SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/20/2021 Arizona Coyotes Edmonton Oilers 1217721 Arizona Coyotes poised to lose one player to Seattle 1217749 Whether its Edmonton Oilers or Seattle Kraken, Benson Kraken in Wednesday's expansion draft just wants to play 1217722 Coyotes release protected list for 2021 NHL Expansion 1217750 Replacing Adam Larsson: Who the Oilers could turn to if Draft the veteran defenceman leaves in free agency 1217751 Lowetide: Why Dominik Kahun is the best Oilers Boston Bruins expansion option for the Kraken 1217723 Bruins reportedly showing interest in signing defenseman Ryan Suter Florida Panthers 1217724 Bruins’ six-game preseason schedule begins in 1217752 Panthers unveil preseason schedule, featuring a game in Washington in late September Orlando and three vs. Lightning 1217725 Bruins release preseason schedule 1217753 Florida Panthers announce preseason schedule, will kick 1217726 Why the Bruins should make another Cup run with veteran off exhibition slate on Sept. 26 core 1217754 Could Florida Panthers lose Driedger and Vatrano to 1217727 Could Bruins make a hard push for defenseman Ryan Seattle Suter? 1217755 Florida Panthers return to Orlando as preseason goes 1217728 Bruins Kick Off 2021-22 Preseason Against Tom Wilson back to normal And Caps 1217756 Next NHL schedule will maintain back-to-back series 1217729 BHN Puck Links: Looking Back at Boston Bruins’ 1217757 NHL business notebook: Florida Panthers to make Expansion Past unusual NCAA foray, Mike Gillis’ possible path with NHLPA Buffalo Sabres 1217730 Sabres' preseason schedule includes three home games Los Angeles Kings and Sept. 28 opener in Columbus 1217758 Prospect Profiles – Brandt Clarke & Luke Hughes 1217759 All The Kings Men – 5 Questions Facing Kings Calgary Flames 1217731 Hitmen proud of Prokop's decision to come out Minnesota Wild 1217760 Pick potential: The top Minnesota prospects in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes Draft 1217732 Here’s when the Hurricanes will play their 2021 NHL 1217761 Chaz Lucius blossoms from 14-year-old Gophers commit preseason games to first-round NHL draft prospect 1217762 Wild announces six-game preseason schedule Chicago Blackhawks 1217763 Wild makes Kaapo Kahkonen, Carson Soucy available to 1217733 Blackhawks ‘excited about the quality’ of possible 12th Seattle in expansion draft overall picks at 2021 NHL Draft 1217764 Wild’s six-game preseason schedule begins Sept. 25 1217734 NHL schedule to pause in February for Winter Olympics, but participation not yet certain: report Montreal Canadiens 1217735 Blackhawks release 2021-22 preseason schedule 1217765 Seattle looks like a nice place to live for players selected by Kraken Colorado Avalanche 1217766 Cowan: Carey Price's future is the big question in 1217736 Kiszla vs. Chambers: Has Gabe Landeskog played his last Montreal and Seattle game for the Avalanche? 1217767 What the Puck: Moving on from Carey Price and Shea 1217737 Avalanche protected list: Why they protected Logan Weber makes sense for Habs O’Connor and what Gabriel Landeskog’s exposure means 1217738 Avalanche’s Gabe Landeskog left unprotected from Nashville Predators Seattle expansion draft. Here’s what that means 1217768 Change will happen, thanks to the courage of those like Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop | Estes Dallas Stars 1217769 Nashville Predators to play two of six preseason games at 1217739 Why Miro Heiskanen decided to sign an 8-year contract Bridgestone Arena extension with the Dallas Stars 1217770 Buckley: Luke Prokop should expect a lot of support from 1217740 Meeting expectations of Miro Heiskanen’s new contract the hockey community with Stars will be a team effort 1217771 ‘This is who I am’: Predators prospect Luke Prokop comes out Detroit Red Wings 1217772 Preds announcer Pete Weber returns to Buffalo for an 1217741 Detroit Red Wings announce 2021-22 exhibition schedule: MLB game and lives out a dream First game is Sept. 29 1217773 Preds prospect announces he's gay 1217742 Nick Leddy can help the Detroit Red Wings on defense. 1217774 Did Predators make the right call with their protection list? Here's how 1217775 Ellis trade proof nothing off the table for the Predators 1217743 Red Wings notes: Robby Fabbri healthy, ready for training camp in September New Jersey Devils 1217744 Ted Kulfan's 2021 NHL mock draft 2.0: Plenty of 1217776 An N.H.L. Prospect Is the First Such Player to Announce questions, unknowns, heading into weekend He’s Gay 1217745 Another Peterborough center, Mason McTavish could jump-start Red Wings rebuild 1217746 Newest Red Wing Nick Leddy would embrace mentoring Moritz Seider 1217747 Dennis Cholowski among Red Wings exposed for expansion draft 1217748 Comparing the last 2 Red Wings expansion lists and what it says about Detroit’s rebuild New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning 1217777 Source: Kraken Eying Josh Bailey in NHL Expansion Draft 1217808 Lightning preseason schedule includes game in Orlando as Islanders Work to Prevent It 1217809 Lightning opt to shield defensive core ahead of expansion 1217778 NHL Expansion Draft: Which Islander Could be Selected draft by the Seattle Kraken? 1217810 Lightning’s Pat Maroon gets hero’s welcome back in St. 1217779 NYHN Daily: Eberle and Bailey Left Exposed By Islanders Louis & More 1217811 What if the Senators and Lightning had the same expansion draft rules as Seattle and Vegas? New York Rangers 1217780 Rangers confident they’ll sign Barclay Goodrow to new Vancouver Canucks contract 1217815 Canucks: From Britannia Arena to NHL draft, Kent 1217781 NY Rangers GM Chris Drury sounds like he's ready for an Johnson always turned heads aggressive offseason 1217816 Highly skilled hometown boy Kent Johnson could be 1217782 Rangers making progress on deal with Barclay Goodrow, available at No. 9 for the Canucks Chris Drury says 1217817 Canucks: Benning buoyed by draft options in a 1217783 State of the Rangers before the drafts: GM Chris Drury on challenging scouting year adding Barclay Goodrow, Kraken decisions and more 1217818 Canucks offseason depth chart: Trade chips, Kraken bait, Jason Dickinson’s impact, replacing Alex Edler and mo Ottawa Senators 1217784 It's all quiet with NHL rosters frozen until Thursday, but Vegas Golden Knights trade talks continue on several fronts 1217812 Nolan Patrick looks forward to fresh start with Golden 1217785 Former Ottawa Senators' GM Randy Sexton has fond Knights memories of expansion draft in Montreal 1217813 What’s it like in the Kraken offices right now? Golden 1217786 What if the Senators and Lightning had the same Knights executives recall their exhausting, rewarding w expansion draft rules as Seattle and Vegas? Websites Philadelphia Flyers 1217819 The Athletic / Canadian sportscasters and their children 1217787 Morgan Frost’s chances of sticking with the Flyers have who are succeeding in sports improved greatly, and he says his shoulder is almost 1 1217820 The Athletic / Most underrated? A rankings tweak? Final 1217788 Why the Flyers traded Patrick and Myers for their new 2021 NHL Draft thoughts, notes, quotes and predictions top-pair defenseman 1217821 Sportsnet.ca / Are Kraken willing to absorb risk on Price 1217789 Wells Fargo Center renovations continue ahead of Flyers, amid new questions about health? Sixers seasons 1217822 Sportsnet.ca / Mock NHL Expansion Draft: Who will the Seattle Kraken choose? Pittsburgh Penguins 1217823 Sportsnet.ca / All eyes on Kerfoot, McCann for Maple 1217791 Mark Madden: Don't overreact to Penguins' expansion Leafs ahead of expansion draft draft plans 1217824 Sportsnet.ca / With expansion draft near, Giordano's 1217792 Penguins A to Z: Can Chad Ruhwedel finally be a regular storied Flames run approaches its end part of the lineup? 1217825 Sportsnet.ca / Exposing DeMelo to expansion draft a risky 1217793 Madden Monday: Confused about why Penguins left move for Jets' Cheveldayoff Brandon Tanev unprotected? Mark Madden has answers. 1217826 TSN.CA / ‘Bison’ Coronato rams his way up NHL draft lists 1217794 Penguins will return to a six-game preseason, which 1217827 TSN.CA / After jail for sex offence, former Blackhawks begins Sept. 27 video coach uses interns to build business 1217795 Which Penguins are most likely to be selected by the 1217828 TSN.CA / Blues give Kraken much to consider ahead of Seattle Kraken? expansion draft 1217796 Yohe: Which Penguins are staying and leaving? The 1217829 USA TODAY / Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop biannual most-likely-to-leave list comes out, becomes first openly gay player in NHL history 1217797 Penguins Release 2021-22 Preseason Schedule; Free 1217830 USA TODAY / Seattle Kraken expansion draft: Here's who Game for Kids Returns could be going to NHL's 32nd team 1217798 Zucker, Tanev, ZAR or Petterson, Who Will Seattle Kraken Select & Why? Winnipeg Jets 1217814 Jets tag old friend Morrison to guide Moose San Jose Sharks SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1217799 Sharks 'proud' of gay NHL prospect Prokup: 'Game truly is for everyone' 1217800 Hill’s Cap Hit Will Probably Be Higher Than Expected Seattle Kraken 1217801 2021 mock NHL expansion draft 2.0: Geoff Baker predicts how the Kraken’s picks could play out 1217802 Take a sneak peek at the first Kraken jersey 1217803 Sue Bird, Marshawn Lynch, Gary Payton among Seattle celebrities to appear at NHL expansion draft 1217804 3 key players Seattle Kraken could take in expansion draft to build around 1217805 What’s it like in the Kraken offices right now? Golden Knights executives recall their exhausting, rewarding w 1217806 Kraken narrowing NHL Draft list: 7 prospects they are considering picking at No. 2 St Louis Blues 1217807 Blues to play an eight-game preseason 1217721 Arizona Coyotes "Our ownership has given us the green light to spend towards the cap if we so see fit," Francis said.

Rather than possibly lose Hill to the Kraken with no compensation Arizona Coyotes poised to lose one player to Seattle Kraken in because they could only protect one goaltender, the Coyotes got Wednesday's expansion draft something for him in the trade with San Jose.

The transformation of the team has theoretically already begun, with 15 José M. Romero draft picks currently in Armstrong's possession over this year and next. The Coyotes figure to be active in free agency to replace the defensemen they could lose, and Armstrong has said the team will look to add at left wing. There are 11 Arizona Coyotes that will not be available to the Seattle Kraken in Wednesday's NHL expansion draft, and 27 players who will be. Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.20.2021 That much is certain. Then comes two weeks of what is shaping up to be a frenzy of activity involving the Coyotes.

The Coyotes kicked off their expected heavy transaction period last Saturday with two trades, sending goalie Adin Hill to the San Jose Sharks and acquiring a 2022 second-round entry draft pick. Then, another deal, picking up the contract of forward Andrew Ladd that the New York Islanders wanted to shed and getting more draft picks, including a second-rounder this coming weekend in the player draft.

It's clear General Manager Bill Armstrong and his staff have an eye toward the future, and with the expansion draft and upcoming free agency, the Coyotes could very well have a distinct new look to the 2021- 2022 roster.

Before that, however, someone from last season is about to be lost.

The Kraken can't pick forwards Lawson Crouse, Conor Garland, Clayton Keller, Phil Kessel, Johan Larsson, Christian Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz. That for now keeps a core group together, though Arizona will have to re- sign impending restricted free agent Garland.

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is protected, a no-brainer after his stellar 2021 campaign. Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson and goalie Darcy Kuemper, two players whose names have been mentioned in possible trade talks, are also on the draft-exempt list. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco, who has played mainly with AHL Tucson over his career, seemed like the surprise name on the protected list.

The Coyotes couldn't keep everyone. Ladd and new goalie Josef Korenar, a prospect acquired in the Hill trade, are eligible to be taken by the Kraken even though the likelihood of that happening is low.

Most of the Coyotes' defensemen from last season are unprotected but are set to become unrestricted free agents.

The Kraken could be eyeing a forward, and they'll have a few to choose from. Christian Fischer's production hasn't come close to the 33 points he put up as a rookie in 2017-2018, but he is a well-liked teammate who is only 24 years old and due $1 million this season, according to CapFriendly's salary database. Tyler Pitlick was limited to 38 games due to injury, but he was effective on offense and defense when healthy. Michael Bunting had a breakout year in his first real opportunity in the NHL, with 13 points in 21 games and a world championship with Team Canada after that.

Beyond that, Dryden Hunt and John Hayden are soon-to-be restricted free agents. In short, Seattle can select a Coyotes player that won't cost them much, and is still relatively young.

Kraken General Manager Ron Francis said Saturday that the one thing his team feels is extremely valuable is salary cap space.

"We've got $81.5 million of cap space to play with, so that's certainly something that we want to make sure we take advantage of moving forward," Francis said.

Francis spoke of teams that have resigned themselves to the fact that they are going to lose a player in the expansion draft, and other teams that didn't want to lose a potential Kraken pick for nothing, so they made a deal in advance.

The Coyotes appear to fit both of those descriptions. If they feel there's a chance they'd lose Bunting to free agency anyway, perhaps they can live with him being the Kraken's selection.

But Seattle might just as easily be looking at someone else with whom they won't have to negotiate. 1217722 Arizona Coyotes D Dysin Mayo

D Aaron Ness

Coyotes release protected list for 2021 NHL Expansion Draft D Jordan Oesterle

D Vili Saarijarvi

BY TOM KUEBEL JULY 18, 2021 AT 1:44 PM G Josef Korenar

G Marek Langhamer

The Arizona Coyotes have released the list of players they have decided G Antti Raanta to protect for Wednesday’s NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken. Arizona Sports LOADED: 07.20.2021 Arizona was allowed to protect 11 players and decided to stash away seven forwards, three defenseman and one goalie.

The Kraken will be allowed to draft one player who was not protected from list, unless they made their professional debut in North America in either the 2019-20 or 2020-21 seasons.

Each team was required to expose two forwards, one defenseman and one goalie who is under contract and played in at least 27 games last season or 54 combined games between 2019-20 and 2020-21.

The list of Coyotes who were protected is below, followed by the list of player the Coyotes have left exposed:

PROTECTED:

F Lawson Crouse

F Christian Dvorak

F Conor Garland

F Clayton Keller

F Phil Kessel

F Johan Larsson

F Nick Schmaltz

D Kyle Capobianco

D Jakob Chychrun

D Oliver Ekman-Larsson

G Darcy Kuemper

EXPOSED:

F Derick Brassard

F Michael Bunting

F Brayden Burke

F Michael Chaput

F Hudson Fasching

F Christian Fischer

F Frederik Gauthier

F John Hayden

F Dryden Hunt

F Andrew Ladd

F Lane Pederson

F Tyler Pitlick

F Blake Speers

F Tyler Steenbergen

D Jason Demers

D Cam Dineen

D Alex Goligoski

D Jordan Gross

D Niklas Hjalmarsson

D Ilya Lyubushkin 1217723 Boston Bruins

Bruins reportedly showing interest in signing defenseman Ryan Suter

By Hayden Bird Boston.com, Updated July 19, 2021, 5:53 p.m.

Could veteran defenseman Ryan Suter be a fit with the Bruins?

As the Bruins head into free agency, one name has emerged as a possible Boston target: 36-year-old defenseman Ryan Suter.

After a nine-year run in Minnesota, Suter was recently bought out from his contract by the Wild. He has already been identified as a good fit for the Bruins, who have been in need of a left-shot defenseman.

And according to a report from SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Bruins are seen as a team with definitive interest in signing Suter.

“Lots of expectation Boston going hard for Ryan Suter,” wrote Friedman. “One source called him ‘the Corey Perry of 2021-22.’”

While Suter’s production declined in 2021, the veteran is still seen as a durable and potentially valuable addition.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217724 Boston Bruins

Bruins’ six-game preseason schedule begins in Washington in late September

By Kris Rhim Globe Correspondent ,Updated July 19, 2021, 3:34 p.m.

GLOBE STAFF The Boston Bruins will open their preseason Sept. 26 against the Washington Capitals at 5 p.m. at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC., the start of a six-game preseason schedule.

The preseason includes three home games — against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30, the New York Rangers on Oct. 2, and the Capitals again on Oct. 6.

The Bruins will also play the Rangers and Flyers away on Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, respectively.

The official start of the regular season has not been announced.

The Bruins finished 33-16 last season and third in the East Division. The Bruins were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the New York Islanders last season, losing 6-2 in Game 6.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217725 Boston Bruins

Bruins release preseason schedule

Regular season schedule to come later in the week

By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: July 19, 2021 at 2:52 p.m. | UPDATED: July 19, 2021 at 6:33 p.m.

The Bruins released their six-game preseason schedule with three road games and three games at the Garden. The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 26 at Washington Capitals (5 p.m., Capital One Arena)

Tuesday, Sept. 28 at New York Rangers (7 p.m., Madison Square Garden)

Thursday, Sept. 30 vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m., TD Garden)

Saturday, Oct. 2 vs. New York Rangers (7 p.m., TD Garden)

Monday, October 4 at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center)

Wednesday, Oct. 6 vs. Washington Capitals (7 p.m., TD Garden)

According to ESPN, the league’s new broadcast partner, the NHL is set to release its full 2021-22 schedule on Thursday with a break for the Olympics from Feb. 5-22 included, even though a deal for the NHL’s players to participate in the Games has not yet been finalized.

That schedule release will be a part of a busy week in the league. On Wednesday, it will hold the expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken, with the B’s set to lose one of a bevy of eligible players, a group that includes Nick Ritchie, Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon and Curtis Lazar. Then the amateur draft will be held on Friday and Saturday before the free agent frenzy begins on July 28.

Boston Herald LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217726 Boston Bruins 5V5 HIGH-DANGER SHOT ATTEMPTS 240 31ST 157 3RD

5V5 SHOTS ON NET 970 9TH 515 1ST Why the Bruins should make another Cup run with veteran core 5V5 SHOT ATTEMPTS 1731 16TH 848 1ST

If the Bruins bring back Hall -- and both sides have expressed a desire to BY NICK GOSS do so -- as well as Krejci, they will go into next season with two very good lines. That hasn't been the case in some time. The Bruins have needed a strong goal-scoring winger to pair with Krejci for a while and they finally he Boston Bruins looked like a real championship contender toward the found a great fit with Hall. end of the regular season and through the first six games of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.T Lazar is signed through this season. His minutes could increase if Sean Kuraly isn't re-signed in free agency. Reilly wants to come back. Even if However, injuries to key players and other factors were too much to he does, the Bruins need to find another top-four defenseman, preferably overcome in a second-round exit to the New York Islanders, setting the someone to play the left side. Free agent Ryan Suter is a great option for stage for what is a pivotal offseason for the franchise. that role.

The Bruins need to make a decision. Do they re-sign the veteran core -- As long as the B's bring back a similar roster to what they had post-2021 including free agents Taylor Hall, David Krejci, etc. -- and make another trade deadline, they should be a really good team next season. Of charge at a championship, or is it time to look toward the future and course, the schedule will be different and perhaps a bit harder under a maybe rebuild? normal 82-game slate in the traditional Atlantic Division, but the Bruins' East Division last season was pretty damn good. 2021 NHL free agents: Top 25 players for teams to sign in offseason Take advantage of team-friendly deals Here are some reasons why the Bruins should run it back and make one more Stanley Cup run with this veteran core. Another reason to go for the Stanley Cup next season is the future could be pretty expensive for the Bruins. Maximize rest of Bergeron-Marchand prime Superstar right wing David Pastrnak is on one of the most team-friendly Patrice Bergeron is arguably the team's most important player as an elite deals in the league. His contract has a $6.67 million salary cap hit for two two-way center who was recently a Selke Trophy finalist for the 10th more seasons. A player of his caliber might be worth close to $10 million consecutive season. He's also one of the best players in team history. in free agency, and he's eligible for UFA status in the summer of 2023. Bergeron is 35, though, and signed for just one more year. He'll soon begin his 18th NHL season. Bruins' protected list for NHL expansion draft revealed

His linemate Brad Marchand is arguably the best left winger in the No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy is a Norris Trophy-level player and a league. He's scored at a point-per-game rate or better in five consecutive pillar of the team. He has a $4.9 million salary cap hit -- an absolute seasons, and his defense/penalty killing also is elite. Marchand is the bargain -- for 2021-22 before hitting RFA status next summer. He's going total package and quite possibly the most underrated star in Boston to get a massive and well-deserved raise in his next contract -- maybe sports over the last five years. He's also 33 years old. something similar to what Stars D-man Miro Heiskanen just signed.

The Bruins should try to be a title contender for as long as Bergeron and Jeremy Swayman could be the Bruins' starting goalie as soon as this Marchand both remain upper-tier players. Given how well they've played coming season. He's still on his entry-level contract with a cap hit of just of late and the fact they didn't battle any major injuries last season, we $925,000 each of the next two years. If he's good, that's incredible value. should expect both to be top players at their positions in 2021-22. If all goes well for the Bruins and these players keep performing at a high Unsurprisingly, these guys are hoping the team takes another run at the level, re-signing them could get pretty expensive over the next few years. Cup next season. Now is the time to take advantage of these team-friendly contracts and compete for a championship before some really tough roster decisions "I can tell you this, I know (Brad) Marchand and (Patrice) Bergeron, have to be made. understandably, would like us to take another run," B's president Cam Neely said after the 2021 playoffs. "If we get the pieces signed that we'd Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 like to, I think it's worth taking one more shot at it here, depending on what we can do on the back end as well."

Bruins were an elite team post-trade deadline

The Bruins nailed the trade deadline by acquiring left winger Taylor Hall and center Curtis Lazar from the Sabres, and also defenseman Mike Reilly from the Senators.

These moves addressed several roster issues. Hall was the missing piece on the second line. He helped revitalize David Krejci, and along with right winger Craig Smith, this line dominated during 5-on-5 action in the regular season, helping the B's account for 65 percent of all shot attempts and shots on net, as well as outscoring opponents 13-1.

Lazar added versatility and depth to the bottom-six, while Reilly added much-needed playmaking and smooth skating to the blue line.

The B's took off after the April 12 trade deadline and were the best team in the league over the final portion of the regular season.

The difference was night and day.

STAT (VIA NATURAL STAT TRICK) PRE-DEADLINE NHL RANK POST-DEADLINE NHL RANK

5V5 GOALS SCORED 63 29TH 44 T-1ST

5V5 GOALS-FOR % 47.37 19TH 65.67 1ST

5V5 SCORING CHANCES 725 29TH 405 1ST 1217727 Boston Bruins

Could Bruins make a hard push for defenseman Ryan Suter?

BY DARREN HARTWELL

he Boston Bruins could use a veteran defenseman, and appears they have at least one name on their radar.T

There's "lots of expectation" that the Bruins will be "going hard" for veteran defenseman Ryan Suter this offseason, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported late Sunday night.

The Wild recently bought out the remaining four years of Suter's 13-year contract he signed with Minnesota in 2012, making him a free agent. Suter turned 36 in January and tallied just 19 points in 56 games last season, but he's still an intriguing target for Boston.

The Bruins have lost two physical, experienced defensemen in the last two years in Zdeno Chara (free agency) and Kevan Miller (retirement). Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzlecyk are the team's longest-tenured blue- liners at ages 24 and 27, respectively, so Suter would help fill that veteran void.

While the 6-foot-1, 210-pound D-man has logged plenty of minutes in 16 NHL seasons, he's still durable, having missed five games or fewer in each of the last eight seasons. A source told Friedman that Suter could be the "Corey Perry of 2021-22," referring to the veteran forward who helped the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadians reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Suter could slot nicely next to Carlo on the Bruins' second D-pairing behind Charlie McAvoy and Grzlecyk, so his situation will be worth monitoring once the NHL's transaction free lifts on Wednesday.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217728 Boston Bruins

Bruins Kick Off 2021-22 Preseason Against Tom Wilson And Caps

By Jimmy Murphy

The Boston Bruins will kick off their 2021-22 preseason in the Nation’s capital on Sunday, September 26 in the first of two preseason games against public enemy No.1 Tom Wilson and the Washington Capitals.

The two teams will also square off in their respective preseason finales at TD Garden on Wednesday, October 6. Thanks in large part to a Tom Wilson cheap shot on Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, the Bruins, and the Capitals formed a heated rivalry in the 2021 abbreviated 56-game schedule. It also helped that they played each other in the one- time East Division eight times in the regular season and then in a five- game first round series win for the Boston Bruins in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Speaking of the East Divison, the Boston Bruins will also play the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers twice. The Bruins and the Rangers will play the first of their two games at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, September 28, and Saturday, October 2 at TD Garden. The Bruins and Flyers will face each other on Thursday, September 30 at TD Garden and then again on Monday, October 4 at the Wells Fargo Center.

The NHL is expected to release its 2021-22 regular season schedule later this week and per an ESPN report on Monday, the schedule will include a 17-day Olympic Break despite NHLers not yet having a deal in place to participate at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Bejing.

Sunday, September 26 (Capital One Arena, Washington, DC)

-Preseason Game at Washington Capitals, 5 pm ET

Tuesday, September 28 (Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)

-Preseason Game at New York Rangers, 7 pm ET

Thursday, September 30 (TD Garden, Boston, MA)

-Preseason Game vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7 pm ET

Saturday, October 2 (TD Garden, Boston, MA)

-Preseason Game vs. New York Rangers, 7 pm ET

Monday, October 4 (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA)

-Preseason Game at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 pm ET

Wednesday, October 6 (TD Garden, Boston, MA)

-Preseason Game vs. Washington Capitals, 7 pm ET

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217729 Boston Bruins *Plenty of holdups with Adam Larsson and the Edmonton Oilers as he mulls his options for the future, and the Oil are in a holding pattern as a result. (Edmonton Journal)

BHN Puck Links: Looking Back at Boston Bruins’ Expansion Past *Who doesn’t want to be Rogie Vachon when he was taking this picture?

*For something completely different: It’s a bummer that Kate Herron By Joe Haggerty won’t be back for Season 2 of Loki, but perhaps she’ll be doing something else in the MCU down the line. (Deadline)

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 Things are coming circle for the Boston Bruins in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. For all the hue and cry that Colin Miller was left exposed four years ago during the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, the current Buffalo Sabres defenseman was once again left unprotected in an expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken.

The Bruins famously protected Kevan Miller instead of Colin Miller, and the hard-nosed stay-at-home defenseman remained with the B’s with the rest of his career while battling knee problems that eventually forced his NHL retirement this month. The 28-year-old Miller had his best NHL season with Vegas after Boston lost him in the expansion draft and finished with 10 goals and 41 points while playing in all 82 games for the Golden Knights, and then he played a key role on the Vegas surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Since then, however, Miller hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role while in and out of the Vegas and Buffalo lineup as a third pair defenseman with five goals and 23 points along with a minus-29 in his last 99 games over the past two seasons. So, is that a player, in hindsight, that the Boston Bruins should have been worked up about losing?

Certainly he might have helped in this spring’s playoff run were Miller still around Boston, but he wasn’t exactly the kind of D-man the Boston Bruins needed once they lost Kevan Miller and Brandon Carlo to injuries. And Miller isn’t a guy that would have been in the Boston lineup consistently over the last few seasons given his defensive shortcomings.

Keeping Miller four years ago certainly wasn’t worth some of the machinations other NHL teams went through to try and steer Vegas away from picking their players. So, the B’s best bet is to simply let it ride and know they’re going to lose a useful player in Ritchie, Lauzon or Clifton, but certainly not a guy that was ever going to be a real difference-maker in Boston. Take a look around at the projected Seattle lineups based on the expansion lists, and most of them don’t even have a Boston Bruins player cracking the top 12 forwards and six defensemen in a Seattle lineup.

That should tell you something about how the available Bruins players are viewed by the rest of the league as opposed to being coveted by B’s fans.

*Good scoop by Sheng Peng as San Jose Sharks goalie Josef Korenar was totally floored that the Sharks traded him to the Coyotes just days after he signed a one-year deal with San Jose. (San Jose Hockey Now)

*It sure seems like the Boston Bruins are planning on losing either Nick Ritchie, Jeremy Lauzon or Connor Clifton in this week’s expansion draft. (Boston Hockey Now)

*Why on Earth did the Pittsburgh Penguins protect an aging asset in Jeff Carter. Here’s a breakdown of the expansion decisions made by the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

*Here’s an explanation of the unprotected list for the Washington Capitals. (Washington Hockey Now)

*Some big names on the Islanders expansion list with Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey both left on the unprotected list this week. (NYI Hockey How)

*Goaltender Chris Driedger, and whether or not he’s signed by the Seattle Kraken, is the key to expansion draft plans for the Florida Panthers. (Florida Hockey Now)

*James van Riemsdyk was a bit of a surprise being exposed on the expansion list after most thought the Philadelphia Flyers were going to hold onto them. (Philly Hockey Now)

*The Red Wings exposed a former first round pick to the Seattle Kraken expansion draft after a lot of discussion. (Detroit Hockey Now)

*Thanks for your willingness to lead the way, Luke Prokop. I hope his journey leads him to the NHL someday. 1217730 Buffalo Sabres people are saying they don’t know if this is a good draft, but I’ll tell you what, there’s definitely one elite player in this draft and that’s Owen Power. There are others, but he is very, very special.”

Sabres' preseason schedule includes three home games and Sept. 28 Adams, associate general manager Jason Karmanos and the Sabres’ opener in Columbus scouting staff are scrutinizing every area of Power’s game to achieve a better understanding of how the 18-year-old will develop over the next several years. Mike Harrington Jul 19, 2021 The Sabres aren’t interested in selecting the best player available today. They want the player who will have the greatest impact 5 to 10 years into the future. There's a good chance that Power will return to the University Home-and-home series with Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh make up of Michigan for his sophomore season, providing him with a valuable the Buffalo Sabres' preseason schedule for the 2021-22 season, the year of development to prepare for an NHL career. team announced Monday. Adams' scouting staff is also high on defenseman Luke Hughes, who is Ticket information and pricing for the three games in KeyBank Center will expected to be the third brother in his family to be drafted in the top 10. be announced at a later date. Hughes, 18, spent this past season at the USA Hockey National Team In their first full season under new head coach Don Granato, the Sabres Development Program and will play at Michigan next season. He open the preseason at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Columbus and then play at possesses a left-handed shot and his package of skills more closely 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in Detroit. The preseason home opener is at 7 p.m. resembles that of Dahlin, rather than Power. Friday, Oct. 1 vs. Pittsburgh. Picking ahead of the NHL’s 31 other teams provides the Sabres with The Sabres host Columbus at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 before playing at Pittsburgh bountiful options, particularly at forward. William Eklund, Matthew at 7 p.m. Oct. 5. The preseason ends with a home matinee against Beniers, Mason McTavish, Dylan Guenther and Kent Johnson are among Detroit at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. the options Buffalo has to bolster a young core led by Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt. The NHL's regular season is expected to start on Wednesday, Oct. 13. That schedule is reportedly going to be announced by the league on Sabres winger Jeff Skinner agrees to waive no-movement clause for Thursday. expansion draft

The Sabres' 2021 preseason will mark the first time since 2015 the team Skinner, the $9 million-per-year winger with 21 goals over the past two will play its full schedule in NHL arenas. The league did not have seasons, agreed to waive his no-movement clause Tuesday for the preseason games last season in advance of the pandemic-shortened, purpose of being exposed to the Kraken at the expansion draft on July 56-game schedule. 21, his agent, Don Meehan, confirmed to The Buffalo News.

The preseason and regular season schedule unveilings are just the start Beniers, a teammate of Power’s at Michigan, is considered by many of a busy period for the Sabres. The expansion draft to stock the Seattle analysts as the top center in this draft after a strong showing as a Kraken is Wednesday, and the Sabres have the No. 1 pick in the NHL freshman with the Wolverines. Beniers averaged a point per game at draft slated for Friday night. Rounds 2-7 of the draft go Saturday and the Michigan, with 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points in 24 games. He league's free agency period opens July 28. also had impressive production at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2019-20, totaling 18 goals and 41 points in 44 There was no question that Rasmus Dahlin was going to be the Buffalo games. Sabres’ choice when then-general manager Jason Botterill stepped to the podium inside Dallas’ American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018. Beniers represented the United States at the IIHF World Championship this spring, an opportunity for the Sabres and other teams to see how his Dahlin was the consensus top prospect, a remarkable young skills compared to those of NHLers. defenseman with a skill set that scouts compared to that of Detroit Red Wings great and hall of famer Nicklas Lidstrom. Dahlin’s impressive play “I think kind of my ability to make plays, see the ice, kind of my hockey in Sweden’s top professional league made an immediate jump to the IQ,” Beniers said about which of his skills helped him succeed at the NHL a foregone conclusion. tournament. “I think that was pretty good. I felt good about that there and kind of my edges, my skating ability when I was there. I think that those Sabres drafting first overall in year in which 'scouting world got turned two things allowed me to play well at a faster pace and make plays and upside down' kind of have an impact while I was there. The way I see the ice and move my feet, I think that also helped me a lot with forechecking, backchecking The on-ice development of many prospects was impacted by restrictions and things like that.” to combat the spread of the virus, as positive Covid-19 tests wreaked havoc on the schedules of every active league and players couldn’t train The Sabres' internal debate, though, likely centers around Power and as they normally would. This has caused the NHL’s 32 teams to rethink Eklund. how they evaluate talent in this unusual year, which likely will impact their draft rankings. “In my view, he's the best player,” Craig Button, TSN director of scouting, said about Power. “I've watched him play since he was 15 when he was Owen Power, a 6-foot-6 prospect referred to by scouts and analysts as a playing midget hockey, so I've had a real benefit of watching him play for complete defenseman, is atop every notable mock draft and prospect a long period of time and he played lots this year, so he didn't have that ranking entering the NHL’s seven-round virtual event this year, which will gap. So, from his time in midget to his time with the Chicago Steel to his begin Friday at 8 p.m. time at Michigan now, he continues to handle every challenge thrown his way. There's no question that watching him play at the world Yet, for whatever reason, no one outside KeyBank Center knows who the championships gives you even greater confidence about his ability.” Sabres will select first overall. The perception surrounding this draft is that it’s as weak as any in recent memory. It’s possible no player will Power made an immediate impact upon joining the Wolverines, totaling make the immediate jump to the NHL, and many prospects’ seasons three goals and 16 points in 26 games as a freshman. Power’s 0.62 were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Sabres are in points per game this season helped him secure rookie of the year honors dire need of help at forward, while defense is arguably the strength of the from the College Hockey News, and he was a Big Ten Freshman of the organization’s depth chart. Year finalist.

It’s a debate we won’t know the answer to until general manager Kevyn Power also performed at a high level against NHL players at the IIHF Adams announces the Sabres’ selection. World Championship. He had three assists, 17 shots on goal and a plus- 1 rating while averaging 20:07 of ice time in 10 games to help Canada GM Kevyn Adams included most of his high-upside, non-exempt players win gold. on the club’s protection list for the Seattle expansion draft. “This is a complete package, and I think he's going to have a powerful “I think he's better than people think he is, actually,” said Brock Sheahan, impact in the National Hockey League,” said Dan Marr, director of NHL who coached Power with the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Central Scouting. “And, you know, and I hate doing the comparables, but Steel. “I don't think people understand how great he can be. A lot of I get forced into it a lot. He's going to be the best of Alex Pietrangelo and Seth Jones combined. And that's a player who can go out and play in any situation. He's such a rangy, deceptive skater. He is going faster than what he looks. He can skate his way through any situation out there, and he's got the quickness with his read-and-react game and his hockey sense to make those plays on the fly.”

Eklund is a 5-foot-10 left wing who was ranked by central scouting as the top European skater in this class.

Eklund has not had the production of other draft-eligible prospects, but he was remarkable while competing against men in the Swedish Hockey League this season. Eklund was named the league’s rookie of the year after he totaled 11 goals and 23 points in 40 games for Djurgardens. It was the fifth-most productive season for a draft-eligible player in SHL history. He accomplished those feats despite testing positive for Covid-19 in December and missing three weeks following an appendectomy in January.

“He competes and works hard with excellent hockey sense, quickness and elite puck skills to be both a playmaker and a scorer. A scoring threat on every shift, he plays bigger than his size and plays to win,” Marr said of Eklund.

Though Eklund has played center in the past, some scouts are of the opinion that he projects as a winger in the NHL. Building on the wing isn’t the best strategy, though the Sabres’ prospect pipeline needs talented forwards no matter their position.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217731 Calgary Flames Prokop’s buddy can’t see why it wouldn’t be.

“You can’t say a bad thing about him,” said Tschigerl, whose known Prokop since age 12. “There’s absolutely no reason why you should not Hitmen proud of Prokop's decision to come out support him because he’s done nothing to you and he’s always been super positive and a pretty good friend for everyone. He’s a super nice guy and an outgoing person. He’s so positive and upbeat — everybody Todd Saelhof just loves that about him.

“There’s always people who are going to beak at you, and that’s just an inevitable part of this,” Tschigerl added. “Especially in today’s game, That message came loud and clear from the Calgary Hitmen after one of everyone’s involved in the game no matter what. Race, colour, ethnicity, their leaders, 19-year-old Luke Prokop, announced publicly via social religion — whatever it may be, and in this case, it’s Luke coming out — media Monday that he is gay. nothing changes for all hockey players. We’re all there to play the game Heartfelt support for Prokop — including from his brother, his best friends we love, and that’s all it is. and fellow team members — flooded the hockey world in the hours after “Nothing changes that.” the announcement. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.20.2021 “Words cannot describe how proud I am of you each and everyday,” tweeted Luke’s older brother, Josh Prokop, who captained the Hitmen this past season. “The amount of strength and courage you have displayed is truly remarkable. Being able to play hockey with you is just a bonus on top of being your brother. Love you always (heart emoji) (rainbow flag emoji).”

“We’re so proud of Luke — this is a huge announcement,” agreed Hitmen GM Jeff Chynoweth. “For him to feel comfortable to come out, that just speaks volumes about his character. We will support him as an organization with whatever he does. He’s not only a great hockey player, but he’s a better hockey person.

“We’ll stand together with him.”

And skate with him for likely another year.

The Edmonton native, a third-round draft pick of the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators, is expected to return for one final year of junior hockey with the Hitmen this coming season before turning professional.

Prokop wanted to unburden himself with Monday’s news as part of his plans in working towards becoming an NHL player.

“It’s a big step for him coming out, right?” said Hitmen teammate Sean Tschigerl, one of Prokop’s best friends. “Obviously it’s part of his life and part of his career. He’s got a lot on his plate, and he’s being positive and upbeat about it, so I couldn’t be happier for him.

“And obviously as a team, we’re going to be supportive, so we want what’s best for him,” continued Tschigerl. “If you’re a good friend and a teammate, you’re there for him … 100%. And that’s what we’re doing.”

The Hitmen brass was contacted a month ago by Prokop’s agent, The Sports Corporation’s Gerry Johansson, and the process was initiated to make sure all involved — including the NHL, the Western Hockey League and the You Can Play project — were on the same page ahead of Monday’s announcement.

“He was a very good hockey player before, so I think he’ll be an even better hockey player moving forward with the weight kind of off his shoulders,” Chynoweth said. “Luke is an assistant captain of our hockey club, so he’s one of our leaders. He’s been a leader long before this, and he’ll be a leader long after this. His goal is to play in the National Hockey League, and he’s got the full support of the Nashville Predators and the NHLPA and the Calgary Hitmen.”

Chynoweth adds the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. completely backs Prokop and the LGBTQ+ community.

“From our perspective as an organization, we just want the best 23 hockey players to give us an opportunity to win a championship — and that doesn’t change,” Chynoweth said. “Luke Prokop is a top-two defenceman in our league. He was a first-round bantam pick by the Hitmen. He was a third-round NHL pick. He has a bright future in the game of hockey, and if this news can free him a little bit and let him be himself more and more to use the abilities he has, full power to him. And I know he’ll succeed in his goal to play in the NHL.”

Of course, there are the haters — especially those online.

“You know how people can be on social media — people can be very cruel behind a screen,” Chynoweth said. “I think that’s the minority. It should be all positive.” 1217732 Carolina Hurricanes

Here’s when the Hurricanes will play their 2021 NHL preseason games

BY JUSTIN PELLETIER

A pair of recent playoff opponents highlight the Carolina Hurricanes’ preseason schedule this fall as the NHL returns to a more familiar schedule.

The Canes will play four exhibition games, two at home and two on the road, against playoff foes nashville and Tampa Bay.

The Hurricanes will open their 2021 preseason schedule against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Lightning at PNC Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Carolina will travel to Amalie Arena to face the Lightning on Friday, Oct. 1.

The Hurricanes will then play a home-and-home series against the Nashville Predators, hosting Nashville at PNC Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 5 and visiting Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, Oct. 9.

The NHL regular season schedule is expected to be announced in the coming days.

CANES EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Sept. 28: vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1: at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct 5: vs. Nashville, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 9: at Nashville, 8 p.m.

News Observer LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217733 Chicago Blackhawks Corson Ceulemans and Carson Lambos sit atop that next tier. Kelley likes Ceulemans’ ‘‘physical presence,’’ but the Hawks know Lambos — a ‘‘mobile defenseman that can get up and down the ice’’ — better Blackhawks ‘excited about the quality’ of possible 12th overall picks at because he played in their Finnish scout’s hometown. 2021 NHL Draft Less likely possibilities with the 11th pick include forwards Brennan The Hawks’ scouting team is in the final days of preparing for the entry Othmann, Fabian Lysell, Isak Rosen, Xavier Bourgault, Zachary Bolduc, draft and the 12th overall pick. Aatu Raty and Nikita Chibrikov and defenseman Daniil Chayka.

NOTE: The Hawks announced their preseason schedule. It features home games against the Red Wings on Sept. 29, Blues on Oct. 1 and By Ben Pope Jul 19, 2021, 5:56pm CDT Wild on Oct. 9 and road games against the Blues (in Kansas City) on Oct. 2, Red Wings on Oct. 4 and Wild on Oct. 7.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 For the second consecutive year, the Blackhawks’ amateur-scouting team has dealt with countless odd challenges while preparing for the 2021 NHL Draft.

The postponement of the 2020 draft to October left them fewer months to scout the 2021 prospects, mostly via video. Canadian junior leagues held few to no games, and all prospect interviews were conducted over Zoom. The draft Friday and Saturday will be conducted virtually, with the Hawks gathered at another makeshift war room at Fifth Third Arena.

But scouting director Mark Kelley is confident as the Hawks make their final preparations for the first round Friday (7 p.m., ESPN2) and second through seventh rounds Saturday (10 a.m., NHL Network).

‘‘It’s almost been so strange that it feels like normal,’’ Kelley said Monday. ‘‘What we’re always trying to find out is how many players we think can affect a franchise. . . . Once we get through that and we look at the first round, this draft mirrors most every other draft.’’

The Hawks officially hold the 12th pick, but it’ll function as the 11th because the Coyotes’ actual 11th pick is forfeited. They also own two second-round picks (44th and 62nd), two fourth-round picks (105th and 108th), one sixth-round pick (172nd) and two seventh-round picks (204th and 216th).

Draft experts have described a growing consensus on the top nine skaters and top two goalies, but Kelley noted ‘‘not everyone is seeing the draft the way it’s being put in print.’’ He thinks it’s more like a consensus top eight overall players.

Either way, the Hawks likely will choose from among the best players in the second tier.

‘‘It’s a little bit like last year at 17th,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re going to need a little bit of help from other teams to look at [our options] differently. [But] anytime you’re picking at 11th, you’re excited about the quality of player that’s going to be evaluated. Right now, we’re trying to get a sense for what we feel the teams ahead of us are going to do, and we’re getting close on that.’’

The two goalies, Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa, are interesting because both are expected to land around 11th. The Hawks picked goalie Drew Commesso in the second round last year, but that doesn’t rule this possibility out.

Cossa’s 17-1-1 record and .941 save percentage in Canadian juniors last season ‘‘gets your attention,’’ Kelley said. And the Hawks have a ‘‘deeper history’’ of scouting Wallstedt, who was 12-10-0 with a .907 save percentage in the far tougher Swedish league — a ‘‘very, very good year,’’ Kelley said.

Among available forwards, Matthew Coronato, Cole Sillinger and Chaz Lucius long have been considered the Hawks’ most likely picks — unless someone such as Kent Johnson falls on draft day.

Kelley said he’s impressed by ‘‘how much better [Coronato] got as the year went on,’’ how Sillinger can ‘‘shoot the puck as well as anyone’’ and how Lucius ‘‘scored at a rate that would rival anyone that has gone through’’ the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Russian center Fyodor Svechkov’s stock has risen sharply of late, however, after a dominant performance (10 points in seven games) at the under-18 championships. He might be on the Hawks’ radar now, too. Kelley said Svechkov’s play is ‘‘so solid on both ends of the ice.’’

Among defensemen, there’s a perceived gap between the top four (all of whom should go among the top eight) and the next tier, but Kelley said the ‘‘falloff isn’t far.’’ 1217734 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL schedule to pause in February for Winter Olympics, but participation not yet certain: report

The 2021-22 regular-season schedule will be released Thursday and reportedly will include a break from Feb. 5-22 for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

By Ben Pope Jul 19, 2021, 3:37pm CDT

Patrick Kane and other NHL players will have to wait past Thursday to know whether they’ll be able to play in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The NHL has yet to guarantee its players will be able to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but its schedule reportedly will include a break for the Olympics nonetheless.

The NHL’s 2021-22 regular-season schedule, which will be announced Thursday, will pause Feb. 5-22 to align with the men’s hockey tournament schedule in Beijing, ESPN reported Monday.

But the NHL still is negotiating issues and logistics with the International Olympic Committee and hasn’t reached a definitive agreement on its participation, which was assured to the NHL Players’ Association in the extension of the collective-bargaining agreement signed last summer.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly last month cast that presumed Olympic participation into doubt with skeptical comments at a news conference during the Stanley Cup Final.

‘‘We have real concerns about whether or not it’s sensible to be participating,’’ Bettman said. ‘‘We’re already past the time that we hoped this would be resolved. We’ll deal with it . . . but we’re getting to be on a rather short time frame now because this can’t go on indefinitely.’’

‘‘We agreed [with the NHLPA that] if the conditions were right and we could reach an agreement on all the material issues, we would commit and support going to the Olympics,’’ Daly said. ‘‘That remains our position.’’

NHL players weren’t allowed to participate in 2018 but did participate in five consecutive Winter Olympics before that.

The NHL also hasn’t revealed dates for its 2022 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217735 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks release 2021-22 preseason schedule

BY CHARLIE ROUMELIOTIS

HAWKS INSIDER

The Blackhawks unveiled their 2021 preseason schedule on Monday and will be kicking things off on Wednesday, Sept. 29 against the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center.

The NHL is returning to a normal schedule this season after having zero preseason games last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a 56-game-shortened schedule. Divisions will also be back to normal.

Here's a look at the full preseason schedule:

Wednesday, Sept. 29: vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m. CT

Friday, Oct. 1: vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m. CT

Saturday, Oct. 2: at St. Louis, 7 p.m. CT*

Monday, Oct. 4: at Detroit, 6:30 p.m. CT

Thursday, Oct. 7: at Minnesota, 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, Oct. 9: vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

*Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence, Mo.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217736 Colorado Avalanche

Kiszla vs. Chambers: Has Gabe Landeskog played his last game for the Avalanche?

General manager Joe Sakic took a chance exposing the Avs’ captain to the expansion draft

By MIKE CHAMBERS and MARK KISZLA |PUBLISHED: July 19, 2021 at 12:02 p.m. | UPDATED: July 19, 2021 at 12:04 p.m.

Kiz: Has the Avalanche taken its captain for granted? General manager Joe Sakic left Gabe Landeskog exposed in the NHL expansion draft, hoping to sign his 28-year-old winger to a new team-friendly contract in free agency. Landy is loyal to a fault. But nobody likes to feel under- appreciated. I’d be surprised if Landeskog’s next game is in a Seattle Kraken sweater. But I’m beginning to worry his 10-year run with Colorado just might be done. What about you?

Chambers: Kraken GM Ron Francis is probably deep in his recruiting pitch to Gabe and his wife right now, having exclusive interview and negotiating rights with all the big free agents who weren’t protected. That’s what this has come to — a four-day opportunity for Seattle to recruit its first captain and make Gabe realize he can make $8 million annually and have a chance to win immediately. I think the Avs are betting Gabe takes less money and lesser term to remain in Colorado, where he knows he can win, but exposing their ideal captain to an expansion team that needs a leader is a dangerous game.

Kiz: I got the impression during the playoffs Landeskog was starting to grow weary of being considered a replaceable part on a Colorado roster where Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are set up to be the big-name, big-money stars. If he wants in excess of $7 million per season, Landy probably needs to sign elsewhere. He’d fit in with the gritty Golden Knights in Vegas. And his wife has roots in Toronto. What I’m trying to say is: If Landeskog isn’t afraid to explore his options, he’d be a fool to give Denver a hometown discount.

Chambers: I agree. I’m hearing St. Louis would love to pay him what he wants and reunite with Ryan O’Reilly. MacKinnon and Makar are the superstars of this team and they will be paid like it — $9 million or more annually. A hometown discount for Landeskog is about $6 million annually, maybe $6.5. The Avs believe they can put any solid left winger with MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen and that will produce as it has. Heck, Brandon Saad was great with that line in Games 5 and 6 against Vegas, when Landeskog was demoted to the second line. The Avs will miss Landeskog’s leadership but they don’t think he’s an irreplaceable winger.

Kiz: During nearly 40 years covering sports at The Post, I’ve seen some stuff. And few athletes I’ve encountered in Colorado have more of the right stuff than Landy. He’s way smarter than your average bear, unafraid to stick his handsome face into trouble and takes his duties as captain seriously in victory, as well as defeat. I’d hate to see him leave the Avs. But it took a painful divorce from Colorado for Ryan O’Reilly to get the respect and Stanley Cup he so richly deserved. I think Landeskog would be wise to move on.

Chambers: It would be a painful split for both sides. Landy came here when he was 18, been here 10 years — nine as captain — and played through all the hard times. He’s a great human. After all the tough losses, the captain has almost always been approachable and available to talk in the locker room. Just the consummate professional and a friend to all. But the Avs have a handful of superstars who must get paid under a flat cap. Rantanen got his money ($9.25 million cap hit). Makar will get his within a month or so. MacKinnon will be next before his team-friendly deal runs out in 2022-23. The Avs believe Landeskog is a complementary piece, and that alone might drive him to sign with a team like St. Louis, a division rival, or become Seattle’s first captain.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217737 Colorado Avalanche “We’ll see what happens,” said Landeskog, who had 52 points in 54 games this past season playing with MacKinnon and Rantanen on one of the top lines in hockey. “I’m still hopeful that we can agree on something Avalanche protected list: Why they protected Logan O’Connor and what and come to terms, but if it was up to me, I would have liked it to be done Gabriel Landeskog’s exposure means eight months ago, 10 months ago.”

Landeskog could give the Kraken an immediate top-line presence and a potential first captain in franchise history. But he’d likely need a huge By Peter Baugh Jul 19, 2021 offer to sign with the Kraken in their bargaining window. He’ll be able to resume negotiations with the Avalanche after the expansion draft. The

winger isn’t the only pending Avalanche unrestricted free agent with The Avalanche made two intriguing decisions with their protected list for whom the Kraken could consider negotiating, as winger Brandon Saad the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, protecting young forward Logan was also left unprotected. O’Connor and exposing captain Gabriel Landeskog, a pending Colorado already made a sacrifice before the expansion draft, trading unrestricted free agent. top-four defenseman Ryan Graves to New Jersey rather than risk leaving Because the Avalanche left Landeskog unprotected, the Kraken will have him exposed. They acquired forward Mikhail Maltsev, who is not eligible bargaining rights with the standout winger before the draft Wednesday. If to be selected, and a second-round pick in the deal. he reaches an agreement and signs with Seattle, he’ll count as the And now, with a flurry of more moves and the expansion draft on the Kraken’s draft selection from Colorado. horizon, Colorado’s roster is set for plenty more changes heading into As a fourth-line forward, O’Connor was somewhat of a surprise on the another Cup-or-bust season. protection list, but per expansion draft rules, the Avalanche had to The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 expose two forwards who are under contract for 2021-22 and played 40 or more NHL games the prior season or played in at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons. O’Connor does not meet either parameter, so to meet the requirements, Colorado chose to expose J.T. Compher and Joonas Donskoi.

Protecting the 24-year-old O’Connor — an aggressive forechecker with good possession metrics but limited offensive numbers — also limits the Kraken’s options if they were hoping to choose a player with a low cap hit. O’Connor carries a cap hit of only $725,000, whereas Compher and Donskoi check in at $3.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

Teams submitted their protection lists Saturday afternoon, and those lists went public Sunday morning. Here are the 11 players general manager Joe Sakic and the Colorado front office chose to protect:

Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Andre Burakovsky, Nazem Kadri, Tyson Jost, Valeri Nichushkin, Logan O’Connor.

Defensemen: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard.

Goaltender: Philipp Grubauer (unrestricted free agent).

That leaves several notable players available for the Kraken. There’s Landeskog, obviously, if Seattle can reach an agreement with him. But if it cannot, potential draft options include Compher and Donskoi, as well as defensemen Erik Johnson and Jacob MacDonald.

Johnson, one of the team’s alternate captains, waived his no-movement clause before the draft, allowing Colorado to leave him unprotected. The 33-year-old carries a $6 million annual cap hit and played only four games this past season because of an upper-body injury. When healthy, he’s a reliable top-four defenseman, but his injury history, age and contract all make him a highly unlikely selection for Seattle.

Donskoi might be the most logical pick for the Kraken, who have plenty of cap space to make his $3.9 million hit work. The winger had 17 goals this past year, a career high despite the shortened season. He’s a capable middle-six forward.

Compher, who is 26, can also play middle-six forward minutes. He had 18 points in 48 games, a slight decrease in offensive production from the two previous seasons, and has 109 in his 271-game career. Statistically, his best season came in 2018-2019, when he had a career-high 16 goals and 32 points. He also has been one of the Avalanche’s best penalty- killing forwards in recent years.

MacDonald likely makes sense for the Kraken only if Seattle wants to preserve cap space before free agency. He has a cap hit of only $725,000, and though he is a useful, hardworking player, he has just 35 games of NHL experience. The 28-year-old emerged as a reliable defenseman this past season after spending almost all of the first five years of his pro career in the AHL. He showed a willingness to jump into offensive play in his first extended action and logged nine points in 33 games with a plus-14 rating.

Landeskog’s status remains one of the biggest questions for the Avalanche this offseason. He recently told The Athletic that he was “a little bit disappointed” he and Colorado haven’t been able to make a deal work. 1217738 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s Gabe Landeskog left unprotected from Seattle expansion draft. Here’s what that means

Landeskog, 28, is presumably looking for a long-term deal with an annual cap hit of more than $7 million — and $49 million over seven years is probably what he wants.

By MIKE CHAMBERS | July 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

The Avalanche will omit left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog from its expansion-draft protective list when it’s released Sunday morning, according to a league source. The move will give the Seattle Kraken exclusive rights to recruit the pending unrestricted free agent long before free agency opens July 28.

It will also allow the Avalanche to protect another forward.

All potential free agents left unprotected for the expansion draft can exclusively interview and potentially sign a contract with the Kraken between Sunday morning and Wednesday night’s expansion draft. If Seattle and Landeskog agree to a deal before the draft, Landeskog would count as the Kraken’s one selection from the Avalanche.

Landeskog, 28, is presumably looking for a long-term deal with an annual cap hit of more than $7 million — and $49 million over seven years is probably what he wants. The Avs, meanwhile, are more likely coming in around $30 million over five years ($6 million annual cap hit) — hoping that their nine-year captain and 10-year player accepts a home-town discount.

The $1 million difference and the lesser term might make Landeskog listen to Seattle’s offer — which could be a “C” on his chest and $56 million over seven years ($8 million annual cap hit).

If Seattle doesn’t choose Landeskog in Wednesday’s expansion draft, the parties can return to the negotiation table when free agency opens the following Wednesday.

Saturday marked the NHL’s trade freeze ahead of the expansion draft, so Landeskog’s rights can’t be sold during that time. If the Avalanche attempts to re-sign Landeskog in the ensuing week, it might be too late for the player’s liking.

“I can’t help but be honest with you that I’m a little bit disappointed that it’s gotten this far and it’s had to come to this point,” Landeskog recently told The Athletic. “We’ll see what happens. I’m still hopeful that we can agree on something and come to terms, but if it was up to me, I would have liked it to be done eight months ago, 10 months ago.”

On Saturday night amid rumors of Landeskog’s omission from Colorado’s protective list, the player and his agent did not return texts seeking comment. And an Avalanche spokesman said he could not confirm or deny.

By not protecting Landeskog, the Avalanche could still lose one of the following forwards: J.T. Compher, Valeri Nichushkin or Tyson Jost, the latter of whom is a restricted free agent.

Colorado is bound to use the seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie protection format and shield forwards Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Andre Burakovsky, Nazem Kadri and Joonas Donskoi, plus defensemen Cale Makar, Sam Girard and Devon Toews, from the Kraken. Goalie Philipp Grubauer is also a pending UFA and either he or Jonas Johansson will be protected.

The protection lists for each team were submitted by 3 p.m. MT Saturday and they will go public at 8 a.m. MT Sunday.

Greeley Tribune LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217739 Dallas Stars “It’s great to be a part of the Dallas Stars. Of course, when I was younger, I always looked at those contracts, what was made, those huge ones.

Why Miro Heiskanen decided to sign an 8-year contract extension with “It’s kind of weird right now being in this position, but of course I’m really the Dallas Stars happy and excited.”

Heiskanen’s contract — which has a cap hit of $8.45 million annually Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.20.2021 through 2028-29 — is the third-biggest in Stars franchise history.

By Matthew DeFranks

At least publicly, Miro Heiskanen is a man of few words.

When his skill takes over on the ice, his explanation is that it’s him just “playing my game.” When he has yet another outstanding game for the Stars, he characterizes it as “pretty good.” So when it came time to divulge why he signed an eight-year contract with the Stars on Saturday, the answer was simple.

“I really love the city, the city of Dallas,” Heiskanen said during a Zoom call Monday afternoon. “Love the teammates, the whole organization. Yeah, that’s why I wanted to be eight years in Dallas. Of course, we have a great team and great chance to win the Stanley Cup. That’s why I wanted to be a Dallas Star for a long time.”

The $67.6 million spread across those eight years didn’t hurt, either.

Heiskanen’s contract — which has a cap hit of $8.45 million annually through 2028-29 — is the third-biggest in Stars franchise history, trailing only Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn in total value. It was the largest ever for a Finnish player, a fact Heiskanen said he discovered after he signed the contract: “There is and there has been great Finnish players, so it’s a huge honor for me.”

The contract will cover Heiskanen’s prime years in Victory Green, the seasons when he’s competing for Norris Trophies as the Stars hope they can contend for Stanley Cups. Unlike eight-year deals handed out in unrestricted free agency, the Stars aren’t on the hook for a player deep into their 30s. Heiskanen will be 29 when his deal expires.

The Stars drafted Heiskanen in 2017 as a fresh-faced 18-year-old out of Espoo, and this contract will allow the organization to watch him grow into adulthood. Heiskanen said he’ll start looking for houses in Dallas, and he’ll have almost a decade more of enjoying Tex-Mex.

“There’s not that much Tex-Mex in Finland,” he said.

As has been a customary response each of the last three summers, Heiskanen said he’s looking to become stronger and faster before training camp arrives in two months.

Heiskanen is coming off a season in which he had 27 points in 55 games, a step back from his outlandish 26 points in 27 games during the 2020 bubble run to the Stanley Cup Final.

Heiskanen’s value is not completely tied up on offense, since much of his contribution comes from shutting down opponents’ best forwards and making difficult plays look effortless in his own zone.

But to be worth a contract that makes him the sixth-highest paid defenseman in the league, Heiskanen will have to produce more offensively.

“I don’t think about that too much, what other people are talking about it,” Heiskanen said. “There’s always some comments or something, but I don’t really care what people outside are thinking. I just do my stuff, and I don’t think about that too much. Play my game, have fun and try to be better every day and help my team every night.”

Other things surrounding Heiskanen’s hockey life are up in the air right now.

He doesn’t know who his defensive partner will be, as Jamie Oleksiak is a pending unrestricted free agent (“We’ll see what happens,” Heiskanen said.) He doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to represent Finland during next year’s Olympics. (“It was a great, great experience and will be great, great to go there again. We’ll see what happens, but Olympics are nice,” Heiskanen said.)

But he does know that he’ll be in Dallas for the next eight seasons. “It’s a huge contract and great for me, of course,” Heiskanen said. 1217740 Dallas Stars up its end of the bargain. It starts with the front office ensuring that he’s paired with a defensive partner who can reap the benefits of playing with Heiskanen and allow him to take his own game to the next level. Meeting expectations of Miro Heiskanen’s new contract with Stars will be Regardless of outside opinions, the Stars believe Jamie Oleksiak is that a team effort guy, which is why signing him will be a top priority upon the opening of free agency next week.

The coaching staff also has a responsibility here. Heiskanen is a unique By Saad Yousuf Jul 20, 2021 talent, so pigeonholing him into a pre-determined system is counterproductive. The Stars’ system wasn’t a colossal failure last

season as some would think — they generated plenty of chances but For those who have spent any amount of time watching Miro Heiskanen failed to finish, for which the players themselves shoulder some blame — play over the last three seasons, the reaction to his blockbuster contract but there can be adjustments made to bring the best out of the Stars’ on Saturday — $8.45 million AAV over the next eight years — was more best players. or less the same: The Dallas Stars got it good. Heiskanen, who just Take Tyler Seguin, for example. Though Seguin barely played last celebrated his 22nd birthday over the weekend, hasn’t entered his prime season, if you go back one season to the 2019-20 campaign, there’s no yet and is already an elite NHL defenseman with no ceiling on his reason why his production needed to dip as low as it did compared to potential. previous seasons. The result of that is Seguin looking grossly overpaid, “You’re talking about physical maturity but other than that, he’s a pretty but the reality is that Seguin is one cog of a larger machine that is an complete package,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He can play NHL team and he’s playing the role he’s asked to play. Even if it’s not the game any way you want, he’s an effortless skater, his hockey sense scrapping the entire system, making adjustments can make a significant is off the charts, he’s got a calmness to him. It’s really just getting difference. Last season has several examples of this, from moving Jamie experience as he goes through the game and the league.” Benn from winger to center or playing Jason Robertson on a line with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski. Everything Nill said is true about Heiskanen’s past and present. But it’s where Nill went in the same answer, 20 seconds later, that is indicative of With a player of Heiskanen’s caliber, it can be easy to get complacent the expectations of Heiskanen’s future by the franchise and by those now knowing that he’ll compensate for a variety of shortcomings. Heiskanen viewing him through the lens of his contract. is a supremely talented player who is now paid as such. He will surely do his part to exceed the heightened expectations. The Stars need to “You look through the career of top defensemen to come through the ensure they do their part in using his as a weapon instead of a crutch. NHL, Norris Trophy-winning defensemen, where his career is at compared to them, he’s ahead of many of those people,” Nill said. The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021

Heiskanen’s play alone has already saddled him with Norris Trophy expectations, not just from his own franchise but also from his peers and Norris winners.

“I think for his age, how he uses his body and how he positions himself in the defensive zone, the way he moves on the blue line offensively, there’s no question that he’s on the path to being a Norris Trophy winner,” P.K. Subban, the 2013 Norris winner, said this year.

But now, the money is catching up. Subban is one of only five defensemen with a higher cap hit than Heiskanen going into next season. Of those five, four have won the Norris Trophy, with Alex Pietrangelo being the lone exception. Even Pietrangelo, though, has finished in the top five of Norris voting three times in his career.

High expectations aren’t new for Heiskanen. He had high expectations as a No. 3 draft pick and he’s already lived up to, if not exceeded, those. Now a contract has replaced a draft slot but Heiskanen’s approach is staying the same.

“Like I’ve always done, I don’t think about what other people are talking about,” Heiskanen said. “There are always some comments or something but I don’t really care what people outside are thinking. I just do my stuff, I don’t think about that too much. Play my game, have fun, try to be better every day and help my team every night.”

Heiskanen has already shown rare ability on both ends of the ice. His defensive prowess is undisputed and his offensive game was on full display in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoff run when he was a point-per- game player for the Stars. His overall offensive stats don’t jump off the page but there’s context to go along with that.

“Like with anybody’s career, there’s going to be some years you get more points with others and vice versa,” Nill said. “When we talk about his maturing as a player, that’s going to pick up even more. That’s part of the evolution of experience, figuring out the league a little more.”

Heiskanen plays on the same team as one of the NHL’s elite offensive defensemen in John Klingberg, who quarterbacks the top power-play unit. Depending on what happens with Klingberg’s contract next summer, Heiskanen may inherit those offensive responsibilities. Additionally, ever since Heiskanen entered the fold, the Stars have played a system that prioritizes defense. Head coach Rick Bowness has preached activating defensemen on the rush since last summer but the identity of the team remains, particularly late in games, to suffocate opponents.

Heiskanen’s contract should look like a bargain before it’s over but that’s also not solely his responsibility. Heiskanen’s reputation indicates that he’s going to do his part to follow that trajectory but the team must hold 1217741 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings announce 2021-22 exhibition schedule: First game is Sept. 29

HELENE ST. JAMES

After making do with three intra-squad scrimmages as warm-up games the past season because of the pandemic, the Detroit Red Wings will have the usual exhibition season this fall.

Because of the pandemic, teams only had little more than a week to prepare for the 2021 season. The Wings played three scrimmages at the practice facility at Little Caesars Arena as a tune-up, experimenting with the lines and defense pairings that would be used once the regular season began.

The regular season schedule is expected to be released this week, and the anticipation is it will have a break for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The eight-game exhibition slate begins with a game at Chicago on Sept. 29, followed by the home preseason opener against the Sabres on Sept. 30.

Red Wings 2021 exhibition schedule

Sept. 29: at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 30: vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2: vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3: at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Oct. 4: vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 6: at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9: at Buffalo, 3 p.m.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217742 Detroit Red Wings

Nick Leddy can help the Detroit Red Wings on defense. Here's how

HELENE ST. JAMES

Nick Leddy received a phone call from Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who welcomed his latest acquisition to the rebuild.

Leddy cost the Wings a 2021 second-round draft pick, but all the ways he potentially can help alleviates that price. Leddy is an offensive defenseman, a left-handed shot who projects to partner with Moritz Seider to ease his transition to the NHL and a potential trade-deadline chip.

After getting over “the shock,” as Leddy put it, of Friday's trade, he spoke Sunday of the chance he sees in leaving the New York Islanders, a playoff team, to join a developing team in Detroit.

“It was a change, but I’m excited to be here and really looking forward to this opportunity,” Leddy said. “It’s a younger team and I think I’ve been fortunate enough to be with some winning cultures and I really want to bring that to the Red Wings. Their history speaks for itself, with all the Cups. At the end of the day, winning is everything. I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

BIG WEEK AHEAD:Steve Yzerman's plate includes expansion, entry draft

WEDNESDAY'S EXPANSION DRAFT: Red Wings' list of unprotected players an indictment on former first-rounders

FRIDAY'S ENTRY DRAFT: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman's plan

Leddy, 30, recorded 31 points in 56 games last season. He helped the Islanders reach the playoffs, recording six assists in 19 games, ousting the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins before falling to the Lighting, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, in a seven-game series in the semifinals. Now he’ll get a chance to help Seider, the 2019 first-round pick poised to join the Wings this fall.

“I’m definitely looking forward to mentoring him and teaching him what I can, and I’m excited to learn from him, too,” Leddy said. “At the end of the day. I’m just here to do my best, whether it’s teaching younger guys or learning from them. Trying to take a younger guy under my wing is something I’ve always tried to do. Leading by example on the ice is what I’ve always been about.”

Yzerman used pick No. 52, which he acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in 2020 in the Andreas Athanasiou trade, but the Wings still have two second-round picks: Their own, at No. 38, and the New York Rangers' pick from the Marc Staal trade, at No. 48. And Yzerman unloaded forward Richard Panik, a throw-in from the Anthony Mantha/Jakub Vrana trade. (The Wings retained 50% of Panik’s salary.)

Yzerman is trying to balance stoking the rebuild with improving the current team, and Leddy checks that latter box because of his experience and his offensive instincts. He's in the last year of a contract with a $5.5 million salary cap hit, and with 121 playoff games to his credit, he's likely to attract offers at next season’s trade deadline — so he could also ultimately benefit the future.

As it stands now, the Wings’ top-four defense corp next season shapes up to be Seider, Leddy, Filip Hronek and Danny DeKeyser. The Wings made DeKeyser available in the expansion draft, but the Seattle Kraken will be eyeing either Troy Stecher, a 27-year-old right-shot with a $1.7 million salary cap hit, or Dennis Cholowski, a 23-year-old former first- round pick whose development has disappointed.

In addition to the phone call from Yzerman — “it was all positive things,” Leddy said —Wings captain Dylan Larkin texted to welcome Leddy, as did Frans Nielsen and Thomas Greiss, his former teammates with the Islanders. The messages were similar: “Nothing but great things about the organization,” Leddy said.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217743 Detroit Red Wings the best coaches in the league, so he's been well coached, and they have an excellent coaching staff, so we're excited."

Preseason slate set Red Wings notes: Robby Fabbri healthy, ready for training camp in September The Wings will return to the ice at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, Sept. 30, for their first of four home preseason games. The Wings announced their eight-game preseason schedule Monday.

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News The schedule is:

►Wednesday, Sept. 29: at Blackhawks (8:30)

Detroit — Robby Fabbri was back to playing hockey on a hot Monday ►Thursday, Sept. 30: vs. Sabres (7:30) afternoon. ►Saturday, Oct. 2: vs. Blue Jackets (7) Granted, it was street hockey, as part of the Red Wings' “Street Hockey in The D: Summer Series," but it was hockey with a bunch of enthusiastic ►Sunday, Oct. 3: at Penguins (1) kids. ►Monday, Oct. 4: vs. Blackhawks (7:30) But Fabbri, who said he had a "little concussion" at the end of the season forcing him to miss the final 17 games, will be ready to go for ►Wednesday, Oct. 6: at Blue Jackets (7) September's training camp. ►Thursday, Oct. 7: vs. Penguins (7:30)

"Good to go," said Fabbri, after Monday's event at Patton Memorial ►Saturday, Oct. 9: at Sabres (3) Center. "I'm 100 percent now. I've been training for a couple of months and everything is back to normal. It's nice to get healthy right at the Ticket information will be announced in the coming days. beginning of summer and not miss any of the training." Draft help Fabbri last played April 3 in Tampa. He did go on the ice and was The Wings announced at Monday's event one of the kids participating, practicing on a couple of occasions, but setbacks kept him out of games. Harold Washington Jr., 10, of Detroit, will help general manager Steve "As we ramped it up a little bit I had a couple setbacks, so we kind of took Yzerman announce Friday's draft pick. the process a little slow and made sure we weren't risking any future The summer hockey series provide more than 100 youth across Detroit things coming up," Fabbri said. "Just made sure it was properly healed with the opportunity to participate in a six-week in person clinic series. and didn't want to rush anything." Detroit News LOADED: 07.20.2021 The concussion occurred on a hit, said Fabbri, that didn't seem anything out of the ordinary.

"I got caught on the jaw, one of those things that happens millions of times in a game," Fabbri said. "But this one rung the bell a little different, so we just wanted to make sure I was healthy."

Fabbri has already begun skating regularly at the Wings' practice rink with players in town, such as Danny DeKeyser, Vladislav Namestnikov, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Michael Rasmussen and Thomas Greiss.

Fabbri enjoyed being back in the community Monday and having fun with young fans. The pandemic eliminated any sort of community relations projects.

"This was a lot of fun," Fabbri said. "We missed doing that throughout the year and interacting with our fans, especially the youth, and doing things like this."

Larkin, Bertuzzi update

Larkin (neck) and Bertuzzi (back surgery) have begun light skating, but coach Jeff Blashill, also at Monday's event, isn't saying for sure the two forwards will be ready to begin training camp.

"(Larkin's) progressing in a manner that we think he'll be ready," Blashill said. "In those two months (before camp) things happen. Certainly I would never guarantee anybody would be ready, things can happen. But I know Dylan is at LCA (Little Caesars Arena) on a daily basis and he's progressing.

"Same with Bert. They're in the same boat that way, which is probably nice they can do that together. They're different injuries, but they're moving at the same rate together."

Excited about Leddy

Blashill was pleased by the addition Friday of defenseman Nick Leddy from the New York Islanders.

The Wings sent forward Richard Panik and a second-round draft pick in this weekend's draft to the Islanders.

"Nick adds a player who has been a legit top-4 defenseman for a long time in this league," Blashill said. "He's an excellent skater, and the people I know on New York that I've talked to say he's an excellent person.

"On top of that, he's been in an organization that wins in a fashion that we're going to have to win like. Barry Trotz (Islanders' coach) is one of 1217744 Detroit Red Wings ►10. Ottawa Senators: Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (Sweden). If the Wings don't take Wallstedt, Ottawa well could here at No. 10. Ottawa, also, is stocked everywhere but at goaltender.

Ted Kulfan's 2021 NHL mock draft 2.0: Plenty of questions, unknowns, ►11. Chicago Blackhawks: Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP. Most folks feels heading into weekend it's either going to be Lucius or local prospect Matthew Coronato. Lucius has higher upside.

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News ►12. Calgary Flames: Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg (WHL). The Flames need some defensive depth organizationally, and Lambos plays with some edge, which the Flames like.

Detroit — One big, bold mystery. ►13. Philadelphia Flyers: Cole Sillinger, C, Sioux Falls (USHL). Just the type of mix of skill and grit the Flyers really like in their forwards. Some of That's what this 2021 NHL Entry Draft is shaping up to be, with so many the teams in the top 10 like Sillinger, too. unknowns whirring around teams and prospects. ►14. Dallas Stars: Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago (USHL). Coronato The league will hold the first round of the draft on Friday, and rounds two was a goal-scoring machine in the USHL and supplies the Stars with through seven on Saturday. There will likely be many gasps and future offense. surprises, as so much is unknown. ►15. New York Rangers: Brennan Othmann, LW, Flint (OHL). Some The belief is teams have stark, differing opinions on many potential draft scouts aren't convinced Othmann should go this high, but his feisty style picks. The reason is, so many junior leagues were impacted all over of play is something the Rangers need. North America and Europe because of the pandemic, to the point where some leagues didn't play at all (Ontario Hockey League), and many ►16. St. Louis Blues: Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL). There are others only played minimal games. those who say Ceulemans could go slightly higher, but if he's here, he fits what the Blues need in the near future. Prospects have question marks attached to their resumes, not having gone through a full, rigorous schedule. ►17. Winnipeg Jets: Fabian Lysell, RW, Lulea (Sweden). Speedy player with a high ceiling, Lysell could turn out to be a steal for the Jets. That will play itself out this weekend, with some players being picked much higher than expected, and others much lower. ►18. Nashville Predators: Fyodor Svechkov, RW, Russia. The sleeper of the draft according to many people, and the Predators need some young, The Red Wings have the No. 6 and No. 22 (from Washington) picks high-end talent. Friday, to begin a busy weekend. They'll make nine more selections Saturday. They have many options to choose on Friday, with a variety of ►19. Edmonton Oilers: Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton (WHL). The potential prospects at both spots. Oilers need a goaltending prospect and land one down the hallway from the Edmonton junior team. Here is an updated look at how The Detroit News sees Friday's first- round going down: ►20. Boston Bruins: Zachary L’Heureux, Halifax (QMJHL). The Bruins need an infusion of young talent soon, and L'Heureux has been a prolific (Note: The Arizona Coyotes had to forfeit their first-round pick for offensive player in juniors. violating prospect testing policy.) ►21. Minnesota Wild: Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Russia. The Wild attempt to ►1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D, Michigan. Nothing has changed find a linemate for star rookie Kirill Kaprizov with Chibrikov, a heady, here. The Sabres need hope, and Power is about a sure a pick as there creative player who could go in the teens. is in this draft. ►22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington): Zachary Bolduc, C, ►2. Seattle Kraken: Matthew Beniers, C, Michigan. Two Wolverines go Rimouski (QMJHL). The Wings get a second quality center in the first in the top two picks. The expansion Kraken, who could be pretty good round, with Bolduc, who can also play wing, a fine addition. Bolduc's quickly judging from the upcoming expansion draft, get a future offensive versatility and goal-scoring ability are a nice combination. If not Bolduc, star in Beniers. maybe taking a chance on Aatu Raty? ►3. Anaheim Ducks: Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL). The ►23. Florida Panthers: Aatu Raty, C, Finland. Projected to be top-5 in Ducks need help in a variety of areas and a defenseman would be logical this class some two years ago, Raty’s stock fell after a lackluster season. here. But Guenther gives Anaheim a jolt of needed offense. Whoever gets him in the latter half of this round could wind up with a ►4. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D, United States National Team great pick. Raty has talent, no question about it, but not a lot of Development Program. The Devils are likely to take a defenseman, but confidence currently. who? Simon Edvinsson, Brandt Clarke? Sure, either would work, but ►24. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto): Xavier Bourgault, C, when your brother is the face of the franchise, it makes sense to bring in Shawinigan (QMJHL). The Jackets fill another area of need with a quality Jack's younger brother. offensive prospect. Many mocks have Bourgault in the late teens. ►5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (Sweden). ►25. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh): Daniil Chayka, D, Guelph (OHL). Another team who needs help at many positions. Some folks feel William A 6-foot-3, mobile defenseman who has put up offense is a nice option Eklund could go here, maybe Mason McTavish, but Columbus will need this late in the draft. defensemen in the near future. ►26. Carolina Hurricanes: Sean Behrens, D, (USNTDP). Luke Hughes ►6. Detroit Red Wings: Mason McTavish, C, Peterborough (OHL). got a lot of the attention, but Behrens was nearly as good. The type of Eklund was the choice in mock draft 1.0. You hear a lot of chatter about prospect the Hurricanes like to stash and develop. goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, and that makes a lot of sense (no great goalie prospect in pipeline). But McTavish is the big-time center the ►27. Colorado Avalanche: Matthew Samoskevich, C, Chicago (USHL). Wings don't have and fits an area the Wings need. Headed to Michigan, Samoskevich adds to the collection of skilled forwards Colorado has in its organization. ►7. San Jose Sharks: Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie (OHL). The Sharks need youth on defense, and Clarke injects badly needed developing talent. ►28. New Jersey (from N.Y. Islanders): Oskar Olausson, RW, HV71- SHL (Sweden). There are some mocks that think Olausson could go in ►8. Los Angeles Kings: Kent Johnson, C/LW, Michigan. The Kings have the top 20. Plays with speed, and has been a goal-scoring threat in a lot of forward prospects, but Johnson is too good to pass up at this junior. spot. ►29. Vegas: Shai Buium, LHD, Sioux City-USHL. Buium has been rising ►9. Vancouver Canucks: William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Sweden). in the estimation of many scouts in recent weeks. Good gamble for The No. 1 ranked European skater falls into the Canucks' laps in this Vegas in this spot. mock, but don't be surprised to see him get plucked earlier. ►30. Montreal: Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit (Finland). Another fast riser, Salminen has been real good in tournament play, and could even go a bit higher in the 20s.

►31.Columbus (from Tampa): Danila Klimovich, LW, Belarus. Klimovich is a project, but the Blue Jackets have the time and patience to let Klimovich develop.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217745 Detroit Red Wings forward Dave Barr as head coach). They knew what they were talking about and we just followed the way they wanted us to play."

McTavish said he patterns his two-way game after St. Louis Blues center Another Peterborough center, Mason McTavish could jump-start Red Brayden Schenn, who won a gold medal with Canada at the world U18s Wings rebuild in 2008 and helped lead the 2018 Blues to their first title in franchise history with a goal in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.

MARK FALKNER | The Detroit News Unlike Schenn, McTavish has recorded more goals than assists at every level with the Ottawa Valley Titans (49 goals, 34 assists), the Pembroke Lumber Kings (47 goals, 32 assists), the Petes (29 goals, 13 assists) and ECH Olten in Switzerland (11 goals, 7 assists). Editor's note: This is the seventh in a series of profiles of the top prospects for the NHL Draft on July 23-24, 2021. The Zurich-born McTavish was on loan this year and joined the Swiss tier-two league in February after COVID-19 cancelled the 2020-21 OHL Peterborough center Mason McTavish knows first-hand about Steve season. Yzerman's success with the Ontario Hockey League's Petes. "I like to score goals. Who doesn't?" McTavish said. "I've always worked Before leading the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cups in 1997, on my shot so it's pretty rewarding when it goes in the net. When I get 1998 and 2002 and a fourth championship in the front office in 2008, outside in the garage or obviously in a game, I try to pick the corners and Yzerman had 155 points in two years in Peterborough and then was be a little more precise than just shooting hard." drafted fourth overall by Detroit in the 1983 NHL Draft. "The year he scored 29 goals, I don't think he shot enough," Oke said. Heading into the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday, McTavish "He's still learning the league and he'll be even more impactful this year could be the first Petes center since Yzerman to be taken by Detroit in after playing so well overseas." the first round. McTavish said he's looking forward to moving on from the NHL Draft and The 6-foot-2, 207-pound McTavish is the fastest-rising prospect on then attending training camp in Peterborough on Labor Day weekend as Central Scouting's final draft list, the No. 1-ranked forward among 140 he attempts to win the Petes' first OHL championship since his father's eligible players in North America and a possible choice for Red Wings team 28 years ago. general manager Yzerman with the sixth overall pick. "My dad never put pressure on me," McTavish said. "I fell in love with the "Detroit is an awesome franchise with a lot of history there," the 18-year- game on my own and it was just a bonus and a perk that he played a old McTavish said. "Honestly though, I try not and pay attention to the couple of games in the NHL and has been able to pass along that rankings. It's cool to be recognized and I'm honored to go high in the experience. I'm super lucky to have him." draft but we'll have to see how it goes on July 23." Detroit News LOADED: 07.20.2021 McTavish can't help but notice Yzerman's name inside the Peterborough Memorial Gardens.

Yzerman's No. 19 jersey is still one of the top-selling jerseys in the franchise's 65-year history and although the Petes don't retire jersey numbers, banners are still displayed inside the rink to honor Yzerman and other Peterborough stars like ex-Red Wings Mickey Redmond, Larry Murphy and Scotty Bowman.

"Peterborough is a great place to play junior hockey," said McTavish, who scored 29 goals as a rookie in the 2019-2020 season, eight more goals than Yzerman scored in his first year in Peterborough. "Our fans are passionate and take a lot of pride in the way we play."

McTavish's connection to Peterborough's defense-first, team-oriented winning ways goes back to his father Dale McTavish, who scored 103 goals in four years with the Petes from 1989-1993 and was a member of their ninth and last OHL-championship team in 1993 along with Hall of Famer Chris Pronger and two-time Stanley Cup champion Cory Stillman.

Dale McTavish played 16 seasons of pro hockey in Switzerland and Finland after scoring one goal in nine games with the Calgary Flames in 1996-97.

"My dad taught me to work hard and have fun, especially when I was younger," McTavish said. "Now, if I'm going through a slump, I'll ask him, 'What did you do when you didn't score in a couple of games?' He has a lot of wisdom to pass along to me."

Petes GM Michael Oke, who went to high school with Dale McTavish at Thomas A. Stewart in Peterborough and drafted Mason with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 OHL draft, doesn't think there's "another player in the (NHL) draft who has Mason's same kind of package."

"He's big and extremely strong on the puck, outmuscles players in all three zones and already has a pro shot," Oke said. "He knows how to get his stick in the right spot to score goals. It may seem like a lucky goal but when it happens again and again, at what point is it no longer luck?"

McTavish rocketed up the NHL draft boards after the 2021 world under- 18 championships in Texas. An assistant captain and roommate of captain and consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2022 draft Shane Wright, McTavish helped lead Canada to its first gold medal since 2013 with five goals, six assists and a plus-10 rating in seven games.

"Shane was a great team leader," McTavish said. "His work ethic is off the charts and he's going to be a stud in the NHL. Top to bottom, everyone bought in to our smart coaching staff (led by former Red Wings 1217746 Detroit Red Wings

Newest Red Wing Nick Leddy would embrace mentoring Moritz Seider

By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings were seeking an experienced, left-shooting defenseman to pair with top prospect Moritz Seider next season and likely found him in Nick Leddy.

It is a role Leddy would embrace.

“I haven’t seen much on him, but I definitely look to mentor him and teach him what I can,” Leddy said. “I’m excited to learn from him, too.”

The Red Wings acquired Leddy, 30, from the New York Islanders on Friday. Going from a team that was one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final to a rebuilding club that is not likely to challenge for a playoff position in 2021-22 was a bit of a shock. But Leddy sees some positives on why the Red Wings acquired him.

“The veteran presence … whether it’s teaching younger guys or learning from them,” Leddy said. “Seeing a guy like (defenseman) Noah Dobson last year, I learned a lot from him. Trying to teach him and take a younger guy under my wing is something I’ve always tried to do and for me leading on the ice by example is kind of what I’ve always been about.”

Leddy is mobile, puck-moving, offensive-minded defenseman who will man the point on one of the power-play units. He led the Islanders in power-play points (11) and overall collected a team-high 29 assists along with two goals.

The Islanders opted to move him (for a second-round pick and right wing Richard Panik) rather than risk losing him in Wednesday’s Seattle Kraken expansion draft because they had three other defensemen they preferred to protect (Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock).

“At the end of the day it was a change, but I’m excited to be here and really looking forward to this opportunity,” Leddy said. “It’s a younger team. I’ve been fortunate enough to be with some winning cultures (he won a Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013) and I really want to bring that to the Red Wings. Their history speaks for itself with all the Cups. At the end of the day, winning is everything and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Current Red Wings and former Islanders teammates Thomas Greiss and Frans Nielsen reached out to Leddy, as did Dylan Larkin, whom he knows well.

“They texted me on Friday, they said nothing but great things about the organization,” Leddy said.

“It’s all about winning games. I’m here to do that. I think this opportunity is going to be great for me.”

Leddy is in the final year of his contract ($5.5 million cap hit). The Red Wings likely will look to move him at the trade deadline if they aren’t able to or aren’t interested in extending him.

By acquiring Leddy, who was protected for the expansion draft, the Red Wings were forced to expose young Dennis Cholowski for the expansion draft.

As of now, Detroit’s defense heading into next season consists of right shooters Filip Hronek, Seider, Lindstrom and Troy Stecher and left shooters Leddy, Danny DeKeyser and Cholowski.

Depending on who they lose in the expansion draft (Stecher and DeKeyser also were exposed), they might still need another left shooter. They had expressed interest in re-signing Marc Staal before the Leddy deal.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217747 Detroit Red Wings

Dennis Cholowski among Red Wings exposed for expansion draft

By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings selected Dennis Cholowski 20th overall in 2016 because of his mobility and offensive ability.

His defensive deficiencies, however, have prevented him from maintaining a spot in the lineup.

Now the 23-year-old defenseman might be lost for nothing.

Cholowski is among the players the Red Wings left unprotected for Wednesday’s Seattle Kraken expansion draft. The NHL released the protected lists on Sunday.

The Red Wings opted to protect Gustav Lindstrom, who doesn’t have the offensive upside as Cholowski but has shown to be more reliable defensively. They had to pick one or the other after acquiring veteran Nick Leddy Friday from the New York Islanders.

Detroit, as expected, chose the option of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender. The other choices were fairly obvious.

At forward, the Red Wings protected Tyler Bertuzzi, Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin, Michael Rasmussen, Givani Smith and Jakub Vrana. On defense, they protected Filip Hronek in addition to Leddy and Lindstrom. Thomas Greiss is their protected goalie.

This leaves, among others, forwards Vladislav Namestnikov, Frans Nielsen and Evgeny Svechnikov and defensemen Cholowski, Danny DeKeyser and Troy Stecher unprotected.

The Kraken will select one player from each team except 2017 expansion club Vegas, which is exempt.

Cholowski (6-2, 197), because of his age and potential upside, makes the most sense to be taken.

Cholowski split the 2021 season between AHL Grand Rapids and Detroit, where he played in 16 games near the end of the year (one goal, two assists).

Cholowski earned a roster spot with a strong training camp and preseason in 2018-19 and again in 2019-20. But defensive mistakes and a lack of assertiveness promoted the Red Wings to send him to Grand Rapids midway through each season.

The Red Wings often had the left-shooting Cholowski playing the point on one of their power-play units. Leddy now can fill that role.

The only other player from the Red Wings the Kraken might consider is Stecher, a smooth-skating right-shot defenseman who helped Canada win the gold medal at this year’s World Championship. However, Stecher, 27, is in the final year of his contract ($1.7 million). Seattle could select him with the intention of trading him at the deadline if it is unable to re-sign him.

Cholowski and Stecher are both Vancouver natives.

Players with two or fewer years of pro experience are exempt from the draft. That list includes Filip Zadina (his first NHL season did not count as a full season), Joe Veleno and Moritz Seider.

The Red Wings have several unrestricted free agents, including forwards Luke Glendening, Sam Gagner, Darren Helm, Taro Hirose, Bobby Ryan and Valtteri Filppula, defenseman Marc Staal and goalie Jonathan Bernier. Seattle has exclusive negotiating rights with UFAs until Wednesday. If it signs one, he counts as the player that team loses.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217748 Detroit Red Wings Zetterberg had also been placed on long-term injured reserve by that point, and Jensen had been dealt to Washington. Then Yzerman, in his first two seasons as GM, traded Athanasiou, Green and Mantha at Comparing the last 2 Red Wings expansion lists and what it says about consecutive trade deadlines, bought out Abdelkader and saw Howard Detroit’s rebuild retire.

That’s how the Red Wings got from there to here.

By Max Bultman Jul 19, 2021 So, what does it say about Detroit’s ongoing, ground-up build?

First, and most obviously, it says the teardown was only just beginning at the time of the Vegas draft. And the natural follow-up is: is that teardown When the NHL released the Red Wings’ expansion draft protected list now, finally, over? Sunday, the immediate takeaway was simple enough. Gustav Lindström edged out Dennis Cholowski and Troy Stecher for the final “safe” spot on That part is complicated. Detroit is just months removed from dealing the blue line, leaving the Seattle Kraken to potentially choose between Mantha, its most dangerous offensive player when he was at his best. those two exposed blueliners and exposed forward Vladislav Bertuzzi’s name has made its way into the rumor mill, too, although The Namestnikov when building their team. That was the up-close view. Athletic’s Craig Custance has reported teams believe Yzerman is open to inquiries about Bertuzzi but not in a hurry to move him. Meanwhile, Pulling back, though, a bigger picture came into focus. The submission of acquiring Leddy this weekend was the first instance of Yzerman trading the protected list offered a rare point for comparison with the previous away a draft pick for a “now” player outside his early 20s. expansion draft four years ago — at the very start of the Red Wings’ rebuild. Comparing the new protected list with the one from 2017, then, Still, even with Larkin (now the captain) squarely in his prime, it’s hard to can serve as a kind of window into the progress Detroit has made in that say with any kind of conviction that the Red Wings are done sending out span, and how far it may still have to go. prime-aged pieces in trades.

As a refresher, here’s who Detroit protected back in 2017: Teams outside of “teardown” mode trade good players, too, and a case could be made the Mantha deal was more along those lines. In addition Forward to Washington’s first-round pick, the Red Wings got back a similar-aged young player in Vrana, who averaged a point per game in Detroit after Henrik Zetterberg the deal. Tomas Tatar But the remaining offseason (and season to come) will be more likely to Frans Nielsen reveal where, exactly, the Red Wings see themselves along the rebuild timeline. Anthony Mantha Another way to look at the state of the rebuild through these lists: by Andreas Athanasiou asking how many players from the current protected list will still be Red Wings four years from now. Gustav Nyquist One would expect more than the two from the 2017 list, but for context, Justin Abdelkader seven members of the Stanley Cup champion Lightning’s 11-man, 2017 Defense protected list are still with the team right now — each with a championship ring on one finger and another on the way. So the league’s Danny DeKeyser current best team had its core largely assembled four years out. Does Detroit? Mike Green Without a crystal ball, we simply don’t have the answer to that question. Nick Jensen But we do know that Leddy, Greiss and Fabbri can become UFAs after Goaltender the coming season, and that Lindstrom and Smith have yet to become true full-time NHLers. At minimum, that’s the source of at least some Jimmy Howard long-term uncertainty.

Not one single player on that list is on the one Detroit submitted to the Beyond that, some of the players who project to be key pieces for the league Saturday. In fact, only two are still with the team: Nielsen and next wave in Detroit were exempt from this expansion draft, therefore not DeKeyser, both entering the final years of their contracts. needing a place on the protected list. That includes top-10 picks Filip The rest have been traded, bought out or retired. Zadina, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond — and perhaps prospects Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren or Albert Johansson, too, if you’re feeling Some of that is a function of a fast-moving league. Four years is a lot of optimistic. Maybe there’s even an off-the-radar name out there who has time in hockey, and change is expected. Dylan Larkin was exempt from yet to pop. the previous expansion draft, coming off just his second season as a pro at the time. Tyler Bertuzzi had played just seven NHL games. Filip That, of course, was an advantage for the Red Wings — it gave them Hronek and Givani Smith had just been drafted one year earlier. Michael more flexibility in this process. But it also was a result of those players’ Rasmussen and Gustav Lindstrom were chosen days later in the 2017 inexperience, something they’ll need to remedy in order to truly compete amateur draft. Meanwhile, Robby Fabbri was in St. Louis, Jakub Vrana in for titles, and something that, by definition, takes time. Washington, Adam Erne in Tampa and Thomas Greiss and Nick Leddy Finally, there’s the matter of two of the players left unprotected this were with the Islanders. That comprises Detroit’s 2021 list. weekend: Forward Evgeny Svechnikov and defenseman Cholowski, What’s striking, though, about the differences between the previous Detroit’s first-round picks in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Those picks protected list and this one aren’t so much the new names, but rather all were made before the rebuild started in earnest, but the fact neither was the departures. chosen for the protected list is telling of one reason the process still has a ways to go — picks like those are valuable and, while no team bats 1.000 When the Red Wings traded Tatar at the 2018 trade deadline and then on its early choices, the consequences of missing are lasting. If Nyquist the following February, it was functionally the end of a lost era of Cholowski had blossomed by now into a top-four defenseman and Red Wings — a group that was good enough to win the AHL Calder Cup Svechnikov into a top-six winger, Detroit’s playoff timeline might look a lot in 2013 but arrived too late to latch onto the Red Wings’ old, closing closer. window and too early to be part of the one presumed to soon open. Luke Glendening (now a pending free agent) remained from the Griffins’ 2013 In that sense, the examination of these two lists doesn’t necessarily championship roster — along with DeKeyser (who joined that Grand reveal anything groundbreaking that couldn’t otherwise be discovered. Rapids team for six playoff games) and coach Jeff Blashill — but Nyquist But it does reinforce the fragility of building an NHL roster. and Tatar had been that title team’s leading scorers in the regular The Red Wings have surely progressed, and may even be entering a season. By the time Steve Yzerman returned to Detroit as general new stage, in their rebuild — one in which many of the players deemed manager in April 2019, both were gone. most essential are young enough to still project that way four years from now. The organizational health and depth have also reached the point where it’s not so naive to believe in that future.

But as with the 2017 list, plans — and trajectories — change fast in the NHL. The Red Wings have their work cut out for them to make sure their current one actually results in a brighter future.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217749 Edmonton Oilers Benson also understands that the pandemic had a dramatic impact on his season. Had it been a regular 82-game schedule without any quarantines to worry about, he would have certainly been given another Whether its Edmonton Oilers or Seattle Kraken, Benson just wants to look. It’s not like the Oilers had forgotten about him. play “I believe if it was a normal season, I wouldn’t have been in the AHL all The Edmonton-born left-winger just wants to play in the NHL, and if a year. I would have had another opportunity to play some games in fresh start with the Seattle Kraken increases those chances, fine by him Edmonton. It’s a little unfortunate, but nothing I can really do about it now. All I can do is work toward what’s coming next.”

Whether it’s Seattle or Edmonton. Robert Tychkowski “It’s whatever team wants me,” he said. “All I’m doing is working as hard as I can in the off season to make sure that whatever camp I’m in, I can show the coaching staff and management there that I’m ready to be a A lot of Tyler Benson fans out there are more upset than he is that the full-time NHL player — and not just be a player on the ice, but to help a Edmonton Oilers are leaving him unprotected in Wednesday’s NHL team win. That’s my goal.” expansion draft. If it’s Edmonton, he’ll still get his chance in training camp next season. Mostly because Benson isn’t upset at all. The team needs a lot of help with its forward depth, so Benson will get a The Edmonton-born left-winger just wants to play in the NHL, and if a good, honest look. That’s a situation that still appeals to him every bit as fresh start with the Seattle Kraken increases those chances, fine by him. much as a fresh start in Seattle.

“(Not being protected) is something I didn’t really know was going to “I think Edmonton is going in the right direction. It’s something I’d love to happen,” said Benson. “In talking with my agent, I knew everything was be a part of, of course. If I am staying in Edmonton, I think I can be a big kind of up in the air. Now, seeing the list, I’m still not too sure what’s part of it, as well. going to happen. I’m just looking forward to whatever opportunity comes “I believe I have the ability to be an NHL player. Once I play again, I think to me. I’ll be able to play my game. I feel like I belong.” “I wouldn’t say I’m nervous, I’m just more curious to see what’s going to Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.20.2021 happen in the next few days.”

His days in the Oilers organization might be numbered — and for a local kid who always dreamed about playing for Edmonton, that’s too bad — but at this stage of his career arc, the NHL is a bigger goal than any specific team.

He’s still young, but at the same time it’s been five years since he was a high second-round draft pick (32nd overall). It’s time to get his shot.

“For me, it’s just getting an opportunity,” he said. “Even if it’s not with Edmonton, even if it’s not with Seattle, as a player I just want to have a chance, an opportunity to play in the NHL and compete for a spot.

“That’s all I’m looking forward to. I’m not too worried about who it’s with, I just want to play for an NHL team this coming season.”

The Oilers certainly have more to lose in this equation than Benson does. There is plenty of unexplored upside in a 23-year-old point-per-game player in the American Hockey League who hasn’t been given an NHL audition since a seven-game stint almost 18 months ago.

And, yes, there have been many AHL standouts over the years who couldn’t quite find their stride in the NHL, but it’s too early to include Benson on that list after a seven-game look in February 2020.

“My last few games playing in the NHL was a year and a half ago and I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a player since then,” he said, adding he truly believes he is ready for a breakthrough season. “I felt this was my strongest year as a professional hockey player. I brought consistency to the rink every game I played this year. I brought my offensive game to the rink and was able to produce.

“I was also able to do more things, grow my game on the defensive side and be smarter with the puck, even having the opportunity to play some penalty kill this year.

“If I get another opportunity, it’s something I’m not going to let slip away. I’m mentally stronger and I feel more confident going into the league.”

So, why didn’t they protect him? Benson understands it’s a business and that beyond the big four of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jesse Puljujarvi, there were only three forward spots left. The fact that Zack Kassian, Josh Archibald and Kailer Yamamoto got them is nothing to be insulted about.

When Carey Price and Mark Giordano are left unprotected by Montreal and Calgary, you know that these lists can leave teams in a bind.

“Exactly,” said Benson. “Just looking at the list, the seven forwards Edmonton protected are impact players in the NHL already. All I could have done this year, and it’s something I think I did do, was make it a hard decision for Edmonton. I think I did a good job of that.” 1217750 Edmonton Oilers In addition to the age difference — Savard turns 31 in October — there are a few other reasons to proceed with caution when it comes to Savard.

Replacing Adam Larsson: Who the Oilers could turn to if the veteran The Blue Jackets were outscored 41-15 with him on the ice at five-on-five defenceman leaves in free agency in 2021. Sure, they weren’t very good, but a 27 percent goals-for percentage from a top-four defenceman isn’t helping much. Savard’s 14 regular-season games with the Lightning didn’t go much better. The By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jul 19, 2021 Lightning were outscored 10-2 with him on the ice with both teams at full strength.

Savard missed time with an upper-body injury early in the playoffs and The Oilers had better start planning for life without veteran defenceman was nothing more than a depth piece on Tampa Bay’s run to a second Adam Larsson. consecutive Stanley Cup championship. He was a break-even player in General manager Ken Holland told The Athletic last Friday, “There’s a goals for and against and expected goals at five-on-five. Only one real possibility that Larsson wants to explore the (free agent) market” defenceman averaged less ice time than Savard’s 14:07, and that was when it opens next Wednesday. Luke Schenn, who appeared in eight postseason games.

There’s a moratorium on trades and signings until Thursday after the Jason Demers Kraken have made their expansion picks. Perhaps something changes Demers has started almost 45 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone then, but a reunion between the Oilers and Larsson isn’t looking at five-on-five over the past two seasons. That’s not quite as high as anywhere near as promising as it was at the start of the month. The 28- Larsson’s usage in Edmonton, but it’s something. year-old is expected to be highly sought after in free agency. The difference from this past season is Larsson broke even in Corsi for Larsson moving on from the Oilers would leave a gaping hole on the percentage against elite competition, whereas Demers came in at 44 team’s blue line. Not only does he capably handle thankless defensive percent. Demers has held his own in middle-tier and lower-end assignments, but he’s also thought to be the intended partner for Duncan matchups. Is that good enough as a replacement for Larsson? Keith — the now-38-year-old acquired from Chicago a week ago. The Oilers’ plan is to give Keith easier minutes than he was getting in Demers also hasn’t played a full season since 2016-17 and is 33 — 4.5 Chicago last season, and having him paired with a reliable, veteran years older than Larsson. partner could help accomplish that. Travis Hamonic So, if Larsson isn’t back, it’s imperative that he’s adequately replaced. That might be easier said than done after looking at the most prominent Hamonic has shown a preference for playing in Western Canada over right-side options. the years, so it probably wouldn’t take much convincing to get him to play in Edmonton. UFA route He played almost a fifth of his ice time with Quinn Hughes, an offensively Dougie Hamilton is the biggest fish in the defenceman market and just so inclined partner in the top four. Though his advanced metrics weren’t happens to be righthanded. The Oilers could afford him based on good, the Canucks were a lousy team that was hit hard by COVID-19 late projections here, but it would severely hamper their ability to improve key in the season. Hamonic had excellent numbers at five-on-five the last areas and patch other holes. time there was a full season in 2018-19 — 54.3 CF%, 53.5 GF%, 55.5 xGF%. Hamilton’s cap hit could end up being double Larsson’s, which is a big ticket considering that the Oilers also need at least one top-six forward, a However, he’s two years older than Larsson and has been hampered by No. 3 centre and depth support at forward — and that their goaltending injuries for much of his career. At least he’d probably come cheap. situation is clear as mud. Hamilton must want to play in Edmonton, too, and there’s no evidence that’s the case. Let’s forget about this Sami Vatanen pipedream. He’s an undersized defenceman most known for his offence yet With that out of the way, let’s start with a name Oilers fans know well. produced just two goals and six points in 39 games. The 30-year-old doesn’t seem like a worthwhile option for a second-pairing role. Tyson Barrie Jani Hakanpaa Holland is on record saying he wants to re-sign only one of Larsson and Barrie. Larsson has always clearly been Plan A. If he drifts out of the At 28, Hakanpaa became an NHL regular this season and split time picture, it opens the door for the possibility of Barrie to return. between the Ducks and Hurricanes. He’s 6-foot-5 and weighs 218 pounds, so he’d add some size to the Edmonton blue line. Asking him to Barrie had tremendous offensive production in his first season with the play in the top four on a team trying to take a step toward being a Oilers, leading all NHL defencemen in scoring. It’s hard to critique that contender is probably too big of an ask. too much. Based on everything I’ve heard, however, bringing him back would throw a monkey wrench into the construction of their blue line. Expansion fallout

Let’s start with top prospect Evan Bouchard, who was limited to 14 If the Kraken follow the Golden Knights’ game plan for putting together games this past season because Barrie, Larsson and Ethan Bear were an expansion team, they’ll draft a few extra defencemen and try to flip slotted ahead of him on the depth chart. That won’t happen again. The them to other teams. Perhaps the Oilers can take one of these players off Oilers are creating an avenue for Bouchard to be an everyday player. But Seattle’s hands. The Kraken will probably want draft picks and exempt Barrie and Bouchard have similar skill sets. so there would be a good prospects in these deals. The Oilers have just four selections in the 2021 chance Barrie would block playing time from Bouchard, notably on the draft and have already dealt two picks for 2022. It would take a lot to get power play. Not only that, but neither player is known for his penalty- Holland to move out one of his better prospects, but maybe he’ll give up killing prowess, and having just four PKers on the blue line isn’t ideal. a lesser player or two from the pipeline.

And then there’s the issue of partners. I’m told the plan is to have Bear Which eligible-to-be-drafted players might be fits? reunited with his 2019-20 partner, Darnell Nurse, if Barrie is on another Brenden Dillon or Nick Jensen team. Would that change if Barrie came back since he predominantly played with Nurse at five-on-five this past season? You’d have to think so Goaltender Vitek Vanecek could be the choice from the Capitals, but because the alternative is a Barrie-Keith partnership. either Dillon or Jensen would be a nice addition for the Oilers if Seattle goes with a blueliner and feels inclined to deal him. David Savard Dillon is a lefty and brings more offence. Both players turn 31 in the fall Savard is the closest comparable to Larsson set to hit the open market, and had very similar, solid advanced metrics on a good Capitals team. though he is two years older. Their cap hits were almost identical this Holland knows Jensen well, having selected him in the fifth round of the past season — just under $4.2 million for Larsson and just over for 2009 draft in Detroit before trading him in 2019. Savard — and their playing styles are very similar. Jensen has two more years on his contract with a $2.5 million cap hit. Dillon has three years left at $3.9 million per annum.

Dylan DeMelo

Teaming up with Josh Morrissey for the Jets, DeMelo did a masterful job of slowing down the Oilers’ offensive attack in the playoff series. (Yes, there might have been a few illegal moves in there.)

Mason Appleton is the other high-profile Jet exposed to the Kraken, and he could be the pick instead. But getting DeMelo, a 28-year-old, top-four blueliner with three years left on a $3 million average-annual-value contract, could give Seattle a smart trade chip. It’s worth noting that DeMelo has a six-team no-trade clause.

Radko Gudas

Panthers netminder Chris Driedger or perhaps even forward Noel Acciari seem like the more likely pickups for Seattle, but if they grabbed Gudas to flip him, he could bring some snarl to Edmonton’s right side.

Gudas is 31 and has two more seasons on his contract with a $2.5 million AAV. He spent 45 percent of his ice time against middle-tier competition this past season and managed a 54.8 Corsi for percentage.

Trade possibilities

The same thing applies here as it did with Seattle; the Oilers don’t seem to have a ton to offer in a trade. Holland isn’t keen on spending a lot for a player with one year left on his contract either. So forget about Seth Jones. He’s not signing a long-term deal in Edmonton — whether Caleb was here or not. The two names list next also have just one year remaining on their contracts but perhaps would be interested in an extension or won’t cost as much.

Rasmus Ristolainen

It’s amazing to think Ristolainen has spent eight seasons with the Sabres already. Part of that is because it feels like he should have been traded several times by now. It feels inevitable this summer.

Ristolainen has one more year on his contract, which comes with a $5.4 million cap hit. He’ll turn 27 in October.

He has four 40-point seasons on his resume, but his game is often maligned. Those who rely on the eye test more see the gaffes. Those more inclined to use analytics can’t help but notice he’s never cracked the 50 percent mark in CF%, GF% or xGF% at five-on-five in any year in his career — ever.

Perhaps a change of scenery would do Ristolainen a world of good. It’d be a gamble.

Josh Manson

Manson turns 30 before the season and was limited to 23 games in 2020-21, largely the result of an oblique injury. His advanced stats were atrocious, highlighted by a team-worst 41.3 CF% at five-on-five. He has one year left on a contract that pays him $4.1 million and has a 12-team no-trade clause.

OK, now that all that’s out of the way, he could still be a good fit for the Oilers. He’s taken on tough defensive responsibilities his entire career and his metrics have largely been quite good. When you consider his health challenges, it’s possible — even probable — that this past season was an outlier.

The Oilers would be trying the replace Larsson. Manson has the tools required to do the job. Bonus: His dad, Dave, is an assistant coach for the Oilers AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217751 Edmonton Oilers One of the standout things about Kahun in 2020-21 is how much he scored at five-on-five — and how few noticed.

While playing with Leon Draisaitl as his centre (340 minutes), Kahun Lowetide: Why Dominik Kahun is the best Oilers expansion option for the scored 6-3-9 (1.59 points per 60) in what is generally regarded as a Kraken disappointing year.

Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ totals with Connor McDavid (4-3-7 in By Allan Mitchell Jul 19, 2021 391 minutes, 1.07 points per 60) were even more baffling. It’s the main reason a scoring left winger is so high on general manager Ken Holland’s shopping list in free agency this month.

Oilers fans spent Sunday discussing the impact of leaving prospect Tyler Overlooked in a disappointing run for Edmonton’s left wingers is Kahun’s Benson unprotected in the expansion draft. Benson, a 2016 second- goal scoring numbers with Draisaitl. Here are the goals per 60 totals for round selection, has completed his entry-level contract in the minors and Edmonton’s main skill wingers during the 2020-21 season (with their is now waiver eligible. main partner):

Benson’s AHL career suggests he has graduated from that (high) level Jesse Puljujarvi on McDavid’s line: 1.09 goals per 60 and is ready for a more difficult challenge. The Seattle Kraken have a clear shot at Benson, who could be an inexpensive plug-and-play option Kahun on Draisaitl’s line: 1.06 goals per 60 for the third or fourth line in Edmonton. Kailer Yamamoto on Draisaitl’s line: 0.73 goals per 60

Seattle could also choose Oscar Klefbom, a bona fide top-four Nugent-Hopkins on McDavid’s line: 0.61 goals per 60 defenceman on a quality contract, but he missed last season with injury and appears destined to miss another. The Kahun-Draisaitl-Yamamoto line fared well (in those 340 minutes five- on-five, the trio outscored opponents 12-8) overall, and is one reason The Kraken can use that cap space more effectively elsewhere during why the Oilers may be interested in bringing Kahun back for 2021-22. the expansion draft. The goals per 60 with Draisaitl is another. Few are mentioning Dominik Kahun as the pick from the Oilers list, despite him being easily the best option available. Here’s why. Deployment

Plug and play If we used Edmonton’s main centres as a proxy for where Kahun played on the depth chart during the 2020-21 season, the on-ice results tell a Kahun has been in the NHL for three seasons and has experience as a story: middle-six (second and third lines) winger but gets very little special teams time. No. 1 line (Connor McDavid): 86 minutes; 6-8 on-ice goals, 43 percent

He creates more offence (scores more goals) than most players of his No. 2 line (Leon Draisaitl): 340 minutes; 14-10 on-ice goals, 58 percent type and has enough skill to move up in the lineup. His three seasons show some responsible two-way (possession) play and impressive No. 3 line (Jujhar Khaira/Kyle Turris/Ryan McLeod): 41 minutes; 0-2 on- offence when in the right situation. ice goals

Dominik Kahun by year, five on five No. 4 line (Gaetan Haas/Devin Shore): 42 minutes; 1-4 on-ice goals, 20 percent YEAR GOALS PER 60 POINTS PER 60 SHOT DIFFERENTIAL EXPECTED GOALS Kahun spent the overwhelming percentage of his five-on-five time playing with skill and his on-ice goal differential (20-18) reflects a positive result. 2018-19 In just over 80 minutes on the depth lines, his on-ice results (1-6) were a 0.63 disaster.

1.9 Based on his numbers, he’s best described as a middle-six winger who can play a complementary role when matched with a top centre. He is 50.57 probably best suited to a third-line role with a truly capable two-way 47.58 centre.

2019-20 Why didn’t Edmonton protect him?

0.9 Kahun is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, and in the current cap situation, a large arbitration award could impact a team’s plans. No 2.43 matter what happens in the expansion draft, Edmonton has to guard the cap closely in an effort to maximize the roster. 50.54 This is a player who is 26, has played three NHL seasons in three cities 49.27 without making as much as $1 million in any season. He is no doubt 2020-21 looking for security and a longer-term deal.

0.81 In fact, Edmonton hasn’t closed the door on his return, as Daniel Nugent- Bowman noted in a recent article for The Athletic. Quoting Nugent- 1.22 Bowman “any decision made not to qualify (Kahun) is said to be cap- related. The Oilers might be willing to bring (Kahun) back on (a) cheaper 47.52 deal.” 46.46 It would be an uneasy fit for Edmonton in one way, as Kahun doesn’t Kahun’s goal scoring rates at five-on-five are real and pretty spectacular. penalty kill and is extremely unlikely to spend time on the Oilers power Over three seasons, with three different teams, he has scored 29 goals in play in the future. It’s also true he wasn’t a solution for the Oilers on the 2,297 minutes. That’s .76 goals per 60 at five-on-five for his career. third or fourth line in 2020-21, productive only while on a skill line with a formidable centre. Kahun posted .81 goals per 60 in 2020-21, tying him with Maple Leafs captain John Tavares. The two men aren’t comparable in any other way, As much as Holland might contemplate Kahun returning, his skills are not but scoring production is a strength for Kahun. suited to a Dave Tippett depth line due to the lack of special teams expertise. Five-on-five goal scoring is extremely valuable in the NHL. Why Kahun over Benson for Seattle? Goals on the skill lines Much has been made about Kahun’s arbitration rights and Benson being inexpensive, but the truth is Kahun’s NHL contract in 2020-21 paid him under $200,000 more last year than Benson’s NHL contract (if he’d played in the league).

If the Kraken draft Kahun, a long-term deal should buy the club a most reasonable deal for a winger who provides offence, can play a depth or feature role and is young enough to produce for several seasons in the Pacific Northwest.

Kahun is more proven than Benson, so there’s no risk in drafting him as a plug-and-play option. Benson has posted offence in the AHL but is not proven in the NHL.

In his three AHL seasons, Benson has scored 34 goals while Kahun was scoring exactly 34 in the NHL in those same three campaigns.

Kahun is three years older, three years more proven and a small amount more expensive. Benson may one day become a player whose value is on the same level as Kahun, but that day is not now.

The Kraken are building an NHL team, the prospects they need to develop won’t come from the expansion draft. Seattle needs NHL players. Kahun is one.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217752 Florida Panthers

Panthers unveil preseason schedule, featuring a game in Orlando and three vs. Lightning

BY DAVID WILSON JULY 19, 2021 02:49 PM

The Florida Panthers will be back in action in Sunrise in just a little more than two months. The Panthers on Monday unveiled their preseason schedule, which will begin with a doubleheader against the Nashville Predators at the BB&T Center in September and include three games against their fiercest rival.

Florida will open its exhibition season Sept. 26 with a pair of home preseason games against the Predators. The Panthers will play two more home games in the preseason, play two times on the road and play one neutral-site game.

Florida will follow its doubleheader against Nashville by traveling to Texas to face the Dallas Stars on Sept. 29, then return home to host the Stars on Oct. 1. The Panthers will wrap up the preseason with a trio of games against the defending-champion Tampa Bay Lightning — once at home, once on the road and once in Orlando.

The two in-state rivals will begin the preseason series Oct. 5 at the Amway Center, then the Lightning will host Florida on Oct. 7 at Amalie Arena in Tampa and the Panthers will close out the preseason by hosting Tampa Bay on Oct. 9.

The meeting between the two teams in Central Florida will be the third time they have played each other in Orlando, most recently in 2018.

Last season, the Panthers and Lightning met in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time, with Tampa Bay beating Florida in six games in the first round of the postseason to start its run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. The Lightning finished off its title defense July 7, beating the Montreal Canadiens in five games to win a second straight Stanley Cup.

Here’s the full preseason schedule for Florida:

Sept. 26: vs. Predators, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Stars, 8 p.m.

Oct. 1: vs. Stars, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5: vs. Lightning, 7 p.m. (in Orlando)

Oct. 7: at Lightning, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9: vs. Lightning, 7 p.m.

Miami Herald LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217753 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers announce preseason schedule, will kick off exhibition slate on Sept. 26

By MALLORY SCHNELL

The Florida Panthers announced the team’s preseason schedule for the 2021-22 season on Monday.

Their preseason will kick off Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a doubleheader against the Nashville Predators at the BB&T Center.

The Panthers will then play two games against the Dallas Stars, with the first at the American Airlines Center on Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. and the next at the BB&T Center Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

After an exciting six-game series in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Panthers will face each other three times in the preseason.

The two teams will face off in a neutral-site contest in Orlando at Amway Center on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

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The Panthers will then head to the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions’ arena on Oct. 7 for a 7 p.m. matchup.

They will round out the preseason with a home game on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Lounge 954

The BB&T Center’s all-inclusive, center-ice seating area will now be called Lounge 954, according to an email sent out to Territory Members on Monday.

Lounge 954 will provide center-ice sightlines for all hockey games, as well as concerts and events.

Guests in Lounge 954 will have access to all-inclusive food, beer, wine, soda and water, private restrooms and a dedicated private entrance to the lounge.

Formerly known as Club Red, Lexus acquired the naming rights to the BB&T Center’s club and rebranded it as Club Lexus in 2015.

As of Aug. 1, complimentary parking will no longer be available to Lexus vehicles at BB&T Center for Panthers games or concerts and events.

Lounge 954 Territory Members will still receive premium valet parking included with their membership.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217754 Florida Panthers Based on his offensive production, Vatrano would be due a nice raise in 2022 with a little bit longer of term.

Heck, if the Panthers do trade Vatrano to Seattle they could bring him Could Florida Panthers lose Driedger and Vatrano to Seattle back as a free agent in 2022 although the thought here is Vatrano could become a breakout star with the expansion Kraken and sign his new deal in Seattle. By George Richards For GM Bill Zito, losing Vatrano means gaining at least a little more salary cap space and with rumors circulating he may trade defenseman Anton Stralman before Friday’s entry draft, the Panthers could potentially Three years after losing two players to the expansion Vegas Golden be getting close to $8 million more in cap room going into free agency. Knights, there is a report the Florida Panthers have a deal in place with the Seattle Kraken in which it would not only sign pending free agent With the NHL cap staying flat at $81.5 million for this coming season, Zito goalie Chris Driedger, but get forward Frank Vatrano for doing so. has already shown (by giving Chicago Riley Stillman for taking Brett Connolly’s contract) he is willing to move assets for more space. Frank Seravalli, formerly of TSN and now with the Daily Faceoff, reported on his latest podcast that he heard Vatrano would be part of a side deal The Panthers also have a number of young players — including Grigori with Seattle. Denisenko — who could use more playing time. Freeing up another forward spot would facilitate that. Since Driedger would be a free agent starting at noon on July 28, if Seattle were to sign him before the expansion draft, he becomes the Again, we’ll see what happens between now and Wednesday. selection from the Panthers meaning Florida wouldn’t lose anyone else. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Kraken are on the verge of signing Driedger to a three-year deal worth $3.5 million per season.

So, it appears that side of the deal is done.

As we await what SEA decides with Carey Price, word is that the Kraken are closing in on FLA’s Chris Driedger at 3x$3.5M. I dont believe that precludes them from selecting Price, but one goalie appears locked-in.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 19, 2021

Seattle, of course, wouldn’t just sign a player that it could get a week later on its own. The Kraken want something in return.

There could be a deal in the works where Seattle signs Driedger and, in return, the Panthers trade Vatrano to the Kraken (perhaps with a draft pick) for one of the players it selects from another team.

We shall see how this all works out between now and Wednesday’s expansion draft (8 p.m./ESPN2).

Get a subscription to Florida Hockey Now for all the latest Panthers free agency and expansion draft news

Seattle will select at least one player from each team in the league — save for Vegas — and deals of all shapes and sizes are being made as you read this.

On Saturday, the Panthers submitted their protected list; Vatrano was left unprotected as were the likes of Radko Gudas, Noel Acciari and Markus Nutivaara.

Losing two players to an expansion team may feel like what happened in 2018 when the Panthers gave Vegas Jonathan Marchessault for taking Reilly Smith (and his five-year, $25 million contract with a no-movement clause kicking in) off their hands.

It is and it isn’t.

The Panthers are losing Driedger, either to Seattle or someone else.

A free agent who is about to become paid to be an NHL starter (although the Kraken could take Montreal’s Carey Price on Wednesday), Driedger is moving on regardless of what happens with Seattle.

Vatrano is a player who is popular among his teammates and has a knack for scoring big goals.

Over the past three seasons, Vatrano has scored 58 goals — with 12 counting as game-winners. This past season alone, Vatrano scored seven game-winning goals which was most on the team.

Despite his numbers, Vatrano spent much of his time, at least this season, on Florida’s third line.

Vatrano goes into this season on the final year of the three-year extension he signed before the 2019 trade deadline and is playing with a very team-friendly $2.5 million cap hit.

“I sat down with my agent, and I said I felt this was the best spot for me,’’ Vatrano said when he signed his extension. “I am really getting an opportunity here, top-six, power play. I love it here, I don’t want anything to change.” 1217755 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers return to Orlando as preseason goes back to normal

By George Richards

The latest indicator that the next NHL season will go back to normal came Monday when the Florida Panthers announced their 2021 preseason schedule. As usual, the Panthers will play Nashville, Dallas and Tampa Bay — with a return trip to the Amway Center in Orlando.

The Panthers’ annual preseason doubleheader against the Nashville Predators will be held at BB&T Center in Sunrise on Sept. 26.

After that, the Panthers play a home-and-home series with Dallas before ending the exhibition slate with three games against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning.

The first of those three games against the Lightning will be Oct. 5 at the Amway Center in Orlando. The two teams last played at Orlando, which is home to the NBA’s Magic and the ECHL Solar Bears, before the start of the 2018-19 season.

The building, about an hour drive (with no traffic, hah!) from Tampa in downtown Orlando, will be considered a Lightning home game.

If things are really going back to normal, that means the Panthers will probably play at least two of their first regular season games against the Lightning.

The NHL schedule is expected to come out next week.

FLORIDA PANTHERS 2021 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Sept 26: Doubleheader vs. Nashville Predators, 3/7 p.m.

Sept. 29: at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Oct. 1: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5: vs. Tampa Bay at Orlando Amway Center, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: at Tampa Bay, 7

Oct. 9: vs. Tampa Bay, 7

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217756 Florida Panthers

Next NHL schedule will maintain back-to-back series

By National Hockey Now

The next NHL schedule is expected to be released next week, and at least one of the features that defined the schedule in the pandemic- affected season of 2020-21 will be incorporated into the new one.

That feature will be more of the back-to-back home/road “series” format that was so much a part of this past one, a league source tells National Hockey Now Sr. reporter Adrian Dater.

While it will not be as heavily a part of the last division-only schedule, because every team is expected to play each other at least once in the 2021-21 season, there will still be many instances in which teams play back-to-back games in the same city.

That became a popular innovation to the 56-game, inter-division schedule forced by the pandemic. Players enjoyed not having to run around as much and hopping on airplanes after every road game.

It also greatly cut down on teams’ travel expenses and, frankly, cut down on carbon emissions from all that airplane fuel. CHN was the first to break the news of such an innovation last December.

The Panthers were one of the teams that really enjoyed the “series” format, being one of the teams that has always had to travel more miles to games than most NHL teams.

Players said that it made them feel more rested and pointed to it as a reason why they had the best record of any team in the regular season.

Florida coach Joel Quenneville also said he liked being able to land in a city and settle in for a few days.

For so many years, the Panthers would finish up a road trip and have to hop on a plane and get back home at 3 or 4 in the morning.

With more of the back-to-back series concepts, players were able to go back to the hotel and get a real night’s rest.

It is something that may become a permanent part of the NHL landscape beyond this coming season as well.

So, it looks like we would see more one-off trips to places like Tampa, Boston, Montreal and Toronto for the Panthers this coming season.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217757 Florida Panthers Meanwhile, Donald Fehr, who celebrated his 73rd birthday this weekend, will need a successor in running the NHLPA at some point.

According to multiple sources, this is fair speculation, but a bit premature NHL business notebook: Florida Panthers to make unusual NCAA foray, in officially crowning Gillis as the NHLPA’s executive director in waiting. Mike Gillis’ possible path with NHLPA One source said the nature of the consulting role is to allow Gillis, 62, to define his future and to see if he indeed wants to work with the NHLPA By Sean Shapiro Jul 19, 2021 long term.

But if Gillis likes the fit, this role could offer a glimpse into who will be the key voices negotiating the next collective bargaining agreement between Within the next few weeks, the Florida Panthers are planning on signing the league and union. a handful of prominent college athletes — but none will be hockey players. Odds and ends

Instead, the Panthers are focused on finding the most influential athletes • NHL teams still have a brief window this summer to dabble in the NFT in South Florida to become official Florida Panthers athletes as part of space, needing to get the respective project approved by the league the NCAA’s new image and likeness regulations that allow college before the end of August. athletes to monetize their personal brands. A majority of the teams that have jumped into the NFT space tend to be The Panthers are believed to be the first North American pro sports team owned by groups that also own NBA teams, which as a league has been to look into sponsoring athletes, and according to Sam Doerr, the quicker to embrace the digital and crypto space. There’s also been a Panthers chief strategy officer, it’s an initiative to build the brand and push to find a unique way to sell NFTs, and for the time being that seems ultimately help boost attendance for the NHL club. to be tying them to real-world experience.

“I think you will see a strategic partner at a decent dollar amount under Some team executives, however, think the NHL is moving too slowly and contract with two to four athletes as the main pieces of this,” Doerr said. not allowing teams to be creative enough. While teams need to have “There will be different levels as well, but those top athletes we plan to projects approved by August, that limits the ability to do single-game sign to a deal with a variety of responsibilities.” NFTs or individual event-based digital art that could be sold at games.

Those responsibilities are still to be finalized, but will likely include • After not having one in 2020 because of the pandemic, the Detroit Red posting on social media about the team and attending events, helping Wings are hosting a smaller prospect tournament in Traverse City this push student rush tickets and collaborating on digital and social channels September. with Panthers players. Doerr said other collaborations are likely, and he Instead of the typical eight teams, it’ll be a five-team showcase featuring listed opportunities with having college athletes design an item for the the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple concession stand or collaborate on non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Leafs and Detroit. Typical attendees, including the Minnesota Wild and An exact budget isn’t defined, but the market for college athletes has Chicago Blackhawks, are noticeably absent. been ramping up. Miami quarterback D’Eriq King, for example, has According to one NHL GM, a team’s participation in a prospect showcase already signed three NIL deals that will net him more than $20,000 to has been typically determined by whether or not that GM could sell the promote two Florida-based companies. team’s owner on it being a worthwhile investment. Those calculations are “It’s going to be (aimed) at those athletes that can really move the needle more difficult as organizations continue to deal with the financial for us from a brand standpoint and a new fan standpoint,” Doerr said. repercussions of the pandemic. “That process is underway. We’ve had a ton of interest since we The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 announced this.”

The Panthers plan to focus on finding some hallmark athletes to start, and from there plan to add additional athletes who are compensated on a sliding scale. Some will receive tickets for posting, while if there is a direct sale from the posts, there would likely be an opportunity for financial compensation.

In the end, this is a marketing move for the Panthers.

“We need to be culturally relevant with the peers of college athletes and that age group,” Doerr said. “We would love for them to come to the BB&T Center to go to a game. But if all of a sudden they know who Aleksander Barkov is or they watch a game on TV or buy a piece of merchandise, that’s a win for us. So it’s definitely what this is about.”

Doerr said the Panthers are being careful about rushing into signing college athletes, as it is new territory, and are going through a deliberate vetting process. He also sees what the Panthers are doing as a standard-bearer for the industry, not just hockey, where other teams might also try to jump into the NIL space.

By avoiding college hockey players, which is easy without any Division I college hockey programs nearby, the Panthers are avoiding some potential sticky issues that could have arisen with a pro team trying to pay an amateur athlete in the same sport.

Union dues

Former Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was hired by the NHLPA in a consulting role last week.

Gillis has a long resume. In 1997, he was part of the group of former players that helped prove NHLPA executive director Alan Eagleson was stealing disability insurance from the players. As an agent himself, he had a reputation for pushing further to get everything possible for his clients. And he’s shown a willingness to look uniquely at the game and push their envelope. 1217758 Los Angeles Kings progress. His offensive instincts often make him a fourth attacker on the play. He doesn’t just join the rush, he integrates himself into every play.

Potential Fit Prospect Profiles – Brandt Clarke & Luke Hughes Clarke, for many teams, is that coveted, right-hand shot defenseman that many prospect pools are lacking. For the Kings, however, the team does By Zach Dooley have 2020 second-round selections Brock Faber and Helge Grans already at that position, but when looking at a Top 10 selection, best player available has to be taken into account over positional need. Simply put, if the Kings view Clarke as the top available player, the Kings With the NHL Draft coming up quickly, this Friday and Saturday, LAKI should take him with that pick, regardless of the other players available. takes a deep dive into the possible options for the Kings at their No. 8 With his high-end offensive abilities, Clarke would be a great fit for the draft position in the first round. Kings if selected with the eighth-overall pick. Brandt Clarke Luke Hughes Vitals Vitals Height – 6’2” Height – 6’2” Weight – 185 Lbs Weight – 185 Lbs From – Nepean, Ontario, Canada From – Canton, MI DOB – February 9, 2003 DOB – September 9, 2003 2020-21 Season – Nove Zamky Mikron HC, Slovakia (26 games, 6-7=13) 2020-21 Season – US National Team Development Program (USHL: 18 Position – Defenseman games, 4-11=15 / Other 38 games, 6-28=34)

Summary Position – Defenseman

Brandt Clarke brings a different package to the group of four defensemen Summary atop the NHL draft board. First off……he shoots right! Secondly, Clarke Luke Hughes, slated to become the third Hughes brother selected in the is an offensive-minded defenseman, who seems to have those high-level first round of the NHL Entry Draft, is another talent to come out of the traits in the offensive end in a number of ways, though his skating style USNTDP. Hughes scored at nearly a point-per-game pace in the USHL leaves some wanting to see improvements or alterrations. Regardless, this season from the blueline, and was close as well in other games Clarke is considered to be mobile offensively, with top-of-the-draft traits played with the NTDP outside of the league. in the offensive end that many teams covet. Hughes is one of the group of four defensemen projected towards the top What They’ve Said of the first round of this season’s draft. Hughes is a good blend of On what he developed playing professionally in Slovakia this season abilities, bigger than you might expect from a speedy puck-mover, but with skating and offensive ability better than you’d expect from a “big I think my all-around game, my two-way game. You look at the numbers, guy”, though he’s not exactly massive. Hughes has terrific lineage and we were the second-lowest budget team in the league, we didn’t have a development and is considered to be one of the highest upside picks in lot of high-powered offense, we had to win games 2-1, 3-2, it was always the entire draft. low-scoring. It was always a fight, we were a younger team that wanted to prove that we could hang with teams that were established in this What They’ve Said league. I think my overall game was polished up pretty nicely over there. On what he’s learned from his brothers from the draft process On his work ethic and desire to improve I think they taught me, going into the year, that you’ve got to be ready for I’m going to be working hard, being the hardest-working guy in the gym, everything, you have to stay level-minded, can’t get too high or too low skating every single day just to hopefully hit my ceiling of an elite NHL going through the year. I think that really applied to me this year, defenseman one day. because with all of the COVID implications, being shut down, quarantined, at numerous times throughout the year, you’ve got to be Reviews level-headed.

Bob McKenzie, TSN On his own game, his strengths as a defenseman

Clarke is an offensive defenceman with elite hockey sense and skill who I can play in all situations, I can play on the power play and the PK, I can is projected to run an NHL power play, although he has a bit of awkward, defend a cycle, defend the rush and defend the cycle. I’m really poised knock-kneed skating style. with the puck in my transition game and I think a big part of my game are my exits and entries. My exits out of the d-zone, entries into the offensive Chris Peters, Hockey Sense zone. In the offensive zone, I think I’m pretty deceptive with the puck and He is a really interesting player. He’s a highly offensive defenseman. I try to make things happen. He’s got some of the best offensive upside I’ve seen in this draft class. In Reviews terms of the defense, and I think the one thing that we’ve all talked about among the prospect writers and the scouts is the skating needs to Mike Leone, USNTDP Assistant Coach improve for him to be a top-level guy. He has the brain. He has the mobility as, you know, all those other tools. So, if he can refine that Luke is long and rangy. It’s known that he can really skate and I thought skating he could really be an important player for whoever drafts him he took a lot of steps in the right direction with his defending ability this because he is so offensively gifted and offensively talent. year, and that starts with his skating, his ability to kill plays in the neutral zone with his skating, and his ability to defend 1-on-1 plays. I thought he Tony Ferrari, Dobber Prospects grew a lot as a player and really made strides in his game to become a really good defender in his own zone. Starting the year as my top defenseman and despite flipping back and forth with Luke Hughes for much of the year, Clarke is back atop the Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet blueliner list. His skating isn’t pretty, and honestly looks strikingly similar to my own stride, but the four-way mobility and cerebral mind for the You have great familiarity with the Hughes family. This guy’s a little bit game make him a difference-maker on every shift. He controlled play bigger than his brothers. I think he defends better than Quinn at this age, regularly in a men’s pro league in Slovakia and then was the best and I think a guy who has tremendous offensive upside, you know, just defender at the U18s, on route to a gold medal for the Canadian squad. around a point per game with the U.S. under-18 program and a nine- His play in his own end is a work in progress but there has been steady game point streak throughout the course of this season when he was healthy. And the fact remains that he’s a lot like his brothers and that he has tremendous confidence with the puck. But the skating, the edge work, the elusiveness in his game are all very much like Quinn and Jack.

Elite Prospects Draft

Hughes starts with the perfect skating posture, settling comfortably into his stride as he darts around the ice. His skating habits are pretty stellar, too. Hughes collects the puck in-stride, skates through his passes, and weaponizes movement to draw opposing defenders to his orbit, creating space for his teammates. He’s always looking to create advantages with the puck on his stick.

Potential Fit

Similar to what we wrote above for Owen Power, and similar as well to Simon Edvinsson, Hughes would be a nice add as a left-shot defenseman for the Kings. Hughes has that modern defenseman blend of skills, providing solid defensive talents as a player who can also move himself, and the puck, well. In today’s game, players need to be able to skate, and need to be able to do a variety of different things well. Hughes brings a lot of that.

Like Power, Hughes is typically projected to be off the board before the eighth-overall selection, however he’s also fallen that far in some predictions as well. With a lack of consensus at the top this season, consider Hughes to be one of many in that may or may not be there” boat.

***

The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled for July 23 and 24. Following the addition of Victor Arvidsson in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick and 2022 third-round pick, the Kings now have seven picks in this year’s draft. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be showcasing several draft-eligible prospects here on LAKI, beginning with those selected by the NHL for media participation last week.

For more draft-eligible prospect content, you can find that on All The Kings Men as Jack Jablonski is joined by draft experts to break down the 2021 Draft class in segmented groups.

Past Profiles

The Michigan Men – Kent Johnson & Matthew Beiners

Sweden’s Finest – Simon Edvinsson & William Ecklund

Great White Northern Production – Dylan Guenther & Mason McTavish

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217759 Los Angeles Kings

All The Kings Men – 5 Questions Facing Kings

By LA Kings Insider

The Expansion Draft is mere days away and all 30 affected teams have submitted their protection lists to the league. Zach Dooley joins host Jesse Cohen for an exploration of the 5 biggest questions facing the LA Kings heading into the expansion draft, the entry draft and the rest of the summer.

1. Who will be selected in the Expansion Draft?

With protected lists now submitted, we know who the Seattle Kraken can and cannot take during Wednesday’s expansion draft. With two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 10 forwards at their disposal, the Kraken will have several options to select from the Kings organization.

2. Who will the Kings select in the NHL Draft?

The LA Kings currently hold the eighth-overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, with the first round taking place on Friday. The Kings have several options at that location, and with a draft class that lacks a consensus at the top, who exactly the Kings will select will likely not play out until draft day.

3. Which RFAs will receive qualifying offers/contracts?

The Kings currently have a crop of 10 restricted free agents, including Lias Andersson and Trevor Moore, who were both included on the team’s protected list. Qualifying offers for these players are due to the league next week, on July 26th, and we’ll have some more clarity on that crop then.

4. Will the Kings sign any UFAs?

Unrestricted free agency opens on July 28. Unrestricted free agency isn’t as simple as it is in the video game, with several factors needing to align for a team and players to come to terms on a contract as a UFA, but the Kings have cap space and available roles at the NHL level if they chose to make any moves in free agency.

5. Will the Kings make any additional trades?

Following the NHL’s trade freeze, currently into effect through the expansion draft with Seattle, the Kings will once again be free to trade with the other 31 member clubs. With multiple needs at the NHL level, and a trade already completed for forward Viktor Arvidsson, the Kings certainly have the assets to be players in a deal of their choosing.

More information regarding the Kings protection list is available HERE. The expansion draft is the next event in a span of many events, taking place on Wednesday evening in Seattle.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217760 Minnesota Wild

Pick potential: The top Minnesota prospects in the NHL Draft

JULY 19, 2021 — 6:59PM

ALEX KORMANN, STAR TRIBUNE

Top-rated Minnesotans in the NHL draft, with overall rating among North American skaters from the Central Scouting Bureau

Rank: Name, position, hometown (Most recent team, College commitment)

12: Chaz Lucius, C, Grant (U.S. Nat'l U-18, Gophers)

27: Jack Peart, D, Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids HS, St. Cloud State)

28: Tristan Broz, LW, Bloomington (Fargo USHL, Gophers)

52: Jackson Blake, RW, Eden Prairie (Eden Prairie HS, North Dakota)

78: Kyle Kukkonen, C, Maple Grove (Maple Grove HS, Michigan Tech)

81: Charlie Lurie, LW, Minnetonka (Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep, Omaha)

91: Jack Harvey, LW, Stacy (Chicago USHL, Boston University)

96: Henry Nelson, D, Maple Grove (Maple Grove HS, Notre Dame)

98: Luke Mittelstadt, D, Eden Prairie (Eden Prairie HS, Gophers)

109: Joe Palodichuk, D, Cottage Grove (Hill-Murray, Wisconsin)

112: Luke Levandowski, LW, Rosemount (Rosemount HS, Wisconsin)

118: Joey Pierce, D, Ely (Hermantown HS, Minnesota Duluth)

121: Bennett Schimek, RW, Mendota Heights (Sioux City USHL, Providence)

128: Justin Janicke, LW, Maple Grove (U.S. Nat'l U-18, Notre Dame)

140: Cameron Berg, C, White Bear Lake (Muskegon USHL, Omaha)

176: Cade Ahrenholz, RW, Lakeville (Lakeville South HS, Colorado College)

178: Brody Lamb, RW, Kasson (Dodge County HS, Gophers)

199: Carter Batchelder, C, Eden Prairie (Eden Prairie HS, Colorado College)

203: Connor Kurth, RW, Elk River (Dubuque USHL, Gophers)

211: Jake Martin, D, White Bear Lake (U.S. Nat'l U-18, Wisconsin)

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217761 Minnesota Wild "It was every day in practice," Hengen said. "It was every day in games and if it was a bad team, it was a lot of goals. If it was a good team, it was a lot of goals."

Chaz Lucius blossoms from 14-year-old Gophers commit to first-round When Lucius debuted with USA Hockey's National Team Development NHL draft prospect Program, more of the same happened.

In 46 games with the Under-17 team, he had 31 goals and finished with 50 points in 46 games. By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 19, 2021 — 7:20PM Hengen called Lucius a "McDonald's cheeseburger" for his consistency.

"It's the same product every single day," Hengen said. Tears filled Tami Lucius' eyes. What stood out was Lucius' shot. She was in the stands of USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., last February to watch her son Chaz play his first game of the season with Not only is it described as heavy and accurate, but the puck leaves his the U.S. National Under-18 team. stick quickly — skills that Lucius honed.

He had been sidelined with an injury, going from a wheelchair to crutches But what complements his release is his ability to create time and space. during a months-long recovery that forced him to relearn how to walk. That's what Lucius credits to instincts.

Over time, this comeback led Lucius back on the ice and to the sport he "The way that he thinks the game offensively, he goes to the right areas," cherished. said Dan Muse, the U.S. U-18 coach. "[He] has the timing to go to those areas and keep himself free. That really impressed me the more I And when he scored in his return to action — the first of two goals on two watched him." shots — Tami welled up. Timeout from hockey "He never let the injury shake him," Tami said, "and he knew he was going to come back even stronger and better than before." Eventually, Lucius' momentum stalled.

Lucius is the top-ranked Minnesotan in this year's NHL draft and a After suffering a bone lesion from taking a puck off the left knee two projected first-round pick despite getting hurt and playing only a fraction years ago, Lucius underwent surgery last summer to clear out the dead of the season. bone and replace it with bone marrow from his back.

But instead of this setback being a roadblock for the Gophers commit, He was in a wheelchair for six weeks and then moved on to crutches the adversity was the gateway to the next chapter of Lucius' already while his leg was still tucked in a brace. For the first three months post- unique journey through hockey. surgery, Lucius spent two hours a day Monday through Friday in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber — treatment that accelerates healing. Lucius committed to the Gophers four years ago at age 14, along with his then-13-year-old brother, Cruz. They are believed to be the youngest "If you're claustrophobic," Lucius said, "it might not be the best for you." commits in program history. In November, he began to learn how to walk again. By December, the 6- Both brothers have remained on the upswing, going from Gentry foot-1, 185-pound center was skating. Academy to the U.S. National Team Development Program, and Chaz "That really came back easy more than the walking part," Lucius said. enters Friday's draft ranked 12th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. While Lucius was sad at first when he realized what he was facing, he didn't feel sorry for himself. And he didn't want anyone else's pity, almost "I'm really excited for what the future holds," Lucius said. getting mad when people were apologetic about his circumstances. Always a scorer "It happened to me for a reason," said Lucius, whose knee is now pain- Before he was pushing pucks around, Lucius was dribbling a ball. free. "I'm just going to become better from it."

He grew up in Grant, near White Bear Lake, and took up soccer and He felt more confident in his resiliency and what he could accomplish. basketball after Tami played on the hoops team at Minnesota State "He always stayed positive," said Lucius' brother Cruz. "He never was Mankato. down." But once he saw his friends involved in hockey, Lucius figured he might And when Chaz Lucius scored in his first game back, the first of 13 goals as well try it, too. in 13 games with the U-18 squad, he felt relief. "I've never looked back and loved the sport ever since," he said. He was still himself. Lucius was 8 years old when he started hockey, and it didn't take long for "The reason he's going to get drafted in the first round is he could be the Tami to notice he had a knack for it. best goal scorer at his age level in the draft," said Hengen, who noticed The first time he played on a full sheet of ice, he scored — just like he did Lucius' shot actually get harder after the injury. "That's the thing that in soccer. teams are coveting the most. They could have a big body in the middle of the rink that can score goals at a high clip, and everyone needs goal "He just has a nose for the net," Tami said. scorers."

Lucius caught the attention of Billy Hengen while Hengen was coaching Future opportunities against Lucius' team. Lucius was dominating the game despite facing most of the better 9-year-olds in the area. Plenty of hockey is in store for Lucius.

Late in the action, Hengen remembers Lucius burying the game-winning The 18-year-old starts his Gophers career later this year and is even goal and then dropping down to one knee to punch the ice — a move scheduled to get on the ice in the coming days at the 2021 World Junior Hengen interpreted as pure passion. Showcase, a preview of the talent that could represent the United States at the next World Junior Championship. "I was like, 'Who is this kid?' " Hengen recalled. That event is back at USA Hockey Arena, so Lucius is planning to watch Shooting star the first round of the NHL draft on Friday with his dad Chuck at their house in Michigan. Hengen went on to coach Lucius throughout a youth career where Lucius continued to emerge as a scorer. "I'm really looking forward to the day," Lucius said. "It's been a long time coming but obviously a little nervous as well." He kept racking up more goals than games played, including a whopping 39 in 13 in one season. Since he was 10 years old, Lucius has been dreaming of making the NHL.

What kept him motivated is proving to himself what he's capable of achieving.

And now, he's not the only one who knows his potential.

"I can't wait to see what happens," Lucius said.

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217762 Minnesota Wild

Wild announces six-game preseason schedule

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 19, 2021 — 12:25PM

The NHL is planning to go back to a normal schedule next season, and that includes the return of preseason action.

After these tune-up games were scrapped last season ahead of a 56- game slate shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wild announced a six-game lineup Monday beginning Sept. 25 at St. Louis. The Wild will also play Sept. 30 at Colorado before playing host to the Avalanche on Oct. 4, the Blues on Oct. 6 and the Blackhawks on Oct. 7 and then wrapping up Oct. 9 at Chicago.

All Wild games can be heard on KFAN 100.3 FM.

The NHL is expected to release each team's home opener on Wednesday and the complete 82-game schedule on Thursday.Already, the league has announced the Wild will host the Blues on Jan.1 for the Winter Classic at Target Field.

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217763 Minnesota Wild Free agency is likely how the Wild fills out its defense after subtracting Suter, with Alex Goligoski (Arizona) and Keith Yandle (Florida) set to hit the market in addition to Cole, whom the Wild could try to re-sign.

Wild makes Kaapo Kahkonen, Carson Soucy available to Seattle in Still, its needs on defense would magnify if Soucy is scooped up by the expansion draft Kraken. And like Kahkonen, he's a realistic candidate for Seattle.

Since breaking into the NHL after the Wild drafted him in 2013, Soucy has skated as a steady defender with size (6-5) and grit. He led the Wild By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 19, 2021 — 12:40PM in plus-minus last season (plus-22) and established career highs in assists (16) and points (17) while teaming up with Cole on an effective

third pairing. The Wild was already in the market for defensive help, but the team Soucy's workable contract might also be appealing to the Kraken; the 26- could be facing a new hole on its blue line or in net. year-old has two seasons left on a three-year, $8.25 million deal. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and defenseman Carson Soucy are the Calgary's Mark Giordano, New Jersey's P.K. Subban and St. Louis' Vince most intriguing players made available by the Wild to join the Seattle Dunn (a restricted free agent) are among the other defensemen Kraken in the expansion draft after they were left off the Wild's protection available. list that was released Sunday. At forward, former Wild players Nino Niederreiter (Carolina) and Jason Seattle debuts next season as the NHL's 32nd franchise, and its picks Zucker (Pittsburgh) went unprotected along with Nashville's Matt will be announced Wednesday in a televised reveal. Duchene, soon-to-be free agent Gabriel Landeskog from Colorado and Although Kahkonen and Soucy had important roles with the Wild last St. Louis' Vladimir Tarasenko. season, their omission from the team's list of protected players wasn't Teams had to expose a goalie signed for next season (or one who's a surprising. restricted free agent) and at least one defenseman and two forwards Like in 2017 when Vegas was entering the league, the Wild chose to under contract who played in at least 27 games last season or a protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie instead of minimum of 54 games the previous two seasons combined. eight skaters and one goalie: forwards Joel Eriksson Ek, Kevin Fiala, Rask, who played for Seattle General Manager Ron Francis when both Marcus Foligno, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Hartman, Nico Sturm and Mats were with the Hurricanes, met those requirements for the Wild, along with Zuccarello; defensemen Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba and Jared Spurgeon; Bjugstad, Soucy and Kahkonen.. and goalie Cam Talbot. The Kraken will draft 30 players (at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen That left Kahkonen and Soucy exposed along with forwards Victor Rask and three goalies) and needs to add a minimum of 20 contracts totaling and Nick Bjugstad and pending free agents Nick Bonino, Ian Cole, Brad $48.9 million. Vegas is exempt from the draft as part of its expansion Hunt and Marcus Johansson. agreement. Some players who spent last season on the team's taxi squad and/or in Seattle has an exclusive window to negotiate with free agents left the minors also went unprotected, making a total of 21 players from the unprotected before its final roster is due, and teams can make deals with Wild up for grabs. That group includes forward Joseph Cramarossa, who the Kraken to sway its picks – a tactic the Wild used previously with signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Wild before a signing/trade Vegas. freeze kicked in on Saturday. The freeze will be lifted on Thursday. But with key players at all positions protected, the Wild may not feel such These decisions by the Wild could have been different, but the team maneuvering is necessary this time and could adjust accordingly when chose to buy out the contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. free agency begins. Both players had no-movement clauses in their deals and would have Wild owner Craig Leipold did what fans should hope pro sports owners had to be protected unless they agreed to waive them. By cutting ties, do: invest, roll the dice and try to win the big one. the Wild opened up two spots. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.20.2021 On defense, Dumba got the nod over Soucy to join Brodin and Spurgeon, both of whom have no-movement clauses. Up front, Sturm was probably on the outs until Parise's exit.

First- and second-year pros like Kirill Kaprizov are exempt from the draft and didn't need to be protected. Zuccarello is the only other Wild player with a no-movement clause.

After signing Talbot last year to take over as the team's starter, the Wild chose to shield him from Seattle instead of the up-and-coming Kahkonen.

A 2014 fourth-round draft pick by the Wild, Kahkonen is coming off an impressive NHL rookie season in which he continued to emerge as a potential No. 1 goalie. He set the franchise record for wins by a rookie with 16 and went on a 9-0 run that tied the fifth-longest win streak in NHL history by a rookie netminder.

Those results could make Kahkonen enticing to the Kraken, which could slot him as a backup and let him keep developing behind a veteran No. 1. Kahkonen, 24, is under contract for one more season at a $725,000 cap hit before becoming a restricted free agent.

Either way, Seattle's goalie deliberation looks like the most interesting.

Montreal's Carey Price, Dallas' Ben Bishop and Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick are other netminders available for selection; same with Florida's Chris Driedger, a pending free agent.

If the Wild loses Kahkonen, the team can acquire a new backup when NHL free agency starts July 28. The options could include last season's No. 3, Andrew Hammond, Philadelphia's Brian Elliott and Petr Mrazek or James Reimer from Carolina. 1217764 Minnesota Wild

Wild’s six-game preseason schedule begins Sept. 25

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: July 19, 2021 at 12:29 p.m. | UPDATED: July 19, 2021 at 12:37 p.m.

While the Wild’s roster will look much different next season with the notable departures of veteran stars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, there are still heightened expectations for the team heading into next season.

For good reason.

With star wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala leading the charge — general manager Bill Guerin is still working tirelessly to try to sign both players — the Wild are starting to become among the most exciting teams in the NHL.

The next chance to see them play will be a couple of months from now when preseason rolls around. On Monday, the Wild announced their preseason schedule, which features two games apiece against the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks.

This announcement serves a a precursor to Thursday when the NHL is expected to release each team’s regular-season schedule.

Here’s the six-game preseason schedule:

Sept. 25 at St. Louis Blues (Enterprise Center) 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 at Colorado Avalanche (Ball Arena) 8 p.m.

Oct. 4 vs. Colorado Avalanche (Xcel Energy Center) 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 vs. St. Louis Blues (Xcel Energy Center) 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (Xcel Energy Center) 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Chicago Blackhawks (United Center) 7:30 p.m.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217765 MontrealCanadiens “You’ve even got Mitch Garber from Montreal (another minority owner), who is an expert in the gambling realm and we know that sports gambling is going to become a big revenue maker for teams in the future and so it really helps to have a guy like that on board who can navigate Seattle looks like a nice place to live for players selected by Kraken anything you really need from a Las Vegas or a casino perspective.”

After living in Montreal and Toronto, Baker is very happy now in Seattle and you have to think players who end up getting selected by the Kraken Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 10 hours ago in the expansion draft will also enjoy living there.

“Toronto you need a car to get around everywhere downtown because Geoff Baker was born in Montreal and raised in Laval, but he has been it’s so big,” Baker said. “Montreal’s a little more contained, you can walk living in Seattle since 2006. around it. Here in Seattle it’s also more of a compact city, you can walk around it and get to places pretty quickly. The downtown core’s not an He started his journalism career as a night police reporter at the Montreal energetic one like Montreal would be. In fact, after dark the downtown Gazette in 1991 and won a National Newspaper Award in 1994 for spot here really shuts down. The neighbourhoods are more vibrant, so if you news and another NNA in 1997 for sports and his coverage of the pick the right neighbourhood you can really enjoy it. I think the natural Alouettes. He moved to the Toronto Star in 1998 to cover the Blue Jays sites are really good … there’s just something out here that feels cleaner and won a third NNA in 2005 for a series on steroids use by young about the environment and stuff. There’s something to be said for seeing baseball players in the Dominican Republic. greenery and trees and water and mountains and I think that will really appeal to some players.” Baker joined the Seattle Times in 2006 to cover baseball’s Mariners. He is now a hockey writer, columnist and sports investigative reporter for the Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.20.2021 Times and his main focus is the Kraken, who will join the NHL as an expansion team next season.

The Seattle expansion draft will be held Wednesday night with the Kraken selecting 30 players — one from each existing team, with the exception of the Vegas Golden Knights, who are exempt from the draft after joining the NHL as an expansion team for the 2017-18 season.

What can players selected by the Kraken look forward to about living in Seattle?

“Well, from a purely financial perspective there’s no state income tax here and a lot of players are going to like that,” Baker said. “So that would be big. But just in general it’s a laid-back atmosphere out here. There’s some great natural sites to see. You can buy property out here where you’ll see mountains, you’ll see water. Even though there’s a city here, it’s not a huge city. It’s pretty small and contained.”

The Seattle ownership group, led by David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tod Leiweke, paid US$650 million to become the NHL’s 32nd franchise. The privately funded renovation of Climate Pledge Arena, which will be home to the Kraken, cost more than US$1 billion. Another $80 million was spent to build the Kraken Community Iceplex, which will be the team’s training facility.

The team sold out its season-ticket packages (13,500 in total) and Baker said you can see Kraken merchandise all around the city .

The NFL’s Seahawks are the No. 1 team in Seattle, followed by MLB’s Mariners, the MLS Sounders and the WNBA’s Storm, but Baker said there is a real buzz around town about the Kraken. He can also see the Kraken moving into the No. 2 spot ahead of the Mariners if they get off to a successful start.

With the quality of players available in the expansion draft — including Canadiens goalie Carey Price — the Kraken could be able to compete for a playoff spot right away.

“After this weekend, people finally have some names they can throw out and say: ‘All right, definitively we can have those guys. All we have to do is choose them,'” Baker said about the protected lists from the other NHL teams being released on Sunday. “So that’s really picked up. There’s a lot of hockey talk now and there’s a lot of anticipation for Wednesday because they’re going to make a big show of it and people are excited about that. There’s finally something tangible that they can hang their hats on now with regards to a team.”

Baker has been impressed by the Kraken’s ownership group and the diversity of backgrounds they come from in the business world. Bonderman, the chairman and founding partner of private equity giant TPG, has a net worth of $4.1 billion, according to Forbes. Bruckheimer is a very successful film and television producer with Top Gun, Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop among his credits.

“Bruckheimer’s a huge hockey fan, so that really helps,” Baker said. “He has ideas. Bonderman’s a billionaire and he’s basically allowed them to spend way more money than they envisioned initially and he hasn’t hit the brakes on stuff yet. He really wants to make this a first-class product. You put all that together you can’t ask for much more out of an ownership group. 1217766 MontrealCanadiens playoffs) and that’s where the huge question marks are. That’s why it’s such an interesting debate because you just don’t know if Carey Price can repeat this consistently.”

Cowan: Carey Price's future is the big question in Montreal and Seattle We’ll get the answer to the big question some time after 8 p.m. Wednesday when the expansion draft is scheduled to start.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.20.2021 Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 9 hours ago

My 22-year-old daughter — who normally has no interest in sports — had a question for me Monday morning.

“Do you think Seattle is going to take Carey Price?” she asked.

It’s a question just about everyone in Montreal is asking after Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin decided not to protect Price for Wednesday’s NHL expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken.

It’s also a big question in Seattle.

“There’s some big debate here about Carey Price,” Geoff Baker, an NHL writer, columnist and sports investigative reporter for the Seattle Times, said over the phone Monday. “He’s a huge name, a franchise face. These opportunities don’t come around very often for any team, let alone an expansion team. But there’s obviously a lot of risks associated with that.”

The risks include the five seasons remaining on Price’s contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $10.5 million. There’s also Price’s inconsistent play during the last couple of years and reports the 33-year-old goalie might need knee surgery before next season and is also dealing with a hip issue.

Price agreed to waive the no-movement clause in his contract so the Canadiens could make him available in the expansion draft and protect backup goalie Jake Allen instead. Price’s off-season home is in Kelowna, B.C., and his wife, Angela, is from Kennewick, Wash., which is only 300 kilometres southeast of Seattle. It was in Kennewick that Price met Angela while playing junior for the Tri-City Americans. Her parents still live there, so moving to Seattle would definitely have some appeal to Price and his family, which includes three young children.

“A lot of the casual fans here don’t necessarily know a lot of hockey names, but even some of them have heard of Carey Price and the fact he played out here in Tri-Cities is a big deal because that’s not that far away,” said Baker, a Montreal native who started his journalism career at the Montreal Gazette in 1991 before going to the Toronto Star in 1998 and then moving to Seattle in 2006. “So hockey fans certainly know who Carey Price is and they remember his junior days and the casual fans kind of know who he is because of what he just did in the Stanley Cup final.

“It’s a big deal,” Baker added. “I think starting today and with this expansion draft inching closer it will basically be the only thing people are discussing in town for a couple of days at least.”

Baker believes the final decision on whether Seattle takes Price won’t be up to general manager Ron Francis alone and that the goalie’s health might be the biggest concern.

“I think Francis’s job is to make a hockey evaluation and then go to the corporate people — guys like (president and CEO) Tod Leiweke — and say: ‘Here’s what this is, now what do you guys think on your side?’ I think this is the kind of decision where everybody has to weigh in because this will dictate the course of the franchise for years to come. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve got 13 per cent of your payroll roughly that’s eaten up for the next five years and that’s going to impact everything else you do. So I think the entire organization would have a say in something like this beyond hockey. But definitely they’re doing the hockey evaluation right now and they’re doing it analytically, I’m sure, and also from Francis’s hockey perspective.

“If you take Price, you don’t have to worry about face-of-the-franchise stuff anymore,” Baker added. “You got him.”

Francis is in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player and Baker noted he knows better than anyone what a big-time goalie can do for a team.

“He probably could have won a Cup in ’86 with Hartford if not for Patrick Roy in nets for Montreal, and he won Cups with Tom Barrasso in Pittsburgh,” Baker said. “He’s seen it … he knows how big a goalie is. But it’s going to come down to can Price repeat what he’s done (in the 1217767 MontrealCanadiens And it would be good for the Habs. Price is coming off the greatest playoff run of his career and I’d say that might be as good as it gets for the taciturn chap from Anahim Lake, B.C. His play has declined significantly in recent years and it seems clear that his various ailments What the Puck: Moving on from Carey Price and Shea Weber makes make it hard for him to deliver stellar performances over the course of a sense for Habs full season.

The same goes for Weber. Ever since news broke about Weber’s injury, all of the stories are about his heroic playing-through-pain story. But far Brendan Kelly • Montreal Gazette fewer folks are talking about how it might actually be a good thing for the Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 12 hours ago team to save US$7.8 million in cap space and begin a real reset based on the youth movement rather than aging and ailing players.

The most exciting thing about this playoff run was, to paraphrase Tampa Knights' Reilly Smith collides with Canadiens' Shea Weber, while goalie coach Jon Cooper, that it was a coming-out party for the kids Nick Suzuki Carey Price focuses on the puck during the teams' semifinal series in and Cole Caufield. They showed they’re good enough to build a team June. around in the coming years and you shouldn’t surround them with players in their mid-30s. Let’s hope this is the beginning of the post-Carey post-Shea era for the Canadiens. With Montreal returning to a much tougher division, chances are that the team won’t be in the Stanley Cup final in 2022. So you plan for that epic This is no knock on what both Carey Price and Shea Weber have done run in two or three years and you go after younger guys. The even better for the Habs, up to and including that inspirational Stanley Cup run this news is that if Weber, Price, and maybe others — like Phillip Danault, season. Saint Carey and Man Mountain were two of the most important Jonathan Drouin, and Tomas Tatar — are gone, you’ve got a crazy players in these playoffs. Without either of them, the team would never amount of money to play with under the salary cap. have had a chance to make the Cup final. I don’t think it’s really Bergevin’s plan, but I’m all for moving beyond Price But it’s time to move on and, shockingly enough, the Canadiens might and Weber. well be turning the page on both star players. Who would’ve predicted that a couple of weeks ago? Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.20.2021 First came the news about Weber. Renaud Lavoie from TVA reported that the captain could miss all of next season because of injuries to his thumb, knee, ankle and foot. There has even been speculation that he may never play again. Given this, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin decided to not protect Weber in the Seattle expansion draft, which takes place Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Then came an even bigger bombshell. On Saturday, word leaked out that Price had waived the no-movement clause in his eight-year US$84 million contract. Though it’s important to note he only waived the clause for the expansion draft. In other words, Bergevin cannot trade him to another team nor can Seattle draft him and then trade him without Price’s agreement. All other conversation ground to a halt Saturday night at the dinner party I was at as we saw this on Twitter and immediately the great Carey debate began in earnest.

It was a shocking development for the very good reason that the CH franchise has been built on the shoulders of Price since he was drafted fifth overall in 2005. Bob Gainey, the GM at the time, made it clear Price was the cornerstone of the team and every GM and coach since has echoed those sentiments.

Now there’s the chance he might not be a Hab by 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. At first, most of us figured the Seattle Kraken would never pick up the netminder just because of the contract. Price has five years left on his deal, which carries an enormous cap hit of US$10.5 million annually and he has to be paid a signing bonus of US$11 million this September.

It’s a hefty contract to be sure, but I’m told the Seattle Kraken are taking a deep dive internally on whether or not to take Carey Price in the expansion draft. My guess is they don’t in the end, but I do think there’s a better chance of it than I first thought. Intriguing.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 18, 2021

Then later Saturday, TSN insider Pierre Lebrun tweeted to say Seattle was in fact taking a deep dive into the Price dossier and that they might sign him.

I think Bergevin rolled the dice big time here. He wanted to protect backup goalie Jake Allen because the GM knows the team never would have made the playoffs this season without Allen. So the most rock’n’roll of GMs took a calculated risk that Seattle wouldn’t go for Price because he’s too expensive, his play has been too inconsistent in recent years, and there are too many health issues with the soon-to-be 34-year-old goalie.

But what if Bergevin miscalculated and Seattle ends up snapping up Price and making him the face of the franchise the way Vegas did with Marc-André Fleury? I say more power to them. I think the move would be good for Price and his family. He’d get a new lease on life, he’d be close to his family in B.C. and even closer to his wife Angela’s family in Washington state. 1217768 Nashville Predators courage is an inspiration to us and to the LGBTQ community in Nashville.”

If Arvidsson wasn't happy, which other veteran Predators might not be? Change will happen, thanks to the courage of those like Nashville It's not that Vandy lost in CWS finals. It wasn't competitive. Predators prospect Luke Prokop | Estes For Titans, Julio Jones trade has a benefit not being discussed

How many 19-year-olds are an “inspiration” to a community in another Gentry Estes city and country?

But it's true. That's what this was about – and why it does matter so Luke Prokop (60) of Team White skates during the 2020 CHL/NHL Top much. Someone had to be first. Prokop’s fearless example will make it Prospects Game against Team Red on Jan. 16, 2020 in Hamilton, that much easier for the next athlete to come out … and so on. Canada. Until one day, hopefully soon, this sort of news isn’t news. One day soon – a lot sooner than it was a day ago – this won’t be such a Tennessean LOADED: 07.20.2021 big deal.

A professional athlete’s sexual orientation won’t become historic when publicly acknowledged. It won’t create national or, heck, international headlines. Pundits like myself won’t weigh in, as if it’s any of our business anyway.

It won’t need to be discussed and debated and explained on ESPN. It won’t necessitate supportive statements from powerful people like NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman or the Nashville Predators' CEO Sean Henry and general manager David Poile.

And a 19-year-old hockey player won’t need to demonstrate stunning courage to face all this simply to be able to live his life.

“Who I love and who I go home with at night, that’s private, and it shouldn’t matter anymore,” Luke Prokop told The Athletic.

Exactly. Shouldn't matter.

What does matter at this point, though, is acceptance. Prokop deserves that. And while I wish we were all the way there, that we’d moved past the notoriously masculine culture that always has seemed to pervade teams and sports like hockey, we haven't yet.

But we will.

And it’ll be because of those like Carl Nassib of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and now Prokop, a Canadian minor-league defenseman and member of the Predators’ organization. On Monday, Prokop became the NHL’s first openly gay player to be under contract with a team, making the announcement on social media and through multiple interviews.

Such a major moment, and yet so relatable. Prokop told ESPN about a moment when he’d “just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t be my true authentic self.

“In that moment, I said ‘Enough is enough. I’m accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.’ ”

That's not too much to ask for anyone, athlete or not.

It’s not about hockey. It’s about common decency.

And yet, I can’t comprehend the bravery it took for Prokop, at his age, to go through with this. Before Monday morning, the only people who knew much about him were serious hockey devotees and Predators fans invested enough to recall the team’s third-round draft pick from a year ago.

Suddenly, the world knows Prokop’s name. Like Nassib, that’ll be attached to his playing career and his life after hockey.

If Prokop makes it to Bridgestone Arena in the coming years as a member of the Predators, it won't be a random midseason call-up. It’d be major news. Same thing, however, if Prokop isn’t good enough to make it to the NHL.

Something tells me Prokop can handle additional on-ice pressure, though, just like he appears more than capable of dealing with everything else that’ll accompany Monday’s announcement.

“We think he has a bright future,” Poile said Monday. “We want Luke to become a successful hockey player, and we understand his ability to be out comfortably will help him achieve his goals on and off the ice. We are committed to ensuring nothing stands in the way of his ability. His 1217769 Nashville Predators

Nashville Predators to play two of six preseason games at Bridgestone Arena

Paul Skrbina

The Nashville Predators know when one of their 82 regular-season games will take place next season – Feb. 26 at Nissan Stadium against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

While the rest of next season's schedule is figured out, the Predators will prepare for the 2021-22 season with six preseason games, including two against the Lightning.

The Predators also will face the Central Division champion Carolina Hurricanes twice and the Florida Panthers in a doubleheader. The NHL did not play preseason games last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In what has been a busy news cycle for the Predators, prospect Luke Prokop became the first under-contract player in NHL history to come out as gay. On Saturday, the team traded associate captain Ryan Ellis to the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Pekka Rinne retired. Before that Viktor Arvidsson was traded.

The team also is preparing for Wednesday's expansion draft, along with this weekend's NHL draft and the free agency period, which begins July 28.

Nashville Predators preseason schedule

Sept. 26 at Panthers (two games), 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m.

Sept. 30 at Lightning, 6 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs. Lightning, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 at Hurricanes, 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs. Hurricanes, 7 p.m.

Tennessean LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217770 Nashville Predators became the first openly-gay player in the NBA, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz told me about a gay friend he had when he was growing up in the Dominican. They remained friends, Ortiz said, because his mother had taught him that all God’s children are special. Buckley: Luke Prokop should expect a lot of support from the hockey community But mostly, the best advice for Luke Prokop is to celebrate these next few days and then get back to work. Don’t slow down. Ever. Unless Bobby Orr calls. Or Raymond Bourque pulls you aside. In which case you are authorized to stop everything and enjoy the moment. By Steve Buckley Jul 19, 2021 The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021

The Nashville Predators were not caught by surprise when Luke Prokop’s coming-out story appeared in The Athletic on Monday. The 19- year-old defenseman, a prospect who’ll likely be playing another season of juniors, had worked with the Predators, and they with him, as the day neared when he’d be telling the world he’s gay.

Nor should every other NHL team be surprised. From its embrace of the “You Can Play” project to the glittering array of Pride Nights throughout the circuit, the NHL has done so much more than welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community to its venues. It has also been preparing for its first openly-gay player, whether it’s Prokop or somebody else.

My own experiences with the NHL and its pro-LGBTQ+ sensibilities are deeply personal, and memorable. When I came out as gay in 2011, this during my days as a columnist for the Boston Herald, among the sports people who reached out with a hi-how-are-ya was Bobby Orr. Not only did Orr call into the talk show I was co-hosting that day on WEEI, a few weeks later he rang up my cell phone to see how I was doing.

Bobby Orr.

A couple of months later I heard from another retired hockey legend — Raymond Bourque. The Bruins were in the first round of a postseason run that would culminate with their first Stanley Cup in 39 years, and Bourque was walking in the direction of the B’s dressing room when he spotted me in the media workroom. He waved me over, and in his famously calm and low-key manner explained he’d been waiting to see me in person to pass along his support.

Ray Bourque.

“I’m not surprised there’s a player coming out,” Bourque told me Sunday night. “It’s happening in every sport. I think it’s time. It’s overdue. I’m all for people feeling good in their skin and being comfortable with who they are.”

Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque are two of the greatest players in hockey history. For them to reach out in the manner in which they did was unexpected and exhilarating. And sitting here now, writing about this exciting new chapter in Luke Prokop’s life, it’s got me wondering: If the likes of Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque took the time to offer a stick tap to a newly-minted gay sports columnist, imagine the cast of NHL folks who are going to be letting Luke Prokop know they have his back.

And that’s hugely important. Prokop is going to get so much support from hockey people — from the NHL to the Thursday night pick-up league at the Portland Ice Arena (which is where my own hockey career petered out) — that he’ll be hard-pressed to get back to everybody.

He’ll certainly hear from Brian Burke, the longtime NHL front office operative whose son, Brendan, a former high school hockey player and the student manager of the hockey team at Miami (Ohio) University, died in a car crash in 2010 shortly after he came out as gay. Brian’s older son, Patrick, has told me that Brendan’s coming-out announcement came to be known as “Big Gay Christmas.” God, how I love that. Those three words — Big. Gay. Christmas. — are all you need in order to understand the amount of family support Brendan received. And now Brendan’s entire family has worked to chip away at homophobia in sports. So, yes, absolutely, Prokop will be hearing from this fine family.

Prokop will hear from players, past and present. He’ll get support from fans. Tons of it. He’s going to get so much support that the occasional grinch will stand out as silly and irrelevant.

The ease and confidence with which Prokop has handled his coming-out announcement suggest he doesn’t need any advice from me, but I’ll offer some anyway. Skipping past the obvious — ignore the noise, don’t respond to nasty emails, etc. — my advice is this: Listen to other people’s stories. Listen to the people who’ll want to share their own coming-out stories. Listen to the teammates who’ll want to tell you about the LGBTQ+ people in their own lives. In 2013, after Jason Collins 1217771 Nashville Predators “I think to do this at Luke’s age is so courageous,” said Brock McGillis, who in 2016 became the first openly gay male pro hockey player. “Part of me is a little envious. He gets to live most of his life as a gay man. I didn’t have that ability.” ‘This is who I am’: Predators prospect Luke Prokop comes out McGillis, 37, was 10 years removed from his pro hockey career when he came out. The hyper-masculine culture of men’s hockey made him feel like being openly gay would have been an impediment to his career and Pierre LeBrun Jul 19, 2021 a distraction to his teammates.

“I can’t wait to see … I mean, if he was a first-round pick in the WHL, a Luke Prokop was driving his car, so he couldn’t totally freak out. third-round pick, signed, in the NHL, I can’t wait to see what this kid does with that weight off his shoulders.’’ But man, what he was feeling at the moment. Which is indeed something to think about. Prokop has reached these The 2020 third-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators was on a call hockey heights carrying this burden. Now he’s free. with the NHL club’s key front office people, including GM David Poile. “It’s a physical burden, an emotional burden, a psychological burden that Their message to Prokop? They were all proud of him. They had his is lifted,” said McGillis. “Now, will there be other sides to that? Yeah, back. He didn’t have to worry about anything. probably. But the biggest one is gone. … You feel like you’re on a cloud and you’re soaring and it’s life-changing.’’ “When I think about the feeling of being free, that was the closest I think I’ve been to it so far,” Prokop, 19, said. Pettinger sees it as a great step forward for hockey.

“I turned up the music as loud as I could. I was wearing sunglasses, I “To have an NHL drafted/signed player speak his truth hopefully inspires started to cry, tears of joy, I didn’t want anyone to see me crying while I other young players to see that hockey can be a safe space and was driving. But I was blasting the tunes and slamming on my steering accepting of everyone regardless of sexual orientation,” said Pettinger. wheel. It was amazing.’’ Both McGillis and Pettinger have offered Prokop support and guidance No doubt Prokop had wondered for nearly a year how that call with the over the last little while. It’s made a world of difference. Predators would go ever since they drafted him 73rd last fall. “They’ve been extremely helpful,” said Prokop. “For them to give me “I can’t thank them enough for supporting me,’’ Prokop said. guidance, I can’t thank them enough. They’ve been huge supporters. I call them my friends now.’’ He had just taken his next important step in a process that began in March 2020. And Prokop will be there for them, too.

Telling people in his own world that he’s gay. “I want to make sure that it’s not always about them being there for me,” he said. “We’re going to go through this together. I want to make sure Now, with this interview in The Athletic, he is ready to tell the entire those guys know they can talk to me as much as I talk to them.’’ world. There’s a reason Prokop wears an ‘A’ on his Calgary Hitmen sweater. “Very brave young man,’’ Poile said. “It took a lot of courage. I’m proud Leadership. Character. that he did that. It’s got to be exciting for him to be taking this step. This is a big story and hopefully it helps and encourages others in similar Sister Alanna, mother Nicole, Luke, and dad Al Prokop. (Courtesy Luke situations. It’s a big deal.’’ Prokop)

There has never been an openly gay active player in the NHL. The process Amazingly, this 6-foot-5, 221-pound defenceman is coming out before his first pro camp. It’s what Prokop calls it. His process. It began when the pandemic shut down the WHL season in March 2020. And yes, part of the reason Prokop is coming out is to help others. But first and foremost, it was to lift a 100-pound anvil off his back. He went home to Edmonton and decided it was time.

Just being able to tell people around him over the past year has been “I was just in a real place of comfort with being who I was,” said Prokop. freeing. “I felt I was able to start telling people I was gay and that people would be OK with it.’’ “It’s been very special, talking to my friends, my family, my coaches, my agents,’’ Prokop said. “And them being very supportive, me coming out The first person he told was his older sister Alanna. Then Luke told his and being OK with who I was. I think it’s been translating a lot into my mom, Nicole, followed by close friends. summer and my summer training. I’ve noticed myself being a lot more “The most difficult one was definitely my brother and my dad,’’ Prokop confident on the ice. said. “Just because I played hockey with Josh and I didn’t know how he “Being able to truly be who I am. This is the best I’ve ever felt in the would react, especially being his teammate for two years in Calgary. And summer and I think a large part of that is due to this process of me with my dad, he’s a very type A person, and you just never know what coming out.’’ you’re going to get from people.

Why now? “But they’ve been so supportive and very loving and caring in trying to help me with what I want to do. I couldn’t have asked for a better Prokop doesn’t want to wonder anymore. situation with me coming out.’’

“I don’t want to have to walk into the gym or to the arena or just to His older brother, Josh, was Hitmen captain this past season, his last in practice, and keep thinking, ‘Who knows? Who doesn’t?’ This is who I major junior. am,” Prokop said. “It meant a great deal to me that Luke was able to confide in me and be “I don’t think it’s going to be a big topic of conversation, that’s not what I comfortable enough to come out to me,” Josh said. “Being his teammate want it to be. It’s just, ‘Hey, here’s who I am.’ It gets it off my chest. So I is something we both will cherish forever, but he will always be my don’t have to worry and wonder about other people.” brother first and I can’t express enough how much it means to me and our relationship that he was able to communicate his true self to me.” It’s something he talked about with Bayne Pettinger, an NHL player agent who came out last year. His dad, Al, said when his son came out to him he went through a whole cycle of emotions, including at first being surprised. “I don’t really have to deal with that anymore. I feel a lot more free. I can just go on the ice and be myself,” Prokop said. “And then you turn to a little bit of sadness in the sense of being sad for Luke that he’s had to deal with this himself for so long, and not being Still, to do it at 19? there to help him,’’ said Al. At this point in our interview, Al’s voice cracked. Tears flowed. He wished The NHL world he had been there for his son all these years so Luke wouldn’t have had to carry it alone. Prokop’s coming out process eventually led to a meeting in June 2020 with his agents from The Sports Corporation in Edmonton led by Gerry “Not knowing how long he had to deal with it. So there’s that sadness Johannson. component. Then it turned to just how proud you are of him. The bravery that he shows in being able to do it. It’s like a whirlwind, and it’s not over “When we sat down, I knew he was going to tell us something really in a day or two, you go through it in your head for weeks and months.’’ important but I had no idea this was it,” Johannson said. “When he did, I was so impressed. First of all, that he trusted us enough to tell us. And Telling friends and teammates then, just really impressed with his courage.”

The process continued with telling close friends and a few teammates. It was in that meeting with his agents that Prokop made a gigantic decision. Childhood pal Joel Sexsmith of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels has known Prokop since they were both 9 years old. He was one of the first friends “When we talked about this, my agents said, ‘OK, you kind of have two Prokop told in the spring of 2020. options here — you can either keep it private, just let your friends and family know and the people you want to know. Or you can come out, be a “Obviously, you want to look out for your best friend,’’ Sexsmith said. leader in a sense and show people it’s OK,’’’ Prokop said. “Being a hockey player, I kind of know some of the stigmas that come around with something like this, so my first instinct was telling him, ‘I’m A leader. That appealed to Prokop. proud of you. I’m happy for you. And I want you to be ok.’” “That’s always been my style. I’ve always said I want to have a career in Watching his best friend handle things has been eye-opening for hockey where I was able to make a change in the game (rather) than Sexsmith. have this career full of accolades. That’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. The part of me being 19 and not even having gone to my “Seeing him come from a lot of despair, a lot of anxiety. For me, it’s first pro camp yet, it’s also to show … that you can still be who you are almost alarming to know he held it in all these years. It’s amazing now to while playing the game. You don’t have to be judged for what your see the progression and him being so comfortable with himself to the sexuality is. It’s OK nowadays to play professional sports and be who you extent where he’s ready to do this.’’ are.”

Prokop confided with three of his Hitmen teammates before this past Johannson eventually got Prokop on the phone with Brian Burke, whose season. son Brendan made huge news in 2009 when he came out while working “They’ve been really great,” Prokop said. “They kept asking me during as a student manager for the Miami University men’s hockey team. the season if I needed any extra support or if there was a conversation Brendan died in a car accident in 2010. And in 2012, Brian Burke and where sexuality came up, they made sure I was OK. They really tried to son Patrick founded the You Can Play campaign to fight homophobia in make an effort in making me feel like it was OK for me to be who I was. I sports. can’t thank those three guys enough. They also know that I don’t want that special treatment. “He wanted to congratulate me and say how proud he was of me,” Prokop said of his chat with the Penguins president of hockey operations. “Who I love and who I go home with at night, that’s private and it “We chatted for a little bit. It was really cool to talk to him.’’ shouldn’t matter anymore. I’m just there to play hockey, I’m there to win a championship. I’m there to hang out with the boys. That’s who I am.’’ “I wouldn’t go into what I said to Luke other than what I would say to any gay person who is coming out, it’s a big burden off your shoulders,” Sean Tschigerl was one of those teammates. Riley Fiddler-Schultz was Burke said. “In Luke’s case, I think he’ll find his teammates, players and another. officials completely, and I mean completely, supportive. But he’s going to “Luke is an amazing friend of mine and nothing has changed between have to deal with the social media idiots and I think he’s quite prepared us,” said Tschigerl. “But just for hockey and his life, it’s just going to be for that. He seems like a very mature young man.’’ that much easier now. He’s going to enjoy it that much more.” Prokop knows it won’t be the entire hockey world that’s ready for this.

Added Fiddler-Schultz: “I respect Luke as a teammate, a hockey player “I’m not naive, I know there’s going to be people who question it and get and a friend. And as a friend, all I want for Luke is to be happy.’’ upset about my decision,’’ said Prokop. “But I have a really good group of Dressing room banter people around me who can support me. I’m going to try not to read those negative comments, which I think will help a lot. Hockey’s culture still has so much work to do to make members of the LGBTQ+ community feel safe. “It’s sad that it’s still out there in the world, but it’s a reality. I just feel ready now to deal with it.’’ Prokop had to hear things over the years in the dressing room. Which brings us back to Brendan Burke’s legacy still being felt 12 years “It was definitely difficult,” he said. “I was guilty of it sometimes, too. No after coming out. one’s perfect and I would make the odd comment, too, that was probably offside. It was when I started playing in Calgary and noticed the locker- Pettinger talked about the impact of watching Brendan Burke do an room banter, and I thought about it, ‘What if I did come out?’ Some of my interview on TSN back in 2009 and how it moved him. McGillis formed a teammates who are saying these words that were offensive to our friendship with Brendan, which also had an impact on his eventual (LGBTQ+) community and stuff, would they be accepting or would they decision to come out. not want to be my teammate anymore, would they be uncomfortable Brian Burke is proud of his son’s continued legacy. playing with me?’’’ “You feel Brendan’s fingerprints all over this,” Burke said. “Just like some So many things went through Prokop’s mind at the time. kid coming out in 10 years will say, ‘I remember when Luke Prokop did.’’’

“But I’ve grown out of that in a sense and had the attitude of ‘I’m going to After the call with Burke came a call last month from Predators assistant come out regardless of the way people around me talk.’ But there’s going GM Brian Poile as the NHL world continued to become aware of to be a reason why I don’t necessarily associate with you anymore. I Prokop’s story. Brian Poile then organized a larger call with his dad, believe hockey has a long way to go still in that sense. There’s some David, plus front office members Jeff Kealty, Scott Nichol and Rob change to be made. And hopefully I can start some of it.’’ Scuderi.

Sexsmith agreed hockey still needs to change when it comes to the “They said what I’m doing is a great thing and I’m going to inspire a lot of dressing room and the culture of the sport. people,” Prokop said.

“I honestly can’t praise Luke enough for being able to pass off certain Brian Poile says they wanted to make sure Prokop felt part of the comments maybe in the past, just ignoring ignorance. You know, it’s not Predators family in every sense of the word. intentional ignorance by most guys, there’s just a lack of awareness, not enough education around it right now. I think this will bring a lot of “We simply wanted to call Luke so he could hear he had our love, care attention to it.’’ and support,” said the assistant GM. “We reminded Luke he was part of our Predators family, as with all our players and staff, we care about them as people first and foremost. We shared how courageous he was in his decision to come out publicly, how proud we were of Luke being true to himself, and he had our full support moving forward together.’’

Historical impact

Prokop is only 19. He’s most likely going back to junior hockey next season. His pro career isn’t here quite yet. The last thing anyone wants is to burden him just as he unburdened himself.

But there’s no other way to look at this: It is huge.

The NHL has never had an openly gay player. Prokop is telling his story before his first pro camp.

“I think it’s a massive deal,” said McGillis. “But to have Luke come out, who’s an NHL pick, who is going to play professionally, who is likely to have a career in the sport, that’s massive. That’s going to impact lives.’’

That’s the goal, Prokop said.

“If I can inspire or help make a difference to one person, then I’ve done my job in wanting to create change and to create an environment where it’s healthy for players to come out now. … I’m just trying to show that I want there to be a healthy environment. So that if other players do want to come out, they can be their true, authentic selves.’’

There’s that leadership again.

“It’s amazing what Luke is doing. I am so proud of his courage and strength that he has showed leading up to this,” Josh Prokop said. “The amount of athletes and people he will touch speaks to his character and how great of a person he is.”

The message is a simple one in many ways.

“It shouldn’t matter that Luke is gay,’’ said Sexsmith. “It’s awesome that he is. It’s unbelievable that he’s taking this step. But what’s most important is that you can be gay and you can play hockey. There’s no problem with that. That’s what I’m proud of him for raising awareness.’’

Added McGillis: “I’m hoping that it leads to more young adults or even NHL players begin to accept who they are and then learn to love the fact that they are gay, that they are bisexual, that they are trans, non-binary. When they do that, they’re going to be happier. I don’t want to put that pressure on Luke to have to carry this torch, but at the same time, I just think the visibility of it has such a massive impact. I think he can just go and play hockey and that alone is a powerful statement.’’

Prokop’s world will forever change now that he’s come out to the entire world.

But the bigger moment, perhaps, was when Prokop accepted who he was.

“I feel like I’m in a really good space right now,’’ said Prokop, “and ready to take on the world, really.’’

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217772 Nashville Predators “The best third baseman, without question was a guy who started here as a shortstop, Sammy Khalifa. But Jim Leyland saw him as a big screwup. So he started the Sammy Khalifa award. Like the time Sammy went to the plate in Pittsburgh without his batting helmet.” Preds announcer Pete Weber returns to Buffalo for an MLB game and lives out a dream Even if you weren’t in Buffalo in the 1980s and you’re not a hockey fan, it’s possible you’ve heard Weber’s voice before. Deadspin and others wrote about this Rich Aude home run when the video surfaced years later. By Levi Weaver Jul 19, 2021 “I remember one time calling a home run before the tall screens were

up,” Weber says, pointing out to the 40-foot-tall netting in left field. “And it BUFFALO, N.Y. — When Claudia Mynark first met Pete Weber, she landed in the back of a Buffalo News reporter’s pickup truck as he was thought he was an usher. She had been invited to a Buffalo Sabres cutting down that street. He said he heard me calling the home run hockey game at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium — “the Aud,” she approaching his truck.” calls it — by some friends. Her mistake was understandable; it was the But while scores of Buffalo players eventually found themselves in The 1980s, and brightly-colored sport jackets were de rigueur for television Show, Weber never did. From the time he began calling Bisons games in broadcasters. Pete’s was gold polyester with a large Sabres logo, she 1983, there was a glimmer of hope that MLB would choose Buffalo in any says. upcoming expansions. Sahlen Field is a tangible token of that hope, built “Think Century 21,” Pete leans in to add. to show the league that they were viable.

You can see the jacket if you happen to find yourself in Nashville. It’s “It got down to the nitty-gritty,” Weber recalls. “I’ll never forget when the hanging in Pete and Terry’s Tavern at Bridgestone Arena, home of the National League expansion committee came in — I believe it was Nashville Predators. Pete and Claudia, now married for 31 years, have February of ’91. And then, later in June, we found out it was going to been in Tennessee since the Preds’ inaugural season. Denver, and it was going to Miami. And that was like a dream was crushed. And then shortly, it was revived. I believe it was still that year But on this July day, they are back in Buffalo at Sahlen Field, sitting in when a big chunk of concrete fell in Olympic Stadium in Montreal. They section 100, row NN, seats 2 and 3. They’ve spent the afternoon were looking for a place, but that also did not work out. And with the catching up with old friends who are still around from those days when economics of the game now, I don’t know if Buffalo could do it.” both Pete and Claudia called this place — and the old “Rockpile” — home. Pete broadcasted the games, and Claudia worked at the press He pauses. gate. “But logic does not rule your dreams,” he concludes. “I swear, I love minor-league baseball more than anything,” Claudia says. He returned to hockey with the Sabres and moved to Nashville when the “Not that I don’t love watching this level of play, but minor-league NHL expanded there in 1998. baseball is one phone call away from the majors, and they’re out there playing their hearts out. So that’s what I like, Triple-A ball.” Pete and Claudia Weber pose with signage at Sahlen Field.

Pete’s broadcasting journey started in high school (where he grew up This is the only big-league baseball game that Pete and Claudia are playing sports with former Rangers catcher Jim Sundberg) and has led likely to see in Buffalo. The announcement came about a half-hour him through the NBA (Seattle Supersonics) and NFL (Buffalo Bills), but before first pitch on Friday that the Blue Jays will begin playing their hockey is where he has made a name for himself, winning the home games in Toronto again on July 30. This is their final homestand in Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year seven times in the last 10 years by this park. the National Sports Media Association. He’s called games for the Preds, Sabres and Los Angeles Kings. Still, baseball has always held a special “He was crying right before you started interviewing him, looking out place in his heart. there at all these guys,” Claudia reveals. “He was emotional, looking at this.” “When I was working for the LA Kings from 1978-81, the Dodgers, the Angels and the San Diego Padres, if they had an extra broadcast booth With the Blue Jays broadcasters in Toronto and a professional open in my offseason, they would leave it to me so I could go to practice sportscaster sitting right here in section 100, it seemed like the right thing play-by-play,” Pete says. It was in Los Angeles where he learned an to do. important lesson. I didn’t have a microphone, but I had an iPhone. And I didn’t have the “One thing I found out when I was doing it: if I got too married to the press notes handy, but … well, if Vin Scully says that’s OK, who am I to notes, I had no flow,” Weber says. “I was lucky to be in L.A. because Vin argue? Did Pete want to call a plate appearance of a big-league game in Scully said ‘If you use 10 percent of what you work up, that’s good.’ Buffalo? That’s a good guy to get it from.” “Why don’t we wait for a Vladdy at-bat,” he replied. So we wait. He Asked if he’s ever got a chance to put Scully’s lessons to practice in an regales me with a few other stories, like the night in 2010 when the MLB game, he doesn’t hesitate. Predators, Rockets and Yankees all shared the same hotel in North Texas when the Rockets were in town for a preseason game and the “Easter Sunday, 1989 — Pirates at the Astros in Kissimmee,” he says, Yankees were en route to losing the ALCS to the Rangers. referring to a spring training game. “But that’s it. My ambition is still to do a regular-season MLB game.” “And our coach, who had next to no neck, Barry Trotz, was looking up to take in all of Yao Ming at the check-in,” he says with a chuckle. Forty rows below, the Rangers and Blue Jays are in the second inning, as the home team’s radio duo calls the action from monitors across the When a foul ball goes into the second deck, he nods. border in Toronto. “Those foul balls that are going right up there, those used to be the seats Not that Weber hasn’t called games with big-leaguers. of Mayor Jimmy Griffin or really, his brother Tom. They never booted one. Jimmy is the one whose statue is right outside.” “Some of the best times here (were when) we hosted what had been the Cracker Jack Old-Timers classic here for three or four years,” Weber Before long — or after far too long, if you know the whole story — says. “The Hall of Famers we had on this field … he didn’t play but Joe Guerrero is up. It’s time. DiMaggio, Rocky Colavito, Boog Powell, Sandy Koufax, Frank Howard, It wasn’t live over the air, and it was just one plate appearance — an Lou Brock, Jim Fregosi, Alvin Dark. And we had local involvement otherwise boring walk. But here was a hockey broadcast legend, giving it because from Niagara Falls was Sal Maglie, the barber … Poor Frank a full-effort go, because hey: it was a big-league game in the park where Howard playing right field — Lou Brock hit one over his head, and I think he once hoped such a thing would become a regular occurrence. Frank is still trying to track down the ball.” This certainly wasn’t how he envisioned it, logistically speaking. But then Weber also announced many future big-leaguers. The Bisons were a again, logic does not rule your dreams. Pirates farm team in those days, and he can still rattle off the names: Moises Alou, Jay Bell, Dave Clark, Tom Prince, Felix Fermin. The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217773 Nashville Predators

Preds prospect announces he's gay

J.R. LIND JUL 19, 2021

In an Instagram post, 19-year-old Luke Prokop, a Nashville Predators prospect, announced that he is gay.

"It has been quite the journey to get to this point in my life, but I could not be happier with my decision to come out," Prokop wrote. "From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams."

The Preds drafted Prokop, a defenseman, in the third round of the 2020 draft. He signed his three-year entry-level contract with the team in December; thus, he becomes the first openly gay player under NHL contract in the league's history. He currently plays junior hockey with the Calgary Hitmen (yes, founded by a certain extremely good wrestler). He's 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, and Elite Prospects describes him as a "large human being" who is good in transition through the neutral zone.

The team issued its own statements of support from CEO Sean Henry and general manager David Poile.

"The Nashville Predators organization is proud of Luke for the courage he is displaying in coming out today and we will support him unequivocally in the days, weeks, and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect," Henry said. "A long-stated goal in our organization is equality for all, including the LGBTQ community, and it is important that Luke feels comfortable and part of an inclusive environment as he moves forward in his career."

"Luke is a valued prospect of the Nashville Predators and we think he has a bright future," Poile said. "We want Luke to become a successful hockey player and we understand his ability to be out comfortably will help him achieve his goals on and off the ice. We are committed to ensuring nothing stands in the way of his ability. His courage is an inspiration to us and to the LGBTQ community in Nashville."

Prokop told ESPN he felt he couldn't be the best hockey player he could be unless he came out.

"I was lying in bed one night, had just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn't be my true authentic self," he said. "In that moment I said, 'Enough is enough. I'm accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.'"

Prokop said the Predators have been supportive since he first told assistant general manager Brian Poile, who told him the team is behind him "1,000 percent." Prokop told ESPN. "For them to show that support that they did in that moment, it felt like I can rule the world."

Coincidentally, last month, veteran Nashville blueliner Mark Borowiecki wrote a piece for the Predators' website about the importance of being an ally to the LGBTQ community.

"I'm a bigger guy, I'm covered in scars, I have no teeth and I like to fight, but that's only part of my identity and just part of our identity as hockey players collectively," Borowiecki wrote. "But to me, true masculinity and true toughness comes when you're willing to put yourself out there in the name of acceptance and equality," he wrote. "To me, that's toughness."

NashvillePost LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217774 Nashville Predators

Did Predators make the right call with their protection list?

MICHAEL GALLAGHER JUL 19, 2021

Rarely does Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile find himself in a position where he doesn’t hold most or all of the cards.

The upcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft — much like the 2017 Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft — however, has taken control out of Poile’s hands.

To nobody’s surprise, the Predators this weekend exposed both Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene in hopes that Seattle believes a change of scenery will help either rediscover scoring touches that have waned since they signed $8-million-per-year contracts. But to the surprise of many, Poile elected to protect 24-year-old forward Tanner Jeannot in addition to Filip Forsberg and Luke Kunin, while exposing both Calle Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons.

Conversely, Nashville was the only NHL team to protect five defensemen.

Jeannot, who has just five goals and seven points in 15 NHL games to his name, likely wouldn’t have been selected by the Kraken if left exposed, making his protection one of the more puzzling decisions of the expansion draft.

Exposing both Jarnkrok and Sissons though comes with some risk.

Jarnkrok, who turns 30 in September, has six straight seasons of double- digit goals, plays on both the power play and penalty kill, and can play any forward position. Sissons, who’s consistently one of the Predators’ best players at winning faceoffs, is just 27 and one of Nashville’s top penalty killers.

The logical explanation seems to be that Poile, who already began to shake up Nashville’s core by trading Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis, couldn’t decide which player he wanted to eject next, so he’s letting Seattle GM Ron Francis decide for him.

Johansen and Duchene’s $8 million salaries are likely too rich for Seattle’s blood unless Poile were to throw in a sweetener — say Dante Fabbro or a few high draft picks. And while plenty of talented players were left unprotected by other teams — Carey Price, Vladimir Tarasenko, Mark Giordano, Gabriel Landeskog — Jarnkrok and Sissons are both ideal players for the expansion Kraken to build around.

The last time Poile faced a difficult expansion draft-related decision, he protected Jarnkrok at the expense of James Neal, who was ultimately picked by Vegas. That move turned out okay.

This time around, the Predators are going to lose another good player. But the question remains: Will it be a player the Kraken want or a player Poile wants to get rid of?

NashvillePost LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217775 Nashville Predators

Ellis trade proof nothing off the table for the Predators

MICHAEL GALLAGHER JUL 19, 2021

Viktor Arvidsson — traded. Pekka Rinne — retired. Ryan Ellis — traded.

Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile is sending a clear message to his players that they no longer have the luxury of coasting by as the team that made it to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final or won the 2018 Presidents’ Trophy.

The dismantling of that core started two weeks ago when Poile traded Arvidsson to the Los Angeles Kings for draft capital and continued when Rinne called it a career after 13 seasons. Then Poile took things to another level with Saturday’s trades that sent Ellis to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Nolan Patrick and defenseman Philippe Myers, and the subsequent move that sent Patrick to the Vegas Golden Knights for center Cody Glass.

“It’s not dissimilar to the Viktor Arvidsson situation where I just felt it’s time for a change,” Poile said. “I’m very excited about the return we got for Ryan Ellis. I’d like to emphasize in my mind I don’t see this as a rebuild, I see this as an effort to get younger and add some elements to our team that maybe we hadn’t had in recent years.

“I know that we’ve been clinging onto that ’17 Finals, the ’18 Presidents’ Trophy but going downhill since then. If we don’t do anything, it’s not going to get any better. The hard decisions that I’m making right now is we need to change the cast.”

Ellis was one of the NHL's better puck-moving defensemen in his 10 years in Nashville. He tallied 75 goals, 270 points, and he has the fifth- best plus/minus rating (plus-114) since entering the league in 2011.

But perhaps the most telling conclusion drawn from Poile’s post-trade media availability is that his decision to ship Ellis out wasn’t necessarily because of anything the 30-year-old defenseman did, but because a shakeup was needed and Poile needed to start somewhere.

“It’s changing our team, it’s changing our makeup, it’s getting younger,” Poile added, “In this case on defense, it’s getting a lot bigger with Philippe Myers.

“I think the players knew that I felt this way. The people that are surprised or caught off guard, I think it’s the right thing to do. But it never gets easy making these trades. We signed Ryan to an eight-year deal, and I would have been happy if we would have gone all eight years, but it didn’t happen that way.”

After making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, the Predators were eliminated in the playoffs a round earlier each year from 2018 to 2020. In fact, Nashville hasn’t made it to the second round since the 2018 season.

Poile has repeatedly stated that is no longer acceptable. The 2021-22 roster will look markedly different, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Poile had a few more tricks up his sleeve.

“Some decisions I make are not going to be popular,” Poile said. “When you make these trades, I would be disappointed if our players weren’t upset. I’d be disappointed if our fans weren’t upset because they’ve been cheering for these guys for a number of years.”

NashvillePost LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217776 New Jersey Devils

An N.H.L. Prospect Is the First Such Player to Announce He’s Gay

By Jeré Longman

July 19, 2021

Luke Prokop, 19, a prospect with the Nashville Predators, on Monday became the first player with an N.H.L. contract to publicly announce that he is gay.

Prokop, who is from Edmonton, Alberta, made his announcement in an Instagram post, writing, “From a young age I have dreamed of being an N.H.L. player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams.”

A third-round selection by the Predators in the 2020 N.H.L. draft, Prokop wrote: “While the past year and a half has been crazy, it has also given me the chance to find my true self. I am no longer scared to hide who I am. Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay.”

Last month, Carl Nassib, a defensive end with the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active N.F.L. player to come out as gay. Prokop’s announcement comes at a time of increasing acceptance and inclusiveness in international sports. At least 142 publicly out L.G.B.T.Q. Olympians have been selected for the Tokyo Games that begin Friday, more than double the number who participated in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, according to Outsports.com.

Included is the first known transgender female athlete who has qualified to compete, Laurel Hubbard, a weight lifter from New Zealand.

“The rise of social media, especially Instagram, has given athletes a forum where they can live their lives openly and identify directly with their followers,” Outsports wrote last week.

Prokop said he hoped his declaration would show others that gay players are welcome in hockey. No active N.H.L. player has come out as gay.

N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman thanked Prokop in a statement “for sharing his truth and for being so brave.”

Bettman said: “I share his hope that these announcements can become more common in the hockey community. L.G.B.T.Q. players, coaches and staff can only perform at their absolute best if they live their lives as their full and true selves. We do not take the meaning and importance of this announcement lightly.”

Don Fehr, executive director of the N.H.L. players’ union, said in a statement: “We know the N.H.L. hockey community will support Luke as he strives toward his goal of playing in the N.H.L., and we applaud the example he is setting for those in the game of hockey and beyond.”

The Predators said in a statement that the club was “proud of Luke for the courage he is displaying in coming out today, and we will support him unequivocally in the days, weeks, and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect.”

Prokop told ESPN that he struggled while playing last season for Calgary in the Western Hockey League and felt that coming out would put him at peace and permit him to play at a top level. He said he made his decision in April.

“I was lying in bed one night, had just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t be my true authentic self,” Prokop told ESPN. “In that moment I said: ‘Enough is enough. I’m accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.’”

In his Instagram post, Prokop wrote: “I may be new to the community, but I’m eager to learn about the strong and resilient people who came before me and pave the way so I could be more comfortable today.”

New York Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217777 New York Islanders

Source: Kraken Eying Josh Bailey in NHL Expansion Draft as Islanders Work to Prevent It

Published 10 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Christian Arnold

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is vehemently working to keep Josh Bailey out of the clutches of the Seattle Kraken, a source has told NYI Hockey Now.

Ron Francis and Seattle have been eying Bailey for his leadership for the fledgling franchise, but Lamoriello and the Islanders have been trying to steer them towards taking Jordan Eberle, according to an NHL Source close to the conversations between the two teams. Seattle is so high on Bailey that if he was to be picked that giving him an “A” or even making him captain wouldn’t be out of the question.

The New York Islanders have been working to try and protect the franchise’s longest-tenured player and another NHL source indicated that a deal may be in place involving Eberle so that Seattle does not select Bailey. Sunday’s news that Bailey had been left unprotected had come as a surprise to many considering the value he has had to the franchise over the course of his 13 years on Long Island.

Bailey has played the third most number of games in franchise history having played in 919 in orange and blue and his versatility is something that is highly valued by head coach Barry Trotz. Bailey can play the wing or up the middle if the team needed him to.

He would also be a candidate to slot up or down among the top-nine depending on the offseason moves the Islanders make.

Losing Eberle would free up his $5.5 million cap hit from the New York Islanders books. They have already cleared roughly $12.9 million in cap space over the weekend following a pair of deals that sent Nick Leddy to Detroit on Friday night and Andrew Ladd and a pair of draft picks to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday afternoon just before the roster freeze deadline.

NYI Hockey NowLOADED: 07.20.2021 1217778 New York Islanders still play when given the chance. Losing either player would help free up more cap space for the Islanders as well.

NYI Hockey NowLOADED: 07.20.2021 NHL Expansion Draft: Which Islander Could be Selected by the Seattle Kraken?

Published 13 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Christian Arnold

The New York Islanders shocked a few people by exposing Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey in Wednesday’s NHL Expansion Draft, but it doesn’t mean that it will be who the Seattle Kraken end up taking.

Eberle and Bailey being selected would go a long way to help the Islanders clear even more cap space than they already have, but the Islanders have several unprotected players that could be enticing to Seattle as well. But what ends up happening on Wednesday night is anyone’s guess.

Here’s a look at some of the most enticing options that Seattle has to choose from among the crop of Islanders left unprotected:

Josh Bailey: The veteran Islander was the biggest surprise on Sunday morning when it came to players left unprotected by Lou Lamoriello. Bailey has proven to be a capable top-nine forward for the Islanders and slot in just about anywhere the team needed him. He finished the COVID shortened season with 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists) in 54 regular- season games and put up another 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 19 playoff games.

Bailey, having played his entire 13-year NHL career, for the Islanders has become one of the team’s leaders and would very easily take up the same mantel in Seattle if he is selected. Could there be a deal in place with the NHL’s newest franchise to keep them from selecting Bailey? Perhaps, Lamoriello has shown he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

Jordan Eberle: No one was shocked to see Eberle’s name on the unprotected list, especially after Nick Leddy was traded Friday night. Seattle would be getting someone who can put the puck in the net, albeit at times it comes in ebbs and flows and he has scored over 20 goals since the 2017-18 season. Eberle would play a top-six role for Seattle after playing alongside Mat Barzal on the Islanders’ top line.

His price tag — same with Bailey — could dissuade Seattle if they’re trying to not pay too much. Eberle has three years left with a $5.5 cap hit, which the Islanders would happily shed.

Otto Koivula: The 22-year-old has shown he can succeed at the AHL level and has had a stint in the NHL, which he handled well. Koivula put up 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in his first season in North America with the Bridgeport Islanders in 2018-19 and he appeared in 12 games with the New York Islanders the following season. He is one of several RFAs the Islanders have at the moment and he could provide an enticing option for Seattle because of his age and his potential. He would also come at a relatively inexpensive price.

Kieffer Bellows: The young forward could be even more enticing than Koivula considering the upside potential Bellows has. The Islanders had Bellows in the lineup at the beginning of the year, but he found himself on the outside looking in. Bellows appeared in 14 NHL games this season with the Islanders and had three goals, but never managed to stick with a crowded forward group and Barry Trotz’s decision to stick more with veterans in the lineup.

Bellows is another RFA and would come at a low price for Seattle. If he was given a chance, Bellows could make an impact if he was given a chance as an everyday player on an NHL team. That could be appealing to Ron Francis in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Leo Komarov/Thomas Hickey: Both could be interesting choices for Seattle if they so choose to go down the veteran root for cheaper. Komarov proved he still has some value, especially during the playoffs where his physical style drove opposing teams crazy. He played on the top line when needed, but if he ended up in Seattle he would be playing a bottom-six role. He also has one more year left on his contract with a $3 million cap hit, which isn’t too bad for Seattle.

Hickey is a veteran defenseman with a year left on his deal and only a $2.5 million cap hit. Hickey isn’t flashy, but he’s a solid defender and can 1217779 New York Islanders is talking about donning the red jersey of a team that holds a dear place in his heart. (Detroit Hockey Now)

The Washington Capitals faced a tall task when it came to their final NYHN Daily: Eberle and Bailey Left Exposed By Islanders & More protected list for the pending expansion draft. A plethora of skilled defensemen, trade rumblings and free agency led to some uncertainty and difficult decisions, but at the end of the day, 11 Capitals were protected from Seattle. Alex Ovechkin was not. (Washington Hockey Published 18 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Stefen Rosner Now)

No, Gabe Landeskog will not be protected when the Seattle Kraken On Sunday, the National Hockey League released the protected list for select their inaugural team on Wednesday. Neither will Joonas Donskoi every team ahead of Tuesday’s Expansion Draft. The New York or J.T. Compher. The Colorado Avalanche protected list was released on Islanders left two big names on the table for Seattle to take, in veterans Sunday morning, and those were among the names not on the list of Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle. This story and more in today’s daily links! players exempt from being selected. Here is the official protected list: MacKinnon, Rantanen, Burakovsky, Kadri, Nichushkin, Jost, O’Connor, One has been a lifelong member of the Islanders and the other arrived Makar, Toews, Girard, Grubauer. (Colorado Hockey Now) on Long Island as part of a major offseason trade, now both find themselves unprotected heading into the NHL Expansion draft on Josef Korenar, back home in the Czech Republic, was riding high after Wednesday. Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey were among the players left re-signing with the San Jose Sharks for one year and $750,000 on off the Islanders protection list. Joining them were Michael Dal Colle, Leo Tuesday. The 23-year-old goaltender was also expecting to be protected Komarov, Richard Panik and Andy Greene. The Islanders inked Greene by San Jose on the eve of next week’s expansion draft. Korenar, who to a contract last night in order to fulfill the requirements for the went 3-5-0 in his rookie season for the San Jose Sharks, appeared to be expansion draft. (NYI Hockey Now) getting a chance to firmly establish himself as a Shark next year. That is until yesterday, when San Jose traded him and a 2022 second-round The lists are out. Islanders fans have questions. Who were the obvious draft pick to Arizona for fellow netminder Adin Hill and a 2022 seventh- ones to be protected? Why did the Isles protect Matt Martin and Cal round draft pick. (San Jose Hockey Now) Clutterbuck? Why leave Jordan Eberle and Josh Bailey unprotected? Arthur Staple answers these questions and more ahead of the Seattle The list of players protected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft for the Kraken Expansion Draft. (The Athletic) Seattle Kraken was released Sunday. The 30 other NHL teams (not including the Vegas Golden Knights) had the option to protect seven Two-thirds of the Islanders’ identity-setting fourth line have been forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters and one protected for the NHL’s expansion draft, and top-six forwards Josh Bailey goalie. All players with continuing and effective no-move clauses had to and Jordan Eberle will be exposed. Perhaps that’s an indication that the be protected. All first- and second-year professionals are exempt from fourth line’s third member, impending unrestricted free agent Casey selection, as are unsigned draft choices. The Kraken have until 10 a.m. Cizikas, will have a deal before the free-agent market opens on July 28. ET on Wednesday to submit their expansion draft selections. They must The NHL on Sunday released each team’s protected list and which choose 30 players, one from each team, and must take a minimum of 14 players will be available to the expansion Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies from the lists of (Newsday) unprotected players. (NHL)

After much speculation, the Boston Bruins have submitted their Carey Price, Shea Weber and Vladimir Tarasenko headline the group of protection list for next week’s Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft and there players who are under contract and available for the Seattle Kraken to are several key roster players in danger of being lost to the NHL’s newest select in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck on franchise. Headlining the list of available players are power forward Nick Wednesday. Price, the Montreal Canadiens goalie; Weber, the Ritchie along with defenseman Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon. It’s Canadiens defenseman and captain; and Tarasenko, the St. Louis Blues expected that one of those three young players will be selected by the forward, are among the NHL players left unprotected by their teams. The Kraken with everybody else then protected on Boston’s roster once NHL released the protected and available lists Sunday. (NHL) they’ve lost one player to Seattle. (Boston Hockey Now) NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 The handwringing was understandable. After fans initially resisting the Pittsburgh Penguins contract for Brandon Tanev on July 1, 2019, the Penguins high-energy winger became a locker room and fan favorite. His nickname “Turbo” is apt as he’s become part of the Penguins heart with his blood-and-guts style of play. He also may become a Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Seattle may also select Penguins LW Jason Zucker, meaning the Penguins get nothing for the winger for whom they sacrificed a first-round pick and top defenseman prospect Calen Addison. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Chuck Fletcher made his first big splash of the offseason this weekend. The Philadelphia Flyers traded Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick to the Nashville Predators for Ryan Ellis. Patrick was then swapped to the Vegas Golden Knights for Cody Glass. It was one of many trades in a flurry of activity before Saturday’s NHL roster freeze. Ryan Ellis was one of the many names on the defensemen market that the Flyers were looking into. Given the Seth Jones drama in Columbus, and Dougie Hamilton drawing of interest ahead of free agency, Fletcher pounced on the opportunity to get Ellis. (Philly Hockey Now)

The next NHL schedule is expected to be released next week, and at least one of the features that defined the schedule in the pandemic- affected season of 2020-21 will be incorporated into the new one. That feature will be more of the back-to-back home/road “series” format that was so much a part of this past one, a league source tells National Hockey Now Sr. reporter Adrian Dater. (Florida Hockey Now)

Based on his resume, he might be one of the most decorated unrestricted free agents in hockey this summer. He’s been a Hart Trophy finalist and a multiple winner of the Stanley Cup, Selke and Lary Byng Trophies. Former Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk is also a UFA who is weighing options regarding his hockey future. And the Magic Man 1217780 New York Rangers Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba tweeted that he is “proud to support” Predators prospect Luke Prokop, who announced Monday that he is gay. Trouba called it a “big day for the hockey community showing that #HockeyIsForEveryone.” Rangers confident they’ll sign Barclay Goodrow to new contract Luke Prokop came out as gay on Monday.

The Rangers’ official Twitter account also posted support, writing: “The By Peter BotteJuly 19, 2021 | 7:02pm | Updated New York Rangers are proud of @lukeprokop_6 and admire his remarkable courage. We fully support him and the LGBTQ+ community.

#HockeyIsForEveryone.” Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury doesn’t foresee any New York Post LOADED: 07.20.2021 issue in getting pending free agent Barclay Goodrow signed to a new deal after the two-time Stanley Cup champion’s rights were acquired from the Lightning on Saturday.

“We’ve talked and we’re making progress. Nothing to report now, but I don’t anticipate any issues with getting him under contract,” Drury said on a conference call Monday with reporters.

One report stated that “significant progress” had been made between the sides on a potential six-year deal. The 28-year-old Goodrow has 65 games of playoff experience over seven NHL seasons, including the last two years of mostly bottom-six forward duty with two-time champion Tampa Bay.

“I think he’s pretty versatile. I can see him doing a lot of different things for [new coach] Gerard [Gallant],” Drury said. “We think he’s got a pretty complete game and he’s gonna be able to help in a lot of different areas.

“He’s a guy that we targeted and obviously went out and made a deal with Tampa to get him early, to get a jump on it. He just checks off a lot of boxes.”

Barclay Goodrow reportedly will have a six-year deal with the Rangers.

Drury added that Goodrow, who can play either wing or center, plays with “a little more straight-line approach” and “obviously the bigger the game, the better he seems to play.”

“He’s a winner. He’s able to walk into our locker room and talk about what it’s like to play in the playoffs and to win Cups,” Drury said. “That’s a unique thing and obviously a very special thing. So we’re excited to be able to trade for him and gonna work towards trying to sign him.”

Goodrow, as a potential unrestricted free agent on July 28, wasn’t protected by the Rangers for Wednesday’s expansion draft by the new Seattle Kraken franchise. Their seventh forward spot went to fourth-line center Kevin Rooney, over other possibilities such as Colin Blackwell and Julien Gauthier.

Chris Drury became GM of the Rangers following Jeff Dorton and John Davidson’s firings in May.

“As one GM mentioned to me, it’s just the cost of being in expansion,” Drury said. “Everyone is going to lose a player and there’s no easy decisions. Whether it was a player we ended up protecting or exposing, they’re tough decisions to make. I just tried to make the best decision I could, and it’s just kind of where it ended up.”

Drury, who replaced both fired president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton in May, reiterated that the goal for next season is for the Rangers to make the playoffs. The Blueshirts were swept in the best-of-five qualifying round by Carolina in the 2020 Toronto bubble, but they otherwise haven’t reached the postseason since 2017.

“Like we talked about, I believe at the first press conference and then when we hired Gerard, whether it’s aggressive or not aggressive, we’re always just trying to look for different ways to make the team as good as we can be and keep moving the ball forward to our goal of being a playoff team this year,” Drury said.

Asked if that means the team’s first-round draft pick (No. 15 overall) could be “in play” ahead of Friday’s NHL entry draft, Drury replied, “Again, we’re trying to look at all different ways to make the team better. And that’s a piece we have, and if we can make the team better with moving that pick or another pick, or players, we’ll look at everything.”

On center Brett Howden, who was dealt Saturday to Las Vegas ahead of the league’s roster freeze, Drury said, “He’s obviously not on our team anymore, and I’m not going to get into specifics … but he’s a terrific kid. I think he was a good Ranger and I think a fresh start will be good for him.” 1217781 New York Rangers Goodrow isn't going to rack up many points — he had 20 in 55 games last season — but Drury values him for his toughness, intangibles and championship experience.

NY Rangers GM Chris Drury sounds like he's ready for an aggressive He also believes Goodrow can play center, if needed, after winning offseason exactly 50% of his 324 face-offs last season.

"He’s pretty versatile," Drury said. "I could see him doing a lot of different things for (coach) Gerard (Gallant). Whether that’s more time in the Vincent Z. Mercogliano middle; whether that’s face-offs in the D zone – but we think he has a complete game and he’s going to be able to help in a lot of different

areas." Chris Drury is not prone to bold statements or revealing much about his "He just checks an awful lot of boxes," he added. "He’s got a little more of plans. a straight-line approach. The bigger the game, the better he seems to That much has been clear in his first two-plus months as the New York play. He’s a winner. He’ll be able to walk into our locker room and talk Rangers team president and general manager. But it's also become about what it’s like to play in the playoffs and to win (Stanley) Cups. It’s a increasingly clear that the new man in charge is preparing for a busy unique thing, and obviously a very special thing." July. Detroit Red Wings center Sam Gagner (89) and Tampa Bay Lightning Without getting into specifics, Drury let that be known during a right wing Barclay Goodrow (19) face off during third period action conference call with beat reporters on Monday. Sunday, May 2, 2021 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.

"I’ll put it this way: We’re always looking every day at ways we can be Expect the trade market to heat up better and ways we can reach our goal next year," he said. "We’re going Even though the Rangers were able to pull off two deals prior to to look at every single way we can (improve), whether it’s trades, draft, Saturday's trade freeze, the expectation around the league is that teams you name it." will be even more active after the expansion draft. The work began over the weekend, with Drury moving swiftly to acquire That's when some of the bigger names could be moved, a sentiment that hard-nosed forward Barclay Goodrow from the Tampa Bay Lightning Drury echoed Monday. while shipping disappointing forward Brett Howden to the Vegas Golden Knights. "You could say that things were held up a little bit by (the expansion draft) and people trying to get their lists and dealing with a deadline As the USA TODAY Network reported Sunday, it's likely going to require coming on Saturday," he said. "If I had to guess, yeah, I’d say that things six years at an average annual value between $3.5 million and $4 million will pick up on all fronts when teams know what they lost – what kind of to convince Goodrow not to test the free-agent market. But Drury player they lost and how much money and what kind of role that player expressed confidence that a deal is imminent, stating, "I don’t anticipate played on their team. I think things will either pick up or change come any issues with getting him under contract." Thursday at 1 (p.m.) when the freeze is over." That's pricey for a bottom-six forward, but it shows that the Rangers are Future considerations going to be aggressive in their pursuit of hardening and improving the roster. The Rangers have ample cap space — just under $25 million to begin the summer — but between signing Goodrow, re-signing key RFAs and The No. 15 overall pick in the first round of Friday's NHL Draft is in play, pursuing other impact additions, that money could dry up quickly. too, if it helps achieve "our goal of being a playoff team this year." Drury wouldn't comment on negotiations with RFA goalie Igor Shesterkin, "That’s a piece we have," Drury said. "If we can make the team better but he's certainly not going to come cheap. Forward Filip Chytil is also in with moving that pick – or another pick or players – we’ll look at need of a new contract this summer, but next year will be an even everything." heavier lift. New York Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury. No. 1 center Mika Zibanejad is entering the final year of his contract, A handful of players are rumored to be involved in trade talks, but the while former second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko and Norris Trophy winner one who is garnering the most attention lately is Pavel Buchnevich. Adam Fox will headline next summer's RFA list. That trend will continue in the years that follow, with many of the young players the Rangers have The 26-year-old forward has improved steadily throughout his five years drafted outgrowing their entry-level contracts. in New York, with 2021 representing his best showing yet. Buchnevich posted 48 points (20 goals and 28 assists) in 54 games played while That's why Buchnevich may have to be included if a deal for a high- developing into one of the Rangers' best two-way forwards and a top priced star comes to fruition, unless Drury has a more creative solution penalty killer. up his sleeve.

"He's a terrific player," Drury said. "He's done so much here and in the "You're always projecting ahead, for sure," he said. "It's a good problem life of his Ranger career in terms of growth. You can see how he was to have. We obviously have a lot of good young players and players that used the last few years, and he just keeps getting more and more are going to get significant raises in the next few years, so you're always responsibility." mindful of the future and what's to come. This year versus next year certainly comes into play." Drury declined to go into the specifics regarding contract negotiations with Buchnevich, but the pending restricted free agent is due for a sizable Bergen Record LOADED: 07.20.2021 raise from last year's salary of $3.25 million.

That's raised questions about whether the Rangers might consider trading him if it helps them add a top-six caliber center.

"We'll keep trying to figure out what’s best for the group as a whole," Drury said when asked about Buchnevich's future.

He'll have to wait a few days to make his next move. Due to Wednesday's expansion draft, the league is in a trade-and-signing freeze until Thursday at 1 p.m.

But make no mistake: The summer of possibilities is here, and Drury sounds like a man who's ready to wheel and deal.

Barclay Goodrow 'checks an awful lot of boxes' 1217782 New York Rangers

Rangers making progress on deal with Barclay Goodrow, Chris Drury says

By Colin Stephenson

Updated July 19, 2021 10:10 PM

Two days after acquiring forward Barclay Goodrow from the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, Rangers general manager Chris Drury responded to a report that the team is close to a deal with the 28-year-old free agent by saying he doesn’t see "any issues’’ with signing Goodrow.

"We’ve talked. We’re making progress. But nothing to report now,’’ Drury said Monday.

"But I don’t anticipate any issues with getting him under contract.’’

The Rangers acquired Goodrow on Saturday before the NHL deadline for teams to submit their protected lists for Wednesday’s expansion draft to stock the incoming Seattle Kraken, the league’s 32nd team. They sent a seventh-round draft pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for the right to negotiate a deal with Goodrow before he hits unrestricted free agency July 28.

Because teams currently are in a roster freeze and the Kraken have exclusive rights to talk to all pending free agents until Thursday, the Rangers can’t sign Goodrow now or even negotiate with him. But former TSN reporter Frank Seravalli reported that the Blueshirts are expected to sign Goodrow once the freeze is lifted. Seravalli said the two sides are likely to agree to a six-year deal with a $3.6 million average annual value.

If they do, the Rangers will have taken a significant step in the process of trying to make their roster tougher, which Drury has said is something he is hoping to do this summer.

Goodrow, who played on the third line for the Lightning the past two seasons, had two goals, four assists and 26 penalty minutes in 18 playoff games for Tampa Bay after recording six goals and 14 assists plus 52 penalty minutes in 55 games in the 2021 regular season.

Speaking on a conference call, Drury called Goodrow a "pretty versatile’’ player who can play center or wing and take faceoffs.

He added, "He is a guy that we targeted and obviously went out and made a deal with Tampa to get him early, to get a jump on it. He just checks off a lot of boxes . . . a little bit more straight-line approach. Obviously, the bigger the game, the better he seems to play. He’s a winner. He’ll be able to walk in our locker room and talk about what it’s like to play in the playoffs and to win Cups.’’

Asked if he is looking to shop the team’s first-round pick in Friday’s entry draft, the No. 15 overall selection, Drury said, "That’s a piece we have, and if we can make the team better with moving that pick or another pick . . . We’ll look at everything.’’

Speaking of Brett Howden, whom the Rangers traded to Vegas on Saturday, Drury called him "a terrific kid,’’ said he "was a good Ranger’’ and thinks "a fresh start will be good for him.’’

Asked about Brendan Smith, who is an unrestricted free agent, he said he has "a ton of respect’’ for Smith and what he did for the team last season.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217783 New York Rangers Thursday will bring a few other happenings. A source told The Athletic that one of them, a buyout of exiled Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo, could happen then if Seattle doesn’t shock the world and select him Wednesday night. State of the Rangers before the drafts: GM Chris Drury on adding Barclay Goodrow, Kraken decisions and more “I think you could say that things were held up a little bit just by (the expansion process) and people trying to get their lists and dealing with a deadline coming on Saturday,” Drury said. “If I had to guess, yeah, I would say that things will pick up on all fronts when teams know what By Rick Carpiniello Jul 19, 2021 they lost and what kind of player they lost and how much money, and what kind of role that player played on their team. Yeah, I think things will either pick up or change come Thursday at 1 when the freeze is over.” It’s going to be expensive and it’s going to be complicated. Chris Drury knew this going in. Included in short order, in terms of things picking up, will be the opportunity for Drury to move the No. 15 pick in the draft, which begins In order to upgrade the Rangers, especially during a player-movement Friday. window that will really be flung wide open Thursday afternoon when the Kraken-draft roster-freeze lifts, Drury will be required to make difficult “We’re trying to look at all different ways to make the team better,” Drury decisions and, let’s face it, also some overpayments. said. “That’s a piece that we have, and if we can make the team better with moving that pick, or another pick, or players, we’ll look at everything. Drury, still in his first months as the Rangers’ president and general manager, stepped right into the action, making a trade Saturday that “Put it this way: We’re always looking, every day, at ways we can be means he now has to sign Barclay Goodrow to what always was going to better and ways we can reach our goal (to make the playoffs) next year. be an expensive contract. And Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff first We’re going to look at every single way we can — whether it’s trades, reported Monday that the “expectation” is that Rangers and Goodrow will draft, you name it. We’re just trying to be better. announce a six-year deal with an annual cap hit of around $3.6 million “Whether it’s aggressive or non-aggressive, we’re always trying to look when the moratorium ends. for different ways to help the team be as good as we can be and keep That’s why God gave us buyouts, right? moving the ball forward toward our goal of being a playoff team this year.” The first reaction is probably that it’s too much term for a third/fourth liner. But the average annual value is better than I thought, and probably many As mentioned, he has a lot on his plate, with the stated goal of being a thought, it would be. Certainly it’s an indicator of how high the price will more difficult team for opponents to play against, which means adding be for the Rangers or any team to sign some of the other bottom-six “grit” grit but also adding to the skill — perhaps a first- or second-line center. forwards on the market — i.e. Blake Coleman (who I expect the Rangers The process of the Seattle draft doesn’t make such moves easier, on the to target) and Casey Cizikas. Free agency is always a game of over Rangers or any team. paying, and though we are shocked by contracts year after year, we Drury, who chose Kevin Rooney as the last of his 11 players protected — really should be prepared for big-ticket signings when the market opens over, among others, Julien Gauthier, Colin Blackwell and, of course, July 28 DeAngelo — can get more balls in the air once Seattle picks its one Drury wouldn’t actually say that there is a deal in place with Goodrow, 28, Ranger. and he can’t say so until Thursday, when all sorts of other heck is going “One GM mentioned to me today, it’s the cost of being in expansion,” to break loose. Drury said. “Everyone’s going to lose a player and there are no easy “We’ve talked, we’re making progress, but nothing to report now,” was all decisions. Whether it was a player we ended up protecting or exposing, he said Monday. “I don’t anticipate any issues with getting him under they’re tough decisions to make, you know? I just tried to make the best contract.” decision I could, and that’s just where it ended up.”

Drury did say that he thought he got the type of cog the Rangers need in One key and crucial call is going to be whether Drury deals Pavel getting (and potentially signing) Goodrow, a two-time Cup champ, from Buchnevich or hammers out a contract with a hefty raise for the right cap-strapped Tampa Bay for a seventh-round pick. winger before he reaches arbitration later this summer.

“I think he’s pretty versatile,” Drury said. “I can see him doing lot of “I’m not going to get into contract negotiations with any player publicly,” different things for (coach) Gerard (Gallant), whether that’s more time in Drury said. “He’s a terrific player. He’s done so much here in the life of the middle, whether it’s faceoffs in the D-zone. We think he’s got a pretty his Ranger career in terms of growth. You can see how he was used the complete game and he’s going to be able to help in a lot of different last few years, and he keeps getting more responsibility. So we’ll kind of areas. He is a guy that we targeted and obviously went out and made a leave it at that. deal with Tampa to get him early to get a jump on (the negotiating “He’s earned a ton of responsibility here and he’s a big piece of the team process). and we’ll keep trying to figure out what’s best for the group as a whole.” “You know, he checks an awful lot of boxes that we’re previously There are a number of considerations even beyond the cost and term of discussed. … A little more straight-line approach. The bigger the game, the contract, such as which young players will have the opportunity to the better he seems to play. He’s a winner. He’s able to walk in our play top-six minutes if Buchnevich stays or goes. Likewise, while the locker room and talk about what it’s like to play in the playoffs and to win Rangers have a pile of cap space (around $23 million per CapFriendly) Cups. It’s a unique thing and a very special thing, so we’re obviously very much of that must remain earmarked for any incoming talent, including excited to trade for him and we’re going to work toward trying to sign Goodrow, this summer — and large raises for incumbents such as Adam him.” Fox, Mika Zibanejad and Igor Shesterkin this year or next. As Joe Smith, the Lightning reporter for The Athletic noted, Goodrow “You’re always projecting ahead, for sure,” Drury said. “It’s a good made quite an impression, and quite a contribution, in Tampa’s second problem to have. We have a lot of good young players and players that straight Cup run. Among Goodrow’s highlight moments were scoring the are going to get significant raises in the next few years, so you’re always game-winner against Carolina, holding off four Islanders to seal Game 7 mindful of the future and what’s to come. This year versus next year of the semifinals, a “slick pass” on Coleman’s diving goal in Game 2 certainly comes into play.” against Montreal and, of course, blocking Shea Weber’s cannon shot in the Cup clincher, prompting coach Jon Cooper to call him “warrior.” Again, it’s going to be expensive and it’s going to be complicated. But the pieces should start falling Thursday afternoon. There had been some trepidation that the expansion team in Seattle has the right to negotiate with unrestricted free agents ahead of other teams, The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 not to mention a bigger budget with which to do so, until Wednesday, and that Goodrow could be snatched by the Kraken. But if there is an agreement in place, as Seravelli reported, then he will sign with the Rangers as soon as Thursday. 1217784 Ottawa Senators

It's all quiet with NHL rosters frozen until Thursday, but trade talks continue on several fronts

Bruce Garrioch

Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 8 hours ago

The Ottawa Senators are officially in a holding pattern.

With the expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. EDT, all rosters are frozen until 1 pm. EDT Thursday but that doesn’t mean Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion and the club’s hockey operations staff aren’t busy working the phones to try to make changes with the virtual NHL draft set for Friday and Saturday.

While the Senators are waiting to see if Seattle takes one of the forwards Evgenii Dadonov or Chris Tierney or defenceman Josh Brown during the expansion process, Dorion, assistant GM Peter MacTavish, chief scout Trent Mann and senior VP Pierre McGuire are huddled at the Canadian Tire Centre with the rest of the staff preparing for what could be a busy 10 days.

The Senators have made no secret they’d like to add a top two centre and a top four defencemen to help the club make the playoffs next season and those moves will likely come through trade and not free agency. The club has six picks in this draft — including two in the second round — which could be used to bring back an asset if Dorion wants to make a move.

A league executive told this newspaper Monday talks around the NHL have heated up in the last 10 days with teams trying to put the pieces in place for a short summer. Unrestricted free agency is set for July 28 at noon and the draft this weekend is usually a time when GM’s are engaged in making trades.

Like all 32 general managers in the league, Dorion spent Saturday working the phones right up until the rosters were frozen and club’s protected lists had to be sent to the NHL office. Yes, centre Logan Brown was among the forwards protected, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be back with the club next season.

The expectation is the Senators will try to move the 23-year-old Brown, who was a first round pick in the 2016 draft. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy and it’s likely best for both sides if he was given a change of scenery. A restricted free agent, Brown will receive a qualifying offer next week from Ottawa if he’s still here.

You can expect Dorion to be circling around the centre market and there are options out there. We’re told the Avalanche haven’t shown a lot of interest in moving centre Nazem Kadri, so the Senators may have to set their sights elsewhere if that’s really not the case because he’d be the perfect for what they need.

The Anaheim Ducks exposed centre Adam Henrique to the Kraken in the expansion draft. He has three years left on a deal with a cap hit of $5.825 million per-season. Before you go dismissing him, Henrique had great chemistry with Connor Brown and Nick Paul at the world championships so there may be a fit there.

It’s not known whether the Ducks would be willing to pick up part of the salary but you have to think that’s one call that Ottawa has made and there’s some level of interest.

Reports about Ryan Strome of the New York Rangers surfaced on the weekend, however, is really an upgrade on Josh Norris or Shane Pinto? In the short-term, Strome would be and he’s got more experience than those two. Calgary’s Sean Monahan remains on the radar screen for a trade and then there’s also the UFA market.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217785 Ottawa Senators The Senators had good stability in net with veteran goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz.

That first team was a special group. Former Ottawa Senators' GM Randy Sexton has fond memories of Sure, they went 10-70-4 the first year, but there weren’t many nights they expansion draft in Montreal didn’t work hard or give themselves a chance.

“I can honestly says on many nights our lack of depth showed up, and Bruce Garrioch our overall skill level showed up, but I’m hard pressed to remember any games where our guys packed it in,” Sexton said. “They battled like hell Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 10 hours ago every night. We didn’t have the depth or the capabilities that most of our competitors did.”

Naturally, the rules were a lot different back then. Each existing team Randy Sexton speaks from experience and as this week got under way was allowed to protect 14 players and two goalies. When Vegas came he sent a few texts to friends who work for the Seattle Kraken to wish into the league the rules of engagement were in favour of the Golden them all the best in the expansion draft. Knights, teams were allowed to either protect eight skaters and a goalie “I sent them a note just to convey to them what an incredible and unique or seven forwards, three defencemen and a goalie. experience it’s to be able to work for an expansion franchise,” Sexton told Those same rules apply for the Kraken and give them a lot of roster this newspaper Monday morning from Minneapolis where he’s working flexibility. as a senior advisor to Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin. “And, how special it’s to build a team from the ground up. Why have the rules changed so much to favour the expansion team? Maybe it’s the fact Vegas paid $500 million and Seattle has written a “I have nothing but fond memories from the draft in Montreal. It didn’t go $650 million cheque to become a member of the league. quite the way we envisioned but we got through it nonetheless.” “If you look at the broader scope when you look back then you had to be Sexton, 61, who helped win the expansion franchise for Ottawa along 33-or-34-years-old to be a unrestricted free agent and clear movement with Bruce Firestone and Cyril Leeders, remembers that night at the was more restricted back then,” Sexton said. “Those changes have been Gouverneur Hotel in Montreal on June 18, 1992 when the club made its made as a result of the collective bargaining process and I think that initial selections with representatives of the Tampa Bay Lightning to factored into setting the rules for those who are exempted. begin play in Oct., 1992. “There was a real protectionist mindset going into that draft. Secondly, I Of course, when Sexton speaks of that night not going as planned, he’s don’t really think there had been expansion in a long time and teams referring to the fact that three times inaugural Ottawa GM Mel Bridgman were reticent about losing players to expansion teams so they built the stepped to the microphone to select players that weren’t available. rules to protect themselves. Thirdly, I think the league learned that it Bridgman tried to select a player from each of the Montreal Canadiens would be better for everybody if expansion teams were competitive for and Toronto Maple Leafs, but they’d already lost two players. the first two or three years and didn’t have to struggle from the get-go.” The third player was someone who wasn’t available. Sexton said he understands Vegas and the Kraken paid a massive Then, league VP Brian O’Neill turned down the selections and each time amount of money but the $50 million paid by the Senators and Lightning Bridgman was forced to say “Ottawa apologizes.” was pretty big money in that day and age.

As Sexton recalls, there were several different available lists floating “We paid the highest franchise fee in the history of the league at that around and when the Senators got to the table, Bridgman didn’t have the time,” said Sexton. “I think teams around the league began to understand most up-to-date list. Those of us who were in the room remember a it’s important for teams around the league to have strong expansion seething Firestone asking Bridgman at one point what the hell was going teams.” on because it was a huge blow to the club’s credibility. START FROM THE NET OUT “Somewhere during the day there was an updated list handed to us that If Randy Sexton could offer the Seattle Kraken one piece advice heading never that never got conveyed to Mel. As a result, everybody was into Wednesday’s expansion draft it would be to make sure they have working off an old list,” Sexton said. stability in goal. But, those gaffes didn’t ruin the night or put a damper on the excitement “It all starts with goaltending,” Sexton said Monday. “A terrific goaltender surrounding the Senators. With a budget of about $6-to-$7 million can make a mediocre team successful on lots of nights and the reverse Canadian to spend on players, the club decided it would try to get isn’t true. Secondly, you need to stick with the character, hockey sense character players that would compete under coach Rick Bowness and and compete because the teams that have won over the years have would build the organization through the draft. proved that out. The Senators and Bolts were allowed to select two goalies, seven “Thirdly, ice the best team that you can ice. There’s far more player defencemen and 12 forwards. Since Tampa was going into a non- movement now than there has ever been. As a result, if they get off to a traditional hockey market, Lightning GM Phil Esposito opted for veteran good start they’ll be able to quickly build on that success. They won’t players who could help win right away. The Senators picked up veterans have to wait four, five, six or seven years for just their draft picks to and role players who played their heart-and-soul every night. mature, develop and come along to help you win.” “We were knew we were a small market team and we knew we weren’t Naturally, the Kraken will have no shortage of goalies to choose from and going to be a large budget team,” said Sexton. “We tried to strike the reports Monday indicated they’ve already agreed to a three-year, $10.5 balance of finding players that met our criteria of character with skill, million contract Florida Panthers UFA Chris Driedger. The club also has hockey sense and etcetera. We also wanted to field a team to be access to Montreal’s Carey Price and Vancouver’s Braden Holtby. competitive every night and not get locked into a long-term contracts or take on difficult contracts because we knew we didn’t have the financial THE SENATORS EXPANSION DRAFT wherewithal to do it being in the Civic Centre for at least two years. GOALTENDERS (2) “On top of that, our plan was to build through the draft knowing we wouldn’t have the big bucks to chase the high-priced free agents so there Mark LaForest (NYR) was somewhat of a balancing act.” Peter Sidorkiewicz (HFD) That first team had no shortage of character when you look back now. DEFENCEMEN (7) Captain Laurie Boschman was picked up in the expansion draft along with Brad Shaw, Sylvain Turgeon, Mike Peluso, Mark Lamb and Ken Ken Hammond (VAN) Hammond. Andrew McBain came in as a UFA and Brad Marsh was dealt here from Philadelphia. Dominic Lavoie (STL) Brad Miller (BUF) Kent Paynter (WIN)

Darren Rumble (PHI)

Brad Shaw (NJD)

John Van Kessel (LAK)

FORWARDS (12)

Blair Atcheynum (HFD)

Laurie Boschman (NJD)

Mark Freer (PHI)

Mark Lamb (EDM)

Jeff Lazaro (BOS)

Chris Lindberg (CGY)

Lonnie Loach (DET)

Darcy Loewen (BUF)

Rob Murphy (VAN)

Mike Peluso (CHI)

Jim Thomson (LAK)

Sylvain Turgeon (MTL)

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217786 Ottawa Senators In 1992, teams were allowed to protect 14 skaters, which allowed most of them to essentially protect their top three forward lines and five defensemen.

What if the Senators and Lightning had the same expansion draft rules But the biggest difference here is clearly the goaltending. When the as Seattle and Vegas? Senators and Lightning arrived in 1992, the league only required teams to expose one goalie who had 60 minutes of NHL playing time under his belt. This led to teams like Chicago giving Ray LeBlanc one NHL start in the 1991-92 season for the sole purpose of exposing him in the draft. By Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe Jul 19, 2021 Teams were allowed to protect their top two goaltenders, which really watered down the position.

The Ottawa Senators’ missteps at the 1992 expansion draft are well For the purposes of our mock expansion draft, we’ve gone through each documented in hockey lore. of the four divisions and applied the current rules to the old rosters. In most cases, we’ve opted to use the 7-3-1 format (seven forwards, three In their first big moment on the NHL stage, the expansion club made defensemen and one goalie), but there are a handful of teams — like multiple selections that were deemed ineligible. Toronto, Hartford and the New York Rangers — where we thought it was better to protect eight skaters. With the 33rd selection, they tried to draft forward Todd Ewen from the Montreal Canadiens. The Senators, however, didn’t realize that Montreal So before we start the re-draft of the 1992 expansion proceedings, here’s had already lost the maximum of two players, making Ewen ineligible for a look at how the old rosters would look with the new expansion selection. provisions. Scroll to your right to see the list of players for each team within the divisions: Seven picks later, the Senators made the same mistake again by trying to take Todd Hawkins from the Maple Leafs after Toronto had already Norris Division - 1992 mock draft lost two players in the draft. RED WINGS PROTECTED RED WINGS EXPOSED RED Somewhat flustered, Ottawa general manager Mel Bridgman returned to WINGS EXEMPTIONS BLACKHAWKS PROTECTED the podium and announced they would be selecting C.J. Young from the BLACKHAWKS EXPOSED BLACKHAWKS Calgary Flames. The only problem was that Young was a second-year EXEMPTIONS BLUES PROTECTED BLUES EXPOSED pro and thus exempt from the draft proceedings. BLUES EXEMPTIONS NORTH STARS PROTECTED NORTH STARS EXPOSED NORTH STARS The Senators’ draft prep work was done on a laptop, but when club EXEMPTIONS MAPLE LEAFS PROTECTED MAPLE LEAFS officials rolled into the ballroom of the Gouverneur Hotel in Montreal on EXPOSED MAPLE LEAFS EXEMPTIONS June 18, 1992, they discovered the battery on the computer was dead. They could not find a plug to charge their computer, leaving all of their F - Steve Yzerman research stuck on a useless laptop. Bridgman and his team were forced to work off memory and a few pieces of paper, resulting in some chaotic F - Gerard Gallant moments. F - Sergei Fedorov But truth be told, it’s not like the Senators missed out on some talented F - Jeremy Roenick players because of their technical glitch. The 1992 expansion draft class was thin, stocked only with fringe NHLers and minor leaguers. And F - Rob Brown because Ottawa was drafting at the same time as the Tampa Bay Lightning, it further diluted the pool. F - Dean McAmmond

So it got us thinking: What if we applied the current expansion draft rules F - Brett Hull — the ones that the Seattle Kraken will use on Wednesday night — to F - Gino Cavallini the 1992 proceedings? Would the Senators and Lightning have vastly superior teams to the ones they iced in their inaugural seasons? D - Brett Hedican

Remember, the 1992-93 Senators were one of the worst teams in F - Mike Modano modern NHL history. They managed to win only 10 games in their 84- game season, for a woeful .143 winning percentage. The Lightning were F - Bobby Smith significantly better, but they still finished in last place in the Norris Derian Hatcher Division with 53 points — exactly half the total of the division champion Chicago Blackhawks. F - Doug Gilmour

Before we start our re-draft, it’s worth comparing the two sets of F - Brian Bradley expansion rules head-to-head so you can see the differences. Scroll to the right to see 2021 rules compared to 1992 rules in this chart: F - Kent Manderville

Expansion draft rules: 1992 vs 2021 F - Paul Ysebart

1992 RULES 2021 RULES F - Brent Fedyk

Protection Allowances D - Nicklas Lidstrom

14 skaters, 2 goalies F - Steve Larmer

8 skaters, 1 goalie OR 7 forwards, 3 defencemen and 1 goalie F - Tony Hrkac

Exposure Requirements G - Dominik Hasek

1 forward with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons F - Craig Janney

2 forwards with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons F - Kelly Chase

1 defenceman with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons F - Brian Bellows

1 goalie with 60 mins of career playing time F - Basil McRae

1 goalie under NHL contract for next season Mike Craig

Exemptions F - Wendel Clark

All 1st and 2nd year professionals F - Mike Krushelnyski G - Felix Potvin D - Murray Baron

F - Jimmy Carson F - Neal Broten

F -Troy Crowder D - Chris Dahlquist

D - Vladislav Konstantinov D - Jamie Macoun

F - Michel Goulet D - Rick Nattress

F - Stu Grimson D - Steve Chiasson

F - Brendan Shanahan D - Bobby Dollas

F - Ron Wilson D - Chris Chelios

F - Dave Gagner D - Rod Buskas

F - Shane Churla D - Jeff Brown

F - Glenn Anderson D - Bruce Shoebottom

F - Mark Osbourne D - Mark Tinordi

F - Ray Sheppard G - Darcy Wakaluk

F - Lonnie Loach D - Bob Rouse

F - Dirk Graham G - Rick Wamsley

D - Brad McCrimmon

F - Mike Peluso G - Allan Bester

F - Nelson Emerson D - Steve Smith

F - Bob Bassen G - Jimmy Waite

F - Ulf Dahlen D - Paul Cavallini

F - Gaeton Duchesne G - Pat Jablonski

F - Peter Zezel D - Craig Ludwig

F - Mike Foligno G - Grant Fuhr

F - Shawn Burr D - Yves Racine

F - Kory Kocur G - Vincent Riendeau

F - Brent Sutter D - Bryan Marchment

F - Mike Hudson D - Garth Butcher

F - Rich Sutter D - Jim Johnson

D - Stephane Quintal G - Tim Cheveldae

F - Todd Elik G - Ed Belfour

D - Rob Ramage G - Curtis Joseph

D - Dave Ellett G - Jon Casey

F - Dave McLlwain Smythe Division - 1992 mock draft

F - Bob Probert CANUCKS PROTECTED CANUCKS EXPOSED CANUCKS EXEMPTIONS LA KINGS PROTECTED D - Bob McGill LA KINGS EXPOSED LA KINGS EXEMPTIONS F - Brian Noonan OILERS PROTECTED OILERS EXPOSED OILERS EXEMPTIONS FLAMES PROTECTED FLAMES D - Jocelyn Lemieux EXPOSED FLAMES EXEMPTIONS JETS PROTECTED JETS EXPOSED JETS EXEMPTIONS F - Ron Sutter F - Trevor Linden D - Rick Zombo F - Tom Fergus F - Brian Propp Pavel Bure D - Bryan Glynn F - Wayne Gretzky D - Todd Gill F - Bob Kudelski D - Daryl Shannon D - Darryl Sydor F - Kevin Miller F - Vincent Damphousse D - Brad Marsh F - Petr Klima F - Stephane Matteau F - Scott Thornton D - Keith Brown F - Theo Fleury F - Dave Christian F - Ron Stern D - Michel Petit

F - Robert Reichel F - Darrin Shannon

F - Ed Olczyk G - Daniel Berthiaume

F - Danton Cole F - Sergio Momesso

F - Keith Tkachuk D - Robert Dirk

F - Cliff Ronning F - Corey Millen

F - Ryan Walter G - Rob Staubber

Petr Nedved F - Esa Tikkanen

F - Luc Robitaille F - Craig MacTavish

F - Dave Taylor F - Joel Otto

F - Joe Murphy D - Jim Kyte

F - Anatoli Semenov F - Luciano Borsato

F - Louie DeBrusk F - Jim Sandlak

F - Gary Roberts D - Adrian Plavsic

F - Carey Wilson F - Mike Donnelly

G - Trevor Kidd F - Martin Gelinas

F - Tomas Steen D - Norm MacIver

F - Mike Hartman F - Paul Ranheim

F - Kris Draper D - Frank Musil

F - Geoff Courtnall F - Mike Eagles

F - Rob Murphy D - Jyrki Lumme

Gino Odjick G - Troy Gamble

F - Tony Granato D - Rob Blake

F - John McIntyre D - Kevin Lowe

F - Bernie Nicholls D - Craig Muni

F - Mark Lamb D - Al MacInnis

F - Steven Rice G - Jeff Reese

F - Joe Nieuwendyk D - Phil Housley

F - Tim Hunter D - Dave Babych

F - Troy Murray D - Paul Coffey

D - Randy Carlyle D - Dave Manson

F - Igor Larionov G - Ron Tugnutt

F - Jay Mazur D - Gary Suter

F - Jari Kurri D - Freddie Olausson

D - Jeff Chychrun D - Dana Murzyn

F - Craig Simpson D - Marty McSorely

F - Shaun Van Allen D - Luke Richardson

F - Gary Leeman D - Trent Yawney

F - Craig Berube D - Teppo Numminen

F - Pat Elynuik G - Kirk McLean

D - Dallas Eakins G - Kelly Hrudey

F - Greg Adams G - Bill Ranford

D - Gerald Diduck G - Bob Essensa

F - Tomas Sandstrom Adams Division - 1992 mock draft

D - Brian Benning CANADIENS PROTECTED CANADIENS EXPOSED CANADIENS EXEMPTIONS BRUINS PROTECTED F - Scott Mellanby BRUINS EXPOSED BRUINS EXEMPTIONS F - Kelly Buchberger SABRES PROTECTED SABRES EXPOSED SABRES EXEMPT WHALERS PROTECTED F - Sergei Makarov WHALERS EXPOSED WHALERS EXEMPTIONS NORDIQUES PROTECTED NORDIQUES EXPOSED F - Bobby Carpenter NORDIQUES EXEMPTIONS F - Peter Douris F - Kirk Muller F - Dave Andreychuk F - Mike Keane F - Christian Ruuttu F - John Leclair F - Murray Craven F - Cam Neely D - Marc Bergevin F - Dave Poulin F - Greg Pawslawski F - Glen Murray D - Doug Crossman F - Dale Hawerchuk D - Alexei Gusarov F- Rob Ray F - Russ Courtnall F - Brad May D - Lyle Odelin F - John Cullen F - Stephen Leach F - Mikael Andersson F - Nevin Markwart F- Geoff Sanderson F - Donald Audette F - Joe Sakic F - Bob Corkum F - Jamie Baker D - Zarley Zalapski F - Owen Nolan D - Brad Shaw F - Denis Savard D - Curtis Leschyshyn F - Brian Skrudland D - Adam Foote F - Gilbert Dionne F - Guy Carbonneau F - Adam Oates D - Kevin Haller F - Ken Hodge Jr. F - Dave Reid F - Jozef Stumpel F - Brent Ashton F - Pat LaFontaine F - Randy Wood F - Dave Hannan D - Grant Ledyard D - Keith Carney D - Adam Burt F - Andrew Cassels D - Doug Houda F - Mark Hunter D - Craig Wolanin F - Bobby Holik F - Brent Gilchrist F - Mats Sundin D - J.J. Daigneault F - Mike Hough F - Bob Sweeney F - Valeri Kamensky D - Bob Beers F - Shayne Corson F - Wayne Presley F - Sylvain Turgeon D - Gord Donnelly F - Paul DiPietro D - Steve Konroyd F - Vladimir Ruzicka G - Peter Sidorkiewicz F - Andy Brickley D - Steven Finn F - Steve Heinze D - Eric Desjardins F - Alex Mogilny G - Andre Racicot F - Dave Snuggerud D - Raymond Bourque F - Pat Verbeek D - Gord Murphy F - Terry Yake D - Petr Svoboda F - Scott Young D - Randy Moller F - Doug Smail D - Randy Ladouceur F - Martin Rucinsky G - Frank Pietrangelo F - Stephane Lebeau D - Tony Twist F - Mike McPhee D - Mathieu Schneider D - Patrice Brisebois D - Glen Wesley G - Reggie Lemelin F - Rod Brind'Amour

D - Doug Bodger F - Keith Acton

G - Clint Malarchuk G - Dominic Roussel

G - Kay Whitmore F - Ray Ferraro

G - Stephane Fiset F - Tom Fitzgerald

D - Sylvain Lefebvre F - Mike Gartner

D - Don Sweeney F - Kris King

D - Mike Ramsay F - Sergei Nemchinov

G - Patrick Roy F - Michal Pivonka

G - Andy Moog F - Alan May

G - Darren Puppa F - Steve Konowalchuk

Patrick Division - 1992 mock draft F - Kevin Stevens

RANGERS PROTECTED RANGERS EXPOSED D - Grant Jennings RANGERS EXEMPTIONS CAPITALS PROTECTED CAPITALS EXPOSED CAPITALS EXEMPTIONS F - Peter Stastny PENGUINS PROTECTED PENGUINS EXPOSED F - Randy McKay PENGUINS EXEMPTIONS DEVILS PROTECTED DEVILS EXPOSED DEVILS EXEMPTIONS G - Martin Brodeur FLYERS PROTECTED FLYERS EXPOSED F - Kevin Dineen FLYERS EXEMPTIONS ISLANDERS PROTECTED ISLANDERS EXPOSED ISLANDERS EXEMPTIONS F - Mark Freer

F - Mark Messier F - Steve Thomas

F - Tie Domi F - Daniel Marois

F - Doug Weight F - Darren Turcotte

F - Mike Ridley F - John Ogrodnick

F - John Druce F - Dino Ciccarelli

F - Peter Bondra F - Dave Tippett

F - Mario Lemieux F - Rick Tocchet

F - Phil Bourque D - Bryan Fogerty

F - Jaromir Jagr F - Kevin Todd

F - Claude Lemieux F - Claude Vilgrain

F - Laurie Boschman F - Dan Quinn

F - Bill Guerin F - Pelle Eklund

F - Mark Recchi F - Benoit Hogue

F - Steve Kasper F - Rob DiMaio

F - Mike Ricci D - Brian Leetch

F - Pierre Turgeon F - Jody Hull

F - Adam Creighton F - Kelly Miller

D - Scott Lachance D - Sylvain Cote

F - Adam Graves F - Joe Mullen

F - Joey Kocur D - Gordie Roberts

F - Tony Amonte D - Scott Stevens

F - Dale Hunter F - Dave Barr

F - Nick Kypreos F - Wes Walz

F - Dmitri Khristich F - Dave Brown

F - Ron Francis F - Derek King

F - Jay Caufield F - Claude Loiselle

F - Shawn McEachern D - James Patrick

F - Stephane Richer F - Tim Kerr

F - Tom Chorske F - Randy Burridge

D - Scott Niedermayer D - Shawn Chambers F - Bob Errey Now that we’re all set with the rosters and eligible players, let’s start the draft process. Ian Mendes will be drafting on behalf of the Ottawa G - Wendall Young Senators while Sean McIndoe will make the selections for the Tampa D - Ken Daneyko Bay Lightning. Since Ottawa had the first selection in the 1992 expansion draft, we’ll put the Senators on the clock first. F - Neil Brady Mendes: Before we start this draft, I have to say I’m actually surprised at F - Mark Pederson the lack of talent available. I was thinking a bunch of quality players would shake loose, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Dominik D - Mark Howe Hasek was the one guy I thought would be available and I figured I would F - David Volek bring him to Ottawa 13 years ahead of schedule. But it turns out he was technically a second-year pro so Hasek is ineligible for selection in our F - Mick Vukota mock 1992 expansion draft, even with the current rules applied. Yes, the goalie pool is vastly improved, but finding legitimately talented players is D - Jeff Beukeboom going to still be a challenge in this process. And the exempt lists for D - Per Djoos teams like Detroit and Quebec are super impressive and you can see why they were on the verge of being powerhouses for the rest of the F - Todd Krygier decade.

D - Rod Langway McIndoe: As soon as Ian pitched this idea to me, I was in. How fun would it be to re-draft the original Lightning based on today’s expansion rules? F - Troy Loney After all, we’re constantly told that the modern rules were rigged in favor G - Ken Wregget of Vegas and Seattle, which is why the Golden Knights were so good right out of the gate. Apply those same rules to the high-flying early ’90s, D - Bruce Driver and I was confident I could build a powerhouse. Maybe even a Cup D - Eric Weinrich contender.

D - Steve Duchesne Then I got a look at Ian’s protection lists. Huh.

D - Terry Carkner They’re not great. And after some thought, that makes sense. Remember, there’s no salary cap to force teams into exposing players F - Pat Flatley they’d rather keep. There were internal budgets, of course, but we don’t have access to those, and we can’t make assumptions, so we have to F - Bill Berg assume everyone can afford to keep their best players.

D - Joe Cirella That leads to the second obstacle we’ll be facing: Ian is making the lists D - Mark Hardy with the benefit of hindsight. We know which young players turn into stars, and which ones are busts, and we know you guys won’t let us get D - Al Iafrate away with sneaking some future breakouts onto the list if they feel unrealistic. So Ian is probably doing a better job of protecting players G - Jim Hrivnak than the real teams would have done, and maybe by a lot.

D - Larry Murphy Still, it’s the modern expansion rules that everyone agrees are super- D - Slava Fetisov lenient. Surely we’ll be able to find a few stars. (Double-checks lists.) Woof, this is going to be tougher than I thought. D - Tommy Albelin Mendes: I’m going to start this draft by taking the only legit NHLer on this D - Garry Galley list in New York’s John Vanbiesbrouck.

D - Uwe Krupp McIndoe: Well, that screws my entire plan, which was “take the best goalie available.” But I’ll copy your strategy of building from the net out by D - Joe Reekie using my first pick on Guy Hebert from the St Louis Blues. He’s not G - Mike Richter Vanbiesbrouck but he’s a future top-10 Vezina guy.

G - John Vanbiesbrouck Mendes: I’ll take Petr Klima next. Talent (and bad helmets) are hard to come by. D - Kevin Hatcher McIndoe: Oh lord, we’re three picks in and already into the Petr Klima D - Ulf Samuelsson zone. With my second pick, I’ll go back to the Blues for 23-year-old defenseman Stephane Quintal. That gives me a solid blueliner for the G - Chris Terreri next decade (and also takes St. Louis off the board, just in case you had G - Craig Billington your heart set on Gino Cavallini.)

D - Kerry Huffman Mendes: I’ll take Mike Keane next. I like the idea of this alternate universe where instead of Keane being a part of three different Stanley D - Tom Kurvers Cup winners in his career, he might be on the worst team in hockey D - Dean Chynoweth history. McIndoe: I’m going back to the blue line, this time from Washington. I’ll D - Calle Johansson take 26-year-old Sylvain Cote, who my scouts assure me is a guy who D - Kjell Samuelsson could score 20 goals in 1992-93 under the right circumstances. (These will not be the right circumstances.) G - Ron Hextall Mendes: I’ll take Dave Poulin next. He won a Selke in the 1980s and D - Jeff Norton finished runner-up in 1992-93. Where would he finish in the voting D - Rich Pilon playing on this team?

G - Don Beaupre McIndoe: Well he’ll be a minus-80 so my guess is not high. OK, I need a forward, so I’m going to go with a guy that I have a hunch could have a G - Tom Barrasso ridiculous breakout season playing on an early ’90s expansion team: Bob Kudelski from the Kings. G - Glenn Healey Mendes: I can’t believe it. You actually took the guy I had next in the G - Mark Fitzpatrick queue. (That it’s Bob Kudelski this early says something.) McIndoe: This might be a low point for both of us. Mendes: Is it weird that we’ve gone this deep into a 1992 draft and not taken a single member of the two-time defending Cup champion Mendes: I’ll roll the dice on a four-time 30-goal scorer who is only 28. Pittsburgh Penguins? I’ll remedy that by taking Phil Bourque. Give me Gerard Gallant. I hear this guy is going to do something magical and unbelievable with a first-year expansion team one day. McIndoe: I don’t think it’s weird because, like every other team, the Penguins don’t have many good players available. But I’ll go back to McIndoe: I was today years old when I found out the real Gerard Gallant them here, because I’ve been holding off on my second goalie pick until spent the last two years of his career with the Lightning. Then again I feel his team was in danger of falling off the board. Give me Pittsburgh’s Ken like half the league spends their final season with one of the two Florida Wregget. teams. Back to the blue line for me, as I’ll go to the Devils for 25-year-old Eric Weinrich. In real life, he was about to be traded to the Whalers (with Mendes: I think there is a rule that says the Senators have to draft at Sean Burke) for Bobby Holik, so I might try to pull off a similar deal later least one helmetless defenseman. And since I can’t take Brad Marsh this offseason. In the meantime, he’s a solid guy for my second pair. (two Red Wings already selected), I’ll take Randy Carlyle. He’s got a Norris Trophy on his resume. And this will be a 2007 Stanley Cup Final Mendes: I’ll take Rob Brown next, because the idea of you not drafting preview for him, with Ottawa losing four out of every five games. the guy who helped spawn “Down Goes Brown” is too hilarious to pass up. (Plus, he’s only 23 and has a 49-goal season on his resume) McIndoe: And you already have Bergevin, so Carlyle will get to see another Senators defenseman score into his own net. OK, I’ve held off McIndoe: Hmm, I wish I had a good line about what direction his career long enough. I don’t think there was much risk of you bringing this guy to production is about to go in. OK, I need another forward. Give me Brent Ottawa, but I can’t wait any longer on a 23-year-old who’s about to Fedyk to finish off the Red Wings. He’s 24 and about to have his first of become one of the most entertaining and talked-about players in the three straight 20-goal seasons (just as long as I can also acquire Eric sport. Lindros to play on his line). From the New York Rangers, we’re proud to select: Tie Domi. Mendes: I just realized I haven’t drafted a single defenseman yet. So give me Ron Tugnutt, because I’m going to need a goalie who can handle a Mendes: I still need a lot of help on the back end. I have a suspicion that 70-shot workload. my team is going get dangled for many highlight reel goals this season. So, I want someone with experience in that category. I’ll take Shawn McIndoe: I noticed this, and assumed you were just really embracing the Chambers. early ’90s NHL ethos. I’m a little surprised you didn’t pander to your Senators fan base by taking Norm MacIver off the Oilers. McIndoe: If my video game upbringing tells me anything, it’s that early ’90s Chambers was a No. 1. Oh, wait, no, he was just a 1. Like, a 1 out McIndoe: I’ll keep plugging away on my blue line with our second Habs of 100 overall rating. What a gaming legend. pick. Give me 24-year-old Lyle Odelein. That also takes Montreal’s Sylvain Turgeon out of play since two Habs have now been drafted. I’m I guess somebody has to take a Nordiques player at some point, so I’ll slowly but surely blocking your chances at recreating that 1992-93 step up and grab 25-year-old center Jamie Baker. Solid player, good Senators powerhouse that finished with like 11 points. teammate and scouts tell me he has potential as a broadcaster.

Mendes: I thought the whole point of this exercise was that I didn’t want Mendes: Plus, he increases your odds of beating the powerhouse Red to recreate the 1992-93 Sens. (Although perusing my current roster, I’m Wings when you’re the total underdog. Next up I’m going to take a two- looking at that team with quite a bit of envy.) time Stanley Cup champion defenseman. A guy who played for his country at the Nagano Olympics and appeared in almost 1,000 NHL McIndoe: I figured you’d be tanking. I hear there’s a no-doubt franchise games. And I’m willing to bet that you know absolutely nothing about this player at the top of the 1993 draft. guy.

Mendes: Now I’ve got tanking on my mind. I’m looking for a guy who can Ladies and gentlemen: Tommy Albelin. very subtly put the puck in his own net, so give me Marc Bergevin. McIndoe: Please don’t make me guess his country. McIndoe: I keep scrolling up and down the list of available players hoping I’ve somehow missed somebody who’s good. I have not. Mendes: He’s one of those guys who could be from Minneapolis or Stockholm. (He’s from Sweden.) Mendes: I now understand why the Senators let their laptop battery die out during this process. McIndoe: OK, I don’t think we’ve taken a Flames player yet. I’ll stick with my strategy of picking young-ish two-way forwards who will help me lose McIndoe: I too want to die halfway into this draft. OK, I guess it’s time to 3-1 instead of 8-2 by taking 25-year-old Ronnie Stern. pander to the home crowd. Let’s follow the real-life Lightning and take Brian Bradley from Toronto, and hope he repeats his miracle 40-goal Mendes: Next up I’ll take a guy who had a 40-goal season in a year in season. which his team won the Stanley Cup. Then, he got traded for $15 million in cash, Jimmy Carson and a bunch of other assets. I’ll take Mike Mendes: I’ll take another defenseman … Bob Beers from the Bruins. Krushelnyski. (With my sole rationale being: I could go for Beers right about now.) McIndoe: That’s our second player from Toronto, making this the first McIndoe: The sad thing is I just said the words “Oh no, now I can’t take time in history that the Senators have finished off the Leafs. Gord Murphy” out loud. Mendes: Wipe that smirk off your face and just make your next pick. What have I become? I’ll stick with my commitment to defense by taking an actual Hall of Famer. OK, so he’s also 37. I’ll take Mark Howe from McIndoe: More mid-20s forwards for me. I’ll go to Chicago and take Tony the Flyers, in a transparent “Take the solid veteran with name value and Hrkac. then try to flip him to a contender for draft picks” expansion move. McIndoe: I’m pretty confident this team will have zero rings. Mendes: At this point, I feel like anybody over the age of 30 is probably retiring rather than joining our Island of Misfit Toys. Mendes: I’ll take a guy who racked up 192 points in the last season in which he played in Ottawa. Sure it was 14 years ago and in the OHL … McIndoe: He’s a Howe, he has like a decade left. but give me Bobby Smith.

Mendes: I’ll take Gerald Diduck next. I had no idea he played almost McIndoe: If I’m reading the list right, there’s only one team left that hasn’t 1,000 games in the NHL until I just checked his stats. (Which is likely the lost a player. And of course, it’s the Sabres. Even when we time travel first time a non-family member checked Gerald Diduck’s page in at least back almost 30 years, they still take some shots. But I’ll fix that with our 10 years.) first Sabres pick: Defenseman Grant Ledyard.

McIndoe: The fun thing about guys like that is you could give me roughly Mendes: I want to prepare a future generation of Sens fans for Logan 20 teams you claimed he played for in 1992 and I’d believe you. Here Brown … so I’ll take Adam Creighton. A 6-foot-5 center with tons of size comes another one, as I turn to the Islanders for a 23-year-old two-way and skill who was taken No. 11 in1 983. Never quite hit his ceiling in the forward who will eventually understand the pain of trying to build out a NHL, but he did have a couple of decent seasons. hopeless team. Give me Tom Fitzgerald. McIndoe: We’re building this team for the early ’90s and I need forwards, Kent Paynter so I’m going to go back to the Sabres. Give me Rob Ray, who’ll skate on a line with Tie Domi and will at least give the fans something to cheer. Defenceman

Mendes: Is this the point in the draft where Sens management asks if Michel Petit anybody has taken Pavel Bure yet? Speaking of Bure, I’ll take Shane John Van Kessel Churla. I better add some toughness too. Forward McIndoe: I always say, when in doubt, be a jerk. That’s what I’ll do by taking lifelong Kings forward Dave Taylor. I’m assuming he wants no part Petr Klima of expansion and I’ll try to flip him back to L.A. for picks. But if that fails, Sylvain Turgeon at least I have some veteran leadership. Forward Mendes: And if Taylor doesn’t want to be there, you can put him on the Triple Frown line. I’ll take my last defenseman here. I think this guy was Mike Keane involved in 30 percent of all NHL transactions in the ’80s and ’90s: Michel Petit. Mike Peluso

McIndoe: Good ol’ Mike Small. Man, the list is getting grim. I guess I’ll go Forward with Hartford Whalers forward Mikael Andersson, who’s 25 and coming Dave Poulin off an 18-goal season. He ended up with the real Lightning and did OK, and right now “OK” is more than good enough. Rob Murphy

Mendes: I’ll take Steve Kasper. And the sole reason for drafting him Forward would be to ask him, “How did you win the Selke Trophy with a minus-18 rating?” (Because if he only ends up minus-18 on my team, he might be Gerard Gallant in consideration for the Selke again.) Mark Lamb McIndoe: For my last forward, I’ll take another real-life Lightning pick: Forward Winnipeg’s Danton Cole, who didn’t last long in the league but managed a 20-goal season in Tampa. Rob Brown

Mendes: For my final selection, I’ll take Ryan Walter. He started his Laurie Boschman career with an awful team in a nation’s capital. This should make it full circle for him. Forward

McIndoe: I’ll finish with a decent enough defenseman in Doug Crossman, Phil Bourque a 1987 Team Canada alum who’ll give me a dependable veteran. Jim Thomson

New Sens expansion team vs original team Forward

POSITIONIAN'S MOCK EXPANSION TEAM ACTUAL 1992 Mike Krushelnyski SENS EXPANSION DRAFT PICKS Lonnie Loach No. 1 Goalie Forward John Vanbiesbrouck Bobby Smith Peter Sidorkiewicz Mark Freer No. 2 Goalie Forward Ron Tugnutt Adam Creighton Mark LaForest Chris Lindberg Defenceman Forward Marc Bergevin Shane Churla Brad Shaw Jeff Lazaro Defenceman Forward Bob Beers Steve Kasper Darren Rumble Darcy Loewen Defenceman Forward Gerald Diduck Ryan Walter Dominic Lavoie Blair Atchynum Defenceman Mendes: I actually think I’ve drafted a better team than the Senators did Randy Carlyle in 1992. Getting Vanbiesbrouck would obviously be a game-changer and Brad Miller that’s probably worth a few wins. Klima is probably the best offensive player in this new pool of players, so I’m happy I landed him. My defense Defenceman corps isn’t great, but it’s not worse than what the Senators actually drafted themselves. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that I Shawn Chambers could double the Senators’ win total with this roster. (Granted, that would Ken Hammond still only give them 20 wins and keep them in last place in the Adams Division, but as long as this squad can still beat the Canadiens on Defenceman opening night, I think I’ve done a pretty good job.)

Tommy Albelin New TB expansion team vs original team POSITIONSEAN'S MOCK EXPANSION TEAM ACTUAL 1992 Forward LIGHTNING EXPANSION TEAM Ronnie Stern

Dan Vincelette No. 1 Goalie Forward Guy Hebert Tony Hrkac Wendall Young Tim Bergland No. 2 Goalie Forward Ken Wregget Rob Ray Frederic Chabot Brian Bradley Defenceman Forward Stephane Quintal Dave Taylor Joe Reekie Keith Osbourne Defenceman Forward Sylvain Cote Mikael Andersson Shawn Chambers Shayne Stevenson Defenceman Forward Eric Weinrich Danton Cole Peter Taglianetti Tim Hunter Defenceman McIndoe: I like my team. We’re young, we’ve got a bunch of guys who’ll Lyle Odelin be fixtures in the NHL for the next decade or more, the goaltending is decent and I have a couple of veterans with name value that I can flip for Bob McGill picks or prospects. Plus I love the idea of putting Domi and Ray out there Defenceman together in an early ’90s world. This team will be fun.

Mark Howe Will it be good? Uh … probably not. It might be better than the real-life Lightning, although the bar there is quite a bit higher than it is for the Jeff Bloemberg Senators. The real 1992-93 Lightning went 23-54-7 for 53 points, didn’t make the playoffs until 1996 and didn’t win a round until 2003. I think I Defenceman can beat that with this squad. But have I just built an early ’90s prototype Grant Ledyard of the 2017-18 Golden Knights? I have not.

Doug Crossman Mendes: OK, there we have it. Now we just need someone to dust off an old copy of that EA Sports NHLPA ’93 game where we can load in these Defenceman rosters and see how they do.

Doug Crossman The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 Rob Ramage

Forward

Bob Kudelski

Michel Mongeau

Forward

Brent Fedyk

Anatoli Semenov

Forward

Brian Bradley

Mike Hartman

Forward

Tie Domi

Basil McRae

Forward

Tom Fitzgerald

Rob DiMaio

Forward

Jamie Baker

Steve Maltais 1217787 Philadelphia Flyers He replaces Ian Laperriere, who left the Flyers to become the head coach of their top farm team, the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Williams has spent 10 years as an NHL assistant, including nine under Morgan Frost’s chances of sticking with the Flyers have improved Vigneault -- five with Vancouver and four with the New York Rangers. greatly, and he says his shoulder is almost 100% Since 2019, he has been an assistant with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers.

“There is a high level of familiarity, having worked with Darryl for several Sam Carchidi years,” Vigneault said, “and I know what he is capable of to help bring success to our group.”

Williams, 53, played most of his career as a minor league left winger and By trading center Nolan Patrick last week, the Flyers have shown their amassed more than 200 penalty minutes seven times. He played two faith in Morgan Frost becoming a full-time NHL player. games with the Los Angeles in 1992-93 -- Wayne Gretzky was on that Frost, the Flyers’ No. 3 prospect in The Inquirer’s rankings, was given a team -- and compiled a total of 10 penalty minutes. chance when he replaced the injured Sean Couturier in the third game Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.20.2021 last season. He played two games before dislocating his left shoulder after absorbing a hit from Buffalo’s Jake McCabe. Frost required surgery and missed the rest of the season.

Now 22, the 5-foot-11, 186-pound Frost has lots of potential. He was a first-round selection (27th overall) in 2017, and had a sensational junior career. He was an AHL All-Star with the Phantoms in 2019-20, and had seven points in 20 games with the Flyers in that same season.

“It’s going well. The shoulder feels pretty good, and it’s close to 100%,” Frost said in a phone interview Monday from suburban Toronto. “I just have to stay on top of it.”

Frost has been working out regularly at a gym, skating twice a week, and even golfing. He plans to skate three to four times a week in August.

“I think a lot of it now is just getting my strength back in the shoulder, which I’m doing in the gym,” said Frost, who had 112- and 109-point seasons, respectively, in his final two years in the Ontario Hockey League.

Frost, a pass-first player, is able to shoot the puck without pain.

“I can shoot slap shots with no problem. I think I still have to get more mobility for a full one-timer,” he said. “That’s probably the only kind of shot that doesn’t feel 100%.”

He chuckled.

“But I don’t take too many one-timers, anyway,” he said.

Frost, who says his shoulder should be 100% during training camp and doesn’t anticipate problems absorbing contact, was asked if the Patrick deal was a vote of confidence that management feels he can take his spot.

“I don’t really want to comment on that,” he said. “I mean, I think they have confidence in me, and I have confidence in myself. I still think I definitely have to go into camp and earn it and prove that I can make the team again and play a full season. We’ll see what happens, but I’m excited for the opportunity.”

When training camp arrives in September, Frost will be in the mix for the third-line center spot that was held primarily by Patrick, who had just four goals in 52 games and was minus-30. Patrick missed the previous year because of a migraine disorder.

The Flyers have other options. They could explore a center in a trade or in free agency, and they could shift left wingers Claude Giroux or Scott Laughton into the middle. Both, however, seem better suited as wingers.

Couturier and Kevin Hayes will be the top two centers.

Taking Wednesday’s Seattle expansion draft out of the equation, there are wingers and centers who could interest the Flyers in free agency, which starts July 28. That group includes centers Phillip Danault (five goals in 53 games with Montreal), and Alexander Wennberg (17 goals in 56 games with Florida); wingers Brandon Saad (15 goals in 44 games with Colorado), Mike Hoffman (17 goals in 52 games with St. Louis), and Jaden Schwartz (eight goals in 40 games with St. Louis); and centers/wingers Mikael Granlund (13 goals in 51 games with Nashville), Erik Haula (nine goals in 51 games with Nashville), and Tomas Nosek (eight goals in 38 games with Vegas).

Assistant named

Darryl Williams, who has a long history with Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault, was named one of his assistants Monday. 1217788 Philadelphia Flyers You'll notice how Provorov has played more games than Ellis since 2015- 16 despite playing one fewer season. Ellis has an injury history. He missed a month last season because of an upper-body injury that required surgery. He was limited to 44 games in 2017-18 because of Why the Flyers traded Patrick and Myers for their new top-pair knee surgery the offseason prior. In 2018-19, he played all 82 games. defenseman Fletcher was asked what gave him confidence that Ellis will age well going into his 30s.

BY JORDAN HALL "It's a fair question," Fletcher said. "That's a concern with [every player]. He's 30 years old and we believe he has good hockey ahead of him. It's

tough to predict injuries. Certainly he's a man that plays hard but there's Chuck Fletcher said the Flyers "certainly were not looking to move" no reason to think that he can't [age well]. We like him a lot as a player, Philippe Myers or Nolan Patrick. we like the cap hit — we think it's a fair number and we also like the fact that he's already signed, he's not a player that we traded for and now But to negotiate and land a deal for a top-pair, righty-shot defenseman, a have to turn around and find a way to sign a contract in the next year or team must utilize its depth and make a calculated decision. so. You bring some cost certainty, we can plug that number in over the next few years and I think it's a very fair cap number for the quality of "You have to give to get," the Flyers' general manager said Saturday hockey player that we acquired." night. Patrick's time in Philadelphia did not pan out the way many had hoped Indeed. and anticipated when the center was taken second overall in the 2017 The Flyers addressed their biggest hole — one that was as gaping as it draft. Following a 30-point rookie season and a 31-point Year 2, Patrick was costly last season — by trading for Ryan Ellis, a 30-year-old, all- missed all of 2019-20 as he battled a migraine disorder. After going 650- situation blueliner. To pull off the deal, Fletcher sent the 24-year-old plus days without playing an NHL game, Patrick returned to the Flyers' Myers and 22-year-old Patrick to the Predators. Nashville general lineup last season and played in 52 of the club's 56 games. However, manager David Poile then moved Patrick to the Golden Knights for Cody with the missed time and the crammed schedule, Patrick stomached a Glass. season-long struggle from a production and effectiveness standpoint. He finished with nine points (four goals, five assists) and a minus-30 mark. The Flyers' crucial offseason was in the starting blocks and just took off. "It was really hard, I feel like I came in behind the 8-ball," Patrick said in "It was very difficult," Fletcher said of the decision to part ways with May. "I was struggling to find my game and clearly didn't adjust great and Myers and Patrick. "David Poile, give him credit, he wanted to add some get back to the top of my game quick. And it showed." younger, quality pieces to his roster. We went back and forth for a while, various scenarios and this is what we settled on. Phil Myers is a young Patrick was not drafted by the Flyers' current regime of Fletcher and man who is going to be a real good defenseman in this league for a long assistant general manager Brent Flahr, both of whom took over the club's time. And I still believe in Patty. Last year I thought was a step forward reins in December 2018. for him in terms of his health and getting back on the ice. I think the "Nolan's been through a lot of adversity," Fletcher said. "Certainly a lot of production will come and the confidence will come as he continues in his things have been out of his control, he's dealt with some things that you career." don't wish on anybody. I still think he has his career ahead of them. In The trade came just a couple of hours before Fletcher and company had this case, we moved him today to acquire one of the better defensemen to submit the club's protection list for the expansion draft Wednesday in the NHL. We feel we made a hockey trade and Nolan was a big piece night, when the Kraken will build their first-ever roster. Both Myers and of this trade and of our ability to acquire Ryan Ellis. I think there's still a Patrick were expected to be protected by the Flyers. Now, the Flyers story to be written by Nolan for his career. I'm certainly pulling for him have the opportunity to protect James van Riemsdyk if they so choose to. and I think the world of him. He's battled through a lot of adversity. The Flyers' protection list will be released Sunday. "In moving Nolan, I know everybody will interpret it the way they want to Update: After the Ellis trade, a bit of a surprise with the Flyers' protected interpret it, but for us, we moved two good young players today — that list was the price to doing business to acquire a quality two-way defenseman that we feel we really needed to take a step forward as an organization. With the acquisition of Ellis, the Flyers filled their Matt Niskanen void, And frankly, we feel a guy like Ryan will also aid in the development of which was created when the Stanley Cup-winning defenseman retired in some of our young players that we have here, too. We want to win more October following the Flyers' 2020 second-round playoff exit in games and we want our young players to be put in the best position to September. succeed."

With the flat cap and the hope of their youngsters seizing more Two years ago, Fletcher was noting how the Flyers were "bullish" on the responsibility, the Flyers tried replacing the invaluable Niskanen by upside of Myers, an undrafted defenseman who had worked his way into committee and it backfired badly. The Flyers missed the playoffs in the becoming one of the club's top prospects. The big, mobile blueliner had a shortened, coronavirus-impacted 2020-21 campaign, yielded the NHL's promising rookie season in 2019-20 but then endured a challenging most goals per game at 3.52 and owned the 30th-ranked penalty kill. 2020-21 with injuries and inconsistency. Those marks did not fall squarely on the Niskanen absence, but the failure to fill the veteran's void had a lot to do with them. There is still plenty of upside with Myers, who has only 115 games under his belt. For the Flyers, having prospects Cam York and Egor Zamula not "I think there was a lot of focus on the fact we didn't defend as well, but to far away likely alleviated the sting of moving Myers. The appealing me, we just defended too much," Fletcher said. "If we move the puck upside of Myers made him wanted in order for the Flyers to land a cleaner and more quickly out of our defensive zone, then we won't have defenseman the caliber of Ellis. to defend as much. I think Ryan's a good defender, but I think we'll have the ability to transition the puck better and get up the ice and he's a pretty "We feel we have a lot of quality young players still in our system, a lot of elite defenseman in terms of the transition game." quality prospects still in our system and we still have all of our draft picks," Fletcher said. "We're going to need a lot of young assets to fill in, Ellis and Provorov have the potential to be a bona-fide top pair. Ellis, who it is a flat-cap era and I think we feel comfortable with the quality and is under contract for the next six seasons with an annual cap hit of quantity of the young players that we still have in our organization. The $6.250 million, has 199 points (55 goals, 144 assists) in 360 games over opportunity to add a player like Ryan was too good to pass up — he's the past six seasons. In that span, his plus-94 rating is fourth best among what we need at this time." all NHL defensemen, behind only Ryan McDonagh (plus-112), Victor Hedman (plus-112) and Zdeno Chara (plus-105). He's a loud kick-starter to the Flyers' offseason that has just begun.

The 24-year-old Provorov has played five NHL seasons. He has not Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 missed a game, playing all 371 and putting up the following numbers: 50 goals, 109 assists and 24:08 minutes per game. 1217789 Philadelphia Flyers

Wells Fargo Center renovations continue ahead of Flyers, Sixers seasons

BY JORDAN HALL

The Wells Fargo Center transformation project, which was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic, has resumed as the arena continues to undergo renovations ahead of the fall sports season.

The $300 million, multi-year project is approximately two-thirds complete, with the latest phase focused on the club level, where upgraded, brand- new seats will be in place by the fall. Next summer, the arena will see upgrades to its exterior, entrances, food and beverage options and more.

“The Wells Fargo Center is a pillar of our city, both culturally and economically, and this transformation project will ensure that it remains Philadelphia’s home for hockey, basketball, lacrosse, concerts and events for decades to come,” Wells Fargo Center president of business operations Valerie Camillo said in a release Monday. “Since we started this project, we’ve viewed it as an investment in the city, the neighborhood and the stadium district, which is why we’re funding it ourselves without any public, taxpayer dollars. As the city emerges from the pandemic, whether we’re hosting 20,000 fans for Flyers and 76ers games or putting hundreds of people back to work, the Wells Fargo Center is going to be a major part of Philadelphia’s comeback story.”

The Wells Fargo Center has already revamped its mezzanine and suite levels, along with two sports betting lounges. Also as part of this project, the arena had a state-of-the-art scoreboard and LED video/lighting system put in, as well as new lower-bowl seats. Earlier this year, after an $11 million renovation of the HVAC system, which has all the air in the seating bowl of the arena replaced every 30 minutes, the Wells Fargo Center received the International WELL Building Institute's health-safety rating for facility operations and management.

“The restart of this major transformation project is yet another example that Philadelphia is rebounding from the pandemic in a big way,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in the release. “This multi-million dollar project will not only bring new life to this incredible facility, but also have a positive economic impact on our local labor market. I look forward to its completion and to cheering on our sports teams from this state-of- the-art venue.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217790 Pittsburgh Penguins

Wells Fargo Center renovations continue ahead of Flyers, Sixers seasons

BY JORDAN HALL

The Wells Fargo Center transformation project, which was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic, has resumed as the arena continues to undergo renovations ahead of the fall sports season.

The $300 million, multi-year project is approximately two-thirds complete, with the latest phase focused on the club level, where upgraded, brand- new seats will be in place by the fall. Next summer, the arena will see upgrades to its exterior, entrances, food and beverage options and more.

“The Wells Fargo Center is a pillar of our city, both culturally and economically, and this transformation project will ensure that it remains Philadelphia’s home for hockey, basketball, lacrosse, concerts and events for decades to come,” Wells Fargo Center president of business operations Valerie Camillo said in a release Monday. “Since we started this project, we’ve viewed it as an investment in the city, the neighborhood and the stadium district, which is why we’re funding it ourselves without any public, taxpayer dollars. As the city emerges from the pandemic, whether we’re hosting 20,000 fans for Flyers and 76ers games or putting hundreds of people back to work, the Wells Fargo Center is going to be a major part of Philadelphia’s comeback story.”

The Wells Fargo Center has already revamped its mezzanine and suite levels, along with two sports betting lounges. Also as part of this project, the arena had a state-of-the-art scoreboard and LED video/lighting system put in, as well as new lower-bowl seats. Earlier this year, after an $11 million renovation of the HVAC system, which has all the air in the seating bowl of the arena replaced every 30 minutes, the Wells Fargo Center received the International WELL Building Institute's health-safety rating for facility operations and management.

“The restart of this major transformation project is yet another example that Philadelphia is rebounding from the pandemic in a big way,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in the release. “This multi-million dollar project will not only bring new life to this incredible facility, but also have a positive economic impact on our local labor market. I look forward to its completion and to cheering on our sports teams from this state-of- the-art venue.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217791 Pittsburgh Penguins But it hasn’t worked, won’t and was never likely to. The Penguins grew stale.

That’s OK. It kept the fans’ heroes on the ice, kept ticket and Mark Madden: Don't overreact to Penguins' expansion draft plans merchandise sales strong, and the team is still very good. It won its division this past season. It just won’t win another Cup, though a long, random playoff run is possible. Witness Montreal this year, Dallas last year. MARK MADDEN | Monday, July 19, 2021 9:05 a.m. No more Cups doesn’t bother me. The approach taken doesn’t bother

me. Jared McCann, right, celebrates with Kris Letang, left, and Jeff Carter Having to blame somebody, acting like it’s a crime that more wasn’t after Carter’s goal against New Jersey on April 20 at PPG Paints Arena. achieved and gratuitously overreacting to insignificant roster adjustments The Steelers cut Steven Nelson, their best cornerback. The reaction: is what bothers me. “Oh, well, they had to.” McCann rarely and barely made a difference since joining the Penguins That’s true. It was for salary cap reasons. (But with David DeCastro in February 2019. Why would he start now? He got scratched in the 2020 released, why not bring Nelson back?) playoffs, for heck’s sake.

The Penguins traded forward Jared McCann to Toronto for a seventh- No matter who gets taken by Seattle on Wednesday, the reaction is round draft choice and prospect Filip Hallander, who was the Penguins’ guaranteed: “OH MY GOD, HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE second-round pick in 2018. Hallander went to the Maple Leafs in the ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?” The Kraken could take the Penguins’ stickboy 2020 deal that brought Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh. and that’s what gets said — shouted, rather.

The Penguins might have lost McCann to Seattle for nothing in As some (ahem) have said since 2018, the Penguins are organically Wednesday’s expansion draft. disintegrating. Like Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles before them. Nobody wins forever. It’s Tampa Bay’s time. You’d nonetheless think the sky was falling. If anybody’s at fault, it’s a too-big percentage of the fan base for being With Penguins Twitter, McCann’s stature increased to a level never ungrateful jerks. The Penguins provided three championships, legit known while he was here. The analytics crew started bashing everybody contention and unparalleled star power for a solid decade, and that’s still over the head with their bludgeon of numbers. Former GM Jim not good enough for you jackals. Go watch the Pirates. Rutherford got blamed, and he resigned in January. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.20.2021 McCann became Ron Francis — not the current version, the Seattle GM who might have poached him Wednesday, but the Hall-of-Fame center who played for the Penguins.

But, in reality, it’s an inconsequential deal involving a 25-year-old player who is now, already, with his fourth team. McCann is OK, but only that. He’s a journeyman.

Every team is going to lose somebody useful in the expansion draft. That’s how the process is designed.

Seattle might now take winger Zach Aston-Reese, another darling of the analytics crew. There could be rioting in the streets, except those geeks never leave their basements.

Winger Brandon Tanev is another possibility to get crackin’ to the Kraken. His grit would be a big loss, but his size (6 foot, 180 pounds, if you believe what’s listed) compromises his physical style and leaves him frequently hurt. Tanev played just 32 of 56 games last year.

The Penguins exposed Tanev in hope of shedding his contract: $3.5 million cap hit through 2025.

The same people who complained that Tanev cost too much when he signed are screaming bloody murder because the Penguins might lose him for nothing.

It doesn’t much matter who goes. When the Penguins miss the playoffs or go out yet again in the first round, no one will say, “Gee, if the Penguins had only kept (whoever Seattle selects).”

The constant dissatisfaction regarding just about every move the Penguins make stems from heightened expectations that result from being a legit Stanley Cup contender non-stop from 2008-18. They won three Cups and made another final.

Of course, that’s not good enough for those who live vicariously. The Penguins have been the best team of their era, in hockey and in Pittsburgh, but the great unwashed wants more.

They’re not going to get it, and that’s nobody’s fault.

The Penguins’ window closed when they lost to Washington in the second round of the 2018 playoffs. The team has been aging out since.

Rather than reload at the time by, say, trading Evgeni Malkin for what would have been ginormous return, the Penguins opted to keep their core intact. That’s not an unreasonable approach given what Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have done, and can still do. 1217792 Pittsburgh Penguins Assuming he remains a member of the Penguins heading into 2021-22, Ruhwedel certainly appears to be a candidate to claim a steady spot in the lineup. With Ceci improving his stock as a pending unrestricted free agent following a strong season and potentially signing elsewhere, there Penguins A to Z: Can Chad Ruhwedel finally be a regular part of the could be a hole on the starboard side of the Penguins’ defense. lineup? Making a little more than league mininum, Ruhwedel offers a safe — if bland — style that fits within the confines of the Penguins’ typically agressive attack. SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, July 19, 2021 8:01 a.m. It won’t be easy for Ruhwedel to claim that role. (It never is.) Fellow right-

handed defenseman Mark Friedman made an impact and showed some As a right-handed depth defenseman, Chad Ruhwedel played 17 games promise upon his midseason arrival via waivers. And he’s a favorite of for the Penguins last season. general manager Ron Hextall from their time with the Philadelphia Flyers.

With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is Plus, the possibility of signing another right-handed defenseman is very looking at all 48 players currently under NHL contracts to the real. Though, given the Penguins’ limited salary cap space, they will likely organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari devote their limited financial flexibility to other areas of need. to top-six winger Jason Zucker. Regardless, Ruhwedel might have a legitimate chance to be a regular Chad Ruhwedel part of the lineup for the first time in his half decade with the Penguins.

Position: Defenseman Tribune Review LOADED: 07.20.2021

Shoots: Right

Age: 31

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 191 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 17 games, two points (zero goals, two assists)

Contract: Second year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000.

(Note: On Aug. 28, 2020, Ruhwedel signed a one-year contract extension with a salary cap hit of $750,000 for the 2021-22 season. He is a pending unrestricted free agent in 2022.)

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 1, 2016

2020-21 season: Last offseason, Chad Ruhwedel appeared to be in line to finally break into the Penguins’ lineup on a regular basis instead of being used as an occasional fill-in.

Fellow right-handed defenseman Justin Schultz left town as an unrestricted free agent and that appeared to open up a spot on the bottom defensive pairing for Ruhwedel. A contract extension for the 2021-22 season only appeared to galvanize management’s faith in the reliable and ready Ruhwedel.

But then in October, the Penguins signed Cody Ceci, a fellow right- handed defenseman, to a one-year deal and that created a crowded situation on the Penguins’ blue line and put Ruhwedel back on the outside looking in with regards to the lineup.

After serving a healthy scratch in the season opener on Jan. 13, Ruhwedel dressed two nights later and was in the lineup for 12 consecutive games due to an outbreak of injuries to fellow defensemen including Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola.

Things were so bad for the Penguins with regards to able-bodied defensemen that Ruhwedel even had to play the left side of the second pairing for a spell.

The “highlight” of Ruhwedel’s season came during a 3-1 road loss to the New York Rangers when he recorded the primary assist on a goal by forward Jason Zucker by banking a puck off the end boards.

Ruhwedel was a healthy scratch again by Feb. 16 and sat for 12 consecutive games. After defenseman John Marino suffered an undisclosed injury March 9, Ruhwedel was back in the lineup for a four- game stretch.

Following another stretch of healthy scratches — this time, 26 games — Ruhwedel dressed for the season finale on May 8.

In the postseason, Ruhwedel was scratched for all six games of the Penguins’ first-round postseason loss to the New York Islanders.

The future: Ruhwedel was left exposed for Wednesday’s expansion draft, but it’s unlikely the Seattle Kraken will select him given some of the better options available. 1217793 Pittsburgh Penguins That said, Madden predicts it’ll be Aston-Reese who winds up in Seattle. In our podcast, Madden explains why. We also get into why Zucker and defenseman Marcus Pettersson may be dark horse candidates for Seattle and the topic of Montreal goaltender Carey Price being exposed. Madden Monday: Confused about why Penguins left Brandon Tanev unprotected? Mark Madden has answers. Plus, we talk about Evgeni Malkin, the Steelers and the bizarre Pirates- Mets series at PNC Park this past weekend.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.20.2021 TIM BENZ | Monday, July 19, 2021 6:33 a.m.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin makes a save on Penguins winger Brandon Tanev in the second period during Game 5 on May 24, 2021, PPG Paints Arena.

Are you struggling to grasp the Penguins’ strategy when it comes to the expansion draft?

Yeah, me, too.

Over the weekend, NHL teams were required to submit their protected lists for Wednesday’s expansion draft. Among those left unprotected in Pittsburgh were forwards Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese. Meanwhile, Jeff Carter was protected.

Why?

I’m not slighting Carter. He vastly exceeded my expectations following his acquisition from the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 13 goals and adding three assists during the remainder of the Penguins’ regular season campaign and the playoffs.

I just don’t know why the Penguins front office is worried about the Seattle Kraken taking a 36-year-old with one year remaining on his contract, who might retire as opposed to rebooting his career with an expansion team.

Carter’s success in Pittsburgh was often attributed to the fact that he went from a struggling Kings team to the Penguins at playoff time. So why would the Kraken believe he’d be motivated on the same level going to an expansion team?

Unless their approach would be to take Carter for just a few months until they could spin him off at the deadline for draft picks as the Kings did.

Frankly, I would’ve been willing to take that risk. Especially if it meant protecting either Tanev or Aston-Reese.

Maybe the Penguins have some intelligence that Kraken general manager — and former Penguins Hall of Famer — Ron Francis is partial to Carter and definitely would’ve selected him. Short of that, though, I would’ve dangled Carter and held back Tanev or Aston-Reese.

Specifically Tanev. I think Aston-Reese is more replaceable than Tanev. But in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X joins me to discuss why the Pens may have a different philosophy on the 29-year-old winger.

“I think the Penguins want to expose Brandon Tanev’s contract and hope that either he or (Jason) Zucker gets taken by the Kraken,” Madden said.

That’s a fair point, especially in the case of Zucker. He’s a $5.5 million hit over the next two seasons and has disappointed in Pittsburgh. Tanev is making $3.5 million through the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Keep in mind, however, Tanev’s contract was crafted by former general manager Jim Rutherford. Not current GM Ron Hextall. That’s a point Madden says we can’t ignore.

“Rutherford signed Tanev. Hextall did not. Hextall clearly doesn’t find Tanev as useful, especially at that price and term,” Madden continued.

The thing is, though, if the Penguins lose Tanev, how do they replace him? And at what cost? How much will they really save between losing Tanev and potentially finding another player who skates and hits with the frequency and tenacity that he does?

Madden agrees with my concerns but offers this counter.

“He’s listed at 6-foot, 180 (pounds),” Madden said. “The reality is he is probably smaller than that. And because of that, his breakneck style of play is compromised by being hurt quite a bit. He missed 25 of 56 games this past year. While I am not enamored with the idea of the Penguins losing Tanev, I can understand why he is being exposed to the Kraken.” 1217794 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins will return to a six-game preseason, which begins Sept. 27

Matt Vensel 7/19/2021

This fall, the Penguins will be returning to a sense of preseason normalcy.

The Penguins announced Monday that they will play their standard six preseason games in 2021-22. This past season, there was no preseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the NHL to condense its schedule.

The Penguins will open the preseason Sept. 27 against Columbus at PPG Paints Arena. They visit Buffalo on Oct. 1 before hosting Detroit on Oct. 3 and Buffalo two days later. The Oct. 3 game is their annual “Free Game for Kids.”

They visit Detroit on Oct. 7 then wrap up the preseason Oct. 9 in Columbus.

That timeline suggests the regular season will begin in the middle of October.

Preseason television and radio information will be released at a later date.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217795 Pittsburgh Penguins What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone? Aston-Reese is a solid role player who will likely sign a reasonable

contract as a restricted free agent. If he heads to Seattle, it could open Which Penguins are most likely to be selected by the Seattle Kraken? the door for some of the Penguins’ younger players to step into the bottom-six. But they’ll also miss a key penalty killer who excels in his role.

Mike DeFabo 7/19/2021 Jason Zucker, 29, winger

Why would Seattle would want him?

On Sunday, the NHL officially announced every team’s protection list for Rutherford once thought highly enough of Zucker to cough up a first- Wednesday’s expansion draft. round pick and promising defensive prospect Calen Addison. Five times Zucker has scored 20-plus goals in a season, including a 33-goal, 64- In case you somehow missed it, the Penguins chose to protect forwards point season in 2017-18. Beyond that, he’s a polished speaker who is Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Kasperi active in the community and respected in the dressing room. If Seattle Kapanen, Teddy Blueger and Jeff Carter; defensemen Kris Letang, Brian picks Zucker, he’d immediately become a candidate to wear a letter on Dumoulin and Mike Matheson; and goalie Tristan Jarry. his sweater. Now comes the hard part. On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken will select Why might Seattle pass? one player from 30 NHL rosters (the Vegas Golden Knights are exempt from this process). Which player will they take from the Penguins? Zucker hasn’t always looked like a fit in Pittsburgh, at least not on Evgeni Malkin’s wing. When coach Mike Sullivan reshuffles lines in the middle of Let’s break down the case for each of the most-significant Penguins that games, Zucker is often one of the wingers bumped down. Additionally, were left unprotected. skating is considered one of Zucker’s game-changing attributes. But he’s Brandon Tanev, 29, winger now 29 years old and coming off an ankle injury that hampered him throughout the 2020-21 season. How will his game — and his contract — Why would Seattle would want him? age as his body does?

If Kraken GM Ron Francis has watched even one game of Penguins film, What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone? it would be hard not to notice Tanev. The speedy spark plug grew out his flow during the pandemic to match his hair-on-fire playing style. He’s Of the players exposed, Zucker by far carries the highest cap hit at $5.5 consistently among the league leaders in all of the stats that quantify million per season. Yes, losing him means the Penguins will need to fill a desire, including hits delivered, hits taken and shots blocked. All these hole in their top six. But during a free agency period that should be a factors, along with an affable personality, have made him a well-liked buyer’s market, that’s a lot of money for the Penguins to spend player in the Penguins’ dressing room and a fan favorite in the arena. For elsewhere. a new team like Seattle, he’d be a similar tone-setting presence on the Marcus Pettersson, 25, left-shot defenseman ice and be an easy-to-root-for personality to help drum up fan interest. Why would Seattle would want him? Why might Seattle pass? Pettersson is a solid, young defenseman who will play this season at 25 Age and salary cap hit. When former general manager Jim Rutherford years old. At 6-foot-3, he has a good, long stick and decent mobility. As a inked Tanev to a six-year contract extension, a vocal majority of fans and stay-at-home guy, he’s proven to be a nice complement alongside puck media members were highly critical of the move. After all, six years at movers like John Marino. $3.5 million per season is a hefty price tag for a bottom-six winger who was at the time in his late 20s. Tanev’s performance over the last two Why might Seattle pass? years in Pittsburgh made many critics eat their words, as people who watched him play realized Tanev’s style helps teams win in ways the stat Pettersson earned a contract extension in the middle of the 2019-20 sheet doesn’t capture. But what will Seattle think about a fourth-line season with the idea that the young defenseman hadn’t yet reached his winger who will be 34 when his deal expires and who has never scored ceiling. However, Pettersson admitted himself after this year that he more than 14 goals in a season? didn’t take the step forward he hoped. Actually, it might have been a step back. He slid from a top-four defenseman into the third pair. If Seattle What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone? agrees with the Penguins’ assessment, $4.025 million is a lot to pay for a third-pairing lefty without a ton of offense to his game. The Penguins kept their fourth line together more than any other trio over the last two years, with Zach Aston-Reese at left wing, Blueger at center What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone? and Tanev at right wing. They called it the Blueger line. But let’s be honest. It’s the Tanev line. He’s the straw that stirs the drink, disrupting The Penguins currently have more than $16 million committed to the left plays with his ferocious forechecking and chasing down loose pucks. side of their blue line with Dumoulin, Matheson and Pettersson on Last year, when Tanev was hurt, the Penguins tried numerous payroll. For a team that’s bumping up against the cap, that’s not ideal. Of replacements. None had the same effect. The line is simply not the same the lefties, Pettersson would be the most-easily replaced. Even though without Tanev. general manager Ron Hextall believes left-handed prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph could use more polishing in the minors next year, he’s one of Zach Aston-Reese, 26, winger many options the Penguins have internally. Or, maybe even better, they could use that money to sign a bigger body who fits the style Hextall and Why would Seattle would want him? president of hockey operations Brian Burke envision. The Kraken plan to build out one of the NHL’s most-robust analytics Casey DeSmith, 29, goalie departments, and Aston-Reese is a player whose value might be highest on a spread sheet. His expected goals-for percentage is a solid 50.8% Why Seattle would want him? during 5-on-5 play, and the Penguins created 51% of the high-danger chances when he was on the ice. He’s also a heavier body at more than After spending the entirety of the 2019-20 season in the American 200 pounds, and he isn’t afraid to throw that weight around and finish Hockey League, DeSmith turned heads last season. At one point he shot checks. all the way to the top of the goaltending leaderboard in both goals- against average and save percentage. Seattle will need a backup goalie. Why might Seattle pass? One that comes with a manageable $1.25 million cap hit could be worth at least considering, especially if Seattle opens up its wallet for Aston-Reese, who will turn 27 in a couple days, led college hockey in Montreal’s Carey Price. scoring at Northeastern on the way to becoming a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2017. However, that scoring touch has not translated to the Why might Seattle pass? next level. He’s never scored double-digit goals in the NHL. Beyond that, he’s an injury prone player who missed the first half of this season DeSmith, who will turn 30 later this summer, will enter the last year of his following shoulder surgery. contract. He’s played in only 70 NHL games, so it’s worth wondering how much his stats are influenced by a small sample size. He’s also undersized at 6-feet and probably doesn’t have a ceiling much higher than an NHL backup. Other good options on the Penguins’ roster sound more enticing.

What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone?

Goaltending was the No. 1 reason the Penguins flamed out of the playoffs in the first round. If the Penguins choose to bring in outside help to challenge Tristan Jarry, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities to imagine DeSmith starting next year in Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton. Or maybe the Penguins move Jarry, and DeSmith is scheduled to be the backup. It’s tough to say. But if DeSmith is moved, it would probably be just one of the changes in the crease.

Cody Ceci, 27, right-shot defenseman

Why would Seattle want him?

Ceci took a one-year, $1.25 million prove-it contract last offseason and made the most of it. The Penguins figured he’d compete for third-paring minutes. However, he played well enough to push Marino down the depth chart. While he is an unrestricted free agent, the Kraken are permitted to talk with UFAs to gauge their interest before making a pick. The Golden Knights picked nine pending UFAs, for example, so there’s precedent. If Ceci and Seattle are a match, this could be an option.

Why might Seattle pass?

As mentioned previously, Seattle will rely heavily on analytics. And at different parts of his career, Ceci’s advanced metrics were much less than stellar. The Penguins helped get Ceci’s career on track thanks to their system and his defensive partner. However, some of Ceci’s inconsistencies in the past may give the Kraken pause.

What does it mean for the Penguins if he’s gone?

The Penguins have interest in Ceci, but they aren’t sure yet if they have salary cap space. Marino’s new contract kicks in this year, which pays him $4.4 million per season. The club already has too much committed to the left side of its blue line. Between Marino and Kris Letang, they have $11.65 million tied up on the right side, too. Losing Ceci would likely ensure Marino sticks around and moves into the top four.

Best case for Pittsburgh?

Aston-Reese would be the easiest to replace, considering he’s a fourth- line winger who is set to be a restricted free agent. Zucker frees up a ton of cap space to be used in a buyer’s market. But Pettersson would be best-case. His departure would not only give the Penguins much-needed cap savings, but it would also afford them the chance to change the identity of the defense.

Worst case for Pittsburgh?

Tanev. Yes, his contract is long and somewhat costly for a bottom-six winger. But you’d be hard-pressed to find many personalities like Tanev’s or players who can influence the game like he does, even when he’s not scoring.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217796 Pittsburgh Penguins Teddy Blueger: The contract is a real winner for the Penguins, and their top three centers are getting old. Blueger is young and solid in every facet. This isn’t a player they’re looking to move.

Yohe: Which Penguins are staying and leaving? The biannual most- Like the Player, Hate the (Contract) Game Division likely-to-leave list Jason Zucker: He’s done nothing wrong since arriving in Pittsburgh. Quality person, good player. He hasn’t produced the way the Penguins would have liked, but he remains a positive enough on-ice contributor. By Josh Yohe Jul 19, 2021 However, given that Zucker earns $5.5 million per season, the Penguins would be perfectly pleased to find him a new home. Should Seattle claim him in the expansion draft, the Penguins will manage some immediate The most important days of summer are near. cap relief, which they could use. It’s difficult to determine if there is a Although the Penguins aren’t going to blow up their roster — they trade market for Zucker, but the Penguins will at least explore it. If he enjoyed a spectacular regular season, which isn’t lost on the new regime were making $3.5 million per season, he’d be a bargain. At $5.5 million — they won’t willingly stand pat, either. They’re also going to lose annually, he’s been a bit of a disappointment. someone in the expansion draft. Mike Matheson: He was quite good during his first season with the Three consecutive first-round dismissals aren’t sitting well with ownership Penguins. Matheson had a rough start and looked bad in Game 1 against or fans. Some changes are coming. the Islanders, but otherwise, he was an asset on the blue line. The Penguins like him and rightfully so. Here’s the biannual look at the most likely and least likely Penguins to leave Pittsburgh this offseason. But his contract remains concerning, more because of the term than the money. The Penguins would be happy to welcome him back to the blue Untouchable Division line, but they’d be equally happy removing his contract from the books. That said, they do like him better than the next person on our list, which Sidney Crosby: The captain stands alone. Oh, there are plenty of other is why they protected him in the expansion draft. players on the roster almost certain to remain in Pittsburgh. But is anyone other than Crosby really untouchable after four consecutive Marcus Pettersson: Pettersson’s situation is similar. He’s OK. The series losses? Nah, not really. It just doesn’t work that way. Penguins like him well enough. But he makes a lot of money for a guy with such limited offensive upside, and one could make a compelling Crosby remains the face of the franchise and, as he approaches his 34th argument that his game has declined in each of the past two seasons. birthday, very much a living legend. He’s also still one of the NHL’s five best players. I don’t envision him ever playing for another organization. Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke has said many times that he wants the Penguins to add muscle to the blue line. Franchise Icon Division Pettersson wouldn’t beat too many NHL players in an arm-wrestling Evgeni Malkin: Given that Malkin is dealing with a serious knee injury and contest. The Penguins are willing to move on from him. is likely to miss a considerable chunk of next season as he recovers, he’s The Murky Goaltending Situation Division not being traded. We know this because, frankly, it would make no sense for anyone to acquire him. I don’t put him in the Untouchable Division Tristan Jarry: Ron Hextall would be ignoring his duties as general because, if he were healthy, I am not positive he would be untouchable, manager if he didn’t at least consider bringing in a goalie to challenge his no-trade clause notwithstanding. So, Crosby gets his own distinction. Jarry. It’s no secret that Jarry was the single biggest reason for the Penguins’ setback against the Islanders. Should such a goaltender be Malkin is still terrific, and what he did in the playoffs shouldn’t be available in a trade, Jarry would be a reasonable part of any transaction. forgotten. He was literally playing on one leg and still produced the way Jarry isn’t horrible. He’s 26 and has played in an NHL All-Star Game. The only great players can. There’s certainly a hint of autumn in his game, problem is that he doesn’t mirror his teammates’ respective timelines. A though. His skating isn’t what it once was. Do the Penguins give him a couple of years remain — maybe — in the Penguins’ championship new deal? Do they want to see how his knee recovers first? Interesting window. If you were running the Penguins, would you trust Jarry to be the times. guy to lead this team to glory in the next couple of seasons? Kris Letang: Letang enjoyed a good 2021 season after a horrific first If the Penguins’ core were young, perhaps you’d simply decide to let month. Given his conditioning, I expect him to remain a very good player Jarry grow with them. However, I just don’t know if the Penguins have for a few more years. The Penguins expect that, too, which is why he time for that kind of patience. figures to receive a new contract this summer. It’s extremely unlikely Letang will be traded this summer, as only one year remains on his deal. Casey DeSmith: He’s an interesting case. The Penguins would love for Can’t quite say he’s untouchable, though I expect him to be the him to be their backup goalie. He’s one of the best backups in the game, Penguins’ No. 1 defenseman for a couple of more years. even if his ceiling as a starter probably isn’t especially high. Still, he’s a possible loss in the expansion draft. The Almost Untouchable Division The So Long, Farewell Division Jeff Carter: So, the Penguins are protecting him. I was told during the first round of the playoffs that this would be the case. Why? Many Cody Ceci: He did his job in Pittsburgh and then some. Whatever was reasons: They were afraid Seattle would claim him and make him wrong with him the past few seasons was very clearly fixed with the captain, they knew then that Malkin’s health wasn’t good, and, well, he Penguins. Hextall would love to keep him. Financially speaking, however, played like a star last season. To the Penguins, it wasn’t worth the risk. it’s very unlikely.

It’s almost impossible that they’d trade him this summer, but I suppose Mark Jankowski: Remember when he scored in his first game with the stranger things have happened. Penguins? That was a long, long time ago.

Brian Dumoulin: I won’t say he’s untouchable. If the Penguins really Colton Sceviour: Not a bad player at all, but I don’t see him coming back. wanted to make a splash, they could receive something huge in return for Dumoulin, which can’t be ignored. But if your interest is in winning the The Iffy Division Stanley Cup next spring, why would you trade one of the league’s most Evan Rodrigues: He’s an unrestricted free agent, and I think it will be reliable players? difficult for the Penguins to bring him back because of the salary cap. I’d John Marino: His magnificent rookie season was followed by a bet against it. He’s a usable player, and someone will sign him, but the thoroughly ordinary sophomore campaign. What does it mean? I Penguins probably can’t afford a luxury player like this. seriously doubt he’s going anywhere, though it should be mentioned that Frederick Gaudreau: He, too, is an unrestricted free agent. The Penguins his contract isn’t inexpensive and he’s never going to be a people-mover, absolutely love this guy, and if the price is right, I could see him being something the new management clearly covets. Something to keep in back. He’s the classic player who does all of the little things well. If he mind. wants to agree to a little contract, this could happen. The Why Bother Division The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021

Chad Ruhwedel: He works cheap, is a nice option to have and won’t produce much in return. There’s no point in dealing him.

Mark Friedman: Hextall loves this guy, and you can see the talent. Granted, he’s not going to make the blue line more physical, but he’s an intriguing option and, like Ruhwedel, isn’t going to fetch much in a trade.

The Fourth Line Day of Reckoning Division

Brandon Tanev: This one will hurt if it happens. And it might. Tanev does possess a fairly prodigious contract for a fourth-line player, but really, is he a fourth-line player? Or is that simply the role in which the Penguins choose to use him? I think we all know that he’s more than your typical fourth-liner.

I suspect the Kraken will want to select him, but the salary cap is a factor. It could be that Seattle will take him, yes. Or the Kraken might be interested in a lesser but still reasonably good bottom-six player.

Zach Aston-Reese: And that brings us to Aston-Reese. He doesn’t make as much money, but he’s an analytics darling and a good bottom-six player. And he’s much cheaper than Tanev. I suspect one of these two players will be Seattle’s choice, and the salary structure probably will dictate which player is selected.

The Hockey Trade Division

Kasperi Kapanen: The Penguins were pleased with Kapanen’s season and aren’t shopping him. One problem with the Penguins, however, is they don’t possess a particularly diverse lineup, with lots of smallish, skilled forwards. Nothing wrong with that, really. But if they do want to get bigger and stronger, it’s not unimaginable that they’d trade one of those forwards for a bigger body. Just something to keep in mind.

The Blockbuster Trade Division

Jake Guentzel: This name keeps popping up in trade speculation, but I don’t expect it to happen. Would Guentzel be a reasonable trade partner for, say, the Flames and Matthew Tkachuk? Well, yes. I’d probably make that trade, though I don’t know if the Flames would. Guentzel would indeed produce a massive return should the Penguins trade him. Still, I don’t particularly see the logic. He’s under a reasonable $6 million cap hit for the next three seasons, he’s a point-per-game player, and he’s Crosby’s preferred linemate. It’s tough to trade someone like that.

Guentzel has been subpar in his past three postseasons. This much is undeniable. The book is out on him: You beat him up with bigger players in the playoffs. It’s a problem for Guentzel and the Penguins. Still, few players produce as consistently as Guentzel. He’s 26. That’s not someone I’d trade unless I was getting a massive return, and from what I’ve been told, the Penguins aren’t thinking about trading him.

The Sensible Hockey Trade Division

Bryan Rust: Oh, I wouldn’t trade him. And I haven’t been told that the Penguins are looking to trade him. However, trading Rust makes a lot more sense than trading Guenzel.

• Rust is 29. Guentzel is only 26.

• Rust has one year remaining on his contract. Guentzel has three.

• Rust is a wonderful player, but he still isn’t as productive as Guentzel.

Here’s the issue with Rust, even though he’s outstanding and makes the Penguins so much better in so many ways: He’s about to get paid. At $3.5 million annually during the past few years, Rust has been one of hockey’s biggest bargains. That figure is about to change. I have to think that Rust’s next deal will see him earn between $5 million and $6 million per season.

When that contract kicks in, Rust will be 30. I don’t know how he’s going to age. To this point, he’s improved each season. But eventually, that stops. Do you want to be paying Rust $6 million per season when he’s 34?

If the Penguins re-sign him, I wouldn’t criticize it. He’s the real deal. But trading Rust makes considerably more sense than trading Guentzel. Sure, the return wouldn’t be nearly as big, but he’ll never be more valuable than he is now, and my hunch is that he won’t be the same player in his 30s that he’s been in his 20s.

If the Penguins are going to make a hockey trade, Rust is their most logical candidate. 1217797 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Release 2021-22 Preseason Schedule; Free Game for Kids Returns

Published 14 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Dan Kingerski

It may be the surest sign that normalcy is around the corner. The Pittsburgh Penguins released their 2021-22 preseason schedule on Monday. There will be the same-old-same-old teams like Buffalo and Columbus, but the highlight of the preseason will return.

The always loud, always raucous, and always high-pitched Free Game for Kids will return on Oct. 3 when the Penguins host the Detroit Red Wings. Game time is 1 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.

It is the team’s 10th annual “Free Game For Kids.”

If you haven’t been–it’s not for the sit-on-your-hands crowd as 12-15000 kids pack the arena in an afternoon away from Mom and Dad.

The Penguins will begin their preseason schedule on Monday, Sept. 27, at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Four days later, the Penguins play their first road game against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, Oct. 1, at KeyBank Center.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now and the rest of the Hockey Now network were the first to report on Saturday that the NHL will keep some baseball-style “series” as part of the regular season schedule. However, the regular season schedule hasn’t yet been released.

Following their first road game, the Pittsburgh Penguins will play two consecutive games at home on Sunday, Oct. 3, and Tuesday, Oct. 5 against the Detroit Red Wings and Sabres, respectively.

The Penguins will conclude their pre-season slate with road games on Thursday, October 7 at Detroit, and Saturday, October 9 at Columbus.

Pre-season television and radio information will be released at a later date.

Full Pittsburgh Penguins Preseason Schedule:

Date Opponent Time (ET) Location

Monday, September 27 COLUMBUS 7:00 PM PPG Paints Arena

Friday, October 1 at Buffalo 7:00 PM KeyBank Center

*Sunday, October 3 DETROIT 1:00 PM PPG Paints Arena

Tuesday, October 5 BUFFALO 7:00 PM PPG Paints Arena

Thursday, October 7 at Detroit 7:30 PM Little Caesars Arena

Saturday, October 9 at Columbus 7:00 PM Nationwide Arena

*Free Game For Kids

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217798 Pittsburgh Penguins dependable defensive wizard who kills penalties, who has more offensive potential but makes just above $2 million.

Such a steal could allow them to afford a big name like Carey Price. Or Zucker, Tanev, ZAR or Petterson, Who Will Seattle Kraken Select & Vladimir Tarasenko. Why? AGAINST: A light-scoring winger who can get trapped in his role or get down on himself. Paying $2 million when gritty veterans are available on the UFA market for $1 million may be too rich. Published 19 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Dan Kingerski We like Aston-Reese a great deal and think he has the potential to do a lot more. In one of these seasons, he will realize the league can’t stop him and knock 20 goals. But he hasn’t yet done that for the Pittsburgh No, there are no sources and no leaks. Not yet. The Seattle Kraken and Penguins. GM Ron Francis are studying the unprotected lists and probably having a few rousing debates. Take Carey Price and his ailing hips and knees, or Odds: 10-1 maybe take Ben Bishop, who missed all of last season but is now healthy? There are a handful of wow-factor choices, including from the Marcus Pettersson Pittsburgh Penguins, which could reverberate with both franchises for FOR: A smooth defenseman who doesn’t make mistakes, moves the some time. puck, and can pile up assists when on the ice with top-six forwards. He Jason Zucker, Brandon Tanev, Zach Aston-Reese, or Marcus covers his own zone well, and his lanky frame provides a long stick to Pettersson? disrupt passing lanes.

After the Penguins traded Jared McCann to Toronto on Saturday, then He played well on the Penguins’ second-pair in 2019-20 and is just 25- protected Jeff Carter and Teddy Blueger. The Penguins withheld all of years-old. There’s little worry the tread will come off the tires too soon. their centers but allowed two bigger contracts and a defensive stalwart AGAINST: He was bumped back to third-pair duties last season and with bigger potential and a smaller paycheck to be exposed. admitted he didn’t take the step forward that he wanted. His point total One thing to keep in mind is the depth of available players at each dipped from 22 points (2-20-22) over 69 games ’19-20 to just nine points position or each role. The expansion Seattle Kraken will not be able to (2-7-9) in 47 games last season. simply select the best player from each team. How those available Pettersson began to sag at the blue line as opponents’ speed rushed players compare to others will be paramount. him, which created bigger gaps, and he is susceptible to a heavy Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol liked speed in Philadelphia, but his forecheck because he’s not a fast skater. His strength could improve, teams were not overly physical, despite Philadelphia tradition. which would increase his success on the wall and in front of the net.

There is a case for and against each of the Penguins unprotected However–the available defensemen crop is thin. Marcus Pettersson is players. easily among the top-10 defensemen available. Don’t overlook the possibility Pettersson is the selection. Who will the Seattle Kraken select? The NHL.com mock draft had such names as Dennis Cholowski Brandon Tanev (Detroit’s 2016 first-round bust), Gabriel Carlsson (Columbus, 24-year- old depth defenseman), Justin Braun (Flyers’ declining 34-year-old), and FOR The man called Turbo is one of the most aggressive skaters and Haydn Fleury, who hasn’t yet established himself in the NHL after five physical wingers in the NHL. Before his injury in March, Tanev was seasons. among or leading the NHL in hits. His speed and tenacity reverberate throughout the lineup and can lift a team on flat nights. In that light, doesn’t Pettersson look pretty good? Former Toronto Marlies assistant coach turned analyst Jack Han agrees (we highly suggest Part of Hakstol’s undoing in Philadelphia was a porous penalty kill. It was following Jack for great hockey insight): astoundingly and consistently awful. Tanev is one of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ primary penalty killers, and there is little doubt about his effort. PIT: Zucker (LW) instead of Pettersson (LD)

Tanev also posted a career-high .5 points per game last season. A Odds: 3-1 crash-bang winger who can score 30, maybe even 40 points, is a valuable commodity. Jason Zucker

The rest of the availables are irrelevant here because Tanev is one of the The most polarizing of the group. best fourth-line wingers in hockey. If Seattle wants to add energy and grit FOR: A former 30-goal scorer who can skate and has a complete two- to their lineup, Tanev will be atop their list. way game. The Penguins paid up at the NHL trade market with a first- AGAINST: Tanev is 29-years-old. He plays a high-impact style but has round pick and top prospect for Zucker. The 29-year-old LW hasn’t lost four years remaining on his contract with a $3.5 million AAV. That’s his touch and scored 12 points (6-6-12) after being acquired in 2019-20. chump-change for a middle-six winger with 30-40 points, but it’s a ton of His speed and overall game scream Ron Francis’s building. money and a long time for a fourth-liner in a defensive role. Tanev’s bruising style and recent lower-body injuries could quickly slow his game, AGAINST: His serious leg injury this year and depressed statistics are not good harbingers. Last season, he scored only 18 points (8-10-18) in His brother Chris experienced a significant drop at 30-years-old. Seattle 38 games, and he hasn’t always looked comfortable in the Penguins could be stuck with an overpriced, banged-up player who is no longer the system. He can revert to being a perimeter player with not enough battle same. Buyer beware. in the greasy areas. Tanev is probably the middle ground below the expensive Jason Zucker. His contract is a matter of opinion. Two more years is good for a 29-year- Odds: Even Money. old, but $5.5 million AAV means he has to play in the top-six, or he’s an overpriced third-liner. Zach Aston-Reese This is tough to get a read. The speedy goal-scoring Zucker is manna FOR: The sleeper candidate. Aston-Reese is under the radar because he from Heaver for Seattle. The perimeter slowing Zucker is a “do not set a career-high with only nine goals last season. Fans outside the touch,” and the contract means Seattle has to be sure. analytics community don’t pay much attention to the quiet Aston-Reese, but they should. We’re less bullish on Zucker than former Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford and think Seattle probably passes. He did post nine goals in 2020-21. Despite his defensive role, he was visibly quicker and looked to be a better player after his offseason Odds: 3-1 shoulder surgery. Aston-Reese is an RFA with arbitration rights. We Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.20.2021 project him to be in the low 2s, which might be a great get for Seattle–a 1217799 San Jose Sharks

Sharks 'proud' of gay NHL prospect Prokup: 'Game truly is for everyone'

BY ALEX DIDION

Luke Prokop made some history on Monday, as the 2020 Nashville Predators third-round draft pick announced on social media that he is gay.

The Sharks were among a number of NHL teams to share their support for Prokop, saying in a tweet that the organization is "proud of" and supports the 19-year-old defenseman.

"From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams," Prokop's statement read.

Prokop's announcement comes weeks after Carl Nassib of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders became the first active player in the league to announce he is gay.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement after Prokop's announcement, thanking him for "sharing his truth and for being so brave."

Sharks forward Kurtis Gabriel, who has been one of the league's most outspoken advocates on LGBTQ+ representation in the NHL, sent multiple messages of support to Prokop following the announcement.

The first couple quotes by @lukeprokop_6 in the article with @PierreVLeBrun has me emotional. What a feeling it must have been for him as he describes it. Wow. So happy for you dude 沈— Kurtis Gabriel (@kurtisgabriel) July 19, 2021

Former Sharks center Tommy Wingels reacted to Prokop's announcement in a text message to NBC Sports California.

"I think having these athletes come out is monumental," Wingels said. "I think there will be a domino effect and hopefully many more will now feel comfortable being themselves, living openly within the sport they love. Sports have done a good job laying the groundwork, putting bricks down, but until a number of athletes felt comfortable coming out, that next step could never be reached. This will have a massive effect across pro sports, but more importantly, help the younger generation of athletes. That’s where the biggest impact will be felt I think. We re moving in the right direction and as they say, hopefully these will no longer be stories in the future. Obviously a long way to go, but these two athletes [referring to Raiders' Carl Nassib and Prokop] have made monumental decisions that will have unquantifiable impact on our younger and future generations."

Prokop currently plays for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, the same organization current Sharks goalie Martin Jones once competed for.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217800 San Jose Sharks So much depends on the role that the San Jose Sharks envision for Hill. If they see him as a pure back-up goalie, I suspect he’ll be paid as such. But I doubt San Jose surrendered a second-round pick for a back-up — so I guess Hill will be very pleased with his new contract. Hill’s Cap Hit Will Probably Be Higher Than Expected San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 07.20.2021

Published 10 hours ago on July 19, 2021By Sheng Peng

What will Adin Hill sign for? It might be more than you expect.

The San Jose Sharks acquired the 25-year-old RFA from the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, sending prospect Josef Korenar and a 2022 second-round pick for Hill and a 2022 seventh-round pick.

While Hill made just $800,000 last year — not to mention that he’s been an back-up for the first four seasons of his NHL career — he looks to be in line for a big bump in pay.

Historically, RFA back-ups who are tabbed to be starters or at least a 1A/1B goalie receive significant raises.

And while we don’t know Hill’s role for the San Jose Sharks yet, judging by the draft capital paid, it’s going to be a big one. You don’t trade second-round picks for No. 3 netminders or pure back-ups.

Why Adin Hill? Doug Wilson Explains | SJHN+

So let’s assume that the San Jose Sharks see Hill as a likely starter/1A/1B goalie in 2021-22.

Per Puckpedia, here are all the post-pandemic goaltender signings who were restricted free agents with zero or minimal NHL starting experience when signed.

GOALIE (AGE) NHL GAMES Save % AHL GAMES OLD CAP HIT NEW CAP HIT

Adin Hill (25) 49 0.907 138 $800,000 ?

Mackenzie Blackwood (24) 70 0.916 88 $697,500 $2,800,000 (3 yrs)

Linus Ullmark (27) 93 0.911 127 $1,325,000 $2,600,000 (1 yr)

Alexander Georgiev (24) 77 0.913 48 $792,500 $2,425,000 (2 yrs)

Tristan Jarry (25) 62 0.914 141 $675,000 $3,500,000 (3 yrs)

Ilya Sorokin (24) 0 N/A 0 $925,000 $2,000,000 (1 yr)

Elvis Merzlikins (26) 33 0.923 2 $874,125 $4,000,000 (2 yrs)

Joonas Korpisalo (25) 127 0.908 46 $1,150,000 $2,800,000 (2 yrs)

What’s one thing that may bring down Hill’s AAV?

At the time these RFA goalies signed their new contracts — except for Hill and KHL import Ilya Sorokin — they had all played at least 30-plus games in a single NHL season. In other words, they already had proven starter/1A/1B experience.

The most NHL games that Hill has played in a year? 2020-21’s 19.

Regardless, Hill looks to be in line for at least a $2 million dollar AAV, more if he signs a longer contract. Keep in mind too, Hill has arbitration rights — that’ll help his cause.

Hill’s camp can also turn to San Jose Sharks history for a very close-to- home comp.

In the summer of 2015, Doug Wilson sent a first-round pick to Boston for Martin Jones. Up to that point in Jones’s career, he had played just 34 NHL games over two seasons, albeit with an exemplary .923 Save %.

Wilson inked his starter-to-be to a three-year, $9 million dollar contract — or 4.2 percent of the-then $71.4 million salary cap. 4.2 percent of the current $81.5 million cap is a $3.42 million cap hit. 1217801 Seattle Kraken Buffalo Sabres: Will Borgen. As Rasmus Asplund got protected, we’ll go with a low-budget pick on right-handed defenseman Borgen, 24. Cap hit: Free agent.

2021 mock NHL expansion draft 2.0: Geoff Baker predicts how the Calgary Flames: Mark Giordano. Giordano, 37, brings ample leadership Kraken’s picks could play out and can still play D. Cap hit: $6.75 million.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jake Bean. Going big money elsewhere, so shifting from unrestricted free-agent defenseman Dougie Hamilton to a restricted July 19, 2021 at 8:02 pm Updated July 19, 2021 at 8:31 pm defender in lower cost Bean, 23. Cap hit: Free agent.

Geoff Baker Chicago Blackhawks: Calvin de Haan. At age 30, a veteran presence on left side of blue line. Cap hit: $4.55 million.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Max Domi. We’d gone with Dean Kukan until left This “mock draft” thing was supposed to get easier once NHL teams wing Domi was made available. At his best, Domi, 26, is the disruptive revealed their players protected from the Kraken in Wednesday’s forward the Kraken wants. Cap hit: $5.3 million. expansion draft. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog. Tyson Jost got protected, and Until, that is, the Montreal Canadiens exposed goaltender Carey Price. there’s a more valuable forward exposed in free-agent captain How often can a new franchise add a goaltender that just led his team Landeskog, 28. This is where the Kraken should use money and cap into the Stanley Cup Final with a dominant playoff performance space to land its franchise player. Cap hit: Free agent. reminiscent of peak years? Dallas Stars: Adam Mascherin. Forget our original plan, as Jason Throw in Price playing junior for the Tri-City Americans and his wife, Dickinson was traded to Vancouver. Going cheap with left wing Angela, being from Kennewick. He’s an instantly recognizable franchise Mascherin from a thin list of choices. Cap hit: Free agent. face for the team’s 13,500 season-ticket holders and even casual fans to rally behind for his five remaining contract years. Detroit Red Wings: Troy Stetcher. The right-handed defenseman, 27, can help the Kraken balance out the blue line. Cap hit: $1.7 million. But Price will be 34 next season, and it’s uncertain he can repeat his playoff performance. His contract carries a $10.5 million annual salary- Edmonton Oilers: Tyler Benson. This is a low-risk gamble for a young left cap hit with Price retaining a no-movement clause and taking up about wing that might have upside at only 23. Cap hit: Free agent. 13% of a payroll limited to $81.5 million. Florida Panthers: Chris Driedger. The Panthers protected our previous Still, Price nearly just won a Cup backstopping a Canadiens team nobody pick, Anthony Duclair, plus there’s a report the Kraken will sign free agent saw coming. If you’re spending huge, a goalie is where to do it. And the goalie Driedger, 27. A possible No. 1. Cap hit: Free agent. Kraken is building from scratch, making it easier to accommodate this massive deal. So it isn’t money that should give pause as much as Los Angeles Kings: Brendan Lemieux. Picked forward Lemieux, 25, in Price’s ability to repeat his elite performance. previous mock draft and not changing now for energy level he brings. Cap hit: $1.55 million. Already, we’re hearing whispers he might require knee surgery. Minnesota Wild: Kaapo Kahkonen. Surprise, surprise, the Wild protected In a March interview, then-goalie coach Stephane Waite told TSN Radio the veteran goalie Cam Talbot, so we’re taking exposed youngster that the Canadiens felt Price’s accumulating injuries meant he could no Kahkonen, 24, in nets at a vastly reduced cap … er, Kaap amount. Cap longer play nightly. hit: $725,000.

Backup Jake Allen was signed to lighten Price’s workload. But Price’s Montreal Canadiens: Phillip Danault. My original pick, Joel Edmundson, numbers still declined. got protected. Two-way center Danualt, 28, embodies what this team says it wants to be and if signed as a free agent would be a great mentor Yes, there will be inevitable comparisons with Marc-Andre Fleury, the for centerman Matthew Beniers if he’s taken No. 2 overall in Friday’s netminder plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights from the Pittsburgh entry draft. Cap hit: Free agent. Penguins in the expansion draft four years ago. Nashville Predators: Calle Jarnkrok. Was going to spend big on Ryan But they are not the same. Johansen initially, but you can’t do it every place. Saving money here by Fleury has barely been injured throughout his career, and Price keeps selecting forward Jarnkrok, 29, and his lone remaining contract season. piling up nagging hurts that come from throwing his muscular, 220-pound Cap hit: $2 million. body around like somebody 40 pounds lighter. It’s made it impossible for New Jersey Devils: Nick Merkley. Yeah, I’m tempted to go for big-name Price to play 60-plus games a season anymore. P.K. Subban, but that money thing again. … Sticking with Merkley, 24, a Waite said he felt Price was always best playing game after game to restricted free agent right wing. Cap hit: Free agent. where his reflexes took over. Notably, his best recent performances were New York Islanders: Josh Bailey. This is where we start loading up on during playoff runs when starting every game. money, forgoing initial cheap defensive pick Sebastian Aho and taking So, in hoping Price’s latest playoff run is repeatable over an 82-game top-six forward Bailey, 31, for his 50-point versatility, leadership and schedule, the Kraken would be counting on his reflexes remaining sharp durability. Cap hit: $5 million. despite playing him far more sporadically. New York Rangers: Barclay Goodrow. They traded my Brett Howden I’m guessing the Kraken passes. It should make a play instead for choice to Vegas and acquired Goodrow, 28, from Tampa Bay. Again, the Montreal free-agent center Phillip Danault. kind of dynamic changing forward the Kraken wants. Cap hit: Free agent.

So here’s my mock draft 2.0. The Kraken must take at least 14 forwards, Ottawa Senators: Evgenii Dadonov. I originally selected Chris Tierney, nine defensemen and three goalies, plus four remaining players at any but right wing Dadonov, 32, puts the puck in the net more and can help position. At least 20 must be under contract next season at a $48.9 Kraken assistant Paul McFarland on the power-play like he did in Florida. million minimum cap hit. Cap hit: $5 million.

Anaheim Ducks: Hayden Fleury. The left-handed defenseman and Philadelphia Flyers: Shayne Gostisbehere. We’re dumping original pick former No. 1 draft choice of Kraken general manager Ron Francis is only James van Riemsdyk and going with defenseman Gostisbehere for less 25 and affordable. Salary-cap hit: $1.3 million. money. Cap hit: $4.5 million.

Arizona Coyotes: Tyler Pitlick. Scratch Adin Hill, my previous pick, who Pittsburgh Penguins: Brandon Tanev. Going cheaper than initial Jason got traded to San Jose. Right wing Pitlick, 29, is a decent depth forward. Zucker pick, albeit for longer and taking left-wing Tanev, 29, for his Cap hit: $1.75 million. speed, aggressiveness and penalty killing. Cap hit: $3.5 million.

Boston Bruins: Jeremy Lauzon. Lauzon, 24, can play the blue line from St. Louis Blues: Vince Dunn. We’re going to pass on Vladimir the left and right sides. Cap hit: $850,000. Tarasenko’s big money and stick with defenseman Dunn, 24, for money, flexibility and growth potential. Cap hit: Free agent. San Jose Sharks: Dylan Gambrell. The forward from Bonney Lake was my initial choice, and I’m not abandoning the homegrown train now. Cap hit: $1.1 million.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Yanni Gourde. There’s probably a side deal here where the Kraken somehow takes Tyler Johnson, but Gourde, 29, makes the most sense for his disruptive on-ice ways. Cap hit: $5.167 million.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Alexander Kerfoot. Not sure why the Leafs traded for Jared McCann, then exposed him so there’s probably a side deal where Kraken takes Kerfoot, 26, my previous pick as a hard-nosed forward. Cap hit: $3.5 million.

Vancouver Canucks: Braden Holtby. Holtby, 31, is a potential No. 1 if he reverts to form. Cap hit: $4.3 million.

Washington Capitals: Vitek Vanecek. Keeping Vanecek, 25, as a young goalie that can be groomed for No. 1 spot or dealt easily. Cap hit: $716,667.

Winnipeg Jets: Dylan DeMelo. Mason Appleton seemed a lock until right- handed defensemen DeMelo, 28, was surprisingly exposed. Cap hit: $3 million.

The totals: 16 forwards, 10 defensemen, 4 goalies. Twenty players under contract with a $62,258,667 salary-cap hit.

Seattle Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217802 Seattle Kraken

Take a sneak peek at the first Kraken jersey

July 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm Updated July 19, 2021 at 5:33 pm

By Geoff Baker

There aren’t any with a “Carey Price” name affixed to them — at least not yet — but the Kraken does plan to unveil the team’s home and away sweaters as the NHL expansion draft unfolds Wednesday.

The team on Monday released a photograph of the jersey in its dark home colors. It also revealed that newly selected Kraken players Wednesday will indeed wear both versions of the Adidas sweater — or jersey, in non-hockey parlance — when their names are called.

Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said last month the team was working fervently to overcome logistical issues related to COVID-19 so that at least some sweaters would be ready for players to wear. The manufacturing process took place overseas, so shipping delays were a factor.

But the Kraken now has those sweaters and plans to make others available for public sale Sept. 15 at the team’s retail outlets at the Kraken Community Iceplex practice facility, Chandler’s Cove and the Bellevue Square Mall.

Also, the team plans a membership program in August — details of which have yet to be announced — that will open up presale opportunities for fans.

Whether any eventually bear the name of Montreal Canadiens star goalie Price — the former Tri-City Americans netminder who was left exposed to the Kraken for the draft — remains to be seen.

Seattle Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217803 Seattle Kraken One rumored way was that the NHL plans to fly players in by seaplane and have them land on nearby waters, where a “sail gate” of local boaters will be taking place. A floating barge with a giant video screen will showcase the broadcast for the boaters. Mayer said that as of Sue Bird, Marshawn Lynch, Gary Payton among Seattle celebrities to Monday, the seaplane idea had been considered but was not yet part of appear at NHL expansion draft the broadcast.

“Could it happen? Maybe. But I don’t know where that (rumor) came from.” Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch walks off the field after NFL Seattle Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 Geoff Baker

An array of celebrities — including sports figures Marshawn Lynch, Gary Payton, Sue Bird and Jordan Morris as well as Grammy-nominated performing artist Macklemore and Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer — will make an appearance to help announce Kraken selections Wednesday during ESPN2’s broadcast of the NHL expansion draft from Gas Works Park.

They are expected to be joined on the main stage by Kraken general manager Ron Francis as the team’s picks are announced. The broadcast also will cut to various local landmarks, where some of the choices will be announced, including Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, the Space Needle and Mount Rainier.

“We’re really happy with who’s going to be there and how we’re going to incorporate them into the show,” NHL chief content operator Steve Mayer said Monday as workers began setting up for the event. “It gives them a cool moment where they’re going to announce picks, essentially, from various teams. I think to add to the energy of the live event, it was vital to bring in some legends the fan base here is going to completely respond to.”

Representatives of the city’s teams past and present will be on hand, including former Sonics Shawn Kemp and Lenny Wilkens joining Payton. Kyle Lewis of the Mariners also will be there, as will Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner. Kraken pro scout and Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato joins team owner Bruckheimer and Francis as pick presenters.

“Ron will be probably the biggest piece, of course, and he’ll be introduced, and he’ll be the anchor and make a significant amount of picks,” Mayer said. “But we’ll also on occasion go outside the venue to different locations and bring a unique way of making picks into the fold.

“And then, what we’re going to do live is bring the celebrities out one by one on to the stage — they’ll be center stage. The crowd will obviously have a pretty cool reaction to whoever we bring out … and they’ll announce to the crowd the name of the player.”

Members of Western Washington Female Hockey and the Anchorage Hockey Association, Kraken season-ticket holders and construction workers from Climate Pledge Arena also will be featured during the broadcast.

About 4,000 fans are expected to attend the closed-set shoot, for which the Kraken has already given away all free tickets. The park is closed to the public Wednesday, and nobody without a ticket will be permitted.

Mayer, the event’s executive producer, arrived in town Saturday, and crews on Monday morning began assembling the main stage and other set items. Beyond the celebrities, Mayer said the hope is about four or five new Kraken players can be on site as the team’s choices are announced, as there were when the Vegas Golden Knights partook in the most previous expansion draft four years ago.

The Kraken must submit final picks to the NHL by Wednesday morning ahead of the 5 p.m. TV broadcast.

“There is every intention on our part and the Kraken’s part that we are going to bring players in depending on who they are selecting,” Mayer said. “Going back to the Vegas situation, it was very last minute as you’d imagine.”

He added: “If the player happens to be there, we’ll walk the player up (on stage). If the player happens to not be there, we’ll move on to the next pick. So the celebrities will participate in what I think is a meaningful way. They won’t just come out and say hello. They’ll actually make a pick. So there will be a combination of some cool, different and creative ways to make picks.” 1217804 Seattle Kraken “Yanni Gourde is one that I’m like, that is a player that I want to build a line around,” she said. “You really don’t see a two-way center like that who just plays such a high energetic game, plays in all situations, a penalty kill, available just for the plucking. He’s a player I would expect to 3 key players Seattle Kraken could take in expansion draft to build be a Seattle Kraken, but again we can never really predict these things.” around Another option at center is the 26-year-old Max Domi from Columbus, who has quite the pedigree as the son of legendary NHL wing Tie Domi.

BY BRENT STECKER “Max Domi was another one that a lot of people pointed out saying that guy should be on the team. … He won’t be available to begin the season JULY 19, 2021 AT 8:58 PM (due to shoulder surgery), but he’s a guy who’s kind of been bouncing around, has a ton of potential, a former first-round pick, hasn’t really been able to realize it yet. He’s the most attractive player available in On Wednesday night, the first roster of the Seattle Kraken will take shape Columbus.” when the NHL’s newest franchise takes part in its own expansion draft. You can listen to the full interview with Kaplan in the podcast from Seattle gets to pick one player each from 30 of the NHL’s 31 other teams Monday’s edition of Jake and Stacy at this link or in the player below. (the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who were an expansion team in 2017- 18, are exempt), and the lists of which players have been protected and MYNORTHWEST.COM LOADED: 07.20.2021 not protected were released after a deadline on Saturday. That’s fueled plenty of speculation about who Kraken general manager Ron Francis will take to build his team around, but a few names are coming up more often than others.

On Monday’s edition of 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jake and Stacy, ESPN hockey reporter Emily Kaplan joined the show to help go through what to expect with Wednesday’s 5 p.m. expansion draft. On the top of the list of things to talk about were the top candidates for the Kraken to select, and Kaplan had a few that have jumped out to her.

When it comes to speculation ahead of an NHL expansion draft, you have to start at goalie. That’s where the Golden Knights started, and to great success as their selection of Marc-André Fleury helped them make a shocking run to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year of play. While the Kraken have their shot at a big name to put in goal – former MVP Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens – it may not be the right fit.

“I think the entire hockey world was surprised when Carey Price waived his no-movement clause and became available,” Kaplan said. “He’s the guy that I think everyone is looking at saying, OK, could that be the Marc- André Fleury of this team? The one that you market your entire team around, the face of the franchise in Year 1? He does have such a high (salary) cap hit, though, (and) he’s under contract for five more years, and those are two things that Seattle is really weary of. And then there’s the question of will he be available or how healthy is he next season because he does have some reported hip and knee issues, and he’s not seeing a specialist very conveniently until Seattle has to submit their roster. That is the name that everyone is buzzing about in the hockey world and I was just surprised to see him available.”

Kaplan thinks Price being left unprotected was a shrewd move on the Canadiens’ part, and there’s another goalie Seattle could turn to instead.

“My gut feeling is that Carey Price (waived his no-movement clause) this because he’s a really good team player, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to start next season, (and) he didn’t want (fellow Canadiens goalie) Jake Allen gone to Seattle because he’s really important to the Canadiens. My gut is (the Kraken) have Chris Driedger, who I believe will sign a contract extension around three years once he’s selected from Florida.”

Driedger, 27, has spent the past two seasons with the Florida Panthers, going 21-9 with an average of 2.09 goals allowed per game and .929 save percentage.

“Great player, great story. I expect for him to sign a deal with Seattle and will be there beyond just this season,” Kaplan said.

The Kraken reportedly are very much closing in on Driedger, by the way, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. And it seems like it would help Seattle’s overall roster a lot more than if they picked him up instead of Price, who is only three years into an eight-year, $84 million contract.

“There’s also some really good forwards available at medium to high cap hits. It’s just not worth it for them to take the risk or the gamble on Carey Price,” Kaplan said.

One of those forwards could come from the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who had to leave several notable players available as they find themselves in a salary cap crunch, Kaplan said. 1217805 Seattle Kraken By the time Vegas reached the point Seattle is at now, several deals were already in the works.

“I would imagine Seattle probably has eight to 10 deals done,” McPhee What’s it like in the Kraken offices right now? Golden Knights executives said last week, before the protected lists were released. “Conditional recall their exhausting, rewarding week deals subject to seeing what the lists look like. So the lion’s share of the work is done within that three-day window. That’s when people get serious about negotiating.”

By Jesse Granger Jul 19, 2021 There’s been a lot of discussion entering Seattle’s draft, with many believing other general managers will be reluctant to work out side deals

with the Kraken. That’s because most of those types of deals with Vegas George McPhee, then-general manager of the Golden Knights, sat in his worked out in the Golden Knights’ favor. Anaheim sent Shea Theodore to office in Las Vegas on a Monday morning in June 2017, negotiating over protect its veteran defensemen, and Theodore has now finished sixth in the phone with a fellow GM. The two haggled over who McPhee would Norris Trophy voting in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota sent Alex Tuch eventually select in the upcoming expansion draft as the clock ticked. to Vegas to convince McPhee to stay away from other players, and Tuch has blossomed into a young, dangerous playmaker. Columbus dealt The moment the phone call ended, McPhee began walking toward the William Karlsson and a first-round pick to protect its players, and war room, where the entire Vegas staff awaited. Owner Bill Foley, Karlsson has been Vegas’ best center for the last four years. assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon, salary-cap specialist Andrew Lugerner, director of player personnel Vaughn Karpan, assistant director Bob Shea Theodore came over from Anaheim and became a Vegas standout. Lowes and the entire pro scouting staff all sat around a table. (Billy Hardiman / USA Today)

But before McPhee could step through the door to deliver the news from There’s plenty of reasons to believe that GMs will shy away from those his phone conversation, he looked back down at his phone to see missed types of deals, but McPhee and McCrimmon aren’t so sure. calls from four other general managers during the time he was on the “As much as they would like to just say, ‘We’re not going to do anything, call. take a player,’ everyone is running their own race, and they’re going to “It just never stopped,” McPhee recalled. “The phone started ringing and try and look after their own team,” McPhee said. “I don’t think it will be it never stopped. The lists were distributed on that Sunday morning at 7 much different at all (from our expansion). The pandemic has changed a.m. There were a couple hours that were quiet, as everyone around the things. There are a lot of GMs who probably would like to be a little more league was analyzing the lists. Then the calls started and it was non-stop shrewd this time around, but because the pandemic has flattened out the for at least 48 hours.” cap, some of them are going to have contracts they’d like to move, and that works to Seattle’s benefit.” The newly constructed offices for the Seattle Kraken will be overflowing with excitement, anxiety and a little bit of chaos this week, ahead of McCrimmon agreed with McPhee and said, “I think teams will evaluate it Wednesday’s expansion draft. Few people in the hockey world know on a case-by-case basis, and if they can be in a better position by cutting exactly what general manager Ron Francis, and assistant GMs Ricky a deal with Seattle, that’s what they’ll do. … I think the big difference in Olczyk and Jason Botterill are going through right now. They received expansion today, versus expansion when we came in, is the value of protected lists from 30 NHL teams on Sunday and are on the clock to salary-cap space. Seattle has got a big hammer to swing there, in terms build their team from scratch. of exercising that leverage.”

One man who knows it well is McPhee. He and McCrimmon went The last couple of days – and the next few – obviously will be busy for through the exact same process four years ago in Las Vegas. This week, the Kraken. There are so many moving pieces in expansion, from McPhee gave The Athletic some insight into what those four days were selecting the correct players to meeting each of the specific criteria like from inside the walls of the war room, to give a glimpse into what is created by the league. happening in the Seattle offices now. “The hardest thing is trying to keep track of every conversation that “It’s really intense,” McPhee said. “You’re running on adrenaline. We you’ve had with GMs,” McPhee said. “Which is why at the start of the were extraordinarily well prepared. It felt like we had everything planned year (in 2016-17), I gave Kelly 15 teams and I took 15 teams, and we almost down to the minute on everything that we were going to do, how each focused on our 15 teams.” we were approaching things, and it was still overwhelming. Once the lists The days are long and the nights are very, very short. are distributed, you’re on the clock.” “We would probably leave at 11 at night, and we’re all waking up at 3 Most of the work obviously was done in the year leading up to the a.m. and saying, ‘Well, we can’t sleep, might as well get back in there,’” expansion draft. McPhee and his scouts spent the entire 2016-17 season McPhee recalled. “It really was four or five hours of sleep. But sleep is watching every player closely, projecting who would be available and overrated, so four or five was OK. Then we just kept going. It is amazing assessing who they might take. how it ultimately all comes together.” “I remember the first scouting meeting where we provided them with It’s a lot of work to be accomplished in such a short time frame, all with laptops, cell phones, their scouting territories, how we file for expenses 30 other general managers hoping to sway the process ever so slightly in and everything else,” McPhee said. “And there we were 10 months later, their favor. picking a team. “My biggest fear was (not finishing in time),” McPhee said. “We started “I thought our scouts did an exceptional job. The lists really changed a lot on a Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and by Monday morning we sort of hit a from the first mock draft until the last mock draft, which was the big wall and we’re wondering if we’re going to get this done or not. We were surprise. How player ratings and everything else had changed, based on moving along, but not as quickly as I thought we would be, but we just our scouts becoming more familiar with players, and the players kept chipping away, chipping away, chipping away. Then around 4 p.m. themselves playing better than they were before.” that day, things were falling into place, we got traction, and the rest of it The Golden Knights’ front office held several mock drafts, coming away went pretty smoothly.” with questions for the league each time. They submitted their questions The process is intimidating. It’s chaotic and pressure-packed. But for all to the NHL each time, finally arriving with a clear vision for how they those reasons, it’s also incredibly rewarding. wanted the expansion draft to unfold. “It’s probably the most enjoyable year of my career,” McPhee said. “You “That’s why we did so many mock drafts,” he said. “Not just to get all the just don’t get those opportunities to walk into a situation where you can players right, but to understand the rules. Because after each mock draft, build it from the ground up. I think a lot of GMs fantasize about being an we had more questions for the league about how certain things work. So, expansion GM at some point in their careers, because you’re not digging some of the questions we presented to them they hadn’t contemplated out from under contracts that aren’t working, you don’t have to fire before, so they had to sort of hash it out and call us back to tell us what anyone, and you can really work on your culture from day one. You get to could be done.” build it the way you want to build it.” And finally, after the war room discussions and phone calls had concluded, McPhee pushed a single button on his laptop to submit the selections to the NHL.

“With the press of one button, you made the largest transaction of the NHL,” McPhee said. “It was interesting, after we clicked the button and sent the whole list into the NHL, Kelly (McCrimmon) and I went back into the room and we were sitting there talking about a few things. There was kind of a sentimental moment. We just went through this amazing first year of trying to put this all together. We just picked our team, and our group was really terrific in doing so.”

It was a thrilling few days that shaped the Golden Knights franchise, and now Seattle’s management is in the midst of it themselves.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction putting it together and then seeing how they perform,” McPhee said. “And they’ve performed damn well.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217806 Seattle Kraken the year with 11 goals and 23 points over 40 games for Djurgardens IF in the SHL.

Former Philadelphia Flyers center Pelle Eklund and Marcus Fingal are Kraken narrowing NHL Draft list: 7 prospects they are considering picking the Kraken’s scouts who are based in Sweden. Kron said the first-person at No. 2 accounts from them laid the groundwork for their analysis of the prospects. Edvinsson represented Sweden at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championship back in February, whereas William Eklund sustained an injury that kept him out of the tournament. The Kraken sent several By Ryan S. Clark Jul 19, 2021 members of their front office to the U18s in Plano, Texas, which allowed them to see Edvinsson in person.

Usually, all the talk about a team holding the No. 2 pick in the NHL Draft “It is invaluable to have people who are able to be that close to the is just that. Talk. environment that the player is in and having that knowledge of them this year and last year and in years prior,” Kron said. “Our Swedish guys are It starts with analysts and pundits launching into talking points about what very good scouts. They knew about (William) Eklund and all the Swedish they perceive to be an organization’s greatest need or needs. From prospects so to speak since they were 13 and 14 years old. That helps there, fans are the next ones to talk about who they feel is the best quite a bit when you see the trajectory and development and how it is choice at that slot. This is a routine that drags on from the minute the evolving.” NHL Draft Lottery concludes to when the NHL Draft arrives. It is a process that drags out for months that leads to some believing the draft Perhaps the most bizarre part about the Kraken’s scouting approach this does not get talked about enough or gets talked about ad nauseam. year is the fact they have still not been in the same room. No, really. The Kraken have kept their meetings on Zoom, and Kron said it will remain Hardly any of that has happened when it comes to the Seattle Kraken. that way because the organization does not want to put any of its scouts Mainly because there is another draft involving the Kraken that currently at risk. That is why none of the team’s North American-based scouts has everyone’s attention at the moment. Still, there are questions that traveled to Europe this year and vice-versa. remain as to who will go second and become the first player drafted by the Kraken franchise. Still, the Kraken’s amateur scouting staff frequently meets over Zoom to review their options. But how does that work? What else can be said “There are probably six or seven guys we are looking at,” Kraken director about a prospect at this stage in the process? It’s not like they are going of amateur scouting Robert Kron said. “We just want to make sure we to play any more games before the draft. So what else is there to take a look at the whole body of work and we want to make sure we examine? Kron said the Kraken’s daily meetings allow them to look at the come up with a consensus on the order at the end of the day. Obviously, players they can take in every round. That it creates the discussion that I cannot tell you who that is. But there are many players we are looking at allows all involved a sense of ownership when it comes to what they are and we are dissecting it from every angle while visiting back on things trying to build. that allow us to make sure we made the right decision in the draft.” Applying such a thorough approach could prove useful beyond the Amateur scouting directors in Kron’s position expect to field questions second pick. Kraken general manager Ron Francis spent several years this time of year. They are also politely guarded about answering the big with the Carolina Hurricanes and was GM for four of those seasons. one regarding who they plan on taking or who they would like to select. Scouting played a significant role in his administration with 27 of the 33 Some of that goes back to a team opting to keep its business internal. players drafted under his watch are either in the Canes’ system or signed Some of it is gamesmanship as a way of keeping other front offices a contract with another NHL organization. around the league guessing. Some of it is the fact an organization could still be shuffling through its options. It’s proof that Francis teams can find depth beyond the first round. That could prove vital given the expectation that the Kraken could acquire Picking second, however, offers a chance to review a rather narrow list of more draft picks through side deals in the expansion draft. prospects with Kron tactically confirming who may be of interest without giving too much away. “You don’t want to go in speculating,” Kron explained. “You want to feel good about it before the first day of the draft. You take a look and make One player who might be gone by the second pick is University of sure there might be new information and you are working until the day of Michigan defenseman Owen Power. The expectation is the Buffalo the draft. You don’t want to go in with a list that is out of order.” Sabres will select him with the first pick. Numerous evaluators have Power high on their lists and the last several weeks have confirmed he Kron, who spent 12 years in the Hurricanes’ amateur scouting might be the closest thing to a consensus No. 1 prospect, depending on department, said he does not feel any pressure picking second; whether the source. they pick second or sixth, the goal is to bring in a player who will make a difference. But even he knows that may not always work out as there are Where it gets a bit more complicated is determining who would be behind so many factors that come into play when determining if an 18-year-old Power at No. 2. The potential candidates are Matthew Beniers, Simon can reach the NHL. Edvinsson, William Eklund, Dylan Guenther, Luke Hughes and Kent Johnson. Beniers, who just completed his freshman season at Michigan, The last time he was in an organization that had the No. 2 pick, the is a two-way forward whom The Athletic’s Corey Pronman projects in his Hurricanes selected Barrie Colts winger Andrei Svechnikov, after the latest mock draft could go second to the Kraken. Sabres took defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with the No. 1 pick.

“He’s part of the discussion, obviously,” Kron said. “Matty played in the “I don’t know if it is similar,” Kron said when asked if similarities existed world championships for the USA. He played on a great team at between 2018 and 2021. “It is a different year with a different set of Michigan. He played at the (U.S. National Team Development Program) circumstances. Every draft in a way is unique. … (The Kraken’s amateur the year before. It is another player we have a lot of knowledge about. scouting staff) have had experiences from our different teams. That gives But you have to remain objective and compare these players to one us a great advantage which allows us to compare the experiences they another. I know I am repeating myself, but that is what it is about. What went through and how they view players. We use that collectively to our does each individual bring to the table? What do you value the most?” advantage. This is a great thing Ron has put together.”

Kron has already spoken at length about what makes Beniers, Guenther, The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 Hughes and Johnson promising prospects. This time, he was able to address what prospect such as Edvinsson and Eklund can potentially provide a franchise. He joked the most noticeable trait about Edvinsson, a defenseman, is that he is 6-foot-5 and can skate. The Kraken have amateur scouts in Sweden, which proved vital in their evaluation of Edvinsson given he played a combined 34 games across three different leagues, including the Allsvenskan and the SHL where he was playing against older competition.

It’s the same thing with Eklund, as their scouts based could gain a strong feel for how the 18-year-old fared against older players when he finished 1217807 St Louis Blues

Blues to play an eight-game preseason

Jim Thomas 18 hrs ago

There will be a preseason this year for the Blues, an eight-game preseason in fact.

This past season, the Blues and the rest of the NHL jumped right into the regular season with no exhibition games and a condensed 56-game schedule that started in mid-January. Things are more normal this time around, except for a little later start in September.

The Blues play four teams in exhibition play, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas and Minnesota:

Blues Preseason Schedule

Sept. 25 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29 at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Oct. 1 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m. (in Independence, Mo.)

Oct. 5 at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Minnesota, (Time TBA)

Oct. 8 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

The game against the Blackhawks in Independence will be played at Cable Dahmer Arena, the 5,800-seat home of the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL.

This marks the first time since 2016-17 that the Blues have played their rivals from the Windy City in the preseason.

The NHL’s regular-season schedule is expected to be released later this week.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217808 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning preseason schedule includes game in Orlando

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

The Lightning moved one step closer to the 2021-22 season with Monday’s release of their preseason schedule.

Seven games are slated between Sept. 28-Oct 9. The Lightning will play the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators twice each and the Florida Panthers three times.

Tampa Bay will play each team once at home and once on the road. In addition, the Lightning will play the Panthers Oct. 5 at Amway Center in Orlando, home of the Bolts’ ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears, and the NBA’s Magic.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at a date to be announced. Season ticket holders for the Lightning, Solar Bears and Magic will have the chance for an exclusive presale for the Oct. 5 game.

This will be the Lightning’s fourth game at Amway Center and eighth appearance in Orlando. They last played at Amway on Sept. 27, 2018, beating the Panthers 6-2.

The Lightning will open the preseason against the Hurricanes Sept. 28 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Their first home preseason game will be Sept. 30 against the Predators.

The Lightning defeated the Panthers in six games in the opening round of the playoffs and ousted the Hurricanes in five in the second round en route to their second straight Stanley Cup.

Here is the full preseason schedule:

Lightning Pre-Season Schedule

Date Opponent Time Location

Sept. 28 @ Carolina Hurricanes 7 p.m. PNC Arena

Sept. 30 vs. Nashville Predators 7 p.m. Amalie Arena

Oct. 1 vs. Carolina Hurricanes 7 p.m. Amalie Arena

Oct. 2 @ Nashville Predators 8 p.m. Bridgestone Arena

Oct. 5 vs. Florida Panthers 7 p.m. Amway Center (Orlando)

Oct. 7 vs. Florida Panthers 7 p.m. Amalie Arena

Oct. 9 @ Florida Panthers 7 p.m. BB&T Center

Lightning extend affiliation with Solar Bears

The Solar Bears will continue to be the Lightning’s ECHL (“AA”) affiliate for the next two seasons, general manager Julien BriseBois announced.

The Lightning’s relationship with the Solar Bears began at the start of the 2018-19 season. To date, 22 players have appeared with the Solar Bears and the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

“We are extremely grateful for our affiliation with the Solar Bears,” BriseBois said in a release. “(President) Chris Heller, (head coach and general manager) Drake Berehowsky and the entire organization provide a world class environment for our players to develop in a winning culture while also growing the game in the Sunshine State.”

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217809 Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov’s hip surgery and trades to acquire injured-player contracts allowed the Lightning to become cap compliant through the use of the long-term injured reserve list, and Johnson stayed.

Lightning opt to shield defensive core ahead of expansion draft Then Johnson was put on waivers just before the season opener so the Lightning could be cap compliant on opening night. He wasn’t claimed.

With a rehabilitating Kucherov out for the regular season, Johnson had By Mari Faiello six goals and 14 assists, both career lows for a full season, while often centering the fourth line and logging significant time on the second Published Yesterday power-play unit. Updated Yesterday He assisted on the game-opening goal against the Panthers in a 4-0 Game 6 win that clinched a second-round playoff berth for the Lightning. He had four playoff goals total and three assists. One of hockey’s tenets is that defense wins championships. That seems to be part of the Lightning’s mentality ahead of Wednesday’s expansion Alex Killorn draft. The Lightning’s longest-tenured player, Killorn, drafted in 2007 (a year The Lightning, coming off their second straight Stanley Cup title, opted to before Stamkos), doesn’t bring the high-powered scoring that Kucherov shield their defensive core from the Seattle Kraken, who begin play next and Point do, but his value in the locker room can’t be overstated. season, and leave key veteran forwards exposed on their list of players In 2019-20, Killorn had a career-high 49 points (26 goals). In this year’s protected in the draft that was released Sunday. Players with a no-move abbreviated regular season, he had 33 points (15 goals). He added eight clause automatically made the protected list unless they agreed to waive goals and nine assists in the playoffs.Killorn played on the team’s top it. power-play unit and even logged some shorthanded minutes on the The Lightning’s protected players are forwards Anthony Cirelli, Nikita second penalty-kill unit. He skated on the second line with Cirelli and Kucherov (no-move clause), Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos (no- Stamkos, too. move clause); defensemen Erik Cernak, Victor Hedman (no-move Killorn skated on the second line with Cirelli and Stamkos, played on the clause), Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Sergachev; and goaltender Andrei top power-play unit and even logged some minutes on the second Vasilevskiy (no-move clause). penalty-kill unit. Lightning Players Protected After breaking his fibula blocking a shot in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Forwards Defensemen Goaltender final against the Canadiens, Killorn had a rod inserted three days later and was skating by the weekend in an effort to return to the series. He Anthony Cirelli Erik Cernak Andrei Vasilevskiy (no move didn’t. clause) Ondrej Palat Nikita Kucherov (no move clause) Victor Hedman (no move clause) Palat often flies under the radar skating on the top line with Point and Kucherov. His simple style of play doesn’t always make headlines, but Brayden Point Ryan McDonagh his consistency has kept him as a notable top-six forward over the years.

Steven Stamkos (no move clause) Mikhail Sergachev In his ninth year with the Lightning, Palat had one of the best seasons of his career this year, scoring 15 goals and getting 31 assists for 46 points Teams had two options for making their protected list: a combination of in the regular season, second on the team to Point’s 48 points. He seven forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender, or eight skaters contributed another 13 points (five goals) in the postseason. regardless of position and a goaltender. The Lightning went with the latter. Palat’s effectiveness on the power play also makes him a valuable target for Seattle. He averaged the third-highest time on ice per game among The unprotected include forwards Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde, Alex forwards on the power play at 3 minutes, 12 seconds, behind Stamkos Killorn, Ondrej Palat, rookie Ross Colton, Mathieu Joseph and three-time (3:37) and Point (3:24). Stanley Cup winner Pat Maroon; and defensemen Cal Foote and Jan Rutta. Other notable players left exposed from around the league

Here’s what may make some of the forwards attractive to the Kraken: Notable NHL Players Left Exposed to Seattle

Yanni Gourde Team Player Position Division

Lightning center Yanni Gourde battles to control the puck while down on Montreal Canadiens Shea Weber Defenseman Atlantic his knees against Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech during Game 7 of (Eastern) the semifinals. Montreal Canadiens Carey Price Goaltender Atlantic Lightning center Yanni Gourde battles to control the puck while down on (Eastern) his knees against Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech during Game 7 of the semifinals. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ] L.A. Kings Jonathan Quick Goaltender Pacific (Western)

Much of the identity of the Lightning’s gritty third line, which has paid Pittsburgh Penguins Jason Zucker Forward Metropolitan dividends the past two years in the postseason, started with Gourde, who (Eastern) finished his sixth season with the Lightning with 17 goals with 19 assists Calgary Flames Mark Giordano Defenseman Pacific in the regular season and seven playoff points (six goals). (Western) Gourde adds value on special teams, too, on the second power-play unit Washington Capitals Brenden Dillon Defenseman and stepping in on the second penalty-kill unit as needed. Metropolitan (Eastern) Tyler Johnson Toronto Maple Leafs Jared McCann Forward Atlantic (Eastern) Johnson could be an attractive choice for Seattle given he’s a Spokane, Colorado Avalanche Gabriel Landeskog Forward Central (Western) Wash., native and can play center and wing. St. Louis Blues Vladimir Tarasenko Forward Central (Western) Last offseason, Johnson’s name again was thrown around in trade talks as the Lightning looked for ways to become salary cap compliant. He has Nashville Predators Ryan Johansen Forward Central (Western) a cap hit of $5 million through 2023-24. Columbus Blue Jackets Max Domi Forward Metropolitan (Eastern) New Jersey Devils P.K. Subban Defenseman Metropolitan (Eastern)

Vancouver Canucks Braden Holtby Goaltender Pacific (Western)

Carolina Hurricanes Dougie Hamilton Defenseman Metropolitan (Eastern)

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217810 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Pat Maroon gets hero’s welcome back in St. Louis

By Associated Press

Published Yesterday

Lightning forward Pat Maroon, a native of St. Louis, was in attendance for the Giants-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium on Saturday.

Maroon and the Lightning are coming off their second straight Stanley Cup championship, which is also the third in a row for Maroon — he won with his hometown Blues in 2019.

Marooon received a standing ovation from the crowd in St. Louis when he was shown on the scoreboard during the third inning of an eventual 3- 1 Cardinals victory.

It had to have been a much better feeling for Maroon than earlier in the week, when he admitted he was the one who damaged the Cup after slipping and falling while holding it during the Lightning’s boat parade on Monday.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217811 Tampa Bay Lightning All 1st and 2nd year professionals In 1992, teams were allowed to protect 14 skaters, which allowed most of

them to essentially protect their top three forward lines and five What if the Senators and Lightning had the same expansion draft rules defensemen. as Seattle and Vegas? But the biggest difference here is clearly the goaltending. When the Senators and Lightning arrived in 1992, the league only required teams to expose one goalie who had 60 minutes of NHL playing time under his By Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe Jul 19, 2021 belt. This led to teams like Chicago giving Ray LeBlanc one NHL start in the 1991-92 season for the sole purpose of exposing him in the draft.

Teams were allowed to protect their top two goaltenders, which really The Ottawa Senators’ missteps at the 1992 expansion draft are well watered down the position. documented in hockey lore. For the purposes of our mock expansion draft, we’ve gone through each In their first big moment on the NHL stage, the expansion club made of the four divisions and applied the current rules to the old rosters. In multiple selections that were deemed ineligible. most cases, we’ve opted to use the 7-3-1 format (seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie), but there are a handful of teams — like With the 33rd selection, they tried to draft forward Todd Ewen from the Toronto, Hartford and the New York Rangers — where we thought it was Montreal Canadiens. The Senators, however, didn’t realize that Montreal better to protect eight skaters. had already lost the maximum of two players, making Ewen ineligible for selection. So before we start the re-draft of the 1992 expansion proceedings, here’s a look at how the old rosters would look with the new expansion Seven picks later, the Senators made the same mistake again by trying provisions. Scroll to your right to see the list of players for each team to take Todd Hawkins from the Maple Leafs after Toronto had already within the divisions: lost two players in the draft. Norris Division - 1992 mock draft Somewhat flustered, Ottawa general manager Mel Bridgman returned to the podium and announced they would be selecting C.J. Young from the F - Steve Yzerman Calgary Flames. The only problem was that Young was a second-year F - Gerard Gallant pro and thus exempt from the draft proceedings. F - Sergei Fedorov The Senators’ draft prep work was done on a laptop, but when club officials rolled into the ballroom of the Gouverneur Hotel in Montreal on F - Jeremy Roenick June 18, 1992, they discovered the battery on the computer was dead. They could not find a plug to charge their computer, leaving all of their F - Rob Brown research stuck on a useless laptop. Bridgman and his team were forced F - Dean McAmmond to work off memory and a few pieces of paper, resulting in some chaotic moments. F - Brett Hull

But truth be told, it’s not like the Senators missed out on some talented F - Gino Cavallini players because of their technical glitch. The 1992 expansion draft class was thin, stocked only with fringe NHLers and minor leaguers. And D - Brett Hedican because Ottawa was drafting at the same time as the Tampa Bay F - Mike Modano Lightning, it further diluted the pool. F - Bobby Smith So it got us thinking: What if we applied the current expansion draft rules — the ones that the Seattle Kraken will use on Wednesday night — to Derian Hatcher the 1992 proceedings? Would the Senators and Lightning have vastly superior teams to the ones they iced in their inaugural seasons? F - Doug Gilmour

Remember, the 1992-93 Senators were one of the worst teams in F - Brian Bradley modern NHL history. They managed to win only 10 games in their 84- F - Kent Manderville game season, for a woeful .143 winning percentage. The Lightning were significantly better, but they still finished in last place in the Norris F - Paul Ysebart Division with 53 points — exactly half the total of the division champion Chicago Blackhawks. F - Brent Fedyk

Before we start our re-draft, it’s worth comparing the two sets of D - Nicklas Lidstrom expansion rules head-to-head so you can see the differences. Scroll to F - Steve Larmer the right to see 2021 rules compared to 1992 rules in this chart: F - Tony Hrkac Expansion draft rules: 1992 vs 2021 G - Dominik Hasek Protection Allowances F - Craig Janney 14 skaters, 2 goalies F - Kelly Chase 8 skaters, 1 goalie OR 7 forwards, 3 defencemen and 1 goalie F - Brian Bellows Exposure Requirements F - Basil McRae 1 forward with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons Mike Craig 2 forwards with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons F - Wendel Clark 1 defenceman with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons F - Mike Krushelnyski 1 defenceman with 40 GP last season OR 70 GP last two seasons G - Felix Potvin 1 goalie with 60 mins of career playing time F - Jimmy Carson 1 goalie under NHL contract for next season F -Troy Crowder Exemptions D - Vladislav Konstantinov All 1st and 2nd year professionals F - Michel Goulet D - Rick Nattress

F - Stu Grimson D - Steve Chiasson

F - Brendan Shanahan D - Bobby Dollas

F - Ron Wilson D - Chris Chelios

F - Dave Gagner D - Rod Buskas

F - Shane Churla D - Jeff Brown

F - Glenn Anderson D - Bruce Shoebottom

F - Mark Osbourne D - Mark Tinordi

F - Ray Sheppard G - Darcy Wakaluk

F - Lonnie Loach D - Bob Rouse

F - Dirk Graham G - Rick Wamsley

D - Brad McCrimmon

F - Mike Peluso G - Allan Bester

F - Nelson Emerson D - Steve Smith

F - Bob Bassen G - Jimmy Waite

F - Ulf Dahlen D - Paul Cavallini

F - Gaeton Duchesne G - Pat Jablonski

F - Peter Zezel D - Craig Ludwig

F - Mike Foligno G - Grant Fuhr

F - Shawn Burr D - Yves Racine

F - Kory Kocur G - Vincent Riendeau

F - Brent Sutter D - Bryan Marchment

F - Mike Hudson D - Garth Butcher

F - Rich Sutter D - Jim Johnson

D - Stephane Quintal G - Tim Cheveldae

F - Todd Elik G - Ed Belfour

D - Rob Ramage G - Curtis Joseph

D - Dave Ellett G - Jon Casey

F - Dave McLlwain Smythe Division - 1992 mock draft

F - Bob Probert F - Trevor Linden

D - Bob McGill F - Tom Fergus

F - Brian Noonan Pavel Bure

D - Jocelyn Lemieux F - Wayne Gretzky

F - Ron Sutter F - Bob Kudelski

D - Rick Zombo D - Darryl Sydor

F - Brian Propp F - Vincent Damphousse

D - Bryan Glynn F - Petr Klima

D - Todd Gill F - Scott Thornton

D - Daryl Shannon F - Theo Fleury

F - Kevin Miller F - Ron Stern

D - Brad Marsh F - Robert Reichel

F - Stephane Matteau F - Ed Olczyk

D - Keith Brown F - Danton Cole

F - Dave Christian F - Keith Tkachuk

D - Murray Baron F - Cliff Ronning

F - Neal Broten F - Ryan Walter

D - Chris Dahlquist Petr Nedved

D - Jamie Macoun F - Luc Robitaille F - Dave Taylor F - Joel Otto

F - Joe Murphy D - Jim Kyte

F - Anatoli Semenov F - Luciano Borsato

F - Louie DeBrusk F - Jim Sandlak

F - Gary Roberts D - Adrian Plavsic

F - Carey Wilson F - Mike Donnelly

G - Trevor Kidd F - Martin Gelinas

F - Tomas Steen D - Norm MacIver

F - Mike Hartman F - Paul Ranheim

F - Kris Draper D - Frank Musil

F - Geoff Courtnall F - Mike Eagles

F - Rob Murphy D - Jyrki Lumme

Gino Odjick G - Troy Gamble

F - Tony Granato D - Rob Blake

F - John McIntyre D - Kevin Lowe

F - Bernie Nicholls D - Craig Muni

F - Mark Lamb D - Al MacInnis

F - Steven Rice G - Jeff Reese

F - Joe Nieuwendyk D - Phil Housley

F - Tim Hunter D - Dave Babych

F - Troy Murray D - Paul Coffey

D - Randy Carlyle D - Dave Manson

F - Igor Larionov G - Ron Tugnutt

F - Jay Mazur D - Gary Suter

F - Jari Kurri D - Freddie Olausson

D - Jeff Chychrun D - Dana Murzyn

F - Craig Simpson D - Marty McSorely

F - Shaun Van Allen D - Luke Richardson

F - Gary Leeman D - Trent Yawney

F - Craig Berube D - Teppo Numminen

F - Pat Elynuik G - Kirk McLean

D - Dallas Eakins G - Kelly Hrudey

F - Greg Adams G - Bill Ranford

D - Gerald Diduck G - Bob Essensa

F - Tomas Sandstrom Adams Division - 1992 mock draft

D - Brian Benning F - Kirk Muller

F - Scott Mellanby F - Mike Keane

F - Kelly Buchberger F - John Leclair

F - Sergei Makarov F - Cam Neely

D - Michel Petit F - Dave Poulin

F - Darrin Shannon F - Glen Murray

G - Daniel Berthiaume F - Dale Hawerchuk

F - Sergio Momesso F- Rob Ray

D - Robert Dirk F - Brad May

F - Corey Millen F - John Cullen

G - Rob Staubber F - Mikael Andersson

F - Esa Tikkanen F- Geoff Sanderson

F - Craig MacTavish F - Joe Sakic F - Jamie Baker D - Zarley Zalapski

F - Owen Nolan D - Brad Shaw

F - Denis Savard D - Curtis Leschyshyn

F - Brian Skrudland D - Adam Foote

F - Gilbert Dionne F - Guy Carbonneau

F - Adam Oates D - Kevin Haller

F - Ken Hodge Jr. F - Dave Reid

F - Jozef Stumpel F - Brent Ashton

F - Pat LaFontaine F - Randy Wood

F - Dave Hannan D - Grant Ledyard

D - Keith Carney D - Adam Burt

F - Andrew Cassels D - Doug Houda

F - Mark Hunter D - Craig Wolanin

F - Bobby Holik F - Brent Gilchrist

F - Mats Sundin D - J.J. Daigneault

F - Mike Hough F - Bob Sweeney

F - Valeri Kamensky D - Bob Beers

F - Shayne Corson F - Wayne Presley

F - Sylvain Turgeon D - Gord Donnelly

F - Paul DiPietro D - Steve Konroyd

F - Vladimir Ruzicka G - Peter Sidorkiewicz

F - Andy Brickley D - Steven Finn

F - Steve Heinze D - Eric Desjardins

F - Alex Mogilny G - Andre Racicot

F - Dave Snuggerud D - Raymond Bourque

F - Pat Verbeek D - Gord Murphy

F - Terry Yake D - Petr Svoboda

F - Scott Young D - Randy Moller

F - Doug Smail D - Randy Ladouceur

F - Martin Rucinsky G - Frank Pietrangelo

F - Stephane Lebeau D - Tony Twist

F - Mike McPhee D - Mathieu Schneider

D - Patrice Brisebois D - Glen Wesley

F - Bobby Carpenter G - Reggie Lemelin

F - Peter Douris D - Doug Bodger

F - Dave Andreychuk G - Clint Malarchuk

F - Christian Ruuttu G - Kay Whitmore

F - Murray Craven G - Stephane Fiset

D - Marc Bergevin D - Sylvain Lefebvre

F - Greg Pawslawski D - Don Sweeney

D - Doug Crossman D - Mike Ramsay

D - Alexei Gusarov G - Patrick Roy

F - Russ Courtnall G - Andy Moog

D - Lyle Odelin G - Darren Puppa

F - Stephen Leach Patrick Division - 1992 mock draft

F - Nevin Markwart F - Mark Messier

F - Donald Audette F - Tie Domi

F - Bob Corkum F - Doug Weight F - Mike Ridley F - John Ogrodnick

F - John Druce F - Dino Ciccarelli

F - Peter Bondra F - Dave Tippett

F - Mario Lemieux F - Rick Tocchet

F - Phil Bourque D - Bryan Fogerty

F - Jaromir Jagr F - Kevin Todd

F - Claude Lemieux F - Claude Vilgrain

F - Laurie Boschman F - Dan Quinn

F - Bill Guerin F - Pelle Eklund

F - Mark Recchi F - Benoit Hogue

F - Steve Kasper F - Rob DiMaio

F - Mike Ricci D - Brian Leetch

F - Pierre Turgeon F - Jody Hull

F - Adam Creighton F - Kelly Miller

D - Scott Lachance D - Sylvain Cote

F - Adam Graves F - Joe Mullen

F - Joey Kocur D - Gordie Roberts

F - Tony Amonte D - Scott Stevens

F - Dale Hunter F - Dave Barr

F - Nick Kypreos F - Wes Walz

F - Dmitri Khristich F - Dave Brown

F - Ron Francis F - Derek King

F - Jay Caufield F - Claude Loiselle

F - Shawn McEachern D - James Patrick

F - Stephane Richer F - Tim Kerr

F - Tom Chorske F - Randy Burridge

D - Scott Niedermayer D - Shawn Chambers

F - Rod Brind'Amour F - Bob Errey

F - Keith Acton G - Wendall Young

G - Dominic Roussel D - Ken Daneyko

F - Ray Ferraro F - Neil Brady

F - Tom Fitzgerald F - Mark Pederson

F - Mike Gartner D - Mark Howe

F - Kris King F - David Volek

F - Sergei Nemchinov F - Mick Vukota

F - Michal Pivonka D - Jeff Beukeboom

F - Alan May D - Per Djoos

F - Steve Konowalchuk F - Todd Krygier

F - Kevin Stevens D - Rod Langway

D - Grant Jennings F - Troy Loney

F - Peter Stastny G - Ken Wregget

F - Randy McKay D - Bruce Driver

G - Martin Brodeur D - Eric Weinrich

F - Kevin Dineen D - Steve Duchesne

F - Mark Freer D - Terry Carkner

F - Steve Thomas F - Pat Flatley

F - Daniel Marois F - Bill Berg

F - Darren Turcotte D - Joe Cirella D - Mark Hardy That leads to the second obstacle we’ll be facing: Ian is making the lists with the benefit of hindsight. We know which young players turn into D - Al Iafrate stars, and which ones are busts, and we know you guys won’t let us get G - Jim Hrivnak away with sneaking some future breakouts onto the list if they feel unrealistic. So Ian is probably doing a better job of protecting players D - Larry Murphy than the real teams would have done, and maybe by a lot.

D - Slava Fetisov Still, it’s the modern expansion rules that everyone agrees are super- lenient. Surely we’ll be able to find a few stars. (Double-checks lists.) D - Tommy Albelin Woof, this is going to be tougher than I thought. D - Garry Galley Mendes: I’m going to start this draft by taking the only legit NHLer on this D - Uwe Krupp list in New York’s John Vanbiesbrouck.

D - Joe Reekie McIndoe: Well, that screws my entire plan, which was “take the best goalie available.” But I’ll copy your strategy of building from the net out by G - Mike Richter using my first pick on Guy Hebert from the St Louis Blues. He’s not Vanbiesbrouck but he’s a future top-10 Vezina guy. G - John Vanbiesbrouck Mendes: I’ll take Petr Klima next. Talent (and bad helmets) are hard to D - Kevin Hatcher come by. D - Ulf Samuelsson McIndoe: Oh lord, we’re three picks in and already into the Petr Klima G - Chris Terreri zone. With my second pick, I’ll go back to the Blues for 23-year-old defenseman Stephane Quintal. That gives me a solid blueliner for the G - Craig Billington next decade (and also takes St. Louis off the board, just in case you had your heart set on Gino Cavallini.) D - Kerry Huffman Mendes: I’ll take Mike Keane next. I like the idea of this alternate D - Tom Kurvers universe where instead of Keane being a part of three different Stanley D - Dean Chynoweth Cup winners in his career, he might be on the worst team in hockey history. D - Calle Johansson McIndoe: I’m going back to the blue line, this time from Washington. I’ll D - Kjell Samuelsson take 26-year-old Sylvain Cote, who my scouts assure me is a guy who G - Ron Hextall could score 20 goals in 1992-93 under the right circumstances. (These will not be the right circumstances.) D - Jeff Norton Mendes: I’ll take Dave Poulin next. He won a Selke in the 1980s and D - Rich Pilon finished runner-up in 1992-93. Where would he finish in the voting playing on this team? G - Don Beaupre McIndoe: Well he’ll be a minus-80 so my guess is not high. OK, I need a G - Tom Barrasso forward, so I’m going to go with a guy that I have a hunch could have a G - Glenn Healey ridiculous breakout season playing on an early ’90s expansion team: Bob Kudelski from the Kings. G - Mark Fitzpatrick Mendes: I can’t believe it. You actually took the guy I had next in the Now that we’re all set with the rosters and eligible players, let’s start the queue. (That it’s Bob Kudelski this early says something.) draft process. Ian Mendes will be drafting on behalf of the Ottawa Senators while Sean McIndoe will make the selections for the Tampa McIndoe: This might be a low point for both of us. Bay Lightning. Since Ottawa had the first selection in the 1992 expansion Mendes: I’ll roll the dice on a four-time 30-goal scorer who is only 28. draft, we’ll put the Senators on the clock first. Give me Gerard Gallant. I hear this guy is going to do something magical Mendes: Before we start this draft, I have to say I’m actually surprised at and unbelievable with a first-year expansion team one day. the lack of talent available. I was thinking a bunch of quality players McIndoe: I was today years old when I found out the real Gerard Gallant would shake loose, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Dominik spent the last two years of his career with the Lightning. Then again I feel Hasek was the one guy I thought would be available and I figured I would like half the league spends their final season with one of the two Florida bring him to Ottawa 13 years ahead of schedule. But it turns out he was teams. Back to the blue line for me, as I’ll go to the Devils for 25-year-old technically a second-year pro so Hasek is ineligible for selection in our Eric Weinrich. In real life, he was about to be traded to the Whalers (with mock 1992 expansion draft, even with the current rules applied. Yes, the Sean Burke) for Bobby Holik, so I might try to pull off a similar deal later goalie pool is vastly improved, but finding legitimately talented players is this offseason. In the meantime, he’s a solid guy for my second pair. going to still be a challenge in this process. And the exempt lists for teams like Detroit and Quebec are super impressive and you can see Mendes: I’ll take Rob Brown next, because the idea of you not drafting why they were on the verge of being powerhouses for the rest of the the guy who helped spawn “Down Goes Brown” is too hilarious to pass decade. up. (Plus, he’s only 23 and has a 49-goal season on his resume)

McIndoe: As soon as Ian pitched this idea to me, I was in. How fun would McIndoe: Hmm, I wish I had a good line about what direction his career it be to re-draft the original Lightning based on today’s expansion rules? production is about to go in. OK, I need another forward. Give me Brent After all, we’re constantly told that the modern rules were rigged in favor Fedyk to finish off the Red Wings. He’s 24 and about to have his first of of Vegas and Seattle, which is why the Golden Knights were so good three straight 20-goal seasons (just as long as I can also acquire Eric right out of the gate. Apply those same rules to the high-flying early ’90s, Lindros to play on his line). and I was confident I could build a powerhouse. Maybe even a Cup contender. Mendes: I just realized I haven’t drafted a single defenseman yet. So give me Ron Tugnutt, because I’m going to need a goalie who can handle a Then I got a look at Ian’s protection lists. Huh. 70-shot workload.

They’re not great. And after some thought, that makes sense. McIndoe: I noticed this, and assumed you were just really embracing the Remember, there’s no salary cap to force teams into exposing players early ’90s NHL ethos. I’m a little surprised you didn’t pander to your they’d rather keep. There were internal budgets, of course, but we don’t Senators fan base by taking Norm MacIver off the Oilers. have access to those, and we can’t make assumptions, so we have to assume everyone can afford to keep their best players. McIndoe: I’ll keep plugging away on my blue line with our second Habs pick. Give me 24-year-old Lyle Odelein. That also takes Montreal’s Sylvain Turgeon out of play since two Habs have now been drafted. I’m slowly but surely blocking your chances at recreating that 1992-93 I guess somebody has to take a Nordiques player at some point, so I’ll Senators powerhouse that finished with like 11 points. step up and grab 25-year-old center Jamie Baker. Solid player, good teammate and scouts tell me he has potential as a broadcaster. Mendes: I thought the whole point of this exercise was that I didn’t want to recreate the 1992-93 Sens. (Although perusing my current roster, I’m Mendes: Plus, he increases your odds of beating the powerhouse Red looking at that team with quite a bit of envy.) Wings when you’re the total underdog. Next up I’m going to take a two- time Stanley Cup champion defenseman. A guy who played for his McIndoe: I figured you’d be tanking. I hear there’s a no-doubt franchise country at the Nagano Olympics and appeared in almost 1,000 NHL player at the top of the 1993 draft. games. And I’m willing to bet that you know absolutely nothing about this Mendes: Now I’ve got tanking on my mind. I’m looking for a guy who can guy. very subtly put the puck in his own net, so give me Marc Bergevin. Ladies and gentlemen: Tommy Albelin.

McIndoe: I keep scrolling up and down the list of available players hoping McIndoe: Please don’t make me guess his country. I’ve somehow missed somebody who’s good. I have not. Mendes: He’s one of those guys who could be from Minneapolis or Mendes: I now understand why the Senators let their laptop battery die Stockholm. (He’s from Sweden.) out during this process. McIndoe: OK, I don’t think we’ve taken a Flames player yet. I’ll stick with McIndoe: I too want to die halfway into this draft. OK, I guess it’s time to my strategy of picking young-ish two-way forwards who will help me lose pander to the home crowd. Let’s follow the real-life Lightning and take 3-1 instead of 8-2 by taking 25-year-old Ronnie Stern. Brian Bradley from Toronto, and hope he repeats his miracle 40-goal season. Mendes: Next up I’ll take a guy who had a 40-goal season in a year in which his team won the Stanley Cup. Then, he got traded for $15 million Mendes: I’ll take another defenseman … Bob Beers from the Bruins. in cash, Jimmy Carson and a bunch of other assets. I’ll take Mike (With my sole rationale being: I could go for Beers right about now.) Krushelnyski.

McIndoe: The sad thing is I just said the words “Oh no, now I can’t take McIndoe: That’s our second player from Toronto, making this the first Gord Murphy” out loud. time in history that the Senators have finished off the Leafs.

What have I become? I’ll stick with my commitment to defense by taking Mendes: Wipe that smirk off your face and just make your next pick. an actual Hall of Famer. OK, so he’s also 37. I’ll take Mark Howe from the Flyers, in a transparent “Take the solid veteran with name value and McIndoe: More mid-20s forwards for me. I’ll go to Chicago and take Tony then try to flip him to a contender for draft picks” expansion move. Hrkac.

Mendes: At this point, I feel like anybody over the age of 30 is probably McIndoe: I’m pretty confident this team will have zero rings. retiring rather than joining our Island of Misfit Toys. Mendes: I’ll take a guy who racked up 192 points in the last season in McIndoe: He’s a Howe, he has like a decade left. which he played in Ottawa. Sure it was 14 years ago and in the OHL … but give me Bobby Smith. Mendes: I’ll take Gerald Diduck next. I had no idea he played almost 1,000 games in the NHL until I just checked his stats. (Which is likely the McIndoe: If I’m reading the list right, there’s only one team left that hasn’t first time a non-family member checked Gerald Diduck’s page in at least lost a player. And of course, it’s the Sabres. Even when we time travel 10 years.) back almost 30 years, they still take some shots. But I’ll fix that with our first Sabres pick: Defenseman Grant Ledyard. McIndoe: The fun thing about guys like that is you could give me roughly 20 teams you claimed he played for in 1992 and I’d believe you. Here Mendes: I want to prepare a future generation of Sens fans for Logan comes another one, as I turn to the Islanders for a 23-year-old two-way Brown … so I’ll take Adam Creighton. A 6-foot-5 center with tons of size forward who will eventually understand the pain of trying to build out a and skill who was taken No. 11 in1 983. Never quite hit his ceiling in the hopeless team. Give me Tom Fitzgerald. NHL, but he did have a couple of decent seasons.

Mendes: Is it weird that we’ve gone this deep into a 1992 draft and not McIndoe: We’re building this team for the early ’90s and I need forwards, taken a single member of the two-time defending Cup champion so I’m going to go back to the Sabres. Give me Rob Ray, who’ll skate on Pittsburgh Penguins? I’ll remedy that by taking Phil Bourque. a line with Tie Domi and will at least give the fans something to cheer.

McIndoe: I don’t think it’s weird because, like every other team, the Mendes: Is this the point in the draft where Sens management asks if Penguins don’t have many good players available. But I’ll go back to anybody has taken Pavel Bure yet? Speaking of Bure, I’ll take Shane them here, because I’ve been holding off on my second goalie pick until Churla. I better add some toughness too. his team was in danger of falling off the board. Give me Pittsburgh’s Ken Wregget. McIndoe: I always say, when in doubt, be a jerk. That’s what I’ll do by taking lifelong Kings forward Dave Taylor. I’m assuming he wants no part Mendes: I think there is a rule that says the Senators have to draft at of expansion and I’ll try to flip him back to L.A. for picks. But if that fails, least one helmetless defenseman. And since I can’t take Brad Marsh at least I have some veteran leadership. (two Red Wings already selected), I’ll take Randy Carlyle. He’s got a Norris Trophy on his resume. And this will be a 2007 Stanley Cup Final Mendes: And if Taylor doesn’t want to be there, you can put him on the preview for him, with Ottawa losing four out of every five games. Triple Frown line. I’ll take my last defenseman here. I think this guy was involved in 30 percent of all NHL transactions in the ’80s and ’90s: Michel McIndoe: And you already have Bergevin, so Carlyle will get to see Petit. another Senators defenseman score into his own net. OK, I’ve held off long enough. I don’t think there was much risk of you bringing this guy to McIndoe: Good ol’ Mike Small. Man, the list is getting grim. I guess I’ll go Ottawa, but I can’t wait any longer on a 23-year-old who’s about to with Hartford Whalers forward Mikael Andersson, who’s 25 and coming become one of the most entertaining and talked-about players in the off an 18-goal season. He ended up with the real Lightning and did OK, sport. and right now “OK” is more than good enough.

From the New York Rangers, we’re proud to select: Tie Domi. Mendes: I’ll take Steve Kasper. And the sole reason for drafting him would be to ask him, “How did you win the Selke Trophy with a minus-18 Mendes: I still need a lot of help on the back end. I have a suspicion that rating?” (Because if he only ends up minus-18 on my team, he might be my team is going get dangled for many highlight reel goals this season. in consideration for the Selke again.) So, I want someone with experience in that category. I’ll take Shawn Chambers. McIndoe: For my last forward, I’ll take another real-life Lightning pick: Winnipeg’s Danton Cole, who didn’t last long in the league but managed McIndoe: If my video game upbringing tells me anything, it’s that early a 20-goal season in Tampa. ’90s Chambers was a No. 1. Oh, wait, no, he was just a 1. Like, a 1 out of 100 overall rating. What a gaming legend. Mendes: For my final selection, I’ll take Ryan Walter. He started his career with an awful team in a nation’s capital. This should make it full circle for him. McIndoe: I’ll finish with a decent enough defenseman in Doug Crossman, Forward a 1987 Team Canada alum who’ll give me a dependable veteran. Mike Krushelnyski New Sens expansion team vs original team Lonnie Loach No. 1 Goalie Forward John Vanbiesbrouck Bobby Smith Peter Sidorkiewicz Mark Freer No. 2 Goalie Forward Ron Tugnutt Adam Creighton Mark LaForest Chris Lindberg Defenceman Forward Marc Bergevin Shane Churla Brad Shaw Jeff Lazaro Defenceman Forward Bob Beers Steve Kasper Darren Rumble Darcy Loewen Defenceman Forward Gerald Diduck Ryan Walter Dominic Lavoie Blair Atchynum Defenceman Mendes: I actually think I’ve drafted a better team than the Senators did Randy Carlyle in 1992. Getting Vanbiesbrouck would obviously be a game-changer and that’s probably worth a few wins. Klima is probably the best offensive Brad Miller player in this new pool of players, so I’m happy I landed him. My defense Defenceman corps isn’t great, but it’s not worse than what the Senators actually drafted themselves. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that I Shawn Chambers could double the Senators’ win total with this roster. (Granted, that would still only give them 20 wins and keep them in last place in the Adams Ken Hammond Division, but as long as this squad can still beat the Canadiens on Defenceman opening night, I think I’ve done a pretty good job.)

Tommy Albelin New TB expansion team vs original team

Kent Paynter

Defenceman No. 1 Goalie

Michel Petit Guy Hebert

John Van Kessel Wendall Young

Forward No. 2 Goalie

Petr Klima Ken Wregget

Sylvain Turgeon Frederic Chabot

Forward Defenceman

Mike Keane Stephane Quintal

Mike Peluso Joe Reekie

Forward Defenceman

Dave Poulin Sylvain Cote

Rob Murphy Shawn Chambers

Forward Defenceman

Gerard Gallant Eric Weinrich

Mark Lamb Peter Taglianetti

Forward Defenceman

Rob Brown Lyle Odelin

Laurie Boschman Bob McGill

Forward Defenceman

Phil Bourque Mark Howe

Jim Thomson Jeff Bloemberg Defenceman can beat that with this squad. But have I just built an early ’90s prototype of the 2017-18 Golden Knights? I have not. Grant Ledyard Mendes: OK, there we have it. Now we just need someone to dust off an Doug Crossman old copy of that EA Sports NHLPA ’93 game where we can load in these Defenceman rosters and see how they do.

Doug Crossman The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021

Rob Ramage

Forward

Bob Kudelski

Michel Mongeau

Forward

Brent Fedyk

Anatoli Semenov

Forward

Brian Bradley

Mike Hartman

Forward

Tie Domi

Basil McRae

Forward

Tom Fitzgerald

Rob DiMaio

Forward

Jamie Baker

Steve Maltais

Forward

Ronnie Stern

Dan Vincelette

Forward

Tony Hrkac

Tim Bergland

Forward

Rob Ray

Brian Bradley

Forward

Dave Taylor

Keith Osbourne

Forward

Mikael Andersson

Shayne Stevenson

Forward

Danton Cole

Tim Hunter

McIndoe: I like my team. We’re young, we’ve got a bunch of guys who’ll be fixtures in the NHL for the next decade or more, the goaltending is decent and I have a couple of veterans with name value that I can flip for picks or prospects. Plus I love the idea of putting Domi and Ray out there together in an early ’90s world. This team will be fun.

Will it be good? Uh … probably not. It might be better than the real-life Lightning, although the bar there is quite a bit higher than it is for the Senators. The real 1992-93 Lightning went 23-54-7 for 53 points, didn’t make the playoffs until 1996 and didn’t win a round until 2003. I think I 1217812 Vegas Golden Knights Patrick is a restricted free agent, and his minimum qualifying offer is $917,831, according to CapFriendly.com.

Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon played junior hockey with Nolan Patrick looks forward to fresh start with Golden Knights Patrick’s father, Steve, a former first-round pick. McCrimmon also coached Patrick in junior hockey with Brandon, but Patrick said he was completely surprised by the trade.

By David Schoen “Obviously it was a pretty exciting day for me and my family when I got moved there,” Patrick said. “It makes me a lot more comfortable coming July 19, 2021 - 6:01 PM to a new team being around (McCrimmon) for a while and knowing him.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 07.20.2021 Nolan Patrick called this the most important offseason of his life. And that was before the 22-year-old center was traded to the Golden Knights.

After falling short of the lofty expectations set for him in Philadelphia, the oft-injured Patrick is ready to hit the reset button on his promising career.

“I think a fresh start was the best thing for me,” Patrick said Monday. “Coming to an organization like Vegas is obviously extremely exciting. For my offseason training, I’m extremely motivated after the season I had. Looking for a bounce-back year. I’ve been doing everything I can to get myself ready for the first game.”

Patrick was acquired by the Knights on Saturday for center Cody Glass in a swap of underperforming prospects from the 2017 draft.

The Flyers selected Patrick second overall, four spots ahead of Glass, and he reached the 30-point mark in each of his first two seasons.

But Patrick also absorbed multiple hits to the head, and his progress was halted when he was struck in the back of the head by a shot from New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck on March 3, 2019.

That summer, Patrick suffered from headaches during his offseason workouts. He sat out training camp and was diagnosed with a migraine disorder that sidelined him for the 2019-20 season.

Patrick previously acknowledged a family history of migraines, and Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher said doctors didn’t think Patrick’s disorder was related to the concussion that resulted from the Clutterbuck shot.

But Patrick indicated Monday he was dealing with concussion symptoms while sitting out.

“Injuries are part of the game, and my concussion was obviously the tough one keeping me out that long,” Patrick said. “It was pretty scary times, but happy to be healthy now.”

The migraine disorder/concussion was the latest in a long line of injuries Patrick endured dating to a broken collarbone when he was 13.

He also was hampered by a hernia during his junior hockey career and missed multiple games in his draft year with undisclosed injuries.

“I’ve obviously had a lot of my offseason training limited due to injuries in the last couple years,” Patrick said. “I’m just excited to have the full summer of training and looking forward to the season.”

Patrick struggled to find his game this past season for Philadelphia once he returned and produced four goals and nine points in 52 games. His minus-30 rating was tied for the second-worst in the NHL.

Patrick admitted during his exit interview in Philadelphia that he was avoiding contact at the start of the season with the migraine disorder still weighing on his mind.

His conditioning suffered after an abbreviated training camp, and Fletcher indicated Patrick’s skating fell off in the second of back-to-back games.

Now healthy, the 6-foot-2-inch, 198-pound Patrick is looking to get stronger and more explosive this offseason.

“We’re both really excited,” said center Brett Howden, acquired by the Knights from the Rangers on Saturday in a separate move. “We actually train and skate together in Winnipeg, so pretty special for us to be going together. He’s a really special, dynamic player. For Vegas to get him as well, it’s obviously huge for the team.”

Patrick played primarily on the third line in Philadelphia, and he could fill a similar role for the Knights. He showed solid advanced stats with a 50 percent shot attempts percentage and also won 52.6 percent of his faceoffs last season. 1217813 Vegas Golden Knights By the time Vegas reached the point Seattle is at now, several deals were already in the works.

“I would imagine Seattle probably has eight to 10 deals done,” McPhee What’s it like in the Kraken offices right now? Golden Knights executives said last week, before the protected lists were released. “Conditional recall their exhausting, rewarding week deals subject to seeing what the lists look like. So the lion’s share of the work is done within that three-day window. That’s when people get serious about negotiating.”

By Jesse Granger Jul 19, 2021 There’s been a lot of discussion entering Seattle’s draft, with many believing other general managers will be reluctant to work out side deals

with the Kraken. That’s because most of those types of deals with Vegas George McPhee, then-general manager of the Golden Knights, sat in his worked out in the Golden Knights’ favor. Anaheim sent Shea Theodore to office in Las Vegas on a Monday morning in June 2017, negotiating over protect its veteran defensemen, and Theodore has now finished sixth in the phone with a fellow GM. The two haggled over who McPhee would Norris Trophy voting in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota sent Alex Tuch eventually select in the upcoming expansion draft as the clock ticked. to Vegas to convince McPhee to stay away from other players, and Tuch has blossomed into a young, dangerous playmaker. Columbus dealt The moment the phone call ended, McPhee began walking toward the William Karlsson and a first-round pick to protect its players, and war room, where the entire Vegas staff awaited. Owner Bill Foley, Karlsson has been Vegas’ best center for the last four years. assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon, salary-cap specialist Andrew Lugerner, director of player personnel Vaughn Karpan, assistant director Bob Shea Theodore came over from Anaheim and became a Vegas standout. Lowes and the entire pro scouting staff all sat around a table. (Billy Hardiman / USA Today)

But before McPhee could step through the door to deliver the news from There’s plenty of reasons to believe that GMs will shy away from those his phone conversation, he looked back down at his phone to see missed types of deals, but McPhee and McCrimmon aren’t so sure. calls from four other general managers during the time he was on the “As much as they would like to just say, ‘We’re not going to do anything, call. take a player,’ everyone is running their own race, and they’re going to “It just never stopped,” McPhee recalled. “The phone started ringing and try and look after their own team,” McPhee said. “I don’t think it will be it never stopped. The lists were distributed on that Sunday morning at 7 much different at all (from our expansion). The pandemic has changed a.m. There were a couple hours that were quiet, as everyone around the things. There are a lot of GMs who probably would like to be a little more league was analyzing the lists. Then the calls started and it was non-stop shrewd this time around, but because the pandemic has flattened out the for at least 48 hours.” cap, some of them are going to have contracts they’d like to move, and that works to Seattle’s benefit.” The newly constructed offices for the Seattle Kraken will be overflowing with excitement, anxiety and a little bit of chaos this week, ahead of McCrimmon agreed with McPhee and said, “I think teams will evaluate it Wednesday’s expansion draft. Few people in the hockey world know on a case-by-case basis, and if they can be in a better position by cutting exactly what general manager Ron Francis, and assistant GMs Ricky a deal with Seattle, that’s what they’ll do. … I think the big difference in Olczyk and Jason Botterill are going through right now. They received expansion today, versus expansion when we came in, is the value of protected lists from 30 NHL teams on Sunday and are on the clock to salary-cap space. Seattle has got a big hammer to swing there, in terms build their team from scratch. of exercising that leverage.”

One man who knows it well is McPhee. He and McCrimmon went The last couple of days – and the next few – obviously will be busy for through the exact same process four years ago in Las Vegas. This week, the Kraken. There are so many moving pieces in expansion, from McPhee gave The Athletic some insight into what those four days were selecting the correct players to meeting each of the specific criteria like from inside the walls of the war room, to give a glimpse into what is created by the league. happening in the Seattle offices now. “The hardest thing is trying to keep track of every conversation that “It’s really intense,” McPhee said. “You’re running on adrenaline. We you’ve had with GMs,” McPhee said. “Which is why at the start of the were extraordinarily well prepared. It felt like we had everything planned year (in 2016-17), I gave Kelly 15 teams and I took 15 teams, and we almost down to the minute on everything that we were going to do, how each focused on our 15 teams.” we were approaching things, and it was still overwhelming. Once the lists The days are long and the nights are very, very short. are distributed, you’re on the clock.” “We would probably leave at 11 at night, and we’re all waking up at 3 Most of the work obviously was done in the year leading up to the a.m. and saying, ‘Well, we can’t sleep, might as well get back in there,’” expansion draft. McPhee and his scouts spent the entire 2016-17 season McPhee recalled. “It really was four or five hours of sleep. But sleep is watching every player closely, projecting who would be available and overrated, so four or five was OK. Then we just kept going. It is amazing assessing who they might take. how it ultimately all comes together.” “I remember the first scouting meeting where we provided them with It’s a lot of work to be accomplished in such a short time frame, all with laptops, cell phones, their scouting territories, how we file for expenses 30 other general managers hoping to sway the process ever so slightly in and everything else,” McPhee said. “And there we were 10 months later, their favor. picking a team. “My biggest fear was (not finishing in time),” McPhee said. “We started “I thought our scouts did an exceptional job. The lists really changed a lot on a Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and by Monday morning we sort of hit a from the first mock draft until the last mock draft, which was the big wall and we’re wondering if we’re going to get this done or not. We were surprise. How player ratings and everything else had changed, based on moving along, but not as quickly as I thought we would be, but we just our scouts becoming more familiar with players, and the players kept chipping away, chipping away, chipping away. Then around 4 p.m. themselves playing better than they were before.” that day, things were falling into place, we got traction, and the rest of it The Golden Knights’ front office held several mock drafts, coming away went pretty smoothly.” with questions for the league each time. They submitted their questions The process is intimidating. It’s chaotic and pressure-packed. But for all to the NHL each time, finally arriving with a clear vision for how they those reasons, it’s also incredibly rewarding. wanted the expansion draft to unfold. “It’s probably the most enjoyable year of my career,” McPhee said. “You “That’s why we did so many mock drafts,” he said. “Not just to get all the just don’t get those opportunities to walk into a situation where you can players right, but to understand the rules. Because after each mock draft, build it from the ground up. I think a lot of GMs fantasize about being an we had more questions for the league about how certain things work. So, expansion GM at some point in their careers, because you’re not digging some of the questions we presented to them they hadn’t contemplated out from under contracts that aren’t working, you don’t have to fire before, so they had to sort of hash it out and call us back to tell us what anyone, and you can really work on your culture from day one. You get to could be done.” build it the way you want to build it.” And finally, after the war room discussions and phone calls had concluded, McPhee pushed a single button on his laptop to submit the selections to the NHL.

“With the press of one button, you made the largest transaction of the NHL,” McPhee said. “It was interesting, after we clicked the button and sent the whole list into the NHL, Kelly (McCrimmon) and I went back into the room and we were sitting there talking about a few things. There was kind of a sentimental moment. We just went through this amazing first year of trying to put this all together. We just picked our team, and our group was really terrific in doing so.”

It was a thrilling few days that shaped the Golden Knights franchise, and now Seattle’s management is in the midst of it themselves.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction putting it together and then seeing how they perform,” McPhee said. “And they’ve performed damn well.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217814 Winnipeg Jets

Jets tag old friend Morrison to guide Moose

Paul Friesen

Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 8 hours ago •

The Winnipeg Jets on Monday named Mark Morrison the new head coach of their American Hockey League team, the Manitoba Moose.

Morrison replaces Pascal Vincent, who left the organization to become an assistant coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

“To be honest, I’ve wanted this job probably for about 10 years of my career,” the B.C. native said during a Zoom call with the media. “I’m pretty happy to come back and work with a lot of people that I’ve developed good friendships with in the past.”

It is a homecoming of sorts for the 58-year-old Morrison.

He spent the last four seasons as an assistant with the Anaheim Ducks, but before that he was a longtime assistant within the Jets’ farm system.

For six seasons he was an assistant in the AHL, first with the St. John’s IceCaps, then the Moose.

Back in 2006-07, he was the head coach of the Jets’ ECHL affiliate, then in Victoria, for half a season. That’s when he first got to know Jets assistant GM Craig Heisinger, who operates Winnipeg’s AHL operation.

Morrison says Heisinger contacted him as Vincent was interviewing for the Columbus job. Some 10 days and two interviews later, he had the job.

“They put me through the grind a little bit.”

Morrison says his departure from Anaheim probably had something to do with the Ducks’ dismal power play, which he had a hand in, and the team’s desire for more NHL experience behind the bench.

As a player, Morrison was a third-round draft pick of the New York Rangers, appearing in just 10 NHL games.

But he played professionally for nearly two decades, mostly in the U.K.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.20.2021 1217815 Vancouver Canucks “In a really hostile rink, we pushed it into overtime and then the shootout,” recalled Tambellini. “Kent had it planned the whole time and it was such a unique move that I’ve never seen before. That’s the amazing thing. He does all these things but does them in the biggest moments. As the Canucks: From Britannia Arena to NHL draft, Kent Johnson always coach, you respect that he can do it under pressure.” turned heads Tambellini also respects that Johnson’s helmet still fits, that his head isn’t getting big among the mounting plaudits, and his willingness to learn and improve are going to resonate with NHL clubs. Ben Kuzma “He’s one of the most driven kids I’ve been around, a very well spoken Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 8 hours ago • young man and there’s never been an issue with his character,” stressed Tambellini. “He can play all three positions and that’s important because you can never control the NHL team you go to. And his skill set projects Jeff Tambellini was prepping to extend his professional playing career into the top six because he’s so receptive to techniques or progressions when a young wannabe was invited to a summer skate at Britannia and adjustments in a game. Arena. “His skills are so elite they’re hard to compare to other players, but they “The guy who helped us with our skate was running the Power Edge Pro put him in top-end comparisons and I know he closely watches Elias training tools,” recalled Tambellini, a former Vancouver Canucks winger. (Pettersson). When Kent came into the BCHL, he had wingers to protect “He said: ‘I’ve got a 14-year-old kid at Burnaby Winter Club and he’s him in his first year and the second year we moved him into the middle fantastic. Do you mind if he comes out?’” because I wanted him to get the puck there.

Tambellini thought the obvious. Another body for drills and maybe toss “His defensive game also matured and he must have led the BCHL in him some scrimmages shifts. No big deal, right? Wrong. take-aways during his last year. The same thing happened in Michigan.”

The kid was Port Moody product Kent Johnson. Now 18 and a Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.20.2021 consensus top-10 pick for the 2021 NHL draft, he could be available when the Canucks select ninth overall Friday — if they don’t trade the coveted spot. And even way back during that memorable skate, it was evident that the budding centre already had plenty of game and that he might be worth the investment.

“He went through all the stuff with the pro guys and he did them (drills) easier than all of us,” said Tambellini. “We kind of let him scrimmage with us through the day because he was just so skilled. You see on highlights now how he’s so elusive and handles the puck with so much fluidity in traffic. And at that age (14) and on that day at Britannia, we could see that skill set. It was very impressive.”

Tambellini’s winding hockey road would intersect with Johnson in Trail. When he became head coach of the BCHL Smoke Eaters in 2018-19, after serving one season as an assistant at the University of Michigan, his first call was crucial.

“We had Kent listed and wanted to make sure he came back,” said Tambellini. “He was always taller than people gave him credit for, but very slight. But by the second year he had really grown and filled out.”

And NHL scouts started filling out their forms with superlatives because Johnson was becoming deceptive, creative and unpredictable.

The left-shot forward is probably better suited to start his NHL career at left wing, but his 27 rookie points (9-18) in 26 NCAA games last season — including a record five-point outing Jan. 8 — proved he could handle a move to the middle as one of the club’s most-improved players. He quickly showcased skills he brought to the Wolverines after amassing 101 points (41-60) in 52 games with the Smoke Eaters in 2019-20.

Tambellini now serves as an NHL pro scout and NCAA free-agent recruiter for the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, so his perspective on players is wide ranging. But with the 6-foot-1, 172 pound Johnson, it was there from the outset because of the stuff you can’t teach, the skills that come naturally to the gifted and slippery forward.

“He has always possessed all that, but he now does it quicker and in more traffic and it’s his puck-protection ability that allows him to draw coverage,” added Tambellini. “And that’s where he really creates problems for teams because he can hang on to the puck and it’s so difficult to get it away from him — even if he draws one, two or even three players — because he can still make the play. Not many guys can do that.

“He’s one of the most fluid puckhandlers I’ve even seen and his body is fluid, so he can shoot pucks from different angles, or if he’s jammed up. That flexibility allows him to get off great scoring chances.”

So does some memorable moxie.

In an October 2019 game against BCHL rival Cowichan Valley Capitals, Johnson executed a shootout goal that started with a slow, one-handed foray to the net and ended with snapping a shot past a startled stopper. 1217816 Vancouver Canucks 2019-20, with 101 points, including 41 goals, in 52 regular season games with the Trail Smoke Eaters.

Michigan coach Mel Pearson opted to utilize Johnson most often on the Highly skilled hometown boy Kent Johnson could be available at No. 9 wing and regularly on a line with Beniers. Johnson believes he could play for the Canucks either in coming years.

“For me, to get my feet moving and get off the wall was a really good challenge, so it was good to start on the wing,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a Steve Ewen bit of a different job at the defensive zone.

Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 8 hours ago “It’s really good to be able to play both.”

The Canucks could trade that No. 9 selection, especially considering all the messaging that came out of their camp about getting back into the Kent Johnson grew up rooting for the Vancouver Canucks and admits he playoff hunt. Canucks general manager Jim Benning did say Monday that tries to borrow from Elias Pettersson’s game. the club has followed Johnson since his BCHL days and “have a good The Canucks have the No. 9 overall pick in the NHL Draft on Friday and understanding of where he’s at with his game now and what it looks like various pundits predict Johnson, a slick forward from Port Moody coming going forward.” off his freshman season with the University of Michigan, will be selected “We like his hockey I.Q. and his skill. With his edge work, he’s good in in that vicinity. tight spaces because he can cut back and can buy himself time and Draft week is bound to be nerve wracking for all the players involved. space to make plays,” Benning said. You could understand it hitting Johnson, 18, that little bit extra. Among the other players skating with Coupland this week is Jordy “It’s always been a dream of mine to play for the Canucks. But there are Bellerive, the 22-year-old centre from North Vancouver who’s a a lot of good teams. I’d love to go to any team in the NHL,” the always Pittsburgh Penguins prospect. Bellerive, who has suited up the past two diplomatic Johnson said Monday afternoon at Canlan Ice in North seasons with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, says that Vancouver, moments after coming off the ice from a skills camp being Johnson’s skill set is “second to none.” run by Billy Coupland, one his former North Shore Winter Club coaches. Bellerive has lined up with first-round draft picks in the past and sees Johnson put up nine goals and 27 points in 26 games this season with a similarities with Johnson. Michigan team that also featured defenceman Owen Power, who’s the “Those guys have that different confidence in their game. It’s fun to front-runner to be the No. 1 choice on Friday by the Buffalo Sabres, and watch,” said Bellerive. centre Matthew Beniers, who’s expected to be a top-five selection. With a file from Ben Kuzma TSN’s Bob McKenzie had Johnson at No. 9 in his final rankings that he published on Monday. Elite Prospects does a consolidated ranking from Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.20.2021 various sites and has him at No. 9 as well.

Johnson is 6-foot-1, 172 pounds and capable of making offensive plays that force you to find a replay screen because you’re unsure that your eyes didn’t deceive you on first viewing. It’s prompted comparisons to Pettersson, the 6-foot-2, 176-pound Canucks centre who’s a highlight- reel regular himself, and that’s a connection that Johnson doesn’t back away from.

“I watch him play a lot and try to pick out stuff,” Johnson said. “It’s not by accident if I do something kind of like him.”

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 24, 2021

Like Pettersson, Johnson’s stature seems to prompt concern from some onlookers. Johnson chuckled when he was asked directly for his height and weight on Monday. He says it’s been a topic with scouts leading up to the draft.

“For the most part, scouts will say that there are lighter, smaller guys doing their thing in the game now,” explained Johnson. “It’s not as bad as it might have been if I was getting drafted 10 years ago, but still some scouts ask.”

Coupland was an assistant coach with NSWC bantam team in 2015-16 when Johnson was a 4-foot-11, 100 pounder playing third-line minutes. His older brother Kyle is a winger with Yale University getting ready for his junior season and he’s 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, so there’s reason to believe that Kent has even more growing to do.

He’s put on between five and seven pounds since the start of this past season. The Michigan team website lists him at 165 pounds.

“I don’t feel small or weak out there,” Johnson said. “Maybe when I first got to college there were some stronger guys. By the end of the year, you could see in my game that I could protect the puck as well as most guys in college.

“There’s more filling out that I can do. I don’t think I’ll be s small guy.”

Johnson admits that having Power and Beniers as teammates has made the lead up to the draft easier because they could share experiences. He and Power were roommates at Michigan and there were times they would “get the same text or same email 10 minutes apart.”

Johnson has been a centre for the majority of his hockey career, including when he was leading the B.C. Hockey League in scoring in 1217817 Vancouver Canucks “They’re interchangeable,” said Benning. “It’s going to come down to need and I don’t now if there’s a lot separating those players. “Teams might think given a player’s pedigree and being close with other players (rankings), that they may take a chance and instead of the best player, Canucks: Benning buoyed by draft options in a challenging scouting year they fill a need. That happens in every draft and I could see it happening this year for sure.”

For the Canucks, Johnson, Lucius and Sillinger should pique their Ben Kuzma interest if McTavish is off the board. Publishing date:Jul 19, 2021 • 8 hours ago McTavish might be the one that gets away, if those TSN plaudits play out. His strong two-way game and edge have been compared to Bo Horvat, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn. That’s quite Jim Benning could make solid contact with his first two swings in the NHL the company. draft this weekend. McTavish is coming off a strong performance at the Under-18 worlds The Vancouver Canucks general manager acknowledged Monday that where he served as captain and compiled 11 points (5-6) for gold-medal selecting a centre and a defenceman are priorities with the ninth overall winning Canada. After 42 points in (29-13) in 57 games with the OHL pick Friday and 41st on Saturday. And he knows a number of coveted Peterborough Petes in 2018-19, followed by the COVID-19 suspension of players should be available. So, swing away. games, he was loaned to Olten EHC of the second division Swiss league. The 6-foot, 198 pound centre had 11 points (9-2) in 13 European “I really believe we’re going to end up with two really good players, and games. as you go into the third round with leagues not playing this year (COVID- 19), it was just a lot of video and it might get trickier,” said Benning. With their second-round pick Saturday, the Canucks could see three defenceman on the draft board rated 35th to 39th. It includes the “I saw most of the top players and the Under-18 worlds (in Frisco, Texas) intriguing 37th-ranked Scott Morrow (USHS), who excelled in high and if our scouts have done the work, then there’s going to be good school, played briefly in the USHL and is off to the NCAA next season to players in the first two rounds.” develop a complete game. Another six are ranked 45th to 53rd. Not that it was easy getting to this point. TSN has 6-foot-3 Swedish blueliner William Stromgren from MoDo (SHL) It was a challenging season for the scouting staff with safety protocols, slotted where the Canucks select at No. 41, while HockeyProsepct.com the international border issue and quarantining to ensure they saw has two defenceman going just before the Canucks pick — Stanislav enough players that they’re targeting. Svozil (Czech Republic) at No. 39 and Brent Johnson (USHL) at No. 40 — while TSN has them ranked 53rd and 68th respectively. “We had to do more video and it became really important,” said Benning. “Sometimes it’s hard to judge hockey sense without seeing everyone on Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.20.2021 the ice. You can get a sense if he can skate and shoot, can handle the puck and is physically involved. It’s not the same as seeing players, but we did get out enough to see the top end of the draft.”

Benning surrendered his third-rounder to Dallas on Saturday to acquire versatile forward Jason Dickinson in advance of the roster freeze for the Seattle expansion draft Wednesday.

He could dangle his first-rounder to bolster a current roster in need of backup help. Especially with Alex Edler testing free agency and uncertainty surrounding Nate Schmidt and UFA Travis Hamonic, but the Canucks also need to shed significant salaries. The roster freeze ends Thursday at 1 p.m.

“We’re keeping options open to making trades to make the team better and if I can recoup that (third round) pick I will, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t,” said Benning.

As for his level of interest in this year’s draft crop, it’s high. And it should be.

Coveted centres Kent Johnson of the NCAA, along with Chaz Lucius and Cole Sillinger of the USHL, have been slotted ninth to 11th respectively by TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie in his well-respected final rankings.

Centre Mason McTavish of the OHL has rocketed from 11th in midseason rankings to a fourth-place tie with Swedish winger William Eklund (SHL), while defenceman Luke Hughes (USNTDP) has slipped from fifth to eighth. Johnson was ranked eighth at midseason, with Lucius ninth and Sillinger 13th.

One critical caveat to these rankings compiled in consultation with NHL head scouts, and unlike other lists, is they aren’t based on preference or selection order. It’s a barometer of where a prospect might get picked as opposed to how he may eventually develop.

Regardless, of various scouting criteria to produce pecking orders or mock drafts, this year could deliver a few changeups after the University of Michigan duo in defenceman Owen Power and winger Matthew Beniers are expected to be selected first and second respectively.

Depending on whom you talk to in the NHL scouting community, or which list you gravitate toward, there’s a lot of movement between the third and eighth projected picks. Swedish defenceman Simon Edvinsson (SHL) could go third, WHL winger Dylan Guenther sixth and OHL blueliner Brandt Clarke seventh. Or not. 1217818 Vancouver Canucks to consider. Highmore has likely got the inside track on the fourth-line left wing spot for Vancouver at the moment, based on his strong play for the club down the stretch last season. But in an ideal world, he’d be more of a 13th forward type. Canucks offseason depth chart: Trade chips, Kraken bait, Jason Dickinson’s impact, replacing Alex Edler and more The club worked to move some inefficient contractual commitments ahead of Saturday’s roster freeze deadline and it would be no surprise if Antoine Roussel was among the players the club shopped. The veteran agitator hasn’t found the same jump that he had in his first season with By Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal Jul 19, 2021 Vancouver following his knee surgery in 2019, and with only $1.7 million in salary remaining on his deal ($3 million AAV), he could be a trade consideration over the balance of this offseason. As The Athletic reported The Vancouver Canucks submitted their protected list for the 2021 last week, Roussel is unlikely to be bought out, although everything is on Seattle Kraken expansion draft on Saturday afternoon, mere hours after the table for the Canucks as the club looks to free up additional cap acquiring Jason Dickinson from the Dallas Stars. flexibility.

Opting for a 7-3-1 protection structure, there were no surprises on the Marc Michaelis is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He’s due Canucks’ list. Even after adding Dickinson, the club isn’t really at risk of the league minimum on a qualifying offer and while he appeared in 15 losing a player of significant value to their newest geographic rival down games for the club last season, he didn’t record a point, meaning he the I-5. should be a relatively straightforward depth signing on a two-way deal. Signed as a college free agent mere weeks after the pandemic paused Now that the Canucks’ offseason has kicked off, we thought it was best the 2019-20 season, Michaelis has yet to appear in an American Hockey to update our offseason depth chart. Where does Dickinson fit in? How League game for the organization. It would seem a shame if he didn’t get will the club replace Alex Edler, who appears to be departing? What does that opportunity next season. the club still need to accomplish on the trade market and free agency over the next 10 days? Loui Eriksson is still here.

Let’s get into it. And Jonah Gadjovich was exposed in the expansion process and could be a more attractive option for the Kraken than Lind. Gadjovich only got (Note: Unrestricted free agents shaded red, restricted free agents blue, into one game with the Canucks and the club appears to be unconvinced roster holes orange.) — even in the wake of his stellar scoring record in the AHL last season LEFT WING — that he’s currently got the pace to be an everyday contributor at the NHL level. J.T. Miller CENTRE Tanner Pearson Elias Pettersson (New Player) Bo Horvat Matthew Highmore Jason Dickinson Antoine Roussel Jay Beagle Marc Michaelis Travis Boyd Loui Eriksson Carson Focht Jonah Gadjovich The club’s centre depth is shaping up, but there’s work to be done, One of the biggest changes in this roster freeze iteration of the offseason particularly in terms of signing a pair of restricted free agents in Elias depth chart is that J.T. Miller has moved back from centre to left wing, Pettersson and Dickinson, but the basic shape of how Vancouver will line displacing Nils Höglander, who we’ve bumped back over the right side up down the middle of their forward ranks is set. When healthy the club with Bo Horvat. will roll with Pettersson, Horvat, Dickinson and Jay Beagle.

The club flirted with the idea of playing Miller as their full-time third-line Pettersson’s second contract is closer to being consummated than Quinn centre down the stretch last season and into the early part of this Hughes’ deal, which is good since he’s only nine days out from being offseason. It was a sensible course of action to consider, even if Miller is eligible to sign an offer sheet. Injured for much of last season, a very clearly best used on the wing, if only because there aren’t many Pettersson bounce-back campaign is probably the major reason to be great options down the middle in free agency and the acquisition cost of optimistic about the club’s ability to make a miserable 2021 campaign a adding pivots in trade is prohibitive. one-off.

The Canucks now have the flexibility to place Miller back on the Lotto Horvat may be among the major beneficiaries of the Dickinson line, where he’s best suited, particularly if Vancouver’s top line can acquisition. Habitually thrown to the wolves matchup-wise throughout his reclaim the dominant form they managed throughout the 2019-20 Canucks career, the club would do well to find a way to utilize Horvat as campaign. a more conventional second-line forward — particularly considering his Beneath Miller at left wing, the club will likely lean toward playing Tanner offensive skill set. Pearson with Horvat on the club’s second line as the roster stands at the Dickinson is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent, with a really moment. Pearson and Horvat have been a fixture together since the strong case for a multi-year award between $2.5-$2.8 million. His actual former’s acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2019 trade contract number could be a bit lower than that on a one-year deal, and deadline, although one suspects the club would consider bumping the will surely be higher than that if the club attempts to buy out some of his reliable veteran to the third line if they were able to identify the right top- unrestricted free agent seasons. A sturdy defensive pivot capable of six target. filling in on the wing, Dickinson gives the club a ton of versatility and the Whether it’s Pearson playing on the third line or another winger who the organization believes that he has more to offer offensively than he club is able to add via free agency or trade, the club’s need for an showed during his time in Dallas (he’s produced at a low-end third-line additional middle-six forward to play the left side is apparent. As it rate at five-on-five over the past three seasons, although he was stands, Tyler Motte is likely the incumbent third-line left winger, but he’s definitely unlucky in the offensive end last season). better suited to playing a fourth-line role, considering his offensive skill Beagle was exposed in the expansion draft this weekend and could be a set is best suited for counterattacking against the grain, and ideally the dark horse selection candidate for the Kraken, especially considering his Canucks will find a way to ice a third line capable of maintaining puck low salary ($1.2 million remaining for 2021-22) and traditional fourth-line possession and working the cycle on a more regular basis. pivot skill set. Beagle is trending to be healthy for the opening of training Matthew Highmore was exposed in expansion and considering his pace camp and the club is planning to play him as their everyday fourth-line and affordable cap number, he may be a secondary option for the Kraken centre once again, as they value his pace, faceoff ability, size and ability Hawryluk is an RFA who held his own and fared decently in a fourth-line on the penalty kill. role last season. He doesn’t have the kind of penalty-killing value that would otherwise make him a slam dunk to return, but he’s competent on Travis Boyd is a solid depth piece and would be useful insurance down both sides of the puck, tenacious and there look to be enough positive the middle were he to be re-signed by Vancouver, although the club and attributes to bring him back as a 13th or 14th forward. That said, this the midseason waiver pickup appear to be in something of a holding could get complicated, as Hawryluk is due a relatively large $840,000 pattern at the moment. qualifying offer a week from now if the club is going to retain his rights as Carson Focht remains a longer-term project. The club will clearly need to an RFA. add to their depth centre options, particularly in the event that Boyd takes MacEwen is the only one of the three under contract for next season but the same route that Tyler Graovac and Brandon Sutter are expected to his lack of usage suggests that the team may not see a whole lot of value and moves on to other opportunities this offseason. in him. MacEwen adds energy and physical bite, but he hasn’t produced RIGHT WING offence, lacks the disruptive ability of most grinders and certainly hasn’t gained the trust of Canucks coaches at the NHL level. Brock Boeser Bailey, meanwhile, is a Group-6 UFA who’s continuing to rehab from a Nils Höglander season-ending shoulder injury. The club will have to make a decision on his future before July 28, but he seemed to be cementing himself as a Vasili Podkolzin regular before the injury. Tyler Motte Lastly, we have a couple of prospects in Will Lockwood and Kole Lind. Jayce Hawryluk Lind won’t be protected in the expansion draft and while he offers the highest upside of Vancouver’s exposed players, the fact that he’ll require Zack MacEwen waivers to play in the AHL next season could dissuade Seattle from taking him. The Kraken would have to be confident that Lind is either Justin Bailey NHL-ready next season or that he’d clear waivers if they intend to send William Lockwood him to the minors, otherwise it makes more sense for them to explore other cheap forwards like MacEwen, Gadjovich or Highmore. Kole Lind As for Lockwood, it’s likely that he’ll begin his season in the AHL, but he When we completed this depth chart exercise nearly two months ago, impressed the organization enormously in his first professional season right wing was a position with question marks beyond Brock Boeser. As and could be a dark horse at training camp this fall. the rubber meets the road for the offseason, the club’s options on the right flank are starting to crystallize. LEFT DEFENCE

For starters, the Canucks should be able to shift Höglander back to the Quinn Hughes right side given that Miller can now slot at left wing rather than third-line (New Player) centre in the wake of the Dickinson acquisition. Slotting Höglander in as a second-line right-winger to round out the Horvat-Pearson combination Jack Rathbone feels like a much more suitable role than expecting him to be the club’s first-line left wing option. Olli Juolevi

The other major change on right wing is that top prospect Vasili Guillaume Brisebois Podkolzin has officially put pen to paper on his entry-level contract, which Ashton Sautner means there’s a great chance he’ll play an everyday role in the Canucks’ top nine next season. On Friday morning, news rippled across the Vancouver market that will likely blow a big hole in Vancouver’s top four: Alex Edler is going to test Podkolzin and Dickinson should complement each other as strong free agency. defensive pieces, while also recovering pucks on the forecheck and reloading quickly to support their defencemen on the backcheck. Neither side has closed the door on the idea of the veteran defender Together, they should limit high danger chances with their attention to returning, but it’s clear that the decision to go to the open market is more detail and drive play. Whether they excel in a checking role that could than just exploratory. Edler definitely seems to prefer the idea of looking possibly free up some of the outsized responsibilities that the Horvat line for a new fit elsewhere, at least if we take his agent Mark Stowe’s typically carries remains to be seen, but it’ll depend somewhat on how comments on CHEK-TV and to Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston at face well developed Podkolzin’s defensive game is at the NHL level out of the value. gate. The fit between Edler and the Canucks was always going to be Offensively Podkolzin’s finishing remains a work in progress, and when challenging. He has value to offer the club with his defensive authority, you couple that with Dickinson’s lack of offensive creativity, there is a size and penalty killing, but the need to reduce his minutes and matchup relevant question about how much scoring the Canucks will be able to responsibilities made the fit suboptimal. Accommodating a reduced role net from their third line. Will Vancouver prioritize adding a finisher to add for Edler and managing his deployment wasn’t going to be easy with some offensive punch to a potential Podkolzin, Dickinson duo or will they Jack Rathbone the leading contender to hold down an everyday role on target another defensively oriented player to flesh out a checking line? Vancouver’s third pair next season. It’s one of the key questions that need to be addressed over the next 2-3 weeks, and it’s a particularly high leverage question considering the lack Still, there’s no question that the Canucks will miss elements of Edler’s of offensive push this club has typically received from their bottom six in skill set. And as a result, adding a matchup left-shot defender probably the Green era. becomes the club’s most pressing need for the remainder of the offseason. The level of trust and responsibility that Podkolzin earns as a rookie will also likely have a trickle-down effect on Motte’s usage. The matchup characteristic is key — Vancouver doesn’t just need top- four talent, it specifically needs someone who can credibly play high Motte is a very useful player with his speed and disruptive ability, but he’s leverage minutes against the opposition’s top players. That probably better suited to playing fourth-line minutes on most teams with serious explains why the Canucks were not one of the teams in on Vince Dunn playoff ambitions. Vancouver’s lack of depth, and specifically, its lack of ahead of the roster freeze. Dunn is highly talented and boasts top-four wingers with two-way intelligence, has forced the coaching staff to lean potential, but he has zero experience playing difficult matchups. on Motte more like a third-line player. Over the last two seasons, Motte ranks eighth among Canucks forwards in five-on-five ice-time per game. A player like Ryan Graves, who was traded to New Jersey for a second- Motte’s usage, production and health will all be under the microscope as round pick and prospect Mikhail Maltsev, fits the mold for the kind of he enters the final year of his contract before unrestricted free agency. hard-nosed, defensively sound blueliner Vancouver would be looking for. The Canucks kicked tires on Graves, but they weren’t among the serious After the projected regulars, the team has three depth options — Jayce bidders. Hawryluk, Zack MacEwen and Justin Bailey — that each have questions surrounding their future. Heading into free agency, Sabres UFA Jake McCabe may be an optimal Thatcher Demko is Vancouver’s present and future in goal, that much we target. The Canucks will need to do their due diligence to ensure that know, but Braden Holtby’s uncertain status is the elephant in the room McCabe will be good health-wise following a major knee injury that when it comes to Canucks netminding. ended his season prematurely, but when he’s 100 percent, McCabe checks off many of the boxes the Canucks would be looking for. The 27- Last week, The Athletic reported that Holtby is drawing real interest from year-old is a very steady two-way contributor with stellar defensive several teams including the Kraken, although the club may need to retain metrics over the last two seasons. McCabe’s been Buffalo’s leader in some salary in any of those deals. shorthanded minutes per game, which would be very valuable Seattle’s goaltending situation remains particularly interesting. League considering the PK burden Edler’s typically carried, and he gained sources previously indicated that Seattle inquired about the Canucks’ experience in matchup minutes in 2019-20. willingness to retain money in a possible Holtby side deal. Carey Price Alternatively, the Canucks could also consider signing someone like being exposed could be a gamechanger for the Kraken. However, Adam Larsson and then bump Nate Schmidt over to the left side if they depending on how they feel about the star goaltender’s health and intend on keeping the latter player. contract. Meanwhile, the Kraken are reportedly targeting Florida Panthers netminder Chris Driedger — a pending unrestricted free agent There isn’t a whole lot of suspense about the left side defence depth — in the expansion process. Would a Driedger tandem with Holtby be of chart once the second pair void is filled. Rathbone and Olli Juolevi will interest to the Kraken? Would they prefer to go a more affordable route in contend for the final left-shot, third pair job with the former being the clear net? Could they select six or seven goaltenders in the process and look favourite after a dazzling cameo. to flip three or four of them to accrue future assets?

Beneath them, Ashton Sautner is a pending UFA and the club and player Whether it’s Seattle or an alternative destination, the Canucks will have will have to make a decision on whether to continue their longstanding done well if they could find a way to move Holtby without surrendering relationship. The club still values him as organizational depth, but assets. And perhaps even if they do need to surrender assets. The cap Sautner has barely sniffed NHL action since the 2018-19 campaign and savings would be partially mitigated by the replacement cost for a new could pursue greater opportunity elsewhere. Guillaume Brisebois is a backup, of course, but any extra flexibility carved is enormously valuable pending RFA and will likely be retained as inexpensive depth that can to a strapped Canucks team. play in Abbotsford. Michael DiPietro will earn the lion’s share of starts in Abbotsford, while RIGHT DEFENCE 2019 sixth-round pick Arturs Silovs will likely back him up.

Travis Hamonic GONE

Nate Schmidt Brandon Sutter

Tyler Myers Lukas Jasek

Jalen Chatfield Alex Edler

Madison Bowey Tyler Graovac

Jett Woo Brogan Rafferty

There are balls still up in the air on the right side of the defence as well. Jimmy Vesey Talks have been relatively quiet with Travis Hamonic since the club made its offer last week, but that’s customary considering the timing of the Sven Baertschi expansion draft. Vancouver will lose a lot of experience on the blue line if Jake Virtanen Edler departs, so it’ll be fascinating to see if that furthers the club’s incentive to retain Hamonic’s services. Brandon Sutter is widely believed to be on his way out the door in unrestricted free agency, as is Edler — although the club hasn’t closed Schmidt remains a wild card with an uncertain future. It’s no secret that the door on either player returning. the fit hasn’t been ideal for either side and Schmidt is narrowly more likely to be dealt than to return for a second Canucks season at this Lukas Jasek has already signed overseas and according to reports from juncture. The challenge is figuring out how the club can replace his The Athletic contributor Rick Dhaliwal, it seems that Tyler Graovac may minutes if they move on from him, considering the relatively thin market shortly do the same. for suitable right-shot defencemen in free agency. Brogan Rafferty will test the market after being used so sparingly by the After Tyler Myers, one wonders if the club could use a depth upgrade. Canucks last season, while Jimmy Vesey didn’t impress after he was Jalen Chatfield was the next man up on the right side last year but he claimed on waivers by the club and we all know that it’s time for the club looked overmatched at many points in the 18 games he suited up for. and Sven Baertschi to move on. Chatfield is a pending UFA, so it’ll be interesting to see if the club re-ups As for Jake Virtanen, he’s the subject of sexual misconduct allegations him or leans in a different direction. and is currently on leave from the Canucks organization. Parallel Madison Bowey’s locked up for next season and we shouldn’t read too investigations into the allegations are ongoing, conducted by both the much into the fact that he didn’t get a single look at the end of the season Vancouver Police Department and an internal group led by retired when the team was ravaged by COVID-19 and injuries, since the club Vancouver Police inspector Valerie Harrison. Virtanen has also been opted to use their four recalls instead on giving some opportunities to named civilly in a statement of claim that was filed in Kelowna, B.C., in younger players like Gadjovich, Lind, Lockwood and Rathbone. mid-May. Virtanen has responded in civic court denying the allegations, according to documents obtained by Glacier Media. Jett Woo had a solid first professional season with the Comets but remains a work in progress who needs plenty of development time before The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 realistically contending for an NHL job.

GOALIE

Thatcher Demko

Braden Holtby

Michael DiPietro

Arturs Silovs

Jake Kielly 1217819 Websites Sam played basketball for Canisius College, an NCAA Division-I program in Buffalo, N.Y., before the pandemic. His older brother Andy played for Syracuse University and was selected by the New York Knicks in the second round (38th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. The Athletic / Canadian sportscasters and their children who are succeeding in sports “It’s one of the perks of what we do,” said Leo. “Because in many ways, we’re absentee dads, right? We try to make up for it as much as we can. We miss a lot. We’re on the road a lot. We do our best to get to as much as we can, but even then, we’re gone.” By Sean Fitz-Gerald Jul 19, 2021 There are other perks, he said. When Sam had questions about the

college recruiting process, he found a mentor on set. Jack Armstrong, the When Louie DeBrusk launched his career as a radio colour analyst with Raptors colour voice who was also a Division-I basketball coach, went the Phoenix Coyotes, in 2005, he was not the only member of his family over to the family home to help. to receive security clearance at the arena. His son, Jake, also got an all- “He stayed up until three in the morning,” said Leo, “having a glass of access pass. wine and talking to Sammy about recruiting.” He turned nine that season, and he was turned loose on Glendale Arena. Leo Rautins also had a perspective on the game, as a former star at The security guards knew him, watching him wander the arena in search Syracuse who, in 1983, became the first Canadian taken in the first of fun or snacks or both. When the Pittsburgh Penguins rolled into town, round of the NBA Draft. (He went 17th overall, to the Philadelphia 76ers.) Jake took some of his hockey cards into the visiting dressing room to meet a young Sidney Crosby. Ray Ferraro also played the game before picking up a microphone and, in 2015, he got to interview his son Landon while he made his debut with “I’ll never forget it: In that big scrum, the first with Sid in Phoenix, he’s the Bruins in a game against the Maple Leafs. (“Well,” Ray said to start right there beside him, looking up at him,” Louie said with a chuckle. “It’s the intermission interview, “this is strange.”) one of the perks.” Rod Black still plays recreational hockey whenever he can, but he never Louie DeBrusk is working in Canada now, as an analyst with Sportsnet, played professionally. Sports just became part of family life. His wife, and his son just completed his fourth season as a forward with the Nancy, still plays hockey. Her late father, Bill Knibbs, was a forward with Boston Bruins. Jake had already started playing hockey by the time his the Bruins for 53 games in the 1960s. father was on the radio, and he had already professed his desire to become an NHL player. They have four children, and all four play sports. Tyler (20) and Brody (19) played triple-A hockey at the same time. Jesse (17) and Sienna (15) His father was asked: What role might that press pass have played in his are both active in athletics. child’s career path? Their father said he would take them into work so often that, when their “I’ve never had anybody ever ask about that,” said Louie. “But I’ve always school held actual take-your-child-to-work days, the children would go said I believe it was hugely instrumental in just continuing his love of the into work with another adult, just for something new: “They know what I game.” do, and they’d been there and done that.” In the relatively small sphere of Canadian sports broadcasting, children Matt Devlin moved his family to Toronto when he took a play-by-play job of many on-air personalities are succeeding in high-level sport. That with the Raptors in 2008, relocating north from Charlotte. There was success is not only limited to hockey either, with familiar surnames already plenty of basketball in the family. His wife, Erin, has two brothers popping up in the NBA and, most recently, in the Major League Baseball serving as coaches in the NCAA (Ed Conroy, Vanderbilt; Duffy Conroy, draft. Louisiana Tech.) Several parents were professional athletes in a previous life — Louie None of their children could skate when they arrived in Canada. All three DeBrusk was a gritty forward for more than 400 regular-season NHL — Jack, Ian and Luke — played as many sports as they could when they games — but other broadcasters never climbed much further than the arrived. There was baseball, soccer, basketball and rugby. They also recreational level. showed an early interest in hockey. Tyler Black, the eldest son of veteran Canadian sportscaster Rod Black, Ian, the middle son, is playing Junior A in the British Columbia Hockey was selected 33rd overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in this month’s MLB League, with the Coquitlam Express. Luke, the youngest, has committed Draft. His brother Brody is an outfielder with Dawson Community to playing at Cornell University, and will represent the United States at College, in Glendive, Mont. the Hlinka Gretzky Cup next month in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. “That’s probably the common denominator: The kids are around it,” said Jack, the eldest, is a student manager with the men’s basketball team at Rod Black. “I think you’re not as intimidated from the environment, the University of Iowa. (And he has a knack for hitting half-court shots perhaps. Or not even that: I think you get inspired, when you see the when the camera is rolling, too.) other athletes around and you say, ‘Hey, I want to do that.’” Even though two-thirds of his offspring eventually focused on a sport Sam Rautins has been mingling with players and executives at NBA different than the one he worked, Matt Devlin said there is a universality games in Toronto for as long as he can remember. His father, Leo, is a that translates from the court to the ice. He — and by extension his long-time analyst for Raptors broadcasts, and always made an effort to children — could see the work Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan put into bring his children to work. their craft away from the television lights. “It was a really cool thing,” said Sam. “I think the coolest thing for me was “Those stories are something that you share,” said Matt. “Fred just being able to be around such high-level guys all the time.” VanVleet’s story – which we all know — that’s something that is His father tells a story of a time when he left Sam near the scorer’s table relatable, it’s something that’s transferable: Even when obstacles are before a game. Leo had to run to the media room for a moment. When placed in your way, you keep going.” he returned, Leo noticed then-Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo There were no obstacles in the view Andy Frost secured for his son at nearby. Maple Leafs games. Frost spent more than 15 years as the public He asked his son if he had said hello. address announcer at Scotiabank Arena. For four or five games every season, he would bring his son, Morgan, to work with him. Colangelo told him that not only had they exchanged pleasantries, but that had also been talking about basketball for 20 minutes. A 2017 first-round pick, Morgan Frost — son of radio personality Andy Frost — has played in 22 games and tallied seven points for the Flyers in “You never know what could happen,” said Sam. “You never know who’s the past two seasons. (Eric Hartline / USA Today) going to pop out on the court. Everybody’s always talking with everybody. I’ve always thought that was the coolest part of everything. Beginning when Morgan was about 10 years old, he would sit in press row, just below his father, right up in the arena rafters. Sometimes, his “I enjoyed that more than the actual game, you know?” father would look down and see his son scribbling on the paper in front of him — sometimes doodles, sometimes notes.

“What he really liked,” said Andy, “was that he could get free ice cream in the press box.”

In 2017, the Philadelphia Flyers took Morgan with the 27th pick of the NHL Draft. He has since appeared in 22 regular-season games, including two last season.

After games in Toronto, Andy would invite Morgan into a booth, where he fielded calls from Leafs fans — win or lose — for a live show on AM640.

“I’d give him a headset so he could hear the crazy Leaf fan callers and what they’d say,” Andy said with a chuckle. “I guess it was exciting for him. For me, it was about having my kid along for the ride.”

Louie and Jake DeBrusk saw their careers intersect in 2018, when Jake was invited onto the “Hockey Night in Canada” postgame show with host Scott Oake seated on one side, and his father on the other.

Louie has another intersection hanging on the wall in his office. It is a photograph taken during a game in Vancouver. Louie was stationed between the benches, working on the broadcast, and Jake was just a few feet away, following the play from the end of the bench.

“I love it,” the father said proudly. “I look at that picture all the time.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217820 Websites Here are some of the answers I got: “Connor Kurth at Dubuque (Fighting Saints),” said one source of NHL

Central Scouting’s 220th-ranked North American skater, who is The Athletic / Most underrated? A rankings tweak? Final 2021 NHL Draft committed to the University of Minnesota. “He’s producing in the USHL thoughts, notes, quotes and predictions as a late 2003. Reminds me of Matt Hendricks. I could see him carving out a role in the NHL. He’s a sandpaper guy with skill.”

That same source also mentioned Bennett Schimek. Schimek’s a By Scott Wheeler Jul 19, 2021 Providence commit who posted 24 points in 50 games as a rookie with Sioux City in the USHL (sixth on the Musketeers in scoring). “He should

get drafted,” the source said. Just like that, another draft weekend is here. If it feels like we were doing Another USHL source gave Sioux Falls’ Tyler Haskins, a July 2003 this only nine and a half months ago, that’s because we were. And if that birthday who is committed to the University of Michigan and posted 27 nine and a half months feels like years, well, we can all relate. points in 51 games as a rookie in the USHL (seventh on the Stampede in But a little piece of normal is here. More than 200 kids are about to live scoring), some love: “He’s a fast skater. He’s not overly dynamic. He’s out their dreams, though it will come for a second year in a row without more of a north-south guy. But he’s a good prospect.” the stage-walking and photo-taking that they imagined. The Seattle “Jack Harvey, not close,” said one source of the Boston University Kraken will select their inaugural draft class, beginning with the No. 2 commit who posted 17 points in 48 games as a first-year depth player on pick. Another chapter in the league’s history will be written. Future NHL a stacked Chicago Steel roster. stars will be selected. Future Stanley Cup champions, too. One NHL scout gave three other USHL names: Overagers Matt When the dust settles on Day 1 and Day 2, I’ll have my full analysis of Choupani (Des Moines/Northeastern), Andrei Buyalsky every team’s draft — and likely almost all of the players taken — here at (Dubuque/Vermont) and Daniel Laatsch (Sioux City/Wisconsin). The Athletic. After the draft, you can count on the release of my annual top-50 drafted NHL prospects ranking and top-10 drafted NHL goalie Said the scout on Choupani, who finished second on the Buccaneers in prospects ranking, both of which will feature names from the 2021 class. scoring with 43 points in 48 games: “Good player. Good sense, skill, compete, shot/pass balance. Wish he skated a little better for his size.” But before then, here are some stray thoughts, notes, quotes from sources (a lot of them), predictions, and class superlatives to wrap up my “Cam MacDonald,” one QMJHL source answered quickly of the Saint 2021 NHL Draft coverage, as well as links to everything I’ve written on it John Sea Dogs forward, who posted a combined 14 goals and 22 points to date. in 36 regular season and playoff games this year. “Definitely.”

Rankings One QMJHL coach also added Cam MacDonald’s name to the list before turning his attention to another player: “Riley Kidney in Bathurst I think is June top 100 (final) better than he gets credit for.” March top 64 (midseason) One OHL general manager gave four names: December top 64 (preliminary) Wyatt Johnson: “Very skilled, creative, smart. Wasn’t out in high September top 32 (preseason) offensive situations for Team Canada and plays for a bit of an old-school playing style team in Windsor so when teams are looking at 16-year-old February top 21 (early) tape, he probably doesn’t jump out at you a lot.”

Player profiles Jon-Randall Avon: “Buried as a 16-year-old. Plays in a system that is as defensive-minded and old-school-toss-pucks-away as they come. Mackie Samoskevitch Amazing speed and motor, has good skill and will be nasty to play Diary of a draft year with Brandt Clarke: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 against.”

Francesco Pinelli Ethan Cardwell: “No clue why he wasn’t drafted last year. He could have had 100 points this year. Very skilled and smart.” Chaz Lucius Jacob Holmes: “A lot of his evaluation is as a 16-year-old in the OHL. Simon Edvinsson Possesses a canon of a shot, great mobility, moves pucks extremely well Mason McTavish and has a great stick while defending.”

Cole Sillinger Some OHL names I was given by NHL scouts: Hamilton Bulldogs winger Ryan Winterton, London Knights defencemen Ben Roger and Bryce Aatu Raty Montgomery, Erie Otters forward Connor Lockhart and Sarnia Sting defenceman Ryan Mast. Matt Beniers Said one NHL scout on Lockhart: “He actually looked better on video Two more coming! than some higher-end guys.”

Miscellaneous Said one NHL scout on Montgomery: “Definitely a project and it would be My mock draft a fun one. He has a solid base to work with but he might run out of runway. I love his story and his personality. I can’t justify drafting him — Guide to scouting (2021 update) his reel is limited — but if I was a team with a ton of picks like a Detroit, he’s the one guy I would take my chances with. There could be some Ten 2021 NHL Draft prospects who missed the cut for my top-100 good upside there. I liked him even before he went to London. He ranking probably would have been better off going to Providence than London Which NHL teams have drafted the best and worst since 2005? because development-wise he needs some time.”

June 24 live Q&A A thought about the goalies

And as always, for more of our draft coverage, check out the work of The Two goalies will, in all likelihood, be picked in the first round of the draft Athletic’s Corey Pronman. for the first time since 2012. They’re both really good. Though I’m not sure where Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa will slot into my top- Most underrated? 10 drafted goalie prospects ranking exactly quite yet, both will be on the list and Wallstesdt immediately becomes a top-three drafted goalie Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I asked a bunch of sources, prospect, in the same tier as Yaroslav Askarov and Spencer Knight from NHL scouts to junior coaches and managers, to give me the most (though the latter won’t be considered a prospect for long). underrated 2021 draft-eligible in their region/league. But if you follow my work closely, you’ll notice that I’ve usually had a Askarov). I suspect Fedor Svechkov is the first Russian off the board, handful of goalie prospects in my final top-100 ranking for each draft and and I still believe Aatu Raty will be the first Finn taken, but the former this year those are the only two on my board. likely only becomes a factor from pick No. 11 onward and the latter now looks poised to go in the 20s. Sarnia Sting goalie Benjamin Gaudreau is usually considered the third- best goalie prospect in the draft and will likely be picked in the second The good news is that between Brad Lambert in 2022 and Matvei round. He’s got name cache as someone who was the seventh pick in Michkov in 2023, both countries have top-three selections coming (and in the 2019 OHL draft and won this year’s top goalie award at U18 worlds, Michkov’s case, a real threat to Connor Bedard for No. 1). backstopping Canada to gold with a 5-0 record and a .919 save percentage. But he didn’t play this year outside of U18s and there was But it has become clear in the last decade that USA Hockey has enough to be done in his game as a rookie in the OHL a year ago that I’d distinguished itself from the three European giants to join Canada’s tier. have a hard time taking him in the range he’s expected to go vis-a-visa The NTDP’s 2001 age group really stamped that at the 2019 draft (and some of the forwards and defencemen that will be available there. the 2021 world juniors), and next year’s 2004 age group will do it again for the 2022 draft, which looks like it’ll be all U.S. in the first round outside I’d consider drafting Belarusian overager Alexei Kolosov or Kirill a handful of big names from the other powers. Gerasimyuk (who wasn’t even ranked by NHL Central Scouting) in the mid-to-late rounds. And I might have ranked both slightly ahead of Also of note in regard to nationality: Only 32 Belarusian players have Gaudreau had my list run a little longer. ever been drafted into the NHL. Among them, 13 have been drafted in its first four rounds. They will add three names to that first list this year (the But I wonder if there are other teams that are feeling the same way as I second most ever produced by the country in a single draft class), and am (which I know there are), whether that will ramp up pressure to take might even produce three in the first four rounds for the first time ever. one of the two big names early. If you’re a manager and you’ve decided your organization needs a legitimate goalie prospect, and you’re worried Single digits defencemen will be selected in the first round (again) about getting a kid you really like later, it may become harder to let If defencemen account for two out of the six players on the ice, in theory Wallstedt or Cossa pass by. I don’t think either of them will last long. they’d also account for roughly 33 percent of the players taken in the first A note on Fabian Lysell round of your average draft (10 or so of the 31 selections). That was the case in 2018 (14) and 2019 (10). But after six defencemen were taken in There has been a great divide between the public sphere’s excitement the first round last year, I’d bet on 2021’s number not being much higher about Lysell, which has often positioned him with the draft’s top 10 or so than that. That’s particularly noteworthy because four defencemen will prospects, and the private sphere’s reluctance to talk about him in that almost surely go inside the top 10 (Owen Power, Luke Hughes, Simon same group. Edvinsson and Brandt Clarke).

I understand why both trends have emerged, though. I’ve often written Corson Ceulemans will be a first-rounder, making it five. Carson Lambos about the tricks our eyes can play on us in player evaluation. The flashes probably, too (though I’m not sure that’s a guarantee anymore). One, we see in a player can grab us and linger when a viewing is over. It’s maybe both, of Daniil Chayka and Stanislav Svozil will probably be hard not to be drawn to a prospect who has a skill set that pops in one picked in its back half. way or another. But there are too many first-round-level forwards, two surefire goalies NHL clubs fall prey to this too, picking the fastest player in a draft or the and just enough by way of concerns about some of the other top hardest shooting one because of the emphasis now placed on speed and defencemen in the draft, for me to confidently project any of Sean shooting in the sport. But the players who do one thing well often never Behrens, Scott Morrow, Olen Zellweger, Jack Peart, Kirill Kirsanov and figure the rest out. And the teams and evaluators that assume that that company as first-rounders (even if I know each will appear on some lists one NHL quality will carry them and that the rest can come, often get in that range). A couple might sneak in, but certainly not all of them. burned. Michael McLeod, Zach Senyshyn and Alex Formenton can skate faster than every NHL player they’re trying to leap over into a roster spot. One last-minute draft ranking tweak? Owen Tippett and Kieffer Bellows can shoot harder than the next guy too. It has been a month since my final ranking for the 2021 class dropped on But that’s not always enough. June 22, and if I could make one change to it today (among the handful I In Lysell, the tools are plain to see. He’s a brilliant skater whose hands always want to make following conversations and further review the can keep up. month of the draft), it would be this: Although I wouldn’t adjust William Eklund’s ranking (No. 5), I would expand my first tier by one to include His dashes are NHL dashes, if that makes sense. He has done this in him in it. So instead of my top two tiers being 1-4 and 5-12, they’d be 1-5 front of a world’s worth of scouts on the biggest stage: and 6-12.

And this, too: Class superlatives

He also works very hard, so you notice him when he’s out there even Best skaters when he doesn’t have the puck because he’s constantly hustling to try to lift to steal it back. Luke Hughes

But if you’re not paying close enough attention, those eye-catching Fabian Lysell moments can make you miss what happens between them or mask Oskar Olausson whether or not the flashes are actually creating something of substance at the same rate. That’s where I think a more careful evaluation of Mackie Samoskevich Lysell’s game recognizes that he’s both really talented, with some clear Matthew Beniers tools that will translate, and also too often a little lost out there, where the constant pushing of pace isn’t creating the intended results as much as Olen Zellweger you might think. William Eklund The balancing act of projecting that skill forward and wondering whether he’ll ever put all of the decision-making/processing pieces together Owen Power landed him at No. 13 on my board. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he Isak Rosen lingered a little more than his raw talent might indicate on draft day, and I kind of get why. He’s going to be a fascinating case study, nonetheless, Honourable mention for his edgework: Aleksi Heimosalmi though, because despite the allure of the speed element, I don’t think he’s McLeod, Senyshyn and Formenton in style or in upside (his is higher Best shooters than theirs was). Chaz Lucius No Russians or Finns in the top 10 (again) Samu Salminen For the second year in a row, the top of the draft will be absent two of Mason McTavish hockey’s five superpowers (we didn’t see the first Finn until 12th with Anton Lundell last year, nor the first Russian until 11th with Iaroslav Cole Sillinger Matthew Coronato Sasha Pastujov

Logan Stankoven Joshua Roy

Brennan Othmann Aidan Hreschuk

Samu Tuomaala Jeremy Wilmer

Danila Klimovich The Athletic LOADED: 07.20.2021

Dylan Guenther

Honourable mention: Dylan Duke

Smartest players

William Eklund

Owen Power

Jack Peart

Sean Behrens

Sasha Pastujov

Fedor Svechkov

Ayrton Martino

Olen Zellweger

Honourable mentions: Conner Roulette, Kirill Kirsanov, Ryder Korczak, Ryan Ufko

“I’m a big fan. Really smart,” one NHL scout told me when I asked about Peart this year — with emphasis on “really.” That’s a common refrain.

Best hands

Kent Johnson

Cole Sillinger

Brandt Clarke

Logan Stankoven

Alexander Kisakov

Mackie Samoskevich

Oskar Olausson

Sasha Pastujov

Chaz Lucius

Ayrton Martino

Honourable mentions: William Eklund, Dylan Guenther

Hardest working

Matthew Beniers

Tyler Boucher

Red Savage

Zach Dean

Matthew Coronato

Chase Stillman

Liam Gilmartin

Honourable mentions: Jackson Blake, Liam Dower Nilsson, Ryan Ufko, William Eklund, Josh Doan, Alexander Kisakov

Most likely to rise relative to my board

Fedor Svechkov

Daniil Chayka

Stanislav Svozil

Nolan Allan

Evan Nause

Most likely to fall relative to my board 1217821 Websites morning. Consider this the Kraken shifting into fifth gear as they race their car toward collision in this game of chicken with the Canadiens.

*I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. Sportsnet.ca / Are Kraken willing to absorb risk on Price amid new They’re preserving Francis’s leverage to squeeze an extra asset out of questions about health? Bergevin to not choose Price, and it’ll be up to Bergevin to decide if he wants to hit the brakes and concede or just keep pressing down on the gas pedal. Eric EngelsJuly 19, 2021, 1:36 PM Whatever happens, we won’t have to wait much longer to see how this shakes out.

MONTREAL — This track has more turns in it than le Circuit de la Sarthe But given how much has already transpired over the past 48 hours, we’d at Le Mans, and the next hairpin could be coming up before you’ve imagine more twists and turns are coming. finished reading this sentence. So, consider that as you sift through the rest of this piece about where things stand with Carey Price, the Montreal Protected list Canadiens and the Seattle Kraken. Forwards A lot has developed since Price waived his no-movement clause and was Josh Anderson, Joel Armia, Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, Jesperi left unprotected on the list the Canadiens submitted to the NHL on Kotkaniemi, Artturi Lehkonen, Tyler Toffoli. Sunday for Wednesday’s upcoming expansion draft. Reports surfaced later in the day that Price’s end-of-season medical report revealed hip Defence and knee issues that will be explored by a specialist this week and that the potential for him to miss a significant portion of next season — or Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson, Jeff Petry. perhaps all of it — is real but might not be clarified before Friday. Goalie

With that, a complicated decision for the Kraken got significantly more Jake Allen. complex and, based on what we’ve been told, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin is just fine with that — even if he’s gone radio Possible Seattle targets (other than Price) silent. Shea Weber Sources say he has no desire to lose Price, regardless of the soon-to-be 34-year-old’s injury status, the $44.25 million he needs to be paid and the Multiple injuries to the 35-year-old captain of the Canadiens have $10.5-million cap hit he’ll carry for each of the next five seasons. reportedly put his playing career in jeopardy.

But Bergevin won’t confirm that because he has no intention of allowing He carries a $7.85-million cap hit for each of the next five seasons, which himself to get bullied into giving the Kraken assets to keep Price could be placed on long-term injury reserve and give the Kraken the protected. As I qualified it Saturday, the Montreal GM made a big flexibility to exceed the cap by that amount if they spend to it in gamble, but a calculated one, and now it’s clear his knowledge of Price’s assembling their team. injury status was part of that assessment. It’s a longshot they’d want to do it, but that is still an asset. And if Weber He’s made his play, shifted the onus back on the Kraken and forced them attempts to make a comeback further down the line, he’d be an asset, to decide if they want to take on even more risk than they appeared to be too. willing to upon learning Price was available. That Weber’s already been paid $98 million of his $110-million contract Why Canadiens' Bergevin exposed Price in expansion draft that expires in 2026 doesn’t hurt.

Still, sources informed us Sunday that even prior to the afternoon’s 31 Thoughts: The Podcast developments, the conversation among GM Ron Francis and Seattle’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey ownership group was framed as, “Can we really turn away from him?” as world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what opposed to, “We really want to take him.” they think about it.

There are reasons to not — from the quality and value other available Jonathan Drouin goaltenders present, to Price’s wildly inconsistent play over the last four regular seasons and his bloated contract only naturally depreciating in The talented 26-year-old was placed on LTIR for personal reasons after value with every passing day but still taking up close to 13 per cent of the appearing in 44 games this past season. He faces an uncertain playing fixed $81.5-million upper limit for the coming years — and they were future, but should he decide to return, he could be a compelling grab — being discussed by the Kraken at length. As was Price’s extensive injury even at $5.5 million on the cap over each of the next two seasons. history, which already presented the greatest risk in selecting him. Should Drouin not return, he’ll likely still qualify for LTIR. But sources say their group was still leaning toward doing it before this curveball came down the pike later on Sunday. Brett Kulak

Of all the high-profile talent made available to the Kraken by the rest of He’s a 27-year-old defenceman with one year remaining on a contract the NHL (Vegas Golden Knights excluded) — Vladimir Tarasenko, Mark that only counts for $1.85 million on the cap and he’s proven to be quite Giordano, Gabriel Landeskog headline an extensive list — they know no versatile in his three seasons with the Canadiens. one could better serve as the face of the franchise than Price. The Kulak also seems like a player who would flourish in a bigger role. He’s Anahim Lake, B.C., native, who just brought the Canadiens to within only been used at even strength in Montreal, but could prove capable on three wins of their first Stanley Cup in 28 years, has marketing pull that the penalty kill or the power play. Seattle might be the place for him to would easily offset the money owed to him on his contract and the sense show it, and they could always flip him somewhere at the trade deadline was that, with what is shaping up to be a pretty good team in front Price, for a decent haul, considering he’s a pending unrestricted free agent. he could still perform well enough to live up to the lofty expectations that would come with selecting him and making him their franchise player. Cale Fleury

Now, Price’s uncertain injury situation has brought on considerably more He’s who we’d take — even with Price, Weber, Drouin, unrestricted free risk than the Kraken might be willing to take — even if they’re putting out agent Phillip Danault and Paul Byron available. He’s a 22-year-old right- a different vibe at present. hander who moves the puck well and has a real physical edge to him, and he’s NHL-ready. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported Monday — as a follow to the news he broke regarding Price’s hip and knee issues — Francis has That Fleury already has 41 games of NHL experience under his belt and been authorized by ownership to select Price if he so chooses, even if he is just coming out of his entry-level contract presents the upside any doesn’t gain any clarity on the star goalie's availability for the upcoming expansion team should covet. season between now and submitting his list to the NHL on Wednesday Salary cap outlook The Canadiens have just over $67 million committed to a near-complete roster for the 2021-22 season. They’d like to keep unrestricted free agents Danault and Joel Armia, but not at any cost. They’d also like to keep Corey Perry and could likely find a reasonable compromise with his agent to do so.

Tomas Tatar, Eric Staal, Erik Gustafsson and Jon Merrill are likely not returning with the Canadiens.

Restricted free agents Kotkanieimi, Lehkonen, Fleury, Otto Leskinen and Ryan Poehling need new contracts, but the cost isn’t anticipated to be prohibitive for any of them.

Meanwhile, the LTIR designations for both Drouin and Weber would enable the Canadiens to exceed the cap by close to $14 million if they remain in Montreal (and if the Canadiens spend all the way to the cap).

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217822 Websites a $1.3-million cap hit through next season, after which the 25-year-old will be an RFA.

Arizona Coyotes Sportsnet.ca / Mock NHL Expansion Draft: Who will the Seattle Kraken In Consideration: Michael Bunting (UFA), Dryden Hunt, Christian Fischer, choose? Tyler Pitlick

The Pick: Christian Fischer Rory BoylennJuly 19, 2021, 8:14 AM Not a lot to choose form here, so we're taking a cheap ($1 million AAV), young (24 years old), and capable NHLer who has scored 15 goals in a season before. It was a wild couple of days in the NHL, with a flurry of action before Saturday's roster freeze, followed by Sunday's news of each team's Boston Bruins protection list for the expansion lists being revealed. In Consideration: Ondrej Kase, Nick Ritchie, Mike Reilly, Connor Clifton, With that trade freeze in effect through Wednesday's expansion draft, the Jeremy Lauzon, Jakub Zboril next couple of days could be a little quieter on the news front, but there is The Pick: Connor Clifton a lot of space for speculation now. Who will the Seattle Kraken choose? Can they be as competitive out of the gate as Vegas? Will they even try It really comes down to which mid-20s defenceman you want. Clifton has to be, or will saving cap space be more of a priority and a long-term build one year left on a deal paying a $1 million AAV, worked his way up the be the plan? depth chart and brings a lot of energy.

There are some important, and different, factors at play this time. Buffalo Sabres

One is that the $81.5 million salary cap is expected to remain flat for a In Consideration: Cody Eakin, Zemgus Girgensons, Colin Miller, William while, which has forced even tougher decisions for a lot of teams. Some Borgen big names were left unprotected to Seattle and, in some of those cases, it might be best for that team to lose the player and open more space. The Pick: William Borgen But the Kraken won't want to just throw away their own valuable room. Had a broken arm not interrupted his season, Borgen would have had an Seattle also holds the second overall pick in this draft, which seems likely opportunity to solidify a spot on Buffalo's blue line. At 24 he's an to wind up being centre Matthew Beniers, or perhaps one of the many unproven (at the NHL level) defenceman who is cheap with upside. We defencemen at the top of the rankings. Vegas had to wait for the sixth have to find ways to save money and buy into potential where it makes overall pick to make their first selection. sense so that we can take bigger cuts elsewhere. This is one of those choices. There are a million different ways the Kraken could build this team, and we took a crack at building out one version of it. First, a few notes: Calgary Flames

• Made an effort to not pick any UFAs on this team. The Kraken now In Consideration: Matthew Phillips, Glenn Gawdin, Dominik Simon, Mark have an exclusive negotiating window with any unprotected UFA, so they Giordano, Oliver Kylington, Tyler Parsons could use that to pick and sign the likes of Gabriel Landeskog or Dougie The Pick: Mark Giordano Hamilton. We'll avoid that level of speculation. However, there is one UFA we did put in this mock draft because reports indicate there may be Not overthinking it. Giordano starts as your No. 1 defence to anchor the a deal in place. blue line, play big minutes and be a leader. With one year left on his contract, if it works out perhaps Giordano would sign a short-term • We don't know what the Kraken's philosophy will be, but ours was to try extension. That, or the Kraken trade him now or at the deadline and and find a middle ground of icing a competitive team, finding value, and retain part of his $6.75 million AAV to maximize trade value. mixing in some youth. Kraken GM Ron Francis said this weekend he has the green light to spend to the cap if he wants, so we're not building a Eric Francis: Has Giordano played his last game as a Flame? budget team. July 16 2021 • We don't know if the Kraken have struck any side deals with teams that would influence their expansion draft. Carolina Hurricanes

• Expansion rules dictate the Kraken must choose at least 20 players In Consideration: Nino Niederreiter, Morgan Geekie, Dougie Hamilton who are under contract for next season. They must also choose at least (UFA), Jake Gardiner, Jake Bean three goalies, 14 forwards and nine defencemen. The Pick: Jake Bean

• We have to be mindful of the $81.5 million cap ceiling, but also of the Another of Francis' draft picks when he was GM in Carolina, Bean took a $60.2 million cap floor. while to crack Carolina's deep defence but still didn't carve out much of a • Trades could immediately follow the expansion draft. The Kraken could role. He's ready for more and should get it in Seattle. choose some players they don't have any plans for except to flip. Chicago Blackhawks

On Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET you can watch the results of Seattle's In Consideration: Adam Gaudette, Josh Dickinson, Calvin De Haan, expansion draft live on Sportsnet and also follow along live on Nikita Zadorov Sportsnet.ca where we'll run a live blog. Until then, we can play armchair GM and argue over who to choose and stay away from. The Pick: Adam Gaudette

With help from CapFriendly's extremely valuable expansion draft The Kraken will have options for top-six wingers, top-four defencemen simulator, here is how our mock draft shaped up, followed by the and in net, but centres are going to be harder to come by. Here they explanation for each pick: could get a 24-year-old RFA whose AAV won't be prohibitive. Depth add.

Anaheim Ducks 31 Thoughts: The Podcast

In Consideration: Adam Henrique, Alexander Volkov, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey Haydn Fleury, Jacob Larsson, Derek Grant, Danton Heinen world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. The Pick: Haydn Fleury Colorado Avalanche A draft pick of Francis' from his Carolina days, Fleury played over 20 minutes a game for Anaheim when the Canes traded him there this In Consideration: Gabriel Landeskog (UFA), Joonas Donskoi, J.T. season, and led all Ducks blueliners in shorthanded time on ice. He has Compher, Erik Johnson The Pick: Joonas Donskoi Minnesota Wild

Solid, consistent middle-six winger, Donskoi adds a level of proven, In Consideration: Victor Rask, Nick Bjugstad, Carson Soucy, Kaapo affordable offence ($3.9 million for another two years) that will be in Kahkonen relatively short supply. The Pick: Kaapo Kahkonen Columbus Blue Jackets Former WJC gold medal-winner and AHL goalie of the year, the 24-year- In Consideration: Max Domi, Kevin Stenlund, Kole Sherwood, Dean old Kahkonen is a surprising player left exposed by Minnesota after Kukan, Gabriel Carlsson waiting seven years for him after his draft season. He's our goalie of the future who could be a factor sooner than that. Has a $725,000 cap hit The Pick: Kevin Stenlund and will be an RFA next summer.

Domi is the popular choice here (and maybe the one the Kraken go with), Montreal Canadiens but he's going to miss the first month or two at least of next season, makes $5.3 million against the cap, is one year away from unrestricted In Consideration: Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Shea Weber, Brett Kulak, free agency, and just hasn't worked out at centre in Columbus or Cale Fleury, Carey Price Montreal. If he's chosen he becomes a possible trade asset, but I'm going to spend my cap money elsewhere. The Pick: Cale Fleury

Stenlund has an $874,125 cap hit, is six-foot-four, 215 pounds, can be a So badly want Price to be the pick here to see the fall out it would lead to centre and has 11 goals in his past 64 regular season games. He'll turn on both sides -- Seattle gets a Marc-Andre Fleury-esque face of the 25 in September and you can take time to see how he keeps coming franchise and the Canadiens get a chance to build out their defence and along. forwards with plenty of cap space. Price was the pick here in the first draft. Dallas Stars But the injury situation muddies the waters too much for a $10.5 million In Consideration: Blake Comeau, Adam Mascherin, Tanner Kero, Julius price tag and another five years. It's a nice thought, but with the other Honka, Ben Bishop, Colton Point goalie options out there Seattle can manage its cap a bit better. So we're going with Cale Fleury, who would join his brother Haydn. The Pick: Adam Mascherin Remaining Time -3:26 Hasn't played an NHL game yet, so building out a little organizational depth and potential here. Mascherin scored 34 points in 37 AHL games Why Canadiens' Bergevin exposed Price in expansion draft this season and might be worth the flyer from this thin group. He's an inexpensive, 23-year-old RFA. Nashville Predators

Detroit Red Wings In Consideration: Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen, Colton Sissons, Calle Jarnkrok In Consideration: Vladislav Namestnikov, Evgeny Svechnikov, Taro Hirose, Danny DeKeyser, Troy Stecher, Dennis Cholowski The Pick: Calle Jarnkrok

The Pick: Troy Stecher This is not the place to spend a bunch of cap space -- Jarnkrok was third in Nashville scoring this season with 13 goals and 28 points in 49 games West coast guy who played four years with the Canucks before going to and you can expect him to give you that sort of pace going forward. Detroit. Can fill a second or third pair role for just $1.7 million and has Likely a winger, but possibly a centre, Jarnkork gives you a little roster one year left on his contract. flexibility, offensive depth, and costs only $2 million for one year before he could become a UFA. Edmonton Oilers New Jersey Devils In Consideration: Jujhar, Khaira, Dominik Kahun, Tyler Benson, Devin Shore, Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson (UFA), Kris Russell In Consideration: Andreas Johnsson, Nick Merkley, P.K. Subban, Will Butcher The Pick: Tyler Benson The Pick: Andreas Johnsson The 23-year-old is all upside right now, with only seven NHL games of experience. He was a point-per-game AHL player this season and seems Wasn't able to keep up a 20-goal, 40-point level in New Jersey that he about ready for more of a shot in the NHL. With Klefbom's career in managed for a season in Toronto, but the potential is there. The Kraken's jeopardy, Benson is at least a good addition to Seattle's AHL squad, but biggest challenge is going to be finding offence and Johnsson could be a could surprise with more. contributor on the right line. He makes $3.4 million against the cap with two years left on his contract, so you don't lock into anything egregious Florida Panthers here if he doesn't work out.

In Consideration: Frank Vatrano, Noel Acciardi, Lucas Wallmark, Anton New York Islanders Stralman, Markus Nutivaara, Radko Gudas, Chris Driedger (UFA) In Consideration: Jordan Eberle, Josh Bailey, Leo Komarov, Kieffer The Pick: Chris Driedger Bellows, Sebastian Aho

The only UFA being picked in this exercise only because indications are The Pick: Kieffer Bellows that the Kraken have an agreement with the goalie, though it has not been confirmed by the team. He outplayed Sergei Bobrovsky, posting a Bailey or Eberle are appealing if this is where you want to spend some of .927 save percentage this season, and got some playoff experience. The the limited cap space, but I'm instead going to save it and choose 27-year-old is good support for the other goalies we're picking here, and Bellows instead. Has just five goals in 22 NHL games since being the we'd estimate a new AAV around the $3-3.5 million range. Very tempted 19th overall pick in 2016 so he hasn't shown signs of hitting on his to pick Nutivaara here, though. potential yet, and time for that is running thin. Still, he's a cheap RFA at only 23 years old and has the pedigree that's worth taking a low-risk shot Los Angeles Kings on here so that we can take bigger swings elsewhere.

In Consideration: Brendan Lemieux, Andreas Athanasiou, Blake Lizotte, New York Rangers Austin Wagner, Olli Maatta, Kale Clague, Jonathan Quick In Consideration: Julien Gauthier, Ty Ronning, Colin Blackwell The Pick: Kale Clague The Pick: Colin Blackwell Lizotte is intriguing, but we'll go with 23-year-old Clague, who had six points in 18 NHL games this season, but has spent most of his time in Finished the season a little quietly, but Blackwell had a quiet breakout the AHL so far. Building out organizational depth on the blue line and season with 12 goals and 22 points in 47 games. The 28-year-old doesn't doing it here with a player who hasn't hit his peak yet. have a huge ceiling, but has centre potential and showed more than the other options here. Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs

In Consideration: Evgeni Dadonov, Chris Tierney, Matt Murray, Joey In Consideration: Alexander Kerfoot, Jared McCann, Travis Dermott Daccord The Pick: Jared McCann The Pick: Joey Daccord By choosing our defencemen elsewhere, we're passing on Dermott here Depth addition here. The 24-year-old could be an AHL goalie again and to keep filling out our relatively weaker collection of centres. Had the has shown some promise in limited minor-league action since leaving Penguins not traded McCann to Toronto on Saturday, the Kraken may college in 2019. Had a .915 save percentage in the AHL last season have been able to get both him and Kerfoot, but now will have to make a before the pandemic complicated the picture. choice. To me, it's McCann, who has been the more productive pivot the past two seasons, comes about $500,000 cheaper against the cap and Philadelphia Flyers will still be RFA age next summer. Kerfoot is from out west and had a In Consideration: Jakub Voracek, James van Riemsdyk, Shayne good -- if brief -- showing in the playoffs. It's just a matter of who you Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg, Justin Braun personally prefer.

The Pick: James van Riemsdyk Vancouver Canucks

The Flyers will present an interesting choice: take one of their big In Consideration: Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich, Braden Holtby contracts and a player who could help on offence, or save money with The Pick: Kole Lind Hagg? I'm choosing to spend up on the Flyers and go with van Riemsdyk, who has higher goal-scoring upside and comes at a cheaper Though there are some reports the Kraken are interested in Holtby if they cap hit ($7 million) and less term (two years) than Voracek. JVR isn't a work out a side deal where the Canucks retain some salary, my choices $7-million contributor, but his deal won't burn the Kraken long-term and if in net above preclude a Holtby pick here. Instead, Lind is a 22-year-old they decide to flip him they could probably get a decent return if they RFA who was an early second-round pick in 2017 and is on the cusp of retained some of that salary. pushing for an NHL roster spot. Another addition of youth and a cheap contract situation that could hit. Remaining Time -0:40 Washington Capitals Francis explains that cap space is extremely valuable for Kraken In Consideration: Carl Hagelin, Conor Sheary, Justin Schultz, Brenden Pittsburgh Penguins Dillon, Nick Jensen, Vitek Vanecek

In Consideration: Jason Zucker, Brandon Tanev, Marcus Pettersson, The Pick: Vitek Vanecek Casey DeSmith Between Driedger, Kahkonen and Vanecek, someone is bound to step The Pick: Marcus Pettersson up this season and you'd feel pretty good that one of them would take the Zucker is appealing and comes with only one year of contract long-term lead job. Or, you could flip one of them in a trade, because commitment, but the 25-year-old Pettersson is a good defender that none will be all that expensive. Vanecek, 25, makes $716,667 against Seattle could hang its hat on for a while. His $4.025 million cap hit is the cap and will still be an RFA next summer. He showed pretty well in maybe not ideal, but while some of our blue line picks are developing, or 37 games as a rookie this season, when he originally did not factor into more short-term fixes, Pettersson will give us top-four minutes for a Washington's plans. while. Winnipeg Jets

San Jose Sharks In Consideration: Mason Appleton, Dylan DeMelo

In Consideration: Alex True, Dylan Gambrell, Ryan Donato, Martin Jones The Pick: Dylan DeMelo

The Pick: Dylan Gambrell A versatile defenceman, DeMelo is responsible defensively and logged a Born in Washington State not far from Seattle, Gambrell would be an lot of PK minutes in Winnipeg, and is a decent play driver as well. Was interesting hometown choice. The 24-year-old counts for just $700,000 surprising to see Winnipeg, a team that needs to add defence, leave against the cap, will be an RFA when that expires next year, can play DeMelo exposed so they could protect Logan Stanley. A top-four fit for centre and is a physical presence. the right side, DeMelo makes a manageable $3 million against the cap for another three seasons, which could also make him a trade asset if the St. Louis Blues Kraken ever wanted to flip him.

In Consideration: Vladimir Tarasenko, Vince Dunn Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.20.2021 The Pick: Vladimir Tarasenko

This choice doesn't come without risk as Tarasenko's shoulder injury has slowed him considerably the past couple of years. But by all accounts there was trade interest in him around the league and, if his most recent surgery fixes the issue, Tarasenko's upside is mouth-watering. He was one of the best goal scorers in the game for a five-year period. His $7.5 million cap hit makes that risk tough on some teams, but the Kraken are starting fresh and can maybe afford to take it on. His deal expires in just two years anyway, so it's escapable. Maybe he even becomes a trade asset. Making this choice harder is that 23-year-old Vince Dunn would be a very nice pick up for the blue line. But it's Tarasenko.

Tampa Bay Lightning

In Consideration: Ondrej Palat, Yani Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Mathieu Joseph

The Pick: Yanni Gourde

Lots of great choices here. That Gourde is productive and can be one of our top two centres is key in this choice since that position was harder to come by. Unless you pick Joseph -- who has untapped potential of his own -- any other choice you're making off Tampa Bay comes with a decent-sized cap hit. Gourde's is $5.166 million for another four years -- making this pick locks in a centre to build with. 1217823 Websites Kerfoot signed with Toronto prior to the cap-flattening pandemic, so the bet here is that a suitable replacement (McCann) would cost less and free up funds to round out the roster.

Sportsnet.ca / All eyes on Kerfoot, McCann for Maple Leafs ahead of If Kerfoot is indeed the player claimed, Toronto will have about $10 expansion draft million to acquire a goaltending partner for Campbell, sign a Zach Hyman replacement, and fill out the fringes of its forward cast.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.20.2021 Luke Fox 19, 2021, 9:45 AM

Why did the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for another Soo Greyhounds alum, Jared McCann, hours before the expansion draft protection deadline… only to expose McCann to the Seattle Kraken a couple of hours later?

By opting for the less-used 4-4-1 protection route, GM Kyle Dubas is steering the Kraken away from Justin Holl, despite mild protest from some sectors of Leafs Nation, and toward his fifth-best forward.

Does Seattle architect Ron Francis believe that to be McCaan or Alexander Kerfoot?

Or was there already some understanding of which Leaf the Kraken would snatch when Dubas granted then-assistant Dave Hakstol permission to interview for, and then land, the plum head coaching gig in Seattle.

Regardless of which player is chosen, the Leafs will lose a legit NHLer this week — a far cry from when the Vegas Golden Knights selected Marlies star Brendan Leipsic in 2017.

When Dubas last spoke to reporters, he described the Maple Leafs’ expansion equation as not “overly perilous,” and we sense the exec already has his sights on spending the cap space Francis will take off his books via trade or free agency.

Protected list

Forwards: John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, William Nylander

Defencemen: Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, T.J. Brodie, Justin Holl

Goalie: Jack Campbell

Possible Seattle targets

Alexander Kerfoot: Suspect Number 1 to depart the Maple Leafs, Kerfoot fits the bill of a player Francis could plug into his Opening Night lineup. The versatile centre-slash-winger is fast, feisty and from the Pacific Northwest. The Vancouver-born Kerfoot enjoyed a nice bounce-back year in 2021, his second in Toronto, scoring more playoff points (six) in the Leafs’ first-round loss to Montreal than anyone not named William Nylander. Kerfoot would bring cost certainty ($3.5 million cap hit through 2023), penalty killing and secondary scoring.

Analysing the Leafs' protection list for the expansion draft

July 19 2021

Jared McCann: Similar to Kerfoot, McCann would present the Kraken with a play-now option capable of skating the middle or the flank. McCann, 25, is younger and cheaper than Kerfoot. Plus, he’s a better shooter. Yes, his contract expires in 2022, but as a restricted free agent, he’ll still be under club control. Partly because Penguins GM Ron Hextall feared losing McCann in expansion, he flipped him to Toronto Saturday for prospect Filip Hållander.

Travis Dermott: The 24-year-old left-shot defenceman is inexpensive ($1.5 million cap hit through 2023) and believed to be a couple of years away from hitting his ceiling. Plenty of more proven D-men are available to Francis, so selecting Dermott — a third-pairing guy at this point — means betting on his growth.

Salary cap outlook

In terms of the cap, losing Kerfoot to Seattle would free up $3.5 million in each of the next two seasons. As much as Dubas likes the player, the GM’s commitment of $40 million to four stud forwards puts him in a self- imposed crunch. 1217824 Websites The Kraken can make him the face of the franchise, counting on him to mentor young blueliners and set the tone for the club. Or they could flip him to any team they want, either before the season or at the deadline, retaining salary to maximize their return. Sportsnet.ca / With expansion draft near, Giordano's storied Flames run approaches its end Either way, Giordano represents one of the biggest assets Seattle is poised to land Wednesday.

MILAN LUCIC: The 33-year-old agreed two summers ago to waive his Eric FrancisJuly 19, 2021, 9:20 AM no-movement clause for the expansion draft, facilitating the trade from Edmonton to Calgary. In Calgary he’s emerged a beloved leader and

team spokesman, while playing an effective role on the third line. His Few NHL teams had a protection list as predictable as that of the Calgary age, foot speed and $5.25 million salary the next two years make him a Flames, who only had to expose one player that they’d truly hate to lose. long shot to be snagged should the Flames broker a deal to keep Giordano. Unfortunately for the club, that player is captain Mark Giordano, who is really the only choice the Seattle Kraken can make. DEREK RYAN: His ties to the Pacific northwest make him a natural fit as a depth centre and role player in Seattle. However, using him as their Unless the Flames agree to cough up several significant assets to keep Flames pick makes little sense as Ryan is a UFA who can sign with Giordano (which would include something in the neighbourhood of a first- Seattle July 28 anyway. and third-round pick), the defenceman’s storied, 949-game run with the club will come to an end. Salary Cap Outlook

Considering how much more valuable an asset Giordano is than any The loss of Giordano would free up almost $7 million, giving the Flames other exposed Flames player, don’t expect Kraken GM Ron Francis to over $20 million to spend on plugging significant holes like the one the bend on his demands. captain would leave.

While Giordano’s departure would free up $6.75 million in cap space for Whether they do that by trade or via the open market the club has to be the club, coach Darryl Sutter would have to start next season without his mindful of the fact Andrew Mangiapane will get a large raise on his $2.4 best blueliner and team leader. million deal next summer, as will Seven Million Dollar Man Matthew Tkachuk. Johnny Gaudreau is a UFA after next season, too, which Not ideal for a club hoping to effect significant positive change this means he’s in for a bump on his $6.75 million deal if he’s going to be re- summer. signed.

The Flames were unable to join the list of clubs who made last-minute Expect Calgary to be active at the draft and in free agency, as changes trades with players they would otherwise have lost for nothing. are needed to turn the franchise around.

Giordano’s age, salary and rental status made him a tough fit with the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.20.2021 few teams that would have had room to protect him.

No one can argue with opting for the younger, cheaper Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev ahead of Giordano, but the loss will sting nonetheless.

*I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

Protected list:

Forwards:

Matthew Tkachuk

Johnny Gaudreau

Elias Lindholm

Mikael Backlund

Sean Monahan

Dillon Dube

Andrew Mangiapane

Defence:

Noah Hanifin

Rasmus Andersson

Christopher Tanev

Goalie:

Jacob Markstrom

Eric Francis: Has Giordano played his last game as a Flame?

July 16 2021

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Possible Seattle targets

MARK GIORDANO: There really isn’t anyone else from the Flames that Seattle can consider. 1217825 Websites For a team that believes in its core group and expects the window of contention to once again be widening after winning only one playoff round since a run to the Western Conference final in 2018, navigating this expansion draft is an integral part of roster construction for the 2021- Sportsnet.ca / Exposing DeMelo to expansion draft a risky move for Jets' 22 season. Cheveldayoff Should the Jets lose DeMelo and not adequately replace him, Cheveldayoff will certainly leave himself open to criticism.

Ken WiebedJuly 19, 2021, 9:20 AM The 25-year-old is coming off his best season as a pro (12 goals, 25 points in 56 games) and his ability to blossom in a middle-six role and

contribute on special teams (especially on the penalty kill) only widens WINNIPEG - The roster freeze is in effect, the protected lists are official his appeal. and speculation is running rampant over who the Winnipeg Jets could Appleton is under contract for $900,000 next season and will be a actually lose in the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft on Wednesday night. restricted free agent in the summer of 2022, so having cost-certainty and While most of the decisions were pretty straightforward for Jets general team control for multiple seasons in this flat cap world would have plenty manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, the final one on defence has generated a of appeal for the Kraken — whose GM has already publicly proclaimed heated reaction from a vocal portion of the fan base. how much his team values the flexibility that comes with having salary cap space. No, this choice isn’t generating the type of headlines seen in other markets, where a franchise goalie like Carey Price was asked to move The only reason he’s available is due to the Jets’ forward depth and they his no-trade clause or a captain like Mark Giordano was also exposed. have internal options ready to try and fill his shoes if he is selected.

But the move to protect defenceman Logan Stanley instead of Dylan G Mikhail Berdin DeMelo is a divisive issue at this stage of the game. There are plenty of suitable choices available for Seattle to start building There are a lot of relevant factors in this debate, including asset goalie depth, but if the organization is looking for a developmental option management, sunk cost and future projections, to name a few. to be the No. 3 guy or the No. 1 at the AHL level, Berdin could check both of those boxes. He’s under contract for the next two seasons (the In protecting Stanley, the Jets are banking on further development from second year of the deal is a one-way contract worth $750,000), but he’s the 2016 first-rounder. exempt from waivers and could benefit from one more year as a minor- league starter before he pushes for NHL backup work. While it’s true the six-foot-seven, 231-pound blue-liner only has 37 NHL games (plus eight in the Stanley Cup Playoffs) on his resume and that he The only reason Berdin is exposed is because the Jets already employ was used in sheltered minutes last season, that’s not uncommon for an one of the best goalies in the NHL in Connor Hellebuyck and he’s under NHL rookie. contract for three more seasons before he can become an unrestricted free agent. Some folks see Stanley’s age (23) and believe he’s already hit or quickly approaching his ceiling as a third-pairing guy, but he was a longer-range F Jansen Harkins project and the Jets believe he’s merely scratching the surface. The Jets have invested heavily in Stanley’s development over the past five years Going into last season, the versatile forward was close to the top of many and they weren’t willing to risk losing him. prospective mock expansion draft lists and for good reason.

As for DeMelo, he made a commitment to the Jets last October, choosing Harkins, a second-round pick (47th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft, had to forego his first crack at unrestricted free agency to put down some worked hard to graduate to the NHL level through the AHL and seemed roots and find some stability after being traded twice in a three-year to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, bouncing up and down the period. lineup and even contributing a goal in the qualifying round series with the Calgary Flames. For a franchise that hasn’t won a lot of bidding wars in free agency since returning to the NHL in 2011, exposing DeMelo wouldn’t have been an But Harkins had trouble getting into the lineup last season and was easy decision and it could come with its own set of consequences. limited to a goal and two points in 26 games while being used primarily in a fourth-line role. He’s a candidate for a bounceback season, whether It’s important to remember that leaving DeMelo unprotected isn’t an trying to fill the shoes of someone like Appleton with the Jets or perhaps assurance he will be chosen by the Kraken, though it’s easy to see why as a member of the NHLs newest team. there would be interest in the services of a right-handed shooting defenceman who is under contract for three more seasons at very *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. reasonable AAV. Salary Cap Outlook DeMelo’s value stretches well beyond the traditional point totals and The Jets have several pending unrestricted free agents (forward Paul statistics and his work as both a defender and puck-mover is something Stastny and backup goalie Laurent Brossoit would top the list) that would all teams are (and should be) looking for. be under consideration to return after the expansion draft process is The Jets went into the off-season with a clear priority of needing to complete, though those decisions would not really be impacted if it’s upgrade the defence, so there is certainly a substantial risk attached to DeMelo ($3 million) or Appleton ($900,000) chosen by Seattle. exposing one of the top two right-side options (with Neal Pionk) on the The Jets' top priority remains upgrading the defence corps and there roster. should be money available to do so via trade or free agency — though a Potentially losing DeMelo would be a significant blow, especially when significant chunk of that available pie is expected to go to new deals for you consider the organizational depth is much stronger on the left side — restricted free agents Andrew Copp and Neal Pionk. even if some of those prospects were used on their off-side during the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.20.2021 course of last season.

However, DeMelo isn’t the only player that will appeal to the Kraken and it’s also possible a side deal will be worked out between Cheveldayoff and Ron Francis to ensure he isn’t lost.

The cost to secure such a deal is believed to be high, so the anticipation will simply build for a few more days before the unveiling of the Kraken roster occurs on Wednesday night.

Defenceman Sami Niku could be an obvious sweetener, since he’s under contract for $775,000 for one more season and will be a restricted free agent after that, but he would only be part of a prospective package. 1217826 Websites "Little details like box outs, stick positioning, all stuff you can work on in video and practice. I paid a little extra attention and worked a little harder at it this year than in years past, which helped me."

TSN.CA / ‘Bison’ Coronato rams his way up NHL draft lists What stands out about the program the Steel have built in Chicago?

"That program is crazy, really. I'm so grateful that I got the two years there with [former general manager] Ryan Hardy and [coach] Brock By Mark Masters Sheahan and the whole staff really. They do an unbelievable job of player development with extra skills work, extra ice and video work. The

environment that they created there is like no other." On Chicago Steel broadcasts this season, forward Matthew Coronato Can you give us a specific example of how the development staff helped was referred to as "The Bison." you? "Our play-by-play announcer Mark Citron and hockey operations guy "The new GM, Mike Garman, was one of the assistant coaches in my two Johnny Lehmann came up with it," Coronato explained. "They say it’s years and he was a goalie coach as well and he did a ton of video with because I go hard to the net and ram like a bison." the players on shot selection and goalie movements. I think that helped Citron even imitated bison noises after Coronato scored. me a ton with beating goalies. I don’t know if I would’ve gotten that anywhere else." "It's funny," Coronato said. "My family likes it. It just makes it entertaining. Mark does a great job, so I loved it." So, you can read goalies better now?

Coronato gave Citron plenty of opportunities to fine-tune his bison call. "He explained the different percentages from certain areas and looking at No draft-eligible player scored more goals than Coronato, who potted 48 the goalie’s feet to see how they move when you’re in different spots in in 51 USHL games. But the 18-year-old from New York, whose actual the offensive zone. And, after a certain amount of time, it became kind of nickname among teammates is Noto, isn't sure he's the best pure scorer instinctual for me, knowing what goalies are going to do and when the in the draft class. right time to shoot is and when to change the angle on my shot. So, that definitely helped me score some more goals." "There are a ton of great players," he said. "My game is more than just scoring. I do a lot of other things that help my team win as well ... but, You seemed comfortable wherever you played be it on left wing, centre definitely, I feel confident in my ability to score goals." or right wing. Do you have a favourite position?

All the goals helped Coronato ram his way up draft boards. He finished "No, I don’t. I feel really comfortable at all three forward positions. I No. 9 on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. TSN played all three this past year. I don't know where I’ll play next year, but I Director of Scouting Craig Button has Coronato at No. 11 on his latest feel comfortable either way." list. How much of an advantage is that versatility? Coronato spoke to TSN about his style of play, growing up an Islanders "It’s definitely good to be versatile and offer different things. Being able to fan, and why he admires Lightning centre Brayden Point. The following is play on the penalty kill, power play, five-on-five and being able to play in an edited transcript of the interview. any position definitely helps." How would you describe your style of play? You led the USHL with 19 power-play goals. What's the key to producing "The biggest part of my game is my compete level. When I’m playing my on the man advantage? best, I’m moving my feet and hunting for pucks. I’ve become more of a "The key is shooting. I think that a lot of guys have a tendency to keep shot-first guy but finding the balance between playmaking and the right the puck on the outside and maybe move it around too much. With the time to shoot is important to me. So, I’m a competitive guy who likes to Steel, we did a good job of creating lanes and creating shots with our shoot the puck." movement, so I think getting the puck on net is how you score goals." Where are you at with the balance between shooting and playmaking? Who is your NHL role model? "A big focus for me this year was to try and improve on that. It’s still "Brayden Point. I love watching him play. He's a really good skater and something I’m trying to work on and not take bad shots and use my really smart, really smart without the puck, so a great guy to learn from." teammates when it’s the right time. I’ve definitely made progress, but still looking to improve on it." I'm sure you appreciate that he gets it done at 5-foot-10, which is also your height. Among the top 20 ranked North American skaters this year, So, you feel like you're still wasting some shots? you are the only guy who's listed under 6-foot. Why has size not been an "No, I don’t think I’m wasting shots. I don't think it's ever really a bad time issue for you? to get a puck to the net, but there are times when the better play is "Point is a little undersized but being competitive and outworking maybe to set a teammate up." opponents will overcome that. And, also, being smart. You got to be in You were named the USHL forward of the year, what are you most proud the right spots. If you're competitive and smart, I think it’s something you of when it comes to your season? can overcome."

"I’m most proud of the end result for our team, which was winning the Why do you wear No. 27? Clark Cup. It was a great run with a lot of skilled and talented players on "My dad played college lacrosse at Holy Cross, and he wore 27 there. My our team, so it was a lot of fun to be a part of it." favourite number is actually 21, but Sean Farrell had it with the Steel." Winning a championship at any level is special, how would you describe Why do you like 21? the moment of winning? "I wore it my whole life. I'm a big New York Jets fan, actually, and my "No better feeling. We worked all year for it. Like you said, it’s special at favourite player growing up was LaDainian Tomlinson and he wore 21. I any level. Winning is everything." think that may be how it started, honestly." Where did your game grow the most this season? What excites you the most about playing at Harvard next season? "I took strides with my skating. It’s still an area I need to improve a lot in. "A lot of things. Coach [Ted] Donato does a great job developing his My attention defensively also improved a little bit but is still an area I players and moving them to the next level. I'm really excited to work with need to work on." him and the rest of that staff with James Marcou and [Jim] Tortorella. It What did you do better defensively? will be a great opportunity for me to develop. Definitely excited for the college experience and to get to go to a school like that and do that work and try and excel in that area as well."

What will you study? "I’m not entirely sure. I think economics might be something that interests me. I like math, so that could be an area I like."

"The John Tavares overtime goal to clinch a series [against Florida in 2016]. I was there. They weren't very good when I was little, so one of the first years when they made the playoffs, I was there, and Tavares scored the OT winner, and it was so exciting."

Will you miss Nassau Coliseum?

"Definitely. I went to a lot of games at Nassau when I was little with my dad and my brother, so will definitely miss it. The first playoff game I ever went to was there."

How would you describe Islanders fans?

"Islanders fans love it. They’re crazy. They get into it. They love hockey. Hockey’s getting bigger and bigger on Long Island. People are starting to get more into it – especially with the Islanders finding some success. Islanders fans are great."

TSN.CA LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217827 Websites “He’s a great guy,” Peryam wrote in a message to TSN. “Everybody makes mistakes. It’s in the past. People change.”

After TSN’s inquiries, OcuGlass made its Instagram and Twitter accounts TSN.CA / After jail for sex offence, former Blackhawks video coach uses private. interns to build business Finlandia University said a “small number” of its students had interned at OcuGlass and that it was looking into the company’s intern program.

By Rick Westhead "We want to assure you, and the campus community, that we understand the significance of the situation and are conducting a full and thorough investigation of the matter, including whether any current or former Finlandia students have been subjected to sexual harassment while Former Chicago Blackhawks video coach and convicted sex offender interning at OcuGlass. We cannot provide further specifics at this time Brad Aldrich says there’s a key ingredient behind the growth of his glass- because our investigation is ongoing, but we are committed to ensuring etching company: university and college-aged interns. that all of our students learn in a safe environment free from Eight years after he was sentenced to nine months in prison plus five harassment.” years of probation for sexually assaulting a then-16-year-old high school Several schools highlighted by OcuGlass on its website deny having any hockey player, Aldrich is chief executive of a glass-etching company formal link to the company. called OcuGlass. Arizona State spokesman Jerry Gonzalez wrote in an email to TSN that On his company’s website, Aldrich touts OcuGlass’s ties to several the OcuGlass has not been vetted by the school as an approved universities and colleges, which he says provide the Calumet, Mich.- employer. based business with interns. “Arizona State University does not have a connection to OcuGlass, nor “OcuGlass plans to continue to recruit and work with college student are they approved to recruit or hire from ASU,” Gonzalez wrote. “Not sure talent in all areas of their business,” Aldrich wrote in a March 13, 2019, why they used our name on their webpage. I assume it is possible for post on the company site. “We are proud of the program that has something like an ASU online student who lives in that part of the country unfolded, and we are extremely grateful for the efforts and contributions to land an internship with that company on their own. But if they have, it of the interns.” wasn’t something sanctioned by the university.” According to Aldrich’s post and local media reports, OcuGlass began Spokesmen for Michigan State University and Northern Michigan operations in 2013 with four full-time employees. By 2018, it had grown University both said OcuGlass was not registered with their career to employ 30 workers, and the company said it hired 16 interns between service offices for formal internships. Neither would say whether they 2015-2019 from schools including Michigan Tech University, Finlandia would ask OcuGlass to remove references to their schools. University, Gogebic Community College, Northern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Arizona State Michigan Tech spokeswoman Stefanie Sidortsova wrote in an email that University. the Houghton, Mich., university does not conduct background checks on potential employment destinations of students, whether permanent or Besides his conviction for assaulting the teenaged hockey player in temporary, and can’t confirm how many students from the school have Michigan, Aldrich is also accused in a lawsuit filed in May in Illinois of interned at OcuGlass. sexually assaulting two Blackhawks players. Michigan police records indicate Aldrich was also investigated for alleged “inappropriate” and “Because internships are arranged between students and employers, the “uncomfortable” sexual contact between Aldrich and at least two other university is limited in its ability to influence the internship progress,” minors, but charges were never laid. Sidortsova wrote.

Elizabeth L. Jeglic, a professor of psychology at John Jay College of In his 2019 post about OcuGlass’s intern program, Aldrich also described Criminal Justice in New York who specializes in sexual violence a co-op program the company runs with Dollar Bay High School in Dollar prevention, said it would be a mistake for schools to continue sending Bay, Mich. Students design and make three-dimensional prints for interns to work under Aldrich. OcuGlass’s production line, Aldrich wrote.

“It’s high-risk behaviour. He’s in a position of power over young men who Dollar Bay High School principal Christina Norland confirmed the are subordinate to him, and based on his conviction, he’s clearly program. attracted to late teen and early 20s young men,” Jeglic said in an interview with TSN. "Our high school program has a business relationship with OcuGlass," Norland wrote in an email. "Students 3D-print a hard-to-find part that “One thing you teach offenders is to stay away from situations where OcuGlass needs. This work is done at Dollar Bay High School, not at the they may have the opportunity to reoffend. I don’t think, given the OcuGlass facility. Our point of contact from OcuGlass is a different allegations against him and his conviction, that this is a good idea. If I employee. Mr. Aldrich has not worked with or been in the presence of our was in charge of these internship programs, I would not continue with students on any occasion." these programs.” U.S. federal law requires states to register sex offenders and to notify the Even so, the chance of offenders like Aldrich reoffending drops with each public when a convicted sex offender moves into a community. Aldrich is passing year that stays out of trouble, said Ira Ellman, a retired law among 39,918 registered sex offenders in Michigan, a Michigan State professor who now serves as a scholar at the Center for the Study of Police spokeswoman told TSN. Law and Society at the University of California, Berkeley. As a “Tier two” offender (there are three tiers), Aldrich must verify his Ellman said statistics show that upon their release from prison, roughly information twice yearly for 25 years after his 2014 release from prison. 20 per cent of offenders are likely to reoffend. Every five years, that Failure to comply could be a felony. percentage halves, he said. Being on a public database of sex offenders means that with a few "It's much more difficult for him to get away with something than keystrokes, anyone can find the 38-year-old former NHL and U.S. someone without a criminal history," Ellman said in an interview with Olympic Team assistant coach’s home and work addresses in Hancock, TSN. "So, you have to ask yourself, what's the risk that somebody poses Mich., discover the make and model of the vehicles he drives, and read who clearly was a risk at one point but who now has been offense free that Aldrich is 5-feet tall, weighs 145 pounds, and has brown hair and for nearly a decade?" blue eyes.

Neither Aldrich nor his lawyer, Sarah Henderson, responded to email The state government database also allows searches by address, requests seeking comment. meaning anyone can pull up the names, photos, and other personal information of the 11 registered sex offenders, Aldrich included, who live Jared Peryam, a former football player at Finlandia University in within two miles of his home in Hancock. Hancock, Mich., who is among several student athletes listed as one of OcuGlass’s interns on the company’s Instagram account, refused an interview request. But for the most part, Aldrich faces few restrictions over how he lives his life.

“He can’t live near a school or daycare centre or a public park but there’s really no requirements for offenders to avoid and not walk past those areas,” said Sam Bennett, a defence lawyer in Royal Oak, Mich., whose clients include sex offenders.

“Being on that public registry is probably the hardest thing for [Aldrich] right now,” Bennett said. “If you murder someone, you do your time and you’re released. There’s no page you have to register for that says you killed someone. But people who get in trouble for a sex crime have that follow them around – sometimes for the rest of their lives. One of my clients had to throw his son out of the way as a truck tried to run him down because someone had found him using that registry.”

Corey Markham, head coach of Houghton High School’s hockey team, says he routinely sees Aldrich around town.

“He’s living life like he did nothing wrong,” Markham said in an interview. “I’ve seen him back out at the bars… having a good time.”

TSN.CA LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217828 Websites There is an argument to be made for Seattle to engineer a side deal with St. Louis should they be interested, drafting Dunn and acquiring Tarasenko. But this assumes the Blues aren’t gambling themselves – St. Louis may be betting on Seattle to take the defenceman, keeping TSN.CA / Blues give Kraken much to consider ahead of expansion draft Tarasenko in St. Louis. Because just as Seattle could rehabilitate Tarasenko and turn him back into a star or trade him for big assets, St.

Louis could too. Lost in all of this is most of us guessing on Tarasenko’s By Travis Yost medicals, and how much that will weigh on the scale of any trade involving the Russian winger.

The Kraken have a ton of cap flexibility and I suspect we’ll see them draft The Vegas Golden Knights took advantage of several other organizations players merely for the sake of trading them elsewhere, not dissimilar to trying to outsmart the expansion draft in 2017, engineering expensive what the Golden Knights did in 2017. “side deals” to protect certain players. The end result was maximum pain. But St. Louis offers a very interesting gambit. At the heart of it: an elite Consequently, teams like the Florida Panthers and Anaheim Ducks first-line goal scorer with a nebulous medical situation, an attractive provided a blueprint for what to avoid the next time the National Hockey defensive alternative, and the opportunity to trade and acquire more League added a franchise. assets, irrespective of which direction they go

Organizations are much more prepared for Seattle’s expansion draft this It’s a great summer to be Kraken GM Ron Francis! go-around, but the ongoing pandemic, shortened seasons, and closed arenas have provided a new wrinkle for teams to consider. TSN.CA LOADED: 07.20.2021

Staring down the barrel of a flat salary cap, general managers made bets in spades this past weekend, putting a number of high-profile players (with large contracts to boot) in the exposure pool. That means players like Montreal’s Carey Price, Calgary’s Mark Giordano, and Nashville’s Matt Duchene could be part of the Kraken organization this week.

Seattle, interested in building a long-term contender, will likely pass on most of these names – if not because of the ballooned cap hit, because of other concerns such as injuries, age and opportunity costs.

But there are going to be instances in which the Kraken are faced with a tough decision. One of the most glaring comes via the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues are having a fascinating off-season, flirting with the idea of trading star forward Vladimir Tarasenko prior to the expansion draft – teams were naturally interested, even at his full cap charge.

For some teams, Tarasenko’s $7.5-million dollar per-year cap hit (through 2022-23) is hard to digest. But chilling the waters of a possible trade (and similarly, a shared concern of interested buyers) is Tarasenko’s health. Consequently, the Blues decided to roll the dice, exposing him to Seattle for the upcoming draft.

Now the ball is in Seattle’s court. On one hand, Tarasenko is a proven scorer who has averaged 34 goals per 82 games over the course of his career. On the other hand, he’s a player who has had three shoulder surgeries and there are overarching concerns as to whether he will ever be the same calibre attacker.

If his health returns, the Kraken either walk into an elite scorer or have the optionality of trading an elite scorer. If his health doesn’t return, the Kraken will have to eat a sizable contract for the next two seasons or try their luck at passing him off to another team willing to take the gamble.

Let’s complicate this a little further. The Blues – following a 7-3-1 format when protecting players – opted to retain defencemen Torey Krug, Colton Parayko, and Justin Faulk. That means 24-year-old Vince Dunn, an established top-four blueliner already at this point in his career, is also available to Seattle. Dunn is a restricted free agent with a track record of success, so it is likely his true salary differential from Tarasenko will be muted.

It’s hard for Seattle to go wrong with either player. Consider the contributions of each over their careers – we will use Goals Above Replacement percentiles, position relative, to compare contributions (via EvolvingHockey):

Before Tarasenko’s ugly run of injuries, he was one of the most predictable skaters in the league – a shoo-in for at least 30 goals and consistently outscoring the opposition when on the ice. And though it feels like Tarasenko has been in the league forever, we are still talking about a player just who is 29.

On the other hand: Dunn has emerged as a talented player in his own right, a slick skater who is five years younger than Tarasenko. Dunn is prone to the occasional mistake (particularly off the puck), but it’s impossible to argue results there too: The Blues are 31-goals better than their opponents with Dunn on the ice since 2017-18, a number only bested by the departed Alex Pietrangelo (+38) at the defensive position. 1217829 Websites

USA TODAY / Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop comes out, becomes first openly gay player in NHL history

Scott Gleeson

Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop announced on Monday he's gay, becoming the first player under an NHL contract to publicly come out. Before Prokop's announcement, no NHL player – active or retired – had come out as gay.

In a lengthy Instagram post, the 19-year-old right-handed defenseman wrote: "I am no longer scared to hide who I am. ...From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams."

Prokop was selected in the third round by the Predators in the 2020 NHL draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Nashville in December.

Prokop thanked his family in the Instagram post for meeting him with "love and support every step of the way."

"I hope that in sharing who I am I can help other people see that gay people are welcome in the hockey community," he added.

Prokop told the Predators organization of his sexual orientation in June, and told ESPN that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called him to tell him to reach out anytime.

"The Nashville Predators organization is proud of Luke for the courage he is displaying in coming out today and we will support him unequivocally in the days, weeks, and years to come as he continues to develop as a prospect," team president and CEO Sean Henry said in a statement released by the team. "A long-stated goal in our organization is equality for all, including the LGBTQ community, and it is important that Luke feels comfortable and part of an inclusive environment as he moves forward in his career."

Bettman and NHL Players Association Executive Director Don Fehr also offered public support to Prokop on Monday following his announcement.

Prokop's announcement comes on the heels of Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib coming out as gay and becoming the first active NFL player to be publicly out.

Previous iterations of athletes coming out in men's top-five sports have been short-lived. NBA player Jason Collins came out towards the tail end of his career in 2013, and MLS player Robbie Rogers retired four years after he publicly came out as gay in '13.

USA TODAY LOADED: 07.20.2021 1217830 Websites Alyssa Hertel Forwards (17): Gabriel Landeskog (Avalanche), James van Riemsdyk

(Flyers), Jason Zucker (Penguins), Jonathan Drouin (Canadiens), Yanni USA TODAY / Seattle Kraken expansion draft: Here's who could be Gourde (Lightning), Chris Tierney (Senators), Alexander Kerfoot (Maple going to NHL's 32nd team Leafs), Tyler Pitlick (Coyotes), Dylan Gambrell (Sharks), Blake Comeau (Stars), Mason Appleton (Jets), Julien Gauthier (Rangers), Yakov Trenin (Predators), Kieffer Bellows (Islanders), Zemgus Girgensons (Sabres), Tyler Benson (Oilers), Nick Merkley (Devils) MIKE BREHM , JIMMY HASCUP , ALYSSA HERTEL | USA TODAY Defensemen (10): Mark Giordano (Flames), Carson Soucy (Wild), Troy Stecher (Red Wings), Dean Kukan (Blue Jackets), Nikita Zadorov

(Blackhawks), Haydn Fleury (Ducks), Jeremy Lauzon (Bruins), Kale Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis has some interesting Clague (Kings), Jake Bean (Hurricanes), Vince Dunn (Blues) choices as he puts together the NHL's 32nd franchise. Goalies (3): Braden Holtby (Canucks), Vitek Vanecek (Capitals), Chris The NHL released the full list of available players for Wednesday's Driedger (Panthers) expansion draft and one of the key players was Stanley Cup finalist Projected cap hit: $58,633,333 (21 players under contract) goalie Carey Price. He played junior hockey in Washington state, though he comes at a hefty cap hit of $10.5 million. Analysis: This group has a lot of room for growth, with a mix of veteran players and younger options just finding their stride. By not taking Price, Francis must take one player from every team except the exempt Vegas the Kraken have the flexibility to afford Landeskog, an unrestricted free Golden Knights and must take a minimum of 14 forwards, nine agent whose skill and leadership will be valuable. Some teams like the defensemen and three goaltenders. Sharks and Ducks are a toss-up, but Gambrell has roots in the area and The Kraken have an exclusive negotiating window with free agents and Fleury is a former Francis draft pick. any signed player would count as their pick from that team. Francis could USA TODAY LOADED: 07.20.2021 also work out side deals with teams to make sure he doesn't take certain players.

USA TODAY staffers make their picks (thanks to CapFriendly for the computations):

Mike Brehm

Forwards (17): James van Riemsdyk (Flyers), Yanni Gourde (Lightning), Jordan Eberle (Islanders), Calle Jarnkrok (Predators), Evgenii Dadonov (Senators), Jonathan Drouin (Canadiens), Christian Fischer (Coyotes), J.T. Compher (Avalanche), Brandon Tanev (Penguins), Mason Appleton (Jets), Dylan Gambrell (Sharks), Dominik Kahun (Oilers), Jared McCann (Maple Leafs), Blake Comeau (Stars), Nathan Bastian (Devils), Colin Blackwell (Rangers), Kole Lind (Canucks)

Defensemen (10): Mark Giordano (Flames), Connor Clifton (Bruins), Vince Dunn (Blues), Haydn Fleury (Ducks), Brenden Dillon (Capitals), Jake Bean (Hurricanes), Colin Miller (Sabres), Troy Stecher (Red Wings), Kale Clague (Kings), Scott Harrington (Blue Jackets).

Goaltenders (3): Chris Driedger (Panthers), Kaapo Kahkonen (Wild), Malcolm Subban (Blackhawks)

Projected cap hit: $67,439,999 (24 players under contract)

Analysis: This team has strong offensive potential and a good mix on defense. Giordano, a recent Norris Trophy winner, could end up as the Kraken's first captain. Driedger would be the No. 1 goalie in this mix, but Kahkonen has shown he can carry the load in case of an injury.

Jimmy Hascup

Forwards (17): Jordan Eberle (Islanders), Jonathan Drouin (Canadiens), Max Domi (Blue Jackets), Evgenii Dadonov (Senators), Joonas Donskoi (Avalanche), Jared McCann (Maple Leafs), Calle Jarnkrok (Predators), Vladislav Namestnikov (Red Wings), Christian Fischer (Coyotes), Mason Appleton (Jets), Matt Nieto (Sharks), Julien Gauthier (Rangers), Mathieu Joseph (Lightning), Ondrej Kase (Bruins), Tobias Rieder (Sabres), Andreas Athanasiou (Kings), Evan Rodrigues (Penguins)

Defensemen (10): Mark Giordano (Flames), Nick Jensen (Capitals), Robert Hagg (Flyers), Andrej Sekera (Stars), Haydn Fleury (Ducks), Madison Bowey (Canucks), Dougie Hamilton (Hurricanes), Tyson Barrie (Oilers), Ryan Murray (Devils), Vince Dunn (Blues)

Goaltenders (3): Kaapo Kahkonen (Wild), Malcolm Subban (Blackhawks), Chris Driedger (Panthers)

Projected cap hit: $52,352,500 (21 players under contract)

Analysis: “The one thing we think is extremely, extremely important in this environment is cap space,” Francis told reporters. Seattle has taken it to the extreme in this draft, with almost $30 million of cap space. It does have several key players to sign, including Dougie Hamilton and Tyson Barrie. Speaking of the defense, that's where this team's strength lies. The Kraken have invested in some offensive upside, speed, defense ... and will be taking a huge gamble in net.