Sport-Scan Daily Brief

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 3/19/2020 Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers 1172772 No Kings or Ducks players have reported or shown 1172798 TYCHKOWSKI: So you're sayin' there's a chance? symptoms of coronavirus, the teams say Nobody is ready to give up on hockey 1172773 Kings, Ducks say none of their players have coronavirus 1172799 How good is Anton Slepyshev and what will an NHL return symptoms mean for the Oilers? 1172774 Despite concern, Ducks and Kings say players not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms Los Angeles Kings 1172800 No Kings or Ducks players have reported or shown Arizona Coyotes symptoms of coronavirus, the teams say 1172775 Report: NHL players eye resumption of season this 1172801 Kings, Ducks say none of their players have coronavirus summer symptoms 1172802 Despite concern, Ducks and Kings say players not Boston Bruins experiencing COVID-19 symptoms 1172776 Bruins reportedly sign free agent defenseman Nick Wolff 1172803 The Kings’ F-1 car: How Alex Turcotte’s skating makes 1172777 TD Garden employees frustrated with lack of him an elite prospect communication 1172778 Bruins sign free agent Nick Wolff Minnesota Wild 1172779 Bruins-Ducks Simulation: David Krejci's goal not enough 1172804 The Wild: Guerin on keeping up, coaching situation and in 2-1 loss what's ahead 1172780 Time for Bruins ownership to step up and say something 1172805 Classic Wild games to air on KFAN, other radio stations about paying employees 1172806 What does NHL stoppage mean for interim Wild coach Dean Evason? Buffalo Sabres 1172781 How hockey's hiatus amid pandemic impacts Sabres' Montreal Canadiens prospects, other leagues 1172807 How Cole Caufield ultimately accepted the path the 1172782 Sabres sign college free agent Brandon Biro to entry-level Canadiens determined for him contract Nashville Predators Chicago Blackhawks 1172808 What are the Predators up to during coronavirus isolation? 1172783 I'm Back: 20 Blackhawks who left and returned to Chicago 1172809 Coaches Corner: Predators’ special teams under John 1172784 Blackhawks launch initiative to benefit COVID-19 Hynes vs. Peter Laviolette Response Fund 1172785 Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz: ‘I think the thing is New Jersey Devils working together’ 1172810 What are the financial, logistical ramifications of NHL coronavirus suspension? An expert weighs in Colorado Avalanche 1172786 Legends employee who recently worked at Pepsi Center New York Islanders tests positive for coronavirus 1172811 Player on Ottawa Senators tests positive for coronavirus 1172787 Avalanche might have been exposed to coronavirus in San Jose New York Rangers 1172788 The key to Bowen Byram’s newfound success? It’s simple: 1172812 Knicks, Rangers haven’t been tested for coronavirus He’s having fun again 1172813 Madison Square Garden event workers to be paid through the week; temps laid off Columbus Blue Jackets 1172789 View from John Forslund’s bunker: Thank goodness for Ottawa Senators spring, and the phone 1172814 WARREN: With an Ottawa Senator now positive, we 1172790 View from John Forslund’s bunker: NHL playoffs still revisit club's trek to California doable 1172815 GARRIOCH: Unidentified Senators player tests positive 1172791 Michael Arace | Player, manager left their marks on a for COVID-19, others undergoing testing youthful sportswriter 1172792 Blue Jackets may feel squeeze unless NHL can expand Philadelphia Flyers post-virus playoffs 1172816 Ottawa Senators player is NHL’s first confirmed coronavirus case; Flyers not testing players Dallas Stars 1172817 Kevin Hayes on his first year with Flyers, resuming the 1172793 Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov tests negative for season, and his popular new beer novel coronavirus 1172818 Picking favorite moments so far of 2019-20 Flyers season 1172794 For Stars minor-league coaches, season suspension 1172819 How Alain Vigneault’s Flyers forged a new on-ice identity leaves big “what if?” and found success Detroit Red Wings Pittsburgh Penguins 1172795 Red Wings prospects keep grinding during coronavirus 1172820 Penguins coach Mike Sullivan offers slight update on team crisis: Go find a hill 1172821 Sidney Crosby’s hockey school canceled 1172796 Jeff Blashill's projects are at home, not on ice, as Red 1172822 Mike Sullivan on the NHL suspending play and how the Wings, NHL wait out coronavirus Penguins are staying 'ready' 1172797 Breaking down the late-season risers in the Red Wings’ 1172823 Penguins' Jim Rutherford, David Morehouse taking pay farm system cuts during COVID-19 pandemic 1172824 Yohe mailbag: Jake Guentzel’s return, Kris Letang’s Penguins future and more San Jose Sharks 1172825 NHL exec says playing full 82-game season in 2020-2021 is paramount 1172826 Ottawa Senators player tests positive for coronavirus, days after a game in San Jose 1172827 Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic has fun sledding with dogs during NHL hiatus St Louis Blues 1172828 Gordo: Playoffs or no playoffs, Blues will remain solid 1172829 Who is Andy Frisella and why did he donate $100K to Blues’ game-night workers? Tampa Bay Lightning 1172830 Could we see August and September hockey? 1172831 Report: Lightning, NCAA, Tampa lose millions in March 1172832 Has longtime Lightning play-by-play man Rick Peckham called his last game? Toronto Maple Leafs 1172833 Leafs' farm team rocked by COVID-19 closure 1172834 The Video Room: Auston Matthews’ goal-scoring hit next level thanks to one-timer Vancouver Canucks 1172844 Ed Willes: The 'bust' Canucks fans remember as Cody Hodgson requires a closer look 1172845 Canucks at 50: When Vancouver's ‘Goliaths’ were felled by title-bound Kings’ David 1172846 Canucks at 50: Shocking first-round exit after another Presidents’ Trophy season Vegas Golden Knights 1172835 Golden Knights’ top 5 games: Here’s No. 2 on the RJ’s list 1172836 Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan named Hobey Baker finalist 1172837 Fill your hockey void with 16 days of Golden Knights games 1172838 Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan in running for top college award 1172839 Golden Knights classic games to fill live hockey void on TV 1172840 Golden Knights prospects: Where the major junior players stand for next season Washington Capitals 1172841 Nicklas Backstrom encourages fans to stay active during 'tough times' Winnipeg Jets 1172842 Hart and soul of the Jets 1172843 Recovered from heart condition, Jets’ Mark Letestu not ready for retirement SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1172772 Anaheim Ducks Doorknobs, handles, elevator buttons, escalator and stair rails, point-of- sale terminals, ATMs, suites, and food service areas have undergone regular cleaning to mitigate the possibility of contagion by touch. “And we No Kings or Ducks players have reported or shown symptoms of continue to do this throughout the day with our day housekeeping crews,” coronavirus, the teams say Zeidman said, even though no events are taking place in the building.

Zeidman, who chose to work from home this week, also said part-time and full-time employees were notified of the Nets players’ positive tests By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST MARCH 18, 20205:54 PM and were advised how to identify symptoms of the coronavirus and what to do if they experienced those symptoms. As many as 1,700 part-time

employees work on game nights. He said he had not heard from ABM, The Ducks and the Kings, who were the last teams to face the Ottawa Staples Center’s cleaning contractor, that any of the company’s Senators before the NHL paused its season and a Senators player tested employees had become symptomatic or ill. positive for the coronavirus, said Wednesday no players in their Zeidman said he regularly monitors information from Los Angeles County respective organizations have reported or shown symptoms of the virus. Public Health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and that AEG The Senators, who have declined to identify the player, faced the Ducks is prepared to adjust as needed. “This is a very fluid situation, as you all at Honda Center on March 10 and faced the Kings at Staples Center on know,” he said. March 11. The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, who have acknowledged that four LA Times: LOADED: 03.19.2020 of their players had tested positive for the virus, played the Lakers at Staples Center on March 10. Visiting NBA and NHL teams have separate, dedicated locker rooms at Staples Center but the Kings used the visiting NBA locker room on March 11 to conduct postgame media interviews.

The Senators confirmed their player’s positive test late Tuesday and said he had shown only “mild” symptoms and was in isolation. They said they are monitoring the health of their other players and staff.

The NHL suspended operations last Thursday in response to the spread of the coronavirus. The league advised players to self-quarantine at home, though players have since been told they can leave their club’s city if their home is elsewhere. They were told to self-quarantine wherever they go.

The Kings and Ducks would not say if any of their players or staff members had been tested for the coronavirus, citing medical confidentiality. However, tests are generally not administered to those who have not shown symptoms.

“Since being made aware of the Ottawa Senators player that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and understanding that we played against them on March 11, our senior leadership has been in regular contact with our key medical professionals, our players and staff, the NHL and our partners at STAPLES Center,” the Kings said in their statement.

“The health of our players, coaches, staff members, their families, and our community and society on the whole remains our highest priority. We will continue to define our next steps based upon the guidelines of the CDC and WHO, under the direction of our medical team. As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs or symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis.”

The Ducks’ statement said: “The Anaheim Ducks are following the guidance of the CDC and other leading health organizations, and the NHL following confirmation that an Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for COVID-19. Players from the Ducks have been under quarantine at their respective in- or off-season homes since the NHL’s suggested guidelines were announced on Mar. 12. No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation regularly.”

The Senators faced the Sharks on March 7 in San Jose and traveled to Southern California in time for several Ottawa players to attend the Lakers-Clippers game at Staples Center on March 8. They then faced the Ducks and the Kings on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, before the season was put on hold and they flew back to Ottawa. They were told to begin self-quarantine last Saturday.

Lee Zeidman, the president of Staples Center, the Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, said there was no cross-pollination between the Nets and the Senators personnel because they didn’t use the same facilities at Staples Center. Zeidman also said the arena had adopted enhanced cleaning procedures on March 7, before either team visited. Those measures includedbeefing up and training the cleaning staff as well as purchasing new equipment and disinfectant products to help minimize the spread of the coronavirus and other germs in the arena’s five team locker rooms, weight rooms, public spaces and 48 restrooms. About 120 hand sanitizers were installed throughout the building. 1172773 Anaheim Ducks

Kings, Ducks say none of their players have coronavirus symptoms

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 5:47 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 5:47 p.m.

One day after an Ottawa Senator became the first NHL player to test positive for the coronavirus, the Kings and Ducks each said Wednesday that none of their players had symptoms of COVID-19, but were in self- quarantine either at their in-season or off-season homes.

The teams didn’t say whether any players, coaches or staff had been tested, however.

The Kings were the last team to play against the unnamed player and his Senators teammates in a March 11 game at Staples Center, the last to be completed before the NHL suspended play indefinitely the following day. The Ducks were the second-to-last team to face Ottawa on March 10.

The league on Monday asked players to self-quarantine through March 27, announcing the restriction one day after the Centers for Disease Control recommended banning all gatherings and events of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.

“As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs of symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis,” the Kings said in a statement Wednesday.

“Players from the Ducks have been under quarantine at their respective in- or off-season homes since the NHL’s suggested guidelines were announced,” the Ducks said in a statement. “No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time.

“We will continue to monitor the situation regularly.”

The Kings and Ducks were made aware of the positive test for the Ottawa player on Tuesday night, after the NHL received word directly from the Senators at about 6 p.m. (PDT). The player reportedly began to have symptoms after returning to Ottawa from Los Angeles last week.

Ottawa began what was scheduled to be a five-game trip with a game on March 7 against the Sharks at San Jose. The trip continued with games March 10 against the Ducks at Honda Center and the following night against the Kings at Staples Center.

The league suspended play March 12 and instead of heading for Chicago and St. Louis, the Senators returned to Ottawa. The team reportedly waited inside their chartered aircraft for an extended period on the LAX tarmac while their flight plans were altered.

As of Wednesday, no other Senators have tested positive for COVID-19.

“The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community,” the team said in a statement Wednesday.

“Players are being assessed and tested under the supervision of public health authorities. All Ottawa Senators players and staff who recently traveled (to San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles) were instructed to self- quarantine on Saturday and do not pose a public health risk to the community.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172774 Anaheim Ducks Behind the scenes, AEG’s response to the worldwide health crisis accelerated in the first week of March, as it assembled a task force and introduced a wide-ranging series of additional procedures and protocols Despite concern, Ducks and Kings say players not experiencing COVID- for its cleaning contractor, ABM. 19 symptoms Enhanced sanitation practices at Staples Center started the night of March 7, officials said. AEG owns Staples Center, the Kings and a portion of the Lakers. By Lisa Dillman and Eric Stephens “We have not heard from ABM, as it relates to any employees that are A) symptomatic or have come down with COVID-19,” Lee Zeidman, president of Staples Center/Microsoft Theater/L.A. Live, said on a Concern heightened over players on the Anaheim Ducks and Los conference call with The Athletic and the Los Angeles Times on Angeles Kings, the NHL’s two Southern California-based teams, Wednesday. potentially being exposed to the coronavirus following the news of an Ottawa Senators player testing positive along with the possibility of some “Obviously, as it relates (to) the world in general, people are concerned. teammates contracting the virus. Anytime there is a report of an infected person, people are concerned about their families, they’re concerned about their loved ones. We’ve On Wednesday, the Ducks and Kings said in separate statements that no reiterated to our employees in letters to them what to do, how to observe player within their organizations indicated they are experiencing COVID- themselves, what symptoms to look for.” 19 symptoms. The Senators released a statement Tuesday night that a player had the virus and that he “has had mild symptoms and is in He added that the workforce – about 1,500 to 1,700 employees – had isolation.” The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian and James Mirtle reported that been informed on Tuesday about the developments involving the Nets. multiple Ottawa players are believed to be ill and awaiting test results. “Obviously, as you all know, this changes on a dime,” Zeidman said. “In Ottawa traveled to California, which is one of the hardest-hit states by the fact by the time we get off this phone call, there will probably be new virus, for games against the San Jose Sharks on March 7, Anaheim on policies and procedures or mandates by either the CDC or LA County March 10 and Los Angeles on March 11. The Senators-Sharks contest Public Health or Mayor (Eric) Garcetti. This is a very fluid situation.” took place in front of paying customers at SAP Center even though public health officials in Santa Clara County had advised against large Visiting NBA and visiting NHL teams do not use the same locker room at gatherings in the area. Staples Center. It is one of the busiest arenas in North America – housing two NBA teams and one NHL team. The NHL suspended its season March 12, a day after the NBA did the same after news broke that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the “There is no crossover whatsoever as it relates to a visiting NBA team first known player to contract COVID-19. Four Brooklyn Nets players using a visiting NHL team’s room,” Zeidman said. have also tested positive, including superstar Kevin Durant. The visiting In their final three games before the NHL’s pause, the Kings brought in Nets played against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center the night selected players to meet with the media, after the game, in the visiting before Ottawa played the Kings. NBA room. It is also the same room where Kings coach Todd McLellan But with the random spread of the coronavirus spreads and to whom it has held his postgame media sessions all season. afflicts and doesn’t, it is nearly impossible to determine if there is any The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 connection with how the players became infected. It is unclear if any of the Ducks or Kings players have undergone any tests for COVID-19, but it is believed that they would be encouraged to only do so if any symptoms become present.

Kings general manager Rob Blake said that some of the Kings and AHL Ontario players have returned to their offseason homes, and more are expected to do so this week. Players from the Kings and Ducks have been self-distancing since the NHL season was suspended on Thursday.

“The Anaheim Ducks are following the guidance of the CDC and other leading health organizations, and the NHL following confirmation that an Ottawa Senators player has tested positive for COVID-19,” the team said. “Players from the Ducks have been under quarantine at their respective in- or off-season homes since the NHL’s suggested guidelines were announced on March 12.

“No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation regularly.”

Said the Kings: “Since being made aware of the Ottawa Senators player that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and understanding that we played against them on March 11, our senior leadership has been in regular contact with our key medical professionals, our players and staff, the NHL and our partners at Staples Center. The health of our players, coaches, staff members, their families, and our community and society on the whole remains our highest priority.

“We will continue to define our next steps based upon the guidelines of the CDC and WHO (World Health Organization), under the direction of our medical team. As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs or symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis.”

Report: NHL players eye resumption of season this summer

BY MATT LAYMAN MARCH 18, 2020 AT 11:14 AM

National Hockey League players have reportedly come together to formulate a plan for resuming the NHL schedule this calendar year, completing the regular season before going to the playoffs.

“Some of the best players in the NHL — think Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe caliber players — have been kicking around some ideas in some group chats,” TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday on an Insider Trading TV segment. “They’re following along with the rest of the health experts knowing that this may take until July or August for the coronavirus to really have enough people recover and build up immunity.”

The idea, Seravalli said, is to have a training camp period in late July, play regular season games, start the playoffs in early August and award the Stanley Cup by late September. There would then be a 3-4 week offseason period that includes the draft and free agency in October, and then the start of a new season in November.

Seravalli didn’t specify whether the intention would be to play all of the games that have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. He just said that teams could all get to the same number of games, an issue that would solve what’s currently an uneven playing field if the league just jumped straight into the playoffs with the current standings.

If the NHL did start next season in November, that would be later than what is normal. The NHL typically begins preseason games in mid- September and starts the regular season about a week into October. Seravalli said a condensed schedule, but one that includes a full 82- game slate, would be necessary for 2020-21 under this proposal.

Seravalli said the idea is already making its way to the NHLPA and that the league is ready and willing to consider all the options at this point.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, who also works with Seravalli at TSN, said one NHL governor endorsed a similar version of the August and September playoffs idea and already talked to commissioner Gary Bettman about it.

As it stands now, the Coyotes are in fifth place in the Western Conference Wild Card. They’re four points behind the nearest playoff spot and had 12 games remaining in their regular season. Three teams ahead of Arizona — Minnesota, Vancouver and Nashville — had 13 games remaining.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172776 Boston Bruins The others were Jack Dugan of Providence (LW, sophomore), John Leonard (C, junior) of UMass, and David Farrance (D, junior) of Boston University.

Bruins reportedly sign free agent defenseman Nick Wolff New Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman has a shot at the Hobey Baker Award.

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated March 18, 2020, 6:36 p.m. Swayman, chosen by the Bruins with the 111th pick in the 2017 draft, went 18-11-5 with Maine this season and finished his NCAA career with a 47-40-12 mark.

One hockey executive described Nick Wolff as "genuinely aggressive." USHL is done

The Bruins remain closed for business at this hour, but they continued to The USHL, the development league where Wolff played for two seasons plan for their future Wednesday, adding 6-foot-5-inch Minnesota-Duluth prior to joining Minnesota-Duluth, decided Wednesday to shut down for free agent defenseman Nick Wolff to their pool of back-line prospects. the season, yet another league to call it quits amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. The signing was announced mid-day in a press release by Veritas Hockey, the St. Paul-based player agency that represents Wolff, followed The USHL suspended play last week, with approximately a month’s by a Bruins press release around 7 p.m. in which the club also confirmed worth of regular-season games remaining. The move means the league the signing of University of Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman. will not crown a playoff champion.

The Globe reported on Tuesday that Swayman, chosen 111th in the Boston Globe LOADED: 03.19.2020 2017 draft, decided to turn pro with the Black and Gold and not return to Maine for his junior season.

Swayman signed a three-year entry-level contract, while Wolff signed for only the 2020-21 season.

In four seasons with the Bulldogs, Wolff had 14 goals and 39 assists in 156 games.

Wolff, former Bulldog teammate of Bruins winger Karson Kuhlman, was first spotted by the Bruins a couple of years ago, leading to his invitation to the club’s summer development camps in 2018 and ’19. A Minnesota homeboy, he helped UM-D win two Frozen Four titles in his four years on the club’s back line.

Wolff grew up in Eagan, Minn., just southeast of Bloomington, and went undrafted in his senior year of high school. He is a big (6-5/229), rangy, left shot defenseman with some valued snarl. ,

“Genuinely aggressive,” said Kirk Luedeke, assistant GM of the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. "If you’re a Bruins fan who likes toughness, this is like hitting the lottery. Probably a year or two away from being in the NHL, but think of him as an Adam McQuaid type with a little more range to his game.”

Wolff was a Bulldog cocaptain this season and had a shot at appearing in his fourth consecutive NCAA title game, until the coronavirus epidemic wiped out what remained of college hockey in 2019-20.

UM-D, with Wolff on its back line, trimmed UMass, 3-0, in last spring’s Frozen Four title game in Buffalo.

Wolff this season played in 33 games with Duluth and had a line of 0- 10—10 with 42 penalty minutes. Across his four years, he played in 156 games with 14-39—53 and a 233 career PIMs.

Per puckpedia.com, Wolff’s one-year deal carries a total value of $792,500, but only $162,500 guaranteed. If he plays for the varsity, he will earn $700,000. Otherwise, he is guaranteed his $92,500 signing bonus and a minor league salary of $70,000.

Anyone game?

Bruins winger David Pastrnak, NHL leading scorer and Dunkins pitchman extraordinaire, earlier this week began booking invitations to play Fortnite, the highly popular video game.

The only qualifier: opponent must be “a good player."

Would you be interested in playing Fortnite against David Pastrnak?

Pastrnak, 23, was tied for the league lead in goals (48) with superstar Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin when the NHL suspended its season last Thursday. Toronto’s Auston Matthews ranked No. 3 with 47.

Pastrnak issued his Fortnite invitation via Instagram. No mention of the results on Pasta’s Twitter account @pastrnak96.

Swayman a finalist

Jeremy Swayman, the Maine goaltender who notified the Black Bears earlier in the week that he intends to turn pro with the Bruins, was one of four Hockey East players named Wednesday among the 10 Hobey Baker finalists. 1172777 Boston Bruins No matter what numbers come from the online fundraising, it won’t equal the wages and tips lost due to the current holding pattern on professional sports.

TD Garden employees frustrated with lack of communication “I now spend my days panicking about how to pay my bills going Bruins only NHL team to not offer financial support forward,” the server at Legends said.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.19.2020

By MARISA INGEMI | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 7:51 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 7:54 p.m.

After the Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild officially announced financial support plans for their game-day staff on Tuesday, it left the Bruins as the only NHL organization that has yet to do so.

Many teams in professional leagues — including 30 of the 31 NHL clubs — have rallied around part-time arena staff workers who have seen their hours slashed and/or positions eliminated. Their support has ranged from pledges to pay salaries in full, to funds toward employees’ living expenses.

The Bruins’ silence on the matter has been deafening for many who work at TD Garden.

“This experience has been hell for me personally,” said a server at the Legends restaurant at the Garden. “My biggest fear is always being homeless again.”

The Bruins had six regular season games remaining on the schedule, and were assured of at least two more in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before the NHL suspended its season.

The Garden is owned by Delaware North, one of the largest hospitality and food service companies in the world. Jeremy M. Jacobs is the principal owner and chairman of Delaware North. He also has been the principal owner of the Boston Bruins for 45 years.

Last Friday, March 13, responding to a Herald inquiry, Bruins VP of marketing and communications Matt Chmura released a statement:

“Delaware North at its core is a family company and our top priority is to provide our associates, and their families, with the assurances they deserve during this difficult time. We are actively exploring support options and will have further information in the coming days.”

Neither the Bruins’ organization nor Delaware North returned messages seeking comment Wednesday, five days after the original statement and more than a week after many employees worked their final shifts of the season at the Garden. The last news update on the company’s website is about a $10,000 donation to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee after tornadoes devastated the Nashville area.

The Celtics, a tenant at the Garden, announced on Tuesday they would compensate their game-day staff, which includes promotions staff, ball boys and locker room attendants among others, but that did not include Garden employees such as ushers, concession workers, and security, who are employed by Delaware North.

Garden workers told the Herald they’d been advised to seek unemployment benefits, and they are looking for some kind of update from Delaware North so they can plan ahead.

A GoFundMe account, started last week by “Gunnar, Lola, Meghan and Jon Larson” with a stated goal of raising $250,000 to help Garden staffers, has at last check raised about $34,000, including a handful of $1,000 pledges from players like Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.

But even that gesture has made workers pause.

“I’m also super embarrassed about the GoFundMe set up,” said one employee, who questioned how the money would be distributed and if it was even enough to help.

That sentiment has been echoed by others employees who expressed frustration at the lack of directive. Some said they felt “gutted” by the lack of information.

“This entire situation has made me reconsider (being a part of) the Garden after the COVID pandemic ends,” said another employee. 1172778 Boston Bruins

Bruins sign free agent Nick Wolff

Defense prospect was in B’s development camp

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 4:04 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 5:53 p.m.

While the National Hockey League has shut down for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus, some aspects of hockey business continue for the Bruins.

A day after inking 2017 fourth-round draft pick goalie Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Nick Wolff out of Minnesota-Duluth, where he was a co-captain. Though a free agent, the B’s have plenty of familiarity with Wolff, who was a development camp invitee for the team the last two summers.

The signing was announced by Wolff’s agency, Veritas Hockey.

A former teammate of Karson Kuhlman’s with the Bulldogs, Wolff is more in the mold of the rugged Kevan Miller than the puck-moving Torey Krug, two former college free agents who turned into success stories for the B’s. Wolff, who’ll be 24 on July 21, is listed as 6-foot-4, 217 pounds and is considered a tough, stay-at-home defenseman and a strong locker room presence. He had 13 goals and 39 assists in 156 collegiate games with Minnesota-Duluth. In one year with Des Moines in the USHL, he racked up 221 penalty minutes.

Whether Wolff serves as organizational depth or if there’s a spot in Boston for him some day remains to be seen. The left-shot D-man joins Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril and Wiley Sherman on the left side of Providence’s defense corps. Ahead of him in Boston on the left side are UFAs-to-be Zdeno Chara and Krug, RFA Matt Grzelcyk as well as John Moore and Jeremy Lauzon, both of whom are signed for multiple years.

The Minnesota-Duluth talent pool is one with which the B’s are familiar. With Kuhlman already in the fold, the B’s also drafted Bulldog left wing Quinn Olson in the third round (92nd overall) of last June’s draft.

Swayman, meanwhile, was named one of the 10 Hobey Baker finalists on Wednesday for his outstanding work at the University of Maine this past season, posting an 18-11-5 record with a 2.07 goals against average and a .939 save percentage.

Boston Herald LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172779 Boston Bruins

Bruins-Ducks Simulation: David Krejci's goal not enough in 2-1 loss

By Erin Walsh March 18, 2020 7:54 PM

The NHL season has been put on hold due to the coronavirus crisis, meaning we may have to wait a while to watch the Boston Bruins again.

As a way to make up for the loss of Bruins action, we'll be using the EA Sports NHL 20 video game to simulate each game on Boston's schedule until they finally return to action.

Previous Simulations:

Bruins vs. Blue Jackets

The Boston Bruins were supposed to take on the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, March 18 in Anaheim, here's how our simulation of that game went.

The Bruins fell to the Ducks 2-1 in this simulation as David Krejci's goal was not enough to come back from a two-goal deficit.

Here are the game stats:

Three Stars of the Game + Game Stats

Ducks goaltender John Gibson, Ryan Getzlaf, and Michael Del Zotto were the three stars of the game in Anaheim's victory.

Bruins led in shots, time on attack and passing percentage but went 0- for-4 on the power play and struggled to put the puck in the back of the net.

BOS ANA SIM1

Bruins Individual Stats

David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had three shots in this game but failed to put the puck in the back of the net. Charlie McAvoy, once again, led in ice time with 28:58 -- he seems to be heavily relied upon in these simulated games.

Ducks Individual Stats

Ryan Getzlaf, Jacob Larsson and Kiefer Sherwood led the Ducks in shots with three each. Sherwood saw the most ice time with 24:46 minutes of action.

FINAL SCORE: Ducks 2, Bruins 1

Bruins Record (Includes simulated games): 44-15-13 (101 points)

*NOTE: We did not include Boston's games against the Buffalo Sabres or Toronto Maple Leafs in the simulation, therefore the simulated record isn't 100 percent accurate*

Next Simulation: @ Kings on Thursday

Be sure to keep an eye out for our Bruins vs. Kings simulation which is set to drop on Thursday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172780 Boston Bruins they were responding to bad press rather than simply stepping up and doing the right thing, as they surely always intended to do.

The Bruins’ parent company has had almost a week to formulate a Time for Bruins ownership to step up and say something about paying sensible plan and communicate their intent to their employees. That employees should be more than enough time to ease the anxiety of the people that keep the business going, and effectively do what every other team across the league has already done in short order. By Joe Haggerty March 18, 2020 2:01 PM It’s time for somebody from Bruins ownership to step up and say something after being the last to act across the NHL.

As of this writing, the Boston Bruins stand as the only team that has yet Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 to announce how they are going to take care of their employees amidst the unprecedented hockey stoppage due to the coronavirus.

It’s been a week since the NHL regular season was suspended and NHL players were advised to self-quarantine. It’s been a few days since the responsible people across the entire United States of America began practicing social distancing amidst school closings, work shutdowns and shelters in place in certain areas of the country.

Every other NHL team, including the notoriously stingy Ottawa Senators, has announced their intentions when it comes to making their workers whole, and in nearly every case they have opted to take care of their game-night and part-time employees that work while games are being played in the NHL arenas.

A group of concerned Bruins fans have even put together a GoFundMe page for the TD Garden employees that’s seen donations from people across the Black and Gold spectrum, including players like Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and has raised over $33,000 to date.

Those kinds of donations will help employees already missing out on the tips they count on when events take place at TD Garden and will help those out-of-work employees immediately.

The GoFundMe organizers set out their simple mission in starting up the page: "Hundreds of loyal TD Garden workers will lose considerable and critical income during the suspension of events. Bruins and Celtics fans should step up and help these families fill the void caused by this terrible health crisis. We should come together as a community to demonstrate our strength, mutual loyalty and commitment.”

Haggerty: With Brady gone, Bergeron now dean of Boston sports

Obviously, the money raised through GoFundMe doesn’t address the long term financial needs of TD Garden employees who have mouths to feed and bills to pay.

Last week, the Bruins released a statement through Bruins VP of Marketing and Communications Matt Chmura saying they intended to come out with “further information” about helping their TD Garden employees, with the sheer size of the Delaware North parent company cited as one of the challenges.

“Delaware North has operations in over 50 sports stadiums, ballparks and arenas throughout the world. The hardworking associates at each location, including TD Garden, are facing great challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry. Delaware North at its core is a family company and our top priority is to provide our associates, and their families, with the assurances they deserve during this difficult time. We are actively exploring support options and will have further information in the coming days.”

Well, we’re still waiting for the further information.

The statement was released last Friday. Since then, it’s been crickets from Delaware North while their employees sit in the dark, waiting and wondering where help is going to come from, and if it is even going to come. It’s a bad, bad look to this point from a billion dollar company that has profited handsomely from the game of hockey.

Senators player first from NHL to test positive for COVID-19

It’s also simply not good enough. One would expect Delaware North is going to do the right thing by their employees given the dire situation, and given the bailouts expected from the federal government for all manner of service industries. Every company, big and small, is going to feel the pain from a global stock market that’s been in freefall for weeks now.

But the optics of remaining silent are flat-out bad at this point, and somebody within Delaware North really needs to step up and say something. Unfortunately, waiting so long is going to make them look like 1172781 Buffalo Sabres Former Sabres first-round draft pick Dylan Cozens is awaiting word on whether the Western Hockey League will be able to hold its playoffs, and Matej Pekar, who was playing for the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury How hockey's hiatus amid pandemic impacts Sabres' prospects, other Wolves, had his season suspended. leagues Their respective teams have the potential for a long postseason run, and both players were expected to join the Rochester Americans following the playoffs. By Lance Lysowski Published Thu, Mar 19, 2020 The Americans' season also is suspended and players were granted permission to return to their permanent residence after the American Hockey League announced Monday it will not resume until at least May Erik Portillo sat in Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Monday wondering how 1. Casey Mittelstadt, the Sabres' eighth overall draft pick in 2017, may or when he'd be reunited with his family in Gothenburg, Sweden. The 19- not be able to complete an important season of development. year-old continued to monitor how the latest developments related to the coronavirus pandemic could affect his travel itinerary. "On-ice development has stopped," Craig Button, TSN analyst and former NHL general manager, said. "The strength and conditioning Any border closure in Netherlands would prevent Portillo from taking a coaches, and development coaches, this is an opportunity to be creative connecting flight from Amsterdam to Gothenburg. Portillo, a Buffalo in different ways. From a physical standpoint, what can a strength and Sabres goaltending prospect, already moved his travel up two days in conditioning coach tell the players? fear of the unknown. "They’re the experts in that area. From a player development point of "It has been a strange situation," Portillo said during a phone interview view, being creative and giving them video. 'Here’s video of your shifts, with The Buffalo News. "Of course, it’s kind of stressful when you don’t someone who is comparable to you. Watch these. Understand these are know the plans for the next couple of days." elements that are going to be important in your ongoing development.' In Portillo was part of a mass exodus of junior, collegiate and professional the absence of being on the ice and in the absence of being together as hockey players who left their respective team's city after leagues across a group, it doesn’t preclude you from being able to develop. It just needs North America canceled or suspended their seasons in response to the to be done in different ways." global health crisis. Western Michigan's Mattias Samuelsson, Minnesota's Ryan Johnson and Championship hopes are crushed for some. Others are left wondering Wisconsin's Linus Weissbach were Sabres prospects impacted by the how more games could have helped them earn a scholarship or improve NCAA's decision to cancel winter championships. Games and practices their draft position. No one is certain when they'll be able to skate again have been replaced by in-home workouts, which can be challenging as social distancing will keep them in their homes for the foreseeable because most athletes don't have access to a weight room or other future. equipment.

The hockey world may never be the same, and players in levels below Western Michigan coach Andy Murray confirmed players were allowed to the NHL are losing important opportunities to develop and, in some leave campus to return home and were equipped with personalized off- cases, earn more money. ice workout plans. However, Murray didn't want hockey to be the focus at home. Every player is assigned to a member of the coaching staff, who "It’s going to be nice to get home, but it’s not all happiness," Portillo, a will maintain regular contact for updates on academics and the player's 2019 third-round draft choice who was playing for the USHL's Dubuque health and safety. Fighting Saints, said. "I feel like we had a good shot at having a great playoff run and great ending to the season. Western Michigan went 11-4-1 over its previous 16 games and, led by Samuelsson, a second-round draft pick in 2018, had the talent to go on a "It’s unfortunate, but also it’s good because they have to get control of deep postseason run. the situation. We have to see it in a positive way. There’s a reason for why it was done." "We’re not even concerned about the hockey part right now," Murray said. "We wanted to make sure they’re safe and staying informed. You Portillo confirmed Tuesday that he arrived safely in Gothenburg, where never want your season to stop. To me, it’s a matter of life right now. … he planned to remain indoors with his family. He's continuing a basic This is the first major thing in their lives here now. It’s a doozy. As a physical rehabilitation program to recover from a minor back injury and competitor, you’re disappointed. But it wasn’t even a topic for us, to be his offseason began Wednesday after the United States Hockey League honest." officially canceled its season. In addition to having its season suspended, the United States National Dubuque's 33-13-2 record was second-best in the USHL when the Team Development Program, which had 17 players, eight in the first league postponed its final 14 regular-season games. Before the round, drafted by the NHL last June, was forced to cancel a tryout camp suspension, Portillo was scheduled to resume skating Monday and for the 50-best players born in 2004. The camp was officially canceled planned to return to the lineup as early as this weekend. His 2.11 goals- and the team will be selected via conference call with regional scouts. against average and .915 save percentage ranked first and third, respectively, in the 16-team league. NTDP's Under-18 team traveled to Omaha last Wednesday, only to turn around and bus home following news of leagues suspending play. He will attend the University of Michigan in the fall and, prior to leaving Additionally, the International Ice Hockey Federation canceled the Under- the country, stopped by the Ann Arbor campus to drop off some of his 18 Men's World Championship, which was to be held next month at the belongings in preparation for an extended stay in Sweden. NTDP facility in Plymouth, Mich.

Dubuque, like teams in other developmental leagues, provided "To watch those kids, there was certainly an inkling the event would be individualized off-ice workout programs to players, who were allowed to canceled, but not as sudden and dramatic as it was," John Wroblewski, return home with parental consent. coach of the NTDP Under-17 team, said. "Everything happened so suddenly. You’re looking at them and they have a dream in front of them "You lose out on hours on the ice, but everybody does," Dubuque that vanished. It’s really tough on those kids. It was a surreal moment for General Manager Kalle Larsson said. "It’s not like you’re getting behind. us as a program." ... You’re going to have to look at experience. College-bound players, which is most players in the USHL, this is the last time they’ll be in a real Like junior and college teams, the NTDP provided basic workout plans playoffs. College is one-and-done games, but this is a real playoff series for players and encouraged them to follow recommendations by medical in the USHL. If you’re going to college in the fall, you miss out on that experts. Junior coaches also are wondering how fewer games will impact experience and that’s pretty valuable." a prospect's stock for the NHL draft, which is scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal. Portillo is one of many Sabres prospects likely forced into an early offseason. Others who had their respective seasons canceled in Europe The Sabres' ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones, were first in their because of the coronavirus pandemic include Arttu Ruotsalainen, Miska division with a 38-17-7 record and recently added top goaltending Kukkonen and Oskari Laaksonen (Finland); Filip Cederqvist (Sweden) prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen when their season was canceled and Lukas Rousek (Czech Republic). Saturday. The Cyclones played in front of no fans last Wednesday in Toledo's Huntington Arena and were confronted by their new reality postgame when they learned the NBA suspended its season following Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz testing positive for the coronavirus.

Every professional and minor sports league soon did the same.

Now, ECHL players aren't sure how they're going to pay their bills. They lost potential earnings in bonus money from a long playoff run. Players were paid through Monday and the average weekly salary is just over $600. The average annual salary is $16,940.

The team pays for players' housing during the season and offered to continue doing so following the cancellation of the season. However, players thought it was best to leave for home Monday after individual exit interviews, where staff and players sat at least six feet apart.

Some players aren't sure where they will live now because their permanent residences are being rented out or their apartment leases don't begin until a later date. This also impacts their ability to showcase themselves to the Sabres and other organizations.

Those hockey players, like many across the globe, lost valuable postseason games that could impact their development, as well as short- and long-term earnings.

"It’s one of those things you don’t know how to react to it," Cincinnati coach Matt Thomas said. "I feel a certain level of stress in terms of I don’t know how I should be feeling. There was a lot of frustration. Really feel like you leave a lot on the table from a development standpoint by not allowing players to experience that intense scenario where it’s best or bust in terms of their ability to show up in big moments."

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172782 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres sign college free agent Brandon Biro to entry-level contract

By Lance Lysowski Published Wed, Mar 18, 2020|Updated Wed, Mar 18, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped General Manager Jason Botterill and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres' hockey operations from trying to add depth to the organization.

The Sabres announced Wednesday the team agreed to terms on a two- year, entry-level contract with college free agent forward Brandon Biro, a 22-year-old who scored 41 goals over four seasons at Penn State University.

Biro, a left wing, was a four-year starter with the Nittany Lions and served as the team's captain this past season. He finished his NCAA career ranked in Penn State's all-time top 10 in goals (tied-8th), assists (third) and points (fourth).

"Brandon will bring a combination of skill, hockey sense and character to our organization," said Botterill in a statement released by the team. "We're confident that his four years at Penn State with coach (Guy) Gadowsky have prepared him well for the next phase of his development."

Biro attended the Sabres' development camp as an invitee in June 2018 and led Penn State to a 20-win season in 2019-20, though it ended abruptly with the NCAA canceling its winter championships in response to the ongoing global health crisis.

Biro had 10 goals with 15 assists in 25 games during his senior season. His third year of college eligibility in 2018-19 included career highs in goals (16), assists (24) and points (40).

It's likely Biro will begin his professional career in Rochester or Cincinnati, and he will help address the organization's need for more talented forwards.

Botterill is expected to be in the market for additional college and international free agents. Finnish journalist Miika Arponen reported Monday the Sabres are interested in signing Ilves winger Eemeli Suomi, a 24-year-old who ranked third in Finland's top professional league in goals (26) and second in points (57) in 57 games this season.

Suomi has served as Ilves' captain for the past three seasons, scoring 61 goals during that span. He is teammates with Sabres prospects Arttu Ruotsalainen and defenseman Oskari Laaksonen. Ruotsalainen competed in Buffalo's training camp this season after he signed an entry- level deal last May. He's expected to join the Sabres or Rochester Americans next season.

The Sabres have six pending unrestricted free agent forwards: Wayne Simmonds, Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons, Michael Frolik, Jimmy Vesey and Vladimir Sobotka.

Buffalo News LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172783 Chicago Blackhawks

I'm Back: 20 Blackhawks who left and returned to Chicago

By Scott King March 18, 2020 4:30 PM

Bringing players like Patrick Sharp, Andrew Ladd and Johnny Oduya back is something the Blackhawks have done a lot in recent years.

The second chance or victory lap is a risky endeavor. Sometimes it pans out, often it doesn't.

It's hard to overlook the sentimental value and potential fan reaction in bringing back a certain player with a loyal following that produced for a team in the past. Let's take a look at players the Haws have brought back throughout the decades:

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172784 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks launch initiative to benefit COVID-19 Response Fund

By Scott King March 18, 2020 10:22 AM

On Wednesday, the Blackhawks announced they're partnering up with The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago to launch a donation-matching initiative benefitting the recently established Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund.

Per their release:

"This fund, with support from the City of Chicago, local philanthropists and business leaders, will rapidly deploy resources to local nonprofit organizations serving the most vulnerable residents in the Chicago region as a result of the public health, social and economic consequences of COVID-19."

The Chicago Blackhawks Foundation will match the first $100,000 in individual donations. You can donate here.

"All fan donations through the end of March, as well as the Foundation's donation match, will be given directly to the Chicago Community COVID- 19 Response Fund," the organization said.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172785 Chicago Blackhawks As for hockey, Rocky Wirtz said he’s in contact with the NHL on nearly a daily basis, but he hasn’t heard of any specific plans on possible regular- season and playoff formats if the season returns in time.

Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz: ‘I think the thing is working together’ “We get updates from Bill Daly pretty much every day what’s going on,” Rocky Wirtz said. “I talked to Gary (Bettman) yesterday. I’m on the audit committee. We have a number of, I’m not sure how many exactly, but a By Scott Powers Mar 18, 2020 number of part-time employees for the league, and Gary wanted to pay them and he was just polling the members from the audit committee. Of

course, I said, yes, we should do that. It was easier dealing with (a Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz is trying to keep himself occupied league halt) when you knew the season was going to be over, the year while staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. we had the complete shutdown because you knew the year was over. This way, it’s just the uncertainty. You know as much as I do kind of.” “I think it’s only the third day I’ve been in the house, so other than that, it’s been fine,” Wirtz said by phone on Wednesday. “Obviously we don’t Wirtz is confident hockey will be back, though. have any little kids. We have the two beagles, so at least you can walk “You think about it, this time will pass,” he said. “The National Hockey them, so it gets you out.” League is over 100 years old. We’ve had World Wars. We’ve had Wirtz has his dogs. He has his businesses, including the Blackhawks, to famines. We’ve had 9/11. We’ve had a year of work stoppage and ’13 we tend to. He’s been reading more. Oh yeah, he’s cleaning up, too. had half a year. This too will pass. I think the thing is working together. I’m looking forward to working together at the league, working together “I’ll tell you, I’ve never read more in my life,” Wirtz said. “I can’t watch any with the players association to grow the game and I’m sure they will.” more reruns of the Stanley Cup or anything. This is the time you start looking to your bookshelves and things you put off reading and start Wirtz also shared his thoughts about the Blackhawks’ season, possible reading and stuff. Plus, all the mundane things you don’t do all the time, front-office changes and more — check back Thursday for the second just cleaning, I think it’s very therapeutic. I was just telling my wife, I said, part of our interview. you know after we walk the dogs, you freshen up, I’ll run the vacuum. It’s The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 hard to believe that I actually say that, but I do enjoy it.”

Wirtz would prefer to be watching hockey games at the United Center, but that isn’t an option for the foreseeable future. With all sports on hold, Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf decided over the weekend to ensure all United Center game-day employees would be paid for the remaining scheduled regular-season games.

“We were talking about it; let’s see, that was Friday,” Wirtz said. “We had everyone on the phone from the United Center, Jerry, myself. That’s when Jerry called me on Saturday. He said, this is kind of crazy, you and I can make a decision. I said, sure. He said, how much is it per game? He came in and said, well, you have seven games, we have seven games, yep, and he said, it’s about $3.5 million. Let’s go ahead and pay everyone and get the word out.

“It was the right thing to do. Jerry and I won’t miss a paycheck, but those hourly employees when you have to put food on your table. It’s a scary time. There’s enough uncertainty going on. We certainly don’t have to worry about that. It is the right thing to do. They work hard. As you know, we have 1,200 employees in a game. To manage that size of building, they work very, very hard, and it’s important that they at least don’t have to worry about that check coming in.”

The team also announced Wednesday that the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago would match up to $100,000 in donations to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund. The fund will be deployed to Chicago-area nonprofit organizations to help with people affected by the new coronavirus.

“Over the weekend, the focus was internally on our employees within the United Center with partnership with the Bulls and making sure we got that squared,” foundation board of directors vice-chairman Danny Wirtz said by phone. “But clearly our attention turns to the core mission of the foundation, which is the city of Chicago and creating a healthy and safer environment for everyone. Immediately all the things we do 365 days a year for the foundation only become amplified in this crisis moment.

“Trying to figure out the most effective and rapid way to us to lend support and knowing that we grant out a little under $2 million to a lot of these organizations and non-profits that service these communities that are going to be hit really hard following this crisis and what’s the most efficient and rapid way for us to get funds to those in need. And (executive director) Sara (Guderyahn) was able to establish a really good partnership with the United Way and Chicago Community Trust that will really ensure that those in need are going to get the funds in rapid fashion and really support in sort of this critical period early on here. Not waiting so long and evaluating this on months on end, we wanted to act now. We like to be a nimble organization. We like to respond and step up, and it’s really a core of the mission of what we do every day at the foundation.” 1172786 Colorado Avalanche

Legends employee who recently worked at Pepsi Center tests positive for coronavirus

By MIKE SINGER | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 6:46 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 8:43 p.m.

A Legends employee who last worked at Pepsi Center during an Avalanche game March 11 has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement made by Kroenke Sports and Entertainment on Wednesday.

The food and beverage associate worked in the “back-of-the-house area,” which does not require direct customer interaction, the statement read.

KSE, which contracts food and beverage services to Legends, was informed of the positive test Tuesday. The Avalanche hosted the New York Rangers on March 11 at Pepsi Center.

The news, according to details provided by Legends, was based on a “presumptive positive test result” from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment State Laboratory.

The worker was feeling better and is currently self-quarantining.

“Legends has reached out directly to the individuals who worked in close proximity with its associate,” the statement read.

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172787 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche might have been exposed to coronavirus in San Jose

By MIKE CHAMBERS | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 1:36 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 6:07 p.m.

A member of the Ottawa Senators became the first NHL player to test positive for the new coronavirus late Tuesday. That could become a deep concern for the Avalanche, which moved into the visiting locker room at SAP Center in San Jose a day after the Senators played the Sharks.

Colorado defeated San Jose 4-3 on March 8, the night after Ottawa downed the Sharks 2-1 in overtime. During both games, Santa Clara County was considered a coronavirus “hot spot” and the county recommended that residents avoid large gatherings.

On March 9, a day after the Avalanche played the Sharks, the county issued a cancellation of mass gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

An Avs spokesman directed The Post to the NHL, and Gary Meagher, the league’s vice president of communications, wrote in an email that the “league approach is to test individuals who are symptomatic.”

Denver Post: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172788 Colorado Avalanche to close out opponents in an expedient manner while enhancing the vision that makes him an all-around threat.

“At this level, honestly, he doesn’t have to defend as much if we have the The key to Bowen Byram’s newfound success? It’s simple: He’s having puck,” Dyck said. fun again It also helped that the Avalanche’s front office had an edict for Byram once he returned from helping Canada capture the nation’s 18th title.

By Ryan S. Clark Mar 18, 2020 “He had a good message from the Avalanche to start playing and having fun again. He became the Bowen Byram of last year,” Dyck said. “He started integrating with his teammates. He is a lightning rod in a dressing Everything that further inflated the expectations around Bowen Byram room in that his teammates like being around him. He, in turn, put a lot of actually proved to have the opposite effect in retrospect. work in and was not getting the initial results he wanted points-wise and now that is happening. It’s great to see.” Byram was simply not another high-end prospect who was selected by just another lottery team seeking long-term help. He was considered by That leads to the second construct regarding how the Giants altered their many pundits to be the No. 1 defensive talent in the draft. He then went overall approach toward the season. fourth to the Colorado Avalanche, who were an anomaly in that they were a playoff team that finished a win away from the Western Vancouver was one of the strongest teams throughout the Canadian Conference final. Hockey League. The Giants reached the WHL final and were a victory shy of reaching the Memorial Cup. There was an expectation the Giants He was slated to be the latest first-round pick set to follow the same path could potentially replicate their success from last season. They opened walked by Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. the season with Byram a year older and more experienced, plus Calgary Those beliefs intensified upon realizing what happened the last time the Flames prospect forward Milos Roman, Washington Capitals prospect Avalanche used the fourth pick on a defenseman in Cale Makar. Adding defenseman Alex Kannok-Leipert and promising draft-eligible prospect Byram along with what the organization already had in Makar, Samuel forward Justin Sourdif, among others, in tow. Girard and Conor Timmins created the notion Avs general manager Joe Sakic and his front office staff already had their defense of the future. Yet the Giants severely struggled to the point questions were raised about Byram and the team. A decision was eventually made to overhaul The 18-year-old impressed at the Avalanche’s development camp and the roster. during the rookie showcase. He entered training camp with the idea that he could potentially make the opening-night roster even if he was “I think we look at Bo and we look at what he can do,” Dyck said. “At the challenging for a spot on an already crowded blue line. end of the day, in this league especially, you have the odd elite player at 16 or 17 but this is still a 19-year-old’s league. We were really young up Instead? He was returned to the Vancouver Giants in late September. front and didn’t have a whole lot of depth. When you’ve got players like The offensive outbursts and constant winning that played a part in Bowen and good players in our lineup, you gotta make some decisions. making Byram a coveted prospect were suddenly gone. He was having Like if you are going to move forward with them or you have to move to answer questions about his performances all while juggling the them to teams where they will utilize their talents. demands of representing Hockey Canada at the Canada Russia series and at the World Junior Championships. “We have an elite player like Bowen and we had to build around that.”

“At the start of the year, I was not having fun playing hockey,” Byram Vancouver moved on from some of its younger players plus draft picks said. “I came back from the World Juniors, I got a week off and enjoyed by parlaying those assets into older, proven talents like Capitals prospect time with my family. That is when I kind of found my desire to play again forward Eric Florchuk, who helped transform the team into one that and started to enjoy myself. That is when things started to turn around.” believed it was a serious contender for a league championship.

What Byram has recently achieved has reignited those expectations with “Those trades have worked out really fun for us and they fit in really well,” the idea there is more context in how his situation has changed. He had Byram said. three goals and 16 assists before mid-December. That generated Being in the Pacific Northwest meant the Giants were paying attention to concerns regarding the dip in his output considering he torched the what was going on in places like Seattle with the coronavirus or the Western Hockey League for 26 goals and 71 points as a 17-year-old. disease it causes, COVID-19.

February arrived and the production returned. Byram exploded for seven Precautions were being taken and logistics were being plotted ahead of a goals and 24 points to help the Giants finish 11-1 for the month. Such a trip down Interstate 5 to play the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Giants had resurgence led to him being honored as the WHL Player of the Month already worked out where they would eat their meals while knowing there while also playing a significant role in his team qualifying for the playoffs. was a strong chance their lone game at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Knowing exactly how Byram reached this stage relies upon two Kent would likely be played in an empty arena. constructs. The first is that he found a way to work through the That game against the Thunderbirds was slated to be held March 13, one disappointment of not earning a spot on the Avalanche out of training of three straight contests the Giants would play with the remaining being camp. Byram candidly admitted he was placing too much pressure on home games at the Langley Events Center. himself for not performing the way he wanted in the preseason. It all started to pile up in a way that was not beneficial. It never happened with the WHL deciding Thursday it would effectively suspend play until a return was deemed safe. Then on Wednesday, the “I think the biggest thing for me is I am enjoying (playing hockey) again,” announcement came that the rest of the regular season was canceled. Byram said. “I am having fun being on the ice and that makes it a lot easier on me. I have tried not to focus too much on the game at hand. I “Thursday came and everything changed,” Dyck said. “As of Thursday, just try to enjoy it all and work hard and learn from what I am told about we moved our equipment out of our game rink and into our practice rink my mistakes and learn positives can come from it.” and we have been sitting tight. Seeing so many changes daily, we are a small piece of it. I think of it as a coach. You’re frustrated but hopeful and Giants coach Michael Dyck said the progress made by his star pupil over optimistic that there will be a way through this. We could still have an the last several weeks is noticeable. He said Byram has made an opportunity to play. I also think of it as a parent who has a son who is investment when it comes to being in the gym. He estimates Byram, who part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League in that there are 20-year-olds is listed at 192 pounds, is over the 200-pound mark while quickly noting who are heartbroken. his gains are “good weight” on his 6-foot-1 frame. Having that extra strength translates into those one-on-one situations in which he can win “Yet this is so much bigger than hockey. You look at what is happening in puck battles along the boards or in the corners. Europe and you look at not only the public health side of things but the financial side of things in how many people are affected. You want to go Dyck still has Byram logging heavy minutes and several shifts like he did through this as quickly as possible but, to do that, there has to be some last season. There is a belief and a trust in how Byram can be effective radical measures taken.” against the other team’s top forwards. His quickness and speed are used Dyck said the team has not been together since the announcement, but there is still communication on a daily basis. Giants strength and conditioning coach Jordan Mackenzie has emailed the players workouts they can do at home because they cannot go to a gym. Video coach Dean DeSilva has sorted through game footage and has sent that film to players so they can see strengths and weaknesses. DeSilva has even sent video of certain NHL players as a way to help the Giants’ players learn what some of the best players on the planet are doing.

The players have kept in touch with one another. Dyck said the Giants will follow what is suggested by the provincial government, the federal government and the World Health Organization when it comes to what they should do next.

“I think at the end of the day, what this has taught us is maybe we took a lot of things for granted,” said Dyck, who has coached in the WHL since 1996. “We’ve got a lot of players and even though they are on their phones a lot, they’re social beings. They’re young and energetic and they enjoy getting out of the house and doing things. When you are on lockdown, it makes you appreciate those things a lot more and when you get the opportunity to come out and do things, it’s something we probably will not take for granted again.”

Byram spoke with The Athletic before the WHL season was suspended. A team spokesman said Tuesday the Giants have yet to make an announcement when players will be allowed to return home but such a development could be determined before the end of the week.

It is possible Byram could remain with his billet family before making the 842-kilometer trek from Vancouver to his hometown of Cranbrook, British Columbia on the other side of the province.

Before all of this? He was having those frequent conversations with the Avalanche’s development staff about where he needed to improve. That’s why he underlined how this offseason was going to be a “big summer” for him in terms of being ready for training camp. Or how going on Twitter allowed him to follow what Boston College freshman forward and fellow prospect Alex Newhook was doing to have one of the strongest collegiate seasons of any player in the nation.

He was paying attention to the Avalanche while tracking how they constantly maneuvered through numerous injuries to still remain a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

Above all, he was just looking forward to seeing what this season could provide.

“I think we are kind of a team that is still growing in a lot of areas,” Byram said. “We have a group of guys who get along really well with each other and we’re just enjoying our time together and hoping we can make a deep playoff run.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172789 Columbus Blue Jackets

View from John Forslund’s bunker: Thank goodness for spring, and the phone

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Mar 18, 2020 at 2:03 PM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert ― patient zero in American professional sports. Forslund is in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, North Carolina, home until Monday, March 23. He has showed no symptoms of COVID-19, known as novel coronavirus. The Dispatch is making daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC Sports. Here’s the latest installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

Unseasonably cool temperatures are slowly giving way to springtime in the Raleigh area. Forslund welcomes the chance to get out of the basement, rein in his wandering thoughts and have conversations with his family and neighbors. They talk from either side of the yard.

“It’s feeding time at the zoo and they’re letting the gorilla come out of the cage,” he said. “People come to watch from a distance. ‘Look! He talks!’ ”

Forslund and his wife of 33 years, Natalie, have three children. Erika, 23, is a graduate student at Clemson University and works in the student affairs office there. Matt, 22, is a sophomore at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, outside Hershey; he’s a goaltender for the D-III Dutchmen. The youngest, Kara, 16, is a high school sophomore.

Erika is staying put in South Carolina during spring break because her father is quarantined back in North Carolina. Matt’s college has shut down and he’s taking online classes at home. Kara’s high school has shut down.

Forslund listens to them move around upstairs. Monday night, the three non-quarantined Forslunds watched a movie, and their laughs came hard and fast through the floorboards.

“I don’t want to paint a picture of mental anguish here, but I wanted to sprint upstairs and say, ‘What are you guys watching?’” he said. “But I can’t do that. It bothered me enough that at 9 o’clock I just went to sleep.”

Prior to his quarantine, Forslund went through nine days of airport terminals, flying time, production meetings and homework, homework, homework. He called seven games in seven cities.

And then it all stopped.

“Down here in the bunker I’ve been getting a lot of calls,” he said. “Columbus checks in every day, of course. Hello, Columbus! Everyone I work with has called: colleagues, broadcasters, a couple of coaches. Tripp (Tracy, the analyst on Canes’ telecasts) checks in every day. It takes up time and we laugh a lot.

“There was a conference call with NBC (Tuesday). Nothing was discussed because there’s really nothing to discuss: We’re all on hold, just like everyone else. All of NBC Sports ― Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, all the NFL guys, all the golf people, all of the on-air talent ― was on the call. Around 150 people in all. Basically, the message was: Be ready, and when we can get back to it, we’ll get back to it.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172790 Columbus Blue Jackets

View from John Forslund’s bunker: NHL playoffs still doable

Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Mar 17, 2020 at 5:16 AM

On March 8, John Forslund, the television voice of the Carolina Hurricanes, checked into the Detroit hotel room that was vacated by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert patient zero in American professional sports. Forslund is in self-quarantine in the finished basement of his Apex, North Carolina, home until Monday, March 23. He has showed no symptoms of COVID-19, known as novel coronavirus. The Dispatch is making daily checks on Forslund, a featured play-by-play telecaster for NHL games on NBC Sports. Here’s the latest installment of Johnny’s Bunker Report:

Today, the subject is the playoffs. Forslund has had a lot of time by himself to think 168 hours, at last count and he’s plugged into NHL behind-the-scenes machinery. He has been mulling what’ll happen when the league gets back on the ice.

"The season is halted," he said. "Whenever it resumes, whatever it looks like, it won’t resemble what has come before. It won’t connect to whatever’s happened previously. In Columbus’ case, maybe you get back a couple (of injured players, such as Cam Atkinson, Seth Jones and Oliver Bjorkstrand). I don’t know. Here in Carolina, maybe Dougie Hamilton (a Norris Trophy candidate with a broken leg) returns.

"It’s how everyone plays on the other side that’s the real wild card. It’s like the last lockout year (2012-13, when the season was shortened by a half). You just don’t know what teams are going to look like after a long layoff."

One report said the league has asked NHL teams to keep arenas available through the end of July.

"We don’t know how long it’s going to take for the health concerns to level off," Forslund said. "They’re going to do something different. I know they want to finish something, for whatever that’s worth. I think they’ll probably have to get rid of the rest of the regular season and go right into the playoffs."

Forslund sees merit in an expanded playoff format such as: Have the seventh- through 10th-place teams play best-of-three, play-in series; truncate the first- and second-round series to best-of-five; and have a final four of best-of-sevens. Conceivably, if this tournament can get underway by the end of May then the Stanley Cup can be handed out before August.

"The Blue Jackets have done a remarkable job just to be in the race," Forslund said. "Let Torts rally the troops and try to play their way in. It’d be fabulous television. Whenever it comes back, the country is going to be so happy for sports that everyone’s going to go crazy.

"I don’t know if there’s enough time for that. Who knows?"

And, lastly, no, Forslund has not found anything good to watch on TV.

"I’ve been watching cable news," he said, "and it’s deplorable."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172791 Columbus Blue Jackets The year Torchia told me to open up my notebook was his last with the Red Sox. His contract was terminated. He managed to get a job within the San Diego Padres organization.

Michael Arace | Player, manager left their marks on a youthful Horn, later known as the "Fenway Fridge," became a baseball vagabond. sportswriter He played eight years in the majors (.240, 62 homers, 179 RBI in 389 games). He once struck out six times in one game. He wound down his career as a bat-for-hire in the Mexican and independent leagues. He was Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Mar 18, 2020 at 6:31 AM known for his tape-measure home runs.

Upon retirement, he entered the media as a studio analyst for Red Sox telecasts. Of course he did. He loved the media. When a pandemic hits and the world shuts down and you’ve still got to fill column inches, it’s time to talk to your lawyer. Horn is a beloved figure in Boston, where he is seen as a humble, warm- hearted, teddy bear of a man. Sons of Sam Horn, a website where Sox Crew fans who listen to our Soccer Speakeasy podcast might remember fans interact, is named in his honor. He is an official ambassador for the my lawyer, Randy Kilbride, from a couple of years ago. He held forth on team. He’s known for his smile. legal issues when Anthony Precourt tried to steal Columbus’ team, when Save the Crew was in the process of saving the Crew. Good on him.

On Tuesday, my lawyer advised me: "Write all those stories you tell at One never does know where one might make an impact on another the bar." person. I’ve never forgotten Horn, who taught me something about locker rooms (head on a swivel). And I’ll never forget Torchia, who knew exactly Given that bars are closed along with everything else, including sports, it how to connect with a young slugger and a young sportswriter. sounds like sound advice. We’re all 6 feet apart on the same tavern rail. Pony on up. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 03.19.2020 Some stories I can’t tell because this is a family newspaper, or a family website, or a family social-media page. But after 37 years in the sports- writing business, there remains a goodly amount of material.

I am working from home and battling with my children for bandwidth. Do I yell, "Go outside!" as my parents once did or is that banned? We are in the throes of a once-in-a-century pandemic that temporarily paused the Russians’ infiltration of our elections. In such a place, one pines for simpler times; my 13-year-old is harkening back to third grade.

I am looking back fondly on the 1980s, God help me.

In 1986, my summer job was covering the double-A New Britain Red Sox. That minor-league team was neither loaded with nor bereft of talent.

Ellis Burks patrolled center field, and Jody Reed was the shortstop. There was the usual complement of promising players who wouldn’t quite make it — and players who looked like they didn’t have the right stuff and somehow played in The Show. Among this latter group was Jim Corsi (no relation to the hockey statistic). I love guys like Corsi, a guileful, middle- inning reliever who played 10 years in the majors and won a World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1989, before juicing. Good on him.

The straw that stirred the drink for those BritSox was Sam Horn, a huge first baseman/designated hitter who seemed destined for stardom. He was a year older than I and, at 22, he already didn’t like sportswriters of any age. He was a former first-round pick and he had a nice car, a sense of entitlement and a problem hitting breaking balls.

Beehive Field was cavernous. It was a good place to watch Burks play center field — but it was not optimal for a power hitter such as Horn, who in 1986 batted .246 with eight home runs and 80 strikeouts in 100 games with the BritSox.

Generally speaking, Big Sam was not in a good mood that summer.

One night after a game, Horn poured a giant cup of soda over my head. He poured it slowly, scowled and said, "I don’t like what you wrote." That was it. I didn’t move until his cup was empty.

As I stepped out of the clubhouse I ran directly into the manager, Tony Torchia. He was one of those great baseball guys who dedicated his life to the game. He was an undersized first baseman who played 1,400 minor-league games (and had a career batting average of .294). He went on to manage nearly 2,000 minor-league games.

Torchia took note of my dripping hair and well-soaked shirt and asked, "What happened to you?" I told him and he said, "Why’d he do that?" I told him I had no idea. Then he said, "Take out your notebook" and he delivered a laundry list of things Horn had to work on — including his attitude — to better his chances of playing at Fenway Park.

Torchia had made it to The Show the year before, in 1985, at age 43. That season, Torchia had a bout of depression and asked Red Sox ownership for help and a few days of leave. Ownership ultimately responded by demoting him back to New Britain. 1172792 Columbus Blue Jackets the virus to pass, it will be in short supply when the league gets up and running again.

Taking off Blue Jackets may feel squeeze unless NHL can expand post-virus playoffs Earlier this week, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested an eight-week layoff, the NHL sent a memo to players giving them permission to leave their NHL city and head home.

By Aaron Portzline Mar 18, 2020 Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen wouldn’t reveal an exact number but indicated that some Blue Jackets players headed home, including to Europe. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NHL has discussed several scenarios for how it might handle what’s left of the 2019-20 season on the other side of the “We advised everybody to stay here,” Kekalainen said, “so that when we league’s pause for the COVID-19 pandemic. get going again they’re here and not stranded somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, some of the NHL’s top players weighed in with a plan that Still working would have this year’s season resume in mid-July with playoffs carrying No games, no problem. on well into September, which, of course, is training camp time in a typical season. “We’re continuing as normal as we possibly can,” Kekalainen said. “There are no (live) games to watch, so we’re going to watch on tape. There’s no way the NHL or its players can sign off on any of these ideas We’re going to watch a lot of video, looking at college free agents, until the league gets a clear indication of when it can safely return to play. looking at European free agents, our drafted players, restricted free For now, the league is tentatively hopeful that a 45-day break, followed agents … all of those things. by two weeks for teams to reconvene and hold “training camps,” will allow a mid-May restart to the season. “We’re doing all of those things we would do normally, we’re just not able to go to games or go into the office.” CAP KEEPING IT REAL PIC.TWITTER.COM/VMCMFB9TYL One of the drafted players that Kekalainen and company might be — COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (@BLUEJACKETSNHL) MARCH 18, evaluating by tape is a player they’ve seen in person many times: Ohio 2020 State forward Carson Meyer, whose season ended on a high note, but abruptly. But that may be wishful thinking. And if you’re a Blue Jackets fan, you could look at it this way: The longer this pause lasts, the longer the odds The Blue Jackets have until Aug. 15 to sign Meyer, a Powell native, to an are that the Blue Jackets will get to play games again this season. entry-level contract. A week ago, there didn’t seem to be much traction toward an ELC, however. When the “pause” button was pressed on Thursday, the Blue Jackets held the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, a highly Meyer seemed headed toward an AHL tryout. But like everything else … respectable achievement given how they’ve been decimated by injuries this season. The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020

But if the NHL decides to go directly to the postseason and maintains its eight-teams-per-conference format, the Blue Jackets will almost certainly be left out in the cold.

Why? The NHL would determine those eight teams by points percentage — not simply points accrued — because teams have not played an equal number of games.

That would mean the New York Islanders (80 points in 68 games, .588) would get the No. 8 seed ahead of the Blue Jackets (81 points in 71 games, .579). The Jackets are tied with Toronto (third in the Atlantic), but the Leafs (28 regulation wins) would win the tiebreaker against Columbus (25).

The Blue Jackets, who have overcome 419 man-games lost because of injury, could be out by .009 of a point.

It’s even worse in the West, where Winnipeg — currently owners of the first wild-card — would get bumped two spots and out of the playoffs.

The Jets (80 points in 71 games, .563) would finish behind Vancouver (78 points in 69 games, .565), Nashville (78 points in 69 games, .565) and Calgary (79 points in 70 games, .564).

“You can’t punish a team that didn’t play as many games,” one source told The Athletic. “Whatever they come up with … it’s not going to be perfect.”

A MESSAGE TO THE #5THLINE FROM BOONE PIC.TWITTER.COM/ALDAIRWFVE

— COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (@BLUEJACKETSNHL) MARCH 17, 2020

The best the Blue Jackets and Jets can hope for is one of the many play- in formats that have been bandied about in recent days.

Maybe the league could play games in empty arenas before the clearance to play before a full house. Or perhaps the play-in round (single-game or best-of-three?) and/or the first two rounds (best-of-three? best-of-five?) could be shortened.

But the problem with the play-in format is they’ll take time. And while time seems in abundance now as much of the world is waiting and hoping for 1172793 Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov tests negative for novel coronavirus

Radulov was sick before the NHL paused its season, missing six days of team activities, including two games.

By Matthew DeFranks 10:44 PM on Mar 18, 2020

Stars forward Alexander Radulov tested negative for COVID-19, according to a Stars spokesperson.

Radulov was tested Friday — one day after the NHL announced it would suspend its season amid the coronavirus pandemic — and the Stars did not obtain the results until Wednesday. Radulov was sick before the league paused its season, missing six days of team activities, including two games.

Radulov last played March 5 in Nashville before missing games against the Predators (March 7) and the Rangers (March 10). He skated on his own at the Comerica Center in Frisco during the final two days before the NHL season was suspended, but did not practice with the rest of the team.

“He’s feeling better,” Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said March 11. “Saw the doctors and feeling better, certainly not 100% after being in bed for four days.”

On Tuesday night, the Senators announced that one of their players tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first NHL player to test positive for the coronavirus. The Senators said the unidentified player has mild symptoms and is in isolation.

“As a result of this positive case, all members of the Ottawa Senators are requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and seek advice from our team medical staff,” the team’s statement said.

The league announced Monday that players were allowed to return to their hometowns, including outside of North America and that their self- quarantine should last through March 27. The league also estimated it might be able to open “a training camp period roughly 45 days into the 60-day period covered by the CDC’s directive.”

Radulov has not scored a goal since Jan. 29 against Toronto, a 13-game goalless streak that is his longest since he was a 20-year-old rookie in 2006-07.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172794 Dallas Stars players was to be safe and smart, self-quarantine either in Austin or their respective offseason homes, and stay in touch.

“I think it’s a time where we have to be leaders and be smart about this,” For Stars minor-league coaches, season suspension leaves big “what Graham said. “It’s just sports, and it’s something that we have to keep in if?” mind because of this worldwide health problem. If we can be smart about this and do our part, hopefully, that helps flatten the curve that we all keep talking about.” By Sean Shapiro Mar 18, 2020 The timing does work out for Graham, who can now make his wife’s life much easier. She would have been doing some heavy juggling with a 3- year-old and a newborn throughout the end of the season. If the Texas Stars’ season is over, head coach Neil Graham missed its final two games. “That’s my most important job, to make her life easier and help manage everything at home now,” Graham said. “I think that’s something that will The team was in Loveland, Colorado preparing for a game with the make this easier for me. Because of that I’m also not really reflecting or Colorado Eagles on March 10 when Graham got a call from his pregnant thinking about the season being over until we get told it is.” wife, Meghan. Her water broke, and she was headed to the hospital. Graham’s former assistant coach in Idaho, Everett Sheen, is also in flux Graham finished morning prep with assistant coach Travis Morin, who after the ECHL cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 season. took over head coaching duties temporarily, and flew from Denver to Austin. His flight landed at Austin’s Bergstrom Airport around 2:30 pm. The Steelheads were second in the Mountain Division at the time of the Less than two hours later, Graham’s second son, Rhett, was born. stoppage and had won 13 of their past 15 games. Idaho would have been headed to the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season, which “I was the hospital by 3:30, baby was at 4:30,” Graham said. “Just made would have set a new North American record for the longest in North it.” American professional sports. Crazy day. “It’s weird, it’s an anti-climatic ending,” Sheen said. “We were playing “Yeah, it was a lot. But I’m very blessed and grateful I made it on time,” well, the guys had really done a good job of helping me as a first-year Graham said. “Those are special moments in your life, and I didn’t want head coach, and I think I’d done a good job of knowing them. We were to miss games, but it’s more important for me to be there for my wife, and playing really well and were battling for home-ice in the playoffs, and then I’m very lucky that I got back in time.” it just ends. I’m not really sure how to break it down right now.”

Neal and Meghan also have a 3-year-old named Rylan. The coach Extending the playoff streak is a point of pride for Sheen, even if the watched his team’s game online as Morin won his AHL head-coaching Steelheads didn’t get to play any games. debut 5-4 in Colorado. Morin also coached Texas the next night, a 3-1 “I guess you could look at it as pressure, but it’s really a point of pride to loss, before Graham was planning on flying to meet the team in Arizona coach here and know that’s what expected,” Sheen said. “I think that’s on Friday. something I thought about when I got hired, it’s a job that comes with That flight to Arizona never happened after the AHL followed the NHL’s expectations that you want as a coach.” lead on Thursday and suspended operations in response to the global Those expectations are why the Stars have stayed affiliated so long with COVID-19 pandemic. Idaho. The ECHL is a rapidly changing league, one in which franchises Graham’s first season as an AHL is one of the most bizarre you’ll find, fold and re-locate and affiliations change hands frequently even in good well, anywhere. times. The Stars have been affiliated with Idaho since the 2003-04 season; it’s currently the third-oldest NHL-ECHL affiliation. After four seasons as the head coach of the Stars’ ECHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads, Graham joined Derek Laxdal’s staff as an assistant coach “It’s the consistency, that’s why I think it’s stuck so long,” Nill said. “It before this season. It was a move that Stars general manager Jim Nill goes to ownership and how they run things in Boise and how they put a said the organization felt like it had to make to keep the 34-year-old in the premium on winning and working well with us. They’ve also developed a organization history of developing not only players but coaches, and I think that’s something that not every ECHL team can say.” “He was someone we had recognized as a future AHL coach and maybe future NHL coach. He’s a young coach, but with what he’d done with That brings us back to Graham, whom Nill credits with helping the Idaho, we knew that if we didn’t have an opportunity for him soon than transition of several individual players this season. Graham started the someone else would,” Nill said. “Turns out we needed him in that head year running the defense; he finished the season running the forwards job quicker than we expected, which did help make that whole transition and worked individually with each of the Stars prospects at the AHL level. easier.” “Having the right people in place at those levels is everything,” Nill said. “I That whole transition Nill is talking about came on Dec. 10, when Dallas feel like we have that, and it’s something that put us in good hands.” Stars head coach Jim Montgomery was suddenly fired for unprofessional “Hopefully we are playing hockey again this season,” Graham said. “If conduct. Laxdal was promoted to join interim head coach Rick Bowness’ not, I’ve learned a ton that I’ll take into the future, but right now I’m being staff while Graham was named the head coach in Texas without any optimistic there is another game with this group (this season).” interim labels attached. The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 Graham took over a Texas team was in eighth place in the AHL’s Central Division at the time, with a 9-13-1-2 record. Graham won his first game as Texas head coach 3-1 against the Manitoba Moose and then helped the AHL team climb back into the playoff hunt. When the AHL suspended operations on Friday, the Stars were 18-15-2-2 under Graham — and one point out of a playoff spot in the Central Division.

“I think as a team, we started clicking and really buying in the second half of the season and a lot of credit goes to (Laxdal) for how we set us up, we were on a big point streak right when all the changes happened, so the team was already playing well,” Graham said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen now (with the suspension), but I think we did our job in making sure we helped set things up better for the future.”

Graham held a conference call with the AHL players on Monday and told them they would be able to return to their off-season homes as the minor league put out a statement saying if it returned this season, nothing would happen before May. Graham said at this point his only message to 1172795 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings prospects keep grinding during coronavirus crisis: Go find a hill

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 8:29 a.m. ET March 18, 2020 | Updated 3:35 p.m. ET March 18, 2020

A conversation with the Detroit Red Wings’ director of player development inevitably includes him saying a prospect needs to spend time in a gym to gain strength.

So what to do when that option has been taken away, as countries around the world deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic?

Get creative.

Shawn Horcoff, in his fourth year overseeing the club’s future players, is trying to find ways for them to stay active. Every hockey league across North America and Europe, home to dozens of the team’s prospects, has put the 2019-20 season on hold because of COVID-19. Players have been told to stay away from arenas, including workout facilities.

In Michigan — where top prospect Moritz Seider plays for the Grand Rapids Griffins — all gyms and exercise facilities were ordered to close as of 3 p.m. Monday.

Young athletes have had their daily workout routines upended, and the Wings are trying to help them maintain some of their conditioning. Players also have been told to report any symptoms of COVID-19 to local health professionals and to the team.

“First off, we want them to be safe,” Horcoff said in an interview this week with the Free Press. “I think the difficult thing is, every country seems to be handling this differently. One thing we have done is reached out to guys to see what they have available at home, or around them — are they close to a track, are they close to hills? Something outside where they can go by themselves, without a big group around them.

“So we’re trying to figure out what do they have available to them, what’s around them, and then construct something around that. That is going to be our approach the next two to four weeks, and then everything is kind of fluid.”

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. The daily change in information regarding the virus makes planning difficult.

“As things start to become open again, we’ll adjust workouts,” Horcoff said. “But as of now, essentially everyone in the hockey world is at home. People are quarantined, people are being told to stay away from crowds as much as possible, if not forced to.

“These guys are professional athletes, they all want to get better and stronger and they are antsy to work out, so we are feeding them advice and trying to structure workouts for them.”

Dylan Larkin is long past his prospect days, but he is heeding the message to get outdoors — he posted a video to his Instagram account of him running with his dog, Ellie, with the caption: "Home workouts are going well with my new trainer. Welcome home Ellie!! Hope everyone is staying safe out there."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172796 Detroit Red Wings

Jeff Blashill's projects are at home, not on ice, as Red Wings, NHL wait out coronavirus

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 11:58 a.m. ET March 18, 2020 | Updated 12:00 p.m. ET March 18, 2020

Detroit — Like everyone else, Jeff Blashill is sitting at home, spending time with his wife and kids, and getting some work done.

It’s just that the Red Wings’ head coach’s work isn’t preparing for the regular season’s final games, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Head coach Jeff Blashill and the Red Wings have 11 games remaining in the regular season.

In an interview Wednesday morning on the Jamie and Stoney show on 97.1 FM, Blashill said he’s patiently awaiting for life to return to normal, just as anyone else.

“Work stuff; a few projects I’ve wanted to do during the season but you don’t get to, do some stuff around the house, and spending time with the kids,” Blashill said. “And paying attention to what is going on the world.”

Blashill didn’t speculate as to when the NHL season could be restarting, if it will, and in what form it could restart if it does.

There have been rumors if the NHL does resume play, a team like the Red Wings, who already have been eliminated from playoff contention, might be done for the season.

Or, if the NHL wants to conclude the 82-game regular season schedule, the Red Wings will return to play their final 11 games.

“The one thing I don’t want to do is speculate, and I don’t know if anyone has those answers right now,” Blashill said. “It’s impossible. None of us know. We just don’t know what (any of the recent News) means for our season or playoffs or anything.

“Like everyone out there, we’d like to play a full season, full playoffs; that’s what everyone would like to do.”

To those who say the Red Wings wouldn’t be motivated to return and close out the season after this interruption, Blashill said this hiatus has given everyone perspective about how special it is to be coaching and playing in the NHL.

“Every single day you get to play and coach in the NHL is a great day,” Blashill said. “If anything, it’s a reminder of how quickly life can change and you make the most of every single day. It’s a great reminder.

“If we get the chance to resume the season, let’s make the most of every day.”

Detroit News LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172797 Detroit Red Wings Especially if the offensive-zone comfort and shooting mindset continue into next season, Pearson’s one to monitor for an NHL look down the line.

Breaking down the late-season risers in the Red Wings’ farm system Joe Veleno, C, Grand Rapids

2019-20 stats: 11 goals, 12 assists in 54 games

By Max Bultman Mar 18, 2020 Technically, there’s not much room for Veleno to “rise,” per se, since he was already the Red Wings’ No. 2 prospect at midseason. But he showed big-time improvement nonetheless after returning from the world As the NHL continues to discuss how and when to eventually restart its juniors. On the score sheet, he did have nine points in his last 16 games, season, it’s looking increasingly plausible that many of the Red Wings’ but the story might be better told from the chances he created down the prospects have played their final games of the 2019-20 campaign. stretch and the way his full-ice game showed up in the second half.

With the NCAA Tournament already canceled and the SHL calling off its Detroit’s development staff has worked with Veleno on his defense since season over the weekend, the QMJHL also formally canceled all drafting him, and Horcoff pointed out that sometimes significant focus on remaining games on Tuesday. The American Hockey League, too, has that side of the ice can lead to drop-off in production in the short-term. announced its suspension of play will carry into at least May. Basically: When you put it all together, though, full-ice engagement from a smart, It’s going to be a long while before anyone sees a puck drop. skilled player can start to look like this (start the video at about 22 seconds): In the meantime, though, it’s worth digging deeper into a few Detroit prospects who closed out their seasons particularly well. Red Wings HERE’S THE FULL PLAY. VELENO WITH GREAT STRENGTH TO director of player development Shawn Horcoff was willing to share some SHIELD THE PUCK AND GET IT OUT OF THE ZONE #GOGRG additional insight into those players with The Athletic. PIC.TWITTER.COM/D2ACMOH2QA

Albert Johansson, LHD, Färjestad (SHL) — GRIFFINS NEST (@GRGRIFFINSNEST) FEBRUARY 29, 2020

2019-20 stats: 3 goals, 2 assists in 9 games in the Swedish J20 “He really started to feel more comfortable and actually really started to SuperElit; 2 goals, 11 assists in 42 games in the SHL produce,” Horcoff said. “… He’s really starting to create much more scoring chances, and I think he’s another guy, too, that just needs to get Johansson had a particularly loud finish for a player who recently turned stronger, which will just help him in those hard areas and net front.” 19 in Sweden’s top league, with five points in his final four games. Importantly, too, he was getting solid, consistent ice time for one of Gustav Berglund, RHD, Frölunda (SuperElit) Sweden’s top teams. And for those reasons, it would have been very interesting to see how he held up in a playoff run. 2019-20 stats: 6 goals, 8 assists in 30 games; 0 points in 8 SHL games

But nonetheless, the Red Wings will take what they saw from Johansson, With Berglund it’s less about the stats and more about what the Red who finished third among all U20 defensemen in scoring, trailing only Wings have seen from his commitment level since drafting him in the recent first-round picks Nils Lundkvist and Victor Söderström. sixth round last June.

“Your confidence goes up, and next thing you know you combine that “I don’t think he really knew how good he was or the physical tools that with ice time and things usually seem to click,” Horcoff said. “That’s kind he possessed,” Horcoff said. “But I think he’s starting to figure that out of how it works, right? It’s too bad that the season got cut short because now. I really saw an increase in his motivation this year, wanting to he was really playing well and really feeling more comfortable as of late, become a player.” and actually getting more power-play time, which was nice to see.” The Red Wings like his range, skating, size, grit and physicality, and Johansson could still stand to add weight, but he’s 6 feet and the Red while the upshot is probably still a defense-first player as a pro, they also Wings consider his skating to be elite. The team is hoping for some like his shot. He’s still a recent sixth-round pick, so don’t get the hype physical development from him this summer, though obviously there train going just yet, but Berglund has tools, so it’s a good sign for Detroit could be some complications there considering the current climate. if he’s better positioning himself to tap into them. Johansson will be one to monitor next season, regardless. Gustav Berglund at Red Wings development camp last summer. (Allison Chase Pearson, C, Grand Rapids (AHL) Farrand / For The Athletic)

2019-20 stats: 8 goals, 14 assists in 59 games Keith Petruzzelli, G, Quinnipiac (ECAC)

Not a wild stat line from Pearson in his AHL rookie season, but what if I 2019-20 stats: 2.01 GAA, .920 SV% told you eight of his 22 points came in the season’s final 12 games? Petruzzelli played more games this season (34) than he had the previous That’s at least more interesting, especially for a player whose eventual two seasons combined, and his save percentage only went up. To be NHL role projects as a checking-line forward anyway. But that’s the fair, the .904 he posted a year ago left plenty of room for that, but he appeal of Pearson: He’s a defensive center who just happens to be able nonetheless delivered. He wrapped up the season with his third shutout to generate a little offense, too. And at 6-feet-2 he should be able to get of the campaign, a 29-save effort over Yale, though it would have been to the net at the next level. especially interesting to see whether he could help get his team into the As for why the late surge, there’s a pretty good explanation. The Red postseason through the ECAC tournament. Wings actually sat Pearson down about a month ago and talked to him “A real good bounce-back year for him,” Horcoff said. “He’s obviously about his game, which they felt at that point had been just OK. They showing what he can do. He’s played much better this year. It takes thought there was much more in him. goalies longer in general. It’s not an easy position.”

“To his credit,” Horcoff said, “he responded. He started creating more It’s easy to forget how young Petruzzelli is: He just turned 21 in February. offensive chances, he was playing a harder, more energetic, physical But the next question is what’s next for the goaltender. He’s now played game (and) as a result of that was chipping in more on the offensive three seasons of college, normally a natural time to turn professional, so side.” the Red Wings will have to figure out their plan for him.

Like many prospects transitioning to pro hockey, it’s fair to wonder if Also of note: Pearson took some time to get used to the much smaller number of scoring chances available in the AHL compared to college. I can’t let a prospect story go by without at least some mention of defenseman and top overall prospect Moritz Seider, who did manage to “I think previous to about a month ago he wasn’t creating that many shots return to the Griffins lineup for a few games before the season ended, for himself,” Horcoff said. “And he’s a guy that’s really good at and in impressive fashion. Horcoff said Seider logged 25 minutes his first possession when he holds onto it. He protects it pretty well and he kind game back and didn’t miss a beat, and then he tacked on a pair of of looks to make plays. We want to get him more into a shooting assists in what turned out to be the season’s final two games. In the end, mindset.” the 2019 sixth overall pick will finish with 22 points in 49 games in addition to his usual physical defensive presence. “We’re really happy with his offensive game,” Horcoff said. “He’s learning the pro game, he’s learning kind of what he can get away with and what he can’t. And he’s starting to gain some confidence out there, and he’s doing much more with the puck offensively, especially in the second half.”

Antti Tuomisto, the Finnish defenseman Detroit took 35th overall in last summer’s draft, is an interesting case because he’s not so much a late- season riser as someone who put up a big year start to finish. And at the level he was scoring in the Finnish junior league (he narrowly topped a point per game), he probably should have been playing in the top league were he not preserving his NCAA eligibility. But he’ll play at Denver next season, so he had no recourse but to dominate the league he was in, earning MVP honors.

The next step, though, is the interesting one. NCAA competition will be a whole other challenge, and so Tuomisto stands to gain quite a bit from time on the ice or in the gym this summer.

The “strength and speed of the game” is the biggest adjustment prospects going from European juniors to the NCAA “have to get used to,” Horcoff said.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172798 Edmonton Oilers and concessions are the only way it should be allowed to move forward; we’ve seen enough profiteering lately.

This is all wild speculation, of course. We’re getting so far ahead TYCHKOWSKI: So you're sayin' there's a chance? Nobody is ready to ourselves we look like Connor McDavid in a race with Milan Lucic. Trying give up on hockey to predict what might happen two months from now, in an unprecedented situation that is changing by the hour, is impossible.

Robert Tychkowski And we all know hockey games are still pretty low on the list of priorities that need to be addressed when we finally see a light at the end of this dark and scary tunnel.

At a time when sports fans are experiencing cold turkey withdrawal But it’s good to know the players are looking at this the same way we symptoms that make it feel like they’re trying to quit heroin, cigarettes are: If there IS any possible way to get a season in and award a Stanley and coffee all at the same time, any breath of hope, no matter how small Cup, let’s do it. or far-fetched, is cause for excitement. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 03.19.2020 We can watch on TV while they play the games on off-shore aircraft carriers? Hey, that could work!

Send Zack Kassian into the lab and have him bash all the COVID-19 petrie dishes with both fists? That puny virus will be turtling in no time.

Reunite the 2014-15 Edmonton Oilers and have them conduct seminars on social distancing in the defensive zone? “Don’t get within six feet of anyone, ever. And for the love of God, stay away from the front of your own net, it’s a breeding ground for germs.”

Game on. There’s no I in quit.

All anyone wants is to get the NHL up and running again, invest themselves in some playoff hockey and see the Stanley Cup awarded to anyone but Toronto.

So, when a handful of NHL players offered up a plan that would see them resume the season in July, hold playoffs in August and September, take October off and start next season in November, there was immediate support among the shaky, red-eyed sports junkies.

Of course, these are people who’ve already worn out two sets of batteries in their TV remotes trying to find a channel where people are keeping score of something, so any plan that includes the words “hockey” and “playing” is going to be embraced like a 48-pack of toilet paper.

With the entire planet going Full Oiler, any reason for hope is worth exploring. And it would be worth doing this one just to see what the ice would look like in Florida or Dallas in July and August.

It is good for morale to know that the NHL and its players are willing to exhaust every possibility, no matter how far outside the box, to get the season in. I doubt most fans even considered a Stanley Cup final in September to be a viable option. For players to give up their summer, have virtually no off-season and then jump right into a compressed 2020- 21 is a pretty noble gesture.

And this could actually work. It’s certainly much more realistic than the NHL’s initial press release, a best-case scenario plan that included skating in small groups by the end of March and opening camps a few weeks later. That was a non-starter before the league even hit “send.”

Waiting until July will give things a realistic chance to settle down, at which point we can can look to world health experts and see if it’s possible to resume some semblance of normal life.

If they can figure out a way to do this, to give us a much-needed distraction, it would be an enormous gift for hockey fans in general and Canadians especially. Although I’m not sure if people in Edmonton or Calgary would be able to cope with a global pandemic in March, April and May, only to lose the Battle of Alberta in July. One of those cities would be right back in self quarantine.

Of course, this theory also begs the obvious question: Who the hell will be able to afford playoff tickets?

The economic damage from precautions taken to slow this pandemic are going to be devastating. Small business owners and their employees, and people in the service and hospitality industry are still the lifeblood of the Canadian economy, and they are taking a terrible beating. It will take months, if not years, to recover.

Dropping $600 on a couple of seats for Game 2 isn’t going to be an option for a lot of people. The typical gouging we see in the post-season — the Oilers slapped their fans with hikes of almost 60 per cent that one year they made the playoffs — simply isn’t going to fly. Price rollbacks 1172799 Edmonton Oilers alters the conversation, perhaps in a way that makes it more difficult for the Oilers to sign him.

Anton Slepyshev’s month-by-month scoring How good is Anton Slepyshev and what will an NHL return mean for the Oilers? September

By Jonathan Willis Mar 18, 2020 4

It’s tempting, but wrong, to imagine that after 102 NHL games Anton 7 Slepyshev has shown everything he can do at hockey’s highest level. 7 Slepyshev left Edmonton when his entry-level contract concluded, signing a two-year deal in the KHL in 2018 which concludes at the end of 4 this season. His NHL rights still belong to the Oilers, who took the 13 precaution of issuing a qualifying offer in case he ever wanted to return. Given his age and impressive toolkit, it was the sensible course of action. 14.19

“He has the ability to play a hard, heavy game and use his frame,” then- October coach Todd McLellan said at Slepyshev’s first NHL training camp. “He’s 12 got a good shot. He’s been able to play with speed and grinders. I think he’s getting better day after day and we’re excited to have him in the 1 organization.” 2 The tools didn’t translate into impressive stats in his initial spell with the Oilers. His development was hampered by Edmonton’s tendency to yo- 3 yo him between leagues, make him a healthy scratch and play him 1 limited minutes in the NHL even when dressed. Injury didn’t help; the organization had hoped he’d step forward in his final year but he got off 0 to a slow start after missing virtually all of training camp. 17 The reasons it didn’t work out are many and varied, and virtually none would apply to a second attempt. Slepyshev is also far from the first 15.09 European prospect to need two runs at major-league North American November hockey. 7 David Vyborny, an Oilers pick in the 1993 draft, played one season for their farm team before returning home to Czechia. When he came back 0 to the NHL five years later it was with the Columbus expansion team, and he was an early star for the Blue Jackets. So was Espen Knutsen, who 3 split an unimpressive season between the Anaheim and Cincinnati 3 Mighty Ducks, returned to Sweden for two years and then put up 53 points for Columbus. -1

More recently Evgenii Dadonov in Florida has followed the same pattern. 6 He played out his entry-level deal in North America without standing out before returning to the KHL at 23. After establishing himself as an 13 important player there he earned a three-year contract from the 15.17 Panthers. He’s scored at least 25 goals in each season of that pact. December If the pattern isn’t uncommon the results still vary wildly, with as many failures as successes. 7

That’s in keeping with Slepyshev’s 23-year-old performance in the NHL. 0 Between 1998 and 2017, 78 different forwards recorded point-per-game totals between 80 and 120 percent of what Slepyshev managed for the 2 Oilers, and it’s fair to say that more than half of those players failed to 2 carve out significant NHL careers. 0 The successes, though, are what make Slepyshev so interesting. Leaving aside the large number who turned into quality NHL role players 31 (a list which includes former Edmonton captain Ethan Moreau), plenty of 10 others would go on to spend years on major-league scoring lines. Players like Bryan Rust, William Karlsson, Alexei Morozov, Michael 14.16 Frolik, Micheal Ferland, Erik Haula and Conor Sheary all had 23-year-old seasons in which they scored at the same level as Slepyshev did for the January Oilers in 2017-18. 12 The player has obviously progressed since he was 23, and his KHL 10 numbers give us a window into how far he’s come. 8 Slepyshev’s numbers at 20 and 24 are virtually carbon copies of each other: 15 goals and 25 points each year, while playing 58 and 56 games, 18 respectively. As a 25-year-old he appeared in 54 games for CSKA Moscow and blew those totals out of the water, scoring 18 times and 13 finishing with 45 points. That’s a whopping 87 percent increase for an 2 already competent player. 31 Maybe the most interesting item is the way Slepyshev’s game turned a corner in 2020. After a pedestrian first 34 games, he closed out the 16.6 season with 30 points in just 20 games. That dramatic improvement February Edmonton’s draft order, which were opened up at the trade deadline and (likely) by the Milan Lucic deal. 8 Whatever happens next, Slepyshev’s impressive play overseas is a 3 positive development for the Oilers. Recouping a draft pick is a solid Plan 9 B. Plan A, where he plays for the team, is better still, as it offers the richest potential payoff. If Slepyshev’s recent development is more than a 12 one-off, if he can make his combination of size, speed and shooting ability complement one of Edmonton’s top centres, it will scratch one big 8 item from the team’s long-term shopping list. 0 The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 13

15.56

Season

15.25

Postmedia’s Jim Matheson has been bringing up Slepyshev’s name off and on all season, and two weeks before Slepyshev started piling up the points he mentioned that Oilers GM Ken Holland had spoken to the player during a scouting trip to Europe. According to Matheson, Slepyshev believed he could be an NHL third-liner, but the longtime reporter pegged him as “a possible fourth-liner if he wants to come back for $1 million or less next season.”

The issue for the Oilers is that as much as Slepyshev is a worthwhile gamble at some price point, they’re tight for cap space. His offensive explosion over the past two months will have increased both his ask and his value, and could make it trickier to arrive at a contract that makes sense for both sides.

Another side effect is that Slepyshev’s trade value will have increased, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman hinted last week.

“Edmonton has interest,” Friedman wrote, “but his price point may be more than what the team is willing to do. I think there’d be interest from other clubs if that happens.”

The question of how the Oilers proceed will come down to how they value him. From the outside, it certainly seems reasonable to view Slepyshev as a probable third-liner.

The usual risks that come with bringing a player over from Europe largely don’t apply. He’s 25, has three years of North American experience and should be well-prepared. He’s established an NHL floor as a competent fourth-liner, and both his progress overseas and his comparables list from his age-23 season both support the idea of an enhanced role.

He might be better than that, if his late-season scoring binge is reflective of more than a hot streak. He might be less if it was nothing more than that.

On the contract side, a one-year deal is probably the safest bet for both parties. Edmonton just signed Josh Archibald to a two-year deal with a $1.5-million cap hit and something in that dollar range fits our projection of Slepyshev as a third-line winger. He won’t bring Archibald’s elite penalty killing, but he should be more of an offensive threat. It’s a big raise from his entry-level deal, but still gives the Oilers some upside should he catch fire on one of their skill lines.

If that isn’t possible and there’s still trade interest, that means the other team in the discussion is comfortable going higher on the contract—and if that team rates him as being worth that much money, he should certainly be worth a mid-round draft pick in trade.

That would be a decent outcome for the Oilers in a couple of different ways. After drafting Slepyshev in the third round, getting 102 games and a comparable pick back would represent a nice return on the original investment. A mid-round selection would also help plug the holes in 1172800 Los Angeles Kings Doorknobs, handles, elevator buttons, escalator and stair rails, point-of- sale terminals, ATMs, suites, and food service areas have undergone regular cleaning to mitigate the possibility of contagion by touch. “And we No Kings or Ducks players have reported or shown symptoms of continue to do this throughout the day with our day housekeeping crews,” coronavirus, the teams say Zeidman said, even though no events are taking place in the building.

Kings, Ducks say none of their players have coronavirus symptoms

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 5:47 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 5:47 p.m.

The teams didn’t say whether any players, coaches or staff had been tested, however.

“We will continue to monitor the situation regularly.”

As of Wednesday, no other Senators have tested positive for COVID-19.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172802 Los Angeles Kings Behind the scenes, AEG’s response to the worldwide health crisis accelerated in the first week of March, as it assembled a task force and introduced a wide-ranging series of additional procedures and protocols Despite concern, Ducks and Kings say players not experiencing COVID- for its cleaning contractor, ABM. 19 symptoms Enhanced sanitation practices at Staples Center started the night of March 7, officials said. AEG owns Staples Center, the Kings and a portion of the Lakers. By Lisa Dillman and Eric Stephens Mar 18, 2020 “We have not heard from ABM, as it relates to any employees that are A) symptomatic or have come down with COVID-19,” Lee Zeidman, president of Staples Center/Microsoft Theater/L.A. Live, said on a Concern heightened over players on the Anaheim Ducks and Los conference call with The Athletic and the Los Angeles Times on Angeles Kings, the NHL’s two Southern California-based teams, Wednesday. potentially being exposed to the coronavirus following the news of an Ottawa Senators player testing positive along with the possibility of some “Obviously, as it relates (to) the world in general, people are concerned. teammates contracting the virus. Anytime there is a report of an infected person, people are concerned about their families, they’re concerned about their loved ones. We’ve On Wednesday, the Ducks and Kings said in separate statements that no reiterated to our employees in letters to them what to do, how to observe player within their organizations indicated they are experiencing COVID- themselves, what symptoms to look for.” 19 symptoms. The Senators released a statement Tuesday night that a player had the virus and that he “has had mild symptoms and is in He added that the workforce – about 1,500 to 1,700 employees – had isolation.” The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian and James Mirtle reported that been informed on Tuesday about the developments involving the Nets. multiple Ottawa players are believed to be ill and awaiting test results. “Obviously, as you all know, this changes on a dime,” Zeidman said. “In Ottawa traveled to California, which is one of the hardest-hit states by the fact by the time we get off this phone call, there will probably be new virus, for games against the San Jose Sharks on March 7, Anaheim on policies and procedures or mandates by either the CDC or LA County March 10 and Los Angeles on March 11. The Senators-Sharks contest Public Health or Mayor (Eric) Garcetti. This is a very fluid situation.” took place in front of paying customers at SAP Center even though public health officials in Santa Clara County had advised against large Visiting NBA and visiting NHL teams do not use the same locker room at gatherings in the area. Staples Center. It is one of the busiest arenas in North America – housing two NBA teams and one NHL team. The NHL suspended its season March 12, a day after the NBA did the same after news broke that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the “There is no crossover whatsoever as it relates to a visiting NBA team first known player to contract COVID-19. Four Brooklyn Nets players using a visiting NHL team’s room,” Zeidman said. have also tested positive, including superstar Kevin Durant. The visiting In their final three games before the NHL’s pause, the Kings brought in Nets played against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center the night selected players to meet with the media, after the game, in the visiting before Ottawa played the Kings. NBA room. It is also the same room where Kings coach Todd McLellan But with the random spread of the coronavirus spreads and to whom it has held his postgame media sessions all season. afflicts and doesn’t, it is nearly impossible to determine if there is any The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 connection with how the players became infected. It is unclear if any of the Ducks or Kings players have undergone any tests for COVID-19, but it is believed that they would be encouraged to only do so if any symptoms become present.

“No player in the organization has reported COVID-19 symptoms at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation regularly.”

The Ducks have closed their offices, and employees of the team along with Anaheim Arena Management, which operates Honda Center, have been told to work from home, as have Kings employees. Events at Honda Center through April 11 have been postponed. And on Saturday, the nine ice and inline facilities of The Rinks system from Lakewood in eastern Los Angeles County throughout Orange County to Poway in the San Diego area have suspended all programming, which includes public skating, youth and adult league hockey and other events. 1172803 Los Angeles Kings is skating full speed ahead, he is not skating in a straight line at the defenseman but more like a Formula 1 car navigating through traffic. You’ll notice that Turcotte changes directions three times between the The Kings’ F-1 car: How Alex Turcotte’s skating makes him an elite blue lines and once more right before he challenges the Michigan prospect defenseman.

If you watch the clip again, notice the indecisive feet of the Michigan defenseman and how he struggles to gain his footing against the By Jordan Samuels-Thomas Mar 18, 2020 attacking Turcotte and eventually ends up getting caught on his heels.

Turcotte lets him off the hook by curling off to the side, but he was still successful in gaining the zone cleanly and establishing time and space With all things sports on hold, I figured I’d give Kings fans something fun for himself below the hashmarks. Here’s what Turcotte can look like in and hopeful to read. So behold my scouting look at Alex Turcotte, their real time with a forechecker on him — which he beats — and with top pick from the 2019 NHL Draft. opposing defenders being unsuccessful at holding the blue line. The Kings have quickly stockpiled talented, young players that possess McDavid is known for this type of high-speed edgework in transition. the skill, speed and hockey IQ required to play in today’s NHL, but no one embodies those attributes more than Turcotte. Not only is he the And MacKinnon is no stranger to putting defenders in a blender with Kings’ top prospect but he’s also one of the top players who didn’t play high-speed edgework in the neutral zone. an NHL game this year. There is a striking similarity to how these players work their way up ice The 19-year old Illinois native registered nine goals and 26 points in 29 with speed and change in direction without losing speed while the puck is games for Wisconsin this season while also contributing two assists on their sticks. So when a prospect not only has the speed close to these during the world juniors. guys but also combine that with elite edgework and sudden changes of direction like them as well, there’s a lot to be excited about. Especially Here’s why he’s so good. when you add those attributes with the high compete level that Turcotte Puck skills … holds. While I’d like to see him stop on more pucks, he never considers himself out of a play, and you often see him making the second and third ALEX TURCOTTE (#GOKINGSGO) SHOWS OFF HIS INCREDIBLE efforts on puck battles. HANDS, BUT ISN'T ABLE TO FINISH THE CHANCE OFF. PIC.TWITTER.COM/I7PV5VZFJF Projected as a premier playmaker at the NHL level, Turcotte finished tied for third in assists on Wisco with Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield who — DYLAN GRIFFING (@DYLAN_GRIFFING) MARCH 1, 2020 also registered 17 assists but in six more games played. (Wyatt Kalynuk led Wisconsin in assists with 21 in 36 games.) Playmaking … Again, Turcotte’s edgework is what creates time and space for him and GOAL: ALEX TURCOTTE (#GOKINGSGO) FINDS MAX ZIMMER others in playmaking situations. Something that really stood out to me (#LETSGOCANES) WITH A PERFECT PASS. WISCONSIN CUT THE when watching Turcotte is that he always tries to attack the middle of the DEFICIT TO ONE GOING INTO THE THIRD. ice on the rush. Doing so causes the opposition to converge toward the PIC.TWITTER.COM/Q0YCKKS35N middle of the ice, which leaves room on the outside of the ice for — DYLAN GRIFFING (@DYLAN_GRIFFING) MARCH 1, 2020 Turcotte’s wingers to attack with speed. Turcotte is equally skilled and capable of distributing the puck on both his forehand and backhand while A nose for the net … consistently demonstrating a good sense of knowing where his teammates are at all times. #HABS COLE CAUFIELD PICKS UP HIS 16TH ASSIST OFF A REBOUND PLAY PUT HOME BY ALEX TURCOTTE. CAUFIELD HAS In this next video, we see Turcotte cleanly enter the zone with speed and 35 PTS (19G, 16A) IN 33 GP THIS SEASON WHICH HAS HIM 2ND IN attack the middle of the Michigan State defensive zone once he crosses POINTS AMONG ALL PLAYERS IN THE @B1GHOCKEY. HE STILL over the blue line. At one point Turcotte is surrounded by four MSU LEADS THE CONFERENCE IN GOALS AND SHOTS ON GOAL AS players. Once again, this clip is slowed down to half-speed so you can WELL. HTTPS://T.CO/OGLWPTEIAG see:

— CANADIENS PROSPECTS (@MTL_PROSPECTS) FEBRUARY 29, Turcotte attacks four MSU defenders — 1 vs. 4 — as he buys time for 2020 his teammates to enter the zone and skate to a more dangerous scoring position. After watching Turcotte play extensively this season, I believe the single skill that has positioned him as a consensus top-five NHL prospect is his Turcotte’s puckhandling skill in tight spaces. skating ability. His whole game is built around his skating and the command he has of his edges at top speed. His skating creates scoring Turcotte’s playmaking is not by accident. After dangling an MSU player, chances for both himself and teammates, and it creates time and space Turcotte takes a quick look over his shoulder to again survey his options for him during offensive situations and in transition. before making a beautiful behind-the-back pass through the legs of another MSU defender. Describing a player’s skating ability as strong, solid or even great is very vague, especially when you’re evaluating a player like Turcotte who — as Turcotte is able to attract so much attention when the puck is on his stick. a top-five selection — is projected to be a No. 1 center in the modern-day Though they go about it in different ways, I broke down a similar clip of NHL driven by skating and speed. Turcotte’s skating is quick, elusive and Anze Kopitar earlier this season skating through four opposing players in explosive all at the same time. He often looks like he’s skating downhill efforts to create time and space for his linemates. In both instances, the once he gets his shoulders squared up ice. Turcotte also possesses the opposing team became focused on the puck carrier because they ability to change speed and directions without a hitch in both open-ice attacked the middle of the ice. In this instance Turcotte’s work, vision and and high-traffic areas. elusiveness created a lot of room for the eventual recipient of his pass.

Turcotte shows elite characteristics in both skating and puckhandling skill Getting to the middle of the ice for offensive transition and D-zone exits — while at full-speed — that you see from only the most elite NHL provides the most passing options. As an intelligent centerman, Turcotte players. While I don’t think he has the top-end speed of these players, rarely allows himself to be wedged into the boards or into the corner. Turcotte’s neutral-zone skating in transition and on the rush closely Here’s an example of Turcotte stopping at the right spot in the D-zone as mirrors that of players like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and a center and leading a clean defensive zone exit from the middle of the Mathew Barzal in terms of how they all utilize a series of quick, lateral ice. crossovers while attacking the offensive zone at full-speed. Doing so — He is fearless up the middle of the ice. This next video, we see Turcotte especially at the pace of these guys — really puts the defenders on their take a hit to create room for his linemates. heels and in compromising positions. And here’s another clip of him creating a scoring chance for himself while Below is a clip of Turcotte’s skating through the neutral zone. I slowed attacking the middle of the ice. the video down so it would be easy and clear to see that, while Turcotte Turcotte’s skating is what makes him one of the best prospects in all of the NHL right now, and it’s what allows him to make the players around him better. His ability to create off the rush with speed, read opponents and at times dictate defenses is what separates him from almost every other prospect. There’s rarely a shift that goes by where he doesn’t have the puck on his stick or isn’t leading a rush up ice. His consistency in creating offense off the rush is what makes him special, and it begins and ends with his skating.

The Best of the Best?

For now, I’d say Turcotte is the best Kings prospect I’ve seen this season. I don’t think it’s by a very wide margin, which is less a knock on Turcotte but more of a vote of confidence in players like Gabriel Vilardi and Arthur Kaliyev who I have been able to study up close and have been very impressed with. However for me, it all comes back to Turcotte’s skating and puck skills that are further enhanced by his compete level.

Talent is one thing, but work ethic is the intangible that makes the NHL’s best players great, and from all accounts, Turcotte is going to compete. There are no clear flaws in his game.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172804 Minnesota Wild draft might change. It’s unclear what would happen to the first-round pick the Wild received in the Jason Zucker trade with Pittsburgh since it was conditional on the Penguins making the playoffs; if they didn’t advance, The Wild: Guerin on keeping up, coaching situation and what's ahead they could defer the pick until next season.

The Wild continue to plan for the offseason and college free agency What the NHL also hasn’t divulged, Guerin said, is potential schedule during the coronavirus layoff. scenarios should the league restart.

If that does happen, Guerin will have expectations for the Wild.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune MARCH 18, 2020 — 12:31PM “You play to win,” he said. “That mandate will never change.”

Hard to stop

This isn’t the first time Bill Guerin’s hockey career has been put on ice. Before the season went dark, the Wild was on the upswing — winning eight of its previous 11 games to land in contention for one of the He experienced two lockouts as an NHL player, missing out on roughly a Western Conference’s two wild-card berths. The team sat in the first spot season and a half of games, and was a development coach when the after its most recent game but fell to a point out of the playoffs during a beginning of the 2012-13 campaign was wiped out. layoff before the NHL halted play.

But in those cases, players didn’t have to be holed up at home. They “I thought it was going really well,” Guerin said. “From the coaching staff could work out in gyms and skate together, get out in the community. to the players to the training staff, everybody was chipping in and doing their part and had really come together. The players just carried out the Now, life is different. game plan, and their battle level and compete level were extremely high. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” the Wild general manager said. “The They deserve a ton of credit for putting themselves in the position they whole world’s on hold. It’s not just Minnesota. It’s not just the United are now being that we had a terrible start and were right in the mix. States. It’s the whole world, and that’s what’s really bizarre about the “I think and I hope that they realize their potential and that we are a good whole thing. We’ve got to do what’s right. I think there’s just so many team.” things at stake. The biggest thing is people’s health. That 8-3 run came with interim coach Dean Evason at the helm after he “… All the sports leagues are doing the right thing. This is bigger than a replaced Bruce Boudreau, who was fired Feb. 14. hockey game or a basketball game. This is serious.” Coaching consideration NHL action has been paused for almost a week, with the league suspending its season Thursday in response to the coronavirus Evason, who is 8-4 overall, and Guerin had a “transparent conversation,” pandemic. and Evason’s status will remain unchanged for the time being. Guerin is not interviewing potential candidates right now — “You can’t ask people Players have been asked to self-quarantine, and the hope is the NHL to travel,” he said — and he wants to see how the season resolves might be able to reconvene with training camps at the end of April before before making any moves. potentially playing again. “He’s been great,” Guerin said of Evason. “He really has. He’s a really Other than that, though, questions outnumber answers, and it’s amid this good communicator, and he’s fair and the clarity that guys have in their newfound uncertainty that Guerin continues to navigate his first season role and their game plan is really, really good. He gets it. He’s been as general manager of the Wild. around this game for a long time, and he played a long time, so he can “We’d just love to be back doing what we do,” Guerin said. “But it’s just talk to guys on their level as a player because he gets it and he’s very not the right time yet.” organized. Has a lot of strong attributes, that’s for sure.”

Keeping tabs The holding pattern has jolted the Wild out of its usual rhythm and into uncharted territory, and Guerin has thought of players like captain Mikko Although the competition has ceased, with a fourth Wild game voided Koivu who have had the latter stages of their careers interrupted. Tuesday night, Guerin isn’t completely idle. Still, Guerin is hopeful the 37-year-old Koivu and others will get to keep Throughout the day, he checks in with his hockey operations staff and, playing this season as long as no one’s safety is compromised. as usual during the season, the group will forecast and plan for the offseason and teams can still sign players. But even if the Wild did finally “This is such a unique time that we just have to take a step back and lock up prized prospect Kirill Kaprizov, he wouldn’t be eligible until next realize what’s important, and eventually we’ll get back on the ice,” Guerin season. said. “[We] just don’t know when.”

Winger Kevin Fiala, the team’s leading scorer after a second-half tear, Star Tribune LOADED: 03.19.2020 can sign an extension this summer, but Guerin said the club hasn’t “gone down that path yet.” Before this season, Fiala signed a two-year, $6 million contract.

Right now, the Wild is exploring college free agents even though it wants to be mindful of its spending since the look of next season’s salary cap is up in the air.

“We’re not just going to stockpile players,” Guerin said. “If we can give him a legitimate opportunity and help him be an NHL player and have him help us, then we’ll do it. And we are involved in a few guys, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Video scouting

Getting a read on up-and-comers, however, has been affected because college hockey, the Canadian junior ranks and other development leagues have also stopped playing.

While Guerin mentioned the Wild has a video library it can comb, watching in person — and multiple times — is critical to making decisions. That’s a problem not exclusive to the Wild, as every other team in the NHL is in the same predicament.

The draft, scheduled for June 26 and 27 in Montreal, could be impeded, and Guerin is sure it will happen. So far, the NHL hasn’t said how the 1172805 Minnesota Wild

Classic Wild games to air on KFAN, other radio stations

By Sarah McLellan MARCH 18, 2020 — 10:58AM

The NHL season has been put on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, but Wild games will still be on the radio.

KFAN 100.3, the official flagship of the Wild, and other stations in the Wild Radio Network will air classic Wild radio broadcasts each Wednesday starting today at 8 p.m.

Beginning next week, the show will start at 7 p.m. and will run until further notice. The first installment will feature the first regular season home game in franchise history from Oct.11, 2000, against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Star Tribune LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172806 Minnesota Wild

What does NHL stoppage mean for interim Wild coach Dean Evason?

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 2:41 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 2:43 p.m.

Like everyone else in the NHL, the only thing Wild interim coach Dean Evason can do is hope that the 2019-20 season resumes at some point.

It’s likely his only chance at shedding the interim tag when general manager Bill Guerin makes his decision on his new head coach this offseason.

“I feel for him,” Guerin said. “I feel for everybody. There are some guys, like (Washington Capitals forward) Alex Ovechkin, on the brink of another 50-goal season. There are other guys that are a little bit older chasing a Stanley Cup maybe for the last time. There are so many guys in the NHL that are impact by this.”

None more than Evason.

While the 55-year-old coach had the Wild firing on all cylinders when the NHL decided to indefinitely suspend its season last week because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sample size is simply too small to justify handing the reins over to him on a permanent basis.

With no head coaching experience under his belt at the NHL level, Evason took over for former coach Bruce Boudreau on Feb. 14 knowing it likely would take a playoff run to convince the front office that he is the man for the job.

Maybe the worst part about the work stoppage is that the Wild (35-27-7, 77 points) seemed to be poised to chase down the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 12 games left on the schedule.

Not only did Evason boasts a 8-4-0 record as head coach, the Wild genuinely seem to enjoy playing for him.

Even so, that likely won’t be enough to tip the scales if this doesn’t start up again.

Not with other veteran coaches like Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette, and Doug Weight, among others, available to Guerin in the offseason. Plus, the Wild GM already has said he plans to do an expansive coaching search this offseason.

And yet, Guerin had nothing but praise for Evason when asked about him earlier this week.

“He’s done a great job,” Guerin said. “He’s got great communication skills. He communicates with the players really, really well. Everybody has clarity in their role and the game plan and what he expects of them. And if somebody isn’t carrying their weight, he can communicate that to them in a good way. He’s been really good for us.”

It’s also telling, though not surprising, that Guerin refused to commit to Evason as his guy moving forward.

“These are tough situations for everyone with everything going on,” Guerin said. “But there’s really nothing we can do.”

Pioneer Press LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172807 Montreal Canadiens And in any case, in light of the current circumstances, there’s absolutely no rush.

How Caufield learned of the Canadiens’ intentions probably left How Cole Caufield ultimately accepted the path the Canadiens something to be desired. determined for him Marc Bergevin’s interview with La Presse where he told Mathias Brunet that he would prefer Caufield return to school to continue his By Arpon Basu Mar 18, 2020 development was published on Feb. 29, a Saturday morning.

The Badgers were preparing to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus that evening, their last game of the regular season, a season Last week, Cole Caufield indicated to his coach at the University of that had been a total disappointment. Wisconsin, Tony Granato, that he was ready to have that conversation, the one that was always coming, the one he had hoped all season would This was how Caufield learned of the Canadiens’ wishes. His personal be different than the one he planned on having that day. goal remained the same at the time, that he would sign with the Canadiens when his season was over and begin his career as a Caufield was going to tell his coach he was coming back to school for his professional hockey player. He had said as much three weeks earlier. sophomore season. Three weeks later, Caufield learned of the Canadiens’ intention to He had spoken with the Canadiens, who took him with the No. 15 pick in suggest he return to school through the media. The Canadiens often the 2019 NHL Draft, and though it was not how he originally wanted have people in Wisconsin, whether it’s to visit with Caufield or scout other things to turn out, this was the way it was going to be. He had seen his players. Director of player development Rob Ramage, director of player good friend Alex Turcotte sign an entry-level contract with the Los personnel Martin Lapointe, head of amateur scouting Shane Churla and Angeles Kings. He had seen teammate and fellow first-round NHL draft assistant general manager Trevor Timmins have all been visitors. There pick K’Andre Miller do the same with the New York Rangers. But he had was ample opportunity for someone to deliver that message to Caufield also seen this was not how his immediate future would play out, because in person, or at least by phone, before it was delivered in print, but that the Canadiens considered it best for his development that he return to apparently did not happen. school. From Granato’s perspective, at least, Bergevin’s public declaration Caufield accepted it, informed his coach, and moved on. eliminated a lot of distractions for Caufield in the week prior to the Big 10 playoffs. “I met with Cole last week and he told me he was excited about coming back,” Granato said in an interview Tuesday. “Obviously for us, it’s great. “I think that stopped a lot of rumours, or people anticipating (a signing) For Cole, it was his decision. While he was doing everything he could to and just kind of put an end to it…I think it was something to just take try to be ready, and I think he’s close, one more year will certainly put pressure off of Cole,” Granato said. “It seemed like that was what I was him in a better position.” starting to hear and feel, whether he was going to play in the NHL, is he going to jump right in the lineup, will he go to the minors, what’s the plan? The news first broke Tuesday afternoon when Todd Milewski of the There was just lots of speculation and that kind of gave Berg a chance to Wisconsin State Journal reported Granato’s comments that Caufield had say this is the way it’s going to be and gave Cole a chance to focus on told him he intended to return next season and not sign with the the end of this season and getting ready for the next one.” Canadiens. Caufield did ultimately have a conversation with Bergevin, which is what COLE CAUFIELD HAS TOLD #BADGERS COACH TONY GRANATO led to that conversation with Granato. The one he had hoped all season THAT HE’S PLANNING ON RETURNING FOR A SECOND SEASON AT would be markedly different than the one he wound up having. WISCONSIN. STORY:HTTPS://T.CO/03G8VRGGM7 So, what will Caufield be returning to in Wisconsin next season? — TODD MILEWSKI (@TODDMILEWSKI) MARCH 17, 2020 This season obviously did not go as expected for the Badgers. The That was followed by a confirmation from the Canadiens on Tuesday arrival of Caufield and Turcotte along with projected 2020 first-round pick evening. Dylan Holloway created huge expectations in Madison, but the Badgers FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION BETWEEN COLE CAUFIELD, THE finished last in the Big 10 and were swept in the first round of the playoffs NCAA’S WISCONSIN BADGERS ORGANIZATION AND THE by Ohio State. Caufield led the Big 10 conference in scoring as a MONTREAL CANADIENS, IT WAS AGREED THAT COLE WILL freshman and finished tied for first in the country for goals by a freshman PURSUE HIS ACADEMIC CAREER WITH THE BADGERS with Alex Newhook, taken one pick behind Caufield by the Colorado ORGANIZATION FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON. Avalanche in the 2019 draft.

DETAILS HTTPS://T.CO/4NC0CTD0EY#GOHABSGO He had an incredible season, but there is clearly room for Caufield to do more at that level. — CANADIENS MONTRÉAL (@CANADIENSMTL) MARCH 18, 2020 “Could he play in the NHL next year? Absolutely,” Granato said. “Could Meanwhile, the one person we had not heard from was the one person he play all 82 games? Could he be a player that helps Montreal win next most affected by this announcement. year? I don’t know. But I do know one more year of development, one more year of growth for him gives him a better chance of being in a Cole Caufield was not in Wisconsin on Tuesday. He was in Florida. But position to do that. he wasn’t there to party or to visit crowded beaches. He is very cognizant of what is going on in the world right now, but he had a very good reason “I think him coming back another year is the right decision because I for being where he was when news of his immediate future in his hockey think he’ll have a chance to have another great year and I think he’ll be career broke. that much closer to not just play in the NHL, but be an impactful player.”

Caufield was with his brother Brock and their mother Kelly to visit her Three weeks before Bergevin mentioned Caufield’s play away from the father, Jerry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, 79, coached both Cole and Brock in puck to La Presse, he himself mentioned it as something he has been football when they were in grade school, but he has been suffering from working on diligently this season. So already, he is aware of what he Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and his health had taken a turn. With needs to improve. the world shutting down everywhere late last week, the Caufield brothers and their mother made the decision to go down and see him, because “I think just getting better in the (defensive) zone, I think that’s the biggest they didn’t know if they would get to see him again. part of my game,” Caufield said back in early February. “Just getting to spots and just getting the puck back, I think that’s the most important “The boys surprised him,” Caufield’s father, Paul, said Tuesday part. When you don’t have it you have to get it back. Especially in the D- afternoon. “This was the furthest thing from (Cole’s) mind.” zone, just stopping in your spot and if everyone does that, you’re going to get the puck back and then you can go do what everybody does best. I This is why Caufield wasn’t available to talk about this development in his think especially me, I think when our team has the puck I’m definitely at life, because he had more important matters to attend to. So if you’re my best. So it’s just stopping in spots in the D-zone, making sure your wondering what Caufield thinks of all this, it will have to wait. stick is in the right position and then going the other way.” Granato has great hope next season will not be like the one that just ended in Madison. Despite the loss of Turcotte and Miller, he is still returning much of his scoring power and a big chunk of his defence. The lack of experience that showed this year shouldn’t be a problem next season, and he intends to ask Caufield to take a big leadership role on the team despite just being a sophomore.

“For sure, absolutely 100 percent,” Granato said. “That was one of the things we talked about. Now that he’s been through it there’s some leadership responsibility and potential for him to grow in that area; it will be a big year for that as well.”

Ultimately, getting the chance to experience that has value for Caufield, as does the opportunity to play another year with his older brother and mentor Brock, as does the chance to make right what went wrong in Madison this season.

“It’s not when you get there, it’s getting there and being ready when you do get there so you can stay there,” Granato said. “That’s a way better way to go to the NHL. Cole’s going to make it. Cole’s going to be a darn good NHL player. If that’s not for another year, that’s not for another year. But the best thing for Cole to do is enjoy the process in getting there and continue to play well.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172808 Nashville Predators

What are the Predators up to during coronavirus isolation?

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 4:24 p.m. CT March 18, 2020

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic. Reported illnesses range from very mild to severe, including death. Agencies anticipate widespread transmission will occur in the U.S. in coming months and recommend social distancing among other measures to slow the spread. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at CDC.gov/coronavirus or contact the Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus information line at 877-857-2945 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily.

Colton Sissons was putting the pieces together. On a "Game of Thrones" puzzle, according to an Instagram story he posted Tuesday.

Mattias Ekholm was keeping in shape by skating on rollerblades while pushing his son William in a stroller, per a video posted on Instagram by his fiancee Tuesday.

Viktor Arvidsson was playing with his dog, per an Instagram story posted by his wife Tuesday.

Nick Bonino took to Twitter on Monday to encourage people to stay off Broadway.

Filip Forsberg posted his thoughts on self-isolating on Sunday and wished Ryan Ellis a happy birthday on Instagram on Tuesday.

"Take care of each other, stay safe," he said in the first video.

Roman Josi recorded a video — which included his "furry friends" — about the coronavirus that the team posted on its social media accounts Wednesday.

"I know it's a difficult time," Josi said in the video. "But we're all in this together.

A message from @rjosi90 and his doggos. pic.twitter.com/NX9Si6K3w2

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 18, 2020

View this post on Instagram

William is making sure daddy gets a good work out!

A post shared by Ida Björnstad (@ibjornstad) on Mar 16, 2020 at 9:01am PDT

To Smashville, love Fil. pic.twitter.com/XxV4gqhtaa

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 16, 2020

One thing none of these guys is doing is their job, which is to play hockey for the Predators.

The league suspended the season last week in wake of the coronavirus pandemic but encouraged players to stay in their team's cities.

However, on Monday the NHL said players were free to leave their team's cities while the season is suspended, but all of the Predators have elected to stay in Nashville, at least for now, a source said, where they will continue to self-isolate.

The Predators denied The Tennessean's request to speak with several players and coach John Hynes.

Tennessean LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172809 Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen

3:16

Coaches Corner: Predators’ special teams under John Hynes vs. Peter 1:48 Laviolette Viktor Arvidsson

3:04 By Adam Vingan Mar 18, 2020 1:51

Matt Duchene The Predators’ horrible special teams contributed to Peter Laviolette’s demise as coach. At the time of his dismissal in January, the power play, 3:11 which was the worst in the NHL in 2018-19, had barely improved, and the 1:55 penalty kill had plunged to the bottom of the league. Filip Forsberg John Hynes has raised the power-play and penalty-kill percentages, though Laviolette left him with a low bar to clear. But how effective have 3:06 the Predators’ special-teams units been underneath the surface? 2:34 This is the second part of a three-part analysis of Hynes and Laviolette. Nick Bonino The first focused on the Predators’ offense at even strength. 2:04 Power Play 0:28 PP% Kyle Turris 16.8 (T-23rd) 2:08 18.1 (20th) 2:31 PP Controlled Entry Success% Craig Smith 70.5 (3rd) 2:07 65.1 (16th) 2:34 PP% OZ Zone Time Mikael Granlund 66.1 (4th) 2:17 67.8 (3rd) 2:39 PP Passes to Slot Calle Jarnkrok 1.17 (26th) 1:47 1.44 (17th) 1:50 PP Shots On Net From Slot For “We’ve probably done more personnel changes,” Hynes said Feb. 26. “I 1.02 (15th) think the structure of it, they were in a 1-3-1 (under Laviolette). We’re still 0.96 (16th) in a 1-3-1. We’ve changed, I think, different guys and maybe delivered the minutes around to different players in certain ways. I’d say the PP Inner Slot Shots On Net For biggest thing is really trying to play quicker on the power play, more of a 0.54 (5th) shot mentality. … That’s what you have to have — quick puck movement (and) deliver it to the net. You have your net-front and that middle player 0.49 (13th) in there expecting opportunities for rebounds.

PP% Shot Attempts On Net “On the power play, you’re always going to have opportunities to get quality shots, but a lot of times, it’s shooting for the second or third 51.4 (18th) opportunity that makes it most difficult to defend on the penalty kill.”

51.2 (16th) Penalty Kill

PP True Shooting% (Goals/Shot Attempts) PK%

5.6 (25th) 74.0 (29th)

5.9 (21st) 79.3 (20th)

One frequent complaint about the Predators’ power play under Laviolette SH Shot Attempts From Slot Against was its reliance on point shots. In the first half of the season, though, the Predators showed improvement in taking shots from the slot and inner 1.55 (7th) slot. (Their 7.39 expected goals per 60 minutes during five-on-four play was fifth in the league when Laviolette was fired, up from 5.53 last 1.81 (20th) season, according to Evolving Hockey.) SH Inner Slot Shots On Net Against

In many ways, the processes behind the power play have not changed 0.37 (9th) since the coaching change. The biggest difference is how Hynes has dispensed playing time. 0.43 (12th)

The distribution of ice time among the Predators' forwards on the power SH Passes to the Slot Against play has shifted significantly. Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene and Viktor 1.41 (15th) Arvidsson, for example, have seen their minutes slashed by Hynes. 1.67 (24th) PP Time On Ice Per Game SH% of Opposition Shot Attempts Blocked

27.0 (17th)

27.0 (18th)

SH DZ Entry Denial Success%

36.2 (12th)

47.7 (1st)

SH% DZ Zone Time

60.3 (5th)

66.3 (24th)

SH DZ Faceoff Win% 45.3 (8th)

43.8 (12th)

SH% DZ Faceoffs Won Resulting in Clean DZ Exit 70.7 (1st) 59.6 (17th)

Across Hynes’ four full seasons, 2015-16 through 2018-19, the New Jersey Devils had a cumulative 82.2 penalty-kill percentage, fourth-best in the league over that span.

“One is the ability to pressure,” Hynes said in January when asked about the Devils’ shorthanded success. "The (penalty kill) really comes down to details. You want to be good at faceoffs, so winning the draws and having a plan when you win them — how can you get out and get a clear right away? If you lose (the faceoff), how can you pressure off of a loss to try to disrupt it? The second (key) is if you can get some pressure up ice and disrupt the breakout and try to spend less time in your zone.

“And then in-zone, you have to be detailed on the kill. You’ve got to understand what the options are. You have to stay compact. You need to be in shot lanes. You need to work as a four-man unit (and) have good sticks.”

Through 28 games under Hynes, the Predators have been moderately successful in terms of winning defensive-zone faceoffs and turning those wins into clean exits, but they were better under Laviolette. The same applies to how they have defended the slot area and the amount of time they have spent in the defensive zone when shorthanded.

Despite that, the Predators’ penalty kill has been more successful since Hynes replaced Laviolette, and the simplest explanation is goaltending. The team had a league-worst 80.4 shorthanded save percentage under Laviolette, according to Evolving Hockey. Under Hynes, it is 89.23 percent, which is eighth-best since Jan. 7.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172810 New Jersey Devils August. I’m not gonna play because technically my contracts out, you’re not going to be very well regarded. And I would also imagine that the Players Association would put a significant amount of pressure to make What are the financial, logistical ramifications of NHL coronavirus sure that some situation like that doesn’t happen because it doesn’t suspension? An expert weighs in speak highly of really anybody.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 03.19.2020

By Chris Ryan

The NHL is in unprecedented territory. The league has faced work stoppages in the past, but nothing resembles this.

The 2019-20 season is on hiatus with play suspended indefinitely due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, putting NHL franchises into limbo with at least 11 regular-season games suspended for all of them.

Irwin Kishner, he Co-Chair of the Sports Law Group at New York law firm Herrick, Feinstein, helped explain some of the logistical and financial challenges facing the league and its teams.

To put it simply, the NHL’s suspension goes far beyond just finding a time to resume play.

“There’s a number of what I’ll call polycentric-related issues associated with it,” Kishner told NJ Advance Media. "From the resumption of season vantage to financial aspects to health and safety of the players and the fans and everybody else that is involved with putting on an NHL game.

“Health and safety needs to be first and foremost, and I clearly would suggest that the sports business in total, has really stepped up in a very meaningful way to just say, ‘Look, we understand that we may be America’s or the world’s pastime, but at the end of the day, the health and safety of our players and our players’ families and our fans and our fans’ families and everyone else has to be paramount.'”

Introducing Devils Insider: Sign up for exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

If the NHL is able to resume play in the coming months, teams will need to deal with scheduling hurdles within their own arenas.

Many arenas around the United States house both NHL and NBA teams, and the NBA will be eyeing a similar return to play after suspending its schedule. While teams like Devils, who do share Prudential Center in Newark with Seton Hall basketball, don’t have an NBA team in the same building, most venues host a variety of other events such as concerts.

“Many of these venues are booked months, if not years, in advance, and how do you slip in a new game?" Kishner said. "It’s not just a plug and play. Most of these buildings are utilized as multi-purpose, if not all of them. Getting set up for a hockey game, while they’re incredibly efficient, it does take some time, as well as the the expertise to have the right people who know how to do it, clean it, get it ready.”

From a financial perspective, Kishner said teams and the league should be able to navigate the financial pitfalls of postponed and canceled games.

Losing the gate revenue from canceled games or games played without fans would be a big blow to any franchise, but he noted most teams have plenty of long-term financial deals, from TV to advertising to other sponsorships that will help.

“There may be some level of disruption regarding that, but I think that can be weathered if you have a good credit facility, which most teams do," he said. "That could weather part of this, just to sort of massage out the seasonability of what’s happening and what’s going on. I think most of these businesses, the vast majority, should be able to weather this for a somewhat extended period of time.”

On top of those issues, there’s also the NHL CBA and how contracts are structured. Many players in the final year of their current contract are set to become free agents on July 1. If the NHL needs to extend play into the summer beyond that date, how will those contracts be handled?

In Kishner’s mind, he doesn’t see it as major hurdle.

“I suspect that’s a conversation between the league office, the Commissioner’s Office and the (NHLPA) and I would be shocked if anybody caused anything significant," Kishner said. “It’s going to be an agreement. And I think anybody would call it a player. Well, you know, you extended the season into making I’m making this up now, obviously, 1172811 New York Islanders

Player on Ottawa Senators tests positive for coronavirus

By Andrew Gross

Inevitably, the NHL has its first confirmed COVID-19 case.

The Ottawa Senators late Tuesday announced one of their players had tested positive for the coronavirus, reporting the player “had mild symptoms and is in isolation.”

The Islanders played at Ottawa on March 5, a week before the NHL paused its season in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.The Islanders did not issue a statement regarding the Senators’ situation.

The Senators departed for California following their game with the Islanders and played the Sharks in San Jose in front of fans on March 7 after Santa Clara county health officials recommended playing the game in a closed building without fans.

The Sharks also played the Kings in Los Angeles this past Wednesday – their final game – at the Staples Center with fans in attendance.That was one day after the Staples Center hosted an NBA game between the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets announced on Tuesday four of their players have tested positive. That includes sidelined superstar Kevin Durant.

"The Ottawa Senators' medical team is actively monitoring players and staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater community,” the organization said in a statement. “Players are being accessed and tested under the supervision of public health authorities. All Ottawa Senators players and staff who recently travelled were instructed to self-quarantine on Saturday and do not pose a public health risk to the community. In order to abide by Ontario privacy laws, and out of respect for our players and staff, we will not publicly disclose personal medical information. However, we will update the community on any changes as it relates to public health."

Overall, seven NBA players have been reported to test positive for coronavirus. The Yankees have had two minor-league players test positive.

Alexander Radulov of the Dallas Stars, who was sidelined because of illness when the NHL paused its season, has tested negative for COVID- 19.

Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said on a conference call on Monday that some members of the organization have been voluntarily tested for coronavirus, though he did not know the results at that time.

But the organization has not reached out to media members who regularly follow the team on the road to inform them of any exposure risks. That likely indicates a lack of positive results.

The Rangers issued this statement on Wednesday:“We have been following the recommendations of local and national health officials and continue to monitor our players closely. As of now, with our players remaining asymptomatic, none of them have been tested for COVID-19. We will remain in close contact with health officials and the NBA and NHL.”

Islanders coach Barry Trotz recorded a 22-second message to the Islanders’ fans that was posted on the team’s Twitter account.

“Hello everyone, just want to thank everybody for their support this year,” Trotz said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the Islanders and the Islanders’ family. Everyone stay safe, listen to our leaders, practice your social distancing and, hopefully, we’ll see you back at the rink in a short time. But these are unprecedented times and we want to make sure that everyone is safe.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172812 New York Rangers

Knicks, Rangers haven’t been tested for coronavirus

By Larry Brooks March 18, 2020 | 9:52PM

No player on the Rangers or Knicks has been tested for COVID-19, per a statement released Wednesday night by the Garden.

The statement was issued in response to questions that mounted after it became known that the Nets had paid for a private company to test all their players. Four Nets, including Kevin Durant, tested positive for the coronavirus. The Nets have said that one player has symptoms, but that is not Durant, the only one of the four to be identified. Seven NBA players have tested positive while one, an unidentified member of the Senators, has tested positive among NHL players.

The players on the Rangers and Knicks have gone through multiple meetings with Dr. Lisa Callahan, who is the chief medical officer and senior vice president of player care for both clubs. The athletes are following government and league directives and are self-isolating.

“We have been following the recommendations of national and local health officials and continue to monitor our players closely,” the statement read. “As of now, with our players remaining asymptomatic, none of them have been tested for COVID-19. We will remain in close contact with health officials and with the NBA and NHL.”

New York Post LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172813 New York Rangers

Madison Square Garden event workers to be paid through the week; temps laid off

Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL Writer Published 5:49 p.m. ET March 18, 2020 | Updated 6:14 p.m. ET March 18, 2020

Among the millions of Americans who are wondering where their next paychecks will come from during the coronavirus outbreak are those who work for The Madison Square Garden Company.

In a memo sent to event employees, including those who work home games for the New York Rangers and New York Knicks, MSG informed them that they would be paid through March 22. The memo was first obtained by SNY.

The NBA season was suspended on March 11, with the NHL following on March 12, so those workers are essentially being paid for an additional week and a half.

Beyond March 22, MSG event employees remain unsure of how or if they will get paid.

"We've already taken immediate action this week and are working on a longer-term plan," a source close to the situation told the USA TODAY Network.

A payment plan won't be as simple as supporting those who work NBA and NHL games. MSG Co. also owns and operates Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and the Forum in Inglewood, California.

Across all sports, many owners and athletes have pledged money to help pay workers while arenas and stadiums are shutdown.

In the meantime, a source confirmed that some temporary employees for MSG have been laid off, such as those who produce content for the company's websites. No full-time employees have been cut.

Bergen Record LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172814 Ottawa Senators The Senators had a day off on March 8, but some players did attend the Brooklyn Nets-Los Angeles Lakers game at the Staples Center in L.A. On Tuesday, four Brooklyn players, including star Kevin Durant, tested positive. WARREN: With an Ottawa Senator now positive, we revisit club's trek to California In Anaheim, home to Disneyland, tourist traffic was also down considerably, but there was no major concern from public officials about gatherings of large groups. On March 9, 15,000 students attended the Ducks practice at the Honda Center. The Senators took the ice after the Ken Warren Ducks were finished. Come game day on March 10, Ducks and Senators players were separated from the media in formal interviews.

Now that an unidentified Ottawa Senators player has become the first in The Senators left Anaheim for Los Angeles, a one-hour bus ride, the NHL to test positive for the novel coronavirus, it’s time to retrace the following the Ducks game, preparing for their March 11 game against the club’s steps on their final road trip to California before the NHL season Kings. There was no morning skate and the players walked directly from was officially suspended on March 12. their nearby hotel to the Staples Center in the afternoon. During the warmup before the game, the news came out that Rudy Gobert of the It’s difficult, maybe impossible, to determine where, when and how the Utah Jazz had tested positive, ultimately resulting in the suspension of player become exposed to COVID-19. the NBA season. The Senators-Kings game became the final NHL game played before the NHL followed suit by suspending its season on March But even before the Senators flew into San Jose on their charter flight 12. directly from Ottawa on March 6 — keep in mind that the charter planes used by the Senators are shared by other professional teams — the The Senators did not use the same dressing room as the Brooklyn Nets community was already on high alert. did for their March 8 game at the Staples Center. However, the postgame interviews with Kings players and coach Todd McLellan were held At that point, there had been 20 confirmed cases in Santa Clara County in that dressing room. — the largest number of any county in California — and health officials had issued public warnings to avoid large group settings. As of Wednesday morning, there had been 718 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in California, including 12 deaths. “We recommend postponing or cancelling large events or mass gatherings, particularly those where people gather more closely than Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.19.2020 arm’s-length of one another,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s health officer, before the San Jose Sharks were scheduled to play the Minnesota Wild at the SAP Center on March 5.

Before self-isolating and social-distancing had become household phrases in Ottawa, those practices were well underway in San Jose.

Countless companies, including Facebook and Blackberry, took the message to heart, cancelling planned conventions in Silicon Valley. From a personal, anecdotal point of view — I took a commercial flight to San Francisco from Toronto on March 6 and drove an hour south to San Jose — the streets were quieter than usual and restaurant traffic was down considerably. The AC Marriott hotel, a 10-minute walk from the SAP Center, had seen capacity dwindle to 60 per cent from 98 per cent for the upcoming weekend. At that point, the hotel “had lost $500,000 in revenues in March alone” due to virus concerns, according to assistant manager Tony Andrade.

Still, the Sharks opted to go ahead with a game on March 5 against the Wild, followed by games against the Senators on March 7 and the Colorado Avalanche on March 8. The San Jose Barracudas, the Sharks’ American Hockey League affiliate, also played at the SAP Center following the Senators-Sharks game on March 7.

Before the game against the Wild, the Sharks issued a statement that “persons at higher risk avoid mass gatherings such as parades, sporting events and concerts.” The Sharks also said that “enhanced (cleaning) measures” were in place and players had been told to avoid interactions as much as possible. The Sharks-Wild game drew a crowd of 14,000, the smallest of the season.

At that point, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who had been in contact with Centers for Disease Control officials, said it would be “premature” to speculate on whether games should be played without fans or postponed entirely.

When the Senators arrived at the SAP Center on March 6, they were in the dressing room that had been used by the Wild two days earlier.

Before the Sharks-Senators game, the NHL also imposed a rule keeping the media out of dressing rooms. Interviews with players and coach D.J. Smith were done in a hallway, separated by a lectern.

Immediately after playing the Sharks, the Senators flew to Long Beach on their charter flight and then took a bus to a hotel in Huntington Beach in preparation for their March 10 game against the Anaheim Ducks.

(On March 8, Santa Clara county reported that a woman in her 60s, who had been hospitalized for several weeks and had no recent history of travel, had died due to the coronavirus. It was the first coronavirus- related death in the San Jose area. On March 11, three security officials at San Jose’s Norman Y. Mineta airport tested positive for coronavirus, but the Senators didn’t travel through the main terminal.) 1172815 Ottawa Senators The fact is the Senators left March 6 for San Jose, a day after officials with the Santa Clara health authority issued a statement indicating that mass gatherings should no longer be held because of an outbreak of the virus in the area. The Sharks elected to go ahead with games against the GARRIOCH: Unidentified Senators player tests positive for COVID-19, Senators on March 7 with people in the stands, and the Colorado others undergoing testing Avalanche on March 8, despite the warnings.

From there, the Senators traveled to Anaheim. March 8 was an off-day and some players attended the Los Angeles Clipppers/Los Angeles Bruce Garrioch Lakers game at the Staples Center on the Sunday night.

The club returned to practice Monday, March 9 at the Honda Center and The concerns about the novel coronavirus hit close to home when the faced the Ducks on March 10 before wrapping up the trip at the Staples Ottawa Senators confirmed late Tuesday night a player has tested Center on March 11 against the Los Angeles Kings. The Senators positive for COVID-19. returned home last Thursday night and have been idle since.

The unnamed Ottawa player has been placed in self isolation and since The league issued a directive to players Friday to stay away from the there are concerns that other members of the club’s roster and staff may rinks and self-quarantine for the next 14 days while trying to remain in the have contracted the virus, the club confirmed Wednesday others may be city where they play unless there were special circumstances. Monday, sent for testing. the league updated that memo to allow players to return to their home bases around the world after the American Centre for Disease Control This is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the NHL. The player isn’t (CDC) indicated there should be no large gatherings for eight weeks. being named for privacy reasons, but the club made it clear if any other players or staff test positive they will inform the public. Ottawa players haven’t been allowed to go to the rink since they returned home. That’s been the advice to all players around the league because Described as a “20’s male” who had traveled in the USA on the Ontario the NHL is trying to do its part to flatten the curve for the virus and health website, it appears that the player is the only new case in the making sure it doesn’t spread. Most players have been working out at Ottawa region. That means the player is likely still in the area and the home because they were initially advised to stay away from public places website confirms he’s “self-isolating”. and to not organize informal skates.

“The Ottawa Senators’ medical team is actively monitoring players and Of course, the reality is most of the province is shut down with the staff and following all appropriate and professional guidelines to help exception of essential services which means players wouldn’t have any ensure the health and safety of our employees and the greater options to leave their homes to skate or workout any way. community,” the club said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 03.19.2020 “Players are being accessed and tested under the supervision of public health authorities.

“All Ottawa Senators players and staff who recently travelled were instructed to self-quarantine on Saturday and do not pose a public health risk to the community.”

League deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Postmedia in a email Wednesday morning he learned of the positive test around 8 p.m. Tuesday. It’s not known if all players and staff will be tested because not everybody is showing signs of virus but it’s expected there will be other tests conducted.

“Health authorities only recommend testing for people who are symptomatic,” Daly wrote.

Daly added in a later email that he wasn’t sure about the status of other players: “Don’t know whether or not any other (players) have reported being symptomatic.”

Naturally, it makes sense for other players or staff to be tested if they’ve had close exposure to the teammate who has tested positive.

The Senators said in the statement they are taking appropriate measures with the player since learning of the positive test. Naturally, the concern is that the virus may have spread to other players.

“The player has had mild symptoms and is in isolation,” the team said in its statement.

The Senators are now reaching out to players and staff to see if they’re having any effects of the disease.

“The Ottawa Senators are in the process of notifying anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete and are working with our team doctors and public health officials,” the statement added. “As a result of this positive case, all members of the Ottawa Senators are requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and seek advice from our team medical staff.”

The league went on pause after a meeting of the board of governors last Thursday, less than 24 hours after the NBA decided it was best to shut down.

The Senators were scheduled to fly to Chicago that day to prepare to face the Blackhawks Friday night at the United Center, but made the trek home from Los Angeles instead. Though there’s been no shortage of speculation how the Ottawa player contacted the disease, nobody is really sure and much of what’s being reported is nothing more than idle speculation. 1172816 Philadelphia Flyers

Ottawa Senators player is NHL’s first confirmed coronavirus case; Flyers not testing players

by Sam Carchidi and Nick Tricome,

The NHL has its first coronavirus case, and the league is monitoring the situation closely but, as of now, not requiring that all players get tested.

An Ottawa Senators player tested positive for COVID-19 late Tuesday. The team did not release his name and said he had mild symptoms — which had caused him to get tested — and was in isolation.

The Senators said all players or personnel who came in close contact with the player were being asked to remain isolated and to monitor their health.

Ottawa’s last five games were against Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, the Islanders, and Pittsburgh before the league suspended the regular season last Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday recommended the cancellation or postponement of all events with 50 people or more for eight weeks. That means the season wouldn’t be able to restart with fans in arenas until at least May 10.

The Senators-Sharks game was played as cases and concern were growing throughout California’s Bay Area. The Sharks let fans attend that game and the next night’s contest against the Colorado Avalanche, then went on the road to play the Chicago Blackhawks on the 11th. The NHL suspended play on March 12 and hopes to resume at some point.

Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, said players would get tested only if they had symptoms. He said health officials recommend testing only for people who display symptoms.

“Our current advice from medical professionals is that people should likely not be tested in the absence of being symptomatic,” he said in a text to The Inquirer. “So, we are not recommending mass testing of players and personnel by our clubs.”

He said he was “not aware” that any NHL clubs were testing players.

A Flyers spokesman said that, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the team’s players and staff members will not be tested. The guidelines say someone should be tested if they have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has symptoms, the spokesman said, noting that has not been the case with Flyers players or staff members.

The Flyers last played Ottawa on Dec. 21, and they haven’t played one of the Sens’ last five opponents since Feb. 25 (San Jose).

Ottawa’s announcement came hours after the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets confirmed that four of their players tested positive for the coronavirus. Kevin Durant said publicly he was one of them. The Senators faced the Kings at the Staples Center the day after the Nets played the Lakers in the same arena.

If the NHL wanted its season to end in late June, it would probably have to terminate the rest of the regular season and start a revised Stanley Cup playoff format — perhaps with four teams qualifying in each conference — around May 10. That may be the best-case scenario.

On Wednesday, the United States Hockey League, composed of junior teams, canceled the rest of the season because of the coronavirus. The league had originally announced it was suspending the season last Thursday.

The USHL’s Board of Directors made Wednesday’s decision. Tom Garrity, the league’s president and commissioner, said it was not an easy decision, but was “a necessity to keep our athletes, staffs and fans in all 16 of our communities safe amid this international health risk.”

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172817 Philadelphia Flyers The beer has created a “ton of buzz on social media," Hayes said. "Everyone is always tweeting at me or Instagramming them drinking the beer. It’s all been positive. And the shirts came out around the same time, and when Jake (Voracek) came out wearing one after a game in Kevin Hayes on his first year with Flyers, resuming the season, and his the media, they sold out of those and redid another batch at Yards.” popular new beer Hayes, who signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Flyers last June, called the beer experience a “fun process" and a good way to feel closer to the fans. “I try my hardest to succeed on the ice, but when you by Sam Carchidi, know you’re going to be here for a while, you kind of want to buy into the entire city," he said.

Before the season was suspended Thursday because of the coronavirus Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 03.19.2020 outbreak, center Kevin Hayes was on pace to set a career-high in goals and was a major reason the Flyers had become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey,” Hayes said.

Hayes and his teammates are hopeful the season restarts and that they can continue the momentum built from winning nine of their last 10 games. He’s staying with his brother, Jimmy, a former NHL player, in Boston and riding an exercise bike daily to stay in shape. But, like his teammates, he has more spare time than he’d like.

“I’m already bored,” Hayes said in a phone interview Monday. “It’s kind of crazy that we were doing so well and now we’re not playing. We were feeling good about ourselves. I don’t think anyone wanted the league stopped. At the beginning, we didn’t realize how serious it was and thought we would keep playing. Now we understand it’s a much bigger problem than just missing hockey games. The biggest thing is for everybody to just stay safe."

The Flyers had climbed to second place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind Washington. They had the sixth-most points in the 31-team NHL and were dreaming about bringing home the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 1975.

“Hopefully, we can play again this year because we’ve kind of put ourselves in a good position to have a serious run,” Hayes said.

Hayes, 27, brought all his gear to Boston but isn’t sure when or if he can use it. The NHL has recommended that players self-quarantine at home through March 27.

“Even gyms are closed, and they’re probably something you want to avoid at the moment” because of germs, he said.

All five New Jersey Devils are chasing Flyers center Kevin Hayes in a game last month.

Hayes, a 6-foot-5, 216-pound veteran with a knack for keeping the puck away from opponents, has had an eventful first season with the Flyers. He has 23 goals – two shy of equaling his career high with 13 regular- season games left – and he has become a leader in the clubhouse with his keep-it-light approach. The Boston-area native has also become a favorite because of his engaging personality and his fondness for giving teammates colorful nicknames.

A Yards Brewing Company representative took notice and released a beer in his honor – Big Hayes-y 13 – a couple of weeks ago. The beer has been selling briskly in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware.

When it released the New England-style hazy beer, Yards, located on Spring Garden Street, warned that it was not to be consumed by penguins (i.e. Pittsburgh) or rangers (i.e. New York).

“At the time, I’d like to think I was playing pretty good," Hayes said. “I think I scored a couple of shorthanded goals in a row, and he texted me and sent me a picture of the can and we went from there.”

He described the beer as tasting like a “heavier Blue Moon. It’s a double IPA, citrus flavored, 8.7 percent alcohol. It’s definitely a heavy beer. I don’t think you’re going to be doing any pregames with it,” he said. “It’s more of a beer you drink over dinner or watching an event. A couple of them might catch up to you kind of quickly.”

Hayes said he was honored that Yards approached him.

“It’s really cool. I’ve never really had anything named after me,” he said. “… It’s just a good connection to the fans. It’s my first year here and I’m trying hard to play the right way and kind of connect as much as I can to the fans, whether it’s through the team or interviews, or doing some funny stuff with the Flyers." 1172818 Philadelphia Flyers Within that contest, the Flyers were down 3-1 less than a minute into the second period, and 5-2 before the midpoint of the game. Not only did they dig their way out of that hole, but that game was also a perfect example of the resiliency this team has developed throughout the Picking favorite moments so far of 2019-20 Flyers season season.

That game was just about the midpoint in a two-week stretch during which the orange and black picked up wins over the Caps, Bruins, Blues By Brooke Destra, Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Jordan Hall March 18, in St. Louis and Penguins ahead of the All-Star break and bye week. 2020 1:00 PM It laid the groundwork for the hot streak that would follow after returning

from break. Also, that Marchand whiff was really funny. Going End to End today are NBC Sports Philadelphia's Brooke Destra, Hall Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher and Jordan Hall. No one will remember the score of the Flyers-Lightning game Jan. 11 at The topic: Picking our favorite moments so far of the Flyers' 2019-20 the Wells Fargo Center. season. Everyone will remember the standing ovation for Oskar Lindblom, the Destra Flyers' 23-year-old forward who is battling Ewing's sarcoma. One of the best moments of the season had to come on Oct. 26 in the Lindblom received his cancer diagnosis in mid-December and had just third period when the Blue Jackets came to Philadelphia for the first time begun his treatment when he was shown on the Jumbotron during the of 2019-20. The season was young and the Flyers had already gone first period of the Flyers' 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay. through two crazy road trips just eight games in. The ovation from Flyers fans lasted nearly a full minute. To see This matchup, one of the first against a division rival, had the potential to Lindblom's face, to see him wave, to see him feel that support was help define exactly what this new Flyers team was all about. Of course, everything. the Flyers went on to sweep the season series against Columbus, but it all started here. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 A 7-4 victory in which they took their final lead with just 5:36 left in the game. In the midst of five unanswered goals, the Flyers managed a shorthanded goal from Kevin Hayes (the go-ahead goal) and a power play goal from Travis Konecny (to officially put the Blue Jackets away for the night).

The pace of the game changed in an instant and a late-game surge like that had not been seen from the Flyers in quite some time. It was the first real moment of the season where it felt like things could be different compared to seasons in the past.

Emmer

While I love to constantly say my favorite moment of the season so far was seeing Brad Marchand miss the puck in the fifth round of a shootout on Broad Street to hand the Flyers a win in front of their home crowd (it will truly never get old), I do have another favorite part of the season.

Nov. 29 the Detroit Red Wings were in town and as many hockey fans that have kept up with the standings this season would know, the Red Wings were a must-win. The Flyers, of course, did just that in a 6-1 blowout, but away from the win was another positive — the fact that Matt Niskanen still had all of his teeth after taking a shot off the face.

I couldn’t believe my eyes in postgame seeing him on the screen. At first, I was thinking, “There’s no way we hear from this guy … he’s probably busy looking for his teeth on the ice. He probably can’t even talk, that had to be so painful.”

I was wrong.

Trust me, I knew the “hockey players are tough” mantra but I learned Niskanen’s toughness was on another level after that game.

Not only did he talk with the media with two nose plugs in and a major cut, but he also told us, “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

I was like … “WHAT?!”

In all seriousness, it was one of my favorite moments of the season because I believe the fans really knew he was a player they could lean on. He proved he was Philly tough.

Hatcher

This is tough.

I was tempted to say Ivan Provorov’s overtime goal in Montreal, solely because that thing was an absolute beauty.

But, it’s got to be the Flyers’ shootout win over Boston back in January. It wasn’t just that Marchand whiffed on that puck in the shootout, it’s how the team battled in that game and what that stretch of games meant to the Flyers in the grand scheme of the season so far. 1172819 Philadelphia Flyers “So much of defending well goes beyond systems, it goes beyond players even,” he said. “(It comes) down to mindset: how you manage the puck, how you manage the puck at certain times of the game.”

How Alain Vigneault’s Flyers forged a new on-ice identity and found That’s key to understanding the impetus behind the Flyers’ strategic shift. success It’s about forechecking to create offense, yes, but it’s also driven by a mandate from above to play a smarter, more north/south game with fewer unnecessary turnovers.

By Charlie O'Connor Mar 18, 2020 “Well, (Fletcher) did mention right off the bat that he thought this team (made) too many turnovers, too many low percentage plays,” Vigneault

said. “So, what we’ve been trying to do is just improve our overall When the NHL paused its season, the Philadelphia Flyers were knowledge of the game. When you start understanding the game, the inarguably the hottest team in hockey. With nine wins in their last 10 risk/reward factor in making certain decisions, when you get better at it, games, the Flyers had stormed up the Metropolitan Division standings you make better decisions and the team can benefit.” and were embarking on an unlikely late-season charge for divisional The result has been to defend via perpetual attack, a mentality that supremacy. stresses avoiding negative plays and constant forward motion. Now, they must wait to see if they’ll have a chance to write a satisfying “You’ve just got to read the situation,” Vigneault said. “If you’ve got room, ending to their compelling story. then you can use that room and make some plays. If you don’t have But even though the season is suspended, the reasons for Philadelphia’s room, you’ve got to advance the puck. It’s all about advancing the puck.” second-half leap from bubble team to dark-horse Stanley Cup contender As season progressed, a more balanced entry strategy are no less intriguing or worthy of analysis. How were the Flyers doing it? What was their overarching strategy and prevailing identity entering When Vigneault acknowledged in October that his team’s dramatic skew games? toward dump-ins at 5-on-5 was intentional, he also hinted that the extreme nature of its strategy might not last. Throughout the season, I tracked 5-on-5 zone entries for every Flyers game — 69 in total. The goal? Figure out how often they were creating “I think it’s a thing that’s going to evolve, in the sense that as (our) (and allowing) offensive zone possessions, and then determine the players continue to play at a faster pace, sometimes when you’re playing nature of how those offensive zone possessions began (with control of at that faster pace, you get a little bit more room, (and) then you can use the puck or without control). With that information in tow, I spoke with that room,” he explained, leaving open the possibility of a higher head coach Alain Vigneault and players for more clarity on the percentage of controlled entries over time. philosophies behind the team’s neutral zone tendencies. That’s exactly what happened. This isn’t a look at X’s and O’s or an article filled with esoteric statistics. It’s an explainer on how the 2019-20 Flyers play, and why they play that (All metrics 5-on-5 only.) way. And considering their success over the past few months, it very well For the first two months of the season, the Flyers were playing dump- may be a glimpse into the Vigneault-coached Flyers’ long-term identity. and-chase at historic rates. Since December, however, they settled in as Flyers built around the forecheck more of a run-of-the-mill dump-in club, somewhere between the 2018-19 New Jersey Devils (the league’s predominant user of the entry method There’s a truism that every good hockey team needs an identity. The per Sznajder’s sample) and last season’s league average. Flyers made theirs clear from the start of the season: They were going to try to relentlessly forecheck opponents into sheer exhaustion. Vigneault was never inherently opposed to the concept of controlled entries. In his mind, the Flyers simply needed a better understanding of Way back on Oct. 23, just three weeks into the season, Vigneault the risk/reward of trying to make plays in the middle of the ice, which acknowledged that his team’s extreme tilt toward the dump-and-chase necessitated a harsh reset. When the team began to play smarter (and to method of generating zone entries at 5-on-5 was no accident. It was a more naturally adhere to Vigneault’s system), the players’ routes through deliberate plan. the neutral zone became less risky, which, in turn, led to an increase in attacks off the rush. “I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis right now on making the other team’s defensemen turn, making them go back for pucks, forcing them “I think part of that is our breakouts are so much cleaner, we’re getting into turnover situations where we can press and create that quick counter out of our zone so much quicker,” Laughton said. “We’re coming out of — whether it be in the offensive zone or the neutral zone,” Vigneault our zone clean, and we have five guys that know exactly what’s going to explained. “We are chipping more pucks in, and I think, at the end of the happen, so we’re not really rimming pucks (around the boards) as much day, that’s a read that players are going to get more used to.” as we did, and we’re coming out clean and have a low centerman, and it makes it easy on us.” Five months into 2019-20, the Flyers were still adhering to that general philosophy, a dramatic shift from the previous season. The Flyers remain a heavy forechecking team on the whole. But more and more often, they’re attacking opponents with speed and control. Last season, teams — on average — carried the puck into the offensive Vigneault has approved of the shift. zone a bit less than they played dump-and-chase, about a 48/52 percent skew. And in the 51 Flyers games Corey Sznajder tracked from 2018-19, “At the end of the day, players have reads to make,” he said. “And one of Philadelphia was one of the more carry-in-centric clubs. That has shifted those reads is: ‘Do I have space? Do I have time? Do they have the dramatically — now, the Flyers have adopted the identity of a dump-and- gap?’ If (opposing defensemen have) got (a tight) gap, you’ve got no chase dominant team, intent on getting pucks deep and forcing turnovers other choice but to chip it behind (them), in an area that you have a via a strong forecheck. chance to get it back, or forecheck. If you’ve got space and time, I want our guys to make plays.” But why the shift in philosophy? Scott Laughton said that emphasizing the forecheck was one of the main focuses during September’s training First period is forechecking time camp, and it stemmed from the “mindset change” general manager Chuck Fletcher preached just months after taking the job. One of the lingering questions surrounding the Flyers has been their consistent underwhelming play in first periods — especially because their “I think we talked about it at the end of last (season), just about our puck work in the final two-thirds of games has been so strong. management, what we’ve been doing with the puck, and how it hasn’t worked in the past,” Laughton said. “So I think last year was pretty big Here’s a theory: The first period is essentially Philadelphia’s “set-up” when Chuck came in, (talking) about puck management and keeping period. Already a dump-and-chase team, they go especially heavy on goals out of our net.” forechecking in order to simplify their style, and — more importantly — to inflict a physical and mental price that they hope pays dividends in the Indeed, Fletcher made that exact point in his end-of-season press second half of a 60-minute game. conference in April 2019. (All metrics are 5-on-5 only.) The physical aspect of the strategic theory is obvious — players don’t like The difference between the Flyers and their opponents? Philadelphia has getting hit. While dumping the puck into the offensive zone and chasing it generated a whopping 166 more total zone entries at 5-on-5 — and into the corner doesn’t guarantee that the puck-retrieving defenseman is considering it has played 69 games, that’s an average of 2.41 more going to take a hit every time, it’s going to happen pretty often. The idea offensive zone possessions per game. is that the toll will have a cumulative effect on defensemen — essentially, opponents will be “worn down” from all of those early hits — and they’ll If you’re looking for a reason the Flyers have been an above-average 5- become less effective as the game progresses. on-5 team this season, there it is. And it all goes back to that constant aggressiveness, particularly the team’s defensemen keeping tight gaps in Add in the Flyers’ strength in terms of depth, and it’s not hard to rush coverage between themselves and oncoming opponents. understand why they feel they benefit from a game that’s turned into a war of attrition. “We call it ‘killing plays,'” Vigneault said. “When you’ve got a tight gap, and you’re playing tight, you can kill plays stick on puck, instead of the The supposed mental impact of the strategy goes hand-in-hand with the puck advancing. You kill that play, and then you can go play in the other physical side, as Vigneault explained. end. We’ve put a lot of emphasis on that, whether it be in the offensive zone, in the neutral zone, at our blue line.” “Sometimes, when you chip pucks in, the other team now wants to start cheating to get it back, so then they give you a little more room,” he said. Ivan Provorov pokechecks the puck away from the Jets’ Patrik Laine. “And then you can make more plays as the game goes on.” (Kyle Ross / USA Today)

Part of that response might be physical; defensemen are tired of getting The shift hasn’t merely been one of mentality. To start the season, the hit in the corners, so they give up a bit more space in the neutral zone to Flyers moved to an aggressive 1-2-2 neutral zone forecheck that get a jump on retrieving pucks and avoid taking a check. But a mental emphasizes moving forward to attack oncoming puck carriers, a element exists as well. Defensemen want their breakouts to succeed. If departure from former interim head coach Scott Gordon’s more passive an opponent is having early success generating extended cycles via their 1-3-1. Provorov wasn’t shy about expressing his preference for the forecheck by dumping the puck in, defensemen might start to back off current approach. some in anticipation of those dump-ins, with the goal of breaking the looming forecheck and generating efficient exits out of their zone. “Last year, we barely had the puck throughout the games,” he said. “We were standing too much, especially the second (half) of the season That, as Laughton noted, then creates a more conducive environment for (when) we changed into a 1-3-1, where the left D was so far behind. controlled entries. “I think, overall, this year we’re playing a lot better, we have better “I think we still talk about it, making good decisions with the puck — systems, which allows us to skate, have good gaps. It’s easier when you especially at the start of a game,” he said. “Being able to kinda put defend with a good gap and have some speed, it’s easier to get the puck pressure on them and open (them) up, so later on in the game, we can back, and then not be stationary and start from zero.” enter the zone with the puck. So I think, first and foremost, we try and start games and try and keep it simple and go after teams.” The Flyers forwards’ rededication to backchecking under the new system has also proved invaluable in allowing defensemen to stay aggressive. However, although the Flyers buy into the efficacy of this theory, there’s no public evidence of such a cumulative effect. Even if we assume that “We have back pressure, so when the (defensemen) have confidence in the strategy is at least part of the reason Philadelphia “gets better” as forwards that they have their back, you’re able to play tighter, step up, games progress, that doesn’t necessarily mean the early emphasis on break up the plays,” Provorov said. “And if you step up and (opposing dump-and-chase is smart. Maybe the Flyers are unnecessarily players) chip it by you, you know that someone’s gonna be behind you to hamstringing their offense by going with heavy dump-and-chase early, pick up that puck. I think that’s the main reason we’re playing tighter as a and that’s why their first periods have been underwhelming compared to five-man unit; it allows us to defend, (even) at the red line or at our blue their final 40 minutes. It’s a viable theory, especially because we know line, and not let them skate into (the zone).” that carry-in entries generate (on average) double the shot attempts of The result has been the kind of attacking off-puck system that dump-ins. consistently forces dump-ins and generates turnovers that send the Still, it’s clear the Flyers buy into the concept, and it’s become a key Flyers going right back into the offensive zone on the attack. element of their nightly strategy. “You know, it’s never going to be perfect,” Vigneault said. “We do put a Flyers don’t allow many controlled entries — or entries, period lot of emphasis on having numbers, being above, trying to kill plays and having support. So if one guy’s there and he’s just maybe not quite right, It’s important to remember that the creation of zone entries is just one there’s usually another guy coming in behind that’s helping him out. half of the neutral zone equation. Just as the Flyers have a plan for We’ve been pretty good at that.” entering the offensive zone, they also have tendencies in how they want to defend their own blue line. The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020

The mentality, from the coaching staff on down to the players, is clear: Break up as many entries as possible, and, at the very least, force the other team to play dump-and-chase, too.

“Yeah, definitely,” Ivan Provorov said when asked if the coaches advocated for a particularly aggressive defensive approach in the middle of the ice. “The less time and space you give to (opponents), the more chances you have to get the puck earlier. As cliché as it sounds, if the other team doesn’t have the puck, they can’t score. If you defend earlier, play tighter, it’s a lot harder for the other team to play against you.”

The process begins all the way at the other end of the ice. As Fletcher noted in April, part of the impetus behind a dump-and-chase-centric attack is to avoid turnovers in the middle of the ice — turnovers that quickly morph into rushes into the Flyers’ zone. By avoiding turnovers via increased dump-and-chase usage, opponents are forced to lug the puck the length of the ice and through Philadelphia’s forecheck, even if they successfully retrieve it in the corners and begin a breakout.

The result? Low controlled-entry rates for Flyers opponents, and a significant advantage in total entry differential.

(All metrics 5-on-5 only.)

The Flyers’ games have largely been knock-down, drag-out battles in all three zones with dump-and-chase the entry style of choice for both clubs. 1172820 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan offers slight update on team

SETH RORABAUGH

Mike Sullivan is fond of telling his players to control what they can control.

At the moment, the Penguins coach, like so many of us, isn’t in control of much, at least it pertains to work.

The Penguins have shut down most of their operations ever since the NHL postponed play indefinitely March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. That includes speaking publicly.

On Wednesday, Sullivan broke the team’s silence with an appearance on Sportsnet 590, a radio station based in Toronto.

“We’re trying to do everything we can under difficult circumstances to try to stay prepared,” Sullivan said when asked what actions the team has taken towards keeping players in as optimal shape as possible. “I know our strength coaches have had personal conversations with every guy and taken an inventory of what they have at their disposal in their respective homes, and then building individual programs for these guys that they can continue to do on a daily basis to try to stay fit and keep themselves ready in the event that we get on the other side of this.

“So we’re doing what we can to stay ready, but obviously the priority here is just the health and well being of everybody first and foremost.”

The UPMPC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry been closed since the weekend and will remain so on an indefinite basis, with the exception of players who are currently injured and require treatment.

Sullivan also offered a bit of an update on his own family as well.

“Quite honestly, we haven’t been doing a whole lot,” Sullivan said. “We’ve been doing what everyone else is doing and just trying to self- isolate, so to speak, in hopes that everybody can do their part in trying to limit the spread of this coronavirus. Obviously, the health and well being of everyone is the priority at this point.”

While Sullivan isn’t overlooking the overriding priority of the pandemic that has impacted seemingly every walk of life on the globe, he lamented what the pause in the schedule has denied his team as it tried to emerge from a stretch of 11 games where it had a 3-8-0 record.

“Our team was going through a bit of a struggle here,” Sullivan said. “I felt like, as a group, we were starting to turn a corner as a team just with the some of the struggles that we were going through right before the break. So in some way, I’m disappointed for the group because I feel like were making big strides in trying to capture the game that we played so consistently all year long.”

Sullivan singled out defenseman Justin Schultz when asked to identify a player whose play was on the rise before the stoppage.

“He’s a guy that he’s had not an easy year from an injury standpoint,” Sullivan said. “He’s missed a fair amount of time. And he’s such an important player for our team. He’s so dynamic offensively and the puck just hasn’t gone in the net for him this year.

“It hasn’t been for a lack of opportunity, that’s for sure. But he scored a big goal for us in the (5-2 road win against the New Jersey Devils on March 10) right before the season was suspended, and we felt like his game was really starting to gain some traction. He’s a guy that jumps out at me. He’s an important player for our team.”

On Monday, the NHL issued a statement suggesting it is hoping to resume some sort of training period by late April or early May to resume the season. As with all things affected by the epidemic, that goal remains fluid.

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172821 Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby’s hockey school canceled

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 12:11 p.m.

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has canceled his hockey school this upcoming summer as a result of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.

The school was scheduled to be held July 6-10 in Crosby’s hometown of Cole Harbour, N.S.

His foundation issued a statement on his behalf:

“As we have continued to monitor the spread of covid-19 around the world, we believe that the health and safety of players, their families and staff is most important.

“Therefore we regret to inform you that the 2020 Sidney Crosby Hockey School has been canceled.

“Stay healthy, stay safe.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172822 Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Sullivan on the NHL suspending play and how the Penguins are staying 'ready'

MATT VENSEL Pittsburgh Post-Gazette MAR 18, 2020 8:55 PM

Wednesday, for the first time since the NHL went on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the Penguins’ top decision-makers spoke publicly.

Mike Sullivan appeared on Sportsnet 590’s “Hockey Central” and gave an update on what he has been up to since the NHL suspended play last Thursday, sharing a little insight into what the Penguins are doing to try to keep their players in shape should the league get the green light to start skating again.

First things first, Sullivan reported that his family and he are “doing great.”

“Quite honestly, we haven’t been doing a whole lot,” he said. “We’ve just been trying to do what everyone else is doing, trying to self-isolate, so to speak, in hopes that everybody can do their part and try to limit the spread of this coronavirus. Obviously, the health and well-being of everyone is the priority at this point.”

Penguins' Jim Rutherford, David Morehouse taking pay cuts during COVID-19 pandemic

The “Hockey Central” crew asked Sullivan what the Penguins and their coaching and strength and conditioning staff were doing to guide the players, who are also doing self-quarantine for the foreseeable future at the urging of the league.

As laid out in an NHL memo a few days ago, players are not allowed to skate at team facilities or public rinks. They were also told to avoid gyms. That leaves working out at home or exercising outside, as long as they practice social distancing.

“We’ve trying to do everything we can under difficult circumstances to try to stay prepared,” Sullivan said. “I know our strength coaches have had personal conversations with every guy and taken an inventory of what they have at their disposal in their respective homes, and then [they are] building individual programs for these guys that they can continue to do on a daily basis to try to stay fit and keep themselves ready in the event that we get on the other side of this.”

Sullivan, while obviously appreciating the unsettling circumstances that led to the league going on hiatus, expressed disappointment that his players saw the season put on hold with 13 games left in the regular season. Despite going 3-8-0 in their last 11 games, the Penguins were still on the short list of East contenders.

“Our team was going through a bit of a struggle here. I felt like that as a group we were starting to turn the corner as a team,” he said. “So in some ways, I’m a little bit disappointed for the group because I felt like we were making big strides in trying to capture the game that we played so consistently all year long.”

The coach touched on a few more topics if you want to check out the “Hockey Central” interview. They include Sidney Crosby’s potential as a coach, Sullivan’s involvement with USA Hockey, why Sullivan thought Justin Schultz was getting back on track and Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots.

Post Gazette LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172823 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' Jim Rutherford, David Morehouse taking pay cuts during COVID-19 pandemic

Decision ensures others within the organization won't feel financial burdens of COVID-19 as much

MIKE DEFABO

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, along with CEO and president David Morehouse, have decided to take one for the team.

The Post-Gazette has learned that Rutherford and Morehouse will be taking voluntary pay cuts so that other members of the Penguins staff will not be as impacted financially from the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the NHL decided to suspend the season March 12 to help decrease the spread of the virus, much of the revenue that comes from games was also halted. During similar situations in the past, such as the 2004-05 lockout, some teams were forced to slash salaries for employees or cut jobs entirely.

This unfortunately appears inevitable in many other sectors of the economy. U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin recently estimated the unemployment rate in the United States could hit 20% if a proposed economic stimulus package is not passed.

By sacrificing some of their salaries, Rutherford and Morehouse have ensured that members of the hockey staff, office employees or other individuals within the organization won’t feel the financial burden of the crisis as much.

This is the latest way the Penguins are looking out for their employees and community during a difficult time.

Previously, the Penguins announced a plan to make sure that full- and part-time arena and service employees at PPG Paints Arena would not lose income during the work stoppage. Funding for that initiative will come from players, led by Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Those donations will go toward ushers, ticket takers, concession workers, cleaning staff and other arena workers.

Additionally, several Penguins players are working to raise money for COVID-19 relief on pledgeit.org. Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Matt Murray, Dominik Simon and Teddy Blueger are among the Penguins who have donated memorabilia. Anyone who donates at least $25 in the fight against COVID-19 will be entered to win.

Post Gazette LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172824 Pittsburgh Penguins “And I’m in your corner…” In the late 80s and early 90s, this guy was unreal.

Commentary: The late, great Paul Long Yohe mailbag: Jake Guentzel’s return, Kris Letang’s Penguins future and Oh hell yes. more Due to the NHL shutdown presumably for the season, do you think this

puts Ovi at risk of coming up short in breaking Gretzky’s record? By Josh Yohe Mar 18, 2020 @Reap3r7

Assuming we’re back to life as usual next season, I can’t imagine it’s a Like most of you (I hope), I’m sitting in my living room right now. When big deal. Ovi’s missing out on 13 games? So maybe seven or eight your professional life centers around the trials, tribulations and travels of goals? That won’t be enough to stop him. If he has a sniff of that record, a hockey team, well, these are strange times. he’ll keep playing until he breaks it. And I bet he will.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk hockey. I asked for mailbag Given the projected timetable for the virus to subside in 3-6 months, do questions and received an extremely high amount, which told me you’re you think the Pens will re-sign any of their current RFAs or UFAs? all either as bored as I am or eager to have the distraction of hockey @andrewhearn1 back in your lives. Or, maybe both. That’s a really tough one to answer. We have no clue how the salary cap I’ll answer as many questions as I possibly can. Stay safe and healthy, will be impacted by this, we don’t know what timelines will exist. They and please make wise decisions. Hopefully we’ll all be back at the won’t all be back, of course, but giving specifics would be almost hockey rink soon. Until then, let’s chat… impossible. Will Kris Letang finish his career with the Penguins? I went to the store today and noticed all of the healthy stuff was still @Zippy587 plentiful where other parts of the store were ransacked. Why do you think that is? Are we planning to live on meat, cheese and toilet paper during Well, that’s an interesting question. I’d guess that Letang probably won’t this time? finish his time with the Penguins. Anything is possible, of course, and it would be great if Letang, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin only played @Ldiddles3 for the same team. The odds are probably against it, though. Letang will Interesting point. I have a theory. I went to Giant Eagle yesterday and did be 33 next month and he’s not a particularly cerebral player. When the indeed buy a bunch of unhealthy food. Now, I bought some healthy legs go, he won’t be the same player and the Penguins might not want to things, namely a bag of carrots, strawberries and apples. But I also really employ him at age 38 if he still commands huge money. Just a hunch. loaded up on things like Frosted Flakes, cake, chips, cheese, meat and, If hockey restarts this year, do you see Jake Guentzel available and yes, Cadbury eggs. Why? Well, I feel like we’re all a little rattled by ready to play for Game 1 of the playoffs? Thanks! what’s going on right now, so it’s more natural to resort to comfort foods. If we can manufacture an excuse to justify being unhealthy, we’re often @GinoPerri going to do it. At least, I am. Ha ha.

Well, that all depends on when and if hockey return. I’ve been told that Coronastache. Everyone grows one while we’re all hunkered down, the Penguins believe Jake could return to the lineup around the time working from home, and not appearing in public. Are you with me? when the Stanley Cup final would typically begin, which is usually on Memorial Day. I’ve spoken with others who are very close with him and @smwitmer87 there really isn’t a sense for when he’ll be ready. Maybe eventually. I actually shaved on Saturday, which is something I However, if the playoffs do take place, they’ll obviously start incredibly rarely do. I must have been particularly bored out of my mind because it late. If they start in late May and the Cup is awarded on July 15 or July takes a lot to get me to shave. My facial hair grows really fast so I’ll let 20, could Jake be ready for the entirety of what would be a fascinating you know soon. postseason? Sure. It’s possible. And it clearly would change the way we Might there be some kind of compensation from teams that dealt draft view these Penguins. picks at the deadline if the playoffs never happened? What is your all-time local TV news crew lineup? @JW8771 @BernieRafferty Many have asked about this. Yes, I have to think the Penguins will get a Oh boy. We could have some fun with this one. pick. It wouldn’t be fair to strip the Sharks of the draft pick the Penguins gave them for Patrick Marleau, for instance. But I’m guessing the NHL Anchors: Don Cannon, Heather Abraham will give the Penguins a pick in that round anyway, and so on. Seems like the only reasonable approach to take. Hopefully we don’t have to find

out, but it’s worth discussing. Cannon in his prime was sensational and, even in his darkest moments, Favorite Sidney Crosby moment? the man found a way to entertain us. @Rummy614 Heather’s great in a lot of ways, and I just like her positive energy. Gets you going in the morning. It’s so hard to pick one. I’ll share a few, some public and some private.

Meteorologist: The dearly departed C.S. Keys On the ice, my favorite Crosby moment probably came during his rookie year when he beat the Flyers in overtime after having some teeth There was charm, and then there was C.S. Keys. Once while working for knocked out by Derian Hatcher. I liked that moment because it gave a Channel 11, he said, “It’s going to be such of a beautiful weekend, we’re glimpse of Crosby’s essence. You see, Crosby is incredibly warm and going to call it a Peggy Finnegan weekend.” The camera then went friendly, but on some level, he’s a difficult man to know or understand. He directly to Peggy, who said, “Thanks, C.S.,” in the most uncomfortable says a lot without saying anything quite frequently. But in that moment, voice ever. When I’m watching local news, I need some awkward you saw the competitive fire that burns inside of him. You saw the birth of moments. his hatred for the Flyers. He didn’t even smile after scoring that goal. It Sports: Bob Pompeani was just a look of pure determination on his face. That was a moment.

He’s just the natural. If you knew him, you’d like him. So smooth. He’s A couple of private moments come to mind, too. During the 2012 lockout, just perfect. Crosby joined a few of his teammates at Southpointe to skate. The rest were long gone, and he was putting himself through wind sprints for what Reporter in field: The dearly departed Mike Boguslawski seemed like an eternity. Then, he skated the nets off of the ice and cleaned up all of the pucks, put them into a bag and left the ice. The greatest hockey player in the world was also a janitor during those days. How do the Pens shift from pass-first mentality to a shoot-first mentality Following that particular workout, I stuck around to interview him about team so they can create rebounds/second/third chance goals and play as the lockout. Then, we just stood behind his car for about 30 minutes and a five-man unit. I fear they resemble the 2019 team in their recent losses. he spoke at length about how much he was missing the game, how Thanks! Love your pieces in The A. important it was to him and how much he wanted it to return. He was missing out on prime years of his career and it was killing him. It was a @juggernautnow poignant time that I remember well. I don’t think they’re ever going to be that kind of team so long as Crosby, I also recall vividly the hours before Game 6 of the 2016 Eastern Malkin and Letang are leading the way. It’s just not their thing, you know? Conference final. The Penguins were down in the series, 3-2, and were It’s why they stink on the 5 on 3. The best power plays with a two-man playing in Tampa that night. At that point in time, they had been advantage shoot the puck and out-number the opposition for rebounds. eliminated in five straight postseasons and were developing a habit for It’s really that easy. But this group loves to score the prettiest goal at all being choke artists and coach killers. The locker room had cleared and times. Frequently they pull it off because of their unique talent level, but the media was escorted out of the room. I was the last member of the still, it’s not always ideal. media to leave the room and, upon exiting, I turned around to see if What if you could put together a dream team for the Penguins in the anyone remained. And there I saw Crosby and Malkin, sitting together, Crosby/Malkin era? You said nothing was off limits. looks on their faces that could absolutely kill. Malkin never sticks around the locker room very long, but he did that day. It was as though they were @Z312Smoove95 plotting their script for that evening. I wish everyone could have seen the Do you just want me to list all of the best players in the NHL during the look on their faces that morning. I knew they weren’t losing that night. past decade? I mean, I could. But you know what? Someone would Which players are your unsung heroes of each decade? probably beat such a roster in the postseason because that’s the way hockey works. Too many stars can be lethal for a hockey team. Take the @BenZoobs 2013 Penguins, for instance. It was basically an all-star team and you How many decades are we talking? saw how that worked out.

2010’s: Nick Bonino What happens when Green Day’s Basketcase really does start to describe how things are going for you? 2000s: Max Talbot @dariuscardren 1990s: Randy Gilhen I suspect that’s how we all feel right now. I’m legitimately worried about Will the Penguins ever bring back the diagonal black jerseys they started everyone’s mental health right now. I mean that sincerely. Yes, we need wearing in the 92-93 season? to worry about physical things right now more than anything else. But if we’re all holed up in our houses for long periods of time, well, I don’t think @ErikDiana2 that’s good for anyone. I’m worried about myself in that regard. I’m a total God I hope so. Still my favorite of the Penguins’ sweaters. I bet it will people person and I live by myself. So, let’s all check on one another and happen soon. try to keep ourselves sane. If Green Day music helps, all the better.

Favorite bottled water? If the season starts back up, how do you see the league taking action?

@smith_c8 @BuccosNPucks

I have a particular fondness for Aquafina. I have absolutely no idea why. I I really think that, if the season resumes, we’ll see a bigger-than-usual just do. playoff field, probably best-of-three series to narrow down the field, etc. Many ideas have been suggested. Nothing official obviously. But it’s kind Big fan. Please ask, or have you asked the coaching staff … why play of fun to talk about, right? Jack Johnson? Do you not see the mistakes? Do they know he isn’t a fan favorite? Any advice you can throw my way as a 25-year-old soon-to-be husband in October? @AlfieRosselli @tylershred I forgot to mention this earlier, but I’m starting a new policy. So long as the Coronavirus is in effect, there will be no answers to Jack Johnson First of all, congratulations. And I want to tell you something: Good for questions. Please inform your friends and family. you. I mean that. So many people your age say things like, “I’m too young to get married,” or “You’re an idiot for getting married this young.” Do you think the Penguins’ recent slump has anything to do with the Blah, blah, blah. If you two love each other, then I believe you owe it to ages of their top players? yourselves to go for it and have a lifetime of happiness and goodness.

@herb66 Advice? Me offering relationship advice is akin to AB teaching a course on proper social behavior. I’m no good at them, really. I’ve only really had That’s probably fair. Crosby, Malkin and Letang are still really great, but three serious relationships in my life. First ended in a breakup after five are they as dominant as they were a decade ago? Probably not. They years. Second ended in a nasty divorce. The third one? We’ll see. But can turn it on for stretches and I still think this team is absolutely capable you asked for advice, so I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. We aren’t perfect, of winning another championship, but the greatest of players typically and no one is perfectly compatible with another person. Life doesn’t work aren’t quite as dominant at 33 as they are at 23. Just the way it is. that way, you know? My advice would be to learn what your better half How many times have you watched Road House now? doesn’t like about you — things you can improve upon to make her life easier — and put in an honest effort to be the best version of yourself @daniiwaugh that you can be. One time, my behavior had caused problems in a relationship. So, I took a piece of paper and taped it above my bed. I In my life or during the past week? In my life, probably 30 times or so. In wrote a list of things on that paper that I needed to work on. It wasn’t the past week, twice. It’s just one of those movies, you either get it or you perfect and I think she thought it was psycho, but it helped me focus. don’t. It never gets old. We live in a screwed up society where people are now essentially Which shows, if any, have you started watching while on this forced groomed to think about themselves more than their partners. I was raised hiatus? in an old school way, so I never view things that way. But that said, take @APucciarelli13 care of yourself, make sure you’re healthy, and give her all you’ve got every day. And good luck to you. (I like October weddings. Good choice.) None yet, to be honest. I’m not really a show guy. I’ll watch movies from the 80s or 90s all night long. I’ll watch documentaries. I’ll watch news. I’ll Does Matt Murray need glasses for his glove side? watch sports. Shows, other than “Married…With Children,” just aren’t @TwstdWrister82 really my thing. I don’t think so. But if I were scouting the Penguins, it wouldn’t require • Kevin Stevens was a full-fledged cocaine addict at this point and, as he much work to identify what his weakness is. told me last year, it had badly impacted his game by then. You can never overestimate his value to those teams. He was their soul. If the remainder of the NHL season gets canceled, and we don’t see hockey until October, do you think it’s possible for the Pens to sign Jagr • Lots of egos on that team, and there were major locker room issues, for the start of next season? especially in regards to a certain goaltender.

@Jedidiah412 All-time favorite sports moment to witness live?

I’m the kind of guy who never says never to #jagrwatch. I often wonder @KevinAdams25 how history would have changed had he signed with the Penguins in 2012. Well, let’s go with professional and personal favorites. Deal?

Do you think some of the players, namely Crosby, knew there was a Professionally speaking, it was a real thrill to cover the Penguins winning good chance the NHL season would be suspended a few weeks before it the Cup in San Jose. First time I’ve covered a championship team. happened? However, I’d go with the second Cup, in Nashville. I just had such respect for that team and what it endured. I remember standing on the @clem014 ice a little while after Crosby was presented with the Cup, thinking that I had just witnessed something very special. Nah. They’re hockey players, not scientists or doctors. I was at practice in Columbus the day before the season was shut down and, at that point, Personally, I’d have to go with Oct. 1, 2013. The Blackout Game at PNC I don’t think it had even occurred to the Penguins that it could happen. Park. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was proof that Pittsburgh still loves baseball and still loves the Pirates. I sat in Section 130 down the Favorite alcoholic beverage? left-field line, and we didn’t sit the entire game. Not one time. I met so @YinzersSTILLinOH many people that night, a few of whom hadn’t been to a Pirates games since the 1970s. But the magic of that team brought them back. I’m not a big drinker at all. I live life on a natural high. Booze and grass (as my grandpa called it, lol) aren’t required for me. But you asked. I’d go Rob Rossi and I hung out with fans on the Clemente Bridge until 2 am with a nice rum and coke. that night, just chatting about what we had witnessed.

How would Al Bundy handle this situation? What’s your favorite movie soundtrack?

@cibson412 @skiminer36

That’s a great question, Charles. On one level, the shoe store would be Probably Forrest Gump. All the classics and the way the music tied into closed. So he’d be happy to be away from work. BUT that also means the movie was quite brilliant. he’d have to spend more time with Peg, which is never what he would Varsity Blues is very underrated in this regard, I will say. prefer. Strip joints are shutting down, so he couldn’t enjoy his time there. I feel like No Ma’am would still congregate in his garage despite federal First, big fan. Now, while you, @Dameshek and I tend to focus on the regulations to keep groups under 10. No Ma’am would get him through. absurdity of the 1989 Hart, in 2000, Chris Pronger beat Jagr for the MVP by one point. And I recently heard Pronger say it was because of a How many old T-shirts with holes in them do you have in the dresser that Pittsburgh writer who didn’t vote for Jagr. Any info on the voter or his should be in the rag bag? reasoning?

@ISeeAndHearYinz @lcshockey1921

For those who didn’t see my Tweet about this, I told my mom I was out of Well, Dave Molinari voted for Pronger, which is why he won the MVP. I’m toilet paper. She reminded me that I have lots of old shirts that I can use sure he can fill you in on the details. I can tell you this: Dave is the most as a replacement. I’m still disturbed by this comment, to be frank. I do honest human being I know, and he has never uttered a bad word about have a ton of clothing for a dude, no doubt. But I don’t think many of Jagr. I don’t think he ever had a problem with Jagr. He just thought them are toilet paper worthy. Pronger was more valuable to his team in that particular season.

What’s your definition of a sports dynasty? Dave once told me that everyone in the Penguins organization was upset @JChergi with him following that vote … except for Jagr, who didn’t seem to care.

It changes throughout time, I suppose. It’s a lot harder to win Have you discovered or rediscovered any video games that have kept championships now than it was when the Canadiens and Yankees were you occupied? making a mockery of pro sports. But still, I’ve always maintained that @sdotts136 winning four championships in a decade or less qualifies. Steelers of the 70s. 49ers of the 80s. Maybe if Golden State wins another in the next Not yet. I’m old school and still enjoy my Playstation 2. But the damn couple of years. Yankees of turn of the century. The Patriots were thing just broke. Onto eBay I go. If you have a functional one, let me amazing for two decades but they never felt like a dynasty to me. Many know. It’s time. will disagree. They were staggeringly consistent and great. But they still went a decade without winning a Super Bowl in the middle of it all, and What’s your favorite yinzer bar on the road? received a really bogus break to win their first one (Charles Woodson @fawn_coltrane forced fumble). And they might have cheated. A lot. So it’s tough to call them a dynasty, in my view. There are many great ones, but I love Sammy’s in Raleigh. They literally get hundreds of Steelers fans there. The people there are like family with Josh, what was the deal with the 1993-94 Penguins? Just a year one another. It’s so cool. Good food, too. Strongly recommended. removed from a Cup, but a weird, mysterious team/season in Pens history and wondering if you can shed some light. You’re a journalist, right? Where’d you go to school? Are you from Western PA? @n8thegrrr8 @pamelapoppins Thanks for the random question there! I still remember watching the Canadiens win the Cup in 1993 and, in the postgame telecast, Bill I prefer to think of myself has half information provider, half entertainer. Clement saying on ESPN, “The Pittsburgh Penguins are still the favorite But yes, technically a journalist. I attended Peters Township High School to win the Cup next year.” But the 1994 Penguins just never had it and Point Park University. And yes, born and raised in Peters Township. despite being the No. 2 seed entering the playoffs. So what was that Actually, I lived my first two years in South Park, but my parents got team’s problem. I can tell you some things: divorced at that point, and I’ve been in Peters ever since. Good for Washington County tax breaks. • Mario’s back was in agony that season. He only played in 22 games and never looked like Mario. Do you think the Earth is round or flat? @OhCaptMyCapt Well, I’m gonna side with science on this one and go round. However, just for fun, I started to follow the Flat Earth Society on Twitter in 2016. My girlfriend went crazy me, telling me those people were nuts and following them was a bad look. I just thought they were hilarious and wanted to be entertained. But I unfollowed.

Since there’s no sports, why not just have AT&T Sports do an airing of famous Pens games throughout history? Cup winning games, Mario returns, etc?

@RyanPawloski_

I couldn’t agree more and I have to think such a plan is in the words. I’ll watch. Hell, I’ll live Tweet.

How do you approach getting a source? Are you approaching someone? Are you approached? Or both?

@netflixnswill

Now there’s a good question. You know, sources come in many different forms. I’d say that 75 percent of them over the years have come as a result of me tracking people down, becoming friendly with them, and developing trust. Player agents are good for this. When they realize you’re able to help them out at times and that you can be trusted with certain information, they’ll help you out. The same can apply for people in the organization.

In my experience, however, the very best sources come to you. You can’t really trust them at first because that’s not how it works. Then you realize that they’re never wrong, and you finally begin to trust.

It takes time, though. Lots of bad sources out there, too. It takes a combination of patience, trust and intuition. Most of all, just be nice. If you are, people are typically more likely to help you out.

Are there any writing or creative projects you’re working on, if working from home has given you a bit more time?

@carlottai

Well, we have had multiple meetings with the bosses in recent days to figure this all out. And yes, multiple articles are on the way from all of us. Some outside the box stuff, but we still need to write. And I think people need to be entertained and need diversions right now. We’re going to try our best to keep you all entertained and informed.

I’m sure Rob and I will be doing plenty of mailbags in the near future, among many other articles. Stay safe, everyone. Be smart. Use your heads. And hopefully, before too long, we’ll have sports to obsess over again.

Also, if you’re feeling uncomfortable by everything that’s been going on and need someone to talk with, Tweet at me. I’m bored too. We’ll get through this together.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172825 San Jose Sharks Center on March 7, and would later play in Anaheim on March 10 and Los Angeles on March 11.

“The only certainty we have is that whatever decisions we make with NHL exec says playing full 82-game season in 2020-2021 is paramount respect to the resumption of play this season obviously has to be consistent with advice from the medical professionals,” Daly said. “That’s NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says league would not do anything first and foremost, people’s health and safety has to be our primary that would hinder ability to play 82-game schedule in 2020-2021 concern.”

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.19.2020 By CURTIS PASHELKA PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 3:42 p.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 4:05 p.m.

Even if the NHL does not restart its season until this summer, or at all, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday the league would not do anything that would hinder its ability to play 82-game schedule in 2020- 2021.

The NHL ‘paused’ its 2019-2020 season March 12 due to the spread of the coronavirus and there is no guarantee the league will be able to resume this season at some point. But Daly, a guest on The Athletic’s Two-Man Advantage podcast, said “the only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year.

“That’s kind of the outside parameters and rules we’re following currently. Everything else is kind of up for grabs, for lack of a better term.”

The financial losses for individual teams while the NHL is on hiatus figure to be enormous. Earlier this week, this newspaper reported that the Sharks generated $1.6 million in revenues for each home game, a figure a source with knowledge of the NHL team’s operations confirmed.

Daly said the NHL is working on “various scenarios and what they look like and what the feasibility is.” He mentioned the league has to recognize the obligations of the league’s television partners, continue to work with the NHL Players’ Association, and ensure building availability with each individual club.

The last time the NHL did not play 82 games in a season was in 2013, when the league ended a work stoppage and played a 48-game schedule from January until April. That regular season, NHL teams only played games within their own conferences.

“Obviously you want to get back to normal as soon as you can,” said Donald Fehr, the NHLPA’s Executive Director, on TSN Radio in Toronto on Wednesday. “How you do that and in what fashion is a matter to be worked out.”

Tuesday, TSN’s Frank Seravalli reported that a group of prominent NHL players have started to think about some proposals in regards a resumption of play.

Knowing it could be months before the health crisis subsides, those players have proposed a training camp in early July, a resumption of the 2019-20 season in late July, playoffs in August and September, the draft and free agency in October and the start of a condensed 2020-21 season in November.

“If you tell me, we can start playing on May 1, which is pretty unrealistic at this point. But if you do that, I’ll give you one set of ideas. If you tell me we can’t do it until July 1, I give you different ones,” Fehr said. “We’d also have to look at next season and maybe we play an 82 game schedule, but maybe we change things like travel schedules and when you start and when you stop. Or we regionalize the trips to save some days and some travel. I don’t really know.”

For complete Sharks coverage

As of Wednesday afternoon, according to the New York Times, at least 7,837 people in the U.S. — including it territories — have tested positive for COVID-19. At least 141 people who had the virus have died. Statewide, California has 598 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, according to the Governor’s Office, with 13 deaths.

On March 12, Sharks Sports & Entertainment announced it had received notification the day before that a part-time employee at SAP Center had tested positive for COVID-19.

Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators announced that one of its players had tested positive for the virus. The Senators played the Sharks at SAP 1172826 San Jose Sharks

Ottawa Senators player tests positive for coronavirus, days after a game in San Jose

First NHL player to catch COVID-19 was diagnosed just after Senators returned from five-game road trip, including San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings

By GARY PETERSON | PUBLISHED: March 18, 2020 at 7:25 a.m. | UPDATED: March 18, 2020 at 7:11 p.m.

Say this for the coronavirus — it doesn’t discriminate.

On Tuesday night, the Ottawa Senators announced one of their players had tested positive for the virus. It was the first instance of an NHL player testing positive. Multiple NBA players, including former Warriors star Kevin Durant, and a small handful of baseball players have been diagnosed.

The Senators player, who has not been identified, may have unwittingly left victims in his wake. The Senators began a five-game road trip which started with a game against the Sharks in San Jose on March 7.

The Sens next played at Anaheim on March 10 — the same day Santa Clara County put a ban on mass gatherings of more than 1,000 people — then played the Kings in Los Angeles the following night. On March 12, the NHL suspended operations.

USA Today reported that the Senators announced the affected player “had mild symptoms and is in isolation.”

“The Ottawa Senators are in the process of notifying anyone who has had known close contract with the athlete and are working with our team doctors and public health officials,” the team said in a statement. “As a result of this positive case, all members of the Ottawa Senators are requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and seek advice from our team medical staff.

“The health of our players, fans, and community remains our highest priority. We will continue to do everything we can to help ensure our players, staff, fans and the greater community remain safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty due to the spread of the Coronavirus.”

The Los Angeles Kings issued a statement Wednesday afternoon that read, “Since being made aware of the Ottawa Senators player that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and understanding that we played against them on March 11, our senior leadership has been in regular contact with our key medical professionals, our players and staff, the NHL and our partners at Staples Center.

“As of this time, no current member of our organization has demonstrated any signs or symptoms consistent with the onset of the COVID-19 virus and we will continue to monitor this on a daily basis.”

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172827 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic has fun sledding with dogs during NHL hiatus

By Jessica Kleinschmidt March 18, 2020 4:39 PM

We’re all finding ways to stay busy during this unprecedented time. Marc- Edouard Vlasic is making the most of it while the NHL pauses the season indefinitely amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sharks. defenseman is spending some quality time with his family. His family being his fur babies.

Vlasic is a self-proclaimed proud dog dad. If you go by Instagram bios, that is, and you should. He had plenty of time to play with them in the snow.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic is making the most of family time.

( : IG/ mrsvlasic) pic.twitter.com/FFv4tkMnIR

— NHL (@NHL) March 18, 2020

Recently, the 32-year-old celebrated his 1,000th career NHL game. Prior to the puck drop to commemorate, he was joined by his wife, Martine, and one of his rescue pups, Kelly, on the ice.

He was also gifted with a hydrofoil, which is “a surfboard with a high- energy lithium-ion battery-powered board that extends below the board into the water.”

Just what the rest of us would want to celebrate our 1,000th game.

He also got a 1.5-liter bottle of champagne.

Either way, he was happy. Almost “sleighing with the dogs,” happy. Almost.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172828 St Louis Blues Otherwise the Blues will have the cap space to bring largely the same team back for 2020-21. This team should contend once again with the bulk of its players still in their athletic primes.

Gordo: Playoffs or no playoffs, Blues will remain solid Compare that to the Boston Bruins, who are leaning hard on older stalwarts Patrice Bergeron (34 years old), Jaroslav Halak (34), David Krejci (33), Tuukka Rask (33), Brad Marchand (31) and, of course, 900- year-old defenseman Zdeno Chara. Jeff Gordon The Bruins really, REALLY want another shot at the Cup this spring

before their key veterans slip over the hill. The Blues reign as defending Stanley Cup champions. By winning the 2019 Cup, the Blues added additional financial strength to They would still reign as defending champions next fall if the NHL can’t the progress Stillman and Co. already made. That’s critical for a finish the 2019-2020 season. They are set up to contend for years to franchise that will take a big hit due to the business lost this season. come, since their competitive window remains wide open. This is a franchise that nearly moved to Saskatoon, then shut down when And if hockey is somehow able to resume in mid-May, the Blues would the league blocked that sale. be rested and ready to defend their crown as one of the top Western Like Ralston-Purina, the Civic Progress guys gave up on this franchise. Conference playoff seeds. So did Bill and Nancy Laurie, after supporting the NHL’s lockout of the So the diehard Bluesiers are feeling less sports angst these days than playoffs. some rival fan bases. That’s small consolation during these incredibly Dave Checketts and Co. wanted to do things the right way, but those trying times for our community, but it’s one ray of light in a dark time. guys lacked the capital to get it done. Imagine if the global health crisis hit a year ago, before the Blues ended Finally the franchise got great ownership with the Stillman group. Finally their 50-year title drought with their storybook championship run. a great hockey market got the smart, stable hockey operation it always Worse yet, imagine if such a disaster struck in those difficult days before deserved. Tom Stillman’s group rescued the franchise from cash-poor ownership The franchise became financially viable. Its reward was the hugely and revitalized the business. successful Winter Classic. Then came the epic Cup run, followed by the This star-crossed franchise would have remained cursed. Long-suffering NHL All-Star weekend. Hockey’s future here became secure. fans would have added more what-ifs to their long list that included Bob So if the worst-case scenario arises and hockey doesn’t return until the Gassoff’s motorcycle crash, Judge Ed Houston’s arbitration ruling, the fall, the Blues will come back strong as ever. Garth Butcher Trade and Nick Kypreos eradicating Grant Fuhr. And they will still reign as Stanley Cup champions. Had the Blues not won a Cup after rising up to become one of the NHL’s model franchises, things would have been much worse for hockey fans. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 03.19.2020 At least they know that good times will eventually resume.

If the NHL resumes play this year — a really big if under the dire circumstances of the day — the Blues would be refreshed and good to go.

Repeating as Cup champions is difficult because the initial run takes such a toll. The Blues might have hit their mental and physical wall during their 2-7-3 downturn last month.

These days they are resting up while trying to keep themselves and their families safe from coronavirus.

Winger Vladimir Tarasenko would have to scrape off some rust after missing the bulk of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. But this shutdown gave him extra time to strengthen his shoulder and help it survive contact.

Other teams will get healthier, too, like the injury-battered Colorado Avalanche. But adding Tarasenko to a forward corps that saw Robert Thomas and Zach Sanford break out this season would make the Blues better on paper than they were a year ago.

If play does not resume, the Blues will be stronger than most franchises moving forward. General manager Doug Armstrong did not trade away long-term assets for rental help this season.

By contrast, the Tampa Bay Lightning “went all in” for this season and spent first-round picks to add gritty forwards Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow to their talent mix before the NHL trade deadline.

While those players are under contract for next season under team- friendly terms, the Lightning will have to make cuts elsewhere to make future payrolls work.

That team mortgaged its future while focusing on the 2020 playoffs. What if they aren’t held?

The Blues face two notable challenges after this season: Re-signing unrestricted free agent Alex Pietrangelo and restricted free agent Vince Dunn to maintain their elite defensive corps.

The inevitable retirement of Jay Bouwmeester will free up some money for that, but another move (trading goaltender Jake Allen?) might be necessary to make the salary cap work. 1172829 St Louis Blues But before Zimmerman called Frisella, he did some homework on him. He went to his website (AndyFrisella.com), where bold would be an understatement.

Who is Andy Frisella and why did he donate $100K to Blues’ game-night “HEY … WHAT’S UP? I’m Andy. I WIN. AT EVERYTHING.” workers? Read further and Frisella adds this: “That’s pretty much all you need to know about me. Yeah I know that’s cocky, but I promise you its the truth.”

By Jeremy Rutherford Mar 18, 2020 With that in the forefront of his mind, Zimmerman called Frisella on Saturday.

“You look up his success, you look on his website, and you see one When the NHL suspended its season last week due to the coronavirus person — a really successful, confident entrepreneur,” Zimmerman said. pandemic, there seemed to be as many eyes on which teams would “Then when I got on the phone with him, I couldn’t have found him any come to the aid of their part-time arena employees. It was a logical more sincere and authentic in his interest in making a difference.” concern, as these loyal workers would be without their game-night incomes. The same sentiment shined through when The Athletic reached Frisella this week and was asked about his Instagram post. Clubs who quickly announced plans to supplement those salaries were applauded, while others were criticized for not bucking up and even “I just wanted to get people’s attention, like, ‘Hey this is our responsibility taking a couple of days to declare their intentions. for the community in St. Louis to contribute where we can, relatively,'” Frisella said. “I feel that we have a tight-knit community that cares about The Blues were one of those teams working on a plan. each other, that always looks out for each other, and in times of distress, we put our differences aside and work together. I felt like that was sort of “(Dallas Mavericks owners) Mark Cuban kind of set the challenge for the this situation, where it needed to happen. sports world,” Blues CEO of business operations Chris Zimmerman said. “It is a complicated deal, sorting out who’s going to be included … how “The reason I put it out publicly, which is not something I would normally contracts play into it, third parties. For us, we viewed it as we needed to do, was because I feel like at certain times people need to know that do it the way that felt right for our organization, obviously with the interest things need to be done. My hope was to inspire some of the other local being able to support as many people as we can. entrepreneurs to take a mindset of … it doesn’t have to be a big gesture, but we have to look out for each other. So my goal for putting it out “We did have a couple of our players actually call on Friday and say, publicly was just to inspire that line of thinking.” ‘Hey, we’d like to find a way of contributing.’ (Blues general manager Doug Armstrong) talked to (captain Alex Pietrangelo), and that led to the But for Frisella, the emotional ties to St. Louis ran deeper. He has been a team deciding that they were all in and coming together. So we were life-long Blues fan, whose family has had season-tickets since he can certainly already thinking about our involvement in our program.” remember.

Then on Saturday, an Instagram post from a man named Andy Frisella, “I’ve been going to games since they were in the Arena, since I was a pledging $100,000 to help cover the cost of lost wages for the arena little bitty kid,” Frisella said. employees, popped up on social media and generated a massive buzz around town. Who is Andy Frisella? Was it real? And if so, would the Last year, when the Blues won the Stanley Cup, video coach Sean Blues respond to this incredibly generous gift? Ferrell, who’s close friends with Frisella’s brother, Sal, brought the Stanley Cup to their office building. It turns out, Frisella is a St. Louis native who co-founded Supplement Superstore and 1st Phorm nutritional supplements and has turned “We did,” Frisella said. “The Stanley Cup (run) was one of the coolest himself into a giant in the entrepreneurial world. His companies have a things that I’ve ever witnessed and been a part of, as far as St. Louis combined annual revenue of close to $200 million; his Instagram account sports, and having the Cup in our building was amazing!” has 1.5 million followers; and his highly regarded podcast “Real AF” has Furthermore, long before he was a success story, Frisella was seen as a millions of listeners. failure, and the idea of Blues part-time employees not being able to make “Who is he?” said Brock Wilson, a local trainer who met Frisella a couple ends meet bothered him. of years ago through 1st Phorm. “He is the entrepreneur of Frisella wrote in one Instagram post that teachers told him he was “too entrepreneurs. There’s a lot of people outside of St. Louis who know he dumb to go to Notre Dame or Duke because he wasn’t cream of the is. In the fitness industry, he’s a big deal. I think people here are just kind crop.” He says he “smoked a lot of weed” and “drank a lot.” But he wasn’t of stuck inside their own little bubble. People don’t assume that a guy a coward, and that gave him “an endless amount of whispers to silence.” who has that much money, who’s involved in the type of business, would be in St. Louis. He just kind of flies under the radar.” In 1999, along with friend Chris Klein, Frisella co-founded Supplement Superstore. On their first day open, they had $7 in sales, and it took eight Wilson, whose father, Rik, played for the Blues, was not surprised when months before they broke $200 on a single day. But today there are 24 he saw Frisella’s Instagram post Saturday. He retweeted it and added: stores, and they’re now selling their own product, 1st Phorm, inside those “You won’t find many better people in this world than him locations. @StLouisBlues. This needs to be seen and shared.” “The first six years we were in business, we waited tables and bartended “That’s just the type of person he is,” Wilson said. “There are certain to support our company,” Frisella said. “I have a very soft spot for these people always looking for a reason to step up and help others. He kind of workers. I know that they’ve living paycheck to paycheck, and I stepped right up and said, ‘I’ll take this on.’ There’s no question about it, know that they’re one check away from financial ruin. Those are the he’s a guy who’s going to step up. When he thinks something should be people who are being hit hard right now. done, something positive, he’ll do it. Anybody that knows him would tell you the exact same thing. I was hoping that somebody saw it.” “I’m very aware of that and care a lot about them. They go the extra mile every single time I’ve ever been (at Enterprise Center), and it doesn’t Zimmerman, who was hired by the Blues in 2014 and knows nearly every matter if they know you or not. When I was younger, I always told myself mover and shaker in town, admittedly did not know Frisella. It was if I ever got into position where I could help other people, I would. I’m someone whom Zimmerman plays hockey with on Friday mornings — trying to uphold that obligation.” aptly named the “Friday Morning Hockey League” — who made him aware of Frisella and his pledge. So on his phone call with Zimmerman, Frisella said, “Let’s get this fund started,” agreeing to follow through on his $100,000 donation. “One of the guys called me, left me a message, and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a friend who wants to help the part-time staff and he wants to make a “The thing that impressed me was he wanted to challenge people a little significant contribution,'” Zimmerman said. “So I gave my friend a call and bit,” Zimmerman said. “That was his instinct. Entrepreneurs see an he gave me a little background and Andy’s cell number.” opportunity and they grab it. And as he said, ‘St. Louis, the community, there were a lot of people who supported me and I’m happy that I’m in a position that I can play a role in this.’ That, for us, was humbling. “So that was Saturday and I just said, ‘Listen, this is fantastic, we’ve been working on this, we have some thoughts, and we need a little time to continue to build a full program. So I told him, ‘Hang tight and I’ll call you back.'”

In the meantime, as more NHL teams were committing to assistance programs, the Blues were one of those facing scrutiny. And Frisella’s Instagram post may have inadvertently added to the pressure.

“I didn’t think of the implications of them being criticized by me putting that on social (media) like that,” Frisella said. “I’ve seen some unfair criticism around town like, ‘Oh dude, they wouldn’t have done anything had you not stepped up.’ That’s not true. That’s not the facts of the matter. They were already in the process of doing this. These guys are first class and they care about the community. They care about their workers and they should get credit for being proactive. We spoke a lot over the weekend and these guys were totally on top of it.”

Wilson said Frisella never tries to show anybody up.

“That’s the quality thing about him,” Wilson said. “That’s probably one of the reasons why some of the people in St. Louis don’t necessarily know about him. He just does his thing. He just goes about his business. It’s not all about him, but if the opportunity arises, he’s going to make it known that he wants to do something about it and make a positive difference in this world.

“He is a leader and he’s raw and he calls it like it is. But he’s worked his ass off, and he’s just a regular guy. He’s just one of those guys, he makes everybody feel welcome, and he makes you feel like family. He’s just a good, down-to-earth person who genuinely cares about people.”

On Monday, the Blues unveiled the team’s employee assistance fund, which will “lessen the financial hardship being experienced by game- night workers at Enterprise Center due to the pause in the National Hockey League caused by COVID-19.” Club ownership, along with every player on the roster, made a contribution, and fans can help, too, by visiting blues.givesmart.com or texting “blues” to 76278.

THE BLUES ANNOUNCE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE FUND TO LESSEN THE HARDSHIP ON GAME-NIGHT EMPLOYEES @ENTERPRISE_CNTR. OWNERSHIP, PLAYERS AND LOCAL DONORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED INCLUDING $100,000 DONATION FROM SEASON-TICKET HOLDER ANDY FRISELLA. “BLUES FOR KIDS” WILL ALSO ADD FROM 50/50 RAFFLE. PIC.TWITTER.COM/QETISLHMQM

— JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) MARCH 16, 2020

Zimmerman called Frisella’s donation “another element that just made this opportunity come together for us, and we think it will be a meaningful program. The sports community has an understanding that besides what happens on the field, we have an obligation to make the biggest difference we can. We’re not able to solve everything, but we recognize that this is part of — as much as winning championships — helping make St. Louis stronger. So it was important for it not to be a race and be sure that we had a strong and a sound program that would make a difference for our staff.”

Frisella, who doesn’t believe his donation will cover all the costs, is proud of what he and the Blues have been able to accomplish thus far.

“The players stepped up, the ownership is stepping up, and everybody is contributing to this cause,” he said. “We’re going to have to have some other people step up. It doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $100,000, it’s our obligation when people are hurting. I don’t feel like it’s a special thing. I feel like it’s the way it should be. I look at it like, ‘Dude, this is just part of me paying my dues to be part of this community. I’m honored to live here, honored to be from here. I’m just a regular guy from St. Louis who is an entrepreneur who was fortunate enough to build a company and be in a good position to do something like this.

“But yeah, it feels good to know that maybe they’re going to get a little bit of certainty in an uncertain time. There’s something about St. Louis. We’ve always had that underdog mentality, and I feel like that’s the situation we’re in right now. We always figure out how to get it done, and it makes me feel extremely proud to be a part of this community.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172830 Tampa Bay Lightning

Could we see August and September hockey?

Ideas for the NHL are thrown around but no one knows what is coming in the age of coronavirus.

By Diana C. Nearhos

No one knows what is going to happen to the NHL season because of the coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t stop anyone from theorizing. A lot of ideas are bouncing around, most of which involve summer hockey.

Hey, we in Tampa Bay already watch hockey in warm weather, so why not?

“The only definite for us is we certainly don’t want to do anything around a resumption of play this season that will impact our ability to have a full season next year,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the website the Athletic.

A group of “superstar” players have come up with an idea to resume the season that involves August-September playoffs, Canadian sports network TSN reported. It sounds weird, but just might work.

There are projections from health experts that a return to normal could take until July or August. With that in mind, the thought of resuming play in May or June seems ambitious.

Maybe a May return is possible, either in an empty arena or with a small crowd. But if someone gets sick, it will shut things down again and probably for good.

Starting the playoffs in August could avoid overlap with the Olympics, still scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9 and be broadcast on NBC and its other networks. And NBC clearly does not want Olympic overlap.

The idea of the players — whom the TSN story didn’t identify — features training camps in early July, finishing some of the regular season in late July, two months of playoffs, then the draft, free agency and 2020-21 training camps in October. Next season would start in November, with a condensed schedule still with 82 games.

Why are regular-season games needed? Two reasons.

One: to even out the standings. Even if all teams don’t play 82 games, they could play the same amount. Right now the totals range from 68 to 71.

RELATED: What's life without sports? These people seem to have figured it out

Two: Players want a warmup. Anyone coming back from an injury tells you that practice doesn’t replicate game action. Players don’t want to go straight into the playoffs after four or five months without action.

But there are also reasons not to play regular-season games. Playing them would mean some teams — and some already have been eliminated from playoff contention — would reassemble and have a mini training camp, just to play a few games and disband again.

Under the players’ plan, the 2020-21 season could start in November without being shortened in number of games. It would mean no All-Star Game or bye week, and condensing the game schedule. November and December would look more like the tight February and March most teams play.

There’s not saying this idea will happen.

“We don’t know how long we’re going to be in pause and what the world’s going to look like over the next couple of days, hours, weeks,” Daly said.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172831 Tampa Bay Lightning

Report: Lightning, NCAA, Tampa lose millions in March

A ticket-sales search engine also projects the Lightning’s postponed home games in March to cost more than $17 million.

By Joey Knight

Stories about the coronavirus pandemic are free to read as a public service at tampabay.com/coronavirus. Sign up for our DayStarter newsletter to receive updates weekday mornings. If this coverage is important to you, consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Tampa Bay Times at tampabay.com/subscribe.

The cancellation of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament due to the coronavirus scare cost the NCAA nearly $12 million in ticket revenue at Amalie Arena alone, a national ticket search engine estimates.

The same site projects the Lightning’s seven postponed home contests in March to cost more than $17.6 million in ticket sales.

TicketiQ.com, which offered similar estimates for all NHL and NBA franchises, based its approximations on secondary market value, number of seats in a given arena, and number of contests canceled or postponed.

Amalie Arena was among eight first- and second-round host sites for the NCAA Tournament, which was set to begin with the “First Four” on Tuesday. The NCAA canceled its signature spring event, globally known as March Madness, last Thursday.

The average secondary market value for a ticket to NCAA tourney action at Amalie was $191, according to the site. With a capacity of 20,500 and three total sessions, estimated loss of ticket revenue was $11,746,500.

While the NCAA retains all ticket revenue from the tournament, Tampa clearly loses the tourism revenue that would’ve been generated from hotels, restaurants, etc.

The site determined average secondary market value for a Lightning home ticket was $132. With seven postponed home contests in March and a capacity of 19,092 for hockey, estimated loss of ticket revenue for the franchise was $17,641,008.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172832 Tampa Bay Lightning emotions of it, which is not surprising considering the kind of pro he is in the booth.

“I’m just approaching it with a little more intensity and making sure I’m as Has longtime Lightning play-by-play man Rick Peckham called his last prepared as I possibly can be,” he said. “You really don’t want to look game? back and said, ‘God, I wish I didn’t get distracted by the fact this is happening.’ I’ve got a job to do, and I’m really trying to focus as much as I can for every game.”

By Joe Smith Mar 18, 2020 Still, there have been several times Peckham has gotten nostalgic over calling his final game in a building, like the Bell Centre in Montreal. “A

couple of buildings, yeah, it’s kind of struck me,” he said. “You take a Rick Peckham was supposed to be in Vancouver on Monday night good look around, take in the national anthem and the atmosphere. You preparing for the Lightning’s road trip in Western Canada. soak it all in.”

But the longtime play-by-play man for Fox Sports instead had a quiet Peckham and his wife plan to travel a lot during his retirement, but they dinner with his wife, Vicki, at Grillsmith in Wesley Chapel. It was a rare have enjoyed laying low the past week or so. One of their sons, Alex, 27, break for Peckham from the self-quarantine many have been subject to is working from home in St. Pete, while their other son, Matthew, 25, is during the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down most of the sports out in Las Vegas. So they’ve been checking on both of them. world. The NHL isn’t likely to return until mid-May at the earliest. But Peckham is just trying to stay healthy while he waits for a chance to “This is definitely a different feeling, there’s no question,” Peckham said. get back in the booth. Fox Sports Sun announced Tuesday a plan to rebroadcast all of the Lightning wins from this season (in primetime from This is certainly not the swan song Peckham, 64, envisioned, as the March 22-April 14), so you can still get your hockey fix. veteran broadcaster is retiring this summer following nearly a quarter- century in the Lightning booth. While most, if not all, of Tampa Bay’s OFFICIAL: FOX SPORTS FL & FOX SPORTS SUN ARE BRINGING players and staff will return to the ice, even if it’s next season, it’s fair to BACK REPLAYS OF THE BEST #NBA & #NHL WINS IN PRIMETIME. wonder if Peckham has called his last game. DETAILS:#HEATTWITTER : HTTPS://T.CO/H1EOTJHFPX#MAGICABOVEALL : No farewell salute from fans. No “Rick Peckham Night” at Amalie Arena. HTTPS://T.CO/BBRDHWDIOH#FLAPANTHERS : It’s hard to imagine Peckham’s last words on TV may have come after HTTPS://T.CO/8GS0EMWMFL#GOBOLTS : the Lightning’s 2-1 loss in Toronto last week. HTTPS://T.CO/8RNSIBFGOE

Peckham, ever the optimist, doesn’t want to think that way, that this is the — FOX SPORTS FLORIDA & SUN (@FOXSPORTSFL) MARCH 17, end. 2020

“That possibility is there,” Peckham said. “But most of my thoughts are That way, you can get your Peckham fix, too. geared towards when we are going to get started again. I’m very hopeful. I feel very strongly at this point in what (NHL commissioner) Gary A Lightning fan started a petition on Twitter Monday hoping to get 100 Bettman has said about how we really want to restart the season. signatures in favor of getting Peckham another year. “Without any kind of However long that might take. But I feel we’re going to start again. The fanfare or send-off,” the fan wrote, “a proper goodbye and closure was CDC came out and said no events over 50 people for eight weeks, so it taken from all of us.” could be mid-May. It might get pushed back further. You have no idea I sent the link to Peckham, with 66 (and counting) having already signed. what it might be. “That’s funny,” he said. “And flattering that anyone signed on.” “But it’ll be really interesting to see how it’ll unfold. It’s a downer to know you’re going to be idle for that length of time. I really don’t think about Lightning fans just hope Peckham hasn’t signed off for the final time. having called my last game. That possibility exists, there’s no question. But you never know.” The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020

Like the Lightning players, Peckham arrived last Thursday morning at Amalie Arena expecting to call that night’s game against the Flyers. He had his usual conference call with producers at 9 a.m. and went over that night’s broadcast. Peckham arrived for the team’s “Morning Skate Show,” which airs online during the skate, and quickly received word that the game had been canceled.

He watched in the hall as the Flyers gear was packed up. Players started walking out to their cars.

“We were picking up little snippets on the news and from social media, but you didn’t really know where this was going,” Peckham said. “We knew play would be suspended for more than just that day. It was going to be a few weeks.”

Peckham said he’s played golf once since the shutdown and hopes to play a few more times while the course is open. He usually tapes Lightning games, and has 10-12 of them on file, giving him ample studying material to keep sharp. But Peckham has also taken the time off to feed another passion, watching old rock concerts on TV, like “Eagles Live” in Melbourne, and Matchbox 20.

“It’s still the early days, but it takes you back to the lockout-type situation,” Peckham said. “Where you are ready to go to work and you hope to go to work, and it’s all out of your control. Nobody is going to work. It’s obviously a bigger scale in terms of how it’s impacting every sport and everyone. You almost feel like there should be some weather phenomenon tied to it. We’re used to gearing up for a hurricane here in Florida where the cable and power are out. But nothing like that is going on except the events.”

Peckham said he’s been enjoying his final season and is not trying to look ahead to what’s next. He doesn’t want to get caught up in the 1172833 Toronto Maple Leafs EMPTY CUP The Kelly Cup, or at least its doppelganger, remains in possession of the

2019 champion Newfoundland Growlers, despite the ECHL regular Leafs' farm team rocked by COVID-19 closure season and playoffs being cancelled.

But don’t expect the Growlers to call themselves 2020 Kelly Cup champs by default. Lance Hornby “You win that right only on the ice,” said COO Glenn Stanford.

There have been Twitter suggestions that a September mini-tournament The Maple Leafs’ ECHL championship farm team won’t get a chance to could be run among the highest point finishers so the Cup doesn’t have a defend its title. blank spot, or that it go to the top regular season team when play was halted. While the Leafs farm team led its division with 85 points, the But that’s the least of the problems for management of the Newfoundland Florida Everblades (Nashville) and South Carolina Stingrays Growlers, who had to recall the team from a road trip two time zones (Washington) each have 92. away, deal with the cancellation (not just postponement) of its entire season, then test and get its players off The Rock before borders and Controversy ensued last year after Newfoundland beat Toledo for the flights shut down. title, but the 2017 and ‘18 champions, the Colorado Eagles, refused to give the Cup back to the league. A new one was made for the Growlers, “It’s disappointing for our people here, but as we live every day, you see after which Colorado returned the original. The league allowed how big (COVID-19) is globally,” Growlers Chief Operating Officer Glenn Newfoundland to keep the new edition at Mile One Centre in St. John’s. Stanford told Postmedia on Wednesday. “This is bigger than the sporting world. Toronto Sun LOADED: 03.19.2020 “We were in the Toronto area, scheduled to play in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Thursday (March 12), made the decision to stay where we were and were instructed by the league to go home Saturday (on a commercial flight).”

The 26-team league’s board of governors and the Professional Hockey Players Association decided to end the regular season and playoffs that day.

It’s been a whirlwind of activity since for a team that has players of all nationalities. Three on the roster are from the home province, the rest a mix of Canadians, Americans and Eastern Europeans. Deciding to treat this week like a regular season or playoff elimination, coach John Snowden and his staff conducted exit meeting and physicals in addition to COVID-19 testing, then paid the players’ way back to their hometowns. ECHLers make an average salary of $630 a week and are sometimes called upon to play many positions on a small roster and help in some off-ice roles.

“It was tough, they’re mostly young kids and hockey is their only business,” Stanford said. “We’re doing the best we can to get them back home. (St. John’s) is not a place you can put someone in a car or a train. There is only one way out of here and the borders and the skies are closing fast.”

Stanford said senior vice-president Trevor Murphy worked wonders with the airlines to speed up the travel process. The two hardest cases were goaltender Maxim Zhukov, who headed back to Russia on Wednesday, and Belarus native Sergei Sapego, a defenceman intending to leave the city this Friday.

The flight path from St. John’s to Toronto has been busy this season, with the promotion of many Marlies to the Leafs requiring substitutes from the Growlers. Fourteen on the latter’s roster have American Hockey League contracts with the Marlies, as that league waits to hear if its regular season, playoffs or both get scrapped.

According to the St. John’s Telegram, the ECHL stopped paying players this week, but will maintain health insurance coverage until June 30.

The Growlers, who led their division with a record of 42-17-1, had 12 games remaining, six at Mile One Centre in St. John’s. Recent attendance was rising at the 6,300 seat rink as playoffs approached with one homestand to go and the promise of another profitable post-season run.

“No question, we’re going to take a financial hit,” Stamford said. “At this point, we just have to see where we are on the other side of this (when games resume).”

As for arena staff and event workers getting any compensation, Stanford said “right now, we’re just treating this year as if we didn’t make the playoffs. We’re sending most of our staff home.”

What could make up for some of the lost revenue is another visit by the Leafs at training camp this September – if the NHL is back to normal by then. The big club spent a successful week there last autumn and talks for a possible return trip have begun. 1172834 Toronto Maple Leafs masterful space creators by drawing so much attention to themselves, Marner’s a better playmaker. Marner spots the trailer with more consistency, and layers his passes with more deception, giving Matthews all the space that he needs to tee-up the one-timer. The Video Room: Auston Matthews’ goal-scoring hit next level thanks to one-timer The Marner effect is also apparent in what Marner does away from the puck. Marner, with his constant motion and attention to detail, has such a strong off-puck gravitational pull. He makes the little plays, like activating into the middle lane or tying up a stick that creates space for his By Mitch Brown Mar 18, 2020 teammates behind him. That space gives Matthews’ more space for the one-timer.

The best players are the best because they continuously improve. More important than shooting ability for scoring goals is the ability to get Sometimes, they get faster, leaner, or stronger. Others, they refine a skill open. Matthews is exceptional at relocating without the puck to shoot. He to make it their own and bring their game to another level. finds pockets of space all over the ice with such frequency that there’s no discernible preferred location other than “the slot.” With his strength and Auston Matthews is one of these players. After being the No. 1 pick in the dexterity, he’s able to occupy even the tiniest pockets while keeping his 2016 draft, he reinvented his shooting mechanics – even though his body readied for a shot. shooting was his defining skill. He did it again the following offseason, taking the curl-and-drag wrister and making it his own. The one-timer allows Matthews to relocate to pockets of space further away from the net, without a loss in scoring threat. He’s added more Last summer, Matthews did it again, adding a one-timer. But after much range as a shooter – yet again – turning him into a threat to score from early-season hype (Matthews scored on two one-timers in his first three anywhere in the offensive zone. Now, Matthews can use the top left of games), it took the better part of three months for Matthews’ to start the circle not just for curl-and-drags, but also for one-timers. In the clip hitting the one-timer consistently. From December 21 – the game that below, Matthews’ feet are pointed toward the corner while he shoots Mitch Marner took William Nylander’s place alongside Matthews – to short-side on a spin-around one-timer – that’s incredible dexterity. when the NHL hit pause on the season, he had 11 goals on one-timers. On the topic of shooting dexterity, the best at taking one-timers adjust to The best way to understand the importance of the one-timer is through the pass. Alexander Ovechkin, for example, isn’t getting spoon-fed the addition of the curl-and-drag wrister. Before the curl-and-drag wrister perfect passes from John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom every power emerged as Matthews’ defining weapon in 2017-18, he was already one play – he’s adjusting to receive every pass in his wheelhouse. And it just of the league’s most diverse finishers. A deceptive wrister gave Matthews so happens that his wheelhouse is larger than anyone else in the NHL. range, but he primarily scored around the net in just about every way Matthews isn’t Ovechkin-good at adjusting to the pass, but he’s near the possible: Backhand-forehand transitions through traffic, one-handed top of the league already. deflections, tip-ins with a defender on his back, shots placed high, low, and through limbs of the goaltender, and he was always ready to shoot Here’s an example of Matthews’ ability to one-time tricky passes. With with a weight shift crafted for every scenario. If there was one defining Marner creating space behind him, Tavares makes a cross-ice pass to skill, it was Matthews’ catch-and-release and two-touch shooting, which Matthews that’s headed just a bit behind Matthews’ skates. Since the comprised of 17 of Matthews’ 44 goals in his rookie season (and pass reception requires the player to be off-balance, most players turn playoffs). this pass into a catch-and-release shot. For Matthews, it’s a one-timer, shaving that split-second off to increase the likelihood of a goal. Matthews wasn’t content to just be a 40-goal scorer. So, he added the curl-and-drag, a shot that provides a solution to two of hockey’s trickiest The mechanics behind that shot are special. With both toes pointed problems: A well-positioned defender and a well-positioned goaltender. toward the corner, Matthews can’t have his hips square to the pass. The curl-and-drag motion of the shot sets-up the defender to be used as Much of the power in a one-timer comes from the rotation of the hips, the a screen, blocking the goaltender’s sightline of the puck. The motion 90-degree-or-so twist of the hips facing the puck and turning toward the simultaneously changes the angle of the shot, giving the shooter the net. Matthews has no hip rotation in that shot. The power’s coming from edge in the shooter-goaltender chess match. his upper-body and feet. That’s unreal.

Plenty of players have used the curl-and-drag wrister, set-up defenders The other part of adjusting to the pass is physically moving to be square for screens, or changed the angle in their shooting motion before to the pass. Matthews is a master of tracking the play, and he’s applied Matthews. But he’s perhaps the best at combining all three with such to setting up the one-timer. It’s especially noticeable on the power play, velocity. Of the 21 curl-and-drag wristers he’s scored on his career, no where Matthews makes little shuffles to end up in the right place just as two look the same. He’s used the curl-and-drag in catch-and-release the pass comes to him. shots, picking corners, shooting five-hole, or aiming between the blocker The one-timer has changed the complexion of the Leafs power play, with and torso. Matthews able to one-timer shots from both Marner and Nylander on The curl-and-drag wrister gave Matthews another tool to score with; it their off-sides. Since the game that Matthews’ found his one-timer in late- gave Matthews a larger finishing range. The curl-and-drag is primarily December, the Leafs power play is 31.8 percent, with Matthews scoring (but not exclusively) used on the strong-side, as the motion brings the six goals and adding five assists. puck closer to the middle of the ice. So, the shot didn’t open up the right While Matthews’ one-timer has been a story all season, the goals are just side of the ice (Matthews’ off-side) any more than previously. Which, starting to come. Matthews wasn’t taking one-timers last season – now, honestly, wasn’t a big deal – Matthews still shot and scored plenty from he has one of the best one-timers in the NHL. His ability to adapt to the the right side of the ice, but there was a tiny bit of a room to improve. pass and shoot anywhere around his feet without any loss in power or Enter: The one-timer. The one-timer is that tiny bit of improvement, but it placement is rare; it’s the type of improvement that only elite athletes has a significant impact. The one-timer went from zero percent of seem capable of. Matthews’ goals in 2016-17 to 27 percent this season, essentially The addition of the one-timer hasn’t come at a loss of Matthews’ replacing the catch-and-release and two-touch finishes in Matthews’ exceptional finishing talent around the net — it complements it. He can scoring output. still make those crazy deflections with a defender on his back. He’s still When in position for a one-timer, Matthews doesn’t have to catch the picking corners with a wrister that combines deception and an insanely pass anymore. Already one of the league’s quickest shooters before the quick release. And he’s made significant improvements to his defensive one-timer, Matthews doesn’t need a half-second to catch and shoot the game in these past couple months. puck anymore – he can simply hammer it. Here’s an example: Can Matthews hit 60? We may not find out this season but with this one- Last season, Matthews usually took that pass and stepped in before timer added to seemingly infinite shooting arsenal, it may be in his future. shooting – but by then, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s likely ready for The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 the shot, and a defender is pressuring Matthews. Instead, it’s a perfectly placed one-timer over the goaltender’s shoulder and just under the bar.

It’s no coincidence that Matthews’ one-timer scoring skyrocketed when Marner moved up to the top-line. While both Marner and Nylander are 1172835 Vegas Golden Knights The game began a bad trend for the Knights that ultimately cost Gallant his job. The team also fell behind 3-0 in its next three games — all at T- Mobile Arena — to derail a 4-0 start to a long homestand.

Golden Knights’ top 5 games: Here’s No. 2 on the RJ’s list After one more loss, a 4-2 defeat at Buffalo, Gallant was fired. The Knights’ win against the Blues was nice, but it was ultimately a sugar high that exposed real problems.

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal March 18, 2020 - 5:21 PM Why it’s No. 2: It was the greatest comeback in Knights history and came against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.19.2020 Editor’s note: With the NHL season suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Review-Journal will count down the Golden Knights’ top five games of the season, in our opinion.

The game: Game No. 45, a 5-4 home overtime win over the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 4.

The background: Two days prior, then-Knights coach Gerard Gallant stormed out of his postgame news conference after a question about his club’s record against winning teams.

It was almost too perfect that the Blues were the Knights’ next opponent.

St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champion, came to Las Vegas as the Central Division leaders. The Blues were 8-2 in their past 10 games. They were a perfect challenge. And the Knights rose up to meet it.

What happened: The game looked over after 20 minutes.

The Blues led 3-0 after the first period, stunning the T-Mobile Arena crowd. Something was said in the Knights’ locker room at intermission — it’s unclear what — and the home team came out for the second completely different.

The next time the Knights were in their dressing room, they trailed 3-2 after goals by forwards Ryan Reaves and Paul Stastny. They tied the game 3:02 into the third with a goal from rookie Nicolas Roy and took a 4-3 lead 6:48 later on right wing Reilly Smith’s goal.

It was pandemonium. The Knights had taken a hard punch and answered with one of their own.

But David Perron quieted the boisterous crowd. The former Knights wing scored on the power play with 7:10 left to tie the game at 4. The game then hung in the balance for 10 tension-filled minutes through the end of the third and into overtime.

Knights center Chandler Stephenson then stepped up to play hero.

The Blues had a potential 3-on-1 developing in the neutral zone with about two minutes left in overtime, but Stephenson backchecked hard. He caught up with puck carrier Brayden Schenn below the blue line and forced a wayward pass across the defensive zone.

Stephenson circled around the net while St. Louis forward Robert Thomas grabbed the puck by the right wall. Knights right wing Alex Tuch applied enough pressure to get the puck loose, and Stephenson came flying with speed through the right circle to pick it up for a breakaway.

One backhand move on Blues goaltender Jake Allen later and the game was over. Stephenson, who had been with the Knights barely a month, became the improbable author of the greatest comeback in franchise history.

Never before had the team erased a three-goal deficit and won. It now had done so against one of the NHL’s best teams.

“Obviously, you never want to get down (3-0), but when it happens, it now proves we can come back,” Stephenson said.

Game MVP: The fourth line of left wing Tomas Nosek, Roy and Reaves can share this one.

Gallant mixed up his top three forward lines after the dismal first period but left the fourth untouched. That decision paid off in a major way because the group contributed two goals to the comeback and showed fight when their teammates didn’t.

The performance was especially sweet for Reaves, who played for the Blues from 2010 to 2017.

“I do,” Reaves said when asked if he enjoyed scoring against his former team. “A lot. Sick of those guys winning against us, so that was nice.”

The aftermath: The comeback was unsustainable. 1172836 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan named Hobey Baker finalist

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan was named one of 10 finalists Wednesday for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best player in college hockey.

The Providence sophomore was the NCAA scoring champion with 52 points, seven more than any other player in men’s Division I.

Dugan led the nation in points per game (1.53), assists (42), assists per game (1.24), power-play points (22) and even-strength points (30).

The Knights are expected to make a strong push to sign Dugan, who turns 22 on Tuesday, now that his season is over. The 6-foot-2-inch, 194- pound wing was selected by the Knights in the fifth round of the 2017 draft.

The three finalists for the award, college hockey’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, will be announced April 2 and the winner April 10.

The finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches plus online fan balloting.

An additional round of fan balloting at hobeybaker.com runs Thursday through March 29.

Dugan is the first top 10 Hobey Baker Award finalist from Providence since 1992 and the eighth in program history.

Dugan was named a first-team All-Hockey East Association selection Wednesday after leading the conference with 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) in 24 games.

In 75 career games for the Friars, Dugan has 20 goals and 71 assists for 91 points.

VGK replay

The Knights and AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain are helping fill the void left by the NHL season being suspended.

The team’s TV home is airing 16 classic games each night at 7 p.m. through April 2. The first game, shown Wednesday, was the Knights’ 4-3 victory over Ottawa on Oct. 28, 2018, when Jonathan Marchessault scored on a penalty shot in overtime.

AT&T SportsNet is available on DIRECTV Channel 684, DISH Channel 414, Cox channels 313 (SD) and 1313 (HD) and CenturyLink channels 760 (SD) and 1760 (HD).

Fans are invited to engage with the Knights during the broadcasts using the hashtag #VGKReplay on social media.

Each broadcast will be 90 minutes and will capture the highlights of each game.

Additional games will include some of the biggest moments from the team’s first two seasons, including the first regular-season game, William Karlsson’s between-the-legs goal and Mark Stone’s debut.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172837 Vegas Golden Knights Tuch scored the winning goal in a shootout to beat the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2.

Despite trailing 2-0 in the first period, the Golden Knights scored the next Fill your hockey void with 16 days of Golden Knights games three goals to stun the crowd inside Amalie Arena.

The shootout win snapped a four-game losing streak for Vegas.

By Rochelle Richards Las Vegas Review-Journal March 18, 2020 - 10:48 Monday, March 23 – Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars (Feb. 26, 2019) am In Stone’s Vegas debut, the Golden Knights scored three third-period goals to beat the Stars, 4-1, at T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights are helping you fill the void left by the NHL season Stone’s new linemate, Pacioretty, scored twice to increase his goal total being placed on pause with 16 days of hockey. to 20 on the season with Vegas.

Beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m., AT&T SportsNet in Las Vegas will air Schmidt and Brayden McNabb capped off the win with empty-net goals. 16 classic Knights games from the team’s first two seasons. AT&T Tuesday, March 24 – Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets (March 21, SportsNet is available on DIRECTV channel 684, DISH channel 414, Cox 2019) channels 313 (SD) and 1313 (HD) and CenturyLink channels 760 (SD) and 1760 (HD). Malcolm Subban recorded his first career shutout after making 20 saves in a 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Fans are invited to engage with the Knights during the broadcasts using the hashtag #VGKReplay on social media. Reilly Smith and Karlsson each scored twice.

Each game broadcast will be 90 minutes and will capture the highlights of In the second period, Karlsson collected a goal just 24 seconds after each contest. Smith, securing the victory.

The first game featured will be the Knights’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Wednesday, March 25 – Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks (April 14, Ottawa Senators from Oct. 28, 2018, when Vegas forward Jonathan 2019) Marchessault scored a penalty-shot goal in overtime. Additional games will include some of the biggest moments from the regular-season and The Golden Knights defeated the San Jose Sharks, 6-3, to take a 2-1 some playoff games. lead in their first-round playoff series.

Here is the schedule of games: Stone collected his first hat trick as a Golden Knight and finished with two assists. (All times 7 p.m. PT; original air date in parentheses): Paul Stastny had two goals and three assists, and Pacioretty recorded a Wednesday, March 18 – Golden Knights vs. Ottawa Senators (Oct. 28, goal and an assist. 2018) Thursday, March 26 – Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (Oct. 6, 2017) The Golden Knights battled back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators, 4-3, in overtime at T-Mobile Arena. In the franchise’s first regular-season game, the Golden Knights came out on top, 2-1, against the Dallas Stars. Marchessault scored the game-winning goal after being awarded a penalty shot when future teammate Mark Stone hooked Marchessault on James Neal had the first two goals ever scored by a Golden Knight. a breakaway in OT. This game was played in Dallas just five days after the Oct. 1 tragedy Alex Tuch finished the game with two goals, and Ryan Reaves chipped that claimed the lives of 58 people in Las Vegas. in with a power-play goal. Friday, March 27 – Golden Knights vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Dec. 19, Thursday, March 19 – Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks (Nov. 24, 2017) 2018) Shea Theodore broke a 3-3 tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring the It took only 14 seconds for William Karlsson and the Golden Knights to winning goal with just 2.3 seconds left in the third period. jump on the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena en route to a 6-0 victory. The 4-3 victory broke Tampa Bay’s league-leading seven-game win Max Pacioretty scored twice, and Colin Miller, William Carrier and Tuch streak. each scored once. Erik Haula, Neal and Marchessault each scored in the victory.

With the win, Marc-Andre Fleury earned his league-leading fifth shutout Saturday, March 28 – Golden Knights at Calgary Flames (Jan. 30, 2018) of the season. The 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames was the 33rd victory for the Friday, March 20 – Golden Knights vs. Washington Capitals (Dec. 4, Golden Knights and tied the team for most NHL victories by a first-year 2018) team.

In a rematch of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, the Golden Knights topped Vegas scored three times in 53 seconds during the final frame with goals the Washington Capitals, 5-3, at T-Mobile Arena. from Haula, Marchessault and David Perron.

With just over a minute to go in regulation, Nate Schmidt scored the Fleury made 31 saves in the team’s first win at Calgary. winning goal, his first of the season, against his former team. Sunday, March 29 – Golden Knights at Philadelphia Flyers (March 12, Vegas also got goals from Reaves, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Cody 2018) Eakin. Fleury recorded his 400th career win as Vegas defeated Philadelphia, 3- Saturday, March 21 – Golden Knights vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Jan. 19, 2. 2019) Carpenter scored with 2:40 to go to give Vegas a lead it would not Marchessault recorded the third hat trick in franchise history as the relinquish. Golden Knights cruised past the Penguins, 7-3, at T-Mobile Arena. Haula and Karlsson also scored power-play goals for Vegas in the win. Fleury made 34 saves on 37 shots to get the win over his former team. Monday, March 30 – Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames (March 18, In his first game back in more than a month, Miller posted two assists to 2018) help drive the Golden Knights’ offense from the back end. Karlsson registered a natural hat trick in Vegas’ 4-0 win against the Sunday, March 22 – Golden Knights at Tampa Bay Lightning (Feb. 5, Flames. 2019) Fleury stopped all 42 shots that came his way for his fourth shutout of the team’s inaugural season.

Schmidt also had a multi-point game, collecting two assists.

Tuesday, March 31 – Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche (March 26, 2018)

The Golden Knights clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history with a 4-1 win against the Avalanche.

Karlsson reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career during a three-point showing (1 goal, 2 assists).

Marchessault also recorded three points (1 goal, 2 assists) for Vegas. Shea Theodore (1 goal, 1 assist) and Alex Tuch (1 goal) also scored.

Wednesday, April 1 – Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks (March 31, 2018)

Karlsson scored his iconic through-the-legs goal to help the Golden Knights clinch the Pacific Division in a 3-2 win vs. San Jose.

The win was the 50th of the season for Vegas and guaranteed the team home ice through the first two rounds of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Theodore and Oscar Lindberg chipped in one goal each before Karlsson’s game winner in the third period.

Thursday, April 2 – Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings (April 17, 2018)

McNabb scored the game’s only goal as Vegas completed the first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 at Staples Center.

Fleury had his second shutout of the series as the Golden Knights became the first NHL team to sweep a series in its inaugural season.

Reilly Smith and William Karlsson assisted on McNabb’s winner against his former team.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172838 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan in running for top college award

By Justin Emerson Wednesday, March 18, 2020 | 3:07 p.m.

Golden Knights prospect Jack Dugan has been named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, the prize awarded to the top collegiate player in men’s hockey each season.

The top three finalists will be announced on April 2, and the winner will be announced on April 10.

Dugan, a sophomore forward, led the NCAA this season with 52 points and 42 assists in 34 games for Providence College. He was a fifth-round pick by the Golden Knights in 2017 and has seen his stock skyrocket since then.

Had the NHL season not paused, it’s possible Dugan would have seen action with the Golden Knights this season. In December, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said that Dugan looks like he’s ready for professional hockey and would have been eligible to sign a contract once his season at Providence had concluded.

Depending on when that was — the NCAA canceled its postseason — Dugan could have played in a regular season game. He is still eligible to sign this year depending on when and if the NHL season resumes. If he signs, he would be eligible to play in the postseason.

The Golden Knights still have two seasons to sign Dugan before they lose his draft rights, so he could return to Providence for his junior season if he and the Golden Knights decide that is the best path for his development. It’s unlikely he would return for a senior season, as Vegas would want to get him in the organization before he is eligible for free agency at the end of this senior year.

It’s the second year in a row the Golden Knights have been affiliated with a finalist. Last season the Golden Knights signed college free agent defenseman Jimmy Schuldt to an entry-level contract after his season at St. Cloud State had finished. He finished in the top three before the award was ultimately awarded to Colorado defenseman Cale Makar.

Schuldt played in one game for Vegas last season, as did fellow undrafted free agent Zach Whitecloud in 2017-18. Neither was eligible for the postseason in those seasons as Dugan is this year because they were not part of the organization at the trade deadline. As a Vegas draft pick, Dugan is on the team’s reserve list.

Golden Knights president of hockey operations George McPhee won the Hobey Baker in 1982 with Bowling Green State University.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172839 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights classic games to fill live hockey void on TV

By Justin Emerson Wednesday, March 18, 2020 | 11:07 a.m.

Looking for your fix of Golden Knights hockey? AT&T SportsNet has you covered.

The network announced today that with no live games after the NHL suspended its season last week because of the coronavirus, it will begin airing classic games from the Golden Knights’ first two seasons as part of a VGK Replay series.

Vegas was originally scheduled to play a road game against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. AT&T SportsNet will instead air at 7 p.m. today an Oct. 28, 2018, game against the Ottawa Senators in which Jonathan Marchessault won the game on an overtime penalty shots.

The VGK Replay games will air at 7 p.m. daily through April 2. They will be shortened to 90 minutes.

The games are available on the regular channels for Golden Knights games: Cox 313 (SD) and 1313 (HD), DIRECTV 684, DISH 414 and Century Link 760 (SD) and 1760 (HD).

Here is the full schedule of games:

• Wednesday, March 18 — Oct. 28, 2018, vs. Ottawa Senators; Jonathan Marchessault overtime penalty shot.

• Thursday, March 19 — Nov. 24, 2018, vs. San Jose Sharks; 6-0 home shutout.

• Friday, March 20 — Dec. 4, 2018, vs. Washington Capitals; rematch of Stanley Cup Final featuring Nate Schmidt game-winner.

• Saturday, March 21 — Jan. 19, 2019, vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; Jonathan Marchessault hat trick.

• Sunday, March 22 — Feb. 5, 2019, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning; Alex Tuch shootout winner to beat the league-leading Lightning.

• Monday, March 23 — Feb. 28, 2019, vs. Dallas Stars; Mark Stone’s Golden Knights debut.

• Tuesday, March 24 — March 21, 2019, vs. Winnipeg Jets; Malcolm Subban’s first career shutout.

• Wednesday, March 25 — April 14, 2019, vs. San Jose Sharks; Mark Stone hat trick in Game 3 of first round playoff series.

• Thursday, March 26 — Oct. 6, 2017, vs Dallas Stars; inaugural game.

• Friday, March 27 — Dec. 19, 2017, vs. Tampa Bay Lightning; Shea Theodore game-winner with 2.3 seconds left in regulation.

• Saturday, March 28 — Jan. 30, 2018, vs. Calgary Flames; three goals in final 53 seconds to win in regulation.

• Sunday, March 29 — March 12, 2018, vs. Philadelphia Flyers; Marc- Andre Fleury’s 400th career win.

• Monday, March 30 — March 18, 2018, vs. Calgary Flames; William Karlsson hat trick, Marc Andre-Fleury 42-save shutout.

• Tuesday, March 31 — March 26, 2018, vs. Colorado Avalanche; clinching playoff berth in inaugural season.

• Wednesday, April 1 — March 31, 2018, vs. San Jose Sharks; William Karlsson between-the-legs goal to clinch Pacific Division.

• Thursday, April 2 — April 17, 2018, at Los Angeles Kings; Golden Knights complete sweep of Kings in first round of playoffs.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172840 Vegas Golden Knights prior to this season. If he continues developing an offensive side to his game, Korczak could quickly become one of Vegas’ best prospects.

Outlook for next season: Vegas has quite the logjam of defensive Golden Knights prospects: Where the major junior players stand for next prospects with Nic Hague and Zach Whitecloud both seeing significant season time in the NHL this year, and Dylan Coghlan and Jimmy Schuldt still waiting for their turns in the AHL. But while the Golden Knights appear to have a slew of NHL-caliber defensemen, none have separated themselves as “the guy.” I think Korczak has the potential to do that, but By Jesse Granger Mar 18, 2020 probably not as soon as this fall. He’s most likely heading for another year in the WHL.

The QMJHL announced Tuesday that it had officially canceled the Connor Corcoran, D, 19 (Windsor Spitfires) remainder of its regular season. The ECHL already canceled the Fifth-round pick in 2018 (No. 154 overall) remainder of its season. Other CHL major junior leagues are still in a pause similar to the NHL, as is the AHL. Corcoran wrapped up his junior career this season with yet another step in the right direction. His progression with the Spitfires has been on a As we try to put an awkward bow on this strange end to a hockey steady incline since he joined Windsor in 2016. In his first season of OHL season, let’s look at how each of the Golden Knights young prospects hockey he recorded only 10 points. In year two he improved to 24; then performed this season away from Vegas. 32 points in his third season. Over the next three days, I’ll cover 26 prospects for the Golden Knights, This year Corcoran took the final step, becoming Windsor’s unquestioned including a couple over-21 players in Jimmy Schuldt and Keegan No. 1 defenseman and adding a whopping 54 points in his best offensive Kolesar. I’ve broken them into three groups depending on where the showing. prospects played this season: Outlook for next season: Unlike Krebs and Korczak, Corcoran is • Canadian major junior hockey (OHL, WHL and QMJHL) definitely starting his professional career this fall. It will most likely be with • Minor league professional hockey (AHL and ECHL) the Las Vegas AHL team, which will play its home games at The Orleans Arena, just down the street from T-Mobile Arena. • College hockey and overseas leagues (NCAA and KHL in Russia) Marcus Kallionkieli, LW, 18 (Brandon Wheat Kings) We’ll begin with the eight Golden Knights prospects who played in the CHL this season. Fifth-round pick in 2019 (No. 139 overall)

Peyton Krebs, C, 19 (Winnipeg Ice) The good news is Kallionkieli probably knows his way around City National Arena better than any Golden Knights prospect. The bad news First-round pick in 2019 (No. 17 overall) is that’s because he spent the first two months of this season working out and rehabbing there instead of playing hockey with the Wheat Kings. The Golden Knights’ most-prized prospect began the 2019-20 season in Kallionkieli suffered a lower-body injury this summer that required Las Vegas, still receiving treatment and rehab for the Achilles surgery he surgery, keeping him out of WHL games until December. In the few times underwent just before the NHL Draft. Once fully healthy, Krebs joined the I saw him on the ice, he seemed much bigger than he’s listed (6-foot-1, Winnipeg Ice for his season debut on Nov. 17, and was nothing short of 192 pounds). As he grows into his body he has the potential to be a dominant in his 38 games. power forward. Krebs produced at a nearly two-points-per-game pace, with 60 points in After joining the Wheat Kings, he struggled to find his rhythm with only 38 games in the WHL. His playmaking ability that drew the Golden one goal and 10 assists in 24 games. That’s not too surprising, Knights to him as a prospect was on display, as he dished out 48 assists considering it’s his first time playing in that league and he was coming off during that short timeframe. a major injury. He has more offensive upside than that, shown by his 29 Krebs will likely never be a big-time scorer, but his physical attributes, goals and 24 assists in only 58 games in the USHL the year prior. skating and vision give him the highest ceiling of any Vegas prospect. Outlook for next season: Kallionkieli is still only 18 years old, so it will be The fact that he was able to jump on the ice in the middle of the WHL exciting to see what he can do with a full season in the WHL next year. season, coming off a major injury, and dominate the way he did, speaks volumes about where he is in his development. Xavier Bouchard, D, 20 (Cape Breton Eagles)

Outlook for next season: While there’s an outside chance Krebs could Sixth-round pick in 2018 (No. 185 overall) push for a roster spot on the Golden Knights, he’s most likely heading back to Winnipeg for his fourth season with the Ice. He won’t be old Bouchard made quite an impression with his physicality during the rookie enough to leave junior hockey for the AHL. That will give him another showcase tournament in Anaheim last summer. He was one of the chance at competing with Team Canada in the World Junior hardest hitters on the ice, regardless of team, but his puck skills aren’t Championships, as he missed out on that opportunity this past season. quite there.

Kaedan Korczak, D, 19 (Kelowna Rockets) He went through some serious struggles to begin his final season of junior hockey, with only 10 points, 37 penalty minutes and a minus-11 Second-round pick in 2019 (No. 41 overall) through 31 games with Baie-Comeau Drakkar. But after a midseason trade to Cape Breton, Bouchard took off. He recorded one goal and three The Golden Knights’ front office and amateur scouts were high on assists in his first two games with his new team, on his way to being Korczak going into the draft last summer. They traded a third-round pick named to the QMJHL’s team of the week. He finished the year with a (No. 82 overall) to the San Jose Sharks in order to move up seven spots plus-21 with the Eagles. and select Korczak at No. 41 overall. Outlook for next season: Bouchard will enter camp fighting for a spot in He’s shown why this season with the Kelowna Rockets. The 19-year-old the AHL and a chance to remain in Las Vegas for the season. defenseman was drafted for his shutdown ability in his own end. He even said he models his game after Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who’s known as one Mason Primeau, C, 18 (North Bay Battalion) of the NHL’s best stay-at-home defenders. Korczak has done that this season in Kelowna, serving as the Rockets’ No. 1 defenseman in all Fifth-round pick in 2019 (No. 141 overall) situations. The towering 18-year-old center wasn’t spectacular this season with the But Korczak’s improvements on the other end of the ice have scouts North Bay Battalion, registering only 19 points in 45 games. However, his excited. He pitched in 11 goals and 38 assists this season to finish physicality and hockey sense are showing improvement, and he was second on his team in scoring. His 49 points rank him 10th in the WHL enough of a dressing room presence to be named an alternate captain in among defensemen. Korczak has been a solid distributor for a couple his first full season in North Bay. seasons now, but his 11 goals are nearly triple his career-high of four Outlook for next season: Primeau is one of Vegas’ youngest prospects from the 2019 draft and will continue developing in his fourth year of junior hockey. His unique size makes him an interesting prospect because, if he can put it all together, he has a real shot at the NHL someday. He hasn’t shown that ability to this point, but his ceiling remains higher than most fifth-round picks.

Jiri Patera, G, 21 (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Sixth-round pick in 2017 (No. 161 overall)

One of the Golden Knights prospects who increased his stock the most this season was Patera. Coming over from the Czech Republic, Patera was a bit late to the CHL. As a 21-year-old this season, you’d expect him to dominate, and that’s exactly what he did. Patera played 41 games for the Wheat Kings, boasting a 2.55 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Patera’s save percentage was good enough for fourth in the entire WHL amongst goalies who played more than 10 games. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, he’s the prototypical size that Vegas goalie coach Dave Prior likes in goalies, and Patera’s positioning has been stellar this season with the Wheat Kings.

Outlook for next season: Patera will begin his pro career this fall, most likely with the Golden Knights ECHL affiliate. I’m very interested to see how he looks on the ice with other goalie prospects Dylan Ferguson and Isaiah Saville. The past two summers Patera’s been well behind, but after a great season he may be closing the gap.

Jordan Kooy, G, 19 (Oshawa Generals)

Seventh-round pick in 2018 (No. 208 overall)

Now we turn to a goaltender trending in the opposite direction. It was quite the season for Kooy, who was traded not once but twice during the OHL season. He began the season with a brutal four-game stretch with a 4.65 goals-against average and .842 save percentage, which prompted the London Knights to start 17-year-old rookie Brett Brochu and trade Kooy to the Sarnia Sting.

Then after only six games with Sarnia with similar results (4.53 GAA, .889 save percentage), Kooy was dealt to the Oshawa Generals. Kooy’s numbers were better with Oshawa, but still not great. He certainly hasn’t panned out the way Prior expected to this point.

Outlook for next season: Kooy turns 20 in just over a month, so I’d expect him to be fighting for a spot on the ECHL roster next fall.

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172841 Washington Capitals

Nicklas Backstrom encourages fans to stay active during 'tough times'

By Raichele Privette March 18, 2020 5:52 PM

While the NHL remain on pause, many athletes are finding ways to stay active at home.

The Washington Capitals shared a message from star center Nicklas Backstrom on Twitter Wednesday evening encouraging fans to stay active while quarantining at home.

A message from @backstrom19 for the #ALLCAPS family: pic.twitter.com/n3id5a1sEh

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 18, 2020

“We’re going through some tough times right now, but we can all fight this together. Even if we have to be home we’re tying to be active here with some street hockey,” Backstrom said.

In the video, Backstrom and his son Vince are getting into action playing street hockey.

Tom Wilson even commented on the post, impressed by Backstrom's glove hand, "Wow. What a glove hand on you... I know who’s going in net if we need emergency relief!! #davidayres"

Wow. What a glove hand on you... I know who’s going in net if we need emergency relief!! #davidayres https://t.co/E19J1PpD76

— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) March 18, 2020

By the look of things, we may want to keep a close eye on Vince. He just may be getting drafted in 2033.

Like many of us Backstorm misses the game, however, he remains optimistic and is trying to maintain high spirits. Hopefully, hockey returns in the near future.

“For all of us that’s missing hockey we’ll be back soon and we got to get ready. See you guys soon Caps fan,” Backstrom said.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172842 Winnipeg Jets That is not a recipe for any kind of success, unless you have a saviour between the pipes.

Hellebuyck makes one of his 50 saves in the Jets 3-2 win over the San Hart and soul of the Jets Jose Sharks last November.

Hellebuyck a force to be reckoned with in Winnipeg net I’d need more than both my repeatedly washed hands to count how many times Hellebuyck has bailed out his teammates this season, but a 3-2 victory in San Jose on Nov. 1, when the Jets were outshot 53-19 by the Sharks, was perhaps his masterpiece and should be played on a loop By: Mike McIntyre for any doubters.

Sure, other goaltenders have had solid seasons, including Vasilevskiy, Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the leading candidate for Tuukka Rask, Jordan Binnington, Ben Bishop and Carter Hart. But none the Vezina trophy this season. has a resumé even close to Hellebuyck’s.

It has now been more than a week since Connor Hellebuyck easily The Vezina is truly a one-man race in my eyes, a coronation at this point handled a wrist shot from Edmonton Oilers forward Tyler Ennis in the late as Hellebuyck has taken his game to new heights. stages of a 4-2 victory by his visiting Winnipeg Jets, securing their "Connor wants to be the best. He wants to win. He does not want to be season-high fourth straight triumph to jump back into a playoff spot. second-best. He does not want to come in second in anything," his That was Hellebuyck’s 36th and final save of yet another busy night at Manitoba-based agent, Ray Petkau, told me Wednesday in a phone the office. It was also his 1,656th stop of the season, far and away the conversation from his home in Steinbach. most saves of all NHL netminders. For a point of reference, Montreal "He has a special quality in that he will do anything to be the best. It workhorse Carey Price is next with 1,595 puck denials, and Tampa’s drives him." main masked man, Andrei Vasilevskiy, is a distant third at 1,472. But what about the Hart, an award that traditionally goes to a high- Whether Hellebuyck gets an opportunity to add to his impressive total scoring forward? Price was the last netminder to win the coveted award remains to be seen. We’re in uncharted waters right now, with pro sports following an incredible 2014-15 season in which he carried the Habs on on indefinite hold and a return to the fun and games far down the list of his back into the playoffs (66 games, 44-16-2, 1.96 goal-against average, priorities right now given the global coronavirus pandemic. .933 save percentage). Prior to that, you have to go all the way back to But if the season is truly done for good and arenas remain dark until next 2001-02 (Jose Theodore, also with Montreal). season, it says right here that Hellebuyck not only made a convincing The Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl is the odds-on favourite to take case for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, but also the home the Hart trophy for the NHL's most valuable player this season. Hart Trophy as most valuable player to his team. The Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl is the odds-on favourite to take Just where would this Jets squad be without Hellebuyck’s heroics? home the Hart trophy for the NHL's most valuable player this season. Forget about competing for a post-season berth with a 37-28-6 record. They’d likely be hanging with the likes of Detroit, Ottawa and the sad- In other words, the odds are against Hellebuyck laying his hands on the sack California clubs in the race to the bottom for the best shot at the hardware, even if he’s near the top of models that chart "wins above first-overall pick whenever the 2020 NHL draft is held. replacement" in terms of a player’s specific impact on their team.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is the only other NHL Leon Draisaitl is running away with the NHL scoring race, and Oilers netminder to see as much playing time as Hellebuyck with each playing teammate Connor McDavid is having another big campaign despite an in 58 games for their respective clubs. injury setback. Boston Bruins sensation David Pastrnak is leading the goal-scoring derby, Artemi Panarin is somehow keeping the New York Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is the only other NHL Rangers in the playoff fight, and Nathan MacKinnon is leading the way netminder to see as much playing time as Hellebuyck with each playing for the Colorado Avalanche. in 58 games for their respective clubs. "If I had a vote, which I don’t, he would most definitely be the Hart Trophy Don’t just take my word for it. There are plenty of advanced numbers that winner. But that is a tough sell, because there are so many incredibly bolster Hellebuyck’s bid. Perhaps most telling is this one: according to good players in the game now. You see the goal scorers, and goal Evolving Hockey, Hellebuyck is lapping the field when it comes to a scoring has been at a premium the last number of years since the game statistic they call goals saved above expectation. Essentially, this looks at changed. Everybody wants to always award that award to the best the chances of a shot ending up in the back of the net. offensive players, because that’s exciting," said Petkau. Hellebuyck’s GSAx number for the season is 19.86. No other goaltender "But most valuable to his team? It’s really hard to argue against Connor." is even in double-digits. Let that sink in for a moment. Indeed it is. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, We knew the quantity has been there given how much rubber Hellebuyck including yours truly, are tasked with deciding a number of major year- has faced. But this speaks to the high quality of shots he’s faced, while end awards, including the Hart. I suspect the majority of my colleagues still posting an overall save percentage of .922 that is tops among all will overlook Hellebuyck in favour of the offensive stars. goaltenders to appear in at least 42 games (Hellebuyck is tied with Price with a league-leading 58 appearances). But if and when it comes time to fill out our ballots, Hellebuyck will be among the five names on mine. He truly has been the Hart, and soul, of Hellebuyck has a league-leading six shutouts, and his stellar stats are the Jets this season. even more impressive when you consider the patchwork blue-line he’s played behind at various times this season, especially when injuries Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 03.19.2020 began taking a toll. Eleven defenceman have suited up for the Jets, including 18-year-old Ville Heinola and waiver wire pickups Carl Dahlstrom and Luca Sbisa. Two others, Cam Schilling and Nelson Nogier, were called up from the Manitoba Moose as insurance but didn’t see game action.

None of those defenceman, of course, was named Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers or Ben Chiarot, who were regulars in front of Hellebuyck last season.

Overall, the Jets are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to expected goals for (29th according to Natural Stat Trick) and high- danger chances generated (30th). And they’re at the absolute bottom of expected goals against (31st) and high-danger chances given up (31st). 1172843 Winnipeg Jets you view yourself and that’s part of the business. I had to try and find an organization that viewed me the same way as I did.”

After Matt Hendricks retired to take a job with the Minnesota Wild last Recovered from heart condition, Jets’ Mark Letestu not ready for summer, Letestu was a versatile player who was signed by the Jets to retirement provide leadership and add depth down the middle.

Letestu earned a spot on the opening night roster and played seven games on the fourth line before a trip to the Mayo Clinic provided a new By Ken Wiebe Mar 18, 2020 reality – at least in the short term.

“Honestly, I had no symptoms and that’s probably the hardest part to explain to people when they ask how are you feeling? I didn’t have to Mark Letestu got an unplanned look at the future and it reinforced his change anything,” said Letestu. “Some abnormalities showed up in the belief that he’s not quite ready for the next chapter of his life. screening during training camp. But I didn’t feel any chest tightness or Diagnosed with myocarditis (an inflammation of the heart) in early any shortness of breath or anything like that. It was one of those things November, the veteran NHL forward was forced to take a step back from where thankfully, we have the physicals that we do or this could go on for normal activities for nearly five months. an unspecified amount of time.”

“I still had my morning routine, but it included getting the kids off to It would have been natural for Letestu to wonder why this was happening school and getting my daughter to and from daycare around my workouts to him after all the hard work he had put in, but he limited the amount of because my wife is a full-time student now. She’s studying education and time he spent feeling sorry for himself. is going to be a teacher,” Letestu said in an interview with The Athletic “You think about the missed opportunity,” said Letestu. “It would have before the NHL season was put on pause. “There was a little bit of an been great to be here all year, but who knows what happens. It’s kind of adjustment because I’m so used to a regimented schedule. Here, you’ve revisionist history at this point. Sure, you think about it, but for me, I tried got somewhere you need to be on the minute and there, you’re more ad- to be thankful for what I had, including my health. I’ve been in the league libbing. for a long time. I had lots to be happy about and I tried not to be “Some of the little things that you (usually) miss out on, I got to be a part frustrated and not take it out on my family. I just tried to be positive about of.” everything.”

While he thoroughly enjoyed the time at home with his family in There was no point during the recovery process when Letestu thought he Columbus, an improvement in his diagnosis and a reunion with his might have taken his last shift as a player. Winnipeg Jets teammates was a welcome change earlier this month. “If there was a recurrence of the inflammation, that certainly creeps in,” “You’re thankful, but I know that what I get to do for a living, the time to said Letestu. “But I wasn’t trying to be too definitive until I had the test.” do that is finite,” said Letestu. “So, you try to maximize that. But there’s During a scheduled return visit to the Mayo Clinic earlier this month, obviously a positive of getting to be with your family when something Letestu learned the swelling of his heart had gone down and he’d been tough happens in your professional life. It was fun. It provided some given a clean bill of health. insight into what life could be like in a year or two.” In his own words, the training wheels were off and it was time to figure This was supposed to be a story of redemption, of hard work paying off out if he could get back up to speed as the Jets were making a push to for Letestu – who spent all but two games last season in the AHL with the secure a wild card berth in the Western Conference. Cleveland Monsters. It’s no easy task for any athlete to jump back into the lineup after a six- After finally becoming an NHL regular with the Pittsburgh Penguins in month hiatus, especially a 35-year-old who was dealing with a heart 2010-11, Letestu didn’t get sent back to the minors until last season – condition, but Letestu was going to do everything in his power to try to when the Columbus Blue Jackets brought him in as a depth player for the become an option for the coaching staff to consider. organization. Prior to the NHL hitting pause on the season, Letestu was assigned on a Letestu didn’t hang his head or infect the Monsters with negativity, conditioning loan to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. though. After taking part in several NHL skates, getting into some game action in He’d been around long enough to know that wasn’t going to help him get the minors was the next step in the recovery process. back to where he wanted to be. Letestu took part in one practice with the Moose and travelled to “You spend nine years in the NHL and they tell you that you’re not good Milwaukee with the team before the AHL campaign was also placed on enough anymore, it’s humbling,” Letestu told me back in training camp. pause. “There are two ways to go about it. I could pout about it but instead, I tried to look at it as a positive. There was an opportunity to play more, to And while Letestu was officially recalled by the Jets on Monday before touch some pucks and get some of that offensive side of my game back the roster freeze, it’s far too early to tell if he’ll skate another shift in the and take on a bit of a mentorship role. If I wanted another chance (in the NHL this season. NHL), you have to go down and be a good citizen. You have to appreciate the grind. Nobody wants to bring in somebody who is going to If you talk to almost anyone who has played with or coached Letestu, the disrupt the room. So, it was important to keep a good mindset and be the message is clear. best teammate possible. Known as an astute student of the game, Letestu is equipped for a “It was a different perspective, especially compared to the last time I was coaching job when he’s ready to pursue that path. in that league, when I was a young guy. Now as an older guy, I “Outstanding person. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s found his way back remembered how some of the older guys treated me when I was coming to the NHL,” said Kings head coach Todd McLellan, who coached up.” Letestu for three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. “If I was to pick an Yes, he took on a role as a mentor but he also produced offensively at a individual – and I don’t know if he has any interest in it or not – that’s rate that mirrored his time with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins more going to be a guy who was going to be a coach when he was all done, it than a decade earlier, chipping in 21 goals and 50 points in 64 games, would be (Letestu). He thought the game really well, he was well-liked by which left him second on the Monsters in both goals and points. his teammates, he provides leadership skills and he can play in any type of game.” It wasn’t always easy to keep his chin up, like when the Monsters had a 14-hour bus ride back home after a game in Laval. While being a student of the game is a badge of honour, it was also a matter of survival for Letestu. “There are times that you question it,” said Letestu. “But if you can get through that and you still love the game, then it’s worth it. It’s cliche to “I’ve had to be. I had a ceiling, as far as my talent and my ability, so I had say you have a chip on your shoulder, but I’ve always had a bit of to know the systems and I had to be detailed in order to give me an edge something to prove. Sometimes, organizations view you differently than over a guy who was maybe faster or stronger,” said Letestu. “I’ve always had deficiencies. I didn’t skate the fastest, wasn’t the quickest, didn’t shoot the hardest and wasn’t the biggest. I had to find something that I could be better than the next guy at. What I found was that being prepared and knowing where I needed to be, anticipating, made me faster ultimately. It made me more reliable to my teammates and my coach. Once you find and attach yourself to your identity, it just makes it easier.

“It was just a way to broaden my skill set. Having a mind for the game has helped me with that.”

Letestu is also a curious individual who isn’t afraid to ask why things are done a certain way.

“We’re dealing with someone who is a very cerebral person,” said Jets assistant coach Todd Woodcroft. “He’s not maybe the fastest guy or the strongest guy, but he’s one of the smartest guys. And that’s how he’s been a pro for so long. He has an ability to ask the right questions. He’s a curious guy but he also realizes there are guys who have different experiences and skill sets. He’s done everything and he’s played every role.

“I’m not sure what he wants to do when he’s eventually done playing, but I think he would be a great coach.”

Letestu’s vast array of experience, both at the NHL and AHL levels, provide him with a perspective that isn’t overly prevalent for players who eventually end up behind the bench.

“It makes me relatable to a lot of different players,” said Letestu. “Being on the power play, being on the penalty kill, being a role guy, being a veteran guy, being an older guy who has gone down to the AHL. There are a lot of experiences I’ve had that I can relate to other players. If anybody is lucky enough to play as long as I’ve got to, you accumulate stuff like that. Hopefully it translates to something that’s next. I would love to stay in the game at some point. But I realize that there are a lot of guys coming out of hockey that have the same aspirations as me. So, I’m trying to play as long as I can because I still love it.”

The Athletic LOADED: 03.19.2020 1172844 Vancouver Canucks with former NHLer Gary Roberts in the summer of 2010 and the back improved for a while.

Cody Hodgson’s brief ride in the NHL went from Vancouver to Buffalo to Ed Willes: The 'bust' Canucks fans remember as Cody Hodgson requires Nashville, before he was diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia (MH), a closer look for which he’s become a spokesman. Bruce Bennett / PNG files

“I felt as good as I ever felt in the NHL at that time,” Hodgson says of 2011-12 season. “I felt healthy, strong and fast. That buildup (to the Ed Willes game against the Bruins) was a lot of fun.”

But something had been broken with the Canucks. Despite decent numbers in his rookie season (16-17-33 in 63 games) Hodgson was dealt OPINION: '(Doctors) told me, I don’t know how you were playing hockey. to Buffalo at the deadline for the bigger, meaner Kassian. With the This (MH) could kill you' Sabres, a similar pattern emerged — reasonable production commingled Cody Hodgson has been telling his story for the better part of half an with injury problems — and after three-plus seasons with Buffalo he hour, reliving the pain and confusion, reliving the fear and the darkness, signed a free-agent deal with the Predators. when asked if he’s ever bitter about the way his hockey career ended. A year later he was forced into retirement. He was 26. There’s a pause at the end of the telephone line. “In Nashville they tested me for brain tumours, lung cancer, all these “I can’t look at it like that,” Hodgson finally says. “I got six years in the terrible things,” he says. “When they told me I had MH, at least I knew I NHL and, to be honest, I was lucky. I see some of the people that deal was going to survive. I wouldn’t be able to play hockey but I’ll survive.” with this on a regular basis; not being able to play hockey is such a tiny He was diagnosed with MH at Toronto General Hospital by Dr. Sheila thing. Riazi, one of the world’s recognized authorities on the disease. “I think I’ve lived a blessed life.” “They told me, ‘I don’t know how you were playing hockey,’ ” he says. Blessed, he says. As we’ll see, that’s an interesting perspective; but if “This could kill you.” you think you know Hodgson based on his time with the Vancouver Hodgson spent a year adjusting to a new normal. The Predators gave Canucks, we invite you to think again. him a job in their Little Preds Learn to Play program. He became a This story was originally supposed to be a couple paragraphs in another spokesman for the RYR-1 Foundation (MH is caused by a mutation of piece for our Canucks at 50 series. That yarn highlighted Game 8, the the RYR-1 gene) the non-profit that raises money for MH research. infamous regular-season meeting in January of 2012 between the “Obviously, I can’t work out the same way,” Hodgson says. “I do this Canucks and Bruins in Boston that followed the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, executive workout. I’m not supposed to do any strenuous exercise, but I a game in which Hodgson scored the game-winning goal, drew another think I’d lose my mind if I didn’t do anything. assist and was among the best players on the ice. “They said this condition gets worse with age. I don’t know if that’s true.” That game also represented the high-water mark of Hodgson’s star- crossed career with the Canucks. Selected 10th overall in the 2008 draft But he knows he has this day and his cause. There’s a scene in the by first-year GM Mike Gillis, the Brampton Battalion centre was supposed Hodgson documentary that shows the former Canuck playing with a to be a building block for the new regime, a player who impressed with group of kids who suffer from MH. Some are in wheelchairs. Some have his intelligence, skill and character. respirators. Some are in scooters. Kids, all of them.

The honeymoon between the Canucks and Hodgson, however, was And there’s Cody Hodgson, still young, still strong, and smiling living his short-lived. blessed life.

After returning to Brampton, and after a star turn with Team Canada at Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.19.2020 the 2009 world juniors in Ottawa, Hodgson injured his back training in the off-season, setting loose a series of events that strained his relationship with the organization and eventually led to a deadline deal with Buffalo for Zack Kassian, just two months after his big game in Boston.

Hodgson has since passed into Canucks annals as another failed first- rounder; another in a series of elite prospects who never came close to fulfilling his potential. In Hodgson’s case, there was also the insinuation he was an entitled prima donna who blamed everyone but himself for his shortcomings on the ice.

He just wishes that was the case.

Four years after the trade with Buffalo, Hodgson, now in Nashville, was diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia (MH), a condition he inherited from his father Chris that produces muscle rigidity, fever and coronary stress. In Hodgson’s case, it was set off by intense physical activity, which is kind of a problem for a professional hockey player.

He has since become a spokesman for the disease and features in a documentary entitled Hodgson that was produced to raise awareness of MH. That, at least, is the short version of Hodgson’s story. The longer one takes some telling.

“Looking back you can see symptoms since when I was a kid,” he says. “You never knew exactly what it is, but you deal with muscle cramps and tightness your whole life. It wasn’t normal.

“In my case it got worse. I tore five muscles my final year (in Nashville). I’d bend over and the muscles would tear. It got pretty scary at the end, to tell you the truth.”

It now seems the back injury that started his problems with the Canucks was a byproduct of the MH condition. Originally it was misdiagnosed as a bulging disc. Hodgson said, no, it’s something else. The Canucks weren’t exactly sympathetic to his cause, but they did allow him to begin training 1172845 Vancouver Canucks Sure, they didn’t score as much or win as many games as the 2011 Stanley Cup finalists, but they could boast a third line with two double- digit scorers (Chris Higgins, 18; Jannik Hansen, 16), a shutdown fourth line with Maxim Lapierre and face-off king Manny Malhotra, and two Canucks at 50: When Vancouver's ‘Goliaths’ were felled by title-bound goalies who combined to win the William M. Jennings Trophy for lowest Kings’ David goals against.

But Daniel’s absence derailed the Canucks’ bullet train.

J.J. Adams “If one player drastically alters things for your team, you probably don’t have enough depth to win anyway,” a prophetic Higgins said before the

series. L.A.'s Jarret Stoll celebrates his game- and series-winning goal against “You have to be able to win without one of your best players.” the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 22, 2012. The Kings took out the No. 1 Canucks in the first round en route to their first Stanley The first-round exit ranked as the biggest choke in modern NHL history Cup title, the first eighth seed to accomplish the feat in NHL history. until the Tampa Bay Lightning grabbed the wooden spoon in 2019, when the Bolts became the first team in the expansion era to get swept after They were the two-time defending regular-season champs. They were winning the Presidents’ Trophy, falling to the *cough cough* John tougher, grittier, deeper. But Vancouver couldn't shake an inconsistent Tortorella-coached Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round. regular season and were dispatched in the first round of the 2012 playoffs With the benefit of 20/20 vision afforded by hindsight, we have a much clearer picture of how closely matched the Kings and Canucks were. In hindsight, we should have seen it coming. The truth of Vancouver’s squad was that of an inconsistent and First of all, the hate. sporadically effective one. Without Sedin, the Canucks didn’t have a 100- The 2012 Vancouver Canucks were hockey’s goliaths, and nobody loves point producer or 40-goal scorer. Its power play went off a cliff in the those — even exceedingly polite Swedish ones. And as Presidents’ second half of the season, with just 16 goals in 40 games. That drought Trophy winners for the second straight season, the Canucks had the continued in the postseason, when the Canucks went 0-for-14 in the first bullseye that comes as top seed in the Stanley Cup tournament, and all three games. the vitriol that comes with it. Vancouver Canucks fans took the Game 5 overtime loss to the L.A. Outside the borders of B.C., Vancouver was already despised as Kings hard. Mark van Manen / PNG whinging, diving, deserving losers to the Boston Bruins, who despite And the Kings, despite being the eighth seed, weren’t a bunch of being a speed-bagging bunch of thugs were lauded as playing the game chumps. They would have won the Pacific Division, but blew leads in the “Canadian Way,” while the highly skilled Canucks were mere *spits* three of their four final games to fall into the eighth seed. Then there was Euro imposters. Jonathan Quick. The Kings’ netminder was second in GAA in the regular Before their opening-round playoff series with the L.A. Kings, the season (1.95), and put in a playoff run for the ages, his sparkling 1.41 National Post’s front page claxoned: “Canada’s team? No thanks,” a GAA and .946 save percentage earning him the Conn Smythe Trophy as reflection of an Angus Reid poll that declared nearly half of the country the playoff MVP. was openly rooting against them. In the end, the Kings had the better allegory — being a Cinderella is Edmonton Journal writer Dave Staples called them “the most loathsome better than Goliath — as they stormed to their first Stanley Cup title, team since the thuggish Philadelphia Flyers of the early 1970s,” while his doing it in historic fashion. colleague across town, Sun columnist Robert Tychkowski, described “We are definitely in shock,” Schneider told Postmedia after the series. them thus: “They whine. They turtle. They want referees to fight their battles. They are arrogant, they bite people, and their fans set fire to “The odds were against us to come back, but we felt honestly that if police cars.” anybody could do it, we could. You have to have that belief, but at the end of the day I think we were just too far behind. The love from Alberta’s tar sands definitely prompted this response from goaltender Cory Schneider after the 4-1 Game 1 loss to the Kings, in “This is kind of how the playoffs are. Sometimes you need some magic, which the domestic detestation manifested itself early and often. you need some luck. But the onus is on us to perform and execute, and if we don’t, that’s our fault.” “You look around the league and people don’t like us and Pittsburgh, and we’re two of the better teams,” Schneider told Ed Willes. “You saw Darcy Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.19.2020 Hordichuk and Ben Eager in Edmonton. Nobody cares about Edmonton so nobody hates them. It’s that simple.”

It was why, with great schadenfreude, the Kings’ Twitter account lobbed its grenade into the ranks of Canucks fans: “To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you’re welcome.”

To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you're welcome.— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 12, 2012

The glee club swelled with members as the Kings did what seemed impossible, knocking off the regular-season champs in five games, including a sweep of all three played in Vancouver.

The hate played its role, but hindsight reveals “The Hit” was the biggest factor.

In mid-March, Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith delivered an elbow to the head of Daniel Sedin, concussing the Canucks’ star, earning a five-game suspension and the perpetual hatred of a city.

It sidelined Sedin for a month, and by the time he was 100 per cent — the real 100 per cent, not the fake one — his team was in a 3-0 hole. The Canucks were sure they’d be able to overcome the absence of their leading goal-scorer, as the 2012 team was supposed to be deep enough to drown any opposition, and they looked like they would, going 8-1 down the stretch. 1172846 Vancouver Canucks finished off in overtime Sunday. In the third period and overtime of Game 5, L.A. outshot the Canucks 19-11.

Canucks fans sit dejected in the Rogers Arena stands after the team was Canucks at 50: Shocking first-round exit after another Presidents’ Trophy eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the L.A. Kings in overtime of season Game 5 on April 22, 2012. Jenelle Schneider / PNG files

Jarret Stoll snapped the winner over Cory Schneider’s shoulder 4:27 into the do-or-die, final chapter of this Canucks season. It was a season that STAFF REPORTER just never felt right, or on track, despite all the points and another Presidents’ Trophy.

As Stoll’s goal went in, and the Kings had their 2-1 OT win, Dan Hamhuis The only time they would celebrate: Canucks Daniel (left) and Henrik was still picking himself off the ice at the blue line. Fans bellowed some Sedin after combining on the only goal the team would score on Kings outrage in Rogers Arena, believing he had been hauled down, setting up goalie Jonathan Quick in Game 5 of their opening-round Stanley Cup the goal. But it wasn’t a penalty. There was no one to blame. Not even playoff series at Rogers Arena on April 22, 2012. Roberto Luongo. The only time they would celebrate: Canucks Daniel (left) and Henrik This series was on the entire organization. Sedin after combining on the only goal the team would score on Kings goalie Jonathan Quick in Game 5 of their opening-round Stanley Cup In the two most critical periods of the Canucks’ season — the first period playoff series at Rogers Arena on April 22, 2012. Rich Lam / PNG in Game 4 and the third in Game 5 — Vancouver was badly outplayed.

In the end, the 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks simply weren't good enough On Sunday, in their win-or-bow-out game, the Canucks got four straight against an L.A. Kings team on a roll, concluded Jason Botchford power plays, great goaltending, odd-man rushes and that Daniel breakaway. It still wasn’t enough. If the Game 7 loss in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins was a stumble at the finish line, the first-round loss to the eighth-seed They failed to stretch out their early 1-0 lead, exposing one more time the L.A. Kings in 2012 was a pratfall down a flight of stairs. After falling at the goal-scoring woes that started two months ago and never went away. In final hurdle, rebounding with another Presidents’ Trophy and with a bag the five games against Los Angeles, the Canucks managed just eight full of playoff experience to lean on, the Canucks were expected to finish goals. Yes, Quick was great. But does anyone really believe the Canucks the job in 2012. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw that would go on to win would have scored any more against St. Louis, Nashville or Phoenix? the Stanley Cup as the lowest seed ever. Following the ignominious loss, Jason Botchford wrote: Vancouver got great goaltending from Corey Schneider in the final game, but Jarret Stoll’s overtime winner would ice the 2011-12 Canucks’ post- In the end, there was no switch for the Canucks to flip. season in the first round. Mark van Manen / PNG files

No goals, either. “It’s shocking, it’s always shocking,” Daniel said. “We played the L.A. Kings and they made some trades (at the deadline) that made them Just a grim reality that should displace the notion the Canucks simply lost stronger. They play in a tough division. to an unbeatable goalie. The Canucks weren’t good enough. “When you give those kind of teams a few games, it’s a tough hole to dig They weren’t good enough in Game 5. They weren’t good enough for out of. most of the series. They weren’t good enough to handle the L.A. Kings’ forecheck, or to exploit their slow defencemen. “I think in the last three games we showed we have enough depth. We created enough chances to win those games.” They sure weren’t good enough to make up for Duncan Keith’s cheap shot, or how poorly prepared they were to start this series. And they In those final three games in which the Canucks say they were at the top weren’t good enough to beat Jonathan Quick. of their game, they scored just four goals. It speaks volumes.

Not with this offence. Like the Kings, the Canucks got terrific goaltending Sunday. Schneider performed under a searing spotlight. His best moment was in the final There will be what-ifs that will haunt this team, and its fans. What if seconds of the first period. Anze Kopitar was freed for a breakaway and Daniel Sedin had scored on his breakaway with Vancouver up 1-0 late in Schneider confidently charged out of his net. the second period? Kopitar took his shot, and Schneider made his save. The rebound leaked “I’ve got to put a few of those in, that’s for sure,” Daniel said. “The game to one side, but as time expired Kopitar swung it into the side of the net. is probably over.” It should have been a momentum builder. What if Jannik Hansen had been able to score when he was on a 2-on-1 rush with Kevin Bieksa? What if Mason Raymond had managed to The Sedins were solid but unspectacular. David Booth looked lost on salvage his season, and slam in the glorious wraparound chance he their line. As though he hadn’t played there all year. In fact, he hadn’t. fumbled away in overtime as he fell down — one last time? A slow Vancouver start turned around when Drew Doughty and Richards What if one of the four players sandwiching Brad Richardson had took consecutive penalties. knocked him over in the crease before he out-battled them all to poke in the critical goal that tied the game 1-1 just 3:21 into the third? On the second power play, Daniel set his brother up with their last goal of the season, a spinning saucer pass that Henrik knocked in out of the air. What if Cody Hodgson was still on the team? Better yet, what if he had been traded for players who could have actually helped this year instead But with no more goals, the Canucks needed perfect defence. It’s been a of two who didn’t even dress for the final game? long time since they got that.

And finally, the one which will take the longest to reconcile, what if Keith Just 3:21 into the period, Doughty glided into the middle of the ice. Keith had not driven his elbow through Daniel’s head back on March 21? Ballard got turned inside out, allowing Doughty to stroll through the slot, outwaiting everyone. When he took the puck deep to Schneider’s left, the “I will think about that for a long time,” Daniel said. “For sure. It’s goalie overcommitted and Doughty slid the puck into the crease. extremely frustrating. It was tough to be out. I wanted to be back for the Richardson punched it in. And just like that, it was 1-1. playoffs. I felt so good every step of the way. But when I finally realized I wasn’t going to play, it was just so frustrating.” That’s a score right in the Kings’ wheelhouse. They’ve been playing 1-0, and 2-1 games all season long. Henrik said: “We can see they were different games (when Daniel played). But if we gave the effort and this execution (we had Sunday), I The Canucks only started practising those a couple months ago. still think we would have been there in the first two games.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 03.19.2020 Yes, the series was lost in the opening two-game homestand. The Canucks lacked focus, execution and a good game plan. But it was