SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 1/16/2020 Anaheim Ducks Red Wings 1171326 Ducks’ Derek Grant, Nick Ritchie, Jakob Silfverberg closer 1171358 How does 's firing affect Yzerman, Blashill to returning and the ? 1171359 Detroit Red Wings suffer another beating in disastrous season, and there's no end in sight 1171327 'It's unprecedented': Arizona Coyotes coach 1171360 First NHL for Red Wings' Givani Smith comes with reacts to Gerard Gallant firing subdued celebration 1171328 Fired All-Star: Coyotes’ Rick Tocchet weighs in on Vegas 1171361 No place like home: Ticket options, hope for future keep coaching change fans enthusiastic for Red Wings 1171329 ‘Playoff’-like games await Coyotes; Antti Raanta nearing 1171362 Does Gerard Gallant's firing open door for return to Red return Wings? 1171363 Golden Knights fire former Red Wing Gerard Gallant, name Peter DeBoer new coach 1171330 Bruins waive right wing Brett Ritchie 1171364 Griffins goalie goes nearly four years and four countries 1171331 Tuukka Rask is in a holding pattern after concussion since last AHL point 1171332 Bruins place Brett Ritchie on waivers 1171365 Will Gerard Gallant, be reunited with Red 1171333 Bruins lacked response in Columbus, and that’s a problem Wings? 1171334 Bruins' Zdeno Chara defending Nathan Gerbe made for 1171366 Pat Caputo - A path for Steve Yzerman to lead Red Wings hilarious photo from the ashes 1171335 Bruins place Brett Ritchie on waivers following loss to Blue 1171367 Ranking the Red Wings’ top 21 prospects Jackets 1171336 Emil Bemstrom reacts to his hit that concussed Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask 1171368 Edmonton Oilers battle their way to a 4-2 win over 1171337 Big Bad Bruins have become the Teddy Bear Bruins, and Nashville Predators it's a problem 1171369 Filip Forsberg scores impressive goal for Predators in loss 1171338 Down on the farm: Trent Frederic could add some needed to Oilers bite to Bruins 1171370 Oilers make a smart two-year bet on Caleb Jones, who has done nothing but improve 1171371 3 things from the latest Oilers win: A lacrosse goal, Mike 1171339 Colin Miller stunned as Vegas fires coach Gerard Gallant, Smith’s resurgence and Connor McDavid’s new linemat hires Peter DeBoer after loss in Buffalo 1171340 With Rasmus Ristolainen taking up space, Sabres' power play again finding the mark 1171372 The latest on Bobrovsky, and a look at how Panthers 1171341 Why Sabres' Victor Olofsson should stay with Jack Eichel backup goalie Chris Driedger has fared upon his return 1171373 Golden Knights fire ex-Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, hire another former Panthers coach Calgary Flames 1171374 ‘Hockey in South Florida has been good to me’: Steve 1171342 Battle of Alberta banter follows Flames to Goldstein has found his calling with Panthers 1171343 GameDay: Calgary Flames at 1171344 Flames goalie David Rittich postpones Mexico vacation after All-Star invite 1171375 Kings continue Florida swing against Panthers 1171345 Duhatschek: Tkachuk-Kassian firestorm follows Flames 1171376 WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 15 but focus is on going strong into All-Star break 1171346 5 quick and easy ways to improve the Calgary Flames Minnesota Wild right now 1171377 Gameday preview: Wild vs. Tampa Bay 1171378 Slumping Wild takes a day off to recharge mentally 1171379 Bad start (incorrect lineup card), worse finish (7-3 loss) for 1171347 Zack Smith scores 2 goals and Patrick Kane nabs 998th Wild in Pittsburgh point as Blackhawks beat Canadiens 4-1 for their 3rd str 1171348 After a slow start for the Blackhawks and himself, a MontrealCanadiens revitalized Jonathan Toews still has the playoffs on his 1171380 Zack Smith scores twice to lead Blackhawks over 1171349 Blackhawks conclude soft portion of schedule with blowout Canadiens 4-1 win over Canadiens 1171381 In the Habs' Room: 'It’s unacceptable the way we played,' 1171350 Before homecoming in , Blackhawks goalie Corey Kovalchuk says Crawford outlines thought process about next contract 1171382 , Blackhawks shut down the Canadiens at 1171351 Smith scores twice, Blackhawks beat Canadiens 4-1 the Bell Centre 1171352 Corey Crawford joins the Blackhawks All-Decade Team 1171383 Stu Cowan: Former Canadien Andrew Shaw dealing with 1171353 ‘A goal is a goal is a goal’: Inside the Blackhawks’ Spanish another concussion radio broadcast 1171384 Canadiens Game Day: Habs' playoff hopes take another big blow 1171385 The Canadiens’ illogical aspirations make an awful 1171354 “cheat” on faceoffs, Avalanche coach says performance against Chicago a legitimate cause for 1171355 The Avs aren’t rushing to conclusions but feel they are concern seeing gains in one defensive area 1171386 Video Review: The Canadiens hang Charlie Lindgren out to dry in loss versus Blackhawks Dallas Stars 1171356 A day after the Stars’ OT win, Avalanche coach says Dallas’ top forwards ‘cheat on faceoffs’ 1171357 Film study with Jason Dickinson: Inside the Stars kill and the details of his defensively sound game 1171387 : N.J. Devils announce Players of the Month for 1171417 Minor league report: Penguins fall to Stars, 5-2 December 1171418 Penguins’ Dominik Kahun showing his skills are 1st-line 1171388 How Devils’ Blake Coleman netted 1st hat trick in worthy bittersweet way 1171419 Penguins’ annual Dads’ Trip takes players, fathers to 1171389 How Devils’ Cory Schneider is approaching another NHL Boston, Detroit chance 1171420 Penguins’ power play enjoying rare success 1171390 NJ Devils squander Blake Coleman's hat trick in 7-4 loss 1171421 John Marino returns to Boston as a staple on Penguins' to Maple Leafs blue line 1171391 Examining the tough roster decisions awaiting the Devils, 1171422 Can Sidney Crosby's return spark the Penguins' struggling depending on which path they choose power play? 1171392 LeBrun: Why collaboration is key for Devils new front 1171423 What time do the Penguins play tonight against the office, Bergevin has no interest in trading Price or Web Bruins? 1171424 Joe Starkey: Penguins deliver frightening reminder 1171425 Sidney Crosby’s magical return has the Penguins looking 1171393 Islanders rebound from Rangers drubbing with 8-goal special outburst against the Red Wings 1171394 Islanders hope goals continue in rematch with Rangers 1171395 What two nights of extremes tell us about the Islanders 1171426 ‘Pretty shocking’: Sharks react to rival Vegas Golden moving forward Knights hiring Pete DeBoer 1171427 Ex-Sharks coach Pete DeBoer signs on with rival Vegas Golden Knights 1171396 Why Brendan Smith’s parents only saw him play for one 1171428 Coyotes 6, Sharks 3: Logan Couture’s absence felt in second myriad ways 1171397 Rangers are debunking popular Artemi Panarin narrative 1171429 fire Gallant, name DeBoer new 1171398 NY Rangers prospect report: In deep group of young coach defensemen, Nils Lundkvist shines 1171430 Vegas fires , hires Peter DeBoer as 1171399 Islanders hope goals continue in rematch with Rangers replacement 1171400 focused on Rangers' progress, not trade 1171431 Joe Thornton, react to Peter DeBoer joining deadline Golden Knights 1171401 How the Rangers can continue building their power play 1171432 Peter DeBoer was called 'clown' by Gerard Gallant before into a strength replacing him 1171433 Golden Knights hire Peter DeBoer as head coach, fire NHL Gerard Gallant 1171402 NHL Seattle general manager Ron Francis again hits the 1171434 Sharks' Logan Couture confident team can close gap road, this time to top prospects game in during injury rehab 1171435 Sharks react to ‘super crazy, weird situation,’ regarding Pete DeBoer, while Bob Boughner aims to shed interim 1171403 GARRIOCH: just wants to 'get this one out of 1171436 Roundtable reaction: Was firing coach Gerard Gallant the the way' as he returns to Ottawa right move for Vegas? 1171404 Home, sweet home: Tkachuk and Stone reconnect in 1171437 Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire Peter DeBoer Ottawa 1171405 Lehner wonders where good old days went St Louis Blues 1171406 It's old home week at Canadian Tire Centre: Here's a look 1171438 As another NHL coach gets fired, Berube moves up the at six former Senators who have returned list 1171407 Lehner credits Anderson for improvements in his game 1171439 Hochman: A Binnington-like jolt and Brett Hull scrap — 1171408 Despite his losing record, the numbers point toward last time the Blues won this many at home Marcus Hogberg as the Senators’ goalie of the future 1171440 Yeo returns: Former Blues coach says he could've done a better job handling expectations of 2018-19 club 1171441 Net Results: 'Workhorse' Schwartz leads NHL in tip-in 1171409 Flyers jolt defending champion St. Louis, 4-3, on Jake goals Voracek’s OT goal 1171442 Yeo making his return to St. Louis with Flyers 1171410 Flyers goalie Carter Hart to miss 2-3 weeks with 1171443 Preview: Blues vs. Philadelphia abdominal strain; Joel Farabee sent to Phantoms — for now 1171411 Carter Hart expected to be out 2-3 weeks 1171444 Lightning’s Tampa turf a popular dads trip destination 1171412 Flyers take down the NHL's top team for the 3rd time in 1171445 Scouts call prospect Alex Volkov a ‘mystery’: Can the the last 4 games Lightning unlock his potential? 1171413 Flyers at Blues: Live stream, storylines, game time and more Toronto Maple Leafs 1171414 Flyers' Carter Hart to miss time with right lower abdominal 1171446 Jack Hughes battling through difficult rookie season in strain injury New Jersey 1171415 Flyers' Carter Hart out 2-3 weeks with abdominal strain, 1171447 The Leafs’ Auston Matthews won’t let Calgary’s Tkachuk creating salary cap crunch get under his skin 1171416 Salary cap squeeze will make it harder for Flyers and 1171448 Leafs coach has to find a balance between Chuck Fletcher to be aggressive at the trade deadline not boring the skill guys and not burying the goaltend Maple Leafs Continued Websites 1171449 Maple Leafs make another call to the minors — for Rich 1171486 The Athletic / Bourne: Why goalies are hard to analyze Clune’s playlist and the importance of the ‘eye test’ when critiquing th 1171450 Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs 1171487 The Athletic / Pronman: 2019-20 midseason NHL 1171451 Maple Leafs' Liljegren looks for Swede spot prospects ranking 1171452 Is Pierre Engvall the real deal? What the stats and eye 1171488 The Athletic / By the numbers: Why teams shouldn’t pay test say about the Maple Leafs’ surprising rookie top dollar for goalies 1171453 Mirtle: It’s time for the Maple Leafs to unleash Rasmus 1171489 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: The fallout from bombshell Sandin (and Timothy Liljegren) New Jersey, Vegas firings 1171490 Sportsnet.ca / 7 Maple Leafs trade targets who could help Vancouver Canucks shore up the blue line 1171481 Plaza of Nations redevelopment moving forward, including 1171491 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Julien should share some new Canucks practice rink blame for loss to Blackhawks 1171482 Late Canuck Rick Rypien's brother pleased club has kept 1171492 Sportsnet.ca / Tkachuk’s teammates have his back ahead up mental health message of Flames-Oilers rematch 1171483 Dog days are over as Canucks' tilt with Arizona is 1171493 Sportsnet.ca / Despite bond, Matthews knows after puck appointment viewing drops Tkachuk won't hold back 1171484 Canucks at 50: Bure's 60-goal breakout season and the 1171494 Sportsnet.ca / Where will Gerard Gallant coach next? great Larionov 'what-if' Analyzing seven potential destinations 1171485 Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket got even non-sports types 1171495 Sportsnet.ca / Ilya Kovalchuk Q&A: What went wrong with 'hooked on hockey' the Kings and the fit in Montreal 1171496 TSN.CA / Keefe warns Leafs to avoid agitator Tkachuk’s Vegas Golden Knights ‘sideshow’ 1171454 Mark Stone’s return to Ottawa plays second fiddle 1171497 TSN.CA / Toronto Maple Leafs hoping Jake Muzzin 1171455 Gerard Gallant’s firing no 24-hour decision by Golden returns after NHL All-Star break Knights 1171498 TSN.CA / Gerard Gallant the latest victim in turbulent 1171456 Gallant’s firing only latest among surprise pro sports season for NHL coaches breakups 1171499 USA TODAY / How does Gerard Gallant's firing affect 1171457 Timeline of Peter DeBoer’s NHL career Yzerman, Blashill and the Detroit Red Wings? 1171458 Gerard Gallant’s firing has no impact on Golden Knights’ 1171500 USA TODAY / Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire odds coach Peter DeBoer, who was fired by Sharks a month 1171459 A timeline of Gerard Gallant’s NHL coaching career ago 1171460 What they’re saying about Golden Knights firing Gerard Gallant 1171461 New Knights coach Peter DeBoer known for making 1171477 Another head-shaker from NHL player safety instant impact 1171478 Students to sing national anthem in Ojibwa at Winnipeg 1171462 Gallant firing ‘wake-up call’ for Golden Knights, Fleury Jets hockey game says 1171479 Hard-working Hellebuyck has righted the ship as Jets 1171463 Golden Knights search for solution to penalty killing climb back into playoff spot struggles 1171480 ‘Just, why?’: On Mathieu Perreault’s health, Winnipeg’s 1171464 Why the Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant, and what it wild-card spot and Connor Hellebuyck’s return to form means moving forward SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1171465 Roundtable reaction: Was firing coach Gerard Gallant the right move for Vegas? 1171466 Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire Peter DeBoer 1171467 Not An April Fools’ Joke: Golden Knights Fire Coach Gerard Gallant, Replace Him With Former Just-Fired San Jos 1171468 Ryan Zimmerman took slap shots from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom at Caps practice 1171469 Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby react to Capitals re-signing Nicklas Backstrom 1171470 With Caps Gaming, Monumental looks to build another esports brand 1171471 Zimmerman tries out goaltending at Capitals practice; still in talks with Nationals 1171472 What have we learned about the Caps after two straight wins over Carolina 1171473 What does Backstrom’s new contract mean for Braden Holtby? 1171474 With Backstrom signed, Ovechkin and Holtby address their contract negotiations 1171475 Inside how Nicklas Backstrom negotiated his own deal with the Caps 1171476 Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 29 Washington Capitals 1171326 Anaheim Ducks

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.16.2020

Ducks’ Derek Grant, Nick Ritchie, Jakob Silfverberg closer to returning

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 2:21 pm | UPDATED: January 15, 2020 at 2:21 PM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Derek Grant, Nick Ritchie and Jakob Silfverberg joined the Ducks for their practice Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena. It remained to be determined whether one, two, three or none of them would be sound enough to play Thursday against the Nashville Predators.

“Getting close,” Ducks coach said.

Grant, a center, has been sidelined for 12 games because of a sprained shoulder suffered in a Dec. 17 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Ritchie, a left wing, has been out for 17 games because of a sprained knee suffered in a Dec. 6 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Silfverberg – a right wing who was named to the All-Star team before bowing out to be with his expectant wife, Clara – has sat out three games because of an unspecified upper-body injury. He might be closer than the others because his absence has been considerably shorter.

“We’ll reassess everybody in the morning,” Eakins said.

Grant, Ritchie and Silfverberg each said he was close to a return to the lineup, but couldn’t say when or where it might happen. Each was hopeful it would be Thursday against the Predators, but none could say with any degree of certainty it would happen.

The Ducks could use all the help they could get Thursday against the Predators and Friday against the , their final games before a nine-day layoff for their bye week and the All-Star break. The Ducks have lost four in a row, their longest regulation losing streak in 2019-20.

Grant had nine goals and three assists in 34 games when he was hurt in an innocent-looking collision with the Flyers’ Ivan Provorov in the third period of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss. Devin Shore has replaced Grant on the Ducks’ energetic fourth line.

Ritchie had three goals and seven assists in 27 games when he was hit late and low by the Capitals’ Radko Gudas in the Ducks’ 3-2 loss. Max Comtois has replaced Ritchie on the Ducks’ third line recently, joining fellow rookie Isac Lundestrom and veteran Rickard Rakell.

Silfverberg had a team-leading 15 goals plus 13 assists in 42 games when he was hurt in a collision in the Ducks’ loss Jan. 7 to the . No one has been able to effectively replace Silfverberg, although Eakins has shuffled players around to fill the void.

Of the three, the Ducks have missed Silfverberg the most. He plays significant roles on their power-play and penalty-killing units and he’s been their leading scorer or close to it for most of the season. The Ducks are 0-4-0 this season when he’s been sidelined by an injury or an illness.

“Man, as a coach, and there are critical points in a game, it’s amazing how much you look for him or his name is about to come out of your mouth and you realize he’s not there,” Eakins said of playing without the versatile Silfverberg. “He’s one of those guys.”

The Ducks have been outscored 15-6 during their four-game losing streak. They have gone 0 for 7 on their power play and have successfully killed only 4 of 8 shorthanded situations. They have outshot the opposition 125-121, though.

Their poor special-teams play has been of particular concern, according to Eakins.

“It’s like waves, right?” he said. “We weren’t great early with our power play, then I think it was from games 31 to 40, our power play was 30 percent. What’s interesting is nothing has really changed on it. The personnel hasn’t really changed and what we’re trying to achieve hasn’t changed.

“The thing that’s change is our execution.” 1171327 Arizona Coyotes trying to process what had happened to his friend and colleague, a head coach fired under circumstances that both confused and rattled the hockey world on Wednesday.

'It's unprecedented': Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet reacts to "It's unprecedented, right?" Tocchet said. "You just don't know what the Gerard Gallant firing deal is. Speaking personally, for me, I think he's an excellent coach. He's been a great friend to me and it's a mentor type of thing. He's a guy to bounce ideas off in the past. I like what he's done in Vegas." Richard Morin, Arizona Republic One-timers Published 4:43 p.m. MT Jan. 15, 2020 | Updated 4:48 p.m. MT Jan. 15, 2020 — Coyotes center Brad Richardson is day-to-day with a lower-body injury and is unlikely to play on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks; Michael Chaput was recalled from Tucson (AHL).

Rick Tocchet said he was as surprised as everyone else when he — Conor Garland experienced a freak incident during practice on learned that the Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Gerard Gallant Wednesday that forced him off the ice for most of the session. The on Wednesday. Coyotes are calling it "minor" at this point; Tocchet didn't seem concerned about Garland's injury status after practice. Tocchet, who is in his third season as head coach in Arizona, was careful with his comments to reporters after Wednesday's practice. But it's easy — Defensemen Alex Goligoski and Jordan Oesterle both took to see how the situation is getting on the nerves of the coaches left maintenance days on Wednesday and didn't take part in practice; standing. Antti Raanta did practice and could start as soon as Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. Gallant is already the seventh NHL coach to be fired this season, joining (Predators), Bill Peters (Flames), Jim Montgomery (Stars), (Devils), (Maple Leafs) and Peter DeBoer (Sharks). Arizona Republic LOADED: 01.16.2020

Peters and Montgomery were dismissed for off-ice incidents, but the others (Gallant included) were performance-based decisions. DeBoer will be Gallant's replacement in Vegas.

"I was shocked like everybody," Tocchet said of the Gallant firing. "He's a friend of mine. I mean, I think he's a great coach. He did a great job in Florida and he did a great job in Las Vegas. I just know, for him, he's a great coach. I feel bad for him."

NHL coaches make up a sort of fraternity. Many are close friends, becoming so either through various coaching trees or by playing with or against one another in the past. Any one firing is felt across 31 teams. And lately, those firings have come one after the other with no end in sight.

Tocchet, who was hired in July 2017, is now the 11th-longest tenured head coach in the NHL. Only Vancouver Canucks head coach , one of Tocchet's closest friends, rivals Tocchet in tenure among bench bosses in the Pacific Division.

"We're all in it and we know the result," Tocchet said. "But to get the end result, it's a commitment to the process. There's a process you have to go through. Sometimes the results won't be there right away, but I agree with (Gallant). Sometimes you don't like it because sometimes it's not the coach's fault. It's hard for me to speak because I've been there before. You just move on. Do your best, and move on."

Just how the Golden Knights move on from this will have a profound impact on the Coyotes and the race for the Pacific Division crown. Entering play Wednesday, the Coyotes held sole possession of first place in a crowded division, one where the Golden Knights were just three points back.

Vegas was in first place at the NHL's holiday break, which meant Gallant was slated to be head coach for the Pacific Division at the All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Now Gallant, who led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup Final appearance and won the as coach of the year in 2018, is without a job.

"It's tough," Tocchet said. "I can only speak for myself and the relationship with ownership and your general manager, the vision and all that stuff. There's going to be bumps in the road, but you need strong leadership up top. It helps the coach, obviously. I can't speak for what happened (in Vegas).

"If you're on the same page, you've got a good chance at surviving. And obviously results, but (Gallant's) results were pretty damn good."

It is unclear who will replace Gallant at the All-Star Game, but Tocchet seems to be a logical choice — especially since goaltender Darcy Kuemper will be sidelined due to injury.

But Tocchet wasn't in the head space to discuss that on Wednesday, minutes before boarding a charter plane to Vancouver. Tocchet was still 1171328 Arizona Coyotes

Fired All-Star: Coyotes’ Rick Tocchet weighs in on Vegas coaching change

BY MATT LAYMAN

JANUARY 15, 2020 AT 3:16 PM

UPDATED: JANUARY 15, 2020 AT 4:04 PM

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet was already tied with two others for being the longest-tenured head coaches in the Pacific Division entering Wednesday. Now he’s only tied with one other.

That’s because the Vegas Golden Knights let go of bench boss Gerard Gallant on Wednesday, shocking just about everyone in the hockey world. Gallant was in his third season in Vegas, which is just three points (1.5 wins) out of first place in the division and went to the Stanley Cup Final in Gallant’s first year in charge.

Tocchet and Vancouver coach Travis Greene are also in just their third seasons.

“I was shocked like everybody,” Tocchet said. “He’s a friend of mine. I think he’s a great coach. He did a great job in Florida and he did a great job in Las Vegas. I just know for him, I just think he’s a great coach. So I feel bad for him.”

Vegas went 118-75-20 under Gallant, the only coach in the franchise’s history. They were in line to go 3-for-3 in making the playoffs despite being a brand new expansion franchise, and Gallant was awarded the Jack Adams Trophy — given to the league’s top coach — in 2018.

Now Gallant is jobless after a four-game losing streak by the Golden Knights.

“I can’t speak for what happened. All I know is the relationships of the GM and the owner — how you’re going to play, what type of players you want, if you’re on the same page with a general manager and an owner, you’ve got a good shot of surviving,” Tocchet said. “And I guess that’s what it comes down to. And obviously results. Obviously his results are pretty damn good.

“I’ve been there before and you just move on. You do your best and you move on.”

But there’s another wrinkle to this: Gallant was slated to coach the Pacific Division All-Star team this year, and All-Star weekend is coming up on Jan. 24 — less than two weeks away. The NHL will have to decide what to do about that.

There’s no word yet on how the league will handle one of the All-Star coaches getting fired, but perhaps Tocchet would be a good candidate to replace his friend Gallant.

Among those receiving votes in the Jack Adams race last year, Tocchet had the highest finish (6th) among still-active Pacific Division coaches. Only one coach in the division finished higher than Tocchet, and that was Bill Peters, who isn’t with the Calgary Flames anymore.

Tocchet also is the head coach of the division’s first-place at time of this writing.

“We’re all in it. We know the results at the end of the day,” Tocchet said. “But to get the end results, it’s a commitment to the process. There’s a process that you have to go through. Sometimes the results won’t be there right away. Sometimes you don’t like it because sometimes it’s not the coach’s fault. But there’s always different reasons.”

Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171329 Arizona Coyotes Kuemper is “feeling better” but the team is keeping him sidelined until after the All-Star break.

“We’ve had some great goaltending from Hillsy and I think we’ve done a ‘Playoff’-like games await Coyotes; Antti Raanta nearing return good job as a team just defending the house and not giving up a whole lot of Grade-A chances, and really focusing on that part of our game,” Schmaltz said. “When you lose two goalies like that it’s obviously a big BY MATT LAYMAN loss, but we haven’t really missed a beat with Hillsy. He’s been stellar for us. JANUARY 15, 2020 AT 4:01 PM “Just defending as a whole I think has been really good.” UPDATED: JANUARY 15, 2020 AT 10:13 PM Since Kuemper got hurt on Dec. 19, the Coyotes have allowed an

average of 2.75 goals per game. That’s the seventh-best in the NHL in GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet likened that span. the next two games for his team to being like postseason games. OTHER INJURY UPDATES The Coyotes entered Wednesday in first place and have just two games — Brad Richardson (lower-body) left Tuesday night’s game and did not left before a 10-day break. return. “He’s probably not going to play the next game,” Tocchet said. “I “I think it’s a playoff series type of thing. I’d like to think that way,” don’t know when he’ll play. Tocchet said. “Saying that, the results, we’ll see what happens. It’s not The Coyotes called up forward Michael Chaput in Richardson’s absence. devastation if you lose and we’re not planning any parades if we win. But I still think there’s a temperament or a mindset that these are playoff — Conor Garland, Jordan Oesterle and Alex Goligoski all took games.” maintenance days from practice on Wednesday.

Both games are on the road. On Thursday, the Coyotes will be in Vancouver to play the Canucks and then finish out the pre-All-Star schedule on Saturday at Edmonton. Arizona Sports LOADED: 01.16.2020

“You’re getting to the 30-game (remaining) mark and then the next thing you know, two weeks, three weeks later… Games are getting knocked off,” Tocchet said. “You can’t take every game for granted. You can’t say, ‘Oh the next game.’ You’ve really got to get consistent. Teams have got to start playing really consistent. And that’s what we’re striving for right now.”

Arizona will have played 51 games by the time it reaches the long break, which is a combination of a league-mandated week off plus the All-Star break. There’s the classic argument, though, of rest versus rust; the debate of whether it’s better to keep playing or sit out for a bit.

“I think for us, it’s good,” Tocchet said. “I’m not a big fan of long breaks in the NHL in general, but it is what it is. But for our team, I think we need this … It’s been a tough first half, miles-wise, travel — I can tell the guys are getting a little tired. Energy-wise has been a little bit low, so winning these games is a big plus for us.

“Saying that, you get your rest, you’ve got to still have your edge after the break because now it’s all downhill. But yeah, we could use the break, for sure.”

The Coyotes had a three-game losing streak at the end of December but went on to go 5-2-1 since then. They’ll have played nine games in January’s first 18 days.

“I think we’ve got some guys banged up and it’s a long season,” forward Nick Schmaltz said. “We’ve had a lot of games in a short amount of time, so it will be nice to get away for a little bit and just kind of recharge everything and come back for a playoff push.”

Goaltender Antti Raanta participated in Wednesday’s practice and seems to be inching closer to a return; perhaps even before the break.

“He’s a possible for Saturday, but we’re not in a rush,” Tocchet said while talking to Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

“If he feels good, we’re not afraid to use him. But [Adin Hill] has been in there the last two games battling for us and the team’s played well in front of him.”

This year’s Coyotes have gone 2-1-1 in games in which the goaltender Hill has played the entire game. He’s had to play while Raanta and Darcy Kuemper have both been out with lower-body injuries. Ivan Prosvetov has been the backup and has not seen game action yet.

“[Hill], the last two games I think really battled hard,” Tocchet said. “Like there was times in both games there where he made like a really tough stop that really helped us. That’s what I like about Hilly. Obviously two, three years ago, his style was a little bit ugly and he’s worked on his technique and he’s getting better and better. He looks bigger in the net than he did last year, to me. And he’s just battling and we have no problem putting him in the net.” 1171330 Boston Bruins

Bruins waive right wing Brett Ritchie

By Matt Porter Globe Staff

January 15, 2020, 6:16 p.m.

The Brett Ritchie experiment is over.

The Bruins waived the right wing Wednesday, a day after his 27th game filling a uniform. He did that capably, at 6 foot 4 inches and 220 pounds, but the puck skill and hockey sense were lacking, particularly noticeable on a roster of intelligent forwards.

The Bruins took a one-year, $1 million flyer on the ex-Dallas Star, hoping he would find some traction at age 26. They got two goals, four assists, and 89 hits.

If Ritchie got there, he was willing, but when the Bruins needed someone to deliver a message, his presence was . . . again, lacking. Case in point: Tuesday night’s loss to Columbus. After Emil Bemstrom flattened Tuukka Rask, Brandon Carlo, , and Joakim Nordstrom eventually challenged Bemstrom to answer for his hit.

Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork took their shots at him.

Ritchie didn’t get involved. What else was he supposed to bring?

Clearly, the Bruins had seen enough. Their next move will be interesting.

Boston Globe LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171331 Boston Bruins There are issues with this.

Frederic, leading the AHL in penalty minutes (102), has won each of his six fights, and has stood up for his teammates left and right (mostly with Tuukka Rask is in a holding pattern after concussion rights). He is also a left-shot center, not a right-shot wing, and questions about his pace persist.

By Matt Porter Globe Staff Danton Heinen and Charlie Coyle have been an effective LW/C pair of late, and the Bruins are aching for consistency in the middle six. Would it January 15, 2020, 5:51 p.m. make sense to risk stunting that momentum by moving one of them out of position so Frederic could have an easier break-in?

■ Jack Studnicka, to this eye, would be best served with a full year in Thoughts and shots on the way back from Columbus . . . Providence. The organization’s top prospect, the right-shot center has a ■ No word from the Bruins regarding the health of Tuukka Rask, who 14-12—26 line in 38 games, an AHL-high five shorthanded goals, and was concussed by an unpenalized blind-side blow from Blue Jackets plays maximum all-situation minutes for Providence. rookie Emil Bemstrom in Tuesday’s loss. They were off Wednesday He is getting all the ice time he needs to develop into a contender for top- before Thursday’s game against the Penguins at TD Garden. six varsity work. This is his first year as a pro. Let him cook. Rask was bound for concussion protocol, which leaves him out until his ■ Cameron Hughes, a month after taking a dirty elbow from ex- symptoms clear. Given the importance of the No. 1 goalkeeper, and the Providence Tommy Cross (now with AHL Springfield), is back on upcoming break in the schedule (Jan. 22-30), it would be no surprise if skates. Officer Frederic was first on the scene after Cross laid out he did not return until Jan. 31. Hughes. Even before Bemstrom bonked him, Rask had said he would skip the All-

Star Game, a decision that will cost him a one-game suspension. Perhaps he could serve it next Tuesday against Vegas, the last game Boston Globe LOADED: 01.16.2020 before the break.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not discipline Bemstrom because it could not find that he acted maliciously. Though he was at least careless, it is difficult to make a case that Bemstrom targeted Rask.

■ Organizational goaltending depth was an area of concern last summer, but the two goalies in Providence, Max Lagace and Dan Vladar, have been strong.

Lagace seems likely to get the call if help is needed Thursday. At 27, he is five years older than his batterymate and has 16 games of NHL experience (Vladar has zero). His five shutouts are tops in the AHL.

Dan Vladar makes a save against the New Jersey Devils in preseason action this past September.

Don’t count out Vladar. He has split time with Lagace since returning Dec. 1 from a six-week lower-body injury. In nine starts since then, he has allowed 15 goals with a .947 save percentage and two shutouts. He has been better of late than Lagace, who has a save percentage of .900 or below in five of his last seven starts.

■ The Brett Ritchie experiment is over.

The Bruins waived the right wing Wednesday, a day after his 27th game filling a uniform. He did that capably, at 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, but the puck skill and hockey sense were lacking, particularly noticeable on a roster of intelligent forwards.

The Bruins took a one-year, $1 million flyer on the ex-Dallas Star, hoping he would find some traction at age 26. They got two goals, four assists, and 89 hits.

If Ritchie got there, he was willing, but when the Bruins needed someone to deliver a message, his presence was . . . again, lacking. Case in point: After Bemstrom flattened Rask, Brandon Carlo, Torey Krug, and Joakim Nordstrom eventually challenged Bemstrom to answer for his hit. Jake DeBrusk and Anders Bjork took their shots at him. Ritchie didn’t get involved. What else was he supposed to bring?

Clearly, the Bruins had seen enough. Their next move will be interesting.

■ Assuming they want to fill the No. 3 right wing spot with someone other than David Backes for Thursday’s game against the resurgent Penguins (welcome back, Sidney Crosby), Karson Kuhlman seems like a logical choice.

A strong skater with a sneaky shot, he was the leading contender to play on David Krejci’s right side when the season opened, but cracked his tibia eight games in. He has two goals and an assist in four games for Providence. He’s also a good penalty killer, which could, in theory, take those duties off Bjork’s plate, and keep him fresher for five-on-five play.

If the brass feels there hasn’t been enough respondin’ around here lately — and they would be correct — they could send another message and call up Trent Frederic. 1171332 Boston Bruins

Bruins place Brett Ritchie on waivers

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 7:06 pm | UPDATED: January 15, 2020 at 7:08 PM

Whatever the Bruins were hoping to get out of Brett Ritchie, they didn’t. Their time together appears to have come to a close.

The B’s placed the 6-foot-3 right winger on waivers on Wednesday afternoon, ending his short and uneventful stint with the organization. They signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal on July 1.

Ritchie showed flashes when he played for Dallas, posting 16 goals one season, and while the Bruins perhaps didn’t expect that output, two goals and four assists in 27 games doesn’t get the job done, particularly since he’s also lacked a physical presence.

With no goals and three assists in his past 13 games, Ritchie couldn’t get a spark offensively even with time on the right of David Krejci and Charlie Coyle.

If they make a move to bring in a forward from Providence, the player they choose will be for a specific reason. Trent Frederic has a more physical game, while Karson Kuhlman has speed. Before the latter was injured eight games into the season, he was getting a look at the top six. He’s also a righty, which might give him an advantage since the forward group is already left-heavy, and Ritchie’s departure leaves a gap on the right side.

Anton Blidh and Jack Studnicka could also be candidates for a call-up.

Jaroslav Halak was called into duty Tuesday when he should have been resting on the day after he’d already played. The Bruins were shut out regardless, but it’s a backup goalie’s job to be ready and to play when needed.

He wasn’t awful against the Blue Jackets, giving up just three goals, but he certainly didn’t put the Bruins in a position to win, either.

Since Dec. 31, Halak has just a .891 save percentage and a 1-2-2 record. Since his shutout in Buffalo on Dec. 29, he’s allowed four goals in a win over the Jets and then five goals in the atrocious loss to the Flyers before Tuesday’s three goals allowed to the Blue Jackets.

Gerard Gallant of the Golden Knights was the latest coach to be dismissed on Wednesday, despite already having been named the coach of the Pacific Division for the All-Star Game next week.

He’ll be replaced in Vegas by Peter DeBeor, who was let go by the Sharks last month.

The Knights said Gallant was let go for performance reasons. They’ve lost four in a row but are 8-6-1 in their last 15 games and just three points out of first place in the Pacific. He is one of seven coaches to be relieved of their duties this season, five of which have occurred due to performance.

Boston Herald LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171333 Boston Bruins

Bruins lacked response in Columbus, and that’s a problem

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] | Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 6:40 pm | UPDATED: January 15, 2020 at 6:45 PM

There’s no room for goon play in today’s NHL, and the Bruins don’t need to add a glorified skating bounty hunter. But Tuesday’s game in Columbus proved the B’s need “something.”

Violence begets violence and retaliation is the norm in almost all instances in hockey, for better or for worse. No one is saying the Bruins needed to run Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins, or injure Emil Bemstrom after his dangerous hit sent Tuukka Rask to the quiet room 1:12 into the game, but a more inspired, physical brand of hockey would have gotten the job done.

Tuesday’s instance wasn’t first time this season when a physical, emotional response would have — and probably should have — been warranted. During Washington’s hard-hitting approach in the waning minutes of its 7-3 loss in Boston, Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie each sent Bruins players to the dressing room. The lack of a physical response when up four goals isn’t nearly as egregious as the response in Columbus, though.

That might be the line in the sand between playing focused and keeping your head on straight, and not allowing your players to be pushed around.

Instances in which the Bruins have notably tried to do that are few and far between. Zdeno Chara, who recently went under the knife, fighting with a glass jaw is a good example, but that was far from doing what was best to help the team on the ice, which is ultimately what matters most.

There’s a balance, and the Bruins have leaned further and further away from balance in favor of a softer approach.

Brett Ritchie was supposed to bring some size to the lineup when the Bruins acquired him this past offseason. That failed experiment has come to a close with Ritchie going on waivers Wednesday. Chris Wagner hasn’t done much in a couple of months. Brandon Carlo is needed on the ice as one of the Bruins’ shutdown defenders. Kevan Miller played that role well, but he hasn’t played in nine months and his future is a mystery.

And then?

Joakim Nordstrom isn’t likely identified as a “tough guy,” but he tried his hand at getting Bemstrom to engage. David Backes didn’t play in Columbus, and even though his likely best attribute now is his hard game, his concussion history puts him more at risk were he to get involved in those shenanigans.

Trent Frederic suddenly has a huge fanbase given the toughness he’s shown in Providence this season, and if he weren’t a left-handed forward, and primarily a center, he may have earned a look already this season. His clout has risen, and he jumped right into it with a fight last season in his first five minutes in the NHL.

He’s only 21 years old, though, so assuming a player that young is going to show up and fight his way into earning back the Bruins’ hard-to-play- against reputation is not only a lot of pressure for the young skater, but potentially dangerous.

There isn’t an easy answer, especially with limited cap and roster space, particularly especially in the bottom six. Ritchie is out, so someone has to step in, whether it’s Backes, Frederic, or someone externally that can come in and bang some bodies around.

The lack of a collective team response Tuesday night was a wakeup call, and it’s time for the Bruins to, at the very least, do more than take a punch.

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Bruins' Zdeno Chara defending Nathan Gerbe made for hilarious photo

By Nick Goss

January 15, 2020 12:24 PM

What happens when the tallest and shortest players in the NHL go head- to-head?

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is the tallest player in league history at 6-foot-9. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nathan Gerbe is among the shortest players in league history at 5-foot-4. At one point in Tuesday night's game at Nationwide Arena, Chara and Gerbe battled for a puck, and the situation made for a fantastic picture that perfectly illustrated the difference in height between the two players.

LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App.

Gerbe, following the Blue Jackets' 3-0 win over the B's, couldn't resist having a little fun at his own expense with the following tweet:

Gerbe has overcome the odds and enjoyed a solid pro career. He's in his 10th NHL season and has scored 61 goals in 406 career games.

Chara has used his tremendous height and reach to his advantage throughout a career that one day will be honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171335 Boston Bruins

Bruins place Brett Ritchie on waivers following loss to Blue Jackets

By Joe Haggerty

January 15, 2020 12:48 PM

Bruins management has responded to last night’s complete lack of response to their All-Star goaltender getting taken out with a punch to the head, and it has resulted in Bruins winger Brett Ritchie getting placed on waivers on Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Ritchie was in the lineup for Wednesday night’s 3-0 shutout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, and finished with a couple of shots on net and five registered hits.

What Ritchie didn’t do was anything resembling a physical response to Emil Bemstrom clocking Rask in the side of the head in the first couple of minutes in the game, whether it was challenging Bemstrom or going hard at the Columbus net in the aftermath.

Ritchie similarly didn’t do much in a Dec. 23 loss to the Washington Capitals where Caps skaters took runs at Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy and knocked both of them out of the game with injuries.

The big 26-year-old Ritchie was brought in as a free agent to bring some toughness, size and grit to the Bruins forward group that was clearly lacking it at times last season, most notably during the Stanley Cup Final loss to the St. Louis Blues.

He’s shown a couple of flashes of that in his stint with the Bruins this season, but not nearly enough to be the player that Boston clearly needs up front to protect teammates and instill a little fear into opponents.

Ritchie has two goals and six points along with a minus-3 rating in 27 games thus far and has failed to lock down a permanent niche in the lineup due to injuries and his own inconsistent, sometimes invisible level of play.

With an opening on the roster, the Bruins will most likely dip into Providence and could be about to recall 2016 first round pick Trent Frederic, who is leading the AHL with 102 penalty minutes this season to go along with five goals and 20 points.

Not only would the 22-year-old Frederic provide some of the physicality and attitude that the Bruins are lacking right now, but he’s also coming into his own as a potential bottom-6 center or wing possibility who could really help the Bruins.

Certainly the Bruins could go in a different direction and bring up Karson Kuhlman now playing in Providence after coming from his leg injury, but the waiving of Ritchie sure feels like a reaction to what played out on the ice in Columbus on Tuesday night.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171336 Boston Bruins

Emil Bemstrom reacts to his hit that concussed Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask

By Nick Goss

January 15, 2020 11:14 AM

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was forced to make an early exit from Tuesday night's road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after taking a hard hit to the head from Emil Bemstrom.

Bemstrom was skating around the crease in the first period when his left glove banged into Rask's mask.

No penalty was called and Rask went into the concussion protocol. B's coach told reporters after his team's 3-0 loss at Nationwide Arena that Rask was in fact concussed.

Bemstrom made it clear after the Blue Jackets' win that he had absolutely no intention of injuring Rask.

#CBJ Emil Bemstrom said being targeted all night by #NHLBruins was a new experience for him. Said the elbow to Tuukka Rask was unintentional, that he was crosschecked on one side and twisted his torso as he skated through the crease.

“It wasn’t on purpose, of course,” he said.

The Bruins have a capable backup netminder in Jaroslav Halak, so there's no reason to put Rask back in a game situation before the All-Star break at the end of the month.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171337 Boston Bruins So don’t buy the excuses from the Bruins when they talk defensively about the lack of response on Tuesday night. People that truly know and love the game of hockey know much better than that and they do too.

Big Bad Bruins have become the Teddy Bear Bruins, and it's a problem Instead, demand better from a Bruins team that used to fight for each other, refusing to allow their players to be targets without fighting back.

By Joe Haggerty It’s either time to trade for a tough guy on another NHL team like Kyle Clifford in the last year of his contract with the Los Angeles Kings, or January 15, 2020 12:20 PM promote their own as 2016 first-round pick Trent Frederic leads the AHL with over 100 penalty minutes this season. He’s shown the sandpaper

and tough guy attitude this season in Providence that the Bruins are At certain times in an NHL hockey season, the moment becomes more lacking at the NHL level, and perhaps he’ll do what Brett Ritchie has important to a hockey team than the two points that they are fighting for continuously failed to do this season with opportunities to show he’s on the ice. going to stand up for his teammates.

Tuesday night in Columbus was one of those moments for the Boston People might say that Frederic isn’t ready to be that guy for the Bruins at Bruins, when the Blue Jackets took out All-Star goaltender Tuukka Rask 21 years old, but Milan Lucic was 21 years old when he scored 17 goals less than two minutes into the game with a butt-end punch to the side of and racked up 136 penalty minutes while helping give the Bruins a his head from Swedish winger Emil Bemstrom. swagger and toughness they are sorely missing these days.

Rask was done for the night at that point in an eventual 3-0 loss to the Whatever they decide to do, it’s clear that what they currently have on Blue Jackets and is now lost to the Bruins with a concussion almost a their NHL roster isn’t tough enough to get them where they need to be. year to the day after he was similarly knocked out last season by a They need teams to be a little more wary of messing with them as it’s Rangers player crashing the net. clear nobody is afraid to mess with a Bruins team that falsely believes that their existing team toughness is enough. In both instances, the Bruins did virtually nothing in response to their goalie getting targeted, and it’s continuing an alarming trend for the last It isn’t. few seasons that’s seen the Big Bad Bruins become the Teddy Bear The bottom line with this Bruins team? The B’s are never going to win a Bruins. Stanley Cup as long as they play soft when challenged on the ice, and It was the case when they were outmuscled and beaten up by an old they have continuously done that against bigger, stronger teams like school St. Louis Blues team during the Stanley Cup Final, and it’s been Washington and St. Louis that have actually won the Cup in the last the case this season in almost every instance when they’ve been pushed couple of seasons. around and targeted by bigger, stronger opponents. It’s unrealistic to think it will ever again be like it was in 2011 when Just as Bruins players stood and watched as the Capitals took runs at seemingly half of the Bruins roster could handle themselves in a fight, or them a couple of days before Christmas last month, they waited an entire that they will be another incarnation of the Big Bad Bruins given the period to meekly respond to their goalie getting wiped out this time direction of the league. around. But if they can’t stand up for their No. 1 goalie when he’s knocked out of Sure, Brandon Carlo eventually challenged Bemstrom in the second the game with a punch to the face, they are the very definition of a soft period and so did Torey Krug, and Joakim Nordstrom finally got in his hockey team in need of a toughness infusion. face before the on-ice scuffle earned matching minor penalties. At that point, it seemed like the Bruins felt like they’d done enough to avenge their fallen goalie and went through the motions of getting shut out for the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 first time this season.

Now you’ll hear the usual excuses made for the Bruins. They were more worried about the scoreboard than getting even, and it’s not the old NHL anymore where you can just grab somebody and start throwing punches.

"Should our guys have had a better response? I think there could have been,” said Bruce Cassidy to reporters following the loss. “It was pointed out after the first period, that our goaltender got bumped. But listen, it's a little late then, you can't take the law into your own hands."

Well, you can actually still do that as Zack Kassian proved with Matthew Tkachuk a couple of days ago.

Sure, there might be a price to be paid in terms of a suspension or penalties, but sometimes making a statement that you can’t take liberties with the Bruins is more important than any of that other stuff.

Eventually if teams are allowed to come after Rask, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and others without any price to be paid, those players are going to be either injured or ineffective while hoping that the referees or the NHL is going to protect them.

Turning the cheek and waiting for power plays or suspensions isn’t working for the Bruins, and it isn’t going to help them get their No. 1 goalie back as the concussions begin to stack up for Rask on the back half of his career.

Even if Bemstrom wouldn’t drop the gloves last night, that shouldn’t have stopped the Bruins from challenging other Blue Jackets players or getting in the face of Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins as he was in the process of posting a shutout.

The Blue Jackets goaltender never felt uncomfortable even once while making his 34 saves in the shutout win, and that’s as unforgivable as failing to protect their own goaltender. 1171338 Boston Bruins That type of player also can’t be one-dimensional in today’s NHL, however. When you’re not producing offensively, a player needs to find other ways to contribute and for a player like Frederic that means being Down on the farm: Trent Frederic could add some needed bite to Bruins physical and sticking up for his teammates. He’s still developing his game to contribute in all aspects.

“When I’m doing both is when I’m at my best,” Frederic said. “If you have By Joe McDonald both, it gives you an extra chance of getting called up.”

Jan 15, 2020 At the start of the season in Providence, Frederic was still honing his skills and trying to find his game. The Bruins summoned his services for

a two-game stint in November against the Maple Leafs and Capitals, but PROVIDENCE – The Boston Bruins could use a little more grit, a little he only logged a combined 12 minutes of ice time in those games. After more sandpaper in their game. he returned to Providence, Frederic and Leach discussed a game plan for the player’s development moving forward. In the short term, the ’ Trent Frederic could be just the player to provide it. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound centerman is more than As a result, Frederic was briefly moved to the wing, but eventually moved willing to play that style of game and he’s proving it in Providence. back to his natural center position. Since, he’s elevated his performance and has made more consistent contributions, especially from a In 37 games, Frederic only has five goals and 15 assists for 20 points, physicality standpoint. but he’s collected 102 penalty minutes. “He’s really taken a step in dictating the game,” Leach said. “He’s not “It’s part of who I am,” Frederic said. watching and he’s not asking. He’s telling and he’s doing. I’ve noticed that for the last month, at least. He’s grabbing the puck and he’s going. Should he be the long-term solution in this case? No. He has the upside He’s physical and confrontational when he needs to be. He’s starting to to be a complete player. But, too many times this season, the Bruins really find his game. It’s all part of the process of being a 21-year-old kid.” have needed a response during a game but haven’t received it. It doesn’t always need to be a fight, but responding to opponents’ liberties is Frederic admits his individual game has had its ebbs and flows this needed at times. The latest example came Tuesday, when goalie Tuukka season. Even though he’s not finding his name on the score sheet as Rask was hurt early in the Bruins’ 3-0 loss against Columbus after taking much as he would like, he’s still making contributions. Providing a fierce an elbow from the Blue Jackets’ Emil Bemstrom. The Bruins did not forecheck needs to be another strength of his game. Making first contact immediately respond, and though they came out after the first and gaining puck possession in the offensive zone has been a key factor intermission and began to seek out Bemstrom, they did not send a strong in Frederic’s success and he’s been accomplishing that more often than message right away. They are not a team that generally does. not of late.

It doesn’t help that Kevan Miller has been sidelined all season due to a “’Fred’ is such a sweet guy, if you ever really meet him,” Leach said. “At knee injury, or that first-year Bruin Brett Ritchie doesn’t seem willing to times, as a younger kid, he’s always wanting to please everyone else, so play that role on a consistent basis as he comes in and out of the lineup. we’ve encouraged him to command more of him and his teammates and Captain Zdeno Chara has done his share, but the 42-year-old and his really take control.” surgically repaired jaw shouldn’t have to answer the bell all the time. Case in point: Before every faceoff he’s talking to his teammates on the The timing could be right to make a roster move and give Frederic the ice and making sure his linemates, and the defensive pairing, are all on opportunity to show he can bring that sorely-needed bite. the same page, a move reminiscent of Patrice Bergeron and other elite centermen in the NHL. “It’s in my DNA,” he said. “Hopefully in the NHL, if I get there, I can play that same kind of role of sticking up for your teammates.” “I’m certainly encouraged by what we’ve seen lately,” Leach said of Frederic’s game. “It’s a process but he’s showing signs that it’s heading He can play center or wing in a bottom-six role and he’s been sticking up in the right direction.” for his teammates the entire season in Providence. Over the weekend, Frederic only saw the end result of a play with a teammate on the ice, so Besides successfully executing the X’s and O’s, Frederic is building he reacted and dropped the gloves with Springfield’s Rodrigo Abols, who leadership qualities into his game. Providing those types of contributions is not a fighter. on and off the ice will also help build his confidence. It helps that he recently played his 100th career pro game. “Freddy really cares a lot about his teammates,” said Providence coach Jay Leach. “One area we’ve talked to him about is just take care of your “I talk a little bit, but I still have my ears open listening to guys,” Frederic teammates. Every one of his teammates knows he’s there for them, and said. “It’s kind of crazy I’ve played (100 games) already, so I’m feeling everyone on that other side knows don’t mess with his teammates.” more comfortable each time I’m out on the ice. It seems to be a little bit easier, not all games, but gradually the game’s been getting a little bit During a game on Dec. 15 at Providence, the Bruins’ Cameron Hughes easier and I’m seeing more things open up.” was on the receiving end of a vicious elbow to the head by Springfield’s Tommy Cross. While his teammate lay on the ice concussed, Frederic While the end goal is obvious, Frederic also understands how important it jumped Cross and a melee ensued. It wasn’t much of a fight, but the is to develop his game on and off the ice at the AHL level. Patience is message was sent. key to that process, especially when the Bruins are loaded down the middle with the likes of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Charlie Coyle and After the game, Frederic admitted he didn’t like the hit and stated: “We Sean Kuraly. play them more so we’ll see what happens.” “They’ve got some great centers right now, so I’m just focused on my As a result of the incident, the AHL suspended Cross for one game. Well, game and getting stronger and better. I think I’ve done a good job of that 12 days later, Springfield hosted Providence and only three seconds into recently and it’s paid off on the weekends. You don’t get much time off in the second period, Frederic and Cross dropped the gloves. The fight the NHL, so this has been good for me. But, the end goal is to play up didn’t last long and Frederic connected on three punches before Cross there as long as I can.” fell to the ice.

Knowing a bigger, stronger teammate has your back goes a long way inside the room. The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 “It means that every guy on this team cares about each other,” said Providence’s Oskar Steen. “We have a good group and it’s nice to have those guys on the team jump in for you.”

Facing a willing combatant at the NHL level is completely different than most in the AHL. Sure, fighting is on the decline in the game, but again, it’s not always about dropping your gloves. Playing an intense physical game can send a message, too. 1171339 Buffalo Sabres "It's tougher, especially when you're losing to teams you know that you're better than," Stone said of the Sabres. "And we're a better hockey team. Just have to find ways to put the puck in the net, and we've kind of gotten Colin Miller stunned as Vegas fires coach Gerard Gallant, hires Peter stale the last bunch of games." DeBoer after loss in Buffalo San Jose has become Vegas' archrival, largely from the hard feelings created by the playoff series, so Miller also was surprised to see his old team reach out to DeBoer. Gallant called DeBoer a "clown" in a news By Mike Harrington conference prior to Game 7 of last year's series.

Published Wed, Jan 15, 2020|Updated Wed, Jan 15, 2020 "It's interesting. We, they, definitely had some battles with San Jose and even a couple times 'Turk' (Gallant) and him had some disagreements,"

Miller said. "I don't know. That's their business. Their stuff to deal with Approached by two reporters after practice Wednesday, Buffalo Sabres and so I'm sure they'll move forward." defenseman Colin Miller actually asked the first question about some It's the second time in his career Gallant was fired in shocking fashion. news that had just been relayed to him by teammates. He was dropped as the coach of the Florida Panthers on Nov. 28, 2016, "That happened?" said Miller, who played the last two years for the following a loss in Carolina and was infamously left at PNC Arena in Vegas Golden Knights. "I didn't know if the guys were kidding or not." Raleigh. He was forced to call a taxi to get him to the airport and out of town. That was probably the reaction around the NHL on Wednesday morning after the Golden Knights pulled a stunner in the wake of their loss here to Gallant is the seventh NHL coach fired this season and the fourth to have the Sabres on Tuesday. In a move nobody saw coming, Vegas fired led a team to the Cup final, joining DeBoer, Toronto's Mike Babcock and coach Gerard Gallant and replaced him with former San Jose and New Nashville's Peter Laviolette. Jersey coach Peter DeBoer. The Sabres headed for Dallas immediately after practice, where they'll The announcement was made in Ottawa, where Vegas continues its road meet the Stars on Thursday night in American Airlines Arena. Buffalo trip Thursday night. Gallant was the only coach the Golden Knights have blanked Dallas, 4-0, here on Oct. 14 and that game was part of the Stars' had in their two-plus NHL seasons, and led Vegas on its memorable run 1-7-1 start. to the 2018 Stanley Cup final against Washington, earning the Jack Since then, Dallas has gone 26-8-3 for an NHL-best .743 points Adams Award as NHL coach of the year. Assistant also was percentage. They also fired coach Jim Montgomery on Dec. 10 for fired. unprofessional conduct and replaced him with , who is 10- "I'm completely shocked," said Miller, who scored Vegas' first goal in the 4-1. Montgomery has since announced he's entered alcohol rehab. Cup final. "When I was there, he was a fantastic coach, a players' coach. Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said he's floored by the difference in the Everybody loved him. So yeah. A tough day for him. Hopefully he'll come Dallas team of today compared to the one of October. The Stars are out on top. He's a great coach. I'm sure he'll have another job soon. second in the West, nine points behind runaway leader St. Louis. Tough to see that piece of their puzzle go." "It's a different planet. Really. It's crazy watching them last night and this Buffalo's 4-2 win in KeyBank Center was the fourth consecutive loss for morning," Krueger said. "There's a directness in their attack. There's a Vegas, which has been outscored 10-0 in the first period of its last five speed in their game we didn't see when they were here. It's as well-oiled games. The Golden Knights (24-19-6) are tied with Vancouver and a machine as we've watched in a pre-scout in a while and it's going to be Winnipeg for the final two spots in the wild-card race, but if the Western a big challenge for us. Conference playoffs started Wednesday, Vegas would be out. The Golden Knights are three points behind Arizona for the Pacific Division "They're very confident. They play extremely simple, give you nothing lead. and they defend better than any team that I've seen the last 4-5 weeks on video. So let's see it live. We need to break it down and we need to be It's the second time this year a loss in Buffalo marked the end for an NHL as patient as they are to have a chance." coach. New Jersey fired John Hynes on Dec. 3, the day after a 7-1 loss to the Sabres. He has since been hired in Nashville. The Sabres play Saturday at Nashville and then are off for 10 days for their bye and the All-Star break. When they resume play Jan. 28 against "In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching Ottawa, it will start a 10-game stretch with nine of the games at home. change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season," Vegas General Manager Kelly McCrimmon The win Tuesday improved the Sabres to 14-5-3 in KeyBank Center said in a statement. "We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their (they also have a "home" loss in Sweden). That's a .705 points service to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were both instrumental to the percentage in their home rink, tied with Vancouver for sixth in the NHL. success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward. With 18 home games left, the Sabres have a chance to win 25 games downtown for the first time since their 2009-10 Northeast Division "In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we championship season. Of course, a big issue is their 7-13-4 road record. believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to That percentage of .375 ranks 27th in the NHL. welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come." Buffalo News LOADED: 01.16.2020 Gallant was set to coach the Pacific Division in next week's All-Star Game in St. Louis because the Golden Knights were in first place on Jan. 3 when those positions were firmed up.

McCrimmon and Vegas President George McPhee were seen grim-faced on the arena service elevator following Tuesday's game. The Golden Knights arrived in Buffalo after dropping the final three games of a seven- game homestand, and Tuesday's contest was the opener of an eight- game road trip that is actually a pair of four-game jaunts around the All- Star break.

DeBoer led New Jersey to the Cup final in 2012 and took San Jose there in 2016. His Sharks beat Vegas in a controversial seven-game first-round series last spring before losing to St. Louis in the Western Conference final. He was fired by San Jose last month.

After Tuesday's game, Vegas forward Mark Stone seemed to indict the team's preparation and how the losing streak was weighing on the club. 1171340 Buffalo Sabres The Sabres were second in the NHL in October on the power play at 29.8% but fell apart in December by going 1 for 37. They were 7 for 41 in December, leaving them 8 for 78 in a two-month stretch with a 10.3% With Rasmus Ristolainen taking up space, Sabres' power play again conversion rate ahead of only New Jersey. They're third in January at finding the mark 37.5% and their 42.9% clip since Jan. 4 is behind only Dallas (50) and St. Louis (45.5).

Overall, Buffalo is 16th at 19.9%. By Mike Harrington "We're shooting," said winger Kyle Okposo, who scored his first power- Published Wed, Jan 15, 2020|Updated Wed, Jan 15, 2020 play goal of the season in the second period Tuesday. "When it's not going well, you need volume of shots and that seems to be opening

everything up. I think we've gotten some movement. It hasn't been as For two months, the power play was a main albatross ruining the Buffalo stagnant and guys have been in different spots, just playing and letting Sabres' season. It had become ultra-predictable, with players slowly your instincts and skill take over." moving the puck around or across the ice and seemingly the only mode of attack being one-timers from the flanks by Victor Olofsson or Jack Eichel. Buffalo News LOADED: 01.16.2020 But a funny thing happened after Olofsson went down for several weeks with a severe ankle injury during the Jan. 2 win over Edmonton. The absence of a top sniper forced the Sabres to do something different and Buffalo is again thriving with the man advantage.

Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, all 6 feet, 4 inches and 220 pounds of him, has shifted to the net-front spot to drive opposing defensemen and goalies crazy. Sam Reinhart is thus more free to slice through the slot. There are different ways to attack the net again. And, finally, there are goals.

What was the NHL's second-worst power play in November and December has quickly reversed to become one of the league's best in January. The Sabres enter Thursday's game against the red-hot Dallas Stars at 6 for 14 over the last five games.

"I enjoy it a lot. I take a lot of pride in it," Ristolainen said Wednesday of his work on the edge of the crease. "It's been working. I love it out there. I've been doing a pretty good job with loose pucks all over the goal line. I'm just trying to stay in front of the goalie. There's good battles with the 'D' and maybe they're focusing too much on me sometimes and other guys get more space."

The Sabres love Ristolainen's size to help them on puck retrievals near the net and to cause chaos down low.

"Risto is just outstanding in those battles and has the calmness still with the hands to be able to deal with what's necessary there," said coach Ralph Krueger. "With the goaltending in the NHL today, you've got to get in their eyes as much as you can. You've got to do it 5-on-5 and of course on the power play. He's able to make it very difficult for any defending in front of the net for both the goalie and the defensemen."

Ristolainen scored a goal in Sunday's win at Detroit and fed Reinhart with a nifty touch pass for a goal in Tuesday's triumph over Vegas. He did it with his back to the goal, taking a pass from Jack Eichel and drawing Vegas defensemen Deryk Engelland and Brayden McNabb to him. That allowed Reinhart to find a seam in front of William Karlsson and beat Marc-Andre Fleury.

"That's what we're asking for on the power play: To have different looks, different attacking points," Krueger said of Ristolainen's pass. "We're getting better at it as we evolve. That discussion in the pre-scouts (from opponents) will be around controlling him and making sure he doesn't get in front so maybe that's a deception, too. We need multiple points of attack and that was a good one to use."

Reinhart, who has spent much of the season in the net-front role, has three power-play goals over the last five games as he's now able to roam the slot far more.

"He's looked very poised down there. That's a big part of it," Reinhart said of Ristolainen. "If he didn't look so poised, maybe I'd be more tempted to go down there but he's been doing a great job, making great reads of knowing when to stay in front of the net and when to release so it's been fun to watch."

A smiling Ristolainen reminded reporters Wednesday that he played some wing as a teenager in Finland.

"It's fun to score a power-play goal," he said. "And I feel everyone was kind of choking with surprise I can pass the puck but I used to make plays, too. It's not that hard to make a 2-foot pass." 1171341 Buffalo Sabres exceeded offensive expectations. Coach Ralph Krueger’s decision to split Skinner and Eichel might still be suboptimal when it comes to maximizing the entire lineup, but at the very least the organization knows Why Sabres' Victor Olofsson should stay with Jack Eichel upon his return that they might have stumbled upon another weapon. Olofsson might not stay forever on the Buffalo top line, but he should solidify a role in the lineup for the future.

By Travis Yost

Published Wed, Jan 15, 2020|Updated Wed, Jan 15, 2020 Buffalo News LOADED: 01.16.2020

Travis Yost has been involved in the world of hockey analytics for a decade and is part of TSN's Hockey Analytics team. Prior to joining TSN, Yost was a contributor at the Ottawa Citizen, the Sporting News and NHL Numbers, and he has been a consultant for an NHL franchise. He will be contributing breakdowns on the Buffalo Sabres for The Buffalo News this season. Follow Yost on Twitter: @travisyost.

Remember the 2014 NHL Draft? To say it was devoid of top-end talent would be an understatement. The Buffalo Sabres managed to grab at least one of the big names draft eligible that year in Kootenay forward Sam Reinhart at second overall, sandwiched between Barrie’s Aaron Ekblad and Prince Albert’s Leon Draisaitl.

Five years later, the 2014 draft class has been somewhat underwhelming. For frame of reference, 59% of players drafted that year have never played in an NHL game – that’s nine percentage points worse than the prior year’s draft class, and five percentage points worse than the subsequent (and one year younger!) draft class. And it’s not just the class at aggregate – some of the bigger disappointments for the 2014 class came in the key areas of the first round, with Sam Bennett (fourth overall), Michael Dal Colle (fifth overall), Jake Virtanen (sixth overall), Nick Ritchie (10th overall) Brendan Perlini (12th overall) and Julius Honka (14th overall) going in the top half.

But teams did find value later in the draft. It started with Boston’s brilliant selection of David Pastrnak at 25th overall, and continued into the later rounds with Tampa Bay grabbing Brayden Point (79th overall) and Nashville finding Viktor Arvidsson (112th overall). Ondrej Kase (205th overall) going to Anaheim looked like the one late-round player who would be a difference maker, too – at least until the emergence of Sabres seventh-rounder Victor Olofsson.

Olofsson, 24, appears to be a late-blooming weapon for a Buffalo team in dire need of more scoring talent. In his first NHL season, Olofsson has 16 goals and 19 assists in just 42 games. For players with at least 48 games played (Olofsson’s career total), he’s the fourth-leading scorer in the class behind Draisaitl, Pastrnak and Point.

Olofsson is sidelined five to six weeks with a lower body injury after getting hurt Jan. 2 against Edmonton.

One of the common refrains about Olofsson is that his surprising performance is largely a byproduct of Jack Eichel. There is absolute truth to the fact that Eichel is elevating the play of his teammates, which is why on a decent team, he would be at least an outside contender for the Hart Trophy. But it’s also true to point out that Olofsson is scoring at a rate consistent with other Eichel regulars – Eichel regulars that have generally been successful top-nine forwards for years in the NHL.

Olofsson compares better than most forwards through the first half of the season offensively – some of it is driven by shooting percentage, but Olofsson has made the most of the minutes he has played on Eichel’s line. His scoring compares nearly identically to the likes of Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart, and to a lesser extent Jeff Skinner – Skinner was more of the trigger man on the Eichel line, whereas Olofsson has a touch more of a distributor role.

Scoring, of course, isn’t everything. We need to separately understand how the run of play is when Olofsson is on the ice, if only to understand the equally important role forwards have as defenders on the ice. Most measures, like Evolving Hockey’s regression-based Goals Above Replacement model, see Olofsson as a negative contributor defensively. That’s not surprising for a first-year NHL pro, but it’s something that is worth noting as we talk about Olofsson’s long-term projections. (Conversely, other Eichel linemates like Kyle Okposo and Conor Sheary have had favorable defensive impacts during the 2019-20 season.)

Still, this is an encouraging first step for the organization and the player. Any time you stumble upon a fringe NHL player that late in a draft class, it’s a win. And Olofsson might still have holes in his game, but he has 1171342 Calgary Flames They’ll hit Ottawa next for Saturday’s showdown against the Senators, then see how they stack up against the reigning Stanley Cup champs from St. Louis in their first date after the bye/all-star break.

Battle of Alberta banter follows Flames to Toronto They’re currently trying to regroup after their five-game winning streak ended with a thud in Monday’s 2-0 shutout against the Canadiens.

Wes Gilbertson “Personally, I think our focus is a little too much on that,” Lucic said of the Battle of Alberta aftermath. “You saw us go into Montreal on Monday January 15, 2020 5:24 PM MST night and all we were talking about is what happened on Saturday, and we don’t come out to play a game on Monday the way we should,

because we’re still talking about Saturday. And those two points were TORONTO — This is, they say, the centre of the hockey universe. just as big as the ones that we got on Saturday, so there’s almost too much focus on one thing when our focus right now should be on the In a rare twist Wednesday, however, everyone at — Maple Leafs and what we have to do to win a hockey game. home of the always-in-the-spotlight Toronto Maple Leafs — wanted to talk about the Battle of Alberta. “And to be honest, guys are going to say what they’re going to say and do what they’re going to do. I know, for a fact, everyone has each other’s Several days after the fact, the bad blood (and back-and-forth banter) backs in this locker-room. And when the time comes, whatever score between Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk and Edmonton’s Zack Kassian needs to be settled will be settled. But I think our main focus and energy remains one of the hottest topics in the sport, a story that still has legs needs to be on the Maple Leafs and what we need to do to win a hockey after the now-suspended Oilers forward told reporters that the Flames’ game.” youngster “messed with the wrong guy” in a not-so-subtle promise of revenge when the provincial rivals meet again later this month. “Talk is just talk. Whatever score needs to be settled, we can focus on that when we play (the Oilers) next.” “(Kassian) speaks what’s on his mind whether there is a microphone in front of him or not,” said Flames forward Milan Lucic, ex of the Oilers and In the meantime, they’d rather talk about something else. with a reputation as one of the NHL’s toughest customers, choosing his Anything else, really. words carefully. “He is one of those guys that plays with emotion, lives with emotion. That’s the type of guy he is. I had fun being his teammate Hey, how about them Maple Leafs? for three years, but when push comes to shove, Matt is my teammate and I‘d do whatever I have to to step up for him.” “The whole through-the-media and all this back-and-forth, what’s it going to prove until we play them?” Giordano said. “We have (three) games Thing is, as Lucic and several others stressed on Wednesday, the next that we have to worry about before we play the Oilers again. So we have push and shove and whatever else occurs between the Flames and the to put them way in the back of our head — like, way in the back of our Oilers doesn’t go down until Jan. 29 in Edmonton. mind — now and worry about it when the time comes.”

As Calgary’s interim skipper, Geoff Ward, put it: “We have a lot of hockey to play before we get back to the Battle of Alberta, and we have to make sure that our heads are in the games that we’re playing.” Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020

Everybody understands why the Tkachuk-Kassian feud is such a sexy storyline. We’ve been waiting years, decades maybe, for the Flames- Oilers rivalry to rev up again.

That happened Saturday, when Tkachuk laid a hat-trick of thunderous hits on Kassian, who came up swinging after the second but couldn’t convince the Flames’ alternate captain and fan favourite to dance.

Shortly after the final buzzer, Tkachuk continued to poke the bear by saying, “if he doesn’t want to get hit, then stay off the tracks.”

Down the hall, Kassian called his enemy a “young punk” and countered, “if you’re going to hit like that, you have to answer the bell every once in a while.”

After being slapped with a two-game suspension, Kassian told the media Tuesday, “I don’t think (Tkachuk) realizes that we’re in the same division. I have a great memory.”

And so the following day, as Auston Matthews & Co. skated at their in practice facility in Etobicoke, Ont., any reporters who showed up at Scotiabank Arena were wondering how the Flames would respond. (Tkachuk did not speak to the media.)

It’s not often the skating stars are trying to steer the conversation back to the Maple Leafs, but that was exactly the case.

“We’re in Toronto, we’re playing Toronto tomorrow and we’re getting ready for that,” reminded Flames captain Mark Giordano. “But obviously, Chucky is one of our top players and we have his back. He’s our teammate. And whatever presents itself, presents itself in that game, but that’s a long way away.”

Kassian can look ahead to that Jan. 29 rematch between the Oilers and Flames.

After all, thanks to his two-game sit-out for his walloping of a guy who wasn’t willing to drop his mitts, he’s not eligible to play until that instalment of the Battle of Alberta.

Tkachuk & Co., on the other hand, have more immediate business.

They face the Maple Leafs in Thursday’s matchup (5 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan). 1171343 Calgary Flames

GameDay: Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs

Wes Gilbertson

January 15, 2020 4:40 PM MST

THE BIG MATCHUP

Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews vs. Flames’ defence crew

Matthews certainly loves skating in his home rink. The superstar centre cashed a hat-trick — believe it or not, his first since his historic four-goal debut in October 2016 — in Tuesday’s triumph over the New Jersey Devils. The 22-year-old Matthews, right in the thick of the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy race, has now notched 27 goals in 23 twirls at Scotiabank Arena this season. Whoa. Especially without last change, the Flames can’t rely on just one guy to try to stop one of the NHL’s most dangerous marksmen. They’d love to stick captain Mark Giordano on Matthews Watch, but this will have to be a group effort.

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME

NO-FFENCE

After Monday’s 2-0 shutout loss to the Canadiens in Montreal, which spelled the end of a five-game win spree, the Flames have now been blanked six times this season, the highest total in the league. That’s an alarming stat. The 2018-19 Flames averaged 3.52 snipes per night, tied for tops in the Western Conference, but the offensive numbers aren’t near the same this winter. In fact, they’re now in the bottom-third in the NHL, mustering just 2.65 goals per game.

NOTHING BUT NET

Scoring certainly hasn’t been a sore spot for the Maple Leafs, who are leading the loop with 3.66 lamp-lightings per outing. They boosted that average in Tuesday’s 7-4 victory against the New Jersey Devils, with Auston Matthews notching a hat-trick as his squad snapped out of a three-game winless funk. The Leafs need to put up big numbers, because they can be a bit leaky in their own zone — only four teams have fished more pucks out of their net so far.

HAPPY HOMECOMING?

This is one of those games that guys circle on the calendar. There are eight gents on the Flames’ roster who hail from southern Ontario — captain Mark Giordano (Toronto) and his top-pairing partner TJ Brodie (Chatham), forwards Sam Bennett (Holland Landing), Mark Jankowski (Dundas), Andrew Mangiapane (Toronto), Sean Monahan () and Zac Rinaldo (Hamilton) and goalie Cam Talbot (Caledonia). When you work in the Western Conference, you don’t get many opportunities to dazzle your family and friends.

HEY, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR

Flames goalie David Rittich received some good news Wednesday, earning — and accepting — an invite to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes. Rittich, who racked up 35 stops in a losing cause in Montreal, owns an 18-11-5 record this season with a 2.73 goals-against average and.913 save percentage. With backup Cam Talbot making a case for more crease- time, the Flames have yet to reveal who will start against the Leafs.

THIS N’ THAT

The Flames doubled the Leafs in a mid-December date at the Saddledome, with Johnny Gaudreau potting a pair to lead the home team to a 4-2 victory … Thursday’s hosts are missing a couple of key defencemen due to injuries, with both Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly on the shelf … Maple Leafs forward just marked an impressive milestone, becoming only the 196th player in NHL history to log 1,100 games played.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171344 Calgary Flames

Flames goalie David Rittich postpones Mexico vacation after All-Star invite

Wes Gilbertson

January 15, 2020 5:27 PM MST

Flames netminder David Rittich was announced Wednesday as an injury replacement for the Pacific Division, his first invite to the annual showcase weekend.

“My wife (Nikola) is probably a little sad right now because we were going to Mexico,” Rittich told FlamesTV. “But honestly, the all-star game is a big opportunity for me and I’m not a guy who is going to say no.”

Rittich, who is subbing for Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes, will join teammates Mark Giordano and Matthew Tkachuk at the Jan. 24-25 shindig in St. Louis.

It’s a nice nod for the 27-year-old from Jihlava, Czech Republic. In his first campaign as the Flames’ go-to guy, he has posted an 18-11-5 record, a 2.73 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

“This means a lot for me,” Rittich said, reacting to Wednesday’s news. “Right now, I can kind of say I’m with the best players in the world in the all-star game. It’s going to be huge for me and it for sure can help me for the next steps in my career.

“I’m just thinking I’m going to enjoy that time and I want to try my best there. I just want to have fun and enjoy the time.”

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171345 Calgary Flames So, our main focus, and our only focus, is the task at hand against the Leafs.

“With regard to the stuff that happened a couple of days ago. We’ve got Duhatschek: Tkachuk-Kassian firestorm follows Flames but focus is on Chuckie’s back. We’re a team. We’re a family. I think that’s the main going strong into All-Star break thing – we have everybody’s back. We love everybody in here. I think that’s all that really needs to be said about it.”

By Eric Duhatschek The messaging was so consistent from one player to the next that it almost seemed as if the matter had been discussed beforehand – Jan 15, 2020 knowing that after Kassian spent a day filling the airwaves, the next step in the dialogue would be to gather responses from the Calgary side.

However, Flames coach Geoff Ward said that he didn’t feel compelled to TORONTO — The Calgary Flames had the day off in Toronto on address the matter before practice because the team’s leadership group Tuesday – a rest-and-relax day for some; a chance to visit with local was already handling it themselves. friends and family for others; and an opportunity for everybody to decompress and maybe even catch a few sports highlights on TV. “I think we have a veteran-enough core that understands exactly what’s Naturally, it would have been impossible Tuesday to turn on a television going on,” said Ward, “and that they’re able to pull our guys in the right anywhere without seeing Zack Kassian’s smiling face all over the screen. direction – when that’s what needs to be done.”

A day after getting suspended two games for being the aggressor in an Ward took over as Flames coach from Bill Peters earlier this season, but altercation with the Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk on Saturday night, Kassian he has been with the organization since the start of the 2018-19 season, – the Oilers forward – shared his thoughts on the matter in a seven- after spending the three previous years with the New Jersey Devils and minute back-and-forth with reporters in Edmonton. seven years prior to that with the Boston Bruins. Accordingly, Ward’s gotten to know Tkachuk’s style and sees some similarities to the way the Among other things, Kassian explained he now had a new understanding Bruins’ Brad Marchand plays – on the edge and in your face. It’s a style of how bodychecking in the modern NHL worked from George Parros, that doesn’t win many popularity contests outside your dressing room but the NHL’s director of player safety, and that he was looking forward to engenders greatly loyalty from within. using this new knowledge next time out, which in his case, will be the first of two back-to-back games between the Oilers and the Flames after the “We’re in a business where the player is on a platform and where All-Star break/bye week. everything that they do is scrutinized and written about and judged as people want to judge it,” said Ward. “But at the end of the day, you are The Battle of Alberta ramped up to a new level during last Saturday’s what you are as a player – and you get to this level because of certain festivities, Tkachuk catching Kassian with a pair of hits that the NHL things you do well. He’s well-liked in our room. He’s an important part of deemed clean; the rest of the hockey-watching world offering a widely our team. He’s part of our leadership group. And as our guys said, they’ll diverging set of opinions on those hits, many of them divided along have his back. I think that’s important. partisan lines. “Now, at the end of the day, does he have to go out and change the way That, by the way, should be perfectly OK – fans have a right to be he plays? I mean, we’ll see. We’re not going to tell him to change the partisan and see the world through the prism of the team they support. way that he plays. But over time, when players in this league do step Tkachuk tends to be an incendiary figure, just by the nature of his over the line – historically it’s been shown, the league comes down and agitating playing style. The chances of him getting a fan club established they make their decisions and then players will change the way they play. in Edmonton is remote. “A perfect example is, you watch Brad Marchand’s evolution in Boston, All of which led to Wednesday in Toronto, where the Flames returned to from the time I was there with him. I think he’s done a real good job work after the mandated day off with a spirited 50-minute practice ahead marrying the way he’s had to change his game to remain an effective of Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs. player for the Bruins – and he does. Understandably, the vast majority of questions post-practice sought “But as far as what we expect from Matthew and what Matthew expects reaction to Kassian’s incendiary comments – and it could have gone one from Matthew, we just expect him to play his game and be himself.” of two ways: Tkachuk’s been feuding, practically from the moment he arrived in the a) A further escalation on the Calgary side. NHL, with Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty, something that b) Or a deliberate attempt by the Flames to defuse matters and move on. colours and influences every meeting between the two teams. Doughty’s made it clear of late that he’d just as soon the war of words goes away – It probably wasn’t unexpected that the Flames players uniformly opted for and that he’s tired of constantly having to discuss his feelings and views (b) and delivered the same collective message to reporters: of the Flames’ agitator. Kassian, by contrast, seems far more engaged and noted that he’d heard from about 20 NHLers, past and present, who That any time or energy they devoted to parsing Kassian’s remarks support him in his newly minted dispute with Tkachuk. Kassian didn’t would take away from the task at hand – which is trying to get wins in the specify if Doughty was one of them. two remaining games before the break. Pouring further fuel on the Kassian-Tkachuk firestorm was not in the playbook. Getting focused on But when Ward was asked if Tkachuk needed to learn any lessons from Toronto and the challenges created by the Auston Matthews-led Leafs this latest clash with Kassian, he answered, probably not. was the higher priority. “Realistically, I don’t know if he’s sitting there right now, saying he has to “Personally, I think our focus was a little too much on that (Kassian- change anything,” said Ward. “This is a game where traditionally guys Tkachuk conflict) and you saw what happened,” said Milan Lucic, the play the game hard – and they will continue to play the game hard. That’s former Oiler. “We go into Montreal on Monday night and all we’re talking part of what he’s about – and I don’t know if he necessarily has to take about is what happened on Saturday – and we don’t come out to play a any lessons out of this. He’s a guy who was competing in a big game and game the way we should. had a big impact on the final outcome of the game. From our standpoint, we don’t see there’s a lesson now that has to be learned. “To be honest, guys are going to say what they want to say and do what they want to do. I know for a fact, everyone’s got each other’s back in this “He’s always a guy who carries himself really well off the ice. He’s a locker room. When the time comes, whatever score needs to be settled really good professional. He knows exactly what he needs to do to will be settled … when we play them next.” prepare himself to play – and he does. He’s a role model in our community. We’re not sitting here, right now, trying to talk to him about And while Tkachuk wasn’t made available for interviews, his Flames having to learn or trying to change anything. With us, he’s a real good teammates largely echoed Lucic’s sentiments. pro, a real good player and we’ll just continue to let him go about his “All I know is, we’re focusing on tomorrow night’s game against Toronto,” business because he does it well.” said forward Zac Rinaldo. “We didn’t like the way we came out the last Lucic was teammates with Kassian in Edmonton and described him as game in Montreal. I think we were dwelling in the past a little too much. “an emotional guy who plays with a lot of emotion. He speaks what’s on his mind, whether there’s a microphone in front of him or not. That’s the and an opposing player was injured when the door opened at the wrong type of guy he is. time.

“I had fun being his teammate for three years, but when push comes to “He got taken off and I went to the room and his mother gave it to me,” shove, Matt’s my teammate and I’ll do whatever I have to, to step up for said Rinaldo. “She was yelling at me. I’m bawling my eyes out. I’m going, him.” ‘I didn’t mean to do that.’ But I’m getting shit from his mom. My old man came down and said, ‘Zac, that’s just hockey.’ You didn’t mean it. I roll Facing the Leafs in Toronto with that. I know my true self. I didn’t mean to do that. And I can sleep at Many players on the Flames, including Rinaldo and Flames captain Mark night. If I was a goof, and did it on purpose, that would be a completely Giordano, still have strong ties to the Toronto area, making a game at different thing.” Scotiabank Arena a special date they circle on the calendar. Who coaches the Pacific Division in the All-Star Game now?

“I got a good chance to visit with friends and family the last couple of Ward was asked his reaction to the news that Gerard Gallant had been days,” said Giordano. “I’m going to have dinner with my parents tonight. removed as the Vegas Golden Knights’ coach less than two years after It’s always nice to see them. You want to perform well when you know bringing an expansion team to the Stanley Cup final and winning the everyone’s watching at home. It’s an exciting game all the time. You Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year. always circle this one – and it’ll be no different tomorrow.” “It’s a crazy business,” said Ward. “You never want to hear of a coach With two games to go until the break, Giordano said the Flames can’t getting let go. I mean, at the end of the day, we’re all in the coaching have a duplication of their effort against Montreal, which was thing together. To see a good coach lose his job, it’s never good to see. I underwhelming in Monday’s 2-0 shutout loss to the Canadiens. don’t know the circumstances, but it’s a tough business – and we see “The last one stings a bit,” he said. “When they’re the more desperate that time and time again. I feel for him, for sure.” team, you’re not going to win most nights. We’ve got to realize every When Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie asked Ward if he was prepared to step in point’s huge now before this break. It’s so close now that if you lose two as Gallant’s All-Star coaching replacement, he responded with a massive or three in a row now, you’re out of it (a playoff spot). You’ve got to find belly laugh. ways to get points every night if you can. We didn’t like our game, the last one, so we’ll come out with a better effort tomorrow.” “I’d been planning to get some sleep over the break,” said Ward. “I haven’t heard anything about that.” Giordano has been criticized in the past for hits that he’s made in a game – one in particular, in a playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks when GM Bob Murray called him a dirty player. The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 According to Giordano, part of being a professional athlete is learning to block out the outside noise.

“There’s a lot of different opinions, but we know what Chucky is – he’s a great teammate and a great player on our team. He’s a big part of our team. He creates so much for us and helps us win a lot of games. You just have to block a lot of the negative stuff out and keep moving forward – keep doing what he’s doing. He’s been great for us this year again.

“I don’t think anyone’s worried in here about what Chucky’s going to bring to the table, night in and night out. We’ll have his back when we have to.”

The Zac (Rinaldo) Attack

Rinaldo, who signed with the Flames as a free agent this October after earning a job in the organization on a training-camp tryout, went into this season with 363 NHL games played and 744 penalty minutes. He’s also been suspended multiple times in both the NHL and the AHL and said he doesn’t like when the label ‘dirty player’ is applied.

“In my personal experience, it sucks,” he said. “I don’t like being labelled a dirty player because my experiences aren’t to be dirty. Things happen so fast in a game. Things happen in a split second in a hit. That’s unfortunate when things occur like that. The only thing I don’t like is people thinking I’m one way on the ice – because I don’t have that mindset to be dirty.

“It doesn’t sit with me. I don’t go home and cry about it when people call me names in the media. It doesn’t bother me. It’s the game of hockey. You’re going to have fans that love you and fans that hate you. That’s part of being a professional. I can handle all the potential criticism. It doesn’t bother me. As long as my family loves me and my family knows, and my real friends and my teammates know who I really am, that’s all that matters to me.

“I play tough. I don’t play dirty. Things happen in the game of hockey that I don’t want to happen. It’s my passion. It’s my heart. It’s my drive. I’ve been hit dirty too but I don’t go to the media and say, ‘that was a dirty hit, you can’t do that – blah blah blah.’ That’s hockey. Things happen.”

Rinaldo said he’s been a target of criticism since he was 8 years old and thus has learned to develop a thick skin over the years.

“I remember getting kicked out of games when I was 8, and my old man coming down from the stands and having a beef with parents – because contact started at (age) 6 and when you play hockey, you’re hitting. That was my outlet. Since I was 8 years old, I had parents chirping me, and chirping my parents. I’ve dealt with it my whole life. So, this stuff …”

Rinaldo told an interesting anecdote about a time when he was a child starting out in organized hockey and there was a mix-up at the bench – 1171346 Calgary Flames Pepsi Center have gone. Only this time it was in a barn named after a stronger kind of beverage, and by a team nowhere near the same calibre. Montreal had one win in its previous nine games. Make that two 5 quick and easy ways to improve the Calgary Flames right now in the last 10.

So, where does that leave us?

By Darren Haynes While Brad Treliving undoubtedly has cast a bunch of lines into the water, waiting to land a big fish to take up that hunk of cap space the Jan 15, 2020 Flames freed up when they jettisoned Michael Frolik to Buffalo, there are some things they can do in the interim.

Here are five quick and easy ways to improve the team right now: By now, liquor cabinets around Calgary have been emptied. 1. Waive Mark Jankowski Are the holidays to blame? Partially, but it’s also a glimpse into life as a disgruntled Flames fan and what it’s like to be stuck in a volatile, long- He’s got one assist in 37 games. One can only wait so long for Mark term relationship with a team that never seems to love you back. Jankowski’s offence to pop. Hard to imagine this is the same guy that finished the season with a four-goal game against Vegas two years ago, The latest cork-popping, cap-twisting, tab-opening setback came on then piled up 32 points last season. Lately, he’s been a healthy scratch Monday night in Montreal when the Canadiens handed Calgary its more often than not. The prudent thing to do if you’re the club is to figure league-leading sixth shutout of the season. That’s six bagels in the last out how to extract the most out of the 25-year-old from now through to 27 games for the league’s second-highest scoring team a year ago. The the end of the season. Flames were blanked just five times all of last season. The reality is it’s looking more and more like Jankowski will become an Therein lies the warning label affixed to being a supporter of this unrestricted free agent on July 1 as it’s hard to envision Calgary offering temperamental club: May lead you to drink. him the $1.75-million qualifying offer it will take to retain his rights. With Through a turbulent 48 games so far this season, the C of Red is split his clock ticking, what’s the risk of putting him on waivers for the purpose between optimists and pessimists. of sending him to Stockton? There isn’t one. Given his struggles that have been pretty plain for all to see, it’s hard to imagine him being If your stein is half-full, there’s plenty to be excited about: claimed. And even if that happens, you likely weren’t keeping him anyway, nor are playing him much, so does it matter? At 14-6-1, Calgary boasts the NHL’s third-best winning percentage (.690) since Nov. 27, which was the night in Buffalo in which Geoff Ward first Meanwhile, if he clears waivers and is assigned to the AHL, get coach assumed head coach duties (was officially named interim head coach Cail MacLean to play him a ton and try to rebuild his confidence so two days later when Bill Peters resigned). Only the reigning Stanley Cup perhaps he can get back to being a depth option later in the season once champion St. Louis Blues (.750) and Pittsburgh Penguins (.750) have injuries finally set in, or Calgary expands its roster for the playoffs. been better. Treliving always talks about wanting to have 10 NHL-capable defencemen when heading to the postseason. What’s the forward Since the calendar flipped to 2020, the Flames 5-1-0 record is the equivalent of that number? Eighteen? Regardless, the sad reality is he’s league’s second-best winning percentage (.833), behind the reigning taking up a roster spot that others could be doing more with. Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning (.875). If that 1-2 order sounds familiar, think back to the 2019-20 regular-season standings. 2. Call-up Austin Czarnik and Alan Quine

Fair or not fair, there is a decent chance four teams in the suffocatingly- With two games to go until the combination bye week and NHL All-Star tight Pacific Division will make the postseason and at the moment, there break and nine days without a hockey game, it doesn’t make any sense are only five teams in contention. None of the other four are without flaws to call anyone up from the minors now. Keep everyone playing big either. minutes in Stockton where they have five games over the next 10 days. But after the final game of that stretch on Friday, Jan. 24, that’s when two If your stein is half-empty, there’s a lot to be worried about: San Francisco-to-Calgary flights should be booked. The win-loss record may be flattering, but in those 21 games since Ward Fly Alan Quine and Austin Czarnik into town on Saturday so they can took over behind the bench, Calgary has surrendered an average of 33.4 settle in, grab a good night’s sleep and be ready to report to practice shots per game. That is fifth-most in the NHL, behind only Vancouver when the Flames return to work after the break with a 6 p.m. practice (34.1), Chicago (33.9), New York Rangers (33.7) and Florida (33.5). scheduled for the Saddledome on Sunday, Jan. 26. That rattling the past two weeks, in particular, had been this club’s rickety Quine, 26, and Czarnik, 27, are both guys with offensive upside, who are wheels wobbling through a winning streak in which all five victories were heating up lately in Stockton. Quine has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) by just one goal. In case you’re curious about the role Cam Talbot and over his last nine games, including a scoring streak that’s currently at six David Rittich have played, since Jan. 1, Calgary has given up the third- games. Over those same nine games, Czarnik has piled up 12 points highest average shots (34.2) while sporting the fifth-best goals-against (seven goals, five assists). Bring them up together and keep them (2.33). together, inserting both onto the fourth line. Despite the division being there for the taking, they haven’t looked any When you promote two guys, who have been grinding in the minors and better than anyone else in the Pacific. They beat Edmonton twice but got riding buses, you know that they’re coming up motivated and with smoked two times by Vegas. They split the first two games with something to prove. Neither is going to be content just going through the Vancouver and Arizona is 1-1-1 against Calgary. Mediocrity dressed up motions because they know a return trip to Northern California looms. as parity. Fourteen hungry forwards should drive competition and performance. If your stein is empty, hard to blame you — win, lose, hit the booze, 3. Return Mikael Backlund to centre repeat. For an example of the extreme highs and lows you get accustomed to, look back at these last two games. It was beginning with Ward’s second official game behind the bench, at home against the Sabres on Dec. 5, that he introduced his significantly On Saturday night versus the Oilers, Calgary came out flying. Andrew overhauled line combinations. For the most part, those new lines have Mangiapane with a great chance in the opening minute. Johnny stayed intact for the last 19 games. The biggest change was the flip-flop Gaudreau gets a breakaway a couple of shifts later. By the four-minute of Elias Lindholm from right wing to centre and Mikael Backlund from mark of the first, Mikko Koskinen had already been peppered with eight centre to right wing. shots, the latest off the stick of Elias Lindholm eluding him for the opening goal. That early barrage came against a red-hot team battling for It looked like half of that experiment was over on Jan. 2. On the first day first place, who was on an impressive five-game points streak. The back at the rink in 2020, Backlund found himself back at centre for Flames won 4-3. morning skate, flanked by Sam Bennett and Michael Frolik. But then Frolik was dealt late that afternoon to Buffalo and come game time, the On Monday night, the roles were reversed. Calgary got run out of the lines reverted to what they had been and still are — Backlund back on building from the start, not all that dissimilar to how recent visits to the his off-wing with Gaudreau and Monahan. But with the team’s defensive play suffering, it feels like it’s time to return Backlund from the second power-play unit and inserting Mangiapane in one of the league’s best defensive forwards to his natural habitat of his spot. centre. Let’s not forget that Backlund has been one of the most highly- regarded defensive centres in the league for a few years, picking up The other change I’d consider is bringing Czarnik back onto the power some Selke votes along the way. Shifting him back into that role should play. In the spirit of getting the most out of your players, he’s an offensive help the Flames be more defensively responsible. player. Give him the chance to get out on the man-advantage when he has more time and space to be creative. To find room for him, I’d re- 4. Reconfigure the lines configure the second unit to be four forwards and one defenceman, just like the setup of the first unit — and most units around the NHL — and With some roster tweaks made, positions adjusted, now it’s time to pull Noah Hanifin off, replacing him with Czarnik. Let Rasmus Andersson deploy the personnel a little differently. The top three lines have all had quarterback PP2. their moments, but none of the combinations have been performing at a level where they can’t be broken up. Besides, Ward has been breaking When the Flames come out of their nine-day break, they will have 32 them up regularly, he just waits until the first intermission before he pulls games to go. What started as a marathon three-and-a-half months ago is out his General Electric industrial-strength line blender. starting to turn into a sprint.

Line 1a | Lucic – Lindholm – Tkachuk That should also mean that the auditions are over. Time to ice your best lineup nightly and move on from the experiments. The games are We know Ward likes Lucic with a right-handed centre, who can put the becoming too important to ice anything but the 20 players that give you puck in his corner and let the team get the forecheck going. That’s still the best chance to win. intact, only with Lindholm instead of Ryan. We saw this configuration starting in the second period against Chicago a week ago and the new- Also, when they return to action on Jan. 28 against St. Louis, there will look trio promptly produced two goals that period in a 2-1 comeback win. be 13 games to go until the trade deadline for Calgary. While it feels like When he was acquired from Edmonton, Lucic talked about how he there’s a player addition coming at some point, incremental improvement looked forward to playing alongside Tkachuk. Well, here’s your chance. is also important, especially when you can get better right now with a That’s a lot of menacing physicality on one line — and skill, too. couple of small changes.

Line 1b | Dube – Monahan – Gaudreau Meanwhile, hit the liquor store next time you’re out and reload, so you’re in a position to get through the final eight weeks of the regular season That same night where the above line was put together, Dube ended up and the mixture of joy and pain that is inevitable. Like sunshine and rain. with Monahan and Gaudreau to form a combination that also packs much allure given the many tools that Dube brings to the table. With his speed, tenacity and skill, the 21-year-old could thrive on that line, plus it gives the other two a fresh look they haven’t seen much of. Gaudreau and The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 Monahan have been together for 38 of Calgary’s 48 games — 26 times starting the night with Lindholm, 12 times on a line with Backlund. It’s time to try something fresh.

Line 3 | Mangiapane – Backlund – Bennett

Bennett and Mangiapane had some success early on this season with Ryan at centre. Let’s see if they can replicate that with Backlund, who has had some history of working well with Bennett. Bennett gives the line a guy that can crash and bang on the forecheck, meanwhile you have a skilled guy like Mangiapane, who can finish. By playing Bennett in the top nine, you bump his minutes a little bit, too, and he seems to play better when he plays more. Not sure Bennett will ever pop offensively line, but with Backlund up the middle, this could be a very effective two-way unit.

Line 4 | Quine – Ryan – Czarnik

It’s said that if Backlund is your third-line centre, then you’re a deep team. Well, you’re even stronger if Derek Ryan is your fourth-line centre. This may look like a demotion for Ryan, but as a centre who plays on both the PK and the PP, he will still log plenty of minutes. Meanwhile, that’s a pretty skilled line when you surround Ryan with a couple of veterans with proven offensive ability in the minors. Remember it was starting to come for Czarnik in Calgary earlier this season before he got hurt.

The fourth line went two months (30 games) to start the season, without producing a goal. Then in a magical four-game stretch from Dec. 7 to Dec. 12, they scored in each game, collaborating for five goals total. Now it’s been another 14 games since their last goal. You get the sense it wouldn’t take long for this trio to change that.

That leaves Tobias Rieder and Zac Rinaldo — the club’s two PTO signings in September — as your two extras, but versatile ones at that, as both bring something a little different when Ward wants to shake things up.

5. Tweak the power play

Limited to only playing five-on-five has created a drag on Mangiapane’s overall numbers. For conspiracy theorists, perhaps that’s part of the plan considering he’ll need a new contract this summer. But it’s time to get the priorities straight and find ways to get No. 88 on the ice more as he’s more than earned it. The natural way to find him some more minutes is to get him on the power play.

In returning Backlund to centre and the heavier lifting defensively that comes with that position — and considering Backlund remains a key penalty killer — the move that makes the most sense is removing 1171347 Chicago Blackhawks

Zack Smith scores 2 goals and Patrick Kane nabs 998th point as Blackhawks beat Canadiens 4-1 for their 3rd straight win

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

JAN 15, 2020 | 9:24 PM

MONTREAL

Zack Smith scored a pair of first-period goals, Patrick Kane picked up his 998th career point and Montreal native Corey Crawford continued his mastery of the Canadiens at the Bell Centre with 32 saves as the Blackhawks won 4-1 on Wednesday for their third straight victory.

The Hawks improved to 22-20-6 and moved within four points of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. They will go for a sweep of their three-game road trip Saturday against the Maple Leafs.

Crawford won his sixth straight start in Montreal and moved to 6-0-2 in eight career starts there while his save percentage remained a gaudy .971.

A strange first period began with Crawford falling on his back behind his own net without any players from either team around him. He recovered in time to prevent a scoring chance, but it began a series of embarrassing moments for both teams.

Shortly after Crawford’s faux pas, Kirby Dach whiffed on a one-timer from the slot, then fell forward as his stick snapped in two.

Then, with less than six minutes gone in the first, Canadiens goalie Charlie Lindgren and Tomas Tatar bumped into each other behind the net and left the puck waiting for Drake Caggiula. Lindgren fell down on the side of the net and Caggiula centered the puck to Smith, who had an open net for a shorthanded goal.

Smith scored his second goal at the 11:28 mark of the first when he deflected a Slater Koekkoek shot from the point for his 98th career goal.

The Canadiens made it 2-1 only 54 seconds into the second period on former Hawk Phillip Danault’s 12th goal. But midway through the period Matthew Highmore baited Max Domi into taking a roughing penalty and Alex DeBrincat scored on a slap shot from the slot on the ensuing power play for his 12th of the season.

Caggiula, who missed nearly two months with a concussion before returning last week, had his first goal since Oct. 27 after stealing the puck to create a breakaway for himself and burying a wrist shot past Lindgren.

Kane set up DeBrincat’s power-play goal to move him within two of 1,000 points and give him an eight-game point streak. Dominik Kubalik had a couple of great scoring chances, but his goal-scoring streak came to an end at five games.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171348 Chicago Blackhawks zone, you know, five-men-in type things, and they’ve created a lot more probably than the rest of the group, and that’s nice. It adds an extra dimension to what we create.”

After a slow start for the Blackhawks and himself, a revitalized Jonathan One aspect to this season Toews, 31, didn’t foresee was how the Toews still has the playoffs on his mind: ‘It’s all we want’ presence of many of his old teammates from the 2010 Stanley Cup champions during commemorative celebrations at the United Center would remind him that time is fleeting and this won’t last forever. By JIMMY GREENFIELD “I think at this point in our careers it’s another thing that reminds you to CHICAGO TRIBUNE stop and smell the roses once in a while,” he said.

JAN 15, 2020 | 7:00 PM Toews may be reeking of confidence, and the Hawks may be playing better, but they will have a long way to go to get into the playoffs. Last

season, the Hawks took off at the 35-game mark; this year’s team is on MONTREAL the same course with an 8-4 record after starting 13-16-6.

The season was just a few weeks old. Whispers about what was wrong "Some of the other veteran guys that have come into this locker room are with Jonathan Toews were growing into shouts that couldn’t be ignored. starting to settle in and assume those leadership roles as well," Toews said. "I think everyone's just feeling more and more comfortable. We're After 11 games, the Blackhawks were 3-6-2, and the contributions really coming together as a team right now." coming from Toews were more befitting a fourth-line winger than a top- line center with more than 750 points, a Selke Trophy and a Conn The playoffs are still a long shot but with 2½ months left in the season, Smythe Trophy on his resume. Toews, who seems like he’s just getting started, isn’t nearly ready to give up. He had one goal, one assist and simply was not pulling his weight, which is a strange thing to happen to a player whose talent is surpassed by a "It's all we want," Toews said. "It's No. 1." world-class work ethic. Spoken just like No. 19. Looking back on that first month, Toews has a sense of what went wrong. The Hawks were coming off a promising second half of last season, and the strain of outsized expectations led to “Captain Serious” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 01.16.2020 putting a little too much pressure on himself.

“I don’t know if — I wouldn’t say take on too much early on this season — but obviously there was a lot going on with new guys in our locker room and just finding ways to make sure our team was ready every night,” Toews said before Wednesday night’s game in Montreal. "There’s sometimes a lot going on in your head instead of just focusing on your job and where you’re falling short and where you can be better.

“Right now I feel like there’s not a whole lot to worry about. We all know what needs to be said and done to get our team going.”

The Toews of old is back and has been for more than a couple of months. Beginning Nov. 2, Toews somewhat quietly started putting up points consistently. In the last week he’s erupted with three consecutive multi-point games. On Tuesday he scored in overtime and added two assists in a 3-2 overtime win over the Senators.

After his slow start, Toews is up to 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists), and he has 36 points in his last 36 games. As great as Patrick Kane has been during his march to 1,000 career points, Toews nearly has matched him. Kane has 12 points in his last seven games; Toews is right behind with 10.

And while Dominik Kubalik rightfully has grabbed the attention of the hockey world with goals in five straight games, Toews scored the winner against the Senators and has put up seven points in his last three games.

Keep in mind that through all this, Toews has been killing penalties and playing on the top power-play unit like he has throughout most of his career. The 970 faceoffs he has taken are the third most in the league and more than 400 ahead of any other Hawk. His 56.7 percent faceoff win rate ranks ninth in the league.

“I can just focus on my game, and there’s a couple different guys I might be playing with every night, and just knowing what they’re going to do helps a lot,” Toews said. "Feeling good, too. I’m just kind of building off of good games and playing loose and playing with confidence, and as a team I think we’re playing a lot better, too.

"So I think it's nice to get that consistency as a team. When everyone else is better on the ice it makes your job a lot easier."

As much as Toews would like to think he’s focusing mainly on himself, Hawks coach would beg to differ. Toews and Kubalik have been on the same line for a while now, and Colliton says it’s not a coincidence Kubalik is just now coming into his own.

“He has really helped Kubalik to reach another level in his game,” Colliton said. “They’re talking a lot on the bench and working together to create offense. As a group, our team, we don’t create a ton of offensive- 1171349 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks conclude soft portion of schedule with blowout win over Canadiens

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jan 15, 2020, 9:50pm CST

MONTREAL — Coming home from Vancouver two weeks ago, the Blackhawks had played the NHL’s toughest schedule through their first 42 games and were set to play perhaps the NHL’s easiest schedule over their next six.

The Hawks concluded that soft stretch with a convincing 4-1 win over the Canadiens on Wednesday.

They won four of the six games, beating all four truly bad opponents — the Red Wings, Ducks, Senators and Canadiens — while losing to the Flames and Predators, the two competitive teams among the bunch.

“It’s a tough league,” Patrick Kane said. “Any team can win any given night, you can’t take anyone lightly in this league. Every game’s going to be closer and we have to play it that way. It seems like, when we play it a little bit closer, it works in our benefit.”

One could argue the Hawks, considering the deficit they still face to climb back into a wild-card spot, should’ve won more than four of six.

But coach Jeremy Colliton has been preaching a simple mindset of “win two out of three,” and to his team’s credit, that’s exactly what they’ve done lately.

“We’re never satisfied, but I think we did a decent job,” Colliton said. “Would’ve loved to get at least one of those games [versus] Calgary and Nashville, but we’re moving in the right direction, finding a way to scratch points together. We’ve still got lots of room to improve, but we’ll get a little healthier soon and that’ll help.”

Kane added another point Wednesday to pull within two of 1,000 for his career, a milestone he has been eyeing since New Year’s Eve.

And Corey Crawford turned in another spectacular performance in his hometown, making 32 saves on 33 shots to maintain his exact .971 save percentage in eight career starts in Montreal.

Nevertheless, it was the depth players — Zack Smith, who doubled his season goal total in a span of three minutes during the first period; Drake Caggiula, who has been fantastic since returning from his concussion; Slater Koekkoek, suddenly a stabilizing force on the third ‘D’ pair — who impressed most.

“It might not be pretty all the time, but we’re finding ways to stay in the game and control the game,” Kane said. “It’s been good for us.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171350 Chicago Blackhawks ‘‘It’s a game that I enjoy,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s pretty special anytime I go there.’’

Before homecoming in Montreal, Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 outlines thought process about next contract

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Jan 15, 2020, 6:55am CST

KANATA, Ontario — Goalie Corey Crawford is expected to start for the Blackhawks on Wednesday in his hometown of Montreal in front of an always-large crowd of ‘‘cousins, aunts, uncles’’ and beyond.

It would be Crawford’s eighth career start at the Bell Centre, and the first seven have gone exceedingly well. He’s 5-0-2, including five consecutive victories, with an absurd .971 save percentage and two shutouts, including a 48-save gem last March.

And he knows it, too.

‘‘I’ve always played well there, and we’ve gotten some pretty big wins there,’’ Crawford said Tuesday. ‘‘I remember that. I just don’t really pay attention to that stuff because you can struggle for 10 or five years against a team, and then it can completely turn around. I try not to jinx myself too much.’’

Coach Jeremy Colliton had an easy decision with his goalies for this back-to-back. Robin Lehner started Tuesday against his former Senators team, and Crawford presumably will start Wednesday for his homecoming.

But the pattern often hasn’t been so simple, and Colliton has favored Lehner lately. Other than the three home games Lehner missed because of injury last week, Crawford — assuming he starts Wednesday — will have started only two of the last 10 games in which both goalies were available.

With both players’ contracts expiring after this season, the Hawks will have a decision to make.

Lehner revealed his expectations for his next contract last week. He said he’d like to stay with the Hawks but, more important, wants a long-term contract that will reward his consistently elite stats. He might be in line for four or more years with an annual cap hit above his current $5 million.

Crawford, meanwhile, likely will ask for — and end up with — fewer years and significantly less money than the six-year, $6 million-per-year contract he’s finishing now, simply because of his age (35).

But he said Tuesday that he plans to pursue a new contract rather than retire and that he’s not particularly interested in signing into a clear backup situation.

‘‘I’m a pretty competitive guy,’’ he said. ‘‘[I] feel like I could still make a difference on a team, to make a run at a championship. That’s where my head’s at. Never really had a role of sitting on the bench and being part of that situation.’’

He and agent Gilles Lupien have yet to talk with Hawks general manager Stan Bowman, he said.

Those comments throw cold water on the idea that Crawford would take a discount to stay with the Hawks and maintain the duo with Lehner.

And there will be a market for Crawford around the league. His legacy of two Stanley Cup titles is set in stone, and his .906 save percentage in 23 games this season remains right around the league average of .909, according to Hockey Reference.

Still, after spending his entire career in the Hawks’ organization, Crawford did express a desire to stay.

‘‘I would still love to have a chance here to win another Cup,’’ he said. ‘‘We have a really good young group of players, and guys get to the next level pretty quick, I find. Once you get over that learning curve, I think we could be competitive quickly.’’

He will explore free agency more as winter turns into spring and summer. For now, Crawford is just focused on his once-a-year moment in Montreal. 1171351 Chicago Blackhawks "Every point is so crucial and you have to find ways to win and you can't necessarily just rely on one or two guys," Caggiula said. "Everyone has to find ways to contribute. The more depth that we can have and the Smith scores twice, Blackhawks beat Canadiens 4-1 more ways we can contribute from different players and contribute in different ways is going to go a long way for our team.'•

Staff Report Daily Herald Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 Associated Press

Posted

1/16/2020 7:00 AM

MONTREAL -- Corey Crawford doesn't know why he plays well against his hometown team.

The veteran goalie stopped 32 shots to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Crawford, from suburban Chateauguay, Quebec, improved to 11-2-2 against the Canadiens.

Crawford has struggled this season, with the latest win improving his record to 8-13-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average.

"My record is terrible right now, I'm not really happy with it," he said. "It's (tough) being way below .500. I just have to work hard and battle my way back."

Zack Smith had two goals, and Alex DeBrincat and Drake Caggiula also scored for the Blackhawks, who were coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Senators on Tuesday. Chicago won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Phillip Danault scored for the Canadiens, who have lost 10 of their last 11. Charlie Lindgren, still looking for his first victory of the season, finished with 24 saves.

Lindgren started the first game of a back-to-back for Montreal. Carey Price gets the nod Thursday at Philadelphia.

The Blackhawks scored twice in a fast-paced first period before Montreal even managed its second shot on net.

Miscommunication between Lindgren and Tomas Tatar behind the net led to Smith's short-handed goal at 5:42. Lindgren hesitated with the puck and Tatar knocked into him, giving Caggiula the chance to feed Smith in front.

Chicago's fourth line struck again less than three minutes later. Defenseman Slater Koekkoek threw the puck into traffic and Smith, unmarked to Lindgren's right, deflected it into the top corner at 8:32.

Smith came in with two goals in 40 games all season. The former Senators forward doubled his tally after four shifts.

Lindgren kept Montreal in the game with a desperation save on rookie Dominik Kubalik late in the first to keep it 2-0.

Goals have been tough to come by for the Canadiens lately but they got one 54 seconds after the restart. A no-look pass from Ilya Kovalchuk into the slot fooled Jonathan Toews and Danault scored beneath Crawford's glove to make it 2-1.

The Canadiens have scored 16 goals in their last nine games.

Max Domi took a roughing penalty that proved costly in the second period. Chicago was leading 2-1 when he hit Matthew Highmore with his shoulder in open ice. Domi then grabbed Highmore by the collar and helmet and tackled him to the ice.

On the ensuing power play, after Lindgren lost his blocker in a goal- mouth scramble, DeBrincat scored on a one-timer from Patrick Kane to restore the Blackhawks' two-goal lead with 8:33 left.

Canadiens coach Claude Julien benched Domi for the remainder of the second as punishment for the penalty.

Caggiula sealed the win with 8:20 remaining in the third after stripping Jordal Weal of the puck in the neutral zone and beating Lindgren glove side on the breakaway. 1171352 Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford joins the Blackhawks All-Decade Team

By Scott King

January 15, 2020 8:32 AM

Throughout the 2019-20 season, NBC Sports Chicago will be unveiling its Blackhawks All-Decade Team. The roster will feature the 14 forwards, 7 defensemen and two that made the biggest impact on the franchise from the 2010 through 2019 seasons.

Two Stanley Cups (2013, 2015), third most franchise wins (251), third most saves (12,244) and always under-appreciated. Corey Crawford may trail Tony Esposito and Glen Hall respectively in both categories, but he's logged a higher career save percentage (.917) and goals-against average (2.45) than the pair of Hawks legends.

Crawford, a positionally sound goalie who can flash the leather with a reliable glove, was selected by the Hawks in the second round at No. 52 overall in the 2003 NHL Draft.

Corey spent the majority of his 471 games with the Hawks since 2006 keeping them in games other goalies wouldn't be able to and battling back, getting better and better in any given contest, after he's given up a goal or two he'd like back.

The Montreal native could have taken the 2013 Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) trophy away from Patrick Kane after he posted a 1.84 goals- against average and .932 save percentage to backstop the Blackhawks to their second Stanley Cup title in four seasons.

After leading the Hawks to Game 7 the Western Conference final the following year, Crawford came up big for Chicago once again in the 2015 playoffs, recording a 2.31 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage to help the Windy City hoist the cup for a third time in six seasons.

Crawford even pitched a 25-save, Stanley-Cup clinching 2-0 shutout in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final at the United Center against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 35-year-old veteran goalie is a two-time NHL All-Star (2015, 2017) and was on Team Canada's World Cup of Hockey championship squad in 2016.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171353 Chicago Blackhawks everything from injuries to the standings to recent performances just as the Blackhawks’ English-speaking broadcasts do. There’s that familiarity and consistency on both ends of the broadcast.

‘A goal is a goal is a goal’: Inside the Blackhawks’ Spanish radio “It’s nice because the fans are also along with us and they see this team broadcast grow, they can see us grow as Spanish commentators,” Moreno said.

Ultimately, the Univision audience for Blackhawks games is hard to By Scott Powers quantify. Doug Levy, Univision Local Media Chicago president and general manager, said they don’t know what their listenership is exactly. Jan 15, 2020 “It’s really hard,” he said. “I think the Nielsen methodology makes it really hard to pinpoint specific games on one station when the games don’t happen at the same time day after day. It’s really hard to come up with a When I put on the headphones and heard what was coming through custom report that says exactly how it’s doing. But we do know based on them during a recent Blackhawks game, I immediately knew I was in for social media, there’s an instant feedback loop there, that the social posts a challenge. we have about the Blackhawks do very well. The stories we do on our I had taken some Spanish in high school and college, but it quickly webpages do very well. That’s kind of the biggest barometer that we became clear my retention rate wasn’t what I hoped. Whatever Spanish have. When you start cutting radio ratings down for sports like that, who comprehension I once had wasn’t going to magically reappear. knows.”

As the Spanish flowed from Héctor Lozano and Jorge Moreno and into Levy did know, though, that it made a lot of sense to increase the number my headset, I understood some of what they were saying, but nowhere of broadcasts. near all of it. I would catch a cuando or a pero and obviously any “The demand in the marketplace for the marketing opportunities, reference to the Blackhawks, but I was missing the words to put it all obviously we like the Blackhawks, we like what they’re doing, we like together. their brand,” Levy said. “We recognized there is an opportunity to expand The Blackhawks and Univision Deportes had offered translation the number of people who understand what’s happening out on the ice to assistance when I asked to sit in during a Spanish broadcast, but it become fans of the sport. The Blackhawks were super enthusiastic about seemed pointless once I got into the United Center booth. Their radio call that. moved way too fast to stop and ask what was being said. “When we started, we were both like, OK, let’s see how this goes, let’s As the action unfolded before me, Lozano described it in Spanish over build some trust, it’s a trial balloon. In our fifth year, we all sat down and 1200 AM just as John Wiedeman would on WGN a few booths away. said this is working, people like it. We see fans out on the streets. We Lozano’s voice followed the tempo of the game. As the Blackhawks and see clients coming to the table and saying we want to be a part of it. Of Colorado Avalanche went up and down the ice, Lozano’s words sped its own momentum, it was growing. Expanding to all the home games along with them. When something exciting happened — a quality shot, a seemed logical because it was working on both sides.” hit, a big save — Lozano’s voice rose to match it. When something didn’t Lozano sees and hears the response, too. go the Blackhawks’ way, his disappointment rang through in his call and his body language. He pounded the desk a few times. “I think the audience is growing,” Lozano said. “For example, we have viewing parties. With my TV gig, I’m on the street a lot, you get the And when the Blackhawks scored, he broke out his repeated “goal, goal, feedback. A lot of people say we didn’t know and we heard you, you goal” call. have hockey in Spanish, you have the Blackhawks in Spanish. Slowly but “A goal is a goal is a goal,” Lozano said in English during the surely, that’s what I think, slowly and surely. Just like the league is trying intermission. “I call it different. I’ve heard a lot of people who do play by to reach the Hispanic audience, that’s what we’re trying to help do also, play. They have their style. ‘He scores.’ I do my own thing. I try to do it slowly but surely.” my own style.” The Blackhawks have brought a lot of joy to a lot of hockey fans over the Seated to Lozano’s right, Moreno jumped in and provided analysis last decade. Captain Jonathan Toews recognizes that they’ve helped whenever the action stopped. Unlike your usual NHL analyst, Moreno grow the game in the Chicago area. To him, the Spanish broadcasts are isn’t a former pro player. He didn’t grow up playing; he’s simply been a evidence of that. hockey fan since 2005. After working as an engineer on Univision’s “It’s awesome,” Toews said. “Of course we want to share hockey with all sports broadcasts, Moreno got the chance to be in front of the communities and all backgrounds. I think that’s pretty cool. I think that’s microphone this season. what we realize as players is how big the reach was when we won “I told him, you have to know more than me,” Lozano said. “When we sit Stanley Cups. People who aren’t traditionally hockey fans getting into down to do the games, you have to know more than me. The kid’s just and putting their kids into hockey. I think that’s the biggest starting, but he’s really good. He’s a natural.” accomplishment we can hang our hats on is the game’s really grown in the Chicagoland area. That’s a pretty cool thing to see.” As I listened to the Spanish broadcast for an hour or so, what struck me was the similarity to any other broadcast. This wasn’t some novelty, though it was not long ago. The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 The Blackhawks and Univision Deportes decided to do one Spanish broadcast in the 2015-16 season. Lozano, Univision’s sports director who also calls Fire and Bears games, was on that first Blackhawks call and remembered being quite nervous.

“With every game, it became easier,” Lozano said. “I had a great advice from Mr. John Wiedeman from WGN. He said keep it simple, hockey, it’s difficult. He said I’ve been doing this for 30 years and hockey is difficult for me. You’re just starting and you’re doing it in Spanish, so keep it simple. It was great advice. I kept it simple. Obviously I’m trying to get a rhythm of it and now I feel right at home.”

That comfort has increased with the Blackhawks’ number of broadcasts. This is the first season with Spanish broadcasts for all 41 Blackhawks home games.

The regularity makes it easier on the listeners and the broadcasters. Lozano and Moreno aren’t just popping into the United Center every few weeks and trying to make something that’s inconsistent sound consistent. They don’t have to explain hockey. Now they can dive into 1171354 Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars “cheat” on faceoffs, Avalanche coach says

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

January 15, 2020 at 4:46 PM

The Dallas Stars’ top forwards are cheaters, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.

“They’ve got veteran centermen in (Joe) Pavelski, (Jamie) Benn, (Tyler) Seguin and they cheat. They cheat on the faceoffs,” Bednar said Wednesday, the day after Dallas used a questionable faceoff to beat the Avs 3-2 in overtime at the Pepsi Center.

To be fair, Bednar insinuated that all NHL teams, including his, try to push the rules to win faceoffs.

“They’re doing a better job of cheating on it than we are,” Bednar said. “We don’t feel like the linesmen we’re doing a good enough job (Tuesday), sort of holding (the respective teams) accountable to make it a level playing field on the faceoffs.”

The game’s final draw Tuesday between Pavelski and the Avs’ Gabe Landeskog immediately led to the game-winning goal by Stars defenseman Esa Lindell. In Dallas’ offensive zone, Pavelski won the puck back to Lindell, who skated in and wristed it past Philipp Grubauer to complete a regular-season sweep (4-0) of Colorado.

Landeskog was furious at himself and young linesman Brandon Gawryletz after the game. Replays showed Pavelski hooked Landeskog’s stick on the dot before Gawryletz dropped the puck. The rule states the faceoff man in the defensive zone (Landeskog) is to put his stick on the ice first, and then the attacking man (Pavelski), with the sticks parallel to each other until the puck is dropped.

“First and foremost, at that point in the game, overtime, every faceoff’s important. I take responsibility,” Landeskog said Wednesday. “I should have just lifted my stick and backed out of there and reset. The reality is, it was just a bad drop from start to finish. I’m down in the D-zone first and he (puts) his stick under my heel and the linesman isn’t even looking — the linesman drops the puck without looking and obviously doesn’t see his mistake.”

Gawryletz, 36, made his NHL debut in October 2015.

“Frustrating. I’ll take some blame — I should have just backed out of there,” Landeskog said. “But the linesman has the responsibility of making sure it’s done the right way, especially at that key time. Yeah, I was really (upset) after the game.”

Bednar said the faceoff controversy with the Stars began Dec. 28 in Dallas, where the Avs lost 3-2 in a shootout.

“We got eaten up on the faceoffs a little bit in the (previous) Dallas game,” he said. “I guess we have to learn how to cheat better.”

The Avs’ rivalry with the Stars became heated early in the third period Tuesday when Benn accused Matt Calvert of embellishment after Benn was issued an interference minor off a faceoff. Benn cross-checked Calvert on his way to the penalty box, and after Benn was released, Calvert attempted to fight the Stars’ captain, who declined and raced to join the play in the offensive zone.

Of an ensuing faceoff, the two did fight. “I’ve never had a diving penalty in my career. I get can-opened and he decides to cross-check and skate away. Whatever,” Calvert said Wednesday. “If he wants to confront me, confront me. And then I go at him off the draw and he kind of stares at me. A lot of guys like to sneak in the first punch, unexpected, so that’s what I’m thinking.

“So I drop one glove, not sure of what he’s doing, and he just skates away. I go after him in the scrum again. And then he’s looking at me again off the draw, and I think I hear him say, ‘You want to do this?’ So we (fought).”

Denver Post: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171355 Colorado Avalanche Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog provided a rounded perspective on rush coverage. He said forwards ideally want to catch the puck carrier, force a neutral zone turnover and return to offense. But, as he The Avs aren’t rushing to conclusions but feel they are seeing gains in pointed out, that is not always going to happen. one defensive area “You have systems for a reason, right? So everybody knows what to expect and you can be predictable to your teammates and be on the same page,” Landeskog said. “But in a hockey game, there’s hundreds of By Ryan S. Clark mistakes that happen every game. They happen so fast that every situation is different too. It kinda varies. You have to make reads. Jan 15, 2020 “We’ve studied our coverage and made sure we know what to do in

certain situations.” Losing four in a row. A second straight defeat in overtime. Falling in Girard provided a view at the landscape from a defensemen’s vantage seven of their last nine contests is the Colorado Avalanche’s current point while Landeskog did the same with forwards. situation less than a week before the NHL All-Star break. But how does it all work for a goaltender? They’re still in a playoff spot, but by the slightest of margins as a few more defeats could see them remain inside or temporarily be on the Pavel Francouz said it is their responsibility to survey the situation and outside before the league comes to a complete stop. just focus on whoever has the puck. He added how attention must also be shown everyone else on the attack should another avenue present It is another reason — even if it is just mid-January — why the Avalanche itself on the ice for a potential shot on goal. continually state they are searching for answers to cease their current skid. There are several metrics illustrating those issues with a strong What’s a goaltender’s role in communication when it comes to rush amount of them being linked to defensive play in certain situations over coverage? It is a ton? A little? Only when called upon? the last several games. “Let’s say if it’s 3-on-2, you don’t have much power to follow the guys and Rush coverage was only discussed Tuesday because Avalanche coach try to tell them what to do because it’s happening really fast,” Francouz Jared Bednar was asked for his thoughts after a 3-2 overtime loss to the said. “But, when it’s 2-on-1, if I see their forward going from a good angle Dallas Stars. How the Avs have performed in that specific aspect of their for me, I’ll yell to the D, ‘I got him! I got him!’ so he can focus more on the overall defensive play has proven to become a familiar talking point after other guy.” losses or whenever practice has ended. Francouz said there are times when a defenseman goes to the corner Much of it stems from two concepts with Bednar frequently discussing and has a few players behind him. Those are the sort of times when how defense has to be a five-man approach while further noting how communication is critical, Francouz said. Even if it’s shouting “Heads up!” communication in all sequences — especially those on defense — must or even pointing out other aspects, it both keeps those on-ice be achieved. conversations going while allowing Francouz or any goaltender a chance to stay more involved in the play. “When everyone is back in the zone and we get our five guys back before they do, I think that’s what we would like in our rush coverage,” How the Avalanche performed against the Stars in rush coverage could Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard said. “It’s just to be back before potentially serve as a foundation for how they have made the necessary them. Sometimes, it’s going to happen you’re going to be 3-on-2 and we corrections. have to talk. That’s the thing I think we have to do more, talk a bit more on the ice.” There was a first-period sequence when the Avalanche were in the Stars’ zone yet Nathan MacKinnon and two defensemen stayed closer to the Colorado’s 5-2 loss on Dec. 16 to St. Louis was the starting point for the blue line in the event a breakout were to happen. It did and the team’s 4-7-3 record. The Avalanche have surrendered 50 goals in that Avalanche responded by having three players already in position with time and that is two away from being the most in the NHL over the last Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen supporting up the wings. The Stars did month. Opponents are averaging 3.57 goals against them, which is the not record a shot for the 30 or so seconds they held possession. seventh-worst figure in the league. Later in the period, Stars winger Denis Gurianov entered the zone but he The rush coverage discussion began Dec. 19 when they lost a third was marshaled the entire way by Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole. period-lead in a 3-1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. It then intensified Meanwhile, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was at the net front ready to clear in the next game — in a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks — when the any pucks in that area or provide support to goaltender Philipp Grubauer Avalanche succumbed to losing a second straight third-period lead. in any way possible.

Each of the Avalanche’s ensuing losses came with their own problems But there were also two shifts that could potentially serve as teaching yet defeats to the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins generated tools in their own right. The first was not one involving rush coverage but more attention how the Avalanche were struggling in rush coverage. both Erik Johnson and Nazem Kadri could be heard speaking from as Bednar said after losing to the Penguins that he thought the Avs high as the 300 section. The second one had a chance to be far more competed and did what was needed only to be a step or two late. damaging.

Pittsburgh’s go-ahead goal came when Bryan Rust carried possession Dallas exited its zone for a 3-on-3 when Tyson Jost was assessed for through the middle for what was a 3-on-3 before Colorado had a trailer tripping defenseman John Klingberg when he went through the neutral for a 4-on-3 once the puck was in the Avalanche’s zone. zone. Jost was in the penalty box when it appeared the Stars scored a power-play goal only to have a coach’s challenge reveal the play was Rust flicked a quick pass to Dominik Kahun on the right flank. Pressure offside thus nullifying the goal. started moving in toward Kahun before he held up play to find superstar center Evgeni Malkin behind him approaching the edge of the faceoff Now, that said, it is just one game. The challenge now lies in parlaying circle. those discussions into the sort of venerable performances to create a bit more of a cushion between the Avalanche and the wild-card spots before Malkin went from entering the zone unmarked to having the time, space going into the break. and look on net needed to launch the shot that bounced off the post and in for a 3-2 lead with 4:17 remaining. The Avalanche would tie the game “Things are going to happen out there,” Landeskog said. “There are only to fall in the extra frame. reads you gotta make and you gotta talk to one another but every team goes through it. Much as you like to play the perfect game, I don’t think Bednar said after the game his players have to make a stronger, more it’s ever going to happen.” conscious effort to communicate in those situations.

“It starts with us, the D, we need to talk a bit more,” Girard said about talking more frequently on the ice. “It’s tough for a forward to find that guy The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 behind them because they are backchecking and trying to get the puck. Sometimes, the D is going to go, so the forward is kinda lost. So if the D, we can talk to him a little bit more, that’s going to help him a lot.” 1171356 Dallas Stars

A day after the Stars’ OT win, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar says Dallas’ top forwards ‘cheat on faceoffs’

By Sports Day Staff

3:00 AM on Jan 16, 2020

The Stars rallied to beat the Avalanche 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday to win their seventh game in their last eight.

But that’s not what was in the headlines the day after the Stars swept the season series against the Avalanche.

On Wednesday, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told The Denver Post that the Stars’ top forwards are cheaters.

“They’ve got veteran centermen in [Joe] Pavelski, [Jamie] Benn, [Tyler] Seguin and they cheat. They cheat on the faceoffs,” Bednar said. “They’re doing a better job of cheating on it than we are.”

“We don’t feel like the linesmen were doing a good enough job [Tuesday], sort of holding [the respective teams] accountable to make it a level playing field on the faceoffs.”

Bednar told The Denver Post that they first noticed some controversy with the Stars on faceoffs on Dec. 28 when Dallas beat Colorado 3-2 in a shootout.

“We got eaten up on the faceoffs a little bit in the (previous) Dallas game,” he said. “I guess we have to learn how to cheat better.”

One of the biggest faceoffs in question was the final one of the game between the Stars’ Joe Pavelski and the Avalanche’s Gabe Landeskog, which led to the game-winning goal for Dallas by Esa Lindell.

“First and foremost, at that point in the game, overtime, every faceoff’s important. I take responsibility,” Landeskog told The Denver Post. “I should have just lifted my stick and backed out of there and reset. The reality is, it was just a bad drop from start to finish. I’m down in the D- zone first and he [puts] his stick under my heel and the linesman isn’t even looking — the linesman drops the puck without looking and obviously doesn’t see his mistake.”

The physical nature of Tuesday night’s matchup, which was the Stars’ league-leading eighth comeback win, was very noticeable.

Jamie Benn got into his first fight of the season after a sequence against Matt Calvert that began with an interference penalty on Benn. After Calvert drew the penalty, Benn cross checked him on the way to the penalty box. When his penalty expired, the two exchanged words at the next faceoff, Benn grabbed Calvert’s jersey and Calvert dropped his gloves. Benn did not drop his.

The gloves were soon off. At the next faceoff, Benn immediately fought Calvert to earn a five-minute major for fighting. In the box, Benn was booed by the crowd and cupped his ear to listen.

“Give Jamie Benn a ton of credit,” Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness told The News. “He got into a fight to get the emotional level back up. The third wasn’t where we needed to be, and Jamie goes out and gets in a scuff. That’s what he does. He gives this team a huge emotional lift. Jamie Benn got us going again and we responded.”

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171357 Dallas Stars Shift 4, first period, one minute and two seconds

After a zone entry by Detroit, Dickinson pressures Smith down the wall, but the puck is pushed back to the point for Mike Green. At this point, Film study with Jason Dickinson: Inside the Stars penalty kill and the Dickinson retreats to the middle and then latches on to Justin Abdelkader details of his defensively sound game in the slot as the puck is sent to the left flank.

Instead, the puck is sent across the slot to Filppula, who sets up Green By Matthew DeFranks for a one-timer that rings the post.

3:22 PM on Jan 15, 2020 “This is a good play by them,” Dickinson said. “They caught me sleeping. I didn’t get back in my seam lane quick enough, and they caught me.”

The Red Wings recover the loose puck, and the pressure rotation begins Sometimes, Jason Dickinson will grab an iPad on the team plane after a again. This time, with the puck on the right flank, Dickinson plays off game. Other times, he’ll pull a chair up to a mounted television at the Abdelkader since he is a left-handed shot facing away from the net. Stars’ practice facility in Frisco. Either way, the objective is the same: rewatch his shifts from the previous game. “I know he’s a bumper there, but he’s not a shooting threat, so I’m going to play off of him, let him play it up top so then I can get out in a lane and Dickinson can go unnoticed to casual hockey fans. He’s a fourth-line take away any other option for him,” Dickinson said. center — and occasional top-six winger — who is among the team’s best at killing penalties and shutting down top opponents with his speed and The Wings retrieve the puck a few more times but are largely kept to the smarts. He’s a former first-round pick who has become a reliable perimeter until they try another seam pass from the left dot to the right everyday player in Dallas, not with his offense but with his responsible dot for Filppula. This time, Dickinson has learned. He breaks up the play defense. and clears the puck.

Dickinson leads all Stars forwards by averaging 2:17 of shorthanded time “Now I’ve taken away the seam because I’ve remembered it from last on ice per game and primarily kills alongside Blake Comeau, but also time and down the ice,” Dickinson said. partners with different players based on faceoffs. Shift 8, second period, 20 seconds

Last week, before the Stars went 3-1-0 on a West Coast road trip, Dickinson is back with Comeau, and Comeau decides to flush the puck Dickinson sat down with The Dallas Morning News to review his shifts out from behind Detroit’s net, leaving Dickinson to disrupt the zone entry from the Stars’ 4-1 win over Detroit. In that game, Dickinson played 15:31 and defend the middle of the ice as carries the puck. across 21 shifts, including 4:44 on the penalty kill, the most among Stars forwards against the Red Wings. “I’m thinking that I’ve got to take away the middle so that he can’t cut to the middle or throw a backhand pass to the middle,” Dickinson said. “I Dickinson prefers to watch the overhead view of the game rather than the wasn’t 100% sure if Comeau was back yet, so I’m trying to take away his broadcast version of it, since he can see more of the play, including what options without giving myself up.” his linemates are doing on the ice. But that view isn’t publically available. When killing penalties, teams have to give up shots from certain areas. Detroit also offered different challenges to Dickinson since they are not a It’s just not realistic to expect to shut down all threats with one fewer familiar opponent like, say, Colorado or Edmonton. player on the ice. In this case, the Stars choose to give up a one-timer “If I was to pull up an Edmonton, I’d be able to tell you much easier ‘This from the top of the circle from Filip Hronek that goalie Anton Khudobin is what I’m thinking. This is what I know they’re going to do. This is what I easily reads. think they’re going to do. This is what my read is,’” Dickinson said. “High one-timer like this, it’s not [Alex] Ovechkin or [Patrik] Laine,” “Against Detroit, it was just go out and play.” Dickinson said. “We’re not too, too worried.”

Penalty killing Shift 9, second period, 40 seconds

Shift 3, first period, 35 seconds The Stars disrupt the zone entry and all four Dallas skaters touch the Dickinson lines up as a wing as Tyler Seguin takes the faceoff. Before puck before they carry it out of their own end to safety. Comeau and the puck is dropped, he points out that the one-timer opportunity is closer Dickinson head up ice on a 2 on 2 that would normally result in Dickinson to the blue line than usual with Adam Erne at the point. With a left- driving the net for either a pass or rebound from Comeau. handed center in Valtteri Filppula, the puck would have to go to the But with the penalty winding down, Dickinson chooses a route close to boards before it reaches the left-handed Erne. Comeau that allows Comeau to change and Dickinson to kill time.

“I can get a little bump on [Givani] Smith in the middle to give Esa “Normally, I would take the middle bit because they’ve got numbers back [Lindell] enough time to get it down if we win the faceoff,” Dickinson said. and we’re on the PK, I know he’s going to do a simple play and up the “Because the one-timer is high, I’ve got enough time where I can spin off wall is the easiest and probably smartest play at that point,” Dickinson Smith and get in the lane for a quick one-timer if that’s the play they go said. with.” Shift 10, second period, one minute and three seconds The Red Wings win the draw, but it’s a slow-developing play to get the puck to Erne, allowing Seguin and Dickinson to get into position. The This time, Dickinson recognizes the Red Wings are cutting their routes Stars penalty kill unit has two main objectives: push the puck down the short breaking out of their own end in an attempt to move the puck up wall and prevent seam passes. quicker and cleaner.

That’s why the routes forwards take to pressure the puck on the penalty “Normally, they were cutting really low into the corners to pick up speed, kill start high to prevent a pass back to the point and limit options for the but this time, he cuts at the dots,” Dickinson said. “At the dot, he thinks power play. Once the puck moves from the boards, the pressuring he’s got his speed but Comeau did a good job of cutting it off.” forward retreats to the middle to take away the seam pass. As the Red Wings regroup and Larkin carries the puck, Dickinson stays In this clip, Seguin pressures initially, the puck get sent back up top, higher in the neutral zone to prevent against Detroit cutting their routes leaving Dickinson to cut off any other passes, particularly to the short again. weakside, where Frans Nielsen is stationed. He breaks up the play and gets a clear down the ice. “Because I was worried about the cutting the routes short again, I’m just staying above and thinking ‘I don’t want to get caught,’” Dickinson said. “I know the guy is wide,” Dickinson said. “I want to get my stick and feet in the lane because I don’t know exactly where he is. Like I can’t say with Even strength pinpoint accuracy ‘He’s here.’ So I’m just thinking ‘If my feet are in this Shift 1, first period, 47 seconds lane and I’m making them as wide as possible by turning them sideways, then I’ve got a chance of it hitting my skates or my stick.' Sure enough, it Dickinson’s first shift of the night comes after the Stars were called hit my skate and went out.” offside and he loses a faceoff to Filppula. Earlier in the day, the Stars’ scouting report on the Red Wings said that either the winger or center will cut to the middle on a won faceoff in the neutral zone. So that’s where Dickinson goes to defend.

Then, it becomes about supporting the puck and trying to break out of his own end.

“I should have dropped into this corner, but back here, I’m thinking I can run a little interference on the forechecker so that Andrej has a little bit more time to make a play,” Dickinson said. “I’m trying to decide, as I’m coming in, do I want him to reverse the puck to me or do I want him to rim it around to Jany. At this point, I realize that both their forwards came down on us, so I was just saying rim, rim, rim.”

After the Stars exit but fail to possess the puck in the offensive zone, they’re back defending in their own end. Here’s where a new player like Joel Kiviranta — making his NHL debut against Detroit — can show his unfamiliarity with the team.

The way Dallas wants to play defense, Kiviranta should follow the cutting Filppula instead of defending the point like a typical wing would. Filppula gets a low-danger shot off, but is blocked away by Roman Polak.

Shift 12, second period, 36 seconds

This is an example of how the Stars set up their neutral-zone forecheck, which can often look like a 1-2-2 or a 2-1-2. As Patrik Nemeth carries the puck in his own zone, it’s Kiviranta’s job to cut the ice in half and force Nemeth to either go up the boards or across to Hronek, his defense partner.

Once the pass reaches Hronek, that’s Dickinson cue.

“I’m yelling to him to get up and forecheck and cut him off, cut his angle,” Dickinson said. “And then once they go D to D, I know my route is to jump at him. Then I just try to get a stick in a lane, reading his eyes, reading his stick.”

Dickinson breaks up the pass and then gets the puck in deep, setting up more forechecking. Kiviranta pressures the puck, Mattias Janmark goes to the wall on the strongside and Dickinson fills in the middle of the ice to stop a center from coming through as an option.

Janmark cuts off the play and the line goes to work with extended zone time that finishes with Polak’s shot from the point.

Shift 17, third period, 48 seconds

In transition, the Stars try to fill in all three lanes on the ice, meaning there’s a forward on both wings and down the middle. In this case, Janmark is on the left wing and Kiviranta fills the middle, leaving Dickinson to take the right side and wait for a pass from Miro Heiskanen.

“Sure enough, Miro throws it over there,” Dickinson said. “Now, I’m looking at his stick, looking at his feet, the distance I am from him and what I can do. So I stop up behind and cut back. I realized after I make that move that my d-men are off the ice. I don’t have an option up high, so now I’m thinking I’ve got to buy time, wait for them to come in. I’m looking for [Fedun] to come down the wall here because I feel like we got separation.”

Instead of Fedun going down the wall, himself, Dickinson and Andrej Sekera end up in similar areas of the ice and Dickinson tries to get the puck deep, but the Red Wings exit.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171358 Detroit Red Wings

How does Gerard Gallant's firing affect Yzerman, Blashill and the Detroit Red Wings?

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 12:58 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 | Updated 4:31 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020

General manager Steve Yzerman has praised the job performed by Detroit Red Wings coach , but things took an interesting turn Wednesday.

The Vegas Golden Knights announced via Twitter that they have fired head coach Gerard Gallant and hired former San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer.

Gallant is the seventh coach fired during the 2019-20 season, the fifth fired for on-ice performance-related issues. The Golden Knights are one point behind the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division and very much part of the wild-card race in the Western Conference.

Detroit Red Wings Gerard Gallant and Steve Yzerman after Yzerman scored a goal for the Wings in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gallant is close friends with Yzerman. The two played together from 1984-85 to 1992-93, with Gallant often lining up on Yzerman’s left wing. Since retiring as a player in 1995-96 (when he had a brief stint with the ), Gallant has forged a successful coaching career. He was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 2016 after guiding the Florida Panthers to a franchise-record 103 points and an Atlantic Division title.

[ Wings suffer another beating in disastrous season. And there's no end in sight ]

Gallant was named coach of the Golden Knights in April 2017, and led the expansion team to the Stanley Cup final in its inaugural season before falling to the Washington Capitals.

The Wings are last in the NHL with a 12-32-3 record and are headed for a fourth straight draft lottery, but there has been no indication Yzerman has been mulling an in-season coaching change. Blashill, who succeeded Mike Babcock in 2015, is the NHL's third-longest tenured coach, after Tampa Bay's (2013) and Winnipeg's (2014).

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill speaks to his team during the first period of the Wings' 8-2 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Uniondale, N.Y.

As recently as last weekend, in an interview with Wings’ play-by-play announcer Ken Kal, Yzerman defended the job done by Blashill, saying “regardless of injuries, our record and our team's performance is somewhat unfair to pin that on the coaching staff at this point. The injuries make it really difficult to really know what you truly have.”

It has been expected that Blashill will finish out this season, then possibly be offered another job within the organization.

In addition to Gallant, Yzerman also could look at another former teammate in Lane Lambert, currently an associate coach with the New York Islanders. Lambert was a fellow Wings draft pick of Yzerman in 1983, and as rookies shared an apartment on Detroit’s riverfront.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171359 Detroit Red Wings three appearances. With Bernier sidelined at least through the All-Star break with a lower-body injury, those are the options coach Jeff Blashill has in goal.

Detroit Red Wings suffer another beating in disastrous season, and Other veterans who have disappointed include Filppula (15 points in 46 there's no end in sight games), Green (eight points, 38 games), Frans Nielsen (six points, 42 games), Trevor Daley (one assist, 22 games) and Justin Abdelkader (three assists, 30 games).

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 12:31 p.m. ET Jan. 15, There isn’t much in the way of depth to help the Wings get better 2020 | Updated 4:24 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 defensively. Top defense prospect Moritz Seider may get a nine-game look at some point, but there’s no sense in going past that and burning a

year of his entry-level contract. Plus, the are trying As poorly as this season is going for the Detroit Red Wings, their to make the AHL playoffs, and Seider is a big part of that campaign. defensive performances are especially disappointing. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 01.16.2020 The Wings had a scheduled day off Wednesday, and will return to practice Thursday to prepare for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and Florida Panthers on Saturday at .

An 8-2 loss Tuesday at the New York Islanders inflated the Wings’ goal differential to minus-81, more than double New Jersey’s second-worst minus-39.

[ How does Gerard Gallant's firing in Vegas affect Red Wings? ]

The Wings are soundly at the bottom of the NHL standings at 12-32-3 with 27 points, 12 points behind 30th-place Anaheim. That’s good for the draft lottery odds and a possible shot at taking Alexis Lafreniere, the 6- foot-1, 196-pound winger considered the top prospect in the 2020 draft.

But while picking no worse than fourth (should they be bumped back in the lottery for a fourth straight year) will help the rebuild, it reflects badly on the current team that the numbers are so ugly.

Forward Andreas Athanasiou, who has not played since suffering a lower-body injury Dec. 29, still retains the worst plus-minus in the NHL at minus-35. But forward Valtteri Filppula — signed by general manager Steve Yzerman in July specifically to help shore up team defense — has the NHL’s second-worst rating (minus-31). Defenseman Mike Green (minus-25) is third-worst.

[ Steve Yzerman on the Red Wings, rebuild & trade deadline: I won't be passive ]

The Wings have three more players in the bottom 10: defenseman Dennis Cholowski (minus-22, now in the minors); defenseman Filip Hronek, and forward Robby Fabbri (both minus-21).

They aren’t likely to contest Bill Mikkelson’s record-setting minus-82 for the expansion 1974-75 Washington Capitals (who also hold the worst goal differential in NHL history at minus-265), but probably will surpass recent lows.

Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen bottomed out last season at minus-41, and Nick Leddy of the Islanders finished 2017-18 at minus-42.

The worst plus/minus in a season for a Red Wings player belongs to defenseman Randy Ladouceur (minus-55 in 1985-86). That, of course, was the season they finished 17-57-6 and were minus-149 (266 goals for, 415 goals against), both franchise worsts.

This season, the Wings rank last in goals-for (101) and goals-against (182).

[ The Wings are in last place. So why aren't more top prospects in the lineup? ]

Injuries have played a big role in this season’s downfall — Danny DeKeyser, the team’s top defenseman, was lost to a season-ending back injury after eight games. Forward Anthony Mantha was lost to a rib-cage injury Dec. 21 and it is unclear when he might return. Athanasiou might be back before the All-Star break, which begins Jan. 23.

Goalie Jimmy Howard is among numerous veterans who have struggled, and unlike a skater, there’s no leeway for him to work his way out of a slump. His 4.26 goals-against average and .876 save percentage are the worst in the NHL among goaltenders who have played at least 10 games.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill speaks to his team during the first period of the Wings' 8-2 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Uniondale, N.Y.

Calvin Pickard — signed in July by Yzermanin case Jonathan Bernier or Howard were injured — has a 5.46 GAA and .797 save percentage in 1171360 Detroit Red Wings

First NHL goal for Red Wings' Givani Smith comes with subdued celebration

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 4:55 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020

For the Red Wings, there wasn’t much positive coming out of Tuesday’s 8-2 loss on Long Island to the New York Islanders.

The best part of the evening for Wings fans was when the final horn sounded.

But there was one highlight, and in a way, you felt badly for Givani Smith. The Wings’ rookie forward scored his first NHL goal with six minutes left in the game. It cut the Islanders’ lead to, well, 8-2.

You could sense Smith wanted to celebrate but he kept it understated, in perspective, and that was appropriate given the circumstances.

“I didn’t want to go too crazy,” Smith said.

Smith got his stick on Christoffer Ehn’s shot that got through Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss.

If nothing else, the goal was deserved for Smith’s improving and hard- edged play since being promoted Dec. 31 from Grand Rapids.

“It’s really exciting, I’ve been working pretty hard to get to that point,” said Smith of scoring the goal. “It’s really tough lose the game but (it’s) a big milestone for me. It was a shot from the outside, a little bit high. I didn’t want to psych myself out.”

Over the last several games, the fourth line of Smith, Ehn and Justin Abdelkader has begun to form an identity of a difficult trio to play against.

Givani's first career NHL goal.  pic.twitter.com/EJKFVMzI0i

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 15, 2020

Coach Jeff Blashill has credited Smith for his physical presence since being recalled from Grand Rapids, and Smith’s work on the line.

“He’s brought a physicality to our team,” Blashill said. “He gets a stick on the puck and he finishes (his check). You saw that on the goal (Tuesday). He played simple, chipped down the wall, and Ehn got it back and took a shot. Smith was there at the net.

“That line, they’re hard to play against.”

More: No place like home: Ticket options, hope for future keep fans enthusiastic for Red Wings

Blashill was also proud of the way Smith handled the situation with the goal, certainly a milestone goal, while in a lopsided game.

“To get his first goal is exciting,” Blashill said. “In a game where it wasn’t going our way and the score was the score, he showed a lot of maturity for scoring his first goal and the celebration he had was a guy that understands the game and is a mature guy.

“I was proud of him for that and I’ve been proud of the way he’s been playing.”

Clear message

Evidently there were a few words Tuesday between periods for Wings' players to continue playing the right way.

Players talked about how the message continues to be about the next shift and next game, and forgetting about what happened previously.

"No real message, just continue to play," Abdelkader said. "That's been our message all year. No matter if a team scores of what happens that shift, we have to have a next shift mentality and continue to go out and work and play hard.

"Most importantly, we want to be competitive out there. Mistakes happen but you have to go out and try to win your shift, win your battle with the guy across from you. We got to continue to do more of that."

Detroit News LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171361 Detroit Red Wings Holdings. “Everything we do is focused on making sure that tonight’s the night, and you’re having a great time here at Little Caesars Arena.”

Granger acknowledged the passion of hockey fans in Detroit and No place like home: Ticket options, hope for future keep fans enthusiastic believes they understand where the organization is now – and where it’s for Red Wings headed.

“This is more about our incredible fans than anything else,” Granger said. “Red Wings fans are passionate and knowledgeable and supportive of Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 4:23 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 | this team through thick and thin, through generations. Updated 4:32 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 “Everyone understands what we’re doing. There’s no secret to the plan right now. Our focus on building our young players and building through the draft and ultimately building more and adding on through free agency. Detroit – There was a small group of fans – all wearing Red Wings gear – But we’re really clear about what we’re doing – and doing it the right way heading into Little Caesars Arena for the game against Ottawa on Friday to bring more Stanley Cups to Detroit. night. “That’s the end goal here.” It was a matchup between two bad teams – really bad, in the Red Wings’ case – but that didn’t dampen the fans’ enthusiasm. Little Caesars Arena has been at 96.4 percent capacity this season for Red Wings games. Red Wings fans cheer after Filip Zadina scores the winning goal against Montreal on Jan. 7 at Little Caesars Arena. The Wings have been aggressive this season in formulating an array of ticket packages – mini-plans of various lengths and with a variety of Jarad Southam, 24, from Wayne – wearing an Anthony Mantha jersey – opponents – and aggressively touting discounted tickets on social media and his three buddies could have been watching the game from home, or and email. at a sports bar or restaurant. “You’re seeing a wider range of ticket options,” Granger said. “That’s But they came to Little Caesars Arena. They wanted to see the game everything from mini-plans, college nights have been a big live. And they said the tickets weren’t that expensive. hit, as well as a handful of value-oriented offers. “We got the tickets on StubHub,” Southam said. “It really wasn’t that bad. “We’ve sold thousands of tickets this year at $20 or so. There have been We didn’t pay much.” no fees (promotions), Black Friday offers. During this terrible Red Wings’ season, the team is still a success at the “What we’re trying to do is appeal to fans with different price points in box office, ranking sixth in the NHL in average home attendance. mind. You can do that in a variety of ways, but create flexibility, and Sure, some of the fans have been no-shows, but the fans who are creating options is one of the things we’ve found that is resonating with coming to the games are loud and enthusiastic, despite the Wings the fans.” owning an NHL-worst record of 12-32-3 (27 points) and a goal differential A heavy emphasis on themed games – such as Sunday's Kids Day, of minus-81 – by far the worst total in the league. which proved to be an enjoyable success (except for on the ice, another It’s actually surprising how energized LCA has been more nights than loss to Buffalo) – and evenings geared around the Grateful Dead, or the not, and Red Wings legend and new general manager Steve Yzerman 1980s, or Halloween, or New Year's Eve. has taken notice. "We're trying to do things that can create an immersive experience and “We know the passion of hockey in this city and our fanbase has been carries throughout the venue over the course of the game, and you're tremendous supporters,” Yzerman told Wings broadcaster Ken Kal last noticing that," Granger said. week. The appeal of Little Caesars Arena remains strong, too. Through Tuesday’s games, the Wings ranked sixth out of 31 teams with Several fans interviewed for this story were headed to their first game at an average home attendance of 18,811 (96.4 percent capacity). A total LCA in the last week, or had been there and enjoyed the venue on of 451,481 tickets had been sold. previous visits. The nightly average is down only slightly from last season’s 19,120 Fans continue to grumble about the concession and parking prices, but average (98 percent capacity), and the 2017-18 season (19,515 average, like the arena and experience within it. 100 percent capacity) when LCA opened. "It's a great arena, it really is," said Luke Wells of Farmington. "No “It’s hockey, and they’re still the Red Wings,” said fan Corey Waggoner of comparison to Joe Louis (Arena)." Westland, wearing a Red Wings hoodie to Friday’s game at LCA. “Things aren’t going well now, but with (Dylan) Larkin, (Anthony) Mantha, (Filip) Still, it's mostly about the hockey, and the Red Wings. Many of the fans Zadina, and the draft picks, they’ll turn things around.” attending these games could be spending their money on any number of things other than the worst team in the NHL. But they’re still coming to The Red Wings celebrate a goal by Robby Fabbri against Montreal at the games, perhaps at a better-than-expected rate. Little Caesars Arena. Said Waggoner, hurrying out of the cold and into LCA: "Nowhere else I'd It’s that passion and belief in the future that Yzerman noted. rather be." “For this year, we know where we are in the standings and we know what Attendance leaders our record is,” Yzerman said. “I've been really thrilled with the enthusiasm of our fanbase watching the games, supporting the team and having a Here are the NHL leaders in average attendance, through Tuesday’s positive attitude and outlook for where we're at and what we're trying to games, including attendance as a percentage of capacity. do.” 1. Chicago (25 home games): 21,404 average; 108.6 percent Players and coach Jeff Blashill have also noted the energy and enthusiasm inside LCA this season, despite the struggles on the ice. 2. Dallas (23): 21,220 average, 119.7 percent

"I'm very appreciate of it and hope everyone can remain patient as we go 3. Montreal (24): 21,041 average, 98.9 percent through this process, because as I've said and I'll say it again, it's going 4. Toronto (23): 19,313 average, 102.6 percent to take some time (to be a contender again)," Yzerman said. 5. Tampa Bay (24): 18,852 average, 99.9 percent With the vast amount of entertainment options in Metro Detroit, it’s that much harder for sports organizations to get fans inside their arenas. 6. Detroit (24): 18,811 average, 96.4 percent

“We have to do everything we can to make this a great experience and 7. Calgary (23): 18,671 average, 96.8 percent provide a great value to the hard working people of Detroit,” said Chris Granger, group president of sports and entertainment for at Ilitch 8. Vancouver (22): 18,639 average, 98.6 percent 9. Washington (23): 18,570 average, 100.3 percent

10. Pittsburgh (25): 18,520 average, 100.7 percent

Detroit News LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171362 Detroit Red Wings Jersey could be looking to make coaching changes with Gallant suddenly available.

More teams, such as Tampa Bay, Winnipeg and Calgary, could be Does Gerard Gallant's firing open door for return to Red Wings? looking for new coaches this spring or summer, if playoff expectations aren't met.

It's unclear if Gallant will take time off, or would rather jump back into the Ted Kulfan, The Detroit NewsPublished 1:13 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 | fray immediately. Updated 2:12 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 Detroit News LOADED: 01.16.2020

Detroit — Red Wings fans on social media long have endorsed the idea of bringing back former player Gerard Gallant as the team’s head coach.

The chances of that happening just got better, if general manager Steve Yzerman were inclined to go that route.

Gerard Gallant, who played nine seasons with the Red Wings, was fired Wednesday as the Vegas Golden Knights coach.

In a shocking development Wednesday morning, the Vegas Golden Knights fired Gallant — who coached Vegas to incredible heights as an expansion team — and hired Peter DeBoer.

To add a another level of strangeness, DeBoer and his San Jose Sharks eliminated Vegas in the second round of the playoffs last season, thanks in large part to a controversial penalty in Game 7.

Gallant, 56, coached Vegas to a 24-19-6 record this season — Tuesday’s loss in Buffalo was the Knights' fourth consecutive — but the Golden Knights are tied for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference entering Wednesday's games, and are only three points from the Pacific Division lead.

Also, adding another head-scratching element to the story, Gallant is scheduled to coach the Pacific Division in next week’s All-Star Game format, since Vegas was the division leader when the head coaches were announced Jan. 3.

Before taking Vegas to the second round last spring, Gallant coached the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final two years ago before losing to Washington.

The outcry to bring back Gallant — who was a linemate and teammate of Yzerman’s with the Wings — will be loud, especially with the Wings under coach Jeff Blashill in the middle of a terrible season.

Gallant spent nine of his 11 years as a player in the NHL with the Red Wings, who selected him in the sixth round of the 1981 NHL draft. A forward, Gallant collected 467 points (207 goals) with the Red Wings from 1984-93. He had four consecutive 30-goal seasons from 1986-90.

“They were positive memories,” Gallant told The Detroit News in March 2018 about his time with the Wings. “I had nine years here, at The Joe. It was excellent.

“I enjoyed every minute of it. The organization was top-notch.

“And, when I first started, the team was really bad and, when I left the team was real good.”

The Wings currently have the worst record in the NHL with a 12-32-3 record.

Blashill is under contract for this season, with the team holding an option to retain him for one more season.

But with the team struggling as it has, and Yzerman a new general manager who retained Blashill, speculation has been rampant it’s unlikely Blashill will continue beyond this season.

Blashill, in his fifth season, is the third-longest tenured coach in the NHL. Blashill talked about that fact after a practice last week.

“I wouldn’t have known that until you said it,” Blashill said. “It’s not something I’ve spent any time thinking about. In the end, I look at it on a day-to-day basis, to be the very best I can be and try to help this team be the very best they can be.”

The race to pick up Gallant, if the Wings decide to go that way, will be intense.

In the immediate future, Dallas (with former Red Wings assistant general manager and player Jim Nill), slumping Colorado, Montreal and New 1171363 Detroit Red Wings DeBoer was fired by the Sharks in December amid their disappointing season. DeBoer, who Gallant once called a “clown,” is the permanent replacement with no interim designation.

Golden Knights fire former Red Wing Gerard Gallant, name Peter DeBoer is the second coach to be fired this season and join a new team DeBoer new coach after John Hynes went from New Jersey to Nashville. DeBoer was the head coach of the 's Detroit/ from 1995-2001.

By Stephen Whyno, Associated PressPublished 11:02 a.m. ET Jan. 15, Vegas is 24-19-6 and next plays Thursday night at Ottawa. 2020 | Updated 1:05 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 Detroit News staff contributed.

Detroit News LOADED: 01.16.2020 Gerard Gallant was abruptly fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday less than two years after the former Red Wings player led them to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season of existence and winning NHL coach of the year honors along the way.

Peter DeBoer, fired last month by the San Jose Sharks, takes over immediately and will be the Vegas coach the rest of the season.

The Vegas Golden Knights fired coach Gerard Gallant, a former Red Wings player, on Wednesday.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the change the morning after a 4-2 loss to Buffalo dropped Vegas out of a playoff position in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights have lost four in a row, matching the longest point drought in their brief franchise history.

“In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season,” McCrimmon said. “In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal.”

Gallant was fired less than two years after winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year for his role in helping the Golden Knights reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. They also made the playoffs last season before losing in seven games in the first round to DeBoer’s Sharks.

Before some rough patches this season, Gallant was on a honeymoon since being hired in April 2017 to coach the league’s 31st team.

He helped president of hockey operations George McPhee and McCrimmon during the Golden Knights’ successful expansion draft and instilled a workmanlike attitude that helped a ragtag group of players come together during a magical inaugural season. Vegas won eight of its first nine games and put together a stirring run through the playoffs to land in the final against the Capitals.

Assistant coach Mike Kelly, who came to Vegas with Gallant from the Florida Panthers, was also fired.

“We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights,” McCrimmon said. “They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons, and we wish them all the best moving forward. ”

This is the seventh coaching change in the NHL this season and the fifth for performance reasons. Vegas is the third team to change coaches after facing the Sabres, a loss that didn’t sit well among players.

“It’s tougher, especially when you’re losing to teams you know that you’re better than,” Golden Knights winger Mark Stone said Tuesday night. “We’re a better hockey team. Just have to find ways to put the puck in the net, and we’ve kind of gotten stale last bunch of games.”

The Golden Knights are 8-6-1 in their last 15 but are only three points out of first place in the Pacific Division. Gallant was set to coach the Pacific team at All-Star Weekend later this month after Vegas led the division at the halfway mark.

Things haven’t gone well since then. The power play is 5 of 12 over the past 12 games, and the penalty kill gave up two goals to the Sabres, who are ranked 21st in the league.

“They’re still doing the same type of things, whether it’s unlucky or bad opportunities,” Gallant said after the loss. “It’s just not working right now.”

Gallant spent nine of his 11 years as a player in the NHL with the Red Wings, who selected him in the sixth round of the 1981 NHL draft. A forward, Gallant collected 467 points (207 goals) with the Red Wings from 1984-93. He had four consecutive 30-goal seasons from 1986-90. 1171364 Detroit Red Wings The Griffins will host Rockford against Friday. Live LOADED: 01.16.2020

Griffins goalie goes nearly four years and four countries since last AHL point

By Peter J. Wallner | [email protected]

GRAND RAPIDS - Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Kevin Poulin waited nearly four years and thousands of miles since his last point in the AHL.

The journeyman, who travels include playing in Kazakhstan, Austria, Switzerland and Germany along with the 2018 Winter Olympics, turned in a solid performance Wednesday as the Griffins lost in a shootout to Rockford, 2-1.

The defense did its part in regulation, allowing only 21 shots before Rockford had five in overtime. The Griffins (17-19-2-3) had a three-game win streak snapped but ran their point streak to four games, tying a season high.

Joe Veleno had the lone Griffins goal, at 7:46 of the third. The IceHogs 18-18-2-1) answered just under five minutes later on an odd-angle shot outside the left circle by Chad Krys and then survived a Griffins power play in overtime, They scored on two of three chances in the shootout.

The 29-year-old Poulin had been unsigned and recovering from Achilles surgery just over five and a half months ago before he was signed to a pro tryout with the Griffins on Christmas day. He started Jan. 4 in a 4-0 loss at Texas and has been serving as backup for Calvin Pickard, the reigning AHL Player of the Week. When Pickard was recalled to Detroit on Sunday, that left Poulin or Pat Nagle (recalled from the ECHL) to start against Rockford.

"Poulin did a great job; gave us a chance to win the game," said Simon, who was upset with the Griffins inability to execute the power play opportunity in overtime.

"He has a great resume and has been working his tail off up here the past couple weeks and Pat Nagle hasn't played that much and took some time off for his first child so we went with Poulin," he added.

Poulin's past includes 50 games with the New York Islanders between 2010-15 and a bronze medal with Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He went through waivers and a trade before he appeared in 29 games with Stockton in 2015-16, going 14-11-4 with a 2,86 Goal Against Average and .909 save percentage.

From there, break out the map. He played in the KHL with Astana Barys in Kazakhstan in 2016-17, then the following year played with Zagreb Medvescak in Australia and two games with Kloten HC in Switzerland before spending last season with Eisbaren Berlin in Germany. In 43 games, he had a 2.80 GAA and .915 save percentage.

"I wanted something more stable and that's why I went to the KHL," he said, though the travels went beyond that.

"Every place I was at were great experiences to travel a little," he said, adding there were no good opportunities to return to the AHL.

Or, until Christmas.

Poulin said he was just cleared from rehab from the injury when the Griffins called.

"I was like, 'Yeah, let's go' and I hopped on a plane," said the Montreal native.

As for the game, Poulin would have liked to get the win but he was pleased with how it went.

"I'm disappointed we didn't get the two points, but my game, I thought I played strong - a little fluke goal," he said. "That's part of the game."

Pickard is expected to be back from Detroit as some point, leaving the organization a decision there's Poulin, Nagle along with inured young prospect Filip Larsson.

"I'm here and I'm just going to enjoy every day," Poulin said. "It's just good to be back on the ice and be around a hockey club again." 1171365 Detroit Red Wings “In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season,” Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. Will Gerard Gallant, Steve Yzerman be reunited with Red Wings? It is the seventh coaching change in the league this season, the fifth that was performance-related (two others were because of off-ice incidents).

By Ansar Khan | [email protected] DeBoer is the former coach of the OHL Plymouth Whalers who has led two NHL clubs (New Jersey and San Jose) to the Stanley Cup Final and

surely would have been at or near the top of Yzerman’s wish list if he had Steve Yzerman and Gerard Gallant were teammates with the Detroit Red decided on a change. Wings for eight seasons, spending much of that time together on the Now Gallant is available, someone Yzerman knows well, and it could be same line. just a matter of time before they team up again. Could they be reunited? Michigan Live LOADED: 01.16.2020 Gallant, 56, suddenly became the most prominent free agent in the coaching ranks Wednesday, when he was fired after 2½ seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, who he led to the Stanley Cup Final in their expansion season of 2017-18, losing to the Washington Capitals. He was replaced by Peter DeBoer.

The rebuilding Red Wings, under coach Jeff Blashill, are struggling mightily at 12-32-3 (27 points). They are 12 points behind the next-worst team in the NHL. Barring a second-half surge, they will finish with the worst record in the league for the first time since 1985-86.

Blashill has little talent to work with, which Yzerman surely acknowledges. Yzerman, since being named Red Wings general manager in April, has stated his support for Blashill on multiple occasions, citing his track record for winning at other levels (AHL and USHL championships, NCAA playoff appearance at Western Michigan) and his success developing young players.

Yzerman believes the team competes hard and hasn’t quit on Blashill, despite several blowout losses, including an 8-2 defeat Tuesday at the New York Islanders.

But this will be the fourth year in a row the Red Wings miss the playoffs under Blashill, after they qualified his first season in 2015-16, losing in the first round to Yzerman’s Tampa Bay Lightning. He is 148-177-50 in Detroit. Most coaches would have been dismissed long ago with that record. Blashill is the third longest-tenured coach with his current club – only Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice and Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper have been with their teams longer.

But now Gallant is available and Yzerman must consider a change, whether it’s now or after the season. And if he waits until after the season, which likely has been his thinking, the Red Wings will have more competition for Gallant.

Gallant was a tough, fiery winger with offensive ability – scoring more than 30 goals in four consecutive seasons while playing on Yzerman’s line.

Yzerman, as Canada’s GM for the 2007 World Championship, hired Gallant as an assistant coach for the team that went on to win the gold medal.

Gallant didn’t experience success in his first stint as an NHL head coach, going 56-76-4-6 (W-L-T-OTL) with Columbus from 2003-06. But his coaching career soon blossomed.

Gallant had a successful run as head coach of Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior League, winning the 2011 and two league championships and being named CHL coach of the year twice (2010 and 2011).

He returned to the NHL head coaching ranks in 2014-15 with the Florida Panthers, and in his second season, guided the club to only its second division title and its lone 100-point season (103). He was fired 22 games into the next season, a surprising move that was widely criticized.

Gallant was Vegas’ pick to be its first coach, and it was a great decision. He won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year after leading the Golden Knights to a 51-24-7 record, a stunning 109-point season.

But despite a 24-19-6 record that has the Golden Knights tied in points for the final wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference, he was replaced by DeBoer in a surprising move. Oddly, Gallant was scheduled to coach the Pacific Division at the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 25 because Vegas had the highest points percentage in the division at the halfway point of the season. 1171366 Detroit Red Wings It’s gets interesting when goaltending is factored into the equation from the Red Wings’ standpoint. The draft value of goalies has dropped precipitously. An outlier was Red Wings’ general manager Steve Yzerman, who took Tampa Bay All Star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy 19th Pat Caputo - A path for Steve Yzerman to lead Red Wings from the overall in 2012. ashes Last year, Spencer Knight, the U.S. Developmental team goalie, was picked 13th overall by Florida. He has been outstanding for Boston College as a freshman. By Pat Caputo [email protected]; @patcaputo98 on Twitter Jan 15, 2020 Updated 9 hrs ago Comments Russian goalie Yaroslav Askarov, considered the top goalie prospect in many years, could be selected in the Top 10.

Could it be by the Red Wings, assuming they don’t get the first overall No need for the Red Wings to deliberately tank. They are so bad, it is selection? That would definitely be a gutsy call by Yzerman, but it might unnecessary. make sense if the Red Wings’ continue their bad draft lottery “puck luck” The Red Wings can't help but lose. and fall to fourth overall.

Through Tuesday, the Red Wings had just 12 victories and were 12 Filip Larsson, who was stellar at the end of last season while leading the points behind the NHL’s second-worst squad, the not-so-mighty Anaheim University of Denver unexpectedly to the Frozen Four, has had a Ducks. disappointing first professional season. Keith Petruzzelli, the Red Wings’ third-round pick in 2017, has shown some improvement at Quinnipiac The Red Wings’ goal differential is minus 81. No other team is more than University, but seems far away from an NHL debut. minus 39. With Jimmy Howard struggling, and no other viable alternative other than These Red Wings are so awful they make the “Dead Wings” some of us Jonathan Bernier, the Red Wings’ goalie situation is particularly dire. grew up with during the 1970s seem alive. But at least 2018 first-rounder Filip Zadina doesn’t seem so overmatched Losses Sunday and Tuesday to the Sabres and Islanders were anymore, and Seider, who stood out at the world juniors and has held his particularly dreadful. Each game was essentially over after a few shifts. own for Grand Rapids, seems like the real deal. The Red Wings lost by a combined margin of 13-3. Joe Veleno, the Red Wings’ second first rounder in ’18, hasn’t lit up the Yet, out of such ashes there is hope. The Red Wings will likely have an AHL, but has been Lafreniere's linemate on Canada’s junior national 18.5 percent chance in the upcoming NHL Draft Lottery of landing a team. generational talent, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League winger Alexis Lafreniere. He’s a better talent than Jack Hughes, the Devils’ rookie of Yzerman does have some younger veteran pieces to either retain or “Lose for Hughes” fame, and last year’s No.1 overall selection. move with value to improve the Red Wings' roster.

Lafreniere had 10 points in five games, shaking off an injury in the While there is no excusing the Red Wings’ often pitiful effort while getting process, while leading Canada to the gold medal at the recent World blown out night after night, it could come with benefits down the road. Junior Championships. Macomb Daily LOADED: 01.16.2020 Former NHL general manager and scout Craig Button is a hockey version of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, ESPN’s NFL Draft gurus.

This is what he had to say about Lafreniere on TSN, Canada’s version of ESPN, between periods of a recent Montreal Canadiens' telecast:

“Unquestioned No. 1 player in this draft. There is nobody going to challenge him. Nobody. He is that good.

“His brilliance is in every single area and he’s got a big motor and big competitive fire going, too.”

What if the Red Wings don’t land the first pick? The odds are 13.5 percent they will be at No.2.

Quinton Byfield, a rangy 6-4, 215-pound center for Sudbury in the Ontario Hockey League, is no longer a lock at No.2, according to Button.

Center Tim Stützle, teammate of Red Wings’ 2019 first-rounder, defenseman Moritz Seider, on the German squad at the WJC, has sky- rocketed up draft charts.

“Quinton Byfield is a pretty good player, but Tim Stützle, the German phenom, is unbelievable,” Button said on TSN. “I think it is a dead heat at No.2. I think Tim Stützle has a lot of the same qualities of (Chicago star) Patrick Kane, and he is incredibly exciting.

“They are both centers - players who bring a lot to the game. It will be a real interesting evaluation down the stretch with these two players.”

There is a trend toward top-end players from Germany. Oilers standout, Leon Draisaitl, was the third overall pick in 2014. He is second in the league in points.

The Red Wings, assuming they finish with the worst record, can't pick lower than fourth overall in this draft. Yet, their odds would be slightly greater of picking fourth overall than the first three selections combined.

Cole Perfetti, a winger with exceptional playmaking skills for Saginaw in the OHL, is often-rated in the Top 5. He didn’t make the Canadian World Junior team, but that’s misleading. He also draws comparisons to Patrick Kane, and should be a top NHL player.

It’s a deep draft for forwards, but light on top-end defensemen. 1171367 Detroit Red Wings opponents. It’s not a given that he can build the kind of muscle he may need to, but his talent means he’s worth keeping an eye on.

“He’s really quick, his edges are really good, he’s got a good brain, he’s Ranking the Red Wings’ top 21 prospects got a sneaky skill set,” his coach, Albie O’Connell, told The Athletic earlier this season. “He’s very good. He’s going to be a very good player for us and moving on in the future. He’s physically never going to be enormous, but he’s got a lot of room for growth of getting a little bit Max Bultman Jan 15, 2020 80 thicker and stronger and whatnot. But his weapon is his mind works fast, his stick works fast, his feet work fast.”

As bad as 2019 was for the Red Wings on the ice (and it truly was 17. Taro Hirose, LW, Grand Rapids (AHL) among the worst years in memory), one of the few positives to come After shooting out of the gate in his first NHL action last spring, Hirose from it was a farm system that continued to grow. made the Red Wings out of camp this season and looked to be in In June, the Red Wings added a top defense prospect in the first round of position for a strong scoring role again. But two concurrent events hurt the NHL Draft, and then, led by three picks in the second round, added him: As the makeup of the team changed with trades for forwards, Hirose four more of their top 12 overall prospects the following day. Elsewhere, hit the kind of early NHL stumbles that would have been expected if not players already in the system (including 2018 first-rounders Filip Zadina for his hot debut. That led to him being sent to Grand Rapids, where, all and Joe Veleno) continued developing, to the point where Veleno played things considered, he’s been pretty good, with 10 points in 15 games. a leading role for Canada’s recent world junior victory and Zadina has The question from here will be whether he can round out his game comfortably slotted into the NHL. And with the way this season has gone, enough to get another shot in the NHL. His vision, sense and skill are all they’ll be adding another high-end prospect courtesy of next summer’s NHL-level, and his skating looked like it could survive, but he may need draft, too. to show he can be more than a power-play specialist.

The Red Wings aren’t likely to reap the rewards of most of that progress Taro Hirose hasn’t matched his hot NHL start, but he still has time to any time soon, of course. But as the team’s rebuild rolls on, a deepening round out his game. (Raj Mehta / USA Today) prospect pool is one of the franchise’s main reasons for hope. 16. Albin Grewe, RW, Djurgårdens (SHL) Here’s how I’d rank the players in that pipeline. The player affectionately known as the T-Rex hasn’t had a particularly (A quick note on eligibility: Generally, I limit these rankings to players loud season so far. Some of that, to be fair, could be due to his lack of who still have their Calder eligibility, but I made an exception for Michael ice time in the SHL. He’s played more than 12 minutes just once and has Rasmussen because the circumstances that sent him to the NHL instead had several games in which he’s been on the ice for six or fewer minutes. of the AHL last season — the NHL/CHL agreement — shouldn’t muddle So his one point (a goal) in 19 games is not entirely surprising from that his prospect status, in my opinion.) standpoint. His SuperElit numbers (in a nine-game sample) aren’t quite at the pace they had been the year before, either. The priority for Grewe, 21. Gustav Berglund, D, Frolunda (SuperElit) then, must be to earn more ice time in the second half and give himself something to build on going into the summer. Part of a prospect-laden Frolunda organization, Berglund playing six games in the SHL in his draft-plus-one year has been one of the 15. Filip Larsson, G, Grand Rapids (AHL) surprises deeper down the pipeline. He’s also been reasonably productive in the J20 league, where he has eight points in 19 games. He Regardless of what was fair to expect from the 21-year-old Larsson in his attended the Red Wings’ prospect tournament in September, a benefit transition from NCAA hockey to the AHL, an .843 save percentage in that allowed for some bonus time with the organization, but the 6-foot-2 seven games won’t meet standards. He even had a stint with ECHL righty is still likely a longer-term prospect after being picked in the sixth Toledo baked in there. He is still young, and should get more round of the 2019 draft. In September, his priorities were to show the opportunities before season’s end to show progress, but Larsson’s team his compete level and ability to win defensive zone battles, which is season has been a reminder of how hard it can be to project goaltenders a likely window into what he felt he most needed to prove this season. moving up the ranks.

20. Jesper Eliasson, G, Växjö (Allsvenskan) 14. Chase Pearson, C, Grand Rapids (AHL)

The Red Wings badly need a long-term answer in net, and Eliasson has Pearson’s nine points in his first 36 AHL games don’t jump off the page, progressed into pro hockey already despite being just 19. His numbers in but scoring will be secondary to his eventual NHL pitch, as he profiles as the Allsvenskan (.897 save percentage in 15 games) are fine considering a responsible defensive center. The down lineup role he’d likely his age, but the more encouraging takeaway from this season might be eventually compete for is arguably overfilled in Detroit right now, so that he made Sweden’s world junior team. (He played one game in the there’s probably not a huge rush, but Pearson is 22 so a second-half tournament.) spark could be in his best interests.

19. Seth Barton, D, UMass Lowell (NCAA Hockey East) 13. Evgeny Svechnikov, LW, Grand Rapids (AHL)

Barton has missed some time with a hand injury this season, but the Red The good news is that Svechnikov’s back on the ice, with his ACL injury Wings like his skating, size and puck movement, as well as an ability to last season just the latest in his bumpy road to the NHL since his great make plays under pressure. Barton was thrust into a big role early in his first AHL season in 2016-17. But after a productive start this season, college career, but that doesn’t change the fact he, too, will likely require including some NHL time, he’s leveled off a bit with 14 points in 31 some time to mature both physically and in his game. His coach, Norm games. Svechnikov clearly wants it enough, so now it might be a Bazin, told The Athletic earlier this season he believes Barton can question of whether he can get his body back to where he wants it to be, eventually develop into an “excellent transition defenseman who can and (perhaps more importantly) whether the organization will be patient contribute offensively.” enough to give him time to do so.

“And I don’t take the word transition defenseman lightly,” he said. “I think “I think it’s been frustrating for him, because I think his knee hasn’t that’s guys who can make a great first pass, those are guys who can allowed him, at times, to do what he wants to do as well, and it’s slowly skate, those are guys who can finish on a rush, those are guys who can come along,” director of player development Shawn Horcoff said take care of their own zone for long enough in order to develop a recently. “I mean, those are not easy injuries to recover from. So I’m just transition game for their team.” hoping that all that strength and that comfort level comes back to him in the second half, just so he can get back to playing the type of hockey that 18. Ethan Phillips, C, Boston University (NCAA Hockey East) he needs to.”

A very good skater with skill, the main knock on Phillips is his size — 5- 12. Elmer Söderblom, F, Frolunda (SHL/SuperElit) feet-9, 155 pounds, according to BU’s website. If he can get stronger, though, there’s a nice set of skills to work with, with hands to match his The massive 6-foot-7 forward has been the best surprise of the season wheels. He’s managed 7 points in 19 games, which isn’t necessarily for the Red Wings farm system. He was another Swede who came over surprising considering the number of pounds he’s giving up to most of his for the Traverse City Prospect Tournament, where he impressed by being able to play up and down the lineup. It turned out that was just a sign of things to come. In addition to leading the Swedish J20 league in time, (Griffins coach) did a great job with him. Over time he’s scoring (42 points in 25 games) by a healthy margin, he’s spent 10 learned what makes him special. What makes him special is putting games in the SHL on a good Frolunda team (albeit with limited ice time). pucks behind people, forechecking hard, being super physical, holding onto the puck down low, getting it low to high and going to the net.” “He’s a very big man, very, very strong, and I think he’s just starting to figure out just what he can do offensively on the ice, and he’s having 5. Jonatan Berggren, F, Skellefteå (SHL) good success against the junior kids,” Horcoff said recently. “He’s another one that we’d like to train a little bit hard, get him a little faster, a Conversely, Berggren’s positioning here rests a lot on upside, but he has little bit more mobile to go along with all that overall strength. But he’s tons of it. And lately, he’s backed it up with more production in the SHL. done extremely well.” He’s averaging a half point per game in Sweden’s top league, and is coming off a solid world juniors performance as well. Detroit will want to 11. Albert Johansson, D, Färjestad (SHL) see him succeed in the tougher areas of the ice, to keep from becoming a perimeter player, but his skating, skill, vision and passing are of high Another Swede who’s impressed in his first post-draft season, enough quality for him to eventually play on an NHL power play and Johansson’s managed to spend most of his season in the top Swedish potentially even play in the top six some day. He has strides yet to take league, on one of the top teams, too. He has five points in 22 games, but before that feels realistic, but at just 19, he’s a prospect worth being the Red Wings hope his offense can grow with more power-play time. excited about. They see him as an elite-skating offensive defenseman, which is certainly a need down the prospect pipeline. Those who followed the last Jonatan Berggren has begun producing in the SHL. (Allison Farrand / For draft may remember Hakan Andersson’s stories about Johansson on the The Athletic) draft floor after Detroit took him in the second round. 4. Michael Rasmussen, C, Grand Rapids, (AHL) 10. Gustav Lindstrom, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) For a player picked in the top 10 less than three seasons ago, the public The Red Wings think Lindstrom has been even better on the smaller ice steam on Rasmussen has gone down a bit. Yet there’s still a really than on the bigger international sheet, a testament to his hockey sense. interesting player here, between his excellent talent in front of the net, his They’ve seen him make plays and decisions quickly, which is important, length and defensive ability. He’s missed much of this season with an and they also like his willingness to play physical. It’s hard to say what injury, but he returned last weekend and scored two goals in his second his peak upside is, and his four points in 40 AHL games don’t point to game back. That’s on trend with how he’s fared overall in the AHL, with much promising offensive potential in the NHL, but Lindstrom does get 11 points in 12 games as a 20 year old. Small sample, to be sure, but credit for proximity to the top league, and for grading out well in what he’s Rasmussen has been highly productive as a second-year pro, and his shown in Grand Rapids. prospect floor remains high thanks to his defensive reach and offensive net-front ability. 2019 second-round pick Robert Mastrosimone is off to a good start at Boston University. (Allison Farrand / For The Athletic) 3. Joe Veleno, C, Grand Rapids (AHL)

9. Robert Mastrosimone, F, Boston University (NCAA Hockey East) Another recent first-round pick at center, Veleno is fresh off a world junior gold medal with Canada, in a leading role no less. He scored, was on the If there’s a knock on Mastrosimone, it’s a blend of his smaller stature and power play, killed penalties and generally looked like a more physical and relative inexperience against bigger players (which isn’t so much a knock engaged player. That’s a testament to his growth in the last year, and a as just a source of limited information). His first college season has been good sign for someone the Red Wings want to be a reliable 200-foot reasonably productive, with 12 points in 19 games, and no one doubts pivot in the NHL. It’s fair to debate how much Veleno can score at the his compete level. That should serve him well as he tries to put on the highest level, and his introduction to the AHL has reminded of that (he needed size to translate his game upward. His hockey sense and skill has 13 points in 31 games). But if he can play confidently in all three have drawn praise, too, and he should have real NHL potential. zones, led by his skating, he can be an effective middle-six center. That’s 8. Antti Tuomisto, D, Assat (Jr. A SM-) a nice piece for this rebuild, if he continues progressing the way he has.

Because he plays in a Finnish junior league, Tuomisto’s a hard one to 2. Filip Zadina, RW, Detroit (NHL) get a read on. He’s a huge 6-foot-4 defenseman who should be Zadina’s made big strides since September, playing in the Red Wings’ physically advanced for that age group, and he has been. But at some top six and on the first power play due to injury and not looking out of point 37 points in 35 games as a defenseman does surpass place. He’s scored some nice goals, but just as impressive has been his expectations. More importantly, Horcoff recently said Tuomisto’s skating passing and play away from the puck. He looks like a well-rounded is coming along (a key development), and also suggested the big right- player who’s going to continue to get better as his comfort level grows. shot defenseman could blossom into someone who can play all Whether he ultimately reaches the lofty expectations of his draft slot may situations with the proper coaching. He should get that when he goes off come down to how much stronger and quicker he can get, as both would to college at Denver, so while Tuomisto is a long-term prospect, the idea allow him to create offense for himself more easily, but it has to be of him playing all situations is a sign the team likes his upside. encouraging how much he’s made of this midseason opportunity. He 7. Jared McIsaac, D, Moncton (QMJHL) may well be a Red Wing for good now, which is good news for the franchise. There hasn’t been much season to evaluate McIsaac on, since he returned from shoulder surgery just in time for the world juniors, where he 1. Moritz Seider, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) was up and down. But he was productive last season for Halifax, and as A new No. 1 — though given how well Seider has taken to the AHL and a two-time member of Team Canada, has some pedigree to work off of. his recent performance at the world juniors, perhaps not a surprising one. It’ll be interesting as McIsaac battles the dual challenges of returning Seider was still a relative unknown when he became Steve Yzerman’s from injury and acclimating to a new team (neither of which is easy) but first draft selection as Red Wings GM, at sixth overall last June. Early on, he’s a prospect who could climb a couple spots rather easily by spring. that pick looks like a success, as Seider has shown the ability to be a 6. Givani Smith, F, Detroit (NHL) force defensively with noticeable physicality. Strong skating and sense, too, have given reason to think he can provide offense as he ascends, as He’s already in the NHL (where he scored his first goal Tuesday night), well. and that certainly helps his case. But Smith has also improved substantially over the last calendar year, going from struggling to adjust “That was my first look at Seider, he’s a legit top four,” an NHL executive to the AHL to getting early-season call-ups in Detroit. He’s gotten power- told The Athletic’s Craig Custance after the tournament. “The best play time for the Red Wings, and even if it means less than usual defense prospect here is (Alexander) Romanov. … Seider might be the because of how bad Detroit’s power play is, it’s still NHL power-play second-best in this tournament.” usage. He’s a 21-year-old in the NHL, showing some prowess at the net Seider is still just 18, but he looks like someone who could get NHL time and demonstrating clear ability as a forechecker. That’s the kind of skill as soon as this season and may even be ready to stick full time in Detroit set that could allow him to stick around. next season. The question of whether he’s a top-pair defenseman will be “He’s changed his game. He was, I would say, in love a little bit with stick answered in time, but at minimum the tools are there for Seider to play handling and doing some of those types of things, and not understanding the toughest minutes for the Red Wings down the line, which is a huge what makes him special,” coach Jeff Blashill said recently. “And over piece for their rebuild. Honorable mentions: Ryan Kuffner, F, Grand Rapids (AHL); Otto Kivenmaki, F, Assat (Liiga); Keith Petruzzelli, G, Quinnipiac; Malte Setkov, D, Kristianstads (Allsvenskan).

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171368 Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers battle their way to a 4-2 win over Nashville Predators

Ian Kucerak

Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs

Edmonton Oilers head coach says good checking brought the team a 4-2 regulation win versus the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Jan. 14, 2020.

The Predators arrived in Edmonton with newly hired head coach John Hynes behind the bench, and started Pekka Rinne between the pipes – facing off across the ice against Mike Smith. The Oilers got two goals out of star Leon Draisaitl, but it was solid checking that gave them the edge needed to win, says Tippett.

“I thought we went out, played with energy tonight and got the two points,” he told the media after the team celebrated their win.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171369 Edmonton Oilers “It was sick, it was unbelievable. It was one of the nicest goals I’ve seen live,” said Predators goalie Pekka Rinne. “It’s just unbelievable individual skill and he pulls that out in a game is so impressive.”

Filip Forsberg scores impressive goal for Predators in loss to Oilers As one of the best goalies in the game Rinne was asked how to defend such a play, which is becoming more prevalent.

“If you get lucky and he puts it into you,” Rinne said. “We’re seeing more Derek Van Diest and more of that kind of stuff and I think it’s only going to increase. It goes to show today’s game is really fast and when guys are able to do

that on the ice, it’s really impressive.” Oilers goalie Smith returning to stellar form of early season There was a time when a goal like that was considered showboating and TRAIK-EOTOMY: Kassian can get revenge on Tkachuk in another, better players would have to pay the price for even attempting it. The game, way however, is changing and skill is more appreciated.

Another head-shaker from NHL player safety “It’s a fine line. It’s change a lot,” Forsberg said. “A lot of players are trying things and (Connor) McDavid might be the one leading the charge Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs just the way he plays the game. I think it’s great, it’s not like you’re doing it for the show, you’re trying to score the goal and it worked.” The way Filip Forsberg scooped up the puck and deposited, lacrosse style, past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith, would lead one to Despite not winning the game, Predators head coach John Hynes could believe the Nashville Predators forward had done it many times in the not help but smile when asked about the goal. past. “A pretty high-skilled play, you don’t see those come around too often,” He made it look that effortless. Hynes said. “Fil is a pretty skilled player, so it was pretty impressive.”

Yet, Tuesday at Rogers Place was the first time Forsberg’s ever pulled Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020 off the move at any level.

“I’ve tied it before and had a couple of close tries over the last couple of seasons; it’s the first time I’ve pulled it off though,” Forsberg said following the Oilers 4-2 win. “I don’t know where it came from at the start, but I’m guessing it was me and my brother playing street hockey and I’m sure he tried it and I wanted to try it too.”

Former University of Michigan Wolverines forward Mike Legg is credited as the first player to score the lacrosse-style goal, which came in the 1996 NCAA Tournament against the University of Minnesota.

In some circles, the goal is still referred to as ‘The Michigan.’

The goal has been duplicated a number of times since, mostly in Europe and at the junior level.

Mikael Granlund, who is now playing with the Predators, scored one in the 2011 IIHF World Championship semifinals against Russia.

Prior to Forsberg on Tuesday, the only NHL player to do it was Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who’s accomplished it twice.

Svechnikov scored on Oct. 29 against Calgary Flames goaltender David Rittich and then did it on Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 17.

Unlike Svechnikov, who made the move off a standstill behind the net, Forsberg did it in full flight, lifting the puck up on his backhand.

Filip Forsberg… ARE YOU KIDDING!? pic.twitter.com/fN8xJWp8hZ

— NHL (@NHL) January 15, 2020

Forsberg had come close in the past, hitting the post in an attempt against the San Jose Sharks.

“That’s probably one of the prettiest goals I’ve seen live other than Pekks (Pekka Rinne) a couple of games ago,” said Predators forward Colin Blackwell. “To see that, he even had a couple of times when he went through the legs and had a couple of chances. That was one of the sickest goals I’ve seen, so that was pretty cool. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the win so I’m pretty bummed about that.”

Forsberg’s goal came at 10:42 of the first period to tie the game 1-1 and Oilers fans couldn’t help but be impressed by it. It was the first time such as goal was scored in Rogers Place.

“You have to, that’s pretty incredible to even think of pulling that off,” said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who had two goals and an assist in the contest. “I think he could have had three highlight-reel goals this game. Smitty stopped him on a few this game.”

Watching Forsberg try outlandish moves is old hat for the Predators, who are well versed in his skill. To have him pull it off, however, was special for the entire team. 1171370 Edmonton Oilers really put in the work and we’ll see where it takes them, but those are two guys that are going to be pushing.”

“Nutrition was a big thing for me this year,” Jones said when asked the Oilers make a smart two-year bet on Caleb Jones, who has done nothing next day about the changes he’d made. “I lost a pretty good amount of but improve weight trying to be faster and more fit on the ice and be able to skate longer. You have to be in really good shape to skate at this level and be able to play and jump in the play and create offence like I like to do.

By Jonathan Willis Jan 15, 2020 5 “That was a big thing, was nutrition and training and a lot of speed work on the track, too … When you know that you’ve put the work in you feel

confident going out there and you feel you can compete with anyone.” Caleb Jones’ future with the Oilers has been the subject of much It’s easy to gloss over comments about nutrition and physical fitness in speculation this season. With Edmonton loaded on the left side of its blue training camp because they aren’t always predictive of the future. line, both with current NHL players and with prospects in the pipeline, it wasn’t clear if their 2015 draft pick was viewed more as a player or a (To pick one relatively recent Edmonton example, there was plenty of trade asset. ‘best shape of his life’ talk surrounding Robert Nilsson in the fall of 2009. He scored just 27 points that year and was bought out the following The team cleared things up Wednesday, announcing the signing of summer.) Jones to a two-year contract extension. While terms were not released, it was subsequently reported that the deal carried an $850,000 cap hit. It does matter, though, and especially for young players still finding their PuckPedia provided the additional detail that the contract was one-way way in the pro ranks. Jones followed up that training camp by becoming and somewhat backloaded: a dominant two-way presence in the AHL, logging heavy minutes for Bakersfield on his weak side and handling them well. He got a 17-game THE #LETSGOOILERS SIGNED 22 Y/O D CALEB JONES TO 2 YR NHL call-up, temporarily eclipsing even a banged-up Bear on the Oilers’ $850K CAP HIT EXTENSION. IN FINAL YEAR ELC. prospect depth chart. YR 1: $750K BASE, $50K SIGNING BONUS Condors coach Jay Woodcroft was effusive in his praise of Jones last YR 2: $900K BASE spring, citing not only his performance but the mindset behind it in an interview with Stauffer. AFTER CONTRACT, QUALIFYING OFFER WILL BE $945K & 2 YEARS FROM UFA. “Caleb’s been a true professional,” Woodcroft said. “He’s somebody that has a joy for playing the game. He’s serious, too; I don’t think he gets REP'D BY PAT BRISSON @CAAHOCKEY HTTPS://T.CO/E33LXZJRVB enough credit for how serious of a professional he is. He works at his game on a daily basis. His attitude when he came back was that he — PUCKPEDIA (@PUCKPEDIA) JANUARY 15, 2020 wants to get back up to the NHL and he wants to help this team in It’s an expression of faith in the player, who has earned it with steady Bakersfield win games. development. It’s also an intelligent decision in terms of managing the “He’s been excellent. The thing we’ve been working with him on, on a salary cap, adding a potential bargain contract to the books for two constant basis, is game management: his ability to recognize good times seasons. For years the Oilers have overpaid veterans to play in depth to jump in on the rush, good time to jump in on the cycle and whatnot, so positions; ideally these slots go to affordable young players who then that his chance ledger at the end of the evening where his chances for grow beyond them. severely outweigh the chances against.” Jones’ progression The chance count is a standard benchmark that coaches use. It’s not a Jones is a thoroughly modern defenceman. He skates very well, he surprise that Jones posted good numbers there. We don’t have the passes and rushes the puck capably and he’s a competent defender with Condors’ internal count of his chances, but thanks to blogger Keith decent size and an underrated physical edge. Anthony, who manually tracked the information, we know that as of February Bakersfield had an almost unbelievably 64 percent Corsi In his draft year he was largely pegged as a competitive, defensive type number with Jones on the ice, meaning it was out-attempting the in the U.S. Under-18 program, but the Oilers saw room for him to evolve opposition by a nearly 2:1 ratio. into more than that. In the summer of 2015 Edmonton executive Bob Green described him as a player with untapped potential. Jones has been able to use that performance as a stepping stone to regular NHL work. He was cut early in camp, owing in large part to “He just plays a simple game, moves the puck quick, defends very well, Edmonton’s strength on the left side and the decision of the coaching but as the season wore on he played a bigger role in that (US Under-18) staff to move Kris Russell from right to left. Nevertheless, he was recalled program,” Green told 630 CHED’s Bob Stauffer. “When we saw him play relatively early and has spent most of the year in the majors, despite the in February we thought he played a little more offensively than we had fact that the only job open to him was on the right side. seen in the past so it really caught our eye. He has that in his game … We think there’s a chance he could grow a little bit more.” He’s played his weak side a lot in the minors, but managing it at NHL speed has been an adjustment for Jones. Dave Tippett, not generally an Edmonton’s scouting group was rewarded for its belief when Jones easy marker of such things, pronounced himself satisfied last week. moved on to the WHL the next season, scoring 55 points in his first season of junior and following it up with a point-per-game performance “That’s one of the strengths that he has, the ability to jump in there and the following year. play that side,” he said. “I’m a big fan of having D on their normal sides but there (are) some guys that handle it well. It’s footwork, how they Jones entered the professional ranks with much the same profile as so position themselves to pass the puck and receive the puck and defend. many good juniors before and since: boasting formidable and projectable Jonesy’s pretty good at it over there.” skills, offensive talent and a defensive game in need of significant fine- tuning. Not to be overlooked was the matter of physical development, As much as the versatility to play either side is part of Jones’ game, it’s frequently an issue with younger players. reasonable to think that he’s ultimately going to wind up on the left given Tippett’s preference for defencemen on their natural side. Adjusting to the professional ranks was by all accounts a challenge for Jones. His fellow rookie pro, Ethan Bear, played 18 games in the majors. What Jones’ deal means for next season Jones went minus-25 in the minors, easily the worst number on the team, With Oscar Klefbom and Darnell Nurse presumably locks on the left side, despite missing 10 games. Flawed though plus/minus is, it was not an the logical place for Jones to land is on the third pair. The trouble is that encouraging distinction. Russell is currently in that slot, and is under contract for next season. He responded by digging deeper, and earned praise from Peter Chiarelli In that respect, it’s telling that Russell’s role at even strength has been the following fall. reduced. He averaged more than 18 minutes per game at even strength “Jones and Bear, their physical conditioning testing was leaps and a year ago; today he’s down to 14:43. Allan Mitchell connected the dots bounds over what it had been historically,” the then-GM said. “They’ve earlier this week: “Increasingly, Russell is facing a clear reality as a member of the Oilers: He is being passed by younger, less expensive players.

“Those situations usually end in a trade. The deadline may provide an answer, and the summer surely will.”

The key item in that quote is “less expensive.” Although Russell’s actual salary falls next year, Edmonton’s primary concern is cap hit. Russell’s is $4-million. Assuming he can be traded and Jones can handle his minutes, it clears $3.15-million from the Oilers’ books. Given how small the role is, if Jones can be even 85 percent of the defenceman that Russell has been this year that money can be better used elsewhere. With his impressive progression as a prospect and the benefit of switching back to his natural side, that’s a reasonable bet.

One place those savings might go: Nurse. Currently in the last season of a two-year, $3.2-million bridge deal, Nurse is likely to cash-in on a long- term extension in the $6-million range, perhaps something modelled on Josh Morrissey’s eight-year, $6.25-million pact. Swapping out Russell for Jones could open up the money for Nurse’s raise.

Whether or not that’s where the savings go, employing a young cheap defenceman on the third pair is good in itself. One of the primary benefits of a draft-and-develop approach is supposed to be a steady stream of young players on entry-level and second contracts, providing minutes for less than the UFA rate. By the time this deal kicks in, Jones will have been groomed for five full seasons.

This two-year contract, in which Jones’ contributions can be expected to exceed his compensation, is a primary reward for those efforts.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171371 Edmonton Oilers “It’s fun to watch when it’s not you in net. But when it ends up being you, you feel like more of an idiot than watching guys do it,” Smith said.

“The most important thing is they didn’t get too many more after that and 3 things from the latest Oilers win: A lacrosse goal, Mike Smith’s we came out on top. We’re all talking about that goal. In the end, it resurgence and Connor McDavid’s new linemate doesn’t really matter.”

Smith’s resurgence

By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jan 15, 2020 4 A couple weeks ago, it looked like Smith was going to be relegated to the backup position. He had been playing poorly for almost two months, managing a paltry save percentage of barely over .850 over nine starts and 11 appearances. Mike Smith was in a jovial mood for someone who, only a couple hours early, became the latest person to get dunked on — hockey style. But with expected starter Mikko Koskinen battling an illness to start the recent five-game road trip, Smith filled in and hasn’t looked back. That’s because he stopped all but one shot the rest of the way and helped the Oilers secure a 4-2 win over the Predators on Tuesday. It’s a Thanks to a 30-save effort Tuesday, Smith is 4-0-1 with a .928 save little easier to talk about being on the wrong end of the sport’s latest percentage in 2020. The five-game run has bumped his save percentage craze after a victory. back above .900 (to .901) for the season.

So, Smith wasn’t about to let allowing a lacrosse-style goal put a damper Smith was asked if he feels like his game’s back to where it was in on the evening. October.

Nashville’s Filip Forsberg scored the third such goal in league history, “Yup. Better,” he said. and only the second player to accomplish the feat after Carolina sophomore Andrei Svechnikov did so twice this season. How is he doing it?

Smith actually got a piece of the puck. It nicked his mitt before “Stopping pucks,” he quipped. ricocheting off the side of his body and floating behind him. After some prodding, he eventually elaborated. “It hit my glove first and then down,” he said. “I need to eat a couple more “Our team’s done better things, too, in front,” Smith said. “That, in turns, hamburgers, so I can gain a little more fat here. I thought I had it.” helps the position out tremendously. The play started with a faceoff Connor McDavid and Predators’ Matt “In saying that, I’m just feeling real comfortable in there, real confident, Duchene to Smith’s right. The puck off the draw was pushed to the just letting pucks come to me, trying to stay as calm as possible. I’ve put boards. That’s when Forsberg sidestepped Oilers winger Josh Archibald in a tremendous amount of work to get it back. With Schwartzy to grab it and moved along the boards toward the goal line. (goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz), we’ve been banging our heads Unchecked, Forsberg skated for the side of the net. He then turned his against the wall a little bit for most of December. You just keep fighting, right-handed blade so that the toe was the only part on the ice, scooped keep battling and keep working hard in practice. When you get a chance the puck and swung his stick it around the net. to in there, you wanna take advantage of that. It’s turned around a little bit here lately.” THE MICHIGAN. LACROSSE GOAL. Aside from the Forsberg goal, it was pretty much a banner night for WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, FORSBERG SCORED IT! Smith. PIC.TWITTER.COM/PUXPPZFNEU It wasn’t all smooth sailing though. Smith’s mask went flying when he — NHL GIFS (@NHLGIFS) JANUARY 15, 2020 took a shot from Predators winger Rocco Grimaldi square in the head. Grimaldi was skating down the right wing when he wound up from just Smith knew what was coming just before the scoring attempt. inside the faceoff circle. “I saw him pick it up behind the net, but you’re changing from one corner #PREDS ROCCO GRIMALDI RIPS ONE .. KNOCKS #LETSGOOILERS to the other and then just trying to get over there and take the net away,” MIKE SMITH’S HELMET RIGHT OFF. PIC.TWITTER.COM/IILBEX2WJY he said. “He got lucky.”

A little luck, a whole lot of skill and — according to Oilers coach Dave — HERE’S YOUR REPLAY ḏ (@HERESYOURREPLAY) JANUARY Tippett — some poor coverage went into that goal, which tied the game 15, 2020 at one apiece. “That was a muffin,” Smith said in jest. “That was a heavy one.

Ethan Bear, the right defenceman, originally stayed in front of the net “The ref kinda jinxed me there. He said, ‘I think the last time I was reffing when Forsberg had the puck in the right corner. Darnell Nurse, Bear’s the game, you got hit in the head five times.’ One hit me in the shoulder partner, then held his position above the crease as Forsberg wrapped the in the first period. He asked me if I was all right. I said, ‘Oh yeah. That puck in the air. was nothing. In the second period – bang.”

“Today’s players, it’s amazing the things they can do. I was more upset Archibald fits in fine with McDavid with our coverage on that because our defencemen should have been on that way before he gets a chance to do that,” Tippett said. “Great goal. Tippett had to shuffle his lines with Zack Kassian serving the first of his Fancy goal. I was more concerned with what we did to stop it.” two-game suspension.

It was the first of three fancy moves Forsberg pulled off during the game. In came Patrick Russell. He skated with Joakim Nygard and Riley He tried two between-the-legs shots afterwards, both of which were Sheahan because Archibald was moved up to the top line with McDavid turned aside by Smith. and James Neal.

But it was the lacrosse one, a still novel maneuver, that worked — and “We knew what we were gonna get with Arch,” Tippett said. “It fit that impressed a couple Oilers stars. mould where we wanted to check tonight. Archie on that line gives us some good checking.” “You’ve gotta have a lot of talent to do it,” Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “It’s worked a few times now. If you can do it, why not try it?” Tippett’s move paid off.

“Pretty incredible to even think of pulling that off,” Leon Draisaitl said. “I While McDavid and Draisaitl each had three points, it was the grinder don’t know if I have that in my bag of tricks to be honest with you. I do not Archibald who scored what ended up being the winning goal. think so.” It was a goal-scorer’s goal at that. Even Smith, an old-school, veteran goalie, didn’t mind all of Forsberg’s trickery. Ideally, however, he would have been sitting in front of his TV as Defenceman Oscar Klefbom hit McDavid with a stretch pass at the Forsberg pulled the move on one of his netminding contemporaries. offensive blue line and McDavid darted ahead, pulling Predators’ Mattias Ekholm toward him. Archibald went right to the front of the net and McDavid found him there all alone. He wristed a shot over the glove of an outstretched Pekka Rinne.

 JOSH ARCHIBALD 3-2 #LETSGOOILERS PIC.TWITTER.COM/EPTS7VCIDH

— HERE’S YOUR REPLAY ḏ (@HERESYOURREPLAY) JANUARY 15, 2020

“I can’t miss this one,” Archibald said, laughing.

Naturally, Archibald’s enjoyed his best offensive production this season while alongside McDavid. He’s scored five goals in total and two of them have come in an hour of 5-on-5 play on McDavid’s wing, per Natural Stat Trick.

Archibald’s longest stretch with the Oilers captain was a three-game run from Dec. 1 to 6. Coincidently, Kassian was out of the lineup with a back injury during that span.

The first contest in Vancouver saw him record his first goal as an Oiler. McDavid had a secondary helper on that one.

“He makes the game easy,” Archibald said of McDavid. “You’ve just gotta find those spots and get open for him and find the back of the net.”

It took two months for him to get on the scoreboard. Archibald now has five in barely six weeks.

It’s not like scoring is a foreign concept to him. He netted a career-high 12 goals in 68 games with Arizona last season, so he’s hoping there are a few more in his stick.

“I’ve had a few goals in my career,” Archibald said. “Getting another one tonight was definitely a confidence boost.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171372 Florida Panthers

The latest on Bobrovsky, and a look at how Panthers backup goalie Chris Driedger has fared

BY JORDAN MCPHERSON

Sergei Bobrovsky was in net for about 10 minutes as the Florida Panthers went through warmups on Wednesday.

Once practice began in earnest, though, the day was over for the Panthers’ $70 million man.

Bobrovsky is expected to be scratched for the second consecutive game Thursday when the Panthers face the Los Angeles Kings to close out a four-game homestand. The team is referring to his absence as an “upper-body injury.” The Athletic reported Sunday that Bobrovsky is dealing with a tight back.

“He did well today [at practice],” Panthers coach said Wednesday. “We’ll see [Thursday], but we don’t expect him to suit up. We’ll see how he presents for the weekend.”

Chris Driedger will start his second consecutive game, his third of the homestand and eighth of the season.

The team on Wednesday recalled goaltender Sam Montembeault from their Affiliate, the Springfield (Massachusetts) Thunderbirds to be their backup for Thursday. Montembeault is up on emergency conditions, meaning he is up solely because the Panthers have fewer than two healthy goaltenders and must be sent back to the AHL as soon as Bobrovsky is healthy. The Panthers also did this Sunday prior to their 8-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This is just the latest rough patch to the beginning of Bobrovsky’s tenure as a Panther. At 31 the former two-time Vezina Trophy winner has posted just a .896 save percentage and has a 3.29 goals-allowed average through 34 games (33 starts) this season. His save percentage is tied for the sixth worst among goaltenders who have faced at least 500 shots. His goals-allowed average is the fourth-highest in the league.

Florida Panthers goalie Chris Driedger (60) stops a puck in the third period as they play the Toronto Maple Leafs at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, Sunday, January, 12, 2020. CHARLES TRAINOR JR [email protected]

Driedger, 25, will hope to provide enough stability in net as the Panthers look to close their homestand with a three-game win streak. He is coming off a 43-save night against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

“That was a surprise start for him,” Quenneville said. “I thought he handled it real well.”

For the season, Driedger is 5-2 with a .931 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average. He has held opponents to three goals or fewer in four of his seven starts and saved all 11 shots against him when he came in for relief of Bobrovsky in the Panthers’ 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 31.

His trouble, though, has come when he starts consecutive games. Both of Driedger’s losses have come on the back half of consecutive starts. There was a 4-2 loss against the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 3 the game after he shut out the Nashville Predators as well as a 5-2 defeat against the Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 7 after a road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“He’s done a good job when he’s been in the net,” Quenneville said. “He’s gotten some big points for us, some big wins. I think he’s ready to start games and he’s comfortable no matter how big the stage or what the stage is.”

Miami Herald LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171373 Florida Panthers

Golden Knights fire ex-Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, hire another former Panthers coach

By KEVEN LERNER

The Vegas Golden Knights have abruptly fired former Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant and replaced him with Peter DeBoer, another former Panthers coach.

Gallant was let go Wednesday — less than two years after leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Gallant, whose team lost to the Washington Capitals in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, was named NHL coach of the year after leading the first-year franchise on its historic run.

That team also featured two former Panthers on their top line in Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. In the 2018 playoffs, Marchessault led the team in scoring, while Smith was second.

Gallant coached the Panthers for three years (2014-17), leading them to the 2016 playoffs, before joining the expansion Knights for the 2017-18 season.

He will be replaced by former San Jose Sharks coach, DeBoer, who coached the Panthers for three seasons (2008-11) before joining the New Jersey Devils (2011-15) and Sharks (2015-20).

[Popular in Sports] Kendrick Nunn’s 33 power Heat past Spurs 106-100, now 18-1 at home »

Vegas (24-19-6) also fired assistant coach Mike Kelly, Gallant’s former Panthers assistant who he hired in Vegas after they were both fired by the Panthers.

"In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season," Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. "We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward.

“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”

Vegas has lost four consecutive games, dropping them out of playoff position in the hotly contested Western Conference.

Ironically, the Golden Knights lost in the first round of the playoffs in seven games last season — to the Sharks and DeBoer.

DeBoer, who was fired by San Jose last month after his team struggled for much of the season, led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015- 16. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171374 Florida Panthers The blizzard of ’93 was a bad one in New York. And they all said, “Yeah, we don’t really have anybody in Florida, (and) there’s a ton of events (there).” This is 1994, now you had the Marlins and Panthers to go with the Heat and Dolphins as well as the Orange Bowl, Doral-Ryder Open ‘Hockey in South Florida has been good to me’: Steve Goldstein has golf, horse racing, the tennis. There was a lot going on, and there would found his calling with Panthers be work.

So I asked Joe Zagacki, “If I moved there, would WQAM use me?” There was no full-time job, but there was work I could do. I figured it was an By George Richards Jan 15, 2020 11 opportunity. Why not go for it? I could always go back to New York if it didn’t work out. I was full-time at CBS Radio Network in off-air broadcast operations. I could always come back and do that. So that’s how I wound SUNRISE, Fla. — It has been just over 25 years now since Steve up in Florida. Goldstein left New York to try and find some work in the quickly growing South Florida sports scene. Dec. 1, 1994, was the last game I ever covered in New York, and it was the Dan Marino spike game at the Meadowlands. The next day, I was Little did he know how much the move would change his life. one-way, Newark to Fort Lauderdale, and that was it.

Goldstein started out working freelance radio gigs, but he soon found Your first job on the ground in South Florida was a Miami Heat game, himself working on the Florida Panthers’ broadcast team. All these years correct? later, he is still there — now as the television voice of the team. So, on Dec. 1, I am in New York at the Meadowlands. The next day, I On Monday, Goldstein was named the Florida Broadcaster of the Year land in South Florida, and I am covering the Miami Heat and the New by the National Sports Media Association. Jersey Nets — sitting next to (former Panthers beat writer at the Sun- Sentinel) Harvey Fialkov at Miami Arena. “Anytime you get recognized for something, you’re always taken aback,” Goldstein said. The story would probably be better if your first gig was a Panthers game, but at least you got to meet Harvey. You are known for being “the voice “So many guys do this and do it well. I was pleasantly surprised — and it of the Panthers,” but you pay close attention to all of the teams here, was great to see the reactions. I have heard from so many people, it was right? a remarkable 24 hours. People from the Panthers reached out, folks from past jobs. Eric Reid from the Heat has won it the past couple years, and When you work in sports, you watch it a little differently than you used to. he called. It’s all pretty humbling.” Obviously, the trade-off is great. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but the one thing you lose is a little bit of the fandom when you do it for a living. I spoke recently with Goldie about his career in broadcast journalism, his There’s no question about that. sports fandom and his time with the Panthers. But I still watch tons of sports. But over the last five or 10 years, I watch it Let’s start at the very beginning — or, at least your college years. When with a little different perspective because I’m looking for the broadcast you’re a kid at Syracuse University, did you ever think you would be the things because that’s what I do, you know, and you want to be as good at voice of a hockey team in Florida? it as you can. So I’m still watching games — I mean I wish the Dolphins Well, no, because when I went to Syracuse, the Florida Panthers didn’t would get better, that would be really good, and what Heat (are) doing is even exist. Since I was a little kid, I always wanted to be a sportscaster really phenomenal. and went to Syracuse to do it and really didn’t know where it would end When I started out in Florida, a year after I got the job doing morning up, you know? But, hockey in Florida? No way. That wasn’t a thing back radio on QAM, Pat Riley came to town. So that was a huge thing. Here I then. am, in my 20s, interviewing Pat Riley. That was a big deal. So, I follow What brought you to South Florida in the first place? the Heat a lot, (and I) hope the Marlins can get it together.

I did a lot of part-time jobs once I graduated from Syracuse. I worked at Between the Panthers and your radio gigs, you have had some CBS Radio Network, I worked at the “CBS Evening News” where I interesting partners. actually put the paper into the teleprompter which was then read by Dan The first time I was on WQAM in a non-reporting role, I did an update on Rather. I answered a lot of phones. the Hank Goldberg show, and Hank goes, “Hey, you’re pretty good!” So, I even worked at Sports Phone, which, before the internet, is how you got if the Hammer thinks you did good, that’s pretty big. Then in the your scores. “976-1313, stay with us!” mornings, I was on with Joe Rose and Steve Shapiro; then Jeff DeForrest came on. Let’s not even get into all the Saturday morning You had 58 seconds to record it. A lot of sports guys worked there, Gary shows I did. And for years, I hosted Dolphins pre- and postgames while I Cohen of the Mets, Al Trautwig, a ton of guys. Don La Greca, who does was doing that for the Panthers, so I got to work with Danny Kanell, Kim Rangers games. Those were all Sports Phone guys, and there were a lot Bokamper, Lamar Thomas, John Congemi — done stuff with CBS-4. It more. goes on and on.

So Sports Phone was a big place. And then I did a lot of freelancing It is amazing. I don’t think about it a lot, but you brought it up, so here we covering different games in New York when sports radio started. WQAM are. Look at the folks I have worked with on the Panthers: Denis Potvin, in Miami was just starting up, and they did a Sunday NFL show. They Randy Moller, Billy Lindsay. It has been pretty wild. somehow got my number, and I would be their reporter whenever the Giants or their opponent scored. Talking about the Panthers, how did you start doing their pre- and postgames on the radio? THANKS TO THE ENTIRE @FOXSPORTSFL STAFF, NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT GREAT PEOPLE HTTPS://T.CO/HRG0QSH85B During the 1995-96 season, they would give me tickets and have me do the on-ice stuff during intermissions. I was the host, introduce whatever — STEVE GOLDSTEIN (@GOLDIEONICE) JANUARY 13, 2020 was going on the ice. And I had two great seats for that playoff run. Good So after a while, I got to know them a little bit, and this is when radio trade. networks were still really big. There was CBS, ABC, UPI, the AP, there Then, in 1997, Wayne Huizenga goes all-in on the Marlins to see if he was an ESPN Radio and then there were local radio stations. So if you could get that to work. He spent all that money on the manager and had a pretty good game, you could be working for four or five of them players, but they also expanded the radio coverage. They did not have a whether it’s in-game reports or postgame sound bites, where you went pre- and postgame host before they hired Boog Sciambi from the and got the interviews, cut it up and then sent them the sound bites that Panthers. He left in February of 1997 for spring training, and now they they could use. needed someone for the Panthers. I stepped in and it was a big thrill for So I asked all these guys, all these networks, “If I moved to Florida, me. It took off from there. Soon, I was doing a weekly TV show, filled in would you need me there?” I was thinking about moving to Florida, on the television play-by-play a few times. One time, Chris Moore missed wanted to change things up and be on the air more. I was also getting a his flight, so I was the late sub. Another time, Jiggs McDonald had to be little tired of the New York winters. at the Coliseum for Bill Torrey night. In 2003, you get a dream job to call games full-time on the radio. Then The golf tournament is going on 20 years now, and all the money goes there’s a lockout. Great timing. right back to the charity. Sports are expensive, so we give money to kids for hockey equipment or travel or if a team doesn’t have money for Yeah. So, Jiggs McDonald retired, and the Panthers asked me if I uniforms. Whatever. We try to help out so all that money goes right back wanted the job. Not being a great negotiator at the time — or now, either into the South Florida community, mostly for kids and families that are — I told them what I was making doing morning radio: “If you come in the involved in sports. But, you know, sometimes I’ll get an email from ballpark (pay-wise), I’m in.” I just didn’t want to take a huge pay cut, and someone who wants to go to a debate tournament, and they need help we made a deal. Then we miss that whole season. So, I started in going. I’ll give them money for that, too. October of 2005, and my first game was Panthers vs. Thrashers. In my second year, Dave Strader was doing TV, and he missed some games It has to feel pretty good to help people out, no? for national TV, so they had me do about half a dozen games in 2006-07. Then Dave left, and they moved me over to TV. That was it. It’s great. Look, it’s tough out there. Everybody’s working, it’s expensive to live. We all know it. I’m kind of just the middleman. If the people don’t Florida Panthers broadcaster Steve Goldstein, left, with partner Randy show up for the golf tournament, don’t buy the raffle tickets, then there is Moller during the first intermission of a game in Tampa on Dec. 23, 2019. no money to give. The humbling part for me is how much people support (George Richards / The Athletic) it: the community support, the corporate sponsors. The Panthers have been incredibly supportive of it. It’s definitely rewarding seeing everybody So you have been with the Panthers now for over 20 years. Is it cool to respond the way that they do and support it. Here’s a plug: May 4, 2020, be so closely associated with the team? will be our 20th-anniversary golf tournament. I can’t believe it.

It is cooler than I could even put into words. It really is. It has been Everyone knows you are Mr. New York, but have you almost become Mr. incredible, and I am so thankful for the opportunity. No matter who has Florida by now? been in charge of the team, the team has always treated me very well. Now Vinnie Viola, Doug Cifu and treat me so well, it is I moved to Florida when I was 24. And this December, I have been here extremely humbling. When you put it the way you do, where does the 25 years. I always loved Florida growing up. We came down on vacation, time go? How the heck am I here? I just never take it for granted. Our and my dad was a huge Don Shula fan. The Dolphins were kind of fans and viewers always treat me so nicely, I enjoy meeting all of them. always our second team. I remember when Larry Csonka played for the We’ll see how long we can keep it rolling. Hopefully, this team comes up Giants and my dad couldn’t stop talking about what a big deal that was. big, wins big. That would be great for the market and, you know, for the Then in the 1980s, they started to get teams down here, and it was like, fans and everybody involved. this could be a place that I want to put down roots.

When you are in an arena, or even watching NHL Network or ESPN, and It’s incredible what has happened in South Florida over the past 25-30 hear one of your calls, what does that feel like? years. In the big picture, they’re relatively new teams and we still don’t have the generations that have been going to games forever because it Eh, it is extremely cool and it is amazing, but it is more because of the has only been 25 or 30 years since they got here. I get on people when spot that I am in. I don’t like hearing myself. Not so much. It is cool to be they trash the South Florida sports market. Hey, give us a little time! Most calling the Panthers, being involved with the different stuff with people are from somewhere else. Westwood One Radio, so being involved the way I am is great, but I don’t like hearing myself back too much. Well, you take your sons to the games here, and now one of your sons is off to Western Michigan to work with the hockey team there. Pretty cool. When Denis Potvin retired this summer, Randy Moller said he thought the transition for the two of you in the booth would be seamless. It seems Unbelievable. The kid is a hockey junkie, played for all the teams in like it has been, yes? South Florida, so I appreciate that. He grew up with hockey in South Florida, for sure. Hockey in South Florida has been good to me. It has No question. When I started on radio, Randy was the color commentator, been a huge part of my life. and then Randy and I did the radio for two years together so we have known each other forever. One thing about all these guys is, the off-air WHAT A CREW! ☀️ HTTPS://T.CO/MLKNOEEQEX relationship does affect what goes on the air. Maybe not the straight game broadcast, but the little things like when we have a moment where — STEVE GOLDSTEIN (@GOLDIEONICE) JANUARY 14, 2020 you have a little bit of fun with your partner. The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 All the guys I have worked with are great guys off the air. That has been the one thing that has been a constant. You know, you call these guys friends; you make literal lifelong friends with the guys you work with. It has been fun this year with Randy, no question about it. The team is playing well, and we’re having a good time.

Your charity, Goldie’s Gang, does a lot of good work sending kids to games or to summer sports camps and the like. Where did that idea come from?

Back in the late ’90s, I’d go to basically every game there was between the Marlins, Panthers and Heat. When I would look in the upper deck and see empty seats, I thought it would be pretty cool to fill the seats perhaps by getting those tickets to kids who couldn’t normally afford to go.

If it wasn’t for my dad taking me to games, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now. We used to go to everything: We had Giants season tickets and we would go see the Rangers and Mets. So we went to tons of games, and the highlight of my childhood was going to games.

Steve Dangerfield was one of the guys in charge of the Panthers, and I talked to him about getting some of the unsold tickets. They would discount tickets, and I would give them out. Then Joe Rose came up with the idea for a golf tournament, make it affordable so everyone who wanted could play, and the money would go to getting some of those discounted tickets.

In 2000, I had the first Every Man’s golf tournament benefiting Goldie’s Gang. We were buying Panther tickets for like five bucks, and the Marlins gave us a spot in the outfield. Erik Spoelstra was an assistant then, and he came and met the group at a Heat game a few times. It just evolved over the years. 1171375 Los Angeles Kings

Kings continue Florida swing against Panthers

By ANDREW KNOLL |

Weaving their way through South Florida, the Kings lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and will next face the prolific Florida Panthers offense Thursday as they push toward the All-Star break.

Against Tampa Bay, they held a 2-0 lead through 10 minutes, only to give it back and find themselves in a tie game less than five minutes later.

They would establish a 3-2 lead, which was erased by a breathtaking Nikita Kucherov slap shot that wound around Adrian Kempe and powered through Jonathan Quick to tie the game with just over a minute to play. After a scoreless overtime period, the Lightning emerged victorious in the shootout.

“I’m disappointed at the end that we couldn’t close it off. But a fairly good effort,” Kings coach Todd McLellan told reporters.

The Kings enjoyed some success against a deep, potent and well- rounded Lightning roster. They ended a shutout streak of more than 150 minutes for goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, but they could not deny him his ninth consecutive win.

The Kings (18-25-5) also broke through with a power-play goal – part of a night in which net-front traffic was well-coordinated and successful on all three goals – that snapped a streak of 20 consecutive penalty kills. Tampa Bay had killed 32 of 33 penalties overall and also had the top- ranked home power play in the NHL, which the Kings held scoreless in two attempts, including one that carried into overtime.

Next up, the Panthers (24-16-5) will haul the NHL’s second-best offense into a clash with the Kings. They have put up 3.62 goals per game, jockeying around with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the league lead for much of the season.

“I thought there were a few sluggish players (against Tampa Bay),” McLellan told reporters. “When you play against that type of team, you need legs, and you need more than two or three lines going. We were a little bit short, so we’ve got to fix that going into Florida.”

The Panthers have also been the fifth-worst team defensively. They are still sorting out their system under new coach Joel Quenneville, who won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, and in front of newly acquired goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who twice won the Vezina Trophy with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and center Aleksander Barkov have been the East’s second-most productive tandem behind Boston’s David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. The Florida duo has recorded 110 points, with Huberdeau notching 30 points in 19 games since the beginning of December.

Their linemate, right wing Evgenii Dadonov, leads the team with 19 goals . Keith Yandle has continued to create tempo and spark offense from the blue line, leading the Panthers in defensive scoring with 34 points in 45 games.

Kings at Florida

When: 4 p.m. Thursday

Where: BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West/iHeartRadio

Orange County Register: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171376 Los Angeles Kings of where the Lightning will look to tinker with their roster – they’re also going to be inclined to add some scoring – they’ll also be placing value on the type of firm championship intangibles a number of L.A. skaters have in place. As for their own talent, guys like Cirelli (1997-born) and WAKING UP WITH THE KINGS: JANUARY 15 probably even Mitchell Stephens (1997) are too prominent and valuable to exchange, and don’t even think about Mikhail Sergachev (1998) or

Erik Cernak (1997). But there are other interesting 1997-born prospects, JON ROSENJANUARY 15, 20200 COMMENTS such as Alexander Volkov, who made a nice inside move on Drew Doughty before dropping the puck to Alex Killorn to earn his first career assist, and at the AHL-Syracuse level, guys like Cal Foote (1998) and Alex Barre-Boulet (1997), the latter of whom attended a training camp GAME STORY with L.A. and leads the Crunch in scoring. Tampa has done an “I think somebody mentioned that we always seem to be in a shootout impressive job of maintaining a strong prospect pool and incorporating here,” Dustin Brown said after the third kick in the pants in as many years players onto its NHL roster even at their competitive zenith. Again, take in Tampa Bay. The last two, in which the LA Kings held third period this for nothing more than the speculation that it is, but the yin and yang leads, were punctuated by knife-twisting late details. This year, Anthony of organizational needs have the potential to link Rob Blake and Julien Cirelli made an absolutely terrific play on a faceoff in which Jeff Carter BriseBois by phone through the trade deadline. smothered him, issuing an off-hand backhanded pass directly into the LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 01.16.2020 radius of Nikita Kucherov as if it was a one-timer. That’s a tremendous puck laid out with precision in which one flutter on soft ice or one tangential centimeter of trajectory towards Kucherov’s wheelhouse affects his ability to hammer it past Jonathan Quick to tie the game. But Cirelli, a 22-year-old center with 29 points in 45 games, is shaping up to be a very good player, and he made a very good play against another center who threw his full weight into physically contesting the draw. Lots of people doing what they’re supposed to do there. But for the second straight season, and for the third standout performance in a row in the eye of the storm, the LA Kings had the Bolts down to their final strike. Last year, Kucherov extended the shootout on Jack Campbell; this year, Adrian Kempe, who entered the shootout 3-for-9 in his career and generally instills confidence, just couldn’t issue the final dagger. “In retrospect, I forgot how long his legs were,” Brown said after Vasilevskiy denied his final attempt to cement the Lightning’s fifth straight home win in the series, a streak sustained by three shootout victories.

Scott Audette/NHLI

Dustin Brown played his best game since returning from a debilitating bout with pneumonia, which was followed earlier this road trip with a head cold that he’s since recovered from. It’s good to hear he’s healthy and coming along after his body started to wear down while in Columbus on the prior road trip. After a scary bout of illness that necessitated a Christmas Day emergency room visit and zapped him of both energy and therapeutic holiday recovery time, Tuesday’s game represented an important step forward in strength and performance. He was playing his familiar hard game low in the offensive zone, taking away Vasilevskiy’s eyes on Kyle Clifford’s goal and getting the heel of his stick on a high- velocity Nikolai Prokhorkin wrister from the point while on the power play. Stick taps to Todd McLellan and the coaching staff for keeping the four- forward power play unit on the ice for a faceoff with 20 seconds remaining. You’ll sometimes see coaches resort to rolling lines at that point in the game, but Carter (with the help of Michael Amadio) won the faceoff, and all L.A. skaters touched the puck in those six seconds it took to deposit it in the back of the net. Speaking of Prokhorkin, he managed to create his own NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES moment on an earlier power play with some impressive (if perhaps dicey) puck control. He’s parlayed his impressive skill and a more responsible package into a slightly wider role that’s now encompassing some additional power play time. Stationed at the point, he’ll continue to earn minutes with the type of puckhandling proficiency demonstrated Tuesday.

Mark LoMoglio/NHLI

Don’t read much more into this than the speculation than it is. But you should probably pay a little bit of attention to some of the high-skill and medium-to-high-profile young Tampa forwards. I mean, we’ve profiled dozens of draft prospects that never ended up playing for L.A., so why not consider the types of assets that L.A. will make calls on? Clearly, the Lightning are looking to add and may be more aggressive this year in doing so. They are in the phase of their competitive arc that would qualify them as potentially entering a market for Kings who’ve reported and presumed to be available via trade. What many of us had heard, read and surmised was that Tampa Bay would be interested in some the type of firmness that has led to success in the playoffs; their acquisition of Pat Maroon before the season was along those lines. Last year, I’d wondered if they were among the teams interested in Kyle Clifford, whom the Kings are in no desire to move, have not lengthily entertained moving in the past, and theoretically would command a return that takes into account the prime reasons why a team like Tampa Bay would value him. Clifford had a goal, an assist and a penalty drawn Tuesday night. But regardless 1171377 Minnesota Wild

Gameday preview: Wild vs. Tampa Bay

7 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay • NBCSN, 100.3-FM

Lightning is hot, Wild not

Preview: One of the hottest teams in the NHL, Tampa Bay (28-14-4) has won 11 of its past 12 games, including a 10-game winning streak that ended Sunday. The Lightning has lost to only five teams in the past seven weeks, including a 5-4 home defeat to the Wild on Dec. 5. The Wild (20-20-6) is trending in the opposite direction, winless in its past four games.

Players to WATCH: F Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 50 points, and he and F Steven Stamkos are tied for the team lead with 18 goals each. Wild F Eric Staal tops the roster with 33 points, but he has been blanked in four consecutive games and has only one point in his past seven.

Numbers: Before giving up a power-play goal in the third period of Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout victory over Los Angeles, the Lightning had killed 20 consecutive power-play chances over five games. … The Wild has allowed 3.37 goals per game, 29th in the NHL.

Injuries: Lightning D Ryan McDonagh of St. Paul (upper-body injury) and F Pat Maroon (upper-body injury) are day-to-day.

RACHEL BLOUNT

Star Tribune LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171378 Minnesota Wild “[During the streak], if we got behind, it didn’t matter,’’ he said. “We kept coming back. In the past three games, we’re going pretty good until we get a penalty. And [the opponent] scores on the first penalty all the time. Now, we’re chasing the game. Slumping Wild takes a day off to recharge mentally “[Tuesday], we gave up two scoring chances in the first period, and it was 2-0. They’re trying hard, then things don’t happen that are positive, and they’re like, ‘Woe is me.’ Before, it was like a ‘Let’s go get them’ type of By Rachel Blount Star Tribune JANUARY 16, 2020 — 12:29AM thing.’’

Boudreau said many of those early penalties stem from “a lot of laziness’’ Though the Wild was scheduled to practice Wednesday, only one and could be eliminated with sharper focus. He also plans to remind his member of the organization went out on the ice. Breezer, the Labrador players what they can achieve with a can-do attitude — which helped retriever puppy the Wild adopted last summer, showed up at a nearly- them beat the Lightning six weeks ago. empty Tria Rink for some playtime with team staff. “No matter what happened, we were coming back at them,’’ he said. The players left their breezers in their lockers, told by coach Bruce “That’s where we’ve got to get back to.’’ Boudreau to take the day off. After Tuesday’s wretched show in Star Tribune LOADED: 01.16.2020 Pittsburgh — and with a game against high-flying Tampa Bay up next on Thursday — Boudreau decided rest was the best option for his reeling team.

“It’s either take them out and bag-skate them, or tell them to get rid of hockey today, go home and come back with a fresh mind tomorrow, ready to go,’’ Boudreau said, a day after a 7-3 loss to the Penguins. “We decided collectively as a coaching group that some of these guys, they aren’t physically tired. But mentally, they needed a break.’’

Boudreau admitted he wasn’t sure whether that was the right choice, given the Wild’s many problems. He seemed to be at wit’s end following Tuesday’s hideous performance, which featured costly defensive breakdowns, too many penalties and a lineup-card mistake that left the Wild with only five defensemen.

That deepened the Wild’s slide to 1-5-1 in its past seven. The way out gets no easier; though the team will play 11 of its next 12 games at Xcel Energy Center, including Thursday, the upcoming opponents include the Lightning, Dallas and Boston, all among the top seven teams in the NHL.

Wednesday, Boudreau said he would sharpen his own quality control, making sure the lineup card is checked multiple times to avoid repeating Tuesday’s unintended scratch of defenseman Greg Pateryn. He wants his players to do the same. Whether it’s maintaining a proper pregame routine, avoiding sloppy penalties or having more fortitude, he said the Wild needs to clean up a raft of details to break its slump.

“Mentally, the self-preparation isn’t where it should be,’’ he said. “When a team is struggling in the first period coming out of the gates, it’s because they aren’t ready. Hockey is a preparation all day. You go through your routine and you prepare all day, and when you don’t do that, it becomes a bit of an issue.

“For the 1-5-1 stretch we’re going on, it’s the little things that get to us. And we don’t overcome the adversity.’’

The Wild got off on the wrong skate even before the opening faceoff Tuesday, when its lineup card showed Pateryn as a scratch. He was supposed to be in the lineup, with forward Ryan Donato out. But Donato was listed as being in the lineup, even though he did not warm up.

Game officials pointed out the mistake just before the game started. Pateryn had to leave the bench, and Donato scrambled to get in uniform. Boudreau said Wednesday that he asked if he could correct the card, since the game had not started, but was told he could not.

According to Boudreau, Wild GM Bill Guerin — who was at the game — “was great’’ about the gaffe, telling the coach “it was an honest mistake.’’ Boudreau took full responsibility.

“That’s the first time in 25 years that that’s happened,’’ he said. “I don’t ever want it to happen again, so you can bet there will be more double- and triple-checking going on than ever before. It’s a really bad feeling.’’

Once the puck dropped, the Wild didn’t do anything to make him feel better. Boudreau couldn’t explain why a veteran-laden roster isn’t fully ready at the start of the game. But he said he saw the same thing last season, when the team frequently fell behind early.

The past few weeks have brought a maddening twist. During the Wild’s 11-game point streak from Nov. 14 to Dec. 5, it didn’t buckle when faced with early deficits. In recent games, Boudreau said, quick goals by its opponents seem to drain the team’s confidence. 1171379 Minnesota Wild Wild’s Jason Zucker back at practice, game status unclear SEELER BACK UP

Nick Seeler was recalled from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey Bad start (incorrect lineup card), worse finish (7-3 loss) for Wild in League on Wednesday after a six-game conditioning assignment. Pittsburgh It’s unclear whether Seeler will draw into Thursday’s lineup. He hasn’t

played in an NHL game in more than a month. By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press “I think he’ll be there for practice (on Thursday morning),” Boudreau said. “Now we have a full complement of 23 players. We haven’t set the lineup yet. I guess it’s a wait-and-see type thing.” Bruce Boudreau spent a couple of minutes at the epicenter of the hockey universe Tuesday night, and not in a good way. Pioneer Press LOADED: 01.16.2020

After the Wild coach submitted his lineup card like he always does before the game in Pittsburgh, officials made their way over to the Minnesota bench just before puck drop against the Penguins to say there was a problem.

Somehow, Boudreau listed defenseman Greg Pateryn as a scratch on the lineup card, even though he was slotted to play, and instead listed winger Ryan Donato as active when he was a scratch.

That meant Pateryn had to return to the locker room, leaving the Wild with only five defensemen against the run-and-gun Penguins, and Donato had to get dressed as quickly as he could.

Not exactly an ideal situation for anyone involved. Donato, thinking he was off for the night, had just eaten a burger before the game and was putting himself through a workout in the PPG Paints Arena gym.

“I was watching the national anthem and everything (on TV), and then I saw them go over to the bench and then I saw (Pateryn) walking off, and I was, like, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Donato said. “I don’t know what time I got out there. It felt like I was in a dream. It was kind of a haze.”

So the game started badly for Boudreau — and got worse by the minute. The Wild were routed 7-3.

That lopsided final score paved the way for a lengthy heart-to-heart between general manager Bill Guerin and Boudreau after the game, with the lineup card snafu at the forefront of the conversation.

“He was great about it,” Boudreau said. “He said it was an honest mistake. I’m a lot harder on myself than that. That’s the first time in 25 years that that’s happened, and I don’t ever want it to happen again.”

Moving forward, Boudreau vowed to double- and triple-check his lineup card, and have the rest of his coaching staff do the same.

“It’s a really bad feeling as a coach for that to happen,” Boudreau said. “I hope it never happens to anybody else.”

REST IS A WEAPON

After such a painful loss Tuesday during which pretty much everyone looked off their game, Boudreau knew he had a couple of options for Wednesday morning.

“It was one of those days where we thought it could go two ways,” the coach said. “It’s either take them out and bag skate them, or tell them to get rid of hockey today, go home, and come back with a fresh mind tomorrow ready to go.”

He opted for the latter, emphasizing how most everyone looked more mentally tired than physically tired finishing off the team’s recent 1-5-1 stretch.

“That’s what we chose to do,” Boudreau said. “I guess time will tell whether it was the right thing or the wrong thing.”

Things don’t get any easier for the Wild with the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning coming to town Thursday night.

“That’s the hottest team in the league,” Boudreau said. “It’s going to be a real challenge for us.”

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Scoring woes continue in Wild’s 4-1 loss to Vancouver 1171380 MontrealCanadiens The Canadiens have lost nine of their last 11 games and are nine points out of a playoff spot in the East. They dropped to 9-12-4 at home this year.

Zack Smith scores twice to lead Blackhawks over Canadiens 4-1 Notes: Lindgren remains winless this season (0-3). Brendan Gallagher (concussion) missed his third consecutive game. Toews extended his point streak to four games. The Canadiens sent Matthew Peca to the Laval Rocket. KELSEY PATTERSON Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.16.2020

An unneeded penalty by Max Domi really hurt Montreal’s chances of winning, and it’s not the first time this season.

Domi’s roughing penalty led to a power-play goal and the Chicago Blackhawks held on to beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Chicago was leading 2-1 in the second period when Domi hit Matthew Highmore with his shoulder in open ice. Domi then grabbed Highmore by the collar and helmet and tackled him to the ice.

“During the play, I certainly wasn’t trying to take a penalty,” said the Canadiens centre. “I watched the replay and it’s a penalty. It’s how it goes. It’s unfortunate they scored on that. Obviously you can’t do that, especially given the situation we’re in. Can’t afford to do that.”

That penalty proved costly for Montreal when Alex DeBrincat’s power- play goal at 11:27 made it 3-1 Chicago. Backup Charlie Lindgren had lost his blocker in a goal-mouth scramble right before the goal.

Coach Claude Julien benched Domi for the remainder of the second as punishment for the penalty.

“I did what I had to do, it’s as simple as that,” said Julien. “When you take a foolish penalty like that, there are going to be consequences. It’s not the first time he’s taken a bad penalty.”

Earlier this season, the Canadiens lost 4-3 in overtime to New Jersey after Domi took interference and unsportsmanlike penalties on the same play. The Devils tied the game with Domi sitting in the box.

The Blackhawks (22-20-6) put the game to bed with 8:20 remaining in the third after Drake Caggiula stripped Jordal Weal of the puck in the neutral zone and beat Lindgren glove side on the breakaway.

Chicago was coming off a 3-2 overtime win against Ottawa on Tuesday and improved to 7-3-0 in the last 10 games.

“I thought we deserved that win,” said Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton. “We played hard, we were on our toes, putting pressure on them. We had a lot of offensive-zone shifts. We did a decent job of closing out the game.

“Good step for us to win in relatively good control.”

Zack Smith scored twice in a fast-paced first period before Montreal (20- 21-7) even managed its second shot on net.

Miscommunication between Lindgren and Tomas Tatar behind the net led to Smith’s short-handed goal at 5:42. Lindgren hesitated with the puck and Tatar knocked into him, giving Caggiula the chance to feed Smith in front.

“The first goal was frustrating, you never want to give up a goal like that,” said Lindgren, who stopped 24-of-28 shots. “It’s a goal that’s very preventable. I take full responsibility for that. I made a couple of fakes behind the net and nothing happened. I got the puck poked off my stick and they got an open net.

“Classic miscommunication.”

Chicago’s fourth line struck again less than three minutes later. Defenceman Slater Koekkoek threw the puck into traffic and Smith, unmarked to Lindgren’s right, deflected it into the top corner at 8:32.

Smith came into the contest with two goals in 40 games all season. The former Senators forward doubled his tally after four shifts.

Montreal’s only goal came 54 seconds into the second. A no-look pass from Ilya Kovalchuk into the slot fooled Jonathan Toews and Phillip Danault scored beneath Corey Crawford’s glove to make it 2-1.

Crawford improved to 11-2-2 against his hometown team with a 32-save effort. The Blackhawks goaltender has won his last six games at Bell Centre. 1171381 MontrealCanadiens

In the Habs' Room: 'It’s unacceptable the way we played,' Kovalchuk says

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 15, 2020

There’s help on the way, but it may be too late to resuscitate the Canadiens’ playoff hopes, which are currently on life support.

The Canadiens dug themselves into a deeper hole Wednesday night, when they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks.

This game featured a familiar script: Mistakes led to goals, the Canadiens were unable to beat a hot goaltender and the team’s home record fell to 9-12-4.

Claude Julien rolled the dice by starting backup goaltender Charlie Lindgren so that he could rest Carey Price for Thursday’s Eastern Conference matchup against the Flyers in Philadelphia and he gave up four goals on 28 shots.

It didn’t really matter because whoever was in goal would have needed a shutout to win because the ineffective Montreal offence managed only one goal against Châteauguay native Corey Crawford.

The Montreal loss, coupled with the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime win in St. Louis, means that the Canadiens are now nine points behind the Flyers for the final playoff position in the East and Philadelphia holds a game in hand.

Lindgren opened the door for the Blackhawks when he misplayed the puck behind the Montreal net during a Canadiens power play.

“That was a preventable goal and it was my mistake,” said Lindgren, who held on to the puck too long and had it knocked off his stick by Drake Caggiula, who then set up Zack Smith for a short-handed goal from the slot into a wide-open net.

“I haven’t looked at the play, so I’m really not sure what happened,” Lindgren said. “Everything happens so fast up here.”

Tomas Tatar was coming into the picture to support Lindgren.

“I think he said ‘play the puck’ but it was definitely miscommunication and it’s on me,” Lindgren said.

Lindgren had a variety of troubles in this game.

He gave up a power-play goal to Alex DeBrincat in the second period. He lost his blocker and his balance on the play and needed some on-ice therapy after he strained a muscle in his upper thigh.

“It was tough losing the blocker,” Lindgren said. He thought there should have been a stoppage in play, but he was told that would only occur if the Canadiens had clear possession of the puck or it was going out of the zone.

That goal gave Chicago a 3-1 lead and the player who took the most heat was Max Domi, who was watching from the penalty box. He was sent off for roughing Matthew Highmore near the Chicago bench.

“It’s not the first time he’s taken a dumb penalty,” said Julien, who benched Domi for the rest of the second period.

Lindgren also played a shift without a stick after his broke. He said Price told him later that a goalie is permitted to play with a broken stick but he said: “It was broken down the middle and I don’t think it would have done any good.”

“We got to win those games at home,” said Ilya Kovalchuk, who assisted on the lone Montreal goal by Phillip Danault. “We have a good schedule. Tomorrow it’s a do-or-die game for us because now we’re, I think, nine points behind. Tomorrow it’s a huge game. So we just need to regroup a little bit. Like I said, it’s unacceptable the way we played tonight.

“You have to be sharp on the power play,” Kovalchuk added. “Our power play is a disaster right now. We got to see the puck and be simple. We try to do those cute passes between the sticks, skates, it didn’t work. ”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171382 MontrealCanadiens

Corey Crawford, Blackhawks shut down the Canadiens at the Bell Centre

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 15, 2020

Corey Crawford loves to come to Montreal and show off for the hometown folks.

The Châteauguay native made 32 saves Wednesday night to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 win over the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. The victory gives Crawford a career record of 10-2-2 against the Habs and he has a 6-0-2 mark in Montreal.

The Canadiens went with Charlie Lindgren in an effort to rest Carey Price for Thursday’s game in Philadelphia and he dropped to 0-3-0 on the season. He settled down after a jittery first period, but the Canadiens were probably cooked when Chicago took an early 2-0 lead. The Canadiens have forgotten how to score goals, having potted only 16 goals over their last nine games. That’s an average of 1.78 goals a game.

Zack Smith doubled his goals output for the season as he scored both Chicago goals in the first period.

The first goal was the result of some miscommunication behind the Montreal net.

It should be noted that Lindgren is no Price when it comes to playing the puck outside his crease. While Price’s nonchalance can be frustrating at times, he knows what he’s doing. But Lindgren appeared indecisive as he played the puck during a Canadiens power play. Tomas Tatar came behind the net to give him a hand, but the puck squirted loose and Drake Caggiula picked it up and found Smith alone in the slot. He put the puck in the back of the net before Lindgren could re-establish his position.

Smith’s second goal was more straightforward, as he deflected Slater Koekkoek’s shot from the point.

The Blackhawks won the battle of the special teams to maintain their two-goal lead in the second period.

Montreal closed the gap to one goal in the opening minute of the second period when Phillip Danault converted a blind pass from Ilya Kovalchuk to scores his 12th goal of the season.

But the Blackhawks went up 3-1 when Alex DeBrincat scored a power- play goal midway through the period. Lindgren had to deal with heavy traffic around the crease and stopped five shots before DeBrincat scored his 12th goal. Lindgren lost his blocker and his balance when DeBrincat converted a pass from Patrick Kane. Lindgren appeared to have strained a hamstring early in the shift and athletic therapist Graham Rynbend spent several minutes massaging Lindgren’s thigh and putting the goaltender through a series of stretching exercises before play resumed.

Montreal went 0-for-3 on the power play and gave up the short-handed goal. The Blackhawks went 1-for-3 and might have done better, but a third-period power-play goal by Jonathan Toews was wiped out when it was ruled he kicked the puck into the net. Caggiula scored the final Chicago goal.

The Canadiens flew out of Montreal after the game and will play the Flyers Thursday in Philadelphia (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171383 MontrealCanadiens “I always believed in myself,” Shaw added. “I knew I worked harder than most, especially at that junior level. I knew I competed, I knew I was gritty, I knew I was a winner and I knew I could help a team win.”

Stu Cowan: Former Canadien Andrew Shaw dealing with another Jordie Benn was Shaw’s teammate with the Canadiens for three seasons concussion before signing with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent last summer. When the Canadiens were in Vancouver last month I asked Benn about Shaw and his most recent concussion.

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 15, 2020 “He’s played the game so hard,” Benn said. “It’s one of those things you don’t mess around with your head. It’s hard because you can’t see the

physical injury, but it’s definitely there. It’s one of those scary ones that If it wasn’t for Canadiens GM , Andrew Shaw might never one more concussion or one more bad hit to the head or something like have played in the NHL. that and you could be scrambled eggs. He’s got a family to worry about and stuff like that. I mean I don’t like saying it, but this is just a game. And Bergevin was the Chicago Blackhawks’ director of player personnel when he’s so young that he’s got a full life ahead of him. So I hope he’s all he went to watch an OHL playoff game in 2011 between the London right. I’ve kept in touch with him, too, he was a good buddy of mine there. Knights and the . He was there to scout Knights So hopefully he’s all right.” centre Vladislav Namestnikov, a top prospect, but the 5-foot-11 Shaw caught Bergevin’s eye when he dropped the gloves and fought 6-foot-6 I’m hoping the same thing. . Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 “(Bergevin) said that’s when he recognized who I was,” Shaw recalled after a game last season. “So I don’t think without that (aspect) in my play, I don’t think I would have been in the NHL.”

The Blackhawks selected Shaw in the fifth round (139th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Did Shaw win that fight with Tinordi?

“That one, no,” he said. “But I fought him again and I made sure I got the upper hand early. He was a big boy.”

Shaw has never backed down from anyone or anything on the ice, but he has paid a heavy price for his style of play.

After becoming GM of the Canadiens, Bergevin made a trade with the Blackhawks to acquire Shaw. After last season, Bergevin traded Shaw back to the Blackhawks, partly to free up salary-cap space and partly because of concerns about Shaw’s history of concussions. It couldn’t have been an easy decision for Bergevin, but unfortunately, it looks now like it was the right one.

Shaw was not in the lineup when the Blackhawks played the Canadiens Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Nov. 30 and remains on the long-term injured reserve with a concussion. In his last game, Shaw took a high stick to the face from Colorado Avalanche defenceman Ryan Graves. The game before that, Shaw dropped the gloves and fought the 6-foot-5 Graves.

Last season, Shaw was the Canadiens’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which goes to an NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. After the announcement, Shaw said he didn’t know how many concussions he had suffered during his hockey career, but figured he had three or four in the NHL.

“Today, there’s still a lot to learn (about concussions), obviously,” Shaw said at the time. “In the back of your head that’s always there that you might never be able to play hockey again.”

Shaw absolutely loves the game of hockey. He also loves his wife, Chaunette, and adores their 19-month-old daughter, Andy. Shaw’s face would always light up in the Canadiens locker room when he would talk about his little girl.

Shaw’s teammates absolutely love him — wherever he plays.

“Shawzy does make a difference off the ice and on the ice,” the Canadiens’ Max Domi said earlier this season. “Playing cards with him and getting to know him away from the rink, he’s a fun guy, he holds guys accountable and he wants to win. He’s prepared to do whatever it takes and I think that’s the most respect you can give someone is when they’re literally willing to do absolutely anything for the team — and that’s who Andrew Shaw was.”

When Shaw was reminded about his junior fight with Tinordi after being nominated for the Masterton Trophy, he said: “To be honest, back then I was playing for the love of the game. Obviously, I still play for the love of the game. I just want to be part of a team, make some friends along the way. That was the type of style of hockey I always played. I think that’s the way I was going to have success. 1171384 MontrealCanadiens time he’s taken a bad penalty. There’s consequences and sometimes those messages go a lot longer than the situation right there.”

The Canadiens got a power play at 15:24 of the second period when Canadiens Game Day: Habs' playoff hopes take another big blow Caggiula took a high-sticking penalty, but Domi remained on the bench.

“It doesn’t matter who you put on instead of Max,” Julien said when asked about that decision. “Max is not the guy that’s going to score goals STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 16, 2020 all the time here. The power play is a five-man unit, simple as that.”

The Blackhawks scored the power-play goal after Lindgren had lost his blocker and his stick during a scramble and was playing with a bare left “Carey will face the Flyers. They’re a team in our conference. That’s why hand. Lindgren will be in goal tonight.” “During that play my thigh and hip were tightening up, so I was more kind That’s how Canadiens coach Claude Julien explained his decision to of focused on that,” said Lindgren, who was tended to by a team trainer start Charlie Lindgren in goal against the Chicago Blackhawks after the goal. “I knew if I put my hand behind my back that I probably Wednesday night at the Bell Centre and save Carey Price for Thursday’s wasn’t going to get hit. But that was kind of a cluster there and I don’t game in Philadelphia against the Flyers (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 even remember how I lost my blocker and stick there. Everything Radio, 98.5 FM). happened quick, so getting injured wasn’t really on my radar.” Price, the Canadiens’ $84-Million Man, has won his last two starts, while Here was #Habs Max Domi's penalty that lead to the #Blackhawks taking stopping 72 of 73 shots, but Julien decided to go with his backup in the a 3-1 lead on the PP. first game of the back-to-back set. He never saw ice time again in the 2nd after this. Thursday’s game is now a huge one after a 4-1 loss to Chicago with Lindgren making 24 saves as the Canadiens outshot the Blackhawks 33- pic.twitter.com/75T6sohXhB— Here's Your Replay ḏ 28. (@HeresYourReplay) January 16, 2020

The Canadiens now have a 20-21-7 record — including 9-12-4 at home Domi accepts blame — and trail the Flyers by nine points for the final wild-card spot in the Domi wasn’t looking for excuses after the game when asked about his Eastern Conference. The Flyers beat the Blues 4-3 in overtime costly penalty. Wednesday night in St. Louis for a one-two punch to the Habs’ hopes. “You watch the replay, it’s obviously a penalty,” he said. “But in real time I “Overall, I think that was our worst game when I’m here, I say for myself,” didn’t realize I had his head. I’d be the first one to tell you that I was said Ilya Kovalchuk, who picked up an assist on Phillip Danault’s goal trying to gad him or something. There was no interaction. I hit him … hit and now has 1-4-5 totals in six games since joining the Canadiens. “It’s him again and as I kind of turned around grabbed him a little too high and unacceptable. Especially we need those points right now so … I’m then pulled him down to the ground. It’s a penalty. Don’t get me wrong, disappointed. it’s a penalty. But I certainly was not trying to do that.”

“Tomorrow it’s a do-or-die game for us because now we’re, I think, nine Did Julien say anything when he got back to the bench after the power- points behind,” Kovalchuk added. “Tomorrow it’s a huge game. So we play goal was scored? just need to regroup a little bit. Like I said, it’s unacceptable the way we played tonight. “He didn’t say anything to me,” Domi said. “But when you take a penalty and the team scores you can’t do that. It’s a coach’s decision. You got to The good news for the Canadiens is that the game was officially a sellout respect that, he’s the boss. I was just waiting for my name to be called of 21,302. and if I had the chance to go back out there I was going to try and do my Bad start for Lindgren best to make up for that one.”

The Blackhawks’ first goal at 5:42 of the first period came short-handed Domi got back on the ice in the first minute of the third period. and it was ugly. “Obviously, you want to get that next goal,” he said about his thinking Lindgren went behind the net to stop the puck and then there was after getting benched. “They played well tonight. They were strong on confusion between the goalie and Tomas Tatar about who would take it. their sticks, they won a lot of puck battles and they outworked us. I think we just got to find a way here. Got to find a way to stick with it and be Neither of them took it and the Blackhawks’ Drake Caggiula happily better.” picked it up and fed Zack Smith in front of an empty net for the goal.  Alex DeBrincat PP 3-1 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ugauJa8Dn0— “Just miscommunication,” Lindgren said after the game. “It’s unfortunate Here's Your Replay ḏ (@HeresYourReplay) January 16, 2020 just because it’s such a preventable goal. That shouldn’t happen. It sucks that it did and then it puts them up 1-0 and it’s not the way you want to Power play ‘a disaster’ start a hockey game.” The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on the power play and gave up the short- Was it hard for the goalie to refocus after that? handed goal. The Canadiens are now 2-for-29 on the power play in their last nine games. “I’ve let in a lot of goals in my career and a lot of weird goals, too,” Lindgren said. “You just got to kind of forget about it and move on. “You have to be sharp on the power play,” Kovalchuk said. “Our power Obviously, I wasn’t happy right away with it, but take some deep breaths play is a disaster right now. We got to see the puck and be simple. We and get back at it.” try to do those cute passes between the sticks, skates, it didn’t work.

Lindgren now has an 0-3-0 record this season with the Canadiens, along “I can speak for myself, the puck was jumping all over the place,” with a 3.40 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. Kovalchuk added. “Poor decisions by me. You know the coach trusts us that he puts us out there to make a difference and today we didn’t. So we  Zack Smith SH 1-0 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/MM5X7lIu66— have to regroup and it’s a huge game tomorrow.” Here's Your Replay ḏ (@HeresYourReplay) January 16, 2020 Kovalchuk logged 20:57 of ice time, the most of any Canadiens forward, Costly penalty and finished the game plus-1.

The Canadiens’ Max Domi took a really bad roughing penalty at 10:52 of "We've got to find a way to find our identity again."#GoHabsGo the second period and 35 seconds later Alex DeBrincat scored a power- pic.twitter.com/NEBtRpN6CW— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) play goal to put the Blackhawks up 3-1. January 16, 2020

Domi was benched for the rest of the period. The Hawks’ hometown kid

“I did what I had to do … simple as that,” Julien said after the game when The Blackhawks’ Corey Crawford, who grew up in Châteauguay on asked about the benching. “I don’t have to explain it more. It’s not the first Montreal’s South Shore, became a goalie because of . “Patrick Roy is pretty much the reason why I wanted to be a goalie,” Crawford told The Gazette a few years ago in an interview. “He was the man back in the day and I wanted to be like him.”

Crawford certainly plays like Roy when the Blackhawks come to the Bell Centre.

The Howard S. Billings High School graduate made 31 saves Wednesday night for his sixth straight win at the Bell Centre, during which he has an 0.75 goals-against average and a .979 save percentage.

Crawford, who won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013, improved his record this season to 8-13-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.

The Captain and Crow 梁#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/MEdGfg3EqY— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 16, 2020

Armia and Gallagher sit out

Joel Armia and Brendan Gallagher weren’t be in the lineup for the Canadiens against the Blackhawks.

On Tuesday, Armia took part in his first full practice with the team since suffering a hand injury in a 6-2 win over the Jets in Winnipeg on Dec. 23. Armia, who also took part in Wednesday’s optional morning skate, missed his 11th straight game, but there’s a chance he could play Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Gallagher missed his third straight game after suffering from headaches. Gallagher earlier missed four games with a concussion, returned to play in a 4-2 loss to the Oilers on Jan. 9, and then experienced headaches and was shut down again.

“(Gallagher) doesn’t really have a headache right now, but he’s at rest,” Julien said Wednesday morning. “As you know, these things (concussions) can be sometimes hard to diagnose and all I’m gonna say is (the team doctors) don’t think it has anything to do with the first concussion. But is it a bit of a setback? We don’t know that. So all we do know, as an organization and as a medical staff, is that he needs to be rested. We need to make sure that’s taken care of before we put him back into action.

“There’s nothing more to clarify, guys,” Julien added. “It’s unknown. Yes, he’s here … he’s here every day and he’s feeling good, no more headaches. That’s where he’s at, guys, and I can’t tell you more. There’s a lot of unknown when it comes to those kind of things.”

Go inside the locker room after Corey Crawford and the #Blackhawks defeated the Canadiens in Montreal.#CHIvsMTL pic.twitter.com/R8pvWSwRQ0— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 16, 2020

What’s next?

The Canadiens had a flight to Philadelphia after the game and will play the Flyers Thursday night (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Canadiens have a practice scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard and will then face the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., SNE, CITY, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

After that, the Canadiens will have their bye week in the NHL schedule with their next game on Monday, Jan. 27 at the Bell Centre against the Washington Capitals (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171385 MontrealCanadiens “It doesn’t matter,” Max Domi said when asked about their inability to take advantage of tired teams this season. “You’ve got to find a way to win hockey games, and we didn’t have enough tonight.”

The Canadiens’ illogical aspirations make an awful performance against Domi’s actions Wednesday in fact bring an odd symmetry to this whole Chicago a legitimate cause for concern thing.

When the game ended, Domi was waiting at his locker to explain the boneheaded penalty he took, dragging Matthew Highmore to the ice from By Arpon Basu Jan 15, 2020 10 behind in the neutral zone for no reason, then watching from the penalty box as the Blackhawks made it 3-1 as he served his roughing penalty

midway through the second period. In the grand scheme of things, it is unimportant that the Canadiens lost to “It’s not every day a guy’s smaller than me, so when I grabbed him, I the Chicago Blackhawks on home ice Wednesday night. In fact, many grabbed his head. I pulled him, and he went down,” Domi said. “So, observers probably see it as a good thing, another reason for the again, I wasn’t trying to take a penalty, but on the replay, it was a organization to abandon its faint hopes for a run to a playoff spot and penalty.” focus on preparing for next season and beyond. Domi didn’t play again until the third period, including a power play the That would be the sensible thing to do under these circumstances, and Canadiens got later in the second, when a goal could have brought them this loss might very well have convinced Marc Bergevin and his back in it. Instead, Julien began that power play with Jordan Weal, Nick management team to start looking at the trade market over the bye week Cousins, Artturi Lehkonen, Ilya Kovalchuk and Shea Weber on the ice. as a seller. Hardly murderers’ row. But until they are mathematically eliminated, you can be sure Claude “I did what I had to do, simple as that,” Julien said of benching Domi. “I Julien and his players have no interest in hearing that. They are still don’t need to explain it more than I did. It’s not the first time he’s taken a trying to make the playoffs, trying to win games and put together a run bad penalty. There’s consequences. Sometimes those messages go a lot that will make that end goal a bit more of a reality. It’s commendable longer than the situation right there. It doesn’t matter who you put on because they are professional athletes, and giving up with nearly half a instead of Max; Max is not the guy who’s going to score goals all the season left to play is not how professional athletes or coaches should time. A power play is a five-man unit, simple as that.” react. The notion of tanking gives these people hives because they are wired to compete and win. The last time Domi was waiting at his locker to apologize for a penalty that cost the Canadiens a game came on Nov. 16 against the New Coming off two straight victories, including one Monday night in which the Jersey Devils, one day after they beat the Capitals in Washington and Canadiens looked about as good as they had in months, this game the start of this monumental slide down the standings. Domi took a presented an opportunity for those professional athletes and coaches to penalty for interference when he knocked Blake Coleman’s stick away show just how badly they wanted to reach that end goal, no matter how from him, then got a second penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct when unlikely that goal might have been. he argued to the referee about it. The Devils scored the tying goal with “A couple of wins gives you confidence,” Julien said Wednesday six seconds left in the second minor penalty and 4:48 left in regulation morning, “so you hope it also gives you wings and we can be skating time before winning on another power play in overtime. tonight like we did the other night.” “I’ll take full responsibility for that double minor at the end. That’s on me, That is what makes performances like the one we saw Wednesday and I can’t do that,” Domi said at the time. “It won’t happen again.” something that should give the Canadiens some legitimate cause for It happened again. concern. Because it’s not the first time this season we have seen this team take all sorts of winning conditions and throw them in the garbage. But the Canadiens failing to take advantage of a tired opponent on home ice also happened again. So did the Canadiens failing to kill a penalty at They were the rested team at home watching while the Blackhawks a key moment of a game. Or the Canadiens whiffing on the scoring needed overtime to win in Ottawa on Tuesday. Advantage Canadiens, chances they were able to create. Or the Canadiens making glaring right? Come roaring out of the gate and take it to them early and bury mistakes that turned into high-danger scoring chances on their goalie. them, right? Be the fresher team in the third period and win it then if it comes down to it, right? The Canadiens did so many of the same things that have gotten them into a situation where dreaming of the playoffs is a completely illogical The Canadiens did none of those things from the opening puck drop to way of looking at things. the final buzzer, when the Bell Centre was practically empty and the only fans who bothered to stick around apparently did so only to boo them off The fact they don’t see things that way made their performance that the ice. Most of the Canadiens’ losses this season have come despite an much worse. honest effort. This one did not. Because if this is how a desperate team reacts to an opportunity to win a “To me, it’s the worst game we’ve played probably in our last 10,” Julien game at this critical juncture of its season, perhaps there are other issues said afterward. “It happens from time to time. That doesn’t mean it’s that need to be addressed here. acceptable and I’m accepting it; I’m extremely disappointed with our performance tonight. We didn’t show up. And it’s not always the same The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 guys; we had some key players who weren’t sharp, and it snowballed.”

At the end of the season, people will look for reasons this went south so drastically on Nov. 15, at which point the Canadiens had an 11-5-3 record. They are 9-16-4 since, the third-worst team in the NHL over that span ahead of only the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings, who have beaten the Canadiens three times this season and the rest of the league only nine times.

Many will rightly point to the Canadiens’ 2-4-2 record against Detroit, Ottawa and New Jersey, the three worst teams in the Eastern Conference, as the main reason for their demise. They are now 9-12-4 on home ice. But they are also 5-5-1 in games in which they were rested and their opponent was not, with three of those wins coming before the bizarre Nov. 15 tipping point of their season. Since then, the Canadiens are 2-4-1 under these circumstances, with four of those five losses (one in overtime) coming on home ice. 1171386 MontrealCanadiens Player “safety” The third Blackhawks goal was an absolute comedy of errors on the part

of the Canadiens. Not only did Lindgren lose half his gear, the referees Video Review: The Canadiens hang Charlie Lindgren out to dry in loss decided to keep the play alive as Lindgren fished around the scrum with versus Blackhawks a bare hand.

Players will do whatever it takes to help their team win, including risking a severe laceration when things go horribly wrong, as they did on By Marc Dumont Jan 15, 2020 18 Wednesday night, but it’s up to the referees to maintain player safety in those situations.

I know it’s up to the discretion of the referees to whistle the play dead, Hoping to extend their winning streak to three games, a reinvigorated but that was a legitimately dangerous situation that could have ended Canadiens squad hosted the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. much worse. Luckily, Lindgren was not injured. Normally, a three-game winning streak wouldn’t be a story, but this season is anything but normal, seeing as the Canadiens have only won #HABS LINDGREN SAID WHEN HE LOST HIS BLOCKER AND THE three games in a row on two occasions, and have only won three of their HAWKS SCORED THEIR PPG IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE last 15 games at the Bell Centre. EXPLANATION GIVEN WHY THE PLAY WASN’T BLOWN DOWN WAS BECAUSE MTL DIDN’T CLEAR THEIR ZONE OR HAVE POSSESSION Alas, the three-game winning streak was not meant to be, as the OF THE PUCK. Blackhawks, who happened to play in Ottawa on Tuesday night, beat the Canadiens 4-1, handing them their 28th loss of the season. — JOHN LU (@JOHNLUTSNMTL) JANUARY 16, 2020

On most nights, we can discuss the Canadiens’ solid effort that fell just You can’t fault Alex DeBrincat for taking the shot, but it’s hard not to be short, but there was no such saving grace against the Blackhawks. The left with a feeling of unease as you watch Lindgren reaching around Canadiens played poorly, left their goaltender out to dry and clearly sharpened skate blades for a loose puck. deserved to lose. Shea Weber laying a trap for his own goaltender, who somehow Sloppy Joe recovered from the goalmouth scramble, was just another spell of bad luck that has practically become a tradition this season. It wasn’t intentional, but the Canadiens paid homage to Adam Sandler and Chris Farley’s “Lunchlady Land” skit from “Saturday Night Live.” The apple doesn’t fall …

Oh, and remember when Max Domi taunted Zack Smith after he cleared Domi needs to play on the edge to be a productive player, but when waivers last season? Well, it was Smith who got the last laugh, or at the things go wrong he has the tendency to go full “Thelma and Louise” as very least, the most recent laugh. he plunges over the line between intensity and stupidity.

Not only did he score twice, but Domi’s lack of focus led directly to a His penalty against Matthew Highmore was a perfect example. Blackhawks goal. More on that later. Not only did it negate a promising Canadiens rush, but it also led to the The first Blackhawks goal was a thing of beauty. And by beauty, I aforementioned goal by DeBrincat. And if I may, unless he runs over your actually mean those modern, abstract metal sculptures you pretend to puppy and refuses to apologize, there’s no reason to take a penalty on a appreciate at any given art gallery. player who has scored three goals and one assist in 31 career NHL games, especially when said player really didn’t do anything to provoke The first mistake was Charlie Lindgren hesitating to pass the puck to such an overreaction. Tomas Tatar, though if we rewind the footage, it’s clear that Tatar was outnumbered by Blackhawks forecheckers, so we can give Lindgren a Domi is simply too important to the Canadiens. He needs to smarten up. pass due to the lack of support. The fans Weal love this one … The second mistake the lack of communication, which led to Tatar catching Lindgren off guard when he attempted to take over control of the OK, OK, Jordan Weal coughed up the puck at the worst possible time puck. The third, fourth and fifth mistakes were all the same; complete and it led to a goal against, there’s no denying it, and there’s no avoiding nonchalance shown by the Canadiens players when it came to proper the mounting frustration toward players like Weal among Canadiens fans. defensive positioning, including Phillip Danault’s lackadaisical coverage But if we’re objective, it was Weber’s actions that forced Weal into a of Smith. difficult situation. That’s not to say Weal is absolved of all blame, but Where’s the beef? since he decided to jump into the rush, Weber needed to provide an outlet option on the boards, not in the middle of the ice. While Victor Mete has found a new gear in his offensive game, his defensive play has raised a lot of red flags since the start of the season. Final word

Just a few days ago we were discussing his resurgence in the defensive Domi’s antics aside, the Canadiens’ loss was a good microcosm of the zone, but old habits died hard, and against the Blackhawks, he was issues that have plagued them this season. caught covering no one on a few occasions, as was the case when Smith Silly mistakes that immediately led to goals against, poor defensive scored his second goal of the game, the type of goal that should only positioning and an overtaxed defensive squad that’s tasked with jumping happen in practice, and only when it’s a tipping drill which involves no into the play way too often to compensate for a lack of elite forwards. It defencemen. also exposed the forwards for their lack of defensive prowess, as they The scoreline could have looked much worse if not for a few key saves focused on creating offence rather than playing sound defence. from Lindgren. At five-on-five, the Canadiens outshot the Blackhawks, Just as they win as a team, the Canadiens lose as a team, and on but gave up five high-danger chances in the first period alone, 12 in total. Wednesday night the loss was definitely a full-team effort. It’s not all bad The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 Don’t look now, but Ilya Kovalchuk has five points in his six games with the Canadiens.

His latest highlight comes via a very creative pass in the offensive zone, as he once again attracted attention down low to open up ice for his linemates.

Technically, he was aiming for Tatar with his beautiful behind-the-back pass, but we won’t hold that against him, because Danault was also in the passing lane, and Kovalchuk was covered by a player who happens to have won a Selke trophy. 1171387 New Jersey Devils

Ice hockey: N.J. Devils announce Players of the Month for December

Boys Ice Hockey: Toms River

North defeats Ocean Twp 4-2

Cole Schneider (18) of Toms River North is congratulated after scoring his third goal of the game during the boys ice hockey game between Toms River North and Ocean Twp at Winding River Ice Rink in Toms River, NJ on 12-20-19. TRN won 4-2.Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

By Andrew Koob

The New Jersey Devils High School Player of the Month program continues this season for the 28th year, and the first of three monthly picks for the 2019-2020 season have been announced.

Each month of the season from December through February, eight players from around the state are picked for Player of the Month honors. The winners are based on nominations from the media from around the state, and the chosen recipients receive tickets to a Devils game, a plaque presented by a Devils player, as well as dinner which is compliments of the team.

Here are the picks for December:

Gordon Conference: Aram Minnetian, Bergen Catholic

Big North Conference: Ben Kopacki, Lakeland

Colonial Valley Conference: Mike Zuppa, Robbinsville-Allentown

Essex/Union: Victor Velasquez, Dayton-Brearley-Union

Morris County: Danny Scheine, Montville

GMC/Skyland: Jason Wolff, Hillsborough

Shore Conference: Cole Schneider, Toms River North

Girls: Gracie Meyers, Morristown-Beard

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171388 New Jersey Devils

How Devils’ Blake Coleman netted 1st hat trick in bittersweet way

By Chris Ryan

TORONTO -- When Blake Coleman recorded his first career two-goal game in 2018, he offered a bold prediction to his family prior to that game against the Vegas Golden Knights, saying he was going to do it.

Coleman’s first career hat trick in the Devils’ 7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena came with another prediction, just slightly less dramatic.

After scoring his second goal early in the third period, the forward told Travis Zajac he was getting the third goal. Coleman did just that, popping in a rebound later in the same frame to cap of his three-goal night.

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In doing so, Coleman became just the second Texas-born player to record a hat trick, joining former Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch.

Coleman’s first two-goal game came in a blowout win in Vegas, but the hat trick came in much less favorable circumstances, occurring with the Devils on the opposite end of a lopsided game.

“Not the setting, I pictured it in but always special to get your first,” Coleman said. “I think that’s kind of the line we have and the team we have really to never give up and to keep pushing, and that’s why we got it.”

With Coleman’s three goals on Tuesday, he moved into a tie for seventh place in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals this season with 15. Only Noel Acciari of the Florida Panthers has more 5-on-5 goals (16) this season without scoring a power-play goal. Coleman also has three shorthanded goals to give him 18 total.

Coleman is four goals shy of tying his career high of 22, which he set last season. It would mark the third-straight campaign he upped his career- best total, and during his three NHL seasons. Coleman has proven to be one of the Devils’ more reliable goal scorers.

“He’s in your face. He’s hard on pucks, and then I think because he’s scoring now, he knows when to go and when not to go,” line mate Travis Zajac said. “So he’s really anticipating well as far as getting some breakaways and 2-on-1s and things like that. So I think now his confidence is there where he he makes some good reads and his instincts are good right now.”

Coleman has 15 of his 18 total goals since the start of November, right around the time Nikita Gusev was put on a line with Coleman and Zajac.

Along with Coleman’s scoring spiking, Gusev’s assist numbers have also jumped, recording 19 since the start of November after having just one in October.

Gusev assisted on Coleman’s second goal on Tuesday, springing him free to the net on a rush up ice. When the opportunity is there, the Russian winger has been able to find the opportunities to get Coleman the puck.

“My skating is one of my bigger assets and fortunately I have some good line mates that can put me into foot races or make plays to get me into space," Coleman said. "And each goal tonight was the result of a good play by somebody else on the ice. It’s just my job to finish, and we talked in between periods as a line, we weren’t gonna quit. We’re gonna keep pushing. That’s the kind of players we are.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171389 New Jersey Devils injury, it’s hard to imagine him not getting a start against the Washington Capitals on Thursday or the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Blackwood isn’t expected to be out long — Devils interim coach Alain How Devils’ Cory Schneider is approaching another NHL chance Nasreddine left the door open for him to rejoin the team before the bye — so Schneider’s window to showcase himself could be small. He got the call on Tuesday, but he knew nothing was set in stone.

By Chris Ryan “I’m not assuming anything, I haven’t been promised anything,” Schneider said. “I’m hopefully going to meet with Nas here, and just have

a good talk. He and I have a great relationship and I’m excited for his TORONTO -- Cory Schneider appeared in an NHL game on Tuesday for opportunity here. So we’ll chat. Obviously the bye is coming up, so it kind the first time since being waived by the Devils and sent to the AHL in of gives you kind of a limited runway, but Louis has played great. Played November. great this weekend and obviously he’s deserving to play it. It’s just about when I get my chance, taking advantage of it.” To say a lot has changed in the nearly two months since his demotion would be a massive undersell. Star Ledger LOADED: 01.16.2020

During Schneider’s time in Binghamton, the Devils fired head coach John Hynes and traded Taylor Hall. He was officially back on the NHL roster for just a few hours on Sunday before the team fired GM Ray Shero.

Schneider’s return to the NHL was always going to feature his desire to prove he still has something left in the tank. With so much change above him, that incentive is even higher.

“Just trying to start with a clean slate. A lot of new eyes, a lot of new minds thinking about things now, so just trying to make the best impression I can," Schneider said Tuesday morning. "It’s great to be home, back with family. Unfortunately on the road right away though. Not much has changed there, but, yeah, just eager to be here and compete and work.”

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His return started on a positive note, with Schneider stopping 13 of 14 shots in relief during a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The one goal allowed came off the stick of Auston Matthews from the right circle after Schneider was pulled up in the crease to guard against a shot right in front of him. As Blake Coleman pointed out, no goalie was making that save.

The Leafs racked up five goals before Schneider hit the ice, and they kept attacking during his 27:03 of action. Schneider stopped both high- danger shots he saw and made saves on all three Toronto power-play shots he faced.

In Binghamton, the goalie found some traction in recent weeks, winning his last four starts. Schneider worked closely with goaltending development coach Scott Clemmensen, offering him another voice, but the plan wasn’t to reinvent or overhaul the veteran’s game.

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“I didn’t try to make any wholesale changes. Like I said, I felt a lot closer to the guy who finished last season and played the worlds and play the preseason than the guy who had that four or five game stretch to start,” Schneider said. “So, it wasn’t anything major. Just getting games and just playing. Just getting lower, getting more active, competing. It’s all it is for me.”

The Devils’ three-goal rally in the third period on Tuesday nearly put Schneider on the hook for an unfortunate loss. If they scored one more goal, Schneider would have been in line for the decision despite giving up just one goal, but the Devils never got that fifth goal.

In the opening 30 minutes of the game, Devils players said they came out with a lackluster effort, and they got what they deserved in surrendering five goals and digging an insurmountable deficit. They managed to turn things around once Schneider got in net.

“You want to play hard for anybody, but, sure, when a guy’s had the year he’s had, you want to play hard in front of him,” Coleman said. “You want to block shots, you want to make his life a little bit easier and get him back into a rhythm. Obviously he’s been an All Star in this league and to get him back to form would be not only great for him, but it’d be great for the team and the organization.”

The Devils didn’t make a firm commitment to get Schneider a start prior to the bye week, and Louis Domingue earned the nod on Tuesday after posting two straight wins. With Schneider’s strong relief outing on Tuesday, coupled with Mackenzie Blackwood being sidelined with an 1171390 New Jersey Devils “It’s a young group and we have to learn how to find a way to do something positive in the game and bring something,” Interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. “Maybe a handful of guys had it early on but we’re just not a team that can afford that. We can’t be a team that relies on five, NJ Devils squander Blake Coleman's hat trick in 7-4 loss to Maple Leafs 10, 15 guys. We need all 19 guys. I said it when we won the last two games and tonight, not enough guys showed up.”

Off the Schneid Abbey Mastracco, NHL writerPublished 5:40 a.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 Jan 14, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Jersey Devils goaltender

Louis Domingue (70) is replaced by New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory TORONTO — Typically when a hat trick is scored you would expect that Schneider (35) during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs player’s team to win the game. But Auston Matthews and Blake Coleman at Scotiabank Arena. both registered hat tricks on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena so one The decision to go to Schneider wasn't an indictment against Domingue of them had to go home without a win. but a way to change up the energy. But energy aside, New Jersey fans It was Coleman's team that headed out for the next stop on a three-game were all holding their breathes as he took his place between the pipes, road trip as losers, with New Jersey falling 7-4 to the Toronto Maple ready to see if his work in the American Hockey League has paid off. Leafs. It's a small sample size, but it was a good start. Every time the Devils seem as though they’re about to turn a corner they "There were some breakdowns we had and he came up big with some never seem to be able to make that turn. saves," Zajac said. "It's good for him, really good for him. It's frustrating Coleman scored three times to post a new career-high total of 18 goals because we didn't bring the same type of game and in net, you never and P.K. Subban scored his sixth of the season. Goaltender Louis know what could have happened." Domingue made 14 saves before being replaced by Cory Schneider with The Devils have not decided how they will move forward with the goalies 8:29 left in the second period. Schneider stopped 13 of 14 shots he faced past the bye week and the All-Star Break, but the best case scenario is to in relief. have all three of them healthy and performing well. It's been a long road “It’s incredibly frustrating how we’ve been playing good hockey as of late for Schneider but there is no doubt the Devils are rooting for him to and then we just don’t show up for a period and a half, myself included,” succeed. Coleman said. “For whatever reason, we were flat and a team like that What’s next? can make you pay pretty quickly. We dug ourselves too big of a hole.” Jan 14, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Jan 14, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New Jersey Devils center Blake Matthews (34) battles for a puck with New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Coleman (20) celebrates at the bench after scoring a goal during the Bratt (63) during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. In a strange scheduling quirk, the Devils will head back to Washington for How they lost their second game in five days against the Eastern Conference-leading Coleman scored twice on those circus shots he’s become known for, Capitals on Thursday night at Capital One Arena. The last time out, they once in the second period and twice late in the game when he was trying beat the Caps soundly so they know they're capable of beating the best, to will the Devils to a comeback. it's a matter of playing like they know they can.

"We needed something going and he gets us the first one and then you "We're still trying to climb," Nasreddine said. "We're still trying to climb in get a couple quick ones there in the third and he gives us a chance to the standings, we're still trying to win every game. We're building for this come back," his linemate Travis Zajac said. "We didn’t have a good year, for next year, so there are a lot of stakes for a lot of players. Is it group effort today but sometimes individuals can keep you in these motivation? I think every player should be motivated every game." games and he did that for us tonight.” Bergen Record LOADED: 01.16.2020 The Maple Leafs took a 3-0 lead in the first period with two redirected shots and one scored by Pierre Gauthier that was the result of the Devils’ inability to get the puck out of their own zone. That same inability burned them 2:12 into the second period when Domingue tried to play the puck up the wall but it was kept in the zone and started a tic-tac- toe sequence with Pierre Engvall and .

Coleman ended Frederik Andersen’s shutout bid with a spinning backhand goal at 6:56, cutting the lead to 4-1. But he caught Alexander Kerfoot with a high stick a 9:34. Just 65 seconds later Mitch Marner set up Matthews for a power play goal. Matthews flipped one over Domingue from a sharp angle to effectively end his night.

Schneider was inserted two minutes later, making his first NHL appearance since Nov. 8, in a road loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The goalie was later pulled in a late power play and the move paid off. Subban cut the lead to 6-4 with 1:58 left in regulation, but Matthews completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal to put the game away.

"This was two different teams from tonight and the last two games," interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. "We've got to learn from it. We just didn't have it."

Any hockey player will tell you that when you don't have your 'A' game, you need to find a 'B' game. Nasreddine thinks some of the younger Devils are still trying to find that second level. Someone like Coleman helps bringing the same energy level in each shift but Coleman and that second line needed help.

Eventually, the Devils did do enough to come back. They managed more 5-on-5 shot attempts, scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances. But spotting Toronto six goals before Coleman even scored his second is no way to win a hockey game. 1171391 New Jersey Devils Managing partner Josh Harris spoke to the media shortly after Shero was dismissed Sunday, and the tone and theme of his words suggested that he and partner David Blitzer want Fitzgerald to focus on the first plan — on improving in the present. Harris said Shero is gone because the club Examining the tough roster decisions awaiting the Devils, depending on simply wasn’t winning enough; and, when asked about what the move which path they choose does for the timeline to be competitive, he replied “as soon as possible.”

“As an older guy, you hope so,” Zajac said. “There is going to be lots of noise and stuff as far as what’s to come, and it can be easy to get By Corey Masisak Jan 15, 2020 29 distracted. So I think as a player, you just have to show up and do your job. It’s cliche, and there are always going to be things in the back of your mind, but parts of your game will be hurt if are worrying too much about TORONTO — In a season that began with such excitement for the Devils other stuff.” before quickly devolving into one of franchise-altering change, the “offseason championship” could have been even bigger. What Harris said Sunday was purposely vague. Franchises make a plan for building a roster that often changes due to a number of factors, from Artemi Panarin was the biggest free agent on the market, and eventually external player availability to internal development, injuries and contract signed with the Rangers on the largest contract for a player switching negotiations. teams in the salary cap era. In the days leading up to that decision, a few other teams made serious attempts to woo Panarin in the final days of With that in mind, let’s map out where each of these paths might lead the June. The Devils were one of those clubs, according to a league source. Devils, and highlight some of the toughest decisions involved.

Now, it’s hard to play the “what if” game with Panarin because the PATH 1: “Let’s focus more on winning” Rangers were clearly the heavy favorites to land him when the process Let’s start with the current state of the roster. The Devils finished 29th in began. But the Devils took their swing, providing another piece of context the NHL standings last year, and are currently 27th despite the offseason to how committed the franchise was to improving this summer. additions. And now their best player, Hall, is gone. The Devils still made waves this offseason, adding P.K. Subban and The club has accumulated more points per game since the coaching Nikita Gusev in trades, Wayne Simmonds as a free agent and Jack change, but the underlying numbers suggest that is mostly because of Hughes with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. By the time the Devils improved goaltending, not an overall improvement. finally played a game in Hughes’ adopted hometown Tuesday night, there were reminders everywhere of how much has changed in a few Could this team be more successful next year with either a full season of months. Nasreddine or a new coach? Yes, but that’s not going to close the gap on the playoff contenders on its own. Interim coach Alain Nasreddine ran the morning skate and spoke to a throng of local media afterwards. Interim general manager Tom Could this team be more successful next season if Mackenzie Blackwood Fitzgerald watched the skate from one side of the lower bowl inside settles in as the starter and produces a save percentage similar to his Scotiabank Arena, while — newly-minted advisor to the number since December 1 (.912) and has a competent backup? Yes, but hockey operations department — observed from the other side. that’s not going to close the gap on the playoff contenders on its own.

Ray Shero was not here. John Hynes wasn’t either. Nor Taylor Hall. Could this team be more successful next season because Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Jesper Boqvist and Ty Smith will be a year The big splash this summer did not lead to improved results. The older, and a high 2020 pick could join them? Yes … you know the rest. increased expectations did, at least in part, lead to the subsequent changes. Put all of three of those factors together, and is that enough to make the Devils a contender? Probably not, and that’s where the moves Fitzgerald Now the franchise is heading for a critical junction in its quest to return to (or a new GM) make become so critical. the NHL’s elite. On one hand, the Devils have made one playoff appearance in eight years and are in the fifth season of a rebuilding Per CapFriendly, the Devils currently have about $57 million in cap space project that began when Shero was hired in May 2015. committed for next season. That includes $1.9 million in dead money from the final penalty on the Mike Cammalleri buyout and the ongoing “It’s been different,” veteran center Travis Zajac said after the 7-4 loss to recapture penalty from Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract through 2025. The cap the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, when asked about where this season fits ceiling is $81.5 million this season, and multiple reports have projected it among the ups and downs of his career. “It’s kind of tough as a player to in the $83-85 million range for next year. know where we are headed or where we are going or what we are as a team. There have been different phases throughout the year, and right Blackwood and Bratt are both restricted free agents and need new now it just has to be about us as players focusing on our game and trying contracts. So too are John Hayden and Mirco Mueller, and the latter two to build something with an identity and the type of game that we can rely have arbitration rights. Bratt is represented by Quartexx, an agency that on. All of the other stuff that has happened is out of our control, but it includes the man he met with after the game Tuesday night, Darren hasn’t just been small changes. It’s been really big changes.” Ferris.

While any roster-building decisions are rarely as black and white as Assuming reasonable (and likely short-term) deals for Bratt and “trying to win now” and “focused solely on the long-term future,” the Blackwood, there should be $18-20 million left, dependent on where the Devils appear to have two potential paths in front of them. One is for league ceiling is set. Fitzgerald, Brodeur and Co. to continue adding and re-shaping the current roster with the intention of competing for a playoff berth next What is a reasonable list of needs for the Devils to compete for a playoff season (possibly with more focus on the present than Shero’s short- and spot next season? long-term plan). At least one top-four quality defenseman The other path would be to acknowledge that Shero’s work over the past At least one top-six quality forward four-plus years has rescued the Devils from the rubble, but also not delivered the type of roster and future prospect pool that is going to make A goaltending plan New Jersey a consistently elite team soon. The Devils have four pending unrestricted free agents: Sami Vatanen, There are pros and cons to each approach. The former will require a deft Andy Greene, Wayne Simmonds and Kevin Rooney. Shero and Vatanen touch from a management group with new leadership trying to convince have both said no contract talks have happened on their behalf, and the managing partners they are right for the job on a permanent basis. Vatanen could be the best defenseman on the trade market should the The latter would certainly test the patience of everyone involved, given Devils make him available. the lack of success since the 2012 Stanley Cup run, with no guarantee of a big payoff at the end. Each would be a calculated risk, for different Does a change in leadership, and possibly a nudge toward trying harder reasons. to win next season, mean the club could be more open to retaining Vatanen, the team’s most productive defenseman this year? Vatanen turns 29 in June and will almost certainly be seeking a raise from his greater success in future seasons. Trying to win next season could expiring contract ($4.875 million cap hit). adversely affect the club’s ability to truly “go for it” in a few years when Hischier, and especially Hughes and the 2020 pick, are in the primes of If the Devils are trying to compete for a playoff spot in 2020-21 and build their careers. from there, they need to upgrade the defense corps. One approach could be to trade Vatanen and/or Greene, not sign the other and use the cap — Resetting a timeline based around Hughes and Hischier would allow space to make another trade or pursue a different UFA. Greene has a the club to do what Shero couldn’t: Rebuild from strength, not weakness. no-trade clause, and would need to waive it for a deal to be completed. Whoever gets to execute this plan would have legitimate building blocks. There are some intriguing defensemen in this free agent class, They would also have significantly more desirable assets to trade than highlighted by Alex Pietrangelo, Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, Torey Krug, Shero had in 2015/2016, allowing them to stockpile impact young Justin Schultz and Vatanen. All of them are between 28 and 31 years players. Some of the players Shero’s crew drafted could also help in old, and are likely to cost upwards of $6 or even $7 million. There will supporting roles. likely be a healthy group of teams interested in all of them. — The top of the , and the Eastern Conference in Another option to potentially upgrade the defense corps would be to general, is still loaded with teams who project to be great next season. move one of the current players under contract and replace him with a But Boston, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Washington should all be (presumably) better option, either in that trade or a separate move. weaker in 2-3 years, leaving a power vacuum next to Toronto, and possibly Carolina and the Islanders. Subban has two years left on his contract with a $9 million cap hit (but $8 million per year in salary), and even with a recent spike in production, it So, what would this plan mean for the current roster? Plenty of tough could be tough to find a trade partner without retaining a significant decisions, just maybe of a different sort. portion of money. Butcher has two years left at $3.733 million per, and Severson has four years at $4.167 million per. Who else would be untouchable besides Hughes, Hischier and the first of their two 2020 first-round picks? It’s important to consider what the At first blush, trading one of the best defensemen the Devils have might players on the current roster will be (and how much will they cost) in two not seem like a direct path to improvement, but that’s part of the or three years from now? challenge in moving forward with this plan. That means grouping the players in three categories: A big step forward for Hughes, and potential improvement from the Jespers, will help the forward group, but the Devils still need another The young players who aren’t going anywhere unless someone offered a bankable goal scorer up front. Kyle Palmieri and Blake Coleman have prospect/high pick that New Jersey liked more (a rare type of trade). been the team’s two most consistent goal scorers, dating back to the end The older players, specifically Greene and Zajac, who have no-trade of the 2017-18 season when Coleman emerged as a potential core clauses but would need to decide if they stay or have a better chance at player. Gusev has produced like a top-end offensive player since finding returning to the postseason elsewhere. a home next to Coleman and Zajac. The players in the middle, where the most intriguing decisions would be. A top-three or four pick in the draft could yield a forward with elite potential, but will the club want to rely on another teenager as the key Picking out a cutoff line for the middle is a little arbitrary, but let’s assume addition to spark more offense? The most attractive assets the Devils everyone under the age of 22 is safe. Some or all of the players in the could use to acquire such a player in a trade are likely to be the Coyotes’ 23-26 range — Pavel Zacha, Miles Wood, John Hayden, Severson, first-round pick from the Hall trade (assuming New Jersey’s will be off Butcher, Mueller, Connor Carrick and Blackwood — would likely be safe, limits) and possibly Boqvist or even Bratt, depending on how committed as well. Trading any of them would be more about a) the new person in the new management team (or a future new one) is committed to him as charge not valuing them as much as Shero, or b) another team making a a core player for years to come. The Devils do not currently have great offer. second- or third-round picks in the 2020 draft, nor a second in the 2021 Vatanen, Simmonds and Rooney (who will be 27 in May) are all obvious draft, because of the Subban and Gusev trades, though the Hall deal will candidates to be traded before the deadline. That leaves Palmieri, yield an extra first, second or third in 2021. They could also acquire picks Coleman, Gusev, Subban and Schneider. in those rounds by trading Vatanen, Greene and/or Simmonds between now and Feb. 24. Palmieri, Coleman and Gusev have been, along with Hischier, the team’s best offensive players this season. They’re all fan favorites, and, at least The free agent market for forwards is not as robust with potential impact for another two weeks, either 27 or 28 years old (Palmieri turns 29 on players. The top name is likely to be Hall, and the second-best Rangers Feb. 1). wing Chris Kreider. Mike Hoffman and Evgeni Dadonov are intriguing options, but the pool gets shallower after that. If the Devils are committed to winning next season, they don’t just need these three players — they need more talent to help them out. But, if the Then there is the goaltending situation, which might need a new plan focus is the future, that changes things. All three of them have one year moving forward regardless if the Devils are trying to win in 2020 or 2030. left on their contract and will be UFAs in the summer of 2021. There is still time this season for Schneider or Domingue to state his case for a roster spot next season. Will the Devils trust either of them to They’ll all be two years older in year of the next contract. Palmieri and complement Blackwood, or will they look elsewhere? What will having Coleman, in particular, are going to likely earn a new contract that is both Brodeur involved in the hockey ops decisions mean for the position? lengthy and expensive. They’ve both earned it, and it’s possible that the Devils will be willing to pay them and keep them for the next contending If New Jersey decides to move on from Schneider after this season, it will team. likely mean a buyout, which would mean another $2 million in dead cap space for the next four seasons. The top goaltenders on the free agent But those three players would also be valuable trade assets, either now market — Braden Holtby and Jacob Markstrom — are likely to be very before the deadline when a team could have them for two playoff runs, or expensive, both in term and dollars. Whatever the answer, upgrading the in the summer. Consider what the Rangers have done in the past few goaltending situation should be the top priority of the front office staff if years with their expedited rebuild. They have traded really good players, winning next year is also one. like Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Mats Zuccarello and possibly Kreider in the next few weeks. PATH 2: More patience, with possibly a bigger long-term reward There is also an argument to be made that keeping those players into Let’s say that Fitzgerald and Brodeur, or a new management group, their mid-30s on expensive contracts could be overpaying for leadership. convinces the owners that being competitive “as soon as possible” is Given how the league has shifted to much younger rosters, there could either not in the best interests of the club, or that finding the level of be plenty of veteran players with strong leadership qualities available on competitiveness everyone involved truly seeks requires more patience. shorter deals when the Devils are ready to “go for it” again. That could mean a drastically different approach with the current roster. Subban and Schneider are different cases because they are more An argument in favor of this tact would look something like this … expensive, have two years remaining and aren’t performing at the level of — The Devils, as currently constituted, need multiple top-end players to their cap hit. If winning in the next season or two is not a priority, buying compete right away, and acquiring them could hurt the chances of out Schneider might not make sense — the extra cap space after these two years would be more valuable than creating some for next year.

If the Devils wanted to move Subban (or vice versa, given the timeline to be competitive), they could retain up to half his salary and his cap hit for the next two years. Other teams could be more enticed to pursue him if the cost were as low as $4 million in real cash and $4.5 million in cap space for the next two seasons.

As Zajac suggested, the present is filled with plenty of uncertainty for the Devils. The future is, too. For some of the players, that could add meaning to the rest of the season, given how it might affect what comes next.

“There’s a lot of opportunities,” Nasreddine said. “And yeah, maybe the last couple days (there was uncertainty) with Ray leaving. But I think in the room for the players, this was something that was growing from four, five, six weeks ago when I came in with the coaching change. I think guys, for the most part, have embrace the opportunities. Some guys have taken advantage of them. And moving forward, we’re still trying to climb. We’re still trying to climb in the standings, still trying to win every game. We’re building for this year later in the year, for next year. Is that motivation? Every player should be motivated every game.

“If you’re a young guy, you’re trying to establish your career. If you’re a guy that’s been around for a few years already, you’re trying to get a better, bigger contract and have better, bigger responsibilities on the team. If you’re an older guy, it’s the same thing. You want to maintain your spot, stay on the team, be on a good team. There is a lot of motivation for everyone in this room with where we are at as an organization.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171392 New Jersey Devils “I’m excited about it, nervous, if this is a four-month gig or if it’s going to last longer? We’ll see,’’ Fitzgerald said.

He’s also torn because his relationship with Shero goes back a long way. LeBrun: Why collaboration is key for Devils new front office, Bergevin has It was Shero who brought Fitzgerald to New Jersey. Needless to say, it’s no interest in trading Price or Weber a conflict of emotions.

“It sure is,’’ Fitzgerald said. “Ray is, and always will be, my mentor and friend. And that’s something that I will always have. I know that I can pick By Pierre LeBrun Jan 15, 2020 79 up the phone and call him if there’s something that’s troubling me or questions that I can’t solve or just a sounding board. He’s like a big

brother. So yeah, it was a whirlwind day. No one saw it coming. It was TORONTO — Tom Fitzgerald and Martin Brodeur strolled into the presented to me, that this was what they were doing right now and Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday morning, deep in conversation. wanted to know if I was interested in this. Of course. I think for the entire hockey ops staff, continuity and familiarity is important. That’s what our Together, they are now responsible for running the New Jersey Devils. hockey staff needed and I accepted the challenge.’’

Up until a few days ago, neither one of them had even booked a hotel The move comes just six weeks before the trade deadline and he’s room in Toronto. That’s because, until this weekend, neither was already received messages from friendly GMs. supposed to be on the road with the team. “I’m fresh meat,’’ Fitzgerald said while smiling. And then their worlds completely changed. One of his first tasks is circling back to GMs who had previous Ray Shero’s surprise firing as the Devils GM on Sunday put both men in conversations with the organization under Shero. As AGM, Fitzgerald the spotlight. Fitzgerald was elevated from assistant GM to the interim had some knowledge of those talks, but must now have a complete GM position and the Hockey Hall of Famer Brodeur, coming in from the grasp of how those conversations were left. business side of the operation, was moved to hockey ops to help support Fitzgerald through this phase and perhaps beyond. “I need to completely piece that together. Obviously, I knew a lot of it, but how deep down were those discussions, that’s what I’m trying to get to,’’ Who knows where any of this leads for either guy, but for now they’re Fitzgerald said. comrades in arms, leading the Devils through the next few months. Bergevin has no interest in trading Carey Price, Shea Weber “Marty’s great,” Fitzgerald said on Tuesday at the morning skate. “He’s the most famous Devil. He’s got a statue outside the building! To have We’ve gotten to that point of a disappointing, injury-riddled Habs season him be part of the hockey ops department now on a full-time basis is where people are wondering if Montreal would consider trading Carey invaluable. Marty’s going to challenge me and I’m going to challenge Price or Shea Weber before the Feb. 24 deadline. Marty and we’re going to have debates. But at the end of the day, we’re Don’t count on it. going to walk out arm in arm with decisions where we challenged each other.’’ As I reported on TSN’s “Insider Trading,” Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said firmly to me on Tuesday that he has zero intention of even However, those decisions won’t be Fitzgerald’s and Brodeur’s alone. entertaining the idea of trading either player, saying he would not even Assistant General Manager Dan MacKinnon and the rest of the front listen if teams called. The duo are important parts of the team moving office will all have a voice, Fitzgerald said. Collaboration will be key. forward as the youth movement continues to integrate itself and having “I’m definitely going to have to lean on the entire staff. It takes a village, veteran leadership from Weber and Price around those young players is right?’’ Fitzgerald said. extremely important.

Brodeur got a taste of what life is like on the hockey ops side when he That was always the plan, to have Price and Weber surround the kids as was AGM to GM Doug Armstrong in St. Louis for a few years, before the reset Habs kept evolving, but the other part was hoping to stay deciding to re-focus his career to find more balance in his family life. This competitive while this process played out. is why joining his old team in New Jersey two summers ago as executive The latter hasn’t worked out as planned, as the Canadiens have fallen vice-president, business development, was the perfect opportunity. out of a playoff spot, in large part due to injuries but also because Price Furthermore, it added more experience to his executive résumé. at times wasn’t at his best. He’s certainly been back to himself of late. But now ownership has brought him back to the hockey side to help My take is that as long as Bergevin is Habs GM, Price and Weber are shepherd this transition. When company president Hugh Weber and co- likely not going anywhere. Not unless they want to. owner Josh Harris explained what they wanted this weekend, Brodeur said yes. I don’t mind that plan. You can’t just have 23 kids on your team as you re-model the team. You need to insulate young players with quality “I’m excited to get back in the hockey part of it,’’ Brodeur said on veteran leadership. There are few better leaders in hockey than Weber. Tuesday. “It’s something that surprised me a little bit. It came down pretty quickly. I had a good conversation with Hugh Weber and Josh when they Price is another important leader but the Habs need more consistent decided to make the decision. I’m excited to have that responsibility to seasons out of him. There are six more years on his contract after this help them out, evaluate what we have here. … It’s nice to get back at it. season. He’s at the heart of whether the Habs get back to contender I’ve got some catching up to do, which is why I’m with the team here status. now.’’ Where the Nicklas Backstrom signing leaves Braden Holtby I don’t believe Brodeur is a serious candidate to be GM only because I don’t think he’s interested in the job. I think for the same reasons he left The ink was barely dry on Nicklas Backstrom’s five-year, $46-million the grind of the AGM job in St. Louis, the GM job in New Jersey would extension and immediately the thought was, what about Braden Holtby? not be a fit. But something above the GM role, president of hockey ops or I wasn’t the only one to have this thought, as colleague Tarik El-Bashir something along those lines, would make sense. Perhaps something in also went down this rabbit hole. the /Cam Neely mold? The Capitals have been transparent with the pending UFA goalie and his Meanwhile, the Devils’ hierarchy will go out and commence a detailed camp, the message before the season was that they would wait until GM search. And I don’t think it’s going to be two to three candidates and after the year was over before circling back on his contract situation. then that’s it. My sense is that the ownership group and CEO Scott O’Neill plan to cast a wide net and talk to a lot of people. And Holtby would not have been blindsided by the Backstrom signing, either. Again, I sense that the Caps have been communicative. But there’s also no question Fitzgerald is a legitimate candidate. As he should be. He’s earned this opportunity. He’s had other GM interviews The fact is, re-signing a top center like Backstrom was simply a bigger and his time is coming, whether it’s New Jersey or elsewhere. priority at this stage. That’s the business of it. Whether or not Washington has cap room and also a desire to re-sign The Rangers are right on that thin line right now, they’re close, but they Holtby remains to be seen. If they do engage in contract talks after the might also get a nice haul on Kreider. season, term will be huge. I think the Caps look at the contracts of Price and Sergei Bobrovsky and know they don’t want to go down that road, It’s a tough call. especially not with young netminder Ilya Samsonov showing so much The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 promise.

The key will be term. If Holtby were willing to a do a three- or four-year deal? Maybe there’s a fit.

Then again, is there’s a six- or seven-year deal out there on the July 1 market, why would Holtby settle for less in Washington?

His situation will be a compelling one come the offseason.

Tyson Barrie becoming a big fan of Toronto

I still believe re-signing Jake Muzzin is probably Toronto’s No. 1 priority on their blue line but seeing how Tyson Barrie has responded to Sheldon Keefe must also give the Leafs pause.

But the same old concern re-surfaces, could the Maple Leafs even afford to try and sign the pending UFA?

Barrie will be looking for a raise from the $5.5 million he’s earning this season; I’m guessing around $8-million a year at least on a new deal.

And don’t forget he currently counts for only $2.75 million on the Leafs cap because Colorado retained half of it last summer.

That makes the math complicated for the cap-challenged Leafs.

But what I would say is that for a while, all of that appeared like a moot point because Barrie started the season seemingly buried by former coach Mike Babcock — not on the No. 1 power-play unit, and regardless of the Leafs’ cap situation, Barrie seemed like an unhappy camper who couldn’t wait to leave town.

Now things have changed. He’s enjoying life as a Leaf under his new coach.

“Yeah, Sheldon has been great for me,’’ Barrie said on Tuesday. “I love the guys here and I’m starting to love the city and get to know it a little better and getting more comfortable. I have no idea what my future holds, it’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds, but definitely, I’m a big fan of it here.’’

By the way, speaking of Muzzin, colleague Bob McKenzie reported on “Insider Trading” on Tuesday that the Leafs and Muzzin had started preliminary contract discussions.

Chris Kreider’s future

I read with interest this week when veteran scribe Larry Brooks suggested the Rangers need to lock-up pending UFA winger Chris Kreider.

He makes a good point. The 28-year-old is a valuable player, so does it not make sense to keep him around?

I always assumed that the Kreider situation would play out with the Rangers waiting closer to the Feb. 24 trade deadline to make a contract offer and then trading him if they can’t agree to terms. It’s what a lot of teams do.

And as of Tuesday morning, my understanding was the Rangers and Kreider’s agent Matt Keator had not yet engaged in meaningful contract talks.

Brooks suggested a $7-million a year salary on a long-term deal might be enough to keep Kreider around. But I’m not convinced the Rangers are ready to pay that much. I sense that something starting with a six would be more up their alley.

As always, the Rangers would need to weigh the possibility of re-signing him with the kind of trade offers they have on the table. He’s a popular name on shortlists from several contenders from what I can tell. Imagine him with the defending Cup champs in St. Louis, for example? I love that fit.

But the Rangers also want to compete sooner rather than later and heck, they’ve surprised a bit this year in a really tough Metro Division. After a while, trading core guys for draft picks and/or prospects no longer makes sense, if you feel you’re close to taking that next step. 1171393 New York Islanders

Islanders rebound from Rangers drubbing with 8-goal outburst against the Red Wings

By ALLAN KREDA

The Islanders vowed to play with purpose following a rough road loss the crosstown Rangers. They did exactly that against the lowly Detroit Red Wings.

Brock Nelson scored twice and six other Islanders connected as New York routed the hapless Red Wings 8-2.

New York scored three times in the first eight minutes, a rousing response after a 6-2 loss to the Rangers a night earlier.

"We came out and after the first couple of minutes, I knew we would be in good shape. We jumped on them early," Islanders coach said.

The league-worst Red Wings were out of it early, and Thomas Greiss made 34 saves to back the Islanders. New York improved to 5-1-1 in the second half of back-to-back games.

"After any loss, the next game is really important and it's important you get back on track,'' said Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock, who had two assists. "And it helps having that back-to-back so you don't have too long to think about it."

Jordan Eberle, Josh Bailey and Nelson chased Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard with their three quick goals early. Calvin Pickard relieved and stopped 14 of 19 shots.

Filip Hronek scored for Detroit 11:45 into the first, but Anders Lee put the Islanders ahead 4-1 later in the period. Eberle assisted on Lee's goal for his 500th career point.

Nelson scored his 18th of the season early in the second period on a breakaway, and Noah Dobson followed with his first career goal 41 seconds later. The 20-year-old Dobson was a first-round pick in 2018 and playing his 18th game.

Brock Nelson celebrates his goal in the first period against the Red Wings.

"It's definitely a cool feeling that I will always remember,'' Dobson said.

Anthony Beauvillier and Leo Komarov scored in the third to round out New York's eight-spot.

Detroit's Givani Smith scored his first career goal to make it 8-2.

The Islanders had scored two or fewer goals in five of their last six games before this season-best outburst. They were 4-5-2 in their previous 11 games to fall from second to third in the Metropolitan Division behind the surging Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Red Wings are 3-10-0 in their last 13 games and 5-20-0 in their last 25. They are last in the league with 27 points.

"We have to be way better than that,'' Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "We left Jimmy hanging and in the end it didn't work. We weren't good enough in front of him to start the game."

The Islanders have a rematch with the Rangers on Thursday night at Nassau Coliseum, the first time in nearly five years the rivals will meet on Long Island. The Islanders moved to Brooklyn following the 2014-15 season but are now splitting time between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum while a new arena is being constructed on the grounds of Belmont Park. Their new home is slated to be ready for the 2021-22 season.

Trotz applauded his team's effort and quickly turned the page to the looming New York-New York rematch.

"We’ve to show what we are,'' he said. “We have another level in our game we should hopefully bring it on Thursday.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171394 New York Islanders

Islanders hope goals continue in rematch with Rangers

By Andrew Gross

The Islanders’ last two games were played to the extremes.

They set a season-high for goals in Tuesday night’s 8-2 win over the hapless Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. And, of course, they looked as bad as they’ve been all season in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers on Monday night at .

They still need to prove the balanced and timely scoring they got on Tuesday – particularly from their top-six forwards – can be the norm and that Monday’s debacle was an outlier.

The Islanders and Rangers meet again on Thursday night at the Coliseum for the second of three games in nine days.

“I think we’ve got to show what we are,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We’ve got another level in our game and we should hopefully bring that Thursday.”

The Islanders did not practice on Wednesday after playing on back-to- back nights, so there was no update on whether invaluable fourth-line center Casey Cizikas would be available. Cizikas has missed two games after taking David Pastrnak’s power-play shot to the groin in Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Bruins at Barclays Center.

Nor would Trotz hint at whether he would start Thomas Greiss, who made 34 saves against the Red Wings, or Semyon Varlamov, who was mercifully pulled in the third period of Monday’s loss after allowing six goals on 35 shots.

“There’s always a might,” Trotz said of possibly giving Greiss back-to- back starts for just the second time this season. “Am I going to tell you? Not a chance.”

Rangers coach David Quinn ended any suspense with his atypical three- goalie rotation in announcing on Wednesday that Alexandar Georgiev would again start against the Islanders. Georgiev made 32 saves on Monday and is 3-1-0 with a 1.21 goals-against average, a .957 save percentage and one shutout against the Islanders.

But the Islanders were not nearly as dangerous as they needed to be around Georgiev’s crease on Monday after Jordan Eberle, who has three of his six goals this season over the last four games, opened the scoring 18 seconds into the first period.

“Each game as the season goes on gets bigger and bigger,” said Josh Bailey, who scored his ninth goal of the season on Tuesday and first in 16 games. “Thursday will be no different. So, we’ve got a chance to get them back here at home. I think we’ll be looking forward to it.”

Anthony Beauvillier snapped a 13-game goalless drought on Tuesday.

The game will mark the Rangers' first at the Coliseum since March 10, 2015.

“It’ll be a big game playing these guys, their first time back at the Coli,” said Brock Nelson, who had two goals on Tuesday. “Playing them so many times in a short span, you remember we didn’t play our best and they handed it to us. You kind of hang on to that one and, hopefully, use that as fuel even though you probably shouldn’t need it. I think it just adds to it.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171395 New York Islanders “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve played an NHL game like that before,” one Islander said. “There was no emotion at all from them.”

That will not be the case Thursday, the first installment of Islanders- What two nights of extremes tell us about the Islanders moving forward Rangers back at the (renovated) old barn since March 10, 2015, a 2-1 Rangers win. The move to Barclays Center tilted the rivalry in the Isles’ favor: They won the first seven games against the Rangers there before a 2-1 loss last January. The Rangers won six of the last seven at the By Arthur Staple Jan 15, 2020 30 Coliseum.

So the joint will be rocking on Thursday, as it always did and always Every player remembers his first NHL goal. should. There will be the usual heaping dose of Rangers fans, just as the Garden got loud on Monday when Eberle scored 18 seconds in and the “Nashville, maybe my sixth or seventh game (actually eighth),” Ryan Islanders, who had won eight of the previous 10 trips to Manhattan, got Pulock said. “Off a draw, just pulled it back at the point and sent it off to their customary good start in the city. through a screen.” Eberle scored again on Tuesday, this time 3:23 in. He had three goals in “My first game,” Jordan Eberle said. “Maybe the nicest goal I ever his first 31 games this season and now he’s got three in his last four. scored.” “He’s forcing himself into the middle of the ice instead of trying to make a Oh, he’s not kidding. play from the wall,” Trotz said. The coach reunited Eberle, Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal on Tuesday and they produced a couple of goals on Noah Dobson’s first will be remembered, but mostly with a chuckle. The pretty Barzal setups, likely ensuring they stay together on Thursday. whole game Tuesday night was a laugher for the Islanders, a palate- cleanser after leaving Madison Square Garden the night before with a This week isn’t all about revenge on the Rangers. The Caps come to the very sour taste in their mouths following one of their worst games of the Coliseum for a Saturday afternoon game, followed by a quick trip to season. Raleigh to face the Hurricanes. Carolina sat four points back of the Isles as of Wednesday morning and the Caps were seven points ahead; the And there were goals. For Dobson, it came on an oh-what-the-heck toss Isles’ 5-5-1 stretch since just before the holiday break has tightened from the point that Red Wings defenseman Alex Biega tried to glove out things around them in the Metro, where the Penguins and Caps can’t of the air. Instead, he tipped it down and into his own net, a play that seem to lose and Carolina is lurking. couldn’t be replicated on purpose if you had 12 hours and an endless supply of pucks. Then it’s one more at the Garden on Tuesday before the Islanders take their extended break. The scouts will be gone before that. And Lou For Josh Bailey, it was his first in 15 games and just his second since Lamoriello, who seems to be an eagerly awaited buyer on the trade before Thanksgiving. For Anthony Beauvillier, his first in 14 games. And market according to a handful of league executives, will be armed with even Leo Komarov, his first since Jan. 20, almost a calendar year. reports as he ponders whether to make minor adjustments, a major move Guys didn’t just score, they were rewarded. Which pleased Barry Trotz or none at all before the Feb. 24 deadline. more than anything else, given how he’d flatly stated his team got what it These next four games may tell him a lot about his team. Monday deserved at the Garden on Monday in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers. sucked, Tuesday was a blast and now the Islanders must get down to “There was a long list,” he said. “As much as I was happy for (Beau) business. getting a goal, when the game was still reachable he made a big block on The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 the penalty kill (early in the second). You get rewarded for that commitment.”

It’s what the Islanders need to take into this stretch of four divisional games in six days before they reach a 10-day break — the first few for All-Star weekend, then the CBA-mandated five-day layoff. The Wings are now minus-81 in goal differential through 47 games, on pace for the worst season of the post-lockout era after the 2016-17 Avalanche were minus-11 for the season. So beating up on them isn’t much of an accomplishment, but Tuesday’s game did remind a few of the most struggling Islanders that there is a way to make the game less of a slog.

And it’s the Rangers who are up next, the middle game of three in eight days and the only one at the Coliseum. Monday’s game was alarming, not necessarily for the final score but for how the Islanders simply stopped moving after Adam Fox’s bad short-side goal on Semyon Varlamov made it 3-1 in the second period.

With the entire front office watching from up high, the team came apart. The Islanders are just finishing their scouting meetings, a four-day gathering of all the pro and amateur scouts from Europe and North America to discuss the state of the current prospects, the 2020 draft- eligibles and the potentially available players via trade that the pro scouts have been watching in the NHL and AHL. It wasn’t the impression you’d want to leave on Monday.

The Isles gave up eight odd-man rushes to the Rangers, a number that usually comprises a month’s worth of Islander games. Artemi Panarin, who flirted heavily with the Isles before signing for less money with the big city guys, showed what the runners-up were missing with five points on a dominant night. The Islanders had been decent enough since Adam Pelech went down, and decent enough since Cal Clutterbuck went down, but Casey Cizikas missed Monday’s game and most of the team’s backbone went with him.

Cizikas sat Tuesday too, but there was enough stern talk in the morning meetings to get the entire group back on track. Having the 12-win Wings across the ice sure helped. 1171396 New York Rangers

Why Brendan Smith’s parents only saw him play for one second

By Larry BrooksJanuary 15, 2020 | 11:45PM

Brendan Smith’s parents had flown into New York to watch their son play at the Garden on Monday against the Islanders.

Which they were able to do for one second.

That is because, after coming on for his first shift at 2:12, Smith received a game misconduct at 2:13 for engaging in a secondary fight with Matt Martin. Referees Frederick L’Ecuyer and Steve Kozari applied Rule 46.7, which mandates a game misconduct for “any player who is assessed a major penalty for fighting after the original altercation has started.”

The fight occurred after Micheal Haley had fought Ross Johnston at 2:12. As the teams lined up for the ensuing draw in front of the Islanders’ bench, Martin engaged Smith just as linesman Tony Sericolo pulled back from dropping the puck in order to wave Greg McKegg out of the circle.

So instead of fighting in conjunction with the draw, the two combatants unintentionally violated the letter of the law. The referees, after a huddle with the linesmen, went with the broken windows approach to policing. Thing is, they could have excused Smith regardless, because the rule does not grant discretion on the game misconduct if one player is the clear aggressor. That was Martin.

“I don’t blame Matt at all,” Smith, who will get another shot against Martin and the Islanders on Thursday at the Coliseum, told The Post. “I know what he’s trying to do for their team, trying to get momentum, but what choice do I have there? I either let myself get beaten up by not engaging or I get thrown out of the game if I do.

“Matt’s trying to get a grip on me, he didn’t want to square off, and that’s OK, but I have to be able to protect myself and respond. He didn’t know the linesman was going to have kind of a fake drop, there. It was a consensual fight, no damage was done. It’s not Matt’s fault, but I think I got the short end of it.

“I think Steve and Fred cost me a game, unfortunately.”

And Smith’s parents a chance to see their son on the ice for more than one second.

Brendan Lemieux, sidelined for the past eight games since sustaining a broken left hand when struck by a puck on Dec. 27, participated in practice for the first time but there is no timetable for his return. Lemieux has been skating through his rehab process.

“He just got cleared, so day-to-day,” coach David Quinn said. “When we feel like he’s ready, he’ll go in.”

Pavel Buchnevich, who has been under the weather, missed practice but is expected to play on Thursday.

Quinn explained the organization’s decision to send Libor Hajek to the AHL Wolf Pack on Tuesday. The 21-year-old defenseman sustained a right knee sprain on Dec. 5 that sidelined him for 16 games and just over one month before a one-game return in St. Louis last Saturday in place of the injured Marc Staal. Hajek was a healthy scratch on Monday.

“He missed a lot of hockey and probably wasn’t going to play much here going into the break,” Quinn said, referring to the eight-day All-Star break/bye period that begins next Wednesday. “So he gets the chance to go down and play in some meaningful games, get back into game mode.

“He needs to get his confidence back. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. Each player is different, some guys are going to be able to step in right away and feel comfortable, but I think with Libor’s situation it’s better for him to go down and play some games for Hartford.”

New York Post LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171397 New York Rangers Monday was contentious throughout, the match featuring two fights in the first period and a pair of confrontations late in the third. There is no reason to believe this will be any different. The Islanders will attempt to maintain their structure. The Rangers will attempt to play to their identity. Rangers are debunking popular Artemi Panarin narrative Smile, Artemi.

New York Post LOADED: 01.16.2020 By Larry BrooksJanuary 15, 2020 | 8:21PM

Chances are that if you ask the average fan to describe the Rangers’ identity, he or she would simply point to a picture of Artemi Panarin — which would be perfectly understandable. But that’s not quite it.

Well, at least not all of it.

Because though Panarin’s latest rampage, through which he has collected 12 points (4-8) over the past three (yes, three) games, has elevated him to fourth in the Art Ross race with 67 points (26-41), the Rangers did more than admire his five-point outburst in Monday’s 6-2 rout of the Islanders at the Garden.

The Blueshirts were on top of the puck, were strong on their one-on- ones, were in on the forecheck, played a fair amount below the offensive- zone hash marks and applied pretty good pressure in the neutral zone. They hit back and hit first. Indeed, Monday marked one of the club’s most complete performances of the season and reinforced the template for what it is going to take for this young, generally finesse-oriented team to remain a factor in the playoff race.

In winning three of their past four games, the Blueshirts have displayed more of that approach and mentality on a more consistent basis. That’s the identity David Quinn and the coaching staff are attempting to foster within the group.

“I think we have to be a puck-pressure team, I think we have to make teams uncomfortable because we’re not an overly big team and I think we’ve got to keep teams out of their structure,” Quinn said. “I think we’re getting there. We’re not where we need to be, but I think we’ve made some progress in that area.

“There are only so many things you can coach, and you’ve got to coach your team to its strengths and identity. I think that’s the way we’re going to have success. It’s taken some time but I think some of that is on us, too.

“Sometimes you can try to coach too much, talk about the other team, but I think the more that you can focus on a few things for your team and talk about that and demand that, I think they get better at it.”

It will take more of the same for the Blueshirts to prevail in Thursday’s rematch at the Coliseum against an Islanders team that left Manhattan feeling the burn. Actually, it will take more than simply more of the same. This isn’t only about pride for the Islanders, who aren’t that far from tumbling into a wild-card position, and don’t have a take-it-for-granted edge on a playoff spot after having won only six of their past 14 games (6-6-2).

“You know they weren’t happy with their effort [Monday],” Marc Staal said. “We have to be prepared for a much different opponent. They’re going to be much better. But it’ll be fun going back there. It’s one of my favorite places to play.”

The last Rangers-Islanders game at the Coliseum, which at the time everyone had good reason to believe would the last Battle of New York ever played at the old barn, was played on March 10, 2015. The Blueshirts won 2-1 on an early third-period goal from Rick Nash that deflected in off then-Islander Ryan Strome after the Rangers had tied it midway through the second period on the signature goal of Kevin Hayes’ career, that power 360-spin move stuff shot off a breakaway.

Staal, Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast are the lone remaining Rangers who dressed for that one. was still recuperating from the vascular injury he had sustained at the end of that January, so Mackenzie Skapski backed up Cam Talbot. Lundqvist will back up Alex Georgiev for this one, the Rangers going with No. 40 because of his work against the Islanders the past two years (3-1, .957, 1.21) and not as a pre-deadline showcase.

“We have guys who still haven’t played against half of the league,” Kreider said of the return to Long Island. “It’s a great experience. playing there. It’s always fun.” 1171398 New York Rangers Others at the IIHF World Juniors Lundkvist was teamed with another Rangers' prospect, forward Karl

Henriksson, on the bronze-winning Swedish junior national team. NY Rangers prospect report: In deep group of young defensemen, Nils The 2019 second-round pick (No. 58 overall) posted three points (one Lundkvist shines goal and two assists) in seven tournament games.

He's had a successful year with Frolunda’s J20 team, tallying two assists Vincent Z. Mercogliano, NHL writerPublished 6:00 a.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 and winning 13 of 17 faceoffs (76.5%) against Lulea’s J20 team on | Updated 6:09 a.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 Saturday. The 5-foot-9 center has registered 25 points (five goals and 20 assists) and a plus-14 rating in 19 games this season. Henriksson ranks sixth in the league (minimum 10 games played) in points per game this season (1.32). Five New York Rangers' prospects participated in the IIHF World Junior Championships, which concluded in the Czech Republic with Canada's Rangers prospect Karl Henriksson and other Rangers prospects practice gold-medal win over Russia on Jan. 5. at the Rangers training facility in Greenburgh Sept. 5, 2019.

All five registered at least one point, but the most impressive of the bunch Defenseman Zac Jones, a 2019 third-round pick (No. 68 overall), joined was Swedish defenseman Nils Lundkvist. Miller as a member of the U.S. junior national team.

Jun 22, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Nils Lundkvist poses for a photo with The 5-foot-10 lefty shot finished with two points (one goal and one team representatives after being selected as the number twenty-eight assist), a plus-one rating and 12 shots on goal in five games. He tied for overall pick to the New York Rangers in the first round of the 2018 NHL first among U.S. defensemen in points and led U.S. defensemen in shots Draft at American Airlines Center. on goal.

The 2018 first-round pick (No. 28 overall) posted eight points (one goal Finally, 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 101 overall) Nico Gross tallied one and seven assists) in seven games while averaging 17:32 time on ice to goal in three games while serving as an alternate captain for Switzerland. help the Swedes win the bronze. Lundkvist tied for third among all players in the tournament in assists and ranked third among all In 30 games with Oshawa in the OHL, the 6-foot-1 defenseman has defensemen in points. registered 19 points (seven goals and 12 assists) and a plus-five rating.

#WorldJuniors: Askarov pulled as Nils Lundkvist (NYR 1st/2018) wrists Elsewhere around the world one off his shoulder and in. Swedes lead Russia 4-3 thanks to their third Perhaps the biggest breakout performance by any Rangers' prospect this PPG against the tourney's top PK. season has been forward Lauri Pajuniemi. FWIW, Lulea's PP and breakout look terrible today with Lundkvist not The 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 132 overall) doesn't come with the hype of there. pic.twitter.com/VFuncAGn4a many others in New York's highly-regarded prospect system, but he's — Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) January 4, 2020 been putting up some eye-popping numbers for Kaapo Kakko's former team in Liiga, TPS. The 20-year-old has already established career highs The standout performance continued what has been a strong season for in goals (20) and points (28) through 34 games. His lofty goals total ranks one of the Rangers' top prospects. second in the league.

Although he doesn't have the prototypical size for a defenseman at 5- At one time considered a fringe prospect, Pajuniemi is proving he could foot-11, 174 pounds, Lundkvist is earning quite the reputation as a have a future in the NHL. playmaker. "He has taken positive steps in his 200-foot game and has been LIBOR HAJEK: Rangers assign young defenseman to AHL Hartford rewarded offensively," Rangers assistant director of player development Tuomo Ruutu said. "His shot is consistently a threat, especially on the POSTGAME ANALYSIS: Artemi Panarin posts five-point game power play." He has 17 points (four goals and 13 assists) and a plus-13 rating through Another forward prospect who's playing in Liiga, 2019 fifth-round pick 26 games with his SHL club, Lulea. Most recently, he tallied an assist in (No. 130 overall) Leevi Aaltonen, recorded an assist and logged 15:09 of 20:25 of ice time to help Lulea defeat Frolunda in the first game of the ice time Saturday, which represents his second-highest total of the Champions Hockey League (CHL) semifinals on Jan. 7. season. Aaltonen is one of only 12 players in their U19 season or Lundkvist was taken after another Rangers' defenseman prospect, younger who have recorded three or more points in Liiga in 2019-20. K'Andre Miller (No. 22 overall in 2018), who also participated in the World Meanwhile, a handful of defensemen prospects are making their mark in Junior Championships while playing for the United States. He posted two leagues around the world. assists while averaging 19:24 time on ice in five games. Matthew Robertson practices drills during the first day of New York K'Andre Miller has been quiet for Team USA, but that doesn't mean he Rangers development camp June 24, 2019 at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, hasn't played well. Conn. Back with the University of Wisconsin, Miller tallied an assist on the Matthew Robertson, a 2019 second-round pick (No. 49 overall) who has game-winning goal in Saturday's win against Ohio State and has already signed his entry-level contract, has registered a point in eight of recorded eight points (three goals and five assists) in his last 10 games. his last 13 games for WHL Edmonton, recording 10 points (two goals and He's registered 12 points (six goals and six assists) in 20 games as a eight assists) over that span. The 6-foot-4 lefty shot has 25 points (eight sophomore and is tied for fifth among NCAA defensemen in goals. goals and 17 assists) in 40 games this season and is tied for ninth Miller has had more buzz because he stands at 6-foot-4 to go along with among WHL defensemen in goals. his skating and offensive skills, but Lundkvist is making his case as the Hunter Skinner, a 2019 fourth-round pick (No. 112 overall), has Rangers' best defensive prospect. And while it still stands to reason that registered 24 points (three goals and 21 assists) and a plus-21 rating in Miller could be NHL-ready sooner due to his size, it's possible that both 40 OHL games with London this season. Skinner ranks third among OHL could entertain the idea of signing entry-level contracts this offseason. defensemen in plus/minus rating. With Lundkvist shooting from the right side and Miller from the left, the And Tarmo Reunanen, a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 98 overall), has Rangers have a pair of dynamic blue-line prospects to dream about in posted a plus-six rating over his last three games and has registered the near future. eight points (two goals and six assists) in 30 games for in Liiga this Team USA's K'Andre Miller skates down the ice at USA Hockey Arena in season. Plymouth. Golden goalies Team USA's K'Andre Miller skates down the ice at USA Hockey Arena in The Rangers have been putting their goalie depth on display by carrying Plymouth. (Photo: Rena Laverty) three goalies on their NHL roster. But it doesn't stop there. Tyler Wall continues to perform like one of the best in the NCAA. The 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 174 overall) made 25 saves in Friday's win over RIT to earn his 52nd career win, breaking Dwayne Roloson’s UMass-Lowell record for wins by a goaltender since the school began playing in Division 1. The senior has posted a 12-3-4 record this season, along with a 1.81 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in 19 appearances. Wall is tied for second in the NCAA in save percentage.

Congrats to Tyler Wall, who became the DI all-time goalie wins leader in @RiverHawkHockey history tonight! pic.twitter.com/nH1cBrIF6h

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) January 11, 2020

Wall could very well end up at AHL Hartford next season, where Adam Huska has taken the place of Igor Shesterkin as No. 1 goalie.

The 2015 seventh-round pick (No. 184 overall) earned a win in each of his two appearances last week after Shesterkin's call-up to New York, posting a 2.01 GAA and a .931 SV%. Huska has posted an 8-4-4 record this season and is tied for second among AHL rookie goaltenders in GAA (2.61) and tied for fifth in SV% (.908).

More from the Pack

Along with Shesterkin, 20-year-old defenseman Joey Keane was selected for the 2020 AHL All-Star game.

The 2018 third-round pick (No. 88 overall) has registered 22 points (six goals and 16 assists) in 38 games. He is tied for first among AHL rookie defensemen in goals and is tied for second in points.

The Wolf Pack are boasting an impressive group of defensemen that now includes Libor Hájek, who was reassigned by the Rangers Tuesday, and Yegor Rykov, who has posted seven assists in 16 games since returning from a lower-body injury.

An under-the-radar defenseman has been Darren Raddysh. He's slightly older than the Keane-Hájek-Rykov trio — he'll be 24 next month — but he's quietly having a good season. Raddysh has 17 points (four goals and 13 assists) in 39 games with a plus-19 rating, which is tied for fourth in the AHL.

HARTFORD: Analyzing prospects with assistant GM

On the other end of the ice, Vinni Lettieri has emerged from the pack as Hartford's top points producer.

The 24-year-old forward posted a four-point game (one goal and three assists) and a plus-three rating in Friday's 6-3 win over Charlotte. Lettieri has recorded a point in four of the last five games, tallying eight points (four goals and four assists) over the span. He leads the Wolf Pack in goals (15) and points (32), and is tied for the team lead in assists (17).

Bergen Record LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171399 New York Rangers

Islanders hope goals continue in rematch with Rangers

By Andrew Gross

The Islanders’ last two games were played to the extremes.

They set a season-high for goals in Tuesday night’s 8-2 win over the hapless Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. And, of course, they looked as bad as they’ve been all season in a 6-2 loss to the Rangers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

They still need to prove the balanced and timely scoring they got on Tuesday – particularly from their top-six forwards – can be the norm and that Monday’s debacle was an outlier.

The Islanders and Rangers meet again on Thursday night at the Coliseum for the second of three games in nine days.

“I think we’ve got to show what we are,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “We’ve got another level in our game and we should hopefully bring that Thursday.”

The Islanders did not practice on Wednesday after playing on back-to- back nights, so there was no update on whether invaluable fourth-line center Casey Cizikas would be available. Cizikas has missed two games after taking David Pastrnak’s power-play shot to the groin in Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Bruins at Barclays Center.

Nor would Trotz hint at whether he would start Thomas Greiss, who made 34 saves against the Red Wings, or Semyon Varlamov, who was mercifully pulled in the third period of Monday’s loss after allowing six goals on 35 shots.

“There’s always a might,” Trotz said of possibly giving Greiss back-to- back starts for just the second time this season. “Am I going to tell you? Not a chance.”

Rangers coach David Quinn ended any suspense with his atypical three- goalie rotation in announcing on Wednesday that Alexandar Georgiev would again start against the Islanders. Georgiev made 32 saves on Monday and is 3-1-0 with a 1.21 goals-against average, a .957 save percentage and one shutout against the Islanders.

But the Islanders were not nearly as dangerous as they needed to be around Georgiev’s crease on Monday after Jordan Eberle, who has three of his six goals this season over the last four games, opened the scoring 18 seconds into the first period.

“Each game as the season goes on gets bigger and bigger,” said Josh Bailey, who scored his ninth goal of the season on Tuesday and first in 16 games. “Thursday will be no different. So, we’ve got a chance to get them back here at home. I think we’ll be looking forward to it.”

Anthony Beauvillier snapped a 13-game goalless drought on Tuesday.

The game will mark the Rangers' first at the Coliseum since March 10, 2015.

“It’ll be a big game playing these guys, their first time back at the Coli,” said Brock Nelson, who had two goals on Tuesday. “Playing them so many times in a short span, you remember we didn’t play our best and they handed it to us. You kind of hang on to that one and, hopefully, use that as fuel even though you probably shouldn’t need it. I think it just adds to it.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171400 New York Rangers

David Quinn focused on Rangers' progress, not trade deadline

By Denis P. Gorman

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — David Quinn believes the Rangers are an unfinished product. He also is adamant that they are a group showing signs of growth.

What he is unsure about is whether their recent play and tangible results will be enough to convince general manager Jeff Gorton to keep the 2019-20 edition intact at the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

“Those conversations don’t happen very often right now,” Quinn said after practice Wednesday at the MSG Training Facility, ahead of Thursday's game against the Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum. “This is all about the now and winning the hockey game tomorrow night.”

Island Ice podcast: Isles vs. Rangers with Gross and Stephenson

On the eve of the second of three games in nine days against their rivals, the Rangers (22-19-4) are seventh in the division and 12th in the conference. They currently are eight points behind wild-card teams Carolina and Philadelphia (the Flyers beat the Blues, 4-3, in overtime Wednesday night).

Quinn stressed he has seen improvement in his team in the last five games after a 4-3 loss to the Flames on Jan. 2. The Rangers have outscored their opponents 20-15 in winning three of those games.

“We realized this is the way we have to play not only individually but collectively,” Quinn said. “I thought we did it in spurts before Calgary, but it seems to be a little bit more of a mission for our guys, a little bit more of an approach from a nightly basis than it was earlier.”

And what is that approach?

“I think we have to be a puck pressure team,” Quinn said. “We have to make teams uncomfortable because we’re not an overly big team. And I think we have to keep teams out of their structure.”

Still, that’s the overarching vision for what Quinn wants his team to be. How would he analyze what they are today?

“We’re not where we need to be,” Quinn said. “But we’ve made some progress in that area.”

Notes & quotes: After the hourlong practice, Quinn announced Alexandar Georgiev will make his second straight start. Georgiev made 32 saves in Monday night’s 6-2 win over the Islanders at the Garden . . . Brendan Lemieux practiced for the first time since suffering a broken hand in a 5-3 win over the Hurricanes on Dec. 27. “He just got cleared,” Quinn said. “So, you know, day-to-day.” . . . Quinn also explained the rationale for Libor Hajek’s assignment to AHL Hartford Monday. “He’s missed a lot of hockey,” Quinn said. Hajek, 21, had five assists in 28 games this season, although he had missed 16 games from Dec. 6 through Jan. 9 with a sprained knee before returning for the 5-2 loss to the Blues last Saturday. “We just thought he wasn’t going to play much here [heading into] the [All-Star] break,” Quinn said. “[So] give him a chance to go down there and play meaningful games and get back into game mode.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171401 New York Rangers The Rangers could run the first unit deployed through much of Zibanejad’s absence, which was often Kreider, Panarin, Strome, and Kakko, with either Fox or DeAngelo at the point.

How the Rangers can continue building their power play into a strength The below viz gives us a look at offense those four forwards created (with either defender) while Zibanejad was out.

Viz via HockeyViz By Shayna Goldman Jan 15, 2020 18 The ‘second’ unit could then work around Zibanejad, with Buchnevich as the leading playmaker, Chytil in the slot, and blue liners Fox and Trouba.

The New York Rangers kicked off the 2019-20 season with a power play Loading up PP1 that showed glimpses of being a dynamic unit, but as the year has continued, its efficiency has wavered. While the team’s power play While balancing the units with talent could make the Rangers’ power play technically still ranks in the top half of the league, it hasn’t been a threat throughout their attacking time, there’s a reason teams load up consistent enough to be considered a strength. PP1: it helps to have top players on as much as possible. The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn wrote about teams trending towards this strategy, and But there’s certainly potential for it to become one, so how can the its effectiveness. Rangers reach it? Let’s dive in. The Rangers lean on PP1 more by playing Panarin in 67.3 percent, The Rangers opened the season with a top power-play unit headlined by Kreider in 65.4 percent, and Zibanejad in 64.6 percent of the available ice some of their best players in a 1-3-1 system. Artemi Panarin and his time (when he’s been in the lineup), although, for context, they aren’t right-handed shot were featured in the left circle, with left-handed Pavel near the levels some reach around the league — Ovechkin plays 90 Buchnevich at the right half-board. Mika Zibanejad, who last year was the percent of the Capitals’ power play time, Connor McDavid and Leon slotted in the left circle, shifted to the slot. Chris Kreider retained his role Draisaitl play 84 percent of the Oilers’ and Jack Eichel plays almost 76 as a net-front presence, thanks to his 6-foot-3 frame and deflecting percent of Buffalo’s. abilities. And Jacob Trouba rounded out the first unit at the point to help direct play and hold the zone. So for the Rangers, loading PP1 means starting with Panarin, Zibanejad, and Kreider, building from there. The second unit initially consisted of Ryan Strome, Kaapo Kakko, Brendan Lemieux, Adam Fox, and Tony DeAngelo. Viz via HockeyViz

Despite some early season success, changes have come throughout the With Zibanejad and Panarin on the same unit, it means the Rangers’ first half of the year due to a need for balance, players earning leading pivot will stay in the slot. He’s been effective in that position, promotions, and injuries, eventually bringing the Rangers to their current which calls for a defensively aware player, a skillful passer, and someone units: Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, Strome, and DeAngelo, and who can quickly shoot the puck. While it was a new role for him this Buchnevich, Filip Chytil, Kakko, Fox, and Trouba for the second. season, he’s since acclimated.

While there have been some encouraging looks from both units as the “In the beginning it was a little bit different to get used to it because I season has progressed, this year is all about growth — and there’s room never played the middle, in that sense,” Zibanejad explained. “But each for improvement on the man advantage that currently ranks 13th in the (position) interchanges so much and I get a little bit of a freewheel in league (20.4 percent) and 12th in scoring rate (7.29 goals per 60). there. So I think it’s been working out well.”

Splitting up Zibanejad and Panarin, and balancing units There are options for the remaining two slots to round out the unit. A left- handed shot is fitting for the right half-boards, and that likely comes down The problem with having Zibanejad and Panarin on the same unit is that to Kakko or Buchnevich. With different skill sets, the decision could come both are accustomed to playing from the left half-board. Zibanejad shifted down to play styles. to the slot this season, which Strome took over in his absence. Since his return, there have been quite a few positioning tweaks. At the point, Fox and DeAngelo are the leading options. DeAngelo’s scoring as of late could give him the edge, while Fox’s two-way play With Panarin on the left, the coaches have tried Zibanejad on the right could make him the more fitting option for the power-play unit with one half-boards. While Zibanejad was still able to score from the right, the defender, as the point can so easily be exposed with just one player on power play was reconfigured shortly after to keep searching for the right the blue line. balance. While distributing skill evenly to each power-play unit may be the safer Another experiment was moving Zibanejad back to the left circle and method, there’s also a method to stacking talent — creating multiple Panarin to the right. Against the Kings, this was tested, with Kakko in the threats that overload the opponent. slot and DeAngelo at the point. “You look at a team like Washington. You know who they’re going to, but Panarin was the distributor here, which is fitting for the elite playmaker. they have three other options, four other options. That’s basically as But from there he wasn’t shooting as much, nor was he in the best good a power play as it gets,” Zibanejad said. “You take something position receive a pass for a one-timer. While it’s ideal to play him to his away, they find something else.” strengths, he’s also been a major shot contributor, with a team-leading 88 attempts and five goals which are on target with his individual Balancing Handedness expected goals of 4.84. In either configuration, a change from the Rangers’ current power play is With Panarin, Zibanejad, and Strome composing the ‘three’ of a 1-3-1, it finding more balance in handedness with two lefties and three righties, leaves one of them shooting strong side. On the power play, as the work instead of just one left-handed shot on the first unit. of Arik Parnass shows, shooting from the off-wing can lead to a higher As noted, teams have a higher goal probability with a shooter playing on goal probability — so ideally, the team’s two best shooters are in the right their off-wing. That’s currently missing on the right side of the ice and it positions for that, which can’t happen if Strome is in the slot and shows in their offensive generation. Zibanejad or Panarin is on the right. The Rangers have taken the seventh highest rate of shots for of 103.17 One option to balance the power play is splitting up their two biggest per 60 while on the power play. Along with shot volume, shot quality is offensive weapons in Panarin and Zibanejad, just as they often do at essential and we can use expected goals as a proxy for that; their 7.43 even strength so both can shoot from the left circle. per 60 expected goal for rate is good for ninth in the league. It’s also Along with evenly distributing the talent, they’d be able to with ice time as worth noting that their shooting percentage of 13.16 is close to league well, similar to how the Islanders, Wild, and Flyers have a somewhat average right now. even split in ice time between power-play units. The below chart can give us a look at where their shots are coming from. Strome and Panarin click at even strength, and Zibanejad to the ‘second’ The brown areas indicate where the Rangers frequently shoot from unit could help them balance each unit with two lefties and three righties compared to the league average, while purple shows where they lack instead of the current four-righty setup on PP1. offense. Viz via HockeyViz

The bulk of the Rangers shots come from the left circle where Panarin’s stationed, followed by in front of the crease where Kreider and Zibanejad often shoot. But there’s also a glaring lack of shots from the scoring area in the middle of the ice.

The ice will likely always tilt in Panarin and Zibanejad’s favor, as the offense runs through their best players. But the aim should still be to diversify the offensive attack so they don’t become too predictable.

What makes both of the Rangers’ leading players so dangerous is that they’re multi-dimensional; Panarin’s bread and butter is playmaking, and he’s willing to shoot, while Zibanejad is a frequent shooter and skilled passer. Either could thread a lefty a pass for a one-timer that could challenge a goaltender. Or they could continue to take the shots themselves — something a pass-first team like the Rangers could always use, especially on the power play when they’ve often over-passed themselves out of scoring chances.

The more the Rangers shoot, the more rebound and second effort chances they’ll have — and some of those plays highlighted the Rangers’ best scoring chances on the man-advantage to this point in the season.

Parnass’ research points to tipped and screened shots producing more rebounds. With a player like Kreider in front of the net to screen the goaltender or attempt to tip a shot past, the Rangers will often have the opportunity to go for the second effort, which should increase their chances of scoring on the power play.

Getting in formation

Once the Rangers find the right balance for their power play units — in terms of personnel, ice time distribution, and handedness — it’s important to give them a chance to find chemistry together.

The more consistent the units and roles become, the more they’ll learn each others’ tendencies both in their positions and how they read and react to plays.

“The more we play together,” Zibanejad explained, “I feel we’re finding our things that we want to accomplish, obviously other than goals – kind of like our set ups.”

The more confident they can be as a unit, the quicker and more decisive they can me, including how they get into formation. The work of Parnass explored how getting in formation is a key to having power play success.

It’s a common theme found in the majority of the Rangers’ top scoring chances on the power play, in terms of expected goals, whether they were able to get in formation after a face-off or regroup seconds after entering the zone.

The quicker and more cohesive the Rangers are at getting into formation, the sooner they can move the puck around to generate quality chances. The more a team plays together in those situations, the better they should be at it

The power play isn’t a consistently strength of the Rangers — yet. With the skill they have, there’s potential. But like everything else this season, they’re building towards it.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171402 NHL

NHL Seattle general manager Ron Francis again hits the road, this time to top prospects game in Ontario

Geoff Baker By Geoff Baker

With no amateur scouting staff in place yet, NHL Seattle general manager Ron Francis will again be winging it this week at this continent’s most prestigious amateur showcase.

Fresh off the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic, Francis — along with assistant general manager Ricky Olczyk — is now back in his native Ontario taking in Thursday night’s CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton. While the world junior tournament includes global players and some already drafted by NHL teams, the prospects game features 40 of the top draft-eligible prospects strictly from the three major junior circuits — including the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips’ — under the (CHL) umbrella.

“It’s a pretty good tournament to get an idea of who’s going to get drafted this year and to try to get a book on those guys,’’ Francis said Wednesday by phone after arriving at his Toronto-area hotel, a half- hour’s drive from Hamilton.

Francis isn’t kidding, with projected No. 1 overall NHL pick Alexis Lafreniere, 18, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Rimouski scheduled to play left wing for Team White in the game after winning gold at the world juniors. He’ll be opposed by fellow Team Canada gold- medal-winning center Quinton Byfield, 17, from the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury — on Team Red.

The game features 31 of the top 51 players — including the top nine — on the recently released NHL Central Scouting midterm list guiding teams ahead of June’s draft in Montreal. Lafreniere and Byfield are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 on the list, while defenseman Jamie Drysdale, 17, another Canadian gold medalist and playing for Team Red, is ranked No. 3.

As a CHL-sponsored event, the game won’t have players from the U.S. National Team Development Program, United States Hockey League, NCAA, or U20 and U18 programs overseas that stand to also get drafted.

There will be some local presence among the game’s 14 WHL participants as newly acquired Everett Silvertips defenseman Kasper Puutio, 17, ranked 84th by Central Scouting, suits up for Team Red. That Red squad also features the only other player with Washington ties, 46th- ranked forward Jack Finley, 17.

“With us not having an amateur scouting staff at this point, this helps us build that book on these players,’’ Francis said. “And mostly all of these guys will get drafted this summer and then we’ll have information on them as we move forward in the expansion process.’’

NHL Seattle expects some teams to attempt preemptive deals with them to avoid having certain players selected in the June 2021 expansion draft. Players in Thursday’s game could form part of such deals and others a few years down the road.

“If there’s any potential trades that may happen, then we have information on these players as we get into those situations rather than going in blind,’’ Francis said. “And once we hire our amateur (scouting) staff, we’ll pick up a lot more information in that regard as well.’’

Seattle Times LOADED: 01.16.2020

1171403 Ottawa Senators successful down the road, but they’re willing to be patient to get this team headed in the right direction. That’s not the case in Vegas, and if you need evidence look no further than the firing Wednesday.

GARRIOCH: Mark Stone just wants to 'get this one out of the way' as he Stone knows what to expect Thursday night because he’s seen other returns to Ottawa players go through it and the latest was his close friend Zack Smith, who came back with Chicago on Tuesday. Stone speaks with Brady Tkachuk on a weekly basis because the sophomore winger is renting his Ottawa home during the season. Bruce Garrioch “It’s going to be weird and there’s just no other way to put it,” he said. “I’m January 15, 2020 7:50 PM EST excited and it’s going to be fun because I’ve got a lot of people here who I met in this city and I still communicate with in the city.”

As the Vegas Golden Knights prepared to return to one of Stone’s old haunts for practice Wednesday morning at the Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 their dressing room was rocked by the news coach Gerard Gallant had been fired and former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer would be behind the bench Thursday night against the Senators.

Dealt to the Knights at last February’s NHL trade deadline, Stone, 27, is returning to the rink for the first time since he was moved. He already faced the Senators in October at home, but this one will be different because he started his career in Ottawa and spent eight years with the organization after being drafted No. 178 overall in 2010.

“It’s different for sure,” Stone told reporters after the club’s short skate in Ottawa. “Since getting drafted here, I loved playing here, living in the city, and I’ve got a lot of good relationships here so it was different coming in the building.

“It’s going to be a little bit different for me (Thursday). I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited, but (the coaching change) gives us a little bit more of a wakeup call for our team to play better.”

Stone, who was one of the club’s most popular players because he rarely had an off night, knew this day was coming and there may be a sense of relief once the final buzzer sounds because he won’t have to go through this again.

“I knew this day was coming,” he said. “For guys it’s fun to play but it’s also difficult. You almost want to get the first one out of the way as quick as you can. We’ve got a lot of things to play for in our locker room, we need to start winning hockey games.”

The Senators are looking forward to seeing Stone across the ice because they know what he meant to the organization. His former teammates are happy he’s been able to have success in Vegas after signing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per season to green light the trade with Ottawa only moments before the deadline passed.

“He left such an impression on the players here, this team, this organization and this community,” said alternate captain Mark Borowiecki. “His passion for hockey is second to none. Fans liked the goal celebrations and all that, but those weren’t manufactured, those weren’t fake, that’s how serious he is and how much he loves the game.

“I lived with him for a couple of years in (Binghamton), he’s a good friend of mine and he really impressed upon me how much he loves hockey, and I really think that makes him the great player that he is and it automatically earns him respect of guys around this league.”

Heading to the visitors’ dressing room just felt odd to Stone.

“It’s different, but it makes a little bit easier knowing how much the team has changed,” Stone said. “I don’t know a lot of guys on the team, I don’t know the coaching staff and it makes a little bit easier.”

That doesn’t mean Stone doesn’t have fond memories of his time here. He appreciated what the organization did for him, the way the Senators helped him develop and the success he shared with his teammates. His first full season in Ottawa was the Andrew “The Hamburglar” Hammond playoff run in 2015 and he won’t forget that any time soon.

“Going on that run to make the playoffs was unbelievable and going to the conference final (in 2017) was so much fun,” said Stone. “Those are the memories you always remember, but, at the same time, the fans embraced me here and they were always so positive.

“I’d go in local stores and people here love their hockey and they love having the Senators here. I miss that a bit, but I love where I am.”

He loves where he’s at because he has the opportunity to win immediately. The Senators are building around young players and will be 1171404 Ottawa Senators

Home, sweet home: Tkachuk and Stone reconnect in Ottawa

Ken Warren

January 15, 2020 7:34 PM EST

When Mark Stone returned to his old house in Ottawa on Wednesday, Brady Tkachuk rolled out the welcome mat for him.

Well, sort of.

“I told him you’re getting invited to my house now, it’s not his house,” Tkachuk said, with a laugh.

Last season with the Senators, the veteran Stone helped ease the transition for the then-rookie Tkachuk, allowing him to room with him. While Stone was traded to Vegas, Tkachuk has returned to the friendly confines, continuing to rent from Stone.

“He had a huge impact on me and a lot of guys in the (dressing) room,” Tkachuk said of Stone’s mentorship. “Being new to the league, I never experienced some of the ups and downs that the NHL consists of. He helped me back at the house with little things and showed me the way a little bit.

“And the way he played on the ice, that was huge influence for me. I definitely looked up to him and tried to play like him.”

As for Stone’s old home, it’s a crowded house these days. The place is gradually filling up with family as the Tkachuk clan prepares for the Brady versus Matthew clash as the Senators play host to the Calgary Flames.

“I, myself, will not be cooking,” Brady Tkachuk said. “But my mother will be cooking. It will be a nice, nice meal (Wednesday).”

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171405 Ottawa Senators

Lehner wonders where good old days went

Ken Warren

January 15, 2020 7:20 PM EST

Robin Lehner has always been an open book, a breath of fresh air in an environment that typically lends itself to stale dressing room quotes.

In keeping with his history, he didn’t mince words in talking about what he saw around him at the Canadian Tire Centre as he backstopped his Chicago Blackhawks to a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators. The crowd was announced at 12,238.

“When I played here, it was a packed building all the time,” Lehner said. “It was a great atmosphere and stuff. So it’s kind of sad to see what it is now.”

Last week, the Senators hired Jim Little as chief executive officer. His primary goals are to increase attendance and improve the Senators’ relationships with the business community.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171406 Ottawa Senators This was a deal that caught Ottawa fans off guard. General manager Bryan Murray decided to send Fisher to the Nashville

Predators while the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings had also It's old home week at Canadian Tire Centre: Here's a look at six former shown interest. It was the best fit for Fisher, who had been good soldier Senators who have returned for the organization, so he could be with his wife/country music star Carrie Underwood.

Chris Phillips scored the winner in a 4-3 victory for the Senators in his Bruce Garrioch 1,000th game while Fisher appreciated the greeting he was given by the fans. January 15, 2020 6:58 PM EST “It’s definitely a strange feeling,” said Fisher. “I was a little bit nervous at

first. I think my game showed it a little bit. Wasn’t too great tonight.” Signed by the Wings as an unrestricted free agent on July 5, 2013, The Senators hadn’t been able to win with their top centre and, tired of Alfredsson returned to Ottawa for the first time at a sold-out Canadian the criticism, he asked for a trade at the end of the season. Tire Centre. Bryan Murray gave Spezza his wish on July 1, 2014 and sent him to the Not only did the Senators play a pre-game tribute video to Alfredsson, Dallas Stars in a massive deal that brought back draft picks along with the outpouring of fans continued with “Alfie, Alfie” chants when the clock forward Alex Chiasson and prospect Nick Paul, who is the only piece struck 11:11 of each period. There was also a long-standing ovation after remaining with the Senators. the tribute video was played because the fans appreciated what the former captain had done for the city and the organization. Since Spezza asked out, he wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would get, but the fans in Ottawa appreciated what he did for the franchise. The Alfredsson scored a goal in Detroit’s 4-2 victory over Ottawa. Stars scored a 6-3 win in Spezza’s return. A former captain, Spezza had “It was pretty special,” said Alfredsson. “It’s a tough situation because I a difficult time filling the void left by Alfredsson’s departure for Detroit. didn’t know how to react and I’m sure most of the fans felt the same way. “I don’t know. Fans are passionate,” Spezza said before the game. “I It was a night to remember for sure.” hope I’m remembered as giving my all and having some success. I Dec. 27, 2001: Alexei Yasmin returns with the New York Islanders expect them to support the team, too. They’ve always supported the club but hopefully they appreciate I gave everything I had to help us win.” Dealt to the Isles by GM Marshall Johnston in a trade that brought back Zdeno Chara and the No. 2 pick (used to take Jason Spezza) in the draft in June, Yashin had finally received his wish to move on from the Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 Senators.

There was no shortage of anger with Yashin and his camp — especially agent New Jersey-based agent Mark Gandler — but the fans in Ottawa wanted closure before moving on.

The Senators scored a 5-2 win and that was exactly what the fans wanted.

“We could feel it when we got to the rink. We knew that this just wasn’t another game. You could tell they wanted us to beat (Yashin) bad,” said Alfredsson. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have cheered every time he got hit or booed every time he touched the puck.”

During a relatively quiet off-season, news broke in May 2010 that Heatley felt his role was “diminished” under coach Cory Clouston and demanded a trade.

Nobody ever felt that was the real reason Heatley wanted out and he didn’t provide a whole lot of details during a conference call in the summer to try to explain the matter. He refused a trade to the Edmonton Oilers on July 1 and many felt he was trying to engineer his way to the Sharks when that deal happened in September.

The fans had their say when he returned by throwing his jersey on the ice, booing Heatley when he touched the puck and yelling from the stands. However, the Sharks did get the last laugh with a 4-0 victory over Clouston and the Senators.

“I felt it was best to move on,” Heatley said. “It’s not like I woke up one day and decided to do it. I felt that way for a long time my last season here. I did talk a lot with the people in charge here at that time and at the end I didn’t think it could be resolved.”

Dealt to the Sharks after turning down an eight-year, $88-million contract extension in the summer without even negotiating, Karlsson faced the Senators for the first time in Ottawa.

He was gracious at a press conference the day before the game and was looking forward to the warm reception he received.

Karlsson, who started the game, had nine shots on net in his 24:55 of ice time in the game, but sounded glad to have it over with. The club played a video tribute during the first television timeout and fans were on their feet as soon as it started.

“It was good. It was a lot of fun. I did a good job of trying to stay focused on the game,” Karlsson said. “At the same time, it was a good experience to remember the good stuff that happened here and nice to be able to play in front of this crowd again.” 1171407 Ottawa Senators Lehner’s words come as Anderson is in the home stretch of his time with the Senators, with the possibility that he’ll be moved before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Lehner credits Anderson for improvements in his game He has served as a backup to Marcus Hogberg for the past three games and Senators coach D.J. Smith said Wednesday he hadn’t yet decided on who will be in net against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

Ken Warren “All I can do, when I play, is give our team a chance to win,” Anderson said. “(Hogberg) has been great for us. He has given the team an January 15, 2020 6:44 PM EST opportunity to be in the game and win at the end of the night. That’s got to be rewarded. I’ve been that young guy, as well, where you play and you feel you need to be rewarded and sometimes you are and Moments after knocking off his former Ottawa Senators squad 3-2 in sometimes you aren’t. I like the fact we reward guys for playing well. overtime late Tuesday, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner paid tribute to Craig Anderson. Anderson says he doesn’t deserve anything more than what his play dictates. Lehner is full of respect for the education he received way back when, while, as a hungry, often outspoken kid, he was bent on stealing the “If you have a bad shift or a bad game as a player, guess what? Your Senators net away from the now-38-year-old Anderson. minutes are going way down,” he said. “It’s no different for a goalie. I’ve been in the league for a long time. You have to earn everything you get. “I texted Andy a few months ago,” Lehner said. “A big part of my game It keeps you hungry.” these days is from Andy, definitely. I played with him for a few years (Lehner was drafted by the Senators in 2009 and played with Ottawa from 2010-15), and watching him and seeing how he approached the Ottawa Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 game … it’s really cool.”

When Lehner went old-school for the tide-turning two-pad stop off Anthony Duclair early in the second period Tuesday, there were shades of Anderson in the save. A major part of Anderson’s success over the years has been his ability to embrace different goaltending styles to fit the occasion.

“He’s very smart,” Lehner said. “It’s not pure butterfly. It’s a hybrid. He stands up (on) some saves. It’s about reading plays. And I just learned so much from him. Being a bigger guy (6-4 and 240 pounds), I’ve been working on that, on the reading part of the game. Not just doing the conventional stuff has helped me tremendously.”

Lehner, 28, is rather quietly having an outstanding season with the middle-of-the-pack Blackhawks. He owns a 14-7-4 record, with a 2.85 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. He has been sharper and more consistent than goaltending partner Corey Crawford.

What’s intriguing in Lehner’s praise for Anderson is the fact the two weren’t best friends during their days together with the Senators.

It was more the case of a highly competitive veteran trying to hold off the prospect who had been tagged with the goaltender of the future label.

Lehner might have earned the Senators’ top job in 2015 when Anderson suffered a late-season leg injury. Instead, Lehner suffered a devastating concussion, clearing the path for what became the unlikely story of Andrew “The Hamburglar” Hammond and his ridiculous run of success that led the Senators to the playoffs.

The following summer, Lehner was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He went to hell and back, talking openly about his thoughts of suicide while battling alcohol and drug abuse, but re-established himself last season with the New York Islanders. He posted a record of 25-13-5, with a .930 save percentage and 2.13 goals-against average, a comeback that earned him the Bill Masterton Trophy for his dedication and perseverance to hockey. Anderson also won the Masterton in 2017 while helping his wife, Nichole, through her battle with a rare throat cancer.

Told about Lehner’s comments Wednesday, Anderson said he did wonder if he might have had some kind of influence on Lehner’s sliding two-pad stop against the Senators.

“He is trying to read the play more and be more reactive and not so much a blocker,” said Anderson. “When he came (to the Senators), he was just so big, he could get away with that. He plays a solid butterfly, but when you introduce the reading of the game into it, there’s a reason why his numbers have been so good for the last few years.”

In their days together with the Senators, Anderson acknowledges the two were fierce competitors.

“When he was here, I don’t know if we had that kind of relationship and we were obviously battling (each other),” he said.

“The way I approach the game is good for me. It makes me feel good that it’s good for somebody else and they’re willing to take some of that and use what works for them.” 1171408 Ottawa Senators And despite all that and his limited NHL experience, going into Tuesday night, his numbers have been consistent with the goaltending Ottawa has been getting this year.

Despite his losing record, the numbers point toward Marcus Hogberg as According to Natural Stat Trick, in terms of workload, Hogberg is seeing the Senators’ goalie of the future about 2.48 expected goals against per 60 minutes of play. That puts him ahead of Anderson (2.44) and Nilsson (2.14) and 13th overall in the league among goalies who have played 300 minutes or more. His 3.01 goals-against average is better than Anderson’s and Nilsson’s despite By Hailey Salvian getting a heavier workload. Jan 15, 2020 And if we compare Hogberg’s performance to league average goaltending, he’s .31 goals below average per 60 minutes played. But that’s just .07 lower than his fellow netminder Anderson, which is barely a It probably hasn’t been the start to his NHL career that Marcus Hogberg discernible difference. dreamed of while growing up in his hometown of Orebro, Sweden. At this point, with a very small sample size, it’s safe to say Hogberg How many young goalies dream of one win in 10 games and six of their doesn’t look terribly out of water at the NHL level. He isn’t a liability in eight starts going to overtime or a shootout? net, and he’s not significantly different — better or worse — than Anderson this season. So, despite having only one win in 10 games, the Through 10 games — two in relief of both Anders Nilsson and Craig numbers seem to point toward Hogberg being the Senators’ best bet for Anderson — Hogberg’s record is 1-2-0-5, with three consecutive goaltender of the (not-so-distant) future. Or backup goalie of the future, at overtime losses in the past five days. the very least. On the surface, his record has been underwhelming. But Hogberg’s It’s just a matter of time before Anderson, the Senators’ longtime starter, teammates insist his play has been the exact opposite. passes the torch. That much has been made clear as of late with “His record doesn’t show how he’s be playing,” urged Anthony Duclair Hogberg starting three straight games, including two back-to-back starts, ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. “He has over a healthy Anderson. (Nilsson remains out with a concussion until been really solid back there, especially with (Nilsson) going down. He’s after the All-Star break, according to general manager Pierre Dorion). really stepped up in a big way.” As colleague Chris Stevenson wrote Tuesday morning, the writing has “He has been standing tall in front of the net, he’s been keeping us in the been on the wall as well as in the contracts. games and he’s been making some unreal saves like you saw in Detroit,” Anderson, the franchise leader in games played among goaltenders added Thomas Chabot. “So many of those games come down to a three- (401) and wins (197), will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He on-three, and we don’t get the win for him, but he is giving us a chance to is the ideal rental player for a team looking for a solid veteran who has go all the way there.” the potential to steal the starter’s job from the incumbent. It’s still a small sample size, but a detailed look at the underlying Meanwhile, Hogberg has a one-way deal for next season, and Nilsson numbers of Hogberg’s workload before puck drop on Tuesday backs up will be in the last year of the two-year deal ($2.6 million a season) he his teammates’ arguments. signed in late May. Hogberg signed his two-year deal ($700,000 in the First, consider these two shot maps: NHL and $125,000 in the AHL this season; $700,000 next season) three weeks after Nilsson was locked up. It is expected that Nilsson and This shows that Hogberg faces shots from just about everywhere, and Hogberg will make up the goalie tandem next season. just over 70 percent of his shot attempts are on target. More importantly, the chart in the lower-right corner — titled “Goals saved vs xG trend” — According to Dorion, this has been the plan for a few years now. shows Hogberg is below his goals saved expectations based on shot “We were very open about (the plan),” he said Tuesday on TSN 1200 quality against. radio. “When we did Anders Nilsson’s contract, when we were just about However, this heat map from HockeyViz illustrates that the overall threat to get it completed, we phoned (Hogberg’s) agent. And we had (goalie level the Senators defence allows against when Hogberg is in net (+6) is coach) Pierre Groulx talk to Marcus and say: ‘This is the plan. This is higher compared to their season average, which is +2. what we have been talking about for two years internally. We think you need one more year in the American League and then you can move up This means the Senators are allowing more high-danger chances when to the NHL.’ Hogberg is in net, compared to when Nilsson or Anderson are manning the crease. “I think things are falling into place now.”

Considering Tuesday night was the first time since Dec. 11 that the Senators had a healthy top six on defence, that makes a lot of sense. The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 Just look at the injuries on the blue line when Hogberg has been in net over the past month:

• Dec. 17 @ Tampa Bay: Dylan DeMelo, Nikita Zaitsev

• Dec. 19 vs. Nashville: DeMelo, Zaitsev

• Dec. 21 vs. Philadelphia: DeMelo, Zaitsev, Ron Hainsey

• Dec. 30 @ Pittsburgh: DeMelo, Zaitsev, Hainsey

• Jan. 7 @ Washinton: Zaitsev, Hainsey

• Jan. 10 @ Detroit: Zaitsev, Mark Borowiecki

• Jan. 11 @ Montreal: Zaitsev, Borowiecki

With the exception of two games against Calgary and Vancouver in November, Hogberg has been playing behind a defence core made up of a rotating cast of American League players like Erik Brannstrom, Andreas Englund, Max Lajoie and Christian Jaros. As well as an overused Chabot — who played nearly 40 minutes against Tampa — and Cody Goloubef, who started the year as the Senators’ seventh defenseman. 1171409 Philadelphia Flyers They did not give the Blues a high-quality chance, as Couturier, Niskanen, and Provorov did most of the admirable work.

“I folded my hands and looked up and prayed, I guess,” Raffl cracked Flyers jolt defending champion St. Louis, 4-3, on Jake Voracek’s OT goal about watching the five-on-three from the penalty box. “It’s the worst feeling you can have, sitting out there and waiting for the boys to get the job done.” by Sam Carchidi “We made some really good reads under pressure,” Elliott said. “That was a statement kill there that we’re not going away. The guys really

elevated their game tonight.” ST. LOUIS -- The Flyers continued to show they can play with the NHL’s The Blues were just 1 for 6 on the power play, while the Flyers were 1 for big boys on Wednesday night. 2. Jake Voracek scored a picturesque goal in overtime as the Flyers jolted The Flyers, who host Montreal on Thursday, didn’t create many first- the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, 4-3, at the period scoring chances and fell into a 1-0 hole on a power-play goal by Enterprise Center. St. Louis defenseman Justin Faulk. Voracek faked a shot, dragged the puck to avoid defenseman Alex With both Flyers defensemen caught on the same side of the ice, Faulk Pietrangelo, and scored from the high slot with 1:27 left in overtime, moved deep into the left circle and one-timed Steen’s feed past Elliott finishing a two-on-one with Ivan Provorov. A bad line change by the with 5:36 left in the first. Blues led to the rush. The Blues had a 14-8 shots advantage in the opening period. “I had to slow it down a little bit to get some more time and space,” Voracek said. The Flyers have been outscored in the last 10 first periods, 19-8.

Brian Elliott made 30 saves in the win, which gave the Flyers a 3-1 It was the Flyers’ first meeting with the Blues since they won their first record in their last four games, all against elite teams: Washington, Stanley Cup in franchise history. Tampa Bay, Boston, and St. Louis. Some teams have a Cup hangover. Not the Blues. They entered the “It shows we can play with anyone,” Voracek said. night tied with Washington for the most points in the NHL, despite missing high-scoring winger Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder surgery) for “It’s just a different vibe, a different feeling in the locker room, it seems, most of the season and being without standout defenseman Colton when we play the top teams,” said left winger Michael Raffl, who had a Parayko for the last six games with an upper-body injury. key goal and three hits in the win. “Our boys show up, our boys are ready, and it’s a lot of fun lately.” “It’s a team mentality; we rely on everyone, we rely on four lines,” former Flyer Brayden Schenn said before the game. “We know there’s a lot of The Flyers denied the Blues from winning a 10th straight home game, goals missing with Tarasenko [usually] scoring at least 30 a year, so which would have been a franchise record. other guys had to step up, and they have.” “We battled and found a way to grind it out and get a greasy road win It was the Flyers who stepped up on Wednesday, denying the Blues of against a real tough team,” coach said. finishing a 5-0 homestand for the first time in franchise history. The Blues, stymied by the Flyers’ brilliant penalty-kill work on a five-on- “We elevated our game in the last little bit, knowing you have to bring three early in the third period, got to within 3-2 when Ryan O’Reilly your 'A' game,” Elliott said of what could have been a murderous four- scored on a rebound with 9:25 left in regulation. A little over three game stretch. “I think we have to find that consistency on a night-to-night minutes later, an all-alone Alex Steen scored on a backhander in front to basis. This gives us a lot of confidence." tie the game at 3-3. Phil Myers and Travis Sanheim (four blocked shots) were the defensemen on the ice for both goals. Breakaways

The Flyers also got goals from Tyler Pitlick and Travis Konecny. The Flyers outhit the Blues, 26-17. ... The Flyers beat the NHL’s three top teams during their current 3-1 run. ... Provorov had 5:49 of Trailing 1-0, the Flyers had their best two scoring chances of the night shorthanded time, while Niskanen (5:00), Scott Laughton (4:28), Hagg with a little less than 12 minutes left in the second period. But Sean (4:14), and Couturier (4:12) also led the penalty kill. ... Voracek’s goal Couturier (two assists) hit iron from close range, and, a short time later, was his first since Dec. 21. Pietrangelo intercepted Raffl’s ill-advised two-on-one pass to Couturier.

In the next couple minutes, Matt Niskanen and Voracek whipped shots off the post before Pitlick’s wraparound attempt caromed off the skate of Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.16.2020 Pietrangelo and past goalie Jordan Binnington, knotting the score at 1-1 with 7:17 left in the second.

Three minutes later, Binnington allowed a juicy rebound on Robert Hagg’s point drive, and Raffl swatted the puck into the empty net to give the Flyers their first lead, 2-1, with 4:17 to go in the period.

“Bobby had a good shot, and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Raffl said.

It gave Hagg points in four of the last five games, and it was Raffl’s second goal in the last five games.

The second period ended with the Blues’ David Perron cross-checking Konecny up high, and the Flyers, led by Hagg, going after him. Perron drew a two-minute cross-checking penalty.

Konecny got sweet revenge. Twenty-six seconds into the third period, while on the power play created by Perron’s penalty, he took an eye- opening pass from James van Riemsdyk and slammed in his team-high 15th goal, giving the Flyers a 3-1 lead.

“It felt good,” Konecny said with a smile. “It took the anger out of me, for sure.”

Early in the third, the Flyers had to kill a five-on-three power play, with two of their best penalty killers -- Raffl and Kevin Hayes -- in the box. 1171410 Philadelphia Flyers Lyon said he was "less stressed” about his play this season. “I’ve been locked in about how I want to do things and feel more prepared than ever to just let it fly, and wherever the chips fall is where they fall,” he said.

Flyers goalie Carter Hart to miss 2-3 weeks with abdominal strain; Joel Farabee (three goals, 12 points in 37 games), who has a $925,000 cap Farabee sent to Phantoms — for now hit, was loaned to the Phantoms to create cap room to recall Lyon ($750,000) from Lehigh Valley, and winger Chris Stewart was placed on waivers. Farabee will probably be recalled if Stewart clears waivers Thursday and is sent to the Phantoms. In the meantime, Stewart played by Sam Carchidi right wing on the fourth line Wednesday.

“I only worry about things I can control,” Stewart said about the oddity of ST. LOUIS — The Flyers will be without their No. 1 goalie for a handful of returning to the lineup and being put on waivers on the same day. games.

Carter Hart will be sidelined two to three weeks because of a lower right Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 01.16.2020 abdominal strain, and the Flyers demoted winger Joel Farabee to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday to open cap space and recalled Alex Lyon as their backup goalie.

Hart, 21, suffered the injury while on the ice for a few minutes at Tuesday’s practice in Voorhees, coach Alain Vigneault said. He recorded a 6-5 shootout win Monday over Boston.

Lyon served as Brian “Moose” Elliott’s backup Wednesday in St. Louis. Elliott had been scheduled to start Wednesday even before Hart was injured.

If Hart is sidelined just two weeks, he would miss only four games, because the Flyers have a league-mandated break and the All-Star break in that span. They won’t play any games in a nine-day span (Jan. 22-30).

After Wednesday, Hart (2.61 GAA, .905 save percentage) will likely miss games against Montreal, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.

“It’s tough losing a guy like that,” right winger Travis Konecny said. “You never want to see an injury, but for that to happen at this time when we’re going into a break is probably a best-case scenario.”

“We’ll take it one game at a time, and Brian is going to get a chance to play," Vigneault said, "and I’m very confident he’s going to play well and the team is going to play well.”

Entering Wednesday, Elliott was 9-5-3 with a 3.16 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. The Blues were aiming for a club-record 10th straight home win Wednesday, and they had outscored opponents, 36- 15, in their previous nine games at the Enterprise Center.

“Moose has been solid for us all year and given us a chance to win games,” right winger Jake Voracek said before Wednesday’s game. “You have to appreciate that and play good for him.”

Vigneault was undecided about whether Lyon, who was having a strong season at Lehigh Valley, would start Thursday against visiting Montreal, the second of back-to-back games.

“We’ll get through today,” Vigneault said after a morning meeting. “I feel good about Alex. I got to know him during training camp. I like the way he played for us. He just got off a shutout, and I saw part of it. If we need him, I know he’s going to be ready.”

Asked if Lyon made an impression when he had a brief stint with the Flyers last season, Voracek smiled.

“Last year, we had so many goalies that I don’t even remember how he played,” Voracek cracked.

The Flyers used an NHL-record eight goaltenders last season.

Lyon, 27, a one-time star at Yale University, played 11 games with the Flyers in 2017-18 and two games with them last season, compiling a combined 3.05 GAA and .894 save percentage.

With the injury-plagued Phantoms this season, he was 9-11-2 with a 2.56 GAA and .916 save percentage.

“I’ve gotten a lot better at staying ready for an opportunity,” Lyon said after a brief morning practice session. “I feel like I’ve been on top of my game for most of the year. Wins have been tough to come by, but I’ve just tried to stay within myself. The team has been playing well, but just can’t find the back of the net. It happens every once in a while.” 1171411 Philadelphia Flyers

Carter Hart expected to be out 2-3 weeks

By Wayne Fish flyingfishhockey.com

Posted Jan 15, 2020 at 1:56 PM

Last season the Flyers needed a team-record eight goaltenders to make it through the season.

This season they made through with the minimum of two for the first 46 games.

But that streak came to an end on Wednesday when it was announced that Carter Hart is expected to miss two to three weeks with an abdominal muscle strain he aggravated in Tuesday morning’s practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J.

Hart, 21, was scheduled to serve as Brian Elliott’s backup for Wednesday night’s game at St. Louis.

Instead, Alex Lyon was called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an emergency basis and he will fill in for Hart.

It’s unclear which goalie will play against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers have steered away from starting goalies in back-to-back games in most instances this season.

Hart has played in 32 games with a record of 15-11-3, a 2.61 goals- against average and a .905 save percentage.

He finished Monday night’s 6-5 shootout win over the Boston Bruins and gave no inclination in post-game interviews that something was bothering him.

But Tuesday morning was a different story.

Coach Alain Vigneault said he was just getting onto the ice several minutes into the practice when Hart came off.

Elliott has played in 21 games with a 9-5-3 record and 3.16 GAA.

Lyon has played in 13 NHL games over two seasons with the Flyers. He has a record of 4-3-1, a 3.01 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.

This season with the Phantoms, Lyon is 9-11-2, 2.56, .916.

The Flyers sent forward Joel Farabee down to Lehigh Valley to make room for Lyon and waived forward Chris Stewart.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171412 Philadelphia Flyers Oh, and Couturier truly does make everyone around him better. Vigneault has said it routinely and it's no exaggeration.

• Konecny was getting comfortable in St. Louis. He'll be back in town for Flyers take down the NHL's top team for the 3rd time in the last 4 games the All-Star festivities Jan. 24-25.

After the Blues jumped Konecny at the end of the second period, the 22- year-old took out his frustration with a goal 26 seconds into the third By Jordan Hall period.

January 15, 2020 11:45 PM With the Flyers trying a double net-front look on the power play, James van Riemsdyk, in nifty fashion, went between his legs to Konecny. That's

an intriguing setup to spark the man advantage, which was 2 for its last This was a prove-it stretch for the Flyers. 17 entering the game.

They ended up proving plenty. • Pitlick has quietly been very good for the Flyers in their bottom six. He kills penalties and is constantly playing Vigneault's north-south style to The Flyers took down the Blues, 4-3, in overtime Wednesday night at get to the net, which he did during the second period to tie the game at 1- Enterprise Center. Jakub Voracek scored the OT winner, while Tyler 1. Pitlick, Michael Raffl and Travis Konecny added the other goals (see highlights).

Over their last four games, the Flyers went 3-1-0 as they knocked off the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 Capitals, Bruins and Blues, while losing to the Lightning.

When the Flyers played Washington, Boston and St. Louis, all three were No. 1 in the NHL standings. The loss to Tampa Bay was a 1-0 decision when the Lightning had won 10 straight games.

The Flyers (25-16-6) are four points out of third place in the deep Metropolitan Division and hold the Eastern Conference's second wild- card spot (see standings).

Prior to the loss, the defending champion Blues (30-10-8) had won nine straight home games, outscoring the opposition 36-15.

• The Flyers learned a lot about themselves during this four-game span. Coming off a 1-4-1 road trip, they were able to bounce right back and show they can beat the top teams in the league.

That's a belief the Flyers can now take into the final three games before their NHL-mandated Jan. 22-30 bye week and down the stretch when divisional play heats up.

On Tuesday, general manager Chuck Fletcher said he felt the Flyers were trending in the right direction. These three wins provided credence to that and if the Flyers keep it up, the Feb. 24 trade deadline will get only more interesting (see story).

• Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen both played over 24 minutes and over five minutes shorthanded.

• On the day it came out that Carter Hart (right lower abdominal strain) would miss two to three weeks (see story), Brian Elliott outdueled Jordan Binnington in the champs' building.

The Flyers failed to hold a 3-1 third-period lead but St. Louis was going to make its push at home.

Elliott finished with 30 saves and has been reliable all season.

Binnington had won both his previous matchups with the Flyers, putting up a 1.50 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. This game, the Flyers got past him four times on 25 shots.

• Recently, the Flyers have played with fire relying on their penalty kill so much.

They gave the Capitals, Lightning and Bruins a combined 11 power play opportunities and killed 10 of them. They put the Blues on the power play six times and allowed only one goal.

The much-improved PK has been excellent and the Flyers were whistled for some ticky-tacky penalties against St. Louis, but still, they'll want to go to the box a little less.

• Raffl knows how to complement talented players. His teammates always talk highly about playing alongside him because he does a lot of the dirty work — protecting the puck, working hard in battles and making smart plays.

Head coach Alain Vigneault's decision to bump up Raffl with and Voracek has reaped the rewards.

Raffl gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second period and has been a plus-3 over the last two games playing with Couturier and Voracek. 1171413 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers at Blues: Live stream, storylines, game time and more

By Jordan Hall

January 15, 2020 2:22 PM

Nothing is coming easy for the Flyers.

After losing Carter Hart to injury, the Flyers (24-16-6) square off with another top team Wednesday when they visit the Blues (30-10-7).

Let's get into the essentials:

• When: 8 p.m. ET

• Where: Enterprise Center

• The Flyers will miss Hart for two to three weeks because of a right lower abdominal strain. Alex Lyon has returned to the big club to back up Brian Elliott and he wasn't the only roster move Wednesday (see story).

• The matchup with the defending champion Blues marks the Flyers' fourth straight game against a top-six NHL club. The Flyers finished a three-game homestand 2-1-0 against the Capitals (3-2 win), Lightning (1- 0 loss) and Bruins (6-5 SO win) (see story).

Against the Blues, they'll face a team that is atop the NHL standings and has won nine straight home games, a stretch in which it has outscored the opposition 36-15.

A win in St. Louis would complete a statement stretch by the Flyers.

• Wednesday night will be the Flyers' final road game before their NHL- mandated bye week from Jan. 22-30. The Flyers have been a different team away from the Wells Fargo Center as they're 9-13-2 with a minus- 31 goal differential on the road compared to 15-3-4 with a plus-35 goal differential at home.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171414 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers' Carter Hart to miss time with right lower abdominal strain injury

By Jordan Hall

January 15, 2020 12:30 PM

It won't matter how well the Flyers are playing. This season, the team will be thankful for its NHL-mandated bye week from Jan. 22-30.

Especially after Carter Hart's right lower abdominal strain injury, which will keep the 21-year-old goalie out for two to three weeks.

As a result, the Flyers on Wednesday called up Alex Lyon under emergency conditions from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. The Flyers needed cap space and roster room for Lyon, so rookie Joel Farabee was loaned to the Phantoms, while the team also placed veteran Chris Stewart on waivers.

Hart, who has been instrumental in the Flyers' improvements, left practice early Tuesday with the injury. Because of the break, Hart may miss only four to seven games. Shayne Gostisbehere will also use the break to rest up from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

In his first full NHL season, Hart has gone 15-11-3 with a 2.61 goals- against average and .905 save percentage over 32 games, while he has been dominant at home, going 13-2-2 with a 1.69 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

Brian Elliott was already slated to start Wednesday in St. Louis against the Blues (8 p.m. ET/NBCSN). Lyon could be called upon to start Thursday's game against the Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Farabee is not expected to be with the Phantoms for long and is an important piece to the Flyers' youth movement ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline (see story). Stewart will play Wednesday night and if he clears waivers, he can report to Lehigh Valley, while a roster spot would be open for Farabee's return.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171415 Philadelphia Flyers thought about (loaning him to USA Hockey for) the World Juniors but he's a he's a pretty important part of our team and I still think his game is growing and he's a strong kid mentally. To turn pro at 19 takes a pretty special person that way. Again, I think it's a little bit different with him but Flyers' Carter Hart out 2-3 weeks with abdominal strain, creating salary it's a fair point and something will continue to look at.” cap crunch

Courier-Post LOADED: 01.16.2020 Dave Isaac, Cherry Hill Courier-Post

Published 12:26 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 | Updated 12:36 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020

Carter Hart will miss 2-3 weeks with a lower right abdominal strain, the Flyers announced Wednesday.

The Flyers have had a few big issues this season: their home/road splits, important players not stepping up and scoring at their usual rates and, most recently, their salary cap situation.

Injuries have them pinching pennies and a potentially costly one, to goalie Carter Hart, forced them to make a series of roster moves just to be compliant on the books.

Hart left Tuesday’s practice early and it was announced Wednesday that he will miss two to three weeks with a “lower right abdominal strain.” The timing of the injury works in the team’s favor. Because the All-Star break and bye week are coming up quick, Hart would only miss four games (including Wednesday night’s game against St. Louis, in which he wasn’t supposed to play anyway) on a two-week timeline.

“After the game (Monday) night, everything was fine. Everything was fine this morning,” coach Alain Vigneault said after Tuesday’s practice. “So I'm not quite sure what happened between the time they're warming up the goalies and I'm stepping on the ice, I stepped on the ice and two minutes after, he was stepping off.”

Hart, at home, has been magic for the Flyers this season. The 21-year- old goalie has a sterling .940 save percentage and 1.69 goals-against average at home. On the road it’s been a different story, where he has a bloated 4.01 goals-against average and .850 save percentage.

So for the next little while it will be Brian Elliott between the pipes, or Alex Lyon, who was recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 23 games this season for the Phantoms, Lyon has a .916 save percentage and 2.56 goals-against average. It’s unclear if he will get the start Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. So far this season, the Flyers have not had a goalie play both games of a back-to-back scenario.

Lyon moving up the depth chart meant that Felix Sandström was recalled from the ECHL Reading Royals to join the Phantoms, who host the Syracuse Crunch Wednesday night. Lyon’s recall also necessitated other moves because the Flyers had only $579,444 in salary cap space and Lyon’s cap hit is $750,000. Long-term injuries to Samuel Morin (ACL tear in right knee), Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder) and Oskar Lindblom (Ewing’s sarcoma) allowed the Flyers to go over the salary cap, but they don’t get any relief for Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Braun, who should both be back in the lineup by the end of the month.

That meant someone had to go just to afford Lyon’s salary against the cap and Joel Farabee was the sacrificial lamb. He won’t be down in the minors for long, though.

The team also waived Chris Stewart Wednesday. Assuming he clears waivers Thursday, the Flyers will be able to send Stewart down to Lehigh Valley and recall Farabee by the time the puck drops against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. That would leave the Flyers with only $583,201 in cap space, according to CapFriendly.com.

Although Farabee has no goals and only two assists in his last 15 games, the Flyers didn’t want to send him down on merit.

“You know, I guess with Joel the thing with Joel is his game is so much more advanced than the other kids away from the puck and defensively,” general manager and team president Chuck Fletcher said. “He's one of our best forwards in terms of puck management game management, which I think has slipped a little bit the last week, last week and a half. To me, he’s still one of the best guys in our team that way so that that allows him to continue. I'd like him to get a little bit more than nine or 10 minutes but we've seen that go up and down and, and my expectation is that that’ll come back but certainly it's something we thought about. We 1171416 Philadelphia Flyers whichever player “loses” his spot to the new acquisition. Realistically, that leaves somewhere just above $1 million for a new player. In other words, not much.

Salary cap squeeze will make it harder for Flyers and Chuck Fletcher to “When you’re in LTI for the season, you don’t bank space,” Fletcher said. be aggressive at the trade deadline “You are where you are. It certainly makes things, I don’t want to say more difficult — again, a lot of teams are up against it — (but) you have to maybe look at including players in the deal (for a new player). It’s hard just to trade a fourth-round pick for a $4 million dollar player. But again, By Charlie O'Connor with our group right now, I don’t know if that’s what we’re looking to do.” Jan 15, 2020 Therefore, the Flyers need to get creative to acquire anyone beyond useful depth options with low cap hits. They could ship out a higher- priced player in a deal, for example, though Fletcher acknowledged those Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher doesn’t have a types of trades usually get done in June, not February. Alternatively, history of sitting on his hands at the trade deadline. And at his midseason they could look to entice another club to retain as much as 50 percent of media availability, Fletcher made it clear that he doesn’t intend to this the cap hit of a traded player, which could allow Philadelphia to move into year while the weeks, days and minutes tick down toward Feb. 24 — the $2-plus million cap-hit range for possible additions. But incentivizing a especially with his team in the midst of a playoff push. trade partner to retain extra salary likely means giving up more in prospects or draft pick assets for the acquisition — a player who likely But fans should be prepared for the possibility that being active at the isn’t a difference-maker, considering the still-low cap hit. deadline doesn’t necessarily mean Fletcher will have the Flyers at the center of the hockey rumor universe, a realistic suitor for every big name Does that completely knock the Flyers out of the running for top rental available. prizes like Chris Kreider ($4.625 million cap hit), Tyler Toffoli ($4.6 million) or even Jean-Gabriel Pageau ($3.1 million)? No. But it does add “You’re always looking to see if you can improve your team. You’re an additional, difficult-to-navigate hurdle for the front office. always on the phone talking to teams,” Fletcher said Tuesday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J. “For our situation, I don’t know if it makes A lower-priced veteran depth option — particularly a forward — would be sense to pay a massive price for a rental right now. I don’t think that’s the far easier to acquire, and in turn, is more realistic as a potential deadline right move for this group.” outcome.

Fletcher’s public hesitance about a head-first dive into the deep-end of But a move for a bottom-six center or winger isn’t going to dramatically the deadline swimming pool shouldn’t be viewed as cowardice or move the needle in on-ice impact or fan excitement. With the Flyers excessive patience. It’s driven by the reality of the team’s situation — clinging to the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, they’re clearly in particularly the salary cap. the market for a second-half upgrade. If a big-name acquisition isn’t likely, how could the Flyers find that needed boost? No one would argue the Flyers lack for needs. Perhaps in a much better world, in which Oskar Lindblom is continuing his breakout season rather Fletcher’s hope: via improvements from young players already in the than undergoing treatment for cancer, and Nolan Patrick is providing organization. high-end depth at center instead of battling a migraine disorder, Philadelphia could afford to comfortably stand pat at the deadline and “I keep going to last night (versus Boston),” Fletcher said. “You go back trust its strong forward depth would carry the team the rest of the way. to that 4-on-4 sequence (that led to the game-tying goal), where you have got a couple young defensemen there that have had some ups and But that depth has been significantly weakened — to the point where the downs this year. (Travis) Sanheim moves the puck to (Philippe) Myers. Flyers could use at least one more forward, ideally a center, to play in They’re both jumping up, they’re leading the rush. Myers throws it back to their top nine. Let’s quickly review the team’s top candidates for the Sanheim. Sanheim goes, on a third effort, and scores a goal.” position after Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes: Claude Giroux and Scott Laughton are best offensively when on the wing; Michael Raffl has spent Neither Sanheim nor Myers has dominated this season, though the the bulk of his career at wing; Mikhail Vorobyev has failed multiple times former’s play has noticeably ticked up in recent games. Both have the to translate his game to the NHL level; Connor Bunnaman, German potential to take major steps forward in the future, perhaps even the near Rubtsov and top prospect Morgan Frost have struggled to stick with the future. That’s part the reason for the hesitance to go all-in on deadline big club. There’s a clear void that an outside acquisition could fill. acquisitions, according to Fletcher. He wants to give his youngsters a chance to drive a late-season push, and he doesn’t want to box them out The problem, however, is that the club doesn’t have much cap space to of the organization’s plans. facilitate such an acquisition. “You get reminded a little bit of the need to be patient with young The Flyers’ use of long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to stay cap compliant players,” Fletcher said. “We’ve got a lot of these kids to grow, so I don’t is the primary reason for their lack of flexibility. Fletcher tried to avoid know that we’re looking to bump too many guys out of key spots right tapping into LTIR at the start of the season, even using a just-cleared-to- now.” play Tyler Pitlick in Game 1 to help ensure the team could dress 12 forwards and six defensemen while staying under the $81.5 million cap Fletcher didn’t discount the possibility of more youthful reinforcements ceiling. Why? Because clubs below the cap ceiling are able to “bank” cap than the ones already suiting up for the Flyers. He expressed measured space for each day they don’t reach their maximum daily spend limit. By confidence in a potential Patrick return this season, but acknowledged saving money for months, a team that initially appears only a bit under that the 21-year-old still lacks a set recovery timeline. And Fletcher said the cap ceiling (maybe by $1 to $2 million) can later afford to add a that as the stretch run approaches, the balance between long-term player with a significantly higher cap hit around the trade deadline. development versus short-term help starts to skew more toward the latter — in other words, Frost could return to the NHL this season to add more But Fletcher’s avoidance of LTIR only lasted through the end of October. offensive upside to Line 3 down the middle. When Laughton had surgery for a broken finger on Oct. 30 and received a three- to four-week timetable for his return, the Flyers had little choice Neither player’s return is a guarantee, of course. Patrick’s situation in but to place him on LTIR in order to recall sufficient replacements. Ever particular lacks clarity in the short term, and skepticism regarding his since, Philadelphia has regularly exceeded the cap ceiling via the LTIR return this season is justified. But he’s not the only promising youngster. allowance, which has kept the team cap compliant, but also prevented it Players such as Sanheim, Myers, Carter Hart (assuming the injury he from banking valuable space for acquisitions. suffered in practice Tuesday isn’t serious), Joel Farabee and Frost increasingly look like the wild cards of the Flyers’ second half. Barring a They currently have just $579,444 in deadline cap space available, per surprise explosion from a veteran or two, the players whose ceilings are CapFriendly. still unknown possess the most plausible upside for Philadelphia.

Does that mean the Flyers can only acquire a player with a sub-$600,000 That’s not to say Fletcher won’t look to improve the team from the cap hit? Not quite. (There is no active NHL player with a cap hit lower outside in the coming weeks. A useful depth forward or two is on his wish than $666,666, anyway.) What it does mean, however, is that without list. But based on Tuesday’s comments, along with a bit of simple logic, finding a way to jettison money elsewhere, the Flyers could only add a anyone expecting a season-changing trade deadline acquisition might be cap hit equal to $579,444 plus the savings gained by sending down disappointed.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171417 Pittsburgh Penguins

Minor league report: Penguins fall to Stars, 5-2

SETH RORABAUGH

Thursday, January 16, 2020 12:05 a.m.

Forwards Adam Johnson and Kevin Roy each had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-2 road loss to the Texas Stars at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas on Wednesday.

Goaltender Casey DeSmith made 32 saves for the Penguins (18-16-3-3) who have lost six of their past seven games.

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171418 Pittsburgh Penguins “Also, he works (hard). Any time you have any linemate who works that hard, it makes everything a little easier for everybody else.”

Penguins’ Dominik Kahun showing his skills are 1st-line worthy Tribune Review LOADED: 01.16.2020

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 4:43 p.m.

No goals and two points over his first 11 games with a new team? Being a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career?

Not pleasant, sure, Dominik Kahun said Wednesday in looking back to the first month of this season. But it was going to take more than that to rattle a player who went undrafted (twice) and had to wait until past his 23rd birthday before he was entrusted with NHL game duty.

“Sometimes, that’s normal, you know?” Kahun said of slumps. “I think in sports, you don’t always have good times. It’s up-and-down sometimes, and that’s OK.”

Kahun is having a decidedly “up” time right now for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Promoted to the top line soon after the season-ending injury to Jake Guentzel, Kahun has six points over his past four games skating on the left side of world-class center Evgeni Malkin and the team’s hottest winger, Bryan Rust.

“He just has good instincts, and he has the ability to finish,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Kahun. “You can see when those guys (on that line) come through the neutral zone with speed, the threat they can pose. (Rust), his north-south speed is a good as it gets. Dom and (Malkin) are just so good at holding onto pucks, creating time and space, allowing plays to develop. They’ve had pretty good chemistry since we’ve put them together.”

Malkin, Rust and Kahun have combined for seven goals and 12 assists over the past five games they’ve spent on a line together, and the Penguins have gone 4-1-0. The six points for Kahun since Jan. 7 match what he tallied each month in October and December.

Kahun, in fact, had just two points until the 26th day of his first month with the Penguins, meaning he was limited to just two assists over his first 11 games of the season — not exactly the kind of impression he planned to make after his offseason acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for popular defenseman Olli Maatta.

Then, for the first game of November, Kahun was a healthy scratch. Sullivan was almost apologetic, and the scratch came Nov. 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, when the team boasted as close as it has had to a healthy lineup.

After going undrafted and plying his trade in the top German professional league (the DEL) for four seasons, Kahun signed with the Blackhawks in 2018 and had 13 goals and 37 points in 82 games.

“Obviously, I was a little disappointed when I didn’t get drafted, a couple of years there for sure,” said Kahun, who grew up in Germany and won a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics. “But then I thought, ‘I just have to make my way through back home. If I played well in Europe, and I played good with the national team, then I will get my chance.’ And that’s how it went.”

Meshing well with a talent such as Malkin shouldn’t come as a surprise. Kahun spent plenty of minutes skating on Chicago’s top line last season with future Hall of Famer Jonathan Toews.

“I think I’ve got (competitiveness) — I compete every game and try to play at both ends with energy and with speed,” Kahun said. “So I think that’s why they use me sometimes everywhere, because I can bring sometimes all that stuff.”

Rust similarly has been deployed in a variety of roles. He gushes about Kahun as a linemate.

“He thinks the game at such a high level,” Rust said. “He’s able to make those tight-little-space plays and find open ice. Any time you have a guy like that on your line, it kind of buys you more time to either get yourself to open space or to make a play. 1171419 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ annual Dads’ Trip takes players, fathers to Boston, Detroit

CHRIS ADAMSKI

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 4:04 p.m.

If there were a bunch of middle-aged men in the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room Wednesday, it must have meant only one thing.

The Penguins’ annual Dads’ Trip was about to get underway.

In a tradition dating back several years, the Penguins designate one short, multiple-game road trip and invite players’ fathers along.

“It’s a great opportunity for guys to appreciate things our fathers did for us when we were kids,” wing Brandon Tanev said. “I feel that’s a big aspect of hockey — family. And it’s awesome that management and ownership has done that for us here.”

Tanev, in his first season with the Penguins, said his former team, the Winnipeg Jets, had one Dads’ Trip during his four-plus seasons there.

We have it – the first story of the Dads' Trip.

Juuso Riikola passed through airport security at the same time as Phil Bourque…

The Penguins’ history with the Dads’ Trip dates to the Dan Bylsma era. Fathers of players are given access to pretty much everything — team meetings, travel with the team on the plane and bus, team meals.

They, of course, are given suite tickets to the games. The Penguins play Thursday at the Boston Bruins and Friday at the Detroit Red Wings. The team, accompanied by several fathers, left Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s fun,” goalie Tristan Jarry said. “It’s always fun to bring them along and have fun. They get to see what we go through every day and what we do. (Jarry’s father) never really gets to see that too often, so it’s always fun having them around.“

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171420 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ power play enjoying rare success

SETH RORABAUGH

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 2:43 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Penguins received an obvious boost in every facet during Tuesday’s 7-3 rout of the Minnesota Wild at home thanks to the return of forward Sidney Crosby.

The power play was arguably the most tangible to quantify as it went 2 for 4 with Crosby collecting secondary assists on each goal scored by forward Evgeni Malkin.

But even before Crosby’s return, the power play was in the midst of a noticeable hot streak, having gone 2 for 4 during Sunday’s 4-3 shootout road win against the Arizona Coyotes.

(Video courtesy NHL)

Before this two-game sequence, the Penguins had scored multiple power-play goals in only four contests this season.

What’s led to this minor surge?

“It’s such a fine line, the power play,” Crosby said after Wednesday’s practice in Cranberry. “In Arizona, (the Penguins) did a good job of just entering the puck (into the offensive zone). I feel like we generated some good chances off of that. Then (Tuesday) night, the first one we got was off an entry, too. The entries help just as far as getting set up and doing what you want to do. That goes a long way.

“At the end of the day, a power play is all about executing.”

That execution was presumably a tad easier with Crosby present.

“He’s a playmaker,” Malkin said. “He controls the puck. I (know) Sid a long time. We try to look at each other, we try to move pucks quicker. You see it worked right away. We practiced for a couple of days. (Tuesday), we scored two goals, huge goals. It’s so much easier because Sid moves pucks so well. He holds pucks so well. Best player.”

For the season, the Penguins are 26 for 131 with a conversion rate of 19.1 percent, 17th in the NHL. So even with a fair amount of success the past two games, it remains a work in progress.

At the same time, it can be easy to invest too much into the base numbers.

“We’ve been shooting the puck, moving the puck well,” defenseman Kris Letang said. “There’s phases in the year where it goes like that. You’re playing it simple, you’re shooting the puck and good goals are going in. I know at one point in the year, we could not score on the (power play), but we generated so many chances.

“Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171421 Pittsburgh Penguins Sullivan had no updates on Schultz (lower body), Dumoulin (ankle surgery) or Nick Bjugstad (core muscle surgery).

“They’re just continuing the rehab process,” he said. “They’re going John Marino returns to Boston as a staple on Penguins' blue line through it. We’re encouraged by the progress that they’ve made. We’re hopeful that we’ll get some of these guys back in a timely fashion.”

BILL BRINK Post Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

JAN 15, 2020 2:30 PM

During the Penguins’ previous trip to Boston, on Nov. 4, a lucky bounce on the tail end of a penalty helped John Marino score his first NHL goal in front of 60 friends and family members. On Thursday, Marino will return to Boston as an integral part of a Penguins team that has thrived despite numerous injuries.

“Any time you get to go back home and play in front of family and friends,” Marino said, “it makes it a little more special.”

The 22-year-old rookie defenseman was born in North Easton, Mass., about 25 miles south of Boston, and played for Harvard. The Penguins travel to Boston to face the Bruins on Thursday night.

“They’re deep, they've got a balanced attack, they’ve got a good solid defense corps, they've got solid goaltending, they’ve got one of the best power plays in the league,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think those are all the reasons why they're one of the top teams in the league. We’re just going to have to continue to try to focus on our game and bring our best game and try to dictate the terms out there as best we can.”

Penguins center Sidney Crosby congratulates center Dominik Simon after scoring against the Wild, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

Marino has helped the Penguins’ defensemen bring their best game as the unit traded Erik Gudbranson before Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz got hurt. In 44 games, Marino has 23 points and is plus-15 after settling in with Marcus Pettersson on the defense’s second pairing.

“I think we play similar styles,” Marino said. “He’s a really good puck- moving defenseman. He’s really smart. He’s always in the right position. He talks a lot out there. He makes the game a lot easier.”

Among active skaters, only Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby average more ice time than Marino’s 20:22.

“He’s logging a lot of ice time, he’s being good responsibly out there, he’s got an offensive upside that’s been showing up lately,” Pettersson said. “It’s fun to see.”

Bruins again?

The Penguins’ brief respite after their road trip out west, a three-game sweep that included victories against two of the top teams in the Western Conference, is over. They’ll face Boston, which trails the first-place Washington Capitals by a point in the Eastern Conference standings, twice in four days, returning home against the Bruins on Sunday after playing the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday.

The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games and have won four in a row. They went 18-6-4 while Sidney Crosby missed two months because of core muscle surgery. Crosby returned Tuesday and recorded four points. In his absence, Evgeni Malkin had 11 goals and 38 points, which was no surprise; in his career without Crosby, Malkin averages 1.36 points per game. This year, though, his 1.42 points per game ranks fifth in the NHL.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby beats Wild defenseman Ryan Suter to the net Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at PPG Paints Arena.

“I felt based on our discussions in the summertime that Geno would be a motivated player coming back to training camp, and he certainly has,” Sullivan said. “As I’ve said, he’s been a great player in this league for a long time. He’s one of the best players of his generation and he’s so capable. I suspected based on our conversations in the summertime that he would be a driven guy and a motivated guy, and he has been. I can’t say enough for Geno’s game and how he’s elevated his play.”

Mum on injuries 1171422 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins knew the power play would need to evolve with Phil Kessel gone. But they couldn’t have expected that the injury bug would bite such a big chunk out of the unit.

Can Sidney Crosby's return spark the Penguins' struggling power play? Malkin, Crosby, Rust, Hornqvist and Kris Letang made up the five-man unit during Tuesday night’s dominant 7-3 win over the Wild. Those five players also could be considered five of the biggest injuries this season.

MIKE DEFABO Malkin missed the first month with a lower-body injury. Rust missed a month after blocking a shot with his hand in the final preseason game. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Hornqvist has spent two separate stints on injured reserve. Letang JAN 15, 2020 10:29 AM missed eight games.

(Not to mention Jake Guentzel, who was originally supposed to spend his first year with the top unit, is likely done for at least the remainder of the Sidney Crosby collected the puck at center ice and — less than seven regular season. And Justin Schultz, who played with the top unit on Day seconds later — it was in the back of the net. 1 of training camp, is spending his second prolonged stint on injured reserve). During those brief moments in between, Crosby turned on the jets to gain the zone. As all four Minnesota defenders converged on the Penguins But with Crosby back, the Penguins power play unit is about as healthy captain, like a basketball defense collapsing on a driving point guard, as it’s been all season. It’s finally time to see what it can do. Crosby flipped a backhanded pass. Evgeni Malkin snagged the puck and whipped it to Bryan Rust. Back to Malkin. Goal.

Start-to-finish, it was a beauty. But it all started with that zone entry from Post Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 the captain.

“He’s a playmaker,” Malkin said Tuesday. “I’ve known Sid a long time. We try to move [the] puck quicker. You see, it worked right away.”

Penguins defenseman John Marino skates up ice against the Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

The play highlighted just some of what makes Crosby special. Speed. Vision. Precision.

Those were also some of the same words that had been missing from the Penguins power play this season, when the man-advantage really hasn’t been much of an advantage at all.

For years, the Penguins boasted one of the league’s best power-play units. Last season, they ranked fifth in the NHL with a 24.6% conversation rate. The previous season, in 2017-18, they led the league at 26.2%.

But this year? The top power play unit has endured injuries and inconsistencies. Partially as a result, it entered Tuesday night converting just 18.9%. That’s just 20th in the league.

As recently last week, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was fielding questions about the challenges of coaching the power play and its struggles.

“[Power plays are] one of the more challenging things to coach,” Sullivan said. “When you’re coaching offense, there’s always a fine line between over-coaching and players becoming robotic (or) under-coaching in the sense that you don’t give them enough structure so that they can be somewhat predictable for one another. We’ve always, as a coaching staff, tried to find that sweet spot where we try to give them a sound foundation and some structure.”

Or just add Crosby.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby is all smiles after scoring in the third period against the Wild, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at the PPG Paints Arena Uptown.

On the night that Crosby returned to the lineup, the Penguins converted on two of their four power play opportunities. The second goal was a credit to Malkin’s wicked shot and a grimy screen from Patric Hornqvist in front. But still, the unit sure looked and felt different with Crosby on the ice.

“I just think it’s so much more dynamic,” Sullivan said. “It gives you one more elite player that sees the ice so well.”

Sullivan pointed to so many areas where Crosby will help spark the power play. Zone entries. Decision-making. Faceoffs. But there’s one area in particular.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy around the net, whether he’s off to the side or he’s coming from below the goal line,” Sullivan said. “He can make those low plays as good as anybody in the game.” 1171423 Pittsburgh Penguins

What time do the Penguins play tonight against the Bruins?

Staff Report

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

JAN 16, 2020 6:00 AM

The Penguins face the Bruins tonight in Boston. Here’s everything you need to know about this impending matchup:

Who: Penguins vs. Boston Bruins.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: TD Garden, Boston.

Look, listen: AT&T SportsNet, WXDX-FM (105.9), PittsburghPenguins.com.

Noteworthy: The Penguins are looking to snap a seven-game winless streak in Boston (0-6-1) dating to Dec.16, 2015. ... The Penguins are riding a four-game win streak, the longest-active streak in the NHL. ... Captain Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup Tuesday against Minnesota after missing the previous 28 games. He tallied a goal and three assists. ... With a goal and an assist against the Wild, Bryan Rust set a career high in single-season points with 40 and goals with 19. ... The Bruins (27- 9-12, 66 points) lead the Atlantic Division and have the third-most points behind the Washington Capitals (67) and St. Louis Blues (67). ... Boston boasts one of the league’s most potent power-play units with 42 goals with the man-advantage; only Edmonton (43) has more.

Did you know: Kris Letang picked up his 400th career assist Tuesday, making him the first defenseman and sixth player in franchise history to assist on 400 or more goals, joining Mario Lemieux (1,033), Sidney Crosby (785), Evgeni Malkin (643), Jaromir Jagr (640) and Ron Francis (449).

Post Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171424 Pittsburgh Penguins Marino has been a revelation on defense. Kris Letang (ninth among defensemen in points per game) shows no sign of decline at age 32. He still makes plays most defensemen can only dream of.

Joe Starkey: Penguins deliver frightening reminder Even the goalie (Tristan Jarry) can deliver a pin-point pass.

Preventing goals is one thing, and the Penguins desperately needed to improve in that area. But you have to score to win when the games get JOE STARKEY bigger.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Sooner or later, you will need that wondrous skill, which for the Penguins has been a blessing and a curse over the years. Within the confines of a JAN 16, 2020 6:00 AM conscientious system, however, it can only be a positive.

That’s kind of the point: If you take care of the details and stay on the Compliments to the Penguins for their renewed dedication to defense right side of the puck, the skill will eventually show. and discipline this season. It has been a remarkable transformation, and It showed Tuesday. I’m not kidding about the compliments. And it was frightening. This team is drawing praise from the highest places. It’s not cliched, either.

It’s eye-opening. Post Gazette LOADED: 01.16.2020 Two weeks ago, Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville — owner of more Stanley Cup championships than any active coach — called the Penguins “the hardest-working team in the league.”

“They’re relentless in all areas of the game,” Quenneville said. “They have a lot of puck support. They have speed through the middle of the ice. They move in all the right areas. They have great sticks. They have good habits. They work well together. They all play the same way.”

On Tuesday night, after the Penguins beat the Minnesota Wild, 7-3, Wild winger Zach Parise marveled at the Penguins’ speed and swarming approach. Their ability to bring it every night, and to play an intensely structured game, must be somewhat of a shock to Western Conference teams, in particular.

The Penguins are an astounding 21-4-2 against the West.

“Their puck support all over the ice was crazy,” Parise said. “It was like they always had three guys on the puck, offensively and defensively. ... They come at you 100 miles per hour. That made it really tough.”

All true. And unbelievably impressive. But let’s not forget something else about these Penguins, something in their DNA that still makes them unique.

Even without star winger Jake Guentzel, they are breathtakingly skilled.

That might have been easy to forget amid the club’s defensive renaissance, but Sidney Crosby’s return game Tuesday provided a stark reminder of the Penguins’ immense artistic flair.

This is more than merely a band of worker bees.

How many players in the world have the kind of savvy and vision Evgeni Malkin displayed in setting up the Bryan Rust goal? We’re talking about a blind, backhanded drop pass to start a play not even folks in the upper part of the arena could have seen developing.

OK, how many players can pass the puck off the back of the net to themselves, lose a checker in the process, perform a pirouette before catching the pass and then deliver a cross-ice feed for an easy goal? Crosby pulled that move Tuesday. It almost seemed normal ... for him.

And I’m not sure either of those was the best play of the night. That honor might have belonged to Dominik Simon, John Marino and Jared McCann.

I believe it went like this: Simon makes perfect breakout pass to McCann, who enters zone and slips blind drop pass to Marino, who delivers sick cross-ice feed to Simon, who whips it back across the crease for a McCann dunk. It looked like the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers.

Did I mention McCann also made a pass from flat on his back, setting up a Crosby goal?

The Penguins have three players in the top 15 in points per game — Malkin (fifth, 1.42), Crosby (15th, 1.17) and Rust (12th, 1.25), who has become an elite offensive player. He is ahead of the likes of Auston Matthews on that points-per-game list. McCann has some eliteness in him, as well, and it could manifest as he gains more time on Crosby’s wing. 1171425 Pittsburgh Penguins started, Crosby was behind his own goal line taking care of defensive responsibilities in what has become his customary fashion.

There’s a reason Sullivan likes calling him “the best 200-foot player in the Sidney Crosby’s magical return has the Penguins looking special game.”

Later, he assisted on another Malkin power-play goal, scored a goal of his own and made a spectacular feed to Dominik Simon for another goal. By Josh Yohe Sit back and watch Crosby? Rust insists that isn’t about to happen. Jan 15, 2020 “Nah,” Rust said. “I think we want to continue what we’re doing. There’s a certain level of excitement in the room right now. We know we can be that much more effective, that much more dangerous offensively, with When it was over, when Sidney Crosby had pulled off another him in the lineup. We know how good we can be with him added to this.” astonishingly spectacular comeback from injury in a career full of them during a 7-3 whipping of the Minnesota Wild at PPG Paints Arena on The Penguins are clearly one of hockey’s fastest teams. And while Tuesday, the captain of the Penguins sat at his stall and smiled. Crosby might not be Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon in terms of raw speed — he has about a decade on them — he remains blessed Perhaps Crosby was simply pleased with his performance, and with top-end speed, making a fast team even faster. understandably so. He scored a goal and recorded three assists against the Wild after last playing in a game Dec. 9. This was noticeable on the power play, where the Penguins seemed to work at warp speed all night. Crosby’s smile might just as well have been evident because of the position his teammates put his team in during his absence. “He just elevates everything,” Rust said. “Other teams have to pay attention to him now. It changes the pace of what we do on the power Consider what the standings say: play.” • The Penguins have pulled within four points of the Washington Capitals It changes everything, really. And for the better. for first place in the Metropolitan Division and trail the Capitals and Blues by four points in the Presidents’ Trophy race. The Penguins have identified a wonderful line with Malkin, Rust and Dominik Kahun. They’ve also found a bottom-six line that has been a • The Penguins now lead the NHL with a plus-36 goal differential. terror for the opposition to deal with, featuring Teddy Blueger, Brandon • At 17-5-3, they now boast the NHL’s second-best home record. Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese.

• In their past 15 games, the Penguins are 11-3-1. Now, they have Crosby.

Those are the facts. Given how the Penguins thrived without Crosby in “Everything is more fun when he’s back,” Malkin said. “Crazy, crazy the lineup, they are quite clearly positioned to reach the postseason and game tonight.” perhaps even win the Metropolitan Division. Ten postgame observations One glance at Crosby’s performance, though, made it easy to imagine • For all of Crosby’s brilliance this evening, I’d argue Malkin was the this team enjoying considerable success come spring. game’s best player. He scored twice and his play to set up Rust’s goal Sometimes, when teams welcome back a star to the lineup, they was another in a series of magnificent passes from Malkin. It seems struggle. It’s easy to sit back and simply watch as the leader goes to Malkin is making a jaw-dropping pass on an almost nightly basis. History work. Other times, a superstar’s style doesn’t always mesh with how his tells us not only that Malkin elevates his game when Crosby is absent, team had played in his absence. but also that he typically removes his foot from the accelerator — just a bit — when Crosby returns. There was certainly no evidence of this Then, there are Crosby and the Penguins. The Penguins have bought against the Wild, and my sense is that we won’t see Malkin take a into a two-way style of hockey that showcases their speed, tenacity and backseat to Crosby. Not this time. Malkin entered this season with skill. Do those attributes remind you of anybody? something resembling rage because of what he has described as his worst season last year. He spoke passionately following Tuesday’s game “And honestly,” Jack Johnson said, “just having him back in the lineup about his desire to win and to be at his best. He sounded pretty serious. makes everyone want to play a little harder, elevate their games a little Don’t expect him to slow down. more.” • Crosby’s performance was special and we shouldn’t take it for granted. Evgeni Malkin echoed those sentiments. Malkin has carried the Penguins Really good players, or even great players, wouldn’t just return after offensively while Crosby has been out of the lineup but acknowledged missing 66 days of actions — how perfect is that? — and produce four they aren’t really the Penguins without him. points. He did the same thing in 2011 after missing almost a year. This is “Every player is important,” Malkin said. “But Sid is the captain. He’s our the kind of thing only the greatest players of all time can produce. The leader. He’s a great player, a great teammate. You saw it tonight. Great amazing thing about Crosby was, he looked a little out of sync to me in four lines. Power play was better. Everything.” the first two periods. Oh, he looked good and managed a couple of assists. You could see that he was still searching for his timing, however. Neither Mike Sullivan nor any of the Penguins even seemed surprised by In the third period, everything came rushing back to him. The timing, the the performance. Rather, Crosby’s dominant work in recent practices put precision. Everything. It was all there on his final assist of the night, when everyone at ease and foreshadowed what happened against the Wild. Crosby banked the puck off the net, then slid an outrageous pass to “You could see he was getting his speed back and he was just working Dominik Simon. Just a spectacular performance. And yet, Crosby is so so hard in practice,” Bryan Rust said. “I’m not surprised.” great — to me, he’s one of the five greatest players in history — that no one was particularly surprised by what he did. It was almost expected. Crosby left indelible marks on this victory against Minnesota early and Think about that. often. On the team’s first power play, Crosby raced into Wild territory before finding Malkin, who would score a moment later. • Were I Sullivan, I wouldn’t touch the Malkin line. Rust scored his 19th goal of the season, which is a career high, and continues to be a “Look at that goal,” Johnson said. “Other teams are going to back off menace. He’s playing the best hockey of his career by an exceptional because they’re not sure what he’s going to do. He was absolutely flying margin. Meanwhile, Dominik Kahun continues to complement Malkin and through the middle of the ice when he crossed the blue line. So, they Rust perfectly on the left side. He’s such a skilled, thoughtful player. I like backed off. Then he’s dropping it off to Geno, and it’s in the net a second most everything about his game. The Penguins coaching staff believes later. That goal was all because of him.” Malkin is at his best when he is flanked by speedy wingers. They don’t come much faster than Kahun and Rust. The chemistry there appears to The second goal, scored by Jared McCann, wasn’t because of him on be real. the surface. Dominik Simon and John Marino both made pretty passes to set up McCann’s score. It’s worth noting, however, that when the rush • Let’s give Simon some credit. When he had a chance to finish against the Wild, he finished. Aside from this third-period goal, he generally played a strong game. He made a wonderful pass to Jared McCann to set up the game’s second goal. Many are puzzled as to why Simon would be playing on a line with Crosby, but it’s really quite simple: Crosby likes playing with him and, for all of Simon’s shortcomings as a goal scorer, he is an outstanding puck distributor and knows how and when to get Crosby the puck.

• I really like what I’ve seen in recent games from Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola. Neither is a standout and I don’t suspect either will be in the postseason lineup should the Penguins be completely healthy on the blue line. Still, what nice options to have when a player goes down with an injury. Ruhwedel had a slow start to the season but has been solid in recent weeks. I really like Riikola’s game right now. He’s got a big shot and he’s mobile. He likes to throw his body around, too, but not at the expense of the team. If these two players are the Penguins’ depth defensemen in the playoffs, well, the organization could do a lot worse.

• Here’s a stat that may get your attention. Even-strength goals this season: Phil Kessel 4, 3. The trade really hasn’t worked out for either player. That said, despite the occasional big mistake, I feel like Galchenyuk has looked more dangerous in recent games. He scored on a rocket of a one-timer in the third period Tuesday. He’s very much on the trade block and it will be interesting to see if another team will give him a look. The signs of improvement aren’t overwhelming, but Galchenyuk doesn’t look as lost as he did earlier in the season. It would be a welcome development if he were to start pulling his weight.

• Tristan Jarry was perfectly fine against the Wild but it’s worth noting that he’s allowed three goals in five consecutive games. This isn’t alarming or anything. The Penguins are 3-1-1 in those five games, and he’s been very good in most of those outings, notably his performance against Arizona on Sunday. Still, I’d suggest that his level of play has dropped ever so slightly in recent games. This was a given and is not a criticism of him. But it will be interesting to see how he plays in the final week before the NHL All-Star break.

• The Penguins are having scouting meetings all week, and the likes of Craig Patrick and were in attendance at Tuesday’s game. I had a chance to talk with Stevens. Notably, I mentioned to him that John Marino keeps getting better and better. It was Stevens who scouted Marino and subsequently pushed Jim Rutherford to trade for him. “People keep telling me how good he looks,” Stevens said with a grin. Marino, it should be noted, played another near flawless game against the Wild. He gets better and better on an almost night basis. “I’m not surprised,” Stevens said. “Not at all. You could see it when he was in college. He’s just a good player.”

• I had the chance to catch up with Billy Guerin, which is always a treat. He’s easily one of the most likable people to pass through Pittsburgh. Guerin displayed his knack for connecting with people when, following a tribute to him in the first period during a TV timeout, Guerin raised a hand-written sign that said, “Thanks, yinz.” Time will tell whether or not Guerin is a successful general manager. He has his hands full with the Wild roster that he inherited. But his legacy in Pittsburgh is one of utter excellence. Guerin successfully groomed many players for NHL work in Wilkes-Barre, was a wonderful right-hand man for Jim Rutherford and always worked tirelessly. Along the way, he became one of the more beloved figures in franchise history, and for good reason.

• Two of the next three games for the Penguins are against the Boston Bruins. While the Bruins are in something of a funk right now, they remain one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. The Penguins have never won in Boston under Sullivan but will get another chance Thursday. On Sunday, the Penguins host the Bruins in a nationally televised game. This should provide the Penguins with quite a nice test.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171426 San Jose Sharks Gallant vehemently denied DeBoer’s accusation, saying in part, “For that clown to say that in the paper yesterday, it’s not right.”

Gallant, 56, went 118-75-20 in two-plus years as Vegas’ coach. After ‘Pretty shocking’: Sharks react to rival Vegas Golden Knights hiring Pete eliminating the Sharks from the playoffs in 2018, he and the Golden DeBoer Knights later advanced to the Stanley Cup Final before they lost to the Washington Capitals.

Even in the normally volatile world of NHL coaching, this season has By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay been unusual with seven in-season changes so far. Two of the coaches, Area News Group though — Jim Montgomery and Bill Peters — were dismissed for conduct reasons. PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 1:49 pm | UPDATED: January 15, 2020 at 3:08 PM “A lot of weirdness this season with coaching changes and what’s gone in the league, and how many guys were let go,” Boughner said. “Every

team is in a different phase. I can’t say I wasn’t surprised or shocked, but DENVER — The Sharks knew that Pete DeBoer would find another job it’s amazing to see how much movement there is.” as an NHL head coach at some point. Unlike Boughner, DeBoer does not have an interim tag. The Golden They just didn’t think it would be with their most bitter rival. Knights also fired assistant coach Mike Kelly, although it was unknown as of early Wednesday afternoon if DeBoer was going to bring his DeBoer replaced Gerard Gallant on Wednesday morning as the coach of assistants from San Jose to Vegas. , and the Vegas Golden Knights, who have lost four straight games and were also relieved of their duties by general manager Doug entered the day in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 24-19-6 record. Wilson on Dec. 11.

DeBoer spent four-plus seasons as the Sharks’ coach before he was The Sharks are 6-7-2 under Boughner, who will be the coach for at least fired by the team Dec. 11 after a 15-16-2 start. Just a little more than the rest of the regular season. At the moment, he is working with a month later, DeBoer now works for San Jose’s archenemy after the two makeshift staff that includes , Mike Ricci and Evgeni teams met in two hotly contested playoff series in 2018 and 2019. Nabokov.

“Everybody’s phones just started going off,” around 8-8:30 a.m., said In the 15 games since the coaching change, the Sharks have allowed Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner, who worked as DeBoer’s assistant exactly three goals per game, 13th-best in the NHL, as goalies Aaron from 2015-2017 and again this season. Dell and Martin Jones have improved their play overall. In that same time frame, the Sharks have scored 2.67 goals per game, 25th in the NHL. “Obviously happy for Pete. I think it’s going to be a great spot for him. I knew it was just a matter of time. I didn’t know if he was going to wait “It’s a lot better now than it was at the beginning,” Boughner said of his until the summer and take a few months, but when an opportunity like staff’s cohesion. “We needed to learn a bit about each other, define roles that comes up, him considering taking it is very understandable.” and feel comfortable in those roles. The staff that left, everybody had their specific (assignments). … Now, all of us together are keying in on Vegas’ first game with DeBoer will be Thursday night in Ottawa against all situations.” the Senators. The Sharks, who play in Colorado against the Avalanche on Thursday, do not play the Golden Knights again this year.

Most Sharks players were still in their hotel rooms in Denver when they San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.16.2020 saw the news on social media — first about Gallant getting let go and then about DeBoer becoming his replacement.

“Crazy league sometimes,” Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow said. “Obviously, it’s pretty unexpected.

“I just woke up, scrolling through Twitter, saw Gallant fired. Thought, OK, then Pete gets hired. Pretty shocking, but that’s the business.”

“Every guy on the team was pretty surprised,” Sharks center Tomas Hertl said. “It’s kind of shocking. Nobody expected the coach from Vegas to get fired, and right away Pete gets there. Nobody knows actually what to think about it. But it’s for sure big news and a really big surprise.”

Vegas went 3-0-1 in the season series with the Sharks, including a pair of convincing wins to start the regular season. All of those games came with DeBoer behind the Sharks bench.

“Obviously not the team we expected him to go to,” Sharks forward Timo Meier said. “But that’s the business. But it’s a good opportunity. Obviously, they’re a good team. Have loud fans. But yeah, it’s definitely shocking to everybody. … It’s going to be weird playing against Vegas with him behind the bench.”

DeBoer, 51, went 198-129-34 as the Sharks coach from 2015-2019. He led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and to another Western Conference final last season. In all, the Sharks played 60 playoff games in four seasons under DeBoer.

Thirteen of those playoff games came against the Golden Knights, with Vegas winning its second round series with the Sharks in 2018.

Last season, the Sharks beat the Golden Knights in seven games in the first round, erasing a three-games-to-one deficit before winning Game 7 in overtime — a 5-4 comeback victory that is arguably the most memorable game in the history of the franchise.

DeBoer and Gallant got into a war of words during the series. The day before Game 7, DeBoer said Gallant was chirping at his players — Logan Couture in particular — after Gallant felt Couture embellished a play to draw a penalty. 1171427 San Jose Sharks

Ex-Sharks coach Pete DeBoer signs on with rival Vegas Golden Knights

By MICHAEL NOWELS | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 8:49 am | UPDATED: January 15, 2020 at 10:05 am

Pete DeBoer wasn’t jobless for long.

The Vegas Golden Knights came calling Wednesday after firing the only head coach they’ve ever known, Gerard Gallant. Suddenly, DeBoer finds himself on the opposite side of one of the NHL’s most intense rivalries, albeit a young one.

DeBoer was fired by the Sharks just over a month ago after the team lost all four games and barely looked competitive on an East Coast road trip. He had been in charge of the club since 2015, leading the Sharks to a 198-129-34 record over five seasons.

The Golden Knights sit ahead of the Sharks in the Pacific Division and wild card races (54 points to 46), but they’ve lost four straight games and are currently tied for the Western Conference’s second wild card spot.

After thanking Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly for their contributions to the young Vegas franchise, Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon lauded DeBoer in a statement.

“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”

That’s a fairly different tone from when Gallant, then still representing Vegas, called DeBoer a “clown” during last year’s heated playoff series between the two teams.

DeBoer’s first game against the Sharks hasn’t been arranged yet. In a bit of a scheduling quirk, the teams are done playing each other for the regular season, so unless the Sharks go on a tear to make the playoffs, they won’t face DeBoer until at least October.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171428 San Jose Sharks With Couture, the Sharks had the makings of four solid lines, as Kevin Labanc was on Thornton’s line, adding some needed scoring punch. Goodrow was with Kane and Meier, which was forming an identity as a hard, heavy checking trio. There was also the early signs of a shutdown Coyotes 6, Sharks 3: Logan Couture’s absence felt in myriad ways line with Couture, Hertl and Marleau.

Tuesday, the top line of Hertl, Kane and Labanc was arguably the Sharks’ best for at least first two periods, and the third line of Marleau, By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay Antti Suomela and Meier combined for a pretty second period goal. Area News Group Boughner shuffled the lines for the third period. PUBLISHED: January 15, 2020 at 5:02 am | UPDATED: January 15, It was a nice second period comeback, but the lack of structure on 2020 at 5:04 am defense was too much to overcome.

“We just got to manage the puck a lot better for a full 60,” Labanc said. There was going come a point in time where the Sharks were going to “Second period was good, but third period, we kind of let loose, let them feel the loss of captain and No. 1 center Logan Couture in a big way. have a couple chances.”

It happened Tuesday, as the Sharks allowed one high danger chance With the loss to the Coyotes, the Sharks missed a chance to move past after another in a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. at least one team in the West and pick up ground on Vegas and Nashville, both losers Tuesday in regulation time. If the Sharks can’t rediscover what made them successful last week in their first two games without Couture, then this road trip might mark the As it is, both the Sharks and Minnesota Wild had 46 points entering beginning of the end of whatever playoff hopes remain. Wednesday, eight points out of the second wild card spot in the west.

The Sharks (21-23-4) on Thursday face the Colorado Avalanche, the top “We believe we’ve got the skill and the character on this team to get a scoring team in the Western Conference. Then it’s off to Vancouver on playoff spot,” said Timo Meier, who scored in the second period to give Saturday for a game against the Canucks, the second-highest scoring him six points in the last six games. “There’s still a lot of games left. team in the west. We’ve made some steps in the right direction and we’ve got to battle every game. That’s really important. We’ve got to take it day by day and Those games could get ugly if the Sharks are unable to fix some of the win some games.” breakdowns that occurred in the loss to Pacific Division-leading Arizona.

“This (was) a big game for us,” Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner said. “We got away from how we’ve played in the last couple weeks. It’s one of San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 01.16.2020 those games where we’ve got to make some corrections (Wednesday) and come out a little more structured against Colorado.”

Only a handful of saves by goalie Aaron Dell prevented the Coyotes from scoring early in the first period.

The Sharks didn’t break out as well or show the same kind of structure they had in wins last week over Columbus and Dallas — their first two games without Couture, who will be out for approximately another five weeks with a fracture in his left ankle.

Phil Kessel’s first goal came on a partial breakaway after a Sharks neutral zone turnover. His second goal came on the power play with two Sharks skaters out of position.

With the puck rimming around the boards, Coyotes forward Conor Garland made a nice play to keep it in the Sharks zone. He got it to Christian Dvorak, who found an open Kessel in front. He beat Dell at the 5:01 mark of the second period to give Arizona a 2-0 lead.

Without Couture, the Sharks have now allowed a power play goal in two straight games.

With the Sharks down 3-2 in the third period, Kessel sent the puck behind the Sharks net to Derek Stepan, who looked up to see a wide open Lawson Crouse in front.

Both Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl were close to the goal line, on opposite sides of the net. Evander Kane failed to pick up Crouse, who fired a one-timer past Dell for his 11th of the season at the 8:09 mark of the third period.

Dell finished with 34 saves, as the Sharks allowed 38 shots.

“I thought (Dell) made some big saves, especially early on and gave us a chance when we were a little sloppy,” Boughner said. “I don’t put any of this on his shoulders. I just think we weren’t good enough in front of him.

“I thought defensively we made too many errors. We gave out too many high danger scoring area chances. We didn’t manage the puck properly in the first period. Dell had to make some big saves.”

There, of course, were other ways Tuesday where Couture’s absence was felt, namely on offense and in the depth of the lineup.

The third line of Joe Thornton, Marcus Sorensen and Barclay Goodrow generated some scoring chances, but had zero finish around the net. Sorensen had four shots on goal but had just two shifts in the third period and had 11:20 of ice time. 1171429 San Jose Sharks “His teams are always very well prepared, very well coached,” McCrimmon said of DeBoer. “He's an intelligent guy. Teams have always been very strong special teams. He's been to the Stanley Cup Final with two different teams. He enjoyed a lot of success in the National Hockey Vegas Golden Knights fire Gallant, name DeBoer new coach League as a coach and I think with this opportunity he'll continue to do that."

Vegas is 24-19-6 and next plays Thursday night at Ottawa with DeBoer Stephen Whyno, Ap Hockey Writer expected to be behind the bench. Updated 1:52 pm PST, Wednesday, January 15, 2020

San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 01.16.2020 Gerard Gallant was abruptly fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday less than two years after leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season of existence and winning NHL coach of the year honors along the way.

Peter DeBoer, fired last month by the San Jose Sharks, takes over immediately and will be the Vegas coach the rest of the season.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the change in the aftermath of a 4-2 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday night that dropped Vegas out of a playoff position in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights have lost four in a row, matching the longest point drought in their brief franchise history.

“You've seen consistency issues,” McCrimmon said in Ottawa. “We are like a lot of teams — had real high hopes for the year, still have real high hopes for the year. We're in a unique position where we're right in the mix, so this isn't a case where the bottom fell out and we were left with no choice. It was a situation more where proactively it was our belief that this was going to be the best thing for our organization.”

Gallant won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year for his role in helping the Golden Knights reach the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in five games to Washington. They also made the playoffs last season before losing in seven games in the first round to DeBoer's Sharks.

Before some rough patches this season, Gallant was on a honeymoon since being hired in April 2017 to coach the league's 31st team.

He helped president of hockey operations George McPhee and McCrimmon during the Golden Knights' successful expansion draft and instilled a workmanlike attitude that helped a ragtag group of players come together during a magical inaugural season. Vegas won eight of its first nine games and put together a stirring run through the playoffs to land in the final against the Capitals.

McCrimmon said the decision was made over the past several weeks. Assistant coach Mike Kelly, who came to Vegas with Gallant from the Florida Panthers, was also fired.

"I think our team has more to give, and that was what into the decision," McCrimmon said.

This is the seventh coaching change in the NHL this season and the fifth for performance reasons. Vegas is the third team to change coaches after facing the Sabres, a loss that didn't sit well among players.

“It's tougher, especially when you're losing to teams you know that you're better than,” Golden Knights winger Mark Stone said Tuesday night. “We're a better hockey team. Just have to find ways to put the puck in the net, and we've kind of gotten stale last bunch of games.”

The Golden Knights are 8-6-1 in their last 15 but are only three points out of first place in the Pacific Division. Gallant was set to coach the Pacific team at All-Star Weekend later this month after Vegas led the division at the halfway mark.

Things haven't gone well since then. The power play is 5 of 25 over the past 12 games, and the team gave up two power play goals to the Sabres, who are ranked 21st in the league.

“They're still doing the same type of things, whether it's unlucky or bad opportunities,” Gallant said after the loss. “It's just not working right now.”

DeBoer was fired by the Sharks in December amid their disappointing season. DeBoer, who Gallant once called a “clown,” is the permanent replacement with no interim designation.

DeBoer is the second coach to be fired this season and join a new team; John Hynes went from New Jersey to Nashville. He is now with his fourth team as head coach after stints with New Jersey, Florida and San Jose. 1171430 San Jose Sharks

Vegas fires head coach, hires Peter DeBoer as replacement

Staff Report

Associated Press

Updated 9:40 pm PST, Wednesday, January 15, 2020

It didn’t take long for former Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer to find work.

After being fired by San Jose on Dec. 11, DeBoer on Wednesday was hired to coach the Vegas Golden Knights.

DeBoer — who had a 15-16-2 record with the Sharks this season — replaces Gerard Gallant, who was dismissed less than two years after leading Vegas to the in the team’s first season of existence.

The Golden Knights are tied for seventh place in the Western Conference, but have lost four in a row.

“We’re right in the mix, so this isn’t a case where the bottom fell out and we were left with no choice,” general manager Brad McCrimmon said. “It was a situation more where proactively it was our belief that this was going to be the best thing for our organization.”

• Washington center Nicklas Backstrom signed a five-year, $46 million extension through the 2024-25 season.

• Boston goalie Tuukka Rask will be out indefinitely with a concussion, the Bruins said.

• Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper was scratched from the Pacific Division roster for the All-Star Game this month because of a lower-body injury. Calgary goalie David Rittich was named as his replacement.

San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171431 San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton, Bob Boughner react to Peter DeBoer joining Golden Knights

By Jessica Kleinschmidt

January 15, 2020 1:44 PM

The news that former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer would be the Vegas Golden Knights' new successor left many scratching their heads.

The Knights dismissed coach Gerrard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly on Wednesday. While a lot of us found out via social media -- some of the players didn't know quite off the bat.

Sharks alternate captain Joe Thornton was asked by teammate Evander Kane if he had heard the news about their former coach going to Vegas.

Thornton hadn't heard anything, but told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz he knew the Knights were getting "a really good coach."

When DeBoer was relieved of his Sharks' duties back in December following a tough start to the season, Bob Boughner took over responsibilities as San Jose's interim head coach.

He also reacted to the news.

"Everybody's phones just started going off," Boughner told the San Jose Mercury's Curtis Pashelka. "Obviously happy for Pete. I think it's going to be a great spot for him. I knew it was just a matter of time.

"I didn't know if he was going to wait until the summer and take a few months, but when an opportunity like that comes up, him considering taking it is very understandable."

It appears waiting wasn't DeBoer's strong suit.

The Knights fired Gallant on the heels of a four-game losing streak, and in a statement said the DeBoer hire was "in order for the team to reach its full potential."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171432 San Jose Sharks

Peter DeBoer was called 'clown' by Gerard Gallant before replacing him

By Dalton Johnson

January 15, 2020 10:02 AM

Gerard Gallant found himself in a pool of irony Wednesday morning.

In a shocking sequence of events, Gallant was replaced on the Vegas Golden Knights' bench by the man he called a "clown" less than nine months ago.

That man is none other than former Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer. The Golden Knights fired Gallant as their coach Wednesday and hired DeBoer for the same position.

Prior to the Sharks and Golden Knights squaring off last season in Game 7 in the first-round series, Gallant forcefully denied that he talked trash to Sharks forward Logan Couture.

"I really don't want to talk about that," Gallant said at the time when a reporter asked about the Sharks' accusations, "but I think I'm going to have to a little bit because for that clown [DeBoer] to say that in the paper yesterday, it's not right."

That "clown" now has his old job.

DeBoer was fired by the Sharks on Dec. 12 after a 15-16-2 start to the 2019-20 season. Players were shocked and stunned by the move after DeBoer led San Jose to the playoffs every season since taking over before the 2015-16 campaign.

The Golden Knights currently are 24-19-6 and in a virtual tie with the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild-card spot. DeBoer is going from one side of the rivalry to the other.

Gallant is watching from his couch.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171433 San Jose Sharks

Golden Knights hire Peter DeBoer as head coach, fire Gerard Gallant

By Josh Schrock

January 15, 2020 7:52 AM

One of the most bitter rivalries in hockey just added a little more flavor.

The Vegas Golden Knights announced that coach Gerrard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly have been relieved of their duties, and former Sharks coach Peter DeBoer has been named to the top spot.

"In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary," Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. "Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season. We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward.

"In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come."

DeBoer was fired by the Sharks on Dec. 12 after a rough start, leaving players shocked and stunned.

The move to fire Gallant comes amid a four-game losing streak for the Golden Knights that currently has them sitting on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Gallant has coached the Golden Knights since the franchise's inaugural season, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season and winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year. He is replaced by a man he once called a "clown."

The Sharks elected to let DeBoer go after the Sharks opened the season 15-16-2. The final straw was a four-game road trip that saw San Jose go 0-3-1, signaling to general manager Doug Wilson that it was time for a change in the locker room.

In four-plus seasons leading the Sharks, DeBoer accumulated a 198- 129-34 record while leading San Jose to four straight playoff appearances.

DeBoer goes from one side of the heated Western Conference rivalry to the other. The Sharks and Golden Knights have met in playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Vegas knocked off DeBoer's Sharks in the 2018 Western Conference second round, while San Jose won an epic seven- game first-round series last year. DeBoer getting the Golden Knights job adds another wrinkle into what has been a heated and contentious rivalry.

The Golden Knights currently are 24-19-6 and in a virtual tie with the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild-card spot.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171434 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Logan Couture confident team can close gap during injury rehab

By Brian Witt

January 15, 2020 8:21 AM

Logan Couture can't catch a break.

In the last few years, the Sharks captain has undergone severe oral surgery to essentially rebuild his mouth, broken his right fibula, suffered from arterial bleeding and, most recently, fractured his left ankle.

"This isn't as bad," Couture told NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil. "At least I can drive my car and do that and get around a little bit with this scooter."

The injury occurred in San Jose's 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues last week when Couture went awkwardly into the boards after a collision with defenseman Vince Dunn. Couture immediately grabbed for his left knee, but it wasn't until he got back to the locker room when he realized the full extent of the damage.

"I got my stuff off, my skates off," Couture described, "and I couldn't stand on my left foot, so I figured there was something wrong. Got x-rays done right in St. Louis. Nothing came up so thought maybe I got lucky and didn't break anything, but had an MRI the following day and it showed up on there that there was a fracture.

"So, pretty disappointing to hear that news from our doctor."

The injury is expected to keep Couture out up to six weeks, which would force him to miss a large portion of the remainder of the regular season as the Sharks attempt to climb back into the playoff race. That's difficult for him to accept, but the fact that the team recently has taken a step forward makes it a slightly easier pill to swallow.

"It's tough," Couture said. "It's tough to sit out any games. But it does make it easier that we're playing better hockey. We're playing the way that we should and the way that we can win hockey games, so that makes it a little bit easier. I've got confidence in the guys to go out and win some games and hopefully by the time I get back, we're still in the race and close to a playoff spot."

After losing 6-3 to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, the Sharks currently sit eight points back of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with four teams to leapfrog between them and the Winnipeg Jets. It's been a disappointing season thus far for San Jose, and a challenging one for Couture in his first season as captain.

"It's been difficult," he explained. "It is just a letter on the jersey. I'm fortunate here that there's a lot of guys that have been captains and guys that have led teams before, but it's tough. When you're going through tough times, it really shows the character of each individual. It's been a difficult year for a lot guys, as a team, but I think we've gotten through the toughest part of our year.

"I think we've turned a corner these last two weeks and we're finding out really, truly what type of team we are. We've still got 30-something games left to make a run here, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we do it."

While Couture will have to rely on his teammates to close the gap in the standings while he recovers, he doesn't expect to be limited when he returns.

"As long as the bone makes a full recovery, then I should be fine."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171435 San Jose Sharks together a lengthy winning streak. Vegas posted a 3-0-1 record in the series, as the Sharks’ lone victory came in overtime on Nov. 21 at T- Mobile Arena.

Sharks react to ‘super crazy, weird situation,’ regarding Pete DeBoer, Certainly, no one expressed any feelings of ill will towards DeBoer, who while Bob Boughner aims to shed interim tag took many of the current Sharks to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final and most of the current roster to the 2019 Western Conference final less than a year ago.

By Kevin Kurz “It was someone you worked with, someone you had a good relationship with — I personally had a good relationship with him,” Dillon said. “He Jan 15, 2020 helped me with my career. You want to see him do well and go to a team like that, he’s got a legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup. As a player or coach, that’s your end goal.” DENVER — At age 40, Joe Thornton isn’t technically a millennial. So the fact that he didn’t immediately grab for his phone as soon as he woke up Hertl said: “We always say at the end of the day, it’s like a business.” at the Sharks’ team hotel on Wednesday probably shouldn’t be all that Added Timo Meier: “Obviously, not the team we expected him to go to. surprising. But that’s the business. It’s a good opportunity. Obviously, they’re a good But it did put the future Hall of Famer behind the eight-ball for when he team.” encountered teammate Evander Kane in the elevator a little later on his While DeBoer’s arrival in Vegas is a fun topic for fans and hockey way to the lobby for breakfast. pundits, whether he has success in his new home isn’t really of anyone’s “I saw Evander, and he said, ‘Did you hear the news?’” Thornton recalled concern in the current Sharks dressing room. A case can be made that on Wednesday, after a Sharks practice at the University of Denver. “I Wilson should be a little nervous about it, as DeBoer winning a Stanley said, ‘What news? What happened now?’” Cup with his organization’s biggest rival would most certainly not be a good look, but the players and the coaching staff led by Boughner are What happened, of course, was a move that sent shockwaves still focused on doing all they can to claw their way back into the playoff throughout the NHL community, as the Vegas Golden Knights fired race. coach Gerard Gallant and replaced him with Pete DeBoer, who was fired himself by the rival Sharks a little more than a month ago on Dec. 11 The results so far suggest that DeBoer was probably in a no-win situation after four-plus seasons. The 24-19-6 Golden Knights have lost four with the Sharks, as Boughner’s Sharks have gone just 6-7-2 since the straight in regulation, and are technically out of a playoff spot, but Gallant coaching change. They’ve made some improvements lately, particularly took them to the Stanley Cup Final less than two years ago in 2018 while on the defensive end, and the team seems to be putting forth more they lost in the first round to the Sharks last April in seven memorable honest efforts on a regular basis, but the goal scoring is still dry and games. mistakes with the puck remain much too frequent.

Thornton had a solid relationship with DeBoer throughout their tenure Boughner, the coach of the Florida Panthers for two seasons before he together and even grabbed beers with him a few hours after Doug Wilson was fired last April, will remain the Sharks’ coach for the duration of the made the decision to cut ties with the most successful coach in Sharks 2019-20 season, but he would surely prefer to rid himself of the interim franchise history. tag at some point. That likely won’t be determined until the season concludes. “Good friend, excited for him,” Thornton said. “You just knew it was a matter of time before he was going to get another job. He’s just that good “Of course I do. I’d be lying if I said different,” Boughner said. “I think that of a coach.” obviously I want to turn this into my team, a full-time job. What I have to do to get there — my concentration is getting this team playing with an Others in the organization reached for their phones sooner than Thornton identity, playing the right way, playing with structure and giving us a did. chance every night. … If that happens, the rest will take care of itself.”

Brenden Dillon is on a group chat with four or five Sharks teammates that Upon taking over, Boughner faced the complication of putting a full regularly get dinner on the road together, and they started texting about it coaching staff together in the middle of the season, as Ricci, Sommer immediately. Most of the Sharks awoke to the news, as they didn’t arrive and Nabokov replaced Steve Spott, Dave Barr and Johan Hedberg. Ricci to their team hotel in Denver until after 1 a.m. early Wednesday morning. had never been behind an NHL bench before, while longtime AHL coach The news broke with a tweet from the Golden Knights at 8:36 a.m. local Sommer spent just one season as an NHL assistant under time. in 1997-98.

“We had a long travel day yesterday, so just waking up it was already How has that transition gone? full-fledged news,” Dillon said. “You start to read the rumors and (realize) that it’s actually true. Pretty crazy news this morning.” “I think it’s a lot better now than it was at the beginning,” Boughner said. “We needed to learn a bit about each other and define roles and feel Tomas Hertl said: “Every guy on the team was pretty surprised. It’s kind comfortable in those roles. I think that the staff that left obviously had of shocking. Nobody expected (the) coach from Vegas to get fired, and their specifics, and we were together for a while. Everybody sort of had right away Pete gets there. … When we slowly get to the bus everybody their area that they concentrated on. Now, I find that all of us together are is like, what just happened? Is it actually true?” keying in on all situations.

Interim head coach Bob Boughner was already awake, as was his staff, “I want those guys to have a voice. I want to listen to their opinions. At including Roy Sommer, Mike Ricci and . They were in a the end of the day, I’m overseeing a lot more than I was before, or even meeting together at the time, “and everybody’s phones just started going in Florida, for that matter, because it was a staff that was put together off,” Boughner said. halfway (through) the season and it’s not easy to put a staff together that time of year. We’ve all tried to work together and create that identity that Boughner, who has known DeBoer for decades, continued: “Obviously, we want to have.” happy for Pete. I think it’s going to be a great spot for him. I knew it was just a matter of time. I didn’t know if he was going to wait until the Thornton agreed that the coaching staff is in a better place now than it summer and take a few months (off), but when an opportunity like that was in the immediate aftermath of DeBoer’s departure. comes up, him considering taking it is very understandable. “The communication is getting better I think, all three of them are getting “This has been a lot of weirdness this season over coaching changes more comfortable behind (the bench),” Thornton said. “I think their and what’s gone on in the league and how many guys were let go. Every comfort level has definitely gone up.” team is in a different phase. I can’t say I wasn’t surprised, or shocked, but it’s amazing to see how much movement there is.” Dillon said: “Boogie deserves a lot of credit. He’s done an unbelievable job with everything. From power play to D-zone, neutral zone, he’s really Unfortunately, the Sharks and Golden Knights have already completed made a huge impact on things. Nabby, he’s come in and really worked their four-game season series against each other, so a reunion will have hard with the goalies. If you talk to (Martin Jones or Aaron Dell), they’re to wait until the 2020-21 season unless the Sharks can somehow put getting their work in out there whether it’s staying out late or going out early. Ricci is a guy that played a long time, he’s adjusting and getting used to being on an NHL bench. Roy too, it’s a big change from the AHL.”

Bottom line, it’s been a strange season in the NHL when it comes to midseason coaching changes. After what transpired on Wednesday, the Sharks know that as well as anyone.

“Super crazy, weird situation — whatever you want to call it,” Dillon said.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171436 San Jose Sharks “I’m mad at myself for letting this happen,” Marc-Andre Fleury said Wednesday. “It’s tough, as a group, to cost two coaches their job.”

McCrimmon and George McPhee clearly believe they have constructed a Roundtable reaction: Was firing coach Gerard Gallant the right move for roster good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup and something had to Vegas? be done to alter their current course. It’s unfortunate for Gallant that removing him was the easiest avenue.

DOM LUSZCZYSZYN: I just don’t get this. Not one bit. Vegas would not By Scott Burnside be where it is today if not for Gallant behind the bench, turning a team of misfits into a competitive team year in and year out. This year looked to Jan 15, 2020 be no different as Vegas was still, for my money, the best threat in the Pacific. The Golden Knights have the league’s second-best expected goals differential at 5-on-5, have a top 10 power play with strong scoring The hits just keep coming for NHL head coaches as Gerard Gallant chance numbers and are just three points back of a division lead. Hell, barely had a chance to get a Tim Hortons coffee in Ottawa Wednesday they still have a 69 percent chance of making the playoffs, a chance that morning before being told his services were no longer needed by the would be stronger if not for bottom 10 shooting and save percentages at Vegas Golden Knights and that former San Jose Sharks head coach 5-on-5. I don’t believe that to be Gallant’s fault, and if his team could get Peter DeBoer, unemployed just over a month, would be taking Gallant’s a save more consistently, he might still have a job. spot behind the bench. CRAIG CUSTANCE: Part of me wonders if Vegas would have been so Never mind that 19 months ago Gallant guided the expansion Golden aggressive in firing Gallant if DeBoer wasn’t available. There are some Knights on an unprecedented run to the Stanley Cup final and that a year really experienced coaches in the pool right now but it doesn’t tend to ago his squad headed to a second straight playoff berth. last. Along those lines, it makes Gallant’s availability an interesting wrinkle as well. He’s a coach whom players tend to like. Because we’ve So if Gallant was wondering “what the hell?” on Tuesday, it’s probably no re-adjusted expectations surrounding the Golden Knights, we forget how different than the emotions DeBoer was feeling a little over a month ago much he overachieved as Vegas’ coach. In Detroit, GM Steve Yzerman when he was iced by San Jose after taking the Sharks to four straight is going to have to make a decision on Jeff Blashill at some point. playoff appearances, including a first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup final in There’s a buyout option after this season. Yzerman knows Gallant well. If 2016 and then back to the Western Conference final last spring. there’s a change in Detroit, Gallant now becomes a name to remember. Chaos has become the norm in the coaching world in a season that has More than ever, the coaching dominoes seem to be cycling quickly. seen seven coaches dismissed, five for hockey-related reasons, and all KEVIN KURZ: When I sat down with DeBoer for his first in-depth before the end of January. Two of those coaches have subsequently interview five days after he was fired from the Sharks on Dec. 16, toward found new employment – John Hynes was hired by Nashville after being the end of the conversation I asked him what was next for him fired by New Jersey, and now DeBoer. personally. “It’s easy to say you want to relax and take it easy for a while, So, what are we to make of this latest carnival of carnage at the NHL and then two days later you’re itching to get behind a bench and get back head coaching level? in the competition,” he said, sitting on a bench outside the Sharks’ practice facility. “That itch becomes something you want to scratch again Let’s decipher what all this means: pretty quickly. We’ll see what happens.” Less than one month later, that PIERRE LEBRUN: This is one of those weird situations where you can’t itch became too much for him to bear. That DeBoer is back in the league question the fact Vegas just hired a heck of a coach. They sure did in again so quickly isn’t surprising, in that he left San Jose with a sterling Peter DeBoer. All the guy does is win. But, I mean, they fired a great reputation. There’s enough evidence now that the Sharks’ struggles this coach, too, in Gerard Gallant, so I see this as a push. Gallant is also season had little or nothing to do with him, as they remain in 13th place immensely popular with many of those Vegas players. How they react to in the Western Conference. But DeBoer going to the Golden Knights, the this will be very interesting. I get it, the Knights had high hopes this Sharks’ biggest rival, is still somewhat shocking considering the recent season; I still think they win the Pacific Division when all is said and past. The enmity that has built in the past few seasons between the clubs done. But I think they would have won it with Gallant, too. The Knights’ — including some public barbs between DeBoer and Gallant in last PDO suggests natural regression would have led to more wins in the year’s playoffs — was palpable. At the start of this season, when the second half. The thing is, it’s not out of the question that DeBoer coaches Sharks and Golden Knights opened with a home and home against one this team right to the Western Conference final or beyond. But I think another, it was a renewal of arguably the most heated rivalry in the NHL. Gallant would have done the same. Just a few months ago, I heard The one question I’d love to get an answer to is: Does San Jose GM through the grapevine that Gallant and the Golden Knights were talking Doug Wilson now regret firing DeBoer in the first place? extension (Gallant has one more year on his deal after this season). GEORGE RICHARDS: Walking around Las Vegas with Gallant was like Obviously that never came to pass, but just the fact they were talking being with an A-list celebrity. Everyone wanted to say hello, snap a selfie. tells you this was a rather quick change of opinion on the coach. And this was months before his expansion Golden Knights made an Sometimes you have a GM and coach that aren’t on the same page as amazing run to the Stanley Cup final in their first season. Gallant may far as tactics and deployment. That may have played a part here as far have been fired Wednesday, but make no mistake, he will find another as Kelly McCrimmon and Gallant not seeing eye to eye on everything. job. He also will never have to buy another drink in Vegas (comped or And that’s OK, it happens. But I’m absolutely stunned Gallant got fired. I not) again. The first coach of an expansion team can either be beloved really am. when they eventually move on, or just become a footnote in history. JESSE GRANGER: The move is shocking due to the sheer fact that Gallant was the face of the expansion Knights, the first major sports team Gallant is just over a year removed from winning the Jack Adams Award to call Vegas home. The success they enjoyed only amplified Gallant’s and leading an expansion team to a Stanley Cup final. But from that celebrity, his down-to-earth personality making it feel like everyone knew moment on, the Golden Knights have underachieved as a group. They him whether they did or not. were expected to compete for a Stanley Cup last season, after adding DeBoer now becomes the coaching face of the Knights and he will enjoy Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone to a team already primed for a the handshakes and the selfies as well. Both coaches lived in anonymity postseason run, and fell flat in the first round. This season Vegas while coaching the Panthers and the atmosphere in Vegas is much currently has the 19th best record by points percentage in the NHL, different. It may take DeBoer some getting used to after coaching in which is far below their expectations considering the talent on the roster. South Florida, New Jersey and San Jose. But this is no expansion team I don’t think Gallant did anything to deserve being fired. This is much anymore. Firing Gallant shows the Knights mean business. The pressure more of a case where it’s easier to fire the coach than it is to fire the is now on to win and win now. The Raiders are coming. The hockey team entire roster, and the players feel that way. Wednesday’s practice in needs to keep winning and do so at the highest level. Ottawa was eerily quiet and somber. The players took the ice and were SEAN MCINDOE: I don’t get this one. It’s stunning. In September, I wrote quickly huddled by assistant coach Ryan McGill for a few words. a piece about the coaches and GMs who were least likely to get fired, Following practice the players expressed their regret, feeling their and Gallant was my top pick. He was widely viewed as perhaps the best inconsistent play as of late — especially during the current four-game coach in the league, so a change in Vegas seemed inconceivable. Yet losing streak – cost their coach his job. here we are. And amazingly, while the Knights are underachieving, they’re not that bad. They’re a few points out of first in their division!

So yeah, stunning. And I’ll go one further: I think it’s a mistake. You never know what’s happening behind the scenes, but from a distance this feels like a panic move. The Knights have strong numbers but are being brought down by goaltending. That’s not a coach’s fault. There’s a good chance that DeBoer has success in Vegas once the bounces even out. But Gallant could too, and after everything he accomplished those last two seasons, he deserved the chance to see it through.

SHAYNA GOLDMAN: The timing of this is certainly interesting. Vegas didn’t get off to the strongest start this year – its shooting percentage and goaltending dipped in the first quarter of the season, and it showed in its record. But its luck turned around, and its quality of play continued to trend up as the season progressed; it is one of the best teams at driving play at 5-on-5. So even if DeBoer doesn’t make any major changes, there’s a very good chance he still finds success because of how much the team rebounded from that slower start. If that happens, it could have a ripple effect around the league, as others will take note of the “influence” of a midseason coaching change – just as many did when the Penguins fired Mike Johnston and promoted Mike Sullivan in December 2015 before winning the Stanley Cup that spring, and when the Blues dismissed midseason to promote on their way to the Stanley Cup last year. The differences here being Vegas’ quality of play compared to Pittsburgh and St. Louis at the time of those coaching changes, and the signing of a new coach versus promoting from within. This could be viewed as the next step for a team designed to win now, especially after a few notable changes to the roster over the last year. And if it works for Vegas, or Nashville, other teams will likely take note. The question is just whether DeBoer is the right choice for Vegas. While goaltending doomed the Sharks later in his tenure, there were concerns this season in front of the crease as well. But, he’s joining a very good Golden Knights team that may not need that much of a push to take a step forward in the second half.

SCOTT BURNSIDE: It wasn’t long after the stunning coaching change in Vegas had been announced that I heard from a longtime NHL coach. He was, like many, surprised. But when I suggested maybe this was the move that helped shake the talented Golden Knights out of their season- long lethargy and that wouldn’t it be interesting if they made a run all the way to the Stanley Cup, he wasn’t in agreement. In fact, he said there was zero chance this team wins a Cup as it’s currently constituted, pointing out a glaring need for right-hand help on the blue line. And maybe that’s the story as first-year McCrimmon navigates his first trade deadline as GM. Is this a first-year GM having a knee-jerk reaction to a long period of underwhelming play or is this a seasoned hockey executive understanding that a change like this, even if unconventional, is critical to a team making the most of its considerable promise? There will be no middle ground in how this move is going to be judged, at least not between now and June. What seems clear is that this can’t be it for McCrimmon. He needs to give DeBoer more tools to work with if the results in the standings are going to change – and let’s remember the Golden Knights woke up Wednesday outside the playoff bubble but just three points out of first in the sardine can that is the Pacific Division. The lineup is overloaded with left-hand shot defenders, and if McCrimmon can’t add some more balance to that group between now and Feb. 24, maybe it won’t matter at all who is coaching this team.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171437 San Jose Sharks

Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire Peter DeBoer

By Jesse Granger

Jan 15, 2020

OTTAWA — Frustrated with early-season inconsistencies, unable to yet live up to preseason expectations, the Golden Knights have fired head coach Gerard Gallant and immediately hired former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer to coach in Vegas.

Gallant, who had one year remaining on his contract in Vegas, was informed of the coaching change this morning, sources told The Athletic.

To say the change was shocking would be putting it lightly. Gallant is only a little more than one season removed from winning the Jack Adams Award after leading the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup final in 2018. He was also set to coach the Pacific Division in the NHL All- Star game on Jan. 25.

Vegas has struggled lately, losing four straight games to drop out of playoff positioning, and management felt Gallant wasn’t getting enough out of the talent on the roster.

“In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a press release. “Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season.”

The Golden Knights currently sit at 24-19-6, in fifth-place in the Pacific Division. Assistant coach Mike Kelly was also relieved of his duties in Vegas.

“We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights,” McCrimmon said. “They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward.”

Vegas instantly replaced Gallant with DeBoer, who helped the San Jose Sharks end the Golden Knights’ 2018-19 season in the first round of the playoffs. DeBoer was fired by the Sharks on Dec. 11 after a 15-16-2 start to the season.

DeBoer has coached two different teams to the Stanley Cup final, but has yet to lift the Cup. He led New Jersey to the final in 2011–12 before falling to the Los Angeles Kings, and helped the Sharks reach it in his first season in San Jose (2015-16). He has a career coaching record of 415-329-111.

He will join the Golden Knights in Ottawa and will be behind the bench when they face the Senators on Thursday night.

“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal,” McCrimmon said. “We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171438 St Louis Blues

As another NHL coach gets fired, Berube moves up the list

Tom Timmermann

The Blues winning the Stanley Cup last season may have created a monster.

Vegas on Wednesday fired coach Gerard Gallant, whose team is three points out of first in the Pacific Division and out of a playoff spot by virtue of a tiebreaker with 33 games to go in the season.

Teams looking for any edge to get them over the hump and into the playoffs are doing whatever they can, even if it means firing a successful coach. Gallant led the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final just two seasons ago and his team was eliminated last season thanks to a five-minute major penalty that the league agreed shouldn't have been called.

Today, he's out of a job.

Patience seems to be wearing thin among NHL general managers.

"It seems that way," Blues coach Craig Berube said Wednesday. "I don’t really know what to say about it. That’s the game."

It's a curious way of life for NHL coaches.

"I enjoy it," Berube said. "It’s part of the job. At some point, you’re probably going to get let go."

Berube, who has had his job as being in charge of the Blues for about 14 months (about half of which was as an interim coach), is 17th in the NHL in seniority and is seventh among coaches in the Western Conference. He is, check this out, the only coach to have won the Western Conference championship that is still with his team.

The three coaches to have won the West before him have been fired in the past month. On Dec. 11, Peter DeBoer was fired in San Jose. On Jan. 6, Peter Laviolette was fired in Nashville and on Wednesday, Gallant was fired (and replaced by DeBoer).

The NHL will also have to find a new coach for the Pacific Division All- Stars. Vegas led the division in point percentage at the halfway point of the season, so Gallant was chosen as the coach.

FLYERS WATCH

Here's Berube's take on the Flyers:

"They can score goals and they’ve got some really good young defensemen, they activate really well offensively, jump up into the play a lot. An aggressive team. Alain Vigneault’s teams are always aggressive, put pressure on you everywhere. It’s like any other game, it’s going to be a tough game like they all are. We’ve got to play our game and get to our game and focus on what we’re going to do.

"Sanheim and Provorov are probably their two best out there that get involved offensively. They all can skate on their D and move. It’s a challenge and we’ve got to do a good job. They really hammer down walls in the offensive zone so we have to be good on the walls tonight and make little plays underneath and do a good job in that area so we get the puck out of our end and get to the offensive zone."

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171439 St Louis Blues Susie Mathieu, then the Blues' director of public relations and marketing, said: "I got a call from Bob Berry and he asked me if Lindsay was in the building. I said, 'You're kidding me.'"

Hochman: A Binnington-like jolt and Brett Hull scrap — last time the Mathieu quickly checked the "Alumni Club," a section at The Arena Blues won this many at home reserved for NHL alumni who live in St. Louis. Sure enough, Middlebrook and his pal were there.

"Not two or three minutes after Pat went into the game, I felt this tap on Benjamin Hochman the shoulder," Middlebrook said. "It's funny because as soon as I felt it I knew what it was about."

Middlebrook is a salesman for Johnny Mac's Sporting Goods stores and During the last stretch the Blues did this — winning nine-consecutive an assistant hockey coach at De Smet High. He also plays hockey home games — a baby was born in tiny Clinton, Ontario. occasionally on an alumni team. The O'Reillys named him Ryan. "But my skills have deteriorated a bit," he said, with a laugh. "It took me That's how long it's been. 20 years to build a reputation as a goaltender, and it would have taken me one night to completely destroy that reputation. ... The current Blues, led by the Stanley Cup hero O'Reilly, have won nine- straight at home for the first time since their 1990-91 counterparts did so, "A million things go through your mind. I mean, I knew I had a few beers back at the old barn. On Wednesday night, the Blues have a chance at already. win No. 10. And 17 members of the team hadn't even been born by Feb. "I had just seen in the newspaper what the players were making per 26, 1991, the night of win No. 9 at the St. Louis Arena. game. So I told Susie, 'You pay me what Brett Hull makes per game and And it was one of the more improbable wins ever. I might consider it.' I was in a pretty good bargaining position. I had about 12 people advising me on what I should ask for." The Blues hosted the hated Blackhawks, and both teams had the same amount of wins — the winner would take first place in the Norris Division. According to NHL rules, the Blues could have signed Middlebrook on the spot and used him if Jablonski had been injured. In that situation, a team And just 48 hours prior, the Blackhawks hosted and bruised the Blues, 6- can sign any player whose rights do not belong to another team. 2, in Chicago Stadium. In that game, there were THIRTY penalties called. The Blues' Darin Kimble alone tallied 22 penalty minutes (five for In the game, Jablonski was actually knocked down a couple times — fighting, two for roughing, five for spearing and 10 for a game Chicago's Steve Thomas even got a roughing penalty — but Jablonski misconduct). stayed in net.

So the Blues were looking for revenge and a record home win. Except So, with nine home wins in nine games, the Blues went for No. 10 on starting goalie was out with a groin pull, so they went Feb. 28, 1991. Because another possible goalie was hurt — minor- with backup , a 23-year-old. For safety reasons, the Blues leaguer , who would go on to become an NHL All-Star — the also called up minor-league goalie Pat Jablonski from Peoria. As Dave team traded for backup Tom Draper from Winnipeg (for future Luecking wrote in the Post-Dispatch: “No one — repeat, no one — considerations). Three months later, the Blues sent Jim Vesey to thought he'd play a minute in a game.” Winnipeg as the “future considerations.” And on the same day, the Blues also traded Draper back to Winnipeg … for future considerations. But in the biggest home game of the year, Joseph suffered an injury two minutes in. So, the Blues essentially “rented” Draper for three months with a payment of one Jim Vesey. ''Damn right there was concern when he came in,” the Blues' told the paper. But Draper was on the Blues' bench for the Feb. 28 game, watching Pat Jablonski start against the New York Rangers. A St. Louis win would've As Luecking detailed it: “Jablonski grabbed his glove and stick, put on his made 10-consecutive at The Arena. The game was very intense. Even head gear and skated into the nets for one of the most inspiring moments Hull, a Lady Byng winner, got into a rare confrontation. in Blues' history. Just over a minute later, he was withstood Goulet on the penalty shot, which sailed wide.” As Luecking detailed in the Post-Dispatch:

For the night, Jablonski allowed just one goal in the 3-1 win, while The Rangers' Brian Mullen swiped Hull's stick in overtime and wouldn't stopping 31 shots. Four of his saves were on Blackhawk breakaways. give it back. Big mistake.

“He played fantastic,” Oates said. “Oh, was he confident. He was pretty "You can hook me and hold me, but don't grab my stick," said Hull, who pumped up.'' makes his fortune with a hockey stick. "I wanted to get my stick back so I could go in front of the net." In just his second NHL action ever, the 23-year-old Jablonski was the game's No. 1 star. Hull grabbed for it. Mullen pulled it back. Hull shoved Mullen. Mullen hugged the stick. Hull finally wrestled the stick from Mullen and skated ''The way Pat Jablonski played was certainly one of the classiest efforts away, but not before tossing in an extra shove. I've ever seen any time during my life in any thing,'' Blues winger Brett Hull said in the paper. ''I mean, having to come off the bench like that ... When asked about that after the game, Blues coach Brian Sutter wore a he comes in and plays like that. That's purely a class act. That's a big smile. performance second to none.'' "I like to see that," Sutter said with a gleam in his eye. There was also an interesting tidbit involving “The Jablonski Game.” The Blues defenseman scored the game's first goal, and With both regular goalies out, and the emergency call-up Jablonski in, Mullen tied it up. By the third period, it was 4-3, New York, when Sergio who was the Blues' backup goalie in the Feb. 26 game? Momesso tied it up again with 8:08 left (one can only imagine Ken Wilson's goal call: “Ser-gi-o Momesso! Oooooohhhh babyyyyyy!”) He was in the stands. Back then in the , they just played a lone As the story went — detailed in the Post-Dispatch by Dan O'Neill — overtime period. New York goalie Mike Richer stopped four Hull shots in former NHL goalie Lindsay Middlebrook was a 35-year-old in the St. the overtime. And the Blues almost scored, as Luecking wrote, “when Louis area. He last played professionally in the 1985-86 season. That Dave Lowry tried to knock in Mario Marois' rebound with his shoulder, night, he had a friend in from Kansas City, so they put back a couple only to have the puck hit his helmet and land in Richter's lap.” beers at an early dinner and headed to The Arena. Alas, neither team scored. The game finished as a tie. The home win And then, two minutes in, CuJo was down. streak was over. And the Blues would lose their next home game.

As O'Neill chronicled: That 1990-91 team was one of the better clubs to ever wear the note. The Blues finished 47-22-11 (105 points) and second in the Norris. St. Louis beat Detroit in the first round, but lost to the in the second round.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171440 St Louis Blues “I’m not sitting around saying: ‘Why me? Poor me?’" Yeo said. “Again, you understand that it’s part of the job. It’s part of the reality of being an NHL head coach. You know that there’s the possibility that if the team’s not performing to the level that they’re expected to, that there could be a Yeo returns: Former Blues coach says he could've done a better job change made. handling expectations of 2018-19 club “So I look back at it, and obviously it was disappointing and it was hard to take. But also, being 46 years old and believing that my best days are ahead of me as a coach, I know it’ll be a tremendous learning experience Jim Thomas for me as difficult as it was.”

After his firing, Yeo said it was good to get away from the game for a In late August of 2018, the Blues’ Icebreaker event at Ballpark Village while and decompress. He got to spend more time with his daughter was a harbinger of what to expect in what became a history-making Braeden as she completed her time and Colorado College and son Kyler, season. who’s playing junior hockey in Topeka, Kan.

If one more spectator crammed into the space that afternoon the roof Other than that, there’s only so many times you can go fishing. might have come off the place as the team introduced new Blues Ryan “That’s exactly it,” Yeo said, laughing. “At the end of the day, this is what O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak, Pat Maroon, Chad Johnson (yes, Chad Johnson), you’ve been doing your whole life. And I’m a coach. You love that day-to- and reintroduced returning Blue David Perron. day grind. You love the feeling of winning hockey games. You love the The scene was a telling indication of the expectations for the 2018-19 feeling of coming to the rink and teaching and working with the players. campaign. Sky high. So it didn’t take very long before you start missing that.”

“That’s one of the things I look back at that I don’t think I did a good Early last offseason, the wait was over when Yeo was hired as part of enough job of — was sort of managing those expectations,” Mike Yeo head coach Alain Vigneault’s staff with the Flyers. Yeo coaches the said. “Especially within the group. I knew full well heading into the team’s defense and penalty kill. summer with the amount of turnover that we had with our group that it “A lot of injuries right now, but I think that’s not uncommon for this time of was gonna take time. year for any team,” Yeo said. “We’ve been happy with the way that the “And I think that one of the mistakes I made was sort of coming right out guys have responded. New coaching staff, and we’re in the thick of the and telling our group that it was sort of Stanley Cup or bust. Next thing (playoff) battle right now.” you know we got off to a little bit of a bad start.” Yeo hasn’t talked to Berube much since the season started, but they And Yeo was gone, relieved of his duties as Blues head coach after a 2-0 have stayed in touch. loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 19, 2018. “I’m happy for his success,” Yeo said. “I think that he is a great coach. I “I don’t think we kind of prepared or braced the team for the challenge it think that he’s a guy that needed another opportunity and I’m glad that would be at the start of the year well enough,” Yeo said. “So looking back this one worked out for him. that was certainly a mistake that I felt that I made.” “I look at a guy like him, I look at a guy like (Pittsburgh’s) Mike Sullivan, Basically half of the Blues’ forward group was new last season, and it and those are good — whether it’s role models or examples for a guy like took time for things to settle in — more time than Yeo had in St. Louis. myself. Getting another opportunity later on down the road of how it can really pay off for you and for the organization.” His successor, Craig Berube, obviously worked miracles in St. Louis, guiding the group to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. But it didn’t happen overnight. Berube was nearly two months into his tenure as St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 interim coach before the Blues turned the corner.

It’s only natural for Yeo to wonder what would’ve happened had he been given more time.

“Obviously, winning the Stanley Cup is extremely difficult. Again, I’ve had regrets,” Yeo said. “And I’ve had those thoughts many times. What could’ve been. And what if. But obviously the change was beneficial for them. So I can’t look back at it and be too upset about it. Those guys did a great job. Their staff did a great job. Players did a great job.”

Even so, Yeo said watching the team’s march to the Stanley Cup, “was something that was very difficult to watch. That said, I think that once I sort of sorted through all those emotions and had time to really reflect on it, I know this is something that will make me a better coach down the road.”

He returned to Enterprise Center on Wednesday as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers, who play the Blues tonight at 7 p.m. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch outside the visitors’ locker room in the aftermath of Vegas coach Gerard Gallant becoming the seventh NHL head coach to be fired this season.

Gallant was supposed to coach the Pacific Division team next week at the NHL All-Star game in St. Louis, because the Golden Knights were atop the division when the all-star coaches were named on Jan. 3. Now, he’s out of a job.

“You can’t say that you prepare for it, but that’s the reality of the game right now,” Yeo said. “I think there’s so much parity in the league and every game is a hard game in this league.

“You never seem to get a game where you’re going in and just know that you’re gonna win that game. And with that brings more pressure and so it seems to be that obviously there’s a lot more turnover because of that.”

And not much patience when things aren’t going right. 1171441 St Louis Blues And for Berube, a hard-working Schwartz is a two-for-one deal. Not only do you get Schwartz buzzing around the ice, making a nuisance of himself, he’s causing the rest of the team to follow suit.

Net Results: 'Workhorse' Schwartz leads NHL in tip-in goals “For sure,” Berube said. “They see how hard he works all the time. There’s a few guys on our team (who lead) from a work ethic standpoint and guys see that and it rubs off on everybody. We’re a work-based team. We’re going to work.” Tom Timmermann Schwartz, as low-key as Saskatchewan is flat, typically downplays his

play. “I don't know,” he said when Allen’s praise was mentioned. “I don't Jori Lehtera’s enduring contribution to the Blues will probably be that he really think about it that way. If Jakey thinks that, then I'm happy.” got traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Brayden Schenn, something The Blues are certainly happy. The team woke up Tuesday morning with without which the Blues might not have won the Stanley Cup. 11 more points than any other team in the Western Conference. Pizza for Lehtera also entered into the Blues vernacular a classic aphorism about everyone. hockey, which he said was told to him by fellow Finn Ville Nieminen: “If you want pizza, you go to Pizza Hut. If you want goals, you go to the net.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 No one in the NHL this season has taken that to heart more than Blues forward Jaden Schwartz. When Schwartz tipped in a pass from Schenn on Monday night for his 16th goal of the season, it was the sixth goal this season that Schwartz had scored on a tip-in, more than anyone else in the league.

Just past the halfway point of the season, his six tip-ins match the second-most by a Blue in a season since the league started charting the stat in 2009-10. (David Backes had 11 in 2014-15, one off the league record.) For the Blues, no one else on the team this season has more than one tipped-in goal. Schwartz, meanwhile, has one in each of the past two games. If someone’s getting in front of the net, getting to what hockey types love to call the dirty areas, on the Blues, it’s Schwartz.

“He’s driving to the net hard,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “He’s skating. He’s a workhorse out there. He’s constantly working hard. He’s really starting to understand: go to the net. Ten feet in, you’re gonna score your goals. That’s what he’s doing.”

Expand Berube’s preferred zone for Schwartz by a couple yards to 16 feet and you’ll find that 10 of his 16 goals this season have come in that area. His goals in the past two games have come when he got his stick on passes from fellow Saskatchewanian Schenn.

“This is kind of like an O’Reilly-Perron connection they have,” said Oskar Sundqvist, the third wheel on their line at the moment. “They’re really good at finding each other.”

With 16 goals this season, Schwartz has a chance at besting his career high of 28 goals in 2014-15. Like some other teammates, he’s already passed his goal total from last season, when he he had 11.

In fact, Schwartz is starting to look like he was playing in the 2017-18 season when he had 14 goals in 30 games before taking a puck off his right ankle in Detroit and missing six weeks. When he came back, he wasn’t the same, and it took him to the playoffs last season to regain his stride. In the 101 regular-season games that followed his injury, Schwartz had 21 goals and 39 assists. Forty-seven games into 2019-20, he’s at 16 goals and 23 assists.

“I agree,” Sundqvist said. “The year last year didn’t go as he wanted for him. He’s been one of our best players all season so we’re happy he’s finding his game.”

Even when he wasn’t scoring, Schwartz’s determined style made him a role model for the team.

“He’s been a machine lately,” goalie Jake Allen said. “He’s always been one of the engines for our hockey club up front. Just the way he works. He’s not always on the scoresheet but just his tenacity around the net down low, backchecking, we see him coming back, stripping a lot of pucks, turning pucks the other way, holding pucks in.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence and playing well. He never had the offensive year he wanted last year and his complete game this year is second to none. The goals are coming as well. Good on him again and he’s one of those team leaders that doesn’t really let too many guys off the hook.”

“I’d say the last three weeks, (his defense has been) really good,” Berube said. “It’s effort. He’s always tracking the puck, breaking plays up. He’s just a hard-working guy. When he’s on the ice, it’s work. Pounds pucks, he’s going to the net hard and he’s getting rewarded with goals.” 1171442 St Louis Blues

Yeo making his return to St. Louis with Flyers

Tom Timmermann

Former Blues coach Mike Yeo will be back in town Wednesday as an assistant coach for the Flyers. The last time he was behind a bench at Enterprise Center was Nov. 19, 2018, when the Blues lost to Los Angeles 2-0.

He was fired shortly after the game.

“He brought me in here,” said Blues coach Craig Berube, who had the title of associate head coach under Yeo and then interim head coach, and eventually head coach, after Yeo was fired. “We worked closely together and I learned a lot from him.

"He’s a smart coach and it was unfortunate what happened but that’s the business and there’s always things that happen like that in this business.

"But now he’s back coaching again in Philly and they’re doing OK, so it’s good to see him back.”

In a move with few, if any, practical implications, the Blues put defenseman Colton Parayko on injured reserve Tuesday and took defenseman Carl Gunnarsson off it.

Berube had been saying for several days that Gunnarsson was healthy to play, which should have led to him coming off the IR. But it didn’t really matter, since Parayko, who is out with an upper-body injury, wasn’t playing either. What the Blues did was swap the labels on each. Now Parayko is on IR and Gunnarsson will be a scratch; before it was vice versa.

Parayko’s IR stint was backdated to Jan. 2, the date of the last game he played, so he’s eligible to come off injured reserve at any time, including on Wednesday if the Blues felt him ready to play.

Berube said again Tuesday that Parayko could play before the All-Star break if he was healthy and that they weren’t looking to keep him out and utilize the All-Star break and the team’s bye week to give him an extra week to get better.

If Parayko doesn’t play vs. Philadelphia, it will be the sixth game he’s missed, matching the number he missed in his first four seasons in the league. Niko Mikkola, meanwhile, continues to do well. He has averaged 17 minutes over the past two games and continues to log significant time on the penalty kill. It’s likely that Mikkola will be sent back to San Antonio no later than Saturday anyway, since the Blues will take that chance to have him play for San Antonioj during the bye week.

Hot at home

With the Blues looking for a franchise record 10th straight home game victory — they’ve already set the record for the longest win streak at Enterprise Center, since the previous nine-game home win streak was done at the Arena — Berube praised the fans at Enterprise. “You have a good shift and (the players) hear it,” Berube said. “It’s better than hearing boos.”

He should know, since he played seven seasons and coached for two in Philadelphia. “That affects players too,” he said.

The NHL record for consecutive wins at home is 23 by the Detroit Red Wings in 2011-12. If you want a streak that doesn’t include games won in overtime or a shootout, the Flyers won 20 in a row in the 1975-76 season. In a stat that may be indicative of easier travel and more rested bodies, 18 of the 20 longest home win streaks in NHL history (and 28 of the top 31) are by teams in the Eastern time zone.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171443 St Louis Blues

Preview: Blues vs. Philadelphia

Jim Thomas Jan 15, 2020

BLUES VS. FLYERS

TV, radio: NBCSN, WXOS (101.1 FM)

When, where: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Enterprise Center

About the Flyers: No. 2 goalie Brian Elliott, who won 104 games over five seasons with the Blues (2011-16), gets the start. He’s 5-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage in his career against the Blues. Starter Carter Hart left practice early Tuesday because of a lower-body injury, and Alex Lyon was called up from the Flyer’s Lehigh Valley affiliate in the AHL as a precaution. But this was scheduled to be Elliott’s start all along.

Defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss the rest of the month.

The Flyers (24-16-6) feature balanced scoring, with six players scoring more than 10 goals — all six have between 11 and 14 goals. All-star Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes lead the way with 14 apiece. The Philly D-corps has combined for 32 goals, which is second-best in the league, and 10 power-play goals, which leads the league.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171444 Tampa Bay Lightning “You’re traveling with the team, but your kids have a set routine,” Doug Quick said. “Don’t mess with the pregame nap. It’s fun to go out regardless of where you go. But it’s also nice to get to go downtown or things like the dinner cruise. So far, this trip is right up there.” Lightning’s Tampa turf a popular dads trip destination

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Earlier today

Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — There’s no such thing as a bad dads trip for an NHL team. But Doug Quick, father of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, went to Winnipeg in January 2012 and to Tampa in January 2020.

“I can definitely tell you which I think is better,” Doug said. “It’s the one where I can wear shorts and a T-shirt.”

The Kings have brought dads — and brothers and mentors — on their current trip that includes stops in Tampa and Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale. Because, well, it’s the Sunshine State.

They aren’t alone in including Florida on such a trip.

Most teams have at least one trip on their schedule featuring the Lightning and Panthers, so it makes for a popular destination for a dads or moms trip. The Senators have done a dads trip here, too. So have the Capitals. Rumor has it the Flyers will. Last season the Maple Leafs came to Florida for a moms trip.

Jen Pope, Kings vice president of community relations and team services, leads Los Angeles’ trip. She looks at the schedule for two good cities in a row (weather being an important factor in “good”) and where there’s a day off between games.

The Kings’ dads group flew into Tampa separately from the team Monday and went on a dinner cruise that night. They all flew together to Fort Lauderdale after Tuesday’s game against the Lightning and spent Wednesday — the off day before a game against the Panthers tonight in Sunrise — on an airboat tour of the Everglades. Today the dads group will go deep sea fishing and probably have beach time.

Pope talked to Ryan Belec, the Lightning’s director of team services, for ideas of what to do in the Tampa Bay area. Someone with the Capitals had recommended the StarShip dinner cruise around the bay. That was a hit with the Kings.

“It’s fantastic,” Doug Quick said. “We’re sitting there on the boat, have a couple of cocktails, have dinner, have a cigar. Going around the bay was fun.”

Kings forward Tyler Lewis enjoyed the change of pace of a dinner cruise, as opposed to a restaurant meal.

A few Lightning players had dads trips to Tampa when they were with other teams. Ryan McDonagh’s father still talks about the trip they took to Tampa with the Rangers and the massive family dinner the team hosted at Bern’s Steak House.

Kevin Shattenkirk doesn’t have great memories of the Rangers’ trip here last year because he got hurt. He has been hurt on two dads trips; now his father isn’t allowed to go on them anymore.

Braydon Coburn came to Tampa with the Flyers when he was with them from 2006-15. He doesn’t remember the specifics but recalls his father enjoying it. Gradon Coburn lives in Saskatchewan, so just about any dads trip means a warmer city for him.

This season the Lightning had their trip to St. Louis and Chicago. Last season it was to Nashville and Philadelphia. Nashville is another popular destination for the trips.

The Kings put a twist on their moms gathering last season. They did a stay-cation, hosting the women at a resort on a beach near Los Angeles and a watch party while the team played on the road. Then the group attended a home game and went to a game against the Ducks in Anaheim.

Dads and moms trips can be fun anywhere — sharing stories about their sons is really the highlight — but a good city is a bonus. 1171445 Tampa Bay Lightning Groulx laughs. “I don’t know if that means he was not ready to play before, but he looks

like he’s in a great mood, which he wasn’t before. We can say a player Scouts call prospect Alex Volkov a ‘mystery’: Can the Lightning unlock has to do this or that, but individually they’ve got to deal with a lot of his potential? pressure, from the team, from the organization, from the pressure they put on themselves. They deal with it their own way. In Volkov’s case, I don’t think he was expecting that, and took it the hard way. But I feel he’s in the right place mentally, no doubt.” By Joe Smith One NHL scout said he noticed that the Crunch coaches helped turn Jan 15, 2020 Volkov into more of a defensive forward, improving his two-way game. That’s something Cooper said in training camp that he saw a lot of improvement in, his reliability. TAMPA, Fla. — This was a bold, confident move, displaying the kind of deception and creativity of Nikita Kucherov. “You watch his neutral zone play, the way he breaks up a play,” the scout said. “I don’t know if it was on purpose, but they leaned his game to more Against a Norris Trophy winner. of a defensive side. I still think there’s some rawness in terms of offensive ability. But if he can play well defensively and contribute and Here was Lightning prospect Alex Volkov on Tuesday night, carrying the just move plays forward, I think he can find a spot in the lineup.” puck into the left side of the Kings’ zone in a one-on-one with Kings star defenseman Drew Doughty. Volkov, the 22-year-old Russian, got Volkov played his first four NHL games in November, including two in Doughty thinking he was going wide, then slipped the puck under his Sweden for the Global Series against Buffalo. Tampa Bay gave him a stick as he darted into the circle. Then came a spin and drop pass to a taste playing with the likes of Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, who both trailing Alex Killorn, who scored to make Volkov’s first NHL point like his potential. Kucherov, the Hart Trophy winner, has taken Volkov highlight-worthy. “A heck of a play,” coach Jon Cooper said. under his wing the past two camps, including doing one-on-one drills with him after practices on puck protection, shooting and coming out of When did Volkov see Killorn? corners. “I felt him,” Volkov said. Kucherov has pointed out that Volkov came straight from Russia to pro This was the kind of play that makes you think Volkov has top-six hockey, which he feels is even more difficult than the route he took potential, and there’s a reason the 6-foot-1 winger has been one of the (going to juniors first). There’s the playing part, of course, but also the final cuts at Lightning training camp the past few seasons. But there’s lifestyle and language. also a reason the third-year pro hasn’t quite made the full jump into the “He’s a great player, makes a lot of plays,” Kucherov said. “Hopefully he lineup, like former AHL Syracuse teammates Mitchell Stephens and sticks around. He’s going to get better every game. He’s a smart guy. I’m Carter Verhaeghe. happy to have him on our team.” With Volkov, it’s always been about consistency. Can he put it all Volkov’s stay is likely temporary, with Maroon still day-to-day with an together? upper-body injury. But Volkov could still get in a couple more games here “He’ll tease you,” said an NHL scout. “I’ve watched him in Syracuse in on the team’s back to back Thursday in Minnesota and Friday in warmups, and watch the start of the game, and you get excited, Winnipeg if Maroon isn’t ready. He notices a big difference in this call-up everything is there. And as the game goes on, you wait for it, you wait for than his first one. it, and most of the times, it doesn’t show up. You’re like, ‘OK, maybe I “For sure, I’ve got much more confidence on the ice,” Volkov said. “When was at the wrong game.’ But the next game, same thing.” I played my first game, I had never been here before, I wasn’t ready. But “He’s a really intriguing one,” said another NHL scout. “He’s a mystery. now I think I’m ready.” He’s a talented player, but there are nights he can be a little sleepy. Volkov took a couple of penalties late in Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout win over You’ll be there one night and he’ll look like a complete stud, and the next the Kings, including a wild one where he got called for playing with a it’s, ‘OK, where was Volkov tonight?” broken stick. Cooper said he’d give the rookie a pass on that one, as it So which player is he? didn’t seem like he realized the blade of the stick was broken initially as he was behind the net. A key part of Volkov’s development has been mental. The last two seasons, he has gotten off to slow starts in Syracuse, struggling to “I was like, ‘What’s going on?” Volkov said. “I was stick-handling, felt the handle the disappointment of being cut. As Volkov put it to the Syracuse puck and I looked down.” Post-Standard in early December, “I’m not in the right mindset. That’s Volkov is still getting eased into the NHL, logging just 8 minutes, 57 why I’m playing like (garbage) on the ice. It’s in my head.” seconds on Tuesday (6:26 Sunday in New Jersey). There’s still plenty of Each of the past two seasons, Volkov has bounced back to score 23 work to be done with his game, some fine-tuning. But teammates in goals for the Crunch, a respectable number. He had two goals in his first Syracuse saw Volkov making progress before his call-up. 25 games this season with Syracuse (15 points). But Lightning brass saw “He was carrying the puck more with confidence, protecting the puck, enough progress after Christmas to give him a call-up last weekend winning puck battles, and those are things he needs to bring in night in, when Pat Maroon got hurt. night out,” said Crunch defenseman Cameron Gaunce, who has played “He had a very tough start, nothing was easy for him,” Crunch coach Ben in 34 NHL games and won a Cup with the Penguins. “When you watch Groulx said. “He questioned himself a lot when he got sent down, and I ‘Volkie,’ he’s got wonderful skill. He does things that a lot of other guys know he was very down on himself and that lasted a little bit. But I think can’t do. He’s worked on areas necessary to get to the NHL and that’s (Volkov) was playing his best hockey the last 2-3 games (in Syracuse). why he’s got another shot.”

“He’s a player that’s got to skate. You’ve got to see him skating, see him on the forecheck, engaged, carrying the puck. This is where he’s at this The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 best and where he’s showing confidence.”

Volkov puts a lot of pressure on himself, with the second-round pick in the third and final year of his entry-level deal, a restricted free agent this summer. There should be room for him with the Lightning cap crunch, but you have to imagine it’s up to him to earn it.

Groulx saw a difference in Volkov in a meeting after Christmas break.

“I sat down with him and I asked him, ‘How do you feel?'” Groulx said. “He said, ‘You know what, Christmas was good for me. I feel better. I’m ready. I’m ready to play.” 1171446 Toronto Maple Leafs A native of Orlando, Fla., and phenom with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Hughes spent most of his formative years living just outside Toronto when his father, Jim, was part of the Maple Leafs’ front office. Jack Hughes battling through difficult rookie season in New Jersey He played at Scotiabank Arena for the first time Tuesday – Hughes was held pointless in a 7-4 loss to the Leafs – but the memories flowed back from his time wandering the halls as a kid. JOSHUA CLIPPERTON “I came to so many games over the years,” he said. “Definitely a game I THE CANADIAN PRESS had circled on my calendar.” PUBLISHED 12 HOURS AGO Hughes is also proud of older brother Quinn, a 20-year-old rookie UPDATED JANUARY 15, 2020 defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks set to compete in the NHL all- star game in St. Louis.

“People in Vancouver were praising him before the season,” Jack said of Jack Hughes already had a full plate coming into this season. Quinn, who has four goals and 32 assist 46 games. “We were like, ‘Whoa ... this is trouble, a lot of expectations.’ But we knew what he was going First overall pick, tons of hype, potential face of the New Jersey Devils for to be, he knew what he was going to be. the next decade or more. “It’s not surprising to any of us.” Things, however, haven’t quite gone according to plan. And maybe, when everyone takes a step back, Jack’s early struggles The 18-year-old went six games without a point to open his rookie shouldn’t be either. campaign and has struggled to find the scoresheet ever since for a team that’s been stuck in neutral most of 2019-20. “I’m happy to be in the NHL right now,” Hughes said. “I’m living out my dream.” With the franchise flailing near the bottom of the overall standings, New Jersey fired head coach John Hynes in early December, traded its best MORE OVERTIME A POSSIBILITY? player in Taylor Hall just 13 days later, and then axed general manager Ray Shero on Sunday night. Schneider said that while he isn’t a fan of shootouts, he isn’t sure extending 3-on-3 overtime beyond five minutes – which has gained some That’s quite a six-week stretch for any professional athlete, let alone one traction in recent weeks – is the right move either. “You’ve got to end the trying to handle the weight of expectation from both the outside and games, but 10 (minutes of OT is) a lot. You see teams now that have within. already played 10, 15 overtime games. Your top players are the guys playing most of those minutes.” A member of the NHL’s competition “It is what it is,” Hughes said Tuesday as he tried to brush off the roller- committee, Schneider added there could be “wiggle room” where the coaster campaign. “It’s a business – coach gets fired, GM gets fired, a lot extra period might one day be seven minutes in length. “Playing another of changes.” half period of 3-on-3, that’s one-sixth of the game. That’s a lot more The youngest player in the NHL this season, Hughes has been used to hockey that adds up over the course of the year.” putting up mammoth point totals at every other level. He’s not the first COACHING CAROUSEL CONTINUES young star to struggle early, but it doesn’t make it any easier. When the Vegas Golden Knights stunned the hockey world Wednesday “That’s obviously my game. I’m supposed to get points,” said Hughes, with the firing of head coach Gerard Gallant, it marked the seventh tied for 10th in rookie scoring with six goals and 17 points in 38 games change behind an NHL bench since the Leafs fired Mike Babcock on heading into Wednesday. “With where my game’s at, the points haven’t Nov. 20. Add Shero’s dismissal, and that’s eight key positions vacated in translated, (but I’m) creating a lot. less than two months. Some moves weren’t related to on-ice “There’s a lot of season left.” performance – Calgary’s parting of ways with Bill Peters and Dallas canning Jim Montgomery were the outliers – but most were. In all, there Despite the rocky journey up to now, teammates have been impressed have been 14 coaching changes in the 31-team league since the end of with how he’s dealt with everything since June’s draft. last season

“It’s amazing, at 18, how demanding he is of himself,” said veteran goalie Cory Schneider, who had Hughes living with him and his family this fall. “When you’re accustomed to scoring three, four points a game your Globe And Mail LOADED: 01.16.2020 whole life and you come to the best league in the world, it just doesn’t happen that way.”

“He’s handled it really well, just trying to work on other areas of his game and understanding the best players in the world are a point-per-game,” Schneider added. “There’s been some tumultuous moments for him. Losing a coach, losing a GM – the guy that drafted you, the guy that got to know your family.

“That’s a lot ... this is my first in-season GM change and I’m 13 years pro and he’s dealing with as an 18 year old.”

It seems Shero’s firing, which came out of the blue to those outside the organization, was the most difficult blow.

“It’s tough,” Hughes said. “He’s a guy that brought me in. I have a lot of respect for Ray and think he’s a great manager.

“It’s how it goes.”

Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said he’s seen improvement in his young star’s details since moving behind the bench.

“It’s not easy to be in his shoes,” Nasreddine said. “You can see him getting more comfortable with the league. The experience really helps. The more games he plays, the more he realizes what he can and can’t do on the ice.” 1171447 Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs’ Auston Matthews won’t let Calgary’s Tkachuk get under his skin

By Kevin McGran Sports Reporter

Wed., Jan. 15, 2020

Auston Matthews is pretty good friends with Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, who has emerged as a one of the NHL’s premier pests.

Matthews doesn’t think Tkachuk’s antics will work on him when the two face each other Thursday night.

“I think he knows that his stuff probably wouldn’t work on me because I’ve seen it firsthand,” Matthews said. “He gets under other guy’s skin and he does a really good job at it.”

Matthews and Tkachuk were teammates on Team USA as teenagers and in the American development program. Tkachuk was in the spotlight this week for a couple of big hits on Edmonton’s Zach Kassian. Kassian retaliated by trying to fight Tkachuk, who allowed himself to be rag- dolled. Kassian was suspended for two games.

“(Tkachuk is) going to come hard on every puck,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “But (we can’t) let things go off the rails and become a sideshow. That’s not what we want to be about. We want to just focus on what we have to do.”

INJURIES UPDATE: There is at least some good news on the injury front with Jake Muzzin skating on his own prior to practice and Trevor Moore practising in full gear and no longer wearing a no-hit red sweater.

The Maple Leafs have just two games before a bye week and the all-star break, which will give the team nine days off. Muzzin, who broke his foot Dec. 27 and has been listed as “week to week” could return when the Leafs come back from the break with a game in Nashville on Jan. 27.

“That’s what we’ve talked about as being a potential target for us,” Keefe said. “How things go between now and then will dictate that. My understanding is that (Muzzin) is going to stick around and get work in over the break. We’ll have to see where he’s at then.”

Moore has been out with a series of injuries, first a shoulder, now a concussion. But he could see action this week, either Thursday against Calgary or Saturday against the Blackhawks.

“He was in full-contact (gear) today for the first time, so obviously, he’s getting pretty close,” Keefe said.

“It’s not something that we’ve talked about,” Keefe said. “We like the six guys that we have that have been playing. I thought he had a great practice. And that’s really for me right now what he’s here for, is to get that experience, be on the ice with our guys, so that when his opportunity does come … he’s all the more prepared for it.”

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Liljegren, deemed next man up if another injury befalls a defenceman, says he understands the plan.

“I hope I get to play their game soon but I’m just trying to enjoy every moment I have up here to practise with the team and hang around the boys.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171448 Toronto Maple Leafs some of our players, and we’ve got to find a way to break that. We actually had a meeting about that type of stuff this morning with our leadership group — just taking that next step as a team.”

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe has to find a balance between not boring the After Sunday’s dismal 8-4 loss in Florida capped a three-game losing skill guys and not burying the goaltender streak, there were positive signs in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Devils. One particular play of interest to Keefe was the sequence that led to the second of Auston Matthews’s three goals. On the surface, it was meaningless stuff, an early third-period marker that made it 6-1 Toronto. By Dave Feschuk Sports Columnist But how it was scored was instructive. As the Devils threatened in the Wed., Jan. 15, 2020 Toronto zone, all five Leafs tracked back diligently. When a New Jersey turnover ended up on Mitch Marner’s stick around the dots, a quick pass to a surging Zach Hyman led to an easy breakout. Hyman’s hard rush It was eight weeks ago Wednesday that Maple Leafs president Brendan into the Devils’ end led to a successful zone entry and a smart pass to Shanahan descended an ornate stairwell at a posh Scottsdale resort and the trailing Marner. And a short moment later Marner found Matthews explained his reasons for firing Mike Babcock. net-side for a teed-up one-timer.

“We’re mistake-prone on defence. The attention to details aren’t there,” On Wednesday, as Keefe continued the project of teaching the finer he said. “And even the offence … the explosive offensive team we were points of defence, it was a prominent sequence in the team’s various known as has been missing for a while now.” prepractice video sessions.

Eight weeks and 24 games later — well, hey, at least the offence has “We saw that a few times this morning,” defenceman been rescued from its slide into a Babcock-era slumber. With head coach said. Sheldon Keefe fully invested in the speed-and-skill-based vision of roster architect , Toronto’s NHL team heads into Thursday night’s They saw it because it was a coaching clinic packaged in a punchy video home game against the Calgary Flames as the highest-scoring team in clip even a player with the attention span of a fruit fly could easily digest. the league since Keefe took the reins. They’re averaging 4.17 goals a They saw it because it underlined how a few seconds of well-played game — more than a goal a game above what they were managing defence can create flashy offence, how paying attention to the mundane under Babcock and more than half a goal a game ahead of the next- details can produce fireworks fit for a highlight reel. highest-scoring NHL team over that span. “That goal came off perfect defensive structure,” Andersen said. “They all But as for attending to the details of that mistake-prone defence? got a nice touch on the puck, they were in the right spots, they broke out very easy and 10 seconds later it’s in their net.” “That has been the greatest challenge,” Keefe said Wednesday. That’s how Keefe wants to sell the merits of good defence to his offence- In their most recent 10 games, the Maple Leafs have given up a league- loving team — as a bringer of joy, not a bummer of a job. And it seems to worst four goals a game. That explains why there’s plenty of chatter make sense. Babcock spent four-plus seasons droning on daily about the about the necessity of adding some experience to the blue line, need to “dig in” and “bear down.” And by the end he’d gone a long way especially in light of this week’s news that No. 1 defenceman Morgan toward sucking the fun out of the game and transforming the dressing Rielly is expected to be out for at least eight weeks with a broken foot. It room into a salt mine. also explains why Keefe spent considerable time and energy before and during Wednesday’s practice discussing the various ways they might Keefe, wisely, is taking a different tack, but it’s an ongoing balancing act. strengthen this particular organizational weakness. Don’t bore the skill guys, sure. But don’t bury the goaltender, either.

“We’ve made a lot of strides offensively and I think that puts our team in “I think it’s fun hockey. Guys are up there making plays,” Andersen said a better spot. There’s benefits defensively just from that because of how of the Keefe-era system. “But it comes with some responsibility, too. And much more we’ve had the puck. We’ve spent a lot more time in the guys are getting used to it, too … We’re still striving towards being better offensive zone. That’s really helped,” Keefe said. and better.”

That’s the first thing you notice with Keefe: When he talks about defence, he likes to begin by talking about offence. This is a guy who understands Toronto Star LOADED: 01.16.2020 that talking to the media is essentially another way of sending messages to his players. And the Babcock era established his players’ tolerance for earnest sermons on the necessity of all-in 200-foot devotion.

As defenceman Cody Ceci was explaining on Wednesday, achieving buy-in on defensive details is an ongoing process — and one that’s not without potential pitfalls.

“We’re still trying to eliminate the stuff we’re giving up — that’ll be the next step going into the end of the year and hopefully the playoffs,” Ceci said. “But you don’t want to bore the skill guys, either. (If you play too defensively) they can fall into a lull like they’re not accomplishing much.”

You don’t want to bore the skill guys: Words to live by if you’re the Leafs coach. Still, there is a laundry list of annoyingly persistent defensive problems, of apathetic fly-bys and over-ambitious pinches and gambles gone awry. Ceci, asked Wednesday to distil the gamut into a few sentences, chalked it up to an offence-loving team that occasionally loses sight of its defensive fundamentals.

“We’re just giving up too much off the rush,” Ceci said. “We don’t have a high forward, the D are jumping into the play. We get a little too excited. And we give up way too much.”

Indeed, for the deluge of goals that have rained on opposing netminders, No. 1 goaltender Frederik Andersen has, on Toronto’s worst nights, found himself swimming in a sea of dangerous chances. And the Leafs, when they haven’t outscored their deficiencies, have ended up on the losing end of four of their past eight games.

“It’s not just a product of how we’re playing here now,” Keefe said. “We think some of these things have been an issue for quite some time with 1171449 Toronto Maple Leafs worry about it. So we’re just kind of went with what we’ve had with the Marlies and let it roll.”

Maple Leafs make another call to the minors — for Rich Clune’s playlist Toronto Star LOADED: 01.16.2020

By Kevin McGran Sports Reporter

Wed., Jan. 15, 2020

If there’s an area where Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe would like to see more leadership from his players, it’s with the team’s choice of music.

“I’d love for the players to take a little bit ownership. They don’t take much ownership even in the locker room to put their own music on,” said Keefe. “So if they want to take that over, that would be great. We’ve got enough things to worry about.”

All joking aside, while the Leafs worked on power plays, penalty kills, 3- on-2s and the like, Keefe had an assistant turn up the music Wednesday for practice at the as they prepare for Thursday night’s home date with the Calgary Flames.

“For me, it’s the tempo or the energy,” Keefe said. “Especially on days like this, coming back from a game that can be a little bit tough to put your gear back on and go out and get some work in. So (it’s) just raising the energy level, not unlike what you would do in the gym.”

Leafs video analyst Jordan Bean had his finger poised to press play on the iPad for the first song — “More Than You Know,” by Axwell — as he awaited Keefe’s signal. That came after the coach gave the players their assignments for drills.

“We don’t play in quiet environments,” Keefe said. “Even though the music doesn’t play during the play, there’s still a lot of different times where it’s loud during the play or stoppages, TV timeouts, whatever it is, when the crowd really gets going, music’s going, all that kind of stuff.

“You’ve got to learn to communicate within that.”

The music only played while the players did their drills. When Keefe needed to coach, the music stopped. But it did give what could have been a run-of-the-mill mid-season day a bit of life.

“It gives a little juice to practice,” forward Jason Spezza said. “It keeps the mood light. Gives a little bit energy. It’s good. Fast pace.”

Spezza said he had practised to music before Keefe arrived on the scene, his last few years in Dallas. But the whole music thing is new to Zach Hyman. He’s so focused he doesn’t really have an opinion on the song choice.

“I don’t even hear the songs in warm-ups,” Hyman said. “I don’t even notice. I kind of tune out. I notice it when we’re standing around not doing anything. But through the drills, I don’t hear it.

“It’s cool I guess because playing in the NHL, there’s a lot of outside noise in the crowd and whatnot, so you’ve got to be more alert when you have the music. It’s harder to hear guys.”

The music is fairly upbeat, and the playlist diverse, with pop, hip hop, rap and anthem-like arena rock — songs like “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga, “Can’t Stop” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, “All Roads Lead Home” by Ohana Bam, and Justin Bieber cameoing with Billie Eilish on “bad guy.”

While the players love the idea of practising to music, none knew who chose the playlist. The answer uniformly came back: Ask the coach.

It turns out it’s not even Keefe’s playlist.

“Rich Clune, when I was with the Marlies, put together a lot of the playlist,” Keefe said. “We’ve transferred a lot of it over. I’ve kind of asked the room, and some of the questions I’ve asked about music, they don’t seem to be too interested in taking charge of it. So until they do we’re just gonna have to wait.”

Keefe said he’d be happy to play any kind of music his players want. But he needs them to speak up.

“We’d love to mix it up, to be honest,” said Keefe. “I wanted to put the music on here today, and I didn’t have much time to think about it or 1171450 Toronto Maple Leafs

Game Day: Flames at Maple Leafs

Lance Hornby

January 15, 2020 8:18 PM EST

THE BIG MATCHUP

Matthew Tkachuk vs. Auston Matthews

Tkachuk is at the centre of a league debate on his blind-side hits and the right to retaliate. Though the Leafs-Flames rivalry isn’t on par with the Battle Of Alberta that set things off the other night, Matthews expects his old USNDP friend will try to wind up the home team. “It’s something he feeds off,” Matthews said. “I saw that first-hand for two years, a guy you hate to play against. He gets under other guys’ skin and does a very good job at it, and he’s a heck of a player as well.” Matthews had a hat trick Tuesday against the Devils and now has 27 home goals.

FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME

Hot ’n’ cold in Canada

From their stirring win over Edmonton amid the Zack Kassian – Matthew Tkachuk sideshow, the Flames crossed the country and looked flat in a 2-0 loss in Montreal. Up to then, they were making a nice five-game victory run to first place in the Pacific Division. But the Flames also have been blanked a league-high six times.

Where’s the D?

In November, after the Leafs allowed four-plus goals in five straight games, management fired coach Mike Babcock. That won’t be Sheldon Keefe’s fate if that gets duplicated as of this game’s result, but it’s still a concern for a team that had re-dedicated itself to playing tighter and not resort to scoring its way out of trouble.

Third and goals

The last time these teams met in Calgary a month ago, the Leafs had one of their costly siestas at the start the third period in which the Flames pounded in three within three minutes en route to a 4-2 victory. Until the debacle in Florida, that was the last time Toronto had dropped a road game. This game could feature two goalies on their way to the all-star game, Frederik Andersen and David Rittich, the latter named as a replacement on Wednesday.

Welcome home

Eight Flames call the GTA and southern Ontario home, headed by captain Mark Giordano. But the Leafs have won six of the past seven meetings here.

Can’t snuff the Flames

With six victories when trailing after two periods, Calgary is tied for second with the most such comebacks in the league. The Leafs have been all over the map, leading big and trailing big.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171451 Toronto Maple Leafs It was the club’s first test without Rielly and Muzzin, with Sandin and re- jigged defence pairings and forward lines.

“We’d like to move into the phase where we’re considered an elite team Maple Leafs' Liljegren looks for Swede spot and part of that is injuries and adversity don’t bother you,” Keefe said. “You just press on, find other ways to win and everyone gives a bit more, plays a little better.”

Lance Hornby Winger Trevor Moore was in his first full contact drill Wednesday after a concussion scare and if Muzzin can accelerate his recovery during the January 15, 2020 6:53 PM EST coming all-star break, he could play on the Nashville-Dallas road trip or the busy first week in February.

A section of the Maple Leafs dressing room can now be designated Little NAME THAT TUNE Stockholm. Keefe pumped the volume up on Wednesday’s music portion of practice, With Andreas Johnsson coming back from injury, Rasmus Sandin’s skill drills are accompanied by a variety of hip-hop, country and pop/rock rousing return from the world juniors/Marlies on Tuesday night with a tunes. Leafs video coach Jordan Bean is in the stands at the controls, couple of points, plus Pierre Engvall’s surprising start, Dmytro though the actual selection is borrowed from Marlie veteran Rich Clune’s Timashov’s grit and incumbent William Nylander reaching 20 goals, the mash-ups for the farm team’s gym and ice workouts. only thing missing is IKEA furniture. “For me, it’s the tempo and energy, especially on days like this coming But one Swede still awaits his turn — defenceman Timothy Liljegren. back from a game,” Keefe said. “It can be tough to put your gear back on, Usurped by Sandin, who was drafted in the first round in 2018 a year go out and do some work. And even if music doesn’t play during a game, after Liljegren, the latter was called up again earlier this week when there are still a lot of times when (the rink) is loud.” Morgan Rielly fractured his foot. But an NHL debut has so far eluded him, Auston Matthews wants more variety in terms of genre, which made with just two games before the Leafs take a long all-star break. Keefe chuckle. “He won’t get in (Thursday against Calgary),” coach Sheldon Keefe said “I’d love for the players to take more ownership. They don’t in the locker Wednesday. “We like the six guys we have here (Sandin and Martin room to put their own music on. If they want to take that over, that would Marincin filling in for Rielly and Jake Muzzin). I thought (Liljegren) had a be great. We have enough things to worry about.” great practice today and for me, that’s what he’s really here for — to get that experience, be on the ice with our guys, so that when his opportunity LOOSE LEAFS does come, he’s more prepared for it.” Rielly briefly wheeled through the dressing room on a specialized scooter That would leave Saturday’s home game against Chicago, with hope that designed to take weight off his foot … Matthews and Mitch Marner could Muzzin might return the week of Jan. 26 now that he’s resumed light be in the all-star game’s new trick shot competition in Louis on Jan. 24, skating. firing from a platform behind the net about 30 feet above the ice at a variety of targets on the ice … Condolences to former Leaf David Broll, “Hopefully, I get to play a game soon,” Liljegren said, “but I’m just trying whose father John, a long-time Mississauga North Tigers baseball coach, to enjoy every moment up here to practice and hang around the boys, passed away a couple of weeks ago. getting acclimatized to the locker room and used to the tempo in practices. I watch the games live and that helps me gain a little bit of experience.” Toronto Sun LOADED: 01.16.2020 He and roommate Sandin were both having good years with the Marlies and study Leafs games together when their team isn’t playing.

“We’re pretty close friends, I’m happy for him,” Liljegren said of Sandin.

While not playing Liljegren, Keefe has been talking him up in the media.

“We’ve been having a good dialogue for years,” said Liljegren, part of the Marlies’ 2018 team. “In practice as well, he talks to me a lot and makes it easier for me. It’s good to play big minutes with the Marlies, too, so I think it’s a balance.”

POPCORN CONNECTION

Mike Palmateer is not an unknown name to Frederik Andersen, who tied the Harold Ballard-era goalie for fifth in franchise wins in Tuesday at 129. The (Popcorn Kid) was about half Andersen’s size and played a dramatically different style.

“He was around for the outdoor game at BMO Field (the alumni match in 2017 before the main Leafs-Wings bout) and I saw him on the ice a bit,” Andersen said. “His gear was hanging next to ours. Obviously a lot has happened (to equipment) since then. He made a nice glove save, I remember. It’s a good sign when you’re up there (in record territory) with him.”

REPAIR WORK

Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Devils broke Toronto’s three-game losing skid, its longest under Keefe, but Calgary will be a much tougher assignment. Jersey’s three-goal third period made a total of 22 against the Leafs the past four games.

“I liked a lot about the third, the first 12 minutes or so, we were in control of things, had the puck a lot,” Keefe noted. “Then things stated to slide. It’s just another reminder that we have a ways to go. We have to finish the job, but there was a lot of positives you can pull out of it this morning.” 1171452 Toronto Maple Leafs wingspan towards the nearest shooter, whereas Engvall comes flying full-speed towards the puck-carrier in the neutral zone with his long stick.

It’s hard to describe how annoying that is to play against. It’s one thing Is Pierre Engvall the real deal? What the stats and eye test say about the when Trevor Moore is on your tail all game, but when you take that same Maple Leafs’ surprising rookie effort on the backcheck and extend that player’s stick length (and neck) an extra six inches, that’s the difference between a turnover and a clean entry. It’s part of the reason why Mikheyev was such a disruptive force when he applied pressure to opposing puck carriers. When you combine By Ian Tulloch size, speed, strength and a relentless motor without the puck, you’re Jan 15, 2020 going to be a pain in the ass to play against.

This has been most noticeable on the penalty kill, where Engvall has been a revelation this season. The Leafs have him hopping over the The Toronto Maple Leafs have suffered quite a few injuries at left wing boards on PK2, with his team set up in a neutral zone trap. That’s where this season. But thanks to some surprising depth in their prospect pool, Engvall is at his best. He’s so good at forcing turnovers with a they’ve been able to overcome the loss of Andreas Johnsson, Ilya combination of speed and length, which has led to quite a few chances Mikheyev and Trevor Moore over the past few weeks. In their absence, the other way. Pierre Engvall has really stepped up and proven he can play in a top-nine role at the NHL level. Dom Luszczyszyn had a great section on Engvall in his 16 Stats column a few weeks ago where he broke down how Engvall had the best penalty So as James Mirtle likes to say, it’s time to open the Engvault. kill numbers in the NHL. Some of that comes down to context – it’s much easier for players on PK2 to prevent scoring chances – but it’s worth In today’s article, we’re going to take a deep dive into Engvall’s game. He noting that Engvall still leads the league in expected goal share (xGF%) has such a fascinating combination of tools, so to help make things on the penalty kill. He isn’t allowing many chances thanks to his stellar easier to follow, we’ll break them down into a few different sections. neutral zone defence and he’s generating a ton of offence the other way. Let’s start with my favourite element of his game. You gotta love the power kill. Puck-moving ability Watching Engvall play with the Marlies after joining the team in 2017, this I’m going to bring up his size often in this article because there aren’t too was always the first thing that came to mind when I thought of him. Tall many 6-foot-5 humans who can skate the way he can. His deceptively guy, huge neck, and one heck of a wrist shot. It was always surprising to powerful skating stride often catches opposing defences off guard, giving me how much power he was able to get off on it despite not really Engvall that extra step he needs to beat his man and create something loading up for it. dangerous off the rush. Considering how valuable he was on the Marlies’ power play, I’m Transition is the name of the game these days. Most goals come right surprised he hasn’t been tested out on PP2 with the Leafs. They have after a successful zone entry, which is why you want speedy puck Jason Spezza playing the Jeremy Bracco role as the primary puck carriers who can gain the zone and make a play after crossing the blue handler on the right wall, with Alexander Kerfoot set up on the left wall. line. We’ll dive into Engvall’s offensive zone play later in the article, but The coaching staff probably values Kerfoot’s ability to make the cross- for now, let’s focus on his ability to get there with his puck-moving ability. seam pass, but I’d be curious what the unit would look like if the Leafs could find a way to make Engvall’s heavy wrister a focal point. With One of the things he does better than any other Leaf is sense when to Morgan Rielly and Spezza on the perimeter, you’d have to think they “reload” on the breakout. What I mean by that is he’s able to recognize could get Engvall into open space for some quality scoring opportunities. when the other team has more players back than he has with him, such as a 2-on-3 or 1-on-2, so he circles back into open ice and restarts the After all, he has been one of Toronto’s most productive offensive players breakout with multiple passing options. this season.

From his first game with the big club, you could tell that he had played for Now, there are a few caveats worth bringing up here. Realistically, we Sheldon Keefe before. Engvall clearly understands the emphasis on puck shouldn’t expect him to keep scoring twice as many goals as “expected” possession Keefe has been trying to instill with the Leafs since taking based on his shot locations. He’s currently shooting over 16 percent at over for Mike Babcock on Nov. 20. If nothing is available, Keefe wants even strength when we’d expect a league-average shooter to be scoring his players to hold onto the puck, wait for support, and then head up the on closer to eight percent of those shots. Personally, I’d make the ice as a five-man unit. argument that he’s an above-average finisher, but even then we’d have to admit that he’s had a nice run of puck-luck so far this season. Unless We’ve seen this a lot on line changes, where Toronto will take the puck your name is Auston Matthews, a shooting percentage of 16 percent just back into its own end instead of the “dump and change.” What’s isn’t sustainable at even strength. interesting is that Engvall has been one of the team’s most confident players at reloading the breakout in the middle of a regular shift. It’s When it comes to Engvall’s playmaking, I think it might be legit. Again, for something we’d expect to see from an elite puck-carrier like William a lanky guy with his frame, I find myself surprised by how many creative Nylander or Mitch Marner, so the fact that a recent call-up has been passes he’s able to pull off in tight spaces. doing it on the third line goes to show that you don’t need to be an elite Here’s another one of my favourite passes I was able to withdraw from talent to pull off these kinds of moves. It really comes down to the Engvault. confidence, which Engvall has in spades right now. We tend not to think of Engvall as a playmaker, but he’s a crafty passer. Neutral Zone Defence He does most of his damage in transition, but when Toronto gets set up When we’re evaluating players defensively, we tend to get caught up in in the offensive zone, he’s a player teams have to respect from distance. defensive zone play. Don’t get me wrong, that part of the game certainly That opens up passing lanes to more dangerous areas of the ice. As we matters – it’s something Toronto clearly needs to clean up as a team – saw last night, Engvall has the vision to find his teammates with a but the evidence tends to show that a player’s ability to control the backdoor feed when those opportunities present themselves. neutral zone has a bigger impact on shots, scoring chances and goals. That’s not a play Kasperi Kapanen has been able to make with It’s a big part of the reason why Travis Dermott and Nylander have been consistency alongside talented linemates, which is what makes Engvall so effective at tilting the ice in their team’s favour; they get the puck back so intriguing. If he can keep making high-level plays like this, it could thanks to their tight defence in the neutral zone, forcing a lot of turnovers force the Leafs into some difficult decisions, especially over the summer. and dump-ins. When we add everything up, what does that make Pierre Engvall? In a similar fashion, Engvall’s defensive zone coverage is nothing to write home about, but his ability to take away space in the neutral zone has Frankly, it’s still a bit early to make that assessment – he’s only played 25 been stellar. His combination of length and athleticism reminds me of games at the NHL level – but I tend to be higher than most on Engvall’s Pascal Siakam on the Toronto Raptors. Both players do a phenomenal upside. His tools make me wonder if he can hang in the top half of the job at closing the gap on opponents, with Siakam launching his 7-foot-3 lineup, full-time. He’s already producing at a top-six rate, but you have to think that some shooting percentage regression will drop him down closer to “middle six” production (somewhere between a second and third liner) which is where most of us see him right now.

There’s nothing wrong with being a third-line winger. That has a lot of value on a cheap contract, which the Leafs should be able to sign him to after this season considering his lack of experience at the NHL level. He’s always going to have value on the penalty kill with his speed and long reach, so the question comes down to whether or not he can keep producing in the top six and potentially chip in on PP2. Alongside talented players, I think a player with his skillset can provide value there, but it’s going to be hard for him to displace puck-hounds like Zach Hyman, Andreas Johnsson, and Ilya Mikheyev in a healthy lineup.

It remains to be seen if the Soupman will be back at full strength in time for the playoffs, but considering how well Engvall has played in an expanded role, it’s forcing a lot of us to ask whether one of Johnsson or Kapanen could become expendable in a trade for a defenceman. That’s a topic we could dive into in a separate article, but it’s a question we have to be asking at this point. Engvall’s been that good this season.

And before we get out of here, I wanted to show one final clip highlighting the impact Toronto’s lanky Swede can have on the game when he puts all of his tools together. It’s super fun to watch.

He has the confidence to skate the puck into open space, fire his heavy wrister on net when he has a shooting lane, and he’s always tracking down loose pucks with his long stick and surprisingly quick feet. When Engvall finds a way to combine all of his above-average qualities as a hockey player, it results in dominant shifts like these.

I’m not sure how Thommie Bergman keeps doing it, but it looks like he and the Leafs’ scouting department have found another steal in the seventh round from Sweden.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171453 Toronto Maple Leafs Muzzin – Holl Rielly – Barrie

Sandin – Dermott Mirtle: It’s time for the Maple Leafs to unleash Rasmus Sandin (and Timothy Liljegren) With Marincin and Ceci providing competent insurance in case of injuries.

Cap-wise, Sandin’s entry-level contract is an easy fit, which means there won’t need to be any gymnastics to slide him in. A trade for a D-man with By James Mirtle significant salary, meanwhile, would require equal money pushed out, Jan 15, 2020 complicating any deal.

It’s really not unheard of for defencemen as young as Sandin to play major roles in the NHL these days anyway. The league is on track this Rasmus Sandin’s evolution since draft day, a year and a half ago, has season to have 21-and-under D play more minutes and games than in been fun to watch. any year in recent memory. Teenagers like Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Dahlin and Zach Werenski have all played 20-plus minutes a game in full He went 29th overall, which is never a slam-dunk location in this league – seasons the past three years. and certainly not for an undersized defenceman from overseas. But he stepped seamlessly into pro hockey with the Marlies at 18, despite Then there’s Quinn Hughes, who turned 20 in October. He’s been a injuries limiting him early on. revelation for the Canucks, completely changing the look of their defence in 21:26 minutes per game as they push for a playoff spot. He’s on pace Then, at 19, he’s piled up nearly a point a game while skating in huge for 57 points — which would make him just the second defenceman to do minutes in the AHL, ahead of players with plenty of NHL experience. He so that young since Brian Leetch had 71 back in 1989 — and headed to also dominated at the world juniors en route to being named the best the NHL All-Star Game next week. defenceman at that elite tournament with Team Sweden. Add in other defencemen just out of their teens who are excelling and the Now, a couple of months from his 20th birthday, Sandin clearly looks list just this season expands to include Cale Makar, Adam Fox, Jakob ready for more. Chychrun and Mikhail Sergachev, among others. He, incredibly, looks ready for the NHL while still in his teens. I don’t say that to put pressure on Sandin or to imply he’ll make an “I’ve seen the impact he can make on the power play with that poise and immediate impact; it’s merely a reflection of how normalized these kinds also with his ability to get the puck to the net,” said Leafs coach Sheldon of things are becoming. Given what he’s accomplished at the AHL level, Keefe, who had Sandin all of last season and much of this one in the it’s not out of the question that he is already one of the four best AHL. “He really transformed the power play with us with the Marlies last defencemen the Leafs have in the organization. year. The modest minute total he had in Tuesday’s win over New Jersey may “He started the (2018-19) season on the IR. Once he got healthy, our just be the beginning. Sandin has been on a whirlwind tour, returning power play went from one of the worst in the league to one of the best. I from the Czech Republic only a week ago before making a beeline to felt pretty strongly that he would be able to give us something there on Texas to join the Marlies. He crossed all those time zones only to be that second unit today.” whisked back to Toronto on Monday night after Rielly was diagnosed with a broken foot. Two assists against the Devils, in the first period, certainly bolstered that case, even if the forwards did the fancy part in tipping in his point shots. He admitted it’s been a long go. It stands to reason 16 minutes was enough for the rookie, in those exhausting circumstances. The fact he competently logged fairly robust defensive minutes at even strength, alongside Cody Ceci, helped as well. By Thursday against Calgary, he could well be ready for more of a workload. The truth is the Leafs need Sandin right now. They’re down Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin, the two veteran defencemen who have led them “I feel confident out there,” Sandin explained. “I feel like I know all the in ice time this season, averaging a combined 45.5 minutes a game — guys a little bit more, too. That helps. The group here’s really good the vast majority of Toronto’s minutes on the left side this season. helping me any way they can.”

But they may well need him later, too, closer to the playoffs, with their “The biggest thing about Sandy’s game is poise,” Keefe added. “And I season on the line. None of Travis Dermott, Martin Marincin or Cody Ceci think that when you have that you don’t get fazed by where you’re at. He has laid claim to a permanent role in significant minutes, and Keefe’s has that in spades, and he showed it again today.” new-look, puck-possession style definitely fits Sandin better than most of I’m interested to see how much they test Sandin here in the next two the options he has on this blue line. games, in particular. If Muzzin is as close to returning, as is rumoured, “I think his game matches ours very well,” Mitch Marner observed of the the best chance for the young Swede to get top-four minutes could come newcomer. “You saw tonight: His poise with the puck, his defensive play before the bye week and All-Star break, during which he could be is top-notch, and he showed it here tonight. You saw it at world juniors as returned to the AHL for a spell. (Sandin is supposed to become the first- well. He’s been impressive to watch. He’s a great player, and he made ever AHL all-star born in the 2000s to play in that league’s showcase plays. He made stuff happen all over the ice. He’s got a very good head game on Jan. 27, if he’s not with the Leafs at that point.) on his shoulders.” What adds even more intrigue is the Leafs also have their other top D The timing of his rise is important, too. Even if Sandin can serve only as prospect, Timothy Liljegren, up in the midst of a strong run of play on the a boost in third-pair duty and on the power play, it’s important to find out farm. If he is going to make his NHL debut this season, Saturday’s game what he is right now, at 19, as Toronto pushes its way back into against the 23rd-place Blackhawks could be a fit. contention in the Eastern Conference. What makes Liljegren a compelling option at this point is just how For one, the Leafs are beginning to kick tires on outside acquisitions in unsettled the right side has been for Toronto, with Justin Holl emerging advance of the Feb. 24 trade deadline. They’re also contemplating re- as their most consistent player there despite just 13 games of NHL signing Muzzin – a 30-year-old, left-shot D – on a lucrative new contract. experience before this season.

Sandin’s second NHL audition here in these midseason games, with two It’s also hard to envision a scenario where either Tyson Barrie or Cody key defencemen out, can help guide the front office’s aggressiveness on Ceci comes back next season, which would leave only Holl as an RD both fronts. returnee. That opens the door wide for Liljegren to be a full-time Leaf next season, at age 21. The right play would seem to be to give him significant minutes, to test his abilities, and ramp that up until Muzzin’s return in the next couple of Why not get a glimpse of him in NHL minutes now to better evaluate how weeks. If Sandin proves worthy of a regular role, it considerably lessens he’ll fit in come September? (Or, given the way this season has gone on the need for the Leafs to add on the back end, as they could roll out a top the injury front, perhaps even sooner.) six like this when everyone is healthy: Better yet, get a Sandin-Liljegren pairing on the ice as soon as this weekend.

With how well so many other Marlies graduates have fared this season — including the coach, Holl and Pierre Engvall — that feels like the natural next step in the test of Toronto’s development system.

It also feels important given the front office could be on the cusp of moving valuable assets for help on the back end as part of the trade deadline silly season.

Help they may not need if the kids are ready to play today.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020

1171454 Vegas Golden Knights LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020

Mark Stone’s return to Ottawa plays second fiddle

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal January 15, 2020 - 6:19 PM

OTTAWA, Ontario — Mark Stone was bracing for an emotional day in the city he used to call home.

And that was even before the Golden Knights fired coach Gerard Gallant on Wednesday morning.

The news of Gallant’s shocking dismissal diverted the attention from the obvious story line for Thursday: Stone’s return to face his former club, the Ottawa Senators.

“I knew this day was coming,” Stone said following the Knights’ practice at Canadian Tire Centre. “I think for guys, it’s fun to play, but also difficult. You almost kind of want to get the first one out of the way as quick as you can. But we’ve got a lot of things to play for in our locker room, and we need to start winning games.”

Stone spent parts of eight seasons with the Senators after being drafted in the sixth round in 2010.

He posted five straight 20-goal seasons and surpassed 60 points four times in five years. His work ethic endeared him to fans.

“Since getting drafted here, I loved playing here. I loved living in this city,” Stone said. “I got a lot of good relationships here, so it’s different coming into the building, for sure. It’s going to be a little bit different (Thursday) for me. I’m looking forward to it.”

Stone recalled the Senators’ two most recent playoff appearances as his favorite memories from his time in Ottawa.

During Stone’s rookie season in 2014-15, the Senators closed on a 23-4- 4 run to reach the postseason. He also helped Ottawa reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

“Those are the memories you always remember,” Stone said. “But at the same time, the fans embraced us here. They were always so positive. I go into local stores, people here, they love their hockey. They love having the Senators.”

But Ottawa missed the playoffs the following season and began to rebuild.

Stone was unable to come to terms on a long-term contract extension with the Senators. The Knights swooped in at the February trade deadline, acquiring the right wing for defense prospect Erik Brannstrom, forward Oscar Lindberg and a 2020 second-round draft.

In March, the Knights signed Stone to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million.

“I made the decision to move on, and I made a decision to join this organization because this was the organization I wanted to play for,” Stone said. “And it’s still the organization I want to play the rest of my career for. I enjoyed playing here. … But it was time to move on.”

In his first full season with the Knights, Stone has a team-leading 27 assists, and his 43 points are second behind linemate Max Pacioretty.

Stone also leads the NHL with 64 takeaways, 11 more than the next- closest player (Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders).

The Knights hosted the Senators in October in Stone’s first matchup against his former club. He admitted it was weird walking into Canadian Tire Centre for practice Wednesday and stopping at the visitor’s locker room.

Stone remains close with Senators second-year forward Brady Tkachuk and former teammate Zack Smith, who also made a return visit to Ottawa on Tuesday with the Blackhawks.

But he said the turnover within the Senators’ roster and new coaching staff make this visit a little easier to handle.

“It’s going to be weird. There’s no other way to put it. But I’m excited,” Stone said. 1171455 Vegas Golden Knights It’s not Gallant’s fault that the Knights have failed to improve their blue line the past two seasons, or that they are suddenly staring into an inferno of salary cap hell. Foley allowed McPhee to spend big on long- term deals for several players while moving others, all of which remains Gerard Gallant’s firing no 24-hour decision by Golden Knights open for debate.

The Knights are struggling at ninth in points percentage among Western Conference teams. William Karlsson. Alex Tuch. Nate Schmidt. Marc- By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal January 15, 2020 - 6:08 PM Andre Fleury. All are underperforming, some ridiculously so. Injuries also haven’t helped and caused lines to be mixed.

OTTAWA, Ontario — Gerard Gallant was fired as coach of the Golden But an epidemic of slow starts lately didn’t aid Gallant. That never looks Knights on Wednesday morning. For such a seemingly rushed decision, good on a coach. It’s a trend that questions a team’s readiness to be assured it wasn’t made in the previous 24 hours. compete.

Nobody believes that management departed a 4-2 loss at Buffalo on Reality of sports Tuesday and immediately concluded it was best to dismiss the only Advanced statistics suggest the Knights should be better than fifth in the coach in franchise history while already having his replacement in line. NHL’s worst division, and yet Vegas is also just three points out of first in This undoubtedly was in the works, just as president of hockey the Pacific. operations George McPhee undoubtedly made the final call. But while I wouldn’t term Gallant’s firing desperate, it was rushed and, He makes all calls. well, still calculated. McPhee thinks the roster he built is better than 24- 19-6 and that DeBoer can prove it. McPhee probably thought it for a Peter DeBoer is the new coach, and hide the children from an onslaught while now. This was no 24-hour judgment. of expletives spewing from a majority of Knights fans. He’s the former coach of what has become a bitter rival in San Jose. Two years ago, Gallant won the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year. Ah, the five-minute major in Game 7. Such memories. Today, he is fired. But how DeBoer will prove himself — he’s a terrific coach, by the way — is for another day. That the Knights will engage the Ottawa Senators on Just don’t think for a second he was entirely responsible for such a Thursday without Gallant is the revelation that stunned most of Las change. Vegas. McPhee needs to own much of this. Examining how this came to pass isn’t easy, but there are enough clues But this is also pro sports, Las Vegas, and when things aren’t going as to connect the needed dots. the man in charge desires, someone pays the price. Some even date to last season. Most often, the coach. I don’t for a second believe Gallant was a victim of his own success. If LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 so, management is delusional.

That he directed the Knights through a historic expansion run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final and then into the playoffs last season shouldn’t have precipitated Gallant being bounced midway through his third year, even after the team’s fourth straight loss.

No matter how much the Knights have underachieved this season.

And they have.

Not perfect marriage

Bill Foley is an owner who covets winning, and the Army in him presents an incredibly high bar for success that he expects others to reach. I assume he had to sign off on the firing. He also wasn’t going to deny McPhee.

I also don’t buy Gallant lost the room. Teams that have stopped playing for a coach don’t rally from 3-0 down to beat the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues less than two weeks ago. Most players love Gallant. They’re not good enough actors to think their consistent praise was not truthful.

“As a manager, sometimes you have a feeling that something isn’t what it needed to be,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “Sometimes, you feel a change is needed.”

They might have thought it for some time.

Whispers are often all that’s available in and around NHL teams, easily the most paranoid of major league professional sports when it comes to internal issues.

It was common knowledge during a downturn last season that serious tension built between McPhee and Gallant. One would circumvent the other and vice versa.

Perhaps it was about Gallant’s reluctance to totally embrace the analytics world McPhee and his scouts rely heavily on when making personnel moves.

Maybe the coach wasn’t playing who McPhee wanted.

There is no maybe to this: McPhee-Gallant was hardly a perfect marriage. 1171456 Vegas Golden Knights “Most employment relationships come to an end over some form of personality clash between an employee and a manager or a staff member’s fit with the overall team,” the job fair folks said.

Gallant’s firing only latest among surprise pro sports breakups In the cases mentioned above, only one — Francona’s — was not outwardly based on a personality conflict.

True, Belichick had only that one winning season in five, and so one may By Ron Kantowski Las Vegas Review-Journal assume his ouster also was performance related. But last year Sports Illustrated ran a series of headlines taken from Belichick’s tenure in

Cleveland that suggested a failure to play nice with others. According to Greek mythology, it was during the 12th or 13th century “The Latest in Browns wear: Beavis and Belichick T-shirts,” read one. B.C. when the home side figured out a way to sneak a large wooden Another simply said: “Browns’ Belichick unpopular with everyone.” horse inside the city of Troy when the Trojans weren’t paying attention. For the record, the Knights are saying Gallant’s firing was performance Greek warriors were said to be hiding inside. It was the bejesus of end- based. Unlike Belichick in Cleveland, he was not unpopular with around plays. everyone. His players seemed to respect and even admire him. Upon emerging, they routed the Trojans almost as badly as Oregon did To which I will only add: Anybody who claims they saw the wooden horse the ones from Southern California during the recent college football roll up to KeyBank Center in Buffalo between periods Tuesday night season. failed to mention it on Twitter. The startled looks on the faces of the Trojan soldiers and defensive LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 backfield must have mimicked those of Golden Knights’ fans Wednesday when Gerard Gallant was fired as coach less than two years after guiding the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in its debut season.

As military history shows, surprise attacks, maneuvers and decisions occasionally will happen on the battlefield.

On the battlefields of professional sports — or at least high above them where owners and general managers plot their next moves — they have been known to happen with stunning regularity.

To wit: Six days after owner Art Modell received clearance to move the NFL’s Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996 — before the franchise even had a nickname — he presented a certain coach named Belichick with a pink slip.

Major breakups

When he was let go without ceremony or fanfare, Bill Belichick was one season removed from directing the Browns to an 11-5 record and AFC playoff berth. In fairness to Modell, no one could have predicted the six golden rings in New England.

It was a much different situation in Dallas two years earlier when Jimmy Johnson and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones severed ties just two months after Johnson coached Jones’ team to a second consecutive Super Bowl title.

That one was more of a mutual parting of the ways than a firing.

In the NBA, Phil Jackson mutually parted with the Chicago Bulls after helping Michael Jordan win six championships over Jackson’s nine seasons.

The basketball Zen master and Bulls’ general manager Jerry Krause had a contentious relationship that resulted in the latter saying after the former signed a one-year extension: “I don’t care if it’s 82-0 this year, you’re (expletive) gone.”

The Bulls did not go 82-0. They went 62-20. But despite winning the 1998 NBA title, Jackson was (expletive) gone the next season, to Los Angeles, where he would help Kobe Bryant win the next three NBA championships and then two more during a second stint as coach.

In baseball, Terry Francona was hired to manage the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and promptly guided the team to its first World Series crown since 1918. Three seasons later, he skippered the Sox to another one. Four seasons after that he, too, was fired.

Francona was the manager in Cleveland when the Indians won 22 games in a row in 2017.

Evolving personalities

In researching these firings and mutual partings of the way, I was directed to a job fair website that claims most people get fired for the same reason they get hired: A personality once considered an asset turns into a liability as a business evolves, or a team can’t beat the L.A. Kings on home ice. 1171457 Vegas Golden Knights

Timeline of Peter DeBoer’s NHL career

By Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal January 15, 2020 - 4:33 PM

1988 — Peter DeBoer was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 12th round of the NHL Draft. He played two full seasons in the International Hockey League but never played an NHL game.

1995 — DeBoer gets his first head coaching job when he’s promoted to head coach and general manager of the renamed Detroit Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The team won its division and advanced to the third round of the playoffs in his first season.

2001 — After winning four division titles in six years with the Detroit and Plymouth Whalers, DeBoer left the organization to take over the of the OHL. He took over a team that missed the playoffs and won the Memorial Cup in his second season with Kitchener, the franchise’s first in 20 years. He took the Rangers to the postseason in each of his seven seasons.

2008 — DeBoer accepted his first NHL head coaching job with the Florida Panthers. He led the team to the second-highest point total in franchise history in his first season but missed the playoffs. He was fired after the 2011 season without making a playoff appearance.

2011 — DeBoer was hired by the New Jersey Devils in the offseason. The Devils made the playoffs in his first season, beating the Panthers in the first round before advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Kings.

2014 — After missing the playoffs the next two seasons and starting his fourth year in New Jersey with a 12-17-7 record, DeBoer was fired in December.

2015 — DeBoer was named head coach of the San Jose Sharks after the 2014-15 season. He led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season, losing to the Penguins. He made the playoffs each of the next three seasons.

2019 — During a tense playoff series against the archrival Golden Knights, DeBoer and Vegas coach Gerard Gallant had a brief war of words in the media that culminated in Gallant referring to DeBoer as a “clown,” before a memorable Game 7 win by San Jose to complete a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

Dec. 11, 2019 — DeBoer was fired by San Jose after starting the season 15-16-2.

Jan. 15, 2019 — DeBoer is hired as the second head coach of the Golden Knights, replacing the fired Gallant.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171458 Vegas Golden Knights

Gerard Gallant’s firing has no impact on Golden Knights’ odds

By Todd Dewey Las Vegas Review-Journal January 15, 2020 - 2:57 PM

The firing of Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant had no impact at Las Vegas sportsbooks on the team’s odds to win the 2020 Stanley Cup.

The Westgate sportsbook already had lowered the Knights’ Stanley Cup odds to 12-1 after their fourth straight loss, a 4-2 defeat Tuesday at the Buffalo Sabres. The book made no additional moves after Vegas fired Gallant on Wednesday and hired former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer.

“Changing the coach didn’t do anything to the odds. We’ve been adjusting them up based on their recent play,” said Jeff Sherman, Westgate vice president of risk. “They were as low as 7-1 at the start of their recent homestand, but what they’ve done losing four in a row, we eased them up to 12-1. It’s all player-related.

“Changing the coach, from our perspective, it’s not a surprise. This team has underperformed to expectations the whole season and has been inconsistent the whole season.”

The Knights remain the +750 co-favorites at William Hill to win the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins.

Vegas is in a four-way tie for the fifth choice at the Westgate, which lists the Lightning as the 7-1 favorites, followed by the Bruins and St. Louis Blues at 8-1 and the Washington Capitals at 10-1.

The Knights (24-19-6), who opened the season at the Westgate as the 7- 1 second choice behind Tampa Bay, saw their odds climb as high as 16- 1.

The Westgate took a $3,300 wager on Vegas at 14-1 and on Jan. 3 took a $10,000 wager to win $100,000 on the Knights at 10-1.

“That’s what knocked them down to 7-1,” Sherman said. “Money wasn’t showing up on them like it had their first two seasons.”

Bettors who placed wagers to win $100 on Vegas in every game this season would be down $1,425. The Knights have cost $100 bettors $820 in their past four games alone, losing 4-3 to the Penguins as -170 favorites, 5-2 to the Kings as -260 favorites, 3-0 to the Blue Jackets as - 220 favorites and 4-2 to Buffalo as -170 favorites.

Two nights after falling behind Pittsburgh 3-0 at home, Vegas surrendered four consecutive first-period goals to Los Angeles.

“The loss to the Kings was a very bad loss,” Sherman said. “The Kings were playing back-to-back games, and the Knights were laying 270. To come out like they did, based on their previous game, there was a feeling that something had to change from a leadership standpoint.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171459 Vegas Golden Knights

A timeline of Gerard Gallant’s NHL coaching career

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gerard Gallant’s NHL coaching career

— 2001 — Reaches NHL as assistant with Columbus Blue Jackets.

— Jan. 1, 2004 — Becomes Blue Jackets coach after Doug MacLean resigns.

** FILE ** Columbus Blue Jackets interim coach Gerard Gallant, center, gestures from behind the ...

— Nov. 13, 2006 — Fired by Columbus after a 56-76-4 record with no playoff appearances.

— June 13, 2007 — Hired as assistant with New York Islanders. Stays for two seasons.

— June 15, 2012 — Returns to NHL as assistant with Montreal Canadiens.

— June 21, 2014 — Named coach of Florida Panthers.

— Jan. 31, 2016 — Coaches in first NHL All-Star Game after leading Panthers to 24-12-5 start.

— April 9, 2016 — Panthers finish regular season with franchise-record 103 points.

— Nov. 27, 2016 — Fired by Panthers after 11-10-1 start.

Gerard Gallant, former Florida Panthers head coach, gets into a cab after being relieved of his ...

— April 13, 2017 — Becomes first coach in Golden Knights history.

— Jan. 28, 2018 — Coaches in second NHL All-Star Game and leads Pacific Division to victory.

— May 20, 2018 — Knights win Western Conference.

— June 20, 2018 — Wins Jack Adams Award for best coach.

Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant poses with the Jack Adams Award during the NHL Awards ...

— April 23, 2019 — Knights’ second season ends in controversial fashion with Game 7 overtime loss to Peter DeBoer’s San Jose Sharks.

— Jan. 3, 2020 — Named to coach third All-Star Game.

— Jan. 15, 2020 — Fired by Knights after 24-19-6 start and replaced by DeBoer.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171460 Vegas Golden Knights Many on social media already are predicting where Gallant’s next coaching job will be: Seattle, Detroit, and even the Sharks.

Gerard Gallant about to coach Seattle to the Cup Final in 2022 lock it in What they’re saying about Golden Knights firing Gerard Gallant https://t.co/EQJFWtptsU

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 15, 2020

By Rochelle Richards Las Vegas Review-Journal January 15, 2020 - sharks should hire gallant so he can call pete a clown again 12:19 PM — bye-week boys (@FowleBall15) January 15, 2020

computer generated image of gerard gallant behind the sharks bench Social media has been buzzing since the Golden Knights announced the celebrating a goal scored pic.twitter.com/AarRzzSUYR firing of head coach Gerard Gallant and assistant coach Mike Kelly — nathan (@nathancsn) January 15, 2020 Wednesday morning. Former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer was named the new head coach. Canucks should be firing Green on spot to hire Gallant.

Most think the Knights made a huge mistake, considering the success — Ty (@tpardy21) January 15, 2020 the team has had in its two and a half seasons. Despite Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon saying the decision “In two and a half seasons, Gerard Gallant was 118-75-20. That is the to fire Gallant was not a sudden decision, many on Twitter are wondering 9th most points in the NHL. For an EXPANSION TEAM,” writes Jason if that’s really the case. Knights insider Gary Lawless tweeted the Gregor, who covers the Edmonton Oilers. “And he is fired today, Crazy. decision was purely “performance based.” Absolutely nuts.” It’s a shame to have to say this because Gerard Gallant is such a good In two and a half seasons Gerard Gallant was 118-75-20. That is 9th person full of respect and humility. But for those asking, this was entirely most points in NHL. For an EXPANSION TEAM. performance based.

And he is fired today. Crazy. Absolutely nuts. #NHL — gary lawless (@garylawless) January 15, 2020

— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) January 15, 2020 “Curious how much Gerard Gallant’s firing had to do with Peter DeBoer’s availability,” Editor-in-Chief NHL-US for The Athletic wrote. “And now, CBS Sports’ Pete Blackburn says, “The Golden Knights firing Gallant is what Gallant’s availability will mean to the job security of another coach. like a rich kid running away from home because the car his parents got Crazy business.” him for Christmas was the wrong color.” Curious how much Gerard Gallant's firing had to do with Peter DeBoer's The Golden Knights firing Gallant is like a rich kid running away from availability. And now, what Gallant's availability will mean to the job home because the car his parents got him for Christmas was the wrong security of another coach. Crazy business. color — Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) January 15, 2020 — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) January 15, 2020 LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 Gerard Gallant is a victim of his own success. The Golden Knights are just where you would expect a team to be after 2 1/2 seasons of existence.

If he didn't lead the team to the finals in their expansion season, Gallant wouldn't have been fired today.#GoldenKnights #VegasBorn

— David Salituro (@DavidSalituro) January 15, 2020

As the @FlaPanthers once learned, firing Gerard Gallant is the biggest mistake a team can make.

Ya done messed up, @GoldenKnights

— yung pontifex (@mike_bo0gie) January 15, 2020

The more I think about this, the more shook I am over it. After everything Gerard Gallant has done for the Vegas Golden Knights, does he not deserve the opportunity to finish his THIRD season!? To try & "turn it around!?" The team didnt fall off a cliff (like say, Idk the Sharks)

— Jackie Redmond (@Jackie_Redmond) January 15, 2020

Some fans couldn’t help but bring up the history between the Sharks and the Knights, noting that DeBoer is the coach that “engineered” the Game 7 comeback by the Sharks in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. Other fans are outraged over the hiring considering the intense rivalry between the teams.

#VegasBorn Knights fans, don’t despair! Gerard Gallant has been replaced by the guy who engineered the legendary 4 GOALS IN 5 MINUTES, game 7 comeback!

— Henry Tallent (@TallentHenry) January 15, 2020

Pretty disgusted with today’s firing of Gerard Gallant.

Not only was a good coach fired, the @GoldenKnights replaced him with a clown! 嵐

So hard to root for a team coached by this absolute clown.

Horrendous move by Vegas.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) January 15, 2020 1171461 Vegas Golden Knights “Of course, with him working most recently in the Pacific Division, we’ve had the chance to watch his teams play,” McCrimmon said. “I think his teams are always very well-prepared, very well-coached. We expect that he’ll do a really good job for us. I think he’s a very respected coach in the New Knights coach Peter DeBoer known for making instant impact industry.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

Peter DeBoer was the coach of the Golden Knights’ chief rival about a month ago.

Now he’s the franchise’s second coach.

DeBoer was hired by the Knights on Wednesday after coach Gerard Gallant was fired. DeBoer had been out of work since being fired by the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 11, but Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said he thinks DeBoer can turn the team around after a 24- 19-6 start.

“I think he’s always been a coach that always has a lot of respect from his players,” McCrimmon told reporters in Ottawa, Ontario. “I think he relates well with players. He’s an intelligent guy. Teams have always been very strong (on) special teams. He’s been to the Stanley Cup Final with two different teams. He’s enjoyed a lot of success in the National Hockey League as a coach. I think with this opportunity he’ll continue to do that.”

This chance is DeBoer’s fourth in the NHL. He has a 415-329-111 record in stints with the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks.

He’s known for making an immediate impact with new teams.

The Devils and Sharks did not make the playoffs the year before they hired DeBoer. He led both franchises to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season, losing both times.

“He’s been around for a while,” said goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, whose Pittsburgh Penguins beat DeBoer’s Sharks to win the Cup in 2016. “He’s been through it, too, right? He’s got lots of experience, he’s seen a lot of different scenarios for his teams. I’m sure he’ll be able to help us get better until the end of the season.”

One area DeBoer might help the Knights is special teams. The Sharks have the eight-best power play and fourth-best penalty kill in the league since DeBoer was hired in 2015.

The Knights ranked 16th in power-play percentage and 12th in penalty- kill percentage under Gallant.

Other than that, it might take time for DeBoer to make his imprint on the Knights. System overhauls can be difficult to do in-season, so DeBoer’s biggest immediate contribution might be a new voice and different set of eyes on the roster.

“Just playing against him, mostly against San Jose in the playoffs the last couple of years, they played hard for him,” defenseman Deryk Engelland said. “We got to do the same. We all know, as a group in here, we’ve underachieved so far this year. It’s a wake-up call.”

One change DeBoer might make right away outside of special teams is playing time. He’s showed a willingness to give more ice time to his top defensemen than Gallant gave his.

DeBoer’s top blue liners in San Jose — Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson — were Norris Trophy winners, so their extra playing time was expected.

But current Devils captain Andy Greene, who never has received Norris votes, played more than 23 minutes per game in three separate seasons under DeBoer. No Knights defenseman has received that much playing time under Gallant.

Shea Theodore leads the team at 21:47 of ice time per game this season.

Other than that, the Knights hope DeBoer’s even-handed style breathes life into a team that has lost four straight and underachieved this season.

The Sharks played 60 playoff games under DeBoer, the second-most in the NHL in that span behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Knights hope he brings that same success to Las Vegas. 1171462 Vegas Golden Knights The Knights were even in points with Vancouver and Winnipeg, which occupy the two wild-card spots, and three points behind Pacific Division- leading Arizona at the start of play Wednesday.

Gallant firing ‘wake-up call’ for Golden Knights, Fleury says “It wasn’t a specific bloc of games or a specific game,” McCrimmon said. “It’s more just the feeling that you have that a change might be needed. I wish I could be more specific than that, but that’s really how we felt.

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal “We thought about this a lot. It certainly wasn’t something we did in haste or something that we did based on the recent four games. It was a

decision that was arrived at over time.” OTTAWA, Ontario — At the conclusion of his postgame comments The decision to hire DeBoer, which McCrimmon said was made within following Tuesday’s loss at Buffalo, Max Pacioretty alluded to a sense of the past 24 hours, adds an intriguing layer to the Knights-Sharks rivalry. complacency that started to permeate the Golden Knights’ locker room. DeBoer guided San Jose to a 198-129-34 record in four-plus seasons, “It’s important for us to challenge each other to make sure that nothing’s including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. really safe,” the veteran left wing said. During the Western Conference quarterfinals last spring, DeBoer That message was forcefully delivered Wednesday morning when the accused Gallant of excessively chirping at Sharks players, and Gallant Knights fired coach Gerard Gallant and replaced him with former San responded by calling the San Jose coach a “clown” prior to Game 7. Jose coach Peter DeBoer. Three-and-a-half months of underachieving was too much for general manager Kelly McCrimmon and president of DeBoer was fired Dec. 11 after the Sharks failed to live up to preseason hockey operations George McPhee. expectations and stumbled to a 15-16-2 record.

Assistant coach Mike Kelly also was relieved of his duties. He is expected to be behind the bench when the Knights face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre. Do you agree with the @GoldenKnights' decision to fire Gerard Gallant? #VegasBorn The Knights are the fourth coaching stop for the 51-year-old DeBoer, following Florida, New Jersey and San Jose. He’s compiled a career — Golden Edge (@GoldenEdgeRJ) January 15, 2020 mark of 415-329-111 and led the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. “As a manager, sometimes you have a feeling that something isn’t the Assistant coaches Ryan Craig and Ryan McGill, along with video coach way you need it to be or want it to be,” McCrimmon said. “We feel we’ve Tommy Cruz, remain with the Knights organization. underperformed a little bit, and certainly that’s not to pile that at the feet of Mike and Gerard, but sometimes you feel a change is needed.” “It’s tough as a group, as a team, to cost two coaches their job,” goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. “It’s a good wake-up call for all of us. Gallant, who had one year remaining on his contract, led the Knights to Obviously it’s easier to change two coaches than to change 15 guys. I the Stanley Cup Final their inaugural season and was the recipient of the think we need to hear the message loud and clear, turn things around Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year. and be better.” He went 118-75-20, the ninth-best record in the league during his tenure, LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 and twice was named the coach of the Pacific Division All-Star team, including this season. It is unclear who will replace Gallant during the All- Star Game on Jan. 25 at St. Louis.

Gallant is the seventh coach that’s been fired this season.

“I think a lot of guys really enjoyed playing for (Gallant) and had personal and team success with him,” said alternate captain Reilly Smith, who also played for Gallant in Florida. “I think you’re always shocked when something like this happens. A week and a half ago, we were in first place in our division and now it seems like we’re looking for a new path or different direction with our team.”

Despite a high-priced roster, the Knights (24-19-6) have been plagued by inconsistency and lost their fourth straight Tuesday against the Sabres, dropping them out of a playoff position with 33 games remaining.

The Knights rank second in the league in expected goal share at 5-on-5, according to NaturalStatTrick, but the sum of their shooting percentage and save percentage is 28th overall.

Translation: The Knights aren’t scoring when they generate chances and haven’t made enough saves, either.

“We take a lot of pride in our dressing room, and players know that as a group we haven’t played up to expectations. We’re taking quite a bit of that blame,” right wing Mark Stone said. “We all loved and respected playing for Gerard, especially the guys who have been here since day one. I didn’t even get a year in with him, but I loved playing for him. But like I said, when you don’t play up to expectation, these things happen.”

Gallant, who was the longest-tenured coach in the Pacific Division, was not available for comment Wednesday. His agent, Neil Glasberg, did not return a voicemail.

Knights majority owner Bill Foley also declined comment, referring all questions to McCrimmon.

McCrimmon and McPhee had discussed a coaching change internally for several months and decided to be proactive before the team fell too far out of the playoff race. 1171463 Vegas Golden Knights said. “They’ve got some skill on their power play, so they made a good play. You’ve got to give them credit when they make good plays.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 01.16.2020 Golden Knights search for solution to penalty killing struggles

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Golden Knights owned the No. 2 penalty kill in the league through the first month of the season.

At the end of November, the Knights were fifth overall and they finished 2019 ranked seventh at 82.4 percent.

But since the calendar flipped to January, killing penalties has become a major problem.

That rough patch continued Tuesday, as the Knights allowed two more power-play goals in their 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.

‘Lot of trouble’

“It’s gone from real good the first 25 games to having a lot of trouble right now,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “I hate to say it, but I don’t see a whole lot of difference. They’re still doing the same type of things, whether it’s unlucky or just bad opportunities.

“The first one (against Buffalo), we should have got a clear and didn’t. The guy picked his pocket, so things happen like that. But overall, they’re doing the same things. It’s just not working right now.”

The Knights have allowed a power play goal in six straight games and rank last in the league on the penalty kill since Jan. 1 at 42.9 percent (6- for-14).

The slide has dropped them to 19th overall at 78.8 percent.

“I don’t know if it’s work ethic or execution,” right wing Mark Stone said. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

Fleury not immune

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was the Knights best penalty killer through the first two months, as he posted a league-leading .946 save percentage while his team was short-handed.

But even he hasn’t been immune to the problem and ranks 15th among qualifying goaltenders with an .886 save percentage short-handed. Since Jan. 1, Fleury has allowed seven power play goals on 24 shots.

“I think I worry about myself more, and I’ve let in goals that sometimes I should stop,” Fleury said. “Some of the times it’s little mistakes here and there that are costing us. It was such a strong thing for us early in the season, and consistently every night we were good. Now it’s been costing us a few here.”

The Knights led 1-0 against Buffalo in the second period when Max Pacioretty was whistled for a borderline interference penalty after he bowled over Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen in the neutral zone.

Pacioretty declined to comment on whether he thought the call was correct, but it proved costly when Kyle Okposo cashed in at 6:32 of the period.

William Karlsson had an opportunity to clear the Knights’ zone, but Conor Sheary stole the puck from behind and fed Sam Reinhart in the slot. Reinhart quickly moved the puck to Okposo, who beat Fleury to the glove side with a wrist shot.

Too many on ice

Late in the second, the Knights were called for too many men on the ice and Buffalo again made the Knights pay.

Jack Eichel slid the puck to Ristolainen along the goal line, and he made a quick pass to Reinhart in the slot for a one-timer with 18.7 seconds remaining in the second to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.

“Every power play does it a little bit different, but they made a real good play on the second one, obviously, the goal line play to the top,” Gallant 1171464 Vegas Golden Knights expected to be one of the biggest contributors on the team. Shipachyov was sent to the minors for a brief stint, then retired and returned to Russia after just three NHL games.

Why the Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant, and what it means moving McPhee then paid a first-, second- and third-round pick for Tatar at the forward 2018 trade deadline only to watch him serve as a healthy scratch during the playoffs. He was traded to Montreal, where he has 41 goals and 56 assists in 127 games.

By Jesse Granger Jan 15, 2020 Gusev was acquired from Tampa Bay in the expansion draft. After 144 points in his last 116 games in the KHL, he finally joined the Golden

Knights and was expected to be a major contributor. But the team OTTAWA – Golden Knights players sat quietly on the bench at Canadian determined he wasn’t a fit and sent him to New Jersey where he’s Tire Centre Wednesday afternoon, watching the Zamboni make it’s last thriving. few passes on the fresh sheet of ice for practice. We may never know if those decisions were made based on those There was no conversation. No high-pitched yelps from Jonathan players not fitting into Gallant’s lineup, but if that was even part of the Marchessault or practical jokes from Marc-Andre Fleury. Just silence. decision, it makes today’s firing make a little more sense. If not, today’s move feels like a knee-jerk reaction. Then the team huddled around assistant coach Ryan McGill along the corner boards, as he braced the team for an emotionally turbulent day. “It’s upsetting that our play over the last few games has forced The Golden Knights fired well-respected coach Gerard Gallant early management to make this decision,” said Reilly Smith, who played under Wednesday morning, just 19 months after he led the expansion team to a Gallant in both Vegas and Florida. “A lot of guys really enjoyed playing Stanley Cup final appearance. for Turk, and had personal and team success with him, so it’s a tough day for us. “I’m bummed,” Nate Schmidt said as he sat down at his locker stall after the practice. Even Schmidt, who has long served as the Golden Knights’ “I think probably not too much will change, but us as players need to take ray of positivity couldn’t smile today. “It’s a tough day for us. It’s a tough this responsibility that we have to be better. We’re the reason why this day for our group. A guy that’s been with us from the beginning. I’m just change happened.” disappointed in myself, and that we didn’t do more to keep him around.” Fleury, who has experienced coaching changes throughout his long, Below the stands, in the bowels of Canadian Tire Centre, general storied career, echoed Smith’s sentiment. manager Kelly McCrimmon paced back and forth in a hallway, prior to “I’m mad at myself for letting this happen. I think it’s tough to, as a group, speaking with media to announce the firing. to cost two coaches their job,” Fleury said. “It’s a good wake up call for all “In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching of us. Obviously it’s easier to change two coaches than to change 15 change was necessary,” McCrimmon said. “Our team is capable of more guys. I think we need to hear the message loud and clear, turn things than we have demonstrated this season.” around, and be better.”

The Golden Knights are currently 19th in the NHL by points percentage, Sometimes coaching changes can provide the wake-up call needed to which is undoubtedly far below where they expected to be. After losing spark a talented team to its potential. Last season it worked like a charm the last four games, Vegas fell out of playoff position, which is hard to do in St. Louis, and this season the Maple Leafs have flourished since with how poor the Pacific Division has been this year. The team has Sheldon Keefe replaced Mike Babcock. struggled mightily with consistency, which McCrimmon sourced as one of Perhaps management felt it needed that, and more importantly — that the main reasons for the move. Peter DeBoer was the man to do it. “It’s hard for me to get into specifics. You see consistency issues, and Because while answering why Gallant was fired is tough, answering why that’s part of it,” McCrimmon said. “I think our team has more to give, and he was fired NOW is tougher. One possible answer is DeBoer was that was what went into the decision.” receiving offers from other teams around the league, and the Golden The reason it’s hard for McCrimmon to get into specifics is because there Knights felt if they were going to get him they needed to do it now. are none. Gallant didn’t make one fatal move that cost him his job. It “We had real high hopes for the year, and still have high hopes for the wasn’t a flawed system, or a lack of coaching preparation. The fact is, the year,” McCrimmon said. “We’re in a unique position where we’re right in Golden Knights aren’t playing as well as they should for the talent they the mix. This isn’t a case where the bottom fell out and we were left with put on the ice, and it cost the coach his job. no choice. It was more a situation where proactively, it was our belief that “As a manager sometimes you have a feeling that something isn’t the this was what was going to be the best thing for our organization.” way you need it to be, or want it to be,” McCrimmon said. “We feel we’ve McCrimmon is right. Most teams who fire their coach aren’t three points underperformed a little bit, and certainly that’s not to pile on at the feet of out of first place in their division. That again makes me believe that Mike (Kelly) and Gerard. But sometimes you feel a change is needed.” DeBoer’s availability had a lot to do with this move. Again, it’s tough to nail down exactly what cost Gallant his job. He’s only “We thought about this a lot,” McCrimmon said. “It certainly wasn’t one season removed from winning the Jack Adams Award as the best something done in haste, or based off the recent four games. It was a coach in the NHL and has never missed the playoffs in Vegas. decision that was arrived at over time.” McCrimmon is unique amongst general managers in that he has coaching experience of his own, standing behind the bench for the “Pete is a really good coach,” McCrimmon said. “He’s had a lot of for nine seasons. Perhaps he sees something success in the National Hockey League. With him working most recently Gallant isn’t doing to get the most out of the talent in Vegas. in the Pacific Division we’ve had a chance to watch his teams play. We think that his teams are always very well prepared, and very well “It wasn’t a specific block of games, or a specific game,” McCrimmon coached. said. “It’s hard to put into words unless you’ve done these jobs, but it’s more about the feeling you have that a change might be needed. I wish I “He’s always been a coach that has a lot of respect from his players. He could be more specific about that, but that’s really how we felt.” relates well with players. He’s an intelligent guy. His teams have always had strong special teams.” Maybe the philosophical differences between Gallant and George McPhee and McCrimmon were too much to overcome. McPhee clearly McCrimmon won’t flat out say what wasn’t good enough under Gallant, places high priority on skilled offensive players, some of which are but the specifics he provides about DeBoer shine some light on it. Vegas finesse players that don’t exactly fit into Gallant’s scheme. Vadim has been unbelievably unprepared to start games lately, getting blown Shipachyov was the first. Followed by Tomas Tatar and Nikita Gusev — out in the first period on a regular basis. And the special teams have both of whom are tearing it up with their new teams in Montreal and New dwindled recently. Vegas is still ranked eighth in power play percentage, Jersey. but has scored only 12 goals in its last 60 power plays (20 percent). The penalty kill has been even worse, allowing 19 goals in its last 57 kills Shipachyov was one of the first players in franchise history. McPhee (33.3 percent). signed the Russian center to a two-year, $9 million contract, and he was Regardless of the reasoning for the move, one thing is clear: The pressure is on. It’s on for the players, who are now expected to live up to their lofty expectations.

“I don’t know a whole lot about (DeBoer), but he’s a championship coach, and any time you bring a guy in who has had a lot of success around the league it puts guys on notice,” Schmidt said. “You have to play well for a guy who has been successful in this league.”

And the pressure is on management. If the team can’t succeed under DeBoer, then the problems lie elsewhere. That would be with McPhee, and McCrimmon, who have allowed players like James Neal, David Perron, Erik Haula, Nikita Gusev and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to walk out the doors in exchange for newcomers like Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny. The additions have all the pedigree — like DeBoer — but have achieved far less than expected.

Can DeBoer be the spark Vegas needs to fulfill its potential and become one of the NHL’s elite?

“Hopefully,” Fleury replied. “I still believe that has to come from us, the guys on the ice doing the job.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171465 Vegas Golden Knights “I’m mad at myself for letting this happen,” Marc-Andre Fleury said Wednesday. “It’s tough, as a group, to cost two coaches their job.”

McCrimmon and George McPhee clearly believe they have constructed a Roundtable reaction: Was firing coach Gerard Gallant the right move for roster good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup and something had to Vegas? be done to alter their current course. It’s unfortunate for Gallant that removing him was the easiest avenue.

DOM LUSZCZYSZYN: I just don’t get this. Not one bit. Vegas would not By Scott Burnside Jan 15, 2020 be where it is today if not for Gallant behind the bench, turning a team of misfits into a competitive team year in and year out. This year looked to

be no different as Vegas was still, for my money, the best threat in the The hits just keep coming for NHL head coaches as Gerard Gallant Pacific. The Golden Knights have the league’s second-best expected barely had a chance to get a Tim Hortons coffee in Ottawa Wednesday goals differential at 5-on-5, have a top 10 power play with strong scoring morning before being told his services were no longer needed by the chance numbers and are just three points back of a division lead. Hell, Vegas Golden Knights and that former San Jose Sharks head coach they still have a 69 percent chance of making the playoffs, a chance that Peter DeBoer, unemployed just over a month, would be taking Gallant’s would be stronger if not for bottom 10 shooting and save percentages at spot behind the bench. 5-on-5. I don’t believe that to be Gallant’s fault, and if his team could get a save more consistently, he might still have a job. Never mind that 19 months ago Gallant guided the expansion Golden Knights on an unprecedented run to the Stanley Cup final and that a year CRAIG CUSTANCE: Part of me wonders if Vegas would have been so ago his squad headed to a second straight playoff berth. aggressive in firing Gallant if DeBoer wasn’t available. There are some really experienced coaches in the pool right now but it doesn’t tend to So if Gallant was wondering “what the hell?” on Tuesday, it’s probably no last. Along those lines, it makes Gallant’s availability an interesting different than the emotions DeBoer was feeling a little over a month ago wrinkle as well. He’s a coach whom players tend to like. Because we’ve when he was iced by San Jose after taking the Sharks to four straight re-adjusted expectations surrounding the Golden Knights, we forget how playoff appearances, including a first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup final in much he overachieved as Vegas’ coach. In Detroit, GM Steve Yzerman 2016 and then back to the Western Conference final last spring. is going to have to make a decision on Jeff Blashill at some point. There’s a buyout option after this season. Yzerman knows Gallant well. If Chaos has become the norm in the coaching world in a season that has there’s a change in Detroit, Gallant now becomes a name to remember. seen seven coaches dismissed, five for hockey-related reasons, and all More than ever, the coaching dominoes seem to be cycling quickly. before the end of January. Two of those coaches have subsequently found new employment – John Hynes was hired by Nashville after being KEVIN KURZ: When I sat down with DeBoer for his first in-depth fired by New Jersey, and now DeBoer. interview five days after he was fired from the Sharks on Dec. 16, toward the end of the conversation I asked him what was next for him So, what are we to make of this latest carnival of carnage at the NHL personally. “It’s easy to say you want to relax and take it easy for a while, head coaching level? and then two days later you’re itching to get behind a bench and get back Let’s decipher what all this means: in the competition,” he said, sitting on a bench outside the Sharks’ practice facility. “That itch becomes something you want to scratch again PIERRE LEBRUN: This is one of those weird situations where you can’t pretty quickly. We’ll see what happens.” Less than one month later, that question the fact Vegas just hired a heck of a coach. They sure did in itch became too much for him to bear. That DeBoer is back in the league Peter DeBoer. All the guy does is win. But, I mean, they fired a great again so quickly isn’t surprising, in that he left San Jose with a sterling coach, too, in Gerard Gallant, so I see this as a push. Gallant is also reputation. There’s enough evidence now that the Sharks’ struggles this immensely popular with many of those Vegas players. How they react to season had little or nothing to do with him, as they remain in 13th place this will be very interesting. I get it, the Knights had high hopes this in the Western Conference. But DeBoer going to the Golden Knights, the season; I still think they win the Pacific Division when all is said and Sharks’ biggest rival, is still somewhat shocking considering the recent done. But I think they would have won it with Gallant, too. The Knights’ past. The enmity that has built in the past few seasons between the clubs PDO suggests natural regression would have led to more wins in the — including some public barbs between DeBoer and Gallant in last second half. The thing is, it’s not out of the question that DeBoer coaches year’s playoffs — was palpable. At the start of this season, when the this team right to the Western Conference final or beyond. But I think Sharks and Golden Knights opened with a home and home against one Gallant would have done the same. Just a few months ago, I heard another, it was a renewal of arguably the most heated rivalry in the NHL. through the grapevine that Gallant and the Golden Knights were talking The one question I’d love to get an answer to is: Does San Jose GM extension (Gallant has one more year on his deal after this season). Doug Wilson now regret firing DeBoer in the first place? Obviously that never came to pass, but just the fact they were talking tells you this was a rather quick change of opinion on the coach. GEORGE RICHARDS: Walking around Las Vegas with Gallant was like Sometimes you have a GM and coach that aren’t on the same page as being with an A-list celebrity. Everyone wanted to say hello, snap a selfie. far as tactics and deployment. That may have played a part here as far And this was months before his expansion Golden Knights made an as Kelly McCrimmon and Gallant not seeing eye to eye on everything. amazing run to the Stanley Cup final in their first season. Gallant may And that’s OK, it happens. But I’m absolutely stunned Gallant got fired. I have been fired Wednesday, but make no mistake, he will find another really am. job. He also will never have to buy another drink in Vegas (comped or not) again. The first coach of an expansion team can either be beloved JESSE GRANGER: The move is shocking due to the sheer fact that when they eventually move on, or just become a footnote in history. Gallant is just over a year removed from winning the Jack Adams Award Gallant was the face of the expansion Knights, the first major sports team and leading an expansion team to a Stanley Cup final. But from that to call Vegas home. The success they enjoyed only amplified Gallant’s moment on, the Golden Knights have underachieved as a group. They celebrity, his down-to-earth personality making it feel like everyone knew were expected to compete for a Stanley Cup last season, after adding him whether they did or not. Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone to a team already primed for a postseason run, and fell flat in the first round. This season Vegas DeBoer now becomes the coaching face of the Knights and he will enjoy currently has the 19th best record by points percentage in the NHL, the handshakes and the selfies as well. Both coaches lived in anonymity which is far below their expectations considering the talent on the roster. while coaching the Panthers and the atmosphere in Vegas is much different. It may take DeBoer some getting used to after coaching in I don’t think Gallant did anything to deserve being fired. This is much South Florida, New Jersey and San Jose. But this is no expansion team more of a case where it’s easier to fire the coach than it is to fire the anymore. Firing Gallant shows the Knights mean business. The pressure entire roster, and the players feel that way. Wednesday’s practice in is now on to win and win now. The Raiders are coming. The hockey team Ottawa was eerily quiet and somber. The players took the ice and were needs to keep winning and do so at the highest level. quickly huddled by assistant coach Ryan McGill for a few words. Following practice the players expressed their regret, feeling their SEAN MCINDOE: I don’t get this one. It’s stunning. In September, I wrote inconsistent play as of late — especially during the current four-game a piece about the coaches and GMs who were least likely to get fired, losing streak – cost their coach his job. and Gallant was my top pick. He was widely viewed as perhaps the best coach in the league, so a change in Vegas seemed inconceivable. Yet here we are. And amazingly, while the Knights are underachieving, they’re not that bad. They’re a few points out of first in their division!

So yeah, stunning. And I’ll go one further: I think it’s a mistake. You never know what’s happening behind the scenes, but from a distance this feels like a panic move. The Knights have strong numbers but are being brought down by goaltending. That’s not a coach’s fault. There’s a good chance that DeBoer has success in Vegas once the bounces even out. But Gallant could too, and after everything he accomplished those last two seasons, he deserved the chance to see it through.

SHAYNA GOLDMAN: The timing of this is certainly interesting. Vegas didn’t get off to the strongest start this year – its shooting percentage and goaltending dipped in the first quarter of the season, and it showed in its record. But its luck turned around, and its quality of play continued to trend up as the season progressed; it is one of the best teams at driving play at 5-on-5. So even if DeBoer doesn’t make any major changes, there’s a very good chance he still finds success because of how much the team rebounded from that slower start. If that happens, it could have a ripple effect around the league, as others will take note of the “influence” of a midseason coaching change – just as many did when the Penguins fired Mike Johnston and promoted Mike Sullivan in December 2015 before winning the Stanley Cup that spring, and when the Blues dismissed Mike Yeo midseason to promote Craig Berube on their way to the Stanley Cup last year. The differences here being Vegas’ quality of play compared to Pittsburgh and St. Louis at the time of those coaching changes, and the signing of a new coach versus promoting from within. This could be viewed as the next step for a team designed to win now, especially after a few notable changes to the roster over the last year. And if it works for Vegas, or Nashville, other teams will likely take note. The question is just whether DeBoer is the right choice for Vegas. While goaltending doomed the Sharks later in his tenure, there were concerns this season in front of the crease as well. But, he’s joining a very good Golden Knights team that may not need that much of a push to take a step forward in the second half.

SCOTT BURNSIDE: It wasn’t long after the stunning coaching change in Vegas had been announced that I heard from a longtime NHL coach. He was, like many, surprised. But when I suggested maybe this was the move that helped shake the talented Golden Knights out of their season- long lethargy and that wouldn’t it be interesting if they made a run all the way to the Stanley Cup, he wasn’t in agreement. In fact, he said there was zero chance this team wins a Cup as it’s currently constituted, pointing out a glaring need for right-hand help on the blue line. And maybe that’s the story as first-year McCrimmon navigates his first trade deadline as GM. Is this a first-year GM having a knee-jerk reaction to a long period of underwhelming play or is this a seasoned hockey executive understanding that a change like this, even if unconventional, is critical to a team making the most of its considerable promise? There will be no middle ground in how this move is going to be judged, at least not between now and June. What seems clear is that this can’t be it for McCrimmon. He needs to give DeBoer more tools to work with if the results in the standings are going to change – and let’s remember the Golden Knights woke up Wednesday outside the playoff bubble but just three points out of first in the sardine can that is the Pacific Division. The lineup is overloaded with left-hand shot defenders, and if McCrimmon can’t add some more balance to that group between now and Feb. 24, maybe it won’t matter at all who is coaching this team.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171466 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire Peter DeBoer

By Jesse Granger Jan 15, 2020

OTTAWA — Frustrated with early-season inconsistencies, unable to yet live up to preseason expectations, the Golden Knights have fired head coach Gerard Gallant and immediately hired former San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer to coach in Vegas.

Gallant, who had one year remaining on his contract in Vegas, was informed of the coaching change this morning, sources told The Athletic.

To say the change was shocking would be putting it lightly. Gallant is only a little more than one season removed from winning the Jack Adams Award after leading the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup final in 2018. He was also set to coach the Pacific Division in the NHL All- Star game on Jan. 25.

Vegas has struggled lately, losing four straight games to drop out of playoff positioning, and management felt Gallant wasn’t getting enough out of the talent on the roster.

“In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a press release. “Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season.”

The Golden Knights currently sit at 24-19-6, in fifth-place in the Pacific Division. Assistant coach Mike Kelly was also relieved of his duties in Vegas.

“We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights,” McCrimmon said. “They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward.”

Vegas instantly replaced Gallant with DeBoer, who helped the San Jose Sharks end the Golden Knights’ 2018-19 season in the first round of the playoffs. DeBoer was fired by the Sharks on Dec. 11 after a 15-16-2 start to the season.

DeBoer has coached two different teams to the Stanley Cup final, but has yet to lift the Cup. He led New Jersey to the final in 2011–12 before falling to the Los Angeles Kings, and helped the Sharks reach it in his first season in San Jose (2015-16). He has a career coaching record of 415-329-111.

He will join the Golden Knights in Ottawa and will be behind the bench when they face the Senators on Thursday night.

“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal,” McCrimmon said. “We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171467 Vegas Golden Knights Is Seattle calling? LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 01.16.2020

Not An April Fools’ Joke: Golden Knights Fire Coach Gerard Gallant, Replace Him With Former Just-Fired San Jose Sharks Coach Peter DeBoer

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

In the biggest bombshell news of the Vegas Golden Knights’ three-year history, the Knights have fired coach Gerard Gallant.

And Wednesday morning’s news gets more shocking when you consider Gallant’s replacement — Peter DeBoer, who was just fired a month ago from his coaching job for the San Jose Sharks, the team that knocked out the Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in VGK season two last year.

In Gallant’s final game as VGK coach last night, the Golden Knights suffered a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in western New York — the fourth consecutive loss for the Knights. During the past week, the Knights have dropped from first place in the Pacific Division to fifth place behind the Coyotes, Oilers, Flames and Canucks. In the three losses before the Knights’ defeat in Buffalo Tuesday night, the Golden Knights started games very sluggishly and dropped behind in the score in each loss.

Gallant’s assistant coaching sidekick on the Golden Knights, Mike Kelly, was also fired.

Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said the team “is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season.”

Here’s the full statement by McCrimmon: “In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season.

“We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward. In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”

McCrimmon says in today’s comments that the Golden Knights were under performing.

Gallant’s firing is shocking news because he led the Knights in their first season as an NHL franchise to the Stanley Cup Final. Considered a players’ coach, Gallant, 56, a Price Edward Island, Canada native known by his nickname, Turk,, won the Jack Adams Award during the VGK’s miracle first season as the NHL’s best coach. During this season, Gallant was also named the coach for the Pacific Division All-Star team. So that’s an awkward situation — having a fired coach who was scheduled to manage an All-Star team. Gallant was 118-75-20 with the Golden Knights.

Peter DeBoer

Meanwhile, DeBoer is expected to join Golden Knights in Ottawa Thursday. DeBoer has a career NHL coaching record of 415-329-111 as well as 46 playoff victories following stints with San Jose, New Jersey and Florida. He was named the eighth coach in San Jose Sharks franchise history on May 28, 2015. With San Jose, DeBoer guided the Sharks to a 198-129-34 record over five seasons, including a trip to the first Stanley Cup appearance in team history in 2016.

Prior to joining San Jose, DeBoer coached the New Jersey Devils for three and a half seasons, posting a 114-93-41 record and leading the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. DeBoer finished his coaching tenure with the Devils as the second-winningest coach in New Jersey franchise history behind (276). DeBoer spent three seasons prior to his stint with the Devils as head coach of the Florida Panthers, compiling a 103-107-36 mark behind the Panthers’ bench.

Gallant also coached the Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gallant is respected around the NHL and who knows where he will end up? 1171468 Washington Capitals “I’m not worried,” Zimmerman, who has played all 15 years of his career in Washington, said Wednesday. “We’ve talked. We’re continuing to talk. Like I said, I’ve made my intentions pretty clear, and they know where I stand. We know where they stand. We’ve been going back and forth the Ryan Zimmerman took slap shots from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas last couple of weeks. I’m sure something will happen. It’s just a matter of Backstrom at Caps practice time. We’ve got a month, anyway. Nothing going on. Take our time.”

Washington Post LOADED: 01.16.2020 Scott Allen January 15, 2020 at 4:42 PM EST

When asked about his future at the December premiere of Major League Baseball’s World Series documentary, free agent first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said his intentions were to either re-sign with the Nationals or “play some more golf.” On Wednesday, the 35-year-old, who remains without a contract, tried his hand at hockey.

“I don’t think he will make the team, but obviously it’s great to see him out there and try to do what he can,” Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin joked after his longtime friend suited up in goalie gear and faced shots for several minutes at the end of practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. “I think he had fun and he realized how hard it is to be a goalie.”

View this post on Instagram

Ryan Zimmerman is in the best hockey shape of his life

A post shared by Washington Capitals (@capitals) on Jan 15, 2020 at 10:32am PST

Zimmerman, who wore a GoPro on his goalie helmet, said that he had discussed the idea of spending time between the pipes with Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom a few years ago. Zimmerman told Backstrom he figured he could hold his own with his catching glove, even if he had no clue what to do with his stick or blocker. Indeed, Zimmerman made a few impressive glove saves, prompting stick taps and cheers from Ovechkin and the other Capitals players gathered at center ice, but he hardly reacted when Backstrom skated in and unleashed a slap shot to his stick side.

There's still a place for Ryan Zimmerman on the Nats. Get the deal done.

“Not that I needed respect for goalies, because obviously they’re crazy to begin with,” Zimmerman said. “I’ll never understand how they do it, but a newfound respect for those guys. I have no chance when they start deking and moving around. Skates aren’t my strong suit.”

Scouting report on goalie Ryan Zimmerman: go stick side pic.twitter.com/wwZPWTbfBX

— Scott Allen (@ScottSAllen) January 15, 2020

Capitals Coach Todd Reirden liked what he saw from Zimmerman, even if he doesn’t figure to challenge Braden Holtby or Ilya Samsonov for playing time.

“He looked pretty good in there,” Reirden said. “Good glove, for sure. Big guy, took up a lot of room. The guys weren’t letting up on him. He was seeing some serious gas from some of the guys.

“Once he really ramped it up, I had no chance,” Zimmerman said of Ovechkin, who ripped a few one-timers into the back of the net.

Zimmerman called Wednesday’s experience a “cool opportunity” and extended an invitation for the Capitals to come to Nationals Park and stand in the batter’s box against Max Scherzer or Stephen Strasburg sometime.

“That would be the equivalent of how terrified I was to be out there,” Zimmerman said. “That’s the most nervous I’ve ever been, for any sport.”

One-timers with Zim and Ovi! pic.twitter.com/MtFJVqSjsF

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 15, 2020

As for the status of his contract negotiations with the Nationals, who declined his $18 million option for the 2020 season after the World Series, Zimmerman joked that he’s a “hockey free agent, too.” At Nationals Winterfest on Saturday, Washington General Manager Mike Rizzo said he spent 90 minutes chatting with Zimmerman in his office the previous week but that he had no news to report about a new deal with the team’s original draft pick. 1171469 Washington Capitals when they were young, single and still learning the ins and outs of the game. They navigated the playoff losses together, never splintering despite the frustrations.

Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby react to Capitals re-signing Nicklas “I think that was kind of nice that we all kind of went through that at the Backstrom same time,” Holtby said in September of his bond with Backstrom. “That makes it easier to, you know, still focus on hockey when you know what everyone else is going through trying to figure out actually how to have responsibilities. Just real life stuff.” Samantha Pell Washington Post LOADED: 01.16.2020

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin never had a doubt Nicklas Backstrom would re-sign with the organization. He knew his close friend and linemate was too crucial for the franchise to let go, so Backstrom’s five-year, $46 million deal announced Tuesday came as no surprise.

“Yeah, I was obviously happy for him, for [his] family, for this organization, for fans,” Ovechkin said. “It’s important that he will stay here for a long time and how he said he wanted to make sure he stay here in Washington, and it’s just great. Happy for him, and he deserves it.”

Ovechkin now can stop his regular checking in on how Backstrom’s contract talks were going. All parties can focus solely on the second half of the season, with the Capitals leading the Metropolitan Division with 67 points ahead of Thursday’s game against New Jersey.

Nicklas Backstrom re-signs with Capitals for five years, $46 million

“I was pretty comfortable because I knew 100 percent that he will sign because he’s our No. 1 center,” Ovechkin said. “He’s a top guy in the league, and the organization don’t let him go. … I was just interested in what was happening. I knew what’s going on, and he told me some stuff that’s happening. He asked me some advice. I’m happy that it’s done.”

Attention now turns in part to Ovechkin’s own contract situation, knowing that Backstrom’s extension will carry him through the 2024-25 season. Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124 million contract is set to expire after next season. He cannot sign an extension with the Capitals until July 1.

When asked jokingly whether Ovechkin would think about hiring Backstrom as his agent, Ovechkin quipped: “No. I’m good. I stick with myself.” Ovechkin negotiated his 13-year extension without an agent and talked directly with owner Ted Leonsis and former Capitals general manager George McPhee. Agent fees typically can range from 3 to 5 percent.

“Why not?” Backstrom said when asked whether he would recommend negotiating their own deals to other players. “You got all the statistics on paper, and if you are a person that you are comfortable with yourself and you know where you are at in the game, I think there is no downside to it. At the same time, agents are doing a great job as well. They can maybe push some other buttons that players can’t, but at the same time, it is not going to be that big of a difference.”

Ovechkin, 34, said Wednesday that he is in no rush to sign with the organization, and he believes Leonsis and General Manager Brian MacLellan think the same. He wants to remain a Capital, and that is only reaffirmed with the re-signing of Backstrom.

“I think as a player you want to stay in one spot because your family here, you have lots of friends, you have a very good relationship with the city, with the organization,” Ovechkin said. “And for us you don’t want to move because it became a second home. And I think for [Backstrom], he knows everybody here, he knows this area, and he grew up here, and basically the same happen with me and with the other players.”

Goaltender Braden Holtby’s situation is different. Holtby, who is on the final year of his five-year, $30.5 million deal, said his situation has not changed and that any contract talks with the Capitals are on hold until after the season.

However, he was happy Backstrom re-signed.

“That’s awesome,” Holtby said. “I couldn’t imagine that guy being anywhere else. He’s been our heart and soul here for a lot of years. So it’s very exciting. It makes you real happy when guys you’ve been around with and that truly deserve the best things get rewarded. Proud for all of us and for him. He’s well deserving.”

Holtby, 30, and Backstrom, 32, were close very early in their Capitals careers and have continued to bond through the years with their growing families. With Ovechkin and John Carlson, they joined the franchise 1171470 Washington Capitals Whether Caps Gaming makes the jump from sub-brand to official team or not, it’s right in the Leonsises’ wheelhouse.

“At the end of the day this is about having fun,” Zach Leonsis said. With Caps Gaming, Monumental looks to build another esports brand “We’re in the business of happiness and this is a great tool and a great marketing platform for us to experiment with.”

Washington Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 15, 2020

ARLINGTON — After practice Wednesday, Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov got to unwind the way many 20-somethings choose to relax: by playing some video games. But this was no casual task. Kuznetsov took on one of the top “NHL 20” players in the world.

John Casagranda, known by his gamertag “JohnWayne,” joined him online and played from his home in Anchorage, Alaska. First, both played as the Capitals; Kuznetsov scored twice in the first period, but went on to lose, 6-2. Then they tried a matchup of the U.S. national team against Russia, and Johnny Gaudreau picked up a hat trick as JohnWayne drubbed Kuznetsov’s Russians, 8-3.

Kuznetsov was complimentary of his new friend and said JohnWayne had gone easy on him. “I think if he tried, he can beat me so bad,” Kuznetsov said.

The Capitals launched their “Caps Gaming” brand in November and signed JohnWayne as an ambassador, making him the first professional gamer signed by an NHL team. A few months into the endeavor, Caps Gaming arranged the one-on-one match and livestreamed it on the video platform Twitch.

Monumental Sports and Entertainment founder and CEO Ted Leonsis is a longtime believer in esports who invested in the esports organization Team Liquid and some video game developers. His son Zach Leonsis, Monumental’s senior vice president of strategic initiatives, called gaming a “great equalizer” and way to connect with people from anywhere.

“We’ve really fallen in love with esports because it gives us an opportunity to reach an entirely different fan base, and it’s primarily a fan base that’s younger,” Zach Leonsis said. “It’s Gen Z and millennial- oriented.

Caps Gaming has a longer way to go than its Monumental counterpart, Wizards District Gaming. The gaming community for the “NHL” series (often referred to as “Chel” by gamers) is not yet as widespread as for other sports titles like “NBA 2K” and “FIFA.”

Unlike the NBA 2K League, founded and co-owned by the NBA, there is not yet a “Chel” league, so individuals instead play in tournaments like the NHL Gaming World Championship, where JohnWayne was the runner-up last year.

“The NHL is exploring esports as a category now, and they’re having active conversations with EA Sports to figure out if something could potentially fit on the NHL side too,” Zach Leonsis said.

But there are opportunities to tie in Caps Gaming with the players, many of whom are casual gamers themselves. When the Capitals made their run to the Stanley Cup in 2018, it became a tradition to bring an aging Nintendo 64 console and “Mario Kart 64” for hotel downtime on the road. They play the latest generation, too. As the lone rookie on the team, one of goaltender Ilya Samsonov’s responsibilities is to pack the PlayStation 4 on the Capitals’ longer road trips, Kuznetsov said.

Kuznetsov, 27, only started gaming as a young player in the KHL in Russia. He was excited to be asked to livestream with JohnWayne.

“You know, it’s special. He can be in Alaska and I can be here, we can play,” Kuznetsov said. “He represent our team, right? I think he should get more involved and be more with the guys because we’re all part of the family here. We should get more together.”

Kuznetsov got some revenge by beating JohnWayne in “FIFA 20,” a title the gamer doesn’t usually play — and probably the only time D.C. United will defeat FC Barcelona.

It remains to be seen where Caps Gaming goes from here. Despite a growing number of Generation Z teenagers and millennials that enjoy watching others stream games on Twitch, the NHL might not invest more resources into esports, and rather leave it up to individual teams as it currently does. 1171471 Washington Capitals

Zimmerman tries out goaltending at Capitals practice; still in talks with Nationals

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 15, 2020

ARLINGTON — Ryan Zimmerman’s baseball future hasn’t been settled yet, but on Tuesday he tried his hand at a different sport just for fun.

Zimmerman visited Washington Capitals practice, donned some goaltender equipment and squatted between the pipes to face shots from Alex Ovechkin and company.

The longtime Washington Nationals first baseman, currently a free agent, later said Nicklas Backstrom had “challenged” him to try it a few years ago. Zimmerman wields a steady glove at first base, so he figured he’d be able to stop some pucks.

“We were talking about how like, I’m like, ‘I can catch it,’” Zimmerman said. “(He said), ‘No chance!’ I’m like, ‘I’m telling you guys, I can catch the puck. I don’t know if I can do anything else.’”

Here’s how it went:

Ovechkin gets him warmed up pic.twitter.com/YHCzvnvXCH

— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) January 15, 2020

Shootout practice on Zim! pic.twitter.com/26H1HPjtQ6

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 15, 2020

Ryan Zimmerman is in net and he’s actually getting some glove saves on Ovechkin pic.twitter.com/IORvwJhomI

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) January 15, 2020

Zimmerman joked that he was glad he tried it, but will never do it again.

“Not that I needed respect for goalies, because obviously they’re crazy to begin with,” Zimmerman said. “I’ll never understand how they do it, but obviously a newfound respect for those guys.”

Braden Holtby and the skaters who took turns shooting on Zimmerman gave the ballplayer some honest grades on his performance.

“I don’t know what his skating background is or anything, but at least he was pretty balanced out there and didn’t fall over or anything,” Holtby said. “That’s more the scary part.”

“I don’t think he’ll make the team,” Alex Ovechkin quipped. “But obviously it was great to see him up there and try to do what he can can. I think he have fun and now he realize how hard it is to be a goalie.”

T.J. Oshie was impressed with Zimmerman’s glove skills, “but the rest of his game definitely needs some work.”

Zimmerman did not come to MedStar Capitals Iceplex to break any news about his baseball future. He said he’s been meeting with general Mike Rizzo and the Nationals’ front office for a few weeks now and figured something will get done soon.

“I’ve made my intentions pretty clear. They know where I stand and we know where they stand,” Zimmerman said. “We’ve been going back and forth the last couple weeks. I’m sure something will happen. It’s just a matter of time.”

The Nationals declined Zimmerman’s $18 million option for 2020 just days after the team won the World Series. Later in the winter, Zimmerman famously said he’d either play for the Nationals next year or “play more golf.”

Washington Times LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171472 Washington Capitals It was clear from the drop of the puck on Monday that the Caps were ready to play and they took control in the opening frame with two goals and forced four minor penalties.

What have we learned about the Caps after two straight wins over “I think we had more energy, we played harder, we were winning battles,” Carolina Tom Wilson said. “And that’s what it takes against a team that tries to play that type of identity. We were able to take it to them tonight and get the job done.”

By J.J. Regan January 15, 2020 10:00 AM Rest

You cannot take shifts off against an aggressive forecheck. You have to have plenty of energy, play fast and make quick decisions or the WASHINGTON -- On April 24, 2019, the Capitals’ quest to repeat as Hurricanes are going to take advantage very quickly. Stanley Cup champions came to an abrupt end. It ended with a double- overtime defeat in Game 7 at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. It The Caps were clearly gassed by the end of last season’s playoff series. was easy at the time to be dismissive of the loss. After the postseason When Game 7 went to overtime play devolved to the point where it run the year before, a veteran-laden team simply ran out of gas. It seemed like only a matter of time before the Hurricanes finally cashed in. suddenly became harder to dismiss on Oct. 5 when Washington lost its In the first loss this season, Washington was playing its third game in four home opener to those same Hurricanes. Then, Carolina dominated the nights. The team jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but faded down the stretch. In Caps again on Dec. 28 in a 6-4 win. the Caps’ second loss to Carolina, it was the second leg of a back-to- back. OK, what gives? After one of their worst losses of the season on Saturday, many fans There are a lot of factors that go into every loss, especially in the would have been happy to see Reirden force the team to run suicides in playoffs, but one constant in all of those matchups was an aggressive their next practice until the building closed. Instead, the team wrapped up forecheck. The Hurricanes come after the Caps’ hard in their defensive practice after only 20-30 minutes. They followed that up with an optional zone. It was a major reason they lost in the playoffs and, as the first two skate on Monday. matchups clearly showed, it remained a weakness in the new season, a troubling fact considering Carolina is a team Washington could very well The extra rest seemed to do the team some good and gave them a boost end up meeting again in the postseason. Even if they do not, every other to start that lasted throughout the game. team in the league certainly does its due diligence and scouting. If a lowly writer in the press box can see the Caps struggling against an "Todd challenged us to give us that kind of option and I think we did a aggressive forecheck, you can bet a scout or opposing coach will be able good job," Alex Ovechkin said. to see that as well. Playing with the lead But after dropping the first two matchups against the Hurricanes, Washington had allowed the first goal in 12 of its last 15 games heading Washington rebounded. The Caps held on for a 4-3 win in Carolina on into Monday. Ovechkin made sure that didn’t happen win two goals in the Jan. 3, going up 4-1 before a frenetic comeback bid. On Monday, first period to spot Washington a 2-0 lead. From there the game got a bit Washington played its most complete effort to date against its budding defensive. rival, blanking the Hurricanes 2-0 and limiting them to only 23 shots on goal. “You want to get out to a lead,” Wilson said. “Tired of chasing games. When you play with the lead you’re able to play the way you want, dictate What was the difference? Here are the lessons the Caps can take with the pace, dictate the momentum. We did that against a team that works them to the postseason if they should meet the Hurricanes again on how pretty hard.” to beat the aggressive forecheck? An aggressive forecheck is much more effective when playing with a lead Puck management than trying to play from behind. Getting an early two-goal lead was huge It sounds simplistic and that’s because it is. The point of an aggressive in terms of forcing Carolina to open things up. forecheck is to force bad turnovers and bad decisions from the puck “They’re one of the best teams in the league for a reason and they know carriers. The Caps have played into that by either taking too long to how to shut it down and slow the game when they're up, not take distribute the puck or panicking and trying to force stretch passes through chances,” Carolina forward Jordan Staal said. “I think it’s a lot more covered passing lanes. The turnovers were cleaned up on Monday and difficult playing against that team when you’re down.” that led to clean breakouts. Responding with your own forecheck “For me it was the breakout scheme a little bit," head coach Todd Reirden said, "Having a few new guys that didn't go through the series An aggressive forecheck forces turnovers which in turn generates last year, especially on the back end, understanding that you have to offense, but it is also good for keeping possession and keeping the puck spread things out to be able to break down their pressure and then you in the offensive zone. have to be able to execute wall plays. Then the importance of us moving pucks to outside speed I thought allowed us to break some of their One major way to beat an aggressive forecheck is with prolonged shifts pressure. It was a similar gameplan that we used against Vegas two in the offensive zone. When the opposition does finally get control of the years ago when we won the Cup. That's what they do, they skate really puck and breaks it out, it usually leads to a dump-in as they need a line well and now we've found I think a little bit of a successful formula change. You know what teams are not doing when they are changing against that that we're getting better at, understanding how to do that and lines? Setting up the forecheck. believe in it.” Washington upped the aggressiveness and intensity of its own forecheck A good start on Monday and made sure the Hurricanes spent the majority of the night in their own which thus prevented their forecheck from being as effective. On Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, the Caps found themselves down 1-0 after 20 minutes to one of the worst teams in the NHL that was "[The top line is] such a good line when they get in the forecheck," also playing without its starting goalie. The talent disparity between those Reirden said. "It's no fun if you're a defenseman and you're thinking two teams is such that the game probably could have been over after the about going back for a puck under pressure and it's either Alex Ovechkin first 20 minutes. Instead, the Caps trailed, New Jersey’s confidence or Tom Wilson coming to play you so I think that's something that we steadily grew, frustration set in and the Caps never recovered. have that we have to continue to impose our will on the opposition."

You know what is really frustrating to play against? An aggressive Matchups forecheck. You cannot mail in a period against a system like that Caps fans are probably very familiar with Carolina’s second line of Andrei because it will generate dangerous defensive-zone turnovers that lead to Svechnikov, Staal and Warren Foegele at this point. If you were to pick goals. the three most annoying forwards on the Hurricanes' roster, those three would be near the top of the list. Foegele especially has been able to matchup well against the Caps’ top two lines in the past. Part of Reirden’s gameplan on Monday was to match Lars Eller’s line against Carolina’s second.

"I wanted to change a little bit of our matchup against Staal and I had a lot of time for Lars and [Richard Panik] and [Carl Hagelin] doing their job," Reirden said. "And that's something when we first started to think about forming that third line and how we wanted to do it, that was something that I wanted to take a look at. And I came at those guys before the game, in particular Lars, and said if Staal's starting the game, you're playing against him and best I can, I'm going to get you against him. Obviously penalties and stuff force you to go a little sideways on some things just to make sure you're maintaining ice time and keeping players into the game, but I was really happy with Lars and Richard and Carl against them tonight. To me, that frees up Ovi now to play against [Erik Haula] and who do they score against, Ovi? Against Haula's line. Now that is the advantage of having home ice and being able to get to some things we wanted to do."

Getting those kind of matchups are not as easy on the road where the Caps have to change first, but pitting those two lines together was a winning formula in Washington. Now Reirden has to figure out how to get that matchup in Raleigh.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171473 Washington Capitals The Caps likely had enough money to re-sign one of either Backstrom or Holtby, but not both. By giving a $2.5 million per year raise to Backstrom, that very well could mean that this will be Holtby’s final season in Washington. What does Backstrom’s new contract mean for Braden Holtby? Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 01.16.2020

By J.J. Regan January 15, 2020 6:00 AM

The unfortunate reality of a salary cap means that more money for one player means less for another and that is the situation that now presents itself for Braden Holtby after Nicklas Backstrom re-signed with the Capitals for five years, $46 million on Tuesday.

Both Backstrom and Holtby entered the 2019-20 season on the final year of their current contracts without new deals in place. Backstrom’s new deal, however, is the latest impediment in a growing list of reasons why one of the most prolific goalies in franchise history likely will not be back in 2020-21.

"It is tricky," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "Holtby’s a big part of our success as an organization and he’s in the mix with [Alex Ovechkin] and Nick as defining our organization. I think we had an open communication at the beginning of the year and then we were going to address it at the end of the year to see where we’re at with cap and possibilities or not possibilities. So, we’re going to play it out.”

Managing the salary cap this season has been a challenge for both MacLellan and head coach Todd Reirden all season. With the campaign just over halfway through, the Caps have needed to use a number of tricks to stay under the cap including playing with seven defensemen, switching backup goalies, cutting the roster down to zero healthy scratches and traveling to a California road trip with no spare defensemen. As the team tries to bank space, the current roster has only 13 forwards (one extra) and six defensemen (no extras).

Washington entered this season right up against the salary cap ceiling and just added an additional $2.5 million of salary for next year.

Yes, the salary cap steadily rises from year to year, but from the 2018-19 season to 2019-20, the cap ceiling rose from $79.5 million to $81.5 million, a jump of only $2 million. Whatever jump in the cap there may be between this season and next, the Caps have likely already spent most if not all of that additional room with Backstrom's new deal.

Re-signing Holtby already looked like a long shot for the Caps after Sergey Bobrovsky signed a seven-year $70 million deal with the Florida Panthers. As both players have similar stats, Bobrovsky essentially became an instant comparable for Holtby’s agent to draw upon in any contract talks. Granted, Bobrovsky’s contract has already proven to be a cautionary tale as he has managed only a .896 save percentage and 3.29 GAA leaving Florida with some serious buyer’s remorse less than a year into the deal. Holtby’s own play this season has likely lowered whatever he may have been expecting on the free-agent market this season with a .899 save percentage and 3.02 GAA.

So yes, a $10 million cap hit is probably unlikely for Holtby at this point and his next cap hit will probably fall somewhere in the middle of that and his current hit of $6.1 million. But Backstrom’s new contract means the Caps will have little money left to spare for him and any other players the team may need to sign.

In addition to Holtby, Radko Gudas is also on the last year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent, while Jonas Siegenthaler, Brendan Leipsic and Travis Boyd will all be RFAs. At the very least, Siegenthaler will get a raise from his current entry-level deal that has a cap hit of only $174,166. Even if the team does not intend to re-sign the other three, MacLellan still would have to replace them all and no one works for free.

“We’re going to have to get creative if we want to accomplish signing Holtby with trades or find ways to create room,” MacLellan said.

While Hotlby’s current numbers may lower his price tag, it also means the team should be less inclined to move salary in order to keep him. Would trading away a player in a salary dump to keep Holtby really make sense given how rookie Ilya Samsonov has played (13-2-1, .925 save percentage, 2.11 GAA)?

Let’s also not forget that Samsonov, Ovechkin and Jakub Vrana will soon be in need of a new contract after the 2020-21 season as well. 1171474 Washington Capitals agent at season’s end, and Backstrom’s extension figures to make it even more difficult for the Caps to keep him beyond this season.

“You never know the business side of it,” Holtby said. “But as a With Backstrom signed, Ovechkin and Holtby address their contract teammate of him you want him to get that done quicker, or as quick as negotiations possible. So it’s awesome that they were able to work something out and that he’s going to stay a Capital.”

It was reported last month that the Caps and Holtby’s agent had agreed By Tarik El-Bashir Jan 15, 2020 to shelve talks on an extension until after the season, and Holtby confirmed that he does not expect that to change.

“Yeah, nothing’s changed there,” he said. ARLINGTON, Va. – No one in the Capitals’ dressing room was happier to hear the Nicklas Backstrom news than Alex Ovechkin. The awkwardness of that situation aside, the mood around the team for the past 24 hours has been downright celebratory, as one of the They’ve played together for 13 seasons, and now it’s possible, if not organization’s cornerstone pieces has agreed to play the next half likely, that one of hockey’s all-time tandems will spend the entirety of decade in red. their primes in Washington. “Yeah that’s amazing, well deserved, well earned,” coach Todd Reirden “I was obviously happy for him, for his family, for this organization, for said. “Great job by himself and by Brian getting the deal done. To me, it fans,” Ovechkin said following Wednesday’s practice. “It’s important that is a huge feather in our cap and for our organization to keep Nick he will stay here for a long time and, how he said, he wanted to finish out Backstrom. To me, he defines what it means to be a Capital, both on the his career in Washington and it’s just great. I’m happy for him and he ice and off the ice, with how he behaves, what he does in terms of how deserve it.” he works in the community to make things better.” Backstrom, who represented himself in the negotiations, signed a five- Reirden continued: “Nothing can come close to what he does in the year, $46 million contract extension on Tuesday that will keep him in D.C. locker room and on the ice. He’s a tremendous player and a tremendous through the 2024-25 season. leader for us and going to continue to be a mentor for some really good At the press conference announcing the deal, Backstrom joked that young players that we have coming. I know (2019 first-round pick) Ovechkin had been pressing him for updates throughout the process. Connor McMichael, in particular, has spoken highly of how Nick had Ovechkin described it as more of a periodic checking in. worked with him and how first-class everyone treated him and his beginning phases of being a Washington Capital.” “I was just interested in what was happening,” he said. “I knew it’s going on and he told me some stuff that’s happening. He asked me for some Reirden also said it’s good for everyone involved that the business side advice. I’m happy that it’s done.” of things is done and the focus can be on hockey from here on out.

Asked if Backstrom’s decision is any comfort to him as he begins to “Something like that does affect someone in that situation,” Reirden said. weigh his own future in Washington, Ovechkin said it had no bearing “I don’t think it affected him as much as it did others, but to say that it because he always assumed Backstrom would re-up. didn’t? I feel like it was a weight off his shoulders for him and his family to be able to move forward. We are just really fortunate to have this guy, “Yeah, but I was (already) feeling comfortable because I knew 100 and all of his teammates feel the exact same way.” percent that he will sign,” he said. “He’s our No. 1 center, he’s a top guy in the league and the organization don’t want to let him go.” The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020

Ovechkin was impressed by Backstrom’s negotiating skills, but he joked that he doesn’t intend to hire his longtime teammate as an agent. No. 8 represented himself last time, and he intends to do so again.

“No, I’m good,” Ovechkin cracked. “I stick with myself.”

Ovechkin has another season after this one on the 13-year, $124 million contract he negotiated in 2008. The Caps’ captain, however, is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, per the collective bargaining agreement. Ovechkin has expressed a desire to finish his career in Washington – and the organization feels the same way – but he doesn’t feel any urgency, even with the window for signing opening less than six months from now.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen,” he said. “Obviously, we can’t talk ’til July 1. But we’ll see. I’m not in a rush, and I think (general manager Brian MacLellan) and (majority owner) Ted (Leonsis) and the whole organization are not in a rush to sign me.”

Like Backstrom, though, Ovechkin said he also can’t envision himself playing in another uniform.

“I think as a player you want to stay in one spot because your family here, you have lots of friends, you have a very good relationship with the city, with the organization,” he said. “And for us, you don’t want to move because, as I said, it became a second home. And I think for him, he knows everybody here, he knows this area and he growing up here and basically the same happen with me and with the other players.”

Reaction from around the room to Backstrom’s extension echoed Ovechkin’s.

“That’s awesome,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. “I couldn’t imagine that guy being anywhere else. He’s been our heart and soul here for a lot of years. So, it’s very exciting. It makes you real happy when guys you’ve been around with, and that truly deserve the best things, get rewarded. Proud for all of us and for him. He’s well-deserving.”

Asked if he had kept tabs on Backstrom’s situation, Holtby indicated that he had not. Holtby, of course, is due to become an unrestricted free 1171475 Washington Capitals Both men said the talks were cordial and professional, even if they didn’t always push the deal closer to the finish line.

In fact, when Backstrom was asked by reporters for an update in San Inside how Nicklas Backstrom negotiated his own deal with the Caps Jose on Dec. 3, he indicated things weren’t progressing as quickly as he’d hoped.

“Well, I’m out of contract next year,” he cracked, “so I’m not doing that By Tarik El-Bashir Jan 15, 2020 good.”

That comment came during a slow period in the talks. Not long after that, though, the negotiations gained traction and the sides agreed on two of WASHINGTON, D.C. — From All-Star selection to Stanley Cup the most significant issues: term and the annual average value. champion, Nicklas Backstrom has earned a few titles during his 13-year NHL career. The heavy lifting was done, but there were still important details to be hammered out. Items such as the structure of the deal: How much of a Now, the Capitals center can add another one to his résumé: contract signing bonus? What about the base salary? And the particulars of the negotiator. no-trade clauses: Which years? How many teams are on the list? On Tuesday, Backstrom signed a five-year, $46 million extension that he It was complex and, at times, exhausting. But overall, Backstrom said he negotiated directly with Caps general manager Brian MacLellan over the found the process fascinating. He’ll also pocket the 3 to 5 percent of the past three-plus months. contract’s total value that agents typically charge. Although it’s not unheard of — in 2018, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty “I honestly thought it was fun,” he said. “I have no negative things to say negotiated an eight-year, $88 million extension — it still is rare for players about it. It helped that Mac didn’t play any games, I didn’t play any to represent themselves in contract talks. But it’s something Backstrom games. We were just honest with each other, and when you do that … decided over the summer he wanted to handle on his own. The 32-year- there’s always: He wants one way, I want another way. Somehow you old knew he wanted to stay with the organization that drafted him fourth just got to compromise, you know? I thought after all, we seemed like we overall in 2006. Backstrom also felt he had a good handle on what were both happy.” constituted a fair deal. So he parted ways with his longtime representative and reached out to MacLellan to see if he’d be Asked about MacLellan joking that Backstrom could be stubborn, the comfortable dealing directly with him. center smiled.

“He approached me — I’d heard from a third party that he was “I just wanted a fair deal,” he said. “He wanted a fair deal, as well. That’s considering it — and he asked if I would (be) open to it,” MacLellan said. part of the game.” “We had a good relationship. We both trust each other. We both kind of communicate in the same style: honest and open. So I thought we could Once the structure of the contract was agreed upon, Backstrom said he work it out, and we did.” hired a lawyer to review the paperwork.

It wasn’t quite as simple as that, however. The back-and-forth began in Then he pulled up to the table one more time and carefully thumbed October but momentum, particularly in the early going, was slow to through the pages, signing each one. MacLellan followed suit, then materialize. There were breakthroughs and hurdles. A few times closed the manila folder. Backstrom and MacLellan decided it would be best to take a break and “Congrats, buddy,” MacLellan said as the two shook hands. Backstrom, regroup before attempting to forge ahead. smiling ear to ear and feeling a sense of relief and accomplishment, “We had a conversation,” Backstrom said. “No yelling. No screaming.” responded, “Thank you.”

In a typical player-team negotiation, the player’s agent communicates The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 with the general manager or his assistant and keeps his client abreast of any developments. The agent also acts as a buffer between the player and team, allowing the athlete to remain as focused as possible on his job.

Backstrom’s case, however, was anything but typical. The negotiations sometimes lingered in his head, even as he tried to convince those around him he wasn’t distracted.

“I was telling you guys that I’m not thinking about it,” Backstrom conceded. “But at the end of the day, when you’re playing, you still have in the back of your head: ‘What’s going to happen? Am I going somewhere else?’ You don’t want to, but that’s just part of the process.”

Backstrom said he estimates there were a total of eight face-to-face meetings between himself and MacLellan.

A few of the meetings took place upstairs in MacLellan’s MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Others were held at the team hotel on the road. The conversations varied in length and substance.

Backstrom said he kept things simple on his end and didn’t get bogged down in statistics and comparables.

“I never brought any paperwork in there,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t care about the numbers. I knew what I was worth, and that’s what I told them. With the number situation, we settled pretty quick.”

MacLellan joked that Backstrom could be “a little stubborn” at times. The veteran manager also noted that Backstrom’s negotiating style is similar to his on-ice tactics.

“It was interesting,” MacLellan said. “You could tell his personality traits on the ice, they translate off the ice, too. He’s effective. He observes things well. He reads body language. He did a good job, I think. A really good job.” 1171476 Washington Capitals From the outside looking in, it looks like Leason is having a bad rookie season. He’s playing every day but he hasn’t produced. A closer look reveals that he has also been a victim of his limited role and some extremely poor puck luck. When I’ve watched Hershey play this season, Wheeler’s 2020 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 29 Washington he has been noticeable. We always knew it was going to take him some Capitals time to adjust to the pro level and that he wasn’t going to be the player who quickly made the leap to the NHL. Though Leason isn’t the type to

hang on to the puck or create through traffic with his hands, he blends a By Scott Wheeler Jan 15, 2020 6-foot-4 frame with impressive cross-ice vision, a surprising amount of creativity and a puck-possession game that makes him a factor on the cycle. Though his skating has improved, it still needs a little work. Give him this year and next to figure out the AHL and I wouldn’t be surprised if Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2020 rankings of every NHL organization’s he’s a decent third-line winger at age 22 or 23. prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 31 to No. 1. The 5. Martin Fehervary, LHD, 20 () series, which includes evaluations and commentary from coaches and staff on more than 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11. Fehervary is one of those European-developed kids whose numbers never really leapt off the page at you because he was always playing a The Capitals’ low ranking is less about the quality of their top couple year or two above his age group (even relative to the other kids who prospects (Connor McMichael is the best prospect to appear in the series were more talented in that age group) because he was such a sound so far) than it is about just how darn thin they are. defender. There are plenty of examples of kids who’ve done this over the years (Kasperi Kapanen comes to mind as a forward), whose offensive There’s an easy case to make for the Capitals having the thinnest tools have to play catch-up because they were never really able to build prospect pool in hockey. Part of that is driven by the success of the NHL confidence by creating offensively against peers. Fehervary just turned club, part of that is the byproduct of trading picks (the Capitals actually 20 in October and he has already played pro games in five separate drafted really well in 2019, given that they had only four selections), and seasons. I suspect, as a result of that early progression up levels and the part of it is the result of the graduation of top prospect Ilya Samsonov. limited offensive usage that comes with it, that you’ll see a later All told, though, you’re looking at a pool that runs four or five prospects progression in Fehervary’s offensive game. That probably means that he deep, with a steep drop-off from there. The Caps have four picks in the still has more to offer. Considering he’s already a reliable even strength first three rounds in the 2020 draft, so they’ll need to make the most of defender who can kill penalties, maybe there’s more than just third- those to turn their prospect pool around and help insulate an aging core. pairing upside in his future. Even if that doesn’t happen, his strengths (his ability to play a tight gap, his anticipation away from the puck to break up 1. Connor McMichael, C, 19 () plays and his calculated execution) may be enough to make him an McMichael began the world juniors on Canada’s fourth line, and then he intriguing NHL defender. did what he has always done: He scored, and he scored some more, and 6. Mitchell Gibson, G, 20 (Harvard University) he worked his way up into a prominent role. He’s one of the better goal scorers in the 2o19 draft class, he has been borderline unstoppable in This has been a bit of a breakout season for Gibson to start his collegiate the OHL and his play off the puck has always made him a dependable career. After dominating the NAHL in his draft year, he struggled as a defensive player. For a little while, I saw him as a kid who was going to USHL starter last year before heading to Harvard as a freshman, where be able to impact the game as a middle-six forward and doesn’t drive a he was tasked with competing with senior Cameron Gornet, who played line but can play with a variety of player types. Now I see him as more well in a backup role last year, for minutes. There was talk, with an than that. I think he’s got a real chance to be a line-driving forward, otherwise strong Harvard team, that goaltending might hold them back whether at center or the wing, while still playing a sound positional game this season. That hasn’t been the case and Gibson, who is just 6-foot-1 that’s above the puck. While I wouldn’t rave about his puck skills, he’s (a little on the smaller side for today’s goalies) has impressed since Day perfectly fine playing a bit of a give-and-go style because of his finishing 1. He’s one of those goalies who is a student of the game, studies his touch. If he can continue to improve his skating, he’ll make waves in the positioning and angles, and reads the play well. Though he’s a little NHL. Side note: It’s his birthday! twitchy in the net, he has done a better job this season staying compact and aggressive. 2. Alexander Alexeyev, RHD, 20 (Hershey Bears) 7. Garrett Pilon, C, 21 (Hershey Bears) Alexeyev is kind of what you’d hope for out of a 6-foot-4, 200-plus pound defender in today’s game. He’s a decent four-direction skater for his size, Pilon has always been a tough player for me to really get a handle on. he’s physical without taking a ton of penalties or crossing the line, he can On one hand, his combination of high-end foot speed with a pace of play score from the blue line with a heavy snap shot or a one-timer, he uses and on-ice awareness that can keep up is really exciting. Pilon plays fast his length well to disrupt the rush, and he wins battles along the boards, and he processes the game at a high rate, which enables him to make with just enough skill to come away and move the puck up ice. Though I quick reactionary plays to teammates if he runs out of real estate. Those don’t think he has huge offensive upside at the NHL level, I do think he’ll skills made him an excellent junior player and have quickly made him an be a contributor who can help out on both special teams (PP2 if need be impactful player at the AHL level. On the other hand, I’m not sure his raw and definitely PK1) while eating minutes at even strength. He’s got tools are strong enough to push him past that and turn him into an second-pairing complementary defenceman written all over him. everyday NHL player. He doesn’t have a lethal shot, his playmaking ability is good without being great, and he doesn’t have the raw physical 3. Alexei Protas, C, 19 () tools to impose himself on the cycle or keep his creation to the inside. I My biggest issue with Protas is that for a kid who is 6-foot-6, he doesn’t worry that he doesn’t really fit on the fourth line and he may not be gifted really impose himself on the game physically. He’s not the type to finish enough to play higher than that. The result may be a tweener. checks or knock a defender over. And he’s not the type to really drop a 8. Martin Hugo Has, RHD, 18 (North Bay Battalion) shoulder and drive into a defender. Instead, he uses his size to protect the puck out wide, shield it from defenders and make plays east-to-west. After starting the year bouncing between teams and leagues in Finland, That’s also what makes him so interesting is that there are skills in his Has decided, after a decent showing at the world juniors (though I’m sure game (the ability to find the trailer or feather a saucer pass through his mind was made up before then) to move to Canada in pursuit of traffic) that most players who are as long as he is lack. His stride splays a junior hockey. I think that was the right call for him because he was too bit too much and that disables him from playing a super up-tempo north- big and strong to play Jr. A in Finland but his game hasn’t quite matured south game, but he’s crafty in the offensive zone for a big man, he can enough offensively to be an everyday guy at the pro level. In the OHL, finish in tight when he goes to the middle and he has progressed he’ll get to use his heavy shot more often (he can score from long range), extremely quickly in the past 10 months or so. He’s a weird, play tough matchup minutes against top talent and build out the rest of unsuspecting package who has the chance to be a bit of a unicorn in the his game. Has is a stout defender whose defensive game is already NHL if he continues to develop. strong (he separates players from the puck effectively) but needs to work on his playmaking, his puck skill and his skating. While there are a lot of 4. Brett Leason, RW, 20 (Hershey Bears) holes there, there’s a decent foundation to work with and playing him a lot is only going to expedite discovery of what he actually is. 9. Lucas Johansen, LHD, 22 (Hershey Bears)

Though injury derailed the start of Johansen’s third pro season, he clearly wasn’t one of the final 28 players the Capitals considered in training camp, which means Johansen’s NHL opportunity probably won’t ever come in Washington. At this point, he has been surpassed by Fehervary on the depth chart, and he’s in a bit of a weird spot where he’s clearly not talented enough to be a power play guy and he may not be responsible enough defensively to be a penalty kill guy. The end result is a player who skates well, defends fine and can move the puck but doesn’t have any one dynamic quality, and hasn’t played an NHL game yet at 22 years old. The clock’s ticking and he needs a reset somewhere else if he’s going to make the most of the small window he has left to make the jump.

10. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW, 21 (Hershey Bears)

Every organization has that one player who just skates really, really fast, never stops moving, provides constant energy, isn’t particularly talented and fashions out a role regardless. Jonsson-Fjallby is that player in the Capitals’ system. Does he use his linemates particularly well? No. Does his decision-making or his playmaking keep up with his feet? No. Does his raw athleticism make him a potential bottom-six option at some point anyways? Maybe.

11. Kody Clark, RW, 20 (Hershey Bears)

Clark’s a kid who I truly believe turned pro a year too early and would have benefitted from another year in junior, where he could have played a leading role on another contending Ottawa 67’s team. The problem is that they already had better 1999s in Joseph Garreffa, Austen Keating and Noel Hoefenmayer. So now you’ve got a kid who doesn’t lack work ethic and supports the play well, but does lack confidence and a maturity to his offensive skill set. The result is a player who is only talented enough to play a limited role at the AHL level – and now has a long road ahead to climb out of it.

12. Riley Sutter, RW, 20 (Hershey Bears)

Sutter tracks the play well, he works his tail off along the wall, he uses his size effectively, he’s physical and he can make the odd play around the crease. But his ceiling was always fourth-liner and even that is a long shot because he just doesn’t have the talent level. Endearing yourself to coaches and playing one role really effectively can only take a player so far. The AHL is normally about as far as those players go.

13. Beck Malenstyn, LW, 21 (Hersey Bears)

See: Riley Sutter, but with the opposite handedness. Malenstyn has no trouble keeping up, he’s actually a plus-level skater, but he just doesn’t have the playmaking or puck skill needed to progress beyond dominant WHL player or decent middle-of-the-lineup AHLer.

14. Eric Florchuk, C/LW, 20 (Saskatoon Blades)

The Capitals scouting department has a type: Responsible forwards with size who lack skill. I don’t know, maybe they felt there was untapped potential in these kids? It’s pretty clear they cover two-way players with a physical element. I don’t think Florchuk’s path turns out any differently than Sutter’s or Malenstyn’s, though. He just doesn’t make enough plays.

15. Damien Riat, C/RW, 22 (Bel-Bienne)

Riat’s one of those players who had a lot of interesting qualities in his draft year. He played well at several international events, he was a contributor on a good pro team, he had a dangerous curl-and-drag wrist shot, he had above-average hands and he was comfortable with the puck on his stick. Then he never really took that next step. – and it’s four years later.

The Tiers

Each of my prospect pool rankings will be broken down into team-specific tiers in order to give you a better sense of the talent proximity from one player to the next (a gap which is sometimes minute and in other cases quite pronounced).

Building out the tiers for the Capitals proved less difficult than for many of the other prospect pools because I think there are three clear divisions between players, with a significant gap between McMichael and everyone else, as well as a pronounced drop after No. 5 into a group of players who I would describe as long shots.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171477 Winnipeg Jets Virtanen politely declined, and the Jets looked to The Department to mete out the punishment in place of Wheeler’s fists.

Nope. An elbow to the jaw doesn’t qualify, apparently. Perhaps because Another head-shaker from NHL player safety it’s not technically the head.

Perreault wanted Virtanen’s examined immediately.

Paul Friesen “I was pissed,” he said. “That was stupid. Like, what’s wrong with him? I didn’t even have the puck. I was yelling: ‘What’s wrong with you? Why would you do that? You’re going to get suspended, you idiot.’

They call it the Department of NHL Player Safety, but sometimes it “He had nothing to say. He was like: ‘We ran into each other.’ Look at the seems more like the Bureau of the Bizarre. replay, you idiot. It keeps happening to me.”

In a day and age when we’re more sensitive to head contact in hockey Perreault went into concussion protocol in mid-December after having his than ever before, it appears some heads need to be examined in the brain jolted in a game against Philadelphia. He was out until New Year’s office of the game’s supplemental disciplinarians. Eve.

A head shot that’s basically incidental gets their attention one night, while At least the Flyers’ Joel Farabee was sat down for three games for that a deliberate one drifts past their noses the next, not even getting a sniff. late hit. This one, the Jets will just have to suck up and take.

For Exhibit A in the latter department, we bring you the not-so-subtle “That’s a reckless, reckless shot,” head coach Paul Maurice said, post- elbow delivered to Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault on Tuesday game. “Maybe I’m more sensitive right now because I just lost the guy to night. another one of those. And it’s a head shot. There’s no need for that one and I’m sure it will get looked at.” The elbow’s owner, Vancouver’s Jake Virtanen, won’t be facing The Department to explain his actions — insult to injury for Perreault. It did, and the so-called safety police shook their heads.

Perreault’s post-game rant belied the scoreboard, which showed a 4-0 Which leaves many of us shaking ours. Winnipeg whitewash and left most everybody else in the Jets room sporting smiles a mile wide. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.16.2020

Perreault, not so much. His mug was too sore to break into anything resembling a grin.

The man they call ‘Frenchie’ was still uttering sacre bleus and hoping Virtanen would be called on the carpet for his unprovoked attack.

“My jaw is sore right now,” Perreault said. “I’ll be struggling eating for the next couple of days, probably. It could have been worse, I guess. But just the gesture of it — just, why?

“They’ve got to look at that one. He comes to hit me and I see him coming and then he just flicks his elbow in my face … for no reason. Absolutely no reason.”

The Department looked at the play, all right. Then looked the other way, and said: “There’s nothing to see here.”

Just like blindside hits that knock the helmet off an unsuspecting and vulnerable player can go unpunished because the principal point of contact wasn’t the noggin. Never mind the whiplash effect, which we all know causes the brain to splash around like a bowl of jelly.

For a recent example of that, look no further than the two hits that put the battle back into the Battle of Alberta this week.

Both were delivered by Keith Tkachuk’s boy, Matthew, plying his shift- disturbing version of the trade with the Calgary Flames, against Edmonton’s Zack Kassian.

Kassian lost his helmet on both plays then lost his head, treating Tkachuk like his own Raggedy Ann doll and drawing a double-minor and misconduct for his trouble.

The Flames won the game and the subsequent review by The Department: Tkachuk’s hits were deemed perfectly within the rules, while Kassian’s retaliation netted him a two-game suspension.

If The Department were serious about player safety, it would have sent messages to both.

Tkachuk’s hits were predatory and dangerous and should no longer have a place in the game.

Instead, they are encouraged, and Kassian got the message.

“That gave me some clarity of what you can do and what you cannot do now,” he said. “So I put that in the memory bank.”

Get your tickets for the rematch, now.

The Jets tried to get even with Virtanen on Tuesday, captain Blake Wheeler, of all people, delivering the warning shot and inviting the 226- pound Canucks winger for a round of pugilistic polka, on Ukrainian New Year’s, no less. 1171478 Winnipeg Jets

Students to sing national anthem in Ojibwa at Winnipeg Jets hockey game

Canadian Press

The national anthem before this Friday’s NHL game in Winnipeg won’t quite sound the way it usually does.

A group of students from the city’s Riverbend Community School are set to perform O Canada in Ojibwa.

Gloria Barker, who teaches at the English-Ojibwa bilingual school, says it’s a real honour to be able to promote the Indigenous language.

The Winnipeg Jets will also be sporting new jerseys with Indigenous logos during the pre-skate for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It’s all part of a night to acknowledge the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre.

Barker says she is proud of her students and hopes they will inspire other Indigenous people and groups to support their traditional languages.

“Language is a very important part of who we are and our identity.”

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.16.2020 1171479 Winnipeg Jets Hellebuyck is 26 and is in his fifth season with the Jets. Though he’s very clearly the franchise goalie and has a long-contract to prove it, Hellebuyck is still learning how to deal with the ebbs and flows of a long and gruelling NHL season. Hard-working Hellebuyck has righted the ship as Jets climb back into playoff spot “That’s part of being an NHL No. 1 guy,” Maurice said after Tuesday’s game.

“We have very little practice time. He doesn’t like to morning skate, so I Ted Wyman don’t need him to morning skate — especially when you’re throwing a game like (Tuesday’s) you don’t ever have to come to the morning skate

again — but you’ve got to get some work in. You know a goaltender’s confidence is high when he’s taking shots at the “It can’t be just the games that you’ve played. There has to be some opposition’s empty net. defined time. It’s almost, not his decision how hard he’s going to work, Especially when that goalie is Connor Hellebuyck, whose dubious puck but he has to really monitor that. Monitor his time on the ice, when he’s handling skills belie his overall ability as a netminder. on the ice in practice, that there is a high enough level.”

Unsurprisingly, Hellebuyck’s attempt to score Tuesday night with the Maurice said Hellebuyck recognized that with all the travel, and playing Winnipeg Jets leading the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 late in the third period so many games in a short period of time, he needed to make sure he was knocked down in his own end. worked on getting his habits right and fixing any issues that were coming up in games. Let’s face it, it’s always an adventure when Hellebuyck has the puck on his stick so maybe he got off lucky when his shot was batted down by a “That’s just maturity,” Maurice said. “Awareness of what a great player Vancouver high stick. needs to do to stay great.

But putting all that aside, Hellebuyck had a brilliant game, making 41 “I thought he pushed real hard here in his last couple of practices. We saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and he appears to be back in went real short but he wasn’t fooling around at all — he was working at fine form after going through a hellish stretch from mid-December it.” through the first game of 2020. No matter how good he has been this far, with the Jets in a likely two- Since allowing five goals on 17 shots and getting yanked in a 6-3 loss to month battle for a playoff spot, they’re going to need Hellebuyck to be the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 2, Hellebuyck has been rock solid, “working at it” every single day. allowing an average of just 1.80 goals per game in five contests. HELLE’S LAST FIVE GAMES His save percentage over those five games is a spectacular .949. At Minnesota, OTL, 3 GA, 41 SV, .932 SV% Essentially, he’s doing what he was doing in the first two months of the At Montreal, W, 2 GA, 29 SV, .935 SV% season when the Jets looked very much like a playoff team. At Toronto, W, 3 GA, 25 SV, .893 SV% In fact, given the how well the Jets have done when he’s in form and how poorly they did when he had a three-week slump, it would not be hard to Vs. Nashville, L, 1 GA, 31 SV, .969 SV% surmise that the team goes as Hellebuyck goes. Vs. Vancouver, W, O GA, 41 SV, 1,000 SV% So, what’s working now that wasn’t in late December? Winnipeg Sun LOADED 01.16.2020 “I got back to my practice habits,” Hellebuyck said after Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Bell MTS Place. “I didn’t even realize that they were kind of slipping on me. It’s such a small difference. It’s just me battling in practice every day, and now I’m getting some bounces. I think last month I didn’t get very many good bounces. I think I’m in a position now to force more good bounces my way.”

In the nine games between Dec. 12 and Jan. 2, a stretch in which the Jets went 3-5-1 and began a slide below the playoff line, Hellebuyck had a GAA of 3.67 and a save percentage of .867.

With his recent performance, the Jets are at least back in a wild card playoff position, though currently tied with the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks for the final two spots in the Western Conference with 54 points.

It’s such an intense battle with 35 games left in the season that the Golden Knights fired head coach Gerard Gallant — the man who got them to the 2018 Stanley Cup final as an expansion team — and hired former San Jose Sharks coach Pete DeBoer.

There’s no indication the Jets are fixing on making such a drastic move and that might be because head coach Paul Maurice has Hellebuyck on his side.

Without the No. 1 goalie playing mostly at an elite level this season, it’s highly unlikely the Jets would be anywhere close to a playoff spot. This is a guy who has faced more shots (1,208) than any other goalie in the league.

Still, after the Jets were shut out 1-0 by the Nashville Predators on Sunday, they needed something special from Hellebuyck on Tuesday and they got it.

“I think last game I was good, but not good enough,” Hellebuycks said. “So you try to dig in and look for a little more. That doesn’t mean change anything in the game, it just means battle a little more, covering an extra rebound, trying to control everything you can.” 1171480 Winnipeg Jets official play-by-play omits it but to indicate an unnamed player was injured and the play was stopped. Virtanen’s elbow was a nonevent. If you didn’t see the game, it didn’t happen.

‘Just, why?’: On Mathieu Perreault’s health, Winnipeg’s wild-card spot The most significant nothing was Vancouver on the scoreboard. You can and Connor Hellebuyck’s return to form thank Connor Hellebuyck for that, given his 41-save shutout, which included spectacular saves and a few moments of good luck, too. The Canucks certainly got their daily dose of iron on the evening.

By Murat Ates Jan 15, 2020 For that, Hellebuyck thanked his pipes.

“I’m happy with the post,” Hellebuyck said. Then, with a smile: “That’s all I gave them.” An exasperated Mathieu Perreault broke away from a short scrum, still fuming. He had just spoken with two reporters about the first-period Given the defense he’s played behind this season, wherein it seems a elbow Jake Virtanen laid into his chin, but knowing Perreault missed six new player gets injured every single night, Hellebuyck is entitled to some games to a concussion less than one month ago, I had to ask him about joy when he plays as he does. On Sunday, when Tucker Poolman left the it all over again. game and Winnipeg was forced to play with five defensemen, Hellebuyck made 28 of 29 saves but Winnipeg lost 1-0. “It’s stupid,” Perreault said, succinctly. “The fuck is wrong with him?” On Tuesday, when Carl Dahlström left the game and Winnipeg was And that was the interview. forced to play with five defensemen (again!), Hellebuyck made 41 saves, Perreault’s fury was understandable. Even though his team shut out the sealed the shutout and nearly scored a goal. Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Monday night, thus reclaiming a wild-card OK, that’s an overstatement, but Hellebuyck’s shot attempt was spot, Perreault’s health was put at risk, and his anger was justified. decidedly not nothing. Exactly 30 days earlier, Perreault was concussed after a late hit from Philadelphia’s Joel Farabee. With the Jets up 3-0 and the clearly analytically savvy Canucks reaching for a very early goalie pull, Hellebuyck corralled the puck with just under Multiple, repeated concussions, especially within a short time frame, three minutes to play. Perhaps inspired by rival Pekka Rinne’s goal- have been shown to have disproportionate impacts on short- and long- scoring efforts one week ago, Winnipeg’s top netminder went for the goal term health. Go to the Mayo Clinic’s website for chronic traumatic himself, only to have his hopes dashed and the play gunned down by a encephalopathy (CTE) and “repeated head traumas” are referenced all high stick. over the page. That Perreault was not concussed again in such a short time frame is extremely good news. Was it worth it? Yes. Hellebuyck, yes.

“I’ll be struggling eating for the next couple of days, probably,” Perreault Sorry. Author got in the way there. Was it worth it, Connor? told Jets beat writer Scott Billeck and The Athletic’s Ken Wiebe before he spoke with me. “It could have been worse, I guess. But just the gesture of Also yes. it — just, why?” “I mean, that was pretty much the most perfect opportunity you’ll ever And that’s just it. There is no good reason for a neutral-zone elbow to the get,” Hellebuyck said. “It stops right there, I could skate up and do it. Only head of a hockey player under any circumstances, let alone one where problem was the puck turned on me a little bit. You’d like to be up by two, the puck is missing from the play. and you’d like to have it in front of the net. Pekka Rinne did it recently, and he’s pretty gifted in that aspect, obviously. I liked my try.” “Like, what’s wrong with him? Why would you do that?” said Perreault. “I didn’t even have the puck. Actually, I see him coming and he puts his I think it’s safe to say everyone in the building did, too. elbow top-right in my chin.” First of all, the fans — who were silenced Sunday — roared for the Here is a replay of the hit, clipped graciously by colleague Shayna attempt. Hellebuyck’s teammates roared, too. Goldman: “I was hoping for it,” said Kyle Connor, whose set-play snipe (set up by Perreault is spot on in his recollection. He doesn’t have the puck. He Sami Niku) stood up as the game-winning goal. “Everybody saw Pekka never had possession of the puck. And the video clearly shows him take Rinne’s (goal), so yeah. It was funny.” Virtanen’s elbow to the jaw. Good luck chewing on your Wheaties “He’s a good puckhandler,” added Jack Roslovic, smiling. “I’m cool with tomorrow, Mathieu! him going for it.” At this point, I must share something of an author’s confession: I have But that’s just the 2015 first-round draft picks talking. With their high-end experienced multiple concussions myself. There may be bias at play puck skills, of course they’re going to vote in favour of offense where here. Judge for yourself. possible. While you’re judging, consider how you feel about the fact that What about his coach? Shouldn’t Maurice be more conservative-minded? Perreault’s teammates — most notably captain Blake Wheeler — had words for Virtanen on multiple shifts following the hit. Jets coach Paul “I want him to take that chance,” Maurice said. “They’re taking away the Maurice didn’t endorse retaliatory violence but stressed the importance of walls, and the shutout is kind of on him. If he steps up and feeds that a code of safe conduct during gameplay. puck up the middle and somebody knocks it down and it’s not a high stick, then he can handle it. Better him than somebody else. After the “You don’t want to be chasing around every hit, but that’s players’ way that he’s played, he should have ownership of the way that it ends. I safety,” said Maurice. “They have to have an agreement on the ice. Play want him to take that shot.” it hard and fast, and sometimes it’s almost purely accidental when a collision happens and you catch somebody’s head, but they’ve got to Let’s chew on that second-to-last line some more. protect each other. “After the way that he’s played, he should have ownership of the way that “Maybe I’m more sensitive right now because I just lost the guy to it ends.” another one of those and it’s a head shot. But that one is player to player and you can’t do that.” One of the things I’ve admired about Winnipeg and that I’ve admired about its coach in the middle of a season in which there are strengths to There is something of an irony here. After Sunday afternoon’s listless, speak of and weaknesses, too, is the collective commitment to honesty. quiet loss to Nashville took Winnipeg’s playoff spot away, I wrote to the effect that we watched 48 minutes of nothing take place. Ask Maurice why the Jets win games and he cites goaltending and compete. He’s an articulate speaker. He can (and does) spin topics when Tuesday’s shutout of Vancouver had a little bit of everything … but a lot it suits the moment, as all articulate speakers would. of nothing, too. But when it comes to the heart of Winnipeg’s playoff spot, Maurice has For example, Virtanen’s hit was not called for a penalty, and not only was never strayed from the truth. When Hellebuyck cited his own December it not called for a penalty, but it also was not recorded as a hit at all. The practice habits as a reason he hasn’t stolen games as often lately as earlier in the season, Maurice spoke to Hellebuyck’s self-awareness as the source of his strength.

“I think he’s still learning … the ebb and flow of energy levels during an NHL season,” Maurice said. “We have very little practice time. He doesn’t like to morning skate, so I don’t need him to morning skate — especially when you’re throwing a game like that, you don’t ever have to come to the morning skate again — but you’ve got to get some work in. It can’t be just the games that you’ve played. There has to be some defined time.

“That’s part of being an NHL No. 1 guy. There’s also probably an added piece to that being true when you’re playing out of Winnipeg with the way we travel. I thought he pushed real hard here in his last couple of practices. We went real short, but he wasn’t fooling around at all — he was working at it. That’s just maturity. Awareness of what a great player needs to do to stay great.”

Let’s be clear. I talk about sustainability and Winnipeg’s poor underlying numbers all the time. The Jets get outshot. They give up more scoring chances than they create. These things are truths.

But there are a lot of ways to win hockey games, and Hellebuyck appears to be a way to win games all on his own.

His coach knows it. The underlying numbers certainly spell it out. And if you’ve watched Winnipeg play from the beginning of the season to now, you’ve seen the Jets play in their own zone for long enough stretches and give the puck away enough times for Hellebuyck to, quite simply, need to rise to the occasion.

He’s mostly done it.

If he keeps doing it, the playoff picture will crystallize with Winnipeg contained safely in view.

I must apologize, though. The author’s got to get in the way again. Tuesday night’s game was a statement — a return to crispness, in so many ways — but this whole process is going to be a slag. The power play has added variety, the penalty kill has improved (to 29th) with Andrew Copp healthy, and Winnipeg’s goaltending is such a gift. It’s just that most of the game is played at five-on-five, and the Jets are still getting outplayed on that front.

With Dmitri Kulikov coming back soon (he has the flu), there is some hope for health, but Poolman is out for the rest of the homestand and Dahlström is out long-term. is out until at least February. Dustin Byfuglien is still a ways away — if he plays at all.

It will take something special to ensure this story ends well. Something for the storybook.

In the meantime, one hopes the Jets maintain their health — Perreault especially, given the hit to the head — and that Virtanen sees supplemental discipline for his actions. Most of all, one is grateful that nothingness was a short-lived chapter for the Winnipeg Jets, because they’re going to need to put everything they have into protecting that playoff spot.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171481 Vancouver Canucks was expected that completion of the entire project would take about five years.

No one at the City of Vancouver was available for comment Wednesday. Plaza of Nations redevelopment moving forward, including new Canucks The city currently estimates that the viaducts’ removal could begin as practice rink early as 2021 contingent upon securing funding. The Plaza of Nations’ Plaza of Nations property owners are "very excited" to get through the development isn’t dependent on removal of the viaducts to move forward. next stages of the development process, and "look forward to breaking Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 01.16.2020 ground very soon."

DAN FUMANO & PATRICK JOHNSTON Updated: January 15, 2020

A massive waterfront Vancouver development, which will change the face of False Creek’s north shore and give the Canucks their first dedicated practice facility in more than a decade, is working its way through the development process, after years of work behind the scenes.

The vision for the Plaza of Nations, built as one of the key venues for Expo 86, is described in a plan submitted to the city as a new neighbourhood that will emerge on one of Vancouver’s last undeveloped waterfront properties.

James KM Cheng Architects, on behalf of the current owner of the site, Canadian Metropolitan Properties (CMP), has applied to develop the project that would include “terracing” buildings of up to 30 storeys combining condos and commercial space, as well as public amenities including an outdoor plaza, a daycare facility, community centre, music venue and an NHL-sized rink to be used by both the Canucks and the public.

The project has been in the works for several years, and CMP hopes to move forward and break ground by the end of 2020. The formal development application was filed last September, after Vancouver’s previous council approved the rezoning in July 2018. An open house for the development was scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed because of the weather. The open house has tentatively been rescheduled for Jan. 20, after which it’s expected the project will go to the urban-design panel for review in February and then to council for final approval in the second quarter of 2020.

The Plaza of Nations property has also been the subject of legal battles for years, between CMP and companies affiliated with the site’s former owner, Concord Pacific. A claim filed in court by Concord in 2016 pegged the value of the Plaza of Nations’ site at about $500 million, Postmedia News reported that year.

Last year, a B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed Concord’s claim against CMP, a decision that Concord’s lawyers indicated they might appeal, Business in Vancouver reported last September.

Asked Wednesday about the lawsuit, CMP senior vice-president Daisen Gee-Wing said: “It’s been dismissed and we’re proceeding as were throughout the whole process.”

Gee-Wing said the company is “very excited” to get through the next stages of the process, and they “look forward to breaking ground very soon.”

CMP has been in talks with the Canucks for years about the creation of an NHL-sized rink in the civic centre at the Plaza of Nations development. Plans submitted to the city in 2017 described the vision for a Canucks facility. This would give the Canucks their own dedicated training facility, something the organization has not had for about a decade, and it would be located immediately beside their home ice at Rogers Arena. Currently, the Canucks use Rogers as their primary training facility, but on days where there is an event or concert, the team has used ice at the University of B.C. and Burnaby over the past decade, as their secondary facility.

If approved, it’s expected that the first phase of infrastructure work could begin by the end of 2020, but features like the rink wouldn’t be finished until at least 2023 or as late as 2025.

The Plaza of Nations’ site falls within the Northeast False Creek plan, which Vancouver council approved in February 2018. The plan includes the removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts, which are near the Plaza of Nations. In 2015, when council approved a plan to replace the viaducts with a new street network, Postmedia reported at the time that it 1171482 Vancouver Canucks Officials from the B.C. Ministry of Health will be at Section 101. Other sites with information on mental health include:

• Movember Canada Late Canuck Rick Rypien's brother pleased club has kept up mental health message • StopOverdoseBC.ca

• foundrybc.ca

Patrick Johnston • cmha.ca

• jack.org

Then-Vancouver Canuck Rick Rypien talks to a youngster involved in the • headsupguys.org Canucks First Strides program. Rypien died at age 27 in August 2011. The Canucks are also organizing six free, one-day Balancing Our Minds Then-Vancouver Canuck Rick Rypien talks to a youngster involved in the mental health youth summits in 2020. The Canucks for Kids Fund has Canucks First Strides program. Rypien died at age 27 in August 2011. granted more than $500,000 to mental health programs at B.C. Jeff Vinnick / Vancouver Canucks Children’s Hospital as well as supported the development of a youth- focused mindfulness app called Breathr. Wes Rypien will be at Rogers Arena Thursday as part of the team's Hockey Talks mental-health initiative Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.16.2020 Eight years after his brother died, Wes Rypien admits he still has many questions.

“I do reflect on him, it’s hard to believe it’s been this long. There’s still lots of questions, the why and how he was,” Rypien, whose brother Rick was a hard-hitting fan favourite for Vancouver Canucks fans a decade ago, said Wednesday.

Rypien will drop the puck in a ceremonial faceoff ahead of Thursday’s Canucks versus Arizona Coyotes game at Rogers Arena. Mental health professionals will be in the arena to speak with fans about how they can start their own conversations with family and friends and reduce stigma many still feel about mental health.

“I go out to represent the family, supporting Rick’s cause and the Hockey Talks cause,” he said. “It means a lot to both myself and my family that the Canucks continue to do this. The fact they’ve been able to keep it going and grow the initiative … being able to expand across the league, that is fantastic.”

Rick Rypien’s death in August 2011 was one of several shocking deaths in the hockey world that summer. It was later revealed that the 27-year- old’s death was related to a struggle with mental illness. One in five deals with a mental health or addiction struggle every year.

About 70 per cent of all mental health issues first emerge during adolescence, but research has found that early intervention has long- term positive benefits.

In 2013, the Canucks hosted their first Hockey Talks night. Seven years later, the Canucks are still hosting the night — and it’s expanded to 14 other teams, including every Canadian team.

Then-Vancouver Canuck Rick Rypien signs autographs for fans in September 2010. Lyle Stafford / PNG files

On social media, they are promoting the hashtag #HockeyTalks.

“The core message is there is help out there and people just need to be directed to get to the people that can help them,” said Rypien, who lives with his wife and kids in Lundbreck, Alta., just east of the Crowsnest Pass.

Mental illness can affect anyone, popular or not, successful or not.

“He was well liked by all his teammates, very active with all his friends, my friends, our parents, their friends,” Rypien said of his late brother. “It’s a double-edged sword, people might think they’re withdrawn but you look at Rick’s situation — here’s a person who seemed to have everything going for him but it wasn’t enough — it’s hard for us, the message is it doesn’t matter, he’s not the only person who’s struggling.”

Rypien will be joined at centre ice Thursday by his seven-year-old son Luke. None of his kids knew their uncle, but they’re well aware of him.

“My kids are getting old enough now, they’re starting to ask questions about their uncle, we haven’t gotten right into it, but they know Rick was sick and passed away,” he said. “We felt that it’s important to start bringing his story forward with them.”

Foundry — which took over the Canucks’ original Mind Check initiative — and the Canadian Mental Health Association will be on the concourse at Section 111 to share information with fans. 1171483 Vancouver Canucks But Chayka has reimagined the team through the trade market, specifically the kind of deals that cause draftists to rip out their hair.

Since 2017, the same year Tocchet was hired, Chayka has dealt for, Dog days are over as Canucks' tilt with Arizona is appointment viewing inhale, Taylor Hall, Phil Kessel, Nick Schmaltz, Carl Soderberg, Derek Stepan, Vinnie Hinostroza, Michael Grabner, Jason Demers, Nik Hjalmarsson and goalies Antti Raanta and Darcy Kuemper. The vast majority of those trades, moreover, involved moving prime prospects or Ed Willes top draft picks for the players in question.

Hall, a pending UFA, came from New Jersey a month ago in a OPINION: If the idea of a crucial Canucks-Coyotes matchup doesn’t blockbuster deal for former first-rounder Nick Merkley, a conditional first- register with a larger audience, it’s appointment viewing in Vancouver rounder and a third. and Phoenix Kessel was acquired from Pittsburgh for Alex Galchenyuk — the ‘Yotes They formed a fast friendship when they played together all those years return for former first-rounder Max Domi — and another former first- ago and when they were hired for their respective jobs, they talked about rounder in Pierre Olivier-Joseph. Schmaltz came from Chicago for two games like this — games that had meaning, games where the hockey former first rounders Brendan Perlini and Dylan Strome, the third overall world stopped to watch. pick in the 2015 draft.

It was a lovely thought. The problem was, given the state of the In his most audacious move, Chayka also flipped the seventh overall pick Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes at the time, they might as well in the 2017 draft and former Tampa first-rounder Anthony DeAngelo for have talked about a vacation to Jupiter. Stepan and Raanta.

Travis Green inherited a Canucks’ team that finished 29th in the 30-team And to think of the grief heaped on Jim Benning for sending a first- NHL and featured one 20-goal scorer (Bo Horvat). Rick Tocchet rounder to Tampa Bay for J.T. Miller. assumed control of a Coyotes squad that finished a dizzying 28th and Now, none of those trades registers as a home run but they’ve given the also had one 20-goal scorer (old friend Radim Vrbata). Coyotes a deep, balanced lineup that features one of the NHL’s best “(Tocchet’s) a good friend and we talked a lot to each other when we got bluelines. our jobs; about our teams and where we were,” says Green who played They’re also committed to Tocchet and his philosophy that might be the with Tocchet in Arizona 20 years ago. “We knew we had to make biggest challenge facing the Canucks. Last year, the ‘Yotes won all four improvements and I think the way our two teams developed has been meetings between the two teams, two in overtime, and that was the similar. difference in the standings. They also exposed the Canucks with their NEXT GAME grinding, disciplined style — old friend Brad Richardson actually tied for the team lead in goals with 19 last season — and that reality is not lost Thursday on Green.

Arizona Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks “They’re good in all areas. They have four lines and they’re a good skating group,” said the Canucks head coach. “They play hard (for 7 p.m., Rogers Arena, TV: SNETP; Radio: SNET 650 AM Tocchet) and their team play is a lot of the things we talk about, the “It’s exciting to play a big game. As we go on in the season, there’ll be compete-level, the work ethic.” more games like this. But this is the position we wanted to be in when we And now they test each other and if the idea of a crucial Canucks- talked about our expectations at the start of the year.” Coyotes matchup doesn’t register with a larger audience, it’s While the larger hockey world may be slow to take notice, two of its lost appointment viewing in Vancouver and Phoenix. boys meet Thursday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver in a game that “Our goal is to make the playoffs and we have no problem saying that,” has profound playoff implications. For a number of years now, the says Green. Canucks and the ‘Yotes have engaged in a quasi-rivalry of their own, two bottom-feeders slapping at each other to determine 26th or, dare to His friend will tell you the same thing. dream, 25th overall in the NHL standings. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.16.2020 But this season a transformation has taken place with both franchises. Heading into Thursday’s clash of the titans, the Coyotes sit first in the Pacific — and sorry that still doesn’t sound right — and the Canucks, for the moment, occupy the first wild-card playoff berth. They were also one of five teams clustered within a point of each other in the West before Wednesday’s games, meaning every contest is of vital importance to the Canucks.

You just sense the games with the Coyotes means a little more to the two coaches.

“I think he’s a really good coach who’s done a good job with his team,” Green says of Tocchet, before adding: “How we do in these games (the Canucks and Coyotes meet four times between now and the end of the season) will go a long way in determining where we finish, but I have a lot of belief in our team.”

As Green suggests, the Canucks’ and Coyotes’ development has mirrored each other over the years and while they took different paths to arrive at this place, they’re here now. The Canucks you know about and we’ll get back to them shortly.

But four years ago, Coyotes turned their team over to boy GM John Chayka and while their rebuild hasn’t followed NHL orthodoxy, it’s difficult to argue with the standings.

The ‘Yotes, for starters, aren’t exactly young and haven’t really built through the draft. At least not in the conventional sense. They have eight players in their lineup over 30. Just six of their regulars were drafted by the organization. 1171484 Vancouver Canucks He was the the first Canuck to break the 100-point barrier, doing so on April 1.

Pavel Bure goes airborne, courtesy of Winnipeg Jets defenceman Phil Canucks at 50: Bure's 60-goal breakout season and the great Larionov Housley, during the Canucks-Jets first-round playoff series on April 27, 'what-if' 1993 at the Pacific Coliseum. Bure ramped up his offence that season, his sophomore campaign, scoring 60 goals. Peter Battistoni/Vancouver Sun / PNG files

Patrick Johnston “He was electrifying every night,” recalled Smyl, who retired the season before Bure arrived and moved into coaching, learning at head coach Pat

Quinn’s side. “You didn’t know what to expect from Pavel … if he had a Russians Igor Larionov and Pavel Bure, pictured during a February 1992 half-step on you, you were done. He could score both ways, with his shot Canucks practice, were only teammates for one season — Bure’s rookie or his speed with a deke. There was always something up his sleeve that campaign, for which he won the 1991-92 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top you never thought a player could do.” freshman. Bure was all about winning, on and off the ice. Russians Igor Larionov and Pavel Bure, pictured during a February 1992 “He had a real passion, he had a real flair. He had a real swagger, but Canucks practice, were only teammates for one season — Bure’s rookie not an over-swagger … that’s just the way he was. And he cared about campaign, for which he won the 1991-92 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top winning. He wanted a to win as the No. 1 thing, no matter what,” recalled freshman. Ian Lindsay/Vancouver Sun / PNG files Smyl. “At the end of the day, it was all about winning.” Pavel Bure had an amazing second season, even without Igor Larionov The coaches, in the end, just let Bure play. There wasn’t much coaching setting him up. But what if the Professor had been there? going on there. If Igor Larionov had remained a Vancouver Canuck in 1992-93 instead of “That was Pat,” Smyl said. “Let him be the player that he can be. You heading to Switzerland for the season so that Russian hockey officials play within your systems and Pat would be hard on everyone every day would no longer be drawing part of his salary while in the NHL, might a in practice about it. But once you had the puck, you had the freedom to run to the Stanley Cup have arrived a year earlier? Might the Canucks be the best you could be and Pavel could do that. You have to let players have won the silver chalice in 1994 instead of simply “placing?” like that play.” And might Pavel Bure have posted numbers even greater than the Pavel Bure winds up to take off with the puck, defenceman Dave Babych stunning totals he did achieve in just his second NHL season? backing him up, during the 1996-97 NHL season. Ward Perrin/Vancouver The former two questions are unanswerable, though you can speculate. Sun / PNG files But the latter, Stan Smyl has no doubt. The team itself achieved a new standard, breaking through the 100 “Oh, yeah,” the former Canucks assistant coach said flatly to the notion points barrier in the standings for the first time, ending the season with of whether whether the veteran centre, nicknamed the Professor, and the 101 points, good for a second straight first-place regular season finish in young Russian Rocket would have combined for even greater heights the Smythe Division. than Bure managed without Larionov in his second season. They waltzed past the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, but lost to the After a decent first NHL season in 1989-90, Larionov had had a down Wayne Gretzky-led L.A. Kings in the division finals. year in 1990-91, tallying just 34 points and leading some to wonder if the “The expectations opened up a lot more for us when you add a player former Soviet Olympic star was already past his prime. with his dynamic,” Smyl said. “I think just the inexperience about going up But the arrival of Bure in November 1991 seemed to revitalize Larionov, and playing against teams and knowing what it takes, and I think players who ended the season with 65 points while Bure won the Calder Trophy like him and other players learned quickly. It’s a different game in the as the league’s rookie of the year. playoffs and you have to adjust.”

Larionov’s three-year contract was up in the summer of 1992, but the If Larionov, who had been the star centre for the dominant Soviet teams future hall of famer insisted he couldn’t be back as long as the Russian of the 1980s, had been there, Bure and the ’92-93 Canucks might have hockey federation was still looking to take a percentage of his salary as written a different history, Smyl agreed. some sort of solidarity payment. “That experience of winning and knowing how to win and keeping “I will not see any more money go to the people running hockey in everyone on an even keel and moving forward, I think would have made Russia,” he told reporters at a news conference in July 1992. “They a big difference,” he said. made me a prisoner most of my life. Because I was a good hockey player Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.16.2020 they kept me in the army when I did not want to stay. They tried to keep me from the NHL, and when I came they made it part of the contract that the team must pay them also what it paid me.

Igor Larionov feels a chill during Canucks training camp in Parksville on Vancouver Island in September 1989. The veteran Russian superstar spent three seasons with the Canucks, but only one with rookie Pavel Bure at his side. Nick Didlick/Vancouver Sun / PNG files

“Now there are new people there and they say if I re-sign with the Canucks they must get the same deal. It is a whole new federation. I owe these people nothing and the money does not go to Russian hockey. We don’t know where it goes. Maybe they line their pockets.

“The Canucks do not want to test this rule. But even if they agree to pay that money, I will not sign. I want to stay, but they (the Russians) will get from me nothing more.”

Even without Larionov setting him up, Bure posted an incredible season.

Bure emerged as a true superstar in the league, setting up their run to near-glory a year later.

He was the first Canuck to score 50 goals, a feat he accomplished on March 1, 1993. Remarkably, it took him more than a month to get his next 10, as he hit 60 goals on April 11. 1171485 Vancouver Canucks Over there, on the practice rink, Bure’s the player with the face of a 10- year-old.

He flips a puck upward with the blade of his stick and keeps it in the air, Canucks at 50: Russian Rocket got even non-sports types 'hooked on bouncing it nonchalantly a half-dozen times. Yes, others can do this. It’s hockey' how they get good at deflections. But then, while the puck is still aloft, Bure grins, shrugs and kicks showtime to another level.

With the shrug, he bats the puck up with his elbow and when it comes Staff Reporter down he kicks it back up with his skate, then his other skate, then the first one, then his stick and his elbow and his skate and his stick and then he

keeps it in the air with alternating kicks off each foot, like a kid on dry Pavel Bure goes airborne, courtesy of Winnipeg Jets defenceman Phil land with a hacky sack. Housley, during the Canucks-Jets first-round playoff series on April 27, But for an urchin or juggler to become a hero, Dickens and Disney have 1993 at the Pacific Coliseum. Bure ramped up his offence that season, taught us that a lad’s wits must be as quick as his feet. So, watch one his sophomore campaign, scoring 60 goals. more scene, from a game in Toronto. Pavel Bure goes airborne, courtesy of Winnipeg Jets defenceman Phil Canucks rookie Pavel Bure celebrates after scoring a goal against the Housley, during the Canucks-Jets first-round playoff series on April 27, Winnipeg Jets during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on April 1993 at the Pacific Coliseum. Bure ramped up his offence that season, 26, 1992 at the Pacific Coliseum. Bure won the Calder Trophy that his sophomore campaign, scoring 60 goals. Peter Battistoni/Vancouver season as the NHL’s top rookie. Arlen Redekop/The Province / PNG files Sun / PNG files Bure has the puck behind the Maple Leaf net. Gretzky, when he’s in this 'I build my weeks around game broadcasts and my mornings around spot, is so efficient that he is said to be “in his office.” But Bure is not an sports pages,' Province columnist Bob Stall said of Pavel Bure in 1993 office type. For him, this is a tough, grimy street where big men with In the 1992-93 season, Pavel Bure shattered Canucks records. Not only sticks are hunting the kid who stole an apple. did he become the first Canuck to crack the 50 goal mark, he notched 60 Bure has the puck and he’s trapped. Two goons are closing in from goals and 110 points, setting new Canuck landmarks as the team topped opposite sides, confident that he and the puck won’t escape. triple digits in points for the first time. While the team, and Bure, struggled in the playoffs, losing in the second round to Wayne Gretzky’s L.A. Kings, He moves toward one, then back, then toward the other, then back. Then the emergence of Bure as a true NHL superstar gained new fans. he stops dead behind the net. Province news columnist Bob Stall was among them. Here is a column he wrote as Bure reached new heights: In a movie, this would be a freeze-frame, from which the boy would spring to outwit his pursuers. He might jump in one door of a parked car I am damned. and out the other. Or, on and off a car roof before he saunters away, chomping on his apple with a huge, cheeky grin. I have become hooked on hockey and driven nuts by the Vancouver Canucks. For that’s the spirit of Bure. It’s what he does at this moment in Toronto.

I build my weeks around game broadcasts and my mornings around Months later his teammates will still be talking about it. sports pages. For the first time in 35 years, I am in a major fan trance going into the playoffs. Lazily, from behind the Leaf goal, he flips the puck high up and over the net. It lands in front like a bomb. There are many new addicts like me in B.C. and I know it’s the fault of Pavel Bure, the world’s most exciting hockey player on the world’s most One player says that Pavel was centering the puck in a way that nobody maddening hockey team. had ever thought of before. Another says he was trying to bank it in off the back of the goalie. When Bure is on the ice, I don’t answer the calls of fridges, phones or bladders. I don’t blink. I’ve seen what he can do and I am wide-eyed. The puck didn’t go in the net, but never mind. He’ll try it again some time. Or he’ll think of something else. Watch. When you see a tape of Bure accelerating, you have to adjust your brain to accept what’s happening because, in a slow-motion replay I’ll be watching. … he is still going fast! Province columnist Bob Stall usually weighed in on the news side, but he You see him streaking past slow-motion skaters and you realize that this made an exception for Pavel Bure during the Russian Rocket’s time in is an athlete in another dimension. If the tape could be slowed to that Vancouver. Here Stall had to deal with a flood of reader’s letters in April notch where everyone else comes to a stop, you would see Bure moving 1998 when the Canucks were weighing whether to trade Bure. They did, stealthily through a still photograph, like a pickpocket in the twilight zone. nine months later, to the Florida Panthers. John Denniston/The Province / PNG files I ask one of those other skaters, Canuck winger Geoff Courtnall, to explain it. “Pavel,” he says, “has the fastest first five or six strides in But Bure plays for the accursed Canucks, the team that can just as easily hockey.” So everyone else seems to stand still. win or lose against anyone, anywhere, any time. I can’t figure them out but I love them. But speed alone does not electrify. Bure, says Courtnall, can do more moves at a higher speed than anyone else in the game. I know this way lies madness but I will hang on their every whim in the playoffs. Canucks winger Pavel Bure made an impression, to say the least, during this, his debut NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 5, 1991. Please pray for me as well as them. Bure didn’t score that night, but his speed and skill stunned fans at the Following the record-breaking season, the Vancouver Sun’s Archie Pacific Coliseum. Peter Battistoni/Vancouver Sun / PNG files McDonald detailed Bure’s quest to get even better still. He wrote: Moves? Watch him in heavy traffic. You can take the kid out of the Soviet Union but you can’t take the Soviet He bounces the puck off each of his skates, back to his stick and through Union out of the kid. Or rather you can’t take it out of his dad. his own legs before flipping around the last dizzy defenceman and over a Pavel Bure and his father, Vladimir, spent the summer in Marina Del Rey dead goaltender. The stupefied faces in the crowd are eerily similar to in the Los Angeles area but it might as well have been on the shores of the ones around Michael Jordan when he’s making mid-air moves toward the Black Sea. It was all business and no beach bumming for the poster another kind of net. boy of the Vancouver Canucks. Ice is Bure’s air. ”I work out all the time. All the time work,” said Bure at the training camp His fellow pros confess to awe. They say the fans have never seen faceoff lunch when asked if he had enjoyed the sand and surf of anything like the stuff he invents in practice. California. Nyet. Beaches are for jogging. There was ice time most days with players such as Chris Chelios, Russ Courtnall and Steve Duchesne, followed by dry land training and weight lifting later in the day.

All of this was done under the stern scrutiny of his father, a one-time Soviet Olympic swimmer who is Pavel’s personal fitness coach. ”He tells me what to do,” says Pavel. ”I don’t even have to think about it.”

In Los Angeles, which has a substantial Russian community, Pavel had the comfort of old companions without the hassle of adoring fans. ”A lot of people who were my friends in Moscow are there.”

Fifty goals in a season had been Bure’s dream. This year his dreams have no numbers. ”Just to play well,” he says. Maybe do better in the playoffs.

The Canucks finished with a team record 101 points, but the loss to Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the second season is on this year’s agenda under unfinished business.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171486 Websites one over the other would give you an almost neglectfully incomplete picture.

Adding in his style, though, you get an extra dimension to how this kid The Athletic / Bourne: Why goalies are hard to analyze and the plays. He’s so technically precise that he almost hurts himself in the long importance of the ‘eye test’ when critiquing the position run, because he struggles to let his “technical precision” go and make the desperation saves. That tells us that he’ll do better behind a more structured defense at higher levels, even though the shots will be faster and tougher. So you have to combine the shots against, the save By Justin Bourne Jan 15, 2020 percentage and his on-ice styles – strengths and weaknesses included – to really get any kind of a complete picture of how he plays and how successful he’ll be moving forward. And that makes it especially tough It’s strange, isn’t it? One of the most universally accepted hockey rules of when we evaluate prospects; a lot of the time, these kids play in leagues thumb is that if you don’t have good goaltending, you can’t win. The that offer us incomplete (or almost non-existent) statistical data sets that percentages in the expression vary, but you’ve likely heard it said that take away a whole piece of the puzzle of how to analyze them. goaltending is 50 percent of the game for a team, unless you don’t have it, in which case it’s 100 percent. Bourne: That’s great stuff, though also makes me a little depressed because boy, is it tough to compare goaltenders (which is part of Yet as best I can tell, very few people are certain which NHL goaltenders analysis, which is part of what I do!) given the time and detail you need to are good, and which are just OK. “Goaltending is voodoo” became a go into to figure out what’s what. There’s just so much information to take verbal staple from the analytics community after their many frustrated in. That actually leads us somewhere I was hoping to this would go, to a attempts to parse the slightly-better-than-OK from the slightly-worse- question about styles. than-OK goaltenders proved fruitless. Maybe not fruitless, per se, but proved … more difficult to quantify than other aspects of the game. Are there technically inferior goaltenders who consistently stop a lot of pucks around the league? And vice versa, goaltenders who are laser- Therefore, what we in the hockey community need to do, at least as a precise in their technique who just don’t seem to get the stops? (I can’t jumping-off point, is to start by trying to better understand the nuances of shake the thought of Dominik Hasek here – at the end of the day, the the position and why it’s so difficult to analyze. Once in a while, it’s good goal is to stop the damn thing.) to have a whole overview of what’s going on with that position in the NHL, and in general. Goaltenders are one-sixth of the game, yet from an Silverman: Oh, absolutely! Although I’ll give the caveat that there is no analysis perspective, we often minimize it to “just stop the damn puck, we goaltender in the NHL (barring a few fringe backups and Martin Jones, don’t care what you do.” But there’s so much that goes into a goalie’s who would take another conversation entirely to get through) who has a ability to “just” do that, that we don’t really do it justice. major gap in their technique that hasn’t found a way to compensate for it with either a harmonious defensive structure and good communication or For that purpose today, we’re joined by Cat Silverman. She’s a through the tendency to shut down shooting lanes in the areas that contributor to InGoal Magazine and she’s coached with the Arizona they’re weakest in. Coyotes Department of Hockey Development and USA Hockey. She knows her goaltending stuff. Without further ado, let’s go learn a bit more To me, two of the biggest examples are Jonathan Quick in his peak and about goaltending, shall we? Marc-Andre Fleury, the way he plays under Dave Prior. Quick overcommits laterally and overlaps his posts to a point where he has to Bourne: Let’s start with a question I worry about often: The vast majority make too many desperation saves, but when he was in the peak of his of hockey analysts (such as myself) don’t study goaltending, yet we career, he had such explosive lateral power, on-ice vision and lower- weigh in on it almost every day. What do we get wrong the most often? body agility that he was able to compensate for it. All those splits he made were a sign he was wildly out of position to begin with, which is a Silverman: Oof, that’s a really tough one. big technical flaw – but he knew how to compensate for it well. Fleury I think the biggest thing that gets missed is that there are so many little does something similar, although I don’t think anyone has that same things that can make a goaltender good versus great, great versus elite, lower body agility that Quick did during his heyday. on for the night versus off, that don’t necessarily show up in the stats Conversely, I think that Calvin Pickard and Eric Comrie are both great sheets. Darcy Kuemper, for example, can have a very technically poor examples of guys who have the technique but just haven’t managed to night that ends in a statistical win, or Laurent Brossoit can have a night put it all together long term at the NHL level. I think it’s a bit of an inability where he does everything right but the score sheet only shows what went to let go and make those creative, messy, desperation saves on both of wrong. It’s not unlike skaters, but since so few analysts know much about their parts, so when they play behind bad teams they end up struggling the technical aspects of the position, it’s hard to really get a feel for how with those moments where they just have to throw technique to the wind to differentiate between those nights. and do something stupid to stop the puck. Sometimes, it’s the guys who You see a lot of analysts who can explain when a player is slow on his are almost too smart that end up burning themselves like that. first few strides, laggy on his passes, a beat behind on his decision- Bourne: Crazy. I think an under-appreciated part of goaltending is the making, but you don’t get to see as much of the explanation of when a human aspect, where you still have some who survive by being the goaltender is struggling to set his (or her) edges on time, or is reading hardest workers, by being battlers. “Technically Questionable” peak slowly on one side, or is a beat behind with their body when their head is Quick was as fun to watch as anyone. still looking sharp. That just takes an extra layer out of the analysis on the numbers, which unfortunately don’t tell us nearly as much as we wish One thing I learned sitting beside Piero Greco (now of the New York they could. Islanders) in the Marlies’ room was about how tiny movements affect goaltenders. For example, when a two-on-one against is coming down on Bourne: That makes way, way too much sense. I do get the sense that them, coming out of your crease too early (like before the play crosses numbers fail us most when it comes to goaltending. There’s just so many the blue line) can kill you if you have to move laterally. An extra foot or little tips and screens, differing systems and so much luck, it’s really hard two of depth makes the lateral distance seem like miles longer. to discern who’s elite and who’s just OK. Is it possible to answer those questions with numbers, or is the eye test more valuable with goaltending Are there any other goaltender quirks around the NHL that interest you? I than it is with evaluating skaters? don’t know the position well enough to see the tiny details, but just habits certain goalies have. Silverman: It’s so much more valuable that it’s almost not even funny. Goaltending is so tied to the rest of the team’s performance that it’s Silverman: One of the big ones to me comes from doing more and more almost impossible to look at any one goaltending statistic in a vacuum in work with some of the technical goaltending dry-land trainers. I’ve gotten the first place, and it’s even kind of tough to look at the statistics as a to know a handful of the best – Maria Mountain of Goalie Training Pro, whole without looking at the “eye test” for the goaltender. Adam Francilia of Net360 and Sami Karjalainen of Eye of the Goalie – and the biggest thing I’ve gotten to develop is a new appreciation for how A good example is a junior goalie that a good friend of mine coaches. We everything is connected. were just talking about this kid earlier this week. His numbers are insane to try to wade through; he faces 50-60 shots a night, so the GAA is high As kids, we learned that silly nursery rhyme about how the leg bone’s no matter what, but his save percentage is also fairly high. So looking at connected to the hip bone, so on and so forth, right? In goaltending, you can truly see that come into play. Take Martin Jones (finally getting a I still think Eric Comrie is better than he’s been given the opportunity to chance to make a comment on the most dramatic case of technical show, too. And I’m waiting to see what happens with Garret Sparks. I bafflement the league has seen in ages!) and the fact that he just cannot genuinely thought he had the chance to at least be a serviceable No. 2 – stop a puck moving from a passer on his glove side to a shooter by his there’s no way a guy can be that good at the AHL level and not at least blocker. It seems like it would be obvious that he’s just got a weaker left be another Al Montoya in the NHL – but so far, we just haven’t seen him leg for pushing, but when you watch him you notice that he tends to keep in a situation that clicks for him with the way his game flows. That one his body wrapped to the left side when he’s supposed to be turning right. might haunt me (and my Twitter takes) for years. Chances are, he’s a little stronger on that left side, in actuality, and so he’s keeping himself where he knows he’s strongest – even if he’s not Bourne: I’ll leave you with a fairly open-ended final question here, while it doing it by a conscious effort. You see stuff like that a lot from may happen one day, and probably should on major broadcasts, it goaltenders. The more you watch for how their movement is affected up doesn’t seem imminent that every broadcast booth will carry someone and down the chain from their heads to hips, the more you’re able to see who can more accurately speak to the goaltending position. How could that guys tend to stutter when it comes to moving off their stronger sides your average NHL analyst improve their critiques of goaltending? because they don’t like to shift off of the parts of their body that move And just more generally, is there anything about goaltending in the with the most power. mainstream hockey conversation that you think could be improved, I’m honestly not even sure if that specifically answers the question, but barring everybody – and I say this only half-joking – learning what in the it’s so hard to talk about the little quirks – especially when it comes to actual hell is going on in hockey creases? where the quirks end up failing them – without geeking out about the Silverman: Ha! So these two almost combine into a singular two-tiered physical, off-ice kinetic idiosyncrasies that make each goalie unique. question, I think.

Bourne: A lot more thinking goes into this stuff than just “see puck stop I believe firmly that adding extra voices are the most effective way to add puck.” It seems a bit like a golf swing – you can go to the range and work color to any conversation, no matter the topic. In theory, every on a zillion things, wrist position, your takeaway, shoulders, pace, angle, broadcaster should know someone who’s well versed in goaltending, etc., but in games, you’ve got to be able to just shelve that stuff and just either as an intermission panelist or even just to drop some quotes. We play. get so many anecdotes from broadcasters about everything from player Keeping it with the metaphorical driving range (technical stuff), us non- hometowns (thanks Pierre!) to coaching stories they’ve heard – it would mask-wearing players occasionally hear phrases like “reverse VH,” be cool to hear them drop some goaltender anecdotes they’ve been told (referencing pad position, one vertical one horizontal) which I believe is in the same way we hope to see them include bits and pieces of primarily employed with the puck behind or near the goal line. Are there analytical information more and more frequently. other established “set” positions or techniques used depending on where As for the best way to improve our education level for the position en the puck is on the ice? masse? I always say find a good goalie follow and rely on them! It’s a Silverman: In theory, yes, although even those are different for each slightly self-serving answer, but I’m far from alone as an option for goalie. people. Cole Anderson is a former NCAA goalie who does data viz, and he sheds incredible light on the position from workload to data lifts above Take reverse-VH, for example. Mikko Koskinen and a handful of other average. Kevin Woodley of NHL.com knows everyone – literally – and goaltenders who tend to be both very tall and all leg are unable to knows all the trade secrets. Paul Campbell, Greg Balloch, Brian Boucher, properly play that reverse-VH, which puts the pad closest to the post flat Kevin Weekes, Andrew Raycroft … there are a ton of neat names out on the ice while the goaltender leans to seal the post. Those leggier guys there that dedicate a lot of time to breaking things down. Marty Biron can’t lean all the way over to the post without leaving a ton of holes, so even tweets out screencaps to break down technique often enough; I they tend to play with part of their pad inside the net – which, of course, think he did it during the last season’s playoffs. Just remaining students is a lot harder to push out of and across the goal line than it is for shorter of the game is the best thing I can suggest. guys who place their skate or pad on the post itself as leverage. So some of those guys will only play reverse-VH not only when the puck is down Bourne: Well I think that’s a great idea and good advice. It’s funny, NFL low, but when there’s no real passing option across the slot line that broadcasts have specific broadcasters just to talk rules, but in hockey, they’d be helpless to stop. with one-sixth of the players on the ice we are just kinda like “WELL NOBODY KNOWS, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING For a lot of guys, though, the biggest relativity-based “position” is what I WITH THE GOALIE.” call the decision-making zone. That’s where they retreat into the blue paint when facing a breakaway or two-on-one; there’s always a Well thanks so much for informing us, and for those of you who don’t “decision-making zone,” or place within the blue paint, where they stop already, you can follow Cat on Twitter at @catmsilverman. retreating to get set for a drop to their knees when the skaters hit the The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 hashmarks.

Bourne: You’re really ruining the dream of a lot of road hockey goalies here, you realize. This is all much more technical than the flailing fun windmill saves they all want to make.

Couple more questions then I’ll let you go if you have time here.

Silverman: Ha! The best part, though, is that you really can’t have all the technical stuff without those windmill and scorpion saves. For every measured stop, there’s always one that’s just utter chaos.

Bourne: Awesome. Are there any NHL keepers who you feel it just hasn’t worked out for because of all the “other” things that go into the position? Luck, style matching system, opportunity, health and all the rest? Are there names of a backup or two (or even starters the public doesn’t think are very good) that you think “THAT’S a player it hasn’t clicked for yet but could if they got the right opportunity.”

Silverman: Ooh, quite a few!

I still think that if Brian Elliott and Jake Allen had been a tandem even two or three years later than they were, the tandem would have caught on by then and they would have won a Cup together, maybe even more than one. Jake Allen is finally getting his tandem chance, but we never really got to see the best him we could because for so long the “starter” moniker was forced on him. 1171487 Websites drafted player to become an NHL star, even if I’m not overly confident in that outcome.

2. Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo (Lethbridge-WHL) The Athletic / Pronman: 2019-20 midseason NHL prospects ranking Feb. 9, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 185 pounds

Drafted: Seventh-overall (2019) By Corey Pronman Jan 15, 2020 Previous ranking: No. 13

Skating: 60 Today’s column is my midseason evaluation of the best prospects Puck Skills: 55 outside the NHL – players who are either signed to an NHL contract or whose rights are held on a club’s reserve list. This list is meant to show Physical Game: 60 the players I think are the upper echelon of talent. The list is based on my viewings of the players and consultations with NHL scouts, although the Hockey Sense: 60 end list is ultimately my own opinion. Shot Grade: 60

Criteria for being a prospect is less than 25 games played in a season, Cozens has been a driving force behind a high scoring Lethbridge team combining the regular season and playoffs, or less than 50 career NHL and played a major role for Canada’s gold medal effort at the world games. Any players in the NHL as of Saturday, Jan. 11 were considered juniors. graduates, as well. Cozens is not an overly flashy prospect. He doesn’t have Zegras’ vision, I will provide tool grades for players on the 20-80 scale. In this scale, 50 Cole Caufield’s shot or Grigori Denisenko’s skill. Cozens is a very well- projects as pro average, 55 as above-average, 60 top third, 70 as elite rounded player, though, without a clear flaw. He’s got great feet and size, and 80 as among the very best; 45 is below-average and 40 is fringe pro can make very good – albeit not elite – offensive plays, competes well, quality. I only grade the shot if it is notably good. and can play both special teams, center and wing. I’ve loved some of the The tiers breakdown as follows: goals he’s scored this season, as he is showing mid-distance range that will translate to the pros. Elite NHL prospect: Projects as an impact player, someone who is top 10-15 percent in the NHL at his position. There are times you watch Cozens and wonder where the wow factor is, and it’s why I’m hesitant to tag him as a no-doubt impact star in the High-end NHL prospect: Projects as a first-line forward, a top-pair league. He does everything well though, so while he might be a boring defenseman or a top 10 starting goaltender. top prospect, he does tick every box you want in an NHL player, in terms of his skill set, character, production with his club and international play, Very good NHL prospect: Projects as a top-six forward, top-four so it’s hard to ask for much more. defenseman or starting goaltender in the NHL. High-End NHL Prospect And the previous ranking is from my preseason list of the top 124 prospects entering the season. 3. Bowen Byram, D, Colorado (Vancouver-WHL)

Elite/High-End Bubble June 13, 2001 | six-foot | 194 pounds

1. Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim (Boston University-Hockey East) Drafted: Fourth-overall (2019)

March 20, 2001 | six-foot | 170 pounds Previous ranking: No. 5

Drafted: Ninth-overall (2019) Skating: 65

Previous ranking: No. 8 Puck Skills: 55

Skating: 50 Physical Game: 50

Puck Skills: 60 Hockey Sense: 60

Physical Game: 50 Byram’s season has been an interesting one. He’s still logging the massive time on ice as he did in his draft season for the Giants, but his Hockey Sense: 75 numbers haven’t been at the same level. He was also Canada’s No. 1 Zegras was not an easy call for No. 1. I don’t think any prospect had a defenseman in its run to gold at the world juniors. The numbers aren’t a first half and toolkit that combined truly stood out and took this mantle great sign, but the arguments against that are that he doesn’t have much easily. It came down to Zegras versus Dylan Cozens in the end. of a supporting cast and he’s only so far removed from torching the WHL.

I do think, among drafted prospects, Zegras is clearly the most talented Byram remains a world-class skater with legit offensive skill. I don’t think player outside the NHL. His combination of skill and offensive IQ is elite. he’s an elite skill type, but he is a creative puck-mover who can skate He makes plays that few others in the world can. As we saw at this year’s circles around opposing teams. His shot hasn’t looked as dangerous as it world juniors, when Zegras is at the top of his game he can take over a did last season, though. Defensively, Byram continues to play the tough shift and create chances out of nothing. minutes at the WHL and U20 level. He has an edge to his game and uses his skating to make stops. He may not have star level upside, but I His season hasn’t been perfect, though, like that world juniors would see a guy who can be a legit top-pairing defenseman in the NHL for a indicate. He’s been the go-to guy on an average Boston University team. long time. He’s had brilliant games at the college level, but also average games. He was scratched once after taking a bad penalty. 4. Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal (Wisconsin-Big Ten)

One commenter pointed out recently that Zegras reminds them of Casey Jan. 2, 2001 | 5-foot-7 | 163 pounds Mittelstadt at the same age. That’s not unfair and is in the back of my Drafted: 15th-overall (2019) mind. Zegras, like Mittelstadt, is an elite playmaker with average feet and size who did not dominate college hockey as a freshman and had a great Previous ranking: No. 6 world juniors. I think Zegras has a better statistical track record, a tad more skill; and while Mittelstadt’s career hasn’t gone great since he was Skating: 60 in college, there is a reason nine out of 10 scouts I talked to when he was Puck Skills: 65 19 thought he was going to be a star. (You could also argue Zegras looks like Elias Pettersson at the same age without the shot). Prospect Physical Game: 20 projection is about probability, not certainty, and in my opinion, with the skill, brain and track record of Zegras, he has the best probability of any Hockey Sense: 60 Shot Grade: 80 7. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Los Angeles (Hamilton-OHL)

Caufield had a terrible, ineffective world juniors. But he’s still my No. 4 June 26, 2001 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds prospect after much deliberation. One tournament does not define a prospect. I still see a guy who prior to the tournament put up 12 shots on Drafted: 33rd-overall (2019) goal in a game versus Michigan State and scored four goals in a game Previous ranking: No. 19 versus Germany’s U20 team. I see a guy with great hands, great hockey IQ and an elite shot. I see a player with elite shot generation numbers for Skating: 50 an 18-year-old in college, which will only lead to more goals with his shot. Puck Skills: 55 Caufield’s past 12 months have had ups and downs. He capped off a 72- Physical Game: 55 goal season with an MVP performance at the U18s and was a top player at the U20 summer tournament. He’s been great in college, but more Hockey Sense: 65 perimeter than he was in junior, and his 5-foot-7 frame has been exposed more versus older players. Scouts I’ve talked to have had reservations Shot Grade: 70 about him this season (although some still love him). I understand those Kaliyev continues to be what he’s been for the past few years. With him, reservations from watching him with Wisconsin, and in Ostrava. I still see it’s either you’re on board with what he does or you’re not. Kaliyev is not an elite toolkit, a rich track record full of goals and a player who rises to a zone entry artist. He is not going to kill penalties in the NHL (although excellence often. I continue to bet on Caufield being a top pro even if I’m he has been in the OHL this season). He is not going to be out there less confident than I was six months ago. diving blocking shots in the last minute of the game. A lot of the time on 5. Grigori Denisenko, LW, Florida (Yaroslavl-KHL) zone entries, he’s set up standing on the offensive blue line while others gain entry, but once the puck gets into the zone, he is the deadliest June 24, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 176 pounds player outside the NHL.

Drafted: 15th-overall (2018) Kaliyev has an elite offensive brain and an elite shot. He’s not just a sniper, he understands how to create chances at a top level. He makes Previous ranking: No. 12 so many crafty plays with the puck. On the power play he QB’s from the Skating: 60 right circle as well as anybody. There is a reason he gets eight-to-10 shot attempts a game in the OHL, and it’s not because the plan is to just give Puck Skills: 60 him the puck and shoot.

Physical Game: 45 He doesn’t have the best feet or compete level, although the latter has Hockey Sense: 65 looked better this season. But he scores, sets up plays and generates chances at a level alongside any other top prospect – and has done so Denisenko is a very tough player to evaluate. Versus his peers over the for a long period of time across multiple levels. past few years, he looks like a game-breaker. There are few players outside the NHL who can match his skill set and the things he can do on 8. Victor Soderstrom, D, Arizona (Brynas-SHL) the ice. Versus men, though, for the past season and a half, he hasn’t Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 179 pounds accomplished much. Watching his KHL games can leave a lot to be desired, and scouts haven’t spoken highly of his play there. He’s a young Drafted: 11th-overall (2019) player with a thin frame, so there are arguments for and against him, but Previous ranking: No. 102 it makes him a tough case. I know scouts who adore him, think he’s going to be a big-time NHL scorer, and others who are hesitant. Skating: 50

He’s a case where I’m betting on the tools and hoping it all comes Puck Skills: 60 together. His skill level is great. He’s an awesome passer who has the elite vision and patience to run an NHL power play. He’s not a burner, but Physical Game: 40 he skates well with great edges and evades checkers at a high level. Hockey Sense: 65 He’s not that big, nor strong, but he competes very well and has an edge to his game. I think all those components should result in a great pro; it Soderstrom had a strong camp with Arizona and came down to the wire hasn’t yet, but I think it will. there before being sent back to Sweden. He’s been very impressive since for an 18-year-old in the SHL, to go along with a great world juniors 6. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit (Grand Rapids-AHL) where I thought he was one of the best defensemen at the tournament. April 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds Soderstrom’s skill and IQ stand out when you watch him. He can make the flashy 1-on-1 plays, but also has the intellect to move pucks very well Drafted: Sixth-overall (2019) off the line and on exits. Soderstrom isn’t the biggest or quickest, but he defends fine due to his brain, showing great gap control. Ideally, he picks Previous ranking: No. 30 up a step, but even if he doesn’t he should be a great NHL defenseman. Skating: 55 9. Kirill Kaprizov, RW, Minnesota (CSKA-KHL) Puck Skills: 55 April 26, 1997 | 5-foot-10 | 192 pounds Physical Game: 70 Drafted: 135th-overall (2015) Hockey Sense: 55 Previous ranking: No. 40 I was debating not writing a Seider profile and just leaving a ranking, Skating: 60 because nobody has asked me about him all season, so I figured Detroit fans didn’t care much about his progression. Puck Skills: 60

Seider has played significant minutes as an 18-year-old in the AHL and Physical Game: 30 scoring at a high rate for his position and age in that league. He was also excellent at the world juniors for Germany’s U20 team. Seider’s physical Hockey Sense: 60 attributes are great. He’s a 6-foot-4 defenseman who can skate at an Minnesota Wild fans likely aren’t familiar with this name, but Kaprizov has above-average level, which is appealing. He isn’t just 6-foot-4, though, been pretty good the last few years in Russia. he’s also a 6-foot-4 defender who leans on his checks and uses his body well. Seider has offense in his game, but he has never and likely will Kaprizov is a highly-skilled forward who has been the top scorer for the never be an offensive dynamo. He has just enough skill to be able to play top team in the KHL. He has the high-end hockey sense and goal-scoring the hard minutes effectively, and make enough clean exits and entries. ability to beat defenses in numerous ways. He gets a lot of chances and When combined with his great defensive play, that still gives him a lot of goals from the tough areas of the ice, showing even as a small player value. that he can get inside. His skating is very good. It’s not elite quickness you’d like in a forward his size, but he can certainly skate with NHL Drafted: 10th-overall (2017) defensemen and create chances with his speed. I don’t see an Artemi Panarin or Evgeny Kuznetsov type impact from Kaprizov, but he’s not far Previous ranking: No. 31 off, and I think he will be a very good top-six forward for the Wild should Skating: 55 he sign. His current KHL contract expires at the end of this season. As an editorial decision, if he signs another KHL extension in the spring, this will Puck Skills: 65 be the last prospect ranking I include him on until he signs an NHL Physical Game: 40 contract. Hockey Sense: 60 10. Rasmus Sandin, D, Toronto (Toronto-AHL) Shot Grade: 60 March 7, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 187 pounds Tippett has had a strong first pro season, driving Springfield and being Drafted: 29th-overall (2018) named an All-Star in the AHL. Tippett has taken his highly creative style Previous ranking: No. 33 from junior and translated it to the pro game, showing his tremendous skill on a consistent basis. He still isn’t the best defensive forward you’ll Skating: 50 ever see and is a bit perimeter, but he’s a game-breaker offensively with Puck Skills: 55 his skill, brain and shot. The way he’s been able to generate chances versus men so early is a positive sign for how his game will translate to Physical Game: 45 the NHL.

Hockey Sense: 65 13. Kirill Marchenko, LW, Columbus (SKA-KHL)

Sandin’s sharp upward development trend from the past few years has July 21, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds continued into 2019-20. Like last season, Sandin has played huge minutes for the Marlies and shown he can be an all-situations Drafted: 49th-overall (2018) defenseman in the AHL. He was the best defenseman at the recent world Previous ranking: No. 70 juniors and made the Leafs briefly out of camp. His hockey sense is top of the line, showing the patience and offensive IQ to make plays at both Skating: 55 ends of the rink at a very high level. He’s not a flashy player, he’s got Puck Skills: 65 average feet and good, not great hands. His tool grades don’t line up with a lot of the other players in this range. He’s a top prospect in part Physical Game: 55 because of how much he’s accomplished the last two seasons. Despite not being the biggest or quickest defenseman, he’s a physical and smart Hockey Sense: 60 defender who projects to be able to stay with NHL forwards. Marchenko has always been a bit of a sleeping giant prospect. His skill 11. Nicholas Robertson, LW, Toronto (Peterborough-OHL) set has always popped. He’s a big forward with speed and elite skill. NHL scouts always thought there could be a moment where it clicked and he Sept. 11, 2001 | 5-foot-9 | 161 pounds became a monster. I don’t think he’s all the way there, but he’s getting close. Marchenko lit up the VHL before being used regularly for SKA. His Drafted: 53rd-overall (2019) numbers may not blow you away, but those three goals are the most- Previous ranking: No. 77 ever by a teenage player for SKA in the KHL era. He’s been great for them when playing regular minutes and was great at the world juniors for Skating: 50 Russia. He’s a play driver whose vision has shone through recently at a Puck Skills: 60 higher level than I thought he had in him. You add in the competitive fire I’ve seen in his game lately, and it feels like a player starting to put it Physical Game: 30 together and become a legitimate top prospect. The downside is he just signed a new two-year extension with SKA, taking him through the 2022 Hockey Sense: 65 season.

Shot Grade: 70 14. Morgan Frost, C, Philadelphia (Lehigh Valley-AHL)

Yes, Robertson is rated this high despite being a late second-round pick May 14, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 170 pounds six months ago. No, I’m not rating him high because he’s a Leafs prospect and trying to get clicks. If he got traded tomorrow, I would still Drafted: 27th-overall (2017) love him, except if he went to your favorite team. I know many are going to see this and have feelings. Previous ranking: No. 28

Robertson is a player I rated highly last season as a bubble first-round Skating: 50 pick. I gave a first-round grade on his toolkit, but he was inconsistent last Puck Skills: 65 season albeit as one of the draft’s youngest players. Since then he had an excellent U20 summer tournament and NHL camp, and a fantastic Physical Game: 40 first half in the OHL where he’s producing a goal per game and five shots Hockey Sense: 65 per game. He also played the most minutes of any USA forward at the world juniors despite being their youngest forward. Frost hasn’t cooled down since he’s turned pro. In the AHL he’s been a top player for Lehigh, earning an AHL All-Star bid. Frost has also spent a Robertson’s toolkit is great and he has the ability to take over a shift. considerable amount of time with the Flyers this season. He hasn’t stuck, He’s got the hands to dangle at a high level, and despite not having a lot but he looked like an NHL player when he was up. Frost is an incredibly of assists, his vision is of the highest grades. I may be biased because skilled and intelligent player. He’s a guy who will be a fixture on the I’ve been in attendance for some of his highlight reel assists, but I do Flyers’ power play for years. He’s not overly quick or a great defensive think his hockey IQ is elite. He also has a great shot and can pick corners player, but he can make plays with the puck others can’t, has shown this from long-distance. He’s small and has an awkward skating stride, but he season he can make those elite skill plays versus men and has shown competes very hard and earns the praise of any coach he plays for for years he can be highly productive playing the game the way he does. because of his work ethic. The size/skating and injuries the past two seasons are concerns (I’ve had NHL scouts express durability questions 15. Alex Turcotte, C, Los Angeles (Wisconsin-Big Ten) on him), but from watching Robertson a lot the last year, I’m on board with him becoming a future top NHL player. Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds

High-End/Very Good Bubble Drafted: Fifth-overall (2019)

12. Owen Tippett, RW, Florida (Springfield-AHL) Previous ranking: No. 7

Feb. 16, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 216 pounds Skating: 60 Puck Skills: 60 Romanov has been a very tough evaluation of late because he’s played limited minutes on the best team in the KHL for the past two seasons. Physical Game: 45 He’s also popped at the U20 level, so it’s the classic weighing of club Hockey Sense: 60 versus international play (including a strong showing with the Russian men’s team) even though I do think he’s looked good in that limited club Turcotte’s season is an often discussed topic in the scouting community. time. Romanov is a great skater and a very physical player. Even though He’s been a top player for Wisconsin, but it’s fair to say he has not blown he’s not that big, he lands huge hits on a regular basis because of how people away as you would expect for a top-five pick, be it at college or quickly he closes on his checks. The main area of debate on Romanov is the world juniors. The core components are still there. He’s a great skater his offense. He’s not a top-end offensive guy, but what I’ve learned to with a high skill level and brings a ton of energy to every shift. He hounds appreciate is how efficient his exits are. He makes a lot of great passes loose pucks and continues to attack the middle third of the ice without from his own end and is competent on the power play too. fear. I think the 5-foot-11 forward has found his style is more difficult to play against bigger, older players at the college and U20 level. He has 19. Peyton Krebs, C, Vegas (Winnipeg-WHL) such a history of success and a lot of people in the industry really believe Jan. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds in him, so I wouldn’t raise too much alarm, but you would like to see him go on a real offensive tear at some point. Drafted: 17th-overall (2019)

16. Vasili Podkolzin, RW, Vancouver (SKA-VHL) Previous ranking: No. 38

June 24, 2001 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds Skating: 55

Drafted: 10th-overall (2019) Puck Skills: 55

Previous ranking: No. 15 Physical Game: 45

Skating: 45 Hockey Sense: 65

Puck Skills: 60 Krebs missed the start of the season recovering from a partially torn Achilles. He ended up cut from Canada’s U20 team and hasn’t put up big Physical Game: 55 numbers in the WHL since returning. But when I’ve watched him, I’ve Hockey Sense: 65 generally liked what I’ve seen. I’ve seen Krebs make high-end skill plays and create for his teammate at the level I’ve seen in past seasons. He Podkolzin’s usage this season between the KHL and VHL levels has competes very hard, showing even though he’s not the biggest guy he been a frequent topic. When he has played in the VHL, he generally doesn’t get pushed around. He’s Winnipeg’s go-to guy in every situation. plays big minutes and looks good, but SKA has not trusted the 18-year- I don’t think he’s a game-breaker offensively, but he’s a very well- old with real minutes. Against his peer group both this season and rounded player. historically, he has looked like a top prospect. He has the skill, the brain and the tenacity to make a lot of things happen – be it with cute plays off 20. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, New York Islanders (Bridgeport-AHL) the perimeter or more typically with hard plays to the net. His skating June 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 187 pounds looks a little better but remains a bit of a clunky stride. Even his most ardent supporters would admit they’d like to see a bit more offensive Drafted: 11th-overall (2018) consistency, to be more selfish with the puck and to use his skill more. I think generally the conversation with Podkolzin this season has been Previous ranking: No. 67 unnecessary hand wringing. I still do like the player a lot. Skating: 50

17. Josh Norris, C, Ottawa (Belleville-AHL) Puck Skills: 60

May 5, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds Physical Game: 45

Drafted: 19th-overall (2017) Hockey Sense: 60

Previous ranking: No. 64 Shot Grade: 60

Skating: 55 Wahlstrom had a strong NHL camp and has looked solid on an Puck Skills: 55 underwhelming Bridgeport team. He had a fine, albeit not great, world juniors and played nine games with the Islanders this season where he Physical Game: 50 was held scoreless. He’s a divisive name and I get why. He’s got big time skill and a big shot, but his pace and play off the puck will never win over Hockey Sense: 60 some. I still believe in the player. I think he’s got the skill and the Norris has been everything Ottawa fans could have hoped for as a rookie offensive brain to make things happen versus men, and wherever he pro. He has 20 goals at the midway mark, he plays big minutes for a top goes he’s a major shot generator. Wahlstrom isn’t a perfect player, but team in the AHL and has earned nearly universal praise from scouts. He I’ve seen more positives than negatives of late from his game, and I think has a quick and skilled game to go along with his great hockey sense, he will be a good NHL player for the Islanders. allowing him to be a threat whenever he’s on the ice. Norris isn’t a one- 21. Connor McMichael, C, Washington (London-OHL) way player, as he competes well and shows the ability to win battles against men. He hasn’t been on Belleville’s PK yet, but I think he can do Jan. 15, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 183 pounds that with time at the higher levels. Drafted: 25th-overall (2019) 18. Alexander Romanov, D, Montreal (CSKA-KHL) Previous ranking: Not ranked Jan, 6, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds Skating: 50 Drafted: 38th-overall (2018) Puck Skills: 55 Previous ranking: No. 121 Physical Game: 45 Skating: 60 Hockey Sense: 65 Puck Skills: 55 Shot Grade: 60 Physical Game: 50 McMichael has torched the OHL since the start of the season, averaging Hockey Sense: 60 a goal per game and two points per game so far this season. He’s showed for the last one-and-a-half seasons he’s a scoring machine and that carried over to the world juniors even though he was deployed in a Physical Game: 60 limited role. Hockey Sense: 55 I still have minor concerns over his average skating and size, but it’s become clear watching him this season that his vision and finishing Formenton has played a big role on a very good AHL team, playing on ability are going to lead to NHL goals. He’s got an elite brain and makes both special teams for Belleville. Formenton’s game has translated very unique plays frequently. He also shows a shot that allows him to finish well to the pro level. His elite speed to go along with his size and effort plays from long-distance frequently. You add onto the fact McMichael is a allows him to pressure even the quickest AHL defenseman. He’s never competitive two-way forward who can play center and he looks like a going to dazzle with his offensive touch, but he has skill and has 16 goals very nice pick for Washington to try and continue to extend its contention already this season, more than he scored in the OHL last season in a window. similar number of games. There are times I hear the line “he’ll make a better pro than junior” and you roll your eyes a bit, but Formenton is the 22. Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton (Bakersfield-AHL) kind of player that might be true about.

Oct. 20, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds 25. Vitaly Kravtsov, RW, New York Rangers (Hartford-AHL)

Drafted: 10th-overall (2018) Dec. 23, 1999 | 6-foot-4 | 183 pounds

Previous ranking: No. 26 Drafted: Ninth-overall (2018)

Skating: 50 Previous ranking: No. 21

Puck Skills: 55 Skating: 50

Physical Game: 50 Puck Skills: 65

Hockey Sense: 60 Physical Game: 50

Shot Grade: 60 Hockey Sense: 60

Bouchard has been good as a rookie pro. I don’t think he’s been great, After getting cut late into Rangers camp, Kravtsov was sent to the AHL but he’s shown the offensive elements that made him the 10th-overall where he didn’t start off well. He then went back to Russia where it didn’t pick. With the puck on his stick and on the power play, he’s very go well either. He’s since returned to the AHL where he’s looked a little dangerous. He’s got great vision on his outlets and blue line play, and he more like his old self, but it’s safe to say it’s been a tumultuous season has a cannon of a shot that can beat goalies clean. His average feet and for him. There’s a lot of opinions on Kravtsov. He has a tremendous skill so-so defensive play have led to some adjustments to the pro game as a set and can make unique plays for a big forward. He’s not that fast, not defenseman, but I do think he’ll be able to handle those aspects in time that great without the puck, and you’d like to see him just stay in one just like how he made similar adjustments at the junior level. place and score. I hope he has a monster second half and all this concern is put to rest, but I’m much more uncertain about his future than I Very Good NHL Prospect was six months ago.

23. Matthew Boldy, LW, Minnesota (Boston College-Hockey East) 26. Alex Newhook, C, Colorado (Boston College-Hockey East)

April 5, 2001 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds Jan. 28, 2001 | 5-foot-9 | 174 pounds

Drafted: 12th-overall (2019) Drafted: 16th-overall (2019)

Previous ranking: No. 14 Previous ranking: No. 24

Skating: 50 Skating: 65

Puck Skills: 65 Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 55 Physical Game: 35

Hockey Sense: 65 Hockey Sense: 65

If you think you have the correct opinion on Boldy this season, you are Newhook has been a good player for Boston College this season and probably kidding yourself. With that said, let’s proceed to my opinion. was a late cut from Canada’s U20 team. I think it’s fair to say Newhook He has four points in 16 games as a freshman, as of this writing. I’ve has been impressive but also fair to say he hasn’t blown people away seen several BC games where he looks like the best player on the ice. with his play. The components that made him excite in junior remain. I’ve talked to scouts who think he’s struggled with the speed of the level. He’s a great skater who brings a lot of energy to every shift. He has a I’ve talked to scouts who think he’s still a top-end guy. I’ve heard folks high amount of skill and vision, and can make difficult plays at a quick suggest he was overrated. I’ve heard folks say they’ve never seen a pace. I don’t think the offensive ability has been as elite as a freshman as player more snake bitten in their life. BC is a top team, and it continues to I thought it would be right away, but I do think he has that in him to go lean on Boldy as one of its best players usage-wise. along with a quality game off the puck.

When I’ve watched him, I see the elite skill and brain I saw in junior. His 27. Rasmus Kupari, C, Los Angeles (Ontario-AHL) skating is still average, though. Some suggest the move to center has led March 15, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds to his production dip. I don’t buy it from the games I’ve seen (and I’ve watched a lot of them). I see a player who has generally been doing a lot Drafted: 20th-overall (2018) of what he did last season, but it’s not leading to results. You can’t just throw out the results though, and they do look bad. Next to Zegras, I Previous ranking: No. 42 think Boldy is the second most talented drafted prospect outside the Skating: 60 NHL, thus this is a very tough balance. There will be people in the industry who see this slotting and think I’m way off in both directions. Puck Skills: 60

24. Alex Formenton, LW, Ottawa (Belleville-AHL) Physical Game: 50

Sept. 13, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds Hockey Sense: 55

Drafted: 47th-overall (2017) Kupari’s first AHL season started off a bit rougher than I imagined. He had great flashes due to his great speed and skill, but struggled to drive Previous ranking: No. 43 play consistently. He then got injured at the world juniors, tearing his Skating: 65 knee and ending his season. He’s a tough case right now. I know scouts who love him, and some who think he’s going in the wrong direction. I Puck Skills: 55 see a player with a ton of talent. He may not be the best playmaker in the world and the physicality of the AHL has been an adjustment, but I Previous ranking: No. 17 remain a believer in the player based on what I’ve seen the past few years. Skating: 65

28. Lucas Elvenes, RW, Vegas (Chicago-AHL) Puck Skills: 60

Aug. 18, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 172 pounds Physical Game: 60

Drafted: 127th-overall (2017) Hockey Sense: 55

Previous ranking: No. 100 Broberg is a very tough player to figure out. He is a player who can have moments of brilliance. He’s had weeks or games in the past two years Skating: 50 where he blows you away. Over the course of the SHL season he hasn’t been all that impressive, and he had an average world juniors. Puck Skills: 60 While he doesn’t project as a PP1 type, from watching many Skelleftea Physical Game: 45 games, I don’t feel his four points on the season reflect his play entirely – Hockey Sense: 65 even if he hasn’t been a top player for them. I’ve seen him do a lot of good things with his skating and skill to create offense, but the plays Elvenes’ first AHL season could have gone very poorly, as there were haven’t finished. I mentioned that observation to Broberg and, for what questions about his speed and physicality coming out of the SHL. But it it’s worth, he felt it wasn’t a justifiable excuse for his lack of offense, also could have gone very well due to his great skill and brain. The latter saying he knows he needs to put up more offense. He has rough edges has happened. He was a top scorer for Chicago right away and was with his decision making at times, but in general, I see a player who has named an All-Star in the AHL. On the power play he picks defenses apart a lot of positive attributes and I think he remains a very good prospect. due to his playmaking ability. When you get the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, he’s deadly. He’s still not a true driver due to his average 32. Ryan Merkley, D, San Jose (London-OHL) speed and so-so play off the puck, but he brings elite elements with the Aug. 14, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 170 pounds puck that are hard to find and a track record of scoring versus men. Drafted: 21st-overall (2018) 29. Ryan Suzuki, C, Carolina (Saginaw-OHL) Previous ranking: No. 53 May 28, 2001 | six-foot | 176 pounds Skating: 55 Drafted: 28th-overall (2019) Puck Skills: 60 Previous ranking: No. 37 Physical Game: 35 Skating: 55 Hockey Sense: 70 Puck Skills: 60 Whenever I’ve watched Merkley this season I’ve thought he looked good, Physical Game: 45 if not very good. He’s been a top player for London, taking on PK time Hockey Sense: 65 this season and looking more responsible defensively. He’s an elite passer who can run a power play and walk the blue line like few others. Suzuki’s season has been a bit underwhelming so far. He’s been a top His skill and brain stand out consistently. Merkley has been traded twice player for Barrie, but for an 18-year-old junior he hasn’t been dominant. and was cut from Canada’s U20 team without being given a sniff, so I We’ll see if a midseason trade to Saginaw changes things for him. He understand why his name incites a lot of opinions. But I generally like the also had a scary midseason eye injury but has since returned from it. I player I see on the ice. He has the odd bad turnover, defensive still have him highly rated because of how much good I’ve seen from him breakdown and bad penalty that you don’t want to see, and I won’t in the past three years. I think his potential is high-end. He’s a pretend he’s a perfect player, but he does things few others can do. tremendous passer with a high level of skill and can make plays at a quick pace. His game rubs some scouts the wrong way, some think he’s 33. Tobias Bjornfot, D, Los Angeles (Ontario-AHL) too soft, but I’ve never personally felt that way. He does need to April 6, 2001 | six-foot | 203 pounds eventually be a top player at the junior level, though, to continue to find himself in the top prospect conversation. Drafted: 22nd-overall (2019)

30. Nils Hoglander, LW, Vancouver (Rogle-SHL) Previous ranking: No. 96

Dec. 20, 2000 | 5-foot-9 | 190 pounds Skating: 60

Drafted: 40th-overall (2019) Puck Skills: 55

Previous ranking: No. 76 Physical Game: 45

Skating: 55 Hockey Sense: 60

Puck Skills: 70 Bjornfot had a surprisingly great NHL camp, where he broke with the Kings and stayed up for a few games. He was then sent to the AHL Physical Game: 35 where he’s been very good for an 18-year-old, playing both special Hockey Sense: 60 teams and looking like he belongs at that level. Bjornfot is not a flashy player. He’s not going to do end-to-end rushes or make fancy 1-on-1 Hoglander has been good in the SHL this season and was one of the top plays. He’s a very good skater with a lot of puck poise. He makes plays scorers at the world juniors. His skill is truly something different, and in off the line and on exits but doesn’t project as an elite offensive type. terms of pure hands, there are few in the world who can handle a puck Rather he projects as a very solid two-way defenseman who makes a lot like him. Hoglander isn’t the biggest, but he’s tough and wins battles of stops and put up enough points to get a regular even strength shift. versus men. There are reasonable questions on how well he distributes the puck and how quick he is for a small forward, but his creativity is so 34. Jake Bean, D, Carolina (Charlotte-AHL) good and he’s so tough that I don’t feel those limitations will hold him June 9, 1998 | 6-foot-1 | 187 pounds back. He’s a player on the upswing. Drafted: 13th-overall (2016) 31. Philip Broberg, D, Edmonton (Skelleftea-SHL) Previous ranking: No. 62 June 25, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds Skating: 55 Drafted: Eighth-overall (2019) Puck Skills: 55 Physical Game: 50 38. Nils Lundkvist, D, New York Rangers (Lulea-SHL)

Hockey Sense: 60 July 27, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 174 pounds

Bean has been a top player for Charlotte this season and has followed Drafted: 28th-overall (2018) up a great rookie pro season with an AHL All-Star appearance as a sophomore. Bean has shown he can handle an expanded role this Previous ranking: Not ranked season, taking on tougher defensive minutes and still improving in that Skating: 55 aspect of the game. His main assets are still with the puck, though. He’s a mobile puck-mover with excellent vision. He makes the offense go, Puck Skills: 55 from his exits to the way he runs the power play. Bean is getting close to Physical Game: 40 being NHL ready. Hockey Sense: 65 35. Logan Brown, C, Ottawa (Belleville-AHL) Lundkvist started off the season hot and hasn’t cooled down since. He’s March 5, 1998 | 6-foot-6 | 220 pounds been on a tear in the SHL unlike anything recently I can remember from Drafted: 11th-overall (2016) a U20 defenseman and was very good at the world juniors for Sweden. What makes Lundkvist’s game go is his brain. His puck movement is Previous ranking: No. 49 superb. He is always looking to make a play, finds so many seams in the Skating: 45 offensive zone and has shown a level of offensive creativity I didn’t see in his game in prior seasons. He’s a good skater who can skate pucks up Puck Skills: 60 and make stops, but his athletic tools don’t blow you away, be it his size or skating. He’s part of a new mold of defensemen who can make it if Physical Game: 70 their brains work like his.

Hockey Sense: 60 39. Joe Veleno, C, Detroit (Grand Rapids-AHL)

Brown has played most of his season up with Ottawa. He didn’t look Jan. 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds ready and ultimately didn’t stick with Ottawa. When he’s been in the AHL, though, I’ve been very impressed. Brown’s toolkit is different than others. Drafted: 30th-overall (2018) He’s a 6-foot-6 forward with legit high-end skill and playmaking ability. He stands out whenever he’s on the ice. Brown’s footspeed has never been Previous ranking: No. 66 a selling point, although he skates well for such a large player. The things Skating: 60 he’s always needed to work on have been playing quicker, playing tougher and playing better away from the puck. I think he’s going to be a Puck Skills: 55 good NHLer, and maybe even a great one, but it’ll take time. Physical Game: 50 36. Philip Tomasino, C, Nashville (Oshawa-OHL) Hockey Sense: 60 July 28, 2001 | six-foot | 181 pounds Veleno turned pro as a 19-year-old and has been solid, albeit Drafted: 24th-overall (2019) unspectacular, in the AHL this season. He’s been good for a player his age, though, and was one of Canada’s better forwards in his second Previous ranking: No. 44 World Junior tournament. Veleno is a very good skater who can play the Skating: 60 game with pace. He’s a player coaches like a lot and tend to give a lot of minutes in all situations. He’s not a flashy player, though, and there have Puck Skills: 60 been debates for years over his offensive upside. I don’t think his skill is all that great, but I’ve seen enough offensive touch and IQ from him over Physical Game: 45 the years to think he can score as a pro, along with his quality two-way Hockey Sense: 60 play.

Tomasino started off the season a bit slower than expected but has been 40. Tyler Madden, C, Vancouver (Northeastern-Hockey East) on a tear of late and is among the top scorers in the OHL. Tomasino is a Nov. 9, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 152 pounds dynamic player. He has an excellent skating stride, a high level of skill and can make high-end plays all over the ice. He’s a player who projects Drafted: 68th-overall (2018) to be a play driver in the NHL at even strength due to his speed. Tomasino is still a bit of a slight player, and while better defensively, he Previous ranking: No. 59 doesn’t project as a PK type as a pro. He was just recently traded to Skating: 50 Oshawa from Niagara. Puck Skills: 65 37. Jack Studnicka, C, Boston (Providence-AHL) Physical Game: 40 Feb. 18, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 172 pounds Hockey Sense: 60 Drafted: 53rd-overall (2017) Madden is a top player in college hockey this season, as a leading shot Previous ranking: No. 103 generator and point producer. Madden makes unique plays with the Skating: 50 puck. He is so skilled and he often leaves defenders confused 1-on-1. Madden is also a very good passer, making creative feeds and finding Puck Skills: 60 holes in the defensive coverage. His skating has shown some mild improvement, but he’s still not the quickest to go along with a small Physical Game: 50 frame. I do like how Madden competes, though. He can PK and plays in Hockey Sense: 60 the hard areas, even as a slighter guy.

Studnicka has had a big rookie pro season, as a leading scorer for 41. Ty Smith, D, New Jersey (Spokane-WHL) Providence and an All-Star in the AHL. Studnicka has shown he has the March 24, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 179 pounds skill and IQ to make plays and score versus men, and do so consistently. He may not be the quickest forward you will ever see, but his brain Drafted: 17th-overall (2018) moves quick. He also has shown he can be a reliable two-way forward, killing penalties, playing hard minutes and winning battles in the tough Previous ranking: No. 35 areas. Studnicka has proven so far to be a quality pick at No. 53 overall Skating: 55 and could be yet another piece to help keep the Bruins atop the standings. Puck Skills: 55 Physical Game: 40 get excited about big overage seasons, but he was a bit of a different case as a player with size, legit skill and no glaring skating issues. Six Hockey Sense: 65 months later, I don’t have concerns. Blichfeld has been a top player in Smith didn’t make New Jersey’s camp and went back for his fourth WHL the WHL, showing his goal-scoring touch and hockey sense would season. Scouts observed a bit of a lull upon returning from NHL camp. translate to the higher level. I wouldn’t call him a driver due to his Smith hasn’t been as dominant offensively as he was in prior seasons, average speed, but he does a lot well inside the zone. but I still think he’s looked very good. His hockey IQ is fantastic. He has 45. Kale Clague, D, Los Angeles (Ontario-AHL) such great poise and patience with the puck in both ends of the rink, and makes so many good plays. He’s not a flashy player in terms of speed or June 5, 1998 | six-foot | 176 pounds skill, but he’s an elusive skater with great edge work. There is a lack of a wow factor in his game as a smaller defenseman that shows when he’s Drafted: 51st-overall (2016) played at higher levels. He’s a unique player in how he approaches the Previous ranking: No. 105 game, and I could see him be a great pro even if he doesn’t dazzle that much. Skating: 60

42. Cam York, D, Philadelphia (Michigan-Big Ten) Puck Skills: 55

Jan. 5, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 174 pounds Physical Game: 45

Drafted: 14th-overall (2019) Hockey Sense: 60

Previous ranking: No. 36 Clague had a so-so rookie pro season, but his second season has been more along with what I thought he could be when he was a junior. Clague Skating: 55 is a very mobile skater with legit offensive ability. He’s taken on more Puck Skills: 60 defensive responsibility and shown he could be a top player for an AHL team. I would say offense is still more his calling card, in terms of the Physical Game: 40 play he can make with pace and the creative ways he can move the puck. He’s played a few games with the Kings this season, and I think Hockey Sense: 60 he’s getting close to full-time duty.

York has been a top player for a struggling Michigan team this season. 46. Dominik Bokk, RW, Carolina (Rogle-SHL) His world juniors were spent mostly on the bench, though. York’s strengths are his puck-moving skills and ability to control the game from Feb. 3, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 181 pounds the back end. He has great poise with the puck, can find the seams well in the defensive coverage and can make the highly skilled plays when he Drafted: 25th-overall(2018) needs to. He’s undersized but skates well, albeit not very well. He still Previous ranking: No. 50 finds a way to make a lot of stops. It hasn’t been a storybook season for him, especially since he’s been injured, but I still believe a lot in the Skating: 55 player and think he will be a very good NHL defenseman. Puck Skills: 65 43. Alex Barre-Boulet, LW, Tampa Bay (Syracuse-AHL) Physical Game: 40 May 21, 1997 | 5-foot-10 | 170 pounds Hockey Sense: 60 Drafted: Undrafted Bokk is a tough player to figure out. He’s struggled at the SHL level this Previous ranking: No. 54 season, not able to be the skill player he is with only five points on the season, as of this writing. When he went to the world juniors, though, he Skating: 55 looked more like his old self. Even before Germany went to the relegation Puck Skills: 65 round, Bokk was flying around the ice creating offense against top nations. Bokk has all the tools to succeed. He’s got fantastic hands, he Physical Game: 30 thinks the game offensively very well and he can skate with pros. He is a very perimeter player, though, whose effort can be inconsistent. Bokk Hockey Sense: 60 was a part of the Justin Faulk trade between St. Louis and Carolina.

Shot Grade: 60 47. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Nashville (Milwaukee-AHL)

Barre-Boulet has had his second straight great AHL season, as a top April 22, 1999 | 5-foot-10 | 192 pounds scorer and All-Star for Syracuse. He is a highly skilled winger who can dangle and create chances with the best AHL forwards. He’s a great Drafted: 30th-overall (2017) playmaker, but I’ve been impressed by his shot as well, as he’s scored some very impressive goals this season. The main critique on Barre- Previous ranking: No. 46 Boulet for years has been his skating, particularly for his size. I don’t Skating: 50 think it’s excellent, but it’s fine, and I think is good enough to play in the league. Puck Skills: 60

44. Joachim Blichfeld, RW, San Jose (San Jose-AHL) Physical Game: 30

July 17, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 187 pounds Hockey Sense: 60

Drafted: 210th-overall (2016) Shot Grade: 70

Previous ranking: Not Ranked Tolvanen remains a divisive name in the prospect community. I know some scouts who will cringe at just seeing his name on this list. Tolvanen Skating: 50 does have a long track record of being a quality player, and he’s one of Puck Skills: 55 the leading shot generators in the AHL despite not putting up big points. He’s a highly skilled player who can make plays and snipe from a long Physical Game: 55 distance. He bugs people because he’s not that quick, small and perimeter. He’s not a perfect player but I think he does enough things Hockey Sense: 60 very well to become a solid NHL player one day, and even though he’s Shot Grade: 60 not producing, reports have generally (but not universally) been positive from scouts this season. After Blichfeld’s huge overage season in the AHL, I had mild questions about how good a pro he would be right away. Typically, you try not to 48. Nolan Foote, LW, Tampa Bay (Kelowna-WHL) Nov. 29, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 191 pounds Hockey Sense: 65

Drafted: 27th-overall (2019) Perunovich has been a top defenseman at the college level the plast few seasons and should be atop the Hobey Baker voting this season. He’s a Previous ranking: No. 109 player whose style I’ve continued to appreciate. He’s not that big, and Skating: 50 while he’s very quick and skilled, he’s not a highlight reel machine type of small defenseman. Perunovich is so smart though and makes so many Puck Skills: 55 elite IQ plays with the puck all over the ice that I think he will become a good NHL defenseman one day. His patience, vision and offensive Physical Game: 60 creativity for a defenseman is among the best outside the NHL. Hockey Sense: 60 52. Calen Addison, D, Pittsburgh (Lethbridge-WHL) Shot Grade: 60 April 11, 2000 | 5-foot-10 | 181 pounds Foote hasn’t lit up the WHL in his four junior seasons, but he has a great Drafted: 53rd-overall (2018) toolkit and has looked very good at the international level. He has the great hockey sense that runs in the family. He has a missile of a shot that Previous ranking: No. 98 can score from long distance. He’s a big forward who can win puck battles. Foote’s skating will never wow you, but it’s fine – not a strength, Skating: 65 but not a weakness. I don’t see him as a driver at even strength, but he’ll Puck Skills: 55 be able to handle his own, and then on the power play he will go to work. Physical Game: 30 49. Thomas Harley, D, Dallas (Mississauga-OHL) Hockey Sense: 65 Aug. 19, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 192 pounds Addison has been a very productive defenseman since entering the Drafted: 18th-overall (2019) WHL. This season his point totals look similar, but the way he’s looked Previous ranking: No. 68 has been more impactful. I’ve seen Addison consistently use his great speed to rush pucks up effectively. He also has made a ton of great plays Skating: 55 to create chances, which is why he was asked to QB Canada’s top power play unit at the world juniors. Addison has a lot of talent, but he gets Puck Skills: 55 picked apart by scouts because of his size and defensive play. He’s not a Physical Game: 60 great defender, and it’s something you have to live with because of how much good he does with the puck. Hockey Sense: 55 53. Samuel Fagemo, RW, Los Angeles (Frolunda-SHL) Harley had a great camp with Dallas. Since being returned to the OHL he’s been a top defenseman in the league, with 16 goals at the midpoint March 14, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 194 pounds and a late cut from Canada’s U20 team. Harley is a 6-foot-3 defenseman Drafted: 50th-overall (2019) who can skate, make offensive plays and is a solid defender. That combination projects as a quality top-four defenseman in the NHL. Previous ranking: No. 108 Although he is scoring a lot this season, scouts are skeptical he’s a true top point producer in the NHL (that is not a universal opinion, as some Skating: 55 scouts do think he could be). He’s a well-rounded player who continues Puck Skills: 55 to progress in a positive direction. Physical Game: 45 50. Jan Jenik, C, Arizona (Hamilton-OHL) Hockey Sense: 55 Sept. 15, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 172 pounds Shot Grade: 60 Drafted: 65th-overall (2018) Fagemo is a player whose skill set doesn’t immediately pop out. He’s got Previous ranking: Not Ranked skill and speed, but neither are elements that are truly upper-tier Skating: 50 attributes. Fagemo is a competitive and well-rounded player, though, who also has a great shot. He can make plays and create off the rush or in Puck Skills: 55 the net front area. But his most dangerous weapon is setting up to finish play. It’s hard to ignore what Fagemo has done the past two seasons, be Physical Game: 55 it his production on very good Frolunda teams in the SHL, or leading the Hockey Sense: 60 recent World Junior tournament in goals and points. It’s a delicate balance given his toolkit is not typically what you look for in a top Jenik had been on fire this season with Hamilton, scoring at a two points prospect. per game pace and being a top player in the junior ranks. He was set to be a top player for the Czechs at the world juniors before a knee injury 54. Shane Pinto, C, Ottawa (North Dakota-NCHC) knocked him out for the rest of the season. Jenik’s hockey sense and Nov. 12, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds competitiveness stand out. He makes a ton of plays, but when he needs to get inside or win a puck battle, he can be tenacious as well. He could Drafted: 32nd-overall (2019) be a good two-way forward as a pro. His skating has always been a weakness. It’s improved but still average. A torn knee won’t help matters Previous ranking: Not Ranked in that regard, so it will be a thing to monitor next season when he Skating: 50 returns. Puck Skills: 55 51. Scott Perunovich, D, St. Louis (Minnesota-Duluth-NCHC) Physical Game: 55 Aug. 18, 1998 | 5-foot-10 | 174 pounds Hockey Sense: 60 Drafted: 45th-overall (2018) Pinto is having a great season. He’s a top player for the best college Previous ranking: Not Ranked team in the country, and emerged as USA’s No. 1 center and one of its Skating: 60 best players at the world juniors. I would not have seen that coming last season. Pinto’s game is subtle. He’s very smart, and very good around Puck Skills: 55 the net and middle-third of the ice. He has some speed and skill, but he’s not going to inside-out defenders on a regular basis. Pinto competes well Physical Game: 30 and makes a lot of plays inside the offensive zone. He has a lot of details Puck Skills: 60 in his game coaches and scouts admire. Physical Game: 40 55. Bobby Brink, RW, Philadelphia (Denver-NCHC) Hockey Sense: 60 July 8, 2001 | 5-foot-8 | 159 pounds Mitchell returned to college for his junior season, and as expected he’s Drafted: 34th-overall (2019) been one of the top players in the nation. He even went to the Spengler Cup, where he was a quality player for Canada on its power play as it Previous ranking: No. 87 won the tournament. Mitchell has a lot of offensive ability to go along with Skating: 50 good mobility. He’s not the biggest defenseman, but that’s never seemed to impede him at any level, and he’s always been trusted defensively by Puck Skills: 60 coaches.

Physical Game: 25 59. Ivan Morozov, C, Vegas (SKA-VHL)

Hockey Sense: 65 May 5, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 178 pounds

Brink has looked impressive as a freshman, playing a significant role on Drafted: 61st-overall (2018) a top team as one of the youngest players in college hockey. Brink is a very intelligent player with skill and a good shot. Inside the offensive zone Previous ranking: Not Ranked he makes so many good things happen and is deadly on the power play. Skating: 50 But he’s small and he skates funny. It’s why he’s a bit of a divisive player among scouts; you can either live with the skating given everything else Puck Skills: 60 he does or you can’t. His skating isn’t the worst and when he 10-2’s inside the zone, he can be elusive, but his stride does break down quite Physical Game: 55 often. Hockey Sense: 60

56. Julien Gauthier, RW, Carolina (Charlotte-AHL) Morozov is a well-rounded two-way center. He hasn’t had an amazing Oct. 15, 1997 | 6-foot-4 | 225 pounds season at the club level or at the world juniors in terms of numbers, but whenever I’ve watched him this season, I’ve come away very Drafted: 21st-overall (2016) enthusiastic. I’ve always thought his hockey sense was very good, but what’s elevated Morozov this season the display of more individual skill Previous ranking: Not Ranked and the level at which he competes. The only thing missing in his toolkit Skating: 55 is a separation gear as his footspeed is very average.

Puck Skills: 60 60. Mathias Emilio Pettersen, LW, Calgary (Denver-NCHC)

Physical Game: 65 April 3, 2000 | 5-foot-10 | 172 pounds

Hockey Sense: 55 Drafted: 167th-overall (2018)

There’s a part of me that was reluctant to put Gauthier on this list. He’s a Previous ranking: No. 106 third-year pro who has not dominated the AHL. He does have 17 goals in Skating: 60 29 games this season, though, and has a toolkit that screams NHL player. You don’t see many 6-foot-4 forwards who can skate, have legit Puck Skills: 60 skill and can score goals like Gauthier does. He may not be the smartest player ever, but he’s shown this season he can make plays and score in Physical Game: 30 hard areas, has earned some NHL games and ticks off most of the boxes Hockey Sense: 65 you want in a prospect. Pettersen has been a driver for a top team in Denver this season. He’s a 57. Yegor Zamula, D, Philadelphia (Calgary-WHL) player full of skill and offensive IQ. He makes high-end plays consistently March 30, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 161 pounds and has the mind to try things others don’t. The main reason the former sixth-round pick by Calgary has seen his stock rise is the addition of Drafted: Undrafted speed and pace to his game he didn’t have in junior. Pettersen hits the line with speed and can turn defenders around. He’s small and not an Previous ranking: Not Ranked overly physical player, but with the puck and on the power play, he Skating: 50 provides a lot of value.

Puck Skills: 60 61. Patrik Puistola, LW, Carolina (-Liiga)

Physical Game: 60 Jan. 11, 2001 | six-foot | 165 pounds

Hockey Sense: 60 Drafted: 73rd-overall (2019)

Zamula is coming off a great World Junior tournament, where he was Previous ranking: No. 83 Russia’s No. 1 defenseman. Following the tournament, it was announced Skating: 50 he would have season ending back surgery. When he’s on the ice, Zamula is a very smart puck-mover, and this season I’ve seen far more Puck Skills: 65 individual skill than in the past. You add onto that he’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who can kill plays and it’s a very interesting package. His Physical Game: 45 skating is not the best, though, and you don’t like hearing the word back Hockey Sense: 60 surgery for a teenager, but initial reports are he should make a recovery by the spring. Zamula was an undrafted free agent signing by Philly. Puistola started the season barely playing and scoring for Tappara in Liiga. Since being loaned to Jukurit he’s played a lot better in a larger 58. Ian Mitchell, D, Chicago (Denver-NCHC) role, although as of this writing he’s been brought back to Tappara. He’s Jan. 18, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 174 pounds also done quite well with Finland’s U20 team. Puistola is a highly skilled player who can embarrass defenders regularly with his 1-onn-1 play. Drafted: 57th-overall (2017) He’s scored a lot of goals this season from the tough areas of the ice. His speed and work ethic have been questioned by scouts, but it’s hard to Previous ranking: No. 92 deny where he gets his goals. I do think his feet need work and his game Skating: 55 can lack pace, but he makes a lot of plays and scores. 62. Aliaksei Protas, C, Washington (Prince Albert-WHL) Hockey Sense: 65

Jan. 6, 2001 | 6-foot-6 | 210 pounds Shot Grade: 60

Drafted: 91st-overall (2019) Khovanov is a player I’ve followed closely for years. This season he’s been a top player in the Q and had an impressive World Junior Previous ranking: Not Ranked tournament. Khovanov is a very smart and skilled player who inside the Skating: 45 offensive zone creates a ton of chances. He has the patience and IQ to make high-end passes, and the individual skill to create for himself. Puck Skills: 55 Khovanov’s shot has impressed me more than in past seasons, and despite not being the biggest, he plays with an edge. His skating remains Physical Game: 65 just fine. It’s improved since his draft season, but it’s not a strength. Hockey Sense: 60 66. Dmitri Voronkov, C, Columbus (Kazan-KHL) Shot Grade: 60 Sept. 10, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 183 pounds Protas was part of a deep Prince Albert that went on to win the WHL last Drafted: 114th-overall (2019) season. This season, as the go-to guy, he’s found himself as one of the top players in the league. Protas intrigues because he’s a large forward Previous ranking: Not Ranked with an NHL brain and an NHL shot. On the power play he’s deadly because of the various ways he can pick apart a defense. His offensive Skating: 50 game has never been in question, but his skating has always been in Puck Skills: 55 question. He’s still not a good skater, but it’s improved enough to where he looks like a future quality NHL player. Physical Game: 70

63. Dylan Samberg, D, Winnipeg (Minnesota-Duluth-NCHC) Hockey Sense: 55

Jan. 24, 1999 | 6-foot-4 | 223 pounds Voronkov burst onto the scene this winter at the world juniors, as a top player for the silver medal-winning Russian club. I felt going into the 2019 Drafted: 43rd-overall (2017) draft that Voronkov had a first-round toolkit, but given how little of a track Previous ranking: No. 89 record he had, it was hard to be that optimistic about him. This season he’s looked fine versus men in the KHL, and versus his peers he showed Skating: 55 that his combination of a 6-foot-4 frame, skill, physicality and improved skating stride equals a very interesting prospect. He’s been a significant Puck Skills: 55 riser in a very short period of time and is a name a lot of NHL scouts are Physical Game: 65 mentioning of late.

Hockey Sense: 55 67. Jack Dugan, RW, Vegas (Providence-Hockey East)

Samberg has been a key member of the back-to-back national March 24, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds champions and continues to be a big minutes eater for Duluth. Samberg Drafted: 142nd-overall (2017) isn’t an overly flashy player, but he’s a big, mobile defenseman who could be a solid two-way defenseman as a pro. He can make a lot of Previous ranking: Not Ranked stops, he’ll surprise you at times with his skill and vision and is on Duluth’s power play. The 20 going on 21-year-old looks like he’s close to Skating: 50 NHL ready. Puck Skills: 55

64. Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas (Texas-AHL) Physical Game: 60

July 22, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 201 pounds Hockey Sense: 60

Drafted: 39th-overall (2017) Dugan has been the top scorer in college for most of the season. He’s a Previous ranking: No. 69 great passer and a player who looks to make plays. While he has the vision and intellect to create well off the perimeter, he’s also a big forward Skating: 45 who has a real edge to his game. If you give him space, he’ll find the seams in the defense; if you try and engage him, he’ll push you off him. Puck Skills: 55 Dugan’s main weakness is his average footspeed. He can arguably Physical Game: 55 overpass sometimes but it’s hard to argue with nearly two assists per game. Hockey Sense: 60 68. Samuel Poulin, LW, Pittsburgh (Sherbrooke-QMJHL) Shot Grade: 60 Feb. 25, 2001 | 6-foot-1 | 208 pounds Robertson has been a quality player for Texas as a rookie pro. His vision and shot make him dangerous on the power play, and inside the Drafted: 21st-overall (2019) offensive zone at even strength he can make a lot of plays. But the key to Previous ranking: Not Ranked his game is getting the puck into the zone, and while his skating has shown some improvement, it is still a notable weakness in his game. I Skating: 50 still like that he competes and gets to the net even without the best quickness, which has led to moderate success this season. Puck Skills: 60

65. Alexander Khovanov, C, Minnesota (Moncton-QMJHL) Physical Game: 50

April 12, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 196 pounds Hockey Sense: 60

Drafted: 86th-overall (2018) Poulin has been a driver for the top team in the QMJHL this season. He’s made the highlight reel but also shown his great vision, making a lot of Previous ranking: Not Ranked plays whenever he’s on the ice, both as a playmaker from the flank and creating around the net. He’s been a fine two-way forward too, killing Skating: 50 penalties for Sherbrooke. His main weakness remains his skating, which Puck Skills: 55 is not bad, but not quite NHL quality.

Physical Game: 45 69. Raphael Lavoie, RW, Edmonton (Chicoutimi-QMJHL) Sept. 25, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds smart puck-mover who finds options well, hits seams and makes a lot of clean exits. His skating was considered a knock as a draft-eligible, but I Drafted: 38th-overall (2019) think it’s shown notable improvement and is now arguably a strength of Previous ranking: No. 86 his game. Jones isn’t the biggest defenseman and I don’t think he’s great defensively, but his team tends to have the puck when he’s on the ice. Skating: 45 Players considered in the NHL: Puck Skills: 60 Drake Batherson Physical Game: 60 Adam Boqvist Hockey Sense: 55 Kyle Capobianco Shot Grade: 60 Maxime Comtois Lavoie is a tough evaluation case. When you see a 6-foot-4 forward with his skill and ability to score, it’s easy to get excited about the potential. Jordan Kyrou I’ve seen Lavoie make big-time plays in the last three years that can Isac Lundestrom dazzle. I also see a player who has inconsistent stretches and whose game can lack pace. I’ve seen enough of the good to continue to rate Ryan Poehling him highly and I think he’s had a good season, but you’d like to see him put together a stretch in the Q post-trade to Chicoutimi where he gets on Igor Shestyorkin a real roll. Yakov Trenin

70. Jamieson Rees, C, Carolina (Sarnia-OHL) Kailer Yamamoto

Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 172 pounds Filip Zadina

Drafted: 44th-overall (2019) GOALIE RANKINGS

Previous ranking: Not Ranked High-End/Very Good Bubble

Skating: 50 1. Spencer Knight, Florida

Puck Skills: 60 April 19, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 192 pounds

Physical Game: 45 Drafted: 13th-overall (2019)

Hockey Sense: 60 Previous ranking: No. 2

Rees hasn’t played the entire season due to an early suspension, but Knight has been as good as Florida fans could have hoped for to start when he has played he has made an impact for Sarnia, hovering around this season, posting a near .940 save percentage as an 18-year-old as a two points per game. Rees is an entertaining player to watch because freshman at Boston College. Knight is a player NHL scouts universally he’s highly skilled and can fool defenders, but also very competitive and fawn over. He’s an extremely intelligent goaltender who rarely looks physical. He lives in the hard areas of the ice, and off the puck he works rattled, but he also has the high-end athleticism to make the tough saves hard to get it back. He lacks the elite physical tools, though, as he has when he needs to. Knight also plays the puck very well. He’s been a below-average size and average quickness. major reason why BC is a top-five team in the country.

71. Brayden Tracey, LW, Anaheim (Victoria-WHL) Very Good/Legit Bubble

May 28, 2001 | six-foot | 176 pounds 2. Ilya Sorokin, New York Islanders

Drafted: 29th-overall (2019) Aug. 4, 1995 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds

Previous ranking: Not Ranked Drafted: 78th-overall (2014)

Skating: 50 Previous ranking: No. 7

Puck Skills: 60 Sorokin, like he has been for years, continues to be one of the best Physical Game: 45 goalies in the KHL and an important part of why CSKA is a top team in the league. Sorokin isn’t a very tall or very quick goalie, but he’s super Hockey Sense: 60 smart. He reads the game at an elite level and has enough quickness to get to a lot of pucks. Like with Kaprizov, this will be the last NHL prospect Tracey has picked up where he left off last season in terms of being a top ranking I list Sorokin on should he sign another KHL extension in the scorer and chance generator in the WHL. He’s a very smart and skilled spring. player who was asked to be a driver for Moose Jaw this season prior to being traded, and he did it well. Tracey’s skating bugged me when I saw 3. Ivan Prosvetov, Arizona him last season. I still don’t think he’s that quick, but the stride has looked cleaner. He needs to get stronger and work on his game off the puck, but March 5, 1999 | 6-foot-5 | 176 pounds I like the progression he’s shown overall. Drafted: 114th-overall (2018)

72. Zac Jones, D, New York Rangers (Massachusetts-Hockey East) Previous ranking: Not Ranked

Oct. 18, 2000 | 5-foot-10 | 176 pounds I watched a lot of Prosvetov last season and he was very interesting as a Drafted: 68th-overall (2019) large goalie with high-end athleticism. Prosvetov can get to pucks few other goalies can and make the highlight reel saves. He’s a quirky goalie, Previous ranking: Not Ranked though, who showed erraticism in his decision-making and reads, leading to a good but inconsistent season. Since he’s turned pro, his game has Skating: 60 looked a little more controlled, leading to an excellent first half in the AHL Puck Skills: 55 and ECHL.

Physical Game: 35 4. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo (Cincinnati-ECHL)

Hockey Sense: 60 March 9, 1999 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds

Jones has been a top player for a very good UMass team this season, as Drafted: 54th-overall (2017) the power play anchor for UMass and USA’s U20 team. Jones is a very Previous ranking: No. 9

After a great 2018-19, Luukkonen has been a major part of why Cincinnati has one of the fewest goals against totals in the ECHL. He also got a call to the ECHL All-Star game. Luukkonen is a goalie who checks all the boxes. He’s a big goalie, he’s athletic, can make the tough lateral saves and has great hockey IQ. It would be nice to see him outside the ECHL soon, though, to see how he performs against better competition.

5. Lukas Dostal, Anaheim

June 22, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 168 pounds

Drafted: 85th-overall (2018)

Previous ranking: No. 19

Dostal has been a top goalie in Liiga this season, as an important member of a top 5 team. Dostal was picked in the third round because he’s not that big and not overly quick. Those are reasonable concerns, but I think Dostal is such a smart goaltender and reads the play so well that he finds a way to counterbalance those flaws. He’s shown for years he can play bigger than his size and continued to do so outside of an iffy world juniors where he was injured.

6. Hugo Alnefelt, Tampa Bay

June 4, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 183 pounds

Drafted: 71st-overall (2019)

Previous ranking: Not Ranked

Going into the draft last season I wasn’t all-in on Alnefelt, while I knew some scouts who loved him and right now it looks like I may have gotten that one wrong. Tampa’s third-round pick in 2019 has been great this season in the SHL in limited starts and was a top goalie at the world juniors. There is a bit of a small sample size warning on his season, but it’s hard to be too critical. He’s a fantastic athlete who can make spectacular saves and is creative in between the pipes. I think his game this season has more control and less scramble than I saw in his draft season.

7. Joel Hofer, St. Louis

July 30, 2000 | 6-foot-5 | 172 pounds

Drafted: 107th-overall (2018)

Previous ranking: Not Ranked

Hofer is having a great season as a top goalie in the CHL and was the clear best goaltender at the world juniors. I talked to scouts last season who were high on Hofer, but the results weren’t there so it was a tough balance. This season the tools and results have lined up. Hofer is a goalie with real calmness to his game and a high hockey IQ. He tracks pucks very well and never seems out of position. He has the quickness to get to tough saves, but often doesn’t need to because of how well he reads the play.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171488 Websites million, a team should expect a bit more than three wins above replacement per season and Montreal isn’t getting that with Price.

Bobrovsky’s in just the first year of his contract with Florida and currently The Athletic / By the numbers: Why teams shouldn’t pay top dollar for has the fifth-worst goals saved above expected of minus-14 thanks to a goalies woeful .896 save percentage, both represent the lowest marks of his career. With last season being uneven, he too looks unlikely to live up to his salary.

By Dom Luszczyszyn Jan 15, 2020 And finally, there’s Vasilevskiy. He appears to be having the strongest season of the three and will be five years younger when his contract

kicks in next year, but he’s getting a lot of money for a goalie that With Nicklas Backstrom re-signed and back in the fold for the next five appears to be propped up by the elite team in front of him. Maybe it years the Washington Capitals answered one lingering offseason works out and looks less disastrous than the other two, but in his four question. Now, just one remains regarding the team’s core: what to do years as a starter, he’s been below average in goals saved above about Braden Holtby? expected three times with last year’s Vezina-winning season being the line exception where he saved seven goals above expected. This year’s If Alex Ovechkin is the heart of the team and Backstrom the brain, then minus-8.8 ranks lower than Price despite the save percentage Holtby has been the backbone of an elite Capitals team for the last discrepancy and that’s because the Lightning consistently have one of several seasons, entrenching himself as a top tier starter for the majority the league’s highest expected save percentages (based on public data of the decade, as well as one of the league’s pre-eminent playoff goalies. anyway). That doesn’t feel like something to pay a premium on. From 2012 onward, when Holtby made his first playoff start, only two others – Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick – have saved more goals Frankly, it’s hard to be very confident in any of those deals, even this above expected (35) in the postseason than Holtby. early into them (and Vasilevskiy’s hasn’t even started yet). While Holtby may have played himself out of that salary ballpark, he still seems very Holtby’s reputation is very strong, but it’s not as rock-solid as it used to likely to cash in with his own lucrative offer – especially if he bounces be, not after a few up and down seasons. From 2014 to 2016 when back and has a strong postseason, just like Bobrovsky did last season. Holtby was at his peak, he saved 56 goals above expected, second to only Carey Price on the back of a strong .923 save percentage. In the The problem at hand though is not the goalies, it’s the position. The three seasons since he’s only saved three, good for 24th in the league goalies themselves have looked like $10-million tenders throughout their and behind current backup Ilya Samsonov who has saved just under five career and can very well look like $10-million goaltenders on any given from this season alone. Holtby, for reference, ranks 38th (out of 60 night – but the consistency at which they can do that isn’t something that goalies who’ve played 500 minutes or more) in 2019-20 at minus-6.7. can be depended on. When the talent margin between the best and worst goalies is around one-or-two goals per 100 shots, it takes a lot of To his credit, Holtby was top 10 in goals saved just last season, but that’s shots to sift through the noise, more than a single season can provide. being sandwiched by two sub-par years. It’s hard to know what you’re When the season-to-season variance is larger than that margin, it makes getting with Holtby’s future given his recent history, especially with his it almost impossible to predict with any certainty what comes next for a next contract kicking in at age 31. That makes his next deal a risk, but goaltender. that’s not a Holtby problem, it’s a goalie problem, one that’s exemplified by Holtby’s volatile output after his peak. That makes goalie contracts an especially tricky proposition.

When a team pays a forward to be an elite scorer, he usually is. When a There is no telling if a goalie will be worth his salary. Over the last seven team pays a defenseman to play top pairing minutes effectively, he seasons of goalie performances (based on goals saved above expected usually does. When a team pays a goalie to be among the league’s best and average, the former of which accounts for shot quality faced), there puck-stoppers? Well, that’s an entirely different story. was essentially no relationship to salary earned that season. None.

Over the last three years, three goalies have signed lucrative long-term That didn’t change whether you used more advanced metrics like goals deals worth around $10-million per season. Carey Price is at the top with saved above expected, simpler ones like save percentage, or used a per- an eight-year, $10.5-million per year pact signed in July 2017. Sergei game basis. Bobrovsky joined the eight-figure club two summers later with a seven- There are exceptions to the rule, but that doesn’t matter when there is no year deal paying him $10-million per, and just a month after that, Andrei rule – where the relationship between money spent and the value given Vasilevskiy signed for $9.5-million per over eight years. is almost entirely random. Furthermore, it doesn’t matter if you look at On the surface, each of those deals made some sense given the value just one or multiple seasons. If you separate goalies into bins based on that the trio had provided to teams in their past. Price was unequivocally how much they get paid (note: statistically speaking, you should not do the best goaltender in the world, two years removed from a Hart Trophy this), the difference between the 50 highest paid tenders and the 50 as league MVP and in his fourth straight season with a save percentage lowest paid ones is about 5.2 goals saved above expected per 60 starts north of .920 – all while backstopping a lackluster Canadiens’ defense. on average. That’s it, roughly equal to one win and an average difference Bobrovsky took the mantle after that, winning a Vezina Trophy in 2017- of $7 million in salary. That’s twice as much as a skater without anywhere 18 and earning the second-highest goals saved above expected from near the same certainty in results. 2016 to 2019. While Vasilevskiy was fresh off a Vezina Trophy win with Therefore, you’re better off rolling the dice and being as flexible as two straight seasons above .920. possible with both salary and term for goalies, a conclusion also reached There were plenty of reasons to be confident with each netminder, but as by Carey Haber two years ago. Doing so creates more cap space for we all quickly learned, it’s foolish to be confident in any goalie, even the other positions which are generally much more reliable in the value they best — to the degree that they command such a large chunk of the provide too. Based on the data at hand, it’s the only logical solution lest a salary cap pie. Hell, analytics darling John Gibson isn’t looking so hot this team wants to be stuck to a costly and lengthy millstone. year either. Elite consistency for goaltenders is extremely hard to come While better data will likely lead to a deeper understanding of the by. position, the advancements won’t be able to wash away all the year-to- For Price, the unfortunate thing for Montreal is that the Canadiens signed year variance. The Price, Bobrovsky and Vasilevskiy contracts are big Price to an extension one full year before it kicked in, and naturally, Price issues for all those reasons, a 12 percent chunk of cap space with no had one of the worst seasons of his career in between. He posted a .900 certainty of a positive return on investment. Will Holtby be the next big save percentage that year, ranking second-last in goals saved above mistake or will teams have wised up? expected at minus-25.6. While Price bounced back in 2018-19, the first For Washington, the decision should be an easy one. The team has year of his deal, he’s dipped back below average in 2019-20 amongst plenty of cap space next season, but that can be used in more efficient most metrics, from save percentage (.906, 33rd in the league) to goals ways. With Samsonov out-playing Holtby in every category, coupled with saved above expected (minus-8.6, 49th in the league). With two of his the cost of his services, it should be a no-brainer. last three seasons being so uninspiring, his strong season in between is still not worth the high price tag and coupled with his age, it’s very hard to But while Washington may not be the team to take the plunge, free not view Price’s deal as one of the league’s worst contracts. For $10.5 agency will be the ultimate test – a day where foresight need not apply. All it takes is one team desperate enough to pull the trigger and while Holtby may be worth the price for part of the contract, there’s a much higher chance that the total value provided won’t be worth anywhere close to the price of admission. That’s the lesson that should be learned from the Price, Bobrovsky and Vasilevskiy deals, one that’s not too late to apply to Holtby’s future deal.

For goalies, no matter how tempting it may be, it pays not to pay.

The Athletic LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171489 Websites When the analytics job was posted last year, it created the impression that the analytics department would have an open line to ownership and not necessarily report to the GM. The Devils liked two of the finalists, and decided to hire both (Tyler Dellow and Matt Cane). Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: The fallout from bombshell New Jersey, Vegas firings I’m not saying that anyone submarined anyone else, but I don’t believe Shero was ever comfortable with all of this. The Subban trade was one where he felt pulled in a lot of directions, but ultimately made the decision. When the person above mentioned the extension talks being Elliotte Friedman January 15, 2020, 2:55 PM “complicated,” I think this is a big part of it. He closed his circle even further as Hall discussions got into the public domain. If there’s one word I heard a lot of around New Jersey over the past 48 hours, it is Two absolute bombshells across the NHL landscape this week. We’ll “collaborative.” There is desire for more people to be involved in the start with Jersey and get to Vegas. process.

There was an exchange from last season that was forgotten about until I don’t believe Brodeur has any desire to be a full-time GM at this time. Monday afternoon. I had received a tip that Ray Shero was getting a Maybe he stays as an advisor, maybe he goes into the “Shanahan spot” contract extension in New Jersey. He denied it. The source said it was at the top of a hockey department. But he won’t be the day-to-day guy. coming. Shero denied it some more. External candidates (or those who figure to be) are wondering where the power lies and how much authority will be given. In April, it happened. It’s why I think Fitzgerald has a legit shot at keeping the job. He knows There wasn’t much time to focus on it with the playoffs approaching, but I everyone here and has an understanding of how they want it to work. Of went through that “annoyed reporter” phase for a few hours. You get over course, it has to be something he’s comfortable with, too. But he’s ready it — that’s life in the big city — but you wish you’d been able to close the for a GM job, in New Jersey or elsewhere. deal. 31 THOUGHTS Another exec heard about it. He reached out. “That (situation) is complicated,” he told me, but wouldn’t elaborate. The puck dropped to 1. The immediate priorities aren’t difficult to decipher. There are the start the post-season, and everything else became secondary. UFAs — captain Andy Greene, Wayne Simmonds and Sami Vatanen. Word is there’s been at least one legit offer for Vatanen, with more The next time we saw Ray Shero, he was the lottery-winning GM. He certain to come. Greene said Tuesday he hasn’t discussed his future with drafted Jack Hughes, acquired P.K. Subban, received a “checkmark” text the organization, and has a no-trade clause. But, he added he wants to message from Taylor Hall, signed Wayne Simmonds, and traded for play next year (he’ll be 38 in October). Clearly, he still loves it. Simmonds Nikita Gusev. admitted he doesn’t have control over the situation, but prefers not to go The Devils and their fans were excited. Who could blame them? anywhere.

Eight months after receiving that four-year extension, Shero was out — “You don’t sign with a team to stay for three-quarters of a season,” the removed in rushed fashion. It was a stunning Sunday. As one GM texted, winger explained. “You sign hoping to be there.” with gallows humour, “If we beat Washington and Tampa, am I going to 2. The bigger question is what the Devils will do with veterans who have get fired, too?” term. They could do very well in trades for Blake Coleman and/or Kyle We’re left to wonder, what exactly happened? Palmieri. (I always assume wants Travis Zajac.)

The first thing is obvious: the Devils tripped out of the starting gate with “Aren’t those the guys you want to keep?” one Devil said. “If you’re trying several brutal defeats that undercut their season. They blew a 4–0 lead to create an identity, aren’t players who’ve succeeded here the ones to to Winnipeg on opening night. Five games later, they couldn’t hold a 4–1 keep around?” advantage against Florida and fell to 0-4-2. John Hynes was fired on This ownership oversaw the scorched-earth “Process” from the NBA’s Dec. 3. Thirteen days later, Hall was traded. Interim boss Alain Philadelphia 76ers, so they’ve got patience. But we know they’re sick of Nasreddine stabilized things, with the club on a current 6-3-2 stretch. losing on the hockey side, and no team has more “comp” tickets than the Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey Devils. You have to give your fans something to watch and you have to world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what surround your young cornerstones with pros. Interesting decision. they think about it. 3. Christine Simpson is working Montreal-Vegas this weekend, and was That’s the easy stuff to figure. I’ve got no interest in kicking anyone while doing research on the Golden Knights’ website Wednesday morning. they are down, and Shero is yet to speak, but, from what I can piece When she refreshed a page and saw Peter DeBoer’s name come up, she together, the relationship between him and the rest of the organization thought the site had been hacked. I can only imagine the email that went withered as the stress of this season intensified. One particular bone of out from Hockey Operations on Wednesday morning. “Dear Rick/Travis contention was decision making over the last year or two in goal — — which one of you hasn’t made vacation plans?” Not even two years including insurance policies for 2019-20. MacKenzie Blackwood looks ago, Gerard Gallant directed one of the most incredible seasons in NHL legit, but he was thrown into something he wasn’t ready for. history, taking expansion Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final. They lost their 2019 first-round series in one of the craziest ways imaginable, and he New Jersey’s made the playoffs once since the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, was set to be the Pacific Division All-Star coach next week. From what I and everyone there is sick of the losing. From what I understand, there understood about Gallant’s contract, it became guaranteed for a fourth were different opinions on where to go from here, how to approach this season when they reached the final. Next year is year four, and the particular fix. But, according to multiple sources, the philosophy itself was craziest thing about all of this is that the Golden Knights were talking secondary. about an extension with him. Instead, he’s out.

All GMs have their “people,” a group of confidants who really know 4. Like DeBoer and Hynes, who were each unemployed fewer than 40 what’s going on. Some circles are tighter than others, a few notoriously days, Gallant will have his suitors. Seattle, for one. Jim Nill pursued him so. Shero’s is very tight. That was his way in Pittsburgh, that was his way hard in Dallas, although Rick Bowness has Dallas going strong — the in New Jersey. Stars finished a season sweep of Colorado on Tuesday night. Gallant’s It became a problem. Co-owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer are got a long history with Steve Yzerman, too, but there’s no predicting what very involved, and were in conversation with Shero more than the he’ll do. (There are mixed reviews on his French.) Bottom line is, people average owner(s) would be with their GM. There’s an organizational respect his work. That’s two Bizarro World firings for him. CEO, a President and a team President. There were Shero’s right-hand 5. That’s the seventh coach firing of the season. The record is 11. What men, Tom Fitzgerald and Dan MacKinnon. Martin Brodeur became more an insane year. involved in the last few months. And there is the Devils’ analytics department, which has real juice. 6. Expect Vegas to continue its search for a mobile defenceman. 7. Gerry Johanssen, who represents both Brendan Gallagher and Carey everything outdoor to follow, and it is time the Oilers get another Price, stopped in Montreal this week to see his clients. He would not opportunity. They are the favourites for fall 2021. discuss Gallagher’s injury status, but did say “there’s nothing going on” when it comes to Price’s future. Since his NHL arrival, few players have 15. The San Jose Sharks last missed the playoffs in 2014-15, and that had as many crazy rumours surrounding them as Price, so I can was their only miss since 2002-03. One year later, they went to the understand the desire to snuff out trade theories. Stanley Cup Final. That is the mindset for the upcoming off-season. Surprises happen, but GM Doug Wilson has let it be known he is not Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it interested in disrupting his core. There will be interest in Brenden Dillon 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, and Melker Karlsson (their number-two forward on the league’s best they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover penalty kill after Barclay Goodrow). Will be interesting to see what the Canada’s most beloved game. Sharks do with Aaron Dell, who has pushed his way ahead of Martin Jones. 8. The Canadiens’ cornerstone stood strong in back-to-back wins over Ottawa and Calgary, giving his team its first two victories since the 16. Wilson will have cap space. If you believe the surest predictor of Christmas break. Heading into that game against the Senators, Price future behaviour is past behaviour, he will have an aggressive summer. was 45th among eligible goalies in save percentage from the slot and the Five years ago, he made a coaching change (we’ll see how that unfolds); inner-slot. (That’s from Sportlogiq. The “slot” is a home plate from the signed free agents Joonas Donskoi, Paul Martin and Joel Ward; and front of the net to the top of the faceoff circles. The “inner-slot” is directly traded for Jones. At the last minute, he decided against another deal that in front of the net.) Last year, Price was ninth-best against the former and would have sent Tomas Hertl and the pick that became Timo Meier to St. 13th against the latter. They need him back to that level. One other telling Louis for T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk. Now, Hertl and Meier are big statistic: Detroit, New Jersey and Ottawa have a combined goal parts of what San Jose plans to do. differential of minus-154. Versus the Canadiens, they are plus-9. Montreal is 2-4-2 against those teams. 17. Anaheim GM Bob Murray is willing to use his cap space to ease other clubs’ salary issues. He can also go into long-term injury with Patrick 9. Thought the Canadiens’ reaction to Ilya Kovalchuk’s overtime winner Eaves and Ryan Kesler incapacitated. The cost is young assets. With so last Saturday showed some much-needed spirit. GM Marc Bergevin many contenders tight to the ceiling, it’s a smart play. indicated he will make firm decisions on the roster next week, as the players go on their extended all-star break. He’s got 11 picks this draft, 18. Carolina, despite standing third in shots allowed per game (29.1) and including three in the first two rounds, seven in the top four. His contract seventh in goals-against per game (2.72), is looking to change up its heavy-lifting comes prior to next summer with UFAs Gallagher, Joel defensive mix. There were recent shutouts of Arizona and Los Angeles, Armia, Phillip Danault, Jeff Petry and Tomas Tatar. Some important but concern about the way they defended in several other games. It pieces, there. If they decide to tap out on this season, can Bergevin sounds like they’re looking for someone who thinks D-zone first. They’re afford to make his team worse (on paper) for next year? The Canadiens not trading Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce or Jaccob Slavin, all of whom are struggling with their inability to lure top free-agent talent to Quebec. are playing at least 21:45. They won’t make a move unless they get what They have to keep what they draft, develop or acquire. The biggest they want, but will discuss their other blueliners. decision might be Petry, because he has value now and will sign his next 19. Toronto fans tweeted up a storm of Jeremy Bracco trades to get contract at age 33. Look what Toronto gave up for Jake Muzzin. You Alexandar Georgiev from the Rangers, but it will take more than that. have to think the Canadiens do as well, if not better, because Petry’s a Georgiev beat the Islanders 6-2 on Monday, and while New York is righty. looking for a talented forward who is ready to play, they realize how good 10. I was looking for Nicklas Backstrom comparables: players in recent Georgiev can be. memory who signed anything similar to his five-year, $46-million 20. The part of me who loved 1980s hockey didn’t support Zack extension (11.29 per cent of the cap) at age 32. Here’s what’s close: Kassian’s suspension. He went after a physical player on the ice. The Daniel and Henrik Sedin at four years, $28 million (10.89 per cent), age part of me who understands the reality of 2020 gets it. With everything 33; Jason Spezza at four years, $30 million (10.87 per cent), age 32; we know about concussions, if there are going to be fights, they have to Blake Wheeler at five years, $41.25 million (10.38 per cent), age 32; and involve two willing participants. Last season, during another wild Battle of Ryan Kesler at six years, $41.25 million (9.63 per cent), age 31. (info Alberta, Kassian went after Matthew Tkachuk, but wasn’t as uncontrolled courtesy CapFriendly.) and other players jumped in:

“If you look at Joe Thornton, that’s how we projected Nick,” Washington Milan Lucic got two games for punching Columbus’s Kole Sherwood, GM Brian MacLellan said. “Remarkably consistent, few blips. Not a who wanted no part of it. The number of former NHLers who weighed in speed player, a thinking player. Nick makes plays, he’s a number one on Twitter was really interesting, from Teemu Selanne to PJ Stock to power-play guy. Speed was never his defining factor. We think it can Scottie Upshall to Ryan Whitney. Passionate subject. continue.” 21. Tkachuk was not called by the Department of Player Safety. He paused. Kassian’s suspension ends in time for him to face the Flames in two “Nick is a top-two centre. If you lose them, you can’t replace them.” weeks, and he’s made it very clear he’s looking forward to it. Since the Steve Moore incident, the NHL has warned teams prior to hot-button 11. In his media conference, Backstrom said not to assume this contract games, and occasionally sent senior executives to them. I’m going to will be it for him. Have he and Alexander Ovechkin asked the Capitals guess this rematch is on that radar. about tying their terms together? (The captain is up after next season.) 22. The Houston Astros’ punishment for sign-stealing (and Boston’s “Not with me,” MacLellan said with a bit of a laugh. “I assume those two decision to fire ex-Astro Alex Cora) had me wondering about comparable have discussed it. They’ve been tied together since day one. That would cheating scandals in hockey. Brian Burke told me there were some be fitting.” buildings where you worried about the home team’s equipment staff measuring your sticks (members of the 1993 Los Angeles Kings have 12. Some GMs don’t like negotiating directly with players, but MacLellan said they suspected the Canadiens did it and therefore knew about Marty said that was never an issue. McSorley). Some teams (Detroit) were known for fresh paint jobs in “Nick and I have a good relationship. It’s direct — we say what’s on our visiting dressing rooms before big games. The old Boston Garden was minds. From the beginning, we both set the tone, that our main goal was notorious for turning up the heat in visiting rooms for both hockey and for Nick to finish his career as a Capital. You’re not trying to win the deal, basketball. But the most notable investigations have been for tampering you’re trying to do the right thing. He deserves to be rewarded and we or salary cap circumvention. want to ice a competitive team. It was always about a fair number.” 23. The biggest one in recent memory was St. Louis’s punishment for 13. Finally, MacLellan re-iterated that Braden Holtby’s extension remains tampering with Scott Stevens, where the NHL did not get firm evidence a post-season discussion. As for the trade deadline, Washington is until five years after the fact. St. Louis found a copy of an offer sheet and thinking “depth pieces, depending on our health.” a received counter-signed copy dated before the Devils were eliminated in the 1994 playoffs. They forwarded this information to the NHL office. In 14. Pencil in a return to Edmonton for the 2021-22 Heritage Classic. We January 1999, St. Louis was fined $1.4 million and forced to give up a froze at Commonwealth Stadium in November 2003, but it was an first-rounder to New Jersey. The league also conducted a detailed awesome event with a massive 50/50 prize. That was the template for investigation into the Brooks Orpik trade to Colorado, buyout and re- signing in Washington. That’s where they come after you. Leave a paper trail and you are in trouble.

24. I asked Luca Sbisa to give me a quote about the underrated and unappreciated Adam Pelech. Every third word was (bleep). It was so hilarious, I wish I could post it all. Here’s the gist: “Stick is always in the right place. He’s always in the right (bleeping) place. You watch him once, and you say, ‘What’s the (bleeping) deal?’ Nothing stands out. But you watch him 82 (bleeping) times and you realize how (bleeping) good he is.” Sbisa is an international treasure.

25. There are several unsigned goalies for next season, but all of the injuries have several clubs remembering you better have at least three you can depend on — four is a luxury. As a result, teams are looking overseas in addition to the North American market. I have heard three KHL names. In December, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reported Toronto’s interest in Timur Bilyalov from Ak Bars. He’ll be 25 in March and isn’t massive like many of today’s goalies, but you can’t argue the numbers — first in goals against and second in save percentage. Two others to WATCH: St. Petersburg’s Alexei Melnichuk (22 in June, fifth in goals against, 18th in save percentage) and Sibir’s Alexei Krasikov (24, 12th in goals against and seventh in save percentage).

26. Don’t know what Dallas expected of Stephen Johns, but what a huge add he could be. Sidelined almost two years with post-concussion headaches, Johns had a goal and three assists for AHL Texas against Toronto last Saturday. His performance did not go unnoticed. The number one thing is his health; he could make a difference.

27. What did John Tavares ask of William Nylander when they were moved to the same line?

“Go to the middle,” the captain answered. “He’s very dangerous when he gets the puck there.”

28. Rasmus Sandin agreed to a contract with no performance bonuses, knowing it would be easier to reach the NHL quicker for cap-tight Toronto. You know who else structured their contract similarly? Nick Robertson.

29. Devils forward John Hayden, who has played 135 NHL games, proudly admitted that he is far from the best athlete in his family. He said that honour goes to younger sister, Catherine, who scored 29 goals the last two seasons for the University of North Carolina’s field hockey team. The Heels went 46-0 and won back-to-back National Championships.

“Their dressing room is nicer than some NHL ones,” he smiled.

But I laughed when I saw that her Twitter feed has a banner photo of the Rangers.

30. I wanted to save one thought for a shoutout to World Junior hero Akil Thomas, traded from OHL Niagara to Peterborough. He called the family of Steve Montador to ask for permission to wear number 44, and it was graciously granted.

Courtesy of Steve’s brother, Chris, check out the bottom left of Thomas’s jersey. Beautiful.

31. December 1989, back home from first year at Western for the break. Roll the Bones tour at , Tragically Hip opening for Rush. My first in-person Neil Peart drum solo, him sliding between an acoustic and an electronic set in the middle of it. Those are moments you never forget.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171490 Websites Brenden Dillon, San Jose Sharks Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman highlighted defender Brenden Dillon as a

name San Jose could be looking to move, with the 29-year-old in the final Sportsnet.ca / 7 Maple Leafs trade targets who could help shore up the year of his deal as well. blue line Though not able to provide the offensive spark that Brodie would bring, Dillon’s a fairly steady presence on the back end, and able to eat up to 20 minutes a night if need be. Sonny Sachdeva January 15, 2020, 12:18 PM At six-foot-four, 225 pounds, the New Westminster, B.C. native also brings the added element of size and a physical game, assets that will become more useful down the stretch as the games slowly shift from The Toronto Maple Leafs’ tumultuous season has seen a new dose of regular-season to playoff-style hockey. chaos thrown into the mix. According to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, a second-round pick and a If a coaching change, an off-season blockbuster deal that hasn’t panned prospect could be enough to pry him out of San Jose, meaning a deal out, and injuries to Mitch Marner and John Tavares weren’t enough to starting with Bracco could be workable. shake things up, the loss of the club’s two ice-time leaders in Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin will add a fresh test for Sheldon Keefe’s club to Alec Martinez, Los Angeles Kings navigate. With the Kings in the same 2019-20 tailspin as their Californian Both defenders remain on the injured reserve with foot injuries, and while counterparts, veteran defender Alec Martinez is reportedly on the block, Muzzin will likely return first, neither seem likely to figure into the Leafs’ too. plans any time particularly soon. Unfortunately, that’s a key problem for Toronto, as the first half of the 2019-20 campaign didn’t see the club The fact that the 32-year-old has another year on his deal, at $4 million, build up enough insurance in the standings to withstand any significant likely increases the cost for potential buyers, but Martinez could be both drop-off. a short- and long-term solution for Toronto.

As it currently stands, Toronto sits third in their division with 56 points. In the short term, he can easily eat 20 minutes a night — having topped Florida — who just dealt the Leafs an 8-4 shellacking on Sunday — sits that mark in each of the past four seasons — and brings some offensive just three points back with two games in hand. Should Toronto get capabilities too, with a 39-point effort on his resume just a couple pushed into the wild-card race, the Hurricanes sit tied with them at 56 seasons ago. In the long term, Martinez’s familiarity with Muzzin from points, with Philadelphia and Columbus only trailing by a pair. their Kings days can only help Toronto’s efforts.

Suffice it to say, the Maple Leafs need to maintain their current level, or Nikita Zadorov or Ian Cole, Colorado Avalanche risk winding up in a tough race for the post-season down the stretch. The Avalanche are going to be the most interesting team involved in any So far, so good. Without their top two defenders Tuesday, the Maple trade deadline conversations given they’ve got an already promising Leafs managed to put away the New Jersey Devils with a 7-4 win — with squad and an absurd amount of cap space heading into the latter half of recently called up Rasmus Sandin chipping in two points to prove he can the season. help his team weather the storm for the time being. Justin Holl and Travis They also have a duo in Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov who are currently Dermott led the way in ice-time, each skating over 21 minutes in the tilt. limited to bottom-pairing minutes, but have shown the ability to eat more Tyson Barrie and Martin Marincin lined up as the second pair, with Cody minutes if need be in the past and come with manageable cap hits. Ceci and Sandin rounding out the blue-line group. Rumours were floated about a potential Zadorov trade last year before But here’s betting things get tougher once the Leafs are up against a he signed a one-year deal to return to Colorado. With a strong team and team better than one that struggled mightily even before they traded title aspirations, there’s no reason GM Joe Sakic needs to mess with his away their recent Hart Trophy winner. The state of Toronto’s blue line current blue-line setup, of course. But if Sakic opts to swing for a bigger has many among the Maple Leafs faithful clamouring for a trade to shore blue-line piece to bolster his top four, perhaps that pushes one of Cole or up the back end for tougher affairs that’ll come. Zadorov out and on to the trade block. So, what are the club’s options? Blockbusters won’t do, as the Leafs Neither are particularly game-changing options for the Maple Leafs — don’t necessarily require major surgery but simply a band-aid to keep but given the state of their blue line and the responsibilities thrust upon things from getting out of hand until Rielly and Muzzin return. What will still-emerging talents like Dermott, Holl and Sandin, a steady, veteran serve the club best is a stopgap option, a veteran defender who can defender to plug into the mix for the time being wouldn’t be a terrible come in, eat minutes, hold down the fort and chip in offensively when the idea. moment presents itself. Zach Bogosian, Buffalo Sabres Let’s take a look at a few realistic options for GM Kyle Dubas. The veteran reportedly requested a trade out of Buffalo back in T.J. Brodie or Travis Hamonic, Calgary Flames December as a limited role has left him often sidelined in the rebuilding Let’s start closer to the surgery side of the spectrum. There’s no question Sabres organization. T.J. Brodie could help the Leafs’ cause, having held a top-line role for Little has changed since, with Bogosian still rarely getting legitimate much of his time in Calgary. Given reports over the summer that a Brodie minutes in his current situation. While a healthy Leafs squad would (and Mark Jankowski) for Nazem Kadri trade was considered, it’s safe to probably have taken the same approach, the current crew could likely assume the Leafs are interested in the smooth-skating defender’s use the 29-year-old’s veteran presence, and could potentially get some services. special-teams use out of him as well. But as a longtime staple in Calgary, Brodie wouldn’t come cheap. The The main issue here is cap hit, given the pending unrestricted free original reported deal had a two-time 30-goal-scorer in Kadri going the agent’s 2019-20 hit sits at $5.14 million per year. Perhaps Buffalo retains other way. While Toronto no longer has many of that calibre of extra some salary to move on from the Bogosian debacle, and nets a future pieces to move out — and is in no position to subtract from their blue line asset from the Maple Leafs to help their young guns’ cause. in the form of someone like Barrie — they do have a few pieces to entice teams, namely quick-footed depth winger Kasperi Kapanen and AHL Of course, the central question is whether a deal is truly needed at all, standout Jeremy Bracco. particularly given the losses on Toronto’s blue-line don’t appear to be season-ending. There’s no room for a slide down the standings, but the With both Brodie and the more defensive-minded Travis Hamonic set to Leafs’ roster is still dotted with more than enough talent to make up for a hit unrestricted free agency at the end of this season, and the Flames weaker blue-line, in theory. stocked full of talented blue-liners old and young, there may be a deal to be had there. Both clock in with fairly reasonable cap hits ($4.65 million Looking at the names available — those who could potentially be for Brodie, $3.86 million for Hamonic), meaning little would need to be acquired in deals that wouldn’t significantly alter the team’s current roster done to fit either in, as well. or prospect cupboard, how much would the needle truly move? The biggest X-factor right now appears to be Sandin.

With the young Swede impressing in the big leagues once again, perhaps a combination of him raising his level and Barrie finally finding his game stems the tide for Toronto’s blue line before their top-pairing game changers are back in the mix. Should there still be a blue-line hole seemingly in need of filling in Toronto, the question for Dubas is how minor or major a move is deemed necessary to shake things up.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171491 Websites And Domi, who had apologized for taking a bad penalty and an unsportsmanlike conduct on top of it for a double-minor in the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils back on Nov. 16, should have known better. Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Julien should share some blame for loss to Blackhawks The 25-year-old, who blamed himself on that night, added, “I can’t do that, and it won’t happen again.”

But Domi is a feisty player, a player who always plays on the edge, and Eric Engels January 16, 2020, 12:57 AM there was never a doubt he’d slip up again — even if he had only taken 10 minors this season before roughing up Highmore.

“During the play I certainly wasn’t trying to take a penalty,” he said about MONTREAL — Claude Julien was asked about Charlie Lindgren’s Wednesday’s situation. “But I watched the replay and it’s a penalty. So performance in Montreal’s 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on that’s how it goes. Unfortunately, they scored on that. You can’t do that Wednesday and his response was that it was a team effort in losing. — especially in the situation we’re in right now. It is what it is. Coach’s The coach played his role, too. And we’re not talking about his decision decision, and obviously I can’t afford to do that.” to start Lindgren over Carey Price, who had stopped 72 of 73 shots in There was consistency in Julien’s decision. two wins prior to the game against a Blackhawks team that had scraped out an overtime win in Ottawa the night before while the Canadiens were In Montreal’s 16th game of the season, he held Canadiens leading scorer resting and waiting for them in Montreal. Tomas Tatar out for most of the second period and all but four shifts in the third of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 7. This If the Canadiens started this one completely out of sorts, allowing Zack was after Tatar had taken minor penalties nine and 10 of the young Smith (he of two goals in 40 games) to score two goals in the first nine season — both of them lazy stick infractions. minutes — and one in comedic fashion thanks to a miscommunication between Lindgren and Tomas Tatar — it was at least in part because The thing is, the Canadiens are in a much more desperate situation now Julien didn’t have them as well-prepared as they should have been. than they were then. They needed to turn their two-game win streak into three on Wednesday. But perhaps the most confounding thing to happen in this one came after Max Domi took a reckless, careless, selfish (or as Julien later referred to Even Larry David understands that, bad penalties aside, goal scorers it, useless) roughing penalty on Matthew Highmore at the 10:52 mark of need to be on the ice in crunch time. the second period. And no, it wasn’t Julien’s decision to park Domi at the end of Montreal’s bench after Alex DeBrincat scored 35 seconds into the Considering how they played against Chicago, it might not have mattered ensuing power play. who came out on that failed power play while Domi was stapled to the bench. The real head-scratcher was the coach’s decision to keep Domi on the bench when Smith went off for high-sticking with 4:36 remaining in the But Domi has 11 points on the man-advantage this season, nearly twice middle period. what Nick Cousins, Jordan Weal and Artturi Lehkonen (six points) have combined for in that department, and he was highly motivated to make Julien was asked after the game about how he decided to toe the line up for his error. between the message he wanted to send to his player and having to rely on an offensive type while trailing in the game. “Of course,” Domi said. “I think we’re all sitting there (wanting to do that)…” “I did what I had to do,” the coach responded. “You take a useless penalty like that, there’s consequences.” But Julien made his decision and held firm to it. He could have gone all the way with it by sitting Domi out for the rest of the game, but with only When we asked if he was tempted to motivate Domi by telling him he had 20 minutes left for the Canadiens to come back he decided to play him — cost the team a goal and that it was time for him to go out there and get it making the decision to leave him off that power play late in the second back with the power play opportunity, Julien said the following: even more curious.

“Those questions (about) whatever you guys feel like…I did what I had to We have been outspoken about the job he’s done under the do, simple as that. I don’t have to explain it more than I did. It’s not the circumstances he’s had to deal with this season. We believe he’s done first time he’s taken a bad penalty. There’s consequences, and as well as anyone could with the roster he’s had and the injuries the sometimes those messages (date back a lot further) than the situation Canadiens have been hit with. right there. And it doesn’t matter who we put on (for the power play) instead of Max. Max is not the guy that’s going to score goals all the time But Julien’s decision on Wednesday played a role in Montreal’s loss to here, so a power play is a five-man unit. It’s as simple as that.” Chicago, and he should share some of the blame for the outcome.

And this team is made up of 20 players and five coaches and everyone Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020 should wear the blame for a performance Julien classified as the team’s worst in 10 games.

We needn’t remind you the Canadiens had lost eight of 10 prior to Wednesday’s debacle.

For as bad as Montreal had started against Chicago, Phillip Danault scored 54 seconds into the second period to get the Canadiens back to 2-1. And even though Domi’s penalty was so ill-timed, and unquestionably worth more time away from the ice than the 35 seconds he spent in the box, he’s the second-highest scoring player on the team and he has to be out there to give you a chance at turning a 3-1 deficit into 3-2 heading to the third period.

Maybe the game plays out differently thereafter, instead of how it actually did — with the Canadiens allowing a goal to Drake Caggiula and getting out-shot 11-6 in the final frame.

“We weren’t there at all. It’s as simple as that,” Julien said. “They’re a team that has good sticks, which was clearly pointed out before the game, but we weren’t there at all. Not at all. We lost our battles for loose pucks, we made bad decisions, and we didn’t deserve a win at all.”

That’s all true. 1171492 Websites Captain Mark Giordano also refused to be sucked into any semblance of verbal sparring over the incident.

"Honestly, the whole ‘through the media’ and all this back and forth — Sportsnet.ca / Tkachuk’s teammates have his back ahead of Flames- what’s it going to prove?" asked the Toronto native, reiterating the Oilers rematch importance of Thursday’s game.

"Whatever presents itself presents itself in that game, but that’s a long ways away. Let’s just worry about the (three) games before we play them Eric Francis | January 15, 2020, 5:49 PM again. I don’t think anyone in here is worried about Chucky and what he’s going to bring to the table night in and night out. We’ll have his back

when we have to." TORONTO — Still steaming from a game played three days earlier, Zack "There’s a lot of different opinions. We know what Chucky is. He’s a great Kassian continues to insist it’s incumbent upon Matthew Tkachuk to grant teammate and a great player on our team. He’s a big part of our team him a fight. and he creates so much for us and he helps us win a lot of games. Keep The irony of his ongoing rant is that if anyone owes anyone a dance, it’s doing what he’s doing." Kassian. No one should blame Kassian for wanting to fight Tkachuk on Saturday With Milan Lucic. — the hits were hellacious and the stakes and emotions were high. Tkachuk has done plenty to infuriate players league-wide who’d love to If anyone broke hockey’s code Saturday night, it was the ever- take a round out of him. combustible Oilers winger by violently tossing around a star player like Tkachuk while administering a series of vicious lefts. We’d all love to see that tilt.

Even in today’s game such behaviour is punishable by more than just the Yet, no one should blame Tkachuk for refusing to oblige, as the league NHL’s Department of Player Safety. confirmed he didn’t cross the line, contrary to what some observers believe. A late game visit from Lucic to his former teammate Saturday clearly delivered that exact message: you now have to answer to me. His vindication came in the form of the ensuing power-play goal that won Calgary the game. The question for Jan. 29 when they meet in Edmonton is whether or not Kassian is prepared to practice exactly what he’s been preaching. While ill-advised, Kassian’s delicious WWE-style monologues since the incident have fueled a tantalizingly rare set of storylines in today’s Will he stand up and answer the bell? sanitized game.

Surely he understands how hypocritical it would be to defer by Lest anyone forget: the NHL is in the entertainment game, and all of this suggesting a heavyweight like Lucic is out of his weight class? is intriguing theatre.

The sure-to-be-fascinating answer won’t come for another two weeks, That’s not to say some haven’t found various aspects of it disturbing, which is why the Flames spent Wednesday trying their best to steer clear including Giordano. of the distraction. "Oh yeah, when it’s your teammate and you’re standing right there," he Tkachuk was kept away from the media Wednesday, and his teammates said, speaking of the violent takedown and beating. were completely disinterested in fanning the NHL’s topic of the week. "It happened quick, but you’d like to see the linesman maybe grab the "When the time comes, whatever score needs to be settled will be guy a bit earlier. We feel like we got off (lucky) that he didn’t get hit with a settled," said Lucic, one of the most feared players in the game today. big one and get injured. There’s a lot of different things that could have happened there. But he’s fine and he’s playing tomorrow and we move "I know for a fact everybody’s got everybody’s back in this locker room. on." Talk is just talk." Interim coach Geoff Ward also has Tkachuk’s back, insisting he doesn’t Kassian has been doing plenty of it since the incident late in the second think his associate captain should feel compelled to change anything period of Saturday’s game, when he took exception to the second of about his game. three targeted-but-clean hits by Tkachuk, prompting the costly, unanswered attack. "From our standpoint we don’t see that there’s any lessons right now that have to be learned," he said. The price tag on Kassian’s overzealousness promises to be far more than the two games and $21,000 in lost salary. "We’re not going to tell him to change the way he plays. We expect him to play his game and be himself." By calling his shot and announcing his intention to exact revenge on Tkachuk, the 28-year-old winger has painted himself into a corner. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020 Need we bring up the perils of the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore incident to illustrate the dangers of essentially sending threats through the media?

The man who has crossed plenty of lines in his career will have the eyes of the hockey world on him every time he and Tkachuk co-exist on the ice, making his designs for payback a tough task.

Was Lucic surprised to hear Kassian’s post-suspension rhetoric?

"Kind of, not really," hedged Lucic with an uncomfortable grin.

"He’s an emotional guy who plays with a lot of emotion. He speaks what’s on his mind whether there’s a microphone in front of him or not.

"I had fun being his teammate for three years, but push come to shove Matt is my teammate and I’ll do whatever I have to to step up for him."

Ditto for Zac Rinaldo, who, at five-foot-11, 192 pounds, is 20 pounds lighter than Kassian, but more than willing to mix it up with him.

"We’ve got Chucky’s back," said Rinaldo, insistent on limiting his comments and focusing only on the game against Toronto Thursday.

"We’re a team. We’re a family. We love each other in here. We’re not thinking about it." 1171493 Websites Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020

Sportsnet.ca / Despite bond, Matthews knows after puck drops Tkachuk won't hold back

Chris Johnston | January 15, 2020, 5:25 PM

TORONTO — Auston Matthews knows Matthew Tkachuk well enough to know that he’s not in the business of handing out free passes.

Even when you’re a former teammate, current friend and ongoing dinner companion, all bets are off once the puck drops. That’s why Matthews doesn’t expect to be spared from any chirps or physical play during Thursday’s Toronto Maple Leafs–Calgary Flames game at Scotiabank Arena.

"No, I don’t. Honestly," said Matthews. "I think he doesn’t really take that stuff into account, he goes out there and competes every night, whether it’s against guys that he knows or guys that he’s friends with or not.

"That’s just the way he is. I think it’s the way it really should be."

Tkachuk’s reputation as a thorn-in-your-side agitator hit a new level after Saturday’s Battle of Alberta, when he levelled Zack Kassian with a series of well-timed hits, but declined to oblige the Edmonton Oilers bruiser in a fight.

Not only did Kassian earn a two-game suspension from the NHL for attacking Tkachuk, he saw his team lose the game’s on a power-play goal scored while he was in the penalty box for going after him.

None of it was a surprise to Matthews, who saw Tkachuk perfect the art of getting under an opponent’s skin during their time together at the U.S. national development program. He was already well adept at doing it even as a teenager.

"That’s something that he feeds off of, obviously. I saw it first-hand for two years," said Matthews. "I think he’s just a guy that you love to have on your team and on your side, and a guy you hate to play against. I mean he just likes to compete out there.

"He’ll play on the edge and, obviously, he’s kind of pissed a couple people off on the way to doing it."

Even though Tkachuk has been pretty quiet against the Leafs during his NHL career — with one goal and three minor penalties in seven games — he was clearly on their minds in advance of his lone visit here this season.

Toronto is not a team that engages in much physical play, and head coach Sheldon Keefe wants his players to remain mindful of what style brings them success.

"It’s just being aware of the fact that he’s competitive and he’s going to come hard on every puck, and all those types of things," Keefe said of Tkachuk. "But also not to let things go off the rails and become a sideshow, I think that’s part of it, as he looks to kind of change the focus that you might have in a game.

"That’s not what we want to be about. We want to just focus on what we have to do."

Matthews is currently the NHL’s hottest scorer with 18 goals in his last 18 games and doesn’t think he’ll be distracted from the task at hand. Just like linemate Mitch Marner — a former teammate of Tkachuk’s with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights — he’s got some inside knowledge on the Flames winger.

So try as he might, it won’t be easy for Tkachuk to get inside the minds of Toronto’s top forwards.

"I think he knows that his stuff probably won’t work on me because I’ve seen it first-hand," said Matthews. "He’s a guy, he gets under other guys’ skin and he does a really good job at it. To go with it he’s a heck of a player, as well, and puts up great numbers.

"Easy to play with. Makes plays all over the ice. Goes into those dirty areas and really good in front of the net, he uses his size.

"So a really good player." 1171494 Websites notable that Blashill is not GM Steve Yzerman’s hiring, but was promoted from Detroit’s AHL team in Grand Rapids by former GM Ken Holland after Mike Babcock left the organization.

Sportsnet.ca / Where will Gerard Gallant coach next? Analyzing seven So Yzerman still has to bring in “his guy” and Gallant could be it. They’re potential destinations certainly familiar with each other, as they were teammates — and even linemates at times — for nine seasons in Detroit. Gallant was able to turn the non-playoff Florida Panthers into a post-season team in one year and his work with Vegas launched him well up the NHL coach rankings. Rory Boylen | January 15, 2020, 3:14 PM However, Yzerman has always been supportive of Blashill as the head

coach, and as recently as last week he said: “We’ve had injuries from What a weird and strange NHL season it’s been. day one of training camp. Regardless of injuries, our record and our team’s performance is somewhat unfair to pin that on the coaching staff With no shortage of bombshells coming down, the latest was the at this point. The injuries make it really difficult to really know what you shocking announcement that the Vegas Golden Knights had fired head truly have.” coach Gerard Gallant, less than two seasons after he guided them to the Stanley Cup Final as an expansion team and just months after a But the equation has potentially changed with Gallant available. No one controversial five-minute major flipped Vegas’ fortunes in Game 7 against saw this coming and it’s bound to encourage some recalculations in a the San Jose Sharks, and turned what looked like another series win into number of front offices. a defeat. CALGARY FLAMES Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon labelled this firing as performance- Bill Hartley was tough. He was followed by Glen Gulutzan, who wasn’t based and if you only look at the standings you’ll see a Cup contender hard enough on the players. Gulutzan was replaced by Bill Peters as a that’s lost four in a row, the most recent being a 4-2 defeat in Buffalo. At guy who would challenge the players more, but the revelations of past 24-19-6, Vegas’ 54 points are tied with Vancouver and Winnipeg in the abuse in Carolina abruptly ended his tenure earlier this season when the Western Conference’s wild-card spots, but the Golden Knights have two sides parted ways. And while Geoff Ward has steadied the ship, with played two more games than both. Vegas’ .551 points percentage ranks Calgary going 13-6-1 under his watch, the fact is he’s still got that 19th in the league. “interim” tag attached to him. And until that is done away with, questions But, as is usually the case, there’s more to the story. According to will be asked about who the long-term answer is behind the bench. Natural Stat Trick the Golden Knights rank highly in a number of Gallant would be a nice middle ground to what the Flames have had measures, and the tale of their struggles has more to do with below- behind the bench recently. He’s a players’ coach, sure, but no one is average goaltending and a run of bad luck. going to walk all over him. Gallant has earned the respect of his charges STAT (5-on-5) Percentage LEAGUE RANK at each stop and his success can’t be debated. The Flames locked into contender mode and need to be doing everything they can to optimize GF% 48.51 22nd their chances. Is Gallant too good of a replacement to pass up? xGF% 54.84 2nd The big question, though, is how would you demote Ward back to an assistant in favour of Gallant when he’s done an admirable job navigating CF% 53.59 3rd the Flames through incredibly stormy waters. After the Peters situation, SCF% 55.38 2nd Ward calmed everything and Calgary and won his first seven games behind the bench. That was followed by a tough 2-5-1 stretch, but Ward HDCF% 53.73 5th didn’t allow that to spiral too much and now Calgary has won five of its SH% 7.46 25th six games in 2020 and is just two points out of the division lead.

SV% 0.911 25th There’s also not a close tie between Treliving and Gallant — certainly not as close as the one between Yzerman and Gallant. So there are plenty of Gallant is a players’ coach through and through, and given his recent reasons why this may not be a fit, but if Calgary wanted to wait until the success it likely won’t be long before he lands on his feet with another off-season to make a call, it’d probably miss out on the chance to get team. John Hynes was out of work for 34 days before the Nashville Gallant. Predators hired him, and Peter DeBoer was unemployed for 35 days before Vegas hired him as Gallant’s replacement. What’s a good COLORADO AVALANCHE over/under for how long Gallant will be without a job, especially given the Look, we’ll label this one as a long shot as well. GM Joe Sakic is not one trade deadline is 41 days away and playoff races are heating up: 19.5? to rush into a major decision and he’s been very supportive of head So in talking to Colin Miller, he was shocked about Gallant He coach Jared Bednar, especially after he retained him following the actually asked @JoeYerdon and I if the news was real. We had to give disastrous 2016-17. Since then, Colorado has made gains and now, on him the actual confirmation. #VGK #Sabres paper, looks like an emerging powerhouse.

— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) January 15, 2020 But, like Vegas, the Avalanche are going through a tough stretch, losing seven of their past nine games. Also like Vegas, this appears to be more Miller on Gallant: "That happened? I didn't know if the guys were bad luck than anything, as the Avs rank third in expected goals-for kidding or not. I'm completely shocked. When I was there, he was a percentage at 5-on-5, second in Corsi-for percentage and 21st in fantastic coach, a players' coach. Everybody loved him. .. I'm sure he'll shooting percentage over this time. But the fact is Colorado is now third have another job soon. Tough to see that piece of their puzzle go." #VGK in the Central, 11 points out of first place, and just two points clear of the wild card. — Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) January 15, 2020 I don't know if Jared Bednar is in any trouble or not really. Joe Sakic Given that, it’s time for a little exercise. Looking around the league, there doesn't make rash decisions. But I know this: two real good coaches – are a number of struggling teams, or teams with interim head coaches, DeBoer and Laviolette – are out there. There's pressure on JB, for sure, who may be suddenly very interested in the newest available head to get this team going coach. When someone like Gallant is out there it can spur a team into action that otherwise may have rode out a storm and been more patient — Adrian Dater (@adater) January 15, 2020 about the process. It would be a shock to see them let go of Bednar, but just about every So where might Gallant head next? Here are a few possibilities: coach firing this season can be described as such. The pressure is picking up from Avs fans and if the team drops its last three games (all at DETROIT RED WINGS home) before the all-star break, we’ll wonder if Sakic will think of making No doubt Jeff Blashill has been in a tough spot from Day 1 in Detroit, but a switch. this is now his fifth season behind the bench and the team’s points DALLAS STARS percentage has declined every year he’s been at the helm. It’s also GM Jim Nill’s Dallas Stars are one of these teams that made an abrupt Elliotte Friedman on the Gerard Gallant firing and what that means for decision to move on from its coach, firing Jim Montgomery for the Golden Knights “unprofessional conduct” and replacing him with assistant Rick Bowness on an interim basis. The Stars are cruising under Bowness, however, WINNIPEG JETS with a 10-4-1 record, so it’s not as though he’s been struggling in the new Again, this would be a shocking switch because, really, Paul Maurice has gig. done very well through his seven seasons as the Jets’ head coach. In But again we have to wonder if this is a situation that’s just too good to fact, this year may be one of his finer coaching jobs with the team. He’s pass up. Bowness, hypothetically, could return to his assistant role, tried some new things, such as moving Patrik Laine to the top line, which is what he’s served in for most of his near-30 years behind an NHL splitting up Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele — and despite having a bench. Gallant would fill the head-coach job for the long-term — and be blue line that was devastated by off-season losses, Maurice has in a position to hit the ground running with a great team — and the rising managed to lean on his offence (and a terrific start by Connor Stars would (on paper) make a relatively smooth transition. Hellebuyck) to keep the Jets in the playoff race.

Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it However, like Boudreau, Maurice is believed to be in the final year of his 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, contract so the future isn’t certain. That’s already led to rumours that the they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover current Jets coach could wind up in Seattle, though Maurice recently Canada’s most beloved game. stated his desire to stay in Winnipeg: “I’m here as long as Mark [Chipman] and Kevin [Cheveldayoff] want me to be here. This is home for SAN JOSE SHARKS me. I love this place. I’m not looking to go anywhere. It’ll be kicking and screaming on the way out, that’ll be how that transition happens. For rivalry purposes, Gallant landing in San Jose would be just about perfect. But the reality is that here again is a team on the playoff bubble that could be looking to make a move. And, outside of the past two trade We already have the Game 7 meltdown to draw from, and the Evander deadline when he moved a first-round pick for centre help, GM Kane-Ryan Reaves stand-off is good for entertainment both on and off Cheveldayoff has traditionally been quiet on that front. Of course, he’s the ice. And remember, during the Vegas-San Jose first-round series last only ever made the one change behind the bench as well, letting go of year DeBoer was critical of Gallant for “chirping” at his Sharks players Claude Noel for Maurice in 2013-14. from the bench. Ahead of that fateful seventh game, Gallant shot back: If Cheveldayoff made this call it would certainly be a surprise. But that’s “I really don’t want to talk about that, but I think I’m going to have to a what’s defined the NHL season so far, isn’t it? little bit,” Gallant said. “For that clown to say that in the paper yesterday, it’s not right.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020

He then explained what actually had happened:

“There might have been two incidents that happened, and I’ll tell you both incidents,” he said. “Logan Couture, I thought it was an embellishment, so I’m yelling at the referee. Not Logan Couture. The other one, in Game 2, Evander Kane, he is yelling at Ryan Reaves between the bench. Evander yells at me, he says, ‘hey coach, when are you going to send your big guy out on the ice and play him more than four minutes?’ I said, ‘he’s played 10 minutes every game and he’s going to play a lot more.’ Those are the two times. If I’m going to be a chirper and a loudmouth, I think people know me as a coach and respect me as a coach. If he’s going to yap about that, that’s a little unclassy for me.”

After the Sharks fired DeBoer a little over a month ago, assistant was promoted to the head job on an interim basis. The Sharks haven’t had the same bounce back Calgary has under their interim, though, going 6- 7-2 since DeBoer was let go.

There are deeper problems in San Jose, such as a thin blue line and a goaltending tandem that has been at the bottom of the league for two years now (though we will say it’s been better of late). The Sharks trail a playoff spot by eight points right now, so while we may not get another DeBoer-Gallant playoff series this year, it would at least keep them in the same division going forward.

And if the result of all this is that Gallant and DeBoer end up switching teams? That’s just a great storyline.

MINNESOTA WILD

It feels like Bruce Boudreau has been on the “hot seat” for two years now, first following a second Round 1 loss and then after last year’s finish outside of the playoffs. Adding to the intrigue around his future with the Wild is that he’s currently in the last year of his contract. The Wild are again tracking towards a playoff miss, currently sitting eight points out, and it may be a good time for GM Bill Guerin to make his first coaching hire.

For those reasons, Gallant could be a fit here too. While Guerin hasn’t rushed to make any moves since taking over for Paul Fenton, who was fired after just one year on the job, this roster really feels stale and in need of some turnover. They are stuck in that mushy middle — no clear way to get back to the playoffs as a contender, and too good to really sink to the bottom and draft a surefire game-changer. Maybe, the first thing Guerin should try with this group before exploring a teardown is to bring in a new voice behind the bench — and Gallant may very well be the best available right now.

Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup 1171495 Websites So that was tough. I would never be able to get used to it, because I was doing extra stuff and working extra hard to make sure that when I have an opportunity to play more minutes I’d be able to. But it just didn’t happen. Sportsnet.ca / Ilya Kovalchuk Q&A: What went wrong with the Kings and the fit in Montreal SN: What was it like for you waiting for teams to call after your contract with Los Angeles was terminated?

Kovalchuk: I just told my agent to take care of things. I was with my Eric Engels | January 15, 2020, 11:26 AM family, because it was Christmas, and there was a trade (/signing) freeze for the NHL, too. We couldn’t do anything anyway. I was just training and

spending time with family, so, actually, it was pretty good. BROSSARD, Que. — Just about everything we’ve seen from Ilya SN: You must have heard some of the things being said about you after Kovalchuk in a Montreal Canadiens uniform has surprised us, but it things failed with the Kings… certainly hasn’t shocked his new teammates. Kovalchuk: No. I’m not a guy who reads the paper and is on social media Victor Mete and Jesperi Kotkaniemi referred to the 36-year-old as “a total all the time; I prefer to spend time with the kids. I have four of them, so I legend on and off the ice” within just a couple of days of his arrival in the have a lot of things to do. first week of January. Max Domi said he’s been completely awestruck by the big Russian since he first introduced himself after signing a two-way, As for hockey, I love the game so much, but my family is always first. So $700,000 contract to resume his NHL career in Montreal. when I have free time away from the game, I’d spend most of my time with my kids. So no, I didn’t pay attention to what everybody was saying. It’s no secret that Kovalchuk’s place in the league was in doubt when he and the Los Angeles Kings mutually agreed to terminate his three-year, But you know what they could say about a 36-year-old who was released $18.75-million deal before even half of it had expired. by the team, but they didn’t know the situation. It’s obvious.

He then spent a little over two weeks on the sidelines waiting for a I don’t even blame those people for thinking whatever they would. contender to call on his services. Everybody has their own opinion.

That didn’t happen, but Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin—in a Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it pinch, with Jonathan Drouin, Brendan Gallagher, Joel Armia and Paul 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, Byron sidelined by injury—picked up the phone and said there was very they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover little convincing he had to do to get Kovalchuk inked to what he referred Canada’s most beloved game. to as a “no-risk deal.” SN: How has your time been in Montreal so far? How are you enjoying That was the perfect way to describe this signing. If Kovalchuk came in it? and helped the team snap out of its lengthy funk and contributed some offence here or there, it would be a win for the Canadiens. Kovalchuk: It’s been great. Like I’ve said a lot of times already, this group of guys is special. They treat me like I’ve been here a long time. They’ve That the 6-foot-3, 222-pounder has managed a game-winning goal, three given me such a warm welcome, and I love the leadership group—Shea assists and played no less than 18:30 in any of his five games so far has Weber, Carey Price. We know each other a little bit before, but we never been nothing short of impressive. played together.

And then there’s the way he’s played away from the puck, showing It’s just great. I really believe and know that when the guys come back passion, effort and a physical edge all over the ice. The enthusiasm he’s (from injury) we’ll have something special in this room. We’re never going brought to the bench and the room has also been noteworthy. to give up, and those three games before the break are huge. We’re going to take one game at a time and we’ll see where we’re going to go “I have no issues with what he’s bringing so far,” Canadiens coach from there. Claude Julien remarked after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s giving us a lot of good things. He’s bringing energy, he’s well-immersed in our systems SN: Where’s your confidence at right now in your personal game? and the way we like to play, and he’s respecting the plan. And, as a teammate, we noticed (in Monday’s win over the Calgary Flames) that he Kovalchuk: It’s getting there. First of all, I’m just getting back to game- was probably the most excited guy on the bench when Ryan Poehling shape. The first game, you go through emotions and adrenaline carries scored. He’s happy for everyone. you. But then we had back-to-backs and three games in four nights. It takes a little time. “It’s the players like him who serve as a good example for others.” But the last few games—knock on wood—I feel good. My legs feel good. It makes you wonder how things went so poorly with the Kings, with But my decisions in quick time can be much better. We can all be a little whom Kovalchuk scored 19 goals, 43 points and had a minus-36 rating in bit more simple right now and shoot the puck more, because we try to 81 games. pass that extra one and it seems like it’s not going our way. We have to just simplify things—and that’s me too. We got to spend some one-on-one time with Kovalchuk to ask him about that, the chance the Canadiens gave him after his contract termination SN: What does it mean to you to have been given the opportunity and left him in limbo, what’s motivating him right now, plus a few other things: linemates Claude has given you (Tatar-Danault)?

Sportsnet: Why didn’t it work in Los Angeles? Kovalchuk: It means a lot when the coach trusts you. You want to do anything for him. I’m just taking that opportunity and my challenge and Kovalchuk: It just wasn’t the right time. The expectation was very high going out there and trying my best to try to help the team win. when I got there, but obviously there was a lot of changes with the team. There were a few injured guys, a coach got fired, and then the team went SN: How difficult is it to find your best game when you come into the towards a rebuild. situation you were brought into—where the team was losing a lot and things were tense? So we talked with management and decided to find a way to split apart, because I don’t have much time to waste and I wanted to play for a team Kovalchuk: It’s a challenge. It would be so easy to come to a team in first that was trying to win something. place, but it’s more fun when it’s a challenge. We’ve gone through some bad situations, but right now we can feel we’re getting back on track and SN: Was it hard to keep your confidence up with the situation you were guys are getting healthy. It’s all about us—we just need to take care of in? our game. The team always plays fast and if we keep doing that we’ll be Kovalchuk: It’s just I had never been in that role that I was given in L.A. It in good shape. was tough for me. I’m useless when I play seven-to-10 minutes a night. SN: You said you didn’t really care or listen to what people on the outside Some guys are used to it, and they do a great job of it and that’s why were saying about you, but did you have a motivation to prove something they’re in the league, but I used to play a different kind of game and role. to yourself in coming here? Kovalchuk: Like I said when I came here, I just wanted to play. If I just wanted to sit and collect my paycheque, I could have done that for another year-and-a-half (in L.A.). It’s not the reason I came here.

When I saw the situation (with the Kings) wasn’t going to work out, I tried to find a way how to fix things, and I think that was the best thing for me to change. Obviously, I wasn’t myself there, so why would I go and try to go through the wall to force it? Sometimes you just have to go a little bit around, and I appreciate that the Canadiens gave me a chance and I’m going to work hard and see where it’s going to take us.

SN: Good luck, and thank you for your time.

Kovalchuk: Thank you.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171496 Websites Keefe is starting to incorporate music into Leafs practices more and more.

"It’s the tempo and the energy," he explained, "especially on days like TSN.CA / Keefe warns Leafs to avoid agitator Tkachuk’s ‘sideshow’ this, you’re coming back from a game, it can be a little bit tough to put your gear back on and go out and get some work in so just raising the energy level not unlike what you would do in the gym."

Mark Masters On Wednesday, video coach Jordan Bean was stationed beside a large speaker in the stands overlooking the ice awaiting signals from Keefe for

when to blast the tunes. TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes "I'm a fan of it, it’s just relaxing," said Marner, who at one point gestured on the Maple Leafs, who practised at Ford Performance Centre on at Bean to restart the music even without Keefe's go-ahead. "I’m not sure Wednesday ahead of Thursday night’s home game against the Calgary what other guys think, but I had fun with it." Flames. Some players aren't thrilled about the playlist, which on Wednesday Matthew Tkachuk may be among the top agitators in the NHL, but he's featured Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" among other songs. failed to make much of an impression in seven career games against the Maple Leafs, scoring just one goal and taking three minor penalties. "He's got Lady Gaga from 2013 going," Matthews said with a smile. "I mean, I got nothing against her, I think she’s great, but maybe update the "He knows his stuff probably won't work on me, because I've seen it first playlist a bit." hand," said Auston Matthews, who played two seasons with Tkachuk with the U.S. National Development Program. Marner is looking for more of a flow.

Perhaps Matthews and Mitch Marner, who played one year with Tkachuk "I like all genres so I'm good with anything," the winger said. "It was just a in the OHL, benefit from being friends with the Calgary Flames alternate lot of switching of songs in the middle of the songs, it wasn’t great by our captain? DJ today."

"Maybe a little bit," Marner said. "I mean, I got to see a lot of his tricks in The playlist, Keefe said, is courtesy Marlies forward Rich Clune, who London so I know a couple things he does after the whistle and stuff like took responsibility for the music at practices when Keefe ran the bench that and it was great when you played with him. I mean, he drew a lot of for Toronto's AHL team. penalties for you and a lot of power plays." "I'd love for the players to take a little bit of ownership," Keefe said. "They Matthews doesn't think Tkachuk takes it easy on his pals. don’t take much ownership even in the locker room to put their own music on and stuff so if they want to take that over, that would be great. "No, I don't," Matthews said. "Honestly, I think he doesn’t really take that We have enough things to worry about." stuff into account, he goes out there and competes every night, whether it’s against guys that he knows or guys that he’s friends with or not. In past seasons, Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner were the resident team That’s just the way he is. I think it’s the way it really should be." DJs in Toronto so there's an opening there and Matthews seems keen on stepping up. Sheldon Keefe is warning his players not to get drawn into Tkachuk's game on Thursday night when the Flames pay their one visit of the "I didn't know we were going to do the music thing today," Matthews season to Toronto. noted, "so I’m sure old Bean Boy will get an earful from the guys here in the locker room about the playlist he had going on." "It's just being aware of the fact he's competitive and he's going to come hard on every puck and all those types of things, but also not to let things Matthews calls for new practice playlist: 'He’s got Lady Gaga from 2013 go off the rails and become a sideshow," the Leafs coach advised. "He going' looks to kind of, you know, change the focus that you might have in a game and that's not what we want to be about. We want to just focus on The Maple Leafs had a DJ at practice on Wednesday, but as Mark what we have to do." Masters would soon find out, there were mixed reviews from Auston Matthews and the players about some of the song choices on the playlist. Tkachuk registered just two shots and a minus-1 rating when the Leafs visited Calgary on Dec. 12. With only one point posted against the Leafs --- overall, Toronto is actually the team Tkachuk has burned the least in his Before practice started and the music got going, Keefe met with the career. And when it comes to discipline, it was Tkachuk who earned a team's leadership group. The topic: defence. one-game suspension for spearing Matt Martin, then with the Leafs, back in December 2017. "That has been the greatest challenge," he admitted. "We've made a lot of strides offensively and we think that puts our team in a better spot, "You got to be careful around him," Marner said. "The thing for us is to there’s benefits defensively just from that because of how much more make sure we stay out of all the stuff after the whistle, nothing’s going to we’ve had the puck and we’ve spent a lot more time in the offensive happen, just make sure we're playing smart." zone. That’s really helped, but as we’ve seen with some of our play And while Tkachuk is taking heat for his hits on Edmonton's Zack recently, breaking some of the habits defensively (is tough)." Kassian and how he dealt with the fallout, the Leafs aren't expecting the In 23 games under Mike Babcock this season, the Leafs allowed 3.43 22-year-old to tone things down in the centre of the hockey universe. goals per outing, which ranked 24th in the league. In 24 games under "He did the same stuff that he does now in the OHL," Marner said, "and Keefe, the Leafs are allowing 3.13 goals per outing, which ranks 19th. the most annoying thing is the skill he has in him and how good he is. If "It's not just a product of how we're playing here now," Keefe pointed out, you take penalties against him, he could be the one who puts it in the "we think some of these things have been an issue for quite some time back of your net so that’s the thing that really annoys people." with some of our players and we got to find a way to break that and that’s "It's something he feeds off of," Matthews said. "I saw it first hand for two our biggest challenge and we actually had a meeting about that type of years. He just likes to compete out there and play on the edge. stuff this morning with our leadership group (about) just kind of taking Obviously, he’s kind of pissed a couple people off on the way doing it, but that next step as a team." I definitely think it’s one of those (things) where it's a guy you hate to play One player leading by example is Matthews. The Arizona native is known against, but a guy you’d love to have on your team, for sure." for his incredible offensive abilities, but Keefe says what has surprised Matthews on Tkachuk: 'He knows his stuff probably won't work on me' him the most about the 22-year-old is how good he's been on the defensive side of the puck. As the Leafs get set to welcome the Flames and Matthew Tkachuk to town on Thursday night, team members discussed the unique challenges "The biggest thing I’ve learned (about) him is he’s a very good player Tkachuk presents and how they plan to avoid getting wrapped up in defensively, away from the puck," Keefe gushed, "and when he’s antics. engaged, the way he can track, you saw the one goal in the Winnipeg game that he got, but we’ve got dozens of clips of him doing similar --- things and some of the best defensive-zone coverage clips that we Moore - Gauthier - Spezza showed here this morning to the players, he was out there doing a job." Brooks, Marchment 'Our greatest challenge': Keefe meets with leaders on breaking bad defensive habits Dermott-Holl

Scoring has never been an issue for the Leafs in recent years, but Marincin-Barrie defensive breakdowns have been a constant struggle for the young Sandin-Ceci squad. Head coach Sheldon Keefe explained the steps he and his staff have been taking to try and solve what he calls the team's 'greatest Timashov - Liljegren challenge.' Andersen --- Hutchinson When Rasmus Sandin arrived at Leafs training camp in September, a Leafs Ice Chips: Back on the ice, Muzzin targets post all-star return No. 38 sweater was hanging in his stall. There were some familiar faces on the ice at Leafs practice on "They gave me it in camp. I don't really think about it too much, but I've Wednesday as Trevor Moore skated with the fourth line and took contact been getting a little bit of chirps so we’ll see if I can change maybe next for the first time since sustaining a concussion in December. Jake Muzzin year," the 19-year-old said. also skated for the first time since breaking his foot in a game on Sandin is the first Leaf to wear the number since Colin Greening in 2016. December 27th. Mark Masters has more. Per Hockey Reference, the other Leafs to wear No. 38 have been: Frazer TSN.CA LOADED: 01.16.2020 McLaren (2013-14), Jay Rosehill (2010-12), Brad Leeb (2004), Yannick Tremblay (1997-1999), David Harlock (1996) and Chris Snell (1994).

Sandin needs one thing. A new number. He’s too good of a player for number 38. Maybe he likes 38. I don’t know. As you were.

— Jeff O'Neill (@odognine2) January 15, 2020

What sort of chirps is Sandin hearing?

"Just that the number doesn't look the best," he said with a smile.

Sandin wore No. 8 with the Marlies and with Team Sweden at the World Juniors. It's the same number his older brother Linus Sandin wore. But pending UFA Jake Muzzin owns that digit these days in Toronto.

"It would be tough to move Jake from there," Sandin said of the veteran.

Sandin's next preferred option would be 14, but thanks to Dave Keon that number is retired in Toronto.

"I’m not bothered by it too much, to be honest," Sandin said of the situation. "We'll see what's open for next year."

Sandin facing chirps for wearing 38: 'The number doesn't look the best'

Rasmus Sandin has been rocking a 38 on his jersey since being called back up to the Maple Leafs on Monday. Sandin normally wears 14 or 8, but has been unable to secure those jersey numbers on this current Leafs roster. He spoke to Mark Masters about some of the chirps he's been dealing with as a result.

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Muzzin skated on Wednesday for the first time since breaking his foot on Dec. 27. The hope is the defenceman will return in Toronto's first game after the all-star break on Jan. 27 in Nashville.

"That's what they’ve talked about for being a potential target," Keefe revealed. "Obviously, how things go between now and then will dictate that. My understanding is he’s going to stick around and get working over the break."

Jake Muzzin has emerged before #Leafs practice for a solo skate (well, the mannequin is there too!). Sheldon Keefe said yesterday Muzzin would likely be back on skates today, a sign of progress from that fractured foot injury. pic.twitter.com/t3xMK60hXs

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 15, 2020

Out since Dec. 21 with a concussion, Trevor Moore was cleared for contact and practised on the fourth line on Wednesday. His status for tomorrow's game is unclear, but Keefe said the left winger is "very close" to returning.

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Lines at Wednesday's practice:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner

Engvall - Tavares - Nylander

Johnsson - Kerfoot - Kapanen 1171497 Websites ice with our guys, so that when his opportunity does come he's all the more prepared for it.”

Given the uncertainty Toronto still faces on the backend, there’s a TSN.CA / Toronto Maple Leafs hoping Jake Muzzin returns after NHL All- chance GM Kyle Dubas pulls the trigger on a trade that would shake Star break things up once again.

TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie reported in Tuesday’s Insider Trading that the Leafs have been fielding calls from teams around the league Kristen Shilton offering defencemen in a potential trade, and Toronto has been making calls of their own. In the short term, McKenzie said the Leafs’ priority is a

left-shot defencemen to fill the void left by Rielly higher in the lineup. TORONTO – It’s been a brutal couple of weeks for the Maple Leafs’ This is a time of year when Dubas has been active before, orchestrating blueline, first with the loss of Jake Muzzin to a broken foot on Dec. 29 the trade for Muzzin with the L.A. Kings during last season’s bye week. and then Monday’s news that Morgan Rielly will be out at least eight McKenzie also noted the Leafs have approached Muzzin, who is in the weeks with a fractured foot of his own. final year of his contract, about an extension, but those discussions are in But Muzzin was back on the ice Wednesday for the first time since the preliminary stages. sustaining that injury, spending about 30 minutes in a session with In the long term, McKenzie reported Toronto is looking for right-side skating consultant Barb Underhill. Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe depth, which could require moving a forward like Kasperi Kapanen, didn’t have an update on how the workout went, but is hopeful Muzzin Andreas Johnsson or Alex Kerfoot – all young players with team-friendly can return on the other side of Toronto’s bye week and the NHL All-Star contracts – for a defenceman who helps bolster the blueline for seasons Break when the Leafs pick up against Nashville on Jan. 27. to come. “That's what they’ve talked about as being a potential target for us,” While those decisions are sorted out up top, Sandin is relishing every Keefe said after the Leafs’ practice on Wednesday. “Obviously, how minute he gets to prove himself again on NHL ice, wherever the things go between now and then will dictate that. My understanding is opportunity takes him this season. that he's going to stick around [in Toronto] and get working over the break. So we'll just have to see where he's at then.” “I'm just thinking pretty much about playing the next game and practicing as good as I can, and to just take it day by day the whole time,” he said. In the meantime, the setbacks Toronto suffered have catapulted the “I think everything can always be a little bit better, so I'm just trying to club’s future on defence into the present, starting with 19-year-old rookie play as good as I can.” Rasmus Sandin. TSN.CA LOADED: 01.16.2020 Recalled from the American Hockey League’s on Monday afternoon after Rielly’s CT scan revealed a fracture, Sandin produced a two-assist performance in Tuesday’s 7-4 win over New Jersey, which was his first NHL action since skating in the Leafs’ first six games of the season.

“He is just comfortable; he just plays hockey and does what he does best,” said Keefe, who coached Sandin with the Marlies. “And he's going to have ups and downs like all players do, but we're going to help him push through all that kind of stuff. Right now, he's going to get a great opportunity and yesterday he did good on it.”

Mike Babcock behind Toronto’s bench when Sandin was last in the NHL, and the young blueliner averaged just 12:13 of ice time per game. He was returned to the Marlies and continued to excel, eventually joining Team Sweden at the 2020 World Juniors. He produced three goals and 10 points in seven games en route to winning top defenceman honours for the tournament.

All of those experiences have been building blocks for Sandin, and he’s come back to the Leafs a more dynamic player. Keefe had him on the ice for 16:12 in Tuesday’s game, including 1:53 on the second power-play unit.

“This year with the World Juniors and going down to the Marlies, playing a lot of minutes in all situations during the games, I think that's where I gained the most confidence,” Sandin said. “Getting back up here now, I know all the players a little bit more and the systems have changed a little bit, which I think is good for me.”

Sandin’s blueline partner, Cody Ceci, can see the changes in his game already from when the two first skated together briefly in training camp.

“He’s always got his head up now, so he can make a lot of great plays like you saw last night,” Ceci said. “He's a lot of fun to play with. I think our two games complement each other. I can let him do his thing offensively and I'll try and go back for most of the pucks and lay the body for our pairing.”

For now at least, Keefe is pleased with the Leafs’ new-look blueline, which means rookie Timothy Liljegren may have to wait to make his NHL debut.

Liljegren, 20, was recalled from the Marlies on Tuesday as an extra body, and Keefe was non-committal about whether he would play in the two games before Toronto adjourns for its break. But Keefe did say Liljegren is “next man up” should the Leafs’ require another addition.

“I thought that Lily had a great practice today and that's really for me right now what he's here for,” Keefe said. “To get that experience, be on the 1171498 Websites Will Gallant’s availability make the expansion NHL Seattle franchise jump? Gallant has one full season remaining on his contract. He could theoretically get paid by Vegas to sit out next season, the last before Seattle joins the league, and then join the league’s 32nd club with TSN.CA / Gerard Gallant the latest victim in turbulent season for NHL minimal expense to Seattle. coaches No one has coached an expansion franchise to the heights Gallant reached with Vegas.

Frank Seravalli The Golden Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year of existence - a feat that is unlikely to be equalled.

But another more imminent Stanley Cup contender might want to pounce The man who brought the Golden Misfits together was made to be the on Gallant in the meantime, because his success on The Strip wasn’t just misfit on Wednesday. a flash in the pan. The Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Gerard Gallant on Gallant led the Golden Knights to a 118-75-20 record in parts of his three Wednesday morning, replacing the first bench boss in franchise history seasons there, winning the Jack Adams as coach of the year to go along with Pete DeBoer. with a .601 points percentage, the ninth-best regular season record in the Kelly McCrimmon’s first bold move as the Golden Knights’ general NHL over that span. His 16 playoff wins ranked second. manager sent shockwaves around the NHL given Gallant’s sustained There is probably a dark poem to be written about the impact that success in the desert – and the fact that Vegas is right in the mix this phantom major penalty call that in Game 7 last spring had on both season. Gallant and DeBoer. That was a first-round series for the ages, with the Yes, the Golden Knights awoke on Wednesday outside of a playoff Sharks erasing a four-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of Game 7 after position, but they are also just three points out from first place in the jam- Cody Eakin was incorrectly whistled for a five-minute major that packed Pacific Division. ultimately spurred a rule change.

In fact, Vegas had the best points percentage in the Pacific at the exact With the chirping going back-and-forth that series, Gallant called DeBoer midpoint of the schedule, which is why Gallant was named the head a clown. Now their legacies are linked. coach of the division’s entry in next week’s All-Star Game. But for now, the story is one marked by surprise. At least this time, The NHL will be forced to find new bench boss for the Pacific, where Gallant appeared to leave Vegas with his dignity intact instead of waiting Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green is somehow now the longest- for a cab after being unceremoniously fired by the Panthers back in 2017. tenured guy in the division, even though he was only hired in April 2017. He won’t have to wait long for a pick-up now. “In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching TSN.CA LOADED: 01.16.2020 change was necessary,” McCrimmon said in a statement. “Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season.”

Gallant’s firing marks the seventh in-season coaching change this year, tying this 2019-20 campaign for the second-most turbulent in NHL history. Yes, it’s been a different year with two coaches losing their job due to conduct (Bill Peters and Jim Montgomery), but they are coaching changes nonetheless.

Golden Knights Insider Gary Lawless confirmed on Wednesday that Gallant’s firing was “entirely performance based.”

Woodley: Not overly surprised by Gallant firing, as Vegas bleeds chances in front of Fleury

Kevin Woodley admits he's not overly surprised by the Gerard Gallant firing, as Vegas simply doesn't play solid defense in front of Fleury. Kev says it cost Vegas the Cup, other teams have noticed what worked against VGK, and Gallant didnt' adjust. Kevin also says the Canucks do seem hesitant to start Demko, but that has to change as Markstrom will hit a fatigue wall

So it's seven coaches and one GM canned (New Jersey’s Ray Shero) in the 55 days since Mike Babcock was fired on Nov. 20. His successor, Sheldon Keefe, is suddenly the 26th longest-tenured coach.

Even more wild: Joel Quenneville has been at the helm for just 45 games in Florida and he is the 18th longest-tenured coach in a 31-team league.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Undoubtedly, in-season coaching changes have always been en vogue in the NHL, but especially so in the past decade. Four of the last 11 Stanley Cup champions changed their coach mid-year. The St. Louis Blues were the last to do it last spring when Craig Berube led them to the top while still wearing the interim tag.

Two of those replacement coaches (Darryl Sutter and Mike Sullivan) won a second Cup with the same team. Berube and the Blues are well positioned to make it three.

DeBoer and John Hynes, now in Nashville, both lasted exactly 34 days in the unemployment line. DeBoer was fired by the rival San Jose Sharks on Dec. 11.

Gallant may cause a further ripple in the coaching ranks. The proud Summerside, P.E.I., native will likely remain out of work only as long as he wishes. 1171499 Websites

USA TODAY / How does Gerard Gallant's firing affect Yzerman, Blashill and the Detroit Red Wings?

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press Published 12:58 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020 | Updated 4:31 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2020

General manager Steve Yzerman has praised the job performed by Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, but things took an interesting turn Wednesday.

The Vegas Golden Knights announced via Twitter that they have fired head coach Gerard Gallant and hired former San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer.

Gallant is the seventh coach fired during the 2019-20 season, the fifth fired for on-ice performance-related issues. The Golden Knights are one point behind the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division and very much part of the wild-card race in the Western Conference.

Detroit Red Wings Gerard Gallant and Steve Yzerman after Yzerman scored a goal for the Wings in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gallant is close friends with Yzerman. The two played together from 1984-85 to 1992-93, with Gallant often lining up on Yzerman’s left wing. Since retiring as a player in 1995-96 (when he had a brief stint with the Detroit Vipers), Gallant has forged a successful coaching career. He was nominated for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 2016 after guiding the Florida Panthers to a franchise-record 103 points and an Atlantic Division title.

Gallant was named coach of the Golden Knights in April 2017, and led the expansion team to the Stanley Cup final in its inaugural season before falling to the Washington Capitals.

The Wings are last in the NHL with a 12-32-3 record and are headed for a fourth straight draft lottery, but there has been no indication Yzerman has been mulling an in-season coaching change. Blashill, who succeeded Mike Babcock in 2015, is the NHL's third-longest tenured coach, after Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper (2013) and Winnipeg's Paul Maurice (2014).

As recently as last weekend, in an interview with Wings’ play-by-play announcer Ken Kal, Yzerman defended the job done by Blashill, saying “regardless of injuries, our record and our team's performance is somewhat unfair to pin that on the coaching staff at this point. The injuries make it really difficult to really know what you truly have.”

It has been expected that Blashill will finish out this season, then possibly be offered another job within the organization.

In addition to Gallant, Yzerman also could look at another former teammate in Lane Lambert, currently an associate coach with the New York Islanders. Lambert was a fellow Wings draft pick of Yzerman in 1983, and as rookies shared an apartment on Detroit’s riverfront.

USA TODAY LOADED: 01.16.2020 1171500 Websites

USA TODAY / Golden Knights fire Gerard Gallant, hire coach Peter DeBoer, who was fired by Sharks a month ago

Chris Bumbaca

The NHL coaching carousel keeps spinning.

After a historic inaugural season just two years ago in which they reached the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights fired coach Gerard Gallant on Wednesday in a stunning move. Peter DeBoer, the former San Jose Sharks coach who was fired a month ago, was named the replacement.

It's the seventh coaching change in the NHL this season (five related to on-ice performance). Vegas assistant coach Mike Kelly also was fired Wednesday.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon, while thanking Gallant and Kelly for the "real special moments" by the franchise, said he believed the team has underperformed this season. He didn't lay all of the blame for that on the pair.

"It's just the feeling that you have that a change might be needed," he said in a news conference. "I wish I could be more specific than that, but that's really how we felt. We thought about this a lot. It certainly wasn't something that we did in haste."

Gallant won the Jack Adams as the NHL's top coach for the job he did in 2017-18, when Vegas won the Western Conference. He led the Golden Knights to the playoffs again last season, but a loss Tuesday — their fourth in a row — dropped them out of a playoff position.

"I'm mad at myself for letting this happen," goalie Marc-Andre Fleury told reporters. "It's tough as a team to cost two coaches their job. There's so much respect to them."

Gallant is set to coach the Pacific Division during the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 25 as Vegas had the highest points percentage in the division at the halfway point of the season.

DeBoer, 51, takes over the fifth-place team in the Pacific at 24-19-6 and three points behind the first-place Arizona Coyotes. The Sharks dismissed DeBoer on Dec. 11 in his fifth season with the team. He previously coached the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils. He reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of his first seasons with the Devils (2011-12) and Sharks (2015-16).

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"His teams are always very well prepared, very well coached," McCrimmon said. "We expect that he'll do a really good job for us. I think he's a very respected coach in the industry."

DeBoer, who Gallant once called a “clown,” is the permanent replacement with no interim designation.

"We're in a unique position," McCrimmon said. "We're right in the mix. This isn't a case where the bottom fell out and we were left with no choice. I guess it was a situation more where proactively it was our belief that this is what was going to be the best thing for our organization."

USA TODAY LOADED: 01.16.2020