SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/15/2021 Canadiens 1215808 Could the Senators and Ducks be perfect trading partners 1215830 Canadiens drop Game One to Golden Knights in Stanley this summer? Cup semi-final series 1215831 Golden Knights take Game 1 with 4-1 win over Canadiens Bruins 1215832 In the Habs' Room: Penalties 'killed our rhythm' in Vegas, 1215809 Four-part NESN series will celebrate 10th anniversary of Ducharme says Bruins’ win 1215833 Canadiens' Cole Caufield scores first playoff in loss 1215810 The last two playoff exits have exposed what the Bruins to Vegas lack. What will they do about it? 1215834 Stu Cowan: Former Canadiens Max Pacioretty is 1215811 Bruce Cassidy says he has no regrets about sticking with happy in Vegas an injured Tuukka Rask 1215835 Canadiens Game Day: Golden Knights show why they are 1215812 Bruce Cassidy details, defends decision to stay with big favourites Tuukka Rask 1215836 What the Puck: Max Pacioretty has chance to prove Marc 1215813 Cassidy assesses Taylor Hall's Bruins tenure, hopes he Bergevin wrong returns 1215837 Canadiens at Golden Knights: Five things you should 1215814 B's sign Swedish forward to one-year contract know 1215815 Why Bruins stuck with Tuukka Rask over Swayman vs. 1215838 The Canadiens lost the forward depth battle with Vegas in Islanders Game 1; it is a battle they must win from now on 1215816 Sign Swedish Forward Jesper Froden 1215839 Canadiens’ defence can’t play offence like Vegas, but 1215817 OTR: Kraken Lurking for Splash, Avs Headed for Cole Caufield finally gets a goal: Playoffs plus/minus Big Shakeup? 1215840 LeBrun: It seems like everyone involved in the Max 1215818 Boston Bruins Cassidy: ‘No Regrets’ Sticking With Rask Pacioretty Vegas-Montreal trade has moved on Over Swayman 1215841 Who is trying to end the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup dream? 1215819 Boston Bruins’ offseason priorities: Jack Eichel interest, all Four Quebec natives, by way of Vegas those UFAs, a goalie transition and more 1215842 wins NHL's 2021 King Clancy Trophy for 1215820 Top Hurricanes defenseman reportedly free to speak with efforts in Nashville community other teams ahead of free agency 1215843 ‘The sky is the limit’: How the Devils’ Yegor Sharangovich 1215821 CHN+OTR: Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? Kraken Lurk for became a breakout young star Trade Splash 1215844 Lightning look to strike through Islanders’ stingy defense 1215822 Blue Jackets sign Swiss forward Gregory Hofmann to 1215845 Islanders’ Oliver Wahlstrom unlikely to get spot back with one-year contract return near 1215823 Blue Jackets' Jarmo Kekalainen says GMs are 'hungry' for 1215846 Ryan Pulock’s goal-scoring turn adds versatility to first-round picks Islanders blue line 1215824 Michael Arace: How can Blue Jackets truly contend? A 1215847 Clark Gillies’ inspiration for beer-crushing Islanders major rebuild is one way to do it moment 1215848 To Lightning, Islanders' Game 1 win was more about Tampa's failures 1215825 Who could Red Wings pick at No. 6 in NHL Entry Draft? 1215849 Oliver Wahlstrom available for Islanders, but Here are 9 possibilities will stick with Travis Zajac — for now 1215826 Six best, worst No. 6 NHL draft picks of all-time 1215850 Are these Islanders good enough to beat the ? Yes! Yes! Yes! Oilers 1215851 Wahlstrom or Zajac? Tough Question Ahead for Islanders 1215827 Lowetide: How ’s transaction history could Barry Trotz foreshadow the Oilers summer to come 1215852 Willis Reed Moment Coming? Islanders Anders Lee Seen Skating after Practice in Tampa 1215853 NYHN Daily: Islanders Defeat Lightning in Game 1 of 1215828 OTR: Kraken Lurking for Trade Splash, Avs Headed for Semi-Finals & More Big Shakeup? | Kings 1215829 Kings Seasons In Review – Drew Doughty 1215854 Rangers agree to deal with new coach 1215880 Canadiens see historic run, winning streak snapped in Las 1215855 Inside the Rangers’ monumental hiring of Gerard Gallant Vegas 1215856 Rangers hiring Gerard Gallant as new 1215881 Graney: Marc-Andre Fleury at best when Knights needed 1215857 Source: Rangers to name Gerard Gallant head coach him 1215858 Rangers get their tough-to-play-against coach in Gerard 1215882 Golden Knights-Canadiens Game 1 recap Gallant: Why he’s a fit, what took so long and what’s 1215883 Defensemen get offensive in Golden Knights’ Game 1 win 1215884 Golden Knights’ lineup for Game 1 against Montreal Canadiens 1215859 Pageau adds another chapter to his playoff success story 1215885 Spirits on the line between governor, Quebec 1215860 Ottawa Senators sign Finnish goalie prospect Leevi premier Merilainen to a three-year entry-level deal 1215886 Alex Tuch ready to get physical against Canadiens 1215861 GARRIOCH: Ontario puts in framework to allow sports 1215887 Ex-Knights coach Gerard Gallant reportedly hired by leagues to return to play Rangers 1215862 Could the Senators and Ducks be perfect trading partners 1215888 How to watch Golden Knights-Canadiens Game 1 this summer? 1215889 Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Carey Price: Who has the edge? 1215890 Golden Knights-Canadiens series as lopsided as advertised in Game 1 1215863 Flyers sign forwards German Rubtsov and Linus Sandin to 1215891 Defense leads way in Golden Knights’ Game 1 victory one-year deals over Canadiens 1215864 A fearless Flyers player, Ian Laperriere will carry his 1215892 Blog: Golden Knights run away from Canadiens to take parents’ work ethic into his job as Phantoms head coac Game 1 1215865 Flyers take note: You don't need a superstar to have 1215893 Six things we learned in the Golden Knights’ impressive success in the playoffs Game 1 win over the Canadiens 1215866 Flyers sign 2016 1st-round pick, Swedish winger to 1215894 LeBrun: It seems like everyone involved in the Max contract extensions Pacioretty Vegas-Montreal trade has moved on 1215895 Who is trying to end the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup dream? Four Quebec natives, by way of Vegas 1215867 Penguins A to Z: What can Jeff Carter do for an encore? 1215896 NHL Final 4: Golden Knights Take Game One, 4-1, Over 1215868 Madden Monday: Steelers will give JuJu Smith-Schuster Montreal At T-Mobile Arena Monday what he wants and play him outside more often; Penguins 1215897 NHL Final 4: Golden Knights Secondary Market Tickets 1215869 OTR: Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? Kraken Lurk for For VGK vs MTL Game 1 In Vegas Today Are Red-Hot — Trade Splash Like L 1215870 Dan’s Daily: Islanders Send Message, Defensemen Trade 1215898 Monday Morning Gambler: The Price To Bet The Vegas Scuttle Golden Knights Goes Up and Up and Up 1215899 Again Vegas Golden Knights Scoring Depth Shines in Game One Win 1215871 San Jose Sharks get three pending RFA’s under contract 1215900 Shea Theodore Leads Vegas Golden Knights Past 1215872 How Dahlen re-signing impacts Sharks' Expansion Draft Montreal in Game One plans 1215901 Vegas Golden Knights vs. Game One 1215873 Sharks bolster depth with Viel, Lemoche re-signings Blog 1215874 BREAKING: Dahlen, Viel, Meloche Re-Sign with Sharks, 1215902 Montreal Canadiens in Brief: What are the Keys to the What’s Cap Hit? Habs Game? 1215903 Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Carey Price Head-to-Head: Who Would You Take? 1215875 Here’s what the New York Rangers’ hiring of coach Gerard Gallant means for the Kraken Websites 1215907 .ca / Canadiens’ Game 1 loss exposes problem Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal faces without Petry 1215876 Lightning use off day to study film, hope to avoid back- 1215908 Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights providing the template for to-back losses what wins in 2021’s NHL 1215877 Where has the offense gone for the Lightning 1215909 TSN.CA / Muller’s hiring first step in Treliving’s off-season defensemen? remodel of Flames 1215878 Lightning notes: Tampa’s five keys to a Game 2 semifinal 1215910 TSN.CA / Golden Knights present three major problems win, Ben Groulx talks with Coyotes for Canadiens 1215911 USA TODAY / Gerard Gallant being hired as New York Maple Leafs Rangers head coach, according to reports 1215879 Top 10 lingering Leafs thoughts on what happened ... and 1215912 USA TODAY / defenseman Stephen Johns what's next announces retirement, cross-country excursion 1215905 Stanley Cup riot, 10 years later: Jeff Tambellini's wild ride 1215904 Winnipeg Jets final report card: Grading the forwards, from from the ice, to city flames, to a bar Nik Ehlers to Mark Scheifele to Pierre-Luc Dubois 1215906 How should the Canucks approach negotiations with their 3 veteran UFAs? SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1215808 Anaheim Ducks As for his playoff resume, it’s actually pretty sparse. Henrique is probably best known for scoring the overtime goal against the New York Rangers to send his Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. But since then, he’s Could the Senators and Ducks be perfect trading partners this summer? only played in four playoff games and those came when his Ducks were swept out of the playoffs by San Jose in 2018.

Is Ottawa’s strategy to allow Henrique to be the team’s No. 2 centre next By Ian Mendes and Eric Stephens Jun 14, 2021 season, then he gradually transitions down to a bottom-six role in the final two years of the deal? In 2023-24, could a 33-year-old Henrique

serve as this team’s fourth-line centre if they are a legitimate Stanley Cup The Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks are kindred spirits in the contender? hockey world. Stephens: Surely, Ottawa would have some pause if it felt Henrique was Each time the Senators have advanced to the conference finals — in a declining asset at this stage of his career. He certainly didn’t have a 2003, 2007 and 2017 — the Ducks have also advanced to the final four season like the year prior and one of the reasons why he eagerly in the opposite conference. And of course, the two clubs met in the 2007 accepted an invitation to captain Canada at the World Championship was Stanley Cup Final with Anaheim prevailing in five games. to finish his season on a high note and be in a good frame of mind entering 2021-22. But while their arcs of success have been fairly similar in the past, they appear to be on different courses this summer. With a torrid finish to the Of course, the worlds are a tournament and more of a small sample but it regular season, the Senators are on an upward trajectory after four was clear that the vet still has plenty of game left. He and Connor Brown consecutive non-playoff seasons. The Ducks, conversely, are likely still in had instant chemistry. I think he would welcome a change and the ability the painful stage of their rebuild and might have another season or two to play a large role on a growing team that has some nice pieces. before their fan base can have legitimate playoff aspirations. Anaheim is in a similar position but as I noted before, I don’t think there is a ready-made spot for him. Given its clear desire for a productive centre, And as the Senators search for some veteran support to help with the I think Ottawa offers that. And it is closer to his offseason home in next stage of their progression, the Ducks might be looking to jettison Ontario. some older players. Ottawa is likely searching for a veteran centre and a defenceman and Anaheim has two players — Adam Henrique and Josh Even with being put on and scratched on occasion, Henrique still Manson — who could be suitable targets for the Senators. had 12 goals in just 45 games on the NHL’s worst offensive team. His shooting percentage (15.6) was just a tick over his career mark and he In this column, the beat writers for each team, Ian Mendes and Eric would have pushed toward the 20-goal mark for a sixth time over a full Stephens, explore the idea of the Ducks being the perfect trading schedule. Granted, Henrique is more of a -first pivot than a setup partners for the Senators this summer. man but he doesn’t play a particularly heavy game and should hold up over the rest of his deal. He knows how to find the open spots in the Is Henrique on the trade block? And if so, why? offensive zone and still possesses a great wrist shot. Stephens: When Anaheim put Henrique on waivers a month into the Would the Ducks be willing to eat some of Henrique’s remaining salary? 2020-21 season, it sent a pretty sizeable ripple throughout the hockey world, because the well-known veteran had led the Ducks in goals and Stephens: While they would obviously prefer not to retain salary in a points the previous season. Part of it was issuing a wake-up call to a deal, it’s my understanding that the Ducks would do this and possibly go forward who was off to a poor start as the Ducks struggled out of the gate as far as the maximum 50 percent. That might be the only way such a in a season in which they envisioned taking a step toward being playoff deal were to be executed. The interest level around the league would contenders and needed to do well right away. definitely increase if a team were to get a proven goal-scorer at a $2.9 million cap hit (and a little over $8.7 million in total salary remaining). But it also was a sign that they would be fine with extricating themselves from the remaining three years of his contract, which come with a $5.8 Anaheim and Ottawa do have a recent trade history. The Senators were million cap hit. They knew the chances that a team would claim him and willing to take on a full cap hit when the Ducks sent them veteran the full amount left on his deal were between slim and none. However, it defenceman Erik Gudbranson last offseason for a fifth-round pick in this also was a tacit admission that a rebuild was needed instead of a retool year’s draft (Ottawa’s pick came from Edmonton in the Tyler Ennis deal). and that moving Henrique would allow them to move further in a youthful The Senators have tons of cap space, although they’ve been long known direction. to have a lower internal budget. And they have to use a chunk of that space to re-sign important RFA forwards Brady Tkachuk and Drake Now that Trevor Zegras is set to go at centre after being moved back to Batherson. his natural position late in the season, the Ducks could be jammed in the middle and have no room for Henrique. They could go into next season Would Ottawa GM (or, more importantly, owner Eugene with youngsters Zegras, Isac Lundestrom and Sam Steel, as well as Melnyk) be willing to take all of Henrique’s contract? Perhaps the Ducks having fourth-line holdover Derek Grant under contract along with the could get Dorion to split the difference and retain 25 percent of the deal, strong possibility that longtime captain Ryan Getzlaf will return for which would put the Sens on the hook for about $4.37 million. another season. But there would certainly be some negotiation involved in terms of what Could Henrique fit what the Senators are looking for at centre? kind of return Dorion would offer to allow Anaheim to dump the pricey contract. Mendes: I think a lot of Ottawa fans would look at Henrique and immediately think this is Derek Stepan 2.0 — except he’s coming to town Mendes: This is a crucial element to the equation here. Henrique at $2.9 with three years left on his contract. So that’s going to be a tough sell. million versus Henrique at double that cost are two totally different arguments. And I don’t think a scenario in which they split the difference But if the Sens are looking to shelter Shane Pinto this season, Henrique and the Sens are on the hook for $4.37 million would be palatable from is probably a pretty good option to play between Connor Brown and Tim Ottawa’s perspective. Stützle. It’s the two years beyond that where things could get dicey. But Henrique at $2.9 million per season could be an intriguing option. Henrique is not a traditional playmaking centre who sets up his wingers The Senators would be hard-pressed to find a veteran centre at that price for scoring opportunities. When you look at his career stats, he’s had five this summer. Let’s take a look at the unrestricted free agent options different seasons in which he’s had more goals than assists. That’s fairly down the middle. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, David Krejci and Paul Statsny atypical for a centre, so that’s something to keep in mind. are all going to command deals that go well beyond a $2.9 million cap hit. He’s one season removed from a 26-goal campaign in 2019-20, so I The only potential fit might be a centre like Mikael Granlund, but would think the possibility exists that Henrique could flirt with the 20-goal mark Ottawa be able to land him on a three-year, $9 million contract? That’s next season if he stays healthy. Henrique has also posted three straight essentially the price they would be getting Henrique at if Anaheim eats seasons where he has won north of 50 percent of his faceoffs, which is 50 percent of his salary. important when you consider Ottawa finished 26th in the league by The term is going to be the biggest sticking point on a guy like Henrique, winning only 47.4 percent of their draws last year. but if you can land him at a shade under $3 million, it’s hard to argue his value for next season. Do Henrique’s previous connections to the Senators play a factor here? Mendes: Based on the way the Senators deployed Jacob Bernard- Docker down the stretch last season, it became fairly evident they intend Mendes: As Eric mentioned, the connection between Henrique and to start him in the AHL next season. Connor Brown was certainly on display for Canada at the World Championship a couple of weeks ago. On a line together with Andrew So there could be a need for a right-shot defenceman to play next Mangiapane, they carried the load offensively en route to a gold medal. season, considering the club will have Nikita Zaitsev, Artem Zub and I’m sure the Senators brass looked at that and figured there is some Josh Brown on that side. It’s safe to assume Zaitsev and Zub will have potential for long-term chemistry between Henrique and Brown. On top of spots locked up, with Brown either being the third-pairing guy or the that, D.J. Smith was part of the Windsor Spitfires coaching staff that won seventh defenceman. back-to-back Memorial Cup titles with Henrique as a star forward in 2009 and 2010. That’s something to consider in this situation, because That is where a defenceman like Manson could enter the equation. What Henrique does have a limited no-trade clause in his contract and as makes him palatable is that he only has one year remaining on his we’ve often discussed, Ottawa usually pops up on most players’ lists. But contract, so he could be the perfect “bridge” player to allow Bernard- having a previous relationship with the head coach could certainly be a Docker to perfect his game at the AHL level. If the Senators have any factor to help Henrique waive that no-trade clause. playoff aspirations next season, they’ll likely need to add a veteran defender to the mix. Manson would bring an element of physicality to the Would Anaheim want picks and prospects in return for Henrique? Or back end, which may be a nice complement to the skilled defenders the would they be willing to take back a veteran player in return? team employs on the left side.

Stephens: Picks and/or prospects are probably the way to go if you’re the Josh Manson (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today) Ducks. And I understand that the return might not be a lot for a 31-year- old high-salaried forward with a lot of term left on the deal. This is where What might Anaheim want in return for a 29-year-old Manson if he were what Anaheim is willing to retain salary might increase the value. Since available? the Sens don’t have a fifth-rounder this year, perhaps the Ducks throwing Stephens: The Senators obviously did it before by taking Gudbranson in one of theirs is a sweetener that could net one of Ottawa’s two second- before spinning him off to Nashville. When he is healthy and playing well, rounders. I’d imagine that a pick is all the Ducks can get to lose Manson is more mobile, a bit more versatile and, frankly, better. But Henrique’s contract. It’d be hard to see Ottawa parting with any of its while they might take what they could get for Henrique and call it a day, better prospects and I doubt Anaheim would want to have someone with the Ducks would want a lot more for Manson. a borderline NHL future at best taking up one of its 50 contract slots. A veteran forward won’t help the Ducks, especially if they’re unloading one The prevailing word bouncing around before the trade deadline was that in this case. Murray essentially told teams to not bother asking about Manson unless there was a package to blow him away. Now he could ask Ottawa for the Maybe there is more of a need if Getzlaf chooses to retire instead of No. 10 pick but my guess is that Dorion would get a good chuckle or be returning but then I think Anaheim would be better off keeping Henrique offended, depending on how he’s feeling that day. But would the Sens’ and knocking another year off his deal than, say, taking Chris Tierney in second-round pick obtained from San Jose — the No. 38 selection — return even if Tierney is cheaper, younger and only has one year left. and a B-level (or slightly above) prospect do the trick? Henrique is without question the better player. If Manson were a little younger and had two years left on his deal rather Mendes: The acquisition of Henrique would certainly make Tierney than one, then I’d say a conversation could be had. The Sens’ system expendable for next season. Perhaps Tierney is claimed by Seattle in the appears to be pretty deep. They’re not going to deal Jake Sanderson, expansion draft and is out of the picture that way. But the Senators would Erik Brannstrom or Shane Pinto. But would 2016 first-round pick Logan need to figure out how to unload Tierney before committing to Henrique, Brown be someone they may part with? because there probably isn’t room in the lineup — or budget — for both of them next season. And it sounds like the only way Tierney could end If the Senators were to land both Henrique and Manson, what might the up in Anaheim is if the Ducks know for certain that Getzlaf isn’t returning return package look like? for another season. Mendes: OK, let’s put this all together and make one giant pitch to see The Senators gave up a second-round selection to Arizona to land what the Senators could realistically offer up to land both Henrique and Stepan last offseason in a move that largely backfired due to Stepan’s Manson in the same deal. We’ll consider this some one-stop shopping, in midseason injury. Would giving up a second-round pick this season be which Dorion can land both the centre and defenceman that he’s seeking different because Henrique wouldn’t simply be a one-year rental for the this summer. Let’s project what the Senators’ opening night roster might club? The Senators own two second-round picks in the upcoming draft: look like in this scenario —keeping in mind we still don’t know who they the Sharks’ via the Erik Karlsson trade (38th overall) and their own (41st might lose to Seattle in the expansion draft: overall). Line 1: Tkachuk – Norris – Batherson The expansion draft is on the horizon and the Ducks have a handful of Line 2: Stützle – Henrique – C. Brown capable defencemen. Is there any scenario in which they might not be able to protect Josh Manson? Line 3: Paul – White – Dadonov

Stephens: In my recent expansion list forecast, I’ve got Manson as one Line 4: Formenton – Pinto – Watson Anaheim could face a decision on. First pairing D: Chabot – Manson Hampus Lindholm is a lock for protection. And while a of Ducks fans would like to see the club expose Cam Fowler, given that he tops Second pairing D: Brannstrom – Zub out at 30 to 35 points annually on a $6.5 million AAV deal for five more Third pairing D: Mete – Zaitsev years, I’m not sure GM Bob Murray wants to test whether the Kraken would actually select the 11-year mainstay because he is still a solid top- How would Ottawa fans feel about this projected lineup? four defenceman. That’s two spots protected. Murray also traded for Haydn Fleury. Seattle GM drafted Fleury when he was To make it happen, the Senators certainly don’t want to be going down running things in Carolina. If he were exposed, I would be shocked if the road of giving up any of their A-level prospects in this type of deal, so Francis didn’t claim the 25-year-old who is on a cheap $1.55 million in addition to the names Eric listed above, I think you can also safely salary for another season. That’s a valuable asset you don’t want to lose. remove the likes of Lassi Thomson, Ridly Greig or Roby Jarventie from the equation. I would even be hesitant to include a player like Egor So it may come down to whether the Ducks go 7-3-1 or 8-1 with their Sokolov in any trade of this stature. protected list. So based on what Eric has said, maybe this could be the realistic Murray has long loved the hard-nosed Manson. He is an alternate framework for a potential trade between the two clubs: captain and is highly respected. He’ll also turn 30 in October and has missed chunks of games in each of the last two seasons because of To Ottawa: Adam Henrique and Josh Manson injuries. And they’ve got young right-shooting stud Jamie Drysdale To Anaheim: Logan Brown, Tyler Kleven and a 2021 second-round pick already eating top-four minutes. In the end, I think they would rather keep Manson or trade him rather than possibly losing him for nothing. At some point, the Senators simply won’t have room for every pick and prospect to play at the NHL level. The Senators selected Kleven with their second-round pick (44th overall) in 2020. But as you project out to the club’s left side of the defence, you can already see the spots occupied by Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson and Erik Brannstrom down the road. And that’s not even factoring in Victor Mete, who probably deserves some consideration. So do they even have room for Kleven?

And this might be the perfect trade for the club to try to use whatever value Brown has as a 23-year-old recent first-round pick.

The Senators need to start utilizing their long-term assets for some immediate help on the NHL roster. And this type of trade wouldn’t be giving up their A-level prospects to accomplish that goal. Is that giving up too much? Maybe for some Sens fans. But Ducks fans might be underwhelmed with that return at the same time.

Do you see a realistic trade possibility between these two teams this summer?

Stephens: There are some elements in play that would make the Ducks and Sens a good trade match.

Ottawa is in the position of looking for more immediate help and Anaheim is just starting to build around a younger core and has some proven performers who appear to be less of a fit for the long haul and who can be moved for more assets. The Ducks have picks in every round except the seventh so they could part with their third or fourth if it helps boost the return. The teams are also in different conferences so each GM can feel more comfortable about trading players that won’t come back to burn them repeatedly.

Ultimately, what could be the biggest glitch in a deal for Henrique and/or Manson is that both players have modified no-trade clauses (10-team for Henrique, 12-team for Manson). It’s conceivable that both have Ottawa on their lists and if that’s the case, either would have to waive it to make a deal happen.

I can’t imagine Manson being eager to do that when he can be a UFA next summer. But I could see Henrique being open to a change in a scenario like 2017, when he slid down the New Jersey lineup and relished his trade to Anaheim — especially if he’s a believer in the youthful Sens being on the rise. When referencing the day he signed a five-year extension with Anaheim, the veteran said, “I knew we might have to go through a bit of a rebuild.” He was willing to do it then. Given where lowly Anaheim is at now, he might again be willing to go elsewhere.

Mendes: I can’t help but go back to Melnyk’s podcast comments last month in which he clearly identified the need for a centre and a defenceman. The Ducks could provide one-stop shopping for Dorion and as long as it doesn’t involve moving any core pieces or a first-round pick, I think there is the potential of a fit here. And I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if Henrique is wearing a Sens jersey to start next season.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215809 Boston Bruins

Four-part NESN series will celebrate 10th anniversary of Bruins’ Stanley Cup win

By Chad Finn Globe Staff,Updated June 14, 2021, 2:49 p.m.

The Bruins’ quest to win the Stanley Cup this season ended with an abrupt second-round loss to the Islanders. But the franchise’s last championship remains a point of celebration a decade after it happened.

The Bruins announced Monday that NESN will pay homage to their most recent Cup-winning team with a four-part series. Titled “Behind the B: 2011 Champions,” it will include previously unreleased footage from the championship season, which culminated with a victory over the Canucks in Game 7 of the Final in Vancouver.

The first episode will air Tuesday, the 10th anniversary of the Bruins’ 4-0 victory in Game 7. Included is footage of the on-ice and locker-room celebrations after the Bruins clinched their first Cup since 1972, as well as scenes from the team charter back to Boston.

The following three episodes air on June 21 (8:30 p.m.), July 1 (9:30 p.m.), and July 7 (9:30 p.m.). Tuesday’s episode airs at 5:30 p.m.

Boston Globe LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215810 Boston Bruins While speed alone doesn’t guarantee success (reminder: there are no guarantees around a chunk of vulcanized rubber), it has been central to both efficient dismissals of the Bruins these last two postseasons. The Bolts sent them packing in five, the Isles in six, and both outcomes could The last two playoff exits have exposed what the Bruins lack. What will not be reasonably subject to a recount. they do about it? Other than Jake DeBrusk, the six amateur drafts under Sweeney’s watch have not delivered a single primary or secondary scorer, or even valuable bottom-six role guys, to the forward lines. Zero. By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated June 14, 2021, 12:56 p.m. An emerging DeBrusk looked capable of delivering the goods in his first

three seasons, but the left winger got lost in a crossfire hurricane of The Bruins postseason book of revelations is a slow read. Once they exit COVID, confusion, and inconsistency this year. Cassidy said Monday it the playoffs without a Stanley Cup — as they have every time but once would have been “too raw” to talk with DeBrusk immediately following over the last 49 years — their modus operandi is to express regret and elimination. But the talk is coming … and maybe a trade. disappointment, provide few specifics, and await the release of the next Under Sweeney’s draft watch, the Bruins since June 2015 have selected schedule and the promise of a new season. 20 forwards. DeBrusk was the only one to play this postseason. There Coach Bruce Cassidy held his season-end Zoomer Monday morning and could be viable prospects in the likes of Trent Frederic, Jack Studnicka, it was, true to Black-and-Gold form, a respectful yet unrevealing 27 Jakub Lauko, perhaps Curtis Hall and John Beecher. But 19 of the 20 minutes. brought nothing this postseason and DeBrusk brought next to nothing.

The only real focal point came with about three minutes to go when The spotlight of this painful discussion forever will shine brightest on the Cassidy noted a need for an established NHLer to ride with Brandon 2015 draft, in which the Bruins selected Zboril at No. 13, DeBrusk at 14, Carlo on the No. 2 defense pairing. and winger Zack Senyshyn at 15. In so doing, they passed on the likes of forwards Mathew Barzal (16), (17), (24), “I think that would help us at the end of the day,” he said, “and I think we Anthony Beauvillier (28), and Sebastian Aho (35). All five have proven to all realize that. So that will be the discussion going forward.” be excellent, and in some cases elite, choices.

Perhaps, added Cassidy, the answer will come from among the blue line We’re left to wonder what the outcome of the last three postseasons, kiddie corps, which includes the likes of Jakub Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen, including that ’19 Finals run, would have been if any combination of those and Jeremy Lauzon. He didn’t mention whether Mike Reilly, an April fab five forwards had been picked at 13, 14, 15. deadline acquisition for the backline, would be a candidate. With the acquisitions of Hall and Lazar, Sweeney continued a trend of So the band plays on. Look for the NHL to release that 2021-22 schedule trying to piecemeal together a group of forwards capable of carrying a in the next 4-6 weeks. team to a Cup, be it via trade or free agency. He’s done well there at times with the likes of Craig Smith, Charlie Coyle (this playoff year aside), Cassidy, 33-33 in his five postseasons here, is a sharp coach, able to Marcus Johansson (in ’19), and Hall. improvise in games, the best coach here since Harry Sinden walked away after the ’70 Cup win. He is eminently qualified and capable of Nonetheless, some of Sweeney’s misses have been very pricey and steering a team to the Cup. He came within 60 minutes of winning it on highly ineffective, particularly free agents David Backes and Matt Causeway Street in the spring of 2019. Beleskey, and to a lesser extent John Moore. Little bang for big bucks. Trades for Rick Nash and Ondrej Kase both capsized because of To close the deal, however, there’s more help needed than that No. 2D concussion issues. soft spot, which falls to , his player development crew, and his scouting staff. Better groceries needed, Roughly four months from the start of a new season, Sweeney now must immediately, because it became achingly evident these last two playoff decide whether to keep a 35-year-old David Krejci as his No. 2 center, seasons that the so-called “closing window” — the hope of winning with a whether to retain/sign Hall as the No. 2 left winger, and whether Patrice handful of talented 2011 Cup vet leftovers — has gone from closing to c- Bergeron, 36 next month, can still be expected to drive a No. 1 line l-o-s-e-d. through 82 games and the playoffs. Bergeron is an elite, unique performer, but birth certificates don’t lie. Please, let’s all stop that narrative. The window slammed shut with the 6- 2 loss to the Islanders last Wednesday in Game 6. We’ve clung to it here, “It’s been five years, so I’ve been through it,” said Cassidy when asked media especially, as if Cliff is still in his corner seat, Sam is behind the Monday what it’s going to take to win it. “Not as much as the Bergerons bar, and “Cheers” again will rank No. 1 in the Nielsens. The tap line has of the world, but certainly through it, and hopefully we get another been drained, folks. chance.”

Keep in mind, it took Sweeney’s Taylor Hall-Curtis Lazar-Reilly XXL tire Boston Globe LOADED: 06.15.2021 patch in April to pump up a team that was otherwise destined for a first- round playoff blowout. Crafty work by Sweeney, but the emergency repair was as much an indictment on roster engineering, development, and execution as it was a heroic 11th-hour roadside rescue.

Similar to last playoff season’s erasure by the Lightning, the Islanders were faster and stiffer and better scorers than the Bruins, something that largely would have been true even had Carlo and Kevan Miller not been injured and the backline fully coherent. Granted, had those two been back there, the Islanders probably would not have breezed to such an easy win around the Bruins’ second-period collapse in Game 6.

But overall in the series, the Sons of Lou Lams were faster, dogged, relentless on the forecheck, and sharper, more persistent finishers. Oh, and their D corps was bigger, stronger, and more efficient. Just too good.

The end wasn’t identical to the dismissal Tampa Bay handed the Bruins in the ’20 postseason, but it was close. The two KOs in tandem should be prima faceoff evidence to the front office that, yes, the backline needs shoring up and of course it needs to stay healthy. Happy hour on the S.S. Obvious, top deck, begins every night at 6.

Of equal need, however, is for the pack of 12 forwards to be faster, more efficient hunters and checkers. Exhibit A: Tune in Tuesday night when the Lightning and Islanders clash in Game 2 of their Cup semifinal. Their pace is frenetic, be it off the rush or on the forecheck. 1215811 Boston Bruins him. Obviously, check with the individual on a daily basis to see how he’s progressing. You hope that’s enough to keep him ready to play.”

Cassidy to meet with DeBrusk after difficult campaign Bruce Cassidy says he has no regrets about sticking with an injured Cassidy said he has not conducted his exit meeting with Jake DeBrusk Tuukka Rask because things are still “too raw” after the winger’s frustrating season. They had plenty of in-season talks, but getting to the root of issues is difficult when there’s always a next game on the schedule, said the By Matt Porter Globe Staff,Updated June 14, 2021, 9:59 a.m. coach.

DeBrusk had 5 goals and 14 points in 41 games, the lowest output of his four-year career. He was a healthy scratch three times in the regular Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy reiterated Monday that he has no regrets season, and missed 12 games with injuries. In the playoffs, he went about playing Tuukka Rask late in the second-round series without a point in seven of his final eight games, and was “DNP-coach’s against the Islanders, when the Bruins were on the ropes and the decision” in Game 5 against the Islanders. netminder’s longstanding hip injury left him compromised. Cassidy plans to meet with DeBrusk this week to “find some common “Obviously Tuukka has acknowledged that he was playing hurt,” Cassidy ground on where you see yourself fitting into this lineup, and where I feel said during a 27-minute Zoom call with local reporters. “He met with us you need to be better, and see if we can sort through some of the stuff,” every day — medical staff, myself, [assistant coach] Goalie Bob he said. “It’s up to me to dig a little deeper with him.” [Essensa] — to go through his status, particularly in the playoffs. He played Game 1 with it against Washington right through Game 6 in New Hall pondering return York.” Taylor Hall has said he wants to return to the Bruins, and even revealed The goalie, Cassidy said, maintained that he was well enough to stop he may be willing to take a discount to stay here. That’s music to pucks. Rask was clearly fighting a lack of mobility as he was pulled in Cassidy’s ears, despite a tailing off toward the end of the second round. Game 5 and the Bruins were blown out in the decisive Game 6. In the Hall, who had not advanced that far in his career, scored three goals in final two games of the series, he allowed eight goals on 43 shots (.814). his first six playoff games in Black and Gold, but was less of a factor in his final three (0-0—0). “It was the same injury, the same player dealing with it,” Cassidy said. “We just got different results in the second round. Some of that is team- “I think the next playoffs he’s in, he’ll be better prepared for it,” Cassidy oriented in both the first and the second round. You don’t put everything said. “I hope it’s with the Boston Bruins. He did a good job for us. He’s a on the goalie when you lose, just like you don’t when you win. good player, he’s a good person. He works hard.

“We were never going to run out a player that wasn’t fit to play. He “I think he knows what he wants out of his career now. He’s been in a regularly told us he was ready to go.” few different places. He’s made some money. Hopefully both sides can make it work.” Rask, who is set to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, said Friday that he was first injured in last year’s first-round series against Bruins sign Jesper Frödén Carolina. The Bruins hoped to limit him to two games per week. During the two series against the Capitals and Islanders, he made 11 starts in The Bruins announced the signing of Jesper Frödén, a right winger from 26 days, with a five-day break between rounds. the .

Explaining the decision to lift Rask after two periods of Game 5 against The 26-year-old, listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 176 pounds, produced a the Islanders, Cassidy said he felt the goalie wasn’t sharp (four goals on 22-18—40 line in 52 games for Skellefteå and 3-1—4 for Sweden at the 16 shots), and Rask reported to Essensa he was “lacking some energy.” recent World Championships in Latvia. Jeremy Swayman got the call for the third period. In a statement, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney called him a Incidentally, the corresponding episode of ESPN’s “Quest for the Cup” “highly productive, competitive and a smart two-way player” who will behind-the-scenes series made no mention of Rask’s injury. The Bruins, compete for a roster spot. He signed a one-year deal for $842,500. ESPN’s narrator said, decided to “cut their losses” and bring in Swayman Frödén (approximate pronounciation: “fruh-DEEyen”) was the SHL rookie with Rask “off his game.” of the year in 2020. He spent six seasons in Sweden’s second division Cameras also showed Cassidy, after the first intermission of Game 5, in before that. As a teenager with Södertälje (2012-14), he was teammates full confidence. “We’re the way better team,” Cassidy told his group in the with David Pastrnak, who is two years his junior. dressing room. “They can’t play with us.” Boston Globe LOADED: 06.15.2021 Rask reported feeling better before Game 6, and was able to perform his game-day routine. Cassidy, after consulting with all parties and the player leadership group (, Brad Marchand, David Krejci among them), believed Rask was a better option than the inexperienced Swayman, who hadn’t started a game in nearly four weeks.

“No regrets on that,” Cassidy said. “We felt he gave us the best chance to win. It didn’t work out that way.”

Cassidy liked what he saw from Rask throughout the playoffs, other than Game 5 (four goals on 16 shots in 40:00 of work). He believed his No. 1 was fit for duty. The decision, he said, was “more about Tuukka, less about Swayman.”

Cassidy said shutting down Rask when his hip injury became a back injury in March was not part of the discussion, though the team was encouraged by the work of Swayman and Dan Vladar, two netminders who are likely to vie for the net this fall, unless the Bruins bring in veteran help. Unrestricted free agent Jaroslav Halak, who lost his backup job partly because he caught COVID-19, is unlikely to return.

“Typically, it’s the player’s decision” to keep playing, Cassidy said. “Obviously, sometimes second opinions come into play with all of that.

“With Tuukka, it was a matter of, let’s get him some rest, get him his point-of-care treatments, put his schedule together for maintenance, for 1215812 Boston Bruins The B’s have been careful the last few years to limit Rask’s regular season starts in the hopes he can carry the load in the playoffs. Two years ago, it took them to the doorstep of a Stanley Cup. But Cassidy said there have been discussions about going with more of a rotation in Bruce Cassidy details, defends decision to stay with Tuukka Rask the playoffs as well.

“I do believe it’ll become more common and is something we would discuss moving forward. We even talked about it this year a little bit,” said By STEVE CONROY | PUBLISHED: June 14, 2021 at 4:46 p.m. | Cassidy. “But at the end of the day, Tuukka played so well against UPDATED: June 14, 2021 at 6:13 p.m. Washington, you don’t want to out-think yourself either. He’s playing well, he’s healthy. So, you just keep going back to that guy. At the end of the day, we can look back at it. I think you will see more teams do it; the The debate over whether an injured Tuukka Rask should have played Islanders made a switch early in their series, worked out for them. In both over a healthy Jeremy Swayman was already raging as the Bruins’ series series, for that matter. Tampa runs with their guy, Washington was a against the New York Islanders was slipping away. different animal in terms of the injuries. Different things happen, I think you see both sides. Vegas is predominantly (Marc-Andre) Fleury. Last Friday, the B’s long-time No. 1 goalie threw more logs on the fire Montreal has been all (Carey) Price. Again, I still think there’s a lot of the when he revealed that he was playing with a torn labrum that would way of thinking it’s one guy, it’s his net, off you go. And I think you’re require surgery this offseason. going to see teams that do use two quite a bit during the On Monday, coach Bruce Cassidy said there were no regrets in sticking season will go to that format. That’s something to be considered down with Rask despite his ailment and broke down the decision-making the road.” process. Cassidy looking for common ground with DeBrusk Cassidy said Rask met with him, the medical staff and goalie coach Bob This season was nothing short of a disaster for Jake DeBrusk. In 41 Essensa on a daily basis; for each game, Rask said he was ready to games, the one-time 27-goal scorer had just 5-9-14 totals. He was a play. healthy scratch both in the regular season and the playoffs, he was “We were never going to run out a player that wasn’t fit to play,” said bounced to his off wing, he contracted COVID. Cassidy. Cassidy said he’ll chat with DeBrusk this week. After allowing four goals on 16 shots in the first two periods of Game 5 “I think with Jake, there needs to be a little time, personally. My and, after Rask huddled with Essensa after the second period and said conversations with Jake I think would have been too raw the day after,” he was “lacking some energy,” the decision was made to lift Rask for the said Cassidy. “We’re going to sit down this week now that we’ve both rookie Swayman in the third. Swayman allowed one goal on just three digested and see if we can sort through a bit of the season and say, OK, shots. Then Rask came back the next day and said he was feeling better. let’s find some common ground on where you see yourself fitting into this “Then it comes on me to make the final call, who gives us the best lineup and where I feel you need to be better and see if we can sort chance to win? I chose Tuukka. No regrets on that,” said Cassidy. “We through some of this stuff now that the season’s over. Sometimes, in felt he gave us the best chance to win, didn’t work out that way. Some of seasons, players are just going to tell you what you want to hear at times. those decisions also go through the leadership group, where are you It’s up to me to dig a little deeper with him so we can get to the root of guys at in terms of your mental psyche with the goaltending? They were what’s going to make you the best player. Now, we’ve tried that, don’t get all on board with Tuukka as well. They certainly believe in Swayman, but me wrong. Players have meetings with coaches, assistant coaches, etc. Tuukka’s been there and done it. That’s where that decision came from. But you’re always onto the next game, so you can get through some of it, At the end of the day, it didn’t work out. You’re always going to analyze but maybe this will be a little bit of a longer process with Jake. We feel some things after the series, but that’s when we felt he gave us the best he’s a good kid, and he’s been a good player for the Bruins. He’s been chance to win. That was the decision, he was healthy to play, had inconsistent and so part of that falls on the player, obviously. It’s his job played, played well. That was that.” to get himself ready. Part of it falls on the staff to get the best out of him.”

Rask was excellent at the start of the playoffs, turning in one of his Grade Cassidy hopes Hall remains a Bruin A performances in the first round as the B’s bounced the Capitals in five Count Cassidy among those who would like to see Taylor Hall back. games. In the Islander series, however, he was inconsistent. He had trouble holding his post on a couple of goals, which may or may not have “He played very well for us,” said Cassidy. “Obviously, finishing up been related to the hip. His best game of the playoffs perhaps came in against the Islanders, he didn’t have the numbers. Their whole line didn’t Game 3 on Long Island after a two-day break. But a playoff schedule is have the numbers they had against Washington and the regular season. usually every other night and it certainly looked like it was catching up to Some of that is a learning curve for the player, the deepest he’s ever Rask by the end. been in the playoffs. Usually, the harder it gets as it goes along. And those are some things you just have to learn on your own, as a player, to Another problematic part of the equation was the length of Swayman’s a certain extent. Hopefully he’s better off for it the next time he’s in that inactivity. Not only had he played just 10 NHL games (19 professional position. He really balanced out our attack in terms of lines of 1A and 1B, starts in all), it had been nearly a month since he’d last played by the and I think that made it difficult on opponents. I think he really re- time he took the net in Game 5. energized (David) Krejci and his play. (Craig Smith) sort of found his way “Well, that becomes the part of it,” said Cassidy. “Once you get all the to that line, Smitty played well with everybody. At the end of the day, information from Tuukka, who was our , that he was good to go, that’s what I saw with Taylor. I think the next playoffs he’s in, he’ll be then you start factoring in performances. Does the other guy give you a better prepared for it. I hope it’s with the Boston Bruins, he did a good job chance to win? As I said, we felt that Tuukka’s performance, other than for us. He’s a good player, he’s a good person. He works hard. I think he Game 5, was very good. Perfectly normal for a goalie to have an off knows what he wants out of his career now, he’s been in a few different night. You’re more worried, was it because of an injury, was it because places. He’s made some money. Hopefully both sides can make it work.” you were off, the team in front of you, etc. We clarified the next day that Boston Herald LOADED: 06.15.2021 he was ready to go and fit, so we stuck with him. And then, I guess, you get that information first. Then you go, OK, should we put the other guy in? Is it time to give him a break, or does the other guy give us the best chance to win? We just felt that no, that wouldn’t be the case. And some of it had to do with that, absolutely, the farther you go. Especially a younger guy that’s not really been in that position that much. Is that the best spot to put him in? Obviously, if Tuukka couldn’t go, that would have been the decision, it was easy for us. He was the next guy up, he’d been preparing to go in if something should happen. Tuukka was fit to go. It did factor in a little bit, but at the end of the day, it was more about Tuukka and less about Swayman.” 1215813 Boston Bruins

Cassidy assesses Taylor Hall's Bruins tenure, hopes he returns

BY NICK GOSS

The Taylor Hall trade was no doubt a success for the Boston Bruins even though the ending to their run in the 2021 wasn't what they had expected.

The B's were eliminated by the New York Islanders in a six-game second-round series. Hall scored an empty-net goal with one assist in the series. It wasn't the ideal performance from the former Hart Trophy winner, but if you look at the totality of his brief tenure in Boston so far, it's certainly been productive.

Hall looked like a top-tier player again after the trade deadline. He tallied 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 regular season games with Boston and also played quite well in the first round of the playoffs against the .

Bruins free agents answer questions on their future in Boston

"He played very well for us. Obviously, finishing up against the Islanders (he) didn't have the numbers. That whole line didn't have the numbers they had against Washington or the regular season," B's head coach Bruce Cassidy said Monday during his season-ending press conference.

"Some of that is a learning curve for the player. It was the deepest he's been in the playoffs. Usually the harder it gets as you go along, and those are some things you just have to learn on your own. Hopefully he's better off for it next time he's in that position."

The main things Hall brought the Bruins were much-needed scoring depth on the wings and a reliable goal scorer for veteran center David Krejci on the second line. Boston was a tougher team to play against with two very good lines instead of one. It also wasn't a coincidence that Krejci's 5-on-5 production spiked after the Hall acquisition.

"He really balanced out our attack in terms of having lines 1A and 1B, and that made it real difficult on opponents," Cassidy explained. "I think he re-energized Krejci and his play. (Craig) Smith found his way to that line and played well with everybody. At the end of the day, that's what I saw with Taylor.

Cassidy is hoping Hall, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer, returns to the B's. Hall reiterated last week that he sees a fit with the Bruins and hopes to return.

" I think the next playoffs he’s in, he’ll be better prepared for it. I hope it’s with the Boston Bruins," Cassidy said. "He did a good job for us. He's a good player, a good person and works hard. I think he knows what he wants out of his career now. He's been a few different places and made some money. Hopefully both sides can make it work.”

Coyle calls criticism Tuukka Rask deals with 'insane'

If Hall does return, Cassidy thinks an entire year watching and learning from an elite left winger such as Brad Marchand can help Hall get back to his top form.

"I think the benefit of being here for the full season would be to watch how hard a guy like Brad Marchand practices and plays everyday throughout the season," Cassidy said. "Brad will take his occasional maintenance day, but other than when he's on the ice it's 100 percent -- competing against guys in practice and second effort in games.

"I think that can only help a player like Taylor who's been through some of that and had some seasons like Marchand where he's an elite player. If he's going to get back to that level, I think watching a player like Marchand everyday would be a huge benefit for him."

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B's sign Swedish forward to one-year contract

BY JUSTIN LEGER

The Boston Bruins announced Monday they've signed forward Jesper Frödén to a one-year contract.

Frödén, 26, spent his last two seasons with the Swedish Hockey League's Skellefteå AIK. The Stockholm native recorded a team-high 22 goals with 18 assists in 52 games during the 2020-21 campaign.

Frödén's deal with Boston has an NHL cap hit of $842,500.

"The Bruins are very pleased to be adding Jesper to our organization," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said, per the team's press release. "We have tracked Jesper's growth in the SHL where he has proven to be highly productive, competitive, and a smart, two-way player. Jesper is very excited to join a competitive team with the opportunity to compete for a roster spot."

Frödén ranks second on Skellefteå AIK in goals (34), third in points (69), and is tied for third in assists (35) since debuting with the team in 2019. The 5-foot-10, 176-pound right wing spent parts of seven seasons (289 games) in Sweden's second-highest league, HockeyAllsvenskan, prior to joining the SHL. There, he tallied 88 goals and 84 assists for 172 points.

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Why Bruins stuck with Tuukka Rask over Swayman vs. Islanders

BY DARREN HARTWELL

If you want to second-guess the Boston Bruins after their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff exit, you could start in net.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy started Tuukka Rask in every game of Boston's series against the New York Islanders despite the goaltender battling what was later revealed as a torn labrum in his hip. Even after pulling Rask following two periods of Game 5 in favor of rookie Jeremy Swayman, Cassidy went back to Rask in Game 6, where he allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Bruins' season-ending loss.

Cassidy explained what went into the decisions to pull Rask in Game 5 and start him in Game 6 over Swayman, who had played well during the regular season.

"We were never going to run out a player who wasn't fit to play," Cassidy said Monday in a video press conference. "(Rask) regularly told us he was ready to go. In Game 5 going into the second period I thought he didn't look as sharp. (Bruins goaltending coach) Bob (Essensa) talked to him, he said he was lacking some energy, so we said, 'We'll go with Swayman in the third, and then we'll sort out Game 6.' "

After Swayman allowed one goal on three shots in Boston's Game 5 loss, Cassidy checked in with Rask, who told his head coach he was "feeling better" and good enough to play. That was enough for Cassidy to stick with his veteran.

"He went through his routine, his maintenance," Cassidy said. "He didn't skate a lot between games, (but) he got the morning skate in and felt ready to go. And then it comes onto me. I have to make the final call on who gives us the best chance to win, and I choose Tuukka. So, no regrets on that. I feel he gave us the best chance to win."

Rask is one of only two active goaltenders with over 100 career playoff starts (Marc-Andre Fleury is the other), so Cassidy felt that experience trumped Swayman's upside. According to Cassidy, the Bruins' veteran leaders felt the same way.

"Some of those decisions also go through the leadership group: 'Where are you guys at in terms of your mental psyche with the goaltending?' And they were all on board with Tuukka as well," Cassidy said. "They certainly believe in Swayman, but Tuukka has been there and done it."

Rask posted an .897 save percentage over six games against the Islanders, so with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps Swayman deserved a start after stopping 94.5% of shots during the regular season. But both goalies would have been hampered by a banged-up B's defensive group whose lack of depth was exposed throughout the series, so there's a good chance a change in net wouldn't have changed the final outcome.

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Boston Bruins Sign Swedish Forward Jesper Froden

Published 7 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Joe Haggerty

The Boston Bruins clearly aren’t resting on their laurels after a second round playoff defeat at the end of the New York Islanders, even if they’re not exactly making big roster splashes yet either. On Monday the Bruins announced they had signed 26-year-old Swedish forward Jesper Froden to a one-year, $842,500 contract for the 2021-22 NHL season.

The 5-foot-10, 176-pound Froden had career-highs in goals (22) and points (40) last season in 52 games for Skelleftea and added another three goals in 12 playoff games for his Swedish Elite League hockey club. Froden added three goals and four points during a strong showing at the IIHF World Championships earlier this month as well, so it’s clear his value is at its highest point as a hockey player for a small, undrafted forward out of Sweden.

“The Bruins are very pleased to be adding Jesper to our organization,” said Sweeney. “We have tracked Jesper’s growth in the SHL where he has proven to be highly productive, competitive, and a smart, two-way player. Jesper is very excited to join a competitive team with the opportunity to compete for a roster spot.”

While Froden has been a solid offensive contributor in the Swedish Elite League, his numbers are very comparable to the versatile Par Lindholm, a former Bruins forward that actually played with Froden for Skelleftea after Lindholm returned to Sweden. It’s expected he’d be a candidate to compete for a bottom-6 spot similar to fellow Swedes like Lindholm and Joakim Nordstrom over the last couple of seasons.

With Sean Kuraly at the end of his contract with the Boston Bruins and Curtis Lazar, Chris Wagner and Trent Frederic in the mix for fourth line spots, it makes sense for the Bruins to shore up their organizational depth while taking a chance that maybe there’s something more there with the Swedish right winger. It also gives them another natural right wing when the Bruins were forced to push Jake DeBrusk over to the right side last season once their depth was tested with injuries to Ondrej Kase among others.

Certainly it also shores up their bottom-6 forward depth if the Boston Bruins end up losing a forward in the upcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft as well.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215817 Boston Bruins They were six minutes from a 3-0 series lead. And lost the series, 4-2. That’s just a fact and a sick feeling that general manager and

his staff need to deal with in the coming weeks. What will Sakic do with OTR: Kraken Lurking for Trade Splash, Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? captain Gabriel Landeskog, 28, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28? Word around the league is that if Sakic doesn’t shake things up with a coaching change, he will with his lineup. Landeskog was not good against Vegas in Round Two and was shuffled around the Published 18 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Jimmy Murphy lineup as Vegas dominated the Avs top line.

Feelings are still a bit salty in Colorado. The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are Off the record: lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in “I don’t know,” a well-placed Avalanche team source told OTR on Sunday exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick. when asked if Sakic is going to retain Landeskog. “He has one or two (paths) …maybe both ways to shake it up, and he needs to. You let your Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off captain walk, or you fire the coach or even both. I don’t know if Joe is The Record before, the and the Ottawa Senators are there with the coach, but the captain is a real possibility.” primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have Yes, the source confirmed the whispers in NHL circles that Avalanche before them. head coach may have to worry about his job, too.

And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not The Avalanche appears to be on the Washington Capitals’ treadmill; making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but have great regular seasons, President’s trophies, tons of top-end talent, continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado and early tee-times due to a division rival (*looking at you Pittsburgh Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? Penguins). After a couple of head coaches, Washington eventually broke OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that through with coach Barry Trotz. franchise in several ways. Sakic has a few big decisions ahead. 1. Could The Kracken Swallow The NHL Trade Market? Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 So, what’s to stop the Seattle Kraken from drafting Simon Evidsson or Dylan Guenther or William Eklund or Matty Beniers and then trading whichever of the projected Top 5 NHL Draft Picks they select with the second overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in a package for captain Jack Eichel after the expansion draft?

The Buffalo Sabres could essentially shore up their defense for the foreseeable future by adding expected No. 1 pick overall Owen Power to a blue line that already includes Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Then they could add a top 5 prospect that could be ready to play next season.

At least one NHL team exec who spoke with the National Hockey Now network sees it as possible.

Off the record:

“It’s crazy to think about, but it could really happen,” an NHL Executive told OTR this past weekend. “I know this right now. Ron Francis wants to make an immediate impact like George McPhee did (in 2017), and he can do it if he plays his cards right. I was told he’s checked in on Eichel, so take that for what it’s worth.”

Hot damn. This 2021 NHL Draft just got a lot more interesting.

2. Kings And Sens Ready To Deal

You may recall that we have been telling you to get ready for the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators to pounce this offseason. Now that the NHL offseason is almost here, we can confirm to you that both clubs are prepped and ready to wheel and deal in the next few months. The Kings own the eighth overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and the Senators own the 10th. According to numerous NHL sources, those two picks are very likely to be moved and potentially the numerous blue-chip prospects each team owns.

Off the record:

“If I’m picking winners of this draft and offseason coming up, I’m going with the Kings and the Sens,” an NHL scout told OTR on Sunday. “They are freaking primed! Watch out. With everyone pressed up against the cap and just everything that just happened this season, I don’t think there are two teams in a better position to do damage.”

With so much talent available at bargain prices, there may never be a better time to buy, though we do like the young, scrappy Ottawa culture they are building.

3. Could Avalanche Say Farewell To Their Captain…and More?

Make no mistake, in the eyes of the Colorado Avalanche, their fans, and the media like my good buddy Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now that covers them, the Avs choked away a big chance. 1215818 Boston Bruins Bruins, but it’s clear the B’s are second-guessing themselves at this point.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 Boston Bruins Cassidy: ‘No Regrets’ Sticking With Rask Over Swayman

Published 19 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Joe Haggerty

Certainly, the playoff series between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders had its share of controversy during the six games. There were the calls, or lack thereof, and Bruce Cassidy using the “New York Saints” moniker as part of the series gamesmanship.

There was also the health of B’s starting goaltender Tuukka Rask, who we all now know was playing with torn labrum in his hip that’s going to require surgery in the offseason. It certainly seemed that the 33-year-old Rask was struggling with the hip as the series wore on against the Islanders, and the .897 save percentage would attest to that along with the banged-up condition of the defensemen corps as well.

Clearly there was an argument to be made to start rookie Jeremy Swayman in the latter points of the series, particularly with a group of Bruins defenseman that were struggling to effectively move and manage the puck.

Rask himself admitted that things got more challenging from a health standpoint as the playoff starts compounded on each other, and the workload got heavier in an extended second round series.

“It was hard because I had it all year. We had to manage my workload really well during the [regular] season, so you don’t have to play a lot of games in a row. Obviously, in the playoffs, you play every other night, so it’s hard…but it never got to a point where I couldn’t play,” said Rask. “The reason I missed time during the season was because I was compensating that hip injury with my other muscles and then my back seized up and I could barely walk for a week over there.

“That’s why I missed the time. The hip itself was never the issue. It just locks up on me every once in a while, and that’s why you see me kind of limping out there. Obviously, it’s not easy to play with a labral tear as a goalie, but like I said a couple days ago, I think our training staff did a great job maintaining it and keeping me out there.”

To be fair to everybody involved, the question was never whether or not Rask was healthy enough to play. The question really was whether or not Rask was anywhere close to his normal 100 percent self while playing through an injury that required surgery, something one sees out of position players but not so much goaltenders in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It seemed that Rask wasn’t in any condition to stand on his head or steal a game or two, and Swayman had knocked the rust off after his relief appearance in Game 5 of the series. In the days following the end of the Bruins/Islanders series, Bruce Cassidy has been second-guessed more for sticking with Rask than perhaps anything else in his bench boss career with the Black and Gold.

But all that being, Cassidy said he had “no regrets” about riding with Rask after the Boston Bruins head coach consulted with Rask himself, the coaching staff, the medical staff and even the leadership group inside the Bruins dressing room.

“We were never going to run out a player who wasn’t fit to play,” said Cassidy on Monday morning in his season-ending zoom with Boston Bruins reporters. “[Rask] regularly told us he was ready to go. In Game 5 going into the second period, I thought he didn’t look as sharp. [Bruins goaltending coach] Bob [Essensa] talked to him, he said he was lacking some energy, so we said, ‘We’ll go with Swayman in the third, and then we’ll sort out Game 6.’

“He went through his routine, his maintenance. He didn’t skate a lot between games, (but) he got the morning skate in and felt ready to go. And then it comes onto me. I have to make the final call on who gives us the best chance to win, and I choose Tuukka. So, no regrets on that. I feel he gave us the best chance to win.”

As it turns out, Rask allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Game 6 loss to the Bruins and didn’t look particularly sharp, aggressive or healthy to give the B’s their best shot to win. Nobody will ever know if playing Swayman could have spurred on a different outcome in the series for the Boston 1215819 Boston Bruins “I see a fit and hopefully they feel the same,” Hall said. “We’ll let the dust settle on everything this year. I’m sure they have a lot of stuff going on and some other guys that have been here longer than me they have to worry about. Then we’ll figure that out. But hopefully we can make Boston Bruins’ offseason priorities: Jack Eichel interest, all those UFAs, a something work. That’s my goal. Hopefully we can make that happen.” goalie transition and more Rask, 34, is due for hip surgery. He wants to continue his career pending a good recovery. Rask does not want to play for any other team.

By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 14, 2021 Team doctors project he will not be ready until January or February. The Bruins will have to sign or acquire an experienced goalie to accompany

Swayman until at least then. The Bruins cannot afford to start 2021-22 The Bruins started their transition following the 2019-20 season when with Swayman and Dan Vladar. They have 15 career NHL appearances they said goodbye to Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug. The on-the-fly between them. If they start the season with Swayman and a veteran makeover may continue this offseason. partner, Vladar would have to clear waivers to report to Providence.

Tuukka Rask and David Krejci are the homegrown unrestricted free Meanwhile, Rask would approve of a reduced role upon return. agents-to-be. Sean Kuraly, Jaroslav Halak, Kevan Miller, Taylor Hall and “I’ve played enough hockey,” Rask said. “It’s getting to the point where Mike Reilly are also on expiring contracts. any way I can be helpful for these young guys, I want to do it. Who All of their futures depend on that of someone who is not even on the knows what the goaltending situation is going to look like when the roster. season starts? I’m definitely up for helping out in any shape or form I can.” Following are the Bruins’ offseason priorities as they proceed through the summer calendar: Krejci, 35, still has game, especially with Hall and Craig Smith on his flanks. Charlie Coyle, acquired partly because of his potential as a Krejci 1. In or out on Jack Eichel? successor, did not have a strong season as the No. 3 center. Jack Studnicka did not develop as well as the Bruins projected. The magnitude of an Eichel acquisition is so significant that it affects every offseason decision the Bruins must make. Will Buffalo’s ask Krejci wants to stay in Boston. But he did not sound as firm in a Boston- include David Pastrnak or Charlie McAvoy? Or, based on his health, or-retire decision as Rask. Whether he can score a multiyear deal contract and possibly limited number of suitors, would Buffalo have to elsewhere is unknown. shoot lower? Say, Jake DeBrusk as a starting point? “It’s not going to be about money,” Krejci said. “At the same time, I just Eichel carries a $10 million average annual value through 2026. Patrice can’t see myself playing for a different team. We’ll see what happens. I Bergeron currently has the team’s highest AAV for 2021-22 at $6.875 don’t even know. I talked to my parents and they asked me. I can’t even million. give them a straight answer. I just don’t know right now.”

Perhaps general manager Don Sweeney could convince counterpart Reilly was an excellent fit as a puck-moving left-shot defenseman. He to retain part of Eichel’s salary. Otherwise, the $10 million has held initial extension talks with the team. The 27-year-old remains a commitment is so steep that it could affect how the Bruins deal with all of better short-term fit on the No. 2 pairing than Jakub Zboril or Urho their pending UFAs. Vaakanainen, the defensemen with similar puck-moving skill sets. The Bruins need a sure thing on the left side. The Bruins have a need for Eichel. They need a top-line center to succeed Krejci and Bergeron, both 35. The North Chelmsford native Projection: Hall signs a seven-year, $42 million extension with the Bruins. could thrive in his home market. It would do the 24-year-old well to learn Rask remains unsigned depending on the caliber of goalie the Bruins under Bergeron for at least one season. The ex-Boston University Terrier sign or acquire. Krejci signs a one-year, $5 million extension including would join Matt Grzelcyk, his former college teammate. performance bonuses. Reilly signs a five-year, $17.5 million extension.

But Eichel was sidelined with a serious neck injury. Player and The Bruins do not re-sign Kuraly, Halak or Miller. organization disagreed on his treatment. His next playoff appearance will be his first. 5. Acquire or sign an experienced goalie

Projection: The Bruins pass because of the uncertainty of Eichel’s health. Goalies could be available via trade. Columbus could put either Joonas A $10 million player has to be a sure thing. Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins on the market. Dallas may move to make Jake Oettinger a full-time NHLer alongside Ben 2. Finalize the protection list for the expansion draft Bishop. With Thatcher Demko looking like a full-time No. 1, Vancouver could trade Braden Holtby. The debate between Trent Frederic and Nick Ritchie may take until the last minute. All the other calls should be easier to make. Chris Driedger, Philipp Grubauer, Jonathan Bernier, Petr Mrazek and Pekka Rinne are unrestricted goalies. Projection: The Bruins leave Ritchie unprotected. It does not matter. Seattle takes Connor Clifton. Projection: Driedger, 27, will be in demand because of his age and performance. Bernier, who turns 33 in August, would be less expensive. 3. Add to the prospect pool in the draft The Bruins sign the ex-Red Wings goalie to a two-year, $6 million deal. The Bruins have a 2021 first-rounder. They did not have one last season 6. Attack the DeBrusk dilemma because of the Ondrej Kase trade. It will be their second first-round pick in the last four years. The Bruins once believed the fearless and fleet-footed DeBrusk would be their homegrown version of Hall: a straight-line left winger who could They will not have a second-round selection. They traded it to Buffalo in approach 40 goals annually. the Hall transaction. Nothing went right for the 2015 first-rounder in 2020-21. He lost his job Projection: They select the best player available. In 2019, the last time as the No. 2 left winger to Ritchie. He wasn’t as good on his off side. they had a first-rounder, the Bruins drafted center John Beecher partly DeBrusk was diagnosed with COVID-19. Hall’s arrival pushed DeBrusk out of need. further down the depth chart. 4. Decide which UFAs-to-be will return The question the Bruins have to answer: Who is DeBrusk? Hall wants to stay. The feeling is mutual. The 29-year-old is an excellent When he’s rocking and rolling, the 24-year-old is an outgoing, social, fun- No. 2 left winger behind Brad Marchand, who is four years older. He loving person. He did not fare well because of COVID-19 restrictions. could serve as a bridge for the next core cluster of Pastrnak, McAvoy and Perhaps DeBrusk will perform better under normal circumstances in Jeremy Swayman. 2021-22. The Bruins would most likely hold the line at Marchand’s $6.125 million “I need to revamp some stuff,” DeBrusk said. “There were a lot of factors AAV. This might mean a concession in term for Hall. that went into this year. Things I could control and couldn’t control. I dealt with a lot of negativity as well. It’s something you have to learn as you sign up. I’m a big boy. I can handle that. Just became a little bit of an easy target. My haters had a lot to say this year.”

DeBrusk’s slump, however, extends to pre-pandemic times. Prior to the shutdown in March 2020, he was riding on the third line. This was partly because the Bruins wanted to evaluate Ritchie alongside Krejci following his arrival from Anaheim. But it was also because DeBrusk was not performing as well as expected.

If the Bruins re-sign Hall, there may not be a long-term fit for DeBrusk, especially at left wing. They would be selling low on DeBrusk if they make him available.

Projection: The Bruins trade DeBrusk for a player of a similar age and peaks-and-valleys performance or futures.

7. Negotiate with restricted free agents Brandon Carlo, Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase, Zach Senyshyn, Trent Frederic, Cameron Hughes and Callum Booth

Even after two concussions in three months, Carlo should recover following an offseason of rest and training. He projects to be a long-term fixture on the No. 2 pairing and penalty kill.

Ritchie trailed off at the end. He scored just one postseason goal, which was in Game 1 of the first round.

Kase’s future is in doubt because of his concussion history. The right winger was shut down following his one-period appearance on May 10.

Senyshyn cleared waivers at the end of training camp. He appeared in eight games and did not score.

Frederic stalled out after a good first half. He did not appear in the playoffs.

Hughes led Providence in scoring (5-16-21). He appeared in one regular- season game for the Bruins.

Projection: Carlo signs a four-year, $18 million extension. Ritchie signs a two-year, $6 million extension. Kase does not receive a qualifying offer and becomes unrestricted. Senyshyn is not qualified and becomes unrestricted. Frederic signs a two-year, $3 million extension. Hughes signs a two-year, $2 million extension. Booth signs his qualifying offer and fulfills the Bruins’ goaltending exposure requirement for Seattle.

8. Identify depth players in free agency

The Bruins could use bottom-six support and a right-shot defenseman behind McAvoy and Carlo if Clifton goes to Seattle.

Projection: The Bruins sign an inexpensive veteran right-shot defender.

9. Evaluate which prospects could make the jump in 2021-22

Cameron Hughes, Jack Studnicka, Oskar Steen, Jakub Lauko, Urho Vaakanainen and Jack Ahcan are the primary candidates to progress from Providence to Boston.

Projection: Hughes, Studnicka and Vaakanainen break camp with the varsity.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215820 Carolina Hurricanes

Top Hurricanes defenseman reportedly free to speak with other teams ahead of free agency

BY JUSTIN PELLETIER

JUNE 14, 2021 11:36 AM, UPDATED JUNE 14, 2021 11:41 AM

The offseason intrigue has already begun for the Carolina Hurricanes.

One day after signing veteran, depth defenseman Eric Gelinas, a report surfaced that the Hurricanes have allowed defenseman Dougie Hamilton to speak with other teams.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Canes have allowed the versatile defenseman to talk to other NHL teams well ahead of the official July 28 opening of free agency.

Hamilton, who turns 28 on June 17, just completed the final year of a six- year contract he originally signed with worth an average cap hit of $5.75 million per season. He was the team’s highest paid defenseman, and third-highest paid player overall behind Sebastian Aho ($8.46 million) and Jordan Staal ($6 million).

The Canes acquired Hamilton in a trade with Calgary in June of 2018. The contract originally had a no-trade clause that would have kicked in later that summer, but the trade allowed Carolina to void that piece of the deal, which they reportedly did.

As an unrestricted free agent, Hamilton is free to pursue any deal across the NHL this offseason, once the league year is officially over. By allowing Hamilton to speak to teams early, Carolina opens the possibility of a sign-and-trade scenario. It also allows Hamilton to explore whether any potential offer from the Canes might indeed be the best he’ll receive.

After a slow start to the 2021 season, Hamilton finished the regular season strong on the scoreboard, posting 10 goals and 42 points in 55 games as the team’s primary offensive defenseman. He also posted five points in 11 playoff games, but was also seen as a defensive liability in some situations, which may mitigate his value.

Hamilton is one of a handful of Canes free agents this offseason. The team doesn’t officially have a goaltender under contract yet for next season. Petr Mrazek and James Reimer are both pending UFAs, and rookie Alex Nedeljkovic is a restricted free agent.

Up front, Brock McGinn and Jordan Martinook are the highest profile unrestricted free agents. Cedric Paquette, Max McCormick and Drew Shore are the team’s other UFA forwards.

Andrei Svechnikov is an RFA this offseason, meaning the Canes have the inside track to resign the high-profile winger regardless of any other offers. The Canes will need to send a qualifying offer to Svechnikov before the start of free agency to maintain his status as an RFA, and they can mutually agree to a deal any time before then.

If Svechnikov doesn’t sign the Canes’ initial offer sheet by the start of free agency, any other team can sign him to an offer sheet, but as an RFA, Carolina would have the right to match it. This is what happened in July of 2019, when Montreal tried to poach Sebastian Aho, forcing the Canes to match their offer.

The NHL Expansion Draft also throws a wrench into the process. The Seattle Kraken have officially begun operating, and are open for business. They will select players in a July 21 NHL Expansion Draft, and the Entry Draft follows just a few days later. Free agency begins this summer on July 28, which is nearly a month later than usual due to the schedule crunch created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (19) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Saturday, June 5, 2021, in Tampa. CHRIS O'MEARA AP

News Observer LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215821 Colorado Avalanche Make no mistake, in the eyes of the Colorado Avalanche, their fans, and the media like my good buddy Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now that covers them, the Avs blew a big chance.

CHN+OTR: Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? Kraken Lurk for Trade Splash They were six minutes from a 3-0 series lead. And lost the series, 4-2.

That’s just a fact and a sick feeling that general manager Joe Sakic and his staff need to deal with in the coming weeks. What will Sakic do with Published 18 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Dan Kingerski captain Gabriel Landeskog, 28, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28? Word around the league is that if Sakic doesn’t shake

things up with a coaching change, he will with his lineup. Landeskog was The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are not good against Vegas in Round Two and was shuffled around the lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM lineup as Vegas dominated the Avs top line. Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in Feelings are still a bit salty in Colorado. exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick. Off the record: Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off The Record before, the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are “I don’t know,” a well-placed Avalanche team source told OTR on Sunday primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the when asked if Sakic is going to retain Landeskog. “He has one or two record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have (paths) …maybe both ways to shake it up, and he needs to. You let your before them. captain walk, or you fire the coach or even both. I don’t know if Joe is there with the coach, but the captain is a real possibility.” And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but Yes, the source confirmed the whispers in NHL circles that Avalanche continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado head coach Jared Bednar may have to worry about his job, too. Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that The Avalanche appears to be on the Washington Capitals’ treadmill; franchise in several ways. have great regular seasons, President’s trophies, tons of top-end talent, and early tee-times due to a division rival (*looking at you Pittsburgh 1. Could The Kracken Swallow The NHL Trade Market? Penguins). After a couple of head coaches, Washington eventually broke through with coach Barry Trotz. So, what’s to stop the Seattle Kraken from drafting Simon Evidsson or Dylan Guenther or William Eklund or Matty Beniers and then trading Sakic has a few big decisions ahead. whichever of the projected Top 5 NHL Draft Picks they select with the second overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in a package for Buffalo Colorado hockeynowLOADED: 06.15.2021 Sabres captain Jack Eichel after the expansion draft?

The Buffalo Sabres could essentially shore up their defense for the foreseeable future by adding expected No. 1 pick overall Owen Power to a blue line that already includes Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Then they could add a top 5 prospect that could be ready to play next season.

At least one NHL team exec who spoke with the National Hockey Now network sees it as possible.

Off the record:

“It’s crazy to think about, but it could really happen,” an NHL Executive told OTR. “I know this right now. Ron Francis wants to make an immediate impact like George McPhee did (in 2017), and he can do it if he plays his cards right. I was told he’s checked in on Eichel, so take that for what it’s worth.”

Hot damn. This 2021 NHL Draft just got a lot more interesting.

2. Kings And Sens Ready To Deal

You may recall that we have been telling you to get ready for the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators to pounce this offseason. Now that the NHL offseason is almost here, we can confirm to you that both clubs are prepped and ready to wheel and deal in the next few months. The Kings own the eighth overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and the Senators own the 10th. According to numerous NHL sources, those two picks are very likely to be moved and potentially the numerous blue-chip prospects each team owns.

Off the record:

Now hiring!

“If I’m picking winners of this draft and offseason coming up, I’m going with the Kings and the Sens,” an NHL scout told OTR on Sunday. “They are freaking primed! Watch out. With everyone pressed up against the cap and just everything that just happened this season, I don’t think there are two teams in a better position to do damage.”

With so much talent available at bargain prices, there may never be a better time to buy, though we do like the young, scrappy Ottawa culture they are building.

3. Could Avalanche Say Farewell To Their Captain…and More? 1215822 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets sign Swiss forward Gregory Hofmann to one-year contract

Brian Hedger

Gregory Hofmann's rights were traded by Carolina to Columbus on Feb. 13 for a 2022 seventh-round draft pick.

The time has arrived for Gregory Hofmann to find out if he’s an NHL player.

After becoming one of the top scorers in Switzerland’s National League A, the Swiss forward signed a one-year contract Monday with the Blue Jackets for next season. It’s a one-way deal that will pay Hoffmann $900,000 in the NHL or , but the goal is for the speedy 28-year old to add scoring depth for the Blue Jackets.

“He’s a goal-scorer,” said Josef Boumedienne, who scouted Hofmann in his former role as the Blue Jackets’ director of European scouting. “He can put the puck in the net. That’s in the European leagues. It’s a different story doing it in the NHL, but he’s a gifted offensive player in Switzerland. His speed is what excites you. That’s kind of what pops out right away.”

Hofmann was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round (No. 103) of the 2011 NHL draft. Unable to get his signature on a contract, the Hurricanes traded his signing rights to Columbus on Feb. 13 for the Blue Jackets’ 2022 seventh-round pick.

If Hofmann turns into a viable NHL forward, playing for less than $1 million next season, the Jackets’ return from the deal will be well worth it. They’ve struggled to score enough the past two seasons, especially the third and fourth lines, so adding Hofmann’s speed and sharpshooting could boost either one.

The same can be said about forward Justin Danforth, a playmaking forward who’s also 28 and signed one-year, one-way deal with the Jackets on May 3 worth $750,000. Danforth, the smaller of the two, racked up a lot of points the past three years in Finland (Liiga) and Russia (KHL), including 23 goals, 32 assists and 55 points in 58 games with Vityaz Podolsk this past season.

Could the Blue Jackets ice a forward line next season with Danforth centering Hofmann, who had 18-23-41 in 36 games for EV Zug?

It’s certainly a possibility. It’s also similar to the way the Blue Jackets brought former checking forward Jakob Lilja to the NHL from the Swedish Hockey League in 2019-20 — with one exception.

“Jakob scored some goals in the Swedish league, but he was more projected as a checker in the NHL,” Boumedienne said. “I’m not saying these two guys are going to play on the top two lines, but they’re a little more gifted offensively, I would say.”

The experiment with Lilja didn’t work quite the way the Jackets hoped.

He added good speed to the fourth line, but not enough scoring with two goals, three assists and five points in 37 games. Lilja also had 5-8-13 in 22 AHL games with the and was only 26, so there appeared to be untapped potential had he re-signed with the Jackets.

Instead, Lilja signed with Barys Nur-Sultan of the KHL on June 24, 2020 — while the NHL’s 2019-20 season was paused for the COVID-19 pandemic — and he impressed with 20-15-35 in 59 games.

The hope now is that Danforth and Hofmann can contribute enough in Columbus to earn new NHL deals beyond next season. Hofmann, who led Switzerland with six goals at this year’s world championship, already has one Blue Jacket pulling for him.

“He’s really competitive,” said goalie Elvis Merzlikins, who became good friends with Hofmann while they were teammates in Switzerland with HC Lugano. “He’s a great skater. He’s really quick. Explosive. He has a great shot. He’s a good friend, one of my best friends, so I’m really happy. I know that he’s really happy. He’s excited and he just can’t wait for his chance.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215823 Columbus Blue Jackets Lugano. Thurkauf has played three AHL seasons and made his NHL debut in 2019-20.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.15.2021 Blue Jackets' Jarmo Kekalainen says GMs are 'hungry' for first-round picks

Brian Hedger

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen and the Blue Jackets have nine picks in the draft, including one at fifth overall.

The Blue Jackets picked a good summer to have three first-round picks.

The 2021 draft class might not be lush with franchise-altering talent, but every draft has future stars and there are some unique factors adding juice to the value of first-round picks in the July 23-24 draft.

One of those factors is the July 21 expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken, which will likely spark numerous trade options. The COVID-19 pandemic is another factor, limiting in-person viewings of draft prospects and stagnating the NHL’s salary cap at $81.5 million. General managers are scrambling to locate find escape hatches.

“I’ve already talked with several of the general managers in the league that have protection problems in the expansion draft,” said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. “They’re very hungry for our first- round picks, I can tell you that. We could do a lot of things with them if we think that it makes sense for us now and into the future.”

The Blue Jackets have nine picks, including one at fifth overall. Kekalainen used trades to add two first-rounders from the Tampa Bay Lightning and . Those could land in the mid-to-late 20s and both are in play for possible trade scenarios. The only scenario Kekalainen nixed was swapping one of them for “a 35-year old player” for the short-term.

"There’s no offseason for the management," he said. "We’ll be going at it all summer long.”

Hofmann deal close

Multiple reports from European publications said the Blue Jackets and forward Gregory Hofmann are close to reaching an agreement on a one- year, one-way contract.

Hofmann, 28, helped EV Zug win a championship in Switzerland’s top professional league, NLA, this past season. The speedy forward also led Switzerland with six goals at the 2021 men’s world championship in Riga, Latvia.

“He’s a very good skater and he's a goal-scorer,” said Josef Boumedienne, who watched Hofmann while acting as the Blue Jackets’ director of European scouting. “It’s a different story doing it in the NHL, but he’s a gifted offensive player in Switzerland. His speed is what excites you. That’s kind of what pops out right away.”

The Blue Jackets acquired Hofmann’s signing rights Feb. 13 from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2022 seventh-round pick. The Hurricanes selected him in the fourth round (No. 103) of the 2011 draft but were unable to sign him. The contract Hofmann is reportedly close to signing is believed to be in the range of $750,000 to $850,000 and would guarantee him the full amount of salary regardless of whether he plays in the NHL or American Hockey League.

He would also need to clear waivers for an AHL assignment.

Other than acquiring Hofmann’s signing rights, the situation mirrors the Jackets’ signing of Justin Danforth, another speedy, undersized 28-year old forward who excelled in Europe. Danforth, a Canadian, signed a one- year, one-way contract worth $750,000 with Columbus on May 3 and helped Canada win a gold medal at the world championship.

Thurkauf staying put

It appears forward Calvin Thurkauf will remain in Switzerland.

Rather than playing in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, Thurkauf, 23, was teammates with Hoffman last season with EV Zug. That was a loan agreement. A Swiss publication is now reporting that Thurkauf, the Blue Jackets’ seventh-round pick in 2016 (No. 185), has signed with HC 1215824 Columbus Blue Jackets That said, the smart play isn’t hard to read. The Jackets have bottomed out, or are in the process of bottoming out. It’s all about leveraging assets for futures now, like with Jones. It's a longer game now.

Michael Arace: How can Blue Jackets truly contend? A major rebuild is What is Kekalainen's vision? one way to do it Is there a player he absolutely loves — and can he get him?

My frame of reference here is Jim Rutherford, who won one Stanley Cup Michael Arace with the Carolina Hurricanes and two with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Way back when, Rutherford had to trade Brendan Shanahan — and he got a big, young center, Keith Primeau, in return. The pursuit did not end there.

Blue Jackets president John Davidson, left, and general manager Jarmo The guy Rutherford chased and chased for years and years was Rod Kekalainen have some big decisions to make this summer about how to Brind’Amour, another hard-nosed, two-way center. Rutherford had to rebuild the team. have him. Ultimately, he flipped Primeau for Brind’Amour, who was a cornerstone of a 2002 Cup finalist and a 2006 Cup champion. Friday morning, when was introduced as the next coach of the Blue Jackets, the news conference was attended by a group of Does Kekalainen, when he dreams, see a certain center — and can he players. Among them were Cam Atkinson, Gus Nyquist, Patrik Laine, get him? Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins. They were there to show support for their new coach and because, of course, they love the media. I'd keep Bjorkstrand and Merzlikins, let Atkinson and Jenner make their own call — and let it be known throughout the league that anyone else Seth Jones wasn’t there. Symbolic? Maybe Jones wants to lay low right could be had for the right price. But that's me. What players do you love? now, or maybe he’s just out-of-state. Reputedly, he’s a staunch supporter They don't have to be All-Stars. They have to be guys who fit, exquisitely, of Larsen, for whatever that’s worth. the puzzle you are assembling. Your Stanley Cup plan.

Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Zach Werenski weren’t there, The Jackets have nine picks, including three first-rounders, in the either. (Vacationing, presumably.) Like Jones, they were part of a upcoming draft (July 23-24). They have deals they can cut prior to the “leadership group” that sat down with general manager Jarmo expansion draft. (“Want a late-first-round pick? We can help shield you Kekalainen in May. They talked about the team’s future. Certainly, from Seattle. Just give us this 20-year-old defenseman we love.”) Larsen’s name came up then, a month ago. They have assets to market, beginning with Jones. Does Werenski still This sort of mingling of players with management — in Friday’s case, on want to be here? If not ... a public stage — is good to see if you are a Blue Jackets fan. There needs to be a healthier relationship between the locker room and the With vision, strategy and audacity, a ground-up rebuild can be a game- front office. Presenting a united front is good for business, especially if it's changer in Columbus. It might take a year or more, but a true Cup not phony. contender can be assembled. And that is when the culture in Columbus changes truly. Those in whom much has been invested need to feel vested. That doesn’t mean players get to veto personnel transactions, or that fans get Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.15.2021 to run the power play (insert your own Larsen joke here). It’s just to say that a franchise is healthier when everyone feels they're pulling in the same direction. Even the Crew know this.

We can spend hours parsing through the cases of every player who has walked out the door since the Jackets loaded up to win a playoff round. Every situation is different, but the overarching point is this: If more players believed they had a chance to win a Stanley Cup in Columbus, more talent would have been retained and the Blue Jackets would be in a much better place than they are today.

Case in point: Recently, word came that Jones, the All-Star defenseman and next-captain material, has decided he will test the free-agent market in 2022 rather than sign a contract extension. Jones is not saying he can make more money elsewhere, because he probably can’t. What he is saying is that he thinks that, over the next nine years, he has a better chance of winning somewhere else. Think about that.

It follows, then, that Jones has to be traded. Unless he has a change of heart, he is an asset that has to be leveraged — and sooner rather than later, for optimum return. Period.

If that happens — and it probably will — then a key piece of a “reload” or “reset,” or whatever management wants to call it, is being removed. And if it is, then Columbus is a less attractive place for high-end players who can’t see a quick turnaround happening here.

Kekalainen gently pushed back at this notion Friday:

“We’ve talked about the expectations, and we’ve talked about a little bit of a reset (beginning) at the trade deadline (when Nick Foligno and David Savard were traded for future assets). So, we’re going to grow.

“We’re going to grow together with a new coach. And we’re going to grow as an organization. I think we’ll get a lot of internal growth, and we’re going to have an exciting summer ahead of us to be better once the season starts. But we expect to compete to make the playoffs, and once you make the playoffs, you compete to win the Stanley Cup.”

Playoffs? Did he say playoffs? One supposes it’s possible. Kekalainen has a lot of faith in the young players he has drafted and developed, or acquired. There is a new voice in Larsen. Maybe they can aspire to leap from bad to mediocre. 1215825 Detroit Red Wings attribute these days. Guenther only played 12 games this season, but scouts are sold on his ability. Anaheim at No. 3, in need of offense, could be a fit.

Who could Red Wings pick at No. 6 in NHL Entry Draft? Here are 9 ► Luke Hughes, defenseman, 6-2, 184, U.S. National Team possibilities Development Program: The third Hughes brother (after Quinn and Jack) has a chance to be there at No. 6, although New Jersey at No. 4, to play with Jack, seems like a natural.

TED KULFAN ► Kent Johnson, center, 6-1, 167, Michigan: The third UM player expected to go in the top 5 to 10 picks, Johnson had 27 points in 26

games and is effective at center or wing. Johnson needs to grow Detroit — The Red Wings feel good about where they are picking in the physically, but the puck skills are elite. NHL Entry Draft. ► Chaz Lucius, center, 6-foot, 183, NTDP: Lucius scored 13 goals in 13 They’ll pick sixth in the first round — and again at No. 22, thanks to the games, and displayed a terrific shot that might be one of the most Anthony Mantha trade to Washington — when the draft takes place accurate in the draft. Lucius’ stock is reportedly rising on some draft virtually July 23-24. boards.

The Wings have had practice picking sixth, as this will be the third time in ► Mason McTavish, center, 6-foot-2, 207, Peterborough (OHL): four years they’ll select sixth overall. In 2018, the Wings selected forward McTavish is another player whose stock is skyrocketing after a strong Filip Zadina at No. 6, and followed that by taking Moritz Seider at No. 6 in finish to his season. McTavish plays with some grit, and scouts like his 2019. character, which make McTavish a lock to be quickly picked.

Next month, general manager feels there will be a pool of ► Jesper Wallstedt, goaltender, 6-3, 214, Lulea (Sweden): The Wings good players to choose from again. need to bolster the goaltending in their organization, and many scouts feel Wallstedt is worth a selection this high in the draft. Wallstedt had a "We'll get a good prospect," Yzerman said at the conclusion of the draft .908 save percentage playing in Sweden’s men league, and is technically lottery. "We're excited about the possibilities that will be there. More so sound in net. this year than any other year, you're going to have vastly different lists. This one's going to be, maybe there will be more surprises than ever. Detroit News LOADED: 06.15.2021

"Sitting at six, there's multiple players we think will be there and we'll be excited about the pick."

This draft has been impacted greatly by the pandemic, with many leagues in North America and Europe either being canceled or shortened.

In turn, scouts had limited opportunities to scout potential draft picks and teams’ opinions are likely to vary.

The Wings aren’t likely to focus on a given position with the sixth pick.

“Our plan will be to pick the best prospect on the board,” Yzerman said. “I don’t think we’re in a position with the sixth pick to say we definitely need this position. “We do need help in every area and the reality is whoever we pick, in one, two, three years when they’re ready to play, things can change.”

So who could be available for the Wings with the sixth pick overall?

Two Michigan players, defenseman Owen Power and forward Matthew Beniers, aren’t likely to be available.

Power is expected to go No. 1 overall, and there are few, if any, mock drafts who feel it'll be anyone but Power going to Buffalo with the first pick overall.

Beniers is likely to be picked in the top three or four picks, with expansion Seattle a very real possibility of making him the organization's first draft pick at No. 2 overall.

Everyone else could rise or fall, based on a particular team’s thoughts.

Here are players who could be there for the Wings to select, in alphabetical order:

► Brandt Clarke, defenseman, 6-2, 185 pounds, Barrie (OHL): One of the best puck-rushing defensemen in this class, Clarke played in a Slovakian pro league with the OHL season canceled. Clarke had six goals and seven assists in 24 games and didn’t look out of place.

► Simon Edvinsson, defenseman, 6-5, 207, Frolunda (Sweden): Some scouts aren't completely convinced, but Edvinsson has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman because they’re big Swedes who are mobile and jumpstart a team offensively. Columbus might be a fit at pick No. 5.

► William Eklund, left wing, 5-10, 176, Djurgardens (Sweden): Several respected mock drafts have the Wings taking Eklund, and it’s entirely possible. NHL central scouting as Eklund as its No. 1 international skater, with scouts impressed by his speed, puckhandling and vision.

►Dylan Guenther, right wing, 6-1, 175, Edmonton (WHL): Guenther knows and understands how to score goals, and that’s a valuable 1215826 Detroit Red Wings Worst all-time No. 6 picks 1. Brian Finley, Nashville, 1999: A great example of how risky it is to

select a goaltender this high. It is much more difficult to project how they Six best, worst No. 6 NHL draft picks of all-time will fare in the NHL. Finley appeared in only four NHL games before retiring in 2007 and, according to The Toronto Star, has been a York Regional Police Officer since 2009.

Posted Jun 07, 2021 2. Scott Scissons, N.Y. Islanders, 1990: This center appeared in only three NHL games (including a playoff game) before retiring in 1995 at By Ansar Khan age 23. He was hampered by wrist and shoulder injuries during his brief career.

The list of sixth overall picks in the past 50 NHL entry drafts includes Hall 3. Daniel Tkaczuk, Calgary, 1997: After producing 11 points in his first 19 of Famers and players whose careers consisted of only a handful of games in 2000-01, this center appeared on his way to a decent NHL games. career. But he was traded to St. Louis after the season and never played another NHL game. He spent the next 10 seasons with 12 different The Detroit Red Wings will select sixth during the first round of the draft teams in the AHL, ECHL, Finland, Germany, Italy and England. on July 23. Then it will take a few years to develop that player and possibly many more to determine how successful he will be at hockey’s 4. Nikita Filatov, Columbus, 2008: One scouting service described Filatov highest level. as “The next best thing to Steven Stamkos.” But this left wing appeared in only 53 games in parts of four seasons with Columbus and Ottawa (six This is the third time in four years the Red Wings will pick sixth. That is goals, eight assists) before giving up on the NHL and returning to Russia. where they took Filip Zadina in 2018 and Moritz Seider in 2019. He spent eight mostly undistinguished seasons with nine different clubs in the KHL before retiring in 2019. Here is a look at the six best and six worst No. 6 picks of all-time. This excludes recent drafts, as time will tell on those players, as well as drafts 5. Ron Jones, Boston, 1971: Defenseman appeared in 54 games (one prior to 1970, when it wasn’t uncommon for many high picks to never goal, four assists) over parts of five seasons with Boston, Pittsburgh and reach the NHL. Washington before retiring in 1977, just six years after being drafted.

Best all-time No. 6 picks 6. Adam Bennett, Chicago, 1989: A big defenseman (6-4, 206) who played only 69 games in three seasons with Chicago and Edmonton 1. Peter Forsberg, Philadelphia, 1991: An immensely talented center who (three goals, eight assists) before retiring in 1996. He is the GM and averaged 1.25 points per game in the regular season and 1.13 points per coach at the Clearwater Prep Hockey Academy in Clearwater, Fl. game in the playoffs. Injuries limited him to 708 NHL games. He was the centerpiece of the blockbuster 1992 Eric Lindros trade between Quebec Michigan Live LOADED: 06.15.2021 and Philadelphia a year after being drafted. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year with the Nordiques in 1995, as well as the Art Ross (scoring leader) and Hart (MVP) Trophies with Colorado in 2003 and two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche. He also scored the winning goal in a shootout for Sweden in the 1994 Olympic gold-medal game.

2. Paul Coffey, Edmonton, 1980: He was the second-highest scoring defenseman in league history (behind ) with 1,531 points in the regular season and averaged slightly more than a point a game in 194 playoff games (196 points). A three-time Norris Trophy winner, including 1995 with the Red Wings, Coffey had three consecutive seasons with more than 120 points with the powerful Edmonton teams of the 1980s and two more 100-point seasons with Pittsburgh. He was part of four Stanley Cup-championship clubs, three in Edmonton and one in Pittsburgh.

3. Vincent Damphousse, Toronto, 1987: He didn’t win any major individual trophies, never scored more than 40 goals in a season and never reached the 100-point mark, but he was a consistent scorer over 18 seasons, finishing with 432 goals and 1,205 points. He led Montreal in playoff goals (11) and points (23) during the Canadiens’ 1993 Stanley Cup-title run. He was MVP of the 1991 All-Star Game, when he scored four goals, a record he shares with, among others, and Mario Lemieux.

4. , Chicago, 1977: He spent the first 14 seasons of his 16- year career with the Blackhawks and won the Norris Trophy in 1982 after collecting 39 goals and 85 points. He is Chicago’s all-time scoring leader among defensemen and an eight-time All-Star. The first captain in San Jose Sharks history, he has been their general manager since 2003, the second-longest tenure in the league with the same team behind Nashville’s .

5. Phil Housley, Buffalo, 1982: Ranks fourth in goals (338) and points (1,232) on the career list for defensemen. Housley ranks second all-time in points among American-born players (behind Mike Modano). He played for nine different teams during his 21-year career, only two that advanced past the first round of the playoffs. He was a minus player in 13 seasons and his career minus-53 rating is the worst among the NHL’s top 25 highest-scoring defensemen.

6. Ryan Smyth, Edmonton, 1994: He reached 70 points only once during his 19-year career but was a consistent scorer, notching more than 20 goals 11 times due in large part to his net-front game. Like Housley, Smyth played on a lot of bad-to-mediocre teams, mostly in Edmonton, and advanced past the first round of the playoffs only four times. 1215827 One of the greatest signings in the cap era was Holland’s steal of Marian Hossa from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2008. After having defeated Hossa and the Penguins in the 2008 Stanley Cup final, Holland signed Hossa away from the Pens on a one-year big-money deal. Lowetide: How Ken Holland’s transaction history could foreshadow the Unfortunately, Detroit lost in a close final and Hossa moved on to the Oilers summer to come (where he would win three Stanley Cups).

In the salary cap era with Detroit, Holland signed 18 substantial free agents, including major contributors Hossa, Bertuzzi, Brian Rafalski and By Allan Mitchell Jun 14, 2021 Daniel Alfredsson. Getting Alfredsson was one of the major shock signings of the decade, as the expectation was the long-time Ottawa Senators winger would finish his career there. Many of Ken Holland’s best moves as an NHL general manager have involved the procurement of famous players via free agency. But until this Not all of the contracts signed with free agents worked out 2005-19. summer, Holland hasn’t been free to shop for Edmonton in the famous Some produced a large drag on the cap, notably Stephen Weiss. unrestricted free agency sections due to lack of cap room. Holland also adopted a managerial wrinkle employed while Holland pursued goaltender Jacob Markstrom last offseason before general manager of the Oilers in the 1980s: signing former first-round losing out to the because he couldn’t put together a picks who were meandering in the middle portions of their careers. The competitive package for the veteran goalie with so much money already big hit for Holland was Daniel Cleary, former Oilers winger, who had a on the books. long productive career with Detroit after reaching a career crossroads.

This year? Holland is flush with money and focused on adding big talent James Neal (Perry Nelson / USA Today) for the Oilers. Holland’s free-agent signings are the stuff of legend and Holland’s Oilers trades and free-agent signings are the equal of his big trades over a career approaching 25 summers in the general manager’s chair. Holland has been active in both areas since arriving in Edmonton. He spent assets at his first deadline on Mike Green and Andreas Athanasiou When Holland can afford to make moves, is there a gap between trade and dealt Milan Lucic for James Neal. At this year’s deadline, he added and free agency? Have things changed since the cap era began? Let’s defender Dmitry Kulikov. have a look. An irony about his Edmonton trades is that only the Neal-Lucic trade Holland’s trades before the salary cap happened in the offseason among significant transactions. Ken Holland’s first trade came in August of 1997 as he sent Mike Vernon Holland has been focused on acquiring free agents as Oilers general to the San Jose Sharks for a pair of second-round selections. In the manager, but most of his work has been in the bargain aisles. He signed seven years after he became GM and did business without a salary cap, Mike Smith (twice), along with Tyson Barrie and Dominik Kahun. Holland made 12 trades involving a feature player (top-six forward, top- four defenceman, starting goalie, No. 3 centre) or a big contract. In the three splits described above, we observe that Holland has adjusted since entering the cap era. He’s made fewer free agent signings and The biggest deals included acquiring Chris Chelios from the Chicago fewer trades. Here we see the impact of focusing on draft and Blackhawks and Dominik Hasek from the Buffalo Sabres. development, a league-wide adjustment after the 2004-05 lockout. Entry- Holland’s early free agency level deals and players making $1 million or less per season became more common. The last signing of note by Detroit before Holland took over was Brent Gilchrist in 1997. A year later, Holland signed free agent Uwe Krupp to a AVERAGE ANNUAL TRANSACTIONS FA SIGNINGS deal that didn’t work out as anyone hoped. The veteran played 30 games TRADES over four seasons and the organization’s dream of having the most Detroit pre-cap (seven years) fearsome defence in the NHL was derailed. 10 (1.43) From the time he took over until the lockout season, Holland’s Red Wings were a powerhouse in free agency. I count 10 feature free agents 12 (1.71) in seven years, including impact players Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Curtis Joseph. Detroit post-cap (14 years)

Two takeaways from his early free-agent years: Holland spent heavily 12 (0.86) (there was no cap) on the best available players, and he also addressed 18 (1.29) depth needs with free agents. Edmonton (two years) His 12 trades and 10 signings over seven years equals three moves per year, divided about equally between trades and free agency. All of those 4(2.00) transactions took place before the arrival of the salary cap. 4 (2.00) Detroit trades after the cap Holland has been busy and the system has been productive in providing Holland made 12 trades involving feature players with the Red Wings value contracts. The club has elevated AHL prospects Ethan Bear, Kailer after the salary cap was introduced for the 2005-06 season. Detroit Yamamoto, Caleb Jones, Evan Bouchard and others, while convincing acquired five men, and (once winning became impossible due to roster disgruntled winger Jesse Puljujarvi to return from Finland. erosion) sent away seven players to contending teams. Edmonton’s general manager didn’t have a lot of cap money to use in Among those acquisitions were winger Todd Bertuzzi from the free agency in 2019 and 2020’s offseasons. He spent plenty around the Vancouver Canucks and Kyle Quincey from the Tampa Bay Lightning (he $1 million per player total but will be able to go shopping for big names in was reacquired in exchange for a first-round pick). the summer of 2021.

He sent away Thomas Vanek to Florida, Tomas Tatar to Vegas and What’s ahead? Gustav Nyqvist to San Jose, among others. Holland was beyond aggressive before the cap, spending big dollars on Motown free agency from 2005 on Hull and others in the wild days of extreme gaps in team cap totals. A large portion of his roster was made up of big-name free agents procured The cap impacted the “have” teams and Holland’s Red Wings were one for just money. of the favourite destinations under the old system. The DRW would still be active, but could the team bring the top-end free agents like Hull to Once the cap arrived, Holland remained aggressive in free agency (and Detroit? spent big money, $7.45 million on Hossa’s deal in 2008-09 via PuckPedia) but was also aware of the importance of entry-level deals. About a dozen years ago, the Red Wings stopped being a serious annual threat to win the Stanley Cup. After losing in the finals in 2009, the team made it to the second round three times in four years, exited in the first rounds for three years after, and haven’t been to the playoffs since.

Since then, five years out of the playoffs have GM Steve Yzerman rebuilding the roster (and having draft success).

For Holland, the first two Edmonton seasons were quiet due to the Oilers being so close to the cap. Tyson Barrie signed a free-agent deal at well under market value, and Smith took another bonus-laden deal to return.

Holland couldn’t shop in the expensive aisles, despite the serious bid for Markstrom.

The summer of 2021

According to PuckPedia, Holland has about $23 million in cap room. The general manager mentioned a buyout was possible at his year-end avail, so that number could increase.

The re-signings of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Smith and Adam Larsson seem likely based on Holland’s end-of-season media discussion. That’s as much as half of the $23 million available, with RFA Kailer Yamamoto still to sign.

If Holland hits the market with $16 to $18 million (assuming a buyout for James Neal or Mikko Koskinen) and a shopping list that includes a top- six left winger, a No. 3 centre and a goalie upgrade, how much can he spend on his top free-agent target?

Oilers fans see names like Gabriel Landeskog, David Krejci and Philipp Grubauer at the top of each spot on the depth chart where the club has an opening. Even with more cap room than in memory, those names appear out of reach.

The general manager will make his list and check down as he did a year ago with Markstrom and then Smith.

Does Holland see a Hossa out there? We wait.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215828 Florida Panthers They were six minutes from a 3-0 series lead. And lost the series, 4-2. That’s just a fact and a sick feeling that general manager Joe Sakic and

his staff need to deal with in the coming weeks. What will Sakic do with OTR: Kraken Lurking for Trade Splash, Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? | captain Gabriel Landeskog, 28, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28? Word around the league is that if Sakic doesn’t shake things up with a coaching change, he will with his lineup. Landeskog was not good against Vegas in Round Two and was shuffled around the Published 18 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Jimmy Murphy lineup as Vegas dominated the Avs top line.

Feelings are still a bit salty in Colorado. The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are Off the record: lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in “I don’t know,” a well-placed Avalanche team source told OTR on Sunday exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick. when asked if Sakic is going to retain Landeskog. “He has one or two (paths) …maybe both ways to shake it up, and he needs to. You let your Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off captain walk, or you fire the coach or even both. I don’t know if Joe is The Record before, the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are there with the coach, but the captain is a real possibility.” primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have Yes, the source confirmed the whispers in NHL circles that Avalanche before them. head coach Jared Bednar may have to worry about his job, too.

And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not The Avalanche appears to be on the Washington Capitals’ treadmill; making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but have great regular seasons, President’s trophies, tons of top-end talent, continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado and early tee-times due to a division rival (*looking at you Pittsburgh Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? Penguins). After a couple of head coaches, Washington eventually broke OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that through with coach Barry Trotz. franchise in several ways. Sakic has a few big decisions ahead. 1. Could The Kracken Swallow The NHL Trade Market? Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 So, what’s to stop the Seattle Kraken from drafting Simon Evidsson or Dylan Guenther or William Eklund or Matty Beniers and then trading whichever of the projected Top 5 NHL Draft Picks they select with the second overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in a package for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel after the expansion draft?

The Buffalo Sabres could essentially shore up their defense for the foreseeable future by adding expected No. 1 pick overall Owen Power to a blue line that already includes Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Then they could add a top 5 prospect that could be ready to play next season.

At least one NHL team exec who spoke with the National Hockey Now network sees it as possible.

Off the record:

“It’s crazy to think about, but it could really happen,” an NHL Executive told OTR this past weekend. “I know this right now. Ron Francis wants to make an immediate impact like George McPhee did (in 2017), and he can do it if he plays his cards right. I was told he’s checked in on Eichel, so take that for what it’s worth.”

Hot damn. This 2021 NHL Draft just got a lot more interesting.

2. Kings And Sens Ready To Deal

You may recall that we have been telling you to get ready for the Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators to pounce this offseason. Now that the NHL offseason is almost here, we can confirm to you that both clubs are prepped and ready to wheel and deal in the next few months. The Kings own the eighth overall pick at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and the Senators own the 10th. According to numerous NHL sources, those two picks are very likely to be moved and potentially the numerous blue-chip prospects each team owns.

Off the record:

“If I’m picking winners of this draft and offseason coming up, I’m going with the Kings and the Sens,” an NHL scout told OTR on Sunday. “They are freaking primed! Watch out. With everyone pressed up against the cap and just everything that just happened this season, I don’t think there are two teams in a better position to do damage.”

With so much talent available at bargain prices, there may never be a better time to buy, though we do like the young, scrappy Ottawa culture they are building.

3. Could Avalanche Say Farewell To Their Captain…and More?

Make no mistake, in the eyes of the Colorado Avalanche, their fans, and the media like my good buddy Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now that covers them, the Avs choked away a big chance. 1215829 Los Angeles Kings produced at one of the highest rates of his NHL career. His six power- play goals were tied for the most in the NHL by a defenseman and he was among the league leaders in shot attempts on the PP. Offensively as a whole, Doughty ranked inside the Top 10 in several categories for the Kings Seasons In Review – Drew Doughty majority of the season, before eventually landing just outside.

Looking at all of this within the lens of context, Doughty had a strong effort, while playing with a rookie defenseman, albeit an impressive one, By Zach Dooley15 hours ago as his partner for nearly the entirety of the season. Doughty and Mikey Anderson formed an effective top pairing, which showcased Doughty’s ability to make those around him better, as Anderson spoke to several The seasons in review roll on! times throughout the course of the season. It also reaffirmed Doughty’s leadership ability, how he was able to work with some of the younger Last week, we examined the organization’s two goaltenders, which can defensemen around him and play effectively. be found here for Cal Petersen and Jonathan Quick. This week, we take a look at the right-shot defensemen, starting today with Drew Doughty. Finally, it’s important to recognize certain intangibles that Doughty brings. There’s clearly no shortage of passion in Doughty, even at this stage in By most accounts, Drew Doughty had a good season. Starting with his his career, with a desire to win outweighing personal accomplishments. extended time off, between the cut-short 2019-20 and delayed 2020-21, Doughty’s honesty about where the team stood at certain points in the Doughty had a great summer, which showed up on the ice throughout season, after certain games, was commendable and seemed to have the the season. After what many called a pair of down years, Doughty had a pulse of those watching in many ways. In a world that often lacks that, big 2020-21 campaign. Up through the final published edition, Doughty Doughty remains refreshing in that area. was mentioned as a Norris contender from the West Division in NHL.com’s Trophy Tracker. Entering the season, many might have had Trending Down – Doughty’s plus/minus was a topic of debate over the Doughty omitted from a projected Team Canada Olympic roster. Now, last two seasons, and while the Kings were in the hunt, it hovered right it’d be tough to find one without him. around even. The last ten games of the season, however, Doughty was a -12, with just one point. Take that statistic as you will and put it into the “He’s had an outstanding season, a really, really good season in my context of the Kings playing pretty poorly as a group, overall, across that mind, on both sides of the puck,” Todd McLellan said of his number-one ten-game sample size. Those ten games came with the Kings all but out defenseman. “I know that he doesn’t want to give it away in the last 5,6 of playoff contention, with Doughty’s minutes slightly reduced. games here, he wants to be a high-end performer. There’s still eyes on him for that special event that’s going to happen next winter, I think he Looking at his offensive production, by his own admission, it’s the end of has a great chance of playing on that team, so he wants to finish the the rink he focuses on second. But over the last three seasons, Doughty season well and we want to use him the way we’ve always used him.” has scored just one goal at 5-on-5. This season, his power-play production was excellent, and his assists at even-strength were towards Drew Doughty the higher end of his career. But, as the Kings look to drive more offense NHL Statline – 56 games played, 8 goals, 26 assists, -14 rating, 26 from 5-on-5 play, Doughty and the rest of the defensemen will be penalty minutes counted on to contribute in that area moving forward.

Possession Metrics (Relative To Without) – CF% – 50.6% (+4.2%), SCF It’s tough to find a ton of glaring flaws with Doughty’s season on the ice, – 48.9% (+6.6%), HDCF – 50.8% (+8.7%) so we’ll add in his postseason comments here. Doughty’s competitive fire continues to burn, and this season has shown that he’s still got a lot to A lot of plus signs for Doughty in those metrics, which show how much of give, and wants to see the Kings improved to help maximize the window a standout he was in most areas. Doughty nearly matched last season’s of his and Anze Kopitar’s productive years. This is, by so many accounts, raw production in 11 fewer games, falling just one point shy in the an important offseason for the Kings, and their star defenseman made it shortened season, and that’s when you consider he had just one point clear that he’d like improvements made to the group entering the fall, from his final 10, after the Kings were all but eliminated. At .61 points- going as far as to say he wouldn’t be happy to come back in the fall per-game, Doughty posted the fourth-best offensive season of his career, without those improvements. while his possession metrics were improved across the board from the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. 2021-22 Status – Doughty is the longest contracted member of the Kings and has perhaps the most cemented role on the 2021-22 roster. Trending Up – You could measure it by any number of factors, but Doughty was back in a big way this season. With a contract that runs through 2027, a full no-movement clause and his high level of play from the season that was, you can write number 8 in No Kings defenseman posted stronger metrics in terms of shot attempts, pen on the right side of the Kings top pairing come training camp in the scoring chances and high-danger chances than Doughty did this season. fall.

But that’s not necessarily the story, right? Doughty is paid as the Kings LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.15.2021 number one defenseman, to perform as the Kings number one defenseman, and his numbers should outrank his teammates. It was how much he set himself apart this season, however, that was impressive.

Starting on the defensive side of the puck, among defensemen that logged 1,000 or more 5-on-5 minutes this season, Doughty ranked fourth in fewest shot attempts conceded per 60 minutes. When compared relative to his teammates, his numbers look even stronger. Just two defensemen across the NHL with at least 40 games played had a better Corsi Against, relative to their teammates, than Doughty. Scoring chances against? He ranked sixth and the same can be said for high- danger chances. It’s no secret that Doughty takes pride in the defensive side of his game, and his shot suppression numbers this season were excellent.

“My defensive game is my most proud attribute, especially this season, I think I’ve been really good in that department,” Doughty said around the midway mark of the season. “I know I’m getting points, you see the recognition, but my defensive game is my specialty, and I take a lot of pride in that.”

Offensively, Doughty was good. He was slightly above the team average in all three aforementioned categories for, as he put together one of his best offensive seasons from a production standpoint. Running a power play that was, for the first half of the season, extremely effective, Doughty 1215830 Montreal Canadiens He received a standing ovation as he turned away desperate late attempts by the Canadiens and fans chanted his name in the final minute.

Canadiens drop Game One to Golden Knights in Stanley Cup semi-final “I tried to do my job and tried to keep the score close and got lucky here series and there,” Fleury said.

Price, who carried the Canadiens on his back over the first two rounds, made some spectacular saves as he stopped 26 of 30 shots. On his best Marty Klinkenberg 6/15/2021 of the game, he reached above his head as he fell face-first onto the ice to take away an all-but-certain goal by .

“To me I don’t feel like I’m playing against Carey,” Fleury said. “I’ve got to Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens allows a goal to Alec worry about the shooters and the guys trying to score on me.” Martinez (not pictured) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Stanley Cup Semifinals during the 2021 The Canadiens looked anything but intimidated by their highly favoured Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2021 in , opponent at the start. They dominated the action for chunks of the first Nevada. period.

The Montreal Canadiens lost for the first time in eight games on Monday Fleury was forced to make a save on Brendan Gallagher on a goal- night and now face an uphill battle in their Stanley Cup semi-final against mouth scramble just 58 seconds into the game, then Alex Romanov, a the Golden Knights. 21-year-old rookie playing in place of the injured Jeff Petry, sent Vegas defenceman Alex Pietrangelo reeling with a hard check. Vegas got goals from defencemen Shea Theodore, Alec Martinez and Nick Holden and another from centre Mattias Janmark in the 4-1 victory As the period went on, Fleury stopped Gallagher in the crease again, in the first game of the best-of-seven series before Wayne Newton and a stopped Caufield on a wrist shot from 13 feet, then he wielded his blocker sellout crowd of more than 18,000 spectators at T-Mobile Arena. Game 2 to thwart Josh Anderson from in close. will be played on Wednesday night, again in the desert. Despite being outplayed, the Golden Knights got on the board first when Montreal had not trailed nor suffered a defeat since Game 5 of its first- Theodore beat Price with 10:45 remaining. The shot from 59 feet out was round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs but fell behind in the first the first goal of the playoffs for the Vegas defenceman after six assists in period when Theodore knuckled a slap shot into the corner of the net the 13 previous postseason games. past Carey Price. Martinez rifled home another one-timer early in the second when Price committed to stopping a shot in the slot by Theodore. “It was a great start,” Price said. “We came out firing. They grabbed the Instead, the latter snapped a crisp pass to Martinez, who found the mark momentum in the second, but we showed in the first that we can play from the right side of the wide-open net. with them.”

That stood up as the game-winner. The Canadiens were called for five penalties, which set them back. It also limited the time that Caufield, who showed a flair for the dramatic “I was going to shoot it, but [Alec] was yelling at me pretty good,” when he was called up at the end of the regular season, was on the ice. Theodore said. “He was wide open too, so that helped.” His parents leaped to their feet to celebrate his first playoff goal. They Rookie Cole Caufield scored his first goal of the postseason on a power had been unable to see him play until now due to restrictions caused by play with 7:55 left in the second to cut the Canadiens’ deficit to 2-1, but COVID-19. Janmark deflected in a shot by Alex Tuch only 53 seconds later so Vegas regained a two-goal advantage. The final goal by Holden came with 9:54 “It was special to have them at the game, and even just to be in the same remaining in the third period. country as them,” Caufield said. “It was a special feeling to score, but it was not the result we wanted.” Vegas got seven points from its defensive corps and did its best to distract Price with traffic in front of him for most of the night. Globe And Mail LOADED: 06.15.2021

“It’s playoff hockey,” Price said. “They are a big-body team, and they have been here before.”

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Golden Knights, who won a hard- fought seven-game series in the first round over the and then dispatched with the Colorado Avalanche in six in the second. Vegas is playing in the semi-finals for the third time since its inaugural season in 2017-18. It lost in the Stanley Cup final in 2018 and the Western Conference final last year.

Montreal was the last-ranked team among the 16 to reach the playoffs but stormed back after losing three of the first four games to Toronto and then swept the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The Canadiens were 5-1 on the road this postseason before Monday’s contest, but were worn down by the Golden Knights on a blazing Nevada night. It was 42 degrees when the puck was dropped.

The game was the Canadiens’ first in the United States since March 7, 2020, when they played at the Florida Panthers, and first with more than 2,500 fans in attendance since March 10, 2020, when they played host to the Nashville Predators before 21,021 at Montreal’s . Due to divisional realignments, the last time they had played Vegas was Jan. 18, 2020.

Montreal is in the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and now has its work cut out. Teams that lose Game 1 in best-of-seven series go on to lose 69 per cent of the time.

Marc-André Fleury recorded 28 saves in the net for Vegas. The 36-year- old is the league’s active leader in playoff wins with 90 and games played with 159. He won Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016 and 2017 before he was exposed in the expansion draft. 1215831 Montreal Canadiens

Golden Knights take Game 1 with 4-1 win over Canadiens

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Jun 15, 2021 • 2 hours ago

The Vegas defence corps produced three goals to lead the Golden Knights to a 4-1 win over the Canadiens in the opening game of their best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinal Monday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

The Canadiens hadn’t trailed since Game 4 of the Toronto series but that streak ended when Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore opened the scoring at 9:15 of the first period. That ended a run of 437 minutes and eight seconds without trailing. It’s the second-longest playoff streak in history behind the 1960 Canadiens, who went 488 minutes without trailing as they swept Chicago and Toronto to win the Cup.

Chandler Stephenson won a faceoff against Nick Suzuki in the Montreal zone and Theodore scored on a one-timer. The shot was measured at 100.8 miles an hour.

The Canadiens killed off back-to-back penalties at the end of the first period and the beginning of the second. It was an impressive effort because the players in the penalty box were Ben Chiarot and Phil Danault, two of the team’s more reliable penalty killers.

But Theodore made the key play as the Golden Knights took a 2-0 lead only 11 seconds after Chiarot returned to the ice. Carey Price held his ground as Theodore faked a shot from 50 feet out and he was unable to get over in time when Theodore passed the puck to Alec Martinez in the right faceoff circle.

Cole Caufield cut Vegas’s lead to one goal when he scored on a power play at 12:05. It was Caufield’s first NHL playoff goal in 11 games and the timing couldn’t have been better because his family was in attendance to watch him live for the first time in an NHL uniform.

Vegas restored the two-goal lead 53 seconds later on a goal by Mattias Janmark. This was another goal that began with a lost facecoff as Nicolas Roy won the draw against Jesperi Kotkanemi to set up Alex Tuch’s shot from the point. Brett Kulak attempted to push Janmark away from the crease but managed to deflect Tuch’s shot with his stick.

Vegas continued to apply pressure in the third period as they added a goal from defenceman Nick Holden midway through the period.

The Canadiens did win the battle of the special teams. The penalty-killing unit, which killed all 15 power plays it faced in the sweep of the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the playoffs, went 4-for-4 while the Montreal power play went 1-for-3.

The Canadiens were shorthanded on the back end because Jeff Petry missed a second consecutive game with dislocated fingers. The result was a disproportionate amount of ice time for Ben Chiarot, and Joel Edmundson. Rookie Alexander Romanov saw an increase in his playing time in his second playoff start and he earned a pat on the back from captain Weber after he delivered a solid check hit on the Knights’ Alex Pietrangelo in the first period.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215832 Montreal Canadiens

In the Habs' Room: Penalties 'killed our rhythm' in Vegas, Ducharme says

Pat Hickey • Publishing date:Jun 15, 2021 • 2 hours ago

There are a number of things the Canadiens have to do if they hope to turn the tables on the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup semifinal at T-Mobile Arena Wednesday (9 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

They have to find a way to stay out of the penalty box.

They have to find a way to get some bodies in front of Vegas goaltender Marc-André Fleury.

They have to win faceoffs at the right time.

And they have to hope that defenceman Jeff Petry is back in the lineup sooner rather than later.

The Golden Knights posted a 4-1 win Game 1 Monday night and the consensus in the Canadiens’ post-game interviews was that the penalties robbed Montreal of any momentum it had in the first period.

“It was the penalties we took in the second period,” said coach Dominique Ducharme. “They killed our rhythm. I liked our first period. We could’ve taken the lead at the start of the game. I think the three or four penalties we took in the second period really hurt us.”

This is one of those situations that could have gone either way. The Montreal PK was perfect in the Winnipeg sweep and went 4-for-4 Monday, which should have given the Canadiens a lift. But, after killing a penalty at the end of the first period and another at the start of the second, Vegas scored just 11 seconds after the second penalty expired to take a 2-0 lead.

Vegas outshot Montreal 30-28, but those numbers are deceiving. After a strong first period, the Montreal offence put little pressure on Fleury and there was no pushback in the third period until the dying minutes when Montreal pulled Carey Price for an extra attacker.

The lone Montreal goal was a power-play effort from rookie Cole Caufield. It was his first NHL playoff goal and his parents were in the building to witness it.

“It was pretty special to have them at the game,” said Caufield who led the Canadiens with six shots on goal. “It was really special just to have them in the same country as I am, honestly. It was a really special feeling. Obviously, it wasn’t the result we wanted, but we’ll be back on Wednesday for more.

Though faceoffs are not one of Montreal’s strengths, the Canadiens won 56 per cent of the draws Monday. But the game proved that it doesn’t matter how many faceoffs you win much as when you win — or, in this case, lose — them. Two of the Vegas goals were scored after the Canadiens lost defensive zone faceoffs.

The score would have been more lopsided if Price hadn’t made big saves on Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault, but his teammates had trouble with a style that features a heavy net presence and active defencemen who accounted for 18 of the Golden Knights’ 30 shots on goal.

There was some concern that Vegas would dominate the game physically, but that wasn’t the case. Montreal out-hit the home team 52- 44.

“We need our four lines and our six defencemen,” said Ducharme. “We want to be more consistent and we want to be better. We have players who had a good game, while others didn’t. Right now, we can’t allow that to happen. I think our four lines can be more consistent.”

And that brings us to Petry. Without him, the Canadiens have a top three and three other guys rotating in positions where they are least likely to be a liability.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215833 Montreal Canadiens Caufield noted that he has stayed in touch with his university coach since joining the Canadiens.

“We text pretty often … a couple of times a week, especially after games Canadiens' Cole Caufield scores first playoff goal in loss to Vegas and stuff,” Caufield said about Granato, who played 13 seasons in the NHL. “He keeps telling me that I’m ready for each moment and I’m prepared. It’s nice to have a guy like that, too, that you’re really close with and he’s went through it before. So I’m always listening when he’s texting Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jun 15, 2021 • 3 hours ago me. He just tells me I’m ready for the moment and to make every moment count.”

After the Canadiens’ morning skate Monday in Las Vegas, Dominique Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 Ducharme was asked what rookie Cole Caufield had to do to get his first NHL playoff goal.

“Keep doing the same thing,” the head coach said. “He’s getting some good chances, some good looks. At times goal-scorers like this they put one in and they can go on a roll for five, six, seven games. We can see it with Tyler (Toffoli). He didn’t score early in the playoff round against Toronto and then once he got going he’s been on a hot streak. So I think it can be happening the same things with Cole.”

It happened in the second period Monday night when Caufield scored a power-play goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately for the Canadiens it was the only goal they would get on Vegas goalie Marc-André Fleury as they lost 4-1 to the Golden Knights. Game 2 is Wednesday in Las Vegas (9 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Caufield’s goal came at 12:05 of the second period with the Canadiens losing 2-0 after Shea Theodore and Alec Martinez had opened the scoring for Vegas. Only 53 seconds after Caufield’s goal, Mattias Janmark scored to put Vegas up 3-1 and then Nick Holden delivered the final blow at 10:06 of the third period.

Caufield’s goal came on a rebound of a shot by Tyler Toffoli and Fleury had no chance of stopping it. Caufield’s parents, Paul and Kelly, and his older brother, Brock, were among the 17,884 in attendance at T-Mobile Arena to witness it. Brock played with his brother the last two seasons at the University of Wisconsin. Brock’s little brother won the Hobey Baker Trophy this season as the best player in U.S. college hockey with 30-22- 52 totals in 31 games. Brock, a right-winger like his brother, had 7-10-17 totals.

Caufield finished the game with a team-leading six shots on goal in 15:43 of ice time, including 1:36 on the power play. In 10 playoff games, Caufield now has 1-4-5 totals and 28 shots on goal. Caufield is tied for the team lead in shots with Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher and Toffoli despite being made a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs.

“It’s pretty special to have them at the game and it’s really special just to have them be in the same country as them, honestly,” Caufield said after the game about his family being there. “It was a really special feeling and, obviously, not the result we wanted but we’ll be back Wednesday for more.”

Teammate Josh Anderson has been impressed by Caufield’s play since the 5-foot-7, 162-pounder was called up from the after posting 3-1-4 totals in two AHL games. In 10 regular-season games with the Canadiens, Caufield had 4-1-5 totals.

“Usually those small guys are very difficult to hit,” Anderson said after the morning skate. “He’s a really shifty player. He’s played this game for a long time and he knows how to get out of those positions. He’s not afraid to go in the corners. I think you saw that against Winnipeg where sometimes he’s taking the big hit to make a play. You can see his confidence growing each game and him getting comfortable, so it’s great to see.”

Caufield definitely doesn’t lack confidence and plays with a bit of a swagger.

“I think it just comes with your personality,” he said after the morning skate. “It’s not really swagger in my opinion, it’s kind of just more a little bit confidence and kind of keeping your head up, being positive all the time. It’s easy to get down on yourself pretty quick in this league. It’s just taking it one step at a time.”

Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato was convinced Caufield was ready to make the jump to the NHL after playing two seasons in the NCAA and the 20-year-old certainly hasn’t looked out of place with the Canadiens. 1215834 Montreal Canadiens completely different lifestyles. You’re living in different countries and different, I guess, climates and activities to do and whatnot.

“It sounds like the tone is that life is just so much easier in Vegas rather Stu Cowan: Former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty is happy in Vegas than in Montreal,” he added. “I know people want to say that, it sounds great. However, I had a lot of great years in Montreal, I had a lot of success there. I’m very happy about how I performed when I was there and same thing with my game here in Vegas. You mention the outside Stu Cowan Publishing date:Jun 15, 2021 • 3 hours ago noise and whatnot, it makes no difference. Whether you’re under the microscope or not you put that same pressure on yourself day in and day out. All the best players do and I don’t consider any of the outside noise Life has been very good for Max Pacioretty since the Canadiens traded extra added pressure or not. I just feel you go about your business and him to the Vegas Golden Knights three years ago. do the best you can.”

After the trade, Pacioretty signed a four-year, US$28-million contract The Pacioretty trade has worked out well for both teams, and he’s extension with the Golden Knights that runs through the 2022-23 season. obviously happy in Las Vegas and wants to turn the page.

During his first season in Vegas, Pacioretty was limited to 66 games But for Pacioretty, eliminating the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup because of injuries but still managed to score 22 goals and then added semifinals would really slam the book shut on that chapter of his life. five more goals (along with six assists) in seven playoff games as the Golden Knights were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the first Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 round.

Last season, Pacioretty scored 32 goals in 71 games, hitting the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his NHL career. He had five goals in 16 playoff games as the Golden Knights advanced to the Stanley Cup semifinals before being eliminated by the Dallas Stars.

This season, Pacioretty had 24 goals in only 48 games and after recovering from an undisclosed injury the 32-year-old has 4-4-8 totals in eight playoff games. He was held pointless in the Golden Knight’s 4-1 win over the Canadiens Monday night in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup semifinal series, ending his seven-game point streak.

Off the ice, Pacioretty is living in Summerlin, Nev., which looks a bit like heaven on earth, even if the temperature there hit 41C on Monday. His wife, Katia, gave birth to their fifth child — and first daughter — last year and Pacioretty celebrated playing in his 800th career NHL regular- season game this year and also scored his 300th goal.

Unfortunately, things didn’t end well for Pacioretty in Montreal after 10 seasons with the Canadiens, the last three as captain. He led the team in scoring for six straight years, starting in 2011-12, during which he had five 30-goal seasons without having an elite centreman. Pacioretty had only 10 goals in 38 playoff games with the Canadiens, but when a team has only one natural goal-scorer it’s a lot easier to shut him down in a postseason series.

Pacioretty was one of very few Canadiens players to live year-round in Montreal. He took great pride in wearing the “C” on his jersey — even if it seemed to put the weight of the city on his shoulders at times — and no matter how good or bad things were going he was always there to face the media, never hiding from the spotlight. He got very upset at me when I asked if he had even thought about giving the “C” to Shea Weber after the Canadiens acquired the former Nashville Predators captain in exchange for P.K. Subban. The “C” might not have always fit Pacioretty well, but he wore it with honour.

Whether you were a fan of Pacioretty or not during his years with the Canadiens, he deserved to be treated better at the end of his time here.

After being limited to 17 goals in 64 games in 2017-18 — missing the last 18 games with a knee injury — and with the Canadiens finishing 28th in the overall NHL standings, Pacioretty became a convenient scapegoat for GM , who blamed the team’s problems on a bad attitude in the dressing room. It became obvious Bergevin wanted to move on from Pacioretty and maybe it was time. But instead of just saying that, things got ugly with the Bergevin insisting Pacioretty asked to be traded and the captain saying he didn’t.

At the 2018 NHL Draft, Bergevin worked out a trade that would have sent Pacioretty to the Los Angeles Kings, but that fell through when he refused to sign a contract extension. Instead, Pacioretty fired his agent Pat Brisson — a close friend of Bergevin’s — and hired Allan Walsh to represent him.

Three months later, on the eve of the Canadiens’ annual golf tournament, Pacioretty was traded to Vegas, along with a second-round draft pick, in exchange for Nick Suzuki and Tomas Tatar.

“Life’s the same anywhere you go,” Pacioretty said Sunday. “I’ve had a lot of fun and success both in Montreal and in Vegas as well. Two 1215835 Montreal Canadiens high seven shots for the Golden Knights while logging a team-high 25:26 of ice time.

“They got some solid D-men over there and they were finding lanes and Canadiens Game Day: Golden Knights show why they are big favourites getting pucks through and jumping into the rush,” Price said. “That’s what good D do and we’ll just have to find a way to mitigate that.”

Price also noted that the Canadiens had a great start to the game. Stu Cowan • Publishing date:Jun 15, 2021 • 2 hours ago • “I thought we came out firing,” he said. “They grabbed the momentum going into the second period, but I thought in that first period we showed that we can play with them.” The Canadiens were huge underdogs heading into their Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights and we saw why in Pacioretty held to one shot Game 1 Monday night. Former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty had only one shot on goal for The Canadiens were simply no match for the Golden Knights, losing 4-1, the Golden Knights in 16:52 of ice time, including 3:18 on the power play. and if not for some outstanding saves by Carey Price the final score Pacioretty saw his seven-game point streak come to an end. He has 4-4- would have been much more lopsided. 8 totals in eight playoff games after posting 24-27-51 totals in 48 regular- season games. When the series matchup was confirmed, the Westgate sports book in Las Vegas posted -450/+375 odds, suggesting the Golden Knights had “Patch went through a lot in Montreal,” the Canadiens’ Brendan an 81.82 per cent chance of winning the series. You would need to Gallagher said on Sunday. “I’m happy for him, happy for the success he’s wager $450 to win $100 on the Golden Knights to win the series, while a had here in Vegas. But in terms of this series, those relationships are in $100 bet on the Canadiens would net $375 if they pull off the upset. the past for a couple of weeks. I think we have to focus on what we need to focus on. He’s going to do his own thing. It’s probably going to be an The Canadiens got off to a good start in Game 1, but couldn’t beat goalie emotional time for him, for sure. A lot of memories and stuff like that. But Marc-André Fleury before Shea Theodore scored the only goal of the first for us right now we’re just keeping our mindset as simple as possible. period at the 9:15 mark. It marked the first time in eight games that the Those relationships are kind of in the past and you can get back to Canadiens didn’t score the first goal and also the first time in eight games whatever you had in the next couple of weeks. But for the time being it’s that they trailed at any point. The loss ended the Canadiens’ seven-game all business right now.” winning streak. Pacioretty played on the same line as Danault with the Canadiens and Phillip Danault took a hooking penalty at 18:20 of the first period and then they enjoyed success together. the Canadiens took four more penalties in the first 8:20 of the second period, giving momentum to the Golden Knights, who took a 2-0 lead “It’s part of hockey,” Danault said. “You lose some good friends, going on when Alec Martinez scored at the 2:18 mark. The Canadiens’ Cole another team and now just like that we’re final four and there’s no friends. Caufield cut the lead to 2-1 with his first NHL playoff goal on a power play We want to battle. What’s on the ice stays on the ice and off the ice is at 12:05, but only 53 seconds later Mattias Janmark restored the two- something else. We all want to win and I’m sure it’s the same thing for goal lead for Vegas. Nick Holden scored the final goal at 10:06 of the him. So no friends.” third period. First taste of final four “I thought we had a good first period and then we just took too many penalties and gave them the momentum,” Canadiens defenceman Joel Caufield has only played 10 regular-season games in the NHL and he’s Edmundson said. “Obviously, our killers are playing a lot of hockey so it’s already in the Stanley Cup semifinals. Meanwhile, Canadiens captain tiring killing, especially against a power play like that. So we just got to Shea Weber has played 1,038 regular-season games over 16 seasons in limit our penalties and when we do that we’re an effective hockey team.” the NHL and this is his first trip to the final four.

The Canadiens’ penalty-killing units were very effective, killing off all four “These moments don’t come around too often,” Caufield said after Vegas power plays. The Canadiens have now killed off 19 straight power Monday’s morning skate. “Once or twice in your career you might get this plays over the last eight games and have killed off a league-best 91.4 per opportunity so you got to make the most of it. Those guys have cent during the playoffs. emphasized that this stage is really important. These guys haven’t got here as much as they’d like to. You got to take every moment like it’s the This was the first game the Canadiens have played all season outside of biggest part of your life and I think that’s how we’re going to go into this Canada and there were 17,884 fans at T-Mobile Arena. series.”

“It’s a situation that we’re in this year,” Canadiens head coach Dominique Caufield said it was a thrill to have former Canadiens captain, GM and Ducharme said. “For everyone right now at this stage you’re playing a coach Bob Gainey address the team during the six-day break before this team that you didn’t play all year. Yeah, they have their strengths, for series started. Gainey won five Stanley Cups as a player with the sure, but we have ours also. I really liked the way we started. Penalties Canadiens before retiring in 1989, 12 years before Caufield was born. really killed our momentum and our rhythm. But besides that it’s not something that we’re surprised with or that we didn’t know about.” “That was a great surprise for our team,” Caufield said. “Having a legend like that come in and talk to you kind of fires you up and makes you want The Golden Knights have now won five straight playoff games. to play. Those couple of days off felt like forever. It was just great to see him come in, kind of support us and know that those guys are all “We were excited to play,” Edmundson said. “I think we came out firing in supporting us and wanting the best. It fired me up and I know all the guys the first period and then we kind of just sat back and let them come at us. had the same feeling.” But we were excited to play in front of a sold-out barn again. It was fun and we’ll be better next game, that’s for sure.” Some stats

Habs miss Petry The Canadiens outshot Vegas 30-29 in Game 1, won 56 per cent of the faceoffs and outhit the Golden Knights 52-44. The Canadiens went 1-for- The Canadiens didn’t have Jeff Petry in the lineup for the second straight 3 on the power play, while the Golden Knights were 0-for-4. game after he suffered a hand injury during Game 3 of their second- round sweep over the Winnipeg Jets. Ben Chiarot led the Canadiens with 25:41 of ice time, followed by Weber with 25:28 and Edmundson with 20:32. Tyler Toffoli led the forwards with “He’s a key piece to our team,” Edmundson said. “He was our best 18:06, followed by Danault with 17:55 and Nick Suzuki with 17:39. defenceman all year and he’s obviously huge on the power play, too. So we’re definitely missing him out there, but I think he’s right around the Caufield had a team-high six shots, followed by Suzuki, Toffoli and Artturi corner so hopefully he’ll get back soon.” Lehkonen with four each. Josh Anderson and Weber had six hits each, while Chiarot and Edmundson both had five. The Canadiens defence failed to get a point or even a single shot on goal, while the Golden Knights defencemen had three goals, six points Suzuki went 11-5 on faceoffs (69 per cent), Danault went 12-10 (55 per and 18 shots. Alex Pietrangelo didn’t pick up a point, but he had a game- cent), Eric Staal went 5-5 (50 per cent) and Jesperi Kotkaniemi went 2- for-3 (40 per cent). Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215836 Montreal Canadiens Pacioretty is a natural scorer, but he’s not the guy you want as captain. When seasons went south while he was wearing the ‘C’, Pacioretty always seemed to be in a funk and it was hard to imagine him rallying the troops the way the team leader should. What the Puck: Max Pacioretty has chance to prove Marc Bergevin wrong The key piece in the trade for Montreal has been Suzuki. Tatar has contributed big time offensively in the regular season, but it’s Suzuki who’s the prize, as has been underlined in these playoffs. Slick Nick has incredible hands and incredible hockey IQ. Brendan Kelly • Publishing date:Jun 14, 2021 • 15 hours ago • But Pacioretty has also thrived in Vegas, both in the regular season and,

more surprisingly, in the playoffs. So will the former captain get his Tune out the background noise. The central story of this Montreal revenge in the next two weeks? Drama! Canadiens-Vegas Golden Knights series is Max Pacioretty and his quest Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 to exact revenge for being unceremoniously dumped by Habs general manager Marc Bergevin.

Of course, Patches is going to claim this isn’t true. That’s how players roll when they talk to the media. Unlike NBA players or UFC fighters, pro hockey players are taught early on to just mumble clichéd platitudes when talking to the media, so fans rarely get the real story.

So it’s no surprise to hear the former Canadiens captain saying facing off against the team he played for is no biggie.

“I don’t think it makes any difference who you play in the (Stanley Cup) playoffs,” Pacioretty said Sunday. “You’ve just got to treat every game the same way. We had two emotional series and I’m assuming this will be the same against a big strong team that we haven’t played yet. It’s no different if you’re playing the first team in the league, a team you played for in the past. They’re all the same in the playoffs and you have to approach them all the same way.”

Sure Max. You’ve forgotten all about the Habs and all that ill-will from management right? Not a chance. He’s coming back to try to prove to Berg that his old GM made a mistake when he sent him packing. This series won’t definitely end the debate about the trade that sent Pacioretty to Vegas in September 2018 in return for veteran forward Tomas Tatar, young centre Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick at the 2019 entry- level draft.

But it will be a key part of the discussion as to who got the better of a trade that looks right now like a win for both clubs. This was no ordinary hockey trade. The 2017-2018 season was yet another terrible one for Bergevin’s Canadiens and after the team finished 28th in the league standings, Bergevin blamed the bad year on a lack of character on the team, a clear shot across the bow at his captain.

There were widespread rumours at the time that Bergevin and Pacioretty were no longer on speaking terms and the conflict came into the open when Bergevin said that Patches had asked for a trade during the season. Pacioretty and his agent Allan Walsh categorically denied that.

For sure relations were strained with Bergevin, who at the time was making a habit of getting into conflicts with high-profile players, including P.K. Subban, Alexander Radulov, and Andrei Markov.

The bottom line is Pacioretty’s tour of duty with the Habs was ambiguous at best. He scored loads of goals, topping 30 goals five times while wearing the CH and nearly hit 40 a couple of times. But he was often a disappointment in the playoffs and in the NHL, if you’re a non-factor in the Real Season, you can’t be considered one of the greats.

His final playoff series with the Canadiens, that first-round loss to the New York Rangers in 2017, might have been the last straw. The Habs’ captain had 35 goals and 67 points that season, making him the team’s leading scorer, but he managed only one assist in the six-game series and Montreal lost because the team couldn’t score.

I think the biggest mistake with Pacioretty in Montreal was when he was made captain. The players elected him, but I’ve always believed that election was set up by management because they were determined to make sure Subban, a mighty popular fellow in town at that point, didn’t become captain.

The players were never going to vote in Subban and there really was no other logical choice in the fall of 2015, given the widespread perception at the time that Brendan Gallagher didn’t have enough experience. I love that story of Bergevin and coach Michel Therrien going out to the South Shore to tell Patches the good news and turning up at the wrong door. They should’ve taken that as a sign of divine intervention, jumped back into their SUVs and run for the hills. 1215837 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens at Golden Knights: Five things you should know

Pat Hickey Publishing date:Jun 14, 2021 • 19 hours ago •

Here are five things you should know about Game 1 of the Canadiens- Golden Knights NHL semifinal playoff series Monday (9 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

How they got there: The Canadiens rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the first round and went on to upset the North Division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. The Canadiens, who were the last team to qualify for the playoffs, carried the momentum into the division final and swept the Winnipeg Jets in four games. The Canadiens had the second-best defensive record in the playoffs, allowing only 2.18 goals a game. The Golden Knights had a rally of their own as they defeated Colorado in the six-game West final after the Avalanche won the first two games. Vegas beat Minnesota in seven games in the first round.

History, past and present: The Canadiens hold the record for the most Stanley Cup wins with 24, but the last time Montreal enjoyed a championship was in 1993. The Canadiens are making their first third- round appearance since 2014 when their hopes were dashed as the Rangers’ Chris Kreider crashed into Carey Price and knocked him out of the playoffs. The Golden Knights don’t have a cup, but Vegas went to the final in its inaugural season in 2018 and is playing in the semifinals for the third time in its four-year history.

Price or Fleury? This series features the two hottest goaltenders still alive in the playoffs. Fleury has the better goals-against average at 1.91, but Price is right behind him at 1.97 and he has a playoff-best .935 save percentage. Price has been on fire in the Canadiens’ seven-game win streak, stopping 200 of 212 shots for a .943 save percentage. Fleury collected three Stanley Cup rings with the Penguins, who must be kicking themselves for letting him go. Pittsburgh has won only one playoff series over past four seasons while the Golden Knights have won seven with Fleury.

Quick starts becoming a habit: The Canadiens’ success through the first two rounds of the playoffs has been built on taking an early lead and holding on to it. Montreal has won seven games in a row and in each of those games they scored the first goal. They haven’t trailed since Game 4 of the Leafs’ series, a run that has reached 437 minutes and 53 seconds. That’s the second-longest streak in NHL playoff history behind the 488-minute run for the 1960 Canadiens. Back in those days, the playoffs were only two rounds and the Canadiens never trailed as they swept the Chicago Black Hawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Petry not ready to return: The Canadiens have relied heavily on their top four defencemen, but they’ll head into Game 1 without Jeff Petry, who not only logs big minutes but also presents the major offensive threat among the blue-liners. Petry is dealing with dislocated fingers on his right hand and he skated by himself Sunday. Petry’s absence provides another opportunity for rookie Alexander Romanov, who saw limited action in the final game of the Winnipeg series. Forward Jake Evans will also remain on the sidelines. He is recovering from a concussion and the Canadiens won’t call on him until they are certain he’s 100 per cent.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215838 Montreal Canadiens “Especially in the second period, the penalties broke our rhythm,” Ducharme said. “I liked our first period, we could (have taken) a lead early in the game. We liked our start, but I think the three or four penalties almost in a row took away our rhythm.” The Canadiens lost the forward depth battle with Vegas in Game 1; it is a battle they must win from now on The Canadiens are correct to be encouraged with how they played to start the game. What they should be discouraged about is how they lacked any response as soon as things started to go south. They were not going to win 15 straight games and roll to the Stanley Cup. They By Arpon Basu Jun 15, 2021 were going to trail in a hockey game at some point. And while taking consecutive penalties is never ideal, they should have been able to find their game before it was too late. It was a prototypical moment for this line and it came on its very first shift. So much of what followed for the Canadiens was dictated by this initial “I thought we came out firing in the first period, but then we sat back and turn on the ice by Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault and Artturi let them come at us,” defenceman Joel Edmundson said. “We were Lehkonen, who were facing the line they will probably face for much of excited to play in front of a sold-out barn again, it was fun. We’ll be better this series. next game, that’s for sure.”

The Vegas Golden Knights had their big line of Max Pacioretty, Chandler The unique challenges the Golden Knights present for the Canadiens, Stephenson and Mark Stone on the ice along with their third defence what they had not seen all season in the North Division, make this lack of pairing of Nick Holden and Zach Whitecloud. The Canadiens dumped the response somewhat understandable. Vegas is built somewhat similarly to puck deep in the Vegas zone, Holden went to retrieve and before he the Canadiens. They are built on depth, they have size up front and size could make a decision on what to do with it, Lehkonen was on him. on the back end, and they have Fleury in net. So when Golden Knights Danault quickly arrived in support and gathered the loose puck coach Pete DeBoer can say this about his third line after a game, the Lehkonen’s forecheck created for him, swung around the net with it and Canadiens know they are looking at a team that is essentially a version sent it into the slot. That’s where Gallagher was waiting all alone. The of themselves with more talented players sprinkled throughout the lineup. pass was on his tape and the puck was off his stick as quickly as it “I thought (Nicolas) Roy, Tuch and (Mattias) Janmark were our best line, arrived, headed toward the back of the net before Marc-André Fleury got even through the first period when we were stumbling around a little bit,” in the way. Lehkonen went hard to the net for the rebound and just DeBoer said. “That was one line that consistently all night, any time I missed batting it in as the puck was bouncing. Fleury smothered it and threw them out there, were very good.” forced a faceoff. Conversely, Ducharme’s third line of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Paul Byron and If there was one shift that encapsulated everything the Canadiens Anderson was not very good. Neither was the fourth line of Eric Staal, wanted to do in this series, everything that gave them the best chance of Corey Perry and Joel Armia, though to be fair, aside from Byron and success, this was it. And it came in the first minute of the game. Armia, those two lines don’t see a whole lot of ice when the Canadiens The following minutes of the first period played out much the same way keep taking penalties the way they did Monday. When Ducharme says for the Canadiens, playing in a truly hostile environment for the first time they broke their rhythm, this might be what he is referring to. in 15 months. They did not wilt in the face of a packed house at T-Mobile The Canadiens’ depth up front has been a benefit for them to this point, Arena but instead appeared energized by the atmosphere. but the Golden Knights have similar depth, and this might be where this Alexander Romanov, who had never played in an environment quite like series plays itself out. The don’t say everything, but they do this one — with all due respect to the atmosphere in the KHL game — provide a portrait that suggests the Canadiens were very much a top- laid out Alex Pietrangelo with a clean open-ice hit about six minutes in. six/bottom-six team in Game 1 when you look at shot attempts (CF%), That was immediately followed by a Josh Anderson rush up ice and shots on goal (SF%) and expected goals (XGF%). strong cut to the net front we haven’t seen from him often enough of late. Canadiens forward lines in Game 1 But Fleury was there once again. That was immediately followed by back-to-back excellent chances for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, but LINE CF% SF% GF GA XGF% again, no dice. Lehkonen-Danault-Gallagher If any of those chances go in, you could argue this would have been a different hockey game, that the Canadiens would have found the comfort 47.83 zone they had over seven consecutive victories in which they never 63.64 trailed for one second. 0 But they didn’t go in. And the Canadiens lost 4-1. 0 The easy narrative here will be that the Canadiens wilted after Shea Theodore opened the scoring after a weak play by Erik Gustafsson in the 70.21 neutral zone allowed the Golden Knights to get set up in the Canadiens’ zone. A needless icing by Ben Chiarot created a matchup problem on a Toffoli-Suzuki-Caufield defensive zone faceoff, that faceoff was lost by Nick Suzuki against 56.25 Chandler Stephenson and Theodore scored when Gustafsson was unable to prevent Stone from screening Carey Price. But that narrative’s 54.55 not entirely accurate. 0 The Canadiens stuck with their game until Phillip Danault was forced into a hooking penalty by a strong forecheck from Alex Tuch and Chiarot’s 1 clearing attempt on the ensuing penalty kill sailed into the netting at the 71.5 other end of the ice for another penalty. Byron-Kotkaniemi-Anderson From that point on, the Canadiens were a different team, unable to sustain any aspect of their game they were doing so well over the 40 opening 20 minutes. The Vegas forecheck suddenly seemed to overpower them. The neutral zone became a minefield for them. The 30 players were too spread out to accomplish much of anything with the 0 puck. 2 Basically, everything the Danault line did so well on its first shift of the game stopped happening, and it stopped right up until Dominique 26.22 Ducharme pulled Price for the final four minutes and change of regulation Armia-Staal-Perry time with the Canadiens trailing 4-1. 28.57

25

0

0

20.31

The Canadiens are not a top-six/bottom-six team. They are a top-12 team and need all four lines rolling at peak efficiency to have any hope of winning this series.

Several narratives will emerge from Game 1, how the Vegas defence scored three goals and the Canadiens defence has scored one all playoffs. How Fleury withstood the Canadiens’ storm in the first period and Price didn’t do the same when the Golden Knights countered in the second.

But none of them are as important to the Canadiens’ potential success in this series as their need to win the depth battle at forward.

Anderson has had a quiet playoffs thus far in terms of producing offence, with a goal in Game 1 of the first round and nothing since. Him starting to produce would help the Canadiens greatly in this regard. Kotkaniemi did not have his best game either. The fourth line can’t be outplayed the way they were if the Canadiens hope to have any success here.

Yes, the return of Jeff Petry would provide a massive boost to the Canadiens if he were able to play in Game 2, but depth at forward needs to be a strength for them in any game they play, and it wasn’t in Game 1.

“We need our four lines and our six defencemen to be more consistent, to be better in general,” Ducharme said. “I feel we have some players who played a solid game, others who were a bit more average. At this time of the year, we can’t have that.

“I think we can be more consistent across all our lines.”

This is the dilemma for Ducharme, because what he is hoping for — consistency across all his lines — is something that is ingrained in the Golden Knights’ identity. DeBoer loves saying Vegas is the sum of its parts, that its depth and how all his players complement each other is the strength of the team.

“Yeah, they have their strengths, for sure,” Ducharme said. “But we have ours also.”

Except what happens when those strengths are the same?

This is a battle of strength on strength, and Round 1 clearly went to Vegas. But the Canadiens showed in the first period that Round 2 may not necessarily go the same way if they can sustain it for longer than 20 minutes.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215839 Montreal Canadiens Caufield’s nose for the net provided the brightest spot for the Canadiens while cutting Vegas’s two-goal lead to one. It came on the power play, as well. Not bad for a kid who was still playing college hockey just months ago. Canadiens’ defence can’t play offence like Vegas, but Cole Caufield finally gets a goal: Playoffs plus/minus Alex Romanov: Here’s a good way to shake off any nerves you may be feeling ahead of your first-ever third-round playoff game: lay someone out.

By Julian McKenzie Jun 15, 2021 It was an eye-catching hit from the young defenceman, who has shown little to no fear in many situations throughout the regular season. But we

all know the playoffs are a different beast, making this hit all the more There are some similarities you can spot between the Montreal noticeable. Not to mention he hit Pietrangelo, of all people. Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights — even if many have pegged It is within your right to point at his minus-2 rating Monday night and the Golden Knights as the favourites in this series. judge it to be worth a minus, overall — this columnist certainly won’t Both teams have top lines whose main objective is to shut down complain about the validity of plus and minus — but Romanov’s hit opposing top players. Both teams have superb goaltending, each might’ve been the best play made by a Canadiens defenceman in Game boasting goalies who can lay claim to being among the best of their era. 1. And don’t worry, we’ll highlight the defence in our minuses below. Both teams, even the Canadiens, can say they’re able to get some The minuses offensive production from all four lines. Erik Gustafsson: A couple of mistakes from the defenceman led to the But it took one game to highlight a glaring difference between the Golden Knights’ first goal. He launched the puck up ice, leading to an Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas has a icing instead of what should’ve been a change for his linemates. On the defence that can both defend and produce offensively. And if the ensuing defensive-zone faceoff, lost by Nick Suzuki, Gustafsson Canadiens cannot answer with enough offensive production of their own, screened Price as Shea Theodore fired a shot from the point. Price might Vegas will run away with this series. have had a chance on the shot if he saw the puck. Unfortunately, Every Golden Knights defenceman except for Alex Pietrangelo picked up Gustafsson prevented him from making that save. Through the opening at least one point Monday night against the Canadiens in their 4-1 series- 20 minutes, that screen made all the difference on the scoreboard. He opening victory in Vegas. And at least one defenceman had a hand in ended up being the team’s least-used defenceman with 13:45 total time every Golden Knights goal scored. It was the first time all postseason on ice. that a team got goals from three different defencemen. Brett Kulak: It wasn’t the strongest night from Kulak. The defenceman Yes, the Canadiens were missing their best offensive defenceman in Jeff was caught in no man’s land on Vegas’ second goal. Meanwhile, the Petry, who is still nursing a hand injury. But despite his puck-moving Golden Knights defencemen had all the time and space to shot fake abilities, even Petry’s postseason totals have been underwhelming. before burying a go-ahead goal past Price. Kulak was also trying to cover Petry, Shea Weber, Joel Edmundson and Erik Gustafsson each have Mattias Janmark on Vegas’ third goal. Despite having a body on him, he three points in the playoffs. Brett Kulak has one assist. Ben Chiarot has failed to move the puck away from the blue paint and, eventually, yet to register a point through 12 playoff games. The lack of production Janmark’s stick. Perhaps a bit unlucky for Kulak, but would that have from the Canadiens’ defence has been visible throughout the playoffs resulted in a goal if he kept his stick on the ice and watched the puck (mostly during the first-round series against Toronto when it took four instead of solely focusing on his man? We’ll never know. games for the back end to get on the board), but it was glaring Monday Ben Chiarot: Chiarot didn’t look like he was in the greatest of positions on against the Golden Knights. the Alec Martinez goal. There’s also the bad puck-over-glass penalty he Also, if it wasn’t for Carey Price — yes he’s in our pluses — the took that caused many a groan from Canadiens fans. Montreal was Canadiens may very well have lost by more goals from the Golden fortunate it didn’t allow any power-play goals Monday, and it kept itself Knights’ big guns Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault. Montreal can from taking more penalties in the third. But if this keeps up in Game 2 at least say it got a goal from Cole Caufield and that it wasn’t outclassed and beyond, the Canadiens are setting themselves up for trouble. for the entire game. The Paul Byron-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Josh Anderson line: Anderson is The Canadiens had a good start, despite allowing the only goal of the doing the little things, such as being aggressive and forechecking. But opening period. They got shots from in tight on Marc-Andre Fleury, they the Canadiens need some offence from him. He hasn’t scored since had offensive zone time, sustained pressure and they didn’t look rattled Game 1 against the Maple Leafs. The Canadiens’ third line with him, in front of a raucous crowd in Vegas. They had a 7-1 high-danger chance Byron and Kotkaniemi will be needed for secondary scoring, but they advantage after 20 minutes and played like the better team from the didn’t help out Monday night. Kotkaniemi didn’t have a great night in the jump. faceoff dot at 40 percent while being held to one shot on net. Byron was held without a shot. This trio has had better nights. But the second period saw the Golden Knights score twice and lead the high-danger battle (8-0). And once the third period came around, Vegas The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 played to protect its lead and added an insurance marker from Nick Holden, a defenceman.

It took until Round 3 for the Canadiens to start falling back to earth after riding a seven-game winning streak. It’s on interim coach Dominique Ducharme to make the necessary adjustments to get them rising again. And the Canadiens’ defence will have to play above themselves to contribute offensively.

The defence was part of the bad, but one young defenceman made a positive play worth singling out. Let’s look at the good and bad from Game 1.

The pluses

Carey Price: Another game, another highlight-reel save by the Canadiens netminder. He made this save, and this save, and this wink at Mark Stone while his team was down 2-0 in the second period. He continues to be undaunted in these Stanley Cup playoffs. If it weren’t for his performance, Montreal probably loses this game 7-1.

Cole Caufield: We knew he’d score eventually because you can only deny “Goal Caufield” for so long. 1215840 Montreal Canadiens “The only order I had with Max was to make a deal with Montreal.’’ But by then, the horse was out of the barn. Habs owner

would later reveal when Pacioretty was traded to Vegas in September LeBrun: It seems like everyone involved in the Max Pacioretty Vegas- that the player had requested a trade and the Canadiens had worked for Montreal trade has moved on several months on doing just that.

Pacioretty has never confirmed that. Although we’ll get to that below.

By Pierre LeBrun Jun 14, 2021 Either way, Pacioretty wasn’t getting a long-term extension in Montreal. A November 2017 meeting between Pacioretty and Bergevin went sideways, which produced some sore feelings on each side.

It has turned into the kind of trade that teams strive for. It’s not uncommon for the Habs GM to meet with his key players from time to time. This meeting, in a season that was going off the rails, didn’t One that ends up working nicely for both sides. go well at all, sources confirm. Max Pacioretty has filled the net in Vegas, including 27 points (14-13) in So from that point on, it was clear where this was eventually headed. 30 playoff games over the last three years. And he absolutely loves it Rival front office sources throughout that season suggested Pacioretty there. was indeed on the market. Nick Suzuki is a rising star for the Habs, Tomas Tatar scored 47 goals in In any case, once Walsh got fully updated on what had transpired and his first two years in Montreal after the trade before falling out of favour where things stood, he realized there was no way he was getting a this season, and Mattias Norlinder is a promising young blueliner who contract extension for his client in Montreal. could be part of the mix over the next year or two. “It became obvious towards the end of the summer that the most likely It has helped everyone involved move on ahead of the Stanley Cup outcome to the entire situation was both parties moving on,’’ Walsh said. semifinal series pitting the Golden Knights and Canadiens. After a tense summer, Pacioretty was dealt on the eve of camp to Vegas Habs GM Marc Bergevin has no desire to relive the play-by-play of — a trade that necessitated signing a four-year, $28 million extension to Pacioretty’s exit, and while he wasn’t asked about it on his media call make it work for the Golden Knights. Saturday (I asked him instead about Suzuki), had a media colleague brought up Pacioretty I’m confident the Habs GM would have said he’s A drama-filled year was finally over. Which was the best result for not talking about a player on another team. everyone involved.

And Pacioretty himself downplayed any special motivation or meaning It just so happens I landed in Vegas a week later, a work trip I had when asked during his media availability Sunday about playing his former planned a month earlier before anyone even knew Pacioretty would be team. dealt to the Golden Knights, but the timing was indeed perfect.

So, everyone involved seemingly has turned the page. It’s been three I sat down with the former Habs captain in the Golden Knights dressing years, after all. room for a Q&A.

But let’s not kid ourselves, given the hard feelings at the time, there will Most notable in that interview was asking him point blank if indeed he always be something deep down attached to it for Pacioretty and his has asked for a trade out of Montreal. former team. “Well where I’m at with that is, that’s in my past,” Pacioretty said. “When It was not a smooth exit. it comes to that situation and that subject, all I’m going to say is, things can get translated differently and things can get interpreted differently in At its apex, it featured an emotional Pacioretty parting ways with veteran different sides of a conversation. I understand that. I think when you sit agent Pat Brisson during the NHL Draft in Dallas in June 2018 after the down and have emotional conversations and there’s not always clarity … star winger nixed a contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings which that being said, when you look back on it, it made the most sense for me would have cemented a trade there (Kings GM declined to to move on, for both parties. They felt that way. Obviously, I was in trade comment this weekend when asked to go back over all that). rumours almost for 10 to 12 months at this point, like, heavy trade “It’s no secret now, and it’s a matter of public record, that the day before rumours. It was definitely just time. And that’s not to say I didn’t Max was effectively traded to the L.A. Kings and the Kings’ first-round appreciate everything I went through in Montreal. However, it made pick was in that deal and a condition for the deal going through was that sense given the fact Montreal is going through a rebuild, I was on the last the Kings didn’t want to give up a first-round asset for Max who only had year of my contract and I think they got a good return that they’re happy a year left on his deal.” player agent Allan Walsh told The Athletic on with. So that’s all I’ll say about that.’’ Sunday. “The trade was dependent on Max agreeing to a long-term So, not a yes, not a no. extension in conjunction with the deal getting consummated. And in the end, what does it matter anymore. Habs fans are enamoured “Obviously, I had no knowledge of any of that at the time,’’ with Suzuki, as they should be. Because, of course, Walsh wasn’t Pacioretty’s agent quite yet. The deal Meanwhile, Pacioretty loves being a Golden Knight and is eight wins with the Kings fell apart and the veteran agent got a phone call at 5:30 away from a Stanley Cup. The team he once captained, however, is a.m. the very next day as the second round of the draft neared. standing in the way. “It was a phone number I wasn’t familiar with. It was a Montreal area This would have been a bigger story a few years ago. But there is truly a code. I answered the phone and the voice said, ‘Hey Allan, it’s Max sense everyone has turned the page. Pacioretty here,’’’ Walsh recalls. And that’s a good thing. “I was kind of startled from the call. We ended up talking for over an hour. He updated me on everything that had transpired leading him to make The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 that call. At the end of the call, I was his agent.’’

According to Walsh, despite everything that had transpired at that point, Pacioretty was hoping to patch things up with Montreal (no pun intended).

“When I was hired by Max, I had one marching order and only one: and that was find a way to come to an agreement with Montreal on a long- term deal,” Walsh said. “He said, ‘My family has moved to Montreal permanently, we don’t go anywhere else in the offseason, we live in Montreal year-round, I love the city, I’m the captain of the team, I would not want to go anywhere else. I want to be here.’ 1215841 Montreal Canadiens Roy is looking forward to a return home for this playoff series. The players will be confined to their hotel rooms for the majority of their stay, but something as simple as seeing street signs in his native language is a welcome sight for Roy. Who is trying to end the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup dream? Four Quebec natives, by way of Vegas “French is my first language, so that’s what it’s like over there,” he said. “It’s exciting to go back to Montreal, and it’s going to be a fun time for sure.”

By Jesse Granger Jun 14, 2021 The bond between Montreal fans and the Canadiens is as strong as family, perhaps stronger for some. Carrier joked that he isn’t even sure if

his own family members will be rooting for him against Montreal. The Montreal Canadiens are eight wins away from delivering Canada its “I think it’s going to be tough on the family,” Carrier said with a laugh. “I first Stanley Cup championship since Montreal won in 1993. The only think it’s going to be kind of divided. It’s going to be special. Obviously, thing standing in the Canadiens’ way is a bunch of Canadians, including every time we play there in the (regular) season it’s special, and now a notable subset of Quebec natives. we’re playing them in the playoffs. I’ve got a lot of text messages lately No team in the NHL rostered more Canadian-born players this season from friends. It’s going to be special.” than the Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal’s opponent in the semifinal And then there’s Fleury, who has single-handedly divided the rooting playoff series that begins Monday in Vegas. Vegas has 20 Canadian interests for a small town in Quebec. players on its roster, plus its top two front-office executives (George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon) and all four coaches (Pete DeBoer, Fleury was born and raised in Sorel, only a one-hour drive from Montreal. Steve Spott, Ryan McGill and Ryan Craig). The town sits 50 miles northeast of the city along the St. Lawrence River. Golden Knights flags wave proudly outside of homes in Sorel. Despite Canada is the NHL’s biggest pipeline for talent, with Canadians making the city being located in the middle of Montreal Canadiens territory and up 43.1 percent of players. But for Vegas, Canadians account for an thousands of miles from Las Vegas, the shared affinity for Fleury has incredible 66.6 percent of the rostered players. More specifically, the created a difficult decision for many residents. Golden Knights also lead all playoff teams in games played by French- Canadian players. While Phillip Danault is the only player from the “My neighbor, a 14-year-old boy named Marc-Antoine, came up to me province of Quebec currently playing for Montreal, Vegas has four: the other day with a sad look on his face,” said Catherine Thibault, who William Carrier, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault and Nick was born and raised in Sorel. “He said, ‘I’m very torn between Marc- Roy. Andre and my Canadiens.’ He was very, very torn and didn’t know what to do.” In the playoffs, the Golden Knights have dressed 16 Canadian players, two more than Montreal. And those Canadian players have scored 21 of Thibault said that most people in town are die-hard Canadiens fans – just the team’s 40 playoff goals. like Fleury was when he grew up in Sorel – and that most will likely pull for Montreal, but that regardless of the outcome of the series they’ll have After yet another brilliant postseason, Marchessault is tied with Patrice someone to root for in the Stanley Cup Final. Bergeron for the most playoff goals by a Quebec-born player over the last four seasons. The fiery Cap-Rouge native has been a leader on and “The real fans of the Canadiens won’t change,” she said. “And if the off the ice for the Golden Knights since their inaugural season. He’s the Canadiens win in the end, I will be OK. But my heart is with Marc-Andre. I franchise’s all-time points leader with 225 and is fresh off a spectacular think many people are like me, they will root for either Montreal or Marc- series against the Colorado Avalanche, in which he registered five goals Andre.” and two assists in six games. Fleury’s connection with the small town of only 34,755 is strong, and he “Obviously I grew up watching the (Canadiens) and have a lot of fond has even brought hockey’s greatest prize to town several times. memories watching them,” Marchessault said. “So yeah it’s a little bit more exciting for me, but also the last round was special for me playing “Every time that Marc-Andre has won the Stanley Cup, he brings it to against the Avs — like the old Nordiques — so it was special for me Sorel,” Thibault said. “Everyone was downtown to go see him and all the there and I think this will be a similar situation.” kids were very proud of him. They want to touch, they want to see and they want to cheer for Marc-Andre.” Marchessault explained further, saying he actually grew up supporting the Nordiques more than the Canadiens, but that it’s still special to play a Fleury drove in circles around downtown Sorel in his Jeep, with the playoff series in Montreal. Stanley Cup sitting in the passenger seat beside him. He finally arrived at the Colisée Cardin, a small ice rink in Sorel where he learned how to play “I remember my parents had tickets to Nordiques games and I would hockey. sometimes go with them,” he said, translated from French. “Obviously I was young, I was 4 or 5 years old, but I still have a couple of memories. “All the kids were around him,” Thibault recalled. “It was a very, very nice And then, in the following years, it was fun to follow Colorado. They had time. And I remember him taking time with every kid to talk. He’s such a a lot of success with Patrick (Roy) when he went there the year after, and good person.” it was really fun to follow them. Of course, it was a little bit harder Sorel is a tight-knit community and many have personal connections with because of the time difference, but during the playoffs, I was able to Fleury. Thibault told a story of her mother and aunt owning a children’s watch them and I had nice moments following them.” clothing store in town. Marchessault’s role on the Golden Knights can’t be overstated. He has “My aunt told me she remembers dressing Marc-Andre when he would regularly delivered in the biggest moments, including a hat trick in a come to the store with his mom,” she said. “So I’m sure she’s cheering crucial Game 4 win over Colorado last week at T-Mobile Arena when for him on Monday night.” Vegas trailed in the series 2-1. Thibault’s 15-year-old daughter, Laure-Andrée, plays goalie and wears Vegas also has a pair of French-Canadian forwards in its bottom-six No. 29 because of Fleury. Her bedroom is decorated with goalie masks, group. Roy and Carrier have each played in every playoff game to this gloves and sticks all signed by Fleury. point. Acquired in the expansion draft, Carrier has played the eighth-most games in franchise history. Those two don’t offer the same offensive Catherine Thibault’s uncle Paul, who was also born and raised in Sorel production as Marchessault, but both play integral roles and have and knew Fleury’s father, Andre, growing up, apparently had no issues delivered timely goals in the first two playoff rounds. choosing a side in this semifinal series.

Roy grew up in Amos, a small town in northwestern Quebec on the “My uncle is Marc-Andre, Marc-Andre, Marc-Andre,” she said, laughing. Harricana River. “All of the friends of (Fleury’s) father, who have followed Marc-Andre since he was a kid, it’s all Marc-Andre. They’re no choice. I spoke with “Mostly we were looking at the Canadien games, me and my family,” Roy him earlier today and he said we are all behind Marc-Andre, and he and said, remembering growing up in Quebec. “I wasn’t born for that 1993 his group of friends will be watching the games together.” run, but I’ve heard about it, I’ve seen some videos and it was pretty special.” Paul Thibault, 65, hung a Golden Knights flag outside of his home a few days ago to show his support.

“I told him to be careful no one takes your flag when you’re asleep,” Catherine Thibault said. “He said, ‘Oh, no worries. They all know I’m a big fan of Marc-Andre.’”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215842 Nashville Predators

Pekka Rinne wins NHL's 2021 King Clancy Trophy for efforts in Nashville community

PAUL SKRBINA , GENTRY ESTES

Pekka Rinne's best friend is 56 years old.

The Nashville Predators goalie met Mike Maguire many moon ago, along with former team captain Shea Weber, as part of the "Best Buddies" program they started in 2012-12.

Rinne, then the budding hockey king of Nashville, was in his seventh season as an NHL goalie, his fourth as a regular starter. Maguire was a 47-year-old Predators fan with Downs Syndrome who happened to win four tickets to a Predators game.

A friendship, born then, and still strong now, was born.

Now the two share more than a friendship. They also share an award.

Rinne won the NHL's 2021 King Clancy Trophy on Monday.

The award is given to a player who has exemplified "leadership on and off the ice and who has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."

Rinne's honor included a $25,000 donation by the NHL to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, which works with Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt to raise funds and awareness.

"He truly is my best buddy," Rinne said Monday night. "He's also Shea Weber's best buddy. I feel like I'm a part of their family. It's been special. I wanted to mention him. I'm hoping he's seeing some of these clips somewhere. I love him a lot. Everybody in Nashville knows him and I'm proud to be his buddy."

Rinne went on to say there are many more people responsible for his love for the city, so many who have "impacted me."

"We've raised over $3 million," Rinne said. "... It's amazing, and just being a part of it has been truly special."

GOALIE GOALS: Predators' Pekka Rinne scores his first NHL goal

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rinne led an initiative to help provide free meals and coffee to front-line workers.

Another Rinne fan, Predators general manager David Poile, also had kind thing to say about Rinne, who has spent his entire NHL career in Nashville.

“I view the King Clancy Memorial Trophy as a lifetime achievement award of sorts, and Pekka winning this year is totally reflective of what he has done on the ice, but equally, if not more importantly, what he’s done off the ice in our community,” PPoile said in a statement. “For years, and for good reason, Pekka has been the face of our franchise and our most popular player. This is shown by the countless hours he’s spent working to make our community a better place and the sacrifices he’s made to make the lives of everyone around him better. Pekka is completely deserving of this honor, and our organization couldn’t be happier for him.”

The 38-year-old Rinne's Predators contract expired after this past season, resulting in a memorable regular-season finale that took the form of an emotional sendoff for the franchise legend.

Rinne has said he would weigh his options this offseason in regard to possibly retiring or pursuing an opportunity to continue his playing career in his native Finland.

"It goes way deeper than just hockey," Rinne said. "It's a relationships, it's helping people. Being part of the community. Mike Maguire, it's a true friendship. We're going to be friends for the rest of my life. ... You get to be part of people's lives, and in some cases you get to touch their lives. It's a special feeling."

Tennessean LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215843 New Jersey Devils At Sharngovich’s size (he’s listed at 6 feet, 2 inches and 196 pounds), his improved skating ability is a huge factor. He’s big enough to compete with NHL veterans in the hard areas of the ice, but adding the ability to separate in open ice and the agility to navigate tight spaces opens up so ‘The sky is the limit’: How the Devils’ Yegor Sharangovich became a many more opportunities to play with the puck instead of chasing it. breakout young star And that is where the most exciting tool is Sharangovich’s arsenal — his lethal wrist shot — comes into play.

By Corey Masisak Jun 14, 2021 “So many coaches told me that my shot is good, to trust my shot,” Sharangovich said. “I remember Mark Dennehy in the AHL would tell me

all the time, ‘Shoot the puck, shoot the puck.’ I worked on it in practice It was a brief sequence in an otherwise mostly disappointing world and then when I would shoot more in the games, I had more scoring championship, but the tools that made Yegor Sharangovich one of the chances and more goals.” stories of the 2021 Devils’ season were all on display. Two assistant coaches in particular — Sergei Brylin in the AHL, Mikhail Sharangovich, who turned 23 last week, pounced on a wayward pass Grabovski in the KHL — have put in the hours of work with Sharangovich near the offensive blue line and found himself all alone with the goalie before and after practices to fine-tune his shooting ability. It looks a little late in a loss to Slovakia last month. He took a couple of strides to the different than a typical wrist shot — I’ve used words like “whip” and middle of the circles, picked out an opening and didn’t miss. “sling” to describe the motion. Dennehy said it reminds him of a lacrosse shot. He had shown the defensive instincts to be a dependable AHL player for nearly two full seasons after the Devils selected him at No. 141 in the It looks different this season than how he used to shoot, and that was by 2018 draft. But it’s the other two parts of this play — his improved skating design. ability and wrist shot — that Sharangovich has unlocked and helped him “Well, that was something that we had identified,” Woodcroft said. “It was soar from middle-six AHL center in early 2020 to scoring the fourth-most myself and Mikhail Grabovski because Grabber did a lot of the physical goals by an NHL rookie in 2021. work with Yegor, so I don’t want to step on his toes. One of the things Sharangovich also quickly became a fan favorite in New Jersey from that we had seen was, yeah, he would take too long to get his shot off. It both his play on the ice and the wholesome nature of the few interviews was such a dramatic wind-up and a ‘here it comes’ type of process. We he did with the media this season. felt that if we could tighten it up and change the angle of the puck when it’s delivered, so kind of kill two birds in one stone, that he could catch a “He’s like Clark Kent,” said Craig Woodcroft, who coached Sharangovich lot of people off guard. And he did have a powerful shot to begin with. So with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL this past season and was recently named those two things, we worked on a lot over the last summer.” coach of the Belarus national team. “He’s got these glasses and a nice suit on and he looks plain and ordinary, but then he’s got an ability and Grabovski has become a key figure in Sharangovich’s life. He’s the most confidence and an inner drive that lets him go on the ice and do some productive Belarusian player in NHL history. He was also a fifth-round special things. pick. One difference between the two — Grabovski did not have Sharangovich’s physical tools, but he earned a reputation as an “I look at Yegor as a very unassuming guy. He’s confident and driven extremely hard worker who squeezed every bit of talent out of his body inside and yet, on the exterior, he’s very humble and a little shy. He can that he could. be uncomfortable opening himself up to people, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.” “I’ve known Mikhail a long time,” Sharangovich said. “When I came to America before my first season in the AHL, I started working with him. Sharangovich’s rookie season was an unequivocal success for the He’s always looking at my games and we talk about my games. He’s a Devils, and he’s now considered a key young player for a franchise trying great guy and a great coach. He’s always helping me.” to climb its way out of a long rebuilding process. While the organization has a deep collection of interesting prospects, having a player defy Armed with an improved shot, Sharangovich made his mark with the nearly everyone’s expectations and reset his career arc as a potential Devils this season. He scored 16 goals in 54 games, a 27-goal pace for a impact NHL player is one of the types of unexpected surplus value full season. After a brief lull early in the season, he found a new home Stanley Cup-winning teams have routinely benefitted from in the salary next to Travis Zajac and . Then he and Kuokkanen cap era. were promoted to play with Hughes on the top line again, and that became one of the most productive trios of the season for the club. The story of Sharangovich’s career, however, is likely to run on two parallel tracks with different levels of pressure here and at home in “(His shot) used to be a little longer and he didn’t really look for it,” Belarus. Dennehy said. “He works his tail off. He improved his skating, so it’s not just his shot. He possesses the puck really well. I’m just really happy for Woodcroft knew Sharangovich was going to make the team. him.”

Well, let’s just say he was very confident. The Devils had several There were not many “lucky” goals on Sharangovich’s ledger this openings up front at the start of training camp, and Sharangovich had season. He had one tip-in from pretty far out against the Rangers. He made himself the most intriguing man in camp after a star turn in the had one where the Flyers mangled a situation behind their own net and it KHL. led to an easy one for him. He had a couple that were probably leaky goals for the netminder. Not only did Sharangovich earn a spot, but he also began the season on the top line next to Jack Hughes (remember when that was a surprise?) But he also just started beating goalies cleanly with his shot and didn’t and introduced himself to New Jersey with an overtime goal in Lindy really stop. Ruff’s first win with the club. This looks like a vintage Alex Ovechkin goal — in his younger days, he’d His first NHL goal looks a little like that one from the worlds, doesn’t it? It carry the puck into the offensive zone and use the defenseman as a was the full package of skills — defensive aptitude, powerful skating screen all the time. It was really his signature move before one-timers (complete with a “get off me” shrug when Matt Grzelcyk realized he was from the left circle became that. cooked and tried to cheat) and a goal where it was him and the goaltender and he won. That’s a pretty one.

“Coach Woodcroft really trusted me,” Sharangovich said. “I played a lot Here’s another total package goal. It also highlights a third part of of minutes and played a really good role in the team. It was really good Sharangovich’s development — the mental side of becoming a goal for me. I was just really ready for NHL camp when we came back. scorer.

“He was really happy when I made the team. I called the Dinamo That doesn’t get talked about a lot with most NHL players. For most of coaches to say thank you for the half season and thank you for helping them, they were a go-to scorer on every team they ever played on, so it me.” was learning the defensive side of the game or other intricacies. Sharangovich established his defensive credentials first with Binghamton, and he’s still learning the art of being a goal scorer. “The other thing in building a goal scorer is you also have to get them “It’s been really nice when my wife is here with me,” said Sharangovich, thinking that they are a goal scorer. It’s a mentality,” Woodcroft said. who also noted they were going on their honeymoon to the Maldives after “And so being in the situation we were in Minsk, we knew we needed the season (they arrived this past weekend). “She helps a lot when I production from him. We knew if our team was to have a chance to be have bad games. She is also cooking for me. We don’t eat at a lot of successful, he had to be a main driver of that. So it was really important restaurants because she is so good at cooking. for us to kind of turn his thoughts to, yes, he can do this. Yes, he has the potential to score goals and to be an offensive contributor. So I think that “This season when it started, we couldn’t go outside a lot. But since the whole process of mentally engaging him, and then arming him with the middle of the season, we have more free time. I have gone with my wife tools, and then really encouraging and building up that confidence, that to the parks, a lot of shopping, a couple of times to New York and to whole process worked together and got Yegor to the place where he is Jersey City. A lot of walking outside. Sometimes I will play computer today. games, but my wife will mess with me when I start playing.”

“I give a lot of credit to Lindy for sticking with him and continuing to Life back at home is not always the same for European players, and it’s believe him and work and grow through the whole process.” especially true for Sharangovich and other Belarusian players. When the 2020-21 KHL season began, Belarus was a country in turmoil. That’s another one where Sharangovich made a strong play to help the Thousands of citizens packed the streets in Minsk and around the Devils keep the puck, then found the soft spot in the defense. That area country to protest Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the president of between the circles in the high slot became a go-to scoring area for him. Belarus since 1994, but as the Washington Post recently put it, “his nearly three-decade rule has been marked by electoral irregularities, Nice play by Zajac, and Sharangovich went to the right place. But, whew, human rights abuses and moves to consolidate power.” can’t imagine that sequence of events went over very well during the next Philadelphia film session. Dinamo had to alter its practice schedule if there was going to be a protest, or if one had popped up near the arena. At one point during That one looks pretty familiar. training camp, the club moved its players to a hotel about 30 miles There was a lucky bounce off an official involved here, but this was also outside the city — partly for coronavirus concerns, but also to give the a really good example of how Hughes, Kuokkanen and Sharangovich team an added layer of safety and security. worked so well together. Freeze this clip at five or six seconds in and you Belarus and Lukashenko were back in the global news cycle last month see the Sabres have the puck with time and space and numbers to easily when a commercial airplane was forced to land so an opposition get it out of danger, right? journalist who was onboard could be arrested. Other European leaders Well, Hughes and Kuokkanen pressured the puck carrier at just the right called it a state-sponsored hijacking and a terrorist act. angles and forced him to try and drop it back to his defense partner. So This matters for Sharangovich not just because Belarus is his home. He they certainly played a role in creating their own luck. is also now the face of Belarusian hockey, in a proud country where For Devils fans, that is … the stuff right there, as the kids might say. They people love the sport. He was the captain of the national team at the might use a slightly different word. world championships at 22.

Apologies for the choppy middle part of that video, but that is a Blake Lukashenko has close ties to the hockey program, much in the same way Coleman goal. Scored by a guy who has some similarities in Coleman’s that Vladimir Putin does in Russia. And much like many of the prominent story/career arc to this point. Russian stars in the NHL have before him, Sharangovich is going to spend his career with an added burden of how he deals with the situation It would be pretty hard to draw up a prettier off-the-rush power-play goal as a public figure. than that one. Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and other Russian stars have dealt with some There’s another one that may have caused a bad word or three in the criticism of their relationship with Putin, but honestly not as much in this Flyers’ coaches’ room after the game. At one point here, Sharangovich is country as say, Tony DeAngelo, has for his allegiance to the previous in on the forecheck 1-on-4 with Miles Wood drifting towards the bench for president. Artemi Panarin has been outspoken against Putin and took a a change. But Sharangovich and Hughes still turn it into a goal. leave of absence from the Rangers this past season after a sexual assault accusation made against him that he both denied and felt was Sharangovich’s last goal of the season was a lot like the first — came off tied directly to his opposition of the Russian leader. the rush on a pass from Damon Severson and he beat the goalie cleanly with a wrist shot. How Sharangovich navigates the situation is going to be a different kind of pressure than anything he’ll encounter with the Devils. And while it There are a couple of reasons why Sharangovich could struggle to match might pale in comparison, there is also going to pressure on him to help his 27-goal pace next season. His shooting percentage was a little high, the country’s hockey team improve as well. but we also might just be at the start of a career where he proves able to do that consistently because of his quick and heavy shot. Maybe he The Devils are trying to rebuild, and Belarus is in a similar situation on doesn’t get to play with Hughes as much next year, so there aren’t many the international level. great chances. “He’s the future of Belarus hockey now,” Woodcroft said. “He’s young. He But there are reasons for optimism, as well. He’s still learning how to do has skill. He’s a clean-cut kid. He’s a good face of the hockey team this. And there could be more power-play time in his future. And more moving forward. And he’s hungry. It’s a big burden for him because they “greasy” goals, to help offset any shooting slumps that might occur. have struggled for a while now. They want to be a top-10 hockey team in the world. Yegor wants to be the guy who leads them there.” “What was he on pace for? Like (27) goals?” Woodcroft said. “That was just Year One. If he can remain hungry and focused and keeps up as a Belarus upset Sweden and lost to the Czech Republic early in the world student of the art of scoring like he’s become, I think that’s going to make championships but also finished in last place in its group, and the him be able to get to 27 goals next year and with a little bit of luck maybe previous head coach was quickly dismissed. into the 30s. And that’s a hell of an addition for the Devils for a guy that a year ago wasn’t really on the radar screen.” Sharangovich also dealt with his first minor international incident at the tournament. That goal he scored against Slovakia? Well, he skated by When Sharangovich scored his first NHL goal, his wife, Darya their bench and greeted them with a one-finger gesture that is easy to Sharangovicha, was still at home in Belarus. translate in any language.

It probably isn’t entirely a coincidence that Yegor’s first mini-lull where he He also quickly apologized for it after the game, and it did not become had a few games without making much of an impact and lost some ice more than a brief story. time ended right about the time Darya arrived in Newark. She didn’t join him in Binghamton the past two seasons, but their chronicles of the “I just think his emotions got the better of them there,” Woodcroft said. season away from the ice in northern New Jersey and Manhattan on “And I think he was just expressing his emotions. He didn’t score on the social media certainly added to the wholesome, unassuming vibe that penalty shot before that. It was at a crucial time. So I think he was Sharangovich exudes. probably just frustrated, and he’s probably getting chirped as he went by their bench, and he just let emotions get the better of him. “But then that’s Yegor the competitor. Yegor the person, as soon as he got back into the dressing room he realized that probably wasn’t the best thing for him to do, particularly being the captain of the team. So he apologized. So I think it just showed him as a human and the whole process. His emotions got the better of him as a competitor. Then he took his helmet off, and he got back into Yegor the person mode and said, ‘That’s not really who I am.’ And he made it right. It’s probably a good learning experience for him as a player and as a person.”

Next up for Sharangovich is going to be a new contract, because he’s a restricted free agent. Then it will be his sophomore season in the NHL, and he will be one of several rookies who want to prove they are more than a one-hit wonder next season.

Given the foundation of his game as a smart, two-way minded player, the added offensive prowess and a burgeoning reputation as a hard worker, betting on Sharangovich might be a sound investment.

“He has to keep putting the work in on the trade of scoring goals,” Woodcroft said. “And I think the trust New Jersey’s coaching staff put into him really helped. You can look at the ways he scored goals, but I also saw some of the chances he didn’t score on, like blows by a defenseman, cuts to the inside, not afraid to go to the hard areas.

“If he keeps on that page, the sky’s the limit for him.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215844 New York Islanders

Lightning look to strike through Islanders’ stingy defense

By David LazarJune 15, 2021 | 12:20am | Updated

The Lightning are a talented, cerebral team, but the pesky Islanders already have the upper hand. Tampa Bay struggled offensively Sunday afternoon as the Isles’ defensive system claimed another victim.

“It looks like it is there, but they are pretty quick to take those lanes away,” Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said Monday. “We were sloppy with the puck and turned pucks over and that feeds into their game.”

With seven minutes remaining in the second period, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos corralled the puck at the offensive-zone blue line during the end of a shift. After an attempt to get the puck deep was blocked, he attempted a cross-ice pass to Anthony Cirelli. It landed on the stick of Josh Bailey, who fed a perfect pass to a breaking Mathew Barzal. Seconds later, the Islanders led 1-0.

“You have to just stick with the grinding game,” Stamkos said following Game 1. “Obviously, I was trying to make a play there and you see what can happen. They can go the other way and score and it can be the difference in the game. I need to be better in that situation.”

The Islanders suffocated the Lightning, whose top forward line of Ondrej Palat, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov recorded a combined three shots on goal.

“We managed pucks,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said Monday when discussing Tampa Bay’s top unit. “It is wall play. It is staying above them. It is having smart people and giving [their top line] players they have to go through. You have to be aware and you have to be positionally strong. They are going to look for a different level.”

This success is nothing new. Led by veteran, two-way forwards, a fortified defensive unit and a coach who knows how to win, the Islanders have shut down the best of the best since Trotz took over. With Game 2 on Tuesday night, he was asked what his secret is.

“I’m not going to answer that question,” he said. “I’m not going to give any ammo to anybody else.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215845 New York Islanders

Islanders’ Oliver Wahlstrom unlikely to get spot back with return near

By Mollie WalkerJune 14, 2021 | 11:37pm | Updated

TAMPA — Barry Trotz had said there was no guarantee Oliver Wahlstrom would be plugged right back into the Islanders’ lineup once he was fully recovered from the lower-body injury he sustained during the first-round series against the Penguins.

The coach is following through on that sentiment.

After Wahlstrom participated in pregame warmups for the first time since his injury ahead of the Islanders’ eventual 2-1 victory over the Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals Sunday, it became clear the rookie sharpshooter is now available.

Trotz said Monday that Wahlstrom is “pretty close to returning,” and that he “could go if necessary.” However, Trotz has evidently liked the job Travis Zajac has done in Wahlstrom’s place and doesn’t see a need to make any adjustments to the lineup.

“I think Zajac gives us a little more flexibility,” Trotz said Monday during the Islanders’ practice at Amalie Arena. “In the face-off circle, obviously a little more of a tricky role, [he’s] good on the walls. That’s probably the biggest thing, and experience. It’s working right now, so maybe don’t have to fix it right now.

Oliver Wahlstrom

“But, you know, as the series goes on that may change. We won Game 1, things could change after [Tuesday’s game], they could change. But I think we found some stability and I’ll say some clarity for every line that, right now, we don’t have to do anything.”

Zajac has recorded one goal and one assist in eight playoff games since getting into the Isles’ lineup in Game 6 of the first-round series against Pittsburgh. He’s helped on face-offs and played a responsible game that has complemented the Islanders’ third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and fellow trade deadline acquisition Kyle Palmieri.

In five playoff games prior to his injury, Wahlstrom scored one goal and collected two assists.

The Islanders had a well-attended optional practice Monday at Amalie Arena.

Goaltender was not on the ice, which was presumably to give him rest ahead of his anticipated seventh straight start Tuesday. Rookie Ilya Sorokin and veteran Cory Schneider took reps in net during practice.

“We’re healthy from [Sunday] night,” Trotz said. “Usual postgame bruises and what have you, but nothing to report.”

Captain Anders Lee, who is still recovering from ACL surgery, was also on the ice doing drills by himself on the other end of practice. He is not expected to return this postseason.

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Ryan Pulock’s goal-scoring turn adds versatility to Islanders blue line

By Mollie WalkerJune 14, 2021 | 10:21pm | Updated

TAMPA — Ryan Pulock hasn’t changed his game this postseason, but the Islanders’ top-pair defenseman is suddenly a scoring threat.

As soon as the NHL calendar flipped to the playoffs, Pulock began to find the back of the net and has doubled his goal total from the regular season. Including his rocket-shot from the top of the zone in the third period of the Islanders’ 2-1 win over the Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series Sunday, Pulock has four goals in 13 games this postseason.

Three of those tallies have stood as game-winners, which leads the Islanders.

“He’s playing a really solid game, like he has all year,” coach Barry Trotz said after Sunday’s win. “Pucks are just going in [now]. I think early in the year, or during the year, he was actually trying to score and now he’s just putting pucks to the net and they’re going in. I don’t think there’s any change in his game. He’s had a real solid season from game one right to the end of the season.”

Ryan Pulock current leads the Islanders’ defensemen in goals with four in the postseason.

Added his defensive partner Adam Pelech, who along with Pulock drew the primary matchup with the Lightning’s top line in Game 1: “He’s obviously extremely important. He’s a great player and that was a big goal for us [Sunday] night. But, you know, it’s not just scoring goals, he’s done a ton of stuff all over the ice to help us win throughout the playoffs. He’s going to be a guy that we’re going to count on forward.”

Pulock has rediscovered his scoring touch after he registered a career- low two goals in 56 regular-season games (not including the combined 16 games he played in his first two NHL seasons). His four goals are the most amongst all Isles defenseman, and he is tied with top six forwards Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal.

The 26-year-old defenseman didn’t score his first goal of the regular season until nearly four months in, on April 11 against the Rangers, when he potted the overtime game-winner 1:13 into the extra period. He admitted his offensive struggles weighed on him.

“I try to not let that bother me during the regular season,” Pulock said. “Just keep playing my game, play the right way, play good defensively and I knew it would come. But come playoff time, it’s nice to contribute in that way and help out offensively. Every goal is huge in the playoffs. So it’s nice to get one or two, I just want to keep that going.”

The Islanders have gotten six goals out of their defense this postseason, and a total of 25 points as the defensemen have found ways to create offensive opportunities for the forwards. It just may be what sets this Islanders team apart from the Lightning during this Stanley Cup semifinal series.

Victor Hedman has led the way offensively this postseason for Tampa Bay defensemen with 11 assists, but the Norris Trophy finalist has yet to score. None of the other five defensemen in the lineup have recorded goals this postseason, either.

“It’s huge, any time you get your defense involved in the attack, it’s huge for your offense,” Trotz said. “I think our lines have all chipped in and if you can get the defense adding a little bit from the back end, obviously that enhances the percentage of you having any kind of success.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215847 New York Islanders

Clark Gillies’ inspiration for beer-crushing Islanders moment

By David LazarJune 14, 2021 | 3:25pm | Updated

Clark Gillies had some great moments during his playing time with the New York Islanders – and he is still making an impact on the team.

During Game 4 in the second round at Nassau Coliseum, Gillies was put on the scoreboard in the midst of a 1-1 contest. The 67-year-old stole the show.

The four-time Stanley Cup winner chugged his beer and smashed the empty can on his head, drawing a lively reaction from the crowd. That momentum was felt all the way down on the ice, where, minutes later, Mathew Barzal scored the game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins.

Gillies’ game-changing moment was inspired by another notable beer- chugging fan that Isles fans have come to appreciate.

“There is a guy that plays for the New York Jets, Dan Feeney,” Gillies told “” last week. “He has been coming to the games and smashing beer cans on his head, so I was challenged by a friend of mine and he said, ‘You gotta do that when they put you on camera.’ I said, ‘You gotta be out of your mind.’ So I am kind of out of my mind I guess.”

Known as a physical, team-first player during his career, Gillies took both those descriptions and applied them to his viral moment. Over three decades after his final NHL game, he put his body on the line to give his team a boost.

“The game was tied at one and somehow we needed a lift, so when they put the camera on me, I got all fired up,” Gillies said. “Actually, the beer can, I didn’t want to get beer all over anybody in our section, so I drank most of it, took one last sip and I smashed it on my head. I guess I proceeded to smash it on my head about four more times.”

And the rest is history.

“Apparently it worked, because Barzal scored about two minutes later and we went on to win the game,” Gillies said. “I am being called the difference right now.”

New York Post LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215848 New York Islanders to the playoffs or in the playoffs or moving forward to try and win a Stanley Cup. We’re trying to be a constant playoff team and a constant threat. Because once you get into the playoffs, you have a chance every year. If you have success as an organization, that takes care of To Lightning, Islanders' Game 1 win was more about Tampa's failures everything else."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.15.2021 By Andrew Gross

Updated June 14, 2021 6:27 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — However the Islanders are perceived is not of utmost importance to their players. But management knows it matters.

"I think winning matters," Cal Clutterbuck said. "I think winning, it’s what’s important to us. Everyone’s opinion is different. Everyone is entitled to it. But, no we don’t think about it."

The Islanders’ immediate focus is Tuesday night’s Game 2 of their NHL semifinal series against the Lightning at Amalie Arena after stifling their opponent’s potent attack in Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 win.

But the Lightning’s perception, both immediately following the game and after both teams had optional practices on Monday, was that the Game 1 result had more to do with their own failures than the Islanders’ success.

Island Ice Ep. 98: Isles-Lightning Game 1 analysis

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' Game 1 win over Tampa Bay in the NHL semifinals.

"We didn’t spend a ton of time in the offensive zone because we kept turning the puck over," Lightning coach said on Monday. "And, so, we weren’t really giving ourselves a chance to play offense. We have a recipe. We didn’t follow the directions last night. What turned out, it didn’t look too good. We addressed some things today.

"Give the Islanders credit, they’ve got a good team," added Cooper, whose team beat the Islanders in six games in last year’s Eastern Conference finals in the Edmonton bubble before going on to win the Stanley Cup. "There’s a reason they’re here. There’s a reason they’ve been in the conference final the last couple of years. [It's] because they’re good. We know they are and we know we can be better."

The Islanders will have to continue to do what they did in Game 1 to take a 2-0 series lead back to Nassau Coliseum for Thursday night’s Game 3. Their defensive structure was sound. Goalie Semyon Varlamov stopped 29 shots. They were able to turn the Lightning’s turnovers into scoring chances.

Most importantly, they only gave the Lightning two power-play opportunities. The Lightning scored their lone goal skating six-on-four with 53.7 seconds left in regulation, making them 16-for-37 (43.2%) on the man advantage in the postseason and meaning that a disproportionate 41% of their playoff goals have come from their power play.

Perhaps it’s natural for the Lightning to focus on their own Game 1 faults.

But this was not a case of the Lightning just losing Game 1. The Islanders earned the victory.

And how a team is perceived around the NHL — not by the media or prognosticators, but by fellow NHL personnel — can be crucial.

The Islanders are heading into their new, state-of-the-art UBS Arena at Belmont Park next season and co-owner Jon Ledecky made it clear on a recent construction tour that the building — specifically a generously- sized visitor’s dressing room — will hopefully make the Islanders attractive to future free agents.

President and general manager and coach Barry Trotz have worked hard in their three seasons to change the perception of the organization around the NHL.

"One of the biggest things we had to overcome was playing out of Barclays and guys living on the Island and then we’re back in the Coliseum," Trotz said. "I think all that gets cleaned up with the new building. Players can get a real good vision. Our building will solidify that part.

"Organizationally, I think it was important for us to get back to some foundational stuff," Trotz added. "Being a team that is consistently close 1215849 New York Islanders

Oliver Wahlstrom available for Islanders, but Barry Trotz will stick with Travis Zajac — for now

By Andrew Gross

Updated June 14, 2021 4:40 PM

TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie Oliver Wahlstrom is available to play "if necessary" but Islanders coach Barry Trotz sees no reason to alter his lineup for Tuesday night’s Game 2 of their NHL semifinal series against the Lightning.

Wahlstrom participated in the Islanders’ pregame warmups before their 2-1 win in Sunday afternoon’s Game 1 at Amalie Arena. It marked the first time he was available to play since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 5 of the Islanders’ first-round series against the Penguins.

Travis Zajac, acquired from the Devils on April 7, has taken Wahlstrom’s spot in the lineup and settled into an effective role on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s right wing along with fellow former Devil Kyle Palmieri.

"With Zajac, he gives us a little more flexibility in the faceoff circle, a little more of a checking role," Trotz said as the Islanders conducted an optional practice on Monday. "That’s the biggest thing, probably, and the experience. It’s working right now so maybe don’t have to fix it right now."

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' Game 1 win over Tampa Bay in the NHL semifinals.

"Right now" being the key phrase.

"As the series goes on, that may change," Trotz said. "We won Game 1. Things could change after tomorrow. But I think we found some stability and some clarity for every line so right now we don’t have to do anything."

Lee on ice

Injured captain Anders Lee (right ACL) was again on the ice during the Islanders’ optional practice, working on his own at one end while his teammates took shots on third-string goalie Cory Schneider in the opposite zone.

Lee, out since March 11, was first spotted publicly in Boston on June 7 at the optional morning skate before Game 5 of the second-round series.

Both Trotz and president and general manager Lou Lamoriello have said repeatedly Lee will not play in the playoffs.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215850 New York Islanders to answer that question. I’m not going to give any ammo to anybody else."

Fair enough. Are these Islanders good enough to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning? Yes! Another smart thing the Islanders did in Game 1 was get called for only Yes! Yes! two penalties, a good idea against a Tampa Bay power play that is connecting at an absurd 42.1% clip in the playoffs.

Updated June 14, 2021 5:11 PM By Neil Best That’s even higher than Jacob deGrom’s batting average!

On to Game 2.

Uncle! The Islanders might win, and they might lose. But the days of being surprised by the former are over. And I do not mean "Uncle Leo" Komarov. But now that I think about it, him, too! Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.15.2021

The Islanders’ performance in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals against the Lightning on Sunday should erase once and for all the skepticism many of us who watch hockey have harbored about this team.

Scrappy? Yes. Disciplined? Yup. Balanced? Very. Well-coached? Absolutely. But even having conceded all of that, the conventional wisdom was that against powerhouses such as Boston and Tampa Bay, it would not be enough.

Island Ice Ep. 98: Isles-Lightning Game 1 analysis

Andrew Gross, Neil Best and Colin Stephenson discuss the Isles' Game 1 win over Tampa Bay in the NHL semifinals.

Well, here we are. Resistance is futile. After watching the Islanders stuff the potent Bolts offense into a steamer trunk and throw it into the Gulf of Mexico in a 2-1 victory, there is no reason to doubt they can play with anyone.

Does that necessarily mean they will steamroll the Lightning and skate into their first Final since 1984? Of course not. There is a long way to go, and Tampa Bay figures to show some championship mettle in Game 2.

That is not the point. The point is that the underdog thing is out the window now. The Islanders belong – in this series, the next series and any other series the NHL throws at them.

Fans are on board, as they should be. In another of my wildly unscientific Twitter polls on Monday, I asked which New York-area team will win a championship first – the Islanders, Mets, Nets or Yankees.

As of mid-afternoon, the Islanders were getting nearly two-thirds of the vote.

Still, before the series began, coach Barry Trotz hinted that he would play the underdog card with his players, noting correctly that every coach in the history of sports would do the same.

So I asked Cal Clutterbuck whether that speech had occurred, and whether such things matter to the group.

"No, I mean, no," he said. "Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. You ask one person, we’re an underdog. You ask another one, and we’re not.

"I think that we just feel like we have something to prove to ourselves and that’s what we’re trying to do and so the focus isn’t about, again, what other people think of us. It’s about what we need to do for ourselves and why we’re here and the focus is on each other and on ourselves."

The task for Trotz, his staff and his veteran-heavy roster is to stick to the plan that in Game 1 discombobulated everyone in a blue sweater, starting with the first line of Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat.

Asked how the Islanders did it in Game 1, Trotz said, "We just managed pucks. It’s wall play. It’s staying above them. It’s being aware when you didn’t have the puck. They’re so good at creating, just entering the zone they can make four passes within about 10 feet, and you’ve got to sort that out.

"So it’s having smart people who can sort that out and just being on the right side and giving them layers that they have to go through. They’re still going to make some plays."

Fine, but everyone in the league knows the Isles’ m.o. on defense, or should. Why can’t they solve the riddle?

I asked Trotz how he would coach against the Islanders, and he smartly said, "I’m not going to tell you that, that’s what I would say. I’m not going 1215851 New York Islanders

Wahlstrom or Zajac? Tough Question Ahead for Islanders Barry Trotz

Published 13 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Christian Arnold

To change or not to change, that is the question facing New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz about whether or not to put Oliver Wahlstrom back in the lineup or keep the versatile Travis Zajac in.

A goal scorer or steady faceoff man? The young gun or the steady veteran? From the sounds of it, Trotz seems to be leaning one way, but the Islanders coach confirmed on Monday that Wahlstrom could play if they needed him.

Oliver Wahlstrom skated in warmups in Game 1, which had been the first time he had done so since leaving Game 5 of the First Round with an injury. Before that, Wahlstrom had quickly become a presence on the ice during the playoffs with a goal and three points through the first five games against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He also registered 11 shots on net and averaged 14:11 of ice time n that span.

Since then Zajac has proven his value alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Kyle Palmieri in Wahlstrom’s absence. Zajac scored his first playoff goal as an Islanders in Game 6 against Boston and he has gone 7-for-14 in the faceoff circle when he’s been called upon.

“With Zajac, he gives us a little bit more flexibility in the faceoff circle and obviously a little bit more of a checking role,” Trotz said on Monday after practice. “That’s the biggest thing probably, and experience. It’s working right now so maybe you don’t have to fix it right now.”

So for now it would appear that Zajac is holding onto his spot in the Islanders lineup where Oliver Wahlstrom once was. While it’s a move that won’t please everyone, with the way the team has played the decision not to change anything would make the most sense.

The Islanders have closed out two series against teams that have been heavily favored over them and Zajac has managed to play an important role in that. Against Boston, it was his line of Pageau and Palmieri that helped shut down Boston’s

“perfection line” through the six-game battle.

Zajac arrived on Long Island and found himself in a tough spot. He got some playing time, but spent a lot of his first few months with the Islanders watching the game instead of playing.

“You want to come, and you want to try and contribute any way possible,” Zajac said recently. “It’s a great group, and it’s fun to be a part of.”

For now, the spot is Zajac’s, but if things in the series start to tilt the other way Trotz didn’t close the door on making a change to his lineup.

“As the series goes on that may change,” Trotz said. “We won Game 1. Things could change after tomorrow, they could change tomorrow, but I think we’ve found some stability and some clarity for every line. Right now we don’t have to do anything. … That’s the big thing I feel very comfortable with the lines as they are.”

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215852 New York Islanders

Willis Reed Moment Coming? Islanders Anders Lee Seen Skating after Practice in Tampa

Published 14 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Christian Arnold

Anders Lee was back out on the ice after the New York Islanders held a well-attended optional practice, but for anyone expecting a Willis Reed- type moment in the playoffs you shouldn’t hold your breath.

Monday was the second time during the postseason that Lee had been seen publically skating since undergoing surgery to repair an ACL injury that he suffered in March. Lee was seen skating in his own end of the ice by Newsday’s Andrew Gross and the New York Post’s Mollie Walker.

Anders Lee skated at TD Garden in Boston ahead of Game 5 last week as well.

While the sight of Lee on the ice is an encouraging sign, it doesn’t mean that he will be able to play any time soon. That’s at least what the Islanders are saying. Lee was ruled out for the remainder of the year after Lee got tangled up with New Jersey’s Pavel Zacha in front of the net and his right leg hit the ice awkwardly as the two fell.

Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello have repeatedly said that despite Lee’s presence on the ice he would not be available during the Islanders playoff run.

New York currently leads the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 in their best-of- seven series in the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215853 New York Islanders Jackets that he is not interested in signing a long-term extension with Columbus. He has one year left on his contract. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Max Pacioretty wore his poker face ahead of the Stanley Cup Semifinals NYHN Daily: Islanders Defeat Lightning in Game 1 of Semi-Finals & against the Montreal Canadiens. The Vegas Golden Knights forward More spent his first 10 NHL seasons with the Canadiens, from 2008-09 to 2017-18, and was captain during his final three seasons. He was traded to Vegas on Sept. 9, 2018, for a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and forwards Nick Suzuki and Tomas Tatar. (NHL) Published 17 hours ago on June 14, 2021By Stefen Rosner There was no secret to the New York Islanders’ success in their 2-1 win

against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup The New York Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of Semifinals at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Sunday. The Islanders entered their semi-final series by a score of 2-1. It was a relentless effort by the the best-of-7 series knowing they needed to limit the opportunities for the Islanders as they upset the defending champions. It was a message- Lightning’s power play and believing that playing 5-on-5, rolling their four sending type of game. These stories and more in today’s daily links! forward lines, and playing within their defensive structure would give them the best chance to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champions. The New York Islanders defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game (NHL) 1 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals on Sunday at Amalie Arena. The Islanders hold a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven series. (NYI Hockey The Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t grasping for answers or doing any soul- Now) searching after losing Game 1 to the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Semifinals on Sunday. They know why they lost 2-1 at Amalie Arena The New York Islanders talked about unfinished business in the lead-up in Tampa to fall behind in the best-of-7 series. (NHL) to Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and while they tried to assert that the comments weren’t aimed at their Stanley Cup Semifinals Carey Price, known for keeping his emotions in check, didn’t try to hide opponent, they certainly looked like they were playing to prove a point on his enthusiasm and respect when the Montreal Canadiens goalie was Sunday. (NYI Hockey Now) asked about playing Marc-Andre Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. “His resume speaks for itself.” (NHL) Ryan Pulock’s postseason continues to be vastly different than his regular season, even if he’s not doing much differently. The defenseman The Carolina Hurricanes have given defenceman Dougie Hamilton and with the booming right-handed shot scored the third-period goal that gave his agent J.P Barry permission to talk to other NHL teams prior to the the Islanders a two-goal lead in their 2-1 victory over the Lightning in start of free agency, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Game 1 of their NHL semifinals on Sunday afternoon at Amalie Arena. Speaking to other clubs could encourage a sign and trade with an option (Newsday) for an eight-year term on the new contract. However, neither side is in any rush at this point. (TSN) Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov came into this series against Andrei Vasilevskiy as the weaker of the two. Yet in Game 1, Varlamov Montreal Canadiens defencemen Jeff Petry (hand), Jake Evans stood tall. He outplayed the Tampa netminder. (Newsday) (concussion) and Jon Merrill (lower-body injury) remained sidelined with their injuries but traveled with the team to Las Vegas for Game 1 of their Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves for the New York Islanders in a 2-1 third-round series against the Golden Knights on Monday night. win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said Friday they are “not Semifinals at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Sunday. Varlamov has won four very confident” that the three players will dress in Game 1. (TSN) consecutive starts since Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Second Round against the Boston Bruins. (NHL) NYI Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021

The words “Islanders” and “dominating” don’t spend much time together. When Barry Trotz’s team wins, it’s usually a battle the Islanders pull out or pull away from. But if there’s such a thing as a dominating one-goal game, the Islanders played it. (The Athletic)

Coach Barry Trotz said his Islanders’ series-opening blowout loss to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals last season wasn’t a fair fight, after his team was thrown onto the ice the day after traveling between the NHL’s bubbles. A rested Islanders squad had no such troubles Sunday in Game 1 of this season’s Stanley Cup semifinals, as they took a convincing 2-1 win and a 1-0 series lead over the Lightning in front of a disheartened home crowd at Amalie Arena. (NY Post)

The Boston Bruins have done a solid job developing their own talent over the years as attested by an NHL roster that is overflowing with homegrown talent. So, it’s not a surprise to see a report from Insider Craig Morgan that head coach Jay Leach has interviewed for the vacant Coyotes head coaching gig in Arizona. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Philadelphia Flyers have more than a few decisions to make this offseason. It all starts with their protected list for the Seattle Kraken expansion draft next month. As things stand now, the Flyers will almost certainly go with the more conventional 7/3/1 protection. That is seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie. (Philly Hockey Now)

It was 19 years ago today that the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. As someone who was there to witness the moment, it was a night filled with romance, history and an exclamation point shock finish when Wings coach announced after donning his skates to do a tour of the ice with the Stanley Cup hoisted over his head that his unparalleled Hall of Fame career was at an end. (Detroit Hockey Now)

When it comes to anything reported by Elliotte Friedman, take it to the bank. Elliotte said on “” Hot Stove last night that Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones would “love” to be traded to either Colorado or Dallas. Jones has already informed the Blue 1215854 New York Rangers

Rangers agree to deal with new coach Gerard Gallant

By STEPHEN WHYNO and TOM CANAVAN

ASSOCIATED PRESS |

JUN 14, 2021 AT 9:31 PM

Gerard Gallant is set to join one of hockey’s oldest organizations instead of the NHL’s newest franchise after reaching an agreement to coach the New York Rangers.

Gallant and the Rangers have a deal for him to be their next coach, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.

Gallant was a highly sought-after coaching candidate three years after leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. He is fresh off coaching Canada from an 0-3 start to the gold medal at the world hockey championship and now he will join one of the league’s franchises.

The 57-year-old Gallant replaces , who was fired along with much of his staff by new Rangers president and general manager shortly after the regular season ended. President John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton were fired days earlier, with owner James Dolan citing the need for a “change in leadership.”

It is Gallant’s fourth NHL head coaching job after stints with the Blue Jackets, Panthers and Golden Knights. The 2018 winner as coach of the year, Gallant was fired by Vegas midway through the 2019-20 season and replaced by Peter DeBoer.

The Rangers getting Gallant keeps him from the expansion Seattle Kraken, who could have tried to replicate his success with the Golden Knights. The Arizona Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres are the other teams left with a coaching vacancy, though the Carolina Hurricanes don’t yet have a new contract for Jack Adams finalist Rod Brind’Amour and the Montreal Canadiens have yet to remove the interim tag from Dominique Ducharme.

Columbus last week promoted assistant Brad Larsen to head coach. Gallant had interviewed for that position along with former Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet.

Stanley Cup winner John Tortorella, Bruce Boudreau and Tocchet are among those available with NHL head-coaching experience. Tortorella coached the Rangers from 2009-2013, a stint that included Drury’s time as captain.

Gallant has coached parts of nine seasons with Columbus, Florida and Vegas and been fired midseason at each stop. He’s 270-216-4-51 in the regular season and beyond the 2018 trip to the final with Vegas has lost once in the first round each with the Panthers and Golden Knights.

He said upon taking the world championship job that it was his hope to win a gold medal — not audition for an NHL team.

“I want to get back to work,” Gallant said April 28. “I wanted to get back to coaching hockey and doing the things that you’re used to doing every day, and I haven’t had that opportunity for quite a while.”

His next opportunity will be at Madison Square Garden with the Rangers, a young team with Norris Trophy finalist defenseman Adam Fox, 2020 MVP finalist winger Artemi Panarin, likely goaltender of the present and future Igor Shesterkin and a young core expected to contend for years to come.

New York Daily News LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215855 New York Rangers Rangers are going to need to hire at least a lead assistant who can fill in those blanks.

Criticisms of Quinn, as they have seeped into the ether following his Inside the Rangers’ monumental hiring of Gerard Gallant dismissal, have focused on the former BU coach’s tendency to over- coach and both literally and metaphorically look over his players’ shoulders. One player recently told The Post that Quinn was too concerned about what players thought of him. By Larry BrooksJune 14, 2021 | 8:51pm | Updated Though the Blueshirts’ skilled guys kept producing, Quinn could not get

them to play a more north-south, straight-line game. Despite constant This will not represent quite the culture shock of replacing wheedling — or perhaps, because of that — he could not get them to John Tortorella behind the bench in 2013, or maybe not even of David adopt a shoot-first mentality. It became a battle of wills that the coach did Quinn being hired for his first NHL gig in 2018 to succeed Vigneault. not win.

But the hiring of Gerard Gallant as the Rangers’ 36th head coach as first We are told that players who do not follow Gallant’s dictates wind up not reported by The Post on Monday afternoon, will represent a marked playing all that much, and that Gallant does not hesitate to sit players no change in approach. The voice will be different, the tone will be different matter their names. There is accountability demanded and respect and so, perhaps most importantly, will the relationships between the earned. players — especially the veterans — and the coach. There is much work ahead. But the Rangers have a coach. They got their Chris Drury’s first coaching search as president and general manager man. And 2021-22 is underway on Broadway. came to a conclusion Monday when the parties reached an agreement New York Post LOADED: 06.15.2021 for Gallant to take over the club that has missed the playoffs the past four seasons.

Gallant was identified as the front-runner for the job from the outset and was interviewed for the job by Drury on May 14, two days before jetting off to Latvia for the World Championships as coach of Team Canada. He returned last Sunday from the tournament with a gold medal in hand after steering his team to the title after starting with three straight defeats.

Drury, meanwhile, granted two formal interviews to Rick Tocchet and is known to have had conversations, at least, with several other would-be candidates. It had been believed that the Blueshirts were monitoring the situation in Carolina with Rod Brind’Amour, whose contract expires at the end of the month and who may become a free agent.

But the Rangers did not wait for the situation to play out with Brind’Amour, who would become the expansion Kraken’s first choice as coach if he becomes available. Instead, we’re told that Drury offered the job to Gallant on Monday morning, with the head coach accepting immediately.

Gerard Gallant

Sources have told The Post that Gallant — who had also been interviewed for the post in Columbus — was offered and accepted the job without meeting Garden chairman Jim Dolan.

The parameters of the yet-to-be-signed contract are unknown, but Quinn was working on a four-year deal. It would be expected that Gallant’s term would be at least that long with compensation in the $4 million-$5 million range.

The Blueshirts were in need of a coach with a track record of NHL success. That defines the 57-year-old Gallant, who has a career 270- 216-55 record with Columbus, Florida and Vegas, and was named 2017- 18 NHL Coach of the Year for his work with the expansion Golden Knights, whom he led to the Cup final. Gallant also coached Saint John of the QMJHL to two league titles and a Memorial Cup.

Gallant is known as a salt-of-the-earth personality, a no-nonsense, strong communicator with his players who believes in an up-tempo, puck- pursuit, high-pressure game. He is not someone who is prone to coddle the personnel, and that includes prospects.

Gallant took Vegas to the Stanley Cup final in its first season.

But Gallant does have a positive history with young players, most notably with the Panthers, where he was instrumental in the development of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad. He also got the most out of a then-43-year-old Jaromir Jagr in Florida. That alone should speak to the scope of the coach’s communication skills and his ability to get the most out of marquee veterans with strong personalities.

There is a roster to bolster with players who play a more rugged style. There is also a coaching staff to fill. That includes the role of video coach in the aftermath of Jerry Dineen’s dismissal on Monday.

If there is one critique of Gallant, it is that he is not especially strong on X’s and O’s and may not be the most adept game coach in the league in terms of making strategic adjustments on the fly. Though one source familiar with the coach said that this criticism is exaggerated, the 1215856 New York Rangers

Rangers hiring Gerard Gallant as new head coach

By Mollie WalkerJune 14, 2021 | 5:14pm | Updated

The Rangers have their new bench boss, and he’s bringing nine NHL seasons of head coaching experience with him.

Gerard Gallant was hired by Blueshirts president and general manager Chris Drury on Monday, The Post’s Larry Brooks first reported. The 57- year-old will be the 36th head coach in franchise history, and the Rangers will be the fourth NHL team Gallant takes over.

Gallant replaces David Quinn, who along with GM Jeff Gorton and team president John Davidson, was fired last month after missing the playoffs.

The Canadian-born Gallant most recently led Team Canada to a gold medal at the World Championship in Riga, Latvia, at the beginning of this month. After starting the tournament 0-3, Gallant took an average roster and turned them into champions.

“It was just great for me personally to get behind the bench again, and to be able to win a gold medal with Team Canada makes it that much more special,” Gallant told The Athletic. “Just a lot of fun.’’

It had been 16 months since Gallant had been behind the bench. He had helped launch the NHL’s 31st franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, who hired him for their inaugural season in 2017-18. Gallant led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup final in his first season, but Vegas lost to the Capitals.

After accumulating a 118-75-20 record in Vegas, Gallant was fired in January of last year.

Gallant’s first NHL head coaching gig was in Columbus, where he was promoted after three seasons as an assistant. He missed the playoffs his first two seasons in 2003-04 and in 2005-06 (after the 2004-05 lockout) before he was canned 15 games into the following regular season.

Gerard Gallant with the Knights in 2018.

One of his more peculiar tenures was with the Panthers from 2014-16. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs in his first season, Gallant led the organization to a franchise record 103 points and their second division title the following season.

After a 3-2 road loss to the Hurricanes on Nov. 28, 2016, which dropped the Panthers to 11-10-1 to start the season, Gallant was fired that night and the team bus left without him. He had to call his own taxi.

Gallant has also had assistant coaching positions with the Canadiens and Islanders.

Prior to his coaching career, Gallant was a 5-foot-10 left winger who played a handful of seasons in the QMJHL and AHL before making it to the NHL in 1984-85. He spent nine seasons with the Red Wings, getting named to the NHL All-Star second team for the 1988-89 season.

“Gerry had a calming presence in the locker room,” former Detroit teammate and Rangers great Ron Duguay told The Post. “But when he competed on the ice, he made a great teammate because you always knew he had your back. You always admire guys that are willing to fight for you and cover for you, Gerry is all about that.

“He knows how to speak to a younger player and knows how to speak to a veteran.”

Additionally, Gallant played 51 games with the Lightning in 1993-94 and one game in the lockout-shortened 1995 season.

Gallant suffered from back injuries during his playing career and had to undergo surgery to remove a bone spur in March 1991. He signed with the IHL in October 1995, but suffered a career-ending back injury in practice and was forced to retire at the age of 32.

The Rangers need a head coach with experience, and Gallant certainly has been around the block.

New York Post LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215857 New York Rangers

Source: Rangers to name Gerard Gallant head coach

By Colin Stephenson

Updated June 14, 2021 9:00 PM

Gerard Gallant has agreed in principle to be the Rangers’ new head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The Rangers have not announced the hiring because Gallant has not yet signed a contract.

Gallant, 57, replaces David Quinn, who was let go after the season, days after team president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton were shockingly fired just before the season ended.

Gallant, who just got done coaching Canada to a surprise gold medal in the World Championships in Riga, Latvia (the Canadians won gold after losing their first three games in the tournament), is most famous for coaching the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup final in their inaugural season of 2017-18. He was the front-runner for the Rangers job immediately after Quinn was fired, and reportedly interviewed twice with the Rangers’ new GM, Chris Drury, for the job.

The New York Post’s Larry Brooks was first to report that Gallant had been hired. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported Gallant is believed to have agreed to a four-year deal.

Gallant, who coached the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers before coaching Vegas, was thought to be high on the wish list for Columbus – which had fired former Rangers coach John Tortorella after the season, and which re-hired Davidson as its president of hockey operations last month. But last week, Columbus promoted assistant Brad Larsen to replace Tortorella.

Gallant has a career record of 270-216-55 in 541 NHL games, though he was fired in the third season of his tenure in each of his three previous coaching jobs. In his last stop, Vegas, he went 118-75-20 in 213 games.

The Rangers, who went 27-23-6 in 2020-21, have now missed the playoffs four seasons in a row. But they appear to be just about at the end of the rebuilding phase they famously announced with a letter to their fans in February 2018. Quinn, formerly the coach at Boston University, coached them the last three seasons and guided the Blueshirts to a 96- 87-25 record in his time behind the bench.

In his tenure, Quinn oversaw the introduction of young players such as Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, Ryan Lindgren, Filip Chytil and K’Andre Miller to the NHL. He also helped turn center Mika Zibanejad from a top-six forward into an elite player.

But after James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, the Rangers and the Knicks, surprisingly fired Davidson and Gorton with three games left in the regular season, it became clear the owner was ready for the team to end the rebuild now. Gallant will be expected to oversee the next phase for the team, which is to become a Stanley Cup contender.

Gallant, who played 11 seasons in the NHL -- nine of those with Detroit -- scored 211 goals and 480 points and racked up 1,674 penalty minutes in 615 career NHL games. He will be expected to mold the Rangers into a tougher team than they have been in the last few years.

In each of his last three full seasons coaching, his teams have made the playoffs. In 2015-16, he guided the Florida Panthers to a 103-point season, good for first in the Atlantic Division. But they lost to the Islanders in six games in the first round of the playoffs, and he was fired after 22 games the next season. In his first season in Vegas, the Golden Knights finished first in the Pacific Division (with 109 points) and made it to the Stanley Cup final, losing to the Washington Capitals. But in 2018- 19, Vegas finished third in the Pacific and lost to the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs, and Gallant was fired the next season, after 49 games.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215858 New York Rangers Whether Gallant is and was Drury’s first, or only choice, we may never know. But there was certainly a delay between the interview and the hiring.

Rangers get their tough-to-play-against coach in Gerard Gallant: Why Meanwhile, the rest of the organizational chart remains fairly empty. he’s a fit, what took so long and what’s next? And information on the filling of that chart, starting with the new head coach who has not formally been announced, has not been forthcoming.

By Rick Carpiniello Jun 15, 2021 Know this: Drury plays it close to the vest. Always has as a player and as an executive. He just really doesn’t like to give up anything, much less top secrets. I was in contact with Drury hours before the Gallant news broke and came away with nothing. Just weeks after he was hired as the New York Rangers’ head coach in the spring of 2018, David Quinn was talking in his new office about the Drury still has to hire an assistant or associate GM (and a GM for type of team he wanted the rebuilding roster to become. Hartford of the AHL) to replace himself. He fired the organization’s head of European scouting, Nick Bobrov, who did a fabulous job not only in A team that plays fast, Quinn said. A team that is hard to play against. A Europe but in North America, especially during Gorton’s rebuild. On team that makes nights miserable for its opponents. Monday, according to a team source, longtime Rangers video coach He pointed to a perfect example: The expansion team in Vegas that had Jerry Dineen was let go. Hall of Famer also voluntarily has just done the unprecedented and reached the Stanley Cup Final. left the hockey operations department, where he was an advisor — replaced, effectively, by Mike Grier, a former Drury teammate. The team that was coached by Gerard Gallant. Drury and now Gallant also have to fill out a coaching staff to replace Now, about three years later — the Rangers having made all sorts of Jacques Martin, Greg Brown and David Oliver, who were let go with progress in their rebuild but not in becoming that difficult opponent that Quinn. The only holdover on the staff is Benoit Allaire, the invaluable Quinn envisioned — it is Gallant who will replace Quinn and become the goalie guru. We’re hearing that Dan Girardi, most recently an interim 36th head coach in franchise history. assistant coach with Buffalo, is high on Drury’s list.

On the 27th anniversary of the only Rangers Stanley Cup in the past 81 The Rangers scouting staff has completed its work for the July 23-24 years, multiple reports, including from The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, had entry draft — for which the Rangers will have the 15th pick, a pick that Gallant being hired by the Rangers’ new president and general manager, will very much be on the table — so there could be changes among the Chris Drury. scouts, too.

All of the upheaval that has happened since the first week of May — the Expect at least a few, if not several, other front-office changes in the twin firings of president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton and coming weeks. ultimately the dismissal of Quinn and most of his assistant coaches — has stemmed in large part from the Rangers’ inability to play this style This is a house-cleaning, pure and simple. It happens. A new boss this past season: whatever style you want to call how the Islanders play. remakes the whole front office. It didn’t happen when Gorton came in Two non-competitive Battles of New York on April 29 and May 1 virtually because he was hired by his predecessor, Glen Sather, who remained as eliminated the Rangers from the playoffs and stoked the ire and fury of team president. But in 2000, Sather replaced a whole bunch of execs owner Jim Dolan. and coaches (including interim coach John Tortorella) when he took over for fired president and GM Neil Smith. Yes, everybody — Davidson, Gorton and Quinn included — knew the Rangers need to add hardness to their makeup. And yes, as we see Meanwhile, a source has indicated that Quinn has a few options to get now, teams much more complete, much beefier and more experienced back into coaching — likely as an NHL assistant for the time being. and legitimate than the Rangers are having all sorts of fits handling the However, Quinn shouldn’t feel he has to take the first job offered if it’s not way the Islanders play. But I digress. the right situation. He is largely seen as having done a successful job with the rebuild and has stock around the league, but he also has two Gallant’s charge will be to change some of that makeup, as he did with a years’ worth of Rangers’ contract coming his way if he wants to wait for heavier expansion team in Vegas in ’18. He will need Drury’s help in an ideal opportunity. finding players with different skillsets (you could say, in some cases, less skill) in order to transform the roster. And Gallant (and Drury) will have to It’s a wait-and-see world and a silent one for listeners. do it in a timely fashion now that the owner has made known his In terms of rebuilding the roster, the biggest potential step has had water dissatisfaction with the process and the culture under the previous thrown on it recently. I’m also hearing the Rangers are not likely, or much regime. less likely now, to be taking a big leap into the injured and expensive The problem with that expectation is that this Rangers roster — the Jack Eichel pool. youngest in the NHL for most of last season — is not the Golden Knights So stay tuned. roster in any way, shape or form. This Rangers roster was not nearly difficult enough for opponents. It was soft, and that’s not a knock directly The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 at the players but rather a byproduct of the since-fired front-office team building from the talent pool that drafts and trades provided. It falls on Drury to now add components that will allow Gallant’s team to be in the Vegas mold.

Drury’s first interview for the head coaching job was with Gallant, mostly because Gallant was headed abroad to coach Team Canada in the World Championships, and Gallant came home with a gold medal. Drury interviewed Rick Tocchet twice, and surely a few others on his list.

The decision waited, though. It is believed by some sources that Drury wanted to see if other candidates would become available: specifically if two-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Sullivan might be let go by Pittsburgh, or if Rod Brind’Amour would not re-sign with Carolina. Even as recently as Monday afternoon, a source said, “Everything is on hold until Rod makes a decision.”

However, another team source insisted there’s a belief that “if Rod leaves (Carolina), he will go to Seattle” to work with the expansion team and its GM Ron Francis, a former teammate. 1215859 Ottawa Senators While NHL players don’t officially get paid in the playoffs, it is where reputations and future contracts are forged.

After the Senators traded Pageau before the 2020 trade deadline, there Pageau adds another chapter to his playoff success story were countless skeptics who suggested Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello overspent in giving him a five-year, $25 million deal.

The regular season numbers (16 goals and 14 assists in 61 games) have Ken Warren been modest enough so far.

In the playoffs, though, Pageau has been a shining light as the Islanders are in the semifinals for the second straight season. On the surface, the opening dance between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday wasn’t much about gaudy numbers. In the 2020 bubble, he scored eight goals and three assists in 21 games. Plus/minus is a funky stat, but for a player who is routinely charged with It was more about disruptions at the bluelines and clogging up the lanes shutting down stars, his plus 10 in 2020 certainly tells a positive story. in the middle of the ice, just the way Islanders coach Barry Trotz would have wanted it. So, too, does the plus 11 he owns in the 2021 playoffs, to go along with his three goals and 10 assists. Look a bit deeper, though, and there were a few digits that did stand out in the Islanders 2-1 defensive masterpiece of a victory, many of them Now, consider those statistics and that contract and ask the following centred around Jean-Gabriel Pageau. questions:

Of all the dynamic forwards on the ice, from Nikita Kucherov to Steven Would the Islanders have made it to the final four this year and last Stamkos to Brayden Point to Matthew Barzal, it was the pesky pest without Pageau? If the Islanders pull off the upset against the Lightning Pageau who led the way with 19:21 of ice time. and make it to the final, could Pageau be in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP? For the record, Kucherov checked in at 18:36, Point at 17:24 and Stamkos (who was stapled to the bench for a few shifts after his giveway We’re not there yet and the Lightning will surely push back and rebound led to Barzal’s game opening goal) finished with 15:26. at some point.

While Pageau owned his share of offensive glory through the opening Yet in what could be a long series where playoff experience should two rounds against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins — with 13 become vital, Pageau keeps building on his impressive post-season points, he was tied for fourth in playoff scoring before the puck dropped resume. between the Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights late Monday — his best work Sunday came as a grinder on the other side of Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.15.2021 the puck.

Point finally did get the Lightning on the board on a power play and with Andrei Vasilevskiy on the bench for an extra skater with 54 seconds left, but up to that point, Pageau was an instrumental part of the shutdown crew in front of goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

Kucherov and Stamkos each had only one shot on goal, as the Lightning repeatedly coughed up the puck due to the Islanders pressure.

Through it all, time and again, Trotz threw Pageau over the boards to win key faceoffs in every zone. All told, he took 21 of the 46 draws in the game, winning 14 of them.

Just like the steady, solid stay-at-home defensive work of the Islanders once no-name defence — surely, the crowd in the old Nassau Coliseum barn can come up with a colourful chant for the Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech tandem for Game 3? — it’s the small details during the crucial moments of pivotal games that often spell the difference.

None of the above should come as a great shock to Ottawa Senators fans.

There was a brief stretch in 2016 when Pageau and current Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone dominated while playing together, helping linemate Zack Smith fashion a career-high 25-goal season.

Senators fans have also witnessed how Pageau’s game translates so well to the pressure-packed moments of the playoffs.

Way back in 2013, there was his first round hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens, giving rise to the infamous “Pag-eau” chants.

It also prompted one of the all-time best quips from former Senators coach Paul MacLean, referring to the transportation links between Ottawa and Pageau’s hometown of Gatineau.

“They just named the three bridges Jean,Gabriel and Pageau,” MacLean said.

In 2017, after Pageau erupted for the first and only four-goal game in Senators playoff history, including the overtime winner, it was then New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault who delivered the best punch line.

“Maybe I’m going to put a checker on their checker, because he’s supposed to be their checker and he got four goals,” Vigneault said of the performance that helped lead the Senators to the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh. 1215860 Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators sign Finnish goalie prospect Leevi Merilainen to a three-year entry-level deal

Bruce Garrioch

The Senators have signed a new goalie.

The Ottawa Senators have added another goalie to the mix.

The club confirmed Monday it has signed Finnish netminder Leevi Merilainen to a three-year entry-level deal.

The 18-year-old Merilainen spent last season with Karpat in Finland’s SM-sarja junior under-20 league and completed the season with a 21-0-3 record. He was taken No. 71 overall in the 2020 NHL draft. in Octoberg

Merilainen had six shutout this season and will remain in Finland next year.

“Leevi made significant strides in his development while playing with a strong program at Karpat last season,” said Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion. “He plays big in the net, maintains a controlled style and is on the right path to continuously improve as he builds additional strength and gains more experience. It’s our hope to see him play for Finland at the next world junior championship.”

He finished with a .928 save-percentage and a 1.71 goals-against average.

The Senators already have goalies Matt Murray and Anton Forsberg under contract for next season while the club has to decide whether it will protect either Joey Daccord or Filip Gustavsson in the expansion draft from the Seattle Kraken. Kevin Mandolese and Mads Sogaard also in the system and the Senators have told Marcus Hogberg he won’t be brought back.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215861 Ottawa Senators will be in a position, at some point in time, as we advance through this process. We have the right people around the table both within government and in the sector.

GARRIOCH: Ontario puts in framework to allow sports leagues to return “We’re not in a position today to announce what that will look like, or to play when that might occur, but we’re certainly continuing those conversations.”

A proposal sent to the province by the representatives of the leagues Bruce Garrioch about 10 days ago indicated they’d like to have 100 per cent capacity by the time the CFL kicks off, but don’t be surprised if we see some sort of

gradual return of fans. The CFL may start with 35 per cent attendance Files: MPP Lisa MacLeod, the Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, and then move up as vaccinations begin to increase. Tourism and Culture Industries. “It would be safe to say that in the absence of eradicating COVID-19 that The province of Ontario has paved the road to a return for sports leagues we’ll take a measured approach,” said MacLeod. across the province. She’s optimistic that this will all work out because “we’ve landed in a Lisa MacLeod, the minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture, place where everybody will be able to meet these thresholds. It will be announced Monday that the government has a framework in place that based on them, their timing and the support of local public health units.” will allow the Canadian Football League, Major League Baseball, the MacLeod said a lot of work has gone into this. National Basketball Association, Canadian Elite Basketball League, Canadian Premier League, Major League Soccer and the Ontario “We’ve been working with these organizations for the past 16 months. Hockey League to resume playing in the province. We recognize their desire to return to play in a safe way and get their athletes back on the field,” said MacLeod. “As long as we meet the While the Blue Jays, Raptors and Toronto FC still need approval from the thresholds, and the criteria, I’m optimistic that we’ll get them back onto federal government to return to Canada, the door is open if they want to fields and ice pads and pitches in short order.” come back. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.15.2021 At this point, there’s no guarantee any of these teams will be able to play with fans. That remains in the hands of the chief medical officer, and the province isn’t there yet.

At the very least, it means the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argos and Ottawa Redblacks can hold training camp to get ready for the 14- game season that will open Aug. 5. OHL teams will have to meet the health and safety protocols to open camps in late August, with much of the framework based on the way the NHL and AHL made its return.

The framework includes private COVID-19 testing and limited interactions, along with travel and transportation requirements.

“It sets out minimum requirements for organizers and operators,” MacLeod said Monday in an announcement at Queen’s Park. “It’s a positive step forward, and builds on the work we’ve done with the NHL, that means there is a path forward for the and to come back home if the federal government permits.

“There are a lot of details to this and I think we’ve finally come to a place where we can say to the Redblacks, Ti-Cats and Argos that we’re in a place to get you back on the field. Similarly with the NBA and Major League Baseball, so if the Raptors and Blue Jays come home, and the federal government allows for that, we can see them coming back. A lot of work has gone into this.”

The CFL’s board of governors confirmed Monday that the season will go ahead as planned and a schedule will be released Tuesday, but there won’t be any guarantee there will be fans in the stands in August. Teams in the East may start in the West for the first few weeks to give the clubs a better chance of having attendance.

“They’ll be able to operate, and practice, and eventually get into games,” said MacLeod. “We’re at a point where we’re having very good conversations about fans in the stands and we’ve worked with a number of groups like the Senators and Redblacks, all of OSEG actually, plus MLSE and others. We’ve got seven or groups advising us.

“We’re looking at live events, and what that would mean, that would come a little bit later in the framework. The idea today was to accelerate a return to play for those leagues so they could have some certainty in planning. I’m very mindful that we want to hold the Grey Cup in Ontario and Hamilton, and I’m very mindful of that, so this provides a lot more certainty and clarity.”

But, this still doesn’t provide a lot of certainty on teams being able to sell seats. The CFL will be the first out of the gate in August and they’re hoping to do so with people in the stands. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators along with the Raptors all need to know what next year will look like for their season seat holders and sponsors.

If the Jays return, they want people at the Rogers Centre.

“I’m not at liberty to discuss right now where we are in the process,” MacLeod said. “I just have a great sense of optimism and hope that we 1215862 Ottawa Senators As for his playoff resume, it’s actually pretty sparse. Henrique is probably best known for scoring the overtime goal against the New York Rangers to send his Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. But since then, he’s only played in four playoff games and those came when his Ducks were Could the Senators and Ducks be perfect trading partners this summer? swept out of the playoffs by San Jose in 2018.

Is Ottawa’s strategy to allow Henrique to be the team’s No. 2 centre next season, then he gradually transitions down to a bottom-six role in the By Ian Mendes and Eric Stephens Jun 14, 2021 final two years of the deal? In 2023-24, could a 33-year-old Henrique serve as this team’s fourth-line centre if they are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender? The Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks are kindred spirits in the hockey world. Stephens: Surely, Ottawa would have some pause if it felt Henrique was a declining asset at this stage of his career. He certainly didn’t have a Each time the Senators have advanced to the conference finals — in season like the year prior and one of the reasons why he eagerly 2003, 2007 and 2017 — the Ducks have also advanced to the final four accepted an invitation to captain Canada at the World Championship was in the opposite conference. And of course, the two clubs met in the 2007 to finish his season on a high note and be in a good frame of mind Stanley Cup Final with Anaheim prevailing in five games. entering 2021-22.

But while their arcs of success have been fairly similar in the past, they Of course, the worlds are a tournament and more of a small sample but it appear to be on different courses this summer. With a torrid finish to the was clear that the vet still has plenty of game left. He and Connor Brown regular season, the Senators are on an upward trajectory after four had instant chemistry. I think he would welcome a change and the ability consecutive non-playoff seasons. The Ducks, conversely, are likely still in to play a large role on a growing team that has some nice pieces. the painful stage of their rebuild and might have another season or two Anaheim is in a similar position but as I noted before, I don’t think there is before their fan base can have legitimate playoff aspirations. a ready-made spot for him. Given its clear desire for a productive centre, I think Ottawa offers that. And it is closer to his offseason home in And as the Senators search for some veteran support to help with the Ontario. next stage of their progression, the Ducks might be looking to jettison some older players. Ottawa is likely searching for a veteran centre and a Even with being put on waivers and scratched on occasion, Henrique still defenceman and Anaheim has two players — Adam Henrique and Josh had 12 goals in just 45 games on the NHL’s worst offensive team. His Manson — who could be suitable targets for the Senators. shooting percentage (15.6) was just a tick over his career mark and he would have pushed toward the 20-goal mark for a sixth time over a full In this column, the beat writers for each team, Ian Mendes and Eric schedule. Granted, Henrique is more of a shot-first pivot than a setup Stephens, explore the idea of the Ducks being the perfect trading man but he doesn’t play a particularly heavy game and should hold up partners for the Senators this summer. over the rest of his deal. He knows how to find the open spots in the Is Henrique on the trade block? And if so, why? offensive zone and still possesses a great wrist shot.

Stephens: When Anaheim put Henrique on waivers a month into the Would the Ducks be willing to eat some of Henrique’s remaining salary? 2020-21 season, it sent a pretty sizeable ripple throughout the hockey Stephens: While they would obviously prefer not to retain salary in a world, because the well-known veteran had led the Ducks in goals and deal, it’s my understanding that the Ducks would do this and possibly go points the previous season. Part of it was issuing a wake-up call to a as far as the maximum 50 percent. That might be the only way such a forward who was off to a poor start as the Ducks struggled out of the gate deal were to be executed. The interest level around the league would in a season in which they envisioned taking a step toward being playoff definitely increase if a team were to get a proven goal-scorer at a $2.9 contenders and needed to do well right away. million cap hit (and a little over $8.7 million in total salary remaining). But it also was a sign that they would be fine with extricating themselves Anaheim and Ottawa do have a recent trade history. The Senators were from the remaining three years of his contract, which come with a $5.8 willing to take on a full cap hit when the Ducks sent them veteran million cap hit. They knew the chances that a team would claim him and defenceman Erik Gudbranson last offseason for a fifth-round pick in this the full amount left on his deal were between slim and none. However, it year’s draft (Ottawa’s pick came from Edmonton in the Tyler Ennis deal). also was a tacit admission that a rebuild was needed instead of a retool The Senators have tons of cap space, although they’ve been long known and that moving Henrique would allow them to move further in a youthful to have a lower internal budget. And they have to use a chunk of that direction. space to re-sign important RFA forwards Brady Tkachuk and Drake Now that Trevor Zegras is set to go at centre after being moved back to Batherson. his natural position late in the season, the Ducks could be jammed in the Would Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion (or, more importantly, owner Eugene middle and have no room for Henrique. They could go into next season Melnyk) be willing to take all of Henrique’s contract? Perhaps the Ducks with youngsters Zegras, Isac Lundestrom and Sam Steel, as well as could get Dorion to split the difference and retain 25 percent of the deal, having fourth-line holdover Derek Grant under contract along with the which would put the Sens on the hook for about $4.37 million. strong possibility that longtime captain Ryan Getzlaf will return for another season. But there would certainly be some negotiation involved in terms of what kind of return Dorion would offer to allow Anaheim to dump the pricey Could Henrique fit what the Senators are looking for at centre? contract. Mendes: I think a lot of Ottawa fans would look at Henrique and Mendes: This is a crucial element to the equation here. Henrique at $2.9 immediately think this is Derek Stepan 2.0 — except he’s coming to town million versus Henrique at double that cost are two totally different with three years left on his contract. So that’s going to be a tough sell. arguments. And I don’t think a scenario in which they split the difference But if the Sens are looking to shelter Shane Pinto this season, Henrique and the Sens are on the hook for $4.37 million would be palatable from is probably a pretty good option to play between Connor Brown and Tim Ottawa’s perspective. Stützle. It’s the two years beyond that where things could get dicey. But Henrique at $2.9 million per season could be an intriguing option. Henrique is not a traditional playmaking centre who sets up his wingers The Senators would be hard-pressed to find a veteran centre at that price for scoring opportunities. When you look at his career stats, he’s had five point this summer. Let’s take a look at the unrestricted free agent options different seasons in which he’s had more goals than assists. That’s fairly down the middle. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, David Krejci and Paul Statsny atypical for a centre, so that’s something to keep in mind. are all going to command deals that go well beyond a $2.9 million cap hit. The only potential fit might be a centre like Mikael Granlund, but would He’s one season removed from a 26-goal campaign in 2019-20, so I Ottawa be able to land him on a three-year, $9 million contract? That’s think the possibility exists that Henrique could flirt with the 20-goal mark essentially the price they would be getting Henrique at if Anaheim eats next season if he stays healthy. Henrique has also posted three straight 50 percent of his salary. seasons where he has won north of 50 percent of his faceoffs, which is important when you consider Ottawa finished 26th in the league by The term is going to be the biggest sticking point on a guy like Henrique, winning only 47.4 percent of their draws last year. but if you can land him at a shade under $3 million, it’s hard to argue his value for next season. Do Henrique’s previous connections to the Senators play a factor here? Mendes: Based on the way the Senators deployed Jacob Bernard- Docker down the stretch last season, it became fairly evident they intend Mendes: As Eric mentioned, the connection between Henrique and to start him in the AHL next season. Connor Brown was certainly on display for Canada at the World Championship a couple of weeks ago. On a line together with Andrew So there could be a need for a right-shot defenceman to play next Mangiapane, they carried the load offensively en route to a gold medal. season, considering the club will have Nikita Zaitsev, Artem Zub and I’m sure the Senators brass looked at that and figured there is some Josh Brown on that side. It’s safe to assume Zaitsev and Zub will have potential for long-term chemistry between Henrique and Brown. On top of spots locked up, with Brown either being the third-pairing guy or the that, D.J. Smith was part of the Windsor Spitfires coaching staff that won seventh defenceman. back-to-back Memorial Cup titles with Henrique as a star forward in 2009 and 2010. That’s something to consider in this situation, because That is where a defenceman like Manson could enter the equation. What Henrique does have a limited no-trade clause in his contract and as makes him palatable is that he only has one year remaining on his we’ve often discussed, Ottawa usually pops up on most players’ lists. But contract, so he could be the perfect “bridge” player to allow Bernard- having a previous relationship with the head coach could certainly be a Docker to perfect his game at the AHL level. If the Senators have any factor to help Henrique waive that no-trade clause. playoff aspirations next season, they’ll likely need to add a veteran defender to the mix. Manson would bring an element of physicality to the Would Anaheim want picks and prospects in return for Henrique? Or back end, which may be a nice complement to the skilled defenders the would they be willing to take back a veteran player in return? team employs on the left side.

Stephens: Picks and/or prospects are probably the way to go if you’re the Josh Manson (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today) Ducks. And I understand that the return might not be a lot for a 31-year- old high-salaried forward with a lot of term left on the deal. This is where What might Anaheim want in return for a 29-year-old Manson if he were what Anaheim is willing to retain salary might increase the value. Since available? the Sens don’t have a fifth-rounder this year, perhaps the Ducks throwing Stephens: The Senators obviously did it before by taking Gudbranson in one of theirs is a sweetener that could net one of Ottawa’s two second- before spinning him off to Nashville. When he is healthy and playing well, rounders. I’d imagine that a pick is all the Ducks can get to lose Manson is more mobile, a bit more versatile and, frankly, better. But Henrique’s contract. It’d be hard to see Ottawa parting with any of its while they might take what they could get for Henrique and call it a day, better prospects and I doubt Anaheim would want to have someone with the Ducks would want a lot more for Manson. a borderline NHL future at best taking up one of its 50 contract slots. A veteran forward won’t help the Ducks, especially if they’re unloading one The prevailing word bouncing around before the trade deadline was that in this case. Murray essentially told teams to not bother asking about Manson unless there was a package to blow him away. Now he could ask Ottawa for the Maybe there is more of a need if Getzlaf chooses to retire instead of No. 10 pick but my guess is that Dorion would get a good chuckle or be returning but then I think Anaheim would be better off keeping Henrique offended, depending on how he’s feeling that day. But would the Sens’ and knocking another year off his deal than, say, taking Chris Tierney in second-round pick obtained from San Jose — the No. 38 selection — return even if Tierney is cheaper, younger and only has one year left. and a B-level (or slightly above) prospect do the trick? Henrique is without question the better player. If Manson were a little younger and had two years left on his deal rather Mendes: The acquisition of Henrique would certainly make Tierney than one, then I’d say a conversation could be had. The Sens’ system expendable for next season. Perhaps Tierney is claimed by Seattle in the appears to be pretty deep. They’re not going to deal Jake Sanderson, expansion draft and is out of the picture that way. But the Senators would Erik Brannstrom or Shane Pinto. But would 2016 first-round pick Logan need to figure out how to unload Tierney before committing to Henrique, Brown be someone they may part with? because there probably isn’t room in the lineup — or budget — for both of them next season. And it sounds like the only way Tierney could end If the Senators were to land both Henrique and Manson, what might the up in Anaheim is if the Ducks know for certain that Getzlaf isn’t returning return package look like? for another season. Mendes: OK, let’s put this all together and make one giant pitch to see The Senators gave up a second-round selection to Arizona to land what the Senators could realistically offer up to land both Henrique and Stepan last offseason in a move that largely backfired due to Stepan’s Manson in the same deal. We’ll consider this some one-stop shopping, in midseason injury. Would giving up a second-round pick this season be which Dorion can land both the centre and defenceman that he’s seeking different because Henrique wouldn’t simply be a one-year rental for the this summer. Let’s project what the Senators’ opening night roster might club? The Senators own two second-round picks in the upcoming draft: look like in this scenario —keeping in mind we still don’t know who they the Sharks’ via the Erik Karlsson trade (38th overall) and their own (41st might lose to Seattle in the expansion draft: overall). Line 1: Tkachuk – Norris – Batherson The expansion draft is on the horizon and the Ducks have a handful of Line 2: Stützle – Henrique – C. Brown capable defencemen. Is there any scenario in which they might not be able to protect Josh Manson? Line 3: Paul – White – Dadonov

Stephens: In my recent expansion list forecast, I’ve got Manson as one Line 4: Formenton – Pinto – Watson Anaheim could face a decision on. First pairing D: Chabot – Manson Hampus Lindholm is a lock for protection. And while a number of Ducks fans would like to see the club expose Cam Fowler, given that he tops Second pairing D: Brannstrom – Zub out at 30 to 35 points annually on a $6.5 million AAV deal for five more Third pairing D: Mete – Zaitsev years, I’m not sure GM Bob Murray wants to test whether the Kraken would actually select the 11-year mainstay because he is still a solid top- How would Ottawa fans feel about this projected lineup? four defenceman. That’s two spots protected. Murray also traded for Haydn Fleury. Seattle GM Ron Francis drafted Fleury when he was To make it happen, the Senators certainly don’t want to be going down running things in Carolina. If he were exposed, I would be shocked if the road of giving up any of their A-level prospects in this type of deal, so Francis didn’t claim the 25-year-old who is on a cheap $1.55 million in addition to the names Eric listed above, I think you can also safely salary for another season. That’s a valuable asset you don’t want to lose. remove the likes of Lassi Thomson, Ridly Greig or Roby Jarventie from the equation. I would even be hesitant to include a player like Egor So it may come down to whether the Ducks go 7-3-1 or 8-1 with their Sokolov in any trade of this stature. protected list. So based on what Eric has said, maybe this could be the realistic Murray has long loved the hard-nosed Manson. He is an alternate framework for a potential trade between the two clubs: captain and is highly respected. He’ll also turn 30 in October and has missed chunks of games in each of the last two seasons because of To Ottawa: Adam Henrique and Josh Manson injuries. And they’ve got young right-shooting stud Jamie Drysdale To Anaheim: Logan Brown, Tyler Kleven and a 2021 second-round pick already eating top-four minutes. In the end, I think they would rather keep Manson or trade him rather than possibly losing him for nothing. At some point, the Senators simply won’t have room for every pick and prospect to play at the NHL level. The Senators selected Kleven with their second-round pick (44th overall) in 2020. But as you project out to the club’s left side of the defence, you can already see the spots occupied by Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson and Erik Brannstrom down the road. And that’s not even factoring in Victor Mete, who probably deserves some consideration. So do they even have room for Kleven?

And this might be the perfect trade for the club to try to use whatever value Brown has as a 23-year-old recent first-round pick.

The Senators need to start utilizing their long-term assets for some immediate help on the NHL roster. And this type of trade wouldn’t be giving up their A-level prospects to accomplish that goal. Is that giving up too much? Maybe for some Sens fans. But Ducks fans might be underwhelmed with that return at the same time.

Do you see a realistic trade possibility between these two teams this summer?

Stephens: There are some elements in play that would make the Ducks and Sens a good trade match.

Ottawa is in the position of looking for more immediate help and Anaheim is just starting to build around a younger core and has some proven performers who appear to be less of a fit for the long haul and who can be moved for more assets. The Ducks have picks in every round except the seventh so they could part with their third or fourth if it helps boost the return. The teams are also in different conferences so each GM can feel more comfortable about trading players that won’t come back to burn them repeatedly.

Ultimately, what could be the biggest glitch in a deal for Henrique and/or Manson is that both players have modified no-trade clauses (10-team for Henrique, 12-team for Manson). It’s conceivable that both have Ottawa on their lists and if that’s the case, either would have to waive it to make a deal happen.

I can’t imagine Manson being eager to do that when he can be a UFA next summer. But I could see Henrique being open to a change in a scenario like 2017, when he slid down the New Jersey lineup and relished his trade to Anaheim — especially if he’s a believer in the youthful Sens being on the rise. When referencing the day he signed a five-year extension with Anaheim, the veteran said, “I knew we might have to go through a bit of a rebuild.” He was willing to do it then. Given where lowly Anaheim is at now, he might again be willing to go elsewhere.

Mendes: I can’t help but go back to Melnyk’s podcast comments last month in which he clearly identified the need for a centre and a defenceman. The Ducks could provide one-stop shopping for Dorion and as long as it doesn’t involve moving any core pieces or a first-round pick, I think there is the potential of a fit here. And I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if Henrique is wearing a Sens jersey to start next season.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215863 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers sign forwards German Rubtsov and Linus Sandin to one-year deals

Both are expected to play with the AHL’s in 2021-22.

by Sam Carchidi

The Flyers signed pending restricted free agents Linus Sandin and German Rubtsov on Monday, general manager announced.

Both were signed to two-way, one-year deals for $750,000. Both are expected to play with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021-22.

Rubtsov, 22, was a first-round selection (22nd overall) in 2016 and he has been a disappointment thus far. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound center spent last season on loan to HK Sochi in Russia’s KHL and had three goals and 11 points in 46 games.

In his career, he has eight goals in 56 in games with the Phantoms, and no points in four games with the Flyers.

Rubtsov was selected in the same draft in which the Flyers chose Pascal Laberge, Carter Hart, and Wade Allison in the second round, Carsen Twarynski in the third round, Connor Bunnaman in the fourth round, Linus Hogberg in the fifth round, and Tanner Laczynski in the sixth.

As for Sandin, 25, he played in his first season with the Phantoms this year after signing as a free agent. The 6-1, 209-pound right winger split the season between HV71 in Sweden (10 points in 20 games) and the Phantoms (10 points in 26 games).

Two years ago, Sandin signed after finishing tied for third in the Swedish Hockey League with 19 goals.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215864 Philadelphia Flyers Laperriere, who will stress fitness with his players, understands that Flyers fans are championship-starved because their team hasn’t won the Cup since 1975. At the time, Laperriere was a 1-year-old in Montreal.

A fearless Flyers player, Ian Laperriere will carry his parents’ work ethic He understands that the prospects’ development is even more important into his job as Phantoms head coach than usual because the pandemic has caused a flat salary cap in the NHL. Young players are generally cheaper, of course, and their Laperriere is excited about his next challenge: coaching in the AHL. He contributions are critical in today’s game. was a Flyers assistant the last eight years. He understands that, just because he spent 16 years in the NHL as a gritty winger, he needs to prove he can be just as effective as a head coach. by Sam Carchidi Laperriere, whose Phantoms will use the same system as the Flyers —

probably a 1-2-2 — is excited for the challenge. A player’s longevity doesn’t always guarantee he will have iconic status “For me, as a staff and an organization, the biggest challenge is going to with Philadelphia’s demanding sports fans. be getting those guys better,” said Laperriere, adding that he was going Effort trumps longevity in this city. to “demand” a system of solid play. “I want to win. Winning is part of development. I want to win in the right way. I want the players to feel Take Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand and Flyers winger Ian important in their chairs. I want to find the right recipe to include all the Laperriere, for instance. younger guys and older guys and, at the end of the day, playing hard hockey and having the people in Allentown proud of the team. At the end Both had short playing careers in Philadelphia. Both were good players of the day, if we do that and I can get those guys a little bit better, some who gave great effort. Both became Philly sports legends because of of those guys will have a shot at the NHL. Others won’t, but if they can be plays that will forever be etched in fans’ collective minds. the best player they can at the AHL level, I’ll feel like I’m doing my job Rowand was with the Phillies for just two seasons, but during a rainy right.” 2006 game against the New York Mets, he crashed against the He knows his courageous style as a player will not make him immune to unpadded center-field fence, face-first, at Citizens Bank Park and took a fans’ criticism as a head coach. Fact is, he heard criticism when the bases-loaded, extra-base hit away from Xavier Nady. The Portland, Ore., penalty kill slipped and he directed it as a Flyers assistant. native broke several facial bones, including his nose, which had to be surgically repaired. “I’m not too worried about that,” he said of the criticism. “There’s always people complaining about whatever you do. At the end of the day, I He bled profusely as he was helped off the field to a standing ovation. learned a lot in my eight years as a coach in Philly. One of the things I Three years later, while helping to kill a penalty during his first and only learned was to quit Twitter, and it really helped me. You get abuse from season as a Flyers player, Laperriere also became a Philly icon. The people who are sitting in their basement and don’t really know what’s hard way. He blocked a first-period blast by Buffalo’s Jason Pominville going on.” with his face, lost seven teeth, had his lip split in two, and needed about Laperriere chuckled. 100 stitches. “I’m going to be way too busy to waste time worrying about what people Oh, yeah: He put on a face shield and returned to play later in the game. are saying about me,” he said. “My focus is on the team and the guys In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs against New Jersey, Laperriere blocked who wear the Phantoms jersey and making them the best they can be, another slap shot with his face. He suffered a bruised brain, a broken and if I can do that, we’re going to win more games than we lose. That’s orbital bone, and a concussion — and required nearly 70 stitches to my goal.” repair a cut above his right eye. New Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere at an introductory Laperriere returned later in the playoffs — the Flyers finished two wins news conference last week in Allentown. Phantoms owners (left to right) shy of winning the Cup — but the injury eventually forced him to retire. Rob and Jim Brooks listen intently.

Flyers winger Ian Laperriere (right) mixes it up with the New York Laperriere said when the Flyers lost 10 straight games early in the 2017- Islanders' Brendan Witt during his playing days. 18 season, he stopped reading Twitter “for my mental health. And you know what, I felt sooooo much better. … Criticism is part of the game, but That led him to a career in management and coaching. First he was the if you can control some of it by not reading the comments, you’re better organization’s director of player development, and then he served eight off.” years as a Flyers assistant And, now, his job is to develop the AHL prospects who could someday help the Flyers end a long Stanley Cup Over the years, the fans at the Wells Fargo Center have still roared — drought. louder than for many of the players — when Laperriere was introduced as one of the assistants. His cheers were born from his fearless play on Laperriere, 47, was recently named the 11th head coach in the history of the ice. the Phantoms, the Flyers’ top farm team. “People in Philly are blue-collar people,” Laperriere said. “They work hard He is all in, even if it means being away from his family for big chunks of for what they have, and I wasn’t the most skilled player out there, but I time, renting an apartment in Allentown to be close to the PPL Center, feel like I gave my all as a player, and people really recognize that I was the Phantoms’ home arena. willing to do whatever it took for the team. I did that as a player and I feel “To me, it makes sense to live close to the rink because I’ll be there all I did that as an assistant. I’ve been moved around [as an assistant] and the time,” he said Thursday. “I’m a rink rat. For me, I just need a bed to the coaches have asked me to do different things and I’ve never had any sleep in and then I’ll be back at the rink. I was like that as a player and pushback. I love the Flyers. I was willing to do whatever it took to help I’ve been like that as a coach.” the team. I think people recognize that and they can relate to me because they’re hardworking people in this town.” His wife, Magali, who 31 years ago became his high school sweetheart in Montreal, will visit when she can. But she will be looking after their Respecting his roots youngest son, Zach, who will be finishing his final year at Haddonfield Growing up in Montreal, Laperriere said he got his work ethic from his High, where he is a talented lacrosse player. Their other son, Tristan, is parents, Michel and Francine. His father was a night supervisor at Kraft attending Towson (Md.) University and majoring in sports management. Foods, and his mother was a secretary at a hospital.

“I’m committing myself 100 percent to the organization and the city,” His father passed away 18 years ago, but his father and his mother, now Laperriere said. “My parents did that — committed themselves 100 76, had a big influence on their son. percent with their work and with their kids. I try to do the same things.” “Every hockey player has a similar story. Mom and Dad working extra Flyers fans still waiting hours to buy you the nicest pair of skates they could,” Laperriere said. “My dad had the night shift and it wasn’t easy, and my mom would get up in the morning and drive me to practices. Typical Canadian kid story whose parents gave me and my sister all the opportunities to succeed. They sacrificed for us. At the end of the day, I believe you lead by example, and both of my parents did that. I feel that was the biggest gift they gave me — hard work.”

Laperriere’s work ethic and his boundless energy were among the reasons then-general manager Paul Holmgren hired him as player- development director in 2012.

Because of post-concussion syndrome, Laperriere didn’t play in 2011-12 and he officially retired after that season before Holmgren reached out to him.

More than anything, Holmgren recalled last week, Laperriere’s “passion and enthusiasm and his love for the game” caught his attention. “To add Lappy with his experience as a player and the quality person he is, it made a lot of sense for us,” Holmgren said. “He’s on the right path now, but he would have been a great player-development guy, too.”

Laperriere will be trying to balance winning in the AHL with developing players to reach the NHL.

“It’s one thing I’m going to learn. I won’t lie to you,” he said of a league that is new to him. “I don’t know much about the American League. I know by watching it and being around people that coach there and play there. There is a fine line, for sure. At the end of the day, it’s going to go back to the way I want the team to play and back into the structure. I want to have those kids buy into that structure. And if they do get better, it won’t be a free ride. If they don’t play in your structure, they won’t play.”

Laperriere is hoping to hire two assistants with AHL experience next month. That should help him make a smooth adjustment to the league.

General manager Chuck Fletcher said Laperriere and Flyers coach Alain Vigneault, having worked together the last two years, are already on the same page and that will aid Laperriere as he implements his systems.

“Lappy also has a very strong relationship with our player-development staff, and I think this move allows us not to just integrate our NHL coaching staff, but how to smartly integrate our AHL coaching staff with our player development [staff],” Fletcher said. “The American League is a big part of that development.”

Laperriere is “well-schooled on what works and what doesn’t,” Holmgren said. “He’s probably going to have to find his own path, like all coaches do. Not only am I rooting for him, but I expect him to do well just because of the type of person he is.”

A person who, like Aaron Rowand, would shatter his face to show Philly fans he cares as much as them.

The Flyers' Ian Laperriere, his blood splattered on the ice, gets help from trainer Jim McCrossin after being hit in face by a puck in a playoff game against New Jersey Devils in 2010.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215865 Philadelphia Flyers Whether Islanders crafty GM Lou Lamoriello will let this sort of talented player reach free agency remains to be seen.

However, if he should hit the open market, that’s one player Fletcher Flyers take note: You don't need a superstar to have success in the might want to consider. playoffs Hart Trophy thoughts

The finalists for the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) were just released and all Wayne Fish three — Edmonton’s McDavid, Colorado’s MacKinnon and Toronto’s Auston Matthews — are worthy candidates.

But here’s hoping Boston’s Brad Marchand received consideration It might be prudent for teams such as the Flyers to take notice how somewhere down the ballot. underdog teams such as the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders have performed in the current Stanley Cup playoffs. In my book, he does more than any of the named finalists. He can score, set up plays, works the power play and penalty kill, trash talks, chips and Both teams have reached the NHL’s round of eight without a real chirps like Bobby Clarke and just might be the best player on the best superstar, if you don’t count Habs goaltender Carey Price. line in hockey.

While highly regarded talents such as , Sidney In the 2018-19 season, he came up just four penalty minutes short of Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid study online sites for achieving a rare double: 100 points, 100 penalty minutes. available tee times, the Canadiens and Islanders are brushing up on the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning respectively. You know who some of the other players to reach this elite plateau are? , Mario Lemieux, , Sidney Crosby, Bobby Clarke Montreal and New York both finished fourth in their divisions and weren’t and Rick Tocchet. given much of a chance against heavy hitters such as Toronto and Winnipeg in the North Division and Pittsburgh and Boston in the East. Just sayin’ …

But the Canadiens pulled off a miracle against the Maple Leafs, rallying Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.15.2021 from a 3-1 deficit by playing smart, good teamwork hockey — then swept the Jets after Winnipeg top scorer Mark Scheifele put a dirty hit on the Habs’ Jake Evans and sat out the rest of the series.

Meanwhile, no one could really be surprised by the way the Isles handled the Penguins, simply because the New Yorkers play a much more physical brand of hockey than the Steel City crew. When you have young burners such as Matthew Barzel buzzing around up front and a savvy veteran like former Stanley Cup defenseman Nick Leddy patrolling the back line, the battle is half over.

Likewise, the demise of Boston. While the Bruins did get off to a good start, they lack depth beyond their brilliant first line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

Plus, is there a better coach in the business right now than New York's Barry Trotz?

If next season does return to a sense of normalcy, the Flyers should bank on trying to replicate what the Canadiens and Islanders have shown — that they can get the job done with younger guys such as Travis Konecny and , plus veterans Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and Sean Couturier. No superstars in that bunch.

Coach Alain Vigneault insists the Flyers can return to the form they showed before the pandemic stopped their surge in March 2020.

Maybe so. But even if general manager Chuck Fletcher doesn’t go out and make a big splash via trades or free agency, there shouldn’t be any more excuses.

Claude Giroux may not be a superstar, but his veteran presence, along with the talent of the team's other skilled, young players, is enough for the team to make a successful playoff run.

Again, both Montreal and New York have demonstrated a strong 20-man effort can overcome the odds. It’s possible that with a few changes here and there, the Flyers can make some noise with the aforementioned approach when the next postseason arrives.

Free agent possibilities

The NHL free-agent period doesn’t start until July 28, but that doesn’t mean a number of potential unrestricteds can’t be considered now.

Any good fits for the Flyers, you ask?

One name that caught our eye was the Islanders’ Kyle Palmieri, a 30- year-old right wing who makes “only” $4.6 million.

Coming over from the Devils to the Islanders in a trade deadline deal, KP didn’t show much during this past 60-game season, recording only 10 goals.

But in the playoffs: Seven goals in 12 games. That’s the kind of player the Flyers could use in crunch-time situations. 1215866 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers sign 2016 1st-round pick, Swedish winger to contract extensions

BY JORDAN HALL

The Flyers on Monday took care of two restricted free-agent forwards.

The club signed German Rubtsov and Linus Sandin to one-year, two- way, $750,000 contracts.

Both will compete for jobs in training camp and be call-up options throughout the 2021-22 season.

Rubtsov, the Flyers' 2016 first-round draft pick, stayed on loan this season to play for Sochi of the KHL. He recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and a minus-11 rating over 46 games.

The center turns 23 years old later this month. He made his NHL debut for the Flyers in November 2019 and went scoreless through four games with limited minutes during 2019-20. Rubtsov has long been regarded for his sound, steady game in the defensive zone, but needing to be much more aggressive in making things happen offensively. In 56 career games with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, Rubtsov has eight goals and 15 assists.

"He’s competitive, consistent," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in October 2019. "Plays the game the right way defensively."

Sandin, a 25-year-old winger who the Flyers signed out of the Swedish Elite League in April 2020, is coming off his first season in North America. In 2020-21, he had 10 points (six goals, four assists) and a minus-8 rating through 26 games with the Phantoms. In 2019-20, Sandin finished tied for third among the SHL with 19 goals and scored 36 points over 51 games before joining the Flyers' organization.

Sandin is a complementary type of winger with bottom-six NHL potential.

"He has a strong stick, great release on his shot, really good from the hash marks down in the offensive zone," Fletcher said after last training camp in January. "The big thing for him is just adjusting to the pace and playing on the smaller ice surface, making quick decisions with the puck."

The NHL free agency period opens July 28 at noon ET. July 26 is the deadline for qualifying offers to be issued to restricted free agents. The Flyers have 10 players set to become either unrestricted or restricted free agents:

Carter Hart (restricted), Brian Elliott (unrestricted), Alex Lyon (unrestricted), Samuel Morin (group 6, unrestricted), Travis Sanheim (restricted), (restricted), Andy Andreoff (unrestricted), Nate Prosser (unrestricted), Connor Bunnaman (restricted) and Carsen Twarynski (restricted).

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215867 Pittsburgh Penguins Assuming nothing unforeseen, Carter will likely open the 2021-22 season as the Penguins’ No. 2 center as Malkin will likely still be recovering from offseason surgery on his right knee.

Penguins A to Z: What can Jeff Carter do for an encore? Most of the ingredients will remain that led to Carter’s success as a member of the Penguins and with Malkin likely sidelined, he could even be a candidate for the top power-play unit. A fairly large body, Carter can produce goals by simply going to the net for second-chance scores or he SETH RORABAUGH | Monday, June 14, 2021 8:01 a.m. can propel a pin-point wrister through the smallest of openings.

But it’s one thing to post strong numbers while playing with the With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is adrenaline of being traded from a non-playoff team to a purported looking at all 49 players currently under NHL contracts to the Stanley Cup contender during the stretch drive. It’s another thing to try to organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari replicate that production through the grind of what will presumably be a to top-six winger Jason Zucker. normal 82-game schedule.

Jeff Carter It’s more than fair to expect quite an encore from Carter in 2021-22.

Position: Center Tribune Review LOADED: 06.15.2021

Shoots: Right

Age: 36

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 219 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 54 games, 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists)

Contract: Tenth year of an 11-year contract with a salary cap hit of $5,272,727. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2022.

(Note: The Los Angeles Kings have retained half — $2,636,363 — of Carter’s salary cap hit for the remainder of his contract.)

Acquired: Trade, April 12, 2021.

(Note: The Penguins acquired Carter from the Kings for two conditional draft picks. The first of those conditions — which called for a 2022 third- round draft pick to be upgraded to the second round — was not met as the Penguins failed to reach this season’s Stanley Cup Final. The second condition calls for a 2023 fourth-round pick to be upgraded to the third round should Carter appear in at least 50% of the Penguins’ games in the 2021-22 season.)

2020-21 season: and Jeff Carter each began the season as members of the Los Angeles Kings. And each finished the season as members of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After taking over as Penguins general manager in mid-season, Hextall largely left the roster he inherited intact. The only major move he made came at the trade deadline when he plucked the veteran Carter — a player he has ties with dating back a decade and a half during their common time with the Philadelphia Flyers — out of Los Angeles to boost the Penguins’ depth at center.

But for most of his time with the Kings this season, Carter had been primarily deployed on the right wing on a defacto second line with Andreas Athanasiou and Gabriel Vilardi. In 40 games with the Kings in 2020-21, Carter had a mundane 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists).

Upon his arrival to Pittsburgh, Carter was immediately inserted into the center slot of the second line as Evgeni Malkin was still convalescing from a right knee injury. Finding a fit with a much more aggressive approach than what the Kings offered, Carter rediscovered the offensive touch that made him such a dangerous goal scorer throughout the late 2000s and 2010s.

Establishing chemistry with Jared McCann on his left wing, Carter collected nine goals and 11 points in 14 regular season games with the Penguins. The high point of his season came during an 8-4 home win against the Buffalo Sabres on May 6 when he recorded a career-best four goals.

In the postseason, Carter was arguably the Penguins’ best player, admittedly among a limited field of candidates. Primarily centering the third line, Carter had five points, including a team-leading four goals, in six games.

The future: Perhaps the only question regarding Carter this offseason is if the Penguins should put him on their protected list for next month’s expansion draft. Given his age and contract status, the Kraken would likely not select him should he be available. So it might be a small risk for Penguins management to leave him unprotected. 1215868 Pittsburgh Penguins

Madden Monday: Steelers will give JuJu Smith-Schuster what he wants and play him outside more often; Penguins vs. Isles fallout

TIM BENZ | Monday, June 14, 2021 6:13 a.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster keeps talking about his desire to play outside more often this year.

That may not be a great idea. Smith-Schuster is good in the slot, and if bouncing outside takes away snaps from Chase Claypool or potentially Diontae Johnson, that doesn’t sound like a good thing.

Yet this is what Smith-Schuster wants because clearly teams in free agency were turned off by his low yards-per-catch average. Which is partially why he had to come back to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal.

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and “105.9 The X” predicts Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will acquiesce to Smith-Schuster’s desire.

“If you want to win football games, you put him in the slot. Because that’s what he is best at,” Madden said. “But it isn’t going to get him the big money. And don’t he know it! Because it didn’t.

“But I bet he lines up on the outside more than either of us think he should. Because it is more important that the players don’t know unpleasant moments than it is for the Steelers to win. That has been Mike Tomlin’s coaching methodology for a number of years now.”

We also discussed the Penguins and how to contextualize this year’s early postseason exit.

When they lost to the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2018 playoffs, it eventually became easy to rationalize.

The franchise had won two straight Stanley Cups, and it lost in six tough games to a Caps team that — for a long time comin’ — appeared to be a worthy Cup champion. That year it eventually happened.

Hey, sometimes you just lose to a better team. Que sera sera.

In the next two years, the first-round defeats to the New York Islanders and the Montreal Canadiens were a bit tougher to justify. After all, the Islanders were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes after they swept the Penguins in 2019. And the 2020 Canadiens lost in six games to the Philadelphia Flyers after dusting the Penguins in four games of the qualifying round.

Is 2021 different if this edition of the Islanders manages to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the semifinals? After all, the Isles already surprised the Boston Bruins in the second round after upsetting the Pens in Round 1. And if they make it to the Stanley Cup Final, maybe we should lighten up on the angst we seem to feel about how the Pens lost to New York.

Not so, says Madden.

“I don’t think it mollifies any of the concerns or complaints of Penguins fans,” Madden said. “Because the Islanders didn’t beat the Penguins in the first round as a standalone. It’s still the third straight first-round exit. Twice at the hand of the Islanders, admittedly. But, no, this wouldn’t make me feel better about the Penguins at all, even if the Islanders win the Stanley Cup. If your championship window is open, you should be able to beat anybody.”

Also in the podcast, Mark shares his thoughts on Mike Sullivan and Sidney Crosby being left out of some postseason awards. He goes off on Devin Bush for claiming he could cover Jarvis Landry one-on-one. We mock the Pirates and talk about Mark’s looming concert venture in Texas.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss JuJu Smith-Schuster’s desire to play outside and how the Steelers will handle that, and Penguins’ early exit from the postseason

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215869 Pittsburgh Penguins

OTR: Avs Headed for Big Shakeup? Kraken Lurk for Trade Splash

By Jimmy Murphy

The Stanley Cup playoffs are still going, but the Seattle Kraken are lurking on the NHL trade market. We’re watching the Kraken, and GM Ron Francis put the new team in a position to land a superstar in exchange for a top-prospect selected with the second overall pick.

Speaking of the NHL trade winds and the NHL Draft, as reported on Off The Record before, the Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are primed to be major players this offseason. One source went off the record to gush about the opportunity both rebuilding franchises have before them.

And there are consequences to failure. For some teams, failure is not making the playoffs. For others, it’s potentially being a great team but continued exits far too early in the NHL playoffs. See also the Colorado Avalanche. Could Colorado cut ties with captain Gabriel Landeskog? OTR is hearing big rumblings out of Colorado that could shake up that franchise in several ways.

Pittsburgh Hockey NowLOADED: 06.15.2021 1215870 Pittsburgh Penguins — Stephen Johns (@stjohns28) June 14, 2021 Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021

Dan’s Daily: Islanders Send Message, Defensemen Trade Scuttle

By Dan Kingerski

Perhaps we should not be surprised anymore. Perhaps we should begin to recognize the New York Islanders have something. Like the New England Patriots, who seemingly kept winning without the best team, so too do the New York Islanders, who won Game 1 of their NHL Semifinal against the vaunted Tampa Bay Lightning. NHL trade chatter is beginning to include some big-name defensemen, and the consensus No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft may hang out in college for another year.

Owen Power is the consensus top pick, but his quotes this weekend may change that.

NHL.com: Top NHL Draft prospect Owen Power of Michigan says he is leaning towards staying at Michigan for another season.

I loved college more than anything I’ve ever done, but if the NHL comes calling and makes you the first-overall pick, you go–unless you don’t believe in yourself enough. First overall picks are expected to play right away.

The NHL trade chatter is currently swirling around big-name defensemen. Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t part of the chatter because Seth Jones is a bit out of their price range, and Dougie Hamilton isn’t what they need.

Colorado: Seth Jones is said to be very interested in Colorado. On the Saturday HNIC broadcast, Elliotte Friedman said that the Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman would love to be dealt to Colorado or Dallas. Adrian Dater writes, if Jones is willing to come, the Avs should do what it takes to get him.

News & Observer: Will Dougie Hamilton be back with the Carolina Hurricanes? He will cost them a shiny penny unless he takes a hometown storm surge discount. Will he?

Chicago Sun-Times: Hello, Seth Jones. The new belle of the NHL trade ball is reportedly drawing interest from several teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks. But Ben Pope argues maybe Hamilton is a better fit for Chicago than Jones?

Boston Hockey Now: Jake DeBrusk is again in the NHL trade chatter. The fuzzy hat-wearing, toothy grinned kid who became a star in the 2019 Bruins run to the Stanley Cup Final hit the skids this season. Boston doesn’t want to trade him, but they may surrender.

I know what you’re thinking, but DeBrusk would be an expensive gamble for the Penguins. The 24-year-old potential power forward has one year left at $3.65 million.

News & National Hockey Now:

PHN: From Stanley Cups to Gold Medals. Just in case anyone needs a little pick me up, here are Sidney Crosby’s top-five moments.

Vegas: The complete schedule for the “other” NHL Semifinal between the Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights

Detroit: The Red Wings have five picks in the top 60. That’s plenty of time to get the goalie they need. Hopefully. Maybe.

Sportsnet: The Montreal Canadiens are one of the biggest underdogs in recent NHL betting memory. There was more money being wagered on Saturday Night Live ever being funny again than the Montreal Canadiens. However, Eric Francis writes Montreal isn’t the underdog you think they are.

Sportsnet WPG: The Winnipeg Jets managed to re-open their window, but now their offseason is full of potholes.

UPDATE: My hockey chat crew found this sad piece of news. Local product Stephen Johns, who had a promising career ahead of him with the Dallas Stars has retired due to concussion symptoms. God bless, kid. Find some happiness.

The next chapter starts tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/omwxvb0upL 1215871 San Jose Sharks forwards to meet the exposure requirement set by the NHL for next month’s expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.15.2021 San Jose Sharks get three pending RFA’s under contract

NHL: Forwards Jonathan Dahlen and Jeffrey Viel and defenseman Nicolas Meloche all reach deals with San Jose Sharks

By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: June 14, 2021 at 3:28 p.m. | UPDATED: June 14, 2021 at 7:23 p.m.

SAN JOSE – The Sharks announced the signings of three of their restricted free agents

Monday, including forward Jonathan Dahlen, who appears set to challenge for an NHL roster spot in the fall after he lit up the Swedish Allsvenskan league the past two seasons.

The Sharks signed Dahlen and defenseman Nicolas Meloche to one-year deals and forward Jeffrey Viel to a two-year deal. All three contracts carry an average annual value of $750,000, according to a source. Dahlen’s deal is one-way, and both Viel and Meloche will be on two-way contracts.

Originally acquired by the Sharks from the Vancouver Canucks in Feb. 2019, Dahlen has spent the last two seasons with Timra IK in the Allsvenskan. This year, Dahlen, 23, had 71 points in 45 regular-season games as he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Dahlen then led Timra to the Allsvenskan championship, helping them get promoted to the top-tier Swedish Hockey League.

Dahlen, a second-round draft pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2016, had finished the three-year entry-level contract he signed with the Canucks in April 2017.

Now that he’s more than three years removed from when he signed his entry-level contract, Dahlen would need to pass through waivers to be loaned to the AHL. Still, there’s no guarantee the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Dahlen will be in the Sharks’ opening night lineup right out of training camp.

Although he had 148 points in 96 games with Timra, Dahlen may need time to re-adjust to the North American style and adapt to coach ’s system after he competed in a lower-tier, more wide-open league the last two years. In 57 AHL games in the 2018-19 season, Dahlen had a combined 14 goals and 33 points with Utica and San Jose. He has yet to make his NHL debut.

“Jonathan went back to Sweden this past year with goals of being the captain for his team and winning the championship in the Allsvenskan,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “He delivered on his promises by being the MVP and leading scorer in the league and matured in his path to success. He will take this experience he has earned and challenge for a spot in the NHL.”

Viel, 24, had 23 penalty minutes in 11 games for the Sharks last season, his third as pro, as he split time between the AHL and NHL. He had three fights in his first six NHL games as he averaged 7:16 of ice time per game.

“Jeff showed his compete level last season, playing a hard-nosed, physical game,” Wilson said. “He is a player who has great character and leadership qualities, being a former captain of his junior team, and we feel that he will push to make the jump to the NHL. We are happy to have him in our organization.”

Meloche, 23, played in seven games with the Sharks, including his NHL debut on Jan. 14 when San Jose opened its season against the Arizona Coyotes. He also played 29 games with the Barracuda, collecting nine assists.

“Nicolas is a steady, reliable presence on the blueline,” Wilson said. “He continued his development last season with the Barracuda and the Sharks and improved over the course of the season. We feel that he is ready to compete for a spot in our lineup in the NHL.”

The Sharks still have several other restricted free agents, including forwards Rudolfs Balcers, Ryan Donato, Dylan Gambrell and Noah Gregor, and goalie Josef Korenar. The Sharks still need to sign two more 1215872 San Jose Sharks

How Dahlen re-signing impacts Sharks' Expansion Draft plans

BY BRIAN WITT

The Sharks announced Monday that they re-signed forward Jonathan Dahlen to a one-year contract. Dahlen, 23, is considered one of the top prospects in San Jose's system.

Terms of the deal were not announced, however The Athletic's Kevin Kurz reported that it is a one-way contract for Dahlen. Though that doesn't necessarily guarantee he will make the big club out of training camp, it suggests the Sharks believe he is capable. General manager Doug Wilson essentially said as much.

"Jonathan went back to Sweden this past year with goals of being the captain for his team and winning the championship in the Allsvenskan," Wilson said in a team statement. "He delivered on his promises by being the MVP and leading scorer in the league and matured in his path to success. He will take this experience he has earned and challenge for a spot in the NHL."

Last season, the Swedish center once again dazzled in his home country, scoring 93 points in 60 games while captaining Timrå IK to a promotion to the top-tier SHL. He led the league in assists and points, and was named Forward of the Year for the second straight season (third overall) and Most Valuable Player.

Originally selected by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Dahlen was acquired by San Jose in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 25, 2019. He appeared in seven games for the San Jose Barracuda during the 2018-19 season and recorded four assists. In his AHL career, he has registered 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 59 games.

Dahlen's father, Ulf, was a 14-year NHL veteran who played in 161 games across four seasons with the Sharks from 1993-94 to 1996-97.

Among the young forwards in the Sharks' system, Dahlen probably is the most dynamic and talented. And the left-handed centerman could fill one of San Jose's biggest offseason priorities, as Wilson previously acknowledged the need for a third-line center. Whether it's in that spot or on another line, one would imagine the Sharks will do everything they can to ensure Dahlen sticks at the NHL level.

Of course, they'll need to ensure he stays with San Jose first. Due to Dahlen's previous AHL experience, he will not be automatically exempt from inclusion in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. But given the current state of the Sharks, you can guarantee they will protect him from being exposed, as they cannot afford to lose any young talents.

Consequently, that's one fewer veteran the Sharks can protect from exposure to the Seattle Kraken.

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Sharks bolster depth with Viel, Lemoche re-signings

BY BRIAN WITT

The Sharks were busy on Monday. In addition to announcing they had re-signed top prospect Jonathan Dahlen to a one-year contract, San Jose also announced it had re-signed forward Jeffrey Viel and defenseman Nicolas Lemoche.

Viel's contract is for two years, while Lemoche's is a one-year deal.

Viel, 24, split the season with the Sharks and San Jose Barracuda, appearing in 11 games for the Sharks recording 10 shots and 23 penalty minutes.

"Jeff showed his compete level last season, playing a hard-nosed, physical game," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a team statement. "He is a player who has great character and leadership qualities, being a former captain of his junior team, and we feel that he will push to make the jump to the NHL. We are happy to have him in our organization."

Viel's re-signing might suggest that San Jose will move on from Kurtis Gabriel -- who offers a fairly redundant skill set -- this offseason.

Meloche, 23, made his NHL debut on Jan. 14 and tallied one assist in seven games with the Sharks last season. He will provide San Jose with organizational depth and will compete for a spot in training camp.

"Nicolas is a steady, reliable presence on the blueline," Wilson said of Meloche. "He continued his development last season with the Barracuda and the Sharks and improved over the course of the season. We feel that he is ready to compete for a spot in our lineup in the NHL."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215874 San Jose Sharks

BREAKING: Dahlen, Viel, Meloche Re-Sign with Sharks, What’s Cap Hit?

By Sheng Peng

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed Jonathan Dahlen, Jeffrey Viel, and Nicolas Meloche.

Per The Athletic, Dahlen has been re-signed to a one-year, one-way contract. Multiple sources tell San Jose Hockey Now that his cap hit is the veteran’s minimum of $750,000.

Dahlen will also need be protected in the expansion draft, unless the San Jose Sharks want to risk the Seattle Kraken selecting him.

“Jonathan went back to Sweden this past year with goals of being the captain for his team and winning the championship in the Allsvenskan,” San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson said in a press release. “He delivered on his promises by being the MVP and leading scorer in the league and matured in his path to success. He will take this experience he has earned and challenge for a spot in the NHL.”

Per the San Jose Sharks, Viel has been re-signed to a two-year contract. A source tells SJHN that it’s a two-way contract. Multiple sources tell SJHN that his cap hit, in the NHL, is also the veteran’s minimum of $750,000. In the AHL, Viel’s salary will be $225,000 in 2021-22, $275K ($325K guaranteed) in 2022-23.

“Jeff showed his compete level last season, playing a hard-nosed, physical game,” Wilson said. “He is a player who has great character and leadership qualities, being a former captain of his junior team, and we feel that he will push to make the jump to the NHL. We are happy to have him in our organization.”

Per the San Jose Sharks, Meloche has been re-signed to a one-year contract. Per CapFriendly, it’s a two-way contract. It’s also for the veteran’s minimum in the NHL ($750,000); $170K ($200K guaranteed) in the AHL.

“Nicolas is a steady, reliable presence on the blueline,” Wilson said. “He continued his development last season with the Barracuda and the Sharks and improved over the course of the season. We feel that he is ready to compete for a spot in our lineup in the NHL.”

San Jose Hockey NowLOADED: 06.15.2021 1215875 Seattle Kraken Panthers’ first-round playoff elimination, which isn’t surprising given Quenneville remains under contract.

In a final season-ending Zoom call with Florida reporters two weeks ago, Here’s what the New York Rangers’ hiring of coach Gerard Gallant Quenneville was asked how he felt about the future of the Panthers means for the Kraken organization and his role within it. He kept his answer focused on the team rather than anything related to himself.

“I think we’re excited,” he said. “I think talking to all the players today and By Geoff Baker talking to our staff, and we haven’t really, really summed up the whole season, but I think we made significant progress in the consistency of our

team. We played at a high level, a predictable level and expectations The list of potential Kraken coaching candidates thinned notably Monday changed internally. as Gerard Gallant reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the New “Now I think that going into a start of a season all of a sudden we have York Rangers. different goals. The goal will always be to make the playoffs, and then But likely of greater importance to the Kraken than Gallant coming off the there’s the next plan.” board is that it removes the Rangers from contention for Rod So, no definitive statement about returning, or refuting the initial Post Brind’Amour should he not sign a coaching extension with the Carolina report. Just generalities about the Panthers that enable him to step into Hurricanes. Though the Rangers were widely considered a longshot to training camp with them — or the Kraken — next fall without land Brind’Amour as a free-agent coach, their East Coast geography contradicting himself. closer to his North Carolina home and status as the NHL’s highest- valued franchise meant they could not be ruled out until now. At this point, a Quenneville reunion with former teammate Francis seems far less likely than Brind’Amour doing so. Either way, we’ll know for Gallant, who led the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final their certain in a few weeks. debut 2017-18 season, did speak to the Kraken last year after being fired in January 2020. But it’s unclear how seriously the Kraken pursued him, All we know for now is that Gallant won’t be joining his second expansion despite his credentials running an expansion team, as its focus appeared team in four years. And that Quenneville and Brind’Amour were both just to shift toward other candidates of higher profile. last week named as finalists, along with Minnesota’s — yet another Francis ex-teammate — for NHL coach of the year. Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a conference call with reporters this month that he hopes to have his first coach hired by the Seattle Times LOADED: 06.15.2021 end of June. Coaching contracts typically expire June 30, except for those on teams still participating in these COVID-19-extended playoffs. The Hurricanes were eliminated in the second round.

“I think we said from day one that we’re hoping to get it done by the end of the second quarter,” Francis said. “We’re now in that last month of the second quarter, so we’re continuing to work through it, and hopefully we can wrap it up on that time frame.”

Brind’Amour is said, among other things, to be negotiating with the Hurricanes to garner raises for his assistants, a detail long-rumored and first reported last month by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The Hurricanes under owner Tom Dundon, who took over majority control of the team in early 2018, have been praised for spending more on the on- ice product but less so on support staffers.

It also was reported last week by Friedman that the Hurricanes had granted assistant Dean Chynoweth permission to explore opportunities with other teams. Chynoweth, a former coach with the WHL’s , is the only Hurricanes coach to receive such permission.

He joined the Hurricanes in July 2018, shortly after Francis was fired, and was lauded for his work on Carolina’s defense and penalty killing.

Brind’Amour and Dundon have expressed optimism in recent weeks that an extension would get done. For the Kraken, that means it must wait on developments surrounding a coach considered a hot NHL commodity because of his ability to communicate with and relate to players — especially younger ones — while getting them to produce at a playoff- caliber level for three consecutive seasons.

Francis has been busy lining up other candidates, including onetime teammate Rick Tocchet, who agreed to a mutual parting with the Arizona Coyotes at season’s end. Tocchet has been interviewed twice by the Kraken, most recently the day after the NHL entry draft lottery this month when Francis met with him in Las Vegas.

Other rumored candidates include former NHL coach Bruce Boudreau. There’s also former Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen, who emerged as an early candidate here the minute former teammate Francis became GM. Dineen has spent the past two seasons coaching Anaheim’s AHL affiliate in San Diego.

Current Florida coach was said last month in a New York Post report to be mulling whether to end his contract early to join the Kraken — something the Panthers would have to allow as there are three seasons remaining on the deal.

A league source said at the time that the Post report did have some substance to it but added that Quenneville coming to Seattle remained a longshot. No further developments have emerged publicly since the 1215876 Tampa Bay Lightning First round: Game 3 vs. Panthers, 6-5 W (OT) First round: Game 6 vs. Panthers, 4-0 W

Second round: Game 4 vs. Carolina, 6-4 W Lightning use off day to study film, hope to avoid back-to-back losses Stanley Cup semis: Game 2 vs. Islanders, TBD Tampa Bay has not lost consecutive playoff games since the 2018-19 first round vs. the Blue Jackets. Quite the consolation prize

Even following a loss, forward Blake Coleman’s day didn’t turn out all too badly Sunday. By Mari Faiello He and his wife, Jordan, welcomed their second daughter, Carson

Elizabeth, hours after the Lightning’s loss to the Islanders, he announced TAMPA — As the Lightning have previously said following a loss in the on Instagram Monday morning. postseason, there isn’t panic in the room. And that includes after Tampa #GoBolts’ Coleman and his wife, Jordan, welcomed their second Bay dropped the Stanley Cup semifinals opener 2-1 against the Islanders daughter, Carson, into the world last night, he announced on Instagram at Amalie Arena on Sunday. this morning pic.twitter.com/1h3XsFlXyC On Monday, the Lightning opted to use their off day to study film. Healthy — ���� ������� (@faiello_mari) June 14, 2021 scratches in forward Mitchell Stephens, defensemen Luke Schenn and Fredrik Claesson, and goaltender Curtis McElhinney were the only “Welcome to the world Carson,” Coleman wrote. “We love you. Thankful players to take the ice for the optional practice. for a happy and healthy mom and healthy baby girl after she made her appearance late last night.” “We watched a lot of video and (saw) what works and what does not work,” Norris Trophy finalist Victor Hedman said. “We know what we do This isn’t the first time the Colemans have welcomed a child midseason. when we’re successful.” Soon after Coleman was traded to Tampa Bay in February 2020, his wife had their first daughter, Charlie. He missed the game that night, but hit History says the Lightning shouldn’t be worried. The team hasn’t lost the ice the next day for practice on three hours of sleep. back-to-back postseason games since the infamous Columbus sweep of 2019, when the Blue Jackets won four straight against the Presidents’ Jordan posted on Instagram that Carson was born at 11:07 p.m., just Trophy winners in the first round. Since then, Tampa Bay is 9-0 following over five hours after the game wrapped. Carson weighed 7 pounds, 5 a loss in the playoffs. ounces (3 ounces more than her older sister).

Hedman said that by going back through video of all three zones “We love you beautiful girl,” Jordan wrote. “Can’t wait for you to meet (offensive, neutral and defensive), the team saw opportunities to score at your sister Charlie!” even strength. Looking back, “there were a lot of things (the team) left out there (we) weren’t happy with.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.15.2021

But it’s hard to adjust on the fly against a team you haven’t seen since last year’s Eastern Conference final, Hedman added.

“It’s easy to panic and kind of feel like we really, really need to win the next game,” Hedman said. “And we want to win the next game, obviously, but you just have to go out there and play your game. You can’t be scared going out. You have to embrace that challenge. ... We just have to trust ourselves and trust the game play.”

Losing the first game in a series isn’t anything new for Tampa Bay. Since coach Jon Cooper took over the team in 2012-13, the team has lost the first game in a series 11 of 19 times (58 percent).

Cooper said after watching film of the semifinal opener, the group concluded it didn’t manage the puck — or the game — well, which limited the team’s chances on the offensive side of things.

But one thing to remember, Cooper said, is that the Lightning are a “proud team (that’s) pretty driven to win.”

“They’ve just shown this ability to dig their heels in,” he said. “And I’ll expect no different (in Game 2). I can’t sit here and say what the result’s going to be, but I know you’ll get a hell of an effort from our guys.”

Ultimate rebound team

Dating to the beginning of last postseason, the Lightning are 9-0 coming off a loss, including two wins after Game 1 losses in last year’s playoffs. During last year’s run to the Stanley Cup, the Lightning won four straight against the Bruins in the second round after dropping Game 1 and beat the Stars in six games after losing the Cup final series opener.

2020

First round: Game 3 vs. Blue Jackets, 3-2 W

Second round: Game 2 vs. Bruins, 4-3 W (OT)

Eastern final: Game 4 vs. Islanders, 4-1 W

Eastern final: Game 6 vs. Islanders, 2-1 W (OT)

Stanley Cup Final: Game 2 vs. Stars, 3-2 W

Stanley Cup Final: Game 6 vs. Stars 2-0 W

2021 1215877 Tampa Bay Lightning a matter of scoring goals but we for sure got to be a little bit more aggressive up ice.”

Ultimately the Lightning are at their best when the defensemen jump up Where has the offense gone for the Lightning defensemen? in the opponent’s zone and provide a second wave of offense, but also put more pucks on net to feed the Lightning’s shot-scramble game to They’re shooting less and creating fewer offensive opportunities in front present second and third opportunities. That all begins with puck of the net this postseason. possession, but is also an offensive mentality. While the Lightning won last year’s Cup with defense, they also perfected the right times to One telling stat for the Lightning this postseason: None of the charge the net. But again, getting the defense involved requires more defensemen, Ryan McDonagh included, has a goal. puck possession than the Lightning had in the semifinal opener.

“Certainly, we can create a little bit more shots from the blue line, By Eduardo A. Encina hopefully find the back of the net and continue to push ourselves and get up there and be a second wave,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We don’t want to get stuck in our own zone where you’re not allowed within your shift to get up into play. TAMPA — It could be a byproduct of the kind of teams the Lightning are facing this postseason, but Tampa Bay enters Game 2 of the Stanley “Being extra hard in the first five to 10 seconds of your shift in your own Cup semifinals Tuesday night without any of their defensemen having zone, that’s when you can go play offense and so we’ll continue to look scored a single postseason goal. at things there.”

The Lightning are actually averaging slightly more offense than during Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.15.2021 last year’s Cup run — 3.25 goals per playoff game compared to 3.08 in 2020 — but their D-men have no goals in the first 12 games. Last season, defensemen scored 17 in the Lightning’s 25-game postseason run, including a dozen even-strength goals.

“Well, that would help, I guess,” coach Jon Cooper said following the Lightning’s Game 1 loss to the Islanders when asked about getting more goals from his defenseman. “I mean, the goal is to win the games so I don’t think necessarily it’s who scores. And we won two series without them scoring, so we can’t sit here and say well because the D didn’t score (Sunday) that’s why we lost. That wasn’t it at all.

“Our D do a great job for us and, and sometimes they go in for them, sometimes they don’t. It’s kind of weird, though, this playoffs that they don’t have goals yet, but we’re in the semis so I think eventually they’re going to come.”

Where has the offense gone for the blue line? Cooper often talks about his team being five players on defense and five players on offense, each one key to success in his respective zone.

But the three teams the Lightning played have very contrasting styles, from the run-and-gun, offensively-minded Panthers to the forechecking, full-court pressing Hurricanes. Now it’s an Islanders team that plays physical but also likes to create offense from picking off passes in their own end.

“We have a chance to maybe jump a little bit more and create a little bit more,” said David Savard, who leads Tampa Bay defensemen with three shots on goal. “But I think Florida was a team that was blocking a lot of shots, it was a little harder to kind of get pucks through and stuff like that so our offense was coming more from the forwards. But I think we’ve got to find ways to bring pucks to the net and get some screens.”

Victor Hedman scores a goal on the Islanders' Semyon Varlamov during last year's conference final. Hedman, like the rest of his fellow defensemen, has no goal so far this postseason.

Victor Hedman scores a goal on the Islanders' Semyon Varlamov during last year's conference final. Hedman, like the rest of his fellow defensemen, has no goal so far this postseason. [ MARKO DITKUN | Special to the Times (2020) ]

A majority of last year’s playoff production belonged to Conn Smythe winner Victor Hedman, who paced all defensemen with 10 goals and 12 assists. This postseason, he has 11 assists, but only two have been in even-strength situations.

The Lightning’s defensemen are shooting less than last year’s postseason, by an average of more than four shots per game, and they have only 14 even-strength assists — a little more than one per game (1.1). They’re not only taking fewer shots on goal but getting fewer pucks toward the net for second-chance scoring opportunities in even-strength play.

“We’ve got to be a little more active, more of a threat to shoot, and we’ve got to be a little bit more aggressive up ice, joining the rush,” Hedman said. “And as soon as we get the puck we can kind of look to shoot and create scrambles. We had some good looks, (Savard) had some good looks (Sunday) and (Islanders goaltender Semyon) Varlamov did some good saves but at the end of the day, we’re looking to win games. That’s 1215878 Tampa Bay Lightning scored their only goal on a late third-period power-play tally by Point in a 6-on-4 situation.

But overall at five-on-five, Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 19-18, Lightning notes: Tampa’s five keys to a Game 2 semifinal win, Ben which is surprising considering the level of talent they have offensively. In Groulx talks with Coyotes last year’s playoffs, when the Lightning’s power play was around 20 percent, they outscored opponents at five-on-five 54-35. That’s a pretty startling difference.

By Joe Smith Jun 14, 2021 “We’ve relied on our power play, for sure, in the first two series,” winger Alex Killorn said. “Our five-on-five play was pretty good as well, but we’re

going to have to take it up a notch. Make sure every line gets in the The Lightning’s practice Monday morning was a very optional one, with game.” almost as many coaches on the Amalie Arena ice as players (mostly Rookie Ross Colton has nearly as many five-on-five goals (three) as scratches). Nikita Kucherov and Point combined (four). Three of Stamkos’ five goals There was no bag skate, no “back to basics” drills put on by coach Jon have been on the power play. Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman, who Cooper the day after a frustrating 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup combined for 12 goals in last year’s playoffs, have two (both by Gourde). semifinals. GAME 1 STATCAP Most of the work by the defending Cup champions was done in the video – NEUTRAL ZONE WAS A MESS, BUT ISLES MORE EFFICIENT ON room, where the group dissected what they did wrong (poor puck THEIR ENTRIES (BARZAL 4/4 W/ 2 CHANCES). management, decision-making) and what they missed out on (shooting opportunities, including by defensemen). – REALLY GOOD GAME FOR SCOTT MAYFIELD (5 ENTRIES ALLOWED ON 12 TARGETS). “We have the recipe,” Cooper said. “We didn’t follow the directions right.” – FLOW OF THE GAME WAS PRETTY EVEN BUT THE ISLES SHUT The Lightning have been really good at making adjustments in the IT DOWN IN THE THIRD & IT WORKED. playoffs, as evidenced by them not losing back-to-back games in the last PIC.TWITTER.COM/Z4YS2ADS2T two postseasons. They lost Game 1 against both Boston and Dallas in last year’s Cup run before going on to win both series. Cooper said part — COREY SZNAJDER (@SHUTDOWNLINE) JUNE 14, 2021 of it is that they’re a proud team, and he expects a “hell of an effort” in Tuesday’s Game 2. 3. More active defensemen

“It’s easy to panic and feel like we really need to win the next game,” One of the more stunning stats for the Lightning this postseason is that defenseman Victor Hedman said. “Obviously you’ve got to go out there they’ve gotten zero goals from their blue line. and play the game, you can’t be scared of going out. You’ve got to Zero. embrace the challenge. At the end of the day, we’ve to trust the way we play hockey, the way we forecheck, the way we can play in our O-zone, A big part of Tampa Bay’s attack is having their defensemen jump into and the way we can defend. We’ve got to trust ourselves and our game the rush, using a five-man attack in the offensive zone. Case in point was plan. last year when the Lightning had 17 goals from their defensemen, led by Hedman’s 10. “If we’re more careful with the puck, I like our chances.” David Savard nearly converted Sunday in what was arguably his best Here are some keys to Game 2: game with the Lightning, including starting — and joining — the rush for 1. Puck management two scoring chances in an early second-period shift. He tied for the team lead with five shots. We covered this in detail in Sunday’s story, but the same themes came up in Monday’s video session. The Lightning didn’t manage the puck “We’ve got to be a little bit more active,” Hedman said. “More of a threat well, which led them to not manage the game the way they usually do. to shoot. And we’ve got to be a little bit more aggressive in joining the The prime example was Steven Stamkos’ turnover (instead of dumping rush. As soon as we get the puck, we’ve got to look to shoot more and puck in) that led to Mathew Barzal’s goal in the second period, but there create scrambles and some good looks.” were many others among their seven giveaways. Erik Cernak passed the Just look at Hedman’s shot chart five-on-five from the last two playoffs. puck in the middle in his own zone, leading to an Islanders chance off the The first chart is from 2021 and the second is from 2020. post. Brayden Point turned it over in his own end. Mikhail Sergachev entered the Islanders zone on a one-on-three and promptly passed it to (Below charts from Evolving-Hockey) an Islanders player. The Lightning blue line as a whole is shooting less than last year’s YEAH, THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA WORK. playoffs, roughly by four shots per game, but there are more notable PIC.TWITTER.COM/E3SQE7GUWV players than others.

— COREY SZNAJDER (@SHUTDOWNLINE) JUNE 14, 2021 Instead of raw numbers for year-to-year comparison when minutes and games played aren’t even, we’re using rate stats to account for ice time The Islanders gave the Lightning the blue line in letting them enter often, played so far. but then they’d close off the passing lanes. Tampa Bay didn’t have as much of their forecheck and cycle game going, turning the puck over For reference, Corsi includes all shot attempts — blocks, misses, shots before they could get started. on goal, goals. Expected goals is a proxy for shot quality of all unblocked attempts, and weighs factors including shot type, distance and angle. “Sometimes, it’s enticing, you want to try to thread something,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “You see an open guy, but you’ve got Hedman’s individual shot rate per 60 (iCF/60) has dropped by 6.40, from to be disciplined and know that they’ve got great defensive players and 16.16 to 9.76. McDonagh’s has decreased by 6.13 per 60. Sergachev keep everything to the outside. So a lot of times, just driving pucks deep went down 2.47. The defensemen’s expected goal rate at five-on-five has and getting our cycle game going and getting some shot/scramble game dropped across the board: going, that’s when it opens maybe a seam pass here or there. Too many times we mismanaged the puck with it on our stick.” “Certainly we can create a bit more shots from the blue line, hopefully find the back of the net and continue to push ourselves and get up there 2. Create five-on-five offense and be a second wave,” McDonagh said. “We don’t want to get stuck in our own zone where you’re not allowed within your shift to get up in the The Lightning have relied quite a bit — maybe too much — on their play. Being extra hard in the first five to 10 seconds of our shift in your dynamic power play in the playoffs, entering Sunday with a 41 percent own zone, that’s when you can go play offense and so we’ll continue to success rate. But as the Islanders, one of the least penalized teams in look at things there.” the league, showed in Game 1, they’re not going to beat themselves and give Tampa Bay many chances with the man advantage. The Lightning 4. Contain Barzal The Lightning went heavy with Hedman on Barzal, the Islanders’ best Said Lightning color analyst : “They’ve got to remember forward, in Game 1 which made sense. Hedman is the strongest skater that this is a revenge series for the Islanders. They’re going to empty the among Tampa Bay’s defensemen and the Barzal line hasn’t been New tank every night. They know, if they’re going to lose, it’s going to hurt a York’s top threat in the playoffs (the Brock Nelson line has). lot. Every shift is going to be intense. It’s going to be will over skill for most of this series.” But Barzal was a difference-maker Sunday, including his goal off the rush to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. When Barzal and Hedman were on the Groulx talks with Coyotes ice together, the Islanders had a 6-1 shot edge. When Ben Groulx, the coach of the Lightning’s AHL affiliate Syracuse, “He’s a highly skilled player,” Hedman said. “You give him time and signed a three-year extension after this season, he said it was a no- space, and you don’t have a good gap, things can go array pretty quickly. brainer because of how much he enjoys the organization. He’s an elite player, you’ve got to try to close him down as quick as you can. You know he’s going to look for open space and turning quick, he But Groulx did acknowledge that it’s still his dream to coach in the NHL. can turn on a dime and make some great plays. Those are some of the And Groulx could finally get his chance. The veteran coach has talked most challenging and fun players you can play against. He got the upper with the Arizona Coyotes about their vacant head coaching position, as hand (Sunday) and we’re looking to bounce back (Tuesday).” AZ Coyotes Insider’s Craig Morgan first reported Monday.

Hedman was on the ice for both Islanders goals, but it was hard to blame BriseBois has said for years that Groulx would make a great NHL coach him for either one. After the Stamkos turnover, Jan Rutta wasn’t able to — “he’s literally a hockey genius” — and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if keep Barzal in front of him on the goal off the rush. Hedman was just he lands the Arizona gig. Groulx has interviewed with another NHL team getting on the ice. And on the Ryan Pulock point-shot goal, the Lightning in recent years, though he won’t disclose which one, saying he learned lost a puck battle along the boards, with Rutta trying to help. from the experience.

5. Savard’s “snarl” “It makes you grow, makes you understand what they’re looking for,” GM Julien BriseBois, who aggressively pursued Savard at the trade Groulx said. “You develop your network and relationships with people not deadline, said on Saturday that the veteran defenseman dealt with an only at your level, but the NHL level. I think it’s more letting people know expected adjustment period after a decade in Columbus and was finding that’s your goal and if there’s a fit.” his game. Considering BriseBois expected “big boy hockey” against the FOR @ARIZONACOYOTES FANS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE Islanders, he was happy Savard was on their side. ABOUT COACHING CANDIDATE BENOIT GROULX, HERE’S SOME And one of the bright spots in Sunday’s loss for Tampa Bay was Savard, BACKGROUND WHY HE’D MAKE GOOD #NHL COACH who looked as comfortable and confident as he has in a Lightning HTTPS://T.CO/JEDQYMBYDS I WATCHED A @TBLIGHTNING GAME uniform. There were his five shots on goal, including his chances off the WITH HIM TO GET INSIGHT ON DEVELOPMENT rush. There was his physicality, including taking on Matt Martin on the @SYRACUSECRUNCH HTTPS://T.CO/LG8VWIYNHQ opening shift, with Savard the one left standing after Martin’s attempted — JOE SMITH (@JOESMITHTB) JUNE 14, 2021 hit. Groulx has his fingerprints all over the Lightning’s Cup team. He played a “I think I was just trying to be aggressive,” Savard said. “Chances kind of key role in the development of Anthony Cirelli, Gourde, Cernak, Mathieu opened up for me, I was trying to be in the rush and got a few passes Joseph, Colton, Mitchell Stephens, among others. All of the players I’ve and had a few good looks.” spoken to swear by Groulx, praising his hockey IQ, how demanding he is (Below chart of David Savard’s semifinal Game 1 five-on-five play from and how he gets the best out of players. Natural Stat Trick) When Gourde joined Groulx in Syracuse, he had bounced around from Savard dealt with an upper-body injury late in the regular season and the AHL and ECHL in two different organizations. He started as a fourth- another injury at the beginning of the Hurricanes series. But Cooper line winger with the Crunch, but Groulx decided to give him more noted he’s seen a progression with Savard. freedom by moving him to the middle.

“Savvy has been at his best when he plays with a little snarl,” Cooper “He gave me confidence to play center,” Gourde said. “I wasn’t much of a said. “He most definitely had it (Sunday). When you’re looking at center before and he trusted me. It brought my game to the next level. I retrieving pucks, then he was getting up the ice and doing all the things needed that. I was able to utilize my speed that way, kind of gave me a you can see. It’s why we made the trade because he does that kind of push. He’s the coach that gets the best out of you every single night. stuff.” He’s looking for the best version of you every single night.”

What they’re saying Before Cirelli started garnering Selke Trophy attention, he got his first pro experience with Groulx. Former NHLer , doing the broadcast for NBC, said the Lightning don’t need to reinvent the wheel after Game 1, praising the “He really helped me get to the position I am today,” Cirelli said. “He just Islanders. pushed you and pushed you to be a complete player. He wants you to be your best.” “They played a perfect game,” he said. Colton, who has been a revelation for the Lightning this year, had trouble Olczyk noted that, other than the opening eight seconds, there weren’t finishing a 25-second shift his first year as a pro due to his stamina. His many scrums in the game. Not the kind of nastiness many expected or skating also wasn’t adequate. It was eye-opening, but Groulx got Colton that we saw in the Panthers and Hurricanes series. through it.

“The Islanders don’t want to play that game and feed Tampa’s power “As a coach and a person, he gets the most out of you,” Colton said. play,” he said. “The last two years pro, he made me into a different player that I didn’t know I could be. He forced me to play a different way.” I polled two NHL scouts, too, on their thoughts on Game 1. Groulx has talked with Cooper over the years about being an assistant, Said one scout: “I thought the Islanders played their game almost but it hasn’t worked out, something he totally understood. perfectly and that Tampa lacked the urgency and desperation needed. Tampa turned way too many pucks over. While (Andrei) Vasilevskiy “You always want to coach with people you fit with, that complement your made some very good saves, I didn’t like either goals he did allow. It’s a coaching staff,” he said. “I always had conversations with Coop and it fine line this time of the playoffs, and last night, Tampa was on the wrong was very cordial, very honest conversation about where I can fit, the role side of the line.” I can play. It’s all about timing too. He decided to go in a different direction. I totally understand. It’s not because you’re coaching the farm Any adjustments for Tampa? team that you automatically end up as an assistant coach in the NHL. “The Islanders had more urgency and determination and they played There’s got to be a fit there. He’s made some good choices, if you look at better, their attention to the small details of the game were better. Next the result last year.” time you can see a different ballgame.” The Coyotes would be making a great choice in Groulx if they decide to hire him. The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215879 Toronto Maple Leafs essential sandpaper element on the top line that can still chip in with the occasional goal. And with Nick Foligno likely heading back to Columbus, a similar type of winger will be required for Tavares and William Nylander, who was surprisingly productive in the playoffs, but has to Top 10 lingering Leafs thoughts on what happened ... and what's next prove that it wasn’t a mirage. Is that Evander Kane‘s name we’re hearing in trade rumours?

8. Further down the depth chart, the Leafs need to completely rethink Joel Colomby their bottom six forwards. Ilya Mikheyev is useful at his cap hit and Jason Spezza certainly earned the right to return. But if the NHL playoffs have shown us anything, it’s that the Leafs require more snarl and defensive The dust has settled. Leafs Nation is off the proverbial ledge once again chops on their third and fourth lines, even if it comes at the expense of and one can’t help but wonder: Maybe the Leafs weren’t that bad, after offence. Having a middling third scoring line and a greybeard fourth is all. Maybe Montreal was just that good, a sentiment grudgingly fine during the regular schedule, but it didn’t cut it in the post-season. expressed by a few Winnipeg Jets players. 9. You’ve heard it before, but winning playoff teams are not built from the So, with another Toronto playoff disappointment still fresh but now forwards back. (See Oilers, Edmonton). GM did improve background for whatever plans the Leafs have in the off-season, Toronto them in that regard since last year’s ouster to Columbus, but it wasn’t Sun Assistant Sports Editor and fantasy sports columnist Joel Colomby, enough. Not sure it’s a priority, but the Leafs could still benefit from a a lifelong Leafs fan — and one of the dwindling number of those who stud two-way defenceman, more in the template of Muzzin than Rielly. actually remembers watching the 1967 Stanley Cup win — has 10 Not many of those out there, let alone available, but there are rumours of lingering thoughts about what happened and what lies ahead. talks with the Blue Jackets for disgruntled Seth Jones. And yes, that could be accommodated under the team’s well-publicized cap restraints The knee-jerk reaction to the series loss was that if the Leafs really did by having Columbus retain salary for the final year of his contract. possess a killer instinct to put away the Habs, they would have shown it in Games 5 or 6, both overtime losses. Which is why, before the opening 10. Campbell was not the reason they lost. Yes, he let in a couple of puck drop for Game 7, another loss just seemed inevitable. But having questionable goals, but so did Price and you could argue that Campbell watched the Habs methodically dismantle the Jets in similar fashion for was the reason the series went seven games. So, Leafs fans should be four games, we’re more inclined to believe it wasn’t from a lack of desire relatively comfortable with him as a cost-efficient starting goalie next by the Leafs, but that the opponent simply didn’t allow them to do what year, or even a 1-A alongside a reliable, equally economical, veteran. they do best. Nothing new here, but the Toronto lineup isn’t buillt to either The team can’t afford to do it any other way in the nets and make combat that smothering, physical style of play or initiate it. Montreal’s is. headway next season. As Jake Muzzin, who’s played for a Stanley Cup champion in L.A., pointed out in the post-mortem: It’s hard to play that way. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.15.2021

2. And here’s a crazy thought, or is it? Had the less-skilled but highly industrious Ottawa Senators somehow squeezed into the playoffs, they would have beaten the Leafs or Oilers, as well. Granted, there was no pressure on them, but they played playoff-style hockey all season because they had to and, judging by their second-half record, with any kind of decent goaltending, could have duplicated Montreal’s eye- opening post-season.

3. You can’t blame the injury to John Tavares in Game 1 for the series defeat. After all, they did win three in a row without him. Jake Muzzin? That’s different. With all due respect to Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie, who had strong series, Muzzin plays that playoff style better than either of them and his physicality — the type that Joel Edmundson, Ben Chiarot and Shea Weber delivered for the Habs — was missed in Games 6 and 7.

4. Can’t see Auston Matthews being blamed, either. Yes, he is paid to score goals, but he used his size, was responsible in his own zone and, beyond hitting the post three times (the same number he had in 53 regular-season games), led the team with 35 shots (5.0 per game after averaging 4.3 during the schedule). He could easily have had two or three more, and still be playing. Just watching the games, it looked like he was impacted most by Mitch Marner not being able to get him the puck in the right place at the right time as he did so often in the regular season.

5. The Leafs didn’t always help themselves when they opened their mouths during those media Zoom calls. Two quotes in particular really rankled: The first (and we knew it was coming because we’ve heard the same thing every year for the past five prior to an elimination game), this time from Rielly: “What an opportunity. You enjoy it. It’s a great challenge. It’s an awesome experience to play in these games. A huge chance for guys to really rise to the challenge.” Seldom have words sounded so hollow. The second quote was from Marner when asked, in the wake of the team’s latest elimination, if he planned to do anything different in the off-season. His answer? “Nope.” And that was it. How about saying you’re ticked off and you’re going on a summer weight- training program to show up for camp in September with 10 pounds of added muscle?

6. Despite everything, the Leafs were arguably just one less goal post hit behind Carey Price, one more timely save from Jack Campbell or one fewer careless giveaway from turning one of those four losses into a win and taking the series.

7. Assuming that Marner is not going to be dealt, we pray that Zach Hyman takes a hometown discount and remains with the team as that 1215880 Vegas Golden Knights

Canadiens see historic run, winning streak snapped in Las Vegas

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Montreal Canadiens had the second-longest streak in NHL history of not trailing a postseason game snapped in the first period Monday night.

The end of their seven-game winning streak soon followed, as Montreal fell 4-1 to the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in the opener of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup semifinals.

Interim coach Dominique Ducharme’s team came out looking confident and dangerous, but the situation quickly changed once Montreal was forced to deal with a deficit for the first time since May 25.

“It was a great start,” goaltender Carey Price said. “I thought we came out firing. Obviously they grabbed the momentum going into the second period.”

The momentum seemed to turn shortly after Shea Theodore’s one-timer from the blue line at 9:15 of the first period put the Canadiens in a deficit for the first time in 447:08 of game time. The streak was second to the 488:38 run by the 1960 Canadiens team that won the Stanley Cup.

The Canadiens had a 1.67-0.33 expected goals advantage after the first period with a 7-1 lead in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Ducharme said he thought the game changed more on the penalties his team committed leading to hesitancy than any difficulty dealing with trailing.

“We liked our start,” he said. “After the penalties, I thought we were a little less dangerous or not as good with the puck or creating as much. That’s something we can do much better, and we’ll adjust. That impacts a lot on the pace of our game.”

The Canadiens were called for one penalty late in the first period, then three in the first half of the second as the game shifted dramatically in favor of the Knights.

All of the time spent short-handed took a toll, even though the Knights were 0-for-4 on power-play opportunities.

“I thought we had a good first period and then we just took too many penalties and gave them momentum,” defenseman Joel Edmundson said. “Obviously our killers are going to play a lot of hockey, and it’s tiring killing, especially against a power play like that. We have to limit our penalties.”

The Knights led 2-0 in the second period when rookie Cole Caufield recorded his first postseason goal and gave the Canadiens brief hope only to have Mattias Janmark respond 53 seconds later to push the lead to 3-1.

“We had our chances to get back in the game,” Caufield said. “It was tight there for a while, and we got it back to 2-1, just some bad bounces and some things we can get better at and work on. We’ll be ready for Wednesday. We just need to bring more energy and more focus.”

The quick start came despite the Canadiens playing in an arena with more than 2,500 fans for the first time this season.

“Obviously, we were excited to play,” Edmundson said. “I thought we came out firing in the first period and then we kind of just sat back and let them come at us. But we were excited to play in front of a sold-out barn again. We’ll be better next game for sure.”

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215881 Vegas Golden Knights At different times, usually when Price was facing more and more pressure, a chant of “Fleury’s better!” broke out.

He was Monday. He really was in the first period. Graney: Marc-Andre Fleury at best when Knights needed him Held serve. Didn’t waver.

“I just tried to do my job and keep the score close,” Fleury said. “Got By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal lucky here and there. The guys did a good job clearing pucks and blocking shots. Once we got that first goal, we took over.”

If you want a blueprint for how best the Knights can advance out of the Before his team settled into the sort of rhythm everyone (especially series, watch back the second and third periods. bookmakers) expected, before he chucked the helmet of Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher across the ice following a skirmish in his As for the first, it was a story told time and again this season. crease, Marc-Andre Fleury held serve in the most significant of ways Too much Marc-Andre Fleury. Monday night. Ed Graney is a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing He took Montreal’s best shot and didn’t waver. and can be reached at [email protected] or 702-383-4618. He After that, his teammates were the ones taking shot after shot after … can be heard on “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, you get the idea. from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on Twitter. The Golden Knights grabbed a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven NHL semifinal series, taming the Canadiens 4-1 before 17,884 at T-Mobile LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 Arena.

Fleury versus Price

There wasn’t a series preview going that didn’t quickly mention goaltenders, Fleury for the Knights and Carey Price for Montreal. Two greats that should one day have their faces and names and accomplishments adorning Hall of Fame plaques.

But hockey is a weird sport and you need look no further than the first period to understand why.

Someone forgot to tell the Canadiens they are massive underdogs to play for a Stanley Cup Final. They certainly didn’t act the part once play began.

They were the aggressors, physically and otherwise, a team that entered having won seven straight playoff games and not having trailed in any of them. When the siren was cranked and the puck dropped, you got the idea that while they arrived to sweltering temperatures in Las Vegas, the Canadiens had no plans to melt under the moment.

Fleury changed that narrative.

“He has been elite for us all year,” Knights coach Pete DeBoer said. “I thought the (first period) was a feeling-out process. Thankfully, (Fleury) was our best player and allowed us to get our legs.”

Fact: The Canadiens aren’t going to out-skill the Knights. More than anything, Montreal has to take advantage of those high-danger chances they create. It needs a dirty goal — or two, or three — to keep up or earn a lead.

Such opportunity was there. They just couldn’t beat Fleury. He had 12 saves over that opening period. Tone. Set.

Think about these numbers after the first 20 minutes at five-on-five:

Montreal had seven high-danger chances to just one for the Knights.

The Canadiens had an expected goals of 1.65 to 0.28 for the Knights.

The score after one period: Knights 1, Canadiens 0.

Yeah. Weird sport.

Price was fine. He faced 30 shots, and four goals from the Knights could have been seven or eight if not for some terrific saves. But his is not a team that can chase and overcome much of a deficit. It can’t chase the Knights and win this series.

“I don’t feel like I’m playing against Carey,” Fleury said. “I have to worry about the shooters and the guys trying to score on me. Carey is obviously a very good goalie. He’s fun to watch and made some nice saves, but it’s still nice to get a few goals and the win.”

Flipped the script

You want to play with the lead against Montreal and once they had it, the Knights were relentless. They flipped things in the second period — 8-0 on high-danger chances — and were never really threatened. 1215882 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights-Canadiens Game 1 recap

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal Updated June 14, 2021 - 11:06 PM

GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CANADIENS

AT A GLANCE

Series recap

Knights lead 1-0

■ Game 1 — Knights 4, Canadiens 1

■ Game 2 — 6 p.m. Wednesday, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN

■ Game 3 — 5 p.m. Friday, Bell Centre, USA

■ Game 4 — 5 p.m. Sunday, Bell Centre, NBCSN

■ Game 5 — 6 p.m. June 22, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN*

■ Game 6 — 5 p.m. June 24, Bell Centre, USA*

■ Game 7 — 5 p.m. June 26, T-Mobile Arena, NBCSN*

* If necessary

RJ’s

3. Right wing Reilly Smith — He recorded his second two-point night of the playoffs with two assists. He made a great pass to set up defenseman Nick Holden for the Knights’ fourth goal.

2. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury — He was busy early and late. He made 12 saves in the first period to keep Montreal off the board and stopped 12 shots in the third.

1. Defenseman Shea Theodore — He scored his first goal of the postseason in the first period and set up the Knights’ second goal in the second. It was his fourth two-point game of the playoffs.

Key play

Theodore’s goal.

The Knights didn’t start well, and the Canadiens had a ton of early chances. But a faceoff win by center Chandler Stephenson after a Montreal icing set up Theodore for a slap shot that got by goaltender Carey Price.

The goal ended the Canadiens’ streak of 447:08 without trailing, the second-longest in NHL playoff history. It also allowed the Knights to take a “deep breath” and find their game, coach Pete DeBoer said.

Key stat

Six — The number of points Knights defensemen scored.

Five of the team’s blue liners had at least a point, and three scored a goal. The Knights became the first team in the playoffs to have three defensemen score in a game.

The one defenseman who didn’t get a point, Alex Pietrangelo, had a team-high seven shots on goal in 25:26. No one else on the Knights had more than three.

Knights quotable

“After we got through the first period, I liked everything about our game.” — DeBoer

Habs quotable

“I thought we came out firing in the first period and then we kind of just sat back and let them come at us. But we were excited to play in front of a sold-out barn again. We’ll be better next game for sure.” — Montreal defenseman Joel Edmundson

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215883 Vegas Golden Knights But the Canadiens didn’t have a response once the Knights found their rhythm and fell behind for the first time since May 25.

Chandler Stephenson won an offensive-zone faceoff after the Canadiens Defensemen get offensive in Golden Knights’ Game 1 win iced the puck, and Brayden McNabb teed up Theodore for the one-timer from the point at 9:15.

Montreal hadn’t trailed for 437:53 entering the series. By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal “As soon as we settled in, scored the first goal, it felt like the pace was more in our favor, and we were able to create a little bit more,” Smith said. “They’re a good team playing with the lead so scoring first is going Playing catch-up hasn’t been a problem this postseason for the Golden to be important.” Knights, who trailed in almost every game they’ve played and were winless in Game 1s. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 They decided to take the path of least resistance Monday.

With the defense corps leading the way, the Knights opened the Stanley Cup semifinals with a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in a physical encounter at T-Mobile Arena.

“Obviously to start a series you want to get out to a lead,” defenseman Nick Holden said. “I don’t think it’s going to change our game plan or how we prepare. We’re going to look at how the game went tonight, make sure that we’re ready for Game 2. That’s the biggest thing in the playoffs is making sure that you’re not dwelling or looking too much at the game you just played and making sure that you’re ready for the next one.”

Shea Theodore notched his first goal of the postseason and set up Alec Martinez in the second period. Holden scored in the third period, as defensemen accounted for three of the four goals.

The Knights, who lost three straight Game 1s dating to the playoffs last season, will look to take a 2-0 lead when the best-of-seven series continues Wednesday at T-Mobile.

Teams that win the opener in the conference finals/semifinals go on to win the series almost 70 percent of the time.

“They were impressive early. The way they were getting pucks and bodies to the net,” coach Pete DeBoer said of Montreal. “They’re a good hockey team. I like how we built our game tonight and I thought controlled it over the last 40 minutes.”

The Knights stepped outside of the West Division for the first time this season and rolled to their fifth consecutive victory after an early feeling out process.

Theodore helped put the Knights ahead 2-0 in the second period when he was left uncovered in the slot and grabbed a centering feed from Reilly Smith. Instead of challenging Canadiens goalie Carey Price, Theodore faked a shot and slid a pass to Martinez in the right circle for a one-timer at 2:18.

“I was going to shoot it, but he was yelling at me pretty good,” Theodore said. “He was wide open, too, so that definitely helped.”

Montreal cashed in on a power play, as Cole Caufield put in a rebound at 12:05 for his first career postseason goal before the Knights responded 53 seconds later to go ahead 3-1.

Alex Tuch’s shot deflected off a skate and went to Mattias Janmark, who was stationed at the back post and tapped in his fourth goal of the playoffs.

Smith had two assists to help the Knights snap Montreal’s seven-game winning streak.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 12 of his 28 saves in the first period, and the Canadiens generated little offense the rest of the way.

It was Fleury’s 90th career postseason victory, two behind Grant Fuhr for third on the all-time list.

“All night, all series, all season, these guys have been amazing,” Fleury said of his defensemen. “Blocking a lot of shots and helping me around the net for rebounds and clearing them away. It’s a big part of the game.”

Both teams traded paint throughout the first 20 minutes with a combined 44 hits, including Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov unloading on Alex Pietrangelo with an open-ice hit.

Montreal hadn’t played since finishing a sweep of Winnipeg on June 7 and was looking to become the first Canadian team to win in Las Vegas since Edmonton on Nov. 23, 2019. 1215884 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ lineup for Game 1 against Montreal Canadiens

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal June 14, 2021 - 6:42 PM

The Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens are sticking with what’s been working for them in Game 1 of their NHL semifinal series Monday night at T-Mobile Arena.

The Knights didn’t make any lineup changes Monday compared to what they rolled out Thursday in their series-clinching Game 6 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The Canadiens went with the same group that helped them finish a sweep of the Winnipeg Jets on June 7.

That means the Knights will avoid having to face injured Jeff Petry, who was tied for seventh among defensemen in scoring this season, in Game 1. Petry took part in Montreal’s optional morning skate Monday in a noncontact jersey.

“We said that he could be back early in the series, and with the info we have, we’re confident he’ll be back soon,” Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said Monday morning.

Here is what the Knights’ lineup looks like:

Max Pacioretty-Chandler Stephenson-Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith

Mattias Janmark-Nicolas Roy-Alex Tuch

William Carrier-Keegan Kolesar-Ryan Reaves

Alec Martinez-Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore

Nick Holden-Zach Whitecloud

Marc-Andre Fleury

Here’s what the Canadiens look like:

Artturi Lehkonen-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher

Tyler Toffoli-Nick Suzuki-Cole Caufield

Paul Byron-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Josh Anderson

Joel Armia-Eric Staal-Corey Perry

Ben Chiarot-Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson-Brett Kulak

Alexander Romanov-Erik Gustafsson

Carey Price

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215885 Vegas Golden Knights

Spirits on the line between Nevada governor, Quebec premier

By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal

Only in Las Vegas would the Nevada governor raise the bet over a wager between political leaders.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault proposed on Twitter that he or Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak have a photo taken of the winning team’s jersey in the Golden Knights-Montreal Canadiens NHL semifinals series.

Sisolak tweeted back to Legault that he would be willing to put a bottle of Nevada bourbon on the line against the drink of the premier’s choice.

Merci, @francoislegault! I will take that bet, but I'd like to up the ante with an exclusive bottle of @freyranch Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Bourbon up against a bottle of your choice. I look forward to a "spirited" series between the @GoldenKnights & @CanadiensMTL. #GoKnightsGo https://t.co/FQUL4ki4ha

— Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) June 14, 2021

Legault accepted the bet, saying he would send Quebec gin should the Knights beat the Habs.

J’accepte d’inclure une bouteille dans le pari! Si les @GoldenKnights gagnent la série, vous recevrez un délicieux gin québécois…

All right for the bottle! If the @GoldenKnights win the series, I’ll send you a delicious bottle of gin made in Quebec! #GoHabsGo https://t.co/xpbP0Oc3ja

— François Legault (@francoislegault) June 14, 2021

The Knights and Canadiens open the best-of-seven series Monday night at T-Mobile Arena. The winner faces the New York Islanders or Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215886 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021

Alex Tuch ready to get physical against Canadiens

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

Alex Tuch is ready to throw his weight around for the Golden Knights.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound forward delivered a crowd-pleasing hit in the series-clinching Game 6 victory over Colorado last week and expects to play a heavy game against Montreal in the Stanley Cup semifinals.

“I know that during this series we’re going to have to be physical on some of their skill guys,” Tuch said after Monday’s morning skate. “If I have to go out there and try to get a hit like that or just be physical in general, I think I’m going to try to do so this round.”

The Canadiens’ top scoring line features Tyler Toffoli (6-0, 198 pounds), Nick Suzuki (5-11, 208) and Cole Caufield (5-7, 162). Wingers Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron are each listed at 5-9, and Artturi Lehkonen goes 5-11 and 178 pounds.

Tuch unloaded on Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon behind the net with about eight minutes remaining in the second period and sent the MVP finalist cartwheeling to the ice.

OOOOOF#VegasBorn Alex Tuch hit on #GoAvsGo Nathan MacKinnon

@NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/MjNLV8ewxU

— BobbyLotsOfNumbers (@TheReplayGuy) June 11, 2021

The heavy hit helped ignite the Knights, who went ahead less than three minutes later on Keegan Kolesar’s tip-in goal. Alex Pietrangelo put the Knights in front to stay during the final 20 seconds of the period.

“I kind of let anger run through my veins a little bit during that hit, I guess you could say,” Tuch said. “I try to make an impact as much as possible in every way that I can. I hope it pumped up the team a little bit.”

Weather report

The temperature is expected to climb above 110 degrees this week, and as commissioner Gary Bettman noted in Lake Tahoe, sunshine is the NHL’s enemy.

That heat won’t help the ice surface at T-Mobile Arena, where a fast track most likely would favor the Knights. It also has an effect on rest and recovery between games on Tuesday.

“I think on these off days, you have to stay hydrated,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “A lot of it is just staying out of the sun. Getting a little bit of vitamin D, but we can’t have guys coming in with sunburns. Got to be careful.”

Habs’ health

Defenseman Jeff Petry took part in Montreal’s morning skate wearing a noncontact jersey, as did defenseman Jon Merrill and forward Jake Evans. It was the second straight day Evans practiced after he was injured in Game 1 of the second round.

Petry was hurt during Game 3 on June 6 when he appeared to get his hand caught in a camera hole in the glass. He was second on the team with 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists) in 55 games during the regular season and averaged almost 24 minutes of ice time in the playoffs.

“The last few days we said that we were hopeful that early in the series they would be back. When? We don’t know,” interim coach Dominique Ducharme said. “Every situation is different with them. We had some positive signs with them and hopefully we can count on them as soon as possible.”

Cross the border

Montreal is the first Canadian team to play in a game contested in the United States in 460 days.

The last time was when Ottawa visited Los Angeles in what was the final game of the 2019-20 regular season (March 11, 2020) before the pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. 1215887 Vegas Golden Knights

Ex-Knights coach Gerard Gallant reportedly hired by Rangers

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

Canada's Head Coach Gerard Gallant reacts during the World Championship quarterfinal ...

Former Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant has a new job.

Gallant was hired as coach of the New York Rangers on Monday, the New York Post reported. He replaces David Quinn, who was fired in May after three seasons at the helm.

Gallant, 57, led the Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, the first expansion team to play for the championship since the 1967-68 St. Louis Blues.

He won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year and also led the Knights to the playoffs the following season.

But with the team mired in a four-game losing streak and falling short of expectations, Gallant was fired Jan. 15, 2020. In two-plus seasons, he compiled a 118-75-20 record.

“The first year was incredible. The closest thing to a miracle on ice I’ve ever seen,” Gallant said during an interview in 2020. “It was a great place to work for 2½ years, there’s no doubt.”

Under Pete DeBoer, the Knights reached the Western Conference Final in 2020 and are back in the Stanley Cup semifinals facing the Montreal Canadiens.

Gallant interviewed for head coaching openings with the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals before this season and reportedly also met with the Columbus Blue Jackets and expansion Seattle Kraken.

After he was fired, Gallant joked to the Review-Journal that he didn’t deserve a video tribute when he returned to T-Mobile Arena.

The Rangers went 27-23-6 in the East Division and were 11 points behind the fourth-place Islanders for the final playoff spot. General manager Jeff Gorton and team president John Davidson also were fired in May, with Chris Drury promoted to both roles.

New York features a youthful core that includes defenseman Adam Fox, forward Alexis Lafreniere, the No. 1 overall pick last season, and forward Kaapo Kaako, who went second overall in 2019.

Gallant has a reputation for working well with young players, helping to develop the likes of Shea Theodore and Alex Tuch with the Knights and Jonathan Huberdeau during his time in Florida.

Most recently, Gallant led Team Canada to a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championship this month after the team started the tournament 0-3.

Gallant has a 270-216-51-4 career record over parts of nine NHL seasons with Columbus, Florida and the Knights.

Contact David Schoen at [email protected] or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.

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How to watch Golden Knights-Canadiens Game 1

By Rochelle Richards Las Vegas Review-Journal June 14, 2021 - 11:50 am Updated June 14, 2021 - 2:49 PM

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty (67) shoots on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Keit ...

Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty (67) shoots on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Keith Kinkaid (37) in the first period during an NHL hockey game on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

The Golden Knights open up the Stanley Cup semifinals on Monday against the Montreal Canadiens at T-Mobile Arena.

It will be the first meeting between the two teams since Jan. 18, 2020. The Canadiens won in a 5-4 shootout after Reilly Smith tied the game with eight seconds remaining in regulation.

Here’s how you can tune into the game:

— What: Golden Knights vs. Canadiens Game 1

— When: 6 p.m. Monday

— Where: T-Mobile Arena

— TV: NBCSN (Cox: 38/1038, Century Link: 640, Dish 159, DirectTV 220)

— Radio: KKGK-AM (1340), KKGK-FM (98.9)

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Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Carey Price: Who has the edge?

Las Vegas Review-Journal

The matchup between the Golden Knights and the Canadiens will be a faceoff between two premier goalies of the last decade, as Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price compete with a shot at the Stanley Cup at stake.

MARC-ANDRE FLEURY

Marc-Andre Fleury grabs the puck against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, June 4, 2021, in Las ...

The 36-year-old had a resurgent season after struggling much of last year. He has been a cornerstone of the Golden Knights’ playoff run, turning in the best goals-against average among goalies remaining in the playoffs. He earned his first Jennings Trophy along with Robin Lehner for allowing the fewest goals in a season, and is a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time as well. He is fourth all-time in playoff wins (89), and can pass Grant Fuhr with a series win in the NHL semifinals.

2021 POSTSEASON STATS (12 games)

— Record: 8-4

— Saves made-shots against: 276-299

— Save Percentage: .923

— Goals against average: 1.91

— Shutouts: 1

BACKUP GOALIE: Robin Lehner

■ 2021 stats: 19 games, 13-4-2, 2.29 GAA, .913 sv%, 1 shutout

■ Notes: The 29-year-old’s one playoff start this season, in Game 1 of the West Division final, was a disaster in which he allowed seven goals. He had a strong 2020 playoffs for the Knights.

CAREY PRICE

Carey Price makes a save during second period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action against the ...

The 33-year-old has played a key role in Montreal’s surprising success in the postseason, with his playoff save percentage tops among all goalies. Price is in his 14th season as the Canadiens goalie after being drafted by the team in the first round in 2005. His 360 wins is the most for a Montreal goalie in franchise history, a mark he reached in 2019. His best season was in 2014-15, when he led the league in wins, save percentage, and goals-against average in 66 starts while winning the Hart, Vezina, Jennings and Pearson trophies.

2021 POSTSEASON STATS (11 games)

— Record: 8-3

— Saves made-shots against: 315-337

— Save Percentage: .935

— Goals against average: 1.97

— Shutouts: 1

BACKUP GOALIE: Jake Allen

■ 2021 stats: 29 games, 11-12-5, 2.68 GAA, .907 sv%, no shutouts

■ Notes: The 30-year-old has yet to appear in the playoffs. He was traded to Montreal last offseason for two draft picks after spending 2019- 20 backing up Jordan Binnington in St. Louis.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215890 Vegas Golden Knights over the last 40 minutes. We’ve got to show up for Game 2 and do the first thing when they drop the puck in the first period.”

The Golden Knights are intimately aware that Game 1 isn’t necessarily a Golden Knights-Canadiens series as lopsided as advertised in Game 1 forecast for what’s to come in a series. They took the Game 1 beating themselves last round against the Avalanche, a beating that didn’t really matter in the long run when Vegas eventually advanced.

By Case Keefer On the flip side, Vegas’ Game 1 struggles might not be random and could have been part of Monday’s slow start. This is a team that thrives

off slight DeBoer adjustments, some of which are surely coming for the Vegas Golden Knights Defeat Montreal, 4-1 Canadiens at 6 p.m. Wednesday when the teams reconvene for Game 2.

A Canadiens’ fan crashed the T-Mobile Arena video board shortly after But this might be one situation where they don’t really need any. They his team scored a power-play goal Monday evening, tugging on and played pretty poorly and still won with ease. pointing at the classic “CH” logo at the center of his white sweater. Barring a dramatic turnaround, the Canadiens are in a lot of trouble. They Credit to that gentleman for maximizing what must have been the only Golden Knights are likely only going to get better. minute he felt good about his team’s chances all night. The Golden “We didn’t play very well for the first 10-15 minutes,” forward Mark Stone Knights put an end to any Canadiens’ positivity 53 seconds later, said. restoring a two-goal lead when Mattias Janmark tipped in an Alex Tuch shot from inside the crease. LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.15.2021 The timing of Janmark’s goal was appropriate because it almost seemed like the Golden Knights were toying with the Canadiens throughout their 4-1 victory in Game 1 victory. Hockey fans holding out hope for a competitive Stanley Cup semifinal series took a hit on Monday.

Vegas was noticeably quicker, stronger, sharper and all-around better than Montreal through the first hour of hockey between the teams. At this rate, there might only be the minimum three total hours left — especially considering Vegas didn’t even really play that well.

“I think they came out really hard in the first period and took it to us there,” defenseman Nick Holden said. “We were on our heels. They were getting inside our net … They kind of outplayed us a little bit.”

The win was one of Vegas’ lesser performances out of the 14 postseason games it’s played so far this year, certainly far removed from the last five contests against the Avalanche — including a Game 2 loss. Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer suggested his team might have been struggling with getting back up after the emotional series win over the Avalanche and came out flat.

Something didn’t feel right in the opening 15 minutes as Montreal pieced together more scoring chances but neither Vegas’ players nor its 17,884 fans in attendance showed any signs of nervous energy. The Canadiens may have caught the Golden Knights off guard with their physicality — the leveling unsung, undersized defenseman Alexander Romanov issued on the Golden Knights’ Alex Pietrangelo is sure to wind up on Bell Centre pre-game highlight packages — but it didn’t take the Golden Knights long to adjust to the style.

The Canadiens’ early success felt like it was all for naught when Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore scored late in the first period off faceoff for the game’s first goal.

“Once we settled in and scored our goal, I think the pace settled down and was more in our favor,” forward Reilly Smith said.

That’s a polite way of saying, “We skated circles around them after we woke up a little bit.” Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury kept the puck out of the net just long enough for the Golden Knights’ massive talent advantage over the Canadiens to start to show.

The disparity was no surprise, of course. Vegas tied for the best record in the league this regular season while Montreal was eight games below .500 when including overtime losses, making the former one of the biggest semifinal favorites in NHL history.

But no one could be totally sure the teams’ qualities were that far apart. There was a strong suspicion that the Canadiens’ North division was the weakest of the four sets of teams this season but no empirical data to prove it with the lack of inter-division play.

One game isn’t enough to prove it either, but it was impossible to miss how outmatched Montreal looked over the final two periods.

“I think you can prepare on video and analytics but until you see a team live (it’s not the same),” DeBoer said. “They were impressive early the way they were getting pucks and bodies to the net. Their physicality is as advertised. (Goalie Carey) Price is as advertised. They’re a good hockey team. I liked how we built our game tonight and I thought controlled it 1215891 Vegas Golden Knights to Martinez for the goal. He finished with two points, his fourth multipoint game of the playoffs.

The goal and points also nudged him into elite territory as far as Defense leads way in Golden Knights’ Game 1 victory over Canadiens postseason performance. Since his postseason debut in 2018, Theodore has 12 goals and 45 points, both tops in the NHL among defensemen in that span, surpassing Tampa Bay star blue-liner Victor Hedman in both.

By Justin Emerson Theodore was the entire offense for large stretches of the playoffs last year, leading the team with 12 assists and 19 points and finishing second

with seven goals. He had been relatively quiet this postseason with six There isn’t a perfect hockey parallel to a basketball alley-oop jam, but points in 13 games, but came up big on Monday. what Shea Theodore did in the second period came pretty close. The Golden Knights’ defense was superb all season and was again in Everyone in the building thought he was going to shoot, but instead he the Game 1 victory. And if Theodore starts to heat up, it’s going to be dished to Alec Martinez for a forceful dunk, which held up as the game- hard to slow Vegas down. winning goal. “Our defense contributing offensively has been part of our foundation all It was the exclamation point on a banner Game 1 for the Vegas defense: year,” DeBoer said. “We relied on those guys to chip in offensively for us, three of the four goals, six of the 12 points and 18 of the 20 shots came they’re a big part of our identity, and they did it tonight.” from the blue line, as the Golden Knights took down the Montreal LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.15.2021 Canadiens 4-1 in the Stanley Cup semifinals at T-Mobile Arena on Monday.

“Yeah, I was going to shoot it, but he was yelling at me pretty good,” Theodore said. “He was wide open too, so that definitely helps.”

Defenseman Nick Holden, who scored in the third period, said the active defense was part of the game plan. Defensemen scored six goals in the first 13 games of the postseason, though three of the top five assist leaders coming into the game played on the back end, and the defense’s 31 points led the NHL in the playoffs.

They were certainly active on Monday. Theodore scored on a slapper from the blue line in the first, but on his second goal, he drifted all the way to the slot between the hash marks before sending the puck over to Martinez, who himself was below the faceoff dot. Holden pinched in from the blue line on his goal, and scored from in close.

Five of the Vegas blue liners chipped in a point against Montreal and the one who didn’t, Alex Pietrangelo, had a game-high 13 shot attempts, seven on goal. As a unit, the Vegas defense outshot Montreal’s 18-0.

“We talked about making sure the ‘D’ were getting up in the play to make sure we had good gaps in case pucks turned over, but ended up being that we were able to jump up and get some pucks and obviously score some goals and make some plays,” Holden said. “It’s always big when you can get contributions from different places, and tonight was one of those nights.”

The defense was also strong in the part of the game their position is named after, at least for the final two periods. The Canadiens had a strong first period, getting to the scoring areas of the ice with relative ease. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was called upon often, making eight saves in the first 7:25 minutes of the game and 12 in the period.

After that, the skaters in front of him made his life easier. He faced just five shots in the second and four in the third before Montreal pulled goalie Carey Price for an extra attacker, thanks in part to 16 blocked shots. At that point Fleury was under siege until the final whistle, making eight saves in the final 4:20 to keep the game at 4-1.

“All night, all series, all season, these guys have been amazing, blocking a lot of shots and helping me out around the net for rebounds and clearing it away,” Fleury said. “It’s a big part of the game. I think this team shoots a lot of pucks to the net and has a lot of guys coming in for rebounds, so they’ve been great out there.”

The Golden Knights are massive favorites in the series, but the first period provided Montreal with a blueprint for how to pull the upset. The Canadiens lived in and around the Vegas crease, firing eight shots on net from within 15 feet. Fleury kept the game within striking distance and allowed the Golden Knights to get out of the period with a 1-0 lead before taking over the game in the final 40.

“I think it was a feeling-out process, with us coming off a real emotional series win, playing a couple games more than they obviously played, so I think all those things factored into the first period,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “Thankfully (Fleury) was our best player. He gave us a chance to get our legs and then I really liked our game in the second and third.”

Theodore put the Golden Knights on top with a slapshot through traffic in the first, but his highlight-reel play came in the second, on the nasty pass 1215892 Vegas Golden Knights Shea Theodore had the only goal of the frame, firing home a one-timer near the midpoint of the period and helping Vegas grab a 1-0 lead over the Montreal Canadiens after one period at T-Mobile Arena in their third- round series. Blog: Golden Knights run away from Canadiens to take Game 1 It was not a good start for the Golden Knights on Monday, just like it wasn't in the last two rounds. They were shutout against Minnesota and blown out by Colorado, and the game against Montreal started a little like By Justin Emerson that.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned the puck over behind the net early, but wasn't If the Golden Knights play the way they did in the final two periods for the hurt by it when the Canadiens couldn't get the puck all the way to the net. whole third round, the series isn't going to last long. He then had to make a save in tight on Brendan Gallagher, and Montreal drew a power play 2:38 into the game. They kept up the early pressure, That was a familiar refrain in the previous round, but it didn't take the and Fleury had to make quite a few early saves — eight in the first nine Golden Knights anytime at all for the goals to come. Vegas scored one in minutes of the game. the first despite a strong period from the Montreal Canadiens, but took the game over from there, cruising to a 4-1 victory in Game 1 at T-Mobile But that was quickly forgotten at 9:15 when the Golden Knights scored Arena on Monday. the first goal of the game. Despite the Montreal pressure, Chandler Stephenson won an offensive-zone faceoff clean to Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore regained his offensive form after not scoring in 18 who fed Theodore to his right. Theodore blasted the puck through traffic games, including the regular season. He slapped home Vegas' first goal and inside the right post to put Vegas up 1-0. of the game in the first, then pulled out a nasty shot-fake to set up Alec Martinez with the Golden Knights' second. The Canadiens got one back The goal seemed to wake Vegas up, as the Golden Knights started to on a power-play goal from Cole Caufield, only to see Mattias Janmark assert control that was expected coming into the game. The forecheck put the Golden Knights back up by a pair 53 seconds later. arrived, and Montreal had trouble exiting the zone with the puck.

Vegas added one more in the third period, a Nick Holden finish on a Overall the period swung the Canadiens' way, with plenty of chances in gorgeous seam pass from Reilly Smith. Three of the Golden Knights' four the dangerous areas of the ice. Fleury was up the task, Vegas took goals came from six defensemen, as did six of their 12 points. advantage of an early chance, and the Golden Knights led 1-0 as a result. Montreal was the superior team in the first period, with a 12-9 edge in shots on goal and a decisive advantage in ice position. The Canadiens Shots favored Montreal 12-9 in the first. had no trouble cutting to the center of the net, and applied a high quantity Golden Knights open series with unfamiliar Canadiens and quality of pressure on Marc-Andre Fleury for the better part of the first. The last time the Golden Knights and Canadiens met, Pete DeBoer was coaching his second game for Vegas, Dominique Ducharme was an The game flipped in the second and third, as Vegas locked them down. assistant with Montreal, Alex Pietrangelo wasn't a Golden Knight and The Golden Knights allowed just five shots in the second and five in the leading scorer Tyler Toffoli wasn't a Canadien. third before Montreal pulled Carey Price for an extra attacker, preventing any sort of comeback attempt. Montreal's only good look after the first The Golden Knights played their first- and second-round opponents eight period came on the power play. times in the regular season before their playoff series but haven't seen the Canadiens in person in nearly 18 months. That will change when Vegas finished with a 30-29 edge in shots on goal. It is the first time this Montreal visits T-Mobile Arena at 6 p.m. today for Game 1, becoming the postseason the Golden Knights won Game 1 of a series, although losing first Canadian team to play in the states since the pandemic began. to Minnesota and Colorado didn't affect them in their previous rounds. "We had a few days to prepare for them, watched video, and I know a lot Golden Knights extend lead over Canadiens in second period of the guys. I think almost everyone had watched them throughout the The Golden Knights started to take over the game in the second period, entire postseason," Vegas forward Alex Tuch said. "We know what to and extended their lead as a result. Vegas added a pair of goals in the expect, but we have to first and foremost focus on our game." middle period, including answering of Montreal's, and led the Canadiens The Golden Knights have one win in six all-time meetings with the 3-1 heading to the second intermission at T-Mobile Arena on Monday. Canadiens (1-2-3 record), but that doesn't feel particularly relevant to the The Golden Knights' second goal of the game was the closest thing current series. Much has changed since Vegas went to Bell Centre on hockey has to an alley-oop dunk. Shea Theodore had a field of white ice Jan. 18, 2020. in front him to shoot from after collecting Reilly Smith's feed and looked For instance, the Canadiens got better. By record, they are still one of the like he was going to slap it at the end. At the last second though he weaker teams to reach the postseason with a 24-21-11 record that pulled up and fed Alec Martinez, who had the whole net to shoot at. He ranked 18th in the NHL and a minus-9 goal differential that ranked 19th. didn't miss, firing it by a diving Carey Price and Vegas grabbed a 2-0 lead 2:18 into the second. Compare that to Vegas, whose 40-14-2 record tied for the best in the league and whose plus-64 goal differential stood alone. On paper, this The Canadiens didn't show much life at even strength for large stretches looks like a mismatch. The sportsbooks agree, installing Vegas as a of the second period, but a William Carrier roughing minor gave them the minus-500 (bet $500 to win $100) favorite in the series and a minus-270 jump they needed. Cole Caufield, who started this season at the favorite tonight. University of Wisconsin, showed off why he won the Hobey Baker as college hockey's best player. He missed on his first attempt, but not his The Canadiens didn't have to face the President's Trophy winners to second, as he fired home a rebound to trim the lead to 2-1 Vegas. reach the semifinals, but their road has been impressive, regardless of their opponent. They overcame a 3-1 series deficit to beat the favored But the good vibes on the visitors' bench didn't last long. Less than a Maple Leafs in the first round, then swept the Jets in the second by minute later, Vegas restored the two-goal lead thanks to a fortunate allowing six total goals. They enter the series on a seven-game winning bounce. Alex Tuch fired the puck on net and it deflected off defenseman streak and are well-rested, having not played in a full week. Alexander Romanov's skate and right to a waiting Mattias Janmark. He redirected it into the net, and the Golden Knights led 3-1 just 53 seconds "We haven't seen these guys in awhile, but they're playing real good after Caufield's goal. hockey," Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore said. "They've come off some real good series, and we have to make sure our game is ready for Vegas led 13-5 in second-period shots, and led 21-17 for the game. them. It's going to be different, but I think sometimes a change of scenery Golden Knights lead Canadiens after first period in game 1 is also good.

For the third Game 1 in a row this postseason, the Golden Knights were The Golden Knights will turn from embracing the underdog role they had slow to arrive. They lost both of them because they couldn't get the in the second-round series with the Avalanche to being one of the offense going, but they're off to a better start in Game 1 on Monday. biggest favorites in the history of the Stanley Cup semifinals. The best way for the Canadiens to start the upset bid is a Game 1 victory, something teams have been oddly successful at against the Golden Knights.

Vegas has lost its last three series openers dating back to last season but rebounded with series victories in both of them this year.

"You don't want to start in a hole, particularly at home here," DeBoer said. "I don't know why we haven't been able to win Game 1 so far, but every series is new. I think we'll be ready to play. I think we know the importance of it. For me it's about playing a good game. Hopefully we win and if we don't, I think we've shown in the past that if your game's in the right place, eventually we'll come out the other side."

Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 3

Series: Tied 0-0

TV: NBC Sports Network (DirecTV 220, Cox 38, CenturyLink 640)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights minus-270, Canadiens plus-235; over/under: 5.5 (plus-110, minus-130)

Golden Knights (8-5, West Division No. 2 seed)

Coach: Pete DeBoer (second season)

Points leader: William Karlsson (11)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (6)

Assists leader: William Karlsson, Alex Pietrangelo (7)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (1.91 GAA, .923 save percentage)

Canadiens (8-3, North Division No. 4 seed)

Coach: Dominique Ducharme (first season)

Points leader: Tyler Toffoli (10)

Goals leaders: Four players (4)

Assists leaders: Eric Staal, Tyler Toffoli (6)

Expected goalie: Carey Price (1.97 GAA, .935 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Max Pacioretty—Chandler Stephenson—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Mattias Janmark—Nicolas Roy—Alex Tuch

William Carrier—Keegan Kolesar—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Alec Martinez—Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb—Shea Theodore

Nick Holden—Zach Whitecloud

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury, Robin Lehner

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215893 Vegas Golden Knights through,” Stone said. “They’re a good forechecking team, so if you can try to limit them with the opportunities to get in, it’s important.”

And while the attack they’re facing has changed drastically from the last Six things we learned in the Golden Knights’ impressive Game 1 win over round, the Golden Knights’ neutral zone strategy remains the same. They the Canadiens challenge the opposing defenders with a single forechecker, use the other two forwards to hang back and eliminate passing lanes and encourage the defensemen to play aggressively at the defensive blue line to take away time and space. By Jesse Granger Jun 15, 2021 “It’s pretty similar and pretty similar to the Minnesota series, too,” Mattias

Janmark said of Vegas’ strategy. “They wind up with some speed but we The Golden Knights were impressive in Monday’s 4-1 series-opening win play the same way. Of course against Colorado, you have to be aware of over Montreal. They looked like the faster team, creating chances on the that first line for sure, but I think we play the same way against all of the rush while limiting the Canadiens in transition. They looked like the opposition, and we played it pretty good.” stronger team, winning puck battles against the boards and controlling 3. Has Alex Pietrangelo been sandbagging? the center of the ice. And they looked like the better team in just about every aspect. Every once in a while I’ll play in a recreational hockey tournament where one team shows up, barely tries through the qualifying stages to earn Vegas received three goals by defensemen — the first time that’s entry to a lower division, then turns it on and slaughters the competition happened in the NHL this postseason — including a laser of a shot by for an easy trophy. Shea Theodore to open the scoring. Alec Martinez and Nick Holden each pitched in goals as Vegas ran away with the game late. It’s sandbagging at its best.

But as the second-round series against the Avalanche showed, one Obviously, that’s not what Pietrangelo was doing this season, but it sure game does not make a series. The Canadiens did control play for the looks that way. The Golden Knights’ major offseason acquisition was less opening 10 minutes, peppering Marc-Andre Fleury with plenty of high than impressive in his first regular season with the team, but has been danger chances that he turned away. Montreal will look for ways to the elite No. 1 defenseman they have needed in these playoffs. extend that type of pressure for longer periods. Pietrangelo is playing heavy minutes against the opposing top players “Thankfully, Flower was our best player, gave us a chance to get our and shutting them down while he increases his production on the other legs, and I really liked our game in the second and third (periods),” coach end of the ice. As the postseason has progressed, Pietrangelo has Pete DeBoer said. become more and more aggressive activating himself into the offensive rush, and when he jumps into the play, good things tend to happen for There was plenty to learn about two teams that hadn’t played each other Vegas. in 513 days prior to Monday night. “He’s great at joining the rush, making moves and finding open players,” 1. Montreal creates offense around the net Theodore said. “That gets them on their heels a bit, so when we start to This isn’t a revelation as much as it is a confirmation of what the Golden roll our shifts, the next group out can do the same thing.” Knights expected entering this series. Montreal doesn’t have the same When Pietrangelo is playing the way he is right now, quickly transitioning type of high-end skill players as Colorado, but the Canadiens create the puck onto his forwards’ sticks for counterattacks and holding the puck offense in different ways. for an extra second to pick out the perfect pass in the offensive zone, the “I think you can prepare on video and analytics, but until you see a team Golden Knights are a different team — a much more terrifying team to live (you don’t know),” DeBoer said. “They were impressive early, the defend. way they were getting pucks and bodies to the net. Their physicality is as 4. Theodore has his confidence back advertised.” After being outplayed for the opening 10 minutes, Vegas earned an Montreal played with energy in the opening 10 minutes, pressuring the offensive zone faceoff, thanks to an icing by the Canadiens. Chandler Golden Knights with an intense forecheck. Once they had the puck, the Stephenson won the draw back to Brayden McNabb, who set the puck Canadiens generated their offense from behind Vegas’ net. They on a tee for Theodore at the point. centered passes into the low slot, hitting one-timers on net followed by a flurry of rebound chances. Theodore ripped the puck into the short-side top corner to give Vegas a lead, and the Golden Knights never looked back. It was Theodore’s first “They came out with a lot of speed and played pretty aggressively,” goal of the postseason, and you could see in his body language that was Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. “They created some opportunities weighing on him. around our net.” Following his goal, Theodore was more patient with the puck and created 2. Vegas’ strong neutral zone defense is equally effective against chances for his teammates with his skating and passing ability. Montreal “Like any offensive player, it’s a confidence thing,” DeBoer said of The difference-maker in the Golden Knights’ second-round win over Theodore. “I think he got looks last round but it just wasn’t clicking. So Colorado was their ability to shut down transition offense in the neutral the fact that he got one early here is a good sign. He needed it. zone. Vegas cut off skating lanes and passing lanes alike, forcing Hopefully, he relaxes a little bit now. I thought he was outstanding Colorado to chip the puck into the zone rather than attacking with tonight.” possession. Theodore’s newfound confidence was on display on his primary assist on It wasn’t a given that strategy would work against a team much more Martinez’s goal in the second period. He collected a loose puck in the inclined to dump the puck into the zone like the Canadiens, but Monday high slot and faked out Carey Price with an incredible shot fake before night it was. calmly sliding the puck over to Martinez for a one-timer into the wide- “The first 10-15 minutes, I thought they skated really well through the open net. neutral zone,” Mark Stone said. “Once we were able to get a decent WHAT A FAKE BY SHEA THEODORE ALEC MARTINEZ MAKES IT forecheck going and had some back pressure, it allowed our defensemen 2-0 PIC.TWITTER.COM/DAKGSDW8O4 to have good gaps. When they play with that tight gap and transition the puck, that’s when we start to get rolling a bit.” — SHAYNA (@HAYYYSHAYYY) JUNE 15, 2021

Vegas’ forwards played tight defense through the middle of the ice, and “I was going to shoot it, but he was yelling at me pretty good and he was in the final 40 minutes, the Canadiens struggled to get the puck over wide-open,” Theodore said, laughing, “so that helped.” Vegas’ blue line, let alone do it with possession. 5. This will be the goaltender duel we expected “I thought for the second and the majority of the third period until they pulled their goalie, I thought we did a good job of limiting them coming Both goalies were incredible in Game 1. Fleury stood tall in the opening minutes and in the closing minutes to win it for the Golden Knights. On the other end, Price robbed Stone and Jonathan Marchessault of what looked like sure goals. He wasn’t able to completely lock down Vegas’ offensive attack, but he was the best player on the ice for Montreal by a wide margin.

Price will need to be even better, and outplay Fleury, if the Canadiens are to win this series. And despite all the focus on the star-studded matchup at goalie, Fleury said he doesn’t view it that way.

“To me, I don’t feel like I’m playing against Carey,” Fleury said. “I have to worry about the shooters and the guys trying to score on me. Those are the guys I feel like I need to handle and worry about. Carey is obviously a very good goalie. He’s fun to watch, he made some nice saves tonight.”

Fleury stopped 28 of 29 shots to earn the 90th playoff win of his career, pulling him two behind Grant Fuhr for third place in NHL history.

6. Playing with a lead will be key

Despite a slow start, the Golden Knights managed to score the game’s first goal and never surrendered the lead. Scoring first was something they’ve struggled with in the first two series, and something DeBoer knew they’d need to improve in the semifinals.

“It was critical,” DeBoer said. “We talked in our pre-scout meetings that they would obviously be more uncomfortable in their structure and their game playing from behind. No one had really made them play from behind for a while. The first goal was huge.”

Entering Game 1, the Canadiens hadn’t trailed since Game 4 against Toronto in the first round. That’s seven straight victories without trailing. And with the defense-first system Montreal likes to employ, playing with a lead is vital.

Once the Golden Knights took a lead, it forced the Canadiens to push for offense. That plays into Vegas’ forecheck and leads to turnovers and chances the other way. Not allowing Montreal to get out in front and sit back to protect leads will be one of the biggest keys to this series.

“As soon as we settled in and scored our first goal, I felt like the pace felt more like it was in our favor, and we were able to create a little more,” Smith said. “They’re a good team playing with the lead, so scoring first is going to be important.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215894 Vegas Golden Knights “When I was hired by Max, I had one marching order and only one: and that was find a way to come to an agreement with Montreal on a long- term deal,” Walsh said. “He said, ‘My family has moved to Montreal permanently, we don’t go anywhere else in the offseason, we live in LeBrun: It seems like everyone involved in the Max Pacioretty Vegas- Montreal year-round, I love the city, I’m the captain of the team, I would Montreal trade has moved on not want to go anywhere else. I want to be here.’

“The only order I had with Max was to make a deal with Montreal.’’

By Pierre LeBrun Jun 14, 2021 But by then, the horse was out of the barn. Habs owner Geoff Molson would later reveal when Pacioretty was traded to Vegas in September

that the player had requested a trade and the Canadiens had worked for It has turned into the kind of trade that teams strive for. several months on doing just that.

One that ends up working nicely for both sides. Pacioretty has never confirmed that. Although we’ll get to that below.

Max Pacioretty has filled the net in Vegas, including 27 points (14-13) in Either way, Pacioretty wasn’t getting a long-term extension in Montreal. A 30 playoff games over the last three years. And he absolutely loves it November 2017 meeting between Pacioretty and Bergevin went there. sideways, which produced some sore feelings on each side.

Nick Suzuki is a rising star for the Habs, Tomas Tatar scored 47 goals in It’s not uncommon for the Habs GM to meet with his key players from his first two years in Montreal after the trade before falling out of favour time to time. This meeting, in a season that was going off the rails, didn’t this season, and Mattias Norlinder is a promising young blueliner who go well at all, sources confirm. could be part of the mix over the next year or two. So from that point on, it was clear where this was eventually headed. It has helped everyone involved move on ahead of the Stanley Cup Rival front office sources throughout that season suggested Pacioretty semifinal series pitting the Golden Knights and Canadiens. was indeed on the market.

A NARRATIVE WE’LL BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT OVER THE NEXT 2 In any case, once Walsh got fully updated on what had transpired and WEEKS EXCEPT THAT ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED HAVE where things stood, he realized there was no way he was getting a GRACEFULLY MOVED ON. HTTPS://T.CO/5ZSCOJRBX8 contract extension for his client in Montreal.

— ALLAN WALSH (@WALSHA) JUNE 12, 2021 “It became obvious towards the end of the summer that the most likely outcome to the entire situation was both parties moving on,’’ Walsh said. Habs GM Marc Bergevin has no desire to relive the play-by-play of Pacioretty’s exit, and while he wasn’t asked about it on his media call After a tense summer, Pacioretty was dealt on the eve of camp to Vegas Saturday (I asked him instead about Suzuki), had a media colleague — a trade that necessitated signing a four-year, $28 million extension to brought up Pacioretty I’m confident the Habs GM would have said he’s make it work for the Golden Knights. not talking about a player on another team. A drama-filled year was finally over. Which was the best result for And Pacioretty himself downplayed any special motivation or meaning everyone involved. when asked during his media availability Sunday about playing his former It just so happens I landed in Vegas a week later, a work trip I had team. planned a month earlier before anyone even knew Pacioretty would be So, everyone involved seemingly has turned the page. It’s been three dealt to the Golden Knights, but the timing was indeed perfect. years, after all. I sat down with the former Habs captain in the Golden Knights dressing But let’s not kid ourselves, given the hard feelings at the time, there will room for a Q&A. always be something deep down attached to it for Pacioretty and his Most notable in that interview was asking him point blank if indeed he former team. has asked for a trade out of Montreal. It was not a smooth exit. “Well where I’m at with that is, that’s in my past,” Pacioretty said. “When At its apex, it featured an emotional Pacioretty parting ways with veteran it comes to that situation and that subject, all I’m going to say is, things agent Pat Brisson during the NHL Draft in Dallas in June 2018 after the can get translated differently and things can get interpreted differently in star winger nixed a contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings which different sides of a conversation. I understand that. I think when you sit would have cemented a trade there (Kings GM Rob Blake declined to down and have emotional conversations and there’s not always clarity … comment this weekend when asked to go back over all that). that being said, when you look back on it, it made the most sense for me to move on, for both parties. They felt that way. Obviously, I was in trade “It’s no secret now, and it’s a matter of public record, that the day before rumours almost for 10 to 12 months at this point, like, heavy trade Max was effectively traded to the L.A. Kings and the Kings’ first-round rumours. It was definitely just time. And that’s not to say I didn’t pick was in that deal and a condition for the deal going through was that appreciate everything I went through in Montreal. However, it made the Kings didn’t want to give up a first-round asset for Max who only had sense given the fact Montreal is going through a rebuild, I was on the last a year left on his deal.” player agent Allan Walsh told The Athletic on year of my contract and I think they got a good return that they’re happy Sunday. “The trade was dependent on Max agreeing to a long-term with. So that’s all I’ll say about that.’’ extension in conjunction with the deal getting consummated. So, not a yes, not a no. “Obviously, I had no knowledge of any of that at the time,’’ And in the end, what does it matter anymore. Habs fans are enamoured Because, of course, Walsh wasn’t Pacioretty’s agent quite yet. The deal with Suzuki, as they should be. with the Kings fell apart and the veteran agent got a phone call at 5:30 a.m. the very next day as the second round of the draft neared. Meanwhile, Pacioretty loves being a Golden Knight and is eight wins away from a Stanley Cup. The team he once captained, however, is “It was a phone number I wasn’t familiar with. It was a Montreal area standing in the way. code. I answered the phone and the voice said, ‘Hey Allan, it’s Max Pacioretty here,’’’ Walsh recalls. This would have been a bigger story a few years ago. But there is truly a sense everyone has turned the page. “I was kind of startled from the call. We ended up talking for over an hour. He updated me on everything that had transpired leading him to make The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 that call. At the end of the call, I was his agent.’’

According to Walsh, despite everything that had transpired at that point, Pacioretty was hoping to patch things up with Montreal (no pun intended). 1215895 Vegas Golden Knights Roy is looking forward to a return home for this playoff series. The players will be confined to their hotel rooms for the majority of their stay, but something as simple as seeing street signs in his native language is a welcome sight for Roy. Who is trying to end the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup dream? Four Quebec natives, by way of Vegas “French is my first language, so that’s what it’s like over there,” he said. “It’s exciting to go back to Montreal, and it’s going to be a fun time for sure.”

By Jesse Granger Jun 14, 2021 The bond between Montreal fans and the Canadiens is as strong as family, perhaps stronger for some. Carrier joked that he isn’t even sure if

his own family members will be rooting for him against Montreal. The Montreal Canadiens are eight wins away from delivering Canada its “I think it’s going to be tough on the family,” Carrier said with a laugh. “I first Stanley Cup championship since Montreal won in 1993. The only think it’s going to be kind of divided. It’s going to be special. Obviously, thing standing in the Canadiens’ way is a bunch of Canadians, including every time we play there in the (regular) season it’s special, and now a notable subset of Quebec natives. we’re playing them in the playoffs. I’ve got a lot of text messages lately No team in the NHL rostered more Canadian-born players this season from friends. It’s going to be special.” than the Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal’s opponent in the semifinal And then there’s Fleury, who has single-handedly divided the rooting playoff series that begins Monday in Vegas. Vegas has 20 Canadian interests for a small town in Quebec. players on its roster, plus its top two front-office executives (George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon) and all four coaches (Pete DeBoer, Fleury was born and raised in Sorel, only a one-hour drive from Montreal. Steve Spott, Ryan McGill and Ryan Craig). The town sits 50 miles northeast of the city along the St. Lawrence River. Golden Knights flags wave proudly outside of homes in Sorel. Despite Canada is the NHL’s biggest pipeline for talent, with Canadians making the city being located in the middle of Montreal Canadiens territory and up 43.1 percent of players. But for Vegas, Canadians account for an thousands of miles from Las Vegas, the shared affinity for Fleury has incredible 66.6 percent of the rostered players. More specifically, the created a difficult decision for many residents. Golden Knights also lead all playoff teams in games played by French- Canadian players. While Phillip Danault is the only player from the “My neighbor, a 14-year-old boy named Marc-Antoine, came up to me province of Quebec currently playing for Montreal, Vegas has four: the other day with a sad look on his face,” said Catherine Thibault, who William Carrier, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault and Nick was born and raised in Sorel. “He said, ‘I’m very torn between Marc- Roy. Andre and my Canadiens.’ He was very, very torn and didn’t know what to do.” In the playoffs, the Golden Knights have dressed 16 Canadian players, two more than Montreal. And those Canadian players have scored 21 of Thibault said that most people in town are die-hard Canadiens fans – just the team’s 40 playoff goals. like Fleury was when he grew up in Sorel – and that most will likely pull for Montreal, but that regardless of the outcome of the series they’ll have After yet another brilliant postseason, Marchessault is tied with Patrice someone to root for in the Stanley Cup Final. Bergeron for the most playoff goals by a Quebec-born player over the last four seasons. The fiery Cap-Rouge native has been a leader on and “The real fans of the Canadiens won’t change,” she said. “And if the off the ice for the Golden Knights since their inaugural season. He’s the Canadiens win in the end, I will be OK. But my heart is with Marc-Andre. I franchise’s all-time points leader with 225 and is fresh off a spectacular think many people are like me, they will root for either Montreal or Marc- series against the Colorado Avalanche, in which he registered five goals Andre.” and two assists in six games. Fleury’s connection with the small town of only 34,755 is strong, and he “Obviously I grew up watching the (Canadiens) and have a lot of fond has even brought hockey’s greatest prize to town several times. memories watching them,” Marchessault said. “So yeah it’s a little bit more exciting for me, but also the last round was special for me playing “Every time that Marc-Andre has won the Stanley Cup, he brings it to against the Avs — like the old Nordiques — so it was special for me Sorel,” Thibault said. “Everyone was downtown to go see him and all the there and I think this will be a similar situation.” kids were very proud of him. They want to touch, they want to see and they want to cheer for Marc-Andre.” Marchessault explained further, saying he actually grew up supporting the Nordiques more than the Canadiens, but that it’s still special to play a Fleury drove in circles around downtown Sorel in his Jeep, with the playoff series in Montreal. Stanley Cup sitting in the passenger seat beside him. He finally arrived at the Colisée Cardin, a small ice rink in Sorel where he learned how to play “I remember my parents had tickets to Nordiques games and I would hockey. sometimes go with them,” he said, translated from French. “Obviously I was young, I was 4 or 5 years old, but I still have a couple of memories. “All the kids were around him,” Thibault recalled. “It was a very, very nice And then, in the following years, it was fun to follow Colorado. They had time. And I remember him taking time with every kid to talk. He’s such a a lot of success with Patrick (Roy) when he went there the year after, and good person.” it was really fun to follow them. Of course, it was a little bit harder Sorel is a tight-knit community and many have personal connections with because of the time difference, but during the playoffs, I was able to Fleury. Thibault told a story of her mother and aunt owning a children’s watch them and I had nice moments following them.” clothing store in town. Marchessault’s role on the Golden Knights can’t be overstated. He has “My aunt told me she remembers dressing Marc-Andre when he would regularly delivered in the biggest moments, including a hat trick in a come to the store with his mom,” she said. “So I’m sure she’s cheering crucial Game 4 win over Colorado last week at T-Mobile Arena when for him on Monday night.” Vegas trailed in the series 2-1. Thibault’s 15-year-old daughter, Laure-Andrée, plays goalie and wears Vegas also has a pair of French-Canadian forwards in its bottom-six No. 29 because of Fleury. Her bedroom is decorated with goalie masks, group. Roy and Carrier have each played in every playoff game to this gloves and sticks all signed by Fleury. point. Acquired in the expansion draft, Carrier has played the eighth-most games in franchise history. Those two don’t offer the same offensive Catherine Thibault’s uncle Paul, who was also born and raised in Sorel production as Marchessault, but both play integral roles and have and knew Fleury’s father, Andre, growing up, apparently had no issues delivered timely goals in the first two playoff rounds. choosing a side in this semifinal series.

Roy grew up in Amos, a small town in northwestern Quebec on the “My uncle is Marc-Andre, Marc-Andre, Marc-Andre,” she said, laughing. Harricana River. “All of the friends of (Fleury’s) father, who have followed Marc-Andre since he was a kid, it’s all Marc-Andre. They’re no choice. I spoke with “Mostly we were looking at the Canadien games, me and my family,” Roy him earlier today and he said we are all behind Marc-Andre, and he and said, remembering growing up in Quebec. “I wasn’t born for that 1993 his group of friends will be watching the games together.” run, but I’ve heard about it, I’ve seen some videos and it was pretty special.” Paul Thibault, 65, hung a Golden Knights flag outside of his home a few days ago to show his support.

“I told him to be careful no one takes your flag when you’re asleep,” Catherine Thibault said. “He said, ‘Oh, no worries. They all know I’m a big fan of Marc-Andre.’”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215896 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL Final 4: Golden Knights Take Game One, 4-1, Over Montreal At T- Mobile Arena Monday

Alan Snel

The Vegas Golden Knights took care of business in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL semifinals Monday, winning 4-1 before 17,884 in announced attendance at T-Mobile Arena.

With six minutes left in the third period the chants of, “Fleury, Fleury, Fleury,” were heard through the arena. VGK goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 of 29 shots. It was his 90th career postseason win.

Thankfully Flower was our best player. It gave us a chance to get our legs. I really liked our game in the second and third periods. — Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer

The VGK defensemen came up big for the Golden Knights as Shea Theodore scored in period one, Alec Martinez scored 2:18 into period two and unsung Nick Holden tallied in period three to give the VGK the 4- 1 win in the opening game of the Best-of-7 semifinal. The Montreal- Vegas winner plays the winner of Tampa vs the Islanders.

“As soon as we settled in and scored our first goal, I feel like the pace was more in our favor and we were able to create a little bit more,” VGK forward Reilly Smith said.

After Montreal’s Cole Caufield scored a power play goal in the second period to cut into the VGK lead at 2-1, VGK forward Mattias Janmark banged home a goal from in close only 53 seconds later in the middle stanza to give the Knights a 3-1 lead.

It was big for us to get a goal in the first period even though they outplayed us a little bit. — VGK defenseman Nick Holden

Fans tonight. Let’s take a look.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in the arena Monday. He was apparently making the postseason rounds.

The Knights have been in the NHL semifinals three out of four years, including the historic march to the 2018 Cup Final against Washington..

← NHL Final 4: Golden Knights Secondary Market Tickets For VGK vs MTL Game 1 In Vegas Today Are Red-Hot — Like Las Vegas Weather This Week

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215897 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL Final 4: Golden Knights Secondary Market Tickets For VGK vs MTL Game 1 In Vegas Today Are Red-Hot — Like Las Vegas Weather This Week

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

The average Golden Knights’ ticket price for the NHL semifinal matchup with the Montreal Canadiens is $822 on the secondary market, according to TicketIQ, which tracks secondary market ticket prices.

Check out the VGK secondary market ticket prices through the years of the four-year-old NHL franchise from TicketIQ .

And here’s another chart to give these ticket prices some context compared to other markets and teams, especially the New York Rangers.

As of 10 AM today, there were tickets available on the VGK Ticket Exchange website, the team’s official ticket seat. Tickets began at $184,

Great to chat with my former news convergence colleague JP Peterson of FanStreamSports.com in Tampa about the Islanders vs Tampa, game 1 Sunday. JP mentioned the crowd of 14,000 plus at Amalie Arena on a Sunday afternoon in Tampa didn’t have the emotional juice you typically see in an NHL semifinal game.

Here’s our chat from today:

JP hopes the T-Mobile Arena ice surface holds up under today’s 112- degree temperature and 18,000 plus fans in the building off the Strip.

It’s going to be red-hot in Las Vegas this week:

← Monday Morning Gambler: The Price To Bet The Vegas Golden Knights Goes Up and Up and UpNHL Final 4: Golden Knights Take Game One, 4-1, Over Montreal At T-Mobile Arena Monday →

LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215898 Vegas Golden Knights — Laugher of the week: If you played the total under on the Game 3 of the Brooklyn Nets at the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, you enjoyed an easy win. Oddsmakers put the total at 234, but the final score was Milwaukee 86, Brooklyn 83. With only 169 points on the scoreboard, the Monday Morning Gambler: The Price To Bet The Vegas Golden Knights total came in under by 65 points — often around the number of points Goes Up and Up and Up scored in an entire NBA quarter. The total came down to 228 for Game 4 on Sunday but still came in under the total easily, with the Bucks winning

107-96. By Dan Behringer for LVSportsBiz.com Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 6, 2019. Richard Brian

You really want to bet on the white-hot Vegas Golden Knights? The Nets still have shortest odds to win the NBA title at around +250. The Atlanta Hawks are about +10000. You’re gonna pay the price. LVSportsBiz.com sponsors The first-round series price vs. the Minnesota Wild was perhaps not unreasonable, -250 although the Wild pushed the VGK to seven games. Dan Behringer is a longtime Las Vegan. Follow posts at doublegutshot.com. On Twitter, @DanBehringer221. The Golden Knights were actually underdogs vs. the No. 1 seed Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Bettors could catch an Share this: attractive series price at anywhere from the +170 to +180 range. And Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on after the opening game loss, the price jumped to +335. You have to Facebook (Opens in new window) figure an adjusted series price after the second loss was in the +500 to +600 range. ← NHL Final 4: Islanders Jump Out To 1-0 Series Lead With Game 1 Win Over Lightning In Tampa Sunday Afternoon; VGK vs Montreal Of course, the Knights won the next four games to advance to the MondayNHL Final 4: Golden Knights Secondary Market Tickets For VGK Stanley Cup Semifinal. vs MTL Game 1 In Vegas Today Are Red-Hot — Like Las Vegas But if there’s cash torching a hole in your front pocket and you really, Weather This Week → really want to bet on the Vegas Golden Knights in the series vs. the LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 06.15.2021 Montreal Canadiens, get ready: After opening at -500 at Station Casinos, the price quickly rose to -550. As of this post, the price is still -550.

Vegas Insider now makes the Golden Knights favorites to win the Cup at +110, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders at +300 and the Canadiens at +1000. (A 4-year-old Vegas franchise heavily favored over a Canadian team to win pro hockey’s most coveted prize? Welcome to 2021.)

As for Game 1 vs. the Canadiens on Monday, the Golden Knights are generally around -270 or -280. You can find them around even money or +105 on the puck line.

Coach Peter DeBoer is saying all the right things prior to the puck drop at 6:08 p.m. on Monday.

“You’re foolish if you look at their record and make a judgment,” the Vegas coach told NHL.com.

Of the 15 writers and editors at the web site, only one picks the Canadiens to oust the Golden Knights.

But if like to look at simulations, CBS SportsLine predicts Vegas 3, Montreal 2.4 in Game 1 and makes Montreal on the puck line an “A”- rated play.

Elsewhere:

— Back in action: Las Vegas Aces, coming off an eight-day layoff, were - 8.5 on Sunday vs. the Dallas Wings with the total at 170. They won, 85- 78, on the strength of a 25-20 fourth quarter, but the cover went to the Wings. A’ja Wilson had 28 points in the victory. The Aces (8-3) next host the New York Liberty (5-4) on Tuesday.

— UFC 263 and beyond: If you made the 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas to the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday night for UFC 263 or tuned in on pay-per-view, you got to to see an animated Israel Adesanya win by unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori. Adesanya was generally around -275. Vettori had been about +210 on the buyback. Over 4.5 rounds was -135 or -140. Eleven of the 14 fights went to a decision, MMA Junkie reported. Betting favorites went 8-6, the website also noted.

UFC 264 will return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 10 for what will likely be a maximum capacity crowd. Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will meet in the octagon for their third fight. Both are currently - 110.

— Jon Rahm has the shortest odds for the U.S. Open, which gets underway Thursday from Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Rahm is +950, according to Vegas Insider. Las Vegan Collin Morikawa is +1900. 1215899 Vegas Golden Knights

Again Vegas Golden Knights Scoring Depth Shines in Game One Win

By Tom Callahan Vegas Golden Knights Max Pacioretty Mattias Janmark

Three goals from defensemen. One from the third line. A 4-1 win in Game One. Just another night at the office for the Vegas Golden Knights.

During the course of any series a successful team – as part of a long run – will need depth scoring. Fortunately, the Vegas Golden Knights are one of the deepest teams in the NHL. It showed against the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. And in Game One against the Montreal Canadiens, it was on full display once again.

We can talk goaltending another day. Tonight, the spotlight goes to the defensemen who got shots through traffic. The guys who showed the patience to pick a spot, or even pass off for the assist as Shea Theodore did. It was one of the best games we’ve seen from the Golden Knights this playoffs in terms of goals from everywhere.

“The first goal was huge, and at the right time,” said Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer. “With how we were playing (that goal) gave us an opportunity to take a deep breath gather ourselves and find our game.”

With regards to Shea Theodore finally finding the net, DeBoer said he thought it was due.

“It’s a confidence thing. I think he got looks last round but it wasn’t clicking. The fact he got one early here is a good sign. He needed it. Hopefully, he relaxes a bit more now. I thought he was outstanding tonight.”

Of his assist on Alec Martinez’s goal, Theodore actually said he was going to shoot but Martinez was hollering to him “how open he was” so Theodore passed. The fake sold so hard even on Carey Price that Martinez had an easy time finding the net.

Offense from the defense has been part of the Golden Knights game all season long. You often see the defensemen jumping into the rush, sometimes even leading it. They take chances. They try to press the play and create odd-man situations. Tonight against the Canadiens they were able to make things happen because of it. And now Montreal is going to have to figure out adjustments and quickly, or this series will be over quickly.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215900 Vegas Golden Knights

Shea Theodore Leads Vegas Golden Knights Past Montreal in Game One

By Tom Callahan Shae Theodore Vegas Golden Knights

Shea Theodore scored once and added an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in Game One of the Stanley Cup Semifinal series at TMobile Arena Monday night.

In fact, three of Vegas’ four goals were by defensemen, with Alec Martinez and Nick Holden finding the goal column as well. Mattias Janmark was the lone forward on the board.

Both goaltenders were fantastic in the game, although as the score indicates Marc-Andre Fleury was better, making 28 saves for his 90th career playoff win. Carey Price finished with 26 saves.

The Takeaways:

Vegas did a tremendous job with its diagonal and east/west passes tonight. Even though not every chance found the back of the net thanks to awesome stops by Price, the Golden Knights really set up glorious chances all game long by knifing the puck through the box. Nick Holden’s goal was a prime example. If Montreal doesn’t cut off those passes it’s going to be a long series for Price.

With three of the four goals coming from defensemen, Vegas took some of the scoring weight off its top-line guys. Not that they didn’t have scoring chances in the top six, but to have a game where they don’t have to produce really means a lot and also forces Montreal to have to worry about more scoring options.

Shea Theodore in particular has been quiet offensively these playoffs, but he made some noise tonight. Theodore more than gets a pass thanks to how hard he’s worked on rounding out his game. To get him back on the sheet is massive for the VGK.

Cole Caulfield scored the first playoff goal of his career tonight. He’s going to be a really good player in this league for a long time. The Canadiens have had to score by committee, and if they get him rolling that’s another big bonus.

Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price put together a week’s worth of highlight-reel saves tonight. Price, in particular, had to be at his acrobatic best more than a few times because of his defense slipping in front of him. One particular robbery elicited a wry grin from Mark Stone and a wink in reply from Price. This will be the featured matchup of the series.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215901 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens Game One Blog

By Tom Callahan Alex Pietrangelo Vegas Golden Knights training camp questions reverse retro jersey

The Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens go head-to-head in the Stanley Cup Semifinal Game One tonight. Follow our live blog as we go!

VGK 4 – 1 MTL FINAL

How about that game? The Vegas Golden Knights took down the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in a game that featured great goaltending and in the end too many mistakes by the Montreal Canadiens including a constant march to the penalty box. Shea Theodore was tremendous and finally found his offense tonight. If Vegas keeps this up, it should be a little more than a week from now that we’re booking a Vegas trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

VGK 3 – 1 MTL End of Second Period

During the second period, the Canadiens kept hurting themselves by taking penalties. Although the VGK didn’t score with the man advantage, it still takes a lot of energy to kill penalties. Cole Caulfield scored his first playoff goal, a power-play marker that made it 2-1, as his parents looked on from the stands. But Vegas came right back down and scored 53 seconds later as Mattias Janmark tipped a puck in off the post past Price. After that, only Carey Price kept it from getting worse. His huge save on Mark Stone was eclipsed later in the period by the one he made on Jonathan Marchessault. Right now he’s carrying the Habs and keeping them in the game.

VGK 1 – 0 MTL End of First Period

Montreal came out hard, playing physical and buzzing around Marc- Andre Fleury in the Vegas Golden Knights net. Josh Anderson in particular was buzzing all period long. Alexander Romanov threw a big hit on Alex Pietrangelo that knocked him off his skates. But the Canadiens weren’t able to sustain the effort continuously. Then a costly icing led to the only goal of the period, as Mark Stone won a draw to the right of Carey Price. Brayden McNabb set up Shea Theodore for the one- timer while Stone screened Price, and the puck beat the Habs goaltender over the right shoulder to make it 1-0. The goal was Theodore’s first of the playoffs.

Both goaltenders have been good, but Marc-Andre Fleury has been especially sharp early.

Welcome to your new home for Vegas Golden Knights breaking news, analysis and opinion. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and don't forget to subscribe to VHN+ for all of our members-only content the entire Vegas Hockey Now crew plus an ad-free browsing experience.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215902 Vegas Golden Knights active sticks and bodies in lanes. It makes opponents wheel up and down the wall, trying to find an opening with which to penetrate the defense. To beat this, the Golden Knights are going to have to do well with movement off the puck, constantly changing up the lanes to get pucks through. Montreal Canadiens in Brief: What are the Keys to the Habs Game? Montreal does not employ a static defense, they move well and are very alert. It’s going to take some smart play to find openings against their

setup, but the VGK showed against both the Minnesota Wild and By Tom Callahan Carey Price Montreal Canadiens Vegas Golden Colorado Avalanche that they can open things up and find the net. Knights At the end of the day, whoever controls the middle of the ice is going to be the team that comes out on top. Do not look past the Montreal Canadiens, they are here for a reason. In an unusual year for hockey, to say the least, history will be made starting tonight as the Vegas Golden Knights take on the Montreal Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021 Canadiens for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. With no conferences in the league this year, the Golden Knights and Canadiens are playing for the Clarence Campbell Bowl, usually awarded to the winner of the Western Conference.

Full Schedule Here

The Golden Knights have not played against the Canadiens at all in this regular season, and have only beaten the Habs once in six regular- season tries. They’ve lost twice in regulation and three times in overtime. Not a great record, but in my opinion these games in no way matter for this series.

So not having seen the Montreal Canadiens in over a calendar year now, what can Vegas Golden Knights fans expect? What is driving this deep playoff run by Montreal?

First off, the veterans are huge for the Canadiens. Not only Carey Price, who has done everything he’s been asked to do in rallying his team down 3-1 to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and then in a four- game sweep of the Winnipeg Jets. No, this Canadiens team has really seen major contributions from Tyler Toffoli, Corey Perry and Eric Staal up front. On defense, Shea Weber is back and (mostly) healthy. Toffoli has a Stanley Cup pedigree and leads the team in scoring (4-6-10), while Corey Perry has his own Cup plus a Hart Trophy and Rocket Richard Trophy from 2011. Plus he’s not afraid to spear someone in the junk if he has to. (Perry has done this several times. I was calling the game he speared Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne in the groin during the 2011 playoffs. I am not a Corey Perry fan.)

Staal is slower than he used to be, but still contributes and leads. Weber is more dangerous when he’s angry, which I also know from seeing him in Nashville. We used to behind-the-scenes refer to “Angry Shea” as the guy you didn’t want to play against. When he’s riled up, he could rip you in half with his bare hands. The VGK should let that sleeping dog lie.

But there’s more to this team than veteran contributions.

What’s key to the Canadiens is how this team attacks and defends the slot. Much like the Colorado Avalanche, the Canadiens like to use diagonal routes or passes to the net area, getting in with speed and making it tough to defend those angles. The team also has speed on the wings and can drive towards the net from the wall with regularity.

To prevent Montreal from being able to attack effectively, Vegas must do a couple of things. First, they must control the speed of the neutral zone in both directions. Vegas also likes to play with speed and if they can get pucks deep and make the Montreal D turn and chase the puck, that’s ideal. It prevents them from turning the puck right back through the neutral zone on the counterattack. Plus getting things nailed down defensively means stepping up on puck carriers and forcing quicker decisions with the puck while getting through the neutral zone.

Second, gap control for the defense. If you give up too much room to the Montreal Canadiens forwards, they have plenty of time to create. They can cut towards the middle of the ice easily and generate higher quality scoring chances while sending in other forwards towards the net. If you play them too close, you run the risk of getting beaten with speed or a clever move. It will be tricky, but the Golden Knights must be spot-on with gap control for oncoming forwards.

Finally, the centers on each VGK line must be active. They will need to really scramble back to help out the defense as the Habs throw numbers into the zone to generate confusion and opportunity. The backcheck might be the key for the entire series on both sides, preventing scoring chances that otherwise would end up in the back of the net.

Montreal also does a great job of controlling the slot in its own zone. They are able to shut things down and restrict cross-ice passes with 1215903 Vegas Golden Knights season. An impressive season doesn’t make an entire career, but Price has always been able to put up solid numbers.

Edge: Carey Price Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Carey Price Head-to-Head: Who Would You INTANGIBLES Take? Hard to measure, but easy to know when they’re not there. Intangibles

are the things that make up the personality of a player, coach or team. By Tom Callahan Marc-Andre Fleury Vegas Golden Knights Robin Here’s how they stack up in some of those key categories. Lehner VGK Leadership

Marc-Andre Fleury is clearly the face of the Vegas Golden Knights Marc-Andre Fleury. Carey Price. Two of the top goaltenders in the NHL franchise. But that’s not only to the fans. Fleury is a guy who unites the prepare to go head-to-head in a historic matchup that will determine room and that guys love to play for. The Golden Knights room is a very whether it’s the Vegas Golden Knights or Montreal Canadiens which good one. Go through any recent media interview and there’s an above- hoists the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl and moves on to the Stanley Cup average level of talk about the room, the belief, the conviction this team Final. has that they can win in any situation. Confidence in your goaltender is paramount, and Fleury inspires that in his teammates. Plus, a 36-year- Vegas Hockey Now takes a look at these two top-flight goaltenders head- old Fleury has won three Stanley Cups and knows what it takes to to-head. succeed in the playoffs. He even referenced his ability to shrug off a bad goal is much better now than it used to be. That helps the team to do the 2021 NHL PLAYOFFS same thing. It’s ok to be frustrated in the moment, but you have to let it The NHL is a what have you done for me lately league, as all sports tend go quickly because the game keeps right on going. Vegas has done an to be. Regardless of past performance, how a goaltender is playing right excellent job of that. now is what matters most. Carey Price is a quiet guy. He goes out, plays well, and rarely loses his Marc-Andre Fleury is putting together one of his best playoff seasons to cool. In fact, I can’t really think of a time where I watched him lose his date. His 1.91 GAA is the lowest he’s ever posted in the playoffs. His mind because of a bad goal or other situation. The flipside of that is .923 save percentage is close to the years where he’s been “on” during sometimes I want to grab his wrist and check for a pulse. It doesn’t make the playoffs, which usually spread between .924 and .927 overall. Fleury him a bad guy or someone you don’t want on your team. He’s just not is a major reason why the Vegas Golden Knights are past the Minnesota where the rally starts unless it’s by example. Wild and Colorado Avalanche, and he hasn’t looked this sharp in years. Edge: Marc-Andre Fleury Carey Price has also been solid for Montreal, putting up similar numbers Puck Handling to Fleury. He’s posted a 1.97 GAA and .935 save percentage in his eight wins, dropping only the three early in the Toronto Maple Leafs series. There have been times when Fleury has wandered out to play the puck Toronto really tested Price and the Canadiens, but for some reason, the these playoffs and it’s turned into a real adventure. Sometimes it turns Winnipeg Jets fell flat after a big series win over the Edmonton Oilers and into a Grade A scoring chance for the opposition. Occasionally it could really failed to push the Canadiens let alone win a game. force his team to commit a penalty to keep the puck out of the net. For the most part, if Fleury stays home things are fine. Just stop it and tee it Both Fleury and Price are getting help from their defenses, and both up kind of stuff. But when he wanders you have to hold your breath. have had what I’d consider team-equivalent series (Colorado = Toronto; Winnipeg = Minnesota). Price isn’t the second coming of . He’s not bad at moving the puck, but it’s definitely not a calling card. Like Fleury, you just want a Edge: Carey Price lack of mistakes and turnovers. Keep it simple, stupid. PLAYOFF HISTORY Edge: Push When you hang up the pads and they look at your career, there is one There are plenty of ways to evaluate goaltenders, this is just the tip of the particular resume builder that stands out among the rest: The Stanley iceberg. But no position is more important on a night in, night out basis to Cup. It’s not the only measuring stick, but it’s a big one. his team. In the end, I actually feel like the demeanor and personality of Fleury has three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first each goalie fits his team perfectly. Price needs to be the calm, steady was all him, while the second and third were just strange situations hand on an overachieving Canadiens team, and Marc-Andre Fleury is the where if Fleury didn’t bail the Penguins out, they’d have been sent absolute embodiment of the Vegas Golden Knights. packing. But he wasn’t the starter for either of those Cups. Still, without Push me to pick one? I’ll take Fleury. Who would you take? him, Pittsburgh wouldn’t have won. Internationally, Fleury has back-to- back silver medals with Team Canada at the WJC in 2003 and 2004. Welcome to your new home for Vegas Golden Knights breaking news, He’s now fourth all-time in playoff wins with 89 and playoff games played analysis and opinion. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and don't with 157. forget to subscribe to VHN+ for all of our members-only content the entire Vegas Hockey Now crew plus an ad-free browsing experience. Price has not won a Stanley Cup, and he has not played more than 12 games in any career post-season. This is the first time he’s gotten the UP NEXTMontreal Canadiens in Brief: What are the Keys to the Habs Canadiens past the second round. Internationally, Price has won a World Game? Cup of Hockey (2016), Olympic Gold with Team Canada (2014), a in 2007 with the Hamilton Bulldogs, and a gold medal with Team DON'T MISSOff the Record: Avs Fallout from Loss to VGK, Kraken Lurk Canada at the 2007 WJC. on Trade Market

Edge: Marc-Andre Fleury Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 06.15.2021

HARDWARE

Marc-Andre Fleury is fresh off his first Vezina Trophy nomination this season and a Jennings Trophy win with teammate Robin Lehner. Stanley Cups aside, despite a very good career Fleury hasn’t really earned much recognition in the post-season awards categories.

Carey Price has a distinguished list of awards to his credit thanks to a spectacular 2014-15 season. That year, Price was voted the winner of the Hart Trophy as league MVP, won the Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by the players), the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, and the Jennings for allowing the fewest goals-against during the regular 1215904 Winnipeg Jets The quote: “I was 100 percent, let’s put it that way. It was a shoulder injury and a first rib injury. I had a posterior labrum tear in my shoulder that I’ve had for a while. That’s nothing new but it’s gotten a little bit worse. Then I got a first rib, cartilage, fracture. But I felt good. It just took Winnipeg Jets final report card: Grading the forwards, from Nik Ehlers to a little longer than expected, unfortunately.” Mark Scheifele to Pierre-Luc Dubois The grade: A+

Mark Scheifele By Murat Ates Jun 14, 2021 Age, contract: 28, $6,125,000 (UFA 2024)

Usage: First-line centre, top-unit power play Nikolaj Ehlers shared his gruesome list of injuries. Production: 21 goals and 63 points in 56 games Mark Scheifele railed against the Department of Player Safety. Possession impact: Neutral Paul Stastny told us that Winnipeg’s future is bright and that he’d take a little while before deciding what his move is as a free agent this summer. Scheifele is a visionary playmaker and a patient offensive player who seems to be able to bend time until exploiting just the right seam. His The Jets cleared out their lockers and had their exit interviews with Paul passes create tremendous shot quality for his teammates, and he can Maurice and last week, talking about the good, the also snipe seemingly at will, beating goaltenders with a powerful and bad and the ugly for one last time this season. varied shot selection.

“I know I can be a lot better,” Pierre-Luc Dubois said. “This year was my He also made strides defensively this season. fourth year in the NHL. I’m really happy with my first three.” Of course, those strides included a benching on Hockey Night in Canada “It was by far the hardest year of my professional life, my personal life, after a 90-second shift and a slow line change that helped create a goal everything,” Blake Wheeler said. “It was equally hard for my wife, against versus Toronto. Scheifele is not a perfect, well-rounded player — probably harder because she had to live by (the NHL’s COVID-19) rules he is an offensive star working on developing the rest of his game. Good even when the rules weren’t the same in Winnipeg. When you could still things happen when he commits to playing on the safe side of the puck go to dinner, maybe see a friend or two, she couldn’t do that. Now before flying Winnipeg’s zone, as he did through most of Winnipeg’s 4-0 everyone’s kids are out of school here in Winnipeg, which just adds to it.” sweep of Edmonton. Bad things happen when he cheats for offence, which his benching didn’t entirely cure. It’s been an unforgettable year, whether due to the Jets’ strong start, their late-season slump, their 4-0 sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, or their 4-0 Now. About the hit. sweep at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. Scheifele’s 2020-21 season will forever be linked to the charging major Now it’s time to evaluate it. that injured the Canadiens’ Jake Evans.

It’s time for the 2020-21 Winnipeg Jets report card. This was already unavoidable, given the devastating visual, Evans’ injury, and the four-game suspension that saw Scheifele watch Montreal Players will be graded based on their production and their performance, sweep the Jets from the stands. But Scheifele made a bad situation using our eyes as well as data. We’ll discuss context — a big salary here, worse for himself. In his exit interview, he asserted that people should be limited minutes there —but, in the end, it’s about the quality of play. defined by how they respond to setbacks and then took an unnecessary, Possession impact will be simplified to positive, neutral or negative, emotional run at the Department of Player Safety in his next breath. based on Evolving Hockey’s RAPM treatment of shot attempts and I expected more restraint from a 28-year-old adult so firmly entrenched in expected goals. Winnipeg’s leadership group. Scheifele had already made his case to Points and production matter. DoPS and had already spoken to the media about the suspension he received. I don’t see the value in going off on DoPS for a second time, And, for kicks: We’ll include a memorable quote from as many players as speaking 610 words in two rants over the course of several minutes, possible. without including an apology or even referencing Evans by name.

We start our report cards with the Jets forwards, where Winnipeg has a As of Wednesday, Scheifele’s emotions had beaten him. It’s on him to new MVP, an emotional star centre, and multiple players with career-best master those emotions and use them to fuel a tremendous offseason — or -worst seasons. one so dedicated that it transforms a season-defining incident into a catalyst for growth. Forwards The quote: “I thought I was going to be tried to shut down by Phillip Nikolaj Ehlers Danault, and it was the Department of Player Safety that shut me down.” Age, contract: 25, $6,000,000 (UFA 2025) The grade: B+ Usage: Second-line forward, second-unit power play Mark Scheifele. (James Carey Lauder / USA Today) Production: 21 goals and 46 points in 47 games Kyle Connor Possession impact: Positive Age, contract: 24, $7,142,857 (UFA 2026) Ehlers was Winnipeg’s best forward this year, producing the most points Usage: First-line winger, top-unit power play per minute at even strength and on the power play among all Jets while also being a positive possession player. What more could you want? Production: 26 goals and 50 points in 56 games

Ice time, for one. Possession impact: Neutral

It’s absurd that a player this fast, this difficult to defend and this Kyle Connor continues to be the spectacular offensive player. He led the productive played the fourth-most even-strength minutes per night — Jets in goal scoring for the second straight season with 26 in 56 games especially early in the season when Wheeler was playing through (a 38-goal pace over a full season), taking advantage of Patrik Laine’s cracked ribs. absence to claim a shooter’s role on Winnipeg’s top power play.

The other thing Ehlers is due for is NHL-wide respect. We must not have Like Scheifele, defence is still a work in progress. There are still celebrated Wheeler’s best years loudly enough if it took Wheeler’s backchecks that draw ire from his coach (including the famous, power-play-driven, 91-point campaign in 2017-18 to get him recognition unattributed “horseshit backcheck” of Maurice’s defence of Wheeler) and around the league despite nearly a decade of five-on-five dominance. I still moments where Connor is “also in picture” on defensive coverage. don’t think we should make that same mistake with Ehlers. There is a This contributes to the sometimes surprising fact that Winnipeg hasn’t special player approaching the prime of his career right here, right now. outshot or outscored its opposition with Connor on the ice at five-on-five Usage: Second-line centre, first-unit power play since his rookie season. Production: 13 goals and 29 points in 56 games Fix that and Connor’s A+ hands will get an A+ grade. Possession impact: Positive The quote: “When you go through a type of stretch like that — I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of that in my career, seven straight — it’s Stastny scored at a 42-point full-season rate while helping the Jets tough, but you learn to enjoy the wins more too. It’s simple and dumb to control the flow of play whenever he was on the ice. Between that and say, it’s so much more exciting.” And: “I believe in this group. That’s why his earnest assessment of his team’s play down the stretch, the degree I signed long-term here. We’ve got one of the best goaltenders in the to which his coaching staff trusted him, and the respect he garnered from world and arguably some of the best leaders and players in Mark and his teammates, he was exactly as advertised. Blake.” Then he got hurt in Game 56 against Toronto and struggled to regain his The grade: B+ form during the playoffs.

Andrew Copp It was a tough way out for a good player who put together a good season. He won’t earn $6.5 million on his next contract, but the 35-year- Age, contract: 26, $2,280,000 (RFA 2021) old can still help a team in so many ways.

Usage: Second-line forward, second-unit power play, first-unit penalty kill The quote: “You want to be where it’s a good fit for you, and you want to go somewhere you’re wanted, too. I have nothing but good things to say Production: 15 goals and 39 points in 55 games here. I know the future has always been bright, it continues to be bright Possession impact: Neutral and there’s always going to be a chance (to win) here. That’s a really important piece to picking a team you want to play for.” Andrew Copp’s offensive explosion was a pleasant surprise, hitting its peak early in the season on a line with Ehlers and Stastny. It’s rare to The grade: B see a player known for his defence take such a big offensive step — he Adam Lowry scored at a 58-point full-season pace, nearly doubling his previous best production rate. Age, contract: 28, $3,250,000 (UFA 2026)

It’s also clear that Copp’s status within Winnipeg’s leadership group is Usage: Third-line centre, first-unit penalty kill growing. He’s a well-known commodity as a public speaker now, whether in press conferences or in NHLPA matters. Production: 10 goals and 24 points in 52 games

The one disappointing item in Copp’s season is that, for the first time in Possession impact: Neutral memory, Adam Lowry’s line did better defensively without Copp than with Adam Lowry scored more points per game than he ever has before while him. reprising his role as Winnipeg’s top checking centre.

Lowry, along with Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton, dominated In the playoffs, he handled shutdown duties while also being one of the flow-of-play metrics and outscored the opposition 8-3 this season. only Jets to score against Montreal.

With Copp, Lowry and Appleton got outshot 150-109 and outscored 12- This is exactly the step back to form that Lowry hinted he could make 10. That’s highly unusual, given Copp’s track record. Another season like during last summer’s series against Calgary after injuries took a 2020-21 and we’ll be talking about Copp more like a secondary scorer, significant toll on his play in 2019-20. given his offensive output, and less like a shutdown player. Can he do it for five more years? The quote: “I think we’ve got talent and heart and character and guys that play the right way up and down our lineup. Just counting us out of the The quote: “It was great to work with (Dave Lowry), work on the penalty series is a little insulting to me.” I mean, the Jets did win, so … kill together. It’s always nice to be surrounded by family, especially in this year you didn’t really get to see a whole lot of family. So to get to see him The grade: B+ at the rink every day was awesome.”

Mason Appleton The grade: B

Age, contract: 25, $900,000 (RFA 2022) Blake Wheeler

Usage: Third-line forward, third-unit penalty kill, some power-play guest Age, contract: 34, $8,250,000 (UFA 2024) spots Usage: First-line forward, top-unit power play Production: 12 goals and 25 points in 56 games. Production: 15 goals and 46 points in 50 games Possession impact: Neutral Possession impact: Negative Jack Roslovic’s departure created a third-line opportunity for Mason Appleton — one he seized early in training camp and held onto right Wheeler played through cracked ribs to a nearly point-per-game season. through the end of the season. It was a positive step forward in This is an incredible feat, dependent on Wheeler’s unique pain tolerance Appleton’s career. Not only did he set new career highs in goals, assists and a Jets power play that finished seventh in the NHL. and points, but he asserted himself as a player his coaching staff could That said, Wheeler scored like a middle-six forward at even strength count on. while his defensive impact was among the worst of his career. (What’s His skill set is unique among Jets forwards, using more of a power game the opposite of damning with faint praise? One of the reasons it was to turn defenders and drive to the net, and I wonder if the Jets might try among the worst of his career is that Wheeler’s play-driving ability is hard to include him on their protected list for the Seattle Kraken usually quite good.) This was not a banner year for Wheeler, who was expansion draft as result. outscored 46-31 while on the ice at five-on-five.

In the meantime, he’s a 25-year-old, middle-six forward signed at a value It may not be his fault that he was played like a top-line forward contract who just had a solid year. throughout his injury — and he may be headed for a tremendous bounce-back season in 2021-22 — but the on-ice results are what they The quote: From training camp: “You want more. You want to move up. are. Wheeler got torched at even strength despite his ability and You want to show you worked hard over the summer. You want to show pedigree. you’re an improved player and I tried to do that every day.” The quote: “What got us out of (the pandemic blues) as a team, as The grade: B players, was that we knew we could provide entertainment, provide a Paul Stastny break (from) all that for our fanbase. And that was the most exciting thing about the year, kind of the only exciting thing about the year for us, that Age, contract: 35, $6,500,000 (UFA 2021) we knew we couldn’t play in front of our fans but that they were watching and at 7 p.m. every night, it was something for them to do to kind of Nate Thompson break the monotony of the world. That was the bright spot for our year.” Age, contract: 36, $750,000 (UFA 2021) The grade: C+ Usage: Fourth-line centre, second-unit penalty kill Mathieu Perreault Production: Two goals and five points in 44 games Age, contract: 33, $4,125,000 (UFA 2021) Possession impact: Neutral Usage: Third- and fourth-line forward, second-unit power play Winnipeg loves good humans with veteran intangibles on its fourth line. Production: Nine goals and 19 points in 56 games Thompson picked up the torch from Mark Letestu and Matt Hendricks and performed the role well, earning praise from Scheifele for helping Possession impact: Positive him with his face-offs.

It may get lost in analysis of Perreault’s contract’s $4.125 million average The quote: “My approach to free agency is the same it’s been the last annual value or the size of a pay cut he will take as a UFA this summer, few years: I want to keep playing. I still feel like I have a lot of hockey left but he was very good through most of 2020-21. As mentioned, the in me, whether it’s here or somewhere else.” Perreault-Lowry-Appleton line outperformed the Copp version of the same at both ends of the rink. The grade: D

He’s not a speedster or a big, strong player but Perreault wins the battles Nate Thompson, Jansen Harkins and Trevor Lewis. (Jean-Yves Ahern- he gets to. At this stage of his career, he’s better at making sure his USA Today) teammates end up with the puck than producing offence after that fact. This is a valuable bottom-six player but one whose lack of pace can Jansen Harkins leave viewers wanting more. Age, contract: 24, $725,000 (RFA 2022)

The quote: Following Game 3 against Edmonton, in which his power-play Usage: Fourth line when not scratched goal ignited a comeback after the Jets went down 4-1: “In a game like this tonight when you’re down by three goals and you come back to win Production: One goal and two points in 26 games in overtime, the roof would have come off this building. It would have Possession impact: Neutral been absolutely insane.” When Jansen Harkins scored his breakaway goal in Game 3 against The grade: C+ Calgary last summer, he earned praise from Maurice and the thought Pierre-Luc Dubois that a full-time NHL job was on the near horizon. It didn’t work out that way this season, with veterans Lewis and Thompson getting the lion’s Age, contract: 22, $5,000,000 (RFA 2022) share of fourth-line minutes. I’d wait to see Harkins play consistent Usage: All over the map minutes before writing him off; his tenacious style implies to me that he should find a way to hang onto an NHL job when he does get that Production: Eight goals and 20 points in 41 games (as a Jet) opportunity.

Possession impact: Neutral The quote: N/A

It was a disappointing season for Dubois and that’s a fact. A tough start The grade: D in Columbus was followed by a two-week quarantine in Winnipeg, an injury two games into his Jets career, a relative lack of practice time, and Dominic Toninato then a late-season injury that delayed his playoff debut against Age, contract: 27, $700,000 (UFA 2021) Edmonton. His overtime goal against Vancouver on Feb. 21 was a beauty, showcased his speed, power and hands, and was the only time Usage: Minimal he looked dominant for Winnipeg this season. Production: One assist in two games. Then the double deflection that There’s a good player here but we haven’t seen a whole lot of that player won Game 1. thus far. Possession impact: Neutral The quote: “This year was my fourth year in the NHL. I’m really happy Dominic Toninato recovered from post-COVID-19 complications in time with my first three.” to score the deflection goal that won Game 1 against Edmonton for The grade: D Winnipeg.

Trevor Lewis Given how the Oilers had taken the flow of play to the Jets to that point — and how Edmonton seemed to panic in Games 2-4 by putting Connor Age, contract: 34, $750,000 (UFA 2021) McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line — Toninato’s impact was Usage: Fourth-line winger, second-unit penalty kill as disproportionate to his role as humanly possible.

Production: Five goals and 10 points in 56 games The quote: After his Game 1 goal wasn’t initially noticed by referees: “I thought it was initially in. I actually rose my stick right away but then the Possession impact: Neutral play kept going. I was like, ‘Oh no, now I’m going to look kind of dumb.'”

Trevor Lewis attended Jets camp on a PTO (professional try-out) The grade: Incomplete contract and then walked onto the 2020-21 roster. Kristian Vesalainen Lewis and Nate Thompson were staples of Winnipeg’s fourth line and provided shifts that had something of a bathroom-break quality to them: Age, contract: 22, $894,167 (RFA 2022) You could be reasonably assured that neither team would score. They Usage: Fourth line when not scratched were also partners on Winnipeg’s penalty kill, where they gave up more shots and shot quality than Copp and Lowry did but got more saves and Production: One assist in 12 games gave up fewer goals. Possession impact: Negative Possession-wise, they got buried at five-on-five as fourth lines have done Kristian Vesalainen had a good training camp, re-establishing himself as since time immemorial. prospect of interest after scoring 30 points in 60 AHL games in 2019-20. The quote: Reminding us that players are people, too: “For me, my family He eventually parlayed that camp into 12 games with the Jets where didn’t get to be here as much as I would’ve liked them to be — just with occasional flashes of exciting size, speed and power could be seen. It all the quarantines and that. … It was definitely a different year.” wasn’t scintillating stuff but a good reminder that the 22-year-old Finn does in fact have a wide range of tools. The grade: D The quote: N/A

The grade: Incomplete

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The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215905 Vancouver Canucks and buildup to that. It was probably the most calming and relaxing time of that whole week.”

Tambellini was buoyed by the manner in which citizens returned the Stanley Cup riot, 10 years later: Jeff Tambellini's wild ride from the ice, to following morning to repair their city and do whatever they could to clean city flames, to a bar up the mess.

'I really saw it as two different nights. Even to be in it was so rare “It was outstanding, the number of people outside the downtown area because Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final just doesn’t happen that often.' who went out of their way,” remembered Tambellini. “They wanted to — ex-Canuck Jeff Tambellini rebuild their city destroyed by a random group of people.”

Upon further reflection, Tambellini knows the 2011 title will be remembered as one that got away. Failing to put the Chicago Ben Kuzma Blackhawks away in quick order with a 3-0 series lead would take a toll. So would going six games against the Nashville Predators. So would

losing Dan Hamhuis, Michael Samuelsson and Raymond to injuries. Tim Thomas denies Jeff Tambellini on a scoring chance during Game 7 “You don’t want to waste a game — and you don’t really waste them — of 2011 Stanley Cup Final. but when you’re up in a series you have to close it out as fast as “It looked like a bomb had gone off.” possible, just to preserve the bodies,” stressed Tambellini. “We turned that first round into seven games and it turned out to be extremely taxing On Monday, that’s how former Canucks winger Jeff Tambellini recalled and we were just one game away from having a rest and saving the shocking scene in Downtown Vancouver 10 years ago after Game 7 Samuelsson in the second round. of the Stanley Cup Final. A ridiculous riot spawned looting and his city was on fire. It resembled a war zone. “Even with Nashville, we have a chance to do it in five and we have to go all the way down there for Game 6. Slowly, those extra games are so Close sticky video intense and physical, by the time you get to the end, it takes a toll.

It was heartbreaking and June 15 is now remembered here for more than “We got thin. We had such great depth and we had to use everything we the Canucks being blanked 4-0 by the Boston Bruins in the series finale. had and Boston did a fantastic job just keeping their guys healthy.”

“You could see the fires in the streets and I’ve never seen anything like Tambellini, 37, is now an NHL scout and NCCA free-agent recruiter for that in our town,” added Tambellini. “It was surreal. Something you the Tampa Bay Lightning. He knows how dangerous a Barry Trotz- expect to see on TV, but not in your city. Anytime you hear about coached team can be in the post-season and the New York Islanders are something in motion, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. proving that this year.

“People who aren’t from Vancouver ended up beginning this and it had “They have a really impressive system,” said Tambellini. “They’re patient nothing to do with the hockey game.” and play with a lot of structure. It’s going to be a great test. Both coaches have tons of experience and Game 1 (2-1 loss) definitely didn’t go the It should have been the best of times for local hockey product Tambellini way we were expecting, but we trust the resilience of our group.” and not one of the worst. He had appeared in the first three games of the NHL championship, but was inserted back into the lineup when Mason Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.15.2021 Raymond suffered a significant back injury late in Game 6. Suddenly, for Tambellini, it was the prospect of winning it all before family and friends at Rogers Arena.

“I really saw it as two different nights,” added Tambellini. “The game itself was really special and to even be in it was so rare because Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final just doesn’t happen that often. And to be a part of it, I just had a big respect for the moment when I came into the building that night.

“For me, it was the best game I played in the playoffs. We had a really good start. Kes (Ryan Kesler) was playing on one leg but was flying that night (six shots, 11 attempts). We had a couple of chances early in the first. I had a half breakaway that ended up being a chance for Kes.

“If the first one goes in, it’s probably a different night.”

Bitterness about the loss in which the Canucks outshot the Bruins 37-21 — including 16-8 in the third period — was trumped by lunacy in the streets and fearing for safety. Escape routes from the arena were being planned and nobody was dwelling on blowing 2-0 and 3-2 series leads because of too many key injuries and being too exhausted.

“I remember the moment vividly,” said Tambellini. “We’re in the hot tub after the game and everybody was taking a minute to process the game. We then saw on television the beginning of what was going on outside and you just sense something was coming and that nothing was going to slow it down.”

Following a team and family gathering, everybody was escorted out of Rogers Area and told to go straight home. However, with the main downtown corridor ablaze, Tambellini and a friend found themselves in his truck looking for a way out. They wanted to find a spot for a late dinner and dialed up St. James Well in Port Moody because a friend of Tambellini had run the establishment for a long time.

However, with the threat of rioters spilling into bars outside the downtown core, they weren’t letting patrons in. Only out.

“They were great to us and said they’d stay open until we pretty much wanted,” said Tambellini. “It was fun because some good friends found out we were going and it was a small group and it was just a surreal night 1215906 Vancouver Canucks enormous value, as Jason Spezza did in Toronto this past season, for example.

The key in utilizing GSVA is to remember that it’s a tool — and a useful How should the Canucks approach negotiations with their 3 veteran one — but it’s not the whole picture. As we’ve previously noted in similar UFAs? exercises:

An Allen key can help you build that Lack coffee table you bought from IKEA, but it’s not enough on its own to prevent you from putting that one By Thomas Drance Jun 14, 2021 surface on the wrong way. Common sense matters too.

Models are still a useful tool in providing us with a hard baseline, based on data, trends and historical precedent. Like so many things in so many industries, the normal logic of the professional hockey business has been flipped on its head over the past With those qualifiers in mind, let’s dive into what GSVA tells us about 15 months. And arguably no specific area of the on-ice product has been how the Canucks should proceed in negotiations with Edler, Sutter and more dramatically impacted than unrestricted free agency. Hamonic this offseason.

For a generation, unrestricted free agency was a mug’s game for NHL Alex Edler teams. A necessary evil, at best. Position: Left-handed defender Between 2009 and 2019, nearly 80 percent of all unrestricted free agent (UFA) contracts resulted in NHL teams overpaying for “wins,” according Age: 35 to some eye-opening research by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn. Only 2020-21 statistics: 52 GP, 0-8-8 one in five UFA contracts from the past decade returned surplus value to the team placing it. Expiring contract: Two years, $6 million AAV

The offseason of 2020 was a rude awakening, a significant rupture. The It’s only a matter of time before Alex Edler’s name and likeness are way NHL teams did business before the pandemic was cast aside, and mounted into the ring of honour at Rogers Arena. His resume is that of suddenly, there was value to be had on the UFA market. the greatest defenceman in franchise history.

Superstar-level players like Taylor Hall signed for one year. Bona fide Edler’s game has evolved significantly as he’s aged and he’s still top-line players like Tyler Toffoli settled for team-friendly contracts days Vancouver’s smartest two-way defender. The big question for the after the market opened. Credible middle-six pieces like Mike Hoffman Canucks in deciding whether to re-sign Edler or not is: are the feet still and Mikael Granlund waited until the eve of training camp to get modest there? Can he keep up with the pace of a league that seems to get faster one-year deals done. and faster every year?

Some players — like former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob While there are some indicators — like his declining offensive production Markstrom — still signed deals worthy of legitimate sticker shock, but that — that suggest that Edler’s time as an effective contributor has passed, was the exception. It used to be the rule. when you look under the hood at his individual contributions this past season, they’re not out of line with what he’s done previously. The lack of A more restrained buyer’s market — like the one that characterized the offence at 5-on-5 last season appears to be percentage-based more than free agent “frenzy” in October 2020 — will likely carry over when the anything and his penalties taken rate was actually lower this season than market opens this summer on July 28. Perhaps the prospect of selling it was in the previous few years. tickets again this fall will cause purse strings to loosen a bit, but the flat cap ensures that any such bounce back will be modest. There’s no question that Edler’s value is nonexistent in transition at this stage of his career — he’s increasingly ineffective both defending the For the vast majority of unrestricted players, there simply won’t be rush and inactive making plays with his feet — but for the most part, enough money in the system for those “wow” valuations to shape the while battling difficult competition, Edler was still a net positive two-way marketplace. contributor for Vancouver last season. He was sufficiently useful that it Complicating matters further for UFAs is the expansion process. Most won’t be straightforward to replace him on the trade market or in free teams — the Canucks included — will prefer to wait until after the Seattle agency if he leaves the club, and there are certainly no in-house options Kraken 2021 expansion draft has concluded to extend their own pending to handle the type of matchup burden that Edler has been tasked with unrestricted free agents in order to preserve flexibility in the composition throughout the era. of their protected list. In terms of Edler’s GSVA projection, the model suggests that the stalwart There’s some risk there too, however, as the Kraken will be permitted an Canucks defender still has another year where he can probably be exclusive window to discuss a contract with any team’s pending UFA counted on to be a top-four calibre contributor, although it gets extremely players. dicey beyond that as Edler hits his late 30s:

As the industry grapples with this complex environment and what comes (Editor’s note: the age of the player hasn’t been adjusted on the GSVA next, the Canucks are facing a series of key decisions on three veteran aging curve graphs in this piece.) unrestricted free agents this offseason: Alex Edler, Travis Hamonic and It’s perhaps counterintuitive, but the GSVA projections suggest that in Brandon Sutter. terms of which Vancouver UFAs are the best bets to return surplus value How should they proceed in those negotiations? next season on a team-friendly, short-term contract, Edler is at the very top of the list. To give the VIPs a sense of what factors the club should be weighing, we’re going to lean on Luszczyszyn’s Game Score Value Added (GSVA) Managing the term of the deal will be key, as it was for the Canucks last projection model. GSVA provides us with a baseline of expected time in holding firm to a two-year offer for Edler despite significant public performance for Vancouver’s highest-profile UFA players. It permits us to pressure and internal debate on the matter. Still, GSVA would expect the have something solid to utilize in assessing what types of risks and Canucks to get real value out of signing Edler to something like a one- considerations the club should be taking into account in making their year deal at $3 million or a two-year deal at $5 million. decisions, both short and long term. The other side of this coin is that the fit for Edler is a bit tricky. In an ideal Of course, qualifiers apply. No team leans solely on a single model in world, the Canucks would find a way to play Edler on the third pair and making their decisions, nor should they. Human factors matter, so too limit his minutes significantly over the course of an 82-game season. The does fit. club isn’t really constructed to accommodate a rigid load management program for Edler as it stands, particularly as the club’s other probable We also have to keep in mind that the three players we’re discussing are lefty defenders for next season — Quinn Hughes, Jack Rathbone and all older, veteran players. Any model forecasting the future performance Olli Juolevi — are all younger players unlikely to be thrown ruthlessly at of players over 30 is likely to cast a harsh light. That doesn’t change the tough matchups the way Edler is. fact, unlikely as any worthwhile model will say it is, that in sports sometimes a 38-year-old player explodes to provide their team with Still, if Edler is motivated enough to stay in Vancouver to sign a short- GSVA suggests that Hamonic has a few years left as an everyday player, term deal with a team-friendly cap hit, the club could do a lot worse and but is best suited already to a bottom-pairing role. Dom’s model also shouldn’t allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good on this file. suggests that, even on an extremely team-friendly deal like a two-year, $2 million contract, Hamonic doesn’t project to provide surplus value. Brandon Sutter This dynamic is a tricky one and re-signing Hamonic could pose a bit of a Position: Centre quandary for the Canucks. Even if the player is motivated to remain in Age: 32 Vancouver, Hamonic’s cache and his deployment when healthy would suggest that he should be paid at a level where he’s likely to be an 2020-21 statistics: 43 GP, 9-3-12 inefficient bet.

Expiring contract: Five years, $4.375 million AAV Hamonic chose to play in Vancouver this past season on a sweetheart, one-year deal. At that rate, it’s a no-brainer to return him. In the minds of die-hard Canucks fans Brandon Sutter will probably never eclipse the trade, the extension, the “foundational” label and the durability The veteran defender is surely going to require a raise to re-sign with the issues he’s battled throughout his years with Vancouver. club for next season, however, and while the Canucks played Hamonic heavily and the coaching staff praised his work at length, his outputs at 5- That’s unfortunate because, when he’s healthy, Sutter has been a useful on-5 and on the penalty kill are at odds with that perception. player. He hasn’t been on an efficient deal and he certainly isn’t without his flaws, but he’s been a capable penalty killer, a legitimate one-shot There’s a chance that with better injury luck, a more normal offseason to scoring threat and a tremendous teammate. prepare, and more time to find chemistry with Hughes, that Hamonic will be better next season. Perhaps significantly. Sutter wants to stay in Vancouver and told management as much prior to the trade deadline. There’s a school of thought that perhaps if Sutter is In all probability though, it will take yet another team-friendly deal for the appropriately slotted as a fourth-line player on a reasonable ticket, that Canucks to come out ahead in re-upping Hamonic this offseason. could pay dividends for the club. The Athletic LOADED: 06.15.2021 The GSVA model, however, suggests strongly that the club should be aiming higher in seeking to upgrade their bottom-six forward group:

Based on Dom’s model, Sutter is already unlikely to provide more than replacement level value as early as next season.

The model suggests that unless it’s a league-minimum deal, the club would be best served to try to identify other players with the versatility to play centre and who can kill penalties on the open market. There aren’t many better options poised to be available in free agency as it stands right now, but if the goal is to sign value contracts for players that have a chance of providing the club with surplus value, even an affordable deal for Sutter doesn’t fit the bill.

Now, of course, there are reasons to be a bit more bullish than the GSVA model is on Sutter’s ability to contribute next season, particularly if he’s primarily a fourth-line right winger with the versatility to move into the middle if necessary. In the event that Jay Beagle returns next season, however, the club absolutely needs to limit their redundancies and build a bottom six that can do more than kill penalties and play solidly in-zone (while spending the majority of their shifts there).

Of course, even if you think this projection is too harsh, it’s worth noting that at Sutter’s age and stage, if the club returns him for next season, it should be as a fourth-line player. With how the club’s cap sheet is shaping up for next season, it would advisable for the Canucks to make sure that any bottom of the lineup pieces are below the $1.125 million level that a club can bury in the minors without cap ramifications, whether it’s a value bet on the open market or a well-respected veteran taking a steep pay cut to stay with the club.

Travis Hamonic

Position: Right-handed defenceman

Age: 30

2020-21 statistics: 38 GP, 3-7-10

Expiring contract: One year, $1.125 million

Of Vancouver’s unrestricted free agent players, Travis Hamonic is thought to be the likeliest to remain with the club.

Hamonic wants to play in western Canada, has enjoyed his time with the organization, has the trust of Vancouver’s coaching staff, and the two sides spoke in earnest about an extension well ahead of the trade deadline. There was enough common ground at that time that the club didn’t aggressively explore asking Hamonic to waive his no-move clause.

Put all that together and re-signing Hamonic seems like only a matter of time. A fait accompli on the other side of the expansion draft.

GSVA isn’t particularly high on Hamonic, although if the club is able to carefully manage the term and money it takes to get the deal done, they could still extract some value, particularly if Hamonic continues to be glued to Hughes’ right side next season at 5-on-5: 1215907 Websites The next two came with Canadiens lefty Brett Kulak on the right, where he proved to be at a deficit all season, which was a big part of the reason he was scratched for 10 games. One came from Alex Martinez, on a brilliant fake from Theodore, who left his partner a wide-open net to make Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens’ Game 1 loss exposes problem Montreal faces the game 2-0 Golden Knights at the 2:18 mark of the second period. without Petry The one scored by Mattias Janmark — after Cole Caufield potted his first-ever playoff goal on the power play — was the killer, with Kulak attempting to box him out but failing to tie up his stick. Eric Engels The game was sealed on Nick Holden’s shot at 10:06 in the third, making

it the seventh point the Golden Knights defence had contributed. It came Think back to the trade deadline, when Marc Bergevin seemed with Chiarot and Shea Weber sucking wind after a long shift, after they somewhat frustrated with the outcome of the day — the acquisition of had each already skated more than 22 minutes in the game. Erik Gustafsson a pittance for what he had really hoped to accomplish. The Golden Knights generated 18 shots from the blue line, they made it As an NHL player, Bergevin spent 19 years on the blue line, playing for near impossible to get to Marc-Andre Fleury once they secured a lead nine different teams and learning first-hand just how crucial defensive (thanks in large part to the quality saves Fleury made before Theodore depth is when the games tighten up and the runs go deep into spring and beat Price), and they attacked the weak links on Montreal’s blue line with bleed into summer. In his first eight seasons as Montreal Canadiens all four of their forward lines. general manager, there was seemingly no asset he placed a bigger Remaining Time -5:28 premium on, often saying, “You can never have enough defenceman.” And in this one — his ninth — he had his sights set on doing more than Canadiens happy with start but know they must be better just adding warm bodies at the position. They reaped the benefits. Bergevin wanted an upgrade on the right side, a player who could slot in on the Canadiens’ third pair but easily move their way up without “There’s a few situations where we can react better,” said Canadiens seeming out of place. The kind of player who could’ve helped fill the coach Dominique Ducharme after his team’s seven-game winning streak Montreal-sized pothole Jeff Petry’s absence left in their core in Monday’s was busted. 4-1, series-opening loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of this There was enough of them to show just how hard the game can be Stanley Cup semifinal. without the defenceman who scored at a higher pace this season than he Had Bergevin found one, the issue wouldn’t have been as glaring on this did in each of the last three seasons prior, over which he collected at night. Instead, it was right under the spotlight — an inescapable reality least 40 points. The Canadiens missed Petry on the breakout, they that could prove costly as this series continues against a Golden Knights missed him on zone entries, and they especially missed him in front of team in possession of the NHL’s most versatile arsenal. their own net, completing a duo with Joel Edmundson and a nasty top- four with Chiarot and Weber. “I think we’re all aware I won’t publicly comment on players belonging to other teams, but I can confirm I spoke with pretty much every team on “He’s a key piece to our team,” said Edmundson. “He was our best the players who were available,” Bergevin said after Gustafsson was the defenceman all year and he’s obviously huge on the power play, too. last player to join the Canadiens, on April 12. “There were some that the We’re definitely missing him out there, but I think he’s right around the media suggested were available who weren’t in the end, and there were corner. So, hopefully he’ll get back soon.” others who were.” Just how effective Petry will be — after a freak accident saw him jam two Jon Merrill had come in a day earlier to serve as an insurance policy. of his fingers on his right hand through the camera slot along the glass in Bergevin moved a 2021 fifth-round pick and a C-level prospect in Hayden Game 3 against Winnipeg — is up in the air. But his presence alone Verbeek to acquire him from the Detroit Red Wings, and there was hope would shift certain players back into their proper place and potentially he could be a steady sixth or seventh defenceman next to a player who help the Canadiens avoid making the few mistakes that can cost you a could be much more than that. game.

That player was never intended to be Gustafsson, who came over at half If the 33-year-old isn’t available for Wednesday’s Game 2, Ducharme will pay and for a 2022 seventh-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers. have a complex decision to make to help the Canadiens better navigate his absence. Remaining Time -2:28 Does he trust Alex Romanov on the right after saying for most of the Ducharme says Canadiens must be more consistent at all positions season he prefers him on the left? Can he go back to Kulak there? Would Merrill, who was injured in Game 5 of Round 1 against Toronto, Had Bergevin landed Jamie Oleksiak — the six-foot-seven, left-shooting- be ready to step back in? Or would Ducharme be willing to turn to natural but-capable-on-the-right-side defenceman who was retained by the righty Cale Fleury, who spent the season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket Dallas Stars for a race to the playoffs they fell short of winning — we after making a relatively successful debut with the Canadiens in 2019- might not have seen the Golden Knights find their way to Carey Price’s 20? crease more often than either the Winnipeg Jets or Toronto Maple Leafs were able to at any point with Petry filling out the top-four through all but The coach is hoping Petry can withstand the pain and reach a level that one game of the first two rounds of the playoffs. presents a better option.

A successful push for New York Rangers outcast Tony DeAngelo would “We said that he could be back early in the series,” Ducharme said after have been widely admonished given DeAngelo’s checkered reputation as Petry participated in Monday’s morning skate wearing a non-contact a person known for a couple of racist outbursts and several conflicts with jersey. “With the info we have, we’re confident he’ll be back soon.” teammates, but Bergevin had to feel the issue was pressing enough to risk that. It was reported by Elliotte Friedman he was willing to make The Canadiens need him, because they don’t have anyone who can DeAngelo whole if the Rangers opted to buy him out, and he clearly felt adequately replace him. this was an opportunity to mitigate the potential problem his team might Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.15.2021 eventually run up against.

But there it was, popping out to the eye while the Canadiens were in full control of Monday’s first period. Gustafsson, a power-play specialist, coughed up the puck at five-on-five and led Ben Chiarot, who was playing out of position on the right, to ice the puck.

Shea Theodore’s 100.8-m.p.h. blast through Gustafsson’s screen to break Montreal’s run of 447:08 without surrendering a lead in these playoffs was the second play to expose Petry’s absence. 1215908 Websites game, he has the ability to make those big saves and allow us to get some confidence, get our legs.

“There’s no doubt they could have been up one- or two-nothing in the Sportsnet.ca / Golden Knights providing the template for what wins in first period.” 2021’s NHL Remaining Time -3:50

Fleury focused on stopping Canadiens, not dueling with Price Mark Spector June 15, 2021, 1:56 AM This was a somewhat strange series opener.

It was the first two-anthem game we’ve seen all season, and for both It’s not that the Montreal Canadiens were beaten in Game 1 of their teams, the first time they had faced an out-of-division opponent since the series against Vegas that is so concerning. It’s who did the beating that 2020 bubble in Edmonton. makes a Habs fan nervous. It was the classic Habs logo, an Original Six club, skating out into the Jonathan Marchessault, zero points. Max Pacioretty, zero points. Mark bedlam that has taken over T-Mobile Arena, home to the NHL’s youngest Stone, zero points. Alex Pietrangelo, zero points. William Karlsson, one newborn (until Seattle, of course.). assist. Montreal showed early that they could play with the Golden Knights, who All told, the Vegas Golden Knights’ top five playoff scorers combined for are heavily favoured. a grand total of one assist in their 4-1 Game 1 victory over the Montreal “Their physicality was as advertised. Price was as advertised,” DeBoer Canadiens. The rest of the Golden Knights survived an early Habs said. “They’re a good hockey team.” barrage, then methodically took Game 1 over, as the team that is in its third Final Four in four seasons looked very comfortable under the However, on this night, Vegas was better. And deeper, which these days spotlights of what we used to call the Conference Final. is perhaps the most important element.

“It’s the identity of our team,” began head coach Pete DeBoer, who got “To get deeper and deeper in playoffs, you need scoring from three goals and six points from his blue-line on this night. “We don’t have everywhere,” said Holden, a D-man who got into just 17 goal-less regular that one line, like Colorado has, like Edmonton has. We have been the season games, but has now scored goals in two straight playoff games. sum of our parts all year.” “If you can get guys contributing who aren’t your big guns, you’re going to win games.” In a season where the top heavy teams are all roaming the fairways and greens of their respective cities, the Canadiens and Golden Knights are Their depth is why Vegas always plays at this time of year. And why the providing the template for what wins in the 2021 NHL. Depth, size, and Leafs, the Oilers and Colorado — all darlings of the regular season — goaltending rule the day in June, and it was Marc-Andre Fleury who was are always watching on TV. the difference between a Canadiens team that had not trailed in 447:08 of playoff hockey, and one that found itself playing from behind. “If you are a really good player on our team — Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty — it’s nice not to have that pressure that you have to score or “When we scored our first goal, the pace felt like it was in our favour,” the team’s not going to get one,” summed up DeBoer. “Tonight it was the Vegas winger Reilly Smith said. “They’re a good team playing with the defence. The other night the fourth line kicked one in. The third line (was lead. Scoring first is going to be important.” very good) tonight.

Remaining Time -7:59 “That’s what wins this time of year.”

DeBoer explains why scoring first was 'critical' for Golden Knights Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.15.2021 The Habs are THAT team. The one that can suffocate you through period after period — as long as they have the lead.

Get the lead on Montreal however, and now they have to play an alternative style.

Do they have the horses to score four goals and beat you that way? Sure.

Would they much prefer a 2-1 game? You bet they would.

“Critical,” was how DeBoer described the first goal, a Shea Theodore blast through a screen that left Carey Price chanceless just 9:15 into a game that Montreal had dominated to that point. “We talk in our pre-scout meetings about how they would be more uncomfortable in their structure and their game if they were playing from behind. No one has made them play from behind for a while.

“And how we were playing, it gave us an opportunity to take a deep breath, gather ourselves and find our game. Once we got through the first period, I liked everything about our game.”

So this is the micro inside the macro of Montreal versus Vegas.

Both goalies are immaculate, but on this night it was Price who faced more traffic. It was Price who watched Mattias Janmark tap in a goal off a lucky carom, just eight inches from the goal line. And it was Price who had zero opportunity when Alex Martinez, then Nick Holden, took cross- slot passes that left him too far out of position and unable to make a save.

As coaches would say, Vegas was tougher on Price than the Canadiens were on Fleury. So you can guess which goalie was getting hyped post- game.

“Thankfully Flower was our best player, and gave us a chance to get our legs (in the first period),” DeBoer said. “That’s probably his best asset: when our team isn’t on, when we’re stumbling a little bit trying to find our 1215909 Websites “He’s a guy who has been through it all as a player and has a real good personality,” Treliving said.

“He really connects with players.” TSN.CA / Muller’s hiring first step in Treliving’s off-season remodel of This is the first major move since the Flames’ season came to a Flames premature end in April. It’s expected to be an off-season of player The Calgary Flames cast a wide net before hiring Kirk Muller as an movement in Calgary after the team’s core again failed to have any associate coach, but head coach wanted a voice behind the success in reaching the postseason. bench with previous NHL head coaching experience who also sees the “We’ve got a long list,” Treliving said. “We’ve got to make our team game in a similar way, Salim Valji writes. better, whether that be on the ice or off the ice. We like what we’ve done with our coaching staff so that’s one piece of business out of the way.”

By Salim Valji So is Treliving watching the Stanley Cup playoffs final four right now and thinking the Flames could be in that conversation a year from now? The Montreal Canadiens were the last team to qualify and have made it to the third round, as have the New York Islanders – a group without star power When describing team culture, new Calgary Flames associate coach Kirk beyond Mathew Barzal but possessing a strong identity. Muller immediately brings up another sport – football. “The bottom line is the league is really close,” he said. Everyone’s role, regardless of position or place on the depth chart, is important in the quest for a common goal. “Nobody really wants to admit that, but the margin for error is tight. If you look at some of these series, there are some that have been sweeps that “All the players have to be a part of it and have the same vision,” he said could easily have been the other team. They are paper-thin margins. on Monday. Certainly when you look at teams, every year it’s the same. And you’ve Muller, who recorded 959 points in 1,349 games over 19 seasons and got to be careful that you’re not just chasing the flavour of the day, but won a Stanley Cup as a member of the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, will certainly you can look at the final four teams that are standing and there oversee the Flames’ forwards and power play after getting hired last are some characteristics.” week. The Flames also promoted AHL head coach Cail MacLean to the It’s a group the Calgary Flames have aspired to join since their Stanley staff and reassigned assistant coaches Ray Edwards and Martin Gelinas Cup run in 2004. to player development roles. And hiring Kirk Muller is their latest attempt at getting there. Muller was behind the bench with the Canadiens in two stints before getting fired along with head coach Claude Julien earlier this season. He TSN.CA LOADED: 06.15.2021 was the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014. In Calgary, which has had five head coaches under general manager since 2014, he brings a fresh voice to a group that drastically underperformed last season and missed the playoffs.

“You’ve got to get everyone engaged and excited with what they bring to the table and how that helps a team win hockey games,” the 55-year-old Muller said.

Expectations – and how they are communicated – are key.

“Everyone’s like, ‘Hey, we want to win the Cup,’” Muller said.

“That’s great to say, but I think there has to be a bunch of pillars in there to give you the opportunity to win a Cup. So you’ve really got to get everyone engaged in feeling a part of it.”

Muller came aboard after Flames head coach Darryl Sutter suggested that he wanted a voice behind the bench that had previously been a head coach in the league. The general manager talked with people who knew Muller, including players who he had coached.

“Before you go out and fill a position, you build a profile of what you want,” Treliving said. “Things like what characteristics you want that person to have, their background, personality, all those types of things.”

The Flames cast a wide net before tabbing Muller, a native of Kingston, Ont.

“Darryl spoke with a number of candidates and I spoke with a number of guys,” he said. “Once we zeroed in on Kirk, someone Darryl felt real comfortable with, they went through that process and then after that, I got more involved.”

Sutter and Muller see the game in a similar way.

“The style of play, they’re aligned on that,” Treliving said.

“Play with the puck, without the puck. In today’s game, you need to have a strong staff and it’s not just the head coach. He’s got game plans and 20 players to worry about, so you need a strong staff around him.”

Last season, Calgary was 20th in goals per game (2.77), 21st in power play percentage (18.3) and 18th in faceoff percentage (50.0).

The Flames have developed individual areas for each player to improve. Muller will work individually with players on specified instruction, be it winning puck battles in the corners, improving on faceoffs, reading plays as they develop, or other skills. 1215910 Websites was traded two years ago. Stephenson brings one critical dynamic to this line that neither Pacioretty nor Stone possess, and that’s raw speed.

Stephenson’s career has exploded since that trade. I likened his TSN.CA / Golden Knights present three major problems for Canadiens performance to GameStop’s stock price surge last January – I mean, look at how the goals have played out for Stephenson before and after There is a path for the Montreal Canadiens here to go to the Stanley Cup the trade. Final. But it will mean solving these three problems identified by Travis Yost. They are not the most dangerous line Montreal has seen, but they do generate plenty of offensive volume, and scoring against them seems impossible on most nights. It’s why in 440 minutes together this season they finished 21 goals (22 expected) better than their West Division By Travis Yost opposition this year.

Problem #3: Carey Price needs to be better than Marc-Andre Fleury No matter how bullish you are on the Montreal Canadiens during this Both of the goaltenders taking the ice for this series are headed to the impressive postseason run, the reality is they are a sizable third-round Hall of Fame. Canadiens fans are over the moon with Price’s postseason underdog and facing their toughest opponent yet. resurgence – it’s the single-biggest reason why they are positioned four Montreal can very much win this series. If nothing else in the National games out from the Stanley Cup. Hockey League, we’ve learned disciplined and structured teams that are On the other hand, you can make a similar argument for Marc-Andre unwavering in their ability to protect the net always have a puncher’s Fleury. The Golden Knights may have a more talented roster in front, but chance. I would say that describes these Canadiens in spades. they don’t get by a team the calibre of Colorado without Fleury stopping We already know the challenge in front of Montreal. The Canadiens are 92.3 per cent of shots this postseason. (If nothing else, look at the playoff playing a team that was 67 goals better than their opponents this season. failures of Vegas in years past, where Fleury was shelled and the team Some of that goal differential was bolstered by the bottom of the West fell apart.) Division, which was a train wreck. Considering the talent gap at the skater level, Montreal needs an On the other hand, we have very high confidence that Vegas is as good equalizer, and Price may just be that. The Canadiens have done an as advertised. Their opening-round series win against a game Minnesota outstanding job protecting the front of the net, and that’s a carry-over Wild team was the first indication, but their undressing of the Stanley Cup from the regular season, especially at 5-on-5: favourite Colorado Avalanche was the exclamation point. The single biggest difference between Montreal of the regular season But they are surely mortal. As one example, Vegas has long struggled to and Montreal of the postseason is that Canadiens goaltenders have done turn meaningful offensive zone time into goals in the postseason. The a much better job acting as a safety net, bailing the skaters out when the Vancouver Canucks (through Thatcher Demko) and Dallas Stars team gets into trouble. Price stopped just 90 per cent of shots faced (through Anton Khudobin) both played the shell-and-counter game to during the regular season, which was a big contributor to the team’s perfection against the Golden Knights in last year’s playoffs. I imagine negative goal differential this year. the effectiveness of that strategy only rises when you substitute either of But Price has turned it on in a big way since the playoffs began, and a those goaltenders for the likes of Carey Price. goaltending advantage in this matchup may be the factor that could turn There is a path for the Canadiens here. But it will mean solving these the tide in favour of Canada’s last team standing. three problems. Data via Natural Stat Trick, HockeyViz, NHL.com Problem #1: Montreal must slow down Vegas’ forecheck TSN.CA LOADED: 06.15.2021 It comes through all four lines. It’s a combination of speed, physicality, and ability to win loose pucks around the boards.

Over and over again in the Colorado series, Golden Knights forecheckers beat the Avalanche blueline deep into their own zone, won battles, and forced turnovers. The Golden Knights have done this all season long, though they have turned it up another level during the playoffs. If you are a Canadiens blueliner, well, this is nightmare fuel.

If nothing else, it is the Golden Knights’ one core competency. When they are able to free those pucks up, they get to work very quickly, funneling it back to the point to ignite a cycle-and-attack sequence.

It’s one of the big reasons why Vegas defencemen were some of the most active shooters in the league this season. In fact, at even strength, 39 per cent – second in the National Hockey League – of Vegas’ shot volume came from the blueline. The Golden Knights have routinely bet that these lower-percentage shots pay off in aggregate, as the team can generate additional volume off of rebound opportunities and hold opponents deep in their own zone.

Problem #2: Montreal must minimize the impact of the Golden Knights’ top line

There is no Auston Matthews. There is no Connor McDavid. There is no Nathan MacKinnon. In fact, there is no player in the same stratosphere of offensive production on the Golden Knights’ top line.

But Max Pacioretty, Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone have a compelling argument they make up the best line in hockey.

The interesting dynamic of this line is it’s built from the wings in, and not the centre out. Pacioretty is a first-line sniper who can score goals from any area of the ice, as Canadiens fans well know. On the other wing may be the best all-around winger in the league. Down the middle of the ice is the lesser-known Stephenson – a depth player in Washington before he 1215911 Websites

USA TODAY / Gerard Gallant being hired as New York Rangers head coach, according to reports

Chris Bumbaca

The New York Rangers are hiring Gerard Gallant as the team’s head coach, according to multiple reports Monday.

It’s the second major decision for newly appointed general manager Chris Drury, who replaced general manager Jeff Gorton and president John Davidson after the organization surprisingly turned over the previous front-office regime at the conclusion of the regular season.

The first choice for Drury came last month when he chose to fire David Quinn, the former Boston University coach who lasted three seasons in New York, and his three assistants.

The New York Post first reported the news of Gallant's hiring.

Gallant, 57, first became an NHL head coach in 2003 with the Columbus Blue Jackets and helmed the Florida Panthers for two-plus seasons between 2014-17.

He became the first coach in Vegas Golden Knights history and took the team to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. He led the team to the playoffs the following season before he was fired in January 2020.

He never has lasted more than three seasons leading a team.

Most recently, Gallant led Team Canada to the 2021 IIHF World Championship title.

Gallant will be charged with leading a young yet talented Rangers core from the rebuilding stage into contention. The Rangers advanced into the extended postseason “bubble” format in 2020 but haven’t won a playoff game since 2017.

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.15.2021 1215912 Websites

USA TODAY / Dallas Stars defenseman Stephen Johns announces retirement, cross-country excursion

Alyssa Hertel

Stephen Johns, a finalist for the 2020 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, announced his retirement from the NHL in an Instagram post on Sunday. In that same post, Johns shared his plan to rollerblade and road trip cross country to "help others facing their own battles."

Johns was named a finalist for the league’s award to the player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey after playing 17 games for the Dallas Stars in 2020. He played four seasons in the NHL with the Stars but bounced between Dallas and its AHL team from 2015-2020. Johns returned to Dallas last year after 22 months away from the game recovering from headaches and post-concussion syndrome.

The 29-year-old opened up about experiencing suicidal thoughts while dealing with post-traumatic symptoms, according to a piece by Sean Shapiro for The Athletic. In that article, Johns admitted that had lost hope of finding a solution for his symptoms.

Now that he’s stepped away from the game, Johns is using the summer to travel across the United States and bring awareness to the mental health struggles he’s faced.

“What I’ll miss most about the game of hockey is providing inspiration,” Johns said in his post. “So I’ve decided to rollerblade and road-trip across the country to hopefully help others facing their own battles. I’ll be documenting along the way, to share my full story, because I know what it feels like to be alone.

“For me, I watched one video and it changed my life and made me want to do this crazy thing. If I can still inspire one person to climb out of their hole, then that’s a successful trip and exactly what I’m aiming for.”

Through 167 NHL games, Johns amassed 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists). He found more success in the AHL, putting up 44 assists and 57 points in 118 games. He was a member of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and won a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. Johns played four seasons of collegiate hockey at the University of Notre Dame and was named an alternate captain one year after competing with Team USA at the 2012 World Championships.

According to social media, Johns trip will kick off today, but there is no information about where he is starting or where he plans to go.

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.15.2021