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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 9/21/2019 Columbus Blue Jackets 1153537 Ducks left wing Max Jones locked in training camp battle 1153568 Blue Jackets roster taking shape, but John Tortorella says for roster spot plenty of spots up in air 1153569 FOX Sports Ohio to Produce 80 Blue Jackets Games 1153570 A tale of three seasons: The rise, fall and future of 1153538 Arizona Coyotes launch 'Los Yotes' social platforms for Alexander Wennberg Hispanic hockey fans 1153539 ‘Just really, really good’: Coyotes’ Nik Hjalmarsson was born to play defense 1153571 Lucky No. 7? Why it's Taylor Fedun's race to lose in 1153540 Alex Goligoski lost his passion for hockey last season; he securing a role as the Stars' seventh defenseman learned he’s not alone 1153572 Inside the Stars crease: Ben Bishop on St. Louis, analytics and fatherhood 1153541 Speedy Connor Clifton looks for room with Bruins 1153542 Connor Clifton shows splash in Bruins preseason win 1153573 Detroit Red Wings lose preseason game in OT to 1153543 Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy to make cuts after preseason Islanders, 4-3, but plenty to like game in Chicago 1153574 Detroit Red Wings lose to N.Y. Islanders, 4-3 in overtime: 1153544 Bruins focusing on improving 5-on-5 offense this season Game thread 1153545 Karson Kuhlman looking like the front-runner for right wing 1153575 Red Wings didn't think Taro Hirose looked like a player. spot on Bruins second line He proved them wrong 1153546 McDonald: 11 things I’ve learned about the Bruins early in 1153576 Red Wings fade late, fall in overtime to Islanders in training camp exhibition 1153577 Red Wings' Filip Zadina ready to drive his game to a new level 1153547 Dylan Cozens keeps raising eyebrows as Sabres fall to 1153578 Red Wings squander late lead, lose preseason game to Leafs Islanders in OT 1153548 KeyBank Center announces revised bag policy for events 1153579 Oliwer Kaski to make preseason debut as Red Wings host 1153549 John Gilmour trying to show Sabres he can make an Islanders impact without the puck 1153580 Joe Veleno aims to emulate Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin 1153550 Why Henri Jokiharju likely will make the Sabres' roster out of training camp Oilers 1153581 Oilers counting on new Europeans to get up to NHL speed Flames 1153582 Bakersfield guys will be down on the farm once again 1153551 Calgary's Rob Hamilton gets thrill of a lifetime with Flames 1153583 Three players who helped their Oilers hopes and three 1153552 Gillies' performance in Flames' pre-season loss cause for who didn’t do enough in Edmonton’s fourth preseason alarm game 1153553 Despite accomplishments big and small, prospect Glenn Gawdin wants more as he eyes depth role on Flames 1153584 DGB Grab Bag: Good news on the CBA, new rules for 2019 and how to prank an L.A. King 1153554 Warren Foegele made the Canes’ roster last year, but he 1153585 CAMP NOTEBOOK 9/20 – YOUNG PLAYERS PUSHING, still has to ‘make this team’ SALT LAKE, MCLELLAN, IAFALLO, CLAGUE 1153586 WAIVER PERIOD OPENS; KINGS SIT IN INTERESTING POSITION 1153555 Blackhawks 1st-round pick Kirby Dach skates for the 1st time since suffering a concussion. Will he make the op 1153556 Blackhawks top prospect Dach returns to ice 1153587 Wild Mikko Koivu will play in first game since knee 1153557 How Colliton might build Blackhawks lines early this surgery season 1153588 Wild winger Joel Eriksson Ek is a star on a bike. That 1153558 Rozner: Blackhawks' Caggiula looks to regain footing needs to translate to the ice. 1153559 Is Dylan Sikura on the outside looking in with Blackhawks? 1153589 Playing with diabetes, Luke Kunin has kept on skating all 1153560 Blackhawks make first wave of roster cuts in 2019 training the way to the NHL camp 1153590 Handicapping the Wild bubble players’ chances of making 1153561 Good news, Blackhawks fans: Kirby Dach (concussion the team protocol) is back on the ice 1153562 A modest proposal: To balance the top nine, the Canadiens Blackhawks should go back to the future 1153591 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Phillip Danault enjoyed best summer of his life Avalanche 1153592 Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi loved Nick Suzuki's 'nasty' 1153563 Avalanche center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare adds veteran shootout move dimension to fourth line 1153593 What the Puck: Poehling, Suzuki should start season with 1153564 Inside the Avs’ long-term solution to solve Mikko Canadiens Rantanen’s potentially short-term absence 1153594 Canadiens Notebook: Ryan Poehling sidelined indefinitely 1153565 hosting Greeley-Evans School with concussion District 6 for community night in November 1153566 Calle Rosen’s push for a job on Colorado’s defense has begun 1153595 Austin Watson: 'There's a lot to prove off the ice, on the 1153567 Avs Preseason Game 2 Grades: Better effort, same result ice' 1153596 Devils’ Jack Hughes, Taylor Hall each notch 2 points in 1153627 Injured Sharks defenseman questionable to start regular win over Rangers season 1153597 New Jersey Devils vs. : Chat, live 1153628 San Jose Sharks 2019-2020 season preview: Stepping stream, updates (9/20/19) forward without Capt. Joe Pavelski 1153598 Devils’ lines, pairings vs. Rangers (9/20/19) | Taylor Hall, 1153629 How Sharks can fill void on defense until Radim Simek Wayne Simmonds making preseason debuts re-joins team 1153599 NJ Devils 3 stars: Jack Hughes, Taylor Hall provide 1153630 What we’ve learned through the first week of Sharks firepower in win over Rangers training camp 1153600 Attention to detail(s): Ty Smith’s up-and-down start, John Hynes’ message to the Devils and more St Louis Blues 1153631 Blues could get help from Down Under 1153632 After no-trade assurance from Blues in offseason, Jake 1153601 Josh Ho-Sang understands how he fits in Barry Trotz's Allen is 'ready to rock' system with the Islanders 1153633 Blues notebook: MacEachern won't let a puck to the face 1153602 Islanders' Belmont arena groundbreaking tentatively set slow his camp for Monday, sources say 1153634 In a pickle: Austin Poganski might force the Blues to make 1153603 Projecting the Islanders’ 23-man roster after the first wave a difficult decision in training camp of cuts New York Rangers 1153635 Alex Volkov scores first of Lightning preseason 1153604 NY Rangers 'B' team gets first look at NJ Devils top pick 1153636 Tampa Bay Lightning put goalies Louis Domingue, Mike Jack Hughes in preseason loss Condon on 1153605 NY Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Tony 1153637 Former Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi announces his DeAngelo; is "day-to-day" retirement 1153606 ‘The past is the past’: Henrik Lundqvist is in the same 1153638 Lightning brings star power to third preseason game place, but also in a different place 1153639 Lightning roster bubble: Who helped or hurt their chances after one week of camp? 1153607 'You earn your ice time': Craig Anderson ready to prove himself this season - and maybe next year too 1153640 William Nylander, dominate as Leafs 1153608 'We've got to be ready to play big minutes': Chabot eager shutout Sabres 3-0 for first pre-season win to develop partnership with Zaitsev 1153641 Maple Leafs break the ice with first pre-season win on a 1153609 'GOOD TO BUILD SOMETHING': Thomas Chabot ready big night for the Matthews line to help lead Senators' youth movement 1153642 Rasmus Sandin is the coolest kid and just might graduate to the Maple Leafs’ defence at 19 1153643 Shanahan’s Maple Leafs master plan remains a rough 1153610 Flyers veterans need more work, so coach Alain Vigneault draft and staff make massive roster cuts 1153644 Nylander shows plenty of jump in Maple Leafs' pre-season 1153611 Ron Hextall is appreciated by Flyers players as he heads victory against Sabres back to Los Angeles | Sam Carchidi 1153645 Leafs Report Cards: Rasmus Sandin turns heads, top six 1153612 Travis Konecny to debut vs. Rangers; Flyers cut 18 from puts on show, forward battle heating up and more roster 1153646 speculation: An unlikely battle could be brewing on 1153613 warms to occasion against Bruins, Flyers Leafs’ fourth line not so much 1153614 Flyers roster cuts: Notable hopefuls remain in busy competition 1153663 Motte giving it all he's got, likes odds of cracking Canucks' 1153615 Change in plan shows Alain Vigneault isn't messing roster around with Flyers 1153616 10 things: Flyers prospects hold their own versus Bruins, but are they doing enough to secure roster spots? 1153647 Race heats up for bottom-six forward spots with Golden Knights 1153648 Shea Theodore happy to be back on the ice with Golden 1153617 Penguins announce lineup for Saturday’s preseason game Knights in Columbus 1153649 Aliens invade Golden Knights practice in Las Vegas 1153618 Penguins make first cuts from training camp 1153650 Hamby’s hoop from distance latest in line of fantastic 1153619 Penguins sign 3rd-round draft pick Nathan Legare finishes 1153620 Matt Cullen is showing the tricks to faceoffs for the 1153651 Five observations after one week of Golden Knights Penguins training camp 1153621 John Marino could help restore the Penguins’ defensive depth 1153622 Brandon Tanev earns some time alongside after disruptive debut 1153623 Penguins prospect Nathan Legare flashing his goal- scoring prowess 1153624 Penguins' new-found blue-line depth will be on display vs. Blue Jackets 1153625 The chemistry between Evgeni Malkin and Alex Galchenyuk looks real 1153626 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins 1153652 I Am The Prospect: Capitals' prospect Alex Alexeyev is focused on one goal - making the roster 1153653 Forget the off-ice implications. When it comes to the backup goalie battle, ‘play on the ice will make that de 1153654 Breaking down the Capitals’ training camp roster after the first round of cuts Websites 1153665 The Athletic / Bourne’s Notebook: On Cheveldayoff’s patience, Auston Matthews’ defence, and why scoring on bad 1153666 The Athletic / How much talent is really available on the NHL’s fall waiver wire? 1153667 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs teenager Rasmus Sandin on cusp of big-league breakthrough 1153668 Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Babcock's Spezza challenge feels so familiar 1153669 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Nick Suzuki facing one last test in quest for roster spot 1153670 Sportsnet.ca / Why Maple Leafs' Michal Neuvirth followed his heart to Toronto 1153671 Sportsnet.ca / Pinning down Oilers' opening night blue-line still a work in progress 1153672 Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing the NHL's elite skill players: Who is the best passer? 1153673 Sportsnet.ca / Senators all smiles after Chabot signs, but cutdown looms 1153674 TSN.CA / Teammates confident Nylander set for bounce-back season 1153675 TSN.CA / Babcock seeks a winning combo with Spezza and Gauthier 1153676 Five prized prospects fighting for jobs in Canadian camps - TSN.ca 1153677 TSN.CA / Ice Chips: Toronto Maple Leafs move Jason Spezza to wing 1153678 YAHOO SPORTS / Jaromir Jagr is still scoring goals at age 47 1153655 Jets fall victim to Blues once again 1153656 New linemate, nickname in store for Lowry, Copp? 1153657 Maurice's best medicine is to massage the funny bone 1153658 Dissecting newcomer Pionk: Can make nice plays and skates well, but stats tell a disturbing story 1153659 Jets focus on progress after blowing late lead, losing in OT 1153660 Maurice has ‘wonderful’ meeting with Byfuglien 1153661 Jets’ roster picture still a bit cloudy, but players on the bubble are emerging 1153662 Bourne’s Notebook: On Cheveldayoff’s patience, Auston Matthews’ defence, and why scoring on bad teams is hard SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1153537 Anaheim Ducks “Who’s going to rise up and at least get first coming out of training camp? And I go back to it, but just because you’re here on Day 1 of the season doesn’t mean that you last (with the Ducks). It’s a fight every day Ducks left wing Max Jones locked in training camp battle for roster spot to stay here.”

Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.21.2019

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected]

Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: September 20, 2019 at 3:50 pm | UPDATED: September 20, 2019 at 3:52 PM

IRVINE — The pass from the right wing from Ducks teammate Troy Terry was flawless. It landed precisely where Max Jones needed it to be. Jones, skating at top speed toward the San Jose Sharks’ net, then scored what proved to be the game-winning goal Tuesday.

Well, that was one way to impress the coaching staff and the executive team.

One way.

Given the intensity of a training camp battle on left wing, it can’t be the only way, however. Jones must continue to press the issue, continue to fight for a spot on the opening-night roster, continue to battle to stay in the lineup, because nothing is guaranteed to him.

“You’re always proving yourself no matter what,” Jones said Friday.

One power-play goal and one assist earlier in a 4-3 exhibition victory over the Sharks was a good start, a fine confidence-booster. But the Ducks’ coaches and executives aren’t going to be overly impressed by a couple of flashes of brilliance. They want to see sustained excellence.

“If anybody, other than probably a handful of guys, if you’re sitting there waiting and saying, ‘Oh, I’ll play good the last two (exhibition) games,’ it might be too late,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “You might not be in the last two games. This is a fight right now.”

Jones, 21, said he gets it. He said he understands he’s locked in a fierce competition for a roster spot. No question, the Ducks’ strength lies with John Gibson and . But their depth on left wing, starting with Rickard Rakell, cannot be discounted.

Max Comtois, Nic Deslauriers, Nick Ritchie and Devin Shore also are fighting with Jones for ice time on left wing.

It wasn’t immediately clear Friday whether Jones would play in Saturday’s exhibition against the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz. He formed a line with Shore, who shifted to center, and right wing Daniel Sprong for Tuesday’s victory over the Sharks, and they worked well together.

It’s possible Eakins could ice a different lineup Saturday, one led by a top line of Ritchie, Ryan Getzlaf at center and Ondrej Kase on right wing. If so, then Jones’ next chance to shine would come in an exhibition Monday against the Kings at Staples Center.

Starting on Saturday, the Ducks play five exhibitions in an eight-night stretch.

“I’m trying to show my scoring touch a little bit,” Jones said. “I could have had nine or 10 goals last year in 30 games (with the Ducks). It was ridiculous. I was snake-bitten. It’s happened to me in every league. (But) I got that out of the way, so I don’t have to worry about that.

“Now I can just go out there and play hockey.”

It’s possible Jones could start the season with the , the Ducks’ AHL team. In addition to scoring two goals and five points last season with the Ducks, he also had 14 goals and 29 points in 43 games with the Gulls. A numbers crunch could leave Jones as the odd man out, though.

But starting the season in the AHL doesn’t mean he won’t end it in the NHL.

“He’s going to have to beat out guys on that left wing side,” Eakins said. “That’s where there’s a big battle. There’s a lot of wingers. We’ve got guys with experience. We’ve got guys in his age category who are very good and there lies the biggest battle in camp. 1153538 Arizona Coyotes us to win over a large portion of this market and get more people excited in this team and I see that as enormous growth potential.”

Up next Arizona Coyotes launch 'Los Yotes' social platforms for Hispanic hockey fans Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks, 6 p.m., Saturday: The Coyotes, who are 1-1 this preseason, will be playing their second such exhibition game in Glendale. ... The Coyotes and Ducks will also meet Oct. 3 for their Richard Morin regular-season opener.

Arizona Republic Arizona Republic LOADED: 09.21.2019

Published 6:34 p.m. MT Sept. 20, 2019

When new Coyotes majority owner Alex Meruelo was introduced to the media on Aug. 1, he spoke from the heart about his roots as the son of Cuban immigrants and how he, as the NHL's first Hispanic owner, could have an impact on the Valley's diverse community.

The Coyotes, it seems, have taken several first steps in that initiative.

Three new social-media accounts were launched by the organization on Thursday and are branded toward speakers of the Spanish language. The "Los Yotes" tagline can be found on , and Facebook.

Many other professional teams in the Valley, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, have similar social platforms. The Vegas Golden Knights are the only other NHL team with Spanish-speaking social accounts.

"We are extremely proud to have the first Hispanic majority NHL owner in Alex Meruelo," Coyotes President and CEO Ahron Cohen said in a statement. "We are thrilled to introduce our Spanish-language Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts and look forward to providing Hispanic hockey fans with unique and engaging content on this platform. This is just the first step in our efforts to grow the game and reach the Latino market."

¡Estamos emocionados de presentarles nuestras nuevas cuentas de redes sociales en español por https://t.co/M56nFPHfqN, Twitter y Instagram @LosYotes!

¡Acompañenos! #NuestraManada

En español: https://t.co/6YsvFPHxSK

En inglés: https://t.co/VDnrkfZB7Xpic.twitter.com/95ctbsBmHF

— Los Yotes (@LosYotes) September 19, 2019

And while the Coyotes may not be the first to launch such initiatives, they are important first steps for an organization dipping its toes into a largely untouched demographic.

"I know there hasn’t been that much interest with the Hispanic market," Meruelo said at his introductory press conference, "but I expect to change that. "I want to bring them a winner.”

The Coyotes will also be hosting a "Noche de los Yotes" on Oct. 17 when Arizona plays host to the Nashville Predators at Gila River Arena. The Coyotes will wear "Los Yotes" jerseys in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and auction them off after warm-ups.

According to Demographic Partitions, a nonprofit website that uses census data, sentiment analysis and market research to determine population breakdowns, a 2017 study estimated that around 92 percent of NHL fans were white.

Cohen sees the Coyotes as being on the cutting edge of the NHL's various attempts to be more inclusive to a community that traditionally has not been receptive to the product.

The social initiative, according to Cohen, is the first phase of the Coyotes' efforts to become more congenial to the Hispanic community.

"We saw this as an important first step," Cohen said, "because it allows us to start the conversation with Arizona's Hispanic community."

Following up on comments he made in August, Cohen added the Coyotes were still planning to establish an advisory board to aid in their efforts to authentically engage with the Hispanic community.

“Forty percent of our community has not been exposed to our Coyotes brand and is not a Coyotes fan,” Cohen said. “That’s an opportunity for 1153539 Arizona Coyotes Last summer, Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker said on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast that Hjalmarsson is one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL when he was asked who the toughest players ‘Just really, really good’: Coyotes’ Nik Hjalmarsson was born to play are to go against (warning: explicit language). defense “I hate playing against that guy,” Zucker said. “He’s so skilled. He’s got an unbelievable stick all the time. He’s always right in your face. And he’s such a good shut-down guy. And nobody ever notices him because he’s BY MATT LAYMAN not on the stat sheet as much.”

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 AT 6:03 AM Head coach Rick Tocchet said there’s more offense in Hjalmarsson’s game that they feel could be found with better offensive talent around UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 AT 9:42 AM him, “But let’s face it,” Tocchet said. “He’s a defender. He’s a great PK guy. He’s a proud guy and he hates getting scored against. I love those type of guys.” GLENDALE, Ariz. — Understandably, nothing gets fans on their feet in a hockey arena like a highlight reel goal or a diving save by the goalie. But LOW-MAINTENANCE what’s to be said about those whose contributions are more subtle? Tocchet and Goligoski each complimented the way Hjalmarsson carries Arizona Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson might be the team’s himself off the ice. best case study for that. He played 82 games in 2018-19, joining Clayton “He’s a low-maintenance guy. I don’t have to worry about him,” Tocchet Keller as the only two Coyotes to do that last season. He also scored said. “If we’re doing a drill and we ask [for] a structure on the ice, he does zero goals, the only player in the NHL last year to play every game and it. So that’s why he’s got the A on his chest.” not score a goal. But don’t mistake what he can bring to the ice: Goligoski said Hjalmarsson’s voice carries weight in the dressing room, “He’s as good as I’ve seen or played with as far as anticipating where and Hjalmarsson can be a good example for all players — not just those pucks are going to go and getting his stick or skates or body on pucks,” who are young. Tocchet said Hjalmarsson already made a good first Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski said. “Just ask our forwards in here impression on newcoming winger Phil Kessel. that go against him in practice every day. He’s just really, really good defensively.” “Phil Kessel just came in and after two weeks, he really goes, ‘I like this Hjalmarsson. What a leader this guy is,'” Tocchet said. “So that’s the kind Hjalmarsson is entering his third season with the Coyotes after spending of impact that he has on players.” 10 years with the Chicago Blackhawks and winning three Stanley Cups along the way. His first year in Arizona didn’t go the way he hoped as he Some of that can probably be attributed to the fact that he’s entering his missed time with injury and played only 48 games. 13th season in the NHL. He hopes he and the team can build off of what went right last year. In the meantime, whether Hjalmarsson is under the Last year, he was a contributor all season. radar or not, his teammates at least know his importance to the Coyotes. “I felt like I had a little bit of a bounce-back year,” Hjalmarsson said. “I felt “I mean for me, he’s probably one of the easiest guys I’ve ever played I had a tough first year here with a lot of injuries. And I felt when I played, with,” Goligoski said. “Just a real steady player. So good defensively. I wasn’t really like the way that I was playing in a lot of games. Just a guy any team would always want on their team. So I don’t have “Maybe it took me some time to get comfortable to a new city and a new enough good things to say about him.” organization, too, a new system, and everything. And [I] felt last year, I Arizona Sports LOADED: 09.21.2019 was much more happy with the way I played and the way the whole team played.”

‘BORN AS A DEFENSEMAN’

Hjalmarsson ranked second in the NHL last year in blocked shots with 187, behind New Jersey’s Andy Greene. Of those, 50 were on the kill — the third-highest total in the league behind Greene and Ian Cole.

He also had the eighth-most defensive zone starts in the NHL last year.

As Goligoski said, Hjalmarsson’s work with his stick in the defensive zone is a big part of what separates him from other players. He credited playing with the Swedish national team as a teenager and later playing for Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville as reasons why he developed those abilities.

“[Entering the NHL] I quickly figured out that the defensive part of my game is way more stronger than my offensive game, so I really started to work heavily on that and [Quenneville] has always been pressing having an active and good stick,” Hjalmarsson said. “And I felt like when we were playing there in Chicago, I think our whole team, especially the D men, it was tough to pass pucks through us. We were close on the opponents and things like that.

“[It’s] something that I’m trying to remind me of before every single game to stay really consistent on that, and just try to be good in that part of the game, because that’s where I earn my money. I should be one of the best, and I want to be one of the best in that part of the game.”

Maybe part of his proficiency at the defensive position comes from having always been a defender first.

“I remember I tried to play forward a couple times, I ended up right in front of the goalie anyways,” he said. “So I think it’s just a natural thing. In every single sport I’ve played, you know, floor ball, soccer, I’ve always been as close as I can to my goalie … I guess I was born as a defenseman.” 1153540 Arizona Coyotes Swärd hopes that by working with athletes, he can help them navigate their feelings and become better prepared for the challenges they face.

“Once you break that code, it’s much easier to perform better and get Alex Goligoski lost his passion for hockey last season; he learned he’s your motivation back,” he said. not alone Goligoski’s awakening came just after the Coyotes’ week off in late January.

By Craig Morgan “I remember playing San Jose after the break in San Jose and those Sep 20, 2019 games are tough,” he said. “A week off, then you travel and play. It’s a tough spot for everyone.

“I just remember feeling so good going into that game and during the Alex Goligoski couldn’t identify the source of his feelings. He couldn’t game I was having a blast. If there’s one point, that’d probably be it. label them either. That’s when I knew I had found that fire again and now it just seems easy because it’s natural for me. I love competition and I love hockey. Looking It wasn’t apathy. He still cared about his team and teammates. It wasn’t back, I almost can’t believe that I had a period where I felt like that. When discontent. He was happy playing in Arizona. All he knew was that I was in it though, it’s almost like I didn’t realize it until I had that feeling something felt off last season; a general malaise had crept in. He had again, then it was so obvious.” lost his passion for hockey. At one point last season, Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet contemplated “I’d say maybe mid-December,” the Coyotes defenseman said. benching Goligoski, so it’s no surprise that Goligoski’s overall review of “Personally, I really got down and I wasn’t having a ton of fun. It wasn’t his season isn’t glowing. He had 27 points, his lowest total for a full due to anything in particular. I can’t even really explain it. There was season in his career. nothing really causing it. I just didn’t have that excitement that I normally have coming to the rink.” “I don’t think it was great,” he said. “I pride myself on being a good two- way player but we played in the D zone maybe more than we wanted to. Goligoski talked to his wife and father about his feelings, but he said We focused on being really sharp there and that maybe took away a little that’s as far as it went. bit of other stuff I can do, but there was definitely that lull in my season “I didn’t seek out advice and maybe I should have,” he said, “but when I where I didn’t like my game at all. I hit a tough patch, but I felt like I got was going through it, I don’t think I fully realized it or understood it.” out of that and started to play really well toward the end of the season.”

It wasn’t until after he snapped out of his funk that Goligoski realized he Goligoski, 34, has witnessed many unexpected plot twists since signing a wasn’t alone. five-year, $27.375 million contract with the Coyotes in June 2016. The coaching staff for which he thought he would be playing is gone. The He read an article in which Columbus forward Cam Atkinson admitted to ownership group by whom he thought he’d be getting paid is gone, and experiencing burnout. He read another in which St. Louis Blues forward all of the regulars in that 2016-17 lineup are gone, except for Oliver Ryan O’Reilly, then with the Buffalo Sabres, admitted he had “lost the Ekman-Larsson, Brad Richardson, Jakob Chychrun, Lawson Crouse and love of the game multiple times.” And just this week, Winnipeg Jets Christian Dvorak. defenseman Dustin Byfuglien took a leave of absence and is reportedly contemplating retirement because he isn’t sure if he wants to keep “It has been a bit of a whirlwind,” he said, “but realistically, I was aware playing hockey. that it might be a little bit of a rebuild situation. Maybe it didn’t go as everyone expected and things don’t look like I imagined they would, but I “The feelings I had were exactly the same kind of stuff they were talking like where we are now. In the last year and a half, we have established about,” Goligoski said. “It probably is more common than we all think.” who the players are that are going to be here. We’ve had some really young guys grow up a bit and we have a good group of veterans. We’re Andy Swärd thinks so. The renowned mental coach has worked with in a good position. There’s a lot of skill and talent here. It really was that multiple hockey players (among other athletes) in Sweden, including New vision that convinced me to come in the first place.” Jersey’s Jesper Bratt. Ottawa’s Anders Nilsson, Colorado’s André Burakovsky, Carolina’s Anton Forsberg and Buffalo’s Jonas Johansson. The presence of better offensive talent and the addition of offensive- minded assistant coach Phil Housley could also benefit Goligoski’s “We have a tendency to stigmatize certain words and feelings and states game. that a human being can be in, and being a player is no different than being human,” he said. “The kind of pressure and the kind of situations “When you’re playing under different circumstances, you tend to hold that we are exposed to as players, if we had those same kind of back a little bit because you don’t want to be a defensive liability,” pressures as humans outside of hockey, people would ask, ‘How are you Housley said. “I think Alex is a tremendous skater and a very smart doing? How are you coping with this?’ You have to find a solution.” hockey player. He can read situations well and he can beat a forecheck with his skating ability. The next step is not necessarily to be risky but go When working with players, Swärd helps them process, analyze and for it, get on the attack. He has some great abilities and I think he can accept the feelings they are experiencing through conversations, stress add to the offense. Even in a shutdown role, you can be productive tests, breathing techniques, journal writing and other methods. That offensively.” process can also help them overcome the culture of sports that tells them to suck it up or man up. That perspective, the growth of the team’s young core, and the identity the Coyotes forged last season through an unending string of injuries has “I call it the changed state instead of calling it fear or demotivation or Goligoski feeling renewed as the 2019-20 season begins. He has been anxiety,” he said. “You have to get the drama away from the situation skating since late May and he put in extra work on his skills to avoid the because it’s a natural reaction in an unnatural situation. It’s actually not erosion he believes comes with age. the person’s fault, it’s the environment that has put so many pressures on them for so long so the body does what it should do. It starts to shut “I have a really good outlook this year,” he said. “It feels like we’re finally down.” at a tipping point where realistically, our expectations should be a lot higher now. As a group, we’re ready to take off. Swärd said with players, there are often external factors in their personal lives that are impacting them. “I’m really looking forward to this season personally to get back to my game of creating offense. I think we’re going to be playing in the “Very often, it’s not playing hockey that puts players in this changed state offensive zone more. I’m excited to have fun playing hockey again.” but the body cannot differentiate the problems or issues that create the changed state so we start thinking it’s the hockey,” he said. “It could be The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 that you had a death in the family or you had a baby or you moved to a new house. They have the pressure to perform so when they don’t perform, they blame the hockey and they question, ‘Am I good to do this anymore? I can’t feel the motivation.’” 1153541 Boston Bruins Had Clifton been quicker to read and react, it wouldn’t have taken a great stop by Boston goalie Jaro Halak to prevent the Broad Streeters from connecting on their 2-on-1 rush.

Speedy Connor Clifton looks for room with Bruins “Those situations, you have to be sure,” stressed Cassidy. “If you’re going to go [on the attack], then you’ve got to get out when it’s time to get out. That’s the message to Cliffy — he sometimes wants to hang around By Kevin Paul Dupont and that can get dangerous.”

Globe Staff The same night, of course, Clifton’s quick read and wheels helped him notch his first goal of the preseason. Updated September 20, 2019, 10:05 p.m. As he popped on the ice upon serving out a two-minute penalty, he

hauled in a feed from Anders Bjork at mid-ice and blew by two Flyer Wherever Connor Clifton is going this season, he’ll undoubtedly get there defenders for a breakaway. He rushed to the top of the crease, switched with some speed and pop. Still a rookie, he is hoping to land a spot on from forehand to backhand, and popped in his doorstep shot. the Boston varsity’s blue line. He has bona fide NHL speed and a healthy “Been a while since I’ve had a breakaway,” Clifton, with a wide smile, dash of old-time, shall we say, spunk along the boards. said the next afternoon, a visitor noting his scorer’s touch in Philly. “Solid, “I mean, at this level, everyone is so good, you know?” said Clifton, 24, yeah.” noting his zeal for the hitting game. “I’d much rather hit someone than try Following the game in Chicago, the Bruins will fly home and begin to poke check ’em and have them put it through my feet, go around me, trimming back the roster as early as Sunday, returning some players to and stick it in the back of my net. I’d much rather separate man from junior teams, and assigning others to the Providence camp that opens puck.” Monday. Nothing catches the eye like a big hit, but beyond the clatter along the For now, Clifton should not be going anywhere. If he doesn’t tie down the boards, Clifton’s most noticeable, valued asset is his skating. third pairing spot with Grzelcyk, his work in the playoffs probably has “That’s what it is with Cliffy, no question,” said Jay Leach, who coached earned him the No. 7 slot on the blue line brigade, living the NHL life, the ex-Quinnipiac standout his first two seasons at AHL Providence, “his filling in as needed. skating is just elite.” “He was always competitive, but I think he feels more confident, Now how that blend of rattle and hum fits in with this season’s Boston engaging physically,” said Cassidy. “I think he’s always been a guy who’ll roster remains one of training camp’s unknowns. Clifton, expected to suit take the puck and go. Now he’s picking his spots better . . . if he can up again in Saturday night’s exhibition tune-up in Chicago, logged 19 grow his offensive game, work on his shot to score goals, because he regular-season games upon being called up last season in a relief role, does get in good positions . . . I think that will benefit him. At the end of then began to make a regular impact in the playoffs, collecting 5 points the day, I think he keeps growing with what he does best, which is be over 18 games, typically riding with Matt Grzelcyk on the third pairing. assertive, and we just try to minimize his risk.”

If he could start the clock running where it stopped in June, which Training camp wraps up next weekend. Only a week remains for Cassidy typically isn’t the case in the ever-changing NHL, he’d start 2019-20 & Co. to sort out the prospects and identify the pieces for the new again on Grzelcyk’s right and stay there until someone tried to knock him season. Count on Clifton to keep banging on the door, and along the over the boards and into Palookaville. boards.

“I thought we were a really good third pair, playing 16 to 18 minutes a Boston Globe LOADED: 09.21.2019 night,” he said. “Obviously, with [Charlie] McAvoy and [Brandon] Carlo back — they are tremendous players, and I can learn a lot from each of them — but wherever I fit in, I’ll gladly take that role.”

McAvoy and Carlo weren’t around when camp opened, but both are back now, each with healthy new contracts, and inked into the No. 1 and 2 righty spots on the top two pairings. McAvoy again will ride on the No. 1 unit with captain Zdeno Chara and Carlo will pair with Torey Krug on the No. 2 unit.

Grzelcyk, entering his third season, owns the left side on the No. 3 pairing, particularly with the injured (shoulder) John Moore out for at least a couple of months. Kevan Miller (two knee fractures), yet to skate, also won’t start the new season.

So in the short term, the No. 3 righty spot probably falls to Clifton or possibly Steve Kampfer — unless coach Bruce Cassidy were to try to work a left stick into the mix. Candidates then would be Jeremy Lauzon, Urho Vaakanainen, and Jakub Zboril.

Cassidy liked what he saw of Clifton last season. A bit of a wild card at times, the rare player that Cassidy had to caution from being too eager to jump into the offense, Clifton increasingly became more consistent and dependable.

Coaches forever fight the battle of wanting players to be aggressive and push the envelope, while at the same time craving to look down the bench and identify the known commodities, the players least likely to hiccup in the big moment.

“He’s getting better at that,” Cassidy said following Friday’s workout at Warrior/Brighton.

Case in point where Clifton still needs work, noted Cassidy, came in Thursday’s win in Philadelphia when Clifton was not quick enough to identify that his partner, Lauzon, had pinched down along the opposite wall. A Boston forward also was late to close off the Flyers’ transition out of the zone on a line change. 1153542 Boston Bruins

Connor Clifton shows splash in Bruins preseason win

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected]

Boston Herald

September 20, 2019 at 7:28 PM

It’s not every day a defenseman gets to make a flashy play.

Connor Clifton is often all over the ice, not just back on the blue line. Coach Bruce Cassidy has talked before about how the Bruins have had to rein in the 24-year-old defenseman, and how they’ve had to settle the reckless play from when he was younger.

Clifton, who recently signed a three-year extension on top of his current entry-level deal, logged the most minutes in the Bruins 3-1 preseason win over the Flyers Thursday night in Philadelphia, and he scored a nifty backhanded goal while coming out of the penalty box.

“I honestly have no idea…. I decided to go backhand, that’s really it,” Clifton said. “Kind of just on the spot…. I don’t really know what to do on breakaways. Maybe next time I get a breakaway…. Maybe. Kind of just saw that side open. It worked out.”

It wasn’t all perfect for Clifton in his first game of the preseason. He incurred a pair of penalties and described his game as sloppy. But, the energy he brought to a not-so-surprisingly chippy game with the Flyers was more than enough to make up for it.

A rare highlight-reel goal doesn’t hurt, either.

A couple of forwards also highlighted the B’s win thursday night. Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen were paired up often at the end of last season and in the playoffs, and in Philadelphia they showed a lot of that same chemistry on a line with Anders Bjork.

“We just kind of know our tendencies and what we’re gonna do,” Coyle said. “He knows what kind of player I am and vice versa. I think that helps. He’s an easy-going guy off the ice. It’s good to know each other off the ice, I think that helps as well. That’s a good start and we want to improve on last year and our performance playoff-wise.”

Not only did the overall line look sharp, but Coyle showed a lot of the reason the Bruins brought him to Boston.

“I thought he was dominant with the puck,” Cassidy.said “We’re getting used to that with Charlie. This week in practice you’ve seen it in down low drills; it’s hard to take it from him, even our veteran guys. I thought he had good pace through the neutral zone as well. He’s willing to dish, make his linemates better.”

Since Karson Kuhlman has all but won the second line right winger spot, that leaves the third line as the next main order of business. Coyle will center it, and it’s likely he stays with Heinen, if they maintain that same chemistry.

Bjork looked strong in his first preseason games after a nice showing at the Prospects Showcase in Buffalo earlier in the month. They’ve practiced together, so he might have the best shot at landing the position.

“He’s got, probably, more flat-out speed than Danton, where Danton is more of a cerebral guy, gonna make those small area plays,” Cassidy said. “So they complement each other well.

Boston Herald LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153543 Boston Bruins “I hated taking those penalties but I got a breakaway out of it and a goal,” Clifton said. “We won a puck battle and I’m watching through the glass from the penalty box and you see the play develop.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy to make cuts after preseason game in “You step on the ice there’s a whole lane for a breakaway.” . . . Chicago Defenseman Alex Andersson was wearing a red noncontact jersey in the second practice session. The 6-foot-1, 179-pound, Swedish import was By RICH THOMPSON | [email protected] the Bruins second round pick (57th overall) in the 2018 draft. Bergeron and Joakim Nordstrom were excused from practice for maintenance. . . . Boston Herald Captain Zdeno Chara said “it’s going good” when asked about his September 20, 2019 at 6:43 PM recovery from the broken jaw he sustained in Game 4 Cup final and offseason elbow surgery. Chara hopes to be in uniform for the Bruins

season opener. . . . The Bruins roster will take a huge hit following Saturday night’s Defenseman Brandon Carlo inked a two-year agreement worth $2.88 encounter with the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. million annually on Tuesday and he hopes to be one of the “young vets” Coach Bruce Cassidy conveyed that message to his younger players and Cassidy puts on the ice against the Blackhawks. bubble veterans following Friday’s two-tiered practices at Warrior Ice Boston Herald LOADED: 09.21.2019 Arena.

“We’ll go to Chicago and mix in some young vets and guys that are still on the bubble that we want to evaluate more,” Cassidy said. “On Sunday or on the plane after we’ll have a discussion and I imagine we will start making some moves then and get down the numbers by Sunday or Monday.”

Cassidy’s elimination process is simplified by the heavy presence of incumbent veterans. The Bruins return 10 forwards, six defensemen and two goalies who dressed in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. And the blue line unit didn’t include injured veteran Kevan Miller.

Departed wingers Marcus Johansson (Sabres) and (Panthers) created the only real vacancies. Charlie Coyle, acquired from Minnesota in a February trade for Ryan Donato, is a lock to make the team and the Bruins acquired free agent right winger Brett Ritchie (Dallas) in July.

“I’ve said it before and I’ve given the guys the message that this year is a more difficult camp to find a spot in the lineup,” Cassidy said. “We just have more returning players.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t leave a guy out but it’s just more difficult than maybe last year when we created some competition for spots and hoping a young guy could take over.

“This is just because of the evolution of the team and the trade for Coyle filled that spot and the growth of Karson Kuhlman. “

Cassidy said veterans Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Torey Krug and Tuukka Rask will not be make the trip to Chicago. Veteran right winger David Backes is expected to dress.

The Krejci factor

Second line left winger Jake DeBrusk competed in his first preseason game and led all forwards with five shots on goal in the Bruins 3-1 win over the Flyers in Philadelphia Thursday night. DeBrusk was paired with Jack Studnicka in the middle and Kuhlman on the right flank.

“It was good to get back out there and I think the first game kind of felt weird for myself having played not that long ago,” DeBrusk said. “Obviously there was rust but I thought it went overall pretty decent.”

DeBrusk, 22, enjoyed a scoring breakthrough last season with 27 goals and 15 assists in 68 games. DeBrusk spent most of the campaign on Krejci’s line while Kuhlman and Backes shared time on the right side.

“David is a different player than anybody I ever played with,” DeBrusk said. “It took me about a year and a half and I’m still adjusting to his style and everything with fast transitions.

“But he can slow down the game and anybody that can do that is a special player.”

Thinking outside the box

Speedy defenseman Connor Clifton was expecting grief from Cassidy while serving his second penalty against the Flyers. Instead, Clifton emerged from the box, jumped on a bouncing puck and scored the Bruins insurance goal in the third period. 1153544 Boston Bruins started with the defensive basics before branching out to the offense. “The easiest way is to sacrifice defense and we don’t want to do that, right? So, that one is out the window. That’s the first thing we discuss so Bruins focusing on improving 5-on-5 offense this season we don’t see it happening.

“It’s getting our D involved more and getting active, and encouraging them to do that. It brings risk into play, but this group coming back has By Joe Haggerty been together and they know what we want. So we should be able to grow it in their game as they come back and build chemistry. And September 21, 2019 12:09 AM shooting more. Funneling a few more pucks and some off-angle shots so everybody knows that it’s going there. It’s easier said than done. We want players to retain their creativity, so it’s a balance. But it’s something BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins finished 11th in scoring in the NHL last that we’ve talked about. Those are the two areas of what we could do season at 3.13 goals per game and obviously had enough offense to get with the forwards and with the defense, and hopefully, that translates into all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. a little more action around the net.”

They have three top-flight forwards on the "Perfection Line" with Brad Will it actually translate into more even-strength offense for the Bruins? Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak all topping 30 goals for the second season in a row and boast one of the NHL’s best power plays The hope is that some tweaks will spark a little more offense out of a that can overwhelm teams with lesser special teams’ groups. team with plenty of skill and scoring ability. But the Bruins would also greatly benefit from one more player developing into a top-six right wing But therein lies the rub. capable of finishing off plays created by David Krejci on the second line.

Only Tampa Bay and Florida scored more power-play goals than the It doesn’t appear that player is currently on Boston’s roster. Bruins last season, who were successful 25.9 percent of the time on the man-advantage last season with the top unit of Torey Krug, Bergeron, Still, at least the Bruins know that it’s an issue and are taking steps to Marchand, Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk/David Backes accounting for address it early on where it could lead to improvements. most of the special teams’ offense. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 That left the Bruins in the bottom third of the NHL in terms of even- strength offense with a big-time dependence on the power play.

“You’ve got to take offense where you can get it,” said Patrice Bergeron, who was third on the Bruins with nine power-play goals and had 27 PP points last season. “If you’re winning games and the power play is your source of offense then I don’t think it’s a bad thing. You’ve got to find other ways to create some more offense in other ways, but to me, it’s not a huge problem. We have the ability to find that [offense] and it’s about tweaking a few things to find that [5-on-5] offense to score goals in different ways.”

It wasn’t much an issue during the regular season where the Bruins steamrolled most teams on the power play, and it obviously never became a fatal flaw in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

Still, the Bruins ran into a roadblock in the Cup Final against a St. Louis Blues team that dominated in 5-on-5 play and managed to make it less of a special teams contest in the seven-game series. Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak were bottled up for just two goals and five points combined in the seven games and were far from living up to their line's nickname.

Certainly it’s something the B’s recognize could be much improved heading into a new season.

“You see it when you’re not scoring. It’s because you’re forcing players and you’re not getting to the inside. We got into trouble a few times, especially in the playoffs probably where we stayed to the outside,” said Bergeron. “The play dies down because other teams are retreating to the box or retreating to the house, and then they don’t give you those cross- seams [to pass] that you see sometimes earlier in the year.

“It’s moving your feet and competing around the net, and getting there and wanting to impose your will to get those rebounds. You bring it on net and if you don’t get it on the first try then there’s somebody around the net creating some havoc. It’s easy hockey and we’ve seen it so many times, but at the same time it’s pretty effective.”

With that in mind, the Bruins are using some of their training camp focus to improve their even-strength offense.

Some of it will be improved by Charlie Coyle’s presence as the third-line center from the very start of the season. There will be more diversity in the offense up front and that should mean things will be a little more spread out with a deep team that can advantage of that against opponents.

But there are also adjustments to be made across the lineup and that’s something the Bruins are working on while getting the offensive and defensive systems down pat in camp.

“I think as a team once we pare down [our roster] we’re going to be looking at ways of generating more chances 5-on-5 in the offensive zone. I think that’s our Boston Bruins focus once we get our team together a little more,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, of the systems work in camp that 1153545 Boston Bruins So don’t be surprised if the Bruins are once again in search of a top-6 right wing sniper at the NHL trade deadline this season to eventually be an upgrade over Kuhlman. But for now, the Bruins will once again fix it on Karson Kuhlman looking like the front-runner for right wing spot on Bruins the fly for a few months after never finding a permanent solution this second line summer, and instead turning to the same, old in-house candidates that were never quite enough last season.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 By Joe Haggerty

September 20, 2019 10:29 AM

BRIGHTON, Mass – The Bruins ended last season with rookie Karson Kuhlman manning the right wing on David Krejci’s line during the final two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

It appears that, barring a surprise performance in Bruins training camp or an injury, the Bruins will start the season the very same way a few weeks from now. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned David Backes and Brett Ritchie as other potential candidates, and didn’t rule out Anders Bjork or Danton Heinen from getting looks there either.

“We know we have Kuhlman that can play [on the second line] and I don’t think he’s going to drop off. He may flat line, I don’t know, but I don’t think he’s going to get worse,” said Cassidy. “To me he’s a bit of a person that’s going to keep working on his craft and get more comfortable. From there, we had Backes out there and we know that’s not a full time solution. [Brett] Ritchie is a wild card. We don’t know if he can play out there. He got some reps today in practice and we’ll probably look at it for a game or two.

“Those are the guys that come to mind. It could go to Heinen if he plays his off-side. They played together last year with DeBrusk and he could go there if we feel like he can help there. Bjork is a wild card. He’s played there. But we have him on the left side and we’re going to try him there. We know would start opening night with Kuhlman there and we’re going to be fine. But we’ll look at it and see if there’s a better fit right away. Ritchie is somebody we don’t know, so he could get in there and win that battle [for the spot]. It’s a bit of what’s the best fit and how it’s going to affect the rest of your lineup.”

But the 23-year-old Kuhlman clearly showed the Bruins coaching staff something last season even if the three goals and five points in 11 games last season didn’t exactly scream out top-6 winger. He had some good games certainly, and was excellent in Game 6 of the Cup Final vs. the Blues after he replaced Backes in the B’s lineup against the St. Louis Blues.

He brings speed, two-way play, maximum effort and hockey smarts to the table, and those are all things that will help the Bruins at points for as long as he’s there. But let’s be honest here. There’s a reason that Kuhlman went undrafted during his career at the - Duluth, and he was solid, not spectacular, in the AHL with 12 goals and 30 points in 58 games during his first season of pro hockey last year.

He’s good enough to be okay at the NHL level playing with a high level, creative player like Krejci, and he showed chemistry with the playmaking Czech and Jake DeBrusk in his limited time last season. It certainly sounds like he’s got a fan in Krejci, and that matters when it comes to his linemates.

“He’s got maybe a better shot than we’d seen his first time through in training camp,” said Cassidy, alluding to some goals he scored in the regular season and playoffs. “Then you talk to Krejci and he’s been around a long time. He’s had a lot of wingers and he’ll give you some feedback as well. [He says] Kuhlman gets to the right spots and makes plays at the right times. So some of it is your own eyes and some of it is trusting the guys on the ice that are playing with him.”

All of that is well and good, but he still scored only 15 goals and 35 points in 69 combined games between the AHL and NHL last season. He’s also just 5-foot-11, 185-pounds with a modest skill level that’s not going to help Boston’s difficulties scoring during even strength play last season.

It wouldn’t surprise anybody is Kuhlman is just good enough to be a place-holder until the Bruins find a permanent play-finishing solution on Krejci’s line. Certainly he’s not going to be confused with guys like Nathan Horton and Jarome Iginla that played on Krejci’s line during his best seasons with the Black and Gold. 1153546 Boston Bruins anyone’s fault, but I’m not giving up pace to help two or three guys and lose the other 17 when we’re trying to build here and practice fast.”

Since the Bruins played last season until June 12, the roster for the first McDonald: 11 things I’ve learned about the Bruins early in training camp few preseason games has been loaded with prospects and younger players. The Bruins will trim the training camp roster after Saturday’s game, but there’s been a balance of allowing younger players to make an By Joe McDonald impression, while giving the veterans players a chance to ease into the season. Sep 20, 2019 Having only one week to evaluate younger players isn’t ideal, but it helps

that the begin their camp on Monday. That will give The Bruins have been on the ice for one week in preparation for the new Cassidy one week and three preseason games to focus on his roster. season. Not much will change with the roster, especially since the team 4. The decision to sign goalie Max Legace, 26, should pay dividends for reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final before losing to the St. Louis the Bruins. The former Vegas Golden Knights netminder is an Blues last June. So here are some takeaways of what has stood out to outstanding athlete. He moves well around the net and he’s tough to me about the team over the first week of workouts: score on during practices. He’s been impressive and he’ll likely share the 1. Basically, barring injury or setback, there’s one roster spot available. It net with rookie Kyle Keyser in Providence this season. Keyser is also comes down to the right-wing position on the third line. David Backes, 35, very athletic and has leapfrogged Daniel Vladar on the depth chart. is trying to rejuvenate his career and is fighting for a job. It didn’t help that Because Keyser is so competitive, at times he overplays a puck and puts he was a healthy scratch for the majority of the playoffs, including Game himself out of position, which is something goalie coach Bob Essensa 7 of the final against his former team. has been working on with Keyser. The other thing that’s impressive about Keyser is his ability and willingness to communicate and work during So, Backes spent the summer re-training his body and mind to make an practice. impact in Boston for the upcoming season. 5. A pair of shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries hampered the “More so than ever, and that’s what I need to do,” he said. “I need to start of Anders Bjork’s pro career. The 23-year-old forward is looking continue to get better and assert myself to be in the lineup every night healthy and strong during camp and if he continues to progress then he’ll and that’s been my focus all summer.” earn a roster spot. Bjork appears comfortable while playing left wing on Charlie Coyle’s line. Despite earning $6 million per season for another two years, Backes is not guaranteed a roster spot. As a respected veteran, he would usually 6. Newcomer Brett Ritchie is getting a look on both the second- and third- play three preseason games in the past. But it’s different for him now line right wing position. He’s been mostly playing with Coyle and Bjork because he battling for playing time. and it’s evident that Cassidy likes the makeup of that line with his size, strength and speed. At this point, Ritchie has a better chance of earning “In the past I’ve had a more secure role and spot and used (preseason) a spot on the third line, because it appears Karson Kuhlman will play the games as a warmup and had a target date of (opening night) to build up right side with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. to that. This year is more of staring down the face of my first preseason game and I need to be going all out and prove myself every shift. Ideally, 7. Cassidy & Co. has been keeping close tabs on defensemen Jakob it’s three games but that’s not in my control and when I’m out there I Zboril and Jeremy Lauzon this camp. Both have been better and showing need to do my best.” a bit more confidence in their respective games than in the past.

Backes was in the lineup for Boston’s second preseason game at 8. There’s a lot to like about defenseman Cooper Zech. The undrafted Philadelphia Thursday night and he finished with 14:48 of ice time in a defenseman was one of Providence’s best players down the stretch and Bruins’ 3-1 victory. He understands others are vying for his job, but he into the playoffs last season. He’s shown his ability to move the puck, hopes management and the coaching staff evaluate his game based on has a high hockey IQ and also breaks up a ton of plays. Cassidy said he the present and not the past. likes Zech’s instincts and competiveness. Similar to Krug and Matt Grzelcyk earlier in their pro careers, Zech needs to increase his strength “It’s an opportunity,” he said. “I’m hoping there are open minds and we’ll and conditioning. all get a clean slate, but I don’t control that; I control playing my first shift and making an impact.” 9. Peter Cehlarik hasn’t jumped out one way or another during camp, which can be a good sign for the young forward. He’ll need to stand out 2. Patrice Bergeron continues to ease into training camp, but said he during the preseason games. He scored Boston’s game-winning goal would be 100 percent for the season opener on Oct. 3 at Dallas. The against the Flyers on Thursday. veteran centerman has been battling a groin injury since 2016 and it’s something he’ll likely deal with for the remainder of his career. He joined 10. There’s also a lot to like about forward Oskar Steen. He can play both the team on the ice for the first time on Monday, sporting a no-contact the wing and center, but Cassidy was impressed with Steen’s sweater, but he participated in all the drills. He skated with a regular performance in the middle during the Prospects Challenge last week in practice sweater on Wednesday and Thursday and he’ll take Friday off. Buffalo. Since then, Cassidy admitted there have been internal Last season, he accepted more optional days than he ever had in the conversations about Steen and his best fit. He’s smart, quick and past and he realizes that would be the norm moving forward. Even possesses an NHL-caliber shot and his status is intriguing, Cassidy though the groin discomfort is lingering, he hasn’t shown any ill effects indicated. The coach described Steen as a “new-age, third-line guy who during camp. can score.”

3. It’s amazing how one errant pass during a drill can completely screw 11. It’s obvious that David Pastrnak has improved his defensive game, up the pace of an NHL practice, especially when it comes to the Bruins. albeit in practice, but even Cassidy has made mention of the forward’s When players hit the ice for a training camp session, or even a regular- dedication to playing a more complete 200-foot game. season practice, every single player has been given the plan and they should know what to expect for every second on the ice. The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019

It’s become second nature for the veterans, but when younger, inexperienced players make a mistake during practice it slows the pace. It’s uncommon for Bruce Cassidy to stop practice and explain a drill on the white board. Everything is done prior to the on-ice session because the coach wants to keep that high tempo.

It may seem mighty mite-ish, but if a player doesn’t understand a drill, go to the back of the line and watch.

“We’ll certainly explain it once, but we’re not explaining it five times,” Cassidy said. “It drags your practice down. Even though it might not be 1153547 Buffalo Sabres The game in brief: The Sabres hit the halfway mark of their preseason schedule as the result left both teams at 1-2. Matthews had an assist on the first Toronto goal and scored the second one, his third of the Dylan Cozens keeps raising eyebrows as Sabres fall to Leafs preseason. Matt Read scored the other midway through the third period. Nylander had a monster game with six shots on goal and 15 attempts. Tage Thompson led Buffalo with four shots on goal.

By Mike Harrington Interesting contributions: Curtis Lazar had an active game up front for the Sabres with three shots and a team-high five hits. Published Fri, Sep 20, 2019|Updated Fri, Sep 20, 2019 Net report: Linus Ullmark had another strong showing in goal, stopping

21 of 23 shots for the Sabres while playing two periods. He stopped 18 of TORONTO – As training camp narratives go, this one is getting pretty 19 shots while playing 30 minutes in Tuesday's loss at Columbus. interesting. Dylan Cozens looks every bit the part of a first-round draft Another injury: Veteran Kevin Porter took the morning skate but did not pick – and isn't remotely looking like an 18-year-old. play in the game due to a lower-body injury, believed to have occurred In the Buffalo Sabres' otherwise nondescript 3-0 preseason loss to the when he blocked a shot during the workout. Rasmus Asplund took Toronto Maple Leafs Friday night in Scotiabank Arena, Cozens put up a Porter's place and the natural center played left wing on a line with Jean- strong showing in his first game in an NHL arena while playing against a Sebastien Dea in the middle and Lazar on the right side. Toronto lineup that included the likes of elite forwards Auston Matthews Line report: The Sabres started Vladimir Sobotka between Remi Elie and and William Nylander. Tage Thompson. Cozens was between Sheary and Arttu Ruotsalainen "It's interesting how somebody with that much skill and personality is able and Mittelstadt centered C.J. Smith and . The defense pairs to adjust in such a short period of time," said coach Ralph Krueger. "He were Jake McCabe-Henri Jokiharju, John Gilmour-Will Borgen and Jacob started camp a little tentative and hesitant, and the last few days we Bryson-Zach Redmond. noticed it already in practice that he was opening up a little bit and just Missing persons report: The notable scratches for the Sabres included playing his game. Tonight, we saw a confirmation of that and what his Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin, , ability is. The speed and some of the situations were exciting for us to Rasmus Ristolainen, Marcus Johansson, Colin Miller, Marco Scandella, watch." Evan Rodrigues and goalie Carter Hutton. The Leafs played this one Cozens, who didn't look out of place in the preseason opener against without the likes of , Mitch Marner, Tyson Barrie, Jake Pittsburgh Monday at Penn State, didn't register a point Friday but he Muzzin and Jason Spezza. had three shots on goal in the game and showed excellent body control The rematch: The teams meet again at 7 Saturday night in the first of two with the puck both in the offensive zone and neutral zone. That was home preseason games for the Sabres. Many of the above scratches on especially true in one first-period sequence where he got himself out of both sides are likely to play in that game. The game will be televised on trouble by the Buffalo bench by keeping the puck out of the middle of the MSG using the Leafs' Sportsnet announcers. ice and getting it to the Sabres defense. Buffalo News LOADED: 09.21.2019 "Every day I'm getting more comfortable with the puck and making plays," Cozens said. "I didn't want to turn the puck over there. I wasn't seeing much so I just held on to it, turned it back and got it to the D."

This is the play i mentioned a couple of minutes. Look at the reach and body position that help him get the puck away from the middle and out of trouble. Mature play. https://t.co/h3xSaT6WVP

— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) September 20, 2019

"From first game to second, I thought he took a big step," said Conor Sheary, who played on Cozens' wing. "I think tonight he seemed a lot more confident with the puck. Him and I had a little bit of chemistry and were able to find each other a couple of times. You expect that from a young guy, being a little nervous in the first game. Tonight he really settled down and played his game."

Cozens, from the Yukon Territory, was particularly pleased to get a chance to play in one of Canada's hockey meccas.

"They're a team with lots of history," he said. "So to be able to play in that building in front of these fans who are so crazy was an amazing atmosphere.

With junior eligibility left, it remains more likely than not that Cozens could return to Lethbridge of the Western League. But more strong work from Cozens could have the Sabres pondering keeping him for nine games before the first year of his entry-level deal kicks in.

That's especially true if Cozens continues to outplay returnee Casey Mittelstadt, who has struggled mightily at times in his two preseason games to date.

Cozens has played two of Buffalo's three games thus far. If he gets in another one, perhaps Saturday's rematch against the Leafs in KeyBank Center, it would certainly be a sign the Sabres want to get as long a look at him as possible.

"We all know he's a good player. He was drafted where he was for a reason," Sheary said. "We had some chemistry which was good. Hopefully we can build off that and continue to grow. He likes to learn, talks to me a lot and that's a good thing as well."

"I'd be happy to play," Cozens said. "I like playing the game and I love playing at this level. I want to go out and prove myself, try to stick around as long as I can." 1153548 Buffalo Sabres

KeyBank Center announces revised bag policy for events

By Staff

Published Fri, Sep 20, 2019|Updated Fri, Sep 20, 2019

In advance of the Buffalo Sabres' home preseason game Saturday, KeyBank Center has announced a new bag policy for all events, including Sabres and Bandits games.

According to the new policy, small handbags, purses, drawstring bags and clutches are allowed, but anything larger will not be permitted. Fans will no longer be able to store larger bags with Account Services during the game, the release said.

Medical items and diaper bags are allowed.

The Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a preseason game at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Buffalo News LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153549 Buffalo Sabres "That’s something I try to bring to the table every night," Gilmour said. "I try to showcase my speed every night. That goal was a good example of it. I’m going to try to make plays like that all the time."

John Gilmour trying to show Sabres he can make an impact without the Defenseman John Gilmour: 'Something special is brewing in Buffalo' puck Ullmark in goal

Linus Ullmark will receive the start in goal Friday against Toronto and will By Lance Lysowski play longer than he did Tuesday against Columbus, Krueger said. Published Fri, Sep 20, 2019|Updated Fri, Sep 20, 2019 Ullmark stopped 19 of 20 shots before he was replaced by Andrew Hammond with 10:12 left in the second period.

Lines/pairings John Gilmour received the pass on the tape of his left-handed stick, blew by an out-of-position Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and skated The Sabres will have Gilmour, Will Borgen, Zach Redmond, Jacob toward the net with the speed of a forward. Bryson, Jake McCabe and Henri Jokiharju on defense. Meanwhile, here are the lines they will deploy against Toronto: Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith barely moved his glove before the puck hit the back of the net Monday night at Penn State. Gilmour's goal, the Sabres' forward lines tonight at Toronto. Still trying to figure out defensive Buffalo Sabres' first of the preseason, was the first tangible evidence of pairs. A lot of rotating going on ... the speed with which new coach Ralph Krueger wants the team to play Elie-Sobotka-Thompson with the puck. Ruotsalainen-Cozens-Sheary "Of course, the goal caught everybody's attention," Krueger acknowledged Friday morning. Smith-Mittelstadt-Okposo

However, the Sabres expected that sort of play from Gilmour. The Lazar-Porter-Dea defenseman's remarkable speed and skill made him a priority signing when free agency opened July 1. They're more interested in seeing what — Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) September 20, 2019 the 26-year-old can do without the puck. Leafs' lineup

Playing strong in the defensive zone could help Gilmour emerge from a The Sabres will face their most difficult test of the preseason to date position battle that has intensified with the absence of Brandon Montour, tonight in Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs' lineup will include who will miss an undetermined amount of time because of a hand injury. Matthews, Andreas Johnsson, Alexander Kerfoot, William Nylander, Gilmour's next test will come tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, , Morgan Rielly and goalie Frederik Andersen. who will have Auston Matthews in the lineup when the puck drops at 7 p.m. That means Sabres fans likely will get to see Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and John Tavares on Saturday night at KeyBank Center. "It's nice with the puck but we need to first of all get a strong defensive Goalie Michael Neuvirth also confirmed to reporters that he will face the foundation here, which we could then explode out of hopefully," Krueger Sabres on Saturday. continued. "John shows that potential, so we're excited to work with him here and seeing him in action again today." Buffalo News LOADED: 09.21.2019

In addition to Montour, the Sabres will be without Zach Bogosian (hip) and Lawrence Pilut (shoulder) at the start of the regular season. Matt Hunwick is not expected to play this season because of a neck condition. Though Gilmour still faces difficult odds, he's been given an opportunity to showcase his skills on the power play and earned a more prominent role as the game progressed at Penn State.

Gilmour finished with two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating. Most important, he did not make any egregious mistakes with defensive-zone coverage or puck management. The performance was the latest example of Gilmour's progress since he joined Hartford, the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate, in 2016-17.

Gilmour scored six goals among 25 points with a minus-39 rating in 76 games as a rookie. Like many young players, he struggled to transition from college hockey to the professional game. Last season, Gilmour ranked second among all AHL defensemen in goals (20) – which was a Hartford franchise single-season record for a defenseman – and points (54), trailing only Rochester's Zach Redmond (21) in the former category. Gilmour was named an AHL all-star for a second consecutive season.

"My defensive play has gotten better every year since I’ve turned pro," Gilmour, who won an NCAA Championship with Providence in 2015, said. "It was definitely a learning curve going from college to the pros. The forwards are a lot better. There’s world-class talent. The best players in the world. I think I’m defending just fine. I’m using my feet and stick to defend well. It’s all about effort in the D zone."

Gilmour has played 33 NHL games with the New York Rangers, scoring two goals among five points with a minus-14 rating. The former seventh- round draft pick became the first rookie defenseman in Rangers history to score a game-winning overtime goal, accomplishing the feat against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 28, 2018.

Despite his upside, Gilmour's future is uncertain. Since he's on a one- way contract, Gilmour would need to clear waivers in order to be sent to Rochester at the end of camp. He likely would be an attractive option for teams in need of a defenseman. The goal against Pittsburgh was not an isolated display of skill, either. 1153550 Buffalo Sabres

Why Henri Jokiharju likely will make the Sabres' roster out of training camp

By Lance Lysowski

Published Fri, Sep 20, 2019|Updated Fri, Sep 20, 2019

We're starting to understand which players are most likely to make the Buffalo Sabres' roster under Ralph Krueger.

Tage Thompson was given time on the Sabres' top power play Monday in Pittsburgh. Victor Olofsson quickly developed chemistry with free- agent acquisition Marcus Johansson. Henri Jokiharju was trusted to play with Jack Eichel during the 3-on-3 overtime at Penn State University.

Much can change over the final four preseason games, as illustrated by the Sabres losing Brandon Montour to an injury for an undetermined amount of time. During my latest Facebook Live broadcast, I answered readers' questions and offered my thoughts on which players have stood out early in camp.

Buffalo News LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153551 “You hear about guys playing in the playoffs with broken ribs, and punctured lungs and broken legs and stuff,” he said. “It’s pretty tough as nails. Then, there’s stories I’ve heard about guys riding with broken Calgary's Rob Hamilton gets thrill of a lifetime with Flames wrists, or 50 stitches here and there. I heard one about a guy that got a spur casted onto his (broken) ankle so he could keep riding.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton received the thrill of his life, playing in front of the Kristen Anderson Scotiabank Saddledome crowd this week in pre-season action.

Published:September 20, 2019 It was a nice reward, after starting last season with Manchester of the ECHL before getting called up early on by Stockton last season after the Updated:September 20, 2019 11:44 PM MDT injury bug ran through Calgary’s AHL affiliate.

The Flames liked him so much they signed him for the rest of the year Occasionally throughout the hockey season, Rob Hamilton will fire up his and invited him to prospects camp, then training camp. laptop to catch the latest action in the professional rodeo world. “Dev camp was a good start, and was kind of a good to get my foot in the And, undoubtedly, while the 25-year-old is door and meet some of the Flames staff and knowing the Stockton watching his brother Connor — a professional bareback rider and two- guys…that made it a lot more comfortable and an easier transition,” Rob time novice champion at the Calgary Stampede — on his living room said. “When we put the jersey on for the prospects games, that was cool coffee table, curiosity is piqued. … and suiting up with the main group … it’s pretty real now.”

“There’s a million questions,” Hamilton was saying the other day, during He’ll play in Stockton again this season, but it was a memorable week for a quiet moment at Calgary Flames fall training camp. the hometown lad.

Why, of course, is usually the first one. “Going to games growing up and catching guys go through the organization and stuff, it’s always cool to wear the ‘C’ on your chest,” he Or how the heck does a guy hang on at all, let alone for eight whole said. seconds? Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.21.2019 “Nobody knows,” Rob continued with a chuckle. “The glove? The wooden handle? It’s like, your hand is jammed in there pretty hard. (Teammates) think he just kind of hangs on and rides around, like, it’s an easy thing or something.

“But once you watch it, you realize how violent and jarring it is to be on the back of a horse that doesn’t really want you on the back of it.”

It’s a valid question, but if your name is Kaycee, Orin, Tilden, Richmond, Clint or Ty, you don’t think twice about getting on the back of an ornery horse.

Connor, a city-boy-turned-rodeo-star, is a rare breed. And rising.

“Well, he’s not a household name yet,” Rob downplayed, laughing.

He’s been around for a while, though, and took a very different path than Rob who played for the in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, attended the University of Vermont for four years, and has played professional hockey for the last two seasons. That also includes 54 games in 2018-19 with the Calgary Flames’ affiliate, the Stockton Heat, which earned him an invite to summer prospects camp — and a twirl with the pros at this fall’s training camp.

The two were on similar courses at one point as Connor skated with the AJHL’s Calgary Mustangs while the youngest Hamilton boy, Daly, was with the Canmore Eagles for the previous three seasons.

But somewhere along the way…

“We’ve never had a horse or a farm, or particular affiliation with anyone with a horse or a farm,” said Rob with a chuckle. “He just kinda taught himself how to ride by watching ‘YouTube’ videos and just started doing it.”

And it significantly cut down on dad Don and mom Gail’s average number of hockey games per winter, which, Rob estimated, was once about 130 between all three of them in the AJHL, midget ‘AAA’ and bantam ‘AAA.’

It’s an interesting life, to be sure.

“I, personally, would never do it,” Rob said with a chuckle. “Anyone I show the videos of him doing it is, like, ‘Whoa … oh my.’ No one can really believe it. It’s a pretty hardcore, full-on, intense eight-seconds that he’s on the horse for.

“But he’s good at it and I’m really proud of him for doing it as long as he has.”

Rob, who had seven goals and 22 assists with the Heat last season, sees similarities between the rodeo and hockey communities.

Athletes in both sports must have a similar level of toughness. 1153552 Calgary Flames The two — best known for their agitating ability rather than their flair — teamed up for a two-on-one with Rinaldo, sliding the puck over to Lomberg for a tap-in on Edmonton starter Mikko Koskinen.

Gillies' performance in Flames' pre-season loss cause for alarm Then, things turned …

“I thought they were a factor early, they got pucks in behind their ‘D,’ Kristen Anderson made them turn, and then spent some in the offensive zone,” said Flames head coach Bill Peters. “Then it went away. It went away not only Published:September 20, 2019 for that line, but for all four lines.

Updated:September 20, 2019 11:21 PM MDT “I didn’t think we had any zone time at all. We spent too much time defending as the game went on.”

BENNETT’S PLACE? If the Calgary Flames are still trying to get a read on Jon Gillies, Friday’s performance was another piece of information for their pre-season It seems like Sam Bennett has picked up right where he left off from last reports. season.

Once billed the goalie of the future, the 25-year-old seemed to struggle And, if Matthew Tkachuk’s contract negotiations linger into the start of the mightily in the second half of a 6-2 loss against a roster that was half-full 2019-20 season, he might have found the perfect place to slot in. of Edmonton Oilers regulars. Playing in Tkachuk’s spot on the second line with Mikael Backlund and Exhibition season is only a small sample size and, albeit, the Flames Michael Frolik, the 23-year-old formerly moustachioed winger had four didn’t send their best lineup out at Rogers Place in their third friendly shots on net and tallied once on a nice two-on-one set up with Michael (fourth if you count the other split-squad game) of the 2019-20 docket. Stone. Yes, Michael Stone the Calgary Flames defenceman. But for a , their leash is somewhat shorter. Bennett drove to the net early and often, drawing a high-sticking penalty Yes, even if they are going into the game cold for the last half of the with 5:45 left in the first period from former Flame Alex Chiasson. game (which is when Gillies relieved Flames’ netminder David Rittich). “He’s playing the right way,” Peters said. “He scored a nice goal on a Yes, if the team in front of them isn’t exactly what you’ll see when the rebound by Stoney, Stoney made a great play shooting far pad. Sam was season opens for real on Oct. 3 in Colorado. in the right spot and was going to the net hard. He’s had a real good opportunity. He was on the power play and penalty kill (Friday) so he’s At the game’s end, Gillies’ numbers looked like this: five goals on 21 had a real good opportunity.” shots. But it was the quality of those shots that should set off the alarm bells. Speaking of Stone, Peters was testing out the chemistry between he and Oliver Kylington who could be a potential third pairing for the Flames this Sure, he had little choice in the matter on Leon Draisaitl’s goal — year. Edmonton’s fifth of the game that came late in the third period. And there was a defensive breakdown on front of him that led to Sam Gagner’s NOTES: goal at the tail end of the game. The last word goes to Peters about their group up to this point: “Your four And, perhaps the first one he allowed might have been prevented if Noah games into (pre-season) and the picture is becoming clearer. We’ll talk to Hanifin would have cleared the puck in front of him a little sooner (on a management and see what they have seen from up top. Good to get Flames’ power play in the second period) so Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Mang in his first game. I thought he had some good energy … it wouldn’t have tied the game at 2-2. becomes much more of a defined picture of what we have and what we don’t have and who is actually battling for spots.” … The Flames went 0- Yes, OK, the third and fourth goals, Gillies could have been better for-four on the powerplay … LW Andrew Mangiapane had 16:19 of ice positioned on (a harmless short-side shot by Darnell Nurse and a power- time and four shots on net in his return to action after a short contract play shot by Zack Kassian that hit the post and went in). impasse …. PTO Devante Smith-Pelly led the Flames with seven hits But at the end of the day, a goaltender needs to make saves when the and 3:46 of power-play time … Calgary squares off against the Winnipeg team needs them to the most. Even in the pre-season. Jets on Sunday at Bell MTS Place and host the Jets Tuesday. They’ll head to San Jose on Thursday before welcoming the Edmonton Oilers at “It wasn’t my night, obviously,” he said. “I think the last goal kind of Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday, Sept. 28. summed up how it was going … I didn’t feel awful, but I just made some mistakes and sometimes they hit the post and bounce out. (Friday) they Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.21.2019 hit the post and bounced in.

“I feel bad for letting everyone down and we were winning before I came in — that’s the worst feeling about it all. Did some good things. Did some bad things and onto the next one.”

It’s tough to say where Gillies, who is on a one-way contract, will end up this year with the Flames’ roster spots already filled with Rittich and newcomer Cam Talbot. Artyom Zagidulin and Tyler Parsons are set to likely split the workload with the Stockton Heat. Then, there’s Nick Schneider who’ll head to ECHL Kansas City.

Gillies, who was selected 75th overall in 2012, has made it clear he wants an opportunity — be it with the Flames or with another NHL club somewhere. One can’t help but wonder if this is the end of the line for the athletic puck-stopper within the current organization.

STANDING OUT

Ryan Lomberg is not, by any means, an offensive wizard.

But the 25-year-old pepper pot forward capitalized on his opportunities and was able to stand out in Friday’s pre-season game in a positive way.

Ditto for Zac Rinaldo, who is with the Flames on a professional tryout offer. 1153553 Calgary Flames After the rookie games, coach Bill Peters pointed out to reporters that Gawdin’s line was the best on the ice each night. No coincidence, that.

“Coming into this year, I wanted to show more, do more,” Gawdin, 22, Despite accomplishments big and small, prospect Glenn Gawdin wants said. “I thought I made some strides last year. I want to continue to do more as he eyes depth role on Flames that and, ultimately, make the team.”

For Monday’s preseason date against the visiting Vancouver Canucks, By Scott Cruickshank he was assigned veteran flankers Zac Rinaldo and Devante Smith-Pelly, himself a Stanley Cup winner. Sep 20, 2019 And it was Smith-Pelly, who, post-game, paid Gawdin a winning compliment.

Settling into their new digs, the Calgary Flames’ first-year farmhands had “Easy to play with,” Smith-Pelly said. “He was always in the right spots. nearly everything. That’s what you’re looking for in a centreman — predictable. Any time we had it on the wall and we chipped it out, he’s the guy coming across (to Except for resolution. advance the puck) and he’s there every time. That makes it easy for us Because you see, not all bedrooms are created equally. In this case, one wingers. featured an en suite bathroom and a walk-in closet. The other did not. “Stuff’s moving fast out there, so when you’re putting it where it’s On move-in day — with their furniture and belongings scattered all over supposed to be and the guy’s there? It helps everyone.” the living room of the apartment in Lodi, Calif., 20 minutes north of Indeed, this is Gawdin’s calling card. Stockton, and the AHL season getting closer — a decision needed to be made. Heady decisions. More responsible than flashy. More dependable than dynamic. Quickly becoming a pro’s pro. Who gets the master bedroom? Told about Smith-Pelly’s assessment, Gawdin offers a small grin. Matthew Phillips’ first instinct was to defer to his flatmate, insisting that, yeah, he’d be OK bunking in the smaller quarters. But Glenn Gawdin “I’d like to think so,” the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder said. “Being a centre, wouldn’t hear of it: “Let’s do something so it’s kind of fair.” you’ve always got to be in the right positions … to get the coach’s trust.”

Which could mean only one thing. A task to which he devoted himself last winter in Stockton. Making believers out of the Heat’s bench bosses. A tall task, initially. Finding the TV, plugging it in. Hooking up the Xbox. Loading NHL 18. Heading for the couch. Assuming battle stations. Randomly generating As a point producer — 125 in 2017-18, second-most in the WHL — he two sides. was accustomed to getting the puck and keeping it, to operating at his own pace, to deliberating. Which means … Then bracing for a winner-take-all showdown. “You don’t have to move your feet as much,” Domenic Pittis, assistant Gawdin remembers it being a best-of-five, while Phillips recalls a best-of- coach in Stockton said. “It was a focus, as far as a staff, to get him to seven. move his feet. Even watching here, I’ve noticed he’s moving a lot better. No matter. Because what is not in dispute is the result — Gawdin, with “At the pro game, he’s got to turn his feet over and use that great vision the sweep. “The funny thing is, I’d never beat him before, ” he said. “He he has to make plays.” always had my number.” Gawdin did have an ace up his sleeve — the ability to win faceoffs. Added Phillips: “I would’ve bet on myself in that situation.” Generally important in hockey, and crucial to Peters’ approach. But this time, Gawdin dominated, even with Phillips’ mother on site. In “You’re always trying to buy minutes as a player,” Pittis said. “He had fact, she had actually been rooting for her son’s chum. some currency with his draws.” Phillips, chuckling, confirms Mom’s switch of allegiance. “She was in my But even that knack took time to establish. He didn’t know the AHL ear cheering Glenn on the whole time. She was going against me. It was linesmen — “So you can’t really cheat as much” — or his rivals. “Luckily pretty funny.” for us, in the (Pacific Division), we play certain teams 12, 14 times, so As surprising — and as satisfying — as last fall’s high-stakes upset must you get a read on them.” have been, it stands as just another entry in Gawdin’s plump portfolio. Proficiency at the dot helped him avoid a transfer to the wing, a common Which, no surprise, also includes an assortment of more traditional enough fate for young centremen, and so did another skill of his. hockey feats. “He can pass well, both forehand and backhand,” Pittis said. “Through Such as: the middle, you have to be able to make those plays. A lot of the guys Suiting up for a raft of all-star showcases while growing up in Richmond, come up from junior and they can’t use the backhand of their stick.” B.C. Being taken by Swift Current fifth overall in the 2012 WHL bantam Eventually — and predictably — he was relied on for quality 5-on-5 draft. minutes. Like most juniors, it was his defending habits that needed Playing in the CHL prospects game. Skating for the Canadian under-18 tidying. Gawdin embraced the brush-up. squad. Being taken by St. Louis 116th in the 2015 NHL Draft. “I’m sure he played a 200-foot game in junior, but the 200-foot pro game Signing an entry-level contract with the Flames in 2017. Earning, in his is different,” Pittis said. “Now you’re playing against men as opposed to final season of junior eligibility, WHL all-star honours, plus the nod as its playing against 17-year-olds. So the issues — being on the right side (of plus-minus champ. Leading, as captain, Swift Current to the WHL title. the puck), getting stick position, getting body position — were a bit of an Getting recognition as the WHL postseason’s most valuable player. adjustment.

Picking up, this past spring, junior male athlete of the year in Richmond. “But he’s a cerebral player and he understands where he needs to get Since he was serving as a black ace for the Flames at the time, his big better — and he did. He’s efficient. He’s on point.” sister, Kristina, attended the banquet. And, by season’s end, one of the Heat’s go-to forwards. “I was happy that she went up there and got it for me,” Gawdin said. “Because he’s elite with his puck control and his ability to distribute and “Definitely cool.” his vision,” Pittis said, “that translated as the season progressed.” Now? He’s dying to add another line to his scrapbook — NHL Suiting up 64 times — and forming, at one stage, a formidable employment, starting with that first appearance. At his fifth main camp combination with Dillon Dube and Phillips — he gathered 38 points, and third in Calgary, the young man is building a case worth considering. including nine in the final eight dates. “I definitely wouldn’t say it was a full-on smooth transition,” Gawdin said. “It was a little bumpy at times. You definitely have to start all over. Older guys, known players, the coaches know what they can get out of them. A rookie coming in? They don’t really know. So you’ve got to prove yourself early.

“There were times when you were frustrated, going through adversity. That’s normal. Without that, I don’t think I would’ve made the progressions that I did.”

Right now at camp, he’s getting a full appraisal. The other morning, someone compared him to Derek Ryan, which, if you’re familiar with that particular player’s value, is high praise.

Yet in the middle stages of the preseason schedule, Gawdin, like any hopeful, cannot help thinking that an offensive outburst would increase his chances of staying, but he knows his balanced approach will pay off in the long run.

“I think they’ve pretty much got their top-six (forwards) locked up,” Gawdin said of the Flames. “The spots that are open are more role spots. For a guy like myself, that works in my favour. I think I can play any situation. I feel I’m responsible enough.

“Everybody needs that (type of know-how) nowadays. You can’t just be that pure offensive guy … or you wouldn’t have been in the American League, you’d have gone straight to the NHL.

“If I play my game, show them I’m in the right spots, making the right reads, that only helps.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153554 Carolina Hurricanes “I definitely had a little bit of a roller coaster year but I learned a lot of things from that experience. I think it’s not worrying about the mistakes you make and just move on. You learn to have that positive attitude throughout the year. You’re going to go through slumps and stuff. It’s just Warren Foegele made the Canes’ roster last year, but he still has to whether you stick with it.” ‘make this team’ Foegele stuck with it and enjoyed the ride. He was a part of some memorable victories and post-game celebrations, swatting the “walk-off home run” that irked Canadian sportscaster to the point he BY CHIP ALEXANDER called the Canes a “bunch of jerks.” SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 03:53 PM Foegele has guys pushing him this year in camp, wanting his spot. Julien Gauthier wants to make the team. Martin Necas wants to make the team. And other forwards. Warren Foegele repeated the question, a smile forming on his face. “They drive it, right?” Brind’Amour said of the competition. “The same “What’s changed in the last year?” he said. “Whoa.” thing last year, which I think is why we had a pretty successful preseason. The work ethic was there. The young guys, you know they’re Good answer. going to do that, they have something to prove.” A year ago, he was one of the many names on the Carolina Hurricanes Foegele began camp last week on a line with center Erik Haula and training camp roster -- No. 13, Foegele. He was one of the young guys Necas. With Haula now injured, Jordan Staal has moved to center on the battling for a roster spot, looking to hustle and compete and elbow his line. Late in Friday’s practice, Foegele blistered a shot into the net on a way in as one the 12 forwards as a rookie. line rush, earning some stick taps from the guys. Team owner Tom Dundon noticed his grit and effort, all but assuring “You don’t want anybody to take your job,” Foegele said. “For me, my Foegele’s spot before camp ended. By season’s end, he had played 77 game is about working hard and playing fast. I just need to execute my games, been used on different lines, killed penalties and been a game.” contributor as the Canes advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2009, thrilling their fan base. Note: Forward prospect Stelio Mattheos, who underwent surgery and treatment this summer for testicular cancer, was a visitor to the Canes And a year later in camp? locker room Friday. Mattheos, 20, was given a few hugs from former “I’ve still got to make this team, earn my ice,” Foegele said in an N&O Charlotte Checkers teammates. interview Friday. “Good for him,” Brind’Amour said. “You don’t want to get too far ahead of FOEGELE PROVES HIMSELF IN THE PLAYOFFS it but just happy he’s here and he looks really good. Hopefully that’s all behind him and he can get back to doing what he wants to do with his Foegele, 23, had some big moments in the playoffs and perhaps a life, which is to play hockey.” pivotal one in the first-round series against the Washington Capitals, nudging Caps forward T.J. Oshie into the boards in Game 4 at PNC HURRICANES AT CAPITALS Arena. Oshie suffered a broken collarbone. Caps star Alex Ovechkin When: Saturday, 7 p.m. called it a dirty hit while Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said, in his opinion, Foegele “barely hit him.” Where: Capital One Arena, Washington

Foegele, who was penalized for boarding, did not draw a suspension Listen: WCMC-99.9 from the league. The Canes won the series in seven games, and the Caps, the 2018 Stanley Cup champs, were done. News Observer LOADED: 09.21.2019

Foegele’s two goals had spurred a 5-0 win over the Caps in Game 3 at PNC Arena and made him the game’s first star. He finished the playoffs with five goals and four assists in 15 games, with a plus-6 rating.

The playoffs can be the ultimate proving ground for young NHL players. So it was for Foegele.

“For myself, I think it was like ‘Wow, I think I can definitely take a bigger role,’” he said. “Obviously I have to earn that role, so for me it was building on things to work on this summer to take me to that level and coming into camp with the mindset to expand my role and not just be someone easy to replace.”

Foegele, a Markham, Ont., native, again attended the grueling conditioning summer camp run by former Canes forward Gary Roberts in the Toronto area. He returned to Raleigh with a different vibe about him.

“I really don’t think much has changed,” he said. “I know what I have to do here. I have to earn my role and still have to make this team. Everyone is fighting for a job and a role. My mindset hasn’t changed in that sense.

“Obviously I think I’m a little more comfortable in my surroundings, knowing some of the guys. I think I have a lot more confidence coming into camp, too, especially after that playoff run.”

24 GAMES WITHOUT A POINT

Not everything was a smooth ride last season. After a good start, with three goals and an assist in his first four games, Foegele soon had a stretch of 24 games without a point. It was stressful and he was pressing, but conversations with Brind’Amour and team captain Justin Williams made a difference, he said.

“Once the new year came I relaxed and tried to provide other things to the team,” he said. “It’s about staying focused and working hard. 1153555 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Tribune LOADED: 09.21.2019

Blackhawks 1st-round pick Kirby Dach skates for the 1st time since suffering a concussion. Will he make the opening-night roster?

By JIMMY GREENFIELD

CHICAGO TRIBUNE |

SEP 20, 2019 | 4:41 PM

The wait is over for Kirby Dach to make his first on-ice appearance at Blackhawks training camp.

The 2019 first-round pick, who suffered a concussion during the final game of the NHL Prospect Tournament last week, performed some light skating and stickhandling drills for 30 minutes Friday.

Kirby Dach IS on the ice this morning. Still not practicing but this is great for him. pic.twitter.com/iITWAFZFD2

— Jimmy Greenfield (@jcgreenx) September 20, 2019

“Good that he could get out there,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “I’m not going to get too excited about it, but it’s not a bad thing. We’ll see how the next little while plays out.”

Now comes the wait to see when Dach, taken third, will begin practicing with the team and whether it’s too late for him to earn a spot on the opening-night roster. Even before the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Saskatchewan native was injured Sept. 10, it wasn’t certain he would make the team.

Colliton insisted Dach still is being considered for a spot despite already missing a full week of practice and at least the first four preseason games, including Saturday’s home game against the Bruins.

The Hawks also play host to the Capitals on Wednesday before leaving for Europe on Thursday to prepare for the Oct. 4 regular-season opener against the Flyers in Prague.

“He was never out of the running,” Colliton said. “He’s here. But we want to get him available first, and then we’ll think about those things.”

Dach, 18, isn’t age-eligible to play with the IceHogs and would return to the Saskatoon Blades, his junior team, if he doesn’t make the Hawks roster.

The Hawks also announced some cuts Friday, sending forwards Kris Versteeg, Tyler Sikura, Nathan Noel, Graham Knott, Tim Soderlund and Dylan McLaughlin and defensemen Chad Krys, Jack Ramsey and Jake Ryczek to the IceHogs.

Colliton said more cuts are coming Saturday as the team trims to the 25 or 26 players they plan to bring to Europe.

Versteeg, who is on an AHL contract, last played in the NHL during the 2017-18 season when he had eight points (three goals, five assists) with the Flames. Last season he had 16 points in 23 games while splitting time playing in Sweden and Russia’s top leagues.

The Hawks have put a premium on NHL veterans this year, bringing in players such as Calvin de Haan, Olli Maatta, and Robin Lehner. But Versteeg, 33, isn’t likely to join them at the United Center even though he has won two Stanley Cups and played 11 NHL seasons.

“He’s got a ton of experience and obviously he’s done very well in this organization,” Colliton said. "It was great to have him back and it’s hard. ... He’s got to get back up to speed. It’s been a while since he’s been to an NHL camp and played NHL games.

“It was great to have him here so he can be on the same page with what we’re trying to do tactically, and he’s going to be a big part of Rockford, and then it’s up to him. We’ll see how he performs.”

Colliton said De Haan, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and a groin injury, is not expected to play in either of the next two preseason games despite practicing at full strength the last few days.

“He’s not available right now,” Colliton said. “I don’t think we have an exact timeline. It’s great that he’s out getting reps. He has taken some contact, so that’s a positive.” 1153556 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks top prospect Dach returns to ice

John Dietz

Updated9/20/2019 7:38 PM

Blackhawks center Kirby Dach was on the ice for the first time training camp began a week ago.

Dach, who suffered a concussion in the Traverse City prospect tournament on Sept. 10, went through a series of drills for about 30 minutes before the Hawks practiced.

"Good that he could get out there. Not going to get too excited about it, but it's not a bad thing. We'll just see how the next little while plays out here."

As for if the No. 3 overall pick of June's draft could still make the team, Colliton said: "He's never out of the running. He's here. But we want to get him available first and then we'll think about those things."

Because he didn't practice with the team, Dach was not available to speak to the media.

Roster moves:

The Hawks assigned forwards Kris Versteeg, Tyler Sikura, Nathan Noel, Graham Knott, Tim Soderlund, Dylan McLaughlin and defensemen Chad Krys, Jake Ryczek and Jack Ramsey to Rockford. Goaltender Alexis Gravel was assigned to juniors Thursday.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153557 Chicago Blackhawks guys contributing. It won't be only the top guys who produce every night, and that helps teams win."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 How Colliton might build Blackhawks lines early this season

John Dietz

Updated9/20/2019 6:49 PM

It took almost a week, but Jeremy Colliton finally gave us a sneak peek of what the opening-night lineup might look like when the Blackhawks begin the regular season in Prague on Oct. 4.

At Thursday and Friday's practices, Colliton separated players into two groups -- one that will likely break camp with the Hawks; and one that will likely go to Rockford.

The most interesting part of the last two days has been watching how Colliton might build his lines.

• Captain , coming off a career year with 35 goals and 81 points, is centering the top line with and newcomer Alex Nylander as his wingers.

• Dylan Strome is between Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Shaw on the second line.

• David Kampf, who managed just 4 goals in 63 games last season, centers an intriguing third line with Brandon Saad and Dominik Kubalik.

• Drake Caggiula, Ryan Carpenter and Zack Smith are on the fourth line.

Anton Wedin and Brendan Perlini have been rotating in.

After the Hawks defeated Detroit at the United Center on Wednesday, Colliton said he isn't married to playing Toews and Kane together. Some games they will, some they won't. Some games they'll start together and then be split up -- and vice versa.

It's a great option to have, and Colliton plans to mix things up as he sees fit.

Nylander's ascension to the top line -- even if it doesn't last long -- has to be the story of camp, though. Ever since a pedestrian showing at development camp in July, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2016 draft has done everything he's asked and shined while doing it.

"He's probably been the most impressive player that is fighting for a spot," Kane said. "He's done everything he can so far. He's really good with the puck, he hangs onto it really well and can make a lot of plays.

"Once we play with him a little bit more and figure out the way we want to play, I think there could be some potential there."

The key, of course, will be for the young forward to keep it up each and every day.

And that's because Colliton could easily move the tough, gritty Shaw up to play with Kane and Toews. Or Saad. Or Caggiula. Or even Perlini.

As for that third line, it will be interesting to see how Kampf fares this season. He's a quiet, defensive center who can be a big part of the penalty kill.

But putting him between Kubalik, who possesses a monster shot, and Saad shows that Colliton believes there's more offensive upside there.

"He could finish better," Colliton said. "He creates a lot. … I would just like the shot selection to be a little better. Make an intelligent shot -- you don't have to go (cross)bar/down every time.

"Whether you create a rebound or consistently hit your spot, I think you can create some extra goals for yourself. Just play the averages."

Colliton also expects that line to "tilt the ice" and take away some of the defensive responsibilities from the top six. If they embrace that role -- and then chip in offensively -- it will go a long way in helping the Hawks compete for a playoff spot.

"Any team that makes a deep run has that depth, and you can see that balance a little bit more this year," Saad said. "(We should) have more 1153558 Chicago Blackhawks "I only played five games when I came back, but feel like I picked up where I left off. Hopefully, I can ride that momentum into the season."

Caggiula finished with 5 points in those 5 games and would figure to Rozner: Blackhawks' Caggiula looks to regain footing have an opportunity again to play his way into an important role as Colliton juggles lines throughout the season.

It's not certain Kane and Toews will play together all year, and there are Barry Rozner many candidates for that spot on the wing if they do. Alex Nylander got the chance Wednesday night and again at practice Friday. Brandon Saad Updated9/20/2019 6:20 PM is always on the shortlist, Shaw has been there before and Dominik Kubalik is the flavor of the day after a nice game in Detroit on Tuesday.

Jeremy Colliton certainly isn't afraid to try something new. Caggiula would like the chance again, though he spent Friday's practice on the fourth line with newcomers Ryan Carpenter and Zack Smith. Witness the Drake Caggiula experiment last season, a grinder placed on the top line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. "My exit interview (in April) was positive and I heard a lot of good things about where my game was at. They appreciated my style of play," said This Blackhawks coach does not pigeonhole players sight unseen, Caggiula, who collected 12 points and had a pair of fights in 26 games assuming roles based on age, experience or previous job description. after the trade from Edmonton. "No indication of where I'll be. It's a long offseason and lots of things can happen as they bring in new players. He knew the top line needed someone to dig in the corners and get to the net, and Caggiula did precisely that. "But my plan was to go into camp with the mindset that it's my spot to lose and I want to go back and earn that spot again." How well did it work? The Hawks won 11 of their first 13 after Caggiula was elevated. One certainty is the Hawks like him. That's not a terrible place to start.

"My first impression when I saw my name on the board with their names Daily Herald Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 was, 'Oh my God, I get to play with my childhood heroes.' Then I just had to focus right away and think about the game," said the 25-year-old Caggiula. "They were great about it.

"They said, 'Just go play your game. Win puck battles. Create traffic in front and do the things you do well.'

"They gave me a lot of confidence. They didn't harp on me to do things I can't do. That allowed me to play my game. I didn't have to try to impress them.

"My first day here, they welcomed me. You never know. Never been traded before, but the guys let me step in and be myself, on and off the ice."

In their first 12 games with Caggiula, Kane collected 27 points and Toews 19, easily the hottest stretch of the season for both players up to that juncture.

"You know, he's got more skill than he probably gets credit for, but you see that a lot in this league because people decide you're a certain type of player," Toews said. "With us, it was a good fit because he likes traffic and he wins a lot of pucks because he's fearless.

"He's flying around and hitting people and he finds pucks that you don't expect him to get."

The Hawks have needed more players like Caggiula for quite some time, and they added some edge over the summer by bringing back a bulked- up Andrew Shaw.

"He's always going to compete," Colliton said of Caggiula. "He's willing to go into the corners and to the net and he's going to battle for 50-50 pucks no matter who it's against or where.

"He fits with a lot of different players because he gets pucks in and he gets pucks out, and that means more puck possession in the offensive zone for us."

The Hawks had gone 11-4-0 over the previous month when the 5-foot- 10, 175-pound Caggiula was drilled from behind by Anaheim's Rickard Rakell on Feb. 27, after winning a puck race in the corner.

The resulting concussion cost Caggiula a month -- and the top line some great momentum -- but there was no fine or suspension for Rakell, who was tossed from the game.

It came at an awful time for the Hawks -- who went 6-5-1 without him -- and Caggiula, who seemed to have found a home in a crucial spot that has been tough for the Hawks to fill.

"When it's a hockey play and an injury happens, that's hockey, but when it's a cheap shot and you're injured as a result, and then I'm missing four to five weeks and we're in the playoff hunt, that was really frustrating," Caggiula said. "Those games were super important and you want to be there. 1153559 Chicago Blackhawks

Is Dylan Sikura on the outside looking in with Blackhawks?

By Charlie Roumeliotis

September 20, 2019 11:35 AM

The Blackhawks divided practice into two groups on Thursday and Friday. One of them was filled with NHL players. The other was loaded with prospects.

Dylan Sikura found himself in the first group with the prospects, and it's hard not to read into what that could mean about his standing with the team as the coaching staff looks to finalize its 23-man roster over the next two weeks.

Once thought of as a highly-touted prospect coming out of college, Sikura put up strong numbers in the AHL last season but his offensive production hasn't translated to the NHL level.

Part of that is because he was put in favorable situations in college and Rockford, where he played first-line minutes and was the go-to guy on the top power play unit. It was difficult for him to get those same opportunities in Chicago when players like Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are viewed as the heavy lifters on offense.

When the Blackhawks traded Dominik Kahun to the Pittsburgh Penguins in June for defenseman Olli Maatta, GM Stan Bowman felt he was able to pull the trigger on that trade because he was confident that there were players in-house ready for bigger roles and that could fill Kahun's skates. Bowman singled out Sikura specifically.

“Looking at some of our young players that are getting ready to take on a bigger role, you can look at guys like Dylan Sikura,” Bowman said at the time. “He didn't have the offensive success at the NHL level but I liked the way he played when he was with us last year in Chicago. It felt like his game was real effective other than the production part. Then when he was in Rockford I really liked the way he was able to score down there. So I think he's not far from being a guy and he's got sort of a similar skill set that Dominik has.”

Bowman is right. When Sikura was on the ice at 5-on-5 last season, the Blackhawks controlled 55.4 percent of the shot attempts and 53.2 percent of the scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. When he wasn't on the ice, those numbers dropped to 47.7 and 45.5, respectively.

But through 38 career games with the Blackhawks, Sikura is still looking for his first career NHL goal and he knows it's a results-oriented business.

“It's obviously something you think about every now and then and it's tough but I thought there was spurts last year where I was really good," Sikura said. "And even though I wasn't scoring I was still playing and put in situations playing with top guys, so I think all that is going to help me in the long run. Coach always says you end up getting rewarded for what you deserve and I think if I continue to work away from the puck and work on that side of the game then the offense will come."

Sikura survived the first wave of cuts, which consisted of six players. But the next round is expected to be bigger and should come this weekend with the IceHogs training camp beginning Sunday.

Whether Sikura is part of that remains to be seen, but with a crowded forward group already and limited spots available, he might have to wait for his chance again mid-season.

“You always got to be ready, if it's going to be here to start the season or down there, you always got to be ready to go,” Sikura said. “You saw last year, I think when you're down there sometimes you don't think you're coming up then next day you get a call, so you always got to be ready and working on your game. It's a little bit of different hockey down there, but you've got to do the little things and I think my game kind of changes down there a little, but to stick up here I've got to do the little things and hopefully it all works out."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153560 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks make first wave of roster cuts in 2019 training camp

By Charlie Roumeliotis

September 20, 2019 11:00 AM

After starting training camp with 55 players, the Blackhawks made their first wave of roster cuts on Friday and they weren't very surprising.

Forwards Nathan Noel, Graham Knott, Tyler Sikura, Tim Soderlund, Dylan McLaughlin, Kris Versteeg and defensemen Chad Krys, Jack Ramsey and Jake Ryczek were re-assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. Goaltender Alexis Gravel was also returned to his junior team, the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Blackhawks training camp roster now sits at 45 players: 26 forwards, 14 defensemen and five goaltenders.

The IceHogs kick off their training camp on Sunday, so expect the Blackhawks to make more roster moves before then. Saturday's preseason game against the Boston Bruins could serve as the final opportunity for some of the bubble players to make an impression before the organization makes their next round of cuts.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153561 Chicago Blackhawks

Good news, Blackhawks fans: Kirby Dach (concussion protocol) is back on the ice

By Charlie Roumeliotis

September 20, 2019 10:30 AM

One week after the Blackhawks announced that he would miss the start of training camp because of a concussion, Kirby Dach is back on the ice.

Dach skated on his own Friday morning, with Blackhawks assistant strength and conditioning coach Patrick Becker running the 2019 No. 3 overall pick through some light drills while the team practiced on the second rink. His on-ice session lasted for approximately 30 minutes.

"For sure, yeah," coach Jeremy Colliton said when asked whether it was a nice first step in his recovery process. "Good that he could get out there. Not going to get too excited about it, but it's not a bad thing. We'll just see how the next little while plays out."

Dach suffered the concussion in the seventh-place game of the 2019 Traverse City Prospect Tournament when a Minnesota Wild prospect shoved him into the boards. Dach left the game and did not return for precautionary reasons, although the original injury was said to be a shoulder.

With the Blackhawks starting to make their cuts in an effort to get down to one practice group, Dach remains part of the roster and the team is going to give him a chance to make his case for an Opening Night roster spot. But Colliton isn't looking that far ahead yet.

"He was never out of the running," he said. "He's here. But we want to get him available first and then we'll think about those things."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153562 Chicago Blackhawks the series. In the last three-plus games of that series, Kane had two goals and eight assists; Saad had three goals and four assists; and Shaw had four assists while doing the dirty work.

A modest proposal: To balance the top nine, the Blackhawks should go In all, they’ve played just under 61 minutes of even-strength playoff time back to the future together, outscoring their opponents 5-2 and posting a 55.45 percent Corsi and a 59.95 percent expected goals-for, per Natural Stat Trick. In regular-season play, they outscored foes by a ridiculous 14-3 margin, with a 56.94 percent Corsi and 60.07 percent xGF. For comparison’s By Mark Lazerus sake, the much-ballyhooed line of Panarin, Artem Anisimov and Kane Sep 20, 2019 had a 53.35 percent Corsi and 48.76 percent xGF (in a much larger sample size, of course).

And yes, Saad, Shaw and Kane remember. Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw really couldn’t be more different. “I just mentioned that to Shawzy the other day, actually,” Saad said. “We Saad is all mellow chill, Shaw is all frenetic energy. Saad is a man of few had success like that, and hopefully we can get another taste of that.” words, Shaw is a man of few pauses. Saad is Spike the bulldog in the old “Looney Tunes” cartoons — the big, imposing stoic figure — while Shaw Added Shaw, who was quick to point out that “they lit it up,” not he: “(That is Chester, the scrappy little terrier frantically jumping and barking in line had) a little bit of everything. Speed, skill, grit — everything just was circles around him. working well together.”

But during their first stints with the Blackhawks, they were as tight as any With Andrew Shaw back in the fold, Jeremy Colliton might want to other duo on the team. They hung out together. They ate dinner together. consider reuniting him with his one-time linemates, Brandon Saad and They stayed out late together. In the intervening years, they still kept in Patrick Kane. (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today) frequent contact, and always grabbed dinner when the Blue Jackets or Kane’s eyes lit up at the mere mention of that line. And yes, he knew Blackhawks were playing the Canadiens. exactly how many points he scored in those last four games against the So when Shaw was brought back to Chicago this past summer — just as Kings in 2014. Saad was two summers earlier — he ended up moving about five blocks “I really liked playing with Shawzy,” Kane said. “He was awesome that away from his buddy. It’s different — Shaw has a 15-month-old, Saad series, obviously. Even the next year, when they brought in Brad has a 7-week-old, so now they just change diapers together — yet it’s Richards and I was playing with him throughout training camp, I played still the same. with Shaw the last exhibition game and we had a really good game, so “We were good buddies then, and it looks like we didn’t skip a beat,” they started us together and we played pretty well. Those two guys just Saad said. “It’s good to have him back. He moved to my neck of the work so hard. I look back at some of those goals — Saader would get the woods, and we’re both family men now, at the same stages in our lives. puck, he’d give it to me, I’d kind of do my thing and roll around the zone, He’s a great guy. I couldn’t be happier.” shoot a puck on net and it would find its way in because Shawzy’s standing in front. For the little guy that he is, he’s pretty good in front.” Shaw brings a comfort level Saad hasn’t quite had since his return in the Artemi Panarin trade in 2017. Not only did he come back to a Of course, Colliton wasn’t around five years ago when those guys were Blackhawks team with a lot of different faces, he came back without a tearing it up together, and neither of the three has been in Colliton’s ear clearly defined role. He’s spent about 57 percent of his 5-on-5 ice time about giving it another try. the last two seasons in his old spot on Jonathan Toews’ left wing, but the But there’s a lot to like about the idea. rest of the time, he’s been bouncing around the lineup. Under Jeremy Colliton, he played 603 minutes without Toews, and only 496 with him. For one thing, the balance in the top nine would be extraordinary. You Brought back ostensibly to rekindle Toews’ offense, Saad has instead could have Toews and either Dominik Kubalik or the ascendant Alex become something of a utility guy, maybe the toughest on the Nylander on one line, Kane and Saad on another, and Alex DeBrincat Blackhawks’ roster to peg. He’s been used on the second line, on the and Dylan Strome on another. Kane’s eyes lit up again at this third line, on the left side, on the right side. suggestion, and a grin spread across his face.

For good reason, too. As a third-line left wing, Saad gives the “Put Tazer on the third line,” he cracked. “Me first, and Brinks second.” Blackhawks far more depth and balance than when Colliton loads up with Saad, Toews and Patrick Kane. But while Saad isn’t the type to ruffle Then there’s the fact that the Blackhawks don’t really have a third-line feathers and complain about his role, he’s not shy about where he wants center after dealing Anisimov to Ottawa. They’ve got countless bottom- to play, either. six options, but none of them is really qualified to center a legitimate scoring line. Colliton and his staff adore David Kampf, and his underlying “Well, I just like to play a lot,” he said. “Regardless of which line, one numbers are strong, but both he and Ryan Carpenter are really fourth- through four, we’ve got some good players. I kind of like to be a versatile line centers. Shaw isn’t the defensive stalwart that Kampf is, but his player that can play on any line and have success. But obviously, you offensive upside is so much higher (both Shaw and Kampf played 63 like to see yourself on top lines and producing and playing a lot. I games last season; Shaw had 47 points, Kampf had just 19). Besides, obviously want to be on the top line.” Saad is such a terrific two-way forward that he can alleviate some of that pressure. Saad has averaged between 17:02 and 17:41 minutes each of the last five seasons. He’d like to be closer to 20, which is tough given that he’s In theory, it makes perfect sense. Playing with Kane ensures Saad gets on the little-used second power-play unit, not the first. And while two or the major minutes he wants. It addresses an unnerving hole down the three minutes might not seem like a whole lot, a skipped shift here and middle. And it solves one of the more interesting questions of camp — there makes a big difference. where to place Shaw, a guy who has played and can play all 12 forward positions, to varying degrees of success. “Because then a TV timeout hits and you’ve been sitting for a bit by the time you get out there again,” Saad said. “It’s all part of it and you learn “It’s a blessing and a curse,” Shaw chuckled when asked about his to adjust to it. But I just want to play as much as possible. The more you versatility. “It’s valuable to have in your (arsenal), that’s for sure.” play, you get a feel for the game, and you feel like you can do the most to help the team win.” There’s a catch to all this, of course. Shaw hasn’t really played much center since that great little run he had with Saad and Kane against the With all that in mind, here’s a proposal, one that Colliton probably hasn’t Kings, and early the following season. And there’s some justified concern been weighing much, given the look of the lineup through the first week that Shaw doesn’t quite have the legs anymore to handle heavy minutes of camp and preseason. at center, which typically requires so much more skating than a winger. In Montreal, he was used almost exclusively as a right wing, but he and How about reuniting Saad, Shaw and Kane, which — in a small sample Max Domi essentially shared center duties on their line. Each would take size — was as dominant a line as the Blackhawks have had in recent draws on his strong side (Shaw’s a righty, Domi’s a lefty), and Shaw memory? Those three almost won the 2014 Western Conference final on described their defensive m.o. as “read and react,” where the first guy their own, carrying the Blackhawks to a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1 in back went down low, not just the center. Shaw won 52 percent of his faceoffs in three seasons in Montreal, though that number dipped to 47.1 percent last season. And the Blackhawks have badly needed a right-handed faceoff guy, which is one of the reasons they signed Carpenter.

Colliton is keen on using Shaw for faceoffs, but was noncommittal about the idea of using him as an actual center.

“We’ll see,” Colliton said. “That’s what he brings. He can play different positions, he can take faceoffs. What I really want is to be able to share the load defensively. That’s the upside of having guys who are comfortable playing center. You don’t have to forecheck all the way down and then back check 200 feet, then try to have some juice to create offense going the other way. We’d like to have multiple guys on the line who can shoulder that responsibility, and he’s a guy who can.”

Shaw, in typical Shaw fashion, just shrugged when asked if he was open to moving back to center.

“I’ll play wherever they want me to play,” he said.

Colliton still seems to be leaning toward pairing Kane and Toews together on the top line, and Shaw has seen some time with DeBrincat and Strome on the second unit, giving that dynamic duo some much- needed grit on the right wing. Of course, that potentially leaves Saad again on the outside of the top six looking in, shoehorned into a third-line role that perhaps suits the team better than it suits the individual.

Not that he’ll complain. That’s not his style. But if Colliton ever wants to go back to the future a bit and spread the wealth among the top nine, Saad, Shaw and Kane might just have some YouTube clips bookmarked for him.

“We’re all professionals here, and you’ve got to be prepared for anything,” Saad said. “Whatever helps the team win. But yeah, we had a lot of success together. A lot of fun, too.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153563 Colorado Avalanche last preseason games, the coach said. … Goalie Pavel Francouz, who is expected to serve as Philipp Grubauer‘s backup, will start Saturday behind a lineup mixed with veterans and rookies.

Avalanche center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare adds veteran dimension to Denver Post: LOADED: 09.21.2019 fourth line

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare had a goal and a fight in his preseason debut with the Avs on Thursday

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected]

The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: September 20, 2019 at 1:33 pm | UPDATED: September 20, 2019 at 6:51 PM

Avalanche fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare had a goal and a fight in Thursday’s preseason game against the Dallas Stars.

This was not was he was hired to do.

Bellemare, 34, signed a two-year, $3.6 million contract July 1 to win faceoffs, play good defense and provide leadership. What the Avs got Thursday in his preseason debut was a bonus.

“I really liked the way he played last night,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said Friday after a two-group practice.

Bellemare, who is from Le Blanc-Mesnil, France, and prefers to be called Belly, amassed just six goals and 15 points in 76 games for the Vegas Golden Knights last season. He only has 29 goals in 385 career regular- season games.

But in one preseason game with the Avs, he played like a power forward.

“To be honest, it wasn’t the plan,” Bellemare said Friday. “Preseason, you start to get your habits right. The goal went pretty fast, credit to my (linemates Matt Calvert and Logan O’Connor). I just went to the net and the puck was there for me. And then the fight, it was as unexpected for everybody as it was for me. But I stood up for myself. I had to.”

Ten years ago, fourth-liners were usually unskilled forwards who had to be willing to fight — a job description Bellemare himself says he wouldn’t have met.

“Hockey has changed. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have a job here because fourth-liners were expected to be bigger, tougher, so I would have been eaten alive at that time,” he said. “But now you want your fourth line to have speed and be able to not just kill (penalties) but actually create momentum for the next line.”

In the Stanley Cup Final last spring, both the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins started their fourth line in Game 7 and previous games in the series.

“It’s not a bad time to be a fourth-line player. You can be a fourth-line player that can be as important as some of the top guys,” Bellemare said. “I think every good team — like the two that ended up in the Stanley Cup Final — has 23 guys who understand their role and sacrifice themselves for the team.”

The Avs recruited and signed Bellemare instead of handing a fourth-line center role to one of their young prospects. The youth movement didn’t apply to Bellemare.

“When you do your homework on this guy, it’s just impeccable — the leadership that he brings, the work ethic and the attitude that you need,” Bednar said of Bellemare. “That’s what I like about him most, and then you watch him play and he does a lot.”

Bellemare didn’t practice Friday because of a slight muscle strain. He and a handful of other veterans are not expected to travel or play in Saturday’s preseason game at Minnesota.

Colorado will play its fourth preseason game Sunday at the Pepsi Center to conclude a home-and-home set with the Wild.

Footnotes. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov (lower body) skated on his own Friday morning and “hopefully he’s going to join our group soon,” Bednar said. … Defenseman (offseason shoulder surgery) is practicing in a red non-contact jersey but is expected to play in one of the 1153564 Colorado Avalanche Marner, Matthews, Nylander and Tavares’ combined price tag is around a $40.5 million cap hit compared to the Avalanche, who have a $38.7 million cap hit for all 13 of their forwards currently under contract, according to CapFriendly. Inside the Avs’ long-term solution to solve Mikko Rantanen’s potentially short-term absence That figure will rise once they have completed a deal for Rantanen.

Agreeing upon a new contract comes in a season when the Avalanche are considered challengers for the Western Conference and the Stanley By Ryan S. Clark Cup.

Sep 20, 2019 Sakic and his staff have constructed a team centered around concepts like hockey sense, speed and youth. They have made players like

forward J.T. Compher, defenseman Samuel Girard, Landeskog, There are still three questions lingering over the Colorado Avalanche for MacKinnon and Makar, among others, central figures of that blueprint. the last year that need answering. The same goes for Rantanen given what he has achieved over the last When will they sign star right winger Mikko Rantanen? For how much two seasons. money? And how long will he be on the payroll? Rantanen, who turns 23 in October, went from scoring 38 points in his Here is what is known. Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and his first full season to exploding for 29 goals and 84 points in his second front office staff made what was deemed a “long-term offer” to campaign. Rantanen’s camp, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. So far? The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Rantanen followed that up by producing a There has not been a lot of movement between both sides and career-high 31 goals and 56 assists for 87 points in 74 games in helping everything is currently at a stalemate. the Avalanche secure a consecutive playoff berth for the first time in It is understood the Avalanche are seeking a deal from six to eight years more than a decade. Rantanen capitalized on his size, strength, speed with an average annual value (AAV) in the range of $8.4 and $8.75 and skating to establish himself as one of the NHL’s strongest million, The Athletic has learned. playmakers.

As for how far apart both sides are? It is also understood if Colorado — Pairing him with Landeskog and MacKinnon created a combination that which possesses $15.615 million in salary-cap space — was looking to is in the discussion for the best top line in the league. offer $8.5 million and Rantanen was seeking $9.5 million, then, it would Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen feasted early off two-man be deemed viable. But if Rantanen’s camp were seeking $9.5 million sequences, allowing the third forward to find freedom and capitalize on over three years, then, it would be a nonstarter for the Avalanche. the open space. That formula played a significant role in the Avalanche The Avalanche were open to signing Rantanen to a short-term deal in the rocketing to a 17-7-5 start at the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign. spring prior to free agency. It is understood that a short-term deal would Inconsistencies soon riddled the Avs to the point they were facing the have allowed the Avalanche to be more opportunistic in free agency with possibility of missing the playoffs until going on a late run to qualify for extra cap space. Still, the club’s goal is signing Rantanen to a long-term the postseason. Rantanen faced struggles while fending off injuries to deal because of what is on the horizon, a source has told The Athletic. score a combined 13 points over the final 24 games of the regular Starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer along with captain and star left season. winger Gabriel Landeskog are both unrestricted free agents whose He returned for the playoffs and proved to be one of the Avalanche’s contracts expire at the end of the 2020-21 season. As does rookie most dangerous players. Rantanen played a significant role in the phenom defenseman Cale Makar, but the reigning Hobey Baker Award Avalanche upsetting the top-seeded Calgary Flames in a five-game winner will be a restricted free agent. Then there is superstar center Western Conference quarterfinal series. He shredded the Flames for five Nathan MacKinnon. He currently earns $6.3 million annually and his deal goals and nine points. runs through the 2022-23 campaign. But if he doesn’t sign an extension at some point before then and becomes an unrestricted free agent, he Rantanen scored a goal and added four assists for five points in a seven- will command what could be one of the NHL’s largest salaries upon game Western Conference semifinal series against the Sharks. In all, he hitting the open market. finished with six goals and 14 points over 12 playoff games having recorded four points in six games during the 2017-18 postseason that Rantanen’s situation occurred during an offseason, and now preseason, ended with a first-round exit against the Nashville Predators. that witnessed a number of high-profile RFAs seek a new contract. Some of those deals — such as Carolina Hurricanes’ center Sebastian Aho and Sakic was able to supplement his young core by making a plethora of San Jose Sharks’ right winger Timo Meier — were finished early while moves this offseason. He signed free agents Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, others, including Toronto Maple Leafs’ winger Mitch Marner, were Joonas Donskoi and Valeri Nichushkin while also re-signing veteran UFA recently completed. winger Colin Wilson. Trades were executed to acquire winger Andre Burakovsky from the Washington Capitals and the deal that saw them Marner was long believed to be the comparable Rantanen’s camp could land Nazem Kadri from the Maple Leafs. use when negotiating with Colorado. The team also worked to complete deals for its large RFA class. There is a reason. Marner is averaging 0.93 points per game over 241 Compher agreed to a four-year deal with a $3.5 million AAV while also contests while Rantanen checks in at 0.87 points in his 239 appearances getting Burakovsky, defenseman Ryan Graves, center Vladislav with the Avalanche. It is a similar figure to Tampa Bay Lightning center Kamenev and defenseman Nikita Zadorov under contract for the Brayden Point, another prominent RFA, and his 0.86 return through 229 upcoming season. games. Even Girard, whose entry-level contract expires at the end of the 2019-20 Point and Rantanen still await new contracts. Marner and Toronto campaign, agreed to a seven-year pact carrying an AAV of $5 million. recently agreed to a six-year deal with an AAV of $10.893 million. All of those decisions were done with several items in mind. Colorado’s It is also understood, as LeBrun reported Thursday, Marner’s contract will front office believes their forward depth is strengthened to the point the not impact Colorado’s approach when it comes to Rantanen. team could hypothetically consistently field four lines. That Kadri’s arrival One of the concerns Sakic and the front office can hypothetically raise is could be the cornerstone in establishing a stabilized second-line the Marner deal potentially limits the Maple Leafs from a financial presence that proved troublesome in previous seasons. standpoint considering 49.7 percent of their cap space is invested in four Fourth-year coach Jared Bednar is a week into the preseason and he players. Auston Matthews is on the payroll for five more years with an currently has Burakovsky standing in for Rantanen. The 24-year-old is on AAV of $11.634 million while John Tavares has six years remaining at the top line alongside Landeskog and MacKinnon. He also has a place $11 million annually. Now add what Marner is earning at $10.893 million on the first-team power-play unit with Kadri, Landeskog, MacKinnon and along with the remaining five-year deal on William Nylander’s contract Makar. carrying an AAV of $6.92 million. Knowing how long Burakovsky will be asked to fill in for Rantanen is just one question the Avalanche are attempting to answer.

As are three more Rantanen-related concerns.

When will they sign him? For how much? And for how many years?

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153565 Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche hosting Greeley-Evans School District 6 for community night in November

Anne Delaney [email protected]

The Colorado Avalanche will host a community night to benefit a Greeley-Evans School District 6 program on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Fans who attend the Avalanche’s 5 p.m. game against the Toronto Maple Leafs can purchase tickets with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Teachers Closet.

Ticket prices start at $30 and $5 from each ticket sold will be donated to The Teachers Closet, a program that collects new supplies and materials for District 6 staff members to use in their schools and classrooms.

To order tickets, visit the following site: http://avalanche.teamkse.com/GreeleyEvans6/

If you can’t attend the game on Nov 23, there is a back-up game on Monday, Jan. 20 when the Avalanche face the Detroit Red Wings.

Greeley Tribune LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153566 Colorado Avalanche versus the veteran Barberio, who was shaky again for the second straight game.

Rosen wasn’t getting too moved either direction about his play, Calle Rosen’s push for a job on Colorado’s defense has begun recognizing it was just the first time he had seen the ice.

“It’s always hard to find timing the first few games,” he said. I’ll just keep working and it was the first game for everyone here. Just give us a few BY AJ HAEFELE more practices and games and we’ll be fine.”

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 What will help push Rosen forward in this battle for playing time?

“You have to use everything,” he said. “All the defensive details need to be better and can’t have any shifts off and that’s something we all need Getting traded is a weird experience. to think about especially as the regular season is starting to close in.” Players always describe it as a whirlwind, one that includes upheaval of There might be two weeks until opening night but there are only four your daily life and where you call home. games remaining on Colorado’s preseason schedule. If Rosen is going to For Calle Rosen, the shock came in the middle of the night, a three AM win a job, his play is going to need to take a permanent step forward in phone call that woke him from slumber and kept him awake the rest of the limited appearances he has remaining. the night. TAKEAWAYS Colorado? The Avalanche? Bednar mentioned postgame that he liked Byram’s game and felt him “It was a lot of Googling the first day,” Rosen said. “‘Where is Denver in getting better. I disagree there and feel he’s just too raw. There are little the US?’ I didn’t know a lot but I heard a lot of things from agents and flashes of brilliance but I’m settling on the idea that he would be best people around it’s a nice place and a good group of guys. So far, served to return to the WHL for one last season. It’s still early enough, I everything is true.” suppose, but he needs to flash in these final preseason games.

One thing Rosen knew for sure when he arrived in Denver was he had Barberio was a roller coaster tonight. I liked his aggression offensively as his work cut out for him. Between familiar faces (Mark Barberio and Ryan he had eight shot attempts, five on goal. That was great. His defensive Graves), highly-drafted faces (Bowen Byram), and fellow trade game was a bit messier and more reminiscent of the uneven player who acquisition Kevin Connauton, the competition for Rosen to make the struggled to find a regular NHL role before coming to Colorado. Avalanche roster was going to be intense. The instant chemistry between Matt Calvert and Pierre-Edouard Not a problem. Bellemare is what you dream of when you sign a UFA. They have clicked right away and both looked great at even strength and together on the “I’ve been in the same situation the last two years in Toronto,” Rosen penalty kill. said. “It’s fun with competition. It’s hard and it really forces you to be focused and do your best every day.” You could make the same case for Joonas Donskoi and Nazem Kadri, who should have recorded multiple points tonight. Donskoi, especially, Those days gave way to today, the first game in which Rosen was set to jumped off the ice with his skill. play for the Avalanche. It was obvious how much more comfortable he has gotten just in the last week of being in Denver. The play of the Girard-Makar pairing tonight is what Avs fans should expect for this upcoming season. There were some great highlights such “I feel good,” Rosen said smiling. “For sure I know a whole lot more know as Girard dusting Tye Felhaber in the corner and Makar’s shorthanded now how everything works around here so I’m real excited.” breakaway. There were also some moments where they looked overwhelmed in their own zone as they lost board battles for puck “Excited” is the word Rosen used the most in training camp, before the possession and watched them get it cycled on them a bit. game today, and after his Avalanche debut. For him, it’s all about the opportunity. Bednar said postgame it was Martin Kaut’s best game as an Av and it’s easy to agree. He was significantly better than two nights ago and the “I’m just excited to get the chance,” Rosen said. “Just keep working every version of Kaut tonight could play in the NHL right now. If he finds that day, do the same thing that I’ve been doing the last two years. That’s level consistently, Colorado won’t be able to keep him in the AHL all fight It’s for my spot in the lineup and play my game. That’s all I can do. season, despite all the economic reasons to do so. Whatever the lineup is doesn’t matter. It’s up to me. Andre Burakovsky should be chomping at the bit to get another shot. His Rosen had spent his training camp next to Bowen Byram, raising the first look on Colorado’s top line was pretty underwhelming overall. He possibility the two play together in the NHL at some point. Seeing Byram certainly has more to give as a player but isn’t that what Washington said up close has given Rosen an appreciation for how talented the teenager all those years, too? is and finds his love of the game infectious. Preseason results are way less important than their process and “It’s a lot of fun to see all the small things he does,” Rosen said. “For Colorado outshooting Dallas 47-23 is the kind of lopsided process you being that young…I played with a lot of young guys last year in Toronto, were expecting given Colorado’s veteran-laden roster against a weak just to see those guy’s commitment to everything and how they want to Dallas lineup. The score was frustrating but that’s sports for you. be better and the fun they have every time they come to the rink. It’s a lot of fun to see Byram here.” Colorado finished 0/4 on the PP. Going back to the second game of the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff, the Avs are now 0/28 in their last four games. Rosen got into his first game tonight in Colorado’s 2-1 loss to the Dallas It’s still preseason but that’s something that requires further monitoring. Stars. He logged 17:03 of ice time, including 2:53 on the penalty kill, and overall looked like he belonged. BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.21.2019 Head coach Jared Bednar was a bigger fan of Rosen’s game than even Rosen, saying “I thought tonight he was pretty good and he fit in nicely with our group.”

Rosen was a bit tougher on his own game.

“Okay,” he said of his own performance. “Some up and downs, usually like the first game is. I think I skated a lot and had some good defensive details in the game today but I wish I could have handled the puck a little bit better.”

After playing with Byram in camp, Rosen found himself next to Barberio tonight. It was a chance to show directly what he can bring the Avalanche 1153567 Colorado Avalanche Felhaber into oblivion in the second period, and that was one of the highlights of the game.

Martin Kaut – B+: Jared Bednar called it Kaut’s best game in an Avs Avs Preseason Game 2 Grades: Better effort, same result uniform, and it’s hard to disagree. He was engaged in both ends of the ice and was willing to let his big shot go on the power play from the wall. I think he may have earned more of an opportunity.

BY EVAN RAWAL Joonas Donskoi – B: In training camp, Donskoi put on a bit of a show on the PK, and for one shift tonight, he did the same. That could earn him SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 more ice time, which is what he wants. He and Kadri had good chemistry and created some chances all night long, and his quick hands were on display for the fans that made it to the Pepsi Center. Playing a more veteran lineup, with many of their NHL regulars dressing up front, the Colorado Avalanche put up 47 shots in regulation but were Matt Nieto – C: When Nieto got out there with Bellemare and Calvert, the unable to beat either Dallas goaltender more than once, losing by a score line was very noticeable. When he was with his regular linemates in of 2-1. Compher and Kaut, he was less noticeable. He’s got his spot on lockdown and did well on the PK, which is expected. How did each player perform? Let’s find out… Nazem Kadri – B: The summer’s big acquisition generated 5 shots on Cale Makar – B: Crazy to think this is Makar’s first preseason game in an goal, and missed the net with another opportunity. That’s what he can Avs uniform. There are definite areas to improve with him, particularly on bring to the second line, and the Avs saw a taste of that this evening. He the power play, but he flashed brilliance at times in the offensive zone ended up taking 19 face-offs on the night as well, winning 53% of them. and nearly created a shorthanded breakaway for himself. Gabriel Landeskog – C: The Captain seemed to be getting a little too Mark Alt – C+: The Eagles captain was having a really strong night cute with the puck tonight, and took a penalty in the defensive zone that before losing his man in coverage in the neutral zone on the Stars was fairly obvious. He went two periods without getting a shot on net. opening goal. Never one for speed, once Alt lost his positioning he never had a chance to get back. Andre Burakovsky – C-: You can probably count on one hand the number of times Burakovsky touched the puck on the power play, as the Matt Calvert – A: Calvert and Bellemare looked like they had played other four skaters rarely looked his way. He didn’t seem to be on the together for ten years. They know where each other is on the ice and same page as his linemates, who admittedly weren’t great themselves. their styles mesh perfectly. Calvert almost got himself a shorthanded goal He did have one nice shift in the second period where he set up two late in the game as well. good chances, but other than that, not a great showing.

Valeri Nichushkin – C-: The Russian winger got off to a strong start, Philipp Grubauer – C+: Tough game to evaluate, because he seemed to drawing a penalty early in the game and having a nice chance off the wall go long stretches, especially in the second, where he didn’t see any in the first. After that, his game fell apart, looking a little lost and getting shots. The only goals scored on him were a breakaway and a flukey the puck taken off him with ease. He probably won’t get a better goal. I imagine he gets in two more starts before the season starts. opportunity in preseason in terms of linemates. The Avs next preseason game will be on Saturday night in Minnesota. Logan O’Connor – B+: Would it surprise anyone if O’Connor started the The game starts at 4 PM MST. year with the Avs, given the injuries and no Rantanen in camp? He played third wheel to the veterans on his line but didn’t look completely BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.21.2019 out of place.

Nathan MacKinnon – C: We know what MacKinnon can do, and he didn’t go all out tonight. The chemistry with Burakovsky isn’t there yet, and you could tell MacKinnon was not eager to give him the puck. Trust needs to be built there.

J.T. Compher – C+: He will almost certainly be the Swiss army knife for this team up front, filling in where he’s needed, as he played both PK and PP tonight. I’m not entirely convinced he’s a center, but he seems a lock to start in that third-line role.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A: Hard to have a better debut with your team than what PEB did. He knows what type of player he is, and doesn’t stray from that. Got the game started with some nice plays and a goal from crashing the net and ended with 5 shots on goal and a fight.

Mark Barberio – B-: Fighting for his life, Barberio had a much better effort tonight, generating 8 shots of his own, with 5 of them on net. The penalty right after giving up the go ahead goal was a real buzzkill, however.

Bowen Byram – C: A little better from Byram tonight. He showed a little bit more on both ends of the ice and even drew a penalty. The end of the game, however, was not great, as he was patient trying of find a breakout and instead of waiting a little bit longer, just slapped it around the boards to a waiting Stars forward, who ended up scoring the flukey game winner. Through two games, I’m not sure that he’s NHL ready, but the preseason isn’t over.

Calle Rosen – C+: I thought Rosen was very up and down this evening. What I really liked was his stick work, particularly in the neutral zone, breaking up some plays before they had a chance to get dangerous. What I didn’t like was that he seemed nervous with the puck, missing some passes and completely whiffing on the puck early in the game. He didn’t look out of place on the PK, which may help him win a spot.

Samuel Girard – C: The only Avs player not to register a shot on net, Girard had a pretty blah night. He tried to do a little too much at times breaking it out, which led to some turnovers. He did, however, spin Tye 1153568 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets roster taking shape, but John Tortorella says plenty of spots up in air

Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch @AdamJardy

Sep 20, 2019 at 12:41 PM

The start of the season is two weeks away and the Blue Jackets preseason roster is starting to reflect it.

After the first of two groups took the ice at Nationwide Arena before working on special teams in the adjacent OhioHealth Ice Haus, coach John Tortorella confirmed that the training camp roster has split into two groups.

One of them contains the likes of captain Nick Foligno and assistant captains Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner and .

“We split, but it certainly doesn’t stop crossovers,” Tortorella said. “A number of guys that will be skating in (Lake Erie Monsters coach Mike Eaves’) group are going to play some more exhibition games also. We have certainly not made any final determinations as far as what we are, but we have to start getting into a little bit of a team look to work on some game situations.”

Thursday night, the Jackets played their second preseason game and took a 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh. They will host the Penguins on Saturday afternoon, and Tortorella said the remaining games will see more and more veterans playing more minutes. That will be especially important for two or three forward spots, he said, as well as on defense, where pairings aren’t set and multiple players are vying for the seventh or eighth spot.

Here’s who was on the ice for the first group Friday morning:

Forwards: Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson, Emil Bemstron, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Marko Dano, Brandon Dubinsky, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Nick Foligno, Markus Hannikainen, Boone Jenner, Sonny Milano, Riley Nash, Gus Nyquist, Alexandre Texier, Alexander Wennberg

Defensemen: Vladislav Gavrikov, Scott Harrington, Seth Jones, Dean Kukan, Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara, David Savard, Zach Werenski

Goalies: Joonas Korpisalo, Elvis Merzlikins

Tortorella coached the first group Friday and Eaves the second.

“For me, I think the evaluating is going to start now in these upcoming exhibition games,” Tortorella said. “Last night’s game, that’s a tired group of men trying to play a game. We win the first one, it’s still ugly. It’s very tough to evaluate and be fair with your evaluation. Now we’re going to start backing off the skating and work on some concepts and hopefully these guys will freshen up.”

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153569 Columbus Blue Jackets App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store, Roku App Store, XBOX One App Store and Windows App Store. Fans can also stream the games directly through the Blue Jackets official mobile app.

FOX Sports Ohio to Produce 80 Blue Jackets Games foxsportsohio.com LOADED: 09.21.2019

FOX Sports

Sep 20, 2019 at 3:56p ET

COLUMBUS, OH– FOX Sports Ohio will carry 80 regular season Blue Jackets games this season beginning Friday, October 4th when the Jackets open their season at Nationwide Arena with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Coverage each game night will begin with Blue Jackets Live pregame show, presented by Central Ohio Toyota Dealers, featuring highlights, player interviews and analysis 30 minutes before each game. On opening night on Friday, Oct. 4, FSO will feature a special one-hour Blue Jackets Live pregame show starting at 6:00 p.m. Immediately following the final horn, the coverage will continue with the postgame edition of Blue Jackets Live, presented by IGS Energy.

Throughout the season, fans can also tune in to the monthly 30-minute program Beyond the Battle, which gives an inside look at the Jackets with exclusive off-ice content and behind-the-scenes access to players and personalities.

BROADCAST TEAM

As previously announced, former Blue Jackets defenseman Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre joins the broadcast team as a studio analyst, replacing Bill Davidge who retired following the 2018-19 season, to co-host the pre- and post-game editions of Blue Jackets Live as well as contribute during intermissions. Grand-Pierre will be joined at the desk by co-host Brian Giesenschlag.

For the live game telecasts, former Blue Jackets forward Jody Shelley returns as the color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimer. Dave Maetzold will also be back as in-game reporter.

COUNTDOWN TO FACE-OFF

To get fans ready for the season, the network features a lineup of “Countdown to Face-Off” Blue Jackets programming:

Blue Jackets Conversations, the first of four shows features a 30-minute sit-down with John Tortorella & Jarmo Kekalainen

Debuts Monday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. with replays throughout preseason.

Additional three episodes to come feature sit-downs with Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and Seth Jones.

Blue Jackets Rewind games – Replaying all four games of the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Monday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. – Game 1

Tuesday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. –Game 2

Wednesday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. – Game 3

Thursday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m. – Game 4

30-minute Blue Jackets Live – Preseason shows hosted by Grand-Pierre and Giesenschlag.

Monday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m.

STREAMING & SOCIAL

All Blue Jackets programming televised on FSO will stream live on FOX Sports GO. FOX Sports GO is currently available on mobile and tablet devices, including iOS and Android as well as foxsportsgo.com. FOX Sports GO is also available on connected devices including, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku Players and Roku TV, and Xbox One. Fans can download the app for free from the iTunes 1153570 Columbus Blue Jackets Wennberg has seen decreased offense in terms of what he does with the puck on his stick. But what about creating for his teammates? Have his abilities lessened in that regard, as well?There’s a case here for Wennberg to be harder on the puck as signaled by his increased A tale of three seasons: The rise, fall and future of Alexander Wennberg giveaway rate, but his effort in hits (both receiving and giving) doesn’t change enough to draw a huge concern, nor does he seem to be

significantly shying away from blocking shots. By Alison Lukan Wennberg’s hallmark is his smart play; specifically, it’s his ability to see Sep 20, 2019 the ice and move the puck successfully that draws praise. And we can look at that, too.

First, let’s talk in terms of moving the puck. The evolution of Alexander Wennberg’s career has been well documented. Using data from Corey Sznajder, we have at least half a season’s worth of games from the past three seasons that have been tracked for A first-round draft pick in 2013, the Swede came into the NHL the next transitional play. season and showed he can be an elite playmaker. But since signing his first post-entry-level contract in 2017 (a hefty six-year, $29.4 million pact), Here’s a look at Wennberg’s ability to move the puck out of the defensive the conversation has been more about what Wennberg can do more, not zone: what he is doing. The center was scratched for some games in last Some takeaways here: Wennberg is interacting with the puck less (look year’s playoffs. at touches), but his exit rate has stayed solid. Perhaps more importantly, Going into this season, Wennberg looks to slot in as a top-six center for his failed exit rate has gone down over the past two years. There has Columbus. After two rocky seasons, there’s never been a better time for been a dip in exits with possession, but this is an area of Wennberg’s his play to make a significant impact on the ice. Early in training camp, game that remains consistent. the Blue Jackets are optimistic. And what about moving the puck into the offensive zone? “I just think he has the right type of focus right now and he has to stay on Again, looking at last year, we see a decrease in carry-ins from top of that. He has to,” coach John Tortorella said. “It could be a huge, Wennberg’s contract year, but it’s actually an increase compared with huge thing for this organization if he can find his way.” two years ago, and this could also be related to the role the player is How much does Wennberg need to rebound? How bad was last season being asked to play. for him, and what specifically in his game needs to change? So now, we’ve looked at Wennberg’s individual contributions and his Let’s dig in. ability to move the puck down the ice, but one other area Sznajder’s data lets us investigate is a player’s passing and shot assists (a pass that Let’s start where people often do, with point production. Here’s leads to a shot). Next: How does Wennberg contribute when the puck is Wennberg’s five-on-five scoring history in the NHL: in the offensive zone?

The trend doesn’t look great, obviously, but just as points have gone This is interesting. Wennberg seems to have shied away from his own down, so too has Wennberg’s average time on ice. We’re not going to offense, but his ability to feed his teammates has actually improved. Last get into the chicken-or-the-egg aspects of that, but if we adjust the season was his strongest in primary and secondary shot assists. center’s points to rates (meaning: how frequently do points come based on the actual time a player plays), is the picture different? Overall, Wennberg has areas for improvement. First, there’s the issue of getting back to what has been his standard of play in behaviors such as Wennberg’s goal-scoring has suffered, but it’s interesting to note that two shooting, creating chances and holding on to the puck. There’s also the years ago, an individual campaign that some thought was also weak issue of the power play, which significantly bolstered Wennberg’s overall ended up producing the highest assists rate (and primary-assists rate, at stats in 2016-17 and where he has struggled since. Then, there’s the that) of his career. Last year saw a decline in assists, but it was relatively next step of Wennberg elevating all of his play more. As just one in line with how he’s helped create scoring in other years of NHL play. comparison, Pierre-Luc Dubois had just over seven shots on goal and 13 attempts per 60 minutes of play last year. That’s more than double So we know that Wennberg’s goal-scoring decreased the past two years, Wennberg’s numbers. To compete in the NHL, he will need to not just but his assist production hasn’t fallen off a cliff. And while points matter regain the territory he’s given up in his individual offense, but he will also — because goals win games — we need to dig deeper than just how need it to grow. many pucks get into the net when it comes to evaluating a player. There are signs that Wennberg remains astute at equally important Are there things we can point to in the center’s individual play that might elements of creating play. His transitional work is solid, and he continues contribute to a lack of scoring? to apply his ability to create for his teammates’ benefit. If he can bring his Again, raw counts are discouraging, but for last season, a shooting individual scoresheet contributions on top of that, it will bode well for the percentage of zero bears mention. Yes, Wennberg can shoot more and Blue Jackets — and Wennberg — this season and beyond. he can create more chances, but finishing on not one attempt? That “It’s there,” Tortorella said. “He’s a really good player. We’re going to try speaks to a little bit of bad luck, which should surely rebound. It’s also to help him, but really, he has to help himself. That’s what I’m trying to interesting, again, that two years ago, Wennberg had a fairly solid say; he has to help himself here, too. I can see his approach just through shooting percentage — it’s just that it was executed on so few shots his play, and his concentration is right where it needs to be.” relatively, so the returns are smaller. That informs why coaches want the player to shoot more. If you’re a low-volume, high-efficiency type of The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 player, swings in effectiveness have a much greater impact on your final results.

Now, let’s rate out the same measures:

This is really interesting. Two seasons ago was when Wennberg shot at the lowest rate of his career. Last year wasn’t up to his usual standards, but it was slightly better. And for the past three seasons, he’s been driving to the dangerous areas at a similar rate. At the same time, shot quality (expected goals), shot attempts and scoring chances that Wennberg creates have all decreased.

Is this about “getting to the harder areas,” as Tortorella has mentioned? We don’t have player tracking data, but we can look at some traditional stats for a hint as to how much contact the player engages in. 1153571 Dallas Stars The Stars cut 12 players from their training camp roster on Friday afternoon in the biggest round of cuts so far this preseason.

Forwards Tony Calderone and Josh Melnick, defensemen John Nyberg Lucky No. 7? Why it's Taylor Fedun's race to lose in securing a role as and Ondrej Vala, and goaltender Colton Point were assigned to AHL the Stars' seventh defenseman affiliate Texas. Forwards Diego Cuglietta and Parker MacKay, and defenseman Tanner Jago were released from amateur tryouts. Forwards Fedun appeared in 52 games for Dallas during the 2018-19 season. Corey Elkins, Brad McClure and Anthony Nellis, and goaltender Tomas Sholl were released from professional tryouts.

Of that group, only Elkins is not under contract with either Dallas or By Matthew DeFranks Texas, which opens training camp Tuesday in Cedar Park. 12:06 AM on Sep 21, 2019 The Stars also placed forward Michael Mersch and defenseman Reece Scarlett on waivers Friday.

FRISCO -- Jim Montgomery didn’t have to learn many new names during Montgomery previously said the Stars would like to be down to six training camp to understand the options he had on defense. Last year forward lines (18 forwards) and 10 defensemen after Saturday’s handled that for the Stars coach. preseason game in Tulsa against Florida. The Stars are scheduled to hold just one practice Sunday for the first time in training camp, and still The Stars played 14 different defensemen last season -- a product of have 27 forwards and 15 defensemen on the roster. injuries that led to numerous trades and AHL recalls -- and find themselves re-evaluating that crop of blue-liners to fill out their roster -- Forward Justin Dowling left Thursday night’s game in Colorado with an before opening night on Oct. 3. upper-body injury and did not return. He only played 2:37. After the game, Montgomery told reporters in Denver that Dowling would be re- “I feel like I know 12 defensemen out here,” Montgomery said. “We have evaluated when the team returned to Dallas. [Dillon] Heatherington, [Ben] Gleason, [Joel] Hanley, there’s numerous defensemen. There’s a couple that probably would have got in games if Dallas Morning News LOADED: 09.21.2019 they weren’t injured.”

While the top six defensemen on the roster appear secure (John Klingberg, , Esa Lindell, Andrej Sekera, Roman Polak and Jamie Oleksiak), the final spot or two are still up for grabs among the group still remaining.

Taylor Fedun (52 games last season) is the favorite to become the seventh defenseman based on his usage last season and the fact that he must pass through waivers to be sent to the AHL, but Gavin Bayreuther (19 games), Hanley (16), Heatherington (five) and Gleason (four) are also in the mix.

Fedun is coming off the best season of his career in which he set career- highs in games, goals, assists and total ice time. An AHL journeyman for most of his career, Fedun signed a two-year, two-way contract in the offseason that figures to provide some stability in his career.

“There’s been a lot of turnover for me in my career, whether it’s new coaches or new teams all together,” Fedun said. “So it was definitely a little different knowing I was coming back here, especially after we had such a strong finish to the year, so many good pieces coming back.”

In the playoffs last year, Fedun became a healthy scratch after a couple subpar games against Nashville resulted in goals against, but settled in during the second round against St. Louis, though he was sidelined with an eye injury for Game 5.

“He’s a player that helped us make the playoffs,” Montgomery said. “In the playoffs, things didn’t go his way. Hopefully, he gets an opportunity to do a better job this year, right?”

Fedun said: “It seems like every second that you’re out there, things are just magnified and any little tiny mistake, sometimes it’s not even a mistake, it’s just the way the puck rolls. I think, personally, a couple of those went the wrong way for me last year but I thought towards the end, handled it fairly well.”

Montgomery said the handedness of the potential seventh defenseman doesn’t matter, though Fedun being a right-handed defenseman still has to help a little. The only other NHL-level right-handed defensemen are Klingberg and Polak, and the Stars appear ready to dress four lefties on a regular basis.

If Dallas opts to go with a left-hander like Bayreuther, Hanley, Heatherington or Gleason as the extra defenseman, it could limit the flexibility Montgomery has in his lineup on a night to night basis.

“It’s the person that can play the way we want them to play the best, and also add character and energy to not only practice but the locker room,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery also said the club has not decided whether to carry 14 forwards and seven defensemen or 13 forwards and eight defensemen.

Another round of cuts 1153572 Dallas Stars I don’t even remember, it’s just one of those things where I had seen kids go play juniors in St. Louis and they had ended up going to college. So I guess that was the goal without ever thinking about the NHL.

Inside the Stars crease: Ben Bishop on St. Louis, analytics and I knew I was good enough to play juniors, but growing up in St. Louis, it’s fatherhood just your Triple-A team that’s it. You don’t really compare yourself to that many guys, so you don’t really know much of how good you really are compared to the rest of the world.

By Sean Shapiro How has that profile changed for hockey players from St. Louis? In the past two decades it’s turned into a city that is known for producing NHL Sep 20, 2019 talent.

When I was growing up, I was coached by Mike Zuke and Perry Turnbull, It’s a big year for the Dallas Stars in the goaltending department. who were two former Blues players and it was really the alumni association in St. Louis; a lot of former Blues players that retired ended The NHL tandem is coming off career seasons; Ben Bishop probably up calling St. Louis home. So it wasn’t until I guess that ’80 birth year, or should have won the 2019 Vezina Trophy and Anton Khudobin may be even the 85s and 86s, where the kids of players who stuck around were the NHL’s best backup. On top of that, the future in the crease will be coming through the system. All of a sudden, we started getting the greatly shaped during the 2019-20 season as Jake Oettinger, Landon coaching. Bow and Colton Point jockey for the top spot as Bishop’s heir apparent in the organization. The guys who are coaching now, like Andy McDonald, they’ve had unbelievable youth coaching — and then the midget coaching with Scott Progress in the crease will greatly determine the present and the future Sanderson, who just retired — and kids getting coaching from Al for the Stars, which is why the five NHL-contracted goaltenders were MacInnis and Keith Tkachuk… Getting proper coaching at such a young among the most-watched players this past weekend at NHL training age, that really is what’s taken St. Louis from a no-hockey market to a camp. hockey hotbed. It’s because of the alumni going around and coaching these young kids. With that in mind, I wanted — to steal a cliche — to better know the men behind the mask. Over the course of this week, we’ll be running the five Is it a point of pride to be part of the group of NHLers from St. Louis? conversations in order of pro experience, from Jake Oettinger to Ben Bishop. Yeah, it’s kind of fun. I think there are a few guys ahead of me, but we’re still kind of the first ones to come through, and it was a lot of fun. It’s a The conversations have two things in common: all the subjects are little fraternity there, it’s not like Minnesota with hundreds of guys, so it’s goalies and each interview starts with the same question, “Was there fun to see the guys in the summer. ever a time you weren’t going to become a goalie?” On the coaching note, you kind of have become a mentor for younger To close out the series, I sat down with Bishop after an informal skate at goalies here. Like you were working with Jake Oettinger today, and you the Stars practice rink in late August. are 12 years older than him.

Was there ever a time you weren’t going to become a goalie? Oh, don’t say that.

When I started, I was a forward for the first four or five years and I was But what’s it like to be the veteran and share that advice with those always the leading scorer on the team and whatnot. I always loved being younger guys? a forward and scoring goals. We got to an age that everyone took a turn playing goalie and it’s one of those things I was really good at. I liked the It’s just more of a natural thing. It’s one of those things where I like fact I got to play the whole game, so I kind of stuck with it. Not thinking watching hockey, talking hockey and when you see an opportunity to anything other than it was fun and I was a kid, one thing led to another help anybody, even when it’s a forward or a defenseman — I like to talk and here I am, still a goalie. So sometimes you wish you were out there about what we would do in certain situations. Working with Jake right scoring goals, but I’m pretty happy with the decision we ended up now and (Landon Bow) this summer more, it’s just one of those things making. where you kind of talk it out. At the same time, you can sit there and help him you can also sit there and learn stuff from these guys, because it’s a You really liked never having to leave the ice. little bit different than when I came up with the coaching and the technique. That was part of it, and I just enjoyed it. I think most kids enjoy the equipment and the fact you are a difference-maker, I think that was a big So you can take stuff of off each other, and like I’ve said before, a big thing, too. It’s kind of on you one way or another, it makes it a little bit part of the reason (I had success) was the guys I came up with like more pressure and little bit more high-stakes which I think I enjoyed. Manny Legace, Chris Mason, Ty Conklin, Alex Auld, all being so good to me as a young guy. I still remember this to that day how good they were When did you realize it was something you were really good at? to me. They left a good taste in my mouth and a good memory, so I’d like To be honest, I would say after my senior year of high school when I to leave a good taste in their memory. So it just comes natural. came down here (to Frisco) and played a year for the (Texas) Tornado The big thing about a goalie and having a partnership on the team, (of the NAHL). I don’t think I realized I was good at it until November of you’ve still got to go out there and play. It doesn’t matter what kind of guy that year where the coach, Tony Curtale, came up to me and said that I you are, your performance on the ice is what’s going to make who is was on the NHL Central Scouting list for goalies to be drafted. playing and who is going to get the ice time. So if you are a jerk or Because going into the Tornado I didn’t even know if I was gonna make whatever, it’s not gonna mean you are going to get the playing time. So the team. I was pretty naive, and I don’t know, maybe my dad had a it’s a little complicated, because you are both competing for the same better idea of what was going on. But I was kind of along for the ride and position, but at the same time, you’ve got go out there and do your job so loved playing the game. I got cut from the USHL team in Tri-City and so I it doesn’t matter if you are a bad guy or good guy, and I guess I’d just was coming down here and there were two kids coming in who were both rather be the latter, be the good guy. rookies, so it was anybody’s net. If I didn’t end up being the starter I When did you first have a goalie coach? would have never gotten drafted, and then yada, yada, yada. College. So I don’t think it was until my senior of high school down here and a couple months into the season when my coach told me I was on the What was that like to get goalie-specific coaching for the first time as a Central Scouting list to be drafted, when I realized, well, “Maybe I am 19-year-old? kind of good at this.” And maybe there is a future, not even an NHL future, but just college. So that’s when I realized. I was very fortunate, I never did have a goalie coach in St. Louis. I went to a couple of goalie camps and then I went to college, and I had Grant So when you came down to Frisco to play for the Tornado, was college Standbrook who was a little bit older and wasn’t the young technical the main goal? goalie coach they have now. And it was neat for me — go look at his resume, it’s unbelievable — and he would just give me little tips here and there. And they worked, and it was like, “Oh, wow.” Nobody had ever told This is similar to your opinion of looking at shot counts, I remember after me because I never had anyone to talk to about it. a game in St. Louis you said you don’t look at the shot counter because in the minors it was often wrong. I think these kids come in now and you see them, like that Carter Hart (in Philadelphia), I think they’re ready to go right away. When I was coming And I still don’t like looking at it even in the NHL, because they still get it up, you spent a few years in the minors, and you still have to get used to wrong now and then. the schedule and all that, but technically it took me a couple of years to catch up with the game, I guess. Now, these guys come up and they’re Some people start thinking about it, and some guys like Dobby are way already so technically sharp since they’ve had these coaches since they more relaxed when they play and can think about it. When I play, I’m a were out of the womb, pretty much. little bit more intense, and that (shot count) used to bother me when I was in the minors. I would look at it and I’d be like, ‘They missed four It was a lot different. I free-wheeled. That’s why I think I’m still not the shots.” And if you add up four shots through 60 games in a season, it most beautiful technical goalie, but I can still find a way to get things takes your .930 (save percentage) to a .920. It’s a big difference. done and it’s not always the most technical form because I just grew up just trying to make the save no matter how it was. And in the minors that can be huge for getting noticed.

Personally I think there can be over coaching and guys can get stuck Yeah, a lot of the (NHL) coaches don’t look at what you do (in the AHL), without any creativity. You still had that creativity with the position, which they just look at the stats. They’re not watching your game, they are I think might be one of the reasons you’re able to adjust so well to thing. more worried about the game down here (in the NHL).

I’ve seen that now. You see these guys come up and all of a sudden they Since you mentioned him, what’s it like working with Khudobin? are working with the goalie coach on the NHL team and they’ve got two He’s a really relaxed guy, has a great sense of humor. He’s older than different philosophies (one from their earlier coaching) going and it can me; I’m younger, make sure that gets in there. So we’re kind of the same screw them up. I think it helped me because I didn’t have anybody, so I wave-length. We grew up playing and coming through the system came up here and it’s like, “Oh yeah, it’s helpful to learn new things along together and took similar paths as far as spending our time in the minors. the way.” We both have the same outlook on the respect of being here. He’s just Sometimes I see kids have goalie coaches and it’s their guy. Then they an easy-going guy and I think people can see that from his sense of go somewhere else and someone has a different view, and it can get into humor. He’s a really good goalie, too, and we’re obviously a lot different, their heads. I never had to worry about that, thankfully. I’ve been lucky to so it’s kind of fun to play with someone that I can pick up some things work with all these guys, because really the first pure goalie coach I’ve from. It’s good to work with someone who is a lot different than you are had was in the NHL, and it’s made me better. I’ve gotten better each year technically, so you can pick things up from each other. from when I started until now, because I’ve been able to work with these He’s older, but you’ve got a family now and a young son, Benjamin, does goalie coaches when I finally turned pro. I think they’ve all made my that give a new perspective on this part of your career? game better and I feel like I’ve gotten better every year I’ve been in the NHL. I think that’s more so because I’m getting good coaching now. You think about it and it’s not the driving factor, but you want to keep playing as long as you can so your kids can maybe grow up and watch You are heading into year three with Stars goalie coach Jeff Reese, how you play. So it is a driving factor to try and keep you motivated. has your relationship evolved? You were able to bring Benjamin to the NHL Awards show in Vegas back It’s been great. It’s just one of those things where when you come to a in June. Matching tuxes I believe. new team and you are meeting each other for the first time, you are feeling each other out. So there is that process, I would say, the first few That was neat, that was huge. Having the chance to bring him out there months of getting to know each other, and there was that learning curve — he won’t remember it, but it will be a lot of fun and a picture to look for Reeser and I as far as getting on the same page. Once we got on the back on. Hopefully, we can get out there again and get a picture with a same page, it’s been unbelievable. trophy one of these times. But it was neat and it is a big difference when you come home from a game, a good game or a bad game, and you can He’s a very passionate guy and he’s super understanding. He always really turn the switch pretty quickly because you’ve got to turn it into Dad has our back. It’s not his way of the highway, it’s always a conversation. Mode. He doesn’t know what the outcome of the game is, he just wants We always talk it out. Reeser has an opinion and I have an opinion and you to sit there and play with him. So that’s an easy way to transition sometimes, we don’t get in a fight, but we can always talk it out. It makes from the rink to home, it’s a lot easier than when you are solo and living us better and it keeps us both focused. by yourself and you have to think about it. I’m just enjoying it.

Now that we’ve been doing it (for three seasons), I can’t tell you how With the travel of an NHL schedule, I know that summertime is so many times I go into his office and want to talk about something or talk valuable for you and your son. about a drill and he’s like, “I just made that one this morning.” We really are on the same page now, which makes everything that much easier. One hundred percent. I was talking about that with my wife the other day; When we go look at the video, 99 percent of the time we are looking at it’s night and day now. I was just telling her, last year it was a little bit the same thing, which makes everything easier. easier going on the road when he’s three months old and doesn’t know what his hands are. But now I think it’s gonna be a lot different going on And obviously he played the position and understands. Sometimes the road this year, it’s gonna be a bit harder just because I’ve been with people just look at the statistics and the analytics, but Reeser him every day for the last four months. It’s going to be a little bit tougher. understands the goalie side and he understands the rest and recovery of And now he’s saying, “Da-da” and all that good stuff. I feel like you make going through it. So it obviously helps when you have a guy that up for lost time and it’s going to be tougher on the road, and I’ve talked to understands that side of the goalie position and not just the technical guys that have older kids and they say it only gets tougher because you side. hear these kids. I know (Jason) Spezza’s kids would cry sometime when I know you aren’t a big fan of goalie analytics, but is there a balance he was getting ready to go on the road. So it’s getting a little bit tougher, where they fit into your plans? but it’s good.

We still look at the analytics, even though I think I’ve gotten a rep and the Facetime is a good tool for the road. analytics guys don’t like me very much anymore. But we still look at it Yeah, when he Facetimes with me he’s fine, but when he Facetimes with and we still use it, and it is helpful. My only thing is it’s not 100-percent his mom he cries, like he’s asking, “Where is she? She’s not here.” With accurate. That’s the only thing I can say about it. It’s helpful, but your me, it’s like I’m normal on that screen sometimes for him. goals against, that’s what your goals against is, it’s not opinion. The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 On the analytics stat they should almost put “about,” what’s the little sign? You know? They post them like it’s the real thing, and it’s not. That’s what makes me a little upset — they sit there and act like that’s the right thing, but that’s not necessarily the case. It’s kind of “about.” I’m not saying it’s wrong, but it’s not 100 percent accurate. 1153573 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings lose preseason game in OT to Islanders, 4-3, but plenty to like

Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Published 10:22 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 10:22 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019

Andreas Athanasiou, at the very least, looks up to speed.

The Detroit Red Wings played their third game of the exhibition season Friday at Little Caesars Arena, hosting the New York Islanders. The Wings had a good mix of veterans and prospects, and were able to take good looks especially at a couple of their young defense prospects.

Athanasiou, who left last Sunday’s Red-White game because of soreness, showed off what makes him such a scoring threat when he raced to the net and scored for an early lead. Anthony Mantha and Filip Hronek scored in the third period.

Anthony Beauvillier scored in overtime to hand the Wings a 4-3 loss.

Devon Toews, Derick Brassard and Beauvillier scored for the Islanders in regulation.

Frans Nielsen suffered a lower-body injury and did not finish the game.

Lining up

While Dylan Larkin nursing a sore heel, Michael Rasmussen played in his place between wingers Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi. One line that could potentially carry into the regular season had Valtteri Filppula centering Athanasiou and Taro Hirose. The trio made it 1-0 midway through the first period when Athanasiou drove the puck to the net and scored from the doorstep off assists from Filppula and Hirose. Hirose also assisted on Hronek’s power play goal to pick up four points in three exhibition games.

Athanasiou gives DET a 1-0 lead in the 1st with one that just barely crossed the line. #RedWings#Islespic.twitter.com/fDaJ38hXBq

— Stefan Kubus (@StefanKubus) September 20, 2019

More on Wings: They didn't think Taro Hirose looked like a player. He proved them wrongErne-st effort

Newcomer Adam Erne earned a dose of fan appreciation in the second period when he made a play with the puck and then, after passing it, evaded Islanders tough guy Matt Martin as he was coming in for a hit. Erne crouched as he slid along the ice, leaving Martin to somersault over him. Erne was an August trade acquisition – from general manager ’s former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning – brought in because he brings a physical edge the Wings lack. He’s also a leading candidate to take Justin Abdelkader’s job as a net-front guy on one of the power plays.

Killers on call

The Wings had to kill a penalty a minute into the game and another late in the second period. That allowed for opportunities to use defense prospects Moritz Seider and Dennis Cholowski in shorthanded situations, grouped respectively with veteran PKers. A third penalty kill materialized early in the second period when Rasmussen was called for elbowing, and the Islanders made quick work of their power play when Toews converted after three seconds.

Same old Filppula

Late in the second period Filppula had a glorious scoring chance when he got the puck in the low slot and had a wide open shot – only to pass. Filppula’s penchant for passing up a shot has frustrated his coaches from Mike Babcock to Jon Cooper with Tampa Bay, but at 35 years old, it seems unlikely Filppula is going to change his way now. He is, though, a very reliable two-way forward who should help the Wings’ team defense.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153574 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings lose to N.Y. Islanders, 4-3 in overtime: Game thread

Kirkland Crawford

Detroit Free Press

Published 12:12 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 10:07 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019

Preseason: Detroit Red Wings (1-1-0, 2 points) vs. New York Islanders (2-0-0, 4 points)

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Little Caesars Arena.

TV/radio: None.

Game notes: The Red Wings will send out a few key veterans in this game, including Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Frans Nielsen. But the lineup will feature a few glimpses of the future with Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno, Filip Hronek, Moritz Seider and Oliwer Kaski.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153575 Detroit Red Wings “There’s lot of little things that he needs to continue to learn, but for exhibition one, I thought he played a solid game.”

Larkin update: Larkin practiced for the first time since breaking camp in Red Wings didn't think Taro Hirose looked like a player. He proved them Traverse City. He’s dealing with nagging heel pain that began before wrong camp. “It came up during training, running, and I’m trying to get it settled down,” he said. “It was fine for a couple weeks before and then it started again with an off-ice workout we had.

Helene St. James “It’s not an injury that’s going to hold me back. If it were the regular season, I’d be playing.” Detroit Free Press Blashill had been holding out Anthony Mantha, waiting for linemates Published 3:50 p.m. ET Sept. 19, 2019 | Updated 6:46 p.m. ET Sept. 19, Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi (also nursing an injury), but plans to play him 2019 Friday against the New York Islanders, even though it'll have to be on a different line.

Taro Hirose made an impression right away, even before he played in his Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.21.2019 first game for the Detroit Red Wings.

He’s in his first camp with the team since signing as a free agent in March, and as he did late last season, he’s finding ways to make himself noticed. Hirose has a goal and an assist after two exhibition games, picking up where he left off last season when he chipped in seven points in his first 10 NHL games. He joined the Wings after three years at Michigan State, and quickly made a case he belonged.

“Every time he gets the puck, he is trying to make plays,” Dylan Larkin said Thursday. “It’s good to see. He’s crafty, he’s smart. He thinks a step ahead of the game.

“When he came in, we didn’t tell him about it, but he didn’t really look like a hockey player. It really looked like he’d never touched a weight in his life. Not saying that he wasn’t strong, but he put some time in the gym this summer, he was here working out and he looks fit and he looks great. He looks a little bit quicker out there and it just helps him move around the ice and find lanes, which he’s so good at using his brains to do.”

Hirose debuted in March on a line with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek and clicked immediately with the two veterans (it was Vanek who gave Hirose the nickname "Taco."). Vanek’s hockey IQ creates scoring chances lost on linemates with lesser smarts, but Hirose is a shifty player himself.

“Vannie is on a different level than everyone, but (Hirose) does have great hockey sense,” Larkin said. “He knows how to find lanes. He’s undersized but he still produces and when you’re playing with him, you better have your stick on the ice and ready for the puck.”

Hirose scored in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Chicago when he redirected Filip Zadina’s shot after it hit a Blackhawks player. Hirose assisted on the winning goal in Tuesday's 5-3 victory (earning a day off Thursday).

“I thought he was one of our few forwards that was able to create some offense,” Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. “We didn’t create much offense. He makes lots of plays and that’s what he has to do. He has to make plays without giving much up.

“I think he gets exponentially better with better players, because he has such a good hockey mind. It’ll be great to keep watching.”

Hirose, 23, is making a case for playing wing on the second or third line. Blashill said he’ll audition him with different combinations to find the best fit. Nielsen and Valtteri Filppula are both defensively sound centers, and Andreas Athanasiou could be an option (he and Hirose also played together last season), while newcomer Adam Erne will retrieve pucks and go to the net. Blashill plans to play Hirose in as many as five more exhibition games.

“He’s earned the right, first, to be in the conversation of making the team,” Blashill said. “That’s the first step. Two, he’s earned the right to be in the conversation for the middle six, whether you call it second line or third line. He’s earned the right to be in the conversation to be on one of the two power-play units, but he has to keep earning it.”

Seider sizes up: Defense prospect Moritz Seider did a good job in his debut exhibition game Wednesday, even as he and partner Trevor Daley played against Blackhawks superstars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. “Dales did a good job of talking to him and helping him out through the process, but I also thought Moritz did a good job,” Blashill said. “He’s a pretty big strong guy for his age. He’s 18 years old but he didn’t look to me out of place from a speed or a size standpoint, so I think that was a positive start. 1153576 Detroit Red Wings “It’s part of it, the ups and downs,” Blashill said. “He doesn’t look like a guy that’s super out of place, but he made a few more mistakes than he probably has (in previous games).”

Red Wings fade late, fall in overtime to Islanders in exhibition Filiip Zadina had three shots in 16:42, but continues to press, not having scored a goal through the prospects tournament (four games) and now two preseason games.

Ted Kulfan “It’s hockey life,” Zadina said. “I’m pretty young but I’ve been through it a couple of times, what I’m going through right now. I just want to be The Detroit News patient, it’s not about the goals. I just want to play hockey, have fun and Published 10:54 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 12:04 a.m. ET Sept. win the games.” 21, 2019 Blashill and general manager Steve Yzerman talked after the game about Zadina utilizing more give-and-go's and trying to do too much himself. Detroit — A disappointing finish for the Red Wings, exhibition season or not. “It’s super hard in this league to self create,” Blashill said. “Sometimes Filip wants to score so bad that he’s trying to do all himself at times. Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier forced overtime with a late goal, then won it 32 seconds into overtime, giving the Islanders a 4-3 victory. “He’s somebody that wants to have success. There were a lot of expectations going into his draft year, he played as a young player in the Beauvillier one-timed a shot in the slot from Brock Nelson's pass to beat American League. He just has to relax and work on his game and goaltender Jimmy Howard. understand it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Filip Hronek scored a power-play goal off a nice feed from Adam Erne at ►Forward Frans Nielsen only played three shifts for a total of 1:53 10 minutes, 52 seconds of the third period, giving the Wings a 3-2 lead. before exiting with what the team announced was a lower body injury.

But the Beauvillier tied it at 3 at the 18:26 mark to force overtime. Blashill said he wasn’t sure how long Nielsen would be out, but there was no concern of Nielsen missing the regular-season opener on Oct. 5 in Islanders forward Derick Brassard broke a 1-1 tie at 5:03 of the third Nashville. period, but Anthony Mantha quickly tied it again at 2. Blashill said after Friday's morning skate Larkin (foot/heel) could make Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou and Islanders defenseman Devon his preseason debut either Sunday or Monday. Justin Abdelkader, who Toews (power play) traded goals through two periods. along with Larkin is yet to play in the exhibition season, is expected to Howard stopped 22 shots. return at some point next week.

Here are other highlights from Friday's exhibition: ►Interesting sequence late in the second period. One of the criticisms and frustrations regarding Valtteri Filppula in his first tour of duty with the ►In his first game of the preseason, Athanasiou showed his ability to Wings was his reluctance to shoot the puck, sometimes passing too break open a game. much to a fault.

Athanasiou blazed around Islanders defenseman Seth Helgeson, cut Filppula appeared to have a good scoring opportunity but passed to through the slot, and had enough on the shot as the puck trickled past Michael Rasmussen, who may not have been expecting the puck, and goalie Semyon Varlamov. foiled the scoring chance.

Coach Jeff Blashill had wanted to wait until Dylan Larkin (heel) was “It’s something we’ll talk about,” Blashill said. “He’s a great passer of the healthy and play Athanasiou, Larkin, and Mantha together. But Larkin is puck, he’s a real good player with a lots of ability. We’ll keep working on still a few days away from playing, and Athanasiou and Mantha needed his shooting the puck more.” to get game action. Detroit News LOADED: 09.21.2019 Mantha blistered a shot past goalie Christopher Gibson in the third period, a terrific shot off the rush.

“First game back, just maybe a half-second late,” Mantha said of how he felt. “Bert (Tyler Bertuzzi, also playing his first game) and I talked about getting the momentum. It took a couple of shifts.”

►The Wings view Erne as the type of guy who can provide a physical edge but also supply some offense.

Erne continued to show his physical prowess, being credited with five hits against the Islanders. He had a big one late in the second period, upending Islanders forward Matt Martin.

On Detroit's final goal, Erne made a slick feed to Hronek to show his savvy around the net.

Erne played both power play and penalty kill, and has the ability to be used effectively up and down the lineup in a variety of roles.

“That was a real good play, good pass, and he has the ability to tip pucks,” Blashill said of Erne’s net-front presence. “He showed fairly well tonight. He brings some energy, has a physicality to his game and has good hands around the net.

“If he can keep doing that, that’s a positive.”

►Regarding some of the Wings who were making their home debut in the preseason, it was a mixed bag — but largely disappointing.

Defensemen Moritz Seider (19:18) and Oliwer Kaski (16:39) both played extensive minutes but Kaski, in particular, in his first game seemed to struggle with the speed and quickness.

Seider, too, struggled at times. 1153577 Detroit Red Wings “He’s got to score, he’s a goal scorer,” Blashill said. “Now, he can’t do it by cheating. If you cheat for offense, you don’t have any chance to win so you have to be able to score without cheating.

Red Wings' Filip Zadina ready to drive his game to a new level “I don’t want to put undue pressure on him. You don’t have to score every game, but you have opportunities to score every game and then you have to score. That’s what he does best. He’ll have to do that while balancing being a complete player.” Ted Kulfan During the intra-squad scrimmage in camp, Zadina crashed the net on The Detroit News more than one occasion. Published 2:23 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 “Probably it’s going to be my game – go more to the net,” Zadina said. “I can be more productive in front of the net. It’s not easy goals. They’re still hard goals, same way when you shoot the puck.” Detroit – During Red Wings training camp, Filip Zadina was asked how confident he felt heading into this preseason. General manager Steve Yzerman felt Zadina had a good prospects tournament (four assists in four games), despite not scoring a goal. Zadina, the much-hyped 2018 first-round pick, has one year of pro hockey completed, was coming off a good prospects tournament “He can really shoot the puck, he’s got an instinct for getting open,” performance, and appeared ready to go for the exhibition season. Yzerman said. “He’s only 19, he was eligible to play junior (hockey) last year. He did very well in the American League. It’s just adjusting to the He wasn’t interested in talking about his confidence level, though. pro game.

“I’ll show you on the ice,” Zadina said. “He’ll continue to get physically stronger and gain experience, and with that strength and experience, he’ll get more accustomed to the pro game. Zadina was to be in the lineup Friday night against the Islanders for the second time this preseason. He had the primary assist Wednesday on “Not knowing him very well, but talking with a lot of people on the staff Taro Hirose’s power-play goal, Zadina’s shot deflecting to Hirose for a that know him, he’s got a good attitude and he’s open-minded and wants one-timer. to improve. With a good attitude and open mind and work ethic, he’ll improve. He’s projecting in the right direction.” It’s been a good start for Zadina, still only 19, but whether he can do enough to make the opening night roster remains to be seen. Zadina enjoyed the tournament early this month, helping the Wings’ organization to only its second prospects tournament championship. It If Zadina can show enough to warrant a spot on the top two lines, maybe gave Zadina another jolt of confidence. even the third, and get sufficient ice time, there might be a path to the roster. “That was great,” said Zadina of the tournament championship. “Confident? Yeah." But given that Zadina didn’t dominate at the AHL level for Grand Rapids last season, and there’s still parts of his game to be ironed out, it might Detroit News LOADED: 09.21.2019 make the most sense for Zadina to get more seasoning in the minors.

Wherever Zadina calls home in October, he’s confident he’ll take another step forward in his development.

“The game is going to be a little bit slower for me this year because I know what it’s going to be like,” Zadina said. “It’s about the space (on the ice), but it’s about patience. If you get the puck, you have to skate. Be smart, and a good skater, and the game will be easier.”

Zadina spent the majority of last season in Grand Rapids, where he had 16 goals and 19 assists (35 points) in 59 games. In a nine-game look-see with the Wings in March, Zadina had three points (one goal, two assists).

The season didn’t go as planned – Zadina planned on more time in the NHL – but he learned from it.

“It’s part of hockey life,” said Zadina. “No one has an easy way to the NHL. I was glad I could spend one year in the AHL. It opened my eyes to what I have to do better.

“I worked the whole summer and I’m a better player.”

One thing the Wings’ coaching staff has stressed with Zadina, is the need to drive to the net, and create scoring opportunities near the crease area.

Zadina has an outstanding shot, and he’s a dangerous passer. But so many scoring chances in the NHL come from going to the net and creating havoc that way.

“To get to the big numbers of goals, you have to get right around the net,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “You have to pick up what you’d term ‘dirty goals.’ It’s something we’ve talked to him about and something he’s continuing to work on.

“If I were to say to him what would drive his performance, 40 percent of NHL goals get scored in that little square we have drawn on the ice (crease). He needs to get to the 40 percent in order to really score. I talked about that with (Anthony) Mantha a couple years ago on net-front power play.”

Zadina also must play a full-ice game, being as dedicated to defense as he is to offense. 1153578 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings squander late lead, lose preseason game to Islanders in OT

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings appeared in decent shape to win their preseason game Friday against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena.

Then Anthony Beauvillier took over.

Beauvillier tied the game with 1:34 remaining in regulation and scored 32 seconds into overtime to lift the Islanders to a 4-3 victory.

Andreas Athanasiou, Anthony Mantha and Filip Hronek scored for the Red Wings (1-1-1) in regulation. Taro Hirose picked up a pair of assists. Jimmy Howard made 22 saves, playing the entire game.

Hronek’s power-play goal at 10:52 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie. Hronek, who is projected to be among the team’s top four defenseman after showing much improvement toward the end of last season, fired a rebound into the open side of the net.

Mantha had tied it at 6:16 of the third by firing in a wrist shot from the faceoff circle off the rush.

The Red Wings led 1-0 after one period on Athanasiou’s goal.

He took a pass from Valtteri Filppula in the neutral zone and raced by a defender, cut in front of the net and slipped the puck underneath goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s pad.

Devon Toews tied it at 4:39 of the second period, blasting in a shot off the faceoff three seconds into a power play.

The Islanders capitalized on poor defensive coverage from Dennis Cholowski, Hronek and Filip Zadina to take a 2-1 lead at 5:03 of the third period. Derrick Brassard, camped by the side of the net, converted a pass across the crease from Arnaud Durandeau.

Michigan Live LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153579 Detroit Red Wings 2. Erne (net front), Hronek-Hirose (half walls), Rasmussen (slot), Kaski (point).

Michigan Live LOADED: 09.21.2019 Oliwer Kaski to make preseason debut as Red Wings host Islanders

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will dress many regulars tonight in their preseason game against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena (7:30, no TV, streamed on DetroitRedWings.com and Fox Sports Go app).

They will also play several players competing for jobs, including defenseman Oliwer Kaski, who will make his NHL exhibition debut. Kaski, the 2018-19 Finnish League MVP, will be paired with Joe Hicketts and will man the point on one of the power-play units.

Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi, two-thirds of the top line, will play in their first preseason game. They’ll be centered at the start by Michael Rasmussen, who’s competing for a roster spot. Joe Veleno might also rotate into that spot. Dylan Larkin (heel) should be ready to play Sunday or Monday.

It will be the first opportunity for Detroit fans to watch Moritz Seider, the defenseman selected sixth overall this year, who made his preseason debut Wednesday in Chicago. Seider will kill penalties but did not practice this morning on the power play.

“I would anticipate Seids getting some good PK time,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I want to see (Kaski) on the power play, see (Dennis) Cholowski on the power play and (Filip) Hronek. You only have so many spots but a real good chance for Kaski.”

Gritty winger Adam Erne, acquired from Tampa Bay last month, will play a net-front role on the power play.

“Talking to Steve (general manager Yzerman) and talking to his coaches in Tampa, he’s a guy who can fill that type of role potentially, so I want to give him a chance to show that, hopefully get a chance to kill some penalties, too,” Blashill said. “Part of the preseason for me is getting to know him as a player as much as I can, so when we come time to play against Nashville (Oct. 5) I know him as well as possible.

“He’s still a young guy (23). He believes there’s offense there. We believe there’s offense there. Now he’s got to go out there and prove it. I think ultimately, he can be that rare guy in the league who can be real physical and add offense. He’s good down low, he’s got good touch around the net, he knows how to tip pucks.”

After tonight, the only regulars who will not have appeared in a preseason game yet will be Larkin and Justin Abdelkader, both of whom have been skating but haven’t practiced with the team since training camp. Both are listed as day-to-day.

Here are the lines they skated with this morning:

Tyler Bertuzzi-Michael Rasmussen-Anthony Mantha

Taro Hirose-Valtteri Filppula-Andreas Athanasiou

Adam Erne-Frans Nielsen-Filip Zadina

Darren Helm-Joe Veleno-Evgeny Svechnikov

Defense:

Danny DeKeyser-Filip Hronek

Dennis Cholowski-Moritz Seider

Joe Hicketts-Oliwer Kaski

In goal:

Jimmy Howard (starting)

Calvin Pickard

Power-play units:

1. Bertuzzi (net front), Athanasiou-Mantha (half walls), Zadina (slot), Cholowski (point). 1153580 Detroit Red Wings “It’s tough; it’s a different level from what he plays at,” Larkin said. “It’s intense every second of the game. There’s no free space, free time. You have to create everything for yourself as a centerman.

Joe Veleno aims to emulate Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin “You get used to it, though. You get into the mentality where you’re looking for spots, you’re looking for the puck as much as you can to have in the middle of the ice to distribute it and move your feet and get it back and create offense. By Ansar Khan | [email protected] “He’s a smart player. You could tell even last year as the preseason

games went on, he figured it out a little bit. As you see him getting older, DETROIT – As Joe Veleno prepares to launch his pro career, there is no he’s growing and maturing.” better role model for him than Dylan Larkin. Larkin entered the league at age 19. Veleno is highly motivated to do “That’s one player that I’d like to get to be one day,” Veleno said. “I think likewise. he’s come a long way in terms of being a superstar in this league. He “It’s a hard league to play in and you got to work hard for every little bit,” plays the game 200 feet. I’d like to look after him and kind of pick up little Veleno said. “For some guys, it’s pretty much their jobs. You’re trying to things that he does to make me a better hockey player.” earn a spot on a team, take someone’s job. I guess that’s what it comes Like Larkin (15th overall in 2014), Veleno (30th in 2018) is a highly down to. You want to play in the best league in the world, so you got to skilled, fast-skating center the Detroit Red Wings selected in the first work for it. I got to get better every year.” round who is on the fast track to the NHL. Michigan Live LOADED: 09.21.2019 Unlike Larkin, Veleno might need some development time with the . But Veleno is showing he is close to being NHL-ready. He excelled in the Prospects Tournament (seven goals, eight points in four games) and will have a few more preseason games to make a case for himself.

“In simplest terms, as soon as Larkin came to pro hockey (with Grand Rapids during the 2015 AHL playoffs), he was one of the best players on the ice,” Blashill said. “When (Larkin) came to training camp, he stood out like a sore thumb as one of the better players on the ice in his first year. He scored his first goal in his first game. The ones that are ready, you don’t have to look, they grab you. If guys want to make this team, grab it, show us every time that you’re one of the best players on the ice.”

How can Veleno, 19, set himself apart?

“Make a difference every time I step on the ice, whether it’s creating a chance or playing well defensively," Veleno said. "All the little details are going to be important in my game.”

Speed can give him an edge.

“It’s one of my best attributes,” he said.

Veleno also has improved his shot and is more assertive, which was evident during the Prospects Tournament.

“That was one thing I wasn’t doing as much in junior a couple of years ago,” Veleno said. “Once I was drafted, they kept telling me to shoot the puck. I worked on my shot in the summer and got stronger.

“Just making it quicker, on your stick, off your stick. Accuracy obviously, and just the strength of it. I’m working on forearm strength and shooting pucks constantly on the ice. It helps translate in the game.”

Said Blashill: “You get in that scoring area and you want to pass, and it’s hard to get in that area, so pounding into kids that you got to shoot in those spots is a critical thing and he did a real good job of it.”

Veleno spent the off-season in metro Detroit, skating and working out with many Red Wings and prospects and working with player development directors Shawn Horcoff and Daniel Cleary, looking at video.

“Cleaned up a lot of my game defensively and focused a lot on the little details to play in the NHL,” Veleno said.

Blashill said his main message to Veleno is to “become a great two-way center.”

“It’s hard to be a pure point guy,” Blashill said. “You look at his points in juniors, they were good, they weren’t astronomical, so to think you come here and all the sudden go astronomical in points would be misleading.

“I told him the quickest way to the NHL is to earn trust. If you earn trust from the coach, you get out there way quicker. So be great defensively, transport the puck up the ice like he does and produce offense, like he does. You got to do both for sure if you want to be in a top two-line center role, but you better make sure you’re good defensively.”

Larkin described the challenge Veleno is facing. 1153581 Edmonton Oilers Kassian made huge strides at the end of last season when he made himself right at home on the line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Oilers counting on new Europeans to get up to NHL speed Too bad Tippett and Holland weren’t around to see it. So he, like everyone else, feels like he has to start rebuilding his equity with the new guys.

Robert Tychkowski “It’s a unique year. You have new coaching staff, new management. You have to be going early. You can’t ease into it. You have to be good right Published:September 20, 2019 away because there are fresh eyes watching and evaluating you. Updated:September 20, 2019 10:18 PM MDT “There’s really no grace period where these guys saw the way I played, or we played, last year. It’s a whole new management team and coaching staff essentially evaluating us from scratch.” It’s not quite a guessing game, but head coach Dave Tippett might have to predict the future when he puts the finishing touches on the Edmonton BOUCHARD IN THE HUNT Oilers roster. Evan Bouchard survived the first major round of cuts, which comes as no By his own admission, none of the European players imported for training surprise. He is going to push his situation right to the final day if he keeps camp this year have jumped off the page yet, but that’s largely because playing like he has. they are still feeling their way around the new league. “It’s bitter sweet. You never like to see your friends go but it’s an They want to give Gaetan Haas, Joakim Nygard and now Anton opportunity for myself to show what I can do.” Burdasov (who joined the team Thursday and played his first game He sees himself in the starting six on opening night. Friday against Calgary), every opportunity to catch up and demonstrate the high end of their games, but they need to hurry up because there is a “That’s the goal for everyone here. Everyone wants to be in the top six team to pick. but there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of competition.”

“It’s a concern a little bit,” Tippett said of the slow starts by a couple of He could make it easily as the seventh defenceman, but that’s not an players the team was counting on to fill some roles here. “But there’s also option under the new regime. He either cracks the top six or plays a lot of a reality. With Haas and Nygard, it’s their first time playing North minutes in the AHL. American sized ice. We have to give them a little bit of slack there. But, again, at some point we have to settle on where we’re going.” “The young guys are going to play, they’re not going to sit around. That’s a part of (the decision making process),” said Tippett. Haas didn’t play on Friday, but Nygard took a step forward, using his speed to create a few chances against the Flames. It would be nice if Bouchard is OK with the company policy. both players found their full stride before the end of training camp, so “The staff have been around long enough to know what’s best for the Tippett isn’t in a position of having to gamble on their potential upsides or players. Whatever decision they make I’m sure it’s the right decision for settle on some safer picks. the player. You have to respect their decision and do what you can on “(Colby) Cave has been better than (Haas) in camp, but a lot of that is the ice.” because Cave is a North American player and Haas is still getting up to Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.21.2019 speed.

“(Tomas) Jurco has probably been better than Nygard, but Jurco has played 100 games in the NHL. You have to give Haas and Nygard a little bit of time to acclimate, but at some point we have to make decisions on our line-up.”

BURD IN THE HAND

Burdasov, who skated with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sam Gagner Friday, is in the same boat, only it left the dock about two weeks late. He played limited minutes as he shakes off the jet lag, so it’s hard to tell one way or another what he’s all about.

“The biggest thing is to get up and going in a smaller rink, with how fast- paced it is,” said Tippett. “We have to figure out where he’s at, right now or soon, because we have to get our team together. We can’t be wishy washy on people.

“He’s a big guy with some talent, let’s see what he can do. But there’s the fine balance between having a look at a guy and getting your team together.

“We’re down to 30 (players) right now. I want our group up and going next week. The veteran players are anxious to get going, get some lines set and some pairs set.

VETERANS’ DAY

The new additions have been slow to make an impact, but the Oilers veterans made their presence felt against the Flames, with Alex Chiasson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Zack Kassian, Leon Draisaitl and Sam Gagner scoring in the 6-2 victory.

The Oilers were down 2-1 after 20, but once Calgary swapped starting goalie David Rittich for Jon Gilles the onslaught began. Edmonton scored three goals on 10 shots to pull away.

MAKING AN IMPACT 1153582 Edmonton Oilers Hitchcock, who had the left-shot Jones on right side when he came up from the AHL. The Oilers now have him on left with the right-shot Adam Larsson.

Bakersfield guys will be down on the farm once again Jones didn’t look as calm in camp as he did after coming up last year. Fellow farmhands Ethan Bear and William Lagesson showed more, and Swede Joel Persson looks like he could open the season as Oscar Klefbom’s partner. Jim Matheson BACK ON THE ICE Edmonton Journal Goalie Mike Smith continues to take shots from goalie coach Dustin Published:September 20, 2019 Schwartz before practice after being off the ice for almost a week with the Updated:September 20, 2019 6:00 PM MDT flu. He could get his first team work Sunday in Kelowna.

Defenceman Kris Russell, who was in concussion protocol when medicals opened Sept. 12, is skating but he hasn’t played a game either. They always say the first cuts are the deepest in hockey and they are if If he’s not ready for the Oct. 2 opener against Vancouver he could go on you’re talking volume of players going to the minors, but it hurts more to injured reserve. be sent down the day before the season than now. This ’n that: College goalie Hayden Hawkey, who wasn’t signed by That said, Caleb Jones, Tyler Benson and Cooper Marody weren’t Oilers, was released from Washington’s camp after a look-see … feeling good Friday. Yamamoto (wrist) and Day weren’t sent to Bakersfield because neither have been cleared to play … Brodziak is still on the camp roster, too, Jones came to Edmonton Oilers camp with the best shot to crack the D even though he’s retiring because of a degenerative disc in his back. because he was very good in 17 games last season, playing in the top He’s on injured reserve now and will be going on long-term injury at four a large chunk of that. Benson got into all three games after making some time after the season starts, which will give Oilers an extra $1 the AHL all-rookie team with 66 points last year. And Marody, who had million in cap space to bring them to $2.5 million. three points in his two exhibition looks, was told he needs to work away from the puck in Bakersfield. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.21.2019 The writing was on the wall in block letters for wingers Joe Gambardella and Josh Currie because they only played one pre-season game, a kick in the head after Currie played 21 Oiler games last season and Gambardella 15. Their foot speed was problematic for the new coaching staff. They were put on waivers now along with veteran centre Brad Malone and Bakersfield captain/defenceman Keegan Lowe because they’ve accrued more time in the AHL than Jones and Co.

Dmitri Samorukov, Ryan McLeod, Cameron Hebig, Kirill Maksimov, Anthony Peluso and goalie Dylan Wells were also assigned, along with Jones, Benson and Marody with camp opening there Monday.

The Oilers are down to three goalies, including flu-recovering Mike Smith, 11 defencemen including Kris Russell, coming off a concussion, and farmhand Logan Day with an undisclosed injury, and 19 forwards which includes Kailer Yamamoto (wrist) and Kyle Brodziak (retired, but injured back). So 28 healthy players, including tryout winger Anton Burdasov.

Oiler coach Dave Tippett has lots of time for Jones, Benson and Marody, but they’re not ready.

“Marody and Benson’s rookie camp were very average and I was hoping they’d get ahead (of other kids) but there wasn’t much separation,” said Tippett. “Marody got some points and he’s a skilled guy who can make plays but there are other parts of his game not at an NHL standard. He knows he has to become a better two-way forward (to be third-line centre).”

Marody scored the lone Oilers goal in the 6-1 loss to the Canucks and had two helpers in Vancouver, too. He knew after the drubbing Thursday that he still wasn’t safe.

“You can never be satisfied with (individual) success. You have to prove it every day, be consistent, show you can play against men. This is a tough league to get into,” said Marody.

He’s going to Bakersfield while Gaetan Haas, the Swiss centre signee who didn’t have any goals in his two games, is staying. So, yeah, life isn’t fair.

“Benson is close, he’s not far away,” said Tippett, who wants Benson to be no worse than third-line LW at the NHL level. He didn’t get a chance to play with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Leon Draisaitl, who played his first exhibition Friday, as Russian walk-on Burdasov did against the Calgary Flames as they try to find out if the Russian winger, coming in from the cold halfway through camp, deserves a contract.

Jones was probably the most surprising off his play last season when then-head coach Ken Hitchcock praised his play after throwing him out there 24 minutes against Winnipeg Jets New Year’s Eve.

“I see a helluva player … there’s something uncoachable here and that’s calmness under fire … you either have it or you don’t and that’s a good quality, one that he can carry with him the rest of his hockey life,” said 1153583 Edmonton Oilers Bear pinched and after skating hard to get back, he and partner Brandon Manning allowed Sam Bennett to find daylight and score.

Lagesson sent a reasonable pass (despite pressure) to Bouchard, who Three players who helped their Oilers hopes and three who didn’t do suffered a rare misfire with an outlet attempt. What ensued was pure enough in Edmonton’s fourth preseason game chaos for over a minute (might have been 90 seconds), as the Flames danced around the perimeter of the Edmonton end until Mikko Koskinen stopped and froze the puck. Both defenders (and forwards) were far too passive in pursuit during that minute to 90 seconds. By Allan Mitchell A bad pinch by Lagesson left Bouchard alone and Ryan Lomberg scored. Sep 20, 2019 In six minutes together, Lagesson and Bouchard were outshot (3-2),

outscored (1-0) and gave up two high-danger chances. Manning and The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place on Bear, in five minutes, were outshot 4-0 and outscored 1-0 and also gave Friday night, a game that resembled the previous night’s result — the big up two high-danger chances. Tippett flipped them, and the results were difference being Edmonton landed on the right side of the score (6-2) in obvious and impressive: the second game. Several players fighting for jobs showed well, but the Manning-Bouchard played eight minutes together, and the Oilers outshot heavy lifting came from veterans Sam Gagner (a goal and 3 points), Calgary five-on-five 6-0 in that time. No goals were scored, but the Darnell Nurse (2 assists) and Leon Draisaitl (goal and assist). pairing was 4-0 in high-danger scoring chances while on the ice together. The club needs help in several areas, and three prospects showed well Lagesson-Bear spent 9:19 together, 6-0 shots, no goals and no high- enough to get at least one more game. On the other side, the blue line danger scoring chances. remains unclear as the youngsters who played Friday were unable to separate from the pack. Bear posted two assists Friday. Lagesson lost a step to Sam Bennett later in the game and made an impressive recovery, and he played over Helped their chances two minutes on the penalty kill. Bouchard made a strong defensive play, Joakim Nygard didn’t accomplish a lot in the first period, but by the grabbed the puck, sent it north to Draisaitl and it resulted in a nice second, he was finding the range and driving to the net. He had five chance for Nygard. I’m not sure we can say with any authority that any of shots Friday, at least a couple of them dangerous, and ended the night the three men separated from each other. with a partial breakaway and a brilliant chance. He was credited Tippett wasn’t tipping his hand on the young defencemen postgame. postgame with a goal originally given to Nurse. “We’ve got 10 of them still, six of them will be there opening night,” Playing on a line with Draisaitl and Zack Kassian, Nygard had three Tippett said. “I can tell you two or three of them, but I can’t tell you six of duplicate trips into the Calgary zone in the second period. He shot the them right now.” first two times and attempted an (unsuccessful) deke on the third try. It’s Bottom line unclear if he has enough of a scoring touch to impact the game at this level, but on this night, he was putting himself in good position to score. It was a good Friday night for the Edmonton Oilers. Mikko Koskinen, who was dreadful Thursday, allowed a soft goal to start the game but settled “He had two or three good chances, you’d like to see him capitalize on down and made some good stops when the game was still in the one of those chances,” coach Dave Tippett said of Nygard after the balance. game. Nygard took a skate in the face late in the game; no early word on the extent of the injury. We could see some more cuts over the weekend, but it’s unclear who among the defensive group of Lagesson, Bear and Bouchard lost their Colby Cave won five of eight in the faceoff circle and picked up an assist jobs Friday night. All three were poor early, and solid to very good later. If with a nice pass to Adam Larsson just ahead of Alex Chiasson’s goal. I was forced to choose one of the three most likely to stay, it would be One of the criticisms of Cave is offensive output, so his contribution has Lagesson. to be viewed as a positive. His pass wasn’t the most skilled part of the goal, but he made a good decision and executed it. The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 What impressed me most was his performance on the penalty kill: 1:07 clean, with a faceoff win and solid work alongside Patrick Russell. To top it off, Cave also drew a late penalty, as Travis Hamonic let his frustration get the best of him. If Cave can score 20 points, win more than 50 percent of his faceoffs, agitate and help on the penalty kill, he’s going to have an NHL job for some time.

Anton Burdasov was a revelation. I have no idea if he’ll make this Oilers team, sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets or head back to the KHL by Canadian Thanksgiving. Based on what we saw Friday night, he earned at least another game. He was quiet early but started to find the range as the game wore along.

The first thing you notice is his size (6-foot-3, 198 pounds) and then an outstanding shot that appeared to take a piece of Jon Gillies in the Calgary net. Burdasov’s foot speed looks good, and he can pass and take a pass. Burdasov made a nice touch pass on a give-and-go with Gagner and then delivered a strong shot on net.

“I thought he did all right for his first game over here, he shoots the puck a ton,” Tippett said.

I’d love to tell you that his brilliance was obvious to me several winters ago as I watched grainy online video from Minsk, Belarus, but Burdasov is about as unknown as any player in recent memory who plays in a famous league. Oilers fans have to be intrigued based on his first game.

The three young blueliners can’t separate

My early notes from Friday’s game hammered the games of Ethan Bear, Evan Bouchard and William Lagesson. Here are some items from the first period: 1153584 Los Angeles Kings In the meantime, cheer on the league and the union for finally demonstrating the ability to take baby steps. But save the standing ovation until they actually walk the walk.

DGB Grab Bag: Good news on the CBA, new rules for 2019 and how to The week’s three stars of comedy prank an L.A. King We’re almost into the season, where (fingers crossed) we should start getting the kind of classic comedy that only ever truly comes from watching somebody who isn’t you wipe out on the ice and hurt By Sean McIndo themselves. In the meantime, let’s clean up a few funny-ish(?) moments from late in the offseason. Sep 20, 2019 50 The third star: Thomas Chabot – This one is less comedy and more

meme-y, but the Senators had a tough week and it’s been a while since From the headlines they’ve had some good contract news, so we’ll allow it.

The biggest news of the week came on Monday, with the NHLPA’s W8 FOR IT… PIC.TWITTER.COM/PQBT9F0GZB announcement that they won’t be exercising their option to reopen the — OTTAWA SENATORS (@SENATORS) SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 CBA next year. Combined with the NHL making the same decision two weeks ago, means that the lockout we’d all penciled in for 2020 won’t The second star: Ben Lovejoy – This one’s less comedy and more happen after all. wistful, but as retirement announcements go it’s a nice way to cap a solid career. That’s good news. Lockouts suck, for pretty much everyone, but especially for the fans. We’d all assumed we were getting one next year PIC.TWITTER.COM/HV94ITPW1Q because this is the NHL and every new CBA means a work stoppage. And it wasn’t just fans and media who figured a lockout next year was all &MDASH; BEN LOVEJOY (@REVLOVEJOY6) AUGUST 29, 2019 but inevitable, as evidenced by all those contracts with signing bonus The first star: The Dallas Stars – This one’s less comedy and more … “lockout protection” built into the 2020 season, or the decision to have the actually, I have no earthly idea what this is supposed to be. Are you OK, new Seattle franchise’s debut pushed back to 2021. All the signs were Dallas Stars social media team? Blink twice if a crazed Jim Lites is there. But then the two sides made at least a little progress on working holding everyone hostage and this is a cry for help. Whatever it is, the together towards a new deal, cooler heads prevailed and we’re going to Star just passed the Wild on this year’s Bizarro-meter. get a full season next year. Awesome.  FREAKY FRIDAY  PIC.TWITTER.COM/SGD9N9THGN But does that mean we all owe Gary Bettman and friends an apology for thinking the worst? Not at all. Because while this week’s developments &MDASH; DALLAS STARS (@DALLASSTARS) AUGUST 23, 2019 are a good thing, it’s important to remember that we haven’t actually avoided a lockout yet. We don’t have a new CBA. We don’t even have an The NHL actually got something right extension on the existing CBA, which still expires in 2022, just like it I’ll be posting my annual New Season’s Resolutions column next week, always did. We still have the possibility of another long work stoppage; it but here’s a sneak peek at one that I’m personally working on: I want to just won’t come two years early. be less negative about the NHL. Great. Well done, NHL and NHLPA. You’ve avoided the worst-case That won’t come easy for me, as longtime readers know. Heck, I’ve scenario. Now keep going. already managed to find a way to grumble about the lack of a 2020 I wrote a piece last year in which I took aim at anyone who was falling for lockout, so this will take some work. But while it’s still my job to hold the Bettman’s PR campaign about how much he didn’t want a lockout. That league to account and to be critical when I need to, I don’t want to be that was back when the commissioner was making the media rounds, guy who complains about absolutely everything. I need to give credit feigning shock that anyone would think the league was headed towards where it’s due. another stoppage and preemptively blaming the players if one were to Today, let’s try our hand at this whole positivity thing with some happen. It was a cynical message, but it seemed to be working. So I unqualified kudos: The NHL’s new rules for this upcoming season are wrote this: pretty good. “Gary Bettman and the NHL will start getting credit for not having a The expanded replay review didn’t go overboard, as it could have. They lockout if and when they don’t have a lockout, and not a moment before simplified the consequences for incorrect challenges so that they’re not … [That] means they sign a new CBA without a lockout. That’s it. When different for different calls, which is a more straightforward approach. The that happens, we can and should give them all the credit in the world. But new helmet rule is a good one and the annual faceoff tinkering was at let’s all hold our applause until the show’s over, because so far it’s least harmless. always ended the same way.” And then there’s my favorite new rule. Starting this year, teams won’t be A year later, the core of that take hasn’t changed. We don’t have a new able to change lines if they knock their own net off the moorings. If the CBA and we don’t know that we won’t get another lockout on the way to defensive team accidentally causes their own net to be dislodged, it will one. be treated like icing. And of course, if it’s intentional, the referee can still But we do have more time to get there. The two sides are talking and for call a two-minute minor, just like they always could. once the rhetoric and the sniping is being kept to a minimum. There What a smart way to handle a delay-of-game play. seems to be actual momentum. Again, all of this is good news, and it’s reasonable to be optimistic. But at the risk of being a rain cloud over a OK, sure, maybe it seems like the obvious approach. And it is. But just feel-good story, let’s not hang a “Mission Accomplished” banner quite because the answer is dead simple doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give the yet. league credit for getting it right.

It’s possible that the two sides keep talking and eventually announce that I mean, picture the alternative. Imagine we had a relatively common they’ve come together on a new CBA ahead of the 2022 deadline. delay-of-game situation that happened fairly often, even multiple times in Depending on who you talk to, that might even be the most likely the same game and we went and did something dumb like make it an outcome. And if that happens, then we can all celebrate labor peace in automatic penalty every time. I know, I know, that sounds ridiculous, but our time. I might even say some nice things about Bettman’s leadership. bear with me. Imagine that instead of using common sense and treating the play like icing (with an option to call a penalty if it was intentional), But until then, let’s not get carried away. We’ve had three new CBAs you had no choice but to just go “derp, automatic minor,” even when it during the Bettman era, and fans have been burned by a lengthy lockout was obviously accidental. What a nightmare that would be! on each and every one. It still might happen again, and 2022 you will be just as ticked off about it as the 2020 version would have been. Everyone would hate that rule. Well, fine, probably not everyone. I’m sure there would be the occasional contrarian who’d try to defend that approach by telling us that at least it was simple and black-and-white, as if that’s a good reason to have an objectively terrible rule in the books. But the rest of us wouldn’t have to listen to them. Especially since you This clip comes to us from the Prime Ticket broadcast of the Jan. 10, know the NHL would still find a way to occasionally screw up the “simple” 1991 meeting between the Kings and Sabres. It’s the first intermission of call anyway. Oh man, it would be awful. a game that’s already featured a spirited line brawl, so it’s time to lighten the mood. Over to you, “Tommy L.” Thank goodness the NHL is smart enough not to do that, am I right? Yes, it’s Confessions of a Practical Joker, featuring Laidlaw in a starring Here’s a big thumbs up to the league. Plays that delay the game are role. To be honest, I’m really not 100 percent sure why this is airing in annoying, but they’re relatively infrequent and the most common one – 1991, given that he’s already been retired for a year at this point, but let’s icing – already has a reasonably good solution in place. You still need to just go with it. have a penalty for plays that are obviously intentional, but the rest can be handled like icing: faceoff in the offensive zone, no line change allowed, “I don’t know how it all started. I really hate talking about it. I think it was let’s play hockey. Anyone with a drop of common sense already knows when I was a kid and somebody put shaving cream in my diaper.” That’s that and it’s nice to see that the NHL is on board. either a line from this clip or the new Joker trailer. It might be both.

(See? And you thought I couldn’t make it through a whole section without Our first prank involves Laidlaw calling for “Goose,” which would be criticizing the NHL.) goaltender Mario Gosselin, who is also not in the NHL in 1991. Remember when you could put together a fun clip and just randomly air it Obscure former player of the week months later and everyone was fine with it? These days I see stuff on We had some fun with names over the summer, building out all-time NHL Twitter that references things that happened that morning and get angry rosters for various first names to try to figure out which one made the over how out-of-date it is. best hockey players. It was a lot of fun unless your name is Jonathan, in Speaking of out-of-date, we get a shot of Gosselin holding both a corded which case you probably still hate me. phone and a newspaper. Google it, kids, I don’t have time to explain it all At some point, somebody suggested doing a similar post with a Scrabble to you. theme. As in, which player’s name could make the highest Scrabble Laidlaw breaks down the complicated concept of putting shaving cream score? But like most terrible ideas, Reddit got there first, and somebody’s on a phone and we get a replay of Gosselin falling for the trick. He gets already done that list. It includes names like Mariusz Czerkawski, Jakob “a face full of shaving cream,” which is to say a little smudge of shaving Forsbacka Karlsson and the Toppazzini brothers and it’s topped by cream on his chin. Gosh, I hope he can find a towel somewhere, like the former Caps’ first-rounder Jaroslav Svejkovsky. He’s already an obscure one he’s got draped over his shoulders. player alumni, by virtue of being one of the worst players to ever score four goals in an NHL game, so we’ll have to look elsewhere for this Speaking of towels, the next victim is Marty McSorley, who walks out of week’s honoree. Let’s go with what’s apparently the eighth-highest the shower completely dry and immediately falls victim to the old scoring last name in NHL Scrabble history: Dave Chyzowski. “shaving cream in the towel” trick. He sells it well, which you’d expect from a successful actor. Chyzowski’s pro career didn’t start off very obscurely at all; after a standout junior stint with the , the Islanders made him No really, McSorley’s acting career was fantastic. Check out this IMDB the second overall pick in the 1989 Draft, going behind Mats Sundin. His page. Dude was in “Con Air” and “Bad Boys.” Where does that rank NHL days didn’t live up to that lofty status, although you can’t exactly call among all-time acting cred for NHL enforcers? I’m going to say behind him a bust given how thin the 1989 draft turned out to be. Apart from Basil McRae in “The Mighty Ducks” but ahead of Bob Probert in “The Sundin, the best players taken in the first round that year were first-ballot Love Guru,” but I’m open to debate. Hall of Kind of Good inductees like , Bobby Holik and Olaf Kolzig, and then you’re right down to territory. In hindsight, After another unnecessarily in-depth prank explanation and replay, it’s on the Islanders would have been better off trading down and then using to the next victim. This time it’s , and instead of shaving picks on longshot Europeans like Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Bure and cream, he gets a face full of baby powder. Look on the bright side, Luc, Sergei Fedorov. now that you have a face full of white powder you’ll fit in with all of the 1980s Oilers on the roster. Alas, they did not, and Chyzowski became the organization’s top prospect. He made the Islanders out of camp, playing 34 games and “We have a lot of guys on our team who are very meticulous with their scoring eight goals and fourteen points in half a season’s worth of action. hair”. Fact check: true. Unfortunately, both would turn out to be career highs. He played 56 I like how Robitaille keeps brushing his locks even as he’s getting blasted games as a sophomore in 1990-91, but only scored five goals and he’d directly in the retina. Be careful, Tom, poor Luc may not be much of a add just two to that total in parts of three more seasons with the Islanders fighter himself but I hear that he knows a guy. before becoming a free agent. He signed on with the Red Wings and later the Blackhawks, returning to the NHL in 1996-97 to play eight We close with Laidlaw ominously warning kids about the dangers of scoreless games. That would be it for his big-league career, one that pranking, in what starts off as a parody of drug addiction PSAs but goes totaled six seasons, 126 games, 15 goals and more than a handful of on so long that it starts to feel like the real thing. Everything alright, 1991 spirited scraps. He also finished with 31 NHL points, two fewer than his L.A. Kings? Do we need to get you in touch with the 1986 Buffalo last name’s Scrabble score. Sabres?

All told, Chyzowski put together a decent pro career that kept him And that’s it for our clip. I’m guessing Laidlaw won’t be able to bring any employed through 2006, with solid numbers in the AHL and IHL and later shaving cream or hair dryers onto the Survivor island, but maybe he can in Germany and Austria. He’s since gone into coaching and his sons Nick crack one of his teammates over the head with a coconut when they’re and Ryan both had successful WHL careers of their own. sleeping. Either way, good luck Tom. Here’s hoping your experience is a little less awkward than the NHL’s last attempt at Survivor relevance. Classic YouTube clip breakdown The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 The NHL doesn’t get a ton of mainstream pop culture rub these days. But they’ll get at least a little bit starting next week when longtime Kings and Rangers defenseman Tom Laidlaw appears on the long-running reality show Survivor. That’s kind of neat; the show has been around forever, but the 61-year-old Laidlaw is the first Canadian to get to play. He recently sat down with Scott Wheeler for an interview and had some interesting things to say about the experience (including at least a few potential spoilers).

Time will tell whether we’ll get to see Laidlaw finding an idol, leading a blindside, having his torch snuffed or even winning the million-dollar grand prize. Maybe he’ll play the happy-go-lucky Canadian grandpa, or maybe he’ll be the season’s villainous backstabber. But whichever way he decides to play it, I’m going to offer his fellow castaways a word of advice: Watch out for the pranks. 1153585 Los Angeles Kings which will require a partner that can do the same, and against top competition.

“There’s a chance that can happen,” McLellan said of Doughty and CAMP NOTEBOOK 9/20 – YOUNG PLAYERS PUSHING, SALT LAKE, Martinez playing together. “Drew’s going to play well over 20 minutes MCLELLAN, IAFALLO, CLAGUE most nights and the guy lining up beside him, whoever that’s going to end up being, is going to have to carry about as many and he’s going to have to perform against the best players in the league, so we’ll be looking for that combination. If we can find that pair that can successfully ZACH DOOLEY do that on most nights, the other four D can pinch hit against different SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 lines and we should be fine. But we’ve got to find that pair first.”

On the other hand, however, it leaves the backend a bit inexperienced on the bottom two pairs by putting his two veteran-most blueliners together. The Kings took the ice for their in between day, following last night’s With Derek Forbort out injured and Paul LaDue still returning from injury, overtime defeat against Vegas, in advance of tomorrow’s Salt Lake it leaves a younger group of options for the bottom two pairs of Martinez Shootout contests against Vancouver, a “home” game for Los Angeles. and Doughty are paired together, though McLellan pointed out that a recent addition on defense helps with that factor. Group A was led by the Kings coaching staff, headed by Todd McLellan and though I missed much of the Group B skate, it was led by Reign “That’s not ideal, but we also have a guy like Ben Hutton now who’s Head Coach Mike Stothers and his staff. Note that Groups A & B are not played a number of games, he provides some experience, there’s a little defined as game versus not game group – Expect some cross over for more depth there,” McLellan added. “Walker and Roy aren’t significantly tomorrow’s game in Utah. experienced, but they know what it feels like to go into NHL buildings. We’ll continue to tinker.” Here’s how it looked like the first group lined up. – Several young players have impressed throughout training camp, cue Group A Blake Lizotte last night, and enough have been talked about that there Forwards, in no particular order are simply not enough spots on the roster for everyone, especially if you want players playing in certain situations. Iafallo – Kopitar – Brown “When we have to make tough decisions, and we’re not sure, that’s a Anderson-Dolan – A. Kempe – Carter good thing,” McLellan said. “It’s good for us, it may not be good for some Wagner – Amadio – Grundstrom other people because names have come into the mix, probably more on the negative side than the positive side, but it is a good thing for us. Lizotte – Kupari – Toffoli What’s important is that we’re always trying to figure out if the player is ready to play, but we also have to be ready for the player. The Clifford – Prokhorkin – Lewis – M. Kempe organization has to be ready to bring a young player in and play him Defensemen: Doughty, Ryan, Martinez, Roy, Walker, MacDermid, enough, put him in a role where he can develop and evolve.” Clague, Hutton With only 12 forward spots in the lineup, players that are battling for Goaltenders: Quick & Campbell those jobs will be pushed down to the AHL, it’s as simple as a numbers game. While some in that situation may have shown that they deserve a Notes – chance at an NHL role, McLellan said that it can also be beneficial for a player to log heavy minutes, in all situations, in the AHL, especially in – On tomorrow’s lineup, McLellan said that as of media availability this regards to a younger player. afternoon, he had not yet finalized the group that will be playing in Salt Lake. He did, however, emphasize that it might be an opportunity for “There’s some real good young players that are pushing some veteran some new faces to see game action with the full NHL coaching staff players here right now, but are we ready just to keep them on the team, behind the bench, or a chance for those fighting for the last spots on the or should we have them in a spot where they’re on the top power play, team to play in the lineup together in a game setting, as those battles they’re getting real good, strong minutes?” McLellan said. The luxury we continue to shake themselves out. have here is that they’re right across the hallway, we can always recall somebody. None of those young players are going to want to hear that, “We’re still putting the roster together,” McLellan said. “There are some but that might be the reality. We still have a lot of exhibition [games] this individuals that still need the opportunity to play in front of me as a coach. season left to make those decisions.” Obviously some played games already but I wasn’t there, so we’ll look at that. We’ll look at lifelines for certain players. Some are dwindling, some LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.21.2019 have expanded their lifeline a little bit, which is great. We’ll look at the groups that we feel are competing with and against each other for final positions and insert certain guys into those roles. In my opinion, tomorrow will be a tough day for our group. We haven’t had a day off yet, it’s a tough travel day but so is it for Vancouver. It’s hump day, we get a day off after that, I’m sure guys are looking ahead but there’s so many jobs on the line, let’s make sure we’re ready to play.”

In terms of a timeline, McLellan confirmed that he expects roster moves to come soon, though he did not commit to a specific time frame.

“We will look at making, I don’t know if it will be a large group, but we will be reassigning players either to Europe to their junior teams or to the .”

Another note from #LAKings practice today. Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez were paired together on defense. McLellan said “there’s a chance" that could be the case going forward as Derek Forbort continues to rehab.

— Jack Harris (@Jack_A_Harris) September 20, 2019

– One interesting note, as picked up on by Jack Harris of the LA Times, was that Martinez and Doughty were paired together for a decent chunk of practice. There’s two schools of thought there, as McLellan references below. On one hand, Doughty will log a ton of minutes in all situations, 1153586 Los Angeles Kings

WAIVER PERIOD OPENS; KINGS SIT IN INTERESTING POSITION

JON ROSEN

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

INSIDERS. A fine morning to you from the skies above… the Midwest. I won’t be Utah-bound Saturday; rather, if you’re interested in to-the- minute updates, make sure you’re following @ReignInsider Zach Dooley, who’ll accompany the team to Salt Lake City for tomorrow’s preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks (6:00 p.m. / Prime Ticket / FOX Sports App / LA Kings Audio Network). This is the first official LA Kings team broadcast – LA Kings live begins at 5:30 p.m. PT.)

Something that we’ll continue to monitor over the coming weeks: the NHL waiver wire opened Friday, and the Kings, with the second waiver priority, may have the opportunity to claim a player who wouldn’t otherwise be available with a more rapidly expanding salary cap and a healthier middle class. From Elliotte Friedman in his 31 Thoughts column:

Just some teams to keep an eye on, nothing more, but click on each team’s links to learn more about Vancouver, Carolina and Calgary roster structures and organizational depth. The Hurricanes appear to have the biggest logjam on the blue line, though barring movement it would appear that Vancouver is still sorting out its back end as well, and a player like Oscar Fantenberg, as one example, will still have to make the team and would be placed on waivers if he is unable to do so.

Keep an eye on these teams’ trades, roster moves and injuries, as they’ll have an impact on the waiver wire. Los Angeles’ second priority expires on October 31, at which point priority for the following day’s claim will be based on 2019-20 season standings.

Los Angeles still has to have room to fit those players into their organization. As of right now, they have the maximum 50 contracts allotted, though space would open up should the likes of Tobias Bjornfot, Samuel Fagemo and Akil Thomas be assigned or loaned to their respective club teams. No assignments have yet been made, so as of this moment there isn’t any room on the roster to claim a player, even though they have the cap space.

Obviously, this could also affect the Kings from the other direction. Michael Amadio, Mario Kempe, Martin Frk, Paul LaDue, Joakim Ryan and Kurtis MacDermid are waiver-eligible and will be competing for roster spots, a battle that tightened when Ben Hutton signed and immediately claimed a spot on the club’s blue line.

More to come on this subject.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153587 Minnesota Wild Etc. • Defenseman Greg Pateryn still has not played a preseason game, and

he did not practice Friday. Boudreau said Pateryn has a lower-body Wild captain Mikko Koivu will play in first game since knee surgery injury that is persistent but not serious. The timetable for his return has not been established. Mikko Koivu is keeping his expectations low for his first game in 7½ months, hoping just to feel comfortable enough to continue moving • The Wild used three different power-play units in Friday’s practice, forward. emphasizing its wealth of options. As nice as that sounds, having so many players clamoring for power-play time does present a challenge for Boudreau. He said he will “work them all in’’ during preseason play, giving everyone a chance to show what they can contribute. “There is a By Rachel Blount logjam,’’ Boudreau said. “Look at all the guys that are used to playing the Star Tribune power play. And we’ve got new guys knocking at the door.”

SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 — 12:34AM Star Tribune LOADED: 09.21.2019

Wild center Mikko Koivu said Saturday’s game won’t be the final test of his readiness. He has many more benchmarks to meet before he will consider himself fully healed, after knee surgery last February brought a premature end to his season.

That doesn’t make him any less excited about his return. Koivu is expected to play his first game of the preseason against Colorado at Xcel Energy Center, giving him an initial idea of how his right knee will feel at game speed. During Friday’s practice at Tria Rink, he centered Jordan Greenway and Luke Kunin on the third line, sharing that duty with Joel Eriksson Ek.

Koivu had surgery Feb. 8 to repair a torn ACL and meniscus. He is keeping his expectations low for his first game in 7½ months, hoping just to feel comfortable enough to continue moving forward.

“It’s the next step in the process,’’ Koivu said. “I’m ready for it. You’ve got to get into the game action; it’s always different from practice, or even a scrimmage with your own teammates.

“I want to get out there and play and see how it feels, and how I feel overall. There are still a lot of steps to take to be 100 percent. But this is a step you’ve got to take, and I think it’s time.”

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau anticipates Koivu’s puck handling will be rusty after the long layoff, but he won’t be judging him on that. Boudreau wants to get a look at Koivu’s stamina and leg strength.

WILD VS. COLORADO SATURDAY: 5 P.M. (FSN PLUS)

“He works so hard out there, you know he’s working his best to get back,” Boudreau said. “Hopefully, it will happen sooner rather than later.”

Fiala on his way

Kevin Fiala, who has been stuck in Europe while his U.S. work visa was being processed, finally has his documents in hand. The forward was scheduled to arrive in Minnesota on Friday night and practice with the team Saturday.

If he appears ready to play, Boudreau plans to put him in the lineup for Sunday’s preseason game at Colorado.

Fiala did not sign his two-year, $6 million contract until Sept. 11, and he could not start the visa application process until then.

“I haven’t seen him yet,” Boudreau said. “If he’s in great shape, yeah, why not [play] Sunday? If he’s in [OK] shape, we’ll see. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Roster reduced by 18

The Wild cut its roster to 37 Friday afternoon.

Forwards Will Bitten, Connor Dewar, Brandon Duhaime, Ivan Lodnia and Dmitry Sokolov; defensemen Brennan Menell and Stepan Falkovsky; and goaltenders Dereck Baribeau, Kaapo Kahkonen and Mat Robson were assigned to Iowa, and forward Alexander Khovanov was sent back to Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Also reporting to Iowa will be forwards Oliver Archambault, Kyle Bauman, Mitch McLain and Tyler Sheehy; and defenseman Nicholas Boka, Alex Breton and Jack Sadek, who were all released from professional tryout contracts.

Robson, Sheehy and Sadek are former Gophers. 1153588 Minnesota Wild Khovanov was assigned to Moncton (QMJHL), and the team released forwards Oliver Archambault, Kyle Bauman, Mitch McLain and Tyler Sheehy, and defensemen Nicholas Boka, Alex Breton and Jack Sadek from their professional tryouts. They will report to training camp for the Wild winger Joel Eriksson Ek is a star on a bike. That needs to translate Iowa Wild. to the ice. Pioneer Press LOADED: 09.21.2019

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected]

Pioneer Press

PUBLISHED: September 20, 2019 at 2:29 pm | UPDATED: September 20, 2019 at 4:44 PM

Much has been made of coach Bruce Boudreau’s annual skating test to open Wild training camp — the one known to leave players hurling on the side of the bench afterward — but the bike test the day before might be even harder on players.

“It’s four minutes of hell,” Boudreau said. “I just know that the guys come off the bike going, ‘This is crazy.’ It’s a hardcore thing.”

Each player hops on the Airdyne — think a stationary bike on steroids — and tries to ride the equivalent of two miles as fast as he can.

Most Wild players completed the task recently in about four minutes. Everyone except Joel Eriksson Ek.

“He did the bike test 20 seconds faster than anybody else, which is ridiculous,” Boudreau said. “He’s in great shape.”

Asked about his performance, Eriksson Ek offered a simple answer.

“I just wanted to get it over with,” he said. “I was glad I was able to do it pretty quick.”

That said, he was the first person to note that his performance on the bike test doesn’t guarantee anything outside of some minor praise on the first day of training camp. A first-round draft pick in 2015, the 22-year-old Swede knows it’s about time he takes the next step in his development.

“Just have to work hard every day and be confident in myself,” he said. “I’ve had my ups and downs as a young player. That’s something I learn from every day and bring with me.”

Used in a bottom-six role for much of the past two seasons, Eriksson Ek hasn’t had a ton of opportunity to showcase his full skill set, and when he has, he hasn’t made the most of it. Maybe that’s the reason Eriksson Ek is still pegged in a bottom-six role at the moment.

He will most likely play between Jordan Greenway and Luke Kunin on the third line or Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman on the fourth, though Boudreau emphasized that he has the potential to move up in the lineup.

“I don’t want to pigeon-hole him into the fourth line,” Boudreau said. “If he’s better than guys up top, then he’s going to play in that situation. It’s his time to start to shine. I expect him to fight for every bit of ice he’s going to get.”

It’s going to come down to Eriksson Ek scoring goals. As responsible as he’s been in both zones throughout his career, he needs to prove he can put the puck in the net if he wants more playing time.

“I’ve been a goal scorer in the past, when I was playing in Sweden,” he said. “You just have to learn how to be successful over here. I just try to be good defensively, and if I do that and break up plays in the neutral zone or something, it can help going on the other way offensively. That’s something I want to do better.”

It should help that Eriksson Ek is feeling more comfortable in every aspect of his life.

“It definitely feels better,” Eriksson Ek said. “I’m friends with everyone on the team now and I know my way around the city and I’m figuring out the language. All that stuff makes it a lot easier.”

BRIEFLY

The Wild trimmed their training camp roster to 37 on Friday, assigning forwards Will Bitten, Connor Dewar, Brandon Duhaime, Ivan Lodnia, and Dmitry Sokolov, defensemen Brennan Menell and Stepan Falkovsky, and goaltenders Dereck Baribeau, Kaapo Kahkonen and Mat Robson to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League. … Forward Alexander 1153589 Minnesota Wild to go and where you want to be at someday and hear him tell me, ‘It’s all going to be alright,’ it was pretty cool and meant a ton that (Crombeen) would take the time. I think after that, I had the courage to take it upon myself to do what I had to do to get to where I wanted to go. Keith is a Playing with diabetes, Luke Kunin has kept on skating all the way to the close family friend and took it upon himself to set that up. It just meant a NHL lot and I hope I can inspire others.”

Kunin said his daily routine is no different than anybody else with Type 1 diabetes. By Michael Russo “I’ve got to control my blood sugar, stay on top of that,” Kunin said. Sep 20, 2019 “Every time I eat, count my carbs, take my insulin shots and just really stay on top of your blood sugars, what you’re eating, how you’re feeling, and just be responsible with things like that. It’s not an exact science for Luke Kunin was 12 years old. anyone, I think. But I think I found a good way to take care of myself and the way I do it.” He had trouble falling asleep at night. Once he’d get to sleep, he’d wake up numerous times dehydrated and in need of water. He had to go to the .@MNWILD FORWARD @LUKEKUNIN9 IS GETTING SET TO THROW bathroom countless times a night. OUT THE CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH AT TONIGHT'S @TWINS' GAME PIC.TWITTER.COM/CD8GOG3IN8 “My hockey was going downhill. I just wasn’t feeling great,” the Wild winger said after Friday’s practice. “You don’t really know what it is. You — FOX SPORTS NORTH (@FSNORTH) SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 kind of think it’s normal, but then you go to the doctor and find out it’s not.” Kunin uses a Dexcom, which is a little patch that sends his blood sugar tabulations to his phone every five minutes. The sixth-grader was run through a gamut of tests and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Game days are different.

He remembers his mom, Sheri, started to cry. Kunin himself had just one He pricks his finger to test his blood sugar anywhere between eight to 10 question for the doctor: “Can I still play hockey?” times leading up to a game, then again before warmups, in between periods and after the game. “When the doctor said, ‘Absolutely, you’re going to be fine,’ it was, ‘OK, good. Let’s deal with it,’’ Kunin said. “Fortunately, we caught it early. I “I can tell when my blood sugar is low or high when I’m on the bench,” mean, I knew nothing. I didn’t know what diabetes was ‘til I was Kunin said. “If it’s low, I usually drink a little Gatorade or whatever it may diagnosed. I was pretty young, so it made me a little nervous that my be, and then as soon as I get in the locker room, I’ll test it and make my mom was crying, and as a parent, you never want to hear any news like adjustments. If it’s high, it’s usually adrenaline or maybe you’re just that about your child. running high that day, you’ve got to take a little insulin, maybe a little correction. You’ve got to be smart about it, too, because you’re going to “But for me, looking back, obviously it’s an unfortunate situation, but you crash after the game because of how hard you’re working. So that’s why just got to make the best of your situation. I kind of look at it, there’s I said, it’s not an exact science. It’s just kinda feeling it out and knowing much, much worse things out there, so if this is all I have to deal with, your body.” that’s great.” Some diabetic players, like Dallas Stars prospect Riley Tufte, wear Almost a decade later, Kunin, 21, has learned to live with diabetes, has insulin pumps during the game. Kunin, on the other hand, takes shots made it to the highest level as a hockey player and now hopes to be an with a pen needle right at his locker room stall. inspiration to young athletes who have received a similar diagnosis. “My first couple weeks at Wisconsin and even here, you kinda hide it,” Kunin, the former University of Wisconsin captain who captained the Kunin said. “Maybe at first, you’re maybe a little shy about it. It’s United States to a gold medal at the world junior championships in 2017, something new, it’s different, and you don’t want your teammates to has become the Wild’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation wonder what’s wrong. I never liked needles myself, and it was kind of ambassador. Earlier this month, Kunin attended an event in the Twin something you had to kind of get comfortable with. But as I got more Cities to meet with other youth ambassadors leading the fight against comfortable with doing it to myself, I got more comfortable that my Type 1 diabetes. On Friday night, in the middle of the Twins’ playoff race, teammates weren’t judging me and were OK with it, and I just did it in Kunin will have the honor of throwing out the first pitch before the Twins- front of them. Hey, it’s part of me. It’s me, it’s what I’ve got to do. Now I Royals game as the baseball team hosts JDRF. just do it wherever and I don’t really worry too much about what other people think about it.” Luke Kunin Tufte, a former Blaine High School and University of Minnesota-Duluth Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 12, Luke Kunin still rose standout, still remembers what it meant to him to get a note from former up the hockey ranks to the NHL. “It’s me,” he says, “it’s what I’ve got to NHLer when he was a kid and scared about his initial do.” (Tim Fuller / USA Today) diagnosis. So Tufte says every time he sees Kunin, the two compare He’ll be supported by his older brother, Nick, 23, who had to give up his notes. hockey career because of concussions, and Aaron Sickman, the Wild’s Kunin has also talked with forward Max Domi, who director of media relations, who also has diabetes. has diabetes, a number of times. “It’s pretty cool to get a chance to do something like this and for “It’s cool to ask (Tufte and Domi) questions because there are a lot of something I’m passionate about, too,” Kunin said. “I’m just going to have similarities and some differences,” Kunin said. “It’s good to talk to players fun with it and hopefully get the ball over the plate.” who know what you’re dealing with. You can find out what’s happened to One of Kunin’s best friends is Calgary Flames forward Matt Tkachuk. In them throughout games, travel, after games, whatever it might be, what 2016, Tkachuk and Kunin were two of five players from the same foods seem to work better for them for controlling it.” suburban St. Louis youth team to be drafted in the first round by NHL Kunin can’t wait to get more involved with the JDRF. teams. HAD A GREAT TIME TELLING MY STORY AND MEETING SOME After Kunin was diagnosed with diabetes, Matt’s dad, Keith Tkachuk, UNBELIEVABLE KIDS AND PARENTS AT THIS @JDRFMINNESOTA surprised Kunin by having Blues teammate B.J. Crombeen, who has EVENT! #T1D HTTPS://T.CO/HFALM9L0OA diabetes, call Kunin to offer advice and words of encouragement. That conversation meant so much to Kunin, he wants to do the same and be a — LUKE KUNIN (@LUKEKUNIN9) SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 role model to other boys and girls who are experiencing what he went through as a kid. “It’s definitely one thing I’m very passionate about,” Kunin said. “Living with it and having to go through it, I think my whole thing is just to be able “I wanted to be in the NHL, I wanted to make it to the NHL someday, and to talk to kids, athletes, whether they’re athletes or not, any kind of kids, to all of a sudden get this news, you have all these questions in your parents, that are going through it. I just want them to know you shouldn’t head,” Kunin said. “To be able to talk to a guy who was where you want let it stop you from doing what you want to do, from being where you want to be. That’s my message on the whole thing. It could be worse. This is a part of me now. I’m going to deal with it and I’m still going to do the things I want to do and not let it change my life. I want to help in any way I can.”

A week into training camp, Kunin has been playing right wing on a line with Jordan Greenway and either Mikko Koivu or Joel Eriksson Ek. For the first time, he hopes to spend all season in Minnesota and not receive any stints in Iowa.

Last season, Kunin, who was coming off a torn ACL the previous year, scored six goals and 17 points in 49 NHL games. In Iowa, he scored nine goals and 16 points in 25 regular-season games and another six goals in 11 playoff games.

Coach Bruce Boudreau expects Kunin to take a significant step in terms of his production this season. They worked him in on the power play during Friday’s practice and Boudreau says Kunin has been “one of the best players if not the best player in camp so far.”

“I worked really hard this summer and learning a lot about my game, what I want to do, what I want to change and things I want to get better at,” Kunin said. “I thought I took a big step last year and I feel really good throughout camp so far. I’ve been playing with some great players and things are going well. I personally wasn’t happy with my performance (Wednesday) in Winnipeg, but it’s nice to have these preseason games to get that out. I’m looking forward to a much better game (Saturday against Colorado).”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153590 Minnesota Wild who will dress opening night Oct. 3 in Nashville are Donato, Kunin, Greenway, Koivu, Fiala, Zach Parise, Eric Staal, , Jason Zucker, Marcus Foligno, Joel Eriksson Ek and Ryan Hartman.

Handicapping the Wild bubble players’ chances of making the team Seven defensemen considered locks are Ryan Suter, Matt Dumba, Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon, Brad Hunt, Nick Seeler and Pateryn.

Devan Dubnyk and Alex Stalock are your goalies. By Michael Russo Those are 21 players. Sep 20, 2019 Teams can keep up to 23.

Barring injury, that leaves the possibility of only two more players making We’re exactly a week into training camp for the Wild, so it seems like an the Wild. appropriate time to handicap which players have the inside track to make the team and which bubble players could soon, well, burst. Now, do the Wild keep two extra forwards, one forward and an eighth defenseman or do they just go with 13 forwards and the seven We will surely see a mass exodus of players leaving training camp Friday defensemen listed above? and Saturday. The cusp of the Wild team is guaranteed, but here is a look at the handful The Wild are down to 55 players and coach Bruce Boudreau made clear of bubble players vying for that extra spot or two and where they stand: after Wednesday’s exhibition loss in Winnipeg that it’s time to get serious and start splitting the practice groups into one that consists of only Victor Rask players who could make the team and one that mostly has players on the For somebody who should have known he was on the fringe to be in the outside looking in. opening night lineup, it’s extremely disconcerting how bad the start of The Wild will hold two practices Friday. Rask’s training camp has been.

The morning one will be a good indication of which players are still in First of all, Rask, who scored two goals and one assist in 23 games with good standing. It’ll largely be the NHL group with a couple extra forwards the Wild after being acquired for last January, showed who are still vying for spots. up and managed to fail Boudreau’s skating test (Rask missed the required times needed to avoid having to skate a fourth, then a fifth time). The afternoon practice will mostly be Iowa-bound players with perhaps a handful of other roster hopefuls who could still see further preseason That was one awful first impression from a guy on the bubble, and action and accompany the team on Sunday’s road trip to Denver, Vail Boudreau made it crystal clear afterward that he was not pleased. and Dallas for two preseason games and a bonding trip. Second, Rask was pretty nondescript in last weekend’s scrimmages. He SOME NEW #MNWILD LINE EXPERIMENTS TODAY certainly didn’t add a step to his slow-footed skating as evidenced by the fact he was constantly beaten wide by teammates, including Gerry PARISE-STAAL-ZUCCARELLO Mayhew on an overtime winner. Considering the Wild commission skating coach Andy Ness on a part-time basis, it says something that ZUCKER-DONATO-STAFFORD Rask didn’t bother working with him all offseason or return to Minnesota GREENWAY-KOIVU/ERIKSSON EK-KUNIN early to work with him last month. Remember, Boudreau and former GM Paul Fenton publicly suggested that working with Ness was something FOLIGNO-RASK-HARTMAN/BROWN Rask may want to consider.

SUTER-DUMBA Third, Rask was minus-3 in his preseason debut at Winnipeg. Now, to be fair, one of those goals against was an empty-netter and two of the BRODIN-SPURGEON goals-against came in the first 1:37 of the game on shots that goalie SEELER-HUNT Kaapo Kahkonen arguably should have stopped.

SOUCY-BELPEDIO But still, by all accounts, Rask didn’t have a good game.

SO MAYHEW AND STURM IN MOSTLY-AHL PRACTICE THIS Just a really bad start to camp after Fenton, when he was still with the AFTERNOON team earlier in the summer, said he wanted to give Rask the ability to resurrect his career rather than buy him out. — MICHAEL RUSSO (@RUSSOHOCKEY) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 At the end of the day, every player is responsible for his own career. There are a few extenuating circumstances that will affect some of the Guys have a small window. They either take advantage of it or get bubble players the rest of the way: passed by.

1. On Friday, Kevin Fiala, who re-signed with the Wild more than a week Rask is getting lapped and in danger of losing his grasp on his own NHL ago but remains in Sweden, finally completed his paperwork so he can career. He really needs to show something in these final three or four fly across the ocean and begin “working.” He is way, way behind the rest exhibition games that he gets in. of his teammates. He’ll join the team Saturday, and he’ll have to take his physical and undergo fitness and skating tests before being allowed to Prediction: Rask makes the team initially. He’s 26 and scored 21 goals practice for the first time. He’ll then fly with the team Sunday to Colorado four seasons ago, so he could come in handy this season if the Wild run and his fitness level will determine whether he makes his preseason into injuries. But he’ll surely start as the 13th forward because there’s no debut Sunday night at Colorado or Thursday at Dallas; room for him in the top-12, nor is there room for him on the power play or penalty kill. 2. Mikko Koivu may ease into the start of the season, so the Wild may want to keep insurance around if he doesn’t feel comfortable next week. He has three years left on his contract at $4 million per, and typically So far, so good though in the captain’s return from a torn ACL. Koivu’s owners loathe paying a player that kind of scratch in the minors. You can expected to make his exhibition debut Saturday at home against the bet your bottom dollar GM Bill Guerin would love to pull a rabbit out of his Avalanche; hat and find another team to take on Rask in a trade.

3. Defenseman Greg Pateryn has sustained what’s believed to be a J.T. Brown minor injury. He has yet to play in the preseason and is not expected to Brown followed a poor final impression last season by getting arrested for practice again Friday. If the injury doesn’t heal quickly, this could open public intoxication in the early morning hours of the Wild season finale in the door for another defenseman to make the opening night roster. Dallas with a terrible first impression this season by also failing For the most part, we pretty much know the team. Boudreau’s skating test.

Unless Ryan Donato, Luke Kunin or Jordan Greenway, who don’t require And skating is usually one of Brown’s strengths. waivers to get to Iowa, don’t make it, we can assume the 12 forwards The skating test may seem like nothing, but to Boudreau, it’s a sign of Wednesday’s exhibition defeat after an exceptional power move by endurance and how hard a player worked in the offseason. Greenway.

Boudreau has told this story before, but in his early days in Washington, At 24, he’s no pup, but coming out of college to being a fulltime NHLer is former Capitals GM George McPhee would have Boudreau work some of a huge step, so as much as Boudreau loves him, it may be smarter to development camp so the prospects could learn how hard things are in start him in the minors where he can get significant ice time and the NHL. Mathieu Perreault once endured such a tough development responsibility. camp skate, he was on his knees and sick at center-ice after what Boudreau put him through. Two months later, Boudreau put the Capitals Still, he’s expected to come to Colorado and is pushing hard for a spot. and Perreault through the same skate in a training-camp practice and One wonders if he’ll even get a look in a top-six role in place of Donato. Perreault easily breezed through the session. Prediction: If he’s not going to start the season in the top-12, it makes no It showed Boudreau that Perreault learned his lesson and worked hard sense to keep him as an extra forward. He doesn’t require waivers, so it’s the rest of the summer. more likely that he at least starts in Iowa. He’s young and has a bright future. There’s no reason to rush him. But don’t discount this kid. He is First impressions are vital, and Brown, at this stage in his career, can’t pushing guys ahead of him and badly wants to start in Minnesota. afford distinguishing himself by failing skating tests and not excelling in scrimmages and practices. Others: Luke Johnson has showed positive signs and may get another preseason game, but he’ll almost certainly start in Iowa. Prediction: Brown accompanies the team to Denver and gets more preseason action, but unless there are injuries, he’s placed on waivers Defensemen: It would seem unlikely and unneeded for the Wild to start for the purposes of opening the season in minors. Brown did not have a the season with eight defensemen, but if for some reason Guerin decides good first season with the Wild. The reality is Gerry Mayhew and Drew to, or if Pateryn isn’t ready to start the year, the players vying for a job Stafford offer more at this point, so it’s just hard to imagine him making are Louie Belpedio, Carson Soucy, Matt Bartkowski and Hunter Warner. the team. Because he’s on a one-way contract, the 29-year-old would The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 make his full $700,000 NHL salary if he plays in Iowa this season.

Gerry Mayhew

Like Rask, he was minus-3 in his first preseason game in Winnipeg, but like Rask, it’s hard to blame him on any of the goals.

What’s more for him to prove in the minors?

He set an Iowa record last year with 27 goals and finished second in the AHL with nine playoff goals. He’s the type of right-shot right wing that can play up in your lineup but also on the fourth line by adding energy, good skating and even goals.

But he doesn’t require waivers to get to Iowa, so it would be easy to at least start him there.

Prediction: It depends on a couple factors: 1) Do the Wild keep 13 or 14 forwards? If it’s 13, Mayhew probably doesn’t make the team. 2) What does Boudreau and Guerin think of Drew Stafford? Do they feel at the end of camp he deserves a contract? If so, that would hurt Mayhew’s chances. At this point, it’s probably better than a 50-50 chance that he starts in the minors. But he’d be an early call-up option.

Drew Stafford

On a professional tryout, Stafford has had a decent start to camp.

He scored the lone goal on a power play in a weekend scrimmage and played decently in his first preseason game against Dallas. At one point, he walked a Stars defender at the blue line and set up Spurgeon for what could have been a third-period go-ahead goal.

At 33, Stafford, who lives in Edina, has scored 196 goals and 428 points in 841 career games. He’s a right shot, he’s big, he can play physically and chip in offensively.

But how much game does he have left?

That’s what the Wild are trying to determine.

Prediction: This is up in the air. He’ll almost surely go with the team to Colorado and will need to take advantage of his remaining preseason games and practices. If offered a contract, he’d probably have to accept a two-way deal, which means he’d be at risk of playing in the minors for the first time since 2006-07 and may need to understand that he may not be even able to play every night in Iowa because they’d have too many players deemed as “veterans.” AHL teams can only play up to six vets a night. Like Mayhew, his ability to make the team may depend on injuries and whether Guerin opts to keep two extra forwards as opposed to one. Total guess: The Wild offer him a contract. Where he’d start between Minnesota and Iowa would be the big question mark.

Nico Sturm

After a two-game taste of the NHL to end last season and being named the hardest working prospect at June’s development camp, Sturm’s determined to make the Wild out of camp.

The Clarkson University standout looks like he has a future. He’s big, smart, can skate and can score, and he scored the lone goal in 1153591 MontrealCanadiens Danault is hoping to improve his consistency this season, keep getting better in the faceoff circle and continue to work on his offensive skills and vision. He’d also like to earn more time on the Canadiens’ power play, which ranked 30th in the NHL last season. Danault played only 39 Stu Cowan: Canadiens' Phillip Danault enjoyed best summer of his life minutes total on the power play last season, picking up four assists.

After spending time at cottage with baby boy, Habs centre ready to take “I want to get some confidence there. … I haven’t played there the last another step in his career after finally earning some recognition. four or five years,” Danault said. “I’m happy to be there right now and I want to prove I can play there. I also want to be a steady player, even

more consistent every game and be a two-way centre, consistent on STU COWAN faceoffs, too. But one game at a time.”

MONTREAL GAZETTE At practice Friday, prospect Nick Suzuki took Gallagher’s spot at right wing with Danault and Tatar and that line is expected to remain intact for Updated: September 20, 2019 Saturday’s preseason game in Ottawa against the Senators (7:30 p.m., TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Suzuki is looking forward to it.

“Both of them are really smart players,” Suzuki said. “Tatar knows how to Phillip Danault is coming off his best season in the NHL, followed by the be in the right spots. He’s a great shooter, also a great passer. Danault is best summer of his life. turning into one of the best two-way forwards in the league. So it’s a The 26-year-old had a career-high 53 points last season with 12 goals great opportunity for me to play alongside those guys.” and 41 assists in 81 games, finished plus-17 and won 55.5 per cent of Danault was asked what advice he has for Suzuki and the other young his faceoffs while playing on the Canadiens’ most consistent line players at training camp. between Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher. Last February, Danault’s wife, Marie-Pierre Fortin, gave birth to their first child and it’s little Phillip- “I think stick with the veterans and look at what they do, those little details Édouard who made the summer so special. they do,” he said. “It depends what kind of player they want to be, but I think we got a good group here that shows the example. Pricey (Carey “It was awesome. It was fun,” Danault said. Price), all these guys. So they got some good guys to learn from.” “I didn’t sleep, but it was good,” he added with a laugh. “My wife helped Danault is one of them. me big time. Two months, he was making his nights (sleeping through). We woke up at night just to put his suce back. I’m so blessed to have this Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019 kid. He’s healthy, too. He’s got good energy around the house. He brings a little sun every morning. Even when there’s going to be snow this winter, he’s going to be there laughing and smiling. So it’s definitely the best gift of my life.”

Danault got to spend a good part of the summer at his Quebec cottage, escaping the bright hockey spotlight.

“It’s a nice peaceful place, which I need before coming back to Montreal,” he said.

But the best summer of his life and becoming a dad didn’t change Danault’s approach to training camp.

“It’s not different … I’m still a pro, doing my thing, working out. Coming here (to the Brossard practice rink) early … that’s the only thing — I wake up a little bit earlier now,” he said with a smile. “I still get here early, do my thing and work hard on the ice.”

Danault has been an underappreciated player since the Canadiens acquired him from the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 26, 2016, in one of GM Marc Bergevin’s best trades. Bergevin got Danault and a second- round pick at the 2018 NHL Draft that was used to select promising Russian defenceman Alexander Romanov in exchange for Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise, who is now back with the Canadiens. Fleischmann played only 19 games with the Blackhawks the season of the trade before his NHL career ended.

Another great summer is ending with the most important people in the world❤️ Un autre été se termine avec les personnes les plus importantes! Time to play hockey落 https://t.co/SfmcsPrUdY— Phillip Danault (@phildanault) September 5, 2019

Last season, Danault started to get some much-deserved recognition, finishing seventh in voting for the Frank J. Selke trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward.

“He’s really good defensively, just reading the game really well, helping the D in the corner,” Tatar said about Danault. “These kind of things maybe fans don’t appreciate as much. But if you can ask any D on our team, to play with Phil on the ice you just feel the game better, read the game better because he helps you a lot. He’s just one step ahead and I think that’s what helps the D read off him better.

“In the D-zone, carrying the puck out, he’s a smart player,” Tatar added. “He’s always in a good spot. I can just really easily read off him in the D- zone He’s just always in the right spot, which opens a spot for me. He works extremely hard, he doesn’t have a shift off, which helps me, obviously, a lot. He’s a great, great teammate to play with.” 1153592 MontrealCanadiens ⭐ Nick Suzuki ⭐ pic.twitter.com/GKjCViAvlc— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 20, 2019

“He’s confident, he’s skilled,” coach Claude Julien said about Suzuki. “I’m Canadiens' Jesperi Kotkaniemi loved Nick Suzuki's 'nasty' shootout move sure it’s not the first time he’s gotten away with things like that. There’s types of confidence that you have and some of it is arrogance and some Suzuki came down the right side, cut to the front and then casually of it is good confidence — and I think he’s got good confidence. He flipped the puck on his forehand over the Sam Montembeault’s glove doesn’t have the arrogance, but he’s got good confidence. He believes in hand. himself and what he does and that’s why he’s doing those kind of things.”

Suzuki admitted he watched the replay of his shootout goal on TV a few STU COWAN times after he got home Thursday night.

MONTREAL GAZETTE “It looked pretty good,” he said with a big grin.

Updated: September 20, 2019 Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019

Jesperi Kotkaniemi absolutely loved the shootout move Canadiens teammate Nick Suzuki used to score in Thursday night’s 5-4 shootout win over the at the Bell Centre.

“It was nasty. I liked that,” Kotkaniemi said with a big smile after practice Friday in Brossard.

“I just sent him a text (after the game) that: ‘You’re a dirty bastard,’” Kotkaniemi, who didn’t play Thursday night, added with a big laugh.

When asked what Suzuki’s response to his text was, Kotkaniemi grinned and said he couldn’t repeat it.

You gotta love these Canadiens kids.

Kotkaniemi still talks to the media without a filter and is loving everything about his life as a 19-year-old in the NHL. He’s fun to be around and provided a breath of fresh air in the locker room as a rookie last season for his teammates and the media.

Suzuki, who turned 20 on Aug. 10, is hoping to follow in Kotkaniemi’s skate strides from last season and make the Canadiens with a strong training-cap performance. Suzuki’s play Thursday night — which included two assists, a plus-3 and his highlight-reel shootout goal as the icing on the cake — certainly helped his cause.

Suzuki, a right-hand shot, showed sweet hands in the shootout when he came down the right side, cut to the front of the net and then casually flipped the puck on his forehand over Panthers goalie Sam Montembeault’s glove hand, almost in slow motion.

Not surprisingly, Suzuki’s phone almost blew up after the game with messages from friends, family members and Kotkaniemi.

“They all seemed to like it,” Suzuki said about his move. “I had a bunch of texts and everything is pretty cool.”

When asked about the text from Kotkaniemi, Suzuki smiled and said: “He really liked the move. He said it again today. It’s nice to see the guys kind of cheer you on, I guess. I was talking to him after his game (Thursday night in Bathurst, N.B., when the Canadiens beat the Panthers 4-2) so I think all the guys want to see each other do well.

OK, Nick Suzuki. 勞#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/g0Njn6I0oV— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 20, 2019

“Last year, we were like the only young guys around near the end (of training camp),” Suzuki added about his relationship with Kotkaniemi. “I got to see him a lot and he’s awesome. He’s very funny. Just a great guy to be around and you can see everyone loves him here. He’s just an awesome guy all-around.”

It wasn’t just Suzuki’s shootout move that was impressive, but also the fact a young player had the confidence to even try it in an NHL pre- season game while trying to make the team, never mind actually pulling it off with perfection.

18:48

4 TB/SOG

+3

2 A

1  1153593 MontrealCanadiens So let them start with the Habs and then see what happens. One of the Canadiens’ biggest problems during the past 20 years is properly developing players. There’s been a lot of bad drafting but even when they had decent talent, they didn’t know what to do with these players. What the Puck: Poehling, Suzuki should start season with Canadiens Let the young guys play. They’ll make mistakes, but that’s how you learn If both are healthy, prospects Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki should be to be an NHL player. Former Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien was in the lineup for the Habs' opening night Oct. 3 against the 'Canes. never good with developing players. He always punished the kids for even the slightest error and that’s not the way to go. Julien showed some

positive signs last season when he let Jesperi Kotkaniemi play until he BRENDAN KELLY simply hit a wall late in the season.

MONTREAL GAZETTE But my fear is that Julien, at heart a very conservative coach, will go with the veterans as the season progresses because he wants to make the Updated: September 20, 2019 playoffs. For the medium-term future of the team, that would be a huge mistake.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019 Claude Julien has to play the kids.

And you know who I’m talking about. I’m talking about Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki. They have to be in the starting lineup Oct. 3 when the Canadiens face off against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., in the Habs’ first game of the regular season.

However, all bets are off with regards to Poehling given the disturbing news late Friday morning that the Canadiens’ first-round pick from the 2017 entry draft is out indefinitely with a concussion. It appears the concussion came about when he was hammered headfirst into the boards Wednesday night by Florida Panthers left-winger Dryden Hunt in a pre-season game in Bathurst, N.B. It is far too early to tell what impact this will have on Poehling’s season, so there’s no point speculating.

Injury aside, if both are healthy, they simply must start the season with the big team. You know I hate to agree with Habs management — it kind of makes me feel a little ill — but the Canadiens’ brass has been saying for months that it is all about the new generation and general manager Marc Bergevin said he isn’t going to be making trades that involve giving up what he believes are first-class prospects.

So if it’s all about the youth movement, then Bergevin and head coach Julien have to play the prospects who are ready. And if we’ve learned one thing this week it’s that Poehling and Suzuki look ready. I understand that these are only exhibition games and you can only read so much into them, especially during the first week of pre-season action.

The teams’ lineups are full of American Hockey League and college players, and many of the veterans look like they’re sleepwalking through these games. If you doubt that last statement, you apparently didn’t see Thursday’s Habs-Panthers game at the Bell Centre. Florida didn’t dress many of their best players and only got a measly 17 shots on Carey Price. Yet Price let in four goals and he looked middling to weak on most of them.

“I’m not worried,” he said, echoing his infamous comments from years earlier when he told the media to chill out after another poor pre-season performance.

And he’s right. We all know the real vets, with the exception of workhorse Brendan Gallagher, aren’t trying very hard this week.

The players sweating in the exhibition games are the ones who are fighting for a job and that very much fits the bill for Poehling and Suzuki. Both have impressed.

Poehling played an excellent game Wednesday, looking strong in the faceoff circle and solid defensively. Then came the magic, when the Lakeville, Minn.-born centre raced down the left wing and toe-dragged seasoned Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad in spectacular fashion and then fed the puck to Alex Belzile for the winning goal. If you thought Poehling’s headline-grabbing performance in his debut with the Habs in the team’s final game last season was a fluke, think again.

I’m not suggesting he’ll score 50 goals in the NHL any time soon, but he’s ready to play. So is Suzuki, as we all noticed Thursday when Florida and Montreal met for a second consecutive night.

The 20-year-old centre from London, Ont., ended the soirée with two assists and a highlight-reel goal in the shootout, and he really changed the conversation with that performance. Prior to that, there was some grumbling about his skating. On Thursday, he rocked the house. Did you see his perfect pass to Brett Kulak for the defenceman’s goal in the second? And his shootout goal? Wow! 1153594 MontrealCanadiens leading all Canadiens forwards in ice time with 18:48. Suzuki was also plus-3 and won seven of the 13 faceoffs he took.

“What we’ve seen is he’s done a really good job at centre and now we Canadiens Notebook: Ryan Poehling sidelined indefinitely with want to see what he’s going to be able to do on the wing,” Julien said concussion Friday when asked about Suzuki. “We’ll see. Training camp is evaluation time, this is the time to discover things and that’s what we’re doing.” Joins Paul Byron on injured list, while Nick Suzuki moves from centre to right wing on a line with Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar. Déjà une semaine depuis le début du camp. 朗

Already a week into training camp.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/J3CrZcokhb— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) STU COWAN September 20, 2019

MONTREAL GAZETTE Move excites Suzuki

Updated: September 20, 2019 Suzuki said he’s excited about getting the opportunity to play on the wing with Danault and Tatar.

Ryan Poehling and Paul Byron were both added to the growing injured “It doesn’t change too much, just the way I’m looking at it on the ice,” said list at Canadiens training camp on Friday. Suzuki, adding he feels comfortable playing wing. “Getting pucks on the wall, I think I can find guys off the rush in the D-zone and the offensive The Canadiens announced that Poehling is out indefinitely with a zone. So I think it doesn’t change too much, just the position. In centre concussion, while Byron has an upper-body injury. Byron left Thursday it’s a lot more skating, being all over the ice on one shift. Wing’s a bit night’s pre-season game against the Florida Panthers in the second different. You got to be more explosive to try to get to loose pucks. period after taking a blow to the head on a check delivered by Josh Brown. The Canadiens won the game 5-4 in a shootout. “It’s just kind of an opportunity, I think, to show that I can play with some of the top players on the team and it should be exciting and I really look Looks like Josh Brown caught him high. forward to playing with those guys. Just in practice you can see how much skill they have.” Byron lays a hit along the end boards right after this. pic.twitter.com/2jGWZIi26i— Here's Your Replay ḏ Qui est la plus grande peste, Brendan? (@HeresYourReplay) September 20, 2019 Who's the biggest pest now, @BGALLY17?#GoHabsGo “Not an update on on him, specifically,” coach Claude Julien said about pic.twitter.com/eLr9iyA4vS— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) Byron when he met with the media after Friday’s practice sessions “It’s September 20, 2019 upper body right now is all I can tell you. He’s still being examined. As Life in the spotlight soon as we have something we’ll let you know. Right now I don’t, unfortunately.” Not surprisingly, there was a large media contingent waiting to speak with Suzuki after Friday’s practice and the 20-year-old has been handling Poehling took a big hit into the boards by the Panthers’ Dryden Hunt himself very well in the bright spotlight during training camp. during Wednesday night’s pre-season game in Bathurst, N.B. Poehling finished the game and made a beautiful play with a toe-drag move to set “I feel more comfortable for sure,” Suzuki said in front of several up Alex Belzile’s game-winning goal in the 4-2 victory over the Panthers. cameras, notebooks and tape recorders. “Throughout the year in junior (last season) I had a lot of media attention just based on being a Poehling got blind-sided on the hit by Hunt. prospect of the Canadiens. I enjoy it … it’s a lot of fun to do all this stuff. Ryan Poehling gets up slow after this hit from Hunt#Habs “I’m well prepared,” Suzuki added. “Nowadays, I think kids coming in pic.twitter.com/TEMXTctp6n— Here's Your Replay ḏ junior hockey and (they) see all the media.They get kind of used to it and (@HeresYourReplay) September 19, 2019 it’s a big part of the game right now. I think you just have to have fun with “I looked up quick and I saw my wing there and then I grabbed the puck,” it and be confident in yourself.” Poehling said after the game. “Right when I turned to make the play he  CUTE-METER  kind of flew at me, so I didn’t have much time to react. █████████▓ 99% pic.twitter.com/9oovJtSqTz— Canadiens Montréal “Playing in junior rinks, you don’t got the delicacy of having that nice, soft (@CanadiensMTL) September 20, 2019 glass,” Poehling added. “So it definitely hurt a bit, but I was lucky to be OK throughout tonight.” Larger role for Kotkaniemi?

He isn’t OK now. Jesperi Kotkaniemi was at centre between Charles Hudon and Joel Armia for the Team A practice on Friday. “Poehling had a concussion from the other night,” Julien confirmed Friday. “Symptoms weren’t there until the next morning. That happens in Afterwards, Julien was asked if Kotkaniemi — who averaged 13:44 of ice concussion. As soon as we saw those, we took the adequate measures time last season — might be able to fill a bigger role this season with to deal with it.” more responsibilities.

Other players on the Canadiens’ injured list include Karl Alzner, Noah “That’s another thing we’ll have to see,” the coach said. “That’s up to him Juulsen, Mike McCarron, Gustav Olofsson and Joel Teasdale. The to show us how much he’s gotten better. We know he’s gotten stronger Canadiens gave an update on McCarron Friday, announcing the big and everything else, but the game of hockey is about little details at this forward will be out for about six weeks with a groin injury. level. If you do them well, then you’re able to maybe put him in different situations. But if not, then you still got to continue to shelter him.” Updated #Habs training-camp roster, including Paul Byron and Ryan Poehling among injured players #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/80v6yuTtyN— With the possibility of Suzuki and Poehling — if he’s healthy — both Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) September 20, 2019 making the team, Julien was asked how many young players he could shelter in the same lineup. Suzuki moves to wing “That makes it a little more complicated, right?” Julien said. “You got to After putting on an impressive performance in Thursday night’s win over realize Kotknanimi came in as an 18-year-old, he’s 19 this year. Suzuki’s the Panthers while playing centre, Nick Suzuki was moved to right wing 20. Poehling is I think 21 (he actually turns 21 on Jan. 3). So they’re a on Friday on Team A, which practised before Team B. little bit more mature in their game than maybe (Kotkaniemi) is maybe at Suzuki filled Brendan Gallagher’s regular spot on right wing Friday with 18. You saw Suzuki last year as a 19-year-old. Kotkaniemi as a player Phillip Danault at centre and Tomas Tatar on left wing. In Thursday won his role (with the Canadiens), but it doesn’t mean when it comes to night’s game, Suzuki was at centre between Byron and Jordan Weal, the fine details of the game that one doesn’t have a little bit more picking up two assists and scoring a gorgeous shootout goal while experience or maturity than the other one. So this is what we have to look at.” Will 24CH ever make a comeback? Geoff Molson responds. Barber #GoHabsGo#AskGeoffCHC @NationalBank pic.twitter.com/sBgaSoAVS9— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) Hudon September 20, 2019 Peca

Getting the legs back Evans

Kotkaniemi admitted he was feeling “a little bit tired” after practice Friday. Tatar— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 20, 2019 He didn’t play Thursday night, but was in the lineup Wednesday night in Bathurst, N.B., and the Canadiens players didn’t get back home until What’s next? around 2 a.m. after that game. The Canadiens will play the Senators Saturday night in Ottawa in pre- “We have been going pretty hard the first few days,” Kotkaniemi said. season action (7:30 p.m., TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). “We haven’t taken days off too much. But I think it’s getting better. You’re Next week, the Canadiens will play their final three games of the pre- getting your lungs working and your legs start coming, hopefully, at some season schedule with the Toronto Maple Leafs visiting the Bell Centre on point. But if we play tomorrow, it will be way better. Monday night (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN4, RDS, TSN 690 Radio), the two “I didn’t look too good the last game,” Kotkaniemi added. teams meeting again Wednesday night in Toronto (7 p.m., TSN2, TSN4, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) and then the Senators visiting the Bell Centre next As for the trip to Bathurst for the annual Kraft Hockeyville game, Saturday (7 p.m., TSN5, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). Kotkaniemi said: “It was fun over there. Saw a little bit different kind of hockey (atmosphere) than I’m used to.” The Canadiens will open the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 3, when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). #Happy birthday to #Habs living legend , who turns 68 today #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/w3WWFPBZjO— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019 September 20, 2019

Cloning Gallagher

Julien joked after Gallagher scored two goals in his pre-season debut Thursday night that he’d like to be able to clone the right-winger and have one of him on all four lines.

On Friday, Julien was asked what it would look like if there were five Gallaghers on the ice at the same time?

“A mess,” the coach said with a big grin. “That’s why you put him on different lines.”

Some young blood

Danault said it’s nice to see so many young players like Suzuki doing well during training camp.

“I don’t think only the fans are excited,” Danault said. “We are excited as veterans to see those young guys push and be ready at the camp this year, building on our culture we built the last two years, and I think they buy in pretty good.

“They can push the pace and they follow the leaders and they bring the energy, the speed we’ve been building the last two years,” Danault added. “They fit in pretty well.”

As for Suzuki’s shootout goal, Danault said: “It shows his whole potential right there. The game he had was really good, too. Now, the thing is just to be consistent. That’s the challenge in the NHL.”

Voici la liste des joueurs qui feront le voyage à Ottawa demain.

Here's the list of players who'll be making the trip to Ottawa tomorrow.

Primeau

Kinkaid

Chiarot

Petry

Folin

Reilly

Leskinen

Fleury

Suzuki

Kotkaniemi

Weise

Danault

Varone

Armia

Weal 1153595 Nashville Predators Learning to be more self-aware has become vital. Knowing he's vulnerable also is important.

"It has to be No. 1 for me," Watson said. "We talk about family and work, Austin Watson: 'There's a lot to prove off the ice, on the ice' but if I'm not sober and I'm not living a life of recovery, then those things go away. I don’t have those things if I'm not taking care of myself.

"It took me a long, long time to learn that. This isn’t my first rodeo with Paul Skrbina this stuff."

Nashville Tennessean But he hopes. He prays. He wants it to be his last.

Published 5:00 a.m. CT Sept. 20, 2019 But accepting who he is hasn't always been easy.

"Today? Not very. Before? Tough. .... Acceptance at first is hard," he said. "Today acceptance is a huge blessing. I get a chance to work on Austin Watson visited the Louvre this summer. myself every day. He went underground and absorbed the sights and history of the "People are concerned about what's going on around them, what other Catacombs of Paris, which hold the remains of 6,000,000 people. people are doing. I feel fortunate I get to look in the mirror and deal with He added to his tattoo collection with a comedy/tragedy mask on his left me. When I do that, everyone else seems to be looking a whole lot wrist. He checked out a war museum and Napoleon's tomb. better."

It was the perfect place for him. Moments of reflection

"I like that old history stuff," the Predators forward said after a recent Austin Watson is a man who wears his emotions on his sleeves -- and practice. "I got that from my grandpa. I could watch the History Channel his knuckles and arms in the form of tattoos. 24/7." He'd just scored in a preseason game, meaningless to most veterans. The trip to France with his girlfriend, Jennifer Guardino, lasted 10 days. The celebration was muted. But Watson did take a moment to reflect. The two also spent about a month at the dawn of summer in California with their 1 1/2-year-old daughter Olivia, visiting Guardino's family. Austin Watson has returned to the Nashville Predators after his second suspension of the 2018-19 season. George Walker, Nashville So close, yet so far Tennessean It was a far cry from last summer, when Watson was arrested and "Look, we get to play hockey for a living," he said. "It's supposed to be pleaded no contest to domestic abuse for allegedly striking Guardino fun. I enjoy doing what I do – even if it is blocking a shot or getting during an argument outside a gas station in Franklin. punched in the face. I could be doing other things. Guardino later denied Watson committed an act of domestic violence. "I've spent a year dealing with other stuff. ... That’s the beauty of hockey Watson declined to discuss specifics of his arrest. and sports in general. You spend every day with each other, being It was a far cry from January, when Watson, who said he's dealt with vulnerable, being friends at the core and working toward accomplishing anxiety, alcoholism and depression since he was 18, missed more time something. I’m serious, that’s for sure. I might say some bad words on while going to rehab after a relapse. the ice. I might do my job and hit and fight and whatever’s going on. But at the end of the day there's nothing else I'd rather be doing." For the first time in a long time, Watson says he feels, well, normal. At peace. At ease. On the ice

Not that he's forgotten the past. That's not Watson's objective. He lives Watson had seven goals and nine assists in his abbreviated 37-game with it every day. He understands it's sewn into his life story. season last year. He felt that it was one of his most productive seasons, all things considered. "There's no escaping the headlines," he said. "The stuff off the ice is what the year will be remembered for. Learning from that, more or less, But a fresh start this season has him excited for what potentially lies just if I’m doing what I need to do for me, taking care of myself and my ahead: Not necessarily easy for someone who lives life "one day at a family, the hockey is going to fall into place." time."

Hockey began to fall into place last season after he served an 18-game "Between recovery, hockey and family, that’s what life is," he said. "It's suspension for his arrest. comfortable right now. Things are moving in the right direction. This year, even just right now, there's a lot of trust to be earned back. There's a lot It fell out of place when he went to rehab for six-plus weeks. It fell back for me to prove off the ice, on the ice. into place when he returned. "As long as I take care of things, everything will work out the way its But after a summer free of public drama, Watson says he feels like he's supposed to." in a better place. Tennessean LOADED: 09.21.2019 A place of familiarity. A place of comfort. He feels like he's a part of something rather than apart from something.

"Hockey is a sense of freedom, a sense of structure," he said. "A sense of community when you're here with your buddies. That helps alleviate some of the pressure.

"You might think of it as more pressure. In my case hockey, takes the pressure off.

"Being around the guys, getting back to a little bit of normalcy and this year being in camp and not dealing with the off-ice stuff, it's nice. There's no other way to describe it."

Welcome to reality

With recovery comes sobering acceptance. Some realities that Watson wasn't necessarily willing to deal with before. The fear of failing again.

Hockey is an addiction, just like alcohol. But Watson realizes the former is much healthier than the latter. A lesson it's taken him a long time to realize. 1153596 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Jack Hughes, Taylor Hall each notch 2 points in win over Rangers

By Chris Ryan

Taylor Hall honestly didn’t expect to play with Jack Hughes in the preseason.

Based on Hall’s plan of making his debut in one of the later games on the schedule, combined with Hughes skating in his first camp, Hall figured most of his time would be spent with center Nico Hischier.

So it was a bit of a surprise to see Hall make his preseason debut with Hughes as his center. But it didn’t take long for the two No. 1 overall picks to go to work.

Hughes scored his third goal of the preseason just 34 seconds into the game, finishing a breakaway set up by Hall, and Hall buried a Hughes pass for a goal of his own later in the first period, helping the Devils cruise to a 4-2 win over the Rangers on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark.

Blake Coleman also scored during a three-goal first period for the Devils (3-1-0), and Michael McLeod added a goal in the second.

Hughes’ goal came following a turnover forced by Hall, and the breakaway was aided by a Rangers line change. When the puck found Hughes in the neutral zone, he had a clear path to net with the New York defensemen switching. He got to net cleanly and beat Henrik Lundqvist five-hole for a 1-0 lead.

Hall’s goal came on a power play at 11:55 of the first. Hughes took a drop pass in the neutral zone and carried the puck into the zone. He hit Hall in stride on the left, and the winger continued his rush before snapping a shot into the upper right corner.

Coleman’s goal extended the lead to 3-0 at 18:00 of the opening period, where he one-timed a Travis Zajac pass from the bottom on the left circle inside the far post.

The Rangers (0-2-0) pulled with 3-1 on a Vladislav Namestnikov goal at 3:49 of the second period, but McLeod pushed the lead back to three before the second intermission.

McLeod made a power move to drive to the net, getting his body in position for a clean path. As he attempted to cross the puck over from his backhand to forehand in front of the crease, the puck slid beneath new Rangers goalie Adam Huska and into net at 13:58.

Mackenzie Blackwood earned the win for the Devils, and after entering the night with his exact workload up in the air, he played the entire game. The Devils wanted to give him at least two periods, and the third would be based on his workload over the first 40 minutes. After seeing just 16 shots in two periods, coach John Hynes elected to send him out to finish the game.

Brett Howden scored a power-play goal late in the third period for the second goal against Blackwood, who finished with 21 saves on 23 shots.

Next up

The Devils will play another home preseason game at 7 p.m. on Saturday, when they will host the New York Islanders. Saturday’s game group should be entirely different from Friday’s roster.

The next round of cuts from the team’s training camp roster should follow on Sunday.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153597 New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers: Chat, live stream, updates (9/20/19)

By Chris Ryan

The New Jersey Devils will dress Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, , P.K. Subban and Mackenzie Blackwood when they continue their preseason schedule with a home game against the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark.

Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick by the Rangers, played in Wednesday’s 4-3 Devils win, but he will not dress on Friday. That means the first NHL meeting between Kakko and Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick by the Devils, won’t come until the regular season.

Here’s what you need to know about Devils-Rangers:

What: New Jersey Devils (2-1-0) vs. New York Rangers (0-1-0)

When: 7 p.m. EST, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

TV: MSG, MSG+

Live stream: MSG Go

Here’s the full lineup for the Devils:

FORWARDS

Taylor Hall - Jack Hughes - Kyle Palmieri

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Wayne Simmonds

Marian Studenic - Michael McLeod - Joey Anderson

Brandon Gignac - Ben Street - Blake Speers

DEFENSEMEN

Andy Greene - P.K. Subban

Dakota Mermis - Josh Jacobs

Jeremy Groleau - Matt Tennyson

GOALIES

Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood

Backup: Gilles Senn

Blackwood will play at least two periods, and he could play the entire game.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153598 New Jersey Devils 21 28 Philip Di Giuseppe

29 Steven Fogarty Devils’ lines, pairings vs. Rangers (9/20/19) | Taylor Hall, Wayne Simmonds making preseason debuts 34 Patrick Newell

37 Gabriel Fontaine

By Chris Ryan 38 Micheal Haley

72 Filip Chytil

Taylor Hall is officially back. 89 Pavel Buchnevich

The forward will play in his first game since Dec. 23, 2018, when the 90 Vladislav Namestnikov Devils host the Rangers in a preseason game at 7 p.m. on Friday at Prudential Center in Newark. 95 Vinni Lettieri

Hall will make his preseason debut after practicing fully every day since Star Ledger LOADED: 09.21.2019 the start of training camp. He and the Devils are at the point of feeling ready to get him into a lineup. Hall’s goal was to play two or three games in the preseason. He will also play in both road games next week in Boston and Columbus to close out the preseason slate.

Hall’s presence will also give Devils fans a look at a line they’ve been clamoring for since the NHL Draft: Hall will skate on the left with Jack Hughes at center and Kyle Palmieri on right wing.

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

Forward Wayne Simmonds will also make his Devils debut on Friday after sitting the first two preseason games. He was scratched Monday due to a lower body injury, but he’s practiced without issue each day since then.

Here’s how the Devils will line up against the Rangers:

FORWARDS

Taylor Hall - Jack Hughes - Kyle Palmieri

Blake Coleman - Travis Zajac - Wayne Simmonds

Marian Studenic - Michael McLeod - Joey Anderson

Brandon Gignac - Ben Street - Blake Speers

Buy Taylor Hall gear: Fanatics, NHL.com, Lids, Dick's Sporting Goods

DEFENSEMEN

Andy Greene - P.K. Subban

Dakota Mermis - Josh Jacobs

Jeremy Groleau - Matt Tennyson

GOALIES

Starter: Mackenzie Blackwood

Backup: Gilles Senn

Here’s the roster the Rangers will bring to The Rock:

Goaltenders

30 Henrik Lundqvist

32 Adam Huska

Defensemen

18

51 Tarmo Reunanen

54 Mason Geertsen

55 Ryan Lindgren

70 Joe Morrow

82 Joey Keane

Forwards

16

17 Jesper Fast 1153599 New Jersey Devils was visibly upset and the two went to the penalty boxes jawing at one another. It was a bold move for a 21-year-old with five games in the NHL to his credit and it nearly cost the Devils a prized offseason acquisition. Simmonds gave the Rock faithful a scare when he went to the locker NJ Devils 3 stars: Jack Hughes, Taylor Hall provide firepower in win over room with a swollen eye but he was able to return to the game after Rangers serving his five-minute major in the second period.

Hughes served some time in the box with him and found the whole incident "hilarious." Abbey Mastracco Big Mac Attack North Jersey Record Mackenzie Blackwood played all three periods for the first time in Published 9:47 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 10:43 p.m. ET Sept. preseason stopping 21 of 23 shots faced. He didn't have much work with 20, 2019 the way the Devils dominated in the offensive zone but it was a good progression.

NEWARK — Taylor Hall had not played in an NHL game since before Cory Schneider is expected to play all 60 minutes of Saturday’s Christmas until Friday night but you’d never know he had a long layoff preseason game against the Islanders. The backup goalies won't see the and knee surgery based on his play. net much the rest of the preseason with Blackwood and Schneider getting the bulk of the work to work up to being able to play full NHL The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-2 in preseason action Friday night at games by Oct. 4. Evan Cormier and Gilles Senn will still have to go Prudential Center, their second win over their cross-river foes in three through training camp with Binghamton of the American Hockey League days. so they have time to progress.

Though it was in the back of his mind, the knee was not a concern. Bergen Record LOADED: 09.21.2019 "It's hard not to think about it when you've missed that much time," he said. "Even if you miss a game for a bruise you're still thinking about it when you're on the bench. It's nice when you're just on the bench and you can kind of forget and go out and play."

While expectations should absolutely be tempered based on the fact that preseason games are really sort of meaningless, it’s impossible not to look at what Hall and Jack Hughes did and look ahead to the regular season.

The future looks pretty bright.

My three stars: Jack Hughes, Taylor Hall, Mackenzie Blackwood

No. 1s

The two former No. 1 picks on the ice lit it up in the first period for New Jersey. Hughes, the top pick in the draft back in June, centered a line with Hall and Kyle Palmieri. Earlier in the week coach John Hynes said he wanted to see if any chemistry could form between the trio, saying sometimes you can put three world-class players on a line and it works and sometimes it fails miserably.

This line passed with flying colors.

Hughes opened up with a breakaway just 34 seconds into the game. Facing an NHL-caliber goalie for the first time in preseason, Hall picked the pocket of a Pavel Buchnevich and got the puck up to Hughes, who blitzed past two defenders to score on Henrik Lundqvist.

"Perfect way to start the game with a nice little b-way," Hughes said. "Nice to get on the board early."

Hughes fed Hall for a power play goal at 11:55 to put the Devils up 2-0. P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds joined that top line on the power play and the puck movement alone was fun to watch.

"P.K. is a very good puck handler, especially carrying the puck up the ice," Hall said. "Sometimes he's so good at kind of juking and all of that, you don't exactly know what he's doing. But that's why you play the games and that's how you start to read off guys."

The Devils went into the intermission with a 3-0 lead thanks to a goal by Blake Coleman with two minutes left before the buzzer.

Michael McLeod scored in the second, deftly sliding a puck through the legs of backup goalie Adam Huska to make it 4-1.

Will that top line play together again? It's a possibility but coach John Hynes isn't promising anything past preseason.

"Whether they'll play again together or not, we'll decide," Hynes said. "Sometimes it depends on who is going to play what exhibition games but it's certainly a combination that we know has some potential."

Roughing the passer

Rangers prospect Ryan Lindgren made a statement when he took a swing at veteran forward Wayne Simmonds in the first period. Simmonds 1153600 New Jersey Devils side of the net, collected the puck after his presence surprised the two Devils and found Michael Haley for an easy goal into an open net.

“That’s certainly a correctable mistake,” Devils coach John Hynes said Attention to detail(s): Ty Smith’s up-and-down start, John Hynes’ afterward. “It’s not an effort thing. It’s a mental thing. We’ll work on it in message to the Devils and more practice and bring it to the guys’ attention tomorrow and make sure those things don’t happen.”

On the second goal, Severson tried to skate through the crease to track By Corey Masisak the puck carrier who was behind the net and got tangled up with Smith, who had engaged with a guy in front of the net. A shot bounced off Sep 20, 2019 Schneider and then Smith, and he got spun around trying to find the puck before it went in New Jersey’s net.

Not everything that happens during the course of a season for the Devils Smith is dealing with some adversity after looking better than expected can be flushed out into a full story or fit into an existing one, so “Attention during Devils camp last year, and then having another fantastic season to detail(s)” is going to be a semi-regular look at some of the interesting for Spokane in the WHL. He did have one so-so game in the Chiefs’ first- recent news, notes and observations from in and around the franchise. round series against Portland, the only game they lost in the series. Smith responded by playing about 70 minutes combined in Games 3 and If we had odds on which highly-touted Devils prospects were going to be 4 and looking like a first-round pick, helping Spokane take complete on the opening night roster before training camp started, Jack Hughes control of the series. likely would have been off the board, but Ty Smith probably had better odds than Jesper Boqvist. It hasn’t all been bad, and Smith has shown the ability to rebound from average outings. Smith was a higher draft pick and a more highly rated prospect, he didn’t have to adjust to a smaller ice surface and he had a great preseason with “I thought some good things, some things we’d like to see a little bit New Jersey a year ago, when he pushed for a spot until almost the end better,” Hynes said Thursday of Smith’s game the night before. of camp. It was clear there was an opportunity for both players to make “Obviously his ability to move the puck and things like that. I’d like to see the club, but Smith seemed like the safer pick. a little bit more on the offensive blue line, some defending situations. I think he’s done a good job in some special situations like the other night, If we generated those odds again on Friday, Boqvist would probably four-on-four, power play. Five-on-five … I liked his puck moving, but I’d nudge ahead of Smith. Let’s be clear: It’s still early in New Jersey’s like to see some more assertiveness in his game.” decision-making process and there is plenty of time for both players to improve their chances of making the team, or to decrease them. The Devils don’t have to make a final decision on him at the end of next week. They could keep him with the NHL club and play him in up to nine Neither player is expected to be in the lineup Friday night against the games before he returns to Spokane without burning a year of his entry- Rangers, but both should play Saturday against the Islanders and could level contract. play in both road games to close out the exhibition schedule next week. Fitzgerald said the Devils front office doesn’t have a black-and-white Through the first week of camp, Boqvist has been one of the top young stance on whether to give kids an NHL trial run before deciding on their players. Smith has had some uncharacteristic ups and downs. full-season fate.

“It starts in Buffalo (at the prospects challenge), and (Smith) admits that “One, you have to have the roster space to do that,” Fitzgerald said. wasn’t his greatest showing,” Devils assistant general manager Tom “There’s no blueprint for it. Every case is different. I’d like to see a study Fitzgerald said. “It’s the first time you’re on the ice and in a battle and it’s of the kids who played at 19 and what their career looked like at 25, and hard. There’s a lot of chaos, but we know that he is a player who can then the kids who went back to juniors at 19 and what their careers think his way out of chaos. I think here, it’s just trying to settle him down looked like at 25. Is it vastly different? Are there some outliers, or some and let him feel relaxed and give him a chance to compete and get players who probably should have gone back at 19 because they were better. There are some things he’s doing well and other things he’s got to 22 and out of the league? I know it’s an easier league, but he’d have the improve on from (Wednesday) night’s game. And he will. He’s only 19.” puck all the time. We know he’s a good kid and he has good habits. Or, do we keep him here and we really have to play him? Right after the final game in Buffalo, Fitzgerald said Smith improved as the weekend went on. Smith agreed, saying his first game was “pretty “We don’t have to force it. If he’s not ready, his play will tell us and we’ll average or even below,” the second one was average or a little above go from there.” and the third was slightly above. There have been 45 defensemen in the past 20 years who played 30- Smith’s main camp got off to a weird start because he missed the second plus games in their age-19 season, according to Hockey Reference day of on-ice practice with an illness. He still played the next day against (meaning they were 19 on Feb. 1 of that season). Four played that many the Bruins and it wasn’t a bad game for him, but there were a couple of games at 18 — Rasmus Dahlin, Aaron Ekblad, Jakob Chychrun and moments he probably wanted back. Zach Bogosian.

He played with Connor Carrick, who is technically competing with Smith The full list can be viewed here. and Mirco Mueller for a spot in the top six of the defense corps. It’s not that Carrick or Mueller would definitely be placed on waivers if Smith It’s become more common in recent years. At least two teenaged makes the team — the Devils most likely would carry eight defensemen defensemen have played 30-plus games every year since 2006-07, and to avoid the risk of losing one of them. Still, there’s a possibility they only as many as six in two seasons. Two players on the list are actually keep seven, with or without Smith, so the competition is alive. Carrick and Mueller.

“(Smith) is an elite skater and he’s got a great stick,” Carrick said. “I’m ‘Some guys are getting outplayed’ just trying to help him understand how to use his strengths the best. The It seemed like an innocuous question from play-by-play man Steve NHL is a crafty game and there’s a lot of different looks. He’s had a lot Cangialosi, on whether or not some of the Devils who were expected to thrown at him. Skating-wise and battle-wise, I thought he’s looked good. get cut at the end of the weekend were making that decision a little bit It was a pleasure to play with him. Hopefully we’ll get more chances. He’s tougher. obviously a guy the organization values and a high-end talent, so you want to cozy up to those guys and help them do well.” Hynes seized upon that question and sent a message.

Smith was paired with Damon Severson in his second game, Wednesday “There’s certainly a heavy competition for guys that are kind of on the night at Madison Square Garden. Like Carrick, he didn’t have much bubble to make it,” Hynes said. “I think a lot of those players have experience playing with his partner. The Rangers scored two goals when showed well. I think the biggest thing is players that maybe think they’re they were on the ice together. on the team or are on the team — where are they going to play, and what are they doing to play in the roles that they think they should play in? I The first one resulted from a mistake by Smith. Goaltender Cory think that’s a heavy battle, and that’s going to get to the nitty-gritty here Schneider went behind the net to play the puck, but Smith called out for this weekend and then to next week. him to leave it. Rangers forward Greg McKegg swooped in from the other “Maybe the quote, unquote one-way contracted NHL players that are on “I think the big thing to Michael’s credit is the experience he got last year, the team, where are they going to play and who’s earning roles and who because playing NHL games is a great teacher, and I think our is earning ice time?” development coaches and the Binghamton staff have done an excellent job with him. When he came up through juniors, he was a scorer and a Was Hynes talking about “fourth line vs. third line vs. second line” or was points guy based off being faster and out-working the other players. Now he talking about “press box or … waivers?” you move up to pro hockey and you’re still fast and still have a good work “I’m talking all of it,” he responded. “I’m talking first line, second line, third ethic, but maybe it’s a different role and you have to adjust your game a line, fourth line, extra forward, top six ‘D,’ seven and eight, starting goalie, little bit because you can’t go end-to-end and use speed to create waivers. I see guys in the camp that you don’t expect to be on the team offense all the time or defense. That understanding of playing without the and guys that think they are on the team, and some guys are getting puck and systematic structure — it is a big part of playing in the National outplayed. Hockey League and he is taking steps towards that.”

“We started camp with some of those natural lines that we had, but yeah, Good test for Schneider as it as gone, we’ve seen some different combinations that may take Schneider has stopped 44 of 47 shots in his four periods of preseason place, some emergence of some players that you were kind of, were they action. The two goals he allowed Wednesday against the Rangers were going to emerge or not? And some guys did. a one-timer on the power play from Artemi Panarin and the previously “I think there has been a lot of very strong performances and I think discussed behind-the-goal misadventure. probably for the first time since we’ve been here, guys that may be The Rangers did not get a lot going at even strength against the Devils, perceived as ‘this is their role or their job or their team,’ they are getting but they peppered Schneider on the power play. There was one pushed.” sequence where he made two diving saves and the Rangers hit the post This could be Hynes’ way of trying to push some buttons and motivate twice. He also made a save while facing his net during another through the media. That said, the Devils do have a recent track record of scrambling sequence. players stealing jobs in training camp. “There were a couple chaotic moments, which is ideally not my style,” Jesper Bratt, Brian Gibbons and Blake Coleman were not expected to Schneider said. “I like to try and be in control, but sometimes you’ve just make the team two years ago. A couple of injuries helped, but even then got to find a way to make some saves. It’s fun to get in those situations some more established prospects went to the AHL and they stayed. Last and not have the puck go in the net, make some saves you’re not used season, there wasn’t a lot of competition during camp, and that irked to. Compete is part of it, just find a way. Hynes a bit. “Just self-evaluating, all three goals I’ve given up were preventable, in my There are a bunch of different ways to go with this if you start speculating mind. It’s just something to work off of and improve upon as we move about the players he wants to see more from. What is clear is Hynes and forward.” the Devils have been impressed with several young players in camp and Good test for Butcher not just the ones they expected to play well, like Hughes, Boqvist and Smith. One of the players Hynes was definitely not sending a message to was defenseman Will Butcher. After scoring a goal and logging nearly 23 Before the Devils traded for Nikita Gusev, Mikhail Maltsev was going to minutes Monday in Montreal (22:43 would have been his fourth-most in a be the biggest mystery man at camp. Here’s a question from a Q&A after regular-season game), he had a pair of assists at MSG. the Devils added Hughes, P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds, but before Gusev … Neither of them were particularly notable. Butcher’s play at his own end, particularly early in the game and against the Rangers’ top offensive Well, Maltsev put himself more on the map after his ridiculous, Peter players, was. He did take a delay of game penalty when he tried to Forsberg-like postage stamp move on this goal against the Rangers. backhand a puck out of danger and ended up flopping a lob wedge into #NJDEVILS MIKHAIL MALTSEV'S GORGEOUS GOAL … the netting, but otherwise he consistently made solid decisions while PIC.TWITTER.COM/CULKEP0WD4 skating or passing the puck out of danger.

— COREY MASISAK (@CMASISAK22) SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 “We wanted to see him in that role. We all talk about it, like do we think (Butcher) can take that step?” Hynes said. “I thought he performed pretty Maltsev was already having a pretty good camp and earning some praise well last night and had a good game. But it also goes back to from coaches and management. (sustainability). So now you’re playing harder minutes against better players, obviously more minutes. And now, can you do that day after “He’s impressed us,” Hynes said. “He was good at rookie camp. He’s day? Can you do that game after game? And can you do it, not just for been very good in the practices. He’s had two good exhibition games. one game? Can you do it for multiple games? So that’s an example of a Big, strong kid. Wins faceoffs. Very detailed in the way he plays. He’s guy that we’re trying to see … who’s going to take those spots? He got had a great camp so far. Hopefully it continues.” the opportunity last night and I think Will has had a real strong camp.” At first, Yegor Sharangovich seemed like the best player to compare A couple of other tidbits worth mentioning … Maltsev with — a smart, responsible center who became reliable for Binghamton, but needs a little more speed and quickness to prove he 1. Kevin Rooney got hit in the face by a puck Thursday in practice. It can create more offense as a pro. evoked memories of the incident in Switzerland last season that left Bratt with a broken jaw. Rooney escaped with stitches, and Hynes said he’s Maltsev is bigger and has better hands. He had shown he can win board fine otherwise. battles and make crafty moves in tight areas, both in Buffalo and in Newark. The biggest issue still is his skating, but he’s probably one guy 2. Taylor Hall will play in his first preseason game Friday night, Hall who is pushing to join a group of roster contenders like Kevin Rooney, confirmed. Wayne Simmonds will also get in his first game action after Michael McLeod and Joey Anderson. practicing the past two days. He was dealing with a minor injury from the second camp scrimmage that kept him out Monday against the Bruins. McLeod is another player Hynes has praised. Like Smith, he got better as the weekend progressed in Buffalo. He’s also played better in his first 3. Akira Schmid was sent back to Omaha in the USHL, but for a few days two preseason games than he did in most of the 21 contests he played it looked like he and Mackenzie Blackwood were wearing basically the for New Jersey last year. same helmet. The entire design was nearly the same, save for the back plate and the number in the front. It wasn’t a new mask or new design for “Michael has taken a step this year,” Hynes said. “He’s bigger and either of them, but rather a cover on one of their regular masks for stronger, stronger on his skates. He’s an energy, work type of player. I international hockey. Blackwood had used the cover for the world think for a guy to do that at this level and be effective, they need a little championships, and Schmid for world juniors. more physical maturity. I think you can see that. He’s playing quick, but he’s not in a hurry. He’s not blowing by plays. He had a good rookie 4. Blackwood’s new mask from David Gunnarsson hadn’t arrived as of camp and he’s another guy (along with Boqvist) who has built up some Wednesday. He also wasn’t interested in sharing any details. Schneider performances. has already started using his DaveArt mask for the season, signaling a departure from his previous few that were all variations of the same idea. VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM

MY BUDDY CORY SCHNEIDER’S NEW DEVILS MASK IS HERE, IT WAS SO FUN TO PAINT! CORY HAD AN AWESOME IDEA, HE WANTED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DIFFERENT DEVIL FIGURES FROM THE POP CULTURE👍🏻. I LOVED IT AS THE POP CULTURE NERD I AM邏! WE BRAINSTORMED AND DISCUSSED IDEAS AND WE CAME UP WITH A GAME PLAN FOR THE PAINTING. THANKS CORY! 🙏🏻 #CORYSCHNEIDER @NJDEVILS @NHL #DAVEART #NHL #DAVEARTFAMILY #DAVEARTTHECRADLEOFCREATIVITY

A POST SHARED BY DAVID GUNNARSSON (@DAVEART) ON SEP 12, 2019 AT 9:46AM PDT

Schneider, Blackwood and Eddie Lack all met Gunnarsson last season when the Devils were in Gothenburg. I drove out into the Swedish countryside to check out his famed paint barn.

Evan Cormier received his first DaveArt mask this season (because of demand, Gunnarsson only accepts new clients once they reach the AHL, NHL or SHL at home). It’s an ode to HellBoy, and it looks great.

VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM

WELCOME EVAN CORMIER TO THE DAVEART FAMILY! IT WAS SO EXCITING TO PAINT AND CREATE OUR FIRST MASK ADVENTURE👊🏻. AS THE PAINT NERD I AM I LOVE TO GO CRAZY IN THE DETAILS…邏 @EVANCORMIER_ @NJDEVILS #DAVEART @NHL #DAVEARTTHECRADLEOFCREATIVITY #DAVEARTFAMILY #NHL @BINGDEVILS @THEAHL

A POST SHARED BY DAVID GUNNARSSON (@DAVEART) ON AUG 27, 2019 AT 9:18AM PDT

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153601 New York Islanders

Josh Ho-Sang understands how he fits in Barry Trotz's system with the Islanders

By Andrew Gross andrew.gross@.com @AGrossNewsday

Updated September 20, 2019 11:41 PM

Josh Ho-Sang’s playmaking ability has never been questioned. It’s been an inability to adapt his unique talents to a structured system that has kept the 2014 first-round pick from securing a full-time NHL role.

Making the Islanders’ opening night roster may be difficult, given the intense competition and the number of returning veterans, but Ho-Sang said he believes he now understands how to fit his game into coach Barry Trotz’s system.

He played in his second preseason game on Friday night against the Red Wings in Detroit and had a second assist on Derick Brassard’s goal in the third period. Anthony Beauvillier scored late in the third to send the game to overtime and scored again 32 seconds into OT to give the Islanders a 4-3 victory.

“I feel like I understand how to generate offense more this year than I did last year,” said Ho-Sang, 23, who had a goal and an assist in 10 games for the Islanders last season and has seven goals and 17 assists in 53 career NHL games. “I just came back and it seems a lot easier. It’s like, ‘Whoa, I actually get it now.’ ”

Trotz’s system has a defense-first reputation, but Ho-Sang said it’s “actually a really offensive system if you do it right because you get a lot of turnovers and you’re getting a lot of odd-man rushes.”

The right wing said he believes the Islanders will score more this season — they were 21st last season with 228 goals — because of that comfort level.

The difficult part, Ho-Sang said, is the responsibility the system places upon the wings.

“I would say wingers have more responsibilities in this system than any system I’ve played,” he said. “I can only imagine how weird it is for guys who are older and have been playing wing their whole life, and all of a sudden Barry has put this onus on the wingers to be engaged basically at all times, which is not something that is common.”

Trotz said he wants to see how Ho-Sang implements the details from practices into game situations. He added that he sees Ho-Sang understanding how to play with the team’s system more “rather than playing on instinct.”

The system breaks down, Trotz said, when a player freelances. Instead of each player handling his responsibility, the others are trying to figure out how to cover up the gaps.

“Guys that are out-of-the-box thinkers, like Josh, they bring a unique skill set,’’ Trotz said, “but he has to realize he has to come closer a little bit to the norm.”

Notes & quotes: Trotz said he expects Cal Clutterbuck, who had offseason back surgery, to make his preseason debut either Saturday night at New Jersey or against the Red Wings at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Monday night. Trotz said Josh Bailey should play his first preseason game in either of those two . . . Top pick Simon Holmstrom, who missed the start of training camp with a sore ankle, could play his first preseason game on Saturday. “I don’t think I’ve come up to the level I want to be at,” Holmstrom said. “I think [Friday’s] practice was on the way there, but I’m still not there.”

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153602 New York Islanders

Islanders' Belmont arena groundbreaking tentatively set for Monday, sources say

By Jim Baumbach [email protected] @jimbaumbach

Updated September 20, 2019 6:59 PM

The long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony for a new Islanders arena at Belmont Park is tentatively scheduled to take place Monday afternoon, sources said.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s office has begun sending out email invitations to local dignitaries inviting them to “please join Governor Cuomo for an announcement” at Belmont racetrack.

A spokesman for Cuomo did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ceremony.

New York Arena Partners, a partnership among the owners of the Islanders, Mets and arena development company Oak View Group, have already begun construction work on a $1.3 billion plan for a 19,000-seat arena, 250-room hotel and 350,000 square feet of retail.

A spokesman for the Islanders group referred questions to Empire State Development, the state agency that has coordinated the process. An ESD spokesman deferred questions to the governor's office.

The ceremony marks an important step toward the end of the Islanders’ decadeslong search for their own arena. ESD has said pre-construction work began at the site in August after New York Arena Partners gained project approvals from three state agencies. The developers anticipate the arena will cost $955 million and take 26 months to build.

Paul Sapienza, president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce and owner of Sapienza Bake Shop in Elmont, said he received the email invitation Thursday to the announcement with no additional details. He said he can't attend but will have other chamber members on hand.

"This is great news," Sapienza said. "This is what we've been hoping for."

Cuomo has been a champion of the project since he announced in December 2017 that the Islanders group won the development rights at Belmont. Cuomo also was involved in the negotiations that led the Islanders to split their schedule between NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center until the Belmont arena is scheduled to open in 2021.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also is expected to attend, sources said. Bettman told Newsday in July the arena at Belmont will "provide a world-class home for this franchise" and "secures their future today and for the next generation of fans.”

Pat Boyle, a board member of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, said he received the email invite and plans to be at Belmont Monday. He operates Gateway Youth Outreach, a nonprofit in Elmont that runs various after-school programs. “I’m hoping nothing spoils this," he said, "because I’m really looking forward to the development. I think it will help the community.”

The ceremony comes at a time of tension between the Village of Floral Park and state and county officials over the development. Floral Park filed a lawsuit Sept. 9 in an attempt to stop construction and overturn the approvals because the village does not believe the adverse impacts of the project -- namely traffic -- have been properly mitigated. Mayor Dominick Longobardi on Friday declined to comment about the plans for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153603 New York Islanders surgery hasn’t held him out of camp, but he may only see some preseason action next week.

— 2019 first-rounder Simon Holmstrom is still here, which, given his Projecting the Islanders’ 23-man roster after the first wave of cuts absence from all of prospect camp, may have been a small surprise. But teammates have commented on Holmstrom’s smooth style so far — he may get at least a game before he heads back to Sweden, where the season is already three games in. By Arthur Staple Among those forwards still in camp who will likely head to Bridgeport Sep 20, 2019 after these next two games: Ryan Hitchcock, Kyle MacLean, John Stevens, Scott Eansor, Jeff Kubiak and Nick Schilkey. Mason Jobst was on a line with Kuhnhackl and Holmstrom, and either Jobst or Otto Koivula The Islanders whittled down 18 players off the training camp roster on could stick around as the fifth center into next week. Thursday and there were hardly any surprises. Defense Of the 12 players sent to Bridgeport — none of whom need waivers — perhaps the only mild surprise was Parker Wotherspoon. He is entering There are 13 D left in camp and eight of them appear ticketed for a very his third pro year and probably needed to take a bigger step to challenge crowded roster on the blue line. Noah Dobson will certainly get a chance the other AHL defensemen who are waiting in line for a recall. to continue showing he belongs. He worked Thursday with Adam Pelech, while Nick Leddy and Thomas Hickey worked as a pair, with Hickey on Of the six junior-eligible youngsters sent back on Thursday, Samuel his off side. Hickey currently sits as the seventh or eighth D depending Bolduc is probably the one to keep tabs on. The 57th pick in June, he on who’s around. handled himself well in his two weeks on the Island. Cole Coskey (209th overall, 2019) and Blade Jenkins (134th, 2018) go back to a Saginaw Ryan Pulock worked with veteran AHLer Seth Helgeson, Scott Mayfield team that’s in the CHL preseason top 10, so expect big numbers from paired with Sebastian Aho and Devon Toews worked with Grant Hutton, both of them. who has opened some eyes this week. Tryout player Luca Sbisa paired with Johnny Boychuk, and Kyle Burroughs rotated in. So it’s down to 52 in camp — which is really 48 because four of the injured campers are ticketed to start elsewhere: Mitch Vande Sompel The top two pairs will almost certainly be Pelech-Pulock and Toews- (arm), Bode Wilde (ankle), Bobo Carpenter (shoulder) and Yanick Mayfield, so Leddy, Boychuk, Hickey and Dobson will sort out the bottom Turcotte (shoulder) will head out when healthy. pair and the extras, barring a trade or other surprising roster move with a veteran. Sbisa hasn’t done anything wrong so far, but there isn’t room, With games in Detroit on Friday and Newark on Saturday, Barry Trotz while the other four are vying to be the first recall. Aho is the presumed and the staff have certainly kept more bodies around than necessary to favorite for that, but Hutton is a fast riser. get through these two games and the back-to-back on Monday (Wings at the Coliseum) and Tuesday (Rangers at MSG). Goalie

“We’ve got the guys that are on the team and ones that are pushing to There was never much question about the pecking order here. Semyon get on the team,” Trotz said. “A percentage of them are locks but there’s Varlamov and Thomas Greiss are the two goalies for the Isles; some other spots that are up in the air.” Christopher Gibson and Jared Coreau are still here but headed to Bridgeport eventually; and Jakub Skarek and Linus Soderstrom, who For a group whose 23-man projection is closer to set than most teams were both sent to Bridgeport’s camp on Thursday, will likely start the already, Thursday’s line combinations and defense pairs gave a few season in ECHL Worcester. clues as to where those edge-of-the-roster battles are and how the depth may line up in Bridgeport. Let’s see how the Islanders get from here to Pretty simple! opening night: The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 Forwards

— The Anders Lee--Jordan Eberle trio played the bulk of the third period together on Tuesday and the team’s best line last postseason stayed together for Thursday’s practice. You would have figured Anthony Beauvillier would get a look with Barzal and Eberle and it may, of course, still happen. But Trotz seems to prefer leaning on familiarity, so this top line may start the season.

— Beauvillier worked Thursday with Brock Nelson and Oliver Wahlstrom. Wahlstrom looked good on Tuesday in his preseason debut, but he still seems a very long shot to make the opening night roster. If it’s Beau- Nelson-Josh Bailey on the second line, that would indicate Trotz has faith that Beauvillier can work in a more veteran, matchup-line situation.

— If Derick Brassard has the distinct edge on the 3C role, his wings on Thursday were certainly notable: Josh Ho-Sang, who has had a quiet and very normal camp so far, and rookie pro Arnaud Durandeau, who hasn’t looked out of place since and is coming off a strong year in Halifax. That Durandeau, the 165th pick in the 2017 draft, made it through the first round of cuts is a credit to him and bodes well for how he’ll line up in Bridgeport to start the season.

Michael Dal Colle was in the second group, skating with Tanner Fritz and Ross Johnston. Fritz got some notice from Trotz for his work on Tuesday, with three blocked shots and some good penalty-kill work. Tom Kuhnhackl missing the first few days of camp with a minor injury could give Fritz the lead for the 13th forward spot, since Leo Komarov likely has one of the third-line wing spots locked up.

— Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas have been attached at the hip since camp began. They were with Cole Bardreau on Thursday and Bardreau, a 26-year-old in his sixth pro season, did some good, grinding work on Monday in Philly. Cal Clutterbuck, the third component of the Isles’ fourth line, hasn’t played a game yet and may not this weekend — he was on a fifth line in his group with Bailey and Matt Lorito. Clutterbuck’s back 1153604 New York Rangers Hughes finished with a goal and an assist, as did Hall. Blake Coleman and Michael McLeod also scored for the Devils and Subban had an assist.

NY Rangers 'B' team gets first look at NJ Devils top pick Jack Hughes in "He looked good," Lundqvist said of Hughes. "They have a lot of new preseason loss players. I’ll bet they’re pretty excited over there with their lineup."

"I wish I had a couple shots before I faced him on the breakaway, but it’s preseason, so I’ll give that one to him," he added with a laugh. "But you Vincent Z. Mercogliano can see he’s a smart player. If you’re picked first overall, you have qualities that stand out from most players. He’s not a big guy, but it’s a NHL writer different league now. It’s more about balance and what you see — the Published 9:43 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 10:36 p.m. ET Sept. eyes — and making plays under pressure. The size factor isn’t as 20, 2019 important as it used to be."

The Rangers opened the preseason with back-to-back losses to their rivals, but they'll play them for real Oct. 17 in New Jersey. NEWARK - After showing off many of the new additions who have the fan base buzzing in Wednesday night's preseason opener at home "I think everybody at this point in time wants to get their team together against the New Jersey Devils, the New York Rangers took a different and play the real games," Quinn said. "We’ve still got a few exhibition approach for Friday's rematch at the Prudential Center. games to go, so we’ve got to let the process play out and give people an opportunity to show what they can do at this level. Soon enough, we’ll be The Blueshirts gave Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko and in that position." many others the night off — Panarin is considered "day-to-day" with a mild groin strain — and went with a "B" team of sorts. Bergen Record LOADED: 09.21.2019

The Devils, on the other hand, played many of their top players, including Taylor Hall, P.K. Subban and No. 1 overall draft pick Jack Hughes.

The talent discrepancy was reflected in the final score, a 4-2 win for New Jersey.

"Similar to what happened the other night, I thought we fueled their offense with some untimely turnovers and tried to force plays," Rangers coach said. "After they were up 1-0, I thought we did some good things. I thought we had some good chances, we were controlling the play territorially and we just couldn’t capitalize. We just gave them too many easy goals."

The most notable Ranger on the ice was goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who was making his preseason debut as he prepares for his 15th NHL season. The 37-year-old was under siege for most of his 30:20 in net. He allowed three goals — including a breakaway to Hughes through the five- hole just 34 seconds into the game — while making 21 saves.

"It was fun to be out there and play again," Lundqvist said. "It was a tough first period. Lots of open chances. First shot, breakaway, welcome back moment — but I felt better as the game went on. Second period, I felt more in control. The good thing for me in this game was a lot of shots — 24 shots in 30 minutes — so I was looking for a lot of feedback in this first start. That’s what you really want in the first couple starts of the season — watch some video and get some feedback. I think that’s more important than the actual result right now."

Henrik Lundqvist, meet Jack Hughes. pic.twitter.com/WQD3YKcUw1

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 20, 2019

A handful of other Rangers who should make the final roster made their preseason debuts.

Vlad Namestnikov scored the lone goal 3:49 into the second period by cleaning up a rebound off a shot from Pavel Buchnevich. Brett Howden also had an assist on the goal and scored one of his own in the third period when he tipped in a shot from Joe Morrow.

Buchnevich, Howden and Namestnikov comprised the Rangers' top line for the night. Buchnevich will play an important role this season, with coach David Quinn announcing at the beginning of training camp that he plans to play the 24-year-old on the top line with Panarin and . Namestnikov and Howden are likely to claim spots among the bottom-six forwards this season.

Filip Chytil also made his first appearance of the preseason. The 20- year-old is being given the first chance to win the second-line center job, which is one of the Rangers' biggest question marks for the upcoming season. He was grouped with likely bottom-six forwards Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast.

The only other Ranger who played Friday and is a shoe-in to make the team was veteran defenseman Marc Staal.

'I'll bet they're pretty excited over there' 1153605 New York Rangers The Rangers' biggest signing of the offseason, forward Artemi Panarin, did not practice Friday after exiting Wednesday night’s 4-3 preseason loss to the New Jersey Devils with a “mild groin strain.”

NY Rangers agree to terms with defenseman Tony DeAngelo; Artemi “Panarin is day-to-day,” Gorton said. “He’s going to be fine. No real Panarin is "day-to-day" concern. I’m pretty comfortable that he’s going to be fine.”

Quinn also downplayed the severity of the injury, calling it “nothing really to be alarmed about.” Vincent Z. Mercogliano He said that “the plan right now” is to get Panarin into another preseason NHL writer game next week, but there’s “no need to get him back in here this weekend.” Published 10:54 a.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 | Updated 1:53 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019 The Rangers have five preseason games remaining, including one at 7 p.m. Friday in New Jersey and another at 7 p.m. Saturday in Philadelphia

against the Flyers. Panarin will rest for both of those. TARRYTOWN - The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with Bergen Record LOADED: 09.21.2019 defenseman Tony DeAngelo, the team announced Friday morning. The USA TODAY Network has confirmed the contract is for one year and $925,000 — the same figure they gave to fellow restricted free agent Brendan Lemieux last week. The news ends a week-long contract holdout for the 23-year-old.

"You don’t want anybody who’s not here working like everybody else, so it’s good to have everybody signed and ready to go," Rangers GM Jeff Gorton said. "We look forward to Tony coming in and helping our team."

Negotiations dragged into training camp, but the Rangers held firm on their offer and DeAngelo decided to take it with less than two weeks until opening night Oct. 3 at home against the Winnipeg Jets.

"There’s always doubt if he’s not here, but I always felt comfortable that Tony and his agent (Pat Brisson) and I would make a deal," Gorton said. "I think at the end of the day, he realized that the situation was what it was. It was going to be a one-year deal and it was probably smart to get in here and start playing."

He's back.#NYR has agreed to terms with restricted free agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 20, 2019

DeAngelo skated in 61 games with the Rangers last season, registering four goals and 26 assists for 30 points, along with a plus-six rating and 77 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories, including games played, assists, points and average ice time (19:20).

He's expected to slot in behind Jacob Trouba as a right-handed defenseman on either the second or third pair. Rookie Adam Fox is also in strong position to play as one of the top three righty D-men.

"It gives us more competition for a key position," coach David Quinn said. "Anytime you can add a really good player, it just helps everybody out. It certainly will allow us to have a well-rounded D-core with him back."

DeAngelo finished last season paired with veteran Marc Staal, which is a combination the Rangers now have the option to use again.

"I have the defensive gene where my risk tolerance is pretty low in comparison to his," Staal said. "It works pretty well together. I try to let him feel as comfortable as possible making the plays he feels he can make. I thought, once we started going, he started getting more confident. Those plays started working for him and we were putting some good shifts together."

DeAngelo will have to go through his physical and some testing before joining the team for practice, which Gorton said could take "a few days."

When he does return to the ice, the Rangers will be whole again with the full lineup they envisioned at the conclusion of a busy offseason.

"It’s good to have him back," Quinn said. " He’s a big part of our future and he had a real strong second half last year. Listen, there’s a business side to this. We all understand that, but we’ve been anticipating this day for a little while now and we’re glad to have him back."

Moments before the DeAngelo announcement, the Rangers also announced the retirement of Dan Girardi. They're on the hook for a cap hit of $3,611,111 after buying out Girardi's contract in 2017. That money will still count against their salary cap this season, which looks tight but manageable following the DeAngelo signing.

Artemi Panarin is 'day-to-day' 1153606 New York Rangers goalie guru Benoit Allaire will pick apart until and beyond the Oct. 3 opener.

For now, the King was in the same place, but very much in a different ‘The past is the past’: Henrik Lundqvist is in the same place, but also in a place. different place THE @HLUNDQVISTFDN YOUNG AMBASSADORS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL TO SUPPORT PEDIATRIC HEALTH.

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NEWARK, N.J. — It was in this building, in this locker room stall, where — JUNIOR RANGERS (@JUNIORRANGERS) SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 Henrik Lundqvist was confused, and where he vented about his Thoughts frustration toward the end of last season. When he said deserved to play the three remaining games on the schedule. 1) Dan Girardi called it a black-and-blue career Friday. It seemed the warhorse defenseman always presented the disconnect between the stat Where he looked as befuddled as he has at any time in his career. crowd and the old-schoolers, with his game resembling that of another The Rangers, with another trade-deadline selloff, had fallen off the era, and when he was in his prime, very much as effective in today’s playoff radar, and Lundqvist’s game, which was there for the first half of game. Very much beloved by those who put on the uniform with him. the season, deteriorated under the barrage of offense he faced. The “He’s one of my all-time favorite teammates,” Lundqvist said. “I think, the barrage of defensive mistakes committed in front of him. Where he once way he played the game. He was a funny guy to be around. Extremely was able to erase those things, he was unable late last season. He loyal to the team always. We had so much success together. I think we couldn’t find wins. And he was surprised and disappointed by this. helped each other a lot, the way I competed, the way he competed and From Jan. 31, when he won his fourth in a row, Lundqvist was 2-10-3, blocked … I always knew what (we’d) get from him for so many years, with not-awful 3.14 (goals-against average) and .908 (save percentage) and I mean, I admired how he played. He was a huge part of this team’s numbers considering the team in front of him. He had just turned 37. success over so many years. So great career, I’m very happy for him. He played a lot of good years, so I just want to wish him the best.” Lundqvist, who was and is all in on the rebuild, called the situation at the time “a task” and “challenging.” Undrafted, Girardi managed to have a 927-game NHL career (plus 143 when the going gets really rough, in the playoffs). He played more career “I’m going to be honest,” Lundqvist said that night. “It’s been tougher than playoff games (122) than any Ranger other than Lundqvist (128) and I expected.” made the playoffs in 12 of his 13 NHL seasons — the only miss being that Game 82 shootout loss in Philadelphia in 2010. Now he was sitting in that stall, five-plus months later, taking positives from his first preseason outing — a half a game in which he was fairly HONOR TO PLAY WITH U! ONE OF THE BEST TEAMMATES OUT bombarded — and even able to joke a bit about having to face a Jack THERE! PIC.TWITTER.COM/X6QFNGQBGH Hughes breakaway for a goal in the first 34 seconds. — MATS ZUCCARELLO (@ZUCCARELLO36) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 “First-shot breakaway, a welcome-back moment,” Lundqvist smiled. Since the NHL began to seriously track blocked shots in 2005-06, Girardi He seems focused and prepared to come out of the gates strong, with a blocked 1,954 — more than any other NHL player. more formidable team around him, but still a ton of youth and inexperience. So he knows of the challenge again. More telling: From his NHL debut in 2007 through 2014-15, he played in 651 of 656 games, and a couple of those he nearly fought John I asked him whether he had to make an adjustment over the summer, or Tortorella for the right to play. if he could take steps to be sure April wouldn’t be repeated. “I would like to thank all my coaches, family, friends and teammates for “Well, I think the past is the past,” he said. “You move on. Every year, supporting me throughout my entire hockey career,” Girardi said in a new challenges. We have a new team. You’ve got to look at the statement. “I want to thank the New York Rangers for giving me a chance possibilities and the good things that we can accomplish this year, not so to fulfill my childhood dream of playing in the NHL. Throughout those 11 much what happened last year, where we were as a team. We’re moving incredible years, I have made so many friends on and off the ice. I bled forward and that alone gives you a lot of positive energy. We definitely Ranger blue and gave it my all for my team, the city and the Garden have some skill players, but also we have a young team, so we need to faithful. I also want to thank the Tampa Bay Lightning for helping me go through everything — how you play in our own end. Blue lines. continue my career by giving me a chance to play for such an amazing Managing the puck. Stuff like that. It’s something when you’ve been in organization, city and fan base. The last two years in Tampa Bay have the league a while, you know those things. But for younger guys, it’s been so much fun for me and my family. I will always fondly remember definitely something you need to learn and talk about. That’s what we’re my time here. Finally, I want to thank my wife Pamela for always being doing now during camp. there for me and holding down the fort and to Landon and Shaye for always being daddy’s No. 1 fans. “So the past is the past. Let’s see what we can do this year. We’re all excited and we just have to figure out how good we can be this year. “I gave my all every single night and left it all out on the ice. Now it’s time That’s something we just have to as a group figure out the next few for the next chapter of my life to begin and I couldn’t be happier … and weeks, then set our goal for this year.” so is my body.”

Lundqvist played 30:20 in the Rangers JV’s 4-2 loss to the Devils on It’s still remarkable to me how he never won the Steven McDonald Extra Friday. He saw 24 shots, gave up three goals, none on 13 shots in the Effort Award. first half of the second period. This video is well done: “It was as expected,” Lundqvist said. “It was fun to be out there and play again. Kind of a tough first period. A lot of (pause) open chances. G,

“I felt better as the game moved on. In the second period, I felt more in THANK YOU FOR 11 YEARS OF GIVING US YOUR ALL. control. The good thing for me in this game is there were a lot of shots — THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF US. #NYR 24 shots in 30 minutes, so I was looking for a lot of feedback in this first PIC.TWITTER.COM/74EBKG6CNG start. That’s what you really want.” — NEW YORK RANGERS (@NYRANGERS) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 This was the start. A breakaway goal at 34 seconds, then progress. Lundqvist is wise enough to know that the preseason is a process, and 2) Good Tony, Bad Tony: DeAngelo finally signed for the same $925,000 it’s about getting work done, and as he said, feedback, which he and fellow restricted free agent Brendan Lemieux got, which was about $50,000 over the qualifying offer and — very educated guess here — was on the table at least since Lemieux signed. And it sure as hell wasn’t 12) Later second, Subban got the puck to Mike McLeod, who blew past going up, not with the Rangers having all the leverage and no cap space. Joe Morrow and beat goalie Adam Huska in his first NHL action. 4-1.

Honestly, it would have been a bit of a problem for the Rangers if Late third, Rangers on the power play — with all their power-play guys DeAngelo remained out, simply because they don’t have a third righty watching on TV — and a Morrow shot was deflected out of the air and they could use in an NHL game, other than Brendan Smith. At least not past Blackwood by Howden. 4-2. right now. And they needed to get him in because of the strides he made last season under Quinn. I also think he’s going to get fewer power-play 13) Kakko-Meter: Those who were worried about Kaapo Kakko looking minutes with Jacob Trouba and Adam Fox here. as if he were dinged up Wednesday, well, he wasn’t. He practiced Friday.

DeAngelo will join the team Saturday, undergo his physical testing and 14) Daily Bread: Not applicable because Artemi “Breadman” Panarin did should be taking part in the rest of camp in a matter of a day or two. not play and was not scheduled to play. But he did sit out practice, again, as a precaution, due to the mild groin strain he suffered Wednesday. He WHAT UP NYR FANS. WE GOOD NOW ? won’t play in Philadelphia on Saturday either.

— TONY DEANGELO (@TONYDEE07) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 My Three Rangers Stars

3) I’m pretty sure I say this around Game 2 or Game 3 of every 1. Adam Huska preseason, but my God, these games are dreadful. 2. Filip Chytil 4) So, in Game 1 on Wednesday, the Devils scored 37 seconds in. Game 2, it was 34 seconds. Brett Howden coughed up the puck in the neutral 3. Ryan Lindgren zone while the defensive pair of Marc Staal and Joey Keane was The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 changing. Result: A Taylor Hall TD pass for a breakaway for Hughes, of all people, who beat Lundqvist on the first shot he’d faced since last season. 1-0. By the way, last season we often talked about the tendency (league-wide) for somebody to ice the puck in the opening seconds of a game. Well, maybe if the Rangers had iced the puck in the opening seconds of their first two games, they wouldn’t have been down.

5) Middle first, Ryan Strome to the box for shooting the puck over the glass. Hughes to Hall down the left wing on the power play for a snipe past Lundqvist’s glove. 2-0.

HUGHES  TO  HALL  PIC.TWITTER.COM/LKVLKBSBIT

— NHL GIFS (@NHLGIFS) SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

6) Rookie Ryan Lindgren sure showed some onions when, during a net- front battle, he’d had enough of Wayne Simmonds’ stick and tossed the mitts. Maybe he bit off more than he could chew, but good for him.

“Yeah, I mean, just a hockey play,” Lindgren said. “He’s trying to go to the net, I’m trying to box him out and … in front of the net, a little bit of jawing going on, and we both dropped the gloves. We kept talking a little bit after (shouting, actually, from the respective penalty boxes). We’re both competitive guys and stuff happens. We were both fired up. It’s part of hockey. It’s part of my game. I like being physical, I like to get in people’s faces. So it just happens, I guess.”

.@SIMMONDS17 DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST  PIC.TWITTER.COM/HRCPBNJBKR

— MSG NETWORKS (@MSGNETWORKS) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

7) Simmonds was late coming out for the second, and when he did he took two slashes at Lindgren, and then after being stopped by Lundqvist, drilled big rookie Mason Geertsen in the face with his stick and glove. Geertsen dropped his gloves and stick and chased Simmonds, who wasn’t interested this time.

8) Maybe it’s just me, but you’d think Micheal Haley is in the lineup to, you know, have a talk with Simmonds after such incidents. Instead, Haley tried to fight Blake Coleman, who turned away, and Haley got an unsportsmanlike penalty. Haley doesn’t have to prove he can fight or that he’s willing to fight. We know that. But he has to be a more effective tough guy. Anyway, there’s really no room for him on the NHL roster.

9) By the way, the Devils had Hughes serve the additional penalty to Simmonds in the Lindgren dust-up, setting up an actual Jack in the Box situation where the Jack in the Box was named Jack. Which, you know, I love. Sure enough, Hughes had a break against Joe Morrow, and Lundqvist was forced to make a pad save. I could barely contain myself.

10) After the Rangers wasted the power play, Keane — who had a really rough night with three penalties and a giveaway — was bounced off the puck behind the net, and Travis Zajac got the puck to Blake Coleman for a snap past Lundqvist. 3-0. I think Keane is considered a good prospect, but he’s not going to make the team this season, even if he had been brilliant in his Newark debut.

11) Early second, Howden won a draw and Pavel Buchnevich recovered the puck for a quick shot. Vlad Namestnikov stashed the rebound behind P.K. Subban and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. 3-1. 1153607 Ottawa Senators “Ideally we’ll have three goalies and 27 players, it might be one more or one less, but that’s kind of where our head is with that,” Smith said.

The Senators would like to play something similar to the opening night 'You earn your ice time': Craig Anderson ready to prove himself this roster next Saturday at the Bell Centre in the rematch against the Habs. season - and maybe next year too “The last game against Montreal will pretty well be it,” said Smith.

THE LAST WORDS Bruce Garrioch The Senators will be without winger Vitaly Arbamov for the next little Published:September 20, 2019 while. He suffered a concussion during Tuesday’s game against the Leafs in St. John’s and is going through the protocol. Smith is hopeful it Updated:September 20, 2019 7:35 PM EDT isn’t serious and Abramov, who is battling for a spot on the roster, will be back soon. “I don’t think he’s going to be out long, he’s almost back, but

we’re just going through the protocol with him,” Smith said. That loud sigh of relief you heard Monday when the announcement of the “He had a few symptoms, minor, but we have to treat it as (a extension of the collective bargaining agreement through the end of concussion).” The Senators are going to give Abramov as much time as 2021-22 campaign came from Craig Anderson. he needs to feel 100%. “He’s a young guy. We want to make sure he’s Yes, the 38-year-old Anderson may be heading into the final year of his going to have a long career. If he could get back and get into games that contract with the Ottawa Senators but he’s hopeful if he can prove to his would be great. If he can’t we’ll have to deal with it then,” said Smith … doubters he can still play and contribute this season then he’ll be back in Centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been excited by the reaction to the new the league next year. deal signed by defenceman Thomas Chabot Thursday. “Not only the He doesn’t believe that would have even been a remote possibility if the guys were happy, I’ve had so many messages, not only social media, but players had elected not to vote to extend the CBA and a lockout from friends that are so pumped, not only with what happened with Colin possibility loomed next September. White in the summer but with Chabby,” Pageau said.

“I don’t see why not,” said Anderson, when asked if he could see himself “It’s a commitment to the team. He has always appreciated how Ottawa in the league beyond this season. “It’s early to speculate because my has welcomed him and to see him commit for (eight) years, the team is focus has to be in the now and in the present but right now it’s good lucky, the city is lucky and we’re lucky to have the chance to play with news the NHLPA have agreed to continue to play. him right now.”

“That helps my status obviously. There’s no way at 39-years-old I could Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.21.2019 endure a lockout period but knowing the league is going to continue next season that’s motivation for myself to go out there and at least give myself the opportunity. By playing well now, I can give myself that confidence towards the end of the year that, ‘Hey I had a great year, I can still do this and I want to do this’ then we can approach that bridge.”

Anderson will make the start against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre and is expected to play two periods before prospect Joey Daccord takes over. The belief is Anderson will get less playing time this year, but he’s not ready to hand over the net to Anders Nilsson just yet.

“You earn your ice time,” he said. “You come in, you put in the work, you play hard for your team and if you give them a chance to win every night you’re going to play more. As far as putting a number on it, it’s too early to tell and it’s too soon to even consider that. We just want to take it game-by-game.

“We’re in a situation where the guy that’s playing the best is going to continue to play. That’s been the mentality throughout my career: Earn your ice time and at the end of the year count your games up and see where it’s at.”

Anderson said he’d never be insulted by less playing time.

“My first year pro I thought I was hot s–t coming into pro hockey and had a humbling experience and had a coach (Trent Yawney) who said you earn your ice time around here. That’s stuck with me,” said Anderson.

LIGHTENING THE LOAD

The Senators can’t take everybody to the West Coast when they head to Vancouver Sunday morning so 10 more players were sent packing Friday.

The will open their training camp Sunday night so the club sent forwards J.C. Beaudin, Michael Carcone, Mark Kastelic, Jack Rodewald and Andrew Sturtz along defencemen Jonathan Aspirot, Nick Ebert and Hubert Labrie to the club’s AHL affiliate.

Carcone and Ebert need waivers before being assigned.

Defenceman Maxence Guenette was sent back to the Val D’Or in the QMJHL while Tristan Scherway, who was on a tryout from Bern in the Swiss league, was returned to his team.

Coach D.J. Smith told reporters Friday there will be more changes Saturday because ideally the Senators would like to take 30 players to Vancouver. Right now, the Senators have 42 players – including five goalies, 12 defencemen and 25 forwards – in camp. 1153608 Ottawa Senators 10 Anthony Duclair 14 Max Veronneau

17 Jonathan Davidsson 'We've got to be ready to play big minutes': Chabot eager to develop partnership with Zaitsev 19 Drake Batherson

28 Connor Brown

Bruce Garrioch 36 Colin White

Published:September 20, 2019 37 Josh Norris

Updated:September 20, 2019 7:15 PM EDT 44 Jean-Gabriel Pageau

55 Morgan Klimchuk

Thomas Chabot was supposed to suit up Wednesday night for the Battle 59 Alex Formenton of Ontario but that had to be put on hold because of illness. 78 Filip Chlapik The wait is finally over for the Ottawa Senators’ all-star defenceman. 91 Joe LaBate The 22-year-old Chabot will make his pre-season debut Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre as the Montreal Canadiens come to town Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.21.2019 before the Senators head to Vancouver Sunday morning for two exhibition games against the Canucks.

Much has been made of the fact coach D.J. Smith wants to pair Chabot with newcomer Nikita Zaitsev to start the season and this will be an opportunity to build a familiarity with each other because they’re expected to be the club’s top pairing.

Chabot is looking forward to learning what it’s like to play with Zaitsev, who was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a blockbuster trade on July 1. The duo needs to build a comfort zone before the Senators face the Leafs in the season opener Oct. 2 in Toronto.

“In practice, you’re together and you start to get to know each other, but it’s not necessarily game situations most of the time,” said Chabot in an interview Friday. “Now that we’re going to be in (Saturday’s) game that’s when you develop a really good connection with guys.

“You start to see what they do and we talk about different things that see on the ice. We’re both smart players and we’re going to see different things. It’s going to be fun to get in a game and that way we can build something quicker.”

He spent most of last season with Dylan DeMelo so this is a big change and it’s about building up communication with Zaitsev.

“We know each other as players because we’ve played against each other,” Chabot said. “But when you show up three or four weeks before camp, you’re a long way from knowing each other. When you get in the games, you get a feel for each other and you get some chemistry going. That plays a big part if we’re going to commit to Zaitsev and I being partners.

“We’ve got to be comfortable, we’ve got to know each other and we’ve got to be ready to play big minutes on this team. It’s going to be huge for us to build something quick.”

Here’s the roster for Saturday’s visit by the Montreal Canadiens. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

GOALTENDERS

Craig Anderson

Joey Daccord

DEFENCE

2 Dylan DeMelo

22 Nikita Zaitsev

29 Cody Goloubef

39 Andreas Englund

58 Max Lajoie

72 Thomas Chabot

96 Jordan Murray

FORWARDS

7 Brady Tkachuk 1153609 Ottawa Senators “Over the years, whether it’s this year, next year or four years, the new guys coming in are going to be a big part of it. To see (White) committed for a while and I committed for a while it shows the younger guys that we really, truly want to be a part of it.” 'GOOD TO BUILD SOMETHING': Thomas Chabot ready to help lead Senators' youth movement Yes, Chabot has heard the predictions the Senators aren’t going to be very good this season and he knows the expectations but he’s hopeful the club can take a step in the right direction.

Bruce Garrioch “It’s normal. The last two seasons weren’t the greatest, we were at the bottom, and you understand where people are coming from but how Published:September 20, 2019 many times in the NHL have you seen a new coach come in and things Updated:September 20, 2019 4:47 PM EDT totally turn around for the team?

“We have some talent, we have young guys, we have some guys that can skate and the way that D.J. wants us to play it’s exactly what we Thomas Chabot sat in the hallway, just outside the door to the dressing have with our team. We want to be fast, we want to be in people’s faces room he’s going to call home for the next nine years Friday afternoon, and we’ve got some young guys with a lot of energy that can skate. It’s and tried to put in perspective what’s been a whirlwind few days. going to be very interesting to watch this camp.

Signed to a massive eight-year, $64 million contract extension that will “As we get further, it’s going to be good to build something,” said Chabot. pay him an average of $8 million starting next season, the 22-year-old Chabot wasn’t able to hide his excitement – and relief – at getting the The Senators have opted not go with a captain this season. Instead, deal in place Thursday that’s going to keep the Ottawa Senators’ they’ve turned to the veterans Mark Borowiecki, Jean-Gabriel Pageau defenceman in the club’s uniform until the end of the 2027-28 campaign. and newcomer Ron Hainsey to be alternates, Down the road the torch will be passed to Chabot, White and Brady Tkachuk, but right now Dorion When the talks started between general manager Pierre Dorion and the and Smith want them to learn from the older players. all-star defenceman’s agents Dominic Deblois and Ian Pulver in mid-July, the only thing Chabot told his representatives was he’d like to sign a “I don’t see a letter on your jersey meaning that you’re the only guy that long-term deal with the Senators and then he just hoped they could find a can talk in the room,” Chabot said. “Everybody’s allowed to talk and way to get a deal done. everybody has their own opinions. (Leadership) is something I want to build for sure. Hainsey, Boro and Pager, the guys wearing the letters, you “Now you know you’re settled, it’s done, I’m in Ottawa for the next nine can’t take away all the years of experience they have been around the years and that’s what I wanted,” Chabot told Postmedia in a one-on-one NHL. interview Saturday after the club’s skate at the Canadian Tire Centre. “I’m very excited for it. “This is my third year, I know there’s a gap there but I know I’m going to be here for the next nine years. You’ve got to learn and build something “At the end day, this was the last year of my contract and now I don’t for the coming years.” have to worry about it next summer, wondering what’s going to happen and if the deal is going to get done or whatever. It’s a relief. Now, all I It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours for Chabot. His camp agreed to the deal have to focus on is playing the best I can for the next nine years. That’s with Dorion around midnight Wednesday, he went to the office and something I wanted and I mentioned to my agents I wanted to stay here. signed the contract in the morning before appearing at a noon news conference with Dorion. “Knowing where you’re going to be is great.” Melnyk spoke with Chabot after the contract was completed to let him Drafted by the Senators No. 18 overall in 2015, Chabot had zero know how happy he was to have him in the fold long-term. hesitation in signing a long-term deal with Ottawa because he is convinced the rebuild is headed in the right direction under Dorion and “He called me and it was very much appreciated,” Chabot said. “It was there’s a commitment by owner Eugene Melnyk to get this club back to big for the organization but for him to pick up his phone to chat for five-to- being competitive by keeping the right pieces in place. 10 minutes to tell me he was happy to have me here, it shows that he cares and he wants the team to do well in the next couple of years. I “I wanted to be here and I wanted to commit to being with the Senators,” thought it was great for him do that.” he said. “That never changed. I wasn’t in every conversation, but we’re lucky it went very smooth between both sides – the team and my agents. Chabot and his girlfriend Marion Pandreau had dinner with Deblois and That helps a lot, knowing with my agents everything was going smooth, Pulver to toast getting the contract in place but it was hardly an over-the- and there was no fighting or anything. top celebration.

“The team wanted me to be here and I wanted to be here so we were on “It was hard to sleep knowing that the next morning you were going to the same page.” sign the biggest contract in your career,” Chabot said. “We celebrated a little bit but I’m still in mid-camp so you can’t go to crazy about it. I spoke Chabot welcomes the opportunity to be one of the centrepieces of this with my parents, my friends reached out and called me to congratulate rebuild. me.”

“Your dream is to play in the NHL, and I’ve achieved that dream by Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.21.2019 playing in this league, but then you’re having a chance to be on a team that wants to rebuild and wants me to be a big part of that rebuild,” said Chabot.

“Yes, we’re going to have some ups and downs and it won’t be easy through it all but just the fact they want me to be a big piece of the puzzle to build a team and build some leadership and help the other guys and the fact we showed up for camp and everybody wants to be a part of it, it was a no-doubter for me for sure.”

Chabot has liked the direction Ottawa has taken and believes they’ve got the right group as the rebuild enters its next phase with coach D.J. Smith taking over. After the Senators signed centre Colin White to a six-year, $28.5 million deal last month it paved the way for Chabot to get his contract done.

“There’s some young guys coming up that are very talented and I don’t even think (where this team is headed) is a question,” Chabot said. “We’ve got plenty of talent but now it’s going to come down to who’s going to do well enough or want it enough to make the team. 1153610 Philadelphia Flyers “They don’t have a choice,” Vigneault said. “That’s just the way it is.” Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.21.2019

Flyers veterans need more work, so coach Alain Vigneault and staff make massive roster cuts

by Sam Carchidi,

The Flyers’ veteran lineup was badly outplayed by the Boston Bruins’ unofficial B team Thursday and dropped a 3-1 exhibition-game decision.

There were repercussions Friday.

New coach Alain Vigneault, whose team is 0-2-1 in the preseason and has scored a total of four goals, met with general manager Chuck Fletcher and assistant GM Brent Flahr on Friday morning and decided the veterans need more preseason action.

As a result, the Flyers made a slew of roster trims Friday, three days ahead of their original plan. Eighteen players were dropped from the roster, leaving the Flyers with 36 players (32 are healthy) in camp.

“After looking at the last couple days, I feel this is a different situation than I’m used to in the past,” said Vigneault, who formerly coached with Vancouver, Montreal, and the New York Rangers. “I’ve been used to coming to camp in the past and my teams have been in the playoffs [the previous year], so I usually give the veteran players three of the six or seven games we play. I feel that this time, our veteran players need more games than I originally planned. I’m going from the three games I originally planned to four and some might even get five out of the seven.”

Among the roster cuts: left winger Isaac Ratcliffe and goalie Felix Sandstrom, two highly promising players who were assigned to the AHL’s Phantoms.

The Flyers went 37-37-8 last season and failed to make the playoffs for the fourth time in seven years.

With a new system being implemented by a new coaching staff, the veteran players “need to get into more games,” Vigneault said.

Thirteen players were assigned to the Phantoms: Sandstrom, Ratcliffe, Cal O’Reilly, Greg Carey, Maksim Sushko, Kirill Ustimenko, Gerry Fitzgerald, David Drake, David Kase, Pascal Laberge, Matthew Strome, Rob Michel, and Josh Couturier. Five players (T.J. Brennan, Kyle Criscuolo, Tyler Wotherspoon, Reece Willcox, Nate Prosser) will be placed on waivers Saturday for the purpose of reporting to the Phantoms, assuming they are not claimed.

That left the Flyers with six lines, 10 defensemen, and four goaltenders.

Vigneault said he was accelerating the process “because this group needs that.” He clearly was not happy with Thursday’s performance and the team’s execution.

The Flyers will host the New York Rangers in their fourth preseason game Saturday night. Travis Konecny, who recently signed a six-year, $33 million contract, will play his first game of the preseason.

Vigneault said that when a team plays several playoff rounds the previous season, “that’s intense hockey. That’s a longer season. This group has been off for a while, and in my mind it just needs a little bit more preparation, and there’s nothing better than a game situation.”

The Flyers have four exhibition games left before starting the season Oct. 4 against Chicago in Prague.

The decision to reduce the roster so quickly had nothing to do with the outcomes of the preseason games, Vigneault said.

“It has everything to do with the process, and for me, the process needs to be accelerated. We’ll be down to one group, and once you get down to one group, the internal competition gets a little bit better also. ... We need to get down to one group to have everybody in the same room at the same time to make sure that they’re grasping the concepts that we’re trying to apply."

Vigneault, the 12th-winningest coach in NHL history, was asked if his track record permits him to make a change in the way the preseason is handled and have the players accept it. 1153611 Philadelphia Flyers Hextall and former Flyers coach Dave Hakstol at a developmental camp. Hextall, who came close to landing the Minnesota Wild’s GM job recently,

said he was “disappointed not to finish what we started” in Philadelphia, Ron Hextall is appreciated by Flyers players as he heads back to Los “but that’s life and you move on.” Angeles | Sam Carchidi Being out of the NHL for nearly 10 months “was hard because I’ve been in the pro game since I was 20,” he said. “It’s hard when you have a lot of time on your hands and a lot of time to think and reflect. But in saying by Sam Carchidi, that, since I was 20, there were a lot of things I couldn’t do, and I certainly caught up on some of those things I missed: my family and my

kids and my parents and my wife. So I put the time to good use.” Gradually, general manager Chuck Fletcher, hired last December to Hextall keeps close tabs on NHL teams, especially the Flyers. replace the fired Ron Hextall, is putting his stamp on the Flyers. “I am proud of the job we did. I think we did a lot of really good things He acquired and signed center Kevin Hayes, who would have been one there, and I think it’s going to show in the next few years,” he said. “I of the top players available if he had reached free agency. know Chuck’s done some good things, so I think the Philadelphia Flyers There were the deals that brought veteran defensemen Matt Niskanen have a lot of good things looking ahead for them.” and Justin Braun to the Flyers. Hextall still feels a bond to the Flyers players. There was Fletcher’s excellent first draft with the Flyers in June. “A lot of those kids, we drafted and developed, and you have But if you look at this year’s team, its success or failure will mostly be relationships with the players on the team,” he said. “I still care about because of Fletcher’s predecessor. every one of those guys. I do follow them, for sure.”

Hextall’s fingerprints are all over the Flyers. Hextall, fired because of philosophical differences and because management thought he was too passive in the trade market, built Many of the players Hextall drafted, including Carter Hart, Travis through the draft and made sure players were fully seasoned before Konecny, Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, , and Nolan promoting them to the Flyers, who went 165-128-58 under his watch and Patrick, are expected to play key roles this season. And some of his made the playoffs twice in four seasons. other draft picks, headed by Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, German Rubtsov, Nic Aube-Kubel, and Felix Sandstrom, are knocking on “The basis of what we did was a plan we created five, six years ago, and the NHL door. we stuck to it,” Hextall said. “To be perfectly honest, it was hard at times to stick to it when we were going through some hard times, but we set it The players who were with Hextall during his time with the Flyers were in place and said our goal was to win the Stanley Cup — and we kept our thrilled to hear that their old boss was hired Wednesday by the Los eye on the end goal.” Angeles Kings as a part-time adviser in the hockey operations department. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.21.2019

"I’ll always be thankful to him for drafting me,” said Provorov, selected with the No. 7 overall pick in 2015. “He brought a lot of young guys here, drafted them, and built a very good core that’s going to help us in the future and help us now. His job’s not going to go unnoticed, and we’re really happy for him that he’s back in LA. He deserved to have a job in this league.”

Shayne Gostisbehere was selected (shrewdly) in the third round of the 2012 draft, back when Paul Holmgren was the general manager. He, too, was happy Hextall had landed on his feet and praised his work with the Flyers.

“He was here four years and he really helped us get into a good situation with the cap, allowing us to go out and get guys like JVR and Hayeser,” said Gostisbehere, referring to teammates James van Riemsdyk and Hayes by their nicknames. “Obviously, it didn’t end well with him, with us not winning, but he did set up our team and you have to be grateful for that.

“We had kind of a messy cap situation before, but he did some things [to fix it] and he replenished our farm system and really got it going,” Gostisbehere added. “It’s good to see he got a job again and now he’s going to help another NHL team try to win.”

Familiar with Kings

Hextall, 55, is returning to Los Angeles, where he was an assistant general manager from 2006 to 2013 and helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup in 2012.

“I’m really excited; it’s a good opportunity with people I’m familiar with,” he said Thursday.

Hextall will still live in South Jersey and will travel to L.A. once a month, spending five to seven days there to observe some of its home games. The rest of the time, he will be in touch with the Kings brass via phone and will be part of numerous internal discussions, including trades.

“I think it’s good to have another voice around. I think it always helps,” he said. “That’s what Blakey [Rob Blake, Kings GM] said to me, so I’ll probably be doing a little of everything. I’m certainly willing to do whatever” is needed.

Hextall and former Flyers coach Dave Hakstol at a developmental camp. 1153612 Philadelphia Flyers “I’m used to coming to camp in the past and my teams in the playoffs. So I usually give the veterans three of the six or seven (preseason games) off. At this time, our veteran players need more games than I originally planned.″ Travis Konecny to debut vs. Rangers; Flyers cut 18 from roster Therefore the early cuts.

Some veterans might play as many as five of the seven games. By Wayne Fish / Posted Sep 20, 2019 at 9:04 PM “With the new staff, I need to get these guys into more games,″ Vigneault said. “So we’ve decided to accelerate the process. We were originally going to make some cuts on Monday.″ VOORHEES — So much for taking his time to get into game action. The Flyers’ roster is now at 36 players. Travis Konecny, who missed a handful of training camp days until his new six-year, $33-million was finalized, plans to make his preseason Morin still catching up debut in Saturday night’s home game against the New York Rangers. Former first-round draft pick Sam Morin still has high hopes for making Konecny has been putting in extra work since hitting the ice for the first the Flyers, despite the fact he’s only played in only 24 professional time at the Skate Zone on Wednesday. games (17 AHL, seven NHL) over the past two seasons.

He was already pretty much in game shape so it’s just a matter of getting An ACL injury limited him to just seven games last year. new coach Alain Vigneault’s systems down. Needless to say, he has to stay healthy if entertains the notion of sticking That means a little overtime in the video room. with the Flyers as a possible seventh or eighth defenseman on the roster.

The 22-year-old right wing, coming off a pair of 24-goal seasons, skated “My skating is still there,″ the 24-year-old offered. “Physically, I could be a on a line with Kevin Hayes and Oskar Lindblom on Friday. little bit better — the last game I could have been a little chippier.

However, Vigneault indicated Konecny will be with two different “The big thing in practice, I want to improve my breakouts. Two years linemates for the Rangers game. ago I was making clean breakouts. It’s little details, they can make a big difference, keeping your head up, knowing where your guys are.″ Some of that could have to do with roster cuts, which Vigneault announced late Friday afternoon. There’s no way to prevent accidental injuries but he can control his conditioning. Konecny looked pretty spent by the time he reached his locker but it’s all good. “I need to play games,″ he said. “You work hard in practice but you can’t simulate game conditions. I’ve only played 20-something games the last “It (the Rangers game) will be big,″ Konecny said. “I’ve been looking two years. I just have to stay healthy and play games.″ forward to it for a long time now. I just hope everything I’ve been doing on the ice and off the ice will translate (into success).″ Burlington County Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 Konecny believes he’s ready, both from a mental and physical standpoint.

“System-wise, I think I’ve got it ... it’s a lot of reading and reacting, just kind of playing the game,″ he said. “I think the conditioning will show itself tomorrow; you can practice all you want but you can’t really know until you play.″

Who knows? The Hayes-Konecny-Lindblom unit could still be in place when the Flyers open their season in the Czech Republic (Prague) on Oct. 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hayes played four years for Vigneault with the New York Rangers, so he might have a little inside information on the coach.

“He (Hayes) is a good guy, lots of energy,″ Konecny said. “Very smart player, actually, uses his body well, creates space. It gives you time to move around, get open.″

Vigneault has been promoting an up-tempo game. Konecny should fit into that style quite nicely.

“I think so,″ he said. “I think that style will benefit the style I like to play. Again, I’ll see once I translate all the systems into game-like (conditions) but everything so far I’ve seen and listened should fit into the system I like to play.″

Flyers cut 18 players

The Flyers are making roster cuts sooner than expected. They will place the following five players on waivers Saturday for the purpose of reporting to the club’s AHL Affiliate, the : Defensemen Tyler Wotherspoon, Nate Prosser, T.J. Brennan and Reece Wilcox, plus right wing Kyle Criscuolo.

These 13 players have been assigned to the Phantoms: Goalie Felix Sandstrom, center Cal O’Reilly, left wing Greg Carey, right wing Maksim Sushko, goalie Kirill Ustimenko, center Gerry Fitzgerald, defenseman David Drake, center David Kase, right wing Pascal Laberge, left wing Isaac Ratcliffe, left wing Matthew Strome, defenseman Rob Michel and defenseman Josh Couturier.

“I got here this morning and met with my staff and (general manager) Chuck (Fletcher),″ Vigneault said. “After looking at the last couple days, I feel this is a different situation than I’ve been used to in the past. 1153613 Philadelphia Flyers Vigneault plans to give Elliott a complete game in his next start. On a similar preparation arc, Carter Hart will play two periods in his next start followed by a full 60 minutes.

Claude Giroux warms to occasion against Bruins, Flyers not so much The projected top power-play unit of Giroux, Jake Voracek, Couturier, James van Riemsdyk and Shayne Gostisbehere was together for the first time in the preseason.

By Jack McCaffery The group had its first chance when Sean Kuraly was boxed for tripping at 13:04 of the first, but was generally flat.

Earlier in the man-advantage situation, the other group of Morgan Frost, PHILADELPHIA — For a 13th consecutive season, dependably and on Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Farabee, Ivan Provorov and Phil Myers stirred. At time, a player destined to rate among the greatest in Flyers history spilled one point, Frost was denied from in front on an impressive Halak glove Thursday night onto the Wells Fargo Center ice. save with his back to the play. Claude Giroux was back, playing for the first time in the preseason and Overall, the Flyers were 0-for-5 on the power play, making them 0-for-13 making a mild contribution in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. in the preseason. Playing left wing on Sean Couturier's top line, with Joel Farabee on the Rookie Carsen Twarynski played on the left wing with center Connor right, Giroux assisted on the Flyers' only goal, a long shot from the right Bunnaman and Kyle Criscuolo. He matched Voracek's team-high three point by Matt Niskanen in the first. The captain logged 21 minutes, 22 hits. seconds of ice time and won seven of 11 faceoffs, then gave himself an honest review. “I just need to keep playing hard, outwork everyone and be a team guy,” Twarynski said. “I need to block shots, make hits and play the game “It's the same story every year,” Giroux said. “The first one is tough to get some guys don’t want to play. It’s hard and grueling but there’s a spot into and get your legs under you. But I felt we were a little better in the here for that guy who can bring some energy.” second period. NOTES >> The Flyers will play the New York Rangers Saturday night at “It's just good to get the first one out of the way.” 7 in their final home game of the preseason. Monday night, they will be in The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on their seventh shot on goal when Danton Boston, hit Madison Square Garden next Thursday and finish the Heinen converted a pass from Charlie Coyle at 7:47. Niskanen's score, preseason the following Monday in Switzerland against Lausanne HC. … from the top of the right wing circle after Giroux's feed, sailed high above The regular season starts Oct. 4 in the Czech Republic against Chicago. the waving stick of Jaroslav Halak. ... The Flyers will play New Jersey Oct. 9 in their home opener. … Former general manager Ron Hextall will spend the season as a hockey “I’m excited about the opportunity because there is a lot of talent here,” adviser to the Los Angeles Kings. Niskanen said. “The younger D, I think they are very mobile, move the puck well and have good instincts. Hopefully, we can help them out.” Delaware County Times LOADED: 09.21.2019

Boston took a 2-1 lead at 4:16 of the second when Brendan Gaunce backhanded a blind feed to Peter Cehlarik to the right of Brian Elliott. With Phil Myers caught too deep, Cehlarik made the uncomplicated conversion.

With 3:45 left, Connor Clifton raced out of the penalty box, picked up a feed from Anders Bjork, broken in alone and scored on Alex Lyon.

Though Couturier and Giroux were together for the first time in the Alain Vigneault era, the Flyers would fall to 0-2-1.

“We didn't do too good,” said Couturier, who assisted on the Niskanen goal. “Or I didn't. But it's all part of the process. And it was good to get back with G. He and I just have to get our timing back a little bit.”

Farabee was delighted with the opportunity to share a line with two franchise pillars.

“It was really good work by G and Coots down low,” he said. “They grinded it out for a bit and then we got possession. I was able to free up some space in front of the net and Niskanen put the puck right where he wanted it.

“It was a really good shot.”

Vigneault would recommend that Farabee enjoy the experience.

“If I am him, I am real happy I am playing with those two guys,” the head coach said during camp. “Obviously, if you’re him, you’re playing with two pretty good players. It’s a great opportunity and we’ll see what happens moving forward here.”

Farabee wouldn't disagree.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Farabee said. “We’re battling it there.”

Elliott started and, as scheduled, played the first two periods. Though making some impressive stops, the 34-year-old allowed two goals on 24 shots.

Alex Lyon played 18:23 of the third period before Vigneault went to an extra skater.

Elliott allowed one goal on eight shots in 30:13 of action in an earlier exhibition loss to the Islanders. 1153614 Philadelphia Flyers Chris Bigras Justin Braun

Mark Friedman Flyers roster cuts: Notable hopefuls remain in busy competition Shayne Gostisbehere

Robert Hagg By Jordan Hall September 20, 2019 6:30 PM

Philippe Myers VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers made a hefty round of cuts a little earlier than anticipated. Matt Niskanen

They changed their preseason plan Friday morning as head coach Alain Ivan Provorov Vigneault and the front office decided this was the best course of action in preparation for the Oct. 4 season opener (see story). Travis Sanheim

The Flyers trimmed the roster by 18 players. Andy Welinski (injured)

Tyler Wotherspoon, Nate Prosser, T.J. Brennan, Kyle Criscuolo and Goalies Reece Willcox will be placed on waivers Saturday. If they clear, they'll Jean-Francois Berube report to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. Brian Elliott Felix Sandstrom, Cal O'Reilly, Greg Carey, Maksim Sushko, Kirill Ustimenko, Gerry Fitzgerald, David Drake, David Kase, Pascal Laberge, Carter Hart Isaac Ratcliffe, Matthew Strome, Rob Michel and Josh Couturier were assigned to Lehigh Valley. Alex Lyon

None of the cuts are surprising. Sushko performed well in camp and is Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 entering his first season with the Phantoms. Ratcliffe had an outside shot at winning a roster spot with the Flyers but it became clear throughout camp and the preseason that the 6-foot-6 winger needed development in the AHL. Felix Sandstrom is a promising goalie prospect. David Kase and Pascal Laberge will be forwards to watch, as well.

O'Reilly, 32, was a point-per-game player last season in the AHL and will be one of Lehigh Valley's best players, along with Greg Carey.

The competition for the Flyers' bottom six and defensive pairings heats up Saturday with the team's fourth preseason game out of seven. Nobody has knocked the door down (see story).

The Flyers' roster is at 36 players.

Forwards

Andy Andreoff

Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Connor Bunnaman

Sean Couturier

Joel Farabee

Morgan Frost

Kurtis Gabriel (injured)

Claude Giroux

Kevin Hayes

Travis Konecny

Scott Laughton

Oskar Lindblom

Nolan Patrick (injured)

Tyler Pitlick (injured)

Michael Raffl

German Rubtsov

Chris Stewart

Carsen Twarynski

James van Riemsdyk

Jakub Voracek

Mikhail Vorobyev

Defense 1153615 Philadelphia Flyers "Once you get down to one group, the internal competition gets a little bit better also," Vigneault said. "That's what we need to do here, we need to get down to one group to have everybody in the same room, at the same time, and make sure that they're grasping the concepts that we're trying Change in plan shows Alain Vigneault isn't messing around with Flyers to apply.

"I'm very confident that this will be better for the group."

By Jordan Hall September 20, 2019 4:43 PM How the Flyers start the season will provide the true answer.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 VOORHEES, N.J. — Alain Vigneault knows how to massage a message. He coached in Montreal, Vancouver and New York; this is not his first rodeo.

When he spoke Friday about suddenly changing the Flyers' preseason plan to ramp up the preparation and concepts for the veteran players, he chose his words wisely.

But make no mistake: Vigneault can't be thrilled with the progress.

"It has nothing to do with the outcomes, it has everything to do with the process," the Flyers' head coach said. "For me, the process needs to accelerate at this time — and that's what I intend to do."

The Flyers were ready to play a mixed group of NHLers — about nine players that would likely make the team — and prospects to compete in Saturday's exhibition game against the Rangers at the Wells Fargo Center. Instead, following a lackluster 3-1 preseason loss to the Bruins' B-squad Thursday, Vigneault met with general manager Chuck Fletcher and assistant general manager Brent Flahr Friday morning about adjusting the approach. With four exhibition games remaining, the Flyers will expedite cuts to focus on whittling down the roster and increasing the reps for the main players ahead of the season opener.

"Between the 25 and the 30 players that I feel right now have the best chance of maybe making this team," Vigneault said. "Instead of waiting until Monday, Tuesday's practice, we're going to be at that number [Saturday]."

Is it a startling change? If anything, it's proactive. The Flyers have missed the playoffs in four of the last seven seasons and haven't won a series since 2012. They've notoriously started slow in recent history. Last season, the team was in last place of the Metropolitan Division at Thanksgiving for the second straight year.

It cost people jobs and, ultimately, it's why Vigneault is in place.

After looking at the last couple of days, I feel that this is a different situation than I've been used to in the past. I've been used to coming to camp in the past and my teams have been in the playoffs. Usually I give the veteran players three of the six or seven games that we play. I feel at this time, our veteran players need more games that I originally planned. I'm going from the three that I planned to four and some might even get five out of the seven.

I'm going on the amount of teaching that we're doing, there's a lot there, there's a lot to be assimilated by the players. I'm going by what I'm seeing about the players' performance, how they're executing, and I just feel at this time we need to make a change and that's what we're doing.

- Vigneault

In 16 NHL seasons as a head coach, Vigneault has 11 playoff berths. Eight of those teams advanced past the first round, three won the Presidents' Trophy and two went to the Stanley Cup Final. He has impressive results in Year 1 on the job (see story).

"When you're in the playoffs and you go for a round, two rounds, three rounds, four rounds, that's intense hockey, that's a longer season," Vigneault said. "This group has been off for a while and, in my mind, it just needs a little bit more preparation. There's nothing better than game situation, where games are on the line.

"With a new staff coming in and everything that we need to touch on, I need to get these guys into more games. So what we've decided to do is just accelerate the process."

Does Vigneault's track record allow him to make this change and have it stick with the players?

"They don't have a choice," Vigneault said. "That's just the way it is."

Oct. 4 is nearing and a new system from a new staff is expected to spearhead a jump back into contention for the Flyers. 1153616 Philadelphia Flyers That’s exactly what he did. Frost no longer seems overwhelmed by the pace of NHL (preseason)

hockey. His offensive instincts have never been in question, but in past 10 things: Flyers prospects hold their own versus Bruins, but are they preseasons his frequent inability to keep up with the play meant that he doing enough to secure roster spots? had few opportunities to showcase those instincts. That’s no longer an issue. In the first period, Frost had two “should have been a goal” sequences that would have made his statline look all nice and shiny had Halak not been standing on his head. Frost was less flashy in the middle By Charlie O'Connor Sep 20, 2019 stanza, but impressed with his tenacity in backchecking and along the boards in puck battles. In the third period, he delivered his best moment of the night, a true NHL-caliber sequence. Another preseason game, another loss for the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s everything Frost can do at his best — strong puck pursuit in the The top of the Flyers’ lineup was largely back in action on Thursday defensive zone, an attacking mentality in the middle of the ice to create a night, with Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Ivan Provorov and Matt zone entry despite seemingly being surrounded, and then the patience to Niskanen all making preseason debuts, while impact names like Jakub wait for the trailer and drop him an on-the-money pass. In one 10-second Voracek and James van Riemsdyk also played for Philadelphia. But the clip, Frost shows why he’s such an exciting prospect. increased firepower wasn’t enough to hold off the Boston Bruins, who cruised to a 3-1 victory at the Wells Fargo Center. Niskanen scored the But he wasn’t perfect. Obviously, he didn’t finish any of his chances, and only goal for the Flyers, who remained winless in the exhibition slate. for a player trying to make the team as a scorer, actually scoring is Brian Elliott made 22 saves on 24 shots in two periods of work; Alex Lyon somewhat important. In addition, the Flyers spent a lot of time in the stopped nine of 10 shots in the third period. Jaroslav Halak and Maxime defensive zone with Frost on the ice; a 25.81 percent Corsi For at 5-on-5 Lagace shared duties for Boston in net and combined to make 23 saves isn’t exactly awe-inspiring, especially considering he had Voracek and on 24 shots. van Riemsdyk as wingers. Frost acknowledged the areas that could have been better, while rightfully coming away satisfied with his offensive 1. Can the big-name kids make the team without a dominant game? game. “I think there’s a couple of mistakes I made with the puck in the D- zone,” he said. It’s been an exciting training camp and preseason for fans who care about Flyers prospects. Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, German Rubtsov — For his part, Vigneault seemed impressed with Frost … but not overly so. all first-round picks, all showing flashes of why they were selected so “He had a couple good looks,” the head coach said. “I definitely can see high in their draft years and all have legitimate chances to make the big the skill level. He’s got some upside. It was his first game like a few of club. Head coach Alain Vigneault hasn’t shied from giving them, our other players. The pace and the opposition is a little different, but I particularly Farabee and Frost, high-quality NHL linemates as they thought he did some good things.” That’s an endorsement, but not a pursue roster spots. And because they’ve all looked good, fans are ringing one. Frost seems close to having that monster, can’t-deny-he’s- beginning to dream that one or more could actually make the club. ready game; now, it comes down to whether he’ll deliver it in time to make the team or if it will have to come with the Phantoms. My lingering concern, however, is this: Is “good” going to be good enough? 3. Farabee holds his own with the big guns

I think back to September 2016. Ivan Provorov was heavily favored to After skating on a line with Giroux and Couturier during training camp make the Flyers, and rightfully so; he was too good for junior hockey and practices, Farabee got his shot with the top forwards in an actual game clearly ready for the jump physically. Travis Konecny was another story. on Thursday. It’s hard to think of a more favorable spot for a young He had a shot, but a “good” camp that year wasn’t going to earn him a player trying to make his case for NHL-readiness. So, did Farabee take spot. He was going to have to bang the door down via eye-opening play full advantage of the opportunity? — and that’s exactly what he did. Konecny produced highlights throughout the preseason, and delivered multiple statement games. His He certainly didn’t look bad. He drew a penalty through sheer effort, case was air-tight, and he essentially gave the Flyers no choice if they showed his usual relentless effort on the forecheck, and did good work in wanted to retain credibility with the veteran players and show that the low slot and below the red line with the puck in the offensive zone. winning games actually mattered to the front office. His chemistry with Couturier and Giroux improved as the game progressed, and that trio (unsurprisingly) was the only one to finish above I’m not sure any of this year’s big-name rookies have delivered a 50 percent by both shot-attempt differential and Expected Goal statement game yet. differential at 5-on-5. Farabee looked like he belonged.

Frost was the closest of the bunch Thursday night; he easily could have But it would be an overstatement to say he stood out. At times, the 19- finished with two or three points if the bounces had gone his way. year-old looked his age in how he held up physically; it’s been a bit too Farabee didn’t look out of place with two star-level talents in Giroux and easy for opposing defensemen to knock the puck off his stick. He hasn’t Couturier. Rubtsov had something of a clunker, but it was his third game broken out on offense — Farabee usually ends up in the right spots to in four nights after a solid first two contests. It’s not like these guys are score goals, but the goals haven’t come yet. playing poorly. But none looks dominant. Frost and Farabee are trying to make the team as scorers but haven’t scored yet. Rubtsov looked worn By not looking out of place, Farabee likely didn’t hurt his case for a roster down in the final game of his endurance test. In other words, they’re not spot Thursday night. But I’m not sure he helped it a ton, either. making air-tight cases like Konecny did. 4. Rubtsov shows signs of fatigue as tough schedule takes toll The big underlying question is simple: What is the threshold they have to Only four players were asked to play in both games of the Monday- pass? If it’s “look good enough to hold their own in the NHL and slowly Tuesday back-to-back, and of those four, only Rubtsov saw his name on improve over time,” then they all look ready. But I get the sense that the the board again Thursday. It felt like a test by the organization: How organization’s default inclination is to give all three time in the AHL this would a 21-year-old with only 14 games of North American professional season, at least for a bit. If that’s the case, then Frost, Farabee and experience fare in a three-games-in-four-days situation, facing mostly Rubtsov have to be so impressive that they force a change of plans. rested opponents? They’ve been good. But great? I’m not sure we’ve seen any of them cross that threshold, and time is running out for one (or more) of them to It turns out, about as one would expect. The core of Rubtsov’s game do so. remained sound — positionally, he was fine, and his PK work was solid as usual. But he looked like a drained player. Already not a dynamic 2. Frost the closest to a breakthrough game skater, Rubtsov’s top-end gear was nonexistent, which was particularly After missing the first two games this week with a minor groin injury, noticeable when his line tried to transition from defense to offense. He Frost was running the risk of falling behind in the race for a roster spot. was uncharacteristically turnover prone, often trying to flip the puck off The uncertainty surrounding Nolan Patrick’s status has potentially the boards in the hope it would bounce to a teammate, rather than opened the door for Frost to make the team out of camp at 3C, but by looking to make a clean pass. There were all telltale signs of fatigue. missing the first two preseason contests, he has little margin for error. He Vigneault had the same view. “I thought he looked a little tired tonight,” needed to impress right out of the gate Thursday to realistically stay in he said. “We put him in a tough spot. We’re trying to find out about our the hunt. players. As far as his understanding of the game, I think it’s real good. On Tuesday, the Flyers sent an inferior-on-paper roster to Long Island to There was no doubt that tonight, energy-wise, it was little bit more face an Islanders club that dressed a large number of projected starters. challenging for him. We’re going to give him off, obviously, the next night. Surprisingly, the Flyers hung tough and arguably outplayed the Isles, at He’s going to get another opportunity to play because I like what I have least until the third period when New York started to really take seen from him so far.” advantage of the talent gap. On Thursday, the narrative was reversed for the Flyers — despite dressing their two best forwards, a bunch of high- In other words, Rubtsov’s chances at earning a roster spot aren’t dead end prospects and five of their six probable Game 1 defensemen, the because of one underwhelming game; the Flyers know they put him in a Bruins took Philadelphia to the cleaners on the whole. tough position to succeed, given the circumstances. But had he stood out despite this week’s heavy workload, Rubtsov’s chances of making the big Philadelphia closed the overall shot and chance gap a bit due to drawing club would have risen dramatically. That didn’t happen. five penalties on Boston while the Bruins could only generate two power plays of their own; however, the Flyers could not light the lamp with any 5. NAK continues to impress of their man-advantage opportunities, and continued to trail in all of the Over the first few days of camp, it seemed like Nicolas Aube-Kubel’s key categories despite the extra attack time. It all came down to 5-on-5 chances of making the Flyers out of camp were not especially high, even play — Boston led in shot attempts by a whopping 63-33 margin, and accounting for the fact that an end-of-camp demotion would mean had a solid 2.16-1.77 edge in Expected Goals. That’s less than ideal, exposing him to the rest of the league via waivers. But Aube-Kubel didn’t especially with Boston’s best forwards on the night being Danton Heinen, play Monday, and didn’t seem to have a ton of organizational Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle. momentum. That changed after a stellar performance Tuesday, which The Flyers’ less-than-stellar 5-on-5 work may qualify as a was first tacitly confirmed by his place in the lineup for Thursday’s game disappointment, but it’s still only preseason. They also have the and on the second power play unit, and then explicitly confirmed by legitimate excuse of being in the process of learning a new system under Vigneault after practice. a new coaching staff. “We’re doing a lot of thinking out there instead of “I definitely liked his game,” Vigneault said Thursday afternoon regarding knowing exactly what we’re going to do,” Vigneault said. “It’s going to Aube-Kubel’s showing on Tuesday. “It was the first time for me seeing take a little bit of time. We got to show some patience, but we got a lot of him in a game-like situation. I liked his game. And both Chuck (Fletcher) work to do like I mentioned a few times. We’re going to do it.” and Brent (Flahr), both said that that’s the best game they’ve seen him They’ve got another two weeks. play, in the sense that he kept it simple, played a north/south game, was good on the forecheck, had a good stick, defensively was responsible 8. Andreoff better than Tuesday, still not a standout and he was conscious of the things that we had talked about. So that was a good start for him. He’s getting another opportunity tonight.” Andreoff entered training camp with a real shot of making the final roster, even if many fans were less than enthused, considering his NHL track Aube-Kubel wasn’t quite as strong Thursday, but he had another solid record. But Fletcher liked Andreoff’s skill set, and noted as far back as performance. His best moments came early, as he replicated the July 1 (the day Andreoff signed) that the former King would be in the mix attacking mentality from two nights earlier and showed creativity at times at camp. On Tuesday, however, Andreoff was mostly invisible in his first with the puck. His pass to spring Andy Andreoff and Frost on a 2-on-1 preseason action, which didn’t endear him to some already-skeptical was a thing of subtle beauty. fans. He went back out on Thursday in an attempt to change their minds.

And that’s the thing with Aube-Kubel — he’s not an especially flashy Andreoff was more effective this time around, particularly in the game’s player, especially when he’s not running around trying to hit everything early stages. He had a nice early setup to Aube-Kubel in the slot, and that moves. But there’s a reason why he’s driven play so well at the AHL nearly earned an assist on a 2-on-1 with Frost that ended in a stellar level, and the above video provides a hint. As with most of the prospects Halak save. But shortly thereafter, Andreoff misfired a pass that quickly battling for spots, more tangible offense would be nice, but unlike players led to a DeBrusk breakaway, and then he was largely invisible the rest of such as Farabee, Frost and to a lesser extent Rubtsov, Aube-Kubel won’t the way. Part of the issue was his center, Rubtsov, who played nowhere be expected to score very often in an NHL role. In terms of what he’d be near his best. But Aube-Kubel — also on Andreoff’s line — continued to asked to do with the Flyers, Aube-Kubel looked fine on Thursday. be disruptive (in a good way) and help the team move up ice, despite Rubtsov’s struggles. Andreoff’s trending upward, but he hasn’t 6. Myers yet to have his ‘erase-all-doubt’ night consistently looked the part of an effective NHL fourth-liner yet.

Philippe Myers entered camp as the closest thing to a lock among of all 9. Giroux largely on PP1 right side, but other looks tried the “prospects,” and he most likely still holds that designation. After all, one of the driving forces behind the Radko Gudas-for-Niskanen trade The decision in the second half of 2018-19 to move Giroux away from the was the Flyers’ belief that Myers was ready to slot in as the third-pair left side of the PP1 formation was met with rightful skepticism. Not only right-handed defenseman, and therefore Gudas needed to be moved to had Giroux established himself as one of the league’s best power play accommodate the youngster. Myers is physically ready for the NHL. He distributors from the left, but a move to the right side also meant a slightly has the raw upside not just to be a passable defenseman, but a true less effective one-timer — Giroux’s PP weapon of choice when it comes impact one. He should make the big club. to scoring goals. The shift to the right wasn’t the only reason Giroux scored just two power play goals last season, but it surely didn’t help. The problem is that, like his prospect counterparts, he’s yet to have that game that serves as the exclamation point in his case for a roster spot. So when the Flyers showed a look in Thursday’s practice with Giroux on Vigneault was given the chance to praise Myers after the game, but the right side again, it predictably wasn’t received well by some fans. In instead went the other way. the game, however, it became clear that the coaching staff is using the preseason to test out multiple power play looks. Last night’s game began “Obviously, there’s some upside there, but I think he might be trying to do with Giroux on the right side and Couturier, van Riemsdyk, Voracek and a little too much,” Vigneault said. “He needs to be strong in his one-on- Gostisbehere in support. But later, Giroux was tested out on the left side, one battles and keeping his puck decisions a high percentage. I’ve seen first with Farabee in front of the net in JvR’s spot and then with JvR back him play at the worlds. I’ve seen him play better than he has tonight. He’s there. In the third period, Giroux was back on the right. going to get another opportunity to play.” In other words, nothing is set in stone. The benefit of having Giroux on It wasn’t all bad for Myers. Only Shayne Gostisbehere performed better the right versus the left is the impact on van Riemsdyk, who can receive by 5-on-5 advanced metrics, and Myers showcased his physical passes down low on his forehand if Giroux is on the right. It makes sense dominance on a number of occasions, burying David Backes on one that a new coaching staff would want to see how all of the formation exchange along the boards. But he also lost netfront coverage on Peter possibilities look in preseason, and weigh the various strengths and Cehlarik’s second-period goal, and had too many underwhelming shifts. weaknesses. My opinion is that Giroux is best served on the left, but the It’s still hard to imagine a Game 1 roster that doesn’t include Myers. More captain acknowledged after practice Thursday that he became more than any other prospect in the hunt, the Flyers want him to make this comfortable on the right side toward the end of 2018-19, so at the very team. But he won’t be able to coast to a lineup spot. Even just one big least, it’s worth testing when the games don’t matter. game would be enough to remove all doubt. 10. Top two pairs for start of season?

7. Rough game on the whole for the Flyers In what very well might have been a preview of Game 1 of the regular season, the Flyers rolled with the defensive pairings of Provorov- Niskanen and Gostisbehere-Justin Braun on Thursday. Both pairings have been together since the start of camp — Philadelphia’s two highest- profile, talented young blueliners alongside the right veteran defensemen acquired this summer. It sure seems like the coaching staff is setting these pairs up for October.

Neither pairing was impressive by the numbers, but Gostisbehere-Braun seemed to click better Thursday. Niskanen, on the other hand, expressed blunt dissatisfaction with his performance in his first preseason game. “We didn’t do too good. Or I didn’t, at least,” Niskanen said. “But it’s part of the process. Get our feet wet together for the first game. I have to get my timing back.”

No one should bury Niskanen after one poor preseason game, but it didn’t seem like he and Provorov were on the same page for much of the game. If the plan is to open the season with that duo as the top pair, they’re going to need at least a couple more games together to build chemistry in preparation for Oct. 4.

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Penguins announce lineup for Saturday’s preseason game in Columbus

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, September 20, 2019 4:09 p.m.

The Penguins announced their lineup for Saturday’s preseason game against the Blue Jackets at Columbus’ Nationwide Arena.

Forwards: Andrew Agozzino, Anthony Angello, Zach Aston-Reese, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Nick Bjugstad, , Teddy Blueger, Thomas DiPauli, Dominik Kahun, Sam Lafferty, Jake Lucchini, Jared McCann.

Defensemen: Kevin Czuczman, Erik Gubranson, John Marino, Juuso Riikola, Chad Ruhwedel, David Warsofsky.

Goaltenders: Casey DeSmith, Emil Larmi.

The Blue Jackets’ lineup will include:

Forwards: Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Nick Foligno, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Nathan Gerbe, Boone Jenner, Eric Robinson, Justin Scott, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Alexandre Texier.

Defensemen: Gabriel Carlsson, Scott Harrington, Markus Nutivaara, Ryan Murray, Andrew Peeke, David Savard.

Goaltenders: Matiss Kivlenieks, Joonas Korpisalo.

The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be televised on AT&T Sportsnet.

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Penguins make first cuts from training camp

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, September 20, 2019 4:07 p.m.

The Penguins made their first cuts from training camp.

Forwards Chase Berger, Jordy Bellerive, Jan Drozg and Ben Sexton, defensemen Matt Abt, Michael Kim and Jon Lizotte, and goaltenders Alex D’Orio and Dustin Tokarski were assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Defenseman Calen Addison, considered one of the organization’s top prospects, was returned to his junior team, the of the .

There remain 46 players in camp.

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Penguins sign 3rd-round draft pick Nathan Legare

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, September 20, 2019 1:17 p.m.

The Penguins signed forward prospect Nathan Legare to a three-year entry-level contract.

Legare, 18, was a third-round selection (No. 74 overall) in this year’s draft. The Penguins dealt three picks (No. 98, No. 151, No. 207 overall) to move up in the draft and select Legare.

In two games this preaseason, Legare has three points (two goals, one assist). Each of his goals were scored during the third period of Thursday’s 4-1 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Legare (6-foot, 2015 pounds) is expected to be returned to his junior team, Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, this season. In 2018-19, he appeared in 68 games and scored 87 points (45 goals, 42 goals).

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Matt Cullen is showing the tricks to faceoffs for the Penguins

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, September 20, 2019 1:10 p.m.

As the Pittsburgh Penguins experiment with Dominik Simon in hopes of teaching the winger how to play center, they’ve instructed new player development coach Matt Cullen to work with Simon on taking faceoffs.

“That’s one of the responsibilities that we’ve given him,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’ll spend some time with Dom.”

Cullen spent plenty of time with the incumbent centers during the late stages of practice in Cranberry on Friday. For about 10 minutes, Cullen worked with Nick Bjugstad, Teddy Blueger, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Serving as a “linesman,” Cullen dropped pucks for faceoffs and even grabbed a stick to show some of the finer details of a craft he fine-tuned for 21 years as a center before retiring this past offseason.

“He was a good leader when he played and now, he’s obviously leading as a coach,” Bjugstad said. “He’s definitely able to relate to us because he’s fresh out of the league. He gives us a lot of little tips on faceoffs, penalty kills. It’s good to have him here at camp. He’s a good voice to have. It’s a little different when he’s in the coaching apparel other than his equipment. I think he could still be playing. But it’s great that he’s still involved in the organization teaching stuff.”

“He’s communicated a lot of knowledge and he was a great player for a long time,” Blueger said. “Just a lot of details that he notices and things that he’s learned throughout the years. Just tips on certain things. As centers, everyone has the strong parts of their games, some weaknesses too. It’s been really good, already helpful.”

Cullen won 53.3 percent of the draws he took in his career.

“I remember a few times him using his foot,” Bjugstad said. “He would kind of shield the puck and win it back. I would always, when I was younger, use my power. He’s obviously not as big as me but smarter at that point. He’s definitely savvy and he’s got some tricks. He’s been sharing some of those tricks now.”

For a player like Blueger who is expected to enter his first full season at the NHL, it’s a skill vital to his role as a fourth-line center and penalty killer. He only won 41 of 92 draws he took as a rookie last season (44.6%).

“For me, my big thing on faceoffs is trying to diversify,” Blueger said. “I kind of stick to basically my strength. When I struggle, I kind of run out of options a little bit in terms of my approach on the draw. That’s something we’ve been working on.”

Tribune Review LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153621 Pittsburgh Penguins now. We feel as though we have a lot of depth at that position, and it’s an important position.

“We’re all really excited about these guys. As we get more familiar with John Marino could help restore the Penguins’ defensive depth their respective games and figure out where they are and how close they are to playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it just gets that much more exciting.”

SETH RORABAUGH | Friday, September 20, 2019 12:59 p.m. Tribune Review LOADED: 09.21.2019

Penguins defensive prospect John Marino appeared in his first professional game, a 5-4 exhibition overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday in University Park.

Given the Sabres dressed a lineup full of their regulars, Marino got an immediate impression of what it’s like against NHL-caliber players.

“Obviously, it’s a little different than rookie camp,” Marino said. “They had most of their (NHL) guys playing. Definitely a little bit faster.”

Also, it was a quite a bit harder.

About five minutes into the contest, Marino, a puck-moving defenseman who left Harvard a year early to join the Penguins, tried to push the puck from the defensive zone and through the neutral zone. Waiting for him was veteran Sabres defenseman Colin Miller, who thumped the 22-year- old Marino to the ice with a sturdy shoulder check.

That was something of a “welcome to the NHL” moment for Marino.

“A little bit,” he said. “Just trying to get the puck deep. That’s just kind of part of the game. It’s going to happen time to time.”

The rough reception from Miller didn’t deter Marino from trying to create offensively. In the third period, Marino went deep on the right wing into the Sabres’ corner and fed a pass through the crease that eventually led to a goal by forward prospect Sam Lafferty.

“They just gave me a little bit of space,” Marino said. “I kind took the ice wide. Sam made a great play. He crashed the net. I was able to put it home and found him out front.”

A sixth-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015, Marino never signed with that organization, citing an abundance of depth at the blue line.

“It’s no surprise they do have a lot of prospects,” he said. “That’s kind of how it played out.”

The Oilers opted to cut ties with Marino and traded his signing rights to the Penguins in July. In early August, he signed a two-year entry-level contract.

“Definitely an unbelievable opportunity here,” Marino said. “There’s just so much support here. Everyone plays the game so much faster. … I think that definitely fits my game.”

Marino also played in Thursday’s 4-1 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Penguins management appears to be impressed by the 24-year-old native of North Easton, Mass., especially considering he is wearing a No. 6 jersey as opposed to a “training camp” number more appropriate for an offensive lineman than an offensive defenseman.

“We’ve really liked him in the games,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s shown himself really well. He can really skate.

“He’s mobile. He’s got a long stick. He’s got a good reach. What’s really impressed me about Marino’s game is his ability and how quickly he closes on people defensively. He does a great job limiting time and space of our opponent, and he creates a lot of turnovers as a result. He’s had a good solid couple of games for us.”

Marino, along with Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Calen Addison, represents an influx of depth for the organization on defense among its prospect pool. Having seen the likes of Derrick Pouliot, Ethan Prow or Lukas Bengtsson fail to live up to expectations, the Penguins are hopeful they’ve restocked the pipeline on the blue line.

“These guys that we’ve added are good players, and they’ve got a lot of upside,” Sullivan said. “We’re excited they’re a part of our organization. We’re excited to watch them throughout the course of this training camp, and we’re going to have a number of young defensemen like we have 1153622 Pittsburgh Penguins Jarry ignoring noise Tristan Jarry’s future in the organization is in flux this preseason. The

goalie, who is battling DeSmith for the No. 2 gig, will have to clear Brandon Tanev earns some time alongside Sidney Crosby after waivers to be sent down to the minor leagues. The team also welcomed disruptive debut trade offers this summer.

“My mindset’s been the same every year. It’s to make the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Jarry said. “That’s been my goal from Day One. … To keep MATT VENSEL improving and to keep pushing myself to make sure I’m a full-time NHL goalie one day.” SEP 20, 2019 7:03 PM He stopped 19 of 22 shots in Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Jarry, who was in net for the second half of that game, played better than Brandon Tanev, the Penguins’ only significant free-agent addition this his .864 save percentage indicated. He stopped a breakaway shortly offseason, impressed his new coach, Mike Sullivan, in his unofficial after taking over for DeSmith and a 2-on-1 rush after that. He made a few Pittsburgh debut. other difficult saves.

He did not record a point in Thursday’s 4-1 win against the Columbus “There were a lot of chances, a lot of Grade As,” the 24-year-old said. Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena. But Tanev, who previously played for “It’s fun to play in those games. Obviously, not during the regular season, Winnipeg, had a team-high five hits, blocked a shot and was credited but in exhibition, it’s fun to get shots and it’s fun to get right into the game with one takeaway. like that.”

“He’s a speed guy. He plays a real good north-south game,” Sullivan Penguins trim roster said. “He’s got a physical edge to him. He can disrupt breakouts. He can The Penguins on Friday made their initial round of roster cuts. force turnovers.” Assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League were Tanev showed all of that in the second period Thursday, when he forwards Chase Berger, Jordy Bellerive, Jan Drozg and Ben Sexton; charged behind the Columbus net, whacked the puck off the stick of the defensemen Matt Abt, Michael Kim and Jon Lizotte; and goalies Alex goalie then with the net empty sent a centering pass that skipped over D’Orio and Dustin Tokarski. Alex Galchenyuk’s stick. Top blue-line prospect Calen Addison has also been returned to his Nathan Legare celebrates his second goal of the third period against the junior team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. Blue Jackets Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena. Post Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019 After the game, Sullivan said he liked what he saw from that new-look second line, with Evgeni Malkin between those two newcomers. He also suggested he wanted to get a look at different line combinations. A day later, he did.

Friday, Tanev played with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel on the top line. Bryan Rust was bumped up to skate with Malkin and Galchenyuk. Dominik Kahun, who had been with Crosby and Guentzel, practiced on the fourth line.

The Penguins figure to tinker more before the Oct. 3 season opener. But Sullivan definitely seems intrigued by the idea of Tanev with Crosby or Malkin.

“When they have speed on their lines and have guys that can help them create turnovers, those guys do a terrific job of making plays off of that,” he said. “That’s what we like about what he brings to the top-six if we so choose to do that.”

Hornqvist havoc is back

The Penguins for the third time this week spent a large portion of practice working on the power play. They used four different personnel groupings. Crosby and Malkin were the constants. Guentzel, Kris Letang and Justin Schultz were in three of the groupings. Galchenyuk and Patric Hornqvist also mixed in.

Galchenyuk scored a power-play goal with a blast from the left circle Thursday. But that long-range shot likely wouldn’t have gotten through had Hornqvist not buzzed in front of Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins while it was in midair.

The Penguins' Nathan Legare, right, celebrates his first of two goals in the third period Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena.

“You know he’s always going to be at the net front, creating a screen, and he’s always going to battle for loose pucks,” Schultz said. “You need a guy like that on the power play that’s going to get pucks back and go to the dirty areas. So many of the goals are scored because of him, even if he doesn’t touch it.”

The following morning in Cranberry, Hornqvist resumed his harassment of any and all masked men, whacking home a rebound Casey DeSmith dropped near the paint and later scoring on Matt Murray on a spinning shot from the slot.

It was just one preseason game and a practice, but it gave hope that the menacing Hornqvist of years past is back after a quiet second half in 2018-19. 1153623 Pittsburgh Penguins “He’s had a great camp so far,” Sullivan said. “We’re real excited about some of the young guys that we have.”

Legare has made the most of his time in Pittsburgh, on the ice and off of Penguins prospect Nathan Legare flashing his goal-scoring prowess it. He attended the Steelers’ home opener on Sunday, his first-ever NFL game, where he watched another third-round pick, Mason Rudolph, do his thing.

MIKE DEFABO He promised he’ll be back at Heinz Field.

SEP 20, 2019 5:59 PM First NFL experience, for sure not the last one!! Nice game @steelers pic.twitter.com/NlcobPJJiB

— Nathan Légaré (@Nathan_Legare) September 15, 2019 A few days back, Penguins prospect Nathan Legare was getting ready for his first exhibition game in a Penguins sweater when he heard When might that come? Well, it depends how long Legare sticks. While something in a familiar tongue. Sullivan said he’s “not ruling anything out,” the odds are Legare will spend the season in the QMJHL again as he continues to refine his “‘Tu joues ce soir?’” the voice said in French. game. Translation: “You play tonight?” He pinpointed his skating, in particular, as an area where he needs to Legare, a French-Canadian from Montreal, looked to see Sidney Crosby, improve. He said that those first three steps are especially critical to add who apparently is more than just one of the game’s brightest stars and an explosive element to his game. the world’s best players. He’s also not too bad at speaking French. “For sure it’s the speed,” Legare said. “It’s one of my weaknesses. I need Penguins left wing Brandon Tanev battles for a loose puck with Blue to work on that. In an NHL game, for sure, there’s a lot of speed. It’s a Jackets defenseman Gabriel Carlsson Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. thing I have to improve.”

“It’s been my hope since I was young just to be on the ice with him,” Sullivan said that, in general, young players sometimes take time to Legare said. “Just being around him is special.” understand the subtleties of the game, such as the play away from the puck, wall play, puck support and other “thankless jobs” that go along The conversation alone was a welcome-to-professional-hockey moment with being a complete player. for Legare. So was Friday, when the Penguins announced they signed the 18-year-old to a three-year, entry-level deal. During Thursday night’s Being in this atmosphere and having some success, though, is beginning exhibition game at PPG Paints Arena, he added another one … well, to lay the groundwork for the future. actually two. “It’s a great opportunity for the young guys to be around our veteran A third-round pick in this year’s NHL Draft, Legare scored a pair of goals players,” Sullivan said. “I think they have great role models here that they in a 23-second span to help push Pittsburgh past the Columbus Blue can just see how they carry themselves, both on the ice and off the ice. Jackets, 4-1. That right away is a great experience for a young player.”

Just over six minutes into the third period, the Penguins won a faceoff in Oui, oui! the offensive zone. Legare collected a loose puck and snapped a hard Post Gazette LOADED: 09.21.2019 wrist shot through the five hole of goalie Veini Vehvilainen.

Seconds later, Legare found a soft spot high between the two faceoff circles. He hammered a waist-high slap shot that beat Vehvilainen on the glove side.

How do you say “goal-scorer” in French?

“Nathan had a great game tonight,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday. “It’s really jumped out to all of us his ability to shoot the puck. He can finish. He can really shoot it. And he likes to shoot it. Tonight was a great example.”

John Marino carries the puck past Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019.

Legare has a knack for finding the soft spots on the ice and settling into them to hunt for his shot. Last year, while playing for Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, he scored 45 goals to go along with 42 assists in just 68 games. He also represented team Canada in the U18 World Junior Championship, scoring four goals in seven games.

Games like Thursday are nothing new to him.

“I think it’s just a mentality when you go on the ice,” Legare said. “You shoot the puck and you go to the net. I was in the right place at the right moment.”

The Penguins know a thing or two about seeing an opportunity and pouncing on it.

Before this year’s draft, members of the front office and scouting department considered Legare a top-30 player. So as the draft went on — through the first round, through the second round and into the third — with Legare still available, the team made a move.

They gave up a fourth-round pick, fifth-round pick and seventh-round pick to move up and select Legare.

It’s obviously early. But so far, the feedback has been positive. 1153624 Pittsburgh Penguins Chad Ruhwedel and Zach Trotman to make the team out of camp or prove he should be one of the first call-ups.

Marino said he’s been relishing his first NHL training camp. Penguins' new-found blue-line depth will be on display vs. Blue Jackets “It’s definitely been a pretty cool experience to play with some of these guys that I grew up watching on TV,” Marino said. “To be on the same ice as them, it’s kind of a surreal experience.” MIKE DEFABO To make the team and play with stars such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni SEP 19, 2019 7:05 PM Malkin on a regular basis would make it even better.

The next couple days and weeks will begin to provide more clarity on the roster situation. No matter how it ultimately shakes out, what was once Last year at this time, the report on the Penguins’ young, promising such a glaring weakness of the organization just a year ago is beginning defensemen read something like this: There was Calen Addison, a to look more and more promising. teenager drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft. “These guys that we’ve added are good players,” Sullivan said. “They’ve And then? Well, not much else. At least not a lot with true, high-end got a lot of upside. We’re excited that they’re part of our organization. upside. We’re excited to watch them throughout the course of this training camp. But over the last 10 months, that narrative has certainly changed, as the We’re going to have some difficult decisions.” Penguins have infused both their NHL club and their prospect pool with a Defensive parings number of young blue liners. While the defensive pairings could be a bit wonky in Thursday’s That new-found depth was on display Thursday night, when the exhibition, with lots of prospects mixed with NHL mainstays, training Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-1, in their second exhibition camp has presented some interesting looks at how the lineup might look of preseason. Marcus Pettersson, John Marino and Pierre-Olivier Joseph during the opene Oct. 3. — three defensemen who are all 23 or younger and who weren’t part of the organization 10 months ago — were all active. Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin have been playing together on the top line, as expected. But Pettersson and Schultz have also spent a lot of Nathan Legare celebrates his second goal of the third period against the time together. The Penguins have recently liked to pair two Blue Jackets Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena. complementary skill sets: one puck-mover matched with one stay-at- Matt Vensel home style blue liner. But if this group stays together, it would keep two puck-movers on the ice at the same time. Five observations after Nathan Legare, new-look second line lead Penguins past Columbus “I think we both see the ice the same,” Schultz said. “We know where each other are. We can get out of trouble by moving the puck and we can While exhibitions are what they are, the lineup also presents an skate pretty well.” opportunity to see into the possible future of the Penguins’ blue line. Pettersson had similar praise for his teammate. “To have a number of young defensemen like we have now, we feel as though we have a lot of depth at that position,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a mobile guy,” Pettersson said. “He can play both sides of the “We’re all really excited about these guys. As we get more familiar with puck. He’s great offensively. You can give him the puck and you always their respective games and figure out where they are and how close they have a solution for a situation. … It’s been good in the practice we’ve are to playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it just gets that much more had.” exciting.” There’s obviously plenty of time to make changes before the season. But “Depth” is a word that never would have been used to describe the if the pairings hold up the way they have in camp, the third unit would Penguins’ young defensive options a year ago. But the movement began likely be Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson. in December, when the Penguins added Pettersson, now 23, in the Injury update Daniel Sprong trade. Penguins prospect Adam Johnson is dealing with a lower-body injury that It continued into the offseason when they picked up a pair of prospects. kept him out of practice Wednesday. On Thursday, Sullivan categorized The Penguins acquired 20-year-old Joseph in the Phil Kessel trade and the severity as “day-to-day.” also acquired the rights to former Harvard defenseman Marino, 22, in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick. The 25-year-old forward has played the last two seasons with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton. Last season, recorded So far, the newcomers have made a good impression on the veterans. 43 points (25 assists, 18 goals) in 67 AHL games. He also played six “They’re all good skaters,” Justin Schultz, 29, said. “It seems like every games with the Penguins in the NHL, tallying two points. young guy these days is a good skater. They can all see the ice really well and move the puck well. That’s what it takes to be a good D man in the league.”

We’re lumping Pettersson in here because he’s relatively new and just 23 years old. But he’s clearly a lock to make the team. In fact, he’s someone the Penguins hope will be part of the defensive core for years to come.

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After 40-goal season, what will Jake Guentzel do for an encore?

The others fall on different points on the spectrum when it comes to their NHL readiness.

Joseph is considered more of a long-shot to earn a locker at PPG Paints Arena, as he works to continue to add some weight to his long and lanky frame. (Even though he’s not active on Thursday, Addison is similarly young and will likely take a little longer to develop.)

Marino, meanwhile, is an interesting case. He impressed coaches and members of the organization’s front office during the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo earlier this month. He’s in a legitimate battle with 1153625 Pittsburgh Penguins good tandem. To this point, we like what we’ve seen. They’re starting to establish some familiarity, some chemistry. So far, we like what they’ve done together.”

The chemistry between Evgeni Malkin and Alex Galchenyuk looks real Players trending up

• Nathan Legare is really impressive. He scored two goals in just 23 seconds in the third period, showcasing his impressive release on both By Josh Yohe Sep 20, 2019 occasions. While first-round pick Samuel Poulin has enjoyed a good training camp, Legare has been even better. Sullivan praised his shot

following the game, and it’s easy to see why. I spoke with Jim Rutherford Alex Galchenyuk looked suspiciously at the media surrounding him following the game, and it was pretty clear that he is also delighted with following the Penguins’ 4-1 exhibition game victory against the Columbus Legare’s performance. I expect him to produce huge junior numbers this Blue Jackets on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. season and, within a year or two, to be a legitimate contender to make this roster. This is a big-time talent. Right beside him was Evgeni Malkin, and Galchenyuk assumed the journalists were more interested in speaking with his center. • John Marino continues to impress. I can’t imagine a scenario where he makes this team, other than if a couple of injuries cripple the blue line. It’s “Nyet,” Malkin playfully said to a reporter who sat beside him. tough to crack the lineup on the right side because Kris Letang, Justin Schultz and Erik Gudbranson are there. Plus, Chad Ruhwedel is a Nyet, indeed. perfectly dependable fourth defenseman there. However, moving Galchenyuk has an opportunity to become a big deal in Pittsburgh, and forward, it’s easy to see how Marino could have a real role on this team he took a small step toward doing so with a goal against the Blue starting next season. Everyone in the organization has been pleased with Jackets. his performance through a week of training camp. He was a plus-3 against the Blue Jackets and continues to exhibit the ability to move the The American-born Galchenyuk can speak Russian with Malkin and, if puck nicely. This guy is a good player and is only 22. training camp and their preseason debut are any indication, they speak the same language on the ice, too. • Oh, I think Matt Murray will make the team. But it should be noted that he’s been sharp in camp and stopped 27 of 28 shots in his first exhibition “You can see it,” Justin Schultz said. “They’ve got some good chemistry. appearance of the season. His rebound control was good and he looked, I know from playing against them (in training camp). You have to be in general, quite sharp. Murray was terrific during the last six weeks of aware of (Galchenyuk) when he’s on the ice. He makes some pretty the 2018-19 season and, if he picks up this year where he left off, a lot of unique plays.” perceived problems surrounding the Penguins will have been resolved.

The coaching staff is strongly considering including Galchenyuk on the Players trending down top power play, and he added to that intrigue by lacing a shot past Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins in the first period. While that goal • David Warsofsky didn’t do anything wrong and is a valuable player to was impressive, it’s a given that Galchenyuk will score some goals when have in the organization. I didn’t think he did much on Thursday, given space, as he’s always been gifted with a fine shot. however, and I’m not sure he’s the player he was a few years ago.

“He could be a scary weapon on our power play,” Schultz said. • Poulin didn’t enjoy a particularly strong game against the Blue Jackets. “Especially when he skates down the left side. He can really shoot the He took a penalty, was on the ice for a goal against and was generally a puck and, if he doesn’t have a lane, he’s going to find someone else.” non-factor. No big deal. He’s a kid and otherwise has enjoyed a pretty good camp. What hasn’t been clear — and how could it? — is how Malkin and Galchenyuk would function together. The coaching staff and front office • I don’t like Dominik Simon at center. The coaching staff is believed when Galchenyuk was acquired in June that there was a experimenting with the idea, and hey, that’s what the preseason is for. reasonable chance he and Malkin would click. But they didn’t know. Slowly but surely, I’m coming around on Simon. But I think he’s a bottom- six winger who excels at protecting and distributing the puck. Nothing There does indeed appear to be chemistry. A couple of rushes in the first wrong with that. I just think his size at center is a disadvantage, and he and second periods were fairly telling, as Galchenyuk swerved in won only one of six draws against Columbus. different directions only to find the puck on his blade via a pretty pass from his center. The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019

They had a two-on-one in the second period, and Galchenyuk was stopped from in tight. Malkin probably should have taken the shot but often prefers to defer to linemates in the early stages of relationships. Perhaps he was merely sizing Galchenyuk up.

“We are building that chemistry,” Galchenyuk said. “We’ve got to keep working. I thought we got better and better.”

Malkin and Galchenyuk recorded four shots apiece. They skated most of the game with Brandon Tanev, who has joined them for the first week of training camp. The Penguins aren’t certain that Tanev will remain there when the season starts — “We may have some guys on that right side to explore different options,” coach Mike Sullivan said — but he was perfectly effective on Thursday.

Neither Malkin nor Galchenyuk are known for their superb defensive prowess, which means the Penguins would ideally like to have a good defensive player as their third wheel. Tanev is just that.

There is a sense, of course, that if Malkin and Galchenyuk reach their full potential as linemates, the identity of the third player on that line is almost irrelevant.

Malkin has looked especially determined in the early days of training camp and had his legs in a big way against the Blue Jackets. Galchenyuk wasn’t far behind, something the Penguins hope becomes a trend.

“I think they’re getting more familiar,” Sullivan said. “You can see them looking for one another on the ice. They have the potential to be a real 1153626 Pittsburgh Penguins drove that exceptional differential where the team generated over three expected goals for per 60 with Crosby on the ice as well as only allowing 2.25 on defense. When you’re as elite offensively as Crosby, outperforming expected goals to that degree isn’t a huge deal (his 10.6 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins percent on-ice shooting percentage is his highest in six years, but isn’t that far off his prime rates where he was routinely above 10 percent), and

the defensive numbers look to be in line too. Few ahead of him (he By Dom Luszczyszyn Sep 20, 2019 ranked 20th among forwards in expected goals against, but sixth using RAPM) managed the same numbers while playing tough minutes on a nightly basis.

Last season didn’t end the way many Penguins fans hoped: an In terms of play-driving, it’s arguably the most dominant Crosby has ever embarrassing first round sweep at the hands of a team that got swept by looked (by expected goals RAPM it was second only to his 2007-08 a team that got swept by the team that lost the Cup final. The Penguins season), mostly on the strength of his defense where he had a legitimate were last year’s ultimate playoff losers, a humiliating end for a team just claim to a Selke Trophy nod, finishing fourth in a very tight race. It was two seasons removed from back-to-back Cups. his strongest season in terms of scoring chance suppression relative to his team. As a result, Crosby’s play-driving impact is projected to be the That came after an uneven season where Pittsburgh finished with 100 second best to only the venerable Mark Stone among forwards. points, but didn’t look all that convincing in doing so. It has created some skepticism about the club, especially after yet another strange offseason. Jake Guentzel rode shotgun next to Crosby for a majority of the season While I see the argument for downgrading the Penguins, I’m not sure I and became yet another notch on Crosby’s belt in lifting seemingly agree with it. They may no longer be the league’s best team or even in ordinary players to extraordinary heights. That’s the narrative anyway, the conversation for it, but Pittsburgh should still be a contender with next but Guentzel looks to be a special player in his own right, an offensive season being business as usual as long as the core remains intact. driver that grades out as an elite option next to Crosby. Over the last three seasons he’s been a first line caliber scorer even without Crosby Last preseason we predicted the Penguins would finish with 100 points and went supernova last year with 40 goals and 76 points despite limited and that’s exactly where they finished. It’s where they finished in 2017-18 top unit power play time. He was one of just two players to score 30 too. There should be little surprise as to how many points the team is goals at 5-on-5 last season (the other was John Tavares) and does so expected to earn in the 2019-20 season. thanks to a lethal shot that has him scoring on 16 percent of his shots That’s a three-point gap between Pittsburgh and Washington, the team through his career to date. He’s a sniper. before it in these rankings (and there’s a 14 percent chance the two meet With Kessel gone, Guentzel likely takes a spot on the top power play and in the opening round). These final eight teams are the ones my model that could mean bigger numbers for the 24-year-old, but also a potential considers to be this year’s legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. That can decrease in the unit’s overall efficiency. Over the last two seasons, change throughout the season as teams outside the top group prove Kessel has been the driving force of the power play, leading the team otherwise or teams inside slip, but for now these eight are in a tier of their with 8.1 power play points per 60, an impressive feat on a team with two own – all with a chance north of five percent of winning it all. Keep in of the game’s best centers on it. mind that still means a 31 percent chance for the remaining 23 teams. The right winger on the top line looks to be Jared McCann, a serviceable Of the eight teams remaining, Pittsburgh might be the most surprising utility winger just entering his prime. His addition last February sparked given the discourse surrounding the team, but there’s plenty of reason to the team’s dominant run down the stretch and he looked like a perfect fit believe they still have the goods. Pittsburgh’s likeliest landing spot is next to Crosby and Guentzel. In 120 minutes the trio had a sterling 61 somewhere between 95-105 points, which happens 45 percent of the percent expected goals share. What’s interesting is that McCann was time. Those expecting doom and gloom can take solace in the 29 percent one of the weakest play-drivers in Florida, but found new life in chance the team earns 95 points or fewer. Pittsburgh. Fit and chemistry matter – or maybe anyone could look good I’m not sure the Penguins are at that stage yet, though. The team is next to Crosby. aging, yes, but the core is still very much elite, even after the exodus of Though my model estimates Crosby was worth roughly six wins last year, Phil Kessel. And while the team looked uneven to start the season, it figures he’ll be closer to 4.6 this year, the second highest mark in the things changed after the trade deadline once Pittsburgh reworked its league behind Connor McDavid. That’s about where his three-year depth and the new guys learned the system. In the last 20 games of the average lies and at 32 there’s some age effects baked in too. Though he season the Penguins were one of the league’s best possession teams, ranks second, that 1.4-win dropoff will have to be made up somewhere earning 55.6 percent of the expected goals share en route to a 12-4-4 else and one should look no further than the spot right behind Crosby on record. That’s an elite club, despite what happened in the playoffs. the depth chart: Evgeni Malkin. So while many aren’t sold on the Penguins after how last season ended, Much has been made about Malkin’s rough season as he didn’t score as my model isn’t going to bet against Sidney Crosby and company. Not yet much as usual (his 0.99 goals per 60 in all situations was the second anyway. lowest of his career plus 0.7 fewer than the two seasons prior) and the That’s especially true if Crosby plays anywhere close to the level he was team was outscored with him on the ice at 5-on-5 for the first time in his at last season. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: he deserved the career. Expect both to revert as Malkin’s 9.6 percent shooting percentage Hart Trophy last season, as Nikita Kucherov’s offensive dominance at 5-on-5 was well below the 15 percent he’s averaged the five seasons wasn’t enough to offset the difference on defense between the two. By prior. He’s also expected back up to the 20 minute mark for the first time GSVA, Crosby’s 5.95 wins was far and away the best mark last season in five seasons. As a result, my model expects a return to the elite tier (or the last four seasons for that matter) as he was a dominant two-way and back above the three-win range where he was from 2016-2018. Last force on top of scoring 100 points, his first time reaching the century year he was closer to two wins. While Crosby thrived on the top line, mark since the 2013-14 season. More impressive were his 84 primary Malkin suffered slightly relative to his lofty standards. points, the most he’s had since 2009-10 and tied for fourth in the league Malkin is still a beast with the puck and without Kessel he won’t be with Patrick Kane. Kucherov may have outscored him by 28 points, but expected to share it as much. Selfish Geno is a good thing, but first he’ll his teammate quality was higher, most of the edge was on the power need it on his stick. With Kris Letang predominantly playing with the top play (20 more than Crosby) and from secondary assists (18 more than line, Malkin saw too many minutes with Jack Johnson and it’s there were Crosby). His play-driving ability wasn’t anywhere close to Crosby’s and most of Malkin’s problems surfaced. In 365 minutes together the duo had he was second at five wins as a result. a 46 percent goal rate and 48 percent expected goal rate, both of which Crosby’s exceptional win rate was built on the back of some insane 5-on- improved to 51 and 55 percent respectively when Johnson wasn’t on the 5 play at both ends of the ice. There, the team just about nearly doubled ice with Malkin. Keeping one of the team’s most toxic defenders – a up on opponents scoring 3.9 goals per 60 and allowing just 2.1 the other player who is completely inept with the puck – away from their second way, a difference that was almost 0.4 goals per 60 better than the second best player should be a major priority this season. best player in the league. His plus-38 differential at 5-on-5 was tied for No more Kessel should also be a good thing for Malkin’s defensive the fourth highest since 2007-08, and it looks mostly deserved too. numbers, which ballooned the past two seasons to 2.5 and 2.6 expected Crosby had an elite expected goals rate of 57 percent (a benchmark he goals against per 60, the highest marks of his career. Malkin’s defensive has reached in every season with Mike Sullivan behind the bench) that numbers severely improve without Kessel, but the grass isn’t always again paired with one of the league’s worst defensemen. That could be a greener on the other side. The team dealt Kessel for Alex Galchenyuk, very ugly pairing if Schultz can’t bounce back. one of the few players in the league worse defensively than Kessel, carrying a worse expected goals against RAPM in each of the last three That’s the second mention of Johnson potentially bringing a player’s seasons – all without Kessel’s offensive upside. At 5-on-5 Galchenyuk numbers down and it’s not without merit. He is a very serious factor has scored at a low-end third line rate the last two seasons, though holding the Penguins back from success and his minus-0.7 win projection playing with Malkin will surely change that. On the right side, Bryan Rust is the second worst mark among defensemen set to be in the lineup this is one of the team’s better depth options who has scored at a second line season. That’s ahead of only Erik Gudbranson, who’s currently slotted for rate in the past, but also appears to be limited defensively. the second pair on this very team. Pittsburgh entering the season with two of the league’s bottom five defenders playing prominent roles is likely The bottom six here is very deep, a source of strength for the Penguins a determining factor in the team’s diminished standing and it leads to the and actually grades out as the league’s best. It’s unassuming, but full of team having two third pairs after their elite top pair, the league’s third valuable players that can actually play. Dominik Simon is a gem on the worst bottom four. That’s not what you want to hear about a team with fourth line and held one of the league’s best defensive impacts last Stanley Cup aspirations. season. He led the team in expected goals percentage at 59 percent and that’s exactly what you want from players on the bottom two lines – smart Both players have long been whipping boys of the analytics community hockey on the right side of the ice thanks to his ability to carry the puck for the way they have negatively influenced shot rates and goals for up ice in transition. His 1.72 points per 60 is a second line rate that practically their entire careers. For Johnson it’s very much warranted as ranked sixth on the team. he’s weak with the puck and spends far too much time in his own end. In his first of five seasons as a Penguin he was largely inept whenever he Patric Hornqvist, now 32, is likely finished as a top six option and has was on the ice and at 32 things only get worse from here. Goals can be seen his value decline in four straight seasons from strong first-liner to wonky and full of noise for players at times, but with Johnson it really middling second-liner. That’s due to his poor finishing ability, but even does tell the story (especially since his expected goals rate was almost then he scored at a second line rate last year. It’ll be frustrating to watch nearly as poor). With Johnson on the ice, the Penguins scored 2.1 goals him fail to score time and time again, but it’ll also mean less time playing per 60 (last on the team) and allowed 2.7 goals per 60 (also last on the defense. He remains a strong offensive driver and looks like a luxury on team). He was the only Penguins defender who was outscored last the third line rather than a liability on the top line. He’s paired with Nick season and when he wasn’t on the ice the team scored 0.6 more goals Bjugstad (though salary cap issues may put a wrinkle in that) and the duo per 60 and allowed 0.5 fewer goals, a 1.1-goal difference that ranked immediately clicked once the latter arrived in February. Bjugstad was a second last in the league to go with his bottom 10 expected goals rate. middling play-driver in Florida, but his game has been rejuvenated here next to Hornqvist as the duo earned an excellent 62 percent expected In first? Gudbranson in Vancouver. He was awful there and it was easy goals share together. Dominik Kahun slots in on the left and brings to question his potential utility in Pittsburgh after a midseason trade scoring punch. His 1.9 points per 60 last season ranked fifth on Chicago considering his long history of being outchanced and outscored. With the last year. Penguins, though, he miraculously pulled off a complete 180, looking like a changed man and earning a seriously impressive 59 percent expected That leaves Pittsburgh’s big free agent splash on the fourth line, which goals share during his 19-game stint. He saw immediate chemistry with isn’t exactly the place you want someone making $3.5 million per year for the surprisingly effective Marcus Pettersson (who led all Penguins six seasons. Brandon Tanev is a decent player with defensive ability, but defenders in expected goals percentage last season on the strength of seems redundant on a team that’s already deep with NHL caliber strong defensive numbers) and if that’s the version of Gudbranson the options, especially in a bottom six role. It likely leaves Zach Aston-Reese Penguins get this season, it’s one less thing to worry about. It’s a reason on the outside, barring a trade. The Penguins are projected to have the the team can be stronger than these projections, making their defense strongest fourth line in the league thanks to Tanev’s contributions, but I look much more formidable. That duo was exceptional defensively, only don’t think it was worth the cost or the lengthy commitment. One allowing 1.64 expected goals against per 60 in their limited time together underrated skill he brings to the table, though: he’s a strong penalty last season. That’s still a small sample to go off, though, and my model drawer, and that could mean more time for the Penguins’ elite power play isn’t completely convinced of Gudbranson’s transformation just yet, to do damage. making him a fascinating story to watch this season.

Overall the forward group looks strong as usual, ranking in the league’s Of course – all bets are off if Johnson and Gudbranson play together on top five which should be expected with a deep bottom six and a group the same pair. I’m not up to speed on current scientific research in the headlined by Crosby, Malkin and now Guentzel. The team is low on event of two black holes being in such close proximity to each other, but I legitimate top six options outside those three, but when they all grade out imagine it’s not good. as elite and the top two centers have a long history of getting the most out of their linemates, it’s not a huge issue. In net, Matt Murray remains the starter and appeared to have a bit of a bounce-back season, getting back up toward the .920 SV% rate he While the forwards look good with plenty of options to mix-and-match showed in his first two seasons and away from an ugly 2017-18 different combinations, it’s on the other side of the ice where there’s been campaign where he posted a .907 SV% and allowed about 10 goals a constant worry in Pittsburgh for most of the past decade or so. The more than expected. While Murray’s .919 SV% in 2018-19 looks underappreciated Kris Letang still leads the charge as the team’s most impressive, it actually wasn’t that far off from his expected rate as he only valuable defenseman. His impact on defense is below average, so I saved 1.3 goals above expected. He’s young and has loads of talent, but understand the frustration at times with his game, but he’s a workhorse the flashes of being one of the league’s best goalies when he started his who plays very tough minutes. He makes up for it and then some with his career have dimmed a bit. At this point, he looks like an average starter marvellous offense leading to a stellar 55 percent expected goals rate with the potential to be more. last year. He’s one of the few defenders where 60 points is the expectation, and his offensive impact is the third highest in the league On a team with a high-octane offense, that should be enough though and among defenders. When healthy (and that’s a big if), he’s one of just as long as the Penguins have those elite horses in the back ready to ride three defenders projected to be worth three wins of value. Along with the they should not only be a bona fide playoff team, but one that can understated Brian Dumoulin who keeps Letang in check, the Penguins contend. The front office decisions have been questionable to say the have a top five duo on the back end. least since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, but the team was coming from such a high standing that they remain in a good spot despite the The issue with the Penguins defense is that of the six players listed, self-inflicted harm done over three straight summers. While it’s easy to Letang was the only one who could make a reliable breakout pass last sneer at the additions of Galchenyuk, Tanev, Johnson and Gudbranson year and be an asset with the puck on his stick according to tracked data. while deriding the loss of Kessel, it’s still hard to count out a team with The other five were all below average (or significantly worse) at moving Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Guentzel on it. That’s an elite quartet that the puck up ice with control. That includes Justin Schultz, who has a ranks in the league’s top five despite three of them being in their 30s. reputation for being a puck-mover but was rather poor in 2018-19, his worst season as a Penguin. His 45 percent expected goals rate was a Last year’s playoff exit was rough, but it feels like too much stock is being team worst in a replacement level season, but it doesn’t help that in a put on four games rather than this group’s body of work. The Penguins season where he only played 491 minutes, 383 of them were spent still have elite talent and depth in spades and I wouldn’t bet against that – shackled to Johnson. The hope is he can get back to his previous level not when they had such strong underlying numbers to boot. Rumors of as an offensive driver, but that’ll be easier said than done if he’s once this team’s demise feel greatly exaggerated. Market Expectations

Pittsburgh Penguins: 96.5 points

The market is considerably lower on the Penguins than my model. I would guess an embarrassing playoff exit and the Kessel trade has a lot to do with that. I’m not convinced the team will fall as far as the market indicates and should remain a contender this season. As long as they have Crosby, Malkin and Letang, plus a solid stable of forward depth and decent goaltending they should be fine.

What Fans Predict

Public Sample: 1,337

Fan Sample: 111

The public is even more bearish on the Penguins, who are a very trendy pick to see a steep decline this season. Even the fans aren’t as optimistic as my model, which says a lot about the current state of the franchise. While most of the damage done to the team is self-inflicted by management, there’s still a lot for Pittsburgh to believe in and I just don’t see how everyone is so confident that the Penguins are a bubble team.

What The Athletic Insider Thinks

Josh Yohe: The Penguins appear to be the mini-dynasty that hockey has forgotten. Completely off the radar following an abrupt postseason exit in April, the Penguins, many believe, are destined to become the latest in the line of great teams to steadily decline.

While it’s hard to peg them as a no-doubt Stanley Cup contender, writing them off entirely would seem premature. Their greatest strength, without question, is their group at forward. The Penguins are loaded with Hall of Fame talent and more depth than in recent seasons.

Sidney Crosby is one season removed from what I believed was an underappreciated campaign. His two-way play was magnificent. One could argue that he was hockey’s best defensive forward, and he still managed to produce 100 points. Let that sink in.

Evgeni Malkin’s potential return to form, however, is the single biggest item for the Penguins entering this season. He wasn’t himself last season. Not even close. Malkin has looked marvelous during training camp, is clearly in better condition than last season and is highly motivated to make last season a distant memory. I’d expect a significant, bounce-back season from him.

The Penguins lost Phil Kessel to a trade last season and Matt Cullen to retirement. They’ll miss Kessel’s greatness on the power play, but in 5- on-5 play, they might be better and are certainly deeper. Alex Galchenyuk has displayed serious chemistry with Malkin. Brandon Tanev might well be overpaid but that doesn’t mean he won’t be an effective player for the Penguins. He’s had an excellent camp. Dominik Kahun is another intriguing addition that the Penguins like very much. While it didn’t translate to postseason success, the additions of Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad have made the Penguins exceptionally deep at forward.

Their problems are located on the back end.

Kris Letang was outstanding last season and, despite a rocky series against the Islanders, remains a great player. He will join Brian Dumoulin to form one of hockey’s best defensive pairings. After those two, however, are substantial questions.

Is Justin Schultz all the way back from a broken ankle? Is Marcus Pettersson ready to become a top-four defenseman? Will Jack Johnson be better in his second year with the Penguins? Can Erik Gudbranson maintain his steady play after being acquired from Vancouver last season? Is Juuso Riikola ready to make a difference? That’s a lot of uncertainty.

Matt Murray is having a good training and was very good in the second half of last season.

The Penguins remain an intriguing team. If their stars stay healthy and if Jim Rutherford is able to make a move or two — preferably to augment the blueline — it shouldn’t surprise anybody to see this group make another playoff run. Talent and depth remains in a big way.

Goal prevention, however, is a concern.

Still, a playoff berth remains likely for Crosby and company.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153627 San Jose Sharks Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane, who, for now is taking Joe Pavelski’s spot.

Twenty-one of Pavelski’s 64 points last season, including 12 of his 38 Injured Sharks defenseman questionable to start regular season goals, came on the man-advantage for the Sharks, who finished the season with NHL’s sixth-ranked power play at 23.6 percent.

The Sharks’ second unit featured Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Tim Heed on By CURTIS PASHELKA | PUBLISHED: September 20, 2019 at 1:03 pm | the points and Joe Thornton, Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc up front. UPDATED: September 20, 2019 at 3:10 PM “I think we have some different options and some guys we can move to different places,” DeBoer said. “Same with Karlsson and Burns back there. We’ve got some ideas we’re going to implement in training camp SAN JOSE — Defensemen Radim Simek may not be ready to play in the and different guys in different spots, but we’re not married to any of Sharks’ season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 2, them.” coach Pete DeBoer said Friday. Karlsson did not play in the Sharks’ first two preseason games and is not Simek suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in playing Saturday. DeBoer said the plan is to dress Karlsson for a couple his right knee in a game against the Winnipeg Jets in March and missed of games toward the end of the preseason. The Sharks play in Anaheim the rest of the regular season and playoffs. He has been skating on a on Tuesday, are at home against Calgary on Sept. 26 and are in Las regular basis on his own this month and is nearing a return to practice, Vegas on Sept. 29. DeBoer said, but it is still unknown whether he will be able to play in less than two weeks time. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.21.2019 The Sharks, who began training camp on Sept. 13, have four preseason games remaining, starting with Saturday’s game at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights.

“There was a conversation this morning about he’s not far away from getting back into participation with our group,” DeBoer said. “I would say it’s more day-to-day and week-to-week.”

Simek’s possible absence could open the door for another left-shot defenseman to make the roster out of camp. Mario Ferraro, Jacob Middleton and Tony Sund figure to be among the most likely candidates to join Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brenden Dillon on the left side.

Last season, Simek made the Sharks’ roster out of camp but was a healthy scratch for the first 27 games. With the Sharks struggling in late November and early December, Simek was inserted into the lineup for the first time Dec. 2 of last year and immediately found some chemistry with Brent Burns, as the Sharks won seven of their next eight games.

Simek had one goal and eight assists in 41 games for the Sharks, averaging 15 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time. The Sharks were 29-9- 3 with Simek in the lineup last season as they finished second in the Pacific Division with a 46-27-9 record.

Jones to start vs. Golden Knights

Goalie Martin Jones will play all three periods of Saturday’s game, his first action of the preseason. He is also slated to play at least one more exhibition before he starts in net Oct. 2.

“The first couple of games, you’re just getting your timing back a little bit,” Jones said. “You can practice all you want, but it’s a little different when you get in a game. Just the speed and all of the bodies out there and the traffic. Try to get a feel for it again.”

Jones was 36-19-5 with three shutouts last season for the Sharks, but also had career-lows in save percentage (.896) and goals against average (2.94).

He found his stride in the postseason, though, especially after the first four games of the Sharks’ first round playoff series against Vegas. From Game 5 of the first round until the end of Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues, Jones had a .908 save percentage and a 2.68 goals against average.

“He looks confident, he looks refreshed, he looks dialed in,” DeBoer said. “The way the playoffs ended, I’m sure gave him a boost of confidence coming back into this year. He looks that way. He looks good.”

Jones said in the playoffs he worked on patience, just playing his position and making sure he’s not chasing the game too much, things he wants to carry over into this year.

“There’s technical stuff with me and (goalie coach Johan Hedberg), but it’s not like we’re overhauling anything too serious,” Jones said. “It’s just, especially in these early games, just making sure we’re focusing on all the details. Making sure our game’s in a good place to start the season.”

Power play practice

The Sharks spent a fair amount of time on the power play Friday. The first unit featured Burns and Erik Karlsson on the blue line and forwards 1153628 San Jose Sharks penalty minutes, 41 of them in the seven-game series against Las Vegas. Some fans were thrilled about his desire to stand up to Vegas enforcer Ryan Reaves, but that sideshow might have cost him on the scoring end. In any case, it’s not a great concern. He had been in the San Jose Sharks 2019-2020 season preview: Stepping forward without playoffs only once before and then for just nine games. Capt. Joe Pavelski Kane, 28, has scored 28, 29, and 30 goals the last three seasons. Expect his goal totals to remain steady and for DeBoer to pair him with Hertl, establishing a heavy, cycling, and puck possessing pair. By BRIAN RICKS PUBLISHED: September 20, 2019 at 10:07 am | UPDATED: September 20, 2019 at 3:34 PM Kevin Labanc — The biggest unknown in the Sharks offense is the role that Kevin Labanc will play. His performance on one of the top third lines

in hockey resulted in him scoring career highs in goals (17) assists (39) The Sharks enter the 2019–2020 season with much the same bunch that and points (56), all while playing on Thornton’s wing. While speculation reached Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals last spring. Although ran rampant about the value of his next contract, Labanc, 23, signed a some core players have departed — a final salute to Capt. Joe Pavelski one-year, $1-million extension in the offseason. Some see this as a — most of the core remains. “show-me” contract, meaning if Labanc has a repeat or improved performance, he can expect a pay increase like that of Meier. Others In this three-part series, we will analyze the various aspects of the team, speculate that this was a bit of salary-cap trickery by Doug Wilson, and exploring whether GM Doug Wilson did enough to address issues in that the GM has a much more lucrative extension waiting for Labanc to each area. sign in the middle of the season. Whatever, getting a young 56-point scoring winger for a $1 million cap hit is a steal. Today’s focus: The Forwards. Aside from contract intrigue, the question with Labanc is where he will Logan Couture — The new captain has been the best center on the play. Labanc’s shifty playmaking ability would be a great compliment to Sharks for a number of years. Although Joe Thornton is a legend, a the bruising style of Kane and Hertl on the second line. But Lebanc has surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, and the best player to wear a Sharks the ability to play on the top line with Couture and Meier. For sure, he’ll sweater, the torch of No. 1 center was passed to Couture in the 2016 be a fixture on the power play, as he was down the stretch and into the Stanley Cup Final run. In that playoff run, Couture led the league in playoffs last season. Another guy whose point-production should scoring with 30 points. He has been among the Sharks’ top three scorers increase. the last three years. How he will lead the team as a captain remains to be seen, but Couture is plenty qualified to lead the team as its go-to center. Joe Thornton — Jumbo Joe took a team-friendly $2-million deal in what could be his final season (although that has been said before). At age 40, Couture, 30, will be given even more responsibility in the absence of his passion for the game remains high, as does his longing for a Cup — Pavelski, specifically on the power play. Sharks fans can expect his the one thing missing from his Hall of Fame career. Thornton should numbers to improve over the career-high 70 points he scored last center the Sharks third line, serving as sensei to young linemates and season. helping to drive the second powerplay unit. Timo Meier — Meier, 22, was part of the summer’s unique restricted free The Supporting Cast — Speedy Swedish winger Marcus Sorensen agent class. With the NHL giving huge contracts to young players — should return to Thornton’s left side and newcomer Jonny Brodzinski is Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point and Colorado’s the best-bet on the right wing. Once a promising prospect with the Los Mikko Rantanen — it was reasonable to expect that Meier would be a Angeles Kings, Brodzinksi’s career has been stalled by injuries. salary-cap problem for the Sharks. However, due to creative salary structuring, Wilson and Meier’s agent Claude Lemeiux were able to strike The fourth line will include Barclay Goodrow and Melker Karlson. These a four-year deal with a salary cap hit of $6 million per season. As a result, penalty killing forwards are responsible in their own zone, and play their the 30-goal scorer is set up to cash in at the end of his deal and the checking roles well. Lukas Radil and Dylan Gambrell will compete for the Sharks have the financial flexibility to add pieces for a Stanley Cup run. remaining spot on the line. Antti Suomela will challenge for a roster position after coming into last season with high expectations, but failing The chemistry Meier had when playing with Couture and Tomas Hertl to gain DeBoer’s trust. was a sight to behold. Meier’s hard-hitting, nose-for-the-net style brought energy to his linemates and to his team. Expect Meier to improve on his Baby Sharks — The Sharks prospect pool is deep, and two forwards 30-goal, 66-point season as he is likely to get some time on the team’s jump out. Russian left wing Ivan Chekhovich finished second in the top power play unit. Quebec Major Junior Hockey league in points with 105 in 66 games. The 5-foot-10 winger scored 13 points in 11 games with the Barracuda last Tomas Hertl — Last season he became the player the Sharks and the season. fanbase hoped he would be. The promise of his young career was delayed by injury, but in his sixth season in the NHL, the Czech center Huntington Beach native Alexander (or Sasha) Chmelevski played for scored 74 points, a career high and No. 2 on the team to Brent Burns Wilson’s alma mater, the Ottawa 67s, and was third on the team in (83). His appointment as an alternate captain prior to camp is reflective of scoring with 75 points in 56 games. In the playoffs, he scored 31 points in his development not only on the ice but also in the room. 18 games, second in the . Chmelevski has only six AHL games under his belt, but he’s a right-handed shot, a need for The only questions about Hertl are with whom he will play and, most the Sharks. important, his health. A concussion kept him out of the final playoff game and, although he doesn’t have a long history of concussions, he has Summary — The biggest issue at forward is that there are only five missed games after being hit high. The center has dealt with other players to fill the six slots on the top two lines. Depending on where injuries in the past, as well, most notably to his knee. Having played a full Labanc slots in, either the first or second line will be without a right- 82-game season only once, injury doubts will remain. winger. The Sharks hope that a prospect steps up and steps in. If that doesn’t happen, Wilson will be shopping for a scoring winger as the trade Assuming Hertl remains healthy, the real concern is where to slot him. deadline approaches. His production with Couture and Meier helped bring about his career high in points. However, a team playing its top two centers on the same line San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.21.2019 results in a lack of depth further down the lineup. With Thornton expected to slot into the same third-line center role he took last year, expect DeBoer to split up Couture and Hertl; Hertl would center the second line, with Evander Kane on his wing.

Evander Kane — The power forward equaled his career bests with 30 goals and 173 hits last season, while he also amassing an astonishing 154 penalty minutes (also a career high). This mix of skill and pugnacity has not been seen on the Sharks since Owen Nolan.

While Kane’s regular season can clearly be considered a success, he scored only eight points in the Sharks’ 20-game playoff runs. He had 61 1153629 San Jose Sharks

How Sharks can fill void on defense until Radim Simek re-joins team

By Chelena Goldman September 20, 2019 3:19 PM

It's a darn good thing the Sharks have a bevy of talent coming up the pipeline -- especially on defense.

With news coming out of training camp Friday that Radim Simek is questionable to be ready for game-action when the season opens on Oct. 2, the focus shifts not just to when he might finally rejoin the team, but to who will most likely fill in that void on San Jose's blue line.

#SJSharks Pete DeBoer Radim Simek says is still skating, and may join group practices fairly soon. But as far as playing Oct. 2, that's questionable. Simek considered day to day.

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) September 20, 2019

With four preseason games remaining, San Jose has a couple of options when it comes to filling in that roster spot.

Being that Simek is a left-handed shooter, the best bets to pencil into the roster from San Jose's group of young talent are Jacob Middleton and Mario Ferraro. Middleton has a strong chance of being the go-to guy, having been recalled from the Barracuda on a few occasions last season to fill in when the injury bug bit the Sharks' blue line especially hard.

Fans might remember Middleton's surprise NHL debut back in January when he went from prepping for a road trip with the Barracuda one night to practicing alongside Brent Burns the following morning. At that time, left-handed defensemen Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic were both out of the lineup.

Even with Middleton's prior experience at the NHL level, Ferraro will likely still be a consideration to make the opening night roster. The 21-year-old has been impressing the organization since he participated in rookie development camp back in July and has continued that trend through training camp. Ferraro also has recently been paired up in camp with Dalton Prout -- who the Sharks will likely keep in mind to fill in should one of their right-handed defensemen be sidelined.

Having a few different players who can file into the lineup also gives DeBoer more options as far as mixing and matching his d-pairs. Middleton filled right into Simek's spot alongside Burns last year, and should the pairing of Brenden Dillon and Erik Karlsson stay intact, the Middleton-Burns pairing could be reunited with Vlasic being paired up with Tim Heed. If both Ferraro and Prout demonstrate they're a reliable pair to start, the duo might get the nod which would keep Vlasic and Burns skating together as they have been through the start of the preseason.

Of course, those are just guesses as to how DeBoer's lineup will shake up until Simek comes back healthy.

Naturally, the best-case scenario is that Simek gets into the lineup sooner rather than later. San Jose did go 29-9-3 with a healthy Simek in the lineup last season, after all. Plus, Simek's ticket into a regular roster spot was his uncanny chemistry with Burns.

That being said, the Sharks don't want to rush the Czech defenseman back into the lineup too quickly. Sure, Simek has been training for some time now, following surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Teammate Tomas Hertl told the press on the first day of camp that he talked to Simek over the summer and that the blueliner has been "working his ass off" to get back into playing shape. Nevertheless, the Sharks don't want to bring Simek back to quickly and risk him re-injuring himself.

At least the Sharks have good options for filling out their blue line until he returns.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153630 San Jose Sharks Barracuda in December. With the Barracuda, he posted a meager 20 points (6g, 14a) in 47 games and was a healthy scratch for two of the Barracuda’s four playoff games.

What we’ve learned through the first week of Sharks training camp “I was so bad when I played (on) the Barracuda,” Suomela said on Tuesday. “I was a little bit sad in summer. When I came back (this season), I think, (this is) my year and I want to be on the NHL team all year. I have to be ready (and) play hard every night. If we have five By Kevin Kurz Sep 20, 2019 games, I can’t play good (for) three games and two bad. I have to play five good games, and (that was) the biggest problem last year.”

The Sharks have only made a few roster cuts a week into training camp. DeBoer said Tuesday morning that Suomela is “fighting for a spot.” But, Expect some more during their off-day Monday, once Saturday’s game as Suomela alluded to, the coach needs to see more consistency from against Vegas at SAP Center, the third of six preseason games, is in the the 25-year-old who signed a one-year contract extension in the rear-view mirror. offseason.

So it’s hard to make any bold predictions yet about who will fill the holes “I think he showed last year that he can play at this level,” DeBoer said. at forward and how the competition currently sits for a spot on the “Like all young players, he stumbled around a little bit after he got to the opening night roster. Jonny Brodzinski and Dylan Gambrell seem to be in 20- to 30-game mark. He went back down to the American League and I the best position based on the line combinations, but there’s still plenty of thought he was just OK down there, especially down the stretch.” time for the coaching staff to mix things up and make some decisions. 4. Pavelski’s power-play minutes are up for grabs We have, of course, still gained a few nuggets of information over the That battle to replace Joe Pavelski on one of the top two scoring lines is past seven days. Here are 10 of them: still going on, but there’s also an internal competition to determine who 1. Simek is making progress will get his minutes on the top power-play unit. Friday’s practice gave us a first look at the coaching staff’s thinking, as Evander Kane was on the There are less than two weeks before the Oct. 2 opener and Radim top unit with Karlsson, Burns, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. The Simek is still the only Sharks player who isn’t partaking in practice. The second unit consisted of Joe Thornton, Kevin Labanc, Timo Meier, Vlasic defenseman, who underwent surgery to repair the ACL and MCL in his and Heed. right knee in March, is considered questionable for the start of the season, per coach Pete DeBoer. Pavelski led the Sharks with 12 power-play goals last season.

The good news for the Sharks is that Simek has been skating and should “We’re going to look at some things in exhibition here,” DeBoer said. “I be back with the group shortly. think, like, with line combinations, it’s very rare that you start and it works all year and you never make a change. I think we have some different “There was a conversation (Friday) morning that he’s not far away from options and some guys we can move to different places — same with getting back into participation with our group,” DeBoer said. “I would say Karlsson and Burnzie back there. I think we’ve got some ideas that we’re it’s more day-to-day than week-to-week.” going to implement here in training camp with some different guys in some different spots, but we’re not married to any of them.” If Simek isn’t able to start the season, the likeliest scenario would be a third pair of Tim Heed and Dalton Prout. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brent Karlsson said: “I think we all knew what to expect out of Pavs, what type Burns have been paired together since the start of camp, as have Erik of player he was and what he brought. We’ve got a lot of good, talented Karlsson and Brenden Dillon, so that would round out the top six while players in here that can step in and do his role. Throughout the course of the seventh guy would probably be Jacob Middleton. the season, I think it’s going to have to be a shared one. We’re going to have different guys at different times stepping up doing that type of work. 2. Karlsson looks ahead of schedule I don’t think that there’s going to be one specific guy that’s just going to Speaking of Karlsson, he looked great in the two intrasquad scrimmages go in and do what Pavs did. That’s going to be hard to do.” on Sunday and Monday and there don’t seem to be any concerns about Whether Karlsson and Burns will work better together on the same unit his ability to be at full speed once the season begins, even if he has yet will be something to monitor, too. Last season, the team had more to play in the preseason and will sit out Saturday’s game against Vegas, success when the defensemen were split up. When the Sharks scored too. those four quick power-play goals against the Golden Knights in Game 7 “It feels good,” Karlsson said. “I’m sure I’ll get a couple games in here of the first round last season, it was Karlsson’s unit that was getting it before the regular season starts. Even if I would have been healthy, I done while Burns was on the bench. wouldn’t have been playing by now, anyway.” 5. Merkley has work to do on defense DeBoer expressed some surprise on Sept. 15, the day that camp Ryan Merkley remains in training camp and, even though I can’t see him opened, that Karlsson was ready to go from the outset. The defenseman making the NHL roster, I would guess he’ll probably be here at least had offseason surgery to repair a torn muscle in his groin that adversely another week as the Sharks want him to soak up as much as he can affected his performance in the playoffs. from an NHL atmosphere. Even last year as an 18-year-old, Merkley “He looks way ahead of where I expected him to be,” DeBoer said last wasn’t reassigned to his junior team until Sept. 27. Friday. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. But he looks great and feels great, In the Sharks’ preseason opener on Tuesday, Merkley finished with a so that’s a real positive sign. I think if you’d asked me a month ago if he’d pair of assists, including a nice set up through the slot to Brodzinski. But look like he did right now and he was participating full-out, I’d probably be he also turned the puck over twice in the defensive zone on one shift, a little reluctant to say yes. But that wasn’t even a question. I thought he leading to a Devin Shore goal for Anaheim. looked great out there.” He’s still got some work to do in the defensive end. 3. Suomela earned from humbling experience “He’s obviously elite-skilled,” DeBoer said about Merkley after the game. It’s always interesting to note which players have stalls in the main “Like with all young players, if you create two goals and give up two dressing room at the start of camp and which don’t. Of the guys I would goals, you’re not helping us win games. That’s the message.” consider on the bubble, Gambrell and Suomela are the only ones dressing with the rest of the players who are locks to start the season on 6. Coaches stepping into new roles the NHL roster. Although when I asked DeBoer, he cautioned against reading too much into that. It was more seniority than anything else, as DeBoer clarified the Sharks’ coaching staff responsibilities earlier this Gambrell and Suomela both played NHL games for the Sharks last week. Bob Boughner will return to running the defense (replacing Rob season. Zettler, who was let go in the offseason), while Steve Spott will handle the forwards and the power play. Dave Barr will oversee the penalty kill Suomela is an interesting case. He admitted earlier this week that he as well as serving as the “eye in the sky.” struggled with the mental aspect of starting last season with the Sharks, with eight points (3g, 5a) in 27 games before he got reassigned to the Still, DeBoer offered a reminder that the coaches collaborate on just “One of our big species came fucking running at us about a hundred about everything. “There’s more interaction there than I think you guys yards away, and I was like, woah. It was coming towards the baby, (the media) anticipate,” he said on Sunday. screaming. So I put it down and we ran into the house. As soon as we put the baby down she was fine, she just runs to the baby. But, yeah, Boughner’s return after serving as the head coach of the Florida you’ve got to be careful. It’s a legit animal.” Panthers is the most noteworthy change. He’ll be tasked with helping the team cut down on the many Grade-A scoring chances it surrendered last Burns added that the antelope (or more specifically, a gemsbok) that he season. was gifted from his teammates for playing in his 1,000th NHL game last season had babies — one male, and one female. Most of the defensemen already know Boughner well. Karlsson, though, wasn’t here when Boughner first served as an assistant coach under The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 DeBoer for two seasons starting in 2015-16.

“I’ve had him in a couple practices here, but he seems like an honest man,” Karlsson said. “He seems like a guy that he got the head-coaching job in Florida for a reason. He’s a good coach, he’s been around. Guys that had him here in the past have said nothing but good things. I’m sure that once camp winds down here we’re going to get into more specifics and really see what he’s all about, and hopefully again he can do a good job in managing throughout the course of the year what we need to do differently to be successful.”

7. Dell makes an early statement

It didn’t take long for Aaron Dell to solidify his position as the backup goalie. Dell was very good in 30 minutes of work in the Sharks’ preseason opener, while Antoine Bibeau allowed five goals on 22 shots in Calgary on Wednesday night. Dell will surely get a full game in at some point before the preseason ends, and unless that’s a complete debacle, I don’t think there’s any doubt he’ll be sitting on the bench at T- Mobile Arena on Oct. 2 as the No. 2 goalie behind Martin Jones (barring a trade, of course).

Dell, by the way, is in the process of breaking in his black “stealth” pads that he unveiled on social media last month. The plan is to only wear them when the Sharks sport their alternate third jerseys. Unless …

“If I happen to be significantly better in them somehow, maybe I’ll wear them for the whole year,” Dell joked.

8. Roy might be headed elsewhere

One guy that we don’t really talk much about anymore is 22-year-old defenseman Jeremy Roy, whom the Sharks traded up to select with the first pick of the second round in the 2015 draft but has endured two major knee injuries. Roy, who had 21 points (6g, 15a) in 58 games with the Barracuda last season, has seemingly been passed over by several defensemen in the organization. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Sharks moved him at some point in the near future to give him a fresh start somewhere else.

While Roy not panning out with the Sharks has been a disappointment, what hurts even more is that Carolina selected All-Star forward Sebastian Aho just four picks later.

9. An unusual early schedule awaits

In an odd schedule quirk, the Sharks will face the Golden Knights in their final preseason game before their home-and-home to open the regular season on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. Typically under DeBoer, the Sharks have used that final game to play mostly prospects and AHL players, saving their NHL guys for the opener.

But the way the preseason schedule lays out, with the penultimate preseason game coming on Sept. 26, DeBoer indicated that the game at T-Mobile Arena on Sep. 29 will likely feature a mostly NHL lineup.

“We play Thursday, and I don’t think a lot of guys want to sit and wait for six days before they open (on Oct. 2),” DeBoer said. “It’s not going to be a typical late game; I think we’re going to have more of an (NHL)-type roster.”

The Sharks are staying in Vegas after that game rather than returning home, will be off on Sept. 30 and will practice there on Oct. 1.

10. ‘It’s a legit animal’

Finally, we’ll end with a tale about a baby kudu that lives Burns’ Texas ranch.

“We lost power this summer. Our thing tripped, and it’s out in the woods. So (my wife and I) went to get it and I was looking for the electricity panel to trip it back, and my wife was like, ‘There’s a baby right there.’ So we picked it up. We thought it was a small animal species that we’ve got, a black buck, and I picked it up and it started going like, ‘rah, rah, rah.’ 1153631 St Louis Blues In addition, the Blues have assigned Jake Christiansen, Cam Darcy, Zach Nastasiuk, Rob O’Gara, Evan Polei, Nolan Stevens, and Alexey Toropchenko to San Antonio.

Blues could get help from Down Under BACK ON THE ICE

After missing practice time this week with what Berube called an “upper- body” tweak, Oskar Sundqvist returned to practice Friday at Enterprise By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 11 hrs ago Center. Also, goalie Jordan Binnington returned to practice after taking a maintenance day Thursday. Neither was part of the travel group to

Winnipeg. As a youngster, Nathan Walker was intrigued by the sport of hockey TONIGHT’S LINEUP watching the “Mighty Ducks” and “Mystery, Alaska” movies. Lines and defensive pairings for the Winnipeg game: “Seeing that and seeing how much fun the kids had in the movies and everything, I think it definitely persuaded me to try hockey for sure,” Forwards: Walker said. Sanford-O’Reilly-Perron So at age 6 he and his little brother went to a local rink, strapped on some skates and fell in love with the sport. Blais-Vecchione-Kostin

OK, maybe thousands of youngsters did the same thing. There was just Nolan-Olsen-MacEachern one difference for young Walker. He was in Sydney, Australia at the time. Joshua-Walker-Poganski When you think of sports in Australia, you think rugby, soccer, cricket, Defensemen: Australian Rules football, maybe golf and tennis. Bouwmeester-Reinke Hockey? Not so much. Edmundson-Pouliot Less than 15 years later Walker was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 2014 NHL draft. On Oct. 7, 2017, Walker became Gunnarsson-Mikkola the first Australian to play in a game, scoring a goal against Montreal in that game. Goalies:

He has played in 12 NHL regular-season games total, one playoff game Allen (getting an assist for the Stanley Cup-champion Capitals). That Montreal Husso score proved to be his only NHL goal. But he’s looking for more as he tries to make the Blues’ roster. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.21.2019

At the age of 13, Walker moved to the Czech Republic to find a better level of hockey as he attempted to see how far the game would take him. His mother came over for the first week or so, then he lived with a billet family. To say it was a culture shock would be understatement.

“It was really different,” Walker said. “You go from the summer beaches of Australia to the middle of Europe. It’s not so sunny over there and people aren’t overly friendly to begin with.

“But, no it was good. It was definitely a huge culture shock but I think it made me a better person for it.”

There were a couple of benefits. For one, he speaks fluent Czech. For another, those years in the Czech Republic got him discovered by the NHL. The time in Europe didn’t eliminate his Australian accent.

With the Blues, a couple of his teammates refer to him as “mate.”

Walker had an assist in the Blues’ preseason opener against Dallas, and was in the lineup for the Winnipeg game Friday. The first thing you notice about Walker, who’s 5-8, 190, is his speed.

“He’s obviously very quick and gets on top of people,” coach Craig Berube said. “He’s a competitive guy and he’s got hockey sense. That’s what I see so far.”

Walker signed with the Blues in the offseason as a free agent, and realizes it will be a tough roster to make.

“For a team to call you up that have just won a Stanley Cup and offer you a contract, it’s a pretty big deal,” Walker said. “I thought that was pretty neat.”

Making the team would be even better, although Walker realizes that’s a longshot and he’ll probably end up in San Antonio.

“You want to play in the NHL, so I wouldn’t be exactly overly-happy (in San Antonio),” Walker said. “But it’s definitely gonna be a nice city.”

ROSTER TRIMMING

The Blues have placed Jordan Nolan, Jake Dotchin, Joey Laleggia, Nick Lappin and Michael Vecchione on waivers. It’s a procedural matter as all five are slated for duty in San Antonio, the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate. All five practiced Friday; Nolan and Vecchione are in the game group tonight in Winnipeg. 1153632 St Louis Blues “With me not playing, I just felt that I could go back and do it a little bit quicker than most,” Allen said. “My body obviously wasn’t as banged up and bruised as all the other guys on our team.”

After no-trade assurance from Blues in offseason, Jake Allen is 'ready to Allen has two years left on his contract — this season and next — paying rock' him $4.35 million a season. That’s a lot for a backup, especially after Binnington signed a two-year deal as a restricted free agent in mid-July, paying him $4.4 million a year.

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch 20 hrs ago That adds up to $8.75 million, making them the sixth-most expensive goaltending tandem in the league behind Montreal ($12.25 million),

Chicago ($11 million), Florida ($10.7 million), Boston ($9.75 million) and Sure, Jake Allen heard the trade speculation. But he knew otherwise the New York Rangers ($9.29 million). because his info came straight from the source — the Blues. For this season, the Blues can afford it. Having both goalies around buys “I knew internally all along this summer that I wasn’t getting dealt,” Allen time to make sure Binnington is the real deal, and to get Husso back on said. “They had told me that. You know, people talk and things like that, his feet after an injury-plagued year in San Antonio last season. but I knew that they don’t want to get rid of me, so it was good to be Allen enters the season just 16 wins shy of breaking Mike Liut’s franchise reassured that way. record for career victories (151). Will he get enough work this season to “I knew that I was coming back. So just put my mind at ease and get catch Liut? Time will tell. really focused on being the best Blue I can. There was a lot of chatter Last season, the Blues had 14 sets of games on back-to-back days, obviously with the way the summer went and the run that Binner went on. which almost always results in one goalie starting one day and the other But internally I knew I was coming back, so I wasn’t worried about it at netminder the next. This season, the Blues have only nine back-to-backs all.” on their schedule. So Allen is back for another season, his seventh at the NHL level with the For now, Allen has entered camp in a good state of mind, ready to Blues, who drafted him way back in 2008. contribute whenever and wherever he can. Last year he reported to camp with a back spasm issue that sidelined “I’m ready to rock,” Allen said. him for a good chunk of the preseason. This year there are no back problems, but there’s a different challenge: For the first time since the “He’s got a good mindset,” Berube said. “He’s a good team guy. He was 2014-15 campaign, he’s not the Blues’ No. 1 goalie. last year. He realized our situation, what went on. But he supported the team, supported Binner. I think he was a big part of everything to be The competitor in Allen is ceding nothing this season. honest with you, in winning. … So there’s really no reason to trade him.” “There’s one net out there, and I’m gonna go after it,” Allen said. “No St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.21.2019 question.”

But he also realizes, and appreciates, how well Jordan Binnington played last season, leading the Blues on their Stanley Cup run.

“It’s no surprise that Binner will be starting opening night,” Allen said. “But after that, it’s just do your best when you’re in there. Come to work every day, embrace this whole season.”

Binnington was spectacular in the regular season a year ago, leading the league in goals-against average (1.89) and tying for fourth in save percentage (.927) after bursting onto the scene in January. But he’s not going to play all 82 regular-season games.

Only eight goaltenders played in 60 or more games last season in the NHL, so even if Binnington repeats his success, in theory, Allen should be in line for at least two dozen starts.

“He’s gonna play a lot of games,” coach Craig Berube said, referring to Allen. “We need both goalies.

“It’s a tough league. Travel. It seems like you play every other night. … The game’s changed over the years. It’s a lot more — I don’t know how to put it — it’s just intense, every shift. It’s fast, and the goalie’s gotta be quick. They’re working all the time in net.

“So I think it’s important that you’ve got two capable goalies that can play a lot of games. When you’re fresh and you’re rested, you’re gonna play better.”

Allen is scheduled to play Friday in Winnipeg, his first action of the preseason. If form holds, he will play the first two periods before giving way to Ville Husso, who’s also in the travel group for the Winnipeg trip. If it seems like forever since Allen has had a start — well, it has.

“It definitely feels like a decade since I played, especially with not playing in the playoffs,” Allen said. “But it’ll be fun (Friday).”

With Binnington starting all 26 playoff games, Allen’s last start was April 3 in Chicago. That was the Blues’ 80th game of the 82-game regular season, and it was 5½ months ago. He did relieve a struggling Binnington in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, but in terms of game action Allen’s season ended much earlier than his teammates.

And that affected how Allen approached his offseason training. 1153633 St Louis Blues O’Reilly, Carl Gunnarsson, Jay Bouwmeester, David Perron and Jake Allen, who will start in goal.

Two forwards targeted for the minors, Ryan Olsen and Austin Poganski, Blues notebook: MacEachern won't let a puck to the face slow his camp will appear in their third game. The Blues will have seven players, including Alex Pietrangelo, Brayden Schenn and Alexander Steen, who have yet to get in a game.

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 21 hrs ago St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.21.2019

Blues forward Mackenzie MacEachern wore No. 62 last season, the number he was given when he showed up for his first camp. But in the offseason, after earning a spot on the team last season and playing in 29 games, he was given the chance to switch to a lower number, one that he said wouldn’t make him feel like an offensive lineman. Out of respect for their previous wearers, he passed on Chris Thorburn’s 22 and Chris Butler’s 25, and he chose No. 28.

“A tough start to the number,” MacEachern said Thursday.

In his first shift with a 28 on his back on Monday, MacEachern took a puck to the face in front of the Dallas goal (he thinks he cost teammate Derrick Pouliot a goal since the net was open behind him), requiring 12 stitches to close the hole and leaving a puddle of blood on the ice. But not long after, he was back, sporting a full cage and with a scar on his cheek (along with the imprint of the puck) and a black (now purple) eye. He finished the game and will be in the lineup again on Friday for the Blues’ preseason game in Winnipeg.

“I’m thankful,” he said. “A centimeter higher and my eye could be in some trouble. A centimeter to the right my jaw could be in trouble, so I guess I got the benefit of that one.”

He said eating is still a problem and after his face swelled up on the flight home, he picked up a new nickname, courtesy of goalie Ville Husso: Muffinhead. Hockey can be a tough game off the ice as well.

MacEachern knows he can’t afford to miss any time in camp, which was one of the reasons he got back so quickly.

“If I sit the rest of the game, that’s an opportunity that I missed to showcase what I can do,” he said. “I put a full cage on to start and it wasn’t ideal so I took it off for the third and I saw things (better). I kind of settled down once I forgot about what happened to my face and I showed what I can do.”

SUNDQVIST OUT

Camp has been fairly uneventful for the Blues, who went a full week before having a player miss a practice because of an injury suffered in camp. Forward Oskar Sundqvist didn’t practice Thursday at Enterprise Center, where camp has relocated to, after tweaking something in practice on Wednesday. Coach Craig Berube labeled it an upper-body injury and said keeping Sundqvist out was a precaution.

“We’re just monitoring it so we’ll give him another day and see how he feels tomorrow,” he said.

Also not practicing on Thursday was goalie Jordan Binnington, who played two periods against Washington on Wednesday. Berube termed that a maintenance day.

Forward Jordan Kyrou continues to skate separately from the team as he recovers from offseason kneecap surgery, and Berube said that Kyrou will do that “for a bit,” which would seem to scratch Kyrou’s chances of making the roster for opening day, which is less than two weeks away. If Kyrou isn’t ready on opening night, it pretty much leaves 23 candidates for 23 roster spots, barring an outside candidate emerging in camp.

Forward Robert Thomas, who also worked separately from the rest of the team for the first few days of camp before joining the main group after offseason wrist surgery, is making good progress and Berube said the team hopes to get him in a preseason game soon.

“He gets better and better every day,” Berube said, “so I’m not sure when we can get him a game here but we’re going to start pushing him a little more and try to get him ready and hopefully he can get in a game soon.”

GAME 3

The Blues play their third preseason game in five days on Friday night in Winnipeg. It will include some players from the first game, a few from the second game and some players making their debuts, including Ryan 1153634 St Louis Blues Kevin McDonald and vice president of hockey operations Dave Taylor, among others.

“He must have created four or five turnovers just off being the first guy in, In a pickle: Austin Poganski might force the Blues to make a difficult forechecking hard, separating the player from the puck, and now we’re decision in training camp having 45 seconds of offensive zone time,” McDonald said. “We talked in between periods, and everybody was just excited for him. You’re promoting these guys to the NHL coaches, and you want these guys to play their best. By Jeremy Rutherford Sep 20, 2019 “So when a guy like Austin walks in there and does that, he’s reaffirming

to the NHL coaching staff that this is a guy that we can trust, and if Blues forward Austin Poganski has been an avid pickleball player for a there’s a time that we need a player, this is a guy who can be effective. few years, so when he saw a former University of North Dakota He represented himself as well as he could have, like that’s exactly what teammate and a sportswriter who covers the Fighting Hawks hockey he wanted to do when he walked in the arena. I know everybody noticed team chirping each other on Twitter, he challenged the scribe. how well he played.”

“UND defenseman Gabe Bast basically said that he would beat me, and I Poganski parlayed that into a third consecutive preseason game in said, ‘You’re not going to!'” said Brad Elliott Schlossman, who writes for Winnipeg on Friday, making him one of only two players on the training the Grand Forks Herald. “The game never happened, but Austin saw camp roster to participate in all three. Meanwhile, the Blues reassigned that, and when they were having their pro camp in Grand Forks last seven players to San Antonio and put five others on waivers, signaling month, he mentioned that he played pickleball and wanted to play. I said, that they’ll be sent out and the roster could soon be down to 41. ‘Let’s do it!'” “You want to hear that you’re doing the right things, and if you hear that For those of you not familiar with the sport, Poganski says, “It’s kind of a from management, it’s a great feeling,” Poganski said. “Last year I played mixture of tennis and badminton. So like a wiffleball and paddles on a one exhibition game and I think it was because somebody got injured. So smaller court. It’s like tennis. It’s a lot of fun.” from where I am this year compared to last year, it’s great, and I hope that they keep putting me in the lineup.” This was no ordinary pickup game, however. It was the 5-foot-11, 150- pound, 37-year-old writer “with a receding hairline,” Schlossman added, Poganski played four seasons at North Dakota, winning a national taking on the 6-1, 198-pound, 23-year-old NHL prospect. And not only championship as a sophomore in 2016, but his transition to professional that, but former UND player Trevor Olson invited several NHL prospects hockey in 2018-19 was still a difficult one. After a disappointing showing — such as Vancouver’s Troy Stecher, Arizona’s Nick Schmaltz and at the NHL Prospect tournament in Traverse City, Mich., and a so-so Winnipeg’s Tucker Poolman — and he even set up a Twitter poll for training camp with the Blues, he was assigned to San Antonio, where he others to pick the winner. had no points and just four shots on goal in his first five games.

PICKLE BALL MATCHUP BETWEEN 2 OF GRAND FORKS' ELITE “I think for Austin, it was a situation when he turned pro, he came in and NAMES @SCHLOSSMANGF @POGO_11 4:30PM BEHIND THE for whatever reason he just had a hard time getting on the right track,” LOCAL FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT. WHO DO YA HAVE? McDonald said. “It was a tough first couple of months for him.”

— TREVOR OLSON (@TREVOR12OLSON) AUGUST 29, 2019 “Yeah, for sure,” Poganski admitted. “College is a totally different game style of play than the AHL. For me, it took me a lot longer than I was On Aug. 29, a windy day in Grand Forks, N.D., the showdown went on as hoping just to get used to the pace of the play. In college, you have guys scheduled at 4:30 p.m. at Abbott Park. that are kind of running around and always on you, where in the AHL and NHL you have more respect with time and space. You have more time They played a best-of-three match, and though Schlossman jumped out than you think and you’ve just got to make plays.” to a big lead in Game 1, Pognaski rallied back and took the first one. Fellow Blues prospect Mitch Reinke, a defenseman who was taking the “A bunch of them were chirping me because they thought I was out of same step in San Antonio after playing at Michigan Tech University, shape,” Schlossman said. knew what Poganski meant. But the momentum began to swing in Game 2, which Schlossman won, “It’s a tough adjustment coming out of college — it happens quick,” setting up a decisive Game 3. Olson, Stecher, Schmaltz and Poolman, Reinke said. “The Traverse City tournament is four games in five days, among others in the crowd of about 10, started jabbing Poganski. and then you come to camp here, and it’s just a long month or two here, “Oh, absolutely we were,” Olson said. “We were on his side at the start, and I think it catches a lot of guys off guard.” and then we switched over to Schloss’ side because we just wanted him It would be a weekend with the Blues’ ECHL affiliate, the Tulsa (Okla.) to beat Pogo.” Oilers, that helped turned around Poganski and put him back on a path to They got their wish, as Schlossman earned the victory in Game 3, 12-10, the NHL. claiming bragging rights and scoring one for sportswriters. “We made a decision to send him to the ECHL to try to get him more ice “I won the first game, and he got me the next two,” Poganski said. “But it time, try and get his confidence going,” McDonald said. was a lot of fun.” It was a bit of a wakeup call for Poganski, both being assigned to a AND THE WINNER OF GAME 3….. @SCHLOSSMANGF IN BONUS lower-level, minor-league team and finding out how far Tulsa is from San PICKLE! 12-10. WE WILL SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR Antonio. HTTPS://T.CO/HFZUCWXCWP “It kind of kicked me in the butt and told me, ‘You’ve got to figure it out!'” — TREVOR OLSON (@TREVOR12OLSON) AUGUST 29, 2019 Poganski recalled.

Three weeks later, the performance of Pognaski in Blues training camp, When he found out where he was headed, along with teammate Tanner a sport he’d never lose a game against any of the local scribes, has the Kaspick, Poganski was on the seventh hole of a round of golf with a few Blues in a pickle. of his roommates.

The fourth-round pick from 2014 has been arguably their best prospect in “The guys had a golf outing and they said, ‘Once we finish, we’ll grab camp, but with the team’s roster basically set at forward, he might have something to eat and we’ll head up to Tulsa,'” Oilers coach Rob Murray to start the season with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio remembers. “Austin said, ‘What is it like three hours?’ I said, ‘No, I know Rampage unless he gives the club no choice but to keep him. from driving down to San Antonio for training camp, it’s bang-on eight hours.’ You should have heard the panic in their voices.” In Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Washington, Poganski logged 17 minutes, 25 seconds of ice time at right wing on a line with Robby Fabbri and Zach “I was like, ‘I’m going to leave after my round here,’ and (Murray) was Sanford, and scored one of the club’s goals. He also had one takeaway like, ‘If you leave at that time, you’re going to get in like at 4 in the and blocked three shots, impressing staff on hand that included Blues morning, and we’ve got a game tomorrow,’ Poganski said. “I was like, general manager Doug Armstrong, assistant GMs Bill Armstrong and ‘Oh crap.’ So we left right after I got off the phone with him.” Austin Poganski had no points and only four shots on goal in his first five it takes time. But he’s really found a way — he’s a worker, he works games with San Antonio last season. (Darren Abate / AHL) hard.”

Poganski arrived in Tulsa and the Oilers’ trainer found part of the And perhaps one of these days Poganski might be ready for a pickleball problem before his first practice. He had gotten a new pair of skates in rematch with Schlossman. San Antonio, and the left skate had a “tuuk,” the white tower holding the blade in place, that was made for a right skate. “I can still take professional athletes in certain sports, I guess,” Schlossman said, laughing. “His weakness in pickleball is his strength in “They were both right-footed towers on both of his skates,” Murray said. hockey — the backhand. His backhand was not great in pickleball, but “So my trainer fixed it, and even before Austin played, I called Kevin and that guy can score on his backhand in hockey like very few guys I’ve said, ‘Kevin, I fixed him.'” seen at UND.”

Poganski said “it helped a lot,” but it was more than the skates that got The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 him straightened out. Teams dress 10 forwards in the ECHL, so in the three games that he played with Tulsa, he had nearly 30 minutes of ice time and posted two goals and one assist.

“But it wasn’t about points,” Murray said. “He could have went scoreless for three games and in my eyes he was our best player that weekend.”

That’s what Murray told McDonald when he called after each of the three games.

“Every night he said he was the best player,” McDonald said. “We were like, ‘Well, all right, perfect.’ So we brought him right back up after the weekend, we put him in the lineup to build off the momentum and he literally just took off for the rest of the year. He was usually one our top two or three best players night in and night out.”

In his first game back with San Antonio on Nov. 10, Poganski had no points, but he had four shots on goal. In a six-game stretch from Nov. 17- 30, he had six points (3 goals, 3 assists), and in a 20-game span from Dec. 16-Feb. 8, he had 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists).

“When I look back on my season last year, going to Tulsa was probably the turning point for me,” Poganski said. “It was a great thing for me to get down there and touch the puck a little bit more than I was in San Antonio, and I got my confidence back. Coach Murray allowed me to play quite a bit, and I give him a lot of credit for getting me turned around.”

Poganski finished with nine goals and 31 points in 59 games with the Rampage.

“He just played his game,” Reinke said. “He’s hard on pucks, he’s a very gritty player, very aggressive and strong on the wall, and I think that’s what led to his success.”

Austin Poganski might start the season in San Antonio, but he’s on the Blues’ radar. (Darren Abate / AHL)

McDonald said simply Poganski plays to his strengths.

“I honestly think it’s just playing a simple game, but he does it so effectively,” McDonald said. “The most important thing is that he can skate in the league, and that’s what separates so many guys now. So honestly, just keep playing the way he’s playing now.

“So many good things have happened since his call-up from the ECHL. He’s put in a lot of hard work, going through the grind in the American League and improving as a player, and then coming back this year and showing everybody the improvement.”

The organization sees Poganski in the NHL as a bottom-six forward who can produce secondary offense and kill penalties, and that’s his belief, too.

“I just play hard,” he said. “For me, I’m a third- or fourth-line role player, so just playing simple, getting pucks to the net, just the easy things. It’s an easy game when you’re doing the little things like that. If I can just stick with that game plan, I think it’s going to help me a lot.

“I’m just trying to make myself seen. Last year was a big step for me in the AHL, the second half of the season, and if I can just keep improving each game, each practice, and just keep showing that I am ready to get (an NHL regular-season) game would be great. If it comes, great; if not, just keep working my butt off.”

That day might not be far off, according to Blues coach Craig Berube.

“He’s come a long way for me,” Berube said. “I mean, the people down in San Antonio and the organization thought he had a tremendous year last year, got better and better as the year went along. That’s normal a lot of times for college players or junior players. They go in the American Hockey League and it’s a tough league, it’s not an easy league at all, so 1153635 Tampa Bay Lightning

Alex Volkov scores first goal of Lightning preseason

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Earlier today

Updated Earlier today

TAMPA — Alex Volkov knows what spot he likes: low, just above the goalie’s pad. That’s the spot he hit Friday night to break the Lightning’s 8 1/2-period scoreless streak to open the preseason.

“I like that spot.” he said. “I just tried to shoot it. It’s tough for goalies, that spot.”

Volkov’s power-play goal from above the right hashmarks against the Predators’ Juuse Saros got the Lightning started in the middle of the third period, and Nikita Kucherov added two goals, one an empty-netter, to give Tampa Bay its first preseason win, 3-1 win at Amalie Arena.

The teams play again at 8 Saturday night in Nashville.

What coach Jon Cooper liked about Volkov’s shot was simply seeing the 22-year-old forward take it.

“He’s had opportunities to shoot it and hasn’t,” Cooper said. “He shot it (Friday), and that’s what happens when you shoot it. Good game by him.”

Taking a shot where he hadn’t earlier is a sign of the growing confidence of Volkov, a 2017 draft pick who has spent the past two seasons at AHL Syracuse. He called his play in previous camps “so-so,” saying he knows the mistakes he has made and now feels he’s ready.

Cooper expects young players to be nervous. The coach wants them to remember that hockey is hockey and to keep doing what got them here.

“You’ve seen the development of some of these players the last couple years, and it’s been fun to watch, “ he said. “Now you want to see them do it against the big boys.”

Volkov wants to show he can also play well defensively. He believes he has demonstrated his skill and now needs to show something different.

“But still, I have to score goals,” he said.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153636 Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning put goalies Louis Domingue, Mike Condon on waivers

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday

TAMPA — Louis Domingue’s time with the Lightning has ended, at least for now, maybe for good.

The team put goalies Domingue and Mike Condon on waivers on Friday. If they clear waivers, both will be assigned to the AHL. If that’s the case, Domingue becomes the third goalie in case of an injury. If he doesn’t clear, Domingue will move on to another organization.

It was an expected move, general manager Julien BriseBois said this was the plan last week. But this wasn’t Plan A.

When the Lightning signed Curtis McElhinney to be the backup goalie on July 1, BriseBois expected to trade Domingue. At that point, BriseBois was looking ahead a year, seeing that the Lightning wouldn’t be able to afford Domingue when he contract is up next offseason. Even last week, BriseBois said a team called with interest in Domingue.

The 27-year-old revitalized his career with the Lightning in relatively limited playing time. Outside of the month Andrei Vasilevskiy was injured, Domingue only played 13 games last season.

Domingue re-established himself as a more-than-dependable backup last season. But now he once again finds himself odd man out and potentially headed to the AHL.

Condon was part of the Lightning’s trade with Ottawa for Ryan Callahan’s contract. At that point, the team already had a surplus of goalies but BriseBois liked Condon and Scott Wedgewood as an AHL tandem. That was when he thought he’d trade Domingue.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153637 Tampa Bay Lightning Cooper joked that he was the beneficiary of Girardi’s personality for two years and now his kid will be. Girardi is coaching Jonny Cooper’s youth team this year.

Former Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi announces his retirement Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.21.2019

By Diana C. Nearhos

Published Yesterday

Updated 5 hours ago

BRANDON — Dan Girardi has a good sense of timing. He knows when to crack a joke, when to be serious, when to stay quiet.

After 13 seasons, Girardi knows it’s time to step away from the game. The former Lightning defenseman announced his retirement Friday.

In a statement, the 35-year-old joked that his body is happy with his decision.

“I gave my all every single night and left it all out on the ice,” he said. “Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life to begin, and I couldn’t be happier … and so is my body.”

Girardi became an unrestricted free agent after last season with the Lightning, which declined to re-sign him. But they knew they’d miss his personality in the dressing room.

“He brought a lot of life to the room with his sense of humor,” coach Jon Cooper said. “I think that’s why he was adored by everybody, because of how hard he played on the ice and how great of a guy he was off (it).”

Victor Hedman, who was paired with Girardi for much of Girardi’s two seasons in Tampa Bay, called him a “great human being” and the funniest player on the team.

“He can look back at an unbelievable career,” Hedman said. “I’m just happy he’s still in Tampa and I’ll still see him around.”

Girardi played his first 11 years with the Rangers. He was a traditional stay-at-home defenseman, with 264 points in 927 games. Girardi’s teams made it to the playoffs 12 of his 13 years, including both with the Lightning. He is 30th all time among defenseman with 143 playoff games.

Since the league started reporting blocked shots in 2005, Girardi has been credited with the most, 1,954. He led the Lightning in blocked shots over his two seasons with 263.

Hedman also credited Girardi’s team-first attitude, particularly in the way he blocked shots. Girardi once took a shot to the neck “and he didn’t care,” Hedman said.

Cooper cited Girardi’s fearlessness, calling him the ultimate teammate. He said Girardi was the kind of player who, with five seconds left and the game in hand, was still blocking the shot “just because.”

In a video the Rangers posted on Twitter, Henrik Lundqvist said that as a goalie, he appreciates the way Girardi played the game. It was “amazing to watch and amazing to be a teammate,” he said.

In the same video, defenseman Marc Staal told Girardi to “enjoy not taking slap shots to the ankle anymore” and said he deserves the time off.

Ryan Callahan, who played with Girardi on both teams, posted well wishes on Twitter, calling Girardi “a team-first guy who was loved by all his teammates,” and included photos of the two throughout the years.

In his statement, Girardi thanked the Rangers for giving him a chance to fulfill his childhood dream and the Lightning, with whom he signed as a free agent in 2017, for giving him a chance to continue his career. He also thanked his wife, Pamela, for her support and their two kids, Landon and Shaye, “for being Daddy’s No. 1 fans.”

“The last two years in Tampa Bay have been so much fun for me and my family,” he said. “I will always fondly remember my time here.”

General manager Julien BriseBois issued a statement congratulating Girardi, saying “his sense of humor created a lasting legacy off the ice.” 1153638 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning brings star power to third preseason game

By Diana C. Nearhos

BRANDON — The Lightning’s lineup for Friday’s preseason game against Nashville will look like the more like its final version that the previous two games. This edition features more NHL regulars.

Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat will play for their first time this preseason. They’ll be joined by Cedric Paquette, Mikhail Sergachev and Braydon Coburn. New backup goalie Curtis McElhinney will also see his first action.

Highly-touted prospects Carter Verhaeghe, Alexander Volkov and Mitchell Stephens will also play on Friday.

Hedman and Sergachev are paired together, as they have often been in training camp. One of the questions facing the defensemen is who will play with Hedman after the Lightning didn’t re-sign Dan Giradi (who announced his retirement Friday).

Sergachev brings strong skating with an offensive upside to the pairing. , an offseason signing, has played a top role in the past and could also be a good fit.

At forward, the triplet line of 2015 has been reunited, with Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov playing together at least for the night.

Forward lines

Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov

Carter Verhaeghe-Cedric Paquette-Alexander Volkov

Danick Martel-Jimmy Huntington-Mitchell Stephens

Boris Katchouk-Gemel Smith-Dennis Yan

Defensive pairings

Victor Hedman-Mikhail Sergachev

Braydon Coburn- Ben Thomas

Luke Witkowski-Jan Rutta

Goalies

Curtis McElhinney

Spencer Martin

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153639 Tampa Bay Lightning injury-plagued 2018-19 season behind him. His biggest gift is speed, and he can play with the pace the Lightning desire. But Stephens, one of the few bright spots in Tuesday’s exhibition opener, can also make plays. He’s a quality penalty killer, too. There’s no guarantee he makes the Lightning roster bubble: Who helped or hurt their chances after one week team, but he’s made a good impression in the first week. of camp? Alex Volkov – Though Volkov hasn’t done anything eye-popping in camp, there’s still a lot of intrigue around the Russian winger. He was one of the final cuts the past two camps, and if you’re the coaching staff, you have By Joe Smith Sep 20, 2019 to give him every chance. The Lightning gave him some work on the penalty kill in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Carolina, and he did fine. The size and the skills are there, but Volkov has to deliver in his own end and BRANDON, Fla. — When Alex Volkov began making his case to crack provide some consistency from shift-to-shift. Perhaps if Point’s contract the Lightning roster in training camp, he got a head start. impasse lasts into the season, there’s a top-six spot for him.

And a big assist from Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov. “I have to show how improved my D-zone play is,” Volkov said. “How hard I can finish my checks. Everyone knows how skilled I am. I have to With Volkov reporting in late August after the NHL Rookie Orientation show I can play defense like (Joseph) did last year. He always finished Program, he spent a couple of weeks participating in informal skates with his checks. It was battling hard. That’s what I need to show.” veterans like Kucherov. Kucherov spent extra time with Volkov after workouts to show him different ways to shoot from his spot on the power Danick Martel – Martel is still an enigma. The scrappy winger only played play and how to bring the puck out of the corner. Kucherov had taken nine games last season while serving as the Lightning’s 13th forward. Volkov under his wing in previous camps, always believing that he was Still, the team saw enough potential to keep him on the roster all year, (and is) a future NHLer, and kept paying it forward. Volkov said he’d even with GM Julien BriseBois saying that Martel had proven him wrong trade texts with Kucherov during the season while he was with Syracuse before. in the AHL. Martel showed he could handle the role. He’s got a lot of guts and drive “He’s a superstar,” Volkov said. “And he’s happy to teach people.” and has a real edge to his game. As one Lightning person told me, “He’s Gourde from two years ago.” Might it be worth seeing what they have? Volkov could use all the help he can get, as he’s in a fierce battle for one of the final few spots in Tampa Bay’s forward group. There are plenty of Danick Martel, right. (Kim Klement / USA Today) candidates, from Mitchell Stephens to Carter Verhaeghe to Alex Barre- Boulet, not to mention veterans like Cory Conacher, Gemel Smith and Haven’t wowed enough yet: Danick Martel. Alex Barre-Boulet: As stellar as last season was for both Carter They see what Brayden Point did three years ago, forcing his way onto Verhaeghe and Alex Barre-Boulet, neither has moved the needle too the roster with a stellar preseason. It was the same with Mikhail much so far in camp. Barre-Boulet, who scored 17 of his 34 goals on the Sergachev two years ago and Mathieu Joseph last September. The power play last season in Syracuse, wouldn’t likely get that opportunity in Lightning need to decide on a fourth-line winger and a 13th forward, not Tampa, so he has to show he can make plays and create space against to mention that another forward spot could open if Brayden Point’s NHL players. Against a Hurricanes lineup filed with regulars Wednesday, contract impasse lasts until the regular season. Barre-Boulet didn’t stand out. He could need more time in Syracuse.

“The bottom line is there are spots open on this team,” coach Jon Cooper AHL coach Ben Groulx said Barre-Boulet is a strong two-way player, said. “There are more than there’s ever been before. It’s up to the guys.” committed in his own end, and the only reason he didn’t play a lot of penalty kill until the end of last season was that he was trying to protect Here’s our projection for what the Lightning’s opening-night roster will the rookie. look like, with breakdowns of some of the players working to make their case: “If you want to stay here, you’re probably not getting too many power minutes,” Barre-Boulet said. “You’ve got to be good in your own zone. Forwards When I was 20 years old in junior, I had a lot of responsibilities on both the PK and power play. It helped me out last year. By the end of the year, Locks (10): Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, Alex I was killing penalties and playing at the end of the game. Killorn, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde, Mathieu Joseph, Pat Maroon, Cedric Paquette Carter Verhaeghe: Verhaeghe said he feels much more comfortable this camp and has not had that feeling of “awe” he did in previous years. He’s Locks once signed (1): Brayden Point worked so hard on his skating, but there’s still room to grow in that area. There are at least two spots open at forward — the fourth-line winger and What sparked his career year last season? the 13th forward — with a chance that another spot could be open “I think it was a little bit of everything,” Verhaeghe said. “Confidence temporarily if Point’s contract saga isn’t over by the season opener. helped me. I tried to work on my skating and strength. At the exit There are players with a variety of skill sets and experience levels meetings, they really wanted me to work on my skating, and I tried to pick competing, and the coaching staff is looking for the right fit. up the pace in my game.” “There are so many things we’re looking for,” coach Jon Cooper said. The tough element with Verhaeghe is he’d have to clear waivers to get “There are a lot of ways to contribute. First and foremost, how sent back down to the AHL. Both Verhaeghe and Barre-Boulet could get competitive is the player? We’re really driving to see guys that are more game action this weekend in back-to-back exhibitions against competitive. Are you going to be able to play 10-12 minutes, and are you Nashville at home on Friday and Saturday on the road. So there’s still going to be able to contribute? Can you make plays? There are so many time to propel themselves into strong consideration. things that go into it. But it’s in the players’ hands. It’s (up to) them to show us what they can do.” Cory Conacher: Conacher, 29, has the most NHL experience among the roster hopefuls up front with 189 games. He’s the player Tampa Bay Making a case: coaches are most familiar with, as this is his second stint with the Gemel Smith – Smith, 25, an under-the-radar signing, brings 80 games Lightning. of NHL experience having played for both the Stars and Bruins the past It’s a dynamic where coaches can look at the intriguing ceilings of the three years. He’s an aggressive puck hound who can play wing and prospects versus the comfortability of knowing exactly what Conacher center and would be a good candidate for the remade penalty kill. brings. Conacher said this is the best he’s felt in a long time entering “If you want to elevate (the competition level), put ‘Smitty’ in the middle of camp, and he’s ready to seize an opportunity. He could fit in a fourth-line that,” Cooper said. “He’s always moving, always skating. He gives you role, on the PK and have the temperament to be a solid 13th forward. energy and skill on top of that. … He’s been a really good find.” Conacher would be a safe option, and there’s a reason GM Julien BriseBois held onto him last year. But there could be a few others ahead Mitchell Stephens – There’s a reason we wrote, “Don’t sleep on Mitchell of him at this point, and it would take a really good preseason for him to Stephens” in our early training-camp takeaways piece on Wednesday. snag a spot. Stephens, a second-round pick in 2015, has shown that he’s put his No chance:

— Nolan Foote: The first-round pick has made a strong first impression, showing off his size, his “cannon” of a shot and strength down low, including his NHL exhibition debut Wednesday. “He didn’t look 18 years old, I’ll tell you that,” Cooper said. “If that’s the floor, he’s got a bright future.” Foote is expected to head back to junior in Kelowna.

— Jimmy Huntington: I’ve been impressed with his skills and “compete,” and there’s no doubt he’ll be a player fans will enjoy this season.

— : The coaches gave Raddysh back-to-back games this week, and there’s no doubt he’s a pure scorer. I have seen the improvement in his two-way game, but he’ll likely get more time in Syracuse. Same with Boris Katchouk.

Defensemen

Locks (6): Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak, Mikhail Sergachev, Kevin Shattenkirk, Braydon Coburn

Pretty much locks (2): Luke Schenn, Jan Rutta

Schenn thought his time in the NHL might have been done last fall when he was demoted by the Ducks, but he rejuvenated his career with the help of Hall of Famer Adam Oates. He’s got the kind of size and physicality the Lightning could use on their blue line, but the key will be whether he can keep up with the pace. Schenn is behind several others in that category.

That includes Rutta, who was acquired in the Slater Koekkoek trade with Chicago in January. Rutta is a strong skater, and coaches trusted him enough to start him in a couple of the playoff games against Columbus. While Rutta will have to fight for a spot in the top six most nights, it would appear he’s going to stick.

GM Julien BriseBois said he expected, barring injury, to carry these eight defensemen on the opening-night roster.

On the bubble (2): Luke Witkowski, Cal Foote

Witkowski, in his second stint with Tampa Bay, has some interesting versatility and the experience of playing wing (like he did in Wednesday’s exhibition). But Witkowski will likely end up being a great depth defenseman/wing in Syracuse. Foote, the 2017 first-rounder, has looked more comfortable this camp and is getting an opportunity to play in several exhibitions. Foote is getting closer, but it would take a mammoth camp for him to make the team — especially considering Tampa Bay wouldn’t want him to sit as the seventh or eighth defenseman.

No chance: Dominik Masin, Ben Thomas, Mat Spencer, Nolan Valleau

Goaltenders

Locks: Andrei Vasilevskiy and Curtis McElhinney

Syracuse: Scott Wedgewood

In limbo: Louis Domingue and Mike Condon

Domingue and Condon are both spending camp working out on their own in controlled environments to prevent an injury. They need to be healthy when the Lightning send them through waivers in a few days (a procedure done to bury most of their cap hit in the minors). Condon will be part of a goalie tandem in Syracuse with Wedgewood if he clears. Meanwhile, the Lightning are still trying to trade Domingue.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153640 Toronto Maple Leafs The first sporting event held at Scotiabank Arena since Game 5 of the NBA Finals back in June, Friday had a decidedly different feel in a matchup where both teams dressed less than half of their projected regular-season rosters. William Nylander, Auston Matthews dominate as Leafs shutout Sabres 3- 0 for first pre-season win But the goalies did their best to provide some entertainment with a string of nice saves in the second.

Ullmark robbed Nylander of a sure goal with his skate before Andersen JOSHUA CLIPPERTON snapped out the glove to deny Jean-Sebastien Dea.

THE CANADIAN PRESS “Some big saves there,” Matthews said of his netminder. “Hopefully he’s not having to make that many come regular-season time.” PUBLISHED 5 HOURS AGO Nylander was then stopped on a breakaway, but he deftly set up UPDATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 Matthews for Toronto’s second at 12:15.

Read, who’s also in Toronto on a PTO, made it 3-0 at 9:40 of the final William Nylander was waiting anxiously for a new contract 12 months period on a nice toe drag after rookie defenceman Rasmus Sandin poked ago. the puck off a Sabres’ stick in the neutral zone.

In better shape and minus the burden he carried after finally signing with Casey Mittelstadt had a chance to break the shutout later in the third the Toronto Maple Leafs last December, the winger was everywhere after stepping around Sandin, but his shot found iron. Friday night. The Sabres and the Leafs meet again Saturday night in Buffalo. Now he just needs to find his range. Babcock said he’s starting to get some clarity on which players will stick Nylander had 15 shot attempts as Toronto’s top line, that also included in Toronto as training camp approaches the midway point. Auston Matthews and Andreas Johnsson, combined for five points in the “The separation between our guys and the other guys, it grows every Leafs’ first victory of the NHL pre-season — a 3-0 shutout over the day,” he said. “The players that are going to end up playing here, they’re Buffalo Sabres. just going to separate themselves.” “The way he can skate and his edge work, he frees up a lot of space for Globe And Mail LOADED: 09.21.2019 himself,” Matthews said of Nylander before deadpanning: “He’s just got to hit the net.”

Matthews and Johnsson each had a goal and an assist, while Frederik Andersen stopped all 24 shots he faced in two periods of work for Toronto. Matt Read also scored for the home side. Michael Hutchinson made five saves in relief.

Nylander’s contract impasse came to an end minutes before a Dec. 1 deadline when the restricted free agent signed a six-year deal worth nearly US$7-million per season, and he never really got going in 2018- 19, finishing with seven goals and 27 points in 54 games.

“Willie might have had the puck tonight as much as he had last year,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “I’m not kidding. He’s got to be feeling good about himself.”

Nylander added a goal and two assists in Toronto’s seven-game exit to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, but really got going at the world championships, where he led the tournament with 18 points (five goals, 13 points) in eight outings.

Nylander, who had six shots on target against the Sabres, is hoping that play translates to the NHL. Friday night was a good start.

“Our line was skating well,” Nylander said. “But it would maybe be nice to hit the net on a few.”

Linus Ullmark started for the Sabres and stopped 21 shots in 40 minutes of action. Andrew Hammond played the third period and made 10 saves.

The Leafs dropped their first two games of the exhibition schedule to the Ottawa Senators — a 3-1 decision in St. John’s, N.L., on Tuesday and a 4-3 setback in the nation’s capital the following night.

Unlike many Stanley Cup contenders’ training camps, there are jobs to be won in Toronto between now and Oct. 2 when the Leafs open the regular season at home against Ottawa. Spots are up for grabs on the fourth line and third defence pair, while the backup goalie position also needs to be filled.

Toronto was second-best for most of the game’s first 10 minutes, but grabbed a 1-0 lead at 9:48 of the opening period on the power play. Matthews saw his initial shot blocked before Kenny Agostino whipped a quick backhand from the side of the net that went under Ullmark and right to Johnsson.

Andersen, who allowed one goal on 13 shots in his pre-season debut Tuesday, robbed Rasmus Asplund at the other end before Nylander — who’s switched from No. 29 to No. 88 this season — fired high at the other end. 1153641 Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs break the ice with first pre-season win on a big night for the Matthews line

By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter

Fri., Sept. 20, 2019timer3 min. read

Auston Matthews’s line with Andreas Johnsson and William Nylander was by far the best on the ice in the Maple Leafs’ 3-0 pre-season win over the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.

What really made that unit click was the boisterous, mature play of Johnsson, who scored his first goal of the exhibition schedule on a power play. The winger is providing a net presence, darting into the crease area and using his body to establish positioning.

It was the Leafs’ first pre-season win in their first home date, after losses to the Senators in St. John’s and Ottawa. Matthews picked up his third goal in two games after some nice puck movement.

Matt Read, off a turnover, fired his first goal to round out the scoring. Read, who went undrafted before playing parts of eight seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild, is on a professional tryout and could use some puck luck on his side in hopes of making the roster.

With Johnsson raising the physical element in his game, Matthews and Nylander can focus on their strengths as open-ice playmakers and game breakers. Nylander had six shots on goal and 15 attempts.

“He had the puck more than he did all last year — I’m not kidding,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.

This time last year, Johnsson was a relatively raw rookie fresh off a MVP performance with the AHL’s Marlies. He was challenged then by Babcock to do the very things that he was doing routinely on Friday night.

Manpower advantage: Matthews, Johnsson and Nylander worked on the first power-play unit with Alex Kerfoot as the fourth forward and Morgan Rielly on defence. When all of the regulars are in the lineup, though, it’s likely that Matthews, Johnsson, John Tavares, Mitch Marner (rested Friday) and Rielly will form the top group. Matthews worked the half boards, a good spot for his natural playmaking abilities. He was dangerous with the puck from that spot, including a shot on goal that led to Johnsson’s goal. It will be interesting to see over the course of the season if Babcock adjusts the power-play duties to make use of an abundance of firepower, also including Nylander.

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Russian force: Forward Ilya Mikheyev had a solid third period and saw some late penalty-killing time for the Leafs. The six-foot-two Mikheyev scored 42 goals over the past two seasons for Avangard Omsk in the KHL and signed an entry-level contract last May. He’s turning some heads along with another big Russian winger, Yegor Korshkov. Babcock was impressed by the combination of size and skating ability, but added that the winger is still adjusting to the NHL-sized ice after spending most of his life playing on Olympic dimensions. “He’s trying to figure out the size of the rink,” Babcock said. “Each game he’s played better and better. He’s big and he’s hard on the puck … the exhibition games are important for him.” Babcock also said that the “players who are going to play here” will start to separate themselves soon with less than two weeks to go before the regular season opens against the Senators on Oct. 2.

Between the pipes: No. 1 netminder Freddie Andersen played two periods and stopped all 23 shots he faced from a Buffalo team that worked the front of the net hard and had at least 10 good scoring opportunities. Michael Hutchinson came on for the third period and stopped another six shots to preserve the shutout.

Up next: The Leafs and Sabres will do it all again Saturday in Buffalo, another 7 p.m. start.

Toronto Star LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153642 Toronto Maple Leafs “Yeah, I think with all our D, obviously we’re trying to find two there, so we’re just watching them each and every night,” says Babcock. “I think this week’s a very important week in camp because we get a chance to see you play games, and there’s only so much time to show, but we’re Rasmus Sandin is the coolest kid and just might graduate to the Maple looking for players, and who wants the jobs?” Leafs’ defence at 19 Sandin wants the job, very much. He thinks Babcock wants him to be himself and to compete, and he wants to compete. Fellow newcomer Jason Spezza, at the other end of the career spectrum, says intensity at By Bruce ArthurSports Columnist camp has been high. He called it “desperation … to get up to speed Fri., Sept. 20, 2019 quickly.”

Sandin liked the way Thursday night went. He had confident moments, and said he sometimes felt out of place, but not much. Sandin’s cool. It’s Rasmus Sandin doesn’t know you, but he is probably comfortable with fine. you. After all, the 19-year-old is comfortable playing hockey, speaking with media, under pressure, and even conversing with the iron-bar-eating “I was really impressed with him last year, honestly,” said centre Auston coach who, in the next week or so, will determine his immediate fate with Matthews. “He can skate, he sees the ice, he just seems to kind of slow the Toronto Maple Leafs. The coach seems to like him, rather a lot. the game down and always make the right play. Obviously he had a year down with the Marlies and he just seems to have even more confidence “All you have to do is watch,” says Mike Babcock of Sandin, one of coming into this season. Toronto’s two young Swedish defenceman. “He’s smart. He knows how to play, he’s got a feel, he’s one of these guys that it doesn’t seem to “I thought he played really well the other night. It’s fun getting out with a matter how old he is, because his hockey sense is so good. He sees it. guy like him because he can see the ice, he jumps in and he’s smart He’s a little guy who seems to know how to defend. He seems to know about when he jumps in on offence, and obviously breaking out of our how to leverage his body. He just seems to be a good player. own end, I mean, he sees it. He makes plays that not many people can. It’s been fun to see, and it’s been fun to be out there with him.” “And the other thing about him, when you talk to him, he doesn’t get all uptight. He’s just, oh, OK, yeah. Or knows what you’re going to say He sees it: Babcock said those exact words, too. Babcock said the kid before you say it, most of the time.” sees the coach’s counsel coming, too. Sandin says he’s hard on himself, and that’s why. Seems like a lot of things. Babcock is known to lean on veterans because he lives in aggressive fear of hockey mistakes. He likes guys “Yeah, usually I know when I do my mistakes, so sometimes I don’t really you don’t have to worry about. Meanwhile, the clear-eyed and serene need to hear them, because I already know what they’re going to say,” Sandin is trying to make a team with two open defence spots and Stanley says Sandin. “But it’s great having him as a coach. I mean, he’s a guy I Cup aspirations, and doesn’t seem to be worried about much of anything. want to play for, so obviously listen and try to learn as much as I can from him.” “I mean, that’s one of my strengths, trying to be calm, both on and off the ice,” he says with practised ease. “I think I’m a pretty mature kid, and I Rasmus Sandin has a real chance to take a leap into the rest of his want to be that on and off the ice.” career. He can see that, too.

It’s fun when 19-year-olds describe themselves as pretty mature kids. So Toronto Star LOADED: 09.21.2019 Rasmus, when was the last time you were nervous? Like, significantly?

“Ooooh,” says Sandin, seeming genuinely interested. He thinks for a second. “I don’t know, to be honest.” Maybe the Calder Cup playoffs last year? He can’t really think of a specific thing.

What about a little nervous? We will settle for a little nervous.

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“First (game with Toronto) last year I was, a little bit,” says Sandin. “I mean it was pretty special, I think. It’s big, playing for the big club, in front of all those fans, never done that before. So last year, first game I was a little bit nervous, but I don’t get that nervous, I feel like. So that’s both good and bad, I guess.”

Bad? How is it bad?

“I don’t know, to be honest,” he says cheerfully. “Maybe it’s not bad … It’s a good thing for us, playing good in those games to show that we want those spots, too.”

Pressure is always present in Toronto, and now as much as ever. The Leafs are built to take a run at a Cup with a team with a defence corps half-built to self-destruct, or at least to walk into free agency next summer. Tyson Barrie, Jake Muzzin and Cody Ceci will start the year on the top four, and Barrie especially seems temporary since he could easily roll out a 70-point season and get $8 million per year somewhere.

The bottom pair, meanwhile, is a Rorschach test, and only one set of eyes gets to interpret what they see. Sandin played his second straight game Friday night against Buffalo, playing his off side, and he got a long look with some good moments. Other third-pair candidates include Martin Marincin, Timothy Liljegren, Teemu Kivihalme, Ben Harpur, Justin Holl, et cetera. Until Travis Dermott returns from shoulder surgery — 12 to 14 games was Babcock’s estimate — this is an enormous opportunity.

Oh, and if Sandin can step in he gets a head start to fill the vacuum of defencemen for next year, too. He has 44 AHL games and 51 OHL games and five Swedish elite games under his belt. This would be a jump. 1153643 Toronto Maple Leafs So if you’re searching for a reason why these interminably long training camps and exhibition games filled with non-NHLers have a purpose, for the Leafs it has nothing to do with this season. It would be to measure how many of the other players selected in the last six drafts, beyond the Shanahan’s Maple Leafs master plan remains a rough draft four currently on the roster, have real NHL potential.

In other words, to see just how effective their scouts have been.

By Damien Cox Morgan Rielly is the only Leaf defenceman signed beyond this year, which makes Liljegren and Sandin crucial prospects. If both can make Fri., Sept. 20, 2019timer4 min. read the grade, that will vindicate the decisions to draft them and help control payroll costs after the huge expense of getting Nylander, Matthews and Marner under contract. There is perception, and there is reality. Goalie Frederik Andersen has two years left on his contract. If Scott or For the Maple Leafs, the perception is that since Brendan Shanahan Woll can eventually be an NHL starter, that would also significantly help arrived in town more than five years ago and ushered in a new way of the Leafs’ cap situation. thinking, the club has dramatically addressed its historic inability to build a talent base through the NHL draft. A very valuable pick, finally, was spent on Korshkov. He might end up being the litmus test of how good this scouting staff really is. They could As of today, however, there’s not as much evidence of that as you might certainly use the Russian to help support a bid for the Stanley Cup in the think. next few years if he’s good enough.

Four players drafted in the Shanahan era are currently on the roster: Overall, the sheer talent of Nylander, Marner and Matthews makes the William Nylander (No. 8 in 2014), Mitch Marner (No. 4 in 2015), Travis drafting since Shanahan arrived look better than it actually may have Dermott (No. 34 in 2015) and Auston Matthews (No. 1 in 2016). been. The genius in those three picks really lies in the willingness to bite the bullet and position the team so low in the NHL standings it could draft Six drafts in the Shanahan era and 48 selections have so far yielded four that high, not the actual selections. NHL players. Not that different than many teams. For at least three of those drafts, it’s too early to reach any conclusions. You don’t get credit for not screwing up top-10 picks.

So let’s dive a little deeper. The Leafs have hired some high-profile brains specifically to manipulate the draft and find talent. Shanahan gutted the scouting staff a year after Nylander looks like a quality pick at eighth overall in ’14 and has the arriving. We’re going to know in the next few years whether all of this contract to prove it. But he has yet to establish himself as significantly really produced a team that’s substantially better at drafting. better than Nik Ehlers or Dylan Larkin, both taken in the next seven picks. The Leafs would dearly love for clear evidence of that to show up during this pre-season. It won’t matter this coming season, but given the team’s Marner was a superb choice over Noah Hanifin in 2015, although Mikko payroll challenges it’s going to be critical soon enough. Rantanen (No. 10) and even Mathew Barzal (No. 16) would have been good alternatives. Toronto Star LOADED: 09.21.2019 YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN...

Dermott, meanwhile, was seen by Leafs scouts as having better NHL potential in the second round that year than Finnish centre Sebastian Aho — who went to Carolina with the very next pick and, with 197 points already in 242 NHL games, is on the verge of stardom.

That was a huge miss by the Leafs.

In ’16, Matthews was a no-brainer at No. 1. Every other team would have made the same choice.

So, in terms of grading the Leafs on how they did with those three drafts, you could say they performed well. That said, had they taken Matthews, Larkin, Rantanen and Aho, they’d be ahead of where they are now.

Going back to 2014, none of the other five Leaf selections have made it, although Pierre Engvall (No. 188) is still in the mix. The following draft was very deep and while the Leafs still hope Jeremy Bracco and Dmytro Timashov will become NHLers, they are borderline prospects.

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With the 2016 draft, we start getting into the area of “too soon to tell.” Other than Matthews, forward Yegor Korshkov (31st pick) is now finally playing in North America, goalie Joseph Woll (No. 62) left Boston College to sign an entry-level contract in March and Carl Grundstrom (No. 57) was used as an asset to acquire Jake Muzzin from Los Angeles.

Korshkov, a six-foot-four winger who is already 23 years old, was the somewhat controversial first pick of the second day of the draft that weekend in Buffalo. Given that Alex DeBrincat (No. 39) has already scored 69 NHL goals, Samuel Girard (No. 47) is a regular on Colorado’s defence and Carter Hart (No. 48) is the starting goalie in Philadelphia, Korshkov is going to have to be a very good late bloomer for the Leafs scouting staff to have done well with that pick.

For the last three drafts, ones without those top-10 picks, it’s too soon to make any firm judgments. From 2017, Leafs defence prospect Timothy Liljegren (No. 17) has yet to play an NHL game. Goalie Ian Scott, the 110th pick that year, has been signed.

Toronto’s first-rounder in 2018, defenceman Rasmus Sandin (29th overall), has also not yet played an NHL game, which is not unexpected. 1153644 Toronto Maple Leafs For the second game in a row, Tyler Gaudet showed well at forward. He’s not in the mix with the Leafs, but will make a mark on the farm.

As they did in Ottawa on Wednesday night, Matthews, Morgan Rielly and Nylander shows plenty of jump in Maple Leafs' pre-season victory Cody Ceci served as the Leafs’ alternate captains Hutchinson finished against Sabres with five saves.

Already in Babcock’s good books, Ilya Mikheyev’s defensive instincts are becoming evident. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Mikheyev had some Terry Koshan dominating shifts in the third period.

Published:September 20, 2019 Matthews has been impressed.

Updated:September 20, 2019 10:42 PM EDT “He plays a lot like (Pavel) Datsyuk,” Matthews said. “He has that reach, has a similar paddle on him. Really shifty, strong on the puck, good on

his edges. I was really impressed, especially that third period. Had a An interesting observation on William Nylander was put forth by Maple couple of really nice plays.” Leafs teammate Kasperi Kapanen on Friday morning. SPEZZA WINGING IT “I think he’s going to go down as one of the better Swedish players to Babcock’s quest to get his fourth line in proper formation continues at ever play, in my opinion,” Kapanen said. “He has it all. training camp. “He has a great shot, great vision, so calm with the puck, even if he has As such, veteran Jason Spezza was moved to right wing from centre as made a couple of mistakes during the game, he is still going to hold on to the Leafs got back to work on Friday morning at the Ford Performance it and try to make a play. His confidence level is up there. It’s really fun to Centre after a day off on Thursday. watch him play.” Spezza and Trevor Moore flanked Frederik Gauthier, a trio that is slated Nylander’s response? to be in the lineup when the Leafs visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday “That’s pretty nice coming from a Finnish guy,” Nylander said jokingly. night.

Our take: As good as Nylander could one day be, the jury is not expected “I just said to them, I don’t know who is playing centre, I will change it to return on Kapanen’s opinion for several years. every day on the sheet,” Babcock said. “Let’s see if we can get something going, create something that can really help our team.” On Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres in a pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena, Nylander wasn’t able to score on several Grade-A The 36-year-old Spezza is fine with playing the wing. As it is, Spezza and chances, but was energetic throughout as the Leafs won 3-0. Gauthier sound like they’re ready to be interchangeable parts on the unit.

“It’s coming,” Nylander said. “It’s getting better and better.” “With Goat, we talked before practice about how we will probably share centre, fill first man low, that’s why it’s good we get a chance to play Nylander, who had an easy time getting behind a weak Sabres defence, together, work on our switches and all that, a little bit of chemistry that was stymied by goaltender Linus Ullmark time and again. In the second way,” Spezza said. “I have played plenty of wing the last few years, (with period, Nylander tried a different tack, setting up Auston Matthews from the Canadian) national team, I have always played wing, so it’s not that behind the net for the Leafs’ second goal. unfamiliar for me.”

Nylander led the Leafs with six shots on goal and had 15 attempts. NEUVIRTH IN

Given what happened in 2018-19 – the Nylander/Leafs contract dispute Goalie Michal Neuvirth returned to practice from an undisclosed injury that ended on Dec. 1 followed by subpar play for the remainder of the and indicated later the plan is to play two periods in Buffalo on Saturday. season from the man who now wears No. 88 – it’s imperative that Nylander gets back in line with his potential in 2019-20. In camp on tryout basis, Neuvirth has to make every save count in the battle to be Andersen’s backup. “Willie might have had the puck as much tonight as he had it last year,” coach Mike Babcock said. “I’m not kidding. He has to be feeling good “Good practice,” Neuvirth said. “Had a little setback, but it’s good now about himself. The other two guys (Matthews and Andreas Johnsson), and feeling better. you knew it was not going to be an issue. “It’s tough missing a couple of practices. We’ll see what’s going to “It’s good for Willie to feel good. I thought he played really well. That line happen. was dominant, had the puck a lot.” “I’m just focusing on myself, trying to prepare the best I can. I feel good Game group getting started.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/LbvsIPP1qt about my game.”

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 20, 2019 Neuvirth said he was a Leafs fan while growing up in the Czech Republic. GAME ON “The Toronto Maple Leafs are the mecca of hockey,” Neuvirth said. Frederik Andersen was sharp in the Leafs net from the opening faceoff, “When (general manager) Kyle (Dubas) called me, I followed my heart.” using the paddle of his stick to poke the puck away from Arttu Ruotsalainen to deny an early Sabres chance. Andersen played the first Neuvirth’s favourite player as a kid? two periods before giving way to Michael Hutchinson, stopping all 24 “Mats Sundin,” Neuvirth said. shots he faced. NO FAN OF SABOURIN Kenny Agostino, vying for a depth role after playing in 63 games combined with Montreal and Anaheim last season, had some pep and For some reason, perhaps because there are too many pre-season set up Johnsson for a Leafs power-play goal in the first period. games and rosters have to be filled, the Ottawa Senators decided to dress forward Scott Sabourin on Wednesday in Ottawa against the Rasmus Sandin is 19. That’s difficult to remember when watching him Leafs. play. The defenceman was poised and in control each time he touched the puck. Sabourin, a career minor-leaguer who has zero NHL games on his resume, took the feet out from Rielly and later got Johnsson with a If Matt Read, in camp on a pro tryout, fails to stick with the Leafs, it’s questionable hit. possible he gets a chance somewhere else. A deft toe-drag by Read, followed by a quick shot past Sabres goalie. Leafs defenceman Ben Harpur dropped the gloves with Sabourin after the check on Johnsson, and though the Leafs came out of the incidents Andrew Hammond, gave the Leafs a three-goal lead at 9:40 of the third. unscathed, Johnsson had some choice words on the matter on Friday. Sandin had the assist. “That guy slew-footed Mo before and hit me in the head,” Johnsson said. “You’re going to play hard, but in the game you have to have respect for other players too. I feel like that guy didn’t have any respect at all. I don’t think we should give him any attention at all, that guy.”

We agree, and after Friday, we won’t.

Cameras caught Matthews trying to see who Sabourin was, mocking the player by peering at the back of his sweater. The video went viral.

“He gave me a couple of cross-checks after the whistle,” Matthews said. “It was nothing. It was all harmless. We were both messing around, both got a good chuckle out of it.

“I didn’t know it was him (who hit Rielly and Johnsson) until after the game. It’s pre-season and you don’t want to see anyone getting hurt. Those dangerous plays are stuff you cringe at, especially when it’s one of your top players.”

Babcock avoided the matter, perhaps unwilling to criticize the decision made by his former assistant now coaching the Sens, D.J. Smith, to use Sabourin.

“I thought Harps did a good job, didn’t you?” Babcock said before seeking a different question.

SMART SANDIN

If Sandin doesn’t crack the Leafs roster coming out of camp, we bet it won’t be long before he gets the call to the big club from the .

We won’t be surprised if Sandin follows the path taken by Travis Dermott, who started with the Marlies two years ago before getting called up that January. Dermott never looked back, taking little time to become an impactful regular on the Leafs blue line.

“All you have to do is watch him,” Babcock said of Sandin. “He’s smart, he knows how to play. He is one of these guys that doesn’t seem to matter how old he is, because his hockey sense is so good, he sees it.

“He is a little guy (5-foot-11, 183 pounds) who seems to know how to defend, he seems know how to leverage his body, he just seems to be a good player. When you talk to him, he does not get all uptight. He knows what you’re going to say before you say it most of the time.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153645 Toronto Maple Leafs and lead the charge in transition, which I think could be a sign of things to come this season. Another thing to keep an eye on is his confidence on the right side of the ice. That’s where he’s been setting up on the power play under new assistant coach Paul McFarland, and he’s looked good Leafs Report Cards: Rasmus Sandin turns heads, top six puts on show, there through two preseason games, generating plenty of quality forward battle heating up and more chances from the right dot.

Kenny Agostino (LW, #20) — Coaches like to see players on the roster bubble really force their hand with standout performances. That’s exactly By Ian Tulloch Sep 20, 2019 what we saw from Agostino on Friday. He was all over every loose puck, skating hard on the forecheck and backcheck, not to mention making some nice plays with the puck (such as his clever behind-the-net pass Welcome to the third installment of Leafs Report Cards. As a reminder, halfway into the game or setting up Andreas Johnsson for a tap-in on the I’ll be doing these articles after every Leafs game this season. I’m a big power play). Throw in the little stuff such as blocking shots and finishing fan of reader interaction, so if you have any suggestions for things you’d his checks, and you just know Babcock must have loved an effort like like to see in these postgame reports, be sure to let me know in the that. I have to think a game like this is going to move Agostino up the comments! We’re using the preseason to test what works and what depth chart as he battles for a roster spot. doesn’t (just like NHL head coaches), so here’s hoping we can find the right depth pieces. Ilya Mikheyev (LW, #65) — I know this might sound crazy, but I think Mikheyev has already made the big club in Toronto. He’s such a smart Without further ado, let’s dive into Toronto’s 3-0 preseason victory over player in the way he applies pressure in all three zones. He aggressively Buffalo. takes away space when the opportunity is there but always makes sure he has enough time to recover and take away any dangerous passing Key takeaways from the game lanes, which he really showed off in the penalty kill. He also has some 1. Rasmus Sandin is the real deal surprisingly slick hands, which he used to pull off a dazzling move off the rush. It sounds like he’s already a fan favourite (and coach’s favourite), He looks like a player who should be in the Leafs’ opening night lineup. so here’s hoping this premature hype isn’t undue and he’s more Zach We’ll discuss what makes him so impressive in his individual section Hyman than he is Insert Leafs Forward We Mistakenly Overrated. (where he earned five stars again Friday — based on my highly scientific rating system). ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. The Leafs’ top six is going to be lethal William Nylander (RW, #88) — I know people hate it when you say Nylander played great but just got unlucky with his chances, but that was The combination of Auston Matthews and William Nylander has looked genuinely the case Friday. He was generating tons of chances with deadly early in this preseason. When you combine that with the Matthews at even strength, using his skill to maintain possession and his chemistry we’ve already seen between John Tavares and Mitch Marner passing ability to break down the defence. That’s how he got Matthews (not to mention Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen joining the top into position for a tap-in goal. Nylander’s timing has looked a bit off when six to start the season), there’s an argument to be made that Toronto it has come to the tail end of these scoring opportunities, whether it’s could have the best top six in the NHL. The bigger questions are going to being a half-second late on his shot or early on a pass across. As he come from the rest of the roster. rounds into regular-season form, though, I’m pretty confident that should 3. The battles for the 12th & 13th forward spots are heating up sort itself out. With some shooting percentage regression and a full season in game shape alongside Matthews, this could be a huge season With Ilya Mikheyev all but guaranteeing himself a roster spot with these for Nylander. past two preseason games (on top of the praise he’s earned from Mike Babcock), there are only a couple of spots left for players to fight over. Dmytro Timashov (RW, #41) — I really enjoyed his game Friday. He has Kenny Agostino certainly helped his cause Friday, but it will be the vision to pull off cross-ice passes in the offensive zone that most interesting to see how the remaining five preseason games play out for players don’t see, and we know how valuable seam passes can be. I’m these bubble players. Nothing’s set in stone yet. not sure if he has top-nine NHL talent when it comes to his speed and skill, but I’m confident that his floor is a high-end AHL player with the Player reports passes he’s able to pull off. And hey, even if he never makes it as an NHLer, there’s value in being a great AHL player. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tyler Gaudet (C, #32) — This isn’t a player who’s a legitimate threat to Best player on the ice: Frederik Andersen (G, #31) — It wasn’t a great make the roster, but I came away very impressed with his performance sign that Andersen needed to be the best player on the ice for Toronto in Friday. He was doing all the little things coaches love to see (staying high the first two periods (with the team giving up tons of shots and scoring in the offensive zone to prevent an odd-man rush, staying low in the chances — a scenario Andersen has become used to by now). He defensive zone to support the D, making quick decisions under pressure looked fluid in his crease and athletic on the saves where he needed to with the puck). Realistically, Gaudet is probably going to end up on an extend to make a save, and I also liked his confidence in making simple AHL roster this season, but I liked what I saw from him. breakout passes from behind the net. ⭐⭐⭐ There are some questions with this Leafs team heading into the season, but the starting goaltending isn’t one of them. Andreas Johnsson (LW, #18) — It’s always hard when you’re the third banana, especially on a night when your two co-stars bring their A-game. Rasmus Sandin (LD, #38) — With these past two stellar performances, I didn’t think this was Johnsson’s greatest game. He wasn’t as much of a Sandin looks like he could force his way into the Leafs’ opening night difference-maker offensively or in transition as we’re used to, but he was roster. When you watch him play, you see a defenceman who already able to pot a goal on the power play after a nice pass from Agostino. All thinks the game faster than most NHLers. He has the confidence to wait in all, I’d say it was a decent game for him. that extra second with the puck before passing a teammate into open space and also the poise to slow things down on a disorganized line Nick Shore (RW, #26) — As a Nick Shore truther, I saw some plays change to help his team sustain puck possession. Friday when he looked great with the puck. He’s a guy who has top-nine skill and passing ability but has some deficiencies in some of the other I see an NHL defenceman when I see No. 38 on the ice. Whether that components of the game. We got a few examples Friday of why he’s makes him a Leaf on opening night is unknown (depending on what going to drive some coaches crazy (poor positioning in the defensive Toronto’s development staff decides what’s best for him). One thing zone) and why some of the hockey nerds, like myself, are going to swear remains clear, though: He’s certainly separated himself from the pack of by him (his slick passes in the offensive zone). The truth probably lies defencemen who are fighting for a 23-man roster spot. somewhere in the middle, but I’m still convinced there’s an NHL player in Auston Matthews (C, #34) — He looks locked-in already, using his there, although I think it’s unlikely he’s going to play for Babcock. combination skill and power to generate tons of chances off the rush in Matt Read (RW, #12) — I didn’t think he had the best game overall, but this game. For a player of his calibre, that’s to be expected against he did score a beautiful goal off the rush with a nice curl-and-drag weaker competition like this, but it was nice to see him force the issue release. Read is on a professional tryout right now, and in my opinion, he’ll need to play a more effective 200-foot game to earn the coaching SIDE. MIKHEYEV SHOWING HIS STELLAR STICKHANDLING AND staff’s trust. PASSING. #LEAFSFOREVER PIC.TWITTER.COM/HUQHXDPWTL

Martin Marincin (RD, #52) — This shift sums up Marincin perfectly: — JOSH TESSLER (@JOSHTESSLER_) SEPTEMBER 21, 2019

MARINCIN LOSING HIS STICK, TRIPPING OVER HIS OWN If you haven’t already bought your Mikheyev stock, better get in quick REPLACEMENT STICK, AND STILL PLAYING GOOD DEFENCE IS AN before it sells out. Guess who drafted him in his prospect fantasy draft? *EXTREMELY* MARTIN MARINCIN SHIFT. (Also, guess who’s nerdy enough to have a prospect fantasy draft?)

— DRAGLIKEPULL (@DRAGLIKEPULL) SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 I really like what I’ve seen from his game so far. If he keeps this up, he’ll probably end up with a spot in the top nine with Zach Hyman injured. He drives me crazy when I watch him handle the puck. He’ll lose a puck race he easily should have won, but then he’ll play solid defence and he Final thoughts from the game ends the shift with zero shots against. Defence isn’t fun to watch. I think we should abolish it. I keep trying to put a disclaimer that these are preseason games to which we shouldn’t be overreacting, but at the same time, when players on the Michael Hutchinson (G, #30) — It’s not easy evaluating a goalie who bubble have monster games (such as Sandin, Mikheyev and Agostino), came in for 20 minutes of play where neither team appeared to be trying it’s hard not to get excited as a fan. It looks like the Leafs have more too hard. But I thought Hutchinson looked sharp on the saves he needed depth than we might have expected up front and on the back end, to make, although the degree of difficulty on those shots was significantly especially when Hyman and Dermott return to the lineup. less than the ones Andersen had to face earlier in the game. We’re only three games in, but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from a few ⭐⭐ of Toronto’s players who appear to be forcing their way into opening night roster sports. Alexander Kerfoot (C, #15) — I think it’s safe to say the Kerfoot experiment at centre is going to have some growing pains. You can see Final Grade: A- the raw speed and talent when he gets open ice in transition (he’s a one- The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 man zone entry and zone exit), but his positioning defensively leaves a lot to be desired. As someone who believes in his talent, I remain confident that Kerfoot can become an effective third-line centre for Toronto this season in a sheltered role, but he’s clearly not there yet.

Timothy Liljegren (RD, #37) — It’s unfortunate to say this, but Sandin has really separated himself from Liljegren over the past year. One player looks much more refined while the other looks a bit flustered at times. I still believe in Liljegren’s talent long-term (his skill and stretch-passing ability are going to make him an effective puck mover at the NHL level), but he doesn’t look like he’s NHL-ready just yet.

Pontus Aberg (LW, #46) — This was a weird game for me to evaluate because there were a few plays from Aberg that I loved, such as a beautiful cross-slot pass off the rush and a nice little move along the wall to make space for a scoring chance, cross-checking a guy twice his size. There were also some moments I didn’t love, especially the play at the end of a power play when he got too fancy along the wall and caused a turnover. That led to an odd-man rush against and sustained pressure for well over a minute. Coaches aren’t going to love those kinds of decisions. (It’s one of those times where the “safe” play actually is the right play.)

Rich Clune (LW, #39) — I don’t think we need to overthink a preseason game by Clune. He’s the Marlies’ off-ice leader and essentially their strength-and-conditioning coach, but he isn’t an NHL player. I thought he had a great shift in the first period, but other than that, I was just happy to see Cluney in a Leafs uniform for once!

Kristians Rubins (LD, #56) — Again, let’s not overthink this. Rubins didn’t look like an NHL player Friday, but he wasn’t expected to be (probably more of an AHLer or ECHLer).

⭐

Morgan Rielly (LD, #44) and Cody Ceci (RD, #83) — The first half of the game was a disaster for these two players, although they slowly turned it around — especially Rielly, who made a brilliant pass to Nylander off the rush that probably should have resulted in a goal. These two clearly have some cleaning up to do in their defensive zone when it comes to communication and positioning (there were a few times when neither player was in the right spot), but at the same time, this was each player’s second game of the preseason, so we probably shouldn’t overreact too much.

Game Score

Game score is a metric developed by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn to quickly measure a player’s performance in a game. It’s not perfect, but it can help give us a decent idea of how well players performed in a particular game based on their numbers (although I’d always recommend combining stats with video because single-game numbers can be wonky).

Most important clip of the night

WHAT A SHIFT. MIKHEYEV AND TIMASHOV. GREAT SEQUENCE. TIMASHOV HUSTLES FOR THE PICK AND SHOWS HIS PHYSICAL 1153646 Toronto Maple Leafs Spezza believes Dallas prepared him for every scenario where, in addition to seeing his minutes dip, he was also scratched, including in the playoffs.

Centre speculation: An unlikely battle could be brewing on Leafs’ fourth The only real graybeard (albeit one who’s clean-shaven) kicking around line the Leafs these days, Spezza entered camp just trying to get his body up to speed. It usually took four, maybe five games, for that to happen for most guys, he said. Then, it was about showing the Leafs, and probably Babcock above all, that he’s able do what they hoped he could. That he By Jonas Siegel Sep 20, 2019 would openly embrace a depth role while chasing a Stanley Cup at the end of his career.

Shortly after the Leafs announced Jason Spezza’s one-year deal on “It’s either you accept it,” Spezza said, “and you try to be good at what Canada Day, Kyle Dubas described the 36-year-old as “the perfect fit in they’re asking you to do, or you just don’t play. And I want to keep terms of what he can bring, in terms of his experience.” The Leafs GM playing!” was excited by the wisdom Spezza, with 16 years of NHL experience and It’s possible this apparent fight for a roster spot is all just smoke, a over 1,000 games, could impart on the team’s young core of stars. situation in which the coach gets a first glimpse of an aging veteran at All of which made it surprising to hear Mike Babcock earlier this week camp and wonders if he’s got anything left. Or in Spezza’s case, whether make it sound as though Spezza’s spot with the Leafs was sort of he can provide what the Leafs — and Babcock — are looking for out of tenuous, that the fourth line centre spot could be up for grabs. that position.

“There’s a role here for him,” Babcock said, “but he’s gotta be able to do From Luke Glendening to Brian Boyle, Babcock seems to like his fourth- it. And so we’re going to see over exhibition whether he likes it, whether line centres a certain way. Heavy. Gritty. Good in the dot. Able to mix it he wants to do it. We’re just in the process of feeling him out, and he’s up on the PK. Not exactly someone who looks like Spezza, the 14th feeling us out right now.” highest scoring player since his career began at 19 in the 2002-03 season. After Spezza played his first game as a Leaf in St. John’s, the Leafs coach said he needed to figure out whether Spezza was a “lock” and “Let’s face it,” Babcock said, “Jason’s never been a fourth-line centre, repeated that Spezza, and the team, would need to figure out if he was you know what I mean. He’s got lots of things that he’s been doing in the right for the role. league for a long time.”

The Leafs coach went out of his way, notably, to praise Frederik Softening his earlier stance, Babcock added: “We’re figuring out — just Gauthier’s game that night. (And the Goat, frankly, deserved it.) like everybody — the best way to use everybody.”

What’s odd about the whole thing is Spezza has been clear from go that What’s odd is that Gauthier, while having his moments last year, doesn’t he’s ready to do this, to embrace a limited role in the twilight of his really fit the speedy, skilled identity of the roster. A Spezza-led fourth line career. It was all presumably laid out for him when he met with both has the potential to pop a few goals and control the puck, and Spezza Babcock and Dubas during the free agent interview period in June. He’s brings something to the table on special teams, not only PK potential but cool with 10-12 minutes, with killing penalties for the first time in years, power play. He had 34 power-play assists over the past three seasons, with getting his kicks from nailing shorthanded draws, with running the and might be just the needed trigger-man for William Nylander on the Leafs second power-play unit. He’s cool with being a fourth-line centre second unit. for the first time in his career — and likely, his life. And while he did sit out early in last year’s playoffs, Spezza returned to He expressed all that enthusiastically just before leaving Newfoundland chip in three goals, five points, and a 53 percent win rate on the draw in on Wednesday morning. about 10 minutes a night. It’s also worth noting, however, that the Stars were hammered on the old Corsi metre when he was out there — to the “Yeah, for sure,” said Spezza. “I know how they foresee using me and tune of 43 percent possession and about 37 percent expected goals. stuff. I think I’m OK with it. I think more what (Babcock) means is I’ve got to get up to speed with it.” He’s clearly approaching the end as a reliable NHL contributor, just as the still-unsigned Patrick Marleau was for the Leafs last season. Like, killing penalties. Still, Spezza represents a considerable talent upgrade over Gauthier, in Spezza did none of that over five seasons in Dallas. The last time he had skill, smarts and also, experience, if also lacking the whole heavy thing a regular gig on the PK was the 2013-14 season, when he was still an that Babcock likes and that Gauthier only sort of brings. Nick Shore also Ottawa Senator. He was pleased with how his debut went in that regard. fits this model, though he’s been on the outside of NHL-looking lines at The stats were limited at Mile One Centre, but it was evident how Spezza camp so far. Gauthier also doesn’t check the right-hand faceoff box (he’s could be of use in the FOGO (faceoff, get off) role, particularly with Zach a leftie) nor has he killed penalties regularly as of yet in the NHL. Hyman, who ended up taking most of the right-side PK draws last year (48.9 percent), out for the month of October. He is 6-foot-5 though.

Spezza took only three such draws all of last season for the Stars. He It wasn’t all that long ago that the Leafs signed Dominic Moore to be their won 58 percent of his faceoffs overall though. fourth-line centre, only to see the Leafs coach stir up a competition between him and Miro Aaltonen. Moore made the team and Aaltonen “Every team kills slightly different, so it’s just kinda knowing your routes,” was sent to the Marlies. Spezza said of readjusting to life on the penalty kill. “For me, it’s good faceoff intensity, and good clears (of the puck). It’s not reinventing the It’s likely this apparent competition blows over. That Spezza perks up at wheel. It’s just a matter of just being sharp, I think.” camp, claims the 4C gig, and provides some version of what the Leafs are after. Or maybe, the Leafs keep him and Gauthier and rotate Spezza wondered if Babcock was also referring to the big change he’s between the two. about to face in terms of ice time. It seems fair to surmise that Spezza will slip below the 13 minute average he drew in Dallas the last couple “I want to prove to them that I’m willing to do it and can do it,” Spezza years, which was a sharp drop from the almost 19 minutes he averaged said. “When you play on a fourth line you have different expectations, so over the 10 previous seasons. Gauthier garnered around eight minutes a you want to make sure you’re solid that way.” night as the Leafs’ fourth-line middleman a year ago, but didn’t kill The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 penalties or, obviously, play on the power play, so something around 10 minutes per game seems right for Spezza.

He looks at it as finding a way to do something with less, a whole lot less than he would be used to, “So you don’t really have the flow of the game all the time that you get when you’re a top guy,” he said. 1153647 Vegas Golden Knights But to keep Nosek, Pirri and Zykov in that scenario, the Knights would have to carry seven defensemen. They’ve opened each of the past two seasons with eight defensemen on the roster.

Race heats up for bottom-six forward spots with Golden Knights Roy is waiver exempt, which also could be a factor in whether he starts in the American Hockey League.

“I’ve been really good defensively, but I know I can bring more offense,” By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal Roy said.

September 20, 2019 - 6:55 PM Odds: 8 to 1

Cody Glass

Like any good race, the one being staged for jobs as bottom-six forwards The top prospect was given his chance to play right wing Thursday and with the Golden Knights has early favorites along with at least one long created a handful of scoring chances after a shaky start. shot. Glass hasn’t hurt himself in his quest to make the team, but he has yet to As they reach the half-mile pole of training camp, no one has been able produce something spectacular, either. to separate from the pack. There’s still time. Barring injury, though, it’s more likely he starts out with “There’s lot of guys who can fill in those spots,” coach Gerard Gallant the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. said. “It’s going to be a battle, and that’s a good thing. … We’ll see where it shakes down at the end, but there’s some good options.” Odds: 10 to 1

The Knights have 10 forwards locked into the lineup, with room for at LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.21.2019 least three more on their final 23-man roster.

The third line needs a wing to play with Cody Eakin and Alex Tuch, and the fourth line has an opening at center, leaving a hole for one extra forward.

If they carry seven defensemen rather than eight, then an additional roster spot for a forward opens up.

Let’s handicap the competition:

Tomas Nosek

What position he plays — fourth-line center or third-line wing — is the key puzzle piece. Nosek’s preference is center, and he has experience playing between bruising fourth-line wingers William Carrier and Ryan Reaves.

Nosek is responsible defensively and surprisingly good on faceoffs — he won 62.1 percent (82-50) of his draws. He also is one of the team’s top penalty killers. Sounds a lot like the departed Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.

In his lone preseason appearance, Nosek played center and contributed two assists in the 5-0 victory at Colorado.

”Obviously everybody wants to play more, even if it’s on the wing or center. Doesn’t matter,” Nosek said. “This is the biggest week of the camp, and the last couple preseason games. We have a great group of guys who want a spot, so they want us to fight for it.”

Odds to make the team: 1 to 2

Brandon Pirri

Pirri seized on his opportunity last season and was in the lineup for Game 7 against San Jose in the Western Conference quarterfinals skating with … hey, look at that, Eakin and Tuch!

At the very least, Gallant made it clear Friday that Pirri would be on the roster. He scored two goals and added an assist in the 5-0 victory at Colorado on Tuesday, and all signs point to him being on the third line for opening night.

“I certainly feel a lot more comfortable now,” Pirri said.

Odds: 2 to 1

Valentin Zykov

The Knights invested an entire offseason in the 24-year-old, and it’s unlikely they would want to expose him on waivers. Especially since he improved his conditioning and has performed well in training camp.

Zykov was credited with the opening goal against the Avalanche and stickhandled through the Colorado defense before setting up Pirri for the final goal.

Odds: 4 to 1

Nicolas Roy

This is where the number crunch begins. The 22-year-old center could be a fit on the fourth line. 1153648 Vegas Golden Knights

Shea Theodore happy to be back on the ice with Golden Knights

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

September 20, 2019 - 4:38 PM

Shea Theodore is almost back to normalcy.

The defenseman practiced with the rest of the Golden Knights on Thursday and Friday as he comes back from a “minor tweak” he suffered in pre-training camp testing, according to general manager Kelly McCrimmon. He’s getting back into a typical training camp routine after his summer — and life — was disrupted with a testicular cancer diagnosis.

Theodore had surgery to remove a 5 millimeter by 5 millimeter lump and made a full recovery, but he couldn’t train for six weeks afterwards and fell behind in his conditioning. Now he’s catching up.

“I feel pretty good,” Theodore said. “I think any time you take that much time off, there’s definitely an adjustment getting back into practices. There’s lots of preseason hockey left to jump into the mix and get back into it.”

Theodore’s next step is getting in a game, and he said he would prefer to play in a “couple” preseason games before the Knights’ regular season opener Oct. 2. Coach Gerard Gallant said Theodore wouldn’t play in Saturday’s game against the Sharks but “we’ll see how it goes after that.”

Theodore said he expects to have no restrictions when he does play again, which is welcome news for the Knights. After a summer scare their young, dynamic defenseman is back on the ice and almost ready to go.

“I think right now, it’s just getting back into a routine and skating,” Theodore said. “Skating and practicing with the team. That’s what’s most important.”

Roster moves

The Knights reassigned forwards Paul Cotter, Lucas Elvenes, Ben Jones, Jake Leschyshyn, Jermaine Loewen, Tye McGinn, Gage Quinney and Jonas Rondbjerg, as well as defenseman Brayden Pachal, to their American Hockey League affiliate the Chicago Wolves on Friday.

Pachal, one of two amateur tryouts in camp along with Loewen, signed an entry-level contract with the Knights.

Also, the team placed forward Tyrell Goulbourne and defensemen Brett Lernout and Jaycob Megna on waivers, according to the website CapFriendly. The three were not at practice Friday.

The Knights have 35 players left in training camp. The regular-season roster limit is 23.

Karlsson skates

Center William Karlsson, who was held out of the third period and overtime of Thursday’s preseason game for precautionary reasons, per Gallant, practiced Friday.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153649 Vegas Golden Knights

Aliens invade Golden Knights practice in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Review-Journal

The spectacle of Storm Area 51 activities in Nevada this weekend spilled over to City National Arena, as the Golden Knights held an alien costume contest for fans at Friday’s practice.

When the dust settled, young fan Cole Kammeyer was declared the contest winner and the owner of a new Golden Knights Area 51 jersey.

Knights forward Alex Tuch admitted the Area 51 raid events have piqued his interest.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Tuch said. “I’ll be following it on Twitter probably and see what happens.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153650 Vegas Golden Knights But when Barclay Goodrow scored late in overtime, San Jose became just the second team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal deficit in the third period of a Game 7 not soon to be forgotten.

Hamby’s hoop from distance latest in line of fantastic finishes San Diego stunner

UNLV rallies from 10 down in 0:29 (2005)

By Ron Kantowski Las Vegas Review-Journal The UNLV basketball team trailed San Diego State 81-71 with 29 seconds to play before mounting one of the most furious comebacks in NCAA history. The Rebels outscored the Aztecs 10-0 in a flurry that didn’t actually begin until only 18 seconds remained when Odartey Did you believe what you just saw? Blankson scored on a putback. With her team trailing by two and facing WNBA playoff elimination SDSU turned the ball over; Blankson was fouled on a 3-point shot and against the Chicago Sky at the Thomas & Mack Center last Sunday, sank all three free throws. The Aztecs missed two free throws; Jerel Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces stole a pass at midcourt, forgot Blassingame hit a 3 with nine seconds left. The Aztecs made one free there still was plenty of time to pass to a wide-open teammate or dribble throw; Curtis Terry hit an off-balance 3 from the right side at the buzzer to in herself for a game-tying basket, and launched a prayer from 38 feet — tie it. give or take an incredulous inch or two — with 7.6 seconds still showing on the clock. The Rebels won 93-91 in overtime. The Fat Lady finally sang.

That went in. For a game-winning 3-point basket. Hamby had come up Byrd’s an ace Aces. Jonathan Byrd wins Shriner’s Open with hole-in-one (2010) They’re calling it the “Miracle at the Mack” as it takes its rightful place among some of the most fantastic finishes in Las Vegas’ recent sports Daylight was running out at the 2010 Shriners Hospitals for Children history — many of which I have witnessed from the press box or press Open when Jonathan Byrd stepped to the 17th tee on the fourth hole of row or, in the case of some of the road games, on a low definition sudden death wielding a 6-iron. television hanging from a corner of a smoky bar. His shot pierced the gloom at TPC Summerlin and found the hole. We put together a list of some of the exciting endings and reached out to It was the only tournament in PGA history decided by a hole-in-one and a some pals in the local sports media — Associated Press sports columnist flashlight. Tim Dahlberg, Channel 8 sportscaster Ron Futrell, Las Vegas Motor Speedway vice president and Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame Cashman crashes down trustee Jeff Motley, fellow RJ sports columnist Ed Graney and assistant sports editor Al Leiker — for their thoughts and additions. Peter Alonso hits walk-off HR in Cashman Field’s last game (2018)

Here’s a look at some of the memorable finishes we’ll never forget — Before he became Pete Alonso and started hitting prodigious major buzzer beaters and other heart-stoppers that proved Yogi Berra was right league home runs, he was Peter Alonso of the Las Vegas 51s. And he hit when he said “It ain’t over till it’s over.” the last pitch ever thrown in a ballgame at Cashman Field for a game- winning home run. One for the ages As he circled the bases, a chunk of the press box ceiling caved in. George Foreman KOs Michael Moorer for world heavyweight title (1994) Time for a new ballpark. Trailing on the scorecards with time running out in the 10th round, his left eye nearly swollen shut and looking every bit of his 45 years, George Thunder beats Lightning Foreman landed the big one. Julio Cesar Chavez stops Meldrick Taylor with two seconds to spare The MGM Grand Garden roared and blinked its collective eye in (1990) disbelief. Michael Moorer was counted out as once gruff but now lovable Needing a knockout to retain his world title and keep his 68-0 record Big George became the oldest man to hold the title of world heavyweight intact, the Great Mexican Champion delivered one in dramatic fashion — champion. with two seconds to go in the 12th and final round — to beat Meldrick “It happened! It happened!,” HBO’s Jim Lampley said, repeating it for Taylor at the Las Vegas Hilton. effect — or to convince himself that it really had happened. Referee Richard Steele was vilified for waving off the fight with Taylor Greed kills ahead on two of the three scorecards, but ultimately was vindicated when Taylor never fully recovered from the vicious beating he absorbed in the UNLV beats Baylor on 99-yard fumble return (1999) final rounds.

Trailing 24-20 and out of timeouts, the UNLV football team was ready to Tiger’s tale begins shake hands with Baylor when the Bears got another idea and tried to run up the score on the game’s final play. Tiger Woods wins first pro tournament in Las Vegas (1996)

The football gods were watching and unleashed a bolt of lightning. A lot of people forget that Tiger Woods earned his first PGA Tour victory in Las Vegas. Unless you were in the gallery the day he did it. In which Baylor’s Darrell Bush fumbled into the end zone. UNLV’s Kevin Thomas case you’ll never forget it. scooped up the loose ball and ran more than 100 yards in the opposite direction, giving the Rebels the most preposterous of victories while He was 20 then, and after five rounds and 90 holes of the Las Vegas teaching the Bears the most meaningful of lessons. Invitational he was tied with Davis Love III. Love found a greenside bunker on the first hole of sudden death. Tiger did what Tiger does. San Jose meltdown “We knew he was going to win. I just didn’t want it to be today,” Love said Sharks bounce Knights after third-period blitzkrieg (2019) after the cheers subsided. “Everybody better watch out — he’s going to be a force.” With the Golden Knights up 3-0 midway through the third period in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series they had led three games to one, Vegas’ Rubbin’ and racin’ Cody Eakin was assessed a controversial major penalty for cross- checking Joe Pavelski. Kurt Busch loses to Ricky Craven in closest NASCAR finish (2003)

The Sharks scored four power play goals in 4:01 — only to see a resilient With two laps to go in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, leader Kurt Vegas side tie it in the last minute after pulling goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Busch of Las Vegas and second-place Ricky Craven started treating their race cars as if they were empty beer cans.

Slam. Bang. Crush. The two crossed the finish line practically melded together. Craven was deemed the winner by .002 of a second — the closest finish in NASCAR history.

Lightning gets struck

Golden Knights beat Tampa Bay on late goal (2017)

Tied 3-3 with the NHL’s best team, Shea Theodore wound up from the top of the faceoff circle and blasted the puck past Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy with 2.3 seconds to play for a victory serving notice the Golden Knights were for real in their inaugural season.

All four Vegas goals came on the power play, which if you were one of those making T-Mobile Arena shake from its foundation, mattered not one iota. Or even a half-iota.

High school heroes

Bishop Gorman wins in triple OT (2016)

The Friday Night Lights were shining bright on Bishop Gorman’s football team when it hosted St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida in a televised showdown of national high school powers. Gorman won 25-24 in triple overtime on two-point conversion run — by Muhammad Ali’s grandson (Biaggio Ali Walsh).

It was looking bleak for the home team in the first overtime when Tate Martell overthrew a wide-open receiver in the end zone. Down to their last snap, the Gaels were able to play on when their Ohio State-bound quarterback threaded the needle on a touchdown pass on fourth-and- goal from the 8-yard line.

Rubbin’, racin’, fightin’

Kyle Busch crashes, gets punched in the nose (2017)

On the last lap on the Kobalt 400 on his hometown track, Kyle Busch was run into by Joey Logano, sending Busch spinning down the pit road and triggering a melee between the drivers and their teams after Martin Truex Jr. avoided the wreck and drove away for a victory.

When Busch was pulled away from the scrum, he was bleeding from a cut on his forehead.

Fantastic finish or just one of them’ racin’ deals? You be the judge.

22 skidoo

Lady Rebels erase 22-point deficit with 0:01 to spare (2009)

Trailing by 22 points with 1o minutes to play, the Lady Rebels outscored Air Force 30-7 and scored the winning points in a 64-63 victory on a basket by Dominique Harris with 0:01 showing on the clock.

The game was at Air Force, meaning only a few dozen spectators may have witnessed UNLV’s comeback and that no video evidence of Harris’ buzzer-beater is known to exist.

But it’s probably safe to assume she did not consider a 3-point attempt from 38 feet before settling for a layup.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153651 Vegas Golden Knights Stastny or Eakin are injured, Glass can step in and it isn’t his first NHL experience. He also has a ton of room to grow as he gets comfortable with the NHL speed, and he could become a serious difference-maker down the stretch. Where as with Pirri, Zykov and Nosek, you pretty much Five observations after one week of Golden Knights training camp know what they are by now.

At one point in overtime, Glass deked around Kings’ all-pro forward Anze Kopitar, then pulled the puck back through Kopitar’s legs, leaving him By Jesse Granger Sep 20, 2019 17 bewildered. It was only a small flash — like the beautiful no-look pass to Hague — but it’s a glimpse into what Glass can be. The sooner he’s in the NHL, the sooner he begins making those plays on a regular basis. It’s been a fun start to the exhibition season for the Golden Knights. Vegas moved to a perfect 3-0 with a come-from-behind win Thursday Vegas has four remaining games, and Gallant said he’d like to use the night in Los Angeles, capped off by Jonathan Marchessault’s game- final two as “dress rehearsals.” winning goal in overtime. 2. Competition between the rookie defensemen still has a ways to go Vegas trailed the Kings 2-0 late in the third period at Staples Center, but Dylan Coghlan leads the way for sure. There’s no doubt the undrafted two late goals by Curtis McKenzie and Mark Stone tied the game, and 21-year-old defenseman has stood out above the rest to this point. Marchessault ripped a perfectly-placed wrist shot over Jonathan Quick’s glove hand to give Vegas the win. Coghlan was the only Golden Knight to score multiple goals (three) in the rookie tournament. In two NHL preseason games Coghlan has four shots It’s been fairly easy sailing for the Golden Knights, who have outscored on net, including one that led to a juicy rebound that Max Pacioretty their competition a combined 14-4 through three exhibition games, but cleaned up for a goal. His blistering slap shot from the point is eerily the results are secondary in preseason. The three most important things reminiscent to Colin Miller’s, except perhaps more accurate. He’s an in training camp and the preseason are staying healthy, settling position immediate plug-and-play on the power play, which makes filling Miller’s battles and developing the young players. absence much simpler if Coghlan is the eventual choice. How have the Golden Knights fared in those three areas? Here are my However, this competition is far from over. Hague found the lineup in the six biggest observations from the first week of camp. past two games and played exceptionally in Los Angeles. At 6-foot-6, 1. Battle for the third-line wing spot is heating up Hague’s skating is never going to be perfect, but Thursday night he showed why it doesn’t have to be. Hague’s ridiculously long reach makes On July 1, Vegas’ president of hockey operations George McPhee said, up for many of his mobility deficiencies, and his poke checks are usually “It’s pretty clear we have an opening in our bottom six.” superbly timed. He is very good at using the correct angle to cut attackers off at the defensive blue line and pushing the puck back over At the time he was answering a question about signing winger Brandon the line with the blade of his stick. Tuesday in Colorado he showed off his Pirri to a two-year, $1.55 million contract, and was referencing a gaping hands, picking up a loose rebound, deking around the helpless goalie hole in the Golden Knights’ third-line left wing spot. Cody Eakin centered and slyly backhanding it into the net. the line for two years, and Alex Tuch cemented himself as the best forward outside of Vegas’ top-six. That leaves one spot for Pirri and the As for the other three — Jimmy Schludt, Zach Whitecloud and Jake other contenders to fight over. Bischoff — their positives and negatives don’t stand out nearly as much as Hague and Coghlan. All three are more defensive-minded. In my Through three preseason games, the battle has been phenomenal. Pirri opinion, Whitecloud has played the best defensively of all five of the played one of his best games as a Golden Knight Tuesday in Colorado, rookies. His skating and edgework in his own zone is phenomenal, very scoring two goals and adding an assist in an extremely efficient offensive similar to Nate Schmidt, and Whitecloud makes quick, smart decisions performance. He scored 12 goals in only 31 games last year but isn’t the with the puck, which makes him difficult to forecheck. strongest defensive player, which often led to Gallant choosing players like Ryan Carpenter and Tomas Nosek over him on the lineup sheet. 3. New faces on the penalty kill Pirri’s biggest competition for the spot are the two players he played on a line with Tuesday — Nosek and Valentin Zykov. When Bellemare left Vegas as an unrestricted free agent this summer, he left a hole on the fourth line, but his contributions there honestly Zykov was particularly impressive. He scored a goal of his own (the puck shouldn’t be hard to replace. Bellemare produced only six goals and nine was knocked off his stick and trickled through the goalie’s pads, but it still assists in 76 games last season. counts). He also showed off his phenomenal hands as he danced through Colorado’s defense and fed a cross-crease pass to Pirri, who But where Bellemare is much more difficult to replace is on the penalty tapped it home for his second goal of the night. In the 10:55 of even kill. He was second amongst Vegas forwards with 51 blocks on the strength ice time Zykov had in Colorado, Vegas held a commanding 18-7 season and led all forwards with 147:54 of shorthanded ice time. edge in Corsi and 10-3 advantage in scoring chances. Vegas has multiple options to replace those minutes, with added Nosek also played well on Tuesday, but he may be auditioning for a responsibility for Nosek being the most likely. But Gallant has tried a few different opening. Nosek continues to show he is more comfortable at unexpected players on the penalty kill this preseason — William Carrier center than he is on the wing, and he could be the leading candidate for and Tuch. Both played more than two minutes of penalty kill time in the the fourth-line center spot vacated by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Golden Knights’ 5-0 win over Colorado and didn’t look half bad doing it.

Thursday night a surprising fourth candidate emerged: Vegas’ 2017 first- “It went pretty well,” Carrier said. “I’ve played penalty kill before in Buffalo round pick, Cody Glass. The 20-year-old has played center for most of so I’m used to it. If I get the call to play there I’m happy to do it.” his life, and Gallant said the team still sees Glass as a center but wants Carrier has barely touched the ice for Vegas as a penalty killer, and Tuch to give him a chance to make the team at wing due to the depth Vegas can’t even remember the last time he killed penalties, but both handled it has at the center position. Glass made his right wing debut in Los well and should see more opportunities going forward. Angeles on a line with Eakin and Tuch (a possible opening-night third line), and impressed. I believe this is also Gallant’s way of trying to get Tuch as many minutes of ice time as possible. He knows Tuch would be a top-six forward on Glass displayed flashes of offensive playmaking ability that none of the most other NHL teams, so playing him on both the power play and other contenders for this position can offer. His vision from the left half penalty kill should supplement some of the time he’s missing being down wall is elite. He finds the player he wants to pass to, then shifts his on the third line. positioning to open up a passing lane and dishes the puck without looking at his target – and he does it regularly. He nearly tallied an assist 4. A brick wall of rotating faces in net on a no-look pass to Nic Hague, but Quick slid across to make a phenomenal save on a one-timer from Hague. In the final minute of the second period, Dustin Brown crushed a rebound past Oscar Dansk to finally put the Kings on the board in Los Angeles. Putting Glass on the opening night roster has more benefits than just The goal broke a scoreless tie and halted the Golden Knights’ combined adding his playmaking ability to the third line. It strengthens the Golden shutout streak at 150:08, or just over two and a half games. Knights’ center depth even further so that if William Karlsson, Paul It started in the preseason opener on Sunday, when Malcolm Subban stopped the final 25 shots he faced after allowing two goals on the Coyotes’ first five shots. Subban let a couple in early that he wishes he could have back, but eventually settled in and played spectacularly in goal.

Garret Sparks — who Vegas acquired in an offseason trade from Toronto — followed Subban’s performance up with an even better one of his own. Sparks stopped all 24 of the Avalanche’s shots to record a shutout. His lateral movement and skating was on full display, as he was rarely out of position and always square to the puck. He made the shutout look rather casual in his effort to open a competition for backup netminder.

Dansk stopped 36-of-38 shots by the Kings on Thursday in an exceptional performance.

Prior to camp, GM Kelly McCrimmon said, “Malcolm is our backup and a really good young goaltender. With Garrett Sparks and Oscar Dansk we thought it was a real good opportunity to strengthen the goaltending throughout the organization.”

That hasn’t stopped Sparks and Dansk from putting their best foot forward. Vegas still has four remaining preseason games and it’s highly unlikely Marc-Andre Fleury plays more than two. That leaves two more games for one of the three to impress yet again. None of the three are waiver exempt, so whoever doesn’t claim the backup spot could land elsewhere.

5. Injury updates

The most important aspect of the preseason is surviving it injury-free. Vegas entered camp with two players slightly banged up, in Ryan Reaves and Shea Theodore.

Reaves sustained a minor injury late in summer training and has yet to skate with the team.

“It will be a day-by-day thing,” McCrimmon said. “Certainly there’s no reason for us not to (expect him to be ready for the regular season), but we’ll see how it comes along.”

Theodore revealed just before camp that he underwent surgery this offseason after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. Theodore considers himself extremely lucky and said he has recovered fully from the procedure.

That’s unquestionably the most important news. However, Theodore did “tweak something” during off-ice physical testing on the first day of camp and missed the first week of practice. He joined teammates on the ice at City National Arena on Thursday, so it appears he’s inching closer to a return.

Finally, Karlsson left the Golden Knights preseason win over the Kings on Thursday after the second period. Karlsson was tripped with approximately four minutes remaining on the clock, but played multiple shifts afterward and appeared to be fine. Nevertheless, he entered the dressing room for the second intermission and never returned to the ice.

“(It was) something minor. He’ll be at practice tomorrow,” Gallant said after the game. “If it was the regular season he would’ve played, so he’ll be fine.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153652 Washington Capitals

I Am The Prospect: Capitals' prospect Alex Alexeyev is focused on one goal - making the roster

By Caroline Brandt September 20, 2019 10:00 AM

Like most prospective NHL players, Alex Alexeyev dreams of the day he gets to lift the Stanley Cup over his head.

“It’s the best league in the world," Alexeyev said. "In childhood, they (are) always dreaming about raising that Stanley Cup. It’s my dream too.”

Standing at 6-foot, 3.5-inches tall, the 19-year-old from St. Petersburg, Russia, was the Capitals' last pick of the first round in the 2018 NHL Draft.

“He’s an untapped resource," Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said. "I was really impressed with him last year, seeing him for the first time."

Alexeyev's journey to the big leagues began three years ago when he made the move from Russia to North America, earning a spot on the top pair of the Red Deer Rebels' roster in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. It was there in March of this past year that he sustained a "scary" knee injury, almost certainly sidelining him for the time being.

“I was scared and I felt like something (was) definitely wrong with my knee but after some time where I figured out, everyone figured out that it’s not that scary,” Alexeyev said.

Alexeyev rebounded quickly, rehabbing his injury with the Capitals' AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.

“The injuries, it’s too bad, but players do get injured and that’s something that can’t be helped, Capitals assistant general manager, Ross Mahoney said. "But he had a really good first half of the season with the Red Deer and exceptional World Junior Tournament, the under-20 tournament.”

Since then, Alexeyev was a standout at the Caps' Developmental Camp in June.

“He just looks like he’s at a different level than the rest of the kids both physically and ability to play," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. "He’s big, he’s strong, he’s got a good skill level, he moves the puck well, he seems to have a good attitude a good work ethic, I’m excited to see him in training camp and see his progression here as the year goes on.

With the loss of Capitals' veteran defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik, Alexeyev is focused on making the Caps' 2019-20 roster.

“Alex is a really intelligent player," Mahoney said. "I think he’s got great vision on the ice. He has that ability also to be very patient with the puck.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153653 Washington Capitals Goalie may not be the most important position in hockey, but it is certainly the most impactful. Samsonov and Vanecek’s ascendency gives the team four goalies it believes they can rely on.

Forget the off-ice implications. When it comes to the backup goalie battle, That is a good problem to have. ‘play on the ice will make that decision’ “They're far enough into their development where they've got lots of pro experience,” Capitals goaltending coach Scott Murray told NBC Sports Washington. “They've gone through the trials and the tribulations at a By J.J. Regan September 20, 2019 6:15 AM high level, and they've developed their game where they can make an impact at any level that they play at.”

Both players will be competing against Copley, 27, who took over as the WASHINGTON -- Midway through the second period of the Capitals’ backup in the 2018-19 season after the team traded Philipp Grubauer to preseason game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, Ilya the Colorado Avalanche. With only two games of NHL experience to his Samsonov looked like he could barely contain himself. Knowing he would name, plus with how much the Caps relied upon Grubauer the year soon be in the game, Samsonov put on his mask and leaned on the before, the move was seen as a gamble, but a gamble that paid off. bench, just waiting for his opportunity. Finally, the puck was stopped, the whistle blew and on he skated. Samsonov and teammate Vitek Vanecek Copley went 16-7-3 in his first full NHL season with a .905 save were splitting the game. Vanecek had gotten the start. Now, it was percentage and 2.90 GAA. His 16 wins were one more than Grubauer Samsonov’s turn. earned the season before when he supplanted Holtby as the starter.

Samsonov came in cold, but he needed to be ready to go. Soon after “[Copley] embraces that opportunity to continue to earn every opportunity entering the game, the Caps were called for two minor penalties and he gets,” Murray said. “That's just the way he's wired. For him, he just he Samsonov was tasked with protecting the net for 65 seconds of a two- goes about it day by day and focuses on the things that make him play man advantage. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko, who scored 10 well and that's why he's a pro and that's why he adjusted so quickly last goals last season and an additional two in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, year and did his job very well when he was called upon.” unloaded a one-timer at the young Samsonov, but the rookie goalie absorbed the shot with no trouble and no rebound. Copley’s season was certainly good enough to earn him another year as the backup. Plus, as Holtby is a goalie who likes to play as much as The ovation was louder than you would expect for what amounts to a possible, one must ask if it even makes sense to have a young goalie meaningless preseason game, but it reflects the excitement over serve as the backup as opposed to playing in the AHL and getting Samsonov as a prospect and the fans’ interest in one of the biggest regular playing time. roster battles at Caps training camp. While Murray acknowledged the importance of continuing to get the two There’s no question who will be the Caps’ top goalie heading into the young goalies game experience, neither Samsonov nor Vanecek seem season. Braden Holtby enters as the undisputed starter. The intrigue is daunted by the challenge of less playing time. over who the team will ultimately keep as the backup. “I'm a professional,” Samsonov said through an interpreter. “I should be Three goalies are currently competing for the job as two young able to play in any situation. I'm just going to do what the coaches tell me netminders are pushing to make the NHL roster and challenge last year’s so if I play in Hershey or play here, I'll adjust to any situation.” incumbent, Pheonix Copley. “If I will be backup goalie, I don't get too many games,” Vanecek said, "We do have two up and coming guys,” Todd Reirden said. “You see “But doesn't matter I think because the NHL is the top league in the world Vanecek really continues to improve and get better, earned a nice so I think that will be great for me.” contract this summer. Samsonov's our most highly touted prospect. No secrets there. We've got to continue to push him to be ready to play here Still, the transition from playing frequently to becoming a backup can be and he's going to get the opportunity to do that.” difficult. The fact that Copley has shown he can handle that role helps make his case. As Reirden noted, the most heralded of the three without question is Samsonov. The problem for Copley, however, is that even though he earned the role last year, even though he showed he can handle that role, even though A first-round pick in 2015, Samsonov, 22, is considered the top prospect relying on one or two rookie goalies to win 16 games like Copley did last in the organization. He has spent the past four years since he was season is a huge risk, outside factors have forced the team to at least drafted dazzling with his play, particularly in the KHL and in junior consider if Vanecek or Samsonov may be ready for a bigger role. tournaments. And so, after a season in which Copley silenced much of his doubters, he Last season was Samsonov’s first in North America. He played 37 now finds himself back to square one having to prove himself all over games in Hershey where, after a rocky start, he rebounded again with a again. spectacular second half to the season. “[Copley] knows the situation,” Murray said. “He knows, he understands Samsonov’s teammate in Hershey, Vanecek, is also competing for an pro hockey. You can look at our organization and understand where it's NHL spot. at.”

Vanecek, 23, was a second-round draft pick by the Caps in 2014. Since “I think every year you've got to go in and earn your spot,” Copley said. 2015, however, he has been living in the shadow of Samsonov, but he “This year's no different. I'm prepared to come in and do my best and held his own in Hershey last season even with all the excitement over give myself the best chance to make this team.” Samsonov’s arrival. Vanecek had the better season and was named Hershey’s representative to the AHL All-Star Classic. The main theme of Washington’s offseason has been trying to navigate the salary cap. The Capitals are right up against the ceiling and, when Vanecek entered camp as the more polished goalie between the two Evgeny Kuznetsov returns from suspension, tough decisions will have to rookies. While many assume Samsonov is higher on the team’s depth be made to make the team cap compliant. chart, Vanecek is focused on showing he doesn’t need any more time to develop and is ready to graduate from the AHL to the NHL now. Of the three goalies competing for the backup role, Copley has the largest cap hit of $1.1 million as opposed to Samsonov’s $925,000 and “Yeah, I feel like I'm ready,” Vanecek said. Vanecek’s $716,667.

“This is my fifth year,” he added. “I think I've got some experience and The uncertainty surrounding Holtby, who is in the final year of his now it's just the step to NHL. Get there and just start playing the NHL. contract, also would seem to necessitate getting playing time for the But it's not easy. It's tough. There is two good goalies, Holtby and younger goalies. They are not just competing for a backup job this year, Pheonix, and then Samsonov and me. It's really hard, but I will try my but Samsonov, in particular, is auditioning for a starting role next season. best to get there this year.” If he shows he can handle it or that he is on the right path in his development, it will make the team’s decision on what to do with Holtby when his contract expires that much easier. The salary cap situation is tough and the team knows it. In addition, no one is blind to Holtby’s contract situation or to the fact that the team may have a new starter next season.

But when it comes to deciding who will play this year, none of that matters.

From the players to the coaches to the management, it is understood that whoever plays behind Holtby this season will be the one who earns it with his play.

“You have a grand plan in mind, but it just seems like more often than not the performance really helps dictate a lot of those decisions,” Reirden said.

“Pheonix's job is to push the envelope to make it hard for us to make a move on him,” Murray said. “Ilya's job is to push the envelope to make it hard to have him play a ton in the American League and Vitek's is the same job. Yeah, you're cognizant of the situation and you understand that there could be some movement, but we've got four good guys here that understand the situation.”

That attitude is one shared by the goalies themselves.

“It's not my job,” Samsonov said when asked if he paid attention to the salary cap. “My job's to go on the ice and everything else will work itself out.”

“That kind of stuff works itself out,” Copley said. “But for me, I just want to give myself the best chance and that is not paying attention to that stuff. Whatever happens there happens.”

Obviously for the organization to say none of those other factors matter would be disingenuous. They matter. It is MacLellan’s job to think and plan around those factors. But the team is not saying those factors don’t matter, just that those off-ice issues will not dictate the decisions that are made on the ice. Performance will. Everything else is secondary.

“To me, the play on the ice will make that decision,” Reirden said.

“We're really happy with where our guys are at and obviously it makes for competition and that's good,” Murray said. “That's what you want in any position is you want competition, you want guys pushing to become better and pushing the envelope to move to the next level.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153654 Washington Capitals Near lock: Jonas Siegenthaler. In the mix: Christian Djoos.

Could see NHL time this season: Alex Alexeyev, Martin Fehervary, Tyler Breaking down the Capitals’ training camp roster after the first round of Lewington and Lucas Johansen. cuts My take: The top five should come as no surprise. And Siegenthaler

should lock up the sixth spot. By Tarik El-Bashir Sep 20, 2019 13 Here’s the big question on the blue line: Can Djoos do enough to prove that he deserves consideration as the No. 6 or, at the very least, a frequently used No. 7? If not, he would seem to be a prime candidate to ARLINGTON, Va. – Thursday was a day off for the Capitals, their first be dealt. After all, his $1.25 million salary – awarded in arbitration – is since training camp began on Sept. 12. pricey for a spare part on a team that’s pressed up against the salary cap. The team also made its first round of cuts. The coaches are smitten with Fehervary but that doesn’t necessarily In all, 18 players were reassigned to Hershey and their respective junior mean he’s ready. Yet, anyway. clubs, or released from tryout arrangements. Alexeyev entered camp with some hype but he’s been out with an upper- Although the cuts included 2019 first-round pick Connor McMichael and body injury that he suffered in the rookie showcase. Unfortunately for camp standout Aliaksei Protas, none of them qualified as a surprise. him, that’s put a dent in his chances. HERE IS THE #CAPS’ UPDATED TRAINING CAMP ROSTER, WHICH Lewington could also play some this year. But unlike Fehervary and HAS BEEN PARED TO 44 PLAYERS FROM 62. Alexeyev, his ceiling is as a bottom pair guy, which limits his PIC.TWITTER.COM/C1HF3DRSXQ opportunities. — TARIK EL-BASHIR (@TARIK_ELBASHIR) SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 And finally, there’s Johansen, the team’s 2016 first-round pick. He’s been Now things get interesting. recruited over for sure, but he’s progressing at his own pace. If that continues, it’s possible the team will want to see what he can do in the There are 12 days and four preseason games remaining before the big leagues this winter. deadline for submitting opening night rosters to the NHL. And there are still a few tough decisions to make. Goalies

Based on the conversations I’ve had, and the practices and games that Roster locks: Braden Holtby. I’ve observed, here’s how The Athletic sees things shaping up as camp In the mix: Pheonix Copley and Ilya Samsonov. enters its second week: Could see NHL time this year: Vitek Vanecek. Forwards My take: This the hardest position to handicap – by far. Roster locks: Nicklas Backstrom, Nic Dowd, Lars Eller, , Garnet Hathaway, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin, Holtby is the unquestioned starter, of course. Behind him, Copley and Richard Panik, Jakub Vrana and Tom Wilson. Samsonov are duking it out for the backup job.

Near lock: Brendan Leipsic. The decision-makers like Copley, and he won 16 games last season. But they also must find out if Samsonov, the team’s first-round pick in 2015, In the mix: Travis Boyd and Chandler Stephenson. can cut it as a No. 1 and potentially replace Holtby, who’s in the final year Could see NHL time this season: Shane Gersich, Brett Leason, Beck of his contract and due a big raise. Malenstyn, Garrett Pilon, and Joe Snively. And there’s only one way to find out. My take: There are no surprises among the top 11. They form the core of Vanecek, meantime, has progressed to the point where the team is the forward group and, with the exception of Backstrom, they’re all intrigued by his potential at the NHL level. But, as things stand now, he’s signed beyond this season. Backstrom figures to re-up at some point. behind Copley and Samsonov in the battle for the backup role in D.C. Leipsic is listed as a “near lock,” but I suspect it would take something The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 unforeseen for him not to make the cut. He was inked to a one-year, one- way contract worth $700,000 on July 1 and, thus far, he’s been exactly what the team thought it was getting.

When the Caps re-signed Hagelin, and then added Panik, Hathaway and Leipsic in free agency, the writing was on the wall for Boyd and Stephenson. They had been pushed out of the lineup. Could they be squeezed further? The next couple of weeks will go a long way toward determining their respective futures in Washington.

Because Kuznetsov is suspended for the first three games, there’s an ongoing audition for another center to start the season. The plan, for now, is for Backstrom to move up to the first line and for Eller to bump up to the second. But that creates a temporary need for a No. 3 pivot. At the moment, Boyd, Pilon and Sgarbossa appear to be in the running for that job.

As far as the others go, Gersich, Leason, Malenstyn and Snively could see some time with the big club in 2019-20. Malenstyn, in particular, has stood out, recording an assist and six shots on goal in two preseason games. Snively, meantime, has looked good, too. His debut, of course, would be a big deal for local hockey. A Northern Virginia native, Snively and his family had season tickets to the Caps and he came up through the Reston Raiders and AAA Washington Little Capitals youth programs.

Defense

Roster locks: John Carlson, Radko Gudas, Nick Jensen, Michal Kempny and Dmitry Orlov. 1153655 Winnipeg Jets Played 17:31 — including 5:11 on a power play that went 0-for-4 — with two shots on goal, one hit and one block.

D LOGAN STANLEY: his 6-7 frame was on full display, especially with Jets fall victim to Blues once again some strong work on the penalty kill, which went 3-for-3. Was aggressive, too, in playing the body and making some neutral-zone Reigning Stanley Cup champs bring loaded lineup pinches, and never seemed to get caught out of position.

Had an assist, which was taken away when Ehlers’ goal was changed to Lowry, but the reigning rookie of the year certainly has Mike McIntyre a shot to make an impact on the blue-line for the Jets this season.

Played 17:15, with two hits and two blocks. The last time we saw the St. Louis Blues around these parts, they were F MARK LETESTU: a high-event night for the veteran centre. First, he breaking the hearts of Winnipeg Jets fans and ultimately ending a season whiffed on what looked like an easy tap-in goal after Pionk set him up. that began with so much promise. Then, on the Blues’ second goal, Edmundson blew by him in the neutral Although the stakes were much lower Friday night at Bell MTS Place, the zone to create a two-on-one with Kostin. His lack of speed is a valid result was similiar as the Blues skated away with a 4-3 overtime victory. concern as he looks to crack the opening-night roster. Winnipeg falls to 1-1-1 in exhibition action. Letestu had a highlight-reel assist late in the third period to set up Bourque for what was the go-ahead goal at the time. Had one shot, one hit, 64 per cent success in the faceoff circle and 17:34 time on ice. St. Louis brought several players from their championship squad, including goalie Jake Allen, No. 1 centre Ryan O’ Reilly and defencemen F KRISTIAN VESALAINEN: not a whole lot to see out there. Jay Bouwmeester. The Jets iced a less-experienced group but proved to Vesalainen’s biggest flaw is his reluctance to use what is a very powerful be a game opponent. shot. Had several chances to pull the trigger but was too pass-happy. He needs to get a bit greedy. "Even though it’s a pre-season game, I think we deserved more. But thats the way it goes," said Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who led the way He also took a holding-the-stick penalty after a prolonged shift stuck in offensively with a goal and assist. "You want to win every game, no his own end. Played 16:58, with no shots, one giveaway and two hits. matter what type of game it is. I think we played a really good game, we HOW THEY LINED UP: worked hard. Tough luck." FORWARDS: THE SKINNY Copp-Lowry-Roslovic We’re guessing Blues head coach Craig Berube loved the hard-nosed start by his team, which included Sammy Blais steamrolling defencemen Vesalainen-Gustafsson-Ehlers Cam Schilling, then feeding linemate Klim Kostin for a crease-crashing opening goal. Kostin showed off his playmaking skills later in the first Perreault-Letestu-Bourque period, setting up Manitoba product Joel Edmundson to make it 2-0. Appleton-Spacek-Chibisov Ehlers showed off his speed when he intercepted a pass and scored on a DEFENCE: breakaway, beating Allen through the five-hole to cut the deficit in half. Ehlers looked to have tied the game in the middle frame when he wired a Heinola-Pionk shot off the crossbar, but it was Adam Lowry who was given credit for banging in the rebound. Andrew Copp made a terrific pass to set it up. Schilling-Nogier

Winnipeg took the lead with just over three minutes left in the third period Stanley-Green as Gabriel Bourque buried a nifty pass from Mark Letestu. But with their Want more sports? goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Perron beat Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck for the equalizer with 32 seconds left. Perron capped off a Get the latest sports coverage from Winnipeg and beyond in your inbox. good night by spinning and firing the winner off the post at 1:58 of overtime. SUBSCRIBE TO PLAYBOOK

"All in all, I liked the way I felt and I liked a lot of things in my game, but I GOAL: don’t like losing. So I’m going to come back to the drawing board and get Hellebuyck better," said Hellebuyck, who was beaten four times on 19 shots. WHAT’S NEXT? 5 PLAYERS WE WATCHED CLOSELY: After eight straight days of on-ice sessions, including three games, the D VILLE HEINOLA: Jets head coach Paul Maurice praised his pre- Jets will enjoy a day away from the rink on today. Winnipeg returns to season debut Wednesday, and there was much to like about the 18-year- action on Sunday at Bell MTS Place when the Calgary Flames pay a visit old’s second game Friday. Heinola, paired with Neal Pionk, made a for the fourth of seven pre-season games. couple of very notable strong reads to interrupt stretch passes by St. Louis early in the game. Absorbed a huge hit with ease, and did some Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.21.2019 good work on the penalty kill.

Also earned his first NHL point, albeit an unofficial one since it’s pre- season, with the second assist on Bourque’s goal. Was trapped on the ice for an extended shift when Perron scored the winner.

Played 17:59 and had two blocks and two giveaways.

F JACK ROSLOVIC: playing on what was the No. 1 line on this night with Copp and Lowry, Roslovic showed flashes, as he always seems to. But there were also times where he was invisible. Consistency is key for the young winger, who has a chance to earn an increased offensive role this season.

Created a great scoring chance with Copp with a slick toe-drag, then had another shift where he led a one-man cycle down low. Also had a quality chance of his own off a rebound, but was denied by Allen. 1153656 Winnipeg Jets "I don’t really look at my role as offence or defence. I think I look at my role as going out there and trying to match up against another team’s top line and trying to win that battle, whether that’s keeping them off the score sheet, or that’s outscoring them," Lowry said. New linemate, nickname in store for Lowry, Copp? Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.21.2019

Taylor Allen

Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp are in need of a new linemate, and potentially a new nickname, now that Brandon Tanev has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Winnipeg Jets’ TLC line was a favourite among fans, as the hard- working trio of Tanev, Lowry and Copp did all the little things that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.

But with Tanev getting a big payday from Pittsburgh in the off-season — a six-year deal with an average annual value of US$3.5 million — the makeup of the Jets’ third line will look different this season. And with forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor still unsigned, Lowry and Copp might not find themselves in the bottom six for much longer.

The duo sat out the team’s first pre-season game, but they played Wednesday night at Bell MTS Place on a line with Blake Wheeler in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild.

In Friday night’s tilt with the visiting St. Louis Blues, Lowry and Copp were paired with Jack Roslovic, a playmaker who’s hungry for a bigger role this year.

Lowry had a goal, Copp had an assist and Roslovic was held pointless against St. Louis.

"We want Adam to have some experience with some different styles of player(s)," Jets head coach Paul Maurice said after the team’s morning skate on Friday.

"With Brandon leaving, there’s a place there. Both Andrew Copp and Adam Lowry’s game over the last few years has developed that we can now start to think of a different style of player there."

Maurice said Copp and Lowry create time in the offensive zone, so a player with an offensive skill set could capitalize while still being responsible defensively.

"We’re also exposing Jack Roslovic to a different intensity level. So there’s some growth to Jack, too. Play as hard as those two guys, bring your hands to the game and let’s see what we can do."

Maurice later said he wasn’t ready to confirm whether Lowry and Copp will be staying together once the regular season begins.

"Not yet. It’s a known for us, right?" Maurice said of the familiarity of Lowry and Copp together. "Sometimes in these exhibition games, I’ve tried different combinations to the start to get new exposure and then you want to get to the point where you start to see some chemistry."

How the lines are going to shake out this season has fallen on the back burner. The focus has been on Laine and Connor waiting for new contracts, and defenceman Dustin Byfuglien asking for some time away from the team with no set timetable for his return, if there is one.

Lowry, who’s entering his sixth year with the team, was asked if this year’s training camp has felt bizarre with everything surrounding the team.

"No, you know, I think we’ve had (players missing) every year. There’s been different guys," Lowry said. "A couple years ago (Jacob Trouba) wasn’t here. Last year (Josh Morrissey) was out for a couple days. So, obviously you’d like to have the whole complements of your roster here, but those things will work themselves out when they do."

The Jets could use a bump in offensive production from Lowry. In the 2016-17 campaign, he was on pace to have his best scoring season as he had eight goals and 13 assists in 45 games, but he missed nearly half the season due to injury. Despite playing 78 games last season, Lowry had similar numbers, finishing with 12 goals and 11 assists.

Better known for getting the job done in the faceoff circle and making life difficult for the top-scoring threats on the opposition, Lowry said he’s not coming into this year with a focus on putting up bigger numbers. 1153657 Winnipeg Jets Despite all the fires seemingly burning around the team, Maurice is making a concerted effort to keep everything as light and loose as possible, no doubt hoping his "What,? Me Worry?" approach trickles down to his troops. Maurice's best medicine is to massage the funny bone It started on the first day of training camp, when Maurice had a fresh take on his eye-raising statement about "ruffled feathers" on the team after a disappointing end to the season in the spring. He knew that was going to Mike McIntyre be an early storyline, and he quickly turned it on its head in a humorous way.

Hey, did you hear the one about the hockey team missing three of its "You know sometimes when your analogies aren’t very good? But in my best players? A real knee-slapper, I tell ya! head, it was still a good one. So I’m picturing this bird with a couple little feathers out, and you just kind of slide your hand and they’re gone. The current state of the Winnipeg Jets would appear to be no laughing You’re thinking more pterodactyl. I was thinking more sparrow at the matter, with Dustin Byfuglien, Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor all out of the time," Maurice said. picture and the start of the NHL regular season just around the corner. That theme continued earlier this week, as Maurice downplayed the But all these dark clouds apparently haven’t sullied the view of head effect of all these distractions in training camp. coach Paul Maurice, who seems to be turning that frown upside down and trying out a new standup routine every time he faces the media "What’s that quote about rough seas making a good sailor? Something lately. like that. But I haven’t felt it in the room. It’s been good, guys are working their asses off. Players got a little bit of turbulence, maybe, outside the Take Friday’s scrum, for example, where there was plenty of buzz about jet. But inside the jet, it’s good," he said. a few Instagram photos that showed Byfuglien sipping a drink on the patio at Earls St. Vital and hanging with a few fans — including one who That was followed by another gem: "If you get your ugly out early, you’ll said the veteran defenceman denied he was planning to retire and will be be pretty good-looking by the end." playing this season. Maybe laughter really is the best medicine. There’s no doubt the Jets, "He’s eating food? That bastard!" Maurice said when grilled about what it and their fragile fans, could use a good dose of something positive right all could mean. After revealing he met face to face with Byfuglien on now. Thursday and had a "wonderful" conversation, Maurice was quizzed Maybe laughter really is the best medicine. There’s no doubt the Jets, about where it had occurred. and their fragile fans, could use a good dose of something positive right "We did it outside your house in my car. You missed it," he told the news now. Maurice is taking a grin-and-bear-it approach, repeatedly saying snoop. he’s been thrilled by the work ethic and focus of the players who are in training camp. Despite all the fires seemingly burning around the team, Maurice is making a concerted effort to keep everything as light and loose as I believe Maurice begins this year with a seat that is at least lukewarm, if possible, no doubt hoping his "What,? Me Worry?" approach trickles not downright hot. As the second most-tenured coach in the NHL, you’d down to his troops. think his time with this group is running out, especially after they took a big step backwards last season. At some point, it’s only natural the Cue the rim shot. message grows stale and a new voice is needed.

There was more, including Maurice playing dumb and asking journalists Now, with an all-important new campaign set to begin, the Jets already to rattle off a list of all the social media platforms out there, then joking seem to be in big trouble, with many pundits already writing them off. And that "the young single guy in the back doesn’t want to say Tinder," after yet, Maurice hasn’t missed a beat, putting on a master class in crisis several others were mentioned. management and setting a positive tone on a daily basis as the face of the team. It was a similar case of the chuckles earlier this week, when Laine’s controversial interview with a Finnish journalist was making headlines on Whether that will ultimately translate into on-ice success remains to be the homefront. The restricted free-agent winger had some biting seen, and Maurice seemed to recognize that all this talk is, ultimately, comments about the way he was being used by Maurice, specifically not rather cheap. spending much time on the top line with Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. "None of it matters. Because when we drop the puck in New York, whether I like camp or not, the end result’s going to decide whether I was A few hours later, after winger Andrew Copp had a two-point night right or wrong," he said earlier this week. against the Minnesota Wild in a pre-season game, Maurice was asked if the winger could take on a bigger offensive role this season. Regardless of how it all plays out, Maurice seems determined to do it with a smile on his face and his next joke at the ready. And while there’s "Did he say that he’d score more if he played with our best players?" no chance he’s going to quit his day job, he might just have a career in Maurice fired back, a knowing smirk on his face. "Hey, Copper wants that comedy waiting for him once this coaching gig is over. job, I can guarantee you that. That is a fact." Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.21.2019 Ba dum tss.

No doubt, some fans see this as an unnecessary cheap shot towards Laine, but I would suggest this is a case of Maurice knowing his audience. He wouldn’t have said it if he thought Laine couldn’t handle it, and considering the coach flew to Finland this summer for some one-on- one face time with his young star, I suspect he has a good idea of how it would be received.

"What’s that quote about rough seas making a good sailor? Something like that. But I haven’t felt it in the room. It’s been good, guys are working their asses off. Players got a little bit of turbulence, maybe, outside the jet. But inside the jet, it’s good."

– Jets head coach Paul Maurice

Which brings me to a bigger point. We all know Maurice is naturally a pretty funny guy, and he’s also one of the best communicators in the game. That’s why this whole comedy routine is more than just him trying out some material for a future guest stint at Rumor’s. 1153658 Winnipeg Jets

Dissecting newcomer Pionk: Can make nice plays and skates well, but stats tell a disturbing story

By: Andrew Berkshire

The outlook for the Winnipeg Jets’ upcoming season is currently hanging in limbo with their two big restricted free agent forwards unsigned and star defenceman Dustin Byfuglien on personal leave.

While you have to hope Byfuglien does what’s best for himself and his family, there’s no denying if he chooses to leave the game for good, it puts the Jets in a serious bind defensively after losing Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot to free agency and trading Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers.

The immediate return in the Trouba trade is Neal Pionk, a 24-year-old defenceman who is a bit of a conundrum.

Pionk can make some dynamic plays and his skating is excellent, but when you look at his on-ice results, things aren’t as pretty.

The Rangers were bad last season, but they were worse by a significant margin when Pionk was on the ice. The most drastic difference was in inner-slot shots, also called high danger scoring chances, where the Rangers were actually a hair into the positives with Pionk on the bench, but recorded less than 45 per cent of the chances while he was on the ice.

Similarly, overall shots and shot attempts took nosedives, while passes to the slot didn’t change much.

Those aren’t positive signs Pionk can be a top-four contributor. It’s strange his results were that poor when he ranked second on the Rangers’ defence in completed transition plays per 20 minutes, behind only Anthony DeAngelo, committed the fewest offensive zone turnovers, the third-least neutral zone turnovers, was middle of the pack in defensive zone turnovers, recovered more loose pucks in the defensive zone per minute than anyone else on the roster except for Kevin Shattenkirk, and posted the highest zone entry denial rate on the Rangers at 47.3 per cent.

Those are all signs Pionk is more than competent with and without the puck, but his overall results remain troubling.

One issue was Pionk tended to pinch too aggressively and too often, as he was on the ice for more odd-man rushes against than all but four regular defencemen last season, and one of only eight defencemen to be on the ice for over one odd-man rush against every 20 minutes of ice time.

The other issue was the player with whom he was paired. Pionk’s most common partner last season was Marc Staal, a player who has historically tanked with on-ice differentials for years now, and the only New York defenceman to post worse differentials than Pionk.

It goes beyond Pionk as well, if we graph out Pionk’s partners by ice time and look at the shot share the Rangers had from the inner slot while each group was on the ice.

Aligning the x-axis with the Rangers’ team average shot share from that area of the ice (not the team average with Pionk off the ice), we can see that he only managed to get above the team average with three players, and he played a combined 8.6 per cent of his total ice time with those three.

If Pionk can find a top-four quality defenceman within himself, it would be a serious breath of fresh air for a Jets squad that seems to be getting only bad news at the moment. But it’s just a lot to ask from a player who has only been above average for about 100 even strength minutes.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 09.21.2019 1153659 Winnipeg Jets As far as further names getting axed from the roster, Maurice said those likely won’t come until after next Tuesday’s game in Calgary.

Searching for a fit Jets focus on progress after blowing late lead, losing in OT There’s a certain intensity level that comes with playing alongside Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp.

Scott Billeck Brandon Tanev had filled that hole in recent season, providing a simple north-south game that suited the line’s workhorse style.

As it developed, the line turned into an elite possession trio that spent It’s the things that the Winnipeg Jets have been working that coach Paul significant chunks of time in the offensive zone and when called upon, Maurice will take from his team’s third pre-season game. could shut it down in front of Connor Hellebuyck.

The game ended in a 4-3 overtime loss to the defending Stanley Cup Considered the team’s third line, coach Paul Maurice often took that champion St. Louis Blues with the Jets giving up the tying goal to David designation to task. He’d point to who he sent over the boards on the Perron with 33 seconds left and the Blues’ net vacated. second shift of the game.

The winner then came 1:58 into overtime, with Perron once again More often than not, it was Lowry’s line. providing the heroics to steal the win. With the vacancy after Tanev left in free agency, Maurice has spent the In any other context, specifically the regular season or the playoffs, the past two games exposing Lowry to different wingers. loss would have stung a little more, but the Jets are a team one week removed from the beginning of training camp and some concepts have On Wednesday, Blake Wheeler was placed to Lowry’s right and the line yet to be touched. produced two quick first-period goals to help the Jets to victory.

A six-on-five situation and three-on-three overtime haven’t been atop the On Friday, it was Jack Roslovic’s turn, with Maurice looking for a player priority list thus far. that matches the duo’s intensity while also offering a layer of finishing and defensive responsibility. “We’ve spent zero time on either of those (situations) and we won’t for another three or four days,” Maurice said after the game. “Play as hard as those two guys, bring your hands to the game and let’s see what you can do,” Maurice said. The focal points in the first week — active sticks, gap control and a general understanding of the concepts being worked on thus far — are While Maurice wouldn’t commit to running with Lowry and Copp paired what Maurice liked, despite the end result. together to start the year, Maurice has deployed them together in both pre-season games they’ve featured in. “I liked a lot of the game,” he said. “I liked our sticks. I liked out connectedness on the ice defensively and that’s really where our focus “It’s a known for us,” Maurice said of how well the duo is together. has been. Tanev could attest to that and could easily thank the tandem for his six- “I liked what the bench is saying when the play is going on, that’s an year, $21-million deal signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The analytics important thing. It shows real recognition of what is happening on the ice will show that Lowry and Copp carried Tanev during the ‘TLC’ era. when players are yelling the same thing the coaches are.” Having a player — perhaps Roslovic — who could hold his own on the Losing still sucks, however. line would only make it better.

“Even though it is a pre-season game, I think we deserved more today,” Defence first Ehlers said. You don’t have to observe a training camp practice for too long before He wasn’t lying. you get a good feel as to what the Jets are trying to improve ahead of their Oct. 3 season opener in New York City. The Jets owned the shot share 45-25 (64.29%) and doubled up the Blues 8-4 on high danger chances in the contest. Transition defence and gap control have made up good chunks of practices through the first week of on-ice activities at camp. Despite being thoroughly out-chanced in the first period, the Blues jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a couple of defensive lapses. Both were obvious issues for the team in the second half of the season, but Maurice said Friday’s game would be the first where they see a large Nikolaj Ehlers was handed a gift in the form of a breakaway in his first veteran contingent. pre-season game. He calmly converted, putting his shot between the wickets on Jake Allen who started for the Blues. Maurice said his plan for the deployment of his players wasn’t going to change with the likes of Ryan O’Reilly on the ice for the St. Louis Blues. Ehlers added an assist on the equalizer on what first appeared to be his second goal of the night. A baptism by fire of sorts.

A piece of brilliant vision by Andrew Copp led to the goal after a cross-ice Lowry, meanwhile, said it’s been frustrating at times as a forward in camp feed on a delayed penalty found Ehlers open to Allen’s right. working to help improve the defensive game.

Ehlers’ shot clanged off the post and dropped Adam Lowry in the crease “I think the D have been doing a really good job working at it in practice,” where it was quickly shovelled in. Lowry said. “You get no clean zone entries, they’re right up on you. They’re kind of smothering you.” “It felt good,” Ehlers said. “It was nice to get back out there again. It’s been a long summer.” Maurice said the flipside to that is that his forward are already getting reps not dissimilar to those they’ll see when the regular season opens. Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves on 19 shots in his first action of the pre-season. Hellebuyck said he was getting a little antsy to get some “It’s good for them,” he said. “Camp’s not supposed to be fun.” game action and felt more comfortable as the game progressed. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.21.2019 “All in all, I liked the way I felt and I liked a lot of things in my game, but I don’t like losing,” Hellebuyck said. “So I’m going to come back to the drawing board and get better.”

Meanwhile, the Jets have made their first cuts after assigning defenceman Declan Chisholm () and defenceman Giovanni Vallati (Oshawa Generals) to their respective junior teams on Friday. 1153660 Winnipeg Jets

Maurice has ‘wonderful’ meeting with Byfuglien

Scott Billeck

Paul Maurice’s propensity this training camp to meet questions about his missing players with subtle jokes continued in full force on Friday.

A couple of Instagram photos of Dustin Byfuglien enjoying a cold one on the patio at an Earl’s restaurant in Winnipeg on Thursday seeped into Maurice’s scrum after Friday morning’s practice.

Selfies with the elusive big man are one thing (and will create a buzz given Byfuglien’s apparent indecision whether or not to play this season), but it was an answer to one of the replies to the photo that really captured people’s attention.

One of the individuals who posted a photo was asked if Byfuglien was going to retire. While not even the team knows the answer to that at this point, the poster replied, “ Nope! Said he will be playing this year!”

Of course, this threw Jets social media into a frenzy, despite any real proof those words spilled out of the 34-year-old’s mouth.

But with a team that’s missing three massive pieces heading into the second week of training camp, anything that can be latched onto will be held with the firmest of death grips.

And so the questions to Maurice, who said he never saw the Instagram post, began:

“I would say nothing to anything that a fan said something to somebody and it made it on a (social media) platform,” he said.

Maurice then turned the tables, asking the media to list off social media platforms.

“A little education for the coach,” he said.

After five or six were named, a Jets staffer offered up TikTok, to which Maurice then said that was coming from the young, single guy in the back who didn’t want to say Tinder.

“Nothing for you,” Maurice said on a more serious note.

A follow-up question was asked to Maurice about Byfuglien being out eating in public and his thoughts on that.

Maurice threw on his game face.

“He’s eating food? That bastard,” he said. “OK. That’s it. That’s enough. I’m trying to joke around and be light. We got your statement out. I’m not making any comments.

Actually, hold that thought.

“He’s got a life,” Maurice added. “I love the guy.”

Mercifully, there was some real news to be had.

Maurice revealed that he and Byfuglien sat down yesterday to have a face-to-face chat.

Maurice called it a “wonderful” conversation.

“It was great,” he said.

Asked where the meeting took place, Maurice wouldn’t divulge, asking if that kind of information was even relevant.

Then the fun face came back.

“We did it outside your house in my car,” Maurice revealed to the reporter. “You missed it.”

It’s been a hell of a training camp so far.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.21.2019 1153661 Winnipeg Jets Appleton appeared in 30 games with the Jets last season and is trying to show he can provide some of the sandpaper lost with the departure of Brandon Tanev along with his smarts and skills. Vesalainen, chosen in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, is a conscientious two-way player Jets’ roster picture still a bit cloudy, but players on the bubble are but needs to crank up his game over the next 11 days if he is to claim an emerging NHL job.

The most intriguing forward among those on the bubble is Chibisov, a 26- year-old who spent the past six seasons playing in the Kontinental By Ken Wiebe Sep 20, 2019 Hockey League and didn’t put up big numbers (17 goals, 38 points in 87 games over the past two years). But he’s 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, he can skate and he’s shown some hands and skill to go along with that big Training camp has hit the midway point and the Winnipeg Jets will take a frame. mandatory day of rest on Saturday. “He’s a powerful man. He has a strength on the ice and the puck that is It was a much-needed break from both the rigours of the daily grind, not pretty valuable,” said Maurice, noting that Chibisov looks more to mention a breather from the daily off-ice stories that have been so comfortable at right wing than on the left. “It’s a big change coming over prevalent. here, so we want to get him as much North American experience (as possible).” Whether it’s the daily curiosity about when restricted free agents Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor might sign on the dotted line or when Dustin Chibisov would likely be best served by spending some time in the Byfuglien might be back from his personal leave of absence (if he minors to ease his transition, but he’s worked his way onto the radar and decides to keep playing), there have been numerous landmines for the is trying to make the decision to send him down as difficult as possible. players and the coaching staff to navigate. Defence Jets head coach Paul Maurice has handled the situation as well as one could expect, often using humour as a way to deflect some of the On defence, there were already a few question marks going into training attention. camp — and that was before the unexpected news Byfuglien had requested and was granted an indefinite personal leave. Just one year ago, Maurice was doing his best to keep the focus on hockey and the building process as the outside world was proclaiming Byfuglien hasn’t made a decision on his future, and the Jets are giving the Jets not only Stanley Cup contenders but one of the clear-cut him all the time required to do what is best for him and his family. favourites. Although it’s far too early to tell if it’s major or minor, there was a These days, you get the sense at least part of Maurice would like to fast- development as Maurice mentioned he had a face-to-face meeting with forward to the regular season, were it not for the important tweaks to the Byfuligen that he described as “wonderful.” system — such as improving the transition defence — he’s working to At this point, no matter how wonderful the conversation, we’re not any implement. closer to knowing which way Byfuglien is leaning or what he ultimately This is the time of camp when teams are starting to place guys on decides to do. waivers and getting down to more manageable numbers. In the meantime, the next-man-up mentality is in full effect, and The Jets returned junior-aged defencemen Giovanni Valatti and Declan Byfuglien’s absence — even if it’s temporary — creates a massive Chisholm to their respective junior clubs on Friday, but 44 players still opportunity to fill those major minutes. remain. Josh Morrissey, fresh off signing an eight-year contract extension that Following Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues, Maurice said kicks in next season, was already going to see an increase in playing the plan was to keep two groups around until Sept. 25, which would time, including an enhanced role on the power play. leave two preseason games to make those final decisions. As Maurice mentioned earlier in camp, Morrissey won’t likely be banging So while the player pool is going to remain relatively full for the next few on his door asking for more ice time. days, the opening-day roster is beginning to take shape. The locks: Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Nathan Beaulieu, Dmitry Kulikov, With four preseason games remaining, including Sunday’s game against Sami Niku the Calgary Flames, look for the intensity to be cranked up as players on Near lock: Tucker Poolman the bubble try to separate themselves from the pack. In the mix: Ville Heinola, Anthony Bitetto, Logan Stanley Forwards Could see time: Nelson Nogier, Cameron Schilling The locks: Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Adam Lowry, Andrew Copp, Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Jack Roslovic My take: Maurice said Friday morning there is still ample experience among the Jets’ defence corps despite the massive turnover. Winnipeg is Near lock: Gabriel Bourque currently without five blueliners who played at least 41 games last In the mix: Mark Letestu, Mason Appleton, Kristian Vesalainen, Andrei season, so there would be some growing pains to endure even if Chibisov, Logan Shaw, David Gustafsson Byfuglien does return. Beaulieu will try to pick up where he left off when he filled in admirably on a pairing with Jacob Trouba, while Kulikov is Could see time: Seth Griffith, C.J. Suess, JC Lipon, Joona Luoto back to full health and he’s aiming to provide a veteran presence in the final year of his three-year, $14 million deal. My take: There’s plenty of high-end talent up front, though the depth takes a significant hit if Laine and Connor aren’t under contract to start Niku is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenceman and is ready for a the season. That’s 64 goals and 116 points of offence missing from last larger role, while Poolman showed signs he was ready for full-time duty season and those are awfully big shoes to fill. There’s a nice blend of two seasons ago when he was called into action. Poolman missed a youth and experience in this group, with several players hoping to carve significant chunk of playing time as a healthy scratch or when he was out out bigger roles for themselves. with injuries, but he’s got an inside track to be on the opening-day roster.

Copp has a goal and two assists through two preseason games and is Bitetto is pushing to be the seventh D-man, while Nogier has endeared too valuable to be used as the fourth-line centre. That means the himself to the coaching staff as a depth player. Stanley made strides as a experienced Letestu is battling it out with 19-year-old David Gustafsson, rookie and while he needs more seasoning, he’s put himself on the radar who will either be in the NHL or return home to Sweden to finish his to make his NHL debut at some point later this season. contract with HV Linkoping. Bourque’s experience and ability to kill penalties give him a leg up in the battle for work on the wing on the fourth That leaves Heinola, who was chosen 20th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. line. He’s shown well through two preseason games and seems to be getting better as the level of competition increases. His vision and creativity have been on display and he’s making a case to stick around through the end of camp. Although it’s still likely Heinola will follow the development path of Dallas Stars stalwart Miro Heiskanen and spend one more season back home in Finland playing for Luuka Raumo (), he’s opening eyes and earning a longer look.

“He’s a real smart guy and he moves the puck well. He’s not a big guy, so he’s going to need to skate well and he has grown from the start of camp until now. You see that he’s a hell of a skater because he’s so efficient and so smart,” Maurice said. “I’m really happy with him. When you have an 18-year-old defenceman with that kind of poise, he’s going to play and he’s going to be a good player.”

But could he do enough to stick around until the end of training camp and see what happens from there? “No, I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all,” Maurice said of the top prospect earning a lengthy audition. “He’s played well, he’s looked good here. He moves the puck well and I’m going to want him around here every day that we can keep him.”

Goaltending

Goaltending looks like it should be an area of strength for the Jets, with Connor Hellebuyck returning for a fourth full season as the starter and Laurent Brossoit back in the fold for a second season as the backup.

Hellebuyck is ready to carry the bulk of the load and is determined to return to the form that had him as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in 2017-18.

“Just get a little more depth in my game and keep the confidence I had last year,” Hellebuyck said when asked Friday what he focused on during the offseason “You know, come back and be the best I possibly can. Really, it’s all in the mind.”

Brossoit would have eclipsed 20 starts (he had 19 and appeared in 21 games) had he not sustained a groin injury in March and provided he plays the way he did last season, he could help keep Hellebuyck a little more fresh down the stretch.

Roster locks: Connor Hellebuyck, Laurent Brossoit

Could see time: Eric Comrie

On the horizon: Mikhail Berdin

My take: Goaltending appears to be the position with the most organizational depth, at least at the pro level. Hellebuyck will need to provide above-average and bordering on elite goaltending, especially out of the gate.

It will be Brossoit’s job to push Hellebuyck as he tries to earn more time in the crease. Brossoit is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and he’ll try to show that he has the ability to be a starter somewhere down the road.

Comrie, who has five NHL games on his resume, is the clear-cut No. 3 guy in the system, but he will share the net with Berdin in the minors.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153662 Winnipeg Jets occasions. (I’m funny from the sidelines, you see. It’s very easy from behind this keyboard.)

Of course, very recently, it turned out that I was the fool, didn’t it? Just 16 Bourne’s Notebook: On Cheveldayoff’s patience, Auston Matthews’ months ago the Winnipeg Jets were in the Conference Final against the defence, and why scoring on bad teams is hard first-year Vegas Golden Knights. The kids had more than arrived. Scheifele and Wheeler still looked among the games most elite, and I had just written about then-19-year-old Patrik Laine’s odds of winning the Rocket Richard Trophy months before. Nik Ehlers had become A Guy. By Justin Bourne Sep 20, 2019 90 Their D-corps had blossomed and was counted among the league’s best. And, most importantly, Chevy had gotten aggressive and added Paul Stastny at one deadline, which made my jaw hit the floor at the time, and I’m constantly jotting down little story ideas in my notebook. Many don’t Kevin Hayes at the next. It showed he wasn’t an inactive GM, he was just quite have legs enough to warrant a full column, so I’ll pass over them on extremely patient. In the end, it seemed, he showed me. writing days in favour of something a little meatier. Some are random stats to look into, some are just thoughts, and all are simply potential Only… was it just patience? Or had the “do everything extremely safe” writing jump-offs that might be worth pursuing. option just run its course of years, and the time to put up or shut up had finally arrived beyond a shadow of a doubt? No owner will let you use Occasionally throughout the year I’ll grab a pile of those tidbits and put “wait” as a strategy forever. And further still, if it was just patience, is it together a notebook column like the one we’ve got here. Three sort-of not worth questioning whether being so patient was the right strategy? column ideas that aren’t quite full-column worthy. I look forward to your Here’s a look at the names of fellow GMs around Cheveldayoff in terms feedback in the comments. of years in the position, with the final category in the screenshot (taken from the venerable CapFriendly.com) being total trades: I’ve been thinking about the Winnipeg Jets a little more than usual of late, and I want to lay out where my thinking over the years has led me. To get Impatience from a GM is more damaging than patience, I acknowledge the them, we’ll start with a general theory of mine. that. But we do this thing with inactivity, where we treat those who practice it like Yoda, like everything is all a part of their master plan if we The explicit goal of a GM is to win the Cup for their organization. Except just continue to… wait. Well, here we sit before the puck drops on the … except the real goal, really, is to have one of the 31 GM jobs around 2019-20 season, and the Jets are projected to finished 17th in the league the league for long enough that you don’t have to worry about money or by our own Dom Lusczysczyn’s model, sixth in their own division behind stature. Those are coveted, exciting positions. You’d take a 30-year GM Minnesota (and that’s with Dustin Byfuglien). That’s not one isolated career over a three year one that comes with a Stanley Cup, I think. opinion. That’s sacrilege to say publicly, but I think it’s true. That comment alone may come with some uproar, because fans need to believe that the shiny INTERESTING HOW MANY PEOPLE STILL LABEL THE WINNIPEG silver thing trumps all (that belief is what makes the sport work), but JETS AS CUP CONTENDERS. I’VE GOT THEM AS LIKELY 6TH yeah: being a GM for a long time is a big part of the goal of GMing. PLACE FINISHERS IN THE CENTRAL AND THAT’S WITH These humans are just human and good jobs are good to have. ¯\_(ツ BYFUGLIEN. )_/¯ — MIKE KELLY (@MIKEKELLYNHL) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 So when you take over a bad team, or even a mediocre team that might be salvageable, the best thing to do, selfishly, is to blow it all up. By Mark Scheifele is unlikely to be any better than he’s shown to be, Blake doing that you’ve instantly guaranteed yourself three years in that job at a Wheeler is 33, Patrik Laine has no deal and seems like he could end up minimum, likely more if you can show even a scant hint of progress, and in a different uniform, Kyle Connor isn’t re-signed, the D-corps has the blow-up move also sort of points the finger at the guy you’re taking exploded like a pack of Mentos dropped in a 2-litre of Diet Coke and over from. That alone is usually a popular internal move, given the team’s suddenly you can’t help but stop and think “Hold on a sec. Did they owner just fired the guy you’re now co-slagging. somehow already miss their window?”

After you blow it up, you then suck for a bit while you’re still fresh in your It’s tough to criticize a GM who doesn’t have many awful moves for us to job and secure (free pass years), then you get some high draft picks, hold up, but I don’t think that should exempt a guy from critique. It won’t then you get to sell hope and patience as those guys mature into your matter how good the kids are in the coming years if Scheifele, Wheeler “next core.” This isn’t a script we haven’t seen before. I think we’re into and Byfuglien aren’t major contributors at the team’s core, and there’s year four of the job already now, and our hypothetical team hasn’t even fair questions about all three right now (read Dom’s preview for questions tried to compete yet. about Scheifele and Wheeler, who took a step back last season). A lot of what’s going on right now with the Jets probably isn’t Cheveldayoff’s The thing is, this also isn’t such a bad hockey idea, is it? Nobody wants fault. But some of what’s taken place — including the “meh” return on to be the “Meh, but at least we tried” team anymore. Teams want to Jacob Trouba, including the unsigned RFA deals and more — seem like clearly head up or down (to a degree I think is counterproductive, but they could’ve been avoided by acting earlier. that’s another topic entirely). You need good young players to win in today’s NHL, and talent on entry-level deals are gold, and it gives you a Bad activity is worse than inactivity for a GM, there’s no doubt about that. legit shot at avoiding said mushy middle while getting elite talent. Elite But that doesn’t excuse the latter when you don’t get results and the talent moves the needle, sells tickets, and in the end, it wins Cups. So timeline begins to stretch long. I think it’s fair to say the timeline, at this again: that blow-up (or at least “intentionally being bad”) is an easy sell point, is reasonably lengthy. these days, and still keeps “winning Cups” as a potential outcome. I’m curious to watch Auston Matthews defend this season. He’s huge, So here’s why I lay out that blueprint: I was, for years, guilty of he’s a centerman who moves well with a great stick, and he’s smart as suspecting that was being unnecessarily patient with hell with a hockey IQ to match. He’s also going into his fourth season in the Winnipeg Jets rebuild. I admit to thinking the above scenario was the league. It’s time. maybe not happening in full, but was at least somewhat relevant here. Basically, if he isn’t a big defensive asset this season, it’s not ability, he’s They were obviously bad post-Atlanta but had some good players for a just not committed to it. number of years after that (they’ve had Wheeler the whole time, some very good defences, and Scheifele for six full seasons), and I always felt The bottom heat maps here show his defensive contribution over his first they could be good by trying to add a few external players. (By that I three seasons, with his second season being his strongest at limiting mostly mean “a goalie,” as their crease repeatedly turfed their chances.) dangerous shots against. (For more on this, check out Micah Blake McCurdy’s HockeyViz site here.) It felt – and I’m just acknowledging how I felt here, there was no inside information or anything – like maybe the Jets GM was taking advantage Of the 135 centers who played at least 800 minutes last year (an of the goodwill of Winnipeg a little by preaching a bit too much patience arbitrary but reasonable cut-off, methinks), Matthews was 125th in and not pushing to win earlier. You only get so many shots, and the slow- expected goals against per 60. going seemed overthought. After the Jets went into new season after new season after having done little outside “draft and develop” and wait, I He’s such a dynamic, exceptional, elite scorer — and scoring is so may or may not have referred to him as Kevin Chevelsummeroff on a few difficult and highly coveted — that his defence isn’t that big of a deal. That kind of play priority might even score him a few more goals. And hell, by some analytical measures Connor McDavid was the league’s worst defensive forward last year (once again I steer you to Dom’s Oilers preview for more on that). Nobody’s arguing you can’t contribute a ton as a forward, even when you do shirk defence entirely. And even with the odd ugly stat here and there, I’d argue that Matthews isn’t even bad defensively, just middle of the road.

But — and I hate sounding like a coach here but it’s coming — most of the elite centers who win also Defend, capitalized and italicized. I’ll do the ol’ recent Cup-winning 1C thing again here. Look at the names: Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O’Reilly. They Defend, they Defend, they Defend, they Defend, they Defend. Selke votes everywhere. So that’s a big question I have for Matthews going into this season: what’s it gonna be big shooter? What’s the priority: goals or wins?

I think it’s greatly under-appreciated how difficult it is to have a good individual season (statistically) on a garbage team. Please note that that doesn’t read “on a bad team.” That reads “on a garbage team,” because there’s a big difference in my estimation.

I’ve got a little personal experience here. My second year university I put up 12 and 11 for 23 in 37 games on what I suppose was a “bad” team. My 12 goals tied for the team lead, but that was a decent number league- wide. I remember our captain telling me “if you (or anyone, as it was implied) score 20 goals in the WCHA, you’ll play in the NHL,” (And sure enough, my only teammate to do that was Curtis Glencross). I beat this dead horse a lot, but the WCHA was loaded then — it was the Toews, Pavelski, Stastny, Kessel, Okposo, Vanek, Backes, Yandle, Oshie years, to name a few. It was a good conference.

That summer, I thought I had a pretty good shot to make some career headway, and for the first time wondered if my ceiling didn’t include the NHL. That same summer though, our team also lost a few quite-talented players (including Glencross), we switched coaches, and we had some injuries early. That next season we sucked. We were an objectively garbage team. I mean we had been at a .408 winning percentage the season before (7th of 10 in the conference), but we won just four games total my junior year, finishing dead last.

Was I on the hook for a chunk of that result? 100 percent. Yes. Very much so, as I was outright ass.

But boy, as a winger on an ass team, is it ever hard to do anything about it when your team is standing around in your own zone a lot. You’re mostly just taking up space and directing traffic, as opposed to being involved in actual battles and trying to get the puck back. You feel like you barely get to even play hockey. Breakout passes come late, and possessions die before you can get a touch, so it’s tough to do much of anything. I remember feeling that, for large parts of games and for that year, I desperately wanted to do more, I just couldn’t because I was so rarely involved. It makes you press on offence too, because you never know when you’re going to get your next touch. I finished that season with five goals and 13 points, which would be even more pathetic were it not two points off the team lead.

I think about this a lot when I see stats rolled out about certain players — and particularly wingers, who I think are most susceptible to team-based stat fluctuations. What I’m saying is, I don’t even know how to judge players who played for, say, Ottawa last year compared to the rest of the league. They don’t have a chance versus their league-wide peers. Hockey analysts are improving in looking at the context from which a player’s stats were born, and I think it’s a smart area we should continue to focus in on when projecting the worth of certain players. It also seems like an inefficiency teams could cash-in on. Could you poach decent wingers from awful teams on the cheap, and get value from them? I certainly think it’s possible.

That’s all for this week’s notebook. I’ll be back again soon with another edition.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153663 Vancouver Canucks and you have to be responsible and reliable in the D-zone to have a chance in the offensive end.

“That responsibility is a staple in my game and needs to remain there, Motte giving it all he's got, likes odds of cracking Canucks' roster but to also find opportunities to create offence is important.”

Motte didn’t do anything drastic to prepare for this season. At 5-10 and 190 pounds, he’s right where he needs to be to maintain speed and Ben Kuzma strength and that bowling-ball mentality on the forecheck. He transitioned away from more weightlifting to more agility and is happy where he’s at physically and mentally. Tyler Motte has made noise as an undersized winger with a growing presence. And he doesn’t have to look far for incentive.

More importantly, the hard-working Vancouver Canucks’ forward has A year ago, Motte went from camp curiosity to consistency to making the learned to shut out that other noise of how the opening-night roster will club after arriving in the Thomas Vanek trade and playing for four pro be determined because the debate is getting louder. teams in 2017-18. And even though he had done the work, he was pensive watching the final pre-season game in Kelowna because he was Post-game praise for the line of Tim Schaller, Jay Beagle and Motte nursing an ankle sprain. To say he was pensive would be an following Thursday’s 6-1 pre-season victory over Oiler wannabes in understatement. Edmonton only added fuel to the fire. “Yeah, absolutely,” he recalled. “Especially being the last one, you want Is there room for Schaller and Motte on the fourth line? Will the trio stay to play and it’s the last chance to kind of leave a mark and I didn’t get it. intact? Or, will one be waived and sent to the AHL to leave So, you’re kind of sitting there and thinking. the NHL club with 14 forwards and cap compliant when Antoine Roussel is placed on long-term injury reserve to start the season? “But as I’ve learned over the years, you can’t play the mind game with yourself. Leave it to the coaches and control what you can control.” And is general manager Jim Benning still trying to trade a forward to ease the congestion? Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.21.2019

“It’s noise,” said Motte. “There are people who want to ask questions when there’s not an answer yet and they have the right to do that. Guys are paid to make decisions and I think our staff has done a great job to this point and will continue to put together the best 23 players.”

Motte earned his spot a year ago with a strong pre-season and believes he has a leg up on the competition. And whatever transpires before the Oct. 2 season opener in Edmonton, it’s not keeping him awake.

“I’m always sleeping,” he said. “Any day where you give it your best at the rink you sleep well. I’m definitely more comfortable having that full year last year. And with the penalty kill and matching, there is trust from the staff to have me there, but there’s still more to give — there’s always more to give.

“We’ve made some big strides to get into the playoff mix. On paper, our back end is greatly improved and we’ve added some experience and size up front with guys who aren’t afraid to play the gritty style that Greener (coach Travis Green) wants. It’s important to find the talent and the fit.”

If that isn’t enough, Motte is also on an expiring one-year, one-way US$975,000 contract, but the 24-year-old fourth-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 has arbitration rights. That’s something to think about at some point.

“I can put it aside,” said Motte. “I have no problem showing up each and every day and just going to work. Those (contract) things come into the conversation, but at this time there’s no real reason to address it or press it.”

Motte’s confidence comes from appearing in 74 games last season, working in shutdown capacity on a fourth-line energy role and managing a career-high nine goals and 16 points.

He also had his first multi-goal game on March 13 with two in 11 seconds against the New York Rangers. They were the second fastest in franchise history. Gerry O’Flaherty scored two goals in nine seconds on March 15, 1974 against Atlanta.

Motte was often matched against top lines with Beagle and revolving left- wingers. He led the team in hits (200), was second in blocked shots among forwards (52), was fifth in take-aways (34) and his 15 giveaways were the fifth fewest among forwards.

If anything, Motte welcomes the roster competition. There were 23 forwards who played at least one NHL game last season as the club endured injuries and indifferent play, promotions and demotions and trades to move the competition needle. And this season, the competition within the club has ramped up.

“It’s an opportunity to show what you’ve done over the summer and what you plan to do the rest of the year,” said Motte. “With anything, there has to be a balance. You can’t get away from the defensive game 1153665 Websites occasions. (I’m funny from the sidelines, you see. It’s very easy from behind this keyboard.)

Of course, very recently, it turned out that I was the fool, didn’t it? Just 16 The Athletic / Bourne’s Notebook: On Cheveldayoff’s patience, Auston months ago the Winnipeg Jets were in the Conference Final against the Matthews’ defence, and why scoring on bad teams is hard first-year Vegas Golden Knights. The kids had more than arrived. Scheifele and Wheeler still looked among the games most elite, and I had just written about then-19-year-old Patrik Laine’s odds of winning the Rocket Richard Trophy months before. Nik Ehlers had become A Guy. By Justin Bourne Sep 20, 2019 90 Their D-corps had blossomed and was counted among the league’s best. And, most importantly, Chevy had gotten aggressive and added Paul Stastny at one deadline, which made my jaw hit the floor at the time, and I’m constantly jotting down little story ideas in my notebook. Many don’t Kevin Hayes at the next. It showed he wasn’t an inactive GM, he was just quite have legs enough to warrant a full column, so I’ll pass over them on extremely patient. In the end, it seemed, he showed me. writing days in favour of something a little meatier. Some are random stats to look into, some are just thoughts, and all are simply potential Only… was it just patience? Or had the “do everything extremely safe” writing jump-offs that might be worth pursuing. option just run its course of years, and the time to put up or shut up had finally arrived beyond a shadow of a doubt? No owner will let you use Occasionally throughout the year I’ll grab a pile of those tidbits and put “wait” as a strategy forever. And further still, if it was just patience, is it together a notebook column like the one we’ve got here. Three sort-of not worth questioning whether being so patient was the right strategy? column ideas that aren’t quite full-column worthy. I look forward to your Here’s a look at the names of fellow GMs around Cheveldayoff in terms feedback in the comments. of years in the position, with the final category in the screenshot (taken from the venerable CapFriendly.com) being total trades: I’ve been thinking about the Winnipeg Jets a little more than usual of late, and I want to lay out where my thinking over the years has led me. To get Impatience from a GM is more damaging than patience, I acknowledge the them, we’ll start with a general theory of mine. that. But we do this thing with inactivity, where we treat those who practice it like Yoda, like everything is all a part of their master plan if we The explicit goal of a GM is to win the Cup for their organization. Except just continue to… wait. Well, here we sit before the puck drops on the … except the real goal, really, is to have one of the 31 GM jobs around 2019-20 season, and the Jets are projected to finished 17th in the league the league for long enough that you don’t have to worry about money or by our own Dom Lusczysczyn’s model, sixth in their own division behind stature. Those are coveted, exciting positions. You’d take a 30-year GM Minnesota (and that’s with Dustin Byfuglien). That’s not one isolated career over a three year one that comes with a Stanley Cup, I think. opinion. That’s sacrilege to say publicly, but I think it’s true. That comment alone may come with some uproar, because fans need to believe that the shiny INTERESTING HOW MANY PEOPLE STILL LABEL THE WINNIPEG silver thing trumps all (that belief is what makes the sport work), but JETS AS CUP CONTENDERS. I’VE GOT THEM AS LIKELY 6TH yeah: being a GM for a long time is a big part of the goal of GMing. PLACE FINISHERS IN THE CENTRAL AND THAT’S WITH These humans are just human and good jobs are good to have. ¯\_(ツ BYFUGLIEN. )_/¯ — MIKE KELLY (@MIKEKELLYNHL) SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 So when you take over a bad team, or even a mediocre team that might be salvageable, the best thing to do, selfishly, is to blow it all up. By Mark Scheifele is unlikely to be any better than he’s shown to be, Blake doing that you’ve instantly guaranteed yourself three years in that job at a Wheeler is 33, Patrik Laine has no deal and seems like he could end up minimum, likely more if you can show even a scant hint of progress, and in a different uniform, Kyle Connor isn’t re-signed, the D-corps has the blow-up move also sort of points the finger at the guy you’re taking exploded like a pack of Mentos dropped in a 2-litre of Diet Coke and over from. That alone is usually a popular internal move, given the team’s suddenly you can’t help but stop and think “Hold on a sec. Did they owner just fired the guy you’re now co-slagging. somehow already miss their window?”

After you blow it up, you then suck for a bit while you’re still fresh in your It’s tough to criticize a GM who doesn’t have many awful moves for us to job and secure (free pass years), then you get some high draft picks, hold up, but I don’t think that should exempt a guy from critique. It won’t then you get to sell hope and patience as those guys mature into your matter how good the kids are in the coming years if Scheifele, Wheeler “next core.” This isn’t a script we haven’t seen before. I think we’re into and Byfuglien aren’t major contributors at the team’s core, and there’s year four of the job already now, and our hypothetical team hasn’t even fair questions about all three right now (read Dom’s preview for questions tried to compete yet. about Scheifele and Wheeler, who took a step back last season). A lot of what’s going on right now with the Jets probably isn’t Cheveldayoff’s The thing is, this also isn’t such a bad hockey idea, is it? Nobody wants fault. But some of what’s taken place — including the “meh” return on to be the “Meh, but at least we tried” team anymore. Teams want to Jacob Trouba, including the unsigned RFA deals and more — seem like clearly head up or down (to a degree I think is counterproductive, but they could’ve been avoided by acting earlier. that’s another topic entirely). You need good young players to win in today’s NHL, and talent on entry-level deals are gold, and it gives you a Bad activity is worse than inactivity for a GM, there’s no doubt about that. legit shot at avoiding said mushy middle while getting elite talent. Elite But that doesn’t excuse the latter when you don’t get results and the talent moves the needle, sells tickets, and in the end, it wins Cups. So timeline begins to stretch long. I think it’s fair to say the timeline, at this again: that blow-up (or at least “intentionally being bad”) is an easy sell point, is reasonably lengthy. these days, and still keeps “winning Cups” as a potential outcome. I’m curious to watch Auston Matthews defend this season. He’s huge, So here’s why I lay out that blueprint: I was, for years, guilty of he’s a centerman who moves well with a great stick, and he’s smart as suspecting that Kevin Cheveldayoff was being unnecessarily patient with hell with a hockey IQ to match. He’s also going into his fourth season in the Winnipeg Jets rebuild. I admit to thinking the above scenario was the league. It’s time. maybe not happening in full, but was at least somewhat relevant here. Basically, if he isn’t a big defensive asset this season, it’s not ability, he’s They were obviously bad post-Atlanta but had some good players for a just not committed to it. number of years after that (they’ve had Wheeler the whole time, some very good defences, and Scheifele for six full seasons), and I always felt The bottom heat maps here show his defensive contribution over his first they could be good by trying to add a few external players. (By that I three seasons, with his second season being his strongest at limiting mostly mean “a goalie,” as their crease repeatedly turfed their chances.) dangerous shots against. (For more on this, check out Micah Blake McCurdy’s HockeyViz site here.) It felt – and I’m just acknowledging how I felt here, there was no inside information or anything – like maybe the Jets GM was taking advantage Of the 135 centers who played at least 800 minutes last year (an of the goodwill of Winnipeg a little by preaching a bit too much patience arbitrary but reasonable cut-off, methinks), Matthews was 125th in and not pushing to win earlier. You only get so many shots, and the slow- expected goals against per 60. going seemed overthought. After the Jets went into new season after new season after having done little outside “draft and develop” and wait, I He’s such a dynamic, exceptional, elite scorer — and scoring is so may or may not have referred to him as Kevin Chevelsummeroff on a few difficult and highly coveted — that his defence isn’t that big of a deal. That kind of play priority might even score him a few more goals. And hell, by some analytical measures Connor McDavid was the league’s worst defensive forward last year (once again I steer you to Dom’s Oilers preview for more on that). Nobody’s arguing you can’t contribute a ton as a forward, even when you do shirk defence entirely. And even with the odd ugly stat here and there, I’d argue that Matthews isn’t even bad defensively, just middle of the road.

But — and I hate sounding like a coach here but it’s coming — most of the elite centers who win also Defend, capitalized and italicized. I’ll do the ol’ recent Cup-winning 1C thing again here. Look at the names: Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan O’Reilly. They Defend, they Defend, they Defend, they Defend, they Defend. Selke votes everywhere. So that’s a big question I have for Matthews going into this season: what’s it gonna be big shooter? What’s the priority: goals or wins?

I think it’s greatly under-appreciated how difficult it is to have a good individual season (statistically) on a garbage team. Please note that that doesn’t read “on a bad team.” That reads “on a garbage team,” because there’s a big difference in my estimation.

I’ve got a little personal experience here. My second year university I put up 12 and 11 for 23 in 37 games on what I suppose was a “bad” team. My 12 goals tied for the team lead, but that was a decent number league- wide. I remember our captain telling me “if you (or anyone, as it was implied) score 20 goals in the WCHA, you’ll play in the NHL,” (And sure enough, my only teammate to do that was Curtis Glencross). I beat this dead horse a lot, but the WCHA was loaded then — it was the Toews, Pavelski, Stastny, Kessel, Okposo, Vanek, Backes, Yandle, Oshie years, to name a few. It was a good conference.

That summer, I thought I had a pretty good shot to make some career headway, and for the first time wondered if my ceiling didn’t include the NHL. That same summer though, our team also lost a few quite-talented players (including Glencross), we switched coaches, and we had some injuries early. That next season we sucked. We were an objectively garbage team. I mean we had been at a .408 winning percentage the season before (7th of 10 in the conference), but we won just four games total my junior year, finishing dead last.

Was I on the hook for a chunk of that result? 100 percent. Yes. Very much so, as I was outright ass.

But boy, as a winger on an ass team, is it ever hard to do anything about it when your team is standing around in your own zone a lot. You’re mostly just taking up space and directing traffic, as opposed to being involved in actual battles and trying to get the puck back. You feel like you barely get to even play hockey. Breakout passes come late, and possessions die before you can get a touch, so it’s tough to do much of anything. I remember feeling that, for large parts of games and for that year, I desperately wanted to do more, I just couldn’t because I was so rarely involved. It makes you press on offence too, because you never know when you’re going to get your next touch. I finished that season with five goals and 13 points, which would be even more pathetic were it not two points off the team lead.

I think about this a lot when I see stats rolled out about certain players — and particularly wingers, who I think are most susceptible to team-based stat fluctuations. What I’m saying is, I don’t even know how to judge players who played for, say, Ottawa last year compared to the rest of the league. They don’t have a chance versus their league-wide peers. Hockey analysts are improving in looking at the context from which a player’s stats were born, and I think it’s a smart area we should continue to focus in on when projecting the worth of certain players. It also seems like an inefficiency teams could cash-in on. Could you poach decent wingers from awful teams on the cheap, and get value from them? I certainly think it’s possible.

That’s all for this week’s notebook. I’ll be back again soon with another edition.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153666 Websites Sparks never found the range in Toronto and was dealt to Vegas this summer for David Clarkson in a trade that remains so weird it staggers belief even as it somehow makes cap sense. McElhinney and Pickard were both claimed off waivers, and while Pickard was no great loss, The Athletic / How much talent is really available on the NHL’s fall waiver McElhinney played a big role in the Hurricanes’ net. wire? As the No. 1B to Petr Mrazek’s No. 1A, McElhinney went 20-11-2 with a .912 save percentage, which are better numbers than starters posted in several cities around the league. He was rewarded by the Lightning with By Jonathan Willis Sep 20, 2019 22 a two-year contract this summer — not something one can usually say about a 36-year-old who was on waivers the season before.

Today is the official opening of the waiver period for the 2019-20 NHL The skaters, as a group, were less successful. Kulak outperformed the season. In the very near future, you may look forward to heated debate players who were actually claimed. The Anaheim Ducks, though, found a as to whether your team should grab Player X or risk exposing Player Y. short-term scoring solution in the most unlikely of places.

Fall comes, school starts, the leaves fall from the trees and thousands of The Edmonton Oilers spent most of their 2018-19 training camp fans ask if the 15th-best forward, ninth-best defenceman or third-best auditioning prospects on right wing, and ultimately broke camp with a trio goalie from that team over there could make a difference for this team of disappointing young players: Ty Rattie, Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse over here. Puljujarvi. That group would combine for just nine goals over the coming campaign. At least in theory, the decisions made in NHL training camps are based on player quality. Other factors routinely get in the way of a purely merit- Pontus Aberg was in the mix for one of those jobs, but fell behind early based system — contract status, waiver exemption, draft pedigree; even as the other three dazzled in the preseason. He was waived and claimed simple incompetence or a player picking up a nagging injury that slows by the Ducks, who played him in a single game before dumping him back him down a little — but nevertheless at the start of every season players on the wire. The Oilers were so indifferent they couldn’t be bothered to get a chance to win or lose major-league jobs. reclaim him, so Aberg shuffled off to Anaheim’s farm team.

For players of a certain age or sufficient experience, losing a job with Then came the injuries, and an Aberg recall. In late October he started their current team isn’t the end, though. Before they can be demoted to scoring goals in bunches. By December he had 11. the minors, these players have to pass through waivers, giving the NHL’s He would go on to record 19 points in 37 games, good production before other 30 teams a chance to poach talent in exchange for a marginal fee. falling out of favour again and being traded to Minnesota for a fringe Mostly teams pass, and mostly it’s justified. prospect. Nevertheless, for a time Aberg added some much-needed supplementary scoring to Anaheim’s lineup, and frankly the Oilers would Brett Kulak was a rare exception to the rule last season. have been better off keeping him than the players they actually chose.

Kulak was the victim of a roster squeeze in Calgary. The Flames broke in None of the other claims had the same impact; at best they ended up in three different rookies at various points over the year, and it’s hard to fourth-line employment. blame them for prioritizing Rasmus Andersson, Juuso Valimaki and Oliver Kylington. Kulak was handled more roughly, actually being waived Jacob de la Rose landed in a depth role in Detroit, played 60 games, and twice: once before a summer arbitration hearing to drive down his value has another year to run on his contract. Dmitrij Jaskin was an adequate (he got a one-year, $900,000 deal) and then again in October. part-timer for Washington. The other early season claims all played 20 or fewer NHL games and in several cases went back on the wire to be Nobody claimed him. He was subsequently traded to Montreal for a reclaimed by their original teams. couple of AHL bodies and then left on the Canadiens’ farm team in Laval. The picture doesn’t change a lot if we expand our look to the entire It took a while for the Habs to realize what they’d received. Kulak spent season; occasionally a Brendan Leipsic (18 points in 45 games for the the first two months of the year in the minors before finally getting a recall Kings) or Kenny Agostino (13 points in 27 games with New Jersey) in late November. He averaged 18 minutes per night the rest of the way, sneaks through, but mostly a fringe fourth-line player on one team is a had 17 points in 57 games and Montreal had a 56 percent share in both fringe fourth-line player on another team, too. shot attempts and goals when he was on the ice at even strength. That’s the waiver game in a nutshell. In May, Kulak signed a three-year extension at a $1.85-million cap hit, not long after some estimates suggested he’d be good value at twice that There is plenty of evidence for naysayers who shrug off the whole figure. A guy literally any team in the league could have had for free last exercise, along with just enough talent to inspire the interest of fans fall is now a second-pair defender on a value contract. He is the around the league. Every so often an NHL team is interested enough to exception rather than the rule, but it’s a reminder that sometimes good take a flyer on a player. Sometimes though it’s the guy nobody cares players land on and even clear waivers. enough to claim who ends up being the best of the bunch.

Not everyone clears. Even as teams grapple with roster limits, the salary The Athletic LOADED: 09.21.2019 cap and the players in-house they like enough to play, there are some bites.

Nine players were claimed from the waiver wire from mid-September to mid-October last year. The results, generally, were unremarkable. Every so often, though, a team took advantage of the system to add some much-needed help to its roster.

Nobody did better on the wire last year than Carolina. The Canes plucked Curtis McElhinney from Toronto.

The Leafs were in a tough spot. Frederik Andersen had the starting job locked down, and there was only room for just one of three good waiver- eligible goalies in the backup position. McElhinney was 35 and coming off strong work over 32 games in the job. Garret Sparks was a decade younger and had been dominant as an AHL starter in the Marlies’ Calder Cup win, while 26-year-old ‘tweener had also been very good on the farm.

Toronto made the much-criticized decision to keep Sparks. It was a defensible choice. It worked out terribly. 1153667 Websites of him. He remembers feeling a little nervous before his first exhibition game with the Leafs last fall, but hasn’t experienced any of those butterflies the second time around.

Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs teenager Rasmus Sandin on cusp of big- Armed with emotional maturity, he’s come to camp ready to claim a job. league breakthrough “If that happens, no one would be happier than me,” said Sandin.

The door is open, with Travis Dermott set to miss the first month of the Chris Johnston season because of a shoulder injury.

Sandin has even shown versatility during the pre-season, playing predominantly on the left side while paired with Martin Marincin on Friday TORONTO — It’s a mid-August afternoon in Stockholm and William night after skating on the right alongside Ben Harpur in Wednesday’s Nylander’s cellphone is blowing up. At first he elects to ignore the buzzes game at Ottawa. and beeps. Then he halts an interview mid-thought to pick up the phone. Then there’s this little nugget from Babcock: He doesn’t clam up or get “Sorry,” he says, with a head shake. “It’s Rasmus Sandin.” uptight when his game is being critiqued in the coach’s room.

The future Toronto Maple Leafs teammates grew a lot closer this “He’s just, ‘Oh, OK, yeah,”’ said Babcock. “He knows what you’re going summer while participating in the same group skate. Sometimes Sandin to say before you say it most of the time.” would even stay with Nylander and his brother, Alex, and it was during those hard months of preparation where he started to see what has now Only the special teenagers claim NHL jobs on the blue-line these days, become apparent to anyone watching Leafs training camp closely. especially on a team trying to chart a course for the Stanley Cup. Things looked a lot different in Toronto, for example, when Morgan Rielly broke At age 19, Sandin is on the verge of a big breakthrough. camp with the Leafs as a 19-year-old in 2013.

“He’s looking great,” said Nylander. Nylander’s progression has drawn big headlines here this fall — and rightly so, given the way he terrorized the Sabres on Friday: “Willy might What’s most notable about this development is how natural it all looks have had the puck as much tonight as he had last year,” said Babcock — and feels. To hear the other established Maple Leafs discuss Sandin’s but keep this thought in mind as we head towards Week 2 of training play — heck, to listen to the way head coach Mike Babcock is camp. unabashedly praising him — leaves the distinct impression he’s already part of the team. Sandin spent the summer matching him stride for stride.

We’ll get the next big indicator when the players remaining in training Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 camp are split into ‘Leafs’ and ‘Marlies’ groups following Saturday’s visit to Buffalo, but don’t be surprised when Toronto’s 29th-overall pick from 2018 is still skating with the NHLers next week.

“This kid’s nasty,” said Auston Matthews. “I was really impressed with him last year, honestly. It’s fun getting out there with a guy like him because he can see the ice, he jumps in and is smart about when he jumps in on offence and when he doesn’t.

“Obviously breaking out of our own end, I mean, he sees it. He makes plays that not many people can.”

“All you’ve got to do is watch him,” said Babcock. “He’s smart, he knows how to play, he’s got a feel. He’s one of these guys it doesn’t seem to matter how old he is because his hockey sense is so good.”

Sandin’s ability to distribute from his own zone should be particularly useful on a team with the kind of high-end talent the Leafs have at forward. But there’s more to his game than that. He smartly positioned his five-foot-11 frame during a solid penalty-killing shift in Saturday’s 3-0 exhibition win over the Sabres and broke up a Buffalo rush in transition with a stick check that turned into a Matt Read goal.

He didn’t look remotely out of place in more than 20 minutes of work.

“I think he’s like that every night,” said Babcock. “He’s comfortable all the time. It doesn’t seem to matter what level he’s at.”

Sandin is looking to take another big leap up the ladder this fall, having already progressed from the Swedish under-20 league to the Ontario Hockey League to the American Hockey League over the last three years.

About the only thing that looks minor-league about him at this point is the No. 38 on the back of his sweater — a training camp handout he didn’t get any say in. The other Leafs have seized on to that fact in the dressing room, calling him “Colin” in reference to former Marlies captain Colin Greening, who donned those digits last year.

“He doesn’t like that,” said Andreas Johnsson, another member of the growing Sandin fan club.

“What is he, 19 or 20? It’s hard when you get up here first and you think everyone’s older. And then it’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s actually 19 and does all this stuff.’ His head is probably his best weapon. He’s so smart and wins every [battle] and always makes the best pass.”

Sandin’s got that quality you just can’t teach. He’s not big or imposing, but he never seems to panic or let the gravity of any moment get the best 1153668 Websites To be fair, whatever lineup Babcock decides to ice needs to be his call. It’s not a stretch to believe the coach’s own fate rests with how far he can take the group.

Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Babcock's Spezza challenge feels so If a man is about to live or die by the sword, he should at least get his familiar pick from the quiver.

As for what Spezza might be thinking, we spoke to another veteran UFA who joined a Babcock team anticipating a certain role only to find himself Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox September 20, 2019, 9:45 AM healthy-scratched repeatedly.

“You guys [in the media] have had some good thoughts on why that A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious might be the case,” he said. and less so, and rolling four lines deep. “Obviously, as a player, you try to figure out what you can do to earn 1. “He’s trying to figure it out if he’s interested, and we’re doing the that trust. It didn’t seem like it was there from before training camp, let same.” alone after that – which is not what I expected coming in. It was a surprise to come into that situation. What the reasons are, you’d probably One open-to-interpretation comment from Mike Babcock is all it takes. have to ask others.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach’s assessment of new guy Jason 2. Mike Liut is still in the process of negotiating two of the most intriguing Spezza’s first pre-season performance Tuesday evening in St. John’s second contracts for the unsigned RFAs. His star clients, Patrik Laine raised eyebrows and provided the first post-Marner-contract talking point and Mikko Rantanen, are running into wildly different obstacles. for the never-satiated beast that is sports talk in Toronto. According to Liut, who appeared on Sportsnet 650 Wednesday, neither situation is close to a resolution. So, is Babcock simply trying to light a fire under an accomplished 1,065- game NHL veteran who accepted the league minimum to return to his The Jets are thin enough on cap space that a bridge deal appears to be hometown and try, at age 36, to finally realize a championship dream that best path to a settlement. Colorado has oodles of cap room, but a Mitch has eluded him for 16 seasons? Marner-type deal for Rantanen — and Liut openly applauds that comparable — would give the winger $4.593 million (or 73 per cent) Is he using Spezza’s situation to motivate the tryouts actually on the more in annual salary than his centreman and club MVP Nathan bubble? MacKinnon, admittedly one of the league’s greatest bargains. Or is the coach actually hesitant to bank on a fading 90-point superstar to Powers like Tampa, Pittsburgh and Boston have sustained their windows fill a very specific checking role? Kill penalties, win draws, forecheck of contention, in part, by not allowing their internal salary structures to get hard, get off, and get used to skating (hard!) fewer than 10 minutes a out of whack like that. night. “The Leafs have really looked into the future,” Liut said, forecasting the What’s curious is that no one thought Spezza’s 4C job would be in doubt. cap ceiling. Frederik Gauthier — God love the guy — isn’t exactly the type of player we’d describe as “difficult to replace.” Spezza’s experience and “If history has shown us what the league does on a year-over-year leadership is supposed to offset the losses of Patrick Marleau and Ron basis, it’s going to go up two [or] two-and-a-half per cent revenue Hainsey, a couple of other guys who know what it’s like to see Round 4 growth.” of the playoffs. Spezza’s openness to filling in on the wing and ability to Liut ballparks the cap around $83 million in 2020-21, $85 million in 2021- make plays on the second power-play unit or contribute a little higher up 22. Maybe it touches $87 million and change. the lineup in case of emergency were seen as benefits. “And then we’re going to get a new [U.S.] TV package, and you’re GM Kyle Dubas said Spezza was accepting a reduced role with eyes gonna be [at] $93 [million]. Your top line, your top three players, whether wide open, and the player began training at the Leafs facility weeks they’re defencemen or forwards, are going to be in that range that the ahead of camp, bonding with some of the young players on and off the Leafs have created. They’re doing it now because they can. That’s cap ice. management,” Liut said. So… now his interest and/or the Leafs’ interest is already up for debate? “When the cap rises to meet that demand, you’re good. But that’s the Babcock loves a faceoff won. bet that you’re making. That’s the business.”

Working in Spezza’s favour is that no NHLer who took at least 135 This was the first I’d heard an educated guess at an actual cap number faceoffs last season had more success than the former Dallas Star. He once the new American broadcast rights kick in for 2022-23. won 58.6 per cent of his draws (470 for 807), yet took only three Granted, we’re talking hypotheticals here, but at $93 million, Toronto’s shorthanded faceoffs. big four — Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Gauthier, by comparison, was excellent at shorthanded draws, winning Nylander — would account for 43.5 per cent of the Leafs’ payroll. Also 61.1 per cent of them, and held his own overall — 53.7 per cent (240 for that summer: Morgan Rielly will be in line for a raise. 447). “It’s going to be like a junior club,” Liut said. “You’re rolling your team in As evidenced by his effort thus far at camp, the Gaut knows full well he’s and out every four years. You’re not staying with the same group for fighting for a job. extended periods of time.”

Babcock’s comments on Spezza perk the ears because of the coach’s 3. By all accounts he can be demanding of his teammates and himself, history with veterans in decline. but I’ve appreciated the way Blake Wheeler has handled the scrutiny on Laine, the Jets and his own leadership style at camp this month. In 2010-11 with Detroit, Babcock memorably scratched Hall of Famer Mike Modano, who retired stuck on 1,499 games played. Those sittings Wheeler was refreshingly candid and self-reflective during his sit-down still don’t sit well. with Sara Orlesky, and the way he handled questions about Laine’s suggestion that he’d rather be playing on the top line was superb (watch “It’s nothing personal, but he’s a tough guy to play for if you’re a here). veteran. If you’re a young guy, I think it’s great because of the accountability. If you don’t play [properly], you’re not going to play,” Chris Coach Paul Maurice’s evaluation that “the individual experience is Chelios said in 2017. “But no matter what I did — I tried so hard to win secondary to the team experience” is also something to keep in mind. his heart over and I just couldn’t. The frightening part for the Jets is that the unsettling headlines keep “It took all those years to find a coach that — I wouldn’t say not like me, tumbling in. If Dustin Byfuglien has indeed played his final game, that but just didn’t want me in the lineup.” leaves only Josh Morrissey of the club’s top five D-men from 2018-19. “What’s that quote about rough seas making a good sailor?” Maurice Pittsburgh feels right, finally, and that they still root for the Canadian city said. “Little bit of turbulence maybe outside the jet, but inside the jet it’s that dealt them away. good.” “The NHL is a cyclical league,” Gudbranson reasons. The Jets captain and head coach have been excellent at containing the blaze. But make no mistake, the fires are still burning. “Vancouver is on the upswing. They’re just two teams and different stages — very much so. The players, the coaching staff, everything in 4. In a bad news week for the Senators owner, the Senators GM pulled Vancouver is taking steps to go in the right way and they’ve got some up his tights, threw on a cape and came to the rescue with some good incredible young talent there that’s going to help the future. I really liked news. what they did on July 1. I think they’re really going to make a difference this year and hopefully push for a spot.” The long-term extensions Pierre Dorion has negotiated with Colin White and now Thomas Chabot this summer have put a couple cornerstones in 6. Vince Dunn is just a hockey player out here saying hockey player place. Brady Tkachuk can start negotiating in July. If he re-ups, the things: building blocks for a contender will be in place. Dunn confirmed that his upper jaw was broken last year when he got Be patient, Ottawa. There’s something brewing. hit by a puck. He’s had 4-5 surgeries on his mouth and has five new teeth. Asked if he’d wear a face shield, which he tried but didn’t like, he Is now a good time to remind you the Sens have five picks in the first two said: “I’d rather just take another puck to the face.” #stlblues rounds of the 2020 draft? — Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) September 18, 2019 Brady Tkachuk on Chabot’s new deal: “It’s an awesome day and we know he’s going to be paying for a lot of dinners now so I’m very happy 7. Evander Kane spoke about the loss of his unborn daughter, Eva. to be a close friend of his.” #Sens “It definitely makes you realize what’s important,” Kane told NBC — Kyle Bukauskas (@SNkylebukauskas) September 19, 2019 Sports. “Every minute, you had different emotions, different feelings. My 5. Traded for one another in 2016, Erik Gudbranson and Jared McCann wife [Anna], seeing what she went through, it was harder on nobody else now find themselves starting their first full season together as members but her.” of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kane revealed the tragedy, which occurred six months ago, on Twitter — The ex-Canucks recently took time to reflect on what went wrong in and it was interesting that he tweeted out the NBC story to his 225,000 Vancouver. followers. He wants to give his fans a window into something personal. Kane’s family also found comfort from Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson “I don’t think I ever found my stride there. I don’t think I found that and his wife, Melinda, who lost their unborn child in 2018. confidence that can make you better, make you feel at ease making plays. I just never found that,” says Gudbranson, expected to make up a “Having a fellow teammate that has been through that process as well, rather rugged D pairing with Jack Johnson in Pittsburgh. and our wives being good friends, I think that definitely helped,” Kane said. “Now I’d like to think I’m in a spot where I’ve found something different. I don’t think it’s a knock on any side. It’s just a situation that didn’t work “It will always be a process, and we just want to cherish her much as out as originally planned.” we can. For me, that’s how I’ll move on. I find myself talking to her, even To what does Gudbranson attribute the lost confidence? Injury? Ice time? though nobody is around. It’s one of the ways I kind of find peace with it.” Role? 8. The backloaded structure of Brock Boeser’s three-year deal in Vancouver essentially ensures the young sniper will return, at minimum, “It was a number of things. A lot of it is on me. It was more just… not for a fourth season at $7.5 million (provided the sides don’t ink an finding it,” the big D-man says. “It was a great learning experience. I extension before the qualifying offer stage). loved living there. I didn’t stay as healthy as I wanted to, and they handled those situations very professionally and got me in good health From the player’s perspective, Boeser’s next raise is smartly scheduled and helped me out a lot, so I have to thank them deeply for that.” for the same season veterans Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle (a combined $12 million cap hit) all come off the books, plus the In 2015-16, Vancouver rushed prospect McCann into the NHL at age 19 year that aforementioned influx of U.S. broadcasting cash is expected to at a time the organization was in rebuild denial. The Ontario native still pump up the cap. Even with Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes needing maintains friendships in B.C. and has nothing but good things to say raises the summer prior, the bases are loaded for a grand slam. about the club that drafted him. So, you have to wonder if, in hindsight, we’ll be saying the Canucks “Things didn’t work out for whatever reason,” says McCann, who scored missed the boat on a longer deal and gambling on Boeser the way, say, a career-best 19 goals last season and is upbeat entering a platform Arizona is gambling on Clayton Keller. year. He wants to re-sign. 9. Jordan Binnington was shocked how often he was recognized outside “I’ve moved on now, and I feel like I’ve found a great place to play in of St. Louis this summer. Though he’s relatively tight-lipped when the Pittsburgh…. I love it there. They gave me the opportunity to show that I microphones are on, he’s outgoing in public. can play at that level and be a goal scorer in the league. I would love to stay there.” The realization that a simple autograph or selfie can make some stranger’s day has boosted his confidence and made him more at ease, McCann remembers popping in and out of the Canucks lineup as the even if it still feels like fame came out of nowhere. club was deciding whether it preferred him or their other promising rookie winger, Jake Virtanen. “It happened quickly, but it’s been great,” say Binnington, who believes fortune favours the bold. “Just putting yourself out there.” “It was a tough situation for a lot of the young guys there. We were battling for a job, right? If one of us was in, the other was out. It That ice-veined assuredness remains firmly intact. created…” “I’m really happy with where I’m at right now,” Binnington says. McCann pauses to choose his words. “Everyone’s their own person. For me, I try to find my motivation every day, whether it’s my own swagger and feeling myself that day, I adapt to “Before that, me and Jake were really good friends — we still are now whatever I’m feeling, so I like to have a good presence. — but we got put against each other. As a kid, that becomes, ‘Hey, I gotta beat this guy.’ That’s just the way the NHL is. You’ve gotta have “Just my whole demeanour, I like the way I roll, the way I work.” that mindset. When you move on, you look back on it, and it’s good now. We’re fine now. We talked a bit, actually, [in August].” Who says “I like the way I roll” with a straight face?

Despite their rocky starts, you believe Gudbranson and McCann — a pair A Stanley freaking Cup champion, that’s who. of first-rounders already on their third teams — when they say that 10. Looking way too far ahead to February, a few teams that fancy themselves as playoff contenders will need to get creative — i.e. move out actual roster money, not just picks or prospects — if they want to be trade deadline buyers. In terms of projected cap hits, the Maple Leafs, Canucks, Capitals and Penguins are all over the limit.

Yet another challenge of the cap ceiling remaining relatively flat this season.

The fact the Leafs and Canucks have already spent their 2020 first-round draft picks, and the Penguins traded their 2020 second-rounder, will make adding a mid-season talent boost all the more challenging.

11. After playing top-four minutes as a 25-year-old defender in 2018-19, unrestricted free agent Ben Hutton finally found a team in the Kings, a full week after players reported to their respective NHL cities. Will anyone welcome Dion Phaneuf, Dan Girardi, Adam McQuaid or Marc Methot to their bottom pair?

Up front, four veteran UFA forwards who scored at least 16 goals last season are floating unclaimed less than two weeks from puck drop: Brian Boyle, Patrick Marleau, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. Who retires? Who gets an urgent call when early-season injuries hit?

Told things are starting to heat up in regards to Brian Boyle. Hearing he could soon find a home with as many as 6 teams showing serious interest. The #LetsGoOilers #NHLBriuns and #Sabres seem to be leading the way at the moment.

— Roger Dicklund (@Dicklund1) September 14, 2019

Jason Pominville skating in Buffalo still. When asked by @pham1717 about the report he’s negotiating with the Canadiens his reaction was, “Really!? Wow! I’ve been on the ice.”

— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) September 3, 2019

12. Call me sacrilegious, but I kinda liked seeing the Maple Leafs and Senators play that exhibition game in St. John’s with blue goalposts.

Why not bright green posts in Minnesota, orange ones in Philly, and golden posts in Vegas?

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153669 Websites find guys off the rush in the D-zone and offensive zone. I think it doesn’t change too much.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to play alongside those guys and Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Nick Suzuki facing one last test in quest for hopefully I play well.” roster spot Julien hopes so, too.

“If a guy deserves a spot, you have to give him his spot,” the coach Eric Engels September 20, 2019, 5:19 PM said. “We like what we’ve seen from him at centre. If we like what we see at wing, it’s going to give me more options.”

FYI: There was a concussion spotter in attendance in Bathurst. BROSSARD, Que. — It’s one more test, but it might just be the most There was also one looking on from New York. Neither sought to have important one Nick Suzuki will face in his quest to earn a job with the Poehling pulled from the game. Montreal Canadiens to start the season. — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) September 20, 2019 On Saturday, for Montreal’s pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators, Suzuki will move from centre to wing and he’ll play on a line Ryan Poehling concussed with top-line centre Phillip Danault and one of the team’s top wingers, Tomas Tatar. If it goes well, we can start talking about how he’s got a job If Suzuki’s standing with the team has become a little clearer over the to lose rather than one to gain, because so far he’s answered every past 24 hours, Ryan Poehling’s situation has become a little murkier with question. the news that he woke up on Thursday feeling the after-effects of a crushing hit thrown by Florida’s Dryden Hunt in Wednesday’s Hockeyville This is Suzuki’s third pro camp since being drafted 13th overall by the game in Bathurst, N.B. Vegas Golden Knights, and he has never looked better at this level than he has over the last week. Prior to Friday’s practice, it was announced that Poehling was diagnosed with a concussion. Afterwards, Canadiens coach Julien was asked if “The last two years, I didn’t feel strong enough or fast enough to get Poehling should have been pulled from the game. myself in the clear,” he said on Tuesday. “There were no indications he was concussed,” said Julien. “I’m not On Thursday, in a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre, going to get into things like that, but there were no indications. He was Suzuki looked strong enough and fast enough to break away from feeling good. All you need to do is look at the play he made on the anyone. He notched two assists and was arguably the best player on the winning goal, he didn’t look like a guy who had just suffered a ice for either team. concussion. He had no symptoms. It’s the next day (there were indications). That’s totally normal when it comes to concussions — that And then there was what Suzuki did in the shootout, pulling a page out of symptoms aren’t always there immediately and they sometimes present the great Pavel Datsyuk’s book to score a goal that brought the fans out themselves later. So if you start removing all the players from the lineup of their seats — and a few of his teammates out of theirs too. because we think they might have a concussion but aren’t showing any OK, Nick Suzuki. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/g0Njn6I0oV indications of having one, you’d be left with half a bench.”

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 20, 2019 If that last sentence gives off the impression that Julien and the Canadiens aren’t sensitive to the concussion issue, consider how they’ve “That was nasty. I like that,” said Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, handled Noah Juulsen’s situation over the last week. who didn’t dress against Florida. “I just sent him a text: ‘You dirty bastard.’” Juulsen suffered a facial injury that cut his 2018-19 season down to just 24 games (21 with the Canadiens and three with the ). He Tatar said the goal reminded him of this one the late Pavol Demitra had not suffered a concussion, nor was he suffering from any symptoms scored for Slovakia in the 2010 Olympics. related to concussion. But when he showed up last Tuesday (after months of rehabilitation and a summer’s worth of training and skating What the goal told us is that this 20-year-old is anything but overwhelmed symptom-free) complaining of headaches, the Canadiens shut him down by the pressure he’s under to prove he can graduate to this level. He’s and encouraged him to seek out a second medical opinion on his not remotely overwhelmed by the expectations the fans are heaping on condition. him, nor is he at all overwhelmed by the daily attention he’s receiving from the media. Last year, when Andrew Shaw, who was in the midst of a career season, left a game with neck pain, the Canadiens kept him out of action and “He’s confident,” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien on Friday. “He’s treated him as though he was concussed — even though he hadn’t been confident, he’s skilled, I’m sure it’s not the first time he’s gotten away with diagnosed with a concussion. Given Shaw’s extensive concussion things like that (shootout goal). There’s types of confidence that you have history, the Canadiens wanted to take the necessary precautions, even if and some of it is arrogance and some of it is good confidence. And I it meant losing him for 11 games while they were in a dog fight for a think he’s got good confidence. He doesn’t have the arrogance, but he’s playoff spot. got good confidence — he believes in himself and what he does and that’s why he’s doing those kind of things.” In his most recent tenure as Canadiens coach, Julien has made several comments about not wanting to expose any of his players to further risk What Suzuki is doing is making it nearly impossible for Julien and his should they exhibit concussion symptoms. And when he said Poehling coaching staff to send him away when camp wraps up at the beginning of wasn’t exhibiting any, we take him at his word. October. Whether it’s his hockey sense, which is testing through the roof, or it’s the speed and playmaking he’s displaying on virtually every shift, Several other players we spoke to on Friday said they had no clue his case to stay with the Canadiens is growing by the minute. anything was wrong with him.

How does Julien feel about his defensive game, you ask? “I was with him after the game, and his face had a scratch or two,” said one player, before adding, “but he said he was feeling fine. Then the next “He’s been good,” Julien said. “He’s done the work. I think he’s very day, he said he might have a concussion. I was shocked.” aware in his own end. No complaints there.” On the play in question, it was clear Poehling was shaken. As he crawled Suzuki’s versatility — his ability to play effectively at five-on-five and on over to his stick before getting up and dusting himself off, I thought he both special teams units — is another box checked. might be hurt. And yes, I looked carefully to see if his head took a blow and it was abundantly clear that it had ricocheted off the glass. Now the goal is for him to show he can be just as effective on the right side and with two of the team’s best players. But Poehling didn’t appear to be stumbling his way back to the bench, where he was presumably asked if he was okay. And he appeared no “It doesn’t change too much,” Suzuki said after Friday’s practice. “I’m worse for wear over the next two or three shifts, which I watched carefully just looking at different angles. Getting pucks off the wall, I think I can in order to see if he’d shy away from the dirty areas. He answered that question within 30 seconds by barreling into the corner to retrieve a loose puck without any hesitation.

Julien was right — there were no signs that something was wrong with Poehling in the third period, especially when he deked the pants off of Aaron Ekblad to set up the game-winning goal for Alex Belzile.

I can understand that Julien’s comments, which certainly came off as defensive, are likely to draw some heat. The question, which he could have — and likely did — interpret as an accusation, put him on the defensive, and his answer wasn’t carefully thought out. It was a reactionary comment. I don’t believe he was trying to make light of the concussion issue.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 1153670 Websites And Friday’s waiver-wire additions of familiar backups Mike Condon and Louis Domingue serve as a dual reminder that (a) cuts are a-coming and (b) other cheap options could pop up on the wire for Toronto as clubs are forced to become cap-compliant. Sportsnet.ca / Why Maple Leafs' Michal Neuvirth followed his heart to Toronto “It’s not ideal for him,” Babcock said. “If he wants to battle for a job, he’s got to be in a position to do that.

“No. 1, he had to get himself healthy and feeling good. You gotta get Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox September 20, 2019, 10:42 PM feeling good as a goalie. The second thing is, you’ve got to get some game action.”

Allow us to back up. Meeting with the Toronto press for the first time Friday after a full on-ice session, Neuvirth professed clean health and excitement for Saturday’s Because somebody will need to. long-awaited audition in Buffalo, against one of his four former teams.

Just one September ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs would have loved to Once the buzzer sounds, camp will already be half over. finagle a way to keep all three of the goaltenders angling for crease time behind sure-shot starter Frederik Andersen. “A huge opportunity. It’s such a great team here. It’s the best organization in the NHL,” said Neuvirth, who had been training with a Mild-mannered Curtis McElhinney was coming off a stellar season in Czech league club this summer. “They take care of me pretty good. It’s a quiet support. Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard had just backstopped great opportunity, a huge honour for me to be here and battle for the the AHL Marlies to the city’s first professional hockey championship in a spot.” half-century. Yes, the free agent said, other clubs came calling, but those others There was a bounty of viable options, or so it seemed. weren’t “the mecca in hockey.” They didn’t build a statue of his boyhood Well, what a difference a year can make. favourite, Mats Sundin, bronzed and smiling outside of their rink.

In a single afternoon in the fall of 2018, waiver-bound McElhinney and “Me as a kid, I was always a fan of Toronto. When Kyle called me, I Pickard got scooped up by opposition as the Leafs’ camp cuts came was following my heart with the decision,” Neuvirth said. “Toronto was down, and the bet on Sparks ended precisely the way no one imagined it always my favourite.” could have — with a trade for ex-Leaf David Clarkson. When it comes to backups, Neuvirth has precious little time to establish With the flip of calendar, Toronto has gone from too many backup himself as Toronto’s favourite. candidates to scrounging for more. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 Prized goaltending prospects Joseph Woll, 21, and Ian Scott, 20, are too young and too valuable to sit around holding the clipboard, twiddling their thumbs and waiting for the sluggish half of the next back-to-back. They will be better served getting steady starts with the Marlies.

Joseph Woll suiting up for Team USA at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Nathan Denette/CP)

Rocketing up the depth chart in the wake of McElhinney and Pickard’s departure, the undrafted Kasimir Kaskisuo, 25, showed well down the stretch for Marlies — and superbly in the AHL post-season — but only posted an .896 save percentage in the minors last season and has yet to make his NHL debut.

This leaves Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock with a choice between one of two Micha(e)ls: Hutchinson, who entered camp on a one-year deal for the league minimum ($700,000), or Neuvirth, who was granted a tryout and a series of free appointments with the club doctors.

From a mental standpoint, the upbeat Hutchinson has embraced the hard fact that if he’s going to stick in the highest league it will be as No. 2. But, as his three goals allowed in two periods of pre-season work against the Senators reminded, the front-runner hasn’t exactly sprinted away with the gig.

On paper, journeyman Neuvirth, 31, would appear the more reliable of the duo — if he can stay healthy. Which, after seeing his games played tumble over the past four seasons, from 32 to 28 to 22 to a measly eight over the past four seasons, is a massive if.

Saturday’s pre-season start for the Leafs in Buffalo will mark the first game action for Neuvirth since Jan. 3.

One of the main reasons Neuvirth chose to sign a PTO with Toronto was to gain access to its deep and distinguished staff of doctors and trainers — “the best I’ve seen,” he touts — and fix his nagging lower-body injury once and for all. Fingers crossed.

MLSE’s investment in medicine and sports science was the major selling point Dubas used to lure Neuvirth here without promise of employment.

Alas, Neuvirth’s participation in practice was already hampered in St. John’s due to another minor health setback.

Backup goalie Louis Domingue ($1.15 million cap hit) went 21-5 with Tampa last season. He's on waivers today.

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) September 20, 2019 1153671 Websites Koskinen went the distance in the 5-2 victory, stopping 18 of 20 shots. Calgary had roughly a dozen players who should be in their opening night lineup, and tested Koskinen fairly well through the first 40 minutes. We’d fault the Oilers players in front of Koskinen more than the goalie Sportsnet.ca / Pinning down Oilers' opening night blue-line still a work in himself on each of the goals scored, and a solid Koskinen is exactly what progress this team needs to see as the regular season approaches.

“Today the urgent level was higher from me,” he said. “I saw the pucks Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec September 21, 2019, 1:07 AM — it makes it so much easier.”

Mike Smith, meanwhile, has skated for two straight days with goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz, after missing a full week with the flu. He’ll be in EDMONTON — The first phase of camp is over, and the Edmonton Kelowna, and likely ready for some game action when Arizona visits on Oilers are down to 30 players. After a 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames, Tuesday. they packed for Kelowna, where they’ll do some bonding, practice twice, and try to answer a few of the questions that remain with opening night Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 on Oct. 2 around the corner.

On Friday however, a couple of good signs showed themselves, as Joakim Nygard found his game, and newcomer Anton Burdasov gave everyone a reason to raise an eyebrow and say, “Maybe…”

As our friend @OnsideWithJouni says, pre-season hockey is like going to see your favorite ’70s band, with only two of the six original band members remaining. We recognize the uniforms, just not all the players.

Here are a few takeaways from the fourth pre-season game in five days, and an Oilers team that still has some important questions to be answered:

• Who are the seven opening day defencemen? Good question.

“We’ve got 10 defencemen,” head coach Dave Tippett said. “I can tell you who three are, but I can’t tell you all six.”

Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson and Oscar Klefbom are locks for the top four. The third pair is likely going to be Kris Russell, who is not medically cleared to play yet, and Matt Benning.

Can Joel Persson, a Swede who came over only this fall, pair with Klefbom in the top four? Does prospect William Lagesson hang around as a No. 7? What about Ethan Bear, who was only OK Friday? Or Evan Bouchard, who needs to be in the top six, or they’ll send him down where he’ll get more minutes.

Stay tuned. There are three pre-season games to play.

• Burdasov, the Russian winger signed on a PTO only this week, debuted on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Sam Gagner, and got much stronger as the game went on. He finished the night with three shots on goal and no points, whistling a wrist shot off of Flames goalie Jon Gillies’ collarbone.

“It’s a tough thing to do, to travel (from Moscow) like he did, change ice surfaces and all that,” Gagner said. “I thought he played really well. He makes a lot of smart little plays, and as he keeps going here, I’m sure he’ll adjust even more.”

He likes to shoot the biscuit, and does possess a superior shot, wearing the No. 71 of his favourite player, Evgeni Malkin.

“His first game over here, not much practice — just a chalk talk, and away you go,” Tippett said. “I thought he was all right. He’s intriguing. When he gets the puck, he shoots it. Let’s see where it goes.”

• We liked Nygard, who had five shots on goal and was awarded a goal that looked very much like it belonged to Nurse. If he can play on the left side in Edmonton’s top nine, after arriving from the Swedish League as a 26-year-old, it will be like found money for GM Ken Holland.

“He had two or three good chances, and you’d like to see him capitalize on one of them,” Tippett said. “He was good, then he took a skate in the cheek late in the game, so hopefully it’s not too bad. You could tell he had some pace out there.”

Outwardly, Tippett showed no concern over Koskinen’s shaky game in his first start Thursday night. He just ran him out for another start the next night.

“To be honest, it’s almost every year my first game is as bad as (Thursday),” Koskinen said. “I’m wasn’t surprised. It’s good to get some video, and of course you see, I did everything bad. So there were a lot of good things to (improve on).” 1153672 Websites What weighting passes has done is remove some of that noise from the equation and reward players who make difficult passes at a higher than average success rate.

Sportsnet.ca / Analyzing the NHL's elite skill players: Who is the best The resulting group is interesting, with Alex Wennberg taking the top spot passer? completing passes at a 7.73 per cent higher rate than expected based on the passes he makes. There are lots of high-end playmakers like Brayden Point, Ryan Johansen, Aleksander Barkov, Claude Giroux, Nicklas Backstrom, and Sidney Crosby in there as well, along with some Andrew Berkshire September 20, 2019, 12:31 PM surprises like Chiasson, Marcus Sorensen, Jordan Weal and Riley Sheahan.

There usually aren’t many compelling stories to tell with data from games Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it going on during the NHL’s pre-season. It usually takes into the first 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, couple weeks of the regular season to start to get some idea of how they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover teams are playing and what’s driving those results. Canada’s most beloved game.

Instead of doing team-specific season previews, an idea that we came up Whether those players are budding playmakers or had very good with was to look at specific skill sets league wide, and create a sort of seasons, we do have to add another layer to represent pass success rate database based on the 2018-19 season that can show us which players in a truly accurate way: team structure. most stand out in certain areas. A great playmaker on a team that struggles to create open lanes can be This is what I attempted to do to isolate Mitch Marner’s playmaking ability stifled, so we have to go through each type of pass again and adjust for last week as a way to determine his value mere hours before he signed how each players’ teammates manage to complete passes without them, long term with the Toronto Maple Leafs. creating a pass success rate that adjusts for difficulty of passes and system driven results. With that in mind, let’s start along the same track, and look specifically at the best offensive zone passers at 5-on-5 among forwards. Post-adjustment, the top of the list looks a lot more familiar, as any statistic that measures success rates or precision in play seems to have In order to begin, we have to figure out what exactly we value most when Barkov somewhere near the top. Kopitar has posted the best overall it comes to passing. Is pass completion rate the most important? What pass success rate in all three zone relative to teammates for three about completed pass volume? What about types of passes — surely the straight seasons, so he makes lots of sense too. passes that lead to better quality shots are both more important and more difficult to complete? There are still some surprising names in there, especially a guy like Jordan Weal way up in the top five, or Vladimir Sobotka in there after On top of that, there’s adjusting for team structure. Some teams’ having a terrible season. But overall the players in here make sense, offensive schemes are simply superior and result in higher completion especially if we remember that this is all about pass accuracy, even if rates than others, so we have to adjust for those. But before we delve too we’re weighting by pass type. deep, let’s take a general look at every forward from last season who played 750 or more minutes at 5-on-5. All data will be at 5-on-5. Being an accurate passer still doesn’t automatically mean they’re making the most impact, so knowing what we do about pass accuracy, let’s take The axis for the graphic have been set to the league averages among these same players and look at the actual volume of passes they’re forwards, so you can see exactly where players fall compared to their completing and what types of passes, before we decide who the best peers. The average NHL forward completes just under 8.41 offensive are. zone passes every 20 minutes, and completes 60.09 per cent of their pass attempts. When we factor in volume and prioritize the types of passes by the ones that create the most scoring plays — passes to the slot, followed by As you may have guessed from the background image, the player way passes off the rush, followed by East-West passes — we can see that over to the right who completes more offensive zone passes per minute there are a large number of players on the ‘most accurate’ list that are than anyone else in the league is 40-year-old Joe Thornton, the NHL’s there because they don’t accomplish much. active career points leader and assist leader by nearly 300. The most confusing players on the list like Chiasson, Sheahan, Eriksson, The two players closest to him and the only others to complete more than and Sobotka all rarely make plays that require a lot of skill and create 14 offensive zone passes every 20 minutes of ice time are Sidney scoring chances — they mostly either cycle the puck, or send it up to the Crosby and Nikita Kucherov. So far completed pass volume alone is point to reset. I don’t want to say that’s useless, but it doesn’t accomplish passing the smell test to isolate the skill. as much as the high-skill plays do.

When looking at completion rates, the best in the league last year wasn’t Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey far behind in volume either, with Mathew Barzal one of only two forwards world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what to complete over 70 per cent of his offensive zone passes, the other they think about it. being Alex Chiasson, with considerably fewer attempts — less than league average actually. Ordered by dangerous passes, we can see clearly that two players stand out above the rest by a significant margin: Crosby and Panarin. The The next wrinkle is pass types. Instead of looking at how many of each group behind them is excellent as well, with Mark Stone, the perennially type of pass every player makes, we can use expected completion rates underrated David Krejci, Backstrom, and more, but the level at which for particular pass types to fold together with the volume each player puts Crosby and Panarin stand apart is impressive. out to create an overall expected pass completion rate based on what each player is doing, so volume of each is accounted for. So who is better between them? Crosby completes more passes overall, Panarin completes more dangerous passes overall, but Crosby Tabulating all that, we’re left with the most accurate passers looking like completes more slot passes. this. The tiebreaker comes back to accuracy. While Panarin completes his What we have here are the top-30 forwards in the league at completing passes at a rate 3.63 per cent better than expectations for a league passes in the offensive zone at a higher rate than expected for forwards, average forward, Crosby is at 5.05 per cent, so Sid the Adult still reigns when you adjust for the difficulty of the passes they each make. supreme in the league as a passer.

With overall pass success rate, theoretically a player could continually Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 make easy passes and post a high success rate. An example would be sending a straight pass up the boards back to the point, which has an expected completion rate of 79.6 per cent and avoid passes to the slot that have an expected completion rate of 35.6 per cent. 1153673 Websites Though Smith’s NHL career was limited to 45 games due to injury, he recalls the 2002-03 season with the Avalanche when his age and experience made a difference.

Sportsnet.ca / Senators all smiles after Chabot signs, but cutdown looms “I was that guy in Colorado,” Smith says. “At 26, I was the seventh defenceman and they sent the young kids down. That’s kind of what it is. If you’re going to sit out, it’s got to be someone who knows that role or Wayne Scanlan September 20, 2019, 1:41 PM knows how to do it.”

Brannstrom, small, skilled and smooth, is nobody’s idea of a seventh defenceman. With only 52 professional games on North American ice, After surviving two pre-season games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the product of Jonkoping in the Swedish league could almost certainly the Ottawa Senators abruptly signed franchise defenceman Thomas use more time in the AHL to work on his defence, run the power play, Chabot to an eight-year, $64-million contract. and continue to fine tune small details in his game. Even Erik Karlsson, great as he was, needed some time in the minors to figure things out. No wonder there are a lot of happy faces at Ottawa’s training camp this week. One detail that Brannstrom has been working on in camp is sneaking shots through from the point via wristers, rather than taking time for slap “This is huge for us,” said forward Brady Tkachuk, reflecting on the shots. contracts signed by Chabot and centre Colin White. “These two guys are going to be big-time players for our future.” Lajoie, 21, (he turns 22 in November) scored on a quick wrist shot against the Maple Leafs Tuesday night in St. John’s, N.L. The Senators On the ice, the Senators picked up a couple of exhibition wins against the went on to win the game 3-1, with the kind of group effort and tight rival Maple Leafs, or at least a faint imprint of their real lineup. defensive game they will need this season.

Meaningless games, yes, but the Senators learned this much in their Lajoie, who also played a surprisingly physical game against the Leafs, is back-to-back games with Toronto, in St. John’s and Ottawa: they will off to the kind of fast start that earned him a spot on Ottawa’s roster last need max effort, scoring by committee and great goaltending to win their fall, under then-head-coach Guy Boucher. share of games this season. With all new coaches, it’s time to impress again, and Lajoie looks up for “It’s not always going to be pretty for us, let’s face it,” said defenceman it. Unlike Brannstrom, who is being groomed to be a top-four D-man, if Mark Borowiecki, a tough guy who chipped in offensively for the Senators not top-two, Lajoie can probably slot in at any of the three defence in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory at the Canadian Tire Centre. “A team like pairings. that, they’ve got some firepower. They’re going to start coming in waves when they really turn it on.” As it stands, the Senators have their top defenceman, Chabot, likely paired with Nikita Zaitsev — although Zaitsev, the former Leaf, was oddly Connor Brown, who had a goal and an assist against his former Leafs kept out of the first two pre-season games against Toronto. Wasn’t ready pals, made his pre-season debut as a top-line player, alongside White to face his old team? He will have to on Oct. 2 when it counts. Fellow ex- and Tkachuk. Brown provided an astute review. Leaf Ron Hainsey, Dylan DeMelo, Christian Jaros and Borowiecki round out the group. Andreas Englund, who has been solid for Belleville, will “We made some some nice offensive plays and some boneheaded also get a good look. ones,” Brown said, a reference to getting victimized on an Auston Matthews goal in the third period, one of his two on the night. Somewhere in there, for now, pencil in Lajoie, who is showing strong form. Not surprisingly after getting blitzed by the Leafs on a few shifts, the Senators have been working on defensive coverage in practice this “It’s nice to have experience in the league already,” Lajoie said, earlier week. this week. “Coming into camp this year I have more confidence, I know what to expect and I know what I have to do to stick around, so that’s big A couple of takeaways from the games: new head coach D.J. Smith is for me.” animated. Secondly, that up-tempo style at camp is spilling over into the games. Smith says the exhibition games will sort out the decisions. They usually do, along with the prescribed wisdom of coaches and management. “He’s got a commanding presence back there behind the bench,” Borowiecki said. “It’s never in doubt who’s in charge and I think that’s a The Senators continued to run two practice groups Thursday and Friday, good thing. ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Montreal Canadiens. There will be more player cuts this weekend before the final road trip of camp. “He’s got us playing a little more up-tempo. It’s more fun, more The reduced roster of 28-to-30 players will make the trip to Vancouver on engaging for the players. I think you’ll see guys rally behind a style of Sunday for pre-season games against the Canucks Monday and play like that. It’s definitely more enjoyable for us.” Wednesday.

Give me a home

NHL training camps are just a week old and final roster decisions won’t While the Senators no longer boast household names like Karlsson, be declared until the end of next week. Stone and , Smith wasn’t buying into a suggestion that his team should find a way to be “entertaining” at home. But on the Senators blue line, the picture is getting clearer. “Not so much entertaining but what matters is how hard we play,” Smith With defenceman Christian Wolanin gone for four months or more with a said. “We can’t be easy to play against. You can’t just come in here and torn labrum in his shoulder, Maxime Lajoie seems to have the inside take points. track to take Wolanin’s place on the roster. “ Erik Brannstrom, the key piece coming to Ottawa in the Mark Stone trade It has to be hard to get in our zone, hard to get to our net. We’ve got to with the Vegas Golden Knights, remains an outstanding prospect for the make it so when you come in here, you had to work to leave here with Senators but may need more time to develop in the AHL. points.

Smith was asked about his defencemen, and the concept that the “Everything I’ve seen so far is everyone is committed to playing hard.” youngest of them could need more time to mature. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.21.2019 “I want young players, but only if they’re going to play,” Smith said. “We’re not keeping a seventh defenceman that’s a 20-year-old kid to sit around. It’s better for him to go to Belleville and play all the time.”

Guess who qualifies in the 20-year-old kid department?

That’s right, Brannstrom. 1153674 Websites “Patrick Kane was one of the guys I liked, that's for sure,” Nylander said with a smile.

Nylander's 'head start' at camp paying off as Maple Leafs notice boost in TSN.CA / Teammates confident Nylander set for bounce-back season confidence

William Nylander may be the most motivated Maple Leaf in training camp this year. After missing the first two months of last season working on a Mark Masters new contract, Nylander had just seven goals in 54 games. It was a lost season in a promising career and, as Mark Masters reports, the winger is ready to make up for lost time TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs, who skated in two groups on Friday at the Ford During Wednesday's game in Ottawa, Scott Sabourin, a 27-year-old Performance Centre. career minor leaguer attending Senators camp on a professional tryout, was doing his best to make an impression. He dumped Morgan Rielly Mitch Marner recalls a conversation he had with William Nylander at the from behind and made a late, high hit on Johnsson, leading to a fight with end of last season. Ben Harpur.

“I remember talking to him about going to Worlds and how he wanted to Midway through the third period, Sabourin gave Matthews a couple go over there and get his confidence back,” Marner said, “and you saw subtle shots after the whistle. The 22-year-old centre proceeded to make how he went over there and he looked like he was flying.” a show of trying to peer around Sabourin to check out his nameplate.

Nylander racked up 18 points in eight games to lead the tournament in “I was laughing,” said Marner, who wasn't watching the game closely scoring and he’s carried the momentum into Toronto’s training camp. back in Toronto, but saw that the video went viral on social media. “I sent it to him and said, ‘This is unbelievable,’ and I was laughing pretty hard at “He's just confident,” said linemate Auston Matthews. “I think that's just it.” the benefit of having a good summer and going into the season with nothing floating at the top of your head so he looks good. He's flying out “We were just messing around,” Matthews said. “He gave me a couple there.” cross-checks after the whistle and, I mean, it was nothing. It was all harmless. We were both messing around and both got a good chuckle “I just feel like he's seeing it right away,” observed linemate Andreas out of it and, obviously, it kind of blew up there. It seemed to be a lot of Johnsson. “You can see mentally that every time he’s on the ice he goes click bait for you guys.” full speed.” It was a fun moment, but Johnsson wasn't laughing when asked about Nylander scored just eight times in 61 games last season and never got Sabourin. on track after a contract stalemate wiped out training camp and the first two months of the regular season. “That guy slew-footed Mo before and hit me in the head,” Johnsson said. “Obviously, you’re going to play hard, but I feel like in the game you “I had a great summer,” Nylander said, “and everything's done and have to have respect for other players and I feel like that guy didn't have settled and now you just go out and play hockey.” respect at all. So, I don't feel like we should give him any attention at all, that guy.” Kasperi Kapanen sees a hunger in his friend's eyes. Babcock also had little time for Sabourin's antics. "Very motivated," said Kapanen. "I think he wants to prove everybody wrong. I know people were giving him a tough time over the summer, but “I thought Harps did a good job with that, didn’t you?” is all the coach he's got a new number and a fresh start so he’s looking really good." would say.

And now we get to truly see what the 23-year-old can do. Expectations So, let's focus on Matthews. are high. “When he gets mad, he gets mad,” said Marner. “He's a pretty big guy, "He's going to go down as one of the better Swedish players to ever play, can handle himself out there. He didn't act mad at all, he didn't grab the in my opinion," Kapanen said. guy at all so I don’t think he was too mad. I think he was doing that for "That’s pretty nice coming from a Finnish guy," Nylander said with a fun, trying to get in people's head.” laugh. Apparently, No. 34 can be just as ruthless with teammates. But Kapanen wasn't joking. “He doesn’t really chirp much,” said Kapanen, “but when he gets upset “I mean, he's got it all," Kapanen explained. "He's got a great shot. He's he'll certainly say something. He's chirped me a bunch before, so he’s got great vision. He’s so calm with the puck, like, even if he's made a pretty good at it.” couple mistakes in the game he's still going to hold on to it and try and “Kappy? That’s just too easy with him," said Matthews, who insisted he make a play, so his confidence level is up there.” doesn't workshop any material during the summer. “It’s just always been like that,” said Nylander, the son of long-time “I'm trying to build a thicker skin,” said Kapanen, “but some days are NHLer Michael Nylander. “I feel like that’s something I had since I started playing hockey.” harder than others.”

That ability to keep the puck on a string is what makes Nylander so Don't make Auston angry, you won't like him when he's angry special. It's why his teammates are confident he'll produce a bounce- Auston Matthews had a good old fashioned chirping moment during back season. Wednesday night's game against the Senators, and he didn't even have to say a word. Matthews had a staredown with Ottawa's Scott Sabourin “I've been playing against him (since) I was younger and I see to this and had to do a name check to see who he was dealing with. The Leafs day that this has been his strongest side,” said Johnsson, “to carry the took notice and warned that Matthews isn't someone who should be puck and, whatever he does with it, it's always on his tape and he never tested. Kasperi Kapanen also revealed he's easy to rattle himself. loses his balance, even if the puck wobbles he has such control ... I just feel like he’s getting better and better all the time so I definitely (can) see Michal Neuvirth missed the first two preseason games due to an him atop the Swedish players.” undisclosed injury, but practised on Friday and expects to play two periods on Saturday in Buffalo. Kapanen mentioned the number change. Nylander has opted to trade No. 29 for No. 88, which he wore when he made his professional debut in “It's obviously tough missing a couple practices, but it is what it is. I tried the Swedish League. He insists the switch is just a fun thing and not to stay positive and focus on myself and my body,” Neuvirth said in his symbolic of a reset. first Toronto media session since agreeing to a pro tryout with the Leafs. Although it's worth noting that the No. 88 he admired growing up was “It was really cold in St. John’s, especially at the practice rinks there, and another NHL winger with a lot of swagger. the staff decided they would give me a couple days in the gym.” Neuvirth had offers from other teams, but he cheered for the Leafs Lines at Toronto's morning skate: growing up (Mats Sundin was his favourite player) so when general manager Kyle Dubas called it was a no-brainer. This group is playing tonight against Buffalo Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander “I was following my heart with the decision,” said Neuvirth. “It’s a huge opportunity, such a great team here, best organization in the NHL. The Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Aberg staff, the gym, the medicals are the best I've seen and they take care of me pretty good. It’s a huge honour for me to be here and battle for the Agostino-Gaudet-Timashov spot.” Conrad/Clune-Shore-Read Hampered by injury issues, Neuvirth played just seven games last Rielly-Ceci season with the Flyers. Sandin-Marincin “I feel good about my game,” the 31-year-old said. “I've been on the ice a lot. I started training camp with a pro team in Czech so I’ve been on the Rubins-Liljegren ice a lot and feel good about my game.” Kivihalme-Hollowell Neuvirth is competing with Michael Hutchinson for the backup job. Andersen The Maple Leafs will play a home-and-home against the Sabres on Friday and Saturday and there were some intriguing lineup changes at Hutchinson the morning skate, including Jason Spezza lining up as a right winger Lines at Toronto's practice: alongside centre Frederik Gauthier. Mark Masters has more on that and the opportunity that goaltender Michal Neuvirth has in front of him now This group is playing tomorrow at Buffalo that he is seemingly healthy. Kapanen-Tavares-Marner The battle for third-pairing jobs on Toronto's blueline is wide open and Moore-Gauthier-Spezza Rasmus Sandin, the youngest contender for a job, has made a strong early impression. Petan-Brooks-Korshkov .... Archibald rotated in

“He's smart,” said Babcock of the organization's first-round pick (29th Engvall-Elynuik-Bracco ... Baptiste rotated in overall) in 2018. “He knows how to play, he's got a feel. He's one of these guys that it doesn’t seem to matter how old he is because his Muzzin-Barrie hockey sense is so good. He's a little guy who seems to know how to Harpur-Schmaltz defend. He seems to know how to leverage his body. He just seems to be a good player. Gravel-Holl

“And the other thing about it is when you talk to him he doesn’t seem to Duszak-Lindgren get all uptight, he’s just, ‘Oh, okay, yeah,’ or knows what you’re going to Neuvirth say before you say it most of the time.” Kaskisuo The teenager registered on Matthews' radar during his first camp with the Leafs. Woll

“I was really impressed with him last year, honestly,” said Matthews. “I TSN.CA LOADED: 09.21.2019 mean, he can skate, he sees the ice (well), he just seems to slow the game down and make the right plays.”

Sandin, who played for the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL during his draft year, didn't look out of place in his first year of professional hockey. In fact, he excelled in the AHL, posting 28 points in 44 games and seeing his playing time increase throughout the year.

“He had a year down with the Marlies and he just seems to have even more confidence coming into this season,” said Matthews, “and I thought he played really well the other night. It’s fun getting out there with a guy like him, because he can see the ice, he jumps in and is smart about when he jumps in on offence and when he doesn’t, and obviously breaking out of our end he sees it and he makes plays that not many people can.”

After lining up on the right in Ottawa, Sandin will shift back to his natural left side on a pairing with Martin Marincin tonight against the Sabres.

Matthews on Sandin: 'He makes plays that not many people can'

Rasmus Sandin has done well for himself during Maple Leafs training camp and his teammates and coaching staff have noticed his development with Mike Babcock praising his hockey sense and maturity and Auston Matthews explaining how fun it has been to see his confidence grow.

Jason Spezza skated as the right winger on a line with centre Frederik Gauthier and Trevor Moore today at practice.

“I just said to them, I don’t know who is playing centre,” Babcock revealed, “I’ll change it out every day on the sheet," Babcock explained. “If it’s a right-hand faceoff, Spez you got it; left-hand faceoff, Goat you got it. Goat’s down first, play down low; Spez you’re down first, play down low. Let’s see if we can get something going here to create something that could really help our team.”

TSN’s Kristen Shilton has more on Spezza, Gauthier and the battle to be Toronto's fourth-line centre here. 1153675 Websites Spezza, Nick Shore and Kenny Agostino) to compete for bottom-six jobs only fuelled Gauthier further and he's won't be deterred by a potential change in position.

TSN.CA / Babcock seeks a winning combo with Spezza and Gauthier “I’ve been here for quite a while, and every year you battle for a spot,” he shrugged. “It makes me work harder to get ready. I feel quicker. The guys told me I look quicker too, so that’s good. I have to have a good Kristen Shilton preseason and show them what I can do.”

And for the time being, Spezza will be right beside him, doing the same thing. TORONTO – The Maple Leafs have job openings this season and head coach Mike Babcock is getting creative in trying to fill them by auditioning “The intensity is high in camp. You can tell there’s desperation to guys centres Jason Spezza and Frederik Gauthier on the same fourth line to trying to get up to speed quickly,” he said. “You can tell the coaching staff see if he can find a new winning line combination. is trying to get us up to speed quickly. When you’re a team that’s expected to do well, the whole league is ready for you. You have to make "I just said to them, I don’t know who’s playing centre. I’ll change it out sure you’re up and ready to go because everyone is looking to knock you every day on the sheet,"" said Babcock after the Leafs’ practice on Friday off [your] perch.” at Ford Performance Centre. “If it’s a right-hand faceoff, Spez you got it; left-hand faceoff, Goat you got it. Goat’s down first, play down low; Spez TSN.CA LOADED: 09.21.2019 you’re down first, play down low.

"Let’s see if we can get something going here to create something that could really help our team.""

The decision came after each player centred his own line in Tuesday’s 3- 1 preseason loss to the Ottawa Senators. Ahead of Saturday night’s exhibition game in Buffalo, Gauthier got the first practice reps at centre with Spezza on right wing and Trevor Moore on the left, but Gauthier ceded the spot to Spezza throughout the group's 40-minute workout.

They could potentially be Toronto’s fourth line when the regular season opens Oct. 2, but trading positions back and forth with Spezza will take getting used to for Gauthier.

“I haven’t played much [wing]. Maybe one year when I was younger, but I’ve mostly played centre my whole life,” he explained. “Depending on where the draw is in the zone, we’re always going to take it on our strong side. I’ll just have to get used to it and you pick it up as you can go. If you can play both, that’s better for you.”

In the course of his 16-year pro career, Spezza has more experience being shuffled around at both the NHL level and while representing Team Canada - so sharing centre with Gauthier is less daunting.

“I think with Goat, [we’ll] kind of fill the first man low [spot] and that’s why it’s good we get to play together,” he reasoned. “We’ll work on our switches and it’s [developing] a little bit of chemistry that way. But I’ve played plenty of wing [before], so it’s not that unfamiliar for me.”

Babcock's tinkering is another test in establishing whether Spezza can accept the role he’s given in the Leafs’ system - a concern for Toronto's coach since the Leafs opened camp last week. With Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Alexander Kerfoot already slotted into the top three centre spots, Spezza was pegged as the fourth-line option when he signed a one-year contract with Toronto in July - a role he hadn’t played before in the NHL.

In Tuesday’s game, Babcock deployed Spezza in all areas, including both the penalty kill and power play. “He’s trying to figure out if he’s interested and we’re doing the same,” he explained.

By contrast, Babcock singled out Gauthier’s performance as one of the Leafs’ best, identifying how he “drove play...was good with and without [the puck], and I thought he was a factor for us for sure.”

Gauthier’s familiarity with the Leafs’ system after four years in the organization may give him a leg up in some respects, but Spezza’s confidence and comfort level have continued to balloon.

“There’s no doubt, we have a lot of new bodies here. For us new guys, we have to get up to speed quickly with the system,” Spezza said. “There are definitely little small details in the system that takes time to become habits, and it’s important you don’t think too much and slow yourself down by thinking too much.

"My timing is getting better, and the progression you want in training camp is to try to play better every day.”

Now both players are motivated by the same goal, which is to be in the Leafs’ lineup on opening night, even if it's on the same line. Last season, Gauthier was a rotating healthy scratch early on and put an emphasis this summer on improving his skating to earn a job from Day 1. The fact that Toronto signed some depth forwards in the offseason (including 1153676 Websites Scoop: Norris, acquired from the Sharks one year ago in the Erik Karlsson trade, has been playing catch-up after missing the last eight months following shoulder surgery. He has caught up well, by all accounts, in his battle to win a job down the middle for the Sens. Norris Five prized prospects fighting for jobs in Canadian camps - TSN.ca didn’t collect a point in his preseason debut in St. John’s - where his dad, former NHLer Dwayne, is a member of the Newfoundland Hockey Hall of

Fame. But new Sens coach D.J. Smith said the focus for Norris will be on Frank Seravalli his play without the puck, his attention to detail, and his ability to defend.

The first cuts have been made. Roster battles are beginning to come into Josh Norris with a nice spin move to set up a Max Lajoie scoring clearer focus. chance #Sens pic.twitter.com/9uQN8RZtTS

The annual National Hockey League rite of passage is upon us, when we — Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) September 18, 2019 begin tracking which prized prospects have an authentic chance to break camp with their club come October. Ryan Poehling (Canadiens) Here are five recent first-round picks fighting for jobs in Canadian training camps:

Evan Bouchard (Oilers) Age: 20

Age: 19 Position: Centre

Position: Defence Shoots: Left

Shoots: Right Draft: 25th overall (2017)

Draft: 10th overall (2018) Last Year: St. Cloud State (NCAA), 36 GP, 8 goals, 23 assists, 31 points

Last Year: London (OHL), 45 GP, 16 goals, 37 assists, 53 points Scoop: Poehling’s candidacy to break camp with the Canadiens took a turn on Friday when the team announced that he was diagnosed with a

concussion. He is out indefinitely after being boarded Florida’s Dryden Scoop: Edmonton’s most glaring need on defence is a partner for Oscar Hunt on Wednesday night in Bathurst, N.B. Prior to that diagnosis, Klefbom. That is Bouchard’s opening to earn a full-time spot on the Poehling – who owns the NHL’s best goals per game ratio in history after roster. Bouchard broke camp with the Oil last year, scoring his first NHL his spine-tingling NHL debut with a hat trick in last season’s finale against goal in his seven-game audition. He earned the nickname “Old Man the rival Maple Leafs – was certainly in the mix to force the Habs’ hand. Bouchard” around town for his laid-back demeanour. He rarely seemed Poehling toe-dragged Aaron Ekblad to set up a goal on Wednesday after rattled on the ice. It was perhaps his relative lack of intensity or urgency that hit from Hunt, which was almost as impressive as his thought that raised eyebrows at the World Junior Championship for Team process on the sequence (see below). That is all on hold now, pending Canada. Fellow Swedish import Joel Persson has gotten the bulk of the his recovery time. ice time with Klefbom to start camp, but Bouchard has plenty of opportunity in front of him. Ryan Poehling caught my ear when I asked about his set up on the

game winner. He knew there’d be no back pressure as he carried the Bouchard: 'You have to come in here and take someone's job' puck into the zone. He knew the PP players were gassed because they’d been on the ice for awhile. Smart.

— Dan Robertson (@DanRTSN) September 19, 2019 Evan Bouchard got a taste of the pro lifestyle last year and says it helped him train harder to make the team this year. He knows no one is going to bow down to a younger player so it's on him to come in and take Rasmus Sandin (Maple Leafs) someone's job.

Josh Norris (Senators) Age: 19

Age: 20 Position: Defence

Position: Centre Shoots: Left

Shoots: Left Draft: 29th overall (2018)

Draft: 19th overall (2017) by San Jose Last Year: Toronto (AHL), 44 GP, 6 goals, 22 assists, 28 points

Last Year: Michigan (NCAA), 17 GP, 10 goals, 9 assists, 19 points

Scoop: With Travis Dermott set to miss as many as 14 games to start the season, there are two spots up for grabs on the Leafs’ blueline. The third pairing is wide open and Sandin is an authentic candidate. Sandin showed some versatility on Wednesday night for coach Mike Babcock – who loves balancing his pairs with lefties and righties – by playing on the right side as a lefty. Sandin’s confidence and swagger is apparent, carrying himself well in his second NHL camp after a strong AHL season with the Marlies. Battling with Ben Harpur, Martin Marincin, Jordan Schmaltz and Justin Holl, the tie in this case might go to a veteran – especially given the fact that Sandin can earn performance bonuses that might hurt the Leafs – but there is no question Sandin’s time is close to arriving. “All you got to do is watch him,” coach Mike Babcock told reporters on Friday. "He’s smart, he knows how to play, he’s got a feel. He’s one of these guys that it doesn’t seem to matter how old he is because his hockey sense is so good, he sees it. He’s a little guy who seems to know how to defend. He seems to know how to leverage his body. He just seems to be a good player. And the other thing about it is when you talk to him he doesn’t seem to get all uptight, he’s just, ‘Oh, okay, yeah,’ or knows what you’re going to say before you say it most of the time.”

Sandin happy with how he developed as a player and person last season

Rasmus Sandin explains his mindset going into training camp, where he's improved over the summer, and discusses if he'll be disappointed if he doesn't see any NHL action this season.

Nick Suzuki (Canadiens)

Age: 20

Position: Centre

Shoots: Right

Draft: 13th overall (2017) by Vegas

Last Year: Guelph/Owen Sound (OHL), 59 GP, 34 goals, 60 assists, 94 points

Scoop: Suzuki would appear to be in the driver’s seat for a spot now following Poehling’s concussion diagnosis. He matched Poehling this week with a similarly impressive two-assist night on Thursday. Acquired from Vegas in the Max Pacioretty deal, Suzuki put a beautiful bow on his night with a patient flip over Sam Montembeault’s shoulder to start the shootout. What coach Claude Julien will appreciate more than the highlight reel is Suzuki’s furious first 60 seconds. He pushed the pace, set up Jordan Weal on the rush, and also drew a penalty. Suzuki has seen action on both special teams units this week. The Habs have 15 NHL contracts at forward, but Montréal may just have to make room. “If they’re not there,” Julien said this week of his two prospects pushing, “they’re knocking on the door.”

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Appleton-Spacek-Chibisov TSN.CA / Ice Chips: Toronto Maple Leafs move Jason Spezza to wing Heinola-Pionk

Schilling-Nogier Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips. Stanley-Green

Toronto Maple Leafs Hellebuyck

Veteran Jason Spezza moved to right wing in Friday's practice from his Comrie usual centre ice position. Spezza skated on a line with Frederik Gauthier at centre and Trevor Moore at left wing. Calgary Flames

Kasperi Kapanen, John Tavares and Mitch Marner once again worked as The Flames are expected to use the following lines tonight against the the top line, with Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie as the top defence Edmonton Oilers: pairing. Bennett-Backlund-Frolik

Goaltender Michal Neuvirth returned to practice Friday after missing time Mangiapani-Jankowski-Lindholm earlier this week with an injury. Rinaldo-Gawden-Lomberg The group that skated Friday is expected to play against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night: Dube-Quine-Smith-Pelly

Kapanen-Tavares-Marner Hanifin-Hamonic

Moore- Gauthier -Spezza Kylington-Stone

Petan-Brooks-Korshkov Davidson-Yelesin

Engvall-Elynuik-Bracco Hamilton

Muzzin-Barrie Rittich

Harpur-Schmaltz Gillies

Gravel-Holl Zagidoulin

Duszak-Lindgren Ottawa Senators

Neuvirth Craig Anderson will start against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, but will be replaced in the third period by Joey Daccord. Kaskisuo The coach confirms that Craig Anderson will start tomorrow against Woll the Canadiens and that Joey Daccord will take over in net for the third The Leafs will be taking on the Buffalo Sabres on Friday using their other period. pic.twitter.com/UorpT2CebI training camp group. The Friday night lines are expected to be as follows: — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 20, 2019

Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander Tampa Bay Lightning

Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Aberg Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat will all Agostino-Gaudet-Timashov make their preseason debuts tonight against the Nashville Predators.

Conrad-Shore-Read Kucherov, Hedman, Johnson and Palat will make their preseason debuts tonight for the #Bolts at home against Nashville. #NSHvsTBL Rielly-Ceci pic.twitter.com/qeyrsp0Igz

Sandin-Marincin — Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) September 20, 2019

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Andersen

Hutchinson

Montreal Canadiens

Forward Ryan Poehling is out indefinitely with a concussion. Poehling sustained the injury on a hit from Dryden Hunt during Wednesday's matchup in New Brunswick.

Poehling's head crashed hard into the boards following the hit. The 20- year-old was slow to get up but did not leave the game, eventually contributing the winning assist as the Canadiens beat the Panthers 4-3.

Meanwhile, the Habs also announced that forward Michael McCarron is going to be out approximately six weeks because of a groin injury.

Winnipeg Jets

The team is expected to use the following lines against the St. Louis Blues:

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YAHOO SPORTS / Jaromir Jagr is still scoring goals at age 47

Steven PsihogiosYahoo Sports CanadaSeptember 21, 2019

I’m convinced that 30 years from now, I will be writing this exact same blog.

Although Jaromir Jagr’s days in the NHL seem to be behind him (I rule out nothing when it comes to this man), that hasn’t stopped the 47-year- old hockey legend from lacing ‘em up and scoring goals.

Playing in the Czech Republic for Rytíři Kladno of Tipsport Extraliga, a team which he is also the owner of, the unofficial eighth wonder of the world scored yet another goal on Friday.

Ageless F Jaromir Jagr (47) @68Jagr scored a goal in the Czech TOP league today for his @RytiriKladno. His first goal in the Czechoslovakian league (it was communist regime at that time) came in October 1988. So his first and last (so far) goal: difference 31 years....

— Zdenek Janda (@zdenek_janda) September 20, 2019

Yes, you read that correctly. Jagr’s last goal in the Czech TOP league preceded the Czech Republic entirely.

Jagr has said he wants to play past 50, and I’m not going to be the person to tell him he can’t.

And considering he owns the hockey team he plays for, I don’t think anybody will.

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