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Home , Antoine Vermette, Benny Woit, Bob Goldham, Chris Breen (ice hockey), Darren Dreger, Gary Bromley

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 02/01/19 1128249 Ducks looking for offensive boost when Corey Perry 1128278 With their long break over, the Blackhawks hope to take makes season debut one final at making a playoff run 1128279 Pierre McGuire's condescending treatment of Kendall Coyne Schofield is all too familiar for women in male-domi 1128250 Coyotes D Demers, Bissonnette in ASU’s Curtain of 1128280 Antoine Vermette, winner with the 2014-15 Distraction Blackhawks, retires after 14 NHL seasons 1128251 Arizona Coyotes recall defenseman Kyle Capobianco 1128281 'I'm in a great spot': Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell has 1128252 Arizona Coyotes to endure greater intensity with break in the NHL — and an NCAA title — on his mind the rearview 1128282 Blackhawks send rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju to 1128253 Former Coyotes center Antoine Vermette announces Rockford retirement 1128283 Blackhawks rookie D Henri Jokiharju squeezed out of ice 1128254 Six storylines: Coyotes roll with ‘new perspective’ and time chase a playoff spot 1128284 Blackhawks reconvene with 'crazier things have happened' mentality 1128285 Faceoff ace Antoine Vermette retires after 14 NHL 1128255 Bruins lose to Flyers, 3-2, in seasons 1128256 Bruins lineup finally healthy 1128286 Blackhawks assign D Henri Jokiharju to Rockford IceHogs 1128257 Here’s what Tuukka Rask thinks about players crashing 1128287 Scouting report: Blackhawks at the net 1128288 NBC Sports Chicago's Athlete of the Month for January: 1128258 Bruins will have Tuukka Rask, Joakim Nordstrom for Patrick Kane tonight’s game 1128289 10 bonus takeaways from Rockford: State of the IceHogs 1128259 Bruins Notebook: Looking for Moore on the blueline and potential future Blackhawks 1128260 Bruins’ blue line woes prove costly 1128290 Blackhawks send struggling rookie Henri Jokiharju to 1128261 Bruins defensive breakdowns costly in overtime loss Rockford as blue line crowds up 1128262 David Backes keeps grinding away 1128291 Powers: What I’m hearing about the Blackhawks as the 1128263 Bruins pregame notes: With four losses in five games, deadline approaches Bruins seek turnaround 1128292 Off Beat: First ? First win? No, perhaps the biggest 1128264 Talking Points from the B's 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers milestone for a young NHL player is receiving The Let 1128265 Here's what happened in the Bruins' 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers 1128266 Healthy Bruins know now is time they 'need to bring it' 1128293 Avs-Wild player grades: Deeper into the abyss 1128267 John Moore’s been the other guy in two blockbuster 1128294 “It was the A”: How a love of the Avalanche helped a Navy trades, but he doesn’t let that needle him Corpsman get through the fight of his life 1128268 ‘The kind of guy you build franchises around’: Inside Patrice Bergeron’s first 1,000 games 1128295 Jets 4, Blue Jackets 3 | Losses piling up for Jackets Buffalo Sabres 1128296 Boone Jenner out 1-3 weeks with cut on ankle 1128269 Sabres Notebook: Zach Bogosian holding Casino for a 1128297 Michael Arace | It's getting hard to imagine happy ending Cause for Bread/Bob saga 1128270 Mike Harrington: Home is where the Sabres' playoffs 1128298 Three things to look for in Blue Jackets' game at Winnipeg hopes will rekindle or fade away Jets 1128271 Kevyn Adams named HarborCenter general manager 1128299 Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner out one to three weeks with 1128272 The Wraparound: Stars 1, Sabres 0 infected ankle laceration 1128273 Up-and-down play still torments Sabres, who hope to right 1128300 ‘I’ve got one center playing’: repeatedly ship with 7 games at home and understandably expresses frustrations with Blue 1128301 Inside the Blue Jackets’ drama: Jarmo Kekalainen won’t be just a seller; why it behooves Sergei Bobrovsky to b 1128274 GameDay — Flames at Capitals: 5 storylines 1128302 Analysis: Can you define a ‘top line’ in hockey? 1128275 Flames’ Neal proud of team success, knows he has more to offer 1128276 Why the Flames shouldn’t trade their 2019 first-round pick 1128303 What does Stars forward think about the for a short-term gain latest NHL player-tracking technology? 1128277 Magician on the ice, disaster in the kitchen: Inside the 1128304 Stars forward Tyler Pitlick out weeks with upper-body world of Johnny Gaudreau injury Rangers 1128305 Detroit Red Wings: 'We've been playing some good 1128342 Mika Zibanejad's hat trick lifts Rangers to comeback win hockey' over Devils 1128306 Red Wings' plans for Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek 1128343 Buchnevich earns a promotion in his return to Rangers diverging lineup 1128307 Red Wings return to work energized, refreshed 1128344 How David Quinn addressed Tony DeAngelo’s ‘maturity 1128308 was straw that stirred great 1950s Red Wings issue’ teams 1128345 Mika Zibanejad hat trick powers Rangers past rival Devils 1128309 ESPN hands Red Wings a C in midseason report card 1128346 Marc Staal is in control of his uncertain Rangers fate 1128310 Red Wings return from break focused on improvement, 1128347 Mika Zibanejad's hat trick rallies Rangers past Devils not standings 1128348 David Quinn says rookie Brett Howden will miss three to 1128311 Revolutionary Red Kelly set to have Red Wings number four weeks with sprained MCL retired 1128349 Mika Zibanejad bags a hat trick, Pavel Buchnevich shows 1128312 ‘Rebuilding’ roundtable: On the current state of Detroit’s growth, and the Rangers have something going pro sports teams, and the hope for a brighter futur NHL Oilers 1128350 Defending champion Capitals eager to stop losing streak 1128313 counting on boost from Klefbom's return 1128314 Edmonton Oilers preparing for 32 playoff games down the Senators stretch 1128351 SENS NOTES: Senators expect Pens to be fresh out of 1128315 Willis: Analyzing how well Peter Chiarelli and Keith the gate … Saluting Vermette … Pens’ Letang joins elite Gretzky restocked the Oilers with their draft work co 1128352 Derick Brassard will be a game-time decision against Florida Panthers Senators 1128316 Preview: Predators at Panthers, 7 p.m., Friday 1128353 Stone, Duchene and Senators all have decisions to make 1128317 Buyer or seller? It’s decision month for as in the near future Panthers head toward trade deadline 1128354 Game Day: at 1128318 INTRODUCING CARL GRUNDSTROM 1128355 Travis Sanheim’s overtime goal lifts Flyers past Bruins for 1128319 MITIGATING INJURY RISK, ENDURANCE sixth straight win CHALLENGES AFTER BREAK (+ PLAYER TRACKING 1128356 As trade rumors swirl, Flyers' Wayne Simmonds doesn’t VIDEO) let it serve as a distraction 1128357 It’s Carter Hart vs. Bruins' Tuukka Rask as Flyers aim for Wild 6th straight; ‘Ghost’ making slow progress 1128320 Rested Wild players are ready to get back to business 1128358 Resurgent Ivan Provorov back on the attack again 1128321 Wild-Dallas gameday preview 1128359 Flyers must be willing to give Anthony Stolarz a good, long 1128322 The Wild's final 65 days look 1128323 Wild in the Western Conference standings 1128360 Flyers bury their Boston nightmares, push win streak to 6 1128324 Wild comes out of break trying to hold line in volatile games Western Conference 1128361 Flyers 3, Bruins 2: Comeback results in OT thriller, 6th 1128325 Streaky Wild ready for the final stretch run, starting Friday straight win in Dallas 1128362 Flyers have been heavily outshot during win streak, but 1128326 Bye bye, bye week: Wild brace for a grueling stretch that doesn't tell the whole story before trade deadline 1128363 Wayne Simmonds keeps his focus on Flyers while trade rumors swirl Canadiens 1128364 Flyers at Bruins: Game 51 preview, line combinations, 1128327 Stu Cowan: Time off was a blessing for Canadiens' broadcast info Brendan Gallagher 1128365 How the World Junior Championships helped propel Joel 1128328 Canadiens Notebook: Coach Claude Julien tanned and Farabee’s freshman season relaxed after bye week 1128366 Release the Hound: Bob Kelly and the 1975 Flyers recall 1128329 After a week away from the NHL grind, Canadiens return how the second Cup was won to the ice 1128330 Impact president Kevin Gilmore left Habs to seek 'next big Pittsburgh Penguins challenge' 1128367 Justin Schultz nearing finish line on long road back from broken leg 1128368 Penguins coach Mike Sullivan: Derick Brassard will play 1128331 Predators' on Austin Watson suspension: when he's healthy It's about the person, not player 1128369 For Penguins, it takes a village to help Evgeni Malkin 1128332 Predators mailbag: biased vs tall players? return to form Artemi Panarin in Nashville? 1128370 Nevin Arena finalist in Penguins' 'Renovate the Rink' 1128333 Austin Watson isn't the first Predators player who faced contest alcohol abuse but his unpaid suspension is rare 1128371 Justin Schultz thrilled to rejoin Penguins for practice 1128334 Austin Watson suspension: How the NHL substance 1128372 Five potential trade-deadline targets for Penguins abuse program works 1128373 The Beanpot: A Boston tradition many Penguins hold in high regard 1128374 Slowly but surely, the Penguins’ philosophy is starting to 1128336 Mika Zibanejad's hat trick leads Rangers' comeback over change Devils 1128375 Marshall: Teddy Bleuger provides a boost Mike Sullivan is 1128337 What the NJ Devils need to see from Pavel Zacha looking for 1128338 How they line up: Projected lineups for NJ Devils and Rangers 1128339 Mika Zibanejad's hat trick lifts Rangers to comeback win over Devils 1128340 Lou Lamoriello cautiously optimistic about Islanders 1128341 Islanders ready to shake off the rust from long break Websites 1128376 Sharks’ Joe Thornton still not fully healthy as second half 1128416 The Athletic / is breaking barriers begins and she’s not done yet 1128377 Sharks broadcaster opens up about struggle with 1128417 The Athletic / Inside the dressing room after lineup depression, suicidal thoughts changes and the issues for D-men playing on their off-sid 1128378 Sharks rookies continue developing at AHL level with 1128418 .ca / Jake Muzzin addition forces Maple Leafs to Barracuda shake up defence pairs 1128379 Why Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson are so good in eyes of 1128419 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks leaning on strong camaraderie for NHL All-Star goalies intense playoff push 1128380 Keys to contending: Thornton, Vlasic and Jones will be 1128420 Sportsnet.ca / Lamoriello calls Islanders' goals-against ones to watch as the Sharks resume their season turnaround 'remarkable' 1128421 Sportsnet.ca / What the 2018 NHL trade deadline shows St Louis Blues us about first-round pick values 1128381 Refreshed Blues jump right in after break 1128422 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens look to maintain stellar play with 1128382 Blues place Perron on injured reserve challenging schedule ahead 1128383 101's all-sports format a big draw in Blues' move there 1128423 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens neither confirm nor deny report from KMOX about Noah Juulsen injury 1128384 KMOV optimistic about Super Bowl rating despite teams 1128424 TSN.CA / Starting on the left the right move for Muzzin despised in St. Louis playing 1128425 TSN.CA / Deadline War Room: Habs' needs are clear, but what's the price? 1128426 TSN.CA / Brayden Schenn a classic buy-low candidate 1128385 Lightning looks to follow Penguins example and bounce 1128427 TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Trade Bait List back 1128428 USA TODAY / Kendall Coyne Schofield sticks up for 1128386 Lightning-Penguins broadcast sparks ‘mansplaining’ NBC's Pierre McGuire after awkward on-air exchange controversy 1128429 USA TODAY / Wayne Simmonds keeps his focus on 1128387 Lightning falls in first game back from break Flyers while trade rumors swirl Maple Leafs Winnipeg Jets 1128388 Maple Leafs will find out if Morgan Rielly has the right stuff 1128408 A Little defence for Laine | The Star 1128409 Roslovic up against friendly fire 1128389 Kendall Coyne Schofield deserved better from Pierre 1128410 Connor scores second straight game-winner in 4-3 win McGuire | The Star over Blue Jackets 1128390 Legendary Red Kelly returns to place of honour in Detroit 1128411 Jets' second line has some work to do in its own end, Little 1128391 Matthews, Marner appear set for another date on the says same line 1128412 Jets gut out win against Jackets 1128392 Game Day: Maple Leafs at Red Wings 1128413 Jets set to face Blue Jackets: Laine drought of little 1128393 Left or right, Leafs know they’ve added a strong piece in concern to Maurice Jake Muzzin 1128394 GET TO KNOW YOUR LEAFS: 23 questions with Garret Sparks SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1128395 Why Jake Muzzin is unlike every other Leafs defenceman in all the right ways 1128396 Bourne: Inside the dressing room after lineup changes and the issues for D-men playing on their off-sides 1128397 Revisiting 10 bold (and not so bold) preseason predictions for the Leafs 1128398 From YouTube to Sportsnet, professional Leafs fan Steve Dangle has become an unlikely media success 1128414 Patrick Johnston: Refreshed Canucks give it a rest, now they’re refocused on playoff bid 1128415 Canucks trade targets: Young defencemen that could step into the lineup soon Vegas Golden Knights 1128399 Golden Knights prospect Jake Leschyshyn perseveres in WHL 1128400 Golden Knights back to work against Hurricanes after bye week Capitals 1128401 ‘We were tired’: Their bye week over, Capitals relish a fresh start 1128402 Back from break, Capitals look to end losing streak with Ovechkin out 1128403 Ted Leonsis: Wizards 'not trading' John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter 1128404 Caps look to break losing streak, but won’t have Ovechkin to help 1128405 Prospect report: The Caps aren't concerned about Jonsson-Fjallby in Europe 1128406 The Caps are finding out just how difficult it is to repeat as Stanley Cup champions 1128407 Capitals midseason grades: Are the goalies struggling or is it the defense in front of them? 1128249 Anaheim Ducks The Ducks recalled defenseman Jaycob Megna from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL and reassigned defenseman Jake Dotchin to their minor league team.

Ducks looking for offensive boost when Corey Perry makes season debut Forwards Sam Carrick Max Jones and Troy Terry and defensemen Jacob Larsson, Andrej Sustr and Andy Welinski, who were assigned to the Gulls before the All-Star break, remained in San Diego. By Elliott TeafordPUBLISHED: January 31, 2019 Orange County Register: LOADED: 02.01.2019

ANAHEIM — Coach Randy Carlyle teamed Corey Perry with Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell when the Ducks returned to the ice Thursday after their bye week. Carlyle couldn’t say what he expected from Perry when he’s likely to make his season debut Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Carlyle said he hoped the return of Perry to the lineup after a four-month layoff following right knee surgery would inject some much-needed life into his struggling teammates. After all, The Ducks have averaged a meager 2.29 goals per game, ranking 30th in the 31-team NHL.

Getzlaf leads the Ducks with 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) and Rakell is tied for third with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists). Getzlaf, in particular, has struggled during a stretch in which the Ducks have won only twice in 16 games. He has one goal and five points.

“I don’t look it as him as an individual,” Carlyle said of his expectations for Perry. “I think we’re looking more along the lines of Rakell, Getzlaf and Perry. What are they going to be able to bring? That’s what I’m looking at. So, I capture it in a different perspective than one individual.

“How much of a positive impact can he have helping that group? Because the group has been starving for offense. We need offense from them. The combination of the three of them has a unique skill-set that has developed and has provided offense before.”

Perry resumed practicing with the Ducks before the All-Star break and the bye week that followed, and it was clear Thursday he was skating at something resembling full speed. He participated in all of the drills with his teammates after their nine-day break.

“He looks rejuvenated,” Carlyle said. “He looks anxious and enthusiastic. He’s worked extremely hard with our medical staff and our strength and conditioning (staff). He’s worked with Larry Barron, our skating coach, and I guarantee he’d rather play than do all that stuff. Any player would.”

Carlyle said Perry “looks fine” in his skating and appeared stronger in his upper body.

“You can’t help but think that’s going to help him,” Carlyle said.

MEDICAL UPDATES

Patrick Eaves (fractured rib) and Jakob Silfverberg (hamstring) also skated with their teammates and Carlyle said they could play against the Jets. Ryan Kesler (hip) skated briefly with Perry and Barron before the start of practice and then exited the ice.

“What you saw in practice, all those players are available,” Carlyle said. “Another re-start, a number of new faces, some old familiar faces we’ve had before are now healthy to come back in the lineup. We’re looking forward to having some settled lines going forward.”

Rakell, Getzlaf and Perry formed the top line; Devin Shore, Adam Henrique and Silfverberg skated together on the second line; , Derek Grant and Daniel Sprong made up the third line; and Brian Gibbons, Carter Rowney and Adam Cracknell comprised the fourth line.

Eaves was the fourth member of the fourth line, rotating in and out for various drills.

MILLER IMPROVES

Ryan Miller couldn’t say with any degree of certainty when he might be sound enough to resume his role as backup to All-Star John Gibson. Miller has been sidelined by a sprained knee since Dec. 9 and remains on injured reserve.

“Although I’m really, really happy that I’m in a position where I can play goalie again, I don’t think I’m an NHL goalie yet,” Miller said after joining his teammates for some but not all of their practice. “My knee is not NHL, but the rest of me is. It’ll get there.”

ROSTER MOVES 1128250 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes D Demers, Bissonnette in ASU’s Curtain of Distraction

BY HABOOB BLOG | JANUARY 31, 2019

A special Valley sports cameo was made in Arizona State’s Curtain of Distraction for the big rivalry game against the University of Arizona.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jason Demers and former Coyotes forward Paul Bissonnette made appearances in the tool used by ASU’s student section to distract opposing free throw shooters.

It’s never too late to get your first college experience. @BizNasty2point0 & @jasondemers5 are fitting right in with the @942Crew.  #AllAZ pic..com/F8uUYU9CMt

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) February 1, 2019

In an impressive display, Demers and Bissonnette used two different acts during the free throw attempts.

In the first, Bissonnette was wheeled out ala “Silence of the Lambs” with Demers escorting the prisoner.

After a quick make by the Wildcats, the wardrobe change began.

The two quickly undressed and wore what appeared to be Sun Devils wrestling uniforms.

With both putting on headbands, Bissonnette and Demers grabbed printouts of Arizona’s logo and ripped them up. Bissonnette went all out, using his mouth to make sure the deed was done.

Demers has played in 18 games this season as he recovers from a knee injury that has ruled him out indefinitely.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128251 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes recall defenseman Kyle Capobianco

BY KELLAN OLSON

The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday they have recalled defenseman Kyle Capobianco from the team’s (AHL) affiliate.

Capobianco has yet to play in a game for the Coyotes this season after playing in one last year. The 21-year-old is an AHL All-Star this season.

For the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL, Capobianco has seven goals and 25 assists for a total of 32 points in 40 games.

In 93 career AHL games, Capobianco has 62 total points.

Capobianco was originally drafted by the Coyotes in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

After a long break of more than a week, the Coyotes are back in action on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks. You can listen to the action live on ESPN 620 AM.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128252 Arizona Coyotes While the team is in a good spot all things considered, adding a “rental” player to boost the Coyotes into the playoffs may not make sense if they feel their string of injuries has critically hurt their depth.

Arizona Coyotes to endure greater intensity with break in the rearview “We’re not looking at the rental market as strongly as maybe other teams are,” Chayka said. “I think we’re looking to improve our group, if there’s a move out there that makes sense to do so, we will. I’m having a lot of BY MATT LAYMAN discussions right now.

“Right now’s a very active time and I think you’re laying a lot of the groundwork that hopefully in the next few weeks you find one or two SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It doesn’t get any easier from here. good opportunities that will help add to your group, supplement your The Arizona Coyotes were back on the ice in Scottsdale on Thursday group and help us kind of make a push now and into the future.” after being on a weeklong break that included the All-Star festivities and #YotesTalk a league-mandated “bye week.” Well-rested and a few steps closer to greater health, the team’s next game is coming up on Saturday at San A day after the hashtag #BellLetsTalk stormed the internet to fight Jose. against the stigma of mental health issues, the Coyotes announced Thursday that their next home game, on Feb. 7 against the Blue Jackets, Some teams, however, have resumed play already. will be “Yotes Talk” night. “I watched some of the games yesterday, it seems like everybody’s more Per the team’s release: intense, and it should be. Because there’s a lot at stake,” head coach Rick Tocchet said. “There’s a lot at stake to get to the next level.” Fans are encouraged to join the conversation by sharing personal experiences or messages of support via social media by using the The Coyotes are two points out of the playoffs. hashtag #YotesTalk. #YotesTalk Night will raise awareness about mental “You could have two bad weeks and you could be out of it,” Tocchet said. health through a variety of outlets, including in-arena messaging, online storytelling, and sharing information and experiences at the Coyotes Including Arizona, there are four teams within three points of the second versus Blue Jackets game on Feb. 7. Western Conference wild card spot, currently occupied by Colorado: the Coyotes, Oilers, Blues, Ducks and Canucks. Arizona has 32 games left A statement from the Coyotes said defenseman Jakob Chychrun recently to play. visited The New Foundation in Scottsdale to support kids battling mental health issues. “Their therapeutic programs and services are designed to “I showed the team the schedule — I hate to do that, because you guys assist youth, aged 11 to 17, in overcoming significant behavioral mental know I just like to worry about one game at a time — but we’ve got 14 health issues affecting their daily lives,” the statement said. games in 28 days. For us, it’s the elements of the identity — the hard work and the details. To sustain where we are, that identity has to be our For every retweet Chychrun gets on a video that he’ll tweet out on the focus every night.” day of the game, he’ll personally donate $0.06 to The New Foundation.

For their sake, hopefully the break got them ready for what’s at stake. A Chychrun’s first cousin, Daron, was the daughter of group of players went to Aspen, Colo., Tocchet went to Rensselaer assistant Luke Richardson and died of suicide in 2010 at age 14. The Polytechnic Institute to visit his son, who plays lacrosse there, and others Coyotes support the “Do it for Daron” movement, which raises stayed in the Valley. Tocchet even made it out to the Waste Management awareness about suicide and young mental health. Phoenix Open on Wednesday. Coyotes players will wear “DIFD” stickers on their helmets during the INJURY UPDATES game, and Coyotes coaching staff and management will wear special ties in a nod to “Do it for Daron,” as well. –Oliver Ekman-Larsson (knee) skated with the Coyotes on Thursday and wore a normal jersey, as opposed to a non-contact jersey. He Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.01.2019 participated fully in practice and will travel with the team on its upcoming road trip this weekend.

“I thought he skated well,” Tocchet said. “He was trying to push it. We were a little nervous obviously last week but we’re starting to get some good news with it. Whether he plays, I’m not quite sure yet. … We want him to play, but we don’t want to put him in harm’s way.”

–Christian Dvorak (upper-body) wore non-contact jersey in practice Thursday and didn’t participate in all of the drills. Tocchet said he’d be practicing full soon, but still non-contact for “a while.” He also alluded to the difficulty of Dvorak getting back in the lineup after not having played all season, and even hinted he could see a game in Tucson first, though that remains to be decided.

–Jason Demers, Brad Richardson and Michael Grabner are all skating, but not with the team in practice. Richardson is going to get more imaging done on his hand soon for re-evaluation, while Grabner (eye) still needs to have full vision and skate with traffic in front of him before he can be cleared to play.

“Demers, I hate to say he’s ahead of schedule but he’s doing a really good job in his rehab. He’s skating pretty well out there.”

TRADE DEADLINE

The trade deadline is still a ways away — not until Feb. 25 — but with the Coyotes just two points out of a playoff spot, the question becomes, what should the team do?

“We’ve been preparing for the trade deadline, or the opportunity to make some moves, all season,” general manager John Chayka said. “I think where we’re at, we’re looking for moves that make sense not only in the short term here but moves that make sense in the long term.” 1128253 Arizona Coyotes

Former Coyotes center Antoine Vermette announces retirement

BY MATT LAYMAN

Former Arizona Coyotes center Antoine Vermette, who played five seasons in the desert, announced his retirement on Thursday after 14 seasons.

He made the announcement through a statement put out by the NHL Players Association.

Vermette was not playing with a team in the NHL this season.

Originally drafted by Ottawa in the second round in 2000, Vermette played five seasons for the Senators over six years — missing one season due to the NHL lockout. He was traded in the 2008-09 season to the Blue Jackets and then again in 2011-12 to Phoenix. After playing parts of three seasons in Phoenix — including one that was shortened by another lockout — the now-Arizona Coyotes traded Vermette to Chicago, where he won his one and only Stanley Cup.

That offseason, in 2015, Vermette signed back with the Coyotes as a free agent. He stayed there for just that one season before playing his last two years with the Anaheim Ducks.

Vermette was known for strong faceoff skills and solid offensive production as he scored 19 or more goals in a season 6 times and averaged 56.9 career faceoff percentage. In 291 games with Phoenix/Arizona, Vermette scored 79 goals and 149 assists.

He was on the 2011-12 Coyotes team that went to the Western Conference Finals, the deepest playoff run in team history.

Here is Vermette’s statement in full from the NHLPA website:

As a child, I dreamed of having a chance to play in the best league in the world of my favorite sport. After 15 years in the NHL, here I am, officially announcing my retirement from professional hockey. What a privilege! I am immensely grateful for all these incredible years punctuated by memorable moments that I will cherish forever. For me, hockey has been an outstanding vehicle for teaching the right values such as perseverance, discipline and respect.

I would like to outline the importance of the people who believed in me in the organizations of Ottawa, Columbus, Arizona/Phoenix, Chicago and Anaheim for making this unforgettable journey possible. I wish to thank my agent, all of my coaches and assistant coaches, the support staff of the teams that I had a chance to play for and the others that I crossed paths with around the league. I want to thank my fitness trainer, my special summer training group in City and the members of the media. Also, I want to thank the fans who by their support, contributed to making my dream a reality. It was from their passion that we experienced some magical moments together.

It was a privilege sharing my daily life with teammates, to forging friendships that will endure well beyond the victories and defeats. All the players that I had the good fortune to play with enriched my life in a way that is not quantifiable. Thank you “Les Boys”!

On a personal level, I feel privileged to have been able to count on the support and unwavering love of the people around me. To my family, my parents, my sister, my wife, my children and my friends by their understanding and thoughtfulness, allowed me in an exceptional way to pursue my dream. There have been tremendous sacrifices made along the way by these caring, devoted and inspiring people. I am eternally grateful.

It is with great enthusiasm that I look towards the future and feel a profound joy to finally be able to spend more time with my loved ones, my wife and my kids.

Thank you for these beautiful years.

Antoine

Arizona Sports LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128254 Arizona Coyotes Any of those players would help the Coyotes’ cause. The more who return, the better. When Grabner and Richardson return, it would also put some key parts of the Coyotes’ top-ranked, must-see -killing unit Six storylines: Coyotes roll with ‘new perspective’ and chase a playoff back together with defenseman Hjalmarsson. If Demers can return, the spot whole band would be back together. Demers was the fourth Beatle on the original No. 1 unit. Kevin Connauton has been filling that role since Demers’ injury.

By Craig Morgan Jan 31, 2019 The Coyotes know Nick Schmaltz (knee) won’t be back this season, and that is a blow because he gave them something they sorely lacked at the

center position, speed, a critical component in Tocchet’s style. It also The NHL season is entering its home stretch and the injury-riddled, appears that starting goalie Antti Raanta (knee) will not return this underdog Coyotes are still in a playoff hunt. As The Athletic’s Tyler season, but Darcy Kuemper has played well enough to give his team a Dellow noted recently, that is as much a product of this historically chance to win most nights. Kuemper’s .914 save percentage is six points subpar Western Conference wild-card race as Arizona’s resiliency, but above the league average of .908. historical comparisons were not on the Coyotes’ minds when they 2. Shane Doan’s jersey retirement resumed practice at the Ice Den Scottsdale on Thursday after a one- week break. You won’t want to miss this event on Feb. 24 when the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets come to town for Doan’s jersey With some of the walking wounded getting closer to returning, the retirement by the original Jets/Coyotes franchise. The list of attendees is Coyotes were focused on staying in the race with the same scratching impressive (more on that later), and there won’t be a dry eye in the house and clawing identity that has them two points off the pace. when the truest face of the franchise watches his No. 19 ascend into the “To sustain where we are at, that identity has to be our focus every Gila River Arena rafters. night,” coach Rick Tocchet said. ”You could have two bad weeks and we On that note, The Athletic has a special series planned for Doan’s day. could be out of it.” More on that later, too. The Coyotes will play 14 February games in 28 days, a condensed and 3. The NHL trade deadline grueling schedule that is common for teams at this time of year. The intensity will ratchet up another notch, as it always does after the All-Star Coyotes general manager John Chayka has said many times that he is break with the NHL trade deadline approaching and the playoffs in sight. not a fan of the trade deadline. Rash, emotional and even damaging To sustain the level of play that saw them go 6-2-2 before the break, the decisions get made on that day as teams engage in an often-illogical Coyotes will need to stick to a simple game plan predicated on tight arms race to keep pace with their playoff competitors and, as the saying defending, good goaltending and timely scoring from the entire lineup. goes, to prove to their own players that they are in it to win it.

“I don’t think there’s too much to say,” said defenseman Niklas Don’t expect the Coyotes to be major players as the Feb. 25 deadline Hjalmarsson, a veteran of many playoff pushes in Chicago. “You just approaches, but Chayka is not shy about dealing if he feels he can have to play consistent, simple hockey and not have off nights because improve the team. Back in November, we listed four names to watch on every game is so important now. We know we have a lot of games in a the most likely to be traded list. Two of them – Dylan Strome and short amount of time. We know we can take a big step toward it or out of Brendan Perlini – have already been traded. it in the next month. That’s why it felt so good to have the break to rest and kind of clear our minds, get a new perspective on things, feel fresher Keep an eye on forward Richard Panik (10 goals, 21 points), who is and more motivated than ever to have a good February and put us even playing his best hockey and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end closer. of the season. The caveat here is the playoff picture. If the Coyotes are still legitimately in the race, will they want to be sellers, even if they are “It’s more fun to play in these types of games so I expect the pace to be a minor sellers? little higher.” Also keep an eye on defenseman Alex Goligoski (two goals, 17 points), As the Coyotes open their post-All-Star break schedule on Saturday in who hasn’t had his best season, and has two more seasons remaining at San Jose, here are some storylines to watch over the final nine weeks of a cap hit of $5.475 million, but could entice some clubs with his puck- the season. moving, offense-igniting potential.

1. Returning players 4. Meaningful March games?

Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson skated with the Coyotes in their first The Coyotes were probably a playoff bubble team at best when the practice after the All-Star and CBA-mandated breaks that gave the team season began. The losses of Schmaltz and Raanta further lengthen their a week off. He is still listed as day to day but he is expected to travel with odds, as does the absence of several other key players mentioned the team on its upcoming three-game road trip through San Jose, Dallas above. That said, the Coyotes have found a way to stay in the race to and Nashville. The hope is he won’t miss more than another week with a this point. knee injury he suffered in the second period of a win against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 22. Ekman-Larsson did not have a surgical procedure The games will ratchet up another notch in intensity out of the break, and over the break. Despite reports, the nature of his injury is not clear, so it March will bring the fevered pitch that precedes the playoffs. If the is unclear if surgery might be an offseason option. Coyotes can survive February, they might gain some valuable lessons from a playoff push that some of their young, core pieces have yet to Forwards Michael Grabner (eye) and Christian Dvorak (pectoral muscle) experience. Even if they don’t end this six-year postseason drought, that could start practicing fully with the team soon. Dvorak remained on the would be a sign of progress. ice with the team for several drills on Thursday, but then left. Both have been skating before practices. Grabner has been doing everything aside 5. Call-ups from weaving in and out of traffic and engaging in contact so a return to At some point over the final nine-plus weeks of the season, the Coyotes practice could signal he is close. Dvorak recently started shooting, which will dole out some rewards for players who have produced at the AHL is a big step, given the nature of his injury. level. Who’s on that list?

“He’s going to be practicing full time with us soon,” Tocchet said. Start with AHL All-Star defenseman Kyle Capobianco, who leads the “Obviously non-contact for a while, but yeah, he’s getting close.” Tucson Roadrunners with seven goals and 32 points in 40 games, and is Center Brad Richardson (hand) is skating without a stick but should be tied for fifth among AHL defensemen in points. The coaching and back sometime in February. Tocchet said he’ll have another scan on his management staffs have been impressed with his development. hand soon. Defenseman Jason Demers (knee) started skating on his UPDATE: The Coyotes recalled Capobianco two hours after this story own over the break, leaving open the possibility that he could return late posted. With Ekman-Larsson sidelined for now, he gives the team a in the season, although his timeline is still tight. seventh defenseman. Coyotes fans may get a glimpse of another “Demers is, I hate to say ahead of schedule, but he’s done a really good potential piece of the future on this three-game road trip. job in his rehab,” Tocchet said. “He’s skating pretty well out there.” Toss in forward (17 games, four goals, 14 points), who should have enough games under his belt since returning from ACL surgery.

Among the others who might warrant a call-up: forwards Adam Helewka, Lane Pederson, Hudson Fasching and defenseman Robbie Russo.

6. Ownership

Multiple reports over the past two months have suggested a Coyotes sale is imminent, but league sources contend that the situation is still characterized by lots of fluidity and multiple groups that have expressed varying levels of interest. It’s doubtful anything is going to happen soon, but it would certainly help the Coyotes’ cause to get this deal done before the end of the NHL season and playoffs so that their executive team can plan for the offseason with a budget in mind.

Majority owner Andrew Barroway has been seeking investors for at least a year. Until the ownership situation is resolved, the franchise’s quest for a new arena will remain unresolved. The Coyotes need a new owner to come in and help broker the deal, but that doesn’t mean the current staff (or the league) has been sitting on its hands waiting. With the Phoenix City Council’s recent vote to approve a renovation of Talking Stick Resort Arena for the NBA’s Suns, it appears the Coyotes’ longshot hopes of a downtown location are dead. All of the team’s focus is likely now centered on an east side location.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128255 Boston Bruins Rask outwaited Flyers winger Scott Laughton on a penalty shot with 13:18 remaining in regulation. The chance came when defenseman John Moore, playing his second game in three weeks of mostly healthy Bruins lose to Flyers, 3-2, in overtime scratches, shot into Laughton’s pads at the point and hooked him on a breakaway.

Scott Laughton’s third-period penalty shot couldn’t beat Tuukka Rask in By Matt Porter the goalie’s first game back following his Jan. 19 concussion.

But Rask couldn’t corral a tip by Oskar Lindblom, who tied the game on the power play at 10:36 of the third off a Voracek feed. This is becoming a bad habit for the Bruins, this losing of leads. Hart, a 20-year-old rookie who’s making fans drool in that goalie-starved For the sixth game in a row, the Black and Gold scored first and wound town of Philadelphia, earned his second win over Boston. Hart, who beat up tied. For the fifth time in those games, they lost. the Bruins on Jan. 16 on Broad Street (39 saves), made 23 on Thursday, David Pastrnak scored twice, reaching the 30-goal mark for the third year the Bruins fading as the night wore on. in a row, but the Bruins got nothing else in a 3-2 overtime loss to He denied them their chance at winning their seventh game in January, a Philadelphia at TD Garden. total they had reached in each of the previous three months. They picked The Flyers (22-23-6), owners of a six-game winning streak, controlled up 16 points in both October and November, 14 in December and most of the second and third periods, and ground away a pair of Boston January. edges on the scoreboard. Travis Sanheim’s wrister with 2:04 left in The only Atlantic Division team in action Thursday, Boston (61 points) overtime was the difference. tied Montreal’s total but couldn’t get into lockstep with Toronto (62) for The Bruins (27-17-7), 1-2-3 in their previous six, weren’t happy about second place. several missed calls (a trip on Pastrnak and a high stick on Brad Next up, no small challenge: the Capitals in D.C. on Super Bowl Sunday. Marchand), and Danton Heinen missed a wide-open net late in regulation. Marchand was penalized for tripping 57 seconds into Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2019 overtime, with coach Bruce Cassidy throwing up his hands.

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The Bruins produced a pair of odd-man rushes on the OT penalty kill, but Sanheim sneaked one through.

The Bruins took the lead 3:05 in. After Pastrnak’s legwork pinned a tripping call on Flyers Claude Giroux, the Bruins’ power-play quarterback, Torey Krug, stepped up to the circle and fired a cross-seam dish few blue liners in the league can make. Pastrnak snapped it home.

The Bruins lost the lead with 43 seconds left in the first. It was a confluence of misreads on the Bruins’ end — Charlie McAvoy’s deep pinch, Sean Kuraly a bit late to cover, Zdeno Chara getting caught flat- footed in the neutral zone — and Flyers excellence. Giroux took off when he saw McAvoy shoot, and Jakub Voracek hit him with an outstanding pass through the neutral zone.

The Bruins, playing from behind far too often of late, regained the edge 5:11 into the second. A strong keep at the point by Chara, a heady shot from Patrice Bergeron out high, and Pastrnak with a brilliant tip in front: it was a 2-1 game.

David Pastranak tips Patrice Bergeron’s second-period shot past Flyers goalie Carter Hart for his second goal of the night at 30th of the season.

It gave the NHL’s 2019 Accuracy Shooting champ 30 goals at the quickest pace of his career. Thursday was both his and the Bruins’ 51st game of the season. He hit the mark in 74 games last year, and 63 in 2016-17.

Pastrnak is the 10th player in Bruins history to score 30 before February, and the first since Cam Neely in 1993-94.

Pastrnak had several chances for the hat trick, almost scoring on a tap between the legs with Philadelphia netminder Carter Hart down and out.

Pastrnak didn’t get a call in the third, when the Flyers tied the score at 2, and a pair of enemy sticks brought him down in front. It was a miss by the men in stripes. Marchand was chipped up high by James van Riemsdyk late in regulation, and told the referees about it.

Tuukka Rask, donning the pads for the first time since Jan. 19, was sharp. He saved 37 of 40 shots. But he was a bit dicey early. Rask had misadventures playing the puck and lost the angle on one chance, on which Ivan Provorov hit the crossbar from in tight. Giroux’s finish came off the stick of an elite finisher. But Rask was there when the Bruins broke down.

After Pastrnak scored at 5:11, the Flyers spent the remainder of the period hunting the 2-2 goal. Rask made 17 saves on 27 shot attempts. He fought off a Wayne Simmonds snap shot, remained calm amid the chaos of a Simmonds-Nolan Patrick rush, and held his ground when Simmonds and Patrick crashed his kitchen late in the frame. 1128256 Boston Bruins “flying” Tuesday against the Jets, Cassidy said, adding, “I thought it was one of his best games in a long time.”

Patriots fan Bruins lineup finally healthy He grew up in Canada without strong gridiron loyalties, but his admiration for sports greatness, especially that in close proximity, has made Cassidy By Matt Porter a Patriots fan.

He’s not on cloud nine as the Patriots prepare for another Super Bowl appearance, as are some of his New England-bred staff. But the Bruins They didn’t plan it like this last summer, but against the Philadelphia coach sounded like any local diehard when asked about Tom Brady and Flyers on Thursday night, the Bruins finally had their full complement of Co. on Thursday morning players available. “They’re the standard for excellence for anybody,” said Cassidy, who like The injuries that dogged the Bruins until the end of 2018 have been well his predecessor, Claude Julien, has hobnobbed with Bill Belichick to try documented in this space. They nearly had everyone healthy as 2019 got to glean ideas. Cassidy’s players have visited Patriots practices. Mutual rolling, but Charlie McAvoy’s foot infection, Joakim Nordstrom’s cracked respect between the organizations runs deep. fibula, and Tuukka Rask’s concussion left coach Bruce Cassidy jamming fingers into holes in the dam. Ryan Donato shakes hands with coach Bill Belichick after Patriots practice last August. Several Bruins, including Charlie McAvoy (right), With the Feb. 25 trade deadline fast approaching, the club must find out were there to watch and joined the players on the field. where the pieces fit and if upgrades are needed. It appears likely, with Cassidy defining his current roster after Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss as Cassidy’s team will serve the opening act for a Boston-flavored Super a defensive-minded group that relies too heavily on its first line and Bowl Sunday. After playing the defending Stanley Cup champions in power play for offense. Washington (12:30 p.m., NBC), the Celtics host Oklahoma City (2 p.m., ABC). Both should be back home by the time the Patriots kick off against Some of the other pieces are present. the Los Angeles Rams (6:30 p.m., CBS).

Nordstrom, returning after a 10-game absence, dropped into a role the A Super Bowl championship parade, should the Patriots capture the Bruins envisioned when they signed him to a two-year, $2 million deal franchise’s sixth crown, could bring hundreds of thousands of fans to the last July 1: Energetic fourth-line left wing and penalty killer. The Bruins Boston streets Tuesday morning, in advance of the Bruins-Islanders have a capable few of that ilk, including Noel Acciari, who was scratched game (7 p.m. at TD Garden). If not Tuesday, Wednesday is a possibility. to make room. The Bruins have been a regular playoff contender in the latter half of the The most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. local football team’s 18-year run of dominance. They have one title to the five in Foxborough, but the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup rally stacks up With McAvoy back the last few weeks, the Bruins have eight against any the city has held. Some 1 million fans packed the streets to defensemen. John Moore, who sat five of the previous six games, could see the Cup that June. be swapping places again with Matt Grzelcyk when the Bruins play Sunday in Washington. Replying to a question about the Patriots’ dominance, the Ottawa-raised Cassidy had a take fresh off the (duck) boat. Grinders and defensemen — and goal, where a clear-headed Rask was excellent in his first game in 12 days — are not the worries for Cassidy “Part of me, as a fan, wonders what the hell’s the matter with the AFC and general manager Don Sweeney. The Bruins must get Patrice where someone can’t provide a little more competition for them?” he Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak some help. said. “In any sport, to be able to repeat like that — obviously the team is good, the players are good, the coaches are good. Where are the other That could be from the outside, in a steely winger such as Philadelphia’s teams pushing them? Wayne Simmonds, a center such as St. Louis’s Brayden Schenn, or a game-changer such as Columbus wing Artemi Panarin. All and more are “Are they just not good enough, or is there an intimidation factor, or are possibilities, depending on how calm or choppy Sweeney finds the trade the Patriots that good? The Patriots are that damn good, because how seas. For now, the brass was still assessing whether rookies Trent do you repeat like that? What is it, eight Super Bowls?” Frederic and Peter Cehlarik had enough moxie to be long-term fits, and what their presence might do for the other middle-six forwards in the The Brady-Belichick Patriots will appear in their ninth on Sunday, by far a lineup. record for a quarterback-coach combo.

Frederic, who on Thursday again centered the third line with Danton “I don’t know if that’ll happen again, I really don’t,” added Cassidy. “I’m Heinen and David Backes, raised eyebrows with Tuesday’s fist-swinging not from the area, so as an outsider, I don’t have a good word to describe debut against the Jets, one of the West’s true contenders. Still too early it. If you’re a lifelong fan, it’s got to be a great feeling.” to get a full read on him, though the 20-year-old bruiser seemed like a Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2019 strong addition. Backes, his 34-year-old engine revving after the All-Star break, looked rejuvenated and threw a couple of hard hits. Heinen, smart and responsible but well off his rookie-year scoring pace (16-31—47), was encouraged.

“If they’re down low winning pucks and battling, that’s my job to find the soft spot, hopefully get a couple looks,” said Heinen, who has a 6-7—13 line but missed a wide-open net in regulation. “I thought Freddy was solid, had the fight, made some good reads, talked it over on the bench.”

“He defends hard,” Cassidy said. “He blocked a couple of big shots tonight. We’re trying to use him on the kill a little more. I mean, obviously you’d like to see him bury that puck. It might’ve been the difference in the game.”

Cehlarik has fit well with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk since his recall from AHL Providence. The line has produced some 65 percent of all shot attempts at five-on-five when Cehlarik has been on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick. But he hasn’t scored since netting two against Philly on Jan. 16.

Krejci has quietly had a good season (10-30—40 in 51 games) despite a lack of consistent wingers. A positive: DeBrusk (14-4—18 in 42) was 1128257 Boston Bruins “I’m surprised we are still wearing helmets,” he said with a grin, a facetious nod to recent league-mandated rule changes that trimmed back goalies pants and pads.

Here’s what Tuukka Rask thinks about players crashing the net The kidding aside, Rask actually is OK without another rule change. He thinks the current rules, though not perfect, are adequate and, to a larger point, good for the game. Which is to say the man is either still suffering By Kevin Paul Dupont post-concussion symptoms or he is a realist. It appears to be the latter, even if one might think his recent bumps and bruises might have

knocked some sense into the poor boy. His head back on straight and both eyes clear, which was not the case “I don’t know if it’s open season, but it’s tough,” said Rask. “You’ve gotta when we last saw him, Tuukka Rask went back to work Thursday night at try to make a save, then again you don’t want to get run over all the time. the Garden with the Flyers in town. Sometimes you’re in a tough spot . . . so it is what it is.” Many moons ago, a goalie nursing a concussion, such as the one that Anderson’s idea, while ideal for the international brotherhood of goalies came Rask’s way Jan. 19, would have steered three aspirins, an ice bag (IBOG), would take away from the game’s entertainment value. That’s and a doctor’s note clear of a return date against the dirty, nasty Broad just a bad idea, said Rask. Street Bullies. Guaranteed, first or second shift, a Bobby Clarke elbow to Rask’s chin — oh, a purely accidental blow, mind you — would have Rask figures the fan wish list includes forwards skating a bee line to the been the neurological baseline test to find whether he truly had his wits net, usually with shoulder tucked and puck cradled on their blades — or back in full order. otherwise poised for tips, deflections and rebounds. If all of that includes knocking the block off the guy in front of the net, hey, there’s always new The January 2019 Flyers, headed nowhere but an early vacation, blocks out there, kids. provided a strong return test drive for Rask in their 3-2 OT victory. He finished with 38 saves and for the most part looked like the reliable hand “Hey, I’m for it . . . don’t let anybody come near,” he said, chuckling as he who was 6-0-1 in his seven starts leading to his recent trip to noted any goalie would prefer being spared a trip to Palookaville. “But it Palookaville. increases the entertainment value of the game and that’s what it’s all about.” Rask, beaten on Travis Sanheim wrister for the winner, was at his best with 6:42 gone in the third, denying a Scott Laughton penalty shot after The man’s entitled to his opinion. That’s undeniable. His appearance vs. the Flyers forward was tied up by defenseman John Moore on a the Flyers was the 476th regular-season game of Rask’s career, and it breakaway attempt. Awarded the free chance, Laughton closed to Rask’s took 475 for him to suffer a concussion during a game. Otherwise, he doorstep, only to be denied on a forehander that Rask turned away on said, he suffered one last season during a practice and another from the blocker side. “jumping on slides and stuff” as a kid.

The most recent sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. “You know, honestly, I’ve probably had many concussions,” he added, “but not diagnosed.” “I thought Tuukka was terrific,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, who wasn’t so kind in his critique of his defensemen. “He gave us every chance to win It’s his life, the goalie life, and Rask is old enough, bright enough and the game — it didn’t work out for us in that regard, in terms of generating apparently even nuts enough to accept it. The clock’s not going back. enough goals for him. But no issues with Tuukka at all.” And it’s a good bet the hits will keep on coming.

Rask, with little or no contact around his net all night, was disappointed Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2019 he didn’t snare Sanheim’s shot. Otherwise, he was encouraged by his first night back on blocker duty.

“I was seeing the puck well, felt good — but too bad we couldn’t get the two points,” he said. “I felt good yesterday, and have been feeling good for a few days. So good to get back in the groove. I don’t think it’s good just to practice and practice and practice. Good to get a game in and go from there.”

Of course, there’s no going back to the ’70, the ’80s, or even a week ago Saturday when Rask was trucked by the Rangers’ Filip Chytil. Although given his druthers, the ever-realistic Rask made clear he would not take exception to rolling back the calendar.

“The only thing would be to go back to the ’80s — hook and interfere more — and bring the red line back,” he said, noting how could be better protected on today’s ice-paved autobahn. “Bring the red line back. Those would be the only options you would consider helpful. But the game is so much different now. Guys coming in with speed from the wing.

“Just the nature of the game, unfortunately, and sometimes goalies take the worst part of it.”

One of Rask’s brethren in pads, Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, came to his defense hours after the Bruins’ goalie was clobbered, voicing his concern that it has become open season on NHL goalies.

Anderson also was concussed in a net-front collision that left him sidelined until just recently. No question, in his mind, that netminders need better protection from the high-flying, reckless forwards and he suggested shrinking the blue paint area in front of the net as step No. 1. The goalie would have a smaller work area, but it would be better defined and simple for referees to govern.

“Make the crease 6 inches smaller,” Anderson suggested to the Ottawa Sun. “And if a guy goes in the crease, then blow it down. You won’t have guys running into the goalie.”

As for Rask? 1128258 Boston Bruins Boston Globe LOADED: 02.01.2019

Bruins will have Tuukka Rask, Joakim Nordstrom for tonight’s game

By Matt Porter

Five things to watch Thursday against the Flyers (7 p.m., NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub), on a day the chilly TD Garden press box will seem balmy:

■ Tuukka Time? It is indeed. Rask skated Wednesday with the team, reporting his concussion recovery as A-OK. He was first on the ice in Brighton for the morning skate, and will be playing his first game in 12 days, since a Jan. 19 hit by Rangers forward Filip Chytil that knocked him dizzy. This is his longest layoff since a 13-day spell in October 2017, when he was concussed by a Chytil-like practice collision with teammate Anders Bjork.

■ The Flyers, 21-23-6, bring to town several pieces the Bruins could use. Namely, Wayne Simmonds (15-8--23 in 50 games), one of the rugged, playoff-capable second line wings contenders like Boston will consider. Imagine David Krejci, deep down, might be considering what Simmonds would look like on his flank. Think Horton and Lucic.

■ Philly is likely to start Carter Hart, the 20-year-old rookie who’s making fans drool in that goalie-starved town. Hart, who beat the Bruins on Jan. 16 on Broad Street (39 saves), is standing between the Bruins (27-17-6) and their seventh win of this month (currently 6-3-2). They have won exactly seven games in each of the previous three months, picking up 16 points in both October and November, 14 in December and, so far, in January. Two points Thursday would push the Bruins (60 points), the only Atlantic Division team in action, over Montreal (61) and into lockstep with Toronto (62) for second place in the division.

■ As far as 5-on-5 play-driving goes, the Bruins are seeing early positive signs from their two newest lineup additions. Trent Frederic had a 76.92 percent Corsi For percentage in his first game (or, the Bruins had 10 shot attempts at 5-on-5, and allowed three, when he was on the ice Tuesday against the Jets). Peter Cehlarik (70.59 percent in three games) has been as good. Some of that comes from sheltered matchups at home. The rookies have been promising, even if the Bruins may be looking for outside help for their roles (Frederic, No. 3 center; Cehlarik, missing link on the No. 2 line).

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■ Lines from the morning skate included Joakim Nordstrom (leg), who last played Jan. 1, and John Moore, who had been a healthy scratch in five of the previous six games.

Nordstrom took Noel Acciari’s place on the fourth line, coach Bruce Cassidy shifting sometimes-center Sean Kuraly from left wing to the middle. Moore replaced Matt Grzelcyk in the lineup, but paired with steady Brandon Carlo. Grzelcyk’s regular partner, Kevan Miller, began the night with another undersized puck-mover, Torey Krug.

The lines:

Forwards

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak

Peter Cehlarik-David Krejci-Jake DeBrusk

Danton Heinen-Trent Frederic-David Backes

Joakim Nordstrom-Sean Kuraly-Chris Wagner

Defense

Zdeno Chara-McAvoy

Torey Krug-Kevan Miller

John Moore-Brandon Carlo

Goaltenders

Tuukka Rask

Jaroslav Halak 1128259 Boston Bruins

Bruins Notebook: Looking for Moore on the blueline

Veteran defender gets another shot

By MARISA INGEM

In February, the same question hovers over the team.

Moore has been in a rotation with Matt Grzelcyk since Charlie McAvoy returned from injury. He returned to the lineup Thursday night against the Flyers, paired with Brandon Carlo in the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime loss.

Carlo, having a breakout season now that he’s fully healthy, can help balance Moore still finding his bearings while adjusting with his new team.

“Brandon’s predictable,” coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday. “He defends well, he’s not going to be a guy where you look up and he’s regularly out of position. He’s a smart player, I don’t want to say he knows his limitations because that doesn’t sound like a positive, but he does know what makes him successful.”

When John Moore signed in Boston, the biggest question mark was where he fit in an already-deep defensive corps.

Moore has been paired with Kevan Miller when he’s been in the lineup lately, but he’s rotated throughout the entire lineup all season.

Some of that has to do with the plethora of changes throughout the season with the injuries; the Bruins have used more defenders than any team in the league with 12.

That means Moore has had less time to adjust to a consistent partner, and being shuffled in and out of the lineup hasn’t helped.

“I think Johnny’s still just searching for a partner that fits him,” Cassidy said. “I know that it’s almost February, but with all the injuries, it’s still a work in progress.”

The pairing with Carlo has potential, since he’s fit well with anyone he’s paired up with, including Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug.

Even still, with Grzelcyk knocking on the door, Moore likely will have more time taking a back seat. But, for now, the B’s are going to see how it turns out this time around.

“The analytics weren’t great with Johnny and Kevan, is that just a short term thing, we can easily make that switch back,” Cassidy said. “…. I think we have three solid D pairs no matter how we pair it.”

Lost in the shuffle

Cassidy touched a bit on the importance of non-special teams players not getting lost or losing ice time when there’s a game with tons of penalties.

Trent Frederic, who made a thunderous NHL debut Tuesday night against the Jets, sat for five minutes after his bout with Brandon Tanev, but his time on ice was low.

“I’m more worried if I look at the sheet and at the end of the night his even strength minutes are way down,” Cassidy said. “But I wasn’t concerned.”

That’s not the end of the world, since he wouldn’t be on the power play or penalty kill yet, regardless. Cassidy instead cited Danton Heinen, who is being worked into the penalty kill, losing some minutes in a game like Tuesday’s when the Bruins weren’t down a skater for too long.

“Danton right now is getting lost a bit now on special teams, we took him off that power play group,” Cassidy said. “So he lost a bit of time there.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128260 Boston Bruins and, second, with Chara not identifying Giroux, the Flyers’ most dangerous player.

“That’s a time and score decision you have to make as defensemen,” Bruins’ blue line woes prove costly Cassidy said.

If the defensemen are trying to compensate for the lack of secondary By STEVE CONROY scoring, they have to be more judicious.

“It’s one of those (situations) where we can’t blame for trying,” Chara said, “but we have to pick the right times. I believe we have good enough If you want the good news from the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime loss Thursday to secondary scoring to score. We’ve had it before and I believe we will the Flyers, it is that they gained a standings point to inch their way into again.” third place in the Atlantic Division. All season long, there has been an anticipation of the trade that will put They bad news? Well, they pretty much stink right now. And their coach the B’s right back among the legitimate contenders. Visions of Artmei is sounding the alarm. Panarin, Mark Stone or Chris Kreider have danced in many fans’ heads. Any deal for those kinds of players would cost the B’s a good chunk of For the second time in as many games, they coughed up a third-period their future. lead and lost the second point in the extra session. They now have lost 5-of-6 games with their only victory in that span coming against the DNQ- But if this swoon continues, GM Don Sweeney has to start wondering if bound St. Louis Blues. Not only has the secondary scoring dried up this team is worth it. again, but the now defense – the hallmark of this team when it is playing well – is creating more problems than it is extinguishing. And the Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2019 problems started Thursday with the top pair of Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy.

When John Moore signed in Boston, the biggest question mark was where he fit in an already-deep defensive corps.

The B’s actually played a pretty good first period and earned a 1-0 lead on a David Pastrnak power play goal. Everything was going well until, in the final minute of the period, the B’s took aim at their foot and pulled the trigger. McAvoy took the puck in deep on the right side and took a shot that missed the net. It rimmed all away around to Jake Voracek near the blue line. Chara had not rotated to the middle of the ice, where Claude Giroux was churning his legs. Voracek hit him for a breakaway and Giroux buried it past Tuukka Rask.

Philly owned the game the rest of the way and the only reason the B’s got a point was the play of Rask, who stopped a Scott Laughton penalty shot in the third period but was beaten on a power play tip by Oskar Lindblom that tied it and then a Travis Sanheim power play shot in overtime. Rask saw 41 shots.

With 31 games left the B’s have found themselves at a crossroads, not too unlike the spot they found themselves after a loss in Anaheim last year when coach Bruce Cassidy took his blue line to task.

“More self-inflicted damage from the back end tonight. Very disappointed,” Cassidy said Thursday night. “The ability to identify what’s going on, time and score, to give up a breakaway in the last minute and get caught up the ice. We gave up a 2-on-1 to Giroux, same thing, we got caught. We’ve got to fix it. Guys have to decide if they’re going to play the right way and buy in and if they’re going to understand what we are right now. If we’re scoring five goals a night, it’d be a little different animal. I could overlook some of those things. We’re not in that situation right now. Hopefully we are at some point but we’re not there now.”

Though he made a nice play to set up Pastrnak’s second goal that gave the B’s a 2-1 lead early in the second, Chara had a rough first couple of periods. When he lost the puck after taking a round-the-world tour of the offensive zone, he sat for a couple of shifts. He rebounded in the third, but he played just four shifts in the second.

Asked if he was concerned about the 41-year-old captain’s play, Cassidy didn’t spare him or anyone else.

“Listen, he’s the captain of the hockey club,” Cassidy said. “He won the Stanley Cup here by being a defensive stalwart, one of the best penalty killers in the league, so yes, he’s part of that group. And the biggest part of it. I would hope that he’s a terrific leader and that the next game he understands what makes us successful. We’ll have a conversation about it, but he is the leader back there. He’s got to get Charlie to buy in, he’s got to get Carlo. He has, and that’s got to continue. Kevan Miller, I’d put him in that group back there, too. They have to lead back there and understand what it takes to be successful right now for us. And right now for us, it’s team defense, good special teams and hopefully get some secondary scoring when the top line’s not on.”

On the pivotal play at the end of the first, Cassidy was not happy, first with McAvoy missing the net (a recurring problem for the B’s D-men) 1128261 Boston Bruins McAvoy, and he spent a shift back with Kevan Miller. That left Carlo and Krug to skate on the same pairing again at one point.

“You can change the lineup, we have a lot of defensemen here, send a Bruins defensive breakdowns costly in overtime loss message,” Cassidy said. “We can keep instilling what makes us Bruins, Flyers struggle defensively successful. Right now we’re the best defensive team in the Atlantic Division. … If that’s not good enough for the guys, we have to make them understand that’s who we are right now.”

By MARISA INGEMI The Bruins head to Washington this weekend to face the Capitals on Sunday.

Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2019 For such a low-scoring affair, the Bruins and Flyers left their defense at the door.

Both teams suffered defensive breakdowns throughout the game Thursday night, only to be bailed out by their respective goalies, as the Flyers scored with two seconds left on an overtime power play to topple the Bruins, 3-2, at the Garden.

“More self-inflicted damage from the back end tonight,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Very disappointed. That group, the ability to identify what’s going on, time and score. To give up a breakaway in the last minute and get caught up the ice, to give up a 2-on-1 to (Claude) Giroux… We gotta fix it. The guys have to decide to play the right way and buy in and understand what we’re doing.”

It was the second overtime contest in as many games for the Bruins as they suffered a shootout defeat Tuesday night to the Jets, and the Bruins’ fifth loss in their last six games. In all of those defeats, they blew a lead.

“If we’re scoring five goals a night, a bit of a different animal,” Cassidy said. “You can overlook some of those things. We’re not in that position right now.”

The back-and-forth action didn’t result in the highest quantity of shots, as the Bruins passing at times missed the mark when they had open looks to shoot; namely, Danton Heinen with time nearly expired in the third period on a pass from David Krejci where he had a good look at the net.

It started out fine for the Bruins. Just over three minutes into the contest, David Pastrnak already had the Bruins on the board. After drawing a tripping call while charging toward the net, the Bruins All-Star scored on a cross-ice pass from Torey Krug for the 1-0 advantage.

Sean Kuraly appeared to be tripped up entering the offensive zone with under a minute left in the first, but it went uncalled. Charlie McAvoy took the puck in and missed high over the net, with the rebound ending up on the stick of Giroux, who buried the breakaway to knot the game 1-1 with 43 seconds left in the frame.

Pastrnak netted his second of the game, and his 30th of the season, 5:11 into the second. He and Patrice Bergeron peppered Philadelphia netminder Carter Hart, and when it looked like the Flyers had cleared it, Zdeno Chara used his long reach to keep the puck in. Bergeron flipped another shot on net, tipped in by Pastrnak for the 2-1 lead.

John Moore took a shot at the blue line with 13:18 left in the third that was blocked by Scott Laughton, who tried to plow through Moore and Brandon Carlo toward the net. The officials ruled a penalty shot, and Laughton was stopped by Tuukka Rask blocker-side to keep the Bruins ahead by a goal.

The Flyers didn’t retreat. Oskar Lindblom tapped a shot past Rask with 9:24 to go in regulation on the power play to knot things up 2-2.

That tally stood until overtime, despite both teams’ best defensive efforts to end the game in regulation.

Brad Marchand was called for a trip just 57 seconds into the extra frame, giving the Flyers a chance to end things with a 4-on-3 power play.

With two seconds remaining on the man advantage, defenseman Travis Sanheim blasted a shot past Rask to give the Flyers their sixth straight victory.

“Whatever it is (defensive issues), we have to solve it quickly,” Moore said. “Team defense has been a hallmark of this team going back for years. The compete is there, the desire is there, just for one reason or another, it’s not going our way right now.”

While Moore was slated to skate primarily with Carlo for his return, the defensive pairs switched around often. At times, Moore was with 1128262 Boston Bruins predictable plays, where you can be a step above or ahead your opposition rather than waiting to see what that guy’s going to do and then react to it.”

David Backes keeps grinding away Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2019

By STEVE CONROY

David Backes has endured a lot since signing with the Bruins two and half years ago. A scary bout with diverticulitis that led to colon surgery, a nasty gash on his thigh that still bears a scar, and several concussions have not been great for the longevity.

But Thursday night at the Garden, the battle-hardened Backes suited up for his 900th NHL game. He’s wise enough to savor these milestones for what they are.

“They’re cool little check marks along the way,” Backes said after the morning skate. “Thirteen years ago before I played in this league, if you told me I was going to play 900 games, I would have called you a liar to your face. I’ve been humbled and honored to have some pretty good guys around me to be put in some positions to have a ton of success and still loving every day of playing in this league. They’re not all perfect days by any means but I’m trying to make the most of each opportunity.”

Milestones like this one, of course, also can serve as a reminder that the end of the career is a lot closer than the start of it. And Backes surely has had a few more of those reminders of that this year than he would care to experience. With the league forever getting faster and younger and Backes’ grinding, physically aggressive style of play continuing to fall out of vogue, he’s seen his minutes dwindle and even was a healthy scratch for the first time in a dozen years earlier this month.

But in Tuesday’s game against the Jets, Backes — no doubt helped by the nine-day break — had some noticeable jump while playing with 20- year-old center Trent Frederic, a like-minded rookie who grew up watching Backes with the Blues. Another familiar face, Danton Heinen, was on the left wing.

“I think the tempo of the game helped him, too. And as the temperature went up, those are games he becomes a more valuable player,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He gets a little more excited to play when there’s body contact from both sides. His center iceman is probably more his flavor, a guy who wants to initiate contact, likes to stir the pot a little bit. Those two things together helped, and I think the break helped certain guys and he’s probably one of them.”

Backes saw 13:15 of ice time, got a shot on net, delivered a booming, clean hit on Winnipeg defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and was front and center in the contentious scrum that led to Frederic’s first NHL fight.

“I felt good,” Backes said. “Some of it is recharging the batteries, some of it is mentally clearing your mind and getting away a little bit and coming back fresh. The schedule was pretty heavy for December, November. Now there are heavy parts toward the end of the season, but you start to garnish some more rest in between and have those days off to recharge batteries and be ready for the next one.”

Backes is not shy about saying he likes playing with Frederic. They both seem comfortable in the fact they don’t have to make their way onto highlight reels to have an effective game.

“I think there’s certainly some chemistry there that we’re thinking the game the same way, we’re going to stop on the puck, own the puck and be able to get that next play onto our tape rather than have to have a perfect possession play,” Backes said. “We’re going to win those battles and move on, continue to occupy the offensive zone. We showed spurts of that. If we get more pucks to the net and we have that space and time, that will contribute to even more offensive zone time.”

The question now is, what’s the best way to maintain and continue that kind of performance? A strict pitch count with his minutes? The occasional seat in the press box?

“I’ve heard some of those rumblings, but I think it’s more of just predictability and maybe some chemistry built between linemates,” Backes said. “Obviously Heino and I have played together a lot last year with Riley Nash in the middle. If we can get Freddy on the same page of being predictable and communicating, that can make you look like you’re flying around maybe if you’re not moving any faster. I think those 1128263 Boston Bruins

Bruins pregame notes: With four losses in five games, Bruins seek turnaround

By MARISA INGEMI

When the Bruins dropped a heartbreaker to the Flyers on January 16, it hardly seemed like it was going to be a part of a run for Philadelphia. The Flyers, still under .500, have struggled all season.

That was their second win in a row in what has become a stretch of five straight victories.

The Bruins, meanwhile, have gone the other way, with five losses in their last seven contests. Wins against Toronto and St. Louis sandwich the two consecutive losses the Bruins suffered against the Canadiens and Flyers, and while Boston rebounded the very next night after the 4-3 loss to Philadelphia, they’ve had many of the same issues sense; namely, blowing leads.

The Flyers have had defensive and goaltending issues all season, so even for a team in the bottom third of the league in scoring like the Bruins, there’s always an opportunity to get on the scoreboard and play from ahead.

“I expect them to be physical, and so are we,” said Joakim Nordstrom, who makes his return to the lineup. “We want to come out with a good jump right off the bat and take the lead and play with the lead.”

The Bruins leaped ahead to a 2-0 lead in Philadelphia two weeks ago but the Flyers quickly stormed back. That’s not a trend they want to continue, but to hold on to a lead, they have to still jump ahead.

“They have a lot of high-end offensive skill,” said the also-returning John Moore. “A very strong team up and down their lineup. They’re playing very well of late, and you know when you play them you’re always going to have to compete. We’re going to make sure we’re ready.”

Game Notes

After suffering a concussion ahead of the team’s bye week and All-Star break, Tuukka Rask (25-14-8) will have missed just one contest. He’s back in net to face the Flyers.

“We trust him, if he’s not ready, that’s fine,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. “He’s coming off a serious hit there. But when he’s ready he said he’d go back in.”

Nordstrom is back in the lineup after missing 10 games with a broken fibula suffered in the Winter Classic. Noel Acciari is the odd forward out of the lineup, with Nordstrom replacing him on the fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Chris Wagner.

Moore also re-enters the lineup on the blueline, with Matt Grzelcyk taking a back seat.

About the Flyers

The Flyers (21-23-6) have won their last five contests, most recently a 1- 0 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

The 170 goals allowed by the Flyers are the fourth most in the NHL. Their .889 collective save percentage is the second lowest in the league.

With 19 power play goals, the Flyers have the fewest in the league for a league-low 12.9 percent. Their penalty kill, at 76.4, doesn’t rank much higher at the fourth-worst in the NHL.

With 9.6 penalty minutes per game, the Flyers have the fifth-most in the league

Claude Giroux leads the team with 52 points, while Sean Couturier, who scored a hat trick in the last meeting with the Bruins, has a team-high 19 goals.

Boston Herald LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128264 Boston Bruins

Talking Points from the B's 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers

By Joe Haggerty January 31, 2019

GOLD STAR: Pretty stellar game from Philly defenseman Travis Sanheim, who capped it all off by wheeling around the top of the offensive zone and picking a top corner on Tuukka Rask for the overtime game-winner. Sanheim finished with a goal and two points, had four shots on net and three blocked shots in 23:53 of ice time while playing strong hockey at both ends of the ice. Couple that with Bruins defenders that weren’t making plays when they tried to get aggressive offensively and you have a pretty good look at everything that’s going right with the Flyers right now and everything that’s going wrong with the Bruins over the last handful of weeks.

Highlights from the Bruins' 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers

BLACK EYE: There is clearly a lot to go around with Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy both making pretty grave errors on a killer first goal allowed at the end of the first period. But Brad Marchand also wasn’t very good despite finishing with an assist and a plus-1 rating in the game. He also didn’t have a shot on net while not even attempting a single shot during the game. Beyond that he then took a tripping penalty in overtime that gave the Flyers a 4-on-3 advantage against the Bruins, and ultimately set up the game-winning goal for Philly. Certainly it wasn’t the worst night ever for No. 63, but he is capable of a whole lot more than he gave on Thursday night.

TURNING POINT: One can go right to the first period where the Bruins were holding a 1-0 lead and were outshooting the Flyers by a 10-5 margin with just two minutes to go in the period. Then Charlie McAvoy decides to jump into the play and misses badly high and wide with a shot that ends up going right back the other way. Claude Giroux gets behind Zdeno Chara and Sean Kuraly trying to cover for McAvoy, and he buries a breakaway shot past Tuukka Rask in the final minute of the first period. The B’s had the game completely in their control and let it slip away with a lot of really sloppy play at a moment in time where they should have been razor-sharp focused. Those are the kinds of plays that lead to losing hockey.

HONORABLE MENTION: Give it up to David Pastrnak, who becomes the first Bruins player to score 30 goals before February since Bruins President and Hall of Famer Cam Neely back in 1993-94. Pastrnak potted No. 29 in the first period when he finished off a cross-ice pass from Torey Krug with one of his trademark one-timers from the face-off circle, and then he camped in front of the net for the second goal on a loose puck after a Patrice Bergeron point shot deflected in front of the net. Pastrnak finished with the two goals and a plus-1 rating in 17:27 of ice time, had a total of 10 shot attempts and threw a couple of hits for good measure in a great all-around game.

Haggerty: Time for fully healthy B's to bring it

BY THE NUMBERS: 4-6 – the Bruins record in the 3-on-3 overtime this season after dropping Thursday night’s game in the extra session.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “More self-inflicted damage from the back end tonight. [I am] very disappointed.” –Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy not pulling any punches when throwing some criticism at his back end after the 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128265 Boston Bruins Three straight 30-goal seasons for @pastrnak96.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/ZhJHzXruLO

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 1, 2019 Here's what happened in the Bruins' 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers Rask blanks Scott Laughton on the penalty shot

♂️NO GOAL♂️#NHLBruins Tuukka Rask denies #LetsGoFlyers By NBC Sports Boston Staff January 31, 2019 9:27 PM Scott Laughton on the penalty shot pic.twitter.com/qBQ6Whc1wk

— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) February 1, 2019 FROM JOE HAGGERTY Flyers tie it up with ten minutes to go The Bruins very nearly had a great opening period where they scored a power play goal and had been out-shooting the Flyers by a 10-5 margin GOAL with two minutes to go in the period. Then they buckled in the final The Flyers tie the game with 10 minutes left in the third minute of play, allowed a bad goal and lost all of the momentum headed into the second period. It’s the same kind of self-inflicted wound kind of Lindblom— Voracek, Sanheim (10:36) #LetsGoFlyers 2 #NHLBruins 2 goals that the B’s have been giving up lately and will really become a pic.twitter.com/5UHWUhXpxO problem if they don’t nip it in the bud here in the second half of the season. Then the Bruins went out and got outshot 17-7 in the second — Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) February 1, 2019 period, but still somehow got out of it with a one goal lead intact that was Flyers win it in OT eventually, perhaps inevitably erased in the third period. GAME OVER Two shots on net apiece for both David Pastrnak and Torey Krug in the first period as they also combined for the goal on the power play toward The Bruins are now 1-2-3 in their past 6 games as the Flyers win it in OT the start of the first period. It is uncanny how Pastrnak just doesn’t miss from that one-timer spot at the face-off dot and that’s where he finished Sanheim— Couturier, Konecny (2:56) #LetsGoFlyers 3 #NHLBruins 2 the cross-ice pass from Krug. It really shouldn’t be much of a surprise to pic.twitter.com/20rDFj2P6F see Pastrnak winning the shooting accuracy contest at NHL All-Star — Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) February 1, 2019 weekend given how much he works on his shot, and it’s why he’s now got 30 goals after scoring his second of the night in the second period. BRUINS RECORD: 27-17-7 Pastrnak becomes the fastest Bruins player to reach 30 goals since Hall of Fame Bruins President Cam Neely did it during his brilliant career back Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 in 1993-94. Pretty great for Pastrnak that the first was a textbook one- timer score on the PP and the second one was a dirty goal around the front of the net after a Patrice Bergeron point shot was deflected.

No real offensive presence from Brad Marchand in the first game back from the bye week break, and now he has zero shots on net after two periods tonight. The Bruins need more out of No. 63 in these games. That is an understament-and-a-half. He did make a pretty nice play on the power play goal in the first period to earn himself a secondary assist, but the Bruins need more than just that from one of their top offensive performers.

The Bruins have now lost three games in a row and five of their last six games including losses to the Flyers twice and a defeat at the hands of the Rangers in the final game going into the bye week. They are making mistakes at the wrong times, not getting enough offense from anybody beyond their top line and their top power play and all of a sudden their goaltending has fallen back to Earth as well. It’s pretty amazing when you couple that with the fact that the Bruins are fully healthy for the first time all season, and they should be playing their best brand of hockey right now. Clearly they are not.

Once again Danton Heinen had a chance to put things away for the Bruins at the end of the third period when David Krejci set him up wide open in the slot. Heinen had time, space and a lot of net to shoot at with Carter Hart quickly moving side-to-side, but the puck rolled right off Heinen’s stick without him even getting a shot on net. That left the B’s and Flyers tied at the end of regulation, and led to the overtime loss for the Black and Gold. Heinen has two goals in his last 20 games and continues to be a player that looks like he has lost a ton of confidence in his offense this season.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bruins open the scoring with a Pastrnak goal

@ToreyKrug ➡️ @pastrnak96 pic.twitter.com/dKy5F69aGF

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 1, 2019

Flyers tie things up

GOAL

Claude Giroux and the Flyers tie things up at the end of the first

Giroux (19:16)#LetsGoFlyers 1 #NHLBruins 1 pic.twitter.com/Cl2fj7prZB

— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) February 1, 2019

Bruins go ahead on Pasta's 30th goal 1128266 Boston Bruins

Healthy Bruins know now is time they 'need to bring it'

By Joe Haggerty January 31, 2019

BRIGHTON, Mass. – With Tuukka Rask set to start against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night at TD Garden and Joakim Nordstrom also healthy enough to return to the lineup, the Bruins have cleared everybody off the injured list. That’s pretty much the first time all season their lineup is healthy from top to bottom and it’s really the first chance the B’s have to see how their full group stacks up against the rest of the Eastern Conference.

The Black and Gold did a good job of maintaining a playoff spot in the first half while missing Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, among others, for big chunks of time. Strangely enough, the B’s have had a more difficult time stacking up points as they’ve moved closer to a fully healthy group, and have lost four of five sandwiched around their bye week and NHL All-Star weekend.

HAGGERTY'S NHL Power Rankings: Let the trades begin

Now, the challenge from the coaching staff is for the Bruins to take advantage of their good fortune, develop some consistency and identity and stick right where they are in the middle of a playoff position.

“We assume we’re going to finish well down the stretch and put ourselves in a good position, but so do probably nine other teams in the Eastern Conference,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We need to make sure we take care of business every night. That was a bit of a conversation [on Wednesday]. This will be the healthiest that we’ve been all year as long as Tuukka is ready to go, so now it becomes about who we are and what everybody’s job is. And we need to bring it.”

The Bruins enter Thursday night’s game against the Flyers in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and just a point out of the third spot in the Atlantic Division. They have a four-point cushion for a postseason spot, but it’s clear from their message and actions that the Bruins know now is the time to start stepping it up with a fully intact lineup.

That means no more losses to non-playoff teams like the Flyers even if they might be the hottest team in the NHL with five wins in a row coming into tonight.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128267 Boston Bruins threats up the ice. On both occasions that he was traded, Moore left his previous employers wanting more. At the same time, the acquiring clubs believed they could express more from his skill set.

John Moore’s been the other guy in two blockbuster trades, but he It wasn’t until he strung together three seasons in New Jersey that Moore doesn’t let that needle him settled into his NHL role, delivering the regular minutes and production that earned him a five-year commitment from the Bruins.

By Fluto Shinzawa Jan 31, 2019 The security of a long-term deal — only Brad Marchand is signed beyond Moore’s contract, which will expire in 2023 — has not guaranteed its owner playing time. Moore was a healthy scratch for five of the last six games prior to Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss against the Philadelphia John Moore is 28 years old. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have one Flyers. daughter, Milly. Their second girl is scheduled to arrive on Feb. 6, when Elizabeth will be induced. On Thursday, Moore played 20:10, mostly alongside Brandon Carlo. In the third period, Moore shot the puck directly into Scott Laughton, freeing Moore is no longer the 22-year-old kid traded by the team that only a few the Philadelphia forward for a breakaway. Moore was forced to hook years before had drafted him 21st overall in 2009 — the same team that Laughton, saved only by Tuukka Rask’s stoutness on the penalty shot. had packaged two picks (Nos. 26 and 37 in 2009) for the chance to move up and draft him at all. In many ways, that’s a good thing. “Unfortunately, we rolled right back into their coverage, shot it, got blocked,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You know me. It’s on the “That was probably the most shocked I’ve ever been. I didn’t see it individual. We practice that — to recognize where the coverage is, roll coming,” Moore said of Columbus trading him to the Rangers on April 3, outside, get your shot through. It didn’t happen. Tuukka had to bail us out 2013. “Maybe you’re naive. When you get drafted by a team and you’re on that. We’re talking about some mistakes on the back end that are 18, you have it all figured out, right? Just thinking through it through the increasing here. We’ve got to put the brakes on it in a hurry. It’s up to the lens of a 22-year-old, that was my naive perception of it all, not really leaders back there, it’s up to me, it’s up to (assistant coach) Kevin Dean. understanding the business side of it too much.” We’ve got to straighten this out. Like, now. Because we’re not scoring Being traded by his draft team is just one way in which movement has enough to get away with it.” brought Moore perspective. When Columbus traded Moore in a package It’s possible that Moore could be back in the press box on Sunday for Marian Gaborik just before the 2013 deadline, it was not the only time against Washington in favor of Matt Grzelcyk. Cassidy is not satisfied the defenseman would be swapped for a high-end player. with his defensemen, Moore included. Two years later, on March 1, 2015, the Rangers plucked Keith Yandle “One thing I’ve learned from all of this is you’ve got to prove yourself from the Coyotes, sending Moore the other way. every day,” Moore said. “Obviously, there are exceptions with elite Again, Moore was on the move shortly before the deadline. Again, he talents. But for someone like myself, every single day you’ve got to prove was part of a blockbuster for a team seeking significant help for the yourself. You’ve got to bring something to the table to help the team win. playoffs. Again, Moore was not the primary pursuit of the organization I’ve been on the other end of that, where it’s, ‘Pack your bags; see you acquiring his services. later.’”

In the Gaborik deal, Moore was not the Rangers’ priority. New York’s The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 prerogative was landing Derick Brassard, the clever left-shot center drafted one slot after Phil Kessel in 2006.

In the Yandle swap, Moore, then on a one-year contract, was an afterthought compared to Anthony Duclair, 19 years old at the time, the 2016 first-round pick and the 2015 second-rounder the Rangers also sent to the desert. As proof, the Coyotes did not qualify Moore at the conclusion of 2014-15, making him an unrestricted free agent.

“One thing I avoided in both instances was trying to gauge self-worth based on the transaction,” Moore said. “Examining it now, I think I had a great attitude. I was focused on my job at the time, which was establishing myself on new teams. My focus wasn’t really on trying to build myself up because I got traded for so-and-so.”

The 2018-19 Bruins are mostly a homegrown team. Sixteen of the 23 active players on Thursday’s roster have never played NHL games for another organization. Jaroslav Halak, Chris Wagner and Steve Kampfer are the only other players who have been involved in pre-deadline trades.

In this context, Moore is exceptional for the number of times he’s been moved, the timing of the deals and his complementary status in each one. The latter can be a difficult cross to bear, especially for a young player.

For Moore, the shock of the first trade had waned by 2015. The left-shot defenseman found himself behind Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein and Matt Hunwick on the New York depth chart. Moore played in only 38 games, averaging 15:06 of ice time per appearance. This time, Moore was not surprised when he received general manager Glen Sather’s call, informing him of yet another trade.

“It was kind of a trying season there,” Moore said. “I was a young guy, trying to really find my footing. I guess the writing was on the wall a little bit, so I was expecting it. I really was excited for an opportunity to play. I had a really great time in New York. We went to the Stanley Cup Final. I loved every second of it. But you’ve got to play. I was excited to get that opportunity via trade.”

Moore has always seemed like a natural — a superior skater, good with his stick, owner of all the tools that should add up to tight defense and 1128268 Boston Bruins you’re doing more than what they were expecting. Don’t feel like you don’t belong.” It was something like that and it stuck with me to roll up my sleeves and work even harder to try to make it.

‘The kind of guy you build franchises around’: Inside Patrice Bergeron’s Scott Gordon had been an assistant under Sullivan in Providence, but first 1,000 games when Sullivan was promoted to Boston, Gordon took over the coaching duties for Providence. Gordon participated in the rookie and main training camps in 2003. Joe McDonald Jan 31, 2019 Scott Gordon: I do remember the talk with (Bruins scout) Scott Bradley and how excited he was about (Bergeron). I remember the talk about, is he going to be old enough, strong enough to play in the NHL at 18? I The big milestones, the great accomplishments, the signature moments remember everybody almost waiting for him to do something that was are well documented. going to show that he wasn’t going to be able to make the Bruins as an Patrice Bergeron’s improbable start came as an 18-year-old on Oct. 8, 18-year-old. As it played out, he ended up making the team as a winger 2003. He suffered a near career-ending injury in 2007. Won a Stanley and eventually worked his way to center as things changed with the Cup in 2011. Added two Olympic gold medals for Team Canada in 2010 team. and 2014. He’s a four-time Selke Trophy winner. Andrew Raycroft, Bruins goalie: He was impressive right from Day 1, Now Bergeron, 33, is set to play his 1,000th game for the Bruins on Feb. especially back in 2003-04 when second-round, 18-year-old players 5 against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. He has experienced didn’t play; you just didn’t even get a chance. He’d show up and have a nearly everything possible in pro hockey. Those big achievements are all great exhibition game, then another one, and another. Then it was like, important, but it is the smaller, everyday successes that intertwine to “Wow, this kid is here.” He was on the second line that season, making a form the heart of a career that will go down as one of the best in Boston huge difference. It’s not like 18-year-olds now when they get a chance. sports history. He really had to impress, fight and claw for that spot back then.

Here are the stories of those other moments that form the foundation of a Teams have a nine-game window to decide whether or not to keep a career that will likely end at the . player on an entry-level contract or send him back to the AHL or junior hockey. The beginning in Boston Sullivan: We were all waiting for his game to decline. We weren’t sure if Under the watchful eye of general manager Mike O’Connell and first-year he was playing on adrenaline, or if he was overachieving because he NHL coach Mike Sullivan, the Bruins drafted Bergeron in the second was a young kid and just excited. He ended up making the team out of round (No. 45 overall) in 2003. He was 18, spoke only French and was training camp and we were watching his game every day. We’ll see if his playing for Acadie-Bathurst of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. game declines, and at the nine-game mark is when you have to make Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins), Eric Staal (Carolina that decision whether you keep him or not and his game never declined. Hurricanes) and Nathan Horton (Florida Panthers) were selected with the He was a guy that got better and better every day that he practiced and first three picks of that draft. every game he played.

Mike O’Connell: It was a long time ago (laughs). Of course, you never O’Connell: Second-rounders very rarely make it right off the bat. It’s all know what you’re going to get. You have ideas, but Patrice was high on about the first-rounders. He came in the first day and he was really good. our list right from the get-go. I have to give credit to three important He came in the second day and was really good. He came in the third people drafting him – Jeff Gorton, Daniel Doré and Nikolai Bobrov. They day and he was really good. Every day he was really good. As were the three that probably saw him the most and they had management we think we know, but it’s the players who know who’s recommended him for the first round. We thought we would have a good and who’s bad before we do, because they’re playing with them; chance at the second round, just based on he was injured during his they’re on the ice. They can see the little things. They can see the little junior year, so there wasn’t as many showings, but those three really subtleties. (Management) sees it but it takes time. Players see it pushed for him hard. You rely on your scouts, and rely on the people you immediately, especially the good players. Patrice was able to become a trust. very good player quickly, so we couldn’t send one of our best players back to junior, because what kind of message would that send to our The Bruins selected defenseman Mark Stuart in the first round (No. 21 team that you’re not trying to win? overall) but O’Connell was trying to move up in the draft for a chance to pick forward Zach Parise, who went to the New Jersey Devils at No. 17. Bergeron: I’d be lying to you if I said I was expecting to make the team as Fortunately for the Bruins, Bergeron was still available at No. 45. soon as I came in. I was drafted in the second round and I was trying to leave a really good impression and have the scouts, coaches and GM Patrice Bergeron: It was obviously exciting. You never know what to remember my name, and then go back and have a good year in junior. expect. You talk to a few teams and then you don’t know where that Once I got there, and after a few games I was supposed to go back to stands. You don’t know if it’s positive, or if they like you enough to draft junior after the Montreal (exhibition) game and then I scored in overtime. you. I wasn’t expecting it, but I was hearing the second round was a They told me I was coming back and I played the next game. possibility, so I was getting nervous at that time. I was excited (when his name was called) and it was the start of a dream coming true, basically. Bergeron earned a spot on the roster as a rookie. Veteran Marty It was the start, but I had so much more work ahead. It was fun. It was Lapointe asked Bergeron if he wanted to keep the No. 56 sweater. definitely a special day. Bergeron was just happy making the team, so asking for a different number was the last thing on his mind. Lapointe asked Bergeron: If you Training camp could pick one number, what would it be? Since Bergeron wore No. 37 in When Bergeron arrived at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass., for junior hockey, he chose that. When he walked into the locker room on training camp, he was given the nondescript No. 56, as no one really had opening night against the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden, No. 37 was any idea the impact he would have right away for the Bruins. hanging in his stall. Lapointe is now the director of player personnel for the Canadiens, and he understands how unique of a player Bergeron Mike Sullivan: It seems like yesterday he was an 18-year-old kid just was. coming to the rookie camp. I remember it as plain as day. I remember asking, “Geez, who is this kid? He looks like a pretty good player and Marty Lapointe: It’s very rare. I had to go through some obstacles maybe we should bring him to the big camp.” So, we bring him to the big because I had that sense of entitlement. I’m a first-rounder and it’s going camp and all of us looked around at each other, saying “he’s a pretty to be easy. I went through buying the sports car; what 18-year-old (pro good player maybe we should play him in a couple of exhibition games.” athletes) normally do, because you haven’t made any money and all of a We played him in almost every exhibition game and at the end of it we all sudden you have the money. You think it’s going to be easy because looked at each other and said, “Geez, this kid deserves to be on the team everywhere you played it was easy. But this guy, he didn’t buy a sports and let’s see how he does.” car at first. He didn’t take it lightly. He never thought it was going to be easy. He wouldn’t drink and there’s something to be said for that, Bergeron: The scout, Daniel Doré, was the Quebec scout back then and because his focus was really on hockey and he didn’t need to drink to fit he told me, “You’re doing some good things. They like what you’re doing, in. so keep it up. I’m not going to say you’re going to make the team, but Bergeron: The first year was like, you come to training camp and like it was any sort of a race because he was so, so good that year it everything is new. Obviously for me, it was the language barrier as well wasn’t even close. It was fun to be part of it and be a rookie with him. and you’re just trying to fit in, learn as much as possible and be a sponge. I started with rookie camp and when you get to main camp that’s The lockout and the AHL when it really hits you, because you see all the veterans coming and the When the NHL shut down for the 2004-05 season, which would have big names, the guys you were watching on TV the year before. So that been Bergeron’s sophomore year, he had the choice of returning to his was a surreal moment – a big eye-opener. I was more trying to make a junior team, playing in Europe, or playing in the AHL for Providence. He name for myself and leave an impression and go from there. chose Providence. He finished with 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points Bergeron, a native of Quebec, did not speak English when he arrived at in 68 games. his first training camp. Lapointe’s presence was important for Bergeron in Bergeron: It was really important. My junior team wanted me to go back. I every aspect, but in one sense he was a little too helpful — they spoke asked to go to Providence. I didn’t have to because I could have gone to French when they lived together, which didn’t help him to fully learn Europe, but I asked to go to Providence because I felt that was probably English. It took Bergeron until he was 22 to feel comfortable speaking the best thing for me for my development and it was. I was staying close English in front of his teammates. He never took lessons and learned the to Boston and continued to learn the English language. The AHL, language on his own. especially that year with all the guys that went and played, it was a very Bergeron: As much as Marty was awesome, and he was the best thing good league. It’s such a grind, such a battle. Every night everyone wants ever, but as far as learning English it wasn’t the greatest because I was to make a name for themselves and it’s a great learning curve and speaking French a lot at home and with his family. The next year I was experience for everyone to live it, realize and also to be thankful for what on my own in Providence and that’s when I had to learn English and I had the year before. I was with younger players as well, so it was fun for really got better. the social life off the ice and it was good to get to know them for the next year when they came up and played in Boston. When Bergeron returned to Boston after the 2004-05 lockout, he felt a lot more comfortable with the language. Gordon: Some guys stand out because they have an unbelievable shot, or some guys stand out because you see their speed and skating is so Bergeron: One-on-ones were fine, because even if I messed up I felt like dynamic. Sometimes it will be quickness. Sometimes it’s just sheer hard it was easier, or guys would help me with it. I don’t think anyone judged work. With Bergy, the more you watch him you just see that everything me; it was more in my own head. I just felt not as confident, standing up he does, he does so well. Any time I’ve read an article about Patrice and talking all that much. I was named assistant captain when I was 21, Bergeron that talks about a new player coming to the organization, they so that year was a big learning experience for me. I had to come out of always say, “I did not realize how good Patrice Bergeron was.” That’s my shell because I was a leader now, so I learned a lot that year. I how it was for me when Bergy came to Providence. learned from (Zdeno Chara) and (Glen Murray) and some of the older guys. The next year I felt a lot more comfortable and the year after that I Providence reached the Eastern Conference finals of the was fine. playoffs before losing to the Philadelphia Phantoms. By that point, Gordon didn’t have to tweak any parts of Bergeron’s game. Bergeron Chara speaks nine languages and was impressed how quickly Bergeron would do things after practice that would surprise his coach. learned English. Gordon: He’s such a student of the game. I can remember (goalie coach) Zdeno Chara: I wish he would’ve helped me with French (laughs). It’s Bobby Essensa being in Providence and working with the goalies. harder for some guys to adjust to English, but Bergy learned it right away Bergeron was in the corner, on one knee and learning what the goalies and was committed to blend in with English. Now, he’s just as were doing. As I was watching him, I found it interesting that he was comfortable speaking in English as he is with French. It shows his engaged off to the side in what they were doing, to a point where he was commitment. trying to figure out what the goalies were doing and how that movement could impact him in a situation when a goalie is making a particular save. Rookie season and Calder Trophy race Where’s the hole? Or what does it lead to when a goalie does that? He Bergeron registered 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points, including a was studying what was going on. He had a vested interest in what was plus-5 rating in 71 games as a rookie. He posted three assists before he being taught there. Here’s a guy who is never going to play goal, but he’s scored his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-3 victory trying to get better in an area that might help him. There’s just so much at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 18. Bergeron scored against more to his game than just his ability to put up points. the Kings’ Roman Cechmanek for a power-play goal to tie the game at 3- His time in Providence marked the season Bergeron became teammates 3 at 17:28 of the third period. and close friends with Brad Boyes. The Bruins acquired Boyes, a first- Bergeron: It was one of those goals that I’ll never forget. I’m not going to rounder (No. 24 overall) in the 2000 draft, from the San Jose Sharks in lie, NESN kind of helped a few weeks ago, showing me. There was one exchange for defenseman Jeff Jillson on March 9, 2004. Boyes played play leading up to the goal that I didn’t remember. I got the puck on one 17 games for Providence that spring, before he and Bergeron played a corner, I win a battle and I rim it to Sammy (Sergei Samsonov) who goes full season together there. to (Brian) Rolston at the point. He takes the middle and shoots and Marty Brad Boyes: For Bergy, he had played in the NHL and then he comes (Lapointe)’s in front, and by that time I’m going back to my spot on the down to the minors, so it’s almost a step down. To see how he conducted other side from the goal line. I got the rebound and tapped it in. I didn’t himself and how he treated everybody, there was no “I’m better than you” remember the battle and the rim, but I did remember that Sammy had it or “I shouldn’t be here.” Not a second of that type of attitude. He just and he went to Rollie, who shot it through from the point and I just got the came down, did his job, played his game and got along with everybody. rebound. In the minors, things are a little bit different. You might go out a little bit Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie that season after more and party, but he didn’t get caught up in certain things because he posting a 29-18-9 record, along with a 2.05 goals-against average and a had a job to do. At the same time, he didn’t seclude himself at all. He was .926 save percentage in 57 games. Prior to that year, the then-23-year- always part of the team. The maturity he had at 19 years old was one of old had played a total of 21 games in parts of three seasons. Bergeron the more mature guys I had seen at that age. It paid off because he’s still was in the race for the majority of the season, but he suffered a groin one of the more respected guys in the NHL, but that started when he was injury near the midway point and missed nine games. 18 and I saw that this guy is such a respectful, and respected guy, and he earned it. Raycroft: He was 18 and I had been around the organization for a little bit, so there was more Patrice talk, especially early on through the first World Junior Championship three or four months. It was him and I, and probably Michael Ryder During that season in Providence, Bergeron told the Bruins organization (Montreal Canadiens) for most of the season (in the Calder race). Plus, that he wanted to represent Canada at the World Junior Championship in since it was Montreal and Boston that was always the talk. I had a good Grand Forks, N.D. The Bruins granted the request and Bergeron led the January-February and (Bergeron) got injured, so it separated us a little tournament with 13 points en route to a gold medal. bit. Certainly, he was the front-runner for most of the season. Bergeron: Playing in that tournament meant a lot. It was important for me Bergeron: (Raycroft) was playing so well. It was amazing how good he to go there. It’s another one of those that I asked to go if I could, and was that year. It was just fun to have him back there. He was my obviously Boston was nice enough to let me. I knew I was missing a lot of roommate (on the road) that year too. He was a great guy. I didn’t feel games, I think I missed 12 games (in Providence) just for that business. He was devastated and he didn’t hold his disappointment and tournament. It was a big commitment for Boston, but I felt it was frustration back. something I was watching on TV growing up and every time around Christmas I was watching the juniors and I wanted to be a part of it. Bergeron: Yeah, it was difficult. It was hard to see him go. Later on, I realized (it’s a business) but at first I was shook by it. I wasn’t really Team Canada’s roster was loaded with future NHL stars, including happy with it and it was sad to see him go, but it’s the business and you Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, Brent Seabrook, Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber, have to learn from everything. That was one of those learning moments. , Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Later on, you realize you create so many friendships with that too; it’s not always a bad thing. You get to know so many quality guys and people Bergeron: I kind of knew some of the guys that were going to be a part of that it makes up for it in the end. it, so I also had an idea that we were going to be pretty good. You want to be a part of a winning team like that. It was a no-brainer. It was so Boyes: It was a bit of a surreal feeling. It was an out-of-body experience. much fun. I can’t say enough about that tournament. It’s a quick It’s an odd feeling and it happened to me a couple of times up to that tournament, but still, there were some pretty special players, and special point already, so I had a bit more of an understanding of it because I guys that turned out to have some amazing careers. We became friends went through it. The years before that I never played with somebody that and it was a pretty close group for a two-week tournament. I had that close of a relationship with, so that’s what made it harder. We roomed together. We always went to dinner together. When we were at At the time, Sidney Crosby was still playing junior hockey and was a few home and lived in our separate places, we still hung out all the time. So, months shy of becoming the No. 1 overall selection by the Pittsburgh moving to a new team and going to the unknown without one of your Penguins in the 2005 draft. There was already so much hype closest buddies with you, you wonder, “Am I going to connect with other surrounding Crosby that he absorbed much of the spotlight during the guys? Am I going to have chemistry with other guys?” I had been through WJC. That was when Crosby and Bergeron became friends. it a little bit, but never went from a team where I was as close with Sidney Crosby: It was great. I probably annoyed the crap out of him, somebody and that was tough to do. trying to ask questions about what it was like playing in the NHL and An almost career-ending injury trying to learn as much as I could. He was great with me. Obviously, we’ve played together a number of times since then, but it’s always funny In the years following the lockout, Bergeron established himself as a to look back to that first time. I probably asked him 1,000 questions that strong Bruins regular, crossing the 70-point threshold in the 2005-06 and entire time, but he was great to me and it was a really fun tournament. the 2006-07 seasons. But nearly as soon as he had made his name in We roomed together (during camp). That was back when (management) the NHL, his entire career was in question after he suffered a severe would call you early in the morning to tell you if you made the team or concussion on Oct. 27, 2007, when he was hit by the Philadelphia Flyers’ not, so I knew if the phone rang it was for me and not him. It was just a Randy Jones. The injury cost Bergeron 72 games that season and he fun experience to play with a guy that had already played a season in the admitted it wasn’t until 2009 that he began to feel like himself on the ice. NHL and we were close in age, so it was fun to be able to relate to that and just hear his whole (NHL) experience. Chara: It was terrible. Any time you see someone suffer and in pain and going through a really tough time and just trying to live a regular life, we When Bergeron returned to Providence, he was elated with his gold were scared. We were all really worried about him. I went to see him a medal and the fact that he became quick friends with Crosby. Bergeron few times and it was a struggle for him to live a regular life. He wanted to later admitted he was so nervous that it took him until the end of the be practicing and playing but that wasn’t possible. tournament to ask Crosby for an autographed stick. Bergeron still has it. NESN play-by-play broadcaster Jack Edwards was high above the ice Gordon: By the time Bergy got back, the team was playing better, so when Bergeron was injured. Edwards admits it was difficult to call the everybody took a step in the right direction. (Goalie) Hannu (Toivonen) game when play resumed. started playing better after being a little erratic at the start of the year. Because the team was playing better, Bergy became more noticeable, Edwards: That was my worst day at work – ever. You call hockey games probably because of the confidence from the World Juniors. Plus the fact because you love the sport and to see a young man of that quality, still in that he was getting the opportunity to play pro hockey with men that the very early stages of his career, have his life in danger; I actually weren’t NHL players, so he probably had a little more time to do things thought when they cut the visor off that he was going to die right there on and figure out what he needed to get better at, at a level lower level than the ice. I really thought so, and if you listen to the (broadcast), which is the NHL. He evolved as a player during that time from his own something I’ve only seen once, I think we might’ve said 50 words in 15 identification of different things. minutes. It was terrifying. It was the worst-case scenario. It affected me for a long time. The joy of the game was on hold for a long time, like Learning the business weeks. I probably called another 10 games in the interim without really feeling it. It was only when he started to show progress that I sort of got Before Bergeron and longtime linemate Brad Marchand became one of back into it again. the best forward combinations in the NHL, Bergeron first learned what chemistry was all about when he played with Boyes in Providence. That Bergeron does not like to discuss injuries, especially this one. Two years continued in Boston, with the pair working together as Bergeron made his after the concussion, when he was starting to feel like himself again, he mark on the NHL. addressed the concussion.

Bergeron: Brad Boyes, definitely. I had some really good chemistry my Bergeron (in 2009): I’ve been through it and it’s not fun. Once you have first year when (Michael) Nylander came in and (we played) with one concussion and realize how bad it is, and how strong the symptoms (Samsonov). That was really good. But, me and (Boyes) really clicked, can be and how everyday things that you normally do can be hard to do. and we also clicked off the ice. It’s hard to understand for people who haven’t been through it, but I do understand. Boyes: It was awesome. It made the game more fun, because not only do you get to play the game and play in the NHL, but you’re playing with Learning to be a leader one of your closest buddies. We roomed together. We played together during that lockout year in Providence. Now, we’re in the NHL, and he It’s well-documented how important Lapointe was for Bergeron at the was obviously a better player than I was. He was one of our go-to guys start of his career, but when the Bruins acquired veteran Mark Recchi and I had to work my way up, and when I did connect with him and got from the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 4, 2009, Bergeron’s on the same line, we clicked. It made it so much more fun, because performance off the ice reached an entirely different level. Recchi’s you’re looking for him and he’s looking for you; things are working out presence was one of the more important influences on Bergeron. when you score. You’re happy for him, just like he’s happy for you. It Bergeron: I learned to be a better leader with Rex. I never got asked that steps it up a level and it makes the game more enjoyable. It makes you and I think that was a, I wouldn’t say a “turning point” in my career, want to go a little bit harder. At the same time, it’s a little more effortless because I think I would’ve learned the ropes, but I took a huge step with as well. That year, it wasn’t one of the most fun years because it was my him helping me out. And that year he came in was the year I was starting first year in the NHL, it was because I was not only able to play with him, to find my game again. I was still dealing with some injuries at that time, but I had a friend like Bergy that I was able to share it with. and the year before, and I was still young and trying to learn and get The Bruins traded Boyes to the St. Louis Blues for Dennis Wideman on better. That year was really one that he showed me how to win. It’s not Feb. 27, 2007. It was that moment when Bergeron learned the NHL is a that I didn’t know that stuff, but more like just trying to help me grow my leadership skills. That was huge off the ice. On the ice, I had great chemistry with him and (Brad Marchand) and that’s when it started for us. Bergeron and coach Claude Julien spent 10 seasons together and That trade, obviously helped the team and we won a Stanley Cup, but for enjoyed great success, including a Stanley Cup in 2011. The Bruins me he was a huge impact. returned to the finals in 2013 before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks. It was also Julien’s decision to play Bergeron and Marchand together in Mark Recchi: Coming from him, that means the world to me. We have an ’11. Julien was fired on Feb. 7, 2017, and assistant coach Bruce Cassidy awesome relationship and we still keep in touch. It’s so much fun took over. Cassidy’s first experience with Bergeron was during the ’13 watching him play and watching him develop into a leader. playoffs when the coach was up from Providence to help out the staff.

Recchi can’t recall the exact moment in the 2010-11 season, but the Bruce Cassidy: My first experience with him, personally, was the year I team needed a spark during an intermission and the veteran knew it was had the “Black Aces” (the minor-league players who travel with the team time for Bergeron to deliver the message as a leader. in the playoffs for depth). He was hurt a game and had to come down Recchi: He had it in him. There’s no question he had it in him; it was just and schlep it with us guys before practice. I remember how hard he a matter of getting it out of him. I remember saying to him, “This is your worked and how appreciative he was. He’s a true pro and just a real nice time. This is your team and they need to hear you right now.” He stepped guy. Obviously, the day I got hired I talked with him and he said, “Look, up and never looked back from there. It was awesome to see. He’s a I’m the player; you’re the coach and whatever you need I’m here to do.” natural leader and he had to get into that comfort zone where he felt he He’s a true professional and I can’t say enough good things about him.” was there. He made it so much fun for me. It was so enjoyable to be The Selke Trophy is awarded to hockey’s best two-way forward; around that. I always loved helping young guys, but when you have Bergeron and Hall of Famer Bob Gainey are tied with four Selke trophies someone as special as (Bergeron) it makes it even more rewarding every each, and it’s likely Bergeron will stand alone on that list soon enough. day to play with him, practice with him and get to be around him on a It’s an award he’s proud of achieving, but he remains wary of talking daily basis. It was incredible. about individual successes and always credits his teammates in such After the Bruins’ epic collapse from three games up at the hands of the cases. Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 2010 playoffs, Recchi Crosby: The thing with him is he’s responsible defensively, but he’s good contemplated retirement. It didn’t take him long to realize the Bruins were offensively and holds onto pucks. When you get offensive-zone time, built as a Cup winner. That Bergeron was leading the way made it an he’s aware of where you are, but then you’ve got to play a little more easy decision for Recchi to return. They would win it all the next year. defense when you’re playing against him too. It’s a good combination.

Recchi: It all played into it. I really believed we had a championship team Sullivan (current Penguins coach): I’m coaching a guy now in Crosby and I really believed in our management, and our coaches and our who has a similar game that’s obviously an elite player and an leadership. I believed we were ready to take that next step. accomplished guy as well. Crosby plays a 200-foot game on both sides Team Canada, the Olympics and World Cup of the puck. He’s very positionally sound with an incredible work ethic and is an elite player in his own right. I would say the same for Bergy. He Bergeron also represented Team Canada in the 2004 World has a lot of similar attributes, as far as his 200-foot game is concerned. Championships after his rookie season. It was the first time Mike He’s a real good faceoff guy, can play at both ends of the rink and help Babcock coached Bergeron, but it wouldn’t be the last. The two worked you offensively, can help you defensively and kills penalties. He’s one of won a pair of Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014) and a World Cup of those guys that help your team win. Not only is he a great player, and his Hockey championship (2016). numbers speak for (themselves) offensively, he does all the little things on the ice that inadvertently add up to big things that turns into wins and Mike Babcock: It was great. All those great, smart players that do ultimately a championship. everything right. Great human beings are great to coach. The first time I had him was in ’04 at the Worlds. I had him in ’10 (at the Vancouver Joining an elite club Olympics). I had him in ’14 (at the Sochi Olympics) and I had him in ’16 (at the World Cup of Hockey). Every time he can play with the best Only 322 players have reached 1,000 career games in the NHL. players, he can play any position. He can look after the best players Bergeron will become the 323rd (and only the fifth to play 1,000 for the defensively if he needs to. He can play on the power play. He can play Bruins, joining Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Don Sweeney and Wayne on the penalty kill. He can play 20 minutes. He can play eight and says Cashman) on Feb. 5. the same thing if you play him both. Good man. Bergeron: It means a lot. It’s not something I dreamt about as a kid. You O’Connell: When they have the World Cups and the Olympics and they obviously want to make it to the NHL and win a Stanley Cup, but then to put the best players against the best players, (Team Canada) usually has play 1,000 games – it’s not something you think about. There aren’t a hard time with who they’re going to put with Crosby. They put Patrice many players that have actually made it, so in that way it’s pretty special with him all the time and they’re the best line in the tournament. Patrice’s and meaningful. game does fly under the radar. His game is so subtle but he makes it O’Connell: It’s a credit to him. It’s a credit to his determination and his easier for everyone on the ice. There’s a certain knack about getting character. He really did it. He made it himself. We helped him along the open at the right time and Patrice does that naturally. way and we gave him an opportunity when we drafted him, but it’s all Crosby: (Babcock) knew we played World Junior, World Championship, Patrice. His personality. His character. His work ethic and all those things and in Vancouver (Bergeron) had a bad groin, so he didn’t play quite as that go into making a great player and he possessed them all. He still many minutes. He was playing a lot of faceoffs and penalty kill, but we’ve possesses them. always played together at some point. Then, with him playing with (Brad Boyes: When you think about it, it’s not surprising. He’s an amazing Marchand) on the Bruins and Marchy being on the World Cup team was player and always has been. At 18, he was one of the best 18-year-olds I a comfortable fit right away. We skated together that summer and we had ever seen. Probably the best 18-year-old as far as playing both sides knew we had some chemistry right away. of the rink, so to see him, not only play 1,000 games, but to be as good Gordon: You look at those rosters from the Olympics, there were as he is at this point, what he’s accomplished, and what he can still definitely guys that had more points then Bergy, but who’s the top guy at accomplish, and knowing how he worked for everything, he takes care of the end of the game? Who’s killing the penalties when the game is on the himself and he’s a good person, so guys want to play with him and be line? He can do all of it. Any coach that has him as a player, they don’t around him. He’s won everywhere. He’s the kind of guy you build realize exactly how much they’re getting until they have him and then you franchises around. As great as a player he is, he’s an even better person. realize you have more than just one player. Crosby: It’s amazing just how fast he made an impact. He played just Sullivan: His (international play) is incredibly impressive. I think Bergy’s one year of junior and then he was right in the NHL, playing in the game flies under the radar sometimes when hockey people talk about the playoffs that year and having an impact. He’s obviously won a lot over his elite players in the league. His name isn’t mentioned very often, so he career. He’s just a guy that every year finds a way to be a difference- just quietly goes about his business and helps his teams have success. If maker, whether it’s offensively or defensively. He’s played through a lot you’re going to watch certain players and how to play the game the right over his career too. Playing 1,000 games, he’s hasn’t played a perimeter way, and you’re going to try to emulate their games, Bergy is one of game by any means. He has tough matchups every night, so it’s pretty them. amazing what he’s done.

A new era Raycroft: It’s not surprising anymore. The reality is he’ll probably get to 1,500. The way the game is now, and the way he plays, he could play forever. It’s cool. My wife and I randomly talk about him when he was the 18-year-old kid who barely spoke English and now he’s fluent and doesn’t have an accent. We see him around town and it’s funny to see him with kids and being old (laughs). I was young, but he was so young that I always felt that he was a little kid. On the ice, he’s going to be a legend here forever. I’m lucky I got to room with him his first year. I’m lucky to be able to give him a hug when I see him nowadays. It’s fun.

Sullivan: I can’t believe it’s been 1,000 games for him. It doesn’t surprise me one bit, because of what I observed when I was coaching him for the few years. He got better and better every day during the years we worked together and I don’t think that changed, because year in and year out, he becomes a better player. Now, he’s at 1,000 games. I’m really happy for him. He’s such a great person and a great teammate. He certainly was a treat to coach.

Chara: The unique thing is he’s playing for one team, which is something that doesn’t happen often. It’s a great accomplishment.

Lapointe: I knew he had the determination of being an NHL hockey player. I knew he had the passion. I knew he had the work ethic, coming from a good family. He had all the right boxes checked. But, knowing he would have had the career he’s having so far, I would lie to you if I said I knew that would happen to him. The effort he put in every day to become better and to become an NHL player proves what happens when you put all the work in and get the chances on your side to make the best of it. He’s done that and he’s proved it. He didn’t have a great junior career like most of the superstars usually have. You wouldn’t think this guy was going to be a superstar for sure, so his work ethic, his determination and not sitting on his butt, thinking, “Well, I’ve made it.” He was never content and that’s what separated him from other players. I wish other players would learn from his character and determination. He’s a great story.

Recchi played 22 seasons in the NHL and won Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Bruins. He finished his Hall of Fame career with 1,652 games played and retired as Bergeron’s linemate after the Bruins won the Cup in 2011.

Recchi: It’s incredible. To get to 1,000 games is a great number and it’s something to be really proud of, especially when he went through a tough time with his concussions, but to do what he’s done for the last 10 years has been incredible. He seems to get better and better. He’s just so much fun to watch, a great leader and a great two-way player. He’s a selfless player and the reason why they have success every year.

The future

How long will Bergeron keep playing?

Bergeron: That’s the million-dollar question, actually. I don’t even know myself. This is all I’ve been doing my whole life and that’s all I’ve been dreaming of, so it would be hard for me to sit here and (say how long I want to play). Right now I’m trying to enjoy the ride and see what happens. With kids and a family now it definitely puts things into perspective and you want to be with them and spend time with them, but that being said, I also love the game.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128269 Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Jacob Bryson, an unsigned fourth-round draft pick of the Sabres in 2017, scored his fourth goal of the season for in a 4-1 win over Northeastern last Friday. Bryson, 21, has 20 Sabres Notebook: Zach Bogosian holding Casino for a Cause points with a plus-16 rating in 26 games and is an alternate captain for a second consecutive season.

Sometimes you just need a little friendly bank. By Lance Lysowski| That's Bryson's fourth of the season with assists to Young and Conway.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/qspD4ZBWJW

DALLAS -- A number of Buffalo Sabres players will be dealing cards and — PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) January 26, 2019 working the gaming tables when the Town Ballroom downtown is transformed to resemble a prohibition-era casino Saturday night. Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2019

All involved will be lending their time to Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian's "Casino for a Cause II," an event held by his foundation, the BOGO Bunch, to raise funds for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Attendees, all of whom must be 21 years or older, will not be playing for actual money; however, they will enjoy live music, an open bar, cuisine from local restaurants and an auction. For Bogosian and his wife, Bianca, this labor of love began in 2015, when they began working to honor his late grandmother, Armen, who battled lymphoma.

"I always said at a certain point in my life, when I’m comfortable where I want to start giving back and I’m invested in the community, I wanted to start something," Bogosian said. "It was kind of a no-brainer as far as trying to help people. Getting things up and going was obviously the tricky part."

This will be the Bogosians' third event since beginning the nonprofit charity, and like most causes such as this, planning becomes easier with time, he said. Friends, family members, teammates and local businesses have been lending helping hands.

The BOGO Bunch's mission is to create a family atmosphere for those affected by cancer. Bogosian, 28, is playing his fifth season with the Sabres, who acquired him from Winnipeg in February 2015.

He has since become a revered leader inside the Sabres' dressing room and is serving as an alternate captain. Bianca is a retired professional soccer player who played her final season with the Boston Breakers of the National Women's Soccer League in 2014.

Last March, they held the Bogosian Kancer Jam in KeyBank Center, where 64 fundraising teams played KanJam with Sabres players -- all proceeds benefited Roswell Park. This will be Bogosian's second casino event.

There will be silent and live auctions with live music by the Rat Pack Band, as well as complimentary food, beverages and valet parking. Tickets can be purchased for $125 at www.townballroom.com, and donations can also be made to the BOGO Bunch through its website www.bogobunchfoundation.org.

"It’s amazing," he said. "First and foremost, the events don’t happen without my teammates volunteering their time. They’ve been a huge part of it. I know my name is on the foundation, but they’re what makes it so big. It’s definitely been fun. Obviously throughout the last few years there have been so many people in Buffalo who have volunteered to help out. People come to the event, show support. It’s been fun."

Elliotte Friedman of TSN said on his podcast, "31 Thoughts," Wednesday that Sabres winger Jason Pominville could be available via trade.

Pominville, 36, was a healthy scratch Wednesday night in a 1-0 loss to the Dallas Stars in American Airlines Center. He has two goals with a minus-5 rating over his last 30 games after scoring nine goals in his first 20 games this season.

A second-round draft pick in 2001, Pominville played his 1,000th career NHL game in November and recorded his 700th career point in October. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is still owed more than $1.9 million for the remainder of this season, according to CapFriendly.com.

As part of a modified no trade clause, Pominville has a list of 10 teams in which he cannot be traded to. He is averaging a career-low 12 minutes, 27 seconds per game this season.

Mike Harrington: Home is where the Sabres' playoffs hopes will rekindle or fade away 1128270 Buffalo Sabres Dates W-L-OT/T

Jan. 20 - Feb. 2, 1997 4-2-1

Mike Harrington: Home is where the Sabres' playoffs hopes will rekindle Six games or fade away Dates W-L-OT/T

Dec. 23, 1986-Jan. 4, 1987 3-2-1 By Mike Harrington| March 20-April 1, 1994 4-1-1

Feb. 9-23, 1997 4-0-2 Maybe what lies ahead for the Buffalo Sabres makes or breaks their path to the playoffs. But there's no guarantee a seven-game homestand will Feb. 11-21, 1999 3-0-3 do that on its own, especially if it gets split roughly down the middle. Dec. 30, 2005-Jan. 14, 2006 3-2-1 What it is likely to do with more certainty is spin General Manager Jason Botterill's strategy for the trade deadline. Feb. 7-22, 2007 5-0-1

The setting is this: The Sabres host Patrick Kane and the Chicago Feb. 16-26, 2011 2-3-1 Blackhawks Friday night at 7 in KeyBank Center. It will be their first home March 10-23, 2018 1-4-1 game since Jan. 12 and will open a seven-game run downtown that lasts through Feb. 15 and equals the longest one in franchise history. Source: Buffalo News research

The only other time the Sabres have played seven in a row at home was **** from Feb. 20-March 2, 1997, in the building's first season. Buffalo went 4- 2-1 in that stretch en route to a season that ended with a loss to Last year, of course, the season was long gone by the deadline and Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs. Botterill's only task was to get rid of Evander Kane after he decided the winger didn't fit his long-term plan. The deal was consummated minutes The Sabres entered Thursday's play three points behind Columbus for before the stroke of 3 p.m. on Deadline Day, and the haul was the East's last wild-card slot, pending the Blue Jackets' game in unimpressive at the time but became acceptable when Kane re-signed Antarctica, er, Winnipeg. (An aside here: If you're feeling overwhelmed with the Sharks and thus brought back a first-round pick for Buffalo this by our cold weather, it was minus 35 Fahrenheit in The Peg on June. Wednesday). This is an entirely different deadline for Botterill. He needs to be adding The Sabres went just 2-3 in their five road games since we last saw them to his team, both for now and the future. And it would be nice if he didn't in the 716 but their play has been trending upward since that horrific 7-2 wait until Feb. 25 to do it. loss at Edmonton on Jan. 14. The Sabres need help up front and could likely use another serviceable In those five games, they're going at a 55 percent Corsi rate both overall veteran defenseman. The only unrestricted free agents who could and at 5 on 5, and have averaged 34 shots on goal per game. But become rentals elsewhere are Jeff Skinner and Jason Pominville. A trade they've only posted a shooting percentage of 8.2 percent, their power of Skinner would be a white flag to negotiations on a long-term deal and play remains miserable and their passing and decisions in the defensive largely to the season, a colossal failure that would land so squarely at zone continue to prompt rub-your-eyes levels of disbelief. Botterill's feet that it doesn't seem plausible that could happen.

The Sabres showed resilience in the overtime win in Calgary and had Mike Harrington: $$$$kinner has leverage, so he's not fretting about pace good legs coming off the break in Tuesday's win in Columbus. One-goal of contract talks losses in Vancouver and Dallas were disappointing in that they had the better of the offensive zone play, especially in third periods, but were A trade of Pominville with shared salary could get the Sabres some room stymied by giveaways from their defense that directly led to goals. on their books and the lineup for this year by opening a spot for a Rochester forward like C.J. Smith, Victor Olofsson or Alex Nylander. That Slow start, no goal set stage for Sabres' shutout loss in Dallas seems like more of a possibility.

The Sabres took Thursday off to make the trek home from Dallas in the For now, I'll even succumb to the old one-game-at-a-time theory. The wake of this week's blizzard. They left for Columbus Monday, just in time pride of South Buffalo remains a superstar, but Kane's Blackhawks are to miss all the bad weather, and have to hope their timing at home is among the dregs of the NHL this year, with Father Time damaging the again going to be fortuitous. defense and GM Stan Bowman's post-2015 Cup moves causing even more trouble all over the roster. The Sabres are 14-6-3 at KeyBank and the only team in the East with fewer regulation home losses is Tampa Bay at 20-5-0. The upcoming The Sabres broke a 12-game losing streak to Chicago that dated to 2009 schedule is not daunting either. with a 5-3 win here last March and they have to make sure to get two points again. That would be a good starting point. The homestand lists Chicago, followed by Minnesota, Carolina, Detroit, Winnipeg, the New York Islanders and . Minnesota, Buffalo is in this race with Columbus, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and the Islanders are currently in playoff spots while the other Pittsburgh, the Islanders and Washington. Only Tampa Bay is out of four teams are not. Carolina, however, has beaten the Sabres seven reach. There's no reason the Sabres shouldn't stay in it for the duration, straight times, a streak that's long overdue to end and is the longest for have Botterill augment the roster -- whether from within or outside -- and the Hurricanes' franchise since the bounced Buffalo thus give us meaningful March hockey for the first time since 2012. seven straight times in 1986. Get things going in the right direction Friday night and the Sabres can There are 14 points available in the seven games and a good number for bring the fans back into games like they were in November during their the Sabres to get would be 10. It may be asking a lot, however, of a club 10-game winning streak. The Blackhawks' veterans certainly know how that's just 8-13-4 in its last 25 games after going 17-6-2 in the first 25. impactful a home crowd can be. Winnipeg rates as one of the wackier And one that hasn't won even two games in a row since Dec. 11-13. But places in the league as well. that's where the Sabres are at right now. That's what Buffalo can be again. This has been a rough two months but The objectives here are pretty simple: Pile up points at home, stay in the the Sabres have a big chance to spark a turnaround. The schedule playoff race and maybe get a little help from the GM. maker has given them a huge assist. If they don't take advantage, they'll have no one but themselves to blame. **** Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2019 Home, Sweet Home

The longest homestands in Buffalo Sabres history

Seven games 1128271 Buffalo Sabres

Kevyn Adams named HarborCenter general manager

By Mike Harrington|

Clarence native and former Stanley Cup champion Kevyn Adams has been promoted to general manager of HarborCenter, Pegula Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Kim Pegula announced Thursday.

Adams, 44, will continue as the director of the Academy of Hockey and president of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres while taking on his new duties.

“Kevyn has been instrumental in HarborCenter programming since our initial phase of planning began back in 2013,” Pegula said. “Kevyn has facilitated unprecedented advancements in hockey development through the Academy of Hockey and the Jr. Sabres, which have helped establish our complex as one of the most complete hockey facilities in the world. He is a valued member of our organization and the ideal person to lead our HarborCenter operations moving forward.”

The promotion of Adams and other appointments at HarborCenter come in the wake of the sudden resignations of Michael Gilbert, senior vice president of administration and general manager, and Nik Fattey, vice president and director of hockey. They departed in early January after an internal investigation into whether the two men sexually harassed female employees after a company holiday party in December.

HarborCenter execs resigned after alleged sexual harassment

Adams joined the Sabres organization in 2009, following an 11-year NHL playing career that was highlighted by his 2006 Stanley Cup victory with Carolina. He served on the Sabres' coaching staff for four seasons under Lindy Ruff and Ron Rolston before helping to launch the Academy of Hockey. He was a Hall of Fame player at Miami (Ohio) University.

“I joined together with Terry and Kim five years ago to help implement their vision of growing the game of hockey on all levels,” Adams said of the Pegulas. “I am proud of the progress that we have made since HarborCenter’s opening, and I look forward to taking this next step."

Charlie Mendola and Jason Long have been named assistant general managers of HarborCenter. Mendola, the assistant director of the Academy and GM of the Junior Sabres Under-20 team, will oversee all hockey-related business, including the HarborCenter Cup youth tournament series.

Long will oversee the HarborCenter Rinks, the Buffalo Beauts and IMPACT Sports. He had been the Bills' coordinator of performance science/special projects.

Ryan Vinz, the Sabres' regular emergency goalie for games and practices, has been promoted to director of business and technology. He will oversee all of HarborCenter’s technology and rinks-related budgets.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128272 Buffalo Sabres

The Wraparound: Stars 1, Sabres 0

By Lance Lysowski|

DALLAS -- Marco Scandella's celebration was cut short by the sight of referee Kelly Sutherland waving both arms out to signal a no goal.

Sutherland, and the official review that followed, ruled Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop was interfered with by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, negating what would have been the tying goal with 15:32 left in the third period Tuesday night in American Airlines Center.

That was as close as the Sabres would get to their first winning streak in six weeks, as they lost to the Stars, 1-0, on the second night of a back-to- back.

Buffalo, now 25-19-6, fell to three points back of Columbus for the second wild-card playoff spot and failed to win back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 11-13.

The Stars (25-21-4) scored 8:39 into the first period when Jamie Benn capitalized on a turnover at the Sabres' defensive blue line. Linus Ullmark, making his fourth start in five games, made 26 saves.

Opening salvo: The Stars took a 1-0 lead when Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian's backhanded pass through the middle of the defensive zone was intercepted by Taylor Fedun at the blue line. Fedun then passed to Benn, who beat Ullmark five-hole.

Slow start: That would be an understatement. Sure, the Sabres outshot the Stars, 10-9, in the first period, but Buffalo was lucky to be trailing by only one goal. Ullmark stopped Mattias Janmark's breakaway less than two minutes into the game, and Tyler Seguin hit the post after Rasmus Ristolainen's turnover.

Perimeter shooting: Scandella accounted for five of the Sabres' shots on goal in the first period. Their forwards combined for only three. The team's first line missed the net on five of its six shot attempts.

Power(less) play: The Sabres had one shot on goal during a first-period power play and twice iced the puck. They are 1-for-25 on the power play over the past 10 games.

Sloppy second period: Buffalo did not appear as disjointed in the second period. It began to match the Stars' physical play and defensemen stopped being passive. That did not translate to much offense. The Sabres struggled to maintain possession in the offensive zone.

Their best scoring opportuniity came when Nathan Beaulieu surprised Dallas goalie Ben Bishop with a high shot from the right-wing boards, but the puck was knocked down and cleared.

Lone star slump: The Sabres were 0-6 in their previous six road games against the Stars and were outscored 23-9 in those games. They had not won in Dallas since Jan. 15, 2009.

Lineup: Winger Jason Pominville and defensemen Matt Hunwick were healthy scratches. Remi Elie and Nathan Beaulieu replaced them in the lineup, respectively. Defenseman Lawrence Pilut was also a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game, and Casey Nelson did not make the trip as he is still on injured reserve.

Tyler Pitlick, Martin Hanzal, Stephen Johns and Marc Methont were out of the Stars' lineup because of injury.

Next: The Sabres will await word if they can fly back to Buffalo late Wednesday night and are currently scheduled to practice Thursday in KeyBank Center.

Buffalo News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128273 Buffalo Sabres accelerated quickly and now the games are playing tighter and more akin to what they would see should they make the postseason.

“I thought Columbus was a similar game,” Housley said. “I know it was a Up-and-down play still torments Sabres, who hope to right ship with 7 similar game with two teams coming back off the break, but this is the games at home way it’s going to be going down the stretch. Teams that are going to be in the playoffs, fighting to get in the playoffs, trying to improve their position, so it was a great game in that respect for our guys to take back to By Joe Yerdon Jan 31, 2019 Buffalo, but I think it’s a good learning experience for all of our guys to learn what it’s going to be like going down the stretch.”

The Stars gave the Sabres fits early on with their physical play and their DALLAS — The end of a long road trip, albeit one broken up by the bye speed. Yes, it was their first game after their break and they were very week and the All-Star break, will send the Buffalo Sabres home for seven well rested, but it was a taste of what’s to come from teams fighting for straight games. What we found out from these latest two games in the playoffs the rest of the way. Columbus and Dallas is that they are who they’ve been all season long and that’s perfectly average. “I think we knew they were going to be ready to play,” Eichel said. “They’re a desperate team, you see where they are in the standings, they They had two one-goal games. They were offensive dynamos against need the points just as bad as we do. It’s a tight-checking game and I Columbus in a 5-4 win, but were shutout for the second time on the thought we got our legs under us as the game went on, we started to just season the following night, 1-0 by Dallas. Up and down, win one, lose make simple plays and it worked for us, but there’s no moral victories this one. It’s balance, but not the type a team looking to get to the playoffs point of the season. It’s either you get two points or you don’t at this point wants to have. and we didn’t get two points tonight and it’s back to the drawing board While the Sabres blew leads against Columbus, including a 4-2 lead late and a long homestretch that we’ve got to take advantage of.” in the second period when they allowed two goals in the final three-plus Fedun fitting in with Dallas minutes, Conor Sheary’s goal in the third pushed the Sabres ahead for good. Buffalo got stirring performances from their top two lines, In speaking with Taylor Fedun, who was traded for a 2020 conditional especially Sheary-Casey Mittelstadt-Evan Rodrigues (who scored in his seventh-round pick on Nov. 10 — a condition that’s already been met by fourth straight game). It’s basically automatic that the Jeff Skinner-Jack him playing enough games with the Stars, following practice on Tuesday Eichel-Sam Reinhart line will be good at this point. in Frisco, Texas, he said he understood in training camp with the Sabres that his time with the organization likely wasn’t long. Against Dallas though, head coach Phil Housley shuffled his lineup to put Nathan Beaulieu in and take Matt Hunwick, who hadn’t played since Dec. “For me, the biggest thing was I think I only played two preseason games 18 before playing in Columbus, out as well as replace Jason Pominville and I didn’t really get a look on the power play or anything like that and with Remi Elie. Beaulieu hadn’t played since Jan. 14 in Edmonton and that’s something where I chipped in there in the past and that opportunity Elie hadn’t played since Jan. 5 in Boston. kind of closed,” Fedun said. “Then it got to a point where I wasn’t playing every game in Rochester, it certainly seemed like that was a possibility Before the Dallas game, Housley said the extended time off played a big something like that (being traded) could happen.” factor in why guys who haven’t played in some time got games right out of the break. He didn’t request a trade, it just occurred naturally, but now with the Stars he has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 27 games. Although his “I think it’s really important, but we don’t want them sitting out too long acquisition wasn’t exactly intended to give Dallas a boost, thanks to where they get a little stale; reward ’em,” Housley said. “These guys have injuries to Stephen Johns and Marc Methot, he’s been able to get a shot done a terrific job and are very good teammates and understand the to succeed with the Stars and coach Jim Montgomery. situation they’re in. The guys that are playing respect that and we’ve got to continue to develop in that area where we’re trying to focus on key Still, he liked the direction the Sabres are headed in, but the trade, his things to get them better so when they do get back in the lineup they’ll first as a professional, made for a resolution for what had been a make the most of their opportunity.” particularly tough time. Being scratched in Rochester because of the glut of defensemen they had at the time (nine active when he was traded) For Elie it was a game against the team that waived him earlier this had him looking at the possibility he might’ve been stuck. season and Housley always likes to give guys a game against their former teams. Curiously enough, it was a guy on the Stars who was able “It was extremely tough. As much you try and stay positive the entire to help cast the lone dagger in the Sabres’ 1-0 loss. time, I think I really did try to, but you can’t help but think, ‘Do I need to start dusting off my resume,’” Fedun said. “If I was in that position where I After a start where the Stars hit everyone in a Sabres sweater and had wasn’t playing, it’s a tough lifestyle to be asking your family to do. It three great scoring chances, one found its way past Linus Ullmark when certainly floated across my mind, it’s crazy how much a few months former Sabre Taylor Fedun intercepted a Zach Bogosian pass and fed changes your perspective on things because it’s pretty far from my mind Jamie Benn for the game’s lone goal. Ben Bishop continued his career- right now.” long dominance of the Sabres (11-0-1 with 11 straight wins). The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 BENN GOAL

1-0 DALLAS PIC.TWITTER.COM/NWNHQRPJ82

— BEN MATHEWSON (@BEN_MATHEWSON) JANUARY 31, 2019

Marco Scandella thought he tied the game in the third period, but officials waved it off, saying Nathan Beaulieu interfered with Ben Bishop. Housley challenged, but the call held up after officials reviewed the play.

NO GOAL PIC.TWITTER.COM/55A9GERDCF

— BEN MATHEWSON (@BEN_MATHEWSON) JANUARY 31, 2019

It was a toss-up play and an unfortunate break for the Sabres, who stepped up the pressure in the third period. After being outshot 11-6 and 20-11 in shot attempts in the second, they turned it on the Stars, 11-7, in the third, including a 25-12 shot-attempt advantage.

That kind of up-and-down play is an example of a team that continues to learn how to play complete games as well as how to finish games where they have a lead. As has been pointed out all season long, they’ve got a lot of young guys being asked to do a lot and they’re, perhaps, ahead of schedule in chasing down a playoff spot. This learning curve got 1128274 Calgary Flames Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Lindholm

GameDay — Flames at Capitals: 5 storylines Matthew Tkachuk – Mikael Backlund – Michael Frolik

Sam Bennett – Mark Jankowski – James Neal

Wes Gilbertson Andrew Mangiapane – Derek Ryan – Garnet Hathaway

Defence

FRIDAY Mark Giordano – TJ Brodie

Calgary Flames (33-13-5) at (27-17-6) Noah Hanifin – Travis Hamonic

5 p.m. MT, Capital One Arena, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan Oliver Kylington – Rasmus Andersson

THE BIG MATCHUP Goaltenders

Flames D Mark Giordano vs. Capitals D John Carlson David Rittich

The next time these two guys go head-to-head, it could be as Norris Mike Smith Trophy nominees at the NHL’s awards gala. Calgary’s captain, Giordano, is the current frontrunner for that honour — the 35-year-old was the most CAPITALS LINEUP popular pick in the Professional Hockey Writers Association’s mid- Forwards season vote — but don’t count out Carlson. While Giordano is just one of three defencemen with 50-plus points so far, Washington’s own blue-line Chandler Stephenson – Nicklas Backstrom – TJ Oshie ace is only three shy of joining that club. The 29-year-old Carlson won Jakub Vrana – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Tom Wilson the hardest-shot competition on all-star weekend with a blast of 102.8 m.p.h. Brett Connolly – Lars Eller – Devante Smith-Pelly

FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME Dmitrij Jaskin – Travis Boyd – Andre Burakovsky

NO-VI Defence

The Flames won’t have to worry Friday about stopping the NHL’s leading Michal Kempny – John Carlson marksman, with Alex Ovechkin serving his mandatory one-game sit-out after skipping the 2019 NHL All-Star Game in San Jose. It seems that Dmitry Orlov – Matt Niskanen Washington’s wrecking-ball captain wasn’t bothered by his Stanley Cup Brooks Orpik – Madison Bowey hangover — the 33-year-old is trending toward his eighth Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy with 37 lamp-lightings already. No other Capitals Goaltenders skater has scored more than 15 times this season, so they’ll certainly miss him. Braden Holtby

RESUMING THEIR ROLL? Pheonix Copley

The Flames cruised into their all-star break/bye with an 8-0-1 record over INJURIES their past nine dates. Going back a bit further, the Western Conference- Flames — D Michael Stone (blood clot) leading club has a sparkling 11-2-1 mark since Christmas. While the Flames are looking to continue their team tear, all-star left-winger Johnny Capitals — D Christian Djoos (thigh) Gaudreau will be shooting to start a new streak — he was blanked during a 3-2 overtime victory against the Hurricanes last Tuesday, ending his SUSPENDED career-best 11-game point-spree. Capitals — LW Alex Ovechkin

STOPPING THEIR SLIDE? SPECIAL TEAMS

It’s been a much different story for the Capitals, with the defending Power play Stanley Cup champions suffering seven straight losses before their vacations. They are 0-5-2 and have allowed 36 goals against during that Flames: 23.6% (42-for-174, 8th) slumpy stretch. Yikes. The Capitals’ seven-game winless skid is their longest slide since January of 2014. As Ovechkin summed up after a 6-3 Capitals: 21.8% (27-for-159, 10th) setback to the Maple Leafs last Wednesday in Toronto: “Right now, we Penalty kill need the break.” Flames: 79.0% (21st) VISITING THE FARM Capitals: 77.3% (T-24th) Flames rookie forward Andrew Mangiapane was -bound during the bye, and not for a beach getaway. The 22-year-old was briefly — Wes Gilbertson assigned to the AHL’s Stockton Heat and boosted his offensive confidence with two goals and one assist in a pair of minor-league Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2019 loggings. Officially recalled Wednesday and plugged back into his spot on Calgary’s fourth line, Mangiapane has yet to tickle twine in 23 career games at the top level.

THIS N’ THAT

Flames right-winger Elias Lindholm has points in eight straight showings … The Flames arrived Thursday afternoon in Washington and then hit the ice for an upbeat, up-tempo practice that lasted about 50 minutes … The Capitals were victorious in the first meeting of the season, with centre Nicklas Backstrom providing the decisive snipe in the shootout and backup Pheonix Copley earning his first W at the NHL level in an Oct. 27 date at the Saddledome.

FLAMES LINEUP 1128275 Calgary Flames “For me, I’m just going to continue to get better,” said Neal, whose lengthy resume includes 100 playoff appearances and trips to the Stanley Cup final with the Nashville Predators in 2017 and the Golden Flames’ Neal proud of team success, knows he has more to offer Knights last spring. “I think we have a great team here. I think you use your experience, you use your presence, you use everything that I have learned throughout my career about what you have to do to be going into playoffs, what you have to do in playoffs. Wes Gilbertson “I feel better,” he added later. “It’s not easy changing teams. I’ve been

learning and getting comfortable with your linemates — all those things WASHINGTON — James Neal was hoping his return trip to Capital One go into it — and I think as we go on, you’re going to see a more Arena would come a whole lot sooner. comfortable player.

On Sunday, June 10, to be specific. “But like I said, as long as our team is winning, I’m all good.”

Game 6 of the 2018 Stanley Cup final was slated for that night in D.C. BACK TO WORK

Except that the Washington Capitals ended the championship series — Their vacation is over. and the Cinderella-like story of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights — And hopefully the Flames are feeling rested and recharged, because three evenings earlier in Sin City, a long-awaited celebration for Alex there’s not a lot of reprieve on the remainder of the regular-season Ovechkin & Co. and a second straight heartbreaker for Neal. schedule. “You just try not to think about that. I’ve moved on,” Neal said after “What we have is 31 games in 62 days,” reminded Flames bench boss Thursday’s practice in Arlington, Va., just across the Potomac River from Bill Peters. the White House, Washington Monument and the rest of the landmarks of the U.S. Capitol. “Obviously, it sucks what happened, but you have to That’s a lot of hockey. move on quickly, especially when you are changing teams. I think it would be a little bit different if I was still with Vegas and coming back After going their separate ways for the all-star break and bye, the Flames here.” reunited Thursday for a flight to Washington, followed by an upbeat and energetic practice. Instead, Neal returns to Capital One Arena as a member of the Calgary Flames, who are in this government town for Friday’s back-from-the-bye “I think they looked excited to be back at it,” Peters said afterward. battle with the Capitals (5 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Currently the top seed in the Western Conference, the Flames are Fan). officially back at it for Friday’s clash with the struggling Capitals (5 p.m. It’s been nine days between games for the Western Conference-leading MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 Fan). Flames, and you could argue nobody needed the reset more than the 31- The defending champs, losers of seven in a row, are also coming off their year-old Neal. bye. They will be without the services of sharpshooter Alex Ovechkin, a To say this season hasn’t gone as planned for the prized free-agent spectator for one night because he elected to skip the all-star festivities. addition — signed this past summer to a five-year payday with an annual “We just have to get right back into our game,” said Flames captain Mark cap-hit of US$5.75-million — would be a major understatement. Giordano after Thursday’s practice. “Simple, I think, is better at the start, In a decade of employment at hockey’s highest level, Neal has never especially (Friday), and we’ll go from there. scored fewer than 21 times in a single campaign, and that happened to “But after a couple of shifts, a couple of bumps, you get right back into it. be during a lockout-shortened slate. Surprisingly, it does come back fairly quickly. We haven’t been off for Through 49 contests in the Flaming C, he has mustered only five months, we’ve only been off for a week, so it will come back quick.” markers. He’s on pace for nine … if you round up. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2019 Neal has totalled a dozen points so far in 2018-19.

A dozen of his Flames teammates have done more offensive damage.

“I think if you’re doing the right things and you’re playing the right way, that stuff will come,” Neal reasoned. “If your team is not winning and you’re not contributing, then it’s a problem. But when your team is playing really well and you’re winning hockey games, then things are good.

“Obviously, it has been a bit of a tough stretch at the start of the year for me. But that being said, I love the way our team has played. I came here to win, and I’ll do anything to be a part of a winning team.

“So I’m really happy with the way our guys have played and I’ll try to contribute everything I can to that.”

That is perhaps what makes Neal the most fascinating of Flames as the schedule shifts into the stretch drive.

The crew from Calgary has rolled to a 33-13-5 record so far, six points clear of the next-best bunch in the Pacific Division standings.

As analysts and insiders start to craft trade-deadline shopping-lists for each of the could-be contenders, the consensus is the Flames would like to add some depth scoring.

Seems reasonable enough, especially considering the steep drop-off from their 50-point forwards — first-liners Johnny Gaudreau (73), Sean Monahan (61) and Elias Lindholm (58), plus power-play pal Matthew Tkachuk (57) — to the supporting-casters.

Thing is, they have a proven marksman on their third line who just hasn’t proven it so far this season.

If Neal can chip in on a more regular basis, the Flames will be better for it, no matter who they might acquire over the next few weeks. 1128276 Calgary Flames the last 30 years, you also don’t want to cripple the organization’s prospect pipeline.

While the current group should be able to remain competitive through Why the Flames shouldn’t trade their 2019 first-round pick for a short- 2021-22 when the contracts for Gaudreau and Giordano expire, there’s term gain no reason to suggest that with an ongoing integration of youth, this team can’t remain a legitimate Cup contender for many years beyond that. Lindholm and Hanifin have deals that carry on past the expirations of the By Darren Haynes Jan 31, 2019 Gaudreau and Giordano contracts. Tkachuk will likely be in a similar situation and don’t forget the young rising stars on the blueline like Juuso

Valimaki, 20, Oliver Kylington, 21 and Rasmus Andersson, 22. Will they or won’t they? With the big picture in mind, the prudent thing to do this year is not get As the Feb. 25 NHL trade deadline approaches, one of the questions too swept up in the here-and-now and remember that if done right, this swirling around the Calgary Flames these days is whether they should team could remain one of the league’s best for the next decade. But for part with their 2019 first-round pick in an attempt to bolster this year’s that to come to fruition, Calgary has to start re-stocking its prospect team for what they hope will be a lengthy playoff run. cupboards and that’s going to require keeping some high draft picks, like their 2019 first rounder. Why it’s something to consider is that outside of surrendering one of their grade A prospects or a roster player, that pick is the club’s most valuable Earlier this week I went through my bi-annual undertaking of ranking the asset. Another factor is that pick is projected to be a late first rounder and organization’s top 20 prospects. It’s a useful exercise in that it’s an at that point in the draft, you’re well past the point where there are any opportunity to take stock of what’s in the system. It was also a sobering assurances you’ll be landing a future impact NHLer. reminder for Flames fans that for the most part, the organization’s best prospects are already in the NHL or very close to it. Take the 2013 draft, for example. Here is the long list of players from the first round that have already come through the organization. Once you get past the top three guys, who have all logged significant NHL time this season, uncertainty kicks in. Get beyond the top five and The good: now you’re really into hope-and-a-prayer land, where the realistic chances of those players becoming full-time NHL players is slim. 5th – Elias Lindholm (425 gm, 85-161-246) The big reason why the reserves of high-end prospects have become so 6th – Sean Monahan (444 gm, 165-177-342) depleted is the sheer volume of high draft picks that have been sacrificed The bad: by Brad Treliving over the past four years to bring in established veterans to upgrade the lineup. Nine draft picks in the top three rounds have been 17th – Curtis Lazar (245 gm, 15-36-51) shuttled out the door by the GM over the past four years.

The ugly: 2018

19th – Kerby Rychel (43 gm, 3-11-14) No 1st round pick | sent to NY Islanders (Travis Hamonic deal)

22nd – Emile Poirier (8 gm, 0-1-1) No 2nd round pick | sent to NY Islanders (Hamonic)

24th – Hunter Shinkaruk (15 gm, 2-2-4) No 3rd round pick | sent to Arizona (Mike Smith deal)

28th – Morgan Klimchuk (1 gm, 0-0-0) 2017

Those two picks in the top 10? Both are playing on the Flames No. 1 line No 2nd round pick | sent to Ottawa (Curtis Lazar deal) and rank in the top 15 in NHL scoring this season. As for the other five, taken in the latter half of that first round, all of them are toiling in the AHL No 3rd round pick | sent to Arizona (Michael Stone deal) with none of them playing with the organization that drafted them. 2016 If the season ended today, as a division winner and second-best team No own 2nd round pick | sent to St. Louis (Brian Elliott deal) overall, the highest the club’s first-round pick could be is 26th. The scenario for that would be neither the No. 1 ranked Lightning or No. 2 2015 ranked Flames reaching the conference final, resulting in picks 28-31 going to the four teams that do make it that far. No 1st round pick | sent to Boston (Dougie Hamilton deal)

Viewed in that light, it may seem on the surface like a no-brainer to put No own 2nd round pick | sent to Boston (Hamilton) that pick on the table if it can be leveraged to upgrade a particular area No Washington 2nd round pick, acquired for Curtis Glencross | sent to such as second-line right winger, veteran left-shot defenceman or proven Boston (Hamilton) goaltender. For a sense of the caliber of player that could have been had with some Well, not so fast. of these above picks, you need only look at the selections the club did There are multiple reasons to consider pushing all of their chips into the make in the top three rounds over that same period. middle and go all-in. Calgary is having its best year since its Stanley 2018 Cup-winning season in 1988-89 and arguably their most important player, Mark Giordano, isn’t getting any younger. However, there’s a None more than just those two factors to consider. 2017 For one, this club is just entering its window to win and it’s a window that should be propped open a while if you consider that core pieces Johnny 1st round – D Juuso Valimaki Gaudreau (signed through 2021-22), Giordano (2021-22 and despite his 2016 age, appears to be keeping father time at bay), Sean Monahan (2022- 23), Mikael Backlund (2023-24), Elias Lindholm (2023-24) and Noah 1st round – LW Matthew Tkachuk Hanifin (2023-24) are all signed for at least the next three seasons, beyond this one. Furthermore, with some slight cap maneuvering, the 2nd round – G Tyler Parsons Flames shouldn’t have any trouble signing their pending RFAs, Matthew 2nd round – LW/C Dillon Dube Tkachuk, David Rittich and Sam Bennett. That will lock in three more key pieces for the next couple of years, if not longer. 3rd round – D Adam Fox

Secondly, the farm system isn’t as deep as it once was a few years back. 2015 While there’s an argument to be made to give yourself the best shot at 2nd round – Rasmus Andersson winning a Stanley Cup, especially in a playoff-starved market that’s seen their team advance beyond the first round of the postseason just twice in 2nd round – Oliver Kylington Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season when Gaudreau and Giordano could both be gone, yet the team could still have a really good chance of It’s a pretty impressive group with five of them having spent a significant remaining competitive, who will be ready to take over on left wing for No. amount of time, if not all year, in Calgary’s lineup this season, another 13? Is it Emilio Pettersen? That means the talented Norwegian in his first (Fox) was a coveted asset leveraged in the trade to acquire Lindholm year of playing U.S. college, would have to be ready in four years. and Hanifin. The other guy (Parsons) remains highly regarded and could be the organization’s goaltender of the future. How about in 2023-24 when Monahan could also move on? What would be the succession plan there? Is it Martin Pospisil? Or Adam Ruzicka? Four of the top five on the latest prospect rankings come from this group, Two big, skilled centres, but also two guys with lots and lots of reinforcing that relatively speaking, the guys with the best shots at developing still to do. making the NHL, are the guys selected in the first two or three rounds. What about in 2024-25 when Swedish countrymen Backlund and Re-examining my list of the organization’s top 20 prospects, there are a Lindholm move on? At centre, is Milos Roman a factor by then? How few things to note when it comes to that group of lesser-knowns ranked about defensive stalwart Linus Lindstrom? On right wing, might Eetu No. 6 through No. 20. Tuulola be an NHLer by then? How about the diminutive Matthew Pedigree Phillips?

The first thing you notice is they’re all fourth-round picks or later, with just There are possibilities, but no sure things and it’s for this reason that the two exceptions. organization should be determined this year to hang onto the first- and third-round picks they still have (the second rounder belongs to the NY At No. 15, goaltender Jon Gillies, was a third round pick in 2012. That Islanders, rounding out the Hamonic trade). was Mark Jankowski’s draft class for some perspective on how long ago that was. At No. 20, Russian defenceman Rinat Valiev, acquired from Those two picks, while no sure things either, at least come with better Montreal in the Brett Kulak trade, was originally a third-round selection by percentages, both in likeliness to reach the NHL and in how quickly they the in 2014. could get there.

The breakdown of the other 13: In late July or August, next time I update the prospect rankings, that 2019 first rounder, should they hang onto it, even if it’s not until pick No. 31 4th round, 5 | Pospisil (2018), Ruzicka (2017), Lindstrom (2016), after winning the Stanley Cup, would still immediately become one of the Roman (2018), Koumontzis (2018) organization’s top five prospects, maybe even top three. There’s a good chance the third rounder would slot somewhere in the top 10. 5th round – 0 While that could mean going without a high-end rental this season, it 6th round – 4 | Tuulola (2016), Phillips (2016), Pettersen (2018), Joly could also lead to extending the window to win down the road from four (2017) years to double that, or more. 7th round – 2 | Sveningsson (2017), Zavgorodniy (2018) If the Flames hang onto their 2019 draft picks as I argue they should, it Free agent – 2 | Foo (2017), Gawdin (2017) doesn’t mean they’re not going for it. Remember, they’re still the No. 2 team in the NHL with just over 30 games to go. It just means they’re It’s not to say that Calgary won’t strike gold on one or more of these late- going for it for the next eight-or-more years, instead of the next four. round picks, just like they’ve done previously with Johnny Gaudreau (4th round in 2011), Micheal Ferland (5th round, 2010) and TJ Brodie (4th That alluring possibility of being a perennial contender for the next round, 2008), but the odds of uncovering a start player decreases decade has to be a factor taken into consideration when deciding significantly as you get deeper into a draft. whether or not to roll the dice on a short-term addition for this season.

Incubation Time It’s no secret that the latter half of the first round of the draft and beyond is a crapshoot when it comes to finding future NHLers. Calgary’s success If you do get a late rounder to the NHL, you have to factor in that it rate in 2013 underscores that, however, Treliving wasn’t the Flames GM typically is going to take a long time. that year. It was Jay Feaster.

While many of the players listed in my top 20 won’t ever make it to the Since taking over that role, Treliving’s draft record — particularly the last show, I nonetheless take a stab at what their NHL ETA would be, should few years — has been pretty impressive. they one day make it. Skimming through, there are a lot of references to 2022-23 and 2023-24 with this group and while that may seem like a As an organization, I think you look at the players this GM and his long, long way away, history suggests that’s the typical wait time. scouting staff have uncovered in the second round and beyond like Andersson, Dube, Kylington, Mangiapane and even Adam Fox, and you I examined each of the Flames draft picks since 2003, who have are intrigued at the quality of player this GM might be able to mine with a ascended to the NHL, and looked up how many years it took them to first-round pick, even if it is in that 26-31 range. establish themselves as regulars (i.e. play all or a great majority of the season with Calgary). Back to the original question: Will they or won’t they?

0 years, 2 | Monahan (2013, 1st rd), Tkachuk (2016, 1st rd) I say no. Hang onto that first rounder.

1 year, 2 | Bennett (2014, 1st rd), Valimaki (2017, 1st rd) Set the organization up for a long, prosperous and sustainable run as one of the league’s elite teams, rather than chasing a one-year stand. 2 years, 1 | Phaneuf (2003, 1st rd) The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 3 years, 3 | Backlund (2007, 1st rd), Gaudreau (2011, 4th rd), Andersson (2015, 2nd rd)

4 years, 5 | Prust (2004, 3rd rd), Boyd (2004, 3rd rd), Pardy (2004, 6th rd), Brodie (2008, 4th rd), Baertschi (2011, 1st rd)

5 years, 5 | Bouma (2008, 3rd rd), Ferland (2010, 5th rd), Granlund (2011, 2nd rd), Jankowski (2012, 1st rd), Kulak (2012, 4th rd)

What you immediately notice is that only a few first rounders were able to establish themselves as NHLers within a couple years. It took three years for core pieces like Gaudreau and Backlund. For everybody else, it’s a long haul. For players selected in the third round or beyond, with the exception of Gaudreau, that ascent to the NHL took at least four years and often five.

What does that mean for the long-term plan in Calgary? 1128277 Calgary Flames Gaudreau became a dog owner this past summer, and Bailey, his Goldendoodle, has become an integral member of his household. On a typical off day in the NHL’s regular season, Gaudreau says he will take Magician on the ice, disaster in the kitchen: Inside the world of Johnny Bailey to the local dog park, where he might meet up with Monahan and Gaudreau his dog, also a Goldendoodle. That, according to Gaudreau, is not a coincidence. He had two dogs growing up, both Labrador retrievers, but wanted a Goldendoodle this time around, largely because Monahan had one and Gaudreau fell in love with the breed. By Eric Duhatschek Jan 31, 2019 The chemistry with Monahan isn’t just limited to their choice of pets and

can be traced back to the first time they were at development camp Last September, I had a thought. What if Johnny Hockey could meet together, according to Flames’ assistant general manager Craig Conroy. Johnny Football? It seemed doable. Johnny Manziel (aka Johnny “You could see the chemistry,” Conroy said. “It was that quick and that Football) was spending his summer playing in the CFL. Johnny noticeable. Monny had a few goals and Johnny set them up. In your mind Gaudreau (aka Johnny Hockey) was arriving in Calgary after Labour you’re thinking, ‘maybe one day, this will happen in the NHL.’ Monny was Day, to start his fifth full season with the Flames. in the NHL that year and Johnny did his thing in college. Now, with Alas, for a lot of reasons, most of them logistical, and involving the Lindholm on that side, it’s really gone to a different level.” Flames’ early September trip to China for training camp, the idea never Once Gaudreau’s line started clicking, they developed this funny little got off the ground. But wouldn’t you want to be a fly on the wall to see ritual, where Gaudreau would take a drink from a bottle of purple how these two U.S. college sporting icons would interact? Gatorade and then give both Monahan and Lindholm a slurp as well. TV Manziel had the early upper hand in terms of notoriety, but it would be picked it up, and now it’s a thing – cameras monitor the Flames’ bench fair to say Gaudreau has surpassed him. While Manziel is still trying to after a goal to see what may happen next. One time, after Gaudreau gain a foothold in pro football, Gaudreau is absolutely lighting up the failed to give him a drink, cameras showed Monahan pestering him and hockey world. For the fifth year in a row, Gaudreau represented the otherwise giving Gaudreau a hard time until he complied. Another time, Flames at annual All-Star Game. in the midst of a line change, Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal, set up by James Neal and Gaudreau, and so when they all went back to the bench, Coming out of the All-Star break, Gaudreau was tied for No. 3 in NHL Tkachuk wanted a blast of the purple Gatorade. scoring with the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, trailing only the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen. He is also in the thick Partly because of the of the ritual and partly because he wears No. 13, it of the conversation for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable might lead you to believe Gaudreau is superstitious. Gaudreau insists player, and finished second behind Kucherov in the mid-season voting just the opposite is true. conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association — thanks to “Not superstitious at all,” he said. “I mean, I show up to the rink before the way he’s led the Flames to an unexpected perch atop the Western games, five minutes before the two-hour period. I get a nap in before Conference standings. games, but if I don’t, no big deal. The purple Gatorade thing, I feel like it’s With 73 points in 51 games, he is almost certain to shatter his career- more of a reward than a superstition. It’s kind of funny at times, and I best numbers, established last year, a down year for the Flames, even if don’t actually even remember how it started. Next game, maybe I’ll just Gaudreau averaged more than a point a game for a team desperately not give them any Gatorade and show people that we’re not superstitious short of secondary scoring. This year, the provident addition of Elias at all.” Lindholm to a line that includes his close friend and long-time running Still, it sure looks as if this is an endorsement opportunity just waiting to mate, Sean Monahan, has elevated Johnny Hockey to another level. happen. It turns out that even though Gaudreau’s nickname was a riff on “I don’t know about that,” laughed Gaudreau. “We’ll see. It’s nothing we Manziel’s when their college careers overlapped, the two Johnnys have actually planned. If something comes out of it, great. If not, it’s still a nice never met – though Gaudreau is open to the possibility. little thing to remember the season by. It’s more something that’s just fun “I mean, he’s another great athlete, and you always enjoy meeting other … I don’t even remember when the first time was.” athletes that have done well in their particular sports,” Gaudreau said. Gaudreau does, however, have a clear memory of his first-ever NHL “Whether it’s basketball, football, baseball, you like meeting other goal, which came in the meaningless final game of the 2013-14 season. athletes to see how their jobs work, and everything like that. So, Gaudreau wore No. 53, and his goal came on a tip-in, with assists to Joe obviously, it’d be pretty cool. Colborne and Chris Breen. “I was a big fan of his in college when he was playing really well, and When Gaudreau arrived for his NHL debut, Colborne says his first he’s doing great now, with his comeback and everything. It’s obviously thought upon seeing his new teammate was: “Okay, that’s Johnny’s little two pretty cool nicknames we get to have. So maybe in the future, I might brother. Where’s Johnny? meet him, you never know.” “I mean, we knew he was small and that he was tearing up college The Flames have a long history of featuring smallish impact players, from hockey. I remember texting my former roommate, Dave Carle, who’s the Theo Fleury who starred in Calgary, to Martin St. Louis who forged a Hall coach at (Denver) now, to ask him about Johnny. He said he was like 88 of Fame career after he left town. – Patrick Kane. I was kind of like, ‘come on, man’ – because I’d played Their popularity stems in part from their size – though small-man-in-a- against Kane enough times by that point to think, ‘no.’ But then Johnny big-man’s game is no longer the unique narrative it once was. But mostly, came in and you could just see it from the pregame skate, he didn’t seem it’s because Gaudreau is a flat-out, lift-you-out-of-your seat presence fazed by anything… That first goal probably wasn’t the prettiest one he’s whenever he steps on the ice. He checks two important boxes – he is ever scored, but it shows his versatility. For a small guy, he’s one of the both an entertainer and a difference maker. smartest, probably three or four guys in the league — and then you mix that in with the skills that he’s obviously worked on his whole life.” Gaudreau doesn’t usually speak much about his life away from the rink, but during an interview prior to the Flames’ bye week, a few things Even though this is a kinder, gentler NHL, not every small and skilled became clear: player can do what Gaudreau does. What separates him from similar physical specimens who top out as career minor leaguers? According to Johnny loves dogs. Colborne, Gaudreau doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the work he put in coming through the ranks. Johnny can’t cook. “Everyone says, ‘Oh, it’s natural,’” Colborne said, “and my answer is, ‘no, Ultimately, when his playing career is over, Johnny wants to teach he’s worked on those skills.’ You’ve heard all the stories about him on the physical education (which, based on his potential earnings, would make ice, nonstop, as a kid. him the wealthiest PE teacher in U.S. high school history). “Johnny’s a huge fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and if you look at a guy And though a curious ritual involving a squeeze bottle of grape Gatorade like Nick Foles, he’s the same way. He steps up and his game rises. And has developed whenever he, Monahan and Lindholm combine for a goal, that’s Johnny. I remember him scoring in a playoff game against Johnny insists he is not superstitious in any way. Anaheim. It was a shot, top shelf, glove side, and I’m thinking ‘this kid is kids. He works with a ton of kids at this hockey rink and I always helped going to be special because he steps up when it matters.’” him. I’m always in there in the summertime helping him, so it’s fun to be around the kids and help them get involved in sports. So, try to maybe Conroy, who was instrumental in getting Gaudreau to sign his first NHL get an education degree when I’m done playing hockey and maybe teach contract, was asked: How does Gaudreau see things develop, at speed, kids gym and stuff like that.” all the time? Among the members of the Flames’ current coaching staff, only Martin “Good question,” answered Conroy, “because when you watch the game Gelinas goes back to the beginning with Gaudreau. As a player, Gelinas from above, it’s a really easy game. But on the ice, 80 percent of the was also considered a little on the small side – 5-foot-11. Gelinas hears guys don’t see what Johnny sees, sometimes before it’s even there. He how people want to compare Gaudreau to players of the past and says knows where everybody is at all times on the ice – and that’s special. the closest might be Kane. The notion that he resembles Fleury is You can probably work on it, but I don’t think you can teach that. To do absurd. The only thing they have in common is both play the game at a what he does – or what Sidney Crosby does – is an amazing thing to high level. watch. You think, ‘why can’t everyone do what Johnny does?’ But his hands and his vision are elite – and it’s just about how he puts it all “People will say he’s like Theo,” Gelinas said. “Well, he’s not like Theo. together. I don’t know what him and his dad did when he was little, or He’s a modern-era player – fast and skilled, in an era where you can’t get how they created that, but it’s worked. away with much.

“Really, it’s about seeing and executing – because I think a lot of guys “This game is designed for Johnny. You could maybe talk about Patrick can see it, but they can’t execute because it hits a stick on the way. Kane, who has a little bigger frame, but the reality is, Johnny’s unique. You’ve got to put the puck in the two inches between the feet, and He’s a special player. He’s quiet, but when the game is on the line, he Johnny can do that. Gretzky had that ability. I’m not saying he’s Gretzky, wants to be the player that’s on the ice to make it happen. but he has that Gretzky-like ability.” “I always say this: There are a lot of good players in the NHL, but not a After he made his NHL debut in Calgary, Gaudreau eventually joined the lot that people will pay extra money to go and see. Kids want to see U.S. national team for the 2014 World Championships and returned to Johnny. Fans want to see Johnny — because anytime he’s got the puck, Calgary the following September to embark on his first full NHL season. you think something great can happen – and it can.” At that point, Conroy approached Colborne and asked if Gaudreau could live at his place until he found an apartment of his own. Just as Gaudreau was a mid-round gamble, Flames captain Mark Giordano was an even longer shot to become an NHL star. Normally, the Colborne happily complied – and found that as accomplished as players that overcome those sorts of hurdles never stop learning, and Gaudreau was on the ice, he had a lot to learn about living on his own. It according to Giordano, that’s true of Gaudreau as well. This year, for was, says Colborne, a learning experience – for both of them. example, Giordano believes Gaudreau is playing a far more responsible two-way game and tracking back harder on the backcheck than ever “For everything I was just saying about Johnny on the ice – how nothing before. was too big for him – he was the exact opposite of that in our house — and I say that with the biggest smile on my face because it was “His commitment this year on the backcheck and playing in the D-zone legitimately comical,” Colborne said. “He was so lost. He didn’t know how has been next level,” Giordano said. “He’s always been a great offensive to do laundry, he didn’t know how to cook, he literally couldn’t boil a pot threat, but now you see at the end of the games when we pull our goalie, of water. I don’t fancy myself a huge chef by any means, but I have the a lot of the time, that’s the line that’s out there. And it’s a credit to all basics down. You’d think living three years away at college … three of them. Monny’s commitment has been great too. Lindy’s great at turning over plays, as we know. “Every single day I would be dying laughing at something he would either say or something that he didn’t know how to do. I was thinking, ‘thank “Johnny can be so effective defensively because he’s so fast, a lot faster goodness you’re going be making a hundred million dollars over your than people give him credit for. The other thing I’ve noticed is all the career because you’re going be able to hire out to do all this stuff.’” breakaways he’s getting this year because he can read the play and anticipates so well and can pull away from guys. I watch a lot of hockey Has Gaudreau gotten any better in the kitchen? and I honestly think he’s the MVP. I know he’s on our team and I get to “No, nope – haven’t gotten better,” Gaudreau said. “I’ve probably gotten see him every night, but what he does for our team is second to none.” worse since then. The only thing I can make is Kraft Macaroni and Gaudreau’s agent is Lewis Gross, who also represented Conroy. Back in Cheese. It’s my go-to dish, I love it, but I probably order in most nights. I’ll the spring of 2014, when the Flames were trying to get Gaudreau’s probably have to get a chef here in the next year and try to start eating a signature on a contract it was Conroy that then GM Brian Burke little bit healthier. I can’t cook at all. But he (Colborne) was a good dispatched as the Flames’ boots-on-the-ground representative. At that roommate. He brought me in that first year and I lived there two or three point, it was no sure thing that Gaudreau would leave school early to turn months. He really helped me get acquainted to pro hockey. It was great pro. living with him.” For one thing, he had a chance to play with his younger brother, Above all, said Colborne, Gaudreau never lost his likeability, internally, Matthew, and that was important to him. For another, if Gaudreau had within the dressing room, even as his fame, notoriety and influence grew. completed his senior year at BC and then waited until the following “The thing with Johnny is, he doesn’t have a single pretentious bone in August, he would have become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign his body,” said Colborne. “He was the best teammate, even as a rookie. I with any NHL team. remember Burkie (former GM Brian Burke) saying a typical Burkie thing The Flames felt a sense of urgency and used the lure of burning a year to him, something like, ‘I don’t want to hear your voice until we reach off his entry-level contract by playing a single NHL game at the end of Christmas,’ or something like that. He’d tell him, ‘your job is to smile, 2013-14 to sweeten the deal. Gaudreau’s entry-level contract expired listen to your captain and listen to your veterans.’ Within two weeks, following his second full NHL season and after a strong performance in Johnny is the guy that all the older guys are chirping and having the best the 2016 World Cup, he went home to New Jersey rather than attend time with him. He has that infectious kind of glue quality, where you just Flames camp, because negotiations on his second contract had stalled. want to be around him.” By then, Brad Treliving had replaced Burke as GM and Treliving had two Gaudreau left after his junior season and is close to key contracts – Monahan’s and Gaudreau’s – to complete that offseason. completing his degree. In the past, once the Flames were eliminated – It wasn’t until just before the start of the regular season, and mostly on either in the regular season or playoffs – he would go back to school and Gaudreau’s own instructions, that he finally got a new deal done – six chip away at the classes he needed to complete his senior year. He only years, $40.5 million, at an average annual salary of $6.75 million. needs one more course to graduate and though he’s been putting it off, his mom is forcing him to do it. Gaudreau has three years remaining on the deal after this season is completed; and in the final year of the contract, he has a modified no- Gaudreau is majoring in communications but doesn’t see that as his life’s trade clause. The hope in Calgary is that they can continue to stay path once hockey ends. competitive and maybe even win a championship between now and the “I probably want to maybe be a P.E. teacher. Growing up, my dad was a 2021-22 season because they believe that is their best chance to get health teacher and a gym teacher and always enjoyed working with the Gaudreau to commit to a third contract. Family is important to Gaudreau, but so is winning.

“The one thing I’ll always remember is something Bob Hartley said in Johnny’s second year,” Conroy said. “He asked me: ‘Who do you think really takes it to heart when we lose; who does it bother the most?’ And I went through three or four guesses, and my fifth guy was Johnny – maybe because he was young and I just didn’t know him that well and if you’re not on the bench, you don’t see that dynamic. But after Bob said that, I started watching him – and he was right. Bob said, ‘it’s not even close.’ We didn’t make the playoffs that first year and no one took it harder than Johnny.

“I can tell you this: Johnny wants to lead the league in scoring. He won’t tell you that, but in his mind, that’s what he wants to do. He’s going to say it doesn’t matter, but I think he wants to win a Stanley Cup and he wants to be the best player in the league. That’s what he wants – and I hope he can do it here.”

So, does Gaudreau want to win a scoring title?

“I mean yeah,” he said. “Ask anyone. I think that anyone would say yes, but you obviously want to be a team guy first. Growing up, it was something my dad and my coaches always taught me — not to really worry about that (individual) kind of stuff. It’s hard to talk about that kind of stuff for me personally, but it’s obviously something that you’re pretty thirsty for. When your team is being successful and there’s a lot of good individual success, it’s great for your team and great for your individuals.”

Speaking of Gaudreau’s father, Guy, Conroy remembers a time when the Flames were trying to get Johnny to shoot more and not having a lot of success getting the message through. But one day, Guy happened to be in Calgary for a visit and was sitting with Flames’ brass in the press box watching practice. When Johnny came up to retrieve his father and go to lunch, Gaudreau Sr. passed on that same advice to his son – start shooting more.

“It’s amazing what happened after his dad told him to do that, because all of a sudden, he was shooting more,” Conroy said. “And instantly, he started scoring more goals.”

At the moment, Gaudreau is content to pursue his professional life in Calgary and return home in the summers to be around his family. As a unit, they’re close.

“In the summertime, I go straight home, spend the entire summer with my family,” Gaudreau said. “Playing in Calgary, I don’t see them much, unless you’re playing on the east coast, or they come to visit. And even then, my parents have three other siblings of mine, and my older sister has two girls, and they live five minutes down the road from my parents and my dad still coaches. It’s just hard for them to get out here, so when the season is done, I might spend a couple days somewhere warm, but after that, I go straight home and spend the rest of the summer with them.”

Colborne too understands the twin motivating factors in Gaudreau’s life – how close he is to his family and how badly he wants to win a championship.

“Family is so big to him,” Colborne said, “but so is familiarity and being in a spot where he’s comfortable and understands that this is his team and that’s his room. He’s one of the leaders. He’s comfortable there. He knows they can be successful. I think if you keep this core together, and you have a competitive team that’s hopefully going to win a Cup in the next couple years here or at least be on the cusp of winning, that will be important to him.

“At the end of the day, winning is going to, in my opinion, the biggest factor. If Johnny thinks he’s got a chance to keep winning and if they keep this core together and keep tweaking things, I think he will realize his opportunity to do that is here. I know there’s nothing like playing for your hometown team because I got to do it and I loved every second of it.

“But there is also something to be said about playing for the same team your whole career or even playing for 15 years, like Jarome (Iginla) did, because then you become a part of the fabric of that city. As long as the Flames stay on the path they’re on, I don’t think that will be an issue.”

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1128278 Chicago Blackhawks

With their long break over, the Blackhawks hope to take one final shot at making a playoff run

Jimmy Greenfield

There was no talk of making the best of a lost season, no talk of the pending trade deadline, and certainly no talk of tanking. Whether it’s fanciful thinking or the product of too many recent afternoons lying in the sun daydreaming, the Blackhawks returned from a nine-day break believing the playoffs — yes, this season’s playoffs — are still within reach. “Crazier things have happened,” said Jonathan Toews, who spent part of his break vacationing in Mexico. “So we’ve got to have that belief in ourselves that if we start putting some wins together and really building some confidence and have that belief that our best hockey this year is yet to be played. I think it’s exciting when you have purpose and you have a reason for playing. Every team believes they can make the playoffs, so why not us? “We’ve had some ups and downs this year, but I think it’s been a learning process and we’ve all gotten better, so now is the time to play our best hockey and see what we can put together.” It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Hawks’ best hockey is yet to be played. The first 51 games produced a 18-24-9 record and 45 points — just two ahead of the Senators’ NHL-worst 43. Still, the Hawks entered Thursday just seven points out of the last wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Hawks would need to jump over six teams to earn a playoff berth. For that to happen, those teams will need to lose regularly while the Hawks begin winning a lot, starting with Friday night’s game in Buffalo. The days of hoping for a long winning streak in the future are over. The Hawks must go on one now or prepare to play out the string without any hope at all. “There’s an opportunity,” Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We go on a run and there’s no doubt we can get back in the mix, and that’s what we want to do. For us to evaluate guys and learn more about our team and get better, we want to play meaningful games for as long as possible.” Thursday’s practice at the Sabres’ KeyBank Center was longer than usual for late January, but after nearly a week and a half without skating for the Hawks, Colliton knew something out of the ordinary was required. “They’re not going to feel good,” Colliton said. “So hopefully we can get them feeling as normal as possible for (Friday), that’s why it was a little longer today. Lot of competition and some battles and some bumping. It was good.” Colliton wouldn’t say who would start in goal; he did hint that Toews and Patrick Kane would remain on the same line, trying to sustain the magic that saw them score a combined 12 points during a two-game winning streak before the break. “That seems like a long time ago,” Kane said. “So now we got to get right back at it right away. We can’t let any games or any points slip away and we can’t think just because we had a break we’re going to ease into it and play well. We really need to bear down right away.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128279 Chicago Blackhawks Coyne Schofield posted on social media that she feels respected by McGuire as a hockey player and a woman and “didn’t think twice about our on-air exchange when it happened.” Pierre McGuire's condescending treatment of Kendall Coyne Schofield is Yet Coyne Schofield recognized that how she felt about McGuire’s all too familiar for women in male-dominated fields comments might not be as important as how young girls watching at home might have interpreted the moment: “What IS important is for every young girl reading this to know it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of my Shannon Ryan hockey knowledge — because I do not doubt my hockey knowledge. I didn’t need a gold medal to come to that conclusion. I needed belief in myself.” Imagine boarding a plane and stopping by the cockpit on the way to your Let’s hope McGuire learns quickly from this moment. And let’s hope NBC seat to advise the pilot: “Now remember: The runway is over here. The asks Coyne Schofield back as an analyst — with or without McGuire. sky is up there.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 Weird, right? NHL analyst Pierre McGuire made similarly tone-deaf and out-of-place comments when welcoming Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield to her NBC broadcasting debut Wednesday night, less than a week after she became the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star skills competition. “Tampa’s going to be on your left. Pittsburgh’s going to be on your right,” McGuire explained to Coyne Schofield during the pregame broadcast. “What are you expecting out of this game? We’re paying you to be an analyst, not to be a fan tonight!” On behalf of women everywhere, let me put it bluntly: What the hell, man? Why on Earth would McGuire expect — or even joke — that a player who scored two goals to help the U.S. win a gold medal in 2018 wouldn’t know the difference between two NHL teams? Did anyone explain to what a puck is when he began as an NHL analyst? Did anyone warn him publicly that he shouldn’t sound like a fan instead of a respected veteran player? Nobody should have to supply Coyne Schofield’s credentials to lay out the case that McGuire was wrong. She could never have laced on skates in her life — like a lot of hockey reporters — and still be qualified to have a place next to him in the booth. But here’s just part of her resume: In addition to starring on the U.S. team in Pyeongchang, South Korea, she won a silver medal in the 2014 Olympics. At , she earned the , which goes to the nation’s top female college hockey player. She currently plays for the of the National Women’s Hockey League. Coyne Schofield is not a fan. She’s a pro. She does not deserve the disrespect of anyone questioning her knowledge of the sport — even flippantly. She deserves the benefit of the doubt that she is capable of objectively analyzing a sport she has played her entire life. It’s hard for women to gain footing in a male-dominated field when they’re met with stereotypes on their first day. Male sports broadcasters and reporters have improved vastly over the decades about treating female colleagues professionally and as equals. But every female fan, athlete or media member knows what it feels like to have her credentials unfairly questioned. She did what so many women in the workforce do when they’re met with condescending comments — smile, ignore it and get on with the job. Coyne Schofield’s on-point analysis and composure during the broadcast shouldn’t be lost in this. McGuire blew it and put Coyne Schofield in an awkward position. His unprofessional and sexist comments didn’t help the hockey world, which has been met with criticism for its unfair treatment of female players. Coyne Schofield, a Palos Heights native, has been a vocal opponent of the gender wage disparity in USA Hockey. The NHL looked petty after it awarded a $25,000 award to the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl for a skills event at the All-Star Game even though clocked an unofficial faster time in her demonstration, sparking the hashtag #PayDecker on social media. (A hockey equipment manufacturer paid Decker the same amount.) In a sport in which few women are represented or given a substantial platform, Coyne Schofield has stood out as an ambassador for the game. NBC was wise to bring her on as an analyst. 1128280 Chicago Blackhawks

Antoine Vermette, Stanley Cup winner with the 2014-15 Blackhawks, retires after 14 NHL seasons

Stephen Whyno

Center Antoine Vermette retires as one of the best faceoff specialists of his generation. Vermette announced Wednesday he was calling it a career after 14 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old from Quebec won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015 and most recently played for the Ducks, but he didn't sign with a team after becoming a free agent last summer. "I am immensely grateful for all these incredible years punctuated by memorable moments that I will cherish forever," Vermette said in a statement sent through the NHL Players' Association. "It was a privilege sharing my daily life with teammates, to forging friendships that will endure well beyond the victories and defeats." In the faceoff circle, Vermette had far more victories than defeats. He won 56.6 percent of his faceoffs, the ninth-best mark since the league began tracking the statistic in 1997-98. Vermette's 8,948 faceoff wins are 14th-most all-time, and he led the league in faceoff percentage in his final season in 2017-18. Longtime agent Allan Walsh said Vermette constantly worked on his faceoff techniques always looking for an edge and was proud of his expertise in that department. "He was a guy that would always be relied upon to go out there in key moments of a game, especially faceoffs in the defensive zone or offensive zone to go out there and win the faceoff," Walsh said. "We know how important possession is nowadays. Being able to control the puck on the (power play or penalty kill) or the last minute and a half of the game with a faceoff in the O-zone with the goalie on the bench is sometimes half the battle right there." Vermette put up 228 goals and 287 assists for 515 points in 1,046 regular-season games. He had 28 points and a faceoff percentage of 57.9 during 97 playoff games and helped the Blackhawks win the Cup in 2015 after being picked up at the trade deadline. "Obviously, he played a different role based on how strong the team was and especially down the middle," Walsh said. "He's a guy that whether it was to be more of a two-way shutdown guy or to be counted on to provide offense, he had some years where he scored a lot of goals and put up a lot of points." Vermette also had a 482-game ironman streak that lasted from March 2009 until October 2015. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128281 Chicago Blackhawks

'I'm in a great spot': Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell has the NHL — and an NCAA title — on his mind

Jimmy Greenfield

Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell isn’t afraid to admit the NHL is on his mind even while he’s pursuing an NCAA championship at the University of Denver. “At times I find myself thinking about it because growing up my dream has always been to play in the NHL,” Mitchell said. The idea that the opportunity could be right around the corner “is exciting for me.” It’s too soon to know if Mitchell will turn pro after his college season ends in a couple of months, but what’s clear is the Blackhawks’ 2017 second- round pick is having another standout season for the Pioneers, a surprising contender to reach the Frozen Four. “Going into the year there really weren’t a whole lot of outside expectations about our team,” Mitchell said. “Everyone thought we were going to be too young and not skilled enough to be a top-end college hockey team. But so far we’ve proved people wrong and we’re definitely hoping to continue that down the stretch.” Mitchell’s season was interrupted to play for Team Canada in the World Juniors, which ended without a medal. As disappointing as that outcome was, there was no time to stew over what went wrong. Not when Mitchell had the third-ranked Pioneers to return to. Mitchell, 20 and a sophomore defenseman, had to deal with the Pioneers undergoing a head coaching change. After Jim Montomery left for the NHL to coach the Stars, the school hired 28-year-old David Carle, who is the NCAA's youngest active hockey coach. He named Mitchell an alternate captain to the start the season. At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Mitchell will need to bulk up a bit before reaching the NHL, but no matter how big he gets, size ultimately won’t be what will allow him to reach the NHL. “My biggest my asset is probably the way I think (about) the game and my skating ability,” Mitchell said. “Those are the two things that have always allowed me to be a successful player and I think that kind of carries on this year at Denver. Those two things have allowed me to have success. “Things I’m continuing to work on are defensive play and playing against bigger and stronger players. (That) is something I need to get better at if I want to play for the Blackhawks in a short period of time here.” It’s not uncommon for a college player to sign a pro contract after his season ends then get in a few NHL games at the end of the season. Whether that’s in the cards for Mitchell remains to be seen. “I want to play for the Blackhawks as soon as I can,” Mitchell said. “It’s definitely something in the forefront of my mind. At the end of the season it will be a decision for me and my family if (the Hawks) are going to offer me a contract, and then what my decision is going to be. I think I’m in a great spot.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128282 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks send rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju to Rockford

Jimmy Greenfield

When Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju he was being sent to Rockford, Colliton made it clear they'll see each other soon and, hopefully, for years to come. “It doesn’t change how we feel about him,” Colliton said Thursday. “That’s what I told him this morning. We believe in him and think he’s going to be a big part of when we get this thing going the right way. He’s a big piece of the puzzle. But we also think for him to continue growing his game, the best place is Rockford.” The move will allow Jokiharju, who won’t turn 20 until June, to keep playing every day, and it alleviates a glut of players on the blue line. It also will let him get experience with the IceHogs’ top power-play unit, an opportunity he wasn’t going to get with the Hawks at this point. The Hawks now are carrying six defensemen, but Gustav Forsling is expected to be activated from injured reserve prior to Friday’s game against the Sabres. The emergence of Carl Dahlstrom and a desire to see more from newly acquired Slater Koekkoek gave the Hawks eight defensemen they wanted to find playing time. Jokiharju, who had no goals and 12 assists in 37 games for the Hawks, made the team out of training camp when Connor Murphy’s back injury created an opening. He got off to a strong start, but his ice time slowly decreased after Joel Quenneville was fired. Jokiharju had his first healthy scratch shortly after Colliton took over as head coach. In December, Jokiharju was loaned to Team Finland to play in the World Junior Championships and was a key factor as the Finns captured the gold medal. After Jokiharju returned he played in five games but was a healthy scratch once and averaged only 14 minutes, 25 seconds per game. “He’s 19 years old, and its hard physically to get out of D-zone when you’re that (age),” Colliton said. “Obviously, he doesn’t have the man body yet, but he will. And we want him to not just be playing to survive out there, we want him to be playing to excel and be a top player." Buffalo soldier Each summer when the NHL schedule comes out, Buffalo native Patrick Kane does a quick scan to see when the Hawks play the Sabres. The hope is there will be a free night before the game so he can spend time with family. This year, his wish was granted. Many of his family members watched Kane during Thursday’s practice at KeyBank Center before joining him for an evening together. In seven career games in Buffalo, Kane has five goals and four assists and has scored at least one point in each game. “I pretty much grew up in this rink coming to a lot of Sabres games when I was younger,” Kane said. “Kind of brings back a lot of memories when you walk through the tunnel and you see where I used to sit. Nice we get a couple of practices here, too.” Chicago Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128283 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks rookie D Henri Jokiharju squeezed out of ice time

By Jason Lieseremail

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Blackhawks still have big plans for rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju, but those are on hold. The team reassigned Jokiharju to Rockford this morning as coach Jeremy Colliton tried to manage a surplus at his position. The Hawks had seven defensemen and are likely to activate Gustav Forsling from Injured Reserve on Friday. Colliton envisions Jokiharju being a top-line player and a factor on power plays, but he was going to have a challenge earning the right to be active, let alone getting opportunities like that. “We want him playing more,” Colliton said after today’s practice at KeyBank Center. “We love him. It doesn’t change how we feel about him. That’s what I told him this morning. “We believe in him and think he’s going to be a big part of when we get this thing going the right way. He’s a big piece of the puzzle. But we also think for him to continue growing his game, the best place is Rockford.” Jokiharju, 19, was the team’s first-round pick in 2017 and hasn’t established himself yet. He played 37 of a possible 51 games this season, and the Hawks loaned him to the Finnish national team for the recent World Juniors. Colliton said there were several reasons why Jokiharju’s status among the defensemen has slipped. The Hawks were missing Forsling and Connor Murphy in the first half because of injuries, and Carl Dahlstrom has emerged as one of his most trusted players. Colliton also doesn’t think Jokiharju (6-0, 193 pounds) is ready for the physical demands of playing defense in the NHL because of his age. “Obviously he doesn’t have the man body yet, but he will,” Colliton said. “We want him to not just be playing to survive out there; we want him to be playing to excel and be a top player. “So we want him to go down [to Rockford] and tight gap and defend hard, get out of D-zone. He’s gonna make plays. We’re not worried about that. And he’s gonna get a chance on the power play, and we think that’s for the best.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128284 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks reconvene with 'crazier things have happened' mentality

By Jason Lieseremail

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Blackhawks’ first practice after the All-Star break was sloppy and exhausting — exactly what they needed. The team reconvened in Chicago on Thursday morning for a charter flight, then got on the ice at KeyBank Center for about an hour in the afternoon for their first real action since Jan. 22. Players dispersed to refresh after a turbulent first half, and coach Jeremy Colliton prepared a rigorous first day back to get them ready for the game Friday against the Sabres. “You don’t touch the puck for about a week, so you’ve gotta get the feel again and get your lungs going and get your legs going,” said Jonathan Toews, who maintained his conditioning while on vacation in Mexico. “You’re gonna make a few mistakes and fight the puck a little bit, but get that out of your system. I think we’ll be ready.” Ready for what? A playoff push. The Hawks are hunting four points on the road this weekend in a back-to-back against the Sabres and Wild, which would be a strong start in their long-shot pursuit of a wild-card spot. They sit seven points behind the Avalanche, which is hardly insurmountable if they get hot. The problem is they’d have to reach scalding temperatures and pull off their most productive stretch of the season to overcome their 9-18-5 start. “Crazier things have happened, so we’ve gotta have that belief,” Toews said. “I think it’s exciting when you have purpose and you have a reason for playing. Every team believes they can make the playoffs, so why not us? “We’ve had some ups and downs this year, but I think it’s been a learning process, and we’ve all gotten better, so now is the time to play our best hockey and see what we can put together.” The first half saw the Hawks hit rock bottom, then punch back with a nice run in December before sputtering through a five-game losing streak in mid-January. They closed with thrilling home victories against the Capitals and Islanders. Colliton spent the break rewatching those games and others with a concentration on his team’s defense. It has been terrible. It was slightly less terrible during the resurgence, but still terrible. The Hawks have allowed 35 shots per game (second-worst in the NHL), given up 3.71 goals (second-worst) and have an .894 save percentage (fifth-worst). Speaking of the goaltenders, Colliton is likely to split up the next two games between Cam Ward and Collin Delia but declined to specify. Colliton saw better execution against the Islanders, though, when his team allowed 32 shots in regulation and Ward stopped 30 of them. He wants the second half to look something like that. But that game feels like a lifetime ago. The government reopened and the polar vortex hit since then. “That seems like a long time ago, so now it’s like we’ve got to get right back,” said Patrick Kane, who’s playing in his hometown. “We can’t get let any games or any points slip away, and we can’t think just because we had a break that we’re going to ease into it and play well. We really need to bear down right away.” If they do that, they’ll gain ground quickly. And things will get a lot more interesting. NOTE: The Hawks sent rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju to Rockford. Jokiharju has played in 37 of 51 games and has no goals and 12 assists. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128285 Chicago Blackhawks

Faceoff ace Antoine Vermette retires after 14 NHL seasons

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Center Antoine Vermette retires as one of the best faceoff specialists of his generation. Vermette announced Wednesday he was calling it a career after 14 NHL seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old from Quebec won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015 and most recently played for the Ducks, but he didn’t sign with a team after becoming a free agent last summer. “I am immensely grateful for all these incredible years punctuated by memorable moments that I will cherish forever,” Vermette said in a statement sent through the NHL Players’ Association. “It was a privilege sharing my daily life with teammates, to forging friendships that will endure well beyond the victories and defeats.” In the faceoff circle, Vermette had far more victories than defeats. He won 56.6 percent of his faceoffs, the ninth-best mark since the league began tracking the statistic in 1997-98. Vermette’s 8,948 faceoff wins are 14th-most all-time, and he led the league in faceoff percentage in his final season in 2017-18. Longtime agent Allan Walsh said Vermette constantly worked on his faceoff techniques always looking for an edge and was proud of his expertise in that department. “He was a guy that would always be relied upon to go out there in key moments of a game, especially faceoffs in the defensive zone or offensive zone to go out there and win the faceoff,” Walsh said. “We know how important possession is nowadays. Being able to control the puck on the (power play or penalty kill) or the last minute and a half of the game with a faceoff in the O-zone with the goalie on the bench is sometimes half the battle right there.” Vermette put up 228 goals and 287 assists for 515 points in 1,046 regular-season games. He had 28 points and a faceoff percentage of 57.9 during 97 playoff games and helped the Blackhawks win the Cup in 2015 after being picked up at the trade deadline. “Obviously, he played a different role based on how strong the team was and especially down the middle,” Walsh said. “He’s a guy that whether it was to be more of a two-way shutdown guy or to be counted on to provide offense, he had some years where he scored a lot of goals and put up a lot of points.” Vermette also had a 482-game ironman streak that lasted from March 2009 until October 2015. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128286 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks assign D Henri Jokiharju to Rockford IceHogs

By Jason Lieseremail

The Blackhawks will open the second half of the season with rookie defenseman Henri Jokiharju in the minor leagues. The team reassigned Jokiharju to the Rockford IceHogs this morning before flying to Buffalo for this afternoon’s practice. The Hawks had a surplus of defensemen going into the All-Star break, and coach Jeremy Colliton made Jokiharju a healthy scratch against the Capitals last Sunday. They have also been expecting defenseman Gustav Forsling back from an upper torso injury soon. Jokiharju, the No. 29 overall pick in 2017, has played 37 of 51 games and has no goals and 12 assists. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128287 Chicago Blackhawks

Scouting report: Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres

By John Dietz

6 p.m. Friday at the KeyBank Center TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WGN 720-AM The skinny: Buffalo (25-19-6) went on a 10-game winning streak in November, and is 8-13-4 since. … Jack Eichel (16G, 37A) leads the team with 53 points, but Jeff Skinner is the leading goal-scorer with 31. … Jason Pominville (10G, 10A) was scratched in Buffalo's 1-0 loss at Dallas Wednesday. It was his first healthy scratch since 2006. … Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick of last year's draft, has 5 goals, 23 assists and is averaging 20:41 of ice time. ... The Sabres, who have played seven of their last nine games on the road, are 14-6-1 at home. … Buffalo's power play is 1-for-25 in the last 10 games. Next: , 7 p.m. Saturday at Xcel Energy Center Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128288 Chicago Blackhawks

NBC Sports Chicago's Athlete of the Month for January: Patrick Kane

By Charlie Roumeliotis January 31, 2019 10:15 PM

NBC Sports Chicago is beginning a series that highlights Chicago athletes each month and their successes over the course of a calendar year. And to kick if off, Patrick Kane has been named Athlete of the Month for January. After going pointless in the 2019 Winter Classic on Jan. 1, Kane has recorded at least a point in nine straight games to cap off the month (and counting). Over that span, he has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) for a points-per-game rate of 2.33. In six of those nine contests, Kane had multi-point efforts, with five of them coming in consecutive games. It was easily one of the most productive months of his NHL career. Among the highlights is a three-assist effort against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 6, a four-point game and career-high 28:50 of ice time on Jan. 14 against the New Jersey Devils and a five-point outing that tied a career high on Jan. 20 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals during NBC's Game of the Week. Going into February, Kane ranks fifth in the NHL with 71 points and is tied for sixth with 29 goals, which is only two away from Jeff Skinner (31) for second. The former Hart Trophy winner is on pace to set a career high in goals (47), assists (68) and points (115) despite missing one game with an illness. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128289 Chicago Blackhawks When Dylan Strome got traded to the Blackhawks, Alex DeBrincat was ecstatic. The former set of linemates who dominated the OHL together were reunited in the NHL. But there's another player who was equally 10 bonus takeaways from Rockford: State of the IceHogs and potential excited: Darren Raddysh. future Blackhawks He was Strome's teammate with the Otters for four years and DeBrincat for three. After the trade went down, Raddysh said he immediately FaceTimed with DeBrincat and the two reacted just as you imagined they By Charlie Roumeliotis January 31, 2019 11:00 AM would. "I called Alex, we FaceTimed and we both started screaming in the FaceTime for five seconds," Raddysh said. "And then we're just like, With the Blackhawks away from action for nine days, the lengthy break 'Wow, I can't believe this is going to happen.' It's great to see them allowed NBC Sports Chicago to pay a visit to Rockford to catch up with together in Chicago and hopefully like to get up there playing with them." some prospects. It's always a great time, and we did our best to gather as much content as we could. 4. Darren Raddysh's biggest leap If you missed it, here's some of the ground we covered: The Blackhawks signed Raddysh to an AHL contract in 2017 after he was named the OHL's defenseman of the year. It was a nice under-the- — How Dylan Sikura is dealing with NHL growing pains and radar signing, and he turned it into a professional contract. rediscovering his confidence At the time, the Blackhawks were thrilled with adding a right-handed shot — Anton Forsberg on challenges of 2017-18 season, resetting in defenseman to the organization because they didn't have many of them. Rockford and uncertain future with Blackhawks That's a big reason why Raddysh signed in Chicago. But now they're loaded in that department, with Adam Boqvist, Henri Jokiharju and Ian — After whirlwind 2017-18 season, Victor Ejdsell trying to adapt to life in Mitchell on the way. pro hockey Raddysh isn't worried about where he slots in, though. His game has Here are 10 other bonus takeaways from our trip to Rockford: taken great strides since he arrived. He's tied for the team-lead among 1. State of the IceHogs defensemen with 22 points, matching his total a year ago in 23 fewer games. What's the biggest difference? A season ago, the IceHogs had their best run in team history. They finished with 88 points, swept their first two opponents in Rounds 1 and 2 "I think I'm a little more confident with the puck," Raddysh said. "Last year of the Calder Cup playoffs and reached the Western Conference Final for I was kind of hesitant to make plays and to try to jump up in the rush, but the first time before losing to the Texas Stars in six games. I know the coaches this year have given me a little bit more freedom to do that and it's been working out pretty well." This season has been much different, in large part because a lot has changed. Jeremy Colliton was promoted to head coach of the 5. Why Anthony Louis is excited about today's NHL Blackhawks, with Sheldon Brookbank recently joining his staff. Injuries Someone that has been in the organization since the 2016-17 season but have also hit them in a tough way. And many key pieces from last year's hasn't gotten much attention has been Louis. A part of that might be his group are with the big club now: Carl Dahlstrom, Collin Delia, Gustav size: he's 5-foot-7, 151 pounds. Forsling, John Hayden and David Kampf. But this is the way the NHL is trending these days. Smaller, faster and This is clearly a transition year for the IceHogs. They're tied for third- quicker players. That skillset suits Louis, who leads the IceHogs with 27 worst in the West with a points percentage of .500, and have scored the points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games and is a regular on the power fewest goals scored out of anyone in the AHL with 105 through 46 play. games. There are still areas he'd like to improve upon, such as playing a 200-foot Next year should be different. The pipeline is expected to replenish game and being more consistent in all areas, but he's on the right track. It again, both up front and on the back end. But there's still a great has to help that a fellow 5-foot-7 skater is currently having monster opportunity to make a name for yourself this season, despite the constant success with the Blackhawks in Alex DeBrincat. changes making it difficult on the coaching staff. "Yeah, for sure," Louis said. "Obviously in the past I probably wouldn't "I think it's challenging as a coach because your lineup changes every have even gotten looked at, I probably wouldn't be here. But nowadays day," IceHogs interim coach Derek King said. "You prepare for your the game has changed so much for me and smaller, faster guys, more weekend games and then all of a sudden there's call-ups, so then you skilled, so I think for sure it gives me confidence that I know up there got to prepare again. That affects specialty teams and what have you. definitely gives me a little more." But being a part of it over the years and seeing how Jeremy handles it and other coaches I've had handle it, it's made the adjustment a lot 6. Player profiles easier. We have enough bodies here that can do the job. It's a chance for some of our young guys to get an opportunity to play in key situations." I asked King to provide a brief synopsis on several IceHogs, and how their seasons are going. Here are his thoughts: 2. How Derek King has handled transition to interim head coach — On Anthony Louis: "His game has had some strides, faded a little bit, It's been a crazy past three months for Colliton, both professionally and he's got to get back on track but another guy that needs to get stronger." personally, since he was named head coach of the Blackhawks. Mid- season changes are always challenging. — On Victor Ejdsell: "Ejdsell needs to work on his skating, but he's got an NHL shot and he's a little inconsistent right now." King was going through something similar in Rockford where he's the assistant coach one day, and the next he's running the team. The — On Darren Raddysh: "Rads has been great for us all year. He gets his transition on the fly isn't easy. But the adjustment has been as smooth as ups and downs, but now his downs are not as bad as they were last year. it can be. He's pretty steady. But somebody who needs to work on his skating." "It's been great, it's a lot easier now to be honest," King said. "When it — On Lucas Carlsson: "Carlsson has been a surprise. I think he's got an first happened, it was just, 'Wham, in the face.' It took me a little time to NHL game, but a lot of times it's the pace. If he can pick up his pace and adjust of the position I'm in, cause I've always been an assistant coach. be a little more consistent with that, I think you'll maybe see him in the But it's been good, it's been fine now. I feel comfortable and we're ready NHL here in the future." to go." — On Joni Tuulola: "Tuulola, he's a character. It's too bad he's hurt What was King's reaction to Colliton's promotion? because I think he made some great strides this year. I'm looking forward to having him back and hopefully he's ready to go. But he's a character "Well I thought, 'Why didn't they pick me?,'" King joked. "But no, it's an kid, brings a lot of energy, it's not always pretty but it's effective." opportunity for me. I was happy for him and I knew Jeremy just working with him for that year. He's a young guy, he's up and coming, but he 7. Most surprising player? does a good job. There's a time where you knew he was going to be in the NHL, whether it was with the Hawks or somebody else. So I guess I also asked King who the two most surprising players of the season they read my mind and figured they better get him before somebody else have been so far. His response? takes him." "Carlsson. And [Jacob] Nilsson," King said. "Those two. [Nilsson's] 3. reunion? probably one of our most consistent forwards this year for us. When he went up, we missed him. When he came back down, we were happy. Those two right there are pretty good hockey players. NHL is a different pace, different mindset. This is a good place to hone it." 8. Why Carl Dahlstrom's game is better suited in NHL When Dahlstrom was called up to Chicago, it came as a bit of a surprise because he wasn't exactly flourishing in Rockford. He had a minus-11 rating in 22 games, which ranks last on the team. In the NHL, he has been drawing top competition on a nightly basis and his game appears to be translating much better in the NHL than the AHL. There's a reason for that. "Dahly is a special player," King said. "He's got size, he can skate, he's got a great shot, he's a big body out there. I think his game translates to the NHL easier than it does down here. Everybody up there is a little more positioned, a little more structure to their game and that's why I think he's found it a little easier to play up there than down here. At times we can be a little sloppy here. But I think he'll only get better the more he plays and as the seasons go, and he becomes more of a veteran and more comfortable, you'll see him tearing it up." 9. Player comparables One of my favorite things to do is ask young players who they try modeling their game after and which guys they study. We asked three of them in Rockford, and a couple of them came up with unique answers and not necessarily the household name NHL players. —Victor Ejdsell: "During my time talking to all the scouts, everyone keeps saying, 'You should watch Patrik Berglund. He's your type of guy. Just watch him.' So I've been doing that ... see what he's bringing to the table every night, and that's what I want to do too. I want to be an offensive guy that makes good things happen on the ice." —Anthony Louis: "I've watched [Patrick Kane] growing up. I've always been tracking his game style. And then there's other guys like [Johnny] Gaudreau, I used to watch [Martin] St. Louis, like those guys have always been guys I try to model my game after." —Darren Raddysh: "I've been watching Matt Niskanen a little bit. He's a good defenseman, he can make plays and jump up in the rush." 10. Fun fact When conducting research for our Rockford features, two trades stood out because of who the Blackhawks spent their draft picks. In trading Scott Darling's negotiating rights to Carolina in 2017 for a third- round pick, the Blackhawks used that third-rounder on Evan Barratt at No. 90 overall. He's been a breakout star in college and was the NCAA's leading scorer before he left for the 2019 World Juniors to represent Team USA. His 1.52 points-per-game average ranks second in the nation right now. The other one is the package that sent Ryan Hartman and a fifth-round pick in 2018 to Nashville for Victor Ejdsell, a first-round and fourth-round pick in 2018. The Blackhawks, most notably, spent that first-rounder on Nicolas Beaudin. The fourth-rounder? Philipp Kurashev, who was the leading goal scorer at the World Juniors and named to the All-Star team. Not a bad find. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128290 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks send struggling rookie Henri Jokiharju to Rockford as blue line crowds up

By Charlie Roumeliotis January 31, 2019 10:00 AM

With the Blackhawks getting set to return from their nine-day hiatus in Buffalo, Henri Jokiharju was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League on Thursday. It's both surprising but also not, considering his ice time has dipped for the last month and a half. He averaged exactly 20:00 minutes of ice time per game in his first 32 games, and was the team leader in 5-on-5 ice time before he left for the 2019 World Juniors. In his most recent content before the All-Star break, Jokiharju logged only 12:55 in a 3-2 shootout win over the New York Islanders. It was the second time in four games he had logged fewer than 13 minutes, and in between that stretch he was a healthy scratch. With Slater Koekkoek part of the mix and Gustav Forsling returning from his upper torso injury soon, perhaps that's part of why the decision was made to send Jokiharju down. He can reset in Rockford and play in all situations rather than rotating in and out of the lineup on a nightly basis. It's a long 82-game season, and many rookies struggle with that in their first year. It's a lot of hockey they're not used to. Jokiharju is no different. "I think as a 19-year-old, we're pleased with his progression," coach Jeremy Colliton said before the break. "It's not going to happen overnight where he becomes a dominant player at this level. There's going to be ups and downs, and that's part of the journey as a young player. You got to go through some adversity, and it's not going to be perfect and that's fine. It's up to us to give us to give him the feedback he needs to continue to improve and up to him to work as hard as he can." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128291 Chicago Blackhawks years of college hockey, but there are still questions about whether he’ll be ready for the grind of the NHL season.

• The Blackhawks believe Dominik Kubalik, who was recently acquired Powers: What I’m hearing about the Blackhawks as the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth-round pick, has the potential to be approaches a top-nine forward. The organization’s scouts are high on him. It also helps that Kubalik is friends with Dominik Kahun. Kubalik, 23, has 19 goals and 26 assists in 39 games in Switzerland’s top division this By Scott Powers Jan 31, 2019 season. • Artur Kayumov was originally targeting next season to sign with the Blackhawks, but his agent said the plan has changed. Kayumov, a 2016 It’s that time of year when NHL teams are having more and more second-round draft pick, has another year left on his contract with discussions. Lokomotiv in the KHL and will look to come over for the 2020-21 season. That also happens to be the season Max Shalunov is expected to sign Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has already pulled the with the Blackhawks. Kayumov, 20, has been one of the KHL’s most trigger on a few deals this season and is undoubtedly exploring some productive under-21 players this season with five goals and eight assists more. With the playoffs likely out of reach, Bowman has said he’ll assess in 39 games. He had three points in 20 games last season. his team for next season and beyond. He’ll certainly be doing that in the coming weeks. • Staying in Russia, it’s unknown where the Blackhawks stand with goalie prospect Ivan Nalimov. Nalimov’s agent said previously that he hoped his The trade deadline is still a few weeks away, but there are some pieces client would be in North America next season, but that’s up in the air. His of information starting to trickle out. agent texted on Wednesday, “We’ll see.” Here’s what I’ve been hearing about Blackhawks in regards to possible Nalimov hasn’t been as sharp this season after having a breakout 2017- trades, signings and their recent decisions: 18. He had a .938 save percentage in 23 games last season. He has a • The Blackhawks’ decision to assign Henri Jokiharju to the Rockford .913 save percentage in 13 games this season. IceHogs is telling in terms of how they see his development. A source The Blackhawks have yet to sign a drafted player from Russia since Igor said Thursday that the organization decided to make the move in order to Makarov in 2010. Shalunov, Kayumov, Nalimov and Andrei get Jokiharju regular ice time and further his development. Not everyone, Altybarmakyan have been drafted from Russia in the last eight years. including probably Jokiharju, agrees with that decision. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton certainly had a say in this as well. Since returning from the World Junior Championship, Jokiharju averaged 14:24 of ice time. He’s played fewer than 16 minutes eight times this season, and four of those came in his last five games. Colliton has played Jokiharju less than Joel Quenneville did too. Jokiharju has played more than 20 minutes 16 times this season, and 11 of those were under Quenneville. • It’s unlikely the Blackhawks would make a play at the trade deadline for any upcoming unrestricted free agents they might consider targeting in the offseason, a source said. That would include Artemi Panarin, of course. The source said the Blackhawks aren’t looking to give up any assets, especially draft picks, to acquire someone. They prefer to take their chances this summer. • The Blackhawks appear to be willing to trade John Hayden and are receiving interest in him, a league source said. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently touched on Hayden in his 31 Thoughts column. Hayden, a 23-year-old winger, has two goals and one assist in 35 games. He also has a 45.94 Corsi percentage and a minus-9 goal differential in 5-on-5 play. He’s been on the ice for seven goals for and 16 against. He does have one of the team’s lowest offensive-zone faceoff starting percentages at 44.0. “He’ll have interest,” the league source said. “He’s a physical presence. He has some skill. He gets to the net and plays hard. He can play a bottom-6 role. He could be useful for a team.” The source believed the Blackhawks were seeking a prospect or draft pick for Hayden. • One of the obstacles for the Blackhawks leading up to the deadline is they don’t have many players who fit into the rental category. The only players on their NHL roster who can become unrestricted free agents after the season are Chris Kunitz, Marcus Kruger and Cam Ward. As previously reported, the Blackhawks have let teams know Kunitz and Kruger are available. It’s unknown whether there’s any interest. • Erik Gustafsson has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate, but Bowman would probably have to be “wowed” by a deal to move him. With Gustafsson’s offensive upside and $1.2 million cap hit for another season, the Blackhawks believe he’s a steal. • The Blackhawks aren’t holding their breath to move Artem Anisimov before the deadline. It might be possible after this season when his modified no-movement clause expires and he’s owed less in actual salary. He has a $4.55 million cap hit through the 2020-21 season. • The Blackhawks are hopeful Adam Boqvist, Nicolas Beaudin or Ian Mitchell emerge out of training camp next season, but they’re not banking on it. Jokiharju took a massive step last season to get himself ready for the NHL, and it’s unclear whether any of those up-and-coming prospects are taking that same step. Mitchell might be the most ready after two 1128292 Chicago Blackhawks Like Erik Gustafsson, for example. He went through this process twice. After cracking the NHL lineup for the first time in late October 2015, Gustafsson spent a few weeks in Chicago, headed back to Rockford, Off Beat: First goal? First win? No, perhaps the biggest milestone for a then returned in late December. He spent about two months total in the young NHL player is receiving The Letter hotel before he found a landlord willing to give him a two-month lease for the rest of the season (he spends his summers in Sweden).

But he spent the entire next season and a half in Rockford, and started By Mark Lazerus Jan 31, 2019 back at square one last January when the Blackhawks recalled him. And though he played in 33 of the Blackhawks’ final 35 games, he never got The Letter. So it was hotel living for three solid months. With his wife. This is the second edition of Off Beat, an occasional series peeling back Oh, and their seven-month-old daughter. the curtain to show the human side of professional sports, and the little quirks of hockey culture. The first few weeks in the downtown hotel were rough, schlepping the baby down the hall, down the elevator, through the lobby just to get It’s not that Collin Delia isn’t appreciative of the perfectly nice hotel room outside. But the CBA mandates that, after 28 days in the NHL, any player he’s living in these days. It’s clean, it’s comfortable, it’s quiet, it’s living with a companion and a child has to get a two-bedroom suite in the conveniently located. It’s free. It’s fine. extended-stay hotel, with a kitchen area. But that kitchen. No, that kitchenette. Calling it a kitchen would be an So it wasn’t exactly hell. But it wasn’t exactly home, either. insult to any cook worth his salt shaker. “With a baby, it’s not fun,” Gustafsson said. “But at least the cleaning lady Look, all this playing in front of 20,000 fans and flying first-class charters comes every day. That’s the best part when you live at the hotel. So that and making more than 10 times the money he made in the American was great. Once we moved into the two-bedroom with the little kitchen, it Hockey League is nice and all. But what Delia really wants to do is to go was pretty nice.” to Whole Foods, pick out some fresh ingredients and cook himself a nice meal. Still, Gustafsson was dying for The Letter. “I make this really good cremini mushroom rosemary pork chop with a “Yuuuuup,” he said, loudly with a laugh. cream sauce, with risotto and brussel sprouts,” Delia said. “But (the hotel’s) not really a suitable environment. So that’s something I’ve been When it came at the end of training camp this season, the sensation was missing lately. It’s so calming for me to go to the grocery store and pick more relief than joy. After all, he had played in 76 NHL games by that stuff out. People find that mundane, but I enjoy it. I’ve been going out to point. He was 26 years old, with a family. He already felt like he eat all the time. Seeing too many tablecloths.” belonged. It’s been 44 days since Delia was recalled from the IceHogs. That’s more “It was nice,” he said. “Not just for me, but for my wife and the baby, too. than six weeks of hotel living — first in swanky downtown digs, now in We like our apartment now, so it’s great.” the extended-stay hotel mandated by the collective-bargaining John Hayden got The Letter twice, too. This year, it came while the team agreement after 28 days. Corey Crawford’s uncertain status, combined was in Anaheim in early December, when he was approaching his 80th with Cam Ward’s no-movement clause, means that neither Delia nor the NHL game, meaning he’d have to clear waivers in order to be sent to team really knows how long he’ll be in the NHL. Could be another week Rockford. His plan all along was to move back in with Nick Schmaltz, or two. Could be the rest of the season. with whom he lived last season after getting his first letter. But Schmaltz And so Delia will have to keep going out to dinner with his buddy down had just been traded a week earlier. the street from the hotel, and keep waiting for The Letter. “I ended up just getting a place on my own,” Hayden said. “We were Receiving The Letter is inarguably one of the biggest moments in a pretty close, and that was fun last year. But it’s still nice to get out of the hockey player’s life. Getting drafted is a dream come true, but you still hotel. I’ve spent a lot of time in hotels the last couple years.” could be years away from the NHL. Scoring your first goal is exhilarating, Carl Dahlstrom now resides in the same limbo that Delia finds himself in. but plenty of guys have come and scored and gone. No, short of winning He’s got a place in Rockford — one that he shares with Victor Ejdsell, the Stanley Cup, there might not be a bigger moment and a greater and one that, frankly, he hopes to never see again. That’s the flip side of feeling than receiving The Letter — the official notice from the team that all this. Every time someone gets The Letter, someone in Rockford loses a player has permission to leave the hotel and look for his own a roommate. It’s like a never-ending revolving door of housemates out apartment. there. And most of them are on two-way contracts, making about It means you’ve made it. $70,000 a year in Rockford. Certainly a good wage, but not the kind that can easily absorb the loss of a second income. “You try not to think about it too much, but you really do think about it all the time, whenever you go back to the hotel,” rookie Henri Jokiharju said. “Guys (get sent) down, they just jump in where the guy who goes up “It’s not on your mind when you’re on the ice, but it’s a good moment lived,” Dahlstrom said. “We don’t really care that much. It’s mostly young when it happens.” guys down there. We don’t really have big families, there’s not a lot of kids. The living situation is fairly easy for most guys, I think.” Sadly, The Letter — a CBA-mandated notification on team letterhead — doesn’t arrive with formal fanfare and trumpets, left in a player’s locker After all, not everybody can be Viktor Svedberg, the longtime King of stall atop a purple-and-gold pillow, rose petals strewn about. Typically, Rockford, who spent five seasons with the IceHogs and was making NHL director of team services Tony Ommen simply will give a guy a quick money the last two years. heads-up that he’s free to go apartment-hunting and that The Letter is on “He always had one of those big mansions,” Dahlstrom said. “Whenever its way. Sometimes, as in Jokiharju’s case, general manager Stan the team had a get-together, we’d go to his house. We’d have Bowman will swing by a practice and give him the good news. Thanksgiving there, Christmas for the Swedes. Whatever the situation Heck, as momentous as The Letter is, it’s not as if players are framing it was, we usually ended up at his place. He knew the most stuff, too — and hanging it above their newly rented mantels. where to live, where to go eat, whatever. The new guys were always asking him questions like that.” “I don’t even know what the letter said,” Alex DeBrincat said, sheepishly. “I was just excited I could go get my own place and get out of the hotel.” As they wait for The Letter, guys like Dahlstrom and Delia are left to peruse real-estate websites, fantasizing about which neighborhood they DeBrincat didn’t have to wait long for his letter. By the end of October last want to live in when they get the team’s blessing. Most younger players season, he already was paying rent. That’s how it went for Jokiharju this stay in the city, though Delia’s always been a suburban guy. “I like the season — just a few weeks into the season, it was clear the teenager Bucktown area,” he said. “Has a neighborhood feel.” Gone are the days was NHL-ready (though he was surprisingly assigned to the IceHogs on of old-time hockey, when players were forbidden to stay downtown for Thursday). Dominik Kahun didn’t even know the rules when he got to fear of them getting in trouble every night. Streeterville and Lakeview camp in September, so he didn’t realize how fortunate he was when have become popular areas for younger players, dating back to the Ommen gave him the green light right after the preseason ended. current core’s more precocious days. But Blackhawks young and old are scattered all around the city and the suburbs. But those guys are the exceptions. Most players take a little longer to convince management they’re not going to be yo-yoing back and forth “It’s a big deal to get your own place,” Delia said. “You can’t ever be between Rockford and Chicago a few more times. content when you’re here, but of course it’s nice to finally move in and feel like a Chicago resident.” Hotel life has its perks, no doubt. But The Letter is more than just a chance to get a space of your own, to hang your own pictures and paint your own walls. It’s a status symbol, an official designation that you are no longer a prospect, but an NHL player. It’s a huge deal. Even if nobody actually reads the thing. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128293 Colorado Avalanche was tired but he put in almost no effort to get to that puck and Minnesota scored right after. His delay of game already on the PK in the third was outrageously dumb. Avs-Wild player grades: Deeper into the abyss Matt Nieto (C) – The fourth line gig he’s been given recently is really more about trying to spark the offense in the top three lines. Nieto isn’t going to solve that issue and when he does get scoring opportunities, By AJ Haefele at Pepsi Center January 23, 2019 such as the one he created short-handed, he regularly fails to cash in. Mikko Rantanen (C) – He was okay. Shot metrics are in favor of the top line but that’s pretty normal. The reality is that they simply weren’t Player grades for Colorado’s loss to the Minnesota Wild. anywhere close to good enough tonight. Getting the freebie assist on Barrie’s seeing-eye goal is nice for the stat sheet but they needed a Sven Andrighetto (D) – This is an experiment that it’s fair to say has whole lot more tonight. failed for the Avalanche. They’re simply playing out the string with Andrighetto right now. Given how much promise his Colorado tenure Carl Soderberg (B) – A great opening period as he got the Avs on the started with, it’s disappointing to see it coming to a likely close like this. board first. He has a new career-high in goals scored, which is great. He seems to play the game just a half-step too slowly to consistently Colorado needs secondary scoring and he’s stepped up more make a positive impact in the NHL. consistently than any other forward this year. Tyson Barrie (C+) – It was great to see him get on the scoresheet with a Colin Wilson (C+) – Combined with Calvert and Soderberg on Colorado’s PPG. They force the offense to run through him so much that he needs opening goal. Did not do much of anything else the rest of the way. to score more frequently to justify that usage. That four-minute penalty didn’t end up costing the Avs outside of having to defend for an avoidable Nikita Zadorov (B-) – Handled big minutes well and brought his typical four minutes in a game they were trailing. It felt like the only mistake the physical element to a game against the hated Wild. One of the few guys I Avs made tonight that wasn’t brutally punished. thought was more good than bad tonight. Gabriel Bourque (C-) – Like the vast majority of games Bourque appears BSN DENVER LOADED: 02.01.2019 in, his time on the ice was defined mostly by a lack of anything happening in any direction. Colorado’s fourth line continues to largely just be a net zero, which could certainly be worse but the complete lack of offensive threat here is adding to the pressure faced by the other three lines. Matt Calvert (B) – A great forecheck by Calvert sparked Colorado’s first goal. This was his seventh point in his last nine games as he’s very much settled into his Colorado digs. The stick breaking in his hand on Minnesota’s lengthy 5 on 3 was the worst kind of luck. Very indicative of the type of luck the Avalanche have had recently. Ian Cole (D) – I don’t have a major issue with his scrambly coverage on Minnesota’s first goal as Girard turned a puck over with nobody really around him and everyone else was trying to figure it out from there. And had offside been correctly called, Cole’s desperation penalty also never takes place and the Wild never get the 5 on 3. All this to say Cole undeniably suffered some bad luck tonight but just didn’t play a very solid overall game. J.T. Compher (C) – I really just didn’t notice much of JTC tonight. Very quiet overall. Sheldon Dries (C+) – He worked hard and drew a penalty right after the Avalanche killed one off with his skating and speed. That was the only time I remember noticing Dries all game. Samuel Girard (D) – The turnover to create Minnesota’s first goal was the stuff of true nightmares. It’s hard enough to stop teams from scoring but just giving them freebies? Good lord what a fiasco. The rest of Girard’s game left a whole lot to be desired. Ryan Graves (C+) – Graves put in another solid performance. He got caught out on a very long shift at the end of the second period that helped lead to the Wild’s fourth goal but none of the failed clearing attempts or various turnovers were his fault. He got trapped by the incompetence of Colorado’s forwards. A solid overall showing from Graves yet again. Philipp Grubauer (D) – Tough grade because this was a guy who got very, very little help tonight. Two goals were given up at 3v5 and the first two Wild goals weren’t really on Grubi but this was another huge night of offense for the opposing team. This is just a huge mess right now. Alexander Kerfoot (D) – Really felt Kerfoot played poorly in this one. He didn’t get much ice time but he really didn’t do much of anything out there. I don’t expect him to score every game but he can’t be a total non- factor like he was tonight. Gabriel Landeskog (C) – He always seems to find himself finding reasons to have high-speed collisions with Devan Dubnyk. It’s always a good time to watch. That was more or less the highlight of the night from the captain. Nathan MacKinnon (D) – That penalty in the third period for passing the puck with his hand is just inexcusably dumb. The truth is MacKinnon has been far too average overall recently. The Avs aren’t going to get anywhere if their dominant top line fails to dominate. Patrik Nemeth (D) – Like Graves, Nemeth got stuck on the long shift at the end of the second period. Unlike Graves, Nemeth actually ha a chance to win a puck that might have gotten them off the ice. I know he 1128294 Colorado Avalanche he did, he phoned him and the two have since become close, from a distance. Parker has done a lot of other work with wounded veterans.

The joy in Allen’s voice when talking about his new relationship with “It was the A”: How a love of the Avalanche helped a Navy Corpsman get Parker and his wife, Francesca, is plainly evident. through the fight of his life “I mean, I couldn’t believe it when he first called. I mean, “The Sheriff” called me!” he said. By Adrian Dater at BSN Headquarters January 22, 2019 5 Mins Read Because he was on active duty at such a young age, and because he hasn’t lived in Colorado for a long time, Allen has seen very few Avs games in person. It all started when he was a teenager, when he tagged along with his parents for a multi-week hitch in the Northeast U.S. and Canada in their Partially because his girlfriend is from St. Louis and a Blues fan, Allen is jobs as “Carnies” – traveling carnival employees. Despite being born in hoping health and finances permit them to come to the Feb. 16 Avs Seattle and raised mostly in Colorado, Aaron Allen somehow took a liking game at the Pepsi Center against the Blues. If he were able to meet to the hockey team in Quebec as they passed through. Partly, he admits, probably his biggest Avs hero, Sakic, well that wouldn’t suck either. to be the contrarian to his father, Don, who proclaimed his newfound love “I know it sounds corny, but that team has just meant so much to me. I’m for the Montreal Canadiens on the same trip. not scared of death, but I’m scared of dying, if that makes any sense,” “I started following them with a passion. I mean, how could you not love a Allen said. “But I know that, no matter what, the ‘A’ will always have my team with Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote on it? Then, back, and I’ll have theirs.” the team that I loved in Quebec moves to where I lived in Colorado,” BSN DENVER LOADED: 02.01.2019 Allen said. “It was like out of a storybook.” The passion for the team only grew stronger. Despite enlisting as a Navy corpsman at age 17, in 1995, and beginning his own nomadic professional life, the Avalanche was Allen’s constant companion and comfort – through basic training at Camp Pendleton to a village in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when, on an October day in 2007, his life would change forever. On patrol in his new role as a corpsman for the Navy Fleet Marine Force Corps, in the War in Afghanistan, second in a convoy of vehicles, an improvised explosive device hit the lead vehicle. The gunner in the turret of the lead vehicle was struck and, Allen knew, in immediate need of medical attention. Before waiting for his fellow Marines to establish a secure perimeter, Allen said he dismounted from his vehicle to aid the gunner, who was severely injured. “I wasn’t able to save him,” Allen says, slowly, with welling emotion. All Allen said remembers from the moment of that terrible realization is “yelling, then a flash.” While still tending to the mortally wounded Marine, a rocket-propelled grenade from the enemy struck nearby. The shrapnel severely damaged most of his lower back and broke the tailbone. One of his ankles was essentially turned the wrong way. The shrapnel did damage elsewhere, including the brain. He survived, however. And you know what he really, truly believes helped save him? “It was the ‘A’,” Allen says. “The A of the Avalanche has helped me through so much shit in my life. Military people, we’re all superstitious anyway. It’s like, when we all grab a handful of dirt on the battlefield. I had my Avs gear on too. I believe the A helped save me again.” Underneath Allen’s military uniform, he had on a Peter Forsberg home white Avalanche jersey. Other days, he wore a burgundy road Sakic jersey. When his mentor, or “Sea Daddy” – a gruff older Navy corpsman who is still active – visited him in his hospital room and marveled at his resilience, Allen said he pulled up his bed blanket to reveal another Avs shirt and told him “The ‘A’ saved me.” Today, Allen can mostly walk on his own, though he needs a cane at times. He lives in Portland, Ore., with his girlfriend. But he’s in another fight for his life. Several months ago, it was learned that what was originally diagnosed as a kidney stone was actually a cancerous tumor on the kidney, and the cancer spread. While he said his doctors are optimistic the cancer can be fully excised, Allen lives a life of multiple surgeries and radiation for that – plus the ongoing pain of the injuries suffered 12 years ago. Still, there is no self pity in Allen’s voice. He knows he is lucky to have so much support not only from his parents, Don and Ann, and his girlfriend, but the many members of the “Avs Fam.” “I’ve gotten to know so many of them, and many are who I consider to be real, true friends,” said Allen, 41. Among those in his Avs Fam is former Avs enforcer Scott Parker. Allen named his own son Parker, partially because of his admiration for him, and also because he once lived in Parker, Colorado. It was only a few months ago, though, that Parker had heard of Allen and his story. When 1128295 Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019

Jets 4, Blue Jackets 3 | Losses piling up for Jackets

Brian Hedger

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Their coach challenged them Thursday, making the Blue Jackets rewatch an “embarrassing” loss Tuesday before they took the ice at MTS Place. Still hacked off two days after a loss to the Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena, Tortorella lit into his team during his morning news conference, imploring them to relocate their identity as a grinding, relentless bunch. They responded, playing much better in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but the evening was spoiled by two late goals allowed — which left the Jackets with a long, empty-handed flight home. “It’s a hard one for our guys, I’m sure,” Tortorella said after Columbus’ own Jack Roslovic and Kyle Connor scored the tying and winning goals in the third for the Jets. “They played hard and did a lot better job, as far as what we asked of them in the battles. It’s a tough one not to come up with anything.” That’s because of the overall effort the Blue Jackets (28-19-3) put into it, overcoming a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead on goals in the first period by Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson, who capped a power play with 6:30 left for the Jackets’ third straight game with a man-advantage goal. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored in the second, too, putting the Jackets ahead 3-2 less than a minute after a shot by the Jets’ Mason Appleton trickled through Sergei Bobrovsky (22 saves). “We played a lot better, I think,” defenseman Ryan Murray said. “We had a lot better effort. It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we played hard. We sacrificed, we blocked shots and we were willing to do the things necessary. We just didn’t get the outcome.” They lost for the fourth straight time — a season-high they’ll try to end Saturday at home against the St. Louis Blues. They’ll need another effort like this one, rather than that one Tortorella couldn’t let go of during his morning news conference. Asked about Boone Jenner missing up to three weeks because of an infected ankle laceration, he just shook his head and snarled: “I’m not talking about injuries. Talk about the game.” He meant the game against the Jets, but had his mind still on the 5-4 loss to the Sabres. Tortorella wasn’t incensed about that loss until he laid eyes on the video, and then he showed his team the same mistakes over again, before their morning skate. “It was a team that threw their uniforms out to play,” Tortorella said in disgust. “The team needs to be reset here pretty quickly. And for us to be who we’re supposed to be, we need to reset pretty quickly.” That’s what this game was about in frigid Winnipeg. It was to reset the Blue Jackets’ identity, yet again. This was the second time they’ve officially hit that reset button, after doing it in response to a lackluster 4-0 loss Dec. 8 against the Washington Capitals, also on home ice. After that one, the Jackets lost their next game on two late goals in the third — just like this one — and then reeled off a stretch of seven straight games with a point, winning six of seven and five in a row. Tortorella wanted to see a similar pushback against the Jets, so he stoked the motivational fire with pointed comments that included a jab at his center depth. “I’ve got one center playing, he said, three times. “One.” He also said they “gave nothing” against Buffalo and were “no-shows.” Well, the Blue Jackets showed up against Winnipeg — even though they coughed up a 3-2 lead in the third and Cam Atkinson sat out after getting hit in the mouth with the puck during warmups. After Mark Letestu hustled to the bench to replace him and after the Jets took a 1-0 lead on Mark Scheifele’s goal at 4:34 of the first, the Blue Jackets pushed back. And that’s ultimately what they set out to do. “It wasn’t a bad game, but it just sucks to lose one like that,” Murray said. “That’s one we’ve got to close out.” 1128296 Columbus Blue Jackets

Boone Jenner out 1-3 weeks with cut on ankle

Brian Hedger

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The news broke Thursday morning that Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner would miss one to three weeks because of an infected laceration of his ankle. Jenner has had the laceration — the Jackets haven’t said on which ankle — since he blocked a shot in a win against Washington on Jan. 12. The injury flared up in practice Monday, but coach John Tortorella was in no mood to discuss that, Jenner’s absence or his team’s preponderance of players with center experience on the roster. “I’ve got one center playing ... one,” said Tortorella, who fumed about his team’s play in a 5-4 loss Tuesday to the Buffalo Sabres. He said it three times in a row, just like that, to get his point across. The assumption is Pierre-Luc Dubois is the only Jackets’ center “playing,” while a handful of others have to pick it up — including Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Dubinsky, Riley Nash and Lukas Sedlak. Wennberg, Nash and Dubinsky got the first crack at centering the second, third and fourth lines, but Tortorella’s tone left no doubt about his displeasure with their play as a whole. “I think everyone needs to chip in,” Dubinsky said. “Obviously, you lose Boone, it’s a hole for us. We can’t keep relying on (Dubois’) line each and every night to provide all the offense, so we’ve got to put a little pressure on ourselves.” Nutivaara scratched Tortorella made just one lineup switch, using defenseman Dean Kukan and scratching Markus Nutivaara for the first time since April 2, 2017, against the Washington Capitals. Did it come as a surprise? “Of course, a little bit, but I kind of sensed it after last game,” said Nutivaara, who played 13:30 against the Sabres and had a minus-2 rating. “It wasn’t my best game. I hope it works for me and wakes me up.” Friendly chirps Jack Roslovic, the Jets’ speedy forward from Columbus, played his second game against the team he cheered for growing up. After making his NHL debut against the Blue Jackets on April 6, 2017, at Nationwide Arena, he missed both games against the Jackets last season while playing in the American Hockey League. This time, he looked forward to facing offseason workout partners Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson, whom he befriended last summer. “I’ve really appreciated the way they’ve taken me under their wings a little bit,” Roslovic, 22, said. “You’re a young guy and you’re going out with these 30-year olds. Cam’s a little bit younger, but it’s just nice to have something in common with them, just to create another friendship even though they’re not on your team.” Cold-hearted Roslovic had a message for those back in Columbus, where on Thursday morning it was 2 degrees and most schools were closed. “What you’re experiencing right now is just a normal winter for us,” Roslovic said of Winnipeg, where it was minus-35 for the morning commute. “We probably don’t get as much snow, but when we get to negative 40, it’s not fun.” It’s not all that uncommon, though. “You get used to it,” Roslovic said. “I was looking to get my car washed, because it’s been dirty and everything, and (my dad’s) like, ‘You’re not going to be able to find a place like that (open) in the cold.’ Everyone’s open. Everything’s open, every school is in session. That’s just livin’ for us.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128297 Columbus Blue Jackets Who stays and who goes before the deadline? Who will be with the Jackets for the stretch run and, if all goes well, on into the playoffs? What will happen on July 1? Down the rabbit hole we go in search of answers. Michael Arace | It's getting hard to imagine happy ending for Bread/Bob Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 saga

6-7 minutes

If you’ve got a bit of Lewis Carroll in you, you can conjure a scenario in which Artemi Panarin remains a long-term member of the Blue Jackets. The Feb. 25 trade deadline comes and goes and Panarin is still in a Union Blue sweater. His chemistry with center Pierre-Luc Dubois and right wing Cam Atkinson maintains its molecular bond. They tear down the stretch of the regular season and finally push the franchise through the first round of the playoffs. Who knows? Maybe the Jackets get the right matchups, are blessed by the hockey gods and keep right on going deep into May, or even June. Ownership beams as ticket prices are jacked up for the later rounds. The city is euphoric as there is nothing as intoxicating as a Stanley Cup playoff run — especially in a place where there has barely been a snort for 20 years. Panarin is scoring overtime winners, enjoying thunderous ovations, flashing that joyous smile and thinking, “Why would I want to be anywhere else the next eight years?” From a competitive standpoint, Columbus could be a terrific place for Panarin, 27, to spend his prime years. Yet, he and his agent are looking forward to July 1, when his services will be put up for bid on the unrestricted free-agent market. So it goes. And then there is star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, 30, who is also in the final year of his contract and deaf to any talk of an extension. Bob is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and the third-highest-paid goalie in the league. He also is, statistically speaking, among the shakiest No. 1 goalies in the 21st-century playoff competition. Reportedly, Bobrovsky’s camp has indicated he is willing to waive his no- movement clause before the deadline. That says something. It says his time here is finished, and sooner rather than later. Too bad. He has been an all-time-great Blue Jacket. Is there still a chance to keep Panarin? Logic dictates that if he wanted to stay in Columbus, he would have negotiated an extension last May. Or last June. Or last August, September, October, November or December. Or last week. As it is, all Panarin has done is stand by as his agent has issued public statements about “focusing on hockey.” This is a euphemism for “I’m so outta here.” “It’s his right to go to free agency, and if he chooses to do so, we’ll be knocking on his door July 1,” Kekalainen said. Panarin is going to fetch $10 million to $11 million a year, maybe more, over seven or eight years. The Jackets are willing to pay market price — maybe even with a small-market premium on top of it — but, man, Panarin has already put off Kekalainen for a year. It’s a stretch to think he will be listening hard to a Jackets pitch come July 1. Adam Foote and Jeff Carter, a captain and a Captain Morgan, were moved out of Columbus in trade-deadline deals. Then-general manager got good value in return. Another captain, Rick Nash, had his “I’d like a trade if it helps the team” moment before the 2012 trade deadline. Howson waited until summer to find a Nash deal he liked (and the Rangers provided a good haul). Now we have two more stars who are begging out of town, if for different reasons. Bobrovsky’s pride has been hurt somehow. As for Panarin, goodness, he’s turning his back on a primo situation. For what? We’ll see. Kekalainen has to weigh keeping Bread/Bob for a playoff run (and losing them for nothing) against salvaging what he can at the trade deadline. And what he can get is not insubstantial: probably, a first-round draft pick, a prospect and another piece for Panarin, the brightest star of the 2019 rental market. Kekalainen has indicated, in so many words, that he will be looking for help at the deadline — especially if Bread/Bob are no longer Jackets. Nashville is one obvious destination for Panarin. The Predators’ window of contention is open and goalie Pekka Rinne, 36, is not getting younger. Renting Panarin might be worth the price. Boston also is running through the Panarin-as-rental rumor mill. There will be others. As for Bobrovsky, which playoff-bound teams need goaltending? The stats say San Jose and Colorado, among others. 1128298 Columbus Blue Jackets As difficult as it is to get pucks into high-danger areas against Winnipeg and ultimately past Hellebuyck, the Jackets can’t afford another slow start from the defense. Three things to look for in Blue Jackets' game at Winnipeg Jets Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019

Jacob Myers

The Blue Jackets face a true Stanley Cup contender in the Winnipeg Jets (32-16-2, 66 points) at 8 p.m Thursday in Bell MTS Place. This marks the first of five games over the next 10 days, four on the road. After allowing three goals in the first 10 minutes of Tuesday’s game against Buffalo, the Blue Jackets defense will be watched closely to see how it follows up what coach John Tortorella said was the worst he has ever seen this team play. Here are three other things to look for when the Jackets take on the Jets. 1. Top line vs. top line The ascension of Pierre-Luc Dubois in less than two years in the NHL has turned the Blue Jackets top line into one of the best in the NHL. Together, the Artemi Panarin-Dubois-Cam Atkinson line has a rating of 81.05, according to dailyfaceoff.com, good for fifth in the league. Winnipeg counters with one not far behind. Left wing Kyle Connor, center Mark Scheifele and right wing Blake Wheeler are all on pace for record seasons with Scheifele and Wheeler on pace for their first 100-point seasons. Dailyfaceoff.com rates the Jets top line sixth in the league at 80.52. Winnipeg has generated more points out of its top line — 163 to 150 — but Tortorella is looking more at how the scoring chances develop than total production. Join our group: Join our Blue Jackets Xtra Facebook group for the latest team news “We want them to see that so they buy into that you still need to be playing a complete game as best you can and you’ll still get your offense,” Tortorella said. “You’ll probably get more if you’re playing the right way.” 2. Strength vs. strength: Jets’ power play vs. Jackets’ penalty kill Tortorella said he didn’t think the penalty-kill units played particularly well against Buffalo on Tuesday, but they still extended their streak of 25 straight power plays without allowing a goal. The league’s fourth-best power play at 26.5 percent should certainly test that streak. Scheifele has scored 18 of his 61 points on the power play and Wheeler has 22 of his 62 points with the unit, including 21 of his 53 assists. Patrik Laine hasn’t had a similar season to his first couple with Winnipeg, but the 20-year-old still leads the team with 11 power-play goals. According to hockeyviz.com, the Blue Jackets have done an excellent job this season of limiting opportunities in front of the net on the penalty kill, which is where the Jets have the majority of their opportunities on the power play. “You can win a game based off your penalty kill and how it does that specific night,” defenseman Seth Jones said. “It’s a mindset, and you can’t get lackadaisical and you can’t get complacent on it.” 3. Jets give up quantity, not quality of shots The Jackets ripped off 37 shots against the Sabres, which allows the eighth-most shots against per game in the NHL. Winnipeg allows even more, ranked sixth at 32.8 shots per game. However, the Jets seem comfortable with that number given the quality of the chances. Hockeyviz rates the threat of even-strength shots against the Jets as average with the league, but no shots on the chart are concentrated in one particular area. Despite all the shots allowed, Winnipeg ranks sixth in the league in goals against per game for the reason above and two excellent goalies led by Connor Hellebuyck (2.85 goals-against average). Like Sergei Bobrovsky, Hellebuyck struggled early but has played much better lately. Since allowing 3.18 goals per game in November, he allowed 2.54 in December and has allowed 2.72 in January. 1128299 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner out one to three weeks with infected ankle laceration

Jacob Myers

Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner will miss one to three weeks with an infected laceration on an ankle. Through a news release, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Jenner has had a cut on his ankle since he blocked a shot in a win against Washington on Jan. 12. This week, it became infected and led to him missing Tuesday’s game against Buffalo and not making the trip to Winnipeg. Jenner’s absence at Tuesday’s morning skate was a surprise since he practiced all of Monday. So far this season he has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) and leads the team in faceoff wins. Mark Letestu was recalled from Cleveland on Tuesday. With Jenner out, Letestu could see his first NHL action this season. Tuesday, Alexander Wennberg moved up to Jenner’s position as second-line center, with Lukas Sedlak in the middle on the third line. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128300 Columbus Blue Jackets The coach lost his patience with the center Tuesday night, however, as he registered no shots and was 6-of-17 on the faceoff dots. Wennberg played only one shift in the final 17-plus minutes of the third period after ‘I’ve got one center playing’: John Tortorella repeatedly and being on the ice for Buffalo’s go-ahead goal. understandably expresses frustrations with Blue Jackets’ pivots His lack of production (1 goal, 18 assists) and risk-averse play is killing the Blue Jackets offensively. Two seasons removed from a 59-point campaign, Tortorella demoted Wennberg to a bottom-six role early in the By Tom Reed Jan 31, 2019 season and moved Jenner to center. With Jenner sidelined, they need Wennberg to step up and contribute on a second line with Nick Foligno. WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The polar vortex had nothing on John Tortorella on Thursday afternoon in Manitoba’s frosty capital city. “It’s up to me,” said Wennberg, who has gone 32 games without a goal and has registered just 31 shots in that span. “You get put into situations The Blue Jackets coach put his team on blast at its morning skate for its and you have to make the best of it. Sometimes, it’s you not having the “no-show” and “embarrassing” performance Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to the bounces but for me, there are a couple of things I can adjust and be Sabres at Nationwide Arena. better at. I can’t say for sure exactly what I’m missing right now, but you have to figure it out. You don’t have all the time in the world. I’m not “It was a team that threw their uniforms out to play,” Tortorella said. “I taking it light. It’s not wait-and-see. I am trying to work on things and didn’t realize how poorly we thought the game — how we played with make it better. That’s my mindset.” absolutely no balls at all in the game — until I broke down the video. The team needs to be reset here pretty quickly. Nash tallied 15 goals and 26 assists last season for the Bruins, earning him a three-year, $8.25 million deal with the Blue Jackets. He has six “It’s a good team we are playing (in Winnipeg) and it was a god-awful points through 48 games with his new club. team I coached the other night. Hopefully, we will answer the proper way.” “Everyone wants to contribute more offensively, but at the same time you don’t want to cheat,” Nash said. “You don’t want to take those chances And, if they don’t against the Central Division-leading Jets? and leave yourself vulnerable on the defensive side. “They better, or they are going to get their ass kicked,” Tortorella added. “… As far as (Tortorella’s) comments, it is what it is. Personally, I feel The electronic media left Bell MTS Place knowing it had ample sound we’re getting more chances and I feel a little better about my game. bites and video clips for its pregame shows. But it was another Tortorella Hopefully, it will keep trending up and get better and better.” quote — repeated three times for effect — that provided a clearer Tortorella had little to say about his centers other than Dubois on window into the coach’s longer-term thoughts and concerns. Thursday, and it spoke volumes about his thoughts on the group. He’s simply fed up with his natural centers not named Pierre-Luc Dubois As the playoff race tightens, Jenner cannot get healthy soon enough. and their lack of production. A testy Tortorella aired his grievance about 90 minutes after the organization announced Boone Jenner will miss one The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 to three weeks because of an infection to a cut on his ankle he suffered Jan. 12. Jenner is a winger who’s been forced to play center due to the prolonged struggles of others. Here’s Thursday’s exchange between Tortorella and media members concerning the position: Reporter: Is it nice you have a bunch of centers you can go to … ? Tortorella: “I’ve got one center playing — one.” Reporter: The need to get those guys going … Tortorella: “I’ve got one center playing — one.” Reporter: You can hear the level of frustration in your voice … Tortorella: “I’ve got one center playing.” In Jenner’s absence, the Blue Jackets are desperate to get better play from their centers behind Dubois, who has 18 goals and 27 assists. The club occupies the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot three points ahead of the Sabres. Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash — veterans many assumed would center the second and third lines this season — have scored one goal each. To put it in perspective, consider fourth-line grinder Matt Calvert, whom the Blue Jackets allowed to walk in free agency, has seven goals for the Avalanche and his 18 points are just one fewer than Wennberg. Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky has rebounded from a hellish 2017-18 season, one filled with injury and personal issues, but still has just five goals and six assists. His minus-11 rating is tied for the worst on the team. “Everyone needs to chip in,” said Dubinsky, who’s carved out a utility role for himself with his ability to win key faceoffs before skating to the bench to be replaced by Dubois. “Obviously, losing Boone is a hole for us. We can’t keep relying on P-L’s line each and every night to provide all the offense. So, yeah, we’ve got to put a little pressure on ourselves, lines Nos. 2-3-4.” The Blue Jackets recalled veteran Mark Letestu before the Sabres game because of Jenner’s infection. Given Tortorella’s dissatisfaction with his centers, some thought Letestu might be inserted into the lineup against the Jets. The fact neither Wennberg nor Nash has been made a healthy scratch is surprising. Tortorella repeatedly has expressed his frustration with Wennberg but said Monday he’s resisted sitting the Swede because of his value as a penalty killer and his defensive acumen. 1128301 Columbus Blue Jackets St. Louis traded Paul Stastny to Winnipeg for a first-round pick, prospect Erik Foley, and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2020. Panarin will be the most sought-after forward on the market at the deadline, a player Inside the Blue Jackets’ drama: Jarmo Kekalainen won’t be just a seller; who should fetch considerably more than Nash, Tatar or Stastny. why it behooves Sergei Bobrovsky to be traded; and more • It has been said, by Kekalainen and others, that the Blue Jackets were a “108-point team” in 2016-17 before Panarin arrived. That’s true, but it neglects some key points. Panarin didn’t just appear here. The Blue By Aaron Portzline Jan 31, 2019 Jackets had Brandon Saad on that 2016-17 team, before trading him back to the Blackhawks for Panarin. The Jackets also had Alexander Wennberg when he looked like a budding No. 1 center. Wennberg is nowhere near that now. COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets face a turbulent next few weeks leading up to the Feb. 25 trade deadline, with goaltender Sergei • Once you get familiar with a coach, it becomes easier to pick up their Bobrovsky and left winger Artemi Panarin — maybe the two best players tendencies when it comes to starting a goaltender. So it’s been in recent to ever wear the uniform for the organization — generating intense years with Bobrovsky and his backup, Joonas Korpisalo, although with interest and drama. Bobrovsky’s heavy workload, it’s been easier. But right now Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has us sitting on fastballs and whiffing on There are many layers here. Here are some insights on some of the finer changeups. For the first two days of practice after the break, Korpisalo points and behind-the-scenes machinations regarding each player: patrolled the starter’s net, typically an indication of who is starting the • GM Jarmo Kekalainen is facing undoubtedly the most challenging next game. On Tuesday, however, Bobrovsky was back in the No. 1 month of his tenure with the Blue Jackets. He’s weighing not only the cage for the morning skate and started later that night against Buffalo. It possible trades of Bobrovsky, the Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, and will be fascinating to see what the next month looks like. Is it more Panarin, a point-a-game forward, but also subsequent trades should important to showcase Bobrovsky for a trade or let Korpisalo show what either or both of them be moved along by the deadline. This we know: he can do in a pressure situation? Kekalainen is not going to be just a seller at the deadline. If he sells • Tortorella held a meeting with the players before the season started in those two significant assets, he’s also going to buy. No, he won’t be able which he told players how the impending distractions with Bobrovsky and to replace Bobrovsky or Panarin with equal caliber players. Not likely, Panarin would be handled — honestly and openly among the coaches anyway. But he’ll add players to soften the blow and give the Blue and players, nobody talking behind backs or tap-dancing. They’ve had a Jackets a fighting chance to make the playoffs and do something once few of these meetings as the season has gone along — one the day after they get there. “The players have worked their asses off all year to keep Bobrovsky was suspended after leaving the bench in Tampa, and us in the hunt,” Kekalainen said. “We’re not going to be just selling and another Tuesday, the morning after Milstein made his announcement on leaving the team without help. That’s not going to happen.” Twitter regarding Panarin. You have to wonder how many more of these • Bobrovsky has a no-move clause, so he can dictate his destination. they’re going to have before the trade deadline or the end of the season, Panarin does not. But in both cases, the Blue Jackets would get a better but the Blue Jackets deserve credit for keeping it together this far into the return for the player if they trade with a franchise that knows (or strongly season. The 5-4 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday marked the first time all believes) it can get the player under a long-term contract. There are a season the Jackets have lost three games in a row. couple of ways to go about this. One is to allow prospective teams to • Milstein and, one assumes, Panarin, have been intensely concerned negotiate with agents Paul Theofanous (Bobrovsky) or Daniel Milstein about how his handling of the situation would be received by fans in (Panarin) and strike the terms of the deal before the Blue Jackets and the Columbus. A smattering of boos could be heard when Panarin was team hammer out the details of the trade. The more likely approach for announced in the starting lineup Tuesday and when he carried the puck the Blue Jackets, especially with two such players attracting that type of briefly on the first shift of the game, but they mostly subsided the rest of attention, is a conditional trade, whereby the Blue Jackets would get an the way. The boos sounded like “disappointed” boos, not hateful, vitriolic immediate return for Bobrovsky and Panarin, but also something extra — boos, but I won’t speak on the fans’ behalf. So far, Panarin appears likely a prospect or a pick — if the teams they’re traded to are able to content to simply smile on his way out of town. You have to wonder sign them long term. whether Panarin will ever step forward and comment on his time in • As of today, Milstein has not been asked to provide a list of teams with Columbus and why it appears he’d rather play somewhere else long which Panarin would be open to signing long term, Milstein said. term. The fans deserve that much, right? Or maybe the guy who’s too slippery to get hit on the ice will skate away from the heat off of it, too. • Bobrovsky’s willingness to lift his no-move clause, as first reported by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, was a bit surprising, even though his • So what are the likely destinations for Bobrovsky and Panarin? Let’s go relationship with the Blue Jackets has soured. Why would he agree to be with Panarin first. As a pure rental, I could see Boston, the New York traded in the middle of the season? Why would he pass (potentially) on Islanders, San Jose and Tampa Bay as clubs that would be interested. another chance to prove himself in the playoffs? Does he really want out Perhaps Las Vegas, too. (Is William Karlsson available? Asking for a of Columbus that badly? Why allow the Blue Jackets to reap a significant friend.) If Panarin makes it to free agency July 1, I still believe the New return when he could really stick it to them by just walking away July 1? York Rangers are the most likely destination. Panarin’s camp is said to Well, there’s a reason — potentially an $8 million to $10 million reason — revere Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, and the Islanders have remained for Bobrovsky to desire a trade before Feb. 25. If he remains in competitive this season despite the loss of John Tavares. I wouldn’t rule Columbus after 3 p.m. Feb. 25, the only NHL club that could sign him to out Florida, but if I’m the Panthers, I’m not waiting until July 1 to get into a an eight-year contract is the Blue Jackets. (If that happens, I’ll hang-glide bidding war with the Rangers. They might be wise to jump in early. The off the LeVeque Tower.) The rest of the NHL, if he’s not traded, could Panthers are 11 points out of the playoffs, the building is half-empty most only sign Bobrovsky to a seven-year deal, per the CBA. Bobrovsky will nights … it might be too late for a rental, but they need a boost, and they turn 31 years old during training camp next fall. This is likely his final have young talented forwards to facilitate a trade. contract. The extra year makes a significant difference … likely between • The outlook with Bobrovsky is murkier. Among current playoff teams, $8 million and $10 million. San Jose and Colorado have a need for better goaltending. The Sharks’ • Kekalainen spoke Tuesday about establishing a price for Panarin and .889 save percentage is 29th in the NHL. Colorado (.896) is only slightly letting that guide the club’s decision-making. It’s the breaking point, you better. Again we mention Florida, which owes 39-year-old Roberto might say, at which the Blue Jackets will decide if keeping Panarin for a Luongo $4.5333 million per season through 2021-22 and backup James playoff run makes more sense than trading him for an underwhelming Reimer $3.4 million through 2020-21. For all of that, they’re last in the return. So what’s the breaking point? Does Kekalainen need a roster NHL with an .887 save percentage. Per The Athletic’s George Richards, player, top prospect and first-round pick in return for Panarin? I don’t the Panthers have made goaltending a top priority. Don’t rule out think it’s quite that simple. A top-six forward would be nice, especially a Vancouver, and a possible reunion between Bobrovsky and Ian Clark, his center, but that’s an unlikely return from a club seeking Panarin as a former goalie coach with the Blue Jackets. Speaking of reunions, would rental player. The Blue Jackets are prepared to accept a trade of top Philadelphia be interested in bringing back the one who got away? The prospect(s) and pick(s), then flip a portion of that package to acquire Flyers surely regret trading away a two-time Vezina Trophy winner for a offensive help in the wake of Panarin’s departure. second- and third-round pick in 2012, but it would make little sense for the Flyers to bring back Bobrovsky now with rookie Carter Hart showing • At the trade deadline last season, the New York Rangers traded Rick potential. It would be exactly what the Flyers did in 2011 when they Nash as a pure rental to Boston for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a megadeal with Bobrovsky waiting in the wings. Lindgren and a first-round draft pick. (Spooner has been traded and You never know, though, with the Flyers and their goaltenders. Beleskey sent to the minors. Lindgren, a 20-year-old defenseman, is working his way up through the AHL.) Detroit traded Tomas Tatar, who’s • Panarin and Bobrovsky are obviously quite close, but there’s been never had 30 goals or 60 points in a season, to Las Vegas for a first- nothing to suggest they are a package deal. But if one club could pull off round pick (2018), second-round pick (2019) and third-round pick (2020). both of them it would be Florida. • When the Blue Jackets were trading Nash back in 2012, then-GM Scott Howson insisted he would trade Nash to whichever team presented the best offer. Trading Nash to a different conference or trading him out of the division was not deemed a priority, Howson, sure enough, traded Nash to the Rangers, knowing that the Jackets and Rangers would both be in the Metropolitan Division, beginning in 2013-14. Asked whether he would avoid trading Bobrovsky or Panarin within the division, Kekalainen declined to answer. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128302 Columbus Blue Jackets What do the numbers say? So knowing whom our voters picked, and what our voters thought was important, using five-on-five data from Corsica.hockey, we looked at the Analysis: Can you define a ‘top line’ in hockey? top line of each team and identified the top 10 in each statistical measure (the players on each team’s “top line” can be seen here). If a team fell into the top 10, they got a “point.” Here’s how the “standings” shook out By Alison Lukan Jan 31, 2019 (we’ve shaded the top-five vote-getters for identification purposes). That’s interesting, particularly when few would question the strength of a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. Shouldn’t their first line What are currently the top lines in hockey? not just be perceived as dominant but also measure out as such? It’s a question that’s been bandied about for years and years, and there What if we expand our categories to look at where teams fall in more are plenty of arguments for a variety of different combinations based on aspects of generating offense? What if we asked the question whether everything from opinion, to goal differential to combined plus-minus “top lines” are more “scoring lines”? (shudder). Here’s how lines rated out in terms of being in the top 10 in goals for, The question has emerged in the Blue Jackets’ part of the world with the goals for per 60 minutes of play and expected goals for per 60 minutes of strong play of Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson centered by Pierre-Luc play (shot quality). Dubois. Coach John Tortorella said just before the holidays that he did consider that line to be “one of the top lines in the league.” That makes a little more sense, but as much as scoring wins games and draws cheers, plenty of our voters advised “don’t just use points” and So what makes a top line? We decided to take up the investigation. stressed the importance of the process, a theory that some of the people behind the bench subscribe to as well. What do we think when it comes to ‘top lines’? “There is an element of holding on to pucks and not being afraid to make First, we wanted to gauge public opinion, so we put together a survey a play,” Tortorella said when asked to describe what sets top lines apart that received 316 total responses over the course of five days. Twenty- in the NHL. “I think that’s what goes on with some top lines. They are two participants self-identified as media, seven as NHL team employees good players, of course. They also need to be willing to make a play. And and 287 as fans. We asked each respondent to identify which team they if it doesn’t work in the first period, be willing to come back and try it primarily covered or followed, and every team in the league received at again in the second period. I think that’s important for offensive people. I least one vote, with the Blue Jackets (69), Flames (44), Rangers (42) and think it’s important for coaches to allow them to do that.” Maple Leafs (32) receiving the most of the bunch. So what lines are tops in “creating an offensive edge” or “creating Then we asked each person to identify (in no order) what they offense” in general? considered to be the top three lines currently playing in the NHL. While certainly not scientific, when the dust settled, 20 of 31 teams’ top lines Let’s look at lines in terms of “offensive performance” as measured by had received at least one mention, and the top-five vote-getters were: shot share, shot attempts per 60 minutes of play, expected goal percentage and expected goals per 60. Is that a secret insight into what Colorado Avalanche (269) makes top lines great? Boston Bruins (207) Our voted top lines are still all over the place. Are some of them perhaps Calgary Flames (135) more defensive in nature? Does their advantage come not just from producing but also limiting opportunities for opponents? Tampa Bay Lightning (106) “I think (with top lines) it’s a bunch of things,” Tortorella said. “First of all, Columbus Blue Jackets (49) it’s certainly not turning top players into checkers, but being aware you have to be on the other side of the puck and create turnovers. A lot of That seems to jibe with a lot of eye tests out there, but is any of this offense comes from lines reloading and turning pucks over.” measurable? OK. How do teams’ lines stack up in terms of suppression of shot Our survey asked participants to evaluate a bunch of different measures attempts (per 60), goals (per 60) and shot quality? in terms of how much they “mattered” when considering whether a trio is a “top line.” That doesn’t tie closely to what our eyes perceive. Maybe it’s some luck? We proposed the following criteria and asked each to be graded on a “I would penalize lines that have an unreasonably high shooting scale of importance: percentage,” one voter wrote. “It inflates their point totals, and instead reward ones that can continue to score even when they aren’t converting Controlling shot share (5v5 Corsi For %) on all their chances.” Goals scored So who is getting help in terms of save percentage, shooting percentage Points scored or both (PDO)? Goal differential Hmm. Still seemingly no clear correlation. Let’s put all the pieces together and see if we can discern any greater pattern. Here are all NHL Offensive zone starts teams’ top lines ranked by the number of times they appeared in the top 10 of each of our statistical measures. (You can view all the category- “Star power” or awards received based scoring here). Point leader status (team and league) Such an interesting chart, overall. Montreal sneaks up on us in a lot of Shooting percentage statistical categories, while our landslide top five show variety in the strengths that they bring to the table. And arguably, that diversity is to be Postseason appearances expected. Team rank in NHL standings “Some top lines are quick and shifty, some top lines are big and physical,” Seth Jones said. “It depends on the personnel. But at the end Longevity (how long the line has been together) of the day, they’re going to produce. They may not score every game, but Cap hit they are going to gain momentum for their team.” Our voters overwhelmingly said that shot share, goals and points scored Ask the All-Star to define top lines and you get a different answer for and goal differential were the most important, and “awards” and any each team. Much like a snowflake, each top line’s identity is unique. postseason appearances mattered the least, as did NHL ranking and cap “I’ll start with our (top line), you have a big physical center up the middle hit (although a few participants suggested exploring that, because it in Pierre-Luc (Dubois), when he plays gritty and hard on pucks, he’s an could be, at the very least, interesting). awesome center for us. You have Cam (Atkinson) and (Bread), who are “For me, this discussion is about raw offensive output not ‘best balanced’ creative in their own ways. They use each other pretty well, they have lines,” one voter wrote. “I’m sure there are some better lines in terms of good chemistry. goal differential out there simply by product of being good defensively — “You have the Washington top line. (Tom) Wilson does a great job on and where’s the fun in that?” that line. He takes charge in many ways with his physicality. You have a team like Boston, who has had a great first line for many years. (Patrice) Bergeron is one of the best two-way centers there is, (Brad) Marchand is a quick little shifty pest, as they say, and then you have (David) Pastrnak, whose play speaks for itself really. It’s impressive what he can do at such a young age.” But what does it all mean? There are certainly limitations to the exercise we undertook. In terms of the data, of course, there is the possibility of bias in the results we gathered. Additionally, with the metrics themselves, we didn’t measure across multiple seasons. That would likely benefit a team like Boston where the top line has been together forever. We also didn’t dig into measures our survey participants mentioned as interesting, including quality of competition and teammates, or transitional play, all of which could be fun to dig into. Some of our voters also mentioned the impact of viewer bias in terms of whom they chose. “There are some criminally undervalued lines because they play in small/obscure markets,” a participant wrote. “I only just saw Colorado’s top line play a full game last week. There might be great players in Arizona, but I’d never know because I never see them play.” At a team level, those with very strong forward depth (Tampa Bay, Toronto), or those with an affection for changing up lines frequently (San Jose), mean that any one trio might not have as many minutes as some of the other lines in our study. Part of those teams’ strength is perhaps their balance, not just their top line. Other teams subscribe to the philosophy of building a line around two forwards, while the third is interchangeable. This would change the total impact any one line might have because the first two players’ play is split across more than one combination. And of course, injuries can have a significant impact on any line’s productivity (New Jersey). Overall, in reviewing each cut of the data here, there was always a surprise or two that challenged what I thought I knew about a given team or line. Ultimately it would seem, given the public data we have today, that there’s still no one clear way to define a “top line,” rather just different ways to celebrate superior play. “Part of it is always going to be the eye test,” The Athletic’s Eric Vegoe said in his survey. “(A top line) is one where they’re dangerous every time they jump out together in scoring chances more than just advanced stats possession numbers.” Data via Corsica.hockey. All numbers represent five-on-five play, unless otherwise stated. This post relies heavily on shot-based metrics. Here is a good primer on these numbers. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128303 Dallas Stars

What does Stars forward Jason Spezza think about the latest NHL player-tracking technology?

Matthew DeFranks

FRISCO -- When the NHL announced it would introduce player and puck tracking next season, it was a big step forward for the sport's technology. Broadcasts, for better or worse, can use it to highlight certain metrics. Gamblers can use it on previously impossible prop bets such as how far or fast a player skates. Then there's the analytics community, which could use the new swath of information to more accurately measure a player's contributions on the ice. It's unknown how much of the information will be publicly available, but teams can use it to accurately measure where shots are coming from and in what situation (off the rush, side-to-side, with a screen, on a one- timer) to better judge a player's performance. There are many possibilities for the technology. For Stars forward Jason Spezza, now it's just about seeing where it goes. "You've got to see what it looks like," Spezza said. "You've got to see what it looks like when you feel like you played good, what it looks like when you feel you've played bad. If there's a difference, if there's any patterns, or if it's just a whole bunch of numbers that don't really mean a whole lot." The only experience many have had with the tracking system was during last weekend's All-Star Game, when NBC integrated the technology into its broadcast. A light gray line followed the puck wherever it moved. Sometimes, labels popped up above players to show who they were and how fast they were going. Some of it was interesting, some of it was intrusive. While the technology can impact broadcasts, its biggest effect on the game may come in how the players are evaluated. Advanced stats such as Corsi and expected goals have become common in hockey circles, and the tracking allows for more creative uses of the data. Spezza has said previously that analytics are a piece of the puzzle in player evaluations, but that he likes to look at numbers in segments because the makeup of a roster can change so much in a season. "When Corsi started to become more public, there was the initial onslaught of Corsi numbers," Spezza said. "People reviewed it and said, 'There are better ways we can use this similar type of metric.' So they came up with Fenwick, scoring chances, zone entries. But Corsi was the first thing that got everybody talking about it. So maybe this is the first wave of data, and it will lead to improvement for the next wave." New stick for Spezza: Spezza debuted a new stick during Wednesday's 1-0 win over Buffalo, swapping his old Bauer with yellow trim for a Warrior model with orange accents on the casing. "It's a heavier stick if you weighed it, but the way it's distributed feels more even to me," Spezza said. "Whereas the Bauer, there's a part of the stick that feels a little bit clunky." Spezza was hesitant to make the change because he had only two Warrior sticks with him and the Stars had three games and two practices in the time it would take for the next batch to arrive. Spezza said he's never signed with a stick company to solely use its product because he likes the freedom to switch his stick. Warrior is the fifth brand Spezza has used in his career, along with Sherwood, Easton, Reebok and Bauer. "I've tried to use the same stick," Spezza said. "The problem is they keep changing. They change the materials. The year I scored 30 here, I switched to a new stick that year, an all-silver stick. Easton was making them, and that was just a prototype. It was one of the best sticks I've had in a long time. But then they got sold to Bauer." Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128304 Dallas Stars

Stars forward Tyler Pitlick out weeks with upper-body injury

Matthew DeFranks

Stars forward Tyler Pitlick will miss at least two more weeks with an upper-body injury, Stars coach Jim Montgomery said Thursday afternoon. "It's a tough blow," Montgomery said. "Pitlick is a relentless-type player because of his speed, his tenaciousness off pucks. It hurts our overall team speed and playing to our team identity, which he's strong at." Pitlick has not played since Jan. 17 against Los Angeles, when he absorbed a punishing hit from Dustin Brown that knocked him out of the game. Pitlick is on injured reserve. Montgomery also said Jason Dickinson will miss the next two games, Friday against Minnesota and Saturday at Nashville, with a lower-body injury. Dickinson exited Wednesday's game in the third period. Montgomery said the Stars were eying Monday's game against Arizona for Dickinson's return. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128305 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings: 'We've been playing some good hockey'

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 6:18 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 7:48 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

As the Detroit Red Wings emerge from break, the standings show they have scant chance of making the playoffs.

The Wings plan to ignore that, and they’re better off for doing so.

The Wings were playing better than the results indicated going into the break, even before a victory at Edmonton. They'll reboot their season on Friday sitting second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference (and from the No. 1 position in the draft lottery), 14 points back from a wild- card spot with 31 games to go.

“Don’t focus too much on the standings,” Niklas Kronwall said after Thursday’s practice. “If you do it right on the ice and you keep working hard, you will be rewarded in the long run. The results will come if you keep doing the right things. We haven’t gotten the results we wanted for a long time, but lately it feels like we’ve been playing some good hockey.

“We are playing better — everyone is on the same page more than we were last year. I think everything is trending in the right direction -— our younger guys have taken very big steps in their own development and that’s gong to help them and the team and the organization in the long run.”

One young rebuilding block will miss Friday’s game against Toronto and Saturday’s at Ottawa, as Tyler Bertuzzi is nursing an upper-body injury sustained Jan. 22 at Edmonton. Justin Abdelkader practiced in Bertuzzi’s spot on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist.

The Wings have played well since New Year’s Eve, but a shortage of talent (especially against teams such as Calgary and Winnipeg) has left the Wings with a 4-6-1 record during that stretch. They’re 19-25-7 overall.

“All the statistics back up what my eye test and what a lot of eye tests that have been around us say, that certainly the last 15 games, we’ve played at a level that, if you consistently play at that level, you’ll win games,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “One of the biggest challenges when you’ve done it right and haven’t gotten rewarded is to continue to do it right. We have to stay with it, we have to keep playing real good hockey and results will follow. That’s a fact.”

Good habits instilled now may not pay off with victories until next season, but that’s part of being in rebuilding mode. The Wings are better off finishing low in the standings as far as draft lottery odds go, but it’s important the team continues to play hard even as it becomes clearer they will miss the playoffs for a third straight year.

“You have to build your game,” Blashill said. “We’ve been on an arc here where it’s gone the wrong way over the last three years. Well I think if you keep playing this way, your arc is starting to move in the right direction. You have to keep that thing moving. How you play is extraordinarily important, both as an individual and as a group. I sit on the bench and feel like our team is a way better team than we were two years ago, a way better team than we were a year-and-a-half ago, a way better team than we were probably two months ago. Why? Well, I’d say a large part of it is the continued growth of a number of players, including young players, and that’s paramount to this organization, that those guys continue to grow and get better. And in the meantime, we want to win games. It’s way more fun to win games, so let’s win games and let’s keep growing.”

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Red Wings' plans for Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek diverging

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Published 5:51 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings have one rookie defenseman back in their lineup, while another will stay in the minors for now.

Dennis Cholowski, who was a healthy scratch the last two games, is on the lineup chart for Friday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Cholowski, 20, leads team defensemen with nine power-play points and is second with 16 points overall in 47 games. It’s the defensive side of his game that is under scrutiny.

“I think Dennis has very, very good offensive ability,” coach Jeff Blashill said Thursday. “I think Dennis is going to be a real good player. He’s very young. I’ve had lots of conversations with Dan Bylsma comparing him and Kris Letang. He’s got lots of stuff where he is going to be a real good player, but it takes time. You have to make sure that you continue to grow the defensive side of the game, for sure.

“This is just a league where you cannot outscore your mistakes, and he is finding that out.”

Blashill pointed to how the Wings have had to use Cholowski as an issue. He was cast into a large role for a rookie, including running a power play, because of injuries to regulars.

“We haven’t had enough times this year where we have been able to use him the way we would have like to use him all year,” Blashill said. “We were so short on D he got thrown into the fire. Instead of using him in that (third) pair and on the power play and starting him on the offensive blue line and easing his way into the NHL, he’s been thrown in the fire too many times. All of a sudden, you lose a little bit of confidence.

“I’m hoping those few games he sat out were great lessons for him and he can come in and play so good that you make sure it never happens again."

Filip Hronek, who was sent to Grand Rapids as the Wings entered their bye-week break, isn’t coming back soon, barring an injury.

“We wanted to make sure Fil kept playing during the break,” Blashill said. “And then we made the decision to leave him down there for now. Some of that goes into his long-term development — we’d like to make sure he’s running the power play. I think he’s a guy who can kill penalties. He’s killed for us, but he hasn’t killed much down there, and that’s a conversation I’ve had with their coaching staff. Hard for this to be the league you learn how to kill in.

“I want him to go down there and make sure he does a real good job of killing so he brings that part to the table. As a right-shot that can kill for us, he’d be a real asset, but we want him to make sure he’s getting some of those reps down there.”

Hronek, 21, has killed penalties this season with Grand Rapids, and ran one of their power plays last season, in his first year of pro hockey. He ran one of the Wings’ units, too, but that was while Mike Green was unavailable. The only defenseman still injured is Trevor Daley (foot), and he has an estimated return of 7-10 days.

Hronek isn’t likely to return to Detroit any time soon.

“We’re not going to have him be a yo-yo,” Blashill said. “So we’ll keep him down there for now and then we’ll see how it goes up here.

“I have lots of belief in Fil longterm for us. I think in time, he can push to be a top-four type defenseman if he manages his game great, meaning plays great defensively, is hard as can be on the puck, and creates offense without taking unneeded chances. I want him to play more like Mark Giordano in Calgary, who creates tons of offense but doesn’t take much risk.”

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128307 Detroit Red Wings “You have to make sure you continue to grow the defensive side of the game for sure,” Blashill said. “This is a league where you can’t outscore your mistakes. He’s finding that out.”

Red Wings return to work energized, refreshed Blashill said all the injuries on the Wings’ defense has forced Cholowski to be “thrown into the fire.”

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News “(Instead of) easing his way into the he’s been thrown into the fire too many times and all of a sudden you lose a little bit Published 7:35 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 8:16 p.m. ET Jan. 31, of confidence,” Blashill said. 2019 The Wings sent forward Michael Rasmussen to Grand Rapids Wednesday for a conditioning stint.

Detroit — It was time to get back to work Thursday for the Red Wings, Rasmussen, whose hamstring had been bothering him, hadn’t played and they couldn’t wait. since Jan. 4.

Last having played Jan. 22 in Edmonton, the Wings have been off since “It’s been a long stretch, and between the injury and then the break, he then for the All-Star and a four-day “bye” breaks. hadn’t played,” Blashill said. “It would be better for his development to play a couple of games in Grand Rapids.” Just being back together as a team and playing hockey again was enjoyable. Blashill said Rasmussen will return after playing two games with the Griffins. “You feel refreshed,” said forward Anthony Mantha of the week off, and getting back into hockey mode. “If you had any small injuries you get rid More: Red Kelly was straw that stirred great 1950s Red Wings teams of them during the break. It was perfect. Ice chips “It was a mental break. It’s great to be back, you feel excited.” Tyler Bertuzzi (long term) will miss these next two games this weekend, The brisk practice at Belfor Training Center lasted approximately an hour, still recovering from a hit along the boards suffered in the last game and satisfied coach Jeff Blashill, considering the lengthy break from before the break in Edmonton. hockey. … Defenseman Trevor Daley (foot) is another seven to 10 days from “The energy was great, spirits were good,” Blashill said. “Guys seemed returning to the lineup, Blashill said. refreshed, which is what you want to gain from a break. I’d say the execution was pretty good in terms of puck skills — they’re knocking some rust off. Detroit News LOADED: 02.01.2019 “Overall I was happy with practice. I know I was pumped to be back at practice. That’s what we love to do and it was great to be back at it.”

For the players who got away from the polar weather conditions in , it appeared Mexico was the popular destination.

And, truth be told, it was tough to leave.

“It was 80 (degrees) when I left,” defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “It was different.”

Blashill spent time with his family — but couldn’t totally get away from hockey.

“I was able to watch the (Grand Rapids) Griffins play, I was able to watch my kids play hockey, and had a little getaway with my family so it was great,” Blashill said.

Young defensemen

Blashill said defenseman Dennis Cholowski will be back in the lineup Friday against Toronto, after sitting the last two games before the break.

The Wings sent defenseman Filip Hronek back to Grand Rapids, and will keep Hronek in the minor leagues for now.

“We wanted to make sure Fil kept playing during the break,” said Blashill, explaining the decision to return Hronek. “We made the decision to leave him down there for now. Some of that goes into his long-term development, too. Between the guys we have here, we’d like to make sure he’s running the power play. He’s a guy who can kill penalties.

“I have lots of belief in Fil long term for us. In time, he can push to be a top-4 type of defenseman if he manages his game great, meaning, he plays great defensively, be hard on the puck, and create offense without taking unneeded chances.”

Blashill hopes Cholowski’s time watching will benefit the young defenseman.

“There’s multiple benefits to sitting,” Blashill said. “Sometimes it really makes you dig in, makes you look in the mirror and say, ‘What do I got to do to be better?’ It’s one thing for the coach to say you have to be better at this, it’s another when you get slapped a little bit.

“Dennis has very, very good offensive ability. Dennis is going to be a very good player. He’s very young.”

Blashill wants Cholowski to be cognizant of the defensive end. 1128308 Detroit Red Wings Kelly often triggered a Red Wings offense capable of quick strikes and rivaling the speedy Canadiens.

'I was lucky, always' Red Kelly was straw that stirred great 1950s Red Wings teams As a boy, Kelly learned to skate on the swamps of the north Lake Erie shore near his family’s farm, about 80 miles west of Niagara Falls. Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News Playing soccer in his grade school yard inured the footwork Kelly would use to help mystify NHL opponents with his puck control. Published 4:13 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 7:36 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 When his dad, Pete, who had played hockey at St. Michael’s College School, in Toronto, bought his son a pony, Red rode him bareback to nearby Port Dover for organized youth hockey.

Detroit – The Maple Leafs passed on young Red Kelly. A few years later, Kelly went to St. Mike’s where, like Lindsay and many of the more than 100 NHL players who attended the prep school, he fell Big mistake. under the guidance of the athletic director and assistant hockey coach, Like , Kelly eluded the grasp of Toronto, one the two Father Edward “Ted” Flanagan, a Basilian priest. domineering Canadian franchises in the NHL, emerging from World War As many future NHL players learned, Father Ted knew hockey. II. “When I was young, back home on the farm, I used to carry the puck up, James E. Norris owned the Red Wings and helped finance the Rangers, when I played defense,” Kelly said. Bruins and Black Hawks. But, the two Canadian teams of the so-called held sway. “And, when I came to St. Mike’s when I was 14 or 15, with Father Flanagan, I skated three times more than I would back on the farm. Nearly every player in the league was Canadian. Most wanted to play for the Leafs or the Canadiens. “He taught me how to skate so I could skate down the ice with a cup of coffee on my back and not let it spill,” he said. “So, your power went from When they signed Kelly in 1947, the Wings were winners of three Stanley your hips down to the ice, and you didn’t let your hips come up. Cups in their first 21 seasons. “Nobody would know how fast you were skating,” Kelly explained. “You While the Leafs fretted about his durability, the Wings hoped the swift had no arm movements, or anything. puck-handling defenseman with enough offensive skills to play forward, would help elevate their performance against the great Canadian powers. “They thought they had you all lined up. But, you’d increase the speed a little bit and they’d only get a piece of you.” He did. And, Friday, the Red Wings will retire his number, 4. It is the eighth number retired by the franchise in its 93 seasons. Joe Primeau, the former Maple Leafs star and a head coach at St. Michael’s, taught Kelly how to pass in ways difficult to defend. In Kelly’s 13 seasons in Detroit, the Wings finished first eight times, won four Stanley Cups and played in the finals three other times. “I was lucky, always,” Kelly said. “I had great coaches. The timing I had was really unbelievable. He was a six-time first-team all-star. An injury prevented his seventh. “I did everything that they told me to do, and I credit everything to the Kelly won the first Norris Trophy, for best defenseman, in 1954, when he coaches I had at St. Mike's.” also finished second for the Hart Trophy for the most valuable player. He finished in the top five for the Hart three more times, and second for the At 16, he scored 18 goals and assisted on eight in 11 games during the Norris twice. national Junior B championship run.

He won the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for “gentlemanly conduct The performance helped bring Kelly face-to-face with the same man who combined with a high standard of playing ability,” three times. had summoned Lindsay from St. Michael’s, for the Red Wings. Carson Cooper, a high-scoring forward for the Cougars and Falcons, before they Asked which of the titanic talents of the era, or Maurice became the Red Wings, was chief scout for the franchise. “Rocket” Richard of the Canadiens, he would prefer on his team, Bruins coach Lynn Patrick said, “Neither! I’ll take Red Kelly.” In addition to Kelly and Lindsay, Cooper scouted Delvecchio, Howe, Terry Sawchuk and Harry Lumley -- six members of the Hockey Hall of In 1961, Kelly ran for Parliament in the Toronto-area riding of North York. Fame, and five of the eight numbers retired by the franchise. He won that, too. Then, he won re-election. Like many of the players on the great 1950s teams, Kelly talked about “Oh, he was great! Definitely,” said , who played from their tremendous esprit de corps. 1950 to 1973 for the Wings, winning three Stanley Cups and scoring “Well, it was great team, and we were all young,” he said. “Off the ice, we 1,281 points in 1,459 games. used to bowl together, we’d go dancing and to parties together. “One heck of an asset for our hockey club. He was a stalwart for us. He “Lindsay and Howe and Pavelich and great guys like (Bill) Quackenbush was an offensive defenseman. He could score goals and he was always and Jack Stewart, Leo Reise, we were a real team on an off the ice. a threat. “We all had the Red Wings emblem on our backside.” “He was a great stick man, with the puck. You couldn’t get it away from him.” 'He just went about his job'

Marty Pavelich, a great defensive forward, one of the best skaters of the When Lindsay talks about their camaraderie, he uses the same figure of era and a member of the four Stanley Cup winning teams of the 1950s, speech. But, characteristic of both men, Lindsay employs a coarser word said Kelly’s puck-moving skills were rivaled by few defensemen. for the body part.

“He was a good skater and he could carry the puck really well,” said “Red never swore,” Pavelich said. “He said, ‘Aw, shucks! Doggone it! Pavelich, 91, who roomed with Kelly. “He was more of that than anything Gee whiz!’ else. “He never swore, ever. “You had a lot of guys who were key, at that time,” he said, of the powerful 1950s Red Wings teams. “He was an all-star. He was a good “And, that’s the way he was,” Pavelich said. “He was just a very quiet, one. easy-going guy.”

“His teammate Benny Woit used to stay back all of the time, and he had Delvecchio said Kelly maintained such a low profile, it is almost difficult to a few other guys that he played with, and Red was the guy who was the remember stories to tell about him. rusher. He’d get the puck out.” “I’ve been trying to recall this and that, and you barely knew he was in the room,” the former Red Wings captain and coach said, laughing. “He didn’t speak up or shout or really get that excited.

“Around the dressing room you never heard anything from him,” Delvecchio said. “On the bench, you never heard anything.

“He just went about his job. And, he was fantastic at it!”

Near the start of his last season with the Red Wings, a reporter asked about his slowness at the end of the previous one.

Kelly said he told the reporter, “It might have been the ankle.”

The previous season, when Kelly broke a bone in his lower leg, the Red Wings had asked him to take off the cast to see if he could skate on it, in some big games.

He played, but his performance lagged.

Kelly said the reporter wrote the story straight. But a headline writer posed the question: Had the Wings forced him to play injured?

Kelly said it was not true, he never said that and the reporter never wrote it.

The next day, he said, GM summoned him and told him he had been traded to the lowly Rangers.

He said he told Adams he would not report and stormed out of the office.

“I didn’t think it was right,” Kelly said.

“No one spoke to Adams like that. I don’t remember if I slammed the door.”

Eventually, the Maple Leafs, unwilling to pass over him twice, brought Kelly out of retirement.

“In those days, you never knew who was going to be traded,” Delvecchio said. “You kind of kept your nose to the grindstone and hoped you weren’t going to be involved in any of those things.

“He finally got the Toronto deal, which was to his advantage,” said Delvecchio who, with Howe, had to face the powerful Maple Leafs teams of the early 1960s, when Kelly continued winning Stanley Cups.

After the last of their four cups, in 1955, the Wings would wait another 42 years for the next one.

“For a fellow who didn’t speak up too much,” Delvecchio said, “he sure won his battle.”

Red Wings retired numbers

1: Terry Sawchuk

4: Red Kelly

5: Nicklas Lidstrom

7: Ted Lindsay

9: Gordie Howe

10: Alex Delvecchio

12:

19:

Detroit News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128309 Detroit Red Wings

ESPN hands Red Wings a C in midseason report card

Staff Report The Detroit News

Published 12:10 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 12:10 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

The Detroit Red Wings are tied for the second-fewest points in the NHL's Eastern Conference entering Thursday's games, and are all but a lock to miss their third straight postseason.

That's pretty much what's been expected, according to ESPN, which on Thursday handed Detroit a C grade in its NHL midseason report card.

Detroit is 19-25-7 for 45 points, tied with New Jersey, and just two better than Eastern Conference cellar-dwelling Ottawa, which plays host to the Red Wings on Saturday night. Only two teams — Ottawa and Los Angeles (44) — have fewer points than Detroit.

"(The Red Wings are) not as bad as their record, but not good either," writes ESPN's Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski. "But, boy, that Jimmy Howard has been good."

Howard was the Red Wings' lone All-Star, enjoying one of the better seasons of his career (2.76 goals-against average, .916 saves percentage), and carried Detroit's goaltending to a B-plus grade from ESPN

"We are all witnesses to the Jimmy Howard renaissance," Kaplan and Wyshynski write. "... He earned his trip to the All-Star Game."

ESPN also had high regard for defenseman Nick Jensen, who received "class president honors" in the report card, with Kaplan and Wyshynski calling the 28-year-old "one of the most underrated players in the NHL this season, posting an expected goals plus/minus of plus-1.79 playing with a variety of defensive partners."

The Red Wings' forwards received a B, on the strength of Dylan Larkin (48 points in 51 games), Gustav Nyquist (32 assists), and Andrea Athanasiou (17 goals), among others.

After that, though, the grades begin to slide.

Despite Jensen's efforts, the defensemen received a C-plus, special teams a D-plus — "Their special teams are ... not special," according to ESPN — and head coach Jeff Blashill and Ken Holland were handed a C-plus and C, respectively.

"The success obviously hasn't been there for Jeff Blashill, who will spend what many assume will be his last season in Detroit out of the playoffs again," ESPN writes. "But the Red Wings play hard, and he has done well in developing some of their young talents."

Holland, meanwhile, received credit for drafting forward Filip Zadina and dealing forward Tomas Tatar to Vegas for draft picks, but what he does at the trade deadline this season remains to be seen.

"He has other assets to move this season — although some of them have trade protection, because, well, it's Ken Holland," writes ESPN, alluding to veteran forward Thomas Vanek, among others. "Then, we'll all wait to see if he moves on to other opportunities."

Detroit News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128310 Detroit Red Wings including young players, and that’s paramount to this organization that those guys continue to grow. In the meantime, we want to win games.”

Red Wings return from break focused on improvement, not standings Michigan Live LOADED: 02.01.2019

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

DETROIT – Reaching the playoffs is a lost cause, but the Detroit Red Wings can focus on other goals over their final 31 games, like continued development of young players, gaining confidence and building momentum for next season.

The Red Wings returned to the practice ice Thursday refreshed, following an eight-day break, and eager to face the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday at (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Tyler Bertuzzi is out for the weekend (they visit Ottawa Saturday) with an upper-body injury suffered in the final game before the All-Star break and bye week. Rookie defenseman Dennis Cholowski will return to the lineup after watching two games as a healthy scratch.

The Red Wings will raise Red Kelly’s No. 4 to the rafters in a ceremony that begins at 7 p.m. and are asking fans to arrive early.

The Red Wings (19-25-7) are only two points away from the NHL’s basement, but they’re encouraged by their compete level. They’ve had a chance to win most games but too often find ways to lose.

Coach Jeff Blashill said the eye test tells him if the team consistently plays at the level it has the past 15 games, it will win more games.

“We got to keep playing good hockey and results will follow,” Blashill said. “Keep your focus. That’s the one game that we have ahead of us and that’s it. Just trying to get better every single day as a group, as individuals. Have a short memory. Once that game’s over, you learn from it and move on.”

The Leafs (30-17-2) also are coming off their bye week, so the teams are on equal footing in that regard.

The Red Wings are 14 points out of the final playoff spot, but Niklas Kronwall said they’re not focusing on the standings.

“If you do it right on the ice, keep working hard, you’ll get rewarded in the long run,” Kronwall said. “We haven’t gotten the results we wanted for a long time, but lately it feels like we’ve been playing some good hockey. But we need results. We need our special teams to be better, that’s probably the biggest thing that has to improve.”

Bertuzzi’s absence moves Justin Abdelkader back to the top line with Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist. Abdelkader also worked the net front on one of the power-play units. He has struggled (five goals, 13 points in 51 games), but Blashill wants a net presence and some grit on Larkin’s line.

“Bert’s playing real good hockey, so it’s unfortunate,” Blashill said. “I moved Abdelkader back up to that spot because I thought he had done a real good job there prior, so we’ll see if we make any further adjustments as we go along.”

Jimmy Howard, coming off a 32-save performance against the Oilers and an appearance at the All-Star Game, is expected to start Friday.

“Going into the break we played really well, we just didn’t get the results we deserved,” Howard said. “Fine-tune some things in our own end but keep the offensive abilities that going into the break we had.

“Every night we’re in the game, it’s just flipping the script so that we’re winning and we’re not shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s paying attention to detail in your own end, not taking periods off, just continuing to get better.”

Kronwall likely is in his final season but has a positive outlook for the team.

“The feeling is we’re playing better, everyone is on the same page, more than we were last year,” Kronwall said. “I think everything is trending in the right direction. Our younger guys have taken very big steps.”

Said Blashill: “I sit on the bench and feel like our team’s way better than two years ago, way better than we were probably two months ago. I’d say a large part of it is the continued growth in a number of players, 1128311 Detroit Red Wings Detroit, had to have basically spent most of their career in Detroit, preferably all of it.

“This was one we all recognized is overdue for sure.” Revolutionary Red Kelly set to have Red Wings number retired Who is the next Red Wing to have his number retired? Many believe Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 should hang from the rafters. Clearly, there still By Ansar Khan | [email protected] are hard feelings from the organization about the way Fedorov left in 2003 – he turned down an offer from the Red Wings and signed with Anaheim.

Skilled, mobile defensemen have been joining the rush and contributing Some fences have since been mended – Fedorov was honored before a offensively for decades in the NHL. game in Detroit after being inducted into the Hall of Fame. But apparently not enough to warrant jersey retirement. Not so much in the 1950s, when defensemen were mostly sequestered in their own zone. Devellano declined to comment on whether Fedorov is being considered for this honor, saying that will be ownership’s decision. Red Kelly changed that. There is a strong sentiment in the organization to retire Henrik “Back then defensemen were really there just to defend,” Jimmy Zetterberg’s No. 40 next. He spent his entire 15-year career in Detroit, Devellano said. “That was their job and you would never venture beyond the final six seasons as captain, and won a Cup in 2008. the opposition blue line the way defensemen rush up and do it today. But Kelly was probably the first one they let do it.”

Kelly was an eight-time All-Star for the Detroit Red Wings, the first winner Michigan Live LOADED: 02.01.2019 of the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 1954. His 20-year career was capped by induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.

On Friday, when the Red Wings return from the All-Star break and their bye week to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kelly will have his No. 4 raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena.

“He had quite a career,” Devellano, Detroit’s senior vice president, said. “It’s nice that we’re finally getting this done.”

Kelly, 91, will be the eighth Red Wing to have his number retired, joining Terry Sawchuk (1), Nicklas Lidstrom (5), Ted Lindsay (7), Gordie Howe (9), Alex Delvecchio (10), Sid Abel (12) and Steve Yzerman (19).

Devellano grew up in Toronto watching Kelly, as a Red Wings defenseman from 1947 to 1960 and a Maple Leafs center from 1960 to 1967.

“Kelly was an unbelievable skater and could handle the puck,” Devellano said. “Jack Adams (the Red Wings coach), because he had Howe and Lindsay and Abel and Delvecchio, would pair Red Kelly with a defensive defenseman, maybe Bob Goldham or Al Arbour, and would allow Red to go more into the offensive zone than normal.

“Probably through the ’50s, the best defensemen in the NHL were and Red Kelly.”

Kelly appeared in 846 games with the Red Wings, collecting 162 goals and 310 assists. He won four of his eight Stanley Cup championships with the Red Wings.

Kelly ran afoul of Adams late in the 1959-60 season and was traded to Toronto for defenseman Marc Reaume, who would go on to play 47 games with Detroit.

Leafs coach Punch Imlach turned Kelly into a center and he helped the club win four Cups.

“Kelly was a terrific centerman because he could skate, handle the puck, think the game at a high level,” Devellano said. “He was really a terrific player.”

Kelly coached 10 seasons with Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Toronto and also dabbled in politics.

“He was a member of the Canadian government, voted in by people on two occasions to be a member of Parliament and sit in the House of Commons in Ottawa, and he did that while he was playing,” Devellano said.

Chris Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, announced on Oct. 11 that Kelly’s number would be retired in a ceremony when the Leafs returned to Detroit. Kelly lives in the Toronto area.

“We don’t take these number retirements lightly,” Devellano said. “It was a discussion I had with (late team owner) Mike Ilitch from the time I got to Detroit. We want to be sure when we do it it’s the right person.

“You’re taking the number out of circulation forever. It needs to be thought through. We had criteria in terms of superstar, had to win Cups in 1128312 Detroit Red Wings dysfunction this year, and I’m not sold on Bevell being the guy Matt Patricia needs to solidify his regime in Detroit. The Red Wings and Tigers still seem further away.

‘Rebuilding’ roundtable: On the current state of Detroit’s pro sports But the Pistons have shown they can play good basketball. At times, they teams, and the hope for a brighter future have even looked like, dare I say it, a playoff team. If not this year, then certainly next year, I see the Pistons squeaking into the playoffs and maybe even stealing a win or two. Chris Burke James L. Edwards III: It’s much easier to turn things around year-to-year Jan 31, 2019 in the NFL. However, with that said, I haven’t seen a Lions playoff win in my lifetime, so I can’t pick them. That leaves the Pistons, the only other

franchise not completely rebuilding. Blake Griffin is the city’s best pro The year: 1979. The city of Detroit is in a stretch of sports misery like it athlete, and that provides a sliver of hope for those who want to see a had never seen. postseason berth. In the NBA, the best player on the court can win you a game, and there’s a possibility that he is, indeed, the best player on the The Tigers, led by 24-year-old ace Jack Morris, actually put together a floor for a game in a playoff series. record above. 500 (85-76) but finished 18 games back in the AL East, long before the wild card came to be. Chris Burke: My pick to make the playoffs next might be the Lions — at the risk of sounding like a homer, I definitely could see that happening in The Lions lost 11 of their first 12 en route to a 2-14 mark; in five of their the 2019 season. But, yeah, picking them to win a playoff game is final nine games, they scored 10 points or fewer. another thing. If the Wings or Pistons can squeak in next year (or the Pistons this year, I guess), it’s certainly feasible that they could steal one Over at , the Red Wings were at the nadir of the “Dead or two games. Things” era. They wrapped the ’79-80 campaign at 26-43-11, somehow their best record over a five-year stretch ending in ’82-83. I do have two follow-ups here: 1) James, are we talking about this season for the Pistons? As in, do you give them any hope of grabbing And the Pistons? Their 16-66 record in 1979-80 is the worst the franchise that eighth spot and pushing the Bucks or Raptors a little? has ever produced, easily clear of the 20-62 finish in 1993-94. Head coach Dick Vitale lasted all of 12 games in 1979 before being shown the And then 2) Max, I guess you’ve got the Lions potentially breaking this door. streak next year, but otherwise … well, it’s a little worrisome that you’re not picking the Wings. The NHL postseason setup is arguably the most All told, the Motor City went 16 years (1968-84) between titles, unless forgiving when it comes to staying competitive from a lower seed, so do you count the Michigan Panthers’ 1983 USFL championship. It was the you not see the Wings reaching that level in 2019-20? longest championship drought for Detroit since the big four pro teams settled under the city’s banner. But it’s a dubious record that could be MB: By virtue of picking the Lions next year, those playoffs come before broken in the near future. the ‘19-20 NHL postseason, so it buys me a bit of cover from having to be firm there. That said, I don’t think I’m buying the Red Wings as a Despite the Tigers’ best efforts, the last Detroit team to wear a crown was playoff team in ‘19-20 yet anyway. How close they can get probably the 2007-08 Red Wings, now 11 years ago. Heck, no one’s even played depends in part on what they do at the trade deadline and their draft this in a playoff game since the Lions lost at Seattle on Jan. 7, 2017. These year. I do think they will win a playoff game the very next time they’re in are dark days for the state’s die-hard fans. the playoffs, so if that does turn out to be next season, then they could Is there any hope of a turnaround? To find that answer, and to revisit how very well be first. (I also think LCA will be an incredible playoff it all went so wrong, The Athletic Detroit pulled together four of its writers atmosphere when that day comes.) for a roundtable: Chris Burke, Lions beat writer; James L. Edwards III, So, I guess the question just becomes whether or not they’ll make it in Pistons beat writer; Max Bultman, Red Wings beat writer; and Cody ‘19-20, and I do know from speaking with Ken Holland over the weekend Stavenhagen, who will be down in Lakeland for spring training with the that he hopes they push for it next year. But we’ve all seen firsthand what Tigers. rookie adjustment periods can be like, and they’re on track for at least That discussion is broken into four sections: the present, the past, the one or two more of those next season. Their young defensemen are still general managers and the future. We hope you enjoy it, as much as is going to be learning. Unless there’s some combination of a free-agent possible given the topic. splash, lottery-pick home run and the re-signing of certain pending UFAs, I’d still envision them on the outside looking in next year — though, I do Chris Burke: We’ll get into the nuts and bolts of all this, but let’s hit the think they take a step forward. 2020-2021 looks like the more significant ground running: It has now been over 1,000 days since one of Detroit’s turning point, to me, for the Red Wings. big four pro teams won a playoff game — Red Wings over the Lightning on April 17, 2016. So, when does the next Detroit sports playoff win JLEIII: I do not think it’s this season for the Pistons — I already booked a come, and which team gets it? trip to Miami for early May. Of course, anything can happen before the deadline, but I’m not sure if there is a splash to be made due to the lack Max Bultman: I think I’ve entered the last five or six Lions seasons of assets. However, I do think this team is closer to being competitive thinking they could win a playoff game, and since I apparently don’t learn than people think. If Luke Kennard takes another step, and they can add from my mistakes, my first instinct is to stay with them again. The wild one or two more consistent role players, I think they’re a playoff lock. Of card here is new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, and how much he course, getting a guy who can create his own shot from the perimeter — can do for Matthew Stafford coming off his worst season in recent other than Griffin — is huge, too. But those players aren’t as easy to get. memory, but I still can’t shake the feeling that team has the most key pieces in place with some potentially impactful draft picks coming in the CB: There are a lot of “what ifs” in recent Detroit sports history, which is next couple months. Kerryon Johnson should be ready to become an where I want to go with our next talking point. Was any of this avoidable? every-game offensive weapon, and I’m curious to see the Lions’ defense The Lions are in a unique situation because they’re not rebuilding the with a full offseason to build around what became a reasonably effective way at least the Tigers and Red Wings have been. They were in the interior line. playoffs in 2016 and 9-7 in ‘17, so they’re more in a “renovation” space. The Pistons, I think we can agree, are the most likely to next make it into Any true “rebuild” probably can’t happen for at least two to three more the playoffs, and maybe I’m underrating how much that counts for. But I years, or however long they remain tied to Bob Quinn, Matt Patricia and also remember the sweep against Cleveland a few years back, and this Matthew Stafford. team doesn’t strike me as being as good as that one, which is crazy JLEIII: For the Pistons, you can go down the line. What if they didn’t sign considering this version has Blake Griffin. In reality, they probably squeak Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to massive deals? What if they into the playoffs and Blake steals them a win against Milwaukee or drafted Devin Booker over Stanley Johnson? Donovan Mitchell over Luke Toronto at home. Kennard? We can go on and on with the Pistons’ recent draft blunders. But I’m still kind of tempted to pick the Lions … Sixty percent of the team’s current problem is that it has no bona fide intriguing, tangible assets because it hasn’t drafted well, really, this Cody Stavenhagen: I’ll take the Pistons. Not to win a playoff series, but century. maybe a game. The Lions have some good pieces, but there was a lot of CB: Caris LeVert went a couple picks after Henry Ellenson too, right? 7%Ed Stefanski They haven’t had great draft success in recent memory. 3,469 votes • Final results JLEIII: Yes, he did, Chris. Yes, he did. You could go down the list — pick a draft, any draft. 86 people are talking about this

The hidden “what if” for the Pistons, though, is what if Reggie Jackson Seeing as I’m our Lions writer, I’m sure the audience for my tweet never got hurt? In hindsight, his knee tendinitis and grade-3 right ankle skewed the numbers toward Bob Quinn a bit, but does anything in there sprain ended the Stan Van Gundy era. He was deserving of his contract surprise you? the summer he got it — he was averaging 18 points, was the best player MB: I don’t know how Ed Stefanski managed to poll that low after not on a playoff team, and was fairly young. And then the injuries happened really making any notable mistakes yet. The Pistons fan base is and he hasn’t been the same since. His downfall is 20 percent of the exceptionally frustrated right now, for good reason, so maybe this is Pistons’ current problems. actually about inaction, but it’s still surprising to see him so low — CS: I’ve spent the past couple of weeks getting closely acquainted with especially considering there’s another GM on that list who has publicly the Tigers organization, and one thing is pretty clear: There’s a lot of fan said his team won’t spend money for two more seasons. If anything, resentment toward Al Avila and the Ilitch family. As anyone reading this maybe it speaks to just how tough a situation the Pistons are in right knows, the Tigers spent 2015 and 2016 trying to contend, when the now, independent of who’s running the show. rebuild probably should have started then. Detroit spent money to an CB: It also might relate to the Pistons’ place in the collective Detroit fan irresponsible degree and was getting far too familiar with the luxury tax base’s consciousness as much as anything. I will say that I am not under Mike Ilitch’s ownership. It saddled itself with bad contracts to surprised to see Avila running so low. He’s the GM you mentioned Miguel Cabrera and Jordan Zimmermann. Perhaps more notably, the putting the checkbook away until 2021, at the earliest, and it’s fair to ask Tigers have struggled for an entire decade to develop major league talent if he has the chops to pull off this ongoing rebuild. A lot of things need to in their farm system. Questionable scouting, underwhelming player click in the farm system. development and a period of time where the Tigers lagged behind the analytics wave all led to where we are now. JLEIII: I agree with CB. The fan base is just so done with this franchise that it doesn’t see how anyone can fix it. If Stefanski and Co. stand pat at And, yes, when things went bad, they went real bad. The Tigers shipped the trade deadline, people will lose their minds. But in all actuality, the likes of Justin Verlander and other franchise staples away. They waiting these contracts out may be the best course of action. chose to burn down the forest and start all over. CS: Avila’s statements at the Tigers’ caravan last week were striking and This is my first year in this market, so it’s a bit of an interesting seemed like a political message. Avila, it is thought, has two more years perspective. If you put away the resentment of the past, I think the Tigers left on his contract. What would he need to do in order to even be the guy have a decent plan to return to prominence within the next five years. But overseeing the final — and maybe most important — stages of this this organization inflicted a lot of pain on itself, and as a result, this fan rebuild? He’s conveying the message that his hands are tied for two base isn’t thrilled with being patient, and Al Avila and company aren’t seasons. Fans, understandably, don’t like that message. getting the benefit of the doubt. So, as his approval ratings drop … you really wonder if he will even be CB: I do wonder where the Tigers would be if they’d re-signed Max the guy handing out paychecks in some distant future. (This, mind you, is Scherzer following the 2014 season (or given him an extension at some all independent of the fever-dream possibility of Dan Gilbert buying the point along the way). They probably still should’ve been better than they team, which could also throw Avila’s power into question.) were in 2015. CB: What would Steve Yzerman be polling at? MB: I don’t think a rebuild was avoidable for the Red Wings — at some point, they were going to foot the bill for chasing titles for so many years MB: Based on the comments on my Holland Q&A this week? Very highly. — but that doesn’t mean you can’t point to some “what if” moments, too. JLEIII: Yzerman can do no wrong in this city. If you threw him into that You’d probably start with the decision to keep trying to preserve the poll from the other day, I GUARANSHEED that he’d come out on top. playoff streak by signing/re-signing some costly veterans, and trading picks and prospects for the same type of player. CB: Does ‘Sheed want to be the Pistons’ GM? They still need one, officially. There’s something to be said for trying to squeeze more playoff wins out of ’s career, but no matter your thoughts on the culture I will say there were a lot of tweets back voting either for Yzerman or question that ultimately surrounds those veteran contracts in the modern “none of the above.” I don’t read that 49 percent for Quinn as much more day, most have turned out to be too high for the market — and a couple than the market’s lack of faith in Avila, the desire to move on from will continue to be for multiple years to come. Holland and malaise regarding the Pistons. Quinn has shown a level of competency, though, that might have afforded him a little goodwill — the Are those deals the major difference in how long or how deep the rebuild trade for Damon Harrison, the Kerryon Johnson and Da’Shawn Hand has had to go? Perhaps not. But at the very least, every bad contract picks last year, etc. makes it harder to turn the corner again. The jury is still out on whether or not he can put the requisite pieces CB: This is all different than what the Lions are facing. Their real rebuild together from here, but there does appear to be a cogent plan in place. started back in 2009, after they went 0-16 and then drafted Matthew Stafford. At least internally, the belief is that they’re a quality offseason CB: OK, last part: Now what? We covered this some back in Section I, away from being a playoff team and maybe two quality offseasons away but how do these teams — and this city’s sports universe, as a whole — from establishing a perennial contender. go from “rebuilding” to “contender” in the near future?

They’re also not that far removed from being in that ballpark. The three MB: For the Red Wings, I outlined this in a story a couple weeks back, key departures that shifted things for them were that of Ndamukong Suh, and I have to say, I do think they might be on a decent track. They need Calvin Johnson and Jim Caldwell. The real mystery is how the last few a couple big breaks (read: Ping-Pong balls) to go their way, but they years might have played out for this franchise had it not been jobbed might have more pieces in place than I realized even a month or two ago. during that 2014 playoff game in Dallas. Detroit’s defense was good Getting a top 2 or 3 pick in this draft could leave them one top enough to carry it much deeper into the postseason, and … well, who defenseman and one high-level forward away from contender status in knows how the mentalities of Suh or Megatron might have changed with the near future. That’s still a couple of big variables, but there’s a decent a divisional round or conference title trip. young core taking shape regardless … if they can find a goalie.

CB: I tossed out this poll on Twitter the other day, and it pulled almost JLEIII: Technically, there are two ways the Pistons can do it, but only one 3,500 votes … seems plausible. Tom Gores said he would go into the luxury tax if the team were able to trade/sign another player of “star” status — think 13%Al Avila Bradley Beal or one of the Portland guards. The issue is that the Pistons 31%Ken Holland have no assets (aside from draft picks) to acquire such a talent to pair with Griffin. 49%Bob Quinn The other option is to finally begin the rebuilding process. I’m not the biggest proponent of “tanking,” but this franchise has tried to stay relevant through free-agent signings, trades and the draft, none of which has worked over the last decade. Tanking isn’t guaranteed, but it is an unexplored option, and likely the best course to take unless one of the young players develops into a coveted asset.

CS: There are still so many unknowns with the Tigers, and that’s the nature of a baseball rebuild to some degree. More than anything, the Tigers need their top-level prospects to become top-level pros. That means Casey Mize is a legit ace, Daz Cameron is an All-Star outfielder, Jake Rodgers is a Gold Glove catcher. While that’s not impossible, it’s also asking a whole lot, and things usually don’t work out that way.

But if the Tigers can develop a decent stock of talent and pair it with one or two big signings around 2021 (when Zimmermann is gone and the payroll opens up) suddenly you’re looking at a roster that could be pretty stacked by 2023. It’s tough, though, because so much of this is dependent on player development and roster moves that we can’t even begin to predict. All that said, for as much as people want to see the Tigers come out from hiding and spend some money, staying the course might be the best way to eventually get this thing back on track. Spend now, and you could end up in the same conundrum James just described with the Pistons.

CB: Picking in the top 10 is as close as the Lions want to get to an all-out rebuild. Unless they’re going to start unloading guys like Stafford, Harrison, Darius Slay, Taylor Decker, Quandre Diggs and so on, they are closer to at least the middle of the pack and wild-card contention than they are to picking No. 1.

It’s interesting, because usually when you’re that high in the draft, you either a) need a quarterback or b) have to go best player available to fill a general talent deficiency. The Lions aren’t necessarily in those spots. They certainly won’t be drafting a quarterback, and the roster has enough clear strengths and weaknesses that they can try to pinpoint the latter. Add a handful of guys — a No. 2 corner, a pass rusher, a guard and a slot receiver/tight end — via free agency, trade or the draft, and a 10-win season isn’t out of the question. Obviously, it’s not all that simple to just go find four or five legitimate starters, but they’re not stripping down the roster to its foundation.

MB: If you were asking me to rank these teams in three years, the Red Wings might have a good case for No. 1 … though I’m not sure if that says more about them or the rest of the group. I still don’t think Detroit as a whole can count on any type of cross-sport dominance any time soon, but at the very least the 2020s should be kinder than the present.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128313 Edmonton Oilers “To be honest, I don’t know,” said Klefbom. “We’ll see. It’s going to take some time to get used to the timing. It’s one thing to be out skating by yourself and it’s another to be out there with the best players in the world.

Edmonton Oilers counting on boost from Klefbom's return “But I’m just looking forward to playing some games. It feels like it’s been forever. It’s been very frustrating for me to sit there and watch the guys play without me.” Robert Tychkowski The fans got frustrated watching this group, too. The Oilers were not very January 31, 2019 10:34 PM MST good in Klefbom’s absence – just ask Peter Chiarelli – and while they know he can’t fix everything himself, the hope is that he’s an integral part

of a much larger solution. There is no doubt Oscar Klefbom has some big shoes to fill when he “I don’t think he’s the magic potion,” said head coach Ken Hitchcock. comes back: His own. “Klef is Klef, he’s just solid in everything he does. But there was a huge From the way the Edmonton Oilers talk about him in his absence, and difference in (Adam) Larsson. To me, that’s the big plus. We get a hell of how they totally collapsed the moment he got injured, you’d think it was a pair. Paul Coffey in his prime who is about to return after missing these last 19 “You could see all the little plays they made under pressure today, those games. weren’t being made for a long time. That’s a big, big difference. That’s Given the statistical evidence, it’s pretty easy to understand the the part that gets you excited, because now it looks like we’ve got a hell excitement about the 25-year-old defenceman’s imminent return. You of a pair on the verge of coming back together.” can draw a direct line between Klefbom’s hand injury on Dec. 11 and the period of bewilderment and turmoil that followed. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2019 The Oilers went 7-1 in the eight games before he got hurt and 6-12-1 after, a stretch so disappointing it got the general manager fired.

Was the massive meltdown all because of one player? Does his return mean they are about to become that 8-2-1 team again? Or was it more coincidence than cause and effect?

We are about to find out, but it might not be right away.

For starters, even though he went through a full practice Thursday, the team still isn’t sure if he’ll be activated for the back-to-back weekend games in Philadelphia and Montreal.

And, secondly, you have to assume it’s going to take him a little time to get back up to speed after a six-week injury. Expecting him to step right in and be the ingredient that turns this team around on a dime is asking a lot.

Still, just seeing him out there and knowing he’s close adds another level of belief to a team that probably isn’t finding much of it outside the dressing room.

“You don’t want to put that much pressure on a guy, it’s not fun if you’re that player, but obviously we missed him,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “He logs a lot of minutes, he’s steady back there, he chips in offensively and right before he got hurt, he was an absolute rock for us.

“He’s been out for a while and you can’t expect too much from him, but we expect him to get up to speed pretty quick.”

Edmonton gave up four or more goals in 11 of the 19 games Klefbom was out, so the goalies are probably the most excited people to see him back.

“He was our workhorse,” said Cam Talbot. “You can see how much he calms the play down out there and what he does for our power play. He was playing the best hockey of his career before he got hurt.”

For his part, Kelfbom is just glad to be playing some hockey again.

“It’s been a long wait, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been on the ice with them,” he said after Thursday’s full practice. “I’m really excited to be out there helping.”

Klefbom did throw a scare into the building when he skated to the bench late in practice, shaking his hand and wincing in pain after an accidental slash, but everything seems to be OK.

The concern going forward is that today’s sticks really tend to vibrate and it can feel like an electrical jolt on a finger that’s coming off of surgery. Sixty minutes of that can add up.

“I had some fractures and some pins in there, so it’s not feeling great,” he said. “But it’s going to be better every day. Just in the last couple of days, there has been good progress.”

What can we realistically expect from a player who’s been out for 19 games, when he rejoins a league that’s in full stride? 1128314 Edmonton Oilers hopes to be back in the lineup this weekend. “Every game is going to be a like a playoff game. We really need to get together as a group and get a point or two every night.”

Edmonton Oilers preparing for 32 playoff games down the stretch It’s not going to be easy. The Oilers will still be shaking sand out of their ears from their bye-week vacations, in back-to-back afternoon games on the road. Their first stop is in Philadelphia, where the Flyers will be Robert Tychkowski playing their fourth game since the all-star break.

January 31, 2019 10:36 PM MST “There’s a distinct advantage for the team that’s already played,” said Hitchcock. “We’re behind the 8-ball just on the Philadelphia game. We’re

going to have to play catch up.” Edmonton Sun Sports Hockey Edmonton Oilers Late hits: Andrej Sekera, who’s been out all year recovering from a torn Forget that the Edmonton Oilers will be playing their first game in 10 Achilles in the off-season, also went through the full practice Thursday days. and is marching closer to a return. The Oilers will have to decide what to do with him next, although a few games in Bakersfield seems the obvious Forget that when they return to action, covered in sun-baked rust after play. their bye-week vacations, they run straight into back-to-back afternoon games in Philadelphia and Montreal. “His next stage is to decide where and when he’s going to play games,” said Hitchcock. Forget that the last time we saw them, they were a train wreck, firing the general manager after giving up 15 goals in three straight losses at home. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 02.01.2019 And forget that they are 1-6 this season when returning to action after a break of three or more days.

It’s a sprint to the finish in the Western Conference wildcard chase and the Oilers have to be at top speed right out of the blocks. Ease their way back into the season and it will be over before the trade deadline.

In returning to work Thursday evening for the first time since general manager Peter Chiarelli was fired, the Oilers said the onus is on them now to make up for it with a strong finish.

“We’ve played our way out of a coach and we’ve played our way out of a GM now, so it’s obviously on us,” said captain Connor McDavid, well aware of how urgent their situation is.

‘The playoff race started a month ago for us. We’re right in the thick of it. There are a lot of teams there, but somebody has to pull away.”

Three points out of a playoff spot with 32 games to go might sound like a relatively comfortable position, but it’s not. While three points sounds tantalizing close, points are not the obstacle anymore: Teams are.

By stumbling their way to the all-star break, the wildcard contenders opened the door for Arizona and St. Louis to join the fight. Now there are seven teams competing for two positions.

On any given night, one or more of those six other teams is collecting points. You win a game, somebody else wins, too. You lose a game, somebody else wins. You sit idle, somebody else wins.

Mathematically, Edmonton has about a 28 per-cent chance of making it, which means there is a 72 per-cent chance they miss. The Oilers are betting on themselves, though.

“We’re still in this race,” said winger Milan Lucic. “I’m not just saying that; I believe in this group and I truly believe we’re going to get ourselves back in it.”

It’s going to take a lot of consistently strong hockey, something Edmonton hasn’t played a lot of, to separate themselves from the pack. They’ve shown an ability to get red-hot for a while, having gone 8-2-1 twice, but lags in their season of 2-7-1 on and 2-8-1 wiped away all the progress.

Now it’s a sprint, with zero breathing room.

“This is 32 playoff games,” said head Ken Hitchcock. “There are going to be some real highs and some real lows. We have to tread water and when we get on a run, we have to run it all the way and go as far as we can with it. That’s what’s going to happen, a couple of teams are going to get on a run here.

“We’ve been on two of those runs before and we need one more to get right into the middle of the race.”

Whether they’re right on the doorstep or in a tough spot is a matter of opinion, but opinion doesn’t matter anymore. It will all play itself out over the next few weeks.

“We see this as a fresh start to come together and hopefully win some games here in the beginning,” said defenceman Oscar Klefbom, who 1128315 Edmonton Oilers done an awfully good job for the Oilers in their last collective kick at the can.

Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear have both already played NHL games and Willis: Analyzing how well Peter Chiarelli and Keith Gretzky restocked the are significant prospects for the organization. Of the 43 defencemen Oilers with their draft work taken after No. 100 overall, just eight have played in the NHL to-date. Both players have delivered far better than league-average results for the Oilers so far, and are a big part of the reason Edmonton’s defensive By Jonathan Willis prospect pool looks so flush.

Jan 31, 2019 John Marino is having a down year statistically after two good seasons. He remains a prospect of interest and appears on-track to at least land

an entry-level deal with Edmonton. There are a few good reasons that Edmonton’s drafting record under It’s also hard to get too upset about either Miroslav Svoboda or Ziyat recently fired general manager Peter Chiarelli deserves serious scrutiny. Paigin. Both players have had strong starts to their European pro The main reason is the same for the Oilers as for other teams: the draft is careers, and both were convincing enough to earn entry-level contracts. the lifeblood of an NHL franchise. Every team needs cheap players. It didn’t work out for either player on this side of the Atlantic, but as Every team needs internal improvement. The draft is the best source of seventh-round flyers go, those were sensible rolls of the dice. both. This was a solid year at the draft table for Edmonton, but it only checks With Chiarelli’s reputation as a manager in tatters, the draft is one of the off one of the three boxes in the introduction. The Oilers will benefit from few areas where he hasn’t been condemned. In fact, scouting was having Jones, Bear and possibly Marino in the system. In terms of explicitly cited by Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson last April, when he was evaluating either Chiarelli or Gretzky, though, these selections offer no asked what made him confident in Chiarelli as a manager at that time. insight.

“Once I came in here, three years ago as the CEO, hired Peter Chiarelli, That begins to change in 2016. This was the first full year under Chiarelli, I’ve seen his plans of what he’s done,” Nicholson said then. “A lot of it the first season in which his early hires had a chance to influence the you don’t see — what he’s done with the scouting component of this Oilers’ season-long list. He hadn’t finished his overhaul of the scouting organization. Yes, we had a down year. But I really believe when I talk to department and Gretzky wouldn’t be hired until after the draft, so it’s a Peter he has a plan to get us back into the playoffs next year, and we’ll transition year. unveil that plan once we go through this evaluation.” It’s dangerous to evaluate a group this early because the players are Yet the draft only reflects the general manager’s abilities in an indirect young and the year-to-year swings can be drastic. The early returns don’t way. Given his NHL commitments, there is no way for a GM to be knee- look great, though. deep in the business of evaluating 17- and 18-year-old hockey players all It starts with Puljujarvi, who obviously hasn’t met expectations. Five days year. Instead, he’s responsible in the sense that he hires the staff tasked after drafting Puljujarvi, Chiarelli traded Taylor Hall. When asked if there with that work. was a link between the two decisions, he acknowledged that there was. None of Chiarelli’s staff have been more prominent than now-interim GM “On Puljujarvi, he’s a really good player and we were fortunate to get Keith Gretzky, the former Bruins scouting director who had involvement him,” Chiarelli said. “Columbus (which passed on Puljujarvi with the No. 3 in the draft as the team’s assistant general manager. pick) had other needs and I can’t speak for them. This happens Gretzky is notable both for his expanded role and because he is the most sometimes. obvious internal candidate for the permanent gig. He is in a senior role “We were fortunate. Yes, it did make it easier. It made it easier. You don’t with the team and has long experience as a coach and executive. But want to say ‘this guy’s filling this guy’s role,’ because he’s a young player perhaps most importantly, he is only in his third year in the role, meaning and he’s growing and he’s just beginning his career, but it did make it he isn’t associated with the Oilers’ past failures the way other members easier.” of the management group are. That quote has not aged well, though the Oilers were not alone in a Both the organization’s long-term health and the fate of the interim GM bullish view of Puljujarvi. He was the consensus No. 3 choice, and had are linked to the Oilers work at the draft table. How good has that work been lumped in with Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine as the trio in the been? 2016 Draft that was expected to be ready for NHL duty almost Edmonton won the first overall pick, and the right to draft Connor immediately. McDavid, at the NHL Draft Lottery held on April 18, 2015. Less than a The Jackets went against the consensus and have been rewarded for week later, Craig MacTavish was demoted and Chiarelli was hired as the their independent streak with Pierre-Luc Dubois, a centre who has 43 new GM of the Oilers. points in 48 games as of this writing. Naturally, they deserve credit for Chiarelli was as active as a new GM can be, especially on the trade front. that stance. Between Griffin Reinhart, Cam Talbot and the compensation for hiring Whether the Oilers deserve blame for making the choice most teams Todd McLellan, the Oilers shipped out a pick in the first round, two in the would have made is not really the issue. Credit or blame aside, Puljujarvi second, two in the third and moved down in the seventh round. is what they came away with. And while his early performance is That didn’t leave a lot of choices to the scouts, who at this point were underwhelming given his draft position, there are still all sorts of mostly inherited from MacTavish. precedents for a player like him evolving into an important NHLer. Teuvo Teravainen, who recently signed a long extension in Carolina, is a good “Bob [Green]’s our director of player personnel,” Chiarelli said on June case in point. 22, a few days before the draft. “Him and Scott [Howson] and Stu [MacGregor] have been part of a group that have gotten our list to this Benson will seemingly forever be compared to Alex DeBrincat, the junior stage.” linemate of McDavid who has had such a stellar early career after being drafted No. 39. It’s fair in the sense that DeBrincat was an analytics That doesn’t quite capture the full picture, because Chiarelli had already darling who many hoped Edmonton would take at No. 32 and a lot of begun on sweeping changes that very week. MacGregor was dismissed, people have the ability to say ‘told you so’ today. as were a pair of amateur scouts. Despite these moves, Chiarelli was obviously working from their list, something he acknowledged. Where it’s unfair is that it obscures how Benson’s career compares to other picks in the same range. DeBrincat was a home run pick. Of the six The first overall selection, McDavid, had been stamped in stone since the 2016 draftees with 20-plus goals in the NHL, only DeBrincat was taken draft lottery and has no value as a test of scouting ability. With all the later than No. 8 overall. He was underrated for a variety of reasons and trades that weekend, that leaves just five picks from the depths of the the Oilers were far from the only team not bullish enough on him. draft to consider. Of the first 10 forwards taken in the second round that year, only Some of the scouts behind those selections had already been fired. More DeBrincat and Jordan Kyrou have good arguments to be placed would be in subsequent years. Whatever their failings, they seem to have definitively ahead of Benson. Benson’s toward the upper end of the middle group, with players like Carolina’s Janne Kuokkanen, well ahead isn’t possible to say with any certainty what this group’s long-term impact of some middling AHL rookies and some other players trending sharply will be. toward Bustville. The same is true, only more so, about the 2018 group. The rest of the group isn’t as impressive. Berglund is playing heavy minutes in Sweden’s excellent top league and might be a player, but I like the Bouchard pick. I’ve been impressed by the player when I’ve otherwise, it’s hard to be too optimistic about the group. watched him and I know what a positive signal his incredible scoring numbers are. He’s somewhat polarizing – just witness the swings Niemelainen is a depth guy in Finland and without a big year may not be between recent top-50s written by Corey Pronman for The Athletic and signed before Edmonton’s rights expire next summer. Cairns is coming for TSN – so we are once again back to projection. off a tough year but the Oilers have until 2021 to make a decision on him. Wells has had an indifferent pro debut. Desharnais, an overage McLeod and Rodrigue fall into similar boats: both have performed selection, has to be signed this summer but even if he is, he’s strictly a roughly in-line with their draft numbers, neither greatly exceeding them defensive defenceman. nor falling off the pace.

A year ago, McPhee and Rasanen looked like potential gems as versatile Kesselring and Siikanen are both long-term plays showing growth this forwards coming off big seasons. Both have seen their offence evaporate season, but not so much growth that we can yet say they’ve escaped the at Boston College this year and look to be in trouble as prospects. The gravitational well that accompanies being drafted in the sixth and seventh same is true of their teammate J.D. Dudek, a New Jersey-drafted rounds, respectively. prospect Edmonton traded for in the Patrick Maroon deal. Edmonton has When it comes to Gretzky, then, the Oilers’ drafting record since his to sign Dudek this summer or cut him loose and it’s hard to imagine him arrival offers no firm conclusions. We can’t even form firm conclusions getting an entry-level deal. about the two classes he has been involved with since they are filled with Overall the 2016 group isn’t trending very well, especially given that players mostly still outside the pro ranks. Trying to establish Gretzky’s Edmonton had four picks in the top-100. If we ignore the first round, the role in the selections made from the outside is basically impossible. return looks pretty similar to the haul the Oilers collected in 2015 without It’s a little bit easier to assess the Oilers’ overall record under Chiarelli, having a top-100 pick. It’s not late-stage Barry Fraser bad, and there’s but not a lot easier. Again we’re faced with some basic uncertainty over still time for some of the fringe prospects to turn it around, but there isn’t the 2017 and 2018 classes. The 2016 group isn’t trending well early and much glory to be had in this group today. it’s hard to give him much credit for the 2015 draftees.

This is where Gretzky enters the picture, having been hired away from That doesn’t necessarily mean that Nicholson’s defence of Chiarelli last the Bruins. In September 2016, Chiarelli talked about the decision to April was wrong. He made the case that the improvements were things bring in the new assistant GM in an interview with 630 CHED’s Bob the media didn’t see, which might refer to upgrades in personnel or Stauffer. improvements in the team’s process.

“Keith is a really good hockey mind,” Chiarelli said. “Work ethic, maybe I The problem with this line of reasoning is the players that Nicholson haven’t seen anyone work harder than Keith, and he’s succeeded specifically cited in a conversation with The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent- despite his famous brother, and that’s a tough shadow in which to work Bowman in December. and he’s done it. We brought him in as a scout in Boston; he was kind of in a shuffle in Phoenix. He just took off from there and he’s ready to take “I think there’s a lot of things that Peter hasn’t gotten credit for,” that next step.” Nicholson said. “He’s really started to build. You’re starting to see some of them come up now with the [Caleb] Joneses and the [Evan] This makes the 2017 Draft the first one that Gretzky would have had Bouchards. We have a lot of assets, which this organization hadn’t had influence over, though obviously his role went beyond the draft and it for a while. Peter deserves a lot of credit for that.” would still be Bob Green presenting the organization’s viewpoint in post- draft interviews. Neither point carries much weight. Jones was a 2015 pick made by an inherited staff. Bouchard was a No. 10 pick, a reward for a bad season. It’s an impossible draft to call this early, though some trends are evident. There’s an argument that Chiarelli overhauled the team’s pro- The Oilers probably didn’t do Yamamoto any favours by giving him an development system, which would give him a hand in Jones’ growth. NHL cameo last season. These early appearances tend to start the clock There’s another argument that Chiarelli was wise to keep the No. 10 pick on expectations. If there’s one thing that routinely gets in the way of good instead of trading it for immediate help, which gives him some indirect development it is impatience. credit for the arrival of Bouchard.

There should be no expectation for Yamamoto to be in the NHL today. But from a scouting perspective, there’s not much there to either praise Only two players from 2017 have played a full season and they were the or condemn the outgoing general manager. His record rests on No. 1 and No. 2 picks. Only one player drafted after Yamamoto (No. 29 everything else he did, which is why he’s unemployed today. pick Henri Jokiharju) has appeared in more NHL games than he has. The place we can draw the firmest conclusions is in the biggest of We’ve recently written about the junior prospects on this list, so we can pictures, that of overall organizational health. Edmonton has prospects summarize quickly. Samorukov’s numbers aren’t a great indicator, but coming. Some good drafting in 2015 made up for a lack of picks. High there are some unique reasons for that and he’s still a very legitimate draft choices in 2016 make up for what right now looks like mediocre prospect. Safin wasn’t in great shape before an injury wiped out this selections. The classes of 2017 and 2018 seem to be more-or-less on season. Maksimov’s totals are lower-case encouraging and he’s trending track and could still veer north or south. nicely for his draft position. The Oilers have the elite talent at the top end of their lineup. What they Skinner has had a rocky pro debut which has tarnished his image as a need to improve in the future is a steady supply of cheap young talent. If high-end prospect, though he’s still a solid one and there’s a risk of that pipeline produces at better than a league-average rate, great. If it overcorrecting. Brind’Amour was a reach on the numbers and looks it produces at a league-average rate, that’s fine too. today, though his college career hasn’t even started and if there’s one thing he has it’s time. Kemp made the American U-20 team after being a As long as the picks aren’t traded away or blown by really bad drafting, late cut last year and looks like a nice little gamble that late in the draft. Edmonton will have a steady trickle of young players to rejuvenate the roster. The picks since 2016 have mostly been kept and the drafting This is very much a draft that could go in either direction. A year from seems to have been mostly okay. now we could be talking about Yamamoto as a full-time NHLer and looking at three solid pro prospects. Alternately, a year from now we In short, there isn’t much evidence here that any specific executive or could be talking about Yamamoto’s inability to stick in the majors and the Edmonton’s scouting group overall is really out-producing the rest of the way those highly-regarded junior prospects wilted in the pros. NHL. But keeping the picks and making reasonable choices with them seems to be producing a steady supply of prospects and that’s I look at this group today and my expectation is that it slides between something the Oilers haven’t always been able to say. those two extremes. If I’m right, that will make 2017 a pretty average draft by NHL standards. But it’s mostly projection and at this stage and it The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128316 Florida Panthers

Preview: Predators at Panthers, 7 p.m., Friday

Wells Dusenbury

South Florida Sun Sentinel

Predators at Panthers

When/where: 7 p.m./BB&T Center, Sunrise

TV: Fox Sports Florida; Radio: 560-AM; 640-AM (Palm Beach)

Scouting report: The Panthers are kicking off the second half of the season following a 10-day layoff for the All-Star Break. … Florida is 20- 20-8 and 11 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. … The Panthers are riding a three-game winning streak. … Nashville (30-18-4) is in second place in the Central Division. … The Predators fell to Florida 4-2 on Jan. 19. … Nashville is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Golden Knights. … Ryan Johansen leads the team with 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists).

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128317 Florida Panthers He does not have much of a choice here. As far as trades go, the Panthers only have a handful of unrestricted free agents — and they aren’t exactly showcasing them at the moment.

Buyer or seller? It’s decision month for Dale Tallon as Panthers head Troy Brouwer and Micheal Haley haven’t played in the past three games toward trade deadline and appear to be sitting again Friday as coach Bob Boughner, understandably, doesn’t want to mess with a winning lineup.

By George Richards Bogdan Kiselevich also will not play against the Predators as he was sent to the minors. Jan 31, 2019 Forward Jamie McGinn, another free agent, hasn’t played at all this season due to back surgery before training camp.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The Florida Panthers returned from an McGinn was cleared during the break and practiced with the team extended vacation Thursday afternoon, yet the problems they faced Thursday — but he won’t play either after being placed on waivers. before splitting up have not gone away. Tallon said McGinn would go to the AHL if he clears Friday at noon.

When the Panthers open a four-game homestand Friday against So what, if anything, can Tallon do to fix the Panthers in the coming Nashville, they will have been off for 10 days following the All-Star break weeks? as well as the league-mandated bye week. The Panthers have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Florida won its last three games before the break. That run, of course, Columbus stars Artemi Panarin and/or Sergei Bobrovsky, but the cost to followed a seven-game slide which helped put the Panthers in their acquire those free agents-to-be at the deadline will be extremely high. current position — well outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. It’s hard to envision Tallon trading for either player as a rental, especially Florida didn’t just enter Thursday 11 points back of Columbus for the final with where the Panthers sit in the standings. This is a team a long way wild-card playoff spot in the East, but they are also behind three from holding a playoff spot, much less competing for the Stanley Cup. additional teams vying for that eighth position in the standings. Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen is reportedly fielding offers for both Yet if the Panthers continues to win in February, general manager Dale players. Both have apparently told Kekalainen they will not sign new Tallon has some big decisions to make on how to strengthen his team for contracts with Columbus by the deadline. a potential playoff run. Each of the Columbus players — Bobrovsky is said to be willing to waive Of course, if the Panthers revert to their losing ways, Tallon may be his no-trade agreement, but Panarin does not have one — would likely forced into making some moves when the trade deadline comes on Feb. cost high draft picks, prospects and an NHL player (or two) who has 25. years remaining on his contract.

“We are looking at everything that is out there,” Tallon said, adding that According to Tallon, owner Vinnie Viola has cleared the way for the he had spoken to every GM in the league and will continue to do so. Panthers to make moves as they see fit. That does not mean a blockbuster deal is on the horizon, but stranger things have happened. The Panthers have 12 games between now and the trade deadline. While 11 of those games are at home, the opponents are far from easy. “We are not going to sit still. We have a lot of good players and have a lot Eight of the 12 come against teams currently holding playoff spots, and of good players coming,” Tallon said. two others sit above Florida in the postseason race. “We have a plan; we’re committed to winning. Vinnie has given us all the Although Tallon doesn’t have a lot of clear tradable assets, it sounds like tools to be successful and we’re going to do, in the next month, all the he could be tempted to make a bigger move to help his team if they get things necessary to win championships down the road. What is best for back into contention. the Florida Panthers long term? We want to win and want to win a lot. But we have to do what we believe is right.” Only the Panthers need to win a lot more than they have been. And soon. The Panthers are expected to address their goaltending situation either now or in the offseason, and a Florida source said Bobrovsky would be The Panthers have 34 games left, and it will take another incredible finish the team’s top target if he reaches free agency. — Florida won 25 of its final 35 last year — to make the playoffs. On Thursday, Tallon said Roberto Luongo and James Reimer will be It took 97 points to make the postseason in the Eastern Conference in given the chance, like the rest of the team, to replicate what they did at 2018. Florida would need to more than double its current point total — the end of last season. with only 68 points available — to reach that number this year. “Those guys carried us last year,” Tallon said. “Why can’t they do it “Our guys are starting to believe in themselves and what they have to again? They have to play up to their potential. When they do that, we do,” Tallon said. “It’s a big mountain to climb, but we know we can do it. have a chance to win.” We did it last year with the same team, and we have added some pieces. Now that we’re healthy, we’re going to give it a go.” Florida’s three-game winning streak coincided with the return of center Vincent Trocheck from a fractured ankle. Is it frustrating to see the team struggle in the first half the past few seasons? The team has also been buoyed by stronger defensive play — rookie defensemen Ian McCoshen and Josh Brown have been a solid shutdown “Yeah, we have to find a formula that works for 82 games because it’s … pairing — as well as better goaltending from Luongo and Reimer. not a 34-game schedule,” Tallon said. “I’m not going to put up with it anymore. We have to do it all year, right from the get-go. … I pay for Right now, Boughner said, this coming month is the team’s sole focus. performance. Expectations are high. We have a good group of players, a lot of ability. (The question) is whether they have enough passion and If they fail in February, March isn’t going to matter very much. And if the consistency to do the work. These next few weeks will tell what the future Panthers fall further away from the playoff race, changes may come in a may bring for all these players. We’re not going to sit still.” big way this summer.

Last season, Florida was at the bottom of the league standings when it “We had a big-picture meeting and a small-picture meeting before caught fire, finishing 25-8-2 over its final 35 games to end up a single practice today,” Boughner said. “Our guys aren’t dumb. We talked about point out of the playoffs behind New Jersey and Columbus. it this morning: Let’s come together as a group … we have 11 home games in 23 days. That’s our season. We’re not even looking to March. Despite their current standing, the Panthers are not necessarily going to Let’s commit together for the next 23 days and we can keep this group be sellers — though, at the moment, they should not be buyers, either. together, make a push like we did last year. Do the math and you can see how many wins it’s going to take.” Tallon appears ready to be patient and see how the next few weeks play out. Comings and goings As promised, the Panthers brought back forward Jayce Hawryluk as well as Brown and McCoshen following their three-game stints in the AHL.

The trio was sent back to the minors to get some additional playing time during the NHL break.

Boughner talked about finding tighter defensive play in January, and putting Brown and McCoshen together has filled a void.

“They have definitely brought the grit, are a bigger physical presence back there and are hard to play against,” Boughner said. “Our D, I thought, was soft a lot this year. They have definitely changed the dynamic of our back end and that’s good. We needed that.”

Also, with MacKenzie Weegar returning from a concussion, the team needed to make a roster move, so Kiselevich was sent to Springfield. McGinn is expected to follow if he clears waivers.

Whether either one returns is unknown.

“We’re going to give (McGinn) as many games as needed to get his conditioning up,” Tallon said. “We will see how he holds up physically. And then we will give him a shot at coming back and playing.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128318 Los Angeles Kings

INTRODUCING CARL GRUNDSTROM

ZACH DOOLEY

JANUARY 31, 2019

This morning’s Reign practice marked the organizational debut for forward Carl Grundstrom, who was acquired as a part of Monday’s Jake Muzzin trade. Grundstrom hopped onto a line with Matt Moulson and Philippe Maillet at today’s skate and brings 29 points (13-16-29) from 43 games as a rookie this season with the Toronto Marlies. While Grundstrom, as to be expected, admitted he was taken aback at first by the trade, he showed obvious excitement in his responses and general expressions in his interview, about his opportunity with the Kings.

“I was a little bit shocked, of course,” he said, when asked about his initial reactions to hearing he was traded. “Otherwise, it’s just pack your stuff and get out of there. Kyle Dubas called me, he let me know and after that, Rob [Blake] called me too.”

Grundstrom gives the Reign some added depth at a time when three forwards – Mike Amadio, Austin Wagner and Matt Luff – have all been recalled by the Kings in advance of their upcoming Eastern Conference road trip. The bonus for Ontario with this transaction is that they gain a player that could become a key contributor, while not losing a player in the process, as usually happens when a player is added to the roster through a callup/assignment with the Kings.

Grundstrom is set to skate in his first game with Ontario tomorrow evening in San Diego, while the Reign return home the following evening for what could be Grundstrom’s home debut in Ontario against the Bakersfield Condors (with his first specialty jersey available that night as well!). Note that tomorrow’s game is the AHL’s Free Facebook Game of the Week, if fans want a first look at the organization’s newest skater.

Carllllllll. Good to see you.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128319 Los Angeles Kings which is about three weeks. And over about a three-week period of time, we need to keep the average work nice and high. High average work means the body’s resilient to that work and it can handle that work. So, if MITIGATING INJURY RISK, ENDURANCE CHALLENGES AFTER we’re talking about a 21-day window or rolling average, if we’re taking a BREAK (+ PLAYER TRACKING VIDEO) player, and all of a sudden, if there’s a time that they can’t skate for 10 days, the amount of hockey fitness and the amount of that good, daily dose of skating medicine has gone almost completely away. And, again, to come back to what you said, if you all of a sudden jump back into JON ROSEN competition, and that’s essentially what we’re doing – you get one day to JANUARY 31, 2019 skate, and then you’re back to playing, we’re going into three-in-four. There is a huge increase in the risk of injury.

Unfortunately, it’s just a part of the schedule, and there’s really not a lot Heading back into the NHL schedule, I was really interested in having a we can do to sort of mandate things. There’s obviously no official conversation with LA Kings Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt workouts, no practicing allowed, and we have to rely on the players to Price about the regiments and preparation needed to sustain a team’s make good decisions, to understand that this probably isn’t a good thing conditioning and mid-season game-readiness amidst the longest hiatus for them. No one’s going to say ‘no’ to a 10-day break, but they have to since the 2014 Olympic break. understand this and most of them follow our recommendations for activity on the break, and hopefully that helps mitigate some of the risk that we’re The reality is that this is a major challenge for a team’s conditioning staff. inevitably going to face here. Players have been on a mandated break and not allowed to participate in official team practices but will often get in so-called captains skates late LAKI: From a strength and conditioning standpoint, how do you structure in the lay-off to best hit the ground running when the schedule resumes. what the players will need at that first practice when they step off the plane and get on the ice in Long Island? But there’s nothing that can substitute for the rigors of an in-season NHL schedule, so to quickly transition from vacation right into a three-in-four MP: This is another crazy challenge we face. Like, on one hand we have on the road, beginning with a team that will have played Tampa Bay the the staff from my side of things – that would be the athletic trainers and night before, there are some real challenges that a team’s medical and the strength coaches, an what we’re going to look for is a sort of conditioning training staff will have to accommodate for. As it turns out, transitionary type of practice where we can expose the players to some going roughly 10 days without “skating medicine,” as Price put it, will drills and some speed and some collision but not too much so they have have a significant effect on these players’ bodies. a chance to build into the game, except that we’re talking about one practice, and on the flip side you have a coaching staff that says, ‘hey, “In a situation like this, there’s always an element of complete rest, and we’ve got to be able to go Saturday. We’re running into a team that’s that’s important for the body and the mind,” Price said. “We want players played the night before that’s running full steam ahead. We don’t have to be completely away from the grind of the game and the schedule and time to ease into this.’ So, really, there’s not really a tug of war because the training and the video and the meetings, but unfortunately in that you don’t really have many choices here. period of off-time we need to get them active again. We need to have them going through low-level training programs, getting their bodies LAKI: At that first practice, when you’re looking at your data, what types moving. Moving is really, really critical, and in a longer break like this, of endurance and conditioning-related measurements will you have your they might even have to get on the ice again on their own and start to eye on? skate. Whether it’s Christmas or three days, or an All-Star break for four or five or a longer break like this one, there’s always an element of MP: There are a couple of elements, and I think obviously with the ability complete rest, and then some low-level work and then ramping up to to track these things with our player tracking technology, we want to see something that would resemble a normal day at work again.” a particular volume of work. So, we want to say, ‘yes, they’ve done enough today.’ We’re going to want to see enough intensity, so we want From there, Price answered questions surrounding a number of to make sure that they’re doing the work at a high enough level. Again, interesting topics, such as how he planned to gauge the data provided because they’re going to have to do this the next day in the game, we through player tracking software during the team’s first practice upon want their bodies exposed to these types of stressors. So, they have to disembarkation in Long Island, and how there exists the raised potential do it enough, they have to do it intensely enough, and that could be doing for injury in these upcoming games. It’s a really interesting read about particular drills that we know through our tracking and expose them to anatomy and the science behind the physics of hockey. high-intensity work. And the other thing that’s really important is we’re going to want to have some type of contact. Obviously, coaches know LA Kings Insider: Even though there’s no real recent precedent with this this, but there has to be some low-level combat and collision just to type of break, would it still be accurate to say that because of the prepare the body for that. And the last one that I find is one of more of disruption in a body’s patterns and routines that this upcoming stretch is the intriguing ones for us, and we haven’t been able to monitor this until a period of the season where a potential injury might occur, or am I being we’ve added our technology and our player tracking is speed – sped and alarmist here? acceleration. The hips and groins are very sensitive to high forces and Matt Price: Any time you get away from what you do on a normal day and high force at high velocity, so when a player is in a maximal sprint, that is then all of a sudden jump back into it and jump back into competition one of the times when the groins and the hip flexors are at the highest without any preparatory work, there’s certainly an increased risk of injury. risk for injury. Now if you do that repeatedly like you would in the regular And that doesn’t matter if it’s a three-day break or a five-day break or a season when you’re playing every other day and you have practices 10-day break. … In this example, because they’re mandatory days off mostly every other day, there’s no issue. You’re getting that exposure, throughout the entire break, the players and the team aren’t allowed to the body’s vaccinated against that stress and it handles it – no problem. have any sort of practices or official sessions where they can get the But if you haven’t, and all of a sudden you’re asked to go all-out, all of a players ready again. So, to come back to your question, the biggest sudden you’re at high risk again. So, again, coming back to the practice concern we have from an injury standpoint, probably what we would we plan, we want to make sure they get some high-velocity open ice skating. would consider to be the most preventable or manageable are the non- And not all drills lend themselves to that. So, again, in our drill menus, so contact soft tissue injuries, and those are traditionally what we talk about to speak, we know certain drills that will expose them to that type of as hip flexor and groin injuries. The players skating basically daily in their stress and will ask that they implement that into their practice plan. season – and they get four days off per month –that daily exposure to hockey skating is actually what protects their groins from injury, and you know, we track this stuff really closely. That’s a huge part … the dailey LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 02.01.2019 exposure to skating, and skating’s very unique to the body. So, again, while it’s the reason we pull hip flexors and groins, it’s also the reason we prevent those injuries, just by continually doing that type of work, and I hope that makes sense.

Now, we look at this type of work on the short-term view and the long- term view, and the short-term view could be daily. It might be something in the five-to-seven day range, and then we look at this in the long term, 1128320 Minnesota Wild

Rested Wild players are ready to get back to business

By Rachel Blount Star Tribune FEBRUARY 1, 2019 — 12:34AM

During the Wild’s eight-day break from competition, many players and their families headed south to Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. As much as they enjoyed the respite — from the game, and from the cold — they couldn’t wait to get back to St. Paul. The schedule resumes Friday night at Dallas, kicking off a critical stretch of 14 games in 26 days for a team fighting to solidify its playoff position. The Wild hopes to pick up where it left off before its league-mandated winter vacation, expanding on a three-game winning streak that moved the team into third place in the Central Division. The Wild won’t have the luxury of easing back into the swing of things; the Stars sit only one point behind the Wild in the division standings, and the Wild’s practice Thursday at Tria Rink was players’ only chance to get on the ice before heading to Dallas. Given the circumstances, forward Marcus Foligno expects Friday’s game to have a playoff feel. That will force the Wild to refocus quickly, he said, a good way to start a stretch in which the team will have little margin for error. “Everyone is excited to get back out there,’’ Foligno said. “I think it will be like a playoff game. That’s how we’re preparing for it. It’s going to be difficult, but I think it’s good for us to jump right back into it and get thrown right into the fire. “Coming out of the break, we know we can’t start off slow. The way we were playing [before the break], we’ve got to keep it going. We don’t want to be playing catch-up at the end of the season.’’ Most players stayed completely off the ice during the break, giving them an opportunity to refresh their bodies and minds before the grind of the final 32 games. Forward Jason Zucker enjoyed his time on a Mexican beach with his wife and children, but he is eager to get back into action. “It was nice to get a break and get some family time,’’ he said. “Now, it’s nonstop.’’ Wild fourth-line center Eric Fehr, who has missed the past nine games because of a lower-body injury, said Thursday that he felt good enough to rejoin the lineup before the break. He had to wait a little longer, but he’s expected to play Friday for the first time since he was hurt on Jan. 7. With Fehr back, the Wild has 13 healthy forwards. That means Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin will stay in Iowa for now. The two were assigned to the Wild’s AHL affiliate before the break so they could continue to play, and coach Bruce Boudreau wants them both on the ice as much as possible. “They’re getting more ice time, and they’re developing better right now,’’ Boudreau said. “Rather than playing 10 minutes [a game], they’re both playing 20 minutes. And we know if we need them, we can get them up in a heartbeat.’’ Bitetto practices The break meant the newest member of the Wild, defenseman Anthony Bitetto, had to wait until Thursday to get on the ice with his new teammates. Bitetto was claimed off waivers from Nashville last Friday and paired up with Nate Prosser in his first practice. The addition of Bitetto and Brad Hunt, acquired from Vegas on Jan. 21, expands the Wild’s corps of defensemen to eight. Boudreau isn’t sure whether all of them will remain on the roster. While it’s good to have the extras for practice, it isn’t optimal to have two defensemen watching games from the press box as healthy scratches. “Usually, if you don’t run into injuries, they don’t play,’’ Boudreau said. “But I don’t think it ever hurts to have great depth. This makes us a deeper, stronger team.”

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Wild-Dallas gameday preview JANUARY 31, 2019 — 10:03PM

Stars are right on the heels of the Wild Preview: In its first game following an eight-day break in the schedule, the Wild is looking to stay on a roll and extend a three-game win streak. The Stars won their first game after their break, beating Buffalo 1-0 Wednesday to pull within one point of the Wild for third place in the Central Division. The Wild is 1-0-1 against Dallas this season and has six road victories since Dec. 29, tied for the most of any NHL team. Players to WATCH: Wild F Zach Parise, who has 15 points in the past 15 games, leads the team with 44 points. Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop is second in the NHL in both goals-against average (2.29) and save percentage (.924), and his three shutouts are tied for second most in the league. Numbers: The Wild is 4-1-1 in its past six games vs. Central Division rivals, including three consecutive victories. The Stars are averaging 2.54 goals per game, third-lowest in the NHL. Injuries: Wild D Matt Dumba (torn pectoral muscle) is out. Dallas F Tyler Pitlick (upper body), F Jason Dickinson (lower body), F Martin Hanzal (back), D Marc Methot (knee surgery) and D Stephen Johns (head) are out; F Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) is day-to-day.

RACHEL BLOUNT Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128322 Minnesota Wild

The Wild's final 65 days

Staff Report JANUARY 31, 2019 — 10:02PM

THE FINAL 65 DAYS Breaking down the Wild’s remaining 32 games: • 16 at home, 16 away (13 in Central or Eastern time zones) • 18 vs. the West, 14 vs. the East • 12 vs. the Central (Dallas 3, Nashville 3, Winnipeg 2, St. Louis 2, Chicago 1, Colorado 1) • Four- and five-game homestands (one in mid-February, one in mid- March) • Three-game road trip in early March • Seven games in 12 days from March 14-25 • Six back-to-backs

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Wild in the Western Conference standings

Staff Report JANUARY 31, 2019 — 10:01PM

In the West The Wild (26-21-3) comes out of the All-Star break having won three in a row and four of its past five. Entering play on Friday, here are the top eight teams (with point totals) in the Western Conference: Central division 1. Winnipeg68 2. Nashville64 3. Wild55 Pacific division 1. Calgary71 2. San Jose65 3. Vegas62 Wild cards 1. Dallas54 2. Colorado52

Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128324 Minnesota Wild seven home games in February — a spurt that could also go a long way in shaping how the roster looks after the trade deadline.

Wild comes out of break trying to hold line in volatile Western Conference Star Tribune LOADED: 02.01.2019

By Sarah McLellan JANUARY 31, 2019 — 10:15PM

The Wild will resume its season after an eight-day break exactly where it was before the hiatus: in a playoff position. For the team to hold onto one of the top three seeds in the Central Division, or swipe a wild-card berth, it will likely take a combination of what’s worked so far along with a few improvements to keep the Wild ahead of its competition. “As a group, we trust that we can get there,” goalie Devan Dubnyk said. “We’ve been there. We’ve been in these situations. We’ve got to the playoffs in just about every way you can imagine the last four years. So we know what it takes to be there.” However, General Manager Paul Fenton could be in a trading state of mind as the Feb. 25 deadline approaches if the team falters. “I’m just going to watch here the next couple weeks,” Fenton said, “and then make a decision as to which direction we’re going.” Power-play scoring Wild center and captain Mikko Koivu is second on the team in power-play points with two goals and 10 assists. Averaging fewer than three goals a game, the Wild’s offense isn’t one of the most potent in the league. What can make it more dangerous, though, is scoring by committee. The blue line has been involved, tying for the most goals in the NHL at 32, and the Wild has tapped into its depth up front at times. Eight different goal scorers delivered during the team’s current three-game win streak, while 14 chipped in during its impressive 5-2 showing amid seven straight road games earlier this season. But consistency is key and with the Wild scoring two or fewer goals in 11 of its past 19 games, perhaps Fenton will bring in help. “We certainly want to score more,” Fenton said. “… We’re trying to get guys that have the ability and maybe make contributions that make our lives a little bit easier.” While the Wild’s penalty kill ranks third in the NHL at 84.2 percent, the other half of special teams has room to grow. The power play hasn’t exactly been a disappointment, converting at 20.9 percent, good for 12th in the NHL. But it has struggled to recalibrate since its resident finisher, defenseman Matt Dumba, was sidelined by a torn pectoral muscle in December — an absence that coincided with a 1- for-23 rut. Additions like winger Pontus Aberg and defenseman Brad Hunt could settle in to help the unit take off. Strong play from Dubnyk will be essential, a steadiness he was providing the Wild before its layoff. He went 3-0 in his last four games, recording a .944 save percentage and 1.29 goals-against average in that span — effectiveness that culminated in his being named the NHL’s reigning third star of the week. “When he’s on top of his game,” coach Bruce Boudreau said, “he’s as good as there is. He limits teams to two goals, he keeps us in every game, and we’re going to need that all the time — especially coming down the stretch where every game becomes more vital. When you have good goaltending, it really props your team up. It gets your team excited when he’s on.” Most of the Wild’s first 50 games were spent in rally mode, as the team opened the scoring just 18 times. Playing catch-up hasn’t been a huge obstacle; it’s actually spurred the bulk of the team’s success since the Wild is 15-15-2 when surrendering the first goal. But this doesn’t look like a sustainable trend, not considering how tight games could be the rest of the way while teams try to bubble-wrap early leads to safety as they vie to lock down a playoff spot. Half of the team’s remaining games will be at Xcel Energy Center, an opportunity that doesn’t seem like a slam-dunk considering its recent track record. After dropping only six games in regulation last season in St. Paul, the Wild is 13-9-3 this campaign. Being an above-.500 team on the road is encouraging, but swoons like the 0-3-1 stretch in December at home can be tough to overcome. The team, however, will have a chance to gain momentum soon; it plays 1128325 Minnesota Wild “It’s going pretty well,” he said. “I was hoping to get in close to the tail end there, but obviously the fourth line’s been playing well and the team’s been winning, so they didn’t want to change anything up.” Streaky Wild ready for the final stretch run, starting Friday in Dallas Pioneer Press LOADED: 02.01.2019 By Brian Murphy | [email protected] | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: January 31, 2019 at 4:43 pm | UPDATED: January 31, 2019 at 4:43 PM

The break is over. No more snow days with school-free kids or complaining about the lost sunshine in chilly Florida. The stretch drive has begun for the Minnesota Wild, who have less than a month before the Feb. 25 trade deadline to prove they are serious contenders or risk having the roster upended at the whim of first-year general manager Paul Fenton. “What’s at stake is we want to win,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We want to be in a better position all the time. We don’t worry about that. If we lose, bad things are going to happen. If we win, good things are going to happen.” The Wild returned to the ice Thursday following a seven-day respite courtesy of the NHL All-Star Game and the team’s annual bye. They practiced at Tria Rink before departing for Dallas and Friday’s date against the wild-card Stars, who are in hot pursuit of Minnesota in the Central Division. One point separates the teams, with the Wild clinging to the third and final playoff spot in the divisional race. “Just look at the standings,” Boudreau said. “We know what we’re up against.” Fourteen games compressed into 26 days in February will leave scant time for rigorous practices or lamenting lost opportunities for the streaky Wild, who won three straight heading into the break — including solid road victories at Vegas and Colorado. February includes five games against Central Division rivals, but also seven versus Eastern Conference teams. There are three separate trips to the state of New York and none west of the central time zone. “I love it,” winger Jason Zucker said about the intense schedule. “It gets you into a groove of playing and practice and not a whole lot of time off. It’s not like you’re looking forward to the bye-week trip or anything. You know it’s a grind to the end and you have playoffs to look forward to and push towards that.” Seven days is a long time to lay down arms during the middle of a season. It is nice to mentally check out but also creates a craving to return to the rink. To fend off their pursuers and clinch a seventh straight playoff berth, the Wild have to find a way to avoid the haphazard play and dramatic mood swings that have been their modus operandi over that span. They can dominate the best teams in the league, then fail to show up against bottom feeders, vexing fans and experts trying to figure out this team’s true identity. “I told them there’s two words we’ve got to be thinking about now, and that’s commitment and consistency,” Boudreau said. “We had the commitment and the consistency the last two games. All year it’s been win three, lose two, win four out of five, lose four out of five. “If we can get the consistency and put an 8-2 (stretch) together and then a 7-3 together, then all of a sudden you’re going into the playoffs as a really hot team rather a team you don’t know what you’re getting every night.” There are plenty of new players to continue integrating into the lineup — Pontus Aberg and Victor Rask up front, and Brad Hunt and Anthony Bitetto on the blue line. The Wild will continue to carry eight defensemen for the time being, with Hunt remaining on the right side with Jonas Brodin on the second unit, according to Boudreau. “He’s ready to play,” Boudreau said. “I don’t know if he’s off IR now or if he’s going to get off tomorrow. But as far as I know he’s in the lineup.” Fehr’s layoff was two weeks longer than his mates. He, too, is anxious to get back on the ice. 1128326 Minnesota Wild scratches in the first game to start this crucial stretch. That makes Bitetto’s acquisition even more peculiar, and it doesn’t help his chances of playing time that he’s a lefty. Bye bye, bye week: Wild brace for a grueling stretch before trade Bitetto’s addition was clearly Fenton’s call. Back in his days with the deadline Nashville Predators, the general manager drafted Bitetto in the sixth round in 2010. Bitetto has played 114 career NHL games — all with the Predators, though never more than 32 games in a season. He has two By Chad Graff career goals and 17 career assists, though he adds size to the blue line at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. Jan 31, 2019 “When Fenton called and said, ‘We’re back together,’ it was kind of a cool moment,” Bitetto said. “He’s the guy that drafted me back in 2010. He believed in me then and I still believe he does. So to be here with Before beginning a grueling stretch of 14 games in 26 days, Bruce him, I kind of want to do it for him and prove Nashville wrong in some Boudreau gathered his Wild team Thursday for a quick chat at a rare sense that I should have been playing.” afternoon practice, an inconvenient necessity per the collective bargaining agreement that prevents morning practices after a bye week Even if he’ll be a healthy scratch in his first game with the Wild, Bitetto even though the team’s Friday opponent has already played a game and said he’s looking forward to trying to earn playing time. practiced three times. “I’m kind of used to it,” he said with a laugh. “I’m willing to earn a spot Nonetheless, Boudreau said, there are two things to concentrate on for a and not just be handed a spot. That’s kind of been my mindset all along. team that has stumbled for lengthy stretches but still done enough to That’s what I did during my time in Nashville — compete and prove that maintain the third spot in the Central Division. Forget the looming trade you belong.” deadline, he noted, even though the 13 games remaining before then will go a long way in determining the moves first-year general manager Paul As for the fourth line, Eric Fehr is expected to be activated from injured Fenton makes. Instead, Boudreau used two words to get his message reserve on Friday and return for the game against the Stars. With across — commitment and consistency. Eriksson Ek and Kunin still in the minors, Fehr will play alongside Marcus Foligno and either Matt Hendricks or J.T. Brown. But for now, Boudreau He told his team they needed more of the commitment that was said he’s not worried about leaving Eriksson Ek and Kunin in Iowa, even demonstrated in Nick Seeler’s three blocked shots that helped yield a if they were big reasons the fourth line had success earlier this month. road win over the Colorado Avalanche in the Wild’s final game before the break, a fourth victory in five contests. And they’ll need more “They’re getting more ice time and they’re developing better,” Boudreau consistency, he said, if they’re going to fulfill the hope of an extended said. “Rather than playing 10 minutes (in the NHL) they’re both playing playoff run that has for so long evaded this franchise. 20 minutes (in the AHL). We know that if we need them, we can get them up in a heartbeat. There’s lots of things you can still do to get players up. “All year it’s been like win three, lose two, win four out of five, lose four I don’t think that’s ever going to be a problem.” out of five,” Boudreau said. “So if we can get the consistency and put an 8-2 (stretch) together and a 7-3 (stretch) together, then all the sudden For now, the Wild will try to send a message to the front office that they you’re going into the playoffs as a really hot team rather than a team you should be buyers not sellers at the Feb. 25 deadline, even with a different don’t know what you’re getting every night. That’s what we’d like to see lineup than the one that helped them win four of five entering the break. from the consistency.” “If we lose, bad things are going to happen,” Boudreau said. “If we win, Noteworthy, though, are the lineup differences the Wild will bring to good things are going to happen. That’s the way I look at it.” Dallas Friday. Even after they entered the All-Star break and subsequent bye week with three straight wins in some of their best games of the Their initial challenge is a difficult one. When the NHL initially season, Fenton continued to tweak the lineup. His latest move — adding implemented bye weeks in the 2016-17 season, teams coming off a bye defenseman Anthony Bitetto via waivers — means Boudreau can’t keep fared miserably in their first game back against teams that had still been the same roster rolling. playing, losing 18 of the 26 such games. After a week off, players, naturally, are a bit off. That’s part of why Foligno called Thursday’s skate Bitetto’s spot on the 23-man roster means the Wild can’t call up Joel a “not-so-pretty practice.” Eriksson Ek or Luke Kunin, two key components to a fourth line that had been surging as the Wild racked up wins. The two were demoted to AHL The NHL changed its bye week format last season, attempting a Iowa entering the break with the idea that the young forwards would play schedule where teams coming off a bye would almost exclusively play games down there during the All-Star reprieve and continue developing, fellow teams coming off a bye. But for the second straight season, the then be recalled for the stretch run. Wild will return from their five-day reprieve — which this season followed the All-Star break for a total of eight days off — only to play a team that Instead, there’s no longer room for either on the roster barring a trade or has already had a game since their bye. A year ago, the Wild beat the a player being placed on waivers, making it peculiar that Fenton would Tampa Bay Lightning at home even though the Lightning had already add an eighth defenseman only to make two of them a healthy scratch resumed their schedule two days before the Wild. This season, the Wild each game. head to Dallas for a game against the Stars, whose bye week was before the All-Star break. The Stars beat the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday in “You’d have to ask the GM,” Boudreau said when asked what the thought their first game back. process was in claiming Bitetto. “I don’t think it ever hurts to have great depth. This makes us a deeper, stronger team. … Eight (defensemen) is “(Stars coach Jim) Montgomery said on the radio yesterday that they’ve great for practice and bad for playing.” been practicing for three days,” Boudreau said. “I want to know how that happened, too. Yeah, it’s an advantage that they’ve practiced for three Fenton traded for defenseman Brad Hunt, hoping he’d add depth and days and have a game under their belt. But I don’t make the schedule up, offense to the blue line, but as a left-shot player, he doesn’t naturally fill I just play it.” the hole the Wild are still trying to plug to the right of Jonas Brodin, a spot Matt Dumba so effectively played before his injury. So in Hunt’s first Backup goalie Alex Stalock finalized his three-year contract worth an game, Brodin was moved to the right side, but struggled so mightily there average of $785,000 while he was on vacation over the break. The deal that Boudreau changed the lineup during the game, helping spark the 5-2 gives the 31-year-old goalie some stability playing for his hometown NHL win over the Avs. That, though, meant it was Hunt who had to play on his team, and gives the Wild a goalie they can expose in the looming off side as the Wild still deal with the problem of too few right-shot expansion draft that will fill Seattle’s roster. defensemen they trust. “Especially at this position where there’s never really any certainty of At Thursday’s practice, Boudreau kept Brodin at his natural spot on the when you’re even going to play, having term such as three years means left side with Hunt to the right of him. a lot,” Stalock said. “The organization is putting a lot of confidence in me. At the same time, it’s on me to live up to that. That’s my goal starting “I’d rather have 100 percent of Brodin on the left than 75 percent of today is to prove that I’m worth it.” Brodin on the right,” Boudreau said, explaining his second defensive pair. “We need him to play and Hunt actually prefers the right — he was Said Boudreau: “If I was Alex, I’d feel relieved. He gets to stay at home at obviously a little nervous (in Colorado) and it was his first game in a while least three more years. And as far as we’re concerned, he’s the perfect but he got better as the game went along. Brodin was really good once backup. He knows he’s the backup and that’s great. But he comes to we put him back on the left.” work every day and challenges the players and is great in the room every day.” Left-shot Seeler skated with right-shot Greg Pateryn on the third defensive pair, making it likely that Nate Prosser and Bitetto are healthy The initial news didn’t seem so bad. Charlie Coyle and his girlfriend were told that their flight from Toronto, the connecting city on their way back from Turks and Caicos, to the Twin Cities was canceled. But there would be other flights, they were told, that could get them back to Minnesota in time for the Wild’s Thursday practice. So Coyle at first booked a 6 a.m. flight on another airline. An hour later, that was already delayed. So he booked a 6:30 a.m. flight home. An hour later, that too was already delayed. Quickly, he realized there wasn’t going to be a way back to Minnesota from Toronto in time for practice as he, like other Wild teammates, made their way back from bye week vacations. So as they awaited Coyle’s missing luggage, they walked the airport’s bank of rental car stations. Each told Coyle they were out of cars. “Then I went back down the line like, ‘Still no?’ And they all said, ‘Still no,’” Coyle said. So he and his girlfriend booked a six-hour, through-the-night Greyhound bus from Toronto to Detroit where they had an 8:30 a.m. flight home planned. The bus made a few stops on the way to Michigan, making sleep difficult before they reached the border. Then all 10 or so riders needed to get out of the bus for a passport check. Coyle and his girlfriend stood in the frigid weather at the border without coats. “We went to Turks and Caicos — we didn’t think we needed big jackets,” Coyle said with a laugh. Eventually, the overnight bus made it to downtown Detroit, a taxi to the airport followed, and a Thursday morning flight back to Minnesota got Coyle into town in time for Thursday’s practice. He guessed he got an hour or two of sleep during the 21 hours of travel that began when they departed Turks and Caicos at 2 p.m. Wednesday. “This flight to Dallas will definitely be nap time,” Coyle said. “Hopefully this one isn’t delayed.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128327 Montreal Canadiens rusty, but I’m sure we’ll all start feeling a little bit better tomorrow and then be ready for Saturday.”

With 31 games left in the season, the Canadiens have a 28-18-5 record Stu Cowan: Time off was a blessing for Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher and the sportsclubstats.com website had their chances of making the playoffs listed at 79.7 per cent on Thursday afternoon. STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE “I think probably outsiders are a little bit more surprised than we are inside this locker room,” Gallagher said. “We’re kind of right where we Updated: January 31, 2019 expected to be if we were able to put in the work and all of us, to a man, wanted to be competing for a playoff spot at the start of the year. We’ve given ourselves that opportunity and now it’s on us the next 31 games to go out there and kind of close it off and give ourselves that chance. The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is sort of like a crash test dummy on skates when he plays hockey. “A lot of guys in here haven’t had that opportunity to play in the playoffs in Montreal and it’s a pretty special time.” It really is amazing the beating he can take.

When the 5-foot-9, 184-pound right-winger stands in front of the opposing team’s net — which is very often — defencemen who are much Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2019 bigger beat him like a pinata and Gallagher always seems to come up smiling. After almost every shift, Gallagher gets to the bench looking like he’s about to die, gasping for air after leaving everything he had on the ice. He then catches his breath and gets ready to go out and do the same thing again on his next shift. Gallagher averages 16:43 of ice time per game, so that’s a lot of abuse on his body. Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher protects the puck from defenceman Victor Mete in front of goalie Antti Niemi during practice Thursday in Brossard. Every game I watch Gallagher play, I shake my head at least a couple of times in amazement at the amount of punishment he can absorb. It’s remarkable that he ranks third on the Canadiens’ iron man list with 158 consecutive games played, trailing only Max Domi (166) and Jeff Petry (164). With that in mind, I can’t think of any player who would enjoy a bye week in the NHL schedule more than Gallagher. The Canadiens were on the ice for the first time in a week Thursday afternoon when they practised in Brossard. “You come back and we do feel re-energized,” Gallagher said after practice. “We rejuvenate just physically how your body is feeling. I feel way better than I did 10 days ago, which is huge going forward. I think that’s going to be important. You want to be feeling your best, so having that time off is definitely nice.” Gallagher went to Cancun, Mexico, for four days to relax and get some sun, but the weather didn’t co-operate. “It pretty much rained the whole time,” he said. “I’m a pretty pale guy, it might have been good for me to stay out of the sun, avoid the burn and just kind of relax.” Did he at least get to swim? “I’m pretty scared of sharks,” Gallagher said. “I try to really stay out of the ocean … that’s their territory. I’ll go in the water a little bit, but I’m not getting too far out there. I’m not dancing with the sharks.” Opposing goalies might want to start wearing shark masks when they play the Canadiens. Gallagher spent the first couple of days in Mexico basically doing nothing, allowing his body to rest after posting 19-11-30 totals in the first 51 games. Gallagher leads the Canadiens in goals and is on pace for his second straight 30-goal season. When asked if he was able to indulge in any guilty food pleasures during the bye week, Gallagher smiled and said: “You know what, I eat pretty much whatever I can in front of me. It’s a bit of a struggle during the year for me trying to hold weight. I’m not one of the guys who puts on weight. So I pretty much ate anything I could. But it was nice just to relax.” “You feel better, for sure,” he added. “Everyone’s got nagging injuries and they start to add up. When you start to get three or four things that are bothering you at once, it’s kind of tough to take care of them all. That time off is nice. It takes care of all the little nagging injuries that you kind of have. You definitely feel better, you feel energized and rejuvenated and, obviously, a little bit healthier going into the next few games.” The Canadiens will practise again at 11 a.m. Friday in Brossard as they prepare for back-to-back weekend matinee games at the Bell Centre against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (2 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday (2 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). “The legs were actually all right,” Gallagher said after Thursday’s hour- long practice. “I’ve definitely felt worse on the ice before. Still a little bit 1128328 Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Noah Juulsen hasn’t played a game since Dec. 27 with the Laval Rocket. He suffered a facial fracture after being hit in the face by a puck during a game against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 19 and Canadiens Notebook: Coach Claude Julien tanned and relaxed after bye returned to play four games with the Canadiens while wearing a full cage week before being sent down to Laval. On Thursday, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels sent out this tweet: STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE When Julien was asked after practice if he could provide any update on Juulsen’s condition, the coach said: “I really can’t because I can stand Updated: January 31, 2019 here and I’m going to say things that I don’t really know everything that concerns that injury. So somehow we’ll find a way to get the details to you guys, but right now I don’t have all the fine details.” Canadiens coach Claude Julien looked tanned and relaxed when he met When asked if it was indeed an eye injury, Julien said: “Not sure about with the media after practice Thursday afternoon in Brossard. that. That’s what they’re looking into … all of that stuff. That’s why I’m a little hesitant to say anything because I’m not quite sure what’s been That’s what a bye week in the NHL schedule is supposed to do. detected and what the right term for his injury is right now.” “I’m just a little shy right now because I haven’t seen you guys in a while,” Lousy weather for Kotkaniemi Julien said with a big smile about his tan after the Canadiens skated for the first time in seven days. “So it’s the redness.” Canadiens rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi was hoping to enjoy some sun and warm weather during the bye week when he went to visit a friend who While the bye week in the schedule provided a physical rest for the lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. players it also gave Julien and his coaching staff a mental break. “The weather was so bad,” Kotkaniemi said. “My friend told me the first “I would also say for them it’s physical, it’s also mental,” Julien said about three days he’d never seen the weather that bad. It was raining and his players. “Coming in every day, having to focus and listening to super cold. It was like 14 degrees. It was like freezing. coaches telling you you got to do this, got to do that, whether it’s penalty kill, power play, five-on-five, they’re listening to us all the time. I think the “But it was fun,” Kotkaniemi added with his smile. “I sat in a hot tub for mental break was just as good for them. three days.” “For us, it’s about a mental break,” Julien added about his coaching staff. Petry in elite company “Say what you want, but we come in at 2 in the morning (after a game), we’re back here (in Brossard) at 7, 7:30 (a.m.). So we get tired, too, There are only five defencemen in the NHL this season who have at least physically. But at the same time, I think these last few days I felt like I 20 points and 100 hits and the Canadiens’ Jeff Petry is one of them. was getting a little antsy wanting to come back. I’m enjoying this season. I like the potential of our team and the direction we’re going, so I was Petry has 10-25-35 totals and 138 hits in 51 games. The other four getting excited about coming back.” defencemen in the same category (stats through Wednesday’s games) are the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Ristolainen (30/148), the Los Angeles Julien gathered his players at centre ice for a chat before the start of Kings’ Drew Doughty (28/105), the Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse Thursday’s practice. What was his message? (24/101) and Jake Muzzin (21/111), who the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired from the Kings on Monday. “Be careful what you say to the media,” Julien said with a big smile. What’s next? He then added: “Just basically, listen, I hope they had a good break, I think they earned it and they deserve it. And now it’s about getting back The Canadiens have a practice scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday in Brossard to work. We’re going to follow that up a little bit tomorrow (at practice) as they prepare for back-to-back Super Bowl weekend matinee games at with preparing for the last 31 games. Today was more about getting back the Bell Centre on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils (2 p.m., to the grind and I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect when you’ve been off TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) and Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers for that long. But we wanted to work just on the basics and slowly build (2 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). our game back up so that when Saturday comes around we’re going to be ready to play the Devils.” The Canadiens will have to call up a goalie from the AHL’s Laval Rocket Montreal Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2019 for Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre (2 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio) to serve as the backup to Antti Niemi. Carey Price will miss the game while serving an automatic one-game suspension for his decision to skip the NHL All-Star Game. “Obviously, we’ll need one for Saturday,” Julien said. “When we’re going to call him up? There’s lots of things that come into play with the waivers and that kind of stuff. So I think (GM Marc Bergevin) is going to make that decision, I would suspect probably Saturday because we don’t need anybody until then.” Andrew Shaw, who has missed the last 11 games with a neck injury, took part in Thursday’s practice but still isn’t ready to return to the lineup. Shaw hasn’t played since Dec. 31 in Dallas and Julien said the forward won’t be ready to play this weekend when the Canadiens play back-to- back games at the Bell Centre against the Devils on Saturday and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday (2 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN 690 Radio). “We’re going into I guess the protocol of what needs to be done here,” Julien said about Shaw, who has a history of concussions. “Today was non-contact day, he’s feeling good. If he feels good tomorrow, I’ll wait to hear from the medical staff and at some point they’re going to give me the OK for him to do contact. Again, a guy who hasn’t played in close to a month, so conditioning with the team — not just the fact that he skated on his own. There’s a lot of things that have to come into play, so it’s hard for me to pinpoint a time. “Not this weekend — let’s put it that way — for sure because he’s too far back to be a possibility for this weekend going through all this stuff,” the coach added. “But next week, who knows what we’re going to end up with.” No update on Juulsen 1128329 Montreal Canadiens

After a week away from the NHL grind, Canadiens return to the ice

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 31, 2019

The Canadiens were back on the ice Thursday to shake off the rust after seven days off for the NHL all-star break and their bye week. Two players had more rust than their teammates. Paul Byron missed the three games before the break because the NHL suspended him for a hit that sent Florida defenceman MacKenzie Weegar into the league’s concussion protocol. Byron practised on a line with Tomas Tatar and Max Domi and that’s the way they’ll line up Saturday, when the Canadiens are home to the New Jersey Devils for the first game in the in their back-to-back Super Bowl matinees (2 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio). The Edmonton Oilers will be in town on Sunday. While Byron has missed more than two weeks, Andrew Shaw has been out for more than a month. He practised Thursday on the fourth line with Michael Chaput and Kenny Agostino, but head coach Claude Julien shot down any possibility that Shaw would play on the weekend. “He’s wearing a non-contact jersey and the medical staff hasn’t cleared him yet,” Julien said. “He felt good and now we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. We hope he’ll be back soon, but we’re approaching it day-to- day.” Officially, Shaw is out with a neck injury, but he has a history of concussions and the team is following the concussion protocol in dealing with the injury. Julien wouldn’t speculate on a return date for the hard- nosed winger. The timing of the injury couldn’t have been worse for Shaw, who was playing some of his best hockey of the season. He had four goals and seven assists in December and was a plus-7. Carey Price is healthy, but he won’t be dressed for Saturday’s game. The goaltender received an automatic one-game suspension when he declined an invitation to play in the All-Star Game. That means Antti Niemi gets the start and the Canadiens will have to call up a goaltender from the Laval Rocket. The most likely candidate is Michael McNiven, because he is still on an entry-level contract and he can move freely between the NHL and the AHL without being placed on waivers. The weekend games are the first of five consecutive home games for the Canadiens, who have a better record this season on the road. They are 14-10-2 at home for a winning percentage of .577 and 14-8-3 on the road, for a percentaqe of .620. They have a chance to build some momentum because the Devils, the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, who are in town on Tuesday, are all struggling. “We have a chance to bring our home record to a more acceptable level,” Julien said. “We’re not a bad home team, but we want to be better. This is a great opportunity, but at the same time, from here on in, it it doesn’t matter who you play because every year you see the same thing. We talk about teams that are non-playoff teams and they come in with no pressure and they play their best hockey of the year. “You have to respect the parity of this league,” Julien added. “You can’t look at the standings and say we should win this game. You have to do the right things to be able to succeed. New Jersey just beat Pittsburgh and Edmonton, you’ve seen both sides of that team. There’s no reason to get comfortable, we need to get hungry.”

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Impact president Kevin Gilmore left Habs to seek 'next big challenge'

BRENDAN KELLY, MONTREAL GAZETTE Updated: January 31, 2019

When Kevin Gilmore stepped down as second in command in the executive suites of the Montreal Canadiens in June 2016, Gilmore and his boss, Geoff Molson, were tight-lipped on the reasons for his sudden departure. The team issued a release with quotes from Gilmore and Molson, and neither spoke to the media about why Gilmore was leaving his job as chief operating officer. Gilmore broke his silence in an interview Thursday, saying he walked away from the Habs because he felt he’d accomplished what he could with the team and that the departure was a mutual agreement with the Canadiens’ owner and president. “When I came on board, I always wanted to run a sports team, and Geoff knew that and we talked about that,” said Gilmore, who was named president of the Montreal Impact on Jan. 22. “It was good that Geoff was going to be president as long as he owned the team. I think, in the early years, it was good because I understood the business and we worked very closely together. So it really gave him a chance to get inside and truly understand the business of hockey. … “Four years in, there was a level of comfort from his standpoint and we done all the big things,” Gilmore added. “We’d done (the TV series) 24CH, we’d negotiated the TV deal (with RDS and Sportsnet), we’d put together the Tour des Canadiens projects, the sports bar (Taverne 1909). Geoff and I worked hand-in-hand on all those things but come 2015, it became more day-to-day. If you look at my career, it’s not that I get restless but I kind of do. I like big projects. So we talked about it and I thought it would be easier for me to look at the next big challenge if I was out there on my own.” Before joining the Canadiens, Gilmore held senior executive positions with the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings. A few months before leaving, there was speculation that Gilmore had thrown his hat into the ring to try to become CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment — which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs — and that had created a conflict with Molson. But Gilmore said that wasn’t the case. “Had they reached out I would’ve been interested, but there was never any contact,” said Gilmore. “I left and a week later Vegas got the franchise and people were like, ‘Oh you’re going to Vegas’. There’s tons of speculation. I did speak to the headhunter, but it wasn’t the reason I left.” After leaving the Canadiens, Gilmore created a sports-consulting business and also became involved with a group trying to bring an NBA team to Montreal. He remains a part of that project.

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Predators' Peter Laviolette on Austin Watson suspension: It's about the person, not player

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 4:53 p.m. CT Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 5:15 p.m. CT Jan. 31, 2019

Predators coach Peter Laviolette paused momentarily to gather his thoughts Thursday afternoon. His team had just finished its first practice after its bye week and was one player short. Austin Watson was suspended indefinitely and without pay Tuesday, and admitted into the second stage of the NHL's substance abuse and behavioral health program for issues "related exclusively to his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse," the league said in a joint statement with the players' association. "Right now it's only about the person," Laviolette said. "It’s got nothing to do with the player at all. Austin is a terrific human being. Right now our thoughts are with him. It’s got nothing to do with hockey. It’s got everything to do with the person." Watson served an 18-game suspension to start the season after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic assault against his girlfriend over the summer. His absence now could have an effect on the Predators on the ice, too. He shared some of his struggles with mental health and addiction in a recent Instagram post in which he said he'd been sober for nearly two years before a relapse in June when he was arrested. Laviolette has dealt with players in the past with documented alcohol struggles, most recently Mike Ribeiro. He also recognizes that Watson, who isn't eligible to return until he's cleared by administrators of the program, will be missed on the ice, too. "He’s a physical force for us. That’s some of the things we'll miss from him," Laviolette said. "He’s capable of scoring goals. He plays good defense, the penalty kill. It's an opportunity for other players to step up right now. We're going to be looking for that." Watson leads the Predators with 99 hits. He has seven goals and six assists in 34 games this season. Predators captain Roman Josi said his thoughts weren't on Watson the hockey player, but rather Watson the person. "To get better," Josi said. "It's all about supporting him now. He’s a big part of our team. All we want to do is help him get whatever he needs to get better. That’s all we’re thinking about."

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Predators mailbag: Gary Bettman biased vs tall players? Artemi Panarin in Nashville?

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 11:00 a.m. CT Jan. 31, 2019

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow. The mailbag never stops. Well, almost never. The Predators are about to return from their breaks (All-Star and mandatory five-day), and a few of you had some questions. Let the fun begin. Or continue. There's a lot to sort out here, Jay. Or is it Mr. Jay IronHook? Mr. JayIron Hook? Everyone needs their space. Anyhow, the tall and short of it is, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stands 5-7, so it stands to reason he would be biased against more vertically blessed players. But rules are rules. I assume your first comment is in reference to Vladimir Tarasenko being penalized for using Parayko's stick. Parayko, who is 6-6, has an exemption to use a longer stick. How else is he supposed to play? I say Tarasenko, who is 6-foot tall, was at a disadvantage using Parayko's stick, which probably seemed like a pole vault, and was his off hand. To further prove your hypothesis, Domi was suspended in short order. For the rest of the preseason. And Rocco Grimaldi names his sticks, which further elevates his status. Is there a link to a master schedule for all teams? I thought the “All Star Break” meant no games all week. I see that there are games already this week. Were some teams on break *before* the ASG and some after? The All-Star break is a break for everyone except All-Stars, which is kind of funny. Each team has a mandated five-day break, though, per the collective bargaining agreement. There were 10 teams that were off before the All- Star game. The other 21 teams had their break after the game(s). You're saying since he just beat 'em, he should join 'em? Yes, Panarin set the Blue Jackets franchise record for points with 82 last season. Yes, Panarin is on pace for 90-plus points this season. Yes, Panarin's agent said Panarin isn't willing to negotiate a deal until after the season, when he will be an unrestricted free agent. While that seems to make Panarin a prime rental acquisition, I'm not sure what the Predators mortgage to acquire him, should the Blue Jackets elect to trade him. That's not to say the Predators shouldn't or wouldn't kick the tires before the Feb. 25 trading deadline. It's an interesting situation for Columbus, which is in playoff contention. Move him now and they are guaranteed to receive something in return. Let him play out his contract and they risk losing him for nothing. I don't know, Masked Man. Because people love to lose their minds? I say let them have fun trying to find it again. Family is doing well. Thanks for asking. I was in D.C. New Year's Eve, but the kids had fun back home, from what I saw on FaceTime.

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Austin Watson isn't the first Predators player who faced alcohol abuse but his unpaid suspension is rare

Paul Skrbina, Nashville Tennessean Published 6:20 a.m. CT Jan. 31, 2019

Austin Watson's indefinite suspension without pay, which was handed down Wednesday, is "related exclusively to his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse," the NHL said in a joint statement with the league's players' association. While Watson isn't the first Predators player to have a documented history of such abuse, his elevation to Stage 2 of the league's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program doesn't have much precedence league-wide. The most recent case occurred in October 2015. That's when Zack Kassian entered Stage 2 of the program after he was involved in an auto accident during which he wasn't driving but he suffered a broken foot and broken nose. Kassian, a first-round pick of the Sabres in 2008, had been in the first stage of the program while with Vancouver before he was traded to Montreal, for whom he never played. Instead, after he was reinstated by doctors in December 2015, Kassian was waived by the Canadiens and eventually went to Edmonton, for whom he's played the last four seasons. Players typically enter Stage 1 of the program voluntarily and are paid their full salary as long as they don't violate the terms of the treatment. Players are not paid their salary in Stage 2, which they only enter if they violate the terms of Stage 1. In an Instagram post in early January, Watson opened up about his struggles with alcohol and depression and his arrest last summer for domestic violence against his girlfriend. Watson said in the post that he and Jenn Guardino were in a good place and committed to their sobriety. But a little more than two weeks after Watson's post, news of his suspension surfaced. Mike Ribeiro and Jordin Tootoo are two former Predators who had publically documented struggles with alcohol. Less than a year after signing a four-year, $22 million contract with the Coyotes, the team bought out Ribeiro's contract due to issues related to alcohol abuse. The Predators signed him to a one-year deal in 2014, before signing him to a two-year, $7 million deal in 2015. But Ribeiro requested a trade before the end of the 2016-17 season and was waived by the Predators. Ribeiro's agent, said Bob Perno, told Montreal's La Presse that Ribeiro had been in the NHL's rehab program before joining the Predators and that he had relapsed before retiring. Two years before he signed with the Predators, while he was playing for the Capitals, Ribeiro was accused of sexually assaulting his nanny, a case that eventually was settled. Ribeiro was an All-Star in 2008 and had 228 goals and 565 assists in 1,074 regular-season games. Tootoo, who spent eight years with the Predators, entered the league's substance abuse program in 2010 because of alcohol. He wrote a book that included his struggles with the disease. He retired from the NHL in October 2018 and the Predators will hold "Jordin Tootoo Night" on Saturday when they play the Stars at Bridgestone Arena. What's next for Watson remains to be seen. He won't be eligible to play again until he's cleared by the program's administrators. Whether or not he plays with the Predators again also remains to be seen.

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Austin Watson suspension: How the NHL substance abuse program works

Tommy Deas, Nashville Tennessean Published 6:00 a.m. CT Jan. 31, 2019

Here are key passages from the National Hockey League’s operating procedures governing the commissioner’s power in cases like the one involving the Predators’ Austin Watson: Under Article 18-A of the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement with the league’s players association, the commissioner has the authority to discipline for non-hockey related conduct including issuing suspension for a definite or indefinite period, canceling a player’s contract with the team or imposing a fine. Watson’s suspension falls under the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program per a 1996 document, which has been ratified in subsequent negotiations. His suspension is a stage two suspension for alcohol-related treatment. 4. Discipline: Players may be disciplined for substance abuse violations depending on the nature and severity of the violation. As described below, players with identified substance abuse problems will be placed in a particular state in the program, with disciplinary consequences associated with the stages as set forth below. If a player voluntarily seeks treatment for alcohol abuse and such treatment, as determined by the program doctors, is on an outpatient basis only (i.e. the player is not treated in an impatient setting), the player will continue to be paid his full NHL salary and no penalty of any kind will be imposed on the player so long as he follows his prescribed treatment and follow-up care program. A player who voluntarily seeks treatment for alcohol abuse and whose initial treatment is on an inpatient basis will be placed in stage one of the program. Such a player will continue to be paid his full NHL salary and will have no penalty imposed on him so long as he fully complies with his prescribed treatment and follow-up care program. A player who in the opinion of the program doctors violates his stage one treatment or follow-up care program, will be placed in stage two of the program. Such a player will be suspended without pay during the active phase of his treatment and will be eligible for reinstatement upon the recommendation of the program doctors after consultation with the NHL and the NHLPA although reinstatement is not assured. During a player’s suspension, he will receive a stipend to meet certain basic living expenses, the amount of which will be determined by the program doctors. A player who in the opinion of the program doctors violates his stage 2 treatment and who requires a third or subsequent inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse will be placed in stage three of the program. Such a player will be suspended without pay (except for a limited stipend the amount of which will be determined by the program doctors) during his active treatment and will be eligible for reinstatement upon recommendation of the program doctors after consultation with the NHL and NHLPA, although reinstatement is not assured.

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New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers: LIVE score updates and chat (1/31/19)

Posted January 31, 2019 at 6:45 PM By Chris Ryan [email protected] NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri, Keith Kinkaid, Blake Coleman and the New Jersey Devils will renew their rivalry with Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello and the New York Rangers for the first time during the 2018- 19 season when the teams face off at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Prudential Center in Newark. Kinkaid and Lundqvist will go head-to-head in the starting goalie matchup. The Devils have won their past three home games against the Rangers. Devils' lines vs. Rangers Join NJ.com's live chat in the comment section, and follow along with live updates in the box above.

Star Ledger LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128336 New Jersey Devils “We had three opportunities prior to the goal to get the puck out of the zone," Hynes said. "We didn't execute."

Mika Zibanejad's hat trick leads Rangers' comeback over Devils Bergen Record LOADED: 02.01.2019

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 9:44 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 | Updated 11:00 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

NEWARK – The Devils and Rangers may not be battling for Metropolitan Division supremacy, but this edition of the Hudson River Rivalry game still had all of the theatrics of a rivalry game. It was Mika Zibanejad who dominated for the team from New York on Thursday at Prudential Center, scoring a hat trick to help the Rangers edge the Devils 4-3. Zibanejad had a monster night for the Rangers (22-21-7, 51 points) with an assist on Chris Kreider’s goal for a four-point night. Mats Zuccarello had three assists and Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves. Nico Hischier and Marcus Johansson each had a goal and an assist and Egor Yakovlev scored for New Jersey (19-24-7, 45 points). Keith Kinkaid made 21 saves. “It was a couple little lapses we had,” forward Kyle Palmieri said. “Keith played an awesome game and he didn’t really have a chance on many of them.” The Devils came into this rivalry game encouraged by a pair of power play goals in their previous game, a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and eager to jump-start the scuffling unit. But special teams would prove challenging without defensemen Sami Vatanen and Ben Lovejoy. Both kill penalties and Vatanen runs the second power-play unit. Jan 31, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate a goal by New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the second period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The tweaks on the power play worked, as the Devils went up 2-0 in the first period with power-play goals by Hischier and Johansson. They nearly capitalized early in the third period during the extension of a bench minor but Brian Boyle was stonewalled. "We had some good looks but you're not going to score on every power play," Johansson said. "We've got to keep improving but we did have some good looks." But the staunch New Jersey penalty kill let in multiple goals for just the fourth time all season and the first time since Dec. 3, with one coming just two seconds before the first period expired. Zibanejad scored both for the Rangers, with the first coming after Johansson was whistled for interference and coach John Hynes expressed his displeasure. Right off the faceoff Kevin Hayes took the puck back and launched one from the point. Zibanejad deflected it past Kinkaid to cut the New Jersey lead in half. Zibanejad struck again with 3:38 left in the second period and Blake Coleman in the box for hooking. Zuccarello, returning from a one-game absence with a foot infection, slid a cross-ice feed to Zibanejad, who went top-shelf tie the game at 2-2. Kreider put New York up 3-2 just 4:43 into the third period with Zuccarello and Zibanejad setting him up but Yakovlev, the sparsely-used defenseman, tied the game at 3-3 less than a minute later. Jan 31, 2019; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) hits New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith (42) during the second period at Prudential Center. A good forecheck led to the Devils’ third goal. Hischier collected the puck and flipped a nifty feed to Johansson, who found a cutting Yakovlev in the slot for his second NHL goal. But Zibanejad put the Rangers up for good with 4:36 left in the game to complete his second career hat trick. The Devils were hemmed into their own zone for a lengthy shift, unable to get a line change when Zuccarello found Zibanejad cutting through the crease. He used a fancy move to backhand the puck over Kinkaid's pad. "There wasn't much Keith could do on that," Palmieri said. "We had two guys falling down." Devils' coach John Hynes said they had chances to get a line change but poor decision-making after a faceoff win led to the Devils having to ice the puck twice and losing coverage on Zibanejad. 1128337 New Jersey Devils “He’s a good puck-moving defenseman, he can skate well,” Hynes said. “He’s got NHL potential, he’s got NHL experience and he’s a smart, heady player that can move the puck.” What the NJ Devils need to see from Pavel Zacha Murphy reported to Binghamton of the AHL but with Ben Lovejoy and Sami Vatanen out the 25-year-old blue-liner could find himself in New Jersey sooner rather than later. Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer “We have a talented player in our organization so let’s try to find a way to Published 1:43 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 help him become a National Hockey League player,” Hynes said. Taylor Hall (lower-body) saw the doctor Thursday and did not skate. Ben Lovejoy (lower-body) was also held off the ice but Stefan Noesen (lower- NEWARK — When Pavel Zacha made a fantastic move to get around body) did skate. Joey Anderson is nearing a return and a decision will be one of the best players in the NHL, Evgeni Malkin, in an effort to get to made on where he plays next in the coming days. the net and dish the puck to Brian Boyle for a shorthanded goal on Monday night, it was one of those moments when the Devils’ third-line center looked every bit like the first round pick he was in 2015. Bergen Record LOADED: 02.01.2019 It was evidence of Zacha’s growing confidence. “It grows with every game you play,” he said this week at Prudential Center. “I’ve had pretty good ice time which means coaches and players have a lot of trust in you. So that helps a lot.” Zacha has had a lot of those moments over the last two years, yet he’s still only a third-line centerman. The problem is, those moments don’t come often enough. Sometimes they come in waves, like when he scored four goals in three games in late November. Or had three points in two games a month later. Those moments seem to come in waves and it took a minor league demotion to bring them out. “He’s been very good at times but inconsistent would be the right word,” coach John Hynes said. “He goes through some stretches where he plays very, very well. He’s consistent and he makes a big impact for us. Then there are times when it doesn’t go as well.” The 21-year-old Zacha is encouraged by the strides he’s made in his defensive game this year admits he's still trying to find his offensive stride in the NHL. The staff has encouraged Zacha to use his booming shot to create plays and he’s done exactly that, though he admits the instinct to pass is still there. Dec 29, 2018; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils center Pavel Zacha (37) celebrates his goal with New Jersey Devils center Brian Boyle (11) during the second period of their game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Prudential Center. There are concerns that more playmaking is needed from him but what he’s trying to identify is more scoring chances for himself and ways he can get to the net to create offense. “There are situations where I see I can take it to the net and get in the corner,” Zacha said. “It’s about being strong in the corners and winning puck battles.” Zacha might have won those battles on Monday against a very good team but there have been other teams who have challenged him and he’s faded into the background. Many players on the Devils can say the same. This is a team who wants to skate and get out on the forecheck, so when they’re held to the outside by big, heavy, checking teams they fail to win the battles necessary to maintain possession. “I think the biggest thing for Pav is that, there are certain teams in the league and certain situations where sometimes the teams force you to fight for your ice,” Hynes said. “You cannot win the game or win the situation unless you fight for your ice, you fight through checks, you battle along the wall and you get to the net-front and play on the inside. When we’ve played in those games, he needs to be able to play better in those types of hockey games.” Hynes wants to see Zacha got on the inside and not back down to challenges. “Other games, some teams are rush teams and some teams aren’t as heavy or hard, some teams don’t make it as much of a street fight as other teams do,” Hynes said. “When we get into those games, we need more from a 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 centerman that should be able to play in those areas. That’s his biggest growth.” The Devils and the Minnesota Wild swapped minor league defensemen on Wednesday night, sending Michael Kapla to Minnesota in exchange for Ryan Murphy. A first-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2011, Murphy hasn’t been able to stick in the NHL and although Hynes is unsure why, he’s ready to see what he has in the AHL. 1128338 New Jersey Devils

How they line up: Projected lineups for NJ Devils and Rangers

Abbey Mastracco, NHL writer Published 12:06 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

NEWARK -- Good morning from Newark, where the Devils are holding an optional morning skate ahead of this season’s first edition of the Hudson River Rivalry. It’s a quiet morning at Prudential Center with the Devils holding an optional morning skate and the Rangers electing to skip the skate completely. However, the Devils are confident the rivalry will be as heated as ever once the puck drops. While the two teams may be down toward the bottom in the Metropolitan Division standings, positioning matters little in a raucous building with an intense atmosphere. “They’re always competitive games no matter where you are in the standings and where you are in the season,” Devils’ alternate captain Travis Zajac said. “It’s just always been like that.” Zajac has played in a lot of these rivalry games throughout the years and has put up 30 points over 59 of them. Mackenzie Blackwood was recalled to back up Keith Kinkaid in net. Coach John Hynes was encouraged by his play in Pittsburgh on Monday night and wants to see if he can build on that success and turn it into a winning streak. As far as the defensemen playing in front of Kinkaid, the Devils haven’t quite finalized the lineup but Mirco Mueller, Steven Santini and Egor Yakovlev will all play with Sami Vatanen and Ben Lovejoy out with injuries. Yakovlev and Santini skated together with Butcher and Mueller on the same pair in two practices this week so I would expect those pairs to stick at least to start. Yakovlev, a 27-year-old KHL veteran, has been somewhat turnover prone in the 11 NHL games he’s played and even in the 12 American Hockey League games to some extent. Hynes is hoping to see some better decision-making in order to eliminate those giveaways. “When you’re going back for pucks in the NHL, it’s important to understand just how quick you need to go back and that your decisions have to be a little bit quicker,” Hynes said. “I think when he’s had some time and space he has the ability to move the puck. But it’s in those situations where there’s heavy pressure or not a lot of time and space it’s understanding what your passing options are right away.” Yakovlev needs to know when to pass the puck and when to keep it with smaller ice. “Sometimes if you’re under heavy duress it may be better to eat the puck and keep it and create a battle situation, as opposed to thinking you need to move the puck all the time under heavy duress,” Hynes said. “And that’s an adjustment for a player coming over from Russia. You don’t have that same type of intensity and forecheck pressure that you do in the NHL.”

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Mika Zibanejad's hat trick lifts Rangers to comeback win over Devils

Staff Report THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | JAN 31, 2019 | 10:40 PM

Mika Zibanejad capped his second career hat trick with the winning goal with 4:36 to play and the Rangers rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat the Devils 4-3 on Thursday night. Zibanejad also had an assist on Chris Kreider's goal, and linemate Mats Zuccarello had three assists, including the backhand pass that set up Zibanejad's backhand winner. The line had eight points. Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves, including a stop on a tip by Brian Boyle after the Devils pulled goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Nico Hischier, Marcus Johansson and Egor Yakovlev scored for the Devils. Kinkaid finished with 21 saves. Kreider gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead early in the third period with a shot from the right circle that Kinkaid should have stopped. Yakovlev got his second career goal after being set up by Johansson between the circles less than a minute after Kreider scored. The winner came after the Rangers controlled play in the Devils' zone for more than a minute and got the puck to Zibanejad for his 20th goal of the season. There were four goals in the first two periods, all in the power play. The Devils got the first two from Hischier and Johansson in the opening 16:18, while Zibanejad scored both for New York. Zibanejad got his first on a deflection with two seconds left in the first period. It came five seconds after Johansson was penalized for interference. His 19th goal came with 3:24 left in the second period when he one-timed a Zuccarello pass into the top corner of the net. Hischier gave the Devils the lead with a shot from the left circle 5:10 after the opening faceoff. Johansson made a head-first dive to poke a loose puck into an open net after Brian Boyle’s shot hit off the post.

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Lou Lamoriello cautiously optimistic about Islanders

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Updated February 1, 2019 12:50 AM

Lou Lamoriello believes the Islanders are a “good team.” He also knows his club still has to prove it’s good enough to make the playoffs. “I have a lot of confidence in this group because they’ve shown it; they have a lot of confidence in themselves right now,” the president and general manager said on Thursday in East Meadow as the Islanders resumed practicing after their combined eight-day All-Star break and bye week. “But we have to respect the schedule that we have coming up. We have to respect that we’ve been healthy, reasonably, up to this point. “But we’re a good hockey team right now,” added Lamoriello, in his first season with the Islanders after winning three Stanley Cups with the Devils and spending the previous three seasons as the Maple Leafs’ general manager. “I don’t want to deny that because we’ve had to earn where we’re at and they deserve the credit. But we have to sustain it. It gets tougher and tougher and tougher.” The Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders (29-15-5), seeking their first playoff berth since 2016, will face the NHL-leading Lightning (37-11-2) on Friday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. While Lamoriello said he has confidence in how the Islanders are currently constructed, he could look to make improvements before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 25. “Right now, we’re still going through some stages where we have to see who we are, and we’ll know a little better in the next couple of weeks,” he said. By then, the Islanders might have a better idea of when defenseman Thomas Hickey, out with an upper-body injury since Dec. 18, and left wing Andrew Ladd, sidelined with a lower-body injury since Nov. 15, can be activated off injured reserve. Lamoriello said both are skating on their own and will be able to join their teammates for optional practices. “It’s just a case of them getting into condition so they’re ready to play,” he said. “As far as the injuries, they’re in the past. It’s just getting into hockey shape.” The upcoming trade deadline also might be a factor regarding the Islanders’ impending unrestricted free agents. That includes captain Anders Lee, center Brock Nelson and right wing Jordan Eberle — the team’s top line — as well as goalie . He went into the break leading the NHL with a 2.02 goals-against average and tied for first with a .931 save percentage while on a one-year, $1.5-million deal. Lee is on an expiring four-year, $15-million deal, Nelson is playing on a one-year, $4.25-million pact and Eberle is on a six-year, $36-million contract. Third-line center Valtteri Filppula (one year, $2.75 million), spare forward Tom Kuhnhackl (one year, $700,000) and seventh defenseman Luca Sbisa (one year, $1.5 million) also will be UFAs. “We’d like to keep them all,” Lamoriello said. “Each one of the free agents has done an exceptional job for us. I don’t look at them as free agents. I look at them as Islanders players today. We’ll deal with that at the appropriate time.” He quickly added, “I have no definition of ‘appropriate time.’ ” When it was noted to him that UFAs might be a touchy subject for the Islanders after losing ex-captain John Tavares to the Maple Leafs, Lamoriello replied, “Whatever is in the past is in the past.” He also repeated that no decision has been made about whether the Islanders will play postseason games at the Coliseum or Barclays Center if they qualify for the playoffs. “I’d like to get in before I worry about that,” he said. “That will also come at the appropriate time and the NHL will be involved in that.”

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Islanders ready to shake off the rust from long break

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday Updated February 1, 2019 12:50 AM

The Islanders quickly will find out how ready — or rusty — they are. The Metropolitan Division leaders, coming off their combined eight-day All-Star break and bye week, will face the NHL-leading Lightning on Friday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. The Kings are at the Coliseum the next night. “You know what? We’re ready,” said Mathew Barzal, returning from his first All-Star appearance. “We know it’s going to be a hard second half. Teams are going to start taking us for real now. But we’re excited and we’re up for it.” The Islanders (29-15-5) went into their break on a 15-3-1 run after a 3-2 shootout loss at Chicago on Jan. 22. The Lightning (37-11-2), who lost, 5-1, at the Coliseum on Jan. 13, came out of their 10-day layoff with a 4- 2 loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. “They’re one of the best teams in the league, but we feel we’re in that conversation as well in terms of how hard we play and how much compete we have,” Barzal said. “We just can’t lose that. We can’t be satisfied with the first half we’ve had here. I don’t think we’re going to be.” Barzal said the challenge of facing the NHL leaders immediately after a long rest will help the Islanders “be on our toes right away.” But captain Anders Lee said regaining the requisite focus and intensity after a long break is difficult. “You see it after the Christmas break,” Lee said. “We’re just going to have to be that much more diligent, that much more attentive and ready to go.” Notes & quotes: Left wing Michael Dal Colle and defenseman Devon Toews were recalled from Bridgeport after they were sent down for the break in order to save salary-cap space and for Dal Colle to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic.

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Mika Zibanejad's hat trick lifts Rangers to comeback win over Devils

Staff Report THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | JAN 31, 2019 | 10:40 PM

Mika Zibanejad capped his second career hat trick with the winning goal with 4:36 to play and the Rangers rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat the Devils 4-3 on Thursday night. Zibanejad also had an assist on Chris Kreider's goal, and linemate Mats Zuccarello had three assists, including the backhand pass that set up Zibanejad's backhand winner. The line had eight points. Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves, including a stop on a tip by Brian Boyle after the Devils pulled goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Nico Hischier, Marcus Johansson and Egor Yakovlev scored for the Devils. Kinkaid finished with 21 saves. Kreider gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead early in the third period with a shot from the right circle that Kinkaid should have stopped. Yakovlev got his second career goal after being set up by Johansson between the circles less than a minute after Kreider scored. The winner came after the Rangers controlled play in the Devils' zone for more than a minute and got the puck to Zibanejad for his 20th goal of the season. There were four goals in the first two periods, all in the power play. The Devils got the first two from Hischier and Johansson in the opening 16:18, while Zibanejad scored both for New York. Zibanejad got his first on a deflection with two seconds left in the first period. It came five seconds after Johansson was penalized for interference. His 19th goal came with 3:24 left in the second period when he one-timed a Zuccarello pass into the top corner of the net. Hischier gave the Devils the lead with a shot from the left circle 5:10 after the opening faceoff. Johansson made a head-first dive to poke a loose puck into an open net after Brian Boyle’s shot hit off the post.

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Buchnevich earns a promotion in his return to Rangers lineup

By Brett Cyrgalis February 1, 2019 | 1:03am

The Rangers coach brought Pavel Buchnevich back into the lineup for Thursday night’s 4-3 win over the Devils in Newark just two days after he had made the talented 23-year-old winger a healthy scratch in a 1-0 loss to the Flyers at the Garden. Buchnevich started on the fourth line, but midway through the third period, with the score tied 3-3, he was up on the second line with Kevin Hayes and Jesper Fast, doing what he could to break the tie. And he had come on just at the right moment, moving the puck around the back of the Devils’ net to start the play that would end in Mika Zibanejad’s game- winner with 4:36 remaining in regulation. Buchnevich had replaced Jimmy Vesey on the line after Vesey was stapled to the bench following his ghastly turnover that resulted in the Devils tying the score on an Egor Yakovlev goal at 5:36 of the third. Asked if the switch was more about Buchnevich or Vesey, Quinn said, “It was a combination. I thought Buchie was playing well and I thought he earned that opportunity.” Quinn announced that 20-year-old rookie center Brett Howden would be out three to four weeks with his knee injury, suffered in the first period of Tuesday’s game. Henrik Lundqvist Defenseman Tony DeAngelo was made the healthy scratch after a game-time decision determined Mats Zuccarello could play after he had missed Tuesday’s game with a foot infection. DeAngelo, 23, had played in six straight. “It was the thing that I thought needed to happen,” Quinn said. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist played his first game since Jan. 19, and it took him a while to get into rhythm again. “First period, I felt a little off,” he said after making 19 saves, some terrific ones while preserving a one-goal lead late in the third period. “Being away from the game for 10 days or so, of course you’re going to feel it. As the game went on, I felt more and more comfortable.” Quinn had a pregame conversation with his good friend, Devils coach John Hynes, as the two squared off in their first regular-season NHL game against one another. “I’ve got so much respect for John,” Quinn said, as both Rhode Island kids came through before getting into coaching. “He’s a great coach, great guy. He’s been a friend for a long time. But when that puck drops, all that stuff gets pushed to the side. He wants to win and I want to win.”

New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128344 New York Rangers “I don’t know what I would do if I were asked to waive,” Staal told The Post this week. “It really hasn’t crossed my mind at this point. Hypotheticals are tough.” How David Quinn addressed Tony DeAngelo’s ‘maturity issue’ Not nearly as tough, though, as sitting out a game for reasons other than performance. Nothing hypothetical about that, as DeAngelo was reminded yet again. By Larry Brooks

February 1, 2019 | 12:46am New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2019

So another teaching moment for another young Ranger denied a uniform for a divisional rivalry game. Say what you will about David Quinn, but this is a coach who addresses issues on the spot rather than sloughing them off for a later day. Two nights after Pavel Buchnevich sat against the Flyers, Tony DeAngelo was designated as the healthy scratch on the blue line for the Blueshirts in Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Devils in Newark. This was not a performance-related decision. DeAngelo, in fact, had played the most consistently structured and productive hockey of his short tenure on Broadway over the previous six games during which he had been elevated to the first pair as Marc Staal’s righty partner. But something occurred early in the second period of Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to the Flyers that prompted the first-year coach to sit DeAngelo for a long stretch before going back to No. 77 for his regular shifts during the third. Again, it was not a bad read, an inexplicable giveaway, an undisciplined penalty or anything that would have been noticeable by reviewing the video. It was something else, something behavioral that crossed a line. “It was a maturity issue,” Quinn told The Post. “He and I have talked about it and are working on it. He’s too good to let maturity issues get in the way of him becoming the kind of player that he can be. “It’s something he’s got to work on and it’s something we’ve got to help him with.” And so DeAngelo sat and watched in street clothes while Mika Zibanejad recorded a hat trick, Mats Zuccarello racked up three assists and Henrik Lundqvist responded with several late, big-time stops to seal his club’s fifth victory over the past seven games after having won five of the previous 21 (5-11-5). Tuesday, in sitting Buchnevich, Quinn dressed a clearly inferior lineup that featured seven defensemen. That did not stop Quinn from doing what he believed necessary to catch No. 89’s attention. That also did not prevent the Blueshirts from piling up a 38-19 edge in shots (and a 62.3 percent Corsi at five-on-five) but the fact is that they could not score and were shut out by Anthony Stolarz. Tony DeAngelo Thursday, in sitting DeAngelo, the coach broke up the tandem that had been the club’s most effective first-pair while going back to the Staal-Neal Pionk duo that has had its challenges pretty much from the get-go. Over their six games intact, Staal-DeAngelo recorded a 58.0 Corsi share, a 57.5 shot share and a plus-two rating in 78:49 of five-on-five play. In the six games prior to that, Staal-Pionk came in at a 41.0 Corsi, a 41.1 shot share and a minus-four in 74:43, per Naturalstattrick.com. What’s more, prior to Thursday’s reasonably sturdy work, the Staal-Pionk pair had the worst Corsi rating — 41.2 — in the NHL of any tandem that had played at least 500 minutes, per Corsica.Hockey. Yet, Quinn reunited No.’s 18 and 44 because there was a lesson to be taught No. 77. And by the way, that did not stop the Rangers from dominating at five-on-five in this one. Zuccarello, who missed Tuesday’s game with a foot infection, has 12 points (4-8) in his last six games. Still, despite his revival (or perhaps because of it), he is almost certain to be elsewhere following the Feb. 25 trade deadline, though the prospect of a summer return via free agency somehow doesn’t seem wholly out of the question. Kevin Hayes, despite another strong game, is likely to be dealt as a rental property, too. Both pending free agents have made it clear they wish to remain Rangers. Ultimately, absent trade protection, they have no say in the matter. Staal, though, does have say if a contender is interested in dealing for the 32-year-old,who would be a catch as a depth defenseman as the alternate captain has a full no-move clause in the contract that carries a $5.7 million cap hit through 2020-21. Get this about Staal: He has been charged with the responsibility of playing first-pair against the opposition’s top guns on a nightly basis for the first time since 2010-11, before the unbrotherly concussion he suffered as a result of that high hit in Carolina from Eric Staal. Just try to find another defenseman to go eight years between first-pair assignments in the NHL. 1128345 New York Rangers “We talked about how when goals come, they come in flurries,” Quinn said. “They’re coming in a snowstorm rate right now for him, which is good for us.” Mika Zibanejad hat trick powers Rangers past rival Devils New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2019 By Brett Cyrgalis January 31, 2019 | 10:07pm | Updated

No, there was no guarantee. And this was hardly Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals 25 years ago. But Mika Zibanejad did his best impersonation, completing the first hat trick for a Ranger in New Jersey since the captain’s epic 1994 playoff performance, this one resulting in a mid-winter 4-3 victory over the Devils on Thursday night in Newark. Rather than finishing it off into the empty net and moving on to win the franchise’s only Stanley Cup since 1940 — like Messier — Zibanejad’s third goal broke a tie with just 4:36 remaining in regulation, a highlight- reel move when he took a great pass off the wall from Mats Zuccarello and then went forehand-to-backhand twice in the blink of an eye, roofing it for the game-winner. “I just looked up on the time to see how much time was left, hoping it was like a minute left so we could just kill the game,” said Zibanejad, who now has 20 goals on the season. “It’s nice to be able to contribute, and it’s nice to have Zucc back again.” The top line, with Chris Kreider on the left, was back together again after a foot infection had kept Zuccarello from playing the first game back after the break, a 1-0 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday night. But they were flying around in this one, combining for eight points. When all three are together, they now have 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in the past six games, and 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in the past four games. Henrik Lundqvist makes a save during the Rangers' win. “They certainly were dominant tonight, and they have been for a while,” coach David Quinn said. “All three of those guys are playing on an extremely high level. It’s nice to see.” As an organization, the Rangers (22-21-7) are happy to see Zibanejad play so well, eight goals in his past five games that paint him as that coveted top-line center. It also helps that a healthy Zuccarello is again playing with some jump, the free-agent-to-be’s trade value before the Feb. 25 deadline increasing with each of his now 12 points in his past six games. It just might be a little tough for his teammates to see Zuccarello on his way out the door, none more than Zibanejad, his good buddy and recipient of some of those great passes. “We’ve seen the chemistry before, and we saw it again tonight,” Zibanejad said. “It’s a fun line to play with. We’re playing, I would say, fun hockey.” On nights like this, it’s possible for the Blueshirts to have the optimistic view, winners of four of their past five and five of their past seven, bridging the 10-day break that encompassed the bye week and the All- Star Game. But general manager Jeff Gorton is not going to break from script when it comes to this rebuild. It’s just that performances like this will make the final two-plus months of the season quite a bit more tolerable — and definitely a better developmental ground for some of the young players as opposed to losing every night. “We can’t look at the standings every night,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made 19 saves in his first start back after the All-Star weekend in San Jose, none better than the right-pad stop on Kevin Rooney with about three minutes remaining in regulation to preserve the one-goal lead. “We just have to look at every game like an opportunity to improve ourselves, and then we’ll see where we end up.” The teams traded two power-play goals apiece in the first two periods, with the Devils (19-24-7) going up 2-0 on tallies from Nico Hischier and Marcus Johansson before Zibanejad got his first with just 1.8 seconds remaining in the first period, the next at 16:36 of the second period to tie it, 2-2. Goals from Kreider and Egor Yakovlev in the third made it 3-3 before Zibanejad went all Messier on everyone. 1128346 New York Rangers Maybe the second senior Ranger will be on the move. Again, if so, it will be on Staal’s say-so.

“We’ve been competitive and have a good group here that works hard at Marc Staal is in control of his uncertain Rangers fate improving,” said the only Ranger to wear No. 18 since Adam Hall. “That’s made it fun to come to the rink. That’s so important. By Larry Brooks “As for what might happen, maybe check back in a few weeks.” January 31, 2019 | 8:00PM New York Post LOADED: 02.01.2019 Marc Staal is one of the two current Rangers to have played for all four of the club’s coaches in the hard-cap era that commenced in 2005-06. Henrik Lundqvist was on Broadway first, of course, a rookie that season. Staal arrived two years later and has joined forces with the King playing for Tom Renney, John Tortorella, Alain Vigneault and David Quinn, a designer mixed bag of personalities and coaching philosophies if ever there was one. Staal actually was supposed to make his debut in 2005-06. The 12th- overall selection of the 2005 entry draft had completed his OHL season with Sudbury and was on his way to Hartford to get a taste of pro life in the AHL playoffs. Two weeks remained in the year, the Rangers were on their way to a shocking first-place finish after seven straight seasons out of the playoffs, and Renney was going to get Staal into an NHL contest while resting a veteran. “Except they lost five straight and I never got in,” said Staal, scratched from each one as the Blueshirts surrendered their division lead on the final day of the season. “I had to wait for a couple of years.” The Rangers lost the division lead that final day of 2005-06 to the Devils, by whom they were then swept in the first round of the playoffs in which Jaromir Jagr suffered a separated shoulder late in Game 1 while taking a wild swing at Scott Gomez, who still played for New Jersey at the time, by the way. And it was the Rangers and Devils on Thursday in Newark while Staal played the 811th game of his NHL career, though this one was staged under unprecedented circumstances. For with the Blueshirts in 11th place in the East, 10 points out of the second wild-card berth, and the Devils in 14th place, 14 points out, this will all but certainly become the first time in the 36 seasons of the Battle of the Hudson that both teams will miss the playoffs. It would mark the sixth miss over the last seven years for the Devils, an organization not so long ago steeped in excellence. It would mark the second straight miss for the Blueshirts and for Staal, who’d made the playoffs in all but one of the defenseman’s first 10 NHL seasons. If that is, Staal is still a member of the organization at 3 p.m. on Feb. 25. Mats Zuccarello is almost certain to be gone by the deadline. He might have something to say about that, but there is nothing he can do to prevent it, rather amazingly absent any trade protection in his fifth contract that expires at the end of the year. Kevin Hayes will probably be traded, even as the pending free agent continues to say that he wants nothing more than to remain a Ranger. Others without leverage are certain to go as the rebuild continues. Staal, though, has control over his fate, owning a full no-move clause for the life of his contract that runs through 2020-21. Teams are not believed to be beating down the door to acquire a rather immobile 32-year-old defenseman with two full seasons at a $5.7 million cap hit per, but serious contenders are always pursuing blue-line depth. That is what Staal, who is having a commendable season playing up on the first pair against the opposition’s top guns just about every single night, would provide. If, that is, he were to waive his no-trade. “I don’t know what I would do if I were asked,” Staal told The Post this week. “It really hasn’t crossed my mind at this point. No one’s talked to me about it. “As [the deadline] gets closer, if there’s anything that comes up, I guess it would depend on the situation. I can’t say. I’m not great on hypotheticals. They’re tough.” Chances are the combination of Staal’s age, style and contract would mitigate against a trade, though, who knows, maybe the Lightning are up for sending third-line winger JT Miller to Broadway in order to reunite Staal and Dan Girardi for the Cup drive. Seriously though, Staal’s unappetizing peripherals aside, he is the type of old-school defender who can become more important when the game turns into a playoff grind and taffy pull. So maybe there will be an inquiry. 1128347 New York Rangers

Mika Zibanejad's hat trick rallies Rangers past Devils

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph Updated February 1, 2019 12:18 AM

NEWARK — It was cold outside, but inside, Mika Zibanejad was red-hot. The Rangers’ No. 1 center recorded his second career hat trick — the third goal of which was a nifty dipsy-doodle move around defenders for the winner with 4:36 left in the third period — as the Blueshirts rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Devils on Thursday night. Zibanejad has scored the winning goal in each of the Rangers’ last four victories and has scored eight goals in the last five games. He also assisted on Chris Kreider’s third-period goal and posted his fourth four- point game of the season (he has five of those in his career). He is the first Ranger to have four four-point games in a season since Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06. Zibanejad has 20 goals and 28 assists for a team-leading 48 points in 50 games. The Rangers have won four of their last five games and five of seven. “I keep thinking back to early in the season when I thought he was playing real well and he wasn’t getting rewarded statistically, and he and I had a couple of conversations regarding that, and we talked about how goals come, they come in flurries,’’ coach David Quinn said. “And they’re coming at a snowstorm rate right now for him.’’ But it isn’t only Zibanejad who’s hot right now for the Rangers. It’s his entire line, with Kreider and Mats Zuccarello. Zuccarello, who missed Tuesday’s game with a swollen heel, had three assists, including the one that set up Zibanejad’s winner. “We’re trying to use each other out there as much as possible,’’ Zibanejad said of himself and his linemates. “We’re trying to use the things we’re good at and trying to implement that to our game. I don’t know — it’s just clicking for us right now, and it’s good to see Zucc back, and we’re super-happy, obviously.” Facing the Devils for the first time this season, the Rangers fell behind 2- 0 before Zibanejad’s first two goals, both on the power play, tied the score. They took the lead for the first time on Kreider’s 23rd goal, a wrist shot from below the right wing faceoff dot that put them up 3-2 at 4:43 of the third period. On the next shift, though, Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey gave the puck away in his own zone, and a few passes later, Devils defenseman Egor Yakovlev tied it at 3 at 5:36. And so it was left to Zibanejad to be the hero for the Blueshirts. He took Zuccarello’s pass from the left corner and weaved his way down the slot before slipping a shot from the doorstep past Long Island native Keith Kinkaid at 15:24. Henrik Lundqvist then played his part, preserving the lead with a big save with 24.4 seconds left as the Rangers raised their record to 22-21-7. The Devils are 19-24-7. Nico Hischer, at 5:10, and Marcus Johansson, at 16:18, scored power- play goals to give the Devils a 2-0 lead before Johansson got called for interference with 6.2 seconds left in the first period. Zibanejad won the faceoff back to Kevin Hayes and deflected Hayes’ right point shot past Kinkaid with 1.3 seconds left. “Obviously, that goal at the end of the first period was huge,’’ Quinn said. “To get a power-play goal and to only come out of that period [trailing] 2- 1 certainly maybe swung the tide for us.’’

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David Quinn says rookie Brett Howden will miss three to four weeks with sprained MCL

By Colin Stephenson [email protected] @ColinASteph Updated February 1, 2019 12:18 AM

NEWARK — Brett Howden went home to Winnipeg during the All-Star break. Good thing, because he won’t be going there with the Rangers when they visit in a couple of weeks. Howden, 20, who played in 48 of the Rangers’ 49 games after making the team out of training camp, will be out for the next three to four weeks with a sprained MCL, coach David Quinn said Thursday before the Rangers beat the Devils, 4-3. “It’s unfortunate because, like I said, I thought that break did him good,’’ Quinn said. “The few minutes he played against Philly [Tuesday], it looked like he had a lot of energy and had a couple great scoring chances and looked like the player that he was the first two months of the season.’’ Howden has four goals and 15 points this season. His last goal came Nov. 12, and he has had only five assists in 31 games since then. Quinn played him at left wing for the first time in his NHL career on Tuesday. He left with the knee injury midway through the first period and did not return. Blue notes Pavel Buchnevich returned after being scratched Tuesday and started on the fourth line. He moved up to the second line after Jimmy Vesey’s turnover led to the New Jersey goal that tied the score at 3 in the third period. Buchnevich had an assist . . . Defenseman Tony DeAngelo was scratched for the 18th time this season. He has played 32 games, with four goals and 12 points . . . With Mats Zuccarello’s status uncertain, Quinn said the team considered calling up a forward from Hartford, but it did not because the AHL is in its All-Star break and the Hartford players have been off for “three or four days.’’ . . . The Devils wore throwback white-red-and-green jerseys and the Rangers were in their home blue jerseys.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128349 New York Rangers I asked Quinn if he’s sure his constant messages to Buchnevich — about what the 23-year-old needs to do and to prove to get consistent ice time, and to avoid the Quinn Bin — are understood. Mika Zibanejad bags a hat trick, Pavel Buchnevich shows growth, and Quinn smiled. The inference was not about any language barrier, though the Rangers have something going that has been an issue. “I think with any player, it takes some time,” Quinn said. “It just does By Rick Carpiniello because you’re asking players to do things they really haven’t had to do throughout their whole career. And change is hard. Change is hard for a Jan 31, 2019 23-year-old, it’s hard for a 53-year-old. So you’ve just got to keep at it. “Sometimes I think he understands what we’re looking for. But it’s a process. He’s had some good moments, and he’s had some moments NEWARK – We’re going to talk first about another masterpiece by the that have to be better. Again, he’s not unlike anybody else. Too often I Rangers’ first line, which – without doing a team-by-team check – is feel bad because he gets highlighted a little bit because he has sat out probably playing as well offensively as any line in the National Hockey three (times). But I’m expecting good things out of him.” League. In the middle of the first, Buchnevich caught the Devils in a change. Had But we’ll get to the other stuff, too, because with the Rangers, it always a semi-breakaway. Was caught, tried a fancy cut and drag to the middle seems that the noise surrounds the 12th or 13th forward and the sixth or when he clearly had a shot to shoot. If it works, maybe it’s a highlight seventh defenseman. goal. Maybe. The odds of it working? Slim? That first line – Mika Zibanejad (second career hat trick, and the scorer of It didn’t. He lost the puck. the winning goal in each of the Rangers’ past four victories), Mats Zuccarello (three primary assists), and Chris Kreider (goal) – led the That is not the problem. Quinn wouldn’t want to stifle creativity. Rangers to yet another lottery-hurting win, 4-3 over the Devils on Buchnevich’s issues are clearly in other areas of his game – his Thursday. engagement level, his attention to detail, his play without the puck, his ability to think when to take a chance and when to not take one. Zibanejad might want to go in and beg GM Jeff Gorton to not trade Zuccarello by the Feb. 25 deadline, because since he returned from a Early in the second, Buchnevich got another fourth-line shift. This time, groin injury and joined that line, it’s been unstoppable. he broke down the right wing and, from a worse angle, this time he shot. Keith Kinkaid had to make a good save and hold with Cody McLeod Zibanejad’s first hat trick as a Ranger also marked the first by a Ranger crashing the net (granted, it was McLeod). But a much better decision. against the Devils on the road since Mark Messier’s famous “guarantee” Maybe he does learn? game — three goals, one assist in Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Final — and the first such hat trick in the regular season since another (eventual) In the third, after Jimmy Vesey committed a terrible giveaway on the third captain who wore No. 11, Kelly Kisio, on Dec. 26, 1986. Devils goal, Vesey went to the Quinn Bin, and Buchnevich was promoted. And he certainly had jump and compete in his game. So there’s that. The threesome has 15 goals, 16 assists for 31 points in the past six games in which all three have played. Quinn said it was a combination of what Vesey had done and what Buchnevich had done to that point. “I thought Buchy … earned that “We’re trying to use each other out there as much as possible,” said opportunity.” Zibanejad, who hit the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in five seasons. “We’re trying to use the things we’re good at, and trying to implement that This is what Quinn wants and needs from him. He wants it consistently. to our game. I don’t know. It’s just clicking for us right now.” Not just after a kick in the pants. As for his own bunch of goals, Zibanejad said, “You go through streaks 2) The Rangers have played pretty well, truly, in all but one of their past like that where you feel like the net is actually bigger than it is, and you nine games (5-4), the outlier of a stinker in Columbus (a 7-5 road loss go through streaks where you only see the goalie – you don’t see the net Jan. 13). or the posts. It goes up and down like that, and right now you just try to cash in.” 3) Daily Zucc-O-Meter: The trade value is leaping upward, though it may not ever get back to where it could have/should have been. The groin By the way, don’t tell the Rangers’ players, or coaches, about the draft injury that cost him a big chunk of November and December (and the foot lottery, because they still think they’re in a playoff race. Wishful thinking infection that kept him out Tuesday) didn’t help. “I just thought his overall or not. game – everything – was a little bit quicker (since his return),” Quinn said. “He’s always been competitive. But it just seemed he felt a lot better Thoughts about himself. He felt a lot better in general. And he was just being the player we all know he’s capable of being. I thought he was driving that 1) So Pavel Buchnevich was back in the lineup because of the injury to line.” rookie Brett Howden (out three to four weeks with an MCL sprain), though he may have drawn back in anyway. Though clearly there were 4) Zuccarello, on his first shift, stole the puck, played one-man cycle and alarms going off around him (and through the Twitterverse) when he was drew a penalty. The Rangers did nothing with the power play, and Marc healthy-scratched Tuesday in the first game after a nine-day break. Staal was called for holding just after it ended. During the Devils’ power play, Neal Pionk grabbed a loose puck at the side of the net, was taken And this will tell you exactly what Rangers coach David Quinn thought of down by Pavel Zacha (play on). Pionk lost the puck, and as Kevin Hayes him against the Devils. Buchnevich was on the ice in the final 1:22, and and Vesey headed out of the zone, Nico Hischier in one motion whipped beyond (because he iced the puck while taking a hit to make sure the a shot past Lundqvist, making his first post-all-star start. 1-0. puck got out of the zone). So he and his teammates were completely on fumes when Henrik Lundqvist smothered a Brian Boyle tip with Kyle 5) The Rangers’ propensity to take penalties continued, mostly because Palmieri lurking in the paint with 24.4 seconds left. Buchnevich did the they don’t possess the puck, and when they do, they refuse to do much absolute right thing, even though the result wasn’t great, on that play. with it. Brendan Smith and Jesper Fast, who have both taken too many minors, took one each in the first period. And through nearly 15 minutes He also assisted on the winning goal because Kreider had gone to the of play, the Rangers had one single shot on Kinkaid. So if Kinkaid had bench at the end of a long shift for that line, and Buchnevich worked the stood behind the net the entire time to that point, it would have been a 1- wall and got the puck to Zuccarello, who perfectly set up Zibanejad’s hat 1 game. trick goal. 6) But during Fast’s penalty, the Rangers’ PK went into fire-drill mode “Again, this is about doing the little things shift in and shift out,” Quinn again, leaving Boyle alone at the blue paint – it’s by design folks; they do said. “It’s understanding your responsibility structurally; it’s trying to do it all the time – for a rebound shot that hit the post behind Lundqvist, the right things. Sometimes you’re just going to make mistakes. That’s while Staal and Pionk stick-checked Boyle (too late), the puck came out going to happen. But when your intentions are the right intentions, your the other side and a diving Marcus Johansson, all by his lonesome, mistakes are a lot less frequent. poked it into the empty side with one hand on his stick. Much too easy. 2- “He and I touched on the things he needs to do. Like I said (Wednesday), 0. the good news is he usually responds. He’s a competitive guy and he’s a 7) Speaking of easy … In the last minute of the first, Egor Yakovlev broke big part of what we have going on here, and we need him.” a skate blade and spent an entire shift on his knees in front of the Devils’ net. The Rangers did nothing with that. 8) In the last seven seconds of the first, Johnansson interfered with Vlad Namestnikov on a faceoff, and with 1.8 seconds left in the period, Zibanejad won a draw back to Kevin Hayes, then deflected Hayes’ slapper through Kinkaid for a power-play goal. 2-1. 9) I got to thinking that the Rangers have been scoring early in power plays a lot the past 10 to 20 games. But, it seems, not a lot later in power plays. 10) Hayes continued to do Hayes things, and in the second he dipsy- doodled through the Devils and all the way to the net before the puck was knocked (slashed?) off his stick. Without getting a shot on net. Shortly after, Ryan Strome set up Filip Chytil for a redirection that Kinkaid kicked out. The Rangers had most certainly leveled the playing field by then. Then Pionk hit a post. 11) Miles Wood sped around Kevin Shattenkirk, who desperately shoved Wood into Lundqvist. Somehow, Wood was called for goalie interference, because of course he was. Lundqvist appeared a bit shaken up. The Rangers did squat with the power play – didn’t score early, or late, or really come close at any point — and when Wood did his jack-in-the-box escape, it created a Devils 3-on-2 on which Lundqvist made a flashy glove save on Kevin Rooney. 12) The much-maligned (by me) Smith drove to the net and drew a penalty to Blake Coleman and, yes, the Rangers scored early in the power play again. This time it took 14 seconds before Zuccarello made a perfect cross-ice pass to ZIbanejad, who ripped it up top for his third multi-goal game in the past five games. Hayes with another assist. 2-2. 13) The Devils ended the second and began the third on the power play because the Rangers shot themselves in the foot with yet another too- many-men penalty that left a completely baffled look on Quinn’s face. During the kill, Zuccarello had a great short-handed chance in the third. 14) That top line then got the Rangers their first lead. Zibanejad forced a turnover on the wall and got it behind the net to Zuccarello, who moved it to Kreider for a quick shot through Kinkaid from the right dot. His 23rd. 3- 2. 15) Uncontested Goal of the Night (still without a sponsor): But the lead lasted only 53 seconds. Vesey turned it over, Johansson got it to Yakovlev, and he beat Lundqvist all alone behind Hayes. 3-3. 16) Vesey grabbed some bench after the goal, replaced by Buchnevich on the second line, and Buchnevich immediately found himself on another break. This time he fired it wide. 17) Later in the third, Yakolev flat-out cross-checked Namestnikov in the back and into the corner boards, with referee Kevin Pollock (as the kids say, literally) five feet away and watching the whole play. Play on. 18) With 4:36 left, Buchnevich – who had just come on for Kreider – and Zuccarello worked the boards, and Zuccarello got it to Zibanejad charging down the slot for a back-hander over Kinkaid and his second career hat trick. 4-3. 19) So I’ve been watching some college hockey lately – which I almost never have time to do – and was surprised to hear there’s a rule that allows referees to go to video replay to check for head shots. And I thought, finally a completely sensible use of replay technology. I mean, other than goal-or-no-goal situations, could there be a better reason to review a play? Of course not. Which is why the NHL will never do it. 20) Loved seeing the Devils’ Christmas-colored throwback uniforms. 21) Quinn Bin: Tony DeAngelo was back into the bin and Smith back out. For some reason. Personally, though I’ve been mostly tough on DeAngelo, I don’t get this. I mean, DeAngelo makes mistakes. He’s a high-risk player. He makes emotional mistakes, too. He’s a high-emotion player. But his effort is usually there, and he certainly doesn’t make more mistakes than Smith (nor does he often make more than Pionk made Thursday). Unless, perhaps, the Rangers think there’s a chance, however slim, that they can find a taker at the deadline for the final two years of Smith’s contract and need him to be seen by the traveling band of NHL scouts. Quinn on scratching DeAngelo: “It was just a thing that I thought needed to happen.”

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128350 NHL within themselves and simplify our game and not give them any free offense, which is something we’re trying to rectify.”

Defending champion Capitals eager to stop losing streak Seattle Times LOADED: 02.01.2019

By STEPHEN WHYNO The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin thinks the Washington Capitals were tired. Tired after losing seven consecutive games and tired in the middle of another long slog after winning the Stanley Cup last season. By the time they got back on the ice Thursday for their first practice after the All-Star break and league-mandated bye week, the Russian superstar captain saw something completely different. “Maybe it was too much hockey,” Ovechkin said Thursday. “Today I look at the guys and I can see everybody is missing the hockey and everybody flying, everybody laughing, everybody don’t think about what happened a week ago or how many games we lose in a row.” The seven straight losses are the Capitals’ most since the 2013-14 season that led to the firing of general manager George McPhee and coach Adam Oates. Even though they never lost more than three consecutive games last year before lifting the Cup for the first time in franchise history, the Capitals hope their woeful ways are a thing of the past and will help them on the way to a repeat bid. “In a way, it’s a good thing for us right now because we were going to have to have something like this to push us in the right direction,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. “It’s almost one of those reality checks to move on and stay in the moment instead of in the past or relying on the past. Now we’re focused on our team and where it is right now and getting better and being the best we can.” The dreaded “Stanley Cup hangover” can have many effects, including the defending champion wearing down come playoff time. The Pittsburgh Penguins never dropped more than four in a row during either of their reigns as defending champions the past two years but did lose nine of 14 during one stretch last season. Holtby wonders if Washington’s talent and experience masked some flaws even before this 0-5-2 stretch when all the good fortune wore off. Suddenly, defensive-zone coverage broke down, and the Capitals have allowed 36 goals during their skid. Defenseman Matt Niskanen said before the break, “Obviously there’s a few things that feel like a mess right now.” After some time away, the Capitals were able to get back to basics on cleaning up that mess. “We started to address some of those today and start moving forward with doing a better job of playing to our team identity: eliminating the chance-for-chance opportunities that we were giving up and just defensive breakdowns,” coach Todd Reirden said. “It’s been a really good time for our players to reset mentally and get some rest physically and get ready for these final 32 games here.” No team could’ve used a break more than the Capitals, who looked nothing like the dominant champs over the past several weeks. They gave up eight goals at Chicago, coughed up a two-goal, third-period lead to San Jose that included the Sharks scoring with 1 second left and followed those up with a lackluster loss at Toronto before dispersing to locations tropic and otherwise. Center Nicklas Backstrom, one of the few Capitals players still around from the 2013-14 days, chalks it up to things snowballing on a losing streak just like they can in a positive way on a winning streak. He thinks the break came at the perfect time for a mentally fatigued group that’s ready to recoup what it’s lost in the standings. “You’ve got to make sure you’re collecting some points every night,” Backstrom said. “I think this part is probably most important. This is where you come together as a team and really play your best hockey.” The Capitals will play first game after their break Friday against the Western Conference-leading Calgary Flames without Ovechkin, who has to sit out because he skipped All-Star Weekend. Perhaps after abandoning some structure in recent losses, Ovechkin’s absence will force his teammates to lock down defensively and play the brand of hockey that won them a championship. “Definitely we’ll miss him, especially coming back here after a break,” Reirden said. “In this situation, it’s about guys figuring out how to play 1128351 Ottawa Senators Crosby added. “Youth is important.” … Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang is in pretty good company. He scored his 12th of the season and 108th of his career against the Lightning. That tied him with the SENS NOTES: Senators expect Pens to be fresh out of the gate … legendary Paul Coffey for the franchise lead in goals by a blueliner. Saluting Vermette … Pens’ Letang joins elite company “Growing up, watching him, never thought I would have my name next to his,” Letang, who has 479 points in 730 career games with the Penguins, told Pittsburgh reporters after the game. “Surreal.” … The Senators were pleased to have the nine-day break. It’s been a tough road for this team Bruce Garrioch physically and mentally because of the lack of success. “It was good. It’s nice to not just rejuvenate the body, but also the mind, and get away from

the game a little bit,” said winger Mark Stone. “I think the guys are just PITTSBURGH – The Ottawa Senators went back to work Thursday. pretty excited to get back.” … Boucher wanted to speak with goalie coach Pierre Groulx before announcing who will make the start in Now, they’ve got their work cut out for them. Pittsburgh. Judging by the skate it looked like backup Anders Nilsson will play, but because of a back-to-back Boucher wanted to see what Groulx Ottawa’s nine-day break in the schedule will officially come to an end was thinking. “We’ve got the luxury of having our two goalies and we’ll Friday night as they face the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG Paints make a decision on what we’re doing tomorrow,” said Boucher. Arena and with only 32 games left in the season the Senators have a lot of work to do to climb out of the NHL’s basement before the dust settles Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 in early April. The Senators had about a 45-minute skate and coach Guy Boucher, who made a trip to Belize during the break, knows it’s going to be difficult for the players to shake off the rust. “It’s tough to come back and be sharp,” Boucher said Thursday. “It’s not because you don’t want to, it’s just like anything else, it’s a game of inches, it’s a game of fractions of seconds and you don’t have those anymore. You’ve got to get them back and you’ve got to get through it. “The guys have done a good job on the ice. There’s no magic formula. You’ve just got to get through that first half of the first game. It’s the same for everybody. The difference is that’s what we’re getting, but (Pittsburgh) went through that two games ago and we’re expecting a very strong start on their part. That’s what we’re going to have to fight tomorrow.” The good news is the Senators will be totally healthy with centre Colin White back from a shoulder injury. It will be the first time this season the Senators have all four of their top centres with Matt Duchene, Jean- Gabriel Pageau, Chris Tierney and White. “We’re in February and we’re going to be happy that’s something we can look forward in the next days and the next game,” Boucher said. “Your goalie is No. 1, then your top-four (defencemen) and after that, it’s your centremen. It’s just so crucial to everything you do. It’s good and more than welcome.” A CLASS ACT Best wishes to former Senators centre Antoine Vermette. He officially announced his retirement Thursday after 14 season. Taken No. 55 overall by the Senators in the 2000 NHL draft, Vermette, a tremendous faceoff man, had a great career and he was with the Ottawa organization until he was sent to Columbus on March 4, 2009 at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old Vermette also spent time with the Arizona Coyotes and was with the Anaheim Ducks the last two seasons. The highlight of his career was winning a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 after being part of a deadline deal with the Coyotes. He was a solid performer through his career. “Antoine Vermette was one of the top centres on faceoffs in the NHL throughout his career, a versatile player who could in an offensive or defensive role, he could contribute on the power play or kill penalties,” Vermette’s agent Allan Walsh said in an email. “But no player that I’ve encountered in my years as an agent garnered as much respect by his teammates off the ice. Antoine was known as a leader, a consummate team-first guy who was revered by players and coaches alike for his commitment, his class and the pride that he brought to his game.” Vermette finished his career with 228-287-515 points in 1,046 games. He had 80-87-167 points in 359 games with Ottawa. THE LAST WORDS The Senators are 2-0 against the Penguins this season. The club scored a 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh Nov. 17 at home and a 2-1 OT victory in Ottawa on Dec. 8. Sidney Crosby has respect for the challenge the Senators pose. “They’re a young team and they play with a lot of speed,” Crosby said Thursday. “They’re pretty conscientious defensively. We just have to make sure we do a good job of managing the puck, playing in their end and trying not to allow that speed to be a factor.” Crosby agreed there are plenty of teams with speed in the league. “Maybe all not quite as young as them, but overall I think a lot of teams are trying to play a fast game. They’ve been trying to be a young team and build that way,” 1128352 Ottawa Senators

Derick Brassard will be a game-time decision against Senators

Bruce Garrioch

PITTSBURGH — An old friend of the Senators might not be a foe Friday night at the PPG Paints Arena. Centre Derick Brassard, who has been the subject of a lot of trade speculation here in Pittsburgh, missed Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at home and may not suit up against the Senators. “I feel better. It’s something I’ve been (dealing with) for about a week or so. I had a full practice and we’ll see how I feel (Friday),” Brassard told reporters Thursday at the club’s practice facility in Cranberry Township. “Today was a positive day. I’m going to see how I feel (Friday) morning.” Brassard, an unrestricted free agent July 1, was dealt to the Penguins at last year’s deadline by the Senators and the belief is he could be on the move again before the deadline Feb. 25. “Is it stressful for players? Everyone is used to it,” Brassard said. “Everyone knows it’s coming up here, but at the end of the day we have a job to do and we have to play well for the team here. Whatever happens, happens. You can’t control anything.” Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128353 Ottawa Senators how it’s going to pan out. That’s what I’m trying to do as much as I can but, at the end of the day, it might be something that’s too hard to predict.

“I see these young guys and this team is going to be outstanding at some Stone, Duchene and Senators all have decisions to make in the near point, but the question is, ‘When?’ ” future He doesn’t want to this to be a distraction and is focused on helping the Senators get wins in the final 32 games. Bruce Garrioch “I’m just trying to keep my mind on the present,” said Duchene. “If there’s a decision to be made tomorrow, I’ll have to make it. That’s the bottom line. Right now, I’m trying to take in as much information as I can and PITTSBURGH — Decision day is coming for Mark Stone, Matt Duchene focus on the task at hand at the same time.” and the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 They know it, they understand it and they’re preparing for it. As the Senators returned from their eight-day break Thursday with a skate at the PPG Paints Arena, it didn’t take long for the questions from the media to turn to the future of the club’s top two players with the NHL trade deadline set for Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. While negotiations between general manager Pierre Dorion and the agents for both players will heat up in the next 10 days, Stone and Duchene would both understand if the Senators decide to give them a deadline to make a decision on whether they’re going to sign or not. And both players are aware there’s a good chance they’ll be dealt if they aren’t signed to extensions in the near future. “The biggest thing is if I don’t have an answer for them I would expect that they’ll make a move,” Duchene said Thursday. “You can’t really afford to let guys go for nothing anymore in this league, or probably ever; you couldn’t do that. I understand that’s the situation. “At the end of the day, I need to be sure of what I’m doing and it’s a process right now that I’m evaluating. It’s not an easy one because it’s the first time I’ve ever been in this situation. It’s really hard to make in mid-season. I’m taking my time, as much time as I have here, and I’ll see what happens. But we’re not at that point yet.” Stone, who has been tight-lipped about his discussions with his agents from Newport Sports, said he knows the organization is going to need an answer sooner or later. “Yeah, for sure, but at the same time it’s going to be done privately,” said Stone. “I’m not going to do it through (the media).” Duchene said he knows the clock is ticking. “For sure, yeah. When I say I’m taking my time, I know I don’t have the luxury of six months here. But every day that goes by here is part of the evaluation process of the decision coming up. “Like I said, I’ve really enjoyed playing here and it would be great if it works out.” Since moving either player would be big, the belief is the Senators will want an answer from both players around Feb. 10 to Feb. 15. There would be a lot of interest in both Stone and Duchene, and that would give Dorion time to weigh offers. The indications are the Senators are optimistic about getting Stone signed, but nobody is certain where Duchene stands. He spent time over the break discussing the situation with his wife, Ashley, and when a decision is made it will be the right one for his career. Acquired in November 2017, Duchene was excited because he felt he was coming to a team only a step or two away from being a Stanley Cup contender. Only three months later, the club decided to go the rebuild route and he isn’t sure how long that’s going to take. “We’ve been talking, my agent (Pat Brisson) and I have been talking, and, like I said, at the end of the day it’s going to be a hockey decision,” Duchene said. “I see certain things on TV or in the media and I laugh because I have no idea where they’re coming from. “It’s pretty simple right now. We’re talking about it, we’re looking at it from a hockey perspective and we’ll go from there.” Duchene is trying to weigh how long it will take to win here because he went through a rebuild in Colorado. “I’m still trying to educate myself with what’s here now and what’s coming,” Duchene said. “It’s hard because when you go from a team when I got here that was kind of favourite to challenge for a Cup, and probably looked at as a top six or seven team in the league, to where we’re at right now. “I’ve been in this situation before with teams where we’re kind of starting from the bottom and the biggest thing is you need a crystal ball to see 1128354 Ottawa Senators GOALIES Anders Nilsson Game Day: Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins Craig Anderson PITTSBURGH LINES Bruce Garrioch Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Dominik Simon Bryan Rust-Evgeni Malkin-Phil Kessel OTTAWA (19-26-5) AT PITTSBURGH (27-17-6) Tanner Pearson-Matt Cullen-Patric Hornqvist Friday, 7 p.m., PPG Paints Arena, TSN5, TSN 1200 AM, Unique 94.5 FM Riley Sheahan-Teddy Blueger-Garrett Wilson SPECIAL TEAMS DEFENCE OTT: PP 20.3% (15th); PK 75.5% (29th) Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang PIT: PP 24.3% (10th); PK 82.8% (8th) Olli Maatta-Juuso Riikola THE BIG MATCHUP Marcus Pettersson-Jack Johnson Matt Duchene vs. Sidney Crosby GOALIES With the clock ticking toward the Feb. 25 trade deadline, there will be a Casey DeSmith lot of eyes on Duchene as the club begins the stretch run. He was starting to heat up with 3-3-6 points in Ottawa’s final three games before Matt Murray the break began. If Duchene doesn’t sign here, he’ll get a chance to help INJURIES a contender. Crosby, the MVP of the all-star game, is always a force to be reckoned with and had a goal in the club’s victory over Tampa Bay on OTT: None Wednesday. PIT: Justin Schultz, Zach Aston-Reese, Derick Brassard FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Ottawa Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 1. Be ready for this return Coach Guy Boucher declared before the break this will be a tough test. He isn’t kidding one bit. The Senators will be trying to shake off the rust and the Penguins have already played two games coming into this one. Pittsburgh is coming off a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at home. 2. No injury worries The Senators have centre Colin White back after he missed five games with a shoulder injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 10. White has had a solid season with 11-15-26 points in 44 games. He’s had good chemistry with Mark Stone and Brady Tkachuk, so that should help. 3. Go back to Anders Nilsson The Senators may go with goaltender Anders Nilsson, and that makes sense as Ottawa returns from the break. Given the fact this is a back-to- back situation with a home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, you can expect to see Craig Anderson at home. 4. Stop the Penguins Pittsburgh hasn’t had a great season, but the club is still one of the best teams in the NHL. The Penguins knocked off the top-ranked Lightning, however Pittsburgh has gone through a rough patch with a 5-5-0 record in its last 10 games. The Senators have a 2-0 record against the Penguins this season. 5. Make a push The Senators are sitting in the NHL’s basement as they return from the break. This group doesn’t want to finish in last place and Jean-Gabriel Pageau says they’re motivated to have a strong finish. If that’s going to happen, the Senators need to string some wins together and it has got to start now with 32 games left. SENATORS LINES Ryan Dzingel-Matt Duchene-Bobby Ryan Brady Tkachuk-Colin White-Mark Stone Zack Smith-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Magnus Paajarvi Nick Paul-Chris Tierney-Mikkel Boedker DEFENCE Thomas Chabot-Dylan DeMelo Max Lajoie-Cody Ceci Mark Borowiecki-Christian Jaros Ben Harpur 1128355 Philadelphia Flyers Boston regained the lead, at 2-1, on a deft tip-in by Pastrnak, who deflected the puck past Hart despite having defenseman Robert Hagg in his face with 14:49 to go in the second. Travis Sanheim’s overtime goal lifts Flyers past Bruins for sixth straight The Flyers will next have to deal with one of the NHL’s other top scorers, win Connor McDavid, when they host Edmonton on Saturday afternoon and start a five-game homestand. by Sam Carchidi, Hart, who grew up near Edmonton, hopes to get the start. “It would just be cool to play Edmonton. That’s my hometown team,” he said with a smile. BOSTON -- The Flyers' power play, last in the NHL, has been abysmal most of the season, but it awakened at an opportune time Thursday night Hart became the 10th goalie in league history to register a five-game at TD Garden. winning streak before his 21st birthday, according to the NHL. As a result, the Flyers extended their winning streak to a season-high six Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2019 games as they rallied past Boston, 3-2, in overtime. The Flyers dominated the play after the first period, and defenseman Travis Sanheim scored the winner with 2 minutes, 4 seconds left in overtime. Sanheim, playing in his 100th career game, scored on a power- play wrist shot from the top of the left circle as Wayne Simmonds set a screen. “Simmer did a great job screening in front, so I just tried to pick a corner,” Sanheim said of his four-on-three goal. In their only other power play of the night, the Flyers' Oskar Lindblom scored the equalizer, knotting the score at 2-2 with 9:24 left in regulation as he tipped in Jake Voracek’s shot. Before that goal, the Flyers had been 2-for-25 on the power play in their last nine games. “We’re looking for answers on the power play and just trying to get confidence and make the right plays," Sanheim said. “It hasn’t been going in for us, and it’s good to see two go in tonight.” The Flyers faced a 2-1 deficit heading into the third. They had won just one of 24 games (1-20-3) when trailing after two periods, and they inched to within nine points of a playoff spot. “I thought we worked really hard as a team," Scott Laughton said after the Flyers outshot the Bruins, 41-25, “and we got rewarded. After the second period, the message was to do the same things we were doing, and Oskar comes up with a big goal." “We came out flat a little bit, but we stuck with the game plan and the guys battled tonight,” said captain Claude Giroux, who tied the game at 1-1 by scoring on a breakaway with 43.2 seconds left in a Boston- dominated first period. “These kind of wins feel a little better.” The loss prevented Tuukka Rask from becoming the winningest goalie in Boston’s history. He is tied with Cecil “Tiny” Thompson (252 wins). The Flyers got a pair of assists from Jake Voracek, a stellar game from Ivan Provorov -- he played a career-high 30:20 -- and 23 saves from Carter Hart, who won his fifth straight. “We’re feeling confident, and the boys played really good,” Hart said. “We played some of the best hockey I’ve seen them play.” Boston right winger David Pastrnak is making a lot of scouting directors and general managers sorry they allowed him to slip to 25th overall in the 2014 NHL draft in Philadelphia. Pastrnak, 22, who was selected eight picks after the Flyers took Sanheim, scored twice Thursday and reached the 30-goal mark for the third straight season. But it wasn’t enough. Rask, who returned from a concussion suffered Jan. 19, made 38 saves. Rask stopped Laughton’s penalty shot with 13:18 left in regulation to preserve Boston’s 2-1 lead. Laughton had been pulled down on a breakaway by John Moore. After Lindblom’s tying goal, the Flyers capitalized on Brad Marchand’s penalty in overtime. Earlier, Giroux tied the score at 1-1 after taking a slick feed from Voracek late in the first. “We weren’t playing our best hockey in that period,” Giroux said. “I think we were sitting back a little too much, but being able to tie it up was huge for us.” “That,” Hart said, “gave our group a lot of life.” The Flyers gained momentum from the goal and pressured the Bruins early in the second, but Rask made a handful of saves, including a point- blank stop on Lindblom. 1128356 Philadelphia Flyers

As trade rumors swirl, Flyers' Wayne Simmonds doesn’t let it serve as a distraction by Sam Carchidi

BOSTON -- As trade rumors swirl about Wayne Simmonds, the Flyers’ right winger has blocked them out and hasn’t let them affect his play. Simmonds, 30, entered Thursday’s game in Boston with 15 goals, second on the Flyers. The Bruins are among the teams reportedly interested in Simmonds. “He’s had a great attitude in practice, and off the ice,” interim coach Scott Gordon said after the morning skate Thursday at TD Garden. “For me, as a coach having a player in that situation, I don’t think I could have it any better. I’m obviously attentive to his situation and making sure he gets his opportunity and not casting him aside because ‘We don’t know if you’re coming back,’ that sort of thing.” The trade deadline is Feb. 25, and Simmonds, a prospective free agent this summer, is among the top NHL players on the market. In the last eight seasons, all with the Flyers, he has scored a total of 90 power-play goals, which is second in the NHL, behind only Alex Ovechkin (141). “I have a lot of respect for Wayne, not only for what he’s done when I’ve been here, but what he’s done in the four years I’ve been part of the organization and obviously his entire career here,” Gordon said. Ghost’s slow progress Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere missed his third straight game Thursday. He has a bruise that prevents him from pushing off, Gordon said. Gordon originally thought Gostisbehere would be able to play Thursday or Saturday, against visiting Edmonton. He amended that after the morning skate, saying Gostisbehere would not be ready to play until sometime next week, either Monday against Vancouver or Thursday against Los Angeles. Gostisbehere is plus-8 in his last six games. New alignment The Flyers have recently started using a 1-3-1 forecheck in the neutral zone, switching from a 1-2-2. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald called it a work in progress, but he said it was getting better each game. “I just felt we were giving up a lot off the rush. We weren’t confronting enough pucks on entries,” said Gordon, who also used the 1-3-1 with the Phantoms. Breakaways Entering Thursday, the Flyers had a five-game winning streak, during which James van Riemsdyk had five goals, and Nolan Patrick and Sean Couturier each had six points. ... Travis Sanheim played in his 100th career game Thursday. …. Brian Elliott took part in the morning skate and the Flyers are hopeful he can play within two weeks. … Oskar Lindblom began the night tied for 13th among NHL rookies with 16 points. ... Returning to coach at TD Garden “has a buzz because it’s the town you grew up in,” said Gordon, a Brockton, Mass., native. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128357 Philadelphia Flyers

It’s Carter Hart vs. Bruins' Tuukka Rask as Flyers aim for 6th straight; ‘Ghost’ making slow progress by Sam Carchidi,

BOSTON -- Boston goalie Tuukka Rask will return from a concussion Thursday and try to contain the streaking Flyers. Rask (2.43 goals-against average, .919 save percentage) began his North American career in 2007-08 with Providence, whose AHL team was then directed by Scott Gordon, now the Flyers’ interim coach. “I don’t think it really would have mattered who coached Tuukka; he was going to get to the NHL,” said Gordon, who grew up outside of Boston. “You could see his talent, much like we see [in] Carter Hart. There are a lot of similarities in the way they play the game, and I never doubted for a second that Tuukka was going to play in the NHL.” The Flyers have won five straight, the NHL’s longest active winning streak. During the streak, they have scored 20 goals, tied with San Jose for the most in the league during that span. Hart, who is 7-5-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .922 save percentage, will make his seventh start in the last eight games for the Flyers. Ghost’s slow progress Gordon originally thought injured defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere would be able to play Thursday or Saturday against visiting Edmonton. He amended that after Thursday’s morning skate, saying Gostisbehere would not be ready to play until sometime next week, either Monday against Vancouver or Thursday against Los Angeles. Gostisbehere, who has what Gordon called a “bruise” that makes it difficult for him to push off, is plus-8 in his last six games. » READ MORE: Christian Folin provided a spark after replacing injured Shayne Gostisbehere with less than an hour’s notice New alignment The Flyers recently started using a 1-3-1 forecheck in the neutral zone, switching form a 1-2-2. Defenseman Andrew MacDonald called it a work in progress, but said it was getting better each game. “I just felt we were giving up a lot off the rush. We weren’t confronting enough pucks on entries,” said Gordon, who also used the 1-3-1 with the Phantoms. Provorov and the power play Look for defenseman Ivan Provorov to be on the Flyers’ first power-play unit Thursday. The Flyers’ PP has clicked at just 12.9 percent, last in the NHL. The Bruins’ power play is second in the league (27.3 percent). Boston’s David Pastrnak has a league-high 14 power-play goals, which is only five fewer than the Flyers’ entire team. Breakaways Travis Sanheim will play in his 100th career game Thursday. … Heading into Thursday, Claude Giroux needs to play in three games to move into third place in franchise history in games played. … Goalie Brian Elliott took part in the morning skate and the Flyers are hopeful he can play within two weeks. … Jake Voracek has 23 points in 27 career games against the Bruins. … Oskar Lindblom is tied for 13th among NHL rookies with 16 points. ... Returning to coach at TD Garden “has a buzz because it’s the town you grew up in,” Gordon said. ... Gordon said trade rumors have not affected Wayne Simmonds. “He has a great attitude,” he said. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128358 Philadelphia Flyers Gordon said “Ghost’’ is doubtful for Saturday afternoon’s home game vs. Edmonton.

“We were hopeful for Saturday but I don’t think that’s realistic,’’ Gordon Resurgent Ivan Provorov back on the attack again said. “The fact that he had eight days off [bye week/All-Star break], it’s going to be almost two weeks before he gets back on the ice. I don’t know if it’s going to be Monday or Thursday [home games vs. Vancouver By Wayne Fishwww.flyingfishhockey.com and Los Angeles, respectively].’’ Short shots BOSTON — It’s easy to spot where Ivan Provorov is going to be when Goalie Carter Hart was scheduled to return to a starting role in Thursday he’s at the top of his game. night’s game. He was coming off a four-game winning streak. ... Brian Elliott, who’s been out since mid-November with a lower-body injury, is He’s charging up ice, joining the rush and making a beeline for the net. with the team and took shots at the morning skate but there is no projected timeframe for his return. ... Gordon hails from the Boston area That’s a sure sign the Russian is playing with confidence. so he was asked if there’s any extra meaning coaching in front of a Such has been the case during the Flyers’ five-game winning streak “home’’ crowd. “Being from here, for me it’s fun,’’ said Gordon, who heading into Thursday night’s game against the Bruins. previously coached the Bruins’ AHL affiliate . “You see some familiar faces, particularly having worked in the organization for The 22-year-old Russian defenseman looks like his old self, showing the eight years. As a kid growing up here, it’s not the original Garden but it form of last season when some thought he should have received the still has a buzz because it’s the town you grew up in.’’ Barry Ashbee Trophy for best Flyers defenseman (instead of Shayne Gostisbehere). Burlington County Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 Did coach Scott Gordon say anything to Provorov that changed matters, especially in Tuesday night’s stellar performance in a 1-0 win over the Rangers in New York? “The last two games he’s played the way I thought he would have played,’’ Gordon said at the morning skate at TD Garden. “Being on the attack, getting up into the play, being more assertive when he does do it as opposed to staying back and looking for the perfect option.’’ Provorov clearly wasn’t himself earlier in the season when he dropped as low as a minus-17. A plus-4 in the last five games has made this statistic a bit more respectable. “I think he’s making the perfect option by moving forward as opposed to being stationary,’’ Gordon said. Provorov confirmed he’s more sure of himself at the moment. “It’s easier to play your game when the team is playing well,’’ he said. “That’s why I guess you could say we’ve looked like ourselves the last five games. “I was skating well the last two games. I took it to the net when I had a chance.’’ Andrew MacDonald has been a partner of Provorov’s on occasion over the past couple years and agrees that confidence plays a big part in Provorov’s game. “I think at the start of the year, as a group, we weren’t able to put everything together,’’ he said. “I think at times when we were struggling, everyone was guilty of trying to do a little too much, whether that’s offensively or defensively. “Now I think he’s really settled in, in terms of decision making, of moving pucks. He’s always been a strong defender. But I think he’s making real good decisions with the puck and it’s allowing him to join the rush and be that next wave of the attack.’’ Of course, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is Provorov’s impending new contract. He’s a restricted free agent and there’s been speculation that a possible long-term deal might be weighing on his mind. Provorov denies that it’s bothering him and said he prefers not to talk about it. MacDonald, however, did say that he went through a similar experience in his career and it is a challenge to keep the future out of one’s thoughts. “Obviously he’s a much better player than I was going into that situation,’’ MacDonald said with a chuckle. “It’s harder for me to relate. “Anytime you’re up [for a new contract], it doesn’t matter how old you are. It’s probably a bit harder when you’re younger. You want to maximize yourself and show your worth. He’s not the type of guy who is going to dwell on that but still you’re going to think about it, you’re going to want to do well, you want to help the team win. “It’s not easy. Sometimes you might to try to do a little too much. But for him, I think he’s been playing great lately and he just has to let his play talk for itself.’’ Gostisbehere still on hold A bruised foot bone continues to hamper Gostisbehere, who was scratched from Thursday night’s game (making it a total of three) and 1128359 Philadelphia Flyers If Stolarz has not yet won NHL job security, he can blame his medical file, as thick and as dark as a puck. He had his first shot with the Flyers in 2016, but never could shake knee miseries. He is not even signed past Flyers must be willing to give Anthony Stolarz a good, long look this year, with Chuck Fletcher reminding that he has Hart, Alex Lyon and Felix Sandstrom under contract next season. So there's a crowd.

Yet there Stolarz was Tuesday, not far from his Jackson Township, N.J., By Rob Parent home, contented that 15 of his longtime friends in the Garden may have been privately disappointed that he'd just exasperated their favorite team. From there, he would join the Flyers in Boston, where Thursday, Hart will start against the Bruins. After that? NEW YORK — His other relatively inexperienced goaltender had just shut out the New York Rangers in the Garden, making 25 often- “I'm just trying to make the most of an opportunity,” he said. “I'm not spectacular saves and preserving a one-goal lead for the final 58 minutes looking two months or even a week down the road. I'm just focused on and 20 seconds. the next day at hand and just trying to do my best to make an impression on management. In every way, from how he calmly controlled the game and his emotions, to how he meshed with his defense, to how he silenced the crowd, to “I am playing the game I love,” he added. “I have always dreamt of how he exasperated one announcer who kept yelling about the Rangers playing in the NHL. So to be able to come back from injury and keep being stumped by such a relative unknown, Anthony Stolarz was where playing, you want to keep going.” he always was meant to be. The Flyers, and Scott Gordon, have to give him a chance to do just that. So it was that afterward Scott Gordon would be asked the question that, given his situation and immediate challenge, should not have elicited two Delaware County Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 particular words in his answer. The question: What is his plan for Stolarz, and does the 25-year-old have sufficient skill and seasoning to back up Carter Hart for what is developing as a playoff run? And after a few warm-up sentences, Gordon couldn't help himself. For there, in the middle of his explanation, were those two words: “Brian,” he said, “Elliott.” Enough. Just enough, already, with that. Anyway, this was Gordon's answer, in full: “I mean, I can't even think about that, just for the way things have gone. We obviously have Brian Elliott coming back and realistically we could end up playing the rest of the year with three goalies here because of the uncertainty of where Brian is going to be. Everything has been encouraging and he's going to take some shots (Wednesday), but once he gets into some games and he starts to get in a rhythm, and how Stolie is tomorrow, we've got to wait and see on that. So you're asking me something I really can't answer to. It just has to play itself out.” Among the reasons Gordon has been entrusted with Dave Hakstol's old job is his connection to the Flyers' developing core of young players. And he hasn't taken long to reveal that value, trusting his young defensemen, milking the most out of Ivan Provorov, finding more regular time for Oskar Lindblom, who scored the only goal in New York. Then, there has been the move that has become his signature: Winning with the 20-year-old Hart, who could be what the Flyers have been thirsting for since the last millennium. Behind Hart, the Flyers have visions of nosing back into the wild-card- playoff bracketology. If Gordon knows anything about how this must work, he will ride Hart to enough success that, whatever happens, it will win the coach the removal of the “interim” tattoo. But what about that No. 2 spot? Already, the Flyers have used seven goaltenders this season, including Stolarz, who has been tormented by injury for much of his five- year professional career, and who had just been recovered from a lower- body catastrophe. If the Flyers and Gordon are a little jumpy at the notion that any goaltender is likely to crawl into the trainer's room at any moment, well, they do have good reason. But Gordon has been trusted to do things differently, to take the best of what was and to see some potential in other places. And Stolarz, a former second-round draft choice, has the ability to be something that the ever-sore, 33-year-old Elliott is not. He has the ability to be better than ordinary. “I think he is still developing,” Gordon said. “You look at him being six- foot-five, six-foot-six, as athletic as he is, there is a lot to grab onto. He's shown he is capable of playing at this level.” So … play him at this level. More, play the odds that, after all the decades and all the Michael Leightons. the Flyers finally have found and developed a one-two goaltender combination that can carry them to greatness, even if it is not this season. With Elliott still recovering from a hip injury that has shelved him since November and Michal Neuvirth never ready to play, the Hart-Stolarz rotation has a chance to energize the fan base … and the room. “He was a monster back there,” Lindblom said of Stolarz, after the Rangers game. So feed the monster. 1128360 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers bury their Boston nightmares, push win streak to 6 games

By John Boruk February 01, 2019

BOSTON — That’s one way to wash out the bad taste of Boston. Coming into Thursday night’s game, the Flyers had managed just one win in their last 10 games at TD Garden. The Bruins, who had dropped four of their last five on home ice, appeared hungry to right some recent wrongs, so nobody would have blamed the Flyers if they were content to pack up their one point and take it back to Philadelphia for the start of a five-game homestead. It hasn’t been how many the Flyers have lost here recently, but how they’ve lost them. Two years ago, Drew Stafford flipped in a fluke shot off Brandon Manning’s stick that beat Steve Mason with six seconds remaining in regulation. But wait, it gets worse. The season opener in 2014, Mason used his blocker to stop a shot that went straight up in the air before bat home the rebound in the final two minutes for a 2-1 Boston victory. And then there was the disappointment of all disappointments on March 7, 2015. With the Bruins down a score, Brad Marchand scored the game- tying goal with 15 seconds remaining in the third period and then punctuated the pain with the game-winner in overtime. It killed the Flyers' psyche as they never recovered and missed the playoffs that season. To this day, it still lingers. “Yeah, it’s funny you say that. There was about five minutes left in this game and I kind of had a flashback when they scored twice with a minute left,” Claude Giroux said. “Those were games that we needed, but guys battled [tonight].” Of course, none of that history really matters to a coach or a goaltender who have never experienced losing in this building. Give up a power-play goal in the opening three minutes and get over it, which is precisely what the Flyers did on this night en route to a 3-2 overtime victory (see observations). “That has to be the best game we’ve played,” Flyers interim head coach Scott Gordon said. “A little bit of a slow start but nothing we can’t recover from.” Like a pot full of chili on a cold winter night, the Flyers' six-game winning streak has had just about everything in it. The first two games featured comebacks from 2-0 deficits. Huge performances from a pair of goalies who weren’t with this team when the season started. And in Boston, the league’s worst power play got the job done in overtime, when the Flyers had dropped their previous five in OT. “That’s huge for us,” Carter Hart, who won his fifth straight game, said. “I think that was the best, full complete game I’ve seen us play.” Now, we can say this Flyers winning streak has some real teeth to it. It’s coming together at a time when things appeared to be falling apart. “I think it’s confidence,” Giroux said. “I think when you get a couple of wins, you start feeling better about yourself.” That’s two wins against a quality Boston team in the past 16 days. Afterward, Jakub Voracek held off showering while he patiently waited for David Pastrnak, his fellow countryman, to meet him outside the locker room. Except Pastrnak never showed. He took his two goals and went home for the night. Right now, it seems even the big, bad Bruins want no part of this Flyers team. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128361 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers 3, Bruins 2: Comeback results in OT thriller, 6th straight win

By John Boruk January 31, 2019

BOSTON — Make it six in a row. The Flyers got a rare power-play goal in overtime to beat the Bruins, 3-2, Thursday night, as Travis Sanheim connected on the game-winner. It’s the Flyers' first win in Boston since Oct. 21, 2015, having dropped their previous four at TD Garden. Here are my observations: • After Claude Giroux tripped up David Pastrnak, the Flyers quickly discovered taking penalties against this team would be highly detrimental. The Bruins came into this game with the second-best power play in the NHL and they proved why in the opening two minutes. After nearly connecting on a cross-ice pass across the slot that Pastrnak couldn’t get his stick on, the Bruins capitalized roughly 15 seconds later. It was a pass that Oskar Lindblom was right there for but had his stick in the wrong place. Torey Krug's pass to David Pastrnak left Carter Hart with no chance on the one-timer.  pic.twitter.com/OiocizM4GB — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 1, 2019 • When it's healthy, Boston’s line of Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand is arguably the best in the NHL. Following Pastrnak’s second goal, giving the Bruins a 2-1 lead, that line had combined to score six consecutive goals for Boston. Pastrnak’s tip-in goal may have looked high but certainly below the cross bar. • After being outshot in each of their five games during the winning streak, the Flyers appeared to be on the verge of that again throughout the first period as the Bruins were standing the Flyers up at the blue line. As a result, the Flyers couldn’t get pucks deep, they weren’t moving in unison and pucks were being thrown all over the place. Interim head coach Scott Gordon made a few tweaks and the Flyers were much better in the second period, outshooting Boston 17-7. • Another change for Gordon was a different look with his lines as Sean Couturier moved up to play alongside Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, and together that trio looked really good as it moved the puck well and created several second-period chances. • After doing very little offensively in the opening period, the Flyers needed a break to go their way. And that’s exactly what they got when defenseman Charlie McAvoy had an easy look at the net, but instead missed it entirely, allowing the puck to rim around the boards. The Flyers were thankful Jakub Voracek and Giroux were on the ice at the same time. Even when they’re not on the ice together, they still know where the other player is. Oh captain, my captain! G ties it up on a breakaway late in the first | @skiJFBB pic.twitter.com/FkeK10HinW — NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 1, 2019 • Gordon said there were a number of factors that went into the decision to go back to four forwards and a defenseman on the power play. Moving Voracek back to the half wall and switching personnel with Lindblom and Couturier swapping lines made Gordon look like a genius in the third period, when Lindblom scored the game-tying goal. The Flyers' power play was 2 for 25 in the previous nine games. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128362 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers have been heavily outshot during win streak, but that doesn't tell the whole story

By John Boruk January 31, 2019 11:05 AM

BOSTON — Flyers interim head coach Scott Gordon believes analytics can be dangerous, and that they don’t always paint an accurate picture. Following his postgame media scrum after the Flyers' 1-0 shutout over the Rangers, Gordon spent another five minutes at the dry erase wall discussing the types of shots and high-quality scoring chances that he’s been trying to eliminate since he took over in mid-December. Gordon made it clear you have to be careful with what those numbers dictate. Over the course of their current five-game winning streak, the Flyers have been outshot by a whopping 185-118 margin. The Ottawa Senators are the NHL’s worst in shot differential with a minus-7.7 margin of shots for vs. shots against. The Flyers' shot differential during this current winning streak is a mind-boggling minus-13.4, whereas their season average is about even. Gordon believes if you dig deeper into shot location and how opposing teams are being defended, you’ll find a much different story. “You listen to what the other coaches say after the game and they say, ‘We’re not getting a lot of traffic, we didn’t make it hard on their goalie, we turned the puck over,' and that was the same thing we heard about Winnipeg,” Gordon said. Typically, the first three to four weeks can be rough when transitioning to a new coach. When Peter Laviolette took over for John Stevens in December 2010, it took a good deal of time for the players to become acclimated to Laviolette’s aggressive, attacking left-wing lock system. Gordon went through a similar stint with this group as the Flyers suffered through an eight-game winless stretch, 0-6-2, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 8, when they allowed nearly four goals per game. There was very little practice time for Gordon to implement change, and throughout this winning streak, the Flyers have been learning on the fly. Starting with Montreal, we were outshot 12-1 in the first period. Throughout that [week], we talked about making some adjustments to our system play. That first period we were off in what we were trying to do. From that point on I thought we were really good in the Montreal game. One of the noticeable changes has been a 1-3-1 neutral zone formation, a big adjustment for a defenseman like Travis Sanheim who now joins two other forwards at the red line. But when executed properly, it doesn’t allow the opposition clean entries into the offensive zone. “You’re holding the red line, so you’re going the opposite way of where you’re used to be going,” Sanheim said. “It’s a big challenge and I think we’ve gotten better over the past couple of games, and I’m sure there are still areas for us to work on.” Remember the game in Calgary on Dec. 12 that saw the Flames walk into the Flyers' zone and tie the game with seven seconds remaining? Those types of entries and plays have been all but eliminated over the past few weeks. Gordon doesn’t mind surrendering shots, knowing that better goaltending and much better defense are giving the Flyers a better shot at winning. “When you’re not protecting the inside ice, you’re giving up those opportunities and they’re hard to recover on,” Gordon said. “You can always recover on a rebound that might go back out to the point. To me, that’s an important part that doesn’t get any analytic recognition and I think that’s something that we’ve done a much better job at.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128363 Philadelphia Flyers and not only what he’s done since I’ve been here but what he’s done in the four years that I’ve been part of the organization and his entire career that he’s been here.” Wayne Simmonds keeps his focus on Flyers while trade rumors swirl Courier-Post LOADED: 02.01.2019

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 1:04 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

BOSTON — Wayne Simmonds has lost teeth and who-knows-how-much blood playing for the Flyers. He’s performed through broken bones, groin pulls, muscle tears and has no idea how much longer that will last in Philadelphia. Nor do his teammates. “I think it’s hard on anybody,” captain Claude Giroux said. “It’s in the back of your mind. You don’t know what your future is in front of you. He’s doing a good job of blocking that and focusing on the things that he can focus on. “He has that don’t-give-a-(expletive) attitude that’s not easy to have. A lot of guys care and take everything personal. I think when you care a little too much that’s when you kind of get in trouble.” Simmonds, 30, is a pending unrestricted free agent and with the trade deadline less than a month away there has been more noise than ever before that the long-time Flyer could be on the move. It’s a polarizing issue because considering his age and the style of play he employs, it’s logical to assume that his effectiveness may soon wane. At the same time, some team somewhere will be willing to pony up in both term and money for a hard-nosed winger who scores close to 30 goals annually. The Flyers and Simmonds’ agent, Eustace King, have talked about the possibility of an extension but with how many young prospects the Flyers have coming and still wanting some salary-cap flexibility, they likely don’t want to go very long on an extension. It didn’t get figured out with Ron Hextall as the general manager and Chuck Fletcher hasn’t found a clear answer yet either. “I don’t really want to get into the details. I don’t think that’s fair to the process,” Fletcher said earlier this week. “Again, the dialogue has been clear. There’s a tremendous amount of respect from our organization to Wayne. Everything has been professional, and the communication has been pretty clear.” All the while, Simmonds’ name seems to be associated with a new trade rumor every day. That will surely continue until he either signs an extension or, more likely, gets dealt somewhere else. “I don’t pay attention to it. I don’t watch that (expletive) right now,” Simmonds said. “I just focus on what I’ve got to do on the ice and helping the Flyers win hockey games. “I’m a Philadelphia Flyer, right? I’ve been here for eight seasons and I’d like to continue on longer here but whatever happens, happens. All I can do is focus on doing my job. Right now, that’s with the Flyers. We’re fighting tooth and nail for every point we can get to make a comeback here.” Back in the summer of 2012, when he still had one season left on his contract, Simmonds signed a six-year, $23.8 million extension that will take him to this June 30. Almost a month earlier, Jake Voracek signed for four years and $17 million. When that deal was up, he got a huge raise at eight years and $66 million. Simmonds never got compensated either with money or term as if he was a vital part of the team’s core. With the team in a strange spot trying to get back to playoff glory while also understanding they have several prospects knocking on the door, Simmonds could very well be the first member of the team’s core to be shipped off elsewhere. That would make a lot of players feel uncomfortable, disconnected from the team that they play for. “These are my boys. I’ve been here for eight years,” Simmonds said. “I’ve played with some of them for eight years, played with the younger guys since they’ve come in. There’s no disconnection. It doesn’t feel like that. I feel like these are my boys. I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna battle, fight and claw and do everything within my power.” “For me as a coach, having a player that’s in that situation, I don’t think I could have it any better,” interim coach Scott Gordon added. “On the same side I’m obviously attentive to his situation and making sure he gets his opportunity not casting him aside because, ‘We don’t know if you’re coming back’ or that sort of thing. I have a lot of respect for Wayne 1128364 Philadelphia Flyers 40-Tuukka Rask (41-Jaroslav Halak) Flyers at Bruins: Game 51 preview, line combinations, broadcast info Injuries/suspensions none Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 7:00 a.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 Courier-Post LOADED: 02.01.2019

Tonight: Flyers at Boston Bruins Site: TD Garden / Boston, Time: 7p.m. TV/Radio: NBCSP+/NHL Network, 97.5 FM Records: Flyers 21-23-6 | Bruins 27-17-6 Last game: Flyers beat NYR 1-0 on Tue. | Bruins lost 4-3 in shootout to WPG on Tue. Bovada odds: Flyers +1.5 | O/U 6.5 In the span of 24 hours the Flyers took their playoff deficit from 14 to 10. They're going to need a whole lot more help from divisional teams losing and for them to stay hot in order to have a prayer at getting back to the postseason. Whether it's realistic or not, it's the goal the Flyers have. "We don’t have to worry about eighth place right now," interim coach Scott Gordon cautioned. "We have to worry about what’s in front of us, the closest team in front of us. If we are looking at small goals and we’ve got a couple of teams that are maybe three, four points ahead of us, if we get to a point where we can try to leapfrog them, then we worry about the next grouping of teams ahead of us." FLYERS PROJECTED LINEUP Forwards 25-James van Riemsdyk, 28-Claude Giroux, 11-Travis Konecny 23-Oskar Lindblom, 14-Sean Couturier, 93-Jake Voracek 21-Scott Laughton, 19-Nolan Patrick, 17-Wayne Simmonds 12-Michael Raffl, 24-Mikhail Vorobyev, 44-Phil Varone Defense 9-Ivan Provorov & 6-Travis Sanheim 47-Andrew MacDonald & 3-Radko Gudas 8-Robert Hägg & 26-Christian Folin Goalie 79-Carter Hart (41-Anthony Stolarz) Injuries/suspensions D Shayne Gostisbehere – lower-body injury, day-to-day G Brian Elliott – lower-body injury, out two to three weeks F Corban Knight – collarbone surgery, out until February D Samuel Morin – surgery to repair torn ACL, out until February F Pascal Laberge – hip surgery, season opening injured reserve BRUINS PROJECTED LINEUP Forwards 63-Brad Marchand, 37-Patrice Bergeron, 88-David Pastrnak 82-Peter Cehlarik, 46-David Krejci, 74-Jake DeBrusk 43-Danton Heinen, 82-Trent Frederic, 42-David Backes 20-Joakim Nordstrom, 52-Sean Kuraly, 14-Chris Wagner Defense 33-Zdeno Chara & 73-Charlie McAvoy 47-Torey Krug & 25-Brandon Carlo 27-John Moore & 86-Kevan Miller Goalie 1128365 Philadelphia Flyers Monday Farabee plans to meet with Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher for the first time in person. There surely wouldn’t be a decision made on next year, more of just an introductory meeting. How the World Junior Championships helped propel Joel Farabee’s Fletcher, the Harvard alumnus, is expected to watch the Beanpot freshman season tournament where his Crimson will take on Boston College and Farabee’s Terriers will face defending Beanpot champion Northeastern. Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 3:41 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2019 “I think it would be a huge jump, just watching the guys over the years, if he left and tried to play (in the NHL) next year, personally,” O’Connell said. “I think his head could do it. I think his stick could do it. At times I think maturity for him, maturing as a player and a teammate, that will BOSTON — In the basement of Agganis Arena is a state-of-the-art come with one more year. I think the strength and conditioning piece for strength and conditioning center that was gifted to Boston University by him is vital for his success to be able to handle 82 games and take the alumni Chris Drury and Keith Tkachuk. wear and tear of what that schedule will do to your body and have your body hold up after taking a beating from men.” Through large glass windows are a several yards of green turf where players can run sprints, stretch or do some free-weight training. That makes time in the arena’s basement, lifting weights and gaining Equipment machines line the walls and painted on the support pillars are muscle, pretty important for Farabee. some notable alumni like Tkachuk and Rick DiPietro among others. Courier-Post LOADED: 02.01.2019 This might be the most important room in the building to getting freshman Terriers winger Joel Farabee to the NHL. “Sky’s the limit for him,” Terriers coach Albie O’Connell said. “Physically he needs some work, some time. I think his mind is there. His skillset is there. His game is evolving. He’s not quite to that level yet, but he’s that talented. He’s not totally seasoned but he’s gonna be good in time.” The Flyers selected the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Farabee in the first round of last year’s draft. They saw the same thing O’Connell does, that his body has to grow into his game. He’s already a solid player at both ends of the ice and finds mistakes in opponents’ games that he can quickly exploit. His talents were especially evident a month ago when he was on USA Hockey’s roster for the World Junior Championship. He had a hat trick in the first period of an 8-2 win over Kazakhstan and was one of the leading players for a U.S. team that ultimately lost the gold medal game to Finland. “It was totally different than playing college hockey and stuff,” Farabee said. “It was nice to go over there and represent your country. That’s always a cool experience. It was really eye-opening just playing with new guys and learning that stuff. It was a great experience.” Since his return, he has four goals in seven games for the Terriers, which O’Connell said is more or less karma for all the opportunities that Farabee had early on in the season but couldn’t capitalize on. “There’s no one that gets more breakaways than Joel. He knows how to anticipate and jump to the offensive side and find a seam. If he was able to finish on some of the breakaways he’s had this year, he might have 20 goals,” O’Connell said. “He knows how to create offense for sure.” “Playing over there (in the World Juniors), it helped me gain my confidence back a little bit,” Farabee added. “College hockey is kind of a grind. You need all the confidence you can get and I think that tournament kind of gave it to me. I came back with a jump in my step.” He feels his game has improved below the opposing goal line, that he can protect the puck a lot better than he could in July’s development camp with the Flyers. He’s also been working to get a faster release on his shot, something he’ll certainly need at the next level and a tool that would be useful before he turns pro in making him a dominant force in one of the biggest college hockey spotlights. “I think if you asked any youth hockey player what college they want to go to, probably in their top three is BU,” Farabee said. “To be able to come here and play in a good role is really special and I’m thankful for that and being in Boston, a college town, it’s really awesome. Playing against (Boston College), Northeastern and Harvard, all those teams, it’s really fun and it’s a good atmosphere here.” He can only imagine what an NHL atmosphere would be like. Farabee has done his best to follow the Flyers’ season, with special interest in Carter Hart, his buddy from development camp, making the jump so quickly. He would love it if he could join Hart after only one season in college. “Right now I think I’m just focusing on the season and what I need to do but I wouldn’t be opposed to, after this year, turning pro,” Farabee said. “We kind of have to see what happens. It’s kind of more on them than me, when they want me and what I have to do to get there. I want to say that after this year I want to sign, but at the end of the day I don’t think I’ll be playing in Philly next year. Maybe with Lehigh, but I could still have college to come back to and have a good second year.” 1128366 Philadelphia Flyers A wrong side of the tracks kid from the Lake Ontario shore town of Port Credit before it was absorbed by the massive Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Kelly participated in his share of Friday and Saturday night Release the Hound: Bob Kelly and the 1975 Flyers recall how the second rumbles, causing his parents to send him to an uncle’s farm to run with a Cup was won better crowd — of cows and pigs. Those were young Kelly’s summers; in the winter, there was hockey to help keep him out of trouble. After dropping out of high school to go to work for an electrical company, the only reason he got a diploma was that the junior team to which he got By Jay Greenberg traded required school attendance. The first time Kelly flew on an airplane was to his first Flyers camp in Quebec City. Earnest and naïve, he became the rookie victim of an While certainly not the fastest team — and arguably not even the most elaborate practical joke by his teammates, who had him convinced he skilled — the mid-1970s Flyers ruled the NHL for two years with their was about to go to jail and then be deported for having just accidentally relentless drive. Character, they had in abundance, and characters, too, shot teammate Earl Heiskala on an illegal out-of-season team hunt for and whether they were unsavory or beloved was in the eye of the “snipe.” Heiskala limped in with a ketchup-soaked bandage on his leg beholder. Having smashed heads and penalty records, the Broad Street and testified before a real local judge, a friend of defenseman Ed Van Bullies made the beds they sleep in today with unwashed sheets. Impe, who threatened Kelly with the book, before finally giving up the But even those who were appalled by their antics and welcome the gag. sanitization of the current game still must mourn the amalgamation of the It went off perfectly, far more smoothly than anyone ever accused the kid sport’s free spirits into utter conformists. Flyers founder Ed Snider went of looking on a rink, but every bang in the corner was a beauty to the to his grave in 2016 lamenting — and resenting — that his two-time Spectrum fans. Kelly scored 14 goals in the 1970-71 season as the left titlists of Mooses, Hounds and Hammers never were embraced as part of wing for Bobby Clarke, the team’s superstar-to-be. By 1972-73, the the lore of the game. Flyers’ breakthrough year into contention, Kelly was running the fourth Of course, in the interest of safety, sanity and sensibilities, the game had line behind: Bill Barber, a seventh-overall pick in a loaded ‘72 draft; Ross to be cleaned up. So it’s a good thing for the gate that a new generation Lonsberry, one of the best defensive wingers in the game and a of fans not really knowing any better do not lament today’s tasteless and perennial 20-goal scorer besides; and even behind Schultz, who had a odorless NHL, fumigated of the Bullies and their ilk. Nevertheless, you 20-goal season and, antics aside, could carry out defensive assignments. didn’t have to be from Philadelphia to acknowledge that a workers’ But The Hound never saw Shero’s spot usage of him as the doghouse. mentality was the ultimate reason that the Flyers won. So who wouldn’t “We got some people with more talent, I’m going to complain about it?” find appropriate the scorer of the winning goal of their second Stanley says Kelly, now 68. “I never put myself ahead of anybody. Cup? “I was in a great city, with great fans and a great team. Why would I want Before Bob Kelly broke a scoreless tie early in the third period of the to give that up for more playing time? If I was dressed, I would do Flyers’ 2-0 Game 6 clincher over the Buffalo Sabres in 1975, previous whatever they needed me to do. If I played every other shift I was happy. scorers of Cup winners included Howie Morenz, Toe Blake, Ted If I got one shift, I was happy.” Kennedy, Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Bernie Geoffrion, John Beliveau, , Henri Richard, Bobby Orr and Yvan Cournoyer. Having missed the final series win over Boston in 1974 with a torn knee ligament — “I told them I could play Game 7, which is probably why they “A lot of those guys rolled over in their graves when I got one,” says worked so hard to get it over in six,” Kelly laughs — he was especially Kelly. thrilled just to be on the bench as the second Cup drive was coming to a Hopefully, the stars among stars who have scored Cup winners since taut conclusion. him — Guy Lafleur, Lanny McDonald, , Mike Bossy, The Flyers, who had gotten 45 goals out of their major offseason Paul Coffey, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Brendan Shanahan and addition, Reggie Leach, finished the 1975 regular season with a 12-0-2 Duncan Keith — have a sense of humor. spurt to reach 51 wins, breaking a three-way 113-point, first-overall tie Hound Kelly — pugnacious, inelegant and beloved throughout the with Buffalo and Montreal to earn home-ice advantage throughout the Delaware Valley for every pinballing hit he ever made in the opposition playoffs. Philadelphia swept Toronto in the first round, and but for an end — scored four regular-season goals the season of the Flyers’ first apparent game-winner disallowed at the buzzer of Game 4 would have Cup, and 11 the next. An oar that coach Fred Shero used in stormy done the same to the Islanders. But having come back from a 3-0 deficit waters, Kelly was a quintessential role player among Flyers who hugged to beat Pittsburgh in the first round, New York survived in that Game 4 limited responsibilities without complaint. In turn, he became one of the overtime and won twice more against Philadelphia to threaten a second team’s most embraced players. epic comeback. Finally, a goal just 19 seconds into Game 7 by Gary Dornhoefer and a Rick MacLeish hat trick buried the rabbit inside the “We didn’t pay as much attention to ice time as they do today,” says Islanders’ hats. Kelly. “At the end of 60 minutes you win or you lose; to me that was the only thing that was important.” When the Sabres, in their fifth year in the NHL, upset the Canadiens in the other semifinal, the Flyers had the Stanley Cup final they wanted. On May 27, 1975, Kelly had played just six shifts through two periods “Would have bet anything we were going to beat Buffalo,” Dornhoefer when assistant coach Mike Nykoluk suggested to Shero that maybe this recalls. The Sabres had managed just one tie in their previous nine might be a good time (a scoreless deadlock) and place (sweltering meetings with the Flyers and since birth, were 0-11-2 at the Spectrum. Memorial Auditorium) to release the Hound. With the Flyers having been outplayed slightly over two periods, it was worth a shot. “In the final a year earlier, the Bruins had Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito and we hadn’t won a game in Boston in seven years so of course there Now, bats out of hell would look both ways if Kelly were coming. As if were doubts,” says Flyers center . “This time, when Montreal propelled by an industrial strength rubber band that Shero would pull was beaten by Buffalo in the other semifinal, we knew we had been done back into the parking lot, the left wing would catapult over the boards a big favor. and, with choppy strides that were shorter than his shifts — or his span of attention to Shero’s system — hurl himself into the offensive zone. “The Canadiens may have been bloodied when they played us, but kept coming. The Sabres had some pseudo-tough guys who were intimidated The Bullies were Goliaths who had the slingshot, too — not what you by us. We had real tough guys. would call a fair fight. Adrenaline surging and knees pumping, the barrel- chested Kelly would bounce from body to body with enough energy to “Montreal had gotten into a run-and-gun series against Buffalo and lost. power the air conditioning at The Aud, if ever they had bothered to install We knew better than to do that.” it. Buffalo was led by future Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault, the center of “He would go for 40 seconds and hit eight guys,” recalls teammate Joe the famed French Connection line with wingers Richard Martin and Rene Watson. “Sometimes their guys, sometimes our guys.” Robert. The Sabres also had one of the best combination scoring- checking units in Don Luce, Craig Ramsay and Danny Gare. But on a After the Flyers has been brutalized by the bigger and meaner St. Louis towering defense of Jerry “King Kong” Korab, Jim Schoenfeld, Jocelyn Blues in a four-game sweep in 1969, the Philadelphia brain trust had Guevremont and Larry Carriere, only the steady Bill Hajt had not sworn never again. They drafted Dave Schultz, perhaps the NHL’s all- struggled against relentless Flyers forechecking. time greatest villain — or liberator if you ask Philadelphia — in the fifth round that June. But Kelly, a third-round pick (32nd overall) in 1970, was “Their defense was not especially puck-friendly,” recalls Clarke. the first of the rambunctious big bodies to reach Philadelphia. Not a day Adds Luce, “We didn’t have the puck movers.” did he spend in the minors. Just as critically, Buffalo didn’t possess a goalie in the same league as him the most trusted defender in a tight game, but his pressure had Philadelphia’s Bernie Parent. Journeyman Gerry Desjardins, a trade drawn a Korab penalty in front of the Philadelphia bench during the deadline pickup after rookie Gary Bromley had played 50 games, had a second period. Shero told the Hound he would start the third in Barber’s career .892 save percentage and backup Roger Crozier, the star of a usual place with Clarke and Leach. Detroit Cup run in 1965, was nearing the end of his career. Parent, the NHL First Team All-Star and 1974 Trophy winner as When Leach, off an opening draw that Clarke had pulled back from Luce, playoff MVP, statistically was having an even better playoffs this time threw the puck in. Kelly busted diagonally from the opposite wing as around. Korab retreated for the dump-in. The Cantonese phrase “Chop, chop” was decades away from being adopted as an English idiom, but chop Flyers sniper MacLeish sometimes frustrated Shero and his Philadelphia chop, was the perfect description for Kelly’s stride as he essentially ran teammates with his meandering attention span, but his eventual career on his skates, instantly undoing much of the Zamboni’s intermission total of 53 postseason goals left little doubt about the big-game work. capabilities of a player nicknamed “Cutie” by his teammates. And he was at his motivated best in a matchup Shero played against the shifty Korab appeared in no hurry to win the race and wind up splattered. Perreault. MacLeish’s right wing — the bedrock and often maniacal “I’m sure Korab knew Hound was coming,” recalls Clarke, who was not Dornhoefer — tortured Martin with sticks and elbows, while Lonsberry, far behind in the chase. “I think Schoenfeld might have been able to get who was having a second consecutive clutch spring, took the defensive to the puck too, if he wanted.” role on the line. The 6-foot-3 Korab let the 5-foot-11 Kelly go first, not necessarily the Whenever possible, Shero wanted his best defensive pair of the mobile coward’s way out — it’s sometimes the best way to preserve the ability to Jimmy Watson and the mean Van Impe against the French Connection. play the puck. “Eddie was ruthless with his stick,” recalls Clement. “The only way Martin could fight back was to fire pucks at Van Impe’s head.” “Korab could have gone back and covered up the puck up but he let me go,” says Kelly. “Then he decided to drill me, as I would have drilled him. In the series opener, Buffalo’s Spectrum schneid and Parent’s mastery continued. Desjardins turned the wrong way on a Van Impe carom off the “He did, then didn’t know where the puck was and it still was laying there backboards, enabling Barber to break an early third period scoreless tie at my feet. That made the play.” en route to a 4-1 Philadelphia win in Game 1. Clarke hit the long side when Desjardins poorly played an angle in a 2-1 win in Game 2. Korab had put his shoulder cleanly and effectively into Kelly. But Clarke, who may have been the smartest and most indefatigable forechecker the Up 2-0, on to Game 3. The contest at Buffalo’s steamy Aud had to be game ever has known, was on the scene in an instant. stopped 12 times so teams could skate around the ice as if it were pre- game warm-ups to dissipate the rising condensation. The scene left the “I played against them all,” recalls Ramsay. “And I don’t think there was Flyers better cast than ever as the NHL’s Frankenstein, particularly ever a time that I ever thought I could move Bobby Clarke off the puck.” Shero, the absent-minded professor whose seeming ability to materialize Forever it will look like a glancing blow that the Flyers captain put into out of nowhere in a hotel corridor had earned the nickname of The Fog Korab. But there was no such thing from the 5-11 Clarke, thanks to his from his players. low center of gravity. To embellish the Transylvanian scene, a bat was killed out of the air by a Korab was spun off out of the play, the puck now an easy locate for Kelly, swipe of the stick of Buffalo’s Jim Lorentz. MacLeish picked up the bird who turned to his backhand and came around from behind the net. for disposal. Ramsay, standing at the hash marks, failed to move. “Ricky, you can get rabies!” the Flyers’ bench warned. “I didn’t sense the danger,” recalls Ramsay, a future Selke Trophy winner “What are rabies?” MacLeish asked. as the league’s best defensive forward. After the Flyers jumped to a 2-0 lead, Buffalo coach Floyd Smith benched “Our line played against great players. You had success only by quickly Desjardins for Crozier and the Sabres responded. Hajt’s rebound goal thinking ‘Aw-Oh.’ But I saw this play and wasn’t worried. My initial midway through the second period erased the third Flyers lead, creating thought was don’t let (a pass) come out by me. By the time I realized a 4-4 tie, and in overtime, Parent lost a one-timer from the corner by Kelly was a problem, it was a disaster. Robert in the mist. The puck whizzed through the goalie’s feet, giving “The highlight comes up every once in while on TV and I say, ‘Oh God.’” Buffalo a 5-4 win. Crozier who started to put his stick out to pokecheck Kelly and then “If Bernie had seen that puck, it was going to be a short series,” Clement thought better of it, was flummoxed, too. “I was surprised he got around said. so quickly” the goalie would later say, but the veteran was talking split- Local figure skaters were used to gather the fog in bed sheets during seconds, not really out of amazement that any Flyers would be coming Game 4, when the Sabres twice overcame one-goal deficits and used out from behind the net. It was one of their trademarks. two power play goals to win 4-2. Clarke, disgusted the Flyers had let up “We take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor,” Shero with the lead in both games in Buffalo and sensing overconfidence, used to say. He added that no team would come out of corners or off the delivered a stern rebuke in the locker room and Nykoluk told the Flyers backboards like the Flyers, a point of pride he reinforced in practices, they were helping the Sabres goaltenders by overpassing. often finishing them with a wrap-around goal competition. The last guy to Philadelphia came into Game 5 at the Spectrum shooting. Schultz, barely score, or the last goalie to make the stop, won $5 from the coach’s played by Shero to that point in what, by Flyers’ standards, was an pocket. exceedingly tame series, scored off a crowd in front from nearly along the So Kelly, his puck skills the least of his contribution to the Bullies, boards and Dornhoefer beat Desjardins from a bad angle to make it 2-0. nevertheless knew his way around a goal. He took a split second to get “We had outplayed them the first 10 minutes,” remembers Luce. “Then the puck to lie down and slid it along the ice and into the far side. they got a goal that wasn’t even a shot and, if I recall correctly, that was “I could create space for myself,” said Kelly. “Even if nobody ever would their first scoring chance. call me a playmaker.” “It deflated us to a certain degree. Or some of us, anyway.” In this case he was a lead maker. Just 11 seconds into the third period, Kelly cruised up the middle for a third goal in the first period. Schultz the goal light stunningly was on. added his second later in a 5-1 win that put the Flyers just one away from Whatever Sabre fans had made it back to their seats from concession the title. stands and bathrooms were groaning, and Kelly, after quickly accepting “I’m getting to the point where I hate hockey,” Desjardins said after the congratulations from Clarke and teammates, was bolting for the Flyers’ loss. His teammates took that as more an expression of frustration with bench. the bounces than utter resignation. But Smith was making a change “You owe me five bucks,” Kelly said to Shero. regardless, going back to Crozier in net for Game 6. The Flyers were fewer than 20 minutes from the championship; and Kelly The Flyers helped him by being shorthanded five times in the first two that close to joining a Who’s Who of the games greatest-ever players periods, when the majority of a smattering of good chances belonged to who had scored Stanley Cup-winning goals. The winner’s share would be Buffalo. $19,500, a nice chunk of change in a time when only superstars made The figure skaters collecting the fog in the sheets had been getting more more than $100,000, And the first thing to flash through Bob Kelly’s mind ice time than the depth players when Nykoluk reminded Shero how much was five dollars on a side bet. energy was being wasted on the bench. Kelly’s roaming did not make “That’s the Hound,” Clarke laughs. “Exactly who he was.” of the shower to find his place on the bench taken by a gentleman in a suit. Still is. “Yep, five bucks,” Kelly says. “You offer it, you owe it. “Hey buddy, beat it, you’re in my seat,” he said. So Milton Shapp, the “Hey, that was a full tank of gas in those days.” governor of Pennsylvania, apologized and beat it. He had plenty of fuel left for the final, white-knuckle 19:49. But with a 1-0 “Should have figured it out when I saw two guys in suits and trench coats lead, Shero stayed with the guys who played the system, Kelly only standing near him,” says Kelly. receiving one shift the rest of the way. Holding the lead, the Flyers didn’t need his body to wear down the Sabres’ resolve. The Flyers crowed about further legitimizing their first Cup with a second, quieting their critics by a championship won without their usual “I don’t know if it deflated us,” recalls Ramsay. “I think it was more what it shenanigans. “We didn’t goon it up once the entire playoffs,” said did for them. Lonsberry. Indeed, Kelly and Rick Dudley had squared off in the only “They had Bernie and they had a goal and they knew what to do with it. fight of the final. They had the sense that this is it, (and) were thinking, ‘OK boys, let’s Kelly’s winner was his third goal of the playoffs but the Conn Smythe shut ‘em down, what we do best.’ Trophy deservedly went to Parent for the second straight spring. “He “We had a team with nine 20-goal scorers. But against the Flyers we didn’t beat us in the final game, but he did in the series,” recalls Luce. didn’t get the rebounds and second chances we would against other Kelly was happy to get his seven shifts, five bucks, and, after having teams. Certainly we didn’t get the outnumbered chances we were used missed the final series a year earlier with Dornhoefer, the satisfaction of to getting.” a lifetime, being on the bench and in the mob around Parent at the end. Clement recalls seeing that in the Sabres’ faces. “I sensed a resignation,” “If you are not bleeding with the guys, you just don’t feel a part of it,” Kelly he said. “Not in all of them, but here they are behind and the prize for said. No less delighted were his band of brothers, as Kelly called them. coming back was just to get the series back to Philadelphia, where they He was not the only grinder on one of the grindingest teams there ever had never won. That was a lot for them to be up against. was who had stepped up in the end to make plays. “We knew they had firepower but we trusted out ability to defend a lead. The young Sabres, loaded with talent, theoretically educated by the Great athletes like Perreault, when their teams are against the wall, will Flyers in what winning it all entailed, never got back to another final, for try to do it themselves. We knew that and how to defend it.” failure, Ramsay says, to win the 1-0, 2-0 playoff game. The Sabres took two penalties in the next 3:14 after Kelly’s goal, hardly “The Canadiens had learned the hard way against us what they had to helping them recover. The scariest moment for the Flyers down the do and then beat the Flyers at their own game the following year,” recalls stretch came when Martin appeared to have the tying goal on his stick Ramsay. during a scramble in front of a half-empty net. He got tied up momentarily “In games against the Flyers, whether there were 100 penalties or just a and referee Bruce Hood ignored Van Impe closing his hand on the puck few, you knew you had to play a whole game against their whole team. If in the crease and pushing it to Parent to freeze. we were afraid of anything about the Broad Street Bullies, it was that The best Buffalo chance was a 25-foot drive by Luce after Jimmy Watson everybody on that team was going to play hard.” failed to clear, but Parent calmly gloved it. The clock was under three Shero hadn’t just drilled that, but, with Clarke setting a superlative minutes when Orest Kindrachuk blocked a shot from the right point by example, built a culture around it. “A coach has to realize a team is like a Korab. The puck bounced all the way through the neutral zone with family,” said the coach. “You have to let the so-called lesser lights know Kindrachuk and Sabres forward Brian Spencer in chase. The Flyers you need them.” center had a head start and won at the half-boards of the Buffalo zone. Korab abandoned the middle to bury Kindrachuk but he got the puck Hey, you never know. A year earlier Schultz had taken a spot shift in the away before being creamed. place of Barber, an All-Star, and set up Clarke’s series-turning overtime goal in Game 2 in Boston. This time Kelly was handling Barber’s shift on “Couldn’t believe Korab left me,” recalls Clement. “I don’t remember if I the winning goal. yelled for the puck, probably did, but if not Orest had great vision and showed a lot of courage.” Barber would make the Hall of Fame regardless. And there wasn’t a Flyer in 1975 who didn’t think it was the great how the support players The pass was perfect. Clement was by himself inside the hashmarks. had their Andy Warhol fifteen minutes of fame in the final two games. “I had mentally rehearsed before the game, as most players do,” he “Some guys contributed a ton, of course,” said Clement. ‘But we chipped recalls. “Crozier always was low to the ice, leaving room over his glove. in and there was never a time when we considered anything we did less “But I’m a left-handed shot so the puck had to come across my body to than a group achievement. That’s the way we were, what made us a take it. I did and, when I looked up all I could see was five-hole. I knew great team.” Roger was not going to make the first move, so I just shot.” Schultz had scored the two goals in Game 5; Kindrachuk fed the putaway The puck went underneath Crozier’s stick, which he had failed to put all goal by Clement, the fourth-line center, who had roared in not knowing the way down to the ice. he had already been traded. General manager Keith Allen had a deal in writing for Washington’s first-overall pick the following month, and “I surprised myself with my level of calm,” recalls Clement. “I wasn’t a Clement was part of the package. goal scorer,” All those unlikely guys twice got their names on the Cup and, let the “I never scored a goal that easy, even in practice. It was so easy, I fully record show, Kelly’s was engraved, even though broadcaster Gene Hart, expected it to be disallowed. Then I was getting tackled and thought, who engaged in a spirited insult-a-thon competition with the Hound, said ‘Holy bleep, this is really going to count and we’re going to win another he would be the only guy ever inscribed “in crayon.” Stanley Cup.” The last laugh went to Kelly, who played five more seasons with the The Flyers had insurance. In sound, the Aud went as still as its stuffy air. Flyers, reaching two more finals, and wrecked the Sabres again with four Only 2:47 and, seemingly 6,000 faceoffs later, Clarke took points in a 1978 second-round series. “No wonder why the cop wouldn’t congratulations from Luce, pulled back the last draw in the Philadelphia let me off when he stopped me for speeding going through Buffalo,” Kelly end and danced on his toes. Winners by 2-0 on Parent’s second says. Closing out his career for Washington in 1980-81, Kelly scored 26 consecutive clinching shutout, the Flyers were champions again. goals and had 36 assists playing on a first line with Dennis Maruk and Jean Pronovost. “The year before we had been holding our breath until the final second,” recalls Clement. “This time, well, we didn’t over-celebrate in the last two The Hound may never have bagged a snipe, but as he points out, “I minutes, but we knew it was ours and we had time to hug each other. It survived 12 years in the NHL, which I’ll take all day long. was great.” “You could say I have a skill level that never has been mentioned, but In 1975, the Cup ceremony was not the extravaganzas of today where never been questioned either,” he says. “I didn’t have the confidence of every player on the team gets a handoff. But at least the Flyers, who had Leach and Barber to score from the blueline, but I was deadly from the been unable to move through the sea of humanity a year earlier as fans crease in.” overwhelmed scant Spectrum security, this time were able to relish the then-customary one lap, Clarke and Parent holding the Cup. Indeed on May 27, 1975, he didn’t miss. And 44 years later, considering Bob Kelly’s Cup winner an anomaly misses the point of what those Broad The tiny visitors’ dressing room — no lockers, just hooks — was almost Street Bullies were all about. as crowded as the Spectrum ice had been a year earlier. Kelly came out About the series They are the spectacular plays and defining moments from Philadelphia championships across the sports and eras. Every title triumph has them — the unpredictable and unforgettable points that truly tipped the balance and will always endure. In our Philly Specials series, The Athletic takes an in-depth look at some of the most iconic and memorable championship moments in Philadelphia sports history. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128367 Pittsburgh Penguins

Justin Schultz nearing finish line on long road back from broken leg

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019

The last time Justin Schultz played in a hockey game, the sock tanlines he had acquired in a summer spent on the golf course had yet to fade. Schultz broke his leg Oct. 14 in Montreal. On Thursday, his road to recovery took another step forward as he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins for a regularly scheduled practice for the first time. While Schultz wore a white jersey, indicating he hasn’t yet been cleared for contact, he was thrilled to be back on the ice with his teammates after three long, lonely months of rehab. “That was the first real practice,” he said. “It wasn’t much, but it was good to get out there and do reactionary stuff, not just set drills, and test it out that way.” Schultz knows the challenge that awaits him. He’ll be hopping onto a treadmill that’s already running at full speed. “I’ve missed a long time. I think it’s the longest I’ve ever gone in my life without skating,” Schultz said. “Then you put in that this is the NHL and I’m coming back into a playoff race and everyone’s ramping it up now, it’s going to be difficult. But that’s why you put in all the work in practice and off the ice getting ready and do the best you can.” The next step for Schultz is to be cleared for full-contact practice. The team has yet to announce a timetable. “It’s not going to get better overnight. It’s a pretty serious injury,” Schultz said. “As long as there are no setbacks, then it’s all good.” Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128368 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan: Derick Brassard will play when he's healthy

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan found the suggestion literally laughable, letting out a small chuckle when he was asked about it following Thursday’s practice in Cranberry. Is there any chance the Penguins might keep center Derick Brassard on the sidelines, even if he has recovered from the upper-body injury that kept him out of Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay, to protect an asset as the Feb. 25 trade deadline approaches? “When he’s ready to play, he’ll play,” Sullivan said flatly. Despite criticism of Brassard that has come from both the stands at PPG Paints Arena and from the office of general manager Jim Rutherford, it’s not hard to see why Sullivan would take this approach. Even though the Penguins came away with an impressive 4-2 win over the first-place Lightning, they actually missed Brassard’s presence more than you might think. Matt Cullen took Brassard’s spot on the third line between wingers Tanner Pearson and Patric Hornqvist. When Cullen was on the ice at even strength, the Lightning outshot the Penguins, 14-0. Cullen’s line was matched up with Steven Stamkos most of the night and started a lot of shifts in the defensive zone, so it was obviously a difficult assignment. Still, the Penguins are going to want their third line to possess the puck more than that. In addition, with Brassard out for a game against a formidable opponent, Sullivan played fourth-line forwards Teddy Blueger and Garrett Wilson only about six minutes each. When Brassard is in the lineup, he’s comfortable rolling four lines more evenly. Regardless, Brassard’s return could come as soon as Friday night against Ottawa. He practiced Thursday and reported some progress. “Just probably something that happened in the last game before the break and something that carried over. It’s nothing bad,” Brassard said. “I played the first game after the break. I just have to give it a little time and get away. We’ll see what’s going to happen.” Brassard also said that the churning of the NHL trade machine at this time of year is something that veteran players in the league have grown used to. “We know it’s coming up here at the end of the month, but at the end of the day, we have a job to do,” Brassard said. “We have to play well for the team and everything and whatever happens happens. You can’t control anything. “I know that we have a good team here. We have a good group of guys. The sad part is sometimes guys are leaving. You create friendships with some of the guys and they end up leaving the team. That’s just the business of the sport.” Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128369 Pittsburgh Penguins

For Penguins, it takes a village to help Evgeni Malkin return to form

Jonathan Bombulie

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin sat out Thursday’s practice in Cranberry for maintenance after a particularly grueling effort the night before. By playing a physically and emotionally engaged style of hockey, recording a pair of assists and fighting fellow superstar Steven Stamkos when tensions boiled over in the third period, Malkin inspired the Penguins to a rousing 4-2 victory over the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning. When Malkin returns to the ice, his teammates would like to return the favor. Malkin has been stuck in a slump for the better part of three months. Slump is a relative term, of course, as Malkin is still averaging more than a point per game, but he has two even-strength goals and a minus-11 rating in 24 games since Dec. 6. To put the downturn behind him once and for all, it’s safe to say Malkin first will have to look in the mirror. Rediscovering his goal-scoring confidence and simplifying his game would go a long way. But Malkin also can look around the locker room for a helping hand. For most of the past three seasons, Malkin has found his greatest success with Carl Hagelin playing on his left wing. For the past two games, Malkin and Phil Kessel have played with Bryan Rust on their left side. Rust’s game is similar to Hagelin’s: He has the speed and tenacity to create space for his highly skilled linemates. “He does,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He brings similar attributes. He can really skate. He’s good on the forecheck. He’s a good puck-pursuit guy. He forces turnovers. He has the ability to catch the rush if they get caught in the offensive zone. He’s sound defensively. He has a lot of similar attributes.” Rust said he gladly will sign up for that type of complementary relationship with Malkin. When the Russian superstar has his game going, like he did Wednesday night, Rust can ride the wave. “He’s obviously a guy who’s a tremendous part of this team,” Rust said. “Every time you see a guy like that get the fire under his (rear) lit a little bit, for lack of a better word, it’s good. It gave a lot of energy throughout our team and our line. I thought we carried it over throughout the rest of the game.” When Malkin is slumping, Rust will do his part to pick his teammate up. “Speaking from experience, when you’re struggling, it always helps to have linemates who are working their (tails) off to try to help you out and maybe help you play a little more simple so you don’t have to worry about too much out there,” Rust said. The same concept applies to the defensemen playing behind Malkin. When Malkin has been on the ice with Kris Letang at even strength this season, the Penguins have averaged 34.2 shots per 60 minutes. When Malkin has played with Jack Johnson, that figure slips to 31.3. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s significant nonetheless. Malkin seems to thrive when he has a puck-moving specialist playing behind him. The impending return of Justin Schultz from injury should help Malkin in that regard. In the meantime, his teammates on the blue line will do what they can to make sure he gets the puck in the most advantageous positions possible. “It’s what I want to do every night,” Letang said. “When you have two centers with that skill level, Sid and Geno, trust me, the first thing I want to do is give it to them and they can do their thing. I’m trying to do the favor all the time. It’s not something I’m going to look to do more. It’s what I do.” Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128370 Pittsburgh Penguins

Nevin Arena finalist in Penguins' 'Renovate the Rink' contest

STEPHEN HUBA | Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019

The Kirk S. Nevin Arena , Greensburg’s home for hockey and ice skating, has been named one of three finalists in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ “Renovate the Rink” contest. The rink could win $100,000 in renovations if it garners enough votes and receives the grand prize. Online voting begins on Friday and continues through Feb. 22. The other two finalists are the Ice Mine in Connellsville and the Hess Ice Rink in New Castle, according to contest sponsors, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Pittsburgh Commercial Construction. The finalist announcement comes almost five months after the Greensburg arena was inundated with water when nearby Jack’s Run flooded on Sept. 9-10, 2018. The arena, operated by Greensburg Parks & Recreation, sits in a flood plain. Two days after the flooding, the arena reopened and resumed its programming. “Because of the success of the programs at the arena, locker rooms and common space are now at a premium,” according to a video posted to the contest website. The video noted that the girls’ hockey program is growing. “Their home could definitely use a facelift,” the video said, noting that the arena was built in 1968 and last renovated in 1998. The Penguins Foundation and PittComm will provide $100,000 in materials and construction management services to the winning rink. In addition, the Chemours Co., an official partner of the NHL, will recognize all three finalists by providing them with a set of divider boards to assist with their on-ice programming. More than 400 entries were received during the submission phase of the contest, and 16 rinks were nominated before the finalists were selected. Rinks in the following counties were eligible: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland. Tribune Review LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128371 Pittsburgh Penguins “Brass had a decent day [Thursday],” Sullivan said. “His status is the same. We’ll see how he responds and make decisions from there.”

Brassard said the upper-body injury has been bothering him “for a week Justin Schultz thrilled to rejoin Penguins for practice or so” but got worse at some point in a 6-3 loss Monday to the New Jersey Devils, then again after Brassard practiced (in full) the next day. Jason Mackey Although Brassard said the inactivity helped, he doesn’t except the pain to go away soon. He’ll just have to deal with whatever it is.

“I just have to play with it, deal with it, and with time it’s going to go A late January practice in a run of seven consecutive days with some away,” Brassard said. “It’s a positive day [Thursday]. I felt better. I’m sort of on-ice activity normally doesn’t cause an NHL player to bubble going to see how I feel [Friday] morning.” over with excitement. More updates Then again, Justin Schultz — who has been out since Oct. 13 because of a broken left leg — represents a bit of an exception. Evgeni Malkin was the only player missing Thursday from practice. Sullivan said he received a maintenance day. After taking in the morning skate Wednesday, Schultz practiced Thursday with the Penguins at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, his first Zach Aston-Reese worked out with skating and skills development coach full-blown practice with the group since that horrific injury. Ty Hennes beforehand. Donning full equipment, Aston-Reese did a series of stickhandling drills to test his injured left hand. “It’s been a long time,” said Schultz, who was hurt Oct. 13 in Montreal. “It’s not fun being by yourself, rehabbing and skating by yourself. It’s Jason Mackey: good to be with the team. That’s why you love this game — being around Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2019 your teammates. That’s the funnest part.” Schultz did not take contact Thursday but did do some reactionary drills, which are tougher than when the Penguins defenseman knows what to expect, to see how his leg would respond. While Schultz was mostly happy with how he felt, he’s still working on his conditioning. As much as he biked during his recovery, it’s simply not a substitute for skating. “I could bike and do all that cardio stuff,” Schultz said. “It’s tough to replace skating. There’s nothing like it. Even in the summers when you’re doing cardio and all that, it’s not the same as when you’re on the ice. I’ve been on the ice for a little bit now, and it’s coming back slowly.” Whenever Schultz comes back, it’s likely he’ll form a second defense pair with dressing room neighbor and good friend Olli Maatta, allowing the first and third pairings of Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang and Marcus Pettersson-Jack Johnson to remain together. Schultz also should figure to get some reps with the No. 1 power play, especially if it struggles or keeps allowing short-handed goals. In the thick of a playoff race, Schultz knows that, as his rehabilitation progresses, things are only going to get harder. “I’ve missed a long time,” Schultz said. “I think it’s the longest I’ve ever gone in my life without skating. Then you add in that this is the NHL, I’m coming back into a playoff race, and everyone is ramping it up now. ... It’s going to be difficult. But that’s why you work in practice and off the ice, to get ready and do the best you can.” Schultz also isn’t about to complain, no matter how tough this might be. He’s no longer skating by himself. He’s getting very close to actually impacting a game. And his voice in meetings is more than just that of someone lending support. Probably inside of two weeks, Schultz will return to the Penguins lineup. And he’ll have a whole new appreciation for these January practices. “The enthusiasm and the energy is contagious,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “Schultzy is excited to be on the ice. He’s excited to be around his teammates. That’s what drives these guys. “When it’s taken away from you, sometimes you appreciate it a little bit more when you get back into the environment. That’s probably the case with Justin right now. “We’re excited to get him back in the fold here. We know he’s a real good defenseman. He’s going to help us moving forward.” Curious case of Brassard Less than 24 hours after it was revealed he had an upper-body injury, Derick Brassard was back on the ice and went through a full practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Following the session, Brassard said he “felt better” and that it was a possibility he could play Friday against his former employer, the Ottawa Senators. While Brassard seemed somewhat enthused by his quick recovery, Sullivan said the Penguins are going to wait and see how Brassard responds before making any decisions. 1128372 Pittsburgh Penguins Stats: 7 goals, 14 points in 48 games Why it works: Notice a trend about the aforementioned players? They’re big and/or bring some intangibles the Penguins can use. They’re also Five potential trade-deadline targets for Penguins young. Lowry is another one of these guys and has shown flashes of being really Jason Mackey good in this role. He’s also willing to use his big body, with 256 hits in 93 games (2.8 per game) since the start of last season while winning 56.3 percent of his faceoffs. It’s hard to see Jim Rutherford sitting this one out. Why it may not: What incentive is there for Winnipeg here? The Penguins general manager has salary-cap space and could get Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff kicked tires on Brassard, more, should he elect to move third-line center Derick Brassard. said on TSN Winnipeg 1290 Wednesday afternoon, but the deal quickly died when the Penguins insisted on Lowry. It’s also in his DNA to do something whenever he feels there’s a problem that needs to be addressed, and while it’s certainly small, Rutherford did Cheveldayoff would basically be robbing Peter to pay Paul, and he admit on 93.7 FM The Fan on Thursday that there’s something he hasn’t knows it. Lowry is also part of the Jets’ identity and unlikely to go liked about his team thus far. anywhere without significant return. “I don’t like our intensity up until this point,” Rutherford said in response C Brian Boyle, Devils to a question about the Penguins’ ability (or lack thereof) to find consistency game-to-game. “We’ve had nights where we come to play Height/weight/age: 6-6, 245, 34 and we can beat anybody. I believe that we’ve probably given away five Stats: 13 goals, 18 points in 44 games to seven games where we just got outworked; they’re games we should have won.” Why it works: Unlike the first three names here, Boyle has some mileage on the tires. In a good way, too, in hockey and just life in general. So the Penguins could use more production from their third line and maybe they could use someone to bring more consistent intensity. Here The Penguins could use a little bit of that, in addition to someone to are five suggestions for players Rutherford could target before the Feb. infuse a little more veteran leadership in the dressing room. 25 trade deadline, why it may work and why it may not. On the ice, Boyle can play center or wing, function with different styles of In no particular order: player and would have zero issue assimilating into a bottom-six role. Boyle is also from Boston and has a history with Mike Sullivan dating LW Micheal Ferland, Hurricanes back to their time together with the Rangers. Height/weight/age: 6-1, 217, 26 Why it may not: Does Devils general manager Ray Shero want to do Stats: 13 goals, 25 points in 41 games business within the division? Those deals don’t happen often. Why it works: Ferland can be an absolute pain in the butt to play against, The Penguins won’t be the only team wanting what Boyle can bring, and the Penguins could use a little of that. He’s also cheap, carrying a knowing that New Jersey, which is going nowhere, is more than likely yearly cap hit of just $1.75 million, and he will be an unrestricted free going to move Boyle to a contender. agent after the season. The cap hit ($2.55 million) is fine, but it’s doubtful the Devils would have The Penguins could look at this as a young player to potentially re-sign if any use for Brassard as a rental. things go well. They could also think that deploying Ferland with Evgeni C Charlie Coyle, Wild Malkin could help the Russian center, or Ferland opposite Phil Kessel could be a circuitous way of fixing their third line and adding more scoring Height/weight/age: 6-3, 220, 26 depth. Stats: 9 goals and 26 points in 50 games At minimum, there would be no question over Ferland’s intensity. Although it’s maybe a bit of a stretch. he’s been compared to Why it works: Coyle is a former first-round pick who has functioned well Washington’s Tom Wilson. as a third-line center, producing 21 goals in 2015-16 and 56 points the next year. Coyle’s still young and very much affordable. Why it may not: While it seems like Carolina will be moving Ferland, who wants more on his next contract than the Hurricanes will be willing to pay, Coyle, like Nick Bonino did here, does well on both special teams and they are just five points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern could see his game grow even more while being surrounded by better Conference. linemates in Pittsburgh. Ferland is also an attractive piece. Carolina is going to want a Why it may not: Currently Minnesota is third in the Central Division and considerable haul. very much in the thick of the playoff race. C Kevin Hayes, Rangers Coyle has one more year on his contact with a yearly cap hit at $3.2 million, and the Wild wouldn’t have much incentive here to make a move. Height/weight/age: 6-5, 216, 26 Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2019 Stats: 10 goals, 33 points in 40 games Why it works: There’s plenty to like about Hayes’ game and reliability; between 2014-2018, Hayes played between 76-79 games, scored between 14-25 goals and produced between 36-49 points. He’s also huge. Plop Hayes onto the Penguins’ third line, and it’s highly unlikely you wind up with someone who struggles to grasp the role. Why it may not: Money and acquiring cost. Hayes carries a cap hit of $5.175 million, although he is an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Penguins could theoretically absorb that, but it would be tight. And what would the Rangers want for a premium deadline acquisition? Hayes is no slouch, and the Rangers are rebuilding. What would they want with Brassard? Given the fact that Henrik Lundqvist wants to keep playing and keep doing it in New York, looking at Tristan Jarry as his successor also makes little sense. C Adam Lowry, Jets Height/weight/age: 6-5, 210, 25 1128373 Pittsburgh Penguins Dumoulin understands that sentiment — “It’s a lot more fun when you win it,” he said — as well as the passion the Beanpot inspires throughout the region. The Beanpot: A Boston tradition many Penguins hold in high regard “I’m not sure how much the rest of the world pays attention to it,” he said. “But in New England, it’s a big deal.” Dave Molinari Post Gazette LOADED: 02.01.2019

It is, like lobster rolls and candlepin bowling, a regional favorite in New England. The first two Mondays of every February, four Boston-based schools — Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern — dispatch their hockey teams to TD Garden for a rite of winter known as the Beanpot, a tournament that captivates fans in that corner of the country. “If you’re from New England, you grew up with it, especially if you’re in the Boston area,” said Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin, who won three Beanpot championships while attending Boston College. “It’s been a big deal for a long time. Nothing else like it.” Coach Mike Sullivan, who played at Boston University, is no less effusive. “It’s a huge deal,” he said. “It’s the greatest college hockey tournament. “Among the schools that participate, it’s way more than a trophy. It’s bragging rights of being the best college hockey team in the city, on those two Monday nights. “For a young hockey player in the Boston area, it’s certainly one of the greatest thrills, to watch them, year in and year out. To have the opportunity to participate and play in them was one of the greatest thrills I had as a college hockey player.” The Terriers reached the Beanpot final in each of Sullivan’s four years, and finished first twice. Forward Zach Aston-Reese, who played at Northeastern, never won a Beanpot championship but did have a bit of a consolation prize. “I never finished first,” he said, “but I never finished last.” Go to section Aston-Reese hails from Staten Island, so he didn’t grow up immersed in Beanpot lore the way Dumoulin (Biddeford, Me.) and Sullivan (Marshfield, Mass.) did, but it didn’t take long for him to grasp the magnitude of the event. “You don’t realize how big it is until you play in it,” he said. “Especially that second Monday, in the championship game, when the whole upper bowl is just students, yelling at each other. It’s an unbelievable experience.” Everyone who competes in the tournament, it seems, has at least one particularly vivid memory. “My sophomore year, we were losing to BC and had a really emotional comeback, beat them with a couple of minutes left, then played BU in the final,” Aston-Reese said. “We went into overtime [during the title game] and had a penalty called on us, which was unfortunate.” It’s safe to assume that’s not the term Sullivan would apply to the penalty that made that Terriers championship possible. For even though he left BU nearly three decades ago, Sullivan still makes a point of doing every possible to take in New England Sports Network’s Beanpot coverage. “Regardless of where I find myself — whether I’m traveling somewhere or on the road with our team — I always find myself trying to find a local establishment that might have a satellite that can pick the game up so we can watch it,” he said. Last February, that quest took Sullivan to a sports bar in this area. It would be understandable if he didn’t hang around until the championship game was over, though, because Northeastern beat BU, 5-2. That gave the Huskies their first title in 30 years, which did not go unnoticed by Aston-Reese. “Last year was awesome,” he said. “I couldn’t watch it on TV, so I was streaming it on my phone. “I was taking a sip of water and I think it was Nolan Stevens who scored an unbelievable goal, and I spit my water everywhere, jumping up and down in my room. I was really excited for those guys.” 1128374 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins. Given their talent, they shouldn’t require an abundance of chances to score goals.

“Look at games when we play a more simple way,” Tanner Pearson said. Slowly but surely, the Penguins’ philosophy is starting to change “We’ve been really good. Look at the players in here. We can still score goals playing that style of hockey. You think of this as an offensive team, and it is. But I think simple is better with this group.” By Josh Yohe Jan 31, 2019 The feeling seems to be pretty universal. While the Penguins still need to execute this way of thinking on the ice, their mindset appears to be changing. Nine months ago, the Washington Capitals finally extinguished their postseason demons by beating the Penguins. Sullivan constantly preaches for the Penguins to play the game “the right way.” Maybe they’re starting to listen. They did so largely by sitting back, letting the Penguins stick handle themselves into trouble, capturing the turnover and enjoying the fruits of “The way we played against Tampa is the way we need to play,” Jake dozens of odd-man rushes against the Penguins. Guentzel said. “When we defend hard, we’re a tough team to beat.” Perhaps, after four months of decidedly inconsistent hockey — and the The Penguins have plenty of tests against high-octane offenses coming memory of that Capitals series that won’t disappear — the Penguins up, including another trip to Toronto and a rematch next Saturday in have learned their lesson. They finally seem interested in embracing a Tampa Bay. different philosophy, one that doesn’t coincide with the franchise’s longstanding preference for goals, goals and more goals. “We need to be ready,” Dumoulin said. “When we’re playing safer, smart hockey, we’re at our best.” “When we play pond hockey,” Kris Letang said, “I’m not really a fan of our team, to be honest.” Even Letang, a freelance specialist if ever there has been one, wants the Penguins to completely commit themselves to this style. These words, coming from Letang, are rather staggering. Letang’s reputation — and it’s been earned to some degree — is that of a “It would be better for the defensemen and for our goalies,” he said. “It wondrously gifted player who sometimes takes too many chances, the would be better for the whole team to play that way. We just need to be thirst for scoring occasionally blinding him to the basic defensive smart.” fundamentals of the game. Practice tidbits Letang, though, is enjoying one of his best defensive seasons and often Penguins center Derick Brassard missed Wednesday’s game due to an has been left hung out to dry by the collective impatience of his undisclosed injury. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today) teammates. These Penguins, it seems, are always in a hurry to score goals. If they let some patience develop into their habits, perhaps their • Derick Brassard took part in practice and explained afterward that he performance wouldn’t be so uneven. has been bothered for a while by a nagging upper-body injury. “The goals are going to come with this team because of the talent we A day off, he insists, did some good. There is a chance Brassard will be have up front,” Brian Dumoulin insisted. “I think what happens is, when available to play against the Senators on Friday. the goals don’t come early in games, we start to force things, push things. That’s when we start giving up odd-man rushes and just don’t “I feel better,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been dealing with for a week or play well. We need to change.” so. I feel better today. I had a full practice. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow.” It’s not like the Penguins can’t score. Even though their scoring depth hasn’t been ideal and even with Evgeni Malkin in a horrible 5-on-5 slump, • Brassard’s name has been linked to multiple trade reports in recent the Penguins have scored the fourth-most goals of any NHL team. Only days, and it’s no secret that the Penguins have been dissatisfied with his the Lightning, Flames and Sharks have scored more goals than the overall body of work. Penguins this season. The trade deadline is less than four weeks away. Of course, of the teams that would currently qualify for the Stanley Cup “Everyone’s used to it,” he said. “We know it’s coming at the end of the playoffs, only the Capitals, Sharks and Avalanche have allowed more month. At the end of the day, we still have a job to do.” goals per game than the Penguins. • Justin Schultz, who has been skating for a few weeks, took part in his Memories of how the Capitals handled the Penguins are still fresh in first full practice with the Penguins since breaking his leg on Oct. 13. He Letang’s mind. still isn’t permitted to absorb contact during practice, but that is the next “They still forced plays, they didn’t just sit back,” he said. “But they were step for Schultz, and it should come fairly soon. better structurally in their zone than we were. They put defense first. “I feel pretty good,” he said. “This is the first real practice for me. It wasn’t That’s how they beat us.” much, but it’s good to be out there and doing reaction stuff, not just set Mike Sullivan’s system is aggressive and puts considerable pressure on drills. It felt pretty good. It’s exciting. I’m getting closer.” defensemen to make proper reads. It also requires forwards to • Evgeni Malkin, who was involved in a fight on Wednesday night, did not communicate with defensemen and respond accordingly in the defensive practice with the Penguins on Thursday. Sullivan said Malkin was simply zone. None of this has happened to the Penguins’ liking this season. given a “maintenance day.” Letang believes that putting defense and the system first will go a long The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 way toward helping the Penguins rebound. “We have a system, and we have to execute it,” he said. “When we won the Cups, we were dialed in with our system. Totally. We need to be like that. The best way for us to play the game right now is to play defense first, create turnovers of our own, and then go to work. It’s how we have to play. Playing the other way is too hard. We have to realize that.” The Penguins have deployed a defense-first mentality in some of their finest performances this season. They did so against Tampa Bay in Wednesday’s 4-2 win, as the Lightning didn’t sniff an odd-man rush all game. The Penguins made prudent decisions, were willing to work down low in the offensive zone and willing to expend energy defensively when necessary. This was also the case in October when they silenced the red hot Maple Leafs in a 3-0 victory in Toronto. When games have turned into up-and- down affairs, despite the Penguins skill up front, the results have been decidedly mixed. Many in the Penguins’ locker room believe that such games at the NHL level become a crapshoot and that, for the Penguins to thrive, games, where scoring chances dwindle, are better for the 1128375 Pittsburgh Penguins In addition to this, their pressure disrupted Tampa Bay’s ability to operate in the neutral zone and forced them into confusion. This garnered some offside calls that were a direct result of the Penguins’ fourth line flooding Marshall: Teddy Bleuger provides a boost Mike Sullivan is looking for the puck-side of the ice. Let’s take a look: As the Lightning’s players try to regroup and enter the zone, they’re met by Wilson, Blueger, and Juuso Riikola along the far wall. With no sound By Jesse Marshall Jan 31, 2019 decision to be made, the hesitation from puck-pressure forces the Lightning offside and kills their ability to re-enter the zone with possession of the puck. Mike Sullivan hasn’t been particularly happy with the way the Penguins This is the Penguins’ depth at its best. With Sullivan looking to spark the have gone in and out of the All-Star break. team and create an engagement level that is adequate night after night, you might see more of this trio as time wears on. “A lot of games are won and lost before the puck is dropped,” Sullivan said after Monday’s 6-3 loss to the Devils. “It’s about a mindset going in, The ability to roll four lines has always been the hallmark of the a readiness, a certain level of urgency, a certain level of purpose to the Penguins. If inserting youth in the lineup is the requirement to get back to game that is required to win in this league regardless of who your that ability, so be it. The team engagement level picked up a notch opponent is.” courtesy of the fourth line’s early game legs and their ability to execute the system flawlessly throughout the course of their first evening Sullivan has shown throughout the course of the year that ice time can together. be a coach’s best tool to drive home a message. The message this week? Fresh legs and a little hunger inserted into the lineup in the form The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 of Teddy Blueger and Garrett Wilson. After all, Sullivan has a point here about engagement level and intentions. With their4-2 win against the Lightning, the Penguins are 6-2- 1 against first-place teams. Some of their best performances this year have come against the league’s heaviest hitters in the standings. Conversely, the Penguins have been skated off the ice against some of the worst teams in the league. Monday loss to the last-place New Jersey Devils is a great example of one of those instances. Due to that as well as an injury to Derick Brassard, Sullivan felt a change was necessary. “We’re gonna make lineup decisions on a nightly basis based on who we have available and where people are at,” Sullivan said. “I know he (Blueger) is hungry to play. He’s certainly worthy of being here.” That aforementioned hunger was on display in the first period against Tampa Bay as the Penguins looked to find an engagement level that hadn’t existed in recent games. As the Penguins searched for their tempo in the early portions of the first period Wednesday night, it wasn’t Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin who sparked the Penguins to a goal-scoring run against the league’s best team. It was the Penguins’ fourth line, led by Blueger, Wilson and Riley Sheahan. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t your typical flashy Penguins goal, but the hard work and simplicity of the sequence were enough to give the Penguins a momentum bump that they never looked back from. The hunger that Sullivan discussed prior to the game was on display. It was a moment where a coaches intention with a lineup change manifested itself in an on-ice fashion. Aside from the absurd breakout pass from Kris Letang, this is just a nuts- and-bolts (pun intended) hockey play. The Penguins, led by Sheahan and Wilson, get up ice quickly, charge the net front, and overwhelm the lightning defense. It’s a work boot effort from Wilson’s wrap-around attempt to Blueger’s charging of the crease to clear out space. It’s another scoring chance for Wilson, who now leads the Penguins’ forward group in expected-goals for percentage at 57.7 percent. Granted, Wilson has only seen a total of 149 minutes at even-strength this year, but to be generating chances in that short amount of time with limited deployment? That’s worth celebrating out of a fourth liner. In Wilson’s limited sample size this season, he has a higher expected-goals for per 60 minutes at even-strength than Malkin. Wherever you play Wilson this season, scoring chances are quick to follow. If Sullivan’s vision was a batch of hungry, fresh legs to kick-start the Penguins’ intentions, I think it’s safe to call his plan a success. In their six minutes at even-strength, the Penguins’ new fourth line trio was the only group to play on the positive side of puck-possession for the night, finishing at plus 19 percent relative to the rest of the team. One of the reasons they were able to accomplish that feat was a press on breakouts and a nose for attacking throughout the course of the evening. Take a look at how they delayed and frustrated the Lightning’s breakout by providing a strong presence up-ice. With a 4-0 lead, Sheahan and Blueger are attacking the Lightning as if the game was scoreless. This is something you love to see out of a fourth line. Their pressure at the top of the Tampa Bay breakout forces the Lightning defense to wait two full cycles of forwards coming and going in the offensive zone before they can find a pass that suits them, and it’s flubbed away before any threat is able to matriculate. 1128376 San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Joe Thornton still not fully healthy as second half begins Along with a knee infection, San Jose Sharks center also had to deal with a broken toe

By Curtis Pashelka

SAN JOSE — Sharks center Joe Thornton is still not quite 100 percent healthy as the unofficial second half of the year gets underway this weekend. Thornton, 39, dealt with an infection in his surgically repaired right knee in October and on Thursday, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer revealed that Thornton later suffered a broken toe. The Sharks returned to practice Thursday after an eight-day break off the ice and Thornton is expected to play Saturday at SAP Center against the Arizona Coyotes. “Every time he seems to be turning a corner and putting that stuff behind him, it’s something else,” DeBoer said. “He plays through all of this stuff, but the guy hasn’t been healthy. “That’s step one. Let’s get him healthy. I know what he’s going to bring once he’s healthy.” Thornton has 25 points in 43 games, which includes four goals and three assists in the Sharks’ last nine games before the NHL all-star break began. The Sharks have 30 regular season games left and are in second place in the Pacific Division, six points back of Calgary. Thornton is averaging 15 minutes and 31 seconds of ice time so far, spending time recently on the third line with Marcus Sorensen on his wing. That’s down from the 18-plus minutes he averaged for the six seasons prior to this one. “I feel really good,” Thornton said. “A good break. A little rusty today just with the week off. But I feel great. “I found a nice groove with Marcus. We feel comfortable on the third line together. A good first half.” DeBoer compared Thornton’s situation to the one that captain Joe Pavelski went through in 2017-18, where a wrist injury limited his production, particularly in the first half of the season. Pavelski had 10 goals and 35 points through 50 games last season but finished the year with 22 goals and 66 points as he played all 82 games. So far this season, Pavelski is leading the Sharks with 27 goals. “My expectations are he’s going to be a big player for us and an important piece for us. He just needs to get healthy,” DeBoer said of Thornton. “A lot like (Joe) Pavelski last year, he hasn’t been healthy all year. “He’s close. He’s not there yet, but he’s close.” ▪ Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and said he’s ready to come off injured reserve and play Saturday. Vlasic missed the last 10 games with an upper body injury. “I’m 100 percent,” Vlasic said. ▪ Sharks all-stars Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Pavelski were all given an extra day off and are due back at the Sharks’ practice facility Friday. Asked if there’s any question about the availability of Karlsson, who missed San Jose’s last three games before the break with a lower body injury, for Saturday’s game, DeBoer said, “I don’t think so, but I haven’t seen him yet. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128377 San Jose Sharks Baker came back for the start of this season, his 14th in the Sharks’ broadcast booth. He’s split time between the radio side with Dan Rusanowsky and the NBC Sports California television broadcasts with Sharks broadcaster opens up about struggle with depression, suicidal play-by-play man and occasionally also fellow analyst Bret thoughts Hedican. “It’s been great. I love the rotation,” Baker said. “I know people who were worried potentially about all of the travel, because it t can wear you down, By Curtis Pashelka and it does. I get tired. I’m not immune to the fatigue of the schedule, but it hasn’t affected me in a way that’s forced me to take any steps back from a mental health standpoint.” SAN JOSE — simply felt it was time. Baker, 52, played 186 games for the Sharks, mostly from 1992-1996, and played one last game for San Jose on Oct. 10, 1999 before his Inspired by his oldest daughter’s touching post on Instagram last week retirement. and noticing that Wednesday in Canada was Bell Let’s Talk day, a mental health awareness initiative, the longtime Sharks broadcaster and Baker scored one of the biggest goals in franchise history, netting the former player, decided he needed to share more of what he has been game-winner in Game 7 of the Sharks’ upset of the Detroit Red Wings in dealing with for about two decades. the first round of the 1994 playoffs. While at Lake Tahoe with a friend, Baker tweeted, “I didn’t sleep well for San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 02.01.2019 15-20 years. I’ve battled depression, hated myself to the point I almost almost committed suicide on numerous occasions. I’ve battled addiction to self medicate. PLEASE PLEASE remember you are NOT alone. End the stigma #BellLetsTalk” Baker stepped away on two occasions last season from his duties with the Sharks to solely focus on his personal well-being. While Baker is not ready yet to discuss everything he’s endured, his tweet Wednesday marked the first time he’s partly shared some of his experiences.. I didn’t sleep well for 15-20 years. I’ve battled depression, hated myself to the point I almost almost committed suicide on numerous occasions. I’ve battled addiction to self medicate. PLEASE PLEASE remember you are NOT alone. End the stigma #BellLetsTalk ⁠ ⁠ — Jamie Baker (@Bakes_Jamie13) January 30, 2019 “It’s Bell’s Let’s Talk day, and I wanted to contribute,” Baker said Thursday. “I was inspired by my daughter. Being on a leave of absence a year ago and working as hard as I have to get where I am today, I felt it was a good time to share a few nuggets of what I’ve been through, in hope that even if one other person notices and is open about it, and talks about it with somebody and it helps them, then it was worth it. “And if it was two, then it was doubly worth it.” On her Instagram post, Reilly Baker said she found a note that she had written to herself six years before that said, “I hope you have followed your dream and are becoming an actress and living in Southern California.” Reilly Baker detailed all what she has been through in that time, her emotional and physical struggles, and how she is now living in Southern California and starting a career in acting. “It brought tears to my eyes,” Jamie Baker said. “She was sharing her story. It was interesting, because at some point, I want to share my story so I can hopefully inspire others to talk to people, to get help, to do what’s necessary. You can overcome whatever you’re dealing with.” Jamie Baker’s tweet received thousands of likes and retweets, to go with dozens of replies that Baker went back and liked Thursday morning to acknowledge everyone who reached out. “But I’m not doing it for that. I’m not doing it for me,” Baker said. “This is for other people.” Bell, a telecommunications giant in Canada, and its Let’s Talk initiative has been around since 2010. According to its website, the initiative aims to fight the stigma of mental illness, improve access to care, support research and lead by example in workplace mental health. On Wednesday, according to Bell, over 145 million interactions were created, as the company donated five cents toward mental health initiatives in Canada for every applicable text, call, tweet, social media video view and use of its Facebook frame or Snapchat filter that featured the #BellLetsTalk hashtag.. Bell tweeted that $7,272,134.95 was raised Wednesday for mental health programs, raising the total to $100,695,763.75. “I’m a small piece of the puzzle,” Baker said. “It was so nice of these people to say the things that they were, but it’s not why I did it. I didn’t do it for that. I did it because it’s Bell Let’s Talk, and if Jamie Baker is willing to talk, then maybe somebody else is too. I’m willing to share my story to some degree. “It’s not easy to do that, but that’s what yesterday was about.” 1128378 San Jose Sharks

Sharks rookies continue developing at AHL level with Barracuda

By Chelena Goldman January 31, 2019

SAN JOSE – There have been a few shuffles of the deck as players in the Sharks’ organization have bounced between the Barracuda and NHL club. Rourke Chartier, Dylan Gambrell, Antti Suomela, and Jacob Middleton may all currently be skating for the AHL squad, but they’ve spent time in the Joe Pavelski-led lineup as well. NBC Sports California attended Barracuda practice on Thursday as the team reconvened for their first skate after the AHL All-Star break. Here’s a quick check-in on how those four players’ seasons are shaping up. --Rourke Chartier spent the first part of the 2018-19 season playing fourth-line center for Team Teal. He’s since bounced between the two clubs, registering 13 points (four goals, nine assists) with the Barracuda. “Going up and down, I think it has been a good experience,” Chartier said on Thursday. “I’ve had a lot of fun just playing hockey. Hopefully, I can catch some more rhythm in the second half, whichever team I’m on.” The 22-year-old center said the rhythm he’s had so far can be contributed to having the opportunity to consistently play games. Even if he’s a healthy scratch for the Sharks one night, he can follow that up playing a couple games for the Barracuda and staying fresh. “At the end of the day you want to be playing games and getting better here,” Chartier said. “So when I do get another opportunity (at the NHL level) it’s going to be a lot easier having played some games.” --The last time NBC Sports California caught up with Dylan Gambrell, he was reflecting on the things he wanted to improve in his personal game at the NHL level. At the AHL level, though, the 22-year-old rookie has been one of the Barracuda’s top players. “I think my development is going well,” said Gambrell, who is tied for third on the team with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) through 29 games. “Both teams are doing well too, so that’s been good.” The University of Denver product brings a lot of speed to the Barracuda squad, which is considered one of the fastest teams in the league. Gambrell said the quickness of the AHL team has helped to prepare him for when he gets called up to the big club. “It just makes it an easier transition,” he summarized. “There’s not as big of a jump, or at least you don’t notice it as much when you get called up.” --Antti Suomela may only have seven points (two goals, five assists) in 17 games for the Barracuda. But head coach Roy Sommer said the Finnish rookie is bound to break out. “With him, the work ethic is there, and he has a big compete to his game,” the coach complimented. “I think he just has to figure out the North American game. Things happen a lot quicker here than where he was at. But he’s picking it up.” --Sharks fans are probably most familiar with defenseman Jacob Middleton because of his abrupt call-up to the big club earlier this month. A move made possible by the close proximity between the NHL and AHL teams. “I think everyone -- all the teams that have come from out east, it’s a lot less wear-and-tear on your players,” said Sommer, whose players only have to jump across the practice facility when recalled. (Instead of having to make the long coast-to-coast flight the players took when the team was still located in Worcester, Mass.) Sommer also echoed what Chartier said about getting players into games as opposed to them sitting around and getting rusty. “Instead of guys just sitting for long periods of time, they get an opportunity to get in games and get their rhythm.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128379 San Jose Sharks Yet the different approaches have led to similar results. No defensemen attempt 5-on-5 shots at a higher rate than Burns and Karlsson, and both players shoot from all over the ice. Why Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson are so good in eyes of NHL All-Star Notice any similarities, #SJSharks fans? pic.twitter.com/n77W3m3UTt goalies — Marcus White (@marcuspwhite) January 31, 2019

“[You’re] just sometimes trying to find the puck, block their shots and By Marcus White January 31, 2019 hoping for the best,” Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy said with a laugh. SAN JOSE -- Jimmy Howard hasn’t played against the Sharks this As he noted moments later, that’s easier said than done. season, but he knows what’s coming. Creating space The Detroit Red Wings goaltender won’t face San Jose until a Feb. 24 Vasilevskiy said that it can be difficult to get a clean view of Burns and matinee, when he will get his first glimpse at the two-pronged attack Karlsson’s shots, since the Sharks are effective at blocking goalies’ emanating from the Sharks’ blue line. vision. Just what does he expect when he’ll see All-Star defensemen Brent “They’re moving so fast on the blue line, it can be harder to [track the Burns and Erik Karlsson on the same team? puck],” Vasilevskiy said. “Especially when there’s a couple of guys in “Oof, I don’t know,” Howard said last week at All-Star media day. “I’ve front of the net.” watched some games, they look like quite the dual threat there.” Howard added that Burns and Karlsson’s ability on the puck can allow Sharks general manager Doug Wilson envisioned as much when he the Sharks’ forwards more time to screen an opposing goalie. This acquired Karlsson in September's blockbuster trade. San Jose entered season, they’ve taken advantage of it. the season with two Norris Trophy winners, something not seen since Entering Wednesday, five Sharks forwards were among the top 20 in Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger starred for the Anaheim Ducks a deflections, according to MoneyPuck. Joe Pavelski was also fourth in tips decade ago. (45), while Timo Meier (26) was tied for 16th. Despite Karlsson’s slow start offensively, he and Burns entered Thursday Burns and Karlsson open up opportunities for San Jose’s forward corps fifth (43) and first (55), respectively, in points among defensemen. For when they aren’t parked in front of opposing netminders, too. Take, for the third time in franchise history -- and the first in 10 years -- the Sharks instance, a goal the Sharks scored against Vasilevskiy on Jan. 5. have two blue-liners with 40-plus points ... with 30 games remaining. When Burns had an odd-man opportunity after gathering a turnover, So, what makes the two so effective? We turned to some of the best Vasilevskiy had to respect the defenseman’s shot. That left Joe Pavelski players tasked with stopping them, and asked three of the NHL’s All-Star wide open in the slot for a back-door pass, with a gaping net in front of goalies for their thoughts. him. Plenty of time As a result of the ice each of the two can open up, Burns and Karlsson It’s a simple notion, but part of the challenge in stopping Burns and are picking up primary assists at (or around) the highest rates of their Karlsson is how much they play. When two offensively gifted players are respective careers, both in 5-on-5 situations and on the power play. That given ample ice time, the points should follow. alone gives opposing goaltenders plenty to worry about. “Usually when we play San Jose,” Anaheim Ducks netminder John But when you take it all together? The Sharks have a dynamic few teams Gibson said, “one of the two [is] always on the ice for just about all of the can match, according to Howard. time. If you deal with one, then you’ve got to deal with the other one “If I was a San Jose Sharks fan, I’d be really happy with those two on the back-to-back.” back end,” he said. Entering the All-Star break, Karlsson (24:59) was 11th in average ice Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 time in the NHL, while Burns was 14th (24:42). Their usage isn't necessarily uncommon, as the Sharks are one of four teams that play two defensemen for at least 24 minutes per night. What is noteworthy, however, is that both players are actually playing less than in recent years. Burns’ ice time is his lowest since Peter DeBoer took over as head coach in 2015. Karlsson, meanwhile, is playing less than any year of his career except his first two. It helps, then, that they’re making the most of their time on the rink. Lots of shots Since the NHL realigned in 2013, Howard faced off against Karlsson’s Ottawa Senators 12 times. In those matchups, he said he became quite familiar with the Swedish defenseman’s offensive style. “I know how shifty he can be on the blue line,” Howard said, “how he can slide [the puck along] and get wrist shots through. He’s very, very deceptive that way and he can skate like the wind.” Almost 55 percent of Karlsson’s unblocked shot attempts this season are wrist shots, compared to just under 50 percent for defensemen as a whole, according to MoneyPuck's shot data. Of the defensemen who have taken more unblocked wristers than Karlsson (125), only Mark Giordano was more reliant on the shot. Burns has taken more wrist shots than Karlsson, but power is a bigger part of his offensive game in Howard's eyes. “He's more of a physical presence than Erik,” Howard continued, “and he’s got a lot of heavier shot. He can really fire the puck, but he can also really skate.” The 32-year-old leads the league with 114 unblocked slap shots, and those comprise just over 40 percent of his unblocked attempts. As of Wednesday, slap shots accounted for approximately one-third of all shots taken by NHL defensemen this season. 1128380 San Jose Sharks Evander Kane, you got him to come in and be a power/speed winger, and that’s what he’s been.”

While maintaining their recent offensive pace is probably unlikely, the Keys to contending: Thornton, Vlasic and Jones will be ones to watch as Sharks have one player who could have more of an impact coming out of the Sharks resume their season the break: Joe Thornton, now skating as the third line center. Thornton has a respectable 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 43 By Kevin Kurz Jan 31, 2019 games, despite his ice time dropping to an average of 15:30 minutes a game. He’s had trouble staying healthy, though, suffering an infected knee that kept him out for nine games in October, and then playing through an infected ankle and broken toe in recent weeks. He surely had Every once in a while, social media is actually good for something. some time to heal during the break. In the Sharks’ final game before the All-Star break/bye week on Jan. 22 “My expectations are that he’s going to be a big player for us and an in Washington, I tweeted that if the season ended that day that Tomas important piece for us (in the second half),” DeBoer said of Thornton. “He Hertl would probably get my vote as the team MVP. plays through all this stuff, but the guy hasn’t been healthy. That’s step one, is let’s get him healthy. I know what he’s going to bring once he’s WHO’S THE SHARKS MVP AT THE ALL-STAR BREAK? THAT WOULD healthy.” BE A GOOD ARGUMENT. I THINK AT THIS POINT I WOULD VOTE TOMAS HERTL. Still, if there’s one area that the Sharks could probably use another body before the Feb. 25 trade deadline, it’s a depth winger or center. While — KEVIN KURZ (@KKURZNHL) JANUARY 23, 2019 Kevin Labanc has posted 30 points (5g, 25a) in 52 games, he’s still Hertl, in my opinion, has been the Sharks’ most consistent player from making too many errors away from the puck and taking too many opening night through the end of the first half. He’s second on the team penalties. Just before the break on Jan. 19 in Tampa Bay, DeBoer gave in goals (22), tied for fourth in points (45), is an important cog on both the him another chance on a scoring line but Labanc was back to the fourth top power play unit and penalty kill, has taken just three minor penalties, line by the end of the night after missing an assignment on a Lightning and hasn’t gone more than three games without getting at least one goal and taking a penalty in the neutral zone. point. Lukas Radil has lately been on the Couture line, but as a first-year pro, Of course, not everyone agrees with me. There are a number of players he may be better suited as a fourth liner, as the Sharks’ fourth line in who could be deserving of the label, including Joe Pavelski (team-leading general this season has been so-so. 27 goals), Brent Burns (team-leading 55 points), Erik Karlsson and Logan Expect the Sharks to try and upgrade their forward group over the next Couture. Even someone like Timo Meier, who leads the Sharks in even few weeks via the trade market. strength points with 39 and is a +17 could get some consideration. On the back end, Burns and Karlsson have been, well, Burns and While the debate is a compelling one, it also reflects the biggest strength Karlsson. of the Sharks as a team, as they get set to open the unofficial second half — their depth. Whether it’s playing Hertl, Pavelski and Couture on Burns has consistently produced from Day 1, and leads the NHL in separate lines, or having either Karlsson or Burns on the ice for at least scoring among defensemen. Karlsson has probably been the Sharks’ two-thirds of every game, the Sharks have the ability to come at teams in best player since mid-November after struggling for the first month and waves when they are playing their game. playing himself into game shape. He’s fifth in scoring among defensemen with 43 points, and leads all NHL blue liners with a 59.47 shot-attempt They are in as good a position as any team in the league outside of percentage. perhaps Tampa Bay to challenge for the Stanley Cup, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference with a Overall, the Sharks lead the NHL with 152 points from their defense, due 29-16-7 mark. That includes a mark of 17-6-2 since Dec. 2. in large part to the ability of Burns and Karlsson to transition the puck, find open teammates, and get it to the front of the net. Burns’ 191 shots “Overall, it seems like they’re finding their way,” said E.J. Hradek, the on goal lead all NHL defensemen while Karlsson’s 154 shots are fourth. senior reporter for the NHL Network and host of NHL Now. “To me, They are both on the ice for approximately 25 minutes a game. they’re going to be there, it’s just a matter of how they’re playing down the stretch.” The Sharks’ first-half success begins with those two players, a duo on defense that is unmatched around the league. The Sharks’ depth up front is arguably the best they’ve had since Doug Wilson took over as general manager in 2003. While they don’t have any Regarding Burns and Karlsson, Hradek said: “I go back to when Anaheim players among the league’s top 20 in scoring, they are the only team in had (Scott) Niedermayer and (Chris) Pronger. That was a real high-end the NHL to have seven players (five of which are forwards) with at least duo. The only difference was I think both of those guys probably 40 points. defended better than the two guys that San Jose has, but certainly those guys can bring it offensively. It’s dynamic, and it gives Pete options in all The Sharks are third in the NHL with 3.60 goals-per-game, aided in large kind of situations to do things differently. part by a power play that’s sixth in the league (24.7 percent). Their 55.6 shot-attempt percentage (and 56.8 in close games) are the best marks in “I always do wonder about when the games get tight, these guys give the league. you something at one end and they’ll take it away at the other end. When you had Pronger and Niedermayer you didn’t really have that worry.” While the offense has been pretty good for most of the season, coach Pete DeBoer made a bold move after Christmas that seems to have That’s part of the reason that all eyes will be on Marc-Edouard Vlasic turned a good offense into an elite one. when the Sharks resume play. After Hertl was shifted to center and scored a pair of third-period goals on After a rough first three months, the defensive-minded defenseman Dec. 23 against Arizona, helping the Sharks to gain a point in the finally seemed to be finding his game before he was hurt. The injury is standings in a 4-3 shootout loss, the coach left the affable Czech native believed to be his left shoulder, which occurred on Jan. 2, forcing him in the middle. The result has been a team that has scored at least three from the lineup for the last 10 games. He’ll be ready to go on Saturday goals in 14 of its last 15 games, averaging a league-leading 4.40 goals- against Arizona, though, and the Sharks will need him and partner Justin per-game over that span. That includes 12 goals from Hertl, who posted Braun to be more reliable over the final 30 games. a hat trick on Jan. 15 against Pittsburgh and again on Jan. 22 in Washington. Vlasic said on Thursday that he felt he and Braun had been playing well as a pair since Dec. 2, when the Sharks began their turnaround. Over the last 15 games, the Sharks have nine players with at least 10 points. Burns and Evander Kane — Hertl’s linemate, who has also been “It had been going well for 30 days,” Vlasic said. “We’ll keep that going sparked by the post-Christmas shuffle — have 20 points apiece over that when I come back, so I’m not worried about that. (The) team is playing span. well. When the team is playing well, individually your game is going in the right direction, as well.” “It’s a pretty deep group,” Hradek said. “Meier showed up on my radar screen halfway through last year. Watching the game, and you could see Obviously, a more effective Vlasic and Braun would surely help the he was moving forward. Hertl has played very well this year, and he’s Sharks lower their 3.15 goals-against average, good for just 21st in the had some ebbs and flows in his career because of injuries, but it seems NHL. like he’s really finding his game. Logan Couture is always really good. Pavelski is having a renaissance season in the last year of his deal. What would also help is steadier goaltending. The Sharks come out of the break with an NHL-worst .896 save percentage during 5-on-5 play in what has to be the most concerning stat attached to the team. Yes, the Sharks have been too loose at times during their first half, including their road trip last week leading into the break when they allowed six goals in four straight games — the first time that’s happened in franchise history. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sharks have allowed a total of 457 high-danger scoring chances, the 10th-most in the league. They’ve surrendered a league-high 72 high-danger goals-against, though, suggesting that neither Martin Jones nor Aaron Dell has made enough saves. Jones brings an .895 save percentage and 2.95 goals- against average into the weekend, while Dell’s numbers (.891 SP, 3.11 GAA) are even worse. DeBoer mentioned that the Sharks’ staff took a deep look at the team’s overall performance during the break, and along with reestablishing a penalty kill that started to slip, they also got into some “goalie stuff.” “I think there are some things that (goalie coach Johan Hedberg) feels that he can work at in that area,” DeBoer said. “That goes hand in hand with us defending the right areas of the ice and (preventing) some of the chances we give up. It’s a simple answer to a lot more complicated situation, but we dove into that a little bit.” Jones is in the first year of a six-year, $34.5 million contract extension, and the team has never expressed any doubt in his ability to be a championship-level goaltender. The 29-year-old’s playoff numbers and the 2016 run to the Stanley Cup Final indicate that Jones can do what’s necessary, and he said recently that he believes he plays his best hockey when the “team needs him the most.” At the same time, if the season ended today, the Sharks would face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. Considering Marc-Andre Fleury is having another strong year, there’s no doubt that Sharks would be at a disadvantage when it comes to the goalie matchup. The Sharks have just three more back-to-back situations remaining in the season, so it’s likely Jones will get the bulk of the time in net to sort himself out. They need him to be better. There’s nothing that will snuff out a Stanley Cup run more quickly than subpar goaltending. “(Jones) has already taken this team to the Stanley Cup Final, so he’s shown he can do it, and he’s had a track record of success,” Hradek said. “Based on that, I’m not worried. But, the other side of me is like, maybe it’s just one of those years where he’s struggling for whatever reason to find a groove. So that’s what I’ll be watching for, particularly in March, is, where is Martin Jones at, because I don’t think you’re going to go very far with Aaron Dell if you had to. So, it’s going to be on Martin Jones.” The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128381 St Louis Blues don’t get many opportunities to put them down to sleep or get up with them in the morning, so to get that opportunity is pretty special.”

Confidence, like momentum (or sleep, if you have triplets), can be a Refreshed Blues jump right in after break fleeting thing. A fragile psyche was something interim coach Craig Berube — who spent his break in Philadelphia, which may explain his lack of a tan — has pointed to as one of the team’s issues this season. Tom Timmermann Now, the team seems to be on a more even keel, with a destination in sight but with some strong waves in between.

“It starts when you stop worrying about stuff happening around you and That the Blues came back from the All-Star break and their bye week — just worry about your game,” Tarasenko said. “Every guy here supports a combined seven days between their last game and their first practice each other. You guys can feel it from the stands and we just play for on Thursday — feeling refreshed, invigorated and tanned, is not each other. We feel pretty confident now and it’s nice to be here with the surprising. A week on a beach someplace warm, with no one slamming guys. With the work process, we can build a really good momentum and your body into a wall at high speed, will do that. something really good here.” But the Blues also came back feeling confident, probably more confident Did the break run the risk of breaking the momentum they had built up? than they have all season. The way they have played of late, coupled with the ground they have closed on the rest of the Western Conference, “It’s more about confidence,” Tarasenko said, “and I don’t think the break has changed the complexion of a season that seemed doomed. can affect confidence.” “I feel like we’re building something really good inside here, especially St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 after the last game,” right winger Vladimir Tarasenko said. “A lot of good emotions inside the locker room, a lot of positive. It’s a good time for us. Now we’re ready to make a push and keep it in the right direction. “We know the season is not over like everyone said a couple months ago. We feel pretty confident now.” Confidence is something that has been in short supply for the Blues this season, as they struggled to find a consistent path to success. But they restart the season on Saturday in Columbus with a 6-3-1 mark in their past 10 games, which is as good as it’s been for the Blues this season and is better than all but one of the teams currently in the wild card race. The Blues are three points out of a wild card berth, another rarity. “At one point, I couldn’t even tell you how many points we were out,” goalie Jake Allen said. “I think we’ve put ourselves in a great spot, with an opportunity to capitalize on something that the first two months of the year a lot of people probably counted us completely out of as a possibility.” The Blues still have plenty of doubters, and as solid a statement as the Blues made right before the break with a dominating win over Anaheim, the Los Angeles game right before it, where the Blues blew a 2-0 lead and lost 4-3, costing them two valuable points, is one of the reasons those doubts persist. Now they start February, which looms as a short yet unforgiving month. In the upcoming 28 days, the Blues will play 14 games with three sets of back-to-backs. Of those 14 games, 11 of them are against teams that right now are in a playoff spot and nine of them are on the road. Three of their first five games are against teams that in the top five in the league in points, including league-leading Tampa Bay. And at the end of the month, on Feb. 25, is the trade deadline, something that figures to loom over players on the team, particularly pending unrestricted free agents Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarsson and Pat Maroon. A year ago, the Blues entered this stretch of the season in a playoff spot but heading down. This year, the Blues are out but feel they’re heading up. “It’s a different feeling because we feel like we’re playing well,” captain Alex Pietrangelo said. “We’ve built this thing in the right direction. We have some momentum. We ended on a really good note against Anaheim. We can only go up from here and treat every game like a playoff game. We don’t really have a choice. You’re playing 14 games in one month. You should be dialed in mentally. It’s going to be on us to make sure we’re ready.” “We’ve been crawling our way back into this fight and we ended the break, I thought, pretty good,” said center Ryan O’Reilly. “It wasn’t the best ending but our last game I thought was really good and we want to build. It’s going to be really tough to get in, but I think we can for sure. … If we do the right things and play the right way, it’s going to roll, and that can be a really good thing for us.” The break is a double-edged sword. While the time off is welcome, it also is why games are crammed together. Some players took the chance to head to a beach somewhere, like the Caribbean or Mexico. Some, like Pietrangelo, stayed home with their family, in his case, with his infant triplets. “This month is going to be a grind,” Pietrangelo said. “It’s going to be tough. It’s a good thing we have this kind of reset. ... I think given an opportunity to spend six days at home with my kids, I’m going to do it every time. It was a good chance to reset and enjoy some time at home. A lot of quality time. Gave their mom a break that’s well earned. You 1128382 St Louis Blues “It’s pretty casual at those events, but just to be on the same team as him, watching Patrick Kane, that was pretty impressive,” he said. “He gets the puck, especially three-on-three, no one can get him off it. It’s his Blues place Perron on injured reserve puck, he’s doing what he wants with it. I was on the ice a few times with him, it’s just amazing the plays he can make and seeing it from the other end was obviously a lot nicer.” Tom Timmermann St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019

Winger , who missed the final three games before the All- Star break with an upper-body injury, will miss at least one more after the team put him on injured reserve on Thursday. And one is the minimum. Interim coach Craig Berube said Perron would not accompany the team when it left on Friday for Columbus but could join the team later. “He’s not going to come with us on the start, that’s for sure,” Berube said. “We’ll see how he’s doing and if he feels like he can come on the trip, he can join us on the trip.” The Blues play in Columbus on Saturday, then play at Florida on Tuesday and Tampa Bay on Thursday. Perron had a 13-game point streak going when he was hurt in the Boston game on Jan. 17. He’s second on the team in scoring with 35 points on 17 goals and 18 assists. THOMAS CLOSE Forward Robert Thomas, who has been out with an injured shoulder and thought he might have a chance to play in the Anaheim game right before the break but didn’t, could be back in the lineup on Saturday. “I think that’s the way everyone’s feeling, that I might have a chance to play,” he said. “It will be good. Everything is starting to come along and I feel a lot better.” Thomas skated with the fourth line (Ivan Barbashev, Robby Fabbri and Mackenzie MacEachern) in practice and said Thursday was the first day he had been cleared for contact. “He looked good out there so he’ll get more of that tomorrow,” Berube said. “We’ll do some drills in practice where he sees how he feels with the contact.” MacEachern, who was sent down after the Anaheim game so he could get in games with San Antonio, was recalled on Thursday in another vote of confidence for the rookie forward. With Thomas still on injured reserve and Perron joining him, the Blues have 21 players on the roster at the moment. BACK IN MOTION Coming off a week off the ice, Berube wanted the team to have a busy practice session and he liked what he saw. “It was good,” he said. “Twenty-five minutes of good crisp flow and skating, passing, pace, and then I wanted to get some scrimmage time in there to get them on their toes and thinking about game-like situations. “They worked hard. I thought the pace was good, the skating was there. They looked good to me. The passing and the puck skills are a little off from the time away and not being on the ice, but overall, we were happy with practice.” General manager Doug Armstrong said last week that Berube would finish out the season as coach and would be a candidate for the job for next season. Berube said that doesn’t change things for him. “I’m not too worried about all that,” he said. “I’m not. I enjoy what I’m doing right now, coaching this team and I think we’re making strides and we’re going in the right direction. That’s all I can focus on. I love working with these guys. They’re a great group of guys and I think they want to win, and I think we’re going in the right direction.” ALL-STAR MEMORIES Ryan O’Reilly spent his break in San Jose, where he was the Blues’ representative at the All-Star Game. “It was good,” he said. “It was fun. It would have been nice to win the (final) game, but you get to see a lot of guys and it’s nice going to California and getting some sunshine there.” At an event filled with the league’s best talent, one player stood out to O’Reilly. 1128383 St Louis Blues

101's all-sports format a big draw in Blues' move there from KMOX

Dan Caesar

For the third time in their 52-year history, the Blues are switching radio stations. The first two moves were made because the team was tired of being behind the Cardinals in the pecking order of importance. That again is a component of the move that was announced Thursday, that the broadcasts are going from KMOX (1120 AM) to WXOS (101.1 FM) next season as a four-year deal begins. But Chris Kerber, the team’s vice president of broadcast and content development as well as its radio play-by-play broadcaster, said there is much more this time. “The arrangement we had with KMOX and the Cardinals was so good that by no means was that the deciding factor,” he said. But WXOS, as an all-sports station, can devoted much more time to the team than can stations such as KMOX that are locked into day-long non- sports formats. “This is more about the future opportunities to deliver broader content, both digital and over the air that we haven’t been able to in the history of the franchise,” Kerber said. He cited an example: “A game-day morning skate live broadcast, where as the team is hitting the ice we’re just finding out what lines are going to play together (that night), who is going to be the starting goaltender, who are the scratches going to be — to be able to bring that to people live on the air, and podcast that for those that missed the live broadcast,” is something enticing. “It’s not the fault of any station the team has been on, it’s just because of the formatting of those stations that type of opportunity hasn’t been there and now it is.” The deal also calls for Blues-related content on the local stations in addition to WXOS that are owned by Hubbard Radio — WIL (92.3 FM), KSHE (94.7 FM), KPNT (105.7 FM) and WARH (106.5 FM). At KMOX (1120 AM), there also has been cross-promotion with the other Entercom Communications-owned stations in the market — KNOU-FM (96.3 FM), KFTK-FM (97.1 FM), KYKY (98.1 FM) and KEZK (102.5 FM). Kerber said the Hubbard stations are more “in the wheelhouse of demographics” for the Blues than are Entercom’s. It’s a coup for 101.1, which is celebrating its 10th year in the sports-talk format and hasn’t had an anchor high-profile team on its airwaves since the Rams left after the 2015 NFL season. The station is the radio home of the St. Louis University men’s basketball team, but the addition of the Blues will vault it back into the prominence of the pro-sports business. “It has always been a dream to partner with the St. Louis Blues organization,” John Kijowski, who runs Hubbard’s St. Louis operations, said in a statement. “The Blues management team is a class act and their fans are the best in professional hockey.” Entercom didn’t comment beyond a statement: “... We have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank the Blues organization for their partnership throughout the years and wish the team continued success.” Kerber and analyst Joey Vitale are expected to continue to form the radio broadcast team, and the games will remain on KMOX for the remainder of this season. “They did everything they could (at KMOX), they put their best foot forward,” to keep the Blues, Kerber said. “Me personally, being a St. Louis guy, I understand the pride of what it means saying, ‘I’ve been a broadcaster on KMOX.’ But there’s a great opportunity for raising the level of content we’re able to deliver to Blues fans through the all-sports format.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128384 St Louis Blues

KMOV optimistic about Super Bowl rating despite teams despised in St. Louis playing

Dan Caesar

There has been quite a bit of angst in St. Louis since the Super Bowl matchup was set nearly two weeks ago, with what are widely considered the two most despised NFL teams locally set to play. The New England Patriots pulled the second-biggest upset in Super Bowl history, beating the Rams 20-17 as a 14-point underdog in the cap to the 2001 season to get their dynasty started. Later, reports surfaced that the Patriots inappropriately taped the Rams’ walk-through practice ahead of the game, which could have tipped them off on some plays. The validity and extent of the reports have been questioned for years, but nonetheless have stoked ire from St. Louisans toward the Patriots and the league. That ill will was topped three seasons ago with Rams owner Stan Kroenke moving the team back to Los Angeles. That has led to many local and national media reports in recent days about ambivalence in St. Louis toward this Rams-Patriots matchup. But the real test comes at the Nielsen ballot box, which will measure local TV viewership of the game. The telecast will appear on KMOV (Channel 4), and station general manager Mike Murphy thinks the number will be good. “The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl, people who like football are going to watch,” he said. “The issues that happened a long time ago were with Stan Kroenke, not the players or team or coaches. They had a great season.” The Rams also fared well in St. Louis TV ratings this season. But Murphy said a Kansas City-Rams matchup would have been more tantalizing for KMOV. “It would be kind of ironic, the team that’s trying to make inroads into St. Louis and the team that left,” he said. “I think it would have done very well.” LAGGING LA The recent NFL conference title games produced huge television ratings in the markets of the teams that were competing — except one. Kansas City (60.1), New Orleans (59.8) and Boston (58.5) all had more than half the homes with a TV tuned to the game. That’s according to Nielsen. But Los Angeles clunked in at 26.4 percent, which was worse than the number the Rams drew in the town they spurned three seasons ago. St. Louis generated a 26.4 rating. Astonishingly, the New England-Kansas City AFC title game drew a better rating (27.5) in LA than the Rams pulled in the NFC contest in which they beat the Saints. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128385 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning looks to follow Penguins example and bounce back The first game back from break was tough, but what about the second?

Staff

PITTSBURGH — Every team has a first game back. For the Lightning, that meant a sloppy start against the Penguins on Wednesday. For Pittsburgh, it was a poor showing against New Jersey on Monday. The key is the bounce back. The Penguins went from a bad loss Monday to a quick start Wednesday, capitalizing on the Lightning’s mistakes and getting a convincing 4-2 win. What will the Lightning’s response look like against the Islanders on Friday night at Nassau Coliseum? Steven Stamkos said the Lightning plans to shake off the loss as a not- bad game in which it made crucial mistakes and be better the next time. Tampa Bay has lost consecutive games only once this season. “We skated decently well,” Brayden Point said. “It just felt like our timing was a little bit off, puck skills were a little bit off. Hopefully we got that out of our system.” It’s hard to come off a break. Every player who comes back from an injury says it. Coach Jon Cooper pointed back to the Lightning’s first preseason game. Tampa Bay had a “great, hard camp and got pounded our first exhibition game,” losing 4-1 to the Hurricanes. Cooper did his best to emulate a game in the Lightning’s two practice sessions before facing the Penguins, but there’s nothing like game action. Monday, he referred to a conversation with Penguins star Sidney Crosby, wondering who had the advantage between a team playing right out of the break and one that had a couple of days before its first game. It turned out neither the Penguins nor the Lightning had a good showing in their different positions. Playing Monday did give the Penguins a chance to take advantage of the slow-starting Lightning on Wednesday, but in the end, both teams lost their first game back. “None of us were pleased with the effort that we had, the effort or the execution for that matter, against the Devils the other night (a 6-3 loss),” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We have a proud group, we have great leadership, and I think our players take ownership for what’s going on. I give our leadership a lot of credit in the room for the response we had (Wednesday).” Now, it’s on the Lightning’s leadership to respond and evoke a different result against the Islanders. It’s not like Wednesday’s whole game needs to be thrown out. The Lightning had chances and didn’t give the Penguins much. The Penguins just capitalized on what the Lightning gave them. The Lightning shouldn’t have any issue getting up for the Islanders. Not only is it coming off the loss to Pittsburgh, it also had a miserable showing against New York in a 5-1 loss on Jan. 13. Cooper didn’t necessarily learn anything from that game; he knew the Islanders were good. But seeing what happened when the Lightning gave the Islanders a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes reaffirmed the need for a quick start. Tampa Bay got its first post-break game out of the way. Now it faces the Islanders, who Friday night play their first game after their break. “It’s not easy when you’re off for 10 days, but every one had to do it,” Stamkos said. “(The Penguins) were able to get a game under their belt before we played, and we’re going to do the same thing to the Islanders. It’s going to even itself out quick.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128386 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning-Penguins broadcast sparks ‘mansplaining’ controversy NBC Sports' Pierre McGuire’s ‘cringeworthy’ remarks to fellow analyst Kendall Coyne Schofield set off backlash.

By Times Staff Writer

Kendall Coyne Schofield looked to ride the wave of her groundbreaking appearance in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition when she appeared as an analyst on the NBC Sports Network’s broadcast of the Lightning- Penguins. The broadcast, however, will be remembered more for what her broadcast partner, Pierre McGuire, said than any insight she offered. In the first period, McGuire welcomed her with a pair of what some viewers called “cringeworthy” comments as she prepared to add color from between the benches. “Tampa’s going to be on your left. Pittsburgh’s going to be on your right,” McGuire started. He followed up by asking, “What are you expecting out of this game? We’re paying you to be an analyst, not to be a fan tonight.” The reaction on Twitter and in the media proved swift and largely merciless. A number of outlets accused McGuire of “mansplaining,” and many noted Coyne Schofield has won won Olympic gold and silver medals with Team USA. Others pointed out that a former men’s player making his debut would not have been greeted with such comments. Would he have said those things to a male hockey player who had the same exact accomplishments and credibility as Coyne if brought in as a guest analyst? — Krysta (@krittterrr) January 31, 2019 Coyne Schofield, however, defended McGuire. In a response she posted on Twitter, she said she’s known McGuire for years and knows “he respects me as a hockey player, a woman, and a friend and that is why I didn’t think twice about our on-air exchange when it happened.” She added that she understands why people would think it was inappropriate, but she also knows that McGuire was excited for her to have the moment. “What IS important," she tweeted, "is for every young girl reading this to know it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of my hockey knowledge — because I do not doubt my hockey knowledge and I didn’t need a gold medal to come to that conclusion. I needed belief in myself.” This past week... pic.twitter.com/h73xEA6QWc — Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) January 31, 2019 The fame of Coyne Schofield, who also plays for Minnesota in the NWHL, has risen in recent days after she became the first woman to participate in the skills competition on Jan. 25, finishing seventh in in the fastest skater competition. McGuire also issued a statement, noting he got to know Coyne Schofield covering her in the past two Winter Olympics. “We were all thrilled to have her join our coverage last night, but at times my excitement got the better of me and I should have chosen my words better," McGuire said. “I have the utmost respect for Kendall as a world- class player, analyst of the game, and role model.” Still, some fans refused to let McGuire off the hook, even after the response from Schofield. Many noted she majored in communications while a student at Northeastern University and did some sideline reporting on the men’s hockey broadcasts when she could work around her own schedule on the women’s team. One tweet called McGuire’s comment, “mind-numbingly obtuse.” Class all the wayI just wish people stopped covering for how terrible Pierre is at his job.the "paid to be an analyst not a fan" comment was mind numbingly obtuse and he should be made aware of it.Coyne- Schofield took the high road. — Jayke W (@Jayke_W) January 31, 2019 Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128387 Tampa Bay Lightning Point said it takes a bit to settle back in after a break, to get the timing back and even your puck skills. The two practices the Lightning had on Monday and Tuesday weren’t the same as a game. Lightning falls in first game back from break J.T. Miller landed his goal with four minutes left, scoring on a wrist shot in Penguins score three early before game devolves into chippiness. the high slot. Stamkos scored a power-play goal, as the puck banked off Murray’s pad and into the net.

The two goals prevented the shutout and made the deficit more By Diana C. Nearhos respectable, but it was no moral victory. The Lightning barely celebrated either goal.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 PITTSBURGH — The hottest scoring team in the league couldn’t score early on Wednesday, and its mistakes were costly. Ten days between games translated to a sloppy start for the Lightning and the Penguins struck quickly, with three goals in the opening nine minutes. The Lightning got two goals on the board late, but the damage had been done as Tampa Bay lost 4-2. The Lightning didn’t feel the game was poor, just the execution early in the first period. When Pittsburgh is on, which it was on Wednesday, that is costly. “I thought we actually had a pretty good first, but we made three mistakes and they all ended up in the back of our net,” coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s tough to come back from that.” Tampa Bay outshot Pittsburgh in the first period, 16-5. But that doesn’t count for much when zero of 16 go in and three of five do. You couldn’t blame goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy for any of those first three goals, really. In fact, he made two nice saves immediately before the first goal. First Vasilevskiy made a pad save on Kris Letang, coming in on the rush. Then, he made a nearly-full-split toe save on a wraparound by Garrett Wilson. Riley Sheahan pounced on the rebound, sending over the still- sprawled Vasilevskiy. Defenseman Dan Girardi was beat on the original entry and then no one cleared the Penguins from the net front, allowing for continued chances. Thus, Pittsburgh gets on the board first at 3:25. The Penguins took a two-goal lead on a two-on-one. Vasilevskiy played Bryan Rust’s angle well, cutting off his attempt to go forehand-to- backhand across the crease. Phil Kessel, the other half of the two-on- one, was there to tap it in, however. Then, 16 seconds later, Sidney Crosby made it 3-0. Brayden Point turned the puck over from behind the net and Domink Simon fought off Erik Cernak to pass to a wide-open Crosby. “Tough turnovers, obviously mine was a bit of a backbreaker,” Point said. “I just didn’t look through it. It threw it blind, right on his tape and he makes a good play. Tough for Vasy, tough one for sure.” After that, what was already a sloppy game became chippy. How chippy did this get? Evgeni Malkin and Stamkos dropped the gloves. Malkin has three fights in his 13-year career and Stamkos has four in his 11 seasons. The fight was mostly a bear hug, but they each got in a few punches. “I thought he gave me a little whack," Stamkos said. "I gave him one back. It’s just hockey.” It started earlier, just after the third goal. Ryan McDonagh and Patrick Hornqvist exchanged shoves at the blue line, way away from the play, and McDonagh ended up in the box for a high stick. Just 26 seconds later, Cedric Paquette hit Evgeni Malkin in the corner and was called for interference. Players paired off in heavy shoving matches, and that was before Pittsburgh started it’s extended five-on-three (proving coach Jon Cooper right in his statement that there’s always one between these teams). Another full-team scrum broke out a few minutes into the second period. Alex Killorn’s shot took him to his knees and he let his momentum carry him into goalie Matt Murray, delivering a jab when he got there. Predictably, the Penguins didn’t take too kindly to that. During the ensuing four-on-four, Letang made it 4-0. He landed a nice wrist shot from the right dot on the rush, beating Vasilevskiy cleanly, 6:02 into the period. The team scrums (and penalties) didn’t end there. In the end, the teams combined for 28 penalty minutes. 1128388 Toronto Maple Leafs in this case, a Norris Trophy candidate — to be saddled with a needlessly complicated assignment? Why not make the new guy grapple with the new thing? Put your best defenceman in a position be his best. Maple Leafs will find out if Morgan Rielly has the right stuff | The Star As Lidstrom told Detroit reporters a few years back: “It’s tough to play on the right side when you’re left-handed.” By Dave Feschuk Babcock, asked Thursday if he ever played Lidstrom on his off side, shook his head: “No.”

Rielly, of course, isn’t Lidstrom. These Maple Leafs aren’t those Red TAYLOR, MICH.—Relaxing with family in hometown Vancouver during Wings. And for now, at least, Babcock is choosing not to heed Lidstrom’s the post-all-star-game bye week, Maple Leafs veteran Morgan Rielly got logic and opting instead for a different course. The focus is on making wind of the arrival of his new defence partner the same way a lot of Muzzin comfortable. Whether that’s the coach’s idea or the coach people found out: scrolling through his phone. grudgingly entertaining management’s preference, it’s the direction of the moment. But Babcock reserved the right to flip Rielly back. And as much as Rielly said he was excited by the trade that brought Jake Muzzin to Toronto, he acknowledged he didn’t react to the news quite as “I think the one thing to do is to get your new people feeling good, and enthusiastically as his mother, Shirley. She was cooking Monday dinner then if you want to make any changes or do anything any different, do it when Morgan informed her of the transaction. afterward, after they’re feeling good and they’re feeling comfortable and they know what’s going on,” Babcock said. “I think her reaction was better than mine. She was pretty excited,” Rielly said. “It’s a big move for our team.” On Thursday Babcock acknowledged having spoken to former Kings coaches Darryl Sutter and John Stevens to get an understanding of Still, just as the reaction to a favourable trade often morphs from Muzzin’s skill set. While Babcock didn’t elaborate much on his findings, unanimous exuberance into rampant over-analysis, it began to dawn on Sutter has done more than one interview in which he’s strongly Rielly’s mother, just like it’s been dawning on the rest of Leafs Nation, suggested Muzzin would be ill-suited to the right side. that Muzzin’s presence wouldn’t come without its complications. “You cannot ask a (left-handed) player halfway through his career to “She did her homework, went right online. I think the first thing she said switch over (to right defence) unless he’s an elite, elite player,” Sutter told was, ‘Oh, he’s a lefty,’ ” Rielly said. “That’s what everyone said. And then TSN radio this week. “Not many guys can do it. It’s hard.” she dug a little deeper.” Muzzin, for his part, sounded appreciative of the arrangement, and rightly The digging continued Thursday at the Taylor Sportsplex, the suburban so. While he told a conference call with reporters Monday that he’d Detroit rink where the Maple Leafs reconvened after a nine-day break to played previously on the right side, on Thursday he walked that claim prepare for Friday’s game against the Red Wings at Little Caesars back. Arena. While Thursday brought more plaudits for the trade, it also gave the team its first glimpse of an intriguing new reality. With Muzzin in the “I played pretty much my whole career on the left and it’s just — it’s fold, the Maple Leafs’ top six defencemen include five left-handed comfy for me,” he said. shooters. So as much as Muzzin brings a long-sought mix of puck- moving skill and big-bodied grit to Toronto’s oft-maligned blue line, he This isn’t an unusual situation. Some 60% of defencemen who’ve suited also exacerbates an issue. up for at least one NHL game this season shoot left, according to hockey-reference.com. The left-handed percentage is higher on more “There’s no question about it: It’s not perfect. It’s what we got. It’s what than one team, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, who, as Babcock was available. And we’re going to make it work,” Leafs head coach Mike noted, recently dressed five southpaw defencemen alongside their right- Babcock said. handed No. 1 Kris Letang. If it sounded like a not-so-enthusiastic review of the deal, you could Rielly, mind you, didn’t spend a moment grousing about his current lot in certainly read it that way. Babcock has made no secret of his preference life. So we’ll grouse on his behalf. Rielly is skilled enough to look good for defensive pairings consisting of one left-handed and one right-handed under even the worst circumstance, but the Leafs would be wise to heed shooter. Now that Rielly’s former partner Ron Hainsey, a lefty, has been the Lidstrom principle. Put your brightest light in a position to perpetually moved to play alongside Travis Dermott, another lefty, only one of shine. Babcock’s three pairings boast two blueliners playing on their natural sides. That’d be the pairing of lefty Jake Gardiner and righty Nikita “I’ve played (the right side) before. It’s the same game. It’s just being on Zaitsev. While it’d be wrong to call it a fatal flaw, you might consider it a the other side.” Rielly said. “There’s really not a lot of change ... I’m just handedness headache. going to go out there and try to play and have fun.” Based on Thursday’s practice, Igor Ozhiganov, one of Toronto’s other Go out there, try to play, have fun. And if playing the right side proves the options among its slim pickings of right-shooting defencemen, figures to wrong move, there’s still 24 days until the trade deadline. Limited be the odd man out. supplies of right defencemen remain available. Not that Babcock didn’t throw plenty of glowing praise in the direction of Toronto Star LOADED: 02.01.2019 the new addition, who arrived from the L.A. Kings in exchange for Toronto’s 2019 first-round draft pick and prospects Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi. “He’s a steady guy. Knows how to play. Good stick. Heavy shot. Moves the puck. Simple,” the coach said of Muzzin. “No flash. So anybody who’s expecting any flash is looking for the wrong guy. Just steady as she goes. But I think he can really help us, the size of him. And between the whistles, he plays heavy and he plays hard.” Still, as much as Thursday’s practice suggested that the plan, for now, is to allow Muzzin to play his natural left side on the first pairing — a move that would see Rielly play the off flank — Babcock didn’t sound wholly committed to the concept. Asked if moving Toronto’s No. 1 rearguard to the right side risked disrupting a breakout season that has seen Rielly in the conversation to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman, Babcock nodded. “It’s a great question,” Babcock said. “There was a guy, I think he won seven Norrises, his name was Nick. And he always would say to me, ‘Why wouldn’t you put the guy who makes all the plays on his forehand?’ It’s a great question.” “Nick,” of course, is Nick Lidstrom, the bedrock left-shot defenceman who was the foundation of the Red Wings team that won Babcock his only Stanley Cup, not to mention three others. The coach’s point was well made. Why should it be the responsibility of a Norris Trophy winner — or, 1128389 Toronto Maple Leafs young girl reading this to know it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of my hockey knowledge — because I do not doubt my hockey knowledge. I didn’t need a gold medal to come to that conclusion. I needed belief in Kendall Coyne Schofield deserved better from Pierre McGuire | The Star myself.” Let’s hope McGuire learns quickly from this moment. And let’s hope NBC asks Coyne Schofield back as an analyst — with or without McGuire. By Shannon Ryan Toronto Star LOADED: 02.01.2019

Imagine boarding a plane and stopping by the cockpit on the way to your seat to advise the pilot: “Now remember: The runway is over here. The sky is up there.” Weird, right? Kendall Coyne Schofield won gold with the U.S. women’s hockey team at the . NHL analyst Pierre McGuire made similarly tone-deaf and out-of-place comments when welcoming Olympic gold medallist Kendall Coyne Schofield to her NBC broadcasting debut Wednesday night, less than a week after she became the first woman to compete in the NHL all-star skills competition. “Tampa’s going to be on your left. Pittsburgh’s going to be on your right,” McGuire explained to Coyne Schofield during the pre-game broadcast. “What are you expecting out of this game? We’re paying you to be an analyst, not to be a fan tonight!” On behalf of women everywhere, let me put it bluntly: What the hell, man? Why on Earth would McGuire expect — or even joke — that a player who scored two goals to help the U.S. win a gold medal in 2018 wouldn’t know the difference between two NHL teams? Did anyone explain to Jeremy Roenick what a puck is when he began as an NHL analyst? Did anyone warn him publicly that he shouldn’t sound like a fan instead of a respected veteran player? Nobody should have to supply Coyne Schofield’s credentials to lay out the case that McGuire was wrong. She could never have laced on skates in her life — like a lot of hockey reporters — and still be qualified to have a place next to him in the booth. But here’s just part of her resume: In addition to starring on the U.S. team in Pyeongchang, she won a silver medal in the 2014 Olympics. At Northeastern University, she earned the Patty Kazmaier Award, which goes to the U.S.’s top female college hockey player. She currently plays for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the National Women’s Hockey League. Coyne Schofield is not a fan. She’s a pro. She doesn’t deserve the disrespect of anyone questioning her knowledge of the sport — even flippantly. She deserves the benefit of the doubt that she’s capable of objectively analyzing a sport she has played her entire life. It’s hard for women to gain footing in a male-dominated field when they’re met with stereotypes on their first day. Male sports broadcasters and reporters have improved vastly over the decades about treating female colleagues professionally and as equals. But every female fan, athlete or media member knows what it feels like to have her credentials unfairly questioned. She did what so many women in the workforce do when they’re met with condescending comments — smile, ignore it and get on with the job. Coyne Schofield’s on-point analysis and composure during the broadcast shouldn’t be lost in this. McGuire blew it and put Coyne Schofield in an awkward position. His unprofessional and sexist comments didn’t help the hockey world, which has been met with criticism for its unfair treatment of female players. Coyne Schofield has been a vocal opponent of the gender wage disparity in USA Hockey. In a sport in which few women are represented or given a substantial platform, Coyne Schofield has stood out as an ambassador for the game. NBC was wise to bring her on as an analyst. Coyne Schofield posted on social media that she feels respected by McGuire as a hockey player and a woman and “didn’t think twice about our on-air exchange when it happened.” Yet Coyne Schofield recognized that how she felt about McGuire’s comments might not be as important as how young girls watching at home might have interpreted the moment: “What IS important is for every 1128390 Toronto Maple Leafs bad guy. Looking for a shakeup, he traded Kelly to the New York Rangers. But the deal for him and Billy McNeill for Eddie Shack and Bill Gadsby died when Kelly refused to report. Legendary Red Kelly returns to place of honour in Detroit “Twelve-and-a-half years in Detroit and then they trade you,” Kelly fumed. Lance Hornby At age 32 and figuring that any career in the NHL longer than 10 seasons was a bonus, Kelly was ready to retire.

“Next morning, I called the tool-refurbishing company I’d started working Almost 60 years after the traumatic trade that severed his ties to the for that summer and asked if I could have my job back,” he said. Wings, Red Kelly will once more have a place of honour in Detroit. But Kelly wasn’t going out to pasture yet. Punch Imlach of the Leafs His No. 4 will reside in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena with the intervened and was given permission to speak to Kelly. Imlach was greatest names in Motown hockey. After Friday’s banner is raised, the horrified when their “secret” meeting at a Toronto diner with Clancy 91-year-old will also be among the few to have his number retired by two attending ended up being the same restaurant where the visiting NHL teams. Canadiens were eating. Though the trio were recognized by Richard, he only said “Hello” and didn’t blow the whistle. Where some stars labour for years to win one Stanley Cup, Kelly won four each with Detroit and Toronto. Long hailed by Leafs fans for his vital Clancy’s charm helped convince Kelly he had some good years role in their four titles, including the last in 1967, and four seasons as remaining. Imlach offered Adams defenceman Marc Rheaume, a Toronto coach, this gesture will remind all of his glory in red and white Windsor-area native whom the Wings liked. Imlach envisioned Kelly before the winged wheels fell off in 1960. shifting up front again as a shutdown centre against Canadiens star Jean Beliveau, a move that helped Toronto win its four Cups as the decade “The Wings gave me my start in the NHL 71 seasons ago,” Kelly said unfolded. when the ceremony was announced by team governor Christopher Ilitch. “I proudly wear the ring which commemorates the four Cups.” Unfortunately for Kelly, his first game against the Rangers a few nights after the Rheaume trade saw Shack take several runs at him. Thinking Back up even further to the wartime NHL when 17-year-old Leonard Kelly the original deal had gone through, Shack was quite critical of New York signed the old ‘C’ form with Detroit. By rights, he should have started with management, but had to go back and face the music. Later, Kelly and the Leafs, the team he grew up listening to on radio in southwestern Shack became fast friends on the Leafs. Ontario farm country near Port Dover. He liked their rough-and-tumble captain, , and the fact that he shared the nickname of all Kelly’s banner will be up at Little Caesars with those of Howe, auburn-haired players in the day. The coach of his Catholic church youth Delvecchio, Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk, Sid Abel, Steve Yzerman and club was also a Toronto scout, but Kelly was cut before getting to the first Nicklas Lidstrom. step up the Leafs ladder at St. Michael’s College. NHLers with numbers retired by multiple teams: Kelly’s dad kept him at his St. Mike’s alma mater anyway, where his son kept getting beaten out for the elite teams. At one point, Red was playing Wayne Gretzky: 99 with Edmonton (1999), Los Angeles (2002) and now house league with kids mostly headed for the priesthood. But the Red league-wide. Wings took an interest in the strong-skating forward and the teen happily Gordie Howe: 9 with Detroit (1972) and Hartford (1981) accepted their $100 signing bonus. St. Mike’s coach Joe Primeau recognized Kelly’s speed and endurance made him a dual threat and Bobby Hull: 9 with Chicago (1983) and the original Winnipeg Jets (1989). moved him to defence. It remains retired with the Arizona Coyotes, though son was allowed to wear it for the Coyotes in 2005. He made the Red Wings at his first camp in 1947. Halfway through that season, he was promoted to Detroit’s top four blue-liners. Tim Horton: 2 with Buffalo in 1974, 7 with the Leafs in 2016. Leafs great King Clancy called Kelly “the best rookie defenceman the Mark Messier: 11 with the Rangers in 2006 and the next year with his league has ever seen”. first team, the Oilers. Kelly recalled nights when he could play 55 minutes in a game, owing to Patrick Roy: 33 with the Avalanche in 2003 and with his first team, the his great shape. Joined by another rising star named Gordie Howe, the Canadiens, in 2008. 1948 Red Wings made the Stanley Cup final. Although they were swept by Toronto, the Red Wings’ dynasty days soon arrived. In addition to the Ray Bourque: 77 with Boston and Colorado (both 2001) four titles between 1950-55, Detroit finished first every year but one Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 between 1949 and 1957. Kelly was the first winner of the Norris Trophy in 1954, while manager Jack Adams’ Wings also boasted Howe, Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio, with Terry Sawchuk in goal. Boston coach Lynn Patrick once declared he’d take Kelly ahead of Howe and Montreal’s Rocket Richard in tribute to the defenceman’s all-around game. Kelly was a fan favourite at the Detroit Olympia, winning three of his four Lady Byng trophies for gentlemanly play. He was on an exhibition team the Red Wings sent to play hard-time inmates at Marquette prison. On behalf of the Canadian government, Kelly toured military bases in Japan and post-war South Korea, a prelude to later service as a member of parliament — a duty he kept up during the Leafs’ season. It was in Detroit in 1952 that Kelly first fell for figure skater Andra McLaughlin, a member of the Hollywood Ice Review. Kelly and Howe were supposed to meet the show’s star, Canadian Olympic champion Barbara Ann Scott, but when Scott didn’t show, Kelly was introduced to her American co-star. Conflicts with McLaughlin’s performance commitments and Kelly’s NHL schedule delayed marriage until 1959, but they produced four children. By the time they were wed, the Montreal Canadiens won five straight Cups between 1956-’60, eclipsing the Red Wings run. Detroit missed the playoffs in 1959 — at the team’s insistence, Kelly hadn’t revealed he’d been playing for weeks on a broken ankle after the cast was removed, with fans and media grumbling he’d lost a step. “We were brought up to play with injuries,” Kelly said of the times. The next season, seeing no harm in revealing the story, he told journalist Trent Frayne about the ankle, but Adams resented being painted as the 1128391 Toronto Maple Leafs any flash is looking for the wrong guy. I think he can really help us, the size of him (6-foot-3 and 213 pounds), between the whistles he plays heavy and he plays hard.” Matthews, Marner appear set for another date on the same line LOOSE LEAFS The Leafs don’t have to make a roster move with the addition of Muzzin, Terry Koshan as they are at the 23-man limit now. Tyler Ennis remains on injured reserve as he recovers from a broken ankle, and Trevor Moore was not recalled from the Toronto Marlies after filling in for Johnsson against Washington … Gardiner figured Muzzin will take no time to become a DETROIT — Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are going to get true teammate. “It’s a pretty easy group to feel comfortable in,” Gardiner another crack at playing together. said. “I was talking to Ennis about it and he said within hours (of becoming a Leaf last summer) he felt like he was part of the team. I’m If the line rushes were an indication at practice on Thursday, and with sure (Muzzin) will fit right in.” Mike Babcock’s Maple Leafs, they almost always are, the young dazzling Leafs duo will remain on a line together with Patrick Marleau when Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 Toronto visits the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. In the Leafs’ most-recent game, a 6-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 23, Matthews and Marner contributed a goal each. Important that night was the play of the line of Nazem Kadri between William Nylander and Connor Brown, which combined for nine points. The Kadri trio was intact on the ice at the Taylor Sportsplex as well, the same going for John Tavares between Zach Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen. The change for the Leafs on Friday night is expected to come on the fourth line. Andreas Johnsson, who missed the game versus Washington because of a concussion, was on the wing with centre Frederik Gauthier and Par Lindholm. And on the blue line, Jake Gardiner is ready to resume play after missing two games with back spasms. Gardiner reported that his back feels much better after taking the bye week to rest. “It’s good,” Gardiner said. “Just tightened up and wouldn’t go away. Feeling better now. Any injury is tough.” Babcock had mentioned before the break that Gardiner had played through the back spasms for up to 10 days before he sat out. Gardiner briefly had back spasms last season, but did not miss any time. ANDERSEN IN NET? Babcock usually has no problem naming his starting goalie a day in advance (though, agreed, it’s almost always Frederik Andersen anyway), but did not go that far after practice. “Not 100% what I’m doing yet,” Babcock said. “But I think that’s the way we’re going, but we will know more (Friday) morning. Just going to wait and see on everyone in the morning.” There is some thought Babcock might start Garret Sparks against the Wings, and then put Andersen back in on Saturday night when the Leafs play host to Sidney Crosby and the stronger Pittsburgh Penguins. Usually, however, that’s not the way Babcock thinks. STICK TAP FOR DUBAS While the expectation is that Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas will work to add more to the roster before the Feb. 25 NHL trade deadline, getting defenceman Jake Muzzin as early as Dubas did brought applause from Babcock. “Sometimes it doesn’t happen and all these great plans, sometimes it doesn’t work,” Babcock said. “It was great it was able to work. I had Muzz in the (2016) World Cup, (Dubas) knew him from the past in the Soo (where Muzzin played junior hockey). “You got a good rapport with the guy and a good understanding of who he is. I think that makes everything easier. It doesn’t mean the other GM is going to trade him to you. Kyle did a good job in making that happen.” Among the people Babcock talked to regarding Muzzin were former Kings coach Darryl Sutter and ex-Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, now with the Kings. “They raved about him,” Babcock said. “That’s a positive sign too. When you’re a good pro, people know you are a good pro and we have some good pros leading here all ready, and he will fit right into that group.” Babcock’s own scouting report on the 29-year-old Muzzin? “He’s a steady guy, knows how to play, good stick, heavy shot, moves the puck, simple,” Babcock said. “No flash. Anybody who is expecting 1128392 Toronto Maple Leafs Travis Dermott-Ron Hainsey Goaltenders Game Day: Maple Leafs at Red Wings Frederik Andersen Garret Sparks Terry Koshan RED WINGS LINES LW-C-RW TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (30-17-2) at DETROIT RED WINGS (19-25- Justin Abdelkader-Dylan Larkin-Gustav Nyquist 7) Thomas Vanek-Frans Nielsen-Anthony Mantha Friday, 7:30 p.m., Little Caesars Arena Andreas Athanasiou-Luke Glendening-Darren Helm TV: TSN4; Radio 1050 AM Christoffer Ehn-Jacob de la Rose-Martin Frk THE BIG MATCHUP Defence pairs Auston Matthews vs Dylan Larkin Niklas Kronwall-Mike Green Larkin likely gets the Matthews matchup, though Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill could use Larkin against John Tavares. Either way, Detroit Danny DeKeyser-Nick Jensen doesn’t have the kind of depth at centre that Toronto does (not that many Jonathan Ericsson-Dennis Cholowski teams do) and that should play in the Leafs’ favour. We do know that if Matthews is out against Larkin, the Leafs centre will have to work for Goaltenders every inch of ice. Jimmy Howard FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Jonathan Bernier 1. Muzzin’s debut INJURIES Not that defenceman Jake Muzzin would need to be worked in slowly in his first game with the Maple Leafs, and not that the Red Wings are Red Wings — D Trevor Daley (foot), F Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body). pushovers, but Muzzin’s initial adjustment could be helped by the fact Maple Leafs — F Tyler Ennis (ankle). that Detroit barely is staying out of the NHL basement, two points up on the last-place Ottawa Senators. What we know for sure: It’s doubtful the SPECIAL TEAMS bearded, rugged Muzzin will be a bundle of nerves. Power play 2. Carry over, please Red Wings: 16.2% (25th) The Leafs had some jump at practice on Thursday, their first day of work together since Jan. 23, and will look to build off wins against Tampa Bay Maple Leafs: 22.1% (9th) and Washington before the break. “They know we want to get on a bit of a run here,” coach Mike Babcock said. “Won two of our last four, beat Penalty kill good teams, but have not had the kind of consistency we would like to Red Wings: 77.6% (23rd) have and so we would like to get some in our game.” Maple Leafs: 81.1% (12th) 3. Rielly’s adjustment Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 As much as Muzzin will be stoic, we expect the same from Morgan Rielly, who gets a shot at playing the right side. While it might not last long, as Muzzin could be moved there, a positive night from Rielly off the off side would be a boost. Rielly rarely finds himself in trouble on his left side, and taking shifts on the right would not be completely new, as he would find himself at times on the right with Ron Hainsey. 4. Kids, kids, kids There’s room for improvement from the duo of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews together, as Babcock gave a fairly unenthusiastic review after the two played together against Washington last Wednesday. Their speed and creativity should be an advantage against a Wings team that was giving up the fourth-most shots in the NHL (33.2 a game) and has a defence corps that isn’t among the league’s most mobile. 5. Nylander’s next step William Nylander was sharp when last we saw him, recording a career- high three assists against the Capitals and making a few sound defensive plays. Nylander has had 21 games to catch up and he should be in stride now. In 12 career games against the Wings, Nylander has nine points, and like Matthews and Marner, should be able to use his speed and smarts to his advantage. MAPLE LEAFS LINES LW-C-RW Patrick Marleau-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner Zach Hyman-John Tavares-Kasperi Kapanen Connor Brown-Nazem Kadri-William Nylander Par Lindholm-Frederik Gauthier-Andreas Johnsson Defence pairs Jake Muzzin-Morgan Rielly Jake Gardiner-Nikita Zaitsev 1128393 Toronto Maple Leafs trading for Muzzin) is pretty clear. It’s an opportunity for this team to prove we are up to the challenge and can get rolling.”

RIELLY READY FOR WHATEVER RIGHT-LEANING CHALLENGES Left or right, Leafs know they’ve added a strong piece in Jake Muzzin AWAIT Morgan Rielly is a smart guy. Terry Koshan If it turns out in the long run and into the playoffs that the Maple Leafs defenceman lines up on the right side in a pairing with Jake Muzzin, there’s little worry. DETROIT — Morgan Rielly was relaxing at his parents’ Vancouver-area home during the Maple Leafs’ bye week on Monday and scrolling through “You go out there and play,” Rielly said. “When me and Ron (Hainsey) Twitter when the news caught his eye. were together, I would often end up on that side anyway. In a trade that rippled quickly through the world of the NHL, the Leafs had “It’s just a matter of being comfortable with your partner, talking lots, acquired defenceman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings. Rielly making sure we know what the deal is and, over time, we will smooth it immediately told his mom, Shirley, who was nearby. out. I’m sure it might take a game or two, but that’s expected.” “I think her reaction was better than mine,” Rielly said on Thursday Rielly has been excellent this season, recording 50 points in 49 games afternoon after the Leafs reconvened at a suburban practice facility. “She and compiling a mark of plus-23. was pretty excited. It’s a big move for our team and we’re very happy to While not necessarily ideal, at least initially, Rielly wasn’t recoiling at the add a player like that. thought of going right. The key is that Muzzin is a Leaf, period. “She did her homework. Went right online and I think the first thing she “You look forward to new challenges and new aspects of learning how to said is, ‘Oh, he’s a lefty.’ ” play a different side or whatever it is,” Rielly said. “It’s fun and he’s a Yes, Muzzin is a left-handed shot. Leafs coach Mike Babcock happened great player and we’re lucky to have him.” to notice as well. Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 So is Rielly, and in their first practice together, Rielly was moved to the right side, with Muzzin sticking to his usual left side. Whether that lasts remains to be seen, as Babcock isn’t married to it. The Leafs now have five left-handed-shooting defencemen in their top six, as Ron Hainsey will line up with Travis Dermott, leaving Igor Ozhiganov on the outside. Only Nikita Zaitsev, still with Jake Gardiner, shoots right. “It’s not perfect,” Babcock said when asked whether having five lefties in the top six complicates his job. “It’s what we got. It’s what was available and we’re going to make it work.” There is the possibility that Rielly’s best season in the NHL, one that has put him in the Norris Trophy talk with 33 Leafs games remaining, is disrupted by moving to the right side. “There was a guy, I think he won seven Norrises, his name was Nick (Lidstrom), and he always would say to me, ‘Why wouldn’t you put the guy who makes all the plays on his forehand?’ ” Babcock said, taking into account his time as coach of the Detroit Red Wings. “Great question. We can wrestle with everything we want, but the No. 1 thing to do is to get your new people feeling good and then if you want to make any changes or do anything different, do it after they are getting feeling good and they are comfortable and they know what’s going on.” In other words, Muzzin is bound to wind up on the right side at some point. Babcock noted he never did play Lidstrom on the right. Muzzin’s take? He would prefer to stay on the left. “I have played pretty much my whole career on the left and it’s comfy for me,” Muzzin said. “I have also played with a lefty (Alec Martinez) on the right for a long time, too. We will see what’s in store for us, but if that’s the way it goes, it will be a little more comfortable for me.” The left/right talk aside, the Leafs have acquired a bona fide piece — and they know it. As the bye week ends officially with a game at Little Caesars Arena against the Red Wings on Friday night, there was excitement not only in the Toronto room, but from Muzzin as well following his first meet-and- greet with the players. He arrived from California with John Tavares and Frederik Andersen, who spent the bye week on the West Coast, and was quite pumped to put on the Leafs’ colours (and No. 8) for the first time. “Easy to play with,” Muzzin said of Rielly. “It was just practice, but we talked about some certain situations and stuff like that. “This is new for me. I have never been traded, but to be traded to a team like this with some really good players, I am hoping it’s easy. “When you put a bunch of good players together, usually we can pick it up pretty quick.” Rielly doesn’t know Muzzin personally. That, for the good, is about to change. “We had confidence in this group going into the break, and I think when you add a player like that, it adds to it even more,” Rielly said. “The message that has been sent (from general manager Kyle Dubas in 1128394 Toronto Maple Leafs 19. What’s your favourite article of clothing or your favourite colour pattern?

“Anything blue” GET TO KNOW YOUR LEAFS: 23 questions with Garret Sparks 20. Which NHLer are you most excited to play against?

“I like playing against Patrick Kane. He’s really something.” Lance Hornby 21. What’s the best or worst nickname given to you?

“I’ll go with the worst. ‘Sparkles.’” Garret Sparks is in his first season as a full-time Maple Leaf and back-up to Frederik Andersen. The Chicago-area native was a seventh-round pick 22. What’s your best family vacation spot? of the Leafs from the OHL Guelph Storm in 2011 and rose through the farm system to be AHL goalie of the year with Calder Cup champion “I love our lake house in and going fishing there.” Marlies. He has an artistic eye as evident through his varied goalie mask 23. What’s the best advice you ever received? designs to former NHLers and is active on social media. “‘Be happy, but never be satisfied,’ from my goalie coach in Guelph (Mike Read on to find out more about the 25-year-old Sparks: Parson).” 1. What’s your favourite TV show? Toronto Sun LOADED: 02.01.2019 “Trailer Park Boys or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” 2. What do you recall of your first NHL game? “It went perfectly (the first Leaf goalie with a shutout in his NHL debut, 3- 0 over Edmonton in 2016).” 3. What was your best birthday or Christmas gift? “I got an amazing goalie glove for Christmas from my grandma years ago. It was a Vaughn, it cost $500 and I didn’t deserve it.” 4. What’s your favourite NHL city to visit? “Tampa Bay, for obvious reasons.” 5. What was your best subject in school? “I was big on U.S. history.” 6. Who was your favourite teacher? “His name was Peter Anderson. We called him Panderson.” 7. Have you ever had a memorable celebrity encounter? “Just in the NHL facing shooters.” 8. What was your favourite pet, past or present? “My Schnauzer dog, Boomer. He was one-of-a-kind.” 9. What’s your favourite meal or the food you hate the most? “I love Mexican food. I don’t like tomatoes.” 10. Who is your favourite band or singer? “That’s a tough one, but I’ll go with Pink Floyd.” 11. Who was your favourite athlete as a kid? “I liked Marty Turco (a second team NHL all-star with Dallas in 2002-03 and briefly a Chicago Blackhawk).” 12. What’s your pet peeve? Lineups at the store? Rude drivers? Sportswriters? “Honestly? It’s people who have pet peeves.” 13. What’s one thing you’d change about the NHL? “I want it to be more fun.” 14. How did you get your sweater number? “From (he wore it for Chicago in 1989-90).” 15. What’s the first thing you do in the morning? “Find my car keys and get to the rink on time.” 16. Finish this sentence: I can’t live without … “My family.” 17. Who is your favourite non-athletic role model? “I would love to be Leo DiCaprio, I know that.” 18. What’s something good you made yourself? “I make a lot of DJ mixes that I’m very proud of.” 1128395 Toronto Maple Leafs Below, against the Avalanche, you’d like to see Muzzin (wearing No. 6) stop and corral the puck so that he can lift his head, allow his teammates

a split second to set up, and make a play. When he rushes the shot in Why Jake Muzzin is unlike every other Leafs defenceman in all the right one touch, and it misses, the Kings lose control of the zone at the far ways boards:

When it does hit the net, though, it gives the Leafs some variance — an undeniably good thing in the offensive zone. Nobody on the Leafs is By Scott Wheeler Jan 31, 2019 using a one-touch slapshot, which allows teams to game play for the stop-up. Not only does a one-touch shot from the corner of the zone

provide some unpredictability, but it can also surprise goalies. And most TAYLOR, MI. — Morgan Rielly was on his phone at his parents’ house in of all, Muzzin always keeps his shots low, which creates rebounds and Vancouver during the Leafs’ bye week when he saw the news on Twitter. allows for tips. The first thing he did was tell his mom, Shirley, who was in the kitchen Here, by hitting the net (and hitting it low), Muzzin prolongs the cycle: cooking, that the Leafs had acquired Jake Muzzin from the Kings. Here, it takes the puck from one of the least-dangerous areas of the “I think her reaction was better than mine. She was pretty excited,” Rielly offensive zone (he’s not using his shot to score) and puts it on the said on Thursday afternoon, shortly after the Leafs wrapped up a practice goalie’s pads to create a rebound in a high-danger area for a teammate. in suburban Detroit with his new defence partner. He laughed. In doing so, his shot isn’t a threat to score so much as it is to generate an “She did her homework. She went right online. I think the first thing she assist: said was ‘Oh, he’s a lefty.’ That’s what everyone said. She’s tuned right All of these one-touch, turn-and-slap shots come from largely the same in to what’s going on. She went and poured herself another glass of wine, place and in the same way. Look, in particular, for how decisive he is. and then she was even happier.” When the puck comes from the point and he turns on it, don’t expect it to The handedness of the Leafs’ newest acquisition didn’t surprise anyone; be for a cross-ice pass. Expect it low and toward the net like you’ll see it’s the status quo. When Muzzin makes his Leafs debut in Detroit on here: Friday night, he’ll be one of five left-handed defencemen in the Leafs’ top He doesn’t just turn on loose pucks, either. If there’s a drop pass, expect six. In that sense, he’s a lot like what the Leafs already have. it on net with a seldom-used-these-days one-timer: But in every other, he’s different. It doesn’t just come from the corner of the zone, either. Muzzin is less On Thursday, Rielly and Mike Babcock were quick to point out Muzzin’s concerned about angle on net than most players are, so he’ll throw it on winning track record. He joins Ron Hainsey as the only Stanley Cup net from the hashmarks, too. That happens often because of another flair winners on the roster. At 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, he’ll also match to his game that involves eagerness — the pinch. Hainsey as the tallest defenceman in the Leafs’ top six. Muzzin will use his size and strength to drive up the wall in the offensive But it’s more than that. Muzzin is unlike every other Leafs defenceman in zone in an attempt to keep plays alive. Rielly will have to be cognizant of terms of his style of play. this. And when Muzzin does pinch, his forwards have to expect the puck on net in a hurry — no matter the angle: “He’ll help. He’s a steady guy, knows how to play, big shot, simple, no flash. So, anybody who’s expecting any flash is looking for the wrong These aren’t always the best available play. Sometimes, the puck rings guy. Just steady as she goes,” Babcock said. around the boards and out:

Two of the things in there are exactly what the Leafs have lacked on their But you take it because when he pinches, he’s extremely selective about blueline. The steadiness is one. But the shot threat is another. it (Ie. He knows he has support, and it rarely burns him or just results in a reset in the neutral zone), and directing a shot at the net is also rarely a It doesn’t end with Babcock’s description, either. bad play:

In the wake of the trade, I spent the last three days analyzing every shift And even if it gets blocked, aggressive forecheckers (the Zach Hymans Muzzin played in his last five games with the Kings. There are some and Andreas Johnssons of the roster) can pursue it: baseline outcomes that matter. The Kings were 3-1-1 in the stretch. They were outscored 15-14 thanks to a 7-1 loss to the Avalanche. Muzzin In a vacuum, that kind of shooter doesn’t score goals like Muzzin has, averaged 21:26 a night, for a total sample size of 107:10. The Kings though (Muzzin’s 51 goals since entering the league full time in 2012 is outscored the opposition an incredibly impressive 6-0 at 5-on-5 with 28th among all defencemen). Muzzin on the ice. He picked up three assists. And that’s because there’s a second layer to Muzzin’s. But if there’s one thing I learned it’s this: Jake Muzzin gives the Leafs Because when the one-touch-on-net play isn’t available, Muzzin has a something different — in all the right ways. wrist shot that’s accurate enough and hard enough to score. Below, I’ve explained why and how. It’s most often used on the power play (an element it looks like he’ll add The shot to the Leafs’ second unit alongside Gardiner). And sometimes, it gets blocked there, too: When the Leafs traded Andrew Nielsen to the Calgary Flames in November, they lost the organization’s only true shot-first defenceman — But when it doesn’t, he can use it to create scoring chances: outside of maybe Calle Rosen. Morgan Rielly has worked to make his And when I’m evaluating shot-threat defencemen, I’m looking for three wrist shot an option but lacks a slapshot. So do Jake Gardiner, Nikita things out of their wrist shots. The first is that they can get it off in stride Zaitsev, Martin Marincin, Justin Holl, Igor Ozhiganov and Hainsey. like he did above. The second is that they can use it laterally across the In his last five games with the Kings, I tracked 20 shot attempts from blueline. Muzzin, which is actually three more than the 17 individual Corsi For the Given his size, Muzzin does a nice job handling the puck and releasing league credited him with during that stretch (I’m not going to say the the puck in both ways (which are two completely different motions): league’s stat trackers got it wrong, but I do have the video evidence) and well ahead of Drew Doughty’s 13 to lead all Kings defenceman. But the third thing has little to do with the shot and everything with their choice on where and how to use it. Wrist shots from the blueline are So, there’s volume to his shot. That’s not just true in the numbers but extremely low percentage plays. Some defencemen have a tough time also noticeable to the eye in how eager Muzzin is to throw everything on recognizing that and become reliant on the high-zone shot choice. net. Muzzin often uses his feet to take that shot into the high slot or the top of There are two outcomes to that style. The first is that he misses the net a the circle: lot (just eight of those 20 shots were on net) or his shots get blocked a lot. Over time, those decisions translate into goals. Sometimes, that’s a bad thing. Sometimes, the one-touch play catches the other team on their way out By stepping up to close that gap (Dermott is good at this, too, so credit of the zone and going the wrong way, and the urgency of it leads to a where credit’s due) through the neutral zone, Muzzin is able to force a lot secondary assist like it did against the Penguins: of dumps and finish his check in the process:

Either way, even his ability to use the one-timer gives you a different A lot of bigger defencemen want to make that play (Leafs fans will look. That will be true on a second power play unit that relied too much remember Dion Phaneuf) and choose to, but at the expense of a chance on William Nylander slowing things down and passing to the far post the other way because they can’t close the gap fast enough and they because it will mean Muzzin can open up for the one-timer. overextend themselves or they don’t have the skating ability to turn the other way and correct. Muzzin is a strong enough skater that neither of Sometimes, that will manifest into goals: those is an issue. The above play is textbook. He leads with his stick and (That goal was actually called back, but you get the point.) finishes with his body.

Other times, it will get blocked and he has the presence of mind to make Below, notice that it’s Muzzin pinching at the offensive zone blueline and the simple high-low play anyways: Muzzin who is still at the top of his crease when the play comes the other way. After finishing his check below the goal line (he always does), the Other times, it will just plainly miss the net because a slapshot is harder Kings go the other way: to control: And watch below, after he steps up for a second big hit in as many But it gives the Leafs another look. It’s another layer. It’s different. games to regain possession and stop an entry, the way Muzzin then activates to join the rush up-ice (a style that works hand-in-hand with the ‘No flash’ Leafs’ speed): Here’s the thing about Babcock’s “no flash” comment. On a broader None of this is to say Muzzin is perfect. He’s not. scale, fetishizing it probably isn’t a good thing. Because no flash can quickly become no skill. And defencemen who rely on the low-skill, no- For starters, he’s not the most gifted player in the world under pressure. flash play (Nikita Zaitsev, Ron Hainsey) tend to be less effective than That results in turnovers like this: those who try to make plays (Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly, Travis Dermott). Or this:

Muzzin sits somewhere in between. He makes the low flash play But when he steps up to try to make a play and he turns the puck over, effectively because he has the skill. that skating and physicality help him recover.

This subtle little chip play leaped out at me because, in order to make it Watch, after stepping up for one of those one-timers, the way Muzzin and help the Kings exit the zone, he actually slides his stick under the tracks back to out-muscle his man and prevent the neutral zone pass by puck instead of redirecting it perpendicularly (in doing so, the puck stays the Blues: on the boards rather than into the circle, where there’s a forechecking Or the way he recovers from a lost battle to block a shot moments later player): and clear the zone on the PK:

This will be noticeable on the Leafs’ penalty kill, too. In the games I And in time, with enough repetition, come results. Remember that quick- watched, not only did Muzzin do a nice job tracking the play positionally shot assist against the Penguins? and blocking shots, but he then normally makes the right play to clear the zone. Look for the way he steps up on a forward (and around another) before making a simple play ahead of the 3-2 goal against the Blues: Here, under pressure, some players might to try to turn with the puck or chip it into the corner to pin it up against the boards. Muzzin has the Or the way he jumps up into the play to take a hit for another assist presence of mind to muscle it down the ice: against the Penguins:

This extended sequence is brilliant in that way because it involves three And then ask yourself this: Are those the kinds of plays that Rielly, simple plays in three different zones and the end result is an effective Dermott, Gardiner, Hainsey or Zaitsev make? Are those the areas in the shift. I’ll let you watch it first: ice they make them? The answer is predominantly no. They’re all effective in their own ways. And Muzzin is effective in his. So, what happens there? Will there be an adjustment period? Of course there will be. In at the D-zone blueline, Muzzin is the player who steps up on his man and pushes the puck forward for his forward to skate onto. Muzzin’s hopeful it will be a quick one — it helps, he said, that he knows John Tavares from the World Cup, Tyler Ennis from world He then activates to join the rush, hustles and chips a backhand on net at championships, and Nazem Kadri from workouts in London — but that the other end. doesn’t mean there won’t be one.

He then hustles back (diagonally, it’s worth noting, because he tracks “This is new for me. I’ve never been traded. To be traded to a team like from the right wing in the o-zone to the left wing in the d-zone) and this with some really good players, I’m hoping it’s easy. When you put a disrupts the play once more to force the puck back out into the neutral bunch of good players together, usually, we pick it up pretty quick. I’m zone. excited,” Muzzin said.

That’s the essence of Jake Muzzin. It’s simple, but it works. It’s more of And he downplayed the challenges posed by playing with another left- the same below. On this play, while I’ve muted the audio, he calls out to handed shot. In fact, he said, this is more comfortable for him. Jonathan Quick to leave it (preventing the Penguins forechecker from lifting it out of Quick’s feat) before making a simple short pass ahead of a “Easy. (Rielly’s) easy to play with. We talked about some certain zone exit (something the Leafs could utilize more often vis-a-vis their situations. I played pretty much my whole career on the left, and it’s stretch-pass style): comfy for me. I played with a left D in L.A. for a long time in (Alec) Martinez. There’s change if you go to a righty or a lefty with where you’re Gap control with some physicality passing to him and where you’re leading him, stuff like that, so I got lucky More than anything else, the Leafs’ biggest missing piece on defence this with Mo right now being a lefty,” Muzzin said. season (and last) has been their ability and willingness to play physically The Kings are also a team that still regularly used a two-defence power along the wall. That’s evident in front of the net and on the cycle, but it’s play. So if he ends up with Gardiner on the second unit, he said he’d be most evident off the rush. The Leafs generate a lot of rush chances, but confident in that role. He’s not worried about fitting on the Leafs’ power they give up a ton, too. Part of that is likely driven by a missing element play, either. The Kings got a taste of it … physically, which results in surrendering the defensive zone blueline a little too passively. “The first game in L.A., I remember we gave them a couple of power plays early and it was like bing, bang, boom, goal. So I was like, ‘OK, Enter Muzzin. they’ve got a good power play,'” he said with a laugh. The week itself — the flight in to meet the Leafs in Detroit, the first practice, the introductions — was weird. Muzzin was at home shortly after returning from a bye-week trip of his own when he got the call.

“It was initial shock. My wife wasn’t home, so I had to tell her, and that was an interesting conversation,” Muzzin said.

“Today, I got here early with Freddy and Johnny and then everybody just kind of started showing up so it was kind of meeting everyone in a minute. I still need to kind of talk to guys. But I talked to Babs a little bit, and I’m just kind of going over what they’re thinking for me and it has been a whirlwind of information. And then, hopefully over the next couple of weeks, everything settles down.”

Rielly was among the first to reach out.

“You reach out to the media guy, Steve Keogh. He sends you the number and then in the meantime you get about eight other texts from ex-teammates or coaches who tell you what a great guy he is or what a great teammate he is and then you go from there. It makes it easier when you know he’s a good guy,” Rielly said.

Fitting in shouldn’t be a problem.

“It’s a pretty easy group to feel comfortable in. I was talking to Ennis about it, and he said within hours he felt like he was part of the team,” Gardiner said.

Plus, Jake Muzzin is going to be Jake Muzzin.

“I’m just going to come in and be myself. If I see situations where there’s something that I’ve experienced or can correct, I’ll say something. But I’m learning, too. I’m coming into a new situation, so I’m going to have to be taught, too, some new stuff,” he said.

And Jake Muzzin is exactly what the Leafs needed. They all know that. His acquisition sent a message to the entire roster.

“That’s a move that’s trying to make our team better. And the goal is to win. When you add a player like that, the message that’s being sent is pretty clear. It’s up to this team to prove that we’re up to the challenge,” Rielly said.

The two partners spent Thursday going back and forth on strengths and weaknesses, as well as preferred choices in different situations. The goal in those conversations is to accelerate the learning curve. They plan to continue those conversations before and after each game to review how they played together. They probably learned (or will learn) pretty quickly that whatever one brings isn’t what the other does — and that’s a good thing.

“When me and Ron were together, I oftentimes ended up on that side, anyways. It’s just being comfortable with your partner, talking lots. I’m sure it might take a game or two, but that’s expected. You look forward to new challenges and learning how to play different aspects or a different side. It’s fun,” Rielly said.

“He’s a big guy, he moves very well for his size, great shot, great first pass. He’s the prototypical defenceman you want to be playing with. He’s a big addition. We’re pretty lucky. There’s a number of things, but it just comes down to being comfortable. I’ve played there before. It’s the same game.”

Rielly’s right. It is the same game. Only now, he has a different player with him. And this player brings a lot of the things he — and the Leafs — needed.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128396 Toronto Maple Leafs But I gotta tell you, it’s not nearly as many people as you’d think. Even if you’re a part of winning club, if the outside world doesn’t think you were

part of the reason that team won, you can find your career fizzling out Bourne: Inside the dressing room after lineup changes and the issues for faster than most assume. D-men playing on their off-sides Basically, you have to consider everyone in the NHL was the best player or among them on their teams growing up, so they were important to that group and were treated as such. They got the credit that came with By Justin Bourne Jan 31, 2019 winning, and the accolades that come with being the star. You don’t think Connor Brown enjoyed leading the OHL in scoring (128 points in 68

games) over being a lineup band-aid who’s constantly offered up in After what’s seemed like an eternity off – though I imagine the players imaginary trades by fans? It takes a pretty big person to accept a lesser would argue that point – today the Toronto Maple Leafs and a host of role and all that comes with that while keeping a smile on your face and other teams return from their All-Star break/bye week combo. Before maintaining that same work ethic. It’s not impossible, obviously, but it returning for the final 30-35 games of the regular season, teams will isn’t easy. schedule a practice that will hopefully shake off some of the rust. For a When everyone walks in on the day a new lineup is posted, there are few clubs, the personnel that hits the ice may be somewhat altered if only a few players certain they’ll be with players they enjoy playing with, their organization used the break to make additions or subtractions in an as well as being handed the roles that are given to the most “important” attempt to change their fortunes. guys. Certainly, Matthews knows he’s considered one of the important One of the teams that made an addition, and a significant one at that, is guys. But when he’s playing with Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Toronto. Now that Jake Muzzin has been added to their D-corp, the Johnsson – great players in their own right – it likely crosses his mind coaching staff has to figure out the best way to deploy their top-six guys. that he may not quite get the same minutes as he’d get alongside The Leafs are not alone, as other teams will be doing the same lineup someone like Marner and he even may be gifted less back-door tap-ins. tinkering after their own additions and/or subtractions (and even in some He’d never complain about that, but those are the thoughts that run cases, in the event of no personnel changes). After all, this is a pretty through any player’s head. crucial time of the hockey calendar, and teams need to be certain they’re The biggest thing, much more so than linemates (among offensive- getting the most out of their roster, barring the desire to tank. minded players), is the power-play units. It’s exceedingly rare to see two What do coaches consider when they assemble their lines? units posted where a player wouldn’t immediately know if they’re looking at about a minute and a half of ice time per PP, or 30 seconds, or none at When you’re assembling lines as a coach, you’ve got a lot more all. I say it’s the biggest thing because this is where the easy minutes and information than the general public. And while that might have something the points come – and by “points,” I mean the cheapies that inflate your to do with proprietary analytics, more than anything it has to do with the numbers from good to perceived as great. Players are constantly judged players, what they prefer, their personalities and where certain guys are against one another based on points (particularly in the minors), so being at compared to where they’re expected to be at that current juncture of on a unit that’s going score at a 20-25 percent clip is pure career- the season. As much as the players don’t get to call the shots, happy enhancing gold. Half the time you make some innocuous, unimpeded players are better, more motivated players, so you don’t want anyone pass to a teammate and grab a free assist. For a player who isn’t in the coming in the room after a nice break, checking the posted lineup, Matthews/Marner tier, those points make a big difference in how people hanging their head and moving forth in some listless manner. (Obviously, perceive them, whether that’s right or wrong (probably the latter). when this happens it isn’t acceptable, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a real thing that is worth trying to avoid.) What’s the value of a good D to a forward?

The general process is just a discussion, taking into account a player’s One of the more underrated contributors to putting up points as a forward career history, their more recent history, current injuries and more. is the quality of your defencemen. Most analysts focus on a player’s Obviously, you’d like to build a solid lineup top-to-bottom, while at the linemates or the quality of opponent that a player faces – both of which same time putting together a line or two that you feel can drive the bus certainly matter. But in my experience when I played on teams with good against the best players in the world. D-men I had good statistical seasons and the opposite was also true (in general, getting points on bad teams is much more difficult than the In the case of the Leafs, you’d have to answer some questions, though public thinks when comparing stats). That’s a little bit of passing the buck these questions do persist with every team. Questions like how important for my failures and successes, but it makes a lot of sense. is it to play with Mitch Marner for Auston Matthews? Does William Nylander need better linemates or more time farther down the lineup? You can’t score when you don’t have the puck, and defencemen do the How much do certain D-men care if they play on their strong side versus heavy lifting in the defensive zone in terms of stopping possessions and the opposite side? How do you pair your guys so they can get the proper turning the play the other way. However, turning it the other way can be amount of minutes and usage? Each roster is a puzzle with presumably accomplished in a few different ways. To make life as easy as possible some optimal output, so you’re constantly playing the game of what-ifs. for the forwards, defencemen need to make a breakout pass that puts the forwards in a position where they have some time and space and are (Sidebar here – I think this is easily the most enjoyable part of the job. free to create offence. (This is incidentally why it’s a shame that off NHL coaches deal with media requests, player complaints, staff issues, faceoffs the Leafs regularly just bang it off the glass into the neutral zone assembling practices, tinkering with travel plans, minimal sleep and a for the forwards to chase down, but that’s a different article.) host of other issues. The in-game experience is extremely high-tempo and fun in its own right. But I believe coaches truly enjoy lineup tinkering All of which is to say, the addition of Muzzin almost certainly earns each as much or more than most other parts of the job.) of the Leafs talented forwards a few more touches out of their own end, multiplied by a bunch more games, which should equal a few more points Right now it appears that the Leafs will stick with a Matthews/Marner across the board. The Muzzin addition is being widely praised, but combo, Nylander will stay with Kadri and Muzzin will join Morgan Rielly maybe not enough, as I truly believe the rising tide of good D raises all with one of them playing on their off-side. The only certainty is that forward boats. someone will walk in the room today, see the posted lines and not be happy that their role has been changed. The issues for defencemen playing on their off-sides

What crosses a player’s mind when they first see a new lineup? Here’s the part of the article where I play video of Mike Babcock explaining why he likes his D playing on their strong sides, then try to The NHL is different from every other league in hockey for a few reasons, convince you why I don’t entirely agree with one of the best coaches of but one of the main differences is that the days of every player trying to hockey’s modern era: climb over every other player to get to the next level – first and foremost teammates – are somewhat over. There are situations in the NHL where In a nutshell, he rightly notes that off of won draws in the D-zone, when players willingly accept a less glamorous role for the good of the team you have two same-handed D on one side of the ice (say left and left on and some job security, which means being paid a nice salary for a longer left side), the D generally bumps the puck D-to-D, and one guy takes it period of time. out behind the net – that spreads out the opposing forecheck, rather than jamming it into a congested area. Babs doesn’t like that with two same- handed guys, because the puck carrying D would be coming out on his backhand, so most guys take the easy option and just rim it around the boards into the wingers skates before that can become a problem. And, that’s an awfully tough pick-up and next play for a winger, which usually results in prolonged D-zone time.

In the neutral zone he thinks it hampers regroups (can’t just snap it D-to- D and skate as easily, as the puck would be received on the backhand and then put in the middle of the ice, not protected on the boards). And in the offensive zone, he thinks it’s a tough pick-up on passes that come to the point along the wall, and making any cross-ice pass (whether that’s D-to-D or to any teammate on the opposite side of the ice) is tough because the D-man is receiving the puck on his backhand.

Here’s my take about why a couple of those things don’t have to be a big deal.

First off, the faceoffs. The Leafs aren’t very good compared to the rest of the league when it comes to D-zone faceoff wins to begin with. It’s unlikely they’re gonna get worse here, given their propensity to win the draw, smack it off the glass and hope their forwards can hound the puck down. So maybe – knowing they have so many lefties – they can draw up a play or two that isn’t “rim it into the wingers skates.” I know that’s easier said than done, but this is $6.5-million Mike Babcock. I know they have faceoff plays that involve forwards coming low to provide other options. You can’t convince me that looking for some little slip plays to players in short support wouldn’t yield better results given all their talent (passed off the backhand or not), even if it cost some higher danger turnovers.

As for the neutral zone, totally agree. D really can snap it tape to tape on the strong side and get moving up the ice easier. While some guys like having their stick in the middle of the ice with the puck – and I’m in that group – there’s no doubt it’s higher risk. (Though in my estimation, it provides more options, so its also higher reward. See if you can find my theme here.)

And finally, in the O-zone I love the idea of a D pulling the puck off the wall on their backhand to their forehand quick, skating towards the middle of the blueline and floating one through traffic on net. I don’t want my guys banging one-timers from the farthest conceivable spot in the O- zone and hoping. I do, however, agree that it’s harder to use your partner on your off-side and that the likelihood of needing to stuff pucks back in the zone on your off-hand in confrontations might be higher. But again, I do think there’s an offensive upside, as I mentioned, which is to say nothing of the fact that one of your D now gets to hit one-timers during 5- on-5 play.

In a nutshell here, most of the things I’d like to see a pair of same-shot D- men do is attempt to make more skilled plays. Slip passes on breakouts, pulling it to the middle in the O-zone, operating with their sticks in the middle of the ice rather than out on the boards in the neutral zone. All those things require talented hockey players to come out on top of the risk/reward gambit. The Leafs now boast Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Jake Muzzin, and Travis Dermott on their back end (which isn’t to demean those left unmentioned here, either). Those are some pretty skilled guys. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Leafs players, and maybe more importantly their coaching staff, adjusting to having skilled D, albeit more lefties than they’d prefer.

Leafs aside, these are all very general concepts – putting the lineup puzzle together isn’t easy for coaches and it only gets harder when you’re given far more information. Players are all for the good of the team, but there’s no doubt they’re still looking to advance their personal careers at the same time, which affects their motivation levels. Adding quality D doesn’t just make your D better, but improves your forward corps. And handedness matters for D-men, but isn’t such a negative when the players you’re rolling out have the skill to make plays.

The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128397 Toronto Maple Leafs With an increase in luck and a few extra opportunities on a PP1 that’s still finding its way, it’s not out of the question that Kadri could win the internal

PPG race again. Revisiting 10 bold (and not so bold) preseason predictions for the Leafs It just doesn’t seem likely, not with Matthews and Tavares around.

Confidence in prediction: 20 percent. By Jonas Siegel Jan 31, 2019 3. Frederik Andersen will start less than 60 games

Where it stands: It’s going to be close. Back in October, just before the Leafs started their 101st season, we Six of Toronto’s 33 remaining games come on the second night of a made 10 predictions that were parts bold and not bold at all. back-to-back — starts destined for Garret Sparks — which would leave A break in the schedule for All-Star weekend and the subsequent bye 27 more starts for Andersen, putting him at 61 for the year. week seemed like as good a time as any to check back on that magic With Kyle Dubas running things as GM, and Mike Babcock appearing a eight-ball wisdom and see where things are at: little less rigid on the subject, it seems possible that a few of those starts 1. Auston Matthews will fall just short of the Leafs’ first Rocket Richard will be lopped off, especially if the Leafs have no hope of improving their Trophy playoff seeding late in the year.

Where it stands: Matthews is likely to fall well short of capturing the Right now, with Montreal and Boston on their heels, it’s gotten tight, and Leafs’ first Rocket trophy. if things keep up that way, Babcock might look to get Andersen in there as much as possible down the stretch. Missing a month with a separated left shoulder put those chances to bed pretty quickly, as did a recent shooting slump and Alex Ovechkin’s Andersen started 66 games in each of his first two seasons with the ridiculous season at age 33. Leafs. (Kim Klement/USA TODAY)

Matthews is still just outside the top-30 league-wide with 21 goals, and it The Leafs have already mixed Sparks in for the occasional extra start, doesn’t seem all that unlikely for the 21-year-old to race back into the and the organization seems more mindful of overloading Andersen in the top-10 by the time the year is over. He’s really only one hot streak away regular season, what with the potential, or hope at least, of another two- from that conversation and Matthews is due for one such stretch after plus months of action to follow in the spring. shooting a measly 2.6 percent over that recent 13-game stretch in which Andersen has already missed six games with a groin injury, another he scored only once. reason to tread carefully in the months ahead. Even after that spell, and the 14 games missed to injury, Matthews, Confidence in prediction: 90 percent. remarkably, remains on pace for 41 goals — a mark that’s been hit only 17 times in Leafs history. 4. Auston Matthews will finish with more goals than assists

Matthews scored for the first time since Jan. 5 in the Leafs final game Where it stands: During an interview in August, Matthews said he wanted before the break. (Tom Szczerbowski/USA Today) to end up with more assists than goals and after that aforementioned scoring drought, he’s on track with 22 assists to 21 goals. Matthews trails only Ovechkin, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and John Tavares in goals per game, while sitting fourth in goals per 60 minutes. He looks like a shoo-in to break his single-season high of 29 assists — a mark he hit in each of his first two seasons, the latter coming in just 62 All of which is to say that Matthews would have been there in the running games. for the Rocket had he not missed real time with injury for the second straight season. Matthews has made real gains as a passer in his third season, particularly early in the year when he seemed to be setting up then- Matthews, barring another injury, is a lock to become the first Leaf ever linemate Kasperi Kapanen for prime-time chances constantly. to register three straight 30-goal seasons to begin a career, per NHL Stats. Forty isn’t out of the question. To that point, Matthews has set up five of Kapanen’s 11 goals 5-on-5 in only 314 minutes. One interesting subplot: can Matthews catch Tavares, currently nine goals up, for the team lead by season’s end? Perhaps that was just Matthews adjusting to a shoot-first player like Kapanen, as opposed to the more creative and willing passer he played Confidence in prediction: 95 percent. with previously, William Nylander. 2. Nazem Kadri will lead the Leafs in power-play goals As a high-volume shooting rookie, Matthews mustered only 0.62 5-on-5 Where it stands: Assuming that Kadri would pace the Leafs in power-play assists per 60 minutes, a tick better than Leo Komarov (0.60) and just goals for a third straight season was, looking back, pretty foolish. The outside the top 250 forwards league-wide (min. 500 minutes). Leafs were not only adding Matthews to their oh-so-daunting first unit, Last season, he basically doubled that mark (1.23), ending up with more but Tavares, one of the most potent power-play producers in the league 5-on-5 assists in 62 games (19) than he had in 82 as a rookie (16). over nine seasons with the Islanders, as well. He’s climbed another rung up this season, already with 16 5-on-5 assists The thinking at the time, ultimately misguided, was that Kadri would after only 35 games. He’s up to 1.9 assists per 60 minutes, a top-15 mark benefit from all the attention Matthews, Tavares, and Mitch Marner would among forwards this season. garner. He’d be able to find, as he had when James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak were around, soft spots to keep banging home power-play But will he end up with more assists than goals? goals. The betting here is still no. It just hasn’t gone that way. Matthews is primed for a scoring binge and he’s going to reunite at some Kadri has scored only three times with the advantage, trailing Matthews point with Nylander, which means more serious opportunities to shoot with eight and Tavares with six. and score.

Last season, Kadri was firing almost 17 shots per 60 minutes with the Confidence in prediction: 60 percent. power play. This season, that number has shrunk to just under 11. His share of scoring chances and high-danger chances have both gone 5. Ron Hainsey will lead the league in shorthanded minutes again down, too, as has his tremendously efficient (and probably Where it stands: The Leafs have chopped a minute from the soon-to-be unsustainable) shooting: Kadri is shooting only 14 percent on the power 38-year-old’s nightly penalty killing duties — from a wild four minutes to play after scoring 29 percent of the time in the two previous seasons. right around three. It’s a logical step, but one that wasn’t expected with Roman Polak, at this point. The 39-year-old has only three goals and four points over Babcock’s most trusted penalty killer after Hainsey, left free to sign his last 18 games. elsewhere last summer. Connor Brown had 20 goals as a rookie and 14 last year, but his share of Hainsey, who led the league by about 52 minutes last season when it shots, and increasingly, opportunity, has dropped off this year and he came to shorthanded ice-time, is well off that pace, but still hovering looks hard-pressed to get 15, having buried only four in 49 games. around the top-10 this season and leading the Leafs. Hyman has eight, with four going into an empty net. Seven more seems overly optimistic. Tyler Ennis might have threatened the mark had he Toronto’s coaching staff has mixed in more opportunity for Travis stayed healthy, but that dream is toast now with his continued absence Dermott, and it’s conceivable that Hainsey’s PK duties shrink even from a broken ankle. further now that the Leafs have added Jake Muzzin. Muzzin averaged 1:56 per game shorthanded for the Kings before being dealt to Toronto. It would take some seriously hot shooting, but the only other Leaf with an outside chance is Nylander. He has only one goal so far in 21 games on (Side question: Does Muzzin join Nikita Zaitsev on the first unit, pushing freezing cold shooting. Hainsey to secondary duty with Dermott? Or do the Leafs save Morgan Rielly some wear and tear, bouncing him into the emergency fifth PK Fifteen goals? Probably not. slot?) Confidence in prediction: Five percent Confidence in prediction: Zero percent. 8. John Tavares will have fewer points than last season 6. The Leafs will have a 90-point player for the first time in more than 20 years Where it stands: Tavares is on pace to push past last season’s 84 points and a standing career-high of 86. His month-by-month production has Where it stands: On pace for a career-high 84 points, Matthews still has been very consistent, even in trying times for the Leafs: an outside shot at 90, but right now it probably comes down to Marner and possibly, Tavares. October: 7 goals, 13 points in 12 games

Confidence in this prediction remains high: Marner is on pace for 104 November: 10 goals, 17 points in 14 games points, and Tavares, as we’ll get to later, is on pace for 90. December: 9 goals, 14 points in 13 games

Let’s look here at Marner though, who’s cooled off some since January: 4 goals, 10 points in 10 games Christmas, right along with the rest of the team, in putting up only 12 points in the last 12 games. He had 50 points in 37 games before that. All that has come right along with an expected dip in ice-time (the rationale behind a drop-off), with Tavares averaging just over 19 minutes Most notable of late is that Marner is scoring more, with 14 goals in the — the fewest of any season of his career outside of his 19-year-old last 17 games, and setting up less. But the numbers show that Marner is rookie year. shooting about the same (8.3 shots per 60 since Dec. 15) as before (8.7) — he’s just burying more with some hot shooting. What might throw him off course? Well, his shooting numbers and on-ice shooting percentage with five per side are a touch high compared with What has changed is the apparent dynamic of his usual line with Tavares past levels so some regression might be coming. and Zach Hyman. So dangerous over the first couple months of the season, the threesome, with Hyman returning from a sprained ankle on Still, the 28-year-old looks like a strong bet for at least 80 points, making Jan. 10, seems to have gone stale, which led, in part, to Marner getting a the 84 of last year a likely, if hardly certain, reality. rare chance with Matthews against Washington just before the break. Confidence in prediction: 40 percent. Babcock would prefer a more balanced approach, with Marner playing 9. The Leafs will fight the fewest times in the league with Tavares on one unit and Matthews throwing darts on goal from the other, but given how cool things have looked for some time between Where it stands: The Leafs have fought four times according to Marner and Tavares it’ll be interesting to see where the Leaf coach turns hockeyfights.com, equal to Vegas for fewest in the league. next. Perhaps the answer is replacing Hyman with a speedier, more skilled component like Andreas Johnsson. Three of those scraps — from Hyman, Kadri, and Hainsey — came in the same testy December game with Boston, whom the Leafs won’t face That trio has been a bit more effective in limited opportunity this season: again this year. The other one came courtesy of the since-departed . Regardless, Marner is going to produce. In other words, there’s not much reason to think things will change in the He needs only 28 points the rest of the way to reach 90 and become the unofficial second half. first Leaf to get there since Mats Sundin potted 94 in the 1996-97 season. Confidence in prediction: 90 percent.

The bigger question is whether Marner can become only the third Leaf in 10. The Leafs will break franchise records in wins and points, but fail to history to hit 100 and first since Doug Gilmour in 1994. win their division

Confidence in prediction: 85 percent. Where it stands: Even with their recent slide, the Leafs are on track to about equal last season’s record-breaking season of 49 wins and 105 7. Ten Leafs will score at least 15 goals points. Where it stands: Four Leafs are already there: Tavares, Matthews, The current trend is 50 wins and 104 points. Marner, and Kapanen. There’s reason to think an uptick is coming though. Coming off a hat trick in the final game before the break and due for some more shooting luck, Kadri is up to 13 goals. Morgan Rielly, A few reasons: Matthews is due to break out; Nylander is on the verge of likewise, needs two more to reach 15. becoming his true self again; Andersen is getting back to normal after an injury; Muzzin is upgrading the D; and another hot streak is likely coming Who else though? from Marner and Tavares. Johnsson, with 10, seems like a sure thing. He’s rightly passed Patrick The division belongs to Tampa, but new team records sure seem Marleau on the depth chart, which means opportunity with either inevitable (again). Matthews or Tavares over the final couple months. Confidence in prediction: 90 percent. That makes seven. *Stats and research courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference It gets dicey after that. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 Marleau needs only four more goals to hit 15 for the 20th time in his 21- year career (most in the league), but that hardly seems like a slam dunk 1128398 Toronto Maple Leafs He had a point, but he never had an objection.

Dangle began as a pen name at the student paper at Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute, a 15-minute walk from the Glynn family home in From YouTube to Sportsnet, professional Leafs fan Steve Dangle has Scarborough. Gary and Tina raised Steve and his younger sister, Rachel, become an unlikely media success in a warm house on a quiet street, but the most exotic trip they took was to McDonald’s.

By Sean Fitz-Gerald Jan 31, 2019 Rachel was born four months premature, and at only 1.5 pounds. She would later be diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism. As Glynn writes in his soon-to-be-published memoir, “This Team is Ruining My Life (But I Love Them),” his sister’s arrival “shaped who I am today.” Steve Glynn was giving a tour, playing with his dog and telling a funny story all at the same time. Iggy, his three-year-old Goldendoodle — part Rachel required almost constant attention. The time commitment was golden retriever, part poodle and part disruptor — was pulling at a sock one reason why Glynn was never registered in minor hockey. His father toy in Glynn’s left hand as he stood in the familiar blue room. said they signed up for skating lessons one winter, but it was too late, and his son opted against returning the following year: “There were a lot It might have been the most famous room in the most famous basement of kids there who were younger than him, and who were skating way in all of Oshawa. The aesthetic seemed to be governed by chaos, with better than him.” dozens of NHL figurines and photos sprayed across the wall like the messy result of some colourful sneeze. But each figurine had a matching Glynn divined other ways of getting attention from the adults in his life. photo, and each photo had a story, like the one Glynn was telling about the famous defenceman during a two-day media junket. He tried to make them laugh.

Any photos taken on the first day of the junket were fine, Glynn said. He was in elementary school when he started watching old George Carlin routines. He was attracted to the early works of Robin Williams, “Anything that was on the second day, all the players were rip-roaring who joked about illicit drugs on stage before he moved into family-friendly hung over,” he said with a smile, motioning to the famous defenceman. Hollywood movies. “His skin looks like a wallet. I don’t know if Advil has a smell, but he’s just rip-roaring hung over.” “Luckily,” Tina said with a smile, “the teachers didn’t get annoyed.”

Iggy, who had likely already heard the story, finally ripped the sock toy In 2007, when he was a student at Ryerson University, Glynn met a away and left the room. Glynn has carved out an unlikely living from young woman who held a part-time job at Future Shop. There was a telling stories within those blue basement walls, sometimes with a webcam that was selling for $77, but with her employee discount, she scream and sometimes with a whimpering monologue about his beloved could get it for only $23. Maple Leafs. Glynn got the webcam, and he would eventually marry the young Inside that room, in view of his trusty camera, Glynn is known by his nom woman, Sarah-Louise. de guerre, Steve Dangle, an eccentric fanatic who has been creating The Dangle character that would come to define him was born soon YouTube videos about the team for a decade. His audience for each after. The videos would evolve, but the initial spirit has remained. Glynn video is routinely larger than 30,000, and his channel is closing in on can be angry or funny or, often, a bit of both. He can jump around the 100,000 subscribers. room. He can speak in a voice that he has described as “my dad’s Depending on his mood, or depending on the game he is discussing, impression of a drunk person.” Glynn fills his videos with jump-cuts to give them a frenetic, almost frantic It is not usually difficult to see where art imitates life. feel. His career can sometimes feel the same way, with his YouTube hobby having begat a podcast, television work and, as of March, a “He is genuinely him,” said long-time friend Adam Wylde. “When you published memoir. watch TV with him, he throws his phone, he gets upset. He is passionate that way. And this is what’s different: Usually, when you’re around people As with the photos on the wall, Glynn has an idea of what he is doing. He who get mad at hockey games, you’re like, ‘this is fucking awkward, and resists charting a path — the only thing he might hate more than a Leafs I’ve got to get out of here.’ loss is being asked about his five-year plan — but he knows the general direction he wants to take across the roiling mass of the Canadian sports “With him, it’s very funny, and you just want to watch more of it.” media landscape. On the morning after many Leafs games, Harry Donkersgoed, the owner In the process, he has become an outlier, a professional fan. There is of G & H Small Engines, in Drayton, Ont., convenes a three-person some thought, though, that the 30-year-old may actually also be a herald panel. It consists of himself, the mechanic he has working for him and for the future of mainstream sports coverage. another die-hard Leafs fan who usually swings by the shop.

Iggy sauntered back into the room as Glynn pointed to the photo of late The panel gathers around the screen, in its small town 40 minutes north Leafs goalie Johnny Bower. It was taken a year or two before Bower of Kitchener, and it listens intently to what Steve Dangle has to say. died, and Glynn was told he had undergone a dental procedure, and would not be able to speak for very long. Bower’s dentures popped out “He’s got lots of energy,” said Donkersgoed, “and he really does know after his first answer. hockey.”

Glynn laughed: “But then he just shoved them back in and goes, ‘alright, Donkersgoed, who turns 56 in July, also listens to The Steve Dangle what’s next?’” Podcast. He watches Sportsnet for any appearances Glynn makes on air. He has already ordered a copy of the book. A photo of Phil Kessel was nearby. Glynn said Kessel had him blocked on Twitter when they met, but the Leafs winger did not acknowledge he “Every true Leaf fan wants to talk about the last game the Leafs played, knew him. James van Riemsdyk walked away with a hockey card Glynn whether they played good or bad,” said Donkersgoed. “And quite often, had given him during their chat. Morgan Rielly was aware of the videos. he gives you a different perspective of it. He gives you a real perspective of it, as a true fan.” Goaltender James Reimer knew of Glynn, and knew of Glynn’s utter devotion to him. had an idea, Glynn said: “I don’t think he In an era before YouTube, Donkersgoed would likely have never was the biggest fan.” encountered Glynn. And Glynn, in an era without direct access to an audience, might have ended up as that animated office colleague who is “Once people have made up their mind about you, it’s difficult to change really fun to watch a game with at the bar. it,” he said with a shrug. “I think I’m an acquired taste for some people. You see me screaming my face off, and you go, ‘you know what? That’s It is difficult to trace the path Glynn has taken into the mainstream, where not for me.’” he now works with Sportsnet in addition to his regular podcast and YouTube duties. There are potential predecessors in music as well as in Gary Glynn furrowed his brow just a bit when asked about Steve Dangle, sports television, but they are both imperfect parallels. the name his eldest child had adopted for his on-screen persona: “I told him, ‘well, that sounds like a porn star or something.’” John Ruskin was a Vancouver-based radio host who developed an targeted Facebook advertisements to convince people to listen to him innovative character to confuse and amuse the music industry. As rant and rave about the Leafs. Nardwuar, the high-pitched, well-researched reporter in the field, he was adept at getting subjects and colleagues out of their comfort zone. That background can also cause tension.

“He is, as far as I know, the only sober journalist ever thrown out of the “I think that Steve’s different, and that’s scary,” said Wylde, his friend and press room at the Juno Awards,” pop culture critic Chris Dafoe wrote in podcast collaborator, who hosts the morning show on Virgin Radio 99.9 The Globe and Mail, in June 1992. FM in Toronto. “Everybody in broadcasting is a little scared right now, and if you’re not, you’re probably not doing your job.” “He is the future of rock and roll,” musician Dave Bidini wrote in the Toronto Star, the following year. Wylde cited Sportsnet personalities such as , and Elliotte Friedman as being among those who “get” what Glynn does Cabral Richards, known more widely as Cabbie, is the closest online and on-air. Some — he declined to offer names — are less comparable in sports. With heightened energy and unique questions, collegial. Richards discovered new avenues in which to explore the often hidden personalities in professional sports. “I have seen people on the air roll their eyes, and it’s a shame,” he said. “I get upset. Guys like Nick try to understand. Elliotte tries to understand. Richards and Ruskin built new pathways onto the air, but their Jeff Marek does 100 percent. They’ve always been gracious, kind and innovations were both within the norms of conventional television. Both polite. And then there’s other people who just aren’t.” generally built their audience based on the strength of their work with other people. Glynn built his audience by yelling at a webcam in his Wylde said the podcast reached around four million sets of ears last basement. year, between YouTube and audio listens. They have two episodes a week, and it has been averaging between 80,000 and 90,000 listens a “When I speak at schools, I always say that everybody now has the week. He said they have never paid for advertising, with the show ability to form their own media company,” said Scott Moore, who growing strictly on word of mouth and social media. resigned as president of Sportsnet in October. “It’s just a matter of how well you do it.” Glynn has more than 123,000 followers on Twitter.

What Glynn has done over the past decade, he said, is build a unique “I was there with him the first time he ever got noticed in public,” said brand. Justin Fisher, who has been Glynn’s friend since high school. “And it was very funny.” “And he’s done that pretty much from scratch,” said Moore. “I think it’s a good lesson that, if you have the right content, if you create a good They were at a Marlies game, at Ricoh Coliseum. Specifically, they were personality or brand — and you’re entertaining — you can create enough in line to put ketchup and mustard on the hot dogs they had just of a brand and enough of an audience that media companies might take purchased from the concession stand. Glynn was wearing his Leafs notice.” jersey — the one with the name Dangle on the back.

Making it to a mainstream network is still the end goal for now, Moore A young child approached Glynn and tapped him on the back. said, because there is no way to make a comfortable living strictly on “I’m a big fan,” the child said. YouTube unless the size of the audience is in the millions. (Glynn agreed, describing his income from YouTube as: “We carpeted our Glynn looked confused: “Of what?” basement in Oshawa … sometimes we buy organic bananas.”) “You’re Steve Dangle, aren’t you?” Beyond broadening his choices of fruit, Moore believes Glynn could also Glynn was stunned. end up as a beacon for young media hopefuls to follow. Cutbacks across the industry have weakened regional broadcast affiliates, an “He was so oblivious to it,” Fisher said, laughing. interconnected web that once served as a farm system for funnelling new on-air talent to the big stage. The crowds, especially in events tailored around the Leafs, can be a little bigger now. “That farm system no longer exists, because most local affiliates don’t do sports,” said Moore. “So where do the new on-air personalities come “It’s just the reality of hanging out with him,” said Fisher. “At any given from? And if you’re a smart, young, media-savvy person, you create that time, he might go have a conversation with somebody and, like, not for yourself.” come back.”

Chris Clarke was one of the first mainstream media executives who tried “Toronto can be a tough market, especially when you’re not doing well to find a place for Glynn, as a personality on the team-owned Leafs TV. as a team, or personally, or whatnot,” said former Leafs goaltender Glynn, who was in his third year at Ryerson, would appear on a half-hour James Reimer. “So to have a guy in media who’s in your corner, it’s show called Leafspace, a blend of emerging social media trends and pretty priceless.” interactions with fans. Reimer had one such media guy in Toronto, and it was Glynn. (When the “He showed me these videos that he did of him in his basement, going Leafs traded Reimer to San Jose in 2016, Glynn called the deal a squirrely over the Leafs,” said Clarke. “And I’m like, ‘this is what we “broccoli fart” in a video that generated almost 100,000 views.) need.’ “There doesn’t seem to be too much superficial stuff, or whatnot, going “Did I ever think, in a million years, that I’d be talking to you about him about him,” Reimer said with a chuckle. “He speaks his heart.” and his book? Not a chance.” Did he have any idea why he emerged as Glynn’s favourite? Clarke laughed. “When I played, I tried to be upfront with people,” he said. “I think most “He was ahead of his time,” he said. “It wasn’t being done back then.” people saw that when I played, I tried to leave it all out there and play your heart out. Maybe he was able to relate with that.” Sasky Stewart, a social media expert who worked for the Leafs, as well as with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, said Glynn has an Reimer said he tries not to consume too much hockey media during the appeal that comes across well online. Stewart, who has known him for season, and now that he is with the Panthers, he generally does not the better part of a decade, said he comes across as both accessible and dwell on what anyone is saying about the Leafs. That being said, he said approachable. he will still watch the odd Steve Dangle Video: “It’s a good chuckle.”

“Steve has this massive audience that has come there because they Glynn does not like the idea of planning his career too far into the future. want to see his content,” she said. “They are interested in his message, and they have bought into his brand. And that kind of authenticity — “It’s like, you ever sort of look up at the night sky?” he said. “And if you particularly with a younger market — is really kind of hard to get.” think a little bit too hard about it, you get freaked out? It’s sort of like that.”

The corporate value in his audience is in how organically it was grown, How much longer can he yell at a webcam? she said. Glynn did not have to buy highway billboards, radio air time or “The idea of a 42-year-old with a YouTube channel, where he yells and screams about the Leafs, that seems so silly right now,” he said with a smile. “But in 12 years? I don’t know. There’s YouTubers with grey hair right now.”

Iggy had long since wandered upstairs. Glynn and his wife, Sarah- Louise, have dog-loving neighbours, and together they decided to knock a few boards from the fence that divides their property. In effect, it created a doggy door between both yards, so the dogs can play together when they’re outside.

There was almost no trace of the Leafs on the main floor, where Sarah- Louise was watching television on a cold, grey morning. The Leafs are mostly contained to the basement, and they have done their best to contain Glynn’s booming voice, as well. They installed strips of soundproof foam, especially over the vents.

“Before, he could never record at night,” Sarah-Louise said, “because it would wake me up.”

She is a kindergarten teacher, and has to wake up early.

“Now, you’re at least able to fall asleep,” Glynn said.

“In the backyard, if you stand a little bit down the lawn, you can hear it through the window,” she said with a laugh. “I can only imagine what the neighbours think is going on in this house.”

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1128399 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights prospect Jake Leschyshyn perseveres in WHL

By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

PORTLAND, Ore. — Jake Leschyshyn didn’t need a reminder about the business side of hockey. He got one anyway. The Golden Knights prospect was traded by his team in November as part of a blockbuster deal, the latest hitch in his major-junior career. It was the second time Leschyshyn, who was sent to Lethbridge from Regina, has been traded in his WHL career. “Especially when I was in Regina, we definitely were struggling, and I think everyone knew they had to make moves to rebuild in a way,” Leschyshyn said. “The trade’s worked out great. I’m really happy to be in Lethbridge. It’s a great place, and there’s a lot of really good teammates.” Leschyshyn was a second-round pick of the Knights in 2017 (No. 62 overall) and is fully recovered from a torn ACL he suffered Feb. 3, 2017. The 5-foot-11-inch, 191-pound center, who turns 20 in March, skates on the top line for Lethbridge. “He’s an extremely smart hockey player. His hockey IQ is elite,” said Lethbridge coach Brent Kisio, whose father, Kelly, is a pro scout for the Knights. “He’s just a solid two-way player that’s hard on pucks. I can’t say enough about his game. He’s one of our leaders. “He’s a better player than I thought he was coming here. I knew he was good. I didn’t know he was this good.” Leschyshyn posted 18 goals and 40 points in 64 games for Regina last season and was off to a solid start with the Pats before the trade, which did not change his status with the Knights’ organization. In 47 total games with Lethbridge and Regina, Leschyshyn has 55 points and ranks 15th overall in WHL scoring. His 27 goals rank tied for 10th with four other players. “I want to be a strong two-way forward, but any time you can contribute offensively, it’s a big plus,” Leschyshyn said. “That’s something that the guys in Vegas really honed in for me to work on, and I’m just really trying to improve in that area.” Leschyshyn, whose father, Curtis, played 16 years as an NHL defenseman, has taken more than 1,300 faceoffs this season and is winning almost 60 percent of his draws. He signed an entry-level contract with the Knights in June, but could return to the WHL for his age-20 season if the organization decides to give him more seasoning. “When you come off a knee injury, sometimes it takes you awhile to get going, and he went through that last year,” Knights general manager George McPhee said. “He’s become a very well-rounded player, one of those guys you like because he can play in a lot of different situations. We’re really pleased with the way he’s progressed this year.” LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128400 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights back to work against Hurricanes after bye week

By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

RALEIGH, N.C. — Because of the NHL’s new bye week format that sandwiched the All-Star Game between the four-day break, 13 teams return from their time off and face an opponent that’s been playing games. The Knights were one of the lucky ones. Carolina also ended its bye week Friday, and it will be even-steven with both teams trying to shift back into high gear when they meet at PNC Arena. Tonight is the first of two straight games where PIT's opponent is coming off the bye week and they've already played. TB is one of 13 teams who come off the bye playing a team that's already played; ANA, BOS, CHI, DAL, EDM, LAK, MIN, MTL, NYI, NYR, OTT and STL are the others — Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 31, 2019 This marks the opening of a four-game road trip for the Knights (29-19-4, 62 points), who haven’t played since a 2-1 loss at home to Nashville on Jan. 23. It’s also the first leg of a back-to-back that wraps up Saturday at Florida. But first, here are a few storylines worth watching coming out of the bye: — Right wing Reilly Smith (undisclosed) remains on injured reserve as of Thursday morning, according to the roster on the team’s website, and his status for the game against the Hurricanes is unclear. Prior to the All-Star break, Smith was skating in a non-contact jersey at practice. The Knights will hold a morning skate Friday and that should provide more answers about whether Smith will be activated. To clear room for Smith, the Knights would have to make a corresponding move. Which is a perfect segue for … — Defenseman Jake Bischoff and goaltender Maxime Lagace were recalled from the American Hockey League late Wednesday. Bischoff’s recall likely means one of the Knights’ seven defensemen is not healthy. Nick Holden missed the game against Nashville with an undisclosed injury and was listed as day to day. Should Holden (or another defenseman) remain sidelined, he could be placed on IR to open a spot on the 23-man roster for Smith. Lagace served as the backup for the past six games, and Malcolm Subban remains on IR, according to the team’s website roster. Subban did not practice before the break, and Lagace’s recall indicates Subban is not ready to return Friday. Coach Gerard Gallant said Jan. 24 he expected Subban to return shortly after the break “if not right after the break.” It is not known whether Subban or injured forward William Carrier (undisclosed) will join the Knights on the trip. — There is also the matter of a mini slump the Knights hope to shake coming out of the break. The Knights lost two straight and four of their past six games. They faced five teams currently in a playoff position during that stretch and came away with two of a possible 10 points, with the only victory against Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes (24-20-6, 54 points) sit five points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games. The Knights defeated Carolina 3-0 on Nov. 3, which was Marc-Andre Fleury’s 50th career shutout. Carolina is 13-8-4 at home, and the Knights hope to avoid seeing one of the Hurricanes’ unique postgame victory celebrations. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128401 Washington Capitals against teams. These final 32 games before the playoffs can be something of a fresh start for a team that needed to recharge.

“You look at last year, we went through a ton of adversity, too,” ‘We were tired’: Their bye week over, Capitals relish a fresh start goaltender Braden Holtby said. “It wasn’t any different. It’s the way you come through that ultimately weighs on how much success you’re going to have. In a way, it’s a good thing for us right now because we were By Isabelle Khurshudyan January 31 going to have to have something like this to push us in the right direction. It’s almost one of those reality checks to move on and stay in the moment instead of in the past or relying on the past. Now we’re focused on our team and where it is right now and getting better and being the Washington Capitals players were away from each other for just a week, best we can.” but as their midseason vacation officially ended with Thursday afternoon’s practice, it felt “kind of like your first day again,” forward Tom Washington Post LOADED: 02.01.2019 Wilson said. Most players had previously rejected the notion that they were fatigued from last year’s long run to the Stanley Cup, but the difference the time off made from the bye week was immediately evident. “We were tired,” captain Alex Ovechkin said. “Maybe it was too much hockey. And today, I look at the guys and I can see everybody is missing the hockey and everybody flying, everybody laughing, everybody don’t think about what happened a week ago or how many games we lose in a row. I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine in the next few days.” And while players were more upbeat than the last time they’d all been together, their seven-game losing streak going into the break hasn’t been completely forgotten either. The challenge of snapping it in Friday night’s game against the Calgary Flames will be made more difficult because Ovechkin won’t be in the lineup, serving a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game. He has missed just 29 games in his 14-year career, and the Capitals are 13-14-2 without him. The good news for Washington is that the skid hasn’t dropped the team very far in the standings. Through 50 games, the Capitals have an identical record to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the two teams tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division, three points in back of the New York Islanders. Friday’s game will be the first of a six-game homestand before the most grueling trip of the season, six games with three in California. “I just felt a little bit different energy around our room today — guys happy to be back with each other,” Coach Todd Reirden said. “For as much as we look at it, different things to improve on, I think this break came at a good time for us. We’ll see how that goes tomorrow and putting the proper group together. Obviously without our captain it’s not going to be easy.” The team will return from its trip West just ahead of the Feb. 25 trade deadline, and while Washington isn’t likely to upend a roster nearly identical to the one that won a Stanley Cup last year, how active General Manager Brian MacLellan chooses to be could depend on how the Capitals fare during this crucial stretch. He has already said that he’s looking to make a forward-for-forward swap, and while he didn’t explicitly mention winger Andre Burakovsky, the 23-year-old has been the subject of trade speculation for months. While Washington wasn’t initially interested in a return of draft picks or a prospect, the team could take that and then flip it for another player in a separate trade. Of most concern to the Capitals has been their porous defensive play and goaltending over the past month. Washington allowed 30 goals over the five games before the break. Second-year defenseman Christian Djoos has been out of the lineup since Dec. 11, when he suffered compartment syndrome and then had to have surgery on his left thigh, and he skated with the team in practice Thursday, a good sign that he could return to the lineup within a couple weeks. That could also impact Washington’s plans before the trade deadline; MacLellan has added defensive depth every February for the past four years, but he said before this losing streak that he’s comfortable with his blue line. MacLellan said he’ll be mindful of upsetting team chemistry with any potential move. The subtle addition of defenseman Michal Kempny last season worked better than the blockbuster for Kevin Shattenkirk two years ago. “The time frame you have to integrate a guy into your lineup is hard, and it’s a tough thing to make work, you know, with the coaches, with the team, and to find a role for a guy,” MacLellan said. “In hindsight, you look at Shattenkirk, who we thought was a really good player [to] improve our power play, but the fact was the integration didn’t go as great as we thought it would. I had several discussions with the coaching staff on how do we use him, how do we manage around this, and the chemistry worked probably during the year, but I don’t think in the end it fully connected. It’s a hard thing to do to add a guy, a high-impact guy, at the end and be successful at it.” Before the Capitals shake anything up, they’ll attempt to rediscover their identity during this homestand, and Reirden said he wants to see Washington get away from the bad habit of going chance-for-chance 1128402 Washington Capitals

Back from break, Capitals look to end losing streak with Ovechkin out

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Thursday, January 31, 2019

ARLINGTON — Their break is over, and the Washington Capitals now pick up where they left off eight days ago: trying to solve a seven-game losing streak. Alex Ovechkin skipped the NHL All-Star Game in order to rest his body as much as possible, and he got his wish. He vacationed with his family in Cuba, where his wife used Instagram to document him riding a dolphin and dancing under some palm trees. Now, though, it’s back to business. Ovechkin will serve an automatic one-game suspension on Friday when the Capitals host the Calgary Flames, in accordance with the NHL’s rule about skipping the All-Star Game. In the meantime, the captain gave his opinion on what Washington’s problem might have been in mid-January. “I think we was tired,” Ovechkin said. “Maybe it was too much hockey. And today I look at the guys and I can see everybody is missing the hockey and everybody flying, everybody laughing. Everybody don’t think about what happened a week ago or how many games we lose in a row. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine in the next few days.” Ovechkin’s teammates still walked the fine line between pointing out the grueling pre-break schedule and leaning too much on that as the reason for losing seven in a row. “It was a good, long break and allows you to put that in the rear view a little bit,” Tom Wilson said. “But I think everyone in here is aware that the points are important, you know? It’s a tight race, and we’ve got to use this homestand to get our game going and do the right things.” Braden Holtby insisted that they can’t use fatigue as an excuse. “Rest can always be used in the right way,” Holtby said. “But in saying that, every team has this break. Every team was on the same boat before … I think for us, the biggest thing was to get away from everything mentally.” Coach Todd Reirden said he expects Friday to be “more of a sloppy game” than usual as players get back into the daily grind of hockey. That will be compounded by Ovechkin’s single-game absence. Reirden had Chandler Stephenson skate in Ovechkin’s top-line left wing spot for much of Thursday’s practice, keeping the second line of Jakub Vrana, Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson intact, which likely portends how they will line up Friday. Planning for one game without Ovechkin does not have his teammates feeling intimidated. “We have lots of really skilled players in this team, lots of skilled players,” Vrana said. “I think we will find a way to win the game without him tomorrow, and then we’ll have him back.” Nonetheless, it will be a tall order to defeat the Flames (33-13-5, 71 points), the best team in the Western Conference, who are led by three of the NHL’s top 20 goal-scorers: Johnny Gaudreau (29), Sean Monahan (27) and Matthew Tkachuk (24). Defenseman Christian Djoos won’t play in this game, but he was a full participant in practice Thursday, a positive step for his return to action. Djoos has missed the last 20 games with a left thigh injury that required a surgical procedure. Djoos said he got in some skating during the Capitals‘ bye week — a quite different way to spend that time than, say, Ovechkin. “No (vacation). Not this year,” Djoos said. Washington Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128403 Washington Capitals

Ted Leonsis: Wizards 'not trading' John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter

By Adam Zielonka - The Washington Times - Thursday, January 31, 2019

To hear team owner Ted Leonsis tell it, the Washington Wizards have no interest in trading any of their best players this year. In an interview with WTOP Thursday, the Monumental Sports and Entertainment CEO said John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. would not be traded and doubled down on his comments against “tanking” in the NBA. “We’re not trading any of those guys,” Leonsis said of his three highest- paid players. This season’s trade deadline is Feb. 7. Leonsis told WTOP he was recently asked whether he would give up on the current NBA season and direct the Wizards to start rebuilding for next year. “I was asked point-blank, ‘Are you going to tank?’” he said. “That’s an offensive question. You can’t go to your organization, to your players, to your coach and say, ‘Let’s plan to lose.’” The Wizards are 22-29, tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference with 31 games to play. Wall is out for the year after undergoing surgery on his heel, but the Wizards are playing better as of late and find themselves in playoff contention in a weak conference. On another topic, Leonsis said the Capitals have been in contact with the White House about arranging a date to visit in celebration of their Stanley Cup victory. More than seven months have passed since the team won the first Cup in franchise history. “This will be a team decision — I’ve said that from Day 1,” the owner said. “I think we’ll have an answer to that soon.” Washington Times LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128404 Washington Capitals

Caps look to break losing streak, but won’t have Ovechkin to help

By Brian McNally January 31, 2019

ARLINGTON — Alex Ovechkin spent his All-Star break and bye week riding dolphins in Cuba. That’s one way to escape a seven-game winless streak. But now back home and eager to get back on the ice, Ovechkin will instead have to watch as he serves a one-game suspension for skipping NHL All-Star weekend when the Capitals host the Calgary Flames on Friday at Capital One Arena. “Ask Gary about it,” Ovechkin said of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, whose league makes sure players don’t skip the All-Star game consequence-free. Ovechkin wants to play. He can’t. He hopes his team can find a way to snap an 0-5-2 run that has left it tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division. "I think we was tired. Maybe it was too much hockey,” Ovechkin said. “And today I look at the guys and I can see everybody is missing the hockey and everybody flying, everybody laughing, everybody don't think about what happened a week ago or how many games we lose in a row. I'm pretty sure we'll be fine in the next few days." There were plenty of other ills that plagued the Capitals during a stretch that’s actually 3-7-3 since New Year’s Eve. A leaky blueline, limited commitment from forwards to help their defenseman, sub-par goaltending and a curious penchant for trying to go chance-for-chance with inferior teams instead of playing the more structured style of last spring. They had eight days off and a hard practice Thursday to get ready for their first game without Ovechkin since the final game of the 2015-16 season when he was rested before the began. "I just felt a little bit different energy around our room today," Caps coach Todd Reirden said. "Guys happy to be back with each other. For as much as we look at it, different things to improve on, I think this break came at a good time for us. We’ll see how that goes tomorrow and putting the proper group together obviously without our captain, it’s not going to be easy. Ovechkin has played in a career-high 214 consecutive games. That streak is over. He’s missed just 29 games in his career and this will be No. 30. Ovechkin leads the NHL with 37 goals. “Our team's always been good with adversity. That's what made us who we are over the past couple of years,” forward Tom Wilson said. “That was part of the reason we were hugely successful last year, because guys had to step up and guys had to take responsibility. It's no different when your captain is out of the lineup. Guys have got to step up, and you've got to fill that void as best you can.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128405 Washington Capitals he's got good intelligence, he skates well, he's getting stronger. A lot of positives with Kody.”

For more on Clark, check out this story from the Washington Post about Prospect report: The Caps aren't concerned about Jonsson-Fjallby in how the Caps see a lot of Tom Wilson in him. Europe Because the Caps have not picked forwards particularly high in the draft in recent years, I was curious why the team puts such emphasis on By J.J. Regan January 31, 2019 defensemen. Mahoney said that actually is not the case. “We honestly do try to take the best player available to us,” he said. “We never really want to pass over somebody positionally and then that player becomes a much better player because you thought you needed a right winger let's Capitals forward prospect Axel Jonsson-Fjallby chose to leave the say and the defenseman you passed over becomes a much better and return to his native Sweden early in the season. The player. Just take the best player and if they all turn out to be good assets, move was made official in November when the Capitals announced he you might have more than you need at a certain position, but it also had been loaned to Djurgardens IF. enables the general manager to maybe be able to do more things when it comes to the trade deadline and things such as that just because he has Though understandable why a young player would want to return home lots of assets.” rather than play in a minor league in a foreign country, the move called into question exactly what his NHL future may be. The transition from the Riley Barber is tied for first in the AHL in power play points with 22 (nine European game to North America can be a difficult one and few players goals, 13 assists). are able to make the jump from Europe straight to the NHL. If a player is not willing to put in the time to make that transition in a minor league, will Liam O’Brien recorded an assist on Saturday in a 4-2 win over Laval. It they ever ultimately reach NHL? was the 100th point of his AHL career. The Caps, however, are not worried. Mike Sgarbossa has 20 goals in just 44 games. It is the first time he has scored 20 goals in his AHL career. “It's not troubling,” assistant general manager Ross Mahoney told NBC Sports Washington. “Would we like to have had him play the whole year Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 in Hershey? Yeah, for sure. You're making that transition into more of a realistic ice size and to the transition for the NHL and you're also having him being with our coaches and our development people, but he is only 20 years old and a lot of European players don't come over when they're 20, a lot of them come over when they're 21 or 22. Would I like to have him still in Hershey? Yes. Is it troublesome that he went back? No.” Mahoney went on to praise Djurgardens IF as an organization and said the Caps remain in contact. He also mentioned that director of player development Steve Richmond was very recently in Sweden to watch Jonsson-Fjallby play. The overall message from Mahoney was that of course the Caps would have preferred for him to stay in North America, but Jonsson-Fjallby’s return to Sweden is by no means the end of Washington’s plans for him and should not be seen as the end of his quest for the NHL. “We’re continuing to monitor his progress,” Mahoney said. “It's a big transition to go from Sweden over to North America. We need him to feel that he's ready to do it also and I think he'll be more confident next year and a year older, a year more mature and he'll be ready.” Other prospect notes: Ilya Samsonov continues to progress on and off the ice. One factor Mahoney attributed to his improved play is his improved understanding of English. Being able to understand the language better is helping him understand the coaches and the instructions he is being given. Samsonov’s play has improved dramatically in recent weeks, but Mahoney said the slow start is typical of European goalies as they make the transition to the smaller North American ice. The different angles and the speed in which the game is played is hard for goalies to initially handle. Mahoney feels Samsonov is on pace with where they hoped he would be in his development to this point. “We firmly believe that he will be a starter in the future,” Mahoney said. “When that takes place, we'll see how he progresses, but we had drafted him in the first round with our thoughts on that he had that ability to be a starter.” Vitek Vanecek participated in the AHL All-Star Classic over the weekend. Like in the NHL, the AHL All-Star format is a 3-on-3 tournament. Unlike the NHL, the tournament is a round robin format instead of a single- elimination tournament. The Atlantic Division played three round robin games then met the North Division in the final as the two teams finished with the highest records. Vanecek was the top goalie of the event with 18 stops on 20 shots for a 1.06 GAA and .900 save percentage in four 3-on- 3 games. In the final six-minute game, Vanecek held the North scoreless for six minutes. The game finished in a 0-0 tie requiring a shootout. Vanecek was then replaced by Springfield goalie Samuel Montembeault for the shootout. The switch was made because Springfield hosted the event making Montembeault the hometown hero. Unfortunately for the Atlantic, the North ultimately won in the shootout. Alex Alexeyev is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He did not play in any of Red Deer’s three games over the past week. When the Caps drafted Kody Clark 47th overall in the 2018 draft, that made him the highest drafted forward for Washington since taking Jakub Vrana in the first round in 2014. I asked Mahoney why. “He's got hands, 1128406 Washington Capitals Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019

The Caps are finding out just how difficult it is to repeat as Stanley Cup champions

By J.J. Regan January 31, 2019 11:55 AM

The summer of 2018 was a blissful celebration for the Capitals and their fans. For the first time in franchise history, Washington claimed the Stanley Cup. For a city that had never experienced winning the Cup, the summer was an interesting mix of celebration and preparation for the upcoming season. It felt hard to know when to turn the page. The first few days after the team won the Cup were a euphoric party complete with the Cup parade, taking Lord Stanley to a Nationals game, swimming in a fountain in Georgetown and getting new tattoos. As the players finally went their separate ways for the offseason, the party did not stop as it was time for each player to have their day with the Cup. Even as the season drew ever closer, the celebration ramped back up again as the team got its Stanley Cup rings and the Stanley Cup banner was raised to the rafters at Capital One Arena. But then it was time to move on. “There hasn't been much of an offseason and it's been a lot of work and a lot of self-reflection and much joy,” Ted Leonsis said. “But now that's being drained out of the equation because it's dawned on everyone that we get our rings this week, we put up the banner tonight and then it's next season. So trying to find that and strike a balance between celebrating and paying homage to the past and then being focused on making the playoffs and then trying to repeat is a tall order.” There were plenty of jokes over whether the Caps were celebrating their championship a bit too much, but the fact is the summer after winning the Cup hardly gives players time to breathe. Now as the team returns from the bye week, they sit 27-17-6. A respectable record, but one that is overshadowed by the team’s seven-game losing streak which has dragged them down to third place in the division. Washington got off to a slow 5-4-2 start to the season and it looked like the team was dealing with the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover. “It's one of the big challenges this year is you've worked years and years to accomplish your lifelong dream, you accomplish it, now you're kind of finding that ‘now what?’ type thing,” Braden Holtby said. “As a team, you can tell we're doing the same things to kind of do that. It's just, we've got to find that way to get that extra motivation. I think having a bit of struggle off the start isn't a bad thing. It's a kind of reminder that this game never comes easy no matter who you are or what you've done.” The team rebounded and won 16 out of 19 from November to the end of December, but they have struggled ever since. It doesn’t matter what a team looks like the year after they win the Cup. They are always referred to as the defending champions regardless of how many players they may have lost in the offseason. Sometimes those teams look very different. The Caps, however, do not. General manager Brian MacLellan went to great lengths to keep the roster intact form last season with the only departures being Philipp Grubauer and Jay Beagle. So there’s no question that this team is good enough to compete for the Cup because the same roster won it last season. But if there’s one thing the team has learned now 50 games into the season, it’s that repeating is hard. It’s not just going through the grind of another 82-game season, it’s going through an 82-game season after playing an extra 24 playoff games, after a shortened offseason, and and after celebration that didn’t end until the day after the opener. On Oct. 3, the Caps opened the season by raising their championship banner and bashing the Boston Bruins 7-0. The real grind began the following day as they had to face a back-to-back immediately on the road against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Suddenly, it was back to work for Washington. It’s hard to turn the page so quickly and, as the team has learned over the first half of the season, it doesn’t matter how good your roster is, it’s hard to repeat. 1128407 Washington Capitals

Capitals midseason grades: Are the goalies struggling or is it the defense in front of them?

By J.J. Regan January 31, 2019 6:00 AM

It’s the bye week which means no Capitals hockey until Friday. To help get you through the week, JJ Regan and Brian McNally will be looking back at the first half of the season and handing out their midseason grades for the offense, defense, goaltending and special teams. Today’s grade: Goaltending JJ: Statistically, Braden Holtby may be having the worst season of his career. In February and March last season, he struggled immensely and a .907 save percentage and 2.99 GAA for the year reflected that. As of now, his numbers for this season are worse with a .905 save percentage and 3.10 GAA, well off his career pace of .918 and 2.47 and the worst numbers of his career. He suffered a scary eye injury against Columbus during the team’s seven-game losing streak and, though he says he is healthy, he has not played well since returning. But the real issues with the goaltending come from what’s happening in front of the net and not between the pipes. The Caps’ defense has been so porous of late it’s hard to blame Holtby or backup Pheonix Copley for getting shelled by the opposition. Backup goaltending was a major question mark for Washington heading into the season and I’m having a hard time figuring out just how good he is. Even earlier in the season when he was racking up the wins, there were elements of his game I did not like. Some of his best saves were made cleaning up his own mistakes. Like everyone during the team’s losing streak, Copley has not played particularly well and the fear is that he could be regressing back to the means. Still, the results are what they are and if you had told anyone at the start of the season that in his first full NHL campaign Copley would be 10-5-3 after 19 appearances, everyone would have taken that. Grade: B Brian: Sometimes it’s tough to tease out whether a team’s goalies are struggling or the overall defense being played in front of them is the real problem. Braden Holtby was an All-Star and he was among the best goalies in the league in November and December. In this recent cold stretch he hasn’t been great. Neither have his teammates. Until recently, Pheonix Copley was also having a surprising season taking over for Philipp Grubauer in the backup role. He’s already bought the Caps more than half a season so if they need to ride Holtby down the stretch they probably can. He will probably fall somewhere between last year’s 54 games and the 63 in 2016-17. That seemed to help heading into the playoffs last year. Holtby put his struggles in February and March behind him and led Washington to the Stanley Cup. Keep in mind scoring is up in the NHL this year and the goalie equipment changes probably have been a factor. Their job is tougher than ever so the numbers are going to suffer some anyway. The Caps need Holtby and Copley to be strong on this upcoming six-game homestand while the blueline figures out its own issues. Overall, the duo has been good despite the rough patches in October and January. Grade: B+ Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128408 Winnipeg Jets Scheifele ripped his 26th of the season to open the scoring against the Blue Jackets. His compadre, right-winger Blake Wheeler, set the table on the play with his 54th assist. A Little defence for Laine Take a look elsewhere: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL Jets centre sees no reason to panic over winger's scoring slump with 37 goals, has gifted passer Nicklas Backstrom (38 assists) feeding him nightly; Tampa Bay Lightning centre Brayden Point has league assist leader (57A) Nikita Kucherov as the gift that keeps on giving; Buffalo Sabres star left-winger Jeff Skinner has supplied 31 goals and he’s got By: Jason Bell Jack Eichel (37A) up the middle; Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche has 29 goals and he’s on a line with centre Nathan

MacKinnon (44A). The escalating public angst over Patrik Laine’s recent scoring woes is Little wants to be the originator for one of the NHL’s premier finishers and lost entirely on his veteran linemate. still believes productive days are ahead. But he said forcing things — In fact, the 20-year-old winger deserves a break, says Winnipeg Jets even with a weapon like Laine nearby — when a play isn’t there can centre Bryan Little, who is, in the figurative sense, a reliably straight come with a hefty cost. shooter. "You kind of get away from your own game and what you’re trying to do, Winnipeg Jets' Bryan Little, right, has nothing but words of and you’re trying to squeeze passes that aren’t there to him and it kind of encouragement for young linemate Patrik Laine. works the opposite way," said Little. "For a player, it seems way overblown," Little said Thursday, hours "If I see him, I’ll definitely make more of an effort to try and get him the before the Jets’ 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Bell MTS puck than maybe other guys, but at the same time you don’t want to be Place. "He had a month where he had 18 goals and I think people expect giving pucks away and just throwing stuff at him all night. There’s a fine that from him every month. He’s young and he’s going to go through line." stretches where he’s really hot and stretches where he’s struggling to As the slump persists, some words of encouragement from the 12-year find the back of the net, and that’s understandable." veteran certainly can’t hurt during Laine’s mid-season crisis. The struggles continue for Laine, who flexed his shooting muscles in "You try and keep him positive. He’s pretty hard on himself and he’s his 16:22 of ice time against the Blue Jackets with six shot attempts and two toughest critic. He’s going through a drought — well at least a drought for shots on net. him," said Little. The Finnish-born forward has no goals in six games and has just one in "Almost every young player faces that. They want to go out and do well 13. His next tally will be his 26th of the season. He fired three goals in and score every night, and when that doesn’t happen you get squeezing October and then had a ridiculous November with 18, but he’s only the stick and get negative. That kind of creeps into other parts of your scored four goals since, including a lone marker this month (Jan. 13 in a game." 4-3 OT victory over the Anaheim Ducks). Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2019 "If you had months like he had, you’d have 100 goals every year. People expect a lot out of him and I think that’s where the pressure’s coming from right now," said Little. "We know what kind of player he is and what he’s capable of, and he’s still developing, so it’s understandable." Playing the left side on a second forward unit with Little and right-winger Jack Roslovic, Laine has been maligned recently not just for his lack of scoring but also weak defensive play. He wasn’t credited with a shot attempt Tuesday in Boston and finished a minus-one on a night when he received just 10:55 of ice time against the Bruins. Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Laine’s benching was by no means punitive; it was more a reaction to a grinding game against a tough, bruising Bruins squad, requiring a heavy workload for third-liners Adam Lowry and Brandon Tanev. Did Laine interpret the move as a stern message? "I don’t know. I’m not him, so it’s hard to say, but probably that we just need to play better. We can’t get scored on every game. That’s something we need to work on a lot as a line," Laine said Thursday morning. "They can’t put us out there if we get scored on every time, so I get that." Little said the entire trio stunk on the two-game trip to Boston and Philadelphia (a 3-1 loss to the Flyers at Wells Fargo Arena). "It’s not just him. I’m on a line with him and we’ve given up a few goals the last couple of games and it’s something we’ve talked about. We have to be better in our own end as a line, and better on that side of the puck. For some reason, his name just gets thrown in there but it’s all five guys on the ice, me included, having to be better," said Little. Little, who set up Kyle Connor’s game-winner Thursday, has been aligned with Laine for the bulk of the season. There hasn’t been much noticeable chemistry between the two since Laine’s stick went cold prior to Christmas. Little has 20 assists this season, with nine on goals from Laine. Four were generated on just one special night, Laine’s five-goal performance in St. Louis on Nov. 24. Perhaps, a separation would be best for all parties and new partnerships forged by Maurice. Across the league, Laine and 17 others had reached or eclipsed the 25- goal mark heading into Thursday’s light NHL schedule. The majority has a bona fide play-maker alongside, including Jets’ centre Mark Scheifele. 1128409 Winnipeg Jets

Roslovic up against friendly fire

By: Jason Bell

Winnipeg Jets Jack Roslovic grew up watching Blue Jackets games in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Some of Jack Roslovic’s idols have become his close friends and heated on-ice foes. Indeed, the Winnipeg Jets forward has a unique kinship with several members of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was born and raised in Columbus, and his family had season tickets a few rows up from the NHL team’s bench at Nationwide Arena. Roslovic, 22, used to follow the every move of longtime Blue Jackets such as Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno and Cam Atkinson. Now, he works out with them during the off-season. Roslovic made his NHL debut against the Blue Jackets on April 6, 2017 at the rink just a 15-minute drive from his home. He battled them again Thursday night for just the second time in his NHL career, scoring the game-tying goal. "There’s a lot of familiar faces over there. You always get excited playing the team you grew up watching," said Roslovic, the first born-and-raised Columbus kid to play in the NHL. The Jets selected him 25th overall at the 2015 NHL draft. "It’s not like (Jets centre Mark Scheifele) when we play in Toronto and it’s the (hype of) the Jets-Leafs. It’s Winnipeg-Columbus, but it’s still something special for me. I grew up watching them play every night, so I know a lot of the guys on the team. It’s for a little bragging rights." Defenceman Dustin Byfuglien (lower body) and winger Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body) skated before the rest of their teammates did Thursday morning, and their recoveries are on schedule. Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Byfuglien is day-to-day, yet he’s a long shot to play Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks. He has missed 13 games. Ehlers likely won’t return to the lineup for another week to 10 days. He has missed 11 games. Forward Nic Petan and defenceman Sami Niku were healthy scratches against the Blue Jackets. Columbus coach John Tortorella shredded his team during Thursday morning’s media conference for its performance at home two days earlier. The Buffalo Sabres built a 3-1 first-period lead Tuesday before the Blue Jackets tied it 4-4 on Atkinson’s 28th goal of the year late in the middle frame. Conor Sheary notched the winner early in the third for the visitors. The always-entertaining bench boss was still seeing red 40 hours later. "It’s a good team we’re playing, and it was a gawd-awful team that I coached the other night, so hopefully we’ll answer the proper way... they better or they’ll get their ass kicked," said Tortorella. "It was a team that threw their uniforms out to play... played with absolutely no balls at all. The team needs to be reset pretty quickly." Blue Jackets centre Boone Jenner is being treated for an infected cut on an ankle and could be out for up to three weeks. He was cut after blocking a shot Jan. 12 in a game against the Washington Capitals. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2019 1128410 Winnipeg Jets It came after another great hustle play from Foligno to break up a Jets’ scoring chance involving Little and his linemates at the other end. Foligno then fed Bjorkstrand for the go-ahead goal. Connor scores second straight game-winner in 4-3 win over Blue Jackets "Had a few really good chances. Just bad puck luck. Great defensive plays by their guys. We stuck with it. Sometimes it takes until the last minute of the game for it to go your way," said Little. Mike McIntyre As it has so many games this season, Winnipeg’s power play proved to be the great equalizer as Jack Roslovic scored 8:47 into the third period with his team enjoying a man advantage. Step right up, Kyle Connor, and watch where you put that thing. It appears you’re the next member of the Winnipeg Jets to be gifted the Columbus got a golden chance with just over six minutes left in the flaming stick. period after Scheifele accidentally flipped a puck into the seats and was sent to the sin bin for delay of game. Connor played the role of scoring hero for the second time in as many games, firing the winner with just 1:14 left to play as the Jets rallied for a But the Jets’ penalty killers managed to burn the two minutes, including 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night. one sequence where Brandon Tanev lost his stick, then took a slapshot near the back of the head that sent him sprawling to the ice. Officials Bryan Little made a perfect pass from behind the enemy net, finding immediately blew the play dead, which incensed Columbus head coach Connor all alone in the slot. The flashy winger made no mistake, as his John Tortorella, given that his team was essentially going to have a five- 22nd of the year sent the crowd at Bell MTS Place into a full-blown on-three. frenzy. That set the stage for Connor’s dramatic game-winner. "He’s been really hot. It seems that guys just take turns catching on fire like that. He’s the guy with the really hot stick right now. Just keep "We’ve done it enough this year that we have a lot of confidence that we looking for him, keep feeding him the puck and let him go to work," said know we don’t have to change our game. We can continue to play the Little, who had his own run earlier this month of notching the game- same way for 60 minutes. We’re going to generate enough chances. It’s winner in two straight games. just a matter of finishing them. Some nights they’re going to go in and some nights they’re not," said Wheeler. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saves the Winnipeg Jets' shot during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots, while Bobrovsky had 23 saves. Thursday. "It just speaks to our confidence as a group. Our goaltender as well made Connor helped rally the Jets Tuesday night in Boston, scoring twice in some great saves early in that third to keep it a one-goal game. When the third period and the only goal in the shootout. He has nine goals in we’ve got that kind of goaltender backing us up and the offensive power his last 11 games. that we have, it’s just a matter of time," Connor said. "I’m coming off a change. The puck got rimmed down low to Bryan and Winnipeg has now won six straight at Bell MTS Place and continues a he made an incredible pass on his backhand there and found me in the three-game homestand by welcoming the Anaheim Ducks to town on slot. Just tried to get it off quick," said Connor. Saturday night, followed by a visit from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. "It’s fun to be part of this group. Everybody, from day one, is trying to get Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2019 better. That’s what makes this group great. I think everybody’s helping each other get to that next level." Winnipeg improves to 33-16-2 and are now four points ahead of the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division. Columbus, which began the third period up 3-2, lost for a fourth straight game and fell to 28-19-3. "We’ve been able to grind some of these out. If you look at our month now, we go 8-4 with nine of those teams being playoff teams. We went 6- 3 against those teams, with key pieces out (of the lineup). It’s not always perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. There are no style points in the NHL," said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. Columbus Blue Jackets' Josh Anderson scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck as Tyler Myers defends during first period NHL action, Thursday. "That was a grinder, so was Boston. Our goalie had to make some saves, we had to get some big-time things happen late in the third for it to go for us — and we did." The Jets got the strong start they were looking for as Mark Scheifele opened the scoring just 4:34 into the game. He converted a beautiful feed from Blake Wheeler for his team-leading 26th of the season. Little missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 a few minutes later, but a tremendous hustle play by Nick Foligno deflected a shot at the last second that appeared headed for an empty net. The Blue Jackets built momentum off that play by tying it up a few minutes later. Defenceman Ryan Murray kept the puck in the Winnipeg end, then fed a wide-open Artemi Panarin, who beat Connor Hellebuyck for his 20th of the season. Panarin, who is rumoured to be on his way out of Ohio, then became a playmaker when he set up Josh Anderson in the slot for the go-ahead goal later in the period. Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski gets a two minute interference penalty against Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele during second period NHL action Thursday. Rookie Mason Appleton tied it up for the Jets late in the middle frame following some strong work from the fourth line, but Columbus regained the lead just 57 seconds later as Oliver Bjorkstrand beat Hellebuyck on one the Jets goaltender would like back. 1128411 Winnipeg Jets The danger is forcing things with a weapon like Laine when a play really isn't there to be made, Little said.

"You kind of get away from your own game and what you’re trying to do, Jets' second line has some work to do in its own end, Little says and you’re trying to squeeze passes that aren’t there to him and it kind of No lineup changes planned for tonight against Columbus works the opposite way. If I see him, I’ll definitely make more of an effort to try and get him the puck than maybe other guys, but at the same time you don’t want to be giving pucks away and just throwing stuff at him all night. There’s a fine line," he said. By: Jason Bell Some words of encouragement from the 12-year NHL veteran certainly can't hurt during Laine's mid-season crisis, either. The escalating public angst over Patrik Laine's recent scoring woes is "You try and keep him positive. He’s pretty hard on himself and he’s his lost entirely on his veteran linemate. toughest critic. He’s going through a drought — well at least a drought for him," said Little. "Almost every young player faces that. They want to go In fact, the 20-year-old winger deserves a break, says Winnipeg Jets out and do well and score every night, and when that doesn’t happen you centre Bryan Little says. get squeezing the stick and get negative. That kind of creeps into other "For a player, it seems way overblown," Little said this morning, after parts of your game. Winnipeg's game-day morning skate. "He had a month where he had 18 "We’ve got a young team and (players) learn how to work through these goals and I think people expect that from him every month. He’s young things, and you try to be there for him and keep him positive." and he’s going to go through stretches where he’s really hot and stretches where he’s struggling to find the back of the net, and that’s Dustin Byfuglien (lower body) and winger Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body) got understandable." in an early skate before the rest of their teammates today. Laine has gone five games without a goal and has just one in Winnipeg's While Maurice said the defenceman is listed now as day-to-day, he's a last 12. His next tally will be his 26th of the season, and his first crack longshot to participate Saturday when the Anaheim Ducks visit town. comes tonight when the Jets battle the Columbus Blue Jackets. Game time at Bell MTS Place is 7 p.m. Ehlers, meanwhile, likely won't return to the lineup for another week to 10 days. Laine fired three goals in October and then had a ridiculous November with 18 tallies, but he's only scored four goals since, including a lone Nic Petan and Sami Niku will be the healthy scratches again tonight. maker this month (Jan. 13 in a 4-3 OT victory over Anaheim). Columbus coach John Tortorella shredded his team this morning for its "If you had months like he had, you’d have 100 goals every year. People performance at home to Buffalo on Tuesday night. The Sabres built a 3-1 expect a lot out of him and I think that’s where the pressure’s coming first-period lead before the Blue Jackets tied it 4-4 on Cam Atkinson's from right now. We know what kind of player he is and what he’s capable 28th goal of the year late in the middle frame. Conor Sheary notched the of, and he’s still developing so it’s understandable. winner early in the third for the visitors. The Jets (32-16-2) are in first place in the Central Division, two points up The always-entertaining bench boss was still seeing red 40 hours later. on the Nashville Predators with a pair of games in hand. They earned a 4-3 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, snapping a two- "It's a good team we're playing, and it was a gawd-awful team that I game losing streak. coached the other night, so hopefully we'll answer the proper way... they better or they'll get their ass kicked, " he said, ahead of tonight's game. The Blue Jackets (28-18-3) hold down the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference but have lost their last three games. "It was a team that threw their uniforms out to play... played with absolutely no balls at all. The team needs to be reset pretty quickly." No.1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck occupies the crease tonight for Winnipeg, which was 0-1-1 against the Metropolitan Division squad last season. Columbus will be without its second-line centre Boone Jenner. Team GM Columbus counters with netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. Jarmo Kekalainen said today Jenner has an infected cut on his ankle and could be out for one to three week. He was cut after blocking a shot Jan. Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice will go with the same collection of 12, and the infection just flared up earlier this week. skaters that combined on a third-period rally in Boston — highlighted by two quick goals from Kyle Connor — before edging the Bruins on the Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 02.01.2019 strength of Connor's shootout marker. And no alterations to either the forward lines or defensive pairings are expected. Laine, playing the left side on a second forward unit with Little and right- winger Jack Roslovic (who hails from Columbus), has been maligned recently not just for his lack of scoring, but also some weak defensive play. He wasn't even credited with a shot attempt in Boston and finished a minus-one on a night when he received just 10 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time. Maurice told reporters Laine's benching was by no means punative; it was more in reaction to a grinding game against a tough, bruising Bruins squad, requiring a heavy workload for third-liners Adam Lowry and Brandon Tanev. But did Laine see the move as a message to him? "I don't know. I'm not him, so it's hard to say, but probably that we just need to play better. We can't get scored on every game. That's something we need to work on a lot as a line," said Laine. "They can't put us out there if we get scored on every time, so I get that." Little said the entire trio stunk on the two-game trip to Boston and Philadelphia (a 3-1 loss to the Flyers at Wells Fargo Arena). "It’s not just him. I’m on a line with him and we’ve given up a few goals the last couple of games and it’s something we’ve talked about. We have to be better in our own end as a line, and better on that side of the puck. For some reason, his name just gets thrown in there but it’s all five guys on the ice, me included, having to be better," he said. There's hasn't been much noticeable chemistry between the two since Laine's stick went cold prior to Christmas, yet Little's been a fairly consistent producer with five goals and added five assists this month. 1128412 Winnipeg Jets Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella was incensed with the call on the bench, but chose to bite his tongue during his post-game scrum when asked about the play in question. Jets gut out win against Jackets “Don’t even ask me,” said Tortorella. STAY OR GO CONCERNS Ken Wiebe A quick look around the NHL provides plenty of examples of teams beginning to weigh their options when it comes to moving out their pending unrestricted free agents. Never mind that early narrative the Winnipeg Jets can only beat up on the bottom-feeders. Look no further than the Jets Thursday opponents, the Blue Jackets, who will soon make a decision on the future of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and As the month of January came to a close on Thursday night, a 4-3 come- winger Artemi Panarin. from-behind victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets was the exclamation point for a stretch that saw the Jets go 6-3 against teams above the It’s a tricky situation for Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo playoff line and 8-4 overall during the month. Kekalainen. “We’ve been able to grind some of these out,” said Jets head coach Paul With the Blue Jackets in a playoff spot and the franchise seeking its first Maurice. “It’s not always perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. There are no playoff series victory, what kind of message does it send to the group if style points in the NHL. That was a grinder, so was Boston. Our goalie Bobrovsky and/or Panarin are moved? had to make some saves, we had to get some big-time things happen But on the flip side, letting those players potentially leave as free agents late in the third for it to go for us – and we did.” could hurt the franchise in the long run — especially if other teams are Despite scoring first, the Jets were forced to rally from 2-1 and 3-2 willing to ship over assets that could help in the present and the future. deficits in this one as they improved to 33-16-2 and continue to hold As for the Jets, it seems like a foregone conclusion that they’ll be keeping down top spot in the Central Division standings. their three pending UFAs — defencemen Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot “Those are all learned things. And that’s what a regular season is and forward Brandon Tanev — in the fold for the stretch run and then see supposed to do for your team, teach you all of the hard lessons and build what happens come the summer. confidence through adversity,” said Maurice. “I didn’t think the game was The value of having those three players in the lineup currently outweighs easy for us.” any futures the Jets might be able to get in return. With 31 games left in the regular season, the Jets are up to 68 points on “There’s not even a thought (of being moved),” said Chiarot. “It takes the season. some of the guesswork out, if you’re at the top of the division and you’re Jets left-winger Kyle Connor delivered the game-winner with 1:14 to go in a team that you know is planning on making a deep run in the playoffs. regulation time, burying a pass from Bryan Little after he was left alone in It’s my first time going through a situation like this as an unrestricted free the slot after coming onto the ice on a line change. agent, to not even have to think about (a possible trade) is a nice little perk of playing on a good team.” “It’s fun to be part of this group,” said Connor. “Everybody, from day one, is trying to get better. That’s what makes this group great, everybody is 20/20 CLUB helping each other get to that next level.” With two goals against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Jets left-winger Connor is up to 22 goals on the season and has nine goals and 13 points Kyle Connor eclipsed 20 goals for the second consecutive season. during his past 11 games. But he wasn’t exactly breaking out the bubbly in celebrating the occasion. “He’s been really hot,” said Little. “It seems that guys just take turns “Not really. Once you’re into the season, I don’t really pay attention to the catching on fire like that. He’s the guy with the really hot stick right now. numbers,” said Connor, who scored 31 goals last season to lead all Just keep looking for him, keep feeding him the puck and let him go to rookies. “Right now, it’s just a matter of staying in a rhythm and to keep work.” playing well.” The game was anything but easy for the Jets – with the exception of the Going into Thursday’s game, Connor had eight goals and 12 points in his first goal, which came on a slick pass from Blake Wheeler to Mark past 10 games. Scheifele, who took over the team lead with his 26th marker of the season on a crisp one-timer, after Blue Jackets defenceman Dean Kukan He’s enjoyed moving back onto the Jets top line with Mark Scheifele and was unable to get the puck out of the defensive zone. Blake Wheeler — a spot he’s occupied frequently during the past two seasons. For the second time in as many games, the Jets overcame a third-period deficit to improve to 6-13 when trailing after two periods. “It’s been great. Obviously, two very gifted players that I get to play with,” said Connor. “It’s just been a lot of fun. The way we play, all three of us “We’ve done it enough this year that we have a lot of confidence that we play with such high speed and the way all three of us think the game, it’s know we don’t have to change our game,” said Wheeler. “We can just been a lot of fun. continue to play the same way for 60 minutes. We’re going to generate enough chances. It’s just a matter of finishing them. “We’ve found different ways to score and that’s the exciting part.” “Not cheating the game. Just playing our system. Some timely saves by One of the things Connor is proudest of is his ability to produce on a our goalie, some big blocks. When you need to stretch to score goals, consistent basis — which is something many young players tend to then the other team gets chances the other way. We don’t need to do struggle with. that.” “That’s what makes good players great, to be able to produce every Mason Appleton and Jack Roslovic (on the power play) also scored for single night,” said Connor. “It’s such a tough league. Every night, playing the Jets, who got 28 saves from Connor Hellebuyck. against so many incredible players, you’ve got to bring it every single night. If you take a night off, it’s going to show. It’s not easy in this The Jets, who improved to 33-16-2, continue a three-game homestand league.” on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks. Maurice praised Connor for his ability to become a driver on his own line The game wasn’t without some minor controversy, as the men in stripes when spending some time on the second line with Bryan Little and Patrik chose to blow the play down after Jets winger Brandon Tanev blocked a Laine, but he’s earned his spot back on the top unit. shot from Zach Werenski with his back during a Blue Jackets power play. “He’s just been really good,” said Maurice. “He got back onto that (top) Tanev went down in excruciating pain and went down the tunnel briefly, line. So there is part of that balance. We went 11-4 in December and he’s but didn’t miss a shift and returned to finish the contest. playing with (Little) and they’re doing a little more and we’re a pretty good “Obviously, you want the player to be okay,” said Werenski, who took a hockey team. Then he goes back with that (top) line and clearly that line shot in the face during a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in is a great place for him. It’s a dominant line. He’s playing great, so I’ll 2017 on a play where the whistle wasn’t blown. “I kind of know what it’s leave him there and keep building his confidence.” like to get hit in an unfortunate spot. I know where I hit him after shooting There was some buzz on social media about how Connor’s two goals — it and it was in the back and it probably stings, but I don’t think it’s worthy and the shootout winner — could be a not-so-subtle reminder to the of blowing the whistle there. It’s a tough time to blow the whistle.” Bruins for passing on Connor three times in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft. For what it’s worth, Connor said he took no additional satisfaction from that online storyline. “I’ve moved on from that,” said Connor. “I guess it’s fun to look back. In any past draft you can say ‘what if?’ but I’m past that.” ON THE MEND Prior to Thursday’s morning skate, Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien and forward Nikolaj Ehlers were on the ice for a twirl of their own. Maurice said Byfuglien has progressed to the day-to-day stage as he works to return from an ankle injury he suffered against the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 29. “Dustin got through his skate (Thursday) and felt pretty good after, so that’s a good sign,” said Maurice. “He has to get handed off to the coaches here, maybe (Friday) or maybe the next day, where we start pushing him a little bit harder. I still don’t have an answer (on a timetable for his return). All I’m telling you is that now we’re in day-to-day.” Ehlers has been out of the lineup since Jan. 4 after suffering an upper- body injury in a collision with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. Maurice said the window for Ehlers to return to skating with his teammates wouldn’t open until after Feb. 4. “He’s not getting into a game for another week, at least,” said Maurice. Five takeaways from Thursday’s game FORMER PARTNERS SHINE Former US National Development Team defence partners Jacob Trouba and Seth Jones each had a strong showing for their respective teams on Thursday, each chipping in two assists. Trouba played 22:48 and had two shots on goal (six shot attempts), one hit and three blocked shots, while Jones had two shots on goal, two hits and one blocked shot in 25:21 of ice time. SPECIAL DELIVERY Columbus product Jack Roslovic made his NHL debut against the Blue Jackets in 2016-17 and said prior to the game that it’s always special to play against his hometown team. It was even more so after delivering a power-play marker that evened the score during the third period. It was the fourth goal of the season for Roslovic. PANARIN PRODUCES There has been plenty of speculation about the Blue Jackets being forced to move top-line winger Artemi Panarin after he said he wasn’t willing to negotiate a new contract until after the season. Well, Panarin was a force in this game, scoring a goal and adding an assist with a game-high 25:52 of ice time. LEADING THE CHARGE Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella called out his group for a shoddy effort against the Buffalo Sabres and when that happens, you look to see how the leadership group is going to respond. Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno had two excellent hustle plays, going hard on the back-check to prevent two potential goals for Bryan Little. The second play led to the go-ahead goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand. NICE RESPONSE The Jets fourth line has been used a bit more in recent weeks and after taking a minor penalty for interference after a defensive-zone faceoff, winger Mason Appleton bounced back later in the period by scoring his third career NHL goal, tying the game 2-2. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2019 1128413 Winnipeg Jets Meanwhile, if the Blue Jackets display the same type of intensity as head coach John Tortorella did during his morning media session, it could be an interesting night. Jets set to face Blue Jackets: Laine drought of little concern to Maurice After watching video of Tuesday’s loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Tortorella was fuming. Ken WiebeMore from Ken Wiebe “It’s a good team that we’re playing (the Jets) and it was a God-awful team that I coached the other night,” Tortorella said. “Hopefully, we’ll answer the proper way. This time, Patrik Laine was not in the mood to give himself a public “The team needs to be reset here pretty quickly. For us to get to be who dressing down. we’re supposed to be, we need to reset pretty quickly.” Instead, the Winnipeg Jets forward was mostly upbeat and measured Tortorella was asked if his players feel the same way as he does? during a scrum about his recent slump. “They better or they will get their ass kicked,” he said, before being asked “Obviously, it’s frustrating. It’s been like this for a couple of months. It’s if it was more of a mental or physical issue the other night. “Anything you tough to handle as a 20-year-old,” said Laine, who has two goals in his want to name, it was that. It was a team that threw their uniforms out to past 18 games going into Thursday’s tilt against the Columbus Blue play. I didn’t realize how poorly we thought the game, playing with Jackets. “But everybody is going to go through this. Just have to learn absolutely no balls at all in the game, until I really broke down the video.” from this. Have to work hard every day to get through this. That’s all you can do. Just try to play hard every day and do every small detail as best What’s the first step in that reset? as you can.” “Judging from last game, and I’m not going to buy into the break and all Laine stayed on for a little extra work on Thursday and was testing out a of this, Buffalo had an extra day (off) than we did,” Tortorella said. “We tinted visor, but he’s not about to make a bunch of drastic changes as he were absolute no-shows in every facet of the game. We watched the tries to snap out of this offensive dry spell. tape this morning as a group. I hope that resets them, because it was embarrassing.” The Jets are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the Boston Bruins and remain in top spot in the Central Division standings. Here’s how the clubs are expected to start on Thursday: In that game, Laine saw only 10:55 of ice time, which was the second Winnipeg Jets lowest total of his three-year NHL career. Forwards Did Laine view the reduction of ice time as a message from his head Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Blake Wheeler coach? Patrik Laine-Bryan Little-Jack Roslovic “I don’t know. I’m not him, so it’s hard to say. But probably that we just need to play better. We can’t get scored on every game,” said Laine. Mathieu Perreault-Adam Lowry-Brandon Tanev “That’s something we need to work on a lot as a line. They can’t put us out there if we get scored on every time. So I get that. But the team is Brendan Lemieux-Andrew Copp-Mason Appleton winning, and that’s all that matters. We have a room full of guys who can Defence score and play good hockey. We know we didn’t play the way we need to play and all the other lines were playing great, so obviously wanted to Josh Morrissey-Jacob Trouba give them probably a little more ice time because they were going. We get that as a line, that that’s unacceptable and just try to learn from that Ben Chiarot-Tyler Myers game.” Joe Morrow-Dmitry Kulikov Jets head coach Paul Maurice spent the better part of five minutes Goalies discussing Laine during his morning media session. Connor Hellebuyck The conversation ranged from what the discussions with Laine have been like to the ice time he received against the Bruins. Laurent Brossoit “(The reduced ice time) had more to do with the match-up and who was Columbus Blue Jackets going (rather) than (Laine) hasn’t scored in a while and I’m going to bench him to send him a message. I wasn’t thinking about (Laine) when I Forwards made those changes,” said Maurice. “He’s frustrated, for sure. He’s a competitive guy and he cares an awful lot. But you’ll also notice that he’s Artemi Panarin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Cam Atkinson hanging onto the puck more and he’s throwing more hits, trying to get Nick Foligno-Alexanxer Wennberg-Oliver Bjorkstrand more physical and he’s trying to do the things to get himself going.” Anthony Duclair-Riley Nash-Josh Anderson Despite the recent cold spell, Laine has 25 goals and remains tied for the team lead with Mark Scheifele. Lukas Sedlak -Brandon Dubinsky-Markus Hannikainen In 205 NHL games, Laine has recorded 105 goals and 168 points. Defence It’s obvious Maurice is happy with the play of three of his four lines right Zach Werenski-Seth Jones now, so don’t expect a bunch of juggling to try and get Laine back on track. Ryan Murray-David Savard “That’s a real simple answer. Wins. I don’t go behind the bench to do Scott Harrington-Dean Kukan anything for any one individual. You go behind the bench to win a hockey Goalies game,” said Maurice. “(Laine) has been part of that. I get it. It’s kind of like, you’ve got a cat and something sparkly comes out and all of their Sergei Bobrovsky focus is there. (Laine) hasn’t scored in a little while, so we’ve got to watch this guy. It’s about the Winnipeg Jets. So, that’s how we run the bench Joonas Korpisalo and we run the room. I know he’s a gifted shooter and I also know that Winnipeg Sun LOADED 02.01.2019 he’s like every other kid in that lineup – there are going to be parts of the game that you don’t love about it. “But our expectation can’t be that this guy should score 200 because he had a five-goal game. Right? Other than that shot, he’s like every other player in the NHL. He’s going to learn and he’s going to get better. And that’s been going on all year, it’s been going on since he got here.” Connor Hellebuyck starts in goal for the Jets, while the Blue Jackets will counter with Sergei Bobrovsky. 1128414 Vancouver Canucks • On defence, Erik Gudbranson and Derrick Pouliot remained the third pairing; Troy Stecher and Ben Hutton were the second pairing behind veterans Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. Patrick Johnston: Refreshed Canucks give it a rest, now they’re Vancouver Province: LOADED: 02.01.2019 refocused on playoff bid

Patrick Johnston

The Canucks have been off the ice for a week. They say they're rested and ready for the playoff pursuit down the stretch It was almost like training camp all over again Thursday as the Vancouver Canucks got back on the ice for the first time in a week. Between the NHL All-Star break on the weekend and the league-initiated bye week, the last time pro hockey players clad in blue and green flashed across a fresh white surface was Jan. 23, a 5-2 loss to the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. “That was a good hard practice today,” a smiling Bo Horvat said of the Canucks’ power hour spent at UBC getting their legs, eyes, ears, hands and everything else back in sync. The Canucks are in the thick of a playoff race and rookie Elias Pettersson said the timing of the team’s weeklong break was actually a good thing. After a busy weekend in San Jose — Pettersson was the Canucks’ lone representative at the star-studded showcase in California — he got a few days off to play tourist with his brother Emil, who flew in from Milwaukee, where he plays for the Admirals, the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate. “It’s always nice to get some days off, because the season schedule is so tight. It was nice to get some recovery time,” he said. Many of the Canucks travelled to Mexico to enjoy a week at the beach, but others like Antoine Roussel and Alex Biega stayed closer to home. Horvat went away, but to Palm Springs with fiancée Holly Donaldson. “It’s all about what you prefer to do. (Some) like to sit on the beach and lounge out and just relax,” he said of his decision to skip the Baja and Cabo San Lucas. “For me, I can’t stand just sitting there and doing nothing. I’ve got to be out exploring and doing stuff.” So, they went horseback riding and hiking. “It was about taking your mind completely away from the game for a little bit.” Waking up that first morning in California, realizing he didn’t have to go to the rink, was “amazing,” he said. “It’s a really nice feeling, knowing you don’t have to come back to the rink that next day. It’s nice, it’s refreshing.” It also felt great to flush the hockey routine out of his system for a week, he added. “It’s a gruelling part of the season … for us to get that break, to recuperate and get ready to go for that last stretch here is going to be great for us.” By Tuesday Horvat started to feel antsy again. “(The break) was the perfect amount of time. The last couple days, I was back in the gym and ready to go, wanting to get back on the ice and start playing again.” And now the focus is back on hockey. The NHL trade deadline is in three weeks. There are still seven teams chasing down the final two wild-card playoff spots. The Avalanche are right there with the Canucks, who insist they need to refocus on their defensive work. The last three games before the break saw them surrender far too many shots. “It was a good time for us to regroup and remember what kind of team we want to be,” Horvat said. ICE CHIPS • The Canucks likely won’t make any lineup changes against the Avalanche on Saturday. … • Nikolay Goldobin skated on both Horvat’s and Pettersson’s wing, while Tim Schaller took turns in Tyler Motte‘s spot on the fourth line. Both have been regular healthy scratches of late. … 1128415 Vancouver Canucks Roland McKeown It’s fairly common knowledge that the Carolina Hurricanes are interested in adding scoring and are using their glut of defencemen as currency to Canucks trade targets: Young defencemen that could step into the lineup get it done. Many expect them to trade someone off their NHL roster, and soon that’s still likely to happen, but they may also explore moving one of their defensive prospects for a project player. They have two noteworthy ones with the AHL Charlotte Checkers in Jake Bean and Roland McKeown. By Ryan Biech Jan 31, 2019 The Canucks don’t have much NHL offence to give away, but maybe Nikolay Goldobin can net them an unproven defensive prospect? How close are the Canucks to being playoff contenders? It’s likely that Bean will be the one that the Hurricanes bring up to fill the void left by whoever they trade away, or at the very least be the call-up It’s a topic of debate among fans as well as media over the radio guy, and he would likely cost more than the Canucks have to offer. airwaves. One idea that has been tossed around is for Vancouver to add players that are able to step into the lineup sooner rather than later. So that leaves us with McKeown. The 23-year-old is entering the final According to The Athletic’s Jason Botchford, there is one specific area year of his entry-level contract and will require waivers next season. He that the organization has in mind when it comes to this proposal. appeared in 10 NHL games last season, posting three assists, and has seen his production increase with each passing year in the AHL. That he The Canucks are looking to change their defence. They understand it’s was originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings with the pick that the not good enough and how to improve it has been an ongoing Canucks sent them for Linden Vey and then later moved to the conversation. Ideally, the team wants players in the same age range as Hurricanes for Andrej Sekera means landing in Vancouver would bring their emerging core and would seek a defenceman who is ahead of Olli things full circle. Juolevi in the development curve. In other words, a young defenceman who is either just making an impact in the NHL now or a player who will McKeown may not have the same offensive upside as Fabbro but he be ready to in the near future. There has been some speculation that does everything well. He moves the puck effectively, skates well, they’d be willing to trade their first-round pick if it falls outside of the top possesses a good shot and is a smart thinker on the ice. He doesn’t 10. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone because they’ve flirted with this often dictate play but you can trust that he is going to make the right play idea before and explored at least two trades in the past three years which more often than not. He’s also shown a willingness to be physical and would have included moving their first-round pick, one for P.K. Subban in drop the gloves if the situation calls for it. 2016 and then Hanifin last year. Add the fact that he is right-handed, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, and you Being that aggressive may not get universal agreement within the fan can understand why he might be on the list for the Canucks to target. base — we’ve already compared the Edmonton Oilers and Canucks rebuilds — but it appears that the management team understands that The pGPS on McKeown produces the following results: the defence isn’t good enough and they need to change it. If they draft a The tier chart sheds some more light on his potential trajectory: defenceman in the first round, he could be 2-3 years away from making his NHL debut. Acquiring a 20-to-22-year-old defenceman expedites that Compared to NCAA players like Fabbro, we see a higher pGPS success process a tad. rate with prospects in the AHL, as they are one step below the NHL and thus a little more projectible into roles when recalled. This allows us to take a look at some players that fit that description and that the Canucks might target. A couple of the names, in particular, are Moving McKeown makes sense for the Hurricanes and the Canucks players that I have heard could be available, with possible connections to would be wise to at least be in that conversation. He might not have the the Canucks. same impact as Fabbro but they could insert him into their lineup next year on the right side and not blink an eye. Dante Fabbro Julius Honka The Nashville Predators’ 2016 first-round pick is in the middle of his junior season with Boston University. A player that can’t seem to get into the Stars’ lineup and make an impact on a regular basis, Honka might be a player that could get moved. There seems to be a suggestion that he will opt for free agency rather than sign with the Predators, but there is no tangible proof to confirm this. He was very effective at 18, 19 and 20 years old in the AHL but hasn’t With that being said, if the Predators feel they could lose him for nothing, been able to get his feet under him at the NHL level. then maybe they move his rights to add an asset that can help on a playoff run. Honka is averaging 13:43 of ice time this season and has seen a few healthy scratches along the way. There had been high hopes from the The Coquitlam native has a good two-way game and is best known for Stars organization that he would be a star defenceman for them when his smooth skating and decision making. He can quarterback the power they drafted him in 2014 and then following that up with the play but isn’t overly reliant on that to produce points, with nine of his 21 aforementioned strong AHL seasons. But due to a variety of factors, he points to date coming with the man advantage. He measures in at 6-foot- just doesn’t seem to have the confidence now. 1 and 193 pounds and shoots right-handed. Honka fits a need for the Canucks in terms of being a right-handed The 20-year-old Fabbro has seen his point-per-game pace increase from defender with offensive upside and fits the age range that they are 0.50 in his freshman year (2016-17), to 0.76 PPG last season and is now targetting. A change of scenery could be what Honka needs to get back up to 0.91 PPG so far this season. At the moment, he leads all BU on track and it would make sense for the Canucks to give him that shot, if skaters in points and has a seven-point lead on the next Terriers the price is right. He’d be a better bet than Vancouver’s last reclamation defenceman (fellow Preds prospect, David Farrance). project on the back end: He is currently 13th among all NCAA defenceman in scoring and seventh Lawrence Pilut in shots per game among that same peer group. Pilut may not be easy to pry from the Sabres, or even available at all, but When using the pGPS evaluation tool created by Jeremy Davis, that he’s a player the Canucks should be checking in on. production gives him about a 23 percent success rate among cohorts: The 23-year-old Swedish defenceman surprisingly can’t get into Buffalo’s In terms of their final roles, here is a detailed breakdown of how his lineup on a regular basis despite putting up really impressive underlying cohorts panned out. numbers in his rookie season. It’s always important to reiterate that using an evaluation tool like pGPS, His impact on shots for is even more noteworthy: it’s looking back at direct comparables to Fabbro’s production and doesn’t include things like draft position, situational play or subjective Despite only playing 16 NHL games this season, the 5-foot-11, 180- analysis. The success rate and expected role paint a far bleaker picture pound defenceman’s numbers stand out in relation to his Sabres than what Fabbro likely projects out to be; he will almost certainly be an teammates and he generally makes whoever he plays with better. Die by NHL player and if developed properly, could be a very effective one at the Blade did a fantastic job of illustrating some of Pilut’s other underlying that. numbers when word came down that he was going to be a healthy scratch again. Botchford mentioned that the Canucks might use their first-round pick as a trade piece to go down this road and Fabbro likely is in that price range The Sabres are very much in the mix for a wild-card spot in the Eastern if not more. If the Canucks want to go a cheaper route, they may be well Conference and have assets to move for pieces. I wouldn’t anticipate that suited to target the aforementioned Farrance in a trade. Pilut becomes available before the deadline but it’s entirely possible that could change in the summer. If that does happen, the Canucks could look to acquire the left-handed defenceman and really shore up the left side of their pairings. That would also allow them to comfortably move another defender for other assets. From the outside looking in, we don’t know how the Sabres and Pilut situation will unfold but it’s something that teams like the Canucks should keep an eye on. It’s important to reiterate that you may not agree with this plan and think that the Canucks may be better off accumulating defencemen via the draft, as the mention of trading their first-round pick is a bit of concern in the long-term picture. What can’t be disputed is that in some way this defence has to change. The Canucks can’t come back with the same group plus Quinn Hughes and think that will be good enough. The players mentioned above are all within the rumoured target age and could be worthwhile adds for the organization, based on the price. The suggestion here isn’t to give up a first-round pick for any of these guys — although Fabbro would likely cost that — but that these players are at least on the radar. At the very least, it creates discussion on what the Canucks might do to take the necessary steps toward being a contender. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128416 Websites Several industry sources told The Athletic that it was a hot topic of conversation among those in the business, many of whom were curious to see how NBC would handle the situation. The Athletic / Kendall Coyne Schofield is breaking barriers and she’s not McGuire, who has reached out to Coyne since last night, released a done yet statement via email through an NBC spokesperson: “I’ve known Kendall for years and have had the privilege of covering her Katie Strang Jan 31, 2019 as a member of Team USA at the past two Winter Olympics. We were all thrilled to have her join our coverage last night, but at times my excitement got the better of me and I should have chosen my words better. I have the utmost respect for Kendall as a world-class player, In the span of just five days, under the glare of a national spotlight and analyst of the game, and role model.” under heaps of pressure, Kendall Coyne Schofield has stepped up not once, not twice, but three times. Ashley Johnston, a former defenseman for Union College who went on to become the first captain of the NWHL’s New York Riveters (now named Two of those nerve-laden moments she signed up for, one of those she the Metropolitan Riveters), was one of the many players to chime in on did not. But all three she handled with both guts and grace, composure Twitter after viewing the exchange with supreme disappointment. and class. PIERRE MCGUIRE, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW FAR THE NHL, The first came last Friday when she captivated the entire sport of hockey BROADCAST, AND SPORTING WORLD HAS TO GO IN RESPECTING with her blazing speed as she became the first woman to compete in the FEMALE ATHLETES AND REPORTERS. NHL All-Star Skills challenge, skating to a seventh-place finish in the fastest skater competition with a time of 14.346. — ASHLEY STRETCH JOHNSTON (@STRETTYIT) JANUARY 31, 2019 The next was when she made her broadcast television debut, appearing on NBC’s Wednesday night national broadcast of the Penguins-Lightning Johnston played against Coyne Schofield in college (an experience that, game, where she provided analysis during inside-the-glass and she joked, “was awful”) and described her as a “very talented athlete.” intermission segments. “Man, if you ever want a definition of mansplaining…” Johnston said. The third was in the fallout of Wednesday’s broadcast, following a cringe- “She knows the game. You don’t need someone to explain why she’s worthy exchange with NBC’s Pierre McGuire, who many felt spoke to there and what she’s doing. She more than earned the opportunity.” Coyne as more novelty than knowledgeable. The interaction, which prompted immediate blowback, featured McGuire telling her which side Johnston, who has since retired and is now working as a mechanical she could find each team and reminding her not to be a fan. engineer, thought Coyne Schofield was terrific in her debut — prepared, knowledgeable, natural — and described the comment in which McGuire “Tampa’s going to be on your left, Pittsburgh’s going to be on your right,” reminded her to not be a fan as “uncalled for.” McGuire said. “We’re paying you to be an analyst, not be a fan tonight.” “I think that speaks more to the culture, especially in an environment like If anyone had the right to be outraged it was Coyne Schofield, who has that on national television,” Johnston said. “If someone thinks that’s OK an Olympic Gold medal, five World Championships, and more than two (to say) there, imagine when they’re behind closed doors.” decades of experience knowing how to differentiate the two sides of a hockey game. She also was a communications major at Northeastern. Haley Skarupa, who was a member of the 2018 U.S. Women’s Olympic And yet, thrust into a controversy of someone else’s making, the 26-year- team and has also spent time in the broadcast booth (she was a member old handled the fallout as deftly as if stick-handling between two of the Washington Capitals’ broadcasts during the Stanley Cup Final last defenders. year), also said she was disappointed with how her contemporary was treated. In a statement she released on Wednesday afternoon, Coyne Schofield emphasized the progress that had been forged by these key moments of “It was obviously a little frustrating to watch, to see someone that the past week and also acknowledged the glaring areas in which change deserves more respect than that, who has won an Olympic gold medal, is still necessary. several World Championships, has been around (the game) for years — she definitely knows what she’s talking about,” Skarupa said. “I think she She took the high road. handled it very well and deflected back to the hockey game that they were supposed to broadcasting.” THIS PAST WEEK… PIC.TWITTER.COM/H73XEA6QWC For Skarupa, who loved her broadcast experience last spring and hopes — KENDALL COYNE SCHOFIELD (@KENDALLCOYNE) JANUARY 31, to do more in the future, that was another pretty clear indicator that this 2019 was likely not the first time Coyne Schofield had dealt with this sort of thing. Reflecting on the exchange, Coyne Schofield remembers what she was focusing on, and it wasn’t on the comments that many found to be “She was able to handle that and it shows that she’s probably been condescending. under those circumstances before, which is disappointing,” Skarupa said. “But it was cool to see how she was still able to do such a good job “I was thinking, ‘This is my first opportunity to be on national TV as an despite his comments.” analyst. I’m going to make the best of this moment and I want to nail my points that I’m trying to get across,” Coyne Schofield said in an interview Coyne Schofield acknowledged that there are plenty of times she’s been with The Athletic Thursday night. “In that moment it wasn’t what Pierre overlooked or doubted. was saying, it was ‘What was Kendall going to say?’” “Absolutely. And I think every woman in this world can say they have,” Coyne was proud that she powered through and delivered her analysis she said. “And that’s what we need to change. It’s 2019. Whether you’re unfazed by the moment. After the game, she saw how people were an elite athlete, an elite journalist, an elite banker — you don’t even have reacting. She took more time to review the tape and analyze the to be elite. Wherever you are, regardless of your situation, women need interaction further. to be viewed as equals. I don’t think we’re there as a society yet. “I was able to dissect what happened and see it from the viewpoint that “I think we took a huge step forward, but it just shows we’re not there yet. the viewers saw it from. I saw how they interpreted it, how they were That can be a takeaway from last night. I think we’ve all been told or feeling and they are right,” Coyne said. “If that was a former NHL player heard (things) and been hurt, but at the same time, we need to remain in my situation, was that what would have been said? Maybe not, but confident in our abilities, confident in each other and stick together, being friends with Pierre and knowing him, I knew how excited he was in because hopefully we get to a point in society that comments like these that moment.” are eliminated.” “However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that that language needs to If the reviews Coyne Schofield garnered in the aftermath of Wednesday’s be changed in the future, the way women are perceived in the industry. appearance are any indication, she has plenty of reason to be confident. And I think for all the young girls out there, it shows you need to have confidence in yourself, no matter what the moment is, and I think the “I thought she was so professional,” Cassie Campbell-Pascall said. “For takeaway I have from it — whether it’s a moment that someone wants to her very first time broadcasting an NHL game, she put me to shame. I define for you, you need to define it for yourself. You’ve worked hard for thought she handled everything with class. She was knowledgeable and that moment and that’s how I felt.” intelligent; she handled the pressure and the situation perfectly.” Campbell-Pascall knows a thing or two about breaking barriers. Almost 13 years ago, she became the first woman to serve as a commentator for the famed program. Campbell-Pascall, reached en route to her next broadcast assignment in Washington, D.C., marveled at how Coyne performed in her first assignment. “I think she handled herself extremely well and I’m not surprised by it,” Campbell-Pascall said. “Most women, you take those moments and keep trucking. She didn’t miss a beat, she just kept talking hockey and I thought she did a great job.” AJ Mleczko, a two-time Olympian and USA Hockey Hall of Famer who now works in broadcasting for MSG Networks, was trading texts with Coyne Schofield both on Wednesday before the broadcast and on Thursday. She knew that Coyne Schofield was nervous and for good reason, with Wednesday being a marquee matchup between the Penguins and the league-leading Lightning. But, just as she did in the skating competition, Coyne Schofield rose to the challenge. Mleczko, who also does work for NBC, declined to discuss the McGuire situation specifically, but was happy to appraise what she felt was an “awesome” performance in which Coyne-Schofield “handled herself like a total pro.” What most impressed Mleczko was her authenticity. “She was being herself. I think that’s what makes her even more appealing — she wasn’t putting on act,” Mleczko said. “I know her and she was herself, she was comfortable. She wasn’t going to allow the weight of the situation to change that.” What that likely means is that there will be more opportunities to come for Coyne Schofield, whose ascent to stardom has been both rapid and impactful. And the significance is not lost on her, despite the whirlwind of the past week that has left her feeling ragged and lethargic, eager to catch up with her family and friends. She has received a tremendous outpouring of support from those in the business — those she worked with during the NBC broadcasts, fellow women in the industry (such as Mleczko and Fox’s Laura Okmin) — and those who were watching at home. Practically overnight she has gone from one of the most well-respected players in the game to someone who is a household name, not as a woman hockey player, but as a hockey player, period. Coyne Schofield had a parent come up to her recently and say, ‘My son wants to skate as fast as you one day.’ That still makes her smile. “I love that. Those parents embracing that and celebrating that really shows that we are in the process of changing the viewpoint,” Coyne Schofield said. And she knows that representation matters — that for all the little girls or young women out there who saw her display her elite skill on the ice or her expert analysis between the boards, they saw someone who looks like them, doing what they love. Coyne Schofield can’t wait to see the impact that will have in the future. “They now know how far they can reach. I challenge them to reach even farther, to go even bigger,” she said. “All these girls reaching out to me today, I know they’re going to be breaking barriers 15 years from now and I’m going to be commenting to them, ‘Kudos to you.’” There’s one other thing Coyne Schofield said she’ll be asking those girls: “Who is the next wave you’re inspiring?” The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128417 Websites group and were treated as such. They got the credit that came with winning, and the accolades that come with being the star. You don’t think Connor Brown enjoyed leading the OHL in scoring (128 points in 68 The Athletic / Inside the dressing room after lineup changes and the games) over being a lineup band-aid who’s constantly offered up in issues for D-men playing on their off-sides imaginary trades by fans? It takes a pretty big person to accept a lesser role and all that comes with that while keeping a smile on your face and maintaining that same work ethic. It’s not impossible, obviously, but it isn’t easy. By Justin Bourne Jan 31, 2019 When everyone walks in on the day a new lineup is posted, there are only a few players certain they’ll be with players they enjoy playing with, as well as being handed the roles that are given to the most “important” After what’s seemed like an eternity off – though I imagine the players guys. Certainly, Matthews knows he’s considered one of the important would argue that point – today the Toronto Maple Leafs and a host of guys. But when he’s playing with Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas other teams return from their All-Star break/bye week combo. Before Johnsson – great players in their own right – it likely crosses his mind returning for the final 30-35 games of the regular season, teams will that he may not quite get the same minutes as he’d get alongside schedule a practice that will hopefully shake off some of the rust. For a someone like Marner and he even may be gifted less back-door tap-ins. few clubs, the personnel that hits the ice may be somewhat altered if He’d never complain about that, but those are the thoughts that run their organization used the break to make additions or subtractions in an through any player’s head. attempt to change their fortunes. The biggest thing, much more so than linemates (among offensive- One of the teams that made an addition, and a significant one at that, is minded players), is the power-play units. It’s exceedingly rare to see two Toronto. Now that Jake Muzzin has been added to their D-corp, the units posted where a player wouldn’t immediately know if they’re looking coaching staff has to figure out the best way to deploy their top-six guys. at about a minute and a half of ice time per PP, or 30 seconds, or none at The Leafs are not alone, as other teams will be doing the same lineup all. I say it’s the biggest thing because this is where the easy minutes and tinkering after their own additions and/or subtractions (and even in some the points come – and by “points,” I mean the cheapies that inflate your cases, in the event of no personnel changes). After all, this is a pretty numbers from good to perceived as great. Players are constantly judged crucial time of the hockey calendar, and teams need to be certain they’re against one another based on points (particularly in the minors), so being getting the most out of their roster, barring the desire to tank. on a unit that’s going score at a 20-25 percent clip is pure career- What do coaches consider when they assemble their lines? enhancing gold. Half the time you make some innocuous, unimpeded pass to a teammate and grab a free assist. For a player who isn’t in the When you’re assembling lines as a coach, you’ve got a lot more Matthews/Marner tier, those points make a big difference in how people information than the general public. And while that might have something perceive them, whether that’s right or wrong (probably the latter). to do with proprietary analytics, more than anything it has to do with the players, what they prefer, their personalities and where certain guys are What’s the value of a good D to a forward? at compared to where they’re expected to be at that current juncture of One of the more underrated contributors to putting up points as a forward the season. As much as the players don’t get to call the shots, happy is the quality of your defencemen. Most analysts focus on a player’s players are better, more motivated players, so you don’t want anyone linemates or the quality of opponent that a player faces – both of which coming in the room after a nice break, checking the posted lineup, certainly matter. But in my experience when I played on teams with good hanging their head and moving forth in some listless manner. (Obviously, D-men I had good statistical seasons and the opposite was also true (in when this happens it isn’t acceptable, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a real general, getting points on bad teams is much more difficult than the thing that is worth trying to avoid.) public thinks when comparing stats). That’s a little bit of passing the buck The general process is just a discussion, taking into account a player’s for my failures and successes, but it makes a lot of sense. career history, their more recent history, current injuries and more. You can’t score when you don’t have the puck, and defencemen do the Obviously, you’d like to build a solid lineup top-to-bottom, while at the heavy lifting in the defensive zone in terms of stopping possessions and same time putting together a line or two that you feel can drive the bus turning the play the other way. However, turning it the other way can be against the best players in the world. accomplished in a few different ways. To make life as easy as possible In the case of the Leafs, you’d have to answer some questions, though for the forwards, defencemen need to make a breakout pass that puts these questions do persist with every team. Questions like how important the forwards in a position where they have some time and space and are is it to play with Mitch Marner for Auston Matthews? Does William free to create offence. (This is incidentally why it’s a shame that off Nylander need better linemates or more time farther down the lineup? faceoffs the Leafs regularly just bang it off the glass into the neutral zone How much do certain D-men care if they play on their strong side versus for the forwards to chase down, but that’s a different article.) the opposite side? How do you pair your guys so they can get the proper All of which is to say, the addition of Muzzin almost certainly earns each amount of minutes and usage? Each roster is a puzzle with presumably of the Leafs talented forwards a few more touches out of their own end, some optimal output, so you’re constantly playing the game of what-ifs. multiplied by a bunch more games, which should equal a few more points (Sidebar here – I think this is easily the most enjoyable part of the job. across the board. The Muzzin addition is being widely praised, but NHL coaches deal with media requests, player complaints, staff issues, maybe not enough, as I truly believe the rising tide of good D raises all assembling practices, tinkering with travel plans, minimal sleep and a forward boats. host of other issues. The in-game experience is extremely high-tempo The issues for defencemen playing on their off-sides and fun in its own right. But I believe coaches truly enjoy lineup tinkering as much or more than most other parts of the job.) Here’s the part of the article where I play video of Mike Babcock explaining why he likes his D playing on their strong sides, then try to Right now it appears that the Leafs will stick with a Matthews/Marner convince you why I don’t entirely agree with one of the best coaches of combo, Nylander will stay with Kadri and Muzzin will join Morgan Rielly hockey’s modern era: with one of them playing on their off-side. The only certainty is that someone will walk in the room today, see the posted lines and not be In a nutshell, he rightly notes that off of won draws in the D-zone, when happy that their role has been changed. you have two same-handed D on one side of the ice (say left and left on left side), the D generally bumps the puck D-to-D, and one guy takes it What crosses a player’s mind when they first see a new lineup? out behind the net – that spreads out the opposing forecheck, rather than The NHL is different from every other league in hockey for a few reasons, jamming it into a congested area. Babs doesn’t like that with two same- but one of the main differences is that the days of every player trying to handed guys, because the puck carrying D would be coming out on his climb over every other player to get to the next level – first and foremost backhand, so most guys take the easy option and just rim it around the teammates – are somewhat over. There are situations in the NHL where boards into the wingers skates before that can become a problem. And, players willingly accept a less glamorous role for the good of the team that’s an awfully tough pick-up and next play for a winger, which usually and some job security, which means being paid a nice salary for a longer results in prolonged D-zone time. period of time. In the neutral zone he thinks it hampers regroups (can’t just snap it D-to- But I gotta tell you, it’s not nearly as many people as you’d think. Even if D and skate as easily, as the puck would be received on the backhand you’re a part of winning club, if the outside world doesn’t think you were and then put in the middle of the ice, not protected on the boards). And in part of the reason that team won, you can find your career fizzling out the offensive zone, he thinks it’s a tough pick-up on passes that come to faster than most assume. the point along the wall, and making any cross-ice pass (whether that’s D-to-D or to any teammate on the opposite side of the ice) is tough Basically, you have to consider everyone in the NHL was the best player because the D-man is receiving the puck on his backhand. or among them on their teams growing up, so they were important to that Here’s my take about why a couple of those things don’t have to be a big deal. First off, the faceoffs. The Leafs aren’t very good compared to the rest of the league when it comes to D-zone faceoff wins to begin with. It’s unlikely they’re gonna get worse here, given their propensity to win the draw, smack it off the glass and hope their forwards can hound the puck down. So maybe – knowing they have so many lefties – they can draw up a play or two that isn’t “rim it into the wingers skates.” I know that’s easier said than done, but this is $6.5-million Mike Babcock. I know they have faceoff plays that involve forwards coming low to provide other options. You can’t convince me that looking for some little slip plays to players in short support wouldn’t yield better results given all their talent (passed off the backhand or not), even if it cost some higher danger turnovers. As for the neutral zone, totally agree. D really can snap it tape to tape on the strong side and get moving up the ice easier. While some guys like having their stick in the middle of the ice with the puck – and I’m in that group – there’s no doubt it’s higher risk. (Though in my estimation, it provides more options, so its also higher reward. See if you can find my theme here.) And finally, in the O-zone I love the idea of a D pulling the puck off the wall on their backhand to their forehand quick, skating towards the middle of the blueline and floating one through traffic on net. I don’t want my guys banging one-timers from the farthest conceivable spot in the O- zone and hoping. I do, however, agree that it’s harder to use your partner on your off-side and that the likelihood of needing to stuff pucks back in the zone on your off-hand in confrontations might be higher. But again, I do think there’s an offensive upside, as I mentioned, which is to say nothing of the fact that one of your D now gets to hit one-timers during 5- on-5 play. In a nutshell here, most of the things I’d like to see a pair of same-shot D- men do is attempt to make more skilled plays. Slip passes on breakouts, pulling it to the middle in the O-zone, operating with their sticks in the middle of the ice rather than out on the boards in the neutral zone. All those things require talented hockey players to come out on top of the risk/reward gambit. The Leafs now boast Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Jake Muzzin, and Travis Dermott on their back end (which isn’t to demean those left unmentioned here, either). Those are some pretty skilled guys. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Leafs players, and maybe more importantly their coaching staff, adjusting to having skilled D, albeit more lefties than they’d prefer. Leafs aside, these are all very general concepts – putting the lineup puzzle together isn’t easy for coaches and it only gets harder when you’re given far more information. Players are all for the good of the team, but there’s no doubt they’re still looking to advance their personal careers at the same time, which affects their motivation levels. Adding quality D doesn’t just make your D better, but improves your forward corps. And handedness matters for D-men, but isn’t such a negative when the players you’re rolling out have the skill to make plays. The Athletic LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128418 Websites For as reluctant as Babcock has been to tinker with defensive pairings during his time in Toronto — playing Rielly beside Ron Hainsey almost continuously since the start of last season — you get the feeling there’ll Sportsnet.ca / Jake Muzzin addition forces Maple Leafs to shake up be much more experimentation in the 33 games before the playoffs. defence pairs Rielly seemed thrilled at the prospect of moving over to accommodate Muzzin’s arrival, but the coach expressed some reservations about doing it in the middle of his breakout campaign offensively. Chris Johnston | January 31, 2019 "There was a guy, I think he won seven Norris’, his name was Nick [Lidstrom] and he always would say to me ‘Why wouldn’t you put the guy who makes all the plays on his forehand?"’ said Babcock. "It’s a great TAYLOR, Mich. — They were making dinner at the Rielly household in question." Vancouver earlier this week when news of the Toronto Maple Leafs trade broke. It was Shirley Rielly, rather than her son Morgan, who got most But surely he’s been around long enough to know that left-right symmetry giddy about the prospect of Jake Muzzin being parachuted in to isn’t always possible, even if it’s preferred. Consider the league-wide strengthen the team’s blue line. numbers from this season so far: Of the defencemen with at least 30 games played, 70 shoot right and 104 shoot left. "She did her homework, went right online," Morgan said Thursday, after the new-look Leafs returned from their bye week. "I think the first thing There’s a lot of teams out there making due. she said was ‘Oh, he’s a left D."’ The Leafs are among them, now with five left-hand shots and righty It’s a reaction that echoed across Leaf Nation, where a discussion about Nikita Zaitsev poised to dress as long as this lineup remains healthy. the need for a right-shot defenceman has been running on loop for roughly three years. It’s now become an active conversation in the "You know what’s interesting is I was watching Pittsburgh [Wednesday] coach’s room, too, with Mike Babcock temporarily filling that spot on his night and that’s what they dressed. They had [Kris] Letang and the five top pairing by sliding Rielly to his off side in order to make room for left shots," said Babcock. "The bottom line is the way the game’s played Muzzin. right now, it’s way tighter, it’s way harder. You can’t go rink wide on your backhand, you rim it to the bottom versus getting a shot on the net in the That’s not how you’d draw it up if you were building a team from scratch, O-zone. but roster construction is forever a work in progress. "There’s no question about it: It’s not perfect, it’s what we got. It’s what Kyle Dubas did well to add someone of Muzzin’s pedigree without having was available and we’re going to make it work." to ship any of his top prospects or an active player back to Los Angeles in return. The price for any of the available righties — Alex Pietrangelo, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 Colton Parayko, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton — would have required the Leafs to cut deeper into their organization, getting uncomfortably close to the vital organs just as their window for Stanley Cup contention is opening. Instead they returned to the ice for Thursday’s practice in suburban Detroit feeling like a stronger team than they were a week ago. Muzzin’s arrival came with a surge of excitement, particularly for Rielly. The new partners stood near centre ice after the drills ended and convened with assistant coach D.J. Smith, who handles the defencemen. They also spoke by phone shortly after Monday’s trade was made and plan to keep the conversation flowing throughout his Friday debut against the Red Wings and beyond. Muzzin is adapting to a new team, a new conference and a new system. For the time being, anyways, Rielly is moving to a position he’s only played sparingly during six NHL seasons in order to help ease that transition. "I’ve played pretty much my whole career on the left and it’s just comfy for me," said Muzzin. "I’ve also played with a left D on the right for a long time, too. Hopefully… I mean we’ll see what’s in store for us, but if that’s the way it goes then that would be a little bit more comfortable for me, yeah." There is very little flash to his game, as Babcock noted to reporters on a couple occasions. "Anybody’s whose expecting any flash is looking for the wrong guy," said the coach. But Muzzin should help get the Leafs in transition, breaking up the cycle in the defensive zone and making safe, reliable exits. He’s also going to get some penalty killing duty and may even take a spot alongside Jake Gardiner on the second power-play unit. The 29-year-old arrives here with a sterling reputation as both a teammate and competitor, and has the shine of someone who has played big in big moments. However, Muzzin noted that he has a lot to learn following the first trade of his life and will be listening more than talking about the experiences gleaned during 50 playoff games and two Stanley Cups with the Kings. There was a lot running through his mind after flying directly from Los Angeles to Detroit. He arrived at the rink early with John Tavares and Frederik Andersen, and had to introduce himself to virtually everyone before taking the ice. "I talked to Babs and Smitty a little bit, just kind of going over some of what they’re thinking and what they want from me and stuff like that," said Muzzin. "So it’s kind of been a whirlwind of information. Hopefully over the next couple weeks everything settles down a little bit." The reason Babcock chose to shift Rielly to the right rather than Muzzin is because he wanted to give his new defenceman one less thing to worry about. There’s no guarantee it’ll stay that way for too long, though. 1128419 Websites of the year. To get rid of that awkwardness in the room is huge. It was fun to get the whole crew together. That was a fun break. Everyone just relaxes and forgets that they’re a hockey player for a few days.” Sportsnet.ca / Canucks leaning on strong camaraderie for intense playoff “There’s definitely (a gap) in the ages,” Eriksson, 33, said. “I’m the oldest push guy on the team. But everyone definitely gets along well together. I think that’s been really good this year. And obviously, it’s more fun when we’re really close to making the playoffs. That brings the team together as Iain MacIntyre | January 31, 2019, 9:24 PM well.” The Canucks are 23-22-6, tied with the Avalanche for the final wildcard playoff spot. Vancouver is 12-6-3 over the last eight weeks and probably VANCOUVER – National Hockey League teams obsess over team- need to maintain something close to that success rate to make the building. Not roster construction and player development, although that, Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in four years. too. But bonding – getting players together away from the rink in order to build inclusiveness and relationships. They play 14 games in February, half of them against playoff rivals and nine of them on the road. The theory, of course, is that a tighter team is a better team. You will play harder if you actually know and like the guys around you. Sure, they like each other, but can they win? So teams have mandatory dinners, and rookie dinners. When schedule “When you go through battles over years – and we’re still trying to get and location allow it, they stage fishing derbies and golf tournaments, there – you learn a lot from being around each other,” coach Travis they go hiking and biking and zip-lining. They do yoga. The Vancouver Green said. “You hope you have a team that’s close. You want to have Canucks once sent their players stock car racing, although it wasn’t as good people in your locker room and guys that get along. And I do think dangerous as it sounds because the vehicles were all Volvos. (Sweden, we have some really good individuals in that room. Obviously, I’m not training camp, 1990). They also visited ground zero shortly after the 9/11 inside the room, but I have an idea when guys get along and this group terror attack in New York. does get along well. That’s what you want.” In terms of bonding and togetherness, you know you are on to something It’s a start. as an organization when you set your players free for a week and instead of scattering they mostly stick together and go on holiday. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 Sportsnet NOW gives you access to over 500 NHL games this season, blackout-free, including Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the entire 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and more. Half of the Canucks’ spent their All-Star Break and bye week in and around Cabo San Lucas, the town at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Players were clustered around two resorts, single early-twenty- somethings Brock Boeser, Troy Stecher, Jake Virtanen and Ben Hutton in one spot, older Loui Eriksson, Alex Edler, Chris Tanev and Erik Gudbranson at another with their partners. There were also a few Canuck strays in the area. The whole group got together for a couple of dinners and a cruise. “I don’t really know how it started,” Stecher said Thursday after the Canucks ended their schedule break with a practice at the University of B.C. “We just wanted to go somewhere warm, out of the cold and out of the rain, and wanted to stay somewhere on the West Coast. People are going to speculate what we did down there. Obviously, we had a good time. But we came back today and had a good practice. “The four of us are super-tight, going back to my first year. I became good friends with Hutty and Virt and I knew Brock (from college). When I moved home to Vancouver, I thought I’m going to see my friends and family a lot more. But at the end of the day, I still go out for dinner every night with the guys. You create a special relationship with each other and just have fun.” Boeser said: “You don’t want to be on a team where you have to hang out during the season but then want to get away (from each other) during the break. I think it shows what kind of group we are. It shows how everyone cares for each other. When you get to those crunch times and you need to battle and stick with each other, I think that chemistry helps you.” Reach Deep Chris Johnston discuss the value of lower first round picks for Canucks January 31 2019 Audio Player Your browser does not support the audio element. Crunch time for the Canucks starts Saturday in Denver against the Avalanche, one of the heaping handful of teams Vancouver is racing for a wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference. This being professional sports and all, we know that teams that play together never stay together. We also know it never hurts to like the guys you’re playing with. “Your buddies are your first line of defence, really, when it comes to being a hockey team,” Gudbranson said. “There’s a lot of different age groups on a team, a lot of people who didn’t know each other at the start 1128420 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Lamoriello calls Islanders' goals-against turnaround 'remarkable'

Mike Johnston

If you’re still wondering how the New York Islanders remain atop the Metropolitan Division, you need only to check the “GA” category on your nearest stats page and compare it to just one season ago. “To be able to turn around the goals against the way they have until this point is just remarkable,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told Thursday. The 3.57 goals per game the Islanders allowed in 2017-18 ranked dead last in the NHL. Despite managing to score an impressive 3.18 goals per game, they missed the playoffs by 17 points then lost their franchise player, John Tavares, in free agency. This season? A completely different story. Scoring across the league is up, yet the Islanders are averaging a pedestrian 2.96 goals per game. However, Barry Trotz was hired as the team’s head coach in the summer and his systems, plus Lamoriello’s roster tweaks, have resulted in the Islanders allowing a league-low 2.41 goals per game through 49 outings in 2018-19. “That is quite an accomplishment because you have to get everybody to buy into the system, buy into what is being asked of them and still ask them to score some goals,” Lamoriello said. “To me, they’ve done an outstanding job, so any accolades that Barry is getting, the coaching staff is getting, the goalie coaches are getting, they deserve it.” Also getting plenty of the credit are the goalies themselves. The Islanders signed netminder Robin Lehner to a bargain one-year, $1.5-million contract in the off-season and the giant Swede has exceeded all expectations. Lehner’s .931 save percentage is best in the league among goalies with at least 14 appearances. Same goes for his stellar 2.02 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Thomas Greiss has played one fewer game than Lehner, but his .920 save percentage and 2.50 GAA put him in the top-10 in each category. The Islanders host the Tampa Bay Lightning – the only Eastern Conference team currently with more points than the Isles – Friday in New York’s first outing after the post-all-star break bye. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128421 Websites To Detroit: 2018 first-rounder, 2019 second-rounder, 2021 third-rounder From 2014-15 through 2016-17, Tatar’s point totals had gone from 56 to 45 to 46, while his goal rates remained relatively steady in the 20-25 Sportsnet.ca / What the 2018 NHL trade deadline shows us about first- range. At the time of this trade, he was in the first of a four-year contract, round pick values so the fact he went for more than a contender’s first-rounder made sense, especially if he returned to 50-point status. Rory Boylen Of course, the fit failed in Vegas as Tatar scored just eight points in 28 regular and post-season games combined for the Golden Knights. So, Vegas used him in the trade package to nab Max Pacioretty from Montreal over the summer, and while Pacioretty has the far better goal The Jake Muzzin trade got the ball rolling in a couple of respects. First, it rate, Tatar has a better points per game average this season. opened the trade market with a month to go until the deadline and, second, it gave us an idea of what a first-round pick might get you in the Looking just at production history, the price Vegas paid to get Tatar may lead up to Feb. 25. have been a tad high, though the control they had increased his value. But Vegas then moved a struggling Tatar along with Nick Suzuki (13th Trying to pin down exactly what a first-round pick is worth, you come overall in 2017) and a second-round pick for Pacioretty, which effectively across a variety of variables. Last year, Jonathan Willis took a crack at it brings the acquiring price of Montreal’s former captain to two first-round for Sportsnet.ca by looking at trades involving first-rounders as far back picks, two second-round picks and a third-rounder. After signing as 2013. The conclusion was that, generally, a 50-to-60-point rental Pacioretty to an extension immediately, Vegas got an expected 30-goal winger was the going rate for a first-rounder, while that selection might scorer (a pace Pacioretty is converting at this season) for five years of net you a rental No. 4 defenceman — or a No. 2/3 if a secondary control, and created an entirely new first line. Considering only one of the prospect or another pick was added. The price was higher for centres — first-rounders they moved came in the top half, and Tatar just wasn’t a fit, a first-rounder would more or less get a contending team a third-line this seems worth the acquisition cost for a bonafide contender. pivot. To Winnipeg: Paul Stastny That article was written ahead of the 2018 deadline, prior to six first- round picks being dealt for players. That was the second-most first- To St. Louis: Erik Foley, 2018 first-rounder* rounders to be traded in a deadline season since 2013, and more than were moved in 2014, 2016 and 2017 combined. The five first-rounders It seemed the Jets had missed out on their need for a centre when Derick traded on Feb. 26 last year was the most moved on deadline day in Brassard was traded to Pittsburgh (more on that later), but when Stastny league history. became available late in the game, Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff really hit one out of the park. Judging against historical trade returns, the So can anything else be gleaned about the value of a first-round pick Jets did rather well — the paid basically the same price for Stastny as the using the most recent trade deadline? Let’s have a look. 2015 Blackhawks did for Antoine Vermette, but Stastny was far more productive and played a bigger role. While Vermette served as a third- * = conditional pick line pivot for the Hawks, Stastny centred the second line in Winnipeg and posted 28 points in 36 regular season and playoff games combined. Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the Stastny had better offensive numbers than Brassard over their careers country’s most beloved game. and in the two most recent seasons, but part of the reason the Jets were able to get him for less is because Stastny was a pending UFA whereas To Tampa Bay: Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller Brassard had an extra year of control. If the Jets, as expected, trade for To NY Rangers: Vlad Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, 2018 another forward this season, the combined price for two playoff runs will first-rounder, conditional 2019 second-rounder* likely come in higher than Brassard — but at the same time, Stastny and the hypothetical 2019 addition could very well both be more important Both of Tampa’s pickups in this deal fall into the class of a player you and productive for Winnipeg than Brassard has been for Pittsburgh. might expect to give up a first-rounder-plus for — McDonagh the top-four defenceman with top pair upside, and Miller the 50- to 60-point player. Hilariously, the condition Winnipeg attached to their pick was that it was But Tampa Bay got a whole lot of control in both players. McDonagh was lottery protected at a time when that just wasn’t going to happen. And signed through 2018-19 before he would be eligible for UFA status, then although this price was in line with recent rental centre deadline pickups, signed a seven-year extension with Tampa Bay last July. And Miller was Stastny held far more value to the Jets than either Vermette did to the an RFA at the end of last season, then signed a five-year pact with Hawks, or Martin Hanzal did to the 2017 Minnesota Wild. Tampa Bay. To Nashville: Ryan Hartman, 2018 fifth-rounder Because of that, the Lightning come out as big winners here. Both To Chicago: Victor Ejdsell, 2018 first-rounder, 2018 fourth-rounder Namestnikov (2011) and Howden (2016) were back-half-of-the-first- round picks in their years, but Namestnikov is now looking like someone The Preds picked up some depth in their Cup push and bet on continued who really benefitted from his surroundings in Tampa Bay and wouldn’t growth from the then-23-year-old Hartman, who was himself a first-round be valued as a first-rounder anymore. Howden is just 20 and in his rookie pick (30th overall) in 2013. A right winger, Hartman’s career-best was NHL season, but has fallen far from his promising start to the year and only 31 points at the time and his production slipped upon arriving in has played less than 10 minutes in each of his past five games. In 2018, Nashville. This year, when the Predators really needed him to step up the Rangers picked Nils Lundkvist with Tampa Bay’s first-rounder, and after injuries hit some of their top players, Hartman took another step the condition on the second-rounder is that it becomes a 2019 first if back. He hasn’t scored a goal since Dec. 13 and has just five points Tampa Bay wins the Stanley Cup. since the end of November. Hold this up to what the Leafs traded for Muzzin and it looks better. If you In return, the Blackhawks expanded their prospect base as they began equate McDonagh with Muzzin and deduce McDonagh was acquired for the re-tool process, picking offensive defenceman Nicolas Beaudin out of the 2018 first, plus Hajek (a second-round pick) and Namestnikov, that the QMJHL with Nashville’s pick. He has 113 points in his past 104 junior would leave a conditional second-rounder and Howden for Miller. After games. Ejdsell is a big centre who was a point-per-game performer in re-signing both players, that’s a home run return for the Lightning. If the last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs, but has struggled on offence this season. Leafs re-sign Muzzin, it’ll look almost identical. Still, the possibility he becomes at least a bottom-six NHL centre is still alive. Time will tell if the Rangers get a top-six forward or top-four defenceman out of this trade, but right now this stands as a great reminder that end- The Preds bet on Hartman improving and although his contract expires of-the-round firsts are far less likely to hit than even the middle of the after this season, they still have two years of control until he becomes round (explored by Steve Burtch here). The Rangers acquired five quality UFA eligible. Age and control is what drove the price up on Hartman lottery tickets for two solid NHLers with years of control, but the earliest compared to the rental market, but if you look at the level of production of the picks they got may end up being just 27th overall. some of these other players gave their teams after getting traded for a first-round pick, this one is looking like a bad bet for the Preds. It’s hard Intermission reading for you: Marc Bergevin says, "I’m not going to to imagine Hartman going for a first-round pick today. give up a first-round pick for a rental. It’s just not going to happen. So I want to be clear, today, it’s not happening," and much more. Here: A weekly deep dive into the biggest hockey news in the world with hosts https://t.co/Rg8LVKnSzw Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. New episodes every Thursday. — Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 8, 2019 To Boston: Rick Nash To Vegas: Tomas Tatar To NY Rangers: Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, 2018 first-rounder, 2019 seventh-rounder Trying to keep pace with Toronto and Tampa Bay in their division, the Bruins attempted to upgrade from Spooner to Nash in their top six and though the former’s raw offensive totals were far better, Nash was far less sheltered and much more unlucky with the Rangers. In 23 total games with the Bruins, Nash scored six goals (just over a 20-goal pace) and 11 points (nearly a 40-point pace), plus, he better fit the “brawny” style the Bruins like to play. Beleskey was a salary dump, so there’s value in that, but the question was whether or not all this was worth the price of a first-round pick. Again, in the recent historical sense of a first-round pick’s value for a rental, the Bruins didn’t acquire the expected point rate, but made up for it in the expected goals Nash could provide. Although Spooner had more points, Nash was clearly the better goal-getter, which was a specific need for the Bruins. To Pittsburgh: Derick Brassard, Vincent Dunn, 2018 third-rounder To Ottawa: 2018 first-rounder, Filip Gustavsson, Ian Cole, 2019 third- rounder This was a three-way trade with Vegas, but here are the direct returns for the two primary teams involved (the Penguins also moved Ryan Reaves to Vegas). The Penguins had been looking for a No. 3 centre all season and paid a bit more than the Jets did for Stastny to get an extra year of control. Brassard has just 27 points in 66 total games as a Penguin, and is in the rumour mill again as Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford looks to upgrade once more. The Senators flipped Cole for a third-round pick, so if you break this deal down, the Penguins traded only a slightly better package (a first-rounder and a prospect from the second round) for two seasons of Brassard than the Jets did for one season of Stastny. It hasn’t always worked out on the ice production-wise, but this is generally the going rate for a centre — and if the Pens do move Brassard again, he has good value by just playing that position. CONCLUSION When trying to determine whether trading a first-round pick, plus other assets, at the deadline is worth it or not, it really depends on what kind of shape a team is in. If we’re talking about a legitimate Stanley Cup contender most likely to pick in the 20s or 30s, such as Toronto, Tampa Bay, Winnipeg or Nashville, the acquisition cost is easily worth it. The likelihood of a player picked in those slots becoming a 200-game NHLer is somewhere less than 50 per cent. But if you are, say, the Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Canucks sitting on the outside looking in by Feb. 25, the risk is far higher given the draft lottery could make those top three picks with immense upside. Even for wildly inconsistent bubble teams with serious depth issues like Dallas or Colorado, the return for their first-round pick packages needs to be ironclad with multiple years of control or else they might be better served exploring trade options with the pick at the draft, when its full value is clear. Is it really worth it to move a first-round pick (plus) for anything less than a solid secondary scorer or unassailable top-four defenceman with multiple years of control if a “winning” outcome this year is just getting into the playoffs and advancing one round? Only two of the trades above from 2018 were for rental players — the landscape seems to be at a point where term is important to get back in deadline deals involving firsts. More importantly for the bubble teams: are any of the players acquired for first-rounders last season the kind you know will put your team over the top? Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128422 Websites Price and team captain Shea Weber both said they felt “awful” after the team’s one-hour workout on Thursday. Not that they appeared awful as they went through the paces of the practice. Their teammates looked no Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens look to maintain stellar play with challenging worse for wear, either. schedule ahead But getting back to what earned the Canadiens wins in five of six games heading into the bye-week isn’t solely a physical challenge; it will also be mentally taxing to not allow the interruption — Montreal has played just Eric Engels January 31, 2019 one game in the last 13 days — to ruin their flow. And perhaps the biggest hurdle is being able to immediately put together a coordinated effort after so much time spent apart. BROSSARD, Que. — Welcome back from bye-week, Montreal Canadiens. Here’s your schedule: Back-to-back matinee games this “I think it’s just all about timing and getting back into the swing of things,” coming weekend against a New Jersey Devils team that’s won four of six said Price. “Obviously, when you take time away from the game and then games and an Edmonton Oilers team that’s three points out of a playoff come back, everything’s happening pretty quickly out there. I think you’re spot and desperate to string wins together. out of sync with the way your body feels and how sharp your mind is, so we’ve got a couple of practices here to kind of get our feet under us and Next up is a heavy-hitting Anaheim Ducks team that’s currently one point get working again and feeling good about ourselves.” out of a wild-card position in the Western Conference, and that will be followed by games against four of the best teams in the NHL — the “These first two games are huge,” Price added. Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning. The five that follow will tell us much — and not only about whether or not the Canadiens can make the playoffs, but also about whether or not they By the way, your best player is being forced to miss your first game back can compete with the best teams if they do. because he skipped All-Star Weekend. You know, Carey Price, the goaltender who’s gone 13-7 since Dec. 1 with a .933 save percentage “I think we know how good we can be when we’re playing our game,” and a 2.04 goals-against average. The one who’s won his last four starts, said Weber. “It’s speed and puck possession, driving the play forward, allowing only four goals against in the process. swarming defensively, trying to shut teams down and limit their time and space.” Anyways, this should all be a piece of cake. Right? That will be a herculean task from here to the end of the season, but “I think it’s a great opportunity,” said Canadiens assistant captain particularly so over the next two weeks. Brendan Gallagher after participating on Thursday in his team’s first practice in eight days. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 It’s hard to argue with the notion. The Canadiens, who were expected to be draft-lottery contenders this season, have put themselves in Position A ahead of Game 52 of this 82-game marathon. They’ve proven themselves to be a speedy, plucky bunch that can compete on any given night and against any given team. And now, with the going getting especially tough, it’s time to see if they’re tough enough to keep it going. Stream over 500 NHL games blackout-free, including the Flames, Oilers, Leafs and Canucks. Plus Hockey Night in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey and more. “When you look at our record, so far we haven’t had real highs but we haven’t had real lows. We’ve been pretty consistent” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien. “If anything, I’ve seen growth in our game.” Enough to take advantage of these first two teams visiting the Bell Centre this weekend? “From here to the end, it doesn’t matter who you play,” said Julien. “Every year we see the same thing. We talk about teams that are non- playoff teams; well, they come in, they play with no pressure, they play the best hockey of the year and they find ways to win, and all of a sudden you say, ‘Geez, you can’t beat those teams that aren’t in the playoffs.’ “You’ve got to go back to, again, respecting the parity in this league. And no matter what, (against) every team, you have to do the right things to win. You can’t just expect (to look) at the standings and say, ‘We should win this game.’ You’ve got to go out there with the same approach, knowing that you have to do the right things to succeed.” For the Canadiens, that’s meant playing with relentless pressure all over the ice. That is what has led them to a 28-18-5 record so far and allowed them to not only remain in the playoff picture, but to be in the hunt for one of the top three positions in the uber-competitive Atlantic Division. Currently, the Canadiens have a one-point advantage over the Boston Bruins and are one point back of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in second place in the Atlantic. At worst, after games-in-hand are made up by their closest competitors between now and when Montreal plays on Saturday, the team will be at least three points clear of the playoff bubble. No matter where they stand when play resumes against New Jersey, the Canadiens know this is no time for them to ease off. “Everybody at this time of the season, and in and around our standings area, is playing desperate hockey,” said Price. “It’s going to be playoff- style hockey from here to the end.” Starting off on the right foot — even against a Devils team that’s 16 points behind the Canadiens in the standings — is going to present its own challenge. 1128423 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens neither confirm nor deny report about Noah Juulsen injury

Eric Engels January 31, 2019

BROSSARD, Que. — A report that surfaced last week from Montreal radio host Ron Fournier, that Montreal Canadiens defenceman Noah Juulsen could have a career-threatening eye injury, was neither confirmed nor denied by the Canadiens on Thursday. "He has an upper-body injury, an injury that requires rest, and it is not a concussion," a senior executive with the Canadiens told Sportsnet. "He’s out indefinitely." It was on Nov. 19, in the first period of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre, that Juulsen was struck twice in the face with the puck. On Nov. 20, it was announced he had suffered a facial fracture. Juulsen returned to play on Dec. 11 sporting a full facial shield. He appeared in four games with the Canadiens and was then sent down the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket on Dec. 17. The 21-year-old Surrey, B.C. native played three games with Laval and last appeared in a game on Dec. 27 against the Belleville Senators. Fournier said on his Bon Soir les Sportifs (98.5 FM Montreal radio) program that there was ample concern within the Canadiens organization that an ocular nerve was damaged when Juulsen was injured on Nov. 19, that his vision had been affected and has yet to return to 100 per cent functionality. Fournier also said that Juulsen was seriously concerned about his NHL future. Juulsen was drafted 26th overall by the Canadiens in 2015. He has since played in 44 NHL games, collecting two goals and six assists over that time. He has also played a total 34 AHL games since graduating from the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips in 2017. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128424 Websites "There was a guy, I think he won seven Norris’, his name was Nick (Lidstrom) and he would always say to me, 'Why wouldn't you put the guy who makes all the plays on his forehand.’ (Shrugs) So, it’s a great TSN.CA / Starting on the left the right move for Muzzin question." This is simply the new reality for the Leafs and for many teams in the NHL as right-shot defencemen who can play in the top four are a Mark Masters precious commodity. Babcock, who never did play Lidstrom on his off side, was quick to note that the Pittsburgh Penguins iced five lefties on their blueline during Wednesday’s win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes "There’s no question, it's not perfect," Babcock said. "It’s what we got on the Maple Leafs, who practised at the Taylor Sportsplex in Detroit on and it’s what was available and we’re going to make it work." Thursday. Rielly, who has played almost exclusively with lefty Ron Hainsey during Jake Muzzin had never been traded before even during his junior career most of the last couple of seasons, was unfazed during his upbeat media and admits Monday's news was initially a shock. So the Maple Leafs are session. doing their best to help the newly acquired 29-year-old defenceman get acclimatized quickly to his new surroundings. And that’s why head coach "When me and Ron were together I’d oftentimes end up on that (right) Mike Babcock will continue to play the lefty on his natural side while side anyway so it’s just a matter of being comfortable with your partner, asking Morgan Rielly, a fellow southpaw, to shift to the right on Toronto’s talking lots, making sure we know what the deal is and over time we’ll new-look top pairing. smooth it out. I'm sure it’ll take a game or two." “I've played pretty much my whole career on the left and it’s just comfy What does he have to be most aware of? for me," Muzzin said. "I've also played with a lefty (Alec Martinez) on the right for a long time so, hopefully, I mean, we’ll see what’s in store for us "There’s a number of things," Rielly said, "but it just comes down to being but if that's the way it goes, then that would be a little more comfortable comfortable. I mean, I’ve played there before. It’s the same game, it’s just for me, yeah.” being on the other side so there’s really not a lot of change. You just go out there and do it. You hope your partner helps you out." Muzzin was a teammate of John Tavares at the 2016 World Cup where he was also coached by Babcock. He has skated a bit with Nazem Kadri Muzzin isn’t sure if the chemistry will come quickly with Rielly, but noted it in London, Ont., during the summer. And he also played alongside Tyler was really "easy" to skate alongside him at practice. The feeling was Ennis, currently out with a broken ankle, at the 2015 World mutual. Championship. But other than that, he really doesn’t know this Leafs "He’s a big guy," Rielly observed, "moves very well for his size, great team. shot, great first pass and, you know, a prototypical d-man that you want On Thursday, he arrived at the rink with Frederik Andersen and Tavares, to be playing with and you want on your team." but didn't get much face time with anyone else. He described it as like "He’s a steady guy," Babcock said of Muzzin, "knows how to play, good having to "meet everybody in a minute … it's kind of been a whirlwind of stick, heavy shot, moves the puck. Simple. No flash. So, anybody who's information so hopefully over the next couple weeks things sort of settle expecting any flash is looking for the wrong guy. Just steady as she down a bit." goes. But I think he can really help us. And the size (six-foot-three, 213 There's a lot to process, including a new system, conference, partner as pounds) ... between the whistles he plays heavy, he plays hard." well as teammates. He hasn't even been to Toronto yet to lay down What Rielly likes most of all is the message the trade by first-year roots. general manager Kyle Dubas sends to the team. "I think the No. 1 thing to do is to get your new people feeling good," "We had a confidence in this group going into the break," the alternate Babcock said. ”And then if you want to make any changes or do anything captain said, "and I think when you add a player like that it just adds to it different, do it after they're feeling good and know what’s going on. Muzz, even more and the message that's been sent is pretty clear and it's an we'll play him wherever it’s going to suit him best so we'll just watch over opportunity for this team to prove we're up for the challenge." time here and sort that out.” Rielly down plays his move to opposite side Muzzin on left-right side debate: 'We'll see what's in store for us' Morgan Rielly says he was with his mom when he heard about the Jake Jake Muzzin skated for the first time with the Maple Leafs since coming Muzzin trade and the first thing his mom learned was that Muzzin was a over from the Kings, and admitted that his initial reaction to the trade was lefty. On Thursday Rielly downplayed his switch to the right saying he's shock, but has since settled in. Muzzin also stated that he's played his done it before. whole career as a left side defenceman, and can work with a right side defenceman who is also left handed. Morgan Rielly was on his off-side --- as his partner Thursday. The Maple Leafs thumped the Kings twice this season: 4-1 in Toronto on --- Oct. 15 and 5-1 in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. What stood out to Muzzin? Rielly was at his parents’ home in Vancouver on Monday when news of "Well, the game in L.A.," Muzzin recalled with a chuckle, "we gave them the Muzzin trade broke. a couple power plays early and it was like: Bing! Bang! Boom! They scored (quickly) so I was like, 'OK, they got a good power play.' " "I think my mom was in the kitchen cooking and I just told her what happened," he said with a smile. "I think her reaction was better than Muzzin may now get a chance to be a part of that power play, which has mine. She was pretty excited ... she did her homework, went right online actually struggled to produce consistently since a scorching start. Muzzin and I think the first thing she said is, 'Oh, he’s a lefty.' " skated on the second unit at practice alongside Jake Gardiner, Andreas Johnsson, Patrick Marleau and William Nylander. That elicited laughs from the assembled media with one reporter pointing out that Shirley Rielly had a lot in common with Leafs Nation. The two-defencemen approach on the power play is nothing new to Muzzin. Unlike Muzzin, Rielly played sparingly on the right earlier in his NHL career, but the Leafs soon concluded that to maximize his potential the "In previous years we've had two D back there a lot of times, so there's now 24-year-old had to play on his strong side. And this season Rielly not much change really," he said referring to his time in Los Angeles. has reached new heights, scoring 13 goals to lead all defencemen while adding 37 assists. He finished second to only Calgary’s Mark Giordano in Babcock, who has traditionally gone with four forwards and one midseason Norris Trophy voting conducted by the Professional Hockey defenceman on his power play units, isn’t sure he’ll stick with the new Writers Association. alignment. The PHWA has announced the 2018-19 Midseason Award winners: "That's what we did here today," he said. "We're just going to see. And https://t.co/PrRAwdCSIi maybe to start he'll just penalty kill and play a regular shift until we get him as comfortable as he can be." — PHWA (@ThePHWA) January 24, 2019 Leafs Ice-Chips: Muzzin practices on second PP unit abcock was asked if throwing this curve ball at Rielly may slow his momentum. In his first practice with the Maple Leafs, defenceman Jake Muzzin played with the second unit on the power play. While head coach Mike Babcock wouldn't commit to it as a regular thing, neither he or Muzzin were opposed to the potential. Mark Masters has more. --- Johnsson, who missed the last game before the break due to a concussion sustained against the Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 20, was a full participant in practice and appears set to draw back in against the Red Wings on Friday night. Gardiner, meanwhile, also appears poised to re-enter the lineup after missing the last two games before the break with back spasms. "It's good," the defenceman said. "Got a week off, obviously, rested a bit and ready to get back it." Gardiner, who dealt with back spasms a bit last year but didn't miss any games, played through the pain for about a week before being forced from the lineup against Arizona and then the Washington Capitals. "Just kind of tightened up and wouldn't go away for the game," he explained, "and we figured it was probably good to get some rest. I’m feeling good now." Lines at Thursday’s Leafs practice: Forwards Marleau-Matthews-Marner Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen Brown-Kadri-Nylander Lindholm-Gauthier-Johnsson Defencemen Muzzin-Rielly Gardiner-Zaitsev Dermott-Hainsey Marincin-Ozhiganov Goaltenders Andersen Sparks Power play units at Thursday’s Leafs practice: Rielly Matthews-Kadri-Marner Tavares Gardiner Muzzin-Johnsson-Nylander Marleau TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128425 Websites

TSN.CA / Deadline War Room: Habs' needs are clear, but what's the price?

Frank Seravalli

The Montreal Canadiens are in a playoff position today, but will need to address the left side of their defence down the stretch. Karl Alzner clearly hasn't worked out, and the team has Victor Mete, Mike Reilly and Brett Kulak down the left side. This has left general manager Marc Bergevin with a little a bit of a dance to do. He’s admitted that his team has not reached contender status just yet, so how does he work around that to try to upgrade this team on the blueline? And Bergevin added that he doesn't want to give up future assets to acquire that immediate need. TSN Director of Scouting of Scouting Craig Button sees Vancouver Canucks defenceman Alex Edler - No. 21 on TSN Hockey's Trade Bait list - as a perfect fit. However, the recent acquisition of Jake Muzzin by the Toronto Maple Leafs establishes a comparable price and Bergevin isn't likely prepared to do that. Miller: Julien deserves a lot of credit TSN's Gord Miller joined Melnick in the Afternoon to talk about the Jake Muzzin, the Artemi Panarin situation and the Montreal Canadiens. For what it's worth, Russian World Junior standout Alexander Romanov is playing regular minutes in the KHL and while he won't help this season, Button thinks he might be ready to come in next season. "He's that good," he says. "A big-time player who has a real boldness to his game as Marc Bergevin rebuilds his team through the draft." The No. 2 priority is addressing Montreal's 30th-ranked power play. Wayne Simmonds is the top-ranked player on the TSN Trade Bait board that can help, but look further down and Brayden Schenn (No. 16 on the list) certainly stands out. As Craig notes, he has another year left on his contract and has been a really good power-play producer in previous years (with a career-high 28 points on the man advantage in 2016-17). Could Bergevin fix this power play to a greater extent this year by acquiring Schenn (know that he also has him for next year)? That type of player is exactly what the Habs need - a scorer with presence in front of the net. TSN Hockey Insiders weigh in on Habs’ deadline plans Leafs Lunch host Andi Petrillo with Gord Miller and Pierre LeBrun are joined in studio by TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger for the ''Insiders Power Hour'' to share what they believe the Habs could be in the market for as the trade deadline approaches. TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128426 Websites Schenn is still having a pretty sizable impact on the rest of his teammates – the forwards and defencemen he’s regularly playing with are generating goals like top-tier talent, which is certainly encouraging. TSN.CA / Brayden Schenn a classic buy-low candidate Doubly so if you believe that centres have heightened control over the offensive production of their respective teammates.

Yet Schenn’s assist rates are relatively average season-to-date. I again Travis Yost assume that this is little more than unfavourable randomness impacting Schenn. In the five years prior, Schenn was assisting on about 60 per cent of teammate goals, which is right around the norm for a top-six forward. This season? He’s at 42 per cent. There’s a handful of assists If you have been following TSN’s Trade Bait board, you’ve surely noticed lost there that further impact Schenn’s counting numbers. how many marquee names are present. Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Sergei Bobrovsky are the headliners, but there are at All things considered, I think Schenn’s having a pretty strong season. For least a dozen attractive names assumed readily available. a guy who already had billing as a two-way centre, it’s certainly encouraging that his offensive play has peaked in recent years. I wouldn’t One of the names that stands out for me is St. Louis centre Brayden be dissuaded by the low point totals. Schenn, individually, and his Schenn. The Blues have had a roller-coaster season – an awful start teammates frequently generate offence. If you can look beyond simple followed by an impressive rebound that has put the team in a situation individual goals and assists totals during evaluation, you can see a player where a playoff chase is plausible. However, the math still isn’t who has been much more impactful than would appear at the surface. favourable for the Blues. Estimates have them around 26 per cent to reach the postseason. If we are using that as a barometer, the Blues are If you are a buying team at the trade deadline, that’s the exact type of more likely a seller than buyer heading into February. player you want to be searching for. Regardless of how the next month shakes out, it seems plausible the TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2019 Blues are evaluating moving Schenn. He is having a down year (more on that in a minute) with one season left on his current $5.125 million AAV contract. We’ve seen a bit of a spike of these quasi-rentals moved at the trade deadline in recent years, mostly because buying teams tend to like a little more contractual security on players. Moreover, Schenn turns 28 in August – not old by any means, but no longer a spring chicken either. Considering his NHL production to date, he will likely get a sizable contract in 2020-21. Schenn is the classic buy-low candidate. If you are able to measure out expected performance versus actual performance, you can easily find candidates who should beat their forecast in future periods. We’ve done this before, whether it was with Jeff Skinner this year, or Brendan Gallagher leading into 2017-18. The reverse can also be true, like it was for Milan Lucic and Matt Beleskey before their big contracts. Effectively, we are looking at outlier performances and preying on teams who would prefer to bet in the other direction. That brings me back to Schenn. He’s been a reliable top-six forward for years but 2018-19 has been particularly cruel. The counting numbers (nine goals, 18 assists) are obviously ugly relative to prior seasons; those totals put him in the 58th percentile league-wide and fifth (per-60 minutes) on his own team. The lack of scoring has been an epidemic in St. Louis and Schenn, like most other forwards on that roster, has been victimized accordingly. But it’s not for a lack of effort. Schenn is actually as offensively dangerous as he has ever been, but the goals – relative to what we would expect from this type of volume and this type of quality – are lacking. Here’s just 5-on-5 play as a starting point, expected versus actual goals: You can see that Schenn’s historical actual and expected goal rates are reasonably in line with one another, which is true for most players over long samples of data. But this year is particularly interesting. His actual rate goal scoring has dropped to a low only realized once before in his career, back in 2016-17, yet his expected goal scoring has spiked emphatically. His teammate quality has been stable, further confounding the issue. His two most common linemates have been two of the more talented top- sixers in the league in Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. In short: Schenn has seen a spike in the combination of shot quantity and shot quality, but the goal results haven’t moved much quite yet. From a goal-scoring perspective, you can see why Schenn might be a bit undervalued right now. If he was actually scoring at his expected rate, he would be about seven goals better at 5-on-5 alone. That is already worth a win in the standings! Looking beyond individual goal scoring and to the goal scoring of his teammates, you wonder if there is something more systemic going on. It seems very possible that one player is suffering from a lack of puck luck. But an entire line, or an entire five-man unit? That’s a bit more difficult to believe. But the rest of his teammates – the guys receiving his passes – are scoring right around how we would expect. Expected goal rates for Schenn’s teammates are at a six-year high. Actual goal rates are the second highest in the last six years: 1128427 Websites 26. Nick Bjugstad, FLA C/RW 26 32 5 12 $4.1M 2

27. Justin Faulk, CAR RD 26 50 TSN.CA / TSN Hockey's Trade Bait List 3 17 $4.83M 1 28. Alex Steen, STL LW 34 35 6 6-7 minutes 15 $5.75M 2 29. Jay Bouwmeester, STL LD 35 45 2 10 $5.4M UFA Insider Trading: Who's shopping D? Matthews deal gaining steam? 30. Kasperi Kapanen, TOR RW 22 49 VIDEO SIGN OUT 15 30 $863K RFA Check out the players who make up TSN Hockey's Trade Bait board for 31. Andreas Johnsson, TOR LW 24 43 the season. 10 22 $788K RFA From: Jan. 30, 2019 32. Ryan Dzingel, OTT LW 26 48 20 38 $1.8M UFA 1. Artemi Panarin, CBJ LW 27 47 19 55 $6M UFA 33. Patrick Maroon, STL LW 30 41 4 14 $1.75M UFA 2. Matt Duchene, OTT C 28 41 20 47 $6M UFA 34. Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM RW 20 39 4 9 $925K RFA 3. Wayne Simmonds, PHI RW 30 50 15 23 $3.98M UFA 35. Adam McQuaid, NYR RD 32 25 0 3 $2.75M UFA 4. Micheal Ferland, CAR LW 26 41 13 25 $1.75M UFA 36. Niklas Kronwall, DET LD 38 48 2 14 $4.75M UFA 5. Mats Zuccarello, NYR RW 31 35 8 24 $4.5M UFA 37. Bogdan Kiselvich, FLA LD 28 31 0 8 $925K UFA 6. Dougie Hamilton, CAR RD 25 50 8 19 $5.75M 2 38. Chris Tanev, VAN RD 29 46 2 10 $4.45M 1 7. Gustav Nyquist, DET RW 29 51 11 43 $4.75M UFA 39. Vlad Namestnikov, NYR LW 25 45 4 16 $4M 1 8. Cam Talbot, EDM G 31 27 3.27 .894 $4.17M UFA 40. Carl Hagelin, LAK LW 30 29 2 6 $4M UFA 9. Derick Brassard, PIT C 31 40 9 15 $5M UFA 41. Nathan Beaulieu, BUF LD 26 26 3 7 $2.4M RFA 10. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ G 30 35 2.97 .902 $7.43M UFA 42. Dale Weise, PHI RW 30 42 5 11 $2.35M 1 11. Jakub Silfverberg, ANA RW 28 42 12 19 $3.75M UFA 43. Mikkel Boedker, OTT LW 29 50 5 27 $4M 1 12. Jimmy Howard, DET G 34 34 2.76 .916 $5.3M UFA 44. Sam Gagner, VAN RW 29 7 1 3 $3.15M 1 13. Charlie Coyle, MIN C 26 50 9 26 $3.2M 1 45. Jeff Skinner, BUF LW 26 49 31 45 $5.73M UFA 14. Alec Martinez, LAK RD 31 36 3 11 $4M 2 TRADED: 15. Kevin Hayes, NYR C 26 40 No. 5: Maple Leafs’ first-round pick - Toronto to Los Angeles on Jan. 28 10 33 $5.18M UFA No. 13: Chris Wideman - Ottawa to Edmonton on Nov. 22 16. Brayden Schenn, STL C 27 45 9 27 $5.13M 1 No. 14: Tanner Pearson - Los Angeles to Pittsburgh on Nov. 14 17. Colton Parayko, STL RD 25 49 No. 17: Jake Muzzin - Los Angeles to Toronto on Jan. 28 8 13 $5.5M 3 No. 27: Alex Petrovic - Florida to Edmonton on Dec. 29 18. Jeff Carter, LAK C 33 49 10 No. 27: Nino Niederreiter - Minnesota to Carolina on Jan. 17 25 $5.27M 3 No. 28: Brandon Manning - Chicago to Edmonton on Dec. 29 19. Cody Ceci, OTT RD 24 46 5 15 $4.3M RFA No. 35: Michael Del Zotto - Vancouver to Anaheim on Jan. 16 20. Brett Pesce, CAR RD 23 41 No. 35: Jamie Oleksiak - Pittsburgh to Dallas on Jan. 29 3 11 $4.03M 5 No. 36: Luke Schenn - Anaheim to Vancouver on Jan. 16 21. Alex Edler, VAN LD 32 36 5 20 $5M UFA TSN.CA LOADED: 02.01.2019 22. Andre Burakovsky, WSH LW 23 44 6 12 $3M RFA 23. Marcus Johansson, NJD LW 28 37 7 17 $4.58M UFA 24. Chris Kreider, NYR LW 27 49 22 37 $4.63M 1 25. Mark Stone, OTT RW 26 50 22 50 $7.35M UFA 1128428 Websites

USA TODAY / Kendall Coyne Schofield sticks up for NBC's Pierre McGuire after awkward on-air exchange

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Published 3:35 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

One awkward on-air exchange won't detract from what Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield calls "one of the most incredible weeks of my life." The women's hockey star made headlines last weekend by becoming the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. On Wednesday night, she made her debut as a TV analyst on NBC's broadcast of a Tampa Bay Lightning-Pittsburgh Penguins NHL game. But when fellow analyst Pierre McGuire told her — among other things — "Tampa's gonna be on your left. Pittsburgh's gonna be on your right," many commenters on social media felt he was being sexist and demeaning. On Thursday, Coyne Schofield defended McGuire in a Twitter post: NBCSN announcer Pierre McGuire (left) and USA Women's Hockey gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield were part of the pregame show for Wednesday's game between the Penguins and Lightning "I've known Pierre McGuire for years. I know he respects me as a hockey player, a woman, and a friend and that is why I didn't think twice about our on-air exchange when it happened... "If I were watching it at home and saw a man say this to a woman athlete, I would have been offended. But what I also know is how excited Pierre was for me and to be a part of this moment." She continued: "What IS important is for every young girl reading this to know it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of my hockey knowledge - because I do not doubt my hockey knowledge. I didn't need a gold medal to come to that conclusion." This past week... pic.twitter.com/h73xEA6QWc — Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) January 31, 2019 She concluded her tweet by calling her first broadcast "magical, nerve wracking and incredible." In a statement Thursday afternoon, McGuire conceded he should have chosen his words better but had nothing but respect for Coyne Schofield: "I've known Kendall for years and have had the privilege of covering her as a member of Team USA at the past two Winter Olympics. We were all thrilled to have her join over coverage last night, but at times my excitement got the better of me and I should have chosen my words better. I have the utmost respect for Kendall as a world-class player, analyst of the game, and role model." Statement from Pierre McGuire on last night: pic.twitter.com/DF5Z8cqjk0 — Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) January 31, 2019 Coyne was a member of the 2018 Olympic gold medal-winning team, scoring two goals during the competition in PyeongChang, South Korea. She currently plays for the Minnesota Whitecaps of the National Women's Hockey League. USA TODAY LOADED: 02.01.2019 1128429 Websites you’re coming back’ or that sort of thing. I have a lot of respect for Wayne and not only what he’s done since I’ve been here but what he’s done in the four years that I’ve been part of the organization and his entire career USA TODAY / Wayne Simmonds keeps his focus on Flyers while trade that he’s been here.” rumors swirl USA TODAY LOADED: 02.01.2019

Dave Isaac, NHL writer Published 1:04 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019

BOSTON — Wayne Simmonds has lost teeth and who-knows-how-much blood playing for the Flyers. He’s performed through broken bones, groin pulls, muscle tears and has no idea how much longer that will last in Philadelphia. Nor do his teammates. “I think it’s hard on anybody,” captain Claude Giroux said. “It’s in the back of your mind. You don’t know what your future is in front of you. He’s doing a good job of blocking that and focusing on the things that he can focus on. “He has that don’t-give-a-(expletive) attitude that’s not easy to have. A lot of guys care and take everything personal. I think when you care a little too much that’s when you kind of get in trouble.” Simmonds, 30, is a pending unrestricted free agent and with the trade deadline less than a month away there has been more noise than ever before that the long-time Flyer could be on the move. It’s a polarizing issue because considering his age and the style of play he employs, it’s logical to assume that his effectiveness may soon wane. At the same time, some team somewhere will be willing to pony up in both term and money for a hard-nosed winger who scores close to 30 goals annually. The Flyers and Simmonds’ agent, Eustace King, have talked about the possibility of an extension but with how many young prospects the Flyers have coming and still wanting some salary-cap flexibility, they likely don’t want to go very long on an extension. It didn’t get figured out with Ron Hextall as the general manager and Chuck Fletcher hasn’t found a clear answer yet either. “I don’t really want to get into the details. I don’t think that’s fair to the process,” Fletcher said earlier this week. “Again, the dialogue has been clear. There’s a tremendous amount of respect from our organization to Wayne. Everything has been professional, and the communication has been pretty clear.” All the while, Simmonds’ name seems to be associated with a new trade rumor every day. That will surely continue until he either signs an extension or, more likely, gets dealt somewhere else. “I don’t pay attention to it. I don’t watch that (expletive) right now,” Simmonds said. “I just focus on what I’ve got to do on the ice and helping the Flyers win hockey games. “I’m a Philadelphia Flyer, right? I’ve been here for eight seasons and I’d like to continue on longer here but whatever happens, happens. All I can do is focus on doing my job. Right now, that’s with the Flyers. We’re fighting tooth and nail for every point we can get to make a comeback here.” Back in the summer of 2012, when he still had one season left on his contract, Simmonds signed a six-year, $23.8 million extension that will take him to this June 30. Almost a month earlier, Jake Voracek signed for four years and $17 million. When that deal was up, he got a huge raise at eight years and $66 million. Simmonds never got compensated either with money or term as if he was a vital part of the team’s core. With the team in a strange spot trying to get back to playoff glory while also understanding they have several prospects knocking on the door, Simmonds could very well be the first member of the team’s core to be shipped off elsewhere. That would make a lot of players feel uncomfortable, disconnected from the team that they play for. “These are my boys. I’ve been here for eight years,” Simmonds said. “I’ve played with some of them for eight years, played with the younger guys since they’ve come in. There’s no disconnection. It doesn’t feel like that. I feel like these are my boys. I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna battle, fight and claw and do everything within my power.” “For me as a coach, having a player that’s in that situation, I don’t think I could have it any better,” interim coach Scott Gordon added. “On the same side I’m obviously attentive to his situation and making sure he gets his opportunity not casting him aside because, ‘We don’t know if