape of our group. It’s been excellent.” Makar is an alum of the Crowchild Hockey Association — now the Northwest Warriors — and Northwest Calgary Athletic Association The Flames’ training-camp breakdown has yet to change — four forward (NWCAA). lines, nine blue-liners and three puck-stoppers in the early session, followed by just eight skaters and one masked man in the afternoon crew. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2020 With superstar left-winger Johnny Gaudreau split from his usual linemates and power-play pals, it’s been the talk of the town.

It’s important to note every player is regularly tested for COVID-19 and must be symptom-free to even enter the rink, so the best guess is this is a precautionary measure based on potential secondary exposure.

“It’s not the most ideal conditions,” Ward said after the third day of this unprecedented summer camp at the Saddledome. “But in saying that, we have to make the best of what we’ve got. The most important thing for us is that we get our work in, we get our reps in, and the guys are certainly getting that. So we feel like it’s a benefit for us to have a bit of a longer camp. That’s going to help us, for sure, based on how it’s started out.

“We have to evaluate it on a daily basis and just worry about what we can control. As I’ve been saying all along, the circumstances have dictated some strange things, but we have to adhere to that right now.”

When that will change, nobody is sure.

Ward doesn’t seem too worried, saying he’s pleased with the business- like attitude and the “mature approach” that he’s seen so far in Phase 3.

He added they haven’t had to mess much with their usual off-ice routines.

He would, however, like to get the whole gang back together.

“As quickly as we possibly can, our goal is to jump into some scrimmaging and intrasquad games so we can elevate what we feel is a necessity of our training camp to another notch,” Ward said.

AROUND THE BOARDS

Some folks figure the NHL’s schedule-makers are nuts for arranging an exhibition between the Flames and arch-rival Edmonton Oilers.

After all, there was plenty of beef in four regular-season instalments of the Battle of Alberta, with scraps and stick-work, disciplinary hearings, a war of words in the media and even a goalie fight.

Can Matthew Tkachuk and Zack Kassian really be trusted to play nice in a tune-up? With just one exhibition prior to the qualification round, neither side will want to sit their stars for this July 28 friendly.

“We’re really looking forward to the game just because we’re playing a really good team, and that is going to be good for us,” Ward said. “The intensity, because it’s Edmonton, is going to be like a playoff intensity. We’re going to play against some really, really good players, which is great. I think that prepares our group. We’re going to see good special- 1188250 Calgary Flames

FAVE FLAME EVER: Moving on to Round 2

Todd Saelhof

July 15, 2020 7:27 PM MDT

Now that the boys are back on the ice, the battles for spots on the Calgary Flames post-season roster are heating up.

Same thing goes in our FAVE FLAME EVER challenge.

The battles are getting hotter as we move from the first round of our massive 64-player tournament into Round 2 of the NCAA March Madness-esque bracket.

We’re again wanting your input as we try to determine the favourite Flames player of all-time.

So we’re down to 32 talents who plied their trade with the Flames at some point in the last 40 years.

And we have broken it down into four decades, with eight players — and four battles — representing each of the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

But we need your help to determine Round 2 winners.

So we’re back for another round …

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188251 Carolina Hurricanes

John Forslund will work for NBC during playoffs; Hurricanes have replacement in mind

BY LUKE DECOCK

JULY 15, 2020 03:48 PM

Carolina Hurricanes TV announcer John Forslund does the pregame show in the booth before an NHL game at PNC Arena.

John Forslund is headed to the NHL playoffs. So are the Carolina Hurricanes. They are not going together as the bizarre saga of Forslund’s still-not-quite-official departure from the team continues to linger.

Forslund confirmed Wednesday he will be freelancing for NBC, with Hurricanes sideline reporter Mike Maniscalco expected to take over play- by-play duties on Fox Sports Carolinas — but still without any official word from the Hurricanes on Forslund’s future since his contract expired last month.

“I have to work,” Forslund said Wednesday. “I have an opportunity. And we don’t have a deal.”

With Forslund now officially out of the mix for the FS Carolinas broadcasts of the Hurricanes’ preliminary-round series against the New York Rangers starting August 1, the end of his three-decade tenure with the team appears imminent even as Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell has said the door remains open for Forslund’s return. There have been no negotiations in July, no movement toward the middle between sides that remain far apart.

“John and I talked on Friday,” Waddell said. “We left the door open. We’re not negotiating anything right now, but we’ll get through this and see where we go.”

Last Friday, Forslund told the team in the absence of a new contract, he would work for NBC during the playoffs instead. On Wednesday, for the first time since 1991, Forslund did not receive a bimonthly paycheck from the Hurricanes.

“There is no dialogue between the two sides,” Forslund said. “I’m exploring other options and getting ready for this assignment. For the first time in my career, I don’t work for someone. I didn’t get paid today.”

The Hurricanes offered Forslund and broadcast partner Tripp Tracy contracts that made them independent contractors paid almost entirely on a per-game basis and tied to team revenue, which under current circumstances will mean a substantial decrease from their old contracts. Tracy accepted the team’s offer in June. Forslund did not.

The Hurricanes discussed the play-by-play job with former Charlotte Checkers broadcaster Jason Shaya but appear to have settled on Maniscalco, who was the radio play-by-play broadcaster during last year’s playoffs when the Hurricanes were on national TV. (The normal Hurricanes radio broadcast on WCMC-FM has been a simulcast of the television broadcast since Chuck Kaiton was allowed to leave in 2018. The Hurricanes recently announced a two-year renewal of their radio deal.) Maniscalco, who like many team employees has been furloughed this summer, declined to comment.

Any announcement of a replacement for Forslund on FS Carolinas will have to wait for Sinclair Broadcast Group — which now owns several Fox Sports regional broadcasters — to finalize its agreement with the NHL for local broadcasts of the new playoff format, which should be complete by the end of the week. While the announcers are employed by the team, FS Carolinas does have right of final approval, which is not expected to be a stumbling block.

News Observer LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188252 Carolina Hurricanes up the scrimmage practices, that will be a component we throw in — the noise level and the emotion in the practice.

“We’re trying to up the ante on the communication part, making sure Empty, silent PNC Arena prepares Canes for unique playoff atmosphere we’re talking a lot, keeping energy up, because it won’t be in the rink.” in Toronto The Canes will have one exhibition game in Toronto, against the Washington Capitals on July 29. That’s fine with Brind’Amour, who said BY CHIP ALEXANDER Wednesday “one game is perfect” as a test run to get a feel for the pace, for game speed. JULY 15, 2020 03:06 PM After not being a part of the since 2009, the Canes made their “Bunch of Jerks” appearance last season a memorable one. Many of the players now have the experience of the playoff grind, of The Carolina Hurricanes are holding training camp in PNC Arena, before handling playoff pressure, of winning playoff games. more than 18,000 empty seats, with only the voices of the players and coaches being heard during practice. Advantage, Canes?

You know, just like it will be in the games in Toronto. “In this situation I really think everybody is kind of a rookie,” Brind’Amour said in his Wednesday media call. “You just don’t know how it’s going to In the NHL’s Return to Play format, there will be no fans in the seats. Not affect you, going out there and not having that emotion. To me, what in Toronto, where 12 Eastern Conference teams will be playing makes playoff hockey so great is the emotion of it. It’s the energy in the postseason games, or in Edmonton for the Western Conference building. It wows you at times. competition. Not during a pandemic. “That’s where experience can help you. If that’s not in the building, it will “It’s going to be awkward, absolutely,” Canes forward Justin Williams be interesting to see. I think it’s going to affect everyone a little differently. said. I don’t know how much experience is going to matter in these playoffs.” The playoffs, especially for the Canes, often have made for the biggest, rowdiest party in town. Tailgating, music, cold beverages of every sort. PNC Arena has been the place to be and Canes fans known for jacking News Observer LOADED: 07.16.2020 up the decibel levels during playoff games.

But Scotiabank Arena in Toronto will be an empty place. It will be game after game after game, with, yes, only the voices of the players and coach being heard during play.

“And if the microphones are really good there’s going to be a lot of bleeping out,” Williams quipped.

Oh, there will be some of that needed on the telecasts. Hockey can be a chippy sport, especially in the postseason, and a few choice words — four-letter and otherwise — are uttered, loudly.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour has been known to blurt out a few of his own from behind the bench.

“That’s one thing I do not pride myself on, that I do have the occasional slip-ups there,” he said in a media Zoom call. “I can’t imagine anyone will really care, though.”

Probably not. The teams are going to Toronto to win hockey games, even in what should be a sterile, silent environment. For the Canes, it begins Aug. 1 in the Stanley Cup qualifying round against the New York Rangers.

Deciding the 2020 Stanley Cup champion during a coronavirus pandemic will be a challenging, stressful experience for everyone. To keep the competition safe, there will be a lot of testing and no fans in the stands or any fan interaction.

“I think the players think it’s going to be OK, like, ‘Yeah it’ll be all right, we’re competitors,’” Brind’Amour said. “But I think it will be the biggest factor going, walking out into a building where you’re used to stepping out on the ice and getting juiced from the crowd and it’s not there.

“That’s going to take some time and adjustment. A huge adjustment.”

Some of the Canes have done it before while playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL. In January 2018 a snowstorm in Charlotte made travel hazardous and brought the city to a halt, but the Checkers game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers was played as scheduled in an empty Bojangles’ Coliseum, which seats 8,600.

“It was different but I didn’t notice any difference in game intensity,” Jason Shaya, the Checkers’ broadcast play-by-play man, said of the Checkers 4-3 win. “Once the puck drops, guys want to win. Their internal drive kicks in.”

Brind’Amour is counting on that . He’s also hoping that holding training camp practices at PNC Arena, as opposed to the smaller practice rinks some teams are using, might be a slight advantage once at Scotiabank Arena.

“That’s exactly what you’re going to have,” he said. “The noise you’re creating in practice is what you’ll get in a game. When we start ramping 1188253 Chicago Blackhawks switching. Then we found a little chemistry with (Jonathan Toews), and that was huge for me to play with a guy like him. I can learn a lot from a player like him, and he made it a little easier.”

5 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks camp, including a wide-open If he wins, Kubalik would be the first Czech-born player and 10th Hawks goaltender competition and Malcolm Subban smooth-talking his father player to receive the honor. Kane and Artemi Panarin (2015-16) are the team’s most recent winners.

By CHRIS SOSA The Calder winner will be announced during the conference finals, which are tentatively set to begin in early September. Vancouver Canucks CHICAGO TRIBUNE defenseman Quinn Hughes, who led all rookies with 53 points, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar are the other finalists. JUL 15, 2020 AT 7:45 PM 4. There’s a bright side to playing in a bubble.

Hawks forward Alex Nylander spent much of his time during the league Day 3 of Chicago Blackhawks summer camp again was held without shutdown in Chicago. When the NHL reached phase two of its return-to- goaltender Corey Crawford and defenseman Calvin de Haan. play plan, he worked out with , Jonathan Toews and other Crawford still is considered “unfit to play,” coach Jeremy Colliton said, teammates, getting a feel for how they might normally train in the and has not reported to camp. De Haan missed his second straight day offseason. of practice with a family emergency. “I learned a lot and got to see what they like to do during the summer Here are five takeaways as the Hawks prepare for their playoff series training,” Nylander said. “We all became really close and golfed a lot. We against the Edmonton Oilers. had to wear a mask always (at the arena), and then we had that two-hour time slot that we had to keep every day. We had had to get on the ice 1. There’s no front-runner in the goaltender competition. quick and then do our workouts after. We did skate a lot.”

The team is rotating which work with the first unit; it was Bonding with his teammates on the links and adjusting to life during the Collin Delia’s and Kevin Lankinen’s turn Wednesday while Malcolm pandemic have served as preparation for what awaits in the Western Subban and Matt Tomkins were on the second rink. Conference bubble in Edmonton, Nylander said.

“It could be an opportunity of a lifetime,” Subban said if he’s tapped to “It’s going to be fun,” he said. “We’re always going to be with each other, step in for Corey Crawford. with this group of guys, so I think we won’t have a problem. We’re just going to enjoy our time there in our little bubble and be prepared for Subban has the most NHL experience of the four with 58 career starts. every game for the playoffs, which we’re really excited for.” That includes 19 with the Vegas Golden Knights this season before the Hawks acquired him in a trade in February. The last time Delia started for 5. The Blackhawks will be happy to see the St. Louis Blues. the Hawks was in March 2019. The Hawks will have a small runway into the postseason as they’re set to “We told those guys that they have some time here to prove themselves, face the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition game July 29 in Edmonton. The and we’re going to give everyone a chance,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. matchup against the defending Stanley Cup champs will be their first game action since beating the San Jose Sharks 6-2 on March 11 and 2. If it were up to Malcolm Subban’s father, he wouldn’t even have been their last before the puck drops in Game 1 against the Oilers. a goaltender. “It’s important to play a game,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We’ve got to Blackhawks goaltender Malcolm Subban protects the net from teammate get back into the routine and getting used to how everything works Patrick Kane during practice on July 13, 2020, at Fifth Third Arena. around a game, your meetings and just getting to the rink and getting Malcolm Subban grew up in Toronto with two hockey-playing brothers, prepared and playing with referees and all those things that we’re not the oldest of whom is star defenseman P.K. Subban. really having a chance to do. Although Malcolm Subban’s choice to play goaltender appears to have “We’re scrimmaging and we’re going to continue to scrimmage to try and worked out, his father initially had other ideas. duplicate that feeling as much as we can, but that exhibition game is “I wanted to be a goalie when I was really young, when house league going to be really important for us so that we can be great in Game 1.” started. He was talking me out of it for about seven years,” Subban said, laughing. “In house league when different kids didn’t want to take their turn, I would be the guy who would go in the net for them, and the team Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.16.2020 recognized that and let me take the gear home a couple times to use with my brothers. That was pretty cool.

“(My dad) never wanted me to get into it seriously, but finally when I was 11, turning 12, and I was going to a different team (that he wasn’t coaching), I told him I wanted to be a goaltender and he finally caved in and gave me the opportunity.”

3. Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane have something in common.

Not to say that Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane are anywhere near the same player, but Kubalik did get a nice pat on the back Wednesday when he was named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, given to the NHL’s top rookie. Kane won the award in 2007-08.

The 24-year-old Kubalik had 30 goals — tops among rookies and 17th overall in the NHL — and 16 assists in 68 games this season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. His 46 points were third among league rookies and third on the Hawks. His 30 goals were second on the team to Kane’s 33.

Kubalik got particularly hot down the stretch. He racked up 28 points, including 19 goals, in the final 29 games. His signature performance came in a 5-2 road win over the Lightning on Feb. 27, when he notched his first hat trick.

“The first 20, 25 games were tough,” Kubalik said. “I just didn’t play how I wanted. As a team, we were up and down too, so the lines were 1188254 Chicago Blackhawks but I believe most aren’t consciously trying to disrespect Indigenous people.

“We celebrate Black Hawk’s legacy by offering ongoing reverent Column: Can you compromise on the Chicago Blackhawks nickname? I examples of Native American culture, traditions and contributions, went through a similar crisis of conscience with Washington’s NFL team. providing a platform for genuine dialogue with local and national Native American groups,” the team said in its statement.

By PHIL THOMPSON The problem is, fans’ intentions — or the team’s — might not matter in this case. As Native American advocates have said, the imagery and CHICAGO TRIBUNE names, odes to past conquests of Indians, do the disrespecting for you.

JUL 15, 2020 AT 7:00 AM Original Hawks owner Frederic McLaughlin named his team after the 86th Infantry “Black Hawk” division, of which he commanded the 333rd

machine gun battalion during World War I. The division has a black bird If you grew up in Virginia in the 1980s and early ‘90s, the Washington with the initials “BH” inside a red shield as its insignia. seemed omnipresent. As reader Brad Gallant pointed out, the U.S. Army’s Center of Military You might not have cared about the Washington Bullets-turned-Wizards, History notes: “The personnel of the division was originally drawn from and the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers didn’t arrive until the the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, formerly the territory mid-‘90s. But you best believe the Washington NFL franchise’s burgundy inhabited by Chief Black Hawk and his tribe. The insignia is a tribute to and gold blanketed the mid-Atlantic from Maryland to South Carolina, the pioneers of this sector, and in recognition of their prowess in battles and the region reveled in three Super Bowl victories between 1982 and with the Indians.” 1991. It’s a symbol of conquest, of the Sauk Tribe’s defeat, not victory. My favorite moment remains Doug Williams making history as the first Ironically, American Indians and Alaska natives “serve in the Armed African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl and leading the Forces at five times the national average,” according to a 2018 White team to an upset win over the Denver Broncos after the 1987 season. House proclamation.

But the present can be a harsh lens through which to view your Native American advocates say “mascoting” does damage in overt and childhood. subtle ways, and what’s more, it’s not the mainstream’s culture to use.

In the light of adulthood, appalling symbols and Images are ingrained in Yes, some Native Americans say they are offended by these symbols, my memory: the cartoonish Native American-themed fight song “Hail to but many say they aren’t. the Redskins,” the lyrics of which were composed by the wife of original We shouldn’t ignore their dissent because some feel strongly about their owner and white supremacist George Preston Marshall; the Plains good intentions and what’s in their heart. It’s like a person who insists he Indian-style get-up of the late superfan Zema Williams, whose fake or she is in a happy marriage as the spouse walks out the door with a headdress and red jacket transformed him into unofficial mascot Chief suitcase in each hand. Zee; and the taunts traded between Washington and archrival Dallas Cowboys fans. Too often, despite “intentions,” Indian-themed nicknames can be weaponized. In 2016, an Ohio high school’s cheerleaders held up a sign “We’re going to scalp the Cowboys,” many a Washington fan has said. telling the rival Indians: “Welcome to the Trail of Tears,” which in essence “We’re going to skin the Redskins,” a Cowboys fan might reply. is “mocking a historical event where an estimated 4,000 Cherokee natives died, being marched across country, being made to eat grass “The word ‘Redskins,’ it’s graphic terminology on how we were hunted for and being made to leave family members behind (to die) when they fell,” bounty,” said Juaquin Hamilton, an Oklahoma resident and member of said Stephanie Fryberg, a University of Washington professor of the Sac and Fox Nation. “There was a certain amount of money that was psychology and a member of the Tulalip Tribe. paid (by government officials) to these people that would hunt us down: (a price) for a male, a certain amount paid for a female, there was also a “It opens the door for people to be insensitive and to create pain I think certain amount paid for children, if (bounty hunters) brought their scalps teams just don’t think about,” she said. back.” The Hawks committed to keeping the name but added in their statement Over the years, I felt increasingly uneasy about rooting for the team as I they “will do so with a commitment to evolve.” learned more about the nickname and its ugly history, to the point I “It sounds like they are kind of giving themselves a back door to make a wouldn’t say its name, wear the Indian-head logo or publicly root for the change if adequate pressure is applied,” said Bryan Pollard, associate team. But in hindsight, it was not early enough for my own conscience. director and former president at the Native American Journalists I know firsthand that only a few years ago, some die-hard fans would Association. “So we’ll see. But the pressure is coming. have viewed you as a turncoat for suggesting a name change. It “Honestly, what’s happening with the (Washington) NFL team is really amounted to sacrilege. causing momentum to build. This is an issue that has been percolating.” Finally, team ownership announced Monday it is “retiring” the name and Incidentally, I made a humble attempt at a compromise solution, which logo. To be clear, there hardly is a symbol as repugnant as “Redskins” — didn’t go over as well as hoped with Pollard and Indigenous rights except perhaps the now-banned logo of the Cleveland advocate . Indians, who also are considering a name change. The idea: Keep the name “Blackhawks” but change the imagery to a Having lived and worked in Chicago for more than two decades, I wonder large “black sparrow hawk,” in the spirit of Chief Black Hawk’s Sauk whether young Blackhawks fans, 20 or 30 years from now, will view their name, Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak. devotion to the nickname with the same regret. Make the imagery about the bird and still pay tribute to the man. Perhaps Full disclaimer: In covering the Hawks for the Tribune, I see and have the team could put up a statue of Black Hawk outside the United Center, talked with the staff and players and doubt any of them would want to be like “The Eternal Indian” statue in Oregon, Ill., that depicts him. associated with a name or logo that’s a symbol of racism or white supremacy. I also suggested removing the sweaters‘ Indian head on the chest and crossed tomahawks on the shoulders and replacing them with bird logos After all, the team noted in a statement last week that the name is meant designed in authentic Sauk style in collaboration with Sac and Fox Nation to pay tribute to Sac and Fox war leader Chief Black Hawk and “we artists. recognize there is a fine line between respect and disrespect.” The Seattle Seahawks bird emblem evokes authentic Native American But speaking from experience, it’s easy to rationalize your “benign” artistry without mocking it. feelings for a nickname and be blind to its true history. Yes, some fans have crossed the line into mocking parody of Native American culture, “It was done in cooperation with a lot of the Northwest coast (tribal) artists,” Harjo said. “Is it still ? Yes. But it was done with a request and permission and ‘Please, let’s do this together.' And it was a collaborative effort.”

Still, both Harjo and Pollard said any compromise that keeps “Blackhawks” as a name would be problematic.

“If it were a school, there would be dignity in naming the school (after) Black Hawk: ‘Chief Black Hawk School,’ ” Harjo said. But Chicago’s NHL team should be “named something entirely different — maybe the Hawks … maybe the Sparrow Hawks, but something completely not human. And get rid of Tommy Hawk. I mean, please. And the simpleton (Indian-head) drawing.”

“It’s still a reductionist act,” Pollard said. “You’re still taking someone who had significant stature in Indigenous communities and history and reducing that person to a mascot.

“Any kind of Native American person or community or tribe, whether it’s literal or figurative, can’t be used as a mascot. … That is turning the significant history or culture of those people into a caricature, and it can’t be used.

“A much more reasonable way to go, if the team is genuine in honoring that (legacy) — which I have to say I’m extremely suspect whether that’s true — then, yes, by all means erect a statue in that person’s honor. Put it in front of the arena. Talk about the significance of that person and the fact that at one time the team’s name was attached to this person — but that changed, and this is why it changed.

“Acknowledge the harm and the reasons that changed and what the path forward is and how the path forward is going to be a genuine path of mutual respect and collaboration with this tribe in order to honor this person.”

It’s familiar territory. My intentions were well-meaning but likely fell short.

I don’t envy the decision makers within the Hawks front office, who I believe may be equally well-meaning but are caught in a social movement’s crosshairs.

Whatever Chicago’s NHL franchise decides — keep the nickname, find a new one or arrive at a compromise with tribal groups — ultimately history will judge whether it was the right call.

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Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.16.2020

Blackhawks goalie Malcolm Subban readying for ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ with Corey Crawford absent

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jul 15, 2020, 5:32pm CDT

The Blackhawks probably know where Corey Crawford is, what he’s dealing with and if they’ll have him back by Aug. 1.

But they aren’t saying.

That means Malcolm Subban is, for now, the leading candidate to start in goal against the Oilers.

Subban was one of the first six players to attend the Hawks’ first informal Phase 2 workouts at Fifth Third Arena on June 10, indicating he might’ve known for a while about the huge opportunity ahead of him. In fact, he has participated in every workout and practice that he possibly could’ve since hockey returned from its coronavirus shutdown.

When asked Wednesday when he found out about Crawford’s mysterious situation, however, Subban awkwardly bumbled through his response, clearly unsure how much to disclose.

“Kind of like the first day . . . when I . . . when we didn’t see him here, obviously,” Subban said. “So I don’t really know too much about what’s going on; it’s kind of just a day-by-day thing. But, yeah, that’s pretty much all I know.”

The NHL has made it clear with its universal ‘‘unfit to play’’ designation that it wants nothing disclosed. It’s a move designed to protect players’ privacy in case they’ve caught COVID-19, even though it conversely leads to rampant speculation that all ‘‘unfit’’ players indeed have contracted COVID-19.

So, internally, it’s likely the coaching staff and players have at least some general idea of whether to plan for Crawford’s eventual return.

That makes it interesting that Subban was far more decisive about one of his other comments: “It could end up being the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Without a doubt, this is a huge chance for Subban, 26, to resurrect his career. He was highly touted as the Bruins’ first-round pick in 2012 — brother P.K.’s superstardom only slightly contributing to that status — and had a solid 2017-18 NHL debut season with the expansion Golden Knights, going 13-4-2 with a .910 save percentage.

The last two years have seen a major decline in his play, though. He dropped to 8-10-2 with a .902 save percentage in 2018-19, then improved his record to 9-7-3 but saw his save percentage fall to an ugly .890 this season.

When the Knights acquired Robin Lehner at the deadline, Subban was basically a throw-in in the package headed back to the Hawks. He played only 71 seconds in the eight games between the deadline and the coronavirus shutdown, and if he leaves as a free agent this fall, he could end up having the shortest Hawks stint ever (looking strictly at the regular season).

But the man with the shortest Hawks career is now, incredibly, the man they might have to count on to backstop their playoff run.

Subban is hoping his maximum practice time this summer will help him capitalize on the chance.

“We were skating for three or four weeks, and I thought I was back on the little small things,” he said. “And then I got out with [goalie coach Jimmy Waite] for the first time and realized I still had a lot of stuff to work on. But just getting out there and trying to correct those little habits that formed and also getting back into game shape, every skate will help.”

Subban will have to fend off Collin Delia, who has more familiarity with the organization and excelled in the latter half of the AHL season.

Given Subban’s NHL experience and contract status, though, it’s safe to say he’s the favorite for now.

Unless, of course, Crawford suddenly appears. 1188256 Chicago Blackhawks almost certainly won’t win this year; Makar and Hughes stand alone as the neck-and-neck front-runners.

But the finalist designation still serves as a shiny cherry on top of Blackhawks’ Dominik Kubalik amazed to be Calder Trophy finalist: ‘I just Kubalik’s fantastic debut season. couldn’t believe it’

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jul 15, 2020, 11:31am CDT

Forward Dominik Kubalik’s impressive rookie season has earned him a fully deserved title: Calder Trophy finalist.

The NHL announced Wednesday that Kubalik, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes were the top three vote-getters in the race for Rookie of the Year.

On a Zoom interview virtually alongside Makar and Hughes, Kubalik was characteristically understated at first: “I think the season was pretty good, yeah,” he said.

But after a few minutes, the significance of the achievement started to seep into his emotions. He said he found out about being a finalist Tuesday, a day before the official announcement, then came close to tearing up on the call.

“It’s an honor,’’ he said. ‘‘I just couldn’t believe it. Coming from Europe, obviously you have some goals, but you don’t think you could be a finalist for something like that.

“It’s just great. Lots of guys could be here, too, so I’m really happy that I’m here. It’s kind of hard to talk about it.”

Indeed, Kubalik — despite his immediate success in his first North American season — never seemed to fully believe what was happening.

The 24-year-old Czech import frequently mentioned, all year long, how happy he was to simply be on the Blackhawks’ roster.

After being a healthy scratch Nov. 7, Kubalik was harsher on himself than coach Jeremy Colliton, who scratched him.

“I’ve got to do a better job, that’s for sure, to help my teammates,” Kubalik said.

And even when his scoring erupted — he had a stretch of 10 goals in eight games between Jan. 5 and Jan. 19 — Kubalik remained as bewildered as all those watching from the outside.

“I’ve got so much luck on my stick right now,” he said in Ottawa on Jan. 14.

“It sounds unreal,” he said a few days later in Toronto, surrounded by a mob of reporters after scoring one of the NHL’s goals of the year. “I don’t know what happened there.”

Yet his self-amazement never crossed the line into fluster, and Kubalik’s confidence, poise and knack for getting open in high-danger areas only increased as the season went along.

He credited captain Jonathan Toews — his most common linemate — for helping with that on Wednesday.

Kubalik squeaked onto the 30-goal plateau with a rocketing slap shot in the final minutes of the Sharks-Hawks game March 11, which turned out to be the last game of the regular season.

He finished with 30 goals and 16 assists in 68 games, leading all rookies in goals by a wide margin. Buffalo’s Victor Olofsson and Dallas’ Denis Gurianov tied for second with 20.

Even more impressive, 26 of his goals came at even strength, good for seventh in the NHL in that regard — ahead of Patrick Kane, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.

“It’s a big honor, a big accolade for him, which he fully deserves,” Colliton said. “He has an excellent work ethic, very coachable, great skater, great release, loves playing the game, great personality in the room. So we’re very happy he’s part of our team and happy that he’s being recognized for the season he had.”

It has been only four years since the Hawks boasted a Calder Trophy winner, with Artemi Panarin taking it home in 2015-16. And Kubalik 1188257 Chicago Blackhawks These new finds will become especially valuable in the coming years because they’ll be available on cheap entry-level contracts, which the Hawks can stuff in around their expensive, aging core in order to stay Blackhawks shuffle hockey operations personnel to adjust to flat salary compliant with a stagnant NHL salary cap. cap era Once expected to rise to $84 million to $88 million, the cap will instead stay at $81.5 million next season, the league announced last week.

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST “That’s really the key if you want to have success in a system where the cap’s not growing — you need to have those young players,” Bowman Jul 15, 2020, 6:30am CDT said. “It provides the opportunity to remain competitive. You’re going to rely on those guys, give them bigger roles, more opportunity.”

The Blackhawks quietly shuffled the job titles of several front-office employees during the coronavirus pandemic, not long after firing Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 president John McDonough and effectively ending the previous era of the franchise.

The motivation behind the shuffling was twofold, general manager Stan Bowman said Monday — first, to give greater weight and influence to some younger voices, and second, to put more resources toward finding cheap, young players who can help the Hawks survive their impending salary-cap crunch.

“We took this as an opportunity, with the pause in the season, to look at where we were as an organization and where the league was heading and how we were going to be better positioned to be successful in the future,” Bowman said.

The Hawks promoted Mark Eaton, Ryan Stewart and Kyle Davidson to assistant general managers — in player development, pro scouting and hockey administration, respectively.

They also promoted Mike Doneghey from head USA scout to director of player evaluation and recruitment and filled Doneghey’s old role by promoting one of their amateur scouts, Rob Facca.

Meanwhile, Norm Maciver — a 13-year veteran of the front office — was technically demoted from assistant general manager to vice president of player personnel.

“Looking at our makeup, we had a lot of younger people that were ready for bigger roles,” Bowman said. “When I say that, I’m talking about Ryan Stewart, Mark Eaton and Kyle Davidson. The three of those guys were really blossoming in their current roles and ready to do more.”

Eaton, 43, has adopted an especially large public role. The retired NHL defenseman has worked closely in recent years with Adam Boqvist, Ian Mitchell, Nicolas Beaudin and other defensemen to aid their development in junior and college hockey.

Stewart, 46, was a Hawks video and assistant coach from 2006 to 2008 before shifting into scouting.

Davidson, 32, started as a Rockford IceHogs intern and spent the last nine years dealing with the salary cap and player contracts.

After many years of constancy in the front office, Danny Wirtz’s move into the interim president role has brought a more businesslike approach to running the Hawks. Eaton, Stewart and Davidson are expected to similarly alter the dynamic.

Maciver’s “demotion” is the most curious change.

“If you look around the league, it’s not a surprise to see that most teams have two — some teams have three — assistant GMs because those responsibilities in today’s game are expanding,” Bowman said. “We found that we put a lot on Norm’s plate.”

Now, the assistant GM duties will be split up more evenly among Eaton, Stewart and Davidson. Maciver will instead lead a newly formed group of scouts, including Doneghey.

“[With] Norm’s background as an assistant coach in Boston . . . he’s really good at identifying players,” Bowman said. “We wanted to try to give him an opportunity to do more of that. He’s going to have a number of people who report to him, and he’s responsible for guiding that whole group.”

The Hawks hope the new Maciver-led team will be able to find young and/or overlooked players with NHL-caliber talent. Most players fitting that bill will be in the European leagues — where the Hawks historically have had great luck finding diamonds, from Artemi Panarin to David Kampf to Dominik Kubalik — as well as in college hockey. 1188258 Chicago Blackhawks "It's a big honor. Big accolade for him, which he fully deserves," Colliton said. "Really happy with his progression as the year went on. ...

"Like any young guy there (were) some ups and downs to his game, but I Chicago Blackhawks forward Kubalik named Calder Trophy finalist thought he was able to snap back quickly and get back to his maximum level."

John Dietz Mitchell deal:

Follow @johndietzdh The Hawks and defenseman Ian Mitchell decided they will not burn a year of his entry-level contract this season, according to The Athletic's Updated Scott Powers. Mitchell, 21, was drafted in the second round by the Hawks in 2017 and played the last three seasons for the University of 7/15/2020 9:47 PM Denver. His contract will run through the 2022-23 season.

Status quo: An incredible season has led to an incredible honor for Dominik Kubalik There was no change in the status of goaltender Corey Crawford (unfit to on Wednesday as the Blackhawks forward was named a finalist for the play) or defenseman Calvin de Haan (family emergency) on Wednesday. Calder Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie. The Hawks will not practice Thursday. Kubalik, who scored 30 goals in 68 games, became just the fifth rookie in franchise history to reach that milestone. What makes the feat so remarkable is Kubalik did it during a shortened season while averaging a Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 paltry 14 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time and seeing very little action on the first-unit power play.

"It's an honor. I just couldn't believe it," said the 24-year-old Kubalik, who scored 25 goals in the Swiss-A league last season and was acquired by the Hawks in a trade with Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2019. "Coming from Europe obviously you have some goals, but you don't (dream) that high -- like to be a (Calder) finalist.

"It's just great. A lot of (other) guys could be here too, so I'm really happy that I'm here."

The two other finalists are both defensemen -- Colorado's Cale Makar (12G, 38A in 57 GP) and Vancouver's Quinn Hughes (8G, 45A in 68 GP). Hughes became just the third D-man in the modern era to top all rookies in scoring. Meanwhile, Makar's 0.88 points per game is a feat accomplished by only three other rookie blue liners in NHL history.

Kubalik flashed a wicked shot during training camp and exhibition games, but he struggled to find his footing early in the regular season and was even a healthy scratch in Game 15 vs. Vancouver and Game 22 vs. Tampa Bay.

That second benching elicited the response coach Jeremy Colliton was looking for from the normally affable Kubalik -- anger.

"The one time he maybe wasn't surprised to come out," Colliton said Wednesday after the Hawks practiced at Fifth Third Arena. "Then the reaction you want to get is they're angry about coming out.

"(The second) time we got that, and going through that sometimes can help you reach another level of consistency where you're just not going to allow yourself to be in that conversation of coming in and out of the lineup."

Two weeks after sitting out that 4-2 loss to the Lightning, Kubalik found himself on the top line with Jonathan Toews.

That's when everything started to click. Suddenly, Kubalik -- who had just 6 goals in his first 27 appearances -- was scoring at will and tearing up the league.

A 15-goal outburst in just 21 games skyrocketed Kubalik's goal total to 21 by Game 50. His 30th goal came in the Hawks' final game, a 6-2 victory over San Jose on March 11.

"I had 15 and was like, 'OK, let's try to reach 20.' " Kubalik told me just a week before the NHL paused the season due to the coronavirus. "Then I was like, 'OK. Still hungry, so let's (get) to 25.'

"Then I (hit) 25 pretty quick and was like, 'OK, we've got 27. Twenty- eight! Twenty-nine! (Expletive!) What's going on here?"

Kubalik would be the first Czech-born player to win the Calder as well as the 10th in Hawks history. The last two were Artemi Panarin (2015-16) and Patrick Kane (2007-08).

Kubalik was No. 1 among rookies and No. 7 overall in shooting percentage (19.1) and also was in the top 10 among rookies in shots on goal (1st; 157), points (3rd; 46), power-play goals (t-6th; 4), game- winning goals (t‑6th; 3), assists (t-9th; 16) and power-play points (t-10th; 8). 1188259 Chicago Blackhawks

How Malcolm Subban is preparing for potential 'opportunity of a lifetime'

By Charlie Roumeliotis

July 15, 2020 7:15 PM

When Robin Lehner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL trade deadline, you knew the Blackhawks were going to ride Corey Crawford down the stretch as long as they were mathematically in the playoff hunt. And that's exactly what happened.

Malcolm Subban, who was part of the package coming back to Chicago, logged only 70 seconds of ice time in a Blackhawks sweater prior to the March 12 pause after being called upon for a brief relief appearance. But his role could be expanding in a significant way ahead of the NHL’s Return to Play tournament.

Crawford has been absent for the first three days of training camp after being ruled "unfit to play," which has opened the door for Subban to potentially serve as the Blackhawks' starter for their qualifying round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers if Crawford isn't ready.

"It could end up being the opportunity of a lifetime," Subban said. "For me, it's just taking it day by day and continuing to work hard and making sure I'm ready if I get an opportunity."

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

Head coach Jeremy Colliton made it clear on Day 1 that it will be an open competition as the Blackhawks prepare for the possibility of life without Crawford. Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins will have as equal a shot as Subban to make their case, with all four rotating in and out with the NHL regulars' group during camp.

"We have a situation now where we’ve talked about it being open competition for a spot, whether that’s the starting position or the backup when we start come playoff time," Colliton said. "I think the work ethic from all of those guys has been good and that makes us feel good about the preparation they’re doing to take hold of that opportunity."

But Subban may have a slight leg up on the competition. He was one of only four Blackhawks — along with Alex DeBrincat, Alex Nylander and Patrick Kane — who participated in Phase 2 of voluntary workouts at Fifth Third Arena from start to finish and has the most career starts (60) among the four goaltenders.

Despite all that, Subban still feels like he has a long way to go before getting his timing right. He's taking full advantage of every practice session with goaltending coach Jimmy Waite and ironing out the fundamentals of his game because coaches weren’t allowed on the ice during Phase 2.

But Subban is slowly working his way back into form and getting more comfortable with each practice.

“We were skating for three or four weeks and I thought I was back on the little small things,” Subban said. “And then got out with Jimmy for the first time and realized I still had a lot of stuff to work on. But just getting out there and trying to correct those little bad habits that form and also getting back into game shape. Every skate will help.“

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Why Blackhawks' Phase 3 training camp has had an extra intensity

By Scott King

July 15, 2020 3:43 PM

From the minute the Blackhawks' summer camp started on Monday, it was straight to business.

Unlike the usual team training camp that starts in September in preparation for the start of a new season ahead, there's no time to get back in the swing of things with the NHL's 24-team playoffs approaching.

Come July 26th, the Hawks will be traveling to Edmonton for the postseason. Prior to the first contest of a best-of-five play-in series against the Oilers beginning on Aug. 1, the Hawks will be facing off against the St. Louis Blues, the NHL's defending Stanley Cup champions, on July 29th in an exhibition game.

Despite where the Hawks' players were spread out across the grid during the NHL pause, which began on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how good of shape they were able to get in for the league's Return To Play, they were put to work by Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton on Day 1 monday and that's still the case through Day 3.

"I think the coaches had somewhat of a game plan coming in, we expected they were going to be hard practices and they have been," Blackhawks forward Dylan Strome said after Day 2's session. "They’ve been up-tempo, we did some power play at the end today. We’re getting back into it, starting to feel good.

"Obviously it takes a while to get back with the full team and feeling great again, but we’re doing the right things to feel good about ourselves and about our game. I’m sure the practices are going to ramp it up even more; every team’s going through the same thing. There’s what, 11, 12 days left of practices and camp? We’re looking forward to it. it’s going to be a grind but it’s a good grind for the right reasons, so we’re looking forward to it."

Drills, scrimmages and sprints starting with Day 1 and not subsiding through Day 3, didn't allow for much, 'So what did you do during the pause' idle chatter amongst teammates. At the first session on Monday, the team sprinted laps for more than 15 minutes before the end of practice.

The duration of the sprints shortened a little bit for Days 2 and 3, but seemed more challenging as the Hawks were doing laps broken up into groups on Day 2 around certain parts of the ice in a pattern and down the middle of the ice on Day 3.

Along with basic drills, scrimmages and conditioning, the Hawks have been working more on specific game situations like breaking out of the defensive zone and Colliton said the team will be prepping more specifically for their matchup with the Oilers as camp drags on as well.

And Strome was right, it was all part of a game plan.

"Well, we don’t have much time and we’ve got to make use of every day we have," Colliton said after Day 1. "That’s the upside of having that Phase 2 was relatively long. Most of the guys have had a chance to be on (the ice) and get up to speed. It wasn’t the first time they’ve been on the ice. These guys have been training at a high level, even if it wasn’t perfect conditions. These guys are pros and they’re ready.

"We’re trying to be as smart as we can with the loads. There wasn’t a lot of stops and starts. There was a lot of skating. We’re trying to get their skating legs back. I think we had a little bit of everything today. We had some habits, some pace, some contact, some battles and compete things. Some 5-on-5 play. They had a chance to scrimmage. We’re going to see a lot of that.

"There’s only one exhibition game we think. Trying to get them (to) that game level, that game feeling as quick as we can. So we’re gonna scrimmage quite a bit here as we move through this camp. Again, we don’t have much time so we’ve got to make use of every day."

1188261 Chicago Blackhawks

Report: Defenseman Ian Mitchell officially signs with Blackhawks

By Scott King

July 15, 2020 2:13 PM

On Wednesday, The Athletic's Scott Powers reported that the Blackhawks officially signed defenseman Ian Mitchell, 21, to a three-year entry-level contract, beginning next season.

He would have been ineligible to play with the Hawks in the play-in round of the NHL's 24-team playoffs this summer and would have burned the first year of his contract if he joined the team for Phase 3 training camp leading up to the postseason.

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

The blueliner, who spent the past three seasons at the University of Denver, was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round (No. 57 overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

On April 13, Mitchell agreed to the terms of the contract but because of the NHL pause and the unknown circumstances at the time, the start date wasn't yet determined.

The defenseman has been thought of as a key piece to the Blackhawks' future since his selection. He captained Denver this past season and set a career high in goals (10) and points (32) through 36 games.

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Blackhawks' Dominik Kubalik named 2019-20 Calder Trophy finalist

By Charlie Roumeliotis

July 15, 2020 11:30 AM

Dominik Kubalik was named one of three finalists for the 2019-20 Calder Trophy, which is annually awarded to the league's top rookie, the NHL announced Wednesday. Vancouver's Quinn Hughes and Colorado's Cale Makar rounded out the group, respectively.

"It's an honor," an emotional Kubalik said in a video conference call. "I just couldn't believe it. Coming from Europe, obviously you have some goals, but you don't think that high to be a finalist or something like that. It's just great. Lots of guys could be here, too, so I'm really happy that I'm here. It's very hard to talk about it."

Kubalik is the first Blackhawks rookie to be named a finalist since Artemi Panarin, who took home the hardware in 2016. Only eight others in franchise history have won the award: Mike Karakas (1936), Carl Dahlstrom (1938), Ed Litzenberger (1955), William Hay (1960), Tony Esposito (1970), Steve Larmer (1983), Ed Belfour (1991) and Patrick Kane (2008).

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Kubalik led all rookies this season with 30 goals and ranked third with 46 points. The kicker is that 26 of his goals were scored at even strength. To put that into perspective, only three rookies have scored more than 26 goals at even strength in the last 20 years: Auston Matthews (32), Alex Ovechkin (28) and Patrik Laine (27).

The award will likely go to either Hughes or Makar, who ranked No. 1 and 2 among all rookies in scoring as defensemen, but that certainly doesn't take away from what Kubalik accomplished this season.

The 2020 NHL Awards were originally scheduled for June 18 in Las Vegas but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner will be announced at a later date.

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Source: Defenseman Ian Mitchell officially signs with Blackhawks

By Scott Powers

Jul 15, 2020

It’s finally official: Ian Mitchell has signed with the Blackhawks.

That scenario hasn’t been in question for some time. Mitchell made the commitment when he decided in March to turn pro and forgo his senior college season at the University of Denver.

The question was whether Mitchell would sign with the Blackhawks for the 2019-20 season or the 2020-21 season. That decision was going to impact him and the Blackhawks in a few different ways.

Well, we now have our answer. Mitchell, a second-round draft pick in 2017, will not burn the 2019-20 season and has signed a three-year entry-level agreement that will begin next season, according to a source.

Mitchell, 21, did have the option to sign for this season, but it came with caveats. The upside for Mitchell was it would allow him to get to his second contract earlier. He would have become a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 season. But he wouldn’t have been eligible to play in the play-in round or potentially the Stanley Cup playoffs. According to a source, Mitchell was less interested in signing this season when the NHL ruled players in his situation wouldn’t be able to play in games. He also would not have received his 2019-20 salary or signing bonus if he burned this season.

Instead, Mitchell will have three full seasons in the organization and then will become a restricted free agent after the 2022-23 season. He’ll be able to receive his full salary and signing bonus next season.

Mitchell’s contract also helps the Blackhawks down the road. Instead of having Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist and Mitchell, arguably the organization’s top three prospects, all become restricted free agents after the 2021-22 season, the Blackhawks will now only have to worry about Dach and Boqvist one offseason and can take care of Mitchell the following offseason.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman was expecting Mitchell to soon make a decision on when his contract would go into effect.

“There’s pluses and minuses to both to burning the year and not burning the year,” Bowman said Monday. “At the end of the day, we’ll probably conclude that pretty shortly here. Unfortunately, he’s not eligible to play for us right now, which would have been nice.”

Mitchell was considered the Blackhawks’ top unsigned prospect. He was among the top defenseman in college in the last few seasons. The Blackhawks traded Henri Jokiharju last offseason because of their confidence in Mitchell as a future NHL defenseman. Mitchell, Boqvist and Jokiharju are all right-handed defensemen. Mitchell is expected to compete for an NHL roster spot out of training camp next season.

As The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus also recently reported, defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk has also officially signed an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, according to a source. Kalynuk played at the University of Wisconsin the past three seasons.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188264 Chicago Blackhawks Is it fun? No. Hasn’t been fun for anyone these past four months. Is it smart? Is it worth it? Of course.

Kirby Dach, all of 19, said the weirdest part of hockey in the time of the Don’t be that guy: Blackhawks apply peer pressure to keep safe during coronavirus is “being trapped in your home.” It’s a feeling we’re all Phase 3 familiar with. But what’s two more weeks?

“Just not being able to go out,” Dach said. “You’ve got to go to the By Mark Lazerus grocery store, and all those things you’re used to are kind of taken away from you. It’s just being smart about our health and our team safety, and Jul 15, 2020 putting each other before ourselves, and sacrificing those things you might want to be able to do while hanging out in the city. You’ve got to be

smart.” Don’t fuck it up. Beyond the hub cities, hockey players live in a proverbial bubble That, according to a team source, was the very clear message delivered throughout their careers — they’re rich, they’re famous, their lives are in the Blackhawks’ locker room before Monday’s opening practice of strictly scripted and choreographed. But stars, they’re also like us. They summer camp. have kids. They have families. They have high-risk relatives. Some, like Montreal’s Max Domi, have underlying conditions that put them at For two weeks — just two damn weeks — don’t be that guy. Don’t be the significant risk. The Blackhawks are the third-youngest team in the 24- guy who goes out to a bar, picks up the coronavirus, brings it back to team tournament, but there are family men among them. Fifth Third Arena and ends the Blackhawks’ playoff dreams before they even reach the Edmonton bubble. Don’t put a nice meal ahead of your Brandon Saad has an 11-month-old son. So not only did he have to teammates. Don’t prioritize a shot and a beer over a shot at the Stanley navigate the pandemic back home in Pittsburgh during the pause like so Cup. many of us have, he had to decide whether to leave his family for who- knows-how-long to live in a bubble across the continent. Could be 10 Because it only takes one guy, one act of selfishness, to ruin it for days. Could be two months. everybody. It was a difficult decision to make. And you can be damn sure Saad’s not “It was one of the first things mentioned,” said Duncan Keith, whom the going to render that sacrifice meaningless by heading to a bar on an off team source said was one of the people to deliver the message. night during Phase 3. “Nobody’s quarantined right now, but we need to be smart, not only for ourselves but for our teammates, and the group as a whole. It’s pretty “Yeah, it’s tough,” Saad said. “Everyone as a hockey player wants to tough to win in a situation where several of your players are not able to play, but we’ve never faced situations like this. You think about it a little play.” bit, but at the end of the day, this is what we want to do, we want to play hockey, we want to compete for a Stanley Cup. But knowing that, I know The Blackhawks already are without Corey Crawford — arguably the the seriousness of the situation where you want to take all the most irreplaceable player on the roster — as he has been deemed “unfit precautions necessary. The NHL has done a great job, and as players to play” for now. That turned what looked like a winnable matchup with around here, I think everyone feels pretty comfortable and safe coming to the Edmonton Oilers into a much more daunting challenge. Crawford the rink with how things are set up. But it’s definitely a tough situation, didn’t participate in Phase 2 workouts, either. Regardless of whether leaving your family for who knows if it’s two weeks, if it’s two months. It’s Crawford becomes fit to play by Aug. 1, the Blackhawks can ill-afford to different for every guy. You just respect everyone’s decision.” lose anybody else. You respect a player’s decision to opt out, certainly. Family’s the one And while there’s nothing you can do to avoid a sprained ankle or a thing that’s allowed to come before teammates in the world of hockey. separated shoulder, there’s plenty you can do to avoid contracting But you don’t respect a player’s decision to go out. Not during a COVID-19. When you leave the rink, go home. pandemic. Not with a rare and (let’s face it) gift-wrapped crack at the Stanley Cup on the line. And stay home. “We’re happy for a chance to compete for a playoff series, so whatever There’s been no explicit order from Jeremy Colliton or Blackhawks extra precautions we have to take, that’s just what’s necessary, it’s what management for players to strictly quarantine themselves. Like we have to do,” Colliton said. “We’ve challenged our guys to commit to everybody else in Illinois, they’re free to shop for their own groceries in each other, that we’re going to do the right things in the rink and away person, or dine at a restaurant. But like everybody else in Illinois, they from the rink. Because we want to have a chance.” also have access to curbside pickup and delivery apps. If the goal is to just get to Edmonton with an intact roster, it’s not asking much to lock it down. It’s been four months of this. What’s two more weeks? The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 “It’s kind of on the player,” Dylan Strome said. “I think you’ve just got to do the right steps to be safe. I’m pretty sure everywhere I’ve been in Chicago over Phase 2, you have to wear a mask inside. I think some guys will go out for dinner and stuff, but I feel like it’s pretty safe right now, as long as you’re wearing a mask and doing the right things. You have to take it upon yourself. I’m sure guys aren’t having drinks at bars. We’re healthy guys, and hopefully we can all get through this Phase 3 and get ready for Phase 4.”

Essentially, the Blackhawks — and players all across the league — are on the honor system. It’s a decent system, because no other sport applies peer pressure as vigorously as hockey. This is a league in which any individuality is generally frowned upon, and anything that’s not done in the name of the team is considered blasphemous. This is hockey

Imagine the outrage if an outbreak occurred in an NHL locker room, and contact-tracing drew a direct line back to one player enjoying a night out on the town with buddies during Phase 3, with the Edmonton bubble mere days away. Because of NHL policy, the public might never find out who was at fault. But in that locker room, the truth would inevitably come out. And that player would instantly become a pariah.

So just drink the beer you have in the fridge. Get that veal parm delivered. Endure a weird Instacart substitution or two. It’s just a couple of weeks. Don’t fuck it up. 1188265 Chicago Blackhawks There is hope the NHL will rebound financially within a few years. Whenever fans are permitted back into arenas will be vital to that resurgence, but there’s also optimism with Seattle joining the league and A flat salary cap could affect next deals for Dylan Strome, Dominik a new U.S. TV deal coming after the 2020-21 season. Kubalik Kubalik’s contract possibilities aren’t as clear cut. Unlike Strome, he does have arbitration rights. And although his situation is unique because he signed a one-year, entry-level deal coming over from Europe, scoring 30 By Scott Powers goals usually carries some weight. One league source thought the Blackhawks would settle on a dollar figure long before allowing an Jul 15, 2020 arbitration case to occur out of fear of what could be awarded to Kubalik.

Kubalik and the Blackhawks might be able to find a happy place in Dylan Strome loves playing for the Blackhawks by all accounts. negotiations. The Blackhawks will need to keep Kubalik at an affordable number because of their cap restraints. Kubalik will want to align himself He was put in a position to succeed when he arrived. He was reunited to get paid handsomely on his third contract. He can probably land a with his close friend Alex DeBrincat. He has seemed to enjoy Chicago. It more lucrative long-term deal in a few years. doesn’t hurt he’s centering a line alongside Patrick Kane. One option could be for the Blackhawks and Kubalik to agree on a two- But like a lot of players who have been traded, he understands how year deal with a $3 million to $3.5 million cap hit. It would respect what quickly things can change. He could be here today and gone tomorrow. Kubalik did in his one season. He’d also still have one year of restricted That’s not what he wants, but he understands it’s possible. As they say, free agency left after the deal, then he and Blackhawks could discuss a it’s the reality of the business. long-term contract. For the Blackhawks, such a bridge deal would allow them to spend money on other needs, especially at goaltender, and Strome understands another business reality is now coming to the NHL better gauge what Kubalik is as a player. because of the pandemic. It’s one that will likely affect him and other young players who are on the verge of their second contracts. With the “I like him as a player, but you don’t want to be silly again,” one league salary-cap ceiling set to remain at $81.5 million for the 2020-21 season source said. “I wouldn’t pay him a whole lot after this season. Is he legit? and potentially even longer, teams are expected to be much more Is he going to score 20, 30 goals a season?” conservative in how they handle such contracts. The long-term deals with larger cap hits that were handed out in recent years will be sought to be Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman is likely having those same replaced by bridge deals with lower cap amounts. sorts of discussions. While he didn’t get into any specifics on contracts when he spoke with the media Monday, he did talk about the financial Most teams will feel the discomfort of a flat cap, but that will especially be realities in the coming years. true of teams that had already aligned their finances with the assumption of an increasing cap ceiling. There was a point in March when the NHL “The biggest thing with the cap is we finally know where it’s going to be,” projected next season’s cap could be between $84 million and $88.2 Bowman said. “It’s probably going to stay pretty flat the next two years, million. for sure. There probably won’t be huge cap growth going forward. What that means is making sure you plan your roster out in the short term and “Teams like the Blackhawks are going to have some financial issues,” in the long term. one league source said. “There’s no doubt about that.” “It goes to show the importance of having young players that can The Athletic recently broke down exactly what that financial squeeze continue to contribute to your team. That’s really the key if you want to could look like for the Blackhawks in the coming years. It means they will have success in a system where the cap’s not growing. You need to probably have to buy out players and offer their restricted free agents a have those young players. Certainly, they are on their entry-level lot less than what those players were hoping for before the season was contracts, lower dollar amounts. It provides the opportunity to remain paused. Even recent contract estimates are probably off considering competitive. But you’re going to have a young group. You’re going to rely what has been learned through talking to multiple agents and league on those guys, give them bigger roles, more opportunity. There’s a lot of executives in recent days. details that are coming out on that. I’ve read through the CBA memorandum a couple times. We’ve had discussions about how our “Teams are going to fight,” one league executive said. team is going to look and how we’re going to make it all work out with the For the Blackhawks, that “fight” will largely pertain to negotiating the next cap. So those conversations are ongoing. contracts for Strome and Dominik Kubalik. They’re the most notable “But if you’re taking a more high-level look at it — not in the weeds — the Blackhawks players whose entry-level contracts will expire after this bottom line is every team is faced with a flat cap for a few years going season. forward. It’s going to put the importance of finding and developing young In a financially stable NHL, Strome and Kubalik would have likely been players. The good news for us is we’ve got a number of them already paid well this offseason. Strome could have signed a bridge deal like who are breaking into our lineup this year. We gave a lot of young DeBrincat and gotten at least $3.5 million to $4 million. Kubalik would players an opportunity. We’ve got some more on the way. And we’re have probably sought a longer deal considering he’ll be 25 in August and going to continue to rely on those guys going forward.” his cap estimate would probably be $5.5 million to $6 million coming off The Blackhawks have players like Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander who will his strong first season. Those numbers are expected to be much different continue to be on their entry-level contracts beyond this season. Bowman now. has also continued to look at signing NHL-ready European players on The Blackhawks could play hardball with Strome. He won’t have much entry-level deals. He’s been able to insert players like Kubalik and leverage because he isn’t eligible for arbitration. If he were, he could Dominik Kahun immediately into the lineup as older rookies from Europe. make a solid case, having produced 89 points in 116 games since joining He’s probably hoping to do that again soon, too. the Blackhawks. There’s also no given Kubalik or Strome are on the Blackhawks next Instead, Strome could seek some security with a bridge deal, but he’d season. There’s a long list of players who were dealt by Bowman before probably still have to take something like the $1.45 million Troy Terry just reaching a second contract. got from the . Or the Blackhawks could simply place a “You know Stan, he’ll walk away from a player if he has to,” a source qualifying offer on him, and he could agree to a one-year deal and set said. “He’s proven that. It’s about the bottom line.” himself up to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights the following offseason. Strome knows he’s becoming a restricted free agent in strange times and nothing is definite. Playing hockey is his priority, but he’ll be prepared for Having Strome on an $874,125 cap hit next season would benefit the anything and everything this offseason. Blackhawks. A one-year deal at that amount probably wouldn’t be welcomed by Strome, but he could have significant leverage if he “It’s an interesting situation,” Strome said Tuesday. “You never really performs well in the 2020-21 season. know what’s going to happen. I try to leave that up to my agent to figure out. They do a good job and have a good track record of getting As one league source put it, “He’d be betting on himself.” contracts for players. “It’s an interesting situation with the flat cap, but at the end of the day, it’s hockey. It may not be like previous years when the cap was going up, but at the same time, you gotta show what you’re worth and gotta show why that team should want you and sign you. I’m an RFA, so hopefully that means I’ll be back here, but you don’t know. You look forward to playing in the playoffs and whatever happens, happens. You gotta take it day by day, worry about the playoffs, and contract stuff will start after the playoffs. You can only help yourself by playing well and doing the right things. So, I’m going to try to have a great playoffs and help the team go far. That’s all I can really do.”

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Finnish forward Joonas Donskoi chose Avalanche in free agency last summer. He’s now having a career year.

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

PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 2:53 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at 3:19 p.m.

A little more than a year after choosing the Avalanche, Finnish winger Joonas Donskoi can unequivocally say free agency went well for him.

Donskoi, who played in the Western Conference finals last season with the San Jose Sharks, is preparing for the upcoming playoffs with a team many believe can win the Stanley Cup. The Sharks, meanwhile, are beginning to rebuild from a last-place finish in the conference.

Donskoi agreed to a four-year, $15.6 million contract with Colorado on July 1, 2019. With a $3.9 million annual cap hit, he is the Avs’ fifth highest-paid forward behind Mikko Rantanen ($9.2 million), Nathan MacKinnon ($6.3 million), Gabe Landeskog ($5.5 million) and Nazem Kadri ($4.5 million). He has a career-high 16 goals, sixth-most on the team, in just 65 games. He had 14 goals in 80 games in his fourth and final year in San Jose. On May 8, 2019, Donskoi eliminated the Avalanche with a game-winning goal in Game 7 of their second-round series.

“I’m happy with my decision,” Donskoi said on a Zoom call Wednesday during Day 3 of Avalanche training camp at Pepsi Center. “(Colorado) was a familiar team to me and I felt like it would be a good fit for my game style. I’m extremely happy I was able to make the deal and come here, and play with guys like Cale (Makar) and MacKinnon and, you know, Mikko and Landy (Landeskog). I’m happy with my decision and I’m extremely excited to get into the playoffs.”

The Avs will continue to train in Denver until July 26, when they travel to Edmonton and Rogers Place, host of the Western Conference’s playoff hub. Donskoi has played throughout the lineup with the Avs but is currently on the third line as the right winger with center J.T. Compher and trade-deadline rental Vladislav Namestnikov.

Donskoi is paid like a top-six forward but doesn’t mind logging slightly fewer minutes for a team that is so deep offensively. Despite all the injuries to key players this season, the Avs finished fourth in goals-per- game at 3.37.

“We have four good lines who can all score goals and play offensive and play good hockey. I really like our lines right now,” Donskoi said.

Footnotes. Avs coach , who did not talk to reporters Wednesday, said Monday that he will tinker with his lines throughout training camp and probably into August. He continues to experiment with Andre Burakovsky, another first-year Avs winger who began training camp Monday as the second-line left winger with Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin. Burakovsky is now on the first line with MacKinnon and Rantanen, dropping Landeskog to the Kadri line. Burakovsky doesn’t prefer one line over the other. “I’m finding a lot of chemistry with both Naz and Nate through the season. I just want to be out there playing,” he said. … In addition to Donskoi and Burakovsky, the Avalanche made defenseman Nikita Zadorov available on a Zoom call Wednesday. Zadorov and his wife and daughter spent two months in Florida during the pandemic. He skated with a large group of fellow Russians, including Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. “It was fun. There weren’t many drills, mostly playing scrimmage all the time but still fun to skate with Ovi (and others),” Zadorov said. “It was just the first step in the right direction.”

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Avalanche’s Cale Makar named finalist for NHL rookie-of-the-year award

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

PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 11:04 a.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at 4:01 p.m.

As expected, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named a finalist Wednesday for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Makar, who leads all rookies in points-per-game (0.88), is the favorite to become the Avs’ fourth Calder winner, following Chris Drury (1999), Gabe Landeskog (2012) and Nathan MacKinnon (2014).

Avalanche legend Peter Forsberg also won the Calder in 1995, months before the moved to Denver.

The other 2020 finalists are Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

The winner will be revealed during the conference finals of the upcoming 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs, which will be played without fans in Edmonton and Toronto.

On an NHL Zoom call Wednesday afternoon, Makar was asked if he has found the time to call family friend Bill Hay in Calgary. Hay, 84, won the Calder Trophy in 1960 after his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He became president and CEO of the Calgary Flames in 1991 before serving as chairman of the in Toronto. In 2015, Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category.

Hay and Makar’s father, Gary, remain close friends.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak to him since today, but when I was back in Calgary during the break and my dad and I gave him a call,” Cale said of Hay. “It’s a pretty cool connection that my dad has there with him. Obviously, he’s a great human being and any time you can talk to a legend like that it’s a pretty incredible experience. I’m sure I’ll touch base with him down the line. I hope he’s doing well back in Calgary.”

Makar is Colorado’s second-leading scorer with 50 points in 57 games. Only three other rookie defensemen in NHL history — each enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame — have averaged as many points-per-game in at least 50 games-played: Brian Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 with the Rangers), Larry Murphy (0.95 in 1980-81 with the Kings) and Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84 with the Flames).

Makar, 21, won the 2019 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player. He helped lead the University of Massachusetts to the NCAA championship game — a 3-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth — before signing with the Avs and making his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188268 Colorado Avalanche Byram at the helm. He held dominion over the WHL in February by scoring seven goals and finishing with 24 points on a Giants team that would go 11-1 during that span. For his efforts, Byram was named the Anything is possible at this point when it comes to the Avs and Bowen WHL Player of the Month. Byram “It was literally next level,” Parneta said of Byram’s February performances. “It was almost unconscious. He was playing out of his mind and it came so easy for him at that point. Every time Bo touched the By Ryan S. Clark puck, I thought we had a chance to score. It was a man amongst children with the way he was playing.” Jul 15, 2020 Then, like the rest of society, Byram’s life and season were placed on

pause when COVID-19 brought the planet to a screeching halt for Vancouver Giants general manager Barclay Parneta was roaming the several months. halls one day when he noticed Bowen Byram had come to the team’s Parneta said Byram used that time to add to his physique. Byram is listed facility to grab a few more sticks and some equipment. between 190 and 192 pounds between his WHL bio page and the Seeing Byram gave Parneta a chance to speak with his team’s 19-year- Avalanche’s training camp roster sheet. old star defenseman. Parneta knew Byram was preparing to attend the “I don’t know if you have seen him, but he looks like a man,” Parneta Colorado Avalanche’s training camp. But what Parneta quickly learned said. “Even when he came back (to the Giants) at the start of the year, he was the latest NHL hopeful from Cranbrook, B.C. was about to endure on did not look like he does now and he looks big now.” a 22-hour solo trek in his car from Vancouver to Denver over the span of a few days. Byram did not look like a junior player amongst professionals on Tuesday. His newfound stature along with his flowing locks made it “Bowen is not going to be complacent. Bo came down there to crack that challenging at times to tell the difference between himself and Anton roster,” Parneta said. “Bo will not be satisfied for being there just for the Lindholm for those viewing practice from a distance at Pepsi Center. At experience. I know Bo is going down there to show he can play at that first, Byram was an observer during the early drills but as the practice level. The World Junior stage gave him more confidence. I know he got progressed, he was further incorporated into what the team was doing. sick and missed a game but that is when he started to realize, ‘I can do this.’ Bo did not drive down there for 22 hours to have an experience. He He remained patient in 2-on-1 drills when he was the defenseman tasked is there to try to play.” with trying to disrupt play. The first series saw him maintain position between both attacking players while working to not cede any ground. It has been a little bit more than a year since the Avalanche selected But there was a moment when a loose puck went into the corner and he Byram with the fourth pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. Much has happened attempted to pursue only to see Adam Werner stop what proved to be a within that window and it appears another development is already in the point-blank chance from the low slot. making. Byram is one of 34 players in training camp attempting to make a playoff roster for a franchise that has maintained its place as a Stanley The next set of skaters immediately attacked the net with Byram getting Cup contender. The primary difference between Byram and everyone his stick in front of the puck only to see it go over the shoulder of Werner else is he was playing against teenagers in major junior throughout the for a goal. Byram was then defending a rush when a centering pass went 2019-20 season while the remaining 33 players took on grown men in a through his legs but the resulting opportunity went wide of the net. Byram professional setting. quickly got back into position in the low slot where he used his 6-foot-1 frame to extend his stick to poke possession away. It led to a loose puck Knowing Byram’s backstory, however, is what makes his current situation near the top of the zone and a foot race Byram won by clearing the puck even more alluring. He became the latest first-round pick within an to end the drill. Avalanche farm system that is viewed to be one of the strongest in the NHL. Byram came to the first training camp of 2019-20 intending to make All of this took place within a 35-second sequence. the roster. The organization believed Byram needed at least one more season of development with the Giants before giving him another look “He looks more comfortable out there and I think we’re seeing – already with the Avs when the club held their next training camp. after two days – a player that is more ready to be here and help make an impact,” Bednar of Byram and his stint with the team. “We’re going to Well? This might not have been the landscape Byram and the Avalanche keep everything open here and we’re going to continue to evaluate him envisioned. But the expectation is he will be provided with an opportunity here.” to stake his claim as one of the players who could be on the July 26th flight manifest to Edmonton. Once in Edmonton, Colorado will play an Parneta shared how former NHL defenseman Brett Clark, who is now a exhibition game against the Minnesota Wild on July 29 before facing the player development coach with the Avalanche, was a visible presence Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights in the Western when it came to working with Byram in a way that was productive and Conference round-robin. respectful of the Giants’ organization. He said Clark instantly hit off with the Parneta and the Giants’ coaching staff to the point they felt like he “Everything is on the table at this point,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was part of their club. offered when asked about Byram’s chances. “I am aware of the season he had. In fact, I talked to Bo about it yesterday with what he thought of Clark, who was with the Avalanche for six of his 14 NHL seasons, is one his season. He was really starting to elevate his game when the pause of the club’s roaming instructors who work with their prospects. One of started. Felt he and his teammates were getting to a good spot and were the challenges in developing a player could be the dynamic between his disappointed to be put on pause. But he has worked hard since that parent club and the current team. It is about finding a balance where the point. club can mold a player while also working in conjunction with that prospect’s coaching staff to ensure the process is educational without “I think we saw an average camp out of him last year and he knows what being intrusive. to expect from our practices and our camp as well.” “There was energy and it was fun to have him around,” Parneta said of Here is a summarization of what happened to Byram after he was Clark. “It was not a chore for us to get him on the ice specifically with Bo.” released from the Avalanche’s training camp. Both he and the Giants struggled. The team went from being one of the best in all of junior Avalanche general manager and his front office staff have hockey a year earlier to a younger roster still navigating the WHL. As for constructed a six-member player development staff. Clark is a member. Byram? He wasn’t able to replicate the gaudy stats he produced a year So is power skating coach Tracy Tutton, who Parneta said also worked earlier and it came back to a discussion about how he was improving in with Byram. other areas before representing Canada at the World Junior “She was unbelievable as well,” Parneta said. “The Avalanche have been Championships. Byram and Canada took gold before he was given a respectful upon approaching us when they come into our dressing room. week off to get away from hockey. It’s the timing. It’s really everything. They would plan around when we Byram admitted he was not having fun but found that joy upon returning. had free time. The relationship Clarkie had with our coaches, it was easy Getting that emotional boost coupled with moves Parneta made to for both sides to tap into each other.” improve the roster eventually led to the Giants going on a tear with Parneta can do more than just speak to Byram’s on-ice development. He also addressed how Byram has used the last several months to mature.

It started with a late-night text the day Byram was cut from the Avalanche’s camp. The text read, “I’m back. Let’s win.” Parneta said Byram returned to Vancouver with “a positive attitude” and worked tirelessly upon his return.

The goal for Byram was to use the Giants’ season to hone his game. But Parneta explained how that started to wear heavily on Byram in the early stages of that campaign.

“I think he took the pressure off himself to carry the entire team and the load all on his own,” Parneta said. “He realized he can do what he can but not control what everyone else is doing. He did not get hung up on the emotions side of it. That was something where you saw he really matured in the last couple of months. He returned thinking it was going to take off the way it was last year. That is not how junior hockey works. For Bo, he wanted to start where he took off. Once he let that go, his game took off.”

With that increased sense of maturity comes wherewithal in how to navigate his surroundings. Parneta explained how Byram entered the Avalanche’s first camp looking forward to his future without knowing what to expect once he entered an NHL training camp. That is where he began understanding the gap that exists between playing in the WHL versus that of the NHL.

Learning from those various experiences has brought Byram to this precipice. He is still a teenager who is younger than Outkast’s “Miss Jackson” but is three months older than Apple’s first commercial iPod.

Or to view it this way: He was born four days after Sakic captained the Avalanche to their second and most recent Stanley Cup championship.

Knowing such a fact might make others feel old. But it also falls in line with the youth movement which has become central to Sakic’s plans. Byram is part of a prospect base that is expected to eventually play a role in the organization’s future. It is a group that includes forwards Shane Bowers and Logan O’Connor along with defenseman Conor Timmins, with all three earning camp invites.

How Byram performs should provide the front office more insight into where he fits within the organization’s grand vision. The Avalanche will have four defenseman under contract going into next season. Both Ryan Graves and Nikita Zadorov are restricted free agents. Mark Barberio and Kevin Connauton are unrestricted free agents. Having a combined RFA and UFA class of 12 players is expected to leave Sakic and his staff with several decisions over the coming months.

Producing consistent performances could do more than just get Byram on the playoff roster. It could also let the organization know that he could be available for something bigger should it head in that direction.

“Joe is going to keep watching. We will keep watching him as a coaching staff and then we’ll make decisions on Phase 4 when the time comes,” Bednar said. “At this point, we haven’t made any decisions. It’s an option he comes to Edmonton with us and it’s an option that he doesn’t. We’ll just have to see how everything goes over the next little bit and use as much time as we possibly need to try and decide on that roster.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188269 Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar says “the college route” prepared him for the NHL and Calder Trophy nomination

By Aarif Deen

July 15, 2020

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named one of the three finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy on Wednesday. The former University of Massachusetts-Amherst defenseman is not the only nominee that played on the blueline in college a season ago.

Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes played at the University of in 2019 before signing with the Canucks, like Makar, after his sophomore season.

While the NHL often sees defenseman transition from junior hockey to the NHL on a more regular basis, the latest crop of defense, headlined by Makar, have come from college.

“There are pros and cons to both routes in the hockey world,” Makar said. “I think for Quinn and myself it was just the time that we needed to develop our bodies not only on the ice but off the ice as well.”

In 2019, Makar won the Hobey Baker Award for UMASS before turning pro and joining the Avalanche in the midst of a playoff run two days later. He scored in his first game, eventually adding five assists for six points in 10 appearances.

The rookie had little time to celebrate his individual collegiate accomplishment given to the top player in the NCAA because of his focus on winning the Stanley Cup — something that is likely to be repeated this summer as the Calder Trophy will be announced during the playoffs.

“I haven’t really thought of the comparison between this and the Hobey Baker,” he said. “They’re two completely different things, they honor two completely different people. For me, it was such a great group of rookies this year. So I think we’re all honored to be on this call right now.”

Makar, 21, was Colorado’s second-leading point producer in 2019, trailing nominee Nathan MacKinnon by 43 points. He recorded 12 goals and 50 points — both Avalanche rookie defenseman records.

Among the finalists, Makar has the highest points-per-game (0.88) as he appeared in just 57 of Colorado’s 70 games due to injury. He was second in rookie scoring behind Hughes (53). The pair of defensemen are likely to finish first and second in voting with the third nominee, Chicago’s Dominik Kubalik, in third.

While Hughes and Makar did not meet in College, their experiences in the NCAA have prepared them for outstanding careers in the NHL.

“I think College gives you an opportunity to play with older more mature guys,” Makar said. “My first year at UMASS was a big learning curve and I took that into my second year and developed into who I am today. That was a big backer for me in choosing college and why I went that way.”

milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188270 Colorado Avalanche History

From 1936-37 until his death in 1943, NHL President purchased a trophy each year to be given permanently to the League’s Cale Makar named finalist for Calder Memorial Trophy outstanding rookie. After Calder’s death, the NHL presented the Calder Memorial Trophy in his memory.

By MHS Staff Announcement Schedule

July 15, 2020 The three finalists for 2020 NHL Awards are being announced through Tuesday, July 21. The series of announcements continues Thursday, July 16, when the three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy will be unveiled. NEW YORK (July 15, 2020) – Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar are the three finalists for the 2019‑20 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 proficient in his first year of competition,” the National Hockey League announced today.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Calder Trophy after the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be revealed during the Conference Finals, with the exact date, format and time to be determined.

Following are the finalists for the Calder Trophy, in alphabetical order:

Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

Hughes posted 8-45—53 in 68 games to become the third defenseman in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to top all rookies in scoring (outright or tied), joining Brian Leetch (1988-89 w/ NYR) and Bobby Orr (1966-67 w/ BOS). His 53 points were the most by any rookie blueliner since 1991-92, when Nicklas Lidstrom compiled 11-49—60 in 80 appearances (w/ DET), and three shy of Dale Tallon’s single-season franchise record for a rookie defenseman, set in 10 more games in 1970- 71 (14-42—56 in 78 GP). Hughes also led all 2019-20 rookies in assists (45), power-play assists (22) and power-play points (25), while ranking among the top five in average time on ice (2nd; 21:53), total time on ice (2nd; 1,488:09) and shots on goal (5th; 126). The 20-year-old Orlando, Fla., native is looking to become the second straight Canucks player to claim the Calder Trophy, following Elias Pettersson in 2018-19. The last team to boast consecutive Calder Trophy winners was the Boston Bruins, in 1966-67 (Orr) and 1967-68 (Derek Sanderson).

Dominik Kubalik, LW, Chicago Blackhawks

Kubalik led all rookies with 30 goals in 68 games (30-16—46), making him the fifth rookie in Blackhawks history to reach the 30-goal milestone after Steve Larmer (43 in 1982-83), Darryl Sutter (40 in 1980-81),Eric Daze (30 in 1995‑96) and Artemi Panarin (30 in 2015-16). The 24-year- old Plzen, Czech Republic, native became the first Czech-born player in NHL history to pace rookies in goals as well as the third to reach the 30‑goal plateau, joining Petr Klima (32 in 1985-86) and Petr Prucha (30 in 2005-06). Kubalik, who topped all 2019-20 rookies and ranked seventh in the entire NHL with a 19.1 shooting percentage, also placed among the top 10 freshmen in shots on goal (1st; 157), points (3rd; 46), power- play goals (t-6th; 4), game-winning goals (t‑6th; 3), assists (t-9th; 16) and power-play points (t-10th; 8). He is vying to become the first Czech-born player to earn the Calder Trophy as well as the 10th Blackhawks player to capture the award, following recent winners Panarin (2015-16) and Patrick Kane (2007-08).

Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

Makar, who burst onto the scene in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring the winning goal in his League debut, continued to make waves in his first full NHL season, topping rookies with 0.88 points per game (12-38—50 in 57 GP). Only three other rookie blueliners in NHL history have averaged as many points per game in a single season (minimum: 50 GP): Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 w/ NYR), Larry Murphy(0.95 in 1980-81 w/ LAK) and Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84 w/ CGY). Makar also finished among the 2019-20 rookie leaders in game-winning goals (t-1st; 4), assists (2nd; 38), points (2nd; 50), power-play assists (2nd; 15), power- play points (2nd; 19), average time on ice (3rd; 21:01), goals (6th; 12), power-play goals (t-6th; 4), plus/minus (7th; +12), shots on goal (8th; 121) and shooting percentage (8th; 9.9%). The 21-year-old Calgary native is seeking to become the sixth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to capture the Calder Trophy and fourth since the franchise relocated to Colorado, following Nathan MacKinnon (2013-14), Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12) and Chris Drury (1998-99). 1188271 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella a finalist for NHL coach of year

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 15, 2020 at 12:57 PM

It was challenging, but the Blue Jackets’ regular season put a smile on John Tortorella’s face.

The Jackets’ head coach and his staff of assistants helped their team traverse a virtual sea of injuries that lasted three months, and now the head coach is up for an award that he’s earned twice before.

Tortorella was named Wednesday as one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which is annually given to the league’s top coach. Other finalists are Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy and Philadelphia Flyers coach Alain Vigneault.

Despite numerous injuries to key players, the Blue Jackets were 33-22- 15 when the NHL suspended the season in March.

"It wasn't difficult, quite honestly," Tortorella said. "The guys kind of took it upon themselves, and sometimes, because of such a lineup of players that we didn't expect in there, we were just throwing lines out there. We weren't worried about matchups. We were just throwing the lines out there and they kind of ran with it."

Should Tortorella win, it would be his third time and second with the Blue Jackets. He also earned the honor in 2004 while presiding over the Tampa Bay Lightning’s lone Stanley Cup championship and in 2017, while guiding the Jackets to a franchise-record 108 points.

Dubois returns; Murray out

The Blue Jackets got center Pierre-Luc Dubois back for practice, but went through the main group’s session without defenseman Ryan Murray,

Dubois skated on his own Tuesday because of an undisclosed reason and Murray’s absence was also kept under wraps, as part of the NHL’s new policy about injury/illness disclosures.

Dubois was centering a line with rookie Alexandre Texier at left wing and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the right. Murray had worked the left point on a defensive pairing with Dean Kukan in the first two days.

Start times, exhibition

The NHL released start times Tuesday for the Blue Jackets’ first two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round of the Toronto hub, along information about an exhibition game July 30 against the Boston Bruins.

The Jackets’ tuneup against the Bruins will start at 7 p.m., while Game 1 against Toronto will start at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at Scotiatbank Arena in Toronto. The second game will start at 4 p.m., while the starting time for Game 3 (and Games 4 and 5, if necessary,) has not been announced.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188272 Columbus Blue Jackets probably see some scrimmaging toward the end of the week to try to get that game-like mentality early on."

Coach John Tortorella takes cautious approach in Blue Jackets’ return Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020

Adam Jardy The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 15, 2020 at 6:00 AM

There was no infamous 2-mile run to kick things off for the Blue Jackets on Monday morning. The number of bodies on hand, too, was a surefire sign that this wasn’t a typical opening to training camp.

But this is still coach John Tortorella we’re talking about.

So on the practice rink at the OhioHealth Ice Haus on the first day they’ve all been together since mid-March, the Blue Jackets spent the final 20 minutes or so being put through their paces, with the idea to begin building some stamina for games that lie ahead.

"There’s no such thing as assuming anything but skating with Torts," captain Nick Foligno said afterward. "We knew that was coming. I think all of us were good. I think we wanted it a little bit, to get in the swing of things."

Known for his grueling preseason training camps that are heavy on skating and conditioning in the early going, coupled with a mandatory 2- mile timed run, Tortorella’s reputation as a camp constructor is well- earned. In a normal year, he would have the entire camp planned out a month or so in advance.

Now, as the Jackets eye a return to game action with a best-of-five playoff-qualifier series against Toronto, which begins Aug. 2 inside a quarantine bubble inside that city, Tortorella said he’s going to rely on what he considers a healthy relationship with his players to determine how best to prepare for the series while keeping the bigger picture in mind.

"It’s not like when you come in September and you don’t want to hear any nonsense from them, (and) you just put them through their paces to see where they are condition-wise," he said. "This is different. We’re going to try to get our team in the best shape possible, but we’ve got to be really careful not to injure them.

"One of the biggest points is I think we need coaches and players to collaborate after each day."

That goes for the myriad players who are making their way back from injury-shortened seasons, but who have now been given a reprieve.

Much has been made about the number of games the Jackets have lost to injury during the pandemic-shortened season — a league-high 419 man-games, for those who might have forgotten — but as of Monday, all but two players were back and are full-go.

Only Josh Anderson (shoulder) and Brandon Dubinsky (wrist) weren’t with the team, and there remains hope that Anderson could yet return in time for the extended, 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs.

With essentially everyone healthy, Monday’s return to practice verged on a back-to-school feeling for the Jackets.

Foligno noted that it had been nearly six months since he had last skated with defenseman Seth Jones, who suffered an ankle injury on Feb. 8 that knocked him out for the remainder of the regular season. Tortorella said he could sense a renewed spirit of camaraderie as the players reported for a team meeting at noon that preceded practice.

"It’s a group that’s gone through a lot this year," Tortorella said. "We are healthier. There’s going to be some healthy competition for some spots on our team. To be in a locker room setting again, although it’s different and you have to do some different things, it’s good to be back."

Soon, though, the novelty will wear off and the grind will start to set in once again. Tortorella said the team’s only plan right now is to practice through Friday, take Saturday off, and formulate more plans along the way.

"We all know what to expect from Torts in his practices," forward Cam Atkinson said. "We’ll all be getting back into hockey shape quickly in the next few days. Then I think we’ll really start focusing on systems and 1188273 Columbus Blue Jackets Basically, the Blue Jackets don’t ever want to get caught out of position because they are overextended offensively. Tortorella often describes it as having a “third guy high” and making smart plays with the puck so that Blue Jackets seeking stingy, defensive mindset as they prepare for the opposition can’t easily get into a quick transition. Maple Leafs If the Blue Jackets find success against Toronto in the qualifying series, they can expect to be labeled “boring,” “bad for hockey,” “inglorious bastards” and the like. By Aaron Portzline Tampa Bay was clearly frustrated by the approach last spring. The Blue Jul 15, 2020 Jackets took few risks, committed few turnovers and were content to forecheck and pound the Lightning for long shifts, even when they didn’t

result in scoring chances. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets have two weeks to fine-tune their It’s a chess match, really, and the Blue Jackets through the years have smothering style of play, the conservative offensive “attack” that rarely become comfortable in “stare-down” games. leaves them vulnerable or outnumbered when the play goes the other direction. Last spring it was , Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point of Tampa Bay. This summer it’ll be Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John It was the blueprint for success in Columbus’ first-ever playoff series win Tavares and William Nylander of Toronto who provide the challenges. last spring, a major upset — a sweep, no less — of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It will be the same strategy employed, with a few minor “You look at Toronto, they’re filled with offensive people very similar (to) tweaks, in the best-of-five qualifying series against the Toronto Maple our first-round opponent last year in Tampa,” Tortorella said. “We have to Leafs that begins Aug. 2. be in the proper mindset of doing the dirty work and the mental part of it as far as being ‘above’ the puck all the time. Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella explained on Tuesday, after the second day of training camp, that the focus will soon shift to preparing “We talk about it every day, working off transition. If we get lazy and specifically for Toronto’s tendencies, and they’ll use film and practice cheat a little bit and stay ‘under’ the puck and hope we get it back in the time to work out some wrinkles. offensive zone to score those types of goals, we’re going to be in trouble. This team (Toronto) is too good offensively, and they’ll capitalize on But it won’t take two weeks to get ready, Tortorella said. More like two those things.” minutes. Columbus captain Nick Foligno has spoken at length about the harrowing “It’s a mindset. It’s a willingness to do it,” said the coach, who reality of a best-of-five series, how the team that “finds its game first” will Wednesday was named a Jack Adams Award finalist for the fifth time. almost certainly win in a shortened matchup. “It’s in here (pointing to his head). It’s not a physical skill, it’s a mental skill. That’s what they bought into against Tampa last year, and, If the Blue Jackets get their way, the Leafs won’t ever find their game. hopefully, it’ll be back here this year.” They’re built to play with the puck, and they thrive in the open ice of transition. The key word: hopefully. “We have tape ready to go to remind (the players) how we did things,” When Columbus lost elite players on both ends of the ice last summer in Tortorella said. “We have tape from the playoffs last year against Tampa free agency — forward Artemi Panarin signed with the New York and Boston, ’cause I thought we were really good away from the puck Rangers, forward Matt Duchene signed with Nashville and goaltender against Boston, too. Sergei Bobrovsky signed with Florida — Tortorella decided to adopt the playoff style against Tampa as the team’s regular-season approach, too. “We’re going to use some of those things to remind them. It’s been four months since we’ve been together. We can talk about it. They need to “Safe is Death” became “Safe is Life” for a Blue Jackets club with see it, too, for it to click in.” concerns about scoring goals and with two unproven goaltenders in Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, neither of whom had ever been But the biggest issue, Tortorella said, is the Blue Jackets’ mindset. starters in the NHL. Toronto’s skill is not something they can replicate in a practice setting. It’s not something the Blue Jackets can prepare for even with the It was a logical play. Without Panarin and Duchene, the Jackets couldn’t scrimmages they have planned for later this week. survive high-scoring games. Without Bobrovsky, they couldn’t accept taking risks to create chances. Essentially, the Blue Jackets’ margin for “If we’re not sound as far as the concentration that we need in that part of error left as a free agent last summer, too. the game, it’s going to be very tough for us to beat this team,” he said.

But as much as Tortorella wanted it to be an easy transition, it wasn’t. Through the first 32 games of the season, the Blue Jackets were allowing over three goals per game (3.03), tied with Ottawa for 15th in the league. The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020

It wasn’t until mid-December that it clicked. And when it did, it was stunning.

During a 25-game stretch from Dec. 15 to Feb. 11, the Blue Jackets allowed only 40 goals. The mark of 1.6 goals allowed per game was tops in the NHL during that stretch, a whopping 0.4 goals per game better than the second-best club, Tampa Bay.

“We were stingy,” Tortorella said with a smile.

The early part of that stretch is when Korpisalo solidified his spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star roster, going 5-0-1 with a .940 save percentage and a 1.68 goals-against average.

But the latter part of that run was Merzlikins’ coming-out party as a certifiable NHL star. He went 12-3-2 with a .950 save percentage and a 1.57 goals-against average, including three in a five-game span.

“It’s the identity we’ve had over the course of a few years now,” Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said. “It’s just buying into how we play the game and being mentally sharp. We pride ourselves in not cheating on that side of the puck in searching for offense or in giving up plays defensively around our net for the sake of playing offense.” 1188274 Dallas Stars

Stars interim coach Rick Bowness takes to the ice for the first time during training camp

By Matthew DeFranks

9:03 PM on Jul 15, 2020 CDT

FRISCO — Rick Bowness returned to his natural habitat on Wednesday morning: on the ice.

The Stars interim head coach skated with the rest of the team for the first time during training camp on Wednesday after spending Monday and Tuesday watching from the bench while wearing a mask. During the first two days of camp, Bowness, 65, was staying off the ice until the Stars received their results from COVID-19 testing done on Monday.

“You get out there, and you miss it,” Bowness said. “You realize how much you enjoy being out there with the guys and the coaching part of it. You realize how you’ve missed it over the last couple of months. It does feel great to be back on the ice. That’s what coaches what to do. That’s where coaches want to be. We want to be on the ice with the guys and coaching.”

Bowness was vocal during practice, as he usually is, and was unafraid to stop drills and redo them if they were not done correctly the first time through.

Zapped: The Stars used the time between practice sessions on Wednesday for special teams. The power play units did not score a goal in almost 13 minutes of power play time, despite having little issues entering the offensive zone.

Bowness said the Stars would work on special teams when the team returns to the ice on Friday.

“You can see the rust is coming off,” Bowness said. “The chemistry is coming back. They’re moving to their spots better, they’re moving the puck better, with more confidence. That’s going to come. We’ll work on that every day.”

The power play units were as follows.

1. John Klingberg, Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov and Jamie Benn.

2. Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Radek Faksa, Denis Gurianov and Corey Perry.

3. Esa Lindell, Stephen Johns, Justin Dowling, Jason Robertson and Mattias Janmark.

The penalty killing pairs were as follows.

Forwards: Blake Comeau and Jason Dickinson, Mattias Janmark and Andrew Cogliano, Ty Dellandrea and Rhett Gardner, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, Joe Pavelski and Radek Faksa.

Defensemen: Esa Lindell and Andrej Sekera, Jamie Oleksiak and Stephen Johns, Taylor Fedun and Joel Hanley, Gavin Bayreuther and Thomas Harley.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188275 Dallas Stars

‘It’s an honor’: Stars’ Miro Heiskanen set up for a trip back to the Olympics with Team Finland in 2022

By Matthew DeFranks

9:03 PM on Jul 15, 2020 CDT

Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen was one of just 15 current NHL players who played in the 2018 Winter Olympics, when the NHL barred its players from participating in the Games. As part of the NHL and NHLPA’s memorandum of understanding that extends the collective bargaining agreement through 2025-26, NHL players will be allowed at the Olympics in 2022 and 2026.

That sets up Heiskanen for a trip back to the Olympics on Team Finland.

“Of course, it’s an honor always to represent your country and Olympics is huge,” Heiskanen said. “Huge opportunity to play, that was an unbelievable moment to play for the first time there. Yeah, I’m happy that it’s possible again to go there. It’s great to play against the best players in the world, different countries. That’s going to be nice.”

Of the 15 current NHLers that played in the Olympics, only a few have a chance at going to back to represent their country. Some were included because they were in college, but will be pushed out by better talent (Ryan Donato, Troy Terry and Jordan Greenway). Some will be too old (Ilya Kovalchuk).

Heiskanen was able to play because he had not jumped to the NHL yet, and has since blossomed into one of the game’s best young defensemen.

He should be a lock on the Finnish team, while Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik (Czech Republic), Devils forward Nikita Gusev () and Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (Sweden) all have a chance to make their national teams.

-- Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said goaltender Colton Point worked with goaltending coach Jeff Reese on Wednesday, and should be on the ice with the rest of the team on Friday. Point has not participated in any practices during the first three days of training camp.

Nashville again: The Stars will play the Predators in their only exhibition game before the start of the round robin. Dallas and Nashville will play July 30 at 3 p.m. in Edmonton. Bowness said “most of the [coaching staff’s] focus in that game will be on us.”

“That exhibition game will give us a little insight of where we are in terms of improving in the areas we know we can improve in,” Bowness said. “We’re very confident that we know we can improve in the areas that we need to work on and address.”

Early on in camp, the Stars have preached getting their defensemen more involved in the rush and helping cycle the puck in the offensive zone.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188276 Dallas Stars Dallas. (Ty Dellandrea, Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley are all on the Stars’ training camp roster, and are all younger than Heiskanen, but they will not play as much, if at all.)

Can the Stars avoid another disastrous start? A ‘totally different’ training Heiskanen said he was able to skate for about a month, three or four camp is a good start times a week during the break while he was home in Finland. He said the schedule as laid out is fine with him.

By Matthew DeFranks “I think that’s enough what we have there,” Heiskanen said. “It should be enough for me. I was skating in Finland, too, so it feels actually good 8:03 PM on Jul 15, 2020 CDT right now. I think that one exhibition game is enough for me, right now.”

FRISCO — The Stars want to avoid a restart repeat. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.16.2020 When the Stars last held a training camp, it was September and the results that followed were disastrous. They opened the regular season (now more than nine months ago) with a 1-7-1 record that cast doubt on their place as a Stanley Cup contender after winning a playoff round in 2019 and adding veteran offensive pieces in the offseason.

After this iteration of training camp, held four months after the end of the NHL’s regular season because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stars won’t have the luxury of time if they start slow. When they return to play in less than three weeks, they’ll jump right into a three-game round robin, followed by the first round of the playoffs.

“We were not happy with our training camp last year, and it showed going into October,” Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said. “So that was addressed before we got here. We’re going to have a better camp this time around than we did in September.”

Bowness pointed to the mind-set the Stars had in September as a reason for their October swoon. How about now, when a pandemic interrupted the season and thrust them immediately into the postseason?

“We can feel it in September and yell and scream and push and everything else, but sometimes the players just feel ‘Okay, we’ll get going when we need to get going,’” Bowness said. “We had a slower start than we wanted, but we did get going. This camp is totally different, as I’ve mentioned many times.”

The Stars have not scrimmaged yet in camp, and might not until Sunday, Bowness said. On Wednesday, the team practiced special teams between the two separate sessions. They’ll likely do the same when they reconvene Friday after an off day Thursday.

For the Stars, a veteran team with experienced players missing a Stanley Cup on their résumé, motivation shouldn’t be hard to find entering the postseason. But ramping up during a two-week training camp, followed by just one exhibition game, could be tougher physically.

According to Hockey Reference, the Stars are the oldest team in the playoffs at 29.4 years old (average age weighted by time on ice). At 36 years old, forward Joe Pavelski is the oldest player on the Stars’ roster.

“I feel like I’m at a really good spot,” Pavelski said. “It’s funny, coming into this camp, it’s unique in that each camp that I’ve had throughout the 13- 14 years is a process. You work out, you get skating, you come to camp. You have a couple good days, and you keep building into game shape. It feels like the guys are in a pretty good spot, but once that puck drops in a game, there’s definitely another level.”

The risk of injury was something defenseman Roman Polak mentioned to a Czech news outlet when he brought up the idea of not playing the remainder of the season. At 34, Polak said a quick training camp after the long layoff “is unimaginable at my age. Younger players may be able to do it, but I need two months before I get off the ground so I don’t have to do anything else.”

Polak eventually decided not to return to finish the season, remaining in his native Czech Republic.

Were injuries a concern for Pavelski during the quickened restart?

“I guess it depends on how the camp is set up, definitely you run a risk of that,” Pavelski said. “And just how you prepared throughout this break. For us, I feel like the load’s been great so far. I feel prepared as far as coming into camp. We’ll see. Time will tell. But I feel prepared. I feel strong. I feel confident in my body right now. As a group, we definitely have something to prove, and we want to be ready.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Miro Heiskanen, the Stars’ 20-year- old defenseman who will be the youngest contributor on the ice for 1188277 Dallas Stars Oleksiak characterized the workouts as competitive and intense.

They were working together as a group, but there was an ongoing competition to see who could do more of a certain exercise or who could Inside the Dallas Stars’ quarantine workouts at Jamie Benn’s pool do something faster. Seguin compared it to an “MJ Mentality”— yelling at house/home gym each other like Michael Jordan would push teammates, as seen in The Last Dance documentary the players were watching on ESPN.

By Sean Shapiro “We kept saying, ‘We don’t know how many guys around the league have been working harder than us,'” Seguin said. Jul 15, 2020 After working out, someone would often jump into the pool.

“It was a great way to cool off and relax … you would go through this Jamie Oleksiak planned to return home to Toronto when COVID-19 circuit or this training and pushing yourself than you could just jump into paused the NHL season back in March. Chubb’s pool and kind of laugh it all off,” Bishop said.

He was looking forward to seeing family as well as enjoying cooler That group of five organically became the members of the Stars’ first pod temperatures. Oleksiak, however, was worried about staying fit and being when players were allowed to resume skating at team facilities as part of ready to play when the NHL resumed. Phase 2 of the NHL’s return to play plan.

“I don’t have any workout gear back home,” Oleksiak said. “So I would Phase 2 skates were fun but structured. Bishop typically set the tone for have found something, but it wasn’t going to be easy with all the gyms how the day was going to unfold on the ice. If the goalie wanted a more closed and the (14-day) quarantine in Canada. That’s when I started structured drill to work on something specific the players complied. Once talking to Jamie (Benn), and he brought up he was building the gym in they got back to “Benn’s Gym,” it was back to following Seguin’s plan off- his pool house. So I decided I’d stick around and see how it worked out.” ice.

It worked out pretty well, as the five Stars players who remained in Dallas For all five players, it provided a nice sense of normalcy during an during the stoppage found an ideal fit at “Benn’s Gym.” uncertain time.

The Stars captain already had a home gym, but in the interest of more “Hockey players love routines. We kind of need them to really be space and some fresh air, the equipment was moved to the garage and successful,” Comeau said. “Being able to work with the group and have a Benn’s pool house. Furniture was replaced as each member of the group plan — something to go do with your teammates like that — made it — Benn, Oleksiak, Ben Bishop, Blake Comeau and Tyler Seguin — easier to really work and be ready with kind of a moving timeline and not helped collect workout equipment from their houses or the Stars practice many set dates to prepare for like a normal offseason.” facility for a professional setup. Oleksiak said it was also a welcome reprieve from a solo quarantine in There was a squat bar. There were enough stationary bikes for the entire his apartment. group to ride together after they borrowed a few from players like Joe Pavelski and Justin Dowling, who had returned to Canada. The gym also “I think with all of that you can just fall into a bad routine and just sit by spread out into Benn’s yard, where the players did some cardio and yourself and get stuck,” Oleksiak said. “That was something I thought battled the June Texas heat that some of them truly learned about for the about before deciding to stay in Dallas. When Jamie mentioned the gym first time. it was something that I thought could be a real help physically and mentally.” “It turned into a pretty good setup,” Bishop said. “By kind of pooling all the stuff and getting some stuff from (Stars strength coach Brad Jellis), it Three days into training camp, all five players have pointed to their time was like having the Frisco gym set up inside Jamie’s pool house and working out at Benn’s Gym as a positive that helped springboard them garage.” into the official restart.

Unlike the Stars’ facilities in Frisco, it was close enough for Bishop to “It’s felt normal enough, and I’ve felt like what we did made us come into travel without starting his vehicle. camp ready,” Comeau said. “It turned into a pretty good decision to work out as a group.” Bishop, Benn, Seguin and Comeau all live in the same neighborhood. It was commonplace during these training sessions to see Bishop and Seguin show up at Benn’s house on their bikes. The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 “I got to see the neighborhood a bit more,” Bishop said. “Me and Seggy, we were like the kids that were just biking over to their friend’s house.”

The players stayed in Texas for various reasons.

Benn lives in Dallas during offseasons and has a green card, while Bishop and Comeau both made family-based decisions. Bishop and his wife, Andrea, welcomed their second son during the stoppage. Comeau has three daughters under the age of six; returning to Canada and forcing them to quarantine again only to then leave them didn’t seem ideal as a father.

Seguin said in a Zoom call on Tuesday that he’d already been thinking about spending a summer in Texas, and the stoppage put the idea into action. He did spend three weeks on his property in the Bahamas right after the stoppage before returning to Dallas and turning into the de facto gym leader.

Seguin ended up designing a hybrid workout program with the help of his trainer back in Toronto, Matt Nichol. For example, Mondays were built around upper-body work while Fridays involved more lower-body with some full-body circuit training in between.

“It was something I really enjoyed,” Seguin said. “A month or two in I said, ‘Maybe this is something I might do when I’m done playing hockey.'”

Comeau and Bishop both said the routine resembled workouts they’d done in the past, but the combination or drills was a bit more focused on specific muscle groups. 1188278 Dallas Stars Heiskanen is being compared to here – the Kings enjoyed 56 percent of the goals and 55 percent of the expected goals. Yes, 2011-12 was technically a down year for Doughty, but the body of work was still strong The Next Ones: Can Miro Heiskanen be the next Drew Doughty? enough to place him among the league’s best defensemen. Doughty was elite at 5-on-5, a premier shutdown defenseman that was a key to forging the Kings’ on-ice identity in the years before they became a perennial championship contender. By Dom Luszczyszyn Heiskanen is a year younger than Doughty was at the time and waited a Jul 15, 2020 year after his draft to enter the league, so he only has two years of experience under his belt. His first year was solid, scoring 33 points and earning a 51.5 percent expected goals rate in tough minutes, but it was No two hockey players are the same, but some are more similar than the following season where Heiskanen began to cement himself as a others. They may not look or play the same way on the ice, but the end force to be reckoned with Doughty-like on-ice numbers at 5-on-5. result is close enough to wonder what it means for a player’s career Heiskanen likely won’t be nominated for a Norris like Doughty was in his trajectory. For young players, a statistical comparable from the past can second season, but he was definitely in the conversation this year and showcase a potential path forward – hope for a brighter future. They will likely stay in it for years to come. won’t follow the same specific path, but the similarities shown to date can help visualize what could happen going forward. These players might be For the next six years, Doughty was usually an elite defenseman. There the next ones. were some weaker seasons where he was on the borderline based on the total value he brought to the table, but generally speaking, he was The player: Miro Heiskanen, age 20 one of the league’s best blueliners (and usually made up for those lesser years in the playoffs). He continued playing tough minutes shutting down The comparable: Drew Doughty, age 21 opponents and was a key cog in the Kings’ dominant puck possession The hope with a top-three pick is that the player selected will one day system. become a cornerstone piece for the team, a player who can change the During his peak, the Kings consistently got the same level of on-ice franchise and be one of the league’s best at his position. It’s actually a results at 5-on-5 with Doughty, where they generally earned 55 percent tougher ask than it seems as even high picks aren’t guaranteed to be of the expected and actual goals. Though that was close to the team that. In 2008 the got exactly what they were looking average, it’s hard to say the team average would be that high without for from their second overall pick Drew Doughty, an elite two-way him, especially considering the difficulty of his minutes played. defenseman who can shut down the opposition’s best. It was clear early on in his career that Doughty would be a special player. After seeing how instrumental Doughty was in the Kings’ second Stanley Cup win in 2013-14, not to mention his play at the 2014 Olympics, Nine years later the Dallas Stars appear to have something similar on Doughty’s reputation grew at a rapid pace and it’s no coincidence that he their hands with 2017 third overall pick Miro Heiskanen. Though they saw the most love at the end-of-season awards in the years that followed differ stylistically, two of Heiskanen’s top three comps are Doughty’s age — warranted or not. 20 and age 21 season, the latter of which has a similarity score of 57, which is pretty high. The absolute apex of that peak came in 2015-16, Doughty’s age 26 season where it was his turn to win the Norris trophy. To his credit, Both defensemen stand at 6-foot-1 (though Heiskanen is a bit lankier), Doughty was exceptional at 5-on-5 that season featuring a career-best play 24 minutes per night, face very tough usage, are good for roughly 10 56 percent expected goals rate and 58 percent goals rate by way of his goals and 40 points and are very strong in their own end with exceptional strong defense, putting up some of the best rates of his career. Coupled expected and actual goals against rates. Their expected goals with his 51 points scored, Doughty was worth 3.2 wins that year, the percentage was nearly identical in their respective seasons with both second-highest of his career next to his 2009-10 campaign. It may not being on for 2.45 per 60 while allowing around 2.05 (Heiskanen was have been the best mark that year – that honor belongs to Erik Karlsson slightly higher at 2.08), good for a 54 percent share. That’s extremely and – but he was certainly up the leaderboard (it was strong for a young defenseman playing tough minutes, especially certainly more palatable than his runner-up nomination the year prior). considering most of that is on the defensive side. Altogether, both players Two years later he finished second after putting up a career-high 60 were worth around two wins at the time. points in a season where he was worth 2.9 wins. However, there are two areas where Heiskanen and Doughty do slightly After that season Doughty’s play has fallen off a cliff in lockstep with the differ. Kings finding themselves near the league’s basement in consecutive The first is in their production. While both players appear to be 40-point seasons. While many signs point to Doughty’s own drop in play, the scorers, Heiskanen is stronger at 5-on-5 where his 1.03 points-per-60 reputation afforded to him in year’s past as one of the league’s best tops Doughty’s 0.84, while the difference on the power play comes down remains giving him the benefit of the doubt in down years. to opportunity. Both players have a nearly identical points-per-60, but What does this all mean for Heiskanen? It means the Stars can likely Doughty had the benefit of an extra 1:14 of power-play time to boost his expect a very consistent stalwart on their back end, one they can depend totals while Heiskanen has been blocked by teammate John Klingberg on for most of the next decade to deliver elite 5-on-5 results. They can from a spot on the top unit. He may just have a higher offensive ceiling expect a shutdown defenseman with some offensive flair who will be than Doughty. among the best at his position for most of his prime. The second is discipline. Doughty’s projected minus-five penalty But it may take a little extra for him to be considered the very best at his differential isn’t bad for a defenseman by any means, but Heiskanen’s position like Doughty was in 2015-16, at least when it comes to taking plus-four mark is dazzling. It stands as the fifth-best mark in the league home some hardware. It’ll take an exceptionally strong season of pristine for defensemen at the moment, an extraordinary feat given his defensive defense and 5-on-5 dominance, even by his standards. It’ll take more skillset. Essentially, Heiskanen possesses Doughty-calibre defense while offense, which Heiskanen appears to have in him based on his rate staying out of the box more. numbers at 5-on-5 compared to Doughty’s at the same age. Perhaps It’s impressive and based on Doughty’s trajectory, the Stars can expect most importantly, it’ll take a strong PR campaign built off a growing Heiskanen to maintain that level of play and then some for much of the reputation as one of the league’s most dependable defenders. He may next decade. need some team success to go along with it to build that case to one day get his turn at winning the Norris Trophy. At that point in time, Doughty was four seasons into his NHL career and it took just two for him to become a legit star. Though he started taking on After two seasons in the league, it feels like Heiskanen can one day get big minutes in his rookie season, it wasn’t until his sophomore campaign there. He has the tools to not only be on Doughty’s level but maybe even where he was equipped to handle them. On top of scoring 59 points, surpass it if his offensive game gets an opportunity to grow without Doughty earned a 55 percent expected goals rate and 57 percent goals sacrificing his pristine defensive game. It’s time to start paying more rate, leading to his first-ever Norris nomination. It wouldn’t be his last. attention to him now.

In the following two years, Doughty influenced chances at a consistent For most players, it’s not very difficult to find past comparables, but some 54-to-55 percent rate like clockwork, and in those three years – the span of the best players are unique and make it challenging. Heiskanen is one of those players and while Doughty is a very strong match, it’s pretty difficult to find others. Only two other players from the past decade have a similarity score higher than 35 with Heiskanen’s last season: Oliver Ekman-Larsson in 2012-13 and Alex Pietrangelo in 2011-12.

That’s three elite or borderline elite players, giving Heiskanen a pretty rosy future trajectory, one where being an elite defenseman is the average outlook. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him surpass that threshold either.

It’s worth noting too that Heiskanen is still just 20 years old and he’s being put on the same level of three 21-year-olds. And not just any 21- year-olds, but three of the best defensemen of their era. It suggests Heiskanen is a very special player, one that will have the torch passed onto him as one of the game’s future best defensemen. In his second season, he’s already not far off.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188279 Dallas Stars deeper in his crease and is more reactive. Seeing them side-by-side in practice is a fun contrast.

Khudobin’s style also means he’s more of a “rhythmic goaltender” who Goalies get into a groove on Day 2 of Stars camp, but who will be No. 3? needs repetitions to be successful. It’s hard to be rhythmic goalie as a backup or 1B when you don’t play as often, so the key to Khudobin’s success is treating every practice like a game. That’s what he’s done in By Sean Shapiro training camp, making some dazzling stops. He often looks like he’s working harder in net than Bishop during practice, and that’s frankly Jul 14, 2020 because he has to.

None of these observations are new. Both goalies are in their 30s, and FRISCO, Texas — Even in a normal year, there’s never enough data we know what to expect from them in a training camp. Watching from the first two days of training camp. Oettinger and Bow has been a more interesting case study, since both have made major strides in their game this past season. The drills, like they’ve been the past two days, are designed around certain concepts and getting players into a rhythm. Players have the puck Bow has been the more impressive goalie so far by my eyes. He’s also on their stick more often, and the level of defending – both intentional much smoother and more technically sound than he was at the start of and unintentional – is a work in progress. The past two days have been the 2019-20 season. His footwork is more efficient and his reading of about teaching and getting into a rhythm. plays has improved. On Day 1 of training camp, he made a handful of tremendous saves against the Stars’ top power-play unit while working Asking for early training camp impressions is similar to asking a teacher without penalty killers in front of him. to grade how their student took notes: It’s really not fair. Bow’s skating has also led to a better presence as a puckhandler. His There have been lots of questions from fans, who for the first time aren’t retrievals and passes are crisper, and he’s calmer than he used to be in able to watch a training camp in person, about how a certain player has most situations. In the past, Bow would panic a bit with the puck as a performed. In general, it’s the same answer for all of them. They are passer, leading to more rushed decisions by his defensemen and professional athletes running drills; they all look adequate enough. ultimately failed breakouts.

The one position we can judge a little – and the wormhole that we are Bow has worked on his puckhandling with Bishop a ton, and it’s diving deep into today – is goaltending. something they’ve talked about quite a bit. In the past, Bow has referred to picking Bishop’s mind like working with an additional goalie coach on There is no soft opening for goalies. While forwards and defensemen can the ice. ease into things, a goalie can’t. You stop the puck, or you don’t. That’s the job description. And that is the one area where Bow has a major advantage over Oettinger. Bow and Khudobin handle the puck well enough that the Stars’ And for the goalies attending Stars training camp, the job descriptions for defensemen don’t have to adjust too much to Bishop being absent. two of them could be slightly altered this month. Oettinger playing would mean a change in system to where the Ben Bishop is the Stars’ starting goalie; that’s not going to change. He’s defenders have to do more on their own getting the puck from below the going to play Game 1 of the playoffs, and his most important job during goal line. His footwork has noticeably improved since December, while this camp is to remain healthy and continue a 2019-20 season that has he still needs to be better squared with his feet coming off the post. been the least injury-plagued of his NHL career. There are times when Oettinger is more square to the corner and not the Anton Khudobin is the best insurance policy the Stars could imagine. He puck when coming off his post, which has led to some easier pickings for led the NHL with a .930 save percentage, and thanks to his work, the NHL shooters the past two days of training camp. Stars had the second-best statistical goalie tandem in the NHL, trailing Oettinger’s save selection, however, has greatly improved. He’s more only the Boston Bruins. efficient with his movements and has tracked pucks better through traffic; Khudobin isn’t going to supplant Bishop as the No. 1, but he’s a more- he’s using his body more to make saves through traffic and his rebound than-capable 1B who could play more often in this return-to-play format control, which was already good, is even better. Oettinger, particularly than you’d expect. with his glove, holds rebounds that Bow struggles to handle sometimes.

The other goalies that have skated so far, Landon Bow and Jake Oettinger historically was a slow-starting goalie in college, so it’s Oettinger, are in a battle for that No. 3 role in Alberta. The Stars are interesting to see him work early in camp. A slow-starting goalie is one hoping it never comes to pass that either cracks the lineup, but how they that takes longer to get up to speed; some NHL goalies known as slow fare in the side-by-side comparison will determine who potentially gets an starters typically need at least a handful of games before they get to top opportunity if it arises. speed at the start of a season. (Mike Smith in Edmonton for example has a career .907 save percentage in October but a .929 save percentage in We’ll start at the top of the depth chart with Bishop, who took part in his April.) first full team skate on Tuesday. By comparison, Bishop has been average when it comes to starting the Bishop is not a technically great goalie. If you were picking a goalie season, with a career save percentage of .913 in October that spikes based strictly on drills and techniques in practice like they do in youth to.926 career in the month of November. Khudobin, as you might expect hockey, Bishop would be cut every time. He’s not a great skater – his from a rhythmic goalie, tends to need at least a couple games before feet sometimes look like he’s behind the play in his save selection – but hitting top form. His career save percentage in October is .900, in he reads the game at such a high level that it doesn’t hinder him. His 6’7 November it’s .928. frame sometimes helps him get away with an unorthodox approach – a lot of times, in fact, if you look at his career numbers. Does this mean anything with this restart? Maybe, but it’s certainly a data point the Stars should keep in mind as they assess the goalies and their In many ways, the Stars’ system is also built around Bishop’s ability to usage in the round-robin. With four games between the round-robin and handle the puck. His stretch pass, referred to as a “Bish-up,” is a the exhibition, it would probably behoove the Stars to give both Bishop highlight of his puckhandling, but the consistent retrievals and short and Khudobin a pair of starts so both are in closer to prime form for any passes to defensemen allow the Stars to exit the zone frequently with scenario in the postseason. After that? Bow and Oettinger will continue to possession. battle for the No. 3 role, even if both of them head into the bubble.

Khudobin isn’t a great puckhandler like Bishop, but he’s an above- average one who handles it well enough for the Stars’ defensemen to be effective even if they are busier in retrievals when the Russian is in net. The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020

Stylistically, Khudobin is on the opposite end of the technical spectrum. At 5’11, puny by NHL goalie standards, he has to be a technical savant and take advantage of his athleticism to be effective. Khudobin is aggressive and more proactive in his goaltending, while Bishop plays 1188280 Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.16.2020

When NHL snubbed Red Wings' Steve Yzerman, Mike Ilitch handed his rookie an envelope

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 6:16 p.m. ET July 15, 2020

One award was named for a legendary franchise coach and another hasn’t been bestowed on the club for half a century.

The NHL is rolling out 2020 trophy finalists. Wednesday the league announced the Calder Memorial Trophy finalists Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (who the Wings passed on in the 2018 draft), Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik.

Jack Adams Award finalists are the Boston Bruins’ Bruce Cassidy, Columbus Blue Jacket’s John Tortorella and Philadelphia Flyers’ Alain Vigneault.

In this edition of Detroit Red Wings Revisited, we look back at the team’s history with the awards.

The NHL has honored a rookie of the year since 1933 (the first one was Wings center Carl Voss) but it was not until 1937 that a rookie received a piece of hardware known as the Calder Trophy, named in honor of Frank Calder, who was present of the NHL from 1917-43. It became known as the Calder Memorial Trophy upon his death. It is voted upon by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the regular season.

Wings forward Jim McFadden won it in 1948 when he was 27 years old, at the time making him the oldest player to have won it. Wings goaltending legend was honored with the trophy in 1951, and two more Wings goaltenders followed: Glenn Hall in 1956 and Roger Crozier in 1965.

Red Wings mailbag: What are chances Steve Yzerman picks a goalie in 2020 draft?

That’s it, though. No Wings player has been selected rookie of the year in 55 years. They have had numerous finalists, most notably in 1984, when Steve Yzerman finished second in voting, behind Buffalo Sabres goaltender Tom Barrasso. Yzerman led all rookies with 89 points and while he was rejected nationally he was adored locally: The night of the awards – before the winner was announced – team owner Mike Ilitch handed Yzerman an envelope on which he had written, “You’re my rookie of the year.” Inside was a check for $25,000.

Sergei Fedorov was runner-up in 1991 and Nicklas Lidstrom in 1992, behind, respectively, Ed Belfour and . In 2003, Henrik Zetterberg paced the rookie class with 44 points but was runner-up to Barret Jackman (Pavel Datsyuk finished fifth in scoring in his rookie season, 2001-02, his 35 points not enough to land him among the finalists). In 2010, Jimmy Howard was runner-up to Tyler Myers.

The coach of the year award dates to 1974, and is voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. It was named after Jack Adams, whose career with the franchise spanned 1927-1963. He coached them to a 413 victories and three Stanley Cups before stepping down as coach in 1947, and was the winningest coach in team history until surpassed by in 2014.

Babcock was a runner-up in 2014 and placed third in voting in 2008. The last Wings coach to win the award is , in 1996 (he was a finalist in 1995 and 2001).

Jacques Demers won the award in 1987 and repeated in 1988. The first Wings coach to win the award was , in 1978. The Wings made the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 1977-78. Apropos of the 2020 playoff format that includes a play-in round (because of the truncated season), in 1978 the league featured a qualifying round. The Wings beat the then- in the qualifier, but were ousted by the Montreal Canadiens in the quarterfinals.

1188281 Detroit Red Wings “He’s under anesthesia every morning,” Quincey said. “It takes three hours (but) the actual session is probably seconds. It takes a long time to get it in the perfect spot because they’re actually hitting millimeters from the brain stem. It’s very precise. Most of the time it’s just getting him 15-month-old son of former Red Wing Kyle Quincey battling brain cancer sedated and comfortable and in the right spot.”

Alx Quincey, the 14-month-old son of former Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey, is undergoing radiation treatments for a brain tumor. Updated Jul 15, 2020; Posted Jul 15, 2020 (courtesy of Kyle Quincey) By Ansar Khan | [email protected] The next step, Quincey said, is “pretty much just cross your fingers.”

“The surgery was a success,” Quincey said. “He’s confident in saying he Kyle and Rachel Quincey’s lives changed forever in late March when got 99 percent out. There’s a little mark on the MRI they’re not 100 their 15-month-old son was diagnosed with brain cancer. percent sure about; the radiation is focusing on that spot now.”

Two surgeries later, following many days of chemotherapy, Alx will Quincey is grateful to Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott for allowing them to continue radiation treatment in a Philadelphia hospital for another month stay at his home while he was away. If all goes well, the family will return while his parents wait for positive results. home to Denver late next month. Then they will wait a couple of weeks before taking Alx for another MRI. They were encouraged by the second operation in June, in which 99 percent of the tumor was removed. But the fight is far from over. “At that MRI we’re really hoping we get some good news and they say cancer-free,” Quincey said. “If not, we just take it from there and we keep “It was really hard at the start, but very quickly it becomes your new the fight going. It’s kind of one step at a time. When we got the diagnosis normal,” Quincey said. “Really only one option, just being positive and there were a lot of hoops to jump through and we’ve jumped through a grinding it out day by day.” few of them, not really thinking about what the next step is because this is kind of the last step they gave us in the first protocol.” Quincey played 10-plus years in the NHL, including five full seasons and parts of three others as a defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings. He Whatever news they receive next month, Alx will continue to be closely retired from hockey in 2019. monitored for some time.

Alx Quincey became ill in March, requiring multiple trips to the hospital. “He has an MRI every three months until he’s 5 and then every six They suspected it was an ear infection or just a cold or the flu and months until he’s 26,” Quincey said. “He’s not out of the woods, really administered antibiotics. On the third visit, on March 30, an emergency ever, because this is such an aggressive tumor. But we feel we got a room nurse suggested a CAT scan. really good team and a good plan and we’re just executing it right now.”

“That’s the first time we saw the mass,” Quincey said in an interview with The Red Wings drafted Quincey in the fourth round in 2003 out of MLive. “Things weren’t going well for about a month. He started showing London (OHL). He played three seasons for AHL Grand Rapids, where symptoms and it took us about three weeks to get that CAT scan. You he met Rachel, who is from Luther, Mich., in 2006. They were married 10 take the normal precautions first.” years later in Detroit, following Quincey’s final season with the Red Wings. Axl was diagnosed with ependymoma. It is a type of tumor that can form in the brain or spinal cord. It begins in the ependymal cells in the brain After playing for three teams over the next two years (New Jersey, and spinal cord that line the passageways where the fluid that nourishes Columbus and Minnesota), Quincey spent the 2018-19 season in Finland your brain flows, according to the Mayo Clinic’s web site. Ependymoma with HIFK Helsinki before retiring at age 33. can occur at any age, but most often occurs in young children. “My body just wasn’t up for it,” Quincey said, adding, “I couldn’t imagine Alx Quincey, the 14-month-old son of former Red Wings defenseman being gone for this.” Kyle Quincey, has had two surgeries to remove a brain tumor. (courtesy of Kyle Quincey) The Quinceys are in the process of starting a foundation to benefit childhood cancer. Haley Fowler, the wife of friend Paul Stastny, who The initial surgery April 2 in Denver removed about one-third of the plays for Vegas, contacted a company that produces t-shirts and crew tumor. That was followed by two months of chemotherapy. necks that say, “Team Ax.”

“The first (procedure) was kind of immediate, to relieve all the symptoms, “We saw such a huge response, me and Rachel decided to start Team the pressure … he was in a lot of discomfort for three weeks before we Ax Foundation, with proceeds to help childhood cancer,” Quincey said. could figure out what it was,” Quincey said. “It was blocking all of his spinal fluid from draining. “We wanted to use our platform and all of our contacts to do good. We kind of found our calling, or the calling found us. It’s just coming into “Took a while to recover from that. He started chemo when he became fruition now.” well enough to do so and the whole plan was to get the second surgery. We found out we needed every cell of this tumor gone or it will just come back, so it was very important to find a surgeon we felt comfortable with, Michigan Live LOADED: 07.16.2020 being aggressive enough to get every single cell out and also being safe enough to not damage the brain stem and all the other nerves.”

The Quinceys have another son, 2½ year-old Stone. Family life has been significantly disrupted.

“Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, it was a long time before the two boys were together or even his mom got to come home because she was living in the hospital for so long,” Quincey said. “It was very hard, and then I wasn’t allowed in the hospital at the same time because only one parent is allowed at a time.”

After much research, the Quinceys decided on Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Jay Storm for the second surgery, which took 22½ hours.

“He’s a miracle worker,” Quincy said. “He scraped the tumor off the nerves, making sure he didn’t damage any of the nerves of the brain stem.”

Alx just completed day seven of 30 days of radiation therapy, which he undergoes Monday through Friday. 1188282 Detroit Red Wings 46, with a 2.78 goals-against average and 23 shutouts. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980. He died in 1998 at age 71.

Coach Red Wings 1940s all-decade team: The Production Line leads the way of Jack Adams: He coached the Red Wings for 20 seasons until 1947 when unforgettable nicknames he stepped aside to focus solely on his general manager’s job. The Red Wings won their third Stanley Cup under Adams as coach in 1943 and reached the playoffs all eight seasons he coached in the 1940s. Posted Jul 15, 2020

By Ansar Khan | [email protected] Michigan Live LOADED: 07.16.2020

Old Bootnose, Terrible Ted, Black Jack and Apple Cheeks.

Nicknames, a longstanding hockey tradition, were in full force in Detroit during the 1940s.

This was also the decade in which the NHL’s most famous combination of forwards was formed. A young joined veterans and Ted Lindsay in 1947-48 to form the Red Wings’ legendary Production Line.

The Red Wings, in the six-team league, reached the playoffs every season during this decade. It was part of a 20-year playoff streak.

MLive is breaking down Red Wings all-decade teams. Today, a look at the franchise’s best players in the 1940s.

Forwards

Sid Abel: “Old Bootnose” led the franchise in assists (189) and points (312) and was second in goals (123) during the decade despite missing a portion due to military service. He was named captain in 1942 before leaving the next season to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He returned late in the 1945-46 season and regained the “C.” He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1949. His long career in hockey included stints as Red Wings coach, general manager and TV analyst. A Hall of Famer named in 2017 as one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players, he died in 2000 at age 81.

Syd Howe: No relation to Gordie, Syd Howe was a versatile forward who shifted between left wing and center and could even play defense. He ranked second in points (283) for the club during the 1940s. He is one of only three players since 1921 to score six goals in a game ( and the others). Howe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965. He died in 1976 at age 64 due to throat cancer.

Ted Lindsay: He made his NHL debut in 1944, possessing a combination of scoring ability and toughness despite his 5-foot-8, 163-pound frame. “Terrible Ted” led the Red Wings in goals (126) in the 1940s and was third in points (228). He also racked up 371 penalty minutes, third on the club during the decade, first among forwards. The driving force behind the formation of a players union, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966 and in 2017 named one of the league’s 100 greatest players of all- time. He died in 2019 at age 93.

Defensemen

Bill Quackenbush: He was considered an elite rushing defenseman in his day, in an era when few D-men joined the rush. Defensively, he relied more on positioning than physicality, as evidence by a remarkable feat in 1948-49, when he did not register a penalty in 60 games. He became the first of only three defensemen to win the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct. Coach and general manager Jack Adams disliked the award so much he traded Quackenbush to the Boston Bruins in the off-season. Quackenbush was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. He died in 1999 at age 77.

Jack Stewart: Unlike Quackenbush, “Black Jack” Stewart was one of the hardest hitters of his time, inflicting pain and injuries on opponents and racking up a team-high 615 penalty minutes during the 1940s. He spent the entire decade with Detroit, minus the two seasons he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II. He led the Red Wings in games played (419) and was a five-time postseason All-Star selection in the decade. Stewart was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964. He died in 1983 at age 66.

Goaltender

Harry Lumley: Known as “Apple Cheeks,” Lumley appeared in 294 games during the decade for the Red Wings, posting a record of 151-97- 1188283 Edmonton Oilers The Oilers invited teenage Philip Broberg for the Phase 3 portion to have him around NHLers because he’s never been to a main camp, but when Mike Green opted out for family reasons, that left them with 10 defencemen. Now, Broberg might stick around rather than return Oilers' Athanasiou getting big shot on top-scorer Draisaitl's wing to Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise for all of us,” said Tippett, who watched the left shot Broberg play right side during the scrimmage. “He doesn’t Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal look out of place at all. July 16, 2020 12:04 AM MDT “Whether Broberg stays with us will be Ken (Holland, general manager)’s decision.”

Through the first three days of Edmonton Oilers Phase 3 camp, Andreas The 2019 first-rounder played regularly for Skelleftea as an 18-year-old Athanasiou looks like the designated left-winger with Leon Draisaitl. this past season in a more defensive role, but he’s played against grown men. And it’s his job to stay there after moving around through his first three weeks with his new before the NHL paused March 12. The Oilers have 33 players in camp and can have 31 in the Phase 4 bubble. “Obviously, he’s a highly-skilled player we traded for,” said coach , whose side gave up two second-round picks and Sam Gagner. Goalies Olivier Rodrigue and Dylan Wellsand could be odd-men out but “Coming into this camp, we wanted to give him this opportunity and see maybe they want to keep four goalies in the bubble, with farmhand Stuart what he can do. Looks like he could be a good fit with Leon and Yamo Skinner as the clear No. 3 on their depth chart. (Kailer Yamamoto) with his speed. We’ll see how it goes.” This ’n’ that: Defenceman Caleb Jones again skated afterward with the Athanasiou has only been in the playoffs once, as a Detroit rookie in the three extra goalies and some others from the first group. He could be spring of 2016. back with the main group Friday … Still no sign of Hawks No. 1 goalie Corey Crawford, which leaves Malcolm Subban as their possible starter “We played Tampa in the first round. I think myself and (Dylan) Larkin for the Oilers series. Defenceman Calvin De Haan (family emergency) were the youngest guys. We lost in five games,” said Athanasiou, who was also absent Wednesday for a second day … The Oilers officially scored a goal in that series, and now has two points in his first nine loaned farmhand defenceman Dmitry Samorukov to CSKA in for Oilers games. “Leon’s a world-class player. When you’re around him the Kontinental Hockey League season … Calahoo’s Ian Mitchell signed every day, you see how he controls the play, he’s really good at finding a three-year deal with the Blackhawks but the former Spruce Grove the open man. Unbelievable skill set. Fun to play with. Saints and Denver University defenceman won’t be eligible for the return to play … Hawks rookie Dominik Kubalik, who had 30 goals in 68 games, “it’s your job to build chemistry as fast as possible.” is one of the finalists for the Calder trophy. Chicago got the rights to WHO GETS IN GOAL? Kubalik from Los Angeles in a 2019 trade, giving up a fifth-round pick.

Tippett wouldn’t say if he would play Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith for 30 minutes of the exhibition game against Calgary on June 28, or go with Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2020 the guy he thinks has been better in the Phase 3 camp for the full 60 minutes in preparation for the qualification series.

“We’ll continue to scrimmage a lot and we’ll monitor our goalies to see where we’re at,” said Tippett. “We’ve got lots of time.

“But I’d like to have had more than one game so we could play more players. But we don’t have that.”

Tippett knows there’s bad blood between the Oilers and Flames.

“I think people will read more into it than is there,” he said of the exhibition. “You better use that game wisely to make sure your team game is in order.

“I think we can take the rivalry out it. I mean, it’s one game and you’re into the playoffs.”

Same story from Calgary coach Geoff Ward.

“This is as close to a playoff simulation as we’re going to get. The guys aren’t crazy, they know what’s at stake. This is an exhibition game to get ready for the playoffs,” he said.

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

The Oilers will start their Chicago series with a 1 p.m. face-off Aug. 1, then Games 2 (Aug. 3) and 3 (Aug. 5) will be 8:30 p.m. starts. The Oilers will be the home team for Game 1 as the Western Conference’s higher seed and in their dressing room, but it’s expected the Hawks will be the home side for Game 2 while the Oilers move out.

“Unusual circumstances coming with this whole scenario, but hopefully guys on other teams get here and see how well we’re treated and how nice our arena is and they enjoy it,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. “Obviously, you don’t want them enjoying it too much, but we hope they come in and see how first-rate this is.”

Added Tippett: “I think we’re comfortable with our surroundings. We’re going to know how to get to the rink, but I don’t think there’s any home- ice advantage with no fans in the building.”

BROBERG IN THE BUBBLE? 1188284 Edmonton Oilers said Bear, who finished with 21 points, and over the last 30 games never played under 20 minutes from New Year’s Eve to March 11.

Bear didn’t hibernate during the NHL pause, either. Ethan Bear has pivotal role to play in upcoming Oilers-Chicago series “I have the same mindset now as I did,” the product of Ochapowace, Sask., said of last year’s Oilers training camp. “I still figure I have to prove myself every day. I was very fortunate to have ice and a good Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal training program back home during the break.”

July 16, 2020 12:06 AM MDT The First Nations’ athlete started the Ethan Bear Hockey Skills camp in his hometown in 2017.

“I worked on something new every day, got some stuff from D coach While Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear didn’t make the final Jimmy,” Bear said. three for the Calder trophy, he did get some love in voting for NHL rookie of the year. As an indigenous youngster, Bear followed the racial unrest in the U.S. and the Black Lives Matter movement after the George Floyd murder in It’s a testament to how far he’s come in a very short time to become a Minnesota. top-four blueliner. “I try to read as much as I can and educate myself but I don’t say too He was thrown into the deep end early and often, with no life jacket. much because I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” said Bear. “But I try And he did swimmingly. and support this is a much as I can. It was awesome to see. Everybody’s equal and deserves a chance in this world.” Now having to play against Chicago’s Patrick Kane a fair bit in the qualification round best-of-five series might be a big gulp, since Kane has Bear found racism in the where he played four averaged two points a night against Oilers in the last 25 games. But years in Seattle. It wasn’t rampant but it was there. He knows he has a Bear, who turned 23 on June 26, and partner Darnell Nurse, 25, have role as an NHL player now to stand up and make a change, and he plans been a staple of consistency for coach Dave Tippett. on doing it.

Nurse averaged over 23 minutes a game and Bear almost 22, which is “Absolutely. When I feel the time’s right, I’ll use my voice,” he said. “But the same as the flashier Cale Makar in Colorado and Quinn Hughes in in junior, I didn’t face a lot of it. I heard some comments from guys, but at Vancouver. One of those two is winning the Calder. Only one other NHL the same time they weren’t educated. They didn’t know what they were rookie defenceman, ex-Oilers draftee John Marino, had more than 20 doing until you told them, ‘You can’t say that, you shouldn’t say that,’ and minutes a night, in Pittsburgh. they would get scared. You tell them what they did was wrong and they don’t do it again.” “Ethan’s been a shining star for us,” said Nurse, who played 69 games his first full NHL season in 2015-16 as 20-year-old, two fewer than Bear this year, and got his feet wet quickly too. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2020 “I love the way he’s out there looking to learn, finding ways to make his game better. That’s what’s made him so good this year, he’s hungry to improve.”

Tippett was drawn to Bear from the first day of camp.

“You could see a guy who was very enthusiastic to play and that catches your eye right away,” said Tippett. “Then you start noticing as a coach what he’s doing. He was quick, he moved it quick, he thought the game well.

“And when (Adam) Larsson got nicked up early, we put more pressure on Ethan than we would normally and he handled it very well. Those early challenges where we were down one of our top defencemen, he stepped up, took a lot of those minutes.”

Tippett’s trust grew. If Bear made mistakes, he kept shoving him back out.

He only had five games where he was worse than a minus-1 player.

“The sign of maturity in a player is how he reacts after a mistake, even the best defencemen in this league make them, but Ethan didn’t let those things affect him. That’s when you know a player has arrived. He played against top players and the maturity allowed him to get past any jitters,” said Tippett.

The biggest eye-opener for Tippett was how his big guns accepted and relished Bear’s work.

“When you have people like Connor (McDavid) and Leon (Draisaitl), your top players wanting to be on the ice with you, that shows Ethan is doing some really strong things,” said Tippett.

The storyline last fall was Bear was dedicating himself to being a solid pro, getting into the proper shape, eating right, thinking right. He followed through and he’s become part of the Oilers core.

He might not get a long-term deal for big dough when the season ends because of salary-cap concerns here and everywhere in the NHL, but eventually he’ll get a six-year contract.

“The biggest thing for me was my focus. I had a plan, I wanted to show up early, get into the gym and do my proper warmup, then get onto the ice. Watch video with Jimmy (Playfair, associate coach). It was a long year but I wanted to stay consistent. I didn’t want to get comfortable,” 1188285 Florida Panthers the luxury of training in the warm South Florida weather of March and April.

He ordered a couple machines to do squats in his condo and eventually COVID-19 interrupted Huberdeau’s career year with Panthers. Can he do he was able to work out alone at a friend’s gym once COVID cases got it 4 months later? under control in Quebec. Skills training, however, was virtually nonexistent until he got a few chances to use a rink before he came back down to Coral Springs for training camp.

BY DAVID WILSON The next two weeks will be a sprint to get ready. If the Panthers want to make an unlikely run at the Stanley Cup, their stars like Huberdeau will JULY 15, 2020 04:39 PM have to be at their best.

“Obviously, it’s good to be back with the guys on the ice and we’ve been In the final days and weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shut waiting a long time and had the chance to rest a lot, work out, get down the regular season, Jonathan Huberdeau was mired in a rare stronger and now it feels like another season, but we’ll go right to the scoring slump. playoffs,” Huberdeau said. “We’re really excited and the first few days have been great.” He was the Florida Panthers’ lone All-Star this season largely because of his consistency playing with Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers’ productive top line. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.16.2020 Until February began, Huberdeau hadn’t had a point-less streak longer than two games. As February ended and bled into March, Huberdeau crashed into a four-game points drought.

Joel Quenneville’s solution, perhaps paradoxically, was to split up the dynamic pairing of Huberdeau and Barkov. The coach sent his star left wing down to the second line and Florida promptly flipped a four-game losing streak into a two-game winning streak heading into the coronavirus shutdown.

“It doesn’t matter points,” Huberdeau said. “It’s just to work hard. I want to help my team, obviously, offensively.”

Huberdeau scored one goal in those last two games he played with winger Mike Hoffman and forward Erik Haula, who had been with the Panthers for less than three weeks when the virus outbreak sent the season into an unexpected four-month hiatus.

The shuffling lines meant an overhaul in Florida’s identity. No longer were the Panthers content with just trying to outscore teams with one of the NHL’s best offenses.

Quenneville wanted a more complete two-way identity to support struggling superstar goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. This strategy, however, hinges on the scoring punch Florida’s top-end talent has the ability to provide.

Barkov was well-established as a star before this season. He was an All- Star in 2018, and his NHL peers regularly listed him among the league’s most complete players, most underrated stars and top forwards.

Huberdeau, 27, was long the center’s wingman, but he solidified himself as a star in his own right this season, leading the Panthers with 78 points and 55 assists, and ranking third with 23 goals.

Three days into postseason training camp at the Florida Panthers IceDen, Quenneville has largely kept intact the lines Florida used at the end of the regular season, which means Huberdeau is poised to anchor the second line when it begins the qualifying round against the New York Islanders next month in Toronto following a July 29 exhibition against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“When we finished in St. Louis, it was going well and if you’re thinking about the team, the team was playing well with these combinations and Barky’s line with Frankie [Vatrano] was going well,” Huberdeau said. “We’re trying to get our chemistry back and we still have some time until the first game.”

The biggest challenge is getting to know Haula. The forward joined the Panthers in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes in February and quickly wound up as the center paired with Florida’s most productive winger as part of the so-called “Triple H” line. In their first game playing together, Haula had the primary assist on Huberdeau’s goal.

“I’m still getting to know the guys,” Haula said Tuesday. “It’s a little different. I’m taking it one day at a time and just having fun with it.”

Huberdeau’s other challenge is the one facing every single hockey player around the league: How can anyone be expected to not miss a beat when he couldn’t skate for three months?

Huberdeau spent his break back home in Canada, where he lives in a condominium. He didn’t have any home gymnasium, and he didn’t have 1188286 Florida Panthers In 38 regular season games for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv this season, Denisenko scored six goals and handed out six assists. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect also scored one goal in six postseason games. Denisenko also served as a captain for Russia at the 2020 World Junior Here’s why the Florida Panthers actually like the early start times against Championships, leading the national team with nine points — the Islanders three goals and six assists — in seven games on the way to a silver medal. He also led Russia to a bronze medal at the 2019 World Junior

Championships, leading the entire tournament with nine points — four BY DAVID WILSON goals and five assists — in seven games.

JULY 15, 2020 04:19 PM Denisenko is not eligible to participate in the expanded postseason. Players who sign a new contract for the current season are eligible to participate in training camps and to travel to the bubble, but are not eligible to play in the postseason, according to a deal between the NHL The Florida Panthers will have to be ready to go pretty much as soon as and NHL Players Association. they wake up once they get to Toronto for the qualifying round of the NHL’s expanded postseason. Quenneville said the team does not plan to bring Denisenko to North America to practice with the team. The Panthers’ first three games against the New York Islanders are slated to start at 4 p.m. or earlier, including a pair of noon starts in the “Organizationally, everyone’s excited and thrilled that he is coming here best-of-5 series. and we’re looking forward to seeing him as he progresses in the next year, but he has a lot of promise,” Quenneville said. “You don’t want to Games starting in the early afternoon aren’t unheard of in hockey, but use the word ‘wow’ until he gets here and we see him, but there is a lot usually it happens just a handful of times throughout a season. Next we liked from afar.” month, Florida will start at noon on back-to-back days and the Panthers actually like the idea.

“Obviously, the first game at 12, probably the ice is going to be a little Miami Herald LOADED: 07.16.2020 better,” All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau said. “I feel when you get to the games at night it’s going to be a little harder. Everybody skated all day on it. The game doesn’t change. I think we’ve experienced it. You just wake up, you go straight there — I like it — and 4 o’clock you do the same thing. You can sleep in and after a big win you can have a nice dinner.”

Florida will open the postseason on the first day of August at 4 p.m., the NHL announced Tuesday. After two days off, the Panthers will play back- to-back days at noon against the Islanders at Scotiabank Arena. Start times for Games 4 and 5, if necessary, have not yet been announced. Even their July 29 exhibition against the Tampa Bay Lightning is slated to start at noon.

Coincidentally, the noon starts actually fit in with the routine Florida has carved out for itself so far in July. The first three days of postseason training camp all started at 11 a.m. at the Florida Panthers IceDen and coach said players were out on the ice at the same time when they were participating in Phase 2’s small group workouts in Coral Springs.

Florida might not get prime-time exposure in Canada, but it will be ready to play.

“Over the course of the season, you’re going to have some afternoon games, you’re going to have some late games and in the playoffs we always find that we had some 8:30, you had some early afternoon games — it usually covered the whole spectrum as you get through it,” Quenneville said. “I think we’re fine. I don’t mind playing afternoon games. At least those early games at 12 o’clock, you know they’re going to start on time, so that’ll be a factor. The guys will do whatever they can.

Everything’s not going to be the perfect setting. ... We’ll deal with it, we’ll roll with it and guys have been great so far adapting to the new world we have around us, and when we get to the hub city we’ll be going to do what we have to do to be ready to play.”

The Panthers’ first-round pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft will finally join the team next season.

Florida reached an agreement Wednesday with Grigori Denisenko for the forward to join the Panthers at the start of next season on a a three-year, entry-level contract beginning. The 20-year-old, who signed a contract with Florida in May, spent this season playing in the Kontinental Hockey League, the top league in Russia. He spent the prior season playing in Russia’s Junior Hockey League and the Supreme Hockey League, the country’s second-tier league.

“We are thrilled to officially sign Grigori to an entry-level deal for the upcoming 2020-21 season,” general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. “He is a highly skilled and hard-working young player who has a bright future in our organization. Although he will be ineligible to play games for us during the 2020 postseason, we look forward to having him challenge for a position on the Panthers roster next season.” 1188287 Florida Panthers Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.16.2020

NHL releases return-to-play schedule; Panthers to play in the afternoon

By MAX MARCOVITCH

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

JUL 15, 2020 AT 4:11 PM

The National Hockey League moved one step closer to playing games Tuesday when it released its schedule, including game times, for the playoff “qualifying round,” as it’s being dubbed.

The Florida Panthers, who will face the New York Islanders in a five- game series, will have to be ready early. Literally.

The Panthers will play all three of the three guaranteed games in the series during the afternoon, with the opening game on Aug. 1 scheduled for 4 p.m. and the ensuing two games scheduled for noon. That will all come after an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 29, also scheduled for noon.

Players say there’s nothing inherently wrong with being the early bird — in fact, it might be preferable.

“You know, a few of the guys were talking, we obviously saw [the schedule], as well. I think we’re looking forward to that,” said defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. “Obviously as you know we’re going to have the fresh ice for the back-to-back skates. We’re going to wake up and play hockey right away. Sometimes when we play at 7, we’re thinking about the game all day and we’ve got to take the pregame nap. This time we can just go, wake up and play hockey. So I think it’s going to work out in our favor.”

For those interested in trying to glean some sort of advantage from the scheduling, the Panthers finished the regular season 4-5-0 in games that started at 4 p.m. or earlier. The Islanders were 4-3-3, including a 3-2 shootout win over Florida on Oct. 12.

The dynamics, though, might be different inside the bubble in Toronto amid the coronavirus pandemic, where there will be at least five games played each day, undoubtedly taking a toll on the quality of the ice at Scotiabank Arena and likely imposing delays as game lag behind throughout the day.

Players won’t have to price the extracurricular factors that come into play during a normal season. If anything, it plays into the routine players have developed while practicing during the late-morning and early-afternoon hours since returning to training camp.

“I think that over the course of a season you’re going to have afternoon games. You’re going to have some late games,” said Panthers coach Joel Quenneville. “And in the playoffs, we always find that you have some 8:30 starts, you have some early afternoon games. So you usually cover the whole spectrum as you get through it.

“Everything’s not going to be a perfect setting. There’s going to be some flexibility in proceeding with practice time scheduling and game-time starting. We’ll deal with it, roll with it. Guys have been great so far adapting to new world we have around us. When we get to the hub city, we’ll be going to do what we have to do to be ready to play.”

After the 4 p.m. game on Saturday, Aug. 1, Florida and New York will get two days off before Game 2 starts at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Game 3 will be exactly 24 hours later. Game 4, if necessary, would be on Friday, Aug. 7 and Game 5, if necessary, would be on Saturday, Aug. 8, with both times still to be announced.

“I feel, I mean, when you get the games at night it’s going to be a little harder, everybody skated all day on it,” said winger Jonathan Huberdeau. “Noon game doesn’t change [anything]. We’ve experienced it. You just wake up, you go straight there. I like it. And 4 o’clock, too, the same thing.

“You can sleep in and after the game — a big win — you can have a nice dinner.”

1188288 Minnesota Wild “I don’t think it will be a huge difference,” Kaprizov said. “Obviously, this is the best league in the world, and I have always looked forward [to playing in the NHL]. But it’s a game of hockey, and it’s just playing the game and enjoying it. I hope I am going to do really well. Kirill Kaprizov working on getting to U.S., joining Wild “I’m really not the type of a person who’s really into how many goals I’m going to score or how many points. I’m going to try to enjoy the game as much as I can and, while enjoying it, all the results are going to come by By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune themselves regardless. That’s how I feel.” JULY 15, 2020 — 11:45PM Aside from being a prolific scorer in the KHL — Kaprizov led the league in goals each of the past two seasons after most recently racking up 33 in 57 games — he’s also been a standout internationally. Wild General Manager Bill Guerin grabbed the No. 97 sweater hanging behind him, and Kirill Kaprizov’s expression started to change. In 2018, he scored the overtime game-winner to clinch gold for Russia at the Winter Olympics. He finished tied for first in goals (five) and tied for “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Kaprizov said before breaking out in an ear-to-ear second in scoring (nine) in the tournament. grin and giving a thumbs-up. “Kirill is one of the guys that has a very high compete level as well, and “It looks pretty good,” Guerin said. “Can’t wait to give this to you in that enables him to get into the middle of the ice and to not be a person, Kirill.” perimeter player,” Guerin said. “And that’s where he’s different from a lot of other guys. To get in those areas is extremely important to score A jersey isn’t all that the Wild has in store for its top prospect. goals, and he does that on a consistent basis.” After finally signing the 23-year-old to a two-year, entry-level contract on Away from home Monday, the team is working to bring Kaprizov to North America to help him get acclimated with the organization and the American lifestyle Off the ice, Guerin plans to discuss with Kaprizov what he’ll need to have before he makes his NHL debut next season. a smooth transition. This will be Kaprizov’s first time in the United States, but he’s somewhat familiar with Minnesota — associating it with “a lot of “Everything is new to me,” Kaprizov said Wednesday from Moscow lakes,” fishing and “brutally cold” winters. through an interpreter during a video conference call. “I have never been there, so I am looking forward to this.” Forward Alex Galchenyuk has volunteered to be a resource even though he’s never met Kaprizov. Galchenyuk was born in Milwaukee but also Kaprizov’s arrival has been years in the making. lived in Russia and speaks Russian. The Russian star continued to play in the Kontinental Hockey League “I’m sure he’s super excited, pumped up about it, but there’s definitely after getting drafted in the fifth round in 2015 by the Wild. With his gonna be a lot of new things like the language barrier and I’m sure some contract with CSKA Moscow expiring after 2019-20, Kaprizov told team food or whatever,” Galchenyuk said. “But it’s a great group of guys and brass he wanted to join the Wild. whatever he needs, I’ll help him out. I’m sure he’ll be real comfortable.” But the pause in the season because of the coronavirus pandemic made It took awhile for him to get to this point, and he still has to wait to suit up his availability uncertain. for a game. In the end, as part of the collective bargaining agreement extension But Kaprizov has his sights set on the Wild. negotiated by the NHL and the players in conjunction with the league’s return later this summer, Kaprizov was able to sign a contract that begins “He is ready for the new chapter,” Buzi said. this season despite him not being eligible to compete for the Wild in the 24-team postseason tournament.

He can, however, practice with the team and accompany it to Edmonton, Star Tribune LOADED: 07.16.2020 where the Wild will square off against Vancouver in the qualifying round starting Aug. 2.

“I’m going to root for them to do their best,” Kaprizov said.

Process worked

Although he won’t be paid for this season, Kaprizov will receive a $92,500 signing bonus to go along with $832,500 in salary for next season and has the potential to cash in on performance bonuses of up to $925,000. Once that deal expires, the 5-9, 185-pound winger can only negotiate and sign with the Wild and will be ineligible for an offer sheet from another team as long as the Wild extends him a qualifying offer. Kaprizov also wouldn’t have arbitration rights.

“He thought it was going to be much smoother process once the season was over there … but it took forever,” translator Alex Buzi said. “He’s grateful for his agent and for the team and for everybody who helped him in this process. He knows everybody’s waiting for him, and he can’t wait to put on the jersey himself as well. He hopes that’s going to happen sometime as soon as next week, and he’s really eager and excited to join the team.”

Not only does the Wild need to take care of the visa issue, which Guerin said “is not the easiest thing in the world right now,” but the team is also exploring different travel options for Kaprizov that could affect his quarantine requirements.

The next step

Already, though, he’s been in touch with the team — even hearing from defenseman Jared Spurgeon, which Kaprizov appreciated. He also noticed the stir he’s caused on social media among fans and figured they would want him to prove himself with the Wild. He feels the same way. 1188289 Minnesota Wild Kaprizov isn’t sure what to expect about living in Minnesota. He has largely just been focused on the hockey-aspect of his transition to this point. He doesn’t think it will be “a huge difference” jumping from the KHL to the NHL. ‘I am looking forward to this’: Kirill Kaprizov ready for his Wild tenure to finally begin “Obviously, this is the best league in the world, and I have always looked forward” to playing in the NHL, Kaprizov said. “But it’s a game of hockey and it’s just playing the game and enjoying it. I hope I am going to do really well.” By JACE FREDERICK | [email protected] | Pioneer Press The expectation is that he will do just that. Kaprizov is a five-time KHL all- PUBLISHED: July 15, 2020 at 12:57 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2020 at star and Olympic hero. Guerin called the winger a “a guy with a high skill 2:00 p.m. level” who is also willing to go into the hard areas to generate scoring chances. That’s what makes him different, what makes him special.

Making the jump: St. Thomas granted approval to move to Division I in How special? We’ll have to wait until the start of next season to find out. 2021 “I’m really not the type of a person who’s really into how many goals I’m Bill Guerin lifted up the newly minted No. 97 Kirill Kaprizov Minnesota going to score or how many points,” Kaprizov said. “I’m going to try to Wild jersey — one that surely will soon fly off shelves — to his computer enjoy the game as much as I can, and while enjoying it, all the results are during Wednesday’s introductory video conference. going to come by themselves, regardless. That’s how I feel.”

“Woah,” Kaprizov said.

“I think it looks pretty good,” Minnesota’s general manager said. “Can’t Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.16.2020 wait to give this to you in person, Kirill.”

Neither can Wild fans. This is the week Minnesota hockey fans have waited years for, as they watched Kaprizov, the Wild’s fifth-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft, become a star in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. With each passing year, as the wing’s skills and success grew, the anticipation grew. Kaprizov felt it.

“Because of the age of where we live right now and everything on the internet, of course I notice activities on the Instagram and the Twitter and all the other social media,” the 23-year-old said Wednesday through an interpreter. “I knew and I anticipated that people would want me to come and prove myself with the Wild, but I myself would like that as well. So (the anticipation) was from both ends, so I did appreciate that.”

The wait hasn’t been easy. Not for Wild fans who have yearned to see the type of scoring talent Kaprizov possesses. Until Kevin Fiala’s recent ascension into that role, Minnesota has long been devoid of such a scorer. The thought of pairing the two young stars on the same team for years to come generates as much intrigue around this franchise as has been present in a long time.

But before such a tandem can come to fruition, Kaprizov simply needs to get here. He has signed, but he’s not on site. Kaprizov remains in Moscow. He didn’t expect this process to take so long, assuming the process to get over here would be smooth once the KHL season ended. But COVID-19 had another plans.

“I’m grateful for my agent and for the team and for everybody who helped me in this process,” Kaprizov said. “I knows everybody’s waiting for me and I can’t wait to put on the jersey myself. I hope that’s going to happen sometime as soon as next week, and I am really eager and excited to join the team.”

Guerin said the Wild are “looking at a number of different options” to get Kaprizov to Minnesota. First, they must get his Visa situation taken care of, “which is not the easiest thing in the world right now.” And then once Kaprizov arrives, he may need to quarantine. The Wild depart for the Edmonton bubble in late July.

Kaprizov won’t play in the playoffs thanks to the NHL’s decision that bars previously unsigned draft picks from signing and joining teams in this season’s games. Still, Kaprizov, who has been messaging with Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, said getting here and practicing and being around the team will be “useful” in his transition, as he gets to know his teammates, the area and the league.

“Everything is new to me,” said Kaprizov, who has never even been to the United States. “I am looking forward to this.”

There are a few things Guerin and Co. will speak with Kaprizov about to help ease his transition. Perhaps the Wild will hire a translator, though Guerin said the Russian’s English is “much better than he leads on.”

“But we’ll make sure that his transition to the United States is comfortable and he has plenty of help around,” Guerin said. “We’re going to make sure that he has a good adjustment.” 1188290 Minnesota Wild Kaprizov replied, joking that the help he needed would be with his English.

Jared Spurgeon Kirill Kaprizov IG ‘It’s Marcus Foligno, your teammate!’ Wild welcome Kirill Kaprizov in The good news is Wild center Alex Galchenyuk, a potential free agent style after this season, speaks Russian, so he’ll be able to communicate with Kaprizov in the hub.

By Michael Russo “I’ve never met him personally, but obviously you hear a lot of talk, you hear a lot of buzz, you’ve seen the Olympic highlights, and he’s been Jul 15, 2020 awesome in the KHL,” Galchenyuk said. “I’m not sure how his English is, … mine’s not that great yet. But him coming over here is great and

whatever he needs I’ll definitely help him out, whether it’s his language or Good news, Wild fans: He really exists. getting adjusted. Whatever he needs, I’ll be a help for sure.”

For the first time in the five years since being drafted by the Wild, the But asked if he’ll hire a translator in the future, Guerin said, “I know he’s living, breathing, real-life Kirill Kaprizov answered a slew of questions, trying to fool you guys. His English is much better than he leads on, but albeit on Zoom by way of Moscow because of the state of our times, from we’ll make sure that his transition to the United States is comfortable and actual Wild reporters Wednesday morning as he awaits the proper work he has plenty of help around.” visas to be completed so he can cross the Atlantic and arrive in the Twin Kaprizov and Spurgeon exchanged cell phone numbers and have been Cities. texting back and forth ever since their Instagram introduction in early General manager Bill Guerin opened things up by welcoming Kaprizov to June. the State of Hockey, then surprised Kaprizov by virtually presenting him “Just little messages here and there,” Spurgeon said. “I just figured it’d be with his No. 97 green Wild sweater he’ll wear starting with the 2020-21 good for him to know his teammates couldn’t wait for him to get here. I season. know he’s been talking to (Guerin) a little bit. But I thought it would be “Whoa. Whoa. Thank you,” Kaprizov said with a big smile. nice if he knew he had another player here who he can reach out to and talk over any questions just to make him feel a bit more comfortable, I “I think it looks pretty good. Can’t wait to give this to you in person, Kirill,” thought it would be good for him to know that after he signed, that when Guerin said. he got here, at least he’s had one person that he feels he knows and has talked to. Kaprizov, through an interpreter, talked about how long he had waited for this day, how he wishes it went smoother because he hoped to come to “I just can’t imagine coming from Russia and barely knowing English and North America as soon as his KHL contract expired in May and he having all this hype built up what it would be like to just show up in a especially thanked Wild fans for the scores of Instagram and Twitter locker room and be in this foreign place. I know when I came to my first messages urging him to come over the years. camp (in 2010), I was fortunate enough to know Tyler Johnson and Justin Falk, but I didn’t really know anyone else. And I was scared. But I “It took forever,” Kaprizov said through the translator. “I know got to know people because of the language and I was able to ask them everybody’s been waiting for me and I can’t wait to put on the jersey. I questions, and just sort of get a feel for the city and that made me feel a hope that’s going to happen sometime as soon as next week. I’m eager lot more at ease. and excited to join the team.” “I give him credit: He’s been sending me a couple of messages here and The Wild and Kaprizov’s agent, Paul Theofanous, are trying to expedite there, asking questions and things like that. And he’s excited to come.” the proper visas, but then there’s another big pickle. How Kaprizov arrives in North America determines if he’ll have to quarantine and for Kaprizov said Wednesday that communicating with Spurgeon the past how long. Time is of the essence because the Wild departs for Edmonton month “felt very soothing” and he appreciated the gesture from Spurgeon on July 26 and the team wants him along for the ride so he can practice and other new Wild teammates that have reached out. and get to know his new teammates. Spurgeon joked that he may have gotten the first scoop that Kaprizov One teammate who has known for several weeks that Kaprizov wasn’t was signing with the Wild on Monday morning because Kaprizov let him just some creation of our imagination is defenseman Jared Spurgeon. know last week that there was some “good news.” In fact, before Teammate Marcus Foligno discovered the same thing Monday morning Spurgeon left for TRIA Rink on the first day of training camp Monday after firing off a welcome text to Kaprizov in Russian. morning, Kaprizov let Spurgeon know that he would be signing with the Wild at 11 a.m. sharp. Hilariously, Foligno introduced himself as “Marcus Foligno, your teammate,” just because he wasn’t sure Kaprizov would even know After news trickled through the Wild that Kaprizov had indeed signed, Foligno was a player in the NHL let alone an eventual Wild teammate. Foligno got Kaprizov’s cell phone number from Spurgeon and fired off a text to Kaprizov, one part being in English, the other in Russian just in “I didn’t want him to be like, ‘Who’s this?’ Or, maybe he’d think the text case Google Translate didn’t interpret Foligno’s text accurately. was from a Wild staff member,” Foligno, laughing, told The Athletic. Nine minutes later, Kaprizov texted back, “Hey bud ) Thanks See you Early last month, Spurgeon was lying on the couch one night flipping soon,” with a couple of emojis in there. through his Instagram during a mandatory quarantine after arriving at his cabin an hour west of Edmonton. He had heard and read so much about Marcus Foligno Kirill Kaprizov text his future teammate over the years, especially in the few months since the COVID-19 pandemic and season’s pause caused the league to rule “I knew (Guerin) had been communicating with him and I asked Billy how that unsigned draft picks like Kaprizov would not be permitted to make he communicated with Kaprizov,” Foligno said. “Billy said, ‘Google their NHL debuts this summer. Translate is really good.’ So I actually typed up a message in Russian and sent it his way. He wrote me back in English right away. Short and So, Spurgeon decided what better way to introduce himself to Kaprizov sweet, so I don’t think he used Google Translate. I can’t wait to ask him if than through a private message on Instagram. my Russian even made sense to him or if I just looked like an idiot.”

“I was just sitting one night and we were just bored thinking about stuff to Spurgeon, too, texts Kaprizov in Russian using Google Translate. do with no hockey to watch on TV,” Spurgeon told The Athletic. “I was like, ‘Hmmm. I know I have him on Instagram. I think I’ll fire him a “And then he writes me back in English,” Spurgeon said. “And it’s real message and see if he responds.’” quick. He’s self-conscious about his English, but I actually told him, ‘You’re doing a lot better than I would. Don’t feel like you’re not good at Not only did Kaprizov respond appreciatively, he told Spurgeon, “I’m very speaking.’ … happy to be part of the team,” and he’d see the Wild defenseman soon. “Hopefully he feels more comfortable knowing that he’s been able to ask Spurgeon immediately wrote back, telling Kaprizov to feel free to reach me questions about the city and the organization beforehand. I wasn’t out if he ever had any questions. trying to convince him to sign. I was just asking him what was going on with his life and just wanted to put myself out there to see if he wanted to “I think it’s going to be useful on both ends, for me to get to know my talk and if he needed questions answered. teammates, and since I’m not going to be playing, I’ll have more time to get acquainted with the league, with the city and the people,” he said. “He seems like a great guy. And obviously with what you hear of what he “Everything is new to me, I have never been there, so I am looking can do on the ice, if you can get him over here and add that to our team, forward to this.” why wouldn’t you try and get him over here to help us out?”

Wild coach Dean Evason couldn’t believe when Spurgeon told him on the ice this week that he’d been communicating with Kaprizov for quite some The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 time.

“So that tells you a lot about Jared Spurgeon, obviously. But it’s such a good message for us that he’s communicating with Spurge as well,” Evason said.

Kaprizov, a two-time KHL leading goal scorer who also scored the overtime winner to lift the Olympic Athletes from Russia to a gold medal in 2018, has only been to North America once. At the 2017 world junior championships in Toronto and Montreal, Kaprizov led the entire tournament with nine goals and tied for first with 12 points.

He’s heard about Minnesota’s lakes and that people like fishing and he knows that the winters are brutally cold.

But Kaprizov said his only objective off the hop will be adjusting on the ice.

“The season isn’t over for the other guys, so I’m going to come and I’m going to train with them and I’m going to root for them to do their best, and then once I’m going to come for the second season, I’m really not the type of a person who’s really into how many goals I’m going to score or how many points,” Kaprizov, 23, said. “I’m going to try to enjoy the game as much as I can, and while enjoying it all the results are going to come by themselves, regardless.

“I don’t think it will be a huge difference. Obviously, this is the best league in the world, and I have always looked forward (to playing in the NHL), but it’s a game of hockey and it’s just playing the game and enjoying it. I hope I am going to do really well.”

Craig Leipold Kirill Kaprizov letter

It must’ve worked? Wild owner Craig Leipold sent this letter, written in Russian, to Kirill Kaprizov in 2018. It was delivered by Paul Fenton, the second of three GMs Kaprizov has encountered since being drafted.

Wild teammates realize how much pressure is on Kaprizov.

“When you get drafted, there’s hype on prospects, and him, it’s a lot more hype than what I had, but the type of player he is and what scouts see, it’s something this organization has died for,” Foligno said. “We want him to be the best player that everyone’s talked about, but at the same time, too, it’s a lot of pressure. If we can knock that pressure down a bit and make him comfortable by being good guys and friends around him, it can only help. It’s really up to all of us to make us feel comfortable.

“He’s going to practice with us in Edmonton, so he can get familiar with us. And when he’s ready to go next season, we don’t want him to have any stutter. We want him to hit the ice running and full-force, because the way he’s been hyped up, he’s going to be a huge part of our team.”

Added veteran Eric Staal, “It’s exciting for the Minnesota Wild in general, for Minnesota Wild fans. This guy has been talked about a lot, maybe too much unfairly just because of the length of time it’s taken him to get over here. But it’s a credit to him and the type of player he is as well. He’s been on big stages before — the Olympics, leading goal scorer over there in Russia, a great league — but it’s going to take time for him to feel comfortable and confident and just integrate into North American lifestyle and play in the NHL. It’s different.”

What’s almost comical is that after years and years of waiting to touch down in Minnesota and learn the area, Kaprizov will likely have to fulfill some kind of quarantine after he arrives, then hop on a charter July 26 for Edmonton, where he’ll be in a walled-off bubble for as long as his new Wild teammates can stay alive in the qualifying round and perhaps postseason.

“Well, it’ll be a great way to get to know all of us,” Spurgeon, an Edmonton native, quipped. “And maybe we’ll pick up some Russian, and the way he already writes me in English, maybe he can help us with the English language as well.”

Kaprizov hopes the Wild go on a long run. 1188291 Montreal Canadiens were absent for the third straight day on Wednesday. Here’s how the forward lines and defence pairings looked at practice:

Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Stu on Sports: Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues to impress at Canadiens Drouin – Suzuki – Armia camp Byron – Kotkaniemi – Lehkonen

Weise – Weal – Evans Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette Hudon – Poehling – Dauphin/Belzile Publishing date:Jul 15, 2020 Chiarot – Weber

Mete – Petry For the third straight day, the Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi skated at on the third line during practice Wednesday at the Bell Sports Folin – Juulsen Complex in Brossard and the 20-year-old continues to impress coach Claude Julien with his skating. Olofsson – Fleury

Julien said a big reason why Kotkaniemi was sent down to the AHL’s Brook Laval Rocket on Feb. 1 after posting 6-2-8 totals and a minus-11 in 36 The goalie situation games with the Canadiens was because his skating wasn’t up to par. The Canadiens have four goalies at training camp: Carey Price, Charlie “His skating wasn’t at the level it was before and because of that his Lindgren, Cayden Primeau and Michael McNiven. The question is who whole game was falling apart,” Julien said during a video conference will be Price’s backup when the postseason begins with the Canadiens after practice Wednesday. “So when you don’t have the pace you’re playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their best-of-five series on trying to make plays, plays are getting cut off. He was getting frustrated, Aug. 1 in Toronto. things weren’t going as well as he was used to seeing. I think his confidence was obviously being affected by that. But when you look at Lindgren (24), Primeau (2) and McNiven (0) have 26 games of NHL him now and you see how well he’s skating, a lot of things are falling into experience combined and none in the postseason. Price has played in 60 place, which at the time weren’t. So that’s probably the biggest thing NHL playoff games and has a 25-31 record. here.” “I think right now the biggest thing is our No. 1 goalie, which is Carey Kotkaniemi had 1-12-13 totals in 13 games with the Rocket and was Price,” Julien said after practice. “We’re doing everything we can to help even in plus/minus before suffering a spleen injury during a game in him prepare as well as he can. He’s going to be an important part of our Cleveland on March 6 that was supposed to be season-ending. The four- success here moving forward. So a lot of that focus is on him. I think we month break because of the COVID-19 pandemic gave Kotkaniemi time have lots of time here, not to try and delay an answer, but we have lots of to heal. time to decide on the backup goaltender. In a way, we hope that we never have to use him and that Carey’s going to deliver the merchandise “Is he going to need coaching? Absolutely, like everybody else,” Julien and carry us a long, long way.” said about Kotkaniemi. “Those good players, they want to make plays all the time and sometimes plays aren’t there. So some of that comes from It’s unlikely Primeau will see any action during the postseason, but the experience, some of it will get better with time. We have to be patient 20-year-old goalie is looking forward to the experience — even if it’s just and, at the same time, we have to teach and I think right now, I keep as a spectator and taking part in practices. saying it: I like what I’ve seen so far because his skating is back to where I think we saw it at its best at one point and the rest of his game needs to “Obviously, having the Stanley Cup at stake, you know the pressure’s be slowly falling into place.” high,” he said during a video conference after practice. “Being it my first time in an environment like this, I think it’s going to be huge. Just trying to Julien said he plans to sit down and chat with Kotkaniemi at some point soak in as much as I can. There’s so much to learn from Carey and all during training camp. the other great hockey minds and all the other goalies that are here as well. And then, as far as Carey taking the net, it’s good to have that “Absolutely,” the coach said. “This guy here is a future player that should competition between the rest of the goalies. So it’s going to be a great be with this organization for a long time, so there’s no doubt you have to experience.” work with him. I think what’s challenging right now for us as a coaching staff is that everything is kind of tightened up here (as far as time during Primeau added that he, Lindgren and McNiven are all good friends. training camp). … It hasn’t allowed me a lot of time to be able to chat with all the players yet. I’m slowly going through that. I’m trying to grab a “We have great relationships, so super fortunate and lucky about that,” couple of players here or there and just having those chats with them. he said. “They’re great guys, so it’s great to be able to converse with With 30 players it’s going to take a little bit of time, but I’m hoping to get them. It’s friendly competition. We want to see each other succeed, but there with almost everybody here soon. we also want to be the ones to succeed at the end of the day. As far as the practices have gone, you have to make sure that when you’re in the “In his case, I think the best thing to let KK do right now is to let him come net you make it count because you’re not getting as many shots or as in, let him skate, let him play, let him gain his confidence,” Julien added. many reps as before.” “He doesn’t need me in his face in the first day of having to tell him: ‘I want you to do this and that.’ What I’ve seen so far has been Primeau played two games with the Canadiens this season, posting a 1- encouraging. So I’m letting that ride a little bit, but there’s no doubt that 1-0 record with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .931 save we will be sitting down and having a conversation at some point.” percentage. With the Laval Rocket, he had a 17-11-3 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. Centre Phillip Danault was asked during another video conference after practice what his thoughts are about Kotkaniemi so far during training Finding their legs camp. After a four-month break because of COVID-19, Canadiens players are “I’ve only seen him in practice, so it’s hard to tell, really,” Danault said. starting to find their legs after three days of practices. “But I can tell you his shot is really devastating. He got a little tougher, a The practices on Monday and Tuesday lasted about 50 minutes, while little bigger. Obviously gained some maturity out there. But, like I said, Julien kept the players on the ice for 70 minutes on Wednesday. I’ve only seen him for three practices, so it’s hard to tell. You need to see him in a game situation. But I like what I’ve seen so far.” “The first two days were tough, getting your legs going and getting your muscles going,” Danault said. “So it was definitely tough for the first two Weber returns to practice days. Today was more systems a little bit, but working hard, too. But you Captain Shea Weber, who skipped Tuesday’s practice, was back on the can tell the cardio is getting better, the execution as well all together as a ice for practice Wednesday. Defencemen Xavier Ouellet and Brett Kulak team. Defensively, too, working on the little details. So it’s getting better as we’re going forward.” Cale Fleury is fighting for a spot on the Canadiens’ blue line during training camp.

Fleury started the season with the Canadiens, playing 41 games and posting 1-0-1 totals and a minus-4 before being sent down to the Rocket. With Laval, the 21-year-old defenceman had 2-3-5 totals in 14 games and was minus-5.

“I feel like every camp I come into I’m kind of fighting for a spot,” Fleury said during a video conference after practice. “I remember Franky Bouillon, one of our player development guys, actually said that in one of his speeches to us. Every time he came into a camp he felt like he was just battling for a spot and it really helped him out in his career.”

Fleury admitted it was a “little rough” after he was sent down to the AHL.

“I wasn’t really playing my best when I got sent down,” he said. “I was playing under my expectations. And then with the help of (Rocket coach) Joël (Bouchard), he really just helped me get my mind right and I started playing better at the end.”

Fleury admitted he might have become too comfortable with the Canadiens after being a surprise to make the team to start the season.

“I felt like I was getting a little comfortable and not taking everything 100 per cent like I would have been at the start of the year when I was still fighting for a spot,” he said.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188292 Montreal Canadiens

Penguins' strength up the middle poses a matchup problem for Canadiens

Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:Jul 15, 2020

There are few forwards in the NHL who are more adept than Phil Danault in playing a shutdown role and he’s looking forward to a major challenge when the Canadiens face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round of the NHL Return to Play tournament.

“I prepare the same way I do for every game,” Danault said during a video conference after the Canadiens practised in Brossard Wednesday. “I play against the big line, that’s my role. I take pride in it. … I know (Sidney) Crosby is a real good two-way player and it’s going to be a challenge I’ll embrace. It’s going to be fun.”

But head coach Claude Julien said it might be difficult to get the most out of Danault’s talent.

For starters, the Penguins have a ton of depth up the middle. It’s easy to say Danault’s job is to stop Crosby, but what do you do about ? And it becomes more difficult to get the matchup you want because the Penguins are the home team for the first two games of the best-of-five series and head coach Mike Sullivan has the last line change.

“As much as I’d like to say (Danault’s) going to be in Crosby and Malkin’s face all the time, when you don’t have home-ice advantage, things might become a little tough,” said Julien. “It may not be as easy as it can be. Maybe Mike Sullivan will help us out by putting a line out between the Crosby and Malkin lines and I can double-shift (Danault) but I don’t think he will.”

Julien said he’ll have to rely on some other players to step up, but the reality is there isn’t a lot of depth at centre.

While Danault’s playoff experience consists of six games in 2017, Max Domi — whose participation is in doubt — Jesperi Kotkaniemi and rookies Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans have never been in an NHL playoff game.

“This might be Nick’s opportunity to step in there as a player,” said Julien. “We know how reliable and smart he is as a player, so defensively he might be able to do the job. We don’t know what’s going to happen with Max Domi, so there’s some situations that are going to happen and we need guys to step up in that role. That’s all we an do. We can’t all of a sudden create magic and bring in an experienced guy who would be adequate in that role. We have what we have and we have to make it work.”

Julien has been a huge Danault supporter since the coach returned to Montreal three years ago.

“He was a really young player, in his second or third year, but he was one of those young players with a lot of potential,” said Julien. “When I met with him, he talked about how he really liked Patrice Bergeron’s game and he knew I had coached him. It was easy for me to work with this guy and help him become a really reliable player.

“What I’ve seen in my years here is a guy who, with experience and maturity and time in practice, is getting better all the time, becoming a good two-way player. It’s one thing to say he’s good defensively, but you can’t forget he has been part of the most productive line for our team for a couple of years.”

Shea Weber returned to practice Wednesday after making a only token appearance Tuesday. Two other defencemen, Brett Kulak and Xavier Ouellet, have yet to practice.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188293 Montreal Canadiens For the media, this is less than ideal. But for him? It’s perfect. He can go about his business without people bothering him, he can go

out and practice and skate and do the things he needs to do to catch Unprecedented circumstances create the ideal conditions for Jesperi coach Claude Julien’s eye without any public scrutiny. It should be said Kotkaniemi that Kotkaniemi is not one to let media attention bother him. It is not necessarily a distraction to him under normal circumstances. But when it’s not there at all, it doesn’t have the potential to distract to begin with and – perhaps most importantly – it won’t be every day, after every By Arpon Basu practice, after exhibition games, constantly there. Jul 15, 2020 He can be in his little bubble, as it were, and focus on his game.

The lack of exhibition games is also worth emphasizing because for a It was early on the first day of training camp, and the Canadiens were young player they can be a double-edged sword. As a rookie, it was flying, getting their legs pumping together on the same sheet of ice for Kotkaniemi’s performance in those games that made it impossible to the first time in four months. keep him off the team. Back in September, Nick Suzuki and Cale Fleury did the same thing, consistently performing in those games and forcing Except four months ago, this guy wasn’t there. Julien and his staff to keep them with the big club.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi takes a pass as he slashes through the neutral zone, Meanwhile, Kotkaniemi was not performing. He looked a step behind, and he’s motoring toward the offensive zone. Just as he crosses the blue constantly trying to catch up. And he knew it. line with the puck, a defender steps up to deny him the zone. Suddenly, Kotkaniemi stops in his tracks, pivots to shield the puck from the The day after his first exhibition game in September, Kotkaniemi came off defender and, all in one motion, slips a pass against the grain into space the ice after practice and I was at his locker waiting for him. as a linemate skates right into it. “Did you see that game?” he asked me. “I was terrible.” The play was nothing spectacular, but neatly encapsulated some of what I disagreed with the degree of his poor play, but he was adamant about makes Kotkaniemi special, what made him an effective NHL rookie at it. Terrible. age 18. His sense for the game. His vision. His instincts. But it was all accentuated by that motor. By the end of camp, his assessment of his own game had improved a little bit, he didn’t look quite so far behind the play, but there was a more The path to that little play at the blue line, the context for all of it, began at tangible tool available to assess his game that was taking a predominant the end of last season, when Kotkaniemi was found to have a minor knee role in his mind. injury that required minor surgery. But that led to the longest offseason of his life, choices he made over that summer, and then more and more “Still five games, zero points,” Kotkaniemi said at the end of camp. “I’m injuries. not there, but I think it’s good to have the bad part now, in preseason instead of during the year.” But if what is happening here for the Canadiens, this opportunity to make the playoffs, was a gift they received from this awful pandemic, a very There are no stats now. Kotkaniemi might play one exhibition game this simple parallel can be drawn to their most important prospect. This time around, and it won’t come until July 28, an eternity away at this pandemic that has caused so much suffering around the world, that has point. He can concentrate solely on what Julien and his staff want him to turned everyone’s life upside down, has created the perfect conditions for concentrate on in practice without worrying about how terrible he was in Kotkaniemi to come to this camp and potentially thrive. some meaningless game in Bathurst, N.B. He can work on skills and conditioning and everything else he needs to get ready without Last summer, Joel Armia took to driving to Helsinki a few times a week to necessarily being tested in front of a live audience every second or third workout with former Olympic speed skater Janne Hänninen and former night. NHL player Raimo Summanen, who has a long coaching resume in Europe. There were other NHL players skating there, so Armia asked if At this point, with everything he has gone through the past 10 months, Kotkaniemi wanted to come with him, and Kotkaniemi declined. He also this might be exactly what he needs. had a similar invitation in nearby Turku, Artturi Lehkonen’s hometown, but Kotkaniemi preferred to workout on his own in Pori. The sad part of this is that the pandemic has created an unfortunate opportunity for Kotkaniemi, one that if he had the choice, he would It’s not as if he wasn’t putting in hard work, but that was the decision he probably reject. When it was first discovered on June 26 that Kotkaniemi made. would be at Canadiens training camp, the question immediately became how he would be able to carve himself a spot in the lineup. Suddenly, Kotkaniemi found himself in another offseason, with hockey still to come and an opportunity to prepare for it after he recovered a bit With Phillip Danault, Nick Suzuki and Max Domi firmly in place as the top quicker than expected from a spleen injury that ended his season March three centres, it appeared as though Kotkaniemi would either have to 6 in Cleveland. move to the wing or slide down as the fourth line centre if he wanted to get a chance to play. And that was working under the assumption he This time, he went to Helsinki, he got on the ice with Hänninen and would be able to impress Julien enough to warrant a spot, which was not Summanen. We reached out to the two coaches for some insight into guaranteed considering Kotkaniemi finished the season playing in the what they worked on with Kotkaniemi, what adjustments were made, but AHL. they politely declined. Still, the simple fact Kotkaniemi already made this little adjustment showed something had changed, and it was this unique But Domi being a Type 1 diabetic and having Celiac disease made the situation that is allowing him to show off what he’s learned so soon, and threat of COVID-19 far more real for him, and he and the Canadiens in games that will be the most meaningful he has ever played in the NHL. agreed to delay his arrival to camp to make sure it was safe for him to do so. Suddenly, that debate on how to get Kotkaniemi into the lineup was One of the reasons cited for why Hänninen and Summanen didn’t want to also delayed as a result, and through three days of training camp, he has talk about what they did with Kotkaniemi was to give him space, to allow taken full advantage of that window of opportunity. him to simply focus on this training camp. This brings up another unique aspect of this pandemic environment that is benefitting Kotkaniemi right When Julien was asked on a conference call last week what he expected now. to see from Kotkaniemi in camp and whether he intended on playing him, Julien was noncommittal, to say the least. No one can get to him. “I can’t answer you guys and say in all certainty this is how I see it so Kotkaniemi will speak to the media at some point, but when he does, he far,” Julien said. “I think a lot of things have to fall into place before I can will not be surrounded by a phalanx of microphones and cameras. He will make those kinds of decisions.” be sitting by himself at a table in the Canadiens’ press conference room, fielding questions over the Internet from people he can’t even see in a Basically, he wanted to see Kotkaniemi on the ice, see how he interacted perfectly relaxed environment. But that first interaction with the media with his teammates, see if he was a step behind the way he was the last hasn’t even come yet, because the Canadiens are in total control of when it happens. time the Canadiens opened camp, or the way he was the last time he put on a Canadiens uniform at the end of January.

Three days in, suffice to say the coach is satisfied with what he’s seen, to the point that Domi’s presence may turn out being irrelevant as to whether or not Kotkaniemi faces the Pittsburgh Penguins in the play-in round.

“Well, what I’d like to think and what I’d like for Kotkaniemi to think is that this week and next week, if he can continue to show us how well he’s progressed … ,” Julien began saying Tuesday before changing his thought. “Because he’s skating way better than he did at the beginning of last year (in September). And we knew he had knee surgery and the recovery and everything else and (he was) still a 19-year-old player, he had his ups and downs and he had his challenges, everybody saw that.

“But at the same time, I like what I’m seeing right now. He seems to have a good pace to his game and the skating. So no, we need to have a look at that. And just because right now Max isn’t here doesn’t mean it automatically goes back to Kotkaniemi that’s going to be moved out of there. We’ll make those decisions, as I said to everybody else, as we move forward here.”

Julien has time to figure this out. Kotkaniemi has time as well. There is no pressure on him because he is almost playing with house money. All of this is gravy, an opportunity he never thought he would have.

He is now a 20-year-old player, having celebrated a birthday July 6, and he’s been given a fresh start.

“I think the best thing to let KK do right now is let him come in, let him skate, let him play, let him gain his confidence,” Julien said Wednesday. “He doesn’t need me in his face on the first day having to tell him I want you to do this or that.”

Julien saying that under normal circumstances would almost be laughable, because Kotkaniemi would not be able to ease into this with no distractions. But now? The conditions for Kotkaniemi to do what Julien wants him to do have never been more ideal.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188294 Nashville Predators Tennessean LOADED: 07.16.2020

Will finish have impact on who starts in goal for Predators?

Paul Skrbina

Nashville Tennessean

How they start, not how the Finnish goalies have finished, could go a long way toward determining who will start for the Predators during the NHL's 24-team playoff tournament.

One thing is almost certain, though: Pekka Rinne's stretch of consecutive postseason starts for the Predators, which stands at 89, almost certainly will end this summer.

With a back-to-back scheduled for games 2 and 3 in their five-game play- in series with the Coyotes, it's almost inevitable that Juuse Saros will start one of those two games.

"I haven't really gone too much ahead of myself, and not really thought about it," Saros said Tuesday. "That's one thing I learned during past years; you can't really think too much ahead. Of course that's a goal for me, but I have to prove it every day that I'm able to earn that spot.

"(Eighty-nine) playoff games and all the other accomplishments Pekka has, it shows what an unbelievable career he's having."

But coach John Hynes knows nostalgia doesn't win hockey games, which begin for his team Aug. 2 in Edmonton.

So he will be tasked with deciding who will be the "starter" for the Predators.

"Hopefully one of the two guys makes (the decision) for us in a positive way," Hynes said.

Saros looked to have earned that role before the season was suspended March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rinne, though, has been much better than Saros to start seasons in recent years. In his first 10 games of 2019-20, Rinne was 8-0-2 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average, compared to Saros' 1-5-1 record, .888 save percentage and 3.34 goals-against.

Rinne's numbers dipped dramatically, though, and for the season he is 18-14-4 with career-worsts in save percentage (.895) and goals-against (3.17). He allowed 17 goals in his final five games.

Saros bounced back to finish 17-12-4, with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in a career-high 34 starts.

Will that be enough for him to restart this season?

“He was so strong ... especially at the end of the season,” Rinne said Monday. “That was pretty much the first time in a long, long time when I was mostly watching games from the bench at the end of the season. I had no problem, the way he was playing, and I wasn’t playing as strong.

"I try not to take anything for granted and just trying to give my all and do my best and see what happens.”

Saros, who had been in Finland since April and was working out and logging ice time, said he and Rinne live about seven hours apart there and therefore didn't work out together after Rinne returned home.

But competition resumed when camp opened Monday.

"We both understand that," Rinne said. "We'll see how it plays out. ... The only thing we want to do is help the team no matter what, which guy is playing."

As far as Rinne is concerned, may the best goalie win. Either way, the other goalie will have his back.

"I haven't seen anything like that in my career," Hynes said of the relationship between Rinne and Saros. "It's a pretty special relationship. ... The respect (Saros) has for Pekka and the respect Pekka has for (Saros)."

1188295 New York Islanders “I think you’ve got to go pedal to the metal,” Trotz said. “That’s my mindset. Go with the guys that got you here and let them have the best experience to feel what it’s going to be in the hub city and go from there.”

Islanders coach Barry Trotz, with little time to evaluate, likely to go with veterans Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.16.2020

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated July 15, 2020 7:06 PM

Training camp scrimmages are just that, a far cry from real NHL competition.

Yet, under these unique circumstances of the league return-to-play plan, Islanders coach Barry Trotz must put more emphasis on evaluating the intrasquad scrimmages as he preps his team for a best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers beginning on Aug. 1 in Toronto. His team has just a lone exhibition game against the Rangers on July 29 before the elimination games start.

“I was impressed,” Trotz said Wednesday after the Islanders’ first scrimmage since training camp opened on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. “We tried to implement a few things. They were able to execute at a real good pace. We’ve got to shoot the puck a little bit more. That’s what I learned.”

Group 1 defeated Group 2, 2-0, on goals from Tom Kuhnhackl and and a effort from goalie Semyon Varlamov as the teams played two 15-minute periods without power plays.

Trotz said special teams work will soon be incorporated into camp, though the team has its first off day on Thursday.

“I think everybody had similar opportunities to skate and get ready,” said defenseman Nick Leddy, back on the ice on Wednesday after missing the first two days of training camp for an undisclosed reason. “What I saw after today was that everybody put in the time and effort. We’re all working now to become that unit again and get back on the ice again.

“I felt good today,” Leddy added. “I think the conditioning was there. Overall, systems-wise, it’s kind of connecting with everyone again. It will take a couple of skates. Our system is so detailed I think it will come back pretty quick.”

For the most part, Trotz’ lines and defense pairings have a familiar look, especially with defenseman Adam Pelech and fourth-line center Casey Cizikas back healthy after lengthy absences before the season was paused on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was really happy with Adam,” Trotz said. “That was really his first scrimmage for almost six months now. He did really well.”

The Islanders were on an 0-3-4 slide as the season was paused and had lost 11 of 13 with Cizikas out of the lineup. Their goals-against average jumped from 2.6 to 3.1 after Pelech was injured on Jan. 2.

Leddy said none of that matters now.

“At this point, you’ve got to start with a clean slate,” Leddy said. “Once you touch the ice for the first time against Florida, you’ve just got to start fresh and focus on the present.”

Trotz also singled out rookie defenseman Noah Dobson and Thomas Hickey, a longtime stalwart among the Islanders defense corps who spent almost all of this season with the organization’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, has having strong scrimmages.

Kuhnhackl, battling several forwards for playing time, including linemates Ross Johnston and Andrew Ladd, scored a short-side goal on Thomas Greiss as he muscled to the net. Trotz also had a chance evaluate the rookie line of Otto Koivula in between Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom.

Trotz said the younger players will have to prove themselves in the scrimmages, but likely “a tie will go to the veteran.”

And he’s not likely to hold any veterans out of the lone exhibition game to further evaluate a player on the lineup bubble. 1188296 New York Islanders

Islanders coach Barry Trotz unsure if he'll wear a mask behind the bench during NHL restart

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated July 15, 2020 5:29 PM

Barry Trotz, who turned 58 on Wednesday and proclaimed himself in good health, has certainly thought about wearing a mask on the bench during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Islanders coach is still not sure whether he will when games resume.

“Right now, on the ice, I’m not wearing one,” Trotz said. “I had that discussion with my coaching staff. I trust this group pretty well in our own bubble. As the bubble gets bigger, I don’t know yet.”

The Islanders will depart for their quarantined arena/hotel bubble in Toronto on July 26 after completing training camp, which opened Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.

“I’m not too concerned,” Trotz said. “I’m in pretty good health but it affects everybody differently if you do get it. I don’t want to get it so there’s a good chance I could have a mask behind the bench. But I haven’t decided yet. I don’t want to give it to anybody if I have it, but I don’t.”

Notes & quotes: Matt Martin returned to practice after missing Tuesday. His wife, Sydney, gave birth to the couple's first child, Windsor Grace...Defenseman Nick Leddy practiced after missing the first two days of training camp…Goalie Jakub Skarek participated in his group’s practice but did not participate in the scrimmage after missing the first two days of training camp…Defenseman Scott Mayfield missed his second straight day…Leo Komarov and defenseman Sebastian Aho have not participated since training camp opened…Trotz had no update on when newly-signed goalie Ilya Sorokin might be able to join the team for practice after signing an entry-level contract on Monday. “When we see the whites of his eyes, then we’ll welcome him with open arms,” Trotz said. Sorokin, ineligible to play in games this season, must clear health and safety protocols and get a work visa as he travels from Russia.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188297 New York Islanders

MSG Networks has exclusive rights to Isles, Rangers qualifying-round games

By Neil Best [email protected] @sportswatch

Updated July 15, 2020 2:30 PM

Summer usually is a quiet time not only for the NHL but for MSG Networks, which carries the local hockey teams’ games on television. But there is nothing usual about this summer.

When the NHL returns with qualifying round games starting on Aug. 1, MSG will spring to life, carrying every Islanders and Rangers game in the best-of-five series in the New York area.

The teams’ regular announcing crews – Brendan Burke and Butch Goring for the Islanders, and for the Rangers – will call the games, but they will not be in Toronto with the teams. They will work off monitors at MSG’s midtown Manhattan studios.

MSG also will carry the Islanders-Rangers exhibition game on July 29.

NBC has not yet announced its national coverage slate, so the out-of- market plan for the Islanders’ series against the Panthers and the Rangers’ against the Hurricanes remains unclear.

The winners of the qualifying-round series advance to the first of four best-of-seven rounds. In the past, local channels have carried games in that round, with the exception of nationally televised weekend games on NBC.

In addition to the games themselves, MSG plans coverage around the two local teams in the playoffs. MSG will feature Rangers preview shows on July 28 and 30. John Giannone will host pregame, intermission and postgame coverage from a studio on MSG, joined by analyst Steve Valiquette. There also will be Islanders preview shows on July 29 and 31. Shannon Hogan will host pregame, intermission and postgame coverage from a studio on MSG+, joined by analyst AJ Mleczko.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188298 New York Islanders Defense is where the bulk of the absences have been the first two days. Nick Leddy and Sebastian Aho haven’t participated yet; Scott Mayfield missed Tuesday after skating Monday. So it’s Pelech-Pulock, Devon Toews-Mayfield (maybe), Thomas Hickey-Johnny Boychuk and Andy What we’ve seen through two days at Islanders camp and what’s to Greene-Noah Dobson, with Grant Hutton bouncing around. come Leddy-Boychuk is the presumed third pair, but Leddy’s absence, should it continue on, would force a choice for Trotz: Does he go with a truly veteran pairing of the 37-year-old Greene and 36-year-old Boychuk? By Arthur Staple Does Greene-Dobson become a viable option? And what about Hickey, Jul 15, 2020 who hasn’t played an NHL game this season?

Wednesday’s first scrimmage should give a clue as to the coaching staff’s thinking — and whether the absent defensemen are able to return. Some familiar line combinations and defense pairings. A few unexplained absences. A first scrimmage that may mean more than usual. About those absences…

The Islanders’ summer training camp is unique. Barry Trotz preached “Unfit to play” is the new “upper/lower body” designation, with the added adaptability last month, before this camp was even officially on the option of a player having tested positive for COVID-19 or still needing to schedule. After two days, the coach said he sees a good level of quarantine after arriving on the Island. Leddy, Aho, Komarov and goalie understanding in his staff and his players that should help them going prospect Jakub Skarek have yet to participate this week and there’s no into the hub city bubble in Toronto and the 24-team postseason timeline or information available for any of them. tournament that begins Aug. 1. That’s part of the challenge for all 24 teams, in addition to staying vigilant “Our group has accepted it. Acceptance is key,” Trotz said after day one. about safety protocols inside the practice rink and at home. Players are “And just the communication within our organization, some guys will allowed to be at home during this phase, before they depart for Toronto come back tomorrow morning and say, ‘My groin is sore,’ and they’ll be on July 26 and a true bubble is formed. “Day by day, figure it out, do the unfit to play and we’ll have to adjust. Our acceptance as a group, as a right things,” Lee said. “We’re not a group that pushes those limits.” coaching staff, we’re in a real good place. That’s what a real good team And in goal? will do, is adapt.” Semyon Varlamov talked Tuesday about driving two hours from his Here are a few items that have cropped up through two days of small- family’s offseason home in Lubbock, Tex., to Odessa to get some time group work and a look at what’s to come in the next few days: on the ice during the lockdown. Thomas Greiss was in his offseason Lines you’ve seen before home in North Carolina for much of the break. Goaltending is a solitary pursuit at times, but goalies need work. They’ll get that with the first It was hard to tell with the two practice groups chopped up into 14-15 scrimmage on Wednesday, when the battle to see who starts Game 1 players apiece, but the forward lines Trotz wants to see at the start were begins in earnest. mostly ones he’s gone to throughout the 2019-20 season. “I don’t think I can make a bad decision,” Trotz said of his choice in net. , Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle ran drills together. So did With just one exhibition game on the schedule in Toronto, July 29 against Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. The Matt Martin- the Rangers, the only competitive situations for the goalies will be in- Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck line was together on Monday, but Martin house scrimmages. And there will be a few before the team departs. was absent on Tuesday. Trotz said Martin had “some personal issues to take care of, but they’re all positive,” likely referring to the impending birth “We have time, and that’s what we’ll rely on to make that decision,” Trotz of Martin’s first child. said.

Even the third line, which had been an ever-changing trio throughout the Ilya’s arrival year, looked like it might be just that when the puck drops for Game 1 of Now that it’s official and Ilya Sorokin is an Islander through next season, Islanders-Panthers in 17 days: J-G Pageau between Michael Dal Colle the only outstanding issue is when the young goalie will actually show up. and Derick Brassard. If he can get his visa and get out of Moscow by the end of this week, he With Leo Komarov (facial injury) sidelined, six floating forwards remained could possibly get on the ice for the last day or two before the team among the two groups: Otto Koivula, Andrew Ladd, Tom Kuhnhackl, departs for Toronto. Ross Johnston, Kieffer Bellows (absent Monday, on ice Tuesday) and Lamoriello made it clear he wants to bring Sorokin to Toronto and that Oliver Wahlstrom. Sorokin may not need to count against the 31-player limit for the traveling Both Trotz and Lou Lamoriello said in the last few days that successful party. Teams can bring 50 total people to the hub city and, since Sorokin playoff runs almost always have an unexpected contributor. “You need a is ineligible to play, he could be designated a member of the 50-person surprise along the way,” Lamoriello said. traveling group.

If that’s to be among the forwards, someone in that floating group of six But he has to get to the Island first. will need to force his way into the conversation.

“It’s about finding your way onto a line if you’re not on a line yet,” Trotz The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 said. “What you’ll see the next 3-4 days is some (line) movement based on taking another look, maybe based on reward. … I can tell you based on two days that some guys I thought would be further along maybe aren’t where I thought they’d be and some guys, maybe a younger guy, who might be further back are actually further along.”

The key takeaway with Trotz is that a veteran gets the benefit of the doubt. As he said Tuesday: “The tie will probably go to the veteran, but that’s not necessarily always the case.”

Defense pairs you’ve (mostly) seen before

The most welcome sight for Trotz and the Islanders was Adam Pelech back working with Ryan Pulock. That’s been the Islanders top defense pair for over a year now, before Pelech’s Achilles’ tendon injury in January seemingly ended it for 2019-20. Post-lockdown Pelech, who was able to skate all through the shutdown, is ready to go.

“He made a couple guys look very ordinary when it came to one-on-one stuff,” Trotz said of Pelech on Monday. 1188299 New York Rangers Fox was impressive during Wednesday’s scrimmage, showing few signs of rust after essentially a four-month break. It could have been last September in Traverse City. It could have been February against the Islanders. Impressive Rangers rookie Adam Fox left off final Calder Trophy shortlist “When the season went on pause and nobody really knew when we were going to be coming back, I took a little time off to kind of recover, it’s a long season there, and then started working out and trying to get back By Larry Brooks some strength,” No. 23 said. “That was my focus, and so was staying in July 15, 2020 | 7:01pm | Updated shape. It was obviously tough to stay in hockey shape without skating, but coming here for the voluntary skates helped me get back into game shape a little more, and with this training camp, it’s a lot more comfortable.” That’s all right. Nicklas Lidstrom didn’t win the Calder Trophy, either.

It was a bit of a downer Wednesday when the NHL announced its three finalists for the rookie of the year award and Adam Fox was not among New York Post LOADED: 07.16.2020 them.

Instead, defensemen Cale Makar of the Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Canucks, and winger Dominik Kubalik of the Blackhawks are the three worthy players who are in the running for the award, which has not been won by a Ranger since Brian Leetch took the Calder in 1988-89.

“It’s just people’s opinions, it’s not really up to me to decide, obviously,” Fox said on a Zoom call following Wednesday’s scrimmage. “I’m confident in the way I play, and it’s not for me to decide any individual award, but I was just trying to help the team during the season, and now going into the playoffs is my focus.

“Obviously recognition is nice here and there, but it’s not really what I set out for.”

Thing is, Fox has been recognized by the coaching staff and by his teammates for his work at both ends of the ice. The Rangers acquired his rights from Carolina last April in exchange for a pair of second-rounders then bought out Kevin Shattenkirk in order to create an opportunity for him.

Fox grabbed it and never let go. He played with the poise of a 10-year veteran. He made adjustments as the league adjusted to him. He was quick with his stick and understood how to use it to turn around plays in his own end. He was strong with his body position and was able to elude hits. And of course, he was creative with the puck in all three zones with his vision and the ability to make the quick first pass.

The fact is, the Long Island native — who you may have heard once or twice grew up rooting for the Rangers — never really ever looked like a rookie.

“The thing that really [impressed me] — surprised is probably the wrong word — but how quickly he adapted to defending at this level certainly made the transition a lot easier,” coach David Quinn said. “Everybody knew what his offense was going to be, but when you have a guy of that caliber offensively who can also be a good defender, that makes him a pretty impactful player in his first year.

“Really, there never was a question [about Fox’s readiness] from the get- go. He acclimated quickly, never had trouble defending NHL players and that allowed him to have a pretty impressive first season.”

When COVID-19 hit the pause button on the NHL season on March 12, Fox had evolved into the club’s top-pair right defenseman, with fellow 22- year-old Ryan Lindgren his partner on the left. The matched set played as a pair for Team USA in the 2016 U-18’s, then in both the 2017 and 2018 World Junior tournaments. They then bonded for 56 of the final 60 games on Broadway once Lindgren had been recalled from Hartford.

Quinn is not necessarily doctrinaire regarding matchups, but all things being equal, Fox and Lindgren stand to get the brunt of the assignment against the Candy Canes’ top line, centered by Sebastien Aho with Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen on the wings. The ’Canes, of course, went to the conference finals last season (after missing the tournament each of the nine preceding years), so they have some sort of idea what playoff hockey is about, even if this represents a whole new ballgame.

“Obviously no one has played in a bubble with no fans and playing a tournament into the playoffs, so it’s a unique experience for everyone,” Fox said. “At the same time, we’re a pretty young team, it still is the playoffs and it’s going to be a different type of intensity, so guys with experience definitely could help guys like me during this.” 1188300 New York Rangers

Igor Shesterkin ‘outstanding’ in first bid to keep Rangers’ starting job

By Larry Brooks

July 15, 2020 | 3:42pm | Updated

Igor Shesterkin shined on Wednesday throughout the Rangers’ first scrimmage in which he went the distance with his Blue team prevailing, 3-1, over the White squad that had and Alex Georgiev split the 40-minute game.

“I thought Igor had a great day today. I thought he was outstanding today,” David Quinn said of Shesterkin, who entered this camp as the incumbent No. 1. “I liked all of the [goalies]. I thought Hank had a good day and Georgie had a good day.

“It’s not a surprise. As I’ve said, we have a lot of faith in all three of these guys. Let the battle continue.”

Shesterkin was sure and quick throughout, and stood tall turning away a flurry of shots from the Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich unit in the final minutes, and denied Greg McKegg on a penalty shot. Meanwhile, Artemi Panarin’s penalty shot backhand score against Lundqvist late in the first period broke a 1-1 tie and stood up as the difference in the match that was reasonably up-tempo but ragged in many spots.

Georgiev did not allow a goal as the final score came on an empty-netter.

“We obviously hadn’t played a game in a while and I think the quicker you get into game situations, the better you’re going to be,” said Quinn. “People think we’ve got some time but before you know it, Aug. 1 is going to be here.

“We have to put these guys into game-like situations and get acclimated to the game-pace, changes, shift lengths and the little details and nuances of the game. One of the things we’ve talked about as a staff is building blocks, building every day, and it’s not about going for a long period of time, it’s about being efficient and playing at a pace.

“I was impressed with the pace we were able to sustain through the 40 minutes. I loved our work ethic and the fact there wasn’t a big drop-off.”

Said Marc Staal: “It was pretty scrambly out there with a lot of mistakes, but I thought it was more about getting game-like touches and getting comfortable with that. I thought the pace was pretty high, it was a good effort, it was another step and we’ll continue to build on it.”

“I’ve been on the ice with the extras and the other day I watched them from up top,” Quinn said. “We’re always watching and it always matters with the young guys, but that being said, it’s playoff hockey and we’re going to play the best guys that give us the best chance to win.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not going to continue to try to help these guys develop. Maybe it will happen sooner than later. Who knows? We’re going to continue to do our job with those guys, but again, this is all about winning playoff hockey games.”

The Rangers’ first two games against Carolina are scheduled for noon start times. Quinn said the team will reference their preparation for a noon start in Nashville on Nov. 2 that resulted in a 2-1 victory. The coach had the team awaken early and eat an extra meal.

The Rangers will be the designated home team as warranted throughout the tournament without jeopardizing the Garden’s tax-exempt status with the city. The original agreement includes language that would permit home games to be played elsewhere under Acts of God including an epidemic. The Blueshirts will be the home team with last change for Game 3 and the if necessary Game 4 against Carolina.

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How to watch NY Rangers in the playoffs: MSG will air qualifying round series

Vincent Z. Mercogliano

NHL Writer

MSG Networks announced Wednesday that it will air every game of the New York Rangers' upcoming qualifying round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, as well as an exhibition game against the rival Islanders.

The exhibition against the Islanders will take place at 8 p.m. on July 29 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, which will also host all 12 Eastern Conference teams in the NHL's Stanley Cup tournament.

The schedule for the Rangers' best-of-five series against Carolina on MSG is as follows:

Game 1 — Saturday, Aug. 1 at noon

Game 2 — Monday, Aug. 3 at noon

Game 3 — Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.

Game 4 — Thursday, Aug. 6 (if necessary; start time TBD)

Game 5 — Saturday, Aug. 8 (if necessary; start time TBD)

The pregame coverage for each game will start a half hour prior to puck drop.

Play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen and analyst Joe Micheletti will call each game action remotely from MSG Networks’ studios in New York City.

The schedule for the first round of the playoffs following the qualifying series has yet to be announced, but if the Rangers were to advance past the Hurricanes, those games would be aired by NBC.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188302 New York Rangers It was the first chance for many of the younger players, including 2018 first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov, to get on the ice with the NHL regulars.

Only two goals were scored within the flow of the scrimmage — one by NY Rangers camp takeaways: Adam Fox snubbed for Calder; Igor Greg McKegg in a frantic net-front situation, and another when Tim Shesterkin shines Gettinger tipped in a slap shot from Libor Hájek. A third goal was scored on a penalty shot by Artemi Panarin.

Hájek and Fox led a strong showing by the young defensemen, with Vincent Z. Mercogliano Ryan Lindgren laying the biggest hit of the morning and K'Andre Miller looking confident with the puck. NHL Writer "I was curious to see how the second half was going to go because I

didn't want to have the scrimmage deteriorate," Quinn said. "I was TARRYTOWN - Moments before the NHL would announce the finalists impressed with the pace we were able to sustain for 40 minutes. I loved for the Calder Trophy, which recognizes the best rookies in the league, our work ethic and I loved the fact that there wasn't a big drop off within Adam Fox was doing his thing at the MSG Training Center. the 40-minute scrimmage."

The first full-squad scrimmage of Phase 3 training camp for the New York It's no secret that Igor Shesterkin entered camp as the favorite to be the Rangers was sloppy at times, but the 22-year-old defenseman looked Rangers' starting goalie, and he pushed the odds even further in his favor polished amid the fray. with a strong showing Wednesday.

The same could be said for his rookie season, in which Fox quickly It was telling that the rookie was the only goalie Quinn elected to play for emerged as the Blueshirts' best D-man. all 40 minutes. After he allowed the first goal to McKegg in the opening minutes, Shesterkin turned into a brick wall. He was undoubtedly among the top first-year players in the league, but when the NHL announced its three Calder finalists on Wednesday "I thought Igor had a great day," Quinn said. "I thought he was afternoon, Fox was surprisingly not among them. outstanding today."

"I’m disappointed that Foxy isn’t one of the finalists," Rangers coach "But I like all of them," the coach added on the goalies. "I thought (Henrik David Quinn said. "It’s a strong group; I certainly understand that. I might Lundqvist) had a good day and I thought (Alexandar) Georgiev had a be a little biased, but this guy has done an awful lot for us." good day. It’s not a surprise."

Throughout the season, Fox was mentioned in the same breath as fellow Shesterkin held up against heavy pressure in the second period, rookie defensemen Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn particularly from the top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks. Buchnevich. The calm, athleticism and technique that the Rangers love about the 24-year-old was on full display. They represent a new wave of defenders who excel with skill, quickness and smarts more than size and physicality. Lundqvist opposed him in the first period and made several quality saves of his own while yielding the goal to Gettinger and getting beat by a Makar and Hughes both eclipsed 50 points this season, while Fox penalty-shot backhand from Panarin. notched 42 (eight goals and 34 assists). That tied him for fourth among all rookies, with Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik posting 46 Georgiev played the second period and matched Shesterkin by keeping points and being named the third Calder finalist along with Makar and the scoreboard blank, including a breakaway save on Jesper Fast and a Hughes. few other quick-twitch stops.

But Quinn believes those numbers don't tell the whole story. Makar and The fourth goalie on the roster, Adam Huska, did not play. Hughes increased their totals by quarterbacking their respective team's power plays, while Fox took a backseat to New York's other highly productive defenseman, Tony DeAngelo. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.16.2020 "We're fortunate to have Tony here, so (Fox's) power-play opportunities probably haven't been what Quinn Hughes’ have been and Makar’s have been," Quinn said. "That’s not taking anything away from the seasons those guys have had. They’ve had speculator seasons, too. It’s not an easy thing to do when you've got this extremely talented group of rookies."

Quinn has also continually pointed to Fox's strong defensive play as an aspect of his game he doesn't get enough credit for. His 2.9 defensive rating sits well above Makar's 1.2 and Hughes' 0.2, according to Evolving Hockey.

But Fox, with his even-keeled nature that the Rangers have raved about from the start, shrugged off the snub.

"It’s not really up to me to decide," he said. "Obviously, I’m confident in the way (I play), but it’s not really up to me to decide any individual award. I’m just trying to help the team during the season and now going into this playoff. Obviously, recognition is nice here and there, but it’s not really what I set out for."

On the third day of camp, all 28 healthy skaters participated in a game- like scrimmage. They were split into two squads for two 20-minute periods.

There was some initial rust, but the quality of play improved as time elapsed and the atmosphere was competitive.

"It was pretty scrambly out there — a lot of mistakes," defenseman Marc Staal said. "But I think it was more about turning over shifts, getting hurried up and down, getting those kind of game-like touches in and trying to get as comfortable as possible with that. I thought that was pretty good. I thought we kept a pretty high level. It was a good effort, so it’s another step." 1188303 New York Rangers

Rangers' Igor Shesterkin picks up where he left off when season was halted

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated July 15, 2020 7:00 PM

Day Three of the Rangers’ return was all about scrimmaging, as coach David Quinn tried to get his team up to speed and into game-like conditions.

“We haven't played a game in a while, and I just think the quicker you get in the game situations, the better you're going to be,’’ Quinn said of Wednesday's intense scrimmaging. “We've got some time, but before you know it, August 1st will be here, so we have to put these guys in game-like situations and get them acclimated to the game pace and the changes, and shift lengths, and the little details and nuances of the game.’’

The biggest coaching decision Quinn will have to make is choosing his starting goaltender for Game 1 of the best-of-5 play-in series against Carolina that starts August 1. Rookie Igor Shesterkin had taken over as the team’s top goaltender by the time play was halted March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but franchise icon Henrik Lundqvist has dominant numbers (33-12-1, 2.00 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, including 3-0, 2.33, and .947 this season) against Carolina. In the first scrimmage, which was two, 20-minute periods, Shesterkin played the entire scrimmage, while Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev split the assignment in the other net, each playing one period.

Shesterkin’s white team won, 3-1, with Artemi Panarin scoring on a penalty shot and into an empty net. Lundqvist gave up two goals (a tip-in and the penalty shot), while Georgiev did not give up a goal (not counting the empty-netter). Shesterkin made several fine saves.

“I thought Igor had a great day today,’’ Quinn said. “I thought he was outstanding today. And I liked all of them. Hank had a good day, I thought Georgiev had a good day. It's not a surprise. as I've said, we have a lot of faith in all three of these guys and, so, let the battle continue.’’

Blue notes

Greg McKegg scored for the blue team, and Tim Gettinger scored the other white team goal . . . Hartford goaltender Adam Huska was the only player not to play in the scrimmage . . . The team is off Thursday and returns to practice Friday.

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LI's Adam Fox not a Calder Trophy finalist, but he says he isn't disappointed

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinSNewsday

Updated July 15, 2020 4:42 PM

In the final few weeks before the NHL season was halted March 12 due to the coronavirus, as the Rangers were surging into the thick of the playoff race, defenseman Adam Fox started to become, more and more, a player to be noticed on the young Rangers team. It seemed, at the time – to those around these parts, anyway – that when the season was over, Fox would certainly be one of the three finalists for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, along with fellow freshman defensemen Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.

But when the finalists for the award were announced Wednesday, Fox, the 22-year-old from Jericho, via Harvard, was not among them. Instead, it was Hughes, Makar and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik who were announced as the top three vote-getters, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

“It's obviously a nice award to possibly be recognized for, but, you know, having your name in a conversation like that's special,’’ Fox said after practice, and after the finalists were announced. “You know, it's not something that I really set out to do at the start of the year. [There are] a lot of great players, and, [there’s] not really any disappointment, really.’’

All season long, the race for the Calder has been considered a two-man competition between Hughes and Makar, who were the top two scorers among rookies, with 53 points and 50 points, respectively. Kubalik led all rookies in goals, with 30, and Buffalo’s Viktor Olofsson, also a left wing, had 20.

But Fox had eight goals and 42 points in 70 games – tied for fourth-most among rookies. More than being a point-producer, he had emerged as a top-pair, two-way defenseman over the course of the season for the Rangers while playing mostly with fellow rookie and friend Ryan Lindgren.

“Everybody knew what his offensive ability was gonna be, but when you have a guy of that caliber, who can do the things he can do offensively, and also be a good defender, boy, that makes him a pretty impactful player, in his first year,’’ Rangers coach David Quinn said of Fox.

“I’m disappointed ‘Foxy’ isn't one of the finalists. It's a strong group, I certainly understand that. I'm a little biased, but this guy [Fox] has done an awful lot for us . . . That's not taking anything away from the seasons [Hughes and Makar] have had -- they've had spectacular seasons, too. So it's not an easy thing to do when you've got this extremely talented group of rookies.’’

Quinn, who had coached against Fox when Fox played for Harvard and Quinn was coaching Boston University, said he knew from very early on, as early as the first few preseason games last fall, that Fox would be an impact player for the Rangers.

Fox said he always had confidence in his ability, and felt like he could make an impact in his first year. He was asked if being snubbed as a Calder finalist could serve as chip on his shoulder and drive him to be even better.

“I guess maybe,’’ he said. “It's not really for me to decide any individual award. Just trying to help the team during the season and now going into the playoffs is kind of my focus. I mean, obviously, recognition is nice here and there, but it's not really what I set out for.’’

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MSG Networks has exclusive rights to Isles, Rangers qualifying-round games

By Neil Best [email protected] @sportswatch

Updated July 15, 2020 2:30 PM

Summer usually is a quiet time not only for the NHL but for MSG Networks, which carries the local hockey teams’ games on television. But there is nothing usual about this summer.

When the NHL returns with qualifying round games starting on Aug. 1, MSG will spring to life, carrying every Islanders and Rangers game in the best-of-five series in the New York area.

The teams’ regular announcing crews – Brendan Burke and Butch Goring for the Islanders, Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti for the Rangers – will call the games, but they will not be in Toronto with the teams. They will work off monitors at MSG’s midtown Manhattan studios.

MSG also will carry the Islanders-Rangers exhibition game on July 29.

NBC has not yet announced its national coverage slate, so the out-of- market plan for the Islanders’ series against the Panthers and the Rangers’ against the Hurricanes remains unclear.

The winners of the qualifying-round series advance to the first of four best-of-seven rounds. In the past, local channels have carried games in that round, with the exception of nationally televised weekend games on NBC.

In addition to the games themselves, MSG plans coverage around the two local teams in the playoffs. MSG will feature Rangers preview shows on July 28 and 30. John Giannone will host pregame, intermission and postgame coverage from a studio on MSG, joined by analyst Steve Valiquette. There also will be Islanders preview shows on July 29 and 31. Shannon Hogan will host pregame, intermission and postgame coverage from a studio on MSG+, joined by analyst AJ Mleczko.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188306 New York Rangers 3) Quinn said he was impressed with the sustained pace of the scrimmage, but he fully understands that this is all new, and that players aren’t in the kind of condition they’d be for a regular September camp. That, among all the other unknowns, mean he has to dial it back a bit. 10 things we’re seeing at Rangers camp so far Less barking, more leniency. At least for now. I’m sure he’ll be heard loudly and clearly as we get closer to Aug. 1.

“We’ve talked about that a lot,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to adapt By Rick Carpiniello and we may have a plan in place and then as practice is evolving, or Jul 15, 2020 after practice, talk to the trainers, strength staff. We’ve got to constantly monitor where we’re at. And we feel really good about where we’re at after three days, because I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a more uncertain time when you’re planning practices, TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — In this brave new uncharted world of NHL play- wondering what to do. ins and playoffs and non-training camp training camps, the Rangers have been on the ice for three days. “As a staff we went round and round on how to handle these first three days and now that we’re done with it, we feel pretty good about how On Wednesday, they ratcheted it up to a 40-minute all-hands scrimmage these three days unfolded and where these guys are at.” that was spirited, high-tempo, and somewhat expectedly ragged at times. 4) One of the best players on the ice was rookie Adam Fox, who learned Conditioning is an interesting part of this unusual July camp. Very few, if later that he was not one of the three finalists for the Calder Trophy. The any, players are likely to be in the type of condition they would be going PHWA voters went with defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, not into a normal September camp, and it’s difficult to say who is and who surprisingly, and with Chicago forward Dominik Kubalik. I only saw isn’t. Kubalik live once this season (the Rangers were scheduled to play the “I don’t think there’s one guy that is in incredible shape, and I don’t think Blackhawks in the season finale) and he scored two of his 30 goals in there’s anybody where you roll your eyes and go, ‘Oh, boy, we’ve got a that game. So he’s impressive. Not sure he’s as impressive as Fox. lot of work to do with this guy.’” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “Having your name in a conversation like that is really special,” Fox said. After the scrimmage – and with a day off scheduled for Thursday – Quinn “It’s not something I set out to do at the beginning of the year. But there skated his players hard. It sure didn’t look like any of them coasted are a lot of great players and I’m not really disappointed. … recognition is through that. nice here and there, but it’s not really what I set out for.”

Here are 10 things I’m watching, what I’m seeing, and what I’m Quinn said he was disappointed for Fox. wondering so far: “It’s a strong group,” he said. “I might be a little biased, but this guy has 1) The single most important issue, obviously, is the three-headed goalie done an awful lot for us. I keep focusing on the defensive side of it competition. So let’s get this out there first and foremost. It might mean because I think the offensive side speaks for itself. He’s a guy that – nothing, it might mean everything, but Igor Shesterkin – the Rangers’ No. obviously we’re fortunate to have Tony (DeAngelo) here, so his power- 1 goalie when last they played – was fairly sensational in one goal for the play opportunity probably hasn’t been what Quinn Hughes’ has been or entire 40 minutes, while Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev were Cale Makar’s has been. I’m not taking anything away from the seasons fairly terrific while splitting 20 minutes apiece in the other. that they’ve had. They’ve had spectacular seasons too. It’s not an easy thing to do when you’ve got this extremely talented group of rookies.” Read into those minutes what you may, but to my thinking, the job belongs to Shesterkin unless he coughs it up, and I don’t see that 5) It’s been fun watching the first two lines go head to head the last happening. You go with your best in the postseason … and if you need couple of days and seeing Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin battle and another reason to play him, well, who is going to be the franchise goalie push each other, while pushing each other’s buttons. They did the same for years to come? Shesterkin. So who do you want to gain this in training camp in September and both had great years – Zibanejad invaluable experience? Shesterkin. seemed to get better every single day.

Quinn said a day earlier that the decision will be based on who stops the It’s going to be an important factor for them to find the magic each had puck. They all stopped it on Wednesday, but Shesterkin made some when the season was paused. Zibanejad had 11 goals and two assists in really typically quick saves, including one on a very late Chris Kreider a six-game streak to close the regular season. And goals in 12 of his last break-in and snap shot. He calmly flicked it over the glass with his 13 games (17 total in that stretch). Panarin had points in 16 of his last 18 blocker. games, was second in the league with 63 assists, third in points (95) and led the NHL with 71 even-strength points. I can’t imagine that Shesterkin will lose his job in this minicamp and with one preseason game. By the way, we’ll know what the Game 1 lineup By the way, Zibanejad’s right winger Pavel Buchnevich finished hot, too, looks like on July 29, when they play the Islanders (yes, it’s on MSG and he’s engaged and seemingly energized in camp. Network at 8 p.m.). 6) Among the others who have certainly caught my eye is Kaapo Kakko, “I thought Igor had a great day today,” Quinn said. “I thought he was the teenaged rookie. He’s been on the puck a lot. Maybe the four months outstanding. I liked all of them. I thought Hank (who gave up a penalty off helped clear his head, give him a break in the exhausting first season shot goal to Artemi Panarin) had a big day. I thought Georgie had a big in the NHL (not to mention first season in North America, with a new day. It’s not a surprise. We have faith in all three of these guys, so let the league, new culture, language, living arrangement, and the marathon of battle continue.” the NHL schedule).

2) This could have been an issue, but apparently it will not be. Madison “I like what I see out of … particularly Kakko,” Quinn said. “I think Kakko Square Garden has a considerable tax exemption from New York City (it has a little bit more of a jump in his step, smiling a little bit more. I think was worth around $17 million in 2014, per a New York Times story) that he’s really looking forward to getting the season going again, and we’re would be forfeited by the Rangers playing a home game anywhere but going to need him if we’re going to reach our ultimate goal. MSG. Hence they were the “visiting” team in the two-game series at “I just think he’s a guy that’s going to come back and feel more Yankee Stadium against the Islanders and Devils and in the Winter comfortable and realize what this is going to entail and what it takes. He Classic at Citi Field (Buffalo was the home team). knows everybody. He’s more comfortable with everybody personally. However there is an “Act of God” type of provision that would supersede He’s more comfortable with people professionally. I just think it’s the the agreement during something like a global pandemic. So the Rangers development of a young, really good hockey player.” will be the “home” team in Games 3 and 4 against Carolina in Toronto. 7) Not to single out too many, but with the taxi squad joining the regulars It only really matters on line changes anyway, a significant strategic for the scrimmage Wednesday, we got to see Vitali Kravtsov, Libor Hajek issue. Otherwise the Rangers could just wear their road jerseys and use and even K’Andre Miller (who is ineligible for the postseason and faced the visitors locker room and such, as they did at Citi Field. actual NHL competition for the first time on Tuesday). He looks perhaps a bit nervous, but not out of place – and huge and fast. Hajek, who projects as the seventh defenseman (unless he earns the sixth slot but it’s never easy. Either way, shaking hands when you win, shaking somehow) was solid, and Kravtsov looked good too. hands when you lose, that’s never fun. But it is fun (that) we still get to play against each other in the best league in the world and in the Quinn has a lot on his plate, but he is also a developmental coach who playoffs. That’s something that’s never lost on us, and we’re always has an eye, occasionally in these circumstances, on the future. grateful for it.”

“We’re always watching,” he said. “These guys are here. I’ve been on the ice with the extras, and one day I watched them from on top. It always matters with the young guys. That being said, it’s playoff hockey and The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 we’re going to play the guys who give us the best chance to win. That doesn’t mean that we’re not going to help these guys develop. Maybe it will happen sooner than later. Who knows?”

8) That said, it’s going to be a surprise if the Rangers don’t put out virtually their same regular-season lineup for Game 1, except for Brendan Lemieux, who is expected to be suspended.

The lines and D pairs so far have been very familiar:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich

Panarin-Ryan Strome-Jesper Fast

Phil Di Giuseppe-Filip Chytil-Kakko

Brett Howden-Greg McKegg-

Brendan Smith-Jacob Trouba

Ryan Lindgren-Fox

Marc Staal-DeAngelo

9) I will say this. Social distancing is going to be fairly impossible in hockey, but I’m a little surprised the NHL didn’t legislate against fighting or post-whistle scrums, celebration and especially spitting for the return to play.

I mean, I get it that the players are going to be in a bubble. I get it, too, that the Rangers will play in Toronto, not Florida like their NBA counterparts. And that players are being tested all the time. And that they are going to be seated up against one another on the bench, and in constant contact with opponents all game long. But to me, it seems, there could be some simple rules in place to reduce the chances.

While we’re at it, watching the Yankees practices on TV, it sure seems like a few of them are hardly fanatical about distancing and masks, even while putting in rules about pitchers licking their fingers and balls being disinfected. Everybody says that if one league has a chance to get this right, because of the location and the bubble protocols, etc., it’s the NHL. We’ll see. Sure hope so.

10) Speaking of playing in a bubble, the Rangers know this is going to be weird.

Atmosphere and environment “are going to be different, for sure,” Quinn said. “And (so) playoff experience isn’t going to be as big a factor as maybe it would be under normal circumstances. That being said, you know, when it’s a 3-2 hockey game with 10 minutes to go, playoff experience is going to matter regardless of how many people are in the stands.”

Staal, who has played in 104 Stanley Cup playoff games, has been hungering for a playoff appearance since 2017, after making the postseason seven years in a row (the Rangers had been in for 12 of 13 seasons before the rebuild). But he’s never been in one like this.

“The fact that we’re not going to have any fans, that we’re going to be playing against a team where it’s not their rink or ours, it’s going to be strange for sure,” Staal said. “I don’t know really what to expect. But our preparation now is to try and get as sharp as we can until the puck drops, then you figure it out as you go.

“No one has any idea what this is going to be like, so you just make sure you’re playing as tight as possible early on and not doing things to lose hockey games.”

Staal is also going to go head-to-head with his brother, Jordan, of the Hurricanes.

“Usually, when we have played each other in the past we’ve gone radio silent for the duration of the (series) and then we’ll talk afterward,” Staal said. “I talked to Jordan the other day, but I’m sure it will be less and less as we go along here. It’s hard because, I lost to Jordan when he was on Pittsburgh and it’s brutal because you’re happy for him, but you’re also crushed. And it’s the other way around. It’s fun to compete against him, 1188307 Philadelphia Flyers younger than everyone, but they’re pulling the rope just as much as everyone else. You have your first-line guys doing their job, and you have your fourth-line guys doing their job. That’s what makes teams win, especially going into the playoffs.” Close-knit Flyers getting focused as training camp picks up Hayes said the team is still enjoying itself but has been more focused in the first few days of camp. by Sam Carchidi, “I think everyone realizes right from Game 1, we need to be at our best,” he said.

Hayes added it’s “still fun here every day. I make sure of that.” But he There seemed to be more pace, more intensity Wednesday during the added it’s “definitely more serious” now that the playoffs are almost here. Flyers’ third day of Training Camp II in Voorhees. “The coaching staff knows it. Players know it. Management knows it. The players are slowly getting their rhythm back as they look ahead to a Everyone behind the scenes knows it. ... You can be as serious as you July 28 exhibition game and then the restart of the season Aug. 2 in the want to be, but you have to enjoy it along the way.” round-robin tournament. The playoffs begin Aug. 11. He may have added a postscript: Winning = enjoyment. Alain Vigneault, named a coach-of-the-year finalist Wednesday, said he likes the leadership and focus his veteran players have shown since Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.16.2020 camp started Monday.

“If you look into their eyes, they want to be here. They want to put in the work. They want to get ready,” he said after Wednesday’s sessions ended. “They’re really looking forward to this challenge and this opportunity. I like the spirits. I like the mood and I like our guys right now.”

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault gathers pucks during training camp at the team's practice facility Monday in Voorhees.

The camp, which will include intrasquad games Saturday morning, will run until July 26, when the team heads to the “bubble” in Toronto. Two days later, the Flyers will face the Penguins in their only exhibition game before the seeding tournament starts with a matchup against powerful Boston.

“Everything is kind of accelerated with a shorter camp and then meaningful games [right away],” veteran defenseman Justin Braun said.

Braun said Vigneault was “pushing” the pace but “not going overboard. We don’t need guys pulling groins and getting hurt. So far, it’s been a good mix of flow drills and battles. Just getting the tempo and speed up. ... I think guys are really dialing in to try to get things back to where it should be.”

The Flyers’ core, which includes Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, and Sean Couturier, has been together a while, so the team has a strong chemistry, one that got even better because newcomers Kevin Hayes, Matt Niskanen, Braun, and Tyler Pitlick have fit in so well.

AV: “If you look into the players’ eyes, they want to be here.” Says the veterans have done a great job leading. #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 15, 2020

“This team is really good off the ice,” said left winger Michael Raffl, referring to the players’ relationships, “and even stronger on the ice. We have a great bond. I am not even nervous going into a bubble for two months with these guys. It should be a good time.”

One of the most important ingredients to making a long Stanley Cup run, Hayes said, is a team’s unity.

That favors the Flyers, he believes.

“I think a major key to winning series and winning games is to have the tightest team,” said Hayes, who finished second on the Flyers with 23 goals during the abbreviated season. “You don’t want to be pointing fingers when things go wrong, and I don’t think that happens in this locker room.

“You have older guys who kind of run the locker room and make sure everyone is accountable. I think our best players are our older guys. Then you have young guys like T.K. [Travis Konecny] and Hartsy [Carter Hart]. If you’re a 10-year veteran or a 50-game rookie, everyone is held accountable and you’re allowed to hold each other accountable. I think that’s why everyone is so tight.”

Despite being in his first year with the Flyers, Hayes has galvanized the locker room with his outgoing and sometimes zany personality. The players seem to feed off him.

“Everyone has a good time, on and off the ice,” Hayes said. “We’re always joking around. Rookies don’t feel like rookies. Obviously they’re 1188308 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers will open round-robin play by facing Boston on Aug. 2, also in Toronto.

Quotable Flyers’ Alain Vigneault named finalist for NHL’s Jack Adams Award, Left winger James van Riemsdyk said that if he could pick a roommate, it credits team’s response to Oskar Lindblom news would probably be young goalie Carter Hart.

“It’s funny to hear some of the stuff that’s coming out of his brain,” he by Sam Carchidi said.

Breakaways

In his first year with the Flyers, Alain Vigneault has been named a finalist Former Flyers star Rick Tocchet will be among 16 individuals inducted for the Jack Adams Award, presented to the NHL’s coach of the year. (virtually) into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 5. Tocchet scored 232 of his 440 career goals with the Flyers. ... Braun, a veteran in Vigneault, 59, was selected as a nominee Wednesday, along with his first season with the Flyers, called them “one of the tightest groups Boston’s Bruce Cassidy, and Columbus’ John Tortorella. I’ve been around.” ... Lindblom is among the candidates for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies The winner will be announced at a still-to-be-determined date during the sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The three nominees will be conference finals in Edmonton. announced Thursday. Vigneault praised his coaching staff and his players for getting him Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.16.2020 nominated for the fifth time (with four teams) in his career, calling it “extra special” because the Flyers overcame a slow start and because of how the team rallied around teammate Oskar Lindblom.

After starting the season Oct. 4 in the Czech Republic and quickly making a grueling West Coast trip, the Flyers regrouped and had the league’s second-best record from Nov. 1 until the end of the year.

Vigneault got emotional when he talked about how the Flyers responded after the devastating December news that Lindblom was battling a rare type of bone cancer.

“I’m so proud of this group and everybody associated with it,” Vigneault said after Day 3 of Training Camp II in Voorhees, where the two sessions had a faster pace than the first two days.

“That was a very challenging time for our group and we responded by doing our jobs, staying focused. ... Considering what could have happened, this is extra special. Oskar is healthy now, our team did well, so this is very special for me.”

The Flyers finished the pandemic-shortened season with a 41-21-7 record, one point behind first-place Washington in the Metropolitan Division. They were on pace to accumulate 106 points in 82 games, which would have been 24 more points than last season.

No NHL team made a bigger improvement than the Flyers this season. The Flyers’ 106-point pace would have been their second-highest total in the last 33 seasons, topped only by their 107 points in 2002-03 during that span.

Defenseman Justin Braun said Vigneault “came in with a system. It took a while for guys to get used to that, but I think everybody bought in. You saw at the end of the year how we were humming along. He set the standard for what he expects every night.”

Vigneault was named coach of the year after the 2006-07 season with Vancouver. The Canucks collected 105 points, finished first in the Northwest Division, and lost in the second round of the playoffs.

The NHL’s coach-of-the-year award is based on the regular season.

Bill Barber was the last Flyers coach to win the Jack Adams Award; he was honored after the 2000-01 season. (1973-74), (1979-80), and (1984-85) were the other Flyers coaches who won the Jack Adams Award.

The Flyers’ .645 points percentage this season was their third-best in the last 30 years.

Cassidy directed Boston to the most points (100) and the highest points percentage (.714) in the NHL. The Bruins’ power play (second, 25.2%) and penalty kill (third, 84.3%) were among the best in the NHL.

Tortorella led Columbus, a team that lost several quality free agents before the season and overcame numerous injuries during the campaign, to a 33-22-15 record.

Exhibition vs. Penguins

The Flyers’ lone exhibition game before the start of the round-robin tournament will be held at 4 p.m. July 28 against Pittsburgh in Toronto. It will be televised by NBC Sports Philadelphia+. 1188309 Philadelphia Flyers Friday, then will have scrimmages Saturday morning, the sixth day of camp. Because of coronavirus concerns, camp is closed to fans.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.16.2020 Flyers coach Alain Vigneault on NHL bubble: ‘We’re the lucky ones'

by Sam Carchidi,

Flyers coach Alain Vigneault understands why many players around the league, including his own, say it is difficult being away from their families for up to three months because of training camp and the NHL tournament.

“Being away from people who are close to you is a challenge,” he said after one of the sessions at Training Camp II on Tuesday in Voorhees. “But that being said, it could be a month or it could be three months if we make it to the end, and this will be a time people will remember for the rest of their lives. I don’t feel anyone in our situation right now has any right to complain about anything.

“Obviously, we’re going to miss the people who are close to us — our families, our parents, etc. But we’re getting an opportunity here to compete for the Stanley Cup. We have one of the best facilities, the best people taking care of us, and if you look at what’s going on around the world right now, where people are losing their jobs, losing their businesses and going from paycheck to paycheck, we’re the lucky ones. We’re playing a sport, a sport that we all love. We’re going to get a chance [to win a Cup]. That’s one of the things I talked to the guys about.”

Vigneault said his players need to stay safe during this preparation phase to get to the bubble in Toronto, “and I don’t expect to hear really a lot of complaining. We’re a fortunate group in today’s society.”

The NHL will permit players to see their families during the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final, both in Edmonton.

Turning to veteran leaders

Between the two practice sessions Tuesday, Vigneault said he is leaning on veterans like Claude Giroux and Matt Niskanen “to bring our group together and to help everyone understand the preparation and the will that is needed to be successful in these playoff times.”

The Flyers open their three-game, round-robin tourney against Boston on Aug. 2 in Toronto.

Elliott’s regimen

During the season’s long pause, backup goalie Brian Elliott stayed sharp in the latter weeks by practicing at a Madison, Wis., rink with some NHL and college players. “We just tried to make the most of it,” Elliott said. “We went about two times a week to start and then got up to three. Had some personal goalie coaching as well and tried to get back to the fundamentals that sometimes you elude when you are off for a while.”

Added Elliott: “I feel good; the boys look good. I think we are just gaining confidence day by day here.”

Elliott said the Flyers want to finish as high as possible in the round-robin seeding tourney to get the home-ice advantage in the playoffs and get the last line change.

Voracek’s ‘advantage'

Starting in April, right winger Jake Voracek skated in Prague and played against other NHL players twice a week.

“I got lucky because everything opened up back home,” he said. “... Never skated this much in the summer. It’s going to be an advantage for me.”

Breakaways

Vigneault said training camp is all about conditioning, execution and timing. They’re trying to “get to the level — or close to the level we were at prior to when we left,” he said. ... Vigneault is experimenting with the lineup until Friday. Among his lines: Kevin Hayes centering Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny; Derek Grant centering Michael Raffl and Tyler Pitlick; and Scott Laughton centering James van Riemsdyk and Nic Aube-Kubel. “Don’t read too much right now into the lines or the D pairs,” Vigneault said. ... The Flyers will have on-ice sessions Wednesday and 1188310 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers will enter that East seeding round-robin mini-tourney early next month with the most home wins (25) and best home winning percentage (.771) in the NHL.

Flyers' Vigneault takes rightful place among Coach of the Year finalists Of course, all their seeding tourney and playoffs are going to take place amid a "hub" in Toronto, so their home dominance won't be a factor.

It's up to Vigneault to help his club gain an edge elsewhere. By Rob Parent "We’re going into the best part of the season," Vigneault said. "We’ve made the playoffs. We’ve earned the right to compete for the Stanley Cup. Our business is far from over. That means that my job is far from An announcement Wednesday that seemed to validate the progress the over. Right now we’re in what I call Phase 1 of this first segment, which is Flyers have made in the past year was taken in typical shrugging style by going to bring us to the bubble. We’ve got a lot of work. We’ve planned it. head coach Alain Vigneault. We talked to the specialists about it. We’re using science to make sure After all, he's been here, was nominated for this before. that the group is ready. ... We still have a lot of work to do."

Vignuealt, whose first season as a Flyers head coach has certainly been Cassidy received his second finalist nod in three seasons for the Adams, a memorable one for more reasons than we care to ponder, was named after leading the Bruins to the NHL's best points mark (100) through 70 as one of three finalists for the NHL's Jack Adams Award, given annually games played. That included a league-best 44 wins. to the league's coach of the year. As for Tortorella, he could be nominated every year if post-game comedy Along with Vigneault, Bruce Cassidy of the league's points leader, the standups were part of the qualifications. Other than that, his team Boston Bruins, and John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets were finished at ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 33-22-15 mark ... so it named as finalists. seems kind of funny that he's a finalist.

The official wording of the award notes it will be presented to the head Then again, The Blue Jackets did lose a couple of stars in Artemi coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.” Panarin (to the Rangers) and Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida) to free agency during the offseason. So that's something. That would seem accurate in Vigneault's case. "From Day 1, I felt the veteran players of this group were looking for As he's likely done the four other times he's been tabbed as a finalist for direction and that’s basically what myself, my staff and management did," this award, however, Vigneault cast all the blame for his success on his Vigneault said. "We gave them direction. We told them this is the plan players. that we have, this is what you need to do, to do your jobs on the ice. The month of October we knew was going to be challenging with the travel to "There’s no doubt that any team in any sport that has any success is Europe, the travel back, the travel out west. Like I said, since November because first and foremost, there’s trust, there’s accountability," 1, we have been top two in the league with Boston and Tampa. This Vigneault said. "Players like being with one another, and probably the group has progressed. I cannot state enough how proud I am of how word that comes first for me is that respect between teammates. Not to everyone, the players and the organization, but also the hockey let your partner down, your linemate down, defensive partner, your community, the support we got." goaltender down. Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 "I think throughout the season our group has built that and has developed it. They understand the accountability factor and how important it is between teammates, from game to game and from shift to shift. That’s (how) our group, in my mind ... evolved. We understand that part and now we’re going to get a chance to prove it here moving forward."

The Flyers are one of four top Eastern Conference seeds for the upcoming 2020 NHL Sort Of Playoffs. Along the way, Vigneault set a league record.

No other coach has been a finalist for the Adams five times. He won the award in 2007, following his first season as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, leading them to a 49-26-7 (105 points) record.

Vigneault, 59, was a finalist with Montreal in 2000, again with Vancouver (2011) and once with the Rangers (2015).

"This time here in Philly, I have to say is extra special," Vigneault said. "We had a very challenging month of October where we went to Europe and then went out West. From the first of November (until) the season was postponed, with Boston and Tampa we had the best record in the league. Boston had 80 points. Us and Tampa had 78. I look at that and I look at how our players responded to the Oskar (Lindblom) situation. I’m so proud of this group and everybody associated with it."

Lindblom was one of the team's leading scorers early in the season when he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in November. Making great progress in his recovery, and seemingly determined to rejoin the club next season, Lindblom was the Flyers' nominee for the annual Bill Masterton Trophy, given to the NHL player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."

Three finalists for that award will be named Thursday.

As for Vigneault, he led a team that finished at an NHL version of .500 (37-37-8) and out of the playoffs a year ago to a club that steamrolled through the second half en route to a 41-21-7 (89) record through 69 games before the league put everything on pause March 12 due to the coronavirus. 1188311 Philadelphia Flyers He put on a mini clinic Tuesday and gave Hart fits Wednesday (the captain scored a lot on the kid).

Check out this pass from Claude Giroux on Matt Niskanen. Flyers training camp observations: A 'dangerous card,' Claude Giroux's pic.twitter.com/37OKe2jLKk game, more — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 14, 2020

Claude Giroux on Carter Hart. Nasty. pic.twitter.com/bini4aZHuR By Jordan Hall July 16, 2020 12:15 AM — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 14, 2020

omG. pic.twitter.com/1Ha95j09dJ Alain Vigneault turned things up a notch Wednesday. — x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 15, 2020 The Flyers got after it with high-volume, condition-heavy practices as Like always, there will be many eyes on Giroux, who has four points and training camp continued in the team's preparation for the NHL's return-to- a minus-12 mark over his last two postseason series (12 games). The play 24-team tournament. Flyers, though, are much deeper and more balanced in 2019-20, which "Everything’s just kind of accelerated with a shorter camp and the has helped Giroux and could open things up for the 32-year-old during meaningful games," Justin Braun said. "He’s pushing it; he’s not going these playoffs. overboard." The Vigneault factor The team won't be on the ice Thursday. Here's its schedule through the A plus for the Flyers should be Vigneault's experience. At his previous weekend. three stops (Canadiens, Canucks, Rangers), each of his first seasons The Flyers are not on the ice Thursday. Here is their schedule through resulted in playoff bids and at least one series win. In his 16 seasons as the weekend. pic.twitter.com/JMkkIlDwRN an NHL head coach before coming to the Flyers, Vigneault secured 11 playoff berths, with eight of those teams advancing past the first round. — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 15, 2020 Alain Vigneault in Year 1 with new team: pic.twitter.com/KTg8f7Fc68 Let's dive into five observations over the camp's first three days. We'll have five more later today. — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 11, 2020

'That's a dangerous card to have' "My focus here is not just to win the first round, but it’s the first step obviously," Vigneault said Tuesday. "It’s like anything else, when you’re Maybe it's the benefit of being only 21 years old. Monday marked the in the playoffs, you’ve got to focus on that game, stay in that moment, so Flyers' first formal practice since March 11, a span of 124 days, and Hart I think that’s what we’re going to do as a staff is make sure that our guys somehow found a way to look like he had never stopped playing during don’t look too far ahead, stay in the moment and do what we need to do the NHL hiatus. the first game, then move on to the second game. It’s about players preparing, coaches preparing the team for specific adjustments that you Hart was impressive and it served as a reminder (even if you didn't need need from one game to the other." one) that this team possesses a huge amenity in the playoffs: a young goalie who can go on a run. In Year 1 with the Flyers, Vigneault proved how good he is at getting his team to turn the page. That quality was a major reason why the Flyers During one drill, Hart robbed point-producing prospect Morgan Frost, who went 19-6-1 since Jan. 8 without consecutive losses. skated away smiling. In another sequence, Hart denied a Matt Niskanen rebound attempt with a ridiculous split stop. Niskanen, who has a Stanley What will be a new experience for Vigneault (and Bruins head coach Cup ring and owns 125 career playoff appearances to his name, Bruce Cassidy, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and Capitals head absolutely loved the save as he shouted out loud in appreciation. coach Todd Reirden) is strategy in the round robin. The Flyers know the importance of the round robin as it offers them a chance to improve their Welcome back, Cahtah. pic.twitter.com/jaaLebPMT0 seed and first-round matchup. Ultimately, though, Vigneault wants to be — x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 13, 2020 in the most ideal shape possible for that best-of-seven first-round series.

I talked to him the other day and he said he feels good," Niskanen said Brian Elliott and some of the Flyers' key extras are going to see action in Monday about Hart. "I don’t know anything on how to critique a goalie, the round robin, which Vigneault will use to help construct his best Game but he looked awesome today. He’s shown what he can do, his 1 lineup in the first round. capabilities. I think everybody’s real confident and excited to have him "Obviously if your intentions are going on a long playoff run, a lot of times back there. Especially the further you go now, you've got a talented there are some battle days and there are some days where you need goalie and he gets hot, ooh, that’s a dangerous card to have. We have guys to step up and chip in," Vigneault said Monday. "To do that, it would that potential with Carter and he looks fresh and happy. Looked pretty be safe to say at this time that I intend on using more than 20 guys for sharp to me today. those four games (one exhibition contest, three round-robin matchups). Hart was off his game Wednesday but the practice featured a ton of work As important as they are, I’m going to look at different players in different for the goalies with all kinds of odd-man drills. Nothing to worry about. situations during that time. It’s not about an experiment, but it’s about Nobody seems worried about Hart's first taste of the NHL playoffs. finding out where guys are and then making the best decision for the team." "Whenever I play, I'm always nervous before games but that’s just because I care," Hart said Tuesday. "That’s not at the point where I let it 'Why not us?' affect me or let it affect my game. I'm sure there will be nerves that come With the Flyers' renewed health because of the prolonged stoppage when the first playoff game comes about here. That’s just part of hockey. along with the acquisitions of Derek Grant and Nate Thompson at the As a younger player, that’s just part of the steps in your career that you trade deadline, Vigneault has good decisions to make, especially at have to take. It's definitely one step that I've been waiting for my whole forward. life. It’ll definitely be very exciting and I know our group here is really ready to get things going." One decision could come down to the veteran Thompson or rookie Joel Farabee as the team's extra forward. A thought would be Farabee gets Captain's log the early nod in the lineup, but regardless, the Flyers have the ability to Would anybody be surprised if Claude Giroux is able to play into his 40s? mix and match and adjust with nice depth on an expanded roster. It'll be a big storyline moving forward. We ask because his skill and smarts will never go away; if anything, they've gotten better with age. We like the depth of our club," Fletcher said. "I think you’ll see as you watch practices this week — we have six good forward lines, we have six Even after an unprecedented layoff like this, he stands out from the onset good defense pairings and four talented goaltenders. We feel that we and looks like the best playmaker on the ice. have the depth and we have the talent. "We’ve put ourselves in a good position, we’re a good hockey team, yet we’re all coming off of a four-month pause. We’ll have to see what it means but we’re going to focus on what we can control, we like our team, we like our group. And why not us? Let’s push forward here and see what we can do.

Status of Ghost

Speaking of lineup decisions, Shayne Gostisbehere was forced to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee about seven weeks ago. He had a procedure done on his left knee in January.

The 27-year-old defenseman has been through a lot and this latest hurdle could impact his ability or availability in the beginning of the tournament.

In early February, Gostisbehere tried to come back 23 days after his surgery. He was rusty in his return on Feb. 6 and then missed more time as he dealt with lingering issues before needing a conditioning loan to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley on Feb. 20. Reps and rhythm were critical then, and that may ring true this time, as well.

"It was something I was trying to rehab personally and I hit a point to where there was no way I could rehab it anymore," Gostisbehere said after practice Monday about the most recent knee injury.

“I was compensating so much over time. My quads were kind of uneven and it was really hard to fix it off the ice and workout-wise.

"Trying to battle back from that. I haven’t really skated too much. It was awesome to get out there with the boys and see where I was at."

We'll have to wait and see if Gostisbehere feels like himself at the Flyers' start of the tournament Aug. 2. If Gostisbehere doesn't look very comfortable, swift and effective in the exhibition game or the round-robin contests, Vigneault's decision on the Flyers' sixth defenseman for Game 1 of the first round will not be as difficult.

“My ultimate goal is to get back in the lineup, get out there and do I what can do to contribute to this team, win a Stanley Cup," Gostisbehere said when asked if he'll have any limitations come tournament time. "Right now, I’m just focused on good skates, getting out there and getting that feeling. It’s been tough but just grinding my way, I want to work hard and I want to help this team win.

“It’s definitely been a tough road, especially with all this stuff going on. But I’m not going to feel bad for myself, there’s a lot of stuff going on in this world that people are worried about. I’m just going to do my best to get back, be healthy and help this team win."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188312 Philadelphia Flyers Through a shortened 2019-20 regular season, the Flyers went 41-21-7 with 89 points in 69 games. According to Hockey-Reference.com, the team was projected to finish with 104 to 105 points, which would have been its most since a 106-point 2010-11 campaign. NHL awards: Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault named finalist for Jack Adams honor NHL's most points since Nov. 1:

1. Bruins — 80

By Jordan Hall July 15, 2020 1:35 PM 2. Flyers — 78

2. Lightning — 78

INSIDE THE TURNAROUND 4. Blues — 77

An inside look at how Flyers have built 2019-20 turnaround — Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 15, 2020

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside With the abbreviated regular season because of the coronavirus look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan outbreak, only four teams improved their point totals from 2018-19. The Hall Flyers made the biggest jump with a seven-point increase despite playing 13 fewer games compared to last season, while the Oilers improved by VOORHEES, N.J. — On April 18, 2019, Alain Vigneault was asked about four points (79 to 83), the Avalanche by two (90 to 92) and the Rangers the frustrations among fans with the Flyers' current state. by one (78 to 79).

It was the day general manager Chuck Fletcher and the team introduced Back in April 2019, there was a lot of buzz about Joel Quenneville, and Vigneault as the Flyers' new head coach. justifiably so. The Flyers were thrilled to land Vigneault and we've seen why. "I understand people's disappointment, but I would say that's all behind us,” Vigneault said. “Chuck is here, he's new. I'm here, I'm new. Nothing I Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 can do about what happened in the past — I can focus on the present and hopefully make the future what we all want it to be. I'm going to be on high alert, I'm going to work my butt off to get this done and I’m very confident that it's going to work out."

So far, the Flyers' decision to bring Vigneault on board has worked out well. That decision looked awfully good Wednesday as Vigneault was named a finalist for the 2019-20 Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year). It will look awfully great if the Flyers make a big run at the Stanley Cup in the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament.

"From Day 1, I felt that the veteran players of this group were looking for direction and that's basically what myself, my staff and management did," Vigneault said Wednesday. "We gave them direction, we told them this is the plan that we have, this is what you need to do to do your jobs on the ice. ... This group has progressed.

"The season's not over. We're going into the best part of the season. We've earned the right, we've made the playoffs, we've earned the right to compete for the Stanley Cup. Our business is far from over, which means my job is far from over."

Vigneault is up against Bruce Cassidy (Bruins) and John Tortorella (Blue Jackets) for the honor. The experienced 59-year-old bench boss won the award in 2006-07 with the Canucks and has finished second three times: 1999-00 (Canadiens), 2010-11 (Canucks) and 2014-15 (Rangers).

If Vigneault takes home the award, he'll become the fifth Flyers coach to do so. The other four are Fred Shero (1973-74), Pat Quinn (1979-80), Mike Keenan (1984-85) and (2000-01).

"This time in Philly, it's extra special. ... I'm so proud of this group."

Mentioned how proud he was of team responding to Oskar Lindblom's cancer diagnosis.

- Alain Vigneault on being Jack Adams Award finalist

( by Flyers PR guru Zack Hill) pic.twitter.com/EbnpiUE0mz

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 15, 2020

"Oskar came out on the winning side for us."

- Alain Vigneault on Oskar Lindblom's fight

( s by @NBCSPhilly broadcast) pic.twitter.com/1C8j7KO175

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 15, 2020

Vigneault very well could be this season's front-runner. The winner will be announced during the Conference Final series, which are slated to begin Sept. 8.

In just one season, Vigneault turned the Flyers into a top-six club a year after the team finished 22nd in the NHL at 37-37-8 with 82 points, its fewest over a full campaign since 2006-07. 1188313 Philadelphia Flyers

2020 NHL playoffs: Flyers shirts on sale for fans

By Jordan Hall July 15, 2020 12:15 PM

VOORHEES, N.J. — With the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs being held in August and at a neutral location without fans, the Flyers are rocking shirts with a slogan that reads: "Anytime. Anywhere."

"It’ll be tough for some guys being away from their families and friends, so that’s going to be an adjustment," Carter Hart said Tuesday. "For now, this is our family. This is our hockey family we have and that’s the way we have to look at it."

The Flyers are in the midst of training camp to gear up for their trip to Toronto, where they'll compete in the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament.

So fans will not be flocking to the Wells Fargo Center for playoff hockey. But they can rally around the team with playoff gear, which is on sale in a variety of looks.

“The fans' response to our players’ locker room tees was overwhelming,” Flyers and Wells Fargo Center senior vice president of marketing Mark Zarthar said in a statement released by the team Wednesday.

“Since fans won’t be able to watch our playoff run in person, we are doing everything possible to make them feel connected to the team as they begin their quest to bring the Stanley Cup back to Philadelphia.”

Enough said. pic.twitter.com/Nk7EJpO5PT

— x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 13, 2020 https://t.co/So5lBxUz5Q

— Andrea Helfrich (@Andrea_Helfrich) July 15, 2020

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188314 Philadelphia Flyers and which questions still must be answered before the final four lines and three defensive pairings are decided for Game 1 of the first round. Let’s start with the safe assumptions.

The playoff lineup: Analysis, scenarios and big questions the Flyers must What we ‘know’ answer 1. Giroux will be with Couturier on Line 1

This feels close to a given. Yes, Giroux spent a significant amount of time By Charlie O'Connor Jul 15, 2020 this season away from Couturier, either playing center on another line or helping to prop up a second unit on the wing. But it’s no secret that Giroux is at his most dangerous alongside No. 14.

Day 1 of Philadelphia Flyers training camp was mostly about getting back In fact, Giroux severely underperformed his preseason scoring to the usual work in an unusual time. Days 2 and 3 of the team’s Phase 3 expectations — scoring 35 points in 54 games — before the Flyers workouts, on the other hand, were more along the lines of establishing reunited the duo at five-on-five on Feb. 8 versus the Washington the new normal for the next two weeks. Two groups of 15 skaters and Capitals. From that moment until the pause, Giroux the elite scorer re- two goalies each went through high-intensity skates, battle drills, emerged, racking up 18 points in the final 15 games. It would be a shock breakout repetitions and exercises meant to force players to take shots to see the Flyers, who need Giroux at his best to make a run at the and make passes under continual pressure. Stanley Cup, decide to hamstring their captain by keeping him away from Couturier in the playoffs. But one potential change was not made Tuesday or Wednesday. Head coach Alain Vigneault chose to keep together the groups and (more 2. Voracek, Konecny and Hayes will be in the top six importantly) the line combinations and defensive pairs from Day 1, making it three consecutive days the lines and six pairs — We know Hayes is locked in as the second-line center. And while three of each per group — remained a constant. Konecny’s and Voracek’s places in the lineup remain up in the air, it would be a major shock to see either player end up on Line 3. And it’s fair to note that the top two lines and pairs from each group sure looked a lot like a plausible lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs: Basically, five spots in the top six are reserved for Couturier, Giroux, Voracek, Konecny and Hayes. And that’s the way it should be. Claude Giroux — Sean Couturier — Jakub Voracek 3. Van Riemsdyk is in the top nine Joel Farabee — Kevin Hayes — Travis Konecny Van Riemsdyk is a bit more of a lineup wild card, but he’ll certainly be in James van Riemsdyk — Scott Laughton — Nicolas Aubé-Kubel a scoring role. While he’s talented enough to play in the top six, van Riemsdyk has done some of his best work — in Toronto and Philadelphia Michael Raffl — Derek Grant — Tyler Pitlick — when deployed as more of a sheltered third-line scorer, able to feast Ivan Provorov — Matt Niskanen on weaker competition and avoid regularly facing off against star players.

Travis Sanheim — Philippe Myers Still, he’ll be on one of the top three lines. He’s healthy and was one of Philadelphia’s best play-driving forwards this season. He’s a lineup lock. Robert Hägg — Justin Braun 4. Laughton, Pitlick and Grant are also lineup locks A sign of things to come? Not so fast, Vigneault said Tuesday. Laughton has become the Flyers’ Swiss Army Knife forward: He can play “What I wanted was three lines in each group and six D in each group,” center; he can play both wings; he can function in a scoring role; he can Vigneault said. “I would say to you that come past Thursday or Friday, drop down and deliver 10 useful minutes a night on the fourth line. there will be some changes. There’ll be two groups, but one with four Unless he’s hurt or sick, Laughton will be somewhere in the lineup for lines and the other with two (lines). Game 1.

“We did this planning for the first three days so our guys would get more Pitlick is also a safe bet. At the pause, Pitlick was playing up on the third reps. We talked about the intensity that would be needed. Yesterday we line in a semi-scoring role, even if his job was more to do the little things went around 55 minutes; today we went about 42 minutes but at a higher to open up space for more offensively oriented linemates. As for Grant, pace. So we sort of laid out what we want to do. They’re getting more he should be viewed as a lineup lock because the Flyers have a shortage touches, (in) smaller groups (with) smaller numbers, and then we’re of useful centers. There’s no guarantee Laughton plays in the middle, going to phase in to the other aspects of what we need to get into starting and even if he does, Grant was ahead of fellow center Nate Thompson Friday. So (it’s a) long answer, but don’t read too much right now into the on the depth chart. You can write the three into the Game 1 lineup in lines or the D-pairs.” pen.

Still, by Vigneault’s own admission, this is a meticulously planned camp. 5. Provorov and Niskanen will be the top pair How meticulous? Vigneault said in between the Tuesday sessions that practices would last 42 minutes, and when the players gathered at center They’ve been a duo since the sixth game of the season. Yeah, they’re ice for their post-practice stretch to conclude the 1:30 afternoon session, staying together. the clock at the far end of the rink showed that 41 minutes had passed That is what we know about the Flyers’ playoff lineup. Other aspects of since practice began. Presumably, the line combinations and pairings the lineup — such as the presence of useful bottom-sixers such as Aubé- were just as thought out. Kubel and Raffl, along with the probable reunion of Sanheim and Myers After all, it’s not like Vigneault and his staff pulled three pieces of paper on the second pair — can be reasonably predicted. But what are the big out of a bucket and happened to stumble upon a Giroux-Couturier- questions that will decide how Vigneault and his staff fill out the rest of Voracek line, one of the team’s most frequent first-line combinations the lineup? during the season. And it’s no coincidence the three “top” defensive pairs The big questions from the first three days of camp are exactly what the Flyers rolled with during their dominant February and March until Philippe Myers exited the 1. Who is the third-line center? lineup with an injury. The lines and pairings surely have some meaning. This is the big one, if only because it’s been the most obvious hole for the But with two weeks of camp, one exhibition game and three round-robin Flyers since Nolan Patrick’s status was first called into question in contests in which Vigneault has acknowledged he will tinker with September training camp. And Patrick isn’t coming back to save the day combinations and personnel groups before the playoffs begin, it’s in the playoffs, either. The Flyers need someone else to step up and certainly not fair to call it a “locked-in” lineup. Players on the outside solve the problem. looking in will have opportunities to force the coach’s hand, and don’t expect Vigneault to be wedded to any combinations that don’t click in There are two realistic candidates since it appears unlikely Vigneault will pre-playoff games. move Giroux back to center. Laughton took up the third-line center role intermittently throughout the season, and even though the organization That said, it’s possible to make educated guesses about which aspects seems to prefer him on the wing, he held his own in the middle. Then, of the lineup Vigneault and the coaches view as essentially set in stone there’s Grant, who functioned as the third-line center in the weeks leading up to the pause, scoring five points in seven games in the get his shot at redemption when Myers was injured in early March, but he process. ended up playing only one game — an impressive performance against the Boston Bruins — before the season was paused. During camp, both have been in the middle, with Laughton centering van Riemsdyk and Aubé-Kubel on what looks like a plausible third line, while With the benefit of four months of rest, Myers is ready to return to action. Grant has skated with Raffl and Pitlick. But this debate may go down to So where does that leave Gostisbehere, especially with Monday’s news the wire. that he underwent a second surgery (this time on the other knee) just seven weeks ago? 2. Who plays with Giroux and Couturier on the top line? To start camp, Gostisbehere appears to be on the outside looking in The Flyers are lucky enough to have two right wingers who can be again, skating on a pair with likely scratch Mark Friedman. But according expected to thrive on the top line with Giroux and Couturier. Voracek and to Vigneault, he’ll have an opportunity to make his case for a spot in the Konecny are first-line caliber players and neither would be a bad choice regular lineup. as the top-line right wing to start the postseason. Vigneault’s task is to determine which is the best good choice. “I’m happy that he was there from Day 1 (despite the surgery),” Vigneault said Tuesday. “We had talked with Shayne about how those first couple To start camp, Vigneault reunited the Giroux-Couturier-Voracek line, days won’t be like the first day of training camp. We’re going to work which feels like the chalk choice. Not only does the trio have long- everybody in. We’re not exactly sure where everybody’s been, what standing chemistry dating to the first half of 2017-18, but the Voracek- everybody’s done during the COVID(-19) period, that four months. I’m Hayes duo also didn’t quite click at five-on-five this season, as it was happy to see him on the ice. I’m very happy with what I’ve seen from him outscored 10-5. so far, and after today, we’re going to have 28 more days to make those If the aim is to balance out the lineup, Vigneault will likely lean toward decisions before that first game on Aug. 11.” Voracek on the top line. But if the goal is to stack Line 1 with as much Still, it’ll be an uphill battle. So far, the Flyers have rolled with their “chalk” talent as possible — don’t forget, Konecny led the Flyers in scoring this pairings — Provorov-Niskanen, Sanheim-Myers, Hägg-Braun — and season — then perhaps he leans toward Konecny as his choice. presumably Gostisbehere would have to knock out Hägg to earn a spot. 3. Who will be the sixth player in the top six? While Hägg is no advanced stat darling, he formed a passable third pair with Braun in the season’s second half. And don’t forget that Couturier and Hayes are the top two centers. Giroux is the top-line left Gostisbehere was far from the Gostisbehere of old in the regular season; wing. Voracek and Konecny will be on the right side in the top six, in even by advanced stats such as impact on expected goal differential, some order. But what about the left wing on Line 2? Gostisbehere graded out worse than the oft-maligned Hägg this season.

As with the third-line center, the Flyers have tried multiple players in that Gostisbehere’s plausible upside dwarfs that of Hägg. But to earn his way spot — one that Oskar Lindblom unfortunately vacated when he was into the lineup, he’ll have to make a convincing case that he’s poised to diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. The three most-frequently used avoid his worst-case-scenario downside. candidates: Farabee, Laughton and van Riemsdyk. What is the ‘best’ lineup? By the numbers, van Riemsdyk helped Hayes to the most territorial dominance, but the duo struggled a bit to turn all of that zone time into a We’ve laid out the lineup decisions Vigneault and his staff will have to goal advantage. Farabee is far from a finished product, but he held his make for the start of the playoffs. They’ll be taking into account numerous own with Hayes and his presence on Line 2 would in turn help to beef up factors — on-ice results, proprietary in-house analytics, perceived line the bottom six. As for Laughton, he showcased real chemistry with Hayes and pairing chemistry and in-depth information on the health and (and Konecny) on the second line to close out the season. But it’s conditioning of each player. But what decisions should they make? possible he provides more value to the team at center, since a lineup Let’s have some fun and use Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score Value with Laughton at wing likely means Thompson (not Grant or Laughton) is Added (GSVA) metric to see what a public statistical model might serving as the fourth-line center, pushing a talented winger out. recommend. To be clear, a player’s GSVA doesn’t necessarily reflect There aren’t any bad options, and it’s easy to imagine Vigneault’s mixing how he performed in the regular season — it attempts to estimate how and matching in this spot far into the playoffs, if the Flyers go on a run. he would be expected to perform in the future, taking into account past results, even further back than this most recent season. Each score is 4. Of the top 13 forwards on the (assumed) depth chart, who is the odd color-coded to signify the player’s league-wide quality as measured by man out? GSVA.

Decisions made further up the lineup could dictate the answer to this Unsurprisingly, this is a “play the hits” version of what a statistically question — specifically, Laughton’s place in the lineup. inclined fan might recommend. Van Riemsdyk in the top six. Morgan Frost is the fourth-line center. Gostisbehere is back in the lineup. There’s If Laughton remains at center for the start of the postseason, it’s hard to no sign of Hägg or Thompson anywhere. determine where Nate Thompson fits. Yes, he’s fully capable of playing wing, but not on one of the top three lines, and natural wingers like Of course, it’s also not a terribly realistic lineup. Vigneault, like pretty Pitlick, Raffl and Aubé-Kubel seemingly have a leg up on him for a much every coach, is unlikely to use a 21-year-old offensively oriented bottom-six spot. rookie who hasn’t established himself as a full-time NHL player as the fourth-line center in the playoffs. The Hägg-over-Gostisbehere decision But if Laughton moves back to wing — perhaps on Line 2 with Hayes — also feels like a bit of a stretch. So let’s use this as a springboard and then Philadelphia needs another center, and suddenly, Thompson is right make a few tweaks in the interest of projecting a lineup that feels back in the mix. Who sits in that case? The logical choice would be remotely plausible. Farabee, who was sent down to the minors in the immediate wake of the Grant and Thompson acquisitions because there was no nightly spot for Voracek jumps back up with Giroux and Couturier due to his relative him in the NHL in a lineup that included Thompson as the fourth-line struggles on the wing with Hayes. Farabee and van Riemsdyk flip-flop to center. give Line 3 more offensive and play-driving punch from the left side. Grant knocks Frost out of the fourth-line center spot, and as the top true- Is it possible to envision a lineup with Thompson and Farabee? Sure, but talent bottom-sixer left, Raffl moves into the lineup as the fourth-line left that involves one of Pitlick, Aubé-Kubel or Raffl taking a seat so Farabee wing to take his place. Even Hägg over Gostisbehere is justifiable to a could function in a bottom-six role, which doesn’t seem terribly likely. degree by the numbers; if Sanheim and Myers are designated as the 5. What is going to happen with Gostisbehere? second pair, Braun was far more successful with Hägg (68.77 goals-for percentage, 49.43 expected goals-for percentage) than Gostisbehere It’s no secret that Shayne Gostisbehere fell down the defensive depth (25.87 goals-for percentage, 46.05 expected-goals for percentage). chart in the second half of the season. Hmm, that lineup almost looks … exactly like the lineup the Flyers used It wasn’t all his fault. “Ghost” was a nightly lineup staple from December at camp for the first three days. Very interesting. into January before he underwent surgery on his ailing left knee. While he recovered, Hägg impressed the coaching staff enough to essentially The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 take Gostisbehere’s job, relegating him to the press box even after he was deemed good-to-go. Gostisbehere looked like he was finally going to 1188315 Pittsburgh Penguins Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2020

Kris Letang: A new NHL-NHLPA CBA is ‘what’s the best for the game’

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, July 15, 2020 8:33 p.m.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has seen things get ugly between the NHL and NHLPA.

He was among a group of Penguins players who worked out at the team’s former practice rink in Canonsburg for the better part of four months during fall 2012 while lawyers bickered over escrow and the definition of “hockey related revenue.”

That lockout, which delayed the the start of the 2012-13 season, even prompted Letang to briefly sign with SKA St. Petersburg of Russia’s KHL before returning to North America.

So the significance of the NHL and NHLPA agreeing to a four-year extension of the current collective bargaining agreement during a pandemic isn’t lost on Letang, the team’s current representative to the NHLPA.

“When you look this situation, both sides need to really look at what’s the best for the game and at the same time, keep both sides happy,” Letang said during a video conference call with reporters. “There’s compromise on both sides with the uncertainties coming ahead of us. With the negotiations, escrow and everything around it, we finally agreed on some numbers. But the main goal was to make sure we grow our game and make sure the game of hockey is going in the right direction.”

While MLB’s negotiations with the MLBPA to salvage the 2020 season got flat out ugly, the NHL and NHLPA seemingly worked in harmony to figure out a way to complete the 2019-20 campaign.

“This is all uncharted territory on both sides,” said veteran forward , who endured the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season as well as the 2012-13 stoppage. “From what I understand, negotiations went fairly well with both sides. We’re glad to have that deal done and ready to get back out on the ice.”

Added Letang: “The main goal was to what is right for our game and make sure we keep growing the NHL. Hockey has a long way to go in the world of sports, of major sports. The best thing to do was to work together and agree on something that will help us continue to grow the game.”

Schultz’s future

The CBA extension calls for the NHL’s salary cap to remain flat at $81.5 million going into next season. While that’s probably not ideal for any pending restricted free agents, it could have been a lot worse considering the NHL is bound to lose money from lost ticket revenue as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

As recently as March 4 — a little more than a week before the NHL went into stasis March 12 — deputy commissioner Bill Daly suggested the cap could have gone up to $88.5 million for the 2020-21 season.

Regardless, a player such as Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz, who is in the final year of his contract, has an idea of what the economic landscape will look like once he becomes a free agent in the offseason.

Not that he’s looking that far ahead just yet.

“You definitely think about it,” Schultz said. “Obviously, it’s my future. But I’m just coming here just trying to help this team win a Stanley Cup (title). If I do that and I play well, that will all take care of itself.”

Schultz, 30, is in the final year of a contract with a salary cap hit of $5.5 million. As a right-handed shot, he figures to be in demand, even after a difficult 2019-20 regular season in which injuries limited him to 46 games and 12 points (three goals, nine assists).

He realizes a strong playoff could help make up for a rough regular season.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Schultz said. “We’ve got a great chance here to win a Stanley Cup (title). That’s the main priority.” 1188316 Pittsburgh Penguins Injuries ate into that depth throughout the regular season, but perhaps no area felt it more directly than the power play. Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel missed considerable portions of the season because of various injuries. Penguins’ power play remains a focus in run-up to NHL postseason tournament Even when most of those components were in place, the unit sputtered far too often. Regardless, the Penguins remain confident they have the ingredients to be a dangerous power play.

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, July 15, 2020 7:54 p.m. “The one thing that the injuries forced us to do was use a lot of people, so it was hard to establish a level of consistency,” Sullivan said. “But

having said that, we feel like we have capable people regardless of who Theory has it in the summer of 1606, William Shakespeare — the we utilized on the power play. There were stretches where the power playwright, not the former Steelers draft pick — penned one of the most play was really good. There were other stretches where we went through important pieces of literature in history, the tragedy “King Lear,” while in a bit of a struggle. But we believe in the group that we have.” quarantine because of the bubonic plague. Added Schultz: “It’s a fresh (start) now. Basically, it’s like a new year. Suffice it to say, he maximized his abundance of free time. Hopefully, we can get off to a quick start, and the power play stays hot.”

In the summer of 2020, Mike Sullivan also has been been trying to make Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2020 good during his own lockdown.

While his work is far less profound than the Bard’s, Sullivan has been toiling over the past four months during the NHL’s coronavirus pause. He is trying to ensure the Penguins will be a better team entering the league’s postseason tournament than it was while it mostly stumbled down the final weeks of the regular season before it was halted in mid- March.

That is to say, nothing would come from nothing had the Penguins not regularly held video meetings with coaches and staff focusing on details big and small while quarantined in their homes the past four months.

The power play was an area that consumed a lot of attention during that time. It mostly bumbled through the regular season with a conversion rate of 19.9%, 16th best in the 31-team NHL.

Players viewed a lot of video of the man advantage the past four months.

“It gave us an opportunity in a different form to allow them to put their coaches’ hats on a little bit and problem solve rather than the coaches giving them suggestions or answers on how to improve and get better,” Sullivan said during a video chat with reporters. “They had an opportunity to analyze themselves and solve those problems and discuss amongst themselves based on their observations.

“One of the questions that we posed to them was, ‘What does the power play look like when we’re at our best and when we’re firing on all cylinders, and what might be absent in circumstances when we’re not at our best?’ “

On Wednesday, during the third day of their training camp in preparation for the NHL’s postseason tournament later this summer, the Penguins worked on the power play on the ice for the first time.

The top unit involved forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Jared McCann (presumably in place of net-front forward Patric Hornqvist, absent for undisclosed reasons). Defensemen Kris Letang and Justin Schultz alternated between the first and second units.

The second unit comprised forwards Patrick Marleau, Bryan Rust, Jason Zucker and defenseman John Marino.

Alternating Letang and Schultz is nothing new. By the time the regular season halted in March, Schultz was manning the point on the top unit.

“(Schultz and Letang are) guys that have good offensive instincts,” Sullivan said. “They’re both capable of being No. 1 quarterbacks on No. 1 units. And we practiced both of them up there because a lot of times circumstances in the game itself (are) going to dictate which guy we use.

“We use (Letang), for example, in a lot of situations. We try to manage his minutes as best we can. There might be circumstances where he’s tired or he’s coming off a penalty kill or coming off a shift. So we try to share that responsibility with those two guys because they’re both very capable, and they’re both really good at it. They’re similar in the sense that they have very good offensive instincts. They both like to shoot the puck.

“The differences, I think (Schultz) is a little bit more of a shoot-first mentality. (Letang) looks to dish the puck a little bit more often. But both of them are very capable. They have good instincts. They see it pretty well. Once again, we’re fortunate to have the depth that we have there.” 1188317 Pittsburgh Penguins During the 2015 offseason, Martin joined the Sharks as a free agent and immediately found a role on the top pairing with All-Star defenseman Brent Burns. Martin appeared in 78 games and recorded 20 points as the Sharks reached the franchise’s first and still only Stanley Cup Final, Double Team: Bob Errey helped turn around the Penguins and Sharks losing to the Penguins.

Martin spent two more seasons in San Jose, helping Burns win the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defnseman in 2017, SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, July 15, 2020 4:08 p.m. before retiring in 2018.

3. Doug Bodger, defenseman While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Bodger’s time with the Sharks was not the high point of his steady the Tribune-Review will offer the Double Team project, an examination of career, but he inhabited a key role in San Jose as a veteran mentor to a the five best players who have contributed substantially to the Penguins mostly younger blue line for parts of three seasons. and another franchise. For consideration, a player must have played at least the equivalent of a full season for each franchise. (Sorry, Jarome The Sharks actually paid a heavy price to acquired Bodger from the Iginla fans.) Sabres via trade in November of 1995, sending a handful of middling prospects and two draft picks, including a first-rounder, to Buffalo. Today, a look at the San Jose Sharks. Founded in 1991, the expansion franchise was named in part due to the significant shark population in the Bodger had two solid seasons with the Sharks but failed to reach the Bay Area. postseason. In 1995-96, he appeared in 57 games and put up 23 points.

In 43 all-time games against the Sharks, the Penguins have a 17-18-8 In 1996-97, he played in 81 games and netted 16 points. By December of record. 1997, Bodger was traded again to the New Jersey Devils.

1. Bob Errey, left winger More than a decade earlier, Bodger was seen as the future of the Penguins. Along with Lemieux and Roger Belanger, Bodger was one of The Penguins’ first-round pick in 1983, Errey didn’t turn the franchise three first-round picks for the team in 1984. around. The guy they drafted in the first round the following year did that. Bodger was solid but hardly spectacular in Pittsburgh. Often But Errey was a major component in helping franchise icon Mario overshadowed by the likes of defensemen Paul Coffey or Moe Mantha Lemieux transform the Penguins from losers to champions beginning in Jr., Bodger was a steady offensive producer. In parts of five seasons, he the mid-1980s. played in 299 career games with the Penguins and put up 167 points (35 One of the top defensive forwards in franchise history, Errey established goals, 132 assists). himself as a full-time NHLer in 1986-87 by appearing in 72 games and In November of 1988, Bodger was traded to the Sabres as part of the putting up 34 points. deal that netted franchise goaltender Tom Barrasso. After being hobbled for most of 1987-88 due to injuries, Errey rebounded 4. Marty McSorley, defensemen in 1988-89 by setting career-highs with 26 goals and 58 points while helping the Penguins reach the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Most hockey fans remember McSorley primarily for his days with the Los Angeles Kings or as a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams Errey had two more 20-goal seasons with the Penguins, including a with the Edmonton Oilers. 1990-91 campaign that ended with the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. A year later, Errey and the His time with the Penguins was fleeting, even if he produced a handful of Penguins were repeat champions. memorable moments in Pittsburgh.

At the 1993 trade deadline, Errey was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres. Undrafted, McSorley was signed as a free agent in 1982 and made his Following a brief stay in Western New York, he joined the two-year-old NHL debut with the wretched 1983-84 Penguins, largely doing what Sharks as a free agent and was immediately installed as the franchise’s became his signature attribute as an NHLer. That’s to say he fought, a second captain. Errey appeared in 64 games and put up 30 points. lot. In 72 games, he racked up 224 penalty minutes, setting a franchise Under his tutelage, the Sharks made one of the largest turnarounds in rookie record. NHL history, improving by 58 points and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time. After spending most of 1984-84 with the Baltimore Skipjacks of the , McSorley was traded to the Oilers in As the No. 8 seed, the Sharks staged one of the biggest upset in league September of 1985. history by knocking off the top-seeded Red Wings in the Western Conference quarterfinal round. In the semifinal round, they nearly upset McSorley’s orbit brought him back to Pittsburgh by August of 1993 when the Toronto Maple Leafs as well but lost in seven games. the Kings dealt him to the Penguins. He lasted 47 games and recorded 139 penalty minutes — including five from a memorable fight with Early in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, Errey was claimed on legendary Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert on Feb. 4, 1994 — before he by the Red Wings. was dealt back to the Kings on Feb. 16.

2. Paul Martin, defenseman In August of 1996, the Sharks acquired McSorley via trade from the New York Rangers. By this point, McSorley’s solid offensive game had After failing to re-sign All-Star defenseman Sergei Gonchar in the days abandoned him, but he still could fight and in 57 games during the 1996- leading to the start of free agency during the summer of 2010, Penguins 97 season, he racked up 186 penalty minutes. general manager Ray Shero broke the bank to sign Martin to a five-year contract worth $25 million. He followed that up in 1997-98 with 56 games and 140 penalty minutes.

Martin looked like he was well worth it during his first season in Prior to the 1998-99 season, he rejoined the Oilers as a free agent. Pittsburgh of 2010-11 as he played in 77 games and recorded 24 points while primarily playing with Zybnek Michalek on a defensive pairing that 5. Tyler Kennedy, center routinely saw matchups against the opposition’s top line. Kennedy’s time in San Jose was largely disappointing, but the options Things fell apart for Martin and Michalek, who each struggled badly in are limited here. 2011-12, and Michalek was dealt away. Martin remained and leveled off The Sharks acquired him from the Penguins during the 2013 offseason. his game. During the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Martin was The hope was his acumen as a postseason producer could aid a talented teamed primarily with Brooks Orpik and enjoyed his most potent offense team which usually struggled in the spring. season, putting up 23 points in 34 games and helping the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference final. Alas, it was not to be as Kennedy, who produced only 17 points in 67 games during the regular season, was a healthy scratch during the Martin struggled with injuries in 2013-14, playing in only 39 games, then Sharks’ 2014 playoff appearance which lasted only six games. rebounded in 2014-15. Primarily serving as a partner to Kris Letang, Martin played in 74 games and netted 20 points. The following season, he appeared in only 25 games before being traded to the New York Islanders in March of 2015.

Kennedy’s best days were clearly in Pittsburgh. A fourth-round pick in 2004, he debuted in 2007-08, finding a fit on the team’s third line and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Red Wings.

The following season, Kennedy appeared in 67 games and put up 35 points, including 15 goals. That postseason, Kennedy appeared in all 24 games and recorded nine points, including a league-leading three game- winning goals, as the Penguins claimed the franchise’s third Stanley Cup title.

Kennedy’s best individual season came in 2010-11 when he played in 80 games and set career highs with 21 goals and 45 points.

Honorable mention: Matt Bradley, right winger; Wayne Primeau, center; Neil Wilkinson, defenseman.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188318 Pittsburgh Penguins Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2020

Mark Madden: NHL’s return plan has sound foundation, but things will still get weird

MARK MADDEN | Wednesday, July 15, 2020 12:18 p.m.

When the NHL resumes, it’s going to be weird. Can’t help but be.

As Kris Letang mentioned on my radio program, it’s the first time he has spent the summer in Pittsburgh. It’s the first time the Stanley Cup playoffs will start Aug. 1.

When players are unavailable, they will be uniformly referred to as “unfit to play.” Some will have covid-19. We can speculate, but won’t know unless they say so.

Toronto center Auston Matthews said so, but he’s OK now. A website called Matthews the “poster boy” for covid in the NHL, whatever that means. Matthews’ paycheck this year was supposed to be $15.9 million. He got most of it. A telethon isn’t required.

Monday was the NHL’s deadline to opt out of playing. Calgary defenseman Travis Hamonic is the biggest name who won’t play. That means no big names won’t play.

The NHL’s plan has the sensible foundation of having its bubbles in Canada, specifically Toronto and Edmonton, and even more sensibly, not in the United States. Instagram models can’t get across the border and must settle for storming the NBA’s bubble.

The NHL’s plan also has the absolute insanity of not putting players in quarantine during training camp. The Penguins celebrated that dumbness with a bang when nine players missed the first three days of training camp because of potential secondary exposure. (They were “unfit to play.” There’s going to be a lot of that going around.)

The only one of those nine players who figures to be in the lineup Aug. 1 vs. Montreal is Patric Hornqvist. The virus must only attack inferior talent. (No offense, Horny.) There must have been a big covid party in Wilkes- Barre shortly before camp.

Not only is the NHL not quarantining players before the bubble, but when the conference finals are reached and the Eastern Conference survivors vacate Toronto for Edmonton, families can join the players still involved. (Not sure what the policy will be for Instagram models.)

At that point, the bubble will be established, and the end will be in sight — so the NHL will inexplicably break the bubble.

Sure, the players would like to see their families. But when they leave for their respective bubbles, they will have had over four uninterrupted months with their wives and kids. Now it’s time to work, and completing the job will require walking a tightrope off the ice.

But it’s all about family. St. Louis captain Alex Pietrangelo leaves behind his 2-year-old triplets, regrettably not named Barclay, Bob and Billy. Said Columbus captain Nick Foligno, “The promise I made to my kids is I’m going to come home with the Cup.” Imagine telling your children a bold- faced lie, then leaving. (Daddy won’t be gone long.)

Will this work? Can the NHL pull it off?

The chances would be a lot better if the players were quarantined during camp, and if the bubble was maintained to the conclusion of play.

But NHL players should be more responsible than, say, NBA players, three of whom broke that league’s bubble in Orlando right away because, well, they just plumb forgot. (Have you seen anybody else “forget”? Call the NBA’s snitch hotline!)

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is reportedly holding his teammates accountable for dodging the ’rona, which is why only nine of them missed the first three practices. Roll over, , and tell Gen. George S. Patton the news.

Penguins fans should hope for the best, because if there’s a takeaway from camp’s early days, it’s that Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are flying. When you’re supremely talented, in your 30s and you can start the playoffs fresh as a daisy, that translates to blood in the water. 1188319 Pittsburgh Penguins

A look at how Toronto ‘hockey bubble’ will be set up for Penguins

TIM BENZ | Wednesday, July 15, 2020 6:01 a.m

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As the Penguins get ready for existence inside the Toronto hockey hub, we tracked down a guy who could paint a picture for us of what the surroundings will be like for the team.

Mike Zeisberger joins us for Wednesday’s podcast. He’s based out of Toronto and writes for NHL.com.

According to Zeisberger, Toronto wasn’t really in the running to be a host city for much of the process until they submitted a second bid.

That second proposal got the players away from downtown and Scotiabank Arena where the games will be played and into an area of the city that was more barricaded from the outside world. It also gave the players more space in the bubble itself.

Via “The Score,” the hub “will be a ‘40-acre campus-like bubble’ that would grant players access to facilities including BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum (home of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies), the Toronto Raptors’ practice facility, and Hotel X, which has 400 rooms.”

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun also said that food trucks and an outdoor movie theater would be set up.

“Right along the lake, four miles from Scotiabank Arena — if that — is a place called the Canadian National Exhibition (grounds). It’s where the Blue Jays used to play at Exhibition Stadium. It’s now where Toronto Football Club (MLS soccer) plays,” Zeisberger explains. “You can cordon that off to the public, this huge area. The hotel is there. The practice rink — where the Marlies play — is there. They’ll set stuff up on the ground where the players can go out to barbecue, or things like that. There’s enough space.”

Zeisberger says there are only a few roads into the area, and one of them requires you to enter through something called the Princes’ Gates, an ornate stone structure. That’ll help keep fans and media away.

“In Pittsburgh, if you were to go from the (Rivers) Casino to north of PNC Park, something about that size,” Zeisberger explains in local terms for us. “It’s easy to keep people out. And there’s no reason for them to be there aside from (the hub itself).”

Zeisberger says the proximity of the Coca-Cola Colosseum for practices was also a big deal in the NHL’s eyes. Plus, there are many large exhibition halls and places to house sports and garden shows.

So perhaps the prospect exists to do some things socially distanced in wide spaces such as those.

During our conversation, Zeisberger gives us a full sense of what life will be like for the players as they spend their time in Toronto. We get into shifting out to Edmonton for the conference finals. Also, he tells us how the Maples Leafs will — or will not — have a sense of home ice advantage. And we talk about the state of the battle against covid-19 in all of Canada.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188320 Pittsburgh Penguins Had the vote been taken on Feb. 18, Sullivan might have not only been one of the three finalists, it would have been hard to argue he shouldn’t have been the outright winner. The Penguins, after posting the NHL’s best record during the first six weeks without the NHL’s best player 'Best coach in the game:' Jim Rutherford surprised Mike Sullivan not a (Crosby), had surged into first place in the Metro Division. Jack Adams finalist Then, things came unglued. The Penguins had lost eight of their last 11 games before the NHL paused its season. It was a significant slump that was surely a factor for voters. Mike DeFabo But there are also holes in the other candidates’ cases. Tortorella’s Blue

Jackets may have not even made the postseason had it not been When the NHL Broadcasters Association revealed its three finalists for expanded, as they were right on the fringe when the season was paused. the Jack Adams Awards, there were many in Western Pennsylvania who Boston had the best record, but why doesn’t Bill Belichick win coach of were surprised that Mike Sullivan's name wasn't on the list. Count the year every year in the NFL? And the Flyers were hot, but until a week Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford among them. before the pause, the Penguins were still ahead of them in the standings.

“My congratulations to the three finalists,” Rutherford told the Post- In the end, it’s an individual award in a team sport. While it’s a good topic Gazette. “They all did an exceptional job this year.” to fill space in the newspaper or eardrums on talk radio, the Penguins will continue to focus on another trophy — you know, the one you can drink But… out of.

“I feel very strongly that Mike should have been one of the finalists,” “At the end of the day, he’s got a couple of Stanley Cups in a short period Rutherford continued. “Even more so when you look at the of time,” Rutherford said. “In my opinion, he’s the best coach in the game circumstances this year, the key players that were out of the lineup and today.” the adjustments that he had to make. He still went on to have a winning percentage of over .600. It was a very impressive job that he did.” Post Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2020

Give credit where credit is due. The three finalists — Bruce Cassidy (Boston), John Tortorella (Columbus) and Alain Vigneault (Philadelphia) — are all deserving in their own right.

Cassidy, a finalist for the second time since 2017-18, coached the Bruins to the best record in the NHL (44-14-12). Vigneault helped the Flyers become arguably the hottest team before the pause, winning nine in a row from Feb. 18 to March 7. Both those clubs will be guaranteed a spot in the round of 16, finishing with the first and fourth-best records, respectively, in the Eastern Conference.

As for Tortorella, no one expected much out of Columbus, considering they lost Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky and others in the offseason. Then, they lost even more players to injury, including forward Cam Atkinson, defensemen Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, and All-Star goalie Joonas Korpisalo. But Tortorella has them in the qualifying round.

“I have so much respect for the fraternity of coaches that work so hard to try to help their team accomplish the ultimate goal,” Sullivan said. “These guys are very deserving. They’ve done a tremendous job with their respective teams.”

All good candidates. All good cases.

But Sullivan — who led the Penguins to a 40-23-6 record, best of any team playing in the qualifying round — has one, too.

Rutherford noted that when it comes to individual awards, sometimes Sullivan can get overlooked because, well, these are the Penguins we're talking about. Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin. Kris Letang. Jake Guentzel. When they're at the top of the standings, good, that's what's supposed to happen. When they aren't? That's when coaches get canned.

Sometimes these expectations work against Sullivan for individual awards.

“You go back to ’16,” Rutherford said. “We wouldn’t have won the Cup if he hadn’t come in and done the coaching job that he did. It’s another year that he probably could have won it.”

That’s why this year could have been different. For a huge chunk of the season, the Penguins didn’t have Sid or Geno or Letang or Hornqvist ... the list goes on.

In total, they lost 298-man games to injury, third most in the league, including Brian Dumoulin (41 games), Guentzel (30), Crosby (28), Hornqvist (17), Malkin (14), Bryan Rust (14), John Marino (13), Justin Schultz (13), Zach Aston-Reese (12) and Letang (8).

Those stats are painful just to read. But they don’’t even fully encapsulate the situation. There were points this year, with so many stars missing, the Penguins looked more like the Wilkes-Barre/Pittsburgh Penguins.

Remember when defenseman Juuso Riikola played forward? Or when Guentzel slid to center for the first time in years? Or how Joseph Blandisi became a household name? 1188321 Pittsburgh Penguins really worry about it much. We have training camp here and playoffs to worry about.”

Marino scored six goals with 20 assists in 56 games, and among NHL Penguins get to work on power play in Day 3 of camp rookies his plus-17 rating ranked second to only New York Rangers blue liner Adam Fox.

The league also announced finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to Matt Vensel the coach of the year. They are the Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella, the Flyers’ Alain Vigneault and Boston’s Bruce Cassidy.

Dangling the dogs Mike Sullivan has had four months to ponder possible reasons why his power play never hit a groove, putting the Penguins smack in the middle spent much of the pandemic pause at his 60-acre barley of the pack. farm outside Edmonton. He was joined there by his girlfriend and two English mastiffs. So, Coach, what did yinz come up with? “As goalies, we didn’t really have anybody to shoot on us,” he said. “So I “It’s hard to identify any one particular thing,” he said Wednesday. “The was just kind of playing catch with my girlfriend at home and playing with one thing injuries forced us to do was use a lot of people, so it was hard my dogs.” to establish a level of consistency. But, having said that, we feel like we have capable people.” He did say he was able to work on his stickhandling — one of his biggest strengths as a goalie — by dangling around his two gigantic dogs, Diesel Which five people Sullivan would turn to first was a topic with much and Kitty. intrigue over the past few weeks among media and the fan base. We finally got that answer Wednesday, when the Penguins practiced special “I actually bought a hockey net at home and I was just playing a lot of teams for the first time since training camp started Monday. But it should street hockey with my goalie stick,” he said. “That was something that I come with an asterisk. did almost every day, just take the dogs downstairs and play street hockey with them.” Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were three of the five working on the top unit, though Justin Schultz did sub in for Letang for a As for the goalie situation here in Pittsburgh and his role for the playoffs, little bit at the point. Jake Guentzel, a 40-goal scorer back on the ice after Jarry said Sullivan and the coaching staff have not yet discussed that major shoulder surgery, was predictably another, hovering along with with him. Crosby outside the blue paint. ‘I’d like to stay here’ But the final guy in the quintet Wednesday was a surprise: Jared McCann. In part due to a pair of stints on injured reserve, 2019-20 was a down season for Schultz, who had a team-worst minus-13 rating and just three Now, that could have just been because Patric Hornqvist sat out a third goals and 12 points in 46 games. But the pending free agent believes his straight practice after he and other players potentially had secondary health is at 100% and hopes to prove his value to the Penguins and other exposure to a person with COVID-19. Hornqvist will at least have a part- teams in these playoffs. time role on the top unit. But it was interesting McCann got the nod over Bryan Rust and Jason Zucker in the left circle. “It’s a great opportunity for me. We’ve got a great chance here to win a Stanley Cup. That’s the main priority,” the blue liner said. “And [it’s a McCann did not score in any of the 22 games before the season was chance to] play well for myself. Obviously, I’d like to stay here. So go out suspended March 12 due to the pandemic. But like Alex Galchenyuk, and win the Stanley Cup.” who saw time in the left circle early in the season, McCann can snap a pretty filthy wrist shot. Post Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2020

Sullivan has a couple of weeks to tinker before the Penguins start playing games. He probably will. This season, they had four stretches of at least four games without a power-play goal and at one point nearly had the longest slump in franchise history.

Sullivan said he thinks the time away will help the power play get going. Beyond a mental reset, it gave players a lot of time to dissect video over WebEx.

Sullivan said, “It gave us an opportunity in a different forum to allow them to put their coach’s hat on a little bit and problem solve, rather than the coaches giving them suggestions or answers, if you will, on how to improve and get better.”

He didn’t go into specifics on what they came up with, but he expressed confidence that the power play will be “a difference-maker for us moving forward.”

No Calder for Marino

The NHL on Wednesday announced the finalists for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the league’s top rookie. Defenseman John Marino was not among them.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar were the three rookies selected via voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The Calder will likely go to Hughes or Makar, who put up impressive point totals while playing significant minutes for playoff teams. They had 53 and 50 points, respectively. Kubalik, a winger, had 46 points, but 30 of them were goals.

“Obviously, they’re incredible players and well-deserving of the award for sure, each and every single one of them,” Marino, 23, said. “You don’t 1188322 Pittsburgh Penguins So, the framework is in place. The Penguins will rely heavily on Crosby and Malkin for offense, as they always do. What they need from their third-line center is a strong penalty killing effort, good two-way play and about one goal per series. The Penguins need the best version of Jared McCann to win the Stanley Cup McCann has all the physical attributes. The Penguins acquired him to be No. 3 center, after all. And while they like that he can produce on the left wing, they want him to drive play down the middle.

By Josh Yohe Jul 15, 2020 He is slated to skate with Patrick Marleau and Patric Hornqvist on the third line. They’ve never played together but McCann and Marleau are

already communicating regularly during training camp this week, learning The Penguins need their stars to perform at a high level when the from each other on the fly. playoffs begin. This isn’t news. “Jared is going to do a really good job,” Sullivan said. “He’s very History tells us, however, that one player who isn’t a star must excel. comfortable there. It’s his natural position. He’s played a lot of really good hockey for us, specifically when he’s played at the center-ice position. So His name is Jared McCann. I think Jared is going to be fine.”

“Sure, we will need him to play well,” Jim Rutherford said. “And we have Ten practice observations from Day 3 of camp full confidence that he will.” • The Penguins worked on the power play somewhat extensively for the Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin played spectacular hockey during the first time during training camp. There was a surprise member on the top Stanley Cup runs of 2009, ’16 and ’17. They were supported, however, group, although his presence could be temporary. by generally outstanding — bordering on dominant — play from the third- line center during those seasons. McCann operated on the top unit with Crosby, Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang. In 2009, it was . In the two most recent championships, it was Nick Bonino. Malkin was in his customary spot on the right-wing wall while Crosby primarily played close to the goal line, which has become his typical spot “We all know how important that position is and we have a belief that during the Sullivan era. Guentzel played in front of the net while Letang Jared will get the job done,” Rutherford said. “We got him for a reason, was at the center point. and he’s played very well with the Penguins.” Then, there was McCann. He played on the left side of the ice along the For the most part, this is undeniable. wall but moved around liberally. In watching the power play, it was clear Sullivan remains in an experimental phase, which makes sense, given However, McCann is entering this postseason in a funk, if the conclusion how early it is in camp and given that Patric Hornqvist hasn’t yet been of the regular season means anything since it ended four months ago. permitted to practice with the team. In McCann’s most recent 22 games, he hasn’t scored a goal. He was a When everyone is given the green light to practice, I imagine the smart minus-9 during that stretch. The 24-year-old, however, doesn’t seem money will be on Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Guentzel and Hornqvist playing especially concerned. He has a positive energy about him in general and on the top unit. The question essentially becomes, who plays on the left his attitude toward his late-season funk showcases as much. side? It won’t be Hornqvist, whose only position on the power play will be “I went into the (stoppage) knowing I hadn’t scored in a while,” McCann in front of the goaltender. Few in his generation do it better. said. “But I went home, shot some pucks and just kind of hit reset. I’m not It won’t be Letang, who will run the unit from the point. the type of guy to kind of dwell on something like that.” So, that leaves Crosby, Malkin or Guentzel to play on the relatively There have been two versions of McCann during his time with the unfamiliar left side. All are capable, but all would be removed from an Penguins. The previous 22 games saw him struggle and look unsure of area of strength. Malkin’s one-timer from the right circle remains a great himself, his defensive game slipping a hair when his offense went dry. weapon. Crosby might be the best player in hockey history around the “That happens,” Rutherford said. “It’s not uncommon, especially for a goal line. Guentzel, for all of his considerable attributes, isn’t a perimeter young player.” player and does the majority of his damage down low.

McCann became something of a sensation after he was acquired from But if this is the configuration, then the Penguins will have to make an Florida during the 2018-19 season. For two seasons, McCann’s interesting decision. Penguins’ career began with an undeniable surge, as the former first- They have tinkered in the past with McCann on the power for two round pick seemed to realize his potential. reasons: They love his shot, and he brings a somewhat reliable McCann scored 20 goals in his first 54 games with the Penguins, defensive mindset to the power play, something that’s been a problem for amassing an outrageous plus-24 total during that stretch. He was scoring this unit, particularly during the 2018-19 season. goals and had immediately become a player Mike Sullivan trusted in • The second unit was composed of Justin Schultz, Jason Zucker, Bryan defensive situations, something that screams third-line center. Rust, Patrick Marleau and Conor Sheary. So, who is the real McCann? It’s not easy playing on the second power-play unit for the Penguins, as “I think he’s a really good player and I think you’ll see him bounce back,” the top unit typically hogs much of the ice time. Still, that’s about as much Rutherford said. talent as I can recall the Penguins’ second unit showcasing. Lots of capable players in that group. The Penguins had better hope so. • Funny thing. The second unit wasn’t having much success — neither Consider, in their last three championship runs: unit was, which is pretty ordinary for the early days of training camp — • In 2009, Staal scored four goals in the Stanley Cup run, including the and then Sullivan added a player or two into the mix. series-turning goal in the Cup Final against Detroit. He was also a A moment later, John Marino buried a wrist shot past Tristan Jarry for a menacing defensive and penalty-killing stalwart. goal.

• In 2016, Bonino centered the “HBK” line and finished with four goals, 18 I bring this up because it happened, but also, I bring it up because points and two game-winning goals, including the overtime classic to Marino looks different shooting the puck this camp. It’s a confidence thing finish the Capitals in Game 6. He was a plus-9 that spring. more than anything else, I suppose. He just looks more poised shooting • In 2017, before breaking his leg against Nashville, Bonino again scored the puck and has been beating Jarry and Matt Murray with regularity four times, including a game-winner in Game 1 against Washington. He during drills. I don’t know that he’ll ever be a huge goal scorer, but I feel was again one of the Penguins’ best penalty killers during that time. strongly that he will be a double-digit guy for his career. He’s just so smart. He knows when to jump into plays, and he’s got a deceptive, accurate shot. As I noted yesterday, Marino’s camp has been nothing short of sensational in the first three days. Everything he does is right. Rutherford mentioned last week that Marino might be even better in these playoffs than he was during his sublime rookie season as this is essentially another season because of the four-month layoff.

Early indications are that Marino is playing at a high level.

• Malkin continues to be a marvel to watch during the early days of camp. He’s skating in full flight and looks powerful.

During a two-on-two drill, he played keep-away from Justin Schultz by twice showcasing a spin-o-rama move around the defenseman. Schultz actually played it pretty well and prevented Malkin from getting off a good look against Jarry. It should also be noted that Schultz had a grin on his face by the conclusion of the drill because of the display Malkin had just produced.

• There is something to be said for studying body language, and Guentzel’s has been outstanding. Watching him daily is presenting compelling evidence that he feels 100 percent, which is what he says.

Guentzel has had a grin on his face pretty consistently during camp. Also, perhaps even more importantly, he looks excellent. Guentzel is shooting the puck with authority, which is always a concern following a shoulder injury. There appears to be zero concern with him, as he’s absorbing and dishing out contact while looking strong in doing so.

It’s still early in his return to regular action, but all signs are good for Guentzel.

• Matt Murray didn’t look very sharp in the early portions of Wednesday’s workout, getting beaten badly on the glove side on a couple of occasions, notably on a Malkin blast. However, I thought Murray started to look a bit sharper as the practice endured.

This was the first day where the goaltenders were given a bit of a showcase. Murray’s glove is always going to be a concern. It didn’t look great in the early going, but it’s merely one practice. You could see him getting more comfortable throughout.

• Jarry was fine. He didn’t look quite as sharp as the day before, but in general, he appears to be pretty comfortable during the first week of camp. I suspect Murray will be named the starter for Game 1 against the Canadiens, but I also suspect the leash will be shorter than usual on him.

• The first 15 minutes of practice saw the Penguins pump music into the building. There isn’t any official word on what the NHL will be doing to replicate crowd noise, but the coaching staff is preparing the Penguins for all options.

Or, perhaps Sullivan wanted to listen to music during practice. Probably not.

• There is still no sign of Hornqvist or the other eight Penguins who aren’t yet allowed to practice because of contact with someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19.

• Thursday will be an off day for the Penguins. They’ll be back to practice Friday morning. I’ll be here on Friday to offer more observations from Day 4 of camp.

So far, so good for the Penguins. There is no sign of an injury through three days of camp, and Sullivan has been pleased with what he’s seen. The practices have looked sharp. Excellent tempo. Everyone appears to be taking the opportunity that’s coming later this summer quite seriously.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188323 Pittsburgh Penguins “Everybody’s excited,” he said. “It’s a tough situation for everyone. Nobody’s really been through this.”

For the next seven minutes, he answered questions about the benefits of As the NHL bubble approaches, don’t forget: Sweden is a cautionary tale bouncing questions off Kris Letang and what it’s like playing with John Marino and the presence of Patrick Marleau. We were back to working out of bucket No. 1.

By Sean Gentille Jul 15, 2020 (And this is where I’m obligated to say just how important the Pettersson- Marino pair is to the Penguins’ upcoming road to … whatever. It’s been a

while since you’ve seen him play, so here’s a refresher from coach Mike There’s comfort in routine. That’s true for us all — even those asking and Sullivan. “Marcus is a guy that uses his reach and his mobility to his answering questions after hockey camp, Pandemic Edition. advantage. He’s hard to play against by nature of that reach, and he utilizes it extremely well.” Sounds about right. There you go.) Here’s how it works; the Penguins get off the ice. The media joins a WebEx call, on which some of us manage to successfully work the mute In any case, Pettersson and his teammates will soon switch things up button. Then, one by one by one, we ask questions that generally drop one more time. In 12 days — and again, cross those fingers, because into two buckets. There are ones about hockey, and then there are ones we’re too far gone now to do anything else — he’ll be playing hockey, about public health, or at least as the concept relates to the weirdest taking more tests and trying to win the trophy he and his teammates set version of the Stanley Cup playoffs any of us will ever see. out for 10 months ago. He (and Hornqvist, if everything goes according to plan) will be in the Toronto bubble, safer by orders of magnitude than For the vast majority of the Penguins, the situation is similar. They’ve they could’ve dreamt of being in Sharpsburg or Skellefteå, but still away stayed local, or at least in North America, and they’ve been working out from their families, still at risk. in Pittsburgh for some time. The thing about a bubble? It usually pops. For Marcus Pettersson, one of two Penguins (along with Patric Hornqvist) who returned to Sweden post-NHL shutdown, things on the And either way, whether six days later or 65, they’ll have to leave it — a COVID-19 front are a little different. Pettersson spent all of May, temporary alternative to the real world, not a replacement. The Stanley including his 24th birthday, and a large chunk of June in a country with Cup playoffs are a welcome distraction, and the pandemic will proceed in the seventh-highest death-to-population rate on the planet. The United parallel. And not just in North America. Routines are nice, but reality States is ninth. doesn’t bend.

This wasn’t escaping to , or taking the calculated risk to head for The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 Minnesota, or bunkering down in Sewickley. It’s a reminder that, really, there is no routine in the time of coronavirus. There hasn’t been, at least, and certainly not for Swedish hockey players.

So, as we cross our fingers for the next 12 days, and then the 65 that follow, and then for months more after that, let’s take a second to review what’s unfolded in a country that has produced more current NHL players than anywhere that isn’t Canada or the United States. Let’s take a second to review what they’re leaving before we settle too far into a bubble of our own creation.

“It was a way different situation back home,” Pettersson said Tuesday. “It was not as locked down as it was here. I think the government made an active decision (not to lock down).”

Indeed. And that decision — unorthodox as it was, even in the moment, and in the name of maintaining as much economic stability as possible — produced interesting, relatively positive early returns.

High schools and universities closed, but primary schools did not. Shops stayed open. People were encouraged to socially distance, but it was voluntary, and going to dinner and the movies and hair salons all fell under The Umbrella of Acceptable Behavior, in the name of herd immunity and economic preservation. Mask-wearing was discouraged. Elderly citizens, at least, were told to stay home.

Then, it cratered.

Today, Sweden’s number of deaths per 100,000 citizens is above 54 (via Johns Hopkins University). That’s about 31 percent more than the United States. It’s more than nine times more than Finland, and more than 11 times more than Norway, Sweden’s neighboring countries.

At the same time, unemployment and the contraction of the Swedish economy are on par with, say, Denmark (10.52 deaths per 100,000 citizens).

“They literally gained nothing,” Jacob F. Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington told the New York Times. “It’s a self-inflicted wound, and they have no economic gains.”

In other words, they did deliberately — as a matter of public policy — what other countries did via incompetence. That’s what Pettersson left, after six weeks or so, and why he spent 14 days in quarantine after he flew back to North America. He enjoyed his time with his parents and his sister, and he worked out at home. He called it an “energizing” experience, and now he’s back. It’s time, I suppose, to think of other things. 1188324 San Jose Sharks

Why Timo Meier's Sharks contract extension looks shrewd in new CBA

By Marcus White July 15, 2020 4:14 PM

Qualifying offers to restricted free agents are one of many things that will change in the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement, and fewer players will be able to follow Timo Meier's path.

The Sharks winger signed a four-year, $24 million contract last summer, setting himself up with some hefty insurance in case he and San Jose don't agree to a long-term deal when this one expires. Since Meier will make $10 million in base salary during the last year of his deal, the Sharks must sign him to a qualifying offer equal to that amount in order to retain his rights. Thus, $10 million will be the baseline for potential salary arbitration and Meier can just play on said qualifying offer if he wants to get to unrestricted free agency sooner and/or San Jose is unable to sign him to a long-term extension.

Meier was able to do so under the previous CBA, which ensured a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent automatically equaled their salary in the final year of their previous contract. That won't be the case now, as Pro Hockey Rumors' Gavin Lee noted last week.

"Instead, it will be the lower of the salary in the final year or 120 percent of the [annual average value] of the contract," Lee wrote last week. " ...

This change only applies to contracts signed from here on out, meaning Meier [and others] will still receive qualifying offers equal to their final contracted year."

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Were the new rules to apply to Meier's current contract, the Sharks' qualifying offer to the Swiss forward would be $7.2 million. That's still a hefty chunk of change, but $2.8 million fewer than what Meier's qualifying offer will be. That $2.8 million could make a big difference in San Jose's future cap calculations, since the NHL's salary cap will only rise if the league hits certain revenue targets. The coronavirus pandemic and its to- be-determined effects have made that anything but certain.

The Sharks already have $55.5 million in salary commitments lined up for the summer of 2023, but that number could drop depending upon what happens in the expansion draft. As it stands right now, San Jose has $65.5 million committed to eight players ahead of the 2023-24 season if Meier plays on his qualifying offer. That's without including Tomas Hertl, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2022.

Neither Meier nor Sharks general manager Doug Wilson could've foreseen a pandemic affecting league revenues (and thus the salary cap's rise) when the contract was signed a year ago, yet Meier looks especially shrewd now for having the security of a $10 million qualifying offer to fall back upon in 2023. San Jose, on the other hand, won't be able to bank on a rising salary cap in the same way, and that $10 million figure should factor into Wilson's decision-making moving forward.

It's a wrinkle that only players signed before the new CBA will have to contend with, but it's a very important one for Meier and the Sharks.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188325 San Jose Sharks and how amazing it is that you’re actually playing the NHL,” Wingels said. “Doug Wilson was one of the first ones to call me (after the retirement announcement), and he and I spoke about it for a while. I’m so fortunate. Grateful for the fact that I got to play for the San Jose Sharks. So many With the Sharks and everywhere else, Tommy Wingels left his mark on players are signed out of college and so many players are drafted who hockey don’t make it one game, let alone 400-plus games. And I told Doug, from the get-go when they told me they thought there was an opportunity for

me to leave school early, that it was going to be up to me to get a spot. I By Kevin Kurz Jul 15, 2020 was so appreciative and thankful that he was upfront and honest with me.”

Wilson said: “As a player, (he was) a hard-nosed, honest, quality guy. A little more than a week ago, Tomas Hertl’s wife, Aneta, posted a photo Tremendous teammate. So well respected by not just everybody on his to her Instagram page announcing that the couple is expecting a baby team, but even the guys he played against. He played a hard style, but boy in November. an honest style.”

Tommy Wingels offered a quick suggestion to his former teammate as to Wilson recognized Wingels’ character early, albeit under extremely tragic what to call the new arrival. circumstances. The Sharks general manager attended the funeral for Brendan Burke, the son of longtime NHL general manager Brian Burke “I told him, I think he’s going to have to name (the baby) after me,” and a student manager for the Miami hockey team when Wingels was Wingels said. playing for the school. Perhaps there’s an easy path here … Tomas Jr. … Tommy … makes In November 2009, Burke came out publicly as gay, advocating for sense, right? tolerance and inclusion in sports. Three months later, Burke, just 21, died We don’t know whether Hertl took the suggestion seriously, but we do in an automobile accident. know that one of the reasons Wingels became so popular among Sharks Wingels, then still just 21 himself, spoke at the funeral. fans during his parts of seven seasons in teal was because of the way he took the beloved young Hertl under his wing. The pair spent an “How he spoke and how he carried himself — you’re not supposed to be abundance of time together, particularly on the road, becoming fast dealing with those types of issues at that age,” Wilson said. “That left friends throughout Hertl’s adjustment to life in North America while still such an impression on me, just the quality and character of the person learning the English language. When Wingels was traded to Ottawa on that he is.” Jan. 24, 2017, Hertl tweeted that it was a “tough day” and, poignantly, “I’ll miss you my best friend.” Burke’s brother, Patrick, the current NHL senior director of player safety, founded the You Can Play project shortly after Brendan’s death to carry TOUGH DAY!! L'LL MISS YOU MY BEST FRIEND on the message of inclusion for all LGBTQ individuals. Wingels was @TOMMYWINGELS57 brought on as a founding advisory board member.

I WISH ALL THE BEST. How close were Tommy and Brendan? When Wingels was off on hockey road trips and Brendan remained back at school, Wingels’ girlfriend (and FUN MUST BE ALWAYS now wife) Molly would attend sorority formals with Brendan.

NEVER FORGET THAT! “(Brendan) was on campus and Tommy was like, he’s a great guy and PEAS AND CARROTS! we know we can trust him,” Patrick Burke recalled. “Even if Tommy had never done a single thing for You Can Play, what he did at Miami for — TOMÁŠ HERTL (@TOMASHERTL48) JANUARY 24, 2017 Brendan would have meant enough to our family that we would have never been able to repay him and the other leaders on that team. Since Wingels departed, Hertl has developed into ice leader on and off the ice for the Sharks. He was named co-Sharks MVP after the 2018-19 “In that locker room, they welcomed Brendan as a family member, they season, reaching 30 goals for the first time, and was the team’s lone All- treated him no differently after he came out than before he was out. They Star representative at the 2020 event in St. Louis in late January. created a culture of anyone who was part of the family was welcomed, protected and celebrated. And a lot of college kids don’t have that “I am so proud of Tommy Hertl,” Wingels said in a phone interview on experience, or a lot of people working in the sports world don’t have that Tuesday. “People like to say that I helped him out a lot — I did that experience. They have bullying on their team or they have exclusion on because we were friends and I did that because I cared about him. But at their team or they have subtle ways where they’re made to feel less the end of the day, he came over with Aneta at age (19) and they made welcome. Tommy, along with some other guys on that team, made sure for themselves a life and a career that not many people could do. And I’m that never happened. So even if Tommy had never done a single other so proud of him. We talk all the time, and the fact that they’re going to thing in terms of activism his entire career, it shows the type of person have a little one now is amazing. I’m super excited for them and I can’t that Tommy is and his willingness to do the right thing.” wait to meet the little guy.” Brian Burke also offered his thoughts about Wingels via Twitter, saying Hertl was one of several former Sharks teammates to reach out to the forward “was a vocal ally in hockey even before his career was fully Wingels last month, when the 32-year-old forward announced his established, and throughout his career he backed up his public retirement after spending parts of eight seasons in the NHL and his final statements about inclusion with real action,” including participating in the two in Switzerland. Former teammates Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Chicago Pride parade near Wingels’ hometown of Evanston, Ill. Joe Pavelski also passed along congratulations. Wingels was touched by the message from Burke. Wingels wrapped up the NHL portion of his career with 143 points (62g, 81a) in 448 games. He played 337 of those games with the Sharks “It’s an important cause for me. It’s something I’ll always want to talk before brief stints with the Blackhawks, Bruins and Senators, and then about it and volunteer for,” he said. “When (Burke) posted that comment, signed with Geneva in the Swiss National League in the 2018 offseason. it really caught me off guard. It was unexpected. I know personally how much I meant to that family, but for him to release that to the hockey He’s taken some time since his June 11 announcement to reflect back on world, it really brought a tear to my eye. I told him, that’s what a friend his career. As a sixth-round pick of the Sharks in 2010 who put up solid does for a friend. I know in a similar role his son would have done the but hardly earth-shattering numbers in three seasons at Miami (Ohio) same for me. Going forward, even though I’m not going to be in the NHL, University, Wingels was far from a sure thing to become an NHL regular. I’d like to continue helping out as much as I can.” But his work ethic, attitude and fearlessness on the ice — along with a willingness to stand up for his teammates — made him a valuable depth Wingels and his wife and two kids (2 and 5 years old) recently moved player on some very good teams, including the 2015-16 Sharks club that into a new house in the Chicago area. Still not in his mid-30s, he’s given advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. a little thought to his future and “has a few irons in the fire” at the moment, but right now just wants to take it easy and relax with his family. “When you go through it, you’re just kind of living in the moment the whole time. And you don’t really take time to think about how special it is Still, considering his success on the ice, sterling reputation and cerebral nature, it would be easy to see him getting involved in hockey again at some point. Wingels left open the possibility of joining a front office in some capacity, even if he’s not ready to jump back in right away.

Patrick Burke said: “If he wanted to work in hockey, there’d be no shortage of teams that would be able to find about eight different roles for him. He’s someone who’s proven that he has a strong moral compass and can communicate that well to other players. The type of player- development stuff that every team in the world is focused on, which combines both on-ice skill development with off-ice character development — plug Tommy in at that for the next 20 years and you’d never lose a night’s sleep over it.”

Wilson said: “He was such a bright kid, I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do because of his work ethic. Whatever path he decides, if it’s in hockey, there’s no doubt he would be very successful. If it’s in business, same thing.”

Wingels’ best two individual NHL seasons came with the Sharks. He posted 16 goals and 38 points in 77 games in 2013-14 and followed it up with 36 points (15g, 21a) in 75 games in 2014-15.

Regardless of what he does next, San Jose and Sharks fans will forever remain close to Wingels’ heart.

“My years in San Jose, I think the fans were the best I played in front of,” Wingels said. “I will always remember the atmosphere of the playoff games. I think San Jose more than any other city, the fans are so appreciative, so respectful. They see you outside of the rink and they treat you just like a normal person. They’re happy to see you, happy to meet you. They love you. But you know, they just want to say hello and tell you that they appreciate what you do. There were so many good people in the area. … I truly think it’s the best place to play in the league.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188326 St Louis Blues and Dallas on Aug. 9, will depend on how many of the play-in series have already ended. The Blues will be the road team against Colorado and the home team for the other two games.

Parayko back on the ice after missing first day of Blues camp Notes

Berube kept his lines and pairings the same, with the exception of Parayko moving back into this spot. … The NHL will continue to roll out Tom Timmermann its top votegetters (or, “finalists”) for its awards on Tuesday, with the announcement for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year and the

Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. Berube, who came in third in voting Defenseman Colton Parayko was back on the ice with the Blues on for the Adams last season, will likely have gotten votes again this year Tuesday after missing the first day of midseason camp, but Robert but probably won’t be among the top three. The Blues don’t have any Bortuzzo has not yet returned. Calder candidates. … Since Tyler Tucker’s contract (which he signed in March) doesn’t kick in until next season, he won’t be eligible to play in the Both are believed to have tested positive for COVID-19, though league playoffs even though he’ll be in camp. Goalie Joel Hofer is eligible to rules prevent the Blues or the NHL from acknowledging that fact. play, and unless he were to appear in 10 games in the postseason, his contract will slide to next season and he won’t burn a year of it. If Hofer “It was good to see Colton back out there today,” Blues coach Craig were to appear in 10 games this postseason, it would be one of the most Berube said. “We’ll get Bortz back here soon and then we’ll have incredible stories in NHL history. everybody there, which is good. We need the defensemen. We’re a little short on D with these groups right now so we’ve had to double up a St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020 couple guys. They’ve done a great job. It’s not easy to do, but good guys and they’ve done a good job with that.”

The Blues have 10 defensemen on their postseason roster — the seven who were with the team in the regular season and then San Antonio callups Jake Walman, Derrick Pouliot and Niko Mikkola. (It will be 11 when Tyler Tucker joins the team later this week.) Walman and Pouliot have been skating with both of the practice groups so the team has sufficient numbers for drills.

Parayko skated with his usual partner, Marco Scandella.

Barbashev’s choice

Ivan Barbashev’s wife is due to give birth in mid-August, which would be around the time of the Blues’ first-round playoff series, and the precise timing might present him with a choice: stay in Edmonton with the team or leave the bubble to come back to St. Louis for the delivery. Players had until Monday to opt out of the playoffs. Barbashev didn’t.

“We’ll have to talk about it,” Barbashev said. “I’m not sure what the plan is but I guess I’ll have to go back to St. Louis. I’m not sure what the plan is right now.

“We didn’t even talk about the opt out. It’s actually really simple because I’m 24 and I’ve got a year ahead of me and I know after winning last year, I want to do it all over again. It’s just a feeling that stuck with me for a long time and it gets you more hungry for winning. We talked about it a little bit and I know it’s hard to understand, I know it’s really hard for her to see me going when the baby is due, but I promise her I’ll be back.”

Under the NHL’s return-to-play protocols, a player who has left the “bubble” with permission will upon his return be confined to his hotel room until he has four negative test results over a four-day period. So a departure by Barbashev would probably keep him out for about a week. But it could be two weeks if the trip is deemed to be to a “high-risk environment.”

For the first two days of camp, Barbashev has been centering a line with Klim Kostin and Austin Poganski, two call-ups from San Antonio, while his spot on the fourth line with Oskar Sundqvist and Alexander Steen is being filled by Mackenzie MacEachern.

That line with MacEachern would certainly be an option for a window when Barbashev was gone. Berube said don’t read too much into the current deployment and it was driven by practical reasons, namely that line needed a center.

“I want my centerman there,” he said. “We’re looking at different combinations of guys and things like that was part of the reasoning there too. We’ll move guys around. Don’t get set on what you’re seeing out there right now, it will change over time a little bit here and there. We’re just moving guys around.”

Game times

The Blues will play their one exhibition game on July 29 against Chicago. The game, played in Edmonton, will start at 5:30 Central time. The Blues have been designated the road team.

The Blues’ first round-robin game, against Colorado on Aug. 2, will also start at 5:30. The times for the other two games, against Vegas on Aug. 6 1188327 St Louis Blues keeping practices pretty short. I want up-tempo the whole time to get the conditioning up.”

Overall, Berube said the Blues aren’t in a bad spot conditioning-wise. As Blues ramp up for playoffs, the first step is 'getting the legs moving' “But it’s gotta get better for sure, and it will,” he added.

The focus will change next week. Jim Thomas “Definitely we’ll do some scrimmaging,” Berube said. “I’m not sold on, you know, referees and things like that. But I think controlled scrimmages, situational scrimmages, power play, penalty kill scrimmages With the exception of perhaps Ryan O’Reilly, no one is happier about will be important here going forward. We’re definitely gonna get into getting back on the ice this week than Blues coach . some of that.”

He was quickly bored once the NHL’s pandemic “pause” started way For now, it’s more like Hockey 101: Introduction to skating, shooting, back in March, reduced to cooking breakfast for his family, riding a passing. All designed to get the legs working, the hands working, and the bicycle, and binge-watching “Ozark” at his home near Philadelphia. timing back.

Hard to imagine, isn’t it? A couple more weeks without hockey and he Because all of this is taking place in July, Barbashev called it a might have taken up croquet. Or crochet. combination of weird and exciting. Weird because this is a time of the year when players normally are on vacation or back home with family Not a pretty picture. and friends in Canada, Sweden, Russia or wherever. But Berube is back in his element this week at Centene Community Ice Exciting, because with a tight-knit group like the Blues it’s always good to Center, beginning the ramp-up to playoff hockey in August. Granted, see teammates, especially when gathering to try to win another Stanley hockey in August doesn’t sound right but Berube doesn’t care. Cup. “It just feels good to be back out there,” Berube said. “We’ve been all There was nothing weird, however, about seeing O’Reilly working late gearing up for this. We’ve been dealing with all the uncertainty for quite a after Tuesday’s first session. He was the last man off the ice, skating while now, so it’s just nice to get back out there knowing that we’re going end-to-end sprints. forward here with what we’re trying to do.” “Just a test I give myself to kind of gauge where I’m at,” O’Reilly said. In a normal training camp, you know, one that starts in September, “Kinda just working on my technique, really trying to lengthen my stride. players take a fitness test before they step on the ice for practice. This I’m not really known for my skating ability so I gotta try to work on that as time around, the fitness test is taking place on the ice during the first best I can.” week of Phase 3 (training camp) — the re-start of the 2019-20 season. Always working. Since the March 12 shutdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Blues have been in hockey limbo. Kind of half in, half out as they waited After Monday’s work, Pietrangelo said the team looked pretty good all to see if hockey would return this season. Sure, they did off-ice work, but things considered. But given the fourth-month layoff, is it enough time? some had access to more workout equipment than others. And until late Will the Blues’ gradual workout have them ready when the time of June, when the Blues started trickling into Centene for the Phase 2 reckoning comes in August? voluntary workouts, ice time was more rumor than reality. “Well, they have to (be ready),” general manager Doug Armstrong said. But after consulting with his coaching staff and captain Alex Pietrangelo, “It’s not something that they’re gonna do a straw poll and say let’s push Berube’s plan on how to approach the return to play is now unfolding. this back a few days. I believe our guys are pros. I believe they take great care of themselves. I know that they want to play. I know we’ll be “We do have quite a bit of time until we start,” Pietrangelo said. “We’ll ready.” have like two weeks, 2 ½ weeks until we play a game.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020 The Blues’ one exhibition game takes place in two weeks — at 5:30 p.m. July 29 against the Chicago Blackhawks in the hub city of Edmonton. They begin round-robin play in 2 ½ weeks — Aug. 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, in another 5:30 p.m. start.

Normally, teams are in training camp for maybe three days before they play an exhibition game. Not so this time around.

“So start slow and kind of ramp it up, and then get into our full-team drills,” Pietrangelo said. “But for now, we’re just kinda getting that conditioning back up, kind of getting the muscles and the hips and everything back to play in these situations.”

With that in mind, Berube’s message to the team has been pretty simple.

“He said we gotta get our legs going,” forward Ivan Barbashev said.

There has been nothing resembling 5-on-5 work so far at Centene. No systems work. And very little in the way of situational drills.

“Right now, it’s a lot of high-paced flow drills that we’re doing out there,” O’Reilly said. “We haven’t had a ton of kinda scrimmage (work) or anything yet. So it’s all kind of working on getting the feel and getting the conditioning back. Getting used to the high intensity and having a good pace.”

Practices haven’t been long, about 45 minutes. The squad has been split into two units, with one group working at 10 a.m. and the other coming out at noon. With only about 16 players on the ice at a time, that means everyone is getting plenty of work.

“The first two days we’re pretty pleased with everything,” Berube said. “I think our guys are working hard, moving pretty well. There’s a lot of reps out there with smaller groups, so they get tired pretty quick. But we’re 1188328 St Louis Blues

Blues get Blackhawks as their exhibition opponent

Tom Timmermann Jul 14, 2020 0

The first Blues game since the NHL shut down on March 12 will come, if things work out, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The teams will meet in an exhibition game -- a preplayoff game? -- on July 29 in Edmonton. The game will start at 5:30 p.m. Central time.

The start time for the team's first round-robin game, against Colorado on Aug. 2, will also be 5:30 p.m. Central time. The other two round-robin games, against Vegas on Aug. 6 and against Dallas on Aug. 9, will have their start times determined later. The start times of those games will depend on whether or not any of the play-in round series with games scheduled for those days are over.

Television information will be released later. The league has said that the exhibition games will be televised. Round-robin and first round playoff games will air locally on Fox Sports Midwest, unless they are picked up for a national broadcast by NBC.

One of the last games the Blues played before the season was stopped was in Chicago, a 2-0 win on March 8.

Of course, first the teams have to safely get through training camp and get to the hub cities before any of this can happen. Tuesday was Day Two of NHL camps. Teams will leave for their hub cities, either Edmonton or Toronto, on July 26. The chance of success is decent if the teams can get there, since coronavirus rates are much lower in Canada.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188329 St Louis Blues

Parayko back on ice for second day of Blues camp

Tom Timmermann Jul 14, 2020 0

Colton Parayko was back on the ice for the Blues on Day 2 of the pre- playoff camp on Tuesday at Centene Community Ice Center.

Parayko had missed Day One, presumably as a result of a positive test for the coronavirus. Robert Bortuzzo, who missed the first day, was not on the ice and was the only player absent from practice. He is expected back shortly.

Parayko was reunited with defensive partner Marco Scandella.

Other than that, lines and pairings were the same. The team flopped groups, with Monday's first group going second and vice versa. Defensemen Derrick Pouliot and Jake Walman continued to work with both groups.

Defenseman Tyler Tucker has not joined the team in camp yet.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188330 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Jon Cooper expects training camp excitement to taper off

Mari Faiello

TAMPA — For some kids, the best kind of jitters come on the first day of school.

You’re in for a pretty easy schedule, just going over the syllabus. You get to see your friends again. You’re usually decked out with new school supplies and back-to-school clothes.

Then the glamor and excitement wear off a few days in. One teacher has already scheduled your first test, and your favorite shirt now has a stain on it from lunch. Reality has set in.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper thinks the same thing could happen to his team as training camp continues next week.

“There’s been a lot of spirit in these first three days, so it probably looks better than what it’s actually going to be when we get into next week just because of the excitement,” he said Wednesday after sessions at Amalie Arena.

Lots of chatter down on the ice today for #TBLightning scrimmage. We’ll see how this translates come game time. pic.twitter.com/4li1yUA4kc

— 홼횊횛횒 홵횊횒횎횕횕횘 (wears a mask) (@faiello_mari) July 15, 2020

Cooper compared it to a player getting called up for the first time. He has a great NHL debut; he’s excited and all over the place. Then the grind sets in.

The first two days of camp,which began Monday, focused on getting back into a rhythm with fast-paced drills and even some body banging. On Wednesday, the team — divided into two groups — scrimmaged for the first time.

All 33 players have been productive on the ice. Even Steven Stamkos, recovering from a leg injury suffered during voluntary workouts, has made a couple of appearances, skating alone between camp sessions Monday and Tuesday.

Still an aggressive and up-tempo #TBLightning session, but I’d say there was less banging up today today given the mid-day scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/bvXwc3PCz8

— 홼횊횛횒 홵횊횒횎횕횕횘 (wears a mask) (@faiello_mari) July 15, 2020

But the initial giddiness of players who haven’t seen each other in months will wear off, especially because they’re looking at an extended period of togetherness once teams gather in the two hub cities for the postseason, scheduled to begin Aug. 1.

“The first couple of days are probably the easiest just because it’s the first time in four months that they’ve really been able to competitively — with structure and coaching guidance — been able to play,” Cooper said. “I don’t think any of the guys have seen each other, as a group, in four months, so I think just the excitement there will lift at the beginning of camp.”

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Lightning reaches 100,000 meals milestone for Feeding Tampa Bay

Mari Faiello

TAMPA — The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed down the chefs inside of Amalie Arena, who are responsible for feeding the Lightning during the season. In fact, they might be busier than normal.

On Wednesday, the franchise announced it had reached a milestone of donating 100,000 meals to Feeding Tampa Bay, which has focused on helping those with food insecurities during the pandemic.

The Lightning’s food and beverage partner — Delaware North Corporation — is responsible for concessions and all events inside the arena. They’ve been working diligently since April 9 to help those in need in Tampa Bay.

Executive chef Waylon Nelson and his team of six to eight people have been preparing up to 2,000 meals daily and 10,000 meals a week.

The meals have been provided to people who cannot leave their homes or get to a grocery store. Some meals have been delivered to food drives, which have been distributed by Feeding Tampa Bay across the region.

“It has been a true honor and privilege for me and the team to be able to participate and give back during this time of great need in the community,” Nelson said in a statement. “We all thank Jeff Vinik for his generosity to enable us to perform such a great task.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188332 Tampa Bay Lightning They’ll do that, like all teams, without the energy of fans in the stands, in an environment unique from most anything they’ve known in the NHL. Shaking off the rust of a four-month pause is a must or the league’s best teams could face some of its earliest exits. For the Lightning, success means creating playoff intensity in a hurry “It’s going to be interesting,” McDonagh said. “You don’t have that many games to get ramped up, true games, but we’re going to have some scrimmage days where we’re going to work on a lot of things. We have to By Greg Auman Jul 15, 2020 trust our leadership group to keep everybody working hard. We know it’s going to happen. We’re back here now. It’s been only three days, but we’ve come a long way in those three days. That’s a good sign. We need TAMPA, Fla. — On just the third day of their two-week playoff training to keep moving and get our game to the best of where we can for when camp, Lightning players put on the white and blue for two 15-minute those games start up.” scrimmage periods at Amalie Arena, stepping up the pace and physicality of workouts as they prepare for the nontraditional playoff push The Lightning must keep the confidence of a team that went 43-21-6 in ahead. 70 games before the season was suspended, racking up the second- most points in the Eastern Conference. That can be lost in the long delay There was muted celebration after a goal from Ondrej Palat, and an and reshuffling of setting postseason seeds and opponents, but the team empty-netter in the final seconds, but the sights and sounds of shots and should be close to full strength with trade-deadline additions and no saves and boardings and bruises were something players had looked significant injuries. Steven Stamkos, who skated on his own for the first forward to, much the same way they’re slowly learning of dates and times two days of training camp, did not do so Wednesday, but the entire team for exhibitions and round-robin games in advance of actual playoff has Thursday off, so he could rejoin his teammates on Friday. hockey at their hub in Toronto next month. The team is training on their home ice now, and there are constant BEHIND THE SCENES OF TODAY’S MEDIA ZOOM CALL WITH reminders of COVID-19 and the threat of spread in a locker room. PALLY. PIC.TWITTER.COM/VVVHOQX684 Players and coaches aren’t wearing masks on the ice, but they are in meetings and otherwise. McDonagh said the adjustments for players are — TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (@TBLIGHTNING) JULY 15, 2020 small and manageable, like not eating or drinking for a half-hour before “The coaching staff knows it’s one thing to practice drills and another to their daily COVID-19 test when they arrive at the arena each morning. be in a game situation where you don’t have as much time and you have “In the grand scheme of things, when it counts, in the gym, in meetings to think quick,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “I think it’s good for us and on the ice especially, it feels like hockey, and that’s what’s to get into a scrimmage here relatively quick, and we have a handful important,” McDonagh said. more going forward. Those are where you have to make your adjustments, make your strides, and I think it was a good first step that So no coffee on the ride to work, but players are finding other perks to we weren’t too sloppy out there. That’s a great sign off the bat.” their future in isolation in Toronto. McDonagh said he’s pleased to learn that players, so well-dressed on the road under normal circumstances, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said some of the initial surge from his team won’t have to bring suits with them to the hub. Track suits are easier to might be the novelty of playing together again after a long break, like the pull off comfortably, making packing for what they hope is an extended excitement of a call-up playing in his first game. So he’ll guard against stay a little simpler. doing too much too soon, wanting to keep his lineup healthy and intact for the actual games ahead. “It’s a nice plus, not having to lug the dress shoes around,” he said. “Make sure you’ve got all your chargers, your electronics, but at the end “It’s the first time in four months they’ve really been able to, with structure of the day, the fun time will be at the rink, around the guys, whether it’s and coaching guidance, play. I don’t think any of the guys have seen practice or a game day. You’re doing whatever you can between to pass each other as a group in four months,” he said. “As we move forward, the time and get yourself ready.” though, especially this next week, we’ve got to be cognizant that we’re not grinding these guys into the ground. There’s a light at the end of the Players have already seen progress in the first three days of workouts, in tunnel, and understanding that we’re all in this together.” the pace and urgency of drills but also in the technical aspects that can get lost in four months of layoff between games. McDonagh said the McDonagh said his first question in entering training camp was how soon structure of where players need to be in all circumstances has already the team would allow players to scrimmage, fearing it might be deep into been sharp, long before it will feel like instinct on the ice. the first week of practices, so he was pleasantly surprised to have it midway through the third day of drills, when half the team had only two “The positivity has been a lot of fun to see,” McDonagh said. “You’re one-hour practice sessions. back in a rink, you’re back in somewhat of a routine. You have something to strive for, something to look forward to, after what was a long four “There’s nothing like five-on-five,” McDonagh said. “You can’t emulate it, months of being in limbo, wondering if we were going to make it here, no matter what kind of drill you do. The bounces of pucks, it changes in a wondering when we were going to play hockey again. Big picture, I think game, so it was definitely a day guys were looking forward to. There was guys have had a great attitude, and that’s what’s been really definitely a lot of fun and energy out there to get this thing rolling.” encouraging.” The Lightning have a better picture of exactly when their buildup to As for the overall motivation of the team, Cooper said he isn’t too worried playoff games will take place. Tampa Bay has an exhibition against the about buy-in once they get to Toronto and are surrounded by the rest of in-state rival Panthers on July 29 at noon — two weeks from the teams competing for a championship. The circumstances may be Wednesday’s first scrimmage — and then will play three round-robin wildly different, he said, but the goal and the drive to get there shouldn’t games to prepare for their first opponent in Toronto. They’ll face the be. Capitals on Aug. 3 at 4 p.m., the Bruins on Aug. 5 at 4 p.m., and then the Flyers on Aug. 9 at a time still to be determined. “The Stanley Cup is going to be handed out at some point. Usually it gets handed out in June, now it’s October,” he said. “That was something we One of the biggest challenges for the league’s top eight teams will be set out, almost a year ago now, to achieve, and we can’t lose sight of that finding ways to hit the ice with urgency after such a long intermission goal. Once the guys realize we are playing for a Stanley Cup and we between meaningful games. The fifth through 12th teams in each start getting around other teams, I think we won’t need any other need to conference will have a best-of-five series to help manufacture that on the motivate them. That will take care of itself.” ice, potentially creating an advantage over the eight teams who have the benefit (and possible obstacle) of a first-round bye. The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 “It’s a different normal, but it’s the new normal,” defenseman Victor Hedman said Tuesday. “For us, it’s about getting into that playoff mentality right away. You’ve got to have that mentality going into practice. You have to leave it all out there, have to empty yourself, play the way you’re supposed to play from the start.” 1188333 Toronto Maple Leafs “Everyone’s had a lot of time here through this whole pandemic to look at what we did well and the areas we needed improvement,” Barrie said. “Our coaches, they spent a ton of time throughout this thing, and they know exactly how they want our team to play. And we’re seeing that now. Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe gets first real chance to teach with Toronto “It’s nice to have a little time to implement it.”

Toronto centre Jason Spezza said the next two weeks are crucial in terms of putting what’s on the whiteboard or video screen into action. Joshua Clipperton “We had an understanding of what he wanted, but this gives us the chance to work on it for a longer period of time,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to get on the same page.” Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe gives instructions to his players during the NHL team's training camp in Toronto on July 14, 2020. The offensively gifted Barrie, who got a new lease on life under Keefe after struggling with Babcock behind the bench, likened his own play to Chris Young/The Canadian Press how the Leafs need to approach the changes. There were times during Sheldon Keefe’s first 47 games as head coach “We’ve been going through some stats and percentages, and we’ve got of the Toronto Maple Leafs when all he wanted to do was teach. to be better defensively,” Barrie said. “All our offensive numbers are The 39-year-old quickly found out that’s not really possible in the middle there. For me, it’s finding that line of jumping in and trying to create of a hectic NHL season. offence and making plays, and then also being responsible.

Unlike the American Hockey League, where Keefe spent the previous “My personal game fits well with what the team’s going through. It’s got to spent five years, the games come fast. Coupled with travel and fatigue, be a little bit more focused on shutting the other teams down.” there are few opportunities for real practices. Keefe expects nothing less. The crutch of not having time to soak up Promoted to the top job by the Leafs in the middle of a November road information is now gone. trip, and with just one morning skate at his disposal, Keefe briefly went “We fully expect our guys to be a lot better defensively,” he said. “We’re over some key concepts. going to need to be, given what’s at stake. He won that night in Arizona and 14 more times in his first 20 “But that’s the greatest area of opportunity for us to grow.” appearances behind an NHL bench, but when things started to go sideways – Toronto dropped 10 of its next 17 outings – he wasn’t able to Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.16.2020 drill down on the defensive deficiencies plaguing his offensive-rich roster.

The COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered the NHL four months ago finally offered Keefe a chance to examine all aspects of the Leafs’ setup. And the league’s restart, which began in earnest this week with the opening of training camps, now gives him the opportunity to implement, tweak and build on that framework.

“It was very difficult,” he said of trying to teach new philosophies in the weeks and months after replacing Mike Babcock. “You want to do so many things, and you have a plan to do so many different things. Then as the schedule comes at you, and you realize where the players’ energy levels are and all those types of things, then you realize, ‘Well, I really can’t do this, I can’t do that. Or if I introduced this today, there’s not going to be the time to really build upon it.’

“That’s what’s been exciting about this as a time to really work at different things.”

Keefe said he and his staff looked “very honestly” at where Toronto’s game was before the NHL closed up shop in mid-March.

There were some things he liked. And some he didn’t.

“There’s no area of our game defensively that we were satisfied with,” Keefe said. “We’re not kidding ourselves here, we know that there’s a lot of areas that we need to look at.

“Frankly, it’s every area.”

Keefe, who was 27-15-5 and had the Leafs in a playoff spot, said it’s far too easy to pin the team’s shoddy defensive play on its injury-hit blue-line corps.

“Our forwards have got to do more work and we’ve got to be a five-unit in how we defend in each zone,” said Keefe, who finally has a healthy stable of defenceman in camp. “A lot of that work falls on the forwards.”

Toronto, which is set to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the best- of-five qualifying round, sat second in the NHL with 237 goals, but was also allowed the seventh-most at 222.

“From all three zones, everything that we’re doing there, we’re either tweaking it and making changes structurally to how we were playing or we’re having more focused intensity and commitment to the habits and detail within it,” Keefe said.

Leafs defenceman Tyson Barrie said getting time to learn before heading to the bubble just down the road in Toronto on July 26 ahead of the league’s 24-team resumption of play Aug. 1 should pay dividends. 1188334 Toronto Maple Leafs On Monday: “His work habits are exceptional.” Tuesday: “He needs to find a way to be effective in all areas of the game

… He needs to really show it and make it obvious that he’s ready.” Leafs prospect Nick Robertson had 55 goals in 46 OHL games with And Wednesday: “He looks like a guy that’s finding his way.” Peterborough this season. Robertson could be the latest in a long line of Leafs prospects either

overhyped or hyped before their time. Still Leafs Nation is mad with By Kevin McGran Wed., July 15, 2020 anticipation that Robertson not only could, but should, crack the lineup preparing for a best-of-five qualifying round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It’s all coming a bit faster for Nick Robertson than the speedy “water bug” The realistic goal is to be one of the players invited to the bubble in a of a winger imagined. week and a half. There are 34 players in camp now. Each team is allowed 31 in the hub. The Leafs are considering taking only 28 or 29, Robertson finds himself on the cusp of making the Toronto Maple Leafs each Black Ace with a defined role. at the strangest of times, during a world pandemic, an 18-year-old whose junior season was cut short now trying to earn a spot in an expanded If Robertson gets into that group, it will mean he rose to the top of the Stanley Cup tournament. Robertson is among 19 forwards at Leafs healthy-scratch pack. To get into the lineup, he’d have to outperformed camp, with the top 12 spots already taken. someone, perhaps Pierre Engvall, who for now is the third-line left winger, the spot most suited to Robertson. Will he be with the team when it goes into the bubble July 26? That might sound crazy. But crazy seems to be the theme of 2020. “He’s a guy that not only is coming out of the same break and pause that everyone else has had, but he’s also trying to adjust to a new league, a “Especially since March, a lot of stuff has changed,” Robertson said. new level, a new environment,” Keefe said. “It’s harder for him in that “It’s unfortunate (the junior Peterborough Petes) season ended, but I sense. wouldn’t be in this position. I would have wished we had gone on a long “There is time here. Maybe not as much time as you’d like for a young playoff run and we’d win the OHL championship. That’s what my player to adjust and get comfortable. But we’re going to give him time to expectations were … adapt and see whether he’s an option for us. But we have players “It’s hard to realize that I’m here right now. But you have to make the best competing for that spot, so it will sort itself out.” of it and just go with it.” Toronto Star LOADED: 07.16.2020 Robertson burst in to the consciousness of Leafs Nation last summer as the team’s first pick, albeit in the second round, of the 2019 NHL draft. He is small — listed at five-foot-nine — but speedy. And he can score, with 55 goals in 46 games with the Petes this season.

His personal story is compelling. He was born, prematurely, on Sept. 11, 2001, the day of the terrorist attacks on the United States. He was born in California and became a top hockey prospect, representing the U.S. at the world juniors. He has an Asian background, happily putting himself out there as a role model for minorities to take up hockey.

And he’s exceedingly likeable, a teenager who doesn’t just put sentences together when he answers questions but tells stories with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye.

He’s right out of central casting. He has a lot of people rooting for him.

“I’m definitely aware of Toronto social media,” he said. “Especially being here now, I know my name’s been put out there a lot. I have to put that aside. It’s what the coaches want, what they think. I’m glad to have fans on my side, but at the end of the day, it’s what my teammates, my coaches think of me. I try not to look at that stuff, but it’s good to hear positive stuff.”

Robertson is practising and scrimmaging on a line with Nic Petan and Denis Malgin, all similarly sized players who rely on craftiness. Robertson is the quickest of the group.

“He’s been a little water bug out there,” defenceman Cody Ceci said. “He’s flying around. He’s got a good shot. He’s doing great, and really opening some eyes.”

Even Mitch Marner was impressed.

“He’s got that dogged mentality, a hard-working kid,” said Marner. “He’s not afraid to get to the dirty areas. You see the goals he scored in the OHL. His shot is pretty amazing, pretty powerful. He’s impressive to watch and I like the work ethic he brought.”

High praise indeed, and perhaps the reason why Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe and GM Kyle Dubas are walking a line between exposing Robertson to this level of competition and tempering expectations of the teenager.

“We’re not going to look at his age or his status or anything like that,” Dubas said in a pre-camp news conference Sunday. “If he shows that he can make an impact, that he can play with older, stronger players, then he’ll roll from there.”

Keefe, asked three days in a row about Robertson, has been cautious in his remarks. 1188335 Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs and one of their biggest TV personalities, Paul Hendrick, have parted ways, with Hendrick deciding to spend more time with family.

By Kevin McGranStaff Reporter

A familiar face is missing from around Maple Leafs camp as the team prepares for an expanded Stanley Cup playoffs: TV personality Paul Hendrick.

Known affectionately by players and his fellow media as “Henny,” Hendrick told the Star he has reluctantly, but deliberately, parted ways with the team to spend time with his wife, Alicia, who has been battling cancer.

“My wife Alicia has battled and conquered health challenges the past five years, and I’d decided last fall that 2019-20 was going to be my last,” Hendrick told the Star. “Alicia is doing well and it’s provided us an opportunity to enjoy our time that she’s worked so hard for.

“When all was said and done, it was decided with heavy hearts that both sides mutually agree to part company.”

Hendrick has spent 41 years in the TV business, first as a sports reporter in Sault Ste. Marie, then in Hamilton. He has been associated with Leafs broadcasts since the 1980s when he did some between-period TV features. In 1995, he started hosting games for CHCH-TV and eventually moved to Leafs TV (now Leafs Nation Network) in 2001.

He says the highlight of his career was the night of Oct. 11, 2007, when Mats Sundin surpassed Darryl Sittler as the all-time leader in points and was selected as the game’s first, second and third star. It was a fluky goal that put Sundin over the top in an 8-1 win over the N.Y. Islanders. The fans gave Sundin three standing ovations.

“What a memory to be on the ice with him at game’s end to celebrate the milestone and see just how thrilled he was for the fans in attendance,” said Hendrick. “I’ll never forget that trademark smile of his, two Popsicle sticks wide.”

The 63-year-old tweeted his own departure after deciding it was not in his family’s best health interest to cover the team during the coronavirus pandemic. The media will not be part of the “hub city,” when teams cut themselves off from the world by staying in hotels in Toronto and Edmonton starting July 26.

“Hockey and covering the #mapleleafs has been a privilege,” he tweeted. “But it’s now time to move on. I want to thank MLSE for a great adventure, the players, coaches, management and my dear colleagues over the years. And thank you #LeafsNation, your passion is unparalleled.”

The tweet generated a lot of goodwill.

From Auston Matthews: “First class always! Pleasure to work with you Henny, all the best in the future.”

From Travis Dermott: “Henny, I have no words. In a hockey world that can be very overwhelming at times, you have a knack of making people (including myself on numerous occasions) feel comfortable and confident. You will be missed dearly.”

Hendrick hopes to continue to be involved with the Leafs on special projects.

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188336 Toronto Maple Leafs And when Dudley was hired as GM in Tampa Bay, he first hired Ludzik to coach. The two had experienced minor-league success together. In Ludzik’s second season, Tortorella was brought in to enhance the staff.

The winding tale that brings John Tortorella and Sheldon Keefe back Halfway through that season, Ludzik was fired and Tortorella was together promoted to head coach. In the 19 years that have passed, with all of Ludzik’s well-publicized health issues — he is currently awaiting a life- saving liver transplant — the 62-year-old Tortorella and the 59-year-old Ludzik have never spoken to each other. Not once. Steve Simmons “We weren’t a great match as coaches because we had similar

personalities,” said Ludzik. Rick Dudley is like that old Johnny Cash song. He’s been everywhere, “You can’t have that on a coaching staff. I don’t like the word, but I was a man. hard-ass and he was a hard-ass, and when the players need somebody Dudley has managed four National Hockey League teams, coached in to hate, you don’t want them hating two guys. the NHL, AHL, IHL, ACHL, owned a minor-league team and worked in “I thought we were friends, though. I would have appreciated a call (back various front-office positions for 10 different NHL teams. then). I’ve never talked to him since getting fired. It doesn’t mean much His hockey resume is exhaustive and exhausting — and his unlikely now, but I’ve thought about it.” fingerprints are all over this upcoming best-of-five playoff series between Ludzik never worked again as a head coach in the NHL. Tortorella has the Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. almost not stopped working, coaching in Tampa Bay, New York, Dudley hired John Tortorella for his first NHL job in Buffalo, then again for Vancouver and Columbus. his first full-time head coaching job in Tampa Bay. “Believe it or not, I think he’s gotten a little milder over time,” said Dudley. The year before he hired Tortorella with the Bolts in 2000, he drafted one “He’s not quite as intense as he once was. I think that’s helped him, of the best players in the in the second round. actually. He’s been able to evolve with things teams do now. He likes his His name: Sheldon Keefe. teams to be more aggressive and pressure pucks and they do that very well. What are the odds that two wayward figures, both promoted to some kind of prominence by Dudley, would be coaching against each other in a “I don’t see John much anymore. This is what happens in our game. new-format Stanley Cup playoff series some two decades later? You’re working all the time. You’re going to the next thing. You don’t have time to keep up relationships. That’s a part of the business I regret.” “What are the odds?” asked Steve Ludzik, who fired as coach in Keefe and Tortorella’s first season in Tampa. “Put it this way, Jimmy the Greek ♦ ♦ ♦ wouldn’t have bet on that.” Rick Dudley wasn’t part of the Stanley Cup Lightning team that Tortorella Tortorella was a hockey nobody when Dudley first invested in him. Keefe coached in 2004 and that he essentially built. He had already been let to was supposed to be a somebody when Dudley drafted him in 1999. by the Lightning.

Keefe’s coach in the second half of his first NHL season was Tortorella. Keefe played his last game for Tampa in 2003. He never played another Of his 125 games played, 93 of them were for Tortorella. Keefe then NHL game after that. disappeared from the NHL scene. Tortorella, the opposite. He hasn’t Tortorella’s last Stanley Cup should have been Keefe’s first. But his stopped mattering and making noise since then. agent/mentor at the time, the nefarious David Frost, basically soured the “I’m not surprised by John Tortorella becoming a great NHL coach,” said Lightning on Keefe, who was out of the NHL by the age of 22. He was in Dudley in a recent interview. “I’m surprised Sheldon became a coach, too early as a player, banished too quickly. That’s the gift Frost left and surprised how good a coach he’s become.” behind.

Dudley basically discovered the little-known Tortorella — the undersized “I was never surprised by how good a coach Tortorella became, but I am minor league slugger — who was a playing assistant coach in the now- surprised by how good a coach Sheldon has become,” said Dudley. defunct Atlantic Coast League. Dudley’s best friend, Frank Perkins, “He was very reclusive when he had him, very quiet. Sometimes you see coached Tortorella and spoke highly of him. a player and you know that guy is going to be a coach. You didn’t think And then, Perkins passed away unexpectedly in 1987 and it was at the that way with Sheldon. In coaching, you have to open yourself up. funeral that Dudley first met Tortorella. And not long after, Dudley was Sheldon seemed so shy and reserved and he kept so much to himself. I hired by the Los Angeles Kings to coach their New Haven American don’t know if he didn’t talk to me because I was the general manager, but League farm team. he didn’t say much.

He was told to hire a playing assistant coach. “What we knew was we were going to get everything we had from this kid. He had an unparalleled work ethic. I probably value work ethic as He wanted Tortorella, who wasn’t a player of AHL quality. He had to much as anything in the game. convince the Kings to hire him. The team reluctantly agreed, but only if he took on a pauper’s salary. “He had some skill and he had a lot of intensity. The problem was his skating. For a smaller player, he had to skate better. What he wanted him “New Haven is an expensive place to live,” said Dudley. “John took very to be, where he saw himself, and what we wanted him to be were two little money and came to work for us. I don’t know how he lived on that.” different things.”

Dudley was hired to coach the Buffalo Sabres in 1989. He wanted to Dudley, who basically lives in arenas day after day during every hockey bring Tortorella along with him. General manager Gerry Meehan wanted season, heard years ago that Keefe had become a coach of some Dudley to hire someone who had played in the NHL. quality. He was surprised and wanted to check it out for himself.

“He didn’t think the players would respond to John because they didn’t “I watched his teams, mostly in junior,” said Dudley. “And you could see know who he was,” said Dudley. “Before I’d even coached a game in what he was doing. His teams had an idea of what they wanted to do. Buffalo, we almost got into a confrontation over this. But I really believed They played as hard, competed as hard, as any team you’d see. They in him.” had a purpose. The thought process was like him, thoughts were not on anything but winning. I’ve enjoyed seeing this, watching his maturity as a That year, Tortorella was in charge of the Sabres penalty-kill. “I think we coach and I didn’t expect it.” had the No. 1 penalty-kill in the league,” Dudley said. Keefe is just beginning as an NHL coach. This is his first playoff series. Tortorella outlasted Dudley in Buffalo. He stayed on as an assistant Tortorella has coached 110 playoff games, won nine playoff rounds, one coach for and then followed the legendary Muckler to the last season. The Leafs haven’t won a playoff round since 2004. New York Rangers. So what happens this opening round in this unusual summer season? “I can tell you this much for the two coaches, these teams will be very well-prepared,” said Dudley. “These are two guys I really care about. I want them both to do well. John is a special coach. Sheldon is becoming a special coach.

“I think Columbus has the edge on the blue line, Toronto has the edge at forwards. It may come down to which team can deploy its style of game. And always, it’s playoffs, goaltending matters.

“I’m not picking a winner. I like both these guys. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of either of them.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188337 Toronto Maple Leafs

Robertson bugging his Leafs teammates, but it's all good

Terry Koshan

Cody Ceci compared Nick Robertson to an insect on Wednesday.

The Maple Leafs defenceman meant it in the nicest way.

“Since he has come in, he has been a little waterbug out there,” Ceci said of Robertson. “He has been flying around, he has a good shot, it’s the first real look I have had at him and he is doing great, really opening some eyes.”

Goaltender Jack Campbell has been among the Leafs observing Robertson since the initial stages of Phase 2 of the NHL’s Return to Play plan.

Though Campbell is effusive in his praise for everybody, he genuinely is impressed with Robertson’s mindset.

“We’re lucky to have him,” Campbell said. “He definitely looks like he is prepared and he is giving it his all to do everything he can to be here with us, and you can’t ask for any more of what he is doing.

“I think the fans will really get behind him. We would love to have him on our team, whether that’s right now or whenever he cracks it. He is a great talent and a nice kid and works his tail off, so we’re happy to have him.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188338 Toronto Maple Leafs Rob Wilson, the coach of the Petes, told us in March that Robertson will play in the NHL. What gave Wilson that confidence?

“He will play because he demands it of himself,” Wilson said. “He does Robertson's adjustment to NHL pace, intensity continues as Leafs get not stop working.” deeper into camp The Leafs are not scheduled to practise on Thursday. Once they return to the ice on Friday, count on Robertson’s will to continue to guide him as he works his way into serious roster consideration. Terry Koshan “The only thing I control is my work ethic,” Robertson said. “That’s what has to separate me from others. As the week goes by, I think I’ll get more comfortable. I think I’m going to catch on pretty quick.” Nick Robertson knows he needs to get with the program. Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2020 The 18-year-old rookie is confident that’s going to happen as Maple Leafs training camp progresses.

It’s not as though Robertson has been out of sorts through the first three days of on-ice workouts at the .

The adjustment to the National Hockey League, however, even in the middle of July after players have been idle for months in the midst of the coronavirus global pandemic, continues for the Leafs’ 2019 second- round pick.

“The pace and the intensity is a lot more different than the OHL,” Robertson said on Wednesday in his first media availability since camp started, “and definitely is something I’m not really used to yet. I know as these days go by I’m going to get used to it, but I’m still trying to find my own (way) here and trying to get comfortable.”

This was to be expected, never mind that Robertson is coming off a 55- goal season with the Peterborough Petes and that Robertson arrived in Toronto in time for the early days of Phase 2.

The mantra from Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe hasn’t wavered: Robertson has to earn his spot on the Leafs roster for the qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a best-of-five that is slated to start on Aug. 2. A role among the forwards won’t simply be handed to Robertson at the expense of Pierre Engvall or Frederik Gauthier or anyone else.

During a scrimmage on Wednesday, and after getting a brief look on the Leafs’ top power-play unit on Tuesday, Robertson skated on the left wing on a Team Andersen line with Nic Petan and Egor Korshkov. Petan scored a couple of goals, and while Robertson didn’t score, he was able to create offence at times and recover defensively after turnovers.

While the Petan line usually matched against a trio of depth players in Kenny Agostino, Adam Brooks and Denis Malgin, there were instances when Robertson was on the ice against ’ line or Auston Matthews’ group.

The Leafs aren’t giving Robertson a free pass.

“So much has been thrown at me,” Robertson said. “A lot of curveballs, a lot of stuff I didn’t really expect, but I’m trying to adapt.”

Such as?

“Little details,” Robertson said. “You can have a lot of skill but you have to think and you have to work within the system and find ways to take advantage of not only your skill but your mind.

“The speed and the intelligence of the players … there is a lot of stuff you can get away with in junior and now everyone’s a lot smarter and they’re experienced and it’s an eye-opener for me.”

Camp is short, but Keefe has patience.

“He looks like a guy that’s finding his way and he’s not the only one,” Keefe said of Robertson. “There’s lots of eyes and attention on him, but there’s other guys who are trying to find their way. He’s a guy who not only is coming out of the same pause that everybody else has had, but he’s also trying to adjust to a new league, a new level, a new environment.

“It’s a little bit harder for him in that sense. We’re going to give him more time to adapt and see whether he’s an option for us as we get going into the playoffs.”

Robertson has been lauded time and again for his determination and preparedness. 1188339 Toronto Maple Leafs

Paul Hendrick signs off from Leafs

Lance Hornby

One of the most familiar faces and voices around the Maple Leafs — a walking encyclopedia of team history and stats — is hanging up his microphone.

Paul Hendrick, the widely respected reporter who joined Leafs TV in its mid-90s’ infancy, announced via Twitter on Wednesday he was leaving.

“Hockey and covering the Leafs has been a privilege. But it’s now time to move on. I want to thank MLSE for a great adventure, the players, coaches, management and my dear colleagues over the years. And thank you Leafs Nation, your passion is unparalleled.”

The native of Noranda, Que., now in his early 60s, told the Sun his leaving was “a mutual decision best for both parties.” He did in-game hosting when Leafs TV used to get a few games of the broadcast pie and has been reporting on the NHL club and AHL Marlies the past few years under the new Leafs Nation Network banner. During the 11 of 12 years Leafs didn’t make the playoffs, the first question of many funereal post- game scrums often fell to Hendrick to break the ice.

Hendrick was razor sharp with an on-air pun and was always jotting on manila file sheet of notes, stats and lineups he’d laboured on all day. He worked in Sault St Marie in radio and TV and was equally well known for 15 years of Ontario University Football coverage on Hamilton’s CHCH- TV. Many Leafs, including Hyman and Matthews, sent him good luck messages.

“His impact will be felt for years to come. All the best and thank you,” read a tweet from the club’s public relations department.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188340 Toronto Maple Leafs HENNY WILL BE MISSED One of the most familiar faces and voices around the Leafs — a walking

encyclopedia of team history and stats — is hanging up his microphone. Leafs try to keep it real Paul Hendrick, the widely respected reporter who joined Leafs TV in its mid-90s’ infancy, announced via Twitter on Wednesday he was leaving.

Lance Hornby “Hockey and covering the Leafs has been a privilege. But it’s now time to move on. I want to thank MLSE for a great adventure, the players, coaches, management and my dear colleagues over the years. And thank you Leafs Nation, your passion is unparalleled.” To the trained ear, it was the sounds of a real Maple Leafs match. The native of Noranda, Que., now in his early 60s, told the Sun his Warm-up music prior to face-off, snippets of rock, pop, country and hip- leaving was “a mutual decision best for both parties.” He did in-game hop between whistles, a loud horn after every goal and a light ditty to hosting when Leafs TV used to get a few games of the broadcast pie and play the 34 players off to the dressing room. has been reporting on the NHL club and AHL Marlies the past few years But toiling in their near-empty Covid-cleared practice rink isn’t the same under the new Leafs Nation Network banner. as playing in front of 19,000 live bodies at Scotiabank Arena. And the During the 11 of 12 years Leafs didn’t make the playoffs, the first Leafs’ plan to replicate game situations during their scrimmage question of many funereal post-game scrums often fell to Hendrick to tournament took a hit before Game 1 on Wednesday when the league break the ice. nixed their plan to use minor pro referees and linesmen. Hendrick was razor sharp with an on-air pun and was always jotting on “You know what? Apparently people around the NHL are paying attention manila file sheet of notes, stats and lineups he’d laboured on all day. He to our media reports here in Toronto,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. “I worked in Sault St Marie in radio and TV and was equally well known for think there are some people that perhaps liked the idea, but (not) that 15 years of Ontario University Football coverage on Hamilton’s CHCH- maybe they didn’t have the same (officials) available to them.” TV. Many Leafs, including Hyman and Matthews, sent him good luck Indeed, the GTA is home to many idled referees and linesmen, not so messages. other parts of the map. Marlies head coach Greg Moore did both jobs on Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2020 Wednesday.

HOUSE DIVIDED

To get a further feel for their best-of-five qualifier against the Columbus Blue Jackets in two weeks, the Leafs launched their in-house five-game series titled ‘A House Divided’, two teams captained by spring/summer roommates Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen. There was even a pre-game pump-up video that played off that relationship to get the teams in the mood.

The opener was a 6-5 win for the goalie’s gang, Jason Spezza tipping in a Jake Muzzin shot with 17.3 ticks to go in the second running-time period.

Matthews not only has Zach Hyman and William Nylander on his wings, but Keefe further bolstered their firepower with John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Ilya Mikheyev, which gave Andersen’s team some motivation to play defence.

“Obviously, it’s a little unconventional,” Keefe said of not providing more balance. “But this is not a conventional camp or a conventional time. We’re trying to get a lot out of these games. The other part of it, we’ve got the Alex Kerfoot line (with Pierre Engvall and Kasperi Kapanen) and the Frederik Gauthier line (with Jason Spezza and Kyle Clifford) that really have to work to make life hard on the opposition with their habits and their details. Our top guys have to get used to playing guys that make it hard on them.”

With a team day off Thursday, the series will continue next week with an eye to the July 28 exhibition game against Montreal at SBA.

Nic Petan, on a line with rookie Nick Robertson and Egor Korshkov, had two goals for Andersen’s team, along with Kerfoot, defenceman Teemu Kivihalme and defenceman Calle Rosen on a penalty shot. Hyman had two, Marner, Gauthier and Adam Brooks the others for Matthews’ men.

IN YOUR FACE

With the rest of the world wearing masks, social distancing and taking a general hands-off approach to daily living, Clifford is still allowed to get down and dirty.

The checking winger would find it hard to do otherwise after a decade of driving into crowded corners and the slot, breathing down the neck of opponents and maybe getting in someone’s face after a whistle. Clifford broke into a big smile on the Leafs Zoom chat when talking about the exemption he and like-minded NHLers are granted to be up close and personal as training camps opened this week.

“It’s nice not being six feet apart,” Clifford said. “The (coaching) staff has done a good job, we can do a lot of 1-on-1 battles.

“It’s just nice to be out with the guys again, working towards a goal.” 1188341 Toronto Maple Leafs LD RD

Travis Dermott Team Matthews vs. Team Andersen: Inside the Leafs’ training camp scrimmages Tyson Barrie

Rasmus Sandin

By Jonas Siegel Jul 15, 2020 Martin Marincin

Teemu Kivihalme

It was the biggest of upsets — at least in a not entirely meaningless Mac Hollowell scrimmage series. G With 17.3 seconds left in the second of back-to-back 20-minute periods Wednesday afternoon, Jason Spezza tipped a point shot past Joseph Jack Campbell Woll. That pushed the underdogs from Team Andersen over a stacked Joseph Woll Team Matthews squad that featured Auston Matthews along with William Nylander, Mitch Marner and John Tavares. Team Andersen

The Leafs are using scrimmages as they hurry back into shape for Game Pierre Engvall 1 of the play-in round on Aug. 2. That means a best-of-five series — like the one they’ll play against the Blue Jackets — between squads Alex Kerfoot captained by quarantine roommates and close friends, Matthews and Kasperi Kapanen Frederik Andersen. Kyle Clifford “That’s what’s gonna get us ready to get going,” Kyle Clifford, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings, said of the scrimmage series. “I Frederik Gauthier know we have one exhibition game, but I don’t think that’s sufficient enough to get what you need, and I think we’re treating these games — Jason Spezza these scrimmages, sorry — like it is a little mini playoff series.” Nick Robertson

Before taking the ice at Ford Performance Centre, players even watched Nic Petan a prepared hype video of sorts playing up the competition, specifically the Matthews-Andersen friendship. Egor Korshkov

“Guys are taking it serious,” Clifford said. “Maybe there’s not a whole ton LD of physicality out there, but there’s definitely the mindset that we want to RD be ready — ready to get going when the puck does drop against Columbus.” Morgan Rielly

Team Andersen leads the series 1-0, with Game 2 on Saturday. A Cody Ceci “Phase 3 Scrimmage Most Valuable Player,” as voted by media, will be announced following the finale on July 23, a few days before the Leafs Jake Muzzin play their first and only exhibition game against Montreal. Justin Holl It’s all tied to head coach Sheldon Keefe’s emphasis on competition Calle Rosen during this unusual return to play training camp, trying to ensure players are where they need to be after more than four months off and season- Tyler Gaudet deciding games ahead of them. G The Leafs also scrimmaged three times (15-minute periods), with two forward line teams, on the first day of camp and held a strictly special Frederik Andersen teams scrimmage with a full set of officials a day later. Kasimir Kaskisuo

“Going from practices to a game is a big step,” Alexander Kerfoot said. “I The Leafs’ top two lines were on one side (Team Matthews) so that think that given the fact that we’re only gonna play one exhibition game Keefe could play around with different combinations during a game-like before we get into real live games — and even the real live game, it’s not atmosphere. Having those four forwards all together — along with Tyson like the beginning of regular season, it’s do-or-die as soon as you get Barrie on defence — also puts the No. 1 power play unit in one place. there. So, I think you just gotta amp up the competition level or the (Special teams weren’t part of Game 1; the lone penalty resulted in a competitive level as much as you can. Scrimmages are the best way to Calle Rosen penalty shot.) Finally, Keefe wants his two bottom lines to do that.” get reacquainted with their duty; to make life hard on their (usually more Both the five-game series format and the rosters were put together talented) opponents and conversely for the skilled lines to get used to strategically, Keefe said. contending with that challenge again.

Team Matthews Which meant the Kerfoot-led third line with Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl on the back end mostly tangled with Tavares and Marner. Morgan Rielly William Nylander and Cody Ceci with the Spezza-led fourth line played against Matthews, Nylander and Zach Hyman. Auston Matthews Meanwhile, the grinders competing for the final spots on the bubble Zach Hyman roster — a group that includes 18-year-old Nick Robertson — went head Ilya Mikheyev to head.

John Tavares “I like the team, I like the captains they chose and I think everybody’s really embracing it,” said Jack Campbell, Team Matthews’ starter in goal. Mitch Marner “Playing in a five-game series, it’s gonna prepare us to be ready to go for Game 1 against Columbus.” Kenny Agostino Keefe is also hoping to replicate game situations as much as possible Adam Brooks during Phase 3. Denis Malgin “Because it’s not just structural and system things for us,” he said. “There’s game habits and things in the flow of the game — how you manage the puck, your shift length, your line changes. Like all of these of things are really important for us and areas where we have to grow as a team. It’s not necessarily just things you can practise in a practice environment.

“We’ve gotta give ourselves as many reps as we can,” Keefe said.

Keefe, Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas, all physically distanced and wearing masks, watched the scrimmage from above. Assistant coaches Paul McFarland and Dave Hakstol ran the benches.

Marlies coach Greg Moore was forced to officiate after the NHL came down on the Leafs for using four officials during Tuesday’s scrimmage as there’s a limit on non-playing staff allowed inside the building during Phase 3.

The scrimmages should provide useful evaluation material for coaches and management.

Robertson, for instance, looked a little overwhelmed in Game 1 as he efforts to snatch a lineup spot. He turned over the puck in the neutral zone on his first shift, lost it again on another shift before scrapping hard to get it back.

The pace was high. The competition was moderate, if predictably sloppy. Music boomed between whistles, as it would during a “normal” game.

Marner was all over the puck early. He scored the opening goal on a wraparound, trading a high-five with his new linemate Ilya Mikheyev on the bench.

Despite the talent gap, and the apparent territorial advantage for Team Matthews (no Corsi tracking in this one), Team Andersen made a game of it. After Hyman scored his second goal to make it 4-2 for Team Matthews, Team Andersen roared back with three straight, including a pair of goals from Nic Petan.

Adam Brooks evened it for Team Matthews before Spezza won it late 6- 5.

The underdogs got the early jump in the series, though with an eye entirely on Columbus.

“Obviously, it’s not like you’re playing another team or anything like that,” Kerfoot said, “but it’s as good as we can do right now.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188342 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 Egor Korshkov

1 Why Nick Robertson is going to force his way into the Maple Leafs lineup Kyle Clifford

1 By Jonas Siegel Jul 15, 2020 Pierre Engvall

1 The Leafs were practising special teams Tuesday afternoon, and at first, Nick Robertson, the teenage star who scored 55 goals in the OHL this Pierre Engvall, arguably Robertson’s biggest competition for maybe the season, was pegged to join the penalty killers. only open job in the Leafs lineup, had one goal over that two-month stretch and scored it against David Ayres, the 42-year-old emergency The puck found its way into the corner of the rink. Shoved to his knees, goaltender who embarrassed the Leafs in February. Robertson crowded the puck anyway, shielding it from prying sticks for a good five or six seconds. He just wouldn’t let it go. Robertson could help solve that problem.

It’s early but already pretty clear the Leafs are going to have a hard time The Leafs want him to earn it, though. It wasn’t an accident that he denying Robertson his first NHL games when the play-in round begins started camp this week on a line with two young members of the Marlies against Columbus early next month. The appeal is going to be too strong and not one of the units destined to suit up in Game 1 against the Blue with the 18-year-old. The hustle, enthusiasm, puck skills and a shot that’s Jackets on Aug. 2. wowing Leafs players who just happen to be among the NHL’s top goal scorers. Sheldon Keefe said Robertson “needs to really show it, make it obvious that he’s ready.” “He’s got a heavy shot,” said William Nylander, who had 31 goals during the regular season. “That’s what I’ve noticed.” To do that, the Leafs coach explained, Robertson would have to prove he can be effective all over the ice, including as a scorer. Could he still find John Tavares, who has the third-most goals since the start of the 2009- soft spots to get his shot off in the NHL? 10 season (trailing only Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos), described Robertson’s shot as “tremendous,” raving about the release and how “As he’s going to learn, if he hasn’t already here in the first couple days,” quickly it throttled the goalie. Keefe said, “it’s a lot harder to do those things at this level.”

Frederik Andersen saw the same thing after Robertson snapped a few Already, though, Robertson is figuring it out. During one drill Monday shots past him during a game of “rebound,” including a rebound (hence afternoon, Robertson went hard to the front of the net, only to pull back at the title of the game) that blew up the water bottle. the last second. That gave him just enough to room to shoot in tight. And even against NHL players, Robertson has not been timid — he’s firing it “Looks like he can score,” Andersen said. every time he gets the chance.

“His shot’s pretty amazing out there, it’s pretty powerful,” Mitch Marner Robertson had more than five shots on goal a game this season for said. Peterborough and impressed Leafs GM Kyle Dubas with how he scored, “pressuring up the ice on the defensive side, making steals and scoring And the Leafs, despite boasting Nylander, Tavares and maybe the most shorthanded on the penalty kill, which is how he scored his 50th goal.” dangerous scorer going these days, Auston Matthews, could use that extra boost in their lineup for these unusual playoffs, which require them Could he do it right now in the NHL? to win 19 games for Stanley Cup glory. “There’s just so much more urgency to other areas of the game that Check out the Leafs’ five-on-five scoring among forwards over the final maybe you can get away with junior and you can make up for because of 25 games of the regular season. There are few contributions beyond the all the extra opportunities you get to score,” Keefe said. “(But) those are top two lines, coloured in blue: few and far between (in the NHL), and you have to take advantage of the ones that you do get. But you’ve gotta be really good in every other Auston Matthews area.” 10 Robertson seems to possess a Zach Hyman-esque quality for hunting Zach Hyman pucks, a similar enthusiasm for preying on an opponent until the puck is freed. 8 That’s tied to a work ethic that’s already caught the eye of teammates, William Nylander many of whom spent weeks playing alongside Robertson during Phase 2 of the return-to-play protocol. At one point, concluding another penalty- 6 killing shift Tuesday, Robertson made a beeline for the bench with about John Tavares all the energy he could seem to muster.

6 Dubas said in May that Robertson “is a person who’s as committed as any that I’ve seen, certainly at that age.” Mitch Marner “He’s young but he’s hungry,” Hyman said. “He wants to make an 3 impression and he’s on his way to doing that.”

Frederik Gauthier “He’s got that dogged mentality,” Marner said. “He was impressive for me to watch out there. I like the work ethic he brought and the pace he 2 brought.” Kasperi Kapanen Robertson also seems eager to learn. He’s been around assistant coach 2 Paul McFarland after both days of on-ice workouts.

Jason Spezza It’s fair to wonder whether he can hack it physically, though. He’s 75 pounds lighter than teammate Frederik Gauthier. Robertson was listed at 2 164 pounds when the Leafs released their training camp roster last Alex Kerfoot weekend, which would place him among the lightest players in the league, a similar size to former Leafs forward Tyler Ennis. 2 But his ability to do his thing against bigger players was part of the Andreas Johnsson evaluation with Robertson, Keefe said. Would Robertson be able to rough it against competition that might have 40 or 50 pounds on him? And when he was in those physical mismatches, which will be almost all the time, would he be able to compensate with his intelligence, energy and competitive fire?

Robertson had those intangibles in Keefe’s estimation and they undoubtedly help him in the long run. “Whether or not it can happen quickly to be able to impact this tournament that we’re preparing for,” Keefe said, “that’s the question that remains to be seen.”

Always on the smaller side, Robertson has gotten to this point putting his guile and skill to work, like when he outmaneuvered Jake Muzzin for the puck during a one-on-one drill Monday. Too small? Robertson also bodied Travis Dermott to the ice that day. It’s evident he’s learned to get low in his stance when he’s moving with the puck on his tape. He’ll have to adjust on the fly with how to navigate against wilier opponents, though. When Robertson tried to drive wide around Matthews on the first day of camp, he was simply edged toward the boards and was crunched by Nic Petan, of all people.

In some ways, Robertson’s challenge is similar to the one that faced then-19-year-old Rasmus Sandin in the fall. With Dermott still sidelined from offseason shoulder surgery, the Leafs had an opening at the bottom of their defence and by the end of camp, Sandin looked like — by far — the best option. In six games, Sandin didn’t play a lot and he got pushed around. The Leafs quickly changed course and returned him to the Marlies.

As a forward, however, Robertson won’t be quite as exposed, and if he’s clearly overmatched against the Jackets, the Leafs can always pivot back to Engvall.

The biggest selling point is his upside, particularly when measured against the lanky Swede or anyone else competing for that last job up front — a group that includes Petan, Denis Malgin and Kenny Agostino. There’s reason to think Robertson could swing a game for the Leafs and he could be the difference in a short five-game series, or at more crucial points after that. He’s another threat for Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella to worry about on top of the big four.

A rookie himself, Engvall won’t ever be feared like that.

Robertson’s skill means Keefe can move him around when the Leafs need a goal. Maybe that means a shift with Matthews and Nylander or Tavares and Marner. The more game-breakers, the better.

At practice Tuesday, while Marner took reps with the PK units, Robertson temporarily grabbed his spot on the right half-wall of the No. 1 power-play unit and didn’t look out of place. With that hard, heavy shot, he could jolt the second unit when the Leafs return to play — perhaps bumping someone like Kasperi Kapanen, who’s looked sluggish early in camp.

Dubas said the Leafs intend to take 15 or 16 forwards into the bubble later this month, which means Robertson is likely competing for one of three or four spots with Petan, Malgin, Agostino and perhaps Adam Brooks. It’s hard to imagine he doesn’t, at the very least, crack that bunch and become an option, even as early as Game 1.

It’s definitely expecting too much to think Robertson will make a contribution if he gets the chance. His task of cracking the Leafs for the first time as an untested teenager in the midst of a pandemic is lofty. But the Leafs will be hard-pressed to turn down the offensive lift he can potentially offer them.

No doubt, Robertson feels the eyes on him.

Tavares had just turned 19 when he made his NHL debut for the New York Islanders in 2009, not much older than Robertson at the moment. (He turns 19 on Sept. 11.) As the highly touted No. 1 draft pick, Tavares remembers feeling the pressure and expectations at training camp, the sense that people were talking about him, that he had to do something special. “But I think Nick’s got a great head on his shoulders, a good feel for his game and just wants to play, wants to compete and wants to be a part of this,” Tavares said.

The Leafs’ captain has already noticed the puck following Robertson around, his smarts shining through.

“When you see that, especially at this level, at this type of environment, at an NHL training camp,” Tavares said, “it’s impressive.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188343 Vegas Golden Knights Lehner, who is an advocate for mental health awareness and the 2019 Masterton Trophy winner, believes sports’ return is important during the coronavirus pandemic.

Robin Lehner focused on postseason, not free agency “It’s a debate that’s missing here. I don’t know the exact numbers, but I think there’s over 10 million people in the world that dies from mental health issues, and I think that’s been swept away,” Lehner said. “You’ve got to have something to look forward to, and I think sports plays a huge By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal July 15, 2020 - 5:46 PM role in that.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.16.2020 Patrick Brown skated in one-on-one against Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner and flicked a shot past his new, white catching glove.

As the puck sailed into the top corner of the net, several players let out a Ric Flair-style “Wooooo!” that echoed through City National Arena.

After Lehner turned away every puck he saw through the first 20 minutes of practice Wednesday — not to mention almost everything thrown at him the first two days of training camp — Brown’s shot was worthy of a little celebration.

“He came in and he really worked hard over the pause, and I’ve been very happy with his conditioning and his shape, and I think it’s translating,” coach Pete DeBoer said of Lehner. “I think he looks great in practices.”

Lehner underwent a head-spinning past five months, first being dealt from Chicago to the Knights at the trade deadline in late February before the NHL season was suspended March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The native of Sweden remained in Las Vegas for most of the pause — Lehner returned to Chicago for a week to gather the last of his things — and participated in the Phase Two voluntary workouts at City National Arena to prepare for the postseason.

“I think my type of game gets affected a little bit less than some other goalies because I play a bit differently,” Lehner said. “I don’t move as much, a little bit more patient. I think that just helps transition on breaks like this. It’s not been too bad for me.”

Lehner was supposed to compete in camp with Marc-Andre Fleury, but Fleury missed his third straight day of training camp Wednesday. DeBoer said he expects Fleury to practice before the weekend.

Once Fleury is healthy, he and Lehner give the Knights a formidable duo in net entering the playoffs.

Lehner went 3-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in his three appearances with the Knights.

DeBoer said Tuesday he expects to use both goalies during the exhibition and round-robin games before deciding who will start Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

“Goaltending wins you Stanley Cups, and we’ve got two great guys who play the position very well,” defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “It’s awesome to see (Lehner) playing well. He’s a big man, he moves well and he gets in the way of a lot of pucks. He’s been doing great, and I think we’re excited to get (Fleury) back in the mix here, too, at some point.”

Lehner, who turns 29 on July 24, will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and could command more than the $5 million salary he made this season.

With the salary cap frozen at $81.5 million for at least next season, it could be tough for the Knights to re-sign Lehner. They currently are projected to have approximately $6.375 million to fill out their roster with 17 players already under contract.

“Right now, we’re just focused on being here, helping the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup,” Lehner said. “I’m sure we’ll have some discussions after the season and see what happens. I really like it here. Great team and organization, great group of players. We’ll see what happens. You never know, but it’s a very good impression here so far.”

Early in the pause, Lehner expressed his doubts about whether the NHL season could safely resume during an interview with a Swedish publication. But he also commended the NHL on Wednesday for its handling of the return to play. 1188344 Vegas Golden Knights “Trying to bang that off each night, certain Adam Sandler movies,” McNabb said. “Lots of spare time. A lot of TV watching.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.16.2020 Golden Knights to name captain before next season

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Golden Knights have experienced plenty of firsts in their three seasons.

First game, first goal, even first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Next season, they’ll add another one to the list: first captain.

Coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday the Knights intend to award a “C” for the first time before the 2020-21 season after playing without a captain for three years. No candidates were named, and an announcement won’t come until the team finishes the playoffs.

“We have great leadership,” DeBoer said. “A big group of guys that have really taken charge and recognized the opportunity, so we’re just going to keep it the way it is until we finish this season.”

.@GoldenKnights coach Pete DeBoer said today that the team will name a captain before next season. #VegasBorn

READ MORE→https://t.co/BEJQXtxgOi

Who do you think should wear the "C" for the Knights?

— Golden Edge (@GoldenEdgeRJ) July 15, 2020

While DeBoer didn’t mention names, right wing Mark Stone is the obvious favorite to be the franchise’s first captain. Stone, the team’s highest-paid player, has become an emotional leader since arriving at last season’s trade deadline.

His competitive drive energizes the team on the ice, and he sets a strong example for his teammates off it. He and his fiancee, Hayley Thompson, are housing prospect Peyton Krebs during training camp, for example. Krebs called Stone a “big mentor” Tuesday.

“Stoney’s been fantastic,” DeBoer said Tuesday. “You couldn’t ask for a better mentor or example, on the ice and I think off the ice, too. He’s all business. Even through Phase One and Two, Stoney was one of the first guys here and ready to work and set the tone.”

Other possible candidates include alternate captain Reilly Smith, alternate captain and players association representative Nate Schmidt and left wing Max Pacioretty, who was the Montreal Canadiens’ captain for three seasons.

The Knights were one of four teams to not use a captain this season, along with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and . The New Jersey Devils also don’t have a captain now after trading defenseman Andy Greene at the deadline.

DeBoer’s teams have historically featured captains. He awarded a “C” in 11 of his 12 NHL seasons before joining the Knights, the lone exception his first year with the Florida Panthers.

Fleury update

Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t practice for the third straight day Wednesday, but DeBoer said the goaltender would be on the ice before the weekend.

DeBoer said Fleury was not dealing with anything significant but that he wanted to manage the 35-year-old’s workload after he participated in small-group workouts for five weeks. DeBoer said Monday that Fleury wasn’t absent because of a positive COVID-19 test.

“He’s feeling good,” DeBoer said. “We’ve got a long runway here before we start.”

McNabb needs ideas

Defenseman Brayden McNabb admitted Wednesday that he’s running out of TV shows to watch during the coronavirus pandemic and is looking for recommendations.

Two programs he’s currently watching are the Prime Video series “Hanna” and the Paramount Network drama “Yellowstone.” He’s also watching Adam Sandler movies. 1188345 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.16.2020

Rookie Peyton Krebs feels welcome at Golden Knights training camp

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal July 15, 2020 - 6:00 am

Peyton Krebs came to a stop near the boards, where two Golden Knights teammates greeted the 19-year-old forward with a stick tap on the shin pad and a few words of encouragement.

As the drill continued, forward Reilly Smith chatted up Krebs while the two waited in line.

The Knights made sure the prized prospect was settling in during his first day of training camp.

“I think the most important thing is to make them feel as welcome as possible,” center William Karlsson said. “Go talk to him, ask how he is, stuff like that.

“Make him feel like he’s one of the guys, and I think the guys are doing a good job with that, too. As far as on the ice, he’s a very talented kid. He’s going to be very successful in the National Hockey League.”

Krebs, a first-round pick in 2019, practiced for the first time Tuesday at City National Arena after finishing his NHL-mandated quarantine.

He did not participate in development camp last summer and missed rookie/training camp last fall while rehabbing a partially torn Achilles before returning to his junior team in the Western Hockey League.

Krebs posted 60 points in 38 games for the Winnipeg Ice before the WHL season was paused March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Soon after, Krebs was informed by Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon that he would be considered for the expanded roster if the NHL season resumed, an indicator of how highly he’s thought of by the organization.

“I took that and really worked hard, didn’t take a day off from the end of my (junior) season,” Krebs said. “Been working out every day, and once the rinks opened up, I obviously started skating. I just wanted to prepare myself. At least if I didn’t get the call, I know I’d be prepared.”

Krebs lived with Knights right wing Mark Stone and his fiancée, Hayley Thompson, last fall and said he was moving in with them Tuesday after spending his quarantine in an apartment.

Stone is known for opening his home to top prospects and did the same for former first-round pick Brady Tkachuk when they played together in Ottawa.

“He’s a big mentor for me,” Krebs said, “and I’m very thankful to have that.”

After playing center throughout his career, Krebs skated at left wing on a line with veteran center Patrick Brown and right wing Reid Duke during Tuesday’s line rushes and scrimmage that was open to the media.

Coach Pete DeBoer said the Knights will take their time deciding whether Krebs will make the 31-player roster for the NHL postseason, which begins Aug. 3 when the Knights meet Dallas in their round-robin opener.

“He’s a very skilled young guy,” DeBoer said. “I’ve seen the point totals, I saw a little bit of tape on him last year. But until you put him out there with NHL players, you don’t know how they’re going to fit in or how they’re going to react.

“I think the best compliment I can give him is he didn’t look out of place at all in that group. That’s a great compliment for a guy his age coming out of junior hockey.”

Krebs said he felt comfortable with the pace of practice and has had a tougher time adapting to the summer heat in Las Vegas.

The high temperature on Tuesday in Krebs’ hometown of Okotoks, Alberta, was 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Going outside, you melt a bit. But I really enjoy it,” Krebs said. “What (Stone) said to me was, ‘This heat is hot, but you get used to it and you’re going to learn to love it.’ I’m just trying to learn to love it.” 1188346 Vegas Golden Knights producing on the ice without the media attention that surrounds the captaincy.

Jonathan Marchessault — Ask the media who they want — not who they Captain seeking: Who will Peter DeBoer name Golden Knights’ captain? think it will be — and he’s likely the overwhelming favorite. Marchessault is the best quote on the team, especially after a tough loss, where he’ll Going through all the options and arriving at one big favorite often shoulder responsibility and deflect blame from his teammates. He’s energetic, charismatic and has a deep-seated love of being a Golden

Knight that lends itself to leadership. By Justin Emerson Reilly Smith — He’s probably not many people’s first thought, but he checks a lot of boxes. He’s been one of the most reliable, if not outright best, players for three years now with point totals surpassing the 50 mark Peter DeBoer made official Wednesday what he’s hinted at since each season. He’s another alternate captain who’s unanimously becoming the Golden Knights’ coach in January: For the first time in respected in the Golden Knights’ locker room. franchise history, the team will designate a captain next season. Nate Schmidt — A fan favorite, he’d be one of the most marketable He told reporters on a Zoom call that while he doesn’t want to name one captains in the league. He’s known for his infectious smile, but equally now amid all the return-to-play craziness, he expected to have a “C” capable of capturing the significance of the moment, as he showed with sewn onto the front of someone’s jersey when the team comes back for somber, thoughtful answers after the Game 7 loss in San Jose last the 2020-21 season. season. He’s another alternate captain and the team’s representative on the NHL Players’ Association executive board, so he has some clout. “We will have one prior to the start of next season,” DeBoer said. “We have great leadership, a big group of guys that have really taken charge The favorite and recognized the opportunity, so we’re just going to keep it the way it is until we finish this season.” Mark Stone — There aren’t betting lines on this anywhere, but he’d be a heavy, odds-on favorite. Let’s run down his resume: Former coach Gerard Gallant was never too concerned with having a captain. Gallant, owner Bill Foley and president of hockey operations Elite on-ice performer George McPhee always said the franchise had “23 captains,” with the Takes care of the younger players implication that one voice didn’t need to be elevated over the others on the roster. Long-term contract

DeBoer, on the other hand, has almost always named a captain. There’s Highest-paid player only been one other season in his 12-year career that he didn’t have one — his first year as a head coach in 2008-2009 with the Florida Panthers. Vocal, on and off the ice

So who will be will the Golden Knights’ first captain? One option stands Leader on multiple teams (alternate captain in Vegas and Ottawa) out above the rest, but for fun, here’s a look at a few options. Stone is practically the prototype of a hockey captain. He’s respected in Why not Marc-Andre Fleury? the locker room and throughout the league. He’s all business and plays a complete, defensive game to go along with a near point-per-game A quicker refresher: Goalies are not named captains. Fleury might be the offensive production. Acquiring him last February was the most impactful jovial face of the franchise and the most respected player in the locker personnel move the team made since the expansion draft. Top prospect room, but there’s an NHL rule against goalies filling the role. Peyton Krebs — much like Senators budding star Brady Tkachuk before him — has credited Stone with taking him under his wing. Stone will also It stems from the logistics of having captains talk to referees in the semi- be a Golden Knight for a minimum seven seasons after this one. circle near penalty boxes. Having a goalie skate all the way there and back would delay the action. Captains are traditionally the best, highest-paid player with leadership skills. It doesn’t take a lot of analysis to realize who that would be for the A great goalie can carry a team, as Fleury did with his performance in Golden Knights. 2018 to secure his spot as a Vegas sports legend. He may forever be an unofficial captain, but he won’t be a formal one. For those interested in buying a new Stone jersey, it might be wise to hold off until the captaincy decision is made official this offseason. His The long shots sweater might look a little different next year, with an extra letter stitched Deryk Engelland — If Vegas would have named a captain before the first on. season it likely would have been Engelland. He was a local before the LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 07.16.2020 Golden Knights existed, gave a moving speech before the inaugural home game and accepted the Western Conference trophy. He’s the oldest player on the roster at 38 years old, the traditional elder statesman who commands respect. But his age means his playing days might be numbered, and it’s more likely the Golden Knights want a captain who’s around for the long haul. Engelland is a free agent at the end of the year, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be with the team again next season.

Brayden McNabb — The steady defenseman has been an alternate captain for multiple years. He’s more of a vocal leader on the ice than anyone would gather from watching his interviews.

Paul Stastny — He’s never been an NHL captain, but he was the Team USA captain for the 2013 World Championships. The biggest thing holding Stastny back is his contract length. Next year is the final year of his deal, and he’ll be 35 years old headed into free agency. Much like Engelland, Stastny may not be considered assuming DeBoer wants someone for years to come.

The contenders

Max Pacioretty — He’s the only current Golden Knight who has been a captain, and he did it as an American in the French-Canadian capital of the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. He knows the pressure that come with it and the expectation of on-ice performance. But he’s enjoyed being “just another guy” in Vegas, not wearing an “A” as alternate captain and 1188347 Vegas Golden Knights Krebs is a big part of the Golden Knights’ future, but his inclusion in camp shows he could be part of the present, too. It might not be likely he sees any ice time given how far down he is on the depth chart, but those situations can always change. Surprise invite: Top prospect Krebs arrives at Golden Knights’ training camp Even if he doesn’t put on a game jersey this summer, he hopes to become a better player from being around the Pacific Division champions Don’t expect to see the 19-year-old in the postseason, but he will play big as they ramp up to chase the Stanley Cup. role in team’s future “Anytime you can skate at the best level, you’re going to get better,” Krebs said. “The caliber of guys here is the best of the best, and I want to be the best of the best.” By Justin Emerson (contact) LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 07.16.2020

Peyton Krebs was unsure if he’d be in Las Vegas for training camp ahead of the NHL’s restarted season. He hoped so, and stayed in shape just in case, but didn’t know if he should expect to hear from general manager Kelly McCrimmon.

The call came, however, leaving Krebs thrilled when McCrimmon told him to pack a bag. The 19-year-old participated fully in practice for the first time Tuesday. Vegas selected Krebs in the first round of last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, but an Achilles injury kept him from partaking in last fall’s camp.

He also missed Monday’s opening session at City National Arena as he finished off the final day of a mandatory quarantine period.

“It’s pretty much my first NHL training camp where I get to actually skate, so it was fun to get out there with the guys and just be a part of it,” Krebs said. “Getting the call was pretty special. My goal is to make the NHL and I’m just here to learn a lot and do what I can do to play hard and have fun.”

Krebs is the Golden Knights’ top prospect, a smooth-skating playmaker who shone in the Western Hockey League with the Winnipeg Ice this season. He was the captain of the Canadian World Juniors team and considered one of the better prospects in the league.

If he does dress for a game this year, he would be the youngest Golden Knight to ever do so, and the first teenager.

Even with all those credentials, his inclusion in Golden Knights’ camp was a bit of a surprise. The Golden Knights had 14 forwards on regular rotation in the regular season, and with everyone healthy, Krebs is at best the 15th option for one of the 12 slots for a game.

But there’s value in having a hotshot prospect around the big club, even if he doesn’t play.

The Golden Knights added former top prospect Cody Glass to the expanded playoff roster in 2018, and there’s a chance Krebs could do even more than that.

“He’s an elite young player that at worst is going to get great experience,” McCrimmon said. “This isn’t about player development, this isn’t about public relations or ‘it’s a nice story,’ we brought people to camp that can help win a Stanley Cup game.”

In other words, Krebs wouldn’t be around if there was zero chance of him playing this summer. He was chosen for the roster over a few players with NHL experience this year. Neither Brandon Pirri nor Valentin Zykov are in camp.

Tuesday was also the first time coach Peter DeBoer saw him in person.

“I’ve seen the point totals, I saw a little bit of tape on him last year, but until you put him out there with NHL players, you don’t know how they’re going to fit in or how they’re going to react,” DeBoer said. “I think the best compliment I can give him is he didn’t look out of place at all in that group.”

He’s started to fit in already and has leaned on a star player for advice. Krebs lived with Mark Stone during his rehab in the fall, and now that his quarantine time has ended, he’s moving back in with the veteran winger for the duration of camp.

It’s a familiar situation for Stone, who has taken on a mentor role with other players in the past. While in Ottawa, Stone welcomed first-round pick Brady Tkachuk to live with him, and the pair are still close.

“He’s been a guy I’ve been texting lots, just have fun and do what I can,” Krebs said of Stone. “It’s my first camp, so (Stone's saying), ‘Don’t put any pressure on yourself.’ So just go out there and work hard.” 1188348 Vegas Golden Knights

VGK’s Robin Lehner On COVID-19 Era: ‘You’ve Got To Have Something To Look Forward To’

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Players across sports and leagues have voiced various thoughts on playing during a COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of nearly 137,000 Americans.

Some players like Washington Nationals’ first baseman Ryan Zimmerman have opted out.

But Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner said he’s all in and supports the games going on during the novel coronavirus. Lehner’s team is among 24 NHL clubs in the Stanley Cup tournament that begins Aug. 1 in the bubble hub cities of Edmonton for the Western Conference teams and Toronto for the East teams.

Robin Lehner

Lehner, who has been open and public about his mental health issues, said during a media press session Wednesday that sports leagues holding games is important because it’s tough on mental health if you do’t have anything to look forward to. Here’s Lehner discussing the topic:

Las Vegas hockey writer Danny Webster posted this on Twitter on Lehner’s comments:

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said he is not concerned about playing during the COVID-19 era.

“We’re in good hands,” McNabb said in a zoom session following practice at City National Arena in Downtown Summerlin Wednesday.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is WNBA superstar Elena Delle- Donne, who suffers from Lyme disease and was denied a health exemption by the WNBA’s panel of doctors.

She penned an online commentary for The Players Tribune on the fact she takes 64 pills a day to deal with Lyme disease. Here’s an excerpt about the WNBA denying her the health exemption:

“A few days later, the league’s panel of doctors — without ever once speaking to me or to either of my doctors — informed me that they were denying my request for a health exemption.

“I’m now left with two choices: I can either risk my life….. or forfeit my paycheck.

“Honestly? That hurts.

“It hurts a lot. And maybe being hurt just makes me naive. And I know that, as athletes, we’re not really supposed to talk about our feelings. But feelings are pretty much all I have left right now. I don’t have NBA player money. I don’t have the desire to go to war with the league on this. And I can’t appeal.”

You can read her Players Tribune story here.

Delle Donne

Delle Donne’s Washington team knocked out the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals last season en route to the Mystics winning the WNBA title.

Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said the team’s medical staff has done a good job educating VGK players on the coronavirus and how to deal with playing in a bubble.

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188349 Washington Capitals “It’s important that our game is starting to head in the right direction,” Reirden said.

Washington Times LOADED: 07.16.2020 After being stuck in rut, time off for Capitals could be an advantage

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 15, 2020

T.J. Oshie sat down at a table to participate in an online video press conference and enthusiastically yelled out, “Let’s go!” In normal times, a routine interaction with the media likely would have not prompted such as reaction from the Washington Capitals winger, but on this occasion, it was another sign that hockey is close to resuming.

The Capitals began taking the ice as a team this week, returning to practice at MedStar Capitals IcePlex in Arlington. Later this month, they’ll travel to Toronto as part of the NHL’s 24-team restart. They even have a schedule, with their first game set for Aug. 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It can be hard to remember now, with the NHL season halted for four months due to the coronavirus pandemic. But before the stoppage, the Capitals were in a rut — losing 10 of their last 15.

The time off gave Washington a chance to reset, and for coach Todd Reirden that meant finding ways to better incorporate his new players.

In February, the Capitals acquired defenseman Brenden Dillon and winger Ilya Kovalchuk before the trade deadline. The deals, on paper, addressed weaknesses for Washington, but the on-ice transition wasn’t the smoothest.

Now, instead of the Capitals trying to figure it out on the fly, Reirden has weeks to incorporate the two with a training camp and scrimmages before the season restarts.

Reirden called the added practices “an advantage.”

“It’s like starting a new season for them,” Reirden said. “And now they’re comfortable with how we practice, how we train off the ice, different things we do within our room, fitting in with guys, I just think that they both seem a lot more comfortable and that’s exciting because they both have a great really strong pedigrees in terms of leadership and their ability to have a strong voice in our locker room.

“That’s something that we felt we wanted to add in addition to their playing ability.”

A physical presence, Dillon was brought in from San Jose to help shore up an inconsistent blue line. Michal Kempny, a year after tearing his hamstring, struggled to regain the form that proved to be so valuable to the Capitals throughout their Stanley Cup run in 2018. Offseason acquisition Radko Gudas started the year strong, but his play declined to the point in which he was completely out of the lineup before the stoppage.

Kovalchuk, meanwhile, was added to help boost Washington’s bottom six. The Capitals are the 37-year-old’s third team this season as he spent the first few months with the Los Angeles Kings and the Montreal Canadiens. Through seven games with Washington, Kovalchuk recorded four points (one goal, three assists).

On a video conference call, Kovalchuk said he is “way more comfortable” being around Washington now and having practices to get up to speed.

“The second time around, it’s much easier when you know the guys and the coaching staff and the system,” Kovalchuk said. “It’s nice to be feeling familiar with everything.”

Besides incorporating Dillon and Kovalchuk, Reirden will have to make roster decisions to get ready for Toronto as Washington has 31 players in camp, an increase from the usual 23 it carries for the season. Before the Capitals begin the playoffs, they will participate in three conference games to determine postseason seeding.

Reirden said he’ll use those games to possibly evaluate players such as Conor McMichael, Washington’s first-round pick from 2019 who was added to the team’s training camp roster. Reirden said it is a possibility that McMichael could play — if he earns a spot. 1188350 Washington Capitals

Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov left out of Calder Trophy finalists

By Lia Assimakopoulos July 15, 2020 3:11 PM

When the NHL announced the 2019-20 Calder Memorial Trophy finalists on Wednesday, Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov did not make the list, despite an incredible rookie season.

The honor bestowed to the NHL’s rookie of the year will either go to Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes, Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar or Chicago Blackhawks' Dominik Kubalik. And while those three are all incredibly deserving of the award, Samsonov’s rookie performance couldn’t have left him far out of the running.

Samsonov posted a 16-6-2 record in his rookie season, starting 22 of the 26 games he played. He recorded 689 saves on the year, allowed 2.55 goals per game and charted a .913 save percentage overall.

However, Samsonov’s most impressive feat was his 11-game win streak that lasted from Nov. 30 to Jan. 31. After starting with a 5-2-1 record, he went on to win his next 11 games, posting a .936 save percentage across those matchups. He is just the third rookie ever to do so and one of four goalies to ever win 16 of their first 20 career games.

Despite his impressive run, Samsonov was not selected as a finalist over the other three star rookies. Hughes led all rookie with 53 points (as a defenseman) and became just the third rookie to ever do so. He recorded 21:53 of ice time on average –– the second most of any Canucks player.

Makar missed some time this season, playing just 57 games, but still managed to finish second in points for rookies behind Hughes. He averaged .88 points per game as a defenseman –– a rare achievement for a rookie only accomplished twice before.

Finally, Kubalik led all rookies with 30 goals in 68 games. While he isn’t favored to win the award, he certainly posted an impressive stat line this season.

Each of the finalists’ teams will take part in the 24-team Stanley Cup Qualifiers starting at the end of the month, allowing their star rookies to showcase their talent once more. A winner will be announced during the Conference Finals.

Samsonov’s rough patch toward the end of the regular season where he was winless in his final six games didn’t help his case. But his impressive accomplishments early this year are noteworthy.

Additionally, a goaltender has not won the Calder Trophy since Steve Mason in 2008-09.

Alex Ovechkin was the only Capital to ever win the award in 2005-06. Nicklas Backstrom, Jim Carey, Scott Stevens and Ryan Walter were all runners-up.

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The biggest ‘what ifs’ in Capitals history: What if Lars Eller never scored the 2OT goal?

By J.J. Regan July 15, 2020 2:06 PM

This week NBC Sports Washington is looking at some of the biggest “what ifs” for the Capitals. Last week, we looked at what ifs for the season. This week, we are looking at some of the bigger what ifs from franchise history.

Today’s what-if: What if Lars Eller had not delivered the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Lars Eller scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights, but that arguably was not the most important goal he scored during that 2018 postseason.

Down 2-0 in the first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Eller scored the double-overtime winner to give Washington its first win. It was a fluky one that bounced off a number of body parts on its way into the net, but it still counted. But what if he had not scored that goal and the Caps had lost Game 3?

While Washington was able to erase a 2-0 deficit to win four straight against Columbus and win the series, it’s hard to believe they could have done the same thing if down 3-0. At that time, despair would have started to sink in.

In terms of moves head coach Barry Trotz could have made, he would have had to get creative because the standard panic move of a goalie change would not cut it. Philipp Grubauer started Games 1 and 2 and was replaced by Braden Holtby in Game 3. Going back to Grubauer was not a realistic option at that point. Chances are, Washington would have suffered a first-round exit.

Considering Trotz left after winning a Stanley Cup, it is hard to imagine him staying after a first-round exit. So with another year of falling short of expectations in the postseason and in need of a new head coach, this is the point where I believe Brian MacLellan would have had to seriously consider dismantling the team.

I don’t think there was ever a scenario where Alex Ovechkin would be traded considering what he means to the franchise, but I think everyone else would have been on the table. After all, by 2018 what reason would the team have to believe the core was good enough to make a deep playoff run? It had not done it after four seasons with Trotz and about as loaded a lineup as a team can have.

It would not have meant the end of the Ovechkin era as he would have stayed, but it probably would have meant the end in terms of the Ovechkin-led Caps pursuing a Cup. By that time, it would have been clear it was time to start over and it would have meant a very long 2018 offseason.

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Capitals top prospect Connor McMichael an option to play in postseason, according to Todd Reirden

By J.J. Regan July 15, 2020 4:00 PM

When it comes to the playoffs, rarely do black aces generate much excitement. Black aces are players a team recalls from the minors to serve as depth/practice players during the postseason. Most of them are brought in with the expectation that they won't play and, even if they do, it is only out of necessity. And then there are players like Connor McMichael.

The Caps' first-round draft pick from 2019, McMichael is coming off a brilliant season in the OHL with the where be recorded 102 points in 52 games. Teams will often bring up players they see as future NHLers to serve as black aces even if they are not going to play, just for the experience of being with the team during the postseason. After a productive training camp in September, it is no surprise to see McMichael back with the Caps as the team prepares for the playoffs.

"It was really cool, just coming in and seeing all the pros like [Alex Ovechkin], [Nicklas Backstrom] and those guys, guys I grew up watching," McMichael said. "It was really cool to be around them and to see how they approach the game every single day. So, I took a lot of that back to London. Just here, black acing it, it's a cool experience watching them play in the playoffs and how they treat their bodies every day to be ready to go. So, I'm really excited."

In a typical season, there were be essentially no chance the 19-year-old, 181-pound McMichael would get into the lineup. But this is not a typical season.

The first three games for Washington will be round robin games and, though they matter in terms of seeding, they don't matter in terms of being do-or-die. The Caps could lose all three games and still be in the playoffs. Because of that, it leaves head coach Todd Reirden the opportunity to experiment with his lineup if he chooses. Could that leave an opening for McMichael to possibly crack the lineup for a game?

It's not a subject the coaches have breached with the young forward just yet.

"No, they haven't talked to me about that too much," McMichael said. "The coaches were just telling everyone to be ready. You never know what can happen in the playoffs. You need depth in the playoffs, especially. I'm just ready to go whenever I get my name called."

When asked if McMichael could possibly play in the postseason, however, Reirden made clear that he wouldn't be with the team if he wasn't seen as at least an option.

I AM THE PROSPECT: CONNOR MCMICHAEL'S PATH TO THE NHL

"I think that's something that we're going to continue to evaluate," Reirden said. "If we didn't think that he was an option to be able to be played then that would be a player we wouldn't probably bring to the hub city with us. He's going to be there and he's going to be in Toronto, then to me, he's an option because so many things can change so quickly with what's going to happen inside this bubble."

Lars Eller has already expressed his intention to leave the bubble for the birth of his second child which will force the team to replace him in the lineup. Also, the longer the Caps go in the playoffs, the more likely it is that there will be an injury somewhere forcing in someone else. If that opportunity comes along for McMichael, he said he will be ready.

"I'm just really happy to be here," McMichael said. "I'm going to do everything to prove to the coaches that I can play in the lineup and, if not, I'll always be ready in case someone gets hurt or other things happen. So, I'm just really excited to be here and it should be really fun."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188353 Washington Capitals "I think we decide pretty early that I was going to go over myself," Backstrom said. "We liked our setup better for my fiancee and kids to stay back in Sweden there. It wasn't really a long conversation."

How Capitals players grappled with the decision of whether to opt out of But even with all the extra precautions being taken by the players and the 2020 postseason with coronavirus cases spiking in various parts of the country, still not one Capitals player opted out.

The NHL and NHL Players' Association negotiated health and safety By J.J. Regan July 15, 2020 6:00 AM protocols in great detail for the 2020 return to play plan. The players seem to be very satisfied with the results given that the league needed

the NHLPA to approve the protocols in order to return to play. Monday's 5 p.m. deadline came and went and, though a handful of "I think everybody’s in a different situation at home with families and stuff players around the league decided to opt out of the 2020 postseason, and the one constant is that it’s an infectious disease and anybody can none of the Capitals players did. But don't mistake this to mean it was an get it," Tom Wilson said, who is the team's player rep for the NHLPA. "I easy decision. For perhaps the first time in their lives, the players had to think we had to be confident in the protocols. We had to be confident that honestly ask themselves if they wanted to play hockey and whether it the league and the PA were taking all the different measures to make was even possible to play the sport they love without putting the people sure we’d be as safe as possible." they love at risk. in the end, the players are back because they believe they can safely "I think for me, we went through every single thing the NHLPA and the conclude the season given the protocols put in place by the NHL and NHL threw at you since day one in terms of the health risks and NHLPA. The question is, are they right? everything and you're weighing your options," Carl Hagelin said. "Obviously we all love hockey and we want it back and if we can do it "I think around the league a lot of guys had their own personal situations, now and we're all very strict about this, I think we can make it happen," whether it was their families or just how their last couple months have Backstrom said. "We all want sports back and we want to do what we been," Brenden Dillon said. "I think for us as NHL players we respect any love, you know?" decision made regarding that." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2020 It wasn't a difficult question for everyone.

"I'm pretty sure my wife support me, it doesn't matter what decision I will make," Ovechkin said, "But obviously I miss hockey and they miss hockey so for me it's not even a question to skip it or play."

Winning a Stanley Cup was of course a factor for many players.

When the 2020 postseason gets underway, almost five months will have passed since the league paused the season. With 24 teams in the postseason and over a full offseason break between games, there is a feeling that the Cup is truly up for grabs.

That is not something that players took lightly, but the pursuit of the Cup is not the only factor the players had to think about considering playing could potentially put one's family at risk.

"A lot of thoughts going into the decision, weighing the pros and cons," Lars Eller said. "For me personally, we're going to have a new addition to our family here in a couple weeks. I don't know when it's going to happen, but it's going to happen. But at the same time, I want to be with my team and also committed to that and want to win another Cup."

Eller's baby, his second child, is due Aug. 8. He said Tuesday that he intends to leave the bubble to be there for the birth.

Carl Hagelin is in a similar situation with his second child due in September.

"I spoke to my wife too and she said as long as you come back when the kid is born, you're welcome to leave," Hagelin said. "She knows hockey is a big part of my life and it's a big part of our family's life and so we have an opportunity here to win the Stanley Cup and that's the goal right now."

It's a tricky tightrope that the NHL players are now forced to walk, trying to balance the safety of their families with their desire to get back on the ice.

While Ovechkin may have been adamant that whether to play or not was "not even a question," he was also very clear that he felt safety was the top priority.

"That's the most important thing for us right now to get safe," Ovechkin said. "I think for right now in this type of situation, you have to be careful, you have to be 100-percent sure you're not going to get COVID and you're not going to bring it to your families."

While they may not have opted out, concerns over safety have led to some players and even team personnel to make significant sacrifices. Head coach Todd Reirden and his wife decided it was best for her to take their immunodeficient son, Travis, to Valparaiso, Ind. while Reirden went back to practice. Nicklas Backstrom left his family back in Sweden when he returned for training camp. 1188354 Winnipeg Jets They're admittedly a bit biased, but members of the Jets have no doubt who the best goaltender in the NHL is. The three Vezina Trophy finalists will be announced Friday morning, and it would be a shock not to mention a travesty, if Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck isn't one of Maurice has Jets roster all set them.

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is thought to be a favourite to win the Vezina trophy this season. Mike McIntyre "I think he wins the Vezina, no doubt. He's a heck of a teammate and

obviously a great goaltender," defenceman Neal Pionk said Wednesday. Paul Maurice was being honest — he wasn't all that impressed by what "Obviously Bucky’s going to be a finalist, for sure. He should take it home he saw from his troops during their first two days back on the ice. It was with the body of work he had this year," added blue-liner Nathan nothing personal, just a product of a four-month layoff due to the COVID- Beaulieu. "This was my first skate with him today, but he does not look 19 pandemic. like he missed a beat at all." But the Winnipeg Jets head coach said any concerns he might have had Hellebuyck was nominated for the honour following the 2017-18 season were put to rest following a much more cohesive, up-tempo skate on but was beaten out by Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators. This Wednesday. year's winner will be announced in October following completion of the "Today was the first one I enjoyed," said Maurice. "We got back to drills playoffs. The award is voted on by the league's 31 general managers. that they've done before, so it was way faster. We got to some banging. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.16.2020 We'll start to add players and lines to each group. When you put four lines on the ice like we did today, they can go harder longer. They got a better work-to-rest ratio, so they drive harder in all the drills."

Maurice switched up the groups, with the early one comprised of just five skaters and two defencemen. It included forwards Jansen Harkins, David Gustafsson, C.J. Suess, Logan Shaw and Mark Letestu and blue-liners Sami Niku and Carl Dahlstrom, who are all competing for depth positions.

For the main group, the coach had 13 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders — essentially his full lineup along with a couple of extra bodies. Goalie Laurent Brossoit and defencemen Anthony Bitetto, Nelson Nogier and Logan Stanley all missed a third straight day for undisclosed reasons beyond being "unfit to practice."

"We're going to have injuries, so all of these guys are going to get a chance. What they do between now and that opportunity opening up — the depth chart on that could change. But in terms of where we're at right now and I say, 'OK these are the 12 guys I'm most likely starting with up front, and these are the six guys that I'm most likely starting with (on defence),' I've got that set. You would have to have that set when training camp comes. And then you are watching those extra guys very close. Who's 13, right? Who's the seventh defenceman? Well, that will play itself out here going into (playing) Calgary," said Maurice.

The Jets plan to skate again Thursday and Friday, take Saturday off, and then ramp up for week two, which will include scrimmages. They'll head to the hub city of Edmonton on July 26, play an exhibition game against the Vancouver Canucks on July 29, and will start their best-of-five qualifying series against the Flames on Aug. 1.

The Jets will be all over the map when it comes to playoff game times, with 9:30 p.m.,1:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. puck drops set for the first three games, which will be held over a four-day span inside an empty Rogers Place. That will make it difficult to get into a normal routine in a situation that is anything but typical.

"We don't even know the rest of the whole schedule, what our practice day times are, what morning skate times look like, so we aren't right now able to build out what we think that final week is going to look like yet in terms of off days and all of it. We're still waiting. We're comfortable with that. We feel that that's part of the challenge and we'll use the word opportunity," said Maurice.

Speaking of abnormal, the veteran bench boss had a good zinger when asked about the bubble atmosphere for the playoffs, where teams will be staying in the same hotel as their opponents.

"If you had laid that scenario out to me 20 years ago, I would say there’s a better chance of a fist fight in the lobby than a collective video game being played across team," said Maurice, who turned to two members of the club's communications team. Scott Brown and Greger Buer, for help during the Zoom interview.

"Give me a video game that’s popular so I can finish this sentence. Fortnite is still good? There are three old guys in the room and we still think Fortnite is good. You know what, there could be this big tournament going on between teams, I don’t know is the answer. But it will be unique, I know that," he said. 1188355 Winnipeg Jets point I was probably next on the list to suit up. It wasn’t always pretty, that’s for sure.

An exhausted Connor Hellebuyck, from the gallery, attached to an IV: I Jury still out on the Winnipeg Jets defence can vouch for that!

Huddy: Fortunately, we’ve made some big strides. Tucker Poolman, who started the year on the top unit with Morrissey, moved down into a more Mike McIntyre comfortable role where he’s not always up against the other team’s best. He found instant chemistry with Nathan Beaulieu, a true heart-and-soul

guy who’s been to hell and back this season, with not one, not two, but Winnipeg Jets' assistant coach Charlie Huddy talks to Dmitry Kulikov at three different bone breaks. Seriously, did he walk under a ladder as a practice. The Jets defence has been suspect all season long but some black cat crossed in front of him? I suggest that duo is the best third may argue that their best hockey lies ahead of them. pairing we’ve had all season. Beaulieu said so himself on Wednesday.

All rise! The Supreme Court of Puck is now in session. The honourable Tucker Poolman has proven that he's comfortable in a third-pairing role Justices Trouba, Myers and Chiarot are presiding. Unfortunately Justice with the Jets. Byfuglien won’t be joining us today. He’s apparently tied up with a fishing Beaulieu: "I like playing with Pools a lot. think we ended the season derby in Lac du Bonnet. probably with our two best games together. We were just kind of building Mr. Huddy, the prosecution has made a pretty compelling argument that chemistry, that was the first time we really played together. I think against your clients. You face a daunting task to convince us otherwise. we’re both comfortable with each other, I think we both complement each Please proceed with the case for the Winnipeg Jets defence. And a word other’s game pretty well. Both pretty big guys and we know our role on of warning: We won’t tolerate any outbursts, especially from you, Mr. this team. So I think me and Tucks are a perfect situation." Maurice. Huddy: Pools. Tucks. Isn’t that adorable? I’ve saved perhaps the best for Paul Maurice, being led away by sheriff’s officers including his long-time last, and would like to conclude by presenting to you the proverbial nemesis, referee François St-Laurent: %&@$*!!! smoking gun, the star witness in these proceedings.

Charlie Huddy: Gentlemen, what you have before you is a classic case of *The courtroom door swings open. Dylan DeMelo enters the room to mistaken identity. Where some may want you to believe my clients are audible gasps, including Eugene Melnyk in disguise* guilty of dereliction of duty and general incompetence — some in the Huddy: I’m not sure what they’re smoking in Ottawa, but they practically court of public opinion had the audacity to call them, gasp, AHL-quality at gave us this guy for nothing before the trade deadline. What a bunch of various points this season — I’m going to show you there’s much more chumps. And he’s been a perfect fit, jumping up to form a terrific than meets the eye here. In fact, by the end of my submission I suspect shutdown pair with Morrissey. A real game-changer if you ask me, or you’ll be singing their praises. several of his colleagues. Let’s start with Josh Morrissey. The guy is a stud, the type of elite, two- Beaulieu: "I think it’s definitely helped calm the storm a bit. You know way blue-liner any team would be lucky to have. Have there been a few what you’re going to get from Dylan, he’s a very simple player. Having bumps along the way this season? Sure, but that’s what happens when that extra right-handed shot is big, too. A lot of guys, me, Sbisa, even you have to break in a new partner due to circumstances beyond his (Bitetto) too, ran through playing on the right side. So that’s a big thing, control. having that. That’s kind of a calming aspect. And I think he’ll help our Trouba: Objection! Sustained! penalty kill, too, for sure. He’s a smart player, he makes simple plays. So all around it’s going to help the group in more ways than one." Huddy: As I was saying, we’re lucky to have Mr. Morrissey here in Winnipeg, and he has taken on new responsibilities as an alternate Huddy: Add it all up, and I’m sure you can see there’s a lot more that captain, tied his career high in points prior to the COVID-19 pause and is meets the eye when it comes to the defence. Sleep on them at your own a major part of the future after signing an eight-year, US$50-million peril. And with a Vezina Trophy favourite in net and all kinds of firepower contract last fall. What’s not to love? up front, the Jets are going to be one difficult out in the upcoming playoffs. Myers and Chiarot turn to each and mutter under their breath: Sheesh, no wonder Chevy couldn’t afford to keep us. I rest my case.

Huddy: Now, let me show you exhibit P — as in Neal Pionk. Plenty of Trouba, Myers and Chiarot following a brief huddle: After reviewing the folks around these parts were ready to write this guy off as a bust before evidence before us, we are left with no choice but to reserve our verdict. he had even set foot in town. Some were declaring the trade for him a Come back to us later this summer, or perhaps early in the fall if you’re massive heist for the New York Rangers. But as the evidence shows, Mr. lucky. Pionk has some serious game. Did you know only 10 defencemen in the The jury, you could say, is still out. NHL had more than his 45 points? If a theft occurred, it’s getting him from the Big Apple and signing him to a team-friendly US$3-million deal. Byfuglien, entering the court on an ATV wearing hip waders and carrying a string of walleye: Hey guys, sorry I’m late. Did I miss anything? As for the older, more expensive guy that went the other way in the deal... Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.16.2020 Trouba: Objection! Sustained!

Myers and Chiarot, both smirking: Overruled. Please continue.

Huddy: I’ll move on. Dmitry Kulikov was a guy many were writing off heading into the season. Not only did he stay mostly healthy, the veteran played some of the best hockey of his career and was a stabilizing force on the battered back end. Just listen to the testimony of his regular partner, Pionk, following Wednesday’s practice.

Pionk: "I think some of the keys for us is talking, not only on the ice but off the ice, too. I think we’ve done a good job of that, whether it’s him coming to me and making a suggestion or me going to him and making a suggestion, we’ve been really fluid with that. It only takes a couple of days to pick back up on his tendencies."

Huddy: As for the third pair, I’ll be the first to admit it’s been a bit of a work in progress. Guys like Luca Sbisa, Sami Niku, Carl Dahlstrom and Anthony Bitetto rotated in and out. Heck, we were so desperate at one 1188356 Winnipeg Jets "That’s the dream, to play in the Olympics, it doesn’t matter which sport. Obviously been to the world championships once, done all the world juniors and stuff, so that would be kind of the next step in a Finnish jersey. That would be pretty sweet," said Laine. Laine scraping off some rust Laine is still adjusting to another in a long line of new centres to play with, this time in the form of trade-deadline acquisition Cody Eakin. Along with Ehlers, the trio developed some chemistry as the Jets rattled off four By: Mike McIntyre | Posted: 07/15/2020 7:15 PM straight wins before the season came to a halt.

"He’s a great player. I think he was a good addition, something we I’m not sure what was better — the wicked wrister Patrik Laine used to definitely needed since (Bryan Little) has been out. So that was great for score on goalie Eric Comrie during practice Wednesday, or the blistering us and he’s been on some winning teams, so that’s good for us," said shot he took at good buddy Nikolaj Ehlers when asked about the Laine. gorgeous, no-look, behind-the-back pass that found him all alone in the And now the focus for Laine is on getting his on-ice game as sharp as his slot. off-ice one is. "That was all me. You always need somebody who puts it in the back of "I don’t think we’re going to worry too much about the Flames. We’re just the net. The play dies if I don’t score, so that’s all me," Laine deadpanned going to play our game. It’s going to be different hockey but we’re all in following his team’s third day of summer training at Bell MTS Iceplex. the same boat. Just try to worry about what we’re going to do out there It’s safe to say Laine’s usual wit is in fine form, even if he admits it’s and not worry too much about what they’re going to do. That’s the way going to take a bit more time to get himself up to speed on the ice we’re going to be successful." following a four-month layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.16.2020 several other Finnish players, he took a charter to New York a couple weeks ago, then jumped on a plane to Minneapolis and drove the rest of the way to Winnipeg in time for a week-long quarantine prior to camp.

"Still kind of far away. It’s kind of hard to see myself playing playoff hockey in two weeks, but just try to make the most out of it and try to be as well prepared as I and as we can, and just try to work hard these next couple of weeks so we’ll be ready when the puck drops," said Laine, who noted his golf game is in pretty good shape and down to a five handicap.

The Jets will face off against the Calgary Flames in a best-of-five qualifying round series beginning Aug. 1 in the hub city of Edmonton. The play of Laine, who was on pace for a career-high in points prior to the pandemic pause, will likely go a long way to determining Winnipeg’s ultimate fate.

With Laine, Ehlers, captain Blake Wheeler, centre Mark Scheifele and leading goal scorer Kyle Connor, the Jets have one of the deepest top five forward groups in the league. Laine, with 28 goals and a career-best 35 assists in 68 games, can be an instant game-breaker with the flick of his wrists.

"It’s been a pretty good season. All the stats and ice times have been up, but always looking for more responsibilities and try to be worth it. I think I’ve been able to show everybody that I’m capable of playing top minutes and against top players. Hopefully I’m going to get more responsibilities in the future and just try to be worth it," he said.

Whether Laine ultimately gets what he feels is his true worth is another question entirely. While Connor grabbed a seven-year, US$50-million deal last fall, Laine opted for a two-year bridge contract that pays him US$6.75 million per season. In essence, he was betting on himself and the belief that a much bigger payday would be down the road.

But that was pre-COVID, when the salary cap was expected to grow significantly. Now, the best-case scenario is for it to remain flat for the coming years, and that could put the squeeze on players such as Laine.

If he’s sweating it, the Finnish sniper isn’t showing it.

"I just work here. I don’t worry about it too much," said Laine, who added he barely paid any attention to the details of last week’s four-year CBA extension that runs through the 2025-26 season and includes a financial blueprint for the future. He’s quite content to leave the heavy lifting to his agent.

"No idea... didn’t check it out at all. So I have no idea what’s in there. I only saw the escrows, but that’s pretty much it. Wasn’t too into it," he said.

Laine did take note of the fact NHL players will participate in the 2022 and 2026 Olympics after not being allowed to go in 2018.

"It’s awesome. I haven’t been able to go to the Olympics yet, so that was definitely great news. That’s already exciting for me and obviously for everybody as well. So yeah, looking forward to that tournament for sure — if I make the team," he said.

Yeah, pretty sure you don’t have to worry about that, Patrik. 1188357 Winnipeg Jets “I think I’ve been able to show everybody that I’m capable of playing top minutes and against top players,” he said. “Hopefully I’m going to get more responsibilities in the future and just try to be worth it.”

Laine's game like lost luggage: 'Still far away' The future is less than two weeks away.

OLY RETURN FINN-TASTIC

Paul Friesen Getting NHL players back into the Olympics has Laine fired up about his chances of representing his homeland some day.

“That’s the dream,” he said. “Been at the world champs once, done all Patrik Laine showed some mid-season form in practice and in an the World Juniors and stuff, so that would be the next step in a Finnish interview on Wednesday. jersey. That would be pretty sweet.”

As for hitting playoff form within two weeks, the Winnipeg Jets winger As part of the return-to-play deal, the NHL and players union agreed to a isn’t so sure. four-year extension to their collective bargaining agreement that includes participation in the Olympics. Laine made it back from Finland OK, but his game apparently missed a connection. And his thoughts on the rest of the CBA?

“Still kind of far away,” was No. 29’s brutally honest assessment after “No idea. Didn’t check out it at all,” Laine said. “I only saw the escrows. Day 3 of camp. “It’s kind of hard to see myself playing playoff hockey in But that’s pretty much it.” two weeks.” Escrow is the percentage of player salaries held back every year until the They’re actually calling it “qualifying round” hockey. final revenue and salary-cap numbers come in.

But if the Jets aren’t ready for their best-of-five series with Calgary, “I just work here,” Laine said. “I don’t worry about it too much.” beginning Aug. 1 in Edmonton, they’ll go right back to their COVID-19 summer. HEALTHY, AT LAST

Laine says his golf handicap is around five, but that doesn’t mean he’d The pandemic shutdown had some benefits for someone like Beaulieu, rather tee off on the links than on a few more NHL opponents on the road who suffered three different broken bones this season. to the Stanley Cup. “After about a month and a half into the quarantine, I couldn’t believe how Laine couldn’t get ice time back home until the last two weeks he was good my body felt,” Beaulieu said. “Feeling healthy is very satisfying right there, so there’s some work to do for the Jets’ most gifted scorer. now.”

“Obviously we’ve got to get our legs and hands back,” he said. “Just try Beaulieu says the biggest mental adjustment to the playoff tournament to get up and down as quick as we can and touch as many pucks we will be playing without fans in the building. can, but at the same time be determined and just try to practice the way “A lot of players, you feed off of it, especially here in Winnipeg with the we want to play in the playoffs.” crowd,” he said. “That’s going to take some getting used to, for sure.” He showed good hands on one drill, finishing off a nifty, behind-the-back Beaulieu is a pending free agent, but insists that’s not even on his mind. pass from Nik Ehlers. “This is going to be a very unique situation, and there’s going to be so He also showed his sarcastic tongue hasn’t lost its bite when he was many things that are distractions that there’s no time to even think about asked about the play. that stuff. It will always sort itself out, the business side of it. Right now “You always need somebody who puts it in the back of the net,” he said. it’s just strictly worrying about winning.” “The play dies if I don’t score, so that’s all me.” BEST SHINNY EVER? Head coach Paul Maurice, more interested in sharp skills than a sharp Maurice put on his salesman’s hat on Wednesday and came up with this wit, says he hasn’t minded what he has seen over Laine’s first three pitch on the post-season tournament. days. “There’s no travel. In some ways, this could be some of the best hockey “He kind of looks exactly like everybody else,” Maurice said. “There’s a that you’ve ever seen,” he said. “If we can knock the rust off … you’ve spectrum of where I thought they would be based on how much ice time got playoff hockey and nobody is getting off the plane at three o’clock in they had had in whatever city they were in. I don’t think anybody looks the morning. You’ve got guys who are singularly focused, there’s no the way they’re going to in about two weeks.” distractions.” You’ll recall Laine went into the season on the heels of a contract Then again, there could be all kinds of distractions. We’ll see. stalemate that caused him to miss camp. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.16.2020 He put together a 28-goal, 35-assist regular season (in 68 games) that reversed his career goal-assist ratio and revealed an entirely different side to his game.

A more rugged, two-way side that new teammates had no idea existed.

“My impression when I was playing in New York was that he could shoot the puck,” defenceman Neal Pionk said. “I think the first time playing against him he had two or three goals against us.”

Former Hab Nathan Beaulieu had a similar impression from a distance.

“You see him on the highlights always pounding pucks into the back of the net,” Beaulieu recalled. “I think he always had it in his game, his playmaking ability. He played a little bit meaner, a little grittier this season. You’ve got to remember, he’s still a young player and his game’s going to complete itself. But if you ask anyone around this hockey team, he took a huge step last season, for sure, to be a more all-around player.”

Laine wanted more ice time and responsibility to match his bigger contract this season and he got it. 1188358 Winnipeg Jets The coach plans to remind players what they’ve gone through to get here. Repeatedly.

“Quite a bit,” Maurice said. “Not so much on Day 1. We’re not going to Adversity in their pocket, 'strong-headed' Jets eye COVID Cup give our best speeches then. We want to build. But we will reference our year a fair amount … it got to the point where it was almost comical, with some of the things we were going through.

Paul Friesen “We will reference the will, the spirit and the determination that our team showed daily … and try to use that.”

Use it to prepare for the great unknown. The chase for the COVID Cup, a One by one, they’ve sat down for Zoom calls, all with the same answer to bubble-wrapped, 24-team, two-city, multiple-games-per-day spectacle the question of playing hockey during a global crisis. that isn’t likely to go off without a hitch or three. Where do we sign up? If it goes off at all. Three days into Camp Pandemic, members of the Winnipeg Jets have Where do we sign up? been unanimous: The chase for the 2020 Stanley Cup far outweighs any concerns about COVID-19. SHOUT-OUT TO TEAM TOBA

“I can only speak for myself, but it was a no-brainer,” defenceman Manitoba’s pristine handling of the pandemic has provided Jets players Nathan Beaulieu, taking his turn in the Zoom chair, said on Wednesday. an oasis of calm in an otherwise chaotic world. “I don’t have a family, so I know that’s going to be very tough for guys, especially guys with young kids. But I think in this locker room we’re all After travelling from all over the world to get to Winnipeg for a two-week committed to the same goal and we were playing such good hockey at training camp, they see the COVID-19 numbers here and the cleaning the end.” regimen inside their bubble and can breathe easily.

That seems to be the fuel: A four-game win streak before the shutdown “Our medical staff and the province of Manitoba have done an that had the Jets playing their best hockey of a topsy-turvy, injury-riddled outstanding job of keeping this under control,” defenceman Nathan season. Beaulieu said. “Big shout-out to all Manitobans, it’s been pretty impressive. Our training staff has done a great job of keeping everything Fellow defenceman Neal Pionk and sniper Patrik Laine echoed clean. They have to work twice as hard for us to stay safe, but I feel like Beaulieu’s feelings on Wednesday. everyone in this locker room feels very comfortable with the situation right now.” Pionk, the former New York Ranger, has the added incentive of playing in his first Stanley Cup tournament after the best regular season of his Getting here was the tricky part. The risky part. brief NHL career. Patrik Laine took a private jet to New York with his fellow countrymen “It’s pretty fun,” the 24-year-old Duluth, Minn., resident said. “Obviously from Finland, then flew to Minneapolis to start skating and finally drove to I’ve never been through this, so going into a unique situation, no doubt. Winnipeg. Obviously when the season first got paused and we were told that we weren’t going to be back for a while, you kind of relax a little bit. “It’s always kind of stressful,” Laine said of the travel. “Since there’s a lot of cases all over the world and you’ve got to go through airports where “But now that we’re back at it, I carry that momentum into playoffs.” you meet a lot of people. But it went pretty well without issues, so that was good.” It seems after surviving all the adversity — the early Dustin Byfuglien bombshell, Bryan Little’s season-ending injury and a steady stream of Four players still haven’t hit the ice — goalie Laurent Brossoit, along with other ailments — the Jets feel a bit like a young man taking his new defencemen Anthony Bitetto, Nelson Nogier and Logan Stanley — but sports car on the road for the first time: Let’s see what this baby will do. the NHL has adopted a policy of not reporting who has the virus and who’s just injured or not skating for other reasons. Adding a few options at the trade deadline — veteran forward Cody Eakin from Vegas and steady-as-she-goes defenceman Dylan DeMelo Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.16.2020 from Ottawa — only adds to that new-car feeling.

The blue line, in particular, hasn’t looked this dependable since Training Camp 1.0, back in September.

“Weird,” is how Beaulieu described having a full defence corps. “We haven’t had one in a long time, but it was nice to see everyone fresh and out there. We’ve got a hungry hockey club right now, too, so we still feel like we’ve got a lot to prove.”

For head coach Paul Maurice, the difference in how he feels about his blue line, from training camp to now, is like night and day.

“Quite a bit better, actually,” he said. “We like our back end quite a bit more than we did when we started the year.”

Of course, every team in the league is rested and rosters are bulging with healthy bodies.

Beaulieu, 27, says the Jets’ best quality is measured not just in man power, but in the intangible quality of leadership.

He pointed to the man driving the vehicle every day, captain Blake Wheeler, and beyond.

“There’s a lot of character on this hockey team,” Beaulieu said. “Sometimes we don’t always get it done the prettiest way, but I feel like this team is built for playoff hockey. We don’t seem to ever get too high or too low and adversity has been in our pocket the whole season. We’re strong-headed and we’ve got a good opportunity to do some damage in these playoffs for sure.”

Maurice came into this camp with that adversity not only in his back pocket, but in the back of his mind, too. 1188359 Vancouver Canucks “The key to his ability there is his aggression. He has sharp edges that allow him to escape pressure down low and facilitate offence via transition,” he said. “He has excellent instincts on when to move the play with his feet or pass. He can change gears effectively to create Patrick Johnston: Rathbone has skill, brains and potential to help separation and exploit seams. Despite his size, he protects the puck well Canucks in NHL inflight.”

He also said Rathbone has an impressive shot, which coupled with great vision makes him a threat in the offensive zone. He got the puck on net Patrick Johnston the most of any blueliner per game in NCAA hockey.

“It is a favourite weapon and one he is unafraid to use. Whether it’s at a The Vancouver Canucks' latest young prospect is excited about the standstill on the PP or while in-transition, he’s effective. The rare ability to opportunity in front of him, even if he has no idea when he'll get to play shoot through his stride,” Robinson said.

In the end, it seems that Jack Rathbone only briefly thought about Like most young players, defending against professional forwards, delaying his signing with the Vancouver Canucks. especially on the rush, is where Rathbone needs to improve. That said, his skating will go a long way in guiding him toward the defender he’ll The young defenceman had discussions with Canucks’ management for need to be to stop opposition attacks and then force the turnovers. almost a month, he said. When the new collective bargaining agreement between the NHL’s owners and players was ratified last week — opening “Gap control, attacking at the line, and not being physically moved will a short window for him to sign with the Canucks this week — it was need polishing,” he said. “But his skating affords him grace and the ability crunch time. to help clean up mistakes.”

He might have considered waiting until next summer, when he could He’s close enough that he could conceivably push for an NHL spot next have signed with any team he wanted, but it was only a brief, fleeting season, if there’s an opening, Robinson said. idea. Rathbone may be headed to Vancouver as soon as Thursday, although He signed Tuesday, smack-dab in the middle of the modified summer he’ll have to self-isolate when he arrives. The team has been talking to window for teams to sign prospects to contracts that would burn an initial provincial health officials about his situation. year off their deal. Rathbone is pretty much used to the quarantine lifestyle as it is, he Rathbone won’t make any money on the first year of his deal — the noted, having spent so long at home with his family. regular season is over, so there are no salaries to be had — but he’ll And even the fact there’s no certainty he’ll even have a professional team receive $92,500 in signing bonuses paid out before each of the next two to play for next season isn’t bothering him much. All that matters is he’s seasons. If he plays in the NHL, he’s set to earn $832,500 if he plays the one step closer to where he wants to be. full year. “It’s the NHL, it’s my dream,” he said. “There’s no level above this one.” The fact the Canucks, the team that drafted him in 2017, had supported him as he went through an extra year of prep school so he could spend Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2020 more time with his autistic brother Teddy before moving up to collegiate hockey at Harvard University meant a lot to him.

This is also the team whose former director of amateur scouting had known him long before he was an NHL prospect, which helped to form a bond.

“He’s a self-starter and a go-getter,” Judd Brackett said at the 2017 NHL entry draft. He coached Rathbone for three consecutive seasons in summer hockey.

The fact that the team’s development staff, Ryan Johnson and Chris Higgins, had kept in close touch with him were very important, he said.

“The comfortability factor and the loyalty of the organization,” Rathbone said about why he hadn’t really hesitated in signing this week.

Johnson and Higgins would regularly text him, he said. They’d send along video analysis, too.

The uncertainty of the COVID-19 world was also a factor, too, he admitted. He’s still a Harvard student but he didn’t know if he’d have a hockey season this winter.

“That was something that was pretty big … It was a serious discussion about the investment they’ve made,” he said of how the discussion of his education at one of the world’s great universities went.

Canucks head coach Travis Green said he got to speak with Rathbone and was excited about the defenceman’s potential, especially given his puck-moving skills.

“With the way the game is going you need players like that,” Green said.

He recalled seeing Rathbone at his first development camp. Rathbone got into a physical exchange with another player and that made an impression with Green.

“He wasn’t intimidated,” he said. “You want players who are confident like that, not just with the puck but away from the puck.”

Cam Robinson writes about prospects for Dobber Hockey and is a fan of Rathbone’s game. He probably won’t be a star, but “a quality, useful piece.”

The 21-year-old already skates like a professional, Robinson said. 1188360 Vancouver Canucks Baumgartner for his work with Hughes — but if two others hit, well, Canucks fans can dream, can’t they?

“The big, physical defenceman who just fired the puck off the glass has Ed Willes: Days of Canucks' back end being pain in team's butt could be kind of fallen by the wayside,” Benning said. “With the evolution of speed over in the game it’s changed the position. You have to be able to move the puck or you spend all your time in the zone.

“That’s Quinn’s game. He defends by using his head. That’s the way the Ed Willes game’s played now.”

It’s also interesting to note the draft capital the franchise has in each of the young blue-liners, which is another thing about the position. Elite Opinion: It's a little early to say things have finally turned around on the scorers tend to come from the draft lottery. Elite defencemen can come Canucks blue line, but early returns are promising an end to the black from anywhere. Hughes is considered a steal as the seventh pick in hole. 2018. Woo was a second-rounder that same year, Rathbone was a In another lifetime, Jim Benning was part of a young defensive corps that fourth-rounder in 2017. Rafferty was signed as a college free agent a was the hope and salvation for the long-suffering fans of the Toronto year ago. Maple Leafs. Troy Stecher, who’s only a year older than Rafferty, came through the Suffice to say they’re still suffering. same route in 2016.

That group included Benning, the sixth overall pick in the 1981 NHL draft That leaves Juolevi, the fifth pick in 2016 and the Canucks’ forgotten after recording 139 points in Portland as an 18-year-old; Gary Nylund, a man. He’s been plagued by injuries throughout his career and he’s yet to prototypical size-and-skill defenceman from the Winter Hawks who went demonstrate the game that made him such a high pick. third overall in 1982; and Al Iafrate, the fourth overall pick in 1984 who To date, he’s also the most visible blemish in Benning’s draft record. played on the U.S. Olympic team as an 18-year-old. “I think he’s close to being able to play in the league,” the GM said. Throw in Todd Gill and Bob McGill, who were also drafted around that time, and, collectively, those players should have formed the core of a If only. championship-quality blue-line for the better part of a decade. But by 1986, Benning and Nylund were traded away, Iafrate would be dealt four Benning took over the Canucks before the 2014-15 season as the best years later and, of that group, Gill would have the most lasting impact as blue-line in franchise history was on its death bed. That was the last year a Leaf. for Kevin Bieksa. Dan Hamhuis left as a free agent in summer of 2016, signing with Dallas. Sami Salo and Christian Ehrhoff were long gone. Now, the intent here isn’t to chirp Leafs fans. That’s just a happy Only Alex Edler remains from that group. byproduct of the exercise. But the larger point is the development and maturation of NHL defencemen is a comprehensively inexact science As for the rest of Canucks history, we don’t have the time or space to list that is often inconsistent with their draft position. all the draft-day misses, the disappointments, the teases. Mattias Ohlund was a great Canuck but, at his peak, he’d be a No. 2 on a championship- So let’s get that caveat out of the way as we discuss the collection of calibre team. young defencemen Benning has assembled in his new life as the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, and let’s try to be muted in our He’s also the consensus choice as the best defenceman in franchise assessment of that group’s potential. history. Hughes might change that. Together, this young group of defencemen might change a lot of things for the Canucks. We’ll just say the blue-line, with very few exceptions, has been a black hole for the Canucks throughout their 50-year existence. That also Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2020 explains why the default position for this franchise has been chronic mediocrity. We don’t know what Quinn Hughes, Jack Rathbone, Jett Woo, Brogan Rafferty and Olli Juolevi will become. We just know they have a chance to become the solution to the Canucks’ eternal problem.

Rookie Quinn Hughes, playing one of his first games with the Canucks, calmly helps goalie Jacob Markstrom corral the puck against the Dallas Stars, on March 30, 2019. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG files

“That’s the unknown, right?” Benning said Wednesday. “They all develop at their own pace. The problem with defencemen is, if you rush them, they lose their confidence and they don’t become the players they should be.

“Goalies are the position you have to be the most patient with, then it’s defencemen. They have so much responsibility and the coach has to trust them. But the position has changed and I think we have players who can play the game now.”

You might say it’s about time.

Benning was speaking as the 20-year-old Hughes was being named a Calder Trophy finalist after his bravura rookie season, and a day after the Canucks signed the 21-year-old Rathbone, a point producer from Harvard who is very much in the Hughes mould.

Woo, meanwhile, is about to turn 20 and Juolevi, who hasn’t looked out of place in the Canucks’ scrimmages, just turned 22. Rafferty, 25, is in a different category, but he was named to the AHL’s all-rookie team this season after producing 45 points in 57 games.

Again, we don’t know what they’ll become but with defencemen, you only have to be right on three of them and, with Hughes, the Canucks are already playing with house money.

The onus will be on the organization to develop the others — and Benning went out of his way to commend assistant coach Nolan 1188361 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks' Brandon Sutter misses Day 3 of return-to-play practice

Patrick Johnston

The veteran centre has struggled with groin problems for much of his time in Vancouver.

Brandon Sutter is apparently unfit to play.

The 31-year-old skated with his Vancouver Canucks teammates on Monday and Tuesday this week but was notably absent on Wednesday for the team’s daily on-ice session at Rogers Arena.

Justin Bailey joined the main group in Sutter’s place; he’d previously been skating with the spare group of Canucks minor leaguers. There was also a swap on defence, with Guillaume Brisebois skating as the eighth defenceman. Brogan Rafferty skated in that spot on Tuesday; Jalen Chatfield was the eighth on Monday.

Travis Green said Tuesday that that roster spot is very much up for grabs.

It’s not known why Sutter was absent, and the NHL is ordering teams not to reveal why players are absent, instead instructing them to simply state they are “unfit to play,”

Sutter has struggled with groin problems in recent seasons.

And he was hurt twice this season, a groin strain in November that sidelined him for 13 games and then a back injury in December kept him out for 12 more games.

Sutter told Postmedia in May that he didn’t expect he’d be able to skate until he returned to Vancouver last month.

Ferland returns

Micheal Ferland didn’t skate Monday or Tuesday. We didn’t know for what reason — again the league’s “unfit to play” designation leaves the door wide open for idle speculation — but he was part of the minor league group on Wednesday and was a full participant.

“I don’t have a timeline but it is a good sign he’s out there,” head coach Travis Green said about Ferland’s reappearance on the ice.

Micheal Ferland is on the ice and doing battle drills. Here he is up against Brogan Rafferty.

It’s Ferland’s first appearance in Phase 3 camp. pic.twitter.com/d2KWN0FE7V— Patrick Johnston (@risingaction) July 15, 2020

GM Jim Benning had said Monday he expected Ferland would be back so this wasn’t a total surprise, but still the mind wanders about what his absence could have been about.

The players are being tested every other day for COVID-19; did Ferland possibly return an inconclusive test, leading to him being monitored? Benning’s cautious optimism suggested this isn’t likely the case.

So perhaps he was dealing with some physical ailment from his workouts during the team’s more informal Phase 2 workouts over the past two weeks? Or maybe he was dealing with another cold derived from his kids; he was felled during training camp by a cold he picked up from his daughter, for instance.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188362 Vancouver Canucks The 20-year-old Orlando, Fla. native missed one game with a knee bruise after getting his skate caught in a rut on Nov. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. He was retreating in the neutral zone, and while attempting to corral a loose puck, his ankled folded under him. Ben Kuzma: Canucks' wizard Hughes handles heat, named Calder Trophy finalist “It was a really weird play,” Hughes recalled at the time. “I’m not sure if my foot got stuck in the ice or what happened. It happened so fast you can’t really tell if it was a rut. I just knew I was by myself and the blade being stuck in the ice and my knee just went forward. It wasn’t from Ben Kuzma falling.”

Canadiens’ Phillip Danault chases after Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn The rite of NHL passage for Quinn Hughes, who is now a Calder Trophy Hughes in Montreal on Feb. 25. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson finalist, came on one of the biggest stages. / PNG

His sublime skating, puck-moving wizardry and playmaking creativity On Wednesday, he spoke further to the rarity of playing the game as were already known. What wasn’t known was how the Vancouver quickly and as hard as he does, being in the crosshairs and avoiding an Canucks’ mighty mite would stand up Feb. 25 to being targeted early and ailment. often at the Bell Centre in Montreal. “Usually, when guys get hit, they didn’t see somebody coming because Max Domi delivered a wicked unpenalized cross-check that dumped they’re over-handling the puck,” said Hughes. “For me, I try not to put Hughes into the corner boards. The Canadiens winger came right back myself in bad situations and move the puck when I need to. But it’s a and levelled Hughes again in the other corner. He was slow to get up and contact sport and you’re going to get hit. I got hit a lot this year and I that prompted some direction from coach Travis Green at the Vancouver could handle it. But you have to be smart about it.” bench. If anybody fell this season, it was forecheckers or defenders trying to The message was simple: Don’t get down and maybe try to avoid equal the edge work of Hughes and forcing him at the blue-line as contact. quarterback of the league’s fourth-ranked power play.

The reaction was expected: Hughes tailored his game and would collect Hughes becomes the third defenceman in the NHL’s modern era (since an assist, six shots and stay out of the penalty box in a 4-3 overtime 1943-44) to top all rookies in scoring, joining Brian Leetch (1988-89) and victory. As for the bruises, no big deal. Bobby Orr (1966-67). And his 53 points were the most by any rookie blue-liner since 1991-92, when Nicklas Lidstrom compiled 60 points (11- NEXT GAME 49) in 80 appearances.

Exhibition Hughes also led all rookies in assists (45), power-play assists (22) and power-play points (25), while ranking among the top five in average time Wednesday, July 29 (second, 21:53), total time (second, 1,488:09) and shots on goal (fifth, Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets 126).

7:30 p.m., Rogers Place, Sportsnet 650 AM Head coach Travis Green says Quinn Hughes’s rookie accomplishments are all the more remarkable for a young player who looks like he could be “That’s going to happen,” Hughes said Wednesday at Rogers Arena. “It’s “your paper boy walking down the hall.” Darryl Dyck, The Canadian part of the game and especially going forward and into the playoffs. It’s Press / PNG going to happen more often and, honestly, you have to take it as a compliment if guys are keying on you.” Being part of a welcoming environment and listening to Pettersson and Boeser also gave him a leg up on a quick transition from player to When Green was reminded of the special attention afforded the 5-10, difference-maker and award finalist. 175-pound Hughes that night, his summation helped the rest of the nation understand why Hughes, Cale Makar and Dominik Kubalik are “It means a lot,” said Hughes. “It’s such a great honour, especially this Calder finalists. year. There are a lot of guys who could have been in the top three. I was fortunate to be put in good spots. And it was really easy to come in with In Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and Hughes, the Canucks have three guys who have done it before you. straight finalists as top rookie and Pettersson claimed the honour last season. “I was roommates with Petey, and if I had a bad game, he was always supportive. We talk about it quite a bit and the same with Boes. Off the Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes is dumped by Montreal Canadiens’ ice, having young guys around is pretty fun and we’re all pretty close. I’m Max Domi during first-period play in Montreal on Feb. 25. Paul Chiasson pretty lucky.” / PNG Green did an admirable job of not putting too many restraints on his As for Hughes, he was never spooked by the spotlight this season. gifted young players. He reasoned that Boeser, Pettersson and Hughes “You always hear about a player, but until you actually see him, you talk would figure a lot out on their own, while keeping an open mind to getting of not putting expectations on him in a market like this, and not putting better. too much into the hype — so you’re not disappointed,” Green said of the “In general, their demeanour is not casual, but there’s a calmness to seventh overall selection in the 2018 draft. them that a lot of good players have,” said Green. “That brings the “You just let it play out. But he’s been a surprise from Day 1 and confidence, and skilled players need that so when they make a mistake it especially when you look at him. Sometimes you think it’s your paper boy doesn’t rattle them too much.” walking down the hall.” Hughes put tremendous pressure on himself to be an impact player. The Green was just getting warmed up. obvious focus are his 53 points (8-45) in 68 games. He surpassed franchise records and could have taken aim at Doug Lidster’s long- “He’s about as poised of a player as you’re going to find,” he added. “For standing team record for most points in a season by a blue-liner. a young guy, he doesn’t have a high panic level. He doesn’t panic with the puck or get overly upset if he makes a mistake. And he doesn’t get The Kamloops native was 25 when he posted 63 points (12-51) in 80 overly excited if he does something spectacular. games during the 1986-87 season. Would Hughes have closed the 10- point gap if the Canucks played their final 13 games? He would have “He’s very calm and poised and not just for the good of his game, but been a good bet. Especially in the enthusiastic manner in which he when he struggles a bit. That’s the mark of a lot of good puck-moving directed the power play and told anyone within earshot to pump the defencemen. And with his hockey sense, he’s always been able to stay brakes about any special-team slumps. out of harm’s way. He’s very well deserving of being one of the finalists and I hope he wins.” What was just as impressive was how Hughes embraced a shutdown role. By quickly angling off players while retreating into his own zone, he Hughes has yet to suffer a contact injury. stayed on the right side of pucks and used smart stick work to be a good defender and not a detriment.

“I thought I’d be creating and getting points, but what I’m most proud of is that the coaching staff has trusted me in playing a shutdown role,” Hughes stressed when he was named to the NHL All-Star Game. “I’ve played with Taney (Chris Tanev) against top lines and that’s something I didn’t expect. It means a lot to me.

“A lot of people said I couldn’t defend — and I’m still working on it — but just to have that (shutdown role), I thought I’d have it at some point in my career, but not now.”

Hughes has set a high personal standard for diligence, durability and deployment. If anything, he could shoot back at his critics because 32 points (5-28) in 33 games to help the advance to the NCAA playoffs was no small feat.

So, was there some extra incentive at this level to prove people wrong?

“There is, for sure, he added. “I thought I had a pretty good year of college last year and I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now. It surprised me at the start of the year when I started doing well that people thought: ‘Wow, we didn’t think this would happen.’ That surprised me.

“But I’m also humble and I’ve got a long ways to go. I have to keep my foot down.”

Run that by his teammates and the appreciation is obvious. And it comes with a bit of awe.

“I played against him in his first NHL game and guys were talking and saying: ‘Be careful. He’s shifty and he’s all this and he’ll make a move at the blue-line,’” said Canucks winger Tyler Toffoli. “He was definitely that and it was impressive to watch and I’m definitely grateful to be on his team.

“It’s just seeing all the little things he does to get better and he wants to be one of the best defencemen in the league and he has definitely shown it this season.”

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188363 Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks awash in Calder calibre with Quinn Hughes nomination

The Canadian Press

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes, Chicago Blackhawks left-wing Dominik Kubalik and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar are the three finalists for the 2019-20 Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s rookie of the year.

Hughes posted eight goals and 45 assists in 68 games to become the third defenceman since the NHL’s “modern era” started in 1943-44 to top rookies in scoring (outright or tied), joining Brian Leetch (1988-89, New York Rangers) and Bobby Orr (1966-67, Boston).

His 53 points were the most by any rookie defenceman since 1991-92, when Nicklas Lidstrom compiled had 60 in 80 appearances with Detroit.

Hughes also led all 2019-20 rookies in assists (45), power-play assists (22) and power-play points (25), while ranking among the top five in average time on ice (second, 21:53), total time on ice (second, 1,488:09) and shots on goal (fifth, 126).

The 20-year-old Orlando, Fla., native is looking to become the second straight Canucks player to claim the Calder Trophy, after Elias Pettersson in 2018-19. The last team to boast consecutive Calder Trophy winners was the Boston Bruins, in 1966-67 (Orr) and 1967-68 (Derek Sanderson).

Kubalik led all rookies with 30 goals in 68 games, making him the fifth rookie in Blackhawks history to reach the 30-goal milestone.

The 24-year-old Plzen, Czech Republic, native became the first Czech- born player in NHL history to pace rookies in goals, as well as the third to reach the 30-goal plateau.

Kubalik, topped all 2019-20 rookies and ranked seventh in the entire NHL with a 19.1 shooting percentage.

Makar led rookies with 0.88 points a game (12 goals, 38 assists in 57 games). He also finished among the 2019-20 rookie leaders in game- winning goals (tied first, four), assists (second, 38) and points (second, 50).

The 21-year-old Calgary native is seeking to become the sixth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to capture the Calder Trophy and fourth since the franchise relocated to Colorado, after Nathan MacKinnon (2013-14), Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12) and Chris Drury (1998-99).

Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188364 Vancouver Canucks “I think honestly most of it is off the ice and being able to know more about the guys and those little things,” he said. “That goes a lot further than on the ice to be honest.”

Relative newcomer Tyler Toffoli brings playoff experience to Canucks Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.16.2020

Staff

A relative newcomer to the Vancouver Canucks, Tyler Toffoli will be counted on to bring playoff experience to the team’s talented but young core.

A veteran of 47 NHL playoff games with the Los Angeles Kings, including a run to a Stanley Cup title in 2014, Toffoli played just 10 games with the Canucks before the league suspended its season March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that small sample size of games, however, he put up 10 points and formed a potent line with J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

Now, after a long hiatus, a player still getting to know his teammates will be helping to lead his club into a best-of-five playoff qualifying series with the Minnesota Wild next month in Edmonton. But Miller believes the added postseason knowledge the Canucks received when they acquired Toffoli in a Feb. 17 trade with the Kings will pay dividends.

“He’s super valuable,” Miller said of the former Ottawa 67’s junior star. “He brings a lot of great qualities to a really good team. He’s definitely a piece I think our team needed. A guy who knows his role. He knows what he does well and he sticks to that.”

“Since he’s been here I think it’s been a really good fit,” Miller added. “I’m good friends with him now, too, so it’s good we have good chemistry on and off the ice. Really looking forward to playing in some big-time games with him. Obviously he’s had a ton of success and a lot of experience, so it’s exciting.”

While the Canucks have other players with postseason experience, their core is largely new to the rigours of the gruelling path to the Stanley Cup final. Team captain Bo Horvat has six playoff games under his belt, while fellow young stars Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes have none.

Playoff experience does not end with the Canucks’ youth. Thirty-year-old starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom also has yet to make a postseason appearance.

Toffoli’s advice to them is to stay grounded.

“I think the thing that I learned is don’t get too high up and don’t get too low,” Toffoli said. “Because one shift you’ll score and you’ll stay on the ice and they come back and score right away.

“You’ve just got to stay even keel. That sounds super cliche, but honestly that’s just the way it is.”

Miller, who has appeared in 58 playoff games with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, said some players pick up the demanding postseason game quicker than others. He said he is looking forward to being a resource.

“I haven’t been the player I wanted to be in my previous playoff history,” Miller said. “I think that’s going to come.

“It’s really exciting now that I can share to the younger group, and even some of the guys that aren’t that young but just haven’t been on a playoff team yet, what to expect.”

The 2019-20 season has been bizarre for all NHL players, but perhaps more so for Toffoli. Before the pandemic caused chaos with the campaign, Toffoli was traded by the only team he had played for, two days after becoming the first player to score an outdoor hat trick at the Air Force Academy in Colorado against the Avalanche.

“Obviously it was my first experience being traded,” he said. “But I knew once I got here I talked to Greener [head coach Travis Green] first day and he told me, ‘Just play your game. Just work hard and read off J.T. and Petey.’ ”

Toffoli said he’s happy to get back to practice with the Canucks, but he is more interested right now in getting to know his teammates better. 1188365 Websites conditional fourth-round pick and a couple of prospects at the trade deadline. But Vatanen never played a game for the Canes as he was recovering from a leg/knee injury sustained while blocking a shot. He should be ready to go when the puck drops on the NHL’s return to play The Athletic / Hot Seat: 10 players who could pay the price if they don’t and he looms large for a team that, when healthy, might boast the best prove their worth blue line in the league.

Brett Pesce isn’t likely to be ready until late in the playoffs, which means Vatanen, a right-hand shot like Hamilton and Pesce, will have to step in By Scott Burnside Jul 15, 2020 quickly to Rod Brind’Amour’s up-tempo system. The good thing is the skilled, tough Vatanen should be a natural for Brind’Amour. One longtime NHL executive recalled that Vatanen was a key member of a Cup- If the best efforts of the players and the league and the health officials contending Anaheim team in 2015. and strategists who have designed this ambitious effort to award a Stanley Cup sometime in early October 2020 are successful, what can “He’s got high, high character,” he said. “He’s got good feet. This guy in we expect of the actual competition? Anaheim was a star.”

Which players will be expected to rise to the fore in a time like no other? Blake Coleman, Tampa Bay Lightning Which have an opportunity to change the course of this season’s already We loved it when Tampa GM Julien BriseBois anted up and sent seminal history? prospect Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round pick to New Jersey for Here are 10 who will feel the sometimes-uncomfortable burn of the 28-year-old Coleman. The versatile, skilled forward can do a bit of spotlight as we prepare for a resumption of the game. everything, has good offensive upside and more than a bit of grit. Exactly the kind of player the Bolts didn’t have against Columbus last spring and Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins exactly the kind of player that should help them erase the shame of that epic four-game collapse against the Blue Jackets. Except it didn’t really It seems a bit unfair that a guy with two Stanley Cup rings is facing a work out that way after the trade as Coleman had one paltry assist in crossroads but that is life and certainly life when you win two Stanley nine games. Cups, the second just after your 23rd birthday, and then sort of fall off the map. Still, Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford alluded to this That’s the issue with the trade deadline. Sometimes it takes a long time being Murray’s job to lose when the Penguins open their play-in series for a piece to mesh. The Lightning will have three round robin games to against Montreal. get it right before they begin their quest for redemption in earnest and if Coleman ends up playing as he did before the pause, with Alex Killorn The leash will likely be very short for a guy who most of the season was and Selke Trophy-hopeful Anthony Cirelli, that line will be critical to a the second-best goaltender on his team, with Tristan Jarry making a case deep run. Coleman, who has one year left on his deal at a very to be the Pens’ starter. Murray was, to be honest, just average with an affordable $1.8 million, also meshed nicely with another newcomer, .899 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average taking a backseat Barclay Goodrow, killing penalties — another area of critical importance to Jarry, 25, who was stellar in turning in a .921 save percentage and for the Bolts. Coleman, should he find that elusive groove, has a chance 2.43 GAA. The narrative for this play-in round has been “what if Carey to be remembered as “the piece” that completed the team’s Stanley Cup Price gets hot,” which is fair, but the goaltending narrative for the puzzle. Penguins must be “just do your job and we’ll be OK.” Joe Pavelski, Dallas Stars The problem is that Murray was straddling that line between doing the job and not doing it this season, and was only so-so last spring in the Not long after Joe Pavelski signed a three-year, $21-million deal as an Penguins’ four-game first-round sweep at the hands of the New York unrestricted free agent in Dallas last summer a western-based scout Islanders. Still, experience must count for something, right? “Matt Murray provided this report, which we’ll paraphrase: Don’t worry about Pavelski literally is the backbone of this hockey team,” insisted one former NHLer until April. Doesn’t matter what Pavelski does during the regular season, and longtime Eastern Conference analyst. “Matt Murray has shown in the the scout said, you aren’t getting him to score 50 goals. You’re getting past that when the chips are pushed into the middle of the table, he has him to play in the playoffs. Which makes sense and is also good news played his best hockey.” Throw in the fact Murray, 26, is a restricted free since it took Pavelski a long time to find his comfort zone in Big D after agent, as is Jarry, and, well, there is lots on the line. playing his entire career in San Jose. Pavelski finished with 14 goals, well off his 38-goal pace of a year ago. Phil Kessel, Arizona Coyotes But I agree with the scout in thinking that Pavelski is going to bring his The Coyotes would have needed a scorching finish to the 2019-20 “A” game come playoff time, even if playoff time is going to arrive about season to make the playoffs had the year unfolded as planned. So, this three months later than expected. On a team that came within one goal late-summer opportunity is very much found money for a team absent of advancing to the conference finals last spring, Pavelski’s calming from the postseason since 2012. So, too, for star winger Kessel, who presence on the ice — generally parked in front of opposing netminders endured a frustrating, injury-plagued first season in Arizona. — as well as in the locker room has the potential to make this Stars team The two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguin finished sixth on as dangerous a team as there is in the West. the goal-starved Coyotes with 14, nine of which were scored on the Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche power play. He was a miserable minus-21 following a trend that began last season in Pittsburgh when he was minus-19 and was at odds with Just for fun, ask yourself this question, do the Maple Leafs beat the coach Mike Sullivan over style of play. Still, in a recent poll conducted by Bruins in the first round in either 2018 or 2019 if Kadri doesn’t get The Athletic’s Craig Custance, two of three experts predicted the suspended for multiple games in each series? I’ll answer. Yes. Yes, they Coyotes would upset the Nashville Predators in the play-in round. With do win at least one of those series and who knows after that. That’s how solid goaltending and excellent coaching who knows what lies ahead for talented Kadri is and that is how much his absence was felt by the Leafs the youthful Coyotes. But if they’re going anywhere other than back to who lost to Boston in seven games in both series – in 2018 Kadri was Arizona, Kessel will have to be way better than he was in the regular suspended for three games for a hit on Tommy Wingels and in 2019 he season, and history suggests he will be just that. The thing is Kessel is missed the final five games for an illegal cross-check on Jake DeBrusk. money come playoff time with 77 points in 87 postseason games, including last season when he might have been the best player on the ice Kadri missed time with injury in Colorado after being dealt to the Avs in for the lackluster Pens. And did I mention the two Stanley Cups? the offseason in a deal that saw Tyson Barrie go to the Leafs, but Kadri finished with 19 goals and 36 points. He should be healthy and ready to Sami Vatanen, Carolina Hurricanes roll come August, and if he can stay out of trouble, he is the kind of presence that will serve the talented Avs well in potentially tough Sure, the big spotlight will shine on and his return from matchups with Winnipeg, St. Louis and Dallas. If history repeats itself a broken fibula that looked, at the time, like it would end his Norris and Kadri can’t stay out of trouble, well … that will be bad news for the Trophy-hopeful season. But the key to the Canes making a second Avs and for Kadri, too. straight long playoff run may depend more on the ability of another injured defender to find his groove in Carolina, and that is Sami Vatanen. Tyson Barrie, Toronto Maple Leafs The pending unrestricted free agent was acquired from New Jersey for a You see what we did here, bookending Kadri and Barrie? At the time of of the playoffs, how does he maximize the presence of two solid No. 1 this deal, I loved it for both sides. But I especially loved it for the Leafs for goalies on his roster? The 35-year-old Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup whom this seemed to be a match made in heaven. One scout raved winner, has two years left on his deal at $7 million per season and about Barrie during last spring’s playoff run, describing him as a beast remains an iconic figure in the team’s short history. Still, one NHL that was at the top of his game on both sides of the puck. Great. Except goaltending expert thinks Lehner is imperative to the team’s chances. the transition to Toronto under Mike Babcock was a rocky one. And even when Sheldon Keefe took over it wasn’t great as Barrie finished up with “(Fleury) is a very streaky goalie, which coincides with his loose, carefree just five goals in 70 games — well off the 14 he scored in each of the style,” he said. In a groove, he can carry this team. Out of a groove, previous two seasons. Worse, he managed to go 19 straight games they’ll need Lehner. without a goal and had just one marker in his last 32 games for the Leafs. “If (Fleury) doesn’t start well, the chance he recovers isn’t great. By all Barrie will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and metrics, Lehner should be starting for (Vegas), but Fleury is still the there was much discussion about whether he might be dealt at the trade heartbeat of the team and deserves the chance to start,” the former deadline to shore up other parts of the Leafs’ lineup. It didn’t happen and NHLer said. “His teammates believe in him and want him to be now facing a tough play-in round against Columbus there’s still time to successful. Same with the fans. He is an icon in Vegas.” make things right for the skilled Barrie, who had eight points in 12 games The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 last postseason for the Avalanche and was a catalyst to the team’s upsetting of Calgary in the first round.

Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators

The Predators, boasting as deep an offensive team as they’ve had in many years — at least up front — had just one 20-goal scorer in this truncated season of the pandemic. That was Filip Forsberg. If the Preds are going to get past Arizona in the play-in round and then make some noise, they have to get more from their centers, and specifically they need vintage Matt Duchene, whom they signed in the offseason to a whopper seven-year, $56 million deal.

To make room for the unrestricted free agent the Predators had to move P.K. Subban to New Jersey. Even though this looked like a perfect fit, the transition to Music City wasn’t close to being seamless despite Duchene’s affection for country music. His 13 goals were well off his normal pace, and even though he was playing for the most part with top wingers Mikael Granlund and Forsberg, Duchene managed just two goals in his last 19 games. With a one-two punch down the middle of Duchene and Ryan Johansen, and with Kyle Turris enjoying a bounce- back season, the Predators have, on paper, addressed a longstanding deficiency down the middle. We’ll see if that paper strength translates to reality.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Washington Capitals

The last time Kovalchuk stepped onto the ice for an NHL playoff game was Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. That’s a long freakin’ time ago, folks. And at age 37 it’s hard to imagine there will be many more opportunities for the Russian goal-scoring machine like the one that presents itself now. And wouldn’t it be kind of poetic if, after being dumped at the side of the road by Los Angeles before Christmas that Kovalchuk, who was given a new leash on NHL life by Montreal and then traded to Washington at the deadline, ended up on another long, magical playoff run?

Hard to believe but in his career Kovalchuk has played in just 32 NHL playoff games and 23 of those were during that 2012 playoff run. By comparison, his pal and teammate Alex Ovechkin, who is three years Kovalchuk’s junior, has logged 128 postseason games. Regardless, Kovalchuk has a chance to play a significant role for the Caps, even if at times NHL scouts described his play with the Kings as “disinterested.” Once in Washington, Kovalchuk was playing with Lars Eller and Carl Hagelin at even strength, and anyone who remembers Washington’s Cup run in 2018 knows how important its third line was. Kovalchuk was also seeing some time on the power play with countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov, plus Jakub Vrana. Wonder if Kovalchuk has strong feelings about fountain swimming?

Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights

One of the more curious trade deadline moves was the deal that sent Robin Lehner to Vegas, the home of future Hall of Famer Fleury. I thought GM Kelly McCrimmon erred a year ago when he didn’t fortify his goaltending, and then Fleury was injured late in the regular season and never really regained his form as the Golden Knights fell to San Jose in an epic, controversial seven-game set in the first round.

Fleury, like a lot of the Golden Knights, took a while to get going this season, and his .905 save percentage is a marked decline from last year when he was at .913 and well off his spectacular performance in Vegas’s inaugural season when he posted a .927 save percentage. Does Lehner’s presence present a form of motivation for Fleury to re-establish himself as “the man” in Vegas? Assuming new coach Peter DeBoer uses both netminders during the three-game round robin before the first round 1188366 Websites Even giving them credit for both versions of the franchise … man, there’s not a lot here at either extreme. We’re not counting the WHA days, so those titles don’t help. The Original Jets had one legitimately terrible season back in 1980-81 (that resulted in Dale Hawerchuk) and a few The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Which fans have lived both the highest others that weren’t very good, but otherwise they were a solid 80ish point highs and lowest lows? team that consistently made the playoffs and then politely went out in the first round. The updated version has been better, including the city’s only

trip to a conference final, but still pretty middle-of-the-road. I’ll give By Sean McIndoe Jul 15, 2020 Winnipeg fans credit for the highs and lows of watching their team leave and return, but in terms of what happens on the ice, they’ve mostly avoided the extremes.

The playoffs are just around the corner, which means it’s time to 26. Arizona Coyotes remember what it feels like to be a fan. If you root for one of the 24 teams that will be taking the ice, you can expect to experience some crushing Speaking of the Jets, it’s been nearly a quarter-century since the original lows and (maybe) some thrilling highs. It’s the nature of being a hockey franchise arrived in Arizona, and they’ve only made it out of the first fan, and most of us know both sides of the experience well – some of us round once while averaging less than one playoff game win per season. more than others. They’ve also never been especially awful, except for the one year they tried to be and then got burned by the lottery gods. We’ll give their fans Today, we’re going to warm up for those feelings by trying to answer a some credit for all the off-ice drama they’ve had to endure, though, simple question: Which NHL fan base has experienced the highest highs because it’s been constant. and the lowest lows? 25. Florida Panthers Every fan base has its ups and downs, often in the same shift. But there’s being bummed out about a tough loss, and then there’s the soul- The lows include multiple seasons in which they finished in last place destroying misery that comes with seeing your team become a overall, with the added bonus that they traded away those first overall laughingstock. And, at least according to what I’ve been told, sometimes picks. Mix in uncertainty over the franchise’s long-term future and non- it works the other way, and you get to watch your team ascend to the stop snark from more seasoned markets, and Panthers fans have that very top of the sport, winning a championship or even several. end of the scale covered reasonably well. The other half of the equation is dicier, though, with one surprise trip to the final in 1996 and not so Some fan bases know both feelings well. Is that a good thing or a bad much as a single playoff round win since. thing? I’m not sure it’s either, but at least it’s not boring. Like the old saying goes, may you live in interesting times. 24. Dallas Stars

Here’s how this will work. We’ll go back to the modern era (post-1967) for They have one Cup and one other trip to the final, so they’re not bad as the Original Six teams, and the life of the team for everyone else. For far as the highs go. The lows haven’t been all that low, though – their franchises that have moved, we’ll start the clock on when they arrived in worst full season was 66 points in 1995-96, back before loser points were the new city, since if you were a diehard fan I’m a thing, and they’ve only finished below 80 one other time, when they guessing your low was when the team pulled out of town. Winnipeg gets plummeted all the way to 79. That’s no way to honor the memory of the credit for both version of the Jets, because we are not heathens here. North Stars, who could be absolutely terrible and nearly win the Cup in the same season. The fun part about this idea is that every fan base is convinced that their personal highs and lows are more extreme than everyone else’s, 23. Calgary Flames meaning everyone is going to be mad at me. Awesome, let’s do this. See, the Flames are tricky, because I’m honestly not sure whether the Let’s figure out which teams have covered the entire spectrum of the fan “being really good every year but always losing to the Oilers” era counts experience, good and bad, with a ranking that starts with the smallest as good or bad. Maybe both. They did eventually get their Cup, and gap and works up to the largest. they’ve had two other final appearances. They’ve never been truly awful, 31. Vegas Golden Knights although they’ve had a couple of extended playoff droughts. All in all, a very middle-of-the-road performance. Easy call here. They skipped the whole “miserable expansion years” thing and went to the final in Year 1. Sure, there was a controversial call 22. New York Rangers that helped cost them a playoff round against the Sharks. But they’ve They only won one Cup, but it’s the single most important one ever basically been really good every single year of their existence, and it’s according to the NHL’s marketing department. They’ve been very good in OK to hate their fans for it just a little bit. several other seasons and just kind of there in several more. There 30. Minnesota Wild hasn’t really been a single season that you’d call a complete disaster, although the era as a whole was a prolonged They’ve made one trip to the conference final, had one pick in the top disappointment. three in franchise history and have had between 81-106 points in every full season since 2002. Even these last few years when their fans made it 21. St. Louis Blues sound like they were terrible, you look at the standings and inevitably find I honestly thought the Blues would finish higher here, given all the times them hanging around the wild card race. They’re so middle-of-the-road they had the “long-suffering” tag applied during last year’s run. But the that their logo should be a highway divider. On the bright side, this is the thing is, they were never really that bad. As an expansion team, they first time I’ve ever made any kind of ranking of all 31 teams and not had made three straight finals, and their streak of 25 straight playoff the Wild finish 16th. appearances starting in 1980 was the third-longest ever. They had their 29. Columbus Blue Jackets moments of crushing disappointment, for sure, and once missed a full draft while almost moving to Saskatoon, which has to count for The early days weren’t great, although they never embarrassed something. But 2005-06 was really their only rock bottom season. themselves. The last decade or so has seen them bounce from respectable to quite good, although it’s only resulted in one playoff round 20. Toronto Maple Leafs win. Waiting 20 years for a breakthrough wears on you, for sure, but They’ve certainly covered the ground on the bad end of the scale, Columbus fans haven’t been too low and have barely ever been high. including multiple dead last finishes, an entire generation lost to a terrible 28. Nashville Predators owner and an almost total writeoff of the first decade of the cap era. A few years ago, Sports Illustrated ranked Toronto as the NHL’s most They were bad but not embarrassing as an expansion team, then miserable fan base, and it was hard to argue. The highs are harder to embarked on nearly two decades of being pretty good most years, come by, though, with no post-1967 Cups or trips to the final, so the culminating with a trip to the final in 2017 that was followed by a misery is doing all the work here. Ah well, at least they had this. Presidents’ Trophy. Without a Cup or any truly terrible seasons, they can’t rank all that high. 19. Anaheim Ducks

27. Winnipeg Jets They were never really awful as an expansion team, so you could argue The Sharks are a tough one. Their worst seasons were among the very they haven’t tasted rock bottom (although this year suggests they could worst in pro sports history. But those were as an expansion team back be headed there). The highs have included one Cup and another when that meant you had to expect to be awful, and the team made a surprise trip to the final, plus a whole lot of solid seasons that didn’t surprise playoff run in Year 3. They’ve been contenders for a generation translate into playoff success. but only had one trip to the final, and this year’s disaster may spell the end of that era. They’ve certainly had their ups and downs, but without a 18. Philadelphia Flyers Cup win or an extended stretch in the dumpster beyond those historically They’ve got two Cups, although if you remember watching them then awful first two seasons, it’s hard to rank them any higher. you’re old. Since those wins, it’s been six more trips to the final, all of 9. Buffalo Sabres which ended at the hands of at least quasi-dynasties. But other than some lean expansion years, they’ve never bottomed out except for 2006- Still no Cup, although they’ve come agonizingly close. They were great 07. That’s one year out of 50, although it does earn extra points since for most of the ’70s, an afterthought through most of the ’80s, rode they followed it by losing the draft lottery, then seeing the prospect they arguably the best goaltender of all-time through the ’90s and were right missed out on show up three years later to score a Cup winner in their there among the elite contenders on a few occasions in the 2000s building. despite financial hardship. Then came the Pegulas, and some tanking strategic rebuilding, and a franchise that keeps spinning its wheels and 17. Montreal Canadiens kicking up mud without ever getting anywhere. We don’t want to let They’ve won a league-leading 10 Cups since 1967, including four straight recency bias creep in too much, but there’s probably not a more as part of a dynasty team that may have been the most dominant ever. miserable fan base in the NHL right now. So yeah, they’ve got the high end of the scale covered. But the lows 8. Colorado Avalanche have bottomed out with seasons in the 70-point range, and apart from giving away their franchise goaltender for a bag of magic beans, they’ve They’ve packed a lot into 24 years, including two Stanley Cups and an never really had a rock bottom year. Could some Montreal fan make the extended stretch as a star-studded powerhouse. They’ve also had some case that even mere mediocrity is far more painful for this noble franchise bad years, and the low point came in 2016-17 when they had arguably than it would be anywhere else? Sure, but you’re under no obligation to the worst season of the cap era. They pulled out of that quickly, though, listen to Habs fans. which keep them out of the running for the top five.

16. Boston Bruins 7. Washington Capitals

A few teams on our list have long Cup droughts, and a few others have Their worst was worse than just about anybody, with the only saving multiple championships. The Bruins can claim both, and in between grace being that it was long enough ago that many modern fans don’t came an extended period with a record 29 straight playoff berths that remember it. Their last few decades haven’t seen anywhere near that often ended sooner than they should have. It’s never easy to watch your level of incompetence, but they have featured plenty of crushing playoff franchise icon go elsewhere to win his Cup, but when it comes to true collapses, which sometimes feel worse. It all paid off with their first and misery, the Bruins have to get in line behind plenty of other fan bases. only Cup win in 2018, and nobody could say Caps fans hadn’t earned it.

15. Vancouver Canucks 6. New Jersey Devils

Yeah, I thought they’d be higher too. They haven’t won a Cup, but They were awful for their first few years in New Jersey, including being they’ve come as close as you can get a couple of times, and Canucks called Mickey Mouse by the game’s best player and finishing second last fans always show up on any list of long-suffering fan bases. But the in a year where a legend went first overall. Lou Lamoriello arrived to turn reality is with no Cups and no truly awful seasons (although some of the the franchise around and delivered sustained excellence that included expansion years and a stretch in the mid-80s come close), I can’t figure three Cups. Now they’re terrible again. Yep, they check all the boxes. out a way to get them any further up the list than this. 5. Detroit Red Wings 14. Tampa Bay Lightning If you’ve been a Wings fan in the expansion era, you’ve had a chance to They were never quite as bad as their expansion cousins like the Sharks watch some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, one of the and Senators, but they had just one playoff appearance in their first most remarkable playoff streaks in sports history and four decade and were usually out of the race by Christmas. When success championships. You’ve also been subjected to some truly bad teams in came, it happened quickly; they won their first playoff round in 2003 and the 1980s, a pre-Cup dose of playoff heartbreak in the 1990s, and the followed it with a Cup in 2004. In the cap era, they’ve been both awful epic crash-and-burn of this latest season, which was the probably the and excellent, sometimes in the same year. worst we’ve ever seen in the cap era. Really, the only thing keeping them from finishing even higher was that being terrible in the 1980s Norris was 13. Carolina Hurricanes pretty much mandatory and we don’t know yet how long this current nadir They rarely make the playoffs, but whenever they do they go several will last. rounds deep and occasionally win a Cup everyone immediately agrees to 4. Chicago Blackhawks forget about. Mix in the fact that everyone outside Carolina is constantly waiting for the team to move, which has to be infuriating most of the time The Hawks were actually a reasonably good team for much of the ’70s but makes the good years all that much sweeter. They belong in the top and ’80s, culminating with their run to the final in 1991. But it always felt half of the list for sure. like they should be better, largely because owner Bill Wirtz never seemed to want to spend on the finishing touches, and it all bottomed out the mid- 12. Ottawa Senators 90s. They won one playoff game in a decade, were playing in a half- Not many fan bases can match their lows. They were record settingly empty building, and by 2004 were featured alongside the Knicks and awful as an expansion team, so much so that Sports Illustrated once Lions in the running for the title of the very worst franchise in sports. called them the worst expansion franchise in the history of pro sports, Three Cups later, it’s fair to say that even Hawks fans who’ve only been and their last few years haven’t been much better, only weirder. But the around for a few decades have seen both sides of the coin up close. highs have included one disappointing trip to the final, a handful of 3. Pittsburgh Penguins surprise runs, a few very good regular season teams, and not much else, so I can’t get them into the top 10. The fact that the Penguins only rank third drives home how tough the competition is for top spot. This is a fan base that’s seen their team win 11. Los Angeles Kings five Cups, all while enjoying the talents of an endless string of Hall of Their fans have seen two Cups wins, plus the greatest player of all-time Famers that includes three of the best 10 players ever, and more leading a star-studded team to the final. They’ve also seen lots of importantly, being in Sudden Death. They’ve also been a joke for long mediocrity and a few outright disasters, and right now they’re a terrible stretches, including the mid-80s and the years surrounding the 2005 team with a bright future. Also, bruised banana uniforms. It’s been a lockout that saw them go bankrupt and come very close to moving. The journey. only thing keeping them from the top spot is that, unlike our next two teams, I’m not sure there was ever a time when they were considered the 10. San Jose Sharks consensus pick as the absolute worst franchise in the league. So, they’ve got that going for them.

2. New York Islanders

What a ride. They debuted in 1971-72 with a miserable 30-point season that, at the time, may have been the single worst in NHL history. Within two years they were winning playoff rounds. By the end of the decade, they won a Presidents’ Trophy and had set the stage for a dynasty that would win four straight Cups and a stunning 19 straight playoff series, a pro sports record that will never be broken. If you wanted to call that early ’80s team the greatest ever, you’d have a strong case.

But nothing lasts forever, and the crash came quickly. The team slipped out of contention, then out of relevance. Aside from the blip of the 1993 run, the Islanders went from juggernaut to laughingstock over the course of a decade. Their fans didn’t get to see them win a playoff round for 23 years; instead, they got and ownership fraud and 15-year contracts to draft busts and the fishsticks and never-ending arena woes and a backup goalie as GM.

The last few years have been better, but yeah, you could absolutely put the Islanders No. 1 on this list; I wouldn’t argue with you. Instead, I’m giving that spot to their old rival from the glory days …

1. Edmonton Oilers

Five Cups. The greatest player ever. Enough stars to build your own wing of the Hall of Fame. Quite possibly the two best young players in the sport right now, on the same team at the same time, locked up long term.

But ALSO: The Trade that was really The Sale. A parade of stars demanding exits out of town. An injured goalie costing them a Cup. Coming within hours of relocating to Houston. The decade of darkness. Becoming every other fan base’s go-to punchline for a generation.

Man. You OK, Oilers fans?

Don’t answer that. If you’ve been an Oilers fan the whole way through, you’ve earned a break. You’ve staked out the highs and lows of the NHL fan experience and barely spent any time in the safe middle ground. Seriously, how many Oilers seasons would you look at and say they were just OK? There may be only five or six in four decades of franchise history. It must be exhausting.

Would you want to trade places with one of the teams that showed up earlier on this list? Some days, probably, but Stanley Cup banners are forever. So are scars. Oilers fans have more than their share of both. And with the clock ticking on the Connor McDavid era, there’s more on the way. We just don’t know which end of the spectrum it’s coming from yet.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188367 Websites Doughty earned a 55 percent expected goals rate and 57 percent goals rate, leading to his first-ever Norris nomination. It wouldn’t be his last.

In the following two years, Doughty influenced chances at a consistent The Athletic / The Next Ones: Can Miro Heiskanen be the next Drew 54-to-55 percent rate like clockwork, and in those three years – the span Doughty? Heiskanen is being compared to here – the Kings enjoyed 56 percent of the goals and 55 percent of the expected goals. Yes, 2011-12 was technically a down year for Doughty, but the body of work was still strong enough to place him among the league’s best defensemen. Doughty was By Dom Luszczyszyn Jul 15, 2020 elite at 5-on-5, a premier shutdown defenseman that was a key to forging the Kings’ on-ice identity in the years before they became a perennial championship contender. No two hockey players are the same, but some are more similar than others. They may not look or play the same way on the ice, but the end Heiskanen is a year younger than Doughty was at the time and waited a result is close enough to wonder what it means for a player’s career year after his draft to enter the league, so he only has two years of trajectory. For young players, a statistical comparable from the past can experience under his belt. His first year was solid, scoring 33 points and showcase a potential path forward – hope for a brighter future. They earning a 51.5 percent expected goals rate in tough minutes, but it was won’t follow the same specific path, but the similarities shown to date can the following season where Heiskanen began to cement himself as a help visualize what could happen going forward. These players might be force to be reckoned with Doughty-like on-ice numbers at 5-on-5. the next ones. Heiskanen likely won’t be nominated for a Norris like Doughty was in his second season, but he was definitely in the conversation this year and The player: Miro Heiskanen, age 20 will likely stay in it for years to come.

The comparable: Drew Doughty, age 21 What the future might hold

The similarities For the next six years, Doughty was usually an elite defenseman. There were some weaker seasons where he was on the borderline based on The hope with a top-three pick is that the player selected will one day the total value he brought to the table, but generally speaking, he was become a cornerstone piece for the team, a player who can change the one of the league’s best blueliners (and usually made up for those lesser franchise and be one of the league’s best at his position. It’s actually a years in the playoffs). He continued playing tough minutes shutting down tougher ask than it seems as even high picks aren’t guaranteed to be opponents and was a key cog in the Kings’ dominant puck possession that. In 2008 the Los Angeles Kings got exactly what they were looking system. for from their second overall pick Drew Doughty, an elite two-way defenseman who can shut down the opposition’s best. It was clear early During his peak, the Kings consistently got the same level of on-ice on in his career that Doughty would be a special player. results at 5-on-5 with Doughty, where they generally earned 55 percent of the expected and actual goals. Though that was close to the team Nine years later the Dallas Stars appear to have something similar on average, it’s hard to say the team average would be that high without their hands with 2017 third overall pick Miro Heiskanen. Though they him, especially considering the difficulty of his minutes played. differ stylistically, two of Heiskanen’s top three comps are Doughty’s age 20 and age 21 season, the latter of which has a similarity score of 57, After seeing how instrumental Doughty was in the Kings’ second Stanley which is pretty high. Cup win in 2013-14, not to mention his play at the 2014 Olympics, Doughty’s reputation grew at a rapid pace and it’s no coincidence that he Both defensemen stand at 6-foot-1 (though Heiskanen is a bit lankier), saw the most love at the end-of-season awards in the years that followed play 24 minutes per night, face very tough usage, are good for roughly 10 — warranted or not. goals and 40 points and are very strong in their own end with exceptional expected and actual goals against rates. Their expected goals The absolute apex of that peak came in 2015-16, Doughty’s age 26 percentage was nearly identical in their respective seasons with both season where it was his turn to win the Norris trophy. To his credit, being on for 2.45 per 60 while allowing around 2.05 (Heiskanen was Doughty was exceptional at 5-on-5 that season featuring a career-best slightly higher at 2.08), good for a 54 percent share. That’s extremely 56 percent expected goals rate and 58 percent goals rate by way of his strong for a young defenseman playing tough minutes, especially strong defense, putting up some of the best rates of his career. Coupled considering most of that is on the defensive side. Altogether, both players with his 51 points scored, Doughty was worth 3.2 wins that year, the were worth around two wins at the time. second-highest of his career next to his 2009-10 campaign. It may not have been the best mark that year – that honor belongs to Erik Karlsson However, there are two areas where Heiskanen and Doughty do slightly and Brent Burns – but he was certainly up the leaderboard (it was differ. certainly more palatable than his runner-up nomination the year prior). The first is in their production. While both players appear to be 40-point Two years later he finished second after putting up a career-high 60 scorers, Heiskanen is stronger at 5-on-5 where his 1.03 points-per-60 points in a season where he was worth 2.9 wins. tops Doughty’s 0.84, while the difference on the power play comes down After that season Doughty’s play has fallen off a cliff in lockstep with the to opportunity. Both players have a nearly identical points-per-60, but Kings finding themselves near the league’s basement in consecutive Doughty had the benefit of an extra 1:14 of power-play time to boost his seasons. While many signs point to Doughty’s own drop in play, the totals while Heiskanen has been blocked by teammate John Klingberg reputation afforded to him in year’s past as one of the league’s best from a spot on the top unit. He may just have a higher offensive ceiling remains giving him the benefit of the doubt in down years. than Doughty. What does this all mean for Heiskanen? It means the Stars can likely The second is discipline. Doughty’s projected minus-five penalty expect a very consistent stalwart on their back end, one they can depend differential isn’t bad for a defenseman by any means, but Heiskanen’s on for most of the next decade to deliver elite 5-on-5 results. They can plus-four mark is dazzling. It stands as the fifth-best mark in the league expect a shutdown defenseman with some offensive flair who will be for defensemen at the moment, an extraordinary feat given his defensive among the best at his position for most of his prime. skillset. Essentially, Heiskanen possesses Doughty-calibre defense while staying out of the box more. But it may take a little extra for him to be considered the very best at his position like Doughty was in 2015-16, at least when it comes to taking It’s impressive and based on Doughty’s trajectory, the Stars can expect home some hardware. It’ll take an exceptionally strong season of pristine Heiskanen to maintain that level of play and then some for much of the defense and 5-on-5 dominance, even by his standards. It’ll take more next decade. offense, which Heiskanen appears to have in him based on his rate What each player has shown to date numbers at 5-on-5 compared to Doughty’s at the same age. Perhaps most importantly, it’ll take a strong PR campaign built off a growing At that point in time, Doughty was four seasons into his NHL career and it reputation as one of the league’s most dependable defenders. He may took just two for him to become a legit star. Though he started taking on need some team success to go along with it to build that case to one day big minutes in his rookie season, it wasn’t until his sophomore campaign get his turn at winning the Norris Trophy. where he was equipped to handle them. On top of scoring 59 points, After two seasons in the league, it feels like Heiskanen can one day get there. He has the tools to not only be on Doughty’s level but maybe even surpass it if his offensive game gets an opportunity to grow without sacrificing his pristine defensive game. It’s time to start paying more attention to him now.

Other comparables

For most players, it’s not very difficult to find past comparables, but some of the best players are unique and make it challenging. Heiskanen is one of those players and while Doughty is a very strong match, it’s pretty difficult to find others. Only two other players from the past decade have a similarity score higher than 35 with Heiskanen’s last season: Oliver Ekman-Larsson in 2012-13 and Alex Pietrangelo in 2011-12.

That’s three elite or borderline elite players, giving Heiskanen a pretty rosy future trajectory, one where being an elite defenseman is the average outlook. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him surpass that threshold either.

It’s worth noting too that Heiskanen is still just 20 years old and he’s being put on the same level of three 21-year-olds. And not just any 21- year-olds, but three of the best defensemen of their era. It suggests Heiskanen is a very special player, one that will have the torch passed onto him as one of the game’s future best defensemen. In his second season, he’s already not far off.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188368 Websites He said the company had around two dozen content providers across various sports, but would not say how many were full-time, contract or casual. In a press release tied to the announcement of its new show, the company also touted a partnership with social media personality Dan The Athletic / Former Sportsnet personality Nick Kypreos follows ‘trends’ Bilzerian, whose company, Ignite International Brands, has become the back to sports talk subject of litigation in the U.S.

Neville said i3 Interactive will do “a lot of different deals in the next couple of months.” By Sean Fitz-Gerald Jul 15, 2020 LineMovement would not just be about betting content, he said, though

there will be voices who “talk about different bets, or daily fantasy sports, Before the novel coronavirus forced the NHL off the ice, Nick Kypreos or great plays this weekend.” noticed he had started speaking to the television the same way he had Kypreos does not plan to be among those voices. been speaking on television. He would still break down the game, except he was in his house. “They don’t want me handicapping games,” he said. “I’m not a bookie. I’m not a guy to tell you where to put your money. All I need to do is what “Who are you talking to?” his wife would ask. I’ve been able to do for the last 20 years, and that’s talk hockey.” “I’m sitting on a panel of one right now,” he said, “and that’s me.” He announced his departure from Sportsnet in August. His long-time co- Kypreos left Sportsnet on a wave of big-name talent — and big salaries host, Doug MacLean, left the same month. Radio host Bob McCown, all- — ushered out the door over a tumultuous few weeks last summer. He purpose personality John Shannon and veteran journalist Scott Morrison was heading into the final year of his contract with the network he helped were among the other names to leave. launch in 1998, and it was not clear whether he would find another panel “And there’s more changes coming, I’m sure, as the industry continues to to join. evolve,” Kypreos said. “But I feel really, really fortunate that I parted on The 54-year-old has still not joined a panel, but he has landed on a good terms. And I felt good about the decision to leave. I knew there platform that will allow him to speak on the screen, rather than to the were other opportunities.” screen. On Tuesday, the former NHL winger announced he was joining a He wrote a book (“Undrafted,” due out this fall), and helped his wife, company focused on gaming, and that he would launch a version of a Anne-Marie, launch a beverage company with a family friend (Little show he hosted at Sportsnet. Buddha Cocktail Co., which is available in the LCBO.) Kypreos will stream an hour-long show, “RealKyper at Noon,” from his “Instead of worrying about my next contract — in a pandemic — I got a home studio in Toronto every weekday. It will be part of his new duties as year’s head start to start figuring out what my next 10 years could look director of hockey operations at the recently-launched site like,” Kypreos said. “So I feel very blessed right now that I’ve been given LineMovement, with the first show on Wednesday. a couple of opportunities to do things.” “We know where the trends are going,” Kypreos said. “We know where Kypreos does not have a co-host when his show begins this week, but he the National Hockey League stands now on betting. It’s really about does plan to invite plenty of guests, including MacLean. With the NHL taking fan engagement to another level.” back on the ice for its summer camps, he said he will also try to break The site is a subsidiary of i3 Interactive Inc., which aims to provide users news. “with an online and mobile gaming platform,” with casino and sports- “I’m very fortunate that people are answering the phone when I call betting products. LineMovement includes features such as “Betting 101,” them,” he said with a chuckle. “So if there’s anything that I can pass on to along with advertisements for an online sportsbook. the viewer or the listener — as I’ve done in the past — yes, you can A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a federal law against expect more of the same from me.” sports gambling shifted the landscape two years ago. Within months, the The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2020 NHL announced a partnership with MGM Resorts, declaring it the league’s first official sports betting partner. Last year, it added William Hill US to that list.

In Canada, Bill C-218 has cross-party support to reform gaming laws. The bill — “Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act” — would open the door for single-event betting. (As it stands, Canadians are only legally allowed to bet on the outcome of more than one game.)

Sportsnet, coincidentally, supports the bill. Kevin Waugh, a Conservative Member of Parliament from Saskatoon, introduced it to the House in February. If it passes to become law, it would still be up to each province to decide how it would be rolled out.

Companies on both sides of the border have already started staking out positions to reach a market that has been estimated to be worth billions. To be more precise, a report in The New York Times suggested sports wagering could become worth $16-billion.

Brent Musburger, the veteran play-by-play voice, is now a host on Vegas Stats & Information Network, which caters specifically to sports bettors. The site offers breaking news, as well as analysis and tips on how to bet in a growing sector. (Sportsnet carries its morning program, “Follow the Money.”)

FOX Sports has launched FOX Bet — “Watch on FOX Sports Bet on FOX Bet” — with analysis from its mainstream hosts. The Action Network offers insight available through subscription. The Score also has a betting app.

“As a company, we will be entering the U.S. market,” said Chris Neville, the chief executive of i3 Interactive. “We’ll only operate in legal markets, where we have a license.” 1188369 Websites The franchise drew the most bodies of any franchise to its practice facility for Phase 2 and jumped directly into intensified, short-bench scrimmages (two lines aside) on Day 1 of camp. By Day 2, Keefe had COVID-clear officials participating on the ice to mimic the real deal. Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs framing camp as competition for playoff roster By way of comparison, the Jackets aren’t scheduling their first scrimmage until later this week. Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau has yet to practice with his linemates. Boston superstar David Pastrnak didn’t join Luke Fox the main group until Wednesday. The virus has already thrown a wrench into the Pittsburgh and Tampa camps.

TORONTO – In an ordinary year, a healthy, established NHL player Absolutely, the Maple Leafs might get out-checked or out-defended. contributing to good team would face minimal risk of losing his job to a They could fumble the special-teams battle or not get enough saves. But less-experienced player immediately before a playoff tournament. the strict mandate is they won’t get out-prepared or out-conditioned.

Breaking: This is no ordinary year. Heck, on Wednesday they drop the puck on Game 1 of their own internal best-of-five series: Team Andersen vs. Team Matthews. Furthermore, When coach Sheldon Keefe gathered his Toronto Maple Leafs Monday the media will vote on a “Phase 3 Scrimmage Most Valuable Player” at the outset of Training Camp: Part Deux, he issued a firm message. award. Seriously. Tryouts start now. “Every rep that we have has got to be as close to game-like as we can, “We’ve got competition here for spots,” Keefe said. “To say that we were and the conditioning part of it creates some additional challenges happy or satisfied with the way we were playing and where we were at as because it’s really hard to do when you’re tired,” Keefe said. “Our hope is a team before the pause is just not the case. So, we’re challenging our — whether it’s the two-line or the three-line effect at scrimmages — that players to push each other.” by the time we get rolling with four lines, it feels a lot easier. Our hope is by the time we play the real games, it feels easier than anything we’ve Now, we’re pretty sure you should feel safe using permanent ink to gone through [at] this camp.” scratch numbers like 34, 91 and 16 into your lineup card. But the taxi- squad invitees — headlined by Nick Robertson (locally known as the And that is where the internal drive of Robertson, Agostino, Brooks and Greatest Talent to Never Play an NHL Shift) and featuring determined the other long shots becomes vital. Marlies standouts Kenny Agostino, Adam Brooks and Nic Petan — aren’t just waiting curbside hoping for a fare. “These guys have been committed to come in and put in the work, so they’re here to challenge and compete,” Keefe said. “They’re either Those hopefuls were among the first arrivals for Phase 2’s voluntary pushing to earn spots that are available if others don’t pull their weight, or workouts, with Americans like Robertson and Agostino arriving weeks in they’re pushing just to make everyone better through their work in advance to serve their mandatory 14-quarantine on this side of the practices — and that’s the biggest thing for us.” border. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2020 “My big thing is, you control what you can control in this game, and you just got to be ready for whenever that opportunity comes about,” an eager Agostino told me in late May before driving up from New Jersey. “You never know what the next year and a half could bring.”

Perhaps this theme of internal competition is being promoted to light a fire under some inconsistent third-line forwards and to accelerate the urgency necessary to leap into a best-of-five showdown versus super- motivator John Tortorella’s Columbus Blue Jackets on Aug. 2.

But Robertson & Co. are chasing that dangled carrot in earnest.

The sports-mad locals are starving for hockey and hope, so it makes sense the 18-year-old sniper’s practice highlights have already gone viral. He stripped our best defenceman of the puck! He lasered a couple by our best goalie!

“He’s a guy that’s going to continue to push. That’s just his nature,” Morgan Rielly says of Robertson. “So, it’s always good to have people like that on board.”

John Tavares marvels how the puck seems to follow Robertson around. Frederik Andersen is impressed by Robertson’s shiftiness and the release off his blade. GM Kyle Dubas zeroes in on the teenager’s mindset and approach.

“He wasn’t going to do what a lot of young players do, which is kinda tiptoe around on the ice and try to figure out what his place is. He’s going to come with the mindset that he’s going to leave it all out here and try to make the team,” Dubas explained on Tim and Sid Tuesday evening. “As some of the older, more veteran players sort of get back into their top form, how he responds to that is what we’re really looking for.”

What’s it going to take? Let’s just say the tie goes to the veteran.

“He needs to really show it, make it obvious that he’s ready,” Keefe said. “And he’s got some time to be able to do that.”

Not a ton.

The Leafs’ lone exhibition game (versus Montreal on July 28) is speeding at us faster than a forecheck. Starting Sunday, the players and bubble staff will enter a modified quarantine in which their lives must take place at home and at work (Ford Performance Centre) only.

Toronto has taken great pains to steepen its ramp-up to the tournament. 1188370 Websites He may be stuck behind Hughes on the depth chart forever, and he will have to leave his Boston area home for the first time and move across the continent. But Rathbone still chose to sign with the Canucks, taking advantage of a brief window in the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Sportsnet.ca / How Canucks' relationship with Jack Rathbone led to his Agreement to burn a year off his entry-level contract, when he could have signature forced unrestricted free agency next summer and chosen where to play.

"The comfortability factor and the loyalty thing was a big piece for me," Rathbone told reporters. "This organization has been great to me, Iain MacIntyre | July 15, 2020, 9:05 PM everyone in it. It’s the NHL and it’s my dream."

Without having played a game for the Canucks outside a couple of week- VANCOUVER – There was a problem Wednesday with the Zoom video long development camps, Rathbone cited the relationship he has with the calls involving Vancouver Canucks defencemen. organization and singled out Johnson and player-development assistant Chris Higgins. We mean a problem beyond a format that exposes reporters’ inarticulate long-windedness, prohibits any genuine conversation and often makes "Ryan Johnson and I, we just care about the players," Higgins said. interview subjects look like hostages awaiting ransoms, unsure if they will "Hopefully that comes across. In Jack’s case, I left an Ivy League school be paid. after my second year (Yale, 2003). I know the weight on his mom and dad: ‘Are we doing the right thing? Is this the right time?’ I was in those The Canucks’ call with Jack Rathbone came immediately before the NHL discussions with my own parents. His family reminds me a lot of my call involving Quinn Hughes. family. This guy is giving up a Harvard education to pursue his dream. That’s something I don’t take lightly." The order was wrong. It should have been Hughes before Rathbone. Because that is the order these gifted blue-liners will arrive in Vancouver. "We put a lot of work into developing relationships and trust with the players so they understand all we want for them is to be the best player No one should think that Rathbone, who spurned the possibility of free and the best person they can be," Johnson said. "We support them, but agency to sign with the Canucks on Tuesday, is going to be the same they need space. They need time to grow and make mistakes. Whether it player as Hughes, who on Wednesday was named a finalist for the was myself or Chris who was in to see him play, I always find the face-to- Calder Trophy after becoming only the third defenceman in the NHL’s face conversations after a game are vitally important." modern era to lead all rookies in scoring. (A couple of plugs were the others: Brian Leetch and Bobby Orr). It wasn’t only Higgins and Johnson, of course. Rathbone was visited after games by Vincent Montalbano, who scouts college hockey on the East Hughes, 20, launched himself into the NHL from the seventh-overall draft Coast for the Canucks, and crossover scout Derek Richard, and former position, and most of the six teams who picked ahead of the Canucks in amateur scouting director Judd Brackett. Rathbone’s skills development 2018 should be wondering what the heck they were thinking. Rathbone, was supported by Canucks skills coach Glenn Carnegie, his conditioning 21, was the 95th pick of the 2017 draft. by sport science director Bryan Marshall. Based on his 69-game body of work this season, Hughes may already be "The phrase the sum of all its parts – that’s what the organization is," the greatest defenceman in Canucks history. And after the franchise Higgins said. waited 50 years for him, it would be naïve to think someone nearly as good is about to follow him through the door. Johnson said: "After we drafted Jack (in 2017), then seeing him days later at our development camp, we just established something very good So they’re different, Hughes and Rathbone. But Hughes is special, and right from the beginning. This was Year 3 for me working with Jack. You Rathbone could be, too. They possess tremendous skating and passing see him after a game and there’s a smile and it’s just good to catch up, skills and having both players under contract at the start of their careers see where he’s at, where his game is at, check in with his family. That makes the Canucks’ defence look a lot brighter than it did before relationship never happens overnight. It has to be built. We take pride in Rathbone left Harvard University after two seasons to embark on it. At the end of the day, you want them to feel like they’re a Canuck even professional hockey. before they put their name on a paper." "We talk often about engaging our players and teaching them what it Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2020 feels like to be a Canuck when we draft them," player development director Ryan Johnson said Wednesday. "It’s rewarding. I talked to Jack last night and I was ecstatic for him, knowing his family and the process that has got him here. At the end of the day, he’s a Canuck. It was a great day, that’s for sure."

There may be more.

Hughes has a chance to inherit the Calder Trophy from teammate Elias Pettersson. The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote between Hughes and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar may be one of the closest in history, but Hughes being named a finalist makes the Canucks the first franchise since the 1969-71 New York Rangers to have one of the NHL’s top three rookies in three straight seasons.

Pettersson won the award last year over St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, while Canucks winger Brock Boeser was a runner-up to New York Islander Mathew Barzal in 2018.

"It’s really easy… coming in and knowing guys have done it before you," Hughes said of a regular season that saw him score 53 points in 68 games. "I was roommates with Petey, so we’re on the road and if I have a bad game, he’s always supportive. We’re always supporting each other. It was just easy coming in and having his experience. We talk about it quite a bit. Same with Boes. Off the ice, just having young guys around makes it more fun. We’re all pretty close. I’m pretty lucky to have these guys here."

And Rathbone will be lucky to have them for advice and support when he arrives in the NHL, which could be as soon as next season. After 31 points in 28 games during his sophomore year at Harvard, he will have at least a chance to make the Canucks next winter. 1188371 Websites But a spleen injury suffered in that 12th game, an injury that was supposed to keep him out of action for the rest of the season, made Kotkaniemi an afterthought in any return-to-play scenario the NHL and NHLPA were considering between mid-March and early-May. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Kotkaniemi surging up depth chart with strong start to camp Months of rest — and the NHL’s extensive pause due to COVID-19 — changed that for Kotkaniemi, and now it appears as though his performance through three days of Canadiens camp has changed it in a significant way. Eric Engels July 15, 2020, 5:48 PM "Well, I think the biggest thing (when) we sent him down… we talked

about it yesterday… his skating wasn’t at the level it was before, and BROSSARD, Que. — No player has more to gain at Montreal Canadiens because of that his whole game was falling apart," said Julien on training camp than Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Wednesday. "When you don’t have the pace, you’re trying to make plays (and) plays are getting cut off. He was getting frustrated things weren’t Think about this: the 20-year-old has an opportunity to change the optics going as well as he was used to seeing and I think his confidence was of his sophomore season, to turn what was widely perceived to be a big obviously being affected by that. But when you look at him now and you step back in his development into a considerable step forward. see how well he’s skating, a lot of things are falling into place, which at the time weren’t. So that’s probably the biggest thing here. The door is wide open for Kotkaniemi to gain the most valuable experience of his career to date. And, above all else, he has a chance to "Is he going to need coaching? Absolutely. Like everybody else, there’s prove he’s worthy of the role that was envisioned for him when the certain things. Those good players, they want to make good plays all the organization drafted him third overall in 2018. time and, sometimes, plays aren’t there. Some of that comes from experience, some of it will get better with time. We have to be patient, If it was, at first, (reasonably) assumed Kotkaniemi was most likely and at the same time we have to teach. And I think right now, I keep competing for a depth role and merely serving as a placeholder for Max saying it, I like what I’ve seen so far because his skating is back to where Domi, who is a Type 1 diabetic and waiting to decide whether or not he’ll I think we saw it at its best at one point and the rest of the game seems join the team in Brossard in the coming days, Canadiens coach Claude to be slowly falling into place." Julien dispelling that notion on Tuesday was a significant development. Even teammate Phillip Danault, who had his own work to worry about That the coach first went out of his way to praise Kotkaniemi, in response through his first three practices since March, has been impressed. to a question about rookie Nick Suzuki, was an indication the kid will at least have a chance to work himself into the lineup. That’s something "I’ve only seen him in practice, so it’s hard to tell," Danault cautioned. Kotkaniemi wasn’t even assured of when he touched down in Montreal "But I can tell you his shot is real devastating. He got a little tougher, a last week. little bigger, obviously gained some maturity out there. But, like I said, I’ve only seen him in three practices, so it’s hard to tell. I need to see him But this? This was something else. in a game situation. But I like what I see so far." "Well, what I’d like to think, and what I’d like for Kotkaniemi to think, is If you’re a Canadiens fan, you have to like what you’re hearing (or that this week and next week, if he can continue to show us how well reading). he’s progressed…," Julien said before concluding, "Just because right now Max isn’t here doesn’t mean it automatically goes back to It had to be encouraging to find out Kotkaniemi could participate in this Kotkaniemi that’s going to be moved out of (a line with Paul Byron and training camp after the severity of his injury in March put that possibility in Artturi Lehkonen). We’ll make those decisions, as I said to everybody doubt. To know he’s making an impression immediately — especially else, as we move forward here." after his tumultuous season — has to be reassuring.

pic.twitter.com/M8J7a5Im0N And this comment from Julien has to be a welcome sight, too.

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) July 15, 2020 "This guy here is a future player that should be with this organization for a long time, so there’s no doubt you have to work with him," the coach. If they had been made before we got here, it was hard to imagine "In his case, I think the best thing to let K.K. do right now is to let him Kotkaniemi being pencilled into a secure role of any kind, let alone one come in, let him skate, let him play, let him gain his confidence. He on the third line. doesn’t need me in his face the first day having to tell him, ‘I want you to The Pori, Finland native struggled right out of the gate in September. do this and that.’ Shortly after the season began, after he produced just two goals in "What I’ve seen so far has been, like I said, encouraging. So I’m letting October, he was parked for two weeks to heal from a groin injury that had that ride a little bit. But there’s no doubt that we will be sitting down and been persisting since the start of training camp. And right as he appeared having a conversation at some point." to be gaining rhythm in early December, he took a devastating hit from Colorado Avalanche defenceman Nikita Zadorov that concussed him and That it’s a priority for Julien to do that in short order says much about the sidelined him for close to a month. opportunity Kotkaniemi has in front of him.

By the time January rolled around, Kotkaniemi had become a player If the six-foot-two centre can seize it, it will be a massive development for Julien frequently referenced in answers to questions that had nothing to both him and the Canadiens. do with him — and it certainly wasn’t to sing his praises. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2020 The kid’s production was non-existent, he was hardly effective without the puck and his confidence was shot. Julien had run out of patience with the process as the mistakes piled up and the Canadiens slipped further and further out of playoff contention.

Kotkaniemi’s frustration had clearly reached its tipping point, as well. That he classified his demotion to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Jan. 18 as "an exciting opportunity" confirmed it — even if he was genuinely excited to just have the chance to play a more significant role and to be allowed to make certain mistakes that can be forgiven at that level.

From the Stanley Cup Qualifiers to the Stanley Cup Final, livestream every game of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, blackout-free, on Sportsnet NOW.

It had to have been a huge relief for the Canadiens, and certainly for Kotkaniemi, that he produced 13 points in 12 games with the Rocket after producing only eight points in 36 games with the big club. 1188372 Websites “At certain points, it felt like we were never going to get this opportunity. And now it looks like we’re going to have a great opportunity, as good as anyone else, to win that Stanley Cup.”

Sportsnet.ca / Calgary Flames 'have a lot to prove' in critical playoff run Their chances will diminish exponentially if they don’t learn from the lessons Colorado taught them last year.

“It was not a matter of skill last year, it was a matter of will,” said Flames Eric Francis | July 15, 2020, 12:01 PM interim coach Geoff Ward.

“(The Avs) had a matter of will and you saw it. We all have to be aware of that. If every guy in the room isn’t prepared to step outside their comfort Sean Monahan didn’t care to mince words when asked about his prime zone then your chances of winning the Cup are greatly reduced. motivator for these playoffs. We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. We have to be “We got embarrassed last year in the post-season,” said the Flames’ first prepared to play out of our comfort zone.” line centre, whose first-place club was dominated by the Colorado Avalanche in five opening round games. Optimists in Calgary cling to the adversity the team faced this season, headlined by the coaching change when Akim Aliu’s racial allegations led “As a player representing an organization, that sticks with you. We’ve got to Bill Peters’ departure. a lot to prove here and we have a lot of things motivating us.” The team responded well to Ward taking over, winning seven in a row to Like redemption. get them back into a playoff race that saw them finish eighth, barely “We’ve talked about it a lot, and a lot behind closed doors — we got ahead of first round opponent Winnipeg. outworked and outcompeted and got owned by Colorado,” added Many had counted them out then, only to see the club show plenty of Monahan. moxy. “You want to be a guy who can be a part of the post-season and that’s But none of the challenges they went through this season compared to where a lot of guys’ legacies are built. That’s the kind of guys we want to last season’s playoff face plant. be, and we want to step up and take charge in Game 1.” “The one thing about experience is you have to get it yourself and go “We” being the top line he has anchored for years here, without much through it — you can’t buy it,” said Ward. playoff success. “We lived through something last year none of us want to live through Against a surging Colorado club Monahan, Elias Lindholm and Johnny again. We talk about that in terms of spring-boarding ahead to be a Gaudreau combined for two goals, three assists and a combined minus- better, battle-tested group. It’s something we can draw on now. 6. We’re going to really challenge ourselves to see what we learned. The Not good enough. group has to embrace and move forward with it. We’re anxious to see It’s the latest in a series of subpar playoff showings by a team that has what will be revealed Aug. 1.” won one of its last nine playoff games and has everyone questioning As GM Brad Treliving said, the onus will be on teams to create their own whether the Flames are built for playoff success with those three leading momentum starting that day. the ice time. Nothing that happened before the pause matters anymore — that was “This is an important time for our organization,” said Monahan, as his four months ago. team preps for its play-in series with Winnipeg. At that time Cam Talbot was busy piecing together numbers that rival It’s an important time for this line. Connor Hellebuyck’s and Mikael Backlund was on a month-long tear that “Last year was my first appearance in the playoffs and overall our line saw him score 10 goals and add 11 assists in 15 games. didn’t do a very good job,” admitted Lindholm, who led the Flames at the Offensively, these Flames can keep up with the Jets. pause with 29 goals. Debate all you want about whether Monahan, Gaudreau, Lindholm, “For myself, I kind of got away from my game and started doing other Backlund and Tkachuk are as potent as Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, things and tried to hit people. It’s part of my game, but not something I’m Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine. looking to do. In the playoffs I was.” The difference will be which team can provide a better defence by way of For a trio that rolled to career numbers in the regular season, the jarring goaltending (advantage Jets) or the blue line (advantage Calgary). turn in fortunes has resonated. The trade deadline additions of Derek Forbort and Erik Gustafsson give “You have that on your mind all summer, and while working out,” said the Flames a formidable third pairing. Lindholm. The Flames will spend camp trying to determine the best defensive “You see how tough it is to get to the finals. That was a good motivation pairings, which shouldn’t be hard given how interchangeable they were for myself and hopefully for other guys. Every year you realize you don’t all season. have many chances to go at (the Stanley Cup) and right now as a team we don’t have a lot of experience and hopefully we can do a better job Travis Hamonic’s decision to opt out of the playoffs for family reasons will this year. Now we’re more underdogs and that’s probably better for us.” likely prompt Rasmus Andersson to move up to the second pairing alongside Noah Hanifin, which is how they’ve opened camp. Underdogs or not, it doesn’t reduce the pressure on a deep, talented team that very few people see as a legitimate threat to return to the form The debate over who will start in goal will rage through camp, as the that had them dominate the west during last year’s regular season. ever-popular Rittich was the team’s first half workhorse and MVP, while Talbot surged after Christmas and has playoff experience that Rittich After all, the game changes in the playoffs and therein lies the fuel for doesn’t. most doubters who are of the belief a more intense, heavier and faster game isn’t what the Flames can keep up in. Analyze it all you want, but if the Flames’ top line is neutralized and the team is outworked once again, this series ends early. If not, things are going to change around here. Then the real debate rages about how significant the off-season changes “It’s time to make another step forward and have some playoff success,” will have to be. admitted Mark Giordano, whose club has only been past the first round twice since winning the Cup in 1989. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188373 Websites “You don’t have to explain to your players what playoffs look like,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “Which, you go back two years, we had to. We didn’t really have the guys that have ever played a playoff game, let alone had a long run. But now we have consecutive years where our Sportsnet.ca / Why the battle-tested Jets could be a sleeper team come drivers are familiar with how the playoffs work, and that was a big impact playoffs on us in that we were so young. That experience is very important.”

The Jets have also learned to block out the outside noise that comes with the territory this time of the year when you play in a Canadian market. Ken Wiebe | July 15, 2020, 8:18 AM “In our room, we kind of manage our own expectations. We’re not too

concerned with what people outside our team are thinking, what they’re WINNIPEG – There’s always great debate when it comes to how wide writing, what they’re saying about us,” centre Adam Lowry said. “We the window of contention is for teams chasing the Stanley Cup. have one goal in this room. It starts against the Flames and hopefully we can continue on. A year ago, the Winnipeg Jets entered the tournament as one of the clear-cut favourites, despite a rocky second half that saw them slip to “All year we’ve kind of battled injuries, battled different things and we are second place in the Central Division near the end of the regular season. going to the playoffs pretty healthy and rested and we’re looking forward to putting that team on the ice and seeing what happens.” After reaching the Western Conference final in 2018, the expectations were sky high and the belief was that the Jets had the talent to take the UNDER-THE-RADAR MOVES OFTEN PAY OFF next step. Think of the Washington Capitals in 2018. It turns out the St. Louis Blues had other ideas, bouncing the Jets in the When Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan picked up Michal first round of a six-game series whose turning point was obvious. Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks, the move barely made a ripple With the series tied 2-2, the Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game 5 and when it showed up on the list of transactions. nearly made it 3-0 around the midway point of the second period. Most viewed it as a minor depth move. Kevin Hayes had the puck behind Jordan Binnington, but as he was But Kempny, an occasional healthy scratch with the Blackhawks, ended taken to the ice by Blues defenceman Colton Parayko, Hayes up playing important minutes on the second pairing as the Capitals accidentally knocked the puck out of the net instead of into it. defeated the Golden Knights in five games to win their first Stanley Cup. The Blues rallied, with Jaden Schwartz providing the dagger in the Dylan DeMelo was never in danger of being a healthy scratch with the waning seconds of regulation time. Ottawa Senators, but he’s the type of guy who doesn’t get a lot of St. Louis never looked back and the Jets never recovered. headlines. And yet, he does the little things necessary to make life easier for his defence partner. Although the scoreboard said 3-2 in the series clincher, the Jets scored twice in the third period to make the final score closer than it actually The Jets made a second move, picking up centre Cody Eakin from was. Make no mistake, the outcome was never really in doubt — even if Vegas for a conditional fourth round pick in 2021 that would be upgraded the comeback attempt was admirable. to a third if Winnipeg qualifies for the playoffs or the Winnipegger re-signs with his hometown team. And just like that, the Jets had followed up their longest run in franchise history with a disappointing first-round exit. Like Paul Stastny and Hayes before him, Eakin ended up centring the second line but the cost of acquisition was much lower than a first-round History has shown that for some teams, there is just as much (or more) pick the prior two players garnered. learning that comes from those heartbreaks before a breakthrough is actually possible. Eakin has brought a bit more edge to the Jets’ lineup and provided some secondary scoring to go with the experience of advancing to the Stanley What does that mean for the Jets as they returned to the ice on Monday Cup Final with the Golden Knights. to begin preparations for their best-of-five play-in series with the Calgary Flames? Should the Jets go on a run of any kind, you can bet DeMelo and Eakin will have a positive impact. With nearly five months between games by the time Aug. 1 arrives, it’s clear the questions are going to outweigh the answers. THE JETS HAVE ELITE GOALTENDING

What we do know is that the Jets spent the majority of this season as a In a coin-flip series, it’s rarely a bad idea to bet on the team with a proven bubble team, bouncing back and forth between above and below the netminder. playoff line. When the Los Angeles Kings captured the Stanley Cup in 2012, So you can eliminate favourites from any label you might want to attach Jonathan Quick was in the middle of everything, beginning with the first- to them. round upset over the Vancouver Canucks.

This isn’t to suggest the Jets are going to be left wearing the glass slipper Those playoffs ended with Quick winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. at the end of the ball. While the Kings were the eighth seed in the Western Conference that This isn’t a bottom-feeder club either, so for the time being, let’s explore year, the Jets are entering the play-in round as the ninth seed, mere the reasons the Jets should be viewed as a sleeper. percentage points behind the Flames.

THE JETS ARE BATTLE TESTED In order for the Jets to make some noise, Vezina Trophy front-runner Connor Hellebuyck will need to shine — and that’s exactly what his As mentioned earlier, a good chunk of this core group is preparing for its teammates expect him to do. third playoff run (several holdovers were part of another in 2015, when the Jets played well for long stretches but their inexperience showed in “Thank goodness we gave him a little rest,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler being swept by the Anaheim Ducks) and that has its advantages. said. “We worked him out pretty good this year. He had an outstanding season. We’re not sitting here talking to you guys without the work that There has been one long and prosperous run (resulting in the first nine he did this year. We definitely draw a lot of confidence from having him in playoff victories in franchise history dating back to the Atlanta Thrashers between the pipes.” days) and two early exits. When the stakes are highest, the man behind the mask is often the most Obviously, these playoffs are going to be like none other because of the important player on the ice. circumstances regarding the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t lessons to be learned from the road already travelled. “We feel we have the best goalie in the league, so when he’s on top of his game, he can win games on his own,” forward Mathieu Perreault said. “This is what playoff hockey is all about. If you want to win the Stanley Cup, it’s most times the team with the goalie that’s one of the hottest. We feel like we have that here, so that’s why we have a legitimate chance of winning this Cup.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188374 Websites day we come out here and play these scrimmages and have our habits and details start to fall into place."

With only one exhibition game – July 28 against the Montreal Canadiens TSN.CA / 'A house divided' scrimmage series pits Frederik Andersen – on the schedule, the five scrimmages at training camp are taking on against Auston Matthews even greater significance. Wednesday's opening encounter consisted of two 20-minute periods with stop time and music blaring after whistles. The goalies each played one period with Andersen duelling with Campbell in the first. Assistant coaches Dave Hakstol and Paul Mark Masters McFarland were on the benches with Keefe watching from the stands alongside general manager Kyle Dubas and president Brendan Shanahan. TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs, who practised in two groups at the Ford "We need to have game action as best we can to be able to really Performance Centre on Wednesday. prepare ourselves to play because it's not just structural and system things for us," Keefe said. "There's game habits and things in the flow of Getting up to game speed without games is a big challenge facing the game, how you manage the puck and your shift length and your line National Hockey League teams this summer, especially those playing a changes, all of these things are really important for us and areas where best-of-five elimination series right away. With that in mind, Maple Leafs we have to grow as a team. It's not necessarily just things you can [work head coach Sheldon Keefe has come up with a fun way to raise the on] in a practice environment. We need game reps and we don't have an intensity at training camp. The players have been split into two teams for exhibition season." a five-scrimmage series with good pals Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen serving as captains. Game 2 is set for Saturday.

"We had a nice intro video for it and got the guys fired up," revealed "Guys are taking it serious," said veteran left winger Kyle Clifford. "Maybe goalie Jack Campbell. "I think everybody is really embracing it. They're there's not a whole ton of physicality out there, but there's definitely the besties and lived together so the [staff] wanted to make it into a fun mindset that we want to be ready." rivalry." The media will get to vote on the Phase 3 Most Valuable Player after the Andersen moved into Matthews' home in Arizona during the pandemic final game on July 23. pause and thus the team is billing the series as 'A house divided.' Leafs Ice Chips: Matthews vs. Andersen, a house divided "We're playing on the Matthews-Andersen relationship and friendship," Getting up to game speed as quick as possible is a major focus at Leafs Keefe explained. "You see two guys taking care of each other and training camp and head coach Sheldon Keefe has come up with a fun hanging out with each other during a tough time ... it was a really cool way to stoke competitive fires. The players have been split into two thing for our team and we're just kind of playing off of that and creating teams with pals Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen serving as some competitiveness." captains for a five game scrimmage series. The top six forwards are all "They are two of our biggest leaders," noted Campbell. "Any time you on Team Matthews, but it was Team Andersen that came out on top in have those kind of competitors you know it's going to be a good Game 1 on Wednesday. scrimmage." --- — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 15, 2020 Keefe expected to have an American Hockey League officiating crew on So, that explains the captain picks, but where things get really interesting hand for all scrimmages at camp to create a more game-like feel, but that is how the players have been divided. The top six forwards and bottom plan was shelved after other teams raised concerns with the NHL. four defencemen are together while the bottom six forwards and top four "Apparently people around the NHL are paying attention to our media defenceman have been combined. reports here in Toronto," said Keefe. "I think there are some people "I don't know who made those teams, but they got the top six," observed around the League that perhaps liked the idea that we had referees, but smiling centre Alex Kerfoot. "Not sure if that's an oversight." didn't like the idea that maybe they didn't have the same available to them. We had to make an adjustment and perfectly fine doing that." It isn’t. Marlies coach Greg Moore is now handling the officiating duties in "Obviously it's a little unconventional," Keefe acknowledged. "Usually scrimmages. you'd take those [top] lines and put one on each team, but this is not a conventional camp or conventional time and we've got to adapt to it. --- We're trying to get a lot out of these games and keeping those guys A couple of Toronto players, who are due to become unrestricted free together gives us an opportunity to not only try different things involving agents after this season, have been asked for their thoughts on hitting special teams, but we can change those lines at any time and use [other] the open market in uncertain times. combinations we have in mind." "It's a difficult time for everybody," said defenceman Tyson Barrie. Zach Hyman scored twice to give Team Matthews a 4-2 lead on "Whatever free agency looks like it's probably not going to be as good as Wednesday, but the top-six guys were held in check down the stretch it would have been, but it's all relative and you just keep it in perspective. allowing Team Andersen to storm back for a 6-5 win. We're lucky to have jobs and to play this game so you can't really stress "We've got the Kerfoot line and the [Frederik] Gauthier line, two lines that about that." really have to work to make life hard on the opposition with their habits, Clifford is focused on flattening the Columbus Blue Jackets in the best-of- their details and how they play," Keefe noted. "Our top guys have got to five qualifying round series and not fixating on the flat salary cap. get used to playing against guys that make it hard on them so we just thought it was a way to create that environment." "We got a mountain to climb here if we want to achieve our ultimate goal and that starts with Columbus," Clifford said. “That other stuff will sort — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 15, 2020 itself out as time goes on. I'm not too worried about." Jason Spezza tipped home the winning goal off a Jake Muzzin blast with In uncertain times, Barrie, Clifford, Ceci tuning out free agency talk 17 seconds left. Nic Petan chipped in two tallies for Team Andersen. Calle Rosen connected on a penalty shot with Adam Brooks, Teemu With NHL teams facing a flat salary cap for the next couple of seasons, Kivihalme, Gauthier, Kerfoot and Mitch Marner also scoring. pending unrestricted free agents are now dealing with an uncertain market. But Tyson Barrie, Cody Ceci and Kyle Clifford are doing their "It was really what you've come to expect from scrimmages in the early best to keep their focus on the present – the Leafs playoff push – instead going," Keefe said. "It was quite sloppy, lots of back-and-forth, not a lot of of the game’s new business model. saves, so it was not what we want to look like in the end but it's part of the process. But time is not on our side and we need to make sure each --- One day after William Nylander declared his desire to be a dominant playoff performer, Keefe was asked what the key is for the 24-year-old winger.

"The big thing that stands out for William is just his consistency. The consistency he brings in his effort and competitiveness," said Keefe, who also worked with Nylander in the AHL. "I showed him a number of different clips where he was all over the puck and winning pucks back. One very underrated thing about William is the way he can win pucks back. In terms of takeaways in the offensive zone he's right near the top of the League and that's just him being strong on his stick, being smart, using his skill to win the puck back. There's a whole competitive side to that as well and when he's doing that it allows him to play with the puck that much more and he's that much more engaged. That's what we're looking for from him, that consistency, because the talent and the ability, not many players in the world can match that and he has that and we’ve just got to see it all the time."

During the regular season, Nylander appeared to be as locked in as we've ever seen him during his NHL career. His longest point drought was four games and that was back in October. And Keefe likes how the Swede has worked during Phase 2 and the early part of training camp. But the coach notes that Nylander has, in the past at least, been susceptible to letdowns.

"It's part of Will's nature at times to not be as engaged as you'd like him to be and he needs a push. Sometimes it comes from me but sometimes it comes from himself as well. He's a guy that is hard on himself ... you talk to him and show him the clips and a lot of times he doesn't even need to see the clips. He knows the situations you're talking about."

Nylander hoping regular season success carries into play-in round

What a difference a year makes. William Nylander discusses how he wants to carry his regular season success this year into the play-in round after a forgettable season last year. Mask Masters has more.

The Leafs will not be on the ice on Thursday, but Keefe will hold a Zoom session with the media.

---

Team Matthews lines in scrimmage:

Nylander - Matthews - Hyman

Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner

Agostino - Brooks - Malgin

Dermott - Barrie

Sandin - Marincin

Kivihalme - Hollowell

Campbell played the first period

Woll played the second period

Team Andersen lines in scrimmage:

Engvall - Kerfoot - Kapanen

Clifford - Gauthier - Spezza

Robertson - Petan - Korshkov

Muzzin - Holl

Rielly - Ceci

Rosen - Gaudet

Andersen played the first period

Kaskisuo played the second period

TSN.CA LOADED: 07.16.2020 1188375 Websites people in history and he's shown what he's capable of doing by the results that he had. So he's earned that [spotlight], but it’s enhanced like everything else. He's got to tune that out, and just do his work and I'm not concerned about him. He's an extremely focused individual.” TSN.CA / High-flying Nick Robertson turning heads at Toronto Maple Leafs camp And a popular one, too. Robertson’s teammates have been singing his praises for days, and are eager as anyone to see him take the next step.

“Since he's come in, he's been a little water bug out there,” said Cody Kristen Shilton Ceci. “He's flying around, he's got a good shot. He's doing great; he’s really opening some eyes.”

“He's a tremendous player,” added Jack Campbell. “I love his work ethic TORONTO — Nick Robertson is by far the youngest, least experienced and his dedication. He's one of the most prepared kids at his age that I've player that the Maple Leafs included on their return to play roster for ever seen personally. He's giving it his all. He’s got a great shot, he’s a training camp, but you’d never know it from the flood of expectations he great talent and a nice kid and works his tail off.” rolled in on. And since there’s no use hiding from the hype, Robertson’s content to ride the wave. Robertson’s shot has become a hallmark of his game, a skill he’s diligently honed since childhood but that only really emerged for him “in “I'm definitely aware of the Toronto social media [conversations] for sure,” the last couple of years.” As a smaller player (5-foot-10, 164 pounds), Robertson said over a Zoom call with reporters on day three of camp at Robertson’s always strived to set himself apart in other ways, and that’s Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday. “I know my name has been the energy he brings daily to the Leafs’ ice. put out there a lot. I try to not really look at that stuff and carry on with not hearing outside noise, but it's good to hear some positive stuff. I’m glad “I think I just have to compete,” he said. “The only thing I control is my to have the Toronto fans on my side but it's what my teammates and the work ethic, and whether you're having a good game or not, I think just the coaching staff think of me [that's important]." work ethic has to separate me from others and I'm trying to do so here. As the week goes, I think I'll get even more comfortable and try to get It’s hard to fault Robertson for courting so much attention, given the back to my game and try to get more puck touches and a lot more shots.” season he just had. The 18-year-old winger led the entire CHL in 2019- 20 with his astonishing 55-goal, 86-point campaign for the OHL's Whether that leads to Robertson cracking the roster for Phase 4, or Peterborough Petes, earning the CHL’s Sportsman of the Year distinction waiting until next fall’s training camp to try again, he’ll take the decision in in June for his efforts. stride. After all, this is just the beginning.

It was a prolific season Robertson might have struggled to see coming in “It's definitely exciting [being here],” said Robertson. “I couldn't tell you a September. Back then, he entered Toronto’s training camp as the year ago that I'd be in this position. It's definitely another opportunity and organization’s top prospect, fresh from being selected in the second right now I'm just trying to learn as much as possible. So much has been round, 53rd overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. thrown at me, a lot of curveballs, a lot of stuff I didn't really expect but I'm trying to adapt to all that and learn as much as possible and be a But rather than give him a long look, the Leafs sent Robertson packing sponge and a student while I'm here and just try to be as competitive as three days in as one of the camp’s earliest cuts last fall. possible.” In hindsight, Toronto’s general manager Kyle Dubas admitted that wasn’t TSN.CA LOADED: 07.16.2020 the right move, and when word of the NHL’s return to play plan came down in the spring, Dubas knew Robertson deserved a second chance.

“Looking back and reflecting on it, I think we probably should have given [Robertson] more of a look in training camp and probably rewarded him with an exhibition game or two to see how he did there,” Dubas told reporters in March. “But he went back to Peterborough, he had a great attitude and he was an excellent player. Come [next] training camp, we'll give him every opportunity to potentially make the team and put the ball in his court.”

The Leafs have delivered on that, placing Robertson right in the thick of their 34-man camp. He's the only player involved without any professional hockey experience, and the first three days of practices and scrimmages have been expectedly challenging.

“Everyone's just a lot smarter and their experienced and it's definitely an eye-opener for me when I'm out there,” Robertson said. “There's a lot of stuff you can get away with in junior and now it's different. The time and space is definitely taken away, but I think I'm going to catch on to it pretty quick.”

Robertson wasted no time jumping on board the Leafs’ return to play plan, either. He arrived back in Toronto from his off-season home in California well ahead of Phase 2’s voluntary workouts starting, so he could serve a 14-day quarantine and get right to work. And there have been no shortage of lessons being taught since.

“It’s just the little details,” he said. “It’s a lot faster pace. You can have a lot of skill but you have to think and you have to work within the system and find ways to take advantage of not only a skill but just your mind and I think that definitely was shown when I got here for Phase 2 and working out and how detailed the practices were and the scrimmages as well. I'm still trying to learn but I think I'll get onto it pretty soon.”

Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe has no doubt Robertson will find his way eventually, and that those outsized expectations attached to him now won’t affect the way Robertson approaches his craft.

“That's part of being a talented, high-end prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Keefe said of the attention. “But he's earned that, because he's had the season he had in junior hockey. It's not matched by very many 1188376 Websites ties proved that was impossible her son would have said anything so offensive.

As the hearing wound down, the Rangers player accused of the slur TSN.CA / Minor hockey under scrutiny for racism complaint policies walked over to Jaques, raised his arms, and embraced him. “Look, two men hugging it out. No hard feelings,” one of the GTHL executives said, according to Cindy Jaques.

Rick Westhead “It made my blood boil,” she said.

“The last thing I wanted right then was a hug from that guy,” Malcolm said. “I was just in such shock I didn’t know what to do.” Malcolm Jaques, a Black 16-year-old forward with the Greater Toronto Hockey League AA Toronto Royals, was pushing and shoving with a The GTHL’s official summary of the hearing, provided to TSN by Jaques, Vaughan Rangers forward. indicated the game officials said they didn’t hear the slur and that the league couldn’t determine “beyond a reasonable doubt” that a Jaques felt the Rangers player had delivered a hit from behind to another discriminatory slur had been uttered. Royals player and Jaques wanted to make it clear that it wasn’t acceptable. It was four minutes into the second period of a GTHL game “Since the teams seem to bring out the worst in the other, the committee on Dec. 2, 2017, and tempers had been rising as the game progressed. ruled that both teams are to be on probation for the remainder of the season, including playoffs and/or the Clancy tournament,” the summary “The guy just turns around and says to me, what are you going to do, [n- said. word],” Jaques recounted. On Jan. 25, 2018, in an email she provided to TSN, Cindy Jaques The gloves were dropped. A fight ensued. When it was over, Jaques emailed the GTHL requesting information about appealing the finding, made his case to a nearby linesman and then to the referee. pointing out that Malcolm’s written statement about the incident had “I was extremely fired up, the guys on my team on the ice all heard what never been provided to the committee as it ought to have been under the was said,” he said. league’s official harassment policy. While she also sought an assurance that the incident would be reported to the Ontario Hockey Federation to But the game officials said they had not heard the slur. be included in its annual reporting of complaints about discriminatory incidents, she never received a response to that question. The Royals’ team manager subsequently filed a complaint with the GTHL on Jaques’ behalf, setting the stage for a Jan. 9, 2018, hearing at the “The GTHL was arrogant and dismissive,” Cindy Jaques said. “It was just league’s head office. deplorable. The paperwork they gave us didn’t have the names of the officials who were in charge of the hearing. There was no incident report The details of how that hearing unfolded open a window into how one of from the referee, who wasn’t even required to show up.” the world’s largest and richest amateur hockey leagues has dealt with racial intolerance on the ice. “I remember the GTHL had everyone sit across from each other in this room, with no prep, no telling people in advance what’s going to happen With more than 40,000 players and at least $10 million in annual or the structure for the hearing,” she said. “And then these three old white revenue, the GTHL has come under scrutiny since 16-year-old Triple-A guys tell the Rangers player to go hug and make up and it’s seen as an player Myles Douglas alleged in a May 23 interview with TSN that he was act of remorse? It’s disgusting that they thought that was appropriate. the target of racial slurs in at least half of his games this season. And then finally, they put both teams on probation because we had filed Following Douglas’s comments and after growing pressure from a a complaint against a kid for what he said on the ice. How does probation number of NHL players of colour, the GTHL agreed to disclose the for both teams make sense?” number of penalties for discriminatory slurs that have been issued in GTHL executive director Scott Oakman declined to discuss the Jaques each of the past three seasons. The league also agreed to appoint an case in detail. independent board to examine the issue of racism in the GTHL. “The GTHL does not publicly comment on individual hearing results or Since the GTHL’s promise to appoint a board, more than 20 families investigations,” Oakman wrote in an emailed statement to TSN. have contacted TSN to share stories of how their children have been “Therefore, we will not be responding to any questions specific to victims of racism in minor hockey – both within the GTHL and in other participants involved in any particular hearing or investigation.” amateur leagues. “All participants at hearings,” Oakman wrote, “are provided with all Their stories underscore that having policies to deal with racism isn’t information submitted by the parties involved in the hearing as well as enough if those policies aren’t followed, if proper records aren’t any other information that has been obtained by the GTHL.If there is a maintained, or if families are not advised of their rights in advance of referee’s report connected to any incident, it is made available to the hearings into allegations of racism. Their stories also highlight how complainant, respondent and GTHL special committee conducting the difficult it will be for minor-hockey leagues to address the gaps that exist hearing. in a system that relies heavily on low-paid game officials and volunteer parents. “If there are other witnesses to an incident, they are invited to attend. The GTHL does not have legal authority to require a witness to attend. It can “The manner in which the GTHL handled Malcolm’s case still enrages me require attendance of registered participants, but not parents and three years later,” Cindy Jaques, Malcolm’s mother, said in an interview spectators unless such witness has some official capacity with a club or with TSN. the league. If on-ice officials are witness to an incident, they are required Neither the referee nor the linesman from the game showed up for to attend the hearing.” Jaques’s hearing, she said. “The GTHL does not publicly comment on individual hearing results or The Jaques family wasn’t provided with an incident report, if the referee investigations,” GTHL executive director Scott Oakman wrote in an actually wrote one. Jaques and her son also recall that GTHL official emailed statement to TSN. Keven Wilson remarked throughout the hour-long hearing that his son Oakman wrote that Wilson denied making a comment that downplayed Tom played in the NHL and that the Jaques family should understand, racist or discriminatory language. “chirping is a part of the game at every level.” “Although hearings are conducted within accepted standards of due “The manner in which the GTHL handled Malcolm’s case still enrages me process, they are also an opportunity for an open dialogue with players three years later." and families,” Oakman wrote. “This exchange sometimes involves Board But the worst moment, Malcolm Jaques remembered, occurred at the members (many of whom are also hockey parents) conveying their end of the hearing, after the Rangers player denied making the racial personal experiences… Mr. Wilson has indicated that the comment that slur, after a group of Jaques’s teammates told the hearing they heard the has been attributed to him was not made in the context of ‘chirping’ slur, followed by several Rangers players who read prepared statements involving racist or discriminatory language.” saying they hadn’t heard any slur, and after the accused player’s mother showed a photo of a family relative who was Black. She said the family While Malcolm Jaques and his mother said they were shocked the Ten days later, on Dec. 17, 2015, the GTHL convened a hearing into the linesman and referee denied hearing the slur, it didn’t come as a surprise incident – even though the criminal investigation was still ongoing. to former GTHL referee Keith Kitchen, who officiated games in the league from 1988-2007. As happened with the Jaques case, Alan Dye said neither the referee nor the linesmen who worked the Sept. 26, 2015, game appeared for the Kitchen said in an interview with TSN that while working as a linesman in hearing into the Dye complaint. The Dyes say they were never provided the GTHL, he repeatedly told referees during games that he heard racial with an incident report. Alan Dye said that a lawyer representing the slurs, but most declined to call penalties. woman accused of assault appeared at the hearing and began questioning Jaden. “There were plenty of times I was working as a linesman and I would tell the ref that I had heard a racial slur,” Kitchen said. “Often the ref would “It just wasn’t right,” Alan Dye said. “The GTHL had three people there to not call the penalty. He’d either go over to the bench and tell the coach, oversee the hearing. Why would they let a lawyer for this woman be the or he’d just say he’d listen for it to see if it happened again. Many refs one to ask Jaden questions Besides, this is a case of a parent hitting a don’t want to be the bad guys, they don’t want to throw the kids under the kid in the head with an iPad in front of multiple witnesses. It was pretty bus, and they don’t want the compounded issue of the paperwork, writing straightforward.” up an incident report and then having to go to the discipline hearing. Many times, I’ve heard referees say to linesmen, ‘If you want me to call a Stavro, the Capitals’ coach, declined to comment when contacted by penalty for a racial slur then you’ll have to do the paperwork.’ ” TSN and asked for his version of the events.

Kitchen said referees sometimes told him that they didn’t call such Following the hearing, Kelly Dye said a GTHL official followed her to the penalties because they were worried about their safety and the possibility parking lot. of angry parents confronting them later. “He asked if we would consider dropping the criminal charges,” she said. “You get paid $50 a game,” he said. “People are not taking risks for that “I’m assuming he and the GTHL just wanted it to go away.” money. And the GTHL is not in a position to be too hard on a referee Oakman wrote in his email that the GTHL official denied Dye’s allegation because they have a hard time recruiting game officials.” that any such conversation took place.

Kitchen said he heard racial slurs at least once or twice every week In the GTHL’s Dec. 22, 2015, summary report of the hearing, the league throughout his refereeing career in the GTHL. He said he would always determined that the parent who had allegedly thrown the iPad and call the penalties when he was working games as a ref. uttered a racial slur would be allowed to return to games, just not those in Oakman said that since Kitchen last officiated in the GTHL, “the league which Jaden was playing. has made several changes in its education material for officials, including “We still see the mother at games now and she smiles and waves at us, providing them with strict instructions on the need to enforce penalties just to let us know she’s able to be in the same rink we’re in,” Alan Dye under the discriminatory slur/taunt rule as well as specific direction on said. “Just to rub our faces in it.” reporting in instances in which an allegation is brought to their attention that was unheard by any of the on-ice officials. Any official who is found Racial incidents in minor hockey are not exclusive to the GTHL. not to be enforcing these rules is removed from officiating in our league.” In Pickering, just east of Toronto, Syrus Hay Brereton, a 16-year-old Jaden Dye was nine years old when he says he was called the N-word forward with the AA Panthers, says he has been called the n-word at for the first time in connection with a GTHL game. least four times during games in the past three years. On each occasion, he says referees have told him they never heard the slur. Dye was playing with the GTHL Atom AA Capitals in a Sept. 26, 2015, game against the Duffield Devils when a group of players began to push During one game on Nov. 29, 2018, between Pickering and the and shove one another as the buzzer sounded to end the game, a 3-2 Northumberland Nighthawks, a Northumberland player allegedly said to Capitals win. Syrus: “Who do you think you are, Subban? You shouldn’t be here. You don’t belong. Get out of here.” The referees broke up the scuffle and sent the players off the ice. As Dye walked off, the mother of a Devils player confronted him. She held a Brereton said he didn’t respond. young child in one arm and an iPad in the other, Dye’s grandmother Kelly “I feel pretty bad about myself when guys make comments like this,” he Dye said. said. “I try to push it away. If the ref doesn’t do anything there’s nothing I Jaden Dye was nine years old when he says he was called the N-word can really do.” for the first time in connection with a GTHL game. The Ontario Minor Hockey Association oversees rep hockey in most “All of a sudden, she calls Jaden ‘a dirty little [N-word] and hits him in the regions of the province outside Toronto so Syrus’s mother Camille Hay head with the iPad,” she said. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.” emailed OMHA regional director Cathy Baker-Bell on Dec. 4, 2018, outlining details of the incident. Capitals coach George Stavro confirmed the incident in a Sept. 27, 2015, email to the Capitals team manager. Pickering’s team manager emailed Hay two days later, writing that the OMHA had asked what Hay thought the next steps should be. “A Duffield player… was vocal swearing at our players as he passed by,” Stavro wrote in an email, a copy of which was provided to TSN by Kelly “I wrote another email saying I wish my son didn’t live in a world where Dye. “Our player returned a comment when all of the sudden the he has to feel like a lesser human being, but I didn’t suggest next steps,” player’s mother pushed Jaden Dye and called him an ‘n-word’. As she Hay said. pushed him she also threw her iPad at him and struck him in the neck. She never heard back from the OMHA. While the league said in an email Our assistant Coach… witnessed it all and intervened. Jaden was to TSN that it has a “zero tolerance policy” against racism and shaken up and was crying searching for his grandparents who had left for discrimination, neither Hay, her son, nor Pickering’s coach Matthew the hallway." McGeown were ever interviewed by the OMHA. Toronto police agreed to press criminal charges of assault with a weapon “They don’t want to deal with issues like this,” McGeown said in an against the hockey mother and in a series of emails to Alan and Kelly interview. “They’d rather see it swept under the carpet.” Dye, Jaden’s grandparents and primary caregivers, Oakman wrote that the GTHL would not do anything to impede the criminal case. “Confidentiality is of utmost importance to the OMHA as it relates to our members – minors in particular - and the integrity of our code of conduct “We just spoke with PC Stewart at 31 Division,” Oakman wrote in a Dec. complaint process,” OMHA Executive Director Ian Taylor wrote in an 7, 2015, email to Alan Dye, which Dye provided to TSN. “She has email to TSN. “As such, we will not be discussing any individuals brought us up to speed and indicated we can proceed with whatever publicly.” action we deem appropriate.” In a playoff game this season on Jan. 29, 2020, against a team from The parent of the Devils player, Oakman wrote, would be banned Clarington, Ont., Hay Brereton pushed a Clarington player away from the indefinitely from GTHL games.“This of course is the most impactful action Pickering goalie after a whistle and, apparently in the eyes of the referee, the league has available to us,” Oakman wrote. kept pushing. Hay Brereton was ejected.

On the way to the penalty box, Hay Brereton was visibly upset. He didn’t realize the Clarington player was also being penalized and as he skated to the penalty box, Hay Brereton said a coach called him a “monkey” and said, “Go kill yourself.”

On Jan. 29, Hay Brereton’s father filed a complaint with the OMHA.

Over the following days, the OMHA confirmed receipt of the complaint, warned that league officials would be at future game between the two clubs, and then pointed out in a subsequent email to Brereton that he had named the wrong coach in his complaint.

On Feb. 18, Brereton emailed OMHA regional representative Bill Hutton to ask for a meeting to discuss his complaint.

“I am quite baffled that this complaint has not been taken seriously,” Brereton wrote in his email, which he provided to TSN. “Nobody contacted me or my son to find out what transpired during the game, nor were the two teammates that were standing with my son contacted either who also heard the comment being made. I do not understand how this can be dismissed when an adult who is a member of [the coaching staff] told a 15 year old to go kill himself.”

Five months later, Brereton is still waiting for the OMHA’s response.

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