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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/18/2020 1175729 NHL executive Chris Snow displays remarkable resiliency 1175756 NHL executive Chris Snow displays remarkable resiliency despite onset of ALS despite onset of ALS 1175730 What it would mean for to win the 2020 NHL 1175757 What it would mean for the Kings to win the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery Draft Lottery 1175758 Is Los Angeles still a prime destination for top free agents? 1175731 Coyotes start training sessions; Players describe safety at arena 1175759 Wild become Minnesota’s first pro sports team to furlough employees Bruins 1175760 Kaprizov? Kahkonen? Khovanov? Predicting the Wild’s 1175732 Kevan Miller talks about his strenuous rehab and calls for expanded roster unity in a time of social unrest 1175733 shares great story on taking huge hit from Canadiens in Bruins practice 1175761 Stu on Sports: Bob Gainey Habs auction brings in more 1175734 Bruins' Kevan Miller acknowledges he's 'worried' about his than $300,000 NHL future 1175762 Canadiens' Jonathan Drouin thankful for second chances 1175735 2020 Playoffs: Bruins should go all out in the round-robin 1175736 Over and out? Hard-luck Kevan Miller dreams of normalcy 1175763 Roman Josi training with Predators teammates in before an NHL contract Nashville ahead of training camp 1175764 In 'bubble' events for NHL, NBA, MLS, winners might start envying the losers | Estes 1175737 Job one for : Establish his credibility as an 1175765 Who could the Predators lose to Seattle in the 2021 NHL GM expansion draft? 1175738 Sabres GM Kevyn Adams 'part of the process' before 1175766 Duhatschek: Paul Kariya on surfing, dancing and his role 's firing in a children’s book 1175739 Who's gone? Sabres' purge totals 22 1175740 A day later, former Amerks coach Chris Taylor on his firing: 'I'm still shocked' 1175767 How Devils’ ongoing rebuild will affect Kyle Palmieri’s 1175741 ‘Everything has to be earned’: Rookie GM Kevyn Adams extension plans knows what you’re thinking 1175742 So how will the Sabres’ hockey operations department function moving forward? 1175768 Islanders expect Belmont arena will be topped off by end 1175743 LeBrun: Turnstile hirings and firings in Buffalo is no way to of summer build a winner 1175769 Tom Pistore, Hank Abate to head management team that will run Isles' arena Flames 1175744 Flames coach Ward aims to strike productive balance when training camp starts 1175770 Breaking down the Rangers’ hit-and-miss history in free 1175745 Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corp. trims staff with agency permanent layoffs 1175771 NHL Draft lottery preview: What would each possible pick 1175746 Where have the Hurricanes gone and what will training mean for the Senators? look like back in Raleigh? 1175772 Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov: ‘It feels ‘a little more 1175747 NHL players will be tested daily, but won’t be required to real that hockey is almost back’ wear full face shields when games return 1175773 2019-20 Flyers season grades: Sean Couturier 1175748 Why Chicago could still be named a Hub City under NHL's 1175774 NHL awards: Why Mike Sullivan could sneak up on Alain Return To Play plan Vigneault for Jack Adams honor 1175749 Connor McDavid Oilers rookie card will be most expensive ever bought at auction Penguins 1175750 Why Blackhawks believe long layoff could play in their 1175775 How hub cities and NHL’s ‘family dynamics’ could impact favor a reboot 1175776 First Call: ‘Madden Curse’ for Lamar Jackson? Reliving Jaromir Jagr’s draft. to Vegas. 1175751 Pair of Stars taken in top 10 of NHL.com’s 2003 redraft 1175777 Ron Cook: Commissioners are getting their biggest test — and one is failing 1175778 The 10 best free-agent signings in Pittsburgh sports 1175752 Is Detroit Red Wings great Pavel Datsyuk with rogue history priest in monastery takeover? Reports conflict 1175779 Inside the talks that kept and Evgeni 1175753 Report of Pavel Datsyuk ‘holed up’ at monastery seized by Malkin in Pittsburgh priest is false 1175754 Detroit sports Rebuilding Roundtable 2.0: Are we there yet? 1175780 Finding NHL comps for 10 of the Sharks’ best prospects Oilers St Louis Blues 1175755 Shouldn't the NHL plant a hub city flag in Edmonton? 1175781 From humble beginnings, Sabourin became one of the best of the 'Original Blues' Maple Leafs World Leagues NewsCont. 1175814 Del Mar announcer will take summer off 1175782 The possibility of the NHL playing games in is up because of COVID-19 concerns to the federal government, Doug Ford says 1175815 Florida sees rapid rise in coronavirus cases as NBA 1175783 Andrew Raycroft on his difficult time as a Maple Leaf: ‘I prepares to arrive wish I asked for help’ 1175816 and settle Covid-19 rebate Canucks 1175817 Amid pandemic, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews could emerge as a case study for at-risk players 1175790 Ben Kuzma: Healthy Boeser big on bumping mental, 1175818 Coronavirus Life-saving Drug Dexamethasone is Listed as scoring slumps to boost Canucks Banned Substance by WADA 1175791 Restaurateur David Hawksworth throws weight behind 1175819 Inside 's plan to return from coronavirus Vancouver NHL hub city hopes lockdown: What you need to know 1175792 Introducing the All-Fan Ire Team 1175820 Can NFL season be totally derailed? You bet 1175821 This app lets sports fans cheer out loud in the when watching remotely 1175784 Golden Knights prospects named to Canada’s world junior 1175822 Football in Queensland to welcome crowds camp again from this weekend, theme parks to open later this 1175785 The entrepreneurial Ryan Reaves still driven by his mont passion for the game 1175786 Henderson Group Opposing Public Money For VGK’s SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Minor League Hockey Arena At Pavilion Site Asserts New Silver 1175787 recognized by local Emmy chapter as the Board of Governors Award Honoree 1175788 Even as players return to the ice, coaches remain in the dark on how to prepare for the season Websites 1175793 The Athletic / The Premier League is back: Which football club should NHL fans support? 1175794 The Athletic / has a powerful voice and platform, and he’s not afraid to use them 1175795 The Athletic / Duhatschek: Paul Kariya on surfing, dancing and his role in a children’s book 1175796 The Athletic / By the numbers: The 15 best NHL free agents of the last decade 1175797 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: The 12 types of fans you’ll meet when the NHL season resumes 1175798 .ca / Alfredsson has earned his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame 1175799 Sportsnet.ca / Weighing pros, cons for each potential Canadian NHL hub city 1175800 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Drouin, happy and healthy, aims to regain early season form 1175801 Sportsnet.ca / How mindfulness training quietly gives elite athletes an edge 1175802 Sportsnet.ca / How Pride Tape brought the rainbow, and the conversation, to the NHL 1175803 USA TODAY / Remembering June 17, 1994, the day when sports collided Jets 1175789 Q&A: Sara Orlesky on breaking into broadcasting and Winnipeg’s love for the Jets World Leagues News 1175804 'How can this be possible': Female player blasts Novak Djokovic's 'reckless' event 1175805 ‘We’re all excited’: Summer high school sports conditioning to begin Monday 1175806 Amid the protests, coronavirus isn’t the only thing changing in sports 1175807 'It’s frustrating': Wrestlers and coaches forced to adjust when it comes to recruiting in a pandemic 1175808 Three things we know, don’t know about college football in the COVID-19 pandemic 1175809 Rob Manfred canceling 2020 MLB season would be unprecedented; what could it mean for 's future? 1175810 We Hope Your for This Article Are for Real 1175811 Eight K-State football players test positive for the coronavirus 1175812 Ohio State’s ‘Buckeye Pledge’ a window into new world of college sports 1175813 Culture Secretary signals amateur sport could return within weeks 1175729 Anaheim Ducks Nobody is,” she said “We’re just more aware of it. It’s closer to us, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

They’ve been as honest as possible with their children, starting last NHL executive Chris Snow displays remarkable resiliency despite onset summer by explaining that Chris needed medicine to make his muscles of ALS stronger. Their son soon grasped the larger meaning.

“One day Cohen said, ‘Hey, Daddy, is what’s wrong with your hand the By HELENE ELLIOTT SPORTS COLUMNIST same thing that was wrong with Grandpa Bob?’” Kelsie said. “He figured it out on his own. We said yep, it is, but there’s a big difference. Grandpa JUNE 17, 20201:48 PM Bob couldn’t get this medicine and at some point all illnesses were very dangerous until doctors came up with medicines for them, so we’re very

lucky that Daddy can get this medicine. The doctors are very hopeful. A year ago Wednesday, Kelsie and Chris Snow’s happily-ever-after took And we can see that Daddy hasn’t gotten any worse.” an unspeakably cruel detour. They haven’t had their son genetically tested because there’s no benefit The weakness Chris had felt in his right hand was confirmed that day to and because Chris’ father regretted doing it. “Once you know you have be caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that progressively the gene, you’re just waiting every day for some indicator of not feeling attacks the nervous system. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, right,” Chris said. “If [Cohen] could be tested and then take something to has no cure. Snow’s case was particularly vicious: He has a rare genetic preempt ever having the disease, then of course we would have him mutation like the one that took the lives of his father, two uncles and a tested.” cousin. Snow, the assistant of the , was Each time doctors told him his symptoms hadn’t worsened was a small given six to 18 months to live. miracle he dared to think would become a big one. But the disease In the hazy weeks that followed, signs of life renewing and blooming encroached again in April, in a way only Kelsie recognized. While around her seemed to taunt Kelsie. Like her husband, she’s a former Los examining a photo she’d taken while the family was enjoying time Angeles Times summer intern and sportswriter, gifted at turning thoughts together made possible by shelter-at-home requirements of the COVID- into poignant words. These will pierce your heart. 19 pandemic, she found a new droop to his brilliant smile, the smile that had drawn her to him. It was small but devastating. “It was like every person I’d see would be a family in the mall or a person pushing a stroller. I’d see a mom pregnant. I’d see just people who had “We were living in this bubble where it felt like everything was maybe just futures,” she said. “Nobody really does. Nobody gets that promise, but going to stay the way it was. Maybe this drug would be the magic bullet we had the ability to think that the future was ours to have, and that was and we would just stop this where it was,” she said. just taken.” It tested Chris’ staunchly positive outlook. “The change that I’ve seen in Happily, an experimental drug developed for Chris’ specific gene my face, which is very likely due to a facial muscle or two that aren’t mutation has extended the horizon of his future. He was accepted into a behaving the same, reintroduced some fear, some anxiety that was not clinical trial soon after his diagnosis and was lucky to get the drug there, because month after month after month, I was doing the unheard tofersen instead of a placebo. of, I was not changing,” he said.

“That was just like Russian roulette, which is a whole other complicated Since then, he said, it hasn’t gotten worse, and he’s hoping he will stay at element of it,” Kelsie said. this current solid plateau for a while.

He lost the use of his right hand last summer but made Angels pitcher In the meantime, he’s raising funds for ALS research through Jim Abbott his model to learn to throw a baseball with his left hand, lean #TrickShot4Snowy, challenging athletes to record themselves taking trick his glove against his right hand, and then put the glove on to catch the shots in hockey or other sports and donate to return toss from his 8-year-old son, Cohen. calgaryflames.com/snowystrong. It’s a new take on the Ice Bucket challenge, which raised funds for research he believes is benefiting him Snow, 38, spent last week holed up in his son’s bedroom — the only . Keep him around long enough, Kelsie says, and the drug he’s room in their house with a desk and a door that closes — to help the taking or the next one will be the one that creates an unlimited horizon for Flames prepare for the NHL draft and launch of the Stanley Cup playoffs. ALS patients. He can’t tie his shoes, but he can play catch and do pushups with his 5- year-old daughter Willa wriggling on his back. He is living, not waiting to “I’ve already beaten the odds,” Chris said. “I just want to really beat die. them.”

“I am still myself. I can walk into a room and people who don’t know, they wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t realize it,” he said. “I’m not walking slowly. LA Times: LOADED: 06.18.2020 I’m walking. I can run. I can skate, I can rollerblade.

“If we went back to a year ago and you painted this scene for me today I would be in tears because I would be elated. The mental challenge now is I’ve seen these benefits and I get greedy. I want it all. I want this to last for 40 more years, or more.”

Kelsie knew of Chris before they met. Formerly Kelsie Smith, she was an intern at the Times in 2004 and was impressed to hear about the previous summer’s hotshot intern, who had gotten his dream job covering hockey in Minnesota. In the summer of 2005 she was hired as an intern at , where Chris had gone to cover the Red Sox even though he liked hockey better.

Most sportswriters think they know more than the people who run the teams they cover. Few get a chance to prove it. Chris did when he was hired by the Minnesota Wild a few years after then-general manager Doug Risebrough suggested he consider a front-office job. “I took a massive pay cut,” Snow said, laughing. He spent four years with the Wild and one year between jobs before he was hired by the Flames. Kelsie, who had been covering the Twins for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, moved with him when their son was 5 weeks old.

She had her own medical crisis two years ago when she suffered a stroke. She recovered, gaining an appreciation for the fragility of life. “I always say to Chris. ‘We’re not promised anything beyond today.’ 1175730 Anaheim Ducks contention, minus the antagonizing element that left other fanbases sore and even vitriolic. Lafreniere would not be a savior but he’d be the type of elite talent that the Ducks need and haven’t been in position to acquire.

What it would mean for the Ducks to win the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery What would winning the No. 2 or No. 3 slot mean for the Ducks?

Pronman: While Lafreniere would jumpstart the rebuild, getting either By Corey Pronman and Eric Stephens Quinton Byfield especially or Tim Stützle would mean a ton. The last time the Ducks picked in the top five was 2005 (Bobby Ryan). This Jun 17, 2020 organization has done a lot of good without getting a chance to pick elite talents. They did just pick a center in the top 10 in Zegras, but a player

like Byfield adds much more ability and becomes a face of their rebuild, Maybe the roll down the NHL mountain was inevitable for the Ducks. The even if he’s not the No. 1 pick, and someone you hope can replace Ryan days of winning or pushing for division titles and being a real contender in Getzlaf as the team’s go-to player for the next 10-15 years. the Western Conference — if not the entire league — had to end. Stephens: Corey gets the dilemma that the Ducks have put themselves Nothing lasts forever. Right? in. Until their recent swoon, they’ve been very competitive and largely Anaheim’s 2019-20 season might have been officially declared over on consistent since coming out of the lost 2004-05 lockout season. It has May 26, but the real date was March 11, when it lost to St. Louis in a also resulted in top picks mostly in the middle of the first round or lower rescheduled home contest the night before the NHL hit the pause button. since taking Ryan. And they’ve never had a desire to go the tanking route Some would argue that the season was over before then. The Ducks fell or completely bottoming out for a season. Byfield would give them a below .500 on Dec. 6 and never got back to that definitive measure of center who is closer to the profile of Getzlaf in terms of size and two-way mediocrity. ability. Stützle would add another creative high-level playmaker to a roster that needs to be more imaginative. Landing either would not solve Now they’re on a two-year run without postseason play after six straight all their issues but it would be another consequential step toward appearances, the first five representing the Pacific Division champion. upgrading their forward corps. The preferred words around the Ducks and their current situation are transition and retool. But with consecutive 13th place conference finishes What does it mean if the Ducks don’t get a top 3 pick? and a roster low on star power, it has the unmistakable look of a rebuild. Pronman: If the Ducks end up sitting at their current slot or moving down The key thing for them is to limit that rebuild to two or three years and not one or two slots they’re going to get a great player, but the path to how have it turn into five. Or nine, as it has stretched to in other places. And they become a good NHL team again isn’t clear. They aren’t selling off a when you don’t win in Southern California, you pay for it at the box office ton of pieces right now for young talent. They have some good players, and run the risk of being completely irrelevant on the sports landscape. but this isn’t a stacked roster, with Ryan Getzlaf at the age of 35 now. They have some very good under-23 players in the organization and The NHL is cyclical and so the Ducks’ stay near the bottom of the some great players in their mid 20s that could make the club a standings does not have to last forever. But to reverse course, they will respectable team, but I don’t see how that group becomes a top team need to make some things happen. Their veteran core of leaders and unless certain players take massive jumps forward in their development difference-makers must be better as a collective. Their younger talents or they make some very clever trades/signings. who are trying to entrench themselves in the league must take a significant step forward and become highly valuable players instead of Stephens: If the Ducks wind up picking somewhere between Nos. 5-8, it just occupying roster spots. The roster needs to be augmented with means they’ll get a talented player but one who may wind up being more judicious acquisitions. of a complementary piece than a foundational player who can lead them well into the future. That is not to say that player couldn’t become a star For their long-term health and sustainability, the Ducks can also use a or that Lafreniere, Byfield or Stützle will automatically become one. It’s game-changer in the NHL Draft. A player who can either be built around just the chances diminish in getting that type of player the further down or at least one who can fit into their “core” for the next decade. Some rare you go in the draft. Look at Toronto. Auston Matthews was a No. 1 pick. good luck in the June 26 draft lottery could help accelerate their retooling Mitch Marner went fourth overall and Morgan Rielly was a No. 5 pick. process. But some sage work with the two first-round picks they possess William Nylander went eighth. Nylander is a good player but would you — the first which will be no worse than the eighth selection — will fortify a say he’s in the class of Matthews, Marner and Rielly in terms of base to work from in their quest to begin another arc of winning. importance on the Leafs? Settling for someone like Jamie Drysdale, Marco Rossi, Cole Perfetti, Alexander Holtz or Lucas Raymond isn’t a The Ducks have never had the first pick. There is a strong bet they’ve got bad thing. Any of them would fit nicely in a potential young group with a plan for it if the lottery rolls in their direction for once. Zegras, Terry, Comtois and Sam Steel. None would lead them right into Ducks beat reporter Eric Stephens and The Athletic’s prospects writer a period of prosperity. Corey Pronman weigh in on Anaheim’s lottery scenarios.

What would it mean for the Ducks to win the No. 1 pick and a chance to The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 draft Alexis Lafreniere?

Pronman: The Ducks have accumulated some good young players. I think you have to like the caliber of talent of Troy Terry and Maxime Comtois where they picked them even if they haven’t broken through yet. They don’t really have that true star caliber young talent though. I could see a path for Trevor Zegras to become that, but I wouldn’t say I’m highly confident he will be that player. It very much strikes me as a rebuild in its infancy and a process that could take many years to truly turn around. The Ducks seem to be trying to do a rebuild on the fly and that’s difficult, albeit not impossible to do without getting a very high pick. Alexis Lafreniere would give this rebuild life and speed up the process by a few years. I don’t think he instantly brings the Ducks back to being a contender. There is still work to do to turn the page and build a new top core of players. But the path starts becoming clearer.

Stephens: You want to dream about the possibility of Lafreniere working off Zegras and vice versa for a dozen years? Chemistry is often a fickle proposition when trying to develop it and who knows if the reality was to live up to the dream but there isn’t anything wrong with conjuring up visions of the two heading up ice and creating havoc in the offensive end. The two could be a logical successor to the longtime Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry partnership that powered Anaheim through its last run of 1175731 Arizona Coyotes The league intends to begin formal training camps on July 10 ahead of a 24-team postseason tournament format.

Coyotes start training sessions; Players describe safety at arena Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.18.2020

BY MATT LAYMAN

JUNE 16, 2020 AT 3:13 PM

Brad Richardson said it starts in the morning, before players even get to the arena. They take their own temperature at home.

Once Arizona Coyotes players arrive for practice in voluntary small group training sessions as part of Phase 2, which began for the Coyotes on Thursday, someone is there to greet them at Gila River Arena. Players get another temperature check, and don a mask and gloves as their visit to the arena continues.

Only in the weight room and on the ice are gloves and a mask not required.

“Everything’s been very organized,” Richardson said. “We have a certain time we have to be there and a certain time we’ve got to leave before the next group comes in. So very structured and you feel very safe. And that’s it. The training’s going well.

“I’m on the ice by myself with a coach because I’m rehabbing [from injury] — you’re allowed to do that. So I’ve been just working with the coaching and getting ready and skating three or four times a week and trying to get ready to play.”

A small group of players began skating at Gila River Arena last week. That is growing as more players get back into town, having dispersed when the coronavirus pandemic halted the season in March. Players are having to get regular COVID-19 tests to return to the arena and be around one another.

“I wouldn’t say it’s too bad,” Adin Hill said of the swab test. “It’s more uncomfortable. It goes pretty far up your nose so when it’s up there, it’s just kind of a weird little tickle, a little sensation. It’s definitely not comfortable, you want it out right away. I guess your eyes just kind of water and your nose feels a little weird.

“The first time I got one, I felt like I was about to sneeze when it was up there and I don’t think that would have turned out too well. But it’s not too bad. It’s not that bad.”

This weekend, the Coyotes announced that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Such is a possibility for any team and league trying return during a pandemic. Richardson said he came into close contact with the person who tested positive.

“I was around that person. But the precautions that we’re taking protect you,” Richardson said. “Even though we were fairly close together, I went and got tested and it was negative and I’ve tested since then, too. That’s why those precautions are there.

“People in their outside life have to go live their life and do their thing. Everyone’s trying to still social distance, but it’s sometimes impossible. It sucks for that person but it’s nice to see that no one else was infected and hopefully we can move forward.”

Richardson was told late at night that the person tested positive. He immediately got himself tested.

“They handled it really great,” he said. “The person doesn’t have any symptoms and then just had the positive test. So I went and got tested, literally as soon as they told me and got the results back fairly quick. Obviously tested negative, went about my life as usual.”

With no body checking, and lots of safety measures off the ice, practices are a little different for now. But players are getting in work and feeling comfortable with the precautions in place.

“Even when we’re in the gym and lifting the weights, right after you’re done using your weight, you take a cloth and a little sanitizing spray bottle, spray everything down, make sure it’s clean,” Hill said. “Everyone’s wearing masks. I think they’re taking all the right precautions. Every staff member is wearing a mask and gloves. It’s going well.” 1175732 want to play. I know I can help the team. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re showing up to the rink and you can’t help the guys and it’s been so long since you’ve been able to play a game.

Kevan Miller talks about his strenuous rehab and calls for unity in a time “I’m not losing hope on that at all. If anything, it’s pushed me to push of social unrest more.”

Expressing his views

By Matt Porter Globe Staff Off the ice, Miller is a visible advocate for police, the military and first Updated June 17, 2020, 7:36 p.m. responders. He wears clothing that shows support, counts military members among his close friends and pondered a non-hockey career with the Navy Seals.

After four knee surgeries in 14 months, Kevan MIller doesn't know when This is a time of widespread protest over police brutality, following the he will return to the ice. May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Several of his teammates have been outspoken about their support for the Black After four knee surgeries in 14 months, Kevan MIller doesn't know when Lives Matter movement, including Zdeno Chara, who attended a he will return to the ice.Nick Wass/FR67404 AP via AP protest on June 5 in Brookline, and , who donated Kevan Miller can traverse stairs, tie his shoes and pull on his jeans like $50,000 to racial justice causes. he used to. Kevan Miller will turn 33 in November. This represents progress. Miller, in a now-deleted Instagram post on June 2, captioned a black After four knee surgeries in the last 14 months, Miller doesn’t know when square for “ Tuesday” with “blacklivesmatter bluelivesmatter he will run again, much less return to the ice. He no longer circles dates alllivesmatter.” on his calendar. He has no contract beyond this season. He does not Asked by a Globe reporter for his view of the last few weeks, Miller gave want updates from his agent, Peter Fish, on any negotiation with the a long, reflective response that expressed his disgust over Floyd’s death, Bruins. his support for nonviolent protesters and his backing of law enforcement. “I don’t really want to deal with that right now,” the defenseman said. “I “I think first and foremost, I stand firmly behind my teammates, the just want to focus on getting healthy.” organization, the statements they’ve made — the courageous statements Speaking on a Wednesday call with Boston reporters, Miller said it they’ve made,” he said. “I think everybody loves to hear and loves to see “means the world to me” to be the Boston nominee for the NHL’s that there is a conversation that needs to be had and there is some Masterton Trophy, given for perseverance and dedication to hockey. He change that needs to happen.” was chosen by the local Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Miller called the widely shared video of then-officer Derek Chauvin chapter for his grueling, season-long rehab on a right kneecap twice kneeling on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, “disgusting to broken in April and May of last year. Because of what general manager watch.” He then said it was “unfortunate” that it became a “divisive issue.” has termed “setbacks,” Miller has several times found In Miller’s view, protesters taking a “you’re either with us or against us” himself back at square one. stance and “rioting” won’t help advance the cause of equality. “It’s taken a toll, for sure,” said Miller, who last played on April 4, 2019. “I think the protests are necessary, it’s part of our First Amendment “When you have an injury and it persists this long, it takes a toll between rights, it’s right there in the Constitution,” he said. “I think the majority of the ears.” people who are protesting are doing it in a very good way, and it’s Miller was speaking from Colorado, where he had two of his surgeries unfortunate that some of those protests have turned into riots and under Vail-based doctor Matt Provenchar. His family, including two young clouded what happened. children, decamped west for the pause because rehab and training “And that’s what’s frustrating, that 99.99 percent of people are all on the facilities were open, while Boston’s were closed. He expects to remain same page. They saw that and said, this is wrong, and we should all use there indefinitely, with hopes he regains strength and stability in his knee. this as a rallying cry to come together. I think it’s unfortunately gone the “Hockey’s a very unique sport,” he mused. “We’re super quad-dominant other way. In my opinion it’s become a divisive issue, where it should be athletes. We put a lot of force down on the ice on a small piece of blade, one where it brings everyone together. through each leg as you skate. There’s a lot more to it than being able to “As far as the military and police and first-responder support goes, I don’t walk around.” view, in my opinion, I don’t view one life as more meaningful than Undrafted out of Vermont, Miller was not considered an NHL-caliber another. I think what happened to Mr. Floyd, like I said, was terrible. skater. His toughness and physicality earned him a . He climbed the Then you see some of the acts that happened afterward, where you see ladder, from an AHL contract to an NHL contract to a role as a third-pair police officers and citizens being killed during some of these riots. defenseman on a winning team. “Race aside, I think the value of life and love for people and love for your One longtime Bruins observer commented that Miller’s career recalls that neighbor and one another needs to go up. And that’s just my view. of Gord Kluzak, the first pick in the 1982 draft, who was out of hockey at “It’s almost strange for me nowadays, that you can’t say one thing and be age 27 after a series of knee injuries. Kluzak had a sweet finish, helping on both sides. You can’t say ‘I support Black Lives Matter and I also the Bruins reach the 1988 Stanley Cup Final after he sat out two of the support the police,’ and not be on one side. I think that that is wrong. previous three seasons. “I think people are mad and I understand that. They have the right to be Related: Mic’d up players, more cameras? Bruin John Moore all in for mad. And I’m mad. A lot of people saw [Floyd’s death], and they’re just, enhancing the product for NHL’s restart it’s not OK. I think it needs to be, it should have been, I wish it would Miller is not guaranteed such a moment. have been, a rallying cry for real change in one direction, rather than saying, ‘You’re either with us or against us.’ I just think it’s unfortunate. “At this point … I want to be able to function normally,” he said. “That’s step one. I’m getting back to that. Step two is to be able to do some “I believe in the American spirit, and I believe that people truly care about things off the ice I was able to do before. Then get 100 percent off the one another. I think in some time, it’s going to cause some really good ice, and once I’m able to cross that bridge, at that point I’ll be able to put change. Not just in our sport, but throughout the country. I’m looking the skates back on and hopefully be able to go out and perform like I was forward to seeing brighter days to come.” able to. That’s my hope and my . I wake up every morning trying to get to that point.” Boston Globe LOADED: 06.18.2020 Has he ever thought of giving up?

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried that hey, I don’t know how this is going to end up,” he said. “That’s part of my job. I want to be healthy. I 1175733 Boston Bruins

Mike Milbury shares great story on taking huge hit from Cam Neely in Bruins practice

By Nick Goss

June 17, 2020 5:54 PM

NBC Sports hockey analyst Mike Milbury played in one of the toughest eras in NHL history, but you might be surprised to learn the hardest hit he ever took actually came from a Boston Bruins teammate.

In an interview with NBC Sports Boston's Camera Guys, Milbury described how Bruins legend Cam Neely absolutely drilled him in a practice shortly after the Hall of Fame forward was traded to Boston.

"Cam Neely had come to our club, and I didn't know much about him," Milbury admitted. "Barry Pederson was involved in that trade. I know that one of the Bruins' chief scouts was really big on Cam Neely. They acquired him, and it was a hell of a deal by .

"We're practicing one day and I went to move the puck out of the zone and Neely came full force into me, and he jettisoned me -- he didn't just hit me, it was like I was on a pogo stick and I just went up into the air. My eyes were wide open and I felt like -- I didn't know when I was going to come down. Just the sheer force of it left me almost weightless and I was up there for what seemed like an eternity. Then I finally looked up from the ice and there was Neely laughing at me."

"He's done a great job (as B's president) and he had a great career. It's just unfortunate he couldn't go a little bit longer -- thank you Ulf Samuelsson."

Neely was one of the most feared players in the league during his Bruins career. Not only could he score between 40 and 50 goals in a season, he also unleashed punishing hits and wasn't afraid to fight anyone. It sounds like Milbury got a first-hand look at Neely's toughness early in the power forward's tenure with the B's.

Milbury's final season with the Bruins was 1986-87, which also happened to be Neely's first with the team after it acquired him via trade from the Vancouver Canucks. Milbury later coached Neely and the Bruins for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons, during which Boston lost in the Stanley Cup Final (1990) and the Prince of Walers Conference Final (1991).

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175734 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Kevan Miller acknowledges he's 'worried' about his NHL future

By Joe Haggerty

June 17, 2020 3:33 PM

Kevan Miller was appreciative of being named the Bruins' nominee for the Masterton Trophy this season even though he never suited up for a game.

It was a recognition of his perseverance in attempting to return from a handful of procedures on his knee after a pair of catastrophic kneecap injuries have kept him out of the lineup for over a calendar year.

Get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App

The injuries robbed him of participating in last spring’s run to the Stanley Cup Final as he was knocked out for the entire postseason, and have relegated him to playing in three NHL games since February 2019. Now he’s been ruled out from playing for the Bruins when the NHL resumes this summer for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer with his career at a definite crossroads.

Despite all that, the 32-year-old Miller said that he still hasn’t entertained thoughts of retirement or given up hope that he’ll return to play in Boston or somewhere else.

“I’m grateful for all the support my friends, family, teammates, coaching staff and the organization has given me throughout this, it’s been a long haul. As a lot of you guys know, it’s taken a heavy toll mentally and physically… it’s definitely taken a toll. It’s been a long road, but I’m trying to keep things in perspective,” said Miller, during a Wednesday Zoom call with reporters. “I’m hoping to get back to 100 percent whenever that might be and get back to playing hockey.

“I haven’t gotten to that [point of giving up]. I’d be lying to you if I said that I haven’t been worried about where this is all going to end up. It’s my job and it’s part of my passion. I want to be healthy. I want to play. I know I could help the team. It’s a tough pill to swallow when you show up to the rink and you can’t skate with the guys, and it’s been so long since you’ve played in a game.”

It’s been a tough development for the Bruins, as well, who absolutely could have benefitted from Miller’s heavy, physical presence and immense strength when it came time to battle the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final last June. Miller and the Bruins both know his presence could have been a difference-maker in a series that was even enough it came down to a winner-take-all Game 7 in Boston that didn’t go the Bruins’ way.

In all reality, it’s going to be difficult to see Miller coming back to Boston given their salary cap situation and given they have a couple of affordable, young bottom-6 defensemen in Jeremy Lauzon and Connor Clifton. Lauzon, in particular, plays the big, strong stay-at-home role that Miller was known for and would give the Bruins the same kind of punishing, hard-hitting warrior in the defensive zone at a portion of the cap space of Miller.

But here’s hoping that Miller finds good health and a return to the NHL at some point in the future even as the odds — and Father Time — aren’t with him given the nature of some very serious knee injuries that have plagued him for over a year.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175735 Boston Bruins The Flyers (2-1-0 against Boston) came on so strong over the course of the season that they're an easy candidate to be this season's dark horse contender, though they might be too good to even be considered that. 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bruins should go all out in the round-robin The Bruins' ideal scenario would be getting the No. 1 seed, having one of those three teams knocked out in the first round and not having to see any of them until the conference finals.

By DJ Bean So play the round-robin like it's the playoffs. There's already been plenty of rest. June 17, 2020 12:00 PM

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 For as desperate as we all are to get hockey back, there sure seems to be a lot of indifference when it comes to the round-robin the Bruins will play.

In case you've forgotten, the top four teams in each conference will play three games (one against each of the other top three in their conference) while the Nos. 5-12 teams match up for a five-game play-in round. The round-robin will determine the seeding for the top four teams, which in the East consists of the Bruins, Lightning, Capitals and Flyers.

Now, because the top four teams are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and the round-robin will be the first games they play in over four months, there's been discussion on our various programs as to whether they should use the round-robin to ease their way back or — get this — rest players to avoid injury.

Rest! After four months!

Make no mistake: The Bruins should go balls to the wall. They should do everything they can to get that No. 1 seed and avoid Tampa, Washington and Philly — against whom they're a combined 3-3-4, by the way — for as long as they can.

Bruce Cassidy, a very good coach with a far brighter hockey mind than mine, said to Joe Haggerty and Jimmy Murphy this week that the Bruins "absolutely could rest players" in the round-robin, starting with giving a blow if he needs it in one of the games, but added that they'd consider everything.

"Veteran guys, do they need all three games to get to the top of their game? Even if they do, should we play them [and] risk injury? There’s a lot that goes into it," Cassidy said. "I think every team is probably going to have a little of the same approach that way. They want to go into the playoffs at their best and healthiest, not come out of the round-robin [banged up].

"Would we like to win all three games? Of course, in a perfect world, but I think you'll see more of a ... certainly some preseason mentality worked in to how you'd construct your lineup every game. But if the [veteran players] want to play every game and they feel that's what they need to do, then they'll play every game, because I'm going to listen to them. It's their bodies, they've been through it. Then in the last game we're going to shut our eyes in the third period and hope no one gets hurt in those situations.

"Hopefully the other team's thinking the same thing. Hopefully there's mutual respect between the teams like, 'Hey, we're both after the same goal here. Let's play hard, but play smart and get through the games and get ready for what's most important.' I think you'll see that with all the teams in that round-robin."

I see that and hope it's gamesmanship on Cassidy's part, perhaps in an effort to make Tampa, Washington and Philly to take that kind of approach. Doing it themselves would be the wrong play.

Bean: What happens to NHL's handshake line in playoffs?

A lot of teams have to sacrifice things in this format. For the Bruins, it's that they have to still go out and solidify the No. 1 seed they earned in the regular season. They should do that because it's important.

Unlike other years, the playoffs are going to reseed after each round. That means that the No. 1 seed gets the lowest remaining seed in every round. If the Bruins get it, they could be looking at a second straight postseason of an easy path.

And don't let the Presidents' Trophy fool you. The Bruins should certainly want the easy path.

I think the Lightning (3-1-0 this season against Boston) are a better team than the Bruins, even if they're one year removed from a first-round choke. Washington (2-1-0 against Boston) has always been a problem. 1175736 Boston Bruins “It’s allowed me to heal on my own timeline,” Miller said of how COVID- 19 has reset his outlook. “That’s kind of where I’m at now. There’s no real timeline. I haven’t circled a date. Before, I was circling dates. Now, I’m Over and out? Hard-luck Kevan Miller dreams of normalcy before an not circling a date. I’m just saying, ‘We need to get that next point, that NHL contract next mark.’ ”

Miller underwent X-rays several weeks ago. They showed he was doing well. A CAT scan awaits in about a month. If he continues to progress, By Fluto Shinzawa Miller may begin strength training.

Jun 17, 2020 By then, his teammates could be in training camp, preparing for the playoffs. Whether Miller would be welcome at Warrior Ice Arena is

unknown. Once the Bruins advance to a hub city, it may not be possible Kevan Miller can tie his shoes. He can pull on a pair of jeans. Walking up for them to accept visitors like Miller. It may very well be that Miller has and down stairs, once a no-no activity, now feels somewhat normal. seen the last of some of his teammates in person.

Four knee surgeries in approximately 14 months would compromise even “I’d want, more than ever, to be around the guys and to cheer them on one of the strongest NHL players. and support them,” Miller said. “I couldn’t see how I could just watch on TV. That would drive me nuts. I would want to come back and see the The rugged Miller, who once churned out more pull-ups in fitness testing guys and not put anyone in danger or be a health risk. That’s another than Zdeno Chara, is considering his NHL mortality. He has not played aspect. If I’m not playing, do you need me around the rink? Which stinks since April 4, 2019, when he broke his right kneecap. He does not know to say, especially with this COVID thing.” when he can resume skating. The Boston chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association Miller’s four-year, $10 million contract will expire upon the official nominated Miller for the Masterton Trophy. It is awarded to the NHL conclusion of this season, whenever that may be. His days in Boston player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication could be over. Whether he can find NHL employment elsewhere is to hockey. unknown. Miller acknowledges worrying about what’s to come. But he has not Job security, however, is not Miller’s primary concern. closed the door on his career. He does not want his final on-ice memory to be limping toward the dressing room, his future unknown. “First and foremost, I just want to be able to function normally here. That’s Step 1. I’m getting back to that,” Miller said on a Wednesday video Miller is still a hockey player. He intends to put his skates back on. call. “Step 2 is to do some things off the ice that I was able to do before and get 100 percent off the ice. Once I’m able to cross that bridge, at that point, I’ll be able to put the skates back on and hopefully be able to go The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 out and perform like I was able to.”

If this is the end for Miller in Boston, it is a rotten conclusion to a self- made career. Miller was undrafted. As a 16-year-old, he didn’t make his AAA midget team. As a sophomore, the Los Angeles native enrolled at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., where he was cut from the varsity. After four years at the University of Vermont, Miller signed an amateur tryout contract with Providence.

With tutelage from and Kevin Dean, conditioning from trainer Dave Eastham and skills work from Hall of Famer Adam Oates, Miller developed into a no-nonsense defensive defenseman. He scared opponents. He gained the love of his teammates.

Miller knew no way to play but hard. It cost him games because of the battering his body experienced, whether it was his knee or throat or shoulder, all of which bore the scars of his roughneck style.

“I don’t have another identity, to be honest with you, especially on the ice,” said the 32-year-old Miller, who is in his seventh season. “That’s who I am. Who I am on the ice is who I am off the ice. Maybe a little softer off the ice. That’s my bread and butter. I don’t think I’m going to go out there and score 50 goals.”

Repeated setbacks with his knee staggered the strongman, not just because of the pain he suffered or the grunt work required in rehab. It was the anguish of watching wife Haley nearing delivery of their second child while he was hobbled following his third procedure.

“My wife’s nine months pregnant. We have a two-year-old daughter. My son’s on the way, and here I am on crutches, kind of struggling to get around,” Miller recalled of this past January. “So my wife has our son. It’s tough to be there for your kids when you’re not able to really do as much as you’d like or can — be there for your wife, be there for your kids. So it’s those types of things. It’s beyond just the actual physical trauma, but the trauma that there’s a lot going on with my side of my family. That takes a toll.”

Miller was in Boston when the season was suspended. But when the state went on lockdown, Miller was unable to continue his rehab.

So he and his family returned to their offseason home in Colorado. There, he could work with physical therapists earlier than he would have had he stayed in . Miller lives near the Steadman Clinic in Vail, where Dr. Matthew Provencher conducted his second and fourth procedures. He is no longer in constant consultation with his calendar to monitor his progression. 1175737 Buffalo Sabres has to deal with the perception that he's Terry and 's hand- picked choice from the office down the hall.

"I totally understand. I'm going to treat this job like I've treated every part Job one for Kevyn Adams: Establish his credibility as an NHL GM of my life to this point," he said. "I'm going to put the work in, surround myself with great people. I'm going to be honest and have true, honest conversations with people. What I believe in from my experiences in the By Mike Harrington past is when you do that and believe in yourself, good things can happen." Published Wed, Jun 17, 2020|Updated Wed, Jun 17, 2020 The Sabres may not play again until January, but Adams has some

immediate issues. He has to start formulating a plan on the team's Kevyn Adams has a battle on his hands about far more than trying to get restricted free agents, topped by how much and how long for Sam the Buffalo Sabres back into the playoffs. He's got to forge an identity as Reinhart. What does he do about Rasmus Ristolainen? What about the an NHL general manager and he's got a long road ahead of him to goaltending? And what kind of mood is in now? succeed. When he met the media in late May, the captain was hugely in Krueger's There are rookie GMs and then there are rookie GMs who have never corner but didn't seem hip to Botterill's plan. Adams called Eichel on been in the hockey operations side of things. And that's where Adams is Tuesday and said they need to break bread together soon. Good right now. thinking.

That's not to denigrate Adams' career by any stretch. The Clarence And there's this tiny issue of the draft. The Sabres will take part in the native is a former first-round pick and a Stanley Cup champion. He's lottery on June 26, and then wait until sometime in October to pick. The been a player agent, a Sabres assistant coach, brilliantly brought the firings of just about everyone has all their intel in the domain of the LECOM Harborcenter Academy of Hockey to life when it was just an idea hockey world. People in this game talk and the plans of Botterill & Co. will on paper, and was most recently a vice president on the business side of surely be out. the Sabres' operation. "It's something I have thought about," Adams admitted. "The draft is None of this translates to instant credibility as an NHL GM and Adams usually in a week or so. Obviously, with the calendar changing, things are knows it. different. At the same point, there may be time but if we don't use this time effectively then we've wasted the time, so it is making every moment "I believe you have to earn respect. You earn everything in life," Adams count with our scouting department to be in position to draft. said during a conference call with The Buffalo News on Wednesday, a day after his stunning appointment to replace Jason Botterill. "For me, "You will not hear one excuse out of our department that says we weren't starting with the players and the coaching staff and the hockey ready because we didn't have enough time. We're gonna put in the time, operations and business staff, it's about doing things consistently the we're gonna put in the work and we're gonna be prepared." right way day after day after day and being honest. And having a Good luck to him. He's going to need it. conversation of substance pointing the right direction, which is focused on winning a Stanley Cup."

Certainly, there's some heavy Pegulaspeak there. There really shouldn't Buffalo News LOADED: 06.18.2020 be any Stanley Cup talk around here when this team can't make a 24- team postseason tournament. But at least Adams sounded like a GM plenty of times during the 30-minute conversation. Of course, Tim Murray and Botterill often did, too, and we saw how that worked out.

You work your way up to be a GM. That's what is doing in New York, perhaps what Danny Briere is doing with Philadelphia's ECHL team in Portland, Maine. You just don't become one this way. Especially if you're not a big-name player.

But Adams wasn't suddenly summoned from Florida on a Zoom call Tuesday and told he was going to be the GM. This seems to have been in the works for a while. Adams confirmed Wednesday lots of conversations with coach Ralph Krueger, and it was notable that Adams was on the team's infamous Western road trip after the trade deadline when it went 0-4. He must have been taking lots of notes.

And Adams revealed he represented the Sabres this year as an alternate at the NHL's Board of Governors meetings. That's been Kim Pegula's job. That got him some good face time with lots of league power brokers. Good call by the Pegulas there.

Still, Adams knows about the are-you-kidding-me chatter in the hockey world. The Pegulas have put him in a very tenuous spot. You can only imagine some of the trade "offers" he's going to get from other teams looking for the next Ryan O'Reilly heist.

All of a sudden, there really are financial restrictions on the Sabres' hockey department. A team that had 15 amateur scouts at the start of the week is down to only four, at least for now. There's no assistant GM, scouting director or AHL coaching staff.

This just doesn't happen in hockey. And get this: On his first day on the job, Adams was the one who made lots of the calls to fire people.

He said he wanted to do it (what else was he supposed to say?). But Adams pointed out he's been on the other end of the phone. He's been traded or released as a player, sent to the minors and was fired as an assistant coach here six years ago, too.

Lots of things about being a GM are difficult. This job is one of the toughest in the league. The owners now seem to have more power than ever on hockey matters and that's not a good thing. Meanwhile, Adams 1175738 Buffalo Sabres Wednesday he had only evaluated the Sabres from a distance since he arrived as a development coach in 2009.

"I guess it all plays a part in understanding how everything worked," Sabres GM Kevyn Adams 'part of the process' before Jason Botterill's Adams said. "If I can take a little bit of a step back, I have been around firing since the Pegulas bought the team in different roles, so learning through a lot of different experiences and understanding how different things have worked at different levels. There is certainly an evaluation as you By Lance Lysowski do your job on a daily basis, but you’re also learning about how the picture worked." Published Wed, Jun 17, 2020|Updated Wed, Jun 17, 2020 Sexton and Greeley were fired shortly after Botterill received the news

Tuesday morning. Later in the day, Adams informed Rochester coach On the first official day of what he calls his "dream job," new Sabres Chris Taylor that he and his staff were not returning. General Manager Kevyn Adams was tasked with firing more than 20 In three seasons with Taylor as coach, the Amerks went a combined people over the phone in an unprecedented bloodletting of a hockey 116-65-33 and were on pace for a third consecutive playoff appearance operations department that was overhauled only three years earlier. when the coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of the Some conversations lasted less than 60 seconds and Adams did not Playoffs. The Amerks failed to win any of their six playoff games under know some of the employees he was firing. Many of the calls were made Taylor. During the brief phone call, Adams said the coaches were being following a 45-minute Zoom conference call with reporters Tuesday in fired because the Sabres were seeking a "clean slate," according to which owners Terry and Kim Pegula explained a "philosophical Taylor. difference" led to the unexpected firing of General Manager Jason Adams explained Wednesday the decision was made because he and Botterill shortly after 9 a.m. others in the organization thought Taylor and his staff prioritized winning No one knew the scope of the purge until late Tuesday afternoon. In the over player development. Taylor denied that notion, citing the end, 22 employees were fired, including assistant general managers development of Victor Olofsson, Linus Ullmark, Casey Mittelstadt, Will Randy Sexton and Steve Greeley; amateur scouting director Ryan Borgen and Jacob Bryson, among others. Botterill theorized that creating Jankowski; assistant amateur scouting director Jeff Crisp; 10 of 14 a winning culture in Rochester would have a significant impact on the amateur scouts; one of three pro scouts; two of four development NHL roster and a prospect's development would benefit from such an coaches; and Dennis Miller, head of rehab and development. Another environment. amateur scout resigned last month to spend time with his family. Only 13 The vision included the addition of expensive veterans to the AHL roster. people remain in the department under Adams. Eight players on the Amerks' roster in 2019-20 were paid a combined During an interview with The Buffalo News on Wednesday, Adams $5.1 million and none scored more than 15 goals this season. Taylor, described the phone calls as "very, very hard." However, he wasn't though, explained these players impacted the performance and simply playing the role of messenger. In the days leading up to Botterill's development of prospects. firing, Adams worked with the Pegulas to decide which staff members "That’s all we did every day is develop these players," Taylor said during would be fired and laid out his vision for the Sabres. a phone interview Wednesday. "That was our highest priority on the list "Within a few days before (the decision to fire Botterill), starting to have to develop but also to win. We focus on both of them, but development some questions and I was part of the process in talking things through," was the biggest thing. We had development coaches in every day. We Adams said. "There were a lot of conversations around overall had the Harborcenter guys in a couple times a month. We would have organizationally, efficiency. How can we build an organization effectively drills after every practice for development for a half hour, individual skills and make sure, at the forefront of that, we’re in communication and we’re and skill drills. That was our biggest thing, to make sure we get doing all the things we need to be doing on and off the ice to run a great everybody there to develop every day and help them become Buffalo organization? Certainly, staff and personnel was part of those Sabres." discussions." Among the 13 members of the amateur and pro scouting staffs fired, 11 The news of Adams' promotion sent a shockwave throughout the hockey were hired by Botterill. Among those gone from the amateur staff, Steve world. The 45-year-old Clarence native won a Stanley Cup during his 11- Cocker and Randy Hansch scouted Dylan Cozens, and Marcus Fingal year playing career in the , and he worked as an discovered goalie Erik Portillo in Sweden. Some members of the staff, assistant coach with the Sabres from 2011-13. including Jankowski, were with the team for only two drafts.

Quietly, though, Adams' role with the Sabres expanded significantly over Jerry Forton, the Sabres' director of collegiate scouting and a holdover the past 12 months. His promotion to the team's senior vice president of from former general manager Tim Murray, is now the highest ranking business administration included an appointment as the team's alternate member of either scouting staff. Adams explained the remaining scouts governor. When Botterill wasn't available, Adams would attend NHL will continue preparations for the draft, which may not be held until the Board of Governors meetings, a task previously carried out by Kim fall. He also gave a vague answer when asked if he plans to hire people Pegula. Adams would not say when he was offered the general manager gradually and if the additions will include an assistant general manager to position. run the .

Adams also joined the Sabres on a four-game road trip from Feb. 26 While Adams has not provided specifics about his plan for the Sabres, he through March 3 and, behind the scenes, he was developing a will follow ownership's edict to move forward "effectively, efficiently and relationship with coach Ralph Krueger. The two dined together and, economically," as said Tuesday. The vision could lead to a although Adams said the conversation centered around the business greater use of analytics and video scouting. world, a foundation was laid for a management team that Terry Pegula "In terms of our philosophy and scouting, I think there’s an incredible said Tuesday is the "answer" to the team's nine-year playoff drought. amount of technology out there right now," said Adams. "You tie in the When asked about potentially being more involved in personnel analytic factor and if we’re not using every ounce of information then decisions, Krueger said he's primarily focused on his job as head coach. we’re leaving something on the table. We’re going to make sure in that But when broached with topics such as hiring assistant general regard we’re in the forefront of that and find, again, this goes back to the managers or potential roster moves this offseason, Adams mentioned he word efficiency. How can we efficiently scout? And just because will consult Krueger and the Pegulas. something has been done one way before doesn’t mean it has to be Sources told The Buffalo News that members of the organization done before. We want to make the process better and that’s what we’re wondered what Adams' exact role was within the organization and there going to set out to do right away." were whispers he was appointed by ownership to review the hockey operations department. Buffalo News LOADED: 06.18.2020 Another source added there wasn't a sudden, calculated review of Botterill's staff during the winter. Instead, the Pegulas have been evaluating hockey operations for some time, though Adams said 1175739 Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.18.2020

Who's gone? Sabres' purge totals 22

By Staff

Published Wed, Jun 17, 2020|Updated Wed, Jun 17, 2020

The tally of firings by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday appears to be 22, as the team updated its directory.

The Sabres fired General Manager Jason Botterill and appointed Kevyn Adams to replace him.

Scouting was the hardest hit area, which is not unusual when a general manager gets fired, but the scope of the firings was surprising.

Among the departures were 10 amateur scouts and the director of amateur scouting and his assistant. Teemu Numminen resigned last month to spend more time with his family.

John Van Boxmeer, 67, a former Sabres player and assistant coach and Rochester Americans head coach, was the lone pro scout dismissed.

Among the 13 members of the pro and amateur scouting staffs fired, 11 were hired Botterill. Among the seven retained by Adams, only three were hired by Botterill. The rest were holdovers from previous GMs.

The Sabres currently list a director of collegiate scouting, four amateur scouts and two pro scouts.

WHO’S GONE?

SABRES FRONT OFFICE

Jason Botterill, general manager

Randy Sexton, assistant GM

Steve Greeley, assistant GM

ROCHESTER

Chris Taylor, head coach

Gord Dineen, assistant coach

Toby Peterson, assistant coach

AMATEUR SCOUTS

Ryan Jankowski, director

Jeff Crisp, assistant director

Cory Banika

Steve Cocker

Mark Ferner

Marcus Fingal

Scott Halpenny

Randy Hansch

Tom O’Connor

Ron Pyette

Matt Tiesling

Magnus Welin

PRO SCOUTS

John Van Boxmeer

DEVELOPMENT COACHES

Krys Barch

Mike Komisarek

Dennis Miller (rehab and development) 1175740 Buffalo Sabres Originally a second-round pick in the 1990 draft by the Islanders, Taylor played parts of eight seasons in the NHL with New York, the Bruins, and from 1999-2004 with the Sabres.

A day later, former Amerks coach Chris Taylor on his firing: 'I'm still During his time in the Sabres organization, his EZ-Pass account was shocked' pretty active with all the Thruway time going back and forth between the Sabres and Amerks. He ultimately played parts of nine AHL seasons in Rochester between 1999 and 2011 and became a beloved figure in the Sal Maiorana town where he decided to make his permanent home.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle A member of the franchise's Hall of Fame and 50th anniversary team, Taylor played 519 games with the Amerks, which ranks fourth all-time.

He ranks 10th in goals (142), third in assists (339) and fifth in points Chris Taylor could not believe the news when he heard it. (481). He was team MVP three times and team captain twice.

The bombshell hit Tuesday morning that the Buffalo Sabres had fired He, his wife Lisa and their two children, Nicholas and Samantha, have general manager Jason Botterill and assistant GMs Randy Sexton and lived here for two decades and that won’t change. They are embedded in Steve Greeley — news delivered to Taylor by Botterill himself. Rochester, and that’s why Taylor’s firing cuts a little deeper.

“I was shocked when I woke up yesterday morning to get the text from Coaches are hired to be fired, but Taylor was in a perfect situation and Jason, just totally shocked,” Taylor said Wednesday afternoon. “I didn’t doing a great job with the team. His dismissal just wasn’t warranted. even know what to think.” “Our family grew up here, our kids were 3 and 5 when we moved here He knew what not to think, though: That his job was in jeopardy, not after and we never left,” said Taylor. “Even when I had different stops, we the way he had helped turn the Amerks into a consistent winner and maintained our house here — it’s 20 years now. What a great playoff team in his two-plus years at the helm. community, everything about the city. It’s special to us so it’s hard right now. All of a sudden, I don’t have a paycheck in two weeks, no health So, you can only imagine Taylor’s jaw-dropping reaction several hours care for my special needs’ child in two weeks. Everything is just sad. later when the Sabres called him to say he and his two assistant Usually you recognize when something is going to happen, you have a coaches, Gord Dineen and Toby Peterson, were also fired, as well as little inkling, but this was nothing at all.” many members of the franchise’s scouting department. It’s a sad day for Rochester hockey, too, because when the Pegulas “I didn’t get the call until the afternoon and I was definitely shocked started talking Tuesday about getting “leaner” and more “efficient” in the again,” said Taylor. “I didn’t see anything coming, any talks about it. hockey operation, smart Amerks fans know what that means. Less Nothing, even after I talked to Jason and Randy in the morning. I never money will be spent on players, and that will very likely impact the won- thought anything about our staff at all. I’m still shocked.” loss record in a negative way.

Amerks fans should be shocked, too, and they should probably be angry “The fans are great, community is awesome, and I want the best for the because the dismissal of Taylor and his assistants will likely the Rochester fan base,” Taylor said. “I want the best for them because paradigm for hockey in Rochester. And that may not be a good thing. they’re great fans and they deserve it.”

When Botterill, who was an Amerks/Sabres teammate of Taylor’s for three seasons, was working as the assistant GM of the Penguins, Taylor was hired to be an assistant coach for Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate in Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 06.18.2020 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In Taylor’s one year on the staff in 2016-17, S/WB won 51 games and a division title.

Botterill was hired as the new Sabres’ GM in the spring of 2017, and he brought Taylor with him to serve as head coach in Rochester as well as another Pittsburgh cohort, Sexton, to be the GM of the Amerks.

All three saw how important it was to have a successful team in the minor leagues, and that was Botterill’s vision for the Amerks. Player development was obviously the goal, but as a critical component of that development, he wanted veterans on the Rochester roster to help the young players find their way.

In Pittsburgh, this system helped lead to Stanley Cup titles in 2009 and 2016. By establishing a winning program in Rochester, Botterill was hoping that would eventually lead to success in Buffalo. In the end, it didn’t because while the Amerks were winning, the Sabres weren’t, and that’s one reason why Botterill was fired.

“With our model, obviously it’s on player development for the young guys, but we also needed support around them to help them grow and give them confidence,” said Taylor, who took great pride in getting players like Victor Olafsson and Linus Ullmark to Buffalo.

“Learn how to be a pro on and off the ice. There’s some intangibles that, as coaches, you can’t get to a player as much as a 25- or 27-year-old veteran can. Talking in between shifts, talking on the ice, in the dressing room, teaching them how to eat right, lift weights properly, how to get mentally prepared for practices. Those things are all big.”

Apparently not big enough to dissuade the Pegulas from canning an Amerks staff that had produced a record of 116-65-33 and, if not for the COVID-19 cancellation of the AHL season, a third straight postseason appearance.

“That’s the disappointing part of it all,” said Taylor. “It’s unfinished. We felt we were going in the right direction this year. Our staff did a great job and I’m very proud of what we accomplished, the culture we had created in Rochester with how we got the players out in the community and how much they enjoyed it. That’s the tough part.” 1175741 Buffalo Sabres that, and you get down to the job and to put the work in. I’m so, so excited about moving forward.

Every 12-year-old kid who loved sports would lie in bed and imagine ‘Everything has to be earned’: Rookie GM Kevyn Adams knows what things like this. They probably consider skating around the ice with the you’re thinking Stanley Cup to be the pinnacle before they would dream about being a general manager. Anyway, how would you put into words actually having your hometown team say, “We want you to run us”? By Tim Graham It’s hard to put into words. I mean, I get choked up thinking about it Jun 17, 2020 because it just means so much to me: This organization, the city, the people in the city, the passion for the team, the history. That’s all part of

my DNA. That’s all part of the journey for me. To put it in perspective, as The Pegulas often have noted there is no textbook for running a sports a kid growing up in Clarence and skating on the pond and venturing team. through snowstorms to play for the Wheatfield Blades and working my way up through juniors and then, ultimately, having the career that I was Kevyn Adams certainly was not a textbook hire. able to have as a player and now to come to this spot? It’s hard to put into words. Nor is this a textbook time around the globe, let alone the sports world. I’m so grateful and appreciative. I guess that’s the best way to say I’m Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula shook the NHL with excited, and I’m embracing the challenge of what’s ahead. I’m excited for Tuesday’s announcement they had reconsidered their decision three connectivity with our fan base, just to have conversations. weeks earlier to bring back general manager Jason Botterill. They fired him and hired Adams, who has no GM experience. Your trips to Dash’s Market won’t ever be the same.

Adams’ first duties included firing some members of the hockey I’ll give you a little story. You know I’ve always come back to Western operations staff. The Sabres also dismissed both assistant GMs, two- New York, and I’ve had that place down at Chautauqua Lake since my thirds of the amateur scouting department, the Rochester Americans’ wife and I got married over 20 years ago. So I always used to spend the coaching staff and a few others. summers in Western New York or come up to visit my parents in Clarence. Not long after we won the Stanley Cup, when I’d be out at the Adams next must remake the Sabres, a responsibility that makes him grocery store, people would yell at me. “That was our Cup! That was our emotional. He spent so many hours skating at Sabreland on Niagara year!” So that’s my grocery store story. Falls Boulevard, played for the Wheatfield Blades and Niagara Scenics, and graduated from suburban Clarence High before an 11-year NHL But I do understand what this encompasses and how much this means to career. people and the visibility that comes with it. I’m going to embrace that. Honestly, you’re going to see me around town. You’ll see me at He never got to play for the Sabres. No, his first NHL action came with restaurants. You’ll see me at all kinds of places, and I look forward to the archrival . He lifted the 2006 Stanley Cup for the talking to fans. I look forward to listening. To me, that’s part of this role, Carolina Hurricanes, helping them eliminate the Sabres in the Eastern being part of the community. I’m excited about that. Conference final. What has the organization been missing that you specifically can But now Adams gets to run the Sabres. provide? His head still spinning, Adams paused for a half-hour Wednesday to One thing that’s really important is a connectivity between the fan base discuss his improbable promotion, plans on refurbishing the front office and our team. I really believe that we have an unbelievable fan base and and taking initial steps with Sabres coach Ralph Krueger to end the a passionate fan base. It’s felt to me, just observing over the last, you NHL’s longest active playoff drought. know, few years, that there was something missing with that connectivity. How was the idea of you becoming general manager first broached? So that’s what we want to make sure happens.

To back up the timeline a little bit, you know my history with the In terms of our actual roster and how we proceed from here, I’m really organization and being with Terry and Kim in different roles over the last looking forward to those conversations with Ralph. They’ve already nine years. Just within Harborcenter and all the different opportunities started, but working our way through that and how we want to play and that they provided for me and then, ultimately, this past year, coming the detail of our game and all those types of things. That’s, obviously, in back to the Sabres in a senior vice president role. So getting back into the coming days. being around the business operations and learning was all part of this Why was such a deep organizational cleansing necessary? experience that led me here today. My relationship goes back a long time with Terry and Kim. We’ve always had a lot of open and honest Part of this restructure — and you heard the word yesterday and I’ve conversations about a lot of different topics. So it’s one of these used it many times today — is the word “efficiency.” Terry and Kim, the situations where — all of a sudden today — I’m general manager. But the vision they’ve laid out has been creating an efficient organization, a relationship has been a nine-year interview that’s led me here. sustainable organization that continually puts us in a position to have success. How did it come to fruition? We really looked at our staff, and this is not just from hockey operations; What day is today? I’ve got to be honest. Is today Wednesday? this is overall business operations. The goal has been to create It is. I think. efficiency, to create open and honest communication, to take the walls down between departments. That is a critical area that I believe is so So the announcement was Tuesday. I (traveled to the Pegulas’ home in important to on-ice success. The business operations and the hockey Florida), and we spent time together Monday and really talked through operations have to work seamlessly together, and everybody that’s part philosophy and specifics. Obviously, there was the conversation that of the organization has to understand where we’re headed, why we’re Terry and Kim needed to have with Jason, and then it became official headed there and how we’re going to get there. When you have that, it after that. can be very powerful. That’s what we know is part of the consistent, everyday, open, honest approach. How did that kid from Clarence process what you were being asked to do? How were decisions made on who to keep and who to let go?

Yeah (laughter). … It is a dream come true. I grew up falling in love with We’ve had conversations. Part of it went back to efficiency. Where can hockey because of going to Memorial Auditorium with my dad, sitting in we be more efficient in certain areas in the organization? When we look the Oranges. I wore No. 11 when I was really young because of Gilbert at the scouting and our player development and the analytics, like, how Perreault. do we put all of those together to where they can work seamlessly together? And then how do we do it with the right people in the best I can’t tell you how much this means to me and my family. It’s much possible way? As we looked at it in totality, that’s how we ended up bigger than a job. This is so special to me. So how do you process it? I’m making the decisions that we made. just extremely grateful, appreciative, humbled. Then you work through Over the past 24 hours, popular perception is that these moves were So I’m looking forward to getting together with Jack, having dinner and financially driven, all about money. How would you address that notion? talking to him a little bit about who I am as a person and just the vision, and I want to learn from him. I want to understand from him and the other Terry, Kim, Ralph and I have had very honest conversations. This is veterans on the team and the leadership group, What do we need? What about efficiency, and this is about us heading in a direction together, do they see? How can they help this process? That’s where Ralph has period. Terry and Kim have always given their organizations every been phenomenal. The players truly buy into his message and believe in resource to succeed. That’s certainly not going to change. Their dream Ralph and the coaching staff. I want to support that as well. and their vision is to bring a Stanley Cup to Buffalo. That’s what we’re going to put the work in to do. With so much turnover at coach and general manager, how do you salvage Eichel’s trust and keep other quality players from writing off How will you go about filling these jobs? Buffalo as a place they want to be amid so much turmoil?

I think it’s a measured, step-by-step, open and honest approach. OK, so It’s all about earning it. If you’re asking that question based on what I can what do we need to have success on and off the ice? From the front do personally, it’s just being myself and being very transparent and very office, I’m a big believer in we do it together, surrounding myself with honest with those guys and getting to know them and being around and high-level, honest people that are going to not only cover my personal having conversations. blind spots but be very honest. We push each other and hold each other accountable to get better every day. So, as I have conversations with Organizationally, it’s just us doing the right things, day in and day out, the people, I’m just a big believer that you do this together. You check your players buying into the coach’s message, which they already do, and ego at the door. You win together with people. then understanding where we’re headed.

When you have the right people and you have everybody going the right That’s a great part of this, building those relationships with players. As a direction, the same direction, it’s powerful. I’ve seen it firsthand from a former player, there’s a lot of ability to just share information and talk to playing standpoint, and I’ll bring that kind of same mindset and work ethic them openly. I was traded a number of times. I’ve been sent to the into this next chapter of my life. minors. I’ve been released. I’ve been in a lot of those types of tough situations that players go through. I’m just looking forward to building that What will need to be done to convince quality candidates to join an trust with the guys in the room. organization that is finding its way and hasn’t been to the playoffs in nearly a decade? What will the Sabres’ chain of command be?

I think creating that true understanding of the purpose and the strategy You mean in terms of our organizational structure? and the overall mindset of the group, and then having conversations around opportunity and where there are fits and why. Those are all Yes. conversations that are critical to get high-level people that are willing to Without getting overly specific, philosophically I really believe in flat check their ego at the door and are here to help the Buffalo Sabres win a organizations. I know there’s titles, and I understand that, but I just Stanley Cup. When you can do that and can get everybody that’s clearly believe in being together on a daily basis, regardless of what your title understanding of the vision and buying into the vision, then we can move says and being able to speak open and honestly and getting to the right forward together. That’s how I’ll approach it from my standpoint. result.

As a first-time GM, many presume your connections aren’t as extensive Ralph and I are going to be spending a lot of time in different areas, as other executives you’re competing against and with these daunting talking through decisions. He is an incredibly positive, bright person. I’m tasks ahead to restructure your hockey operations. Why would quality going to lean on Ralph a lot. We are going to be completely open and replacements want to come work for the Sabres, and how do you find honest with each other, and we’re going to be completely open and them? honest with Terry and Kim. We owe that to them.

I would start with personal relationships. I’m 45 years old. I was drafted at Like I said earlier, across all areas of the organization, we’re all going to 18. So however many years that is, that’s a lot of time just in the hockey be on the same page. That to me is just about consistently open and world and a lot of relationships built. That is critical in any business, but honest communication. from my standpoint, in hockey, it’s certainly small. Who will have final say over roster decisions? I am fortunate to have a lot of really great relationships in hockey. The general managers around the league that maybe I don’t know as well? I think we’ll do it together. The plan that Ralph and I have talked about is, I’m going to be picking up the phone and getting to know them. From that we’re going to get in a room and come out together, making the right standpoint, I’m excited about moving forward. decision. What I really enjoy is that collaboration, but within that collaboration is debate, it’s a difference of opinion at times, but multiple From the experience standpoint, I understand (the perception). people put their two cents in and, ultimately, you get to what the best Everything has to be earned. That’s the way I’ve always lived my life: Get decision is for the Buffalo Sabres. It’s not about who is making a up every day, put the work in and earn it. I completely understand from a particular decision at that moment. It’s that we are going to make a fan or a media perspective why people might have concerns about me decision, and we’re going to do our best to meet the right ones. not having been a general manager before. But I’ve had a lot of experiences in my life that have helped shape me. I’m going to bring that When searching for player talent, what are the core requirements to same approach, and then I’m extremely open-minded and willing to learn identifying a member of the Sabres organization? how to get better by asking questions. It’s not always about having the I’m really looking forward to this conversation as we get into it with our answers; it’s about finding the answers sometimes. So if there’s scouting staff, but I think it’s absolutely critical that players have something that comes up and I’m not sure and don’t know the answer, character. I just think we can do such great things when you get I’m going to make sure I find the answer and put the work in to be as character people in a room all going in the right direction. prepared as I can be. Obviously, you want hockey IQ, and the game is moving so fast right Until you have experience in a certain role, that can be a narrative, and now, and to be able to process the game and understand it at a high it’s just a matter of me putting the work in, doing things the right way with level is extremely important. You need competitive, hard-to-play-against, a consistent approach, day after day after day. Then, hopefully, you and I resilient hockey players, and you need players that can skate. This are having this conversation in five years to say, “Well, man, what do you league is fast right now, and you have to have players that can make look back on these past five years in molding your experience.” You take plays and have puck skills — not just the obvious ones. It’s the little it day by day, put the work in and surround yourself with great people. plays, the small-area plays, the plays that maybe the average fan may Jack Eichel said three weeks ago he was “fed up with losing.” How not even notice because it’s just through a guy’s stick or feet that it quickly can you address that frustration with results on the ice? happens so quick. But that’s how the game is played now in tight areas. Those are just some ways of identifying how we will find Buffalo Sabres I love the fire from Jack Eichel and the competitiveness. As our leader, hockey players. that’s a great message. He wants to be great. He wants to be great individually, and he wants our team to be great. There’s an expectation, What kind of assistance will you need to navigate the draft and free and I love that. agency for the first time? I’m going to ask a lot of questions. I think the fact that the draft is pushed a little bit gives us time. At the same point, if you don’t utilize that time efficiently and effectively, then we’ve wasted it. So I think it’s really just drilling deep, understanding what these players are all about in the draft and what’s their DNA and asking the questions. From an assistance standpoint, how do we talk more about a player than just what you see visually? Where are the analytics of a player? Where are they as an athlete? Did they play other sports? There’s just little things that you can start to learn, and I think really drilling deep into understanding all of that is absolutely critical when evaluating a player.

Terry Pegula described his mandate to do more with less, a corporate trope that makes people from all kinds of industries roll their eyes. How will you address the Pegulas’ needs on this topic?

I think you get the right people. If you get talented people that are willing to put in the work and are driven and all driven towards the same goal, it can be very powerful. I really believe that if you find people that have a big bandwidth to do multiple things and are talented, then you can do that, you can do more with less. That goes back to the efficiency comment. How do we become the most efficient organization across all levels?

On the video conference Tuesday, Terry Pegula said drafting will remain the team’s foundation. We didn’t know at the time you would be firing much of the scouting department and Rochester’s coaching staff later that afternoon. How do you square Terry’s comment with those dismissals?

From a scouting perspective, I think it’s absolutely critical. I agree with Terry in how important scouting is and building through the draft and making sure that we draft players that are going to become contributing National Hockey League, Buffalo Sabres players. We’ll work on that. It’s at the top of the list. Let’s get this stuff together. Let’s do the work.

I understand from the Rochester perspective. It was a very difficult decision in conversations with that staff yesterday. I’ve known Chris Taylor a long time. He’s a good coach. He’s done a lot of great things as a player and a coach. We want to make sure we’re aligned in Rochester philosophically with our developmental plan and how we’re making sure our prospects are being put in a position to succeed and being challenged. Those are just all areas that I felt we needed to make sure that, as we put the new staff together, we are completely aligned with what we’re looking to accomplish on the Buffalo Sabres level. Really difficult decisions and these are never taken lightly, but we’re going to move forward and we’re going to find the best people we can to fill those spots.

Why overhaul Rochester, though, seemingly one of the organization’s bright spots?

It’s really important to emphasize that this wasn’t Chris Taylor and his coaching staff. They’re very good. It’s more about how we want to run the Rochester Americans, ultimately, and it may take some time based on the contract situation. But, you know, I really believe that for us to develop players to become Buffalo Sabres, we need to make sure they’re getting the ice time and they’re being put in a position to where they’re pushed and challenged. We just wanted to make sure that we move forward with that mindset.

What else would you like to say that I didn’t ask you about?

I feel like I’ve talked a lot, but I’m so passionate. I guess the last thing I’d say is I want the fans and everybody in Buffalo to know that we are going to do everything we can do to help this organization get to where Terry and Kim see this thing going, and that’s putting ourselves in a position to win a Stanley Cup. I am going to put the work in. We’re going to do it the right way. We’re going to be honest with each other. To end the story, I just want to say I’m so enthusiastically excited for the challenge that’s ahead. I’m embracing it.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175742 Buffalo Sabres in any part of the business that I’ve been involved with, they’ve always provided the resources and put us in a position to succeed with a clear vision, and then they’ve tasked their staff to carry out the vision. That’s So how will the Sabres’ hockey operations department function moving exactly what we’re going to do here.” forward? While it won’t be easy to build a scouting department ahead of this fall’s draft – most teams will attempt to keep their staff in place through the selection show – it’s clear the new hires must know how to work a video By John Vogl machine.

Jun 17, 2020 “With all the existing technology that exists in the world of sports today, we can move forward much leaner than we operated in the past and

much more efficient,” Terry Pegula said. “We have all the tools to look at The Sabres are nothing but skin and bones now, a frail organization in and fine-tune over and over, slow it down in slow motion, back it up, look need of significant nourishment. Listening to the revamped leadership at it again, of a player and what he does in a split second. talk, it seems they may get fed only an appetizer or salad. “We’re going to get leaner. It’s just the way the world’s heading. You But how hefty was the organization before being gutted? Terry and Kim know, any business today, you look at the things they do, they’re more Pegula made it sound like Buffalo was littered with fat cats and full efficient. They do things quicker. They use these new technologies that bellies, which led to the owners’ obliteration of the scouting staff and we all have at our fingertips.” hockey operations department. The idea of “video scouting” can make Sabres fans cringe. Cost-cutting Research shows the Sabres were indeed overweight, but they certainly owner B. Thomas Golisano and former GM focused on an weren’t obese. increase in video scouting in the mid-2000s. The Sabres’ first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 ( and ) never played The Pegulas and new general manager Kevyn Adams will spend time an NHL game. The top two picks in 2007 (T.J. Brennan and Drew deciding how big (or small) to make the hockey operations department. Schiestel) combined for 51 games. Before Tuesday’s firings, the Sabres employed 23 people in the roles of assistant GM, scouting director or scout. The average NHL team uses 21 The Sabres did fine in 2008 and 2009, getting three key contributors in staffers in those roles. each draft, but they bottomed out during the final two years of Golisano. Mark Pysyk was the only one of the nine picks in 2010 to reach the NHL There’s much more to it, of course. and none of the six picks in 2011 even recorded a point in Buffalo.

The Sabres were bloated on the amateur scouting side. They had 15 The Sabres need their next crop of video scouts to perform much, much amateur scouts before the purge. Only three teams (Boston, Toronto and better. New Jersey) list more in their staff directories, while the Rangers featured the same number as Buffalo. “Certainly, there’s positions to be filled,” Adams said during his radio interview. “I like to use the word efficiency. Just in my experience in my However, the Sabres featured three pro scouts. There were 15 life, if you have extremely high-level, hard-working, quality people you organizations with more, eight with the same number and five with fewer. can get more. You can do more with less. So, we want to create an (Anaheim lists just a “scouting staff” and doesn’t differentiate between the efficiency model. pro and amateur side.) “The scouting is obviously a critical piece. We’re going to start having Buffalo was right in the middle of the pack in terms of scouting directors. discussions about how we philosophically want to restructure and The Sabres listed three staff heads, which was the same as 12 teams. revamp it.” There were 10 with more and eight with fewer. The Sabres will likely look to the Arizona Coyotes for inspiration and It’s also very common for teams to employ two assistant general advice. While the Coyotes have an average-sized staff of 21 assistant managers (or GMs for their minor-league club), which is what the Sabres GMs, scouting directors and scouts, they’ve revamped their roles. The did with Steve Greeley and Randy Sexton reporting to Jason Botterill. Coyotes list 10 employees as “scouts” and another five as “video scouts.” The Sabres were in a class of 18 teams with two AGMs. Two teams employ more and 11 have one or none. John Chayka, Arizona’s president of hockey operations, said they had to modernize the department through available technologies and needed Again, the Sabres had room to trim a few bodies on the amateur scouting much more data. side, but they were working light in other areas. “It’s an information age,” Chayka said in The Athletic. “The way you were At least 14 teams employ a director of player personnel, which the able to collect and analyze information 20 years ago versus today is so Sabres did not have under Botterill. There are at least 13 teams that different. Just think of the technological differences. Everyone has an have a president of hockey operations or a senior adviser to the GM, two iPad, software has evolved, your ability to aggregate information to roles the Sabres eschewed. analyze it and use it to make decisions — whether we’re talking about some of the biggest companies in the world or hockey or baseball or So while the Pegulas are free to run their business as they wish, there basketball – everyone is looking for that edge. was little to suggest the Sabres needed the bloodletting that occurred. “Some of it is subjective data. Some of it is subjective analysis. Your “I don’t know if there’s ever a right way in winning and building a scouts are going out and collecting information, but there are different successful organization,” Kim Pegula said. “It happens in all different ways you can utilize that and make it a lot more efficient, and that was shapes and forms. It’s what’s right for us? What’s right for the Buffalo really what I was after. We’re not going to be a team that outspends Sabres? Who are the right people in those places?” others. We have to be more efficient.” The Pegulas have handed the GM job to Adams. While he’s been Chayka’s last line, of course, should sound familiar. Terry Pegula building a solid resume and is a quality man and polished communicator, introduced three E’s to the Sabreland lexicon Tuesday: effective, efficient he enters with the unenviable perception of being ownership’s yes man and economic. while looking to build a staff. Buffalo’s leaders will probably look to St. Louis’ front office, too, “I’m going to identify talented, driven, hard-working people that I believe considering the Blues won the last Stanley Cup. They also have a unique will make our team better. That’s on and off the ice,” Adams said scouting structure. The GM of their minor-league team, Kevin McDonald, Wednesday on WGR-AM 550. “This is going to take time to just put this is also listed as a pro scout. Tim Taylor serves in the dual role of director together. It doesn’t happen in one day. Terry, Kim, (coach Ralph of player development and pro scout. Krueger) and I have had some conversations over yesterday and early this morning on, ‘OK, what’s the first step in where are we headed in our Most noticeably, the Blues list seven “part-time amateur scouts” and one personnel and decisions moving forward?’ “part-time pro scout.” If the Sabres are indeed intent on cutting costs, a group of part-time employees could be in their wheelhouse. Multiple job “Certainly not going to get into specifics right now, but I’ll tell you, we’re titles are certainly on the way. very fortunate to have the ownership we do. In my nine years with them “Rather than focusing on the size of the department, so to speak, I want to focus more on the crossover efficiencies,” Adams said. “Can we have people that are high level where they can do some scouting and analytics and pull it all together? The player development piece to me – when I first got hired by the Sabres, that was part of my role – they have to be integrated into that, as well. If we draft the player but the player development staff doesn’t understand why he was drafted, you’re already starting from a deficiency.”

Adams is already behind. After being told to fire around two dozen people on his first day, he has to build a hockey operation from scratch. While he may get an assistant GM – Kim Pegula didn’t rule it out – Adams will likely have a lower personnel count than most NHL teams.

“I don’t think we’re going to get hung up as much as what’s the pedigree of this person or that person and who are we going to add,” Kim Pegula said. “I think it’s just going to be more organic about who’s the right person for the Buffalo Sabres and making sure that they’re adding value, that they’re getting us to a better place, that we’re always improving.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175743 Buffalo Sabres he’s a cerebral guy. So maybe despite his inexperience on the NHL management front, he will figure this out and bring the Sabres to the promised land.

LeBrun: Turnstile hirings and firings in Buffalo is no way to build a winner But unless he is afforded at least five years to prove it, it’s an unfair opportunity.

By Pierre LeBrun Which brings me back to June 2012 and the pure joy on Lombardi’s face. Just a few months earlier, with the Kings barely getting in as the No. 8 Jun 17, 2020 seed in the West, he might have got fired if Year 6 didn’t produce results. That’s just reality after six years running a team. He knew that. But in

sticking true to his plan when many people doubted it along the way, Whenever I think back to the Los Angeles Kings winning their first Lombardi delivered not one but two Cups during his term. Stanley Cup in franchise history back in 2012, I am reminded of the Again, I don’t know if Botterill would have ever found that same path in clinching night. Buffalo. I just know that three years isn’t enough time to answer that We couldn’t find Kings GM Dean Lombardi. In the midst of his players, question. coaches and front office staff celebrating on the ice in a delirious Staples And if Adams ever does deliver a Cup to a starving fan base in Buffalo, I Center, Lombardi had gone off to a side room somewhere in the building hope he takes his cue from Lombardi and remembers to thank the to crack open a beer and puff on a cigarette. regime before him that left him some decent pieces to work with. But when I finally got him to come out and talk to a few of us reporters, it’s what he said first that will forever stay with me. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 “Let’s get something straight here, whenever a team has won, there are some guys that don’t get appreciated,” Lombardi said. “You have to give a lot of credit to [former Kings GM] Dave Taylor; I started out with three darn good players in [Dustin] Brown, [Anze] Kopitar and [Jonathan] Quick. Let’s not ever forget what he did. And let’s not forget [former coach] Terry Murray, too. He stabilized this franchise and gave us credibility. There are some unsung heroes here that need to be appreciated.’’

Lombardi, a class act, wanted to make sure the GM he replaced and the coach he fired got recognized for their contributions to that Cup title. It was a teaching moment for many of us that night.

A reminder, you see, that NHL championships rarely are built over a few seasons. They need years of work — a draft system that stockpiles the cupboards with raw talent, the development of those players which takes time and for the organizational culture to eventually grab hold.

What better example of late than the St. Louis Blues finally breaking through last June after a decade of knocking at the door. Ditto for the Washington Capitals, of course, the year before.

Patience. Years.

Which brings me to the Buffalo Sabres and their widespread dismissals in the front office this week.

I’m not here to say Jason Botterill was eventually going to bring a Stanley Cup to Buffalo. I don’t know that. And I don’t know that there was enough evidence yet to produce even a small glimpse of that path in three years of work. It was another season of struggles this year, that’s for sure. And you’ve got a frustrated franchise player in Jack Eichel.

All of this is true.

But what I will say – and I strongly believe this – is that three years is not enough time for any NHL GM to leave their full stamp. Three years is the same timeframe Tim Murray, the GM Botterill replaced, got in Buffalo before he was let go.

The absurdity of firing consecutive GMs after only three years on the job is beyond ridiculous. Ironically, Murray is still being paid by the Sabres as his contract doesn’t expire for another two weeks, on June 30. Now the Sabres will pay Botterill for another two years to not be the general manager.

Murray deserved a longer look, just like Botterill did.

Talk to NHL team executives and they strongly believe every GM needs at least five years on the job for his program to truly take effect. Enough time for those early draft picks to start to produce and for the organization’s philosophy to start to blossom.

Three years? Come on.

In a league that’s impossible to predict, I can make the following prediction: If Terry and Kim Pegula keep hiring and firing GMs every three years, the Sabres will never win a damn thing.

Now, it may very well be that Kevyn Adams is the answer. I always enjoyed my chats with him as a player over the years and it is clear that 1175744 Calgary Flames “How you approach that as a staff is really going to be the key point coming out of training camp,” Ward said. “How do you prepare your team the best to hit on all cylinders coming out of camp? You really don’t have Flames coach Ward aims to strike productive balance when training any time to ease into it. You have to be going right from the drop of the camp starts puck. Because you don’t want to get yourself behind one or two games, trying to play yourself into a position where you start to feel comfortable.

“You have to be comfortable right from the hop because with the short Kristen Anderson, Postmedia series to start off. It’s going to be critical you are at the top of your game out of camp.” June 17, 2020 6:02 PM MDT There will be no easing into anything.

Meetings, ice times and drills will be meticulously planned by the Flames, 'You feel like a kid again': Handful of Flames return to ice for first time ... along with the reasoning behind their decisions and how they’re going to The challenge for head coach Geoff Ward and the rest of his staff is be able to best match up against the Jets, who they haven’t faced since maximizing their training camp schedule to prepare the players as much Oct. 26 in a 2-1 overtime loss at the Heritage Classic. as they can for a five-game, play-in series against the Winnipeg Jets, and “Players have to be ready they’re in shape and ready to take that on,” potentially a long Stanley Cup playoff run. Ward said. “But as a staff, we have to make sure we’re prepared to get After a month of voluntary skating — which followed three months of an them ready to play a lot more quickly than we normally would have to for involuntary stoppage of the National Hockey League due to the COVID- the type of intensity the games are going to demand when we get back 19 pandemic — the Calgary Flames will need to hit the ground running. … for me, it’s all about being ready and not over-tiring them. Sometimes it’s a balance that you can get away from if you’re not careful.” That much they know.

But the challenge for head coach Geoff Ward and the rest of his staff is maximizing their training camp schedule to prepare the players as much Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.18.2020 as they can for a five-game, play-in series against the Winnipeg Jets, and potentially a long Stanley Cup playoff run.

And not wear them out in the process.

“That’s the key thing,” Ward said on Wednesday, as members of the Flames continued their ice times as part of Phase 2 of the NHL’s ‘Return to Play’ initiative. “With the short time frame everyone’s going to have, I think the biggest challenge is not to over-tire your team trying to get them ready. You want your team ready at the end of training camp, not tired at the end of training camp. It’s a fine balance, those two things. That’s going to be a critical aspect of it. The tendency, I think, is to go-go-go because you want to get guys ready. But if you’re not paying attention to your rest and everything else, you could put yourself into a bit of a hole by trying to get things in play so quickly.”

The ‘hurry-up-and-drop-the-puck’ sentiment is understandable from the perspective of the coaches, players, management, owners, team staff, concession workers, fans, bar owners. Since the abrupt pause to the 2019-20 NHL season, there is an eagerness to get going already.

A large portion of the Flames players abroad are managing their travel details to fly back from Europe or the . At the moment, travellers to Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

That means that at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the same group of five players — captain Mark Giordano, Mark Jankowski, Michael Stone, Dillon Dube and Matthew Phillips — have been skating since last Friday. These ice times are similar to pre-training camp workouts, commonly referred to as ‘Captain’s skates,’ and are a step forward in the right direction, and a step up from basement workouts. There are no coaches or media permitted in the building, but Ward and his crew have been keeping tabs on the players, with daily calls and online meetings.

They’ve also been staying in touch with their medical team of Dr. Ian Auld and Kent Kobelka and training staff to keep them on top of Alberta Health Services guidelines.

But with NHL training camps set to begin July 10 as Phase 3 kicks off and the impromptu off-season almost over, their planning has been mostly similar to years past.

“In that regard, it’s been pretty normal,” Ward said. “Obviously, we’re just waiting for a date as to when this is all going to start, then we can really put a lot of details into cement. Right now, we are just trying to cover all the basics for a lot of different scenarios. For us, it’s been pretty similar to an off-season.”

Except, of course, this is a completely different scenario as teams are going to be thrown into a highly competitive situation right off the hop.

And there is no way of simulating the pace that will occur when the Flames and 23 other teams begin Phase 4 of the ‘Return to Play’ plan — real, live, playoff-type hockey. 1175745 Calgary Flames

Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corp. trims staff with permanent layoffs

Wes Gilbertson

June 17, 2020 4:04 PM MDT

A spokesperson for CSEC — the parent company for the Flames, Stampeders, Hitmen and Roughnecks — confirmed the news, but did not reveal how many employees lost their jobs.

Now three-plus months since any of its teams last played a game, Calgary Sports & Entertainment Corp. reduced its staff this week through permanent layoffs.

A spokesperson for CSEC — the parent company for the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames, plus the Stampeders, Hitmen and Roughnecks — confirmed the news, but did not reveal how many employees lost their jobs.

It is also unknown what departments were impacted.

“CSEC has made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce on a permanent basis,” a company official said via email. “Please appreciate this is a private matter between CSEC and our employees.”

The Flames, Hitmen and Roughnecks were nearing the end of their respective regular seasons when the action was halted March 12 due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

While the NHL is still planning a summer restart, both the and have since cancelled the remainder of their campaigns.

The ’s Stampeders would have kicked off their 2020 schedule last Friday. The fate of their season remains uncertain.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175746 Carolina Hurricanes freshest and when we want to peak for the playoffs,” Bennett said. “With this, it’s really tough. It’s kind of like throwing a dart at a moving dartboard. Now we’re ramping guys up with what we’re sending them to Where have the Hurricanes gone and what will training look like back in get ready for July 10. We’re just trying to keep them at a level that we Raleigh? know is consistent and healthy — we don’t want to taper off or peak too soon, and we definitely don’t want any drastic spikes. The other thing to consider, too, is what if this thing gets canceled, right? You don’t want to burn a guy out for next season when you know it could be starting early.” By Sara Civian On top of that, Burniston and Bennett don’t have access to the Jun 17, 2020 technology that gives them their magic ratios.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, there’s a computer that sits out at the When the NHL’s return to play plan transitioned into Phase 2 (small bench after practice that calculates things like heart rate,” Bennett said. group workouts allowed at team facilities) June 8, the Hurricanes opted “When they first get back that’ll be the first thing we do. I’d say (a) to delay their transition. They knew at least two things: Training camp majority of NHL teams are using some form of (this technology), whether wouldn’t start for at least a month and most Hurricanes players weren’t in it be through heart rate monitoring, or for example, some NFL teams Raleigh. have this system called Catapult. It’s like a GPS. If they hand the ball to a running back at practice they know how fast he ran, how far he ran, While you’d probably assume this makes things more difficult for there’s all sorts of data teams are collecting on their athletes to monitor Hurricanes head strength and conditioning coach Bill Burniston, he said how hard they’re working and how fast they’re working.” the worst of his job as it relates to playoff preparation is either already behind him or revolves around uncontrollable unknowns. Burniston told In that sense, at least, all 24 NHL teams returning to play are on an even The Athletic that the hardest part of training during the NHL pause was playing field. And yes, Burniston is concerned about unknowns like what figuring out how to work with what little equipment players had access to specific equipment will be available in the Hurricanes’ designated hub in the beginning. After that, he was able to individualize workout plans city. But he’d argue the Canes have a huge advantage in what he and, then, eventually some players had access to local gyms and rinks. considers the most important element in this season’s quest for the Stanley Cup: attitude. “At first we treated it like the offseason — if players had any (specific bang-ups) we targeted those, just tried to get those guys back in sync “There’s no doubt in my mind the boys are ready to go,” Burniston said. with their bodies. Now we’re building from there,” Burniston said. “We “To be a Carolina Hurricane is to have an expectation — you’re going to keep stepping it up (in terms of intensity). We’re looking at it backwards be in shape (when you arrive to camp) but you always have room to from the July 10 training camp start date, we’ve broken it up into three grow. I’ve had so many individual conversations (that boil down to) ‘Let’s phases so guys will come in as if they’re reporting to normal training go in ready to win the whole thing. If we’re coming back, we’re going to camp. We’re trying to get them not exactly at their peak but in a position win the whole thing. Period.’ There’s just no room for negativity.” to peak when we need them to peak.” As Burniston and Bennett ramp up workouts in preparation for camp, That’s hard enough as it is, now factor in a few things: the trainers don’t they both keep close communication with the players. Bennett has been have access to their usual technology, the Hurricanes are going from able to work with Dougie Hamilton daily (more on that later) and joked “training camp” straight to the playoffs, and oh — there’s no promise that that Hamilton is one of “the lucky ones,” since his injury permitted early any of this is even going to happen. What if the staff pushes players too access to ice and trainers. Burniston uses an app to tweak workouts on hard into “playoff mode,” players get overworked, the playoffs don’t even an individual basis. But as the Suceses reminded us, professional end up happening, then next season is right around the corner? athletes can lose a sense of purpose with lack of competition and working out shouldn’t be completely miserable. There’s no perfect answer to any of these hypotheticals. Burniston and head athletic trainer Doug Bennett have been navigating as many as The Hurricanes made sure to keep the competitive spirit alive in a few they can as the Hurricanes prepare for the agreed-upon July 10 training ways. They’ve been doing group Zoom workouts every Thursday camp start date (complicated implications detailed here). morning, in which a different player runs each workout. Burniston said, unsurprisingly, Jordan Martinook has been the best leader, and he’s all “In an odd way I’m working harder than I ever would just figuring out the about the quads. Ryan Dzingel also led a solid one and Justin Williams is many different rules that come with opening for Phase 2 and training the go-to guy if you want to build your glutes. camp,” Bennett said. “Obviously keeping their health and safety at the forefront is concern No. 1 for me. Anything little we can do to keep their They’ve also been doing some heated Peloton competitions, as Andrei health and safety at the forefront I’m trying to do.” Svechnikov previously mentioned.

The biggest on-ice concern is the increased injury risk that comes with The Hurricanes have also had special alumni guests like Cam Ward join ramping up workout intensity so suddenly. in on these competitions. For the record, Burniston said he’s invited Tripp Tracy but he has never shown up. “I do think there’s an increased risk for injury when you return so quickly,” Bennett said. “Typically when you look at spikes in injury, it’s when you Where Burniston sees attitude as an advantage for the Hurricanes, go from not doing a lot to doing a lot. A perfect example is the weekend Bennett sees the other side of the same coin — Rod Brind’Amour. warrior: They don’t do anything all week then go out on the weekend and “Rod has always been phenomenal when it comes to (listening to the play as hard as they can in whatever they’re doing. They’re keeping training staff),” Bennett said. “He takes what Bill has to say and listens. orthopedic surgeons in business. So during a normal time, Bill Burniston He just gets it — he understands where we’re coming from and he and I look at a number called acute to chronic workload ratio. That gives doesn’t over- or under-analyze anything. I would say that’s probably us a look at how much work they’ve done recently to how much work something that will be important when we come back — those they’ve done over, maybe, a month. We send out a daily wellness survey communication lines with Rod to figure out when we need to push and to our players that gauges their mood, nutrition, sleep quality, just get a when we don’t.” general sense of where they’re at, when they’re overworked. You just make sure (the number) is not going up or down by more than 10 With less than a month until training camp, players are starting to trickle percent.” back into Raleigh — or at least linking up in Canada to prepare for the trek back. Many of you have simply asked where all the Hurricanes are: But this isn’t a normal time — for starters, they barely have access to a Who stayed in Raleigh and/or who left to quarantine at home? Shout out specific date to prepare players to peak. Though the NHL and the to Hurricanes vice president of communications and team services Mike NHLPA have agreed on a July 10 training camp start date, the date is still Sundheim for providing us with a spreadsheet organized in alphabetical subject to change if talks about next steps stall. Not to mention, players order. haven’t actually agreed to return to play yet — they’ve just agreed on the format. Sebastian Aho: Finland, has been skating with his former team Karpat. “The toughest part of this pandemic is that it’s been a moving target of dates. When we’re getting ready for the season we have a set date and Ryan Dzingel: Traveled a bit (Texas, Florida) but is now back in Raleigh. we know what we’re shooting for — we know when we want to be the He and his fiancé Elise Lobb are planning to get married in Raleigh. Joel Edmundson: /Kelowna (now apparently living it up with Jordan Martinook in Kelowna according to Instagram).

Haydn Fleury: Alberta.

Warren Foegele: Toronto.

Jake Gardiner: Minnesota.

Dougie Hamilton: Raleigh.

“Injured players as per the NHL, were allowed to stay and use the facility with us, so we’ve got some rules and regulations set up for how Dougie has been coming in,” Bennett said. “But he’s, I guess been the lucky one in that regard — unlucky but lucky. We’re able to monitor Dougie because he’s in our care and we’re working with him every day to get him up to speed.”

Jordan Martinook: Edmonton then Kelowna with Edmundson.

Brock McGinn: Was in Canada “a tad,” now back in Raleigh.

Petr Mrazek: Czech Republic.

Martin Necas: Czech Republic.

Nino Niederreiter: Switzerland.

Brett Pesce: New York.

James Reimer: British Columbia.

Brady Skjei: .

Jaccob Slavin: Raleigh.

Jordan Staal: Raleigh.

Andrei Svechnikov: Raleigh.

Teuvo Teravainen: Finland.

Vincent Trocheck: Raleigh.

Trevor van Riemsdyk: Stayed in Raleigh for a while, now in Boston.

Sami Vatanen: New Jersey/now in Finland.

Justin Williams: Raleigh.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175747 Chicago Blackhawks everyone into said bubble, getting everyone tested and having it be that we’re all on the same page and try to nip it in the bud before we get there.”

NHL players will be tested daily, but won’t be required to wear full face shields when games return Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.18.2020

By STEPHEN WHYNO

ASSOCIATED PRESS

JUN 17, 2020 | 8:30 AM

NHL players won’t be expected to wear full face shields if games resume this summer, though there could be plenty of covered faces around them.

Equipment changes have not been a focus of return-to-play negotiations between the league and players' union, according to a person with knowledge of those talks. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no agreement has been reached, said the emphasis has been on testing and other off-ice safety precautions.

Because players are expected to be tested daily, there isn't expected to be additional on-ice equipment required for practices and games. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly additionally said he didn't anticipate any mandatory equipment changes to ensure player safety.

Still, hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer has spoken with the league and teams about medical-grade off-ice visors that coaches, executives, team personnel and others could wear as a measure of protection against spreading or contracting COVID-19. Product vice president Craig Desjardins said the visor, which can attach to the brim of a baseball cap, is "feather light" despite being three times thicker than a medical shield and meeting the American National Standards Institute regulation for preventing droplets.

"There's been a lot of interest," Bauer vice president of global marketing Mary-Kay Messier said. "Craig and I have actually had a lot of calls with NHL teams as they consider how to bring back their teams — their entire teams and everyone that surrounds them — safely, particularly in situations where they're looking at being hub cities where there'll be a lot of interaction."

Ten locations are in the running to serve as the "hub" cities that will host 24 playoff teams for initial rounds, Eastern and Western Conference finals and Stanley Cup Final. Players are expected to be quarantined away from the general public in those cities.

Each team is limited to 50 personnel in its game city, with the event level at arenas and practice facilities, hotels and restaurants expected to serve as a quarantine bubble of sorts. Bauer's "integrated cap shield" that's being unveiled Wednesday and a polyester face mask would fit for those outside the bubble and for players around the rink when they're not skating, because they're required to wear masks even now, during voluntary workouts.

Bauer, which in March shifted to making personal protective equipment for those on the front lines, is gearing its on-ice splash guard mostly to youth and amateur players and has consulted with the International Federation, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada.

"We have a shared interest collectively around being able to return to play safely," Desjardins said.

Coaches in the NHL and various other leagues could use the off-ice shield behind the bench, too.

"There's quite a lot of yelling from coaches," Messier said, "So when you think about and you talk about that yelling or loud talking that you are at greater risk for the droplets, I would say it is a very viable option at a lot of different levels."

While there are heath and safety protocols in place for small-group workouts and could escalate when training camps open July 10, players have said they're unsure about wearing a full face shield or changing too much of hockey itself if the season resumes. They're focused on the outside protections that would make games safe.

“With the nature of our game, if we’re going to talk about not being able to hit each other and other things, there’s no point in playing,” Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler said. “The challenge is going to be getting 1175748 Chicago Blackhawks position, and first and foremost our priority is our residents, that our residents would have confidence that we have engaged in a robust public-health response to this deadly virus.

Why Chicago could still be named a Hub City under NHL's Return To “That work continues. No one in the world can declare victory because Play plan we don’t have a vaccine yet, so we all have to remain extraordinarily diligent in making sure that we are continuing to be transparent and from a city perspective that we’re supportive of the entire health care By Scott King infrastructure. That’s what’s served us well over these last few months and that will continue to be an important part of our response to COVID.” June 17, 2020 10:15 AM On June 22, we'll see if Vegas wins the luck of the draw as some expect,

or if Chicago has a shot. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sin City will be named a hub city for the NHL's 24-team playoff format by June 22. Other outlets have yet to confirm the news. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 If there's still a chance another city could be chosen to be the Western Conference host, Chicago would be among those that make the most sense.

There will be two hub cities under the NHL's Return To Play plan, one for the Western Conference and one for the East. The West would host Eastern teams and vice versa to do away with any residing home ice advantage with fans gone.

The Hawks are set to take on the in a best-of-5 play-in round.

Chicago was among the 10 cities the NHL named as finalists to be a hub city, along with:

- Columbus, OH

- Dallas, TX

- Edmonton, AB

- Las Vegas, NV

- Los Angeles, CA

- Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

- Pittsburgh, PA

- Toronto, ON

- Vancouver, BC

According to The Athletic, nothing has been finalized and the NHLPA executive board is expected to discuss potential hub locations shortly.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot remains hopeful that the Windy City could land the grand scale hosting duty.

“We’re very excited at the possibility and have really tried to make the case for why Chicago should be chosen,” the mayor told The Athletic on Saturday. “I’m hopeful we’ll be successful.

“Although I expect the playoffs to be probably fan-less, we’re still very well situated to accommodate the league and the players. We have plenty of hotel space and got a great culture life here. I think everything they would want to put on with a best-in-class playoff experience is here in Chicago.”

Chicago was likely named a finalist, and should still be considered, for it's vast accommodations that would suit league employees, teams and players.

Upscale hotels with easy access to restaurants, plus multiple rinks and dressing rooms should make Chicago a top contender. The United Center has four locker rooms alone, not to mention the more than suitable accommodations at the Hawks' practice facility Fifth Third Arena. Their former practice rinks Johnny's IceHouse West and Johnny's IceHouse East could serve as additional game/practice locations if needed.

From the Illinois Department of Public Health's most recent record, there were 623 newly reported COVID-19 cases in Illinois on Tuesday. On June 5, there were 1,156 new cases reported.

“If I didn’t feel like we were on a downward trajectory both in terms of number of cases, new cases reported and all the other public-health metrics, I would not feel comfortable,” Lightfoot said. “But we have worked extraordinarily hard over these last three months to put us in a 1175749 Chicago Blackhawks

Connor McDavid Oilers rookie card will be most expensive ever bought at auction

By Alex Shapiro

June 17, 2020 10:02 AM

Connor McDavid is set to break one of his own records, for the most expensive hockey card ever sold at auction.

A limited edition McDavid rookie card is being auctioned online at Lelands, with the highest bid currently standing just north of $70,000. The auction is set to expire late Friday night.

The previous record, $55,655 according to the Edmonton Journal, was set by a perfectly mint McDavid rookie card from the same set, which was limited to 99 cards. Each card also features McDavid’s autograph and a piece of a game-worn Oilers jersey.

So why so much more money for this particular card? It’s No. 97 in the set-- matching McDavid’s jersey number.

The most expensive Blackhawks card listed on ebay right now is a signed Patrick Kane rookie card. It’s listed for $14,999 but there have been no bids.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175750 Chicago Blackhawks

Why Blackhawks believe long layoff could play in their favor

By Charlie Roumeliotis

June 17, 2020 9:00 AM

When the NHL put its season on pause March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blackhawks were six points out of the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference but had four teams to jump to get there. Three teams above them also had one game in hand.

The Blackhawks' playoff hopes were slipping away, but they were given new life when the league announced a 24-team Return to Play plan if and when hockey returns, subject to an overall agreement by the NHL and NHL Players' Association and provided medical and safety conditions allow. It may not be until August before we actually get hockey, which would mean players would go more than three and a half months without participating in any sort of game action.

The 24-team format certainly favors a team like the Blackhawks, who have championship pedigree with players like Corey Crawford, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. But the layoff could also play to their favor because of their youth, which includes players like Adam Boqvist, Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat, among others, not to mention the fact they could be getting some key players like Calvin de Haan back from injury.

"With the layoff, I think it benefits us," said head coach Jeremy Colliton, who noted the Blackhawks had eight players on entry-level contracts who played in 20-plus games, five of whom finished top-10 on the team in scoring. "We have some older guys, but I'd say overall we're a young team. ... A lot of guys got a lot of opportunity this year and they developed as the season went on. They're going to be a few months older now and they've had a chance to kind of settle into their year and reflect on it and I think they're going to come back with even more motivation and jam to take that next step in their development and that's only going to help our team.”

The Blackhawks, over the last few years, have found themselves trying to bridge the gap between the older players and younger players. Although the atmosphere will be different without fans, the postseason experience will be crucial for the development of those younger players, which could pay dividends in the long run.

In the short term, the Blackhawks still want to take advantage of this newfound opportunity. They’re being put on an equal playing field with eight other teams in the West when they probably didn’t deserve it.

And the hunger will be evident in players like Crawford, Kane, Keith and Toews, who haven’t tasted the postseason in three years after being accustomed to going on deep runs since the start of their NHL careers.

"We do have some older guys, they've got that experience of winning and what it takes, and I think they're going to be reenergized being this close, being in this atmosphere of playing games that really mean something,” Colliton said. “And I expect they're going to find a different level to their game and that's going to be a benefit to us as well, so there's a bunch of positives that we're going to take out of this time."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175751 Dallas Stars

Pair of Stars taken in top 10 of NHL.com’s 2003 redraft

By Brice Paterik

12:31 AM on Jun 18, 2020

In NHL.com’s staff 2003 redraft, two Stars were selected in the top 10, making significant rises from their initial draft positions.

The used the No. 8 overall pick on Joe Pavelski, while the used pick No. 10 on Corey Perry.

Joe Pavelski has racked up 355 goals and 406 assists in 963 career games. In 2014, Pavelski made his lone All-Star appearance and put up a career-best 41 goals. He also finished top 10 in voting for the Hart and Selke trophies.

The San Jose Sharks selected Pavelski 205th overall (out of 292 total picks) in the seventh round.

The Wisconsin native has a penchant for clutch goals as 60 of his 355 career goals have been game-winners. Pavelski has three game-winning goals this season and led the NHL with 11 in 2015-2016.

In his first season with the Stars, Pavelski has provided veteran leadership and depth at the center position. After the All-Star break, Pavelski found his footing on offense and started contributing more in the scoring department for Dallas.

Here is what Stars interim head coach had to say about Pavelski’s uptick in scoring: “More importantly than anything, he was feeling comfortable in his game, regardless of the goals. Yeah, it’s all nice, and the points and everything. I think he was starting to feel more comfortable here and comfortable with his overall game.”

Perry is a different type of forward than his counterpart Pavelski. Where Pavelski has been more consistent, Perry has had flashes of brilliance followed by seasons of struggles. In his best season, 2010-2011, Perry led the league with 50 goals, nabbing the Richard trophy, to go along with 48 assists.

That year, Perry also won the Hart trophy and was named a first-team All-Star. It was one of two seasons in which Perry scored 40 or more goals and one of three seasons in which he put up 40 or more assists.

Perry has scored 377 goals and tallied 420 assists, both are the fourth- most in the 2003 draft class. The native was originally drafted 28th overall by the Anaheim Ducks.

Despite his struggles this season (5 goals and 16 assists in 57 games), Perry is still the only player to win a Hart or Richard trophy from the 2003 draft class.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.18.2020

1175752 Detroit Red Wings

Is Detroit Red Wings great Pavel Datsyuk with rogue priest in monastery takeover? Reports conflict

Elaine Sung, Detroit Free Press Published 4:54 p.m. ET June 17, 2020 | Updated 6:13 p.m. ET June 17, 2020

According to a report from a Russian media network, former Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk is hunkered down in a monastery with his personal confessor, who has taken over a Russian monastery guarded by Cossacks.

Before we go any further ...

We're not saying this story is true. We're not saying that it's not true. But it's out there on social media, so we can't ignore it.

And judging by how 2020 has gone, is this really that inconceivable?

The forward, who left the Red Wings to return to Russia in 2016, is reportedly with Father Sergius at the Central Urals Monastery in Ekaterinburg, about 1,100 miles east of Moscow.

Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk.

Sergius believes the COVID-19 pandemic is a conspiracy, concocted as a way to get people microchipped, according to the report on rt.com.

However, Keith Gave, author of "The Russian Five," said on Twitter that he spoke to Datsyuk's agent, who said the former Red Wing was with his family at his cottage.

Sergius has been banned from conducting services because of his beliefs, and he is scheduled to face a tribunal June 26 for disobeying Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

There are caveats here. RT Network and rt.com, formerly known as Russia Today, are regarded by some Western governments as a propaganda arm of the Russian government.

Here is another: Rt.com says Sergius is a former police officer who served 13 years in prison for committing murder.

Pavel Datsyuk.

This is what cannot be disputed about Datsyuk: Winner of two Stanley Cups in 14 seasons with the Red Wings, an Olympic gold medal, a world championship.

The Free Press has reached out separately to Datsyuk's agent for a statement, but has not heard back yet.

There is no indication from the rt.com report what Sergius is hoping to gain by taking over the monastery. Or what Datsyuk's role in all of this is.

Or if he's even there at all.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175753 Detroit Red Wings

Report of Pavel Datsyuk ‘holed up’ at monastery seized by priest is false

By Ansar Khan

A bizarre story out of Russia claiming former Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk is among those “holed up” at a monastery seized by a priest pushing a COVID-19 conspiracy apparently is false.

Datsyuk is with his family at his cottage in Russia.

The report on rt.com said the priest, Shiigumen (father superior) Sergius, seized control of the monastery after being told to stop services due to his COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs.

It claimed the priest, at Ekaterinburg’s Central Urals Monastery, is guarding the area with Cossacks.

Sergius was reportedly banned from conducting religious duties because of his claims that the COVID-19 outbreak was a “pseudo-pandemic” and that it was being used as an excuse to microchip the public. The priest has complained that the closure of churches in Russia during the coronavirus pandemic was done under pressure from “the atheistic authorities.”

The report said Datsyuk appeared to be extending his support to Sergius, who was due to face a church trial this past Monday, which has been postponed until June 26. The priest is charged with disobeying Patriarch Kirill.

Datsyuk, who turns 42 on July 20, has played in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League the past four seasons after returning to his native country. He spent the 2019-20 season with his hometown Yekaterinburg Automobilist.

Datsyuk played 14 seasons with the Red Wings, from 2001-2016.

Pavel Datsyuk’s morning workout and family breakfast at the cottage. Have a good summer everyone! pic.twitter.com/1GXfxqkm23

— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) June 18, 2020

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175754 Detroit Red Wings Hockenson, and D’Andre Swift, which is great, but is it enough to make them contenders?

Meanwhile, the Red Wings took a step back in their record, but I don’t Detroit sports Rebuilding Roundtable 2.0: Are we there yet? think they really moved back in the rebuild — they added Moritz Seider, ate up more time, and their historically bad season is going to land them a top-four pick in the draft. I think the Tigers have passed them because of the perceived certainty of Torkelson and the talent and proximity of The Athletic Detroit Jun 17, 2020 Matt Manning, Casey Mize and Skubal to the majors. But if the Red Wings do land the first overall pick and take Alexis Lafrenière, they won’t be too far behind. Some 16 months ago, at the beginning of 2019, we collectively examined the state of Detroit’s four major professional sports franchises through Spencer Torkelson the lens of their simultaneous struggles — specifically, the city’s Chris Burke: Might be a little recency bias since the Tigers drafted collective championship drought and an overall lack of playoff Torkelson like 18 hours before we started talking, but I think in terms of appearances. an actual “rebuild” process, it’s gotta be them or the Red Wings. Then, in the span of one calendar year, the Lions (3-12-1), Red Wings (Especially if the Red Wings take advantage of having like 31 draft picks (27-49-6), Pistons (37-45) and Tigers (47-114) went a combined 114- this year.) There is talent coming up through those system, it’s just a 226-1 during regular-season action. The loss total swells to 230 if you matter of how long the trip takes. Flip side, the Lions and Pistons are count the Pistons’ four-game fizzle versus Milwaukee in the 2019 closest to being competitive in the short term. playoffs. The Red Wings and Pistons were a combined 15-47 in 2020 Reminds me of an old Seinfeld joke about picking a cold medicine: “This before the pandemic stopped sports this spring. is quick-acting, but this is long-lasting. When do I need to feel good, now So, yeah. Pretty horrendous. or later?”

The concept of a rebuild is an inexact science. One thing we’ve all Edwards: I guess I’m not sure what we define as progress in this seemed to learn here, at least through this most recent run in Detroit, is instance. Is it progress if you continue to add young, high-end prospects that things can always get much, much worse before they start getting because the team is bad every year? I do think the Tigers are in the best better. Measuring where a team is at in a rebuild while it’s amid the position, though. process can be incredibly difficult. And, at times, impossible. Baumgardner: I think the Pistons admitting they need to go down this But we’re going to try anyway. As The Athletic Detroit celebrates its third road is progress and should be considered as such. But, yeah, it has to anniversary this week, the timing seemed appropriate. be the Tigers at this point for all the reasons Cody outlined there: They’ve been able to turn terrible seasons into noted additions that are very likely Participating today: Lions writer Chris Burke, Pistons writer James L. to pan out. Edwards III, Red Wings writer Max Bultman, Tigers writer Cody Stavenhagen and columnist Nick Baumgardner. Welcome to our I think what seems to wear on most folks — especially with the Tigers Rebuilding Roundtable 2.0, where we discuss progress reports, general and the Red Wings — is the impossible question of “Well, how many manager performance and whether there’s any real hope to grab onto more years?” For those two specifically, is that still an impossible during this exhaustive period in Detroit sports history. question to answer as we sit in June 2020?

Nick Baumgardner: So, obviously, three of these teams are now firmly in Burke: I’d also add: “Is this as bad as it’s gonna get?” Because both a rebuild: The Tigers and Red Wings are still very much in the growth teams were hot garbage the last time we saw them. and development stage. The Pistons have embraced that now, too. The Baumgardner: Maybe that’s the better way to look at it. Will this get Lions … whether they want to admit it to themselves or not, the roster worse? has been drastically altered since Matt Patricia’s arrival. Our last Rebuilding Roundtable here was in January 2019. No one expected the Bultman: Well, it’ll be damn near impossible for the Red Wings to get Tigers and Red Wings to have their situations fixed by now. The Pistons worse than this year. But to Nick’s first question, I think it is still a really were headed for this reality whether they wanted to be or not. The Lions hard one to answer, and that’s for the same reason the progress remains are still trying to figure out plenty as Bob Quinn approaches season five invisible at the pro levels for both teams: MLB and the NHL are drafting as GM. high schoolers. When the Lions take a Hockenson or an Okudah, they’re starters. Immediately. And it doesn’t take too much longer to know if Here’s one to get us going: Which of these teams, since that last they’re going to be good, or if the pick was a mistake. Meanwhile, the roundtable, has made the most actual progress? Tigers drafted Casey Mize two years ago and he hasn’t pitched a major- James L. Edwards III: That’s a great question. Is there even an answer? league inning, which is perfectly normal. There’s a ton of variance when Is the fact that the Pistons realized they needed to rebuild progress? I’d you’re drafting such young players who still have many years of say so. The Red Wings took another step back, and the Tigers were the development left before actually impacting the pro team. That’s why worst team in baseball. The Lions, well … I don’t know. Torkelson, who should move fast, or Lafrienère (should the Red Wings be so lucky) are such rebuild-shifting players — they’re high-ceiling guys On the other hand, I think the Pistons are the farthest along. I don’t have who are advanced for their age. an answer. Stavenhagen: The Tigers claim the worst is over. Al Avila hammered Cody Stavenhagen: First reaction: Oh, god. home the talking point that they’re now “building up” this winter. Had the Tigers played a full 162-game schedule, I think they would have been Second reaction: Here’s a case for the Tigers. They’ve made some quite bad, yet somehow still way better than last season. They could lose progress through being very, very bad. In last year’s draft, the Tigers 90 games and be one of the most improved teams in baseball. selected high school outfielder Riley Greene at No. 5 overall. Greene has done nothing but impress since joining the franchise. This week, all 114 But actually contending? Yeah, it’s almost silly to even try to really pick a losses from last year paid off when the Tigers picked Arizona State target date. For one, it’s entirely possible this delayed MLB season and slugger Spencer Torkelson No. 1 overall. This time last year, we knew the lack of minor-league games pushes the Tigers’ timeline back an the Tigers had pitching prospects — though we didn’t really know about entire year. This spring, though, you could finally feel some tangible hope Tarik Skubal, a ninth-round gem who has a serious future. Now we know watching Mize, Manning and Skubal pitch. All those guys are knocking the Tigers have a couple of hitters on the way, too. When will progress on the door of the majors. But even when the Tigers get all their come at the MLB level, though? It’s gonna be a couple more years. prospects to the big leagues, it’s not like they’re going to shoot to the top of the standings overnight. Some of them will surely struggle as rookies. Max Bultman: I agree. It’s the Tigers. In the last 17 months, Skubal And even with Torkelson and Greene, you need seven more hitters. How established himself as the kind of pop-up prospect every rebuilding team aggressive will they actually be in free agency? Starting when? I think eventually needs to find, got a really strong outfield prospect in Greene we’ll slowly see this team become more fun and interesting to follow. But and, most recently, drafted Torkelson, which very well could give them I don’t see any way they’re really contending for a before the middle-of-the-lineup star they so badly needed. The Pistons’ only 2025, at the earliest. progress is admitting they were rebuilding. The Lions got T.J. ALSO: Pitchers can get hurt. Baumgardner: I think that’s a great way to put it. For folks who are at the end of their rope and in the “if he can’t do it, who can!?!??!?!?!!” mindset Pistons 2019 first-round pick Sekou Doumbouya saw action in 38 games — probably not a great place to be. Like, ever. last season. (Rick Osentoski / USA Today) Edwards: The 10-win, Firestone Donut Holes Bowl plan? Kidding. Baumgardner: James, the Pistons are sort of at the beginning of this process. And, Chris, the Lions are … stuck? Is that the right word? Still, Baumgardner: The Michigan-Michigan State Rebuilding Roundtable will we’ve sort of established that these two are the closest to being commence at a later date, James! somewhat competitive in the short term. What is still needed and what’s still in the way? Edwards: In all seriousness, though, I just think Yzerman is the only answer. The Pistons don’t have a GM, Bob Quinn isn’t trusted and the Burke: You’re asking me to fix the Lions? same goes for Al Avila.

Baumgardner: Correct. Bultman: I think he’s the answer, too. I just think there’s real risk in anointing someone a surefire savior. Edwards: For the Pistons, they need a face of the franchise going forward. It’s clear that a rebuild is upon us — for how long? We’ll see. and the Red Wings went 17-49-5 during the abbreviated They’ve spent the last two, three seasons stocking up and developing 2019-20 season. (Rick Osentoski / USA Today) some solid young prospects, but there isn’t anyone who appears to be the best player on a playoff team five years from now. Obviously, getting Burke: That’s really the scary part. You can do everything right, but off of Blake Griffin’s contract would cement a full-scale rebuild, but that’s eventually you’ve got to get a few bounces and/or make your own luck. easier said than done and somewhat out of their control. The Tigers’ last turnaround happened because, among other things, the Padres took Matt Bush ahead of Justin Verlander and Dave Dombrowksi A top-5 pick this year might help, but this is not the year to have your first managed to go get Pudge, Magglio Ordonez, Kenny Rogers, Placido top-5 pick in almost 20 years. Polanco, etc. It can’t just be the draft.

Burke: The Lions are kind of in a weird spot because on the one hand, From that vantage point, I think you almost have to defer to Yzerman’s yes, they’re stuck — perhaps eternally. On the other, we always talk in feel for the game. Quinn actually has had some significant moments of sports about competitive windows opening and closing, and it feels like finding talent, too, but he’s also gone the other direction with regularity. they are running out of time in their current form. Edwards: Yeah, I agree with that 100 percent. I was genuine when I said Which is to say, I don’t think they are miles and miles away from I’d feel bad for the fan base if it doesn’t work out because they’ve put him contending. They could make the playoffs this year and it wouldn’t be a on an unreachable pedestal. massive, unfathomable surprise. Short answer: They need this system, the Matt Patricia system, to click on all fronts immediately. They believe Stavenhagen: I’d go Yzerman, too. they are building this the way it needs to be built, so let’s see it. The Lions drafted Ohio State star cornerback Jeff Okudah No. 3 overall Edwards: I will get a custom-made Chris Burke, No. 89, Lions jersey if in April. (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today) they win a playoff game this year. Baumgardner: OK, last question here. And one I think everyone sort of For myself, of course. needs. Because, I mean — stuff is rough. Give me one (you can give more if you want) thing about the team you’re covering that should give Baumgardner: Yeah, the Lions are at the backside of an awkward rebuild fans hope that better days might be on the way. Not looking for a savior. that wasn’t supposed to be labeled as a rebuild until it was … so, great But just something that’s either been trending in the right direction or point. If this thing falls farther off a cliff, you’re starting from scratch again appears to be on its way. with inching closer to mid-30s. But it has to hit now. The Lions aren’t in a situation where “the plan” gets more time. Whereas Stavenhagen: For the Tigers, we talk about the prospects all the time. the other three are still in somewhat understandable windows. The second most encouraging thing is the fact the analytics department seems to finally be off the ground and on the right track. The Tigers have Which brings me to the next question: the general managers. Progress some smart people working behind the scenes, they’re equipped with as can be subjective. So can the overall stability of a franchise’s general much technology as almost any club, and they’re finally hiring manager situation. All of these teams are in different places. But I’ll steal development coaches to bolster their player-development system. We the question that got asked in January 2019: Which current GM do we won’t see the impact of all this immediately, but there’s been a pretty have the most faith in with regard to their overall performance, dedication palpable shift in the last year. The Tigers aren’t totally stuck in the stone to the plan, etc. age anymore. They’re only going to get smarter from here.

Edwards: I was going to ask: What’s a general manager? Edwards: There seems to be a plan in place for the Pistons. It’s been a few years since they have signed anyone to a head-scratching contract, I’m sure the commenters will say Stevie Y because he’s had success and they’ve embraced the rebuild, which will inevitably lead to better draft elsewhere before and he’s the Golden Boy. Man, I hope he comes picks. Now, this approach has to continue for more than a summer or two through because I don’t think these Red Wings fans will be able to take a before we have any real idea if there is reason for real optimism, but at decade of being blah and the franchise’s poster boy not being the savior least the franchise has realized its shortcomings and is doing something it needed. out of its comfort zone to fix it.

Burke: You have described Michigan football. Burke: Even without Darius Slay or Quandre Diggs or Devon Kennard, Baumgardner: Yeah, having covered someone who was universally the Lions’ defense has a real chance to make a significant improvement beloved by his fan base the day he was hired … trust me, that can over last year. It’s easy to laugh off Quinn and Patricia chasing so many change. Pretty fast. former Patriots, but getting Jamie Collins, Duron Harmon and Danny Shelton addressed three very specific, glaring issues. Add in the Jeff Bultman: Yzerman has a track record with Tampa Bay that I do think Okudah-Desmond Trufant pairing at corner and a legit pass rusher in buys him a lot of credibility. But here’s where I’d insert a word of caution: Julian Okwara and … well, you wanted hope. There’s hope. The offense When he took over there, the Lightning already had Steven Stamkos and — Matthew Stafford’s health willing — should be formidable, and the Victor Hedman — two young, highly drafted, franchise cornerstones — in defense actually might be able to keep pace. place. There is no replacement for that and the only way to get picks that high is via ping-pong balls in a lottery. Yzerman can’t will it to happen for Bultman: For the Red Wings, I think it’s the fact their high picks in the last Detroit. Nor can he necessarily guarantee the Red Wings will draft as couple drafts really are progressing on schedule and are getting to close well as the Lightning did, because the scouts still play a huge role in that. to Detroit. That doesn’t necessarily mean in accordance with draft-day hype, mind you, but it’s real, reasonable progress. Moritz Seider, the So I would legitimately pump the breaks there. I think the Harbaugh risk surprising sixth overall pick last draft, looked rock-solid this season in is real, and that absolutely includes how desperately the fan base needs Grand Rapids. He could be a Red Wing the next time they play, and he their guy to be the guy. Harbaugh had an unreal track record of success, looks like he’s going to be very good. Filip Zadina took a real step too. I will say, Yzerman does seem wholly committed to the plan. But I forward this season and looks like a top-six regular going forward. That’s think Harbaugh is pretty damn committed to his plan, too. big. Joe Veleno probably needs more time in Grand Rapids, but he made major progress with the Griffins this year, too. Is that enough to turn this whole thing around? Not on its own. But their progress means the Red Wings haven’t created any new setbacks, and all those guys are going to make the team so much more fun to watch, and bring them that much closer to turning the corner whenever those superstars do arrive. The light at the end of the tunnel isn’t visible yet. But it is getting closer.

Burke: I look forward to the Championship Roundtable in 2025.

Baumgardner: It’ll be great (maybe).

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175755 Edmonton Oilers Fauci says we shouldn’t be playing sports much past September because viruses tend to ramp up again when the weather gets cold and we might be in for a second wave when cold and flu season hits.

Shouldn't the NHL plant a hub city flag in Edmonton? Now, government and health people have already been wrong on some pretty significant COVID issues (we were originally told that masks weren’t a good idea and that testing incoming airline passengers would do more psychological harm than medical good), so we have to take it all Robert Tychkowski with a grain of salt.

But the NHL might want to hurry. The argument could be made for the NHL to look at Edmonton as a hub WE’VE GOT A RUNNER! city for the 2020 playoffs.Postmedia, / file A lot of us still have a problem wrapping our heads around how teams We will find out soon, any day now, where the National Hockey League that go deep in the playoffs will stay shuttered up in their hotel rooms for intends to establish and fortify the strongholds necessary to launch two months. Keeping young millionaires from breaking ranks and saying, Stanley Cup playoffs in the middle of a global pandemic. “To heck with it, I’m going out tonight,” is a real concern in a situation Where commissioner Gary Bettman decides to plant his Eastern and where one player can bring down an entire team, and, thus, the entire Western Conference flags has been a hotly contested debate for weeks, playoffs. with all 10 teams on the league’s list of hub city contenders lobbying hard The NBA is so worried about it they’ve established a snitch hotline to behind the scenes. report players who violate safety protocols during their playoffs. The league is wise to put off making a decision until the very last minute; It gives you some idea of how delicate this balance really is. COVID-19 numbers are spiking all over the place, amid mass gatherings and civic unrest all over the United States, so locking into any city one IS LOCATION EVERYTHING? second before they have to could be a fatal miscalculation that collapses the whole thing. From a fan’s perspective, it shouldn’t really matter where the games are played. If they can’t go into the arenas, won’t see players on the streets But we’re going to need an answer soon, and it will be interesting to see or in restaurants and will never get close enough for an autograph, who where the NHL decides to risk its $1 billion endeavour. cares whether it’s in Edmonton or on UFC’s Fight Island in Abu Dhabi?

Some thoughts: There will be some minor economic impact for hotel owners and prestige for the organization, as well as an opportunity to showcase facilities for SAFETY FIRST? potential free agents (Hey, Edmonton is kind of nice in the summer). But The unofficial frontrunners appear to be Las Vegas and Toronto. It’s in a made-for-TV event, who really cares where the studio is? been speculated that the hotel and entertainment situation in Vegas, and Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.18.2020 Toronto’s close proximity to the centre of the universe, make them the likely picks.

If it’s true (the NHL hasn’t given indication either way, and the Edmonton Oilers say they haven’t been ruled in or out yet), it would seem to be in stark contrast to what Bettman has been saying from the very start of this highly ambitious process: That health and safety of the players is the NHL’s top priority.

If that’s the case, then rolling into Vegas makes no sense. It’s been less than two weeks since casinos opened and already the COVID-19 cases are spiking in record numbers — some 1,335 new cases reported in the last seven days, including 342 new cases on Tuesday for the largest single-day total since the pandemic began in March.

That hardly seems like the safest place to set up shop right now.

Toronto’s numbers aren’t good, either. They’re at 1,315 active cases, compared with 190 in Edmonton and 172 in the Vancouver area (although B.C. conducts less than half as many tests as Alberta does).

If the primary objective really is player safety — and preventing a billion dollars’ worth of revenue from being washed away by an outbreak inside the bubble — it doesn’t make much sense to put that bubble in the middle of a hot spot.

‘WAIVE’ GOODBYE

Can we stop with the chatter about the 14-day mandatory quarantine for people entering Canada being a potential roadblock for potential hub cities? Local governments can, should and will find an easy way around it for NHL players getting ready for the playoffs.

It’s not like these players are going to be drinking pints on Whyte Ave or marching in protests. They’ll be locked in a quarantine bubble, tested daily and will have very limited exposure to the outside world.

Trust me, with everything they stand to lose if this thing collapses, the NHL is more concerned about keeping players away from the unwashed masses than any government is.

CLOCK IS TICKING

Just as teams begin to move forward in their return-to-play strategies comes a warning from Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in the U.S. 1175756 Los Angeles Kings She had her own medical crisis two years ago when she suffered a stroke. She recovered, gaining an appreciation for the fragility of life. “I always say to Chris. ‘We’re not promised anything beyond today.’ Nobody is,” she said “We’re just more aware of it. It’s closer to us, and NHL executive Chris Snow displays remarkable resiliency despite onset that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” of ALS HOCKEY

Ducks initiate pay cuts for employees who make more than $75,000 a By HELENE ELLIOTT SPORTS COLUMNIST JUNE 17, 20201:48 PM year

They’ve been as honest as possible with their children, starting last summer by explaining that Chris needed medicine to make his muscles A year ago Wednesday, Kelsie and Chris Snow’s happily-ever-after took stronger. Their son soon grasped the larger meaning. an unspeakably cruel detour. “One day Cohen said, ‘Hey, Daddy, is what’s wrong with your hand the The weakness Chris had felt in his right hand was confirmed that day to same thing that was wrong with Grandpa Bob?’” Kelsie said. “He figured be caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that progressively it out on his own. We said yep, it is, but there’s a big difference. Grandpa attacks the nervous system. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Bob couldn’t get this medicine and at some point all illnesses were very has no cure. Snow’s case was particularly vicious: He has a rare genetic dangerous until doctors came up with medicines for them, so we’re very mutation like the one that took the lives of his father, two uncles and a lucky that Daddy can get this medicine. The doctors are very hopeful. cousin. Snow, the assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, was And we can see that Daddy hasn’t gotten any worse.” given six to 18 months to live. They haven’t had their son genetically tested because there’s no benefit In the hazy weeks that followed, signs of life renewing and blooming and because Chris’ father regretted doing it. “Once you know you have around her seemed to taunt Kelsie. Like her husband, she’s a former Los the gene, you’re just waiting every day for some indicator of not feeling Angeles Times summer intern and sportswriter, gifted at turning thoughts right,” Chris said. “If [Cohen] could be tested and then take something to into poignant words. These will pierce your heart. preempt ever having the disease, then of course we would have him “It was like every person I’d see would be a family in the mall or a person tested.” pushing a stroller. I’d see a mom pregnant. I’d see just people who had Each time doctors told him his symptoms hadn’t worsened was a small futures,” she said. “Nobody really does. Nobody gets that promise, but miracle he dared to think would become a big one. But the disease we had the ability to think that the future was ours to have, and that was encroached again in April, in a way only Kelsie recognized. While just taken.” examining a photo she’d taken while the family was enjoying time Happily, an experimental drug developed for Chris’ specific gene together made possible by shelter-at-home requirements of the COVID- mutation has extended the horizon of his future. He was accepted into a 19 pandemic, she found a new droop to his brilliant smile, the smile that clinical trial soon after his diagnosis and was lucky to get the drug had drawn her to him. It was small but devastating. tofersen instead of a placebo. “We were living in this bubble where it felt like everything was maybe just “That was just like Russian roulette, which is a whole other complicated going to stay the way it was. Maybe this drug would be the magic bullet element of it,” Kelsie said. and we would just stop this where it was,” she said.

HOCKEY It tested Chris’ staunchly positive outlook. “The change that I’ve seen in my face, which is very likely due to a facial muscle or two that aren’t NHL training camps to start July 10 for playoff-bound teams behaving the same, reintroduced some fear, some anxiety that was not there, because month after month after month, I was doing the unheard He lost the use of his right hand last summer but made Angels pitcher of, I was not changing,” he said. Jim Abbott his model to learn to throw a baseball with his left hand, lean his glove against his right hand, and then put the glove on to catch the Since then, he said, it hasn’t gotten worse, and he’s hoping he will stay at return toss from his 8-year-old son, Cohen. this current solid plateau for a while.

Snow, 38, spent last week holed up in his son’s bedroom — the only In the meantime, he’s raising funds for ALS research through room in their house with a desk and a door that closes — to help the #TrickShot4Snowy, challenging athletes to record themselves taking trick Flames prepare for the NHL draft and launch of the Stanley Cup playoffs. shots in hockey or other sports and donate to He can’t tie his shoes, but he can play catch and do pushups with his 5- calgaryflames.com/snowystrong. It’s a new take on the Ice Bucket year-old daughter Willa wriggling on his back. He is living, not waiting to challenge, which raised funds for research he believes is benefiting him die. now. Keep him around long enough, Kelsie says, and the drug he’s taking or the next one will be the one that creates an unlimited horizon for “I am still myself. I can walk into a room and people who don’t know, they ALS patients. wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t realize it,” he said. “I’m not walking slowly. I’m walking. I can run. I can skate, I can rollerblade. Last June 17 I was given one year to live. I should have lost the ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe. Instead, I took three steps back, two to the “If we went back to a year ago and you painted this scene for me today I left and did this #TrickShot4Snowy. What a day this would be if everyone would be in tears because I would be elated. The mental challenge now watching this donates $1 at https://t.co/rgWfPCOrpt. is I’ve seen these benefits and I get greedy. I want it all. I want this to last pic.twitter.com/mxbpJ3m6bp for 40 more years, or more.” — Chris Snow (@ChrisSnowCGY) June 17, 2020 Kelsie knew of Chris before they met. Formerly Kelsie Smith, she was an intern at the Times in 2004 and was impressed to hear about the “I’ve already beaten the odds,” Chris said. “I just want to really beat previous summer’s hotshot intern, who had gotten his dream job covering them.” hockey in Minnesota. In the summer of 2005 she was hired as an intern at the Boston Globe, where Chris had gone to cover the Red Sox even LA Times: LOADED: 06.18.2020 though he liked hockey better.

Most sportswriters think they know more than the people who run the teams they cover. Few get a chance to prove it. Chris did when he was hired by the Minnesota Wild a few years after then-general manager Doug Risebrough suggested he consider a front-office job. “I took a massive pay cut,” Snow said, laughing. He spent four years with the Wild and one year between jobs before he was hired by the Flames. Kelsie, who had been covering the Twins for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, moved with him when their son was 5 weeks old. 1175757 Los Angeles Kings Dillman: There are some years, for instance, the Sidney Crosby draft, where the second overall pick turns out to be a Bobby Ryan, a good solid professional. Then there are times where the No. 2 selection is far from a consolation prize (Brendan Shanahan in 1987). Finally, you have the What it would mean for the Kings to win the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery drafts that still give certain fans bases nightmares — what would have happened if the Ottawa Senators had taken Chris Pronger at No. 1 in

1993, instead of Alexandre Daigle? In certain years, No. 2 becomes as By Corey Pronman and Lisa Dillman Jun 17, 2020 good as No. 1 or exceeds No. 1. Byfield could be something special. To me, he would represent a meaningful upgrade for the Kings. As for Stützle, TSN draft guru told me in April that Stützle compares, in a certain way, to Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg. There is a bit of a Groundhog Day feel for the Kings when it comes to the “The puck drops and it is, ‘Hey game, be ready because I’m coming.’ I’ve lead-up to the NHL Draft Lottery. seen very few players have that kind of ability. Peter Forsberg had it. He Again, like last year, they are right in the middle of the Lottery Club. The said, ‘Game, get ready.’” That’s the intangible, and talent, the Kings are delayed draft lottery — which was to have been in April — will be on looking to add as they work through the rebuild. June 26. The Kings have a 9.5 percent chance at the No. 1 pick. What does it mean if the Kings don’t get a top 3 pick? A year ago, they had a 13.5 percent chance but dropped from second to Pronman: Not winning a top pick wouldn’t be disappointing but it wouldn’t fifth. The last time the Kings have had a pick in the top three was when really move the needle in terms of the direction of the franchise. You add they took future Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty (No. 2) in 2008. In Jamie Drysdale, or Lucas Raymond, or Jake Sanderson or Marco Rossi 2007, the Kings selected defenseman Thomas Hickey with the No. 4 to their existing group and you are excited, but it probably doesn’t change pick. the complexion of the rebuild. They would be very nice players to add to Another key statistic: There is a 28.8 percent chance that the Kings will Turcotte, Vilardi, Arthur Kaliyev, Samuel Fagemo, Rasmus Kupari, get a pick in the top three. There are no guarantees, of course, but a pick Tobias Bjornfot and Tyler Madden. They’re all great players and that pick that high usually represents an impact player. The difference between would slot right towards the top of that group but not clearly beyond someone who can be an impact player for a long period of time and a anyone in that group either. player you have to nurture and develop are two vastly different things. Dillman: All is not necessarily lost. That point was driven home recently You win with four or five keys players and fill in the gaps around them. when colleague Scott Wheeler of The Athletic conducted a re-draft of the The Kings seem to have those players who can fill in the gaps but are 2017 NHL Draft. In his re-draft, the players that went No. 4 and No. 5, still lacking the next generation cornerstone piece. moved up to the top two spots. Elias Pettersson went No. 1 and Cale Makar No. 2. If the Kings end up out of the top three, you hope it is one Kings beat reporter Lisa Dillman and The Athletic’s prospects writer of those years where the group is so talented that the players going at Corey Pronman weigh in on the lottery scenarios for Los Angeles. No. 4 or No. 5 become stars. That’s the best-case scenario. Regular What would it mean for the Kings to win the No. 1 pick and a chance to readers of The Athletic know that I’m on the Drysdale bandwagon, having draft Alexis Lafreniere? taken him in our first (of many) mock drafts. That must be a bit of former Kings GM Dean Lombardi resonating with me — the importance in Pronman: The Kings have been efficient in their rebuild. You could look building from the back. Should the Kings end up in a position to draft the at all their top two round picks from the last five years and reasonably creative and offensive-minded Drysdale it wouldn’t feel like a argue every pick looks like a good player if not a very good player. Their disappointment, considering he is viewed by many draft experts as a system is very deep. What they do lack in their rebuild right now is that future No. 1 defenseman, not just a top-pair D man. foundational player. They don’t have their Auston Matthews, Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Hughes etc. As much as I like a lot of their recent picks it’s The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 hard to see the path for them to become true NHL stars. Upon being drafted, Alexis Lafreniere would become the clear most talented player in the organization under the age of 28. He could be that foundational piece. I don’t think the rebuild is over the second they pick him — you need more than one star to be a good NHL team — but there starts to become a clearer path to how this team turns around.

Dillman: When the Kings were winning championships and were a legitimate force, it was because of their stellar one-two combination down the middle with Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter. Now it’s Kopitar shouldering the heavy load. Their supporting cast down the middle has been so-so, and, at best, serviceable at this stage of the rebuild. If the Kings did win the No. 1 pick, suddenly, in Lafreniere, they’ve got the guy that can be Kopitar for the next 10 years. A complete difference-maker. When you think about a French-Canadian superstar forward, well, the Kings once had one in the organization: Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne. Dionne was drafted second overall by Detroit and played the first four seasons of his career with the Red Wings before he was traded to the Kings in 1975. Lafreniere could come in and be, to this generation, what Dionne was 40 years ago.

What would winning the No. 2 or No. 3 slot mean for the Kings?

Pronman: If the Kings ended up with Quinton Byfield I still think that’s a pretty significant and important moment for the organization. You look at the depth chart down the middle and he would fit in right at the top. Kopitar obviously has been a top player in the league for a long time. He will also be 33 next season and reasonably you would project sometime in the next three-to-five years he will stop being a legitimate No. 1 center. You look at the depth chart for the next guy up and it becomes less clear who the replacement for that role is. I love Alex Turcotte. Is he a clear No. 1 center on a quality NHL team? I think scouts would push back on that. Maybe a No. 1 on a so-so team, No. 2 on a contender type of deal. Is Gabriel Vilardi? Maybe on talent he could hit that level but health has been a major question for him. Byfield for sure and arguably Tim Stützle could project to fill that kind of important role. 1175758 Los Angeles Kings players love Southern California, and many who played here end up staying here. This has led to a boom in hockey players from the area in the youth ranks.

Is Los Angeles still a prime destination for top free agents? Hockey is such a marathon sport during the season that having the ability to go to the beach and take a walk on The Strand and feel the rays of the sun in the middle of January is huge. It certainly beats hanging out at the West Edmonton Mall on an off day. By The Athletic Los Angeles Staff Jun 17, 2020 The Kings have seemed to take over the South Bay as their spot, and it’s

seen as one of the best setups in the NHL. The practice facility and living Los Angeles sports fans love to play general manager. In times of locations are all around 10 minutes from each other. Los Angeles championship parades or lottery-bound failures, Angelenos light up radio International Airport is close by for chartered flights. station control boards by calling in to offer quick-fix solutions on local talk There are a few issues — normally taxes and housing costs come up shows. The problem solving typically falls into two categories: when I talk with players — but I’ve never gotten the sense that money Trade for superstar (despite not having equal assets) specifically is the driving factor to guys not wanting to play here. The biggest problem right now is the overall competitiveness of the Kings, Sign superstar in free agency (salary-cap restrictions be damned) who (like the Ducks in Anaheim) are in a rebuild that might be a negative factor for free agents. It’s not like the NBA, where just adding LeBron These master plans have one thing in common — location — because James or Kawhi Leonard makes you a contender. So unless you really the L.A. lifestyle and weather make it the best place to maximize one’s only care about where you live and not about how good your team is, the fortune and fame. But when the biggest talents in sports decide where to Kings could lose out. But when these teams are good, I can’t think of a take their talents next, do these beliefs still hold true? better spot in the league — or in North America, for that matter. For answers, we turned to four of our writers in baseball, basketball, Absolutely — 100 percent yes — Los Angeles is still a top destination. football and hockey to determine if Los Angeles truly remains a prime destination for top free agents. Said one NHL general manager: “L.A. has a significant advantage over many markets for all that it has to offer. You are living there, so you Pedro Moura on MLB already know the answer.” I’m of the belief that destination cities don’t matter as much in baseball as Rich Hammond on NFL the other sports on this list. Consider the logistics. In a normal year, ballplayers report to Arizona or Florida for spring training in early No doubt, the answer to the question is yes. And Los Angeles is only February and then arrive in their “home city” around the end of March. going to get more attractive when SoFi Stadium opens, and Rams and Come October, two-thirds of them are free to return to wherever they Chargers fans no longer have to dwell in cramped temporary stadiums. choose to reside. Over the six-month regular season, they are in town for They will have amazing accommodations in their new home, and so will roughly 90 nights. On roughly 65 of those, they return home after 11 p.m. the players, with spacious locker rooms, but that’s not the biggest reason because of night games. On several more, they return home deep into that L.A. is a draw. the night after cross-country air travel and bus rides back to the ballpark. The Rams and Chargers also smartly positioned themselves in Southern It’s common for major leaguers to have about 15 free nights, if that, over California. The Rams’ facility is in Thousand Oaks, in the middle of a season. They’re often not much more than tourists in their towns. At Ventura County, while the Chargers have set up shop in Costa Mesa, in least in the NBA and NHL, there are half as many game nights, and far the southern part of Orange County. The locations are great. Players with fewer in the NFL. No matter what Anthony Rendon says about Hollywood families can remain in or near those quiet suburbs, while younger players lifestyle, it just wouldn’t make much sense to pick a team in free agency can live closer to some of the entertainment action in the Southland. based on how you get to spend 15 nights. That amounts to three months over a six-year free-agent contract. Thus, many major leaguers, even An NFL superstar like Aaron Donald can choose to step in and out of the those on long-term deals, continue to make their homes outside of the spotlight in L.A. (Kirby Lee / USA Today) cities where they play. Clayton Kershaw cannot be traded without his If there’s a negative, it’s that, from a marketing standpoint, it’s going to consent, and he still lives near Dallas in the offseason. take a lot for a Rams or Chargers star to be the biggest name in town. Anthony Rendon didn’t prefer the “Hollywood lifestyle” of the Dodgers The Rams have Aaron Donald, arguably the most dominant player in the and signed with the Angels. (Rick Scuteri / USA Today) NFL. For three years, the Chargers had Philip Rivers, a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Neither received attention even close to the level of That brings us to tax rates, which is never mentioned at introductory the Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis, or even the Dodgers’ press conferences but is surely a significant factor in many free-agent Clayton Kershaw. decisions. Because major leaguers are taxed based on where each of their games are staged, the effective difference between California and It’s going to require prolonged success for the Rams and Chargers to Texas state tax rates is not as large as it might seem. But it’s still pretty approach the level of the Lakers and Dodgers. large, and if there’s something hurting the Dodgers’ ability to attract free Still, some players might view that as a positive. Not every star player agents, it is probably that. wants to be the center of attention. Donald, for instance, is a quiet, Now, that said, people love beaches, and some people love the idea of private man. He can collect his $25 million per year and live in relative glamour. Playing for the Dodgers offers those possibilities and many peace without the attention he might receive playing in New York or — more. What we think of as Los Angeles is nothing if not a number of on the other side of the spectrum — a tiny, intense market like Green disparate communities to call home. When new Dodgers are first Bay. acquired, they generally stay at Downtown L.A. hotels. In recent years, Well, he can collect some of that $25 million, anyway. As Pedro pointed several Dodgers have settled pretty deep in the San Fernando Valley or out, players certainly notice taxes. The Rams lost linebacker Cory lived in the Beach Cities. A number of others reside in Glendale, near the Littleton to free agency in March when he signed with the Las Vegas massive mall. At least one current player lives in Rancho Palos Verdes Raiders and moved to a neighboring state with zero income tax. and another in Corona, more than 60 miles apart. And few, if any, live in Hollywood. Still, there are attractive opportunities. The NFL season is short compared to other leagues — a maximum of five months — so there’s Making the money that modern major leaguers make, you can make of plenty of time to relax and enjoy the area. For those with off-field Los Angeles whatever you’d like. ambitions, opportunities are plentiful. For instance, when Rams Josh Cooper on NHL cornerback Aqib Talib was recovering from ankle surgery during the 2018 season, he made regular appearances on the NFL Network set in Culver When Shane O’Brien and I had guests on our “Point Breakaway” podcast City. Soon, the network will set up operations in Inglewood, in a building this year — guests who weren’t in Southern California at that moment adjacent to SoFi Stadium. Players with eyes toward post-career specifically — the interviews were generally dripping with jealousy. transitions to media will take notice. Oftentimes, conversations revolved around the weather and Shane’s golf game and how he could play every day of the year. Simply put, hockey Jovan Buha on NBA There is quite possibly no better example of how attractive of a destination Los Angeles is for premier free agents than 11 months ago — just last summer — when three of the NBA offseason’s top five players to change teams shifted to the two L.A. teams: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the Clippers and Anthony Davis to the Lakers.

L.A. is the offseason capital of the NBA. Players love L.A. It’s the No. 1 market in the league.

From the competition at the Drew League, to the secret runs at UCLA, to the exclusive nightlife, to the entertainment and business opportunities in Hollywood, to the sunny weather and beaches, to the ability for celebrities to blend in while out in public, L.A. has a seemingly endless number of attractive features that only New York can rival. (But did I mention the weather and the beaches?)

Kawhi Leonard, the NBA’s top free agent last offseason, chose the Clippers over the Lakers.

Playing for an L.A. basketball team matters. With the Lakers and the Clippers contending at the same time for the first time in NBA history, the Battle for L.A. was the dominant storyline of the season. Kobe Bryant became a global icon in Los Angeles — a level of celebrity he probably wouldn’t have reached if he had won five titles in a different market. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were elevated to national spokesmen during the height of Lob City, leading the league in commercial air time.

The Lakers are the Lakers. They are the NBA’s golden brand — and arguably the most popular brand in American sports — and that’s only going to be solidified with their recent resurgence since James’ arrival in 2018. They’re back.

The decisions of Leonard and George validated the Clippers’ incredible turnaround over the decade, including substantial progress since 2017, when owner Steve Ballmer restructured the front office. Since then, the Clippers have been run as well as any team in the league. Add the franchise’s blank slate and Ballmer’s deep pockets — the deepest in North American sports — and the Clippers have rapidly emerged as a top destination.

Los Angeles projects to remain the most attractive free-agent destinations for the rest of this decade — and likely beyond. It’s possible to shine outside of L.A., but the stars are always the brightest here.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175759 Minnesota Wild

Wild become Minnesota’s first pro sports team to furlough employees

By DANE MIZUTANI | PUBLISHED: June 17, 2020 at 2:18 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2020 at 2:18 p.m.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Wild have decided to furlough some employees and reduce hours for others.

The moves go into effect on Saturday and will make the Wild the first pro sports team in Minnesota to announce cutbacks of any sort.

It’s unclear how many employees will be affected and how long the cost- cutting measures will last.

“We regret the impact this situation has caused our team and community,” the Wild said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to bringing our full team and the NHL’s best fans back together again as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Many other teams across the NHL have announced similar moves in recent weeks, including the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars. The 2019-20 season was suspended indefinitely on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Perhaps the only good news for those affected is that the Wild have qualified for the 24-team postseason, though no start date has been determined. Last week, the NHL and the league’s players association announced they have agreed to start formal training camps on July 10.

Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175760 Minnesota Wild However, the NHLPA has since taken up the good fight because the union feels the league cannot arbitrarily change a longstanding, collectively bargained rule. Technically, it’s cut and dry: If an unsigned draft pick on a team’s reserve list ahead of the 2019-20 trade deadline Kaprizov? Kahkonen? Khovanov? Predicting the Wild’s expanded roster subsequently signs, he should be eligible to play like players like Cale Makar and Chris Kreider have done in the past with the Avalanche and

Rangers, respectively. By Michael Russo Jun 17, 2020 KHL

✔ Could the Wild have Kirill Kaprizov in their lineup if the 2019-20 season resumes later this summer? Could Kaapo Kahkonen be in goal? Could @khl_eng Sam Anas finally make his long-awaited NHL debut? If someone asks you how good is Kirill Kaprizov, just show them this. One of the many things being negotiated right now between the NHL and #KHLMoments the NHL Players’ Association is just how expanded the expanded rosters Embedded video will actually be if NHL players approve a resumption of play later this summer. 1,050

Training camp could start as early as July 10 with each conference’s 1:01 AM - May 17, 2020 qualifying rounds for the Nos. 5-12 seeds and round-robins for the Nos. 1-4 seeds starting in early August in two hub cities. Twitter Ads info and privacy

While the NHL and NHLPA are still negotiating myriad terms for a return 232 people are talking about this to play, the early reports say teams may be allowed to expand their So, we’ll find out soon if the league continues to stand its ground on the rosters to 28 skaters and an unlimited number of as belief that players like Kaprizov should not be allowed to play this insurance if players get hurt or sick during a two-plus-month playoff run. summer.

As of now, the Wild have 21 skaters on their roster and two goalies, If the union wins the battle, Kaprizov, 23, the two-time KHL top goal- meaning they’d be allowed to add up to seven skaters if 28 ends up the scorer and 2018 Olympic hero, plans to immediately get his work visa magic number. and fly to Minnesota to begin preparing for training camp, sources say. As a reminder, here were the Wild’s lines, defense pairings and goalies Kaprizov’s arrival would likely nudge Donato and Rask from the lineup during their final March 11 practice: when Minnesota opens its qualifying round against the Vancouver Canucks. Jordan Greenway-Eric Staal-Kevin Fiala Kaapo Kahkonen, G Zach Parise-Joel Eriksson Ek-Luke Kunin The most interesting potential Black Ace besides, of course, Kaprizov will Marcus Foligno-Alex Galchenyuk-Mats Zuccarello be Kahkonen because the Wild’s goaltending was subpar in 2019-20 and Kahkonen was the AHL Goalie of the Year as well as a first-team AHL Ryan Donato/Victor Rask-Mikko Koivu-Ryan Hartman All-Star with a league-leading 25 wins, seven and a stellar 2.07 Defense pairs: goals-against average and .927 save percentage.

Ryan Suter-Jared Spurgeon Kahkonen played five games for Minnesota and won his first two NHL starts, at New Jersey and Florida. Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba Hockey Wilderness Brad Hunt-Greg Pateryn @hockeywildernes *Defenseman Carson Soucy should return from his wrist injury sustained Feb. 21 at Edmonton. That would likely make Hunt or Pateryn an extra. That'll do it, folks! Wild hold off the Devils and win 3-2. Kaapo Kahkonen gets the W in his NHL debut. Goalies: Embedded video Alex Stalock 21 Devan Dubnyk 10:42 PM - Nov 26, 2019 Potential Black Aces Twitter Ads info and privacy General manager and the rest of his front office have been discussing the past week which players could potentially be added as See Hockey Wilderness's other Tweets Black Aces once rosters expand. The Wild have a number of options, Even though Alex Stalock, who won a career-high 20 games, was including one player who would be inserted right into the lineup if the playing exceptionally at the time of pause, interim coach Dean Evason NHL deems him eligible. has indicated the goalie who is sharpest in training camp between Kirill Kaprizov, RW/LW Stalock, Kahkonen and longtime No. 1 Devan Dubnyk would get the nod to open the qualifying round. If you’re an avid The Athletic subscriber, you’re well aware of what’s going on with Kaprizov because you’ve read EVERY word of our 97 Gerry Mayhew, LW/RW Kaprizov stories since April. The MVP scored an AHL-leading and Iowa The CliffsNotes version: When the NHL suspended the season March franchise-record 39 goals — the most by an AHL skater since 2011-12 — 12, it subsequently announced that any player signed from that point on in only 49 games and finished third with 61 points this past season. Ten had to be for the 2020-21 season, not the 2019-20 season. of Mayhew’s goals were game-winners and he registered 11 multi-goal games. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has been very public the past several weeks that the edict included players like Kaprizov, who under a normal Mayhew can play up and down the Wild’s lineup and scored two goals in situation would have been allowed to sign with the Wild on May 1 and 13 games with Minnesota this season. He became the eighth Wild player debut immediately once his KHL contract expired April 30. in history to score in his NHL debut last October in Toronto.

Even late last month, Daly told reporters publicly that he saw no reason Ryan Carter to allow teams to add “ringers.” ✔ @Ryan_Carter22 32 people are talking about this

Congrats on the first one, #Gerrytime! Maybe the smallest celly ever on a Louie Belpedio, D first career goal tho... NBD @alfano20 #mnwild The 24-year-old 2014 third-round pick brings plenty of professional Embedded video experience if the Wild need somebody beyond their seven NHL defensemen and Menell. 154 He had 20 points in 62 games for Iowa this past season. The former 9:57 PM - Oct 15, 2019 captain has three NHL games under his belt but didn’t get a look in 2019-20. Twitter Ads info and privacy Mat Robson, G See Ryan Carter 's other Tweets Kahkonen’s backup in Iowa will almost assuredly be added to the Wild’s Mayhew recently was a guest on a radio show I hosted on KFAN. expanded roster to give Minnesota further goalie depth.

Sam Anas, RW Robson, who signed with the Wild in 2019 out of the University of One of Iowa’s most popular players in history and its all-time leading Minnesota, went 11-10-5 with a 2.97 goals-against average and .901 scorer with 197 points in 259 games, Anas led the AHL with 50 assists, save percentage. 70 points and 43 power-play points this past season and was named a Alex Khovanov, C first-team All-Star. The 26-year-old, in his fourth season with Iowa, has yet to get the call to the big show. The one junior promotion that could be coming is the young Alex Khovanov, 20, who scored 32 goals and 99 points for Moncton this past But it’s very likely Guerin and Iowa GM Tom Kurvers will award the good season. citizen for all his hard work this summer. Technically, Anas is a pending unrestricted free agent, but the NHL is effectively extending all expiring Not only would it add center depth and potentially allow Kaprizov, a contracts through “the end of the 2019-20 season.” fellow Russian, somebody to bond with, but it’ll also give Khovanov the chance to practice with NHLers before heading into next season’s Anas joined my Straight From The Source podcast before the AHL’s training camp. season was canceled. Former Wild and Moncton coach John Torchetti talked a lot about Nico Sturm, C “Hovvy” on this Straight From The Source podcast in January.

Arguably the Wild’s most NHL-ready prospect on Iowa this past season, Other potential Black Aces: RW J.T. Brown, LW Kyle Rau, D Matt you can bet the big centerman and last summer’s “hardest worker at Bartkowski, C Luke Johnson. development camp” will be in tip-top shape and ready to step right into Minnesota’s lineup if it suffers an injury or illness later this summer. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 Minnesota Wild

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@mnwild

This year's Hardest Worker of #mnwild Dev. Camp goes to...@nicosturm7!

View image on Twitter

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9:05 PM - Jun 28, 2019

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See Minnesota Wild's other Tweets

Sturm’s able to play in a top-six or bottom-six role and will be one heck of an insurance policy.

Sturm, who debuted right out of college two seasons ago with two games played, scored 12 goals and 32 points in 55 games for Iowa. He saw six games with Minnesota this season, tallying his first two NHL assists.

Brennan Menell, D

Menell, who grew up in Woodbury, Minn., finished second in scoring for AHL blueliners with 47 points and led all defensemen with 42 assists and 26 power-play points, good enough to earn a first-team AHL All-Star nod.

The 25-year-old made his NHL debut this past season, playing five games for Minnesota.

Michael Russo

✔

@RussoHockey

Brennan Menell’s solo lap before his NHL debut for the #mnwild

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8:30 PM - Dec 10, 2019

Twitter Ads info and privacy 1175761 MontrealCanadiens Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of the Canadiens trading Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz, basically handing the No. 1 goalie job to a 22-year-old Carey Price. Stu on Sports: Bob Gainey Habs auction brings in more than $300,000 Halak was the main reason why the Canadiens were able to upset the Washington Capitals and in the first two rounds of the 2010 NHL playoffs before losing in five games to the Philadelphia Author of the article:Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette Flyers in the Eastern Conference final. Halak, who had taken the No. 1 job from Price during the regular season, finished the playoffs with a 9-9 record, a 2.55 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. The online auction of Bob Gainey’s Canadiens memorabilia on classicauctions.net ended at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and was a huge During the regular season, Halak had a 26-13-5 record with a 2.40 goals- success. against average and a .924 save percentage, while Price was 13-20-5 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. The former Canadiens captain, general manager and Hall of Famer put 66 items up for auction from his playing days and combined they sold for “We had two good, young goaltenders, and we still have one, and we’ve more than $300,000. Classicauctions.net called it one of the most added two prospects, one who’s ahead of the other,” former Canadiens successful auctions in its history. GM Pierre Gauthier said during a conference call after making the trade.

The three items that sold for the most were Gainey’s 1978 Stanley Cup Ten years later, Price remains the Canadiens’ No. 1 goalie, Halak splits ring ($30,645), his miniature Stanley Cup from 1978 ($15,255) and the the goaltending duties with Tuukka Rask with the Boston Bruins, Eller sweater he wore as captain during his final season with the team in has a Stanley Cup ring with the Washington Capitals, while Schultz never 1988-89 ($6,750). played a game in the NHL.

“It felt to me like a good time to move forward, address one of the areas Halak had an 18-6-6 record, a 2.39 goals-against average and a .919 in my life that were going to be addressed at some point,” Gainey said save percentage this season with the Bruins, while Price had a 27-25-6 during a video conference call with Marc Juteau, the president of record with a 2.79 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. classicauctions.net, before the auction began last month. HI/O Show returns next week “There’s examples of these kinds of collections creating problems for The Hockey Inside/Out Show will return on Thursday, June 25, with a families down the road,” Gainey added. “Just digging things out one more special video conference episode focusing on the Canadiens and the time to repack them and put them back in a closet? It struck me as a NHL playoffs. good opportunity to take a hard look at it and make some decisions.” Be sure to check it out on our HI/O homepage on Thursday morning and Gainey said he will donate part of the proceeds from the auction to the you can view all of our previous episodes here. Canadiens Children’s Foundation. Remembering the Bar-B-Barn Drouin happy to be skating again I was sad to learn that the Bar-B-Barn restaurant on Guy St. has closed Tuesday marked the first time the Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin had for good after 53 years in the same Montreal location after being shut skated in more than three months when he joined teammate Paul Byron down because of COVID-19. on the ice at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard. They were joined by Charles Hudon, Laurent Dauphin and goalie Michael McNiven. As a kid, I would celebrate my birthday every April by attending an Expos game at Jarry Park (and later Olympic Stadium) and having dinner at the NHL teams were allowed to start skating at their practice rinks on June 8 Bar-B. as part of Phase 2 of the league’s Return to Play Plan, but there was no ice at the Bell Sports Complex until Tuesday. Drouin and Byron, the only I hadn’t been there in years — and last time I went the ribs weren’t as two regular Canadiens players now in the Montreal area, skated again on good as I remembered — but I was still sad to learn the Bar-B had Wednesday. closed.

“You got to take your temperature at home now and send it before The Bar-B was a very popular spot with Expos and Canadiens players — showing up at the rink to our trainer,” Drouin said during a conference especially during the 1970s and ’80s — as well as for visiting teams and call Wednesday morning. media members. I remember getting an autograph from Canadiens legend Toe Blake at the Bar-B one night as a kid and another night when “We have to do a little test … we have an application now called E10 or what looked like half the Saskatchewan Roughriders team walked in and something,” he added. “You have to fill that out every time you show up one very large player ate TWO “Whole Hawgs”. to the rink. Graham (Rynbend, the team’s head athletic therapist) gets that, sees that everything’s OK with you. He takes your temperature in After the Expos’ Charlie Lea pitched a no-hitter against the San Franciso the morning as well.” Giants on May 10, 1981 at Olympic Stadium, he celebrated at the Bar-B with his wife, Louise, Tim and Lori Wallach and Scott and Cathleen Drouin said players also have to wear a mask while walking around the Sanderson. practice facility and they can’t sit in the team lounge or use the sauna or hot tub before or after skating. Bar-B founder Manny Barnoff, who passed away in December at age 90, picked up the tab for the three couples. When Lea protested, Barnoff “It was a long time at home,” Drouin said, noting he had never gone three replied: “Oh, I’ll spring the next time you pitch a no-hitter, too.” months before without skating. “During quarantine you couldn’t do anything. At one point you just kind of wait. You don’t want to feel like Rusty Staub was also a regular at the Bar-B during his days with the you’re going to go to the rink the next day and now you don’t. I think you Expos and later opened his own rib restaurant in New York, insisting he just kind of let it be and when our rink opened we were happy. We were didn’t steal Barnoff’s recipe. obviously very lucky to come skate. “We had Canadian baby back ribs in New York and Manny didn’t have “We’re all very excited, but it’s definitely different and we have to adjust those,” Staub told the late Ian MacDonald of the Montreal Gazette. to a lot of stuff, too.” “The Bar-B was my second home,” former Expos outfielder Boots Day The NHL is planning to open full training camps on July 10 as part of told MacDonald about his days in Montreal as Staub’s teammate in the Phase 3 of its Return to Play Plan. early 1970s.

On pourrait regarder ça toute la journée. Field of Dollars

We could watch this all day.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Otj7wTOGC2 It looks like there might be a season after all, with reports that the owners and players are getting close to an agreement — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 17, 2020 that would see a 60-game schedule with players getting a full pro-rated 10th anniversary of Halak trade salary. Sports business reporter Darren Rovell pointed out on Twitter how much some of the highest-paid players will lose financially in a 60-game season, led by Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, who will lose $23.7 million, but still earn $13.9 million.

I think he will survive.

Based on a 60-schedule at full pro-rata salaries, nine players will lose at least $20 million in salary this year. pic.twitter.com/Y1Bv5oOkzG

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 17, 2020

Photos of the Day

A before and after look at the Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi:

Two photos of #Habs Jesperi Kotkaniemi: The first at the Draft Combine in June 2018, and the second from last week. Two years apart. The guy is still growing into his body. Patience, people. pic.twitter.com/9EgNn5MFnv

— HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) June 16, 2020

Video of the Day — Part 1

Fore!

Little lady, BIG swing

(IG/seina_golf) pic.twitter.com/jA67eNCCll

— Whistle (@WhistleSports) June 17, 2020

Video of the Day — Part 2

Top shelf!

4-year-old Teddy knows how to go top shelf! #HockeyAtHome

( @FiddleSilky) pic.twitter.com/Albrwf1sST

— NHL (@NHL) June 17, 2020

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175762 MontrealCanadiens

Canadiens' Jonathan Drouin thankful for second chances

Author of the article:Pat Hickey • Montreal Gazette

The NHL shutdown couldn’t have come at a better time for Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin.

When the NHL suspended the season on March 12, Drouin was hobbling on a wonky ankle. He had missed nearly three months with a wrist injury that required surgery and it was clear that he had little confidence in the repaired joint.

In the eight games he played before the ankle injury sidelined him a second time, he failed to produce a point and was a minus-7.

But Drouin was among a handful of players who returned to the ice at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard Tuesday for individual workouts in Phase 2 of the NHL’s return-to-work protocol and he was happy with the results after another three months away from the game.

“I definitely feel the difference,” Drouin said during a conference call Wednesday. “It’s bad luck not being able to play hockey, but those three months were huge for my ankle and my wrist. Not being on the ice for three months, I was able to shoot the puck normally and it’s the same thing with my ankle. And hopefully when we get to training camp, it will be even better.”

Drouin had the best start of his career last fall. He had seven goals and eight assists in 19 games. But his offensive performance was only part of the story. He was more involved in the offensive zone, less of a perimeter player. He also showed a commitment at the other end of the ice as he worked to become a two-way player.

“My game was going well and the team was going well and obviously you wanted it to keep going,” said Drouin. “I felt way more comfortable in those first months of the season than I’ve been in Montreal. I felt confident against any team in any building. I saw I can be an impact player every night if I show up and play the game I’m supposed to play, and that was a good time for me.

“I just want to grab what I did in that first (part of the season) and bring it to whenever hockey starts again. In those three months (on the sidelines) I looked at some of those games and the reason I was playing well, the reason was I was skating. You look at those things and you want to bring those things back when hockey comes around again. But, definitely, I want to go back to that same pace and that same feeling I had.”

Drouin is aware that the Canadiens have been given a second chance. There was no way they were going to make the playoffs when the season was halted, but they have been included in the expanded 22- team tournament and will play Pittsburgh in a best-of-five qualifying round.

Returning to the playoffs suits Drouin, who says his game “goes up in playoff hockey. When playoffs come around, there’s a different feeling (and) I’m not the only one to get that.”

Drouin’s finest moment in the NHL came in 2016 with the . After a stormy season that saw the Ste-Agathe native walk out after refusing a demotion to the minors, he had five goals and nine assists in 17 playoff games.

Training camps are scheduled to open on July 10 and Drouin said players will have to be very careful as they ramp up their workouts.

“That first week of camp, guys who are older, guys who have lingering stuff that won’t go away, have to be careful about their groins and hips,” Drouin noted.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175763 Nashville Predators Josi recorded 16 goals and 49 assists for 65 points, all career highs, during the shortened NHL regular season. His point and assist totals both set franchise records for a single season.

Roman Josi training with Predators teammates in Nashville ahead of He also was the NHL's only blueliner to record at least 15 goals, 45 training camp assists, 60 points, a plus-20 rating and 25 minutes of average ice time.

Yes, he's got a compelling case to win the Norris Trophy.

Erik Bacharach, Nashville Tennessean Published 5:21 p.m. CT June 17, "I always said that winning the Norris Trophy is definitely a dream of 2020 mine," Josi said. "Obviously there’s so many guys that had an unbelievable year. ... But yeah, it’s definitely an honor for me to be in the conversation."

Preds' Roman Josi breaks down what it would mean for him Tennessean LOADED: 06.18.2020 win the NHL James Norris Memorial Trophy. Nashville Tennessean

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in March, Predators defenseman Roman Josi, a native of Switzerland, said he gave thought to returning to Europe — like a lot of NHL players from overseas.

But Josi’s wife is from Nashville. He has his two dogs here. He built a small gym in his garage.

"I just figured I’d stay here," Josi said Wednesday on a conference call. "It was a better setup for me."

And now he’s able to take advantage.

Josi said he's training with around 10 teammates in Nashville as training camp looms a few weeks away. As part of the league’s Phase 2 of its return-to-play plan, NHL teams have begun limited workouts with small groups at their team facilities.

But Josi and his teammates still aren't practicing at Bridgestone Arena.

“We’re definitely planning on going back soon,” Josi said before clarifying that he didn’t know if that would be next week.

"We have a small group skating right now," he said. "We have a really good setup right now and just a bunch of guys skating. ... We felt like we wanted to do that for a little longer because like I said, it’s a really good setup. And then we’ll have two or three weeks before training camp to go back to Bridgestone and then three weeks of training camp. We just found as players, it’s a really good setup for us."

Last week, the NHL announced it was set to begin Phase 3, which includes each of the 24 teams starting training camp, on July 10. For the Predators and the rest of the NHL, among the many challenges is getting their international players back stateside.

"I’ve definitely talked to the guys in Europe," Josi said. "They’re trying to figure out what the best way is, when to come back, obviously there’s a lot of unknowns about coming back. But I think they’re all trying to figure out when to come back right now."

Time to mesh under John Hynes

At least the Predators will have a training camp under their still-new coach.

John Hynes was thrown into the fire on Jan. 7, when he was named the Predators coach after the team fired . About a month earlier, Hynes had been fired by the New Jersey Devils.

Josi said a training camp will give the Predators valuable time to build chemistry.

"I think when he came in during the season, obviously he didn’t have a lot of time to practice," Josi said. "We were in the midst of the season, playing a lot of games. So there wasn’t a lot of time to practice all the new stuff for the system and all that stuff. Training camp will definitely be helpful."

The exclusive focus will be on the No. 11 Arizona Coyotes, whom the No. 6 Predators drew in the reformatted, 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs. (The when and where are still to be determined regarding NHL playoff matchups.)

"It’s definitely a little different," Josi said of focusing on one team during a training camp. "Talking about Arizona, they’re always a tough team to play against. Every time we played them in the regular season, they’re very structured, very good defensively, and they work really hard."

Josi for Norris Trophy? 1175764 Nashville Predators The NBA also plans to have an anonymous hotline where players can snitch on others for breaking quarantine protocol during the tournament.

So basically, no, you’re not allowed to leave. Held captive, some might In 'bubble' events for NHL, NBA, MLS, winners might start envying the even say. losers | Estes No one is going to feel sorry for million-dollar athletes having to endure hardships in going back to work in a time when so many are out of jobs. But their work is different in that it’s highly visible and demands they be at Gentry Estes, Nashville TennesseanPublished 10:00 p.m. CT June 17, peak performance. 2020 That probably isn’t going to be the case for most players and teams during these neutral-site events.

Some of you have surely had the pleasure, but knock on wood, I’ve not And hey, to me, that’s fine. I’d be delighted to just being able to watch yet experienced a nasal swab test for COVID-19. these teams play again.

So I consulted with Dr. Google. Of course, I’m not the one getting a pipe cleaner shoved up my nose repeatedly. “The person conducting the test will insert a long stick with a very soft brush on the end — kind of like a pipe cleaner — up your nose and twirl it Tennessean LOADED: 06.18.2020 around for a few seconds,” read an explainer from the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“… The body is not used to having an object in that area, though, so it creates a lot of very odd sensations.”

Gee, you think?

Those “sensations” include reflexes like crying or gagging, and while the center’s explanation “wouldn’t go so far as to say it hurt, it is uncomfortable.”

Every night, folks. That’s how often the NHL is planning to subject its players to this during a postseason tournament that could last about two months for the most successful teams. NBA players were a bit luckier in that they are supposedly going to be tested by the league every other day during their playoffs.

Seriously, who wouldn’t hate that? Yet the bizarre reality of playing in a pandemic is that — for now, at least — star players are OK with the idea.

“I think it’s good that they test us every day,” said the Predators’ Roman Josi. “It just makes everything a lot safer.”

It makes sense to hear the Preds’ captain say that. After all, players in these leagues — let’s throw the MLS’ welcome-back tournament in Orlando in there, too — can’t ask officials to ensure their safety and then complain that plans to do it are too extreme.

So gird thy nostrils, fellas. And maybe bring a book or two to pass the time.

As much as players might grow weary of tests, that’s not all that could make this miserable. They’ll also tire of having to be away from home, probably away from families, sequestered in hotels or arenas — all the while dealing with the usual bruises and pressures that come with their sport.

It’s not a reach to think winners could begin to envy the losers getting to go home.

Not to suggest teams aren’t going to try to win, but let’s just expect that we won't see any NHL or NBA team fight back from a 3-0 deficit — or maybe even a 2-0 deficit — to win a playoff series this year.

The MLS’ tournament, meanwhile, isn’t even for a postseason championship. Time away from family was a sticking point for soccer players in their negotiations with the league, which were contentious at times.

“Am I more satisfied that the amount of time away from family in this tournament has been brought from originally almost a two-month proposal — being down in quarantine in Orlando for two months — to now a little bit more than a month? Yes, very satisfied that MLS was able to come up with something a little bit more realistic,” said midfielder Dax McCarty, Nashville SC’s rep with the players association. “… It’s not an ideal scenario in any stretch of the imagination, but then on the other side of it, you have tangible soccer games again.”

The return protocol for the NBA, according to USA TODAY, says that while the league won’t forbid players from leaving the competition campus, “NBA security will monitor who leaves and enters.” Those who do will get the nasal swab and “spend days in quarantine in a hotel room” and have their pay deducted during those days if the absence wasn’t excused. 1175765 Nashville Predators Connor Ingram: Ingram has a 55-23-7 record, 2.16 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in three AHL seasons. The Predators rewarded him with a three-year contract in March and expect him to be part of their future as Pekka Rinne nears retirement. There figure to be Who could the Predators lose to Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft? more experienced goaltenders available in the expansion draft but Ingram has upside.

Option 2: Seven forwards, three defensemen, one goaltender By Adam Vingan Jun 17, 2020 21 Roman Josi

Ryan Ellis In December 2018, we took a way-too-early look at how the Predators roster could be impacted by the 2021 Seattle expansion draft. Last Dante Fabbro summer, we did another way-too-early exercise. Filip Forsberg More time has passed, so why not take a slightly-less-but-still-too-early look at the potential proceedings? Viktor Arvidsson

As we know, the unnamed Seattle franchise will begin play in the 2021- Ryan Johansen 22 NHL season. The expansion draft is scheduled for next June, though Matt Duchene that could change as the league deals with the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic. Colton Sissons (UFA 2026)

Three years ago, the Predators were one of seven teams to protect eight Calle Jarnkrok (UFA 2022) skaters and one goaltender, as opposed to seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. As a result, they lost James Neal to the Craig Smith/Mikael Granlund (UFAs 2020) Vegas Golden Knights. Juuse Saros

For the third edition of this exercise, we will examine two projected The notable absence from this list is Ekholm, who will be 31 and entering protection lists — one that utilizes the eight-skater option and one that the final year of his contract at the time of the expansion draft. uses the seven-forward, three-defensemen option. Ekholm’s $3.75 million cap hit is one of the best values in the league. But Before we begin, here is some eligibility-related information: with defense partners Josi and Ellis signed to big-money contracts for Roman Josi received a full no-movement clause as part of his eight-year close to the next decade, the Predators might not have room to extend contract, so he must be protected. Ekholm, who is on track to earn a considerable raise.

Eeli Tolvanen, Philip Tomasino, Egor Afanasyev and Jeremy Davies are Fabbro will be 23 next June and should be ready to take on more the notable prospects who will be exempt from the expansion draft, as responsibility. Of course, exposing Ekholm would also allow the confirmed to The Athletic by the Predators’ hockey operations Predators to hold onto more of their forwards. department. Connor Ingram, however, will be eligible to be chosen by The loss of Ekholm, a homegrown leader and all-around defender, would Seattle. sting. But it might be the prudent financial decision in this scenario.

The Seattle draft rules, which are the same as the Vegas draft, can be The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 found here.

Option 1: Eight skaters, one goaltender

Roman Josi (UFA 2028)

Ryan Ellis (UFA 2027)

Mattias Ekholm (UFA 2022)

Dante Fabbro (RFA 2021)

Filip Forsberg (UFA 2022)

Viktor Arvidsson (UFA 2024)

Ryan Johansen (UFA 2025)

Matt Duchene (UFA 2026)

Juuse Saros (RFA 2021)

This list protects the Predators’ top four defensemen and their four most important forwards. Based on this projection, these are the exposed players who could draw interest from Seattle:

Colton Sissons: The Predators re-signed Sissons to a seven-year, $20 million last summer. His versatility and cost-effective cap hit could appeal to Seattle, especially if the salary cap is greatly affected by the coronavirus.

Calle Jarnkrok: Jarnkrok fits the same description as Sissons but his six- year, $12 million contract expires in 2022.

Kyle Turris: Next summer, Turris will be 31 and still have three years left on his contract, which carries a $6 million cap hit. The Predators’ attempts at trading Turris have failed but perhaps they could pawn him off on Seattle by sweetening the deal.

Craig Smith/Mikael Granlund: The veteran forwards are pending free agents but if at least one of them is re-signed, then Seattle could be interested. It appears unlikely that the Predators will be able to retain both. 1175766 Nashville Predators professional athlete are very small. But if you go into business, and you are asked to be a part of a company tennis or a golf tournament, learning those sports early can be really advantageous later in life. If you’re doing a children’s book, that’s what was important to me — and what helped Duhatschek: Paul Kariya on surfing, dancing and his role in a children’s me in life in terms of my athletics. book (Glenn Cratty / Allsport)

Were you much of a reader as a kid? By Eric Duhatschek Jun 17, 2020 was my idol. I remember spending all my free time in the library, picking up books about Wayne Gretzky, and trying to mimic him from the pictures I saw in the book. My father never played hockey and I Paul Kariya accomplished a lot during his professional hockey career, was the first in our family to start. But my dad was such a great athlete including election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017, and soon, he will that he learned how to play hockey himself in order to help us learn. have another accolade to add to his hockey resume. Kariya will be There was also a how-to-play hockey book from and I featured in the sixth installment of the children’s book series “The Ice remember going through that with my father because he was learning Chips,” authored by Roy and Kerry MacGregor. The premise of the hockey as well. The book had different drills you could do, on and off the novels revolves around time travel — a team of eight-year-olds goes into ice. the past to visit the eight-year-old versions of their future hockey heroes. Not everyone can remember details about their eight-year-old selves, but Remember, there was no internet at the time, so that’s how you learned Kariya, one of the most organized and thoughtful players of his — from books. Later in life, there were instructional videos you could use, generation, does. Accordingly, when we caught up with him at his but we didn’t even have a VCR in our house until I was 14 or so. We had Orange County, Calif. home, that’s where we started — what it’s like to TV, but we didn’t spend a lot of time in the house. We were always be a featured character in a children’s story. outside, playing.

I like the idea of an eight-year-old Paul Kariya being a fictional character Did you have a favorite sport growing up? Or was your favorite sport, the in a children’s book. What was your first response when Roy MacGregor sport you happened to be playing at the time? first pitched the idea to you? It was always the one I was playing. When basketball season was on, I told him it would a huge honor, but my first reaction was: There must be there would always be a college basketball game on Saturday hundreds – or even thousands – of players more interesting than me to afternoons, so you’d watch Indiana or Duke play basketball. My dad write about. But I was honored that he would ask — and he sent me one loved golf. He loved Jack Nicklaus. I loved Tom Watson. Some of my of the past books, so I could have an idea of what he’s going for. fondest memories are watching the Masters or the British Open with him. I really didn’t become 100 percent committed to hockey until I probably I like the premise of the series: To go back in time to understand what went to junior — that was when I was 15. someone – who would eventually gain a prominent place in the hockey world – was like as a kid, way before they had any sense of how their Years ago, the long-time Team Canada hockey scout Paul Henry told me lives would turn out. Were there any clues in what you were doing at age that you and one other player – I want to say Rick Tabaracci – were the eight that would have predicted the path you eventually followed? only two athletes that ever visited his cottage in the summer and were able to – on their first tries – get out of the water on a single slalom ski. That’s actually how we started — what are the things that you want As someone who always uses a drop ski because it’s too much work to people to know about you at that age? What were you like? The first get out of the water on a single ski, I have to tell you that impressed me thing I thought was, as an eight-year-old, I played every sport imaginable. as much as anything you ever accomplished in the NHL. I was swimming competitively. I was playing lacrosse. I was playing tennis. I was golfing. Hockey, of course. I played on a basketball team. I (Laughs). Oh, I remember that well. We wound up going from wherever ran track. And I was encouraged to do all of that by my parents. his boat was parked to an island where we got fish and chips. So, it was a long way and we waterskied the entire way. But I had skied starting It’s different now. Kids at 10 or 12 are asked to be one-sport athletes. way back in elementary school … so, I had skied a little. That was the Back then, there wasn’t that pressure. I’d maybe go to one hockey school first time I’d ever waterskied, but they were very similar. in the summer, but basically, I played the sports in the season they were in — and when the seasons changed, it was time to move on to And that’s my point: All the sports build on each other. Once you have a something else. Whatever the sport I was doing at the time was the sport base of athleticism, it makes it easier to do different things. Even going that I was loving and concentrating on. from skiing to water skiing to surfing, there are so many parallels. With skating, I remember doing skating drills and carving the circles, and Today, I think it’s gone way too far the other way, where kids are too those cuts are the same moves you’re making when you’re skiing or specialized and too early in their lives, they’re becoming one-sport waterskiing or surfing. So, the sports are very similar, whether the water athletes. And I think that not only hurts them as athletes, it inhibits them is liquid or the water is frozen. But I remember that day with Paul Henry as human beings in terms of their growth. I think it’s actually even bad for very well. I think we set a world record for the amount of fish and chips the sport you’re in. eaten. How do you mean? I know surfing has become one of your main passions now and it’s So, you take a sport like lacrosse, for instance. Contact is legal in something that you learned as an adult. I would tell you: Surfing is one of lacrosse early on, so playing lacrosse teaches you how to roll off a check the sports that has defeated me — I tried it as an adult and just couldn’t and how to handle body contact. You need to be able to shoot with both get it. The sports I do reasonably well are the ones I learned when I was hands, so being ambidextrous – all those things help you with your young. I know you say there are transferable skills from one sport to hockey. So, that was the first thing I thought of that was different today another, but what has been your experience, learning a new physical from when I was eight. My parents always stressed that it’s important to activity as an adult? play different sports. The conditioning you get swimming helps your For me, the most important thing about staying young and staying active hockey. Every sport helps you become better at your other sports. is learning new things. So, I’m kind of the opposite of what you just said. I That’s important messaging for today’s parents and I would add this: always look to try new things to learn. Starting from zero and learning a That nobody, other than you probably, is natural at everything. Indirectly, new sport or a new skill, that fascinates me, it excites me. I really enjoy taking on a sport that doesn’t come naturally can teach important life being a beginner again and going through the different developmental lessons – that sometimes, getting better at something, and showing stages. So, for example, I skied as a kid but I didn’t snowboard. I picked improvement, is hard and it takes work. up snowboarding as an adult after I retired. There are some similarities to surfing, but it’s actually quite different in a lot of ways too. I remember The other thing I would add is, it’s important to do a team sport, and to be trying snowboarding for the first time with my brother — we were visiting a part of a team and learn that team goals are always more important my mom and just decided we wanted to try it. So, we went on YouTube, than individual goals. And vice versa. If you’re a team-sport athlete, it’s watched a couple of videos and then went out and snowboarded. Oh important to try an individual sport, where the pressure is all on you. All yeah. In the beginning, we took a few beatings for sure. And my those lessons you learn are valuable beyond sports. We both know that youngest brother, Martin, his wife was a snowboard instructor growing whatever the percentages are, the odds of someone becoming a up. So, after trying a couple of times on our own, she helped us get going just 180 degrees different from anything else I’d ever done. But dance? in the right direction. That’s like another sport you can do for the rest of your life.

As an adult now, I’m always trying new things. It’s great for your brain The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 and it’s great for your body. In the context of surfing, there are so many different variations. There’s longboard, shortboard, hydrofoil surfing, windsurfing. Even if technically, all you ever did was surf, there are so many branches of surfing you can try. And you can never master it. Even the best in the world – the Kelly Slaters of the world – they’re always trying to learn new things.

You mention Kelly Slater. Does that mean big-wave surfing is next on your to-do list? Where the jet ski tows you into a giant wave and then off you go?

(Laughs) That’s different again. That’s almost its own sport. For myself, the risk/reward would be too high. I mean, anything can happen at any time — but the risk/reward for that is too high. I mean, you could die. If I’m surfing a three- to four-foot wave, the odds are in my favor, as opposed to trying to surf a 30- or even a 40-foot wave. I don’t see myself going to that extreme. Also, for me, one of the most important things about surfing is, it keeps me in shape. It’s a great workout. I wouldn’t want an assist from a jet ski. I want the exercise element of surfing, where I’m getting into the waves under my own power.

I once did a detailed story on NHLers who surf and I can’t remember if it was you or one of the other players that I interviewed who said that paddling out was one of the hardest elements of surfing and unbelievable exercise.

We didn’t surf here for seven weeks or so because the beaches were closed, but the other day, I was out and it was a pretty big day. I hadn’t been surfing because of this virus, so my arms weren’t in proper surfing shape. I was out there for an hour, having a pretty good time when a set came in. A set is when the waves are really big and really consistent. So, I saw the set coming and I had to get out there, or I was going to get crushed by all the waves. So, I was – 100 percent, as hard as I could – paddling out. If you can imagine a wave building and peaking, I was just getting over the top of one wave and coming down the back of it and then I had to get over the next one. So, I was in a 100 percent sprint for eight waves in a row to get out – and I was gassed. I sat out there for like 10 or 15 minutes, just recovering from that. And I wasn’t even surfing. I was just going out. So, for sure, on big days, getting out is just as hard as catching the wave back in.

Just following up on the idea of taking up an activity as an adult, I remember you told me once – during the time you were recovering from a concussion – that you took up ballroom dancing, as a means of helping to rewire your brain a little. How far along did you get in ballroom dancing? Did you master that as well?

(Laughs) Well, I haven’t mastered any of these things. But Val and I took lessons from Arthur Murray for about a year and a half. At least a couple of days a week, I’ll do a traditional workout – lifting weights, cardio, all that stuff – and at the end of it, to cool down, I’ll do some of the dance routines, just to remember them. In terms of the brain aspect of it, in dance, you’re the lead and so you have to remember the steps and the movements. So, I’ll go through the basic cadence and the steps, and that just keeps the brain aware and keeps it in the muscle memory. We don’t take classes anymore, but if we’re watching “Dancing with the Stars,” I’ll say, “let’s do the rhumba.” Or “let’s do whatever.” And especially if you’re competitive, it’s really fun.

Competitive? You? In dance too?

(Laughs) In order to pass the levels, you have to dance by yourself. So, if you’re learning the cha-cha-cha, for example, you’re going through the steps in frame, by yourself, and it’s actually harder for the woman because she has to do it backward, without a partner, in heels. In order to get to the next level, you have to pass the test. And so, we’d be going to the testing day and Val would be really nervous. It got a little competitive, to be honest. You can do group classes, where you’re switching partners, and so if you have a little competitiveness in you, you don’t want to be holding the group back.

It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I was never a great dancer. I always felt I had two left feet — no timing or rhythm, anything like that. It was really, really challenging. I would come out of there sweating physically, but also, I felt like my brain was put through a chess match against a Grandmaster. To memorize all the steps and to be in tune with the music, is very, very difficult — and totally foreign to me. It’s 1175767 New Jersey Devils “Playoff hockey, there’s not much like it," Palmieri said. "I have a ton of belief in this organization. As we move forward, the young building blocks are something that you’re seeing starting to come together.”

How Devils’ ongoing rebuild will affect Kyle Palmieri’s extension plans Star Ledger LOADED: 06.18.2020

By Randy Miller

It would be understandable if the Devils’ constant and ongoing rebuilding entices sniping right wing Kyle Palmieri to think long and hard about where he wants to play the back nine of his NHL career.

Long Island-born and Bergen County-raised, Palmieri has loved playing for his hometown team for the last five seasons. The one big downer is being home for the playoffs almost every spring, the one exception coming in 2018 when the Devils were ousted in the first round.

And now, with the Devils again on the outside of the playoff bubble, this time after the NHL expanded the field from 16 to 24 teams due to its coronavirus-shortened regular season, it’ll soon be time contract- extension time. By rule, Palmieri will be eligible because he has just one season remaining on his current pact, a five-year, $23.25 million deal that carries a $4.65 million cap hit.

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Palmieri, who still is in his prime at 29, already has made up his mind.

He wants to remain a Devil.

“Without a doubt,” Palmieri said Tuesday in a media conference call. “I do love being in New Jersey. I love being close to home. And I have a ton of belief in this organization moving forward as to what we're building, and I hope to be a part of it.”

What’s certain is that Palmieri, who has been an All-Star two seasons in a row, has earned a bigger payday over a longer haul.

A good comparable is Rangers left wing Chris Kreider, who signed a seven-year, $45.5 million extension last February. Kreider also is 29 and his 2019-20 stats (24 goals, 45 points) and average numbers over the last five seasons (23 goals, 46 points) are similar to Palmieri, who had 25 goals and 45 points this season and averaged 26 and 50 since 2015-16.

“I haven’t thought a lot about it,” Palmieri said. “Up until what was going to be this offseason, it wasn’t really something that I needed to think about or focus on. But you’ve seen in recent years how some of that stuff has transpired. Obviously, I have buddies who went through it, and you talk to guys and hear their thoughts on the situation.

“But every case is different. Every guy is looking for certain things. Moving forward, I’m just focused on trying to become a better player and helping my team win. Wherever that leads me, it’ll lead me. You don’t want to waste too much energy thinking about stuff you can’t control, so I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

July 1 usually is the start of the NHL’s calendar year and the date that contract extension negotiations can begin. This year’s date will be pushed back until the playoff tournament is completed, probably in October or November.

“It's a big unknown,” Palmieri said. ““Obviously the calendar of important dates hasn't really been set yet. There's so much up in the air and there was so much to figure out as far as the return to play.”

Buy Kyle Palmieri Devils gear: Fanatics.com, Dick's Sporting Goods, MLBShop.com, Lids

Regardless of when and how much, Palmieri says he’s committed to the Devils, and he sounds convincing admitting it. He’s drinking the Kool-Aid that the franchise’s 25-and-under building blocks – centers Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, defenseman Damon Severson and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, among others - will fuel annual playoff runs.

Palmieri had a steady diet of postseason hockey early in his career. He loved suiting up for 33 postseason games that he was in as a young player with the Anaheim Ducks, especially during their 2015-16 run that fell one win short of a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

He’s craving for that again ... as a Devil. 1175768 New York Islanders

Islanders expect Belmont arena will be topped off by end of summer

By Andrew Gross

The Islanders expect to be raising the roof by the end of the summer.

Construction continues at the team’s new arena at Belmont Park and Richard Browne, the managing director of Sterling Project Development, said in an interview the Islanders posted on the team’s website on Wednesday that he expects the steel work to be “topped off” by the end of the summer.

Browne expressed optimism the arena will meet its target date of October, 2021.

Also on Wednesday, New York Arena Partners named Tom Pistore president of commercial operations and Hank Abate president of arena operations to lead the Belmont Park arena executive team. They are, in effect, the replacement for former Islanders president of business operations Travis Williams, who was spearheading the arena project but left the organization in October to run the .

“We should be topped off – meaning the last piece of structural steel for the venue will be up toward the end of the summer,” said Browne, describing himself as a “development manager” for the project. “We will be enclosing the building with architectural precast and it’s being manufactured as we speak.

“By the end of the year, you should see an enclosed building,” Browne added. “On the inside, there will literally be well over 1,000 men and women working around the clock on the interiors to build out that space and have it ready for the 2021-22 season.”

Construction resumed May 27 on the Belmont Park arena after a two- month halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The building will seat 17,113 for hockey and is the focal point of a $1.3 billion project that also includes a 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175769 New York Islanders

Tom Pistore, Hank Abate to head management team that will run Isles' Belmont Park arena

By Jim Baumbach

The company that will operate the Islanders’ new arena at Belmont Park named two longtime sports executives to head its management team on Wednesday.

Tom Pistore will be president of commercial operations and Hank Abate becomes president of arena operations, New York Arena Partners announced.

NYAP is a joint venture between the Islanders, Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and the arena development company Oak View Group.

Pistore spent 20 years at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership, which owns the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and operates their home .

Abate, who will remain with Oak View Group as president of facilities, previously worked for as executive vice president of venue management.

Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke said, “This is going to be a world- class venue with a top executive team — Tom and Hank are highly respected throughout the industry and the perfect choices to lead us.”

The Islanders' arena is the centerpiece of New York Arena Partners' $1.3 billion development at Belmont that also includes a 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail. NYAP said Wednesday the Islanders' arena remains on track to open in October 2021.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175770 New York Rangers Smith was simply using the Garden’s money to try to build a bridge toward a rebuild that never actually happened (he was fired at the end of that next season and replaced by Sather).

Breaking down the Rangers’ hit-and-miss history in free agency Worse on its own was the complete over-evaluation of , who had a fine reputation as an Ottawa Senator, but busted as a Ranger – brought in by Sather in 2008 to be a steady defenseman and a power- play quarterback. He lasted for two of his six years (at $39 million), then By Rick Carpiniello Jun 17, 2020 was buried in the minors for two years, and finally unloaded as one of the compliance buyouts that came out of the ’12-13 lockout.

There was a time when the Rangers were the 1980s/early 1990s George An arguable signing was that of Brad Richards in the summer of 2011 to Steinbrenner Yankees. Spend, spend, spend. Then catch your breath a nine-year, $60 million contract. Richards, a legit first-line center at the and spend some more. time, was exactly what the Rangers needed – to play with Gaborik, and later Rick Nash, though neither pairing really worked. Richards, when he In the pre-salary cap days, the Rangers would wield their financial was good, was very good, especially that first season. The second advantage like a weapon – though it wouldn’t do them much good. season he never got into proper shape after the lockout and was demoted then scratched in the playoffs by Tortorella (who was then They’d reach for shiny toy after shiny toy, though in reality most of those immediately the victim of a player mutiny when the Rangers were toys were rusty and dusty. eliminated by Boston). The third season he became the unofficial team tried it as Rangers GM while trying to chase a second Stanley captain after Ryan Callahan was traded, and helped lead the Rangers to Cup. Hint: He didn’t get there. tried it as Rangers GM, after the Cup final, though he struggled terribly while the team fell down 3-1 to saying once while running the low-budget Edmonton Oilers that he would Pittsburgh, and struggled some more in the fast/physical Cup final win the Cup every year if he had the Rangers’ money. Hint: He didn’t. against Los Angeles.

Smith built the team’s only Cup winner in the last 80 years by trading for At any rate, the contract was front-loaded ($33 million paid over the first older players with contracts that made them available. He did not build it three years) and structured so that Richards would not play the last three through free agency. seasons (for $1 million per), thus bringing down the annual cap hit. After the lockout, though, such deals were considered to be cap Only in the ‘90s did true unrestricted free agency evolve. Before then, it circumventions, and if Richards retired early after the ’16-17 season, the was habit to collect expensive (usually older or damaged) players in team would be hit with a cap-recapture of $5.67 million for each trades as a means of financial muscle. of the last three years for a player no longer on the roster. Thus they had Once free agency became an available avenue, the Rangers became the no choice but to buy him out. Richards ended up getting about $51 kings of it, even while very often they’d turn out, in hindsight, to be million of his $60 million (minus the pro-rated salary lost during the jesters. lockout) for, really, three seasons. Not nearly enough bang for the bucks.

Opposing teams loved to point to the Rangers’ payroll and laugh. Media A poor decision led to the 2014 departure of defenseman Anton covering opposing teams liked to mock the Rangers mathematical Stralman, who claimed the Rangers never even seriously negotiated with equations, i.e., wins-per-dollar spent. him. The Rangers felt Stralman would demand a four-year deal, which was too long, and he got five years at $4.5 million per from Tampa Bay. No, it hasn’t been across-the-board abject failure. The Rangers had The Rangers thought they could replace Stralman with Dan Boyle, who some big hits along the way, and their most recent dabble into free had been a top offensive defenseman in his days with the Lightning and agency less than a year ago may have been their best, if not one of the San Jose, and who would come for the same annual money, but for only best of any free-agent reel-ins in New York sports history. We’ll point out two years. Well, Boyle was a massive bust, and Stralman had five solid that you don’t completely judge a seven-year ($81.5 million) contract on seasons in Tampa. its first 70 games. That forever search for a true power-play point man led the Rangers But let’s start with Artemi Panarin, who may end up being the best down a path that, given the timing, didn’t make a lot of sense, when they Rangers signing ever, even at that exorbitant number, even though he signed local kid Kevin Shattenkirk for four years at $6.65 million per in may fade in the final year or two of that deal. Panarin set career highs in 2017. This was just as the Rangers were beginning a rebuild, and as goals (32), assists (63) and points (95) with 12 games left before the they were headed toward a cap squeeze. They ended up buying out pause, and shoved himself into the Hart Trophy (MVP) conversation. You Shattenkirk (who said he wasn’t aware of the direction of the franchise know how many Rangers have won the Hart Trophy? Four. when he signed) after two injury-plagued seasons. The buyout, by the in 1992, Andy Bathgate in 1959, Chuck Raynor in 1950 and Buddy way, is another out afforded to the wealthier teams. You can erase some O’Connor in 1948. mistakes – and the Rangers sure have – with money.

I’d argue that the signing of Wayne Gretzky was a coup in that it brought The list of free agents goes on forever. You know the names. Bobby such a wonderful opportunity for the franchise to have the Great One for Holik. Scott Gomez and Chris Drury (those two played well enough, but his final three seasons, even if they were nowhere near his peak got superstar money). Vladimir Malakhov (about whom Sather said, “He’s seasons. Gretzky led the team in scoring all three years, albeit with the best defenseman we have,” prompting to diplomatically relatively pedestrian (by his standards) totals of 97, 90 and 62 points. He add, “Then we should have a good defense.”). only made the playoffs once as a Ranger – and helped lead the team to the Eastern final. His final NHL game celebration was one of the great We know the names of so many of those free agents that didn’t exactly moments in franchise history. shine, some of whom flat-out bombed. Phil Bourque, Mike Keane and . John MacLean, Dave Karpa, Igor Ulanov, Darius You could argue, too, that the signing of Marian Gaborik (five years, Kasparaitis. No, I’m not going to list them all. $37.5 million) in 2009 mostly worked out … until it didn’t. Gaborik twice scored more than 40 goals in four seasons as a Ranger, and despite his Sometimes the Rangers signed darn decent players to fill lesser roles, playoff shortcomings, scored a huge triple-overtime goal in Washington such as Greg Gilbert (the only player ever to win the Cup with the in the spring of 2012. During his fourth year, the Rangers (and not just Islanders and the Rangers), or , who was fabulous as a coach John Tortorella) felt the need to move on from Gaborik, and took Ranger (52 goals in 135 games), then traded as a piece of the 2018 the only legit offer they could get, from Columbus, in a package that rebuilding sell-off. Most recently it was Greg McKegg and Phil Di brought back second-line center Derick Brassard. Giuseppe as under-the-radar signings.

I would rank the signing of Theo Fleury, by Smith, shortly after Gretzky’s The Rangers were in on all sorts of free agents, too, with (again) varying retirement, among the worst – mostly because it came during an absurd degrees of success. They signed two stars from the WHA’s Winnipeg pre-cap shopping spree that also brought Valeri Kamensky, Stephane Jets – Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson – prior to the ’78-79 season, and Quintal, Sylvain Lefebvre, Tim Taylor and Kirk McLean. Fleury had three reached the Cup final that year. The WHA was known for raiding NHL reasonably good seasons (69 goals, 201 points), but his resurfacing rosters, and now the Rangers turned the tables. Ironically, NYC’s WHA demons forced him out of the lineup and eventually out of the entry was originally named the New York Raiders. organization. The rest were busts of varying degrees, particularly since Some restricted free agency forays produced mixed results, with one fabulous exception. Smith signed in the summer of 1991, a few weeks before trading for Messier. That signing carried compensation and the Rangers ended up giving up Troy Mallette to Sather’s Oilers. Not bad for a guy who would set the franchise record for goals (52) during a Stanley Cup season and have his number raised to the roof.

In 1997, after letting Messier walk (or forcing him to walk, actually) to Vancouver, the Rangers attempted a coup. They signed Colorado star to a front-loaded, $21 million, three-year offer sheet, ridiculous money at the time. The Avalanche ownership, Ascent Entertainment, was bleeding money, and the Rangers assumed they would not be able to match the offer. But ultimately Colorado matched, and team CEO Charlie Lyons sent Smith an infamous photo of former New York governor Nelson Rockefeller flipping the bird.

The Rangers did well in some other free agency avenues, too. They signed a number of undrafted free agents who worked out quite well – Mats Zuccarello, Dan Girardi, Mark Pavelich, to name three. They signed some collegiate free agents, such as Kevin Hayes –who they eventually swapped for Brendan Lemieux and a first-round pick which they traded back to Winnipeg with Neal Pionk for Jacob Trouba — and Jimmy Vesey.

And they found ways to take advantage of rules in the days when teams received compensatory picks for losing free agents. , Leetch and Messier were each either “traded” or allowed to be claimed in expansion drafts in order for the Rangers to get picks, prospects or compensation from the acquiring teams. Each of the team legends then re-signed with the Rangers as free agents without ever actually being introduced to their “new” teams, which received compensatory picks. Richter went twice, once in an expansion draft to Nashville, once in a trade to Edmonton, yet played his entire career as a Ranger.

So there were times when the Rangers used free agency just to keep players, and to benefit further by doing so.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020

1175771 Ottawa Senators organization is that no doubt, play driving No. 1 centre who you can project to play 18-20 minutes a night. I love Josh Norris and thought he was awesome last season. His projection has risen in my eyes, but in terms of that level of young player I would say he’s on the bubble at best NHL Draft lottery preview: What would each possible pick mean for the for that range. He’s simply not that kind of game-breaking talent. Byfield Senators? and Stutzle could both be that No. 1 centre to play with Tkachuk, and Drake Batherson, and Formenton and others. Getting Byfield in particular

for me would mean so much for the organization to get a player who has By Corey Pronman and Hailey Salvian Jun 17, 2020 all the attributes of a top NHL centre and I think you could reasonably argue would become the most talented player in the organization upon being drafted.

We are officially 10 days away from knowing the long-awaited draft order Salvian: The fun part about doing this exercise for the Senators for the Ottawa Senators. compared to the other lottery teams is that Ottawa has a chance at winning the No. 2 and No. 3 spot. As well as the No. 1 and one of the It’s going to be a big day for the organization, and one fans have marked second or third spots. Of course they could pick outside of the top three, on calendars since the start of the season. Technically June 26 was but we’ll get to that shortly. supposed to be the first day of the draft, but things have changed since the NHL was put on hold. Pronman’s point about Ottawa lacking a No. 1 centre is spot on. The Senators have some solid pieces at the centre position such as Norris, And now it’s the day Ottawa will find out if they get the first-overall pick Pinto, Colin White and Logan Brown, to name a few. What they have in and a chance at drafting Alexis Lafrenière. common, though, is they all project as high as second-line centres in a The Senators have 13 picks in this year’s draft and three of them could best case scenario. end up in first round, depending on how things play out. Ottawa has the Naturally, drafting Byfield and Lafrenière is the best case scenario for the best combined odds at winning the first-overall pick (25 percent) by Senators and would give them two-thirds of their future top line. Drafting owning its own pick (13.5 percent) and San Jose’s pick (11.5 percent). Stutzle and Lafrenière would likely have a similar result. If the Senators The worst the Senators can do is end up with picks No. 5 and 6. miss out on the first-overall pick, drafting a No. 1 centre at either two or We know how important it will be for Ottawa to win the lottery. But what three (or both) is more than a good consolation prize. A future centre- would it mean for the Senators to pick first, second or third, or outside the depth chart, depending on prospect development, could look something top-three? like this:

We asked Corey Pronman, The Athletic’s prospects expert, for his Byfield/Stutzle thoughts… Norris What would it mean for the Senators to win the No. 1 pick and draft Pinto/Brown Lafrenière? White Pronman: Ottawa’s rebuild has done a lot of good things. They got Josh Norris, the AHL rookie of the year. They got Erik Brannstrom in a trade There are probably too many centres there, especially if the Senators for Mark Stone. They got Alex Formenton and Shane Pinto in the second draft both Byfield and Stutzle. But there are some easy fixes, moving round who look like excellent prospects. Brady Tkachuk looks like a star Stutzle to the wing or going the trade route. Either way, that chart is a big in the NHL, as does Thomas Chabot. What they don’t have yet is that upgrade down the middle for the Senators, and strikes a balance foundational, potential superstar to be the cornerstone of their rebuild between skilled centres and two-way players. Drafting a No. 1 centre and be the catalyst for how this thing turns around. Brady Tkachuk is not alone is transformative for the Senators, adding another top-5 pick far removed from that, but he’s probably not that. Alexis Lafrenière could (potentially Lafrenière) could change things very quickly. take what’s a promising rebuild and make it look like a team that can come out of this really rough stretch. He could complement the excellent What does it mean if the Senators don’t get a top-three pick? young depth the Senators have built by being a driver at the top of their Pronman: Given that Ottawa currently has the second and third best lineup. odds to get the first pick, it’s fair to say if they don’t get a top-2 pick out of Salvian: First of all, I agree that Tkachuk isn’t far from being a superstar this draft, it would be almost devastating. It would be so in terms of how in Ottawa. In two years, he’s endeared himself to the fan base and has unlikely it is relative to the usual odds a team has, and how important it is established himself as one of the best players in front of the net in the to get a player with true star potential at this point in their rebuild where NHL. they have a lot of very good pieces, but need more of those upper echelon type talents. But consider the impact the Senators would have throwing Tkachuk over the boards as a second-line winger after Lafrenière. That is a serious Salvian: Ah, the worst-case scenario for the Senators, falling outside the one-two punch. Add Anthony Duclair and Formenton into the mix as top-three. The worst the Senators can do is the No. 5 and No. 6 picks, bottom-six options and the Senators’ depth instantly looks better and you which would be devastating, given what could have been in the above don’t have anyone playing out of where they should be on the depth scenarios. What is available to the Senators at picks Nos. 4, 5, and 6 charts on the left wing. might not be instantly franchise altering like Lafreniere or Byfield. To play devil’s advocate, there are still good players. Assuming the first three The big picture takeaway here — and it’s been said many times, but it’s picks are locks that leaves the Senators with the option of drafting two of worth repeating — is that Lafrenière could quickly alter the timeline of the Alexander Holtz, Jamie Drysdale, Cole Perfetti, Lucas Raymond and/or Senators’ rebuild. A star centrepiece is a big hole in Ottawa’s roster, and Marco Rossi. Raymond, Perfetti, Holtz and Rossi could be top-nine they aren’t exactly easy to find. players in the NHL with elite skill and upside. While Drysdale is the consensus top defenceman in this draft. You can understand why fans Lafrenière is a high-impact player, and a big difference maker on the ice. would be upset falling out of the top-three, but this isn’t exactly a He sees the ice well, can make plays and isn’t afraid to drive the net. He doomsday scenario. could inject some much-needed goal scoring to the Senators offence that ranked 23rd (190 goals) in the NHL last year, and into their last place Getting two of the top six players in a deep, high-end draft could still power play that clicked along at a 14 percent rate. Not to mention, transform the Senators. Maybe the rebuild isn’t fast tracked the same according to Pronman’s draft board, he’s the only “special NHL talent,” way as it would be with picks No. 1 and No. 2, but the team will be in and can projects to become a foundational player for an NHL franchise. It better shape after the draft than it was heading in, guaranteed. can’t be stressed enough how much a player like Lafrenière is needed in Ottawa. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020

What would picking at No. 2 or No. 3 mean for the Senators?

Pronman: If the Senators miss on getting Lafrenière, I really like how Quinton Byfield or Tim Stutzle could fit into their organization. They have a lot of great young players. What I don’t see right now in their 1175772 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov: ‘It feels ‘a little more real that hockey is almost back’

by Sam Carchidi,

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov: ‘It feels ‘a little more real that hockey is almost back’

Defenseman Ivan Provorov had been skating by himself just outside Wilkes-Barre, Pa., during the NHL season’s long pause, but getting back on the ice recently at the Flyers’ practice facility with a handful of his teammates has been much more fulfilling.

“I guess it feels a little more real that hockey is almost back,” he said.

The Flyers, like the rest of the NHL, will open training camps July 10. Until then, players are allowed to voluntarily skate and work out in small groups at their practice rinks. Those who have been in the area are working out in Voorhees, while others are skating at rinks near their homes in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

“It’s been great to get back to the practice facility that we’re used to skating in and working out and seeing some of the guys come in and spend some time together at the rink,” Provorov said after a session Wednesday in Voorhees. “Great to talk and just catch up.”

Skating near Wilkes-Barre, he said, helped keep the rust off.

“I was lucky enough I was able to keep skating and try not to lose any strides,” Provorov said. “I think the practices here over the last week and a half have been great and are definitely helping to get back into game shape, and hopefully more of the guys will be back soon and we’ll have more team practices.”

The sweet sight & sound of Provy skating > everything. #StayReady pic.twitter.com/9Mjj6AhQML

— x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 17, 2020

The Flyers, who had won nine of their last 10 games when the season was stopped, have clinched a playoff spot, and when play resumes, they will be in a round-robin tournament with Boston, Tampa Bay, and Washington to determine their Eastern Conference seeding.

“It was definitely unfortunate when the season was paused,” said Provorov, 23, who spent most of the break staying with the family he lived with in Wilkes-Barre when he was a teenager and moved from Russia.

“We were definitely rolling, and like I said before, it was the best hockey I’ve been involved in in the four years I’ve been here. Hopefully it doesn’t take us a long time to get back to that. I think the three weeks of team practices are definitely going to help.”

When the 24-team tournament gets underway at two still-to-be-named hub cities, the players will be quarantined at a hotel.

Provorov said it would be a “little weird being away from family and friends for that long. But the guys are used to being on the road. It’ll be one long road trip that we’re going to be a part of.

“I know the league and the NHLPA are doing everything they can to make the environment for us the best as possible. Even on the days off, hopefully we’ll be able to kind of get away from the hotel a little bit and maybe watch a movie or just hang out with the guys so we don’t feel trapped.

“I think it will be different, but it will be exciting for however many days we’re going to be there,” he added. “Hockey and the boys, that’s it.”

After signing a six-year, $40.5 million contract in September and being paired with newly acquired Matt Niskanen, Provorov had an outstanding season, scoring 13 goals,and collecting 36 points and a plus-11 rating in 69 games. He has never missed a game in his four seasons, playing in 315 straight contests since joining the Flyers.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175773 Philadelphia Flyers Away from that, one of the biggest ways he stepped up was in the tough times — after a loss. Couturier recorded 14 goals and 20 assists in games following a loss this season. That kind of response out of No. 14 was crucial for the orange and black. 2019-20 Flyers season grades: Sean Couturier This might be the easiest grade I’ve ever had to give. Couturier is an A+ with potential to make it an A++ if and when the season resumes.

By Brooke Destra, Katie Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Joe Fordyce, Jordan Hatcher Hall June 17, 2020 6:15 PM I would like to name Couturier valedictorian of the 2019-20 Flyers season for obvious reasons. The man is an absolute workhorse. We talk about his defensive game all the time, but the way he’s developed into a END TO END consistent producer for this team goes so far beyond just his own Grading Couturier's performance for 2019-20 Flyers season numbers this season. He is the remedy for players in a slump, and a player that also complements stars playing at the highest level. Grading Braun's performance for 2019-20 Flyers season He’s at the forefront of the Selke Trophy conversation with Patrice Grading Aube-Kubel's performance for 2019-20 Flyers season Bergeron for a reason, and a lead-by-example kind of guy. He’s one of the forces that has prevented the Flyers from being a team that falls into Debating Recchi's Flyers Hall of Fame candidacy long losing skids (an issue that has plagued them in recent history). Of Debating Tocchet's Flyers Hall of Fame candidacy his 59 points this season, 34 of them came in games following a Flyers loss. He handles defensive duties against the best players in the league Debating Gagne's Flyers Hall of Fame candidacy with apparent ease, while making everyone around him look better Debating Timonen's Flyers Hall of Fame candidacy offensively.

Debating Briere's Flyers Hall of Fame candidacy A's across the board.

The 2019-20 NHL regular season has concluded and the next time the Fordyce puck drops will officially kick off the race to the Stanley Cup. The Flyers The list of best two-way centers in the NHL starts with Couturier and are hungry and ready to battle it out, but that is thanks to the hard work Bergeron of the Bruins in no particular order. However, Couturier’s from back in October. biggest value this season was how he made other players better. If a In an End to End series, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Brooke Destra, Katie player is struggling, put them with Couturier, and they’re sure to find their Emmer, Taryn Hatcher, Joe Fordyce and Jordan Hall will be grading way. players based on individual performances. Two things stand out about Couturier’s game this season. First off, he got Today we will be looking at Sean Couturier. better as the season went along, and whenever the Flyers needed a pick me up, No. 14 was there. Secondly, to have that much impact on the Destra offensive end while on a nightly basis having to deal with the opponent’s top forward is something few players in the league are capable of. You can’t say enough great things about Couturier — seriously, we could break down his style of play into a multi-part series and everyone would A+ with a star and smiley face for Couturier. rave about the player that No. 14 has become. To be a top-line center in the league deserves praise in itself, but to also be looked at as a favorite Hall to take home the Selke Trophy is just the cherry on top. We don’t have to check Couturier’s math. This is an easy grade.

He is the glue of the Flyers and helps bridge the gap from the youth of You’d be hard-pressed to find areas in which Couturier should have done the team to veterans, and has done it all as a leader. He rightfully earned more or needed to be better. the “A” permanently stitched to his sweater in 2019-20 (he wore it for home games the previous season) and chances are, it’s going to reside With five points and a minus-7 mark through the first 10 games, maybe there during the remainder of his career in Philadelphia. he could have gotten off to a better start? Even that’s nitpicking.

Seriously, have you looked at his contract recently? It could very well be Couturier factors into everything, he went scoreless in consecutive the best one in the league when it comes to outperforming it. games only six times and he’s got a bona-fide chance at the Selke Trophy. Couturier found himself by the top of just about every stat, being third on the team in goals (22), second in assists (37), second in points (59) and Easy A. leading the way in faceoffs at an impressive 59.63 percent. While his Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 projection for the complete season (70 points — 26 goals, 44 assists) would fall below his numbers of his previous two, they fail to showcase the significant growth of his 200-foot game and level of aggression every time he hits the ice.

I don’t care if it’s corny, I’m giving Couturier an A++ and a certificate for “Best Flyer of the season.” I’ll also be prepping a certificate for “Selke winner” — though, he might just prefer the trophy. Understandable.

Emmer

This team wouldn’t have had the success it did in the regular season without Couturier.

Couturier is arguably the most consistent Flyer. The past few seasons, he’s continued to progress with the orange and black and this year, it only got better. His 200-foot style, his ability to play against any of the league’s top-tier players, his talents in the faceoff dot and simply his skill with the puck continues to be one of the best in the league.

This season, Couturier fell just 17 points of his career best and while those final 13 games would have helped narrow that margin, he still recorded his second-best plus/minus of his career in the regular season with a plus-21. The way he can make anyone who plays on a line with him get their production going is something to admire. 1175774 Philadelphia Flyers

NHL awards: Why Mike Sullivan could sneak up on Alain Vigneault for Jack Adams honor

By Jordan Hall June 17, 2020 8:00 AM

INSIDE THE TURNAROUND

An inside look at how Flyers have built 2019-20 turnaround

With perspective from the players and head coach, let's take an inside look at how the Flyers have built their 2019-20 turnaround. By Jordan Hall

Make no mistake, Alain Vigneault's body of work this season is front- runner worthy for the Jack Adams Award.

During 2018-19, the Flyers decided to embark on a massive shift within their hockey operations department and coaching staff. The team finished 22nd in the league at 37-37-8 with 82 points, its fewest over a full season since 2006-07.

In just one season (and not even a full one), Vigneault turned the Flyers into a top-six club. Through a shortened 2019-20 regular season, the Flyers went 41-21-7 with 89 points in 69 games. According to Hockey- Reference.com, the team was projected to finish with 104 to 105 points, which would have been its most since a 106-point 2010-11 campaign.

With the abbreviated regular season because of the coronavirus outbreak, only four teams improved their point totals from 2018-19. The Flyers made the biggest jump with a seven-point increase despite playing 13 fewer games compared to last season, while the Oilers improved by four points (79 to 83), the Avalanche by two (90 to 92) and the Rangers by one (78 to 79).

When it comes to Coach of the Year in 2019-20, Vigneault should be right there with anyone.

Bruce Cassidy, head coach of the NHL-best Bruins, of course will be up there, but ESPN's Greg Wyshynski made a great point, noting the coach of the Presidents' Trophy-winning team has won the Jack Adams honor only twice in the past 20 years.

Jared Bednar (Avalanche) and John Tortorella (Blue Jackets) should be in consideration, as well.

One coach who could sneak up and snatch the award away from Vigneault and the rest: Mike Sullivan.

The Penguins have had better regular seasons in the recent past, but Pittsburgh found a way to finish seventh among the league (three points behind the No. 6 Flyers) in the face of losing:

Brian Dumoulin for 41 games

Jake Guentzel for 30 games

Sidney Crosby for 28 games

Patric Hornqvist for 17 games

Evgeni Malkin for 14 games

Bryan Rust for 14 games

Kris Letang for eight games

Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Rust, Hornqvist and Letang were six of the Penguins' top seven scorers this season and last season. For sake of comparison, the Flyers' top seven scorers this season missed six combined games.

That does not at all take away from the job Vigneault and the Flyers did in their resurgent 2019-20 season. It's also not to say the Flyers didn't deal with their share of significant injuries (Oskar Lindblom, Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton, Shayne Gostisbehere, Michael Raffl). But Sullivan's work around those losses will make him a serious challenger to Vigneault for the Jack Adams hardware.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175775 Pittsburgh Penguins

How hub cities and NHL’s ‘family dynamics’ could impact a reboot

TIM BENZ | Wednesday, June 17, 2020 6:43 a.m.

From babies to bears.

That’s what you get in this week’s “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast. Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me to talk about the latest hurdle to the hockey reboot.

Offspring.

Not the band. The newborns.

According to ESPN, numerous hockey players are dealing with the conflict of deciding whether or not to play hockey in the quarantine situation of the hub cities or remain home for the birth of their children.

I’ve never been so upfront about an opinion in my life: I … don’t … care.

Wanna stay home to support your partner while your child is being born? Great. Do it.

Feel the need to blow it off, or rush back to hockey and insert yourself into a lockdown situation? That’s your decision.

I can honestly say no one should judge either way. No one should fault either call. And it’s no one’s business.

Just let those players make those individual decisions. And let’s not martyr them. In either Direction.

Major League Baseball played every year through World War II. took three seasons off to serve.

None of these players are exactly Ted Williams on skates. And coronavirus ain’t exactly World War II.

Despite what “Team #StayAtHome” may tell you.

The point is, pro sports leagues can play through tough circumstances. And not every player is entitled to have the league wait for them.

Move on. Lace up. Play. Or don’t. Whatever. Drop the puck.

Brian and I also talk about the hub city drama, the future of the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh, and Jason Botterill’s dismissal in Buffalo.

Plus, we talk about the most pressing issues in Pittsburgh these days: the Highland Park bear and renegade peacocks at the zoo.

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175776 Pittsburgh Penguins injury after injury before getting sidelined in advance of his team’s win.

Brady is a Buc First Call: ‘Madden Curse’ for Lamar Jackson? Reliving Jaromir Jagr’s The “TOMpa Bay Buccaneers” are giving a sneak peak of what Tom draft. Pro Bowl to Vegas. Brady is going to look like in his new jersey.

Also former Steeler Byron Leftwich is the offensive coordinator down TIM BENZ | Wednesday, June 17, 2020 6:22 a.m. there.

He says Brady’s biggest adjustment simply may be learning how to do things differently in a new culture and new building after so many years in In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we relive the Jaromir Jagr draft of 1990. The . Pro Bowl has a new home. Will the Madden Curse strike Lamar Jackson? And looking at Tom Brady as a Buccaneer. Viva Las Pro Bowl

On Tuesday, the Penguins celebrated the 30th anniversary of drafting Adios, Orlando. legendary winger Jaromir Jagr. Hola, Las Vegas. On this day in 1990, we got @68Jagr. pic.twitter.com/ugFfhRqKiE The 2021 Pro Bowl is leaving the Sunshine State for Sin City. — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 16, 2020 That may make it more fun for the players to actually show up and How did Jagr last until fifth overall you ask? participate, breathing new life into the game.

Good question. None of the players taken before Jagr were in his class. Yahoo.com reports this is a bit of a surprise given that Orlando appeared But how many players truly were? He’s among the top 10-15 all time. to be settling in as a destination for the event. With Disney close by, players could take their kids there to have fun. And that was enticing, too. Yet none of those on the list in front of him were busts. Owen Nolan (first overall/QUE) was a five-time All Star. Keith Primeau (third overall/DET) But this may be a make-good for the draft having to be bagged in was a two-time selection. Nevada earlier this year. And it could be a shift in strategy for the game.

Mike Ricci played 16 years in the league, totaled 1099 games and 605 Tribune Review LOADED: 06.18.2020 points. He won a Stanley Cup with 17 points in 22 postseason games as a member of the Avalanche in 1996.

Another one-time Penguin — Petr Nedved — was the second pick (VAN). He potted 310 goals before going back to Europe after 15 NHL seasons.

Other All-Stars from that first-round class include Hall of Fame goalie , Keith Tkachuk and noted Sidney Crosby nemesis Derian Hatcher.

Eventual Penguin Darryl Sydor was drafted by Los Angeles two picks after Jagr. was selected by Boston as the last pick in the first round. He’d eventually join the Pens five years later.

Round 2 wasn’t bad either with the likes of (NYR), Felix Potvin (TOR) and Geoff Sanderson (HART) going off the board. And the Washington Capitals stole Peter Bondra in Round 8.

Future Penguins Robert Lang, Chris Tamer, Joe Dziedzic, Jiri Slegr, , Drake Berehowsky, John Slaney and Ian Moran also heard their names called along the way.

Just to name a few hockey cards you may have gathered.

Elsewhere in “First Call”…

Curse no more?

Getting the cover of the EA Sports Madden NFL video game used to have a dual outcome.

Both an honor and the reputation of having a curse.

Steelers fans are hoping for the latter this year as reigning MVP Lamar Jackson was given the prize Monday. The quarterback tempted fate in that regard this week by managing to avoid injury after a potentially dangerous collision with a jet ski.

Last year’s cover boy had no problems. quarterback Patrick Mahomes was great and won the Super Bowl MVP.

Prior to him? You remember. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

He totaled 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. But his meltdown in Week 17 and the ensuing offseason shenanigans cast a possible continuation of the curse’s reputation.

Tom Brady was 2017-18. The quarterback won the league MVP and got the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl.

The last truly cursed recipient on the field? Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski the year before Brady. The future Hall of Famer suffered 1175777 Pittsburgh Penguins second thoughts — among them league stars Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard — about the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial equality getting lost once the games begin. It has become a potentially divisive issue. Ron Cook: Commissioners are getting their biggest test — and one is failing “Now ain’t the time to be playing basketball, y’all,” former NBA all-star Steven Jackson has said. “Playing basketball is going to do one thing: take all the attention off the task at hand right now and what we’re fighting for. Nobody’s going to be talking about getting justice for all these Ron Cook senseless murders by the police.”

Did I mention divisive? A month ago, who knew the biggest impediment to the start of the “I think it would be stupid to not play for two reasons,” Hall of Famer baseball season wouldn’t be COVID-19? That it would be the Charles Barkley said on ESPN. “Number 1, if they don’t play, they’re unconscionable, short-sighted greed by the players and especially the going to be out of sight, out of mind for the rest of the year. There won’t owners during a worldwide pandemic that has killed more than 118,000 be no cameras following [them]. Also, these guys got to realize this Americans and left more than 40 million unemployed? money is going to come back, and they’re going to lose billions of dollars A month ago, who knew the coronavirus wouldn’t be the biggest obstacle that the players could use to go into their own communities and do some for the resumption of the NBA season? That it would be the fear of great stuff. So it’s not good on any front. It would be a catastrophic slowing the momentum of the more important Black Lives Matter mistake not to play.” movement? I’m with Barkley. A month ago, who knew the virus wouldn’t be the biggest challenge for “Listen, it’s not an ideal situation,” Silver told ESPN Monday night. “We the NFL … OK, so the virus is the NFL’s biggest challenge. Baltimore are trying to find a way to our own normalcy in the middle of a pandemic, Ravens coach John Harbaugh made that clear last week when he in the middle of essentially a recession and now with enormous social described the league’s health and safety protocols as “humanly unrest. I’m incredibly sympathetic and empathetic to what’s happening in impossible” to follow. people’s lives. … We’ll work through most of those issues over the next A month ago, who knew the NHL would have the best plan for the restart few weeks.” of its season? That it would open training camps July 10 and have its I have faith in Silver. playoff format carefully constructed with daily testing for the virus? He’s no Manfred. “Everything we’ve been doing has been a joint effort [with the players], working together, to make sure that we’re adhering to the protocols, COVID-19 remains an issue for all the commissioners and leagues, more which will be very strict,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN on so for Goodell and the NFL than the others because of the roster size of Monday night. “I think everybody can feel good, based on the the teams. NFL clubs have more assistant coaches than NBA teams combination of the play-in round and the way we’re going to run the have players. playoffs, that this will be a full competition which will bring out the best in our teams and our players. The Stanley Cup champion will be deserving The NFL hopes to be able to start its season on time with training camps of that crown.” in July because of its safety protocols, which include physical distancing in the cafeteria, locker room, weight room and meeting rooms. Really, a month ago, who knew that the oft-criticized Bettman would look like the genius of sports’ four prominent commissioners? “I’ve seen all the memos on that and, to be quite honest with you, it’s impossible what they’re asking us to do,” Harbaugh told 105.7 The Fan in Working closely with the players? Baltimore. “We’re going to do everything we can do. We’re going to space. We’re going to have masks. But you know, it’s a communication What a concept! sport. We have to be able to communicate with each other in person. We Baseball’s Rob Manfred could learn plenty from Bettman. He has have to practice. I’m pretty sure the huddle is not going to be 6-feet bungled negotiations with the players to start the season at every turn. spaced. Are guys going to shower one at a time all day? Are guys going One day, he guarantees there will be baseball this summer. Seemingly to lift weights one at a time all day?” the next day, he says he’s not confident there will be baseball. It’s no The NFL will test all of its personnel for the virus three times a week. It wonder the players and certainly the fans think he’s a joke. hopes an accurate saliva test will be available before the start of the A commissioner’s greatest strength has to be consensus-building. It’s season. why Goodell has largely been successful as the NFL commissioner, his “All of our medical experts indicated that as testing becomes more ability to take 32 strong-willed billionaire owners who are used to doing prevalent, we are going to have positive tests,” Goodell told ESPN things their way and getting them to work together for the good of the Monday night, hours after it was reported that a handful of Dallas game. Manfred doesn’t have that. There are reports several baseball Cowboys and had tested positive, including Cowboys owners don’t want to play ball this summer and others want to play the running back Ezekiel Elliott. fewest games possible to save money in player payroll. So much for consensus-building there. “The issue is can we obviously prevent as many of those from happening, but, in addition, treat them quickly, isolate them and prevent There still is time for the owners and players to do a deal that provides them from impacting other personnel. The protocols are stringent. One of for some sort of abbreviated season. But even if that happens, there are the things that we are all going to have to do is adapt and change and do bigger, uglier, more damaging player-owner wars ahead. Baseball’s things that we might have thought were impossible several weeks ago. collective bargaining agreement is up after the 2021 season. The players We’ll evolve as the circumstances change.” don’t trust Manfred because they think he reneged on a late-March deal to pay them their pro-rated salary based on the games played this Sounds like Goodell is a man with a plan. season. They don’t trust the owners who continue to cry poor even on a day such as Saturday, when the owners agreed to a billion-dollar TV deal Unlike, you know … with Turner Sports. Post Gazette LOADED: 06.18.2020 A strike or lockout after next season seems much more likely than not.

You say you have faith in Manfred’s ability to pull everything together?

That makes one of us.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s players have worked on and agreed to a plan that would restart their season in late-July in a bubble in Orlando. But the death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer last month has left a number of players with 1175778 Pittsburgh Penguins When Martin signed for two years and $17 million, it was the largest free- agent contract the Pirates ever had handed out. Martin hit well, with a 116 OPS+, over those two years, mentored a developing pitching staff and helped the Pirates end their playoff drought. Martin’s homer off Reds The 10 best free-agent signings in Pittsburgh sports history ace Johnny Cueto in the 2013 NL wild-card game is the franchise’s best single moment in decades. Martin and the Pirates reached the wild-card

game again in 2014. By Stephen J. Nesbitt Jun 17, 2020 3. Bryan Trottier (Penguins, 1990-94)

It never hurts to add a four-time Stanley Cup champion to your third line. The Steelers, Penguins and Pirates have 16 championships between After the Islanders released the 34-year-old Trottier, he landed in them, and a common thread linking those title teams is that, by and large, Pittsburgh on a one-year contract worth $400,000, bringing experience they were homegrown. Since the advent of free agency — first and stability to a team on the cusp of greatness. Trottier played just two introduced in the MLB and NHL in the 1970s, and adopted by the NFL in full seasons for the Penguins yet won the Stanley Cup two more times. 1993 — Pittsburgh’s pro teams have looked for free agents to That’s efficiency. Trottier was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in compliment an existing core. 1997.

Their free-agent track records are riddled with hits and misses. 2. Kevin Greene (Steelers, 1993-95)

With The Athletic analyzing the all sorts of free agency stories this week, This Pro Football Hall of Famer was the star of the Steelers’ first free- we’ve whittled down a list of the best and worst free-agent signings in agent class. After spending his first nine seasons with the Rams, making Pittsburgh sports history. The worst of the bunch are on deck for Friday one Pro Bowl, Greene inked a three-year, $5.35 million deal to play — and boy are there some doozies — but we’ll start on a positive note. outside linebacker for the Steelers. He meshed perfectly with the Here are the top 10. Steelers 3-4 defense, collecting 35 1/2 sacks and reaching two more Pro Bowls over three seasons in Pittsburgh. Greene and the Steelers lost 10. Reggie Sanders (Pirates, 2003) Super Bowl XXX, then he defeated the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV as a Packers assistant coach. Sanders was 35 when the Pirates signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract in 2003. A former All-Star with the Reds, Sanders had helped 1. (Steelers, 2002-11) the Diamondbacks and Giants to pennants the previous two years. He wouldn’t sniff the playoffs in Pittsburgh, but Sanders hit .285 with 31 Just when it looked like the Steelers were re-signing linebacker Earl home runs, a total only 11 Pirates have ever eclipsed in a season, before Holmes, they pulled a reverse and nabbed Farrior, whom the Jets had let leaving in free agency. walk, for three years and $5.4 million, plus incentives. Holmes was miffed. But the Steelers had made the right call. Farrior shifted to inside 9. Ryan Clark (Steelers, 2006-13) linebacker and stayed there for 10 seasons. He made two Pro Bowls, was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, and played in The Steelers got more than they expected when they signed Clark to a three Super Bowls, winning two rings. four-year deal worth $7 million in 2006. He settled in beside at safety and stuck there for eight seasons, fortifying an Honorable mentions already rock-solid Steelers defense. Clark re-signed in 2010, then made the Pro Bowl and played in his second Super Bowl. , Jeff Suppan, Dewayne Washington, Matt Cullen, Matt Cooke, Matt Stairs, John Williams, Paul Martin, Tomas Vokoun, Will 8. Jim Bibby (Pirates, 1978-83) Wolford

Bibby became a surprise free agent in spring training 1978 after an The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 arbiter ruled the Indians had defaulted on a $14,000 bonus payment. Bibby, then 33, signed a four-year offer from the Pirates. He allowed four earned runs over three starts in the 1979 playoffs, winning a World Series, and compiled a 3.11 ERA from 1978 through 1981 before injuring his shoulder.

7. Martin Straka (Penguins, 1992-95; 1997-04)

The Penguins drafted Straka, then traded him to Ottawa during the shortened 1994-95 season. The Penguins got a second shot when Straka became a free agent in 1997. He signed for $400,000 and delivered speed and strong two-way play, skating often on a line between and Robert Lang — another free-agent find. Straka had 346 points over 403 games in his second stint with the Penguins before being traded again in 2003-04.

6. Jeff Hartings (Steelers, 2001-06)

Replacing Dermontti Dawson was no easy task for Kevin Colbert in his first offseason as Steelers director of football operations. But he placed his bet on the right man. Hartings, a former first-round pick out of Penn State, signed for six years and $24.25 million. He made two Pro Bowls over those six years, won Super Bowl XL, and retired when his contract was up.

5. Sergei Gonchar (Penguins, 2005-10)

During the 2004-05 lockout, Gonchar played alongside Evgeni Malkin with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. When the NHL resumed, Gonchar signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Penguins — a hefty price for a defenseman over 30. But Gonchar was worth every penny. He shepherded Malkin and young defensemen Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik and was a steady contributor on the stat sheet. He raised the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2009. Gonchar, now 46, is still with the Penguins as an assistant coach on Mike Sullivan’s staff.

4. Russell Martin (Pirates, 2013-14) 1175779 Pittsburgh Penguins Had there been the sound of a thud, presumably it would have been from agent J.P. Barry smacking his head off a nearby wall.

The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its Players Inside the talks that kept Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh Association allowed for a player to sign an extension and/or new deal on the first day of his final season under the current contract. There were no term limits, but no player could exceed the 20-percent threshold of the cap for the year in which the contract was negotiated. By Rob Rossi Jun 17, 2020 The cap was slated to be $56.7 million for the 2008-09 season, an

increase of slightly more than $6 million. By publicly committing to a Sidney Crosby was glued to his television for the duration of “The Last contract equal to that of the one signed by Crosby a year before, Malkin Dance.” A self-described “big fan” of the Chicago Bulls as a kid, Crosby had potential cost himself $2.64 million in annual salary. was only 11 when Michael Jordan’s retirement swiftly, suddenly ended Crosby & Malkin's second NHL deals what had been the definitive dynasty for a generation of sports fans. Sidney Crosby Thing is, “The Last Dance” didn’t transport Crosby to his childhood days spent barnstorming Canadian hockey towns. Instead, it reminded him of $10.06 million Pittsburgh, where he and Evgeni Malkin — the Scottie Pippen to Crosby’s Jordan with the Penguins — have been together for 14 NHL $1.36 million seasons and plan to keep dancing. $6.8 million “Have to be able to work together,” Crosby said, referring to his Penguins Evgeni Malkin partnership with Malkin. “We have had some pretty special times together. $11.34 million

“We have to do it again.” $2.64 million

Reunited for individual workouts at UPMC Lemieux Practice Facility as $13.2 million part of the NHL’s Phase 2, Crosby and Malkin are leading by example as a majority of teammates have returned to Pittsburgh to prepare for a Whereas Crosby had agreed to a trim, Malkin had offered to have a full- training camp in July. An opportunity at their fourth title together, which on haircut by making clear — and eventually making a deal — equal to would bring Crosby and Malkin even with the Stanley Cup clubs the one for Crosby. spearheaded by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in Edmonton, is what Barry had to be gobsmacked, even if Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, was has their attention. his partner at CAA.

Jordan and Pippen and Gretzky and Messier eventually split up. Crosby “You’d think so, right?” Barry said. “But Evgeni was only telling you what and Malkin have stayed together through multiple contracts. Neither is we had already told him. The conversations with (the Penguins) had thinking about a fourth contract with the Penguins. given us an idea what the contract would be if we also wanted five Is it too soon to wonder about the future of arguably the greatest 1-2 years.” punch Pittsburgh has produced? Probably not. Shero said that during talks with Brisson in 2007 for Crosby’s second Malkin has two years remaining on his current contract. Crosby’s deal contract that he had never presumed the deal would set a marker for does not expire for another five seasons. Malkin. He had no idea what to expect from Brisson or Barry, and keeping Crosby was his only concern at that particular time. Still, neither of the Penguins’ co-franchise centers fancies a future playing hockey without the other. As Malkin told The Athletic last “I’m coming off my first season as GM, and the best young player in summer, “Sid good for Geno and Geno good for Sid; I hope we play hockey — and, c’mon, even at that point Sid’s the best fucking player in always together, win more Cups.” hockey — has a year left on his contract,” Shero said. “I remember people in the media asking me about Sid’s next contract. I’m, like, The second contracts ‘What’s he going to get? Whatever the fuck he wants is what he’s going to get.’ Crosby and Malkin found themselves in similar situations when their rookie deals expired. Both could have negotiated for more than they “But I wasn’t thinking after Sid’s deal, ‘Oh, well, now Malkin gets that too.’ ended up earning. I had no idea what Evgeni wanted until his agent and I talked after that season.” At the NHL Awards Show in 2008, a fresh-faced Malkin was a finalist for the Hart Trophy and coming off a superb second season in which he Was it “whatever he wanted” as well for Malkin? finished as the league’s No. 2 scorer and also helped the Penguins reach the Cup Final. Already one of the NHL’s best players, Malkin held a lot of “I don’t know,” Shero said. “The deal ended up being the same for Sid leverage in upcoming talks with the Penguins, who wanted to keep him in and Malkin. Whatever they made, they were more than worth it. I’m just the fold along with Crosby. glad we got to buy out a year of free agency because that was important for us at the time with those guys.” The prior summer, Crosby had agreed to a five-year contract worth $43.5 million. That deal, which would begin in the 2008-09 season, placed Shero, Barry and Brisson each raised a not-so-small point about the Crosby’s cap hit at $8.7 million. second contracts for Crosby and Malkin: Alex Ovechkin’s second contract with the Capitals. He could have commanded more but traded a max-salary to help the Penguins maintain a Cup-contending core. That core had to include Drafted before Malkin in 2004 but a rookie with Crosby in 2005-06 Malkin, who had been the second overall pick at the NHL Draft the year because of the NHL season lost to a work stoppage, Ovechkin had before the Penguins won a lottery to pick Crosby at No. 1 in 2005. agreed to a 13-year contract worth $124 million in January 2008 — almost the halfway point between the five-year deals agreed to by Malkin was no stranger to the NHL Awards Show by 2008. He had been Crosby and Malkin with the Penguins. there a year before to collect the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top rookie. Being a finalist for the Hart was a step up in class, and Malkin “We talked about a longer deal, but five years felt right,” Brisson said of owned the moment as smoothly as he had dominated on the ice when Crosby. “It was important to give Sidney protection just in case things the Penguins went a couple of months without Crosby in the second half ended up not going well in Pittsburgh. of the 2007-08 season. “They were going well. They have. It’s a great organization. But at that During a post-ceremony media session, Malkin was asked about his next point in his career, for Sidney, five years made the most sense.” contract. He shrugged, smiled and — in English, not his preferred Barry said there was “no arrangement or anything like that” between he, Russian — said “same as Sid.” Brisson and the Penguins to have Crosby and Malkin do similar deals. There was a catch. “They didn’t want anybody to make more than Crosby,” Barry said. “I told “I mean, it was pretty clear they wanted to keep Evgeni and do what was Evgeni, and he was fine with it. needed to make him happy,” Barry said. “I came into town for a few days after that season. The owners were in town at the time, so that’s “For that contract.” obviously a good sign something has a chance to get done.

Five years later, Malkin and Barry were in no position to play quite as “They did push for keeping us at $8.7 million. That wasn’t going to work nice with the Penguins. for us. Sid was making $12 million, his deal was front-loaded and longer. The third contracts Evgeni could only sign for eight years, he couldn’t get the bulk of his money upfront. Things had changed. By July 2010, the hockey world was Crosby’s to rule for seemingly however long he so desired. “They knew that. It didn’t take long to get past it. But they did try. Good for them.” Only a couple of years later, Crosby — then about six weeks away from turning 25 and at the end of a two-year concussion ordeal — was ready Malkin agreed to an eight-year deal worth $76 million — a $9.5 million for a fresh start. The massive contract he was about to autograph would cap value that is the highest in Penguins history. He broke the so-called be it. “Crosby cap” in Pittsburgh, if there was one.

Inside a conference room, Crosby was surrounded by the familiar faces “There wasn’t, and I would know,” Shero said. “But before we did of Penguins majority co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, CEO Malkin’s deal, I called Sid and told him about the cap number we were David Morehouse, Shero and Brisson. Everybody in the room had reason looking at for Malkin. I felt I owed it to Sid. He’s our captain. He’s our best to feel overjoyed. player. He’s our leader. He’s been through the concussions. He’s the face of the damn league. He deserved to know if we were going to have The contract — a guaranteed $104.4 million over 12 seasons and hefty anybody above him, even Malkin. by NHL standards — signaled security from the Penguins and Crosby’s commitment to Pittsburgh for the bulk of, if not the entirety of, his career. “And, of course, he didn’t fucking care. I think he said, ‘I’m glad Geno’s The deal provided the Penguins with salary-cap breathing room because getting taken care of and is happy and staying,’ or something like that. Crosby would continue to count only $8.7 million against their payroll Which is so Sid, right? limit. Also, it was front-loaded to pay Crosby $36 million the first three “That was all I needed to hear.” years, $21.8 million the next two years, and $37.6 million the next four. The final contracts? Not one cent was insurable against concussions, either. If Lemieux is the greatest Penguin, Crosby and Malkin rank second and Two year prior, had Lemieux, Burkle, Morehouse or Shero been third. They’re foundational pillars of the franchise’s greatest era and have promised that Crosby would agree to a third contract with the Penguins a chance to extend a streak of consecutive postseason appearances to — even one that pledged to pay him no less than a fifth of the franchise’s 14 seasons when the NHL returns from its COVID-19 pandemic pause. projected value — each of those club officials would have leaped at the opportunity. None would have harbored a second thought. When their current deals were signed, the prevailing thought was they would be the last for Crosby and Malkin in the NHL. Crosby will be 37 Burkle had one as Crosby set to put pen to paper in that conference when his contract expires after the 2024-25 season. Malkin will be 35 room. A multi-billionaire who employed three pilots for his private jet, but when he is up after 2021-22. who was rarely seen wearing anything other than black shoes, dark blue jeans and a charcoal-colored polo, Burkle cleared his throat and — loudly Malkin told The Athletic last summer he would like to do a three-year deal — insisted that Crosby “hold on.” with the Penguins and finish his career with the Penguins. Crosby has not said if he plans to play beyond his current deal but has also not ruled In that second, Crosby, as did everybody else in the conference room, it out. cast a confused look toward Burkle, who had leaned forward from his chair and held his hand just above the table’s top. “I didn’t know when those deals were done if they’d be the last ones for Sid and Malkin,” Shero said. “I just knew both guys would be (in “Before you sign,” Burkle said, “you’ve got to promise me that if you get Pittsburgh) longer than me. And I was right.” hit in the head and hurt, you’ll grab your knee.” Shero’s successor, Jim Rutheford, believes “Sid and Geno should be He grinned. Crosby chuckled. Penguins for life.” He made no promises but said every indication from “Aww, man,” Crosby said. “You, too!” Lemieux and Burkle is they also want that for Crosby and Malkin.

A few seconds later, Crosby inked a contract without equal for any Jaromir Jagr’s ghost looms large in Pittsburgh. Penguin before or since — and back in Moscow, where he spends his In January 1998, midway through Lemieux’s first year of his initial summers, Malkin was thrilled for a couple of reasons. retirement, the Penguins signed Jagr to a four-year extension worth $38 (Dan Hamilton / USA Today) million. The contract made him the NHL’s highest-paid player, as Lemieux had been, and also extended Jagr’s commitment to the His captain was staying with the Penguins for a long, long time. That Penguins to six seasons. meant more good times were ahead if and when Malkin re-committed to the Penguins. The extension kicked in for the 1999-2000 season. Jagr demanded a trade during Lemieux’s comeback season in 2000-01 and was dealt to Also, “same as Sid” sounded even better when the term was a dozen the Capitals in July 2001. years and the total money involved that many zeros. But unlike five years prior, Malkin couldn’t choose to take “same as Sid” from the Penguins. Friends have said Lemieux deeply regrets what was an acrimonious end The new CBA, signed between Crosby’s deal and Malkin’s negotiations, for Jagr in Pittsburgh. Lemieux is said to see Jagr’s departure as a break capped players’ contracts at eight years if they re-signed with their in the line that should link him, Jagr, Crosby and Malkin to one franchise. current clubs. “Mario loves Jagr,” said Pierre Larouche, a former Penguins player and Barry cut to the chase with Malkin and provided a list of other NHL teams confidant to Lemieux. “He doesn’t want what happened with Jagr to ever that probably would be able to sign Malkin if he became an unrestricted happen with Crosby or Malkin.” free agent after the 2013-14 season. The most intriguing possibility was Sounds like leverage for Brisson and Barry. But is it? the Dallas Stars, who had signed Malkin’s close friend and former Penguins teammate Sergei Gonchar, Barry’s longtime client. Brisson and Barry each said they have not broached the subject of a fourth NHL contract with their clients. Both offered that the history Crosby Dallas, because of its tax situations, could make a huge-money pitch to and Malkin share with the Penguins — plus their desire to add to their Malkin in free agency, but only for seven years. Malkin preferred eight title total and become the greatest scoring tandem for any one franchise years in Pittsburgh. Barry never discussed Malkin with the Stars. The in NHL history — could play a factor when the time comes to do another CBA did not allow for those kinds of conversations. He also never directly deal for both players. mentioned the Stars when talking to Shero about Malkin’s third contract. “Legacy is important,” Barry said. “There are other factors. With Evgeni, it’s always about winning. Will they still be a contender? He doesn’t want to rebuild. And there’s always going to be a compensation factor, but that’s true for any player.

“But he has something in Pittsburgh with Crosby that is very important to him. He doesn’t have a big circle of people who are close to him. Crosby is, and that’s part of a legacy, too.”

Added Brisson: “Mario is the Penguins. He’s everything to that franchise, in that city. But so is Sidney. He saved the Penguins as well. So, that’s important to him and everybody.”

There is a first time for everything. Jagr asking out of Pittsburgh qualifies.

In over a half-century, the Penguins have gone through almost everything but one thing. Their icons never waddle into the cold waters of free agency.

“You never predict the future,” Brisson said. “But I think if you know anything about Mario and what he stands for — that loyalty to people and to Pittsburgh — you can probably guess what will happen with those two players.

“I mean, the Penguins keep their guys.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175780 San Jose Sharks comparisons, the name he’ll most be associated with right away in San Jose is Karlsson, and there are some similarities there. Neither of them is particularly big — both are listed at 5-foot-11, and while Karlsson is 190 pounds, the 19-year-old Merkley said recently that he’s up to 182 Finding NHL comps for 10 of the Sharks’ best prospects pounds. They both have great vision, too — Karlsson has been a world- class playmaker throughout much of his career, while Merkley is also

known for his ability to find open teammates. By Kevin Kurz and Scott Wheeler Jun 17, 2020 When it comes to defending, the Sharks have shown Merkley tape of Karlsson. “(Sharks scouting director Jr.) and (the Sharks staff) were big on me watching him and watching the way he defends,” You have to go all the way back to 1998 for the last time the Sharks held Merkley said. “It’s just (about) growing, getting better and getting more a top-five pick in the NHL draft, when they selected defenseman Brad reps.” Stuart third overall. Since 2007, they’ve drafted in the top 10 just twice, choosing Logan Couture ninth overall that year and Timo Meier in the Sasha Chmelevski, F, 21 same slot in 2015. Last season: Barracuda (AHL) They’ve remained competitive for most of the past two decades, though. Comparable: Connor Brown The Sharks’ 888 regular season wins and .597 points percentage since the start of the 1998-99 season are second only to the Detroit Red Wings Wheeler’s take: Chmelevski is one of those players who has always (898, .604 percent). While the Sharks have had no shortage of top-end shown me more than the sum of his parts, or his production. I’ve watched talent, they also have a (mostly) outstanding track record of finding a lot of Chmelevski over the years, dating back to when I was based out quality players in later rounds of the draft, or, particularly lately, with of Ottawa throughout the bulk of his junior career with the 67’s. He’s a undrafted free agents. wonderful, intelligent kid off of the ice and that shows up in his game on it. Brown was always the same. He didn’t have high-end NHL tools, he Now, though, the organization is reeling from a last-place finish in the didn’t have size or power to overcome lacking those tools, but he played Western Conference in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. The hard, he played fast, he made quick decisions with the puck, he had the Sharks’ NHL roster is dotted with players of advancing age, some of stick skills needed to play in traffic and he became a versatile NHL option whom could be past their primes. Making matters worse, the team didn’t who could play up and down your lineup with just about any kind of get many encouraging performances from its younger players last linemate. Chmelevski’s game exists in the same vein and I suspect he season at the NHL level, while the AHL Barracuda also finished in last carves out a niche in the NHL someday as a result. place. Kurz’s take: After it looked like he had a chance to make the Sharks’ That will have to change in 2020-21, considering general manager Doug opening night roster, Chmelevski wasn’t all that impressive in training Wilson’s plan is to quickly return to the playoffs. If that is to happen, camp, and then an early-season ankle injury set him back. Still, he did established veterans like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Logan Couture, improve over the course of the season with the Barracuda, and after the Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier and Evander Kane will lead the way. But the injury had just one three-game stretch without a point (he posted three Sharks will also need at least a few of their prospects to step up and goals and eight assists for 11 points in his final 12 games). There could show they can contribute at the NHL level, too. be a chance for Chmelevski to make the team out of camp next season, That includes some of the guys listed below. Let’s take a closer look at perhaps as a right wing who can also help on faceoffs. There’s no doubt some of the team’s top prospects. (Scott Wheeler made all of the player that the organization is still optimistic regarding the former sixth-round comparisons, unless otherwise noted.) pick’s potential.

Of note: Goalie prospects were not included in this exercise. Noah Gregor, F, 21

Ryan Merkley, D, 19 years old Last season: Barracuda (AHL), Sharks

Last season: London (OHL) Comparable: Budget Jake DeBrusk (Wheeler), budget Ivan Barbashev. (Kurz) Comparable: Tyson Barrie (Wheeler), Erik Karlsson (Kurz) Wheeler’s take: Fast, physical, north-south, net-driven forwards with Wheeler’s take: Some NHL comparables come naturally and I’ve had scoring touch and just enough skill to consistently involve their linemates them in the back of my head before as I’ve watched a player. There are a still have their place in most NHL lineups, even as the game becomes few on this list that fit the bill. But more often than not, there’s no perfect more about finesse, small-area skill and creativity. DeBrusk has proven NHL name that just lines up. The game is changing, the players are that in recent years and Gregor will have a chance to do the same, changing and no two players are truly alike. In some cases, players exist though with a little less impact at his ceiling. I like Gregor’s game for what as unicorns of sorts and don’t really fit into any mold. Merkley is one of it is and I have learned to admire DeBrusk’s too after having serious those players. How do you go about boxing a player in when nobody else doubts about how high he was picked. has ever been able to? You don’t. So it’s important to note off the top here that Merkley is completely unique. There’s no other player who is Kurz’s take: I included Gregor on this list because he’s still played fewer ever going to feel right in this kind of a context. Barrie and Kevin than 30 NHL games — 28, to be exact. No young forward in the Shattenkirk probably come the closest as high-skill offensive-minded organization took as many strides as Gregor did last season, and he defensemen who come with their fair share of warts but have the skill to could be ready to make an impact at the NHL level beginning in 2020-21. compensate. Maybe Shayne Gostisbehere, too. He’s got great speed, he can shoot and he plays with some physicality, too. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the 21-year-old as a regular in the I think Barrie makes the most sense, though, if only because he and his team’s bottom-six forward group — at the very least — for the next coaches have always struggled with the give and take that comes with several years. his game. For every time he attacks deep into the offensive zone, he leaves the point open. For every time he tries to thread a pass or a shot Brinson Pasichnuk, D, 22 that may not be there, he risks it being blocked or intercepted. There are Last season: Arizona State University (NCAA) some notable differences. Merkley’s a little scrawnier in build and will thus be a little less effective in man-on-man battles defensively than Comparable: Brandon Montour Barrie. For every time Barrie makes you shake your head with a decision, there’s probably two of the same kinds of plays in Merkley’s game. So Wheeler’s take: I still have plans to watch Pasichnuk’s final season in there’s a little more risk associated with Merkley’s projection. But the college a little more this summer, as I saw him play less than every other reward, I have always believed, is just as tantalizing as Barrie’s has player on this list last year (though I’ve seen him play more than others in always been — if not more. years prior), with just a couple of viewings when I made him my focus. With that said, though, what the Sharks are getting is a medium-build Kurz’s take: There’s no debating that Merkley is the Sharks’ top prospect, player who engages physically, has a versatile offensive game, but after they made him the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 draft. He’ll turn pro probably isn’t quite talented enough to be more than a second unit next season, and may even have an outside chance to make the opening power-play guy at the next level. And though I’m not convinced night roster, depending on who is still on the roster. When it comes to Pasichnuk has the ability to become the 30-plus-point player that Montour has been for three straight years, they share a lot in common in Comparable: Sam Gagner terms of size, play style and approach. Wheeler’s take: If you’ve followed my work over the last several years, Kurz’s take: Had the Sharks resumed play this season after the you’ll probably know that I’m a much bigger fan of Dahlen’s game than shutdown, there’s a chance Pasichnuk would have appeared in a few most, including, apparently, the three NHL clubs that have already held games. The Sharks had been pursuing the defenseman since he his rights. Here’s the thing about Dahlen: He’s going to have to play in an attended the team’s rookie camp last summer before agreeing to a deal offensive role, at the top of the lineup, to get the most out of his game. with him on March 31, and he could get a chance to make the team out He needs touches. He needs to be able to use his creativity, and his of camp next season. His physicality, in particular, could be of use after heel-to-heel skating, and his puck skill, to try things and to create. He the departure of Brenden Dillon. needs to be on the power play. All of these things have contributed to an up-and-down career for a player like Gagner, who also needs those “His physicality is not going to be an issue for him at all. His body is built things to be at his best. When Gagner played with good players, he for the game,” Pasichnuk’s coach at Arizona State, Greg Powers, said in excelled in both Edmonton and Columbus. But it takes the right coach March. “He’s a machine. He’s strong as it gets, his explosiveness and his and the right situation to get that out of him. The same has always been burst is absolutely NHL-ready right now. He’s a specimen.” true for Dahlen, who I believe has the ability needed to play in the NHL John Leonard, F, 21 today. It’s just going to require a leap of faith.

Last season: University of Massachusetts (NCAA) Kurz’s take: Dahlen won’t be one of the Sharks prospects who will contribute next season — at least not right away, as he’s already Comparable: Victor Olofsson committed to return to his team in Sweden. General manager Doug Wilson said on a conference call last month that he supported the Wheeler’s take: Olofsson is one of those players who has always been at decision. “We think he’ll go and take another step,” Wilson said. “He’s his best when he gets to play with talent around him. He’s a natural going to spend next year in Sweden, we’ll probably see him at the end of scorer who doesn’t have the speed, nor the physicality, nor the the year next (season).” Dahlen finished with 77 points in 51 games last playmaking to either drive a line at the top level or go get the puck for season for Timra IK, which competes in a second-tier league in the himself and take it to the net. He thrives by playing off of his teammates, forward’s home country. Good numbers, but Dahlen still feels like a wild getting open, and taking his chances whenever he gets them. Olofsson card. got to play that part while riding shotgun with Jack Eichel this year after working his way up the ranks at other levels to establish himself as a go- Artemi Kniazev, D, 19 to shooter. Leonard is going to have to do the same and that probably means spending a year or two in the AHL to showcase himself before we Last season: Chicoutimi (QMJHL) really know whether he can make the leap as well as Olofsson has. I Comparable: Radim Simek (Wheeler), budget Ivan Provorov (Kurz) suspect he ends up as more of a depth piece than Olofsson is in Buffalo, but Olofsson is probably more of a depth piece than he was this season Wheeler’s take: Sharks fans don’t need me to tell them what Simek on most other teams too. offers, but I honestly think he and Kniazev fit. Kniazev isn’t likely going to be a top-four defenseman. He just doesn’t have enough skill. But he Kurz’s take: The most exciting part of Leonard’s game is he’s known first does have the tools needed to become a polished third-pairing and foremost as a goal scorer — including this season, his last at defenseman who can play a modern game, mix in some physicality when UMass, where he led all of college hockey with 27 goals in 33 games. he needs to, and simplify his decision-making as an efficient, well- Leonard also made strides this season with his skating, according to his rounded option. college coach, Greg Carvel. “He’s been a bit of a funky-looking skater; he created that breakaway speed this year,” Carvel said in April, after the Kurz’s take: When the Sharks selected Kniasev in the second round of Sharks announced the two-year deal. “He scored a number of goals the 2019 draft, assistant general manager Tim Burke noted his skating either winning races up the ice or able to skate through a defender using ability and that he can “score a lot of goals.” For the second straight his stick skills and his speed. But his best quality is he’s a real, true, season, Kniasev reached double digits in that category in the QMJHL for actual goal scorer.” Leonard, who turns 22 in August, will be a guy to Chicoutimi with 11 (he had 13 in 2018-19). He also increased his overall keep an eye on in training camp. offensive output with 43 points last season, up from 34 in 2018-19. Burke was also impressed with Kniasev’s character, labeling him as “a leader” Joachim Blichfeld, F, 21 at the draft last year in Vancouver.

Last season: Barracuda (AHL), Sharks Dillon Hamaliuk, LW, 19

Comparable: Alex Killorn Last season: Kelowna (WHL)

Wheeler’s take: I have full faith in Blichfeld’s ability to make it work at the Comparable: Kevin Stenlund next level as a middle-six contributor long term. He’s got the size, his skating has continued to improve over the years, he’s got a dangerous Wheeler’s take: I don’t know what to think about Hamaliuk at this point. wrist shot release and his playmaking has rounded out nicely to the point Watching him over the last couple of years has proven to be a bit of roller where he drove a line in the AHL as a rookie. He’s not going to be a true coaster. I’m not terribly confident in his upside as an NHLer. But there star on a good team, and he doesn’t play as physically as Killorn does, are stylistic similarities between his game and Stenlund’s, not only in but I believe he can be a 40-something point player who is reliable in all terms of their size but also in their approach on the ice as well-rounded three zones with or without the puck on his stick. Versatility matters and offensive players who don’t really excel in any one area but can Blichfeld has done a good job cultivating his. occasionally take over a shift off of the cycle to make something happen that excites you, given their 6-4 frames. And Hamaliuk is going to have to Kurz’s take: Blichfeld had a few cups of coffee with the Sharks this adopt Stenlund’s approach and role if he’s ever going to make it. He season, skating in three games and not really having much of an impact doesn’t have to be physical or mean, but he has to get to the front of the (he was scoreless with a minus-2 rating, with two shots on goal). He net, clean up goals from his more talented linemates and be smart about looks to me like he could still benefit from adding some bulk to his 6-2 the routes he takes and the decisions he makes with the puck because frame, as he’s listed at 187 pounds. Still, his AHL season was pretty he’s not likely going to develop the skill or speed to play at the top of the good, as he was named as the Barracuda’s lone All-Star while posting 16 lineup or even drive a depth line. Sometimes, you just have to be a jack- goals and 32 points in 44 games. of-all-trades and a master of none.

Blichfeld may be one of those guys who has to play with skilled players to Kurz’s take: The Sharks were aggressive in moving up to select have an impact at the NHL level. In his third and final game with the Hamaliuk in the draft last year, sending a pair of third-round picks to New Sharks last season in Vancouver on Jan. 18, he started on a line with Jersey to take the power forward with the 55th overall selection. Judging Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane and managed three shot attempts (two by the numbers that move now looks like a reach, as the 19-year-old on goal) in more than 16 minutes of ice time. It was a bit surprising he posted 31 points in 56 games for Kelowna, placing him sixth in scoring didn’t play more games with the Sharks before the shutdown. on his team. Hamaliuk, though, came down with mono in November, Jonathan Dahlen, LW, 22 returned too soon, and then missed more time, so that surely affected his statistical output. Further, his 2018-19 season with Seattle was cut short Last season: Timra IK (Sweden) due to a knee injury in December and he wasn’t medically cleared from that until last June. Ivan Chekhovich, F, 20

Last season: Barracuda (AHL)

Comparable: Jordan Weal

Wheeler’s take: Weal is one of those players who was dominant at low levels, found dominance in the AHL in time, has now found his way into 200-plus NHL games, but had to become a different kind of player to get there. Chekhovich had a similar kind of reality check in his first season in the AHL. Suddenly, his pure skill wasn’t enough to mask concerns over his size and his pace and he didn’t look like the 100-point player from the QMJHL. I still think he can get there, like Weal has, but it’s going to take some tinkering and he’s going to have to try to do less along the way.

Kurz’s take: It wasn’t a strong season for the former seventh-round pick, which began with a puck to the face during one of camp scrimmages last September, forcing him to wear a cage for the first few weeks. After that, though, he just never really found a groove, with only four goals and 12 points in 42 games. He’ll have to prove next season that he still is worthy of being labeled as a true NHL prospect.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175781 St Louis Blues “My shot really improved just by doing that,” Sabourin said. “I can remember the first few days of practice. Glenn (Hall) or Jacques (Plante), whoever it was in goal, said ‘What the hell happened to you?’”

From humble beginnings, Sabourin became one of the best of the His goal total nearly doubled in his second NHL season, from 13 to 25, 'Original Blues' beginning a stretch in which the player known as “Sabby” averaged 23 goals over five seasons.

But his Blues’ joyride ended after season No. 7. Sabourin had knee Jim Thomas problems much of that season.

“I had went to them in January and said there’s something wrong with my knee,” Sabourin said. “They just kept saying, ‘you’ve extended your Gary Sabourin was back home in Britt, Ontario, in the summer of ’67 knee.’ But there were serious problems with it and I was still trying to working at his uncle’s marina. A radio on the dock was tuned in to the play, and I just couldn’t do it.” NHL expansion draft for the six teams joining the league that fall. He also had issues with Lou Angotti, who replaced Jean Guy Talbot as “Well, I never heard my name all day,” Sabourin recalled. “And I thought, head coach late in the season. ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m not being drafted by somebody.’ “I don’t want to talk bad about anybody, but it didn’t work out when they “I was just dumbfounded. I thought for sure I’d get picked up by brought Angotti in. And he wasn’t there very long, so. . .” Sabourin said. somebody, because my last year in the Central Hockey League (for the “But he started sitting me out (in favor of younger players).” ) I had 23 goals and 100-some minutes of penalties.” With a struggling team that was about to miss the playoffs for the first Sabourin and the other marina workers were getting ready to call it a day time, the frustration boiled over for Sabourin. After being a healthy when his name came up on the radio. Shortly after the conclusion of the scratch March 23 in Montreal, Sabourin checked out of the Blues’ hotel expansion draft, Sabourin was traded from the New York Rangers’ and didn’t accompany the team to Philadelphia. organization (along with , , and Gordon Kannegiesser) for defenseman Rod Seiling — whom, oddly enough, the “Sabourin Jumps a Sinking Ship” was the Post-Dispatch headline in beat Blues had picked earlier in the day from the Rangers in the expansion writer Gary Mueller’s story chronicling the controversy. Although draft. Sabourin was not officially suspended, Angotti kept him off the ice for the final five games of the season. Two months later came the Toronto trade. “My wife and I were really excited, and then next thing we know we got a telegram from the Blues saying ‘we’re happy that we could get you,’ ” Toronto doctors quickly diagnosed Sabourin as having torn cartilage; Sabourin said. three knee surgeries followed, which shortened his career. He played only three more years, including a 21-goal season with the California He had been stuck in the minors, in the Rangers’ system for three years. Golden Seals in 1975-76. And the pay wasn’t great — $3,500 a year during Sabourin’s first pro season. After hockey, Sabourin and wife Nancy owned a bakery — Buns Master — in southern Ontario for nearly 30 years, with his three daughters and “I told them I could make more in the mines up in Sudbury, and they said, sons helping. ‘Well, go ahead,’” Sabourin said. “It was a lot of midnight shifts, early morning,” Sabourin said. “It was the He kept playing hockey. Then came that life-changing telegram from the hardest thing I think I ever had to do.” Blues. A fire in a nearby meat store engulfed the small plaza where the bakery “So that was the start of I think the three greatest years of my NHL was located. The store destroyed, Sabourin decided at age 66 it was career,” Sabourin said “First year you’re there, you’re in the Stanley Cup time to retire. finals against the Canadiens. Even when you break into the league, I’m looking at players across from me that I watched on television. It was “The whole plaza went down,” Sabourin said. “A hell of a lot worse kind of scary at first, but you have to pull your socks up, and say, hey, I could’ve happened. Nobody got hurt.” got a job to do.” The Sabourins still live in Chatham, Ontario, which is where they had the Sabourin played seven seasons at forward in St. Louis, made two All- bakery. There’s a family cottage on the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron Star games, and as one of the “Original Blues” made the Stanley Cup north of Chatham. When they want to escape winter, they have a place in Final in each of the first three seasons of the franchise’s existence. Punta Gorda, Fla., on the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s still a great feeling that some people remember us,” said Sabourin, Former Blues linemate Frank St. Marseille has a place a couple hours now 76. “Most of us were just down-to-earth guys from a little town. away on the Atlantic side in Lake Worth. They hook up whenever Hardly had any money. We couldn’t believe how popular we were in (St possible in Florida. Louis). It was a fantastic experience.” “It’s worked out really good,” Sabourin said. “I didn’t think my retirement When he was traded to Toronto on May 27, 1974, Sabourin was the would be this much fun.” Blues’ career leader in games played (464), goals (136) and points (267). Not bad for someone whose family had no television, no car, no running Called up from the Blues’ minor-league affiliate in Kansas City on Dec. 4, water and thus no indoor toilet facilities growing up in Britt. 1967 — his 24th birthday, Sabourin scored 13 goals as a rookie. Not bad at all. But after the season, the Blues told him he needed to do better “I was very inattentive in school, very bad,” Sabourin said. “All I wanted to finishing his scoring opportunities. do was play hockey, and I’m lucky I hit the right cycle.”

So here’s what he did: He bought 100 pucks from the minor hockey Otherwise, he might have spent a lot more time working at his uncle’s organization in Parry Sound — the legendary Bobby Orr’s home 45 marina. minutes north of Britt. And he shot pucks every day into a backyard net. “When I was younger that was sort of the plan,” Sabourin said. But there’s more. His uncle (from the marina business) had purchased an old railroad bridge that was about to be demolished. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.18.2020 The timbers on the train trestle were held together with huge bolts. Sabourin took a nut from the end of a bolt and slid it down his hockey stick where the shaft met the heel.

“The nut might have weighed two pounds,” Sabourin said.

Taking countless shots over the course of the summer, the added weight strengthened his wrists. 1175782 Toronto Maple Leafs

The possibility of the NHL playing games in Canada is up to the federal government, Doug Ford says

By Kevin McGran Wed., June 17, 2020

When it comes to Toronto becoming a possible hub city for the NHL this summer, Ontario Premier Doug Ford passed the puck back to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“That’s going to be up to the federal government,” Ford said Wednesday in his daily briefing. “But I think it would be great for Toronto.”

Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver want to be one of the hub cities that would host 12 teams as part of the Stanley Cup playoffs after the season was paused March 12 for the coronavirus pandemic.

Ford said the federal guidelines for self-isolating when people arrive in Canada — they must quarantine for 14 days — stand in the way of the NHL setting up shop in Toronto.

“If (the federal government decides players need) to self-isolate for two weeks, I guess the NHL won’t be coming to Canada,” Ford said. “That’s fine. Whatever works.”

Trudeau had a different message on Tuesday, suggesting his government would not stand in the NHL’s way is all layers of government and public health officials were on board with the league playing in Canada. But he also said the Canada-U.S. Border would remain closed to all but essential traffic until July 21.

More than 156,000 people, including 98,000 truckers, crossed into Canada at a land border during the week of June 1-7, according to the Canadian Border Service Agency. More than 26,000 travellers came to Canada by plane, including nearly 7,000 from the United States, the agency said.

The NHL is believed to have proposed the idea of a group quarantine, which would keep the players, coaches, trainers and other staff separate from the population at large.

“They have some stringent testing requirements that the NHL has put in place,” Ford said. “They said they were going to test their players every single day even though the medical advisers have told me they don’t need to be tested every day. But they’re going to test them everyday, keep them self-isolated from Point A to Point B, from the hotel to the rinks.

“The NHL has gone above and beyond what they need to do. But it’s going to be up the federal government to make that decision.

“In August, I personally would like to see the NHL. But I’m not making that call.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175783 Toronto Maple Leafs He couldn’t handle it. “It started to snowball on me, getting more and more difficult,” Raycroft

said of his time in Toronto. “I just didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t Martin Andrew Raycroft on his difficult time as a Maple Leaf: ‘I wish I asked for Brodeur. I wasn’t Patrick Roy, where I had the talent or the pedigree to help’ just to play my way out of it. I needed confidence and I needed mental clarity and I wasn’t able to find that.”

Raycroft’s backup that first year was J-S Aubin, who had put up a By James Mirtle Jun 17, 2020 charmed 9-1-2 run to end the previous season, earning an NHL job. But Aubin was one of the worst goalies in the NHL that next season, with an

.876 save percentage. With many of their jobs on the line — including There was a moment when Andrew Raycroft’s predicament in Toronto GM John Ferguson, Jr., and head coach Paul Maurice — the Leafs felt crystallized for him. they had no choice but to ride Raycroft into the ground.

He was two months in as the starting goaltender for the Maple Leafs in He started 71 of 82 games that year, despite his struggles, and his December 2006 and Toronto, at that point, was a middle-of-the-pack numbers dipped as the year went on. team. They had thumped the New York Rangers at home on a Saturday When the Leafs missed the playoffs by a point, he remembers it as the night in a 9-2 win, with Kyle Wellwood putting up a hat trick and getting “second worst day” of his career next to only the Bruins’ Game 7 loss in all the headlines. the 2004 playoffs. Raycroft had put everything he had into that difficult Raycroft was headed to lunch the next day with his wife and had a first season in Toronto — winning a franchise record 37 games — and pleasant thought. still come up short.

“You know what?” Raycroft said. “I can actually read the paper today.” He beat himself up over that season for a long time, falling into a deep funk. “You feel like such a failure,” he said. He shouldn’t have looked at the paper that day. Raycroft wishes he could have handled the adversity differently, like “I think I gave up two goals, with one goal late in the third period and it seeking out a sports psychologist to help him manage the ridiculous didn’t mean anything,” Raycroft remembered. “I was playing so many highs and lows of starting for the Leafs. But that wasn’t in vogue at the games and just wanted to win. I was like I’d like to pick up the paper and time. And he was very worried he would be branded as soft mentally if read it. And I’ll never forget: The first paragraph of the article is ‘Raycroft that ever got out. didn’t have a great night in net and gave up a weak second goal.’ Raycroft doesn’t know if he suffered depression while with the Leafs, but “And I remember it so well. It did affect you a little bit. I remember I was he doesn’t rule it out either. mad. Like why? Why would anybody write this?! And to try and make it negative about me and a 9-2 win? So then I knew I could never read the “I don’t know. I’m sure there was. I wasn’t happy, that’s for sure,” papers again. There’s no way you can not hear stuff in Toronto.” Raycroft said. “It was hard for me to be excited about anything and get to the rink and I don’t know. I don’t know if it was depression clinically or (Editor’s note: We weren’t able to find the particular article from that day. what exactly that feels like, but there was certainly times when I was But it was not written by your author.) really sad and just didn’t want to deal with anything.

Nearly 14 years later, Raycroft can talk comfortably about his time in “It was still at a time where it wasn’t frowned upon but (getting help) Toronto. But at the time — for a kid from nearby Belleville who had gone wasn’t encouraged by any means. And it goes to the point of me not from a nondescript fifth-round pick to winning a Calder Trophy in Boston really having the confidence to go and ask for help and just trying to deal to the Leafs starter — the experience quickly turned into a nightmare. with it myself. I don’t really have many regrets. I tried my best (in Toronto). But I wish I asked for help. Because it would have helped me Raycroft was acquired that summer in a high profile trade that you may — there’s no question, mentally, I would have been able to find a few have heard about. The Leafs sent 19-year-old prospect Tuukka Rask to things that could have got me a little bit of focus and a little bit more the Bruins for Raycroft, who was coming off a dismal season in then- confidence from just talking about what I was dealing with on a daily rebuilding Boston and was being pushed out of the crease by Tim basis. Thomas and Hannu Toivonen. “Because I didn’t talk to anybody about it. How much random little things It’s a deal that now lives in infamy in Toronto. Rask became the Bruins hurt and how much I’m losing focus because of this and that. It would starter three years later and has been one of the NHL’s best goaltenders have made miles of difference, I believe, had I been able to just go and ever since. talk to someone. But if that had got out in the media that I was going to Raycroft? see someone? I was scared of that happening and looking even more weak than not just playing bad and losing games, but also looking like I Well, we’ll get into that. can’t handle it.”

From Raycroft’s perspective, coming to the Leafs was a fresh start. It Raycroft had a miserable summer of 2007, especially after the Leafs was close to home — a two-hour drive to his parents’ house — and acquired Vesa Toskala from San Jose and immediately signed him to a Toronto had a veteran team that narrowly missed the playoffs a year big contract. He could tell he was in trouble, and he was really struggling earlier. The 2006-07 Leafs were led by captain Mats Sundin, Tomas to get over how the previous season had unravelled, even when he Kaberle, Bryan McCabe, Darcy Tucker and Jeff O’Neill, seemingly arrived at the next year’s training camp. enough talent to end Toronto’s playoff drought after one season. “I was reeling a little bit already, and then that (Toskala) trade happened, After he was the NHL’s rookie of the year in 2003-04, Raycroft now and there was … I got married that summer,” Raycroft said. “There’s just realizes that the full-season lockout of 2004-05 was a huge detriment to so much going on that I wasn’t completely mentally ready to deal with his career, as he went the bulk of that season without playing, at 24 everything that was going to go into that next season. The struggles that I years old. When the NHL resumed, the league had changed, becoming a had, the team had, and just dealing with having that goaltending power play filled game with slimmed down goalie equipment. controversy basically every day in a big market like Toronto. I wasn’t able The Bruins at that point were built more for the old NHL and had a to really focus on just playing my game and blocking out the noise at that terrible season. They traded Joe Thornton to San Jose early on and the time. rest of the year was a mess, leading into a full-scale housecleaning that “It certainly snowballs on you. I was sensitive. And I was more sensitive included the Raycroft for Rask deal at the draft. by the start of that second season. I felt I really did put a lot into that Raycroft was in Italy with his then-girlfriend, who he had just proposed to. season the year prior and then to miss out (on the playoffs). I was He was ecstatic to get out of Boston and land close to home, with a much extremely sensitive to any criticism — to a fault, no question to a fault. I better team. But he acknowledges now that his confidence had been should have been able to be a little bit mentally stronger, and block it out, shaken — and the media scrutiny on a Leafs team that had missed the and realize that it really, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. I was still playoffs for the first time in ages the year before was not a good young, still just trying to make it, and no question dealing with it every combination. day (in Toronto), it wears on you. If you’re not confident, if you’re not truly got traded for a really good goalie, it’s not that bad. That’s kind of where believing in yourself, it can be really negative.” I’m at right now. That’s the way I see it.

Raycroft had his worst NHL season that year, winning just twice in 19 “You get out of hockey and you realize it’s not everything. You try and appearances, and was bought out in the summer of 2008. Four years move on from that. That’s not easy either. There’s some days I don’t after winning the Calder Trophy, he was on the verge of being out of the know what I’m doing, but you do the best you can (in retirement). But you league. get away (from the game) and you realize how hard it actually is to make it. I think when you make it, you forget that. He caught on as a backup in Colorado, Vancouver and Dallas to end his career. He remembers his time with the Canucks most fondly, as he was “I didn’t recognize it all the way through. I just had a goal, had a vision, behind on one of the best teams in the NHL and had a and I was going to get there. Now I see all these 18-year-old and 19- strong bounce-back season. year-old kids doing everything they can, and they’re never going to make it. And there’s so many of those guys. So I feel really lucky. Despite the Vancouver was where the healing started for him, as he began to love negative times, you still feel positive as time goes by. That you were able the game again. He became a father. And he gained perspective on what to go through that and be stronger for it.” had come before. The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 Meanwhile, Raycroft would return every offseason to Boston, his wife’s hometown. Rask had begun to start for the Bruins, and it was quickly clear he would be a star. He won the Stanley Cup — against many of Raycroft’s former teammates in Vancouver — in 2011 and then the Vezina Trophy a few years later.

Raycroft and Rask now live a few miles apart from one another in Boston and have many mutual friends. They’ll golf together and share a beer once in a while. Rask’s children go to the same preschool that Raycroft’s three kids graduated from.

They’re still connected by this weird piece of hockey history, a bad mistake made by Ferguson — who now works for the Bruins front office — half a lifetime ago. The trade gave Rask a chance to star with one of the best teams in the NHL over the past decade. It also effectively ended Raycroft’s time as an NHL starter.

But Raycroft isn’t bitter. He looks back fondly on the teammates he had in Toronto and the games he was able to play well in and win.

He knows that, as a small, skinny teenager who was drafted late, he beat the odds to play in nearly 300 NHL games. And the adversity he faced as a Leaf is now in perspective a little more, as he’s found his place in the game as an analyst on the Bruins NESN broadcasts during games.

He loves the challenge of being on TV and is working hard to improve, with the goal to one day be a regular on national broadcasts.

“Yeah, it is odd the fact that I live three miles from Tuukka,” Raycroft said. “Boston’s not the biggest place so we cross paths. That thread (of the trade in my life) is … odd, I guess. But it doesn’t bother me anymore. I think it certainly bothered me in 2007, 2008. But Tuukka’s kind of been the best goalie forever. We can go into the whole trade — what if the trade was (Justin) Pogge for me rather than Tuukka?

“Would things have been completely different (without the trade)? Obviously, yes … But it’s not like a personal thing, right? It’s like a weird (coincidence). It obviously changed all of our lives, but it’s not personal at the same time. It’s so far away. It just doesn’t come up.

“I think you have kids and you get older and you realize, like, I can’t hang on to that. And I’m really lucky to have been able to accomplish what I did. Instead of getting hung up on a trade that just happened to go the way it did — you know what? That wasn’t really about me anyways.”

To this day, Raycroft remains friends with many of his former Leafs teammates. He lists Nik Antropov, Matt Stajan and Tucker as three who he sees every summer, when they play in golf tournaments or alumni games.

O’Neill, for his part, calls Raycroft one of his favourite teammates ever.

“I love that guy,” he said, when I mentioned I was writing this story.

Raycroft is thankful he can pop into the Leafs alumni box during games when he’s in town. He’ll shake hands and meet some of the legends and feel proud that he played here, too.

Did it go the way he wanted? No, not at all. And the fans would likely rather have Tuukka Rask.

But he did the best he could, under the circumstances. And he’s made peace with his role in it all.

“It took a while,” Raycroft said. “It’s just time. I certainly wasn’t comfortable in my skin back then. I never would have talked about this trade in 2009, 2010 — even when I first retired, I wasn’t talking about it. But time passes. You realize if the worst thing that happens in my life is I 1175784 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights prospects named to Canada’s world junior camp

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal June 17, 2020 - 11:27 am

Golden Knights prospects Peyton Krebs and Kaedan Korczak were named to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Development Camp. Hockey Canada invited 41 players for the virtual camp that will take place July 27 to 31. The 2021 World Junior Championship is set for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. Krebs was a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) by the Knights last year and posted 60 points in 39 games with Winnipeg of the Western Hockey League. The center was not able to compete in last summer’s camp after he sustained a partially torn Achilles before the NHL draft. Korczak was named the top defenseman for Kelowna of the WHL for the second consecutive season and set career highs with 11 goals and 38 assists. He was a second-round pick (No. 41 overall) by the Knights in 2019. Forward Marcus Kallionkieli, selected in the fifth round last summer, is expected to be named to Finland’s development camp. Also, Luke Tuch, the younger brother of Knights wing Alex Tuch, was named to the 43-player roster for the U.S. World Junior Summer Showcase. Knights 2019 fifth-round pick Isaiah Saville, a goaltender on the U.S. team last season that lost in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Championship, was not eligible to be selected to this year’s camp based on his age.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175785 Vegas Golden Knights

The entrepreneurial Ryan Reaves still driven by his passion for the game

By Justin Emerson (contact) Wednesday, June 17, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Ryan Reaves wanted to clear up a misconception. Yes, he started a brewery in Las Vegas. Yes, he built a house here and has started planning for life after hockey. But, first, there is plenty of hockey to play and a championship to win. Reaves signed a two-year extension with the Golden Knights this week not because of any business ventures or lifestyle choices in Las Vegas, but because he wants to play hockey for the Golden Knights. “For sure I’ve heard people say that you probably could have gotten me cheaper because I have the business and everything, but at the end of the day hockey comes first for me,” Reaves said. “The hockey business decision had to be before the beer business.” Reaves, a 33-year-old winger, is one of the Golden Knights’ most popular players because of his bruising style on the ice. And, of course, there was the game-winning goal in the clinching game of the Western Conference Finals in 2018 and the game-tying goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. He opened 7Five Brewing Co. in late 2018 and has seen that grow to three locations with a fourth coming soon. “I’m a guy that is trying to ingrain myself in this community because I fell in love with it,” Reaves said. “I don’t think that it was a secret that I love it here and wanted to stay. “This is the No. 1 place I wanted to be. I didn’t want to leave.” Golden Knights fan favorite Ryan Reaves is shown at Hyde Lounge at T- Mobile Arena. Reaves, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, carried a cap hit of $2.78 million on the two-year deal he signed in 2018. With Vegas needing every dollar it can get against next year’s cap, he came a little cheaper this time around at $1.75 million against the cap in a deal that expires in 2022. “He’s widely respected across the league by both teammates and opponents,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He’s not cheap; he’s honest, he’s tough, he’s hard. He’s a really intelligent player. The coaching staff really appreciates what he does for our team.” When Reaves signed his last contract, then-general manager and now- president of hockey operations George McPhee said Reaves would keep the “flies out of the honey,” a reference to him playing the lionized-yet- antiquated role of enforcer. He used to do that, with 62 fights in eight seasons before arriving in Vegas. Whether an enforcer is necessary in today’s NHL is debatable as teams seem less inclined to use a roster spot on a lesser-skilled tough guy over a player who can put the puck in the net. Besides, linemate William Carrier was sixth in the league in hits last year and even star winger Max Pacioretty had two scraps this season, one fewer than Reaves. He’s only dropped the gloves six times in his two-plus seasons in Vegas, and has instead seen his scoring numbers increase — 17 of his 48 goals in a 10-year career have come in Vegas. “In Pittsburgh, there were some nights I was playing four minutes a night,” Reaves said. “When I came here, my minutes almost doubled right away, even though my production in Pittsburgh wasn’t that high. But they obviously saw something in the game that I brought that they allowed me to play and just be myself.” Rest assured, Reaves is still not afraid to throw his body around, such as when he fought longtime rival Evander Kane in the playoffs last season. “I’ve caught myself recently saying, ‘I’ve got the itch to put my fist in somebody’s face,’ or lay somebody out into the boards,” Reaves said. “I’m anxious to get back on the ice.”

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175786 Vegas Golden Knights The answer is yes, said Kathleen Richards, the city of Henderson’s PR staffer.

Dalrymple said his group has no beef with the Golden Knights or the Henderson Group Opposing Public Money For VGK’s Minor League concept of a minor league hockey arena. The coalition, however, does Hockey Arena At Pavilion Site Asserts New Silver Knights Logo Looks not want public money used for an arena project while arguing the Like Dark Horse Wines’ Logo pavilion site at Green Valley Parkway near Paseo Verde Parkway is not a good location for the arena. The group believes the AHL arena should be built near the Raiders headquarters and Henderson executive airport in western Henderson. June 17, 2020 “The very quality of life that attracted them to the pavilion site is the Alan Snel Bill Foley, Eric Tosi, John Dalrymple quality of life they will permanently damage,” Dalrymple said. He argued the new arena would create traffic problems for an already busy area where 18,000 residents live within a mile radius from the events center Things might be getting a little sticky for the Vegas Golden Knights in the site. “They picked the wrong site.” city of Henderson.

A community group that opposes Henderson city officials using public dollars on a VGK minor league hockey arena at the Henderson Pavilion Vegas Golden Knights site says it has enough signatures to force a public vote on the $84 million hockey venue deal. The group says it has collected about 2,900 signatures to stage a referendum in November asking city voters whether city government should use public assets to rebuild the Henderson Pavilion into the 6,000-seat Henderson Events Center to house the VGK’s new Henderson Silver Nights of the American Hockey League, a Triple A pro hockey league. The organization says 2,117 verified petition signatures are needed to force a public vote. And now the group, which is called the Henderson Coalition for Responsible Government, is also raising another issue. Group members are contacting California-based Dark Horse Wines because they believe the Henderson Silver Knights logo looks strikingly similar to the wine’s logo. E&J Gallo Winery owns the Dark Horse brand. Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, who just happens to owns multiple wineries and wine brands in California, ran into a trademark dispute with the U.S. Army three years ago over the Golden Knights name and mark because the Army’s “Golden Knights” are also the branch’s parachute team. The trademark dispute was resolved nearly two years ago with a trademark coexistence agreement. Henderson Coalition for Responsible Government spokesman John Dalrymple said he works in advertising and believed the Silver Knights and Dark Horse logos were too similar. “If I was working with a client, I would advise them to step away from that (logo) because the similarities are so close,” Dalrymple said Wednesday. A woman contacted the Henderson coalition group with this email after she saw the Dark Horse logo: “Good morning. Last night we were at Claim Jumper and I noticed a bottle of wine behind the bar the symbol looks interestingly identical to the Silver Knights logo. It is Dark Horse wines and we just looked it up, owned by Gallo vineyards. Wonder if Gallo released this with their approval or if this might be copy right infringement?” Take a look at the Silver Knights (first one) and the Dark Horse logos. Golden Knights PR head Eric Tosi said the Silver Knights-Dark Horse logos were not an issue. And the Henderson City Council forged ahead Tuesday by awarding the design/build contract to a local team headed by The Whiting Turner Contracting Company as lead design builder. Other companies involved in the pavilion-to-arena rebuild are Las Vegas-based Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors as lead architect and Perkins and Will (P+W, Inc. Nevada as specialty architect. The projected Henderson Events Center completion date is June 2022. The city’s outside PR consultant Melissa Warren spread the word Wednesday that, “The $84 million contract requires the awardee to design and build the project to requirements established by the City and SK Arena, LLC, an affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights and owner of the Henderson Silver Knights, for a maximum price guarantee of $70 million with $14 million preserved for technology and contingencies. Project costs are being shared equally through a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and SK Arena.” The city of Henderson will contribute $42 million in public money to the project, while Foley’s VGK will pay the other $42 million. After the city council approved the design/build contract Tuesday, the coalition’s Dalrymple asked today, “Can the city go forward with construction design and work while there is a pending ballot initiative?” 1175787 Washington Capitals

Joe Beninati recognized by local Emmy chapter as the Board of Governors Award Honoree

By J.J. Regan June 17, 2020 1:12 PM

To many, the voice of Joe Beninati is synonymous with the Capitals. He is truly one of the best of the business and it's not just me who thinks so. The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS-NCCB) announced Wednesday that Beninati will receive the 2020 Board of Governors Award. Beninati will receive the award at the Emmy Awards Gala on Aug. 8. "The Board of Governors Award reaches beyond those usually awarded for television news and production by recognizing achievements by individuals, organizations or companies in community service or other worthwhile endeavors within the National Capital Chesapeake Bay's region," a statement from the NATAS-NCCB read. "Historically, the Board of Governors Award is presented for truly outstanding achievement and unique accomplishment of some duration and durability." In his 25-year-tenure as the Caps' play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports Washington, Beninati has won 14 NATAS-NCCB Emmy Awards. Along with color analyst , the duo is the only television team many Caps fans have ever known. “Joe Beninati makes an impact well outside of his role as an announcer,” said Chapter President, Jason Gittlen via the statement. “He has become a leading advocate and representative for the Capitals and NBC Sports Washington in the community, helping build the sport of hockey and giving back to those in need through his support of countless causes and events. Joe is also a selfless colleague and mentor to many, helping guide rising professionals through the ranks and providing advice to those looking to break into the field." The last part of that quote is absolutely true. Beninati is a pleasure to work with and the award is well-deserved.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175788 Washington Capitals

Even as players return to the ice, coaches remain in the dark on how to prepare for the season

By J.J. Regan June 17, 2020 6:00 AM

While it appears from the outside looking in that the NHL is inching its way towards a resumption of the season, on the inside there still remains a lot of uncertainty, especially for the coaches. The players may be back on the ice for Phase 2 of the NHL's return to play plan, but the coaches are not. What the coaches are and are not allowed to do is a frequently changing subject that makes it difficult for head coaches to know what to expect or to prepare for camp or the playoffs. "I think this is a first for everybody, that's for sure," Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said in a video conference Monday. "You can try to compare it to whatever is out there in terms of lockouts and different situations, but no one's ever gone through what we're going through now. … That probably was one of the first things I said to our staff and I said to our players is we have to be able to adjust and adapt and fight through some things." As of now, the head coaches are not allowed in the team facilities with the players and it does not appear they have any timeline for when that may change. "I'm not allowed at this point to even be at the arena," Reirden said. "That's a specific rule for the head coach. Now maybe that changes and I can get back there. But as of right now, following along with the rules -- and there are very strict rules -- and there's a lot that goes into even what staff you're having with those players and what players are there and how you form those groups. It's been very interesting and something that's a unique challenge, something you've never had to go through in the past." When Phase 2 began, it really only applied to the players. The good news, however, is that the team recently found out that a limited number of assistant coaches will be allowed on the ice soon. Starting Thursday, the Caps will have goalie coach Scott Murray as well as assistant coach Blaine Forsythe out with the players in team activities. "There seem to be little intricacies that are added on a daily basis and it’s how you respond to it," Reirden said. "For example, when we found out that we were going to be able to have a goalie coach, we immediately got in touch with Scott Murray, he made some adjustments to his plans and he got into town [Sunday] so that he can do his testing and be ready to go onto the ice so that on that first opportunity that he can work with Braden [Holtby], he can work with him. Blaine Forsythe came in on Saturday to the DC area and he’s ready to get on the ice and work with Lars Eller and Evgeny Kuznetsov, work with two centermen right away and with John Carlson, a power-play guy. We’re reacting when we gain knowledge and we acknowledge as a staff that we have to be prepared and be on our toes for whatever comes our way." That, at least, is progress, but it is a reflection of how much more work there is left to do before the season can actually begin. The details for Phase 2, voluntary activities at team facilities, are changing on a day-to-day basis. There is still a lot of information the coaches don't know about how Phase 3, training camps, will look despite a July 10 start date already having been announced. There are still several details that need to be worked out for the resumption of the season as well, and all of those details are critical for head coaches in terms of their preparation. "I'm still hoping to hear more details here as we get going towards Phase 3 and how training camp's going to look," Reirden said. "We've got a number of different things that we're prepared for and how those can go, whether it be the exact number of players or amount of time we can be on the ice or how that's going to go. As for now, I'm just working on Phase 2."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175789 Winnipeg Jets But my idea of “Why not me?” came when I would look at people and broadcasters on TV and say, “That’s what I want to do.” And it’s like yes, but thousands of people — tens of thousands people — want to do that job, if you’re looking at some of the big American networks. I just said, Q&A: Sara Orlesky on breaking into broadcasting and Winnipeg’s love “Yeah, but somebody has to do it. So why not me?” It was something that for the Jets I came up with and for some reason, it stuck with me as being a motto that I could always go back on. “Yep, someone’s gonna do this job. So why not me?” It’s something that I’ve tried to — whenever there have By Murat Ates been doubts in my mind or maybe I’m going for something that is out of my comfort zone, I try to go back to the “Why not me” sort of motto. I’m Jun 17, 2020 hoping that as my daughter gets older she’s able to pick up on it as well. You have a question-asking style that I’ve always seen as having a lot of empathy in it. The Blake Wheeler interview from the beginning of last Ask TSN’s Sara Orlesky to cover the Stanley Cup playoffs, Grey Cup or season comes to mind. I feel like you give people safety to talk about real Olympic Games and you can bank on her composure and life without judgment. There must be so much that goes into that. professionalism. She’s reported on amateur and professional sport at the highest levels in the world. I appreciate that. That’s really nice because I think that’s something that I do try to do. I don’t know if it’s always been my personality but, probably Ask her to talk about herself? the more that I’ve gotten older and have a family of my own, I feel a lot of She’ll do it. She just wishes the microphone was pointed at anyone else empathy.These are real people that you’re talking to and, if you have to in the room — and ideally in her hands. ask a question — especially if it’s difficult — I try to never be accusatory or ever make them feel like their back needs to go up. Orlesky recently caught up with The Athletic to talk about her journey from Winnipeg to Canada’s biggest markets and back, her deep respect If someone screws up in a game or you’ve cost your team a win or for the Jets’ role in Winnipeg’s community, and the journalism dream whatever it might be, I feel for the person. These are people too and I she’s maintained since she was a girl. She also took time to share her think that sometimes we forget that. I joke that off camera, sometimes I’m perspective on being one of the few women in Manitoban sports media nodding almost like a mother that’s saying, “It’s OK.” Because and why she thinks it’s a better time to be a woman in sports media than sometimes, with all of the emotion in the heat of the game, especially ever before. when you’re talking about it with a younger player, I just feel for them. I can’t imagine what that must feel like, especially with some of the But as the conversation moved from two colleagues catching up to a pressure and the reaction — with social media and that sort of thing that proper interview, she felt compelled to share a warning. people put out there. So I do think that that’s one of the things that I try to do — to have empathy towards the players. “Just to let you know, I feel incredibly awkward and odd talking about myself. So I apologize if there’s any awkwardness on on my end. It just You famously told TSN that if Winnipeg ever got its NHL team back, you always feels weird and absurd to talk about myself.” wanted to be their person. What’s the story there? That aw-shucks, speak-highly-about-others-before-talking-about-yourself (Laughs) Yeah. We were living in Toronto and my daughter, at that time, attitude is a cliche in dressing rooms from coast to coast to coast. That it was a year old. She had just celebrated her first birthday. comes from someone known for her work in front of the camera — Orlesky has been TSN’s lead reporter in Winnipeg since the broadcaster When it looked more and more like Winnipeg might be getting a team opened a local bureau 2011 — well, that’s a little unusual. back, being in downtown Toronto — as great as it is, we come from really tight-knit families and we wanted to raise our daughter around family. But Orlesky comes by her humility honestly. After a Winnipeg Free Press That was really important to us. profile from a little while back was released, she remembers talking to a Jets player with a newfound sense of empathy. Her interview had gone So I asked. When it looked like the bureau was going to come back, I well. The feeling of being in the spotlight was simply too awkward to was like, “You have to move me back to Winnipeg. Please move be bear. back.” And I said, “Be honest, how many people are looking to move from Toronto or another large centre to Winnipeg.” I mean, it’s usually the “I can’t remember who I was joking with but it was one of the players and reverse. Most people are looking to get into larger markets. I just said I said, ‘Oh my God, if this is what I make you guys feel like, I really that, from a work/life balance and for my family, it was really important to apologize. I hope you don’t feel like that!’ I’m sweating profusely as he’s me. interviewing me: ‘I don’t know! What is my name? I’m not sure!'” Plus, the idea of going back — and even though the franchise obviously Orlesky’s combination of empathy and humour — plus her love for TSN’s existed before in Atlanta — but the return of a team, and to do it in your Jets broadcasts — runs through this Q&A. hometown, and to see it from the beginning was very neat. And then we were very fortunate that after I’d already agreed to come back, TSN was When you were on The Boarding Pass, you told us that you always knew able to get the broadcast rights. And that’s just made it that much more journalism was going to be your thing. How did you know that? enjoyable and fantastic. I absolutely feel so fortunate to be a part of the Jets on TSN family. We’re a tight-knit group and I love them to pieces. I grew up watching sports and playing sports but, when I was younger I We take so much pride in it. It really means a lot to us how the would really watch sports all the time with my dad. And I just remember broadcasts turn out — we take a lot of ownership over it. It’s been really sitting with him — and it was football in particular, where we would sit special. and watch some of the reporters, whether it be on pregame shows or doing sideline hits. They had the opportunity to be right down there on I’m trying to find the word but you sound almost like an ambassador. the field talking about the game and I thought, “That just seems like the coolest job.” Not only do they get to cover something like this, but they’re Well, it’s funny because when I first moved back to Winnipeg, people right down there in the action. From the beginning, I just thought it looked from other cities would go, “Oh, you’ve moved to Winnipeg!” It was as if like if I was going to do something with sports, that was going to be the there was a stigma that would be attached to it — you’ve left Toronto and most appealing aspect of it. now you’ve gone to Winnipeg. I would say, “Well, I’m from here and my family’s still here.” They’d go, “Oh! That makes sense.” I remember talking to someone that I went to junior high with — years later, once I started my career. She had said to me, she remembers that But when you see the pride that this city has in the Jets and what it this is what I always said I wanted to do. I just don’t ever recall thinking means to the community, I just feel so fortunate to be a part of it. When that I could do anything else. I get really squeamish around blood, loose my daughter was in kindergarten, girls would come out from her class teeth, anything like that. So the medical profession was immediately and say, “I was watching you on TV last night!” Or there would be kids at eliminated for me. This is the only thing that I ever really remember the pool that would stop by and go, “Oh, can you believe this happened?” wanting to do — to be in sports broadcasting. Just everywhere you went, people would want to talk about it. It’s such a thread through this community and such a bond for so many. It’s pretty You’ve also said that your mom had a real impact in terms of your special to have been able to be a part — a very, very small part — of attitude. I don’t know if I have the quote right but was it: “Why not me”? that. What’s the origin of that mantra of yours? I’ve known a lot of people who do what I call a “Winnipeg pilgrimage,” My mom’s line to us growing up was always “You go girl.” And I always where you grow up in the city or near the city and you think, “OK, I gotta joke about how, when I was a teenager, I thought it was the cheesiest go see something bigger than this.” And then you leave. And then you line ever. find that there’s something about Winnipeg’s “big small town” attitude that just completely shifts in you. All of a sudden, it makes sense to you in a different way and you want that again. It sounds like maybe you went through that Winnipeg journey in a couple of ways. That was very much me. I definitely wanted to get out when I was younger and go off, but priorities changed after having my daughter. And you always hear players speak about this — particularly ones that played with Jets 1.0 — it’s just about the people. And I just find that it’s so true — it’s painfully cold here most winters but we are a tough, tight-knit group. And I think even more now with everything that’s been going on throughout the world, that sense of community exists here. There’s so many wonderful people in this city and I think that it’s just a great spot. It’s not going to be a fit for everybody — and I don’t fault anybody who it’s not a fit for — just like being in downtown Toronto wasn’t a perfect fit for me. I’m really big on manners and please and thank you. So when the hustle bustle of some cities, where people are just in their own little world all the time, it would be very frustrating when you’d hold the door open and people would just walk right past and there would be no “Thank you.” I’d go, “What is wrong — it’s just a simple thank you!” I sometimes take that to an extreme, I’m told, but just feel it aligns. This sounds awfully Manitoban of you. I know! It does. So even if I’m in Winnipeg and it doesn’t happen, let’s say you let someone in, you let the car in front of you into the lane and people don’t give you the courtesy wave, it drives me crazy. There’s one thing that I take so much pride in — when other parents or people tell me how my daughter has great manners. It’s something I’ve taken so much pride in because it’s just been hammered into her. The “Please,” “Thank you,” and “Yes, it is rude that those people we let in front of us didn’t wave.” Yeah, maybe it is very Manitoban of me. I like that about Manitoba. But I also just generally like that attitude in any situation — the world is big enough for us to lift each other up and to be welcoming to somebody in a newsroom or to hold a door open for somebody. One of the things that I’ve noticed from afar is it looks like today’s generation of women in sports media really lifts each other up. I read articles all the time where, in the ’80s and ’90s, it was very cutthroat. And now it seems like there’s a real sense of women lifting up other women as well. I know you’re almost on an island in Winnipeg but is that something you see happening here? I do. And I think it’s tremendous. It’s so overdue and it’s so wonderful to see — that people understand that there is enough space out there for everybody. I think that it is a really competitive industry and bring in that there weren’t a lot of women that were in it, it was very competitive. There wasn’t that bond that seems to be there now. Whether it’s rinkside reporters or especially in the NBA, there’s just this bond, this sisterhood that exists between everybody — which I think is so tremendous to see. Because for challenges that, as a woman, that you’re going to go through, that even though you can talk to men about it, they don’t have the same level of understanding as another woman would have with it. To be able to bounce things off them and to know that other people are there that have your back, it’s just so great to see. And I think it’s something that hopefully, I’m aware of it from through the sports lens, but hopefully it’s something that you see more and more throughout all different industries and career paths. Is there anyone you’ve been able to lean on who’s been a great ambassador in that way? I’m a big believer that, if you find a great support system, it doesn’t have to be male or female. Mine have almost all been men. It’s just that a lot of the cities that I’ve been in didn’t have women that were there regularly. For me, unfortunately, I’ve always been a one reporter bureau, so you don’t have that network of support that you might if you were in studio at Sportcentre. I’ve always kind of been the lone wolf out on her own. But as I’ve said before, I’ve just had so many great people that I can turn to over the years and mine happened to have been men that really helped me out along the way. But I’m hoping that other women who are coming up in the industry — that either come through town here or are setting up in the business and are based out of Manitoba — feel that if they need to, that they have someone to talk to. I hope that they feel as if they can reach out.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175790 Vancouver Canucks score. If I put in the extra time and keep working from those spots, four or five maybe go in and that’s a big difference.”

To make that happen, Boeser was driven to get a jump on getting back to Ben Kuzma: Healthy Boeser big on bumping mental, scoring slumps to his native Minnesota to train and skate. boost Canucks A 28-hour journey across the Canada-U.S border from Vancouver, in a sleep-deprived dash, included paying for a friend’s flight to Montana and picking him up to share the drive. BEN KUZMA Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks, right, jumps out of the way of a June 17, 2020 4:22 PM PDT hit from Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers during NHL action on Dec. 1, 2019 in Vancouver.

“I drove nine or 10 hours the first day and was kind of in a panic because Perspective has never left Brock Boeser. we didn’t know if they were going to shut the border down,” said Boeser. For everything the Vancouver Canucks’ winger could obsess about — “I slept maybe an hour.” especially a four-week Feb. 10 rib cartilage injury and a career-worst, 12- Once settled, Boeser took advantage of more relaxed COVID-19 game goal drought when the NHL season was paused March 12 by the protocols in Minnesota and South Dakota. He has skated 10 times and novel coronavirus — he has always displayed a calm and dutiful currently trains and skates in a facility that’s a 30-minute drive from his demeanour. lake home. It should give him a leg up when training camp starts July 10. After all, how can a scoring funk really mess you up when there are He has been skating with NHL players Nick Leddy, T.J. Oshie, Justin serious health challenges on the home front and racial unrest in your Faulk and J.T. Brown. home state? “It’s huge and it’s going to help a lot,” said Boeser. “I was rusty my first When Boeser’s father, Duke, fell three weeks ago and suffered a broken skate and it was like I forgot to shoot a puck and stickhandle. But now I’m collarbone, it was another chapter in a series of setbacks. He has really feeling good.” Parkinson’s disease, has battled cancer and had a heart condition. So a fall and surgery? No big deal. Boeser purchased a stationary Peloton exercise bike to try and maintain endurance fitness. He has also been rollerblading with his buddies, “He took a tumble in the house and came outside and told us that he had running and also keeping his house in shape. broke his shoulder,” Boeser said Wednesday from his off-season home in Prior Lake, Minn. “A little bump in the road. We kind of didn’t believe “You bet I’ll be ready,” he promised. him.” As for that house, Boeser does much more than sit on the deck or jet ski And when Minneapolis was rocked by protests, rioting and looting on the lake. following the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who succumbed to the strain of the arresting officer kneeling on his neck for “I’m better at taking care of my house,” laughed Boeser. “I’ve started to 8:46 after a call about a suspected forgery, it rocked Boeser’s world. He make to-do lists and I’ve come a long way since last summer. Pretty was raised in nearby Burnsville, Minn. proud of myself. Got the backyard figured out and have put down some mulch. “I haven’t even been close to downtown and I’m 35 minutes away,” said Boeser. “I’ve always been one to kind of realize what’s more important in “As for food, I’m the salad guy and one roomie is the grill master and the world and there are bigger problems than sports itself. This is another another is the sides guy.” one of those things and obviously it’s a crazy time. Sounds like Boeser has it figured out on a lot of fronts. And if he can “You’ve just got to appreciate everything.” figure out how to score more consistently, then the resumed season will have a happier ending. That challenge has reached another level for the 23-year-old Boeser.

If the Canucks expect to move past the Minnesota Wild in the qualifying round of post-season play — should the season actually resume — Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.18.2020 they’ll need production from the right-winger who took the NHL by storm in 2017-18, was an All-Star Game MVP and Calder Trophy finalist. They’ll need Boeser to play on instinct and not worry about career back, wrist, groin and rib injuries affecting his game and mind. At his best, Boeser skates freely, finds his sweet shooting spot on the faceoff dot, picks his target and releases a hard and accurate shot without hesitancy. At his worst, he thinks too much. “A lot of it is just getting back to playing and using my instincts and it got me to where I am today and I’m just trying to feel like that again,” said Boeser. Boeser compiled 45 points (16-29) in 57 games this season. He had a hat trick and four points on Oct. 30 and two goals and eight shots on Jan. 11. He finished second in team shots, but his shooting percentage slipped to just 9.5 per cent. As much as his play without the puck improved, his offence didn’t. “Confidence is a big thing and that was probably the least confident I’ve ever been in the NHL, or maybe in my whole hockey career,” said Boeser. “Coach (Travis) Green and I even discussed it. I’m still young and learning and I’m in the NHL for a reason.” Boeser credits J.T. Miller with preparation perspective. The club’s leading scorer has led by example and it has rubbed off on younger players. You don’t post a career-high 72 points (27-45) in 69 games to finish 17th in league scoring by not leading the charge. “J.T. is vocal and that helps a lot,” said Boeser. “It’s just seeing the pride he takes in all areas of the game. I have high expectations to produce and it’s been a learning thing for me. It’s how you approach things when you come to the rink each day. “This was my first big slump in the NHL and you really can’t let it get to you mentally. I probably had 10 or 11 Grade A chances where I didn’t 1175791 Vancouver Canucks

Restaurateur David Hawksworth throws weight behind Vancouver NHL hub city hopes

PATRICK JOHNSTON June 17, 2020 2:11 PM PDT

The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association says they're backing the idea of the NHL coming to Vancouver this summer too. David Hawksworth, the chef behind Hawksworth Restaurant at the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, has come out in support of the Vancouver Canucks’ plan to host 12 NHL teams in a centralized hub plan beginning next month. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Hawksworth claimed the city could use the “economic boost” hosting half of the NHL’s still-active clubs might provide. He followed up by saying in a reply “I just want to see people back to work. As many as possible.” The Aquilini family also owns a number of rival restaurants to Hawksworth’s, under their Toptable Group brand. Hawksworth suggested that many other restaurants beyond his group — he also owns Nightingale Restaurant and Bel Cafe in Vancouver — and Toptable would be looking to feed the 600 or so people who would come to Vancouver as part of the hub city bubble plan if the NHL picks Vancouver. The large crowd would be isolated from the broader population at downtown hotels and would need to have all their meals catered. Charles Gauthier, the CEO of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, said his group supports the idea of Vancouver being chosen as a hub city by the league. “It would certainly greatly assist our member businesses,” he said. “There are many hotels that would work. It would have an impact for our bars, having TVs being able to show live sports would be a great draw. It would provide more opportunities for our hospitality sector to survive. Every little piece will play a part.” Las Vegas is reported to have a close shot at being one of the two hub cities because MGM has kept several high-end hotels closed that are in close proximity to T-Mobile Arena, including Park MGM and the Vdara, making for a large area that could be cordoned off from the rest of the strip and the general public. Other cities in contention for the second hub beyond Vancouver included Edmonton, Toronto, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, Minn., and Columbus, Ohio. Earlier this week, the Canucks announced the launch of a drive-through Canucks Marketplace at , where fans can pick up food from four Toptable restaurants — Elisa, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin and Thierry — and from other local eateries such as Cafe Medina, Dirty Apron and Earnest Ice Cream. Fans can also purchase food that would normally only be available during games and events at the arena.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175792 Vancouver Canucks Looking back at it now, with a better understanding of rate stats and shooting percentage regression, it’s evident that even through the leanest of the Sedin twins’ early years, they consistently produced even- strength points at credible second- or third-line rates, while playing a Introducing the Vancouver Canucks All-Fan Ire Team more prescribed role and relying almost exclusively on 5-on-5 play to drive their offence.

It’s often been believed that the twins took their big steps after the By Thomas Drance lockout, but increasingly, I’m convinced that the Jason King season in Jun 17, 2020 2003-04 was their real breakthrough. Even before that though, while they were under-appreciated and regarded as players that had been overhyped and failed to live up to their promise in those first few seasons, the Sedin twins were a lot more useful and a lot better than If sports fandom can be a complicated thing, then Vancouver Canucks fans (or Crawford, at least based on the ice time they received) seem to fandom is always a complicated thing. have understood. Vancouverites take their hockey seriously enough that observers Second team – Mason Raymond compare our civic relationship with the game to religious zeal. No Canucks forward in the franchise has ever been more misunderstood Throw in the fact that the Canucks are the city’s only franchise from one or under-appreciated than Mason Raymond. of the four major professional North American leagues, add a dash of radio wars, mix in 50 years without a Stanley Cup win, stir in multiple Here’s the real hockey story of what happened with Raymond. Baby Canucks-centric civic catastrophes in the wake of Stanley Cup Final faced and slight of frame, Raymond relied on speed to be effective in the losses and you’ve got one of the most unique, passionate, impenetrable NHL. And at the peak of his powers, he was an elite play driving second- hockey markets in the sport. line winger who scored at an excellent clip. And in a market like Vancouver, it’s inevitable that public opinion will That peak lasted three seasons from 2008 through to the end of the occasionally form around certain Canucks players, and a particular line of 2010-11 season when he sustained a fractured back in a collision with criticism will stick to them. Perhaps fans will collectively come to believe Johnny Boychuk during the Stanley Cup Final. that these players are playing too often (a la Jayson Megna), are overpaid (Loui Eriksson), are irredeemably over the hill (Mats Sundin) or Raymond put 53 points during the 2009-10 campaign and earned himself maybe they’re just holding the whole team back (Erik Gudbranson). a raise that summer. The Canucks’ front office signed Raymond to a smart bridge deal – though the public didn’t refer to shorter second And sometimes, those players are actually really good, or at least useful. contracts as bridge deals back then – that should’ve provided the team with a significant degree of surplus value. It would most likely have done With a hat-tip to our The Athletic Toronto colleagues Blake Murphy and so, had Raymond not sustained that severe injury. Eric Koreen, who performed this exercise with the Toronto Raptors, I thought it would be worthwhile to name first and second All-Fan Ire Now here’s where the perception gap began to open up for Raymond. Canucks Team. These are players who weren’t appreciated by The 2009-10 season represented a career-high in points, driven largely Vancouver fans for one reason or another but were high-quality players by 18 power-play points that Raymond generated on a productive second during their Canucks tenure. The goal is to build the best possible All- power-play unit that featured the likes of Ryan Kesler, Mikael Star style teams out of players that earned the ire of Canucks fans. Samuelsson, Christian Ehrhoff and most frequently Kyle Wellwood (who was oddly effective as a net-front screener). We’ll go position by position as we present The Athletic Vancouver’s Canucks All-Fan Ire Team: That summer though, assistant coach and power-play expert Newell Brown joined the organization. In addition to pioneering the set neutral Left Wing zone drop pass, Brown also loaded up the first unit to great effect. First team – Early career Kesler, Ehrhoff and eventually Samuelsson joined the Sedin twins on the first unit and the greatest power-play in Canucks franchise history Unrivalled now in the annals of Canucks history as the greatest players ventilated NHL penalty kills all season. and human beings in the history of the franchise, it’s surreal to look back and remember how widely, heavily and unfairly criticized the Sedins were What was good for the team overall, wasn’t good for Raymond’s during their first few seasons. production, however. As the 2010-11 Canucks season rolled along, Raymond’s production just wasn’t at the level that fans had come to Yes, there was indeed a time at the beginning of the 21st century that expect. Never mind that his two-way results were still sterling and that his Vancouver hockey fans regarded the Sedin twins as busts. scoring rate was flat year-over-year at 5-on-5: because the loud goals weren’t there, fans started to call Raymond a perimeter player. He wasn’t Acquired in a flurry of trades by then-general manager Brian Burke on hard enough to help the team win, it was said, among other unfair the NHL Draft floor in Boston in 1999, the twins spent an additional year charges. in Sweden and their arrival in North America was widely anticipated. However, it took them a bit to really hone their game, improve their He became the face of a derided top-six forward group that lots of skating and strength and develop into the cerebral, geometric forces they Canucks fans worried wasn’t good enough and would cost the best team became after the 2005 NHL lockout. in franchise history a shot at the Stanley Cup. Before they were the toast of this city though, they were regarded with Ultimately it was all ridiculous. The only actual difference in Raymond’s skepticism and impatience. As they worked to find their game, the twins game year-over-year between the 53 point season in 2009-10 and the 39 suffered all sorts of ludicrous, nativist and misogynist criticism from the point season in 2010-11? Raymond’s power-play production dropped very same Canucks fanbase that came to embrace them. from 18 points to six points in 2010-11, when he logged half as much power-play ice time and most regularly played with , Manny What’s interesting though, is that the twins were very probably much Malhotra and Jeff Tambellini. better than the public – or their head coach Marc Crawford – realized at the time. Playing a limited, bottom-six role on those fun, uptempo West Raymond might have had a bounce-back season eventually, but he Coast Express era Canucks teams, the twins were solidly productive never had the opportunity for positive regression. After the injury, his depth pieces, particularly considering the lack of power-play time. play-driving ability, at least based on the underlying numbers, never rebounded. Even as the fanbase was left wanting more from Daniel Sedin’s rookie season, he only scored one fewer goal than Calder Trophy winner Brad And instead of recognizing the impact that an injury of that severity might Richards, finishing behind Richards and – a Carolina have on a professional hockey player who relies heavily on speed to win Hurricanes winger who was four years Daniel’s senior – for third among battles, many Canucks fans instead concluded they were right about all rookies in goal scoring. Raymond all along. Then his shooting percentage dipped and his scoring dried up a bit as a During his peak Canucks years, Raymond was a high-end second-line sophomore, but in Year 3, he was scoring at a credible second-line rate forward with plus two-way ability. Considering that he literally broke his again even as he logged fewer than twelve-and-a-half minutes per game. back for the best team in franchise history, Raymond’s contributions By his fourth season, Daniel was a 50-point player in the dead puck era, deserve more respect from the Canucks fanbase. and even that barely changed the perception. Centre Criticism of the Sedin twins still lingered until after – and this is true – they proved they could get it done without . First team – early career Imagine a player today. He’s a centreman and he rarely sniffs the power At All-Star weekend, an episode unfolded that rather closely mirrored play. He wins 48 percent of his faceoffs and has gaudy plus/minus another situation that occurred with Kesler at the 2014 Sochi Winter numbers in a bottom of the lineup role. Olympics some 14 years later. This centreman finishes the season ranked 152nd among NHL forwards During the All-Star festivities, Messier made no secret in private in even-strength point production, producing even-strength points at an conversations that he’d like to be traded. The media runs wild with it. equivalent rate in the dead puck era as what Brett Connolly managed this past season. This player plays fewer than 13 minutes per game on In classic Messier fashion, however, the Canucks captain says all the average, and he’s just 21-years-old. right things when on the record, even as New York area media like Larry Brooks write that a trade is Messier’s preference, and moreover, that How would that player be talked about in the Vancouver market now? I Messier will only waive his no-trade clause if the fourth year on his guarantee you that sports talk radio callers, tweeters and /r/Canucks contract, a team option, is guaranteed. Keeping his hands clean in public, Redditors would be blasting the head coach daily for not bumping up this while negotiating with teams like Dallas and St. Louis through the press. player’s minutes significantly. That’s leadership. “He’s really playing fewer minutes per game than Donald Brashear?” Messier returns to Vancouver after the break and Burke and Messier meet. Messier never explicitly requests a deal and Burke insists that he’d Henrik Sedin, in his second full NHL campaign in 2001-02, was already never approach a player to waive their hard-earned no-trade clause — an extremely useful piece. In Vancouver, we just didn’t recognize it yet. which is classic Burke. The fact is, with how savvy hockey fans, broadcasters and analysts are So the 39-year-old Messier remains in Vancouver through the early these days, the twins would be regarded differently if they were just March trade deadline. And a funny thing happens: for the first time in his starting their careers now. Today, we’d recognize that without power-play Canucks career, Messier starts to play really, really well. And the team production, players logging bottom-six minutes shouldn’t be expected to starts to win. be 60-point guys. After 52 games in the 1999-2000 Canucks campaign, the club was in the And with the benefit of underlying data – which we don’t have for the bottom-five by point percentage and the prospect of seeing their high 2001-02 season, but I feel very confident in suggesting that the twins pick end up in Chicago was a distinct possibility. controlled play from Day 1 – it’s likely that the conversation around Henrik and Daniel if they entered the league today, would be significantly Any such concerns are put on hold during the final 30 games. Led by more favourable (not to mention civilized) than it was 20 years ago. Messier’s 26 points, the club caught fire, posted a sparkling 15-10-3-2 record – a 101 point pace – and clawed their way well out of the NHL The more I look into the twins’ performance in those early years, the cellar, missing the playoffs by four points. more convinced I am that they were a significant part of what made the West Coast Express era tick. So instead of being in the draft lottery and – depending on how the lottery balls bounced – surrendering a pick to Chicago that could’ve been turned It wasn’t just that the Canucks at the time had an absolute stud top line, into (second overall to the Atlanta Thrashers) or Marian playing entertaining hockey even as the rest of the NHL trapped it up, Gaborik (third overall to the Minnesota Wild), the Canucks instead boring mainstream sports fan. It was also that the Canucks bottom-six surrendered the 11th overall pick to Chicago. The Blackhawks selected forward group, with contributors like Matt Cooke, Artem Chubarov, Henrik Pavel Vorobiev, who played just 57 NHL games. Whatever. and Daniel Sedin, Jarkko Ruutu and Trevor Letowski was among the very best in the league. Can you imagine the increased scrutiny that Henrik and Daniel Sedin would have weathered in their early Vancouver years if Burke was being Second team – Mark Messier ground to minced meat daily for giving up the pick that turned into During his Canucks tenure, Mark Messier was actually good. Heatley or Gaborik? No, wait, hear me out. It would’ve been almost exactly like the scrutiny that Burke endured in Toronto following the Phil Kessel trade, just 10 years earlier. And with Obviously, Messier wasn’t actually good by the time he arrived in Tony Gallagher doing the carving, instead of Dave Feschuk. Vancouver. Certainly, Messier wasn’t at the point of his career where he still should’ve been deployed as a 20+ minutes per night centre, at least Do the Sedin twins become the players they are in that environment? not on a team that was actually trying to win. Does Burke stick around long enough to construct the West Coast Express era teams? There’s a stretch of Messier’s Canucks tenure that really deserves reexamination though. It’s the last section of his Canucks career. It’s a Messier conducted himself abhorrently during his time in Vancouver. He stretch in which Messier played well, finally handled himself in a team- was essentially part of management. An inexperienced ownership group first manner and in so doing, probably altered the contemporary history of allowed Messier to be placed above his teammates in the cultural the franchise. hierarchy and Messier took full advantage of it. He waged proxy wars in the media against fan favourites like Trevor Linden and Gino Odjick. Let’s begin by setting the scene. It’s early February in 2000. Whispers persist that Messier was a major reason departed. It’s the second month of the new millennium. The Y2K disaster has been There are young players on the team who insist that Messier was a key averted. Scream 3 has opened to muted reviews and big box office factor in their development. That’s nice, but Messier was brought to success. Vancouver to win and he never even came close. And for some reason – officially, history recognizes it as a All of this is to say that a lot of the shade that Messier gets from Canucks “Commissioner’s Selection” which seems very NHL – the Canucks’ fans is richly deserved. And yet, from a pure hockey perspective, he was captain, Messier, has been invited to participate in the NHL All-Star game still a solid two-way player during his time in Vancouver. He put up 162 in Toronto. points in 207 games and over one crucial stretch, his final 30 games with the franchise, he found a totally different level and almost singlehandedly The All-Star break represented a mid-way point, of sorts, in Brian Burke’s prevented the club from a cataclysmic scenario, a scenario so dire that it tenure as Canucks’ general manager. And it finds the Canucks in a bad may have snuffed out the most exciting, fun and vibrant decade in the way. history of the franchise – the stretch from 2000 through 2012 – before it started. As the NHL descends on the newly built Air Canada Centre, only three teams in the league had won fewer games than the Canucks. Burke’s If you want to remember Messier as a bad captain and a bad Canuck, rebuilding Canucks had amassed a paltry 46 points through 52 games that’s fine and it’s probably fair. and had the fifth-worst point percentage in the entire league at the break. Just remember too that some of your favourite Canucks memories were Usually, a rebuilding team wouldn’t sweat their performance down the arguably enabled by the franchise’s greatest villain catching absolute fire stretch in such circumstances, but for this particular Canucks team, this during a three month stretch after the 1999-2000 All-Star break. brutal perch in the NHL standings was a problem. After all, the club didn’t own their first-round pick. Right Wing Burke dealt it the previous June in a trade with Chicago. That pick was a First Team – Late career Markus Naslund major part of the package that landed the club a pair of Swedish twins at the 1999 NHL Draft. You know how that trade turned out in retrospect, Markus Naslund has a bit of a stoic personality. He still wears the playoff but without Messier, it might be remembered very differently indeed. failures of the West Coast Express era heavily and on his sleeve. Classy, personable and with a deep love for this city, Naslund was one of First Team LD – Jason Garrison the absolute best snipers in the sport during his prime. He was also just about the perfect captain. White Rock native Jason Garrison is one of a long list of defenders who had a career year playing on a defence pair with Brian Campbell and And yet, as Naslund’s Canucks tenure extended beyond the halcyon, cashed in as a result. high-octane days, his relationship and standing in this market deteriorated. Campbell was one of the best, smartest puck-moving defenders of his era and the “Campbell effect” is something worth bearing in mind for As Matt Sekeres wrote on Naslund signing with the New York Rangers in Canucks fans. After all, if there’s a young NHL player whose subtle July of 2008: skillset most closely matches Campbell’s, it might be Quinn Hughes. And like Campbell, Hughes is going to earn a lot of his defence partners a lot “It was like the fans no longer knew him, or didn’t want to know this of money throughout his career. diminished version of their one-time hero. In some quarters, that brought Naslund under intense criticism as his production and passion were Garrison played two seasons in Vancouver, before being dealt for a questioned during a late-season collapse that kept the Canucks out of second-round pick (which the Canucks subsequently sent to Los Angeles the playoffs.” in exchange for Linden Vey). He’s remembered as being a disappointing signing, but he was solid in his two Canucks seasons and retained Here’s a little secret though: Naslund was still an incredible two-way enough value that he was sent on his way in exchange for a valuable player in the latter years of his Canucks tenure. The team was hollowed asset. The Vey deal didn’t work out for Vancouver, but that’s not on out, played a defensive style and leaned heavily on goaltending. Perhaps Garrison. the style of hockey Alain Vigneault relied on early in his Canucks tenure didn’t suit Naslund as well as the fast-paced hockey of the Crawford era In terms of his on-ice performance, Garrison’s two seasons with the did, but he was still enormously effective in all situations. Canucks saw him score goals at a first pair rate, produce points overall at a second pair rate and he was in the top-15 among all NHL defenders in In the 2007-08 season, Naslund’s underlying profile was tremendous. Of goal-scoring rate on the power play (minimum 150 power-play minutes). the 13 teammates with whom he spent at least 100 minutes, 12 did better His on-ice data is a bit more mixed. Garrison’s two-way impact was by shot attempt differential with Naslund than they did without him effectively neutral for his two Canucks seasons, although his underlying (ironically, the one player that the underlying numbers would suggest he performance was excellent in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, before had no chemistry with that season: ). falling off somewhat in 2013-14. Among all players in the league that year, Naslund had the 14th largest That was the John Tortorella season though and Garrison was far from impact on team relative shot attempt differential — sandwiched between alone among his teammates in having an uncharacteristically shoddy Pavel Datsyuk and Sidney Crosby. That’s elite two-way impact. campaign that year. His two-way results bounced back the next season Offensively, with 25 goals and 55 points, the numbers for Naslund in that with the Lightning, and then began to fall off as he aged. final season don’t jump off the page. If you peer beneath the surface Even if they were selling at a relatively low ebb of his value, the Canucks though, Naslund scored goals at a first-line rate at 5-on-5, produced were probably wise to duck out of Garrison’s contract when they did, points at a high-end second-line rate, led the Canucks in power-play shot even if they didn’t make a meal of the trade. In his two Canucks season rate and managed all of this despite some tough percentages (he posted though, Garrison was a helpful contributor, even if he didn’t live up to a brutal 98.5 PDO that year). expectations or particularly ingratiate himself with the fanbase. It was probably time for the organization to move on when they did, First Team RD – Kevin Bieksa certainly, the club’s performance in 2009-10 and 2010-11 would seem to provide a definitive answer to that question. Still, in Naslund’s final Kevin Bieksa’s post-career emergence as an engaging, hilarious season in Vancouver, he could still play like a high-end top-six raconteur has served to obscure how frequently he was the target of fan contributor. And without question, he deserved a warmer send-off and and media criticism during his playing days in Vancouver. more patience from a fanbase eager to blame him as an individual for a variety of failings that should’ve been pinned on Canucks’ management. Most fans wanted Bieksa dealt in the summer of 2010 – and he probably would’ve been for cap reasons had it not been for Sami Salo’s summer That Naslund’s last year in Vancouver was spent captaining a team that floorball injury – and he continued to be criticized in nascent digital couldn’t score, leaned far too heavily on Roberto Luongo and had zero Canucks fan spaces at length for his occasionally marauding defensive quality depth really wasn’t on him. stylings. Second Team – Steve Bernier Even as he combined with Willie Mitchell and then with Dan Hamhuis on two of the most effective shutdown pairs in the history of the Canucks Acquired to be the right-handed shooting power forward the Sedin twins franchise, certain segments of the fanbase refused to see Bieksa’s value were thought to “need” (turns out, not so much), Steve Bernier played and insisted on only seeing the occasional loud mistakes. two unremarkable seasons for the Canucks. It’s a bit ironic, really, because Bieksa may have been a bit ahead of his Arriving in Vancouver in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres and signed to a time. If he were in the league now, he’d be a prototypical shutdown revenge offer sheet by the St. Louis Blues after the Canucks attempted defender. to poach restricted free agent David Backes failed, Bernier spent two seasons with the Canucks and played … well? Certainly better than you Twelve years ago though, Bieksa didn’t quite fit a familiar template of a remember. lockdown defender. He skated the puck out of trouble and tried to make plays with his feet, which fans in the late aughts associated with a player The underlying numbers aren’t pretty. Bernier wasn’t driving things on a that was “too high risk.” Now we all recognize the value of defenders that line with Henrik and Daniel, which goes without saying. can skate. In fact, a defender without that ability to transition the puck On the whole, though, Bernier’s two years in Vancouver look oddly and activate from the point isn’t likely to make much of an impact as an decent in retrospect. At 5-on-5 over the course of two seasons, Bernier NHL defenceman these days. scored goals at a top-line rate, managed to produce points at a second- Until Hughes really fleshes out his resume – which will most likely line rate and drew three times more penalties than he took. That’s happen in about 18 months or so – Bieksa will rank alongside Alex Edler, legitimately helpful. Ohlund, Harold Snepsts and Jyrki Lumme as one of the top-5 all-time Bernier was never the answer for the Sedin twins. In retrospect, the defencemen in franchise history. You can flip a coin between him and club’s pursuit of a right-handed shooting power forward to play with Dennis Kearns, if you want, but I can probably make the case that he Henrik and Daniel – the club pursued Michael Ryder in free agency that belongs in the top three, if I wanted to get really deep into the underlying summer too – was misguided. data. Physical attributes like size and handedness weren’t required to play with And yet I’m not sure if there was ever a moment in his Canucks tenure, the twins, it was more about finding players who could match their work where a majority of fans would’ve picked Bieksa as a top-three defender ethic, fitness level and hockey brain (see: Hansen, Jannik; Burrows, Alex; on the team. Samuelsson, Mikael). As a personality, Bieksa is a significant figure in franchise history. As a Still, all things considered, Bernier provided the Canucks with a fair bit of player, I’d argue that fans never really appreciated just how effective value and was far more productive at 5-on-5 than his reputation, later Bieksa was as a two-way piece. career accomplishments and the way he’s remembered in Canucks lore Second Team LD – Scott Lachance – as a bust, really – would indicate. The very quiet backbone of the first two seasons in which the West Coast Defence Express era Canucks began their rise into an elite team; Scott Lachance was a key contributor as a stay-at-home defenceman who served as Ed percentage of pucks shot by NHL shooters is unmatched in the annals of Jovanovski’s conscience in his two Canucks seasons. the Canucks franchise. Over two years in Vancouver, Lachance played the second most 5-on-5 Absurdly durable and consistent to an obscene degree, Luongo belongs minutes of all Canucks defenders, was a key penalty killer, often played so long as there’s anyone in the Vancouver market that doesn’t think his in a matchup role (though Ohlund was most frequently trusted in toughs) number should be retired. He’s one of four Hall of Fame level players to and gave a freewheeling offensive team something of a snarly, defensive spend their prime years playing for the Canucks franchise. Bure and the backbone. Sedin twins’ numbers hang from the rafters and Luongo’s should too. We don’t have underlying data to lean on, but considering how the Second Team – Canucks outshot their opponents during the 2000-2001 and 2001-02 seasons and had brutal goaltending, it’s a relatively safe assumption that I’ve defended Messier and now, in the very same article, I’ll do the same Lachance was a net positive as a possession player and didn’t lean too for Dan Cloutier’s goaltending. Make sure to hit the little yellow “meh” significantly on percentage in putting up an on-ice goal differential that face twice on your way out! was well in the black. Here’s the thing about Cloutier: the trade that brought him to Vancouver Second Team RD – from Tampa Bay in exchange for Adrian Aucoin was a bad deal. Aucoin and his massive right-handed bomb of a shot would’ve been a perfect fit Tyler Myers’ contract is going to get dicey on the back end, but in Year 1 with Henrik and Daniel’s cycle game, and he went on to play a decade he was probably Vancouver’s second-best defenceman. worth of really good hockey, including a productive stint in Chicago as a top-10 defender. Yet the fan chatter surrounding him is enormously critical. However, the trade was also one that sort of secretly worked out. Cloutier Myers may well be a victim of a classic spot of hockey bias. Let’s call it arrived in Vancouver as an athletic, combative goaltender with raw the “third or fourth defender that plays top-pair minutes” syndrome. It’s a technique. He went to work, refined his game and legitimately built syndrome that often unduly colours fan perception in high-intensity himself into an above-average NHL starter until his career was hockey markets. permanently sabotaged by a handful of really difficult lower-body injuries. Ideally, on a contending team, Myers plays on your second pair the way In the 2001-02 season, the season best remembered for Cloutier whiffing he previously did in Winnipeg. In his first season in Vancouver though, on Nicklas Lidstrom’s bomb from mid-ice, Cloutier played a ton of games Myers led all Canucks defenders in even-strength ice time and did so by but wasn’t particularly good. The next season, best remembered for how a pretty wide margin. the Canucks coughed up a 3-1 series lead to the Minnesota Wild, Playing above your head as a defenceman in the NHL means spending a Cloutier was an average starter. lot of time against the absolute best, most lethal attacking players that Finally, it was in the next season, that Cloutier really took a step and the planet has to offer. Such exposure leads to mistake – occasionally became a big contributor for the Canucks during a season in which loud mistakes – and that’s what fans notice as opposed to the things a Vancouver broke through and won the Northwest Division. Holding down player does well. a .914 save percentage in a league with an average save percentage of In Myers’ case, what he does well is help the Canucks control play better .908, while playing behind a West Coast Express era defence that took than most of the club’s other defencemen. By just about every relevant their fair share of chances is nothing to sneeze at. underlying metric, Myers ranks second among Canucks defenders – Of course, against Calgary in the playoffs, Cloutier was injured. It was behind only Hughes – in terms of his on-ice impact. really the beginning of a series of injuries that would truncate his career. Myers’ two-way impact is more concentrated in the offensive end than Cloutier never had a chance to redeem his past playoff gaffes as a the defensive end, where he’s a bit below average for a top-four healthy goaltender with a more refined technique. defender. Aside from the term remaining on his contract, I can’t see any The line between being defined by one mistake, or admittedly several in significant indicators that point to Myers being a net negative. Cloutier’s case, and being celebrated for one great playoff moment is so He wasn’t great defensively, but the Canucks were better defensively fine in professional hockey. Especially for goaltenders. with him on the ice than they were without him both at 5-on-5 and at 4- Cloutier will always be remembered by Canucks fans for a few tough on-5. He was definitely solid offensively, even if his rate stat scoring was sequences in the postseason – the Wes Walz Game 7 bank shot goal down a bit – the product of playing a below-average proportion of his ice and the Lidstrom goal in particular – but his technical improvement, the time with top-six quality teammates (as Canucks coaches looked to injuries that shortened his career and the fact that he never had a chance deploy Hughes with Elias Pettersson as much as possible – and for good to really play in the postseason as the above-average starter he willed reason). himself into becoming before the knee injuries began, should at least be It’s worth noting too that most of these numbers would be even better if remembered too. And it should temper your level of ire. Myers had spent more time with a higher quality partner. In the minutes Myers spent with Hughes and Edler, his underlying data sparkled. Those peripheral indicators, and this matches what anyone watching Canucks The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 games witnessed, are significantly less impressive in the minutes Myers spent with Oscar Fantenberg and Jordie Benn. The Canucks’ defence corps is going to hold this team back from taking that next step forward if it’s not improved. Depending on how he ages, Myers might not be part of the long-term solution to that problem. In his first year with the club though, there’s just no way you can argue that he wasn’t helpful. Although many Canucks fans will, which is why Myers is playing second pair minutes – as he should – on our All-Fan Ire team. Goaltenders First Team – Roberto Luongo Roberto Luongo is the most discussed, dissected, criticized, scrutinized and, ultimately, celebrated athlete in the history of Vancouver sports. Only Pavel Bure really compares and seeing as how Pavelmania preceded the advent of social media while Luongo’s prime is inextricably linked with it, there should be no competition. From “my contract sucks” to #TeamSchneider trending every second day on Twitter to the grumbling about recapture. From years of trade speculation and endless debates about whether or not Luongo could “win the big one.” For those reasons, Luongo belongs on this list. He also belongs because we want to build our Canucks All-Fan Ire team from the net out, and realistically, Luongo’s ability to stop an elite 1175793 Websites Kloke: The Sabres have always enjoyed a passionate fan base. But that fan base has fallen on hard times as the Sabres have missed the playoffs in 11 of the last 13 seasons. And frustration about the team is boiling over, from enlivened fan radio rants to the team’s franchise player The Athletic / The Premier League is back: Which football club should publicly saying he’s “fed up with the losing.” So if misery loves company, NHL fans support? where should perpetually frustrated fans go in England? Malyon: There sounds like there’s a bit of Newcastle going on here. A club stuck away in the top corner of the country, where people famously By Joshua Kloke and Ed Malyon drink through the wintry weather, striding through the bracing wind to the Jun 17, 2020 stadium come what may. Newcastle have also had their fair share of struggles over the past decade and have a golden history of radio rants! The fit seems perfect. The idea was simple: Based on the NHL team you’re a fan of, which Support: Newcastle United Premier League team should you support as the world’s most popular sports league returns this week after pausing due to COVID-19? Calgary Flames What came next was anything but simple: A wide-ranging discussion Kloke: With the term “red clump,” you highlighted the fact that many NHL between NHL reporter Joshua Kloke and The Athletic UK’s Managing teams feature red prominently in their uniforms. But as you noted, the Director Ed Malyon about NHL and Premier League club philosophies, Flames stand apart in their use of red. My eyes are blinded every time I recent triumphs and struggles, jersey colours and, of course, drunken watch a Flames game thanks to the sea of red C of red jerseys. I know player celebrations. there’s a lot of clubs nicknamed “The Reds” in England, but Barnsley FC sticks out for me. Seems like a blue-collar town that supports their club There will be a few months before the NHL starts up again, and so to fill through thick and thin. that void, Joshua and Ed have some options here for you to jump on the bandwagon. We wanted to keep these comparisons fun and light-hearted Malyon: Barnsley and Calgary – the twin cities I’d never considered. Yes, because we’re sure there’s been no shortage of stress in your life lately. why the hell not? There are a few more skyscrapers in Calgary but No parallel between teams is ever going to be exact and if you have a assuming it’s a down-to-earth working-class town then I don’t mind this better suggestion, we’d love to see it in the comments. one at all. Anaheim Ducks Support: Barnsley FC Kloke: I’m going to start by turning this one over to you, Ed. I loved your Carolina Hurricanes unbiased ranking of NHL jerseys in April, particularly your vote for last Kloke: Find me an EPL team that engages in hilarious choreographed place: The orange-tinged Anaheim Ducks jersey. So I’m going to suggest post-game celebrations and is proud to be known as a “Bunch of jerks.” what I believe are two of the worst jerseys in the Premier League this Good luck! season: Manchester City’s away and third kits. These are eyesores and I have legitimate questions about who was asleep at the wheel when Malyon: Ok, I’m going to need more context here. these were approved. The Ducks are in a bit of a downward turn, so why not give them Manchester City, decent team to root for? Kloke: Beginning last season, the Hurricanes began celebrating wins at home with different choreographed team-wide celebrations, including a Malyon: Well this is an interesting way to start because it provokes a helmet being used a bowling ball to knock over the entire team, or philosophical discussion. Are we trying to find the team that most closely mimicking Duck Hunt, the classic video game. resembles their Premier League equivalent or are we trying to compensate for stuff? Because City have had vast success in the past “We want to have fun when we win. The game should be fun. We want decade or so after being an also-ran for decades before that, which the players to enjoy winning and the fans to enjoy being here,” said doesn’t really chime with the Ducks. If you want to go purely on Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind-Amour. aesthetics or the lack thereof then I’m fully on board. But the celebrations went over about as well as you would imagine with Support: Manchester City some of hockey’s old-school types, including then long-time commentator . In his famed Coach’s Corner intermission segment, he Arizona Coyotes referred to the team as a “bunch of jerks” for celebrating the way they did. Kloke: The Coyotes break the mold. They play hockey in the desert. They hired their current general manager when he was just 26 and last Less than a day later, the team ran with it and began selling shirts in their week appointed Xavier Gutierrez as the first Latino team president and official team store with “Bunch of Jerks” on the front with the team logo. CEO in league history. So which club does things differently, and is proud of that? I really can’t wait to see what you come up with, because I might have a new team in England to support. Malyon: Brighton don’t play in the desert but they play by the sand. They’re also one of the most forward-thinking clubs in the league behind Malyon: Wow, ok. So the celebration thing passed a few years ago in the the scenes and haven’t been afraid to go with inexperienced or younger Premier League. We simply don’t have anyone so I think we will have to coaches – even if some of those moves haven’t worked out. settle on the Hurricanes being unique. Support: Brighton & Hove Albion Chicago Blackhawks Boston Bruins Kloke: Noted soccer fan and Chicago Blackhawks beat writer Scott Powers offered this take: “The Blackhawks were dormant for a long while Kloke: One of the NHL’s oldest franchises, and one which can tout one of and erupted with a change of chairman, front office and obviously the most singularly talented players in the game’s history. In the last players. Fans rushed back and made Chicago a hockey city again. Now decade, they’ve made three trips to the Stanley Cup Final and are a safe fans are still packing the place, but it’s been a bit since they’ve been bet to return this season. They’ve got raucous fans in a great hockey successful. I feel like they’d have to be compared to one of the top six town. While I haven’t visited every NHL city and arena yet, Boston and teams. Their logo is known near and far and they seem to have fans the TD Garden is one of my favourites for game-day atmosphere. I everywhere. Maybe there’s a Manchester United comparison. suggested Liverpool elsewhere, so maybe Everton? Quenneville didn’t go out on top like Ferguson, though.” Malyon: The Boston-Liverpool comparisons extend beyond the Bruins, Fair warning, I suggested United for another team elsewhere, but maybe with owning both the Reds and the Red Sox. Powers knows best? Boston sports fans are also known for being insufferable when they win, if I’m not mistaken, which will sound familiar to a lot of English football Malyon: Nobody is a bigger Powers fan than I am, but if you’re fans. Liverpool certainly seem like more of a fit than Everton and with comparing a team to Man United then they need to have been a more NHL teams than Premier League ones I guess there’s no problem dominant dynasty like the New England Patriots under Belichick. The in doubling up. Hawks’ success has been more sporadic but also more recent, and so I think there are some more fitting similarities with Arsenal. I’d probably Support: Liverpool lean toward the north Londoners. Liverpool, Arsenal Support: Arsenal Buffalo Sabres Kloke: I reached out to our Colorado Avalanche beat writer extraordinaire Kloke: It’s a dated reference, but has any Premier League team ever Ryan S. Clark for some guidance on the Avalanche, and I’ll just copy and thrown rats on the pitch, not in disgust but in celebration? paste his response. I think he might be onto something. Malyon: No, but I will hand you a La Liga team. When Luis Figo left “The Avs culture is one of a team that wants to relive its past successes Barcelona to sign for Real Madrid in 2000, his first game back at the Nou but do it in a cutting edge way compared to the rest of the league. They Camp saw home fans litter him with all sorts of missiles including, most want to be homegrown, build from within and show it can be sustainable. famously, a pig’s head as he went over to take a corner kick. Good news for Panthers fans is Barca are a pretty easy team to root for (and they “Essentially, they are Southampton with money.” win a lot more games than any Premier League team you could have Malyon: Who am I to argue?! been assigned here). Support: Southampton Support: Barcelona, a La Liga team Los Angeles Kings Kloke: Not only did the Blue Jackets win their first-ever playoff series in Kloke: When it comes to the Kings, I think we should turn to one of our their 20-year history last year, they did so in dramatic fashion: They NHL prospect gurus, Scott Wheeler, who provided hope for the future of swept the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were coming into the playoffs with a struggling Kings team in his Feb. 2020 league-wide prospect pool the second-best 82-game regular-season winning percentage in NHL rankings: “But the Kings were always going to be No. 1. There’s no history. So is there a team that pulled off a completely unprecedented FA hesitation with this decision. It’s clearcut.” Cup upset that comes to mind? So which EPL club not only has the best academy but also provides Malyon: I didn’t come into this expecting to assign Wigan Athletic to a opportunities for academy products in their first team? team but they are a side that rose to prominence in the past 20 years or Malyon: There are a few clubs with good academies. Going back many so under Dave Whelan’s ownership, peaking with a shock FA Cup final years there is West Ham but Manchester United are the team that has win over Manchester City in 2013. Unfortunately, a week later they lost to consistently provided top-level talent to the first team while Southampton, Arsenal in the Premier League and were relegated to the Championship Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Arsenal would probably point to their – the same division they find themselves in today – but that doesn’t academies with pride too. sound out of place with the Blue Jackets and I love the parallels here right down to the colours. How successful have the Kings been recently or is there anything else you can tell me about them? It might be the determining factor. Support: Wigan Athletic Kloke: The Kings won Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 so compared to Dallas Stars other fan bases, they’ve had a lot to celebrate. But since that Stanley Kloke: I had such luck with Clark and Powers I decided to try Sean Cup win in 2014, the Kings have won just one playoff game and have Shapiro, our excellent Stars beat writer. He suggested Wolves, as the missed the playoffs in four of six seasons. So have any of those clubs Stars used to be like the club: They were fun to watch, and both teams had some success but then quickly cratered? went through a decade of irrelevance before “all of a sudden becoming Malyon: I’m open to some suggestions in the comments for this one. trendy for a season or two.” Thoughts? Kloke: I think we should throw West Ham a bone here. Their 2018/19 Malyon: Yeah I’ll roll with that one. They have kinda funny accents in home jersey is one of the few Premier Leagues shirts I own. It’s stunning, both places too. and I know you’re a fan of the Kings jerseys as well. Support: Wolverhampton Wanderers Support: West Ham United Detroit Red Wings Minnesota Wild Kloke: You had some kind things to say about the Red Wings jersey and Kloke: No NHL team has jerseys in the same shade of dark green as the justifiably so. And given that the colour scheme is identical, I’m going to Wild do. It fits their name, too. nominate Arsenal, whose home kit this season is one of the best in recent memory. Up until a few years ago, the Red Wings were the most But to my surprise, almost no teams in England wear dark green either. consistent team in the NHL as well, making the playoffs for 25 straight Are we stuck? Or can we go off board and pick League Two side Forest seasons. Arsenal are currently tied for having the longest spell in the Green Rovers FC? Just imagine this tiny side developing a Minnesota- Premier League, too. based fan club. We could be founding members, our names entrenched in lore! Malyon: This seems fair enough. Arsenal have that class to them – or certainly did, with Arsene Wenger at the Helm and Highbury as their (That sound you hear is everyone I know telling me I’m taking this story home – and have also had some of the nicest kits in my lifetime. Making way too seriously) the playoffs 25 years on the bounce sounds pretty damn impressive and is pushing Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United sort of levels, but I’m not Malyon: Plymouth Argyle! Not Premier League, I know, but the extra gonna argue too much here. parallel with Argyle – who last week were promoted when the League Two season was curtailed – is that they are also tucked away in a bit of Support: Arsenal an outpost. Less so in the NHL than other major leagues but still a decent trip from their nearest neighbours Edmonton Oilers Support: Plymouth Argyle Kloke: I’m a Toronto-based writer providing thoughts on the Oilers, so no matter what I write here, it will probably draw the ire of Oilers fans. I’d like Montreal Canadiens to ask if there’s one club that makes their thoughts known about London more than any other, but let’s focus on the positives: The Oilers have Kloke: The most storied franchise in hockey. We’re talking the most Connor McDavid. Though they haven’t had much to show for it since his Stanley Cups of any NHL team, the kind of all-time roster that puts every arrival, with McDavid, you can’t write off the Oilers. other NHL team to shame and an arena that verges on electric on the worst of days. There’s been some hard times in the last five seasons Malyon: I actually went to see the Oilers earlier this season solely to see though. Let’s call it a lack of a clear direction for the team? And so this McDavid in the flesh. Pretty crappy team around him, though you can has got to be Manchester United, no? see his class. If we were judging on that criteria maybe you’d look at a club like Crystal Palace? If we’re leaning on a team that hates Londoners Malyon: Hey, we have to take the easy ones where we can get them! then you could take your pick of anyone north of Watford… but also Support: Manchester United including the south coast. So everyone outside London. Maybe the best way to think about it is as internationally as the NHL and say the Oilers Daniel James, United are Cardiff City. I could have said Swansea if Cardiff didn’t wear such similar colours, but the crux of it is that the Welsh teams tend to sing Nashville Predators about the English teams more than any club I can think of sings about Kloke: There is no city travelling hockey writers and fans look forward to Londoners. visiting more than Nashville. A downtown arena surrounded by great live Support: Cardiff City music and seemingly endless watering holes and an in-game experience that mirrors that enthusiasm. I’ve heard Cardiff is an underrated city for a night out… Malyon: Correct! Cardiff is great fun and has a stadium in the centre of are recent accusations of Melnyk meddling in the team’s charitable the city. Both of those things are also true for Newcastle United if Preds foundation, which only adds to the falling out with franchise heroes, fans prefer that colourway but the current Premier League away day I feuding with city officials over a new arena deal and threatening to move think most fans who travel away for is currently Bournemouth because the team. Melnyk appears to be loathed in Ottawa. it’s a good night out and there’s a beach. We don’t have too many good beaches. I know Mike Ashley is selling the team but does the way Newcastle fans feel about him make this comparison apt? Kloke: Fair enough, but we’ve got Bournemouth elsewhere. Let’s dig in to arguably the most indelible part of Nashville: It is the home of country Malyon: Unfortunately there are plenty of teams who have had bad, bad music. And from what I can tell, The Shires are leading the charge with owners in English football. Mike Ashley is the obvious one currently but in the UK right now. They’ve signed to a Nashville record it’s not much better up the road in Sunderland (as those who have label. They hail (in part) from Hertfordshire, which is also home to watched the excellent Netflix series Sunderland ‘Till I Die will attest) and Watford FC. There’s also some yellow in Watford’s jerseys, and a funky- a raft of other teams would probably nominate their own overlord. looking animal on the crest. I’m calling this a fit. What else can you tell me about the Senators? Support: Watford FC Kloke: If you don’t have a car, getting to the Senators’ arena from New Jersey Devils downtown Ottawa requires a few packed lunches, incredible patience and the ability to send smoke signals to loved ones from the long journey Kloke: Tough times as of late in Newark, as the Devils have missed the into the suburban abyss. playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons after going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. But fans have had tough times before, when the team was (The arena is far from downtown, and just discussing it can give you a terrible in their first five seasons of existence. headache, like a lot of Senators discussions lately) That was until named himself general manager in 1987 Malyon: Ok definitely not Newcastle. Let’s give it to Sunderland. and the team’s fortunes reversed. Once called a “Mickey Mouse” Support: Sunderland organization by the most famous player in the game, the Devils became a model franchise and consistently performed well. So I’m going to Philadelphia Flyers suggest Chelsea, given how Roman Abramovich somewhat singularly transformed the club. Kloke: Not to discredit the team’s two Stanley Cups and passionate fan base, but what is your vote for the Premier League’s best mascot? Now that I think about it, there’s some eerie similarities in the way There’s our fit. Lamoriello and Abramovich operate. Malyon: Best mascot? Gunnersaurus. I know Philly’s reputation and if Malyon: Yes, Abramovich took a lot of criticism especially early on but he they’re the best fans in the league, play in an unglamorous town and has learnt quickly and has used smart people to run a pretty tight ship at have only really had sporadic success then I’ll nominate Crystal Palace. Chelsea. There were some big misses but he has managed to consistently force mini-reboots and keep them winning – perhaps even Support: Crystal Palace more successfully than the Devils it would seem. Pittsburgh Penguins Support: Chelsea Kloke: When I think of the Penguins, I just think of talent. The Penguins New York Islanders had two of the best players to ever play the game in Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr and won two Stanley Cups in the early 1990s. And I know Kloke: Canadians sometimes think the coverage of the first day of NHL not listing the other Hall of Famers on that team is an injustice but I have free agency is overblown. But I’d suggest it’s nothing compared to the to transition to their current roster. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are exhaustive and sometimes comical way the final day of the transfer also two of the best in NHL history and won three Stanley Cups together window in England is covered. in nine seasons. There’s obviously far more to this team than talented pairs, but do any notable Premier League duos come to mind? Anyway, which Premier League team recently saw their best player in a generation pull a shock transfer to another club, leaving him booed Malyon: Well, if we take FourFourTwo’s list of the Premier League’s best- mercilessly upon his return? That’s a team I wonder if Islanders fans ever players as a rough guide then Manchester United had three of the could get behind. top five and five of the top 10. They also boast one of the sport’s greatest ever stories in the shape of their 1968 European Cup win. Malyon: Ooh, there’s a great answer here. Leeds United had a boyhood Leeds fan called Alan Smith who had become the fresh-faced, bright Kloke: I really like this comparison, but given that we have United hope of their team and, when asked if there was a club he’d never join elsewhere, perhaps we’re also overlooking the obvious: both Pittsburgh said: “Yeah, Man United.” and Sheffield had long ties to the steel industry, with both cities being nicknamed the “Steel City.” The Blades might not have the history of top- You can guess how this ends, right? Smith moved to Manchester United, flight success that the Penguins do, but they’re on a good run this season Leeds’ arch rivals, and was hated forevermore. and Penguins fans might want to get on the bandwagon now. Great piece on it here or if you prefer video then a Tifo video on the same Support: Sheffield United topic. Well worth checking out. San Jose Sharks Support: Leeds United Kloke: Forget about the Charlotte Hornets and the ; New York Rangers the San Jose Sharks own teal, the unusual colour, in North American pro Kloke: So much to discuss when it comes to the Rangers: An excellent, sports. The Sharks haven’t changed their uniform much since they began long untouched jersey. One of the world’s most iconic arenas. The play in 1991. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to yellow and longest ever Stanley Cup drought in NHL history. An iconic captain not green, another colour scheme not usually associated with pro sports, I only guaranteeing a playoff victory but delivering on that guarantee with a think of Norwich City. hat trick. Malyon: We have a few teams that play in sky blue but none who lean on But instead, a simple question: Which Premier League team would Larry teal, but it’s irrelevant because when I think of a Premier League team David support? with a distinctive kit is has to be Norwich. Malyon: Classic kits, one of the Premier League’s finest stadia to visit Support: Norwich City and 55 years without a major trophy? Newcastle United are the perfect fit St. Louis Blues for the Rangers here. I don’t know if Larry David would support them but you certainly need a good sense of humour to follow the Toon. Kloke: It wasn’t exactly 5000-1, but the Blues were considered a middle- of-the-pack team at the start of last season and were in last place in the Support: Newcastle United NHL in January. They ended up winning their first-ever Stanley Cup. Ottawa Senators Given the shared use of blue and yellow, let’s not complicate this: Leicester City, no? Kloke: The Senators have an intriguing core of young players and could be fun to watch over the next few seasons. But we can’t talk about the Malyon: Next! Senators without focusing on their owner, Eugene Melnyk, who is in Support: Leicester City contention for being the worst owner in North American pro sports. There Tielemans himself to the hockey world. So there’s recency bias here, but which Premier League goal-scorer would probably make the most headlines Tampa Bay Lightning celebrating a trophy? Kloke: Over the last four years, our Dom Luszczyszyn has conducted a Malyon: What do you mean by the manner of his celebration? I’m poll among NHL fans to determine which fan base has the most curious. confidence in their team’s front office. The Lightning have topped that poll in three of those four years. That should tell you a lot about the team. Kloke: Well there’s this: They’re run well and they’re always contenders as of late. You really can’t knock them. I know a lack of drama isn’t interesting, but which Or, this: Premier League team has just managed to get things done in a Malyon: Superb stuff! OK from what I’ve heard the Manchester City continually smart manner? celebrations in recent years have been pretty good behind closed doors Malyon: We have a weird thing where most fans seem to think their club and Sergio Aguero is one of the greatest finishers ever so let’s do that. is actually the smartest-run club in the league and that doubting their Support: Manchester City decision-making is akin to treason. Which club do I think is currently the best run? Arsenal might have claimed this at one point but not with some Winnipeg Jets of the stuff going on there now. The correct answer is probably Liverpool or Chelsea but they’ve come up too often already so I’m going to go for Kloke: In one of the coldest cities in North America, Jets fans congregate Burnley, who are also from somewhere fairly unfashionable and who for a loud game-day experience. The city often gets a bad rap, with it overachieve. topping polls as the city players dread visiting the most. But I’d bet that only emboldens fans of the Jets even more. So should we be looking at Support: Burnley cities and teams in the far north of England? Toronto Maple Leafs Malyon: Stoke City. They’re not in the Premier League anymore but a wet, windy Tuesday night in Stoke was, for years, the standard for a Kloke: The Leafs have a long history in the NHL but much of that history nightmare away trip. Before that, it was Bolton. Nowadays it might be in the last 50 years has been filled with disappointment. Despite being in Burnley or even Crystal Palace but I like Stoke here. (arguably) the centre of the hockey universe, the Leafs turned into the butt of the rest of the league’s jokes for decades. But led by an innovative Support: Stoke City boss and a few dynamic offensive weapons, the Leafs might be on the verge of something special. The catharsis of a long-envied championship celebration would cause the city to implode. This feels like Liverpool to The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 me. Malyon: How many Liverpools can there be in the NHL?! Or, more to the point, how can we possibly award three sets of NHL fans the easy path of following the best team in the country and a Premier League title within the next week or two? No, football is about suffering. Kloke: Well, suffering is something Leafs fans know well, so let me suggest Tottenham. Yes, Tottenham have an incredible stadium, regularly play in the Champions League and have top players. But Tottenham’s last league title came in 1961, not far off from the Leafs’ last Stanley Cup in 1967. Tottenham are always in the conversation, and have had some real success as of late, but you just feel that the big one will continue to elude them, no? Support: Tottenham Vancouver Canucks Kloke: Vancouver is the most beautiful NHL city out there, bar none. I lived there for nearly three years and almost daily I’d stop and have one of those Vancouver “moments.” Anyone who has visited Vancouver will know what I’m talking about. I’ve always wanted to visit England’s Jurassic Coast. Looks stunning. But I know little about nearby Bournemouth. Would anyone call it beautiful, or have readers in England already stopped reading and are just pointing in laughter instead? Malyon: No, Bournemouth is nice! If you’d said Luton… Support: AFC Bournemouth Vegas Golden Knights Kloke: There will be some who believe the Leicester City fit is better here, considering the Golden Knights only began NHL play in 2017 and made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season. But I’m thinking Brighton & Hove Albion, who made their Premier League debut that same season. Brighton is a popular vacation spot too, no? And I enjoyed reading about how Brighton is one of the country’s most “Godless” cities, which, based on my two visits to Las Vegas, seems to check out. Malyon: Yeah, this works. New on the scene and here to kinda f*** s*** up wherever possible? Brighton is also one of the country’s top spots for a stag and I know for a fact that Vegas will be the American equivalent of that. Support: Brighton & Hove Albion Washington Capitals Kloke: Year after year in the past decade, the Capitals looked dangerous at the beginning of the season but then sputtered out in disappointing fashion at the end of the season. Armed with arguably the best goal scorer in the game, the Capitals continued to frustrate until, to universal acclaim, they finally won their first Stanley Cup in 2018. The manner in which that goal scorer celebrated publicly afterwards further redeemed 1175794 Websites Coyle said he’s never seen Weekes walk into the Secaucus, N.J., headquarters without his AirPods in his ears. The man is always on the phone. Over the course of a nearly hour-long conversation this week, Weekes casually drops that he’s spoken with “Patty” Kane, Jonathan The Athletic / Kevin Weekes has a powerful voice and platform, and he’s Toews, Sidney Crosby, Mark Messier and Auston Matthews in the past not afraid to use them few days, just to say hi. He’s just been texting with Scott Foster, the Blackhawks’ now-legendary emergency backup goaltender, just to see how he’s doing. He calls Foster — a man who fiercely protected his By Mark Lazerus privacy in the wake of his big moment two years ago — “Fozzy,” and rattles off his college hockey background, and the fact that he’s from Jun 17, 2020 Sarnia, and that his wife’s American, and a few other tidbits off the top of his head.

That’s Weekes. He knows everyone and he knows everything about Try to find someone in the hockey world who has a bad thing to say them. He even tailors his conversations to your worldview. In our lengthy about Kevin Weekes. You can’t. The man is aggressively nice. Whether talk about race issues in hockey, Weekes repeatedly framed them in a he’s met you before or not, he probably knows your name. He asks how Chicago context for my benefit. Imagine if people wrote off Kane simply your family is and genuinely wants to know. He’s curious about your because he was from Western New York, he says. “We would have lost background, your heritage, your story. He has a knack for instantly the kid who’s going to go down as the best American-born player in NHL making you feel comfortable around him. history.” What if people decided they didn’t like Michael Jordan because It’s a natural talent and innate character trait. he was born in Brooklyn and raised in the South, he wonders? “That’s stupid, that’s ignorant. It’s no different than rooting against someone It’s also a finely honed defensive mechanism. because they’re black.” He brings up the Devante Smith-Pelly incident at the United Center two years ago. “It’s like, bro, you live in Chicago, one “Over the years, I’ve had to know how to navigate a locker room,” of the great melting pots. Did you not want Johnny Oduya to make a nice Weekes says. “If I didn’t know how to navigate it, I wouldn’t be allowed in defensive play because he’s a black Swede?” Then he mentions his it. It didn’t matter how good you played. I know very well that hockey is recent talk with Matthews, a Latino American with a Mexican American primarily a white sport right now, and it has been historically. So you mother. have to know how to relate to people.” “What happens if there was a coach that weaponized micro-aggressions Weekes spent 14 seasons as a professional goaltender, 11 of them in or flat-out called him a Latino epithet?” Weekes says. “Next thing you the NHL, reaching the Stanley Cup Final with the Hurricanes in 2002. know, Auston Matthews or his mom or his dad are like, ‘We’re good. You He’s now one of the most prominent voices in hockey, an analyst for the love baseball? You’re going to play baseball instead.’ Then we would NHL Network and a multi-platform broadcaster who’s called the last 10 have lost out on the best young player the Leafs have ever had in their Stanley Cup finals. He’s universally respected for his on-air talent, his history. That could have happened if he didn’t have access to hockey in work ethic, his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and the people in it, Arizona.” as well as his charitable work in North America and his parents’ native Barbados. Weekes even adds a personal touch, saying hockey needs to become a safe space “where your daughters can play and not be chastised for He’s also been pulled over by police for no reason other than he’s black being female Jewish hockey players, know what I’m saying? They can go and driving a nice car. His senior-citizen parents have been harassed at there and feel proud of being Jewish and feel proud of having your last the airport within the last year. He’s had racial epithets hurled at him as a name and go there and melt in and mix in and love the game on their young player in Philadelphia. He even had to endure reporters whose own terms with their teammates.” names he won’t “dignify” intentionally calling him by the wrong name after games, just to be jerks. It’s worth noting that Weekes and I have met in passing a few times. We sat next to each other in the Amalie Arena press box during the 2015 “They’d come into the dressing room like, ‘Steve! So Steve, what Stanley Cup Final in Tampa Bay. We follow each other on Twitter. That’s happened on that? Steve, come on, Steve, that looked like it was a it. Yet he still manages to make that kind of personal connection. It’s why stoppable shot, Steve,’” Weekes recalls. “Who does that?” he’s uniquely situated to be a force for change in the insular world of hockey, which has historically lurched into the future at a snail’s pace. He Just this past weekend, Weekes — getting a little stir-crazy, like all of us knows everyone. And he knows everything about them. So he can make — took a quick day trip from his home in North Jersey to Philadelphia for those connections like few can. some barbecue. It’s about an 80-minute drive each way. Weekes was on high alert for every one of those minutes, making sure he was doing He’s been like that as long as he could remember. When he picked up a everything right, signaling before every lane change and keeping an eye hockey card as a kid, he didn’t just look at the stats. He wanted the story. out for state troopers. He can still see — all 155 pounds of him — holding his Easton stick and his Easton gloves. “Hyper-detailed” is how Weekes “All it takes is one knucklehead to pull me over and try to be an idiot, and describes himself. life changes in an instant,” he says. “My parents always told me that. I’m a 45-year-old man that’s been a good citizen and pays a lot of money in And growing up in the melting pot of Toronto, by the time he was 8 or 9, taxes. I’ve been philanthropic, an advocate for a sport, one of the faces he had been to an Italian friend’s house and made marinara sauce with of a $5-billion league and its network. All that’s earned. I played in the his nonna. He had been to a Greek friend’s house and tried souvlaki. He league for 11 years; that was earned, too. Even still, it can all change in had been to a Russian-Jew friend’s house and eaten matzo-ball soup an instant. From the mild cases to the extreme in the case of George and borscht. And in his own home, he had West Indian parents and Floyd. It’s an unwinnable race, and it’s a race you shouldn’t be running. family from England. He has a francophone aunt who lives just outside of Montreal in Corey Crawford’s hometown of Chateauguay. “There are some things that are simply so appalling that they are indefensible. You can’t defend needless police brutality. You can’t! It Weekes was always drawn to different, not repelled by it. Still is. doesn’t matter who the officer is. Systemic racism is not normal. Yet it is normal. And that’s the problem.” “It’s People 101,” he says. “At the heartbeat of the game are people. So the more you know in this role as a broadcaster — and even when I was Weekes knows he can’t change the world. He’s just a cable-television playing — the easier you can relate to people. There’s less barriers. And hockey analyst, after all. But as a uniquely positioned voice with the it allows me to humanize these guys on TV.” platform, the intellect and the courage of his convictions, he might just be able to change hockey. Weekes has never been shy about using his platform as a bully pulpit, and he’s been particularly vocal during the recent social unrest following And he’s damn sure going to try. the killing of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer. Last week, he had a 40-minute Instagram live chat with Jonathan Toews Next time you’re watching NHL Tonight on NHL Network, look at the about his support of the Black Lives Matter movement. He’s fought back table in front of Weekes. There’s no stack of papers, usually no notes of against the “stick to sports” crowd on Twitter. any kind. He’s got a pen to fiddle with, and that’s it. That’s all he needs. He notes that commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill “It’s all in his head,” said NHL Tonight host Jamison Coyle, who has Daly have supported his efforts for inclusivity in hockey. He singles out worked with Weekes for the last five years. “Because he’s done all the Joel Quenneville, , , Rod Brind’Amour, Lou legwork ahead of time. He’s prepared. His thing is, ‘Just hit the red light, Lamoriello, Glen Sather and the entire Edmonton Oilers organization as I’m ready to go.’ Television doesn’t work that way, but for him, it’s true. agents for positive change in the sport. He’s always ready to go.” “But not everybody thinks like them,” he said. “We need more people like Weekes will continue to speak out against racial injustice, systemic that. The bottom line is, we haven’t done enough as a league. I’ve been inequality and police brutality. He has the support of the league, of his in a lot of discussions over the years. I’ve been to the White House on network, of his colleagues and his friends. And more and more, he’s got behalf of the league. I’ve done the congressional hockey caucus in D.C. the support of the entire hockey world. on Capitol Hill. I’ve spoken to congresswomen and congressmen, all those different things, all the grassroots efforts and initiatives. But our But he knows where he can have the biggest impact is on a smaller numbers aren’t where they need to be. It almost feels like Pi = 3.14, scale, on the game of hockey. Whether it’s calling a game or running a where we’re around 20 players of color every year.” team, he has a voice, and he’s going to continue to use it. He wants to see heavy fines and strict bans for players, coaches and parents who It’s a long road to inclusivity, to equality in a sport with historic racial and cross the line. He wants more league- and team-sponsored initiatives in socioeconomic factors working against it. But Weekes walks it with urban areas. He wants more equity in access to rinks and equipment. He determination. wants the next Seth Jones, the next P.K. Subban, the next Evander Kane — hell, the next Kevin Weekes — to be seen as just another player, not In the summer of 2014, Weekes was on the phone — of course — with some kind of novelty. He wants their road to the NHL to be smoother his old Tampa Bay Lightning teammate, Brad Richards. Richards was a than his was. free agent in the twilight of his career, and was looking to make one last run at a Stanley Cup. And he’s optimistic. He thinks the game is headed in the right direction, even if it’s happening more slowly than anyone would like. He sees white “Richie, Chicago would be the spot for you, bro,” Weekes told him. players around the league standing up and speaking out as anti-racists “You’d be a great fit there.” — a remarkable sea change in a sport that has long discouraged any Richards bristled at the idea at first, wondering about the salary-cap individuality and any potential third-rail conversations. Weekes sees concerns and a roster already laden with high-end skill players. But more and more people in the hockey world saying the things he’s been Weekes persisted. He also texted Toews about it. And “people above” saying for years. He’s not alone anymore. Toews about it. And that’s all he wants for other hockey players of color — from youth “And I’m not saying anything, but Brad Richards played in Chicago,” leagues in Chicago and Arizona to the Greater Toronto Hockey League Weekes says with a laugh. “And he assisted on the (eventual) Stanley to the ECHL, AHL and NHL — for them not to feel alone. Different. Other. Cup-winning goal.” Less than. Weekes talks about “relationships” a lot when it comes to hockey — to “It needs to be inclusive with a capital I-N,” Weekes says. “Inclusive, all- playing, to broadcasting, and yes, to general managing. Weekes’ name in. Anyone can come in and feel welcome, feel proud of who they are. occasionally pops up as an outside-the-box candidate when front-office They don’t need to be ashamed if they wear a hijab. They don’t need to jobs open up, and why not? What is being a GM if not building feel ashamed if they have a turban. Put your helmet on, go out and play, relationships with players, with agents, with scouts, with coaches, with and be proud of who you are. Don’t feel less than, don’t be marginalized, the entire hockey world? don’t have bananas thrown at you. That’s where there’s room for growth in us as a sport. That’s what we’re fighting for.” Weekes is quick to emphasize that he loves his job in broadcasting. He says he just loves to talk hockey, whether it’s on TV or on his front stoop with the neighbors. But just as he has higher aspirations for the sport, he The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 has higher aspirations for his career, too. And the two could go hand in hand. Having a voice on TV is one thing. Having actual power is another. “I never got a chance to experience winning the Stanley Cup as a player, to spray that champagne,” he says. “To be able to experience it as a broadcaster is awesome. But to be able to be part of a group that helps put a team together, or to run a team and win one, that’d be a special feeling. I love the craft of broadcasting, I’m very passionate about it. But if a great opportunity presented itself with awesome ownership that was committed to winning? I’d be crazy not to look at that. So yeah, that is definitely a goal for me, for sure.” Weekes is careful not to openly politick for a job while he’s already got one. But it’s hard not to notice the Blackhawks — one of those teams with an owner who’s committed to winning — have a high-profile vacancy in their front office after the firing of team president John McDonough. Anyone who knows Weekes — and, remember, everyone knows him — wouldn’t bet against him. “He is the most connected man in hockey, and he puts in the work,” Coyle says. “He’s got the hockey knowledge, the business acumen and the people skills. And I think that’s a recipe for success. Anything Kevin Weekes does — whether it’s run a hockey team or run a tiddlywinks tournament — he’s going to be successful. He has that knack. Certain people are born leaders and just have that ability. He’s one of them.” Weekes was at the airport in Newark recently, waiting for his bags, when a fallen soldier was welcomed home by family and military personnel. He has friends and family who have served in the armed forces, and in the wake of all the ongoing conversation about race in America, he wondered if the soldier’s sacrifice would mean any less to somebody if the soldier were black, or Latino or Jewish. Of course, it wouldn’t. Or, rather, of course, it shouldn’t. “That’s an analogy that should help provide perspective for people,” Weekes says. “It’s a fallen soldier. Well, (George Floyd) is a fallen citizen. We’re having people get murdered. It doesn’t matter if you live on the South Side of Chicago or not. As a person, that shouldn’t matter. ‘Well, I live in Highland Park or Deerfield, so that’s not for me.’ What do you mean? It’s just humanity 101. I don’t care if you’re chewing on a hayseed in Tuscaloosa. As a person, you are either part of the solution, you’re at least neutral, or you’re part of the problem. If you’re watching George Floyd or any of these people get murdered, and it doesn’t impact you, you’re missing a chip. You’ve got a problem as a person.” 1175795 Websites a children’s book, that’s what was important to me — and what helped me in life in terms of my athletics.

Were you much of a reader as a kid? The Athletic / Duhatschek: Paul Kariya on surfing, dancing and his role in Wayne Gretzky was my idol. I remember spending all my free time in the a children’s book library, picking up books about Wayne Gretzky, and trying to mimic him from the pictures I saw in the book. My father never played hockey and I was the first in our family to start. But my dad was such a great athlete By Eric Duhatschek that he learned how to play hockey himself in order to help us learn. There was also a how-to-play hockey book from Bobby Orr and I Jun 17, 2020 remember going through that with my father because he was learning hockey as well. The book had different drills you could do, on and off the ice. Paul Kariya accomplished a lot during his professional hockey career, including election to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017, and soon, he will Remember, there was no internet at the time, so that’s how you learned have another accolade to add to his hockey resume. Kariya will be — from books. Later in life, there were instructional videos you could use, featured in the sixth installment of the children’s book series “The Ice but we didn’t even have a VCR in our house until I was 14 or so. We had Chips,” authored by Roy and Kerry MacGregor. The premise of the TV, but we didn’t spend a lot of time in the house. We were always novels revolves around time travel — a team of eight-year-olds goes into outside, playing. the past to visit the eight-year-old versions of their future hockey heroes. Did you have a favorite sport growing up? Or was your favorite sport, the Not everyone can remember details about their eight-year-old selves, but sport you happened to be playing at the time? Kariya, one of the most organized and thoughtful players of his generation, does. Accordingly, when we caught up with him at his It was always the one I was playing. When basketball season was on, Orange County, Calif. home, that’s where we started — what it’s like to there would always be a college basketball game on Saturday be a featured character in a children’s story. afternoons, so you’d watch Indiana or Duke play basketball. My dad loved golf. He loved Jack Nicklaus. I loved Tom Watson. Some of my I like the idea of an eight-year-old Paul Kariya being a fictional character fondest memories are watching the Masters or the British Open with him. in a children’s book. What was your first response when Roy MacGregor I really didn’t become 100 percent committed to hockey until I probably first pitched the idea to you? went to junior — that was when I was 15. I told him it would a huge honor, but my first reaction was: There must be Years ago, the long-time Team Canada hockey scout Paul Henry told me hundreds – or even thousands – of players more interesting than me to that you and one other player – I want to say Rick Tabaracci – were the write about. But I was honored that he would ask — and he sent me one only two athletes that ever visited his cottage in the summer and were of the past books, so I could have an idea of what he’s going for. able to – on their first tries – get out of the water on a single slalom ski. I like the premise of the series: To go back in time to understand what As someone who always uses a drop ski because it’s too much work to someone – who would eventually gain a prominent place in the hockey get out of the water on a single ski, I have to tell you that impressed me world – was like as a kid, way before they had any sense of how their as much as anything you ever accomplished in the NHL. lives would turn out. Were there any clues in what you were doing at age (Laughs). Oh, I remember that well. We wound up going from wherever eight that would have predicted the path you eventually followed? his boat was parked to an island where we got fish and chips. So, it was That’s actually how we started — what are the things that you want a long way and we waterskied the entire way. But I had skied starting people to know about you at that age? What were you like? The first way back in elementary school … so, I had skied a little. That was the thing I thought was, as an eight-year-old, I played every sport imaginable. first time I’d ever waterskied, but they were very similar. I was swimming competitively. I was playing lacrosse. I was playing And that’s my point: All the sports build on each other. Once you have a tennis. I was golfing. Hockey, of course. I played on a basketball team. I base of athleticism, it makes it easier to do different things. Even going ran track. And I was encouraged to do all of that by my parents. from skiing to water skiing to surfing, there are so many parallels. With It’s different now. Kids at 10 or 12 are asked to be one-sport athletes. skating, I remember doing skating drills and carving the circles, and Back then, there wasn’t that pressure. I’d maybe go to one hockey school those cuts are the same moves you’re making when you’re skiing or in the summer, but basically, I played the sports in the season they were waterskiing or surfing. So, the sports are very similar, whether the water in — and when the seasons changed, it was time to move on to is liquid or the water is frozen. But I remember that day with Paul Henry something else. Whatever the sport I was doing at the time was the sport very well. I think we set a world record for the amount of fish and chips that I was loving and concentrating on. eaten. Today, I think it’s gone way too far the other way, where kids are too I know surfing has become one of your main passions now and it’s specialized and too early in their lives, they’re becoming one-sport something that you learned as an adult. I would tell you: Surfing is one of athletes. And I think that not only hurts them as athletes, it inhibits them the sports that has defeated me — I tried it as an adult and just couldn’t as human beings in terms of their growth. I think it’s actually even bad for get it. The sports I do reasonably well are the ones I learned when I was the sport you’re in. young. I know you say there are transferable skills from one sport to another, but what has been your experience, learning a new physical How do you mean? activity as an adult? So, you take a sport like lacrosse, for instance. Contact is legal in For me, the most important thing about staying young and staying active lacrosse early on, so playing lacrosse teaches you how to roll off a check is learning new things. So, I’m kind of the opposite of what you just said. I and how to handle body contact. You need to be able to shoot with both always look to try new things to learn. Starting from zero and learning a hands, so being ambidextrous – all those things help you with your new sport or a new skill, that fascinates me, it excites me. I really enjoy hockey. So, that was the first thing I thought of that was different today being a beginner again and going through the different developmental from when I was eight. My parents always stressed that it’s important to stages. So, for example, I skied as a kid but I didn’t snowboard. I picked play different sports. The conditioning you get swimming helps your up snowboarding as an adult after I retired. There are some similarities to hockey. Every sport helps you become better at your other sports. surfing, but it’s actually quite different in a lot of ways too. I remember trying snowboarding for the first time with my brother — we were visiting That’s important messaging for today’s parents and I would add this: my mom and just decided we wanted to try it. So, we went on YouTube, That nobody, other than you probably, is natural at everything. Indirectly, watched a couple of videos and then went out and snowboarded. Oh taking on a sport that doesn’t come naturally can teach important life yeah. In the beginning, we took a few beatings for sure. And my lessons – that sometimes, getting better at something, and showing youngest brother, Martin, his wife was a snowboard instructor growing improvement, is hard and it takes work. up. So, after trying a couple of times on our own, she helped us get going The other thing I would add is, it’s important to do a team sport, and to be in the right direction. a part of a team and learn that team goals are always more important As an adult now, I’m always trying new things. It’s great for your brain than individual goals. And vice versa. If you’re a team-sport athlete, it’s and it’s great for your body. In the context of surfing, there are so many important to try an individual sport, where the pressure is all on you. All different variations. There’s longboard, shortboard, hydrofoil surfing, those lessons you learn are valuable beyond sports. We both know that windsurfing. Even if technically, all you ever did was surf, there are so whatever the percentages are, the odds of someone becoming a many branches of surfing you can try. And you can never master it. Even professional athlete are very small. But if you go into business, and you the best in the world – the Kelly Slaters of the world – they’re always are asked to be a part of a company tennis or a golf tournament, learning trying to learn new things. those sports early can be really advantageous later in life. If you’re doing You mention Kelly Slater. Does that mean big-wave surfing is next on your to-do list? Where the jet ski tows you into a giant wave and then off you go? (Laughs) That’s different again. That’s almost its own sport. For myself, the risk/reward would be too high. I mean, anything can happen at any time — but the risk/reward for that is too high. I mean, you could die. If I’m surfing a three- to four-foot wave, the odds are in my favor, as opposed to trying to surf a 30- or even a 40-foot wave. I don’t see myself going to that extreme. Also, for me, one of the most important things about surfing is, it keeps me in shape. It’s a great workout. I wouldn’t want an assist from a jet ski. I want the exercise element of surfing, where I’m getting into the waves under my own power. I once did a detailed story on NHLers who surf and I can’t remember if it was you or one of the other players that I interviewed who said that paddling out was one of the hardest elements of surfing and unbelievable exercise. We didn’t surf here for seven weeks or so because the beaches were closed, but the other day, I was out and it was a pretty big day. I hadn’t been surfing because of this virus, so my arms weren’t in proper surfing shape. I was out there for an hour, having a pretty good time when a set came in. A set is when the waves are really big and really consistent. So, I saw the set coming and I had to get out there, or I was going to get crushed by all the waves. So, I was – 100 percent, as hard as I could – paddling out. If you can imagine a wave building and peaking, I was just getting over the top of one wave and coming down the back of it and then I had to get over the next one. So, I was in a 100 percent sprint for eight waves in a row to get out – and I was gassed. I sat out there for like 10 or 15 minutes, just recovering from that. And I wasn’t even surfing. I was just going out. So, for sure, on big days, getting out is just as hard as catching the wave back in. Just following up on the idea of taking up an activity as an adult, I remember you told me once – during the time you were recovering from a concussion – that you took up ballroom dancing, as a means of helping to rewire your brain a little. How far along did you get in ballroom dancing? Did you master that as well? (Laughs) Well, I haven’t mastered any of these things. But Val and I took lessons from Arthur Murray for about a year and a half. At least a couple of days a week, I’ll do a traditional workout – lifting weights, cardio, all that stuff – and at the end of it, to cool down, I’ll do some of the dance routines, just to remember them. In terms of the brain aspect of it, in dance, you’re the lead and so you have to remember the steps and the movements. So, I’ll go through the basic cadence and the steps, and that just keeps the brain aware and keeps it in the muscle memory. We don’t take classes anymore, but if we’re watching “Dancing with the Stars,” I’ll say, “let’s do the rhumba.” Or “let’s do whatever.” And especially if you’re competitive, it’s really fun. Competitive? You? In dance too? (Laughs) In order to pass the levels, you have to dance by yourself. So, if you’re learning the cha-cha-cha, for example, you’re going through the steps in frame, by yourself, and it’s actually harder for the woman because she has to do it backward, without a partner, in heels. In order to get to the next level, you have to pass the test. And so, we’d be going to the testing day and Val would be really nervous. It got a little competitive, to be honest. You can do group classes, where you’re switching partners, and so if you have a little competitiveness in you, you don’t want to be holding the group back. It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I was never a great dancer. I always felt I had two left feet — no timing or rhythm, anything like that. It was really, really challenging. I would come out of there sweating physically, but also, I felt like my brain was put through a chess match against a Grandmaster. To memorize all the steps and to be in tune with the music, is very, very difficult — and totally foreign to me. It’s just 180 degrees different from anything else I’d ever done. But dance? That’s like another sport you can do for the rest of your life.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175796 Websites point seasons, with modest play-driving ability. The deal he signed looked mostly fair and was short enough to not be a problem.

His first year was a bit disappointing from a 5-on-5 perspective, but the The Athletic / By the numbers: The 15 best NHL free agents of the last team itself was in a state of disarray and Hudler bounced around the decade lineup. But as the team began stabilizing he took on a bigger role in the top six with more consistent linemates, earning close to 19 minutes per game and playing regularly with Mikael Backlund and Sean Monahan. At 5-on-5, his defensive numbers improved and he scored 54 points in 75 Dom Luszczyszyn games, a 59-point pace that was the best of his career. It was the Jun 17, 2020 following year though where he was a big difference-maker, scoring 32 goals and 76 points, helping Calgary make an unlikely run to the second round. That year, Hudler provided twice as much value as he was being paid for. On Tuesday, we went over the 15 worst free agents from the last decade, a list that would be relatively easy for any fan to compile. Almost Hudler predictably regressed the following two seasons, but those two every name on the list would be met with either “yeah that makes sense,” unexpected seasons in the middle were enough for him to make the cut. “wow, I didn’t realize it was that bad” or “OK, that guy was a bad bet, but what about these 20 other guys I can think of?” 13. Brad Boyes, 30 A list of best free agents? Not nearly as easy. Signing Team: New York Islanders It’s a difficult task because even the best free agents boil down to a team Date: July 1, 2012 simply getting their money’s worth. Nothing less, nothing more. A few of Contract: $1M x 1 year those names come to mind, but it’s the players that provided surplus- value relative to their contract that are a bit trickier as those contracts In the world of free agency, the shorter the better. The average length of aren’t exactly in abundance (On Thursday, we’ll break down just how a deal that provides at least one win of surplus-value is 2.2 years. For staggering those numbers are). negative value, it’s 3.4 years. On this list, there are five one-year deals and Boyes is the first, signed with very few expectations at just one Just like the worst contracts, the process for figuring out the best deals million dollars for the year. was done empirically. Based on the work I did last season on the monetary value of a win, I translated the salary each free agent was paid That Boyes could only get such a low-level deal was strange given his over the last decade and translated that figure to how many wins the on-ice performance. Though he was coming off a down year where he player was expected to provide. Compare that to the value he actually was worth only 0.3 wins, he was worth 1.8 wins on average in the four did provide (based on Game Score Value Added, or GSVA and projected years prior. That led to a forecast of 0.8 wins, but it was one he blew well GSVA for seasons that haven’t been completed yet) and voila: A past in an electric season for the Islanders where he scored 35 points in decades-long list of good deals. The more fair way to do this would be to 48 games, a 60-point pace. Playing on a line with John Tavares judge the deal based on the information available at the time – there will obviously helped as the line earned 57 percent of expected goals be room for that in each write-up, I promise – but to find the best deals, together, but Boyes was still an asset in his own right. He helped on the what actually happened is most important. power play with his play-making, netting 12 assists for the 11th ranked power play in the league. For $1 million, what more could you ask for? Starting from 15 and working our way up to the best deal of the decade, it’s time to look at some of the slam dunk contracts teams signed over 12. Mike Ribeiro, 34 the last decade. Signing Team: Nashville Predators 15. Michael Grabner, 28 Date: July 15, 2014 Signing Team: New York Rangers Contract: $1.05M x 1 year Date: July 1, 2016 For a lot of players on this list, there’s sometimes little reason for their Contract: $1.65M x 2 years devaluation on the open market. For Mike Ribeiro, it was a string of off- ice issues that led to teams wanting nothing to do with him. Ribeiro was We’re one player in and it’s clear that this is going to be a very different accused of sexual assault in 2015 for events that transpired between list. The first player up provided an excess of 1.7 wins, a far cry from 2007 to 2012. Those events were yet public knowledge when he was a Anton Volchenkov, the equivalent player on the worst contracts list, who free agent but it may explain the deal he ended up with. In 2014 in was over eight wins below expectation. Spoiler alert: No one on this list particular, Ribeiro was bought out by the Arizona Coyotes for behavioral comes in at that level and only two even reach half of that. It’s a bleak issues that were speculated to be related to alcohol. look at free agency when even the best potential upside is nowhere near comparable to the immense potential downside. The other reason is that On a one-year deal in Nashville, Ribeiro was seemingly rehabilitated the worst contracts list was full of high profile players making lots of (again, this was before his ugly transgressions came to light), putting up money. On the best contracts list, those players will be few and far a strong 62-point campaign while also being a responsible two-way between. player at 5-on-5 with a 55 percent expected goals rate. His play at even- strength was a welcome surprise given his prior six seasons of being At the time, Michael Grabner looked very far off the player he looked like below average in that regard. Based on his on-ice work in this single he could become back in 2010-11 when he potted 34 goals and 52 season given the dollar amount paid by Nashville, Ribeiro was certainly a points. The speedster failed to replicate those highs in the five years bargain and technically belongs on his list. Whether it was worth it given since, landing in Toronto after four years of disappointment in Long his reputation and the details that came forward after is obviously much Island. There, he was at his worst, scoring just nine goals and 18 points more questionable. over a full season. He looked completely replaceable. 11. Justin Williams, 33 But the Rangers took a flier on him, and boy, were they lucky to do so as he caught fire for them immediately with back-to-back 27 goals seasons. Signing Team: Washington Capitals His defensive numbers remained as poor as usual, but 27 goals is 27 goals. The offense was back which put him in decent middle-six territory. Date: July 1, 2015 At $1.65 million that’s a bargain and thankfully the deal was only two Contract: $3.25M x 2 years years long as Grabner seemingly lost the magic once again the following season. The only problem with this deal was that it was so short. Given Justin Williams was 33 at the time of signing it’s an acceptable risk aversion 14. Jiri Hudler, 28 from Washington, but the price paid was a pittance compared to what Signing Team: Calgary Flames Williams would likely offer his new team. By his projected value at the time he was worth double. Date: July 2, 2012 At $3.25 million, the expectation was for Williams to be a high-end third Contract: $4M x 4 years liner and if you were to look strictly at his point pace in Los Angeles the prior two seasons you would be forgiven for agreeing with that sentiment. When the Flames signed Jiri Hudler before the 2013 season, he looked Paying a declining 40-point player in his 30s is usually a bad move, but like a solid, but inconsistent player, bouncing around between 40-to-50 Williams isn’t a typical 40-point player. Few players do the little things and grind as well as he does and he was an important factor in the Kings being such a dominant possession team. At 5-on-5, the Kings earned provided 2.8 wins of value, regaining that chemistry he once had with about 58 percent of the expected and actual goals with Williams on the Iginla who himself saw a rise in production from 69 to 86 points with the ice. When it comes to Williams, his point totals didn’t tell the whole story, arrival of Tanguay. It wasn’t enough for the Flames to make the playoffs, especially with how strong he was in his own end. but Tanguay was a steal at $1.7 million, playing like a player worth closer to $7.3 million. That translated over to Washington where his 5-on-5 dominance continued, all while his production jumped a bit too, putting him close to 7. , 36 two-win territory. Williams was a first-line caliber player in Los Angeles and continued to be that in both his years in Washington. The Capitals Signing Team: Boston Bruins paid for 1.7 wins and he surpassed that in each year individually, bringing Date: July 5, 2013 in about $12.4 million of value in total. And that doesn’t even account for his play come playoff time. Contract: $1.8M x 1 year 10. Riley Nash, 27 Naturally, the next player on the list is Iginla, whose chart looks close to Tanguay’s, only with a higher projected output. Iginla was 36, so it was Signing Team: Boston Bruins fair to expect a decline of some sort, but $1.8 million was well beneath Date: July 1, 2016 what could have reasonably been expected of him. At that point in time, he was still a two-win player, a bonafide first liner. Contract: $900K x 2 years Iginla’s salary probably had more to do with the fact that he hadn’t won a Riley Nash was brought in to be the Bruins’ fourth-line center. Not the Stanley Cup yet and the clock was ticking. Iginla was traded from the sexiest acquisition or one that made many headlines, but four years later only team he ever knew to Pittsburgh the year prior, and with the he finds himself on a list of best free agents. The pickings really were Penguins getting swept by the Bruins in the conference finals, Boston slim. At the time Nash looked like a dime-a-dozen NHLer, one who could was a natural choice for his services the following year. It was a classic out-perform a bottom-line role, but likely couldn’t do much else. “get me a ring” contract and he picked wisely with the Bruins being the league’s best regular-season team that year. He certainly helped as he That’s exactly the way things looked in the first year of his contract where performed well above his salary as well as what was projected of him he provided strong defensive play in a bottom-six role. But then with nearly three wins of value. That’s elite territory, which is pretty crazy something funny happened the next year where he exploded for a for a 36-year-old player. career-high 41 points with some dominant 5-on-5 numbers to boot. Nash found great chemistry on the third line next to David Backes and Danton Iginla scored 30 goals and 61 points, matching his recent production, but Heinen, but the trick was finding a spot even further up the lineup when it was what happened at 5-on-5 that made him so valuable as the team superstar center Patrice Bergeron was sideline near the end of the earned a 55 percent expected goals rate, but also scored 67 percent of season. the goals on top of that. That latter mark was one of the best on the team. Nash took advantage of some time filling in between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak, scoring 13 points in 13 games which partly contributed Iginla’s quest for a Cup was ultimately stymied by the Canadiens in the to his high value that season. Though it probably has more to do with second round, but his trip to Boston was a valiant effort nevertheless and who he played with than anything, Nash didn’t exactly hold the line back his contributions put them very close to that goal. His next trip to either, a testament to his play during his best season. He would never Colorado on the other hand … replicate it, but in that season Nash provided big value while earning just $900,000. 6. David Perron, 30 9. Michael Ryder, 31 Signing Team: St. Louis Blues Signing Team: Dallas Stars Date: July 1, 2018 Date: July 1, 2011 Contract: $4M x 4 years Contract: $3.5M x 2 years For the fifth time in his career, David Perron signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues which would sound more normal until you find out he’s He started off strong in Boston, but for three straight seasons, Michael played for four other teams who have never signed him. It’s a weird quirk Ryder was in decline. He wasn’t producing as much and his game at 5- and his latest deal signed just two years ago looks to be worthy of one of on-5 was falling off quickly. At 31, Ryder didn’t seem like a safe bet to the best in the last decade. have much left in the tank and a two-year deal at middle six money was right in line with his projected output. It was a reunion for Perron, who got a quick tour of Vegas first after being exposed in the expansion draft. There, he established himself as a play- Ryder blew past those forecasts and expectations, scoring 35 goals and making force posting 66 points in 70 games which represented a career- adding 27 assists in a resurgence season for Dallas. He still wasn’t high. That performance wasn’t enough to land a big payday with his strong at 5-on-5, but his individual efforts made up for that. The next former team though, which is fair given there may have been some season he proved it was no fluke and scored at a 62-point pace again in skepticism in his ability to continuing playing at that level. a shortened season. In both seasons, Ryder was a legit first-line forward which was well above what he was paid to be. He brought in about $12.6 In the following two seasons he hasn’t been far off posting 46 points in 57 million worth of value for the Stars. games (66-point pace) and 60 points in 71 games (69-point pace). In each of these high scoring seasons, Perron hasn’t been the best play- 8. Alex Tanguay, 30 driver, but he makes up for it with his individual offense. He’s been worth three wins of value over the past two seasons which is 1.1 more than Signing Team: Calgary Flames what was expected of him (but pretty close to projected). Over the next Date: July 1, 2010 two seasons, Perron is expected to stay at that level and that means a pretty sizeable surplus of value is in store for the Blues who could see Contract: $1.7M x 1 year between six-and-seven wins out of Perron, much more than the 3.7 they paid for. At his peak, Alex Tanguay was one of the league’s premier playmakers and a consistent point-per-game threat. After starting his career and 5. Ray Whitney, 38 winning a Stanley Cup in Colorado, Tanguay found himself in Calgary for a two-year stint where he had a career-high in points playing next to Signing Team: Phoenix Coyotes Jarome Iginla. Date: July 1, 2010 It made for a natural landing spot at age 30 after having his worst season Contract: $3M x 2 years in Tampa Bay the year prior, scoring just 37 points while being a defensive liability. It was a “prove it” contract, one with very low Any contract for a 38-year-old is tricky because it’s hard to know how expectations that Tanguay seemed likely to surpass. The 0.4 win much a player has left in the tank. Just two years prior, Ray Whitney was valuation was in line with his season in Tampa Bay, but prior to that he still an elite player for the Carolina Hurricanes, posting 77 points with a was a two-win player and though he was 30, a bounce-back seemed strong 54 percent expected goals rate. A year later, he’s worth under a likely. win as his production drops and he looks like one of the league’s worst defensive players. Which Whitney will his new team get? What Calgary got was that and then some. Tanguay scored 69 points in 79 games while also being an excellent player at 5-on-5, with Calgary The Phoenix Coyotes figured it would be closer to the latter as the two- earning 55 percent of actual and expected goals with him on the ice. He year, $3 million contract Whitney signed with them held the expectation of roughly one win of value in both seasons. My model projected a slight percent of the goals. Few lines have been able to perform at that level bounce back in the first year before converging with the expected output. over a two-year span and Radulov played a big role in that. In his first year with the Coyotes, Whitney performed as projected, The 2019-20 campaign wasn’t as rosy for Radulov or any of Dallas’ earning 1.5 wins of value with a solid 57-point season. It’s clear he wasn’t forwards as there was a collective offensive dry-spell there. Still, even a done yet and was worth a little more than he was being paid for. And down season was a decent one for Radulov where he still provided 1.2 then his age 39 season happened where Whitney blew all expectations wins of value in 60 games which prorates to 1.64 over 82 games – a out of the water, scoring 77 points and being a dominant presence at 5- shade over what he’s being paid for. The Stars paid for 8.3 wins over five on-5 where the Coyotes scored 66 percent of the goals. It was enough to years and three years in they’ve already received that. The next two be worth 3.5 wins that year, the sixth-highest mark in the league years are the gravy on top. sandwiched between Claude Giroux and John Tavares. That’s fine company for an elder statesmen and he played like a $9.5 million player 2. Artemi Panarin, 27 that season, more than three times his actual salary. Signing Team: New York Rangers 4. Jaromir Jagr, 41 Date: July 1, 2019 Signing Team: New Jersey Devils Contract: $11.642M x 7 years Date: July 22, 2013 We are exactly one year into this seven-year deal, so this is a bit of a Contract: $2M x 1 year spicy take to place it as the second-best free-agent deal of the decade, but a lot has changed in that one season to already alter the math on the The funny thing about this list is that it’s littered with old guys who refuse original projection. to go quietly into that good night. The age curve is something any team signing a contract should be mindful of and it makes elder players riskier Last summer, the New York Rangers won the Artemi Panarin bets, but it also means that those that defy their trajectories make for sweepstakes, signing him to a seven-year deal that would pay him great stories. There were few better stories over the past decade than $11.642 million per season. It was an extremely rich deal, but one that 39-year-old Jaromir Jagr returning from the KHL to reassert his Panarin looked to be mostly worth. The expectation at the time called for dominance, a farewell tour that spanned six different teams over his final three wins of value per season and with him starting at a projection of 3.3 seven seasons. He was the poster child for an old guy defying wins, an average of 2.9 wins over the life of the contract seemed like fair expectations. game. The first two seasons, split between Philadelphia, Dallas and Boston, The important thing to remember with projections is that there’s a range were solid campaigns where Jagr showed he can still produce and be a of plausible outcomes ranging from a best case to a worst case – it’s not borderline top-line player. Still, there’s always risk involved in signing a just one number. In his first season, Panarin blew past those 41-year-old no matter how freakish and Jagr’s playoff performance left expectations in a best-case scenario, earning 4.1 wins in a season (4.9 questions about how much he truly had left in the tank. That led to a $2 wins over 82 games) that is generating serious Hart Trophy buzz. He million contract, one where the expectation was 0.5 wins, 0.75 fewer than tallied 95 points in 69 games and had the Rangers earning 66 percent of projected. the goals when he was on the ice. The difference between him on versus off was staggering, a testament to how important he was to the team’s Jagr clearly took that personally because he exploded next season, bottom line. Panarin has been an elite talent since his first season, but in scoring 67 points for the Devils. What was more impressive though were his first year as a Ranger, he took his play to an entirely new level. his 5-on-5 numbers which were flat-out insane, especially on defense. With Jagr on the ice, the Devils earned 61 percent of the actual and That one season has changed his trajectory big time which you can see expected goals and his defensive numbers were ridiculous. The Devils clear as day in the chart above. Every future season has been shifted allowed just 1.65 expected and actual goals-per-60, one of the best upwards by about 0.8 wins meaning the likeliest outcome is Panarin marks in the league on both accounts. adding 25.8 wins of value for the Rangers. They paid for 21.2. Jagr’s value to the Devils that year was 3.9 wins, an impressive amount With six of the seven seasons being projected here there’s a lot of room for any player let alone one of his vintage. Thanks to his strong defense, for error here. It was just last year that John Tavares put up a season Jagr was a top 10 player that season, finding a space between Patrice worth 4.5 wins only to see his value fall precipitously the following year. Bergeron and Jonathan Toews. Perhaps more impressive is that the next The same can happen for Panarin, but for now, it’s so far so good for the closest Devil, Travis Zajac, was 1.3 wins lower. Jagr was a one-man Russian superstar who’s been worth every penny in Year 1 and should wrecking crew and it only cost the Devils $2 million. His actual worth was see that continue for years to come. over five times greater. 1. Eric Staal, 31 3. Alex Radulov, 30 Signing Team: Minnesota Wild Signing Team: Dallas Stars Date: July 1, 2016 Date: July 3, 2017 Contract: $3.5M x 3 years Contract: $6.25M x 5 years When thinking about the best free-agent deals, Eric Staal’s name is the Being skeptical of a five-year deal worth $6.25 million per season for a one that immediately came to mind, and as it turns out, the difference 30-year-old is not unreasonable. While Alex Radulov played well enough between his deal and the rest isn’t even close. Staal added 6.3 wins of in Montreal to warrant it – worth 2.2 wins in his first season back from the surplus value while the next best player whose contract has finished, KHL – there was a lot of uncertainty given his low sample size. That, plus Jagr, is at 3.4 wins. To this day, it’s hard to fathom how the best deal his age pushed his projection down to 1.9 wins that year and lower than Staal received was just $3.5 million per for three years, but it was clearly expected in the final three years. By free agency standards, it was a Minnesota’s gain. pretty fair deal, but given the lengthy history of players flaming out after I would assume the real reason was Staal’s point totals, which had been signing a big deal, any concern was justified. in decline for four straight years. That’s a big red flag for a 31-year-old, But there was a reason to be optimistic and that was knowing who but under the hood, Staal still looked like a dominant force at 5-on-5. In Radulov would get to play with in Dallas. In Montreal Radulov most the prior two seasons, the Hurricanes and Rangers had a 55 percent frequently played with Max Pacioretty and Phillip Danault and with all due expected goals rate driven largely by Staal’s offensive contributions. In respect to those two, they’re not Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Those those two years, Staal personally had 56 expected goals, but only scored are two superstars paired with Radulov had the potential to form one of 36. Given those two facts and knowing what a dangerous goal-scorer the league’s best trios. Staal is capable of being, bad luck and maybe even bad systems looked more to blame than his ability. Even with the lower point totals, Staal was That’s exactly what happened in Radulov’s first two seasons. Playing still worth an average of two wins in the prior two seasons where his with elite talent pushed Radulov into that territory, where he was worth point totals dropped. 3.5 wins in back-to-back seasons. That potential was always there and it finally showed up next to a capable supporting cast where he posted The expectation from his contract was just 0.9 wins per season and even back-to-back 72-point seasons (with the latter being in 70 games). if we factor in that Staal was declining with age, something closer to 1.5 wins per year looked more likely. That meant a deal closer to $6 million More impressive was the territorial dominance displayed by the line. In would’ve been more appropriate for his services. those two seasons, that top trio had a 57 percent expected goals rate and nearly out-scored their opponents by a 2-to-1 margin, earning 65 Even that would’ve been an underpayment though as Staal found new life in Minnesota, averaging three wins of value per season, with an average valuation of $9.8 million per season. He was that good, peaking with a 3.5 win campaign in 2017-18 where he scored 42 goals and 76 points, generating light Hart buzz in the process. In his three years with Minnesota, Staal’s individual expected goals rate stayed high but this time he was actually converting, scoring 92 goals on 76 expected, making up for the expected goals lost in previous seasons. At 5-on-5 he remained a dominant force too as the Wild earned a 56 percent expected goals share with Staal on the ice, and this time the actual goals scored matched too with the team earning 55 percent of those. Though a bounce-back for Staal seemed obvious, even the most optimistic backers couldn’t have seen his massive resurgence coming. He was a force to be reckoned with and at $3.5 million, he was the biggest free-agent bargain of the decade.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175797 Websites This fan has missed sports a little too much, is undoubtedly way too into Korean baseball and has probably been gambling on their kids’ Fortnite games. They need this. Let them have it. The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: The 12 types of fans you’ll meet when The Asterisk the NHL season resumes Are you enjoying the playoffs? Are you starting to get emotionally invested in who’s going to win? You shouldn’t, because none of this counts, and The Asterisk will be there to remind you of that at every turn. By Sean McIndoe Like a few of the folks we’ll meet on this list, The Asterisk won’t Jun 17, 2020 necessarily be wrong. They’ll just be annoying, because you won’t even be able to express any sort of interest in how a series will turn out without them showing up to scold you about how none of this really matters. And The NHL is on the way back, and while there’s still no guarantee that the if your team wins and you seem even mildly happy about that? The season will be able to resume, plans are in full swing with a date set for Asterisk will be there to put an end to that, you fool, you absolute training camp and progress on other key elements. imbecile. Is this a good idea? That’s up for debate, especially with news leaking Luckily, they won’t be able to do any of that without running into their own out of positive coronavirus tests in other sports. There are still several adversary … ways this could all go badly, including scenarios where a resumed The Historian season had to be halted again or never got off the ground at all. But for now, the league is pushing forward and we’re just weeks away from The sworn enemy of The Asterisk, The Historian is here to tell you that seeing NHL teams back on the ice. this year does indeed count, and they have a long list of historical precedents to rely on. Did you know that the NHL used short preliminary As fans, we might as well start preparing ourselves for what’s to come. rounds for most of the 1970s? Did you know that the first round was only And that means an attempted conclusion to the season that will be unlike five games until 1987? Would you like to hear about all of those 70-game anything we’ve ever seen before. With 24 teams, a play-in round, hub seasons back in the era? Do you realize that in terms of the cities and empty arenas, this might end up being the most unique few ratio of postseason teams to non-postseason teams, this year isn’t months in NHL history. actually all that different from the 21-team days? Whichever way you feel about the plan, it’s certainly going to be This person probably talks way too much about NHL history and may interesting. So today, let’s start getting ready for what’s to come by have even written a book about it that you’ll politely pretend to have read. introducing a dozen types of hockey fans you can expect to meet when The best way to deal with The Historian is to lure them and The (or if) the NHL returns. Pessimist into an argument about the 1919 influenza outbreak and then The Pessimist sneak away while they yell at each other. We might as well start here, because you’ll be hearing from The The Equivocator Pessimist plenty. You already are. The Pessimist has a long list of This fan has very strong thoughts on whether this year’s playoffs and reasons why resuming the season is a bad idea, can’t possibly work and Stanley Cup should count and they’ll be happy to share them with you, is going to end badly for everyone involved. Anywhere fans are starting but first they need to check on how their team did in their most recent to show some excitement over the season resuming, the Pessimist will game. swoop in with data, charts and more than a few terrifying worst-case scenarios. Did they win? Of course they did, because they’re a good team and good teams always find a way to win in a real postseason, which is what this Here’s by far the biggest problem with The Pessimist: They’re almost is. definitely right. Maybe not about those worst-case scenarios – we hope – but about the level of risk we all seem way too comfortable accepting Did they lose? Well, sure, because this format is dumb and is designed here. Are we bravely pushing forward in the face of adversity the way we to create randomness so who even cares. might like to think or just selfishly putting other people in danger so that we can enjoy some vague semblance of normalcy (that we’ll still just Needless to say, this will continue until their team is either eliminated or complain about anyway)? Should we even be doing this? Am I a bad wins the Cup, at which point their view will solidify and they’ll insist they person for wanting any of this to happen? Are you? never changed their mind. Be sure to check back with The Equivocator often, as they’ll have further bulletins as events warrant. The Pessimist will make you wonder, which means they’ll be one of your least favorite voices over the next few weeks and months. But look on The Embittered Fan of One the Seven Other Teams That Aren’t There the bright side: at least you’ll be able to blame them for ruining your fun, This fan cheers for the Sabres or the Sharks or one of those five other instead of your own nagging conscience. teams everybody else has already forgotten. Now they get to watch all The Format Proposer their fellow fans get excited about a return to play, like hearing all the cool kids talk about the big party they weren’t invited to. Yes, it took months for the NHL and NHLPA to agree on a format for the rest of the season. Did they get it right? No, they did not, and The Format This person could use a hug and we should all feel sorry for them. Proposer is here to tell you all about it. In detail. So much detail. The Hipster As it turns out, this fan had a better idea all along. Against all odds, Gary Watching hockey without fans in the arena is going to be strange. It will Bettman doesn’t seem to have stumbled onto their Twitter feed, so he be an adjustment, with some of us finding it distracting or maybe worse, missed out on implementing the correct format. Or did he? The Format while others can eventually settle in and live with the change. Proposer seems to be convinced that there’s still time for everyone to recognize the genius of their idea and that will stay true even after the But not The Hipster. Oh no, this fan is going to want you to know that games have started. All they have to do is keep telling you about it, actually, hockey is better without fans. It’s just so much more pure, you constantly, at all times. know? You can really get familiar with the sounds of the rink. Get a feel for how the puck rattles off the glass. In fact, it kind of reminds them of It goes without saying that The Format Proposer’s idea is terrible, their days as the sole season ticket-holder for the Saskatoon Silver completely implausible and clearly set up to benefit their favorite team. Squirrels, a team that played in a completely empty arena that had no That doesn’t matter, because they’ll still be yammering on about it as the seats or electricity or ice back in the golden era of the BCQWJHL. It’s an Stanley Cup is being lifted. obscure league, you wouldn’t have heard of it. The Binger The Hipster is going to be completely insufferable, and you already know This fan can’t wait to watch the games. No, not some of them – they plan with complete certainty which one of your friends this is going to be. to watch every game. They’re counting on limited rink availability in the The Interpreter hub cities to force an Olympic-style schedule with games spread out as much as possible. The Binger has multiple screens. They are willing to A distant cousin of The Hipster, The Interpreter will adapt to the lack of record games and watch them in the middle of the night. Time zones are fans by insisting that they can hear and understand every word that their friend. anyone says, all game long. And not just players – The Interpreter can also eavesdrop on coaches, officials, and anyone else who even briefly appears on camera. And they’ll constantly be quizzing you to see if you picked on all those little details and exchanges that they’re sure you didn’t pick up on. Roughly 90 percent of what this fan hears will just be the players constantly yelling “WHEEL WHEEL WHEEL” which they will assume you find fascinating. The other 10 percent will be swear words. When the broadcast inevitably start pumping in fake crowd noise, this person is going to be furious. The Economist Yes, yes, it’s nice to watch hockey, but how is this affecting other people’s money? The Economist will be happy to tell you, because they’ve got detailed thoughts on how all of this is affecting the bottom line. Whether it’s the next TV deal, franchise viability or the 2022 CBA, The Economist has read the room and knows the one thing that everyone just can’t get enough of right now: Bad financial news. You already know this person because they show up in every conversation about a contract signing to tell you about how local tax rates work. The Fan Who Insists That We Should All Just Be Happy That Hockey’s Back They’re not exactly the opposite of The Pessimist, since that would involve having some optimistic arguments to make. Instead, this fan will just want us to stop talking about what could go wrong. Or how things could have been done better. Or whether any of this will work. No, they’ll just repeat their mantra that hockey’s back and we should all just be thankful and enjoy it. Specifically, by not thinking critically about any of this. For someone who spends so much time insisting that everyone be happy, this fan will never sound remotely happy. They may even seem to be crying. They’ll be annoying, but try to be kind. Remember, it could be worse, they could turn into … Please Like My Sport Guy Crippled by insecurity and desperate for any opportunity to tell you that hockey is the best, Please Like My Sport Guy – and let’s face it, it’s always a guy – is very excited about the NHL’s return. That’s because it gives him an opportunity to engage in his very favorite activity: Pretending that hockey players are the only athletes who play for the love of the game instead of money, fame and personal glory. After all, look at those MLB players. They might not even have a season at all, because they can’t agree on how much of the league’s revenue they should get. But hockey didn’t have that problem, and do you know why? Yes, you do, it’s because revenue split is already covered in the CBA, but don’t tell Please Like My Sport Guy about that. He knows it’s because hockey players just love to play and would gladly do it for free. Meanwhile, many of the biggest stars in the NBA aren’t even sure they should return. But not the noble hockey players, all of whom are insisting on a full playoffs because they know that nothing is more important than lowering escrow the sanctity of the Stanley Cup. After all, it’s the hardest trophy in all of sports to win! Look, don’t ask what that means, just repeat it constantly. There is a non-zero chance that Please Like My Sport Guy will make a meme about how many times a hockey player said the word “I” when announcing a positive test.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175798 Websites a spectacular run in Ottawa, 11-straight playoff appearances from 1997- 2008. In 121 playoff games, Alfredsson scored 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points. Sportsnet.ca / Alfredsson has earned his rightful place in the Hockey Hall Of those 51 goals, 11 were game-winners (21.5 per cent!), proving his of Fame clutch-iness. In the 2007 march to the final, Alfredsson scored four game- winning goals.

Awards Wayne Scanlan Had he won a Conn Smythe or Hart Trophy, Alfredsson would have June 17, 2020, 1:14 PM already shown his wife Bibbi and their four boys his Hall of Fame plaque by now. Major awards impress selectors and Alfredsson’s career was better described as consistently excellent, rather than marked by one The esteemed Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee has a penchant killer year. Alfredsson did win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in for digging deep and finding inductees who escape detection on 1995-96, a stunning achievement for a player drafted 133rd in 1994. He conventional radar. also won the 2011-12 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership on and off the ice and the 2012-13 Mark Messier Leadership Award. Look no further than last year, when the committee unveiled Vaclav Alfredsson is an advocate for mental health issues in Ottawa and Nedomansky and Guy Carbonneau among their selections. Jimmy beyond. If character matters to the Hockey Hall of Fame (there are Shapiro would have given them long odds, if he’d considered them at all, certainly some characters in there), then Alfredsson’s bid moves up a as betting shots beforehand. notch. There is a Hall of Fame candidate who has been right in front of their Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it noses since 2017, a tenacious player and proven leader with lasting 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, legitimacy in the NHL arena as well as international play. they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover Canada’s most beloved game. His name is Daniel Alfredsson. He is the most important player in the modern history of the Ottawa Senators, and he gets his fourth shot at That Alfredsson was not part of a Stanley Cup winner saddens the hockey immortality on June 24 when selectors will again do their thing. storyline but does not stain the legacy. He wasn’t the one who let the Devils’ Jeff Friesen get away to steal Game 7 of the 2003 Eastern By the numbers, Alfredsson’s candidacy might not be a slam-dunk, or Conference final on Ottawa ice, when the Senators would have stood a scream induction, but they speak in a clear, firm voice to his HHOF great chance in the final against Anaheim. (The New Jersey Devils won worthiness, at first blush and even more so with closer scrutiny. the Cup). Nor was it Alfredsson’s fault that goaltender Dominik Hasek His 1157 points in 1246 regular season games rank Alfredsson 54th on tore his adductor muscle (an anatomical reference that still resonates in the all-time list, with Hall of Famers and future members, above and the Nation’s Capital 14 years later) at the Turin Olympics and wasn’t below him. With 444 goals, Alfredsson ranks 63rd all-time. In his first available for the NHL playoffs. The 2005-06 roster was arguably Ottawa’s 1,001 NHL games, Alfredsson was virtually a point-per-game player, with best. 992 points. Injuries and age slowed him, but only as he approached age Stellar international resume 40. In 2009-10, as he turned 38 and nudged past 1,000 games played, Alfredsson produced 71 points in 70 games for Ottawa, still a huge factor His fans and the most casual of hockey observers pretty much recognize in the Eastern Conference. his NHL career story. But my sense is that Alfredsson’s contributions to the broader game are vastly underappreciated. Put your hand up if you Adjusted for the era in which he played (Hockey Reference uses a knew that Alfredsson participated in five Olympic tournaments for statistical measure to help compare goal scorers from Dead-Puck eras Sweden and is second all-time in Swedish Olympic scoring with 16 goals versus the Wild West of the 1980s, etc.), Alfredsson’s numbers shine a and 28 points. At the 2006 Olympics, Alfredsson was the best Swedish little brighter. forward by far, outscoring his Toronto Maple Leafs rival Mats Sundin (a Had he started his NHL career earlier than 1995 (hello, Mats Sundin), Hall of Famer). Alfredsson produced five goals and five assists in eight Alfredsson’s stat line might have looked like this, according to Hockey games to lead the Tre Kronor to the gold medal. Alfredsson was also part Reference: 1261 points (40th), 492 goals (47th). of a silver-medal Swedish effort at Sochi in 2014. Over the course of his career, Alfredsson, a product of the Frolunda HC, took part in 14 More to the point, let’s compare Alfredsson to his peers. A look at the top international scorers of the first decade of the millennium is illuminating. tournaments for Sweden, including seven world championships (winning If he was an album, the decade of 2000-09 would represent Alfie’s two silver medals, two bronze) and two world cups. In 88 international Greatest Hits. games, Alfredsson registered 74 points. Alfredsson was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2018. In that stretch of years, encompassing 674 games in his case, Alfredsson ranks third among all NHL scorers with 723 points (1.073 pts/game), Time for a Senator behind only Joe Thornton’s 823 points and Jarome Iginla with 724. Both of those players are expected to be in the Hall — Iginla as early as this After nearly 30 years, it is time to consider the moment when the modern year. Senators put their first player in the Hall of Fame. If not now, when? If not Alfie, then who? No other player who has suited up for Ottawa since It was during that decade that Alfredsson became the first European 1992 has even close to Alfredsson’s stature in the organization. captain to lead his team to the Stanley Cup final, a five-game loss to the Alfredsson’s No. 11 was retired by the Senators on Dec. 29, 2016. Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Alfredsson was a beast that spring. His 14 goals in 20 games led all scorers and doubled the output of Dany Heatley, Beyond players, the late Bryan Murray deserves posthumous considered the sniper of the famed Alfredsson-Heatley- consideration as a Hockey Hall of Fame builder. trio. Coincidentally, each member of the line produced 22 points to tie for and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey the NHL playoff scoring lead. It was Alfredsson’s goal in overtime against world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference final that launched the they think about it. Senators into the Cup final for the first time in the modern history of the franchise. Murray coached the 2007 Senators team to the Cup final and went on to be a successful general manager in Ottawa as part of a lifetime in the Alfie has more points than the Sedin twins — individually, not combined! game. Murray said of Alfredsson prior to the jersey retirement ceremony: — and more points than Marian Hossa, though fewer goals (Hossa has 525). “I’ve been really fortunate to coach a lot of great players, a number of Hall of Famers over my career, and I can tell you there’s none better than We could play this game all day, finding Hall of Fame players, or Daniel Alfredsson: work ethic, character, the way he played the game. candidates, with numbers comparable to Alfredsson. The overriding He played right and he led the right way for many of the younger sentiment has to come from the gut. Is he a HHOFer? My gut says, players.” “Yes.” It needs to be emphasized, Alfredsson was a complete player, not just an Playoff-proven opportunistic forward. Though he didn’t win a Selke Trophy as the best Alfredsson didn’t just lead his teams to the post-season, he blazed a path defensive forward, he did finish fourth in the Selke voting in 2006, an when they got there. In his 18 NHL seasons (including one year in indication of his all-around excellence. Detroit, 2013-14), Alfredsson was in the playoffs 15 times. He was part of “When the game was big and on the line, it was Alfie we wanted to have the puck,” former Senators defenceman Wade Redden said. “He was a part of all the biggest moments in franchise history.” Daniel Alfredsson deserves to be part of Hockey Hall of Fame history.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175799 Websites Why Vancouver deserves it: Shouldn’t rich and famous, beautiful and healthy be enough? OK, the Canucks are the only NHL franchise that’s 0-3 in Stanley Cup Finals, their 50th anniversary was shredded by the coronavirus, and nobody will leave a Stanley Cup tournament in Sportsnet.ca / Weighing pros, cons for each potential Canadian NHL hub Vancouver and say “boy, the city sucked, wish we’d gone to Columbus.” city Fun fact about Vancouver: In 1975, the liberal weekly newspaper Georgia Straight hired a young Irish writer as its music editor. But Bob Geldof didn’t stick with journalism, went home to Ireland to form a band Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet called the Boomtown Rats, and in 1985 organized a little charity concert June 17, 2020, 2:33 PM called Live Aid that raised $300 million for famine relief in Africa. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what As if $2000 monthly payments to eight million Canadians hadn’t made they think about it. him popular enough, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited the NHL back to Canada. THE EDMONTON BID After weeks of discussions between the federal government and the NHL Edmonton has everything going for it but location, location, location. We over this country’s mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement for anyone know, Edmontonians don’t want to hear this. Most people living between arriving from abroad, Trudeau essentially gave hockey permission to the Ontario border and the foothills of the Rockies don’t want to hear that return from the COVID-19 pandemic when he said Tuesday: “We have the grand Canadian prairies are somehow an impediment to nice things. indicated that we are comfortable with moving forward on an NHL hub in How condescending. This is Canada’s heartland. And it’s not even one of three Canadian cities asking for it. Canada is open to it as long as February, although, for the record, I once covered a football game in it is OK’d by the local health authorities.” Edmonton in July and it snowed. Whatever, it kept the mosquitoes down. Elected city and provincial officials supporting bids by Toronto, Edmonton But there is an uncomfortable truth here. The NHL and its players and Vancouver to stage half of the 24-team Stanley Cup tournament the association, which split hockey’s revenues 50-50, have to agree on hub NHL is planning for this summer have already made it clear they are cities, and when you’re talking about a potential separation from family willing to work with hosts on guideline amendments that would allow for a three-month Stanley Cup tournament, there are places many entire teams to quarantine together in order to practise and train for players would rather be than Edmonton. (And please, for the love of god, hockey’s comeback. stop touting the West Edmonton Mall. It’s not helping). A hub-city frontrunner from the start, Las Vegas is widely reported to be This said, Edmonton is a great city and Alberta in the summer is a one of the tournament sites. The league would love to have the other in different world than Alberta in the winter. Its generally moderate day-time Canada. temperatures pose no threat to ice quality, and Rogers Place already has about the best ice outside of Antarctica. The magnificent arena, coupled Hockey may yet again bring us together, even if the bid selection has the with the city’s impressive response to the coronavirus, is the strength of potential to temporarily drive us apart. Edmonton’s bid. From west to east, here is the three-horse field. Rogers Place is one of the top five buildings in the NHL. It has eight dressing rooms, plus additional team space at an attached community THE VANCOUVER BID rink, and first-in-class broadcast facilities. There are plenty of options for The best thing about Vancouver’s bid is that it is built around Vancouver practice ice nearby, and the Ice District built around Rogers Place hosting hockey games in the summer. In Vancouver. In the summer. And includes the 346-room J.W. Marriott hotel and lends itself to the bubble that B.C. has flattened COVID-19 better than most. concept the NHL desires to keep its players safe and separate from the general public. There also appears to be unrivalled civic support in The city is one of the most beautiful on Earth and often shows up in Edmonton. player polls as a favourite road destination for NHLers. If players enjoy visiting Vancouver in November, wait until they see it in August when the Alberta COVID-19 numbers: 29 new cases Wednesday, 170 cases per rain finally stops for a few weeks and the mountains are as clear as the 100K during pandemic, 151 total deaths. ocean. Players might like salmon fishing or paddle boarding as group Pros: Coronavirus containment around Edmonton, Rogers Place, Ice activities on off-days. Vancouver’s bid is more than good looks and a District bubble. nice tan line. Cons: Geography, the volume of luxury lodging required to accommodate Rogers Arena is a good, albeit not great, tournament venue with four 12 discerning teams, Mountain time zone only one hour ahead of Las major-league dressing rooms. Back-of-house space in the arena is tight Vegas, which is not ideal for the huge television audiences in the east. and the Canucks have no practice facility. The ice for training – three sheets at the University of B.C. or eight in suburban Burnaby – are short Quote: “I think we are the safest place they could find in the continent to bus rides away. Each, however, has outstanding off-ice facilities. While come and, in a very thoughtful and careful way, finish off the season with the bubble separating players from public might be a little tight, the the playoffs.” – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney luxurious Douglas and J.W. Marriott hotels have 517 rooms between them and can be cordoned off with Rogers Arena, a two-minute walk Why Edmonton deserves it: Battered financially by the collapse of oil away. There are a myriad of five-star restaurants in nearby Yaletown or prices and feeling betrayed by the federal government and Alberta’s right downtown that the NHL could commandeer. pipeline-obstructing neighbours in B.C., fans who are among hockey’s most ardent and loyal could use some good news. B.C.’s chief medical officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, who has become a local rock star, supports the Vancouver bid with her customary pragmatism. Fun fact about Edmonton: The city has the world’s tallest cowboy boot, a The province has the lowest COVID-19 death rate in North America and 39-foot structure decorated with 600 feet of neon tubing in front of the Europe among jurisdictions with at least 5 million people. The worst thing One Stop Biker Shop west of downtown. Calgary is jealous. about the bid is that it’s in the Pacific time zone – the same as Las Vegas Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it – and the NHL’s preference to spread television start times. 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, B.C. COVID-19 numbers: 11 new cases Wednesday, 54 cases per 100K they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover during pandemic, 168 total deaths. Canada’s most beloved game. Pros: The city, stellar record vs. coronavirus, history of safely staging THE TORONTO BID major events like the 2010 Olympics and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Were it not for the quarantine conundrum in Canada, Toronto would have Cup, leisure options for teams. rivalled Las Vegas as a hub-city frontrunner from the start. And not just Cons: Time zone, Rogers Arena’s cramped footprint, lack of dedicated because it’s Toronto, although that helps. Scotiabank Arena is an practice facilities. excellent facility where dressing-room capabilities were expanded to accommodate the 2015 world juniors and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Quote: “It’s for the economy and the community (but) it’s even bigger Equally important, it comes with one of the best practice facilities in the than money. Right now, everybody needs something and we’re all NHL – the four-rink Centre that is a 15-minute drive searching for something that can make us feel better.” – Canucks COO away. Even with 12 teams in the hub, none would have to go anywhere Trent Carroll for ice other than the main rink and practice facility, which simplifies health and security issues. There is not an obvious “bubble” site around the main rink. But Scotiabank Arena, which is slightly separated from the highest density and bustle of downtown, is linked to the 541-room Delta hotel, while the five-star Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, the most popular lodgings for NHL teams, are within a kilometre. Toronto also has the significant advantage of being in the Eastern time zone. The NHL’s bid to identify two hub cities has become a such a popularity contest, with politicians happily wading in, that it’s easy to forget the entire Stanley Cup playoff initiative is a television event without any public access to games or practices. With one conference based in the Pacific time zone in Las Vegas, it makes sense that the NHL would like the other conference playing games three hours away, so that the largest TV audiences on the East Coast aren’t seeing both late games starting around 11 pm. Why Toronto deserves it: Just ask them. It is a world-class city, ground- zero for the NHL and popular with players who will have vast options for activities during a three-month tournament. Plus, the Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967 and if they somehow win one this summer, almost nobody will see it in person. Fun fact: hit his first home run as a professional – and only home run in the minors – at Hanlan’s Point in the Toronto Islands on Sept. 5, 1914. He pitched a one-hitter that day in a 9-0 win for the Providence Grays over the, wait for it … Toronto Maple Leafs. Long after the stadium was demolished, Hanlan’s Point became a clothing-optional beach, which we think would have enjoyed.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175800 Websites “I had two things nagging,” Drouin said Wednesday. “One thing isn’t so bad, but when you start having one or two things — and after you miss three months — timing just really wasn’t good for me. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Drouin, happy and healthy, aims to regain “Missing three months of hockey, I’ve said it many times: you can early season form practice and you can do many things in the gym, but when you miss games it takes a couple to get going again. And my first game back I got injured in a different place, so I wasn’t able to rediscover my beat from the beginning of the season.” Eric Engels | @EricEngels That’s what made the look on Drouin’s face at Tuesday’s informal June 17, 2020, 2:42 PM session resonate so much. This little practice appeared like a rebirth of sorts for him. It was the first MONTREAL — As I was poring over the 10 minutes or so of raw footage time he was back on the ice since the season was paused on March 11, the Montreal Canadiens shared from the first day of Phase 2 action at and he said it was the first time he looked and felt more like himself since their Brossard training facility, a variation of the same image kept taking the seemingly innocuous fall in the third period of his team’s 5-2 popping up on my screen. win over the Washington Capitals that caused his wrist injury on Nov. 15. It resonated. “I didn’t receive treatment during quarantine, but rest really did my ankle and my wrist some good,” Drouin said. “This pandemic is certainly no What I was looking at was frame after frame of Jonathan Drouin smiling fun, but at least it gave me a break to help heal my ankle and my wrist. wide, seemingly enjoying every second he was on the ice. Now both are rehabilitated and I can just show up to the arena and play hockey without having to go through treatment. So, it’s good news for And maybe he was just happy to be out of his house for more than an me…” hour. Maybe he was just soaking in a sense of normalcy that has been beyond elusive since the pandemic arrested life as we knew it. Or, “I could shoot the puck normally,” he added. perhaps, it was just the pure joy of playing hockey again — even if it was just for a loose shootaround with a couple of teammates and a couple of And Drouin could smile and enjoy his time on the ice. farmhands. Though that may seem like something small and insignificant right now, it But whatever it was brought me back to November, when Drouin was in could play large in August, if and when games resume and the the process of taking a massive step forward in his career and revelling Canadiens undertake a three-to-five game play-in series against a in it in a way we hadn’t quite seen since he was traded to the Canadiens Pittsburgh Penguins team that’s vastly superior in nearly every category. from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2017. And what I kept So long as Drouin feels good, he might be able to continue on the trend thinking Tuesday as I watched slow-motion Images of Drouin passing, he’s established throughout his hockey career of elevating his game shooting and smiling, was that this is the player everyone in Montreal when it matters most. He finished his junior career with the QMJHL’s wants to see when hockey eventually returns. A happy player, whose Halifax Mooseheads having amassed 102 points in 50 playoff games, he skill helps lift the Canadiens to greater heights. The player who stormed scored a total of 13 points in 13 games with Team Canada at the 2013 out of the gates with two goals and four assists in his first five games. and 2014 world junior championships, and he put up 14 points in 17 The player who hounded the puck all over the ice and owned it in the playoff games during Tampa’s 2016 run to the Eastern Conference finals. offensive zone to help Montreal establish an 11-5-3 record through November 15th. “For me, my game just goes up in playoff hockey,” Drouin said. “As a kid, it was hockey tournaments and all those things. When playoff hockey Drouin appears to be on the same wavelength. comes around, there’s a different feeling. And I’m not the only one that “I felt way more comfortable in the first couple of months of the season gets that. than I had ever been in Montreal,” the Ste. Agathe, Que., native said on a “I’m not nervous to go through this qualifying round. I’m very excited if we conference call with Canadiens reporters Wednesday. “Just playing do, and usually, that’s something I strive for and I play well in those hockey, it didn’t matter. The team was playing well, I was playing well moments.” and I just felt good about my game at the time. And I felt confident going against any team and in any building … At least I saw I can be an impact player every night if I show up and play the game I’m supposed to play, and that was a good time for me. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2020 “I just want to grab what I did in that first (part of the) season and bring it to whenever hockey starts again. In those three months (away from hockey) I looked at some of those games and the reason I was playing well, the reason was I was skating. You look at those things and you want to bring those things back when hockey comes around again. But, definitely, I want to go back to that same pace and that same feeling I had.” It sure beats the feeling Drouin had in February and March, when it was impossible for him to be the player we saw at the beginning of the season. Surgery to repair a torn wrist tendon had sidelined him for three months, and he struggled with the lingering pain of that surgery — and suffered an ankle sprain — upon his return. His timing was largely affected, his confidence waned with each passing day and he was unable to contribute anything in the way of offence in the eight games he played before NHL season was paused. The 25-year-old didn’t have to tell anyone there was no joy to be taken from not being able to help the Canadiens climb out of the hole and back into the playoff race during that time — it was written all over his face. What was also plain to see, prior to that, in January, was that Drouin pushed to adhere to the 10-12 week recovery timeline that was publicly advanced after his surgery, but he couldn’t quite overcome his discomfort within that timeframe. Yet, with the Canadiens floundering in the standings, the pressure for Drouin to not only return, but to act as some kind of saviour mounted. And even if he won’t admit to it, he succumbed to that pressure and jumped back into the action before he was fully prepared. It’s fair to say that pressure suffocated him to a degree, and the pain he was in stifled the joy we saw from him in the early part of the season. 1175801 Websites “He basically interviewed the most successful businesspeople, athletes, everything in the world,” Killorn said on a recent Spittin’ Chiclets episode. “Eighty per cent of them meditated. So, I started doing it last year. It just keeps you balanced. I remember when I used to score, I used to get so Sportsnet.ca / How mindfulness training quietly gives elite athletes an happy; when I had three bad games, I’d get so down on myself. And now edge I’m just kind of like: I score? Whatever. I don’t? Like, just play well.” For 10 minutes a day, Killorn would to fire up his Headspace meditation app, focus on his breathing and be present. Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox “I didn’t have terrible anxiety, but I had trouble sleeping a lot, especially June 17, 2020, 1:41 PM after games. I would do it before I go to sleep. It just helps you. I’d sleep a lot better,” Killorn explained. “Guys will give you a hard time, but I think it helps.” “It’s the moment, man. It’s the moment. You gotta get in the moment and stay in it. Just stay in the moment.” — Michael Jordan Richard Deitsch and Donnovan Bennett host a podcast about how COVID-19 is impacting sports around the world. They talk to experts, In an enduring scene from the ultimate episode of The Last Dance, athletes and personalities, offering a window into the lives of people we Michael Jordan is fresh off victory and still in the flow. The greatest normally root for in entirely different ways. basketball player is decked out in a tilted ballcap and crisp T-shirt, both commemorating the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, as he sits joyfully Capitals starter Braden Holtby is a big proponent. Montreal’s Jordan at a grand piano inside his Salt Lake City hotel suite, encircled by Weal mediates before every game. Senators defenceman Nick Paul uses cameras and lights and hangers-on. the practices to free himself from the self-induced stress of making a mistake on ice. Vancouver’s Sven Baertschi opened up to colleague Iain He puffs a cigar. MacIntyre at training camp about how daily mindfulness sessions of 10 to 45 minutes dragged him out of a dark pit of anxiety. He laughs. “As humans, we spend so much time in the future and the past. We He tinkles the ivories. worry. We think ahead. We look backwards. But we’re never in the right He shares a message and a secret: “It’s in the moment.” now. We forget to enjoy the moment,” Baertschi said. “You go into a quiet room and go through certain body scans and just sit there and focus on “Michael Jordan absolutely had formal ongoing mindfulness training,” breathing. That really puts you in that present moment, and that’s when says Dr. Amy Saltzman, a mindfulness coach who has worked with your brain functions the best. In sports, people call it the zone.” scores of elite amateur and professional athletes and author of A Still Quiet Place for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Peak At the elite athletic level — where everyone is fit, everyone is technically Performance and Finding Flow in Sports and Life. skilled, and everyone is eating right — a sharp, worry-free mind can provide a competitive advantage. “The Bulls and the Lakers and the teams that were coached by Phil Jackson absolutely practised mindfulness, and it was taught by my friend “We know what makes the difference is our mental, emotional George Mumford. It was ongoing training for the entire team.” capabilities. But then we don’t necessarily build that into our training. We don’t train our minds and our hearts the way we train our bodies. That Speaking over the phone from California, Dr. Saltzman, a holistic said, I would say more and more athletes are starting to understand the physician and former gymnast herself, rattles off a list of teams and value of that and the need for that,” Dr. Saltzman says. athletes who have incorporated meditation into their training and felt the benefits. There’s the Golden State Warriors, coached by Jackson disciple “What if these amateur athletes can learn these skills before they got to a Steve Kerr. Pete Carroll’s . Derek Jeter. Kobe Bryant. professional team? And in a way, it might help them get to a professional Tim Lincecum. The 2016 curse-curing Chicago Cubs. Tennis champs team.” Novak Djokovic and Bianca Andreescu, who, after upsetting Serena Advanced mindfulness skills can take an athlete beyond awareness of Williams for the U.S. Open crown, dropped this jewel: “At this level breath, of thoughts and emotions. Applied properly, they can help an everyone knows how to play tennis. The thing that separates the best athlete know when to push through the physical pain of training or stop; from the rest is just the mindset.” how to deal with pre-competition nerves; how to maintain your love for Knowing my beat is the NHL, Dr. Saltzman highlights a the game; how to be a true teammate; how to quit dwelling on mistakes; philosophy that guided his 2018 Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup. and how to hasten a stint on the IR. “Coach Trotz says, ‘One game, one minute, one puck at a time.’ So that’s “There is some data to show that mindfulness (a) decreases injury and the practice of being in the moment,” Dr. Saltzman says. (b) enhances rehab,” Dr. Saltzman states. “I think mindfulness training is actually becoming more of a fixture.” “For a long time, teams didn’t have formal strength and conditioning coaches. Now, you’d be hard pressed to find a team that doesn’t have a Jealousy among teammates, coping with a benching or a demotion in specific strength and conditioning coach. We can think about mindfulness playing time, butting heads with the coach, responding to a ref’s blown as strength and conditioning of the mind and the heart, meaning your call — mindfulness skills can quicken a reset and lead to a more positive emotional responses to things.” response. Toronto Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman perks up when I raise the “So, it’s not just listening to the practices. It’s how do I apply it in the heat subject. He’s never been asked about it, how quieting the mind helps in of the moment, in the run of play? Maybe there’s defeating self-talk. Or the noisiest arenas. maybe you’re busy comparing yourself to a teammate or a competitor rather than actually focused on your event. Or you’re distracted by an “I actually took a meditation class in college. They offered it. It was pretty argument you had with your boyfriend or girlfriend or something else interesting,” says Hyman, whose father also finds benefit from stillness. going on in your outside life rather than literally having your head in the “Especially in today’s society, where we’re always on our phones and game,” Dr. Saltzman says. have access to any information we want. To be able to get away and separate yourself from the online world, I think is very important for how it “As important as the sports part is, what’s more important to me is that relates to my game. Something I do find very helpful, especially before the same skills that we learned through mindfulness in sports can be games, is visualization and just kind of visualizing plays and scenarios applied to the rest of our lives.” that can happen in the game, so that your mind is kind of pre-preparing.” The pandemic and its inherent restrictions on training have wrought new Dr. Saltzman alludes to the way Wayne Gretzky imagined the rhythms of challenges for the athlete’s mind, but Dr. Satlzman is encouraging her hockey: “Know not only where the puck is going to be but where your clients to spin quarantine into an opportunity. teammate’s going to be and where your opponent’s going to be. There “Some are anxious. Some are depressed. Some are rediscovering their are actually practices you can do to widen the lens of your attention, and true love of their sport. Some of them are able to train pretty much also narrow your attention.” normally,” says Dr. Saltzman, who has been offering free online sessions Alex Killorn has enjoyed his greatest individual season (26 goals, 49 and short courses for athletes searching for flow while stuck at home. points in 68 games) at age 30. The Tampa Bay Lightning winger partially “It’s a great time to cross-train. It’s a great time to rehab your injuries. It’s credits his newfound meditation practice for the improvement, a routine an awesome time to develop your mental, emotional game, which is what he incorporated after Bolts psychologist Ryan Hamilton recommend he I’m encouraging people to do.” read Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers, by Tim Ferriss. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175802 Websites we’re in the elevator, they had a monitor there, and they had a cameraman right at that time filming all these players coming onto the ice. Sportsnet.ca / How Pride Tape brought the rainbow, and the “It was a low camera, and all you’re seeing were the skates and the conversation, to the NHL sticks, with all this bright-coloured tape on [them], and it was just … in our wildest dreams we couldn’t have imagined something like that happening. That was even before the tape was produced.” Sonny Sachdeva | @sachdevasonny By the end of the month, the fundraising campaign had met its goal, the final donation coming in poignant form. June 17, 2020, 8:29 AM “Brian Burke, he came onside with the entire Burke family,” Wells says. “You know, it was a beautiful story. When we were getting close to It is indicative of both a meaningful step forward and the long, untested meeting our target of raising that $56,000 that would help Pride Tape path still waiting ahead that thoughts of hockey’s engagement with the become a reality, it was the Burke family who made the last donation, in LGBTQ community drift so quickly to one image — vibrant, rainbow- honour of Brendan, their son.” coloured tape wrapped around sticks, replacing the customary black or So started the official run of Pride Tape in the game, continuing Brendan white. Burke’s invaluable legacy on inclusion and equality in the sport. It hasn’t Now a familiar feature of the hockey world and its slow bend towards yet stopped, its sustained presence in the game a direct result of the progress, Pride Tape has come a long way since it was first dreamed up sustained effort from the team behind it. a half-decade ago. It started with a simple question, says co-founder Dr. “The thing many people don’t understand is Pride Tape, it’s not run by Kristopher Wells, the Canada research chair for the Public Nike or a major sporting organization — this is a small group of Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan volunteers who are doing this in their basements, in their garages, on the University: “How do we help young people, particularly LGBTQ youth, sides of their desks, because we all care about hockey, we care about stay in sport? And stay in the game of hockey?” sport, and we care about human rights and equality,” Wells says. “And I Back in 2015, Wells was discussing that question with Jeff McLean, then- think that’s also what makes it extra special — nobody’s making money creative director of Calder Bateman Communications. The conversation off of Pride Tape. In fact, we’re all probably helping finance it ourselves. came as part of an annual reconvening of the duo after they’d previously We don’t have major corporate sponsors or things like that — what we launched an impactful project called NoHomophobes.com — an online have is the support and the commitment of tens of thousands of people tool that tracks homophobic language on Twitter. who really believe in what we’re doing.” The need to engage further with the sports world was made clear through In the five years since its creation, that belief has only grown, with all 31 that early project. NHL clubs now supporting Pride Tape in some form, and players like Kurtis Gabriel and Jonathan Huberdeau proudly sporting the tape in “I remember when Kris and our team were looking at the data, we games, carrying that six-colour symbol of equality into the heart of the noticed that the homophobic language that was happening in real time on action. What’s more, the first stick from that Oilers skills competition now Twitter was spiking during major sporting events,” McLean says. “So, the sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame. NBA playoffs, Super Bowl, NHL playoffs — we said, you know, there’s a correlation here between this hurtful language and sports.” “I often talk about how a research question can turn into a social movement, and that’s really what this has become,” says Wells. “Much Wells’s question later added another important element to the mix. beyond our wildest expectations, it’s really turned into a movement within professional sports, with hockey leading the way.” “We know that the majority of LGBTQ youth drop out of organized team sports because, not only the language, but they don’t feel safe in the Engagement from the NHL has allowed Pride Tape’s reach to expand locker room,” Wells says. “And so really the question was, ‘What can we further into local communities, according to McLean and Wells, do about this issue? Here’s the research problem, and how can we bring culminating in an endless stream of photos and videos sent in from all attention to this?’” corners of the continent — kids playing ball hockey in the streets with their twigs wrapped in rainbow colours, senior citizens sporting the tape McLean’s team proposed three options, but the rainbow-coloured tape on their canes and gardening tools, stories of those six colours was the clear choice from Day 1, they say, tying a celebration of the empowering young players to come out to their families and teams. LGBTQ community to one of the few spaces in the game that allows hockey players to exert some sense of individuality. “Any movement, it’s not about any one individual or about a product or an item — it’s about the people. And that’s what’s made Pride Tape so “The helmet decals had been done, the armbands had been done. [We powerful. All of the individual stories that have emerged, and the kind of were thinking], ‘What is something that we can do with equipment that is conversations Pride Tape has been able to engender,” says Wells. “We more personal?’” McLean recalls. “And we thought of tape, because it’s always say, wrapping your stick is just the first step — the power’s really the individual player that puts the tape on — they’re not sanctioned to do about the conversation that happens.” it in a certain way.” For the creators of Pride Tape, that conversation ultimately centres “I also liked it because it was an easy and accessible message to around making hockey locker rooms more welcoming for the LGBTQ understand,” adds Wells, “the fact of having these six colours of the community. rainbow on one roll of tape.” “We think of the enormous talent that we’ve lost because somebody Turning that idea into a reality was far less easy or accessible, though, didn’t feel safe or they didn’t feel supported to be themselves, so they felt namely due to the requirement from manufacturers that they print 10,000 they had to leave the sport. That’s really what we’re trying to change, is rolls at a time right off the hop. With a hefty price tag attached to that the culture,” says Wells. “And that’s a hard thing — that’s not something obstacle, the Calder Bateman team created a Kickstarter campaign to that’s going to change by one roll of tape, but it’s going to change gauge support for their vision. through education. It’s going to change through leadership.” The next few months were a whirlwind. And in discussions with the likes of Gabriel about the state of their Launched in December 2015, the Kickstarter received donations from mission and how it plays out in NHL locker rooms, they see reason for Australia, France, Hong Kong and Luxembourg, to name a few, optimism as well as plenty of work still to be done. alongside a fair few from Canada and the United States. “It’s happening,” says McLean of the change they’re hoping to see. “We started to get $5, $10 donations from people all over the world who “Maybe a little slower than we would like, but it’s happening organically, somehow heard about the campaign and wanted to get involved,” Wells and we’ve just got to keep working at it hard every day.” says. Just as the game has its fair share of growth left to do, so too does the The project took another frenzied step forward in January 2016 when the world outside the NHL’s walls. It’s that need that keeps Wells, McLean Edmonton Oilers — then-captain Andrew Ference was a huge supporter and everyone else involved in Pride Tape committed to ensuring the from the early days — asked if they could get some Pride Tape for their symbol of the rainbow and the message it represents endures within the skills competition. game, sparking further much-needed dialogue. “I’ll never forget going from the press conference, which is in the bowels “We know that progress has been made in society around LGBTQ of the [then-Rexall Centre] … up to the media catwalk, where we were issues, but we’re still dealing with challenges,” says Wells. “We’re still invited to go to watch the skills competition,” McLean recalls. “So, as seeing laws in different parts of the world go backwards instead of forwards. There’s still 70-plus countries where being LGBTQ+ is a crime. “We know that human rights can unfortunately go backwards if we’re not vigilant and we’re not continuing to educate people about why we’re engaged in this work. It really comes down to the value of supporting humanity and supporting people to be themselves fully and completely…. If Pride Tape can be one small part of that, it will have done its job.”

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USA TODAY / Remembering June 17, 1994, the day when sports collided

Aria Gerson USA TODAY

You could say June 17, 1994, was the opposite of June 17, 2020. That is to say, the day was so packed with notable happenings in the sports world that ESPN made an entire "" about it. While most of the TV coverage that Friday was dedicated to the police chase of O.J. Simpson, the former NFL player wanted for the murder of his wife and her friend, there were several other events going on that day, some of them shown in split-screen with O.J.’s police chase by their respective networks. Here’s a look back at the day’s events: Arnold Palmer's last hurrah Arnold Palmer was 64 years old. He had been competing in golf for nearly 40 years. Palmer was far past his prime, but in 1994 he competed at the U.S. Open for the 32nd time, his last. Palmer hadn’t finished in the top 10 of a major in 20 years, and he finished 16-over-par in the first two days and missed the cut Friday afternoon. But the day was never supposed to be about Palmer’s performance. After what he knew was his final stroke, the man who had been the face of American golf for so long took a curtain call to a standing ovation. New York Rangers celebrate It had been three days earlier when the New York Rangers finally did the thing and ended their 54-year championship drought with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. On Friday, they held their long-awaited parade, spreading confetti all over Broadway and finally soaking in a celebration. 1994 was the start of a new drought for the Rangers, who wouldn’t reach another Stanley Cup Finals until 2014 (which they lost). US hosts first World Cup At Soldier Field, a spectacle unfolded into a comedy of errors as the U.S. hosted its first World Cup. First, the emcee, Oprah Winfrey, fell off a platform while introducing Diana Ross. Then, at the end of Ross’ performance, her penalty kick missed the goal wide left. The World Cup itself didn’t really go any better for the United States, which advanced past the group stage but was eliminated by Brazil in the knockout phase — on the Fourth of July, no less. Ken Griffey ties Babe Ruth In the top of the third inning against the Royals’ David Cone, the Mariners’ Ken Griffey Jr. blasted a ball out to right-center. It was his 30th home run of the year, tying Babe Ruth’s record for most home runs before June 30. (He eventually increased his total to 32 before the end of the month.) He would go on to win the Home Run Derby and finished with a total of 40 long balls before the season was canceled by a players’ strike on Aug. 12. NBA Finals While the Rangers got to celebrate, the other team in New York had its moment in the spotlight overshadowed. The Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, tipped off Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in prime time only to be interrupted by what was happening in Los Angeles as police officers noticed Simpson in a Ford Bronco on the freeway and the chase began. The NBC broadcast showed the game and the chase in a split-screen. Later that night, the Knicks won the game (though they would lose the series in seven games to the Houston Rockets) and O.J. was arrested at his mansion.

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'How can this be possible': Female player blasts Novak Djokovic's 'reckless' event

Riley MorganSports Reporter

WTA World No.7 Kiki Bertens has questioned how Novak Djokovic was authorised to hold the Adria Tour and interact with fans during the coronavirus pandemic. The Adria Tour, which features World No.1 Djokovic, as well as the likes of third-ranked Dominic Thiem, No.7 Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov, the World No.19, got underway in Belgrade last week. ‘F**K ME’: Nick Kyrgios' foul-mouthed spray at tennis boss ‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’: Alcott lashes 'disgusting' US Open snub But Djokovic has copped widespread flak from tennis commentators and fans after hosting the charity event in Serbia amid the pandemic. And WTA World No.7 Bertens was one star that weighed in early and expressed her shock at the jarring photos of the Serbian interacting with officials for the tournament. "I saw him taking photos with everyone and shaking hands with the authorities during the presentation of the Adria Tour,” she told Eurosport. “How can this be possible? In which part of the world is he authorised?" Social media criticised the event, while it took place, for the apparent lack of social-distancing. This is absolutely reckless, are there no liability laws in Serbia? How are they not scared of being sued into obvilion if there’s an outbreak? — Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 12, 2020 The Images coming from the Adria Cup are shocking Players are calling for safety measures at the #USOpen and saying they might not play... but are OK w/ full stadiums, a packed, close-quarters kids day, hugs, mic-sharing, selfies at an exo? Actually can't believe what Im seeing — Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) June 12, 2020 The Dutch star also expressed concern over the US Open and what it would mean if a player caught the coronavirus. "If someone tests positive for coronavirus, our sport would be stained forever," Bertens added. Djokovic called out over ATP role While the Adria Tour event took place, American tennis star Noah Rubin said Djokovic missed an important ATP Zoom call on whether the Cincinnati Masters and US Open should be played. The Zoom call featured more than 300 players and went for 3.5-hour call, according to Rubin. But watching Djokovic play football, and knowing his position on the US Open debate, infuriated the World No.225 and sparked him to question whether he should be in his role. “These pictures of him playing soccer have surfaced. You can make time for that but you can’t get on a Zoom call for 30 seconds?" he said on the Behind the Racquet Podcast. Noah Rubin hits a forehand and returns the ball. “Don’t put yourself in a situation where you are relied on. If you wanna look out for yourself, look out for yourself, this sport was built for that,” he added. “But then don’t put yourself in a situation where others rely on you. If I can’t get in touch with you, if you aren’t helping me out, if you can’t get on a f***ing Zoom call, what is the point of all of this?” But Rubin wasn’t finished claiming Djokovic’s absence was just a sign that tennis is a “logistical nightmare” and was “really a lost cause.” Yahoo Sport Australia LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175805 World Leagues News

‘We’re all excited’: Summer high school sports conditioning to begin Monday

Sam Corey

A small win happened this week for those involved in youth sports. Starting Monday, Nevada Joint Union High School District athletes have been cleared to begin summer training and conditioning, though events are subject to guidelines from the state as well as the county health department, according to district administrators. Generally, students are to maintain physical distancing, wear masks and will be working out in small groups of five to 10. “It’s very similar to how gyms and pools have been allowed to open up,” said Nevada Joint Union High School District Superintendent Brett McFadden, adding that most of what student-athletes will be doing is exercising, thus making them less prone to injury. The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees California high school sports, still has not decided on how the sports calendar will appear for the 2020-21 season, but Nevada Union High School Athletic Director Daniel Crossen said a decision will likely be made by July 20. Still, the fact that the state institution is allowing for conditioning is significant, said Crossen. “Coaches, kids, athletic directors, superintendents, principals — we’re all excited,” he said. “Everyone wants to do something. Everyone wants to be active.” All high school student-athletes will have the ability to partake in conditioning, regardless of their sport, said Crossen, but each sport has particular protocols and restrictions. As such, Crossen said these gatherings won’t be like formal practices, but will, rather, mostly be an opportunity for people to get in shape, stay healthy and connect with their peers and coaches. “We want to make sure that they’re involved, that they’re connected,” he said, “and we want to make sure we don’t transmit anything.” All athletes won’t necessarily take to the fields or the gym on Monday, said Crossen, as parents and students still need to register and have a physical on file before conditioning. Once conditioning draws to a close, the fall season will inch closer to reality. “A lot is still unknown. We really don’t know what fall will look like,” said Crossen, noting that CIF wants to have fall, winter and spring sports seasons. “I’m cautiously optimistic about that,” he added. Much is also still unknown about the upcoming school year, but the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools sent out an advisory Wednesday noting that schools will gradually reopen throughout the 2020-21 school year. Over the next 10 weeks, the advisory said school districts will issue further communications and guidance to students and their guardians about specific upcoming changes at each school site. theunion.com/LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175806 World Leagues News "I've been called the N-word in Boston 100 times," Hunter said recently on the ESPN show "Golic and Wingo". "Little kids, with their parents right next to them ... That's why I had a no-trade clause to Boston in every Amid the protests, coronavirus isn’t the only thing changing in sports contract I had." The Red Sox's statement went on to say: "And it's not only players. It happens to the dedicated Black employees who work for us on game By Martin Frank News Journal days. Their uniforms may be different, but their voices and experiences are just as important."

NFL stars in quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver DeAndre The professional leagues and white players have openly supported the Hopkins, both of whom went to Clemson, supported a petition to remove protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death. the name of John C. Calhoun from the university's honors college. The sports world was always going to look different as soon as it shut Calhoun was the vice president under John Quincy Adams from 1825 down three months ago. through 1829. He owned as many as 80 slaves, and called slavery "a positive good." Hopkins had said that's the reason he doesn't mention the The coronavirus pandemic was one thing, certain to change the university when he's introduced before games. landscape when (if) the leagues and teams started playing again, with or without fans in the stands. Meanwhile, Texans coach Bill O'Brien told the Houston Chronicle that he'll take a knee with his players during the upcoming season. But we are also seeing societal changes in sports, and those, too, will be evident when (if) play resumes. “Yeah, I’ll take a knee. I’m all for it,” O’Brien said. “The players have a right to protest, a right to be heard and a right to be who they are. They’re Sure, athletes have been speaking out against racism and oppression for not taking a knee because they’re against our flag. They’re taking a knee decades, going back to Muhammad Ali refusing to go to Vietnam; to John because they haven’t been treated equally in this country for over 400 Carlos and Tommie Smith holding up their fists on the Olympic medal years.” stand in 1968; all the way to 2016 with Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality. There is still much more that needs to be done. But sports leagues are getting the message, just like the rest of society. Typically, those protests were met with a certain level of soul-searching, discussion, and an acknowledgment that something had to change Delaware News Journal LOADED: 06.18.2020 without knowing how, or what. And then we all went along our merry way. But something different has been happening over the past few weeks, after the police killing of George Floyd on May 28 in Minneapolis. The leagues and white players have openly supported the protests. There were Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz issuing statements right away. Even Drew Brees, after initially linking the potential of players kneeling during the national anthem this season to disrespecting the flag and the military, came around. That came after several teammates and players from around the league, including Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, chastised him. Then NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the league was wrong not to listen to the players who knelt during the anthem over the past few years. Instead, the league cracked down on them, writing a policy in 2018 that threatened to fine players and their teams for kneeling. Goodell never mentioned Kaepernick's name in his statement, and Kaepernick still doesn't have a job. And not a single one of the 32 NFL owners have commented on Goodell's remarks. Still, it's assumed that many NFL players will kneel during the anthem when the season starts, without vitriol from the league. Eagles safety Rodney McLeod told ESPN that he will likely be one of them. "I haven't decided on what that looks like, but I think I will in some capacity," McLeod told ESPN. "I believe (most of the team will join me). I think it is important for us to continue this and not let this pass us by. Let's take the right steps, and that means committing ourselves to the 2020 season and further until we get change." The NFL also pledged another $250 million over the next 10 years to combat systemic racism. Then there's NASCAR, banning the Confederate flag from all of its events. This, too, was long overdue. NASCAR officials and drivers tried as much as possible to cling to the sport's Southern roots, unwilling to alienate its hardcore fans. Cup Series driver , who's Black, drove Wednesday night with the words "Black Lives Matter" and a picture of a white hand clasped with a black hand. Wallace has pushed hard for NASCAR to address racism in the sport and society in general, speaking out when so many drivers in the past had remained silent. NASCAR listened. So did the fans. The TV ratings from last week’s race in Martinsville, Virginia, were twice as large for the comparable 11th race of last season, which was held at Dover International Speedway. Other players and teams have spoken up, too. The Red Sox issued a statement acknowledging that fans yelled racial slurs at former Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter. 1175807 World Leagues News “We don’t have as much to go off of as we normally do,” Iowa State coach Kevin Dresser said. “I think the best way to do it is to have conversations with club coaches and high school coaches. I’ve always 'It’s frustrating': Wrestlers and coaches forced to adjust when it comes to said that recruiting is like buying stock. recruiting in a pandemic “It’s never a perfect science, but it’s even less so right now, and it’s frustrating.” Cody Goodwin The lack of exposure could ultimately hurt some wrestlers, too. Iowa’s 2019 in-state senior class had 17 wrestlers go Division I. The class of 2020 had 18. But the 2021 class has just four committed to This was supposed to be a big spring and summer for Aidan Noonan. Division I programs today — Fort Dodge’s Drake Ayala, Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen (both Iowa), Union’s Adam Ahrendsen (Northern Iowa), and A rising senior at Cascade, Noonan made history in February when he Waverly-Shell Rock’s Bailey Roybal (South Dakota State). defeated West Sioux’s Adam Allard in the Class 1A state final at 126 pounds. He’s the first Iowa wrestler ever to beat a three-time state More are poised to join, but the coronavirus wiped out the summer champion going for a fourth title. schedule. Per MatScouts, four more 2021 in-state wrestlers are among the nation’s top-200 prospects: Noonan, Sergeant Bluff-Luton’s Jack The victory rocketed Noonan up national big boards. He is considered Gaukel at No. 153; Independence’s Brandon O’Brien, No. 177; and the No. 175 overall prospect in the 2021 class by MatScouts. Colleges Ames’ Gabe Greenlee, No. 195. are calling, and a strong showing during the summer months could’ve helped him become a consensus top-100 recruit. Furthermore, college wrestling coaches could begin contacting recruits in the 2022 class on June 15. Iowa’s in-state 2022 class features six top- But the coronavirus had other plans, canceling every big national 100 prospects, per MatScouts — third-most behind Pennsylvania (15) wrestling event that’s normally planned for the spring and summer. and Ohio (11). Because of that, wrestlers hoping to be recruited won't get as many opportunities this summer. This summer would’ve been their first opportunity for many recruits to receive real feedback from college coaches after competing on a national So instead of competing at a slew of national tournaments, meeting stage. Now, just like everybody else, they’ll have to wait. coaches and taking college visits, Noonan is just wrestling with his brother every day at home. “I'd argue that, at no other time, do we learn more about the recruiting value of a particular wrestler than during the summer after their “We have a full-sized mat in our barn,” Noonan told the Des Moines sophomore season,” Saylor wrote. “The cancelation of events is Register. “We are pretty fortunate to have that. I’m not sure when I’ll devastating to the sophomore class.” compete again. Des Moines Register LOADED: 06.18.2020 “I’ve been getting calls and stuff, but it’s hard because of the dead period. I can’t visit any schools right now.” The coronavirus shut down sports nationwide in mid-March. The start of the Iowa high school baseball and softball seasons garnered national attention this week, leading team sports’ slow-and-steady return, ahead of even professional sports leagues. Wrestlers, especially those hoping to get recruited this summer, are facing a different kind of challenge. USA Wrestling, the sport’s governing body, offers many regional and national events throughout the spring and summer months — national dual competitions, age-level world team trials, national championships, among others. College coaches routinely attend each to evaluate and recruit. But in late April, USA Wrestling postponed all regional tournaments, age- level world team trials and national dual competitions. A month later, it canceled the 16U and Junior freestyle and Greco-Roman national championships, arguably the biggest and toughest high school wrestling tournaments in the country. What’s more, the NCAA implemented a recruiting dead period that’s been extended to July 31, banning in-person contact between coaches and wrestlers. Electronic communication is allowed — texts, phone calls, video chats — but visits are not. “Both on and off the mat, the recruiting situation is unprecedentedly frustrating and difficult,” Willie Saylor, the lead writer and talent evaluator at MatScouts, wrote last month. He continued: “No events means virtually no evaluations. And that's devastating to an industry predicated on two things: prospects and development.” For coaches, this summer will be a huge test in the way of talent evaluation and salesmanship. “We’ve very invasive in our process,” Iowa coach Tom Brands told Trackwrestling this month. “We recruit the Division I pile, but we go a little bit deeper, because this place is different. The coaching philosophy is different. The fans’ expectations are different. “If you sign up for this, you have to understand all those things.” All three of Iowa’s Division I programs appear up to the task. Iowa picked up commitments in both March and April, while Iowa State and Northern Iowa have each picked up three recruits in as many months. But the challenges have been difficult because of the restrictions and lack of top-tier tournaments. 1175808 World Leagues News “We’re going to have positive cases to deal with,” said Stacey Higgins, Florida’s associate athletic director for sports health. “We are going to have to live with COVID, to be sure.” Three things we know, don’t know about college football in the COVID-19 RELATED: Florida Gators: No positive COVID-19 tests for football pandemic players yet. Here’s how they’re trying to keep it that way. What we don’t know Now that the NCAA has approved a revised summer workout schedule, Florida State fans react to Florida players after a 2018 loss at Doak let's take a step back to see where the sport is amidst the pandemic. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. ["BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES"] Florida coach Dan Mullen thinks it’s a waste of energy to speculate on all Will fans be allowed to attend? the uncertainties surrounding college football in the COVID-19 era. Instead, he tries to focus on two things: What he knows and what he can The feeling around the sport is that the answer will be yes, but that control. answer remains fluid. Texas stadiums aren’t expected to exceed 50- percent capacity. The Gators plan to wait until early August to decide Mullen and the rest of the sport got more insight into both Wednesday whether spectators can enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and, if so, how when the NCAA’s Division I Council approved an updated calendar many. Even if stadiums are open to fans, the number could differ geared toward having teams ready for Week 1 kickoffs on Sept. 5. throughout a conference based on state, local and university guidelines. DI Council approves football preseason model: https://t.co/dDIPVG1GCO The role of other spectators —like marching bands — remains pic.twitter.com/R7fUesil44 undecided, too. — Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) June 17, 2020 RELATED: What would empty stands, partial crowds mean to betting lines and NFL, college football games? In light of Wednesday’s news, here are three things we know (or think we know) and three things we don’t know yet about the season: How will testing work during the season? And what happens if a player tests positive before a game? What we know UF officials said last week that they have discussed, but not yet finalized, USF head coach Jeff Scott, center, talks with wide receiver Logan how often they’ll test players and staff once mandatory practices and Berryhill (83) and quarterbacks Cade Fortin (6) and Jordan McCloud (3) games begin. Their decision might differ from Florida State or Georgia or during spring football practice in March at the USF Frank Morsani USF. Football Complex in Tampa. [Times] There’s also no consensus definition of a cluster and what major steps a Summer workouts are different program would have to take to ensure an outbreak does not get even worse. Houston shut down its voluntary workouts last week after six Most teams have already started voluntary workouts. Under the plan athletes tested positive. What would a school do under those approved Wednesday, mandatory workouts will run from July 13-23 with circumstances in August? What about October? We don’t know. no major changes. The big shift is July 24-Aug. 6, when teams can add modified walk-throughs. “There’s been a thousand different scenarios that we as coaches have been trying to think through,” USF coach Jeff Scott said last week. “To me,” Mullen said, “that is really the opportunity for the players to prepare themselves mentally, get out there through walk-throughs, to “Just one scenario is, if one of your quarterbacks were to test positive for start getting some muscle memory to prepare for the season ...” COVID and he’s been sitting in a room with the other four quarterbacks, do all of them have to quarantine for 14 days? It may be a little harder to Those adjusted workouts lead into four weeks of preseason camp go practice and play a game without a quarterback.” starting Aug. 7. Will coaches wear masks on the sidelines? The revised summer schedule was intended to get players mentally and physically ready for the sport’s traditional kickoff on Labor Day weekend. All staff members at UF must wear masks, and coaches at Miami must Consider it a tangible sign that major college football is still planning for a have their faces covered when they’re near players. Mullen didn’t mind normal season with no significant changes. showing off his UF mask on a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday, but he hasn’t given much thought to how, or if, he’ll coach wearing one when But there have already been adjustments elsewhere. The NAIA pushed formal workouts begin next month, let alone when the season begins. back its opening weekend to Sept. 12 and shortened seasons from 11 games to nine. Last week, the NAIA’s Mid-South Conference — which We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in includes a handful of Florida schools — announced an updated schedule Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you with reduced travel to trim expenses. haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. On Wednesday, the Southern Heritage Classic — an annual Division I- AA game in Memphis between Jackson State and Tennessee State — UP NEXT:Moffitt Cancer Center breaks ground on a $400 million hospital was canceled because of the pandemic. in Tampa Due to COVID-19, the 31st Southern Heritage Classic has been MATT BAKER canceled. Refunds for the football game can be recieved at the point of purchase. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.18.2020 — Southern Heritage Classic (@ClassicMemphis) June 17, 2020 And several major schools, including USF, plan to end in-person instruction before Thanksgiving, when teams play their regular-season finales. Positive tests are popping up and aren’t expected to stop USF announced its first two positive cases in the football program Wednesday. Florida State and UCF have already had them, too. The Texas site OrangeBloods reported Wednesday that six Longhorns have tested positive and that more than a dozen players are quarantined. The number of positive Covid-19 tests within the Texas Longhorn football team is up to six, according to my sources. There are roughly 15 players being quarantined right now. — Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 17, 2020 Although college-aged people aren’t at the most risk for major complications from COVID-19, schools continue to try to limit the novel coronavirus’ spread. Even programs that haven’t been hit yet don’t expect to stay that way. 1175809 World Leagues News

Rob Manfred canceling 2020 MLB season would be unprecedented; what could it mean for baseball's future?

By Mike Axisa

Major League Baseball's coronavirus shutdown has turned into a full- blown labor war. MLB and the MLBPA have been haggling over economics for weeks now, and a few days ago the union called the league's bluff and instructed commissioner Rob Manfred to unilaterally schedule the season as per the terms of the two sides' March agreement. "Tell us when and where (to report)," union chief Tony Clark said. In the days since, Manfred has responded by saying he is "not confident" baseball will be played in 2020. He said that only days after guaranteeing baseball would be played this season, "100 percent." MLBPA walking away from the table and the threat of a grievance have changed the calculus. Now Manfred is not so sure baseball can be played. " is on the wane. Salaries must come down or the interest of public must be increased in some way. If one or the other does not happen, bankruptcy stares every team in the face," an MLB owner once said, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The owner: Al Spalding in 1881. Baseball owners have been crying poor for centuries. Nothing's changed. Of course, the 2020 season could be canceled for reasons that have nothing to do with economics. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in several states and it simply may not be safe to play baseball. Should the 2020 season be canceled, regardless of reason, it would be historic and dramatically impact the game long-term. Here are four ways how. A canceled season would be unprecedented Never before has baseball canceled an entire season without a single game being played. There was at least a partial season played around all prior work stoppages. Furthermore, the National Hockey League is the only major North America sports league to ever cancel an entire season. The NHL missed its 2004-05 season because of an owners' lockout. It would be the third canceled World Series The 2020 World Series could be the third canceled World Series in baseball history. The 1904 World Series was not played because the refused to play the Boston Americans, claiming the American League was a "minor" league. The two leagues were seen as business rivals at the time. The 1994 World Series was canceled following the players' strike. Future attendance may plummet Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB attendance has been steadily declining the last few years. Since peaking at 79.5 million fans in 2004, attendance has gradually slipped all the way down to 68.5 million last season, the lowest it's been since 2003 (67.3 million). Ongoing pandemic concerns plus fans upset with the league could lead to a sharp attendance decline in the future. Remember, attendance went from 31,256 fans per game in 1994 to 25,021 fans per game in 1995 following the strike. It wasn't until 2006 (31,306 fans per game) that MLB attendance returned to its pre-strike level. The beginning of the end for a franchise(s)? Despite going 74-40 in 1994, the strike was the beginning of the end for the Montreal Expos. Attendance declined significantly following the work stoppage and money problems forced the team to unload star players like Marquis Grissom, Ken Hill and Larry Walker. The franchise never recovered and eventually moved to Washington and became the Nationals in 2005. It is possible, if not likely, a current MLB franchise will suffer such financial hardship that it have to trade away star players to clear payroll or even go bankrupt, and wind up relocating with new owners. It's happened before. It can happen again. CBS Sports LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175810 World Leagues News has also involved the increased use of up-close camera angles — and to elevate the atmosphere beyond the feeling of “kids playing in the park.”

Viewers, this way, could get immersed again in the narrative of a game. We Hope Your Cheers for This Article Are for Real Emotions could be stimulated. ImageLike most sports leagues, the Bundesliga resumed without fans. By Andrew Keh Still, Bundesliga officials were hesitant about the project. Fans in Germany take particular pride in the organic and democratic quality of sports in the country, and in recent years anything that has appeared to Andy Phillips, a soccer fan from Kent, England, has a modest de-emphasize the importance of live audiences, especially in the service expectation for the games he watches on television: that what he is of television, has drawn an intense backlash. seeing and hearing is real and actually happening. But because of the unprecedented circumstances, the league went The coronavirus pandemic has made this complicated. ahead crafting a proprietary system in which a soundboard with more than a dozen carefully selected audio samples — as specific as a Watching a German soccer game at home on a recent weekend nervous crescendo of applause while a team chases an equalizing goal afternoon, Phillips, 53, was “aghast” to find that the TV network had or lusty jeers for a call overturned by video review — sits at the disposal layered artificial crowd noise over the live broadcast from the stadium, of an operator watching from a studio in Munich. which had been closed to spectators because of the pandemic and was therefore mostly silent. “They have this imagined sense of what the spectacle should be and how the consumer should experience it, and they manipulate the He listened, “psychologically annoyed,” as the fake crowd cheered for representations of it to produce that for the consumer, and it’s just taken goals, booed for rough fouls and hummed with anticipation when the ball to the nth degree,” David Andrews, a professor of sports culture at the drifted close to the penalty area. University of Maryland, said of these leagues and television networks. “Baudrillard would have gone mad with this.” “It was horrendous, to be honest,” he said. “Not because I don’t enjoy the sound of crowd noise, but the fact it was fake.” Jean Baudrillard, the French theoretician, postulated that simulated experiences were replacing real life in postindustrial society. As professional sports have tiptoed back to the playing field, league officials and television executives around the world seem to have come I’ve heard about a treatment called dexamethasone. Does it work? to a consensus: that sporting events without the accompaniment of crowd noise are simply too jarring, too unfamiliar and too boring for the The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce typical fan to endure. mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, And so prerecorded crowd audio tracks have quickly become the go-to protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of solution for live showings of such disparate sports as Hungarian soccer, patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on by South Korean baseball and Australian rugby. one-fifth. For every fan like Phillips, who finds the embrace of aural artifice bizarre What is pandemic paid leave? and existentially troubling — “Who needs people in the ground, when you create your own atmosphere?” he said — there are also those for whom The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American the simulated noise provides feelings of comfort and normalcy. workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, “Anything is better than hearing the echoes around a quiet stadium,” said quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if Hunter Fauci, 24, of Highlands, N.Y., a member of the American fan club they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave of the German team Borussia Mönchengladbach who appreciated the to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child artificial noise. “Silence would make a lot of fans depressed.” care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, These sonic sleights of hand, then, can be polarizing. But they are about and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time to become even more prominent in the coming weeks as other major and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of leagues inch back to competition. private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest For instance, Joe Buck, the Fox Sports play-by-play announcer, said last employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. month on SiriusXM Radio that it was “pretty much a done deal” that the Does asymptomatic transmission of Covid-19 happen? N.F.L. would use artificial fan noise for its live game broadcasts this year if games were played in empty stadiums. So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two When it returns this week, England’s Premier League will offer viewers days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 simulated crowd noise with help from the Electronic Arts’s “FIFA” soccer percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who video game series. (While audiences in the Premier League and were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Bundesliga’s home countries have the option to switch between audio Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by feeds on parallel channels, television viewers in the United States people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked watching on NBC and Fox networks will get the augmented audio as the back that statement. default for these leagues.) What’s the risk of catching coronavirus from a surface? Spain’s La Liga returned last week, also with virtual stadium sounds borrowed from “FIFA.” Similarly, The Athletic reported earlier this month Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the that the N.B.A. had discussed the possibility of using audio from the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A “N.B.A. 2K” video games to enliven its own broadcasts. number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can Reactions to having the quietude of real life smothered by manufactured spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day noise have ranged from dystopian anxiety to resignation to relief. care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to Twenty years ago, CBS drew criticism when the network used taped happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect nature sounds to brighten up a broadcast of the PGA Championships; yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close avian experts noticed some non-indigenous bird calls chirping out of their human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not speakers. But today’s circumstances seem to have created a more touching your face and wearing masks. welcoming environment for experimentation. How does blood type influence coronavirus? “We’re kind of in a try-anything mode,” said , the longtime A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical sports announcer. “You just don’t want it to sound like the laugh track on link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the a bad ‘60s sitcom.” coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in But old-school canned laughter may be the most fitting reference point the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a for what is happening now. ventilator, according to the new study. Alessandro Reitano, vice president of sports production at Sky Germany, How many people have lost their jobs due to coronavirus in the U.S.? said the goal of the Bundesliga’s “enhanced audio” initiative was to “forget a little bit that you’re seeing an empty stadium” — an effort that The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. get tested. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. He described a media-saturated culture moving toward the realm of what he and other critics called hyper-reality, a state where the simulated can Will protests set off a second viral wave of coronavirus? be more prominent than the authentic and where Images and copies can be considered realer than real life. Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of (It may be worth remembering, as well, that Baudrillard once described new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and Disneyland as “a perfect model of all the entangled orders of simulation,” public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in a fantasy representation of an idealized image of American life, as the cases. While many political leaders the right of protesters to N.B.A. and Major League Soccer finalize plans to resume their seasons express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks this summer at Disney World.) and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts “We can look at sports and see how close we are moving toward that were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying model,” said Richard Giulianotti, a sports sociologist at Loughborough the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. University in England. My state is reopening. Is it safe to go out? Once, long ago, watching a game on TV felt akin to eavesdropping on a party happening at some faraway place. Now games are specifically States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are tailored as made-for-TV spectacles, and the screen — in your living available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to room, on your phone — is where the action is. open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local Examples of sports’ long journey toward hyper-reality abound: electronic authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good screens that instruct fans to cheer; luxury boxes that recreate the plush idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. feeling of a living room inside a stadium; instant replay and video- assisted referee systems; digital strike zones and glowing first down What are the symptoms of coronavirus? markers; e-sports. Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty Whether this is a good or bad thing is left to the observer to decide. breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy Two months ago, Ross Hawkins, 44, a software developer from sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle Auckland, New Zealand, sat down to watch WrestleMania 36, the pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell professional wrestling event, which took place this year without fans. as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after The absence of crowd noise, he said, “killed sports” for him. exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. Several weeks later, Hawkins tuned in to watch Australia’s National Rugby League, which restarted play late last month with fake crowd How can I protect myself while flying? sounds. The gentle hum of the fake crowd washed over him, and his If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect mind felt suddenly at ease. He forgot the world had been turned upside yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your down by a virus. He could enjoy sports again. face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University “As a reasonably intelligent person, I knew it was fake, and I didn’t expect found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a it to make such a difference, but it did,” Hawkins said. “It feels like it’s the window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with brain clamoring for some normalcy in 2020.” potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard New York Times LOADED: 06.18.2020 surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) How do I take my temperature? Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. Should I wear a mask? The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. What should I do if I feel sick? If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. How do I get tested? 1175811 World Leagues News isolation for 10 days, or until the patient is fever-free for at least 72 hours without medication, whichever takes longer.

"While we know this is a very fluid situation, we have a great plan in Eight K-State football players test positive for the coronavirus place and all of our student-athletes have done their part in following the correct procedures to return to campus," Taylor said. KMBC 9 News Staff KMBC 9 News LOADED: 06.18.2020

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The coronavirus is starting to take a toll on the Kansas State football team. Kansas State Athletics confirmed Wednesday night that a total of eight student-athletes have tested positive for active COVID-19 following PCR testing of approximately 130 student-athletes through June 17. One day after K-State athletics announced two student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19, the Wildcats confirmed six additional student- athletes have tested positive for the virus. While the university did not say which sports the athletes played when they made the initial announcement on Tuesday, university Athletic Director Gene Taylor said they were prepared for positive tests based on what other college football departments are seeing. In addition, football players are the only athletes permitted to be in town until July 1, when other fall sport athletes can return to campus. The school said each student-athlete that tests positive is medically managed according to current local, state, national and CDC guidelines, which begins with self-isolation for 10 days and until the patient is without fever for 72 hours without medication, whichever takes longer. “These guidelines would also include quarantine for any individuals known to have been in contact with someone who tested positive,” the school said in a news release. “The department will continue to work closely and communicate with county and university health officials to evaluate the situation and continue best practices.” ORIGINAL STORY According to a report, the coronavirus is starting to take a toll on the Kansas State football team. One day after K-State athletics announced two student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19, the Manhattan Mercury reported that four more football players have tested positive for the virus. Manhattan public information officer Vivienne Uccello told The Mercury Wednesday morning that of six new cases in Riley County, four were K- State football players. The report added that all six players contracted the coronavirus in other states and brought it back to Manhattan with them. While the university did not say which sports the athletes played when the made the initial announcement on Tuesday, university Athletic Director Gene Taylor said they were prepared for positive tests based on what other college football departments are seeing. In addition, football players are the only athletes permitted to be in town until July 1, when other fall sport athletes can return to campus. Two K-State football players test positive for COVID-19 “We will always keep our focus on the health and well-being of our student-athletes and staff,” Taylor said on Tuesday. “A small number of positive tests was something that we were anticipating based on what we are seeing from across college football, and our medical staff and coaching staffs are well-prepared for the next steps." University officials said the positive test results on Tuesday were returned as part of the on-boarding process of approximately 120 athletes with new safety protocols. The university said student-athletes are required to follow the department's new return-to-campus policy, which includes a recommended seven-day stay-at-home period before coming to campus, and quarantine upon arrival in Manhattan, and prior to testing. Student athletes are not allowed in department facilities and cannot participate in team activities until a negative test result is returned. Officials said the athletics department will continue to be rested as they return to campus and will not be released for activity until the results are back and negative for coronavirus. Any student-athlete who tests positive is medically managed following state, local and CDC guidelines, the department said. This includes self- 1175812 World Leagues News “First of all, let’s not kid ourselves,” Mars told The Blade, “the decisions of administrators to reopen athletic facilities to do anything beyond individual workouts isn’t based on a belief that they can create a safe, Ohio State’s ‘Buckeye Pledge’ a window into new world of college sports controlled environment for student-athletes who play football — the ultimate team contact sport. These decisions weren’t based on making the health and welfare of student-athletes a top priority. They were made to avoid an otherwise inevitable financial catastrophe for universities KYLE ROWLAND which depend on the huge revenues generated by athletics.” Outgoing Ohio State president Michael Drake announced June 2 the university and Wexner Medical Center is estimating a $300 million loss in COLUMBUS — Upon their return to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, revenue. The athletic department is already experiencing financial Ohio State football players put pen to paper. shortages, with the NCAA tournament payout down significantly because Not only as high school seniors when they signed national letters of of its cancellation. Stadiums at less than half capacity will add to the intent, but again in June while signing coronavirus waivers. revenue decrease. The two-page acknowledgment of risk document, first obtained by The OSU is addressing the shortfall through cost-cutting and revenue Columbus Dispatch, is a window into a new world for intercollegiate enhancement. The July-August budget calls for over $100 million in cost athletics, where lawyers and legalese could be as indispensable as a savings at the university and medical center. Spending reductions mobile, strong-armed quarterback. between five and 20 percent are required. The seven-paragraph Buckeye Pledge outlines the risks involved with The Buckeyes aren’t the only ones asking players to sign waivers before voluntary workouts, detailing mandatory guidelines athletes must adhere engaging in workouts. Smith actually got the idea from Indiana athletic to or perhaps be asked to stop participating on campus. Players, director Fred Glass. The IU document contains similar language and however, would not lose their athletic scholarships. protocols. Ohio State's Woody Hayes Athletic Center reopened to limited staff Southern Methodist University’s Office of Legal Counsel required athletes Monday. Athletes are still not allowed to enter and the weight room to agree not to hold the school liable for any coronavirus-related illness, remains off-limits. waiving their right to litigation. Kyle Rowland It’s unclear, though, if the SMU, Ohio State, or Indiana waivers are legally binding. Ohio State’s Woody Hayes Athletic Center reopens for limited use “From a legal perspective, colleges and universities owe their students a Athletes were required to sign the document to participate. A parent or duty to exercise reasonable care,” Mars said. “At this point in time, guardian signed for those under 18 years of age. everyone should understand the risk of being infected with COVID-19 and the importance of practicing social distancing, wearing masks, “As a member of Buckeye Nation, I know that I must take steps to stay washing their hands, and sanitizing objects they touch. A student who well in order to protect others and promote a safe return to campus for all voluntarily returns to a college campus this fall will presumably be aware Buckeyes,” it reads. “Because of this, I take the pledge to take of the risk of being infected with COVID-19 and the importance of the responsibility for my own health and help stop the spread of COVID-19.” standard precautions to mitigate that risk. It cautions that despite Ohio State following coronavirus guidelines “With one important caveat, students who become infected would have issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “I can never little, if any, chance of holding the university legally responsible for not be completely shielded from all risk of illness caused by COVID-19 or exercising reasonable care. The caveat is this: If the university created a other infections.” false sense of security by making overly reassuring public statements The protocols, which were implemented by the university, include that aren’t supported by scientific data, such statements could later form agreeing to coronavirus testing and self-quarantining if testing positive, the basis for legal claims by students who reasonably relied on those wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, reporting possible statements in returning to campus and then became infected with coronavirus exposures, monitoring coronavirus symptoms, and obtaining COVID-19.” a flu vaccine. Mars, whose law firm has offices in Arkansas and Atlanta, chafes at the An Ohio State spokesman declined to say if any players, coaches, or interpretation of Ohio State’s pledge being called a waiver. By definition, staff members have tested positive. he said, a waiver or release occurs when a person knowingly relinquishes a claim, right, or privilege. “The university is not sharing cumulative information publicly as it could lead to the identification of specific individuals,” an athletic department As Mars points out, nothing in the OSU document asks athletes to give statement said. up any claims, rights, or privileges. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told reporters in May he believed “The document explicitly makes clear that the student-athlete’s the controlled environment and testing in athletic facilities gave players scholarship is not at risk under any circumstances,” he said. “The the safest possible area to be while preparing for the season. He told document does contain an acknowledgment of the well-known risk of ESPN Sunday the waiver is intended to be educational, not to protect being infected with COVID-19 and the importance of exercising OSU from liability should an athlete contract the coronavirus. appropriate safety precautions. The pledge says nothing that might give student-athletes a false sense of security about the risks of being Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) celebrates a touchdown infected with COVID-19 by participating in athletic activities on campus. reception during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in “In my opinion, the Ohio State pledge would be an excellent template for Indianapolis. other schools to use when reopening athletic facilities under circumstances where everyone should know and acknowledge the Kyle Rowland heightened risk this decision creates for participating student-athletes.” Decision on college football schedule needed by early July The final paragraph of the pledge reads, “I take my Buckeye Pledge seriously and will do my part to protect Buckeye Nation.” ‘That’s why we call it a pledge,” Smith told ESPN’s Heather Dinich. ‘We don’t look at that as a legal document. It’s a Buckeye pledge. Allow us to toledoblade.com/LOADED: 06.18.2020 help you so that if we face a situation, our trainers, our strength coaches, our coaches, or any athletic administrator sees a student-athlete not wearing a mask or not social distancing, we can say, ‘Hey, you made a commitment. You signed a pledge. Your parents signed a pledge. Your parents are a part of this.’” Bulldog attorney Tom Mars, who ran roughshod over Ole Miss and the NCAA’s transfer rules, obtaining immediate eligibility for high-profile transfers Shea Patterson and Justin Fields, made his beliefs clear: The decision to reopen facilities is monetary, not because conclusive information about players’ health and well-being has been learned. 1175813 World Leagues News Players wore shirts with Black Lives Matter written on the back, instead of their own names, as they prepared to play 90 minutes in front of a near-empty Villa Park stadium in Birmingham. Culture Secretary signals amateur sport could return within weeks As football finally made its return amid the coronavirus pandemic, players of Aston Villa and Sheffield United took the knee Tom Pyman Every playing member, plus the referee and matchday officials, kneeled on the turf in the moments before kick-off

Players came together to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Five-a-side football fans could return to the pitch as early as next month, movement, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd with gyms and leisure centres also set to reopen, the Culture Secretary has signalled. Names on the back of shirts were also replaced with Black Lives Matter, as football threw itself behind the movement Oliver Dowden said he understood the public are 'itching' to resume their amateur sport and fitness routines, as Premier League football returned dailymail.co.uk/LOADED: 06.18.2020 this evening for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak. 'Sports recovery is never just about elite sports,' he told the daily Downing Street briefing. Oliver Dowden, pictured at tonight's Downing Street briefing, said he understood the public are 'itching' to resume their amateur sport and fitness routines Five-a-side football fans could return to the pitch as early as next month, the Culture Secretary has signalled Gyms have been closed since the lockdown was first enforced back in March, but bosses have been making changes behind the scenes to ensure members can still work out while maintaining social distancing 'Cut the chat' rule if you go to the hairdressers Hairdressers have been ordered to observe a 'silence rule' when salons reopen in two weeks. To some customers it may come as a relief as the familiar small talk about holidays and weekend plans will be banned to protect their safety. The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) has advised members to keep chat 'to a minimum' when they reopen, which is predicted to be on July 4 – although no formal decision has yet been made. Hairdressers are advised to talk to clients side by side looking into the mirror and to limit discussions. The NHBF's advice reads: 'Avoid face-to-face discussions with clients. Discussions about cut, colour and treatments should be made via the mirror while standing behind the client and kept to a minimum. 'Consider offering online consultations to reduce the appointment time. This could be done before your salon or barbershop is fully open.' The NHBF has also urged customers not to bring coats or jackets into salons and encouraged salons to put out a slotted container for tips. 'I know people are itching to get back to their gyms, their leisure centres, their five aside leagues…and all the normal fitness activities. 'So we are working closely to get grassroots and community sport back and up running as soon as it's safe to so - with an aim at the start of July at the very earliest.' Gyms have been closed since the lockdown was first enforced back in March, but bosses have been making changes behind the scenes to ensure members can still work out while maintaining social distancing. These include encouraging customers to reserve slots online in advance, as well as floor markings and sanitising stations. Earlier this month, outdoor socially distanced fitness classes with up to six adults at a time were rolled out at David Lloyd health clubs. The chain said an expanded range of outdoor activities was being introduced at 50 of its fitness clubs in the UK. Up to 90 classes - ranging from 'boot camp-style' workouts to Pilates and yoga - are available each week, taking place around the clubs' external pools, garden areas and tennis courts. Meanwhile, the resumption of top flight football this evening saw players, staff and officials all drop to one knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. As the whistle blew to mark the return of the Premier League after a 100- day absence, Aston Villa and Sheffield United players, along with staff and officials, all saluted the movement, following protests across Britain after the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US last month. 1175814 World Leagues News

Del Mar announcer Trevor Denman will take summer off because of COVID-19 concerns

By JOHN CHERWASPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Trevor Denman, who has called every Del Mar race for 36 years, is taking this summer off and will be replaced by former New York announcer . Denman informed Del Mar that because of the COVID-19 pandemic he felt more comfortable staying at his Minnesota farm this summer than coming to the seaside track. The meet opens July 10. Denman, 67, plans to be back for the fall meeting from Oct. 31 to Nov. 29. “When Trevor told us of his situation, we naturally had to respect what he was feeling,” Josh Rubinstein, chief operating officer and president of Del Mar, said in a news release. “We immediately worked up a short list of possible replacements, and Larry was the man we zeroed in on.” Collmus has a big national profile and has been the television race caller for NBC during the Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup since 2011. The network chooses to use Collmus rather than the local track announcer. Collmus will call Saturday’s . Collmus, 53, became available when he couldn’t come to terms with the New York Racing Assn., after his contract expired at the end of last year. Collmus called the races at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga for the past five years. “It is an unexpected but welcome thrill to be joining the great team at Del Mar this summer,” Collmus said. “I’m very excited to be calling the races at such an amazing and iconic venue for the sport.” Collmus has called races in California before as a regular at Golden Gate Fields and when the Breeders’ Cup has been at Santa Anita and Del Mar. Los Angeles Times LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175815 World Leagues News “It’s concerning but not surprising,” Roberts said. “I’ve watched this governor behave as if the virus is an inconvenience as opposed to a virus. So, I guess watching the way the state is adhering or not adhering Florida sees rapid rise in coronavirus cases as NBA prepares to arrive to CDC guidelines, it’s not surprising that these numbers would go up.” DeSantis has said Florida’s rising numbers reflects more testing and other factors, though the percentage of positive tests is also significantly Associated PressJun 17, 2020, 7:30 AM EDT higher than was the case just a couple of weeks ago across the state and in the Orlando area.

“My solace is that our guys are not going to be out and about in the city Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on of Orlando,” Roberts said. “The players will be flown in non-commercial, Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new and they will essentially be on campus for the entirety of their stay until window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to email such time as their season ends.” this to a friend (Opens in new window) NBC Sports LOADED: 06.18.2020 The rate of positive coronavirus tests in the Orlando, Florida, area has been soaring in recent days. The NBA hopes that doesn’t matter. After spending weeks on putting together an incredibly elaborate series of health and safety protocols — the word “testing” appears 282 times in the document — the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association believe they have done what is necessary to keep the 22 teams and others who will be part of the season restart at the Disney campus near Orlando next month safe and healthy. Ready or not, basketball is almost back. “No one is suggesting that this is going to be an infection-free, guaranteed environment,” NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told The Associated Press. “I guess, unless we go to … well, where would we go? What state has the lowest rate? There’s just no way of finding a sterile environment probably on this planet, but certainly, not in this country.” Among the details that were included in the protocols released to teams Tuesday night: players will be invited to wear what the league calls a “proximity alarm” that will set off an audio alert when the person is within six feet of another person for more than five seconds and therefore not following social distancing guidelines, plus they can choose to wear a ring that will generate “a wellness assessment derived from metrics such as body temperature and respiratory and heart rate.” Players and staff will also be given thermometers and a pulse oximeter so they can track their data and record it on the league’s daily health platform. “I am optimistic about the NBA’s return to play policies and procedures,” Denver coach Michael Malone, who found out last month that he had already beaten COVID-19 after an antibody test showed he had the virus. “They are going to do whatever it takes to make this the safest environment as possible. There are no guarantees and there will be a risk, but I feel confident in the measures to be taken pre-Orlando and once in Orlando.” True, there will be a risk. And the league acknowledges that no plan can be perfect. “These Protocols are designed to promote prevention and mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to, and transmission of, the coronavirus,” the league said. “However, it is possible that staff, players, or other participants in the resumption of the 2019-20 season nonetheless may test positive or contract the coronavirus.” But by following strict rules – including regular testing, no leaving the Disney campus without returning to quarantine, no unauthorized guests, no family members even being permitted to arrive until late August and, though this didn’t likely have to be said, no spitting on the court – the NBA and the NBPA hope the risk is minimal as teams prepare for a Disney stay that could exceed three months for the teams that make the NBA Finals. “It’ll still probably bother everybody that we’re not home,” Miami center Bam Adebayo said. “But at the end of the day, we’ll be happy to play basketball.” The NBA’s arrival at Disney is looming as the rate of positive tests around the state are rising, and officials such as Gov. Ron DeSantis are facing criticism for re-opening many parts of the state’s economy. But if NBA players aren’t venturing out among the public, the hope is that no matter what’s going on beyond Disney’s fences that the quasi-bubble for basketball won’t be affected. The rate of positive tests in the Orlando area in the seven-day period ending Monday was nearly 6%. For the seven days immediately preceding that, it was 2.4% – meaning the rate has more than doubled in a one-week span. 1175816 World Leagues News

Premier League and Sky Sports settle Covid-19 rebate

Posted: June 17 2020By: Ed Dixon

SPFL and BT Sport reportedly close to UK£2.5m rights settlement Sky Sports has confirmed a UK£170 million (US$213.5 million) rebate with the Premier League and remains in talks with other sports bodies as the UK-pay TV broadcaster looks to offset losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. With Covid-19 wiping out live sport for broadcasters over the last three months, many networks, including Sky Sports, had to cut their subscription charges as part of efforts to appease customers. Now, after much speculation, Sky has agreed a rebate with English soccer’s top flight to help reduce financial losses. Speaking to the Financial Times (FT), Sky Sports’ managing director Rob Webster said the rebates would “mitigate the impact on our business [from] the lack of live sport over the past 12 weeks”, describing the deals as “balanced and fair”. With the Premier League returning on 17th June, Sky is now set to receive the UK£170 million rebate, part of the UK£330 million (US$414.4 million) being sought by domestic and foreign broadcasters. The Athletic reported earlier this month that the league had reached an agreement with Sky to defer that payment until the 2021/22 season. Sky has also been in negotiations over rebates with Formula One's owner Liberty Media and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the national governing body, both of which are set to return to action next month. Sky resumes its Premier League coverage with Aston Villa v Sheffield United, followed by Manchester City v Arsenal. Of the 92 fixtures remaining in the top flight, Sky will broadcast 64 live games, making 25 of those available for non-paying customers on its Sky Pick channel. Meanwhile, over the border, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), Scotland’s organising body for domestic club soccer, is close to a settlement with BT Sport, which will see the UK pay-TV network receive under UK£2.5 million (US$3.1 million) for matches it was unable to show after the season was cancelled, according to the Times. With deals now agreed with BT and Sky, for which the latter is reportedly worth UK£1.5 million (US$1.8 million), it means the SPFL will be facing lower liabilities from the two broadcasters following the 2019/20 campaign being curtailed due to coronavirus. It had been speculated that the networks would seek a combined UK£10 million (US$12.5 million) after the SPFL failed to honour their contracts, which entitled BT and Sky to Scottish Premiership games until the end of the season. The SPFL’s decision to terminate domestic lower leagues and then the top flight – on 15th April and 18th May respectively – amounted to a breach of contract, meaning the organising body owed BT and Sky money for games they were now unable to show. Both had rights for another 11 top-tier games apiece, with BT also set to broadcast six playoff matches. Public service broadcaster the BBC is one of several other rights holders still to agree a settlement with the SPFL. SportsPro Media Limited. LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175817 World Leagues News blood sugar. Over the course of three-hour games, he’ll prick his finger about 30 times to monitor his glucose levels. Around the facility, Andrews wears a real-time glucose monitor that sends information to his phone Amid pandemic, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews could emerge as a and the Ravens’ athletic-training staff. case study for at-risk players Dr. Jay Skyler, the deputy director of clinical research and academic programs at the Diabetes Research Institute, said that if Andrews’ blood sugar is well managed, he doesn’t have “any greater risk by having Type By JONAS SHAFFER 1 diabetes and playing football than anyone else.” “I don't think there's any difference for a physically fit person with a well- controlled blood sugar to be concerned about any excess risk of COVID,” Even as the sports world staggers back to some normalcy this month, said Skyler, also a professor of medicine, pediatrics and psychology at much is still unknown about the coronavirus that paralyzed it: how it the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. “I don't started, how it spreads, how dangerous it is, how it can be treated. think he's at any greater risk than a tight end who doesn't have diabetes. There's no evidence to say that.” Over 2 million cases have been documented in the United States, with 116,000 deaths reported. A recent surge of hospitalizations in states with Want the inside scoop on the Ravens? Become a Ravens Insider and relaxed social-distancing guidelines has experts worried about a potential you'll have access to news, notes and analysis from The Sun. second wave. On Monday, the agent for Ezekiel Elliott confirmed that the star was the latest high-profile athlete to test positive for The hope across the NFL is that when Andrews and nearly 3,000 other COVID-19. players report for training camp in six weeks, they’ll enter an environment with their health and safety guaranteed. (The Ravens did not respond to With the NFL’s 32 franchises expected to reopen team facilities by late a request for comment on this story.) July, the specter of the pandemic has the league scrambling to implement appropriate protocols by the start of training camp. That fear According to the NFL Network, NFL Players Association medical director might be most pronounced in Owings Mills, where the Ravens’ Mark Thom Mayer announced on a conference call Monday with agents that Andrews could emerge as a case study for at-risk players. the league intends to test players for COVID-19 about three times per week and plans to isolate players who test positive. Mayer also The Pro Bowl tight end is in many ways an unlikely candidate for severe reportedly said there’s a 90% chance the NFL will have reliable saliva infection. He’s remained active in the Ravens’ offseason workout testing available before players return to team facilities. program. He told reporters in March that he’d been vigilant about social distancing. At age 24, he’s considered more likely to have a milder case [More from sports] A way-too-early Ravens 53-man roster projection: of the disease. Who makes the cut? » But Andrews is also one of just two known NFL players with Type 1 As the league’s health protocols have evolved over the past three-plus diabetes, a chronic health condition in which the body’s immune system months, NFL officials have relied on input from the CDC and other public mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. While health experts. A leaguewide memo sent last week detailed new social- people with diabetes are not more likely to contract COVID-19 than the distancing guidelines for team facilities, including rearranging locker general population, experts and research indicate that some could be rooms to ensure 6 feet of separation between team members, limiting more vulnerable to dangerous complications. strength and conditioning workouts to small groups, and conducting virtual meetings whenever possible. “We’re still learning. I think there’s a few things we do know — not so much that people with diabetes are more likely to get COVID, but when “My advice to someone like Mark Andrews with diabetes would be the they get COVID, they’re more likely to have a more significant disease same as someone without diabetes, really, in terms of the precautions to and higher risk of serious complications.” prevent getting the virus in the first place,” Kalyani said. According to data released Monday by the Centers for Disease Control Andrews’ job will make that difficult. If the league’s testing is insufficient, and Prevention, among confirmed cases of the virus, 30% of patients he’ll risk coming into contact with asymptomatic or presymptomatic with underlying health conditions had diabetes. Nearly 20% of people players on practice fields and in NFL stadiums. Gabbay said scientists with preexisting conditions — most often heart disease, diabetes or lung will know more about how the coronavirus affects those with diabetes by disease — died from the infection, compared with the less than 2% who the time players strap on their helmets for training camp. But he did not suffer from chronic illnesses. acknowledged that a player like Andrews, in a contact sport like football, has only imperfect options. “We’re still learning,” Dr. Robert Gabbay, the incoming chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association, said in a “Obviously, staying 6 feet apart is not how you play football, so that’s telephone interview. “I think there’s a few things we do know — not so impossible,” Gabbay said. “But considering some personal protective much that people with diabetes are more likely to get COVID, but when equipment, wearing a mask over their mouth and nose, is probably worth they get COVID, they’re more likely to have a more significant disease considering. ... I don’t know how that would affect performance, but that and higher risk of serious complications.” seems like a pretty reasonable way to deal with what we know is still some risk.” Even as scientific research has accelerated to confront the virus, much of the knowledge so far draws from imperfect data samples, or from BALTIMORE SUN LOADED: 06.18.2020 findings not yet peer-reviewed. A May study by French researchers, which found that one in 10 coronavirus patients with diabetes died within the first seven days of hospitalization, and that one in five needed a ventilator to breathe, had a pool composed overwhelmingly of patients with Type 2 diabetes, which is prevalent among those affected by obesity. Nearly 90% had Type 2, compared with just 3% with Type 1. Experts believe a link exists between blood sugar levels and the risk of severe disease among those with COVID-19. Gabbay said early research suggests that people with well-regulated blood glucose — having too much or too little can lead to health problems — tend to have less serious infections than those with poor maintenance. Still, the potential complications are worrisome. Dr. Rita Kalyani, an associate professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said researchers have observed a rise in diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition that results from having high blood sugars for too long. Elevated glucose levels also can make infections more difficult to fight off, Kalyani said. [More from sports] : Ravens were ready to sign Colin Kaepernick until 'racist gesture' by girlfriend » Andrews, though, has long been mindful of his health. It’s his job not only to catch passes and block defenders but also to be vigilant about his 1175818 World Leagues News

Coronavirus Life-saving Drug Dexamethasone is Listed as Banned Substance by WADA

By India.com Sports DeskEmailEdited by Aditya ChauhanEmail

Following a major clinical trial, scientists and researchers have reached a conclusion that low dosage of steroid ‘dexamethasone’ can reduce deaths by one-third in severely affected COVID-19 patients. With the whole world battling a long drawn battle against the pandemic, this can be seen as a major breakthrough. The positive news came when new data from UK-led clinical trial known as RECOVERY showed that giving low doses of the generic steroid drug to patients reduced death rates by around a third among those with the most severe cases of infection. Also Read - Odisha Man Quarantines in a 'Swachh Bharat' Toilet For 7 Days as He Did Not Have Space in His House Interestingly, the low-cost, anti-inflammatory steroid is well known in the world of sport. Dexamethasone has been used for years by sportspersons to hasten their rehabilitation from injuries and recover from infections. But the drug is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) list of prohibited substances. However, its usage is allowed for out-of- competition athletes if they have the requisite Therapeutic Usage Exemption (TUE). Also Read - COVID-19 Breaks Ancient Tradition; Parikrama of Govardhan Hill on Guru Purnima Will Not Take Place Some notable sportspersons like Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos to Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei and, most recently, Indian javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang, have been found positive of using this drug. Also Read - Napoli Beat Ronaldo's Juventus on Penalties to Lift Sixth Italian Cup Trophy Asian bronze-winning Indian javelin thrower Kang is currently under provisional suspension after returning positive for the substance in an in- competition test conducted last year. In 2017, Spain-born Ramos had tested positive for the drug during the Champions League but was let off after offering an apology for the team doctor’s failure to disclose the medication he had taken. The RECOVERY trial included over 11,500 patients, enrolled from more than 175 hospitals in the UK, noted a statement published by the University of Oxford on Tuesday. In the trial, a total of 2,104 patients were randomised to receive dexamethasone six milligrammes once per day — either by mouth or by intravenous injection — for ten days, and were compared with 4,321 patients randomised to usual care alone. Among the patients who received usual care alone, mortality was highest in those who required ventilation (41 per cent), intermediate in those patients who required oxygen only (25 per cent), and lowest among those who did not require any respiratory intervention (13 per cent), the scientists said. They found that dexamethasone reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients, and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only. However, the researchers said there was no benefit from dexamethasone among the patients who did not require respiratory support. Based on these results, the scientists believe that the drug could prevent nearly one death in the treatment of around eight ventilated patients, or around 25 patients requiring oxygen alone. “Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19. This is an extremely welcome result,” said Peter Horby, one of the chief investigators of the trial from the University of Oxford in the UK. “The survival benefit is clear and large in those patients who are sick enough to require oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become standard of care in these patients,” Horby said. India.com.LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175819 World Leagues News Should college athletes be putting themselves at risk during the pandemic?Dan Orlovsky explains what he would want to know as a parent or player with regard to safety protocols for college athletes during Inside college football's plan to return from coronavirus lockdown: What the coronavirus pandemic. you need to know "It's really just more of an opportunity from an evaluation standpoint in terms of their conditioning, so we have this ramp-up going into preseason," said Todd Berry, executive director of the Heather Dinich Coaches Association. "And then secondarily, student-athletes and coaches are anxious to start talking some football, and we thought even from a psychological standpoint it would be very beneficial. The walk- throughs give an opportunity not to just get a visual but actually The NCAA's Division I Council on Wednesday approved a six-week participate." practice plan for college football that begins in July and will transition teams from the current voluntary workouts amid the coronavirus Berry said he expects most team or position meetings will remain virtual pandemic to the typical mandatory meetings and preseason camps to to avoid the spread of the coronavirus indoors and in confined position prepare for the 2020 season. group meeting rooms. Teams will be allowed up to one hour per day for meetings. If there is one. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said these two weeks are the equivalent College football is tentatively set to kick off on Aug. 29, and while many of spring installation, which many teams missed, so it's not the time to be of the sport's coaches and decision-makers remain optimistic about an making depth-chart decisions. on-time start, athletic departments throughout the country are already dealing with positive coronavirus tests as student-athletes return to "Those two weeks with a football, there won't be an opportunity to see campuses this month for voluntary workouts. At Houston last week, the skills on display," Kelly said. "You're going to have to get into football- activities came to a screeching halt again after six athletes tested positive related activities and movement, and for us, that doesn't happen until the and were symptomatic. 7th of August." While athletic officials at every level anticipated there would be positive Will there be a college football season? tests and many schools now have procedures in place to deal with them (including contact tracing), the full scope of their impact on the season According to a Washington Post data analysis, 27 states -- including might not be realized until the fall. Arizona, Georgia and Texas -- reported a seven-day coronavirus case average higher as of Sunday than their average a week ago. Alabama, "My motto has been, 'Predict nothing and prepare for everything,'" Florida Oregon and South Carolina are among the states with the biggest athletic director Scott Stricklin said. "Anybody who tells you they think increases, according to the Post. It's also still unclear whether the recent they know right now is making it up. But we're going to prepare as if we protests against racial injustice will further increase the amount of cases. are because we have a schedule, and if we're going to get there and play games, we've got to be ready to go." Still, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby remained confident that "we'll play football games." Schools have gone through numerous measures to create thorough plans to keep student-athletes safe, but athletic directors concede there's "I think we'll have a football season, but I think we'll have interruptions. only so much they can do to protect them once the players leave the I've always thought that," he told ESPN on Monday. "We have to first and facilities. In an effort to curtail the spread, some schools, including Ohio foremost safeguard our student-athletes and our students on campus. State and Indiana, have asked their players to sign a pledge to follow There will likely be some campuses where there are outbreaks and they Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, a document that can't be managed, and they send everybody home, but I think we'll play was met with some criticism and skepticism via social media as liability football games." questions loom. In Alabama, which saw a 92% change in its seven-day average, The NCAA plan, which was finalized last week by the Football Oversight according to the Post, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he has been Committee after months of discussion, is the sport's first official concrete "dutifully" wearing a mask when he's in public, even when he leaves his timeline during what has otherwise been a period of historic uncertainty. personal office to go to another office or a meeting. It's a unified plan for what remains a state-by-state reopening, and will allow coaches to interact with their players for the first time since college "There's a lot of data," Sankey said. "I think what's important is making athletics shut down in mid-March. sure that we're talking to people who understand the data and what it means." "It was a matter of getting everyone to be able to [shake] hands and say this was the best model we could all agree upon as we move forward," Sankey said the SEC continues to consider any number of contingency said West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, the chair of the FOC. " plans, but the current focus remains the same: "preparing to play football ... It wasn't something that was put together in a matter of a couple of as scheduled, and preparing to adjust to the circumstances around the meetings and thrown out there. There was a lot of discussion and I think virus." we landed in a very good spot." "Our focus is on preparing to play, and we're going to be fully attentive to Here's what you need to know about the plan, and where college football the circumstances around the virus," he said. "That means we're going to stands on the day the plan was approved: have our continuing dialogue with our presidents, chancellors, athletic directors, our medical advisory committee so that the people who are on What's the timeline? the frontlines of health care can help us understand how to meet the needs that are real in front of us." For teams that begin the season on Labor Day weekend, required workouts will begin July 13, followed by an enhanced training schedule What happens if coronavirus cases keep spiking in parts of the country? that begins July 24, and a normal four-week preseason camp starting Aug. 7. Through daily and weekly calls, the sport's top decision-makers are still preparing for a variety of possible changes to the college football Schools that open the season on Aug. 29 will begin required workouts calendar -- conversations that might have subsided publicly amid a July 6. growing perception that the season will roll on as planned. What's different about this summer schedule? Oklahoma athletic director said he's staying "positive and optimistic" but is well aware of the uncertainty, and said there's a The biggest change is the addition of two weeks leading up to preseason "looming decision on what type of season we can still have." camp, referred to as "enhanced summer access," that will be dedicated to weight training, conditioning, film review, walk-throughs and meetings. "We're still dealing with a lot of unknowns," he said. "... Does the season start on time as scheduled? Is it still possible for us to face a shortened The players are allowed up to 20 hours of countable athletically related season? The questions around any number of factors which could activities per week, including up to one hour each day for a walk-through. develop during the course of a season that would disrupt the schedule in The players aren't allowed to wear helmets or pads during the walk- some way. Those are all still questions we're addressing in one form of a throughs, but they can use a football. contingency plan or another. While certain decisions are made, we'll continue to be optimistic, but certainly realistic, that the possibility for a play bumpy road ahead exists regardless of how much we're trying to control 1:20 it." In the Pac-12, Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said the conference "We are fully prepared that we are going to have a positive [test] and is still preparing for "every scenario," including a delayed start or an isolate that individual and also go through the state department of health interrupted season. tracing program, but if it gets to be too many, that's where those UF Health people will help us work through that process," she said in a "We're working through it, but you just don't know what can truly happen recent videoconference with reporters. "I don't have an exact number on until you get there, get a little closer," Muir said. "But we're trying to figure that, but we will definitely be utilizing those people as a resource in that out what possible scenarios could unfold and how we would treat them." area." Will there be fans in the stands? What if Houston's stoppage becomes a trend? Clemson is preparing for it. Less than a week ago, Houston suspended voluntary workouts for all "At this point, on June 15, we're moving down the path of having fans for student-athletes after six symptomatic athletes in various sports tested our home games," Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich told ESPN positive for the coronavirus. In a statement Friday, the UH athletic on Monday. department said it was suspending the activities "out of an abundance of caution." The school said the symptomatic athletes had been put into Radakovich said the athletic department is moving toward mobile isolation and contact tracing procedures were initiated. ticketing to allow Clemson "the best flexibility as far as capacity is concerned." He said Clemson was still in the process of figuring out "I think we've all learned how to stop," Clemson's Radakovich said. "I'm exactly what the capacity would be. less concerned of being able to fold the curtain down and say stop. The greater challenge is if we do move ahead and we do have competitions play and we do open our stadiums, how do we say go?" 1:55 Sankey said each school would have to deal with its circumstances on its campus. Why there's 'cautious optimism' ahead of the 2020 college football seasonHeather Dinich, Adam Rittenberg and Chris Low break down how "You've seen the announcements of the testing, the oversight and the the 2020 college football season could proceed amid coronavirus actions taken, so that's a guide," he said, declining to speculate on any concerns. what-if scenarios. "Hopefully within the next three to four weeks, we'll have some various Lyons said West Virginia reported one positive test over the weekend, scenarios to talk through with our campus," he said, "but since our first but it was asymptomatic. He said the reality of the situation is that the home game isn't until Sept. 12 ... we have a little bit more time than some virus is unpredictable. others do who are hosting in the first week to come up with a final capacity and, given the fact we're using mobile ticketing, be able to get "You have to manage it," he said. "You work through it. You make sure those tickets out to our fan base." you have the right protocols and quarantine systems in place to prevent the spread but understanding that this thing, the virus, we can't control At Stanford, where the stadium capacity is roughly 50,000, Muir said the the virus. The virus is controlling us. So how do we work around that? attendance will be guided by county health regulations. That's what we're learning right now. Summertime will give us a little bit of a glimpse of potentially what the season will look like." "Right now I think there will be very few people in the stands," he said. "There could be less than 10,000 by current guidelines, and we have to Is everyone doing the same thing? abide by that." During a season in which state-by-state regulations and varying rates of Sankey said he's monitoring the messaging from state and local infections can still create a patchwork return, individual schools have governments while also paying attention to how officials in other sports largely been left to make their own choices based on state and local have handled logistics in their returns, such as NASCAR (with limited guidelines and governance. fans) and the PGA Tour (no fans). In the Big 12, where voluntary workouts were allowed to begin June 15, "I don't know that those are parallel efforts," he said, "but there's always Oklahoma opted to wait until July 1. Castiglione said the decision was something one can learn." "significantly influenced" by information from a variety of medical experts, including the availability of tests. How many positives equal a problem? play The Pac-12 has required each of its schools to test every student-athlete before returning to campus. The SEC has strongly encouraged it but has 1:34 not made it a requirement. The Big 12 and ACC also have left any testing decisions to each individual campus. While the testing policies vary from Riley worried that some coaches might abuse voluntary league to league, and some schools have been releasing their testing workoutsSooners coach Lincoln Riley addresses players starting to data while others have not, it's clear college football is moving forward in return to campuses for voluntary workouts. spite of positive tests. "We just got to the point where we just felt like the risk of bringing "We are going to have to live with COVID, for sure," said Stacey Higgins, student-athletes back in early June far outweighed any potential gains we Florida associate athletic director for sports health. would have by having them come into our facilities for voluntary workouts," he said. "We are not yet in a place where we can eliminate The question is, how many is too many? the risk of contracting the virus. We're talking about risk mitigation, not risk elimination." At Notre Dame, where football players are moving into an on-campus hotel for the summer, team physician Dr. Matt Leiszler said there's not a By contrast, Louisville's student-athletes returned to campus on June 2 certain number that indicates their plan isn't working. after being asked to quarantine at home for 14 days. "If we're seeing that the measures we're putting in place are not More than 120 student-athletes, coaches and staff were tested, as small accomplishing what we want, then that's where you're concerned about groups of athletes representing football, men's and women's basketball, we need to rethink this, we need to take a step back," he said. "We're and men's and women's swimming returned a week early to be tested going to have positives. That's to be expected. That being said, we need before starting any volunteer physical activity on June 8. to do a really good job controlling those. The things in place for that are a really robust contact tracing system to ensure if we have a positive, we're What's next? going to move really quickly in coordination with the university to limit The priority to this point has been executing safe return plans for student- those other close contacts so we don't end up with a cluster. athletes and athletic staffs, but eventually administrators will turn the "Obviously, if you end up with high numbers, the plan isn't working. I page to how to run practices and team meetings, and what games will don't think there's a hard and fast rule on that, but it's looking at what look like. we're doing, and the expectation of how it should perform, which is the While the Football Oversight Committee was tasked with creating the goal, and how are we meeting that." practice plan, Lyons said "each coach can do what they want to do" once At Florida, where the football locker room remains closed and the entire it actually begins. weight room has been moved to the indoor facility for voluntary workouts, "I think we can give some guidelines and best practices and thoughts Higgins said a large number of positive tests would require assistance about how the season should be run," Lyons said. "The question is, how from campus health officials. As of this week, Florida tested 91 athletes do you potentially separate so, if you do have a positive test, your and all were negative. One athlete who wasn't part of the university's starting quarterback isn't in the same place as your second-string testing program tested positive and was symptomatic. quarterback? How do you work through practices so that, all of a sudden, every one of your quarterbacks aren't out? We're going to have to look at the way we practice and the way we handle things so the contact tracing doesn't impact certain positions and you don't have anybody for that position. "Are we going to have to practice differently? The answer may be yes. We have to prepare for that. ... Coaches are working together to say, 'How do we make sure we have the proper type of squad to be able to compete if we have an outbreak roll around in September?'" Athletic administrators also will eventually have to deal with questions around whether to allow pep bands, how to space the cheerleaders, and whether game officials should wear masks. "We're talking about those things, but it's nothing concrete," Muir said. "Nothing to say, 'OK, definitively this is what we're going to do.' We're not in a position to do that at all." .com/LOADED: 06.18.2020 1175820 World Leagues News Pederson on Tuesday was asked about how his team will deal with social distancing and whether he may consider a quarterback for quarantine, like Tampa Bay Bucs coach is considering. Can NFL season be totally derailed? You bet Pederson at least sounded like he was on board with the plan and mentioned perhaps holding separate practices at Lincoln Financial Field and their NovaCare Complex a couple of blocks away to keep players By NICK FIERRO and coaches spread out. [More Sports] Malcolm Jenkins gets another platform for social justice message: CNN » NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could have a quagmire on his hands if only one or two teams are affected differently than the rest by COVID-19. “I understand that this is a unique time in our society, in our country and our world,” he said. "This is just what we’re faced with. So we’re going to As the NFL continues with its aggressive plan to start the 2020 season make the most of it and use the resources possibly with the NovaCare on time and play all games as scheduled, it needs to know that its bold facility, possibly with our stadium to take advantage of everything that we plans can be almost instantly derailed because there’s still no bona fide can. defense against COVID-19 other than isolation. "And the No. 1 thing here is making sure that our players and our Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the obvious on Monday when he coaches and all our staff are safe. That’s our most important aspect of said there will be some positive cases. Heck, there already are a handful everything right now. of them, with Dallas Cowboys running back Zeke Elliott’s recently revealed case perhaps the most noteworthy. “But we are in the process of taking a look at a lot of different scenarios. ... It’s going to look different. It will feel different. But at the same time, we The second wave is expected in the fall, when all teams will be gathered are going to embrace it and we are going to make the most of it, and our in de facto giant Petri dishes. job as coaches is to prepare our football team for the regular season.” Still, the league is moving forward with the calculation that most players And if the Eagles start the season strong but then are forced to send will never be infected. But even if that’s the case, the season could be Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld and Jalen Hurts into quarantine and operate threatened. with Kyle Lauletta and someone off the street and the Cowboys win the division by one game and the Eagles miss the playoffs, how would that It may not even take many cases. look for the league? All it would take to threaten the competitive integrity of the league would [More Sports] Eagles hotspots: Cornerback still unsettled despite Darius be for, say, the players and coaches who were in one small meeting Slay trade » room to be infected. Or to be fair, if the Cowboys are on track to win it but then lose Take the Eagles’ quarterback room, for example. Sure, there’s only four quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton to this microscopic opponent quarterbacks now, and social distancing should not be a problem. and miss out because of a gamble in which the players are just pawns, But social distancing and mask-wearing don’t guarantee jack. what then? Furthermore, once teams hit the field, even if the quarterbacks are kept Asking for a friend. on different parts of the field at all times, eventually all of them will have to huddle up because, well, Chip Kelly is no longer the coach. Morning Call LOADED: 06.18.2020 No matter how closely teams follow the league’s recent guidelines for a return to football operations — guidelines Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh correctly called “humanly impossible” — there’s no guarantee that most or all members of a position group won’t be infected and immediately have to be quarantined. [More Sports] Doug Pederson: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Eagles must be ready to prove themselves » Would it be fair for the league to ask the Eagles or any other team to continue on with two quarterbacks they’re forced to sign off the street in September (or later) to prove the league can function in this kind of crisis? It doesn’t have to be just that scenario. Let’s say the coronavirus proves not to be a problem at all for 31 of 32 teams, but one team has a dozen or more starters infected. What then? This is supposed to be a legitimate sport, not pro wrestling. The competitive integrity of the entire league is threatened if only one team is affected by an unreasonable gamble that backfires. [More Sports] Eagles guard Brandon Brooks out for season with torn Achilles tendon » Do you force the league to carry on? An argument could be made that potential COVID-19 infections would be no different from abnormal runs of injuries that certain teams experience from time to time. See the Eagles, Philadelphia (2018-2019). But that argument is wrong, morally and logically. All teams run the same risk of injuries. We have come to know that the risk of COVID-19 infections will not be the same based on geography, climate and regulations that differ drastically from state to state. [More Sports] Eagles hotspots: Safety unsettled after loss of Malcolm Jenkins » Until there’s a vaccine, the league’s plan is a gamble. An aggressive and mostly blind gamble that involves billions of dollars. Harbaugh knows it. Eagles coach Doug Pederson knows it. So do their peers across the league. But unless they start talking like Harbaugh, the league will continue on with its plan, haphazard as it may be. 1175821 World Leagues News It’s something the SoftBank Hawks, the reigning champions of the NPB, are considering introducing at their Fukuoka PayPay Dome, according to Kyodo News. This app lets sports fans cheer out loud in the stadium when watching “Our challenge is how to connect with fans without having spectators,” a remotely SoftBank spokesperson told the news agency. “We want people in remote areas to experience realistic Images by making use of state-of- the-art technology.” Kate Whiting Substitutes from FC Union Berlin wear face masks and maintain social distance in the stands. Sports fixtures around the world are resuming after coronavirus lockdown When the US National Basketball Association (NBA) restarts its – but without fans in the stadiums. postponed season in late July in empty basketball courts, similar technologies could boost the home viewer experience. An app trialled in Japan allows smartphone users to cheer – or jeer – remotely during a match. Coronavirus has permanently changed the relationship between sport and technology, according to NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Technology innovation in sport will take off following the pandemic, Tatum. predicts the COO of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the US. “There’s no doubt that technology has been incorporated into the sports When the first J-League match kicks off on 4 July, Japan’s top-flight viewing experience forever, whether that be broadcasting games in soccer teams will be playing to empty stands. But viewers at home may virtual reality, or 3D, and all kinds of different technologies,” he said in a still be able to cheer – or jeer – remotely. recent interview with the World Economic Forum. In May, a new app which plays fans’ claps, cheers and chants out loud CORONAVIRUS, HEALTH, COVID19, PANDEMIC into the stadium was tested at the 50,000-seat Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa – one of the biggest in the country. What is the World Economic Forum doing to manage emerging risks from COVID-19? Have you read? Show This is how COVID-19 is affecting the world of sports “Coming out of this, we are continuing to explore unique and innovative As football returns in empty stadiums, four graphs shows how home ways to present our game… We are thinking about how we could use advantage disappears technology and innovation to create engagement between the fans who are watching at home and the in-arena experience.” Soccer is back with strict COVID-19 rules. Here’s what you need to know Why fans matter Developed by musical instrument makers Yamaha, the ‘Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD’ app was connected to 58 speakers around the Besides the huge economic benefits of fans paying to watch games live, stadium to try to recreate the atmosphere of a normal match. having supporters in the stands actually helps the home team, according to a recent study from Reading University in the United Kingdom. During the trial match between J-League clubs Shimizu S-Pulse and Júbilo Iwata, users in various remote locations sent cheers, applause, Researchers compared European football matches played behind closed jeers and club chants into the stadium via their smartphones. doors and those with fans attending, and found there was less of a home advantage without supporters. Home teams won 36% of matches played Users of the Remote Cheerer app tap their phones to make a sound in in empty stadiums, compared with 46% when fans were present. the stadium. On 17 June, the UK’s premier league football season resumes, when Image: Yamaha Corps Aston Villa take on Sheffield United behind closed doors. But it remains Fans could also choose the part of the stadium to which their audio was to be seen how the lack of fans in the stadium will impact the game. delivered, allowing them to support players after a goal, as if they were in weforum.org/LOADED: 06.18.2020 the stands behind it. Building atmosphere “The shouts of the fans are an essential element of the match atmosphere,” said Junpei Takaki, from the sales division of soccer club S-Pulse. “As a former professional football player myself, I know how emboldening the support of the fans is to players on the field. S-Pulse is eager to continue to make the most of the club’s resources in order to assist with the development of this system.” The system could also be used when Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) begins its postponed season on 19 June, also without fans present. When Germany’s top soccer league, the Bundesliga, resumed matches on 16 May, the lack of crowd noise meant you could hear the goal hitting the net and the conversations of players. Engineers added “carpet audio” from earlier matches to give viewers at home a more realistic experience, dropping in roars after goals. “This was the only idea that we thought could be most respectful to the fans,” Alessandro Reitano, vice president of sports production for , told AP. “To be honest, it’s a major success.” Sport goes hi-tech The tech transformation of sport doesn’t stop there. As Japan’s 5G network is developed, it could enable a more immersive experience for fans. With multiple cameras installed in stadiums, virtual reality video technology could allow spectators at home to control how they watch a match. 1175822 World Leagues News Village Roadshow said there will be more sanitisation measures in place and a requirement for guests to remain 1.5 metres apart.

Some shows will also be on hold and those that are open will have Football stadiums in Queensland to welcome crowds again from this reduced capacity to maintain social distancing. weekend, theme parks to open later this month Guests will need to download the Village Roadshow app to book rides and show tickets to avoid human contact. Up to 2,000 fans will be allowed to watch the football in stadiums in Ardent Leisure's Dreamworld is waiting for more information on Queensland from this weekend. Queensland's border restrictions before announcing specific dates. Health Minister Steven Miles said the decision was the result of football abc.net.au/LOADED: 06.18.2020 codes submitting plans to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. Queensland COVID-19 snapshot: Confirmed cases so far: 1,066 Deaths: 6 Patients tested: 259,902 Latest information from Queensland Health. "Some of the codes have requested this number [2,000] as a trial. That number might not be reached but it is an acknowledgement that the fans and the codes have done their part," he said. "We all want to get back to normal, that is the goal of our unite and recover plan. "I'm proud the AFL and the NRL were able to return to play in Queensland stadiums. "And today we add the missing ingredient — the fans." Coronavirus questions answered An illustration of a cell on an orange background with the word 'coronacast' overlayed. Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast. Read more In the NRL, the Gold Coast Titans will play St George-Illawarra Dragons on Saturday at Lang Park. Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell said a crowd rallying behind the team will help them win. "The Titans are delighted to be the first Queensland team to be back playing in front of our supporters this weekend," he said. "There's going to be a fair set of protocols when people come through. They're in line with the protocols that have been developed with our biosecurity experts and the Chief Medical Officer in Queensland so everyone will be getting temperature checks and it'll be great fun." In the AFL, the Brisbane Lions face off against the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba on Saturday evening, and the Suns take on Adelaide Crows at Carrara Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Coronavirus update: Follow all the latest news in our daily wrap. One new coronavirus case The announcement came after the state recorded just one new coronavirus case in the past 24 hours. A Gold Coast woman in her 30s, had returned from overseas and is in isolation in a hotel. There are currently five active cases of COVID-19 in the state, with one in hospital. Dreamworld sign on top of building of entrance of the theme park on Queensland's Gold Coast. Dreamworld is waiting to get more information on Queensland's border restrictions before announcing specific dates.(AAP) Gold Coast theme parks to reopen Village Roadshow has announced today that Sea World will reopen on June 26. Movie World, Wet 'n' Wild and Outback Spectacular will follow in July. As part of coronavirus restrictions, the theme parks are required to develop a COVID-safe plan for guests.