-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 6/12/2020 1186106 NHL training camps to start July 10 for playoff-bound 1186134 NHL training camps to begin July 10; beginning of teams 24-team playoff still up in the air 1186107 Who could the Ducks take with their later 2020 first-round 1186135 Nathan MacKinnon on TSN: “I was bugging (Artemi draft pick? Panarin) every day” during free agency 1186136 NHL announces formal training camps will begin July 10 1186108 Adin Hill, Arizona Coyotes return to ice for first time since NHL season shutdown 1186137 Phase 3 of NHL restart plan: Blue Jackets, others will start 1186109 NHL camps to open July 10 if league, players agree to training camp on July 10 resume 1186110 Arizona Coyotes name Lowell Heit new chief financial officer 1186138 Stars GM Jim Nill says ‘the wheels are in motion’ for the 1186111 NHL training camps to open July 10, pending agreement, NHL’s return, with training camps beginning in July safety measures 1186139 Detroit Red Wings might have found a hit in Dmytro 1186112 NHL sets July 10 as tentative date for official opening of Timashov. Here's why training camps 1186140 NHL draft lottery preview: Ask Ted Kulfan your questions 1186113 NHL sets July 10 for opening training camps 1186141 NHL to open training camps on July 10 1186114 Former Bruins forward Tommy Wingels announces 1186142 NHL training camps to open July 10 for teams restarting retirement from hockey 1186115 NHL, NHLPA agree on July 10 as start date for training camps 1186143 Song in memory of Oilers' Colby Cave the sweetest music 1186116 ‘Can I be on-site?’: Despite restrictions, NESN wants in to wife Emily's ears when the playoffs begin 1186144 Edmonton Oilers pipeline update: Ryan McLeod putting together a solid foundation 1186145 ‘Agape’: Why Oilers Cooper Marody wrote a 1186117 As Masterton nominee, Curtis Lazar wants to be part of song about Colby Cave Sabres' future 1186146 Connor McDavid’s recovery is just one of 2020’s incredible Masterton stories Flames 1186147 Lowetide: 5 AHL forwards who offer the Oilers a chance to 1186118 Flames prospect Phillips embracing Phase 2 with NHL buy low on real talent regulars 1186148 How Anson Carter got some of the NHL’s biggest names 1186119 What to expect from the Flames in Phase 2 of NHL’s to unite against racism return to play plan 1186149 NHL sets start date for training camps. Here’s when the 1186120 NHL to allow training camps to open July 10 Florida Panthers will be back 1186121 The NHL is eager to get back on the ice. Chicago 1186150 NHL training camps to start July 10 for playoff-bound Blackhawks star Patrick Kane says the league might be teams putting 1186122 Blackhawks notes: De Haan expected back for playoffs; Wild Mitchell will be “big part” of 2020-21 team 1186151 NHL teams get go-ahead to open training camps July 10 1186123 Blackhawks players share mixed reactions to NHL’s announced July 10 training-camp start date Canadiens 1186124 NHL announces July 10 as target date for opening of 1186152 Canadiens' Max Domi ready to PartT for diabetes training camps research 1186125 Blackhawks' star Kane pumps brakes on training camp 1186153 Stu on : Canadiens players still waiting for ice in announcement Brossard 1186126 Kane, Blackhawks preparing for training camp 2.0 1186154 Geoff Molson might not need a new president but some 1186127 Why Blackhawks like the matchup with Oilers for play-in new blood wouldn’t hurt series 1186155 Canadiens owner Geoff Molson broke a three-month 1186128 Why Patrick Kane's relationship with John McDonough silence and said nothing was 'a little bit different' 1186129 Patrick Kane wants to play hockey, but cautions: 'Nothing has been agreed to yet' 1186156 A Norris Trophy voter guide: Who deserves to be on the 1186130 Stan Bowman provides injury updates as Blackhawks ballot? prepare for postseason 1186131 NHL, NHLPA face one final hurdle before resumption of play and it's a big one 1186132 NHL, NHLPA announce formal training camps will open July 10 1186133 What we learned from the Blackhawks’ first availability in 3 months 1186157 N.J. coronavirus update: Poll shows fans miss 1186187 Golden Knights’ feels safe around teammates the most during COVID-19 crisis on ice 1186158 NJ Devils GM calls on NHL to let non-playoff teams work 1186188 Golden Knights to reopen City National Arena to public with players 1186189 Golden Knights sign goalie Oscar Dansk to 1-year extension 1186190 speaks out against racism on Golden 1186159 NHL plans to start training camps on July 10 Knights podcast 1186160 Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends and why GMs 1186191 NHL training camps could begin July 10 should take note 1186192 NHL training camps set to open July 10 1186161 NHL plans to start training camps on July 10 1186193 NHL training camps to open July 10; Capitals start 1186162 Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends and why GMs small-group workouts should take note 1186194 Monumental Sports will reduce pay for employees through the end of the year Senators 1186195 NHL, NHLPA set training camp date for relaunching 1186163 Five questions facing the Senators as a long offseason season begins 1186196 NHL, NHLPA set the opening of training camp for July 10 1186197 Why the NHL's pause could help or hurt the Capitals 1186198 Source: Monumental Sports implements salary reductions 1186164 NHL sets July 10 as starting date for camps; ‘the whole of employees league is excited,’ says Flyers’ Kevin Hayes 1186199 A Norris Trophy voter guide: Who deserves to be on the 1186165 2020 NHL playoffs: Date for training camps set in plan to ballot? resume season 1186166 The Flyers’ 8 potential first-round matchups, ranked from Websites toughest to easiest 1186208 The Athletic / LeBrun: Training camp date set, CBA talks continue and paycheque decision delayed 1186209 The Athletic / Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends 1186167 ‘Burgh’s best to wear it, No. 81: Phil Kessel became a and why GMs should take note champion with the Penguins 1186210 The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Meet the Off-Brand 1186168 Penguins A to Z: Zach Trotman entrenched as 9th All-Stars, a bad roster that looks amazing defenseman 1186211 The Athletic / J.T. Brown on NHL race conversation: 1186169 Size isn’t everything for these all-time great Penguins ‘Better late than never’ 1186170 NHL, NHLPA agree to open training camps July 10 1186212 The Athletic / How Anson Carter got some of the NHL’s 1186171 NHL sets July 10 target date for start of training camps biggest names to unite against racism 1186172 Penguins prospect Emil Larmi's first year in U.S. was up 1186213 The Athletic / Pronman’s scouting report: Why Marco and down — literally and figuratively Rossi is a top NHL prospect 1186214 The Athletic / Pronman’s scouting report: Why Jake Sanderson is a top NHL prospect 1186173 Ex-Sharks fan favorite Tommy Wingels retires after 10 pro 1186215 .ca / Canadian teams expect easing of seasons quarantine policy as they vie for NHL hubs 1186216 Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Hockey, NHL pushing forward St Louis Blues on multiple fronts 1186174 NHL planning to open training camps on July 10, virus 1186217 Sportsnet.ca / Where NHL goes from here after setting permitting Phase 3 date 1186175 Reliving that Cup-crazy night. Local stations to re-air 1186218 Sportsnet.ca / Flames' Chris Snow defies odds to Blues' title-winning game exactly a year later celebrate anniversary of ALS diagnosis 1186176 NHL sets July 10 for opening of formal training camps 1186219 Sportsnet.ca / Why the NHL should consider getting rid of 1186177 Colton Parayko learning a lot as he helps pave the way for neutral zone faceoffs NHL’s return to play 1186220 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly sees chance to 'prove some people wrong' 1186221 Sportsnet.ca / Erik Gudbranson: Fear kept me from 1186178 NHL, players association agree on training camp start speaking up. It won't anymore. 1186179 J.T. Brown on NHL race conversation: ‘Better late than 1186222 TSN.CA / Wisconsin Badgers' Dylan Holloway on college never’ life, NHL interviews and WJC dream 1186223 TSN.CA / Morgan Rielly: Maple Leafs eager 'to prove some people wrong' 1186180 Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly ready for July 10 training 1186224 TSN.CA / A statistical look at the vs. camp and a chance to improve team’s fortunes play-in series 1186181 Georges Laraque knows all too well that racism is a 1186225 USA TODAY / Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella no problem — ‘We need a solution,’ he says longer against protests during anthem 1186182 The 'when' is set for NHL camps, but not the 'where' 1186183 New realities sink in for Morgan Rielly and the Leafs Winnipeg Jets 1186184 THE PIPELINE: Abruzzese's fine freshman season with 1186200 Jets to begin summer pre-playoffs training camp July 10 Harvard puts him in future Leafs conversation 1186201 Province eases restrictions on pro athletes but not much 1186185 Rielly ready, no matter where Leafs go changes for Jets and Bombers 1186186 NHL playoff team camps to open July 10 1186202 UNDER THE RADAR: Jets prospect Gawanke turned heads in first pro season Canucks 1186203 From No. 1 to No. 32, a ranking of Winnipeg Jets in order 1186204 Ben Kuzma: Canucks circle training camp date, of playoff importance preparations for post-season begin 1186205 NHL confirms Canucks could be back in training camp July 10 1186206 B.C. premier says proposal for Vancouver as NHL hub city sent to Ottawa 1186207 Closing argument: Breaking down why Quinn Hughes should win the Calder Trophy World Leagues News 1186226 Coronavirus: Ravens coach Harbaugh calls NFL's COVID-19 guidelines 'impossible' 1186227 Bubbles And Empty Seats: How Each Pro Sport Plans To Come Back Amid Pandemic 1186228 Coronavirus pandemic set to cost Premier League clubs £1bn in 2019-20 - Deloitte 1186229 Southwestern College won’t play football, other contact sports in fall

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1186106 Anaheim Ducks

NHL training camps to start July 10 for playoff-bound teams

The NHL logo is seen on a at a Nashville Predators practice rink

By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST JUNE 11, 202012:06 PM

Training camps will begin on July 10 for the 24 NHL teams that will participate in the revised playoff format as part of the league’s Return to Play plan, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. said on Thursday. Opening formal training camps on that day is conditional, “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” both organizations said in statements.

Holding training camps would be Phase 3 of the current plan. The duration of camp has not been determined, leaving the start of Phase 4 — resuming competition with the launch of the Stanley Cup playoffs — to be determined. The league has said a three-week training camp might be necessary for players to get back into shape, but that’s one of many points the league and the union have not yet settled.

The NHL halted play on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It advised players and staffers to stay at home, and called that period Phase 1 of its planned return. Phase 2 began on Monday and includes allowing players to work out at team facilities in small groups if they pass COVID-19 tests and maintain social distancing.

The league and the NHLPA agreed to a conference-based playoff format that would place 12 teams in each of two “hub” cities. Los Angeles is among the 10 candidates to be one of the hubs. The top four teams in each of the two conferences would play round-robin, non-elimination games to determine their seeding and teams ranked 5 through 12 will play a best-of-five qualifying round. After that, each series will be best-of- seven games. Teams will be reseeded after each round. The Cup could be awarded in September, or later.

Another key detail to be determined is whether players would be kept in a “bubble” in order to minimize the potential for them to be exposed to the coronavirus.

LA Times: LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186107 Anaheim Ducks monster like Getzlaf. But he is 6-foot-1 with a frame that could fill out further in time. He’s committed to play for Quinnipiac next season. He has a nose for a net and is already showing signs of using his body to Who could the Ducks take with their later 2020 first-round draft pick? protect the puck along with the kind of hands that can keep possession. The abbreviated season did a number on every prospect but Smilanic also missed action for his U.S. under-18 squad due to illness and injury. Some draft followers have him lower on their mock projections so he By Eric Stephens Jun 11, 2020 could be viewed as a reach here. It is possible that he could be around at 36. But our Scott Wheeler wrote: “When he’s on, he’s got four-way quickness, standout puck protection skill and a knack for finishing plays Once again, the Ducks could have two selections within the first round of around the net.” the NHL Draft. Thomas Bordeleau, C, USNTDP-USHL We will know where they will choose with their first pick as soon as June 26, the night of the draft lottery. The Ducks have an 8.5 percent chance Bordeleau has aspects about his game that project to being a middle-six of landing the top selection. And they could drop from their current fifth option as he moves upward in competition. Smilanic’s NTDP teammate is position to as far as eighth, although there is just a 4.3 percent of them on the smallish side and isn’t particularly fast for his size, but he has doing so. But it is possible that they could draft second, third, fifth, sixth great hands and vision. He can also win puck battles and his prowess in or seventh. the faceoff circle is already being recognized. What may sway the Ducks away from a player of his caliber is that they already have a young center The focus will naturally be on their first choice, which could be among with those traits in Steel. But the 18-year-old Bordeleau already has a their highest ever. They’ve had the No. 2 pick twice, taking Oleg good bit of polish to his game. Two years at the University of Michigan Tverdovsky in 1994 and Bobby Ryan in 2005. Their highest pick in recent will give him the time to further strengthen a solid base and if he adds years was Hampus Lindholm at No. 6 in 2012. But just as important as another gear, it’s possible that he could be a top-six performer in time. holding a top-10 pick for the second straight year is the other first- rounder that they possess. THOMAS BORDELEAU IS PUTTING ON A SNIPE SHOW AND Y’ALL ARE INVITED #2019NHLDRAFT PIC..COM/4CMLSJAITH It depends on how Boston does in the Stanley Cup playoffs once the NHL returns to action with its 24-team return to play format. The pick that — TPEHOCKEY (@TPEHOCKEY) OCTOBER 21, 2019 came from the Bruins in the Ondrej Kase trade can be as high as No. 27 Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John-QMJHL if Boston — the NHL’s points leader for the regular season — is eliminated before the conference semifinal. Or it can be as low as No. 31, Poirier, who turned 18 last week, is one of the best offensive-minded the final choice in the first round if the Bruins win the Cup. defenders in this draft. His 20 goals led all blueliners in the QMJHL and his 53 points tied for second. There are defensive questions and he’s Last year, the Ducks took two forwards with their selections. Trevor going to need work in that area if he’s going to play in all situations at the Zegras was the ninth choice while Brayden Tracey went 29th overall. NHL level. But the driving force for a so-so Saint John team plays with an They’ve had two first-rounders on four other occasions and have come enormous amount of confidence when he has the puck, which can result out with players that have helped them. Time will tell if either Max Jones in big plays but also can put his team in a difficult situation with a or Sam Steel (2016) will have a lengthy NHL career. Peter Holland turnover. Poirier is the type of player that could be worth taking a chance (2009) is playing overseas after a limited run with four teams but second on and can be a home run pick if he improves his game in his own end choice Kyle Palmieri has become a consistent 20-goal scorer. Emerson and masters the nuances of the position. Etem (2010) didn’t pan out and retired recently due to injuries but initial pick Cam Fowler has manned Anaheim’s blue line for a decade. Justin Barron, D, Halifax-QMJHL

Nothing tops 2003 when the Ducks took their franchise bookends Ryan Barron is a right-handed and that not only always plays well in an Getzlaf and Corey Perry nine picks apart. But those examples not only NHL that covets them but would help fill an obvious need in an Anaheim show how important it is for a team to succeed with its top choice but system lacking those. His third season in the QMJHL was interrupted by also take in the benefit of nailing the next one, especially if it’s also in the illness and injury at times so it wasn’t a great developmental year for him first round. It is an additional chance to land a useful player for some and he’ll need another season along with a couple years in the AHL seasons, if not one that can help shape a franchise. The Ducks will also before he’s in position to push for a roster spot. But the Halifax native has have the 36th choice, high in the second round. good size and is a very strong skater whether driving play up ice or closing down on opposing forwards. There are others that have higher With that in mind, we’ll take a look at 10 possibilities that the Ducks could ceilings offensively and it’s likely that he won’t become a big point select with their late first-rounder. We have written plenty about the producer. But Barron plays a solid, responsible game that’ll let him eat up potential top picks and will continue to do so. But the Ducks — who have minutes whenever he turns pro. missed the playoffs for two straight seasons — will have another important choice to make toward setting their roster in future seasons. William Wallinder, D, MODO-Allsvenskan For now, the draft itself has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NHL has yet to set a new date, although The Athletic’s With those three picks within the top 36 selections, the Ducks could use Corey Masisak reported in late May that it will not take place until the one on more of a project that could have a higher upside. Wallinder is playoffs are completed. already 6-foot-4 and is no lead foot on the ice. He is going to take some time, but he is only heading into his age-18 season. What you get with Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago-USHL him is raw NHL-projectable tools that will need refinement. Pronman wrote, “When you see a guy his size easily closing a gap or rushing a If the last name looks familiar, it’s definitely familial. Yes, his dad is uber- puck up the ice, you can see how it translates to the higher levels. With agent Pat Brisson. But the son is attracting attention for his own hockey his reach and feet, he is quite solid defensively and projects to make exploits. The 18-year-old finished right behind Chicago Steel teammate stops at the higher levels.” Wallinder has been in the MODO program Mathieu De St. Phalle for the USHL scoring lead on the league’s most back home in Sweden and will need a couple more years. The Ducks dominant team. Our Corey Pronman noted how Brisson has the ability to have selected Swedes in all but two draft since 2009. Highly-touted not only make great passes to teammates but possesses a great one- Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz might be available with their first timer that can make him just as good a threat to finish a play. “He has the pick and Wallinder could be worth the risk with their second (or third) slick 1-on-1 skill to beat defenders consistently and make plays in small choice. areas,” Pronman wrote of the University of Michigan commit. With the Ducks already having their high first-rounder along with a pipeline that John-Jason Peterka, RW, Munich-DEL will have Zegras and Tracey coming into it over the next couple of years, they can afford to let Brisson to grow his game at a higher competitive In Peterka, the Ducks could go with a tremendous skater that has a level with the Wolverines. strong north-south element to his game. He has the kind of hands that can make plays at a high speed. He can also play with great Ty Smilanic, C, USNTDP-USHL determination but one of the knocks is that it is not always apparent. Peterka had a strong world juniors for Germany with four goals and six If the Ducks were to covet a center with some size at this spot, Smilanic points in seven games. He’ll need to improve his work without the puck could be one to look at here. A native of Denver, Smilanic is no physical and he isn’t a master playmaker when it comes to finding teammates. Tim Stützle and Lukas Reichel get more of the attention but Peterka rounds out the drei of German forwards that could go in the first round for a country that’s becoming more known for its ability to produce highly- skilled hockey players.

Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL

Once you get past Jamie Drysdale and being the clear top two defensemen that should be selected high in the first round, you’ve got a group of rearguards that could slot in the late half of the first to early part of the second round. O’Rourke is among that group. He has good tools such as making an effective first pass or hitting a teammate in transition. He can skate well enough to lead the transition or move around defenders in the offensive zone. And his poise with the puck and knowledge of where to put it and when might be his best trait. O’Rourke is also solidly built and is one of the better defenders in the OHL. He’ll get physical when it’s necessary. What you also get with him is leadership. At 17, he was named captain of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia-OHL

In his age-18 season, Perreault improved on his rookie year with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting by leading them with 39 goals and finishing second on the team with 70 points. His point per game average jumped from 0.87 to 1.22. There is no question about what he is. Goal scoring is his calling card and he has one of the best shots in the draft. He can pick spots and has the kind of release that can beat goalies from distance. He’s not a burner and that’s likely why he’ll probably be in the bottom half of the first round, but his offensive sense and pinpoint shot is high-level stuff.

Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Ufa-KHL

The last Russian player the Ducks have drafted was goaltender Igor Bobkov in 2009. The last one they selected in the first round is Stanislav Chistov in 2001. Get the picture here. History shows that Murray and his cohorts won’t do so but if they decide to change course, the 6-foot-4 Mukhamadullin could be an option here given that they have the extra first-rounder. While he didn’t have a huge role, Mukhamadullin was already being trusted to play minutes in the KHL. He can stand to put some more meat on his lanky frame, but he already possesses a booming point shot that just needs to be more accurate. Mukhamadullin is also a good skater for his size and doesn’t shy away from playing a physical game. But the Ducks do have a lot of left-handed shooters on defense.

Others that could be under consideration: Tyson Foerster (Barrie-OHL), Ozzy Wiesblatt (Prince Albert-WHL), Mavrik Bourque (Shawinigan- QMJHL), Roni Hirvonen (Assat-FIN), Noel Gunler (Lulea-SWE), Lukas Reichel (Berlin-DEL), Ridly Greig (Brandon-WHL), Lukas Cormier (Charlottetown-QMJHL), Emil Andrae (HV71-SWE).

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186108 Arizona Coyotes Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.12.2020

Adin Hill, Arizona Coyotes return to ice for first time since NHL season shutdown

Jack Williams, Arizona Republic Published 4:06 p.m. MT June 11, 2020

While Coyotes goaltender Adin Hill is used to wearing a mask on the ice, he was a little unfamiliar with wearing one in the weight room or anywhere else that wasn't inside the blue paint at Gila River Arena.

As Phase 2 of the NHL's Return to Play Plan went into action this week, various Coyotes players on Thursday took part in individualized training activities in small groups for the first time since the league postponed play in March.

"It was really refreshing to step back out on the ice and be back at Gila River with my teammates," Hill said in a conference call with reporters. "I felt better than I thought I would feel when I got back out on to the ice after a few months off, but it was fun to get out there and back into the swing of things."

The NHL's Phase 2 still has strong precautions in place to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Practices are without contact and only six players are allowed on the ice at a time. In addition, these workouts are voluntary.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have agreed on July 10 as the date teams can open training camps, as the league moves closer to resuming the delayed season. Both sides already approved a 24-team playoff once hockey resumes, but details surrounding testing and safety protocols still need to be determined.

Hill said the return to the ice feels less like a regular preseason training camp and more like conditioning for Phase 3, the opening of camps.

"Usually when I come to camp I've been skating for awhile and I feel pretty good about it, but today I felt a little rusty," said Hill, a 2015 draft pick who's posted a 2.62 goals-against average in 13 appearances this season, much of that work in place of injured goalies Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta. "When July 10 comes around, it'll be nice to be in-shape and ready for that camp."

Another vast difference from Phase 2 to preseason training camp is that the Coyotes will jump into postseason play instead of a 82-game schedule. Arizona will face Nashville in a best-of-five series in a hub city, which has not been chosen yet.

Hill said that the Coyotes aren't really worried about adjusting to the fast, aggressive style of postseason play. He believes that excitement for the postseason is going to be a motivating factor in the upcoming tournament.

"We have a month before the camp starts and we have two weeks before games start, so we have plenty of time to prepare," Hill said. "It's going to be weird without those regular-season games leading into the playoffs, but it's going to be those high-intensity, high-energy playoff games off the bat. We're really looking forward to it."

As for now, the team is focused on getting in as much ice time as they can while following proper safety precautions. Before even entering the rink, players are expected to get a coronavirus test, which Hill described as "uncomfortable for a few seconds."

Players also will have their temperatures taken and are asked wear a face mask off the ice. In the weight room, players are isolated from each other and expected to sanitize the equipment after use.

Isolation continues on the ice as well, with players broken into small groups. Even player-coach interaction is limited; Hill said he has to train for a week before he's allowed to skate with the goalie coach.

Despite all the precautions and limited interaction, Hill said it's a breath of fresh air to be back on the ice and with his teammates.

"As a goaltender, it's nice to feel the ice against your skates getting back out there," Hill said. "It's really nice to be competing with your teammates, laughing with your teammates and just having a good time with your teammates again." 1186109 Arizona Coyotes

NHL camps to open July 10 if league, players agree to resume

Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow, Associated Press Published 9:30 a.m. MT June 11, 2020

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association gave the go-ahead Thursday for teams to open training camp on July 10 in the next step forward toward completing the pandemic-delayed season.

The league and union have already approved a 24-team playoff format but still need to decide on testing and health and safety protocols along with potential host cities for the games.

“I think safety’s first and foremost,” Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel said earlier this week. “I still think there’s a lot to go into it.”

Camps are expected to last two weeks, if not slightly longer. Under this timeline, exhibition games could begin as soon as July 24 with playoff games starting roughly a week later.

Setting a July 10 start for camps allows players to make arrangements to return to their home cities in light of quarantine regulations in the U.S. and . Commissioner Gary Bettman said recently 17% of the league’s players were overseas.

Players were allowed to resume small-group, voluntary workouts and teams could open their training facilities Monday. Groups of players began skating this week, while others were waiting for a firm timeline to ramp up for games.The Arizona Coyotes were expecting to welcome some players to Gila River Arena on Thursday.

“It’s obviously not a typical schedule that we would be accustomed to,” New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey said earlier this week. “This year you’re not going to be going into training camp and the first game of the season. You’re going into playoffs.”

Under the format devised by the Return to Play committee, the top four teams in each conference advance to the round of 16 and play separate round-robin tournaments to determine seeding. The other 16 teams play best-of-five series.

Coyotes name chief financial officer

Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez announced on Thursday that the team has hired Lowell Heit as chief financial officer.

Heit formerly was executive vice president and CFO of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, parent company of the Florida Panthers & BB&T Center. Before that, he spent five years with the NFL and eight years with the NHL. Most recently, Heit spent seven years as a partner with Genesis Management Group. He resides in Scottsdale.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186110 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes name Lowell Heit new chief financial officer

BY MATT LAYMAN JUNE 11, 2020 AT 9:48 AM

The Arizona Coyotes announced Thursday the hiring of Lowell Heit as the team’s new chief financial officer.

The announcement comes just three days after the team named Xavier A. Gutierrez the new president, CEO and alternate governor. Less than a year after the Coyotes were purchased by new majority owner Alex Meruelo, the team parted ways with CEO Ahron Cohen in May and, according to Sports Business Journal’s Mark Burn, CFO Gregg Olson also was no longer with the organization as of May.

Heit was most recently a partner at Genesis Management Group. Before that, he was executive vice president and CEO for Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

“We are thrilled to announce Lowell as the Coyotes’ new Chief Financial Officer,” Gutierrez said in a statement from the team. “Lowell brings a wealth of team and league financial experience to our organization and he will play a key role for us in the future growth of our club. Lowell will be a great addition to our talented executive team.”

In the 2000s, Heit spent five years as the director of finance for the NFL and held the same title at the NHL for eight years.

Heit attended the business school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. According to the Coyotes, he now lives in Scottsdale.

Like Heit, Gutierrez also previously worked in finance for the NFL. The Coyotes’ new CEO was a financial analyst for the league office.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186111 Arizona Coyotes

NHL training camps to open July 10, pending agreement, safety measures

BY ARIZONA SPORTS JUNE 11, 2020 AT 9:28 AM

NHL training camps will open July 10 if the league and players’ union can reach an agreement to resume the season, the league announced Thursday.

Setting this date gives the 17% of players who are overseas time to return in light of U.S. and Canada quarantine regulations. The league and NHLPA said the July 10 start of camps — referred to as Phase 3 — is pending medical and safety conditions and agreeing on getting back to games.

Camps are expected to run two to three weeks with games taking place in two “hub” cities without fans. If the league and players finalize a deal to return, games could resume in early August. The NHL said in a statement Thursday that the date for a start of Phase 4, the resumption of games, will be announced at a later time.

Thursday also marked the first day Coyotes players were back on the ice at Gila River Arena for voluntary, small-group training sessions. Players were given the choice whether to participate.

If hurdles are cleared for resuming the 2019-20 NHL season, such as securing hub cities and maintaining a reasonable level of safety, the Coyotes will participate in a play-in round, playing a series against the Nashville Predators. The winner of that series will advance to a 16-team Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2019-20 regular season is deemed to be completed, and only 24 teams will participate the rest of the way.

The NHL season paused on March 12 as the coronavirus pandemic brought the sports world to a halt. During Phase 1, players were told to quarantine at home. In Phase 2, which is underway, players can work out in small-group training sessions.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186112 Boston Bruins

NHL sets July 10 as tentative date for official opening of training camps

By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff,Updated June 11, 2020, 3:16 p.m.

Coach Bruce Cassidy and his players could be back together at Warrior Arena in a few weeks.

Less than a week after players began voluntary skating sessions in most of the 24 NHL cities still in contention for the Stanley Cup, the league and its Players’ Association announced Thursday morning that all players are expected to begin formal training camp sessions in their respective cities on Friday, July 10.

The start date, rumored for the better part of the last two weeks, is contingent on a couple of key points:

▪ The health conditions and governmental restrictions in each city.

▪ The conclusion of return-to-play negotiations between the league and the union.

A smattering of Bruins, including veterans Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and captain Zdeno Chara, have been skating this week at the club’s Warrior practice facility in Brighton.

The voluntary workouts have been informal and not open to either the public or the media. On Wednesday, the club’s publicity staff released short video clips of good pals Bergeron and Marchand smiling, skating, and practicing on-ice drills.

Provided there are no hiccups, be they related to health conditions or local governmental restrictions, training camps are expected to last for the final 2½-3 weeks of July, possibly allowing time for clubs to schedule an exhibition game or two before they report to one of two hubs for the start of the playoffs on or about Aug. 1.

The NHL announced a plan to play in quarantined arenas in two hub cities, but has yet to identify either of the locations. It’s likely one city will be in Canada and the other in the US, even though only six of the 24 teams eligible for the playoffs are in Canada.

Zdeno Chara and the Bruins are gearing up for a return.

The Bruins, who owned the league’s best record when play was suspended 92 days ago (March 12), are among the eight teams — four in each conference — to be awarded byes for the opening play-in round of the postseason.

However, to tune up their play for the intensity of the playoffs, the four bye teams in each conference will play a three-game round-robin tournament to determine seeds 1-4.

Meanwhile, the other eight teams in each conference will compete in a best-of-five play-in tournament to determine the remaining seeds, 5-8. Once that play-in round is finished, the eight eliminated teams will go home, and the playoffs will continue in standard format, with four rounds of best-of-seven play.

The NHL has provided no timeline leading to a crowning of a Cup champ. It’s likely, however, that it would not be awarded until early or mid October, based on typical playoff lengths the last three decades.

Upon the conclusion of the Cup Final, the league then will deal with standard offseason issues, including a buyout period, the amateur draft, and free agency. The start of the 2020-21 season could be as late as Jan. 1.

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NHL sets July 10 for opening training camps

Move would be next step in a return to play

By STEVE CONROY |PUBLISHED: June 11, 2020 at 1:48 p.m. | UPDATED: June 11, 2020 at 3:55 p.m.

Slowly and tentatively, the resumption of the season is coming into view.

With training facilities having opened on Monday for voluntary, small group workouts, the NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday that they have agreed to open training camps on July 10, “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” according to the joint statement from the league and union.

In keeping with the league’s approach of remaining flexible as it tries to navigate its way to a return through the coronavirus pandemic, no date has been set for the start of Phase 4, which is the resumption of actual games. The league and PA have devised a plan for a 24-team tournament, with the top-four seeds from each conference playing in separate round-robin tournaments to determine seeding while there will be eight best-of-five play-in series.

If Phases 2 (voluntary workouts) and 3 (training camps) go off without major hitches, then actual games could begin by early August.

There will be two hub cities, one for each conference, during this period. Neither of those cities has been chosen. Commissioner Gary Bettman had announced on May 26 the league had narrowed the options down to 10 cities — Minneapolis/St. Paul, Las Vegas, Columbus, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. The league hopes to announce the two sites within a couple of weeks but, again, everything is subject to change. Not only is the league grappling with the pandemic, but some of those cities on the list have been dealing with riots in the wake of the killing of an unarmed black man by police officers in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, the training camp start date gives players just about a month to shake off the rust in these socially distanced workouts. The Bruins released photos of linemates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand skating at on Thursday, though the club has thus far not given a list of players who are in town to skate. This Phase 2 period also allows for players who live in other NHL cities to use other teams’ facilities, a common practice under normal circumstances when players start to ramp up workouts in August and September prior to training camps.

The league has been shut down because of the pandemic since March 12 and, for many players, this is the longest they’ve been off the ice since they’ve become professionals — and probably longer than that.

One of the big concerns of players has been, on top of infection from the virus, vulnerability to injuries such as muscle strains and pulls after being off the ice for so long.

Many players have invested in Peloton stationary bikes and have used any weights they could get their hands on during the lockdown, while teams’ training staffs have sent out detailed workout regimens for players to follow.

But as many players have said, there is no substitute for skating. Even rollerblading cannot simulate the hard stops and quick starts of ice skating. And then there’s the whole hockey part of it.

“That all helps and it’s great, but there’s absolutely nothing you can do to prepare for the ins and outs of a shift and the physicality of it,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug in April when the lockdown was still somewhat new. “Not only are you trying to mimic the skating motion, but there’s no way you can train for going into the corner with a guy who’s 6- foot-2, 210 pounds, and trying to out-battle him and get the puck and skate away from him.”

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Former Bruins forward Tommy Wingels announces retirement from hockey

By Joe Haggerty June 11, 2020 4:08 PM

After last playing in the NHL for the Boston Bruins a couple of years ago, Tommy Wingels announced his retirement from hockey this week.

The 32-year-old Wingels had played each of the last two seasons for Geneve Servette in the Swiss League after not re-signing with the Bruins after the 2017-18 NHL season, and finished with 16 goals and 39 points in 44 games in Switzerland this season.

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

Wingels took to Twitter to announce his retirement on the Geneve Servette Twitter account and thanked the fans in Switzerland for “making the end of his hockey career as special as it could be.”

Wingels finished with 62 goals and 143 points in 448 NHL games over eight NHL seasons that included playing the final 18 games of the 2017- 18 season with the Bruins after arriving from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

The most eventful moment from Wingels’ time with the Bruins was probably drawing a three-game suspension on Nazem Kadri in the first round playoff series between Boston and Toronto after getting drilled from behind by the Toronto forward.

Wingels had two goals and five points in 18 games as a bottom-6 forward for the Bruins and went scoreless in four playoff games that spring. Wingels is known most for his long stint as a -killing energy forward with the San Jose Sharks where he was drafted and developed before playing parts of his first seven NHL seasons in San Jose.

Wingels signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract with Geneve Servette after his time with the Bruins and closed out his career in this past season.

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NHL, NHLPA agree on July 10 as start date for training camps

By Joe Haggerty June 11, 2020 12:03 PM

The NHL and NHLPA have cleared another of the many hurdles on their way to returning to play in the 2019-20 NHL season.

The league and the players association have determined that July 10 will be the starting date for the 24 NHL training camps set to open for the hockey clubs returning to play this summer to finish off the 2019-20 NHL season.

Both the NHL and NHLPA put out the caveat that camps will open “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

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

The NHL camps are known as “Phase 3” in the return to play plan for the NHL that is still evolving with collaborative, productive and ongoing talks between the league and the players.

The two sides still have yet to determine how long training camps will run for, or when Phase 4 (resumption of play) will happen with the qualifying play-in round and the round-robin tournament between each conference’s top seeds. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy and many of the B’s players had indicated that something in the range of 2-3 weeks would be ample camp time to get up to playing speed after a month or so of informal, smaller voluntary workouts.

The NHL also has yet to determine the two hub cities for each of the two conferences, with sources indicating to NBCSportsBoston.com a couple of weeks ago that Columbus and Las Vegas were the two leading candidates at that time.

Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand kicked off Phase 2 for the Boston Bruins on Wednesday morning when they skated as a duo at Warrior Ice Arena with the NHL now allowing the 24 teams to have players work out, both on and off the ice, in small groups at NHL facilities.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186116 Boston Bruins Edwards has two ideas: mobile cameras on cables and fixed cameras from lower in the bowls. The former, perhaps running on a mechanism above the glass, could follow the flight of Connor McDavid, for example, ‘Can I be on-site?’: Despite restrictions, NESN wants in when the playoffs on an end-to-end rush. begin Edwards compared this to the cable cams that capture the exploits of Olympic ski jumpers. TV viewers, for the first time, could better understand the spectacle of NHL speed. By Fluto Shinzawa Jun 11, 2020 “You can’t do it in an NHL arena now because it would block $200 seats, which are $1,000 seats in the playoffs,” Edwards said. “Fans would be outraged with a camera whizzing by their heads. But if you get that real- Jack Edwards would welcome daily temperature checks. He would be time speed, that would be an unbelievable development technologically.” happy to enter the rink through a separate entrance. Placing cameras lower, Edwards believes, would reap benefits in If all of it means the NESN play-by-play announcer could call the Bruins highlight replays. Viewers would experience richer and more insightful playoffs in person alongside analyst Andy Brickley and reporter Sophia explanations on the hows and whys of certain plays — a hit landed, a Jurksztowicz, drop the puck. route selected. “I’m willing,” Edwards said, “to go through all that.” “They would be brilliant, brilliant opportunities for television replays — the Regardless of how long or thorough their restrictions would be, Brickley so-called melt reels,” Edwards said. “When you run every replay saved would approve if it meant he, Edwards and Jurksztowicz could work at from every angle in the closed-circuit feed back to broadcast the rink. headquarters, those melt reels would be must-watch TV. Those kinds of looks are just remarkable. The closer you get, the better.” “Can I be on-site? That’s what I desire the most when doing the job,” Brickley told The Athletic’s Perfection Pod. Video is just one component of television. Audio is just as important.

“I’m really excited to get live sports back in any way we can,” Microphones, placed around the rink or perhaps even worn by the Jurksztowicz wrote in an email, “so I’ll be happy to be a part of the players, should capture the salty language of the playoffs. The NHL will broadcast in whatever way it comes to life.” have to determine how much of the vulgarity to let go.

In all likelihood, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly, one global The potential addition of player chatter, however, would be offset by the television feed will air the playoffs if and when the games begin in absence of fans and their corresponding ruckus. Fan noise accentuates undetermined hub cities. NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports, the NHL’s moments such as a glove save or a big hit. It has a corresponding effect national rights-holders, would use the same shots of live action. The on announcers. networks would produce the broadcasts according to their respective In Game 6 of the opening round in 2008, the TD Garden crowd howled preferences — their own announcers, advertisers, pregame and after Phil Kessel scored in the third period. Edwards could not help but postgame shows, graphics and interviews. feed off the energy when he delivered a signature line: “This building is According to Edwards, the NHL has not determined how regional vibrating!” networks like NESN would operate. In previous seasons, NESN has “The lack of ambient noise and the crowd atmosphere — I don’t know aired the first round of the playoffs. you deal with it. That’s the wave you ride,” Edwards said. “It stokes me It could be that Edwards and Brickley convene at NESN’s Watertown up, home and away. Sometimes the emotion of the crowd goes right past headquarters and call the game off a monitor. How that would affect my filter. I get carried away. That’s how hockey’s always been for me.” Jurksztowicz, who counts face-to-face intermission player interviews These playoffs will be television’s opportunity to carry the day. NESN’s among her responsibilities, is unknown. on-air principals have their hands raised to help bring the experience to In 2010, the Bruins opened the season against the Coyotes in Prague, life. Czech Republic. Edwards and Brickley didn’t make the trip. They called The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 the two games off a screen back home.

“It’s miserable,” Edwards said. “It’s really, really difficult to get a feel for the game. Because the camera is required to follow the puck, it’s really difficult to do what I’m most comfortable doing — keeping an eye on the puck while constantly scanning the periphery for the possibilities of what might happen next. It’s impossible calling the game off the monitor. The call becomes very dry, very stultified.”

In that 2010-11 season opener, a 5-2 Bruins loss, coach Claude Julien pulled Tuukka Rask for an extra skater. The camera didn’t catch the goalie’s exit. Edwards discovered Rask’s departure when Radim Vrbata’s shot sailed into a vacant net.

Monitoring action on the boundaries might be even more important for Edwards’ partner. If Brickley is breaking down a goal, for example, the most critical sequences — a turnover, stick lift, traffic in front — often take place away from the puck. It is far easier for Brickley to watch those events happen from his rink location than from behind a monitor.

“Is it going to be a world feed and we’re going to sit somewhere in Boston — Jack, I and Sophia, and call the game from some location that’s nowhere near that hub city? I don’t think I would enjoy that,” Brickley said. “One of the best things an analyst can do is see the entire ice as the live game is occurring to be a really good analyst and to be insightful with things to look for. If you’re just calling it off a screen, that doesn’t excite me. But my job is to be excited about that and promote what it is that we’re doing and what we’re watching.”

If Edwards and Brickley could work from the press box, removed from players and other personnel, they could help to color what should be an enhanced experience. Fans will not be allowed into the buildings. The league will not have to worry about cameras obstructing in-person views. This expands the spectrum of possibilities. 1186117 Buffalo Sabres several NHL players, and Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan will again be helping lead players in the area during their on-ice workouts.

But Lazar said there will be times he'll have to pull back, and maybe even As Masterton nominee, Curtis Lazar wants to be part of Sabres' future spend a week or two out of the gym entirely. And he'll flip the TV on come August hoping to watch some playoff games -- and draw the motivation from the Sabres again having to sit this one out. By Mike Harrington Published Thu, Jun 11, 2020|Updated Thu, Jun 11, 2020 "I hope everyone on our team, wherever they are, will watch and understand that's going to be us in the future," Lazar said. "Put the work in now and be prepared for that next step."

Curtis Lazar made things very clear Wednesday. After bouncing back Buffalo News LOADED: 06.12.2020 and forth between the NHL while playing for Ottawa and Calgary, he feels like he's found a home in Buffalo. And he wants back in with the Sabres, whenever their 2020-21 season begins.

A restricted who is in limbo while the league determines its offseason calendar, Lazar made $700,000 this season and would certainly rate as a value addition to the Sabres' bottom six whenever the team gets the go-ahead from the NHL to start talking contracts.

After earning a regular role in the second half, Lazar's resume got an extra shine Tuesday when he was named as the Sabres' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey.

"For myself, I want to be back more than anything," Lazar told told The News by phone Wednesday from his home in Kelowna, B.C. "After the season I had, I want to carry some of that momentum and really grow with this team. I love the foundation that [coach Ralph Krueger) has put into place. It makes me excited for the Sabres' future. I know people are frustrated with the lack of playoffs but I want to be part of the solution. ... I think I can offer a lot no matter where I'll be in the lineup."

Lazar had 20 goals during the 2018-19 season for Calgary's AHL affiliate in Stockton, Calif. After a strong camp for the Sabres, he opened the season in Rochester and collected six goals and 14 points in 18 games. He had five goals and five assists in 38 games for Buffalo.

A former first-round pick of Ottawa in 2014, Lazar was nominated by the members of the Buffalo chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the way he's overcome his demotions and continued to forge an NHL career.

Among the 31 Masterton nominees are former Sabres Ryan Miller (Anaheim) and (Columbus). Voting is taking place this week and the league has yet to announce how and when its awards will be handed out after its annual ceremony in Las Vegas was scrapped. The Masterton was won last year by former Sabres goalie Robin Lehner of the New York Islanders.

"It's an honor and I'd be lying if I said things were easy for me," Lazar said. "There are definitely some moments early in your career where you kind of look and wonder, 'Is it really worth it at this point?' I had some dark days in Ottawa where I didn't really enjoy going to the rink and you start losing that passion. But I have an opportunity here and I'm playing in the highest league in the world. ... I just want to keep my head down and work and I think I've kept that mindset my entire career."

Lazar was happy the Sabres returned him to his natural position at center and gave him time on penalty killing units. He also found an unusual niche by taking the opening faceoff of overtime and sprinting to the bench after winning the draw. The Sabres won three times in the wake of his decisions.

"I took a lot of pride with it. For me to be successful I've got to carve our a role and be able to affect the team every single night," he said. "I looked at it as the first battle that starts a sequence and can get us possession."

One of Lazar's faceoffs created a Jack Eichel goal after just 36 seconds of OT in a win over Columbus. The Sabres kept using Lazar in those spots.

"From there on out, I'd look at the clock late in a tie game and I'd start thinking about it," Lazar said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to win this draw and I'd have the support of my teammates. They were loving when I'd sprint to the bench. Jack was the first one to go over to Ralph and say, "'Laser' is taking the draw here' and you'd really feel a part of things. That's something I really haven't had much in my six years."

Those kind of memories will keep Lazar motivated during what figures to be the longest offseason of his career, with the Sabres potentially not opening next season until January. He'll be skating in Kelowna with 1186118 Calgary Flames “It was kind of scary because it was all you kind of heard from anyone on T.V. and on your phone,” Phillips said. “Obviously being in California and the population there … no one really knew what was going on or how to Flames prospect Phillips embracing Phase 2 with NHL regulars handle it because it was such a new thing. We kind of just shut down overnight, pretty much. We weren’t allowed to go to the rink and hung around for a couple of days before we got word to start heading home.

Kristen Anderson, Postmedia “But it was good we caught onto it when we did so no one was affected by it.”

So far, it’s been an eventful season for Phillips. He received his first call- It’s safe to say Matthew Phillips has made the most of every opportunity up by the Flames in early December, fractured his knee cap during AHL he has earned. action on Dec. 28, and underwent surgery shortly after. He played his And with another chance to prove himself — for the next month, at the first game back on Feb. 15 and skated nine more times before the global very least, as the National Hockey League kicks off Phase 2 of the health crisis put everything on hold. ‘Return to Play’ plan — the 22-year-old Calgary Flames prospect is Now, in June, he’s skating with the NHL club and trying to adjust to the embracing the challenge. new normal. Phillips will be one of only a handful of players that are set to hit the ice at Since the pandemic hit, the right-winger has been following Flames on Friday, the team’s first (unofficial) official day strength and conditioning coach Ryan van Asten’s workout program at back since the NHL was put on pause back on March 12 due to the home while incorporating some rollerblading into his training for some global outbreak of COVID-19. That means it has been three months cardio activity. The time off was beneficial, he said, for regaining strength exactly since the Flames and their affiliate in his injured leg. players received the word. Right now, he’s part of the group — and he’s embracing it. But with the majority of Flames and prospects that vacated the city to their hometowns — across Canada, the U.S., and Europe — that means “That’s kind of the mindset the staff wants everyone to have,” Phillips Phillips, who has been quarantined in Calgary, will be skating with the said. “If you’re here, you’re a part of it and helping the team succeed full-time NHL-ers for the foreseeable future. regardless if you were here all season or not. So, I think it’ll be good. You’re going to be around every day and see how these guys prepare for “It’s exciting, for sure,” Phillips said. “It’s a very unique situation. It was playoffs. I think it’s a really cool opportunity.” kind of similar, in a way, when I came up for playoffs last year. This year’s different, they’re going to have a training camp but they already [email protected] have the groups. www.twitter.com/KDotAnderson “It’s cool to be a part of it. It’s going to be a good environment, everybody’s pushing to get into game shape as soon as possible.” BIO

With the NHL and NHLPA announcing on Thursday that the official Age: 22 (April 6, 1998) training camp start date would be July 12, it gave some clarity to teams Hometown: Calgary, Alta. and their players to finalize their travel plans and iron out training camp details. Height: 5’ 7” Weight: 155-lbs

However, the Flames — and the other Canadian teams returning to Position: Right Winger Shoots: Right action — they’re faced with the complication of a 14-day quarantine period for international travellers that will impact players arriving from out Drafted: 2016, sixth-round, Calgary of the country. The skinny: Phillips’ stock was rising this season in the American Hockey Because of that reason, earlier this week Flames general manager Brad League when he suffered his first long-term injury of his career back in Treliving said they’ve evaluated the option to have a training camp in the January. Contributing at over a point-per-game pace at the time, the U.S., to ensure all of their players would be ready to skate together on second-year pro fractured his knee cap on Dec. 28 and underwent July 12. surgery. He returned to the ice Feb. 15 and while it took him a while to readjust to the pace, he had found his groove just as the AHL season While there were reports on Thursday of a solution coming from the was abruptly cut off as the COVID-19 pandemic hit … Was named to the Canadian government which would also keep Vancouver, Edmonton and Pacific Division roster for the AHL All-Star Classic, but was unable to Toronto as possibilities to act as hub cities, nothing was set in stone. participate … Recorded a goal and two assists in 10 games following his injury … Received his first NHL call-up this season in early December, For now, that means a small group of Flames will begin skating. Calgary- but has yet to skate in his first big-league game … In 104 AHL games, based players like Mark Giordano, Michael Stone and Dillon Dube and Phillips has 28 goals and 44 assists … Product of the Calgary incomers like Mark Jankowski will be the first ones on the ice as of Bisons/Buffaloes system. Friday. Phillips will also be joining them. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.12.2020 A strange feeling, on one hand. Because at this time of the year, he’s usually settling into the off-season.

On the other hand, it gives him a chance to pick up where he left off earlier this year when he was scoring at a point per game clip in the AHL.

“It’s really weird because it’s the start of summer, where usually you’re kind of in that day-by-day grind mode,” he said. “Now, all of a sudden, we’re going to be ramping it up. It’s going to be a really weird situation. At the end of the day, everybody’s going through it for the first time. So, just have to take it all as it comes. Some days are going to feel pretty weird, especially as far as the games as we go forward with no fans and all that stuff.”

Phillips and the rest of the players were forced to quickly pack their things and vacate Stockton in a hurry when the AHL shut down on March 12. A hectic and stressful journey across the Canadian/U.S. border landed him home in Calgary.

And, like the rest of the country, province, city, and his teammates, he was stuck inside his house. 1186119 Calgary Flames There is a plan.

“Just to make sure that we mitigate any risk of injury from guys going too hard too soon,” said Ryan van Asten, the Flames’ strength and What to expect from the Flames in Phase 2 of NHL’s return to play plan conditioning coach. “It’s not just a free-for-all. That’s where you can run into a risk of overdoing it early on.”

By Scott Cruickshank Jun 11, 2020 Van Asten points out that not only will participants wear workload- monitoring devices, like they do during regular season practices, there is a strict guideline based on the five work-rate ranges — very light, light, moderate, hard, very hard. His workday, like it did for a handful of other hockey players in Calgary, started with a temperature check at home. Friday’s pace, as expected, will settle into a very light or light pace.

Determining himself to be fever-free, he made the familiar 10-minute “We’ll go up and down in terms of volume and intensity for the next little drive, parked, then clamped a mask over his bushy beard. bit,” said van Asten. “It’s not going to be a full ramp-up to very hard or very heavy, then sustaining that. Afterward, following his first shift on the job in three months, he punched out. “We’re not going to go zero to 60 on Day 1. We structure it in a way that they can accumulate volume day to day in a safe manner.” Without taking a shower. Conditioning, no surprise, is key. Van Asten acknowledges that there Not that Dillon Dubé much cares. may have been a gap between players early on, a disparity that reflected Because he is thrilled to be back in business. access to equipment more than desire. Now, he says, the range of fitness levels is likely pretty tight. “I can sit in my vehicle a little sweaty — that does not bother me at all. We’re just excited to be there,” said Dubé, after joining Flames “We have a really good group,” he said. “You don’t really have to worry teammates Mark Giordano, Michael Stone, Mark Jankowski and Matthew too much. We know they’re doing it.” Phillips for off-ice workouts at the Saddledome. “Safety protocols … the Good thing, because van Asten expects the in-town players to skate four process is a lot, but you want to do it because you don’t want to or five times next week. Meaning they should have their legs under them jeopardize anybody who’s there. by the time main camp opens July 10. “The trainers are doing so much for us that you want to do everything “If there are players that haven’t had access to ice, which is most of they say — and do it perfectly — so we can have a safe environment and them, we’re going to have (more than four) weeks of really solid skating it doesn’t jeopardize us being able to play.” and training,” he said. “I think most of the guys are in a good spot at this On the same day the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders allowed their players to point, but this is a time we really have to take advantage of, for sure.” train at McMahon Stadium, the Flames officially kicked off Phase 2 of the In the meantime, van Asten wouldn’t be shocked to discover that a few of NHL’s return to play plan by reintroducing skaters to team facilities. the keeners are hobbling following Friday’s return to the ice.

BACK AT MCMAHON STADIUM AND IT FEELS GOOD! “That’s just inevitable,” he said. “Anytime we get guys on skates for the PIC.TWITTER.COM/5QHJ8KSTBD first time in a while — even if they’ve been training hard and on the ball in — CALGARY STAMPEDERS (@CALSTAMPEDERS) JUNE 11, 2020 terms of everything — they’re still for sure going to be sore. It’s not an injury thing, it’s more delayed onset muscle soreness, which is a normal They’ll spill onto the ice Friday but Thursday’s session was off-ice only. response to new stimulus.” And it came with a few wrinkles. Dubé insists that he isn’t worried about overdoing it. “You wear your mask basically the whole time,” said Dubé. “It’s a little different, but you’re so happy that it doesn’t really matter. There’s “Nah, we’ve got the weekend to recover,” he said, “so I’m planning on sanitization stations set up. You’re wiping down the weights when you’re going as hard as I can and staying on the ice as long as I can. I’m just done with them. really excited to step on the ice again, especially at the Dome — you can skate anywhere else in Calgary, but it’s just not the same. So it’s going to “But no one’s complaining. We’re just happy to be there.” be really nice to be out there.

Not only to be back into the routine at their everyday workplace but to “I’ve been working out hard, but it’s a whole different animal when you reconnect with chums. get on the ice.”

When the league paused March 12 — game day (with the New York He’s curious to find out how well his hours on rollerblades transfer to his Islanders in town) — Dubé said the verdict was so swift and non- readiness. negotiable that it left no time for goodbyes. For the first time, Dubé embraced dryland skating. While working a “Everyone parted ways really quickly … that was a little bit harder on security detail with his brother Jake at their dad Paris’ vacated (and everyone — it was unsettling,” he said. “So that’s another boost, another massive) warehouse, he put plenty of miles on the wheels. better thing mentally, when the whole team gets back. It’s going to be really good for the guys. It’s going to be nice to be reunited with Perhaps it’ll pay off. “It could be a big game-changer,” said Dubé, who everyone. Now you’ll be more appreciative of the time we get to spend turns 22 next month. “If you don’t feel like going on the ice some days, together.” you can just do some skill work out in the sun in the summer.

In anticipation of that first spin on Saddledome ice, Dubé joked that he’d “It was pretty fun out there. Hopefully, that helps out a little bit on the ice.” have a hard time sleeping. Or maybe he wasn’t joking. That is, as long as he doesn’t trip on his beard, which is reportedly lush.

Giordano said the other day that skating again — with its nod toward Since March’s shutdown, Dubé has been razor-free. So, even if summer normalcy — would mean a lot to players, especially emotionally. is around the corner, he looks playoff-ready.

“Sitting around, it’s mentally exhausting, not knowing when you’re going “I can’t make any promises — I don’t know how I’ll feel on the ice with it,” to be back,” said Dubé. “You’re asking yourself so many questions that he said, chuckling. “Once life gets back to normal I might get rid of it, you don’t know the answer to … it’s definitely a weight off all of our we’ll see how I feel. It’s more a joke. It’s not a style thing, I’ll tell you that. shoulders knowing that it’s time to get back. No one’s ever been through Once you see it, you’ll agree with me. I’ve never grown out my beard. I’ve something like this. always been short hair, clean shaven. I thought it would be a good time “Definitely exciting — a recharge thing that’s going to happen for all of to do it, when no one can see me. I think the boys will like it. I might have us.” to keep it.”

The idea now is not to turn loose a half-dozen skaters and see what Dubé laughs. “But I look better with a mask on right now.” happens. The good mood is understandable. The youngster is rejoining his pals, getting ready to head back onto the ice, rebooting his promising career and he’s heard that a date has been set for main camp.

It’s a sparkling contrast to the darkness of recent months.

“Some lonely days,” said Dubé. “Every day you were hoping that your phone goes off and we’re allowed to go back and get things going. When it was in Week 1 and Week 2, you were just hoping. You gave up on that a month and half into it. You took it as summer training — just getting ready as much as you can for whenever hockey’s going to return. You turn your brain off a little bit, but it was always in the back of my head the whole time, just wondering.

“There’s still some things we need to figure out as a league but I think we’re moving in the right direction right now.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186120 Carolina Hurricanes

NHL to allow training camps to open July 10

BY CHIP ALEXANDER JUNE 11, 2020 02:00 PM ,

The National Hockey League has moved one step closer to resuming and finishing its season.

The NHL and NHL Players Association announced Thursday that team training camps will open Friday, July 10 for the 24 teams involved in the league’s Return to Play format. The NHL and NHLPA stressed that the date was contingent on medical and safety conditions, given concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Still to be decided: the length of training camps and the official starting date for Phase 4 of the restart, in which the 24 teams will compete to determine the 2020 Stanley Cup champion.

Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager has said training camps might run for about 17 days. Waddell said he expected teams to be allowed one or two exhibition games before the start of the eight qualifying round series.

The NHL and NHLPA still have other logistical issues to agree on and resolve. The NHL has not designated the two “hub” cities that will host the competition. There are still agreements to be reached by the NHL and NHLPA on COVID-19 testing, housing, transportation and how much contact players will have with their families during the competition.

The 24-team format will have the top four teams in each of the the Eastern and Western Conferences facing off in round-robin competition to determine the top four seeds in each conference. The other 16 teams will have best-of-five qualifying rounds , with the eight winners joining the eight top seeds in the 16-team Stanley Cup field.

The Hurricanes will face off against the New York Rangers — a team that won all four games against Carolina before the 2019-20 season was suspended March 12 — in the qualifying round.

The NHL and NHLPA are allowing players to use their team training facilities for voluntary, small-group workouts. On-ice training sessions are limited to no more than six players.

The Canes are hoping their new practice facility at the Wake Competition Center in Morrisville will be open for the beginning of training camp.

News Observer LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186121 Chicago Blackhawks Since the Hawks fired John McDonough on April 27 and announced that Chairman Rocky Wirtz’s son Danny would serve as interim president, it has been radio silence from the team about the search for a permanent The NHL is eager to get back on the ice. Chicago Blackhawks star replacement. Listening to general manager Stan Bowman and coach Patrick Kane says the league might be putting the cart before the horse. Jeremy Colliton on Thursday, both sounded as if Danny Wirtz, 43, wouldn’t be vacating the position any time soon.

Instead, they talked about the younger Wirtz establishing his vision for By PHIL THOMPSON CHICAGO TRIBUNE |JUN 11, 2020 | 9:17 PM the franchise rather than serving as a brief placeholder for a new executive. The Wirtzes vowed in April to make organizational changes,

but the Hawks’ playoff berth likely put a hold on any major moves, at The NHL has taken significant but measured steps toward making its least on the hockey side. return to the ice a reality. Bowman, who called McDonough a mentor, said he has worked closely A handful of Blackhawks players, such as Patrick Kane and Alex with Danny Wirtz over the last six weeks. “Rocky as well," Bowman said. DeBrincat, started voluntary workouts at Fifth Third Arena on "They’ve been fantastic to me, too, so I look at this for me as the Wednesday, with safety protocols in place to guard against the spread of opportunity to learn from Danny. Very bright guy, very energetic. the coronavirus. And on Thursday, the league set a date for training “He’s got a lot of ideas. He’s included me on a lot of things over the last camp: July 10. few weeks, and (I’m) looking forward to collaborating with him.” That would leave three weeks for the 24 teams to get ready for the Colliton gave a similar impression. playoffs, which includes the 12th-seeded Hawks playing a five-game series against the Edmonton Oilers. “Obviously he’s had a ton of success in the business world, and he’s going to bring some new ideas and some energy to the organization," But a smooth transition to that tournament is no guarantee, especially for Colliton said. "And I’ve been a part of some of that already, which has the Hawks, whose front office is undergoing a change in leadership and been exciting and it gives you energy.” whose players still have concerns about the return-to-play plan. Bowman said recent discussions with the Wirtzes have focused more on 1. The Blackhawks players want to take a ‘step back’ with the rush to the business side, such as innovation. return. “As far as reshaping the team, that probably would happen in the In the NHL’s zeal to push forward with a playoff tournament set to begin offseason, and I think we’ll have more discussions about next year’s in early August, Patrick Kane suggested the league might be putting the team when we get to next year,” he said. cart before the horse. “We’ve got to keep getting better; we have to improve. It’s going to Kane said players want to be “cautious” about how they proceed and challenge us all, but as far as the day-to-day, my job is to prepare the want to hear more from the league about safety measures, hub cities and team. We’re excited to have the chance to play against Edmonton. That’s set dates for free agency and the start of next season. been the focus. … My job description hasn’t changed. Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane chases after the puck 3. The Blackhawks have had to be creative to try to stay in shape and get during a game against the St. Louis Blues on March 8, 2020, at the ready for the Oilers. United Center. Colliton, his coaching staff and the players have used Zoom chats, text “We have to be pretty cautious about that,” Kane said Thursday during a messages, phone calls — you name it — to stay connected. video conference call with reporters. “As players nothing has been agreed to yet, and there’s a long way to go before we reach a certain “Snapchat’s been a fun one for everyone to join in,” Murphy said. “Some agreement where we would want to come back and play and feel safe of the older guys aren’t on that one as much.” enough, feel like it’s the right deal for us to come back.” Colliton said the upcoming training camp would be similar to a regular Kane said while players are in the process of working out issues with the preseason camp, only with more lead time. league, he cautioned against setting firm dates before certain matters are agreed upon. “They’ll have lots of time to make sure their bodies are ready," he said. "Guys are skating now; some guys have been skating. Obviously not “There’s a bunch of different things,” he said later in the call. “Whether it’s everyone had the same infrastructure to train, but starting now they do,” playing at the time we’re playing, when next year’s going to start, what referring to the option for players to practice at Fifth Third Arena starting our offseasons will look like down the road. … Obviously, the NHL is this week. putting out these dates and whatnot, and as players we’re taking a step back and saying, 'Why are these dates being put out when we haven’t “The guys that don’t come to Chicago, it will likely be because they have really agreed to anything yet?’ a good setup where they are,” Colliton added.

“We just want to be cautious as players, put that message out that we However, Colliton said given the unique circumstances — a shorter want a fair shake at it. And if that happens, great. … I mean, you guys regular season and monthslong layoff followed by workouts, camp and know me. I love hockey, I love playing the game. But you want it to be prep for a play-in series against the Oilers — “it’s almost going to be fair to the players and everyone involved. It’s uncharted with the situation easier.” like this — guys coming from Canada, Europe. What if someone gets “We know who we’re playing, we know it’s big games, we’re getting right sick? Different things like that.” into it, and I think we’ll have everyone’s attention (in the locker room), However, Kane said he hadn’t “talked to anyone that said they flat out and the preparation we’ll be able to do will be very high quality,” Colliton wouldn’t play.” said.

Defenseman Connor Murphy agreed that the players want to solidify Murphy said strength coach Paul Goodman has been conducting more details about the return-to-play plan with the league before interactive workouts, helping players simulate team workouts from their agreeing to come back. houses or apartments.

“Whether it’s you look at how the (hub) cities aren’t ironed out or what the “He actually helped me set up a whole gym in my garage in Columbus potential for next season will be like, a lot of different details would need (Ohio) — I was back there quarantined a bit. … Just to do standard to be hashed out," Murphy said. "So I think that’s what that means. I think workouts with the same equipment we usually use,” Murphy said. “That just to have a (training camp) date as a guideline to go off of, the hope was nice to have to be able to keep routine.” that we can get that figured out and agreed upon is exciting. … Hopefully Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.12.2020 things can get ironed out.”

2. Should we read between the lines and assume Danny Wirtz will stick around for a while as Blackhawks president? 1186122 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks notes: De Haan expected back for playoffs; Mitchell will be “big part” of 2020-21 team

Hawks general manager Stan Bowman gave updates on injured players and recent signings Thursday.

By Ben Pope Jun 11, 2020, 6:35pm CDT

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, during a Zoom call with reporters Thursday, shared updates on injured Hawks players and recent signings.

Injuries

The biggest news was that defenseman Calvin de Haan — out since Dec. 10 after undergoing shoulder surgery — is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp on July 10.

“Calvin is probably the furthest along of all [our players on injured reserve],” Bowman said. “It was originally a four- to six-month recovery, so we’re pretty much in that timeframe right now. . . . I would expect him to be ready.”

Defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Drake Caggiula — who both suffered minor injuries in early March just before the season paused — are also fine, as anticipated. Forwards Andrew Shaw (concussion) and Zack Smith (back surgery) and defenseman Brent Seabrook (shoulder, hip surgeries) are less certain.

“We’re still determining their status for when we’re going to resume playing,” Bowman said. “Some of that will depend upon when the games start and once we see how they look when they get back on the ice.”

Signings

The Hawks signed three new players during their coronavirus media lockdown: top prospect Ian Mitchell, 2019 draft pick Michal Teply and undrafted European import Matej Chalupa. Bowman finally commented on all three Thursday.

Mitchell, after three years at the University of Denver, likely won’t be eligible for this summer’s playoffs. But if he is, it sounds as though the Hawks will eagerly deploy him. If not, he’ll be “a big part of this team next season,” Bowman said.

Teply, a fourth-round selection last June, took “big steps forward” in his first year in Canadian juniors, Bowman said. While he’s eligible to return to his Winnipeg junior team for 2020-21, Bowman said he’ll get a chance to prove he’s NHL- or AHL-ready in training camp this fall.

Chalupa, a Czech league star at age 21 this past season, was discovered by the Hawks during one of Bowman’s European scouting trips in January.

“He’s got good puck pursuit, so he’s what you’d call a busy or active player,” Bowman said. “A little bit of a later bloomer, so he’s just starting to see some of his best hockey right now, and it’s time to get him over to North America. I liked the potential, and we’ll see how quickly he adapts.”

Chalupa will probably need some time in Rockford at first. He projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186123 Chicago Blackhawks Added Murphy: “Even from just a training aspect, to know your timeline of how to ramp up things and how to gauge your training sessions with the strength coach or even on the ice, it’s nice to know.”

Blackhawks players share mixed reactions to NHL’s announced July 10 The league’s official timeline doesn’t yet extend past July 10, but it’s training-camp start date expected that training camps would last about three weeks, with During the team’s first media availability in three months, Patrick Kane, qualifying-round series — including Hawks-Oilers — taking place in early Alex DeBrincat and Connor Murphy talked about the league’s first “hard August. date.” Kane, DeBrincat and Murphy said they plan to approach camp, assuming it happens, roughly the same as they do normal training camps in September. By Ben Pope Jun 11, 2020, 5:46pm CDT And now their coach can formulate a plan for it, too.

“It’s something to really work toward: a hard date,” Colliton said. “You can On the surface, the NHL locomotive continues to chug slowly back start to work backwards as far as the preparation we’ll want to do.” toward normalcy. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 That train reached a new station Thursday — the announcement of a tentative date, July 10, for the 24 playoff teams to start their training camps.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Blackhawks became the final team to end their pandemic media lockdown, making general manager Stan Bowman, coach Jeremy Colliton and three players (Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Connor Murphy) available for interviews for the first time in three months.

But despite the aura of progress and optimism swelling around the league, those players — Kane in particular — shared mixed reactions to the July 10 date.

“The NHL is putting out these dates and whatnot, and as players, we’re taking a step back and saying, ‘Why are these dates being put out when we haven’t really agreed to anything yet?’ ” Kane said. “We just want to be cautious.”

To clarify, both league officials and the NHL Players’ Association did agree on the July 10 date. But Thursday’s announcement included the caveat that camps will begin that day only if “medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

It’s that overall agreement that still poses a number of obstacles. Kane mentioned as especially pressing challenges the format of the offseason this fall (and offseasons to come), the start date of the 2020-21 season and the safety precautions and quarantine rules during the upcoming playoffs.

“I want to play hockey, but you want it to be fair for the players and everyone involved,” he said on Zoom from his Chicago home. “It’s uncharted territory with a situation like this. Guys come from Canada, Europe. What if someone gets sick? [We] just want to keep our eye on the ball and make sure we get a fair deal. Then we’d be ecstatic to come back.”

Questions about travel logistics are already at the forefront. With practice facilities around the league opening up for training sessions with up to six people this week — the Hawks opened Fifth-Third Arena on Wednesday, and Kane, DeBrincat, Alex Nylander and Malcolm Subban were among those who immediately took advantage — many players are starting to migrate back to their teams’ cities.

Bowman said “five to seven” Hawks stayed in Chicago throughout the pandemic, and he’s starting to talk to the roughly 15 others to plan out their returns.

Fortunately, negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA aren’t hampered much by salary issues, which have publicly and messily plagued ’s attempts to resume play.

Equally encouraging, both Bowman and Kane said they haven’t talked to any players — on the Hawks or elsewhere — who aren’t on board with returning to play when it’s safe.

DeBrincat and Murphy, at least speaking for themselves, both sounded excited for July 10.

“We’re still agreeing on some stuff, but if we do get that chance to come back, everyone’s excited to play hockey again,” DeBrincat said. “To finally get back on the ice these past few days has been really fun for me.” 1186124 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL announces July 10 as target date for opening of training camps

The length of training camp and restart of the season have yet to be determined.

By USA TODAY Jun 11, 2020, 11:29am CDT

The resumption of the 2019-20 NHL season is becoming more real by the day.

The NHL announced Thursday that it has agreed with the Players’ Association on July 10 as the target date for Phase 3 of the “Return to Play” plan, which would be a full training camp and the final step before beginning the 24-team tournament that was approved last month.

“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that formal training camps (Phase 3) for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10, provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” the statement read.

“The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date.”

The NHL began Phase 2 on Monday, which allowed teams to reopen their practice facilities for small-group activities of six players or fewer.

That will continue for the next month, with players gradually trickling in from locations around the world. All players must pass a COVID-19 test before they’re allowed to participate, and a previous statement from the league indicated that players who are “returning to the Club’s home city by public transportation, including commercial air or rail travel, must serve a 14-day self-quarantine period post-travel before engaging in training activities at their Club’s facility.”

The two hub cities where the games will take place once Phase 4 begins have still yet to be announced.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186125 Chicago Blackhawks The Hawks' win over the Sharks improved their record to 32-30-8, which was 7 points out of a playoff spot with just 12 games remaining.

Now, they're 0-0-0 just like everyone else. Blackhawks' star Kane pumps brakes on training camp announcement So the question is, could they actually make a run against the high- NHL's "overall agreement" to return to play may not be as close as powered Oilers? thought. Especially after hearing what Patrick Kane had to say about the training camp announcement. "We have to be pretty cautious about that," Well, they'd get to play in a short series with Kane, Jonathan Toews, Kane said. "As players nothing has been agreed to yet, and I think Brandon Saad, Duncan Keith and -- perhaps most important -- a two-time there's a long way to go before we reach a certain agreement where we Stanley Cup goaltender in Corey Crawford. Young players like DeBrincat, would want to come back and play and feel safe enough; feel like it's the Boqvist, Dominik Kubalik, Dylan Strome and Kirby Dach ought to be right deal for us to come back." chomping at the bit to show what they can do. And then, of course, there's D-man Connor Murphy, who will be advancing past the regular season for the first time in his seven-year career.

John Dietz "We're a young group and a lot of guys got a lot of opportunity this year and they developed as the season went on," Colliton said. "They're going to be a few months older now and they've had a chance to settle into Three months since playing their last game and two weeks after the NHL their year and reflect on it. announced they'd be part of the 24-team playoff, the Blackhawks finally broke radio silence by making GM Stan Bowman, coach Jeremy Colliton "I think they're going to come back with even more motivation and jam to and three players available to the local media via video conference. take that next step in their development, and that's only going to help our team. ... The Q&A session came on the same day the NHL and NHLPA announced that formal training camps could begin Friday, July 10, as "(And the veterans) are going to be re-energized and I expect they're long as medical and safety conditions allow, and the parties have going to find a different level to their game. There's a bunch of positives reached an overall agreement on resuming play. that we'll take out of this time."

That "overall agreement" may not be as close as thought, however. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 Especially after hearing what Patrick Kane had to say about the training camp announcement.

"We have to be pretty cautious about that," Kane said. "As players nothing has been agreed to yet, and I think there's a long way to go before we reach a certain agreement where we would want to come back and play and feel safe enough; feel like it's the right deal for us to come back. ...

"Hopefully the owners and the commissioner and the players can all work out a deal that's fair for everyone ... and we can get back into some sort of normalcy here."

If everything does work out, the Hawks would face the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-five series. It would be one of eight play-in series to take place in a yet-to-be determined hub city. by signing up you agree to our terms of service

Meanwhile, the top four teams in each conference, who will be playing their own games to determine seeding, await the eight series winners.

This all seemed like a lock when Commissioner Gary Bettman went on national television to announce the return-to-play plan on May 26. But Kane's comments certainly give us reason to pause.

The Hawks' superstar didn't want to "dive into" too many details, but did say "a bunch of different things" need to be worked out.

Things like:

• What happens if a player gets sick?

• How easy will it be for players coming from other countries to get here? And do they still need to self quarantine?

• When will the 2020-21 season start?

• How long will the off-season be?

"You guys know me," Kane said. "I love hockey, I love playing the game. ...

"(We) just want to keep our eye on the ball here, and make sure we get a fair deal. Then we would be ecstatic to come back and play hockey and help grow the game and gain more fans.

"Especially at a time like this. ... People are starving for sports. We would love to be able to give that to them, but we want it to be fair."

If the Hawks do indeed face the Oilers, Colliton's squad figures to be a lot healthier than when we last saw them during a 6-2 victory over San Jose at the United Center on March 11. Drake Caggiula and Adam Boqvist will be back, and it also looks like Calvin de Haan will return. The status of Zack Smith, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw is still up in the air. 1186126 Chicago Blackhawks

Kane, Blackhawks preparing for training camp 2.0

By JAY COHEN Associated Press Updated 6/11/2020 6:48 PM

CHICAGO -- When Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks left the ice after their last game, they had little chance of making the playoffs.

Whenever they play their next game, it sure looks as if they will be one of 24 teams with a shot at the Stanley Cup.

Welcome to the strangest postseason berth in franchise history, one so unusual that it isn't exactly a playoff appearance at the moment. Assuming everything goes according to plan and the final details are ironed out between the league and the players' union, the Blackhawks will play Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in a best-of-five qualifier series for the playoff bracket.

'œIt's been a weird three months,'• Kane said during a video conference call with reporters.

No kidding.

Chicago hasn't played since a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on March 11. The Blackhawks were last in the Central Division and 12th in the Western Conference standings when the NHL season was suspended the next day because of the coronavirus pandemic.

While the Blackhawks were awaiting word on the fate of their season, team president John McDonough was fired by owner Rocky Wirtz. Danny Wirtz, Rocky's son and a vice president with the team, replaced McDonough on an interim basis.

Longtime general manager Stan Bowman called McDonough a mentor Thursday in his first public comments since the dismissal.

'œI think he did a lot of great things for your organization, so I thank him from that perspective,' Bowman said. 'œSimilarly, I've had a chance, I've known Danny Wirtz for a few years now and I've had a chance over the last six weeks to work closely with Danny, Rocky as well. And they've been fantastic to me, too. So I look at this for me as the opportunity to learn from Danny.'•

The surprise move could lead to dramatic changes for Chicago's front office once the season is over. But Kane and Co. are hoping to put that off for a while.

The Blackhawks took two of three against Edmonton this season, winning 3-1 way back in October and 4-3 on March 5. They should get forward Drake Caggiula and defensemen Adam Boqvist and Calvin de Haan back for training camp 2.0 next month after they were sidelined by injuries when the season was suspended.

The 29-year-old de Haan was expected to miss the rest of the year after he had right shoulder surgery in December. His return could be particularly helpful for the Blackhawks as they try to slow McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who won his first Art Ross Trophy for leading the league with 110 points.

'œObviously, we've got to get him on the ice, go through camp, and hopefully everything continues to progress as far as his health,'• Chicago coach Jeremy Colliton said. 'œBut I thought the games he did play he was steady back there.'•

The Blackhawks started voluntary workouts this week, with Kane and fellow forward Alex DeBrincat among the first players to return to the team's practice facility.

The dates and site for their series against Edmonton are still to be determined. But Kane thinks making the most of all the time before the games could be a big key to a deep playoff run.

'œIt'll definitely be an advantage for a team that can come back and get together quickly and have a good training camp and kind of find their game right away,' he said. 'œSo I think it might be some surprises, you know, if we get down to playing.'

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186127 Chicago Blackhawks

Why Blackhawks like the matchup with Oilers for play-in series

By Scott King June 11, 2020 7:26 PM

Head coach of the Western Conference's No. 12 seed Blackhawks, Jeremy Colliton, sounded optimistic about facing off against the No. 5 Oilers in a play-in series through the NHL's 24-team playoff format during a Zoom video conference call put on by the Hawks Thursday.

He has good reason to be. If the league stuck to a normal playoff structure they wouldn't potentially be playing for a playoff spot. Plus, Chicago went 2-1-0 against the Oilers this season, holding NHL superstar Connor McDavid pointless in the two games he played in.

Beyond that, Colliton believes the three-month layoff during the NHL pause benefits the Blackhawks.

"We're a young group and a lot of guys got a lot of opportunities this year and they developed as the season went on," Colliton said. "They're going to be a few months older now and they've had a chance to kind of settle into their year and reflect on it. I think they're going to come back with even more motivation and [determination] to take that next step in their development and that's only going to help our team."

Related: Patrick Kane wants to play hockey, but cautions: 'Nothing has been agreed to yet'

The Hawks coach also knows the team can draw on this season's experience with the Oilers.

"In the game in Edmonton, their special teams were better than us and that's why we lost. I thought at home here we did a better job, so that'll be a focus for us," Colliton said. "We know them well. Playing a team in the same conference, you feel pretty comfortable with their personnel, but we'll use the time to dig deeper."

Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat noted the team has to be on the lookout for the Oilers' offensive threats like league-leading scorers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

"I think they can be deadly. So that's something we need to focus on," DeBrincat said. "Obviously we have a lot of highly offensive guys as well. Could be a really good matchup. Could be high-scoring or defenses really tied down, so I think it could go either way. But it should be a fun series for sure."

Chicago defenseman Connor Murphy is pumped for the series as well.

"I think it's exciting. That's a team that we've had some great games against," Murphy said. "I think we were 2-1 against them this year and obviously you know that they'll have a lot of eyes on them with a couple of star players that were up for talks of the best guys in the league this year."

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Why Patrick Kane's relationship with John McDonough was 'a little bit different'

By Scott King June 11, 2020 7:01 PM

One of the big topics from Thursday's Zoom video conference call held by the Blackhawks was the firing of former team President and CEO John McDonough, who was released in late April during the NHL pause. McDonough was with the organization for 13 years.

“First off, I think it was surprising,” three-time Stanley Cup champ Patrick Kane said on the call. “But John is an amazing man and did so much for the organization. I think our relationship was maybe a little bit different than others. He had some tough conversations with me, for sure, and I think that only helped me become a better player, a better person, to kind of mature a little bit faster than maybe I would have.

“But one thing about John just talking to him, he always had your best interests at heart. Whether he was tough on you or not, he wanted the best for the person you were or not specifically the athlete or the hockey player. A lot of respect for him. Called him, talked to him, kind of thanked him for everything he did for me personally and the organization.”

Related: Patrick Kane wants to play hockey, but cautions: 'Nothing has been agreed to yet'

Hawks vice president and general manager Stan Bowman remembered McDonough's work with the franchise and the role he played in Bowman's career fondly as well.

“John was in a lot of ways a mentor for me,” Bowman said. “I learned so much from him over the years. He gave me the opportunity to take this role. I think I’ll always be appreciative of that. Over the years got a chance to work closely with him. He’s a very bright guy, learned so many things. He was a great support for myself, and I think he did a lot of great things for the organization. I thank him from that perspective.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186129 Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Kane wants to play hockey, but cautions: 'Nothing has been agreed to yet'

By Charlie Roumeliotis June 11, 2020 6:00 PM

The NHL and NHL Players' Association continues to take steps forward as it works towards resuming play, but there are still obstacles to overcome before officially doing so, despite moving into Phase 2 this week.

In a video conference call on Thursday, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane admitted nothing is official just yet and both sides still must come to an overall agreement on several key issues before feeling comfortable about returning.

"I think we have to be pretty cautious about that," Kane said. "I know the NHL has put out updates and what not, but I think as players, nothing has been agreed to yet. There's a long way to go before we reach a certain agreement where we would want to come back and play and feel safe enough and feel like it's the right deal for us to come back.

"Obviously, we're in the process of doing that and it's an ongoing process, but I think we have to be cautious about talking about certain dates and coming back when nothing is settled as of yet. It's still ongoing and hopefully it gets figured out."

The comments from Kane were noteworthy because nobody wants to play hockey more than him. He was one of the first players back on the ice at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday. But, at the same time, these are unprecedented times and the league, owners and players must figure out a solution that works best for everyone, not just for this season but in the coming years, too.

"There's more than just being cautious and safe," Kane said. "There's a lot of different things with the negotiations that I think we don't need to dive into, but I just know that the players want a fair deal. That's the biggest thing. There's a bunch of different things, whether it's playing at the time we're playing, when next year's going to start, what our offseason's will look like down the road, a bunch of other things. But I just think the NHL is putting out these dates and I think, as players, we're talking a step back and saying, 'Why are these dates being put out when we haven't really agreed to anything yet?'

"So we just want to be cautious as players and put that message out that we want a fair shake at it. And if that happens, great, then we come back and are able to play, then everyone's all for that ... but you want it to be fair for the players too and everyone involved. We would be ecstatic to come back and play hockey, help grow the game and gain more fans, especially at a time like this. This is a great time to grow the game and gain some hockey fans. People are starving for sports. We would love to be able to give that to them, but, like I said, we want it to be fair."

While the tone of his message was clear, Kane also didn't want to sound too pessimistic about the possibility of hockey coming back. The NHL's 24-team Return to Play format put the Blackhawks on an equal playing field with eight other teams in the Western Conference, which suddenly gives them a shot at making a Stanley Cup run.

So you can imagine the feeling Kane and others have about the thought of playing postseason hockey after watching from home for the past two seasons.

"I don't want to get the message across that we're not excited about playing," Kane said. "I think all of us on the Blackhawks, we're excited that we were one of the last teams in and that we would have a chance to play for a playoff spot and hopefully go on a run to try and win a Stanley Cup. All of us are excited about that."

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Stan Bowman provides injury updates as Blackhawks prepare for postseason

By Charlie Roumeliotis June 11, 2020 3:15 PM

The Blackhawks were one of the most injury-plagued teams this season, a list that included four players whose seasons were cut short. The NHL's 24-team Return to Play format gave the Blackhawks newfound playoff life, but also an opportunity to get some bodies back for a possible run.

GM Stan Bowman met with the media on a video conference call Thursday for the first time since the league put its season on pause March 12 and provided an update on which injured Blackhawks could join the team for the qualifying round against the Edmonton Oilers and potentially beyond.

— Adam Boqvist (concussion) and Drake Caggiula (hand) are healthy and ready to go. Boqvist, specifically, has been skating in Sweden, where the restrictions aren't as severe as it is in North America.

"They were fine shortly after we stopped playing," Bowman said.

— Calvin de Haan (shoulder) has been skating for a couple weeks now and is expected to join the team for formal training camp on the targeted date of July 10.

"He's probably the furthest along of all of them," Bowman said. "He had his surgery right after Christmas and it was originally a four-to-six-month recovery, so we're pretty much in that timeframe now. And looking ahead to July 10, I would expect him to be ready."

— Brent Seabrook (hips/shoulder), Andrew Shaw (concussion) and Zack Smith (back) are to be determined.

"Obviously, Andrew Shaw, his injury is a little tougher to pinpoint with a concussion as far the healing time on that, so I don't have an update much on him," Bowman said. "Zack Smith and Brent Seabrook, I don't have a definite update on them yet other than they're still progressing through their recovery. We should know more in the coming weeks on both of them."

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NHL, NHLPA face one final hurdle before resumption of play and it's a big one

By Charlie Roumeliotis June 11, 2020 1:00 PM

The NHL and NHL Players' Association took big strides over the past week with the beginning of voluntary small-group activities at team facilities (Phase 2) and the announcement of July 10 as a target date for formal training camps (Phase 3), subject to an overall agreement on resuming play and provided that medical and safety conditions allow.

But there's one final hurdle to overcome after details for Phase 3 are determined and it's a big one: Phase 4 (formal resumption of play). Identifying the two hub cities for each conference won't be the main challenge. It's ironing out the logistics within those respective cities.

Here are the most notable questions that must be answered and agreed upon by both the NHL and NHLPA:

— If a player tests positive for COVID-19, what will be the protocol for both the player that contracted the virus and the league to prevent the disease from being further spread? NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in early June that players will be tested every day in the postseason but doesn't expect the league to halt if there's a positive test.

"We will have a rigorous daily testing protocol where players are tested every evening and those results are obtained before they would leave their hotel rooms the next morning, so we'll know if we have a positive test and whether the player has to self-quarantine himself as a result of that positive test," Daly told the Associated Press. "It's expensive, but we think it's really a foundational element of what we're trying to accomplish."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman estimated between 25,000 and 35,000 tests will be needed over the course of the playoffs and each test has a $125 price tag. It will cost the league millions of dollars, but it's a necessity.

— Will families be allowed to join the players in the hub cities? This is a key question for players, with forward Phillip Danault being the most vocal about it in April.

“It really makes no sense, in my head, to distance myself for two months from my kid,” Danault said. “And I imagine it makes even less sense for those who would go far in the playoffs, who are on playoff teams right now. If a team goes to the Stanley Cup Final, it could be three to four months. It’s inhumane to do that, as far as I’m concerned.”

Sacrifices will have to be made by the players in order for play to resume, and it will likely require a lengthy hiatus from their families for teams that go on a deep postseason run.

"There's a belief that maybe things are going to be tighter than expected," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on the latest Insider Trading. "And maybe families, which was a big sticking point earlier in the discussions, aren't going to be allowed to visit until later in the playoffs, perhaps as late as the Stanley Cup Final."

— If a player refuses to play due to health concerns, how will the league handle it, especially if it's a star player? For what it's worth, NBA players that choose to stay home from the restart reportedly will not be punished by the team or league, but they will sacrifice pay.

— Perhaps the biggest question of them all: What kind of lives will the players have in the hub cities? Will they be restricted inside a so-called bubble? Can they have any interaction with the public? Will they be allowed to leave their hotel rooms during off-days? The list goes on and on.

There's no reason to believe the NHL and NHLPA won't come to an agreement on the final details of the formal resumption of play if health officials give the proper clearance, but it certainly won't be an easy negotiation.

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NHL, NHLPA announce formal training camps will open July 10

By Charlie Roumeliotis June 11, 2020 10:30 AM

The NHL and NHL Players' Association announced Thursday that Phase 3 (formal training camps) for the 24 teams resuming play will begin on Friday, July 10, provided both parties reach an overall agreement on resuming play and once it's deemed safe to do so by health officials.

The NHL moved into Phase 2 this week, which allowed players to participate in voluntary small-group activities at team facilities. Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane were among the Blackhawks that hit the ice on Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena for the first time since the league was put on pause March 12.

The length of training camp and potential start date for Phase 4 (formal resumption of play) remains to be determined, but a source said the target date for resumption of play is around Aug. 1. It's another positive step for the NHL as it looks to conclude the 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186133 Chicago Blackhawks innovate and change some things for the positive on the business side as well as the hockey side. I think the discussions recently have focused more on the business side. Once we get to the offseason, I think we’ll What we learned from the Blackhawks’ first availability in 3 months tackle the hockey part.”

Kane said he wasn’t too familiar with Danny Wirtz, but he trusted the family to make the right decisions. By Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus Jun 11, 2020 “I know Danny a little bit,” Kane said. “I haven’t met him too much or talked to him too much. But obviously a bright mind, seems like he has a good grasp on what he wants to do with the future of the Blackhawks. I A lot had happened and a lot and had not been discussed since the know they’re already hard at work making some changes and trying to Blackhawks last took the ice in March. make the organization even better. There were changes in the front office. There were signings. There were “One thing is you’ll always trust Rocky Wirtz. He’s a great man as well. players healing from injuries. Just this week, the Blackhawks’ practice Obviously has done so much for our organization when you think about facility reopened and players began getting back on the ice. the growth of where our team was in 2007 and our games back on TV So, there was a lot to discuss when the Blackhawks held their first media and all the sellouts that we’ve had. He’s been an amazing part of that. access in three months on Thursday afternoon. Trust the Wirtzes.”

1. Let’s start with the biggest news that happened during the pause. Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton also thanked McDonough and was Rocky Wirtz fired John McDonough as team president and Danny Wirtz looking forward to working with Danny. took over as interim team president in late April. “Got to meet Danny a few times throughout the last couple years,” Thursday marked the first time anyone in the organization commented, Colliton said. “Obviously he’s had a ton of success in the business world. outside of official statements, on the change. He’s going to bring some new ideas and energy to the organization and I’ve been a part of some of that already, which has been exciting, and it Of the Blackhawks players who spoke Thursday, Patrick Kane had gives you energy. We got to keep getting better. We have to improve. known McDonough the longest and had the closest relationship with him. Obviously it’s going to challenge us all.”

“First off, I think it was surprising,” Blackhawks veteran Patrick Kane said VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM via Zoom. “But John is an amazing man and did so much for the organization. I think our relationship was maybe a little bit different than #HOCKEYPLAYERSINMASKS A FEW GUYS RETURNED TO others. He had some tough conversations with me, for sure, and I think @FIFTHTHIRDARENA FOR PHASE 2 VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS that only helped me become a better player, a better person, to kind of TODAY! mature a little bit faster than maybe I would have. A POST SHARED BY CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS “But one thing about John just talking to him, he always had your best (@NHLBLACKHAWKS) ON JUN 10, 2020 AT 11:13AM PDT interests at heart. Whether he was tough on you or not, he wanted the 3. Look, Patrick Kane wants to play hockey this summer. Desperately. best for the person you were or not specifically the athlete or the hockey He wants another crack at the playoffs, a chance at a fourth Stanley Cup. player. A lot of respect for him. Called him, talked to him, kind of thanked He’s excited by the idea of a five-game qualifying series with the high- him for everything he did for me personally and the organization.” octane Edmonton Oilers, and he likes the Blackhawks’ chances in any Stan Bowman had already been with the Blackhawks when McDonough format. was hired as president, but it was McDonough who promoted him to He just wants to be realistic. And realistically, all of this is still something general manager. of a long shot. “John was in a lot of ways a mentor for me,” Bowman said. “I learned so “We have be pretty cautious about that,” Kane said Thursday after the much from him over the years. He gave me the opportunity to take this NHL and NHLPA agreed on a tentative opening date for formal training role. I think I’ll always be appreciative of that. Over the years got a camps of July 10. “I know that the NHL is putting out dates and whatnot, chance to work closely with him. He’s a very bright guy, learned so many but I think as players, nothing has been agreed to yet. And I think there’s things. He was a great support for myself, and I think he did a lot of great a long way to go before we reach a certain agreement where we would things for the organization. I thank him from that perspective.” want to come back and play and feel safe enough — feel like it’s the right 2. Little has been revealed about what Rocky and Danny Wirtz are doing deal for us to come back. Obviously, we’re in the process of doing that, behind the scenes. We know they’re expected to name a permanent and it’s an ongoing process.” president at some point and they’ve made some business decisions that Kane’s tone was markedly different than those of Bowman and Colliton, have included layoffs, salary reductions and furloughs. who spoke with reporters via Zoom in the previous hour. He was far less Not much more was said Thursday, but there has been some effusive, and more pragmatic about the ongoing pandemic and the short- communication internally from Danny Wirtz to the hockey side. and long-term ramifications.

“I’ve known Danny Wirtz for a few years now and I’ve had a chance over Kane was reluctant to go into too many details about what the players the last six weeks to work closely with Danny, Rocky as well, “ Bowman might be hung up on (it’s worth noting that the NHLPA did agree to the said. “They’ve been fantastic to me, too. I look at this for me as the date, “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties opportunity to learn from Danny, a very bright guy, very energetic. He’s have reached an overall agreement on resuming play”). The length of got a lot of ideas. He’s included me on a lot of things over the last few training camp and the start date of the 24-team postseason tournament weeks. Looking forward to collaborating with me. I certainly enjoyed my has yet to be determined. time with John and I’m excited to get a chance to work with Danny and Kane did mention the impact on future seasons — when the 2020-21 Rocky. Like I said, they’ve been very successful in all their businesses. season would start and if summer hockey was going to become the new For me, it’s an opportunity to continue to grow.” normal. Bowman said he thought the conversations with Danny and Rocky would “There’s more than just being cautious and safe,” he said. “There are a expand further to the hockey operation after the 2019-20 season was lot of different things with negotiations that we don’t need to dive into. I officially complete. just know the players just want a fair deal, that’s the biggest thing. … The “Right now hockey-wise, we’re right in the midst of the season and we’re NHL is putting out these dates, and as players, we’re kind of taking a preparing to restart and join the playoffs,” Bowman said. “As far as step back and saying, ‘Why are these dates being put out when we reshaping the team, that would probably happen in the offseason, and I haven’t really agreed to anything yet?’ We just want to be cautious as think we’ll have more discussions about next year’s team when we get to players, put that message out. We want a fair shake at it. next year. “And if that happens and we come back and we’re able to play, I think “In the short term, the discussions I’ve had with Rocky and Danny have everyone is all for that. You guys know me, I love hockey. I love playing both been very optimistic, very positive, looking forward to trying to the game. I want to play hockey. But you want it to be fair for the players, too. It’s uncharted territory with a situation like this, guys coming from “Obviously Andrew Shaw, his injury is a little tough to pinpoint with a Canada, Europe. What if someone gets sick? Things like that. We just concussion as far as healing time on that,” Bowman said. “I don’t have want to keep our eye on the ball here and make sure we get a fair deal. much of an update on him. And we’d be ecstatic to come back and play hockey and help grow the game and gain new fans, especially at a time like this. It’s a great time to “Zack Smith and Brent Seabrook, I don’t have a definite update on them grow the game and gain some hockey fans. People are starving for yet other than they’re still progressing through their recovery and we sports. We’d love to be able to give that to them. But we want it to be should know more in the coming weeks on both of them” fair.” 6. Ian Mitchell is thought of as a big part of the Blackhawks’ future. When 4. Two days into their return to Fifth Third Arena, DeBrincat sounded he actually starts that journey is still unknown. pretty satisfied with the way the Blackhawks are handling the players’ As of now, it doesn’t look like Mitchell will be able to join the Blackhawks health and safety. Asked if he had any concern about COVID-19, this season as the NHL appears to be leaning towards not allowing any DeBrincat quickly said, “No.” new contracts to be added for the 2019-20 season.

“The way they have it set up is pretty nice, and they’ve done a good job “We’re still trying to see where that’s gonna go as far as his ability to play with making us be safe and feel safe,” DeBrincat said. “Everything’s right now this season,” Bowman said. “As it stands today it looks like pretty sanitary and laid out pretty well for us. For my concern, at least, I there’s not going to be any current-year NHL contracts permitted. That’s don’t think that’s where I would get it. The team has done a great job of not 100 percent. Right now, there’s no current contracts that are going to making us feel pretty safe.” be approved. If that does change, certainly we’ll bring Ian into the mix. Kane is one of the most plugged-in players in the league, frequently But if not, we expect Ian be a big part of this team next season.” talking to players from other teams. He said he had yet to hear about 7. During the regular season, an NHL coach typically has a night or so to anyone who would be unwilling to play — to risk infection, or to spend really drill down on the next opponent, to dissect its strengths and potentially two months in a bubble in a random hub city — out of fears of weaknesses, to learn what’s been working for them lately and what the virus. hasn’t, to check out any changes in the line combinations since they last But making sure everything is done properly is one of the players’ met. In the postseason, you might have a few days to do that. primary concerns. Colliton has at least two months to think about the Oilers. And Oilers “We don’t want to just dive into it,” Kane said. “We want to make sure coach Dave Tippett has at least two months to think about the everything’s taken care of for us, for our families, for the world. We want Blackhawks. Two months to prepare for a five-game series. It’s never it to be safe for everyone. (But) I haven’t talked to anyone that’s said they happened before in the NHL, and hopefully, it’ll never happen again. But just flat-out wouldn’t play.” Colliton is wary of overdoing it. That doesn’t mean he’s not looking ahead. He’s simply not obsessing about it. If such a thing were to come up, Bowman said the Blackhawks would handle it as an organization. “For now, I think the focus has been our own players and their development and how can we improve within ourselves watching video of “These are unprecedented times,” Bowman said. “Until we’re faced with our own game, and that’s how training camp will be, too,” Colliton said. that, it’s hard to know. We’d certainly want to understand their thoughts if “But as we get closer to that series, we’ll dig deeper and make sure that’s the case, and work together with them. We’ve never experienced we’ve covered all the bases. The coaches are going to absorb every bit anything like this, so there’s a lot of uncertainty, and that can be a of information that we can, but then we have to filter it. We only want to challenge for people. We’ll work together if that’s the case. The best thing give the players the information that they need, so that they can play on is to be supportive of our players. It hasn’t been the case yet, but if it instinct. We’re going to want to be as prepared as possible for the does, we’ll work with them and see where it takes us.” challenges that they bring, but we also need to stay true to our own identity and play on our toes and be aggressive. That’s part of our job, is 5. The Blackhawks expect to get back some of the players who were to take in all the information, decide what’s important and then give it to injured at the time of the pause. the players as efficiently we can.”

Calvin de Haan is the headliner there. He suffered a right shoulder injury Kane said — if the series happens — it’ll be “an amazing series” between on Dec. 10 and underwent surgery on Dec. 27. His original timeline had two high-octane teams. The Blackhawks won two of three meetings with him missing the remainder of the season, but that changed when the the Oilers this season, out-attempting and out-changing them each time. season was halted. They even held Connor McDavid pointless in the two games he played.

“Calvin is probably the furthest along of all of them,” Bowman said. “He But as Colliton said, it’s too soon to be thinking about the other guys, had his surgery right after Christmas and it was originally 4-6 month when there’s so much work to be done internally first. recovery, so we’re pretty much in that time frame now. And looking ahead to July 10 for training camp, I would expect him to be ready.” “There are plenty of things you can work on in your own game,” Alex DeBrincat said. “Come training-camp time, you’re going to be focused on Adding de Haan would be an obvious upgrade to the defense. He was the other team, but also worried about your own system. Worry about playing a top-4 role when he went down. your own game. If your game’s at top-level, you’re going to most likely “It would be great,” Colliton said. “Obviously we gotta get him on the ice win.” and go through camp and hopefully everything continues to progress as 8. Bowman has stayed in contact with his pending free agents, but not so far as his health. But I thought the games he did play, he’s steady back much about their pending free agency. Re-signing Corey Crawford, there. Plays I think a hard game. He’s not overly physical, but he makes Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome are certainly on Bowman’s to-do list, contact and he can get a stop in D-zone. Very direct, makes simple plays but he can’t really do that until he knows what next season’s salary cap with the puck, under-handles it. He can make plays on the offensive blue will be in the wake of the devastating financial losses the league is line as well. suffering as a result of the prematurely ended season and a postseason “And just his experience, he’s a bit of a bridge between the young group without fans. that we have and the group that’s been here. I think that’s good. He’s So he hasn’t been spending the past three months negotiating with been in other organizations and helps the new guys to fit in because he’s agents, if you were wondering. a new guy, too. We’d love to get him back.” “My conversations with them have been more checking in, see how Drake Caggiula and Adam Boqvist are expected to definitely be ready to they’re doing,” Bowman said. “As far as future signings and contracts and play. Caggiula was out with a hand injury and Boqvist was in concussion whatnot, I’ve told their agents that at this point, it’s premature. There are protocol when the Blackhawks were last on the ice. too many uncertainties to know what the salary cap or what the format for Bowman didn’t have much of an update on Andrew Shaw (concussion), the future will be. So we’re just going to wait until we have more but Bowman also didn’t rule him out. The same went for Brent Seabrook information. In my conversations with other managers around the league, and Zack Smith. Seabrook is coming off surgeries on his right shoulder everyone’s taking the same approach. It’s really difficult to be signing and both hips. Smith had back surgery in March. contracts for the future when we haven’t even finished this season yet, and we don’t know what the next year’s going to look like. I imagine that’s all going to happen in the offseason, whenever that might be. Looks like it’s going to be in the fall now.”

The Blackhawks recently signed Matej Chalupa. (Stanislav Souček / Mountfield HK)

9. Aside from Mitchell, the most notable player the Blackhawks added since the pause was Matej Chalupa, a winger from the Czech Republic, who signed a two-year deal beginning next season.

Bowman explained why they were interested in Chalupa. Bowman saw him play in January and met with him then.

“I really liked his overall game,” Bowman said. “He doesn’t have just one attribute that stands out, but he’s got good puck pursuit. He’s what you’d call a busy or an active player. I think he can contribute on more than one line, so he does have offensive ability. Like he scored a goal and made some nice plays in the game that I was at. He’s got some creativity to his game.

“He’s a good-size player. So he’s got that combination of skill, but he’s not exclusively a skill player, so I think he can play on different lines. I think that’s what we were attracted to. I think a little bit of a later bloomer, so I think he’s just starting to see some of his best hockey now. I think it’s time to get him over to North America. I liked the potential. We’ll see how quickly he adapts.”

10. Back on March 11, moments after what turned out to be the last game of the regular season and mere hours after the NBA became the first league to suspend its season, Kane said it would be “disappointing” to have to play in empty arenas. Over the past three months, that hypothetical has become an inevitability.

“Of course, we think about it,” Kane said. “All of us would say that it would be a really weird situation. Maybe looking back, you take it for granted. It’s amazing playing in front of 22,000 fans every night. Even on the road, the Blackhawks fans travel so well. It’s just amazing playing in front of that many people, and (to have) that many people cheering you on. It’d be totally different. It would take away from some of the playoff- type atmosphere, for sure, but I would like to think that once you get into the games and you realize you’re in the playoffs, and you realize you’re playing for something special, the intensity will be the same. But it’s tough to mimic (a full arena).”

For players such as DeBrincat and Murphy, who have never experienced the heightened tension of the postseason, there isn’t really much to compare it to.

“It’ll be weird for sure, playing with no fans,” DeBrincat said. “It’ll definitely be a different experience, but I’ve never been to the playoffs, so I don’t really know the atmosphere of the rink. But just from normal regular- season games, it’s easy to get up for. Going into a short series like that, I think the intensity will be high. Everyone wants to win, but it’ll definitely be a way different experience than normal without the fans.”

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NHL training camps to begin July 10; beginning of 24-team playoff still up in the air

By MIKE CHAMBERS | PUBLISHED: June 11, 2020 at 10:07 a.m. | UPDATED: June 11, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday that teams will begin return-to-play Phase 3 training camps July 10, “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

The length of training camps and the Phase 4 resumption of play in an already agreed 24-team playoff will be determined at a later date.

Teams on Monday were allowed to begin training in small groups at their practice facilities. The Avalanche has yet to do so, along with many other clubs.

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Nathan MacKinnon on TSN: “I was bugging (Artemi Panarin) every day” during free agency

By MIKE CHAMBERS | The Denver Post June 11, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon told TSN radio that he tried hard to recruit Artemi Panarin in free agency last summer, and if MacKinnon had to pick a Hart Trophy winner as NHL most valuable player, it would be the Russian winger who is coming off a fabulous regular season with the New York Rangers.

“We tried hard to get him in free agency. I was bugging him every day,” MacKinnon said of Panarin, who stands fourth in NHL scoring, two points ahead of No. 5 MacKinnon. “I was trying everything to get him … Sometimes it’s hard to compete with the Big Apple.”

MacKinnon said Panarin called him after he chose the Rangers, who pledged $81.5 million over seven years for last year’s top free agent.

“He said, ‘Sorry.’ He’s a class act. We were close,” MacKinnon said of “Bread Man.” “It’s nice that we were on the shortlist.”

MacKinnon also talked to TSN hosts Bryan Hayes and Jeff O’Neill about a welcome sign in Cole Harbour, and the proposed upcoming 24-team playoff format.

“I think this is a great solution,” MacKinnon said, noting he hopes the Avalanche is sent to Las Vegas for its hub city.

As for that sign. Cole Harbour is where MacKinnon, 24, grew up in the shadow of three-time Stanley Cup winner , 32, of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hayes and O’Neill suggests Cole Harbour should have a welcome sign, saying “the home of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.”

MacKinnon shot down that idea, saying he needs “a couple Cups before I get a sign.”

— Mike Chambers, The Denver Post

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NHL announces formal training camps will begin July 10

By Aarif Deen - June 11, 2020

Exactly three months from the last 2019-20 NHL game, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have announced that Phase 3 of its return to play protocol, formal training camps, will begin on July 10 for the 24 playoff-bound teams at two hub cities.

The date is contingent on conditions pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic at that time.

Details regarding Phase 4, when and where the season will resume, have yet to be announced and will continue to be negotiated between the league and its players.

Training camps are expected to run for three weeks and begin in each teams’ local city. Once hub cities are announced, the teams will eventually transition to their hub location and play two exhibition games before beginning the play-in and round-robin games. A 21-day camp and pre-season sets the NHL up for a July 31 resumption date — one day after the NBA is expected to resume.

The NHL began its Phase 2 of its protocol, informal small-group training, on Monday. While many teams have taken advantage of reopening its facilities to local players, the Avalanche are among the teams that have yet to begin this phase.

The league continues to encourage players to skate wherever they are located and Nikita Zadorov has taken advantage of his situation. The Russian-born defenseman is participating in large group skates in Miami alongside numerous countrymen such as current NHL players Alexander Ovechkin, Igor Shesterkin, Evgeni Dadonov as well as former Av and retired defenseman Darius Kasparaitis.

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Phase 3 of NHL restart plan: Blue Jackets, others will start training camp on July 10

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch Jun 11, 2020 at 11:54 AM

The NHL’s plan to conclude the 2019-20 season this summer took yet another step forward on Thursday.

In a joint statement, the league and its players association announced that July 10 will be the target starting date for the remaining 24 teams to begin training camps in preparation for the season-ending playoff format that was revealed last month.

The opening of training camps, referred to as "Phase 3" in the NHL’s return plan, will take place about a month after Monday’s start of Phase 2 — small-group voluntary workouts at team facilities.

The news Thursday, however, included a couple of caveats related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that is still affecting the U.S. and ongoing negotiations between the league and NHLPA to solve other facets of a formal return-to-play plan.

The league and the NHLPA agreed on the July 10 opening "provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play," the joint statement said. "The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date."

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186138 Dallas Stars two hub cities, but have not worked out details like the living conditions in hub cities. The league has not announced the two hub cities.

Dallas was one of 10 candidates to host when commissioner Gary Stars GM Jim Nill says ‘the wheels are in motion’ for the NHL’s return, Bettman announced the return to play format two weeks ago. with training camps beginning in July As one of the top four teams in the Western Conference (by points percentage), the Stars have already secured a spot in the playoffs and By Matthew DeFranks11:42 PM on Jun 11, 2020 will play in a round robin with St. Louis, Colorado and Vegas to determine the top four seeds in the conference. The other eight teams in the West will play best-of-five qualifying series to reach the first round.

The NHL announced Thursday morning that training camps for the 24 Every round of the playoffs will be best-of-seven and teams will be re- teams resuming play would begin July 10, meaning the Stars could hold seeded after each round. For example, the highest remaining seed will their first full-team practice in about a month. play the lowest remaining seed in each round.

The league did not announce how long training camp would be, and said Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.12.2020 the July 10 start of training camp is “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.” Training camp is Phase 3 in the NHL’s return to play plan, with Phase 2 beginning on Monday. Phase 2 was the opening of team facilities for small group workouts with six players of less.

Stars general manager Jim Nill said Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Blake Comeau, Jamie Oleksiak and Ben Bishop skated Thursday in Frisco. It was their first day on the ice after undergoing medical testing the first three days this week. It is the team’s only practice group currently.

“This is getting treated as the start of training camp,” Nill said of Phase 2. “This would be like if guys came back in September at the start of training camp [of a normally timed season], we have to go through these same medical procedures.”

Before Thursday’s announcement, the league was hesitant to place concrete dates on their return to play plan. But with many of the league’s players abroad in Europe, the announcement allows them time to return to their club cities in time for training camp to start. Players who use commercial travel back to Dallas would have to serve a league-mandated two-week quarantine before they are allowed in team facilities.

Of the 23 players on the Stars’ active roster at the time of the NHL’s pause in March, 11 are currently in Europe.

“Talking to players ‘When do you think you’re coming over?’” Nill said. “And their answer is ‘I don’t know the date for sure.’ They’re not wrong, so that’s when the league realized ‘Let’s get a firm date set,’ now everybody can plan what they have to do. Now the wheels are in motion.”

In addition to the two-week quarantine, players would have to undergo medical testing before entering team facilities, adding another three or four days. Plus, if they wanted to get back on the ice before training camp but after their quarantine, they would need to arrive a few more days early.

Nill estimated that players could aim to arrive back in Dallas by the end of next week — three weeks before training camp would open on July 10.

The 14-day required quarantine is not required for players who drove to other locations. For example, Joe Pavelski and Stephen Johns drove elsewhere in the , and will not have to quarantine for two weeks should they drive back to Dallas. That option is obviously not available for players in Europe.

While the league did not specify how long training camps would be, Nill said teams shouldn’t need more than two weeks of training camp, plus two exhibition games in a hub city (across a week) to get ready for play to resume. That would put games on track to begin in early August.

Nill also said the Stars plan on just using the Comerica Center in Frisco instead of the American Airlines Center during training camp. Since the games will be played without fans, the Stars could have used the AAC to understand what an empty arena will feel like.

“The biggest thing is the safety part, and knowing wherever we go, it’s a quarantine type situation when you come in that environment,” Nill said. “Frisco, it’s a smaller structure. Right now, the one side of the rink is quarantined off. There’s no public access to it. You get to the AAC, it’s a bigger facility, more moving parts. For right now, Frisco is fine for us. Actually, our training facilities are probably better in Frisco than they are at the AAC for training and stuff anyways.”

The NHL still has to reach an agreement with the NHLPA on return to play procedures. The two sides have agreed on the 24-team format in 1186139 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings might have found a hit in Dmytro Timashov. Here's why

Helene St. James, Detroit Free PressPublished 4:00 p.m. ET June 11, 2020

The Detroit Red Wings excited to have Dmytro Timashov in their lineup. Filmed March 2, 2020 in Detroit. Detroit Free Press

He was a late addition to the team, but there were signs he can add a needed dimension.

In this edition of Detroit Red Wings Fast Forward, a series that projects how a player will perform in 2020-21, the subject is forward Dmytro Timashov.

Timashov was one of general manager Steve Yzerman’s no-risk gambles, claimed Feb. 24 after he was jettisoned by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs drafted the 5-foot-10, 192-pound winger at No. 125 in 2015. Born in Ukraine, Timashov grew up playing hockey in Sweden before joining the Major Junior Hockey League in 2014-15. He had 19 goals and 71 assists in 66 games with the Quebec Ramparts in his draft year.

He turned pro in 2016-17. In his third season with the Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ farm team, Timashov had 14 goals among 49 points in 72 games in 2018-19.

He made his NHL debut in 2019-20, appearing in 39 games with the Leafs (four goals, five assists) before they dumped him on . The Wings put in a claim.

[ Detroit Red Wings find value in Robby Fabbri. Here's what he's worth ]

“He is a talented, strong, I think what we consider a good two-way player,” Yzerman said at the time. “We saw him a lot in the American Hockey League playing for the Marlies. Seen a little bit in the NHL. He's still relatively young. We think he could be a player.

“You claim him off waivers, so it's just a dollar figure. We think that there's some upside to him that he can help our lineup.”

Timashov, 23, made his Wings debut Feb. 29 at Ottawa, playing 11 minutes. He had played in five games when the NHL shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, averaging nearly 12 minutes.

[ Detroit Red Wings 2015 draft review: Squandered picks and what they could have had ]

He didn’t record any points, but he finished his checks and played with bite, something the Wings lack. Yzerman described him as a player " ... that can help create some offense and generate it … a strong kid that we think has a chance to be a regular in the NHL.”

Timashov is a restricted free agent, and should be a fit with a short-term deal in the range of $1 million annually. He projects as a bottom-six forward, someone who’ll push the likes of Adam Erne, Justin Abdelkader, Christoffer Ehn and Evgeny Svechnikov for a job. If Timashov can show he has a scoring dimension on top of being physical, he'll be a regular in the lineup.

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NHL draft lottery preview: Ask Ted Kulfan your questions

Mark Falkner, The Detroit News Published 3:46 p.m. ET June 11, 2020 | Updated 4:02 p.m. ET June 11, 2020

Red Wings beat reporter Ted Kulfan is taking questions for next Wednesday's podcast (June 17) previewing the 2020 NHL draft lottery.

Just leave a question below on this page or email me at [email protected]. The podcast will feature Detroit's draft options and top players who could be available heading into the lottery on June 26. Ted will also answer your general Wings' questions next week and right after the draft lottery on a special OctoPulse podcast.

The Red Wings have an 18.5 percent chance of getting the first pick and can't fall any further than fourth place.

►If Detroit picks first, would Alexis Lafreniere make the team next year?

►If Detroit picks second, is it Quinton Byfield or Tim Stutzle?

►If Detroit picks third, do you still pick the best forward?

►If Detroit picks fourth, do you take defenseman Jamie Drysdale or Jake Sanderson?

The podcast will also feature interview excerpts from Lafreniere, Byfield, Stutzle, Drysdale and Sanderson as well as an interview with Sweden's Lucas Raymond, whose career path has mirrored Steve Yzerman's draft season back in 1983.

Plus all the latest Red Wings' stories from Ted and a preview of the possible Red Wings to make the Hockey Hall of Fame, which will release this year's inductees on June 24.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186141 Detroit Red Wings

NHL to open training camps on July 10

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News Published 12:15 p.m. ET June 11, 2020 | Updated 12:15 p.m. ET June 11, 2020

Detroit — The NHL is taking another step closer to putting its product back on the ice.

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday they’ve agreed to open training camps July 10.

That date comes with the stipulation that concerns about the coronavirus pandemic continue to ease, and it’s safe enough to hold training camp.

But the date is otherwise set, so it’s another step closer to resuming the suspended NHL season, which was stopped on March 12 to virus fears.

“The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that formal training camps (Phase 3) for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10," read a statement from the NHL and NHLPA, "provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play. The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date.”

Generally speaking, using the July 10 training camp date, most analysts feel that would put a potential re-start to the season somewhere in the early-to-middle August range.

The NHL will resume its season featuring a 24-team playoff tournament — although the date, the hub cities for the tournament, and for that matter, the length of training camp, all have yet to be decided.

There are expected to be two "hub" cities, but not necessarily one each from each conference. Toronto, Columbus, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Edmonton and Vancouver are leading contenders.

Games will take place with no fans in the stands, although there's hope — however slim it is — of possibly having a limited number of fans for the championship round.

The Red Wings, and six other teams that didn’t qualify for the playoff resumption, have officially seen their 2019-20 seasons end.

The NHL’s Phase 2 began this week, with teams having the ability to open practice facilities for voluntary workouts of up to six players. Players are continuing to trickle back to their team cities, with players returning from Europe expected to be the last hurdle.

Many of the 24 teams have gradually begun to open their facilities.

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NHL training camps to open July 10 for teams restarting

By Ansar Khan

Training camps for the 24 teams that will finish the 2019-20 season will open July 10, the NHL and NHL Players Association announced Thursday.

This is phase 3 of the league’s return to play plan and it will occur provided medical and safety conditions allow, and the parties have reached an agreement on resuming play. The length of training camp and the starting date for games (phase 4) will be determined at a future date, the NHL said.

The Detroit Red Wings are among seven clubs not included in the league’s restart.

Phase 2, which allowed teams to hold limited workouts with small groups at their team facilities, began Monday.

Play will resume with 16 teams taking part in best-of-five play-in series:

Eastern Conference

5. Pittsburgh vs. 12. Montreal

6. Carolina vs. 11. N.Y. Rangers

7. N.Y. Islanders vs. 10. Florida

8. Toronto vs. 9. Columbus

Western Conference

5. Edmonton vs. 12. Chicago

6. Nashville vs. 11. Arizona

7. Vancouver vs. 10. Minnesota

8. Calgary vs. 9. Winnipeg

The eight clubs receiving byes will take part in a three-game round robin series per conference to determine seeding:

Eastern Conference: Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington, Philadelphia

Western Conference: St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas, Dallas

These games will be held at two hub cities yet to be determined, one for the 12 Eastern teams and one for the 12 Western teams.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186143 Edmonton Oilers “I had an inner peace that there would be a greater power helping me write the song. I hope this gives Emily hope and comfort the rest of her life and some kind of healing. I think it turned out special but it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what Emily thinks.” Song in memory of Oilers' Colby Cave the sweetest music to wife Emily's ears Marody had a strong first year in Bakersfield but suffered through medical problems and only played 30 games this past season. He was down at times, but Cave boosted him.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal “I considered him such a legit, solid person. We had a special moment in Colorado, the first two guys there for a morning skate and Colby knew I

was a spiritual guy like him, and he played a Christian song and we just Emily Cave had the demo song Bakersfield Condors’ farmhand Cooper talked about life. It’s crazy for that to happen before anyone gets to the Marody had written for her Colby as she flew to Edmonton a couple of rink, day of game,” said Marody. “I admired his positivity every day.” weeks ago to get an apartment here. Emily, whose phone number ends in 1212 (his Oilers sweater) to “I listened to the song on repeat on the plane and cried the whole time,” remember him by, has always known that about Colby. said Emily, whose husband died of a brain bleed April 11 in a Toronto “When I heard Cooper talk about Colby boosting his spirits, that didn’t hospital.”It was hard landing in Edmonton with his hockey bag and surprise me,” she said. “Colby might be having a bad day but he would hockey sticks and his ashes.” still encourage the other people before himself.” The name of the song, Agape, (a Christian phrase pronounced: Ah-Gah- Emily and Colby never had a full-time place in Edmonton but she now Pay) is what Colby — the Oilers centre for 44 games over two seasons wants to make this city her home. While the Boston Bruins have — and Emily said to each other constantly, including at the end of their partnered with the Oilers in the foundation, she wants to be here to wedding vows last summer. remain involved in its operation. “We felt, ‘I Love You,’ never fully described the amount of love we had for “I feel Colby the most here in Edmonton and can him honour him the each other. Agape, is the highest form of love, selfless, sacrificial, most here,” said Emily. unconditional love,” said Emily. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.12.2020 The piano ballad, which came out Friday on Spotify and Apple Music with all proceeds going to the Colby Cave Memorial Fund to help mental health initiatives, was Marody and Emily’s way of letting people know who the 25-year-old was.

While Marody already had two songs on Spotify (Behind Me, and I Don’t Deserve Her Yet), produced in Nashville with writing buddies Gavin Garris and Kyle Majnaric that had meaning for him, this was far different, like being asked to give a eulogy at a funeral — an honour.

“This is definitely the most important song I’ve ever done,” said Marody. “We felt that genuinely Colby was writing his lyrics through us and it was his message to Emily, and Emily told me she could picture Colby saying every one of those words when she listened to it. That is the biggest compliment.”

He agonized with the hockey world when Cave died at Toronto’s Sunnybrook hospital during pandemic restrictions, meaning Emily couldn’t get close to her husband.

“I was lucky enough, if lucky is the right word, to see Colby behind a glass window and talk to him on a walkie-talkie but that was just the first night. That was it,” said Emily, who would squeeze hands with Colby three times while out shopping or walking as a shorthanded gesture for, ‘I love you.’ “The rules were really strict and one time he was coming back from his (brain) surgery and a scan and they were rolling Colby back to his unit. I looked down the hallway and I just wanted to hold his hand and the whole (medical) team stopped until I was put back into the family room. I watched him roll on by. It was definitely traumatic, not how you want to say goodbye to a loved one.

“I’ve struggled with that, we weren’t even married a year, and you think of growing old and dying when you’re 90 years old, and to see your 25- year-old husband on life support is pretty horrific.”

The genesis for the song came after Marody messaged Emily and he shared a few Bakersfield stories that meant a lot to him. She had only met him once because Cave was up and down from the American Hockey League to the NHL.

“Lots of people had sent encouraging quotes and songs but I thought, ‘Cut it.’ I started shooting things to Cooper and knew he had (other) songs and was extremely talented. He asked for our (wedding) vows and letters we had written each other, and that’s how it started,” said Emily. “If you listen to the song and the lyrics, you’ll realize how amazing Cooper is.”

Marody says he originally thought of just writing the song for Emily’s ears.

“Emily said she had been listening to music but there wasn’t a song she could connect to or give her comfort,” said Marody. “It was an unbelievable honour to be asked to put their relationship in a song. I took it so seriously. 1186144 Edmonton Oilers price, they just don’t think he fully appreciates how most NHL goals are scored.

“I don’t see it as his compete level, he’s a competitive person,” said Edmonton Oilers pipeline update: Ryan McLeod putting together a solid Woodcroft. “I think it’s learning whats the reward is in going to hard foundation areas. If you want to find offence in professional hockey, you have to be willing to do things in order to score and to add to the offensive team game.

Robert Tychkowski “One of those things is to go to the blue paint, to establish yourself, to fight for your ice. And not to do it some of the time, but to do it all of the

time. Those are types of habits that we are not only trying to engrain in It’s an unusual course for a young hockey player, but Ryan McLeod is Ryan, but in all of our players, regardless of their age.” moving forward in reverse. The assembly line between Bakersfield and Edmonton is flowing nicely Normally, forwards who go relatively high in the draft already have most now, with Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Patrick Russell, William Lagesson of the offensive instincts they need to survive in the NHL, but they need and Kailer Yamamoto all having shown they are better for their time to work on their own end of the ice. there. a great environment for young players to actually grow and develop. And, in some cases, their skating. “When you see those guys go up and have some success and help Ask anyone who’s ever been in the post draft scrum with a head or propel the big club, that’s a really positive thing for what’s going on down general manager and they’ll tell you it’s the default analysis of almost here,” said Woodcroft. every kid who isn’t quite ready yet. “It gives players something to shoot for. That type of upward mobility is a McLeod is the opposite. His skating is NHL calibre and the defensive pathway and a line of sight for these young players. It reinforces that side of his game has already emerged as a strength. It’s the offence he when you are committed to doing things the right way, eventually your needs to work on. time will come.”

In Post Media’s weekly look at who’s coming down the Oilers’ pipeline, Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.12.2020 we examine the trajectory of the 40th overall pick from the 2018 Draft.

“What really separates him is his elite level skating ability,” said Bakersfield Condors head coach Jay Woodcroft, who watched McLeod play out his first full season as a professional last year. “It’s already NHL caliber. He also has a defensive conscience to his game; he’s very responsible.

“The things we worked on with Ryan this year is we wanted to grow some offensive confidence to his game.”

Trying to coax more offence from a young prospect who’s naturally gravitating to defence isn’t something Woodcroft is used to, but he believes starting from a solid base like that will only make the finished product more complete.

“An underrated skill for him is his checking ability,” said the coach. “I feel great putting him on the ice in penalty kill situations. I know that he is willing to work above his check and work his way back to his own end and take pride defensively.

“That’s a really good sign. It’s something you don’t usually see in young players, especially in their first year of professional hockey. But in Ryan we saw those things.”

In his final two season in junior, McLeod was a respectable point-per- game player (70 points in 68 games in 2017-18 and 62 points in 63 games in 2018-19), but he’s never been a dynamic offensive threat. In his first season with the Condors, he put up five goals and 18 assists in 56 games. There is obviously more to be mined there, they just have to get it out of him.

“There is room for improvement on the offensive side of things for Ryan,” said Woodcroft. “Not to say that he’s ever going to put up 100 points, but we’re trying to engrain certain types of habits into his game that will serve him well as he moves forward in his career.

“For a young guy he saw good minutes this year, more and more as the season went on, and he’s a fixture on our penalty kill. We didn’t have to protect him in any way; he saw tough checks and played in the middle predominantly, but I also felt comfortable about moving him to the wing if I wanted to find him some more ice time. I thought it was a positive first year for a young player.

“We just want him to grow in certain areas that will serve him well going forward, and that’s staying in plays, making sure to to play on the inside, going to hard areas offensively.

“If he can add that to his game, especially in professional hockey, that will really round out his profile and make him an exciting prospect moving forward.

Getting the six-foot-three, 200 pounder to spend more time in the Ryan Smyth areas of the offensive zone — like, right in the goalie’s face — is one of their main teaching points. It’s not that he’s reluctant to pay the 1186145 Edmonton Oilers roughly a minute of Colby reading his vows into the five-minute, 48- second song.

The last word from Colby is “agape” as he sums up his love for Emily. ‘Agape’: Why Oilers prospect Cooper Marody wrote a song about Colby “It will allow people to really hear how much love he had for her,” Marody Cave said. “You can hear him tearing up and how meaningful his vows were.

“We all feel that it was Colby’s message to Emily. We were just the By Daniel Nugent-Bowman Jun 11, 2020 people giving the message.”

“For him to write it how he wrote it, how he sang it, you know it’s Colb coming through him,” Emily said. In the days following Colby Cave’s tragic death in April, friends and family members sent his widow, Emily, songs to try to cheer her up or to help The song concludes with a reference to another of the couple’s rituals, her remember him. squeezing their hands three times — “I love you” — when saying goodbye or goodnight. It’s what a critical-care nurse did to Colby’s hand None of them struck the right chord, nor did they capture the relationship at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto the morning of April 11, moments she had with the man she loved — a former Edmonton Oilers centre. before he died from complications from a brain cyst.

A couple of weeks went by before Emily had an idea, although she Emily couldn’t enter the room throughout his stay at the hospital because initially felt awkward about it. She decided to text Colby’s former of COVID-19 restrictions; she communicated with him via walkie-talkie Bakersfield Condors teammate Cooper Marody, a budding recording and FaceTime while he was in a coma and on life support. artist, to see if he could craft something just for her — for them. “It’s to say Colby got the message,” Marody said. “I just had this gut feeling,” Emily said. “I wanted something that wasn’t a voicemail or a text message — something that I could really feel him. “That part really got me,” Emily said. “It almost sounded like Colby validated that I was there with him.” “I feel like it was Colby pushing me to talk to Cooper. It was something that was really pressing on my heart. I felt like I had to reach out.” Emily has so much respect and gratitude for what Marody did for her.

Marody didn’t have to think twice. The song has forged a strong friendship as they really didn’t know each other well before the project. They’d met just once, at a Halloween The result? The song “Agape” — the couple’s special word — a Christian function in Bakersfield. phrase meaning “the highest form of love.” Cooper Marody at his home studio in Brighton, Mich. (Courtesy of It’s what Colby said to end his wedding vows last summer; it’s what he Cooper Marody) always said to Emily because, as he often told her, “‘I love you’ didn’t cut it enough.” Colby and Marody were teammates only for this past season. Their time together with the Condors was interrupted by Cave’s multiple call-ups to The finished piece is a piano ballad and a section of the song is Colby the Oilers and Marody’s injuries before the season screeched to a halt. reading a portion of his wedding vows for the couple’s marriage in July. But Marody told Emily after Colby’s death about a special moment they Marody’s labour of love, co-written by producer Gavin Garris and Kyle shared together in the dressing room while on the road in Colorado. Majnaric, is being released June 12 — matching Cave’s sweater number Colby was playing Hillsong music, and Marody, a fellow Christian, heard with the Oilers. from close by. The two sat together and bonded.

“It’s really incredible, the layout of the song and how he put it together,” Colby wasn’t a churchgoer until he met Emily but he easily adapted. He Emily said. “I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” had always been caring and able to see the good in things and people.

All proceeds from downloads of the song will be donated to the Colby “He was always positive. He always had a smile on his face,” Marody Cave Memorial Fund, which helps support community programs with an said. “You could tell he was genuinely happy for other people when they emphasis on mental health initiatives and provides access to sports for succeeded. underprivileged children. “He was a great leader and a role model for me. Although we had a short “Emily asked me to do this for her. This is Colby’s song from Colby,” time together, he really did make a good impact on me.” Marody said. “There’s a bigger purpose than for us to make some money off of it.” It’s not hard to sense Colby’s nature in Marody.

The process started for Marody by asking Emily for the couple’s vows A year after an excellent 64-point campaign in 58 games as an AHL and some letters the two had written to each other. He started rookie — which included six NHL games with the Oilers — Marody brainstorming. believed he was ready to join the Oilers full time this season.

He then drove to Nashville — where he recorded his first two singles, He didn’t make the team out of camp and his frustrations only continued. released last summer — late last month and stayed at Garris’ house. The A lower-body injury in November stalled his season, and then he got sick song was written and recorded within a day. and lost 10 pounds. An upper-body issue in January ended his Never did a song come together so quickly and smoothly for him as campaign. He recorded 17 points in 30 games. “Agape.” Marody returned home to Brighton, Mich., and started working with a “There was no hesitation. We just flew right through it,” Marody said. “It specialist but had to stop once COVID-19 restrictions took hold in March. was like Colby was writing through us, like he was singing through us. It He spent his time working out in the basement gym, shooting pucks with was so amazing.” his brother Easton, 15, a junior varsity player, and enjoying the company of his parents, Patrick and Lisa, and sister, McKenna. The song hit all the right notes with Emily. Marody sent her the finished piece on May 28. She raced downstairs at her parents’ house in Barrie, The 23-year-old just started skating again in Ann Arbor, Mich., and said Ont., so she could listen to it by herself before sharing it with her family. the difference between these sessions and the rehab twirls he did in February are vast. She started bawling. “I’m feeling great — and better than ever,” he said. “I could feel Colb saying it,” she said. “It was a year of adversity — but that’s OK. Everybody has those “That was the greatest compliment she could give about it,” Marody said. seasons of their life where, on paper or by societal standards, they’ve “I’d just hoped that so much.” taken a step back. But it’s set me up for an even more successful career. It was a really big growing year.” Not only could she hear Colby’s words through Marody’s voice — she then really did hear her late husband. Marody and his partners stitched The time away from the daily rigours at the rink this spring gave him a chance to work on his music, his secondary passion to hockey for the last five years.

His mom always said he had a wonderful voice, but Marody thought little of her praise. It wasn’t until his dad brought home a guitar one day during the summer before he went to the University of Michigan and strummed a few chords that he wanted to become a musician. Marody bought a cheap one the next day so he could have his own.

He’s collected pointers from people along the way and watched instructional videos online but has never had a lesson. He always found playing music to be a welcome escape from the intensity on the ice.

Marody released his first two songs last summer and was working on 10 others at his home studio during the pandemic. He hopes a couple of those tracks will come out this summer.

But those can wait.

Marody desperately wants “Agape” to make an impact and raise a ton of money for his friend’s foundation.

He poured his heart into the song. And his heart feels full.

“It’s a high task to be asked and do it justice, but I’m a spiritual person and I have strong faith,” he said. “I feel like I was given the guidance and the words. It turned out so beautifully.

“My hope for the song is that not only can it bring her so much comfort, but it could also bring so much comfort to people who have lost loved ones.”

The day after Marody sent “Agape” to Emily, she boarded a flight for Edmonton to start the next chapter in her life. She listened to the song all the way there.

Barrie was meant simply to be a place where she and Colby could spend this summer, but it wasn’t where she wanted to permanently call home — especially now.

While she needed to return to Edmonton to collect Colby’s car and some belongings, she’s chosen to live in the city to properly run the foundation and be closer to those in the Oilers organization — people who she said have “kept me afloat the last two months.”

(The Bruins have partnered with the foundation, too, Emily said, and she’ll visit Boston for events when needed.)

With the help of her family, she moved into a new apartment and will continue planning a funeral that will one day take place in Edmonton with Colby’s former teammates in attendance. She has no idea when that will happen.

“As hard as it is to be here, he is most present here,” she said. “I can really honour him here.”

For now, Emily continues to unpack boxes filled with mementos of Colby. A stuffed animal with “Agape” posted on the tag in his writing sits beside her.

That word will forever mean the world to her. Now, thanks to Marody, it takes on a whole new — timeless — meaning.

“It shows a lot about Cooper’s character that he’s done this — stepping up to the plate and doing something so special that not everyone could do,” Emily said. “He gave me such a precious gift that I’ll have .

“It’s incredibly selfless. I admire him so much for doing this. I probably thank him 20 times a day.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186146 Edmonton Oilers “I love that I’ve been able to help people,” Ryan said. “I’ve been open, and I’ll never stop being open about it because it does help some people in some way.”

Connor McDavid’s recovery is just one of 2020’s incredible Masterton Ryan wasn’t the only player to have a celebrated return in 2019-20. stories Dallas defenceman Stephen Johns went nearly two full years without playing a game because of post-traumatic headaches and post- concussion syndrome. On Jan. 11, he returned for an AHL game and put an exclamation point on his comeback with a four-point night. A week By Jonathan Willis Jun 11, 2020 later, he was in the NHL, playing over 18 minutes.

“The (Masterton is the) one award that everybody doesn’t want to win A reader looking to gauge Connor McDavid’s chances of winning the because that means you had to endure something that wasn’t a fun Masterton Trophy this season couldn’t have been encouraged Tuesday journey,” was how Johns put it following his nomination. “But when you when the NHL’s official website ran its article announcing the 31 get through that and look back on it, you look at all the positives that nominees for the award. experience brought to my life. So it’s a huge honor.”

“Masterton Trophy nominations announced,” read the headline. There aren’t any bad candidates. There’s a reason Mark Giordano is on “Lindblom, Bouwmeester, Ryan among those up for award for his fourth nomination. Undersized 32-year-old Nathan Gerbe seemed to perseverance, sportsmanship, dedication,” followed the subhead. have become an AHL journeyman – until suddenly he wasn’t. Mark Letestu lost much of this year to myocarditis, has battled That the NHL’s best player should be relegated to the online equivalent injury and Alex Stalock’s unlikely journey to Wild starting goaltender of below the fold is a testament to the strength of this year’s field of deserves recognition, too. candidates. Hockey writers have their work cut out for them as they try and determine which individual best exemplified those qualities. The NHL is rife with these stories, and it isn’t just the winner of the award who deserves notice. None of the 31 candidates would have got the nod McDavid’s case needs no introduction for Oilers fans, though it might not without perseverance and dedication to their craft, and failing to win the be immediately evident to observers from outside the market. The knee award doesn’t mean that those stories are forgotten. injury which nearly wiped out his 2019-20 campaign was downplayed by player and organization alike in the offseason, and McDavid was back in Oilers fans know this well. time for Edmonton’s season opener against Vancouver. It’s too easy to In 2008, Toronto’s Jason Blake was honoured with the award after being overlook the incredible effort he made to play at all this year. diagnosed with leukemia. Undersized and undrafted, Blake forced his Or rather it was. The details of McDavid’s rehabilitation made the news way into the NHL picture after an exceptional college career at the the week of the 2020 All-Star Game, shortly before the premiere of University of North Dakota, and never stopped playing a high-skill, high- Sportsnet’s documentary “Whatever it Takes,” which focused on his energy style of game. He was a worthy recipient. recovery. Allan Mitchell wrote about the revelations it contained at the Yet Blake’s well-deserved win overshadowed the incredible recovery of time: Edmonton’s Fernando Pisani. Surgery required. Surgery scheduled. Ten-month recovery. The list of Passed over in the 1995 draft, Pisani was selected in the eighth round issues left by the injury is breathtaking; the hours (179 days and 1,000 the following summer, and at that point still had four seasons of college hours of rehab) are stunning. A shortlist of injuries included a torn-in-half and most of three in the AHL ahead of him before he finally succeeded in PCL, torn knee joint and cracked front tibia. Those details, being pushing his way into the majors. His standout performance during the relatively new, are all the more searing because they were potentially Oilers’ 2006 playoff run made him a fan favourite. career-altering and most certainly a challenge at any age. He earned that attention while playing with ulcerative colitis, but was An ACL injury can devastate a career – it played a key role, for example, brought low by the ailment in the summer of 2007, as was chronicled on in the transformation of Andrej Sekera from defensive lynchpin to buyout the league’s official website at the time: casualty in Edmonton – and PCL injuries are even more serious. For McDavid to avoid surgery, rehabilitate the injury in time to avoid missing Pisani lost 30 pounds in three weeks. He was too weak to walk a flight of a game, and then finish second in the NHL in scoring is a story worthy of stairs without stopping to rest and had to be hospitalized for weeks. He the Masterton. faced what would have been career-ending surgery. By the time the Oilers made Pisani’s plight public in early September, the hope was he’d Yet it’s far from the only such story in the NHL. recover enough to lead a normal life as a husband and father. Resuming It was December when Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing’s his NHL career was an afterthought. sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The 23-year-old was 30 games into the Pisani played three more seasons in the NHL and a fourth in Europe, and best season of his career, playing in all situations for the Flyers and today works with the as a development coach. Both contributing 11 goals. Instead of a breakout campaign, his season was his exploits on the ice and his incredible dedication to the sport remain lost. fondly remembered within the market. As surprising as Lindblom’s diagnosis was, Jay Bouwmeester’s sudden Regardless of which individual the PHWA singles out for the award, the collapse during the first period of a February game against the Ducks same will be true for McDavid and his fellow nominees. Only one player was even more shocking. It may mean the end of an impressive 1,240- can win the Masterton, but nobody in Edmonton is going to forget what game career, but when Bouwmeester spoke to reporters later that month the Oilers captain had to do to play this year, any more than a fan in he was cognizant of a silver lining. Dallas or Ottawa will fail to remember Johns’ perseverance or Ryan’s “I’ve gone over this a lot in my head, places where this could have bravery. happened, and the outcome would have been very different,” It’s been a year full of incredible hockey stories. It won’t be easy for Bouwmeester said. “From doctors in the hospital to pretty much everyone voters to pick just one to memorialize at the NHL awards. I’ve talked to, that’s the consensus. It happened in the absolute best place that it could happen because the protocols that they have in place The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 and the way that people responded … it saved my life.”

Bobby Ryan’s personal journey is of a different nature. He left the Senators in November to enter the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in a search for sobriety. His first game back, in February, coincided with his 100th day of sobriety. That alone would be a meaningful personal achievement, but Ryan has already helped others with his candour about his struggle. 1186147 Edmonton Oilers organization. A skilled right-handed centre would have been useful during the regular season, and hopefully, Marody recovers to pre-injury levels.

Lowetide: 5 AHL forwards who offer the Oilers a chance to buy low on For the Oilers, finding useful talent for less than full value could be key real talent next season and beyond. As the cap offers no relief, innovative teams will be forced to cast about and poach players from inefficient teams that may not know the value of their players. Here are 10 names worth paying attention to this offseason. By Allan Mitchell Jun 11, 2020 1. LC Yakov Trenin is a Nashville Predators prospect, chosen in the

second round of the deep 2015 draft. He’s 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds and The Edmonton Oilers have a talent gap in the prospect pipeline that scored 15 even-strength goals in 32 games with the badly needs attention. They are in desperate need of skill forwards who this season. He posted .594 primary even-strength points per game while are ready to graduate, and there’s a lack of candidates throughout the in the AHL, ranking second behind product Drake system. Batherson, who is unlikely to be available. It was Trenin’s third year in the AHL and he also spent time with the Predators, scoring two goals with Sending away high picks going back to 2014 contributed to the problem, four assists for six points in 21 games this season. He played a checking along with special attention paid to procuring defencemen and the trade role while with Nashville but the AHL numbers suggest he could produce of and the major draft misfire of Jesse Puljujarvi, both in 2016. in a more prominent role. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman discussed his skills and ability in August when covering the Nashville farm system. The search for three suitable forwards to place with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got a boost this season. Kailer 2. LC Jansen Harkins is a slow-developing Winnipeg Jets farmhand who Yamamoto’s recall from the minors was a turning point and general appears to have turned a corner. He was chosen in the second round of manager Ken Holland added Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis at the the 2015 draft and didn’t move the needle in his first AHL season, trade deadline. producing two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 46 games, and things weren’t much better in 2018-19, when he scored 15 goals with 31 points The search continues for more options and there’s a good chance in 70 games. This season, Harkins blossomed in the minors, putting up Edmonton’s amateur scouts will bet heavily on skill forwards in the draft. 31 points in 30 games with the Manitoba Moose, and began to show the That will help long term, but what about next season? Are there possible kind of quality that inspired Red Line Report to compare him to Derek bargain acquisitions available? Stepan in his draft season. He played well so the Jets brought him to the The pool of talent working its way to the NHL from the minor leagues is NHL, where he had two goals and five assists for seven points in 29 substantial every year. The forwards in the AHL who are having success games. He scored .567 primary even-strength points per game in the in their entry deals often turn into NHL players in the years that follow. AHL this season. The only question I have in regard to Harkins is the ask Here are the 10 most attractive names from 2017-18 based on primary from the Jets in a trade. He may have already shown enough for the even-strength points per game: organization to consider him too valuable to move.

C Mike Amadio, 21 (Los Angeles), .688 3. RW Matt Luff is an undrafted winger who has size and is a volume shooter. He’s been kicking around the Los Angeles Kings since 2017-18 L Andrew Mangiapane, 21 (Calgary), .667 and has enjoyed a couple of long NHL looks. He has nine goals in 51 R Daniel Sprong, 20 (Pittsburgh), .569 NHL games and has scored 20 goals in his most recent 66 games with the Reign. There are many reasons to look at his size — he’s 6- RC Jack Roslovic, 21 (Winnipeg), .563 foot-3 and 196 pounds — and early pro career and assume he’s a depth guy who brings a physical element. Luff has taken 261 shots in 66 AHL L Dryden Hunt, 21 (Florida), .552 games and scored .567 primary even-strength points per game in the LC Lucas Wallmark, 22 (Carolina), .511 AHL this season. He isn’t a sure thing. If he was, he would have been drafted. However, there are some very good indicators. R Nicolas Aube-Kubel, 21 (Philadelphia), .500 4. RW Matthew Phillips is a 5-foot-7 fleet winger in the Calgary Flames L Gage Quinney, 22 (unsigned), .491 system. He was a late pick, taken in the sixth round in 2016, due to his size and didn’t score a lot as an AHL rookie in 2018-19, producing 13 L Danick Martel, 22 (Philadelphia), .475 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 65 games. This past season, Phillips LC Teddy Blueger, 23 (Pittsburgh), .471 scored 33 points in 38 AHL games and posted .553 primary even- strength points per game for the Stockton Heat. His season was cut short All 10 have played in the NHL since 2017-18 and several are on their due to a fractured knee cap but he’s an under-the-radar offensive option way to establishing themselves as productive players. Many of them lack who could be worth the investment. a draft pedigree and would likely have been available for a modest trade asset; Quinney didn’t have an NHL contract in 2017-18, so he would 5. RW Vitali Abramov is in a perfect spot for an organization looking to have cost only money and a spot on the 50-man roster. Before we look at poach quality talent. He’s a small scoring winger with significant talent this season, let’s review the 2018-19 AHL campaign (once again based but has already been traded once, by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the on primary even-strength points per game): Senators, and is stuck behind a small army of higher draft picks. He’s the same age as Batherson, who is likely to enjoy a feature role with the RC Cooper Marody, 21 (Edmonton), .603 Senators for years to come. Abramov scored 18 goals with 41 points in 51 games for the Belleville Senators at 21. That’s a solid year, but there R Troy Terry, 20 (Anaheim), .585 are three prospects in Belleville who are either the same age or younger RC Dylan Gambrell, 22 (San Jose), .569 who posted far better seasons. Abramov posted .510 primary even- strength points per game this season and might be available for less than LC Aleksi Saarela, 21 (Carolina), .551 actual value.

R Drake Batherson, 20 (Ottawa), .542 What does it all mean?

LC Dillon Dube, 20 (Calgary), .541 Oilers fans are looking to the offseason with an eye to a major talent addition. I believe the big acquisition of the summer came at the trade L Denis Gurianov, 21 (Dallas), .509 deadline in Athanasiou and the offseason shopping will involve an L Tyler Benson, 20 (Edmonton), .500 extensive look for useful talent.

LC Alexander True, 21 (San Jose), .485 The AHL produces terrific talent every season and there are players who have performed well for their organizations but have no room to move up L Max Jones, 20 (Anaheim), .465 to the NHL.

Marody’s impressive rookie season really drives home the impact of his Those five men have risen to the top of the AHL’s entry pool by delivering playoff injury, not just for the Bakersfield Condors but for the Oilers quality numbers. Primary even-strength points per game has uncovered future NHL players over the last several seasons. There are value trades to be made. Perhaps the Oilers will uncover one of those gems.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186148 Edmonton Oilers had something to do with that. Carter, after all, had been traded at different times in packages for Adam Oates, Bill Ranford, Rick Tocchet, and Jaromir Jagr. If GMs thought enough of him to trade big- name players for him, why wouldn’t they offer him bigger money? How Anson Carter got some of the NHL’s biggest names to unite against racism Carter said that part of the reason he wasn’t a victim of on-ice racism was that “people understood I didn’t play that game. If you came at me sideways, we were going to have a problem,” he said. He added that he had great teammates – he named, perhaps for emphasis, Janne By Rick Carpiniello Jun 11, 2020 Niinimaa, a white player from Finland nicknamed “Ghost,” who actually got Carter to accept and even enjoy Metallica while Carter tried to sell Niinimaa on reggae and hip-hop. Anson Carter has heard the versions of “stick to sports.” He’s had fans and friends tell him, “this is a little too heavy for us” and that they watch But not dealing with direct racism in hockey doesn’t mean Carter hasn’t sports to get away from real life. experienced it in his life. He surely has. He prefers, though, to not look back at what got all of us here, but rather where we go and how we get But real life is important to the former NHL player and current there to fix it. broadcaster. Especially now. Perhaps more than ever. “That’s why I’m leaning into what’s happening now. I really want to make “I don’t have that privilege,” Carter, 46, told The Athletic on Wednesday. sure players coming up after me, white or black, are part of a culture that “I don’t have the ability to hang up my skin color like a pair of shoulder really embraces everyone. It shouldn’t matter what you look like, whether pads and just hang them up at the end of the day and, ‘whew, I can just it’s in the front office or playing the game, fans in the stands. Everyone relax now.’ It’s part of my everyday life. It should be part of everyone’s should be accepted for who they are. If you’re going to boo me on the reality. This is a real life civil liberties issue. This isn’t about politics at all. ice, it’s because I can’t play. It’s not because of the color of my skin.”

“So no, this is something we can talk about because it’s a part of When George Floyd was killed in the custody of police, Carter wanted to everyday life in the NHL community. You have black fans in the National do something. Lots of people and organizations were putting out Hockey League and black players in the National Hockey League. And statements. Carter hoped to do something different. this is part of the reality, so I think this is something important to talk about.” “It was a concept that I thought about as I was watching what was unfolding, being a black male here living in the U.S. – American citizen Carter has done more than talk about it. With some technical assistance born in Canada, having dual citizenship – and just what was happening from his two young daughters, he produced a video, titled “In Union wasn’t sitting well with me,” Carter said. There Is Strength” featuring 33 faces and voices, some of the biggest and most prominent in hockey, from multiple continents, representing Like the rest of the world, Carter watched the video of Floyd dying under different genders, and of course, races. a policeman’s knee. He thought about NFL player Ray Rice, and how the video of him assaulting his fiancee in an elevator had such an impact on The message was simple: “You don’t have to look like George Floyd … the public regarding domestic violence. to understand that what happened to him was wrong.” “I always thought that video was a powerful tool,” Carter said. “I always Anson Carter thought that cell phone video was the greatest innovation of the last 20 years, I think, because now everybody can capture what we see. It’s not ✔ just hearsay anymore and I wanted to put out a video. I didn’t want to put @AnsonCarterLA out a text statement or tweet. I wanted people to see my face. I wanted them to hear my voice. I thought that was important.” I’m so PROUD to be a part of the NHL community. Leaders came together WITHOUT hesitation lending their incredibly powerful voices to So he thought about doing it in a medium of video and audio, and one an important issue that impacts players and our fans! that would bring together big names and faces … and voices. #BlackLivesMatter#StrongerTogether “How cool would it be,” he thought, “to have a lot of different people with Embedded video diverse backgrounds within the NHL community and the hockey community share their voices also?” It grew quickly. 2,536 The first person Carter reached out to was Sidney Crosby, who 12:50 PM - Jun 5, 2020 immediately said, “I’m in.” Another early one was Patrick Kane, whom Carter believes will be the greatest American to have played in the NHL. Twitter Ads info and privacy “No hesitation whatsoever,” Carter said. No questions about who else 823 people are talking about this would be in it, where it would be posted. Just another all-in. Carter has had these conversations for all of his 46 years. He compared Carter got NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA leader Donald Fehr the experience to that of training for a marathon. and his own agent Brisson, and he kept going, diversifying the field as he “The first 10 miles you run, the next day you’re exhausted, need a went – prominent black players like Wayne Simmonds, P.K. Subban, top massage; your body’s aching, you’re sore,” Carter said. “But the more female players including A.J. Mleczko and Kelsey Koelzer, and those you do it, the more you train, the easier it becomes and that’s what who have broken barriers, like Kim Davis and Blake Bolden have done, dealing with race is all about. The conversations are tough, but the more along with Willie O’Ree, the first black player in NHL history. Carter and we have these conversations, the more we work to try to erase it, the his kids put each participant’s name in their segment, so people can look easier these conversations become.” up who they are and how they got where they are.

The video was done virtually from the homes and offices of the “It was important for people to come together and put out a message participants. It was done that way out of necessity. But it was also done together because that’s what hockey is all about,” Carter said. “Hockey is that way to make a point. the best , I believe, out there and it was important to do this as a team and not single anybody out, have everybody come together as a “It was just the message I wanted to create,” Carter said. “The main point group. I also thought it might be more comfortable for people to initially I wanted to get across was, just because we’re social distancing doesn’t take that next step because the hockey community isn’t known as being mean the hockey community is socially distanced. And that’s something I outspoken about anything. So that first step could be the great first step really wanted to hit home. I thought about that message a lot, and it’s for people to be comfortable taking that step surrounded by like-minded true. Just because you’re not playing doesn’t mean we can’t say individuals.” something.” Leading off the video was longtime Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. So he did. In a powerful manner. Carter said he never dealt with any face-to-face racism in his 10-year NHL playing career, never heard the “The reason I had Hank lead it is he’s a leader in the community, he’s N-word. He felt there were times when he and his agent, Pat Brisson, been a star for the New York Rangers since he broke into the league,” might have faced resistance when it came to contracts and perhaps color Carter said. “I believe he’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s been a pillar for that organization, a face of that organization, so I thought it would be really cool to have him lead off. Plus, he’s in Europe. This is a global thing. This isn’t just North America. That’s why it was important to have Leon Draisaitl, who’s from Germany, too. He felt strongly about this. These are guys that aren’t afraid to get second-guessed.

“The game’s 3-3, it’s in overtime, who wants to be the guy to hop over the boards? … You want to be the guy to take responsibility to try to win the game, and even if you don’t win the game, you’re one of the faces that’s going to answer those tough questions after the game, and those are the individuals I wanted. Henrik was definitely one of those guys and I was so proud and so pumped when he said, ‘Yeah, without a doubt, Anson. I’m in on this.’”

It wasn’t without glitches. After getting all the involved people to record and send their own portion of the message, Carter was fumbling while editing the video with his iMovie app. It was 3 a.m., and his daughters Mikayla, 14, and Malia, 11 – having no school the next day – were up playing “Fortnite” with friends and cousins.

“Dad, give it to me,” Mikayla said.

“They literally hammered out the edit within seconds,” Carter said. Then they both wanted to be included. Carter hesitated because he doesn’t normally share family or personal info on social media. He told them it’s for hockey people, and it would look weird to have two kids in the video.

“I thought about it more,” Carter said, “and I talk to them about all these social issues all the time. You’re never too young to learn. My parents never thought we were (too) young to learn about stuff that was happening in the world. So we were very well prepared and equipped to handle anything that happened, even at a young age.

“So I thought it would be a great message to have them in it because it’s important to talk to our youth, because they’re our future. Also, on top of that, I thought it was important to include them because I wouldn’t ask players who are currently in the league to do anything that I wouldn’t ask my own family to do. I think sometimes guys are a little bit hesitant because they might be afraid of any pushback they might get by being out there, being current players in the league today. But I had my daughters in there, so I didn’t have any second thoughts asking guys to do it – even though my daughters were the last people to submit their videos.”

It all came together, and Carter posted it on his Twitter account @AnsonCarterLA with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #StrongerTogether on June 5.

Now that the project is in his rearview mirror, Carter’s focus remains at the windshield.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186149 Florida Panthers

NHL sets start date for training camps. Here’s when the Florida Panthers will be back

BY DAVID WILSON JUNE 11, 2020 12:03 PM

A day after the Florida Panthers reopened their training facilities for voluntary small-group workouts, the NHL and NHL Players Association reached a deal to start training camp in less than a month.

The league and players announced Thursday they will begin training camps July 10 as the NHL shoots for a return to play in late July. The length of the training camp and a target start date for the return-to-play tournament have not yet been announced.

Training camps beginning will mark the start of Phase 3 in the NHL’s return-to-play plan. The league began Phase 2 on Monday, when it allowed teams to regain access to their practice facilities for small group workouts of up to six players at a time. Teams have begun returning to facilities throughout the week and the Panthers reopened the Florida Panthers IceDen for workouts Wednesday.

Florida is one of 24 teams still competing for the Stanley Cup after the NHL announced a modified postseason format in May. The Panthers will convene with the rest of the Eastern Conference teams in a central, thus- far unannounced location in the summer to play in this modified tournament. Florida will face the New York Islanders in a best-of-5 series in the qualifying round to earn a spot in the more traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs.

Last month, general manager Dale Tallon said about half of the Panthers’ roster was back in South Florida and ready to participate in the voluntary workouts in Coral Springs.

The NHL’s timeline positions Florida to be the second South Florida team to return to action this summer. on Wednesday detailed its return-to-play plan, which calls Inter Miami training camp to begin shortly and for the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament to begin in July. The NBA has not yet outlined any specific dates for training camps to begin or the season to resume, although the league is reportedly eyeing a late-July start date, too.

Miami Herald LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186150 Los Angeles Kings

NHL training camps to start July 10 for playoff-bound teams

The NHL logo is seen on a goal at a Nashville Predators practice rink

By HELENE ELLIOTTSPORTS COLUMNIST JUNE 11, 202012:06 PM

Training camps will begin on July 10 for the 24 NHL teams that will participate in the revised playoff format as part of the league’s Return to Play plan, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Assn. said on Thursday. Opening formal training camps on that day is conditional, “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” both organizations said in statements.

Holding training camps would be Phase 3 of the current plan. The duration of camp has not been determined, leaving the start of Phase 4 — resuming competition with the launch of the Stanley Cup playoffs — to be determined. The league has said a three-week training camp might be necessary for players to get back into shape, but that’s one of many points the league and the union have not yet settled.

The NHL halted play on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. It advised players and staffers to stay at home, and called that period Phase 1 of its planned return. Phase 2 began on Monday and includes allowing players to work out at team facilities in small groups if they pass COVID-19 tests and maintain social distancing.

The league and the NHLPA agreed to a conference-based playoff format that would place 12 teams in each of two “hub” cities. Los Angeles is among the 10 candidates to be one of the hubs. The top four teams in each of the two conferences would play round-robin, non-elimination games to determine their seeding and teams ranked 5 through 12 will play a best-of-five qualifying round. After that, each series will be best-of- seven games. Teams will be reseeded after each round. The Cup could be awarded in September, or later.

Another key detail to be determined is whether players would be kept in a “bubble” in order to minimize the potential for them to be exposed to the coronavirus.

LA Times: LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186151

NHL teams get go-ahead to open training camps July 10

The set date is another step toward opening the 24-team playoff tournament.

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JUNE 12, 2020 — 12:01AM

The NHL continues to pursue a return later this summer, announcing Thursday that training camps will open July 10 if medical and safety conditions allow.

The league and NHL Players’ Association have reached an overall agreement on resuming play. The length of camp and a start date for the season will be determined in the future. Other logistical details also need to be addressed, including which two hub cities the league selects for games.

But the NHL has made progress toward finishing up the season that was halted March 12 by the coronavirus pandemic.

This week, teams were allowed to open their facilities to players for voluntary, small workouts. Not everyone has participated; the ice at the Wild’s practice facility, TRIA Rink, isn’t scheduled to go in until next week, and that’s when players are expected to show up. But a handful of teams, like Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Edmonton, have had players begin to skate.

The Wild would have training camp at Tria.

Protocols for training at team facilities were outlined late last month, the first step greenlighted by the NHL since it asked players to self- quarantine amid the shutdown.

And then on May 26 the NHL officially ended the regular season and revealed its complete return to play plan that would have 24 teams vie for the Stanley Cup.

Organized by points percentage, the top 12 teams in each conference will compete. The top four will play in a round robin to determine first- round seeding, and the remaining eight will square off in a best-of-five qualifying round to join them in the playoffs. The No. 10 Wild is included in the qualifying round and would meet the No. 7 .

Star Tribune LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186152 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens' Max Domi ready to PartT for diabetes research

Author of the article: • Montreal Gazette

When its annual fundraising walk became a victim of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing rules, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation came up with the idea of having Domi, Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke and other celebrities join the public on Sunday for what has been dubbed the JDRF House PartT1D for the Cure.

“It’s disappointing that we can’t get together for our walk, but we’re planning to have lots of fun with the party,” Domi, a Type 1 diabetic who is active as a spokesperson for JDRF, said Thursday during a phone call from Toronto. “We’ll have some entertainment, some inspirational stories and updates on the research to find a cure and how people can contribute to making that happen.”

The virtual party will run from noon to 4 p.m. and Domi will be the host for the first two hours. The guests in that first segment will include Kaleb Dahlgren, who will offer one of those inspirational stories. Dahlgren, who is a diabetic, suffered a fractured skull, brain damage and several broken vertebrae in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018. He is a student at York University in Toronto and has been practising with the school’s hockey team.

Other participants include star George Canyon, actor/singer Gloria Loring along with the her sons Robin and Brennan Thicke, Chopped Canada champion chef Matt Pennell, lead singer , Olympic rower and I Challenge Diabetes president Chris Jarvis, singer Roch Voisine, IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball and Alouettes defensive end John Bowman.

While Domi is excited about this weekend’s event, he was also happy to hear that the NHL and the Players’ Association have set a July 10 date for the opening of training camps, which is Phase 3 of the NHL’s return to play protocol. If all goes well, the 24-team tournament to decide a Stanley Cup champion could begin during the second week of August.

“There are still details to be worked out with the government and the medical people, but it’s a step in the right direction and I’m confident we’re going to be playing hockey,” said Domi.

Domi hasn’t skated since the NHL suspended play on Mach 12.

“It feels foreign to me,” said Domi. “This is the longest stretch I’ve ever gone without skating, but this is the best I’ve ever felt. Players normally take a break after the season, but never three months. Guys are going to come back well-rested and I think you’re going to see some great hockey.”

Domi admitted that he has some concerns because he is a diabetic and the coronavirus represents the unknown.

“The doctors are still trying to figure the virus out,” said Domi. “It affects a lot of older people and people who are immunosuppressed, but young people are getting sick as well and they’re not sure why.

“Nobody knows whether there’s a greater risk for someone who is a diabetic, but I do what I always do, take care of my body, eat well and sleep well,” said Domi. “You control what you can, but you can’t go through life being scared.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186153 Montreal Canadiens “We’re working very hard, the NHL is working very hard with the government to try and get the 14-day quarantine addressed, or at least adjusted, assuming our players get tested,” Molson said. “But if there’s any doubt out there, we’re fully prepared, we’re fully in contact with our Stu on Sports: Canadiens players still waiting for ice in Brossard players and I encourage you to trust that of the 24 teams that are out there preparing (for the post-season) we’re as prepared as anybody.

“I’ll take a step back to the 12th of March and, if you recall at that time, Author of the article:Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette the NHL announced that we were going to take a temporary pause to the season and for everyone to stay in their market and wait until we get through this,” Molson added. “Obviously, we all know what happened Canadiens owner/president Geoff Molson isn’t concerned that the Maple after that. It became obvious that it was going to be a long-term several Leafs already have about 20 players skating in small groups at their months before we can resume any type of hockey and the NHL practice rink in Toronto while there’s still no ice at the Bell Sports announced that the players are free to go home. And depending on Complex in Brossard. where you live, people went home. So we have people that went out west, we have people that went to Ontario, we have people that went to The NHL allowed teams to open their practice facilities to players on Europe and to the U.S. Monday as part of Phase 2 of its Return to Play Plan after the COVID-19 shutdown. “When the NHL announced Phase 2 … when they announced that the players can come back, but the players were not being asked to come “Everything is ready,” Molson said during his 90-minute conference call back or not mandated to come back. Marc stays in touch with all of our Wednesday when asked about the situation at the Canadiens’ practice players, especially through our player representative Paul Byron, and it facility. “The (in Brossard) is ready. We’ve talked to all of our was decided that because of the 14-day quarantine in Quebec it’s players about it and in fact there’s three in the market right now. They’re probably wiser for our players to stay where they are at home, continue coming on Monday and everything’s prepared. We’ve done a lot of work working out together or with whoever they’re working out with. Some of with the NHL to get ready. We’ve done work with doctors to get ready. them are skating, they’re all working out. And it made a lot more sense Marc (Bergevin) and all the GMs are regularly in conversations and, in for them to do that than to fly back to Montreal and stay home for 14 days fact, 17 of the 24 teams are now at that stage where they’re going to without working out and without being guaranteed certainly that there open up their facilities. So not even all of them are doing it yet.” would be a Phase 3, either.” The three Canadiens players now in Montreal are Paul Byron, Jonathan Some points discussed by Geoff Molson on Wednesday: Drouin and Charles Hudon. ▪ Brossard is ready for Phase 2 “You know, to be honest, when there’s 20 players in a market like Toronto, I think that’s great,” Molson said. “But in Phase 2 there’s only six ▪ A few players will train at the facility next week players allowed on the ice at one time and so it’s not like full team practices are going on and I don’t believe the coaches are on the ice, ▪ Support for racial diversity either. So there’s some very strict guidelines in Phase 2 and it’s really ▪ A plan for the future#GoHabsGo https://t.co/lNWU32xM9L about getting players comfortable again skating and the movements and stuff. It’s not until we hit Phase 3, which is training camp, at that point it — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 11, 2020 becomes mandatory for players to come back.” Playoffs still not certain Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs are back on the ice for Phase 2 workouts pic.twitter.com/xul8wBieJV There is still no guarantee that the 24-team post-season — with the Canadiens playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in a best-of-five first-round — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2020 “qualifying” series — will actually happen since the COVID-19 pandemic is unpredictable. The NHL and the NHLPA announced Thursday that Phase 3, which includes full training camps, is now slated to start on July 10 “provided Molson was asked Wednesday what his confidence level is that the post- that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an season will actually happen. overall agreement on resuming play. The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be “Today its very high because I believe we have a really good plan to get determined at a future date.” to Phase 3,” he said. “We’ve got the testing that’s going to be there on a daily basis and I was talking to Dr. (David) Mulder this morning and the Last Friday, the Canadiens announced that the reason there was no ice (COVID-19) tests that we’re looking at — while it’s still not approved yet at the was because the team had taken advantage in Canada — it’s the one that’s been identified as the most accurate so of the COVID-19 shutdown to do “maintenance work”. But a source said far. And if we get that on a daily basis for our players then we’ll be able to that the ice had been taken out because the staff in Brossard had been manage the issues that could arise if they were exposed. laid off. The Canadiens also announced Friday that as soon as a player let them know he wanted to skate, the maintenance work would stop and “The plan, which has not been communicated at all, but the plan if and the ice would be ready within 72 hours. when we do get to Phase 4 — which is playoffs — is pretty tight and the players are going to be pretty well protected from being exposed. It’s just A second source told the Montreal Gazette that Nicolas Godin-Corriveau, going to be a completely different way of us, you all (in the media) and who was general manager at the Bell Sports Complex, has been let go us, watching hockey and being around a team because the players are by the Canadiens and that Claude Robert is now the acting GM. Robert going to be really well protected throughout the process. So I feel really is also the director of operations at Place Bell in Laval. good about it. But you know what … there’s so much uncertainty in the world that you can never be 100-per-cent certain. But I feel really good While it now looks like the ice could be ready Monday in Brossard, a about our plan, the NHL plan.” source said the Canadiens players won’t be able to skate until next Thursday or Friday because medical and sanitation protocols still need to Listen to or read Geoff Molson's full opening statement from be finalized as part of Phase 2 rules. Wednesday's conference call.

Geoff Molson confirms that the Bell Sports Complex is ready for » https://t.co/xr122Xqw90#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/cHZoSCKICI business, and a few players will resume training next week.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/tVqNo6yiXE — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 10, 2020

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 10, 2020 Lots of changes with Groupe CH

Quarantine an issue As the owner and CEO of Groupe CH and the Canadiens, Molson has laid off around 60 per cent of the company’s employees since the Molson said Wednesday that the Canadiens are hoping to hold training COVID-19 shutdown and let others go permanently. camp in Montreal, but the government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone returning from a stay outside Canada could make that impossible Two of the employees who lost their jobs permanently are Dominick and they might need to look elsewhere. Saillant, who had spent 23 years with the club and was the senior director of hockey communications, and François Marchand, who was a Taking a knee? communications manager. They both dealt with the media on a daily basis. Molson was also asked about the possibility of Canadiens players taking a knee or using some other form of silent protest against racism, police On Wednesday, Molson said the decision to let them both go was not a brutality and to support the Black Lives Matter movement during the financial one. playing of the national anthems before games.

“This pandemic has caused me and my management team and others to “I think that every player has the right to express themselves and we’ve look at our structure and say: OK, so how do we want to be operating seen it so much over the past couple of weeks and I fully support that,” moving forward?” he said. “And it has nothing to do with anything other he said. “The individuals have the right to protest however they want or to than how we want to structure ourselves so that we’re better prepared for not protest however they want. For me, the most important thing is that I these types of situations and leaner and stronger and ready to go out believe that it’s an important cause and I believe that our organization will there and start a new season. continue to do what it can do to support making it better for the next generation and that’s what we will do. And based on the letters that our “What we did was to restructure our organization and we have structured players wrote … some of our players wrote, I believe they are behind it it so that we feel we have the right people in the right places for us as well. So if we can find ways to contribute and make a difference we moving forward,” Molson added. “And so that’s moving forward and we will do it.” feel confident about that, even though it’s hard. It’s not easy to do these things, but these things do happen in business and it doesn’t take When asked how the Canadiens can address and support movements anything away from the people that are no longer working for us.” like Black Lives Matter, Molson said: “As you saw last week, we issued a statement and we also had some real heart-felt statements from our The @NHL and NHLPA have agreed on a July 10 opening date for players, such as Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher. The whole world formal training camps: https://t.co/AjHX2Q1zuu appears to be behind this. For us, we will continue to support it, support pic.twitter.com/2QbJfzKyKr the movement in everything we do. We have been and we will always be — NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 11, 2020 very welcoming of all fans and all spectators to any of our events and certainly we will follow this as it goes along and be very supportive of it.” Looking for financial aid Déclaration des Canadiens de Montréal Last December, Forbes listed the Canadiens as the third most-valuable franchise in the NHL with a value of US$1.34 billion, trailing only the New A statement from the Montreal Canadiens pic.twitter.com/6ldXHq6ATP York Rangers ($1.65 billion) and the Maple Leafs ($1.5 billion). — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 1, 2020

On Wednesday, Molson was asked about Groupe CH — which also Birthday boy owns evenko, Spectra and Just for Laughs — petitioning the Quebec government for financial relief because of COVID-19. Happy birthday to Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby, who turned 54 on Thursday. “Like all large cultural institutions in Quebec, this is a crisis without precedent,” Molson said. “And we need to do everything in our power to Video of the day assure that our festivals can come out of it. And it’s a challenge that is particularly relevant to our big festivals, the majority of which are free and Life as a Tampa Bay Lightning player must be pretty sweet, as Montreal financed by private sponsorships as well as government subsidies. We native Alex Killorn shows here: have excellent sponsors, and we thank them, but we also have an There’s nothing quite like the pressure of skulling a flop shot into your excellent relationship with the governments, whether it’s municipal, living room. @henrikstenson where you at?! provincial or federal. Their support is important to us, but it is also pic.twitter.com/qvMkYaa8wY important to them because when we put on a festival like Les Francos, the Jazz Festival, Osheaga, Montréal en Lumière, we bring tourists. — Alex Killorn (@Akillorn19) June 11, 2020 Thousands and thousands of tourists. We fill hotels. We fill restaurants. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.12.2020 “Our economic impact is good for the province and the city of Montreal, and we want to continue to do that. So when we ask for the support of our governments, that’s why, because we look forward to coming back next year with all our festivals that were lost because of the pandemic, our big festivals, the majority of which are free through Spectra. And we need the support of governments, who also need us as partners as well. That’s why we want support, because it’s always been there.”

Plans for Bell Centre

There won’t be any more games at the Bell Centre this season since the post-season games will be held at two hub cities that the NHL has yet to decide on with no fans in the stands.

But the league and the Canadiens obviously hope games will be able to be played at the Bell Centre and other NHL arenas next season — whenever that might start — with fans in the seats.

“There’s so much uncertainty around this pandemic it’s really hard to predict exactly what’s going to happen and when it’s going to happen,” Molson said when asked about future games at the Bell Centre. “We are in constant contact with our season-ticket holders and our suite holders. I’m fully aware that there’s some people that are going to be comfortable going to the games and some that aren’t. I’m aware that the province is going to decide for us when we can open our doors to fans.

“We’ve sort of switched gears,” he added. “We were in crisis- management mode for the first three months of this thing with all the uncertainty. For the next five or so months, our focus is going to be on making the Bell Centre as safe as we possibly can make it for fans when they do come. And so for those that choose to come because they’re going to feel more comfortable there will hopefully be none, but fewer things that they will have to touch in order to get into the building and use the facilities or order food or whatever. So we’re working aggressively on that.” 1186154 Montreal Canadiens John Davidson with the Rangers, Bob Nicholson in Edmonton or in Los Angeles. There are even two teams, the Islanders and Carolina, where the president is also the GM. But in the majority of cases, team presidents look after the business side, which is why there Geoff Molson might not need a new president but some new blood are five teams where the GM also holds the title of president of hockey wouldn’t hurt operations to differentiate them from a president who oversees the organization’s business side.

Molson rightly said Wednesday that having a president of hockey By Marc Antoine Godin Jun 11, 2020 operations is rare in the NHL. You could make the argument only one team, the Vegas Golden Knights, has someone that fits that title. George McPhee, formerly the GM, was promoted and replaced by his assistant, Geoff Molson has had it up to here. Kelly McCrimmon. The relationship of authority was maintained and the two have continued working together since the switch. He is the head of a conglomerate that includes not only the Canadiens and , but also evenko, l’Équipe Spectra and several show Other teams tried it and dropped the position afterwards, like the Calgary venues. Through the entirety of the Groupe CH umbrella, there has been Flames, who never replaced Brian Burke after the two parted ways in no revenue coming in for three months. Only expenses. 2018. He was president of hockey operations above GM but everyone involved agreed Burke’s role had become redundant. “We were rolling along at 100 miles an hour and suddenly everything was at zero,” Molson said Wednesday during a 90-minute conference call So Molson had some ammunition in strongly reiterating his confidence in with reporters. and saying no one should come between him and his GM.

Under the circumstances, it would be understandable that Molson Bergevin is the only general manager Molson has ever hired. Would you doesn’t want to hear about adding a layer to the organization’s hierarchy, like someone experienced to guide and be a sounding board for the especially when he was just forced to significantly cut his staff and president/owner? It was back when Molson began the process of hiring merely speaking about it Wednesday appeared to choke him up at times. Bergevin that one would have been useful. Savard was asked to assist in the GM search, but he was quickly pushed aside. What we were left with But long before the pandemic put his business in such difficulty, the was a rookie GM being hired by a rookie president. notion of adding a president of hockey operations was a talking point that Molson heard often. Eight years later, with both men having gained considerable experience in their respective jobs, could anyone see a scenario where Molson Wednesday, in the aftermath of a new rumour linking Vincent would hire someone to be an intermediary between the two? Would that Damphousse to the job, Molson shut down that rumour forcefully. not be a sign of waning confidence in Bergevin? Would it not lead to that It wasn’t the least bit surprising. relationship being fractured?

At the end of April, nearly 2,000 people took part in a survey at The Having said that, Molson also said he has invited his entire leadership Athletic Montreal on various subjects surrounding the Canadiens. One of team at Groupe CH – and not just at the Canadiens – to take advantage them was whether fans saw a necessity for a president of hockey of this time to look at how they do things, to look for innovative ways to operations. More than 75 percent of the 1,977 respondents to that improve, to be more efficient, to look for different methods. question answered yes. But innovation is harder to identify among a group that has been together Those respondents probably wanted a higher level of accountability in for eight years and has developed their own working habits. The the organization. But Molson would have reason to believe that on top of counterpoint to stability is that things can become stale. This is not only a thinly veiled criticism of Marc Bergevin, this story keeps returning true of the Canadiens, but any group that has not received an injection of because there is doubt in his ability to oversee the Canadiens hockey new blood risks forming a tight ideological bubble where groupthink sets operations department. in and the right questions are no longer asked. In the Canadiens front office, Bergevin, Scott Mellanby and Martin Lapointe are all former Molson seemed quite annoyed by it. players cut more or less from the same cloth. It’s one thing to constantly “I look at my peers in the NHL, and I’m pretty sure that the respect is say that Bergevin’s team is empowered to question his decisions, the fact there, as it was my fellow NHL teams that voted me on the executive remains that in terms of varied profiles on that team, only vice-president committee to the NHL,” Molson said. “I know that we have a great culture of hockey affairs and legal affairs John Sedgwick jumps out. in this organization, whether it’s on the hockey side or the business side. Does that group really question itself all that much? The Canadiens say I know that I have a leadership team that is entirely dedicated to building they do. They are the only ones who know for sure whether that dynamic this business and doing well in this business. I don’t really have to prove works well or not. But those 75 percent of survey respondents who hope myself. I’ve been doing this for 11 years, I now have a lot of experience to see the arrival of a watchdog of sorts are basing that desire on their in it, and I feel confident in my ability. The media can judge however they only point of reference, which is the on-ice results of the team. choose to.” The Canadiens have not finished in the top 16 in the league in three However, when he was asked for his criteria for success and a timeline straight seasons and four of the last five. Molson talks about a team for when that success will be had, Molson began by answering that the that’s had some success – he is probably referring to the 2014 run to the question would be better addressed by Bergevin. It was a missed Eastern Conference final – but the highlights are few and far between for opportunity to assert his role as president, as the one who determines a team working in what is supposedly a results-based business. On The the fate of his GM by knowing exactly what he expects out of him. Athletic alone in recent weeks, an anonymous coach equated the When Molson became the majority owner of the Canadiens in 2009, the Canadiens with a triple-A team and a poll of NHL scouts found the president of the team was Pierre Boivin. Boivin was a hockey fan, no Canadiens to be one of the worst in the league at drafting and doubt, but he was an administrator above all. So even though Molson development, which is at the heart of the team’s current plan. was younger and less experienced than Boivin, he considered himself These little signs coming from the rest of the hockey world should, at able to fill that role and replaced Boivin with himself on June 30, 2011. least in my view, lead to some questions being asked.

Before the Boivin era, Ronald Corey left a management position at the If Molson sees no problems with his own leadership, if he is satisfied with O’Keefe brewery to become president of the Canadiens, where he was Bergevin’s work and that of his front office, what level of the organization notably responsible for hiring and firing former GM . Before should be targeted to avoid complacency? Who will open the windows to that, two other members of the acted as team president. let in some fresh air? Basically, having a hockey man serve as team president is not in the Canadiens’ DNA. It is rare that a general manager gets the opportunity to clean up his own mess, but the fact remains Bergevin has made many good decisions NHL teams are structured in different ways. The Canadiens are currently since announcing his reset two years ago. He stocked up on draft picks, one of three teams, along with Buffalo and Detroit, who have a president held on to his prospects, judiciously managed his finances and avoided who is also a majority owner. Other teams have a so-called hockey man mistakes on the free agent market. So it is understandable that Molson as president, like in Boston, in Toronto, has stood up for Bergevin and that both men agree on the correct path forward. The GM has received a lot of leash.

“When we embarked on this plan, two years ago, it was a commitment to be successful with it, and we haven’t reached that goal yet,” Molson said, “but we sure believe that we have a good plan.

Basically, despite the lack of results, Molson sees his team moving in the right direction.

“I still believe that we have an extremely exciting next few years ahead of us,” he said. “I believe that we have a great core group of veterans that are going to lead us through this. We have some young players that are already on the team that we know are going to contribute. We’ve got some prospects coming that we are very hopeful on. And the plan overall has been well executed, despite some performance issues that we had this season. And on top of that, we have 14 draft picks coming up in this year’s draft, who knows what we can do with those?”

In theory, that all sounds great and the majority of fans appear willing to follow along and wait. But we can only hope someone will have the credibility and distance required to tell everyone, should it become necessary, that their compass is leading them astray.

A special assistant to the president, one with experience who can act as a sounding board and bring an outside viewpoint to a stagnant situation, perhaps that’s all Molson actually needs.

Especially since he’s had it up to here.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186155 Montreal Canadiens Finally, I would like to address one last point before taking questions. I need to address the rumors that have been circulating a little bit everywhere now. I am still young and in good health – I’m knocking on wood while I say this. I love what I do, and I am very proud to be the Canadiens owner Geoff Molson broke a three-month silence and said CEO of this fantastic sports and entertainment organization. I have a nothing leadership team that is dedicated, motivated, and very competent. And even though we have accomplished a lot during the 11 years since I took

this position, I still have a lot of ambition to do more long-term as CEO of By Arpon Basu Jun 11, 2020 this company. My biggest dream – and also the most important one – is to bring home a 25th Stanley Cup to Montreal one day. I have no intention to hire another president of hockey. There are very few teams across the NHL that do so, and there are a lot of reasons why. Marc On the 90th day, Geoff Molson spoke. [Bergevin] is one of the most respected GMs in hockey. He is also now Aside from an appearance on RDS in April, Molson has said nothing among the most experienced, and he will continue to report to me. He is since the pandemic forced the NHL to shut its doors on March 12. very well surrounded by people with a lot of experience, including – Nothing as COVID-19 ripped through the city of Montreal like an axe. without naming everyone – people like Scott Mellanby, Martin Lapointe, Nothing as the world, his own players and his own team reacted with and John Sedgwick. There is a culture team-wide, and surrounding Marc, horror to the death of George Floyd and vowed to work harder to to never be afraid to question the decisions we take. eradicate racism from our world. Nowhere in that statement was anything said about how COVID-19 has This conference call with the media on Wednesday was Molson’s ravaged Montreal, just his business. Nowhere in that statement is there opportunity to address all of that, to take a leadership role in this any mention whatsoever about the societal change we are all witnessing community on both fronts, to make strong statements and strong before our eyes when it comes to racial injustice. Nowhere in that commitments on societal issues of far greater importance than the game statement – aside from a brief mention of the team’s charitable efforts of hockey and his own business interests. during the time of the pandemic – is there a sense that Molson is the least bit concerned about anything other than his business. Molson did none of those things. His strongest statement, and seemingly his entire motivation for finally agreeing to get on a conference call after The question that is worth asking is whether Molson has a responsibility three months of silence, was related to something relatively trivial. It was to make those statements. As principal owner and president of perhaps related to hockey, and it was related to his own job on his own hockey the most visible private company in Quebec, is Molson obliged to take on team. a leading role when it comes to societal issues at a time when they are far more important than the issues surrounding his hockey team? Or A week earlier, on June 3, columnist Réjean Tremblay speculated in the should he, and by extension the organization, be permitted to stick to pages of Le Journal de Montréal that former Canadiens captain Vincent sports, as it were? Damphousse would, within a year, be president of the Canadiens. It was the final line in a story about all of the layoffs and firings that have come I decided to ask him. Here is my question, which was preceded by about as a result of the pandemic at Le Groupe CH. On all of the people specifically noting the pandemic and the racial injustice protests who have left the company in the last few years. The line was a subtle happening right now, followed by his answer. suggestion that perhaps Molson would be best served by stepping into Question: “As an organization, and as the president and CEO of that the shadows as majority owner of the team and not necessarily as organization, what role do you think both you and the organization should president of the Canadiens. play on leading the societal debate on societal issues, on issues that Molson began his conference call on Wednesday with a prepared don’t necessarily have anything to do with hockey?” statement, one that would have been crafted beforehand with the help of Answer: “Yeah, it’s a good question. I don’t think it’s up to one his “leadership team” that he referenced so often throughout the 90- organization to lead a debate. And what I say to my folks, and I minute call. It was his lone opportunity to say what was on his mind free encourage them to say as well, is that when we get engaged behind a from reporters’ questions. movement or something that is meaningful to the community, we do the Here is that statement in full, delivered entirely in French. This is the best we can, within our environment, to lead the way we can lead. But translation posted on the Canadiens’ website. our expectation is that others will do the same. And I think the one thing that the Montreal Canadiens have is a very powerful brand. And when we Hello everyone, make statements, people listen. And so, we’re very careful about how we I hope you are all doing well, and your families are doing well and staying make statements, but we certainly do choose when we do. Both of these healthy. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, and I look crises that are happening in our world right now, there’s going to be more forward to that day when we’re back at work together. in the future, and the Montreal Canadiens are totally engaged. But our expectation is that the other communities and businesses join along with As you can imagine, I’m personally very excited for the playoffs to start. whatever they can do as well. ” I’m very happy for our players, our veterans who will get the chance to play in the playoffs, and our young players who will get playoff It is important to include Molson’s full answer because it is a response experience. I think it’s going to be a very good thing for our Club. I’m also worth contemplating. Boiled down, Molson said that no, the Canadiens happy for our fans who are going to get the chance to watch playoff should not be leaders on issues like these. They should be part of a hockey this summer – even if the arenas are empty – watching on collective movement. No more or less important than the rest of the television should be extraordinary. business community in Montreal. And in a way, he’s right. Why should the burden fall on the Canadiens to lead the way when a pandemic To touch on the situation surrounding COVID-19, it’s something that has ravages the city they play in? Why should the burden fall on the had a terrible impact worldwide, including here in Quebec, affecting Canadiens to use their “powerful brand” to lead the way on racial industries from A to Z. In our case, leading up to March 12, we were injustice in the city they play in? rolling at 100 miles per hour before things came to a halt. It’s already been three months that we are on hold, and it could be many more. And No one is obligating them to do so. But wouldn’t it be nice if they did? when I say many more months, I’m not just speaking about our hockey The second questioner called upon during Molson’s conference call was club – which is very important to our business – but also evenko, John Lu of TSN. He asked about racial injustice. Again, in the full Spectra, Just for Laughs, and all of our summer festivals that have been interests of context, here are the questions and answers in full. canceled. Having said that, we are very proud of our efforts to support our employees. However, like a lot of companies across the world that Question: “What steps would you like to see the Canadiens undertake in have been seriously impacted, we had some difficult decisions to make. terms of trying to support racial inequality and the movements like Black We are also proud of our efforts to support the community. I’m referring Lives Matter, given the type of influence the Canadiens have in the to the meals that we’ve been preparing for those in need, via initiatives sports world and in society at large, especially Quebec society?” put forth by our players, as well as our own Rise Together initiative that Answer: “Yeah, I think it’s a great question and, as you saw, last week has raised over $100,000. we issued a statement and we also had some real heartfelt statements from our players such as Shea Weber and Brendan Gallagher. The whole world appears to be behind this. For us, we will continue to support part of a collective rather than a leader of that collective? To punt on it, support the movement. In everything we do we will be – we have been, leading positive change? and we will always be – very welcoming of all fans and all spectators to any of our events. And certainly, we’ll follow this as it goes along and be The Canadiens, it is often said, belong to the people. It is a public trust, very supportive of it.” and Molson is the current trustee. Perhaps this is a time when the owner of the Canadiens should take that role of public trustee more to heart. Question: “Do you get the sense of kind of a societal revolution within the league, especially when you consider Akim Aliu, his column that he put If his company is an economic engine, if the Canadiens are beloved out that addressed the issue of racism in hockey, do you see that there throughout Quebec society and beyond, it would be nice if Molson felt are steps being made that will probably improve the state of race more empowered to be a strong agent of change, to be a strong voice relations within the NHL, given that the players we mentioned have when one is needed in Quebec and in hockey at large. It would be nice if spoken out on that issue?” the owner of the Canadiens used that influence to its full extent. Molson had an opportunity to do that on Wednesday, and he failed to seize it. Answer: “I sure do believe we will, and I hope we will. We’ve got a task force – the NHL has a task force – of people that are dedicated to this Which begs one final question: when the owner, president and CEO of and want to increase the respect for diversity in the NHL and across all the Canadiens waits three months to say something and then proceeds teams. So for sure, and I’m entirely behind it.” to say nothing of substance, is it of any value?

The immediate takeaway on both those answers? Look at the final The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 sentence of each one.

“And certainly, we’ll follow this as it goes along and be very supportive of it.”

“So for sure, and I’m entirely behind it.”

Again, the question is worth asking. Would it not be incumbent on the leader of the Canadiens to not follow, to not be behind, but rather be ahead of these issues? To use his influence to help enact change for good, both in society and in his own sport? Also, it should be noted Molson did not mention a single tangible step the Canadiens will take to promote this cause.

About 45 minutes later, Molson was asked by Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press how he felt about his players using their platform as Montreal Canadiens to protest racial injustice.

“It’s a good question,” Molson began. “I think that every player has the right to express themselves. We’ve seen it so much over the past couple of weeks, and I totally support that. Individuals have the right to protest however they want or to not protest however they want. To me, the most important thing is that I believe that it’s an important cause and I believe that our organization will continue to do what it can do to support making it better for the next generation, and that’s what we will do. Based on the letters that some of our players wrote, I believe they are behind it as well. So if we can find ways to contribute and make a difference, we will do it.”

Again, look at the last sentence.

“So if we can find ways to contribute and make a difference, we will do it.”

Is it so hard to find ways to contribute and make a difference? Why is that an if?

But going back to “stick to sports,” Alexandre Pratt of La Presse asked Molson why Groupe CH was seeking government assistance. Here is his answer, in full.

“Like all large cultural institutions in Quebec, this is a crisis without precedent. And we need to do everything in our power to assure that our festivals can come out of it. And it’s a challenge that is particularly relevant to our big festivals, the majority of which are free and financed by private sponsorships as well as government subsidies. We have excellent sponsors, and we thank them, but we also have an excellent relationship with the governments, whether it’s municipal, provincial or federal. Their support is important to us, but it is also important to them because when we put on a festival like Les Francos, the Jazz Festival, Osheaga, Montréal en Lumière, we bring tourists. Thousands and thousands of tourists. We fill hotels. We fill restaurants. Our economic impact is good for the province and the city of Montreal, and we want to continue to do that. So when we ask for the support of our governments, that’s why, because we look forward to coming back next year with all our festivals that were lost because of the pandemic, our big festivals, the majority of which are free through Spectra. And we need the support of governments, who also need us as partners as well. That’s why we want support, because it’s always been there.”

How could Molson say that, and at the same time say that his company should not be a leader on societal issues? Is there not a disconnect there? Because if the company is benefitting society, and is also being compensated by the government for that benefit to society, is it not then obligated to use its “powerful brand” to advance society? Is that not part of the deal? Or is it OK for that company to simply follow others? To be 1186156 Nashville Predators Zone Exits 8.41 (1st)

Expected Goals A Norris Trophy voter guide: Who deserves to be on the ballot? 0.22 (2nd)

OZ Pass Completions By Adam Vingan Jun 11, 2020 16 (2nd)

Here are those metrics boiled down to one play: On Monday, members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association received their ballots for the NHL awards. The finalists will miss out on an The abrupt end of the regular season might work against Josi in the eyes all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas, but at least we will be spared from of some voters, as he was unable to close the gap in the scoring race terrible comedy sketches featuring B-list celebrities and Gary Bettman. with Carlson. Josi finished with 65 points, a single-season record for a Predators defenseman. The Norris Trophy is among the awards decided by the PHWA. Voters are asked to submit five players for each, ranking them from 1 to 5. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

By the time the regular season ended in March, John Carlson and If Hedman is chosen as a Norris Trophy finalist for the fourth consecutive Roman Josi had separated themselves from the pack in the Norris year, no one will be surprised. (The last defenseman to finish in the top Trophy race. But several other defensemen had outstanding seasons as three in Norris Trophy voting in four consecutive seasons was fellow well. Swede Nicklas Lidstrom from 2005-09.)

Here are five standout candidates who deserve to be on the ballot. Hedman has a well-earned reputation for being one of the league’s steadiest defenseman, playing big minutes for the juggernaut Lightning. John Carlson, Washington Capitals That was the case again this season. He was great at moving the puck, As the highest-scoring defenseman in the league this season, Carlson is especially in the offensive zone, where he completed 81 percent of his going to be on top of many ballots. He had 75 points in 69 games, an pass attempts. average of 1.09 per game that was the best by a defenseman in 26 Victor Hedman's Offensive Impact years. Points Eight of the past 10 Norris Trophy winners finished either first or second in scoring at the position. (Victor Hedman in 2018 and Drew Doughty in 0.83 (5th) 2016 were the exceptions.) Zone Exits It is easy to be blinded by point totals when assessing a player’s performance, though, which is why it is important to dig deeper. 5.39 (7th)

Carlson has faced criticism of his defensive play this season. His 51.0 OZ Pass Completions expected-goal percentage at 5-on-5 was 84th out of 200 defensemen 14.1 (7th) with at least 500 minutes of ice time. But Carlson finished in the top 10 in multiple categories that have an impact on the defensive side of the OZ Pass Completion Rate game. 81% (9th) John Carlson's All-Around Impact Hedman is the only defenseman to record at least 50 points in each of Blocked Passes the past four seasons.

6.61 (3rd) Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues

True Turnover Rate Pietrangelo suffered no Stanley Cup hangover this season. In fact, he played even better than a year ago. 11.5% (7th) In captaining the Blues to the best record in the Western Conference, Puck Battle Wins Pietrangelo was proficient in all three zones. Offensively, he was one of 3.25 (8th) the most dangerous defensemen in the league when it came to generating high-percentage scoring opportunities, averaging the fifth- Loose Pucks Recovered most slot shots per game. His 16 goals were tied with Josi for second at the position. 26.5 (8th) Alex Pietrangelo By The Numbers Carlson is not as strong a defender as others on the list, but he is not a liability. Puck Battle Win Rate

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators 41.5% (1st)

In March, a panel of 41 reporters from The Athletic selected Josi as the Expected Goals overwhelming favorite to win the Norris Trophy. Based on overall impact and importance to his team, Josi appears to have the strongest case. He 0.21 (3rd) is the engine that drives the Predators. Zone Entries

No defenseman had a greater hand in his team’s attack than Josi, whose 2.4 (4th) 2:32 of puck-possession time per game and 149 total end-to-end rushes ranked second and fifth in the league among skaters, respectively. His Stretch Pass Completions average of 25:47 of overall ice time per game was third. 2.96 (6th) Roman Josi On The Attack OZ Possession OZ Possession 0:36 (8th) 0:55 (1st) Pietrangelo was also skilled at transporting the puck through the neutral Zone Entries zone, completing outlet passes and winning puck battles. If not for Carlson and Josi, the Blues’ do-everything captain might have been the 5.35 (1st) leading Norris Trophy candidate. Alex Pietrangelo had 52 points in 70 games this season. (Jeff Curry / USA Today)

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes’ resurgence — Storm Resurgence? — over the past few years has put a spotlight on Slavin’s defensive game.

The definition of a “defensive defenseman” has changed over time. Slavin could represent the modern version. His numbers suggest that he is the most effective defenseman in the league at using his stick to disrupt opposing plays and win puck battles.

Jaccob Slavin's Defensive Metrics

Blocked Passes

7.15 (1st)

Puck Battles Won

3.93 (2nd)

Puck Battle Win Rate

40.8% (2nd)

Stick Checks

2.49 (4th)

— Data via Sportlogiq.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186157 New Jersey Devils UFC was the first sport to return amid the COVID-19 crisis, resuming fights on May 9, while boxing held its first post-coronavirus bout Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

N.J. coronavirus update: Poll shows fans miss baseball the most during NASCAR returned to the track on May 17 and will welcome back a COVID-19 crisis limited number of fans beginning on Sunday.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021.

By Mike Rosenstein The USTA plans on hosting the U.S. Open in Queens beginning in August.

Star Ledger LOADED: 06.12.2020 It was 13 weeks ago Wednesday that the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

The NHL, MLB and NCAA followed suit the next day.

During that time, the masses have been relegated to watching highlights and classic games from years gone by. And that’s taking its toll on sports fans.

Monmouth University released the results Wednesday from a poll of 807 U.S. adults conducted two weeks ago.

Buy coronavirus face coverings: MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA

One of the questions asked respondents: “How much do you miss being able to watch live sporting events – a lot, a little, or not at all?”

A lot: 32%

A little: 26%

Not at all: 42%

The next question asked: “Of the sports that usually play their seasons now, which do you miss the most?”

Before revealing the results, it’s worth noting people could give multiple answers.

Baseball: 25%

Basketball: 19%

Football: 14%

Hockey: 5%

Soccer: 4%

Golf: 3%

Tennis: 2%

Motor racing: 2%

Boxing/UFC/MMA: 2%

The Olympics: 2%

Others: 2%

No answer: 2%

Do not miss watching sports: 42%

In addition, of the 32% who miss live pro sports “a lot," almost half say they miss baseball the most.

All of the major professional sports leagues, as well as the NCAA, are working on plans to resume their seasons, with most expecting games to return without fans in the stands, at least initially.

Major League Baseball is having the most trouble, with the players and owners squabbling over money and the length of the season.

The NBA, NHL and MLS have hammered out plans to restart their seasons with all of the teams sequestered, creating a bubble.

The NFL has conducted its offseason training program virtually, but plans on training camps opening next month with teams at their home facilities.

Several colleges have already welcomed back football players to resume voluntary workouts.

The PGA Tour resumes this week with the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas beginning Thursday. 1186158 New Jersey Devils until a later time. GM Tom Fitzgerald also still remains with interim tag and ownership is talking to candidates (and he's one, too) https://t.co/yEI21m3pLR

NJ Devils GM calls on NHL to let non-playoff teams work with players — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 9, 2020

Defense first

Sean Farrell, NorthJersey.com Published 6:57 p.m. ET June 11, 2020 Getting bigger and stronger on defense will be on top of Fitzgerald's wish list this offseason.

That was his response when asked about the one area in which the The Devils are about to hit the ice for the first time in three months. The Devils could really improve on. It's no surprise considering that the next question is when the coaching staff will be able to join them. Devils' blueline ranked 26th in shots against and 28th in goals.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald said he expects the team to open its "I definitely think we need to look at the back end and size and some practice facility on Monday for players who want to return. hardness with the ability to move pucks," Fitzgerald said. "I don't think we need anything flashy. I just think we need to have more of a presence The Devils can start holding voluntary player workouts, but Fitzgerald back there." would like the league to go even further. He wants the NHL to allow the seven eliminated teams to spend time with players more directly. Bergen Record LOADED: 06.12.2020 "There's definitely going to be some push from us to at least have the ability to work with our players in a smaller window, whatever that may look like," Fitzgerald said in a conference call on Thursday.

"We all believe it's not fair that we could go nine months without having contact with our players."

Feb 18, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) handles the puck during the first period against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.

This week, the NHL moved to the second phase of its Return to Play plan. All 31 teams can join in, but under a number of caveats. No more than six players can train at a time, and no coaches or team staff can participate in on-ice sessions.

The Devils, however, aren't one of the 24 playoff teams that can open formal training camp on July 10. Fitzgerald hopes to find an alternative way to keep his players sharp.

Training camps: NHL announces July 10 as target date for opening of Phase 3 training camps

Team workouts: NJ Devils' Cory Schneider and Travis Zajac plan to join voluntary team workouts

"It could be mini-camp, it could be rookie camp, it could be a rookie tournament," Fitzgerald said. "Maybe the Eastern teams get together. Maybe there's an appetite for all of us to have some sort of mini- tournament."

"It's at the very least allowing our players to come back to New Jersey and work out with our skill development coaches and our strength coaches without any CBA issues. If we can get a big group to come back and they can do this together, that's a big step forward in some sort of competitive nature. I think it would be an edge for our guys or at least, allow us to have some sort of competition prior to whenever next season starts."

Interim tag stays on

Fitzgerald and head coach Alain Nasreddine continue to work on an interim basis during one of the most important offseasons in recent memory. When asked if he was given any clarity from ownership, Fitzgerald said there was no update on their job status.

"Nothing different," Fitzgerald said.

His statement came just before a Sportsnet report that the Devils interviewed NBC/Blackhawks broadcaster Ed Olczyk for their GM position.

Fitzgerald did confirm that there has been an ongoing coaching search "for quite some time." Nasreddine is believed to be one of four finalists after going 19-16-8 this season.

"I think Nas has done a remarkable job for somebody who has never been a head coach," Fitzgerald said. "He had this position thrusted on him. He accepted that challenge. It was a very emotional day I'm sure. I know exactly how he felt. But he took on the challenge. I thought he's done a really good job."

The Devils spoke with 8-10 coaches and produced four final candidates, which includes Nasreddine, but the process itself in on pause right now 1186159 New York Islanders

NHL plans to start training camps on July 10

By Andrew Gross

Details remain to be finalized with health and safety protocols as well as monetary issues. But the NHL moved another step closer on Thursday to resuming a season placed on pause on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 24 NHL teams included in the league’s return-to-play format will start their formal training camps on July 10 if it is safe to do so, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association announced in a joint statement.

That is Phase 3 of the NHL’s reopening plan. Phase 2, the resumption of small-group workouts at team facilities on a voluntary basis without coaches, was allowed to begin on Monday.

There is no timeline yet for Phase 4, the resumption of games, though it’s believed training camps will last up to three weeks.

“Formal training camps [Phase 3] for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10 provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” the NHL and NHLPA said in their joint statement. “The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play [Phase 4] will be determined at a future date.”

Under the return-to-play format, 12 teams in each conference will be sequestered at separate hub cities for the resumption of games.

The seventh-seeded Islanders will face the 10th-seeded Florida Panthers in a best-of-five qualifying series for the 16-team playoffs and the No. 11 Rangers will meet the sixth-seeded Carolina Hurricanes.

But the formal training camps will be conducted before teams report to their hub city. The Islanders are expected to have training camp at their team facility in East Meadow and the Rangers plan to be at their facility in Greenburgh.

Six of the league’s seven Canadian teams – the Ottawa Senators excluded – are among the 24 teams eligible to play for the Stanley Cup. Among the details to be resolved is whether players entering Canada for training camp will be subject to a 14-day quarantine period. There’s speculation some or all of the Canadian teams may seek to conduct their training camps in the U.S.

Overall, players traveling across international borders must know whether they will be subject to further quarantine in order to properly set their travel schedules.

The NHL has yet to select its two hub cities from among 10 candidates – Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver – and the Canadian cities could be eliminated based on quarantine guidelines.

Health and safety protocols, including coronavirus testing, for both training camps and the potential resumption of the season must still be finalized as well.

And, of course, there’s the money.

The owners and players split revenue 50-50 per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with escrow coming out of the players’ paychecks to ensure the split. Revenues will be down for the foreseeable future without fans in the stands and 189 regular-season games lost to the pause. The sides are negotiating to account for the shortfall.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186160 New York Islanders role. I was already too old, because it took me so long to gather the courage to get a sports psychologist.

On how he got into the world of hockey data: Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends and why GMs should take Before I even started categorizing things, I was really in tune to the fact note that not all shots are created equal. In the summer of 2014, hockey had an analytics revolution and that was right in line with the time I was retiring from playing. After 15 years pro and five years junior, I’d played By Arthur Staple Jun 11, 2020 on 20 different teams. I thought to myself, if each coaching staff I ever played for looked at scoring chances differently, then how the heck can

we look at what scoring chances would be like for every team and every Steve Valiquette played 15 pro seasons as a goalie, mostly in the game played during the season? Islanders and Rangers organizations. He’s known now as a studio Then, and only then, would you get historical averages for each shot analyst for MSG Network on Rangers games, but his main project is type. To say that a breakaway goes in 31 percent of the time — you Clear Sight Hockey, the data company he formed in 2015. He and his would not be able to say that unless you’ve categorized all 2,300 partners provide exclusive data on scoring chances for a handful of NHL breakaways that season. So that was my “coming to Jesus” moment with teams, as he outlined in a Q&A with The Athletic in November 2018. the sport, I just couldn’t believe we’d gotten this far in hockey and there Valiquette was a guest on the No Sleep Til Belmont podcast this week was no measure for what a scoring chance is across the league. and offered up more insight into his work and what it’s shown about the The only way I thought that could get done was if I came up with an way goals are scored in today’s NHL, as well as where he thinks data will expected goals model. An expected goals model is built using historical take the league in the coming years. We compiled a few of his answers averages for every chance in the NHL during a season. You need a here in Q&A form. database to hold that — we’ve got 350,000 NHL chances in our (Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.) database, categorized by shot type — and then you have to manually track all of these shots to then get true context for every event. On how he learned the mental side of the game as a goalie: And then you can deliver these things the morning after games for teams Everything changed for me in the ’04-05 season. We had that lockout. I and you can have the structure for a business. That’s what I thought was was very fortunate to have Benoit Allaire stay with me and Jason going to be possible. I didn’t realize this thought would be such a gut- LaBarbera. We were partners in Hartford and we had a goalie coach wrenching experience, because it’s that hard to do. And I’m not even there full-time for the first time at the AHL level. Now, as you know, all 31 worried about anyone copying it because it’s that hard to do. teams employ two, three, sometimes four goalie coaches so there’s coverage. But back in those days, there was maybe one guy who came On where goals are being scored on the ice in 2019-20: in periodically for the NHL goalies. Goals this season and last, there is one shot sequence that goes in more It was basically a perfect storm for me in a few ways. I hired a sports than any other sequence and it’s what we would call a low slot-line pass. psychologist. My friend Steve Montador — the late, great Steve If there’s a line that divides the ice in two and it goes from the middle of Montador — I remember in the summer time, he said, “Vally, if you want the net and stops at the top of the circles — imagine just splitting the ice to play in the NHL you have to hire this sports psychologist I work with. in two equal parts — any pass that begins above the hash mark and is She’s changed my life.” Her name is Giselle Bourgeois. She was in received below the hash mark from one side of the ice to the other, that Lenox, Mass., about an hour and 15 minutes away from where I was in shot accounted for more goals than any other shot type. 736 goals on Hartford. So I was able to get there twice a week. I wasn’t just working on 2,023 shots. the ice with the best goalie coach in the world, I was able to work with a It’s a telling sign to me: “OK, what did this shot show me as a goalie?” It’s sports psychologist. the hardest thing to stop. I’m on one side of the ice, I’m fixed in my The way that changed everything I looked at was understanding where I stance, the shooter’s approaching me, he’s a threat. And now the pass had shortcomings. I was a career .909 save percentage in the AHL, I was goes across the ice. Physically, it’s the first time I have to open my legs. 27 years old and I was pegged to back up Jason LaBarbera at the time I’ve got to be able to move my head, get full rotation, then get down to and I had to realize I had different issues with what the data community my far post. It’s a very difficult technical save — physical, cognitive — it’s would call score effects. very difficult. Of course, I felt that as a goalie, but at the same time I would have said at the end of my playing career that breakaways went in Goalies react very differently depending on the score of the game. These the most often. I would have thought those would have been the scoring are things we only know anecdotally. We don’t know them in fact until we chances that went in the most. categorize scoring chances over and over again and then come up with historical averages, and then you’re able to look at, “Wow, this goalie The next two top scoring sequences in the NHL are actually two different really doesn’t stop the puck when his team’s up by a goal. Any scoring types of broken plays — what we’d categorize as a mid-percentage chance seems to go in on this guy.” And there are goalies in the NHL broken play and then a high-percentage broken play. You can imagine who are plagued with that mental barrier; they’re not able to give how difficult these things are to put into context when you’re training themselves permission to believe in themselves in game conditions. people to watch the game the way you do.

They play really well and make saves when their team is down by two, The simple way of saying it is that a mid-percentage broken play would but not when it really matters. And the psychology of a team, it hinges on be a shot that comes, delivered to the net from the point, in the air. The the mental strength of your goaltender. This is what I’m really fascinated player in front is waving at it, trying to deflect it and it inadvertently hits with right now. I can remember getting rattled playing against the Albany someone’s elbow or shin pad and ends up in the net. That’s a mid- River Rats in the AHL before I started working with my sports percentage broken play because the intent was a mid-percentage shot, psychologist, feeling the pressure playing in a game we had to win. an in-the-air deflection, no screen. They’re in last place, we’re in first place and I get scored on twice in the A high-percentage broken play is a slot-line pass that’s intended for the first period against a team that, full disclosure, I think I’m too good for receiving player. It doesn’t go through and it goes off their skate or their them. I’m too good to be playing against them. And that’s not a good stick. Those went in 434 times last year. It’s neat because when you look thing. Any time you let your guard down because you think you’re better at how the puck ends up in the net at the end of the season, the slot line than somebody, you end up taking that bite in the butt. That’s everything is directly impacted in two of the top three sequences. If you can move in life, isn’t it? the puck from one side of the ice to the other and force the other team to So I had to come up with strategies, with the help of my sports defend, you’re going to get more broken play goals. psychologist, to play the puck. Next puck. Not the opponent, I compete On what the data says about successful teams: against the puck. The puck tells me where to go, when to go, how fast to go, I have to keep squareness on it at all times. That keeps me in the If you’re new to the data, you can always look at who won last year. Who moment. During that year, leading the league in save percentage with my was the most recent Stanley Cup winner? It’s the St. Louis Blues and, partner, it gave me the belief that I could play in the NHL in a supporting with a robust database, you can look at how they create grade-A chances. How often do they create grade-A chances? Are they even unfortunate role I have is that I have to go and explain to a team that this important? year, that shot only went in 7.1 percent of the time.

What I thought was interesting with St. Louis this season was, they are It’s a shot that goes in less than nine percent of the time. What it leads to one of the top-six teams in high-percentage chances for and against in is, “OK, Steve, send me the list of shots, wise guy.” So, I’ll send you OZP (offensive zone play). Only Carolina and Vegas are also in both of everything we have. Here’s the video. those top six. Those are three pretty good teams … Carolina is top five in just about everything except for goaltending. They’re a good team. If I’ll share a couple of the conversations I’ve had. Auston Matthews, he anything unravels Carolina, it’s goaltending. had 41 clear-sighted shots from the slot area in the NHL. Led the league. How many goals would you guess he’d have from there? St. Louis is No. 2, tied with Boston, for slot-line plays created in OZP. St. Louis is No. 7 in slot-line plays that have led to goals, tied with I was like, “11?” He’s the best shooter in the game, isn’t he? He had four. Washington. They’re good at finishing their scoring chances. They’ve got Four goals on 41 shots, and this is the guy I rave about on MSG about a better-than-average shooting percentage, but it’s not outstanding. his release. But I watched those 41 shots just to be sure, and I see the goals he does score. He actually scores when he’s shooting through a Then I would look to expected goals — it’s a rate stat, per 60 minutes. At defender’s triangle, he’s got a really good drag and pull, a release that five-on-five, with the game tied, St. Louis ranks No. 4 at creating high- comes off quickly and surprises goalies when he uses the defender as a percentage chances. At five-on-five up by a goal, St. Louis ranks 30th at screen. So that’s a tactic he uses very well. high-percentage chances and fifth at high-percentage chances against. But does he beat goalies clean when they have that all-important half Now, when I looked at that, I’m saying to myself, “Pretty neat. They don’t second of clear sight? No. There were only three or four guys who stood really go for it up a goal, they pack it in and they play defensively. They’re out this year in that shot type. Jack Eichel had 29 shots from there and good at closing teams out. They don’t give up a lot. They don’t create a scored seven goals — that’s 24 percent and he led the league. He’s one lot.” Then I was looking at Jordan Binnington. What I’ve always looked at of those elite snipers who can look at a goalie and beat him clean. with data is how a goaltender can elevate a weaker team or unravel a very good team. It’s a different sport. It’s an individual playing hockey. I John Tavares had a good year this year — had 21 chances in that never considered myself a hockey player; I was a goalie. category, not a ton, but four goals. So that’s 19 percent. (Evgeni) Malkin, four goals on 19 shots. (Leon) Draisaitl, three goals on 19. So that’s 21 At five-on-five, with the game tied, Binnington ranked No. 3 in expected and 15 percent. goals differential — how many difficult shots he faced, how many goals he allowed, he ranked third. You can have a great technical goalie with a But overall, I’m looking at this list and it’s a tough one to explain to people great physical frame, but if he doesn’t have the mindset to be able to play in hockey if you don’t have the video to back it up. in those different game conditions … you can still help these people, you On understanding game conditions, or score effects, and how important don’t have to trade them. they are:

Another interesting thing with Binnington. At six-on-five, with the other I think this is important because if you don’t look at how your players are goalie pulled, he was No. 4 in expected goals differential. Five-on-five, up performing in certain game conditions, I don’t think you really have a one goal, St. Louis is good at clamping down, not giving up many quality good grasp of the psychology of your team. scoring opportunities. And why is that important? Because Binnington is one of the league’s best at stopping the shots he should stop in those Two years ago the Rangers gave up a bunch of leads at the end of a conditions. bunch of games, and now you’re categorizing your team as mentally soft. Two years ago, you’re giving up a number of games late. But when you He’s at the top of the NHL in not allowing low-percentage chances leave the game level and look at your team, then drill down and look at against. He only allowed one low-percentage goal on 129 shots this your players, it’s amazing how many times it’s the same guy. Some season. That’s neat because now they’ve got a good team in St. Louis people just can’t perform under certain game conditions. There’s an that’s leaning on their goaltender they once didn’t have. Now they have a anxiety, there’s a past experience, there’s something there. guy in there who’s able to close it down. They don’t expect to win. It’s almost like they’re going to relive something David Rittich was last in that category — 10 goals on 126 low-percentage they’ve failed at in the past and they’re going to do it again. It’s amazing shots. Binnington shuts the door when the team is up by a goal, doesn’t when I see teams losing, what their percentage of losing is when the get rattled and doesn’t give up the bad goal where Rittich does. And goalie gives up a low-percentage goal. It’s like the entire bench sinks. that’s why I think it’s so important to look at score effects, because if you don’t know who’s performing when the game is tied, up by a goal or I watch the Rangers so closely so I can speak to them. They had a really down by a goal, do you really know what you have and what you can good season in net with all three guys that played. But I noticed in my count on in the postseason? notes that game-over-game, they lost games when their goalie allowed a low-percentage goal. Is their margin for error that small that their goalies On the battle to convince GMs and coaches of what the data says: can’t give up one low-percentage goal? That sinks the entire game?

Every team now employs an analytics team and a coaching staff and They lost 70 percent of the games when the goalie allowed one low- those two departments have to then relay up to the GM that everybody’s percentage goal against. It made me think a little harder, I wanted to look doing their job, and there can be conflict there. Now, there’s another at what happens if the Rangers score one low-percentage goal and they layer of conflict. give up two — they lost 82 percent of those games. The Devils lost 90 The reason why I was first hired by an NHL team three years ago was percent of the time, 18 games. because I was coming in as the third party that was going to mediate the If I’m the Devils, how much do you look at what the goalies were doing scoring chances the day after a game was played. Because the analytics early in the season? You weren’t giving up that many chances, you group wouldn’t be in line with what the coaches believed they saw. weren’t that bad offensively, but you weren’t getting goaltending. Depending on the game, one day you’d have the goalie coach doing the chances, one day the defense coach doing it. And a chance that goes We went through a stretch with eight coaches fired in a seven-week towards the other team’s net is not qualified the same as one you stretch. Take a look at the goaltending they got and where they were. receive, so there’s a lot of internal struggle there. Within our database, every coach got fired because they didn’t get goaltending. I could go team by team. There’s some teams firing good One of our shot types has been getting lower and lower every year — coaches. clear-sighted shots, ones where the goalie has more than half a second of clear sight on the puck before it comes off the stick from the slot. On expected goal differential and what it says about goalies: When you look at most of the public data, that shot from the slot area — One of the lists I like to look at is expected goals. And then look at the home plate, the house, however you refer to it — that would be qualified differential — the guys in the minus all miss the playoffs. There isn’t a as a high-danger shot for most companies out there. good team that had poor goaltending this year. But there are some good That doesn’t qualify as a high-danger shot for us because we’ve looked teams that had great goaltending and now the perception is they have a at roughly 5,000 chances a year on clear-sighted shots that come from great team, their coach is great. But it’s not always the case. the slot. So a player skates into the slot area, unobstructed, has a bit of time and space, shoots and tries to beat a goalie clean. Now, the I was looking at the expected goals for goalies this year. I used a filter of 950 chances against, which weeds out the backups. You get 22 goalies who qualify. Just quick snapshots:

Connor Hellebuyck, best goalie in the game, should be your Vezina Trophy winner. Jacob Markstrom deserves a big payday. (Tuukka) Rask and (Corey) Crawford, still elite goalies in their 30s. Robin Lehner, he should start over (Marc-Andre) Fleury. Juuse Saros should start over (Pekka) Rinne. (Mackenzie) Blackwood in New Jersey is a legit goalie at 23 years old. (Sergei) Bobrovsky and (John) Gibson, their games fell off a cliff this season.

It’s neat to see how a guy performs based on what he’s facing because we’ve never had the opportunity to see things that way. You could always say the reason Marty Brodeur was so great was because he only had to face 18 shots a night, but you still have to qualify that he had two two-on- ones and a breakaway.

And we can use those same filters for our shooters and our defensemen.

On combining data with psychology to get the most out of players:

Wouldn’t you say that every team should employ a sports psychologist and have the right person to look at this data? Exactly that. I lived this.

What if you have a guy you’re developing? Let’s say it’s Ilya Sorokin. He comes over and he’s playing for the Islanders next year. And he’s not playing well against the lower teams, but he plays big against the big teams. You’ve got a young guy who’s impressionable, he’s finding his way in the league, he’s going to find his way the same way (Igor) Shesterkin has, but he needs a little more help.

Now you have somebody on him. This is the data. Let’s look at the game conditions, watch the video — he has a letdown here. It’s the hardest part about scouting. It’s the reason there’s so many mistakes in the draft. It’s because when we get to the point of developing these players, we don’t know how to psychologically work with them. Then we deem them a bust because we couldn’t get through to them. But you didn’t even know what the root of the problem was.

This is the next frontier of data, to help us get into the mental game. If we’re talking about a developing player or even a superstar who doesn’t score when you need a goal. Maybe that would help a Buffalo, a Jeff Skinner, and seeing when he scores. Not to say Jeff Skinner isn’t going to be able to score five-on-five when the game’s tied, but maybe we can help him. We can help his mindset and have the confidence to perform in those big-time situations. Or your team doesn’t make the playoffs. So on the player level, if you can’t help anybody, how’s your team going to do?

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186161 New York Rangers

NHL plans to start training camps on July 10

By Andrew Gross

Details remain to be finalized with health and safety protocols as well as monetary issues. But the NHL moved another step closer on Thursday to resuming a season placed on pause on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 24 NHL teams included in the league’s return-to-play format will start their formal training camps on July 10 if it is safe to do so, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association announced in a joint statement.

That is Phase 3 of the NHL’s reopening plan. Phase 2, the resumption of small-group workouts at team facilities on a voluntary basis without coaches, was allowed to begin on Monday.

There is no timeline yet for Phase 4, the resumption of games, though it’s believed training camps will last up to three weeks.

“Formal training camps [Phase 3] for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, July 10 provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” the NHL and NHLPA said in their joint statement. “The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play [Phase 4] will be determined at a future date.”

Under the return-to-play format, 12 teams in each conference will be sequestered at separate hub cities for the resumption of games.

The seventh-seeded Islanders will face the 10th-seeded Florida Panthers in a best-of-five qualifying series for the 16-team playoffs and the No. 11 Rangers will meet the sixth-seeded Carolina Hurricanes.

But the formal training camps will be conducted before teams report to their hub city. The Islanders are expected to have training camp at their team facility in East Meadow and the Rangers plan to be at their facility in Greenburgh.

Six of the league’s seven Canadian teams – the Ottawa Senators excluded – are among the 24 teams eligible to play for the Stanley Cup. Among the details to be resolved is whether players entering Canada for training camp will be subject to a 14-day quarantine period. There’s speculation some or all of the Canadian teams may seek to conduct their training camps in the U.S.

Overall, players traveling across international borders must know whether they will be subject to further quarantine in order to properly set their travel schedules.

The NHL has yet to select its two hub cities from among 10 candidates – Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver – and the Canadian cities could be eliminated based on quarantine guidelines.

Health and safety protocols, including coronavirus testing, for both training camps and the potential resumption of the season must still be finalized as well.

And, of course, there’s the money.

The owners and players split revenue 50-50 per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, with escrow coming out of the players’ paychecks to ensure the split. Revenues will be down for the foreseeable future without fans in the stands and 189 regular-season games lost to the pause. The sides are negotiating to account for the shortfall.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186162 New York Rangers role. I was already too old, because it took me so long to gather the courage to get a sports psychologist.

On how he got into the world of hockey data: Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends and why GMs should take Before I even started categorizing things, I was really in tune to the fact note that not all shots are created equal. In the summer of 2014, hockey had an analytics revolution and that was right in line with the time I was retiring from playing. After 15 years pro and five years junior, I’d played By Arthur Staple Jun 11, 2020 on 20 different teams. I thought to myself, if each coaching staff I ever played for looked at scoring chances differently, then how the heck can

we look at what scoring chances would be like for every team and every Steve Valiquette played 15 pro seasons as a goalie, mostly in the game played during the season? Islanders and Rangers organizations. He’s known now as a studio Then, and only then, would you get historical averages for each shot analyst for MSG Network on Rangers games, but his main project is type. To say that a breakaway goes in 31 percent of the time — you Clear Sight Hockey, the data company he formed in 2015. He and his would not be able to say that unless you’ve categorized all 2,300 partners provide exclusive data on scoring chances for a handful of NHL breakaways that season. So that was my “coming to Jesus” moment with teams, as he outlined in a Q&A with The Athletic in November 2018. the sport, I just couldn’t believe we’d gotten this far in hockey and there Valiquette was a guest on the No Sleep Til Belmont podcast this week was no measure for what a scoring chance is across the league. and offered up more insight into his work and what it’s shown about the The only way I thought that could get done was if I came up with an way goals are scored in today’s NHL, as well as where he thinks data will expected goals model. An expected goals model is built using historical take the league in the coming years. We compiled a few of his answers averages for every chance in the NHL during a season. You need a here in Q&A form. database to hold that — we’ve got 350,000 NHL chances in our (Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.) database, categorized by shot type — and then you have to manually track all of these shots to then get true context for every event. On how he learned the mental side of the game as a goalie: And then you can deliver these things the morning after games for teams Everything changed for me in the ’04-05 season. We had that lockout. I and you can have the structure for a business. That’s what I thought was was very fortunate to have Benoit Allaire stay with me and Jason going to be possible. I didn’t realize this thought would be such a gut- LaBarbera. We were partners in Hartford and we had a goalie coach wrenching experience, because it’s that hard to do. And I’m not even there full-time for the first time at the AHL level. Now, as you know, all 31 worried about anyone copying it because it’s that hard to do. teams employ two, three, sometimes four goalie coaches so there’s coverage. But back in those days, there was maybe one guy who came On where goals are being scored on the ice in 2019-20: in periodically for the NHL goalies. Goals this season and last, there is one shot sequence that goes in more It was basically a perfect storm for me in a few ways. I hired a sports than any other sequence and it’s what we would call a low slot-line pass. psychologist. My friend Steve Montador — the late, great Steve If there’s a line that divides the ice in two and it goes from the middle of Montador — I remember in the summer time, he said, “Vally, if you want the net and stops at the top of the circles — imagine just splitting the ice to play in the NHL you have to hire this sports psychologist I work with. in two equal parts — any pass that begins above the hash mark and is She’s changed my life.” Her name is Giselle Bourgeois. She was in received below the hash mark from one side of the ice to the other, that Lenox, Mass., about an hour and 15 minutes away from where I was in shot accounted for more goals than any other shot type. 736 goals on Hartford. So I was able to get there twice a week. I wasn’t just working on 2,023 shots. the ice with the best goalie coach in the world, I was able to work with a It’s a telling sign to me: “OK, what did this shot show me as a goalie?” It’s sports psychologist. the hardest thing to stop. I’m on one side of the ice, I’m fixed in my The way that changed everything I looked at was understanding where I stance, the shooter’s approaching me, he’s a threat. And now the pass had shortcomings. I was a career .909 save percentage in the AHL, I was goes across the ice. Physically, it’s the first time I have to open my legs. 27 years old and I was pegged to back up Jason LaBarbera at the time I’ve got to be able to move my head, get full rotation, then get down to and I had to realize I had different issues with what the data community my far post. It’s a very difficult technical save — physical, cognitive — it’s would call score effects. very difficult. Of course, I felt that as a goalie, but at the same time I would have said at the end of my playing career that breakaways went in Goalies react very differently depending on the score of the game. These the most often. I would have thought those would have been the scoring are things we only know anecdotally. We don’t know them in fact until we chances that went in the most. categorize scoring chances over and over again and then come up with historical averages, and then you’re able to look at, “Wow, this goalie The next two top scoring sequences in the NHL are actually two different really doesn’t stop the puck when his team’s up by a goal. Any scoring types of broken plays — what we’d categorize as a mid-percentage chance seems to go in on this guy.” And there are goalies in the NHL broken play and then a high-percentage broken play. You can imagine who are plagued with that mental barrier; they’re not able to give how difficult these things are to put into context when you’re training themselves permission to believe in themselves in game conditions. people to watch the game the way you do.

They play really well and make saves when their team is down by two, The simple way of saying it is that a mid-percentage broken play would but not when it really matters. And the psychology of a team, it hinges on be a shot that comes, delivered to the net from the point, in the air. The the mental strength of your goaltender. This is what I’m really fascinated player in front is waving at it, trying to deflect it and it inadvertently hits with right now. I can remember getting rattled playing against the Albany someone’s elbow or shin pad and ends up in the net. That’s a mid- River Rats in the AHL before I started working with my sports percentage broken play because the intent was a mid-percentage shot, psychologist, feeling the pressure playing in a game we had to win. an in-the-air deflection, no screen. They’re in last place, we’re in first place and I get scored on twice in the A high-percentage broken play is a slot-line pass that’s intended for the first period against a team that, full disclosure, I think I’m too good for receiving player. It doesn’t go through and it goes off their skate or their them. I’m too good to be playing against them. And that’s not a good stick. Those went in 434 times last year. It’s neat because when you look thing. Any time you let your guard down because you think you’re better at how the puck ends up in the net at the end of the season, the slot line than somebody, you end up taking that bite in the butt. That’s everything is directly impacted in two of the top three sequences. If you can move in life, isn’t it? the puck from one side of the ice to the other and force the other team to So I had to come up with strategies, with the help of my sports defend, you’re going to get more broken play goals. psychologist, to play the puck. Next puck. Not the opponent, I compete On what the data says about successful teams: against the puck. The puck tells me where to go, when to go, how fast to go, I have to keep squareness on it at all times. That keeps me in the If you’re new to the data, you can always look at who won last year. Who moment. During that year, leading the league in save percentage with my was the most recent Stanley Cup winner? It’s the St. Louis Blues and, partner, it gave me the belief that I could play in the NHL in a supporting with a robust database, you can look at how they create grade-A chances. How often do they create grade-A chances? Are they even unfortunate role I have is that I have to go and explain to a team that this important? year, that shot only went in 7.1 percent of the time.

What I thought was interesting with St. Louis this season was, they are It’s a shot that goes in less than nine percent of the time. What it leads to one of the top-six teams in high-percentage chances for and against in is, “OK, Steve, send me the list of shots, wise guy.” So, I’ll send you OZP (offensive zone play). Only Carolina and Vegas are also in both of everything we have. Here’s the video. those top six. Those are three pretty good teams … Carolina is top five in just about everything except for goaltending. They’re a good team. If I’ll share a couple of the conversations I’ve had. Auston Matthews, he anything unravels Carolina, it’s goaltending. had 41 clear-sighted shots from the slot area in the NHL. Led the league. How many goals would you guess he’d have from there? St. Louis is No. 2, tied with Boston, for slot-line plays created in OZP. St. Louis is No. 7 in slot-line plays that have led to goals, tied with I was like, “11?” He’s the best shooter in the game, isn’t he? He had four. Washington. They’re good at finishing their scoring chances. They’ve got Four goals on 41 shots, and this is the guy I rave about on MSG about a better-than-average shooting percentage, but it’s not outstanding. his release. But I watched those 41 shots just to be sure, and I see the goals he does score. He actually scores when he’s shooting through a Then I would look to expected goals — it’s a rate stat, per 60 minutes. At defender’s triangle, he’s got a really good drag and pull, a release that five-on-five, with the game tied, St. Louis ranks No. 4 at creating high- comes off quickly and surprises goalies when he uses the defender as a percentage chances. At five-on-five up by a goal, St. Louis ranks 30th at screen. So that’s a tactic he uses very well. high-percentage chances and fifth at high-percentage chances against. But does he beat goalies clean when they have that all-important half Now, when I looked at that, I’m saying to myself, “Pretty neat. They don’t second of clear sight? No. There were only three or four guys who stood really go for it up a goal, they pack it in and they play defensively. They’re out this year in that shot type. Jack Eichel had 29 shots from there and good at closing teams out. They don’t give up a lot. They don’t create a scored seven goals — that’s 24 percent and he led the league. He’s one lot.” Then I was looking at Jordan Binnington. What I’ve always looked at of those elite snipers who can look at a goalie and beat him clean. with data is how a goaltender can elevate a weaker team or unravel a very good team. It’s a different sport. It’s an individual playing hockey. I John Tavares had a good year this year — had 21 chances in that never considered myself a hockey player; I was a goalie. category, not a ton, but four goals. So that’s 19 percent. (Evgeni) Malkin, four goals on 19 shots. (Leon) Draisaitl, three goals on 19. So that’s 21 At five-on-five, with the game tied, Binnington ranked No. 3 in expected and 15 percent. goals differential — how many difficult shots he faced, how many goals he allowed, he ranked third. You can have a great technical goalie with a But overall, I’m looking at this list and it’s a tough one to explain to people great physical frame, but if he doesn’t have the mindset to be able to play in hockey if you don’t have the video to back it up. in those different game conditions … you can still help these people, you On understanding game conditions, or score effects, and how important don’t have to trade them. they are:

Another interesting thing with Binnington. At six-on-five, with the other I think this is important because if you don’t look at how your players are goalie pulled, he was No. 4 in expected goals differential. Five-on-five, up performing in certain game conditions, I don’t think you really have a one goal, St. Louis is good at clamping down, not giving up many quality good grasp of the psychology of your team. scoring opportunities. And why is that important? Because Binnington is one of the league’s best at stopping the shots he should stop in those Two years ago the Rangers gave up a bunch of leads at the end of a conditions. bunch of games, and now you’re categorizing your team as mentally soft. Two years ago, you’re giving up a number of games late. But when you He’s at the top of the NHL in not allowing low-percentage chances leave the game level and look at your team, then drill down and look at against. He only allowed one low-percentage goal on 129 shots this your players, it’s amazing how many times it’s the same guy. Some season. That’s neat because now they’ve got a good team in St. Louis people just can’t perform under certain game conditions. There’s an that’s leaning on their goaltender they once didn’t have. Now they have a anxiety, there’s a past experience, there’s something there. guy in there who’s able to close it down. They don’t expect to win. It’s almost like they’re going to relive something David Rittich was last in that category — 10 goals on 126 low-percentage they’ve failed at in the past and they’re going to do it again. It’s amazing shots. Binnington shuts the door when the team is up by a goal, doesn’t when I see teams losing, what their percentage of losing is when the get rattled and doesn’t give up the bad goal where Rittich does. And goalie gives up a low-percentage goal. It’s like the entire bench sinks. that’s why I think it’s so important to look at score effects, because if you don’t know who’s performing when the game is tied, up by a goal or I watch the Rangers so closely so I can speak to them. They had a really down by a goal, do you really know what you have and what you can good season in net with all three guys that played. But I noticed in my count on in the postseason? notes that game-over-game, they lost games when their goalie allowed a low-percentage goal. Is their margin for error that small that their goalies On the battle to convince GMs and coaches of what the data says: can’t give up one low-percentage goal? That sinks the entire game?

Every team now employs an analytics team and a coaching staff and They lost 70 percent of the games when the goalie allowed one low- those two departments have to then relay up to the GM that everybody’s percentage goal against. It made me think a little harder, I wanted to look doing their job, and there can be conflict there. Now, there’s another at what happens if the Rangers score one low-percentage goal and they layer of conflict. give up two — they lost 82 percent of those games. The Devils lost 90 The reason why I was first hired by an NHL team three years ago was percent of the time, 18 games. because I was coming in as the third party that was going to mediate the If I’m the Devils, how much do you look at what the goalies were doing scoring chances the day after a game was played. Because the analytics early in the season? You weren’t giving up that many chances, you group wouldn’t be in line with what the coaches believed they saw. weren’t that bad offensively, but you weren’t getting goaltending. Depending on the game, one day you’d have the goalie coach doing the chances, one day the defense coach doing it. And a chance that goes We went through a stretch with eight coaches fired in a seven-week towards the other team’s net is not qualified the same as one you stretch. Take a look at the goaltending they got and where they were. receive, so there’s a lot of internal struggle there. Within our database, every coach got fired because they didn’t get goaltending. I could go team by team. There’s some teams firing good One of our shot types has been getting lower and lower every year — coaches. clear-sighted shots, ones where the goalie has more than half a second of clear sight on the puck before it comes off the stick from the slot. On expected goal differential and what it says about goalies: When you look at most of the public data, that shot from the slot area — One of the lists I like to look at is expected goals. And then look at the home plate, the house, however you refer to it — that would be qualified differential — the guys in the minus all miss the playoffs. There isn’t a as a high-danger shot for most companies out there. good team that had poor goaltending this year. But there are some good That doesn’t qualify as a high-danger shot for us because we’ve looked teams that had great goaltending and now the perception is they have a at roughly 5,000 chances a year on clear-sighted shots that come from great team, their coach is great. But it’s not always the case. the slot. So a player skates into the slot area, unobstructed, has a bit of time and space, shoots and tries to beat a goalie clean. Now, the I was looking at the expected goals for goalies this year. I used a filter of 950 chances against, which weeds out the backups. You get 22 goalies who qualify. Just quick snapshots:

Connor Hellebuyck, best goalie in the game, should be your Vezina Trophy winner. Jacob Markstrom deserves a big payday. (Tuukka) Rask and (Corey) Crawford, still elite goalies in their 30s. Robin Lehner, he should start over (Marc-Andre) Fleury. Juuse Saros should start over (Pekka) Rinne. (Mackenzie) Blackwood in New Jersey is a legit goalie at 23 years old. (Sergei) Bobrovsky and (John) Gibson, their games fell off a cliff this season.

It’s neat to see how a guy performs based on what he’s facing because we’ve never had the opportunity to see things that way. You could always say the reason Marty Brodeur was so great was because he only had to face 18 shots a night, but you still have to qualify that he had two two-on- ones and a breakaway.

And we can use those same filters for our shooters and our defensemen.

On combining data with psychology to get the most out of players:

Wouldn’t you say that every team should employ a sports psychologist and have the right person to look at this data? Exactly that. I lived this.

What if you have a guy you’re developing? Let’s say it’s Ilya Sorokin. He comes over and he’s playing for the Islanders next year. And he’s not playing well against the lower teams, but he plays big against the big teams. You’ve got a young guy who’s impressionable, he’s finding his way in the league, he’s going to find his way the same way (Igor) Shesterkin has, but he needs a little more help.

Now you have somebody on him. This is the data. Let’s look at the game conditions, watch the video — he has a letdown here. It’s the hardest part about scouting. It’s the reason there’s so many mistakes in the draft. It’s because when we get to the point of developing these players, we don’t know how to psychologically work with them. Then we deem them a bust because we couldn’t get through to them. But you didn’t even know what the root of the problem was.

This is the next frontier of data, to help us get into the mental game. If we’re talking about a developing player or even a superstar who doesn’t score when you need a goal. Maybe that would help a Buffalo, a Jeff Skinner, and seeing when he scores. Not to say Jeff Skinner isn’t going to be able to score five-on-five when the game’s tied, but maybe we can help him. We can help his mindset and have the confidence to perform in those big-time situations. Or your team doesn’t make the playoffs. So on the player level, if you can’t help anybody, how’s your team going to do?

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020

1186163 Ottawa Senators So if players returning to game action this summer aren’t leaving their current locations to skate, it’s not likely Brady Tkachuk will be heading to Ottawa.

Five questions facing the Senators as a long offseason begins If desired, players can access the NHL facilities in the city where they live, though not every team is planning to do so.

For example, according to LeBrun, the Blues are not expected to open By Hailey Salvian their facility this week, meaning Tkachuk will be excluded from Phase 2 in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Brown could skate in Toronto as the Maple Jun 11, 2020 13 Leafs are expected to open their practice facilities.

However, this is now the offseason for the Senators. Some players may As the NHL is busy finalizing the next phase of its return to play plan, be transitioning to weight training or dry-land training or skating and some of the details of what the next few months could look like for the working out with their offseason groups. Those skates and workouts Senators have started to materialize. likely wouldn’t be at an NHL facility either, given that some of them aren’t reopening yet. Bobby Ryan told reporters this week he planned to stay at While 24 teams prepare to (hopefully) return to finish the 2019-20 season his home in Idaho and train at a local rink. and Stanley Cup playoffs, the Senators will be settling into a long offseason. Whether the Senators reopen their facilities for other NHLers hasn’t been confirmed. Last week, GM Pierre Dorion shared his thoughts with local media on navigating through an unprecedented break between games. Ottawa natives like Jean-Gabriel Pageau, , Calvin de Haan and Claude Giroux had been skating in small groups at the Minto Skating Still, there are plenty of questions surrounding what this means for the Centre before Phase 2 began. Ceci has already returned to Toronto to Senators. take advantage of the Maple Leafs’ facilities.

When will they know their draft position? Will players get to reunite this Typically hometown players skate at the Bell Sensplex in the summer. summer? When can fans watch the team play again? On May 20, the facility tweeted that they are “closed until further notice.”

We came up with five of the biggest questions facing the Senators as the Are there other ways the Senators can host or participate in offseason NHL enters Phase 2 of the league reopening and the offseason begins in team activities before the 2020-21 training camp? Ottawa. It’s possible that the 2020-21 season does not begin until November, When will the Senators know where their picks are in the 2020 NHL December or even January. One potential start date that NHL Draft? When will the draft be held? commissioner Gary Bettman hinted at was with the Winter Classic on Jan. 1. The single most important part of the offseason is the draft, and by extension, the draft lottery. A January start would be nine and a half months between NHL games played for the Senators and the other six teams not returning to play this The Senators could end up with three first-round picks on what would be summer. a transformative day for the franchise and drastically alter the timeline for the rebuild. Ottawa has selected three times in the first round before So what does that mean for Ottawa? (2011) but has never had three picks that could all be in the top 15, including two in the top six. On a video call last week, Dorion stressed that there needs to be a solution so the seven non-returning teams aren’t left at a disadvantage. The Senators will know on June 26 where one or two of those picks are going to be when the NHL hosts Phase 1 of its modified draft lottery. “We know 24 teams will have a certain advantage of playing before we will ever get a chance to play,” he said. “I’m sure the NHL will look at it The NHL will determine the first three draft slots with a lottery, but since and will look into the matter and will look at what can be done and we are eight of the 15 “lottery teams” won’t be known on June 26, any or all of very confident that a plausible solution will be had for the seven teams those three picks could go to placeholders. A second lottery is scheduled that aren’t playing.” to take place after the qualification round. One idea that has popped up is potential mini camps for the non-playoff Ottawa will have the best combined odds at winning the first overall pick teams in the summer or early fall. (25 percent) by virtue of owning its own pick (13.5 percent) and San Jose’s (11.5 percent). If they win one lottery pick, or don’t win any, their The NHL and NHL Players’ Association would need to sign off on any selections will end up at No. 1 or a combination of No. 4, 5 or 6. The camps, otherwise, they must be voluntary. As per the CBA, players worst the Senators can do is picks No. 5 and No. 6. cannot be mandated to participate in any event during the offseason.

The position of the Senators’ third pick, a conditional first-rounder from If the Senators can come together before training camp is ultimately the Islanders, won’t be known until after the qualifying round and the going to come down to what the NHLPA decides. But the hope from Phase 2 lottery (if one is needed). Ottawa management’s perspective seems to be to get their team back for 2-3 weeks if permitted. If the NHL’s conclusion of the 2019-20 season goes according to plan the draft could happen in mid-October after the Stanley Cup is awarded. Which teams should the Senators root for during the qualification round?

Will any of the Senators participate in Phase 2 of the NHL’s return to play The most important play-in series for the Senators will be Florida vs. the plan (working out/skating at an NHL facility)? Islanders.

The NHL officially entered Phase 2 of its return to play plan Monday. If the Islanders lose to the Panthers, the Senators could receive a third pick inside the top 15, unless it ends up in the top three. Because of the This phase is voluntary and permits players to return to NHL facilities to condition on the pick, the cheering could go either way depending on train and skate in small groups with a number of safety protocols in how the Phase 1 draft lottery goes. place. This phase is open for all 31 teams, so players from the seven teams who are not returning are allowed to participate either at their If during Phase 1 of the lottery, one of the placeholder teams win one, team’s facility or the NHL facility closest to where they have been two or three of the top three spots and New York wins a spot in Phase 2 quarantined. of the lottery, that pick will be moved to 2021. In this case, if a placeholder wins a lottery spot, the Senators should cheer for the But, as Pierre LeBrun reported last week, opening facilities only makes Islanders to win their play-in round. sense if a team has a certain number of willing players. And with Phase 3 training camps not expected until mid-July at the earliest, many players The pick would be outside the top 15, but this year is considered a deep are choosing to stay home and skate on their own rather than return to draft and the Senators would prefer to cash in their picks here, rather their NHL cities, especially if they’re returning to Canada due to the than next year. Especially if the Islanders are supposed to be a playoff mandatory 14-day quarantine. contender again in 2021. A late-round pick at this year’s draft is going to be more valuable than a late rounder next year. If no placeholders pop up in the Phase 1 draft, and there is no need for Phase 2, the Senators should root for the Panthers to beat the Islanders in the qualifying round. Outside of the top three picks, the remaining teams will be ranked based on points percentage. Depending on how the other play-ins go, the Islanders pick could end up in the top 10.

At the very least, if the Islanders lose, the Senators will get a third draft selection between picks No. 13 and No. 15.

When will the Senators play another meaningful hockey game?

Let’s consider the commissioner’s musing about the Winter Classic kicking off the 2020-21 season.

If the season starts Jan. 1 with a big event, the NHL could follow up with a massive Day 2 with marquee matchups like the NBA’s Christmas Day slate.

That would have the Senators returning on Jan. 2, which is 297 days since the Senators last game on March 11.

If there are any delays during Phase 3 training camps or Phase 4 when the qualifying rounds behind, or while trying to complete the season, the start of next year will be delayed even longer.

Perhaps things kick off in November or December. Either way, what we do know is that the Senators, and their fans, are in for a long wait.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186164 Philadelphia Flyers

NHL sets July 10 as starting date for camps; ‘the whole league is excited,’ says Flyers’ Kevin Hayes

by Sam Carchidi,

The NHL finally has a date for when it hopes to start training camps.

The league and the NHL Players Association announced Thursday that training camps will open July 10, provided coronavirus-related safety and medical conditions allow them to and the parties have reached an agreement on resuming play.

This is known as Phase 3 of a four-part plan to restart the season, and it will be mandatory for players to attend camps. Twenty-four of the 31 teams are still standing and have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

“I’m excited!” Flyers center Kevin Hayes texted from Boston, where he is living and training. “We all have been waiting for this. Hopefully everything leading to July 10 goes smooth. I think the whole league is excited.”

In a conference call with reporters, Toronto defenseman Morgan Riellycalled the announcement good news for all the players.

“If you asked most players what was the hardest part about it all, it was the uncertainty," he said.

Among the issues that still need to be resolved: testing and whether players will be quarantined from their families for the length of the tournament. The games will be played at two still-to-be-named hub cities.

The length of camps and the starting date to resume the season (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date, the NHL said in a statement.

Previously, the league said it wanted a three-week camp. If that happened, the season wouldn’t restart until August and would finish in October.

NHL, NHLPA agree on opening date for formal training camps. https://t.co/35lF9nEob0 pic.twitter.com/l6W4VLXVYv

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 11, 2020

When play resumes, the Flyers will play in a four-team round-robin tournament to determine the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference. Boston, Tampa Bay, and Washington are the other three teams.

In the East and West, eight teams will play in best-of-five, play-in series to decide who advances into the Stanley Cup playoffs, joining the round- robin teams. That will leave 16 teams (eight in each conference) with a chance to win the Cup. After the round-robin and play-in series, there will be four best-of-seven series to determine the Stanley Cup champion.

On Monday, at their training facility in Voorhees, the Flyers started voluntary small-group, on-ice workouts that had a handful of participants. The rest of the players have been working out and skating near their hometowns in Canada and Europe.

With Thursday’s announcement, players are expected to return to the area in the upcoming weeks.

The NHL’s regular season was paused March 12 and later declared finished because of the coronavirus outbreak. At the time, the Flyers (41- 21-7) were the league’s hottest team, having won nine of their last 10 games to climb into second place in the .

“I think we should be able to use the momentum we had leaving the break,” said Hayes, 28, who finished with 23 goals, one behind team leader Travis Konecny. “It starts with our older players and core guys to set the tone and make sure everyone is doing the right things.”

The Flyers haven’t won a playoff series since 2012 and haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1975. They hope to reset those numbers.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186165 Philadelphia Flyers

2020 NHL playoffs: Date for training camps set in plan to resume season

By Jordan Hall

June 11, 2020 11:55 AM

The NHL on Thursday nailed down another key date in its plan to resume and finish the 2019-20 season.

In a potential step closer to implementing its 24-team tournament, the league announced Phase 3 (formal training camps) will open July 10, "provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play," the NHL said in a statement. "The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date."

The season was suspended March 12 because of the coronavirus outbreak. Phase 2 (voluntary small-group individualized workouts at team practice facilities) is currently underway for the Flyers and many other clubs.

If training camps consist of two weeks and go safely as planned, the NHL and NHLPA could aim for an implementation of Phase 4 (resuming play) in late July but with early August more likely. A two-week camp would end July 24, giving the league one more week that month to prep for the beginning of the 24-team tournament. Or maybe the NHL could look to begin the qualifying round and round robin in late July to set up the first round in early August. There are still big decisions to be made for Phase 4.

"I believe that if we get a good two weeks, we’ll be fine," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said in late April. "Everybody will be in the same position, will be out for the same amount of time, so we’ll be like everybody else. My staff has a lot of experience. This is obviously something a little different, but we’ve got a lot of experience, I’m very confident that we can get something together that’s going to be very efficient for the players, very efficient to get our team ready and hopefully that’s what happens.”

The Flyers are in solid position within the 24-team field, currently as the Eastern Conference's fourth seed and with an opportunity to climb.

The Flyers went 29-17-7 against the NHL's 24-team field during the regular season. pic.twitter.com/Njf976liJ9

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) June 10, 2020

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186166 Philadelphia Flyers victory. If Philadelphia played that well in even half of a seven-game series, it would roll to four wins.

But that wasn’t the only game the Flyers played against the Penguins this The Flyers’ 8 potential first-round matchups, ranked from toughest to season. You can probably throw out Pittsburgh’s 7-1 thrashing of easiest Philadelphia on Oct. 29; that was a different team, not yet firing on all cylinders nor fully adapted to head coach Alain Vigneault’s system. But 10 days after the Flyers’ 3-0 win, they lost 4-3 to the Penguins in overtime — a game that saw Pittsburgh get the better of play in the first By Charlie O'Connor two periods before closing the deal late. Yes, the Flyers dominated the Jun 11, 2020 third, and arguably deserved to win in regulation. But for a majority of the night, the Penguins were better.

And at least in theory, they’ll be even better now. Jake Guentzel is a lock Back on May 26, when the NHL revealed its 24-team, Return to Play to be back. Jason Zucker was added in February via trade. Brian framework, a few questions remained regarding the exact structure of the Dumoulin returned in March after a three-month absence, and should be tournament and how it might impact the Philadelphia Flyers. healthy and raring to go. Sidney Crosby likely benefited from the time off as well, given that he had core muscle surgery in November, a surgery By securing one of the top-four seeds in the Eastern Conference, the that often requires up to a year of recovery time — just ask Claude Flyers would avoid the play-in round, meaning they were guaranteed an Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere. Expect a much more dynamic Crosby automatic bid to the official, 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs. The NHL also than the version the Flyers saw in January. confirmed the top-four seeds would play in a three-game, round-robin mini-tournament to determine seeds 1 through 4 for the 16-team The biggest thing the Flyers had going for them in March compared to tournament. the Penguins was that the Flyers were clicking and playing as a complete, unified whole, while the Penguins were a mess. But after five It was not known at the time how the first round of that 16-team hockey-less months, pretty much every team will be a mess, at least to tournament would work, though; specifically, whether Round 1 would be start. Presumably, then, the best way to predict a series winner will be a reseeded based on which teams won in the play-in round or if specific straight comparison of roster quality. And by pretty much every public seeds would be locked into playing the winner of specific matchups. In a statistical model, the Flyers grade out as nearly identical to the Penguins reseeded format, for example, the No. 1 seed would face the lowest- or slightly worse than them. seeded winner from the play-in round. In a strict-bracket format, the No. 1 seed would face the survivor of the 8 vs. 9 matchup. The players Of course, the Flyers can beat the Penguins. But if the goal is to advance preferred reseeding; the NHL leaned toward a strict bracket. On June 4, past the first round, they’re the team to avoid if at all possible. the league announced the players had “won” and reseeding would be the format of choice. 7. Toronto Maple Leafs — Seed: 8

This simplifies things for the Flyers. In a strict-bracket format, one could Team quality: 59.3% expected win percentage via GSVA have envisioned a scenario in which Philadelphia won its way to the top Flyers record vs. opponent: 2-0-1 seed, but didn’t get the most favorable seeding matchup possible, if one of the 10 through 12 seeds pulled an upset. Now, the Flyers know that There’s a significant drop-off from the Penguins to our No. 7 team. The the higher the seed they earn in the round-robin tourney, the “weaker” Toronto Maple Leafs have put together only one extended stretch in the opponent they’ll face. 2019-20 — from early December through early January — when it looked like the viable contender it resembles on paper. After that 11-1-1 run, But seeds can be deceiving. A lower-seeded team might actually be a however, the Maple Leafs limped to a 12-11-4 record before the pause. worse matchup for a club than a higher one. Maybe the 11th or 12th seed has historically had a team’s number. Maybe one of the weaker Still, they’re the closest thing to a “sleeping giant” in the Eastern seeds made late-season upgrades that turned them into a far better club Conference field. than their record implies. It’s not necessarily a slam-dunk, lower-seeds- equal-worse-team equation. The Leafs still have one of the best collections of high-end forward talent in the NHL: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Due to the structure of the tournament, the Flyers could theoretically face Nylander. They still have a defense corps filled with puck-moving any of the eight teams from the play-in round, depending on which teams defensemen, and talented depth forwards scattered throughout their win and which seed Philadelphia earns. But which matchups give the lineup. And prior to this season, they had one of the most consistently Flyers the best chance of advancing? above-average starting goalies in Frederik Andersen.

Let’s go through all eight possibilities in reverse order — from least Andersen is a key reason Toronto remained asleep. The Leafs’ play- attractive to most attractive matchup — using Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game driving metrics at 5-on-5 were fine during their post-surge 27-game slog Score Value Added model to include some numbers-based objectivity (though still less impressive than those of the Flyers over that same with our subjective evaluation of the matchups and player quality. The span), but they were let down by a leaky Andersen far too often. If he model’s expected win percentage metric is the easiest shorthand to use: returns from the break and resembles his old self, suddenly Toronto It projects the likelihood of a team winning a neutral-site game against a becomes a very tough out. league-average opponent. For a baseline, the Flyers currently stand at 55.3 percent — fifth-best among East teams. I believe that Dom’s model — which judges the Leafs to be the third-best true-talent team in the Eastern Conference — overrates this team. Aside 8. Pittsburgh Penguins — Seed: 5 from that four-week period, Toronto has rarely looked like a cohesive whole or capable of living up to its potential. But I’d hate to be the team Team quality: 57.2% expected win percentage via GSVA that faces them if they find their bearings. Flyers record vs. opponent: 1-1-1 6. Carolina Hurricanes — Seed: 6 In the weeks leading up to the season’s pause, some Flyers fans wanted Team quality: 54.6% expected win percentage via GSVA the team to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs. After all, what would be more satisfying than watching the club knock off its biggest rival Flyers record vs. opponent: 3-0-1 to prove to the hockey world and the fan base that the Flyers were for real again? The March 5 matchup went a long way toward convincing me that the Flyers could handle the Carolina Hurricanes in a series. While Be careful what you wish for. Philadelphia had won two of the first three games between the teams heading into that contest, it hadn’t looked particularly impressive doing it: That’s not to say that the Flyers can’t take down Pittsburgh. On Jan. 21, At 5-on-5, the Flyers lost the cumulative shot-attempts battle 143-104 they unveiled the perfect blueprint for defeating the Penguins: suffocating (42.11 percent Corsi for) and the expected goals battle 8.63-5.07 (37.01 defense combined with a complete absence of low-percentage plays. It percent xG for). They had instead hung on via a counter-attacking style might not have been 2012 playoffs-level flashy — or even remotely close and timely goals — not puck possession or consistently strong shift-over- to it — but it was incredibly effective, allowing the Flyers to cruise to a 3-0 shift work. That’s a dangerous formula to rely upon in a seven-game However, “out-talenting” them didn’t go particularly well for the Flyers this series. season: They dropped all three games against the Islanders, and it’s not like they were “unlucky” losses, either. The Isles racked up 9.20 expected But on March 5, the Flyers played the exact game necessary to defeat goals at 5-on-5 while Philadelphia managed just 5.54. The Isles played Carolina. The Hurricanes had the puck a bit more, but they rarely sound defensive hockey and baited the Flyers into mistakes. The Flyers seemed threatening. On the other hand, Philadelphia gashed the Canes consistently obliged. for quality chance after quality chance, and cruised to a 4-1 victory. That’s a replicable formula for success. But are those three games predictive out how a series might go? The smartest people in the analytics community would argue no — it is an Can the Flyers replicate it against Carolina with Dougie Hamilton back in incredibly small sample. Look at the Hurricanes last year as an example; the lineup, though? That’s the big question. they dropped all four regular-season matchups with the Capitals and then Hamilton dressed for the first three matchups, and missed the fourth due upset them in seven games in Round 1. Yet there are other times when it to the horrific broken leg he suffered on Jan. 16. But Hamilton — who seems like one team is just a bad matchup for another — think back to was a favorite for the Norris Trophy before the injury — will be back for 2010, when the seventh-seeded Flyers took apart the second-seeded the playoffs, which in theory should give Carolina one of the biggest Devils in the first round after winning five of six games against them personnel upgrades any club will receive. Hamilton is probably the best during the regular season. play-driving defenseman in hockey, and pre-injury, he was operating at The Flyers should be able to take down the Islanders. They are a more peak powers. Don’t underestimate his impact. skilled and complete team. But the possibility that New York might be That said, the Flyers grade out slightly more impressively than the Philadelphia’s kryptonite is one I’m not willing to rule out entirely. Hurricanes by public statistical models, but it’s close. They have a 55.3 3. Columbus Blue Jackets — Seed: 9 percent expected win percentage to Carolina’s 54.6 percent, and they hold edges by Evolving-Hockey’s Skater Wins Above Replacement Team quality: 51.9% expected win percentage via GSVA model. In addition, it would be tough to argue that Petr Mrazek is a better true-talent goalie than Carter Hart. The Flyers would be rightfully favored Flyers record vs. opponent: 4-0-0 in this series. One could make a pretty convincing case that no team benefited more But the Hurricanes are the sixth seed in the tournament for a reason. from the break than the Columbus Blue Jackets. Injury-ravaged and They’re deep up front, stacked with two-way, puck-moving defensemen falling out of the playoff race when the season was paused, the Blue on the back end and have legitimate star power in Andrei Svechnikov Jackets will now get pretty much everyone back — Seth Jones, Cam and Sebastian Aho. The Flyers can certainly beat the Canes, but I can’t Atkinson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nathan Gerbe, Dean Kukan, Alexandre imagine it would be easy. Texier — and have a chance to earn their way into the official 16-team playoff tournament. 5. Montreal Canadiens — Seed: 12 All of that might well be true. But it doesn’t change the fact that, even fully Team quality: 50.6% expected win percentage via GSVA healthy, the Blue Jackets were never a frightening opponent.

Flyers record vs. opponent: 2-1-0 There’s a reason most pundits had them outside the playoff picture before the season. Without Artemi Panarin, they lack fearsome offensive This seems way too high for the 12th seed in the tournament, right? talent. They’re mediocre at best down the middle, especially when Especially for a club that an NHL coach recently called “a Triple-A team” compared to other playoff teams. And they rely on a tandem of Elvis when compared to the Penguins. Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo in net. While Merzlikins, in particular, Let me explain. dramatically exceeded expectations, his season boils down to a scintillating January sandwiched between extended periods of just-OK The Montreal Canadiens were one of the league’s best 5-on-5 teams this work. He’s a useful goalie, but he’s far from a slam-dunk No. 1 entering season in outshooting (54.68 percent Corsi for) and outchancing (54.14 the playoffs. percent xG for) the opposition. Their biggest problems? A lack of finishing ability and a 0.909 save percentage from former all-world goalie Jones and Zach Werenski are a fantastic top pair on defense. John Carey Price. In a short series, it’s not hard to imagine Montreal picking Tortorella is a great head coach. And the Blue Jackets showed last the corners just a bit better than usual, and Price standing on his head for season against the Tampa Bay Lightning that they’re capable of playing a few games, like every player in the league knows he can. over their heads in a short series and pulling an upset over a superior foe. But the Flyers are better on paper, and played better in each of the Also, the Flyers didn’t exactly take it to the Canadiens in their three four games between the clubs this season. They’d justifiably be heavy matchups this season. They squeezed out two tight overtime wins and favorites. dropped a 4-1 clunker in mid-January — one of only two truly bad games by Philadelphia over its final 27. I’m skeptical about putting too much 2. New York Rangers — Seed: 11 weight on three games in predicting what might happen in a series, but it Team quality: 50.5% expected win percentage via GSVA sure didn’t seem like the Flyers had a major stylistic edge over the Canadiens when they faced off. Flyers record vs. opponent: 3-0-0

Montreal is still a team the Flyers should defeat. But you don’t have to Full-season metrics don’t do the New York Rangers justice. Beginning in squint too hard to see why the Canadiens could pose a larger problem January, they stopped getting bulldozed at even strength, which meant than most think. they no longer had to rely on an underwhelming forward corps scoring on 11.15 percent of its shots just to stay afloat. The January promotion and 4. New York Islanders — Seed: 7 emergence of hotshot rookie netminder Igor Shesterkin (0.932 save Team quality: 49.8% expected win percentage via GSVA percentage in 12 games) also looms as a legitimate wild card. And then there’s Panarin, who has been so good this season he turned Ryan Flyers record vs. opponent: 0-2-1 Strome into a player on pace for 70 points.

The New York Islanders stand as the perfect example of the opponent That said, the Flyers faced this better version of the Rangers (sans quality versus preferred matchup debate. Shesterkin, who was injured) in a February/March back-to-back. The Rangers couldn’t have been hotter (they had won nine of their past 10 On paper, the Islanders are one of the weakest Eastern Conference games) or more desperate, as they were just out of a playoff spot. The teams in the tournament pool, even if severely underrated defenseman result? Two Philadelphia wins, secured by a combined 10-5 goal Adam Pelech can return at full strength from his January Achilles injury. differential. They don’t drive play at 5-on-5. They don’t have game-breakers up front aside from Mat Barzal. And they go with more of a committee approach This isn’t to say the Rangers aren’t scary. No one wants to face Panarin, to team defense rather than possessing multiple impact blueliners whom who arguably has been the best player in the world this season. He could teams wish they could poach. Philadelphia should be able to out-talent steal a series. Shesterkin is the epitome of a high-variance goalie the Islanders, regardless of how well-coached they are under Barry entering the playoffs; he could crash back down to earth now that teams Trotz. have had months to study him or he could be the league’s next goaltending phenom. In other words, the Rangers are a high-variance team, and high-variance teams are smart to avoid in Round 1.

Still, the Rangers have a weak bottom six and an exploitable defense, flaws that the Flyers’ depth should be able to expose. The Flyers would also likely feel confident that Selke Trophy favorite Sean Couturier could slow down Panarin, at least to the point where he won’t singlehandedly turn the series in New York’s favor. As long as they can crack Shesterkin, this looks like a very winnable matchup for Philadelphia.

1. Florida Panthers — Seed: 10

Team quality: 47.5% expected win percentage via GSVA

Flyers record vs. opponent: 2-1-0

Even accounting for their roster flaws, the Rangers are still a team that progressively improved this season. The Florida Panthers look like the opposite.

Philadelphia’s home-and-home sweep of the Panthers in mid-February seemed to sound the death knell for the latter’s playoff chances. Florida was in free fall, en route to a 5-9-2 month that reached its low point when general manager Dale Tallon shipped second-line center Vincent Trocheck to another Eastern Conference playoff contender (Carolina) at the trade deadline — an implicit acknowledgement that the Panthers were more concerned with addressing future issues than worrying about making their competition stronger for the final push.

The Panthers aren’t a particularly good team. Their expected win percentage (47.5 percent) is the lowest in the East field. The forward depth was so underwhelming in mid-February that they tried dressing eight defensemen and playing a few of them at forward. Big-ticket free- agent signing Sergei Bobrovsky (0.900 save percentage) has been a bust. They don’t drive play at even strength. They don’t play sound defense. There’s very little in their 2019-20 statistical profile, or from a common-sense perspective, that would lead anyone to believe they’re destined for a long playoff run.

Of course, strange things happen in the postseason. The 2016-17 Ottawa Senators were one bounce in a Game 7 overtime from the Stanley Cup Finals. Maybe Bobrovsky reverts to his former self. Maybe Florida’s impressive group of top-end talent — led by Aleksander Barkov — explodes in a short series and drives an upset. But every potential playoff matchup comes with risks. Florida brings the fewest risks to the table for the Flyers.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186167 Pittsburgh Penguins

‘Burgh’s best to wear it, No. 81: Phil Kessel became a Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins

Seth Rorabaugh

Thursday, June 11, 2020 4:48 p.m.

The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best 100 players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number.

Approximately 25 minutes after the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, in Game 7 of the 2016 Eastern Conference finals, Phil Kessel offered a rare bit of emotion to reporters.

He was laughing, giddy with excitement over advancing to a Stanley Cup Final for the first time in his career.

“I’m so thrilled right now,” said Kessel, who usually treated questions in a passive-aggressive tone. “I … I … I … don’t know what to say. Um … this … is a … uh … a huge moment in my career. I have nothing but good things to say about everybody here … Ha … ha!”

Almost three weeks after that, Phil Kessel was a Stanley Cup champion.

And just over a year after that, Phil Kessel was a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

The Penguins embraced Kessel’s idiosyncratic nature after he was discarded by the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, and he rewarded them with two dominant individual playoff runs while largely playing with the highly popular “HBK” line with Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino. During the Penguins’ Stanley Cup runs of 2016 and ’17, Kessel had 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 49 combined games.

Kessel’s best regular season came in 2017-18, when he put up 92 points (34 goals, 58 assists) in 82 games. But he followed that with a lackluster performance in the 2018 postseason, scoring only one goal in 12 games as the Penguins were beaten by the rival Washington Capitals in the second round.

An embarrassing sweep by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2019 playoffs — and the fact he only scored one goal — led to the Penguins jettisoning Kessel, the franchise’s record holder for most consecutive games played (328), in an offseason trade to the Arizona Coyotes.

He was only with the Penguins for four years, but his impact on the franchise was undeniable. Just have to look at the team’s two most recent Stanley Cup banners to recognize that.

Other No. 81s of note:

• Tight end Elbie Nickel was one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ best players in the franchise’s mostly wretched existence before the 1970s. A 15th- round pick in 1947, Nickel became a three-time Pro Bowler as a tight end while playing in era before the position was even identified by that term. By the time he retired in 1957, Nickel held the franchise record for receptions with 329.

• Wide receiver Charles Johnson was a first-round pick in 1994 who was a member of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XXX team and produced a 1,000- yard season in 1996.

• There were other big names who wore No. 81 in Pittsburgh. But none had a better name than Miroslav Satan. A free-agent signing in 2008, Satan impishly contributed 17 goals and 36 assists for the Penguins in 2008-09 and helped them win the Stanley Cup in ’09.

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186168 Pittsburgh Penguins six-game losing streak. Trotman, like most of his teammates during that stretch, did not distinguish himself in a positive fashion.

(Video courtesy NHL) Penguins A to Z: Zach Trotman entrenched as 9th defenseman Returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scrantonn on March 2, Trotman remained on the second pairing until the AHL halted play in mid-March.

Seth Rorabaugh The future: Assuming the NHL resumes play this summer, Trotman figures to be the top candidate on the blue line for a recall with the NHL Thursday, June 11, 2020 2:52 p.m. presumably allowing expanded rosters.

He’s a veteran who can move the the puck up ice, the base requirement for all defensemen in the Penguins’ organization. Additionally, he’s a right While the NHL is on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, shot and no team can have too many of those on the blue line. the Tribune-Review will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 53 individuals under NHL contract with the organization, from mid- Things figure to be status quo for Trotman in 2020-21. He’s under level prospect Niclas Almari to high-profile trade acquisition Jason contract for another year and clearly has management’s trust, even if he Zucker. is limited. With defensemen Justin Schultz or Juuso Riikola potentially moving on as free agents, Trotman might get a promotion of sorts as a Player: Zach Trotman No. 8 defenseman. Position: Defenseman Regardless of what number might be affixed to him, his place in the Shoots: Right organization is clear as a reserve defenseman.

Age: 29 Tribune Review LOADED: 06.12.2020

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 219 pounds

2019-20 NHL statistics: Eight games, zero points

2019-20 AHL statistics: 27 games, 14 points (four goals, 10 assists)

Contract: First year of a two-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2021.

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing on July 1, 2017

This season: General manager Jim Rutherford has boasted about the depth of his defense for the better part of two years.

First and foremost, there is the top duo of Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang.

Youngsters John Marino and Marcus Pettersson could be with the team for a decade or longer.

Then there’s the highly scrutinized pairing of veterans Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz.

Reserves Juuso Riikola and Chad Ruhwedel are more than capable when pressed into service.

But Rutherford rarely stops there. In fact, he often will go out of his way to speak about the Penguins having “nine NHL defensemen.”

Zach Trotman is the last member of the nonet.

After bringing him in on a one-year contract in 2017, then re-signing him in 2018 to another one-year deal, Rutherford displayed the faith the organization has in Trotman by extending a two-year deal to him last offseason.

His first season under that deal has been something of a disappointment, however, simply because he has been injured so much.

In training camp, Trotman suffered a core muscle injury which required surgery and kept him sidelined until Nov. 1. Once he returned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ lineup, he settled into the right side of the team’s second defensive pairing.

(Video courtesy AHL)

After putting up a respectable five points (two goals, three assists) in his first eight games of the season, Trotman earned a recall Nov. 21 when injuries took a toll on blue line of the NHL roster. He appeared in five NHL games, teamed substantially with Pettersson, before being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Dec. 6.

Trotman suffered another injury, a concussion Dec. 13, that sidelined him for 16 games over six weeks, not returning to the AHL lineup until Jan. 24.

He was recalled again on an emergency basis Feb. 19 and appeared in three NHL games, all of which were losses during the Penguins’ hideous 1186169 Pittsburgh Penguins While teams were busy drafting wingers the size of linebackers in 1992, the Penguins used a first-round pick on Straka. He proved to be ahead of his time. Using his high-end speed and offensive creativity, he put up numbers playing the same kind of game that undersized scorers do Size isn’t everything for these all-time great Penguins today. He had 442 points in 560 games with the Penguins.

5. Jake Guentzel (5-foot-11, 185 pounds)

Jonathan Bombulie And Seth Rorabaugh Guentzel plays in an era where NHL general managers don’t discriminate against smaller players, but NHL defensemen don’t always share that Thursday, June 11, 2020 1:27 p.m. sentiment. Guentzel’s game includes frequent trips to the hard areas of the ice, but he manages to survive and produce. A smart player with a 40-goal season on his resume, there’s no reason the 25-year-old couldn’t On the list of activities Pittsburgh Penguins fans have lamented going climb all the way to the top of this list before he’s done. without while adhering to coronavirus restrictions, it admittedly ranks below getting a haircut or visiting a movie theater. RORABAUGH’S TOP FIVE

Still, arguing about which wingers should flank captain Sidney Crosby is 1. Rick Kehoe (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) a pastime that has been missed sorely over the last three months. For the sake of variety, this list rewards longevity with the organization. As the NHL’s 24-team playoff tournament draws nearer and the And Kehoe was arguably the most loyal person to ever don a Penguins Penguins’ qualifying matchup with the Montreal Canadiens comes into jersey when you consider he spent 11 years in Pittsburgh as a player as focus, the debate undoubtedly will be ignited yet again. well as two decades as a coach or scout. One of two members of the team to win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1981) for sportsmanship, While Jake Guentzel was out with a shoulder injury, the Penguins traded Kehoe held most of the franchise’s career scoring records before the for Jason Zucker and he almost immediately displayed chemistry with arrival of Mario Lemieux in 1984. Crosby, Guentzel’s long-time center. 2. Jean Pronovost (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) The team also reacquired forward Conor Sheary prior to the trade deadline. Flanking Crosby during the team’s 2017 Stanley Cup run, Before Lemieux or even before Pierre Larouche, and with apologies to Guentzel, then a rookie, help form a potent line dubbed “Sid and the the late Michel Briere, Pronovost was the Penguins’ first true French Kids.” Canadian star in the early 1970s. A fairly complete player who played in even-strength, power-play and short-handed situations, Pronovost’s 14 “My first year, we had a lot of fun playing with each other,” said Guentzel, short-handed goals trail only Lemieux’s gaudy total of 49 in franchise now 25. “It’s cool that ‘Sid and the Kids’ kind of got a little name going history. If nothing else, he’s one of the few players who had a around. I’ve thought about it. It would be an awesome experience again. personalized song created for him by legendary organist Vince Lascheid We really feed off each other, know each other’s games. If we have that who would spur on fans to bellow, “LET’S GO … PRO-NO-VOST!” opportunity, hopefully, we have some time to get that chemistry back. Hopefully, in this Phase 2, Phase 3 and the playoffs, we can do that. 3. Martin Straka (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) Hopefully, we can make another run for it.” As a first-round pick, Straka appeared to be a bust as an NHL-er when The “Sid and the Kids” combo was productive. It combined for 10 goals in the Penguins traded him to the Ottawa Senators in 1995 for journeymen the first six games after being put together in March of 2017 and defenseman Norm Maciver and forward Troy Murray. After bouncing produced a goal and five points in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Senators, New York Islanders and Florida Panthers, Straka against Nashville. rejoined the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent in 1997 and became an all-star by 1999. His 165 goals are still the 10th-most in franchise It was also diminutive. history.

Crosby and Guentzel are listed at 5-foot-11, and Sheary is 5-8. 4. Bob Errey (5-foot-11, 175 pounds)

With that in mind, beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and former beat writer Drafted in the first round of 1983, Errey was arguably the best defensive Jonathan Bombulie came up with a top-five list of the best undersized stalwart during a time when defense was regarded as highly as a players in franchise history. To make the list, players had to be under radioactive diaper for the franchise. While Lemieux and company racked both 6-foot and 200 pounds. That excludes Crosby, who tips the scales up outrageous offensive numbers, Errey used his speed to be an at an even two bills. effective forechecker and backchecker. A member of the 1991 and ’92 Stanley Cup-winning teams, Errey’s 572 career games are 12th-most in BOMBULIE’S TOP FIVE franchise history. 1. Mark Recchi (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) 5. Ron Schock (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) When Recchi was playing his junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers, Schock wasn’t as talented as Recchi, Mullen or Guentzel, but what he legend has it he would pad the inside of his skates with an inch of tape had over them was longevity. In all reality, he had that over any other and put pucks in his pockets in order to appear taller and heavier Penguins player for a few decades as he was the franchise’s record whenever NHL scouts came around. By the time he raised the Stanley holder for most consecutive games played (313) until forward Craig Cup with the Penguins in 1991 or was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Adams surpassed him in 2014. A responsible two-way player who Fame in 2017, no one cared how tall he was. centered the alliteratively pleasing Schink-Schock-Shack line (with Ken 2. Jean Pronovost (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) Schinkel and Eddie Shack), Schock also served as captain for four seasons. Only Lemieux and Crosby (13 seasons each) have worn the Before the game was taken over by giants in the 1990s, Pronovost might Penguins’ C longer. not have seemed all that undersized. By modern standards, he was downright tiny. Regardless, as a member of the famed Century Line, Tribune Review LOADED: 06.12.2020 Pronovost was the first Penguins player to top 100 points and 50 goals in a season.

3. Joe Mullen (5-foot-10, 182 pounds)

In addition to being a smallish winger, Mullen grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and learned to skate on roller skates. In an era where American players weren’t given much respect, it was a longshot he would make the NHL, let alone score 502 career goals. He spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins, winning the Stanley Cup twice and topping 30 goals three times.

4. Martin Straka (5-foot-9, 171 pounds) 1186170 Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL, NHLPA agree to open training camps July 10

Seth Rorabaugh

Thursday, June 11, 2020 11:50 a.m.

The NHL and NHLPA announced they have agreed to open training camps July 10 as the third phase of a plan to resume play this summer.

Halted since March 12 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the NHL just began its second phase, which allows small groups of players to skate informally, Tuesday.

This agreement is subject to satisfactory medical and safety conditions by that date, as well as both parties reaching a final overall agreement on resuming play. The length of these camps is being discussed.

A fourth phase would involve actual play. Both sides have tentatively agreed to a plan for a 24-team postseason tournament that would be staged this summer in order to complete the 2019-20 season.

Tribune Review LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186171 Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL sets July 10 target date for start of training camps

Matt Vensel

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday that the league is targeting July 10 for the start of training camps for the 24 playoff teams.

The announcement, which comes three days after NHL players were permitted back into team facilities, offers further hope we could see games in August.

But the joint statement included an important caveat. It read that full- squad training camps will open July 10 “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

So the start date of training camps, which is Phase 3 of the NHL’s return- to-play protocol, could change. The statement said the length of camps and the start date for the formal resumption of play, aka Phase 4, are not set in stone. Still, we continue to inch toward the return of NHL hockey sometime this summer.

The Penguins are slated to face off against the Montreal Canadiens in the play-in round of a tweaked 24-team playoff format. The NHL has not revealed where the games will be played. Pittsburgh made a pitch to be a playoff hub city.

Phase 2 began Monday. Penguins players are permitted to work out and skate at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex with restrictions, including only six players being allowed in the facility at a time. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel are among the players in town for the optional workouts.

Post Gazette LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186172 Pittsburgh Penguins “No one was answering me,” he said. “I was like, ‘OK, don’t take my money.’ ”

After hilariously chronicling the ordeal on social media, Larmi found a Penguins prospect Emil Larmi's first year in U.S. was up and down — dealer who helped him pick the right car. That was a big deal for Larmi, literally and figuratively who calls himself “a car guy” and zips around in a Porsche Turbo 911 back home. But when it was time to complete the paperwork, Larmi approached another speed bump.

MATT VENSEL And that’s how he spent as much time at the DMV as he did in the crease. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Every time they told us, ‘You need this paper,’ and we didn’t have it. We

would go get it and come back the next day. And then they’d tell us, ‘Now Emil Larmi, after several weeks of reflection and relaxation, woke up you need this paper.’ I don’t know why she didn’t tell us we needed all of Wednesday morning and headed to the airport. The Penguins had asked these papers,” Larmi said, letting out a hearty laugh. “Maybe she was just him to fly across the Atlantic to join them for Phase 2 of the NHL’s return- playing with us?” to-play protocol. There was also the time he went to the wrong airport while flying from But for the umpteenth time in his first year of pro hockey in North New Hampshire to Pittsburgh. Thankfully, an Uber driver got him to the America, the quirky 23-year-old goalie from Finland watched his plans right one on time. get foiled. After two months of hassles like that, Larmi finally started to get “I wasn’t allowed to get on the plane because I didn’t have all the 67 comfortable. It helped that he was one of a few Finns on the AHL team documents, one dinosaur and a few drops of unicorn blood,” he wrote on — blue-liner Nicklas Almari was his teammate for HPK — and that the social media. “I only had 58 documents, wrong dinosaur and just the horn starting goalie was so welcoming. of the unicorn.” A helping hand Larmi added that he will try again Friday. Casey DeSmith first met Larmi at goaltending coach Mike Buckley’s I was supposed to fly back to Pittsburgh today. Here’s the result. annual goalie summit in Portsmouth, N.H. DeSmith said Larmi was shy at pic.twitter.com/UNF8z3826K first. Neither of them expected to be teammates this season, but after the Penguins hung onto Tristan Jarry and sent down DeSmith, they ended — Emil Larmi (@emillarmi) June 10, 2020 up becoming fast friends.

His latest travel snafu wouldn’t even crack a top-10 list of memorable “He had really broken English. He didn’t know much about America. So moments, good or bad, Larmi experienced during his tornado of a he kind of gravitated toward me, because I was his goalie partner,” calendar year. DeSmith said. “Goalies like to stick together. It was a mutual gravitation toward each other.” At an age when many graduate from college, he was crowned a champion in Finland’s top pro league, wooed by NHL teams and left Larmi and the New Hampshire native often roomed together on the road home for a foreign land. and sat side by side on bus trips. They talked shop about hockey, discussed life in Finland versus the U.S. and Larmi showed DeSmith lots In the U.S., he unexpectedly split the season between Wilkes- of pictures of cars. DeSmith also dragged Larmi along to play disc golf, Barre/Scranton and Wheeling, faced a health scare that left him his favorite off-ice pastime. searching for answers and went through rough patches that had him questioning whether he belonged here. So, what did Larmi think about chucking Frisbees around in the woods?

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, and he scurried back home. “It’s awful,” Larmi deadpanned. “No, it was hard when I played disc golf, but Casey was a good teacher. We played a lot of disc golf. I really liked “During those 14 days in quarantine [upon returning to Finland], I had that.” some time to think about and go through everything,” Larmi said over the phone. “I could write a book about my season. Yeah, there was so much Over time, Larmi’s English got better and his guard went down. He going on.” started to joke around more. DeSmith cracked up recalling the time the “kind and goofy” goalie had an awkward encounter with a Domino’s Pizza Somehow, he made it through with his hopes and his sense of humor delivery guy on a road trip. intact. “Around the rink, he’s kind of like me in the sense that he doesn’t take Adjustment period himself too seriously. He likes to joke around and keep it loose. We had a After getting passed over in the NHL draft, Larmi blossomed into a top lot of fun this year,” DeSmith said. “But, obviously, he takes his game goalie in Finland. Last spring, he led HPK to its first title in 13 years. very seriously.” He then decided to make the jump to North America, picking Pittsburgh Right away, his new teammates and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coaching as his landing spot. staff saw that Larmi had the potential to join the long line of Finnish The 6-foot goalie turned heads at prospect development camp with his goalies who reached the NHL. He has quick feet, good athleticism and lateral quickness and flair and had his moments during his first NHL fierce competitiveness. training camp. But the plan all along was to get him a lot of action at the “He literally never gives up on a puck,” DeSmith said. “It doesn’t even AHL level in 2019-20. matter if it’s the fourth shot of a drill where you shouldn’t even be playing As is often the case for Europeans, the adjustment to North American the rebound. He’s just one of those guys who can’t give up on a puck. hockey, where the ice surface is smaller and the action is faster and at That’s a good quality.” times more chaotic, proved difficult. So was Larmi’s transition to life in the Larmi earned his first AHL win Oct. 16, stopping 30 of 33 shots. But his United States. season quickly went off the rails, largely due to circumstances out of his His hometown of Lahti is among Finland’s largest cities, and Finns learn control. English in school. But using it to navigate everyday tasks was a far Nine days later, in his next start, he headed to the home locker room at greater test. Mohegan Sun Arena for the second intermission. Two minutes before the The first time he went to a grocery store, Larmi was there for more than Penguins were to step back out onto the ice, Larmi mouthed to Almari, “I three hours. Google Translate is not very helpful when decoding feel a bit weird.” nutritional labels. ‘That wasn’t my plan’ Trying to acquire wheels was also tricky. He felt more comfortable Larmi said what happened next was like an out-of-body experience. communicating with dealers via email. He was surprised to find it was a one-way street. “I started to get shaky and started to pass out, but I never really passed wasn’t just a waste of time to be there and I think those things can help out,” he said. “I was really close. I remember I was almost falling on the me in the future.” bench.” Cutting down his movements instead of sprawling around and Teammates huddled around him and hollered for help. While the medical maintaining his poise were points of emphasis for Larmi on the ice. He staff attended to Larmi, the rest of the team had to go chase a puck also acknowledges he must be better at separating his job and his around. personal life after too many nights spent in his Wilkes-Barre apartment obsessing over a rocky game or practice. “Almari told me he didn’t know if I was going to die or what. He just had to leave me and go play some hockey,” Larmi said. “Yeah, it was scary Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach Mike Vellucci remains high on the young for all of us.” goalie.

In the coming days, Larmi visited doctors, including a cardiologist, to get “Very good prospect. It’s tough for goalies the first year after coming out a handle on what happened. The belief is he took a knee to the head late of junior or coming overseas. I expect him to rebound and have a great in the second period, suffered a concussion and quickly began year,” he said. experiencing symptoms. Well, that’s assuming Larmi ever makes it onto an airplane back over “That was the only explanation for what happened,” he said. “After a here. concussion, it’s always scary because you don’t know how long it’s going to take to recover. But I was lucky that it didn’t do too much and I was The latest setback aside, he’s confident he will arrive in Pittsburgh back on the ice soon.” eventually.

Larmi was cleared to practice two weeks later. He returned to a crowded “I’m really excited to come back,” the goalie said. “I’m not happy about crease. DeSmith was starting to find his game, and Dustin Tokarski had the last year. But I’m happy about what’s going to happen in the future.” played well after being called up from Wheeling of the ECHL to fill in for Post Gazette LOADED: 06.12.2020 the Finn.

Larmi got rocked in his first start after the health scare and allowed four goals in his next one after that. On Dec. 19, he was reassigned to Wheeling.

“It surprised. That wasn’t my plan,” he said. “My plan was to play in the AHL and play a lot, get better, try to be closer to the NHL. Yeah, the season was tough after the injury. There were a lot of things going on. Casey was in Wilkes. When I played, I was not as good as I could be. I’m not blaming anyone else.”

Larmi posted a shutout in his ECHL debut and had a .959 save percentage while winning three of his first four starts. He got another shot in the arm in January, when the Penguins had to call up Larmi to the NHL to back up Matt Murray in Montreal after DeSmith lost his passport and couldn’t make the trip.

“If anyone were to take my place going up, I’m glad it was him,” DeSmith said. “I think that getting called up was maybe a spark he needed to get back into the positive zone and kind of remember what he was working toward.”

Heading home ... for now

Larmi got the call back to Wilkes-Barre a week later. His confidence surging, he allowed five total goals over his next three starts. But after one poor outing and with the other goalies entrenched, he finished the season in Wheeling.

He was there when the sports world screeched to a halt March 12.

“When they stopped the season, I think that was the right call,” he said. “At that time, I knew that [public] health was the main [concern]. At that point, I felt like I didn’t actually want to play. Not because of us, but other people, all the people that might not survive the virus. So I think that was the right call.”

Once the NHL and AHL told players they could return to their home countries, Larmi and his fiancée packed up their apartment in Wilkes- Barre, drove across the state to Pittsburgh, left their car and hopped on an international flight.

Larmi has been back home in Finland for more than 10 weeks now. After a long, trying season in North America, he was happy to be around his family. The only problem, he joked, was discovering his parents had replaced him.

“We only had two dogs when I left for the States. When I came back, there was three,” he said, chuckling. “[Replacing me with a dog], I think that was cheaper. They don’t eat as much as I do. I don’t think they even missed me.”

When Larmi hasn’t been petting those whippets, which are sort of like pint-sized greyhounds, he has had plenty of time to reflect on his first year overseas.

“Of course, during those hard times there was a lot going on in my head. Like ‘I want to quit hockey. I hate my life.’ Stuff like that,” he said, letting out another big laugh. “But I still think there’s a lot of things I learned. It 1186173 San Jose Sharks

Ex-Sharks fan favorite Tommy Wingels retires after 10 pro seasons

By Marcus White

June 11, 2020 9:50 PM

Tommy Wingels called it a career Thursday, as the former Sharks forward announced his retirement from hockey after 10 professional seasons.

Wingels played 337 of his 448 NHL games for San Jose, and the Evanston, Ill. native spent the last two seasons playing for Genève- Servette HC in Switzerland. The 32-year-old said in a statement that he is "now ready and eager to return to my hometown to start a new chapter in my life."

@tommywingels57 prend sa retraite, il a tenu à vous adresser quelques mots !

Plus d'infos ➡ https://t.co/hktgVcpNXw #GSHC pic.twitter.com/Zui2luuMsj

— Geneve-Servette HC (@officialGSHC) June 11, 2020

Congrats on all your accomplishments and a great career! https://t.co/CGkct4V24Y

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 11, 2020

Only two other Sharks' sixth-round picks (Ryane Clowe and Alex Korolyuk) have scored more goals for San Jose than Wingels' 51, and only Clowe played more games. But Wingels should be remembered more for what he did off the ice during his career.

Wingels has served on the advisory board of the You Can Play Project, an organization dedicated to ensuring sports create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ athletes, since its inception in 2012. The organization was founded in memory of Brendan Burke, the student- manager of Miami University's hockey team when Wingels played there. Burke, the son of hard-nosed former NHL general manager Brian Burke, died in a February 2010 car accident fewer than three months after he came out as gay to Wingels and his teammates.

“We’re trying to eliminate the casual homophobia in the game and in the locker room," Wingels told David Pollak and Mark Emmons, then with Bay Area News Group, in 2012. " … It’s not just hockey we’re talking about. It’s sports in general. We want people to be judged on their talent. Nothing else should really matter.”

The You Can Play Project has partnered with the NHL and the NHL Players Association since 2013. Wingels was the Sharks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2012 and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2013 for his involvement with the You Can Play Project.

The Sharks initially drafted Wingels in the sixth round (No. 177 overall), and he made his NHL debut just shy of two years later. Wingels became a regular in the Sharks' lineup during the lockout-shortened 2013 season, and he scored at least 15 goals in back-to-back seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He scored just nine during an injury-shortened 2015-16 campaign, but Wingels played in all but two of San Jose's 24 playoff games as the Sharks made the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.

Wingels' average ice time with San Jose the following season (10:03) was his lowest since becoming an NHL regular, and the Sharks traded him to the Ottawa Senators in 2017. He didn't return to the Senators after becoming a free-agent, signing a one-year deal with his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks traded him to the Boston Bruins ahead of the 2018 trade deadline, and Wingels played 22 regular-season and playoff games for the Bruins before spending the last two seasons in Switzerland.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186174 St Louis Blues players to enter Canada without having to go through a 14-day quarantine, something that would have taken those cities out of consideration as a venue for games and was causing some Canadian teams to consider camps in America. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet in NHL planning to open training camps on July 10, virus permitting Canada wrote Thursday that teams will probably do two weeks of camp in their own facility and then the final week in whichever hub they were

assigned to. That’s when any exhibition games would be played. Tom Timmermann If all the complexities get settled, when play resumes, there will be 24 4 hrs ago teams, 12 from each conference, in the playoffs, with the Blues one of the four Western Conference teams getting a bye into the round of 16. While teams five through 12 in each conference will take part in a best- of-five play-in round, the Blues and the other three teams with byes, Another day, another step. Colorado, Dallas and Vegas, will play in a round-robin series to Though there is still plenty of negotiating to be done, not to mention the determine their seeding. uncertainties of the coronavirus to be dealt with, the NHL has targeted St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.12.2020 July 10 — just under a month from now — for the opening of training camps.

No timetable has been set for the length of the camp, and hence no start date has been indicated for the start of the league’s postseason, but if all goes as scheduled there should be hockey games by the end of July or the start of August.

“Reality is really setting in now that an official announcement has been made,” Blues goalie Jake Allen said. “We understand some things still need to be negotiated, but it’s progressing positively.”

But there are many steps to be made before camps, or Phase 3 of the league’s return-to-play protocol, can begin. The league and the NHL Players Association have to negotiate the details of the return, both big and small: how much testing will be done, what the quarantine will look like, how long players would be apart from their families or if the families can enter the quarantine area and what health care will look like in case anyone gets sick. Also to be dealt with are financial issues involving the amount of players’ paychecks that have to go into escrow and what next year’s salary cap will look like as the players decide under what conditions they will come back. Reports are that approval of Phases 3 and 4 (actual games) will be voted on by the players at the same time. That vote will likely come toward the end of June.

And there’s the most obvious concern: will the spread of the virus, which has moved onto a second wave of hot spots and is not showing many signs of slowing down, allow that to happen. In the announcement, the league and the PA announced the planned date, but with the proviso: “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

If the league can hit that date, almost four months will have passed since players were on the ice in competition, a break about as long as the offseason for a team that is eliminated after a round or two of the playoffs. Players have asked for a three-week training camp because of that.

The announcement of the projected start to Phase 3 comes days after the start of Phase 2, the opening of team’s practice facilities to voluntary individual workouts, on Monday. The Blues haven’t had any workouts yet at Centene Community Ice Center and won’t have them until next week at the soonest. Less than half the team is still in town, and general manager has left it to players to decide when they want to get on the ice here. In a normal offseason, players would start getting back on the ice for skating a couple weeks before the start of camp. At present, teams are limited to having six players on the ice at one time with no member of the coaching staff present.

One thing setting the date for the start of camp does is to let players know when they need to be where they need to be, especially for Blues such as Oskar Sundqvist and Jacob de la Rose, who have gone home to Sweden. Getting to St. Louis, whether from Canada or Europe, won’t be quite as simple this time.

“I think we all will start ballparking our plans back to St. Louis over the next little bit to find the best options and time frame to get back to be set and comfortable for when training camp begins,” said Allen, who is at his home outside Fredricton, New Brunswick, a 26-hour drive from St. Louis that he routinely makes before and after each season. (“All part of the job,” Allen said.)

The league is a week or so away from announcing the two hubs where teams will be when the playoffs begin. The NHL has identified 10 cities, seven in America, three in Canada, which could be used. Reports on Thursday indicated that the Canadian government was close to allowing 1186175 St Louis Blues

Reliving that Cup-crazy night. Local stations to re-air Blues' title-winning game exactly a year later

Dan Caesar

5 hrs ago

It was a year ago Friday that the l-o-n-g wait ended for Blues fans. The team, after having the fewest number of points in the NHL in early January, completed a miraculous run to its first Stanley Cup championship by winning Game 7 of the Finals.

That victory, in Boston, ignited days of celebrating in St. Louis — where an NHL title had been elusive for the team that had been around for more than half a century. So what better way to relive that locally joyous night than by rebroadcasting the monumental game? That’s what Fox Sports Midwest will do Friday on television (at 7 p.m.) and WXOS (101.1 FM) will do on radio (at 6 o’clock).

The telecast will be an enhanced version of NBC’s production and has commentary from Blues players and coaches about specific events as the game unfolds, as weaved in by the team’s Blue Note Productions group.

On radio, the broadcast ends without play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber making his signature “bring out the Zamboni” call that he rarely misses after a Blues victory.

“”It just didn’t seem to fit,” Kerber said Thursday. “They weren’t bringing out the Zamboni, they were bringing out the Cup.”

So his call aptly was framed in a historical perspective.

“They did it! It’s over! The game is over! The series is over! The wait is over! And the St Louis Blues are the Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history!”

Then at 9 p.m. Sunday, NBCSN re-shows the game and includes new interviews with former Blues great Bernie Federko and celebrity fans Jon Hamm and Laila Anderson. It is a 90-minute version and is followed at 10:30 by the Blues’ championship film. The game airs again at 11:30 p.m.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186176 St Louis Blues

NHL sets July 10 for opening of formal training camps

Tom Timmermann

14 hrs ago

The NHL and NHLPA agreed Thursday that formal training camps — known as Phase 3 in the return-to-play guidelines — will open on Friday July 10, assuming conditions allow.

How long camps will last and when the regular season will begin is still undetermined. Players have said they would need three weeks of camp, which would put the start of the season at the beginning of August.

Players have been idle, at least as a team, since March 12, when the league was shut down because of the coronavirus and COVID-19. When camps resume, it will be just short of four months since they've been together as a team.

The league began Phase 2 on Monday, allowing players to resume individual voluntary training, with no more than six players on the ice at one time, at their team facilities. The Blues, however, haven't done anything yet at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.

The announcement by the league and the PA said that formal training camps would open on July 10 "provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play."

The setting of a date would create a timetable for players to start returning to St. Louis from wherever they are. Oskar Sundqvist and Jacob de la Rose are in Sweden, and many others have returned to homes in Canada. Only about 10 are in St. Louis and GM Doug Armstrong has said those elsewhere would likely remain working out where they were rather than coming to St. Louis until the start of Phase 3.

Also still to be determined is where teams will go once Phase 4, the resumption of play, begins. The league is looking at having two hub cities where games will be played, but has not made a decision yet on those sites.

And there's still plenty to negotiate between the league and the players, with ample safety issues that need to be sorted out.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186177 St Louis Blues The Blues led the Western Conference with 94 points — two points ahead of Colorado, eight ahead of Vegas and 12 ahead of Dallas — with 11 regular-season games remaining. They could still win the conference by faring well in the round-robin games against those three teams, but on Colton Parayko learning a lot as he helps pave the way for NHL’s return the flip side, they could also finish with the No. 4 seed and perhaps play to play No. 5-seeded Edmonton in the first round.

“We’re still going to start the first round and have that bye, which is nice,” Parayko said. “The only way to properly do it is to play out the 82 games, By Jeremy Rutherford so there’s no definite way. I don’t think that’s going to be a huge deal Jun 11, 2020 because if you look at last year, we weren’t the first seed either. You don’t need to be the first seed; it doesn’t mean you’re going to win.

“It’s nice to have, but even when you have the higher seed, some teams One summer early in his career, Blues defenseman Colton Parayko match up better against other teams. So whether you’re seeded first and attended a National Hockey League Players’ Association meeting and play a team that you don’t match up well against, or you’re seeded fourth found the experience interesting. and play a team that you are good against, that could be a factor. Nothing is technically fair, if you want to put it that way, but it’s just the “I felt like I learned a lot, just understanding the basics of what happens way it is.” with the (NHLPA) and how it’s linked to the league,” he said. In all honesty, it may not be the most fair system for teams such as the The union requires players to be on an NHL roster for 80 games before Blues and Boston Bruins, who have the highest points percentage in the becoming an alternate team representative, so that’s what Parayko did. NHL (.714), but in all reality, fans will ultimately evaluate the format And after 160 games with the Blues, he became their full-time rep in based on whether their clubs come out on top of the round-robin games, 2017-18. or at least escape the early rounds. His preparation, however, could not have prepared him for the past three “When you talk about those first three games that will decide the months, in which the word “interesting” might just be an understatement. (seeding) 1-4, when clearly we would have been first or second in the The NHL’s pause in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic — and Western Conference, it is what it is,” Blues winger David Perron said. the conversations that led to the league’s “Return to Play” plan — have “We’re going to have to find our sense of urgency right away and be required the 6-foot-6, 230-pound defenseman to add comprehension and relentless, like we were last year.” communication skills to his already impressive list of tools. Tampa Bay and Carolina were the two teams who voted “no” on the new “The first week, you had all these great ideas, and all of a sudden — format, expressing concern over their scenarios. Tampa Bay will boom! — the health official switched something and then those ideas are participate in the Eastern Conference round-robin games, while Carolina gone and you have to think of new ideas,” Parayko said. “It seemed like will face the New York Rangers, who swept the season series over the every week you had to take it at different angles because everything was Hurricanes, 4-0. changing so quickly and nobody has been through this before, so we were all trying to stay on top of it as best as possible. “You could have come up with a million scenarios, which we did, and we went over them all,” Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo said. “You could pick “That’s the good thing; there were so many people who could give which parts you didn’t like and which parts you liked, but we feel like this different opinions and try to figure out what the best options would be. creates some entertainment and gives everybody an opportunity to play They kind of give you why it would be the best, and from there you make some meaningful games before you get into the playoff round. There’s no the call. But it was tough because everything is changing all the time, so perfect way, but they found a solution that works for everybody.” we just tried to put together the most logical plan.” The Blues have been praised in some circles for having that approach, The NHL recently announced a 24-team format in which the top four which is similar to the attitude they adopted when coach Craig Berube teams in the Western and Eastern Conference, according to points took over last season, en route to the Stanley Cup. percentage, will play three round-robin games to determine their seeding. Meanwhile, Nos. 5-12 will play each other in a best-of-five playoff series, “Yeah, at the end of the day, there are things you can control and things with the winners advancing to face the Nos. 1-4 seeds. you can’t,” Blues forward Brayden Schenn said. “That’s one of them you can’t. Once we start playing, whenever that is, you go out there and try to BLUES’ RETURN TO PLAY GUIDE: HOW THE NHL’S 24-TEAM get first place (in the Western Conference) and try and win another Cup. FORMAT IMPACTS ST. LOUIS. #STLBLUES We don’t even know if we’re playing yet, but if that happens, you go out HTTPS://T.CO/EQG0QOD2VC and try to do it again.” — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) MAY 27, 2020 Delaying Phase 2 Parayko was in the middle of those discussions, and when the format On Monday, the NHL transitioned from Phase 1 to Phase 2, which was proposed to the NHLPA a few weeks ago, he was responsible for permits clubs to begin practicing in small groups at the team facility. But rounding up the Blues’ vote. They said “yes,” and it was approved the first step to get the league back on the ice came with stringent league-wide by a total of 29-2. protocol, and the Blues were one of several teams to hold off on opening “I tried to get a good understanding of what was happening from (the) the doors to players. discussions, give it to the guys and see if they have any questions or “I think we just want to be a little safe and make sure we have everything recommendations; if they did, I tried to raise them,” Parayko said. “But in place and ready to go,” Blues center Ryan O’Reilly said. “I don’t think yeah, my goal is to get the information, pass it along and make sure we’ll be very far behind. I think we’re just taking a bit more time to see. they’re educated on what’s happening. Sometimes there’s a lot of It’s nothing to be alarmed about.” different information and some things I can’t answer properly, so I just try to direct them in the right direction. It’s been good, and I’ve been learning The club, according to several sources, is targeting June 22 as the first a ton about everything.” day players may report to the Centene Community Ice Center, the Blues’ practice facility. The league has said that Phase 3, or training camp, There have been cries of unfairness around the league with the adopted won’t begin any sooner than July 10, so that would give them playoff format, so The Athletic sought out how Parayko and his approximately 18 days of small-group workouts. teammates feel. We’ll also get the Blues’ thoughts on their decision to delay Phase 2, and with a lot left to negotiate regarding pod cities and “We had a conversation about that and I talked to (Blues general quarantine bubbles, how optimistic are they about finishing the season? manager Doug Armstrong) about it, too,” Pietrangelo said. “They’re saying no earlier than July 10, and that’s still training camp. So you’ve Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo is comfortable with the NHL’s playoff got to be thinking that you’ve got a couple weeks of training camp at format. (Jeff Curry / USA Today) least, and if you look at our group, we all take care of ourselves. I think Playoff format this is probably the longest a lot of us have been off the ice, but after playing as long as we did last year and almost the whole season this year, I’m not too worried about it. “It takes maybe a week at the most to really start feeling a lot better and Parayko is confident the Blues will be comfortable with what the two then a couple of more weeks and you’re feeling back to normal. I don’t sides — the NHLPA and the NHL — decide. think any team is going to be hopping back into this thing feeling like, ‘Oh, we’re in perfect game shape,’ or ‘We have the same feeling we had “I think so,” he said. “As long as you get the health officials’ OK and in Game No. 50.’ It’s going to be an adjustment for everybody, so it’s just everybody understands what’s happening with the bubble, once we get going to be a matter of who prepares the best in training camp. This is that all put into place, guys are going to feel safe with the testing. almost a blessing for us, after going through what we did, to take a break Hopefully that eases a lot of people and hopefully we know a lot more like this.” about the virus at that time, too, when we get to those hub cities. There’s still some things that have to be sorted out, but if you get the right Beginning with the Blues’ season opener Oct. 4, 2018, and ending with questions answered, guys will feel safe and we should be good to go.” their last game before the pause March 11, 2020, the club played 179 games in 524 days. If you take out the 2019 offseason months and just This isn’t how they envisioned defending the franchise’s first Stanley count the in-season calendar dates, they played those 179 games within Cup, but this will have to do. 412 days. “None of us really planned for this,” Pietrangelo said. “The best part “I was thinking about this right before everything happened,” O’Reilly about it is we found a way to make it work and hopefully, when we get to said. “It was a short summer and a long season, and we were gearing up Phase 3 and 4, we can get to a point where we play. We all want to play. for the playoffs again, and then this happens. It gives us a break, and I That’s what it’s all about, that’s what we’re paid to do and that’s what think it’s an advantage for us that we got some good rest and now we we’re born to do. But I always caution people, the NHL and the PA are can come back. It’s going to be very difficult — who knows what’s going doing a really good job of being thorough, and we’re not going to do to happen? — but yeah, I think it gave us some good energy back. I anything as players and as a league unless we think, health-wise, it know every guy on the team right now is kind of hungry and fresh and makes sense. I give both sides credit because we’re taking our time, ready to get back going.” bringing the right people into our conversations, and making sure that everything is done properly.” Some players have remained in St. Louis, but others such as backup goalie Jake Allen are training back home in Canada. The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020

“I have a gym here at my house, I have access to equipment and everything, so I’m very fortunate,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll be back in St. Louis sooner than later. I’m just sort of waiting to see what happens, hoping training camp is close to July 10, as they suggested, and we can go from there. Just talking to the guys and all the group texts, we’re all looking forward to getting back and seeing one another and just getting back on the ice.”

There’s a belief in St. Louis that the time off, coupled with the Blues’ success in dealing with adversity last season, could give them an advantage. The players agreed with that notion.

“I think so,” Perron said. “You never know, obviously, when there’s been that much time off, but I certainly trust our group over a long period of time than other groups as far as experience.”

“Since our group has been through a lot together and had that chemistry from last year, I don’t think the time off will really hinder us too much, being away,” veteran Tyler Bozak said. “I think we’ll be able to find that chemistry right away and start gelling, and that will be a a huge thing. Teams find their groove and come together, and we could have a little advantage of finding that earlier hopefully.”

Pods

The Blues might have secured home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs had the season not been halted. But with the NHL expected to pick two pod cities to play out the postseason and St. Louis not on the list of 10 announced last month, they won’t be playing any home games.

Possible destinations for the Blues, according to sources, are Las Vegas, Dallas and perhaps Edmonton if the league decides to host games in Canada, where border travel may be an issue.

“I’m not really excited about living in a hotel for two months,” Blues forward Zach Sanford said. “I’ve had to do that before with call-ups and it gets pretty old pretty quick. I’m definitely going to miss being at home in St. Louis, but whatever happens happens. Hopefully it works out nice and goes smoothly and hopefully we can come together and enjoy it and have a good run.”

Also, as reported, there won’t be any fans in attendance.

“It’s going to be weird,” Sanford said. “I don’t know if anybody has done that other than summer leagues and whatnot. I don’t think anybody knows what to expect.”

The players are expecting to be quarantined in some sort of bubble during the playoffs, but those details have yet to be announced, and in fact, they still need to be negotiated.

“The biggest thing is health and safety, but you want to make sure that you can live a little, too,” Schenn said. “You don’t just want to be stuck in a hotel for a couple months at a game, staring at a wall and playing hockey games. It seems like the rest of the world is getting going here, and you still want to live somewhat of your daily life.” 1186178 Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL, players association agree on training camp start

Diana C. Nearhos

Lightning Reporter

Camps will begin July 10 if safety and medical conditions allow, and the sides have reached an agreement on resuming play.

The NHL and the players association took another step toward the resumption of play Thursday, announcing training camp will potentially open July 10.

The announcement stipulated that camps would open then if medical and safety conditions allowed and the league and union had reached an agreement on play resuming.

Training camps are Phase 3 of the NHL’s plan to return to play after putting the season on hold March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Phase 2, voluntary skating in small groups, opened Monday. The Lightning had their first sessions Tuesday. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said players were excited to get back on the ice and have some semblance of a normal routine.

Phase 4 would be the resumption of games, with 24 of the 31 teams returning to set a playoff field of 16. No date has been set for that. Players have estimated that teams would want about three weeks of training camp before playing games.

Play would resume at two hub cities, which haven’t been chosen.

The 24 teams that would advance would be the top 12 in each conference based on points percentage when play was stopped.

The top four in each conference — the Lightning is among them in the East — would be guaranteed playoff spots and play round-robin games to determine seeding. The other eight teams would play best-of-five series to advance to the playoffs.

In a normal year, by July 10 the NHL would be in its slowest period. The opening free-agency frenzy would have passed, and most team’s development camps would be over. It would truly be the offseason with little news or interest.

Shattenkirk said Tuesday that’s about the time he would start skating again for offseason training.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186179 Tampa Bay Lightning more to what I guess police go through, and what they’re training is,” Brown said.

Brown flipped Dugan’s perspective, too. J.T. Brown on NHL race conversation: ‘Better late than never’ “Back then, my concern was how it could divide our city and our community, more from a selfish standpoint,” Dugan told The Athletic Wednesday night. “Now I look back at it as the chief of police, and people By and Michael Russo hate the police right now. Who in this country would want to be chief of police? Now I see it from a different perspective. Jun 11, 2020 “I look at it how brave (Brown) was to take that stance. He put himself on

an island, and that takes some guts.” J.T. Brown received his share of messages of support from friends, Dugan admits he has his hands full now, with protests occurring daily family and former teammates following the tragic death of George Floyd across the Tampa Bay region. Many have been peaceful. But there are on May 25. examples like a Champs Sports store getting burned down, too. But one text really hit home. “How did we end up in these riots?” Dugan asked. “It’s because when Brown, 29, was angered, sickened after watching the nearly nine- they raised their fist, we called them ‘militant.’ When they sat on the minute video of Floyd being killed by a police officer while being arrested bench, we said they weren’t patriotic. When they took a knee, we in Minneapolis. Just three years ago when playing for the Lightning, criticized that. And they felt their voice wasn’t being heard, which is why Brown became the first NHL player to do a silent protest during the it’s led to rioting. national anthem, raising a closed fist Oct. 7, in an effort to raise “I’m not condoning that, I don’t want to come across as justifying what awareness about police brutality and racial inequality. And now there was they’re doing. But I hear their frustration.” another painful example, right in Brown’s hometown, with Floyd yelling “I can’t breathe” as the white officer knelt on his neck. Dugan understands where the anger is coming from. He’s watched the Floyd video, with his reaction as visceral as many across the country. “If Four days after Floyd’s death, Brown was getting his two kids, 3-year-old there’s a cop out there that’s not sickened by that video, they should daughter Lily and 1-year-old son Booker, ready for bath time when he got probably quit,” Dugan said. “But I do think that these protests are more a message from Tampa police chief Brian Dugan, who had kept in touch than just police brutality. We’re a divided country when it comes to since the forward’s protests made their lives intertwine in 2017. politics, economics, social issues and we’re very divided. The police “I’m sure you’re furious right now,” Dugan texted to Brown on May 29. aspect is part of it, but it’s a much bigger issue, and that kind of gets “And you have every right to be. Your anger doesn’t make you anti-cop. lost.” Stay true to yourself. Stay woke. Staying silent won’t change anything. Both Brown and Dugan agree that there’s a way for both teams and Speaking out can change everything. Let me know if I can help.” athletes and law enforcement to work together in a community, becoming Replied Brown: “I appreciate it. That’s the same thing we had talks about leaders and setting a tone. For example, Brown and Wild defenseman 3 years ago. And it still rings true today.” Matt Dumba are planning on announcing an initiative soon that’ll impact the Twin cities area, which is still healing. Dugan points out that everyone Today, the whole country is talking about race. That includes the NHL, should be outraged about what happened in Minnesota with Floyd and with more than 100 black and white players making statements that they the police, but as Brown says, “You don’t have to be anti-cop.” would not be silent anymore. But three years ago, when Brown raised his fist, there was barely a ripple. He got support from teammates and “You can be pro-cop and not tolerate racism at the same time,” Dugan behind-the-scenes messages from other NHL players, but it was said. “You can support good cops and call out the bad ones.” subdued. Nobody else followed his lead. Brown knew there would be Brown appreciates all the players who have stepped up in support with backlash, but he received anonymous death threats on social media. their words, and actions, understanding why some white players, “In my heart, I know I did the right thing,” he said. teammates were initially reticent to go public on such an issue. “It’s hard to talk about when it’s not something you have to live on a daily basis,” Brown admits he was nervous and emotional that night. He had Brown said. “You could understand the fear of saying the wrong thing.” consulted with family and friends before making his silent protest, gave coach Jon Cooper a heads-up at the team hotel that afternoon, not to Brown sees some signs of progress, including the likes of Columbus mention separate phone calls with owner Jeff Vinik and GM Steve coach John Tortorella changing his opinion on players protesting during Yzerman. Brown addressed the team as a group. Many of those former the anthem. “It’s big of somebody like that to listen and change his mind,” teammates have reached out in the past few weeks, put out Twitter Brown said. statements, including , Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle. .@TAMPAPD CHIEF BRIAN DUGAN AND @TBLIGHTNING FORWARD Brown said he’d be lying if he hasn’t thought in the past few weeks – This @JTBROWN23 ARE IN THE HOUSE! SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AT is why I raised my fist. This is why Colin Kaepernick took a knee. ELLA'S IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS UNTIL 6. #SEMINOLEHEIGHTSSTRONG PIC.TWITTER.COM/36DWTN24YG “You’d rather have it late than never,” Brown told The Athletic Wednesday. “I think the support has been awesome and that’s what truly — HALEY HINDS FOX 13 (@HALEYHINDS) DECEMBER 4, 2017 makes this easier to be optimistic on what could or should be happening Years ago, Brown changed Dugan’s mind, his thinking. And it’s stuck going forward, that this is not going to fade and move on. Three or four with him as the police chief handles the unrest in his city. years ago, when the first protests were happening across the NFL and myself, there wasn’t that same support. But it’s better late than never.” “The guy had some guts, he was the only one in the NHL who took a stance,” Dugan said. “I know what it’s like to be all alone as the chief of Brown was one of four guests Wednesday on The Athletic’s “Straight police. I admire him. I don’t think it was anti-police, it was anti-police- from the Source” podcast, which featured a roundtable with Brown’s brutality. agent Eustace King (one of the first black agents in the NHL), Wild team doctor Joel Boyd (the first black team doctor in the NHL) and Wild “I think we all should be.” defenseman Jared Spurgeon, one of the many white players to show support the last few weeks. It was a complex conversation on race, their That brings us back to the complicated, sometimes uncomfortable interactions with police, hockey culture, and how the league and country conversation during Michael Russo’s podcast Wednesday. It was a can embrace change. During the podcast, Brown brought up how he and fascinating, educational, informative discussion featuring men of different Dugan, the white Tampa police chief, remained close over the years, with generations. both of them having learned from each other in their interactions Here were some of those topics: following his protest. On being black in America and interactions with police Brown spent a day with Tampa police, including doing a ride-along with officers. He went through some of their drills, role playing as a cop in the Brown: I keep my license and my registration, insurance, I keep it in department’s Citizen’s Police Academy. “It just opened my eyes a little bit where your garage door opener goes … just to limit any inference that I might be reaching for something. I’m just trying to limit my chances of the right reasons. We’re constantly trying to educate, we’re trying to having something bad happen to myself. That’s something that you don’t expose them through travel, through different cultures. But at the same want to have to do. But it’s a precaution that I take on my own so that I token, my son is 10 ½ years old. He knows. He’s studying Martin Luther make sure that I come home safe. King. He’s learning in school these things about civil rights in history. And now he’s saying, “Wow, I didn’t know that what happened 30, 40 years King: I played junior hockey in Dubuque, Iowa, and during that time, this ago is still happening today. And for him, his question is, which is hard for is ’92. … There was one time I was pulled over and I put my hands out me to answer, “Why?” As a parent, I can’t really give them an answer. I the window to make sure the cop didn’t think I was going to do anything don’t know why. It’s just keeps happening. It’s a cycle. The cycle keeps because I was young, I was only, a 19-, 20-year-old kid. And I’d already repeating itself. had known at the backdrop a few years ago, Yusef Hawkins had been killed in ‘89. The one cop on the right side had his finger on his gun Eustace King with his client Willie O’Ree, wife Esther Marron King, and because he was concerned that if I was going to do something or trigger sons Kingston and Santana. (Courtesy of Eustace King) something that he’s prepared while I was answering questions with the officer that was at my door. And for me, it was scary because … I had The original Diversity Task Force Boyd and King were on years ago been taught my whole life, “You need to make sure that you’re alert, you Boyd: I would take my kids to all those events, as many as I could and speak well, you talk to the officers.” But the same token I had to go into include them and they loved going so they did have an experience to see my glove box, which is on the other side to try and get my driver’s license other minorities could participate in hockey. And it just fueled their desire to be able to display that I did have a legal license and insurance to continue to play and be involved in hockey. … It was extremely because I was a young man driving a car. And the problem with that prideful to go to an All-Star Game and have an event that was dedicated whole situation is that I was nervous and scared. And when you’re to the involvement and inclusion of both underprivileged and minority nervous and scared, you do things that you probably wouldn’t normally kids, and treat them like NHL players, NHL All-Stars. It was great to see do. If I go running late at night, at the same age, I need to make sure that the looks on their faces, the looks in their eyes, just to feel like hey, we I am running on the other side of the street so I don’t offend someone or can jump in and continue to work and play and aspire to (the NHL). … make sure that someone’s not uncomfortable. So there’s all these things that are in our DNA that we have systemically grown up with that King: The program, definitely, as a pilot program, did a lot of stuff. If you we’ve had to do or alter or adjust just to make other people feel look at the outcome, the first player, Gerald Coleman, who ended up comfortable where other people don’t even think like that. And I think playing in Tampa’s system, that played (two NHL games) in Tampa, was right now you’re hearing all these stories about what others are going from my hometown in Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois. He was the first through in their history. … These are the things I’ve had to do and guy who was in the NHL Diversity Task Force at the time, now Hockey’s endure, and I’ve had to talk to my kids about. … What’s wrong with this For Everyone, (that made it) to the NHL. Then you move forward and you system? What’s wrong with this mindset? Some of these things that I’m see things like in Harlem, you see skills’ hockey where Wayne telling you people say to me, “I can’t even believe that you would even Simmonds, Chris Stewart, Joel Ward, Devante Smith-Pelly, these kids all have to think that way.” But it’s the reality that we live in. played in this program that was in Toronto and gave birth to who they are now and then we come full circle. Wayne Simmonds has a program Boyd, the Wild’s orthopedic surgeon who has been a physician for that’s very similar to the program he played in when Willie O’Ree would virtually every professional team in Minnesota, the University of come and visit. … So what you’re seeing is that, hey, there’s building Minnesota football team and USA Hockey, and has two children working blocks here. But we’ve done it knowing at the backdrop that there’s been for NHL Seattle: It’s a true concern and it passes down from generation different biases or racism in hockey. And now what we’re saying is, “hey, to generation. My mother taught me if I’m driving and I get pulled over, what would happen if there was more opportunity?” your hands are 10 and 2, don’t move until (the police officer) requests that you move. … It was always sort of this increased anxiety that Is Brown, a free agent this upcoming offseason, worried about getting a happened when you get pulled over, and it’s happened in my adult life. job next season if he continues to raise this topic? Not actually overly long ago where you get pulled over and at the end of Brown: In the Tampa situation, I knew there was going to be backlash. It the conversation, it’s sort of like you’re still trying to rationalize exactly wasn’t going to be a very popular opinion. I guess, a lot of people why did I get pulled over. And in a couple of them don’t even end up in obviously supported it, but there was a lot of negativity towards it as well. tickets, but they just sort of needed to satisfy some inquiry that they had Those are things you’ve got to think about. But at the end of the day, like about the person driving that car. It does still happen, and we still have to I said back then, I knew what I needed to do, and I knew it was the right educate our children. I educated my children on that fact as well. The thing to do. And I think even going to now, my focus is less on the sports common phrase actually in the community is driving while black. And, if side but creating a better future for not only my kids, my family’s kids, but you’re driving while black, it’s completely different than when most people also kids around the world and trying to make sure that they grow up and drive. You are always a suspect, and that’s how we send our kids out into that they have a better system and a better way of life than what I had or the world. what my parents had. So, to me, it’s bigger than myself. Teaching their kids about race and what’s going in the world On why hockey players, especially white players, are now speaking out King: Everyone here is under anxiety right now. And, whether it’s the on racial injustice pandemic that we’re dealing with, or if you want to call this another Spurgeon: For myself, I think it took a little while to think about what pandemic, which is racial inequalities in the U.S. My wife (Esther) the myself and my family wanted to do. Seeing what happened in the city other day, my son (Kingston) went running and he’s 10 ½, almost 11. that we live in … definitely breaks your heart. But I talked with Eustace, And she teared up because she couldn’t see him and she was like, “He’s we didn’t want to be one of those people that just put a statement out and going up the hill and I’m scared that if something happens, he’s only then had nothing to show for it or do about it. We want to take action and running for a half-mile by himself, but what happens?” And all these try and help as much as possible in the ways that we can. And that’s why things that she never thought about. And I feel that we’re in a great we went through all the charities that we thought we could help with and community, the community I live in is Valencia, California, and it was not just by picking one but by trying to do more than we could and spread rated in the top-10 safest midsize communities in the United States of them out a bit and then try to call other people to action as well. We didn’t America. But she was scared because she saw the things happening on want to be one of those people that just wrote some words and then the TV and she sees him by himself and as a mother she wants to disappeared into the distance. protect them. … My wife’s a neuropsychologist, I’m an agent. We’re both educated people, but (what we’re trying to do) is continue to expose our VIEW THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM kids to different information. We don’t want our kids to watch what happened to George Floyd and actually see this street video, but we also have talked about why there have been protests. My son the other day WE NEED TO CHANGE. I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND wanted to go to a protest and then the next morning he woke up and YOUR PAIN AND SUFFERING BUT THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO. THERE said, “I don’t want to go, I talked to my friends, and I’m scared, I don’t ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO HELP AND ORGANIZATIONS TO want to go there because everyone says there’s rioting and looting and SUPPORT. ANY ACTION IS POSITIVE ACTION. CHANGE IS THE all these things.” And I said, “Well, it’s up to you.” And then he came back ONLY WAY FORWARD. DO WHATEVER YOU CAN. to me and said, “Let’s go.” And we went, he had his little sign. And the two little guys, Kingston and Santana, they sat there and they supported A POST SHARED BY JARED SPURGEON (@JAREDSPURGEON46) the cause. But they also learned that, “I don’t have to be scared.” There’s ON JUN 4, 2020 AT 12:09PM PDT people here that are peaceful, there’s people here who are doing it for Brown: Obviously not having a season, it definitely helps. A lot of times crowd, and she posed the question to them: “Would you feel comfortable our mentality is we’re just ready for the next thing. We have a game the living as a black person in America? If you would, please stand up.” And, next day or we’re getting ready to go to practice. There’s just so many of course, no one stood up. And she says, “I don’t think you understand other things that go on during a season. But right now, there’s nothing the question. If you would feel comfortable living as a black person in this going on. There’s no distraction. It was a nine-minute video during the country, just stand up.” And no one stood up. She said basically that day and what everybody saw. So I think it’s kind of not necessarily turn a means two things. One, you recognize the problem. And I think that’s blind eye, but it’s hard for you not to notice and not to want to say true of everyone. I mean, if you really ask them, they recognize … something, especially in this instance where we’re not doing anything. everyone, every person recognizes the problem. And then the second part of that is if you recognize the problem and you don’t want to be Spurgeon: I think, too, with the platform’s of players or social media and treated that way, why would you let anybody else be treated that way? being able to get their voices out, and like J.T. said, it’s a video that you And I think that right there, if you can answer that question for yourself, never want to see, but everyone unfortunately had to see that. And I think that’s a huge jumping point, a place to take off from. now with a lot of players and just the way our game is going that everyone is more comfortable voicing their opinion and especially when The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 you see something that isn’t right. … But for every player to be able to watch a video like that and try to be a help for the cause is what we’re all trying to do right now.

How does this conversation continue and become the new normal once games actually start again and players return to their normal team-first, don’t step-out-of-the-box personalities?

Brown: I think it just takes everybody to hold themselves accountable and want to keep the conversation going. … We can be a part of a team but we can talk about things that we’re passionate about

Spurgeon: If people are uncomfortable with it, the only way to get over that is to keep talking about it. And hopefully now with people speaking out and more than just one person, like when J.T. was doing it (in 2017), years past when he was all by himself, that there’s more people that are speaking out about it and that we can continue to do that and there isn’t a backlash … that you can speak your mind and that everyone’s supporting it. I’m not sure if you’re scared about what you’re saying and the backlash you’re gonna get, but I think you can’t be doing that anymore. You have to voice your opinion. And like we all been saying be a part of that change.

Jason Zucker, Jared Spurgeon, Eustace King and J.T. Brown (Courtesy of Eustace King)

How do we get more diversity in hockey, both as players and working for teams and leagues?

King: Doc Boyd, he was a qualified doctor and a surgeon. So I think for a lot of us, we’re saying, there are a lot of qualified people who are highly capable that can go into positions of influence in the National Hockey League, and we want to see those people get their opportunities. There’s coaches, there’s referees, there’s different people of color that just for some reason, just haven’t been able to move up. … There’s women that are highly successful, really smart. There’s some really educated people and skilled people that have accomplished a lot on the ice, in school that should be sitting at the table.

Brown: There’s got to be a big emphasis on the youth organizations. I just think of how many kids quit … quit hockey because they felt uncomfortable or because opposing players were using racial slurs against them. That’s a big area where, if we can limit some of that, maybe more players will keep playing, where maybe the next Matt Dumba or the next P.K. Subban doesn’t quit and ends up making it. I look back at my situation, I was fortunate enough when situations like that happened in my youth hockey, my coach had my back whether the ref heard it or not. I mean, there were times where we quit the game, we forfeited the game because another player used a racial slur against me. That kind of shapes my youth growing up, knowing that I had a coach and I had a team that completely had my back. That deterred me from wanting to quit and to keep playing the sport. Having more coaches being held accountable on the youth level to keep educating these kids will make it so that the next future wave of NHL players could have more minorities in it.

George Floyd was laid to rest Tuesday. Where do we go from here so the world remains united in taking up this cause?

King: We need just to condemn racism in every fashion, in every corner, eradicate it. I also think we need to be committed to change. We need to bring qualified people of color to sit at the table so there is another voice, an opposite opinion to what we’ve seen and are used to. And I think if we do that is when we will begin to see we’ll change.

Boyd: There are things that you can do to educate yourself. I’ll leave this little vignette with you. There was a post with a woman (anti-racism activist Jane Elliott), she was a professor speaking to a mostly white 1186180 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly ready for July 10 training camp and a chance to improve team’s fortunes

By Mark Zwolinski

Sports Reporter

Thu., June 11, 2020

Morgan Rielly is relieved to be returning to the ice.

But there’s also a sense of urgency for the Maple Leafs defenceman and his teammates, who know they need to improve on their play before the NHL was shut down three months ago. The Leafs started small group workouts this week.

“We’re very motivated,” Rielly said Thursday. “We have a goal in mind and, after training camp gets going, we want to be as prepared as possible … we can come back and prove people wrong. Going into this break, we didn’t feel good about where we were. So (we can) take this opportunity to change that narrative.”

The Leafs had a 36-25-9 record when play was paused, third in the Atlantic and tied for seventh in the East. But they lost three of their last four games and went 8-8-2 after Feb. 2. Overall, they never played with the consistency they wanted.

They will need to find that consistency when the league resumes with a play-in round to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Toronto will face Columbus in a best-of-five series.

But that is still at least a month and a half away. The NHL is in the second phase of its return, with players able to train in small groups. The league hopes to open training camps July 10, assuming acceptable health and safety conditions and an agreement between the league and the players on a date for the resumption of games. That is expected to be in late July or early August.

Rielly said the arrival of the second phase this week, and the promise of the third phase in less than a month, has players focused on the return.

“It’s what we’ve been waiting for,” he said, “and if you ask players what the hardest part was, it’s the uncertainty. For me, it was when to make travel plans to come back to Toronto (from Vancouver). I wanted to be here, with my teammates and preparing for the playoffs.

“Now it’s a matter of preparing for July 10 ... hopefully everything will get rolling soon.”

When the games start up, the Blue Jackets will be waiting. Columbus was even with Toronto in the standings before the pandemic-forced lockdown; both teams had 81 points in 70 games. The Jackets are a hard-checking team that likes to pressure opponents in their own zone.

“They’re a good team and they play hard, they play a certain style and they’re well coached (by John Tortorella),” Rielly said. “Every team knows what’s at stake and they don’t want to be gone (after the play-in round). There’s a challenge for us there, we’ll do our homework and, when the time comes, we’ll be ready.”

Toronto is one of several cities being considered as one of two hubs for the remaining games. But the chance to play at home presents only a small advantage, Rielly said.

“There might be a small advantage (playing in Toronto) because of the rink. If we host, all the players will be in hotels, so rules apply to us like they do to all teams. So, no advantage based on geography. It’s hard to say, it will be the way it is, and no huge advantage being the host team or not.”

Toronto Star LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186181 Toronto Maple Leafs anonymous second-round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, exposed him to the sort of attention from police that is so often cited as an eternal reality of Black life.

Georges Laraque knows all too well that racism is a problem — ‘We “I got arrested many times,” he said. “I was stupid. I got the big truck. I need a solution,’ he says spent $15,000 on a stereo system. You could hear my music from probably five kilometres away. I was putting earplugs in my ears, because it was so loud. I liked driving downtown blasting the music, with the sunglasses, so that everyone looked at you.” By Dave Feschuk Since he made the NHL, and since he partook in more than 130 regular- Sports Columnist season NHL fights, carving out a reputation as probably the toughest Thu., June 11, 2020 customer of his era, he says the way people look at him has changed. The traffic stops have become less frequent. Maybe that’s got something to do with how, having seen the financial downside of the tricked-out vehicles of his youth, he now prefers to travel in used trucks. He The year 2020 will be remembered for a couple of devastating plagues, suspects it’s got more to do with the power of hockey-related fame. and Georges Laraque, the former NHL enforcer, has endured a battle with both. “This is the biggest insult I get from people. People come up to me and say, ‘Georges, we like you. You’re not like the other ones,’” he said. “It’s One of the scourges, he hopes, is forever in his rearview. In late April, unbelievable. Some people are viewing me as a white man because I when Laraque was otherwise occupied training for this third marathon played a white man’s sport. That’s why I don’t suffer as much racism as and delivering groceries to vulnerable people in the Montreal area, my cousins, as my friends, and I know that. I know that because I played among other passions, he tested positive for the coronavirus. He was hockey people don’t treat me the same.” diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, a condition that wasn’t helped by a pre-existing case of asthma and a genetic lung defect. He was Which is not to suggest Laraque is labelling the situation as futile. Just administered oxygen through a tube in his nose as he suffered with fever like his tête-à-tête with COVID-19 has seen him emerge motivated to and the chills. And though he’d previously been running about 10 train for another marathon — a four-hour tour of the 42.2-kilometre kilometres a day in preparation for his race, suddenly, he said, “it was a distance is the goal — Laraque said his childhood run-ins with racists workout to go to the bathroom.” fuelled his unlikely rise to the big league. So did an early-life reading of a kids’ version of the autobiography of , the first Black Still, about a week after he was checked into hospital, where he shared a player in Major League Baseball, which convinced Laraque he wasn’t room with patients in far worse shape, he was released. More than a alone in his struggle. month later, he’s fit and healthy and back to grinding out the marathon mileage. “When I read that, I said, ‘What I’m going through, with everybody calling me the N-word, is normal because Jackie went through it, too,’” Laraque As for the other plague commanding headlines of late — as a Black man said. who rose to fame playing a predominantly white sport, Laraque experienced racism’s raw sting from his formative days on a rink. As More than 70 years since Robinson broke baseball’s colour barrier, and early as age eight, as a child of Haitian immigrants raising the only Black more than 35 years since Laraque’s parents urged him to quit trying to family in small-town Sorel-Tracy, Que., Laraque remembers his parents make it in a white man’s game, barriers remain. Such is the nature of the urging him to quit hockey. They’d stopped coming to his games, he says, plague for which there is no impending vaccine: Acknowledging its because “too many people were calling me the N-word.” And the cruelty presence isn’t the same as fighting its malevolence. of hateful humans would give him plenty of reasons to hang up his skates in the years ahead. “It’s like (actor) Will Smith said on social media. Racism isn’t getting better or worse. It’s getting filmed. Racism has been the same for 30 “My entire upbringing, there was racism,” said Laraque, 43. “And today, years,” Laraque said. “Unless we work on ways to fix it, unless we hold in 2020, there’s still racism.” people accountable, in 10 years you’re going to call me to do an article about how it’s still the same.” So you’ll excuse Laraque if he expresses skepticism at the notion that, in the high-alert wake of the murder of George Floyd, we’ve arrived at a Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.12.2020 moment of actual, substantive change in the matter of race relations. Acknowledging there’s a problem with the way Black people are treated by police and by others is one thing, and never a bad one. But for Laraque, the acknowledgment alone hardly qualifies as a news flash.

“I’m sick and tired of having people recognize that there is a problem,” Laraque said. “We need a solution.”

It’s been more than 10 years since Laraque last played in an NHL game, and he’s lived a busy and varied life in retirement. He’s a serial entrepreneur with interests in real estate, a clothing line, and a brand of kombucha, among many things. He’s a public speaker, a spokesperson for Save the Children and Shriner’s Hospital, and he’s been a contestant on CBC’s Battle of the Blades. For a few years he ventured into the political arena as deputy leader of the federal Green Party. And yet Laraque says he’s “not a political person”; he was drawn to the party because of its commitment to environmental causes, and because he’s a committed vegan.

Still, Laraque is of the belief that fighting racism requires a political solution, specifically stiffer laws to punish racist behaviour, including a zero-tolerance policy for members of the public service such as police officers and government workers.

“One proven case of racism, you’re fired. No second chances,” Laraque said. “People that are racist, they’re sick. And there’s no vaccine for them. You can’t change them. But what you can do is you can force them to be respectful. What you can do is make sure they shut up.”

Laraque, for his part, said his notoriety now often shields him from the racially motivated abuse of his youth, the kind still experienced by so many. But he says his early days as a pro, when he was a relatively 1186182 Toronto Maple Leafs we’ll get everyone together and hopefully from there it’ll be smooth sailing in terms of what we have to accomplish in order to go playing again. It’s obviously very helpful having dates.”

The 'when' is set for NHL camps, but not the 'where' While the Leafs were in one of the top 16 playoff positions when play stopped, the Canadiens were looking at possible elimination. Now they’re facing Pittsburgh in a best-of-five qualifier.

Lance Hornby “It’s a great opportunity,” the Habs’ Jeff Petry told the Detroit News from his hometown training base. “Three months ago, we were playing the Published:June 11, 2020 last 10 games of our season and it was going to be over. Obviously, this Updated:June 11, 2020 10:16 PM EDT whole situation isn’t anything that anybody expected, but the opportunity has come up and everyone is excited about it.

“Hopefully, everything works out and we can get back on the ice, July 10, normally a date when NHL activity begins winding down after the because it’s playoff hockey and, in a normal year, anything can happen playoffs, draft and free agency, is now a launch date for post-season in the playoffs. training camps. “To get that opportunity, it’s something we’re all looking forward to and In a joint release on Thursday, the league and players association have excited about.” agreed full camps can commence on that day — at last a hard date on a calendar most have been guessing at since play halted on March 12. TORTS SOFTENS HIS STANCE

Yet, it remains to be seen if the proposed 24-team tournament with its Like many others, John Tortorella has re-assessed his approach to those late summer target date will begin as planned. With COVID-19 recovery who have made a gesture of protest during the playing of the U.S. still overshadowing the entire world’s timetable, the league must move national anthem. cautiously and in concert with the union. The latter wants to negotiate a The head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, whose team will face the safe environment in which to play and train over several weeks at camp Maple Leafs in a best-of-five qualifying series if the NHL playoffs take and in the two tournament hub cities. place in late summer, said he’s been contemplating the issue even Thursday’s statement did advise that camp will go ahead only “provided before the widespread unrest after the death of George Floyd rekindled that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an the anthem debate. overall agreement on resuming play. The length of camp and therefore Tortorella, whose 30-year-old son, Nick, is a U.S, Army Ranger, the start date for formal resumption of play will be determined at a future threatened to bench any player who sat for the Star Spangled Banner date.” around the time NFL player protests began in 2016. At that time, With Canada currently insisting on a 14-day quarantine for anyone Tortorella was coaching Team USA in the World Cup. arriving, the Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, “I have learned over the years, listening and watching, that men and Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames could face issues and opt to women who choose to kneel during this time mean no disrespect toward hold their camps in the States. the flag,” the coach told The Athletic Columbus this week. The Canadiens, in particular, do not have a large amount of players in “The World Cup is a little bit of a different story — that’s playing for your town yet, and those coming in do not want to sit around their residence country. But that isn’t now. for two weeks unable to train. “I would hope that if one of my players wanted to protest during the In Toronto, about 20 players have arrived or will soon clear quarantine, anthem, he would bring it to me and we would talk about it, tell me his so going south is unlikely. Top scorer Auston Matthews and Frederik thoughts and what he wanted to do. Andersen have yet to arrive from the U.S., hoping the federal government relaxes the rule and the practice rink can be considered a “From there, we would bring it to the team to discuss it, much like it’s quarantine haven rather than sitting out 14 days. being discussed in our country right now — how can we rectify some of these problems?” Another possible avenue for Canadian cites hoping to be hubs would be an agreement for enhanced daily COVID testing of arrivals, to be done at Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.12.2020 the Canadian clubs’ expense. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has already said it would make such testing facilities available to the public when not in use.

Meanwhile, the hub cities have yet to be named. Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton were on commissioner Gary Bettman’s preliminary list revealed in late May, along with Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, St. Paul, Minn., and Pittsburgh.

Edmonton is pushing hard at the provincial level, Alberta premier Jason Kenney touting his city’s low COVID-19 numbers and the boost that some business sent their way could mitigate tough economic times.

While talks have gone on between the NHL and the Canadian government to relax the 14-day restriction on arrivals, it would be hard for NHL personnel, team support staff and families to come and go from a country that required them to isolate.

That would point to a couple of U.S. locations getting the nod. Speculation has Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago on the short list, with little or no media present in the rinks, other than a feed broadcast, likely NBC providing pictures back to crews in individual markets.

There was relief on many fronts that the wheels are turning a little faster towards a re-start. As of this past Monday, players could return to their team’s practice facilities in small numbers, up to five or six on the ice at one time, on a voluntary basis.

“Now it’s just a matter of putting in the time between now and July 10,” said defenceman Morgan Rielly, alternate captain of the Leafs. “Then 1186183 Toronto Maple Leafs “They’re a good team, they play hard, they have their certain style and they’re well-coached,” Rielly said of Columbus.

“To my understanding, they’re healthy (Seth Jones, Oliver Bjorkstrand New realities sink in for Morgan Rielly and the Leafs and Cam Atkinson all recovered from injuries) and like everyone else, they’re eager to get going. So, I think that play-in round will be extremely competitive.

Lance Hornby “You’ll have a lot of teams that understand what’s at stake and don’t want to be gone in just a handful of games. Published:June 11, 2020 “But as we get closer to training camp and to the series, we’ll do our Updated:June 11, 2020 10:12 PM EDT homework and when that time comes, I think we’ll be ready.”

NERVE-WRACKING FLIGHT Morgan Rielly just got back to Toronto, but he and the Maple Leafs could Morgan Rielly has flown around North America for eight NHL seasons, be on the road again for training camp and the NHL’s proposed 24-team but getting back on a plane this month to Toronto caused the playoff tournament. defenceman some anxiety. There is increasing talk Toronto might not be on the short list as one of Hardly anyone was wearing a protective mask back in March when he two hub cities when the Eastern and Western conferences are split into went home to British Columbia after play was suspended by COVID-19. 12 teams, after the league and players settle on a time frame amid ongoing concerns COVID-19. That decision is likely to be announced in a “I flew and, yeah, I think we’re all nervous,” Rielly said. “I think even just week or two. going to the grocery store, you can get nervous a little bit. But traveling back, for sure. Not that the defenceman and alternate captain would care too much at this point. “I was just glad to be back here. I think this is where I feel the most at home, just glad to be at the rink again and have something to do.” “There might be a small advantage just because of the rink (Scotiabank Arena), but I think if we host, I assume all the players will have to be in John Tavares, Zach Hyman, Jake Muzzin, Cody Ceci and Jack Campbell hotels anyway,” Rielly said in a Thursday Zoom call with Toronto media. were among the other early arrivals this week for informal workouts at the Leafs’ Ford Performance Centre facility. “The rules will apply to us, just like all other teams. So I don’t think that there’ll be a huge advantage in terms of the geography of where it is.” “I have to give credit to our staff that have really handled it extremely well,” Rielly said. The SBA would certainly have an unfamiliar vibe to it, never mind the games being staged in August heat. “When you go to the rink, it’s pretty well clear what you can and can’t do and what the protocol is. Our doctors and staff have done a great job with There is unlikely to be any fans in the 19,000-seat building, at least not that. I’ve enjoyed being back with some teammates and it’s a good living, breathing ones, and for Games 3 and 4 of the proposed best-of- opportunity just to use the gym, the ice and do whatever you can to five qualifying round against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Leafs might prepare yourself for training camp and then, hopefully, a playoff run.” have to shift down to the visitors’ bench as they wouldn’t be the home team. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.12.2020 It’s all superseded by dealing with health concerns, as COVID-19 remains very much a threat.

“If you ask guys to go play just about anywhere, they’ll probably agree eventually, but it’s important we take care of what’s important first — player safety and the general public,” Rielly said.

“We have to do what’s best on that front before we get carried away. After that, it’ll just be about what’s available. I think wherever we go, we’ll be well taken care of, so I really don’t see that being a big issue.”

Reilly does not have a wife and family, but frequent COVID-19 testing for all players and their ability to have partners, children and some relatives with them for all or part of the event in a hub city are among the points the players union and the league must negotiate.

At least the announcement on Thursday about Phase 3’s formal camp start date in July was a huge step for a league in limbo since March 12.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been waiting for,” Rielly said. “If you ask most players what the hardest part was, it was the uncertainty.

“For me, personally, just trying to wait to hear word about when to make travel plans back to Toronto (from his off-season home in British Columbia).”

Phase 2 of the Return To Play plan was Monday’s opening of training facilities to small groups, with up to five or six players on the ice with a few instructors.

“I think it’s rolling now and hopefully, we can keep going the right direction,” Rielly said.

“I do believe we’ll play, it’s a matter of when. But it’s not entirely in our control.”

At least the Leafs will have a good book on the Jackets whenever the series gets started. Toronto took three of four points in the regular season, but last played Columbus on Oct. 21 with a third game that was scheduled in late March scrapped by the coronavirus pandemic. 1186184 Toronto Maple Leafs “Those are two of my favourite guys to watch because they’re not the biggest guys but they can go out and create offence,” Abruzzese said. “I’m not a very big guy. I can’t go out and overpower guys with physical play, so I have to use my head around the ice. THE PIPELINE: Abruzzese's fine freshman season with Harvard puts him in future Leafs conversation “I wouldn’t say I model myself after any particular player, but I like to watch and maybe take little parts of their game and try to implement things into my game because they are doing it at the highest level.”

Terry Koshan A year ago, Abruzzese was on the cusp of being welcomed into the Leafs organization. With the season he had at Harvard, he has started to Published:June 11, 2020 cement himself in the conversation looking a few years down the road. Updated:June 11, 2020 10:07 PM EDT Leafs director of amateur scouting John Lilley told us in March that Abruzzese exceeded the club’s expectations, but the Leafs weren’t astonished by his competitive nature. They knew it was part of the player Nick Abruzzese didn’t take long to change his National Hockey League when they drafted him. allegiance. Now, Abruzzese, who is leaning toward declaring psychology as his It happened in a matter of minutes last June, to be exact. major next year, is determined to build off his rookie season as a sophomore, whenever that might be, taking into consideration the impact When the Maple Leafs selected Abruzzese in the fourth round of the NHL of the coronavirus. draft in Vancouver, there ended his days as a fan of the New York Rangers. He went from the Blueshirts to the Blue and White in an instant. “If I can continue to get better every day and make strides in my game, one day I hope I will be able to play for the Leafs,” Abruzzese said. “It was pretty quick,” the 21-year-old forward said with a chuckle in an interview with The Toronto Sun this week from his parents’ home in Slate “It’s what I am working toward. I’m focusing now on going back and Hill, N.Y. having a really good strong second year at Harvard and see where I can go from there.” “The biggest thing is they have young, exciting players to watch. Guys like (Auston) Matthews and (Mitch) Marner and (William) Nylander, a lot THE FILE ON ABRUZZESE of really good young forwards. It’s easy for me to put on the TV and watch them, because they play such a fun, exciting game.” AGE: 21 (June 4, 1999)

At the same time the Leafs’ youngsters were helping to land Toronto in a HOMETOWN: Slate Hill, N.Y. playoff spot during the 2019-20 regular season before it was halted by HEIGHT: 5-foot-9, WEIGHT: 160 pounds the COVID-19 pandemic, Abruzzese was putting his touches on a terrific freshman season with Harvard. POSITION: Forward, SHOOTS: Left

He was named the ECAC rookie of the year after recording 44 points (14 DRAFTED: 2019, 4th round, Toronto goals and 30 assists) in 31 games for the , with his average of 1.42 points a game tying him for second-highest in the NCAA. Playing on THE SKINNY: Had best freshman season at Harvard since Ted Donato a line with Jack Drury and Casey Dornbach, Abruzzese made a smooth took over as coach in 2004 in leading all NCAA rookies in scoring … transition to the left wing after leading the USHL in scoring with Chicago Recorded 18 points (six goals and 12 assists) on nation’s No. 1 power from his natural position of centre the previous season. The trio helped play … Named to first-team all-ECAC Hockey and all-rookie team … Had Harvard attain the best power-play in the country with a success rate of a team-high 14 multiple-point games. 31.2%. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.12.2020 “To get that award was pretty cool, but it speaks more to the type of team we had that allowed me to come in and have the success we did,” Abruzzese said. “I wanted to try to contribute to the team the best I could and looking back, I think I had a pretty good year and was able to accomplish a lot.”

Harvard coach Ted Donato had confidence in Abruzzese from the season opener. And by the time the hockey year ended, Donato was using Abruzzese in all situations without hesitation.

“Certainly, we knew offensively that he was talented and he was going to be able to have an impact right away, but I give him a lot of credit for putting the work in to really developing his all-around game to a point where we could have him on the ice if we were trying to protect a lead or killing a penalty or playing four on four,” Donato said. “Nick took full advantage of all of the resources that were available.”

Among the traits of Abruzzese’s game that impressed Donato was a fearless approach, despite the fact that, at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, he wasn’t bowling opponents over.

“He has the ability to make you miss, he is quick, his overall speed continues to get better, and he is competitive around the tough areas of the ice,” Donato said. “There are a lot of guys who have talent and skill, but it’s that compete level, especially for the undersized guys, that really allows them to have success and Nick has that.

“I give him a lot of credit because he goes to the hard areas of the ice to score goals, bringing the puck to the net from tough angles and hanging around the front of the net for rebounds and other opportunities. And he’s a guy who really knows how to utilize the strengths of other people on the ice with him.”

Not surprisingly, Abruzzese said he enjoys watching NHL stars such as Marner and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. 1186185 Toronto Maple Leafs

Rielly ready, no matter where Leafs go

Lance Hornby

Published:June 11, 2020

Updated:June 11, 2020 2:30 PM EDT

Toronto might not be the hub city for the NHL’s playoff tournament and perhaps even the Maple Leafs’ planned training camp on July 10 might get moved because of Canadian quarantine regulations for COVID-19.

But Morgan Rielly says the team will be ready, no matter where they gather en masse.

“It’s not a huge advantage (to be home at Scotiabank Arena) … it’s just about player safety,” he said Thursday on a conference call with Toronto media. “There’s a small advantage to being the host, but (not if) all teams are in the same hotel. The same rules will apply to us.”

About 10 cities in Canada and the U.S. are in the running to be hubs of two 12-team East and West tournaments that are tentatively scheduled for late summer.

Rielly came back to Toronto from his off-season home in British Columbia in the past few days to participate in the Phase 2 portion of the league’s Return To Play plan, allowing small groups of up to five or six on the ice at the club’s West End practice rink.

The defenceman and alternate captain said the league’s announcement on Thursday about a formal camp start date “was what we’ve been waiting for.”

“Ask most players what was the hardest (since games were halted March 12) and it was the uncertainty,” Rielly said. “To go that long without hard news is tough. I wanted to make plans to come back, now it’s a matter of waiting until July 10.

“We all had good days and bad days in this period. I did believe we’ll play, it’s a matter of when. But it’s not entirely in our control.”

If the league and players association work out the details for the two hub cities, which covers everything from COVID-19 testing to accommodation for themselves and family, the Leafs will play the Columbus Blue Jackets in a best-of-five opening round.

“They have a good style, they’re well coached and I understand they’ll be completely healthy,” Rielly said. “The play in that round will be competitive. As we get closer, we’ll do our homework, we’ll be ready.”

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NHL playoff team camps to open July 10

Lance Hornby

Published:June 11, 2020

Updated:June 11, 2020 11:36 AM EDT

There’s a bit more clarity on the NHL’s Return To Play plan after the league and players association jointly announced Thursday that formal training camps for the 24 teams in the proposed playoff tournament will open July 10.

That’s “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play,” the joint statement said. “The length of training camp and therefore the start date for formal resumption of play will be determined at a future date.”

The training camps represent Phase 3 of the plan, the tournament would be the fourth and final step. The two hub cities for the Eastern and Western conferences have yet to be named.

As of this past Monday, players could return to their team’s practice facilities in small numbers, but on a voluntary basis as the final details of the tournament remain to be negotiated between the league and union.

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Golden Knights’ Mark Stone feels safe around teammates on ice

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 11, 2020 - 5:33 PM

Mark Stone said he hasn’t felt uneasy or unsafe since he and his teammates returned to City National Arena this week.

The Golden Knights’ star right wing is comfortable with the twice weekly COVID-19 testing, daily temperature checks and other health guidelines required for players to participate in small group workouts in Phase Two of the NHL’s return-to-play protocol. If that’s what it takes for Stone to hit the ice again, so be it.

He wants the chance to finish what the Knights started this season.

“I can’t speak for everybody, but, speaking for myself, I’m excited,” said Stone, who missed the Knights’ last six games with a lower-body injury but deemed himself “100 percent” on a Zoom call Thursday. “I want to compete for the Stanley Cup. I want to play hockey. I want to get back to work and, ultimately, I want to entertain people.”

Stone, the Knights’ second-leading scorer with 63 points, has skated twice this week with Deryk Engelland, Marc-Andre Fleury, Nick Holden, Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny. He said the workouts have been basic, with players focused on getting their feel for the game again. They don’t want to go too hard after not skating for almost three months and risk pulling a groin or injuring a hip.

Instead, they will increase the difficulty gradually before mandatory training camps begin. The NHL announced Thursday they would start July 10 if the league and players association agree to health and safety guidelines, along with an overall deal on resuming play.

The first few workouts haven’t just been about Stone getting his skating legs back, though. He said it’s been great just to be around the team again.

“It’s the same thing in the summers,” Stone said. “You’re so excited to get a little bit of time off, and after a month, you just want to get back with your friends and just play some hockey. It was just exciting to be back, share a couple laughs with the guys.”

Stone hopes to do a lot more than that if the season resumes. He said he thinks the Knights started playing their best hockey around the trade deadline. They went 8-2 after acquiring defenseman Alec Martinez on Feb. 19 and outscored opponents 35-26.

He wants the team to find that intensity again for its round-robin games against the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for seeding. If the Knights are up to speed in those games, Stone said they will be tough to beat, even if they play in empty arenas.

“I’ve played competitive games since I was 5, 6 years old in front of no people,” Stone said. “We’re hockey players. We’re built to play. We’re built to try and win. No matter what the surroundings, or what the setting is, I think that same intensity is going to be there.”

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Golden Knights to reopen City National Arena to public

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 11, 2020 - 4:12 PM

Updated June 11, 2020 - 4:48 PM

City National Arena will reopen to the public at 5 p.m. Friday, though all voluntary Golden Knights workouts will remain closed to the public because of the NHL’s return-to-play guidelines.

The Knights’ practice facility will open at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It will open at noon Sunday, then at 6 a.m. each following Sunday.

City National Arena’s restaurant, MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill and Pub, will reopen for dine in and takeout at 5 p.m. Friday. It will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Open skates will resume Sunday. Those interested must register and pay at CityNationalArena.com before arriving. Fifty skaters will be allowed in each time slot, and skate rentals are unavailable.

Select adult programming, such as adult leagues and drop-in skates, will resume Monday. Select youth programming, such as house leagues and figure skating, will begin June 22. The Knights’ Learn to Play, Learn to Skate and Lil’ Knights skating lessons will remain paused.

The team store, The Arsenal, will remain open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day using its side entrance.

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Golden Knights sign goalie Oscar Dansk to 1-year extension

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 11, 2020 - 2:15 PM

Goaltender Oscar Dansk signed a one-year contract extension with the Golden Knights, the team announced Thursday on its “Knight Report” livestream.

The two-way deal has a $700,000 average annual value at the NHL level.

Dansk, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2019- 20 season, went 18-12-4-3 with a 2.57 goals-against average and .908 save percentage for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League.

He appeared in one game for the Knights, stopping 31 of 37 shots in a 6- 2 loss at Philadelphia on Oct. 21.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186190 Vegas Golden Knights Reaves will lend his voice to the Hockey Diversity Alliance that was founded Monday by seven players, including Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris Stewart, one of his best friends, and Evander Kane, his bitter on- ice adversary. Ryan Reaves speaks out against racism on Golden Knights podcast One of Reaves’ personal projects is increasing diversity in hockey and exposing the game to predominantly minority communities.

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal “They want to see, ‘Hey, this guy dresses like me. This guy wears Jordans like me. This guy kind of talks like me,’ ” Reaves said. “I was June 11, 2020 - 12:29 PM brought up and the one message I try to give to my kids is it doesn’t Updated June 11, 2020 - 6:36 PM matter what you look like (or) where you come from, everybody’s equal. … Until that happens, there’s never going to be any real peace in the world, but especially right now in North America.”

Ryan Reaves received several text messages in the past week asking if he was going to make a statement as anti-racism demonstrations swept across the globe. LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.12.2020

The Golden Knights forward contemplated what to do for the past five or six days before he became the first player on the team to wade into the discussion Thursday.

Reaves was a guest on the team’s podcast and spoke for more than 20 minutes about his own experiences with racism in hockey in addition to the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests.

“It’s tough to watch because so many people are suffering,” Reaves said on the podcast. “There’s been so much damage. There’s been a lot of unnecessary lives lost and a lot of communities destroyed. It’s tough because it’s the culmination of years and years of things going wrong for black people within the community.”

Reaves, who was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the lone black player on the Knights’ 23-man roster. His father, Willard, is from Flagstaff, Arizona, was a three-time all star in the and briefly appeared in the NFL in 1989.

Willard Reaves, who is African American, also served as a sergeant with the Manitoba Sheriff Services after his playing career. That has left Ryan Reaves in a difficult spot as he tries to resolve his feelings about the unrest that has occurred since George Floyd was killed while in police custody on Memorial Day in Minneapolis.

“You’re never going to hear me say cops are bad because I have a lot of respect for what they do, and they keep our communities safe,” Reaves said. “But at the same time, there’s been marches, there’s been protests, there’s been talks, there’s been communication, and nothing seems to be changing. And if you’re going to keep going down the same path and nothing happens, eventually there’s going to come a boiling point. And I think we’ve hit that right now.”

Reaves, 33, acknowledged he hasn’t experienced the same level of racism as others despite being the target of racial slurs in his youth hockey days.

At one point during the podcast discussion, though, Reaves described an incident from several years ago when he was pulled over in Winnipeg after rolling through a stop sign while driving a “beat-down Pontiac 6000.”

“I just locked eyes with him in my rearview mirror, and right when we locked eyes, he stopped and he undid his gun and he pulled it out halfway,” Reaves said. “It just, it made me so mad because I could tell it was because I was black. And the first thing that came out of my mouth was, ‘Do you do that with everybody?’

“My dad was a cop in that city, and (the officer) didn’t know who I was. But for him to look at me that way, it just kind of hurt.”

Reaves played for the Blues and was living in St. Louis in 2014 during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer.

While the frustration was evident in Reaves’ voice that little has changed in six years, he remained hopeful the latest protests would lead to meaningful reform in the police community.

Reaves was one of several players on the Knights and across the NHL to support the #BlackoutTuesday movement on social media June 3.

“There’s no place for racism in this world. I think a lot of us have talked as a team, but at the end of the day, we’re more into listening right now,” Knights teammate Mark Stone said. 1186191 Vegas Golden Knights

NHL training camps could begin July 10

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

June 11, 2020 - 8:28 am

Updated June 11, 2020 - 9:06 am

Mandatory training camps, Phase Three of the NHL’s return-to-play plan, will begin July 10 if health and safety protocols are agreed to.

The league said the length of the training camps will be determined at a later date. They are expected to last at least a few weeks to get players up to speed before games resume in two hub cities. That probably means puck drop in early August for the NHL’s revised postseason format, provided the league and players association come to an overall agreement on resuming play.

The NHL on Monday began Phase Two, which involves voluntary small group workouts at team facilities.

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NHL training camps set to open July 10

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Thursday, June 11, 2020 | 8:50 a.m.

Training camps for 24 NHL teams competing in the postseason will open July 10, pending approval of safety guidelines and an overall format for returning to action, the league and players’ union announced today.

The camps are part of Phase 3 of hockey’s return-to-play plan. The league is now in Phase 2, which allows small-group workouts at team facilities. Phase 1 was the self-quarantine of players, and Phase 4 will be the resumption of games.

The length of Phase 3 and the beginning of Phase 4 will be determined at a future date, the NHL and union said.

The Vegas Golden Knights were one of the teams that immediately took advantage of the Phase 2 opening, which began Monday.

Up to six players at a time are permitted to be on the ice. On Wednesday, players who participated were Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, Deryk Engelland, Nick Holden and Marc-Andre Fleury.

The small-group workouts are voluntary, and teams cannot force players to attend. Training camps at team facilities will be mandatory.

Once games begin, teams will be assigned to one of two hub cities, one for each conference.

The league has narrowed down the hubs to 10 possibilities, and Las Vegas is considered a front runner. However, it is unknown if the Golden Knights would be assigned to Las Vegas or the other conference hub to avoid the perception of home-ice advantage.

It’s possible games could begin as soon as late July, though August appears more likely.

Workouts are closed to the public, and when games resume, they will be played without fans.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186193 Washington Capitals

NHL training camps to open July 10; Capitals start small-group workouts

By Samantha Pell

June 11, 2020 at 1:03 PM EDT

The NHL and its players’ association announced that formal training camps for the 24 teams resuming play will begin July 10 if safety and medical conditions related to the novel coronavirus pandemic will allow it.

The announcement came from both parties Thursday, with the league in the first week of the second of four phases in its return-to-play plan. Team practice facilities were allowed to open Monday for voluntary small- group workouts. Six players are allowed on the ice at one time, with no coaches. Phase 3 is the opening of training camps, and the length of that phase is still being discussed.

The start date for Phase 4, the formal resumption of play, will be determined at a later date. It is expected that players need about three weeks of training camp plus exhibition games to be prepared for games that count.

The NHL and NHL Players Association already have agreed on a modified playoff format — which includes two hub cities that would house 12 teams each — though both sides need to negotiate the details on safety and other protocols.

Capitals GM on NHL’s return to play: ‘Answers aren’t always completely there’

In the meantime, more players will be headed back to their respective home facilities in the coming weeks in preparation for training camps. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last month that 17 percent of the league’s players were overseas, and there may be some obstacles regarding travel restrictions.

For the Capitals, only four players are in the Washington area: defenseman John Carlson, goaltender Braden Holtby and centers Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller. All skated at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington on Thursday, the first day they were allowed to do so after the Capitals decided they were not ready to open the facility earlier in the week when Phase 2 of the NHL’s plan began. Players living in other NHL cities are allowed to skate at other teams’ facilities with permission.

On Friday, Northern will enter Phase 2 of the state’s coronavirus recovery plan, which allows places such as MedStar Capitals Iceplex to open to the public with restrictions. It is not clear, however, when the public will be allowed back into the facility.

People around the NHL have continued to stay cautiously optimistic about the resumption of the season, which was paused March 12. Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan acknowledged in late May that the team was trying to balance the excitement of playing games with the reality of how the sport could move forward with the virus still present.

Washington Post LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186194 Washington Capitals

Monumental Sports will reduce pay for employees through the end of the year

By Samantha Pell

June 11, 2020 at 11:06 AM EDT

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, announced pay cuts for its employees through the end of the year.

According to an internal email sent to MSE employees Thursday, the company will enact a 20 percent base salary pay reduction for employees earning more than $75,000, effective July 12 until the end of the year. Employees earning less than $75,000 will not be affected.

The company will continue to review the state of the businesses approximately every 100 days because of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to the email.

“Many organizations are impacted by the covid-19 pandemic including the sports, entertainment and hospitality industries, which are among the hardest-hit," Monica Dixon, MSE chief administrative officer and president of external affairs, said in a statement. “Monumental Sports & Entertainment has been dramatically affected and will continue to be for an uncertain length of time. We have taken a number of steps to conserve our finances so that we can continue to fund our highest priority: our people.”

At this time, contract employees will not be impacted. The company told its employees that they are waiting for league direction, and it anticipates having discussions with individual contract employees at a later date. Since the NHL and the NBA put their seasons on hold in mid-March, MSE also enacted a hiring freeze, suspended annual staff increases and bonuses and suspended the 401(k) match.

The company believes its pay deductions are in line with decisions made by the NHL and the NBA to reduce the salaries of higher-compensated salaried employees. The NHL confirmed at the end of March that it was cutting non-contract employee salaries by 25 percent.

Both leagues are in the midst of evolving return-to-play plans, but none of the proposed plans involve games being played at home arenas or with fans present.

After considering many alternatives, MSE decided the pay deduction was the best option because it preserves jobs during this 100-day time frame. Ted Leonsis, the chairman of MSE, and his partners suspended their compensation entirely, and all members of the senior leadership team have taken a 20 percent salary reduction since April 19.

“While helpful, additional action was necessary to preserve the short- and long-term health of our company,” Dixon said. "This was an extremely difficult decision, but our continued goal is to protect as many jobs as possible during this unprecedented experience.”

In late March, MSE announced it was committed to paying its part-time employees for suspended games in April. MSE had committed to paying part-time staff for 15 scheduled games and events in March. There were five games scheduled in April.

In sum, 850 MSE part-time staff received payments totaling $1.2 million for the suspended games and events through the end of the NHL and NBA seasons.

Washington Post LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186195 Washington Capitals

NHL, NHLPA set training camp date for relaunching season

By Matthew Paras - The Washington Times

Thursday, June 11, 2020

The NHL and the NHLPA agreed to begin training camps July 10 for the 24 teams taking part in the league’s relaunch later this summer, should it be safe for teams and players to do so.

The league made the announcement Thursday as teams can begin “Phase 2” of the NHL’s restart plan, which allows for small group workouts. The Washington Capitals were one of the teams that began voluntary workouts featuring a limited amount of players Thursday at their facility at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Training camp will mark “Phase 3” for the NHL. The camp is expected to last two weeks with exhibition games possibly beginning July 24 and playoff games a week later.

Late last month, the NHL detailed its plan to relaunch amid the coronavirus pandemic — detailing a 24-team plan to finish out its season in two hub cities. The league has yet to announce when play will restart, or where the games will be played.

Washington Times LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186196 Washington Capitals

NHL, NHLPA set the opening of training camp for July 10

By J.J. Regan

June 11, 2020 11:36 AM

On the day in which the Capitals officially begin Phase 2 of the NHL's return to play plan, we now have a date for Phase 3. The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday that training camps will begin on Friday, July 10 for the 24 teams that will compete in the 2020 postseason. Per a statement released by the league, training camps will only open if "medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play."

A date for Phase 4, the resumption of the season, was not announced. It was also not announced just how long camp may be and that obviously will need to be determined before a timetable for the postseason can be finalized. It is believed camps will last from two to three weeks meaning we are most likely looking at the start of August for when play can begin.

The NHL paused its season on March 12. With training camps resuming on July 10, that means there will be over fourth months between games. But there is obvious momentum for play to resume.

Since the league paused on March 12, it considered itself to be in Phase 1, self-isolation, until Monday when Phase 2 was officially allowed to begin. The Caps were set to officially begin this next phase on Thursday. Now we have a date for Phase 3 and, most likely, a timetable for Phase 4 should not be far behind. Just what the Caps will look like when they finally do return to play, however, remains to be seen.

It should also be noted that the NHLPA has not officially agreed to return to play just yet. Yes, we have a playoff format, we have players returning to team facilities and we have a date for training camps, but the specific health and safety protocols for the postseason have not yet been finalized and a vote will still have to taken to determine whether the players want to return to play.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186197 Washington Capitals immediately thrust into a best of five play-in series. When you are still working out the rust, that is a tough position to be in. Yes, every team is in the same position, but there are going to be eight teams eliminated from the play-in round who will feel like they did not even have a chance Why the NHL's pause could help or hurt the Capitals to get up to speed as a team or play their best hockey.

The first three games the Caps will play are the round-robin games. While there is an obvious benefit to doing well in that round-robin By J.J. Regan tournament, ultimately they will be in the playoffs regardless of whether June 11, 2020 6:00 AM they go 3-0 or 0-3.

Why the pause could hurt the Caps:

The Capitals officially begin Phase 2 of the NHL's return to play plan on The catch-22 for the top seeds is that, yes, they will not have to Thursday, marking the biggest step yet towards the resumption of the immediately play in a do-or-die series right out of training camp, but all of NHL season. MedStar Capitals Iceplex will be open to players for them will have to play a team in the first round that just won a series. voluntary on and off-ice activities provided groups are limited to no more Unless the round-robin is ultra-competitive to the point that it mimics a than six players at a time. We may still be a ways off from playoff hockey, playoff series, which it won't, then there is no way the top seeds will go but players are back on the ice and we have a playoff format already set. into those first series up to speed with their opponents. With that in mind, it is time to start looking ahead to what may happen in In the last 10 games before the pause, Ovechkin had eight goals and 10 the postseason. total points. Extend that out to 20 games and he had 17 goals and 20 The 2020 playoffs are going to be impossible to predict because it is all total points. It really seemed that Ovechkin had found his groove when unprecedented. We just don't know how teams are going to look when things stopped. Will he be able to pick up where he left off or will the 34- they come back to play and that includes the Caps. Here are a few year-old captain start to look like a 34-year-old? reasons why the pause to the season could help Washington and a few Holtby's numbers have not been great the past few seasons and those reasons why it may hurt. stats are really hurt by his slow starts. in 2018, Holtby had a .888 save Why the pause could help the Caps: percentage and 3.41 GAA in the month of October. In 2019, he had a .888 save percentage and 3.11 GAA in October. Those numbers Since Feb. 1, Washington had the 27th best record in the league by rebounded considerably over the course of the season, but a bad month points percentage. That is abysmal. Only once during that time -- a when the season resumes will likely mean the end of Washington's stretch that included 17 games -- did they string two straight wins season. together. They were struggling and likely would have lost their spot atop the division to the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers. The start of Phase 2 on Thursday will mark the first time Holtby will even have the chance to get on the ice, let alone face shooters. He has to be The season officially paused on March 12 meaning we have not had ready to go when the playoffs start or it will be a short postseason for hockey for three months. The earliest we could see the season resume is Washington. August and even that could be a stretch at this point. There will be at least five months between games when the puck finally drops. That is While the time off will be good for a veteran-heavy team like Washington, basically an entire offseason. There will be no carryover at all for any the same could be said for Boston which just so happens to be the best team, good or bad. The Caps aren't in a funk anymore, it's a clean slate. team in the NHL. If the Caps had one advantage over the Bruins it was the fact that they had a long offseason. Washington exited in the first Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Lars Eller, Carl Hagelin, Braden round in 2019 while the Bruins went all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Holtby, Ilya Kovalchuk, T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin are all 30 years or Cup Final. But that's not something players like Patrice Bergeron (34), older. Those are players with a lot of miles and the extra break could Zdeno Chara (42), Jaroslav Halak (34), David Krejci (33), Brad Marchand prove to be beneficial for them. (31) or Tuukka Rask (32) will have to worry about now after several months to rest. Don't forget, in 2019 this team completely ran out of gas against the Carolina Hurricanes in just the first round of the playoffs after winning the The Caps don't seem to like day games Cup the year before. This has been an issue for Washington for a few years now as they really For the season, the Caps rank 17th on the power play at 19.4-percent. don't seem to like messing with their routine, or at least messing with Not terrible, but that number hides how horrendous the extra-man unit their body clock's routine. In games that started before 7 p.m., was as the season went along. Washington was 7-5-1 this season. That's not bad, but two of those games were actually at 7 p.m. ET and were actually only day games Since Dec. 1, the Caps' power play ranked 30th in the NHL at 15.5- because they happened before that in local time. Both of those games percent, worse even than the lowly Detroit Red Wings. A team that were wins for Washington so if you take those out, the Caps were really boasts offensive talent like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Carlson, Evgeny only 5-5-1 in day games. Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana should not be struggling to score on the power play. Period. With the entire conference converging on a hub city, the early rounds especially are going to have to feature a large number of day games just Figuring out how to fix the power play was a major struggle for the to fit them all in. How will Washington handle those games? coaches in season. We saw a few minor tweaks, but nothing really seemed to make much of a difference and it felt more like grasping at straws than a real fix. This pause to the season has given the coaches plenty of time to figure out what ails the power play and how to fix it. Add Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.12.2020 in the fact that there will be a training camp when the team returns where they can work on it and there is no excuse for the power play to pick up where it left off when play resumes.

Washington was going to drop to second in the Metropolitan Division behind Philadelphia. Even if it didn't, the Caps had no shot at catching Boston for the top spot in the conference. Now they do.

The round-robin tournament offers Washington the opportunity to climb to as high as No. 1 in the standings or drop to No. 4. Considering they would probably have dropped to No. 4 anyway, there is nothing for the Caps to lose. Add in the fact that the teams will reseed at the end of each round and there is a real bonus to trying to take the top spot in the round- robin.

It sounds as if each team will get some exhibition games before the real postseason begins, but after that 16 of the 24 teams remaining will be 1186198 Washington Capitals

Source: Monumental Sports implements salary reductions of employees

By Tarik El-Bashir

Jun 11, 2020

Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Capital One Arena, informed employees on Thursday morning that the company’s top earners will be taking a pay cut, a source told The Athletic D.C.

The pay cuts come at a difficult and unprecedented time in the industry due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The NHL and NBA seasons have been suspended since mid-March; along with the District of Columbia’s edict that month closing all local businesses that house large gatherings, Capital One Arena has been dark for weeks, putting a big dent in the company’s finances. And although both sports leagues are formulating plans to return later this summer, current plans call for the Capitals and Wizards to play all of their games away from Capital One Arena.

In an email to staff, MSE announced that, effective July 12, the base salary of employees earning more than $75,000 will be reduced by 20 percent, with adjustments to ensure no one in that group has their salary go below $75,000. Employees earning less than $75,000 will not be affected. At this time, contract employees also will not be impacted.

The salary reductions come on top of a hiring freeze, suspended annual increases and bonuses and other cost-cutting measures. The pay cuts will be reflected in checks distributed at the end of the month and will remain in effect through “at least” the end of 2020, with a review of the businesses conducted every 100 days, according to the internal announcement.

“We considered many alternatives, but believe this choice is the best option at this time,” the email read in part.

Ted Leonsis, MSE’s founder, chairman and CEO, and his partners have suspended their compensation entirely, and all members of the senior leadership team have taken a 20-percent salary reduction since April 20, the email said.

The email also noted that the pay reduction is in line with decisions made by the NHL and NBA to reduce the salaries of those leagues’ higher compensated non-contract employees.

“Our goal is to protect as many employees as possible during this unprecedented experience,” the email said.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186199 Washington Capitals 5.35 (1st) Zone Exits

8.41 (1st) A Norris Trophy voter guide: Who deserves to be on the ballot? Expected Goals

0.22 (2nd) By Adam Vingan OZ Pass Completions Jun 11, 2020 16 (2nd)

Here are those metrics boiled down to one play: On Monday, members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association received their ballots for the NHL awards. The finalists will miss out on an The abrupt end of the regular season might work against Josi in the eyes all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas, but at least we will be spared from of some voters, as he was unable to close the gap in the scoring race terrible comedy sketches featuring B-list celebrities and Gary Bettman. with Carlson. Josi finished with 65 points, a single-season record for a Predators defenseman. The Norris Trophy is among the awards decided by the PHWA. Voters are asked to submit five players for each, ranking them from 1 to 5. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

By the time the regular season ended in March, John Carlson and If Hedman is chosen as a Norris Trophy finalist for the fourth consecutive Roman Josi had separated themselves from the pack in the Norris year, no one will be surprised. (The last defenseman to finish in the top Trophy race. But several other defensemen had outstanding seasons as three in Norris Trophy voting in four consecutive seasons was fellow well. Swede Nicklas Lidstrom from 2005-09.)

Here are five standout candidates who deserve to be on the ballot. Hedman has a well-earned reputation for being one of the league’s steadiest defenseman, playing big minutes for the juggernaut Lightning. John Carlson, Washington Capitals That was the case again this season. He was great at moving the puck, As the highest-scoring defenseman in the league this season, Carlson is especially in the offensive zone, where he completed 81 percent of his going to be on top of many ballots. He had 75 points in 69 games, an pass attempts. average of 1.09 per game that was the best by a defenseman in 26 Victor Hedman's Offensive Impact years. Points Eight of the past 10 Norris Trophy winners finished either first or second in scoring at the position. (Victor Hedman in 2018 and Drew Doughty in 0.83 (5th) 2016 were the exceptions.) Zone Exits It is easy to be blinded by point totals when assessing a player’s performance, though, which is why it is important to dig deeper. 5.39 (7th)

Carlson has faced criticism of his defensive play this season. His 51.0 OZ Pass Completions expected-goal percentage at 5-on-5 was 84th out of 200 defensemen 14.1 (7th) with at least 500 minutes of ice time. But Carlson finished in the top 10 in multiple categories that have an impact on the defensive side of the OZ Pass Completion Rate game. 81% (9th) John Carlson's All-Around Impact Hedman is the only defenseman to record at least 50 points in each of Blocked Passes the past four seasons.

6.61 (3rd) Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues

True Turnover Rate Pietrangelo suffered no Stanley Cup hangover this season. In fact, he played even better than a year ago. 11.5% (7th) In captaining the Blues to the best record in the Western Conference, Puck Battle Wins Pietrangelo was proficient in all three zones. Offensively, he was one of 3.25 (8th) the most dangerous defensemen in the league when it came to generating high-percentage scoring opportunities, averaging the fifth- Loose Pucks Recovered most slot shots per game. His 16 goals were tied with Josi for second at the position. 26.5 (8th) Alex Pietrangelo By The Numbers Carlson is not as strong a defender as others on the list, but he is not a liability. Puck Battle Win Rate

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators 41.5% (1st)

In March, a panel of 41 reporters from The Athletic selected Josi as the Expected Goals overwhelming favorite to win the Norris Trophy. Based on overall impact and importance to his team, Josi appears to have the strongest case. He 0.21 (3rd) is the engine that drives the Predators. Zone Entries

No defenseman had a greater hand in his team’s attack than Josi, whose 2.4 (4th) 2:32 of puck-possession time per game and 149 total end-to-end rushes ranked second and fifth in the league among skaters, respectively. His Stretch Pass Completions average of 25:47 of overall ice time per game was third. 2.96 (6th) Roman Josi On The Attack OZ Possession OZ Possession 0:36 (8th) 0:55 (1st) Pietrangelo was also skilled at transporting the puck through the neutral Zone Entries zone, completing outlet passes and winning puck battles. If not for Carlson and Josi, the Blues’ do-everything captain might have been the leading Norris Trophy candidate.

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes’ resurgence — Storm Resurgence? — over the past few years has put a spotlight on Slavin’s defensive game.

The definition of a “defensive defenseman” has changed over time. Slavin could represent the modern version. His numbers suggest that he is the most effective defenseman in the league at using his stick to disrupt opposing plays and win puck battles.

Jaccob Slavin's Defensive Metrics

Blocked Passes

7.15 (1st)

Puck Battles Won

3.93 (2nd)

Puck Battle Win Rate

40.8% (2nd)

Stick Checks

2.49 (4th)

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186200 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.12.2020

Jets to begin summer pre-playoffs training camp July 10

By: Jason Bell

Posted: 06/11/2020 7:00 PM

The playoff-bound Winnipeg Jets will train as a team beginning July 10 and it's becoming altogether likely the NHL team will hit the ice in the Manitoba capital, undeniably, one of the safest NHL markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Central Division team had been facing quarantine issues on two fronts, provincially and federally, amidst the national health crisis, but on Thursday, Premier Brian Pallister removed one hurdle, while multiple reports suggest the other wrinkle could be smoothed out as early as Friday.

The NHL and NHL Players Association sent out identical statements Thursday announcing the 24 teams in the playoff mix can begin training next month, "provided that medical and safety conditions allow and that the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play."

An immediate return to the ice in Winnipeg for Jets living in Canada became easier when the premier announced as of June 21 pro athletes returning to Manitoba won't have to quarantine for 14 days if they have already self-isolated for two weeks at home.

Health officials communicated with the Jets and before relaxing the 14-day self-isolation restriction as part of Phase 3 of the province’s reopening plan, Pallister said.

In Manitoba, the total caseload remains at 300, including 286 people who have recovered from COVID-19. No one is being treated in hospital, and the province's total deaths remain at seven.

Meanwhile, it's believed the federal government is working on a solution to the two-week quarantine to allow Canadian teams to hold training camps with their full rosters north of the border. The plan could extend the quarantine area to include a player's home and the arena where they train, according to Sportsnet.

To a man, Winnipeg's roster has vacated the city. Some remain in other parts of Canada, while others are the U.S. and Europe.

Management of the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks have all indicated holding their training camp in the United States is under consideration. It seems unlikely now the Jets would consider moving camp from one of North America's safest spots, which is on six-day streak of no new coronavirus cases.

"Nothing we're prepared to discuss right now," Scott Brown, the Jets' senior director of hockey communications, said Thursday,

The NHL suspended the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 because of the pandemic and officially cancelled it on May 26 when it revealed a 24-team playoff format, but has now moved to Phase 3 of its return-to- play plan.

Phase 4 will constitute the resumption of play — games played in two hub cities, in arenas without fans — although no official date has been determined.

Under the proposed playoff format, the Winnipeg Jets will play the Calgary Flames in a best-of-five preliminary-round series.

Apart from choosing the two hub cities — Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto are the three Canadian markets out of 10 North American centres in the running — testing capacity, safety and whether or not players will be quarantined away from family for two months or more are among the issues still to be addressed.

The three Canadian cities could hear as early as Friday that quarantine restrictions have been relaxed.

Meanwhile, the Canada-U.S. border closure is not an issue, as NHL players have work visas and have been summoned back to perform their duties. 1186201 Winnipeg Jets The Goldeyes, meanwhile, are the only Canadian team in baseball’s American Association. That league is trying to find a way to include Winnipeg in its schedule but may have to play without the Goldeyes if some of the federal government restrictions are not lifted. Province eases restrictions on pro athletes but not much changes for Jets and Bombers While they won’t open their CFL season as scheduled on Saturday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did add another player on Thursday.

The Bombers signed American receiver Mekale McKay, who played in Ted Wyman both the XFL and the Alliance of American Football over the last two years. June 11, 2020 9:22 PM CDT McKay, who is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, had 12 catches for 184 yards and a

touchdown in five games with the of the XFL. The Winnipeg Jets will start training camp for the NHL’s 24-team summer He spent the 2019 season with the of the tournament on July 10. AAF, finishing with 22 receptions for 375 yards and four touchdowns in Where exactly they will do that remains up in the air. seven games.

One of the potential roadblocks for professional sports teams hoping to Both the AAF and XFL shut down before the end of their inaugural return to play in Manitoba this summer is tentatively set to be removed, seasons. but a lot more still has to happen for organizations like the Jets and McKay has had numerous NFL tryouts since first signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to be able to make firm plans. as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He has spent time In announcing a tentative draft for Phase 3 of its Covid-19 re-opening with Jacksonville, Denver, Tennessee, Chicago and Dallas. plan on Thursday, the Manitoba government said professional athletes The Bombers acquired his negotiation rights in 2016 from the Hamilton can return to the province after June 21 without having to go through an Tiger-Cats in exchange for defensive back Johnny Adams. ensuing 14-day period of quarantine. While there will be no actual on-ice activities or tournament, Hockey However, the province said those athletes must go through 14 days of Canada announced the names of players invited its summer under-18 self-isolation before entering the province, a guideline that doesn’t sound national team selection camp and the list includes three Manitobans. remotely enforceable and will continue to be a concern for athletes who are trying to train for a resumption or start of their season. A total of 46 players were named to the camp, which normally precludes the . That event was scheduled for Aug. 3-8 but has Athletes — and all citizens — who live in Western Canada or been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Northwestern Ontario will be allowed to enter Manitoba with no need for quarantine whatsoever. Among those named to the camp are Winnipeggers Carson Lambos of the Winnipeg Ice, Tyler Brennan of the Prince George Cougars and The NHL announced Thursday that training camps will open July 10 and Conner Roulette of the Seattle Thunderbirds. the news from the provincial government provided some hope that the Jets may be able to hold their camp in Winnipeg. Lambos is a 17-year-old defenceman who could be a high NHL drat pick in 2021, Brennan is a 16-year-old goaltender and Roulette is a 17-year- But, the federal government still requires people entering Canada from old forward. outside the country, including the United States, to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival.

That means very little has actually changed at this point. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.12.2020 A layer has been lifted but until the federal government makes an amendment to the Quarantine Act, pro athletes will not receive any kind of exemption to the self-isolation rules.

That means the Jets still have to be looking at options of holding their training camp elsewhere. The NHL has not yet announced when or where the 24-team tournament will take place, though it’s safe to assume it will be around the beginning of August, three weeks after training camps open.

The games will be played in two hub cities. Nine cities are in the mix, including Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver in Canada.

Canada and the United States have agreed to keep the border between the two countries closed until the end of July because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, professional athletes with work permits will still be allowed into Canada, so the main issue that remains is the federal quarantine order.

If the government makes an exemption for professional athletes, it could open the door for all of Winnipeg’s sports teams — the Jets, Bombers, and Valour FC — to function more freely.

The champion Bombers are in a state of limbo.

The CFL season was supposed to start Thursday and the Bombers’ first game was scheduled for Saturday in Hamilton.

However, the league postponed training camps and the start of the season because of the pandemic and won’t start up until at least September, if it’s even possible to pull off a shortened schedule.

With the majority of CFL players living in the United States, it’s expected the league will have to put in it’s own testing and self-isolation policy in order to get training camps going anyway. The CFL is trying to narrow its playing scenarios down to one or two possibilities, including using hub cities, with Winnipeg in the mix. 1186202 Winnipeg Jets Vincent and the rest of the Moose coaching staff found out early on that Gawanke would have a solid first game when the Moose would play some of the heavier parts of the schedule. The next night, there’d be a dropoff in his game. UNDER THE RADAR: Jets prospect Gawanke turned heads in first pro season It’s not abnormal, Vincent said.

Players come from junior where they’re playing big minutes but learn how to pace themselves because they know they’re going to be back on the Scott Billeck ice in short order.

June 11, 2020 7:17 PM CDT But with the uptick in pace in the American league, Gawanke struggled at times to keep up.

“If he improves his cardio and his physical strength… he’s going to be a THE PIPELINE: Abruzzese's fine freshman season with Harvard puts real good player,” Vincent said. him in future Leafs conversation Vincent and Co. aren’t asking Gawanke to play defence the same way In many ways, it’s quite possible Leon Gawanke has everyone right Dustin Byfuglien or Toby Enstrom would. Vincent said both former Jets where he wants them. did it very well, but did it very differently. The Winnipeg Jets prospect defenceman flies under the radar quite a bit “There are different ways to achieve the same thing,” Vincent said. in these parts. It’s not because he’s particularly stealthy at 6-foot-1 or that his play doesn’t deserve more recognition. And what Vincent wants is for Gawanke to find his own way to do the same thing. It does. “That’s what I’ve been working on,” Gawanke said. It’s just that there are names such as Heinola and Samberg who often get all of the attention as the heirs apparent to Winnipeg’s rearguard. Since Germany has begun to open up again, Gawanke has spent nearly the past month in the gym working on his strength and cardio. It also comes with the territory. “I’ve got a pretty good idea of what they want to see from me after the The product of Berlin, Germany wasn’t a high-round draft pick like Ville summer and next year,” he said. Heinola and Dylan Samberg were. He didn’t have an incredible preseason like the latter did with the Jets or doesn’t have the kind of He knows, among the Heinolas and the Sambergs, that he has to stand hype that comes in Samberg’s wake. out.

But Gawanke has what a lot of players his age — 21 — would kill for: “I have to get better defensively,” he said. “I have to play a two-way game NHL-ready attributes coupled with needed-improvements that can be if I want to make the NHL one day. I think the offensive game is there. It learned. just comes down to my own end, in front of my net.”

“The one thing we knew about him… he came up big in the playoffs in his With so few Germans in the NHL, Leon Gawanke wasn’t expecting to last year in junior at key times,” said Manitoba Moose head coach Pascal speak much of his native tongue with the Manitoba Moose. Vincent. “He was able to make plays when the game was on the line and the pressure was on. In the end, that was pretty much the case.

“He can pass like an NHL guy already, his passing skills are really good. But when the Winnipeg Ice moved from Kootenay last summer, and Retrieving pucks under pressure, and that’s becoming one of the most when they picked Nino Kinder as an import in the second round of the important skills for defenceman in the NHL, getting back to pucks and ’s import draft, Gawanke suddenly had a very making a play out of it, not just rimming pucks… for Leon, that’s not a familiar face in town along with him. problem.” Both Gawanke and Kinder played together for the Eisbären Juniors Gawanke played his final year in junior with the Cape Breton Screaming Berlin U16 team and both hail from the German capital. Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2019 and signed a “It was nice when I heard he got drafted to Winnipeg,” Gawanke said. three-year entry-level contract with the Jets last summer. “We were already training together, too. We had a couple of days we From the go-to guy in junior, Gawanke’s role was far less apparent at the spent together when he wasn’t on the road and I wasn’t.” beginning of his first pro season. Nice to have a friend. And it was far less consistent. “It was nice to speak a little bit of German,” he said. “It felt a little bit like Gawanke was part of a Moose rotation on the team’s third pairing to home.” begin the year. He’d go a few games at a time without playing. THE FILE ON GAWANKE “At the start, it was tough for me… you can’t really get into a rhythm,” AGE: 21 (May 31, 1999) Gawanke said from his home in Berlin on Thursday. “That was new for me because I had always played big minutes before in junior and pretty HOMETOWN: Berlin, GER much my whole life.” HEIGHT: 6-foot-1, WEIGHT: 198 pounds Part of that was a test of his character. POSITION: Defence, SHOOTS: Right “Put them in a position they’ve never been in before and see how they react,” Vincent said. “He did well with it. I think he realized that he had to DRAFTED: 2017, 5th round, Winnipeg earn his spot, to earn his ice time.” THE SKINNY: Signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Gawanke agreed. He feels he learned a lot from being used sparsely Winnipeg Jets last summer and played his first pro season with early on, and it set himself up nicely to take the reins when they were Winnipeg’s American Hockey League affiliate Manitoba Moose this past presented to him. season, scoring four times and adding 22 assists … He has NHL-ready passing and vision … In 27 career QMJHL playoff games, had 13 points And with a torrent of injuries up with the Jets and others with the Moose, (4 goals and 9 assists) … Finished junior career with 121 points (29 Gawanke went from playing one game out of two or three to being a goals and 92 assists) in 178 games. mainstay in the lineup and anchoring the team’s top power play.

He’d finished up the season with four goals and 26 points in 48 games played, pacing all Moose defencemen. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.12.2020 1186203 Winnipeg Jets of the season. There is also some risk: In a short, best-of-five series, there is a ton of room for good or bad bounces to outshine true talent or even an entire season’s worth of excellence.

From No. 1 to No. 32, a ranking of Winnipeg Jets in order of playoff Still, Hellebuyck is Winnipeg’s best player in the sport’s most important importance position. If anyone can carry the Jets on his back, it’s the masked man from Michigan wearing No. 37.

2. C Mark Scheifele By Murat Ates No matter which metrics you use, Scheifele is in the middle of an elite Jun 11, 2020 offensive season. Seventy three points in 71 games ties Scheifele with Kyle Connor for 15th in the NHL, while Scheifele also ranks 10th in

offensive Wins Above Replacement, per Evolving Hockey. Do you remember the before-times, when hockey was played in arenas Defensive questions persist but I would be shocked if Winnipeg’s and fans were there to cheer for the home team? franchise centre is anything other than dialled in when the puck drops It wasn’t that long ago. this summer.

But it may be easy to forget that Winnipeg’s last game in March — a 4-2 Let’s take a minute to remember: The last time Winnipeg went on a deep win in Edmonton — marked four straight wins and gave the Jets five wins playoff run, Scheifele scored 14 goals and six assists in 17 games for the in their last six games. They were, to borrow a phrase from the ’90s, Jets. Right from 2018’s opening round against Minnesota, Scheifele was heating up. simply on fire. The only player to score more goals than he did that postseason was Alex Ovechkin — and it took him seven extra games. As always, some of that success belongs to Connor Hellebuyck: he played in all six games, pitched two shutouts and stopped 179 of 187 Five points in six games against St. Louis last year wasn’t enough to stop shots for a .957 save percentage. the Blues from playing Gloria but Scheifele is building a track record as a postseason performer. But something else was working in Winnipeg’s favour during that time. Why not Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg’s captain and the power play Consider the following sequence of events. quarterback?

February 18: Winnipeg acquires Dylan DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators Scheifele played more than two extra minutes per game at 5-on-5 this for a third-round pick in 2020. season and matched Wheeler note for note on the power play. He is Winnipeg’s most dynamic offensive player and, when he’s on his two- February 21: Winnipeg acquires Cody Eakin from the Vegas Golden way game, he gives the Jets an imposing threat no matter who plays on Knights for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2021. his wing. March 6: Mathieu Perreault returns to the lineup and scores on the power 3. RW Blake Wheeler play against Vegas in a 4-0 shutout win. In the business of stealing playoff rounds, goaltending is No. 1 on the list March 9: Adam Lowry returns to the lineup, throws four hits and drops of raw materials. the gloves with Lawson Crouse in a 4-2 win. A scorching hot power play comes not far afterwards. Week after week, Winnipeg was able to dress a better and healthier lineup than it had at any point in the season leading up to it. Goaltending Wheeler quarterbacks a power play that can explode at a moment’s was still the biggest reason for the team’s success but the Jets’ notice. Yes, it’s true that Winnipeg was just 15th with the man advantage underlying numbers crept up, too: from 47.2 percent of shots to 50.8 this year, leading to debate about whether the old system works without percent and from 43.3 percent of expected goals to 45.6 percent at 5-on- Dustin Byfuglien as a third shooting option at the top. But Wheeler still 5. Combine that with the most important stat — wins — and it’s hard to has Scheifele in the middle, plus Patrik Laine and Neal Pionk as right- imagine more teams frustrated by the timing of the pause than Winnipeg shot one-timers, plus Kyle Connor’s creativity down low. He’s not hurting was. for options and he’s proven capable of finding the right from the half wall.

So what does a healthy Jets roster — complete with the 28 skaters and Wheeler also has a strong playoff track record, scoring 26 points in his unlimited goaltenders projected for July camp — mean for their playoff last 23 playoff games, and has proven capable of producing points from hopes? a cold start: he’s started each of the past three seasons with five points in his first five games. That said, not knowing how to predict performance Who is going to score the biggest goals and make the most important after such a long break, I wonder if younger players would be a better bet defensive stops, whether Winnipeg’s run lasts just a few games or goes to have hot starts. deep into summer? Either way, Winnipeg will count on Wheeler to drive play, produce points In short: Who are the Jets most important playoff players? and lead the team from the first day of camp. I’m glad you let me ask. 4. RW Patrik Laine Ranked from number 1 to 33, with an asterisk, a cameo, and a few It took a pandemic but Laine fell short of the 30-goal plateau for the first surprises: here are the Jets as I project them for the playoffs. time in his career. 1. G Connor Hellebuyck His 28 goals also left him third among Jets for the second straight Any story of this nature that didn’t feature Hellebuyck at the very top season. would be asking for ridicule. And yet, 2019-20 was still a breakout season for Laine in a lot of ways. No goaltender stopped more shots — or more shot quality — than he did He scored a career-high 35 assists, for starters. His 63 points in 68 this season. His Vezina case is airtight and he deserves Hart Trophy games was the highest points-per-game of his four year career. And, votes to go with it. while he still has progress to make protecting the puck, he’s inching closer to a 200-foot game. And if the Jets run the table from ninth in the West all the way to the Stanley Cup, Hellebuyck will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff Why is he more important to Winnipeg’s playoff success than Connor, MVP. whose 38 goals and 73 points are even gaudier offensive totals?

In the more immediate future, his .921 save percentage and league- Honestly, I’m leaning awfully hard on the idea that Winnipeg’s success leading 19.9 goals saved above expectation give Hellebuyck a clear depends on goaltending and special teams. advantage over David Rittich and Cam Talbot in Calgary. There is an And if Winnipeg’s power play lights it up, it’s going to be because Laine assumption at play here — that Hellebuyck can use Jets camp and any started launching rockets like he’s done throughout most of his career. available exhibition games to reestablish the elite form he found for most If he doesn’t, Connor will surpass him — deservedly so. “Looking back, I honestly think I learned the most this year of any of the years of my NHL career so far,” he said in April by video chat. “I think I 5. LW Kyle Connor grew the most as a player so I’m excited to get back to playing, whether A common theme for Winnipeg’s elite scorers is a question mark about it’s this season or next season, and really build off that.” their defensive impact. Connor is no exception to that, particularly if you While Morrissey was able to score 31 points for the second straight lean on shot rates, expected goals, or WAR. season, matching his 2018-19 career high in six extra games, he didn’t But Connor has no equal when it comes to finishing plays in dangerous produce the same defensive results Winnipeg is accustomed to. There is places — he’s simply a clinical scorer who was on pace to score 40 goals a case to be made that this is a natural part of changing partners from for the first time in his career. Connor plays first line minutes at even Jacob Trouba, with whom he’d developed all kinds of chemistry, to strength and the power play and he kills penalties too, meaning that he Tucker Poolman, who was playing in his first full NHL season. Maybe it was second only to Scheifele in ice time among forwards. was the pressure of a new contract or a new letter.

Scheifele surpasses him because of his importance as a centre. Wheeler Whatever the reason, Morrissey is a critical part of Winnipeg’s defence does because he runs the power play while Connor plays more of a and can be counted on to play big minutes against Calgary. Add secondary role, and Laine does because I’m banking on power play burgeoning chemistry with DeMelo to Morrissey’s rest and reflection and production from the young Finn. the improvement should be a boon to Winnipeg’s playoff fortunes.

But Connor has the ability to score more goals and win more games than 9. LW Nikolaj Ehlers any of them. Ehlers is the last player on this list to have a legitimate case at being 6. D Neal Pionk Winnipeg’s most impactful skater when all is said and done.

Pionk led all Jets skaters in ice time this season — and for good reason. I know there will be concerns about his zero goals and seven assists in No player scored more power play points (or power play points per 21 career playoff games. My counterargument is purely anecdotal: that’s minute) than Pionk did. No defenceman scored more at even strength. still one more point than Pavel Datsyuk had in his first 21 career playoff games. In other words, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. And, while Josh Morrissey was also used against top competition, no pairing got more tough minutes than Pionk did with Dmitry Kulikov. This season, Ehlers turned a studious summer into the best year of his Looking ahead to Calgary, where the Jets will have to match up against career, with 58 points in 71 games — a 67-point pace. More two potent offensive lines, Pionk will have his work cut out for him. impressively, 46 of Ehlers’ points came at 5-on-5, giving him a four point Calgary’s top-six features Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Elias lead over Scheifele for top spot among Jets scorers. Ehlers also led Lindholm on one line and Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, and Connor by six, Laine by 11, and Wheeler by 15, but his value comes from Matthew Tkachuk on the other. more than points.

If you’re Paul Maurice or Charlie Huddy and you’re faced with Gaudreau Ehlers’ ability to pilot the puck up-ice at speed leads to scoring chances on one line and Tkachuk on the other, there’s no way around asking for him and his teammates and creates offensive zone time for the team. Pionk to play tough minutes against dangerous players. If he keeps the This ends up giving him a huge, positive impact on defence despite his power play production up and holds the fort at even strength, Pionk will in-zone coverage being similar to Winnipeg’s other wingers. Add the give Winnipeg every chance to win. number of penalties he draws (24 this season, good for fourth in the NHL) and Ehlers might be the most under-appreciated 5-on-5 force on CAMEO: Paul Maurice the team.

Astute readers will note that I’ve put Winnipeg’s Vezina worthy If he played on either of Winnipeg’s special teams, his importance would goaltender and its power play unit at the very top of this story. That’s not skyrocket. Even without those minutes, he has the potential to be just because they’re among Winnipeg’s best players — it’s also because Winnipeg’s top forward. goaltending and special teams were Winnipeg’s biggest strengths this season. Paul Maurice is the man tasked with turning Winnipeg’s 10. C/LW Andrew Copp struggles at 5-on-5 around. What is Copp’s value?

Optimists will point to the Jets’ return to health and deadline acquisitions A little bit of everything with a healthy heaping of defence. like Dylan DeMelo and Cody Eakin as reasons to believe Winnipeg can improve from the league’s fourth-worst team in terms of 5-on-5 shots and Yes, he can play up the lineup and provide solid positioning and play worst team in 5-on-5 expected goals. reading in all three zones. Yes, he was on pace to cross the 30-point barrier for the first time in his career. But will that be enough? But knowing Winnipeg as we do, it’s safe to anticipate Copp being used That depends on Maurice’s ability to read the strengths of his team and alongside Adam Lowry in a hard matchup role against Calgary’s top the landscape of the playoffs. Recall that one way the Jets responded to players. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen Copp and Lowry cycle their depleted blue line was to reduce up-ice pressure and focus on opposition into the ground, playing defence 200 feet from Hellebuyck’s reducing odd-man rushes against. That part worked but the team spent cage. The more of that we see this summer, the further Winnipeg will go. less time in the offensive zone and more time in its own end as a result. 11. C Bryan Little* Maurice’s ability to prepare for and adapt to Calgary could determine how far Winnipeg goes. The asterisk lives on.

7. D Dylan DeMelo In May, Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters that Little is scheduled to have further testing done “later in the summer.” Maurice had previously It’s no secret that the Jets defence was a patchwork in progress this expressed cautious optimism. year. DeMelo’s arrival from Ottawa did more than upgrade Winnipeg’s D — his partnership with Josh Morrissey gives the Jets two matchup-ready It’s impossible to say whether or not Little will be cleared to play and pairings. difficult to guess how ready he’ll be after so much time away. That hot start — five points in his first seven games — is a distant memory now. He also provides exactly the kind of play-reading, pass-making, quietly effective shutdown play that Winnipeg so desperately needed throughout But take it from Maurice: he holds Little in very high esteem. This was much of the season. Yes, Winnipeg will be in tough to match Maurice on Little in our one-on-one last summer: Kulikov/Pionk and Morrissey/DeMelo up against the league’s best forward units but the Jets are so much closer to playoff-ready with “I’m not going to convince everybody. Part of it is what you have but I can DeMelo in the lineup. say you’ve got Paul Stastny and Kevin Hayes — different players — but those are the three players that have kind of morphed into that hole. Of 8. D Josh Morrissey those three players, one of them has scored 30 goals or more in his career. Of those three players, one of them has more than 60 points in Morrissey has called this season the most important and most his last five years, and they’re both Bryan Little.” educational of his career. If he’s healthy, he’s going to have every chance to play big minutes. 12. D Dmitry Kulikov with those nicknames but it will take uncharacteristically poor performance (or worse) for Brossoit to see the ice. Still, he’s a capable The expectation is for Winnipeg to continue with the same top four back-up and will be ready if called upon. defence it used on the last night of the regular season — and that means Kulikov will be a key part of the team’s success. He’s projected to play 18. D Nathan Beaulieu and 19. D Luca Sbisa big minutes with Pionk against tough competition at even strength and be counted on to play a major role on the PK. Sbisa and Beaulieu both have clean bills of health — each after dealing with multiple injuries this season. I’d expect one of them to play third- A good barometer for how well the Jets do in the playoffs might be how pairing left defence and a major role on the Jets penalty kill. little Kulikov’s name shows up in game stories. While he doesn’t mind rushing the puck up-ice from time to time, his value is in stepping up at But which one? the Jets blue line and playing aggressively in the defensive zone. Do that While I think Beaulieu’s long-term track record make him the frontrunner, without taking penalties, as he was able to do during the latter stages of I find this one too close to call. Neither excelled in terms of shot metrics the season? Golden. Spend too much time in the box or get taken out of or expected goals numbers. Both blocked a lot of shots and threw a lot of position while hunting for big hits? Not so much. hits. Both are well-liked in the room.

Kulikov and Pionk built chemistry as the season progressed and were In a perfect world, everyone stays healthy and Winnipeg has a tough almost sawing off top opposition by season’s end. That’s heady work for choice to make. a player buried on the Jets third pairing for the past few seasons and if he can keep it up, Kulikov will be a key part of Winnipeg’s postseason. 20. LW Mathieu Perreault

13. C Adam Lowry Perreault was not the same puck-winning force this season as in years past but he remains Winnipeg’s most experienced and most effective A quick look at the underlying numbers will show that Lowry didn’t excel option on the fourth line. That’s great news, in a sense — you have to in 2019-20 like he did last season. He definitely didn’t dominate like he like the prospect of Perreault/Shore/Appleton more than any injury- did in 2017-18, when the infamous TLC line was first put together. induced combination that preceded it. He won’t get time on special teams A lot of that drop-off is easy to write off as a sign of the times. I don’t think but his energy will be welcome at 5-on-5. it’s fair to suggest Lowry magically forgot how to play strong, shutdown 21. RW Mason Appleton hockey. And ask anyone on the team how much his physical play has meant to the Jets this season and they’ll tell you it was vital in forming If everyone stays healthy, Appleton will be stuck behind all of Wheeler, Winnipeg’s identity. Laine and Roslovic at right wing. He won’t play on either of Winnipeg’s special teams, limiting his overall impact. What does it all mean? Instead, he’ll be asked to use his size and speed to drive pucks to the net Expect Lowry and Copp to be joined at the hip and asked to do some and play a responsible, north/south game. He certainly has it in him and heavy lifting. They relish the job and they’ll be ready for it; whether that’s will give Winnipeg’s fourth line more jam than it had for most of the enough to push Winnipeg past Calgary or not is up to them. season.

14. D Tucker Poolman 22. C Nick Shore

If Winnipeg runs Morrissey/DeMelo and Kulikov/Pionk as discussed, Shore was a quiet waiver addition from Toronto who was tasked with Poolman will be on the outside of Winnipeg’s top four looking in. A third centring Winnipeg’s fourth line when injuries struck and it became clear pairing role is probably right in Poolman’s wheelhouse right now, freeing David Gustafsson was a little bit raw for the role. He wasn’t able to move him up to join the attack and push transition play instead of trying to keep the needle while playing with various combinations of Appleton, Gabriel pace with Gaudreau for 18 minutes a night. Bourque and Logan Shaw but remains Winnipeg’s frontrunner for the He could also see an increased role on the PK after averaging 43 fourth line job this summer. seconds per night during the regular season. 23. C/LW Jansen Harkins

15. C/RW Jack Roslovic Harkins is the 13th forward listed and, while I can imagine fans of his Roslovic played a large portion of the season as Wheeler’s right wing on breakout season campaigning for a spot on the opening night roster, one a line thath outshot and outchanced its opposition. They didn’t get the expects Winnipeg to defer to experience. Either way, he’s had a bulk of their chances from in close but managed to win the possession phenomenal year: shooting up the Moose depth chart, scoring a point per battle and play their competition to within a goal in 336 minutes together. game as Manitoba’s number one centre, and earning an NHL job is no He also played a brief role on what Winnipeg called “the Arctic line” — a easy task. Could he surprise us again and carve out some play-in or trio featuring Mason Appleton and Jansen Harkins that excelled playing a playoff success? It seems wise not to count him out. fast, aggressive, north/south game. 24. D Anthony Bitetto

On the playoff Jets, his role is likely on the third line — perhaps with The former electrician turned NHL journeyman was rated as the funniest Copp and Lowry, like in Winnipeg’s last game of the regular season Jet and best chirper by his teammates this season. He’s uniquely loved against Edmonton — or further down the lineup. He doesn’t kill penalties for his upbeat personality and his quick wit. Still, I think performance like Copp and Lowry do, nor does he get significant power play minutes, dictates that he’s No. 8 on Winnipeg’s depth chart, behind all of Pionk, so he tumbles down this chart a little bit. Still, look for his speed and Morrissey, DeMelo, Kulikov, Poolman, Sbisa and Beaulieu. I wonder if puckhandling to create trouble if he gets time and space to fly. he’d be a more likely fill-in than, say, Sami Niku, but Anthony Bitetto will 16. C Cody Eakin start on the outside looking in.

Eakin averaged 12:16 at 5-on-5 in his short stint with Winnipeg, putting 25. D Sami Niku him roughly between Roslovic and Mathieu Perreault in terms of usage. Niku’s roller-coaster season, complete with all kinds of injury trouble and That said, it’s easy to imagine the Jets running questions about his playing time, ended on Feb. 18 — one week after a Connor/Scheifele/Wheeler and Copp/Lowry/Roslovic as their first and wishful stick check on Chris Kreider drew public criticism from his coach. third lines, leaving Eakin with an important job to play between Ehlers He played just 17 games and, while he showed flashes of the puck and Laine on line two. moving promise so many see in him, it probably won’t be enough to earn If he gets that chance — and if his line does in fact play more than him playoff consideration in July. Lowry’s does — Eakin’s importance could skyrocket and he’ll definitely 26. D Carl Dahlström be counted on to kill penalties. Fifteen games, one goal, no assists, and no penalty minutes — 17. G Laurent Brossoit Dahlström’s stat line from his first season with Winnipeg doesn’t tell It won’t be good news if Brossoit sees his importance soar this much of a story. He kept a mostly clean sheet via shot metrics but good postseason. Hellebuyck is “The Guy” and “The Vezina Favourite” and health on defence means Dahlström’s likely buried on this depth chart. “Winnipeg’s best hope at a deep playoff run.” Your mileage might vary 27. LW Gabriel Bourque Bourque played 52 of Winnipeg’s 71 games this season, scoring six points. Perreault’s return on March 6, combined with Lowry’s health and Eakin’s acquisition, bumped Bourque to the press box to end the season. He’s likely on the outside to start the play-ins.

28. C David Gustafsson

Gustafsson will probably be called to join Winnipeg’s taxi squad and he’ll probably watch the play-ins from up on high. His season is still a success story if Shore handles fourth line centre duties.

29. RW Logan Shaw

Shaw scored two goals and added three assists in 35 games this season. He played fourth line minutes at a time the fourth line was getting buried and is likely bound for press box duty.

30. C Mark Letestu

Letestu is Winnipeg’s Masterton Trophy nominee and has fought hard to return after myocarditis limited his Jets season to seven games. He hasn’t played a game since Oct. 13 and has likely been passed on the depth chart as a result.

31. G Eric Comrie

Comrie is third in Winnipeg’s goaltending depth chart. Whatever aid he can provide in camp is a bonus; the playoffs will be Hellebuyck’s and Brossoit’s to decide.

32. Mikhail Berdin

Winnipeg’s fourth goalie says he will be ready to attend training camp as needed. It would take a catastrophe for the Jets to need him for anything more than that.

33*. LW Andrei Chibisov

Chibisov is included here in case Little stays on the IR and Winnipeg is allowed to replace him. While I’d expect that Gustafsson and Shaw are ahead of him on the depth chart, Chibisov is a capable veteran winger whose 25 points in 53 AHL games earned him a two-game NHL debut.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186204 Vancouver Canucks Public Heath at Emory University, who also writes about injuries for Football Outsiders.

“If you do that for two weeks, and no cases appear, you could clear the Ben Kuzma: Canucks circle training camp date, preparations for post- whole team,” said Binney. “The major drawback would be if a case does season begin appear within that team. That person would have to be isolated and the 14-day clock would restart for at least some portion of the team that had contact with the case.

BEN KUZMA “So you’re taking on that extra downside risk and potentially lengthening the quarantine period before you can get to playing games. You could June 11, 2020 5:20 PM PDT greatly reduce the risk of a case appearing by testing everyone daily for 14 days and immediately isolate anyone who tests positive.

There’s an actual date. “Only allow players and staff who test negative the day before travelling (to Canada) and quarantine with the rest of the team. Then it would be And now there are big decisions for the Vancouver Canucks. fairly unlikely — though not impossible — you have a case in your group.” When the NHL announced Thursday that training camps will commence July 10 in Phase 3 of its return-to-play plan, initial relief of a significant There’s also a case for how to conduct the pace of camp. signpost on the road to resumption — the season was paused March 12 by the novel coronavirus outbreak — was met with a mix of excitement, Some players have skated privately, but many will have been off the ice meetings and phone calls. for almost three months. Phase 2 of the return-to-play model meant club facilities opened Monday for voluntary training and skating in groups of The conversations revolved around the length of camp and location, six that must stay the same. COVID-19 safety precautions, frequent and accurate testing and what the future holds. However, only three Canucks were in Vancouver earlier this week — Alex Edler, Troy Stecher and Chris Tanev — and Tanev has been Will post-season playdowns commence Aug. 1? If the Stanley Cup isn’t skating in the city while Rogers Arena has remained closed. That could awarded until Oct. 1, when is the virtual draft and when does the 2020-21 change with the camp date confirmation. regular season start? And what if there’s a severe spike in positive-test virus cases in the fall to put the league back on pause? More importantly, summer ice is not winter ice. The prospect of a rash of groin pulls is another reason why expanded post-season rosters are “I’m just trying to figure out a bunch of logistics,” said Canucks general expected to include 10 additional recalls from the Canucks’ AHL affiliate manager Jim Benning. “We’re still waiting to hear some things from the Utica Comets. (federal) government and figure out when we can get our guys in here and get them set up to go.” Brandon Sutter was injured twice this season — a Nov. 12 groin strain that sidelined him for 13 games and another ailment Dec. 17 that kept The federal government is reportedly close to approving an amended him off ice for a dozen games — and the paused season actually helped additional 14-day quarantine period for re-entering Canada. That would the 31-year-old forward. be advantageous. “For me, the rest has been great,” he said. “I feel a lot better, but you “It would be huge for us, if that’s going to happen,” Benning said of can’t really replicate skating. There’s nothing like it. Everyone is going to pending approval from Ottawa that would also bolster hub-city bids for be really rusty and two weeks might be fine, but you’re going to need Vancouver and Edmonton. longer to get your muscles going.

“But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. They haven’t even laid “When you first start skating in July, you’re sore the first 10 days and you out to us how long training camp is going to be because they have to can barely move. So to go back and be in a playoff (qualifying) game is figure that out with the NHL Players’ Association. We just have to take going to be a challenge.” one step at a time and I’m just going hour to hour. It’s why this camp is probably going to look different and coaches could “The draft is probably going to be at the end of the season. But there’s be directing the team from a different and more safe distance. optimism to get back up and playing.” Travis Green would savour his players quickly grasping system tweaks, The provincial amendment revealed Wednesday would allow the but the coach may have to exude some patience. It’s still the 2019-20 Canucks and essential staff to return from elsewhere in the country and season, but it’s going to feel like the Canucks are returning from an off- abroad for commencement at camp. And through the cohort-quarantine season. concept, the Canucks could be housed in a hotel for the duration of the quarantine to meet that COVID-19 self-isolation requirement and the 50- “It’s almost like a new season,” said Green. “We have been thinking a person limit Rogers Arena protocol. little bit out of the box and taking a deeper dive. We have a couple of projects on the go with our coaches and analytical team to make a few And even if Vancouver is not named one of two hub cities to host 12- tweaks. team conference playdowns in advance of the 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs — that announcement should come in the next two weeks — “We’ve challenged our players to come back better because we need it. they could train here and cross the United States border without We’re going to have competition in our lineup and it’s putting yourself in restrictions to face the Minnesota Wild in the best-of-five qualifying round position to be one of the guys playing Game 1. I have an idea of the series when Phase 4 is confirmed. lines, but we’ll see.”

Before the quarantine amendment, the Canucks had to consider a U.S. There will be some camp drama at left wing among current and recalled camp site. Players are creatures of habit and why would goaltender forwards. Jacob Markstrom interrupt his skating and training regimen in Sweden to Sven Baertschi was demoted at the start of this season and still believes return here June 26 and self-isolate for 14 days in advance of camp? he’s an NHL player with a year left on his contract. And Micheal Ferland Then again, if you factor in a two-week camp here and then three believes he’s over concussion-related issues. exhibition games, it would make sense for the Canucks to relocate near Ferland, 28, was limited to 14 NHL games and five points (1-4) this the chosen western hub — Las Vegas remains the favourite — to get season by two concussions — one in an Oct. 30 fight and another when those critical preparation games in and be in proximity of the playdowns. he delivered a jarring hit on Dec. 10. He then lasted only one period on As for that additional 14-day quarantine issue, that may not be a big Feb. 14 after concussion-like symptoms in a conditioning assignment issue. with the Comets.

“Theoretically, there’s no problem with quarantining NHL teams as a He has three years left on his contract and is a US$3.5 million annual group that can have contact with each other, but not outside their group,” salary cap hit. said epidemiologist Zach Binney of the Atlanta-based Rollins School of For Baertschi, showing something in the pre-season might pique the interest of another club. He’s not old at 27 and isn’t a fiscal strain at a $3.36 million cap hit.

The Canucks are loaded on the left side and, to his credit, Baertschi sucked up an early demotion and finished with 46 points (13-33) in 43 AHL games. But he needs to play in the top six in the NHL to be effective and a concussion-plagued career is worrisome for suitors. In 2019-20, he only played 26 games and managed 14 points (9-5).

There’s also the business side for the Canucks to consider now and in the future.

The Canucks had six home games remaining on their regular-season schedule and there’s a plan in place for single-game and season-ticket holders.

Season-ticket holders can have a credit applied to 2020-21 and receive additional food, pricing, down payment and flexibility benefits with no payment-plan fees. There’s also a refund option for single-game ticket holders.

As for next season, who knows? The Canucks are prepping for three possibilities for patrons — a normal season, fan restrictions to the arena and no fans at all.

OVERTIME — B.C. Premier John Horgan’s comment Wednesday about working with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on a joint-letter venture was about the border issue and not the quarantine.

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NHL confirms Canucks could be back in training camp July 10

PATRICK JOHNSTON

June 11, 2020 9:36 AM PDT

The league and the players' association have agreed to move to phase three of the four-stage return-to-play plan.

The National Hockey League and its players have agreed on when they’ll be ready to move to phase three of their return-to-play plan.

In a Thursday morning press release, the league and the NHL Players’ Association announced that teams can open training camp on July 10.

The two dozen teams that will take the ice to resume the 2019-20 season, which was paused March 12, will take the ice “provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”

How long training camp will run and when the play-in round will actually begin, with two groups of 12 teams based in two hub cities, is still to be determined, the two parties said.

Wednesday, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced he has told the federal government he would support the NHL designating Vancouver as one of the hub cities, with teams and players being allowed to arrive en masse and then quarantining together in local hotels for the required two weeks. Conceivably, the teams that would play in Vancouver would also hold their training camps here, while they go through quarantine.

Training camp is expected to last at least three weeks so players can get themselves as physically prepared as possible.

The Canucks have also looked into the possibility of holding training camp in the United States, since that country doesn’t currently have a 14- day quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad.

NHL players are currently in phase two of the plan, which allows them to skate on their own, at team facilities if they like, as long as they are following physical distancing rules. The Canucks have not yet made Rogers Arena available to their players, as only four players — Alex Edler, Troy Stecher, Chris Tanev and Jake Virtanen — are currently in the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186206 Vancouver Canucks B.C. Premier John Horgan says the province, its top doctor and the NHL have agreed on a proposal making Vancouver a hub city for the league during the pandemic with measures that would keep players and the public safe. The Canadian Press B.C. premier says proposal for Vancouver as NHL hub city sent to Ottawa

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Staff Report

British Columbia’s premier says the province and its top doctor have approved a proposal for the NHL to make Vancouver a possible hockey hub city in Western Canada during the pandemic.

John Horgan said Wednesday he has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to advance the initiative put together based on a modification of quarantine measures that would allow a team to remain together as a family or bubble.

A team would stay in one hotel and travel together to Rogers Arena for games using private transportation, be responsible for any COVID-19 testing and agree to not interact with the public during a 14-day isolation period, Horgan said.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Vancouver Canucks have come up with an agreement that protects players and the public, Horgan said.

“I think that Vancouver has a very compelling case to make and I support it wholly,” Horgan said.

Edmonton and Toronto are the other two Canadian cities competing to become a hub for the league, with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney calling Edmonton “the safest place they could find on the continent” to finish off the season.

The NHL hasn’t yet named which two cities would host the games for the resumption of play, but possible locations include Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver.

The league unveiled a 24-team format that would likely see the Stanley Cup awarded in the fall, if play resumes.

Horgan said B.C.’s plan would allow for an economic boost to Vancouver from hotel rentals and other services.

British Columbia’s tourism sector is expected to make some gains this summer, he said, but added he has no illusions that domestic travel will fill the void left by American and international travellers who help local businesses thrive.

The province will focus on tourism as part of its recovery plan as an industry that’s integral to B.C.’s economy, Horgan said, adding people need a sense of safety and comfort before they travel.

“British Columbians need to get out, stretch their legs, go to other places but they’re not feeling particularly comfortable about that just yet,” he said, noting the province is faring better than other parts of the country and COVID-19 cases have recently increased in neighbouring U.S. states due to large gatherings.

He said the province will remain vigilant in keeping the border closed until COVID-19 is better managed in Washington, Oregon and California.

“Saying no to U.S. tourists in Victoria is a very difficult pill to swallow, I absolutely understand that. But I think the public is behind me on this. We want to make sure that our reopening is safe and if that means we have to help businesses in other ways we’re absolutely prepared to do that.”

The province has $1.5 billion in recovery funding that has not yet been allocated and the tourism sector could benefit from that on a case-by- case basis, Horgan said.

The sport fishing industry is among businesses that are suffering, with the province typically looking to the federal government for regulations on openings and closing time frames for chinook fishing and other regulations, Horgan said.

“If that’s not enough pressure for these businesses to try and operate, put a pandemic on top of that that restricts the ability of people to come from outside our borders (and) that’s a significant challenge.” 1186207 Vancouver Canucks make the most important play in creating a goal, and not be credited with a point.

Thankfully, we live in an era overflowing with publicly available analytical Closing argument: Breaking down why Quinn Hughes should win the resources that we can use to evaluate players and better capture Calder Trophy individual impact beyond the traditional boxcar stats found on a hockey card.

Peripheral data By Thomas Drance Alright, tuck in your shirt, snap your suspenders and press the clear Jun 11, 2020 button on your calculator watch. Let’s get to the fun stuff.

It’s en vogue at the moment in handicapping the 2019-20 Calder race to say that there’s not much separating Hughes and Makar in the underlying On Monday morning, members of the Professional Hockey Writer’s data. With Makar on the ice the Avalanche controlled 52.3 percent of Association selected to vote on NHL Awards for the 2019-20 NHL shot attempts (Corsi For percentage, in hockey nerd speak) at five-on- season were sent their ballots by email. five. With Hughes on the ice the Canucks controlled 52.6 percent of shot Voting is already underway and closes on Monday, June 15. attempts at five-on-five.

Of particular interest to Vancouver Canucks fans is the Calder Trophy Basically the same thing, right? race for NHL rookie of the year between two top contenders: the Of course, it’s not. The goal of peripheral data is to tease out what Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar. individual players contribute, which is really tough to do in a free flowing It’s a topic we’ve covered ad nauseum this season. team sport like hockey. So let’s proceed with caution and with due We’ve covered it at length because what Makar and Hughes qualifiers. accomplished this season is historic. And not just “historic” in that In breaking down Hughes and Makar’s relative individual performance overused-for-the-sake-of-dramatic-flare vein that sportswriters love — according to the peripheral data or “analytics,” it’s important to begin by like the term “generational.” Historic, in fact. noting how significantly the quality of their teams differed. Qualifiers are necessary because this was a pandemic-abbreviated This isn’t exactly breaking news, but the Avalanche are an absolute campaign, but Hughes and Makar are officially the first rookie buzzsaw — a team that led the entire NHL in five-on-five goal differential defencemen to finish first and second in an NHL rookie scoring race — and the Canucks are a bubble team that was actually outscored at since the Hoover administration. five-on-five. If the season had run 82 games, both Makar and Hughes were likely to So Makar managed his 52.3 “Corsi For percentage” on a team that conclude the season among the top-10 all-time in single season scoring controlled 51.6 percent of five-on-five shot attempts overall, while by rookie defencemen. Hughes had a real shot at breaking into the top- Hughes managed his 52.6 on a team that controlled 48.3 percent of five- five, if COVID-19 hadn’t ground professional sports to a halt in mid- on-five shot attempts. That context matters a ton here, and it’s why, in March. fact, Hughes’ overall two-way profile is more impressive than Makar’s The margin is slim between these two players, or should be. They’re both and by a decent margin. remarkable, fun to watch and they made an immediate impact on their Hughes has a remarkably subtle game. It may have escaped notice for teams. those who rely on game highlights to fill them in on the outcome of More than that, they’re also harbingers of a rethinking in how Canucks games, but Hughes has a level of gravity that, at this point in his defencemen should play and how they should go about generating career, Makar doesn’t. Hughes more fundamentally impacts how and offence from the blue line. With the emergence of Hughes, Makar and where the game is played when he’s on the ice. several other defenders like them, we can say goodbye to the template of This shows up in the team relative data. This data is crucial in ferreting the big lug defenceman putting their head down and simply ripping slap out individual contributions and as it applies to Hughes and Makar, just shots from 50 feet out. about across the board, Hughes’ impact on his team is greater. It’s a new day for NHL defenders, and that’s a very good thing for fans of To visualize this, I’ve turned to the RAPM skater comparison tool at skilled hockey. evolving-wild.com. It breaks down Makar and Hughes’ team-relative Still, winning the Calder trophy is sort of like that line “Highlander” — impact according to five on-ice categories, all rated on a per 60 minute there can be only one. And now that balloting is officially open, it’s crunch basis: goals for (GF/60), expected goals for (xGF/60), shot attempts for time: time to lay down a closing argument and provide a guide for voters (CF/60), expected goals against (xGA/60) and shot attempts against and observers alike in deciding between two truly historic rookie (CA/60). campaigns from a pair of elite, young NHL defenders. You can see below that Makar has that mammoth impact on goals for. Counting stats That edge is significant and could prove decisive in balloting — particularly because of how it’s intertwined with Makar’s own gaudy At the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL season, Hughes led all rookies in counting stats. scoring with 53 points. Makar was closely behind him, at 50 points. Hughes also has a solid impact on the rate at which his team In fact, Makar has the edge as the more productive of the two defenders. manufactures goals, but he has a big edge over Makar in the other Makar bested Hughes in points rate — on both a per 60-minute basis, categories — expected goals, and shot attempts — which capture his and on a points per game basis — and in goals scored. outsized impact on the flow of play.

In a season that was concluded at roughly the 70 game mark, one would Perhaps we can visualize this more viscerally if we go teammate by assume scoring rates will take on a greater degree of importance for teammate. Pulling “with or without you” or WOWY data from voters. Usually, durability is a plus, but this season, rate stats will surely NaturalStatTrick.com, we can create a snapshot of how every teammate be favoured and that’s defensible — sensible, even — in an environment that Makar and Hughes skated with for at least 100 five-on-five minutes where teams didn’t even all play an equal number of games. fared this past season by shot attempt differential with them versus without them. Then we can average out the difference and give you an There is reason to be a bit skeptical about the repeatability of Makar’s idea of how both rookie defenders impacted the game for their production and I strongly suspect his personal shooting percentage was teammates. unsustainable, but forces of regression shouldn’t factor into awards voting. Makar accomplished what he accomplished, and what he Let’s start with Makar: accomplished was remarkable. Makar WOWY Now, of course, there’s more to having an offensive impact as a defenceman in hockey than putting up points. Sometimes a defender can Ryan Graves 53.05 49.66

49.33 50.91

3.72 -1.25

Nathan MacKinnon Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

54.53 51.34

51.75 52.08

2.78 -0.74

Gabriel Landeskog Matt Calvert

56.27 53.28

50.98 52.8

5.29 0.48

Mikko Rantanen Average

54.92 0.9566666667

54.57 In terms of being a helpful two-way piece, Makar was a net positive. That’s amazing, particularly for a 21-year-old rookie defender playing a 0.35 top-four role. He’s exceptional.

Joonas Donskoi If you do the same exercise with Hughes though, you’ll notice 48.71 immediately that his impact on where his teammates spent their shifts was far more severe. 46.67 Hughes WOWY 2.04 Christopher Tanev Andre Burakovsky 49.46 56.19 39.93 50 9.53 6.19 J.T. Miller Nazem Kadri 58.03 49.09 50.65 52.19 7.38 -3.1 Elias Pettersson Samuel Girard 58.91 51.97 50.51 50.81 8.4 1.16 Bo Horvat J.T. Compher 54.74 45.8 45.8 48.5 8.94 -2.7 Tanner Pearson Valeri Nichushkin 54.16 54.51 45.82 55.04 8.34 -0.53 Tyler Myers Tyson Jost 56.39 50.37 47.04 51.39 9.35 -1.02 Brock Boeser Matt Nieto 55.01 52.04 50.47 50.36 4.54 1.68 Jake Virtanen Nikita Zadorov 55.08 team’s offensive attack at even-strength, the quiet control that Hughes exerted at evens resulted in an incredibly efficient distribution of high 46.47 danger chances.

8.61 We can illustrate this with the hockeyviz.com THREAT tool. I generally Loui Eriksson prefer to avoid using data informed by NHL.com’s shot location data, but over large samples the data is reliable and filtered in this manner is 49.44 illustrative of exactly how Hughes had a greater individualized impact on his teams expected goals rate than Makar did. 50.81 Makar is, again, clearly incredible: -1.37 Check out Hughes’ data though. The lack of point shots and the copious Adam Gaudette looks the Canucks generated in the slot with Hughes on the ice is 46.71 freaking incredible:

46.38 We should discuss power-play proficiency too, since Makar and Hughes were the most frequently used defenders on the power-play for their 0.33 teams. The Canucks had the best goal differential of any team in the NHL on the power play this season. Without their special teams clicking, Josh Leivo they wouldn’t be competing in a potential qualifying round play-in series 56.54 against the Minnesota Wild later this summer. Colorado ranked 11th in power-play goal differential. 50.09 Sticking to individual contributions though, Hughes and Makar are 6.45 already high-end power-play contributors. Based on their comparative individual impact on their club’s respective power play performance, the Jay Beagle peripheral data would suggest that Hughes provided more value than 39.92 Makar did in terms of driving goals, high quality chances and shot attempts: 37.38 I’ve thrown a lot of graphs and concepts at you in this section, so here’s 2.54 the quick summary: Across the board, Hughes influenced the flow of play Brandon Sutter — including the potency of his own team’s attack — to a greater degree than Makar did in their rookie seasons. 39.5 There are important things that Makar does better than Hughes. He’s an 46.09 absolute lethal sniper from the point and, in my view, his in-zone defensive play is more advanced, but Hughes’ overall awareness over -6.59 200-feet of ice, his ability in transition (both defending and attacking) and Tim Schaller his ability to dictate where the game is played is special. In these subtle, impactful areas of the game Hughes was the more valuable contributor 42.98 this season.

39.32 It’s interesting that Makar and Hughes were so similarly utilized by their teams this season. 3.66 By average ice time, they’re separated in usage by less than a minute. Antoine Roussel Both were second-pair players on their teams and weren’t sheltered in 46.75 terms of matchups.

47.08 Makar and Hughes were both roughly twice as likely to start a five-on-five shift with an offensive zone draw as a defensive zone draw. They both -0.33 got first unit power-play time and neither killed penalties. Because they’re both ridiculously precocious, Makar and Hughes both saw their Average responsibility tick up as the season went along. 4.652 There is, however, one difference that’s worth noting. If Makar was a net positive, Hughes’ data indicates that he’s the rare type The Avalanche are a deeper team — have I mentioned that yet? — and it of player that completely alters the flow of games at the NHL level. seems that their head coach Jared Bednar was extraordinarily, unusually WOWY data that dramatic is actually pretty rare. disciplined about utilizing Makar in conjunction with Colorado Hart Trophy It’s also incredibly valuable. candidate Nathan MacKinnon, relative to league average.

Hockey is such a variable sport by its nature. And in a league with such Colorado essentially ran the Makar-Ryan Graves pair — when Makar high-calibre goaltending, goals can be difficult to come by at evens and was in the lineup — as something of a five-man unit with the MacKinnon percentages are relatively fixed, the skill I personally value most in player line. In fact, Makar spent 52.5 percent of his five-on-five ice time this evaluations is an ability to meaningfully exert control over the game. season with MacKinnon (484.47 of his 921.17 five-on-five minutes). Hughes did more to help his team outshoot and out-chance opponents In contrast, Hughes spent fewer than 400 of his 1132.9 five-on-five and personally, when I end up casting my vote for the Calder, I’m likely to minutes with his road roommate and Vancouver’s most potent offensive weigh that more heavily than the fact that Makar scored .09 points per centre Elias Pettersson (and the Canucks demolished opponents in game more than Hughes did. those minutes). His percentage of five-on-five ice-time with Pettersson My opinion on this is actually hardened by the deceptiveness of Makar’s comes in at 34.8 percent (394.3 of his 1132.9 five-on-five minutes). counting stats edge. I’ve come to believe that the notion of Makar That’s a pretty wide gap. outperforming Hughes offensively is a bit overcooked. You can visualize this quiet, but quite real distinction in Hughes and Makar added a “Fast and the Furious” level of nitrous to Colorado’s Makar’s deployment by using the “teammates and competition” graphs at offensive attack, but again, context is crucial here. We can use various hockeyviz.com. tools to peer beneath the counting stats and determine offensive value beyond just tracking points. Note: The left side of the below bar graphs are an indication of which teammate each player skated with, while the right side indicates the While Makar was the more productive of the two players in terms of his competition they faced. The bars themselves are are a “depth chart” rank scoring rates, if you look at how Makar and Hughes impacted their that’s based on ice time (so MacKinnon would be the Avalanche forward ranked #1, while Bo Horvat would be the Canucks forward ranked #1).

The top half of the below graph features the 12 forwards and the bottom half is the six defencemen. The red line that runs with the bars indicates league average deployment.

Looking over the comparison really captures how extreme Makar’s deployment was, in terms of how he was matched with his own club’s best forward line as much as possible. There’s not too much to choose from elsewhere, although Hughes spent narrowly more time matched up against first-line competition and Makar spent slightly more time matched up against first-pair competition, presumably a product of spending so much time playing alongside MacKinnon on a five-player unit.

Again, there isn’t much to choose from in how Bednar and Travis Green deployed Hughes and Makar in their rookie seasons. Makar was modestly more specialized though, which is context worth noting in weighing the value of Makar’s superior rate stat production.

Plus/minus is an absolute waste of time.

Utilizing a player’s on-ice goal differential as a meaningful statistic in analysis is good practice, but the way that the official NHL plus/minus stat blends game states is absurd. Honestly plus/minus should be reformed to solely reflect five-on-five goal differential. At the very least, it’s past time for it to be banished from prominence on NHL.com player pages and from the front page of the league’s official game notes package.

Blending game states unnecessarily dings offence oriented players for things like being on the ice for shorthanded goals and empty net goals against. The result is a metric that’s often massively deceptive.

On-ice goal differential favours Makar and that should certainly be acknowledged. Makar was a factor in permitting the Avalanche to drive a completely absurd goal differential at even-strength, even if Colorado was still an elite team when he wasn’t on the ice.

Hughes really wasn’t a minus player by any reasonable definition though. On a team that was outscored by their opponents at five-on-five, Hughes was above water.

Anyway, consider this your reminder that the on-ice goal differential between Makar and Hughes isn’t +12 versus -10. It’s +21 on one of the best teams in the league versus +4 on an average one.

Hughes and Makar are already two of the top-15 or so defencemen in the NHL. Frankly, I’d be surprised if they didn’t both net some Norris trophy votes.

At the conclusion of their rookie campaigns, the gap between them is extraordinarily narrow and this is a race that should be very close.

Makar is the clear front runner based on straw polls held at The Athletic and NHL.com in recent weeks and months though. While he’d be a deserving winner based on his otherworldly offensive production and his central role helping a juggernaut team lap the rest of the league offensively this season, Hughes should be considered to be neck and neck in this race.

If you prefer Makar’s rate stat scoring lead, superior on-ice goal differential and believe he gave an elite team an extra offensive gear, that’s fair and understandable.

Hughes’ ability to assert control over games and his overall gravity as a two-way player is greater, he was more vitally important to the success of his team, he had a larger individual offensive impact and was also more impactful on the power play. When I consider those accomplishments, I find it difficult to understand why Makar remains the consensus choice.

Hughes’ superior two-way impact, overall scoring lead and greater level of importance to his team gives him the edge in my mind, but to me, this should be a very close race.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186208 Websites favourable ways to construct player contracts (perhaps flatten out contracts and eliminate front- or back-loaded deals? It’s just one of many ideas.)

The Athletic / LeBrun: Training camp date set, CBA talks continue and Whatever it ends up being, it’s a crazy, busy time for NHL and NHLPA paycheque decision delayed senior staff as they double-barrel both Return to Play and CBA negotiations.

And finally, you may remember that we told you last month that the By Pierre LeBrun NHLPA’s Executive Board had deferred until the end of May a decision on what to do with the final paycheque of the season for players. That Jun 11, 2020 paycheque was paid out by owners on April 15 but the players haven’t collected on it. The debate of course is whether to start paying down on the escrow money owed as the players kept getting paid after the season While negotiations are still needed to finalize plans for resuming the NHL went on pause, while the owners stopped collecting revenues. Therefore, season, barring any setbacks, at least we know when training camps will that 50-50 split of HRR for this season is clearly titled towards the players start. right now.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced on Thursday that A source on Thursday said that the decision on the final paycheque, training camps would commence on July 10 in the 24 NHL markets worth about $120 million in total to the system, has been further deferred. involved in the proposed Return to Play format: Essentially, I think the players want to see where CBA talks go before making a call on it, which is a sound decision. My guess is the players “The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the won’t collect that paycheque in order to start paying off what’s owed to National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that formal training the system, but the NHLPA also has assurances from the NHL that if camps (Phase 3) for the 24 teams resuming play will open on Friday, they do ultimately decide to cash in that final paycheque, they still can. July 10, provided that medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play. The length of training camp and, therefore, the start date for the formal resumption of play (Phase 4) will be determined at a future date,’’ the NHL-NHLPA The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 jointly announced.

However, that training camp start date is still subject to change if talks stall during Phase 3/4 negotiations. And while a source confirmed on Thursday that discussions for an overall agreement have commenced, the talks are still in the early stages. I think it’s safe to say both sides need at least 2-3 weeks to get through the Phase 3/4 protocol agreement — a timeline that also accounts for an NHLPA Executive Board (31 player reps) vote.

It’s important to remember that the players haven’t yet agreed to play again this season; they’ve only agreed to what the format would look like if they indeed decide to play.

But my understanding is that both sides felt it was important to announce a training camp start date because of all the speculation that was out there, including some reports of a potential Aug. 1 camp start date.

In fact, it is more likely that the first games begin on Aug. 1 (or sometime close to that date). Again, this is all subject to negotiation. If the five- round tournament begins around Aug. 1, that would mean the Stanley Cup Final would take place in early October.

Unlike Phase 2, which is voluntary for players, Phase 3 training camps will be mandatory for the players on the 24 teams still eligible. By announcing the July 10 start date for training camps now, it affords the players, especially those still in Europe, enough time to make travel plans for a return to their NHL city.

While the NHL and NHLPA go back and forth on Phase 3/4 talks, both sides are also involved in CBA negotiations.

There are some involved who hope, that if all goes well, a memorandum of understanding could be in place by the time training camps open in July. That might be a little aggressive but it’s encouraging that the negotiations continue.

The current CBA runs through the 2021-22 season. Sources indicate both sides are talking about either a four- of five-year extension which would be tacked on to the current pact. An agreement on either of those extensions would mean the CBA wouldn’t expire until the 2025-26 season or the 2026-27 season.

I’ve been told that whatever rule amendments to escrow or contracts or the salary cap are agreed to as part of the new CBA would be applied right away, which makes sense considering the need for transition rules due to the pandemic.

Again, it’s extremely important for both the players and owners to get financial clarity and a better understanding of what the NHL landscape will look like over the next few years as the business attempts to find a path through difficult times.

For the players, a CBA extension could mean limiting the escrow pain in the short term. For the owners, a CBA extension could mean more 1186209 Websites role. I was already too old, because it took me so long to gather the courage to get a sports psychologist.

On how he got into the world of hockey data: The Athletic / Steve Valiquette on the NHL’s latest trends and why GMs Before I even started categorizing things, I was really in tune to the fact should take note that not all shots are created equal. In the summer of 2014, hockey had an analytics revolution and that was right in line with the time I was retiring from playing. After 15 years pro and five years junior, I’d played By Arthur Staple on 20 different teams. I thought to myself, if each coaching staff I ever played for looked at scoring chances differently, then how the heck can Jun 11, 2020 we look at what scoring chances would be like for every team and every game played during the season?

Steve Valiquette played 15 pro seasons as a goalie, mostly in the Then, and only then, would you get historical averages for each shot Islanders and Rangers organizations. He’s known now as a studio type. To say that a breakaway goes in 31 percent of the time — you analyst for MSG Network on Rangers games, but his main project is would not be able to say that unless you’ve categorized all 2,300 Clear Sight Hockey, the data company he formed in 2015. He and his breakaways that season. So that was my “coming to Jesus” moment with partners provide exclusive data on scoring chances for a handful of NHL the sport, I just couldn’t believe we’d gotten this far in hockey and there teams, as he outlined in a Q&A with The Athletic in November 2018. was no measure for what a scoring chance is across the league.

Valiquette was a guest on the No Sleep Til Belmont podcast this week The only way I thought that could get done was if I came up with an and offered up more insight into his work and what it’s shown about the expected goals model. An expected goals model is built using historical way goals are scored in today’s NHL, as well as where he thinks data will averages for every chance in the NHL during a season. You need a take the league in the coming years. We compiled a few of his answers database to hold that — we’ve got 350,000 NHL chances in our here in Q&A form. database, categorized by shot type — and then you have to manually track all of these shots to then get true context for every event. On how he learned the mental side of the game as a goalie: And then you can deliver these things the morning after games for teams Everything changed for me in the ’04-05 season. We had that lockout. I and you can have the structure for a business. That’s what I thought was was very fortunate to have Benoit Allaire stay with me and Jason going to be possible. I didn’t realize this thought would be such a gut- LaBarbera. We were partners in Hartford and we had a goalie coach wrenching experience, because it’s that hard to do. And I’m not even there full-time for the first time at the AHL level. Now, as you know, all 31 worried about anyone copying it because it’s that hard to do. teams employ two, three, sometimes four goalie coaches so there’s coverage. But back in those days, there was maybe one guy who came On where goals are being scored on the ice in 2019-20: in periodically for the NHL goalies. Goals this season and last, there is one shot sequence that goes in more It was basically a perfect storm for me in a few ways. I hired a sports than any other sequence and it’s what we would call a low slot-line pass. psychologist. My friend Steve Montador — the late, great Steve If there’s a line that divides the ice in two and it goes from the middle of Montador — I remember in the summer time, he said, “Vally, if you want the net and stops at the top of the circles — imagine just splitting the ice to play in the NHL you have to hire this sports psychologist I work with. in two equal parts — any pass that begins above the hash mark and is She’s changed my life.” Her name is Giselle Bourgeois. She was in received below the hash mark from one side of the ice to the other, that Lenox, Mass., about an hour and 15 minutes away from where I was in shot accounted for more goals than any other shot type. 736 goals on Hartford. So I was able to get there twice a week. I wasn’t just working on 2,023 shots. the ice with the best goalie coach in the world, I was able to work with a It’s a telling sign to me: “OK, what did this shot show me as a goalie?” It’s sports psychologist. the hardest thing to stop. I’m on one side of the ice, I’m fixed in my The way that changed everything I looked at was understanding where I stance, the shooter’s approaching me, he’s a threat. And now the pass had shortcomings. I was a career .909 save percentage in the AHL, I was goes across the ice. Physically, it’s the first time I have to open my legs. 27 years old and I was pegged to back up Jason LaBarbera at the time I’ve got to be able to move my head, get full rotation, then get down to and I had to realize I had different issues with what the data community my far post. It’s a very difficult technical save — physical, cognitive — it’s would call score effects. very difficult. Of course, I felt that as a goalie, but at the same time I would have said at the end of my playing career that breakaways went in Goalies react very differently depending on the score of the game. These the most often. I would have thought those would have been the scoring are things we only know anecdotally. We don’t know them in fact until we chances that went in the most. categorize scoring chances over and over again and then come up with historical averages, and then you’re able to look at, “Wow, this goalie The next two top scoring sequences in the NHL are actually two different really doesn’t stop the puck when his team’s up by a goal. Any scoring types of broken plays — what we’d categorize as a mid-percentage chance seems to go in on this guy.” And there are goalies in the NHL broken play and then a high-percentage broken play. You can imagine who are plagued with that mental barrier; they’re not able to give how difficult these things are to put into context when you’re training themselves permission to believe in themselves in game conditions. people to watch the game the way you do.

They play really well and make saves when their team is down by two, The simple way of saying it is that a mid-percentage broken play would but not when it really matters. And the psychology of a team, it hinges on be a shot that comes, delivered to the net from the point, in the air. The the mental strength of your goaltender. This is what I’m really fascinated player in front is waving at it, trying to deflect it and it inadvertently hits with right now. I can remember getting rattled playing against the Albany someone’s elbow or shin pad and ends up in the net. That’s a mid- River Rats in the AHL before I started working with my sports percentage broken play because the intent was a mid-percentage shot, psychologist, feeling the pressure playing in a game we had to win. an in-the-air deflection, no screen. They’re in last place, we’re in first place and I get scored on twice in the A high-percentage broken play is a slot-line pass that’s intended for the first period against a team that, full disclosure, I think I’m too good for receiving player. It doesn’t go through and it goes off their skate or their them. I’m too good to be playing against them. And that’s not a good stick. Those went in 434 times last year. It’s neat because when you look thing. Any time you let your guard down because you think you’re better at how the puck ends up in the net at the end of the season, the slot line than somebody, you end up taking that bite in the butt. That’s everything is directly impacted in two of the top three sequences. If you can move in life, isn’t it? the puck from one side of the ice to the other and force the other team to So I had to come up with strategies, with the help of my sports defend, you’re going to get more broken play goals. psychologist, to play the puck. Next puck. Not the opponent, I compete On what the data says about successful teams: against the puck. The puck tells me where to go, when to go, how fast to go, I have to keep squareness on it at all times. That keeps me in the If you’re new to the data, you can always look at who won last year. Who moment. During that year, leading the league in save percentage with my was the most recent Stanley Cup winner? It’s the St. Louis Blues and, partner, it gave me the belief that I could play in the NHL in a supporting with a robust database, you can look at how they create grade-A chances. How often do they create grade-A chances? Are they even unfortunate role I have is that I have to go and explain to a team that this important? year, that shot only went in 7.1 percent of the time.

What I thought was interesting with St. Louis this season was, they are It’s a shot that goes in less than nine percent of the time. What it leads to one of the top-six teams in high-percentage chances for and against in is, “OK, Steve, send me the list of shots, wise guy.” So, I’ll send you OZP (offensive zone play). Only Carolina and Vegas are also in both of everything we have. Here’s the video. those top six. Those are three pretty good teams … Carolina is top five in just about everything except for goaltending. They’re a good team. If I’ll share a couple of the conversations I’ve had. Auston Matthews, he anything unravels Carolina, it’s goaltending. had 41 clear-sighted shots from the slot area in the NHL. Led the league. How many goals would you guess he’d have from there? St. Louis is No. 2, tied with Boston, for slot-line plays created in OZP. St. Louis is No. 7 in slot-line plays that have led to goals, tied with I was like, “11?” He’s the best shooter in the game, isn’t he? He had four. Washington. They’re good at finishing their scoring chances. They’ve got Four goals on 41 shots, and this is the guy I rave about on MSG about a better-than-average shooting percentage, but it’s not outstanding. his release. But I watched those 41 shots just to be sure, and I see the goals he does score. He actually scores when he’s shooting through a Then I would look to expected goals — it’s a rate stat, per 60 minutes. At defender’s triangle, he’s got a really good drag and pull, a release that five-on-five, with the game tied, St. Louis ranks No. 4 at creating high- comes off quickly and surprises goalies when he uses the defender as a percentage chances. At five-on-five up by a goal, St. Louis ranks 30th at screen. So that’s a tactic he uses very well. high-percentage chances and fifth at high-percentage chances against. But does he beat goalies clean when they have that all-important half Now, when I looked at that, I’m saying to myself, “Pretty neat. They don’t second of clear sight? No. There were only three or four guys who stood really go for it up a goal, they pack it in and they play defensively. They’re out this year in that shot type. Jack Eichel had 29 shots from there and good at closing teams out. They don’t give up a lot. They don’t create a scored seven goals — that’s 24 percent and he led the league. He’s one lot.” Then I was looking at Jordan Binnington. What I’ve always looked at of those elite snipers who can look at a goalie and beat him clean. with data is how a goaltender can elevate a weaker team or unravel a very good team. It’s a different sport. It’s an individual playing hockey. I John Tavares had a good year this year — had 21 chances in that never considered myself a hockey player; I was a goalie. category, not a ton, but four goals. So that’s 19 percent. (Evgeni) Malkin, four goals on 19 shots. (Leon) Draisaitl, three goals on 19. So that’s 21 At five-on-five, with the game tied, Binnington ranked No. 3 in expected and 15 percent. goals differential — how many difficult shots he faced, how many goals he allowed, he ranked third. You can have a great technical goalie with a But overall, I’m looking at this list and it’s a tough one to explain to people great physical frame, but if he doesn’t have the mindset to be able to play in hockey if you don’t have the video to back it up. in those different game conditions … you can still help these people, you On understanding game conditions, or score effects, and how important don’t have to trade them. they are:

Another interesting thing with Binnington. At six-on-five, with the other I think this is important because if you don’t look at how your players are goalie pulled, he was No. 4 in expected goals differential. Five-on-five, up performing in certain game conditions, I don’t think you really have a one goal, St. Louis is good at clamping down, not giving up many quality good grasp of the psychology of your team. scoring opportunities. And why is that important? Because Binnington is one of the league’s best at stopping the shots he should stop in those Two years ago the Rangers gave up a bunch of leads at the end of a conditions. bunch of games, and now you’re categorizing your team as mentally soft. Two years ago, you’re giving up a number of games late. But when you He’s at the top of the NHL in not allowing low-percentage chances leave the game level and look at your team, then drill down and look at against. He only allowed one low-percentage goal on 129 shots this your players, it’s amazing how many times it’s the same guy. Some season. That’s neat because now they’ve got a good team in St. Louis people just can’t perform under certain game conditions. There’s an that’s leaning on their goaltender they once didn’t have. Now they have a anxiety, there’s a past experience, there’s something there. guy in there who’s able to close it down. They don’t expect to win. It’s almost like they’re going to relive something David Rittich was last in that category — 10 goals on 126 low-percentage they’ve failed at in the past and they’re going to do it again. It’s amazing shots. Binnington shuts the door when the team is up by a goal, doesn’t when I see teams losing, what their percentage of losing is when the get rattled and doesn’t give up the bad goal where Rittich does. And goalie gives up a low-percentage goal. It’s like the entire bench sinks. that’s why I think it’s so important to look at score effects, because if you don’t know who’s performing when the game is tied, up by a goal or I watch the Rangers so closely so I can speak to them. They had a really down by a goal, do you really know what you have and what you can good season in net with all three guys that played. But I noticed in my count on in the postseason? notes that game-over-game, they lost games when their goalie allowed a low-percentage goal. Is their margin for error that small that their goalies On the battle to convince GMs and coaches of what the data says: can’t give up one low-percentage goal? That sinks the entire game?

Every team now employs an analytics team and a coaching staff and They lost 70 percent of the games when the goalie allowed one low- those two departments have to then relay up to the GM that everybody’s percentage goal against. It made me think a little harder, I wanted to look doing their job, and there can be conflict there. Now, there’s another at what happens if the Rangers score one low-percentage goal and they layer of conflict. give up two — they lost 82 percent of those games. The Devils lost 90 The reason why I was first hired by an NHL team three years ago was percent of the time, 18 games. because I was coming in as the third party that was going to mediate the If I’m the Devils, how much do you look at what the goalies were doing scoring chances the day after a game was played. Because the analytics early in the season? You weren’t giving up that many chances, you group wouldn’t be in line with what the coaches believed they saw. weren’t that bad offensively, but you weren’t getting goaltending. Depending on the game, one day you’d have the goalie coach doing the chances, one day the defense coach doing it. And a chance that goes We went through a stretch with eight coaches fired in a seven-week towards the other team’s net is not qualified the same as one you stretch. Take a look at the goaltending they got and where they were. receive, so there’s a lot of internal struggle there. Within our database, every coach got fired because they didn’t get goaltending. I could go team by team. There’s some teams firing good One of our shot types has been getting lower and lower every year — coaches. clear-sighted shots, ones where the goalie has more than half a second of clear sight on the puck before it comes off the stick from the slot. On expected goal differential and what it says about goalies: When you look at most of the public data, that shot from the slot area — One of the lists I like to look at is expected goals. And then look at the home plate, the house, however you refer to it — that would be qualified differential — the guys in the minus all miss the playoffs. There isn’t a as a high-danger shot for most companies out there. good team that had poor goaltending this year. But there are some good That doesn’t qualify as a high-danger shot for us because we’ve looked teams that had great goaltending and now the perception is they have a at roughly 5,000 chances a year on clear-sighted shots that come from great team, their coach is great. But it’s not always the case. the slot. So a player skates into the slot area, unobstructed, has a bit of time and space, shoots and tries to beat a goalie clean. Now, the I was looking at the expected goals for goalies this year. I used a filter of 950 chances against, which weeds out the backups. You get 22 goalies who qualify. Just quick snapshots:

Connor Hellebuyck, best goalie in the game, should be your Vezina Trophy winner. Jacob Markstrom deserves a big payday. (Tuukka) Rask and (Corey) Crawford, still elite goalies in their 30s. Robin Lehner, he should start over (Marc-Andre) Fleury. Juuse Saros should start over (Pekka) Rinne. (Mackenzie) Blackwood in New Jersey is a legit goalie at 23 years old. (Sergei) Bobrovsky and (John) Gibson, their games fell off a cliff this season.

It’s neat to see how a guy performs based on what he’s facing because we’ve never had the opportunity to see things that way. You could always say the reason Marty Brodeur was so great was because he only had to face 18 shots a night, but you still have to qualify that he had two two-on- ones and a breakaway.

And we can use those same filters for our shooters and our defensemen.

On combining data with psychology to get the most out of players:

Wouldn’t you say that every team should employ a sports psychologist and have the right person to look at this data? Exactly that. I lived this.

What if you have a guy you’re developing? Let’s say it’s Ilya Sorokin. He comes over and he’s playing for the Islanders next year. And he’s not playing well against the lower teams, but he plays big against the big teams. You’ve got a young guy who’s impressionable, he’s finding his way in the league, he’s going to find his way the same way (Igor) Shesterkin has, but he needs a little more help.

Now you have somebody on him. This is the data. Let’s look at the game conditions, watch the video — he has a letdown here. It’s the hardest part about scouting. It’s the reason there’s so many mistakes in the draft. It’s because when we get to the point of developing these players, we don’t know how to psychologically work with them. Then we deem them a bust because we couldn’t get through to them. But you didn’t even know what the root of the problem was.

This is the next frontier of data, to help us get into the mental game. If we’re talking about a developing player or even a superstar who doesn’t score when you need a goal. Maybe that would help a Buffalo, a Jeff Skinner, and seeing when he scores. Not to say Jeff Skinner isn’t going to be able to score five-on-five when the game’s tied, but maybe we can help him. We can help his mindset and have the confidence to perform in those big-time situations. Or your team doesn’t make the playoffs. So on the player level, if you can’t help anybody, how’s your team going to do?

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186210 Websites Grotski’s hockey career appears to end once he leaves Edmonton, which is indisputable evidence that he and Gretzky are the same person an interesting coincidence. He appears to have gone on to become a firefighter who has no patience for morons, and to this day his hockeydb The Athletic / Down Goes Brown: Meet the Off-Brand All-Stars, a bad page is periodically discovered by delighted hockey fans. roster that looks amazing Wayne Grotski is hereby named captain of the Off-Brand All-Stars.

Taylor Hall By Sean McIndoe Since we’re starting off our roster with an Edmonton theme, let’s add a Jun 11, 2020 name that put up big numbers with the Oilers. A name, but not a player, because this is the other Taylor Hall. This one played five NHL seasons

back in the 80s, debuting with the Canucks and later appearing in a few Remember when you were a kid and you’d see some cool cereal or treat games with the Bruins. All told, this Taylor Hall’s NHL career lasted 41 at the grocery store and beg your parents to buy it for you, only to be told games and saw him score seven goals before he embarked on a career that you already had some waiting at home? Inevitably, you’d get back in coaching and management with, of course, the Oilers. No, the other only to find that your parents had not, in fact, bought you the item of your Oilers. Please keep up. dreams – they’d settled for the off-brand version, which had a similar And what the hell, we might as well finish off an all-Edmonton top line… name but was never anywhere near as good. Conor McDavitt It was a universal experience. I’m told it’s even become a bit of a meme. And today, we’re going to bring the concept to hockey as we build the Much like his near-namesake, McDavitt produced consistent offense and most off-brand roster in NHL history. It’s the Off-Brand All-Stars, a led his team in scoring. That team would be the Skidmore College collection of names that will seem impressive if you scan them quickly, Thoroughbreds. On February 22, 2003, McDavitt recorded a hat trick to but will turn out to be… well, not impressive. account for all of his team’s offense in that game. Connor McDavid has accomplished that feat exactly once in his NHL career, meaning these If you’re a regular Grab Bag reader, you may know some of these names two are pretty much the same player. from the Obscure Player section. For the other 99 percent of you, you may be meeting them for the first time. Or maybe you’ve stumbled across Second line a few of them in your own travels around the hockey record books. Or maybe they are you, in which case hi there, this is going to be awkward Nobby Clark for both of us. When you need somebody to center your top line, play a dominant two- Either way, we’re going to assemble the worst possible roster we can way game, win multiple Stanley Cups and Hart Trophies, and take care build that sort of vaguely looks like the best possible roster as long as of any Russian ankles that need breaking, you call Bobby Clarke. When you squint. you need somebody who absolutely cannot do any of those things but vaguely sounds like they might, you call Nobby Clark. Another way to look at this: This is the roster your spouse who only occasionally pays attention to hockey would spit out if you asked them to That would be Nobby Clark of the 1927-28 Boston Bruins. His NHL name all those players you’ve been talking about over the years. career lasted two games.

Another way to look at this: This is the roster you would get in a video Michel Dion game that had its license agreement fall through at the last moment. The Off-Brand All-Star selection committee had a long discussion about Another way to look at this: We’re in the middle of a five-month offseason whether to include this Marcel Dionne knockoff, because Michel Dion and I am well and truly out of ideas. was actually kind of good. His NHL career didn’t last very long – just six seasons – but that includes a year in which he started an all-star game, a Here are three important ground rules to keep in mind: fact we dug into in a recent Grab Bag. He was also a Vezina finalist that year. Preference will be given to players who actually played (or were at least drafted) in the NHL, although we reserve the right to round out the roster Does that make him too good for this team? (Thinks.) (Remember that with a few names from other leagues. Marcel Dionne had almost 1,800 career points.) (Remembers that even the off-brand cereal still occasionally had marshmallows in it.) No it does We want to avoid players who have recognizable names because they not. Dion and his sweet headband make the cut. were relatives of famous players, since that seems to go against the spirit of the thing. By the way, yes, I did say that one of our forwards was a Vezina finalist. We’re slotting these guys in based on the position that their better-known This is a complete waste of time and you are right to be disappointed in namesakes played, because it’s more fun that way. If this causes you me. any cognitive dissonance, I’d like to refer you back to the part about this Let’s meet our Off-Brand All-Stars! whole thing being a waste of time.

First line Alec Ovenden

Wayne Grotski Alex Ovechkin has scored 700 goals. Did Alec Ovenden also score 700 goals? Well, his hockeydb page from his COJHL days with the Milton We have to start with the immortal Wayne Grotski. Unlike most of our Flyers and Streetsville Derbys says “statistics unavailable,” so… maybe! roster, Grotski never made it past junior, but he still ranks as perhaps the We can’t rule it out. greatest off-brand hockey superstar there ever was. But that’s not even the most impressive part of Ovenden’s hockey I mean, just the name alone is perfect. But amazingly, Grotski’s resume. Check out his career coaching record – he apparently returned connection to the slightly more successful Wayne Gretzky doesn’t end to the COJHL for one season as coach of the 1992-93 , there. Grotski’s junior years came with the Edmonton Crusaders and guiding them to a record of 47-0-1. That’s not a typo. They went the ended in 1978, meaning he was playing in Edmonton just a few months whole season without losing, and went on to win the Sutherland Cup with before Gretzky arrived. a stacked roster (for Junior B) that included future NHLer John Madden. And apparently, that was it for Ovenden behind the bench. Just a tidy Even better, look at the roster of that 1977-78 Edmonton Crusaders .990 career winning percentage, no big deal. team. In addition to Wayne Grotski, they also feature a Tessier and Currie, and now I absolutely need to see a sci-fi movie where dynasty- Third line era Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jari Kurri have to time-travel back to 1978 and go undercover on an obscure local junior team to save the Stephane Richer world. Do you like speedy French-Canadian stars who rack up multiple 50-goal seasons with the Montreal Canadiens? Sure you do, but could I interest you in a plodding defensive defenseman who scored once in his entire focus on his college career, which was legitimately impressive and NHL career instead? included an NCAA scoring title in 2008-09. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker that year, just like Brian Leetch was back in 1987. Both lost, Joe Sacco so they’re basically interchangeable.

This is probably the most familiar player we’ve hit so far. Sacco was no Bob Blake , but he did play 13 NHL seasons for five teams, racking up 213 points along the way; that’s just 1,400 points or so shy of the real thing. Could he pass for Rob Blake, the Hall-of-Fame defenseman who Sacco also spent four years as an NHL coach, confusingly enough for dominated the blue line for the Kings, Avs and Sharks during a career the Avalanche, where for a few years we had both Joes working for the that spanned two decades? As long as you can ignore the fact that he team at the same time, which was completely unacceptable. When was a forward who played 12 games for the Bruins in 1935, sure, they’re Sacco was fired, there were rumors that Sakic would take over, before practically twins. everyone realized that would be ridiculous and decided to knock it off. Sacco is now an assistant with the Bruins. Third pairing

So yeah, Sacco gives us some scoring and could also take over behind Dunc Wilson the bench if we didn’t already have unbeatable Alex Ovenden. We’ll also Say the name it quickly enough and it’s indistinguishable from Doug consider getting some coaching tips from this guy. Wilson, the Norris-winning blueliner who isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet but Guy Larose should be. Dunc was not a defenseman; he was a goaltender in the 1970s. And he wasn’t half bad by the end of the decade. After a Is he The Flower? Well, he’s a flower. The off-brand Guy Lafleur played decidedly shaky first few years in the league, he had a career year that five seasons for three teams and scored 10 goals, the majority of which saw him finish fourth in All-Star voting in 1977. came in one month in 1992 during which Leaf fans were convinced they’d found the real thing. They had not. Wait, an ability to improve his goaltending? Maybe he’s not indistinguishable from Doug Wilson after all. Fourth line Gary Murphy Louis Robitaille This American defenseman never made the NHL, but he did get drafted. We’re going to try to get him to go by “Lou” on this team and see if it That came in the 11th round of the 1985 draft, 225th overall – and sticks. Either way, he arrives with a solid pro resume that includes somewhat amazingly, exactly one pick after Off-Brand All-Star teammate several years in the AHL and two NHL games, with the Capitals in 2005- Guy Larose. Synergy! 06. He didn’t score a goal, leaving him 668 behind Luc Robitaille’s career total. But in addition to both being left-wingers, Louis does have one That’s impressive, but will anyone get Gary Murphy confused with Larry other thing in common with Luc: They currently find themselves in charge Murphy? Not likely. Would he have racked up 1,200 points, three All-Star of hockey teams full of players who don’t belong in the NHL. appearances, four Cups and a Hall-of-Fame resume? Not likely. Would the Maple Leafs have traded him to the Red Wings for (checks notes) Jack Hughes literally nothing? Uh, yeah, actually that sounds like something that might happen. While he shares a name with last year’s first overall pick, this Jack Hughes played 46 games in the early 80s and is probably best Goaltenders remembered for being cut from the US Olympic team right before the Miracle on Ice. His NHL action came with the , so Martin Brochu technically the two Jack Hughes played for the same franchise. That’s There’s some heated competition to be our squad’s Martin Brodeur where the similarities end, because 1980s Jack Hughes barely generated impersonator, with Mike Brodeur and Martin Bruderer also given serious any offense and only stuck around the NHL for a few seasons, so he’s consideration. But we’ll go with Brochu, a fellow goalie who had an NHL totally different than today’s version, right Devils fans? (Forced nervous with each of the Capitals, Canucks and Penguins from laughter.) Yes of course he is, let’s move on. 1998 through 2004 while also being property of the Canadiens, Flames Pavel Burger and Wild. All told, he appeared in nine games and never won any of them, which sounds like Off-Brand All-Star material to me. He was a Czech player with virtually no connection to the NHL, and I don’t care because I think it’s hilarious that there was a player named Roy Patrick Pavel Burger so I’m putting him on the team. What are the odds that Tie He played junior in Prince Albert in the 1950s and 60s, and my research Domi called Pavel Bure “Pavel Burger” at least once in the mid-90s? It’s indicates that he once scored two overtime goals in the same game. Did 100 percent and you know it. Patrick Roy ever do that? It wouldn’t surprise us, but I’m going to say First pairing probably not.

Billy Orr Also, we’re going to need Roy Patrick to hunt down and fight this guy.

He was a defenseman who played pro for a decade, including a season So there you have it. Dim the arena lights, start the laser show and crank in the WHA with the Toronto Toros in which he scored a goal in a playoff up the theme song, because these are your Off-Brand All-Stars. (The game. Did he fly through the air dramatically afterwards? Probably, theme song is the version of “Whoomp There It Is” that wasn’t by Tag because it was the early years of the WHA and nobody knew how to Team, in case you were wondering.) skate. Competition to make the roster was fierce, and we couldn’t include Erik Karlsson everyone. Our healthy scratches include Bob Burns, Perry Robinson, Niklas Backstrom, Ron Sundin, Daniel Tkaczuk, Mitch Messier (he turns The Hurricanes drafted him with the 99th overall pick of the 2012 draft, out to be cousin), the other Petr Sykora, the other Petr Svoboda, and I kid you not, the two players taken directly ahead of him were somehow both of the Greg Adams, Jonathan Carlson, and the weirdly named “Roy” and “Gilmour,” so apparently there was a run on off-brand long list of hockey players named Scott Stevens. And also the obvious prospects. He came over for two seasons in the AHL, but has since gone guy I forgot who you’re going to immediately name in the comments, back to Sweden, presumably because the Hurricanes realized that ruining my whole day. having two players in the league with the exact same name would be super annoying.

Second pairing The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020

Bryan Leitch

I was going to write that Leitch had an extended pro career because his HockeyDB page has six lines of ECHL experience, but then I realized that was all from one season that saw him play for a half-dozen different teams and I really don’t want to know what happened there. So let’s 1186211 Websites department’s Citizen’s Police Academy. “It just opened my eyes a little bit more to what I guess police go through, and what they’re training is,” Brown said.

The Athletic / J.T. Brown on NHL race conversation: ‘Better late than Brown flipped Dugan’s perspective, too. never’ “Back then, my concern was how it could divide our city and our community, more from a selfish standpoint,” Dugan told The Athletic Wednesday night. “Now I look back at it as the chief of police, and people By Joe Smith and Michael Russo hate the police right now. Who in this country would want to be chief of police? Now I see it from a different perspective. Jun 11, 2020 “I look at it how brave (Brown) was to take that stance. He put himself on

an island, and that takes some guts.” J.T. Brown received his share of messages of support from friends, Dugan admits he has his hands full now, with protests occurring daily family and former teammates following the tragic death of George Floyd across the Tampa Bay region. Many have been peaceful. But there are on May 25. examples like a Champs Sports store getting burned down, too. But one text really hit home. “How did we end up in these riots?” Dugan asked. “It’s because when Brown, 29, was angered, sickened after watching the nearly nine- they raised their fist, we called them ‘militant.’ When they sat on the minute video of Floyd being killed by a police officer while being arrested bench, we said they weren’t patriotic. When they took a knee, we in Minneapolis. Just three years ago when playing for the Lightning, criticized that. And they felt their voice wasn’t being heard, which is why Brown became the first NHL player to do a silent protest during the it’s led to rioting. national anthem, raising a closed fist Oct. 7, in an effort to raise “I’m not condoning that, I don’t want to come across as justifying what awareness about police brutality and racial inequality. And now there was they’re doing. But I hear their frustration.” another painful example, right in Brown’s hometown, with Floyd yelling “I can’t breathe” as the white officer knelt on his neck. Dugan understands where the anger is coming from. He’s watched the Floyd video, with his reaction as visceral as many across the country. “If Four days after Floyd’s death, Brown was getting his two kids, 3-year-old there’s a cop out there that’s not sickened by that video, they should daughter Lily and 1-year-old son Booker, ready for bath time when he got probably quit,” Dugan said. “But I do think that these protests are more a message from Tampa police chief Brian Dugan, who had kept in touch than just police brutality. We’re a divided country when it comes to since the forward’s protests made their lives intertwine in 2017. politics, economics, social issues and we’re very divided. The police “I’m sure you’re furious right now,” Dugan texted to Brown on May 29. aspect is part of it, but it’s a much bigger issue, and that kind of gets “And you have every right to be. Your anger doesn’t make you anti-cop. lost.” Stay true to yourself. Stay woke. Staying silent won’t change anything. Both Brown and Dugan agree that there’s a way for both teams and Speaking out can change everything. Let me know if I can help.” athletes and law enforcement to work together in a community, becoming Replied Brown: “I appreciate it. That’s the same thing we had talks about leaders and setting a tone. For example, Brown and Wild defenseman 3 years ago. And it still rings true today.” Matt Dumba are planning on announcing an initiative soon that’ll impact the Twin cities area, which is still healing. Dugan points out that everyone Today, the whole country is talking about race. That includes the NHL, should be outraged about what happened in Minnesota with Floyd and with more than 100 black and white players making statements that they the police, but as Brown says, “You don’t have to be anti-cop.” would not be silent anymore. But three years ago, when Brown raised his fist, there was barely a ripple. He got support from teammates and “You can be pro-cop and not tolerate racism at the same time,” Dugan behind-the-scenes messages from other NHL players, but it was said. “You can support good cops and call out the bad ones.” subdued. Nobody else followed his lead. Brown knew there would be Brown appreciates all the players who have stepped up in support with backlash, but he received anonymous death threats on social media. their words, and actions, understanding why some white players, “In my heart, I know I did the right thing,” he said. teammates were initially reticent to go public on such an issue. “It’s hard to talk about when it’s not something you have to live on a daily basis,” Brown admits he was nervous and emotional that night. He had Brown said. “You could understand the fear of saying the wrong thing.” consulted with family and friends before making his silent protest, gave coach Jon Cooper a heads-up at the team hotel that afternoon, not to Brown sees some signs of progress, including the likes of Columbus mention separate phone calls with owner Jeff Vinik and GM Steve coach John Tortorella changing his opinion on players protesting during Yzerman. Brown addressed the team as a group. Many of those former the anthem. “It’s big of somebody like that to listen and change his mind,” teammates have reached out in the past few weeks, put out Twitter Brown said. statements, including Steven Stamkos, Ryan Callahan and Brian Boyle. Years ago, Brown changed Dugan’s mind, his thinking. And it’s stuck Brown said he’d be lying if he hasn’t thought in the past few weeks – This with him as the police chief handles the unrest in his city. is why I raised my fist. This is why Colin Kaepernick took a knee. “The guy had some guts, he was the only one in the NHL who took a “You’d rather have it late than never,” Brown told The Athletic stance,” Dugan said. “I know what it’s like to be all alone as the chief of Wednesday. “I think the support has been awesome and that’s what truly police. I admire him. I don’t think it was anti-police, it was anti-police- makes this easier to be optimistic on what could or should be happening brutality. going forward, that this is not going to fade and move on. Three or four “I think we all should be.” years ago, when the first protests were happening across the NFL and myself, there wasn’t that same support. But it’s better late than never.” That brings us back to the complicated, sometimes uncomfortable conversation during Michael Russo’s podcast Wednesday. It was a Brown was one of four guests Wednesday on The Athletic’s “Straight fascinating, educational, informative discussion featuring men of different from the Source” podcast, which featured a roundtable with Brown’s generations. agent Eustace King (one of the first black agents in the NHL), Wild team doctor Joel Boyd (the first black team doctor in the NHL) and Wild Here were some of those topics: defenseman Jared Spurgeon, one of the many white players to show support the last few weeks. It was a complex conversation on race, their Brown: I keep my license and my registration, insurance, I keep it in interactions with police, hockey culture, and how the league and country where your garage door opener goes … just to limit any inference that I can embrace change. During the podcast, Brown brought up how he and might be reaching for something. I’m just trying to limit my chances of Dugan, the white Tampa police chief, remained close over the years, with having something bad happen to myself. That’s something that you don’t both of them having learned from each other in their interactions want to have to do. But it’s a precaution that I take on my own so that I following his protest. make sure that I come home safe.

Brown spent a day with Tampa police, including doing a ride-along with King: I played junior hockey in Dubuque, Iowa, and during that time, this officers. He went through some of their drills, role playing as a cop in the is ’92. … There was one time I was pulled over and I put my hands out the window to make sure the cop didn’t think I was going to do anything don’t know why. It’s just keeps happening. It’s a cycle. The cycle keeps because I was young, I was only, a 19-, 20-year-old kid. And I’d already repeating itself. had known at the backdrop a few years ago, Yusef Hawkins had been killed in ‘89. The one cop on the right side had his finger on his gun Eustace King with his client Willie O’Ree, wife Esther Marron King, and because he was concerned that if I was going to do something or trigger sons Kingston and Santana. (Courtesy of Eustace King) something that he’s prepared while I was answering questions with the Boyd: I would take my kids to all those events, as many as I could and officer that was at my door. And for me, it was scary because … I had include them and they loved going so they did have an experience to see been taught my whole life, “You need to make sure that you’re alert, you other minorities could participate in hockey. And it just fueled their desire speak well, you talk to the officers.” But the same token I had to go into to continue to play and be involved in hockey. … It was extremely my glove box, which is on the other side to try and get my driver’s license prideful to go to an All-Star Game and have an event that was dedicated to be able to display that I did have a legal license and insurance to the involvement and inclusion of both underprivileged and minority because I was a young man driving a car. And the problem with that kids, and treat them like NHL players, NHL All-Stars. It was great to see whole situation is that I was nervous and scared. And when you’re the looks on their faces, the looks in their eyes, just to feel like hey, we nervous and scared, you do things that you probably wouldn’t normally can jump in and continue to work and play and aspire to (the NHL). do. If I go running late at night, at the same age, I need to make sure that I am running on the other side of the street so I don’t offend someone or King: The program, definitely, as a pilot program, did a lot of stuff. If you … make sure that someone’s not uncomfortable. So there’s all these look at the outcome, the first player, Gerald Coleman, who ended up things that are in our DNA that we have systemically grown up with that playing in Tampa’s system, that played (two NHL games) in Tampa, was we’ve had to do or alter or adjust just to make other people feel from my hometown in Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois. He was the first comfortable where other people don’t even think like that. And I think guy who was in the NHL Diversity Task Force at the time, now Hockey’s right now you’re hearing all these stories about what others are going For Everyone, (that made it) to the NHL. Then you move forward and you through in their history. … These are the things I’ve had to do and see things like ice hockey in Harlem, you see skills’ hockey where Wayne endure, and I’ve had to talk to my kids about. … What’s wrong with this Simmonds, Chris Stewart, Joel Ward, Devante Smith-Pelly, these kids all system? What’s wrong with this mindset? Some of these things that I’m played in this program that was in Toronto and gave birth to who they are telling you people say to me, “I can’t even believe that you would even now and then we come full circle. Wayne Simmonds has a program have to think that way.” But it’s the reality that we live in. that’s very similar to the program he played in when Willie O’Ree would come and visit. … So what you’re seeing is that, hey, there’s building Boyd, the Wild’s orthopedic surgeon who has been a physician for blocks here. But we’ve done it knowing at the backdrop that there’s been virtually every professional team in Minnesota, the University of different biases or racism in hockey. And now what we’re saying is, “hey, Minnesota football team and USA Hockey, and has two children working what would happen if there was more opportunity?” for NHL Seattle: It’s a true concern and it passes down from generation to generation. My mother taught me if I’m driving and I get pulled over, Is Brown, a free agent this upcoming offseason, worried about getting a your hands are 10 and 2, don’t move until (the police officer) requests job next season if he continues to raise this topic? that you move. … It was always sort of this increased anxiety that Brown: In the Tampa situation, I knew there was going to be backlash. It happened when you get pulled over, and it’s happened in my adult life. wasn’t going to be a very popular opinion. I guess, a lot of people Not actually overly long ago where you get pulled over and at the end of obviously supported it, but there was a lot of negativity towards it as well. the conversation, it’s sort of like you’re still trying to rationalize exactly Those are things you’ve got to think about. But at the end of the day, like why did I get pulled over. And in a couple of them don’t even end up in I said back then, I knew what I needed to do, and I knew it was the right tickets, but they just sort of needed to satisfy some inquiry that they had thing to do. And I think even going to now, my focus is less on the sports about the person driving that car. It does still happen, and we still have to side but creating a better future for not only my kids, my family’s kids, but educate our children. I educated my children on that fact as well. The also kids around the world and trying to make sure that they grow up and common phrase actually in the community is driving while black. And, if that they have a better system and a better way of life than what I had or you’re driving while black, it’s completely different than when most people what my parents had. So, to me, it’s bigger than myself. drive. You are always a suspect, and that’s how we send our kids out into the world. Spurgeon: For myself, I think it took a little while to think about what myself and my family wanted to do. Seeing what happened in the city King: Everyone here is under anxiety right now. And, whether it’s the that we live in … definitely breaks your heart. But I talked with Eustace, pandemic that we’re dealing with, or if you want to call this another we didn’t want to be one of those people that just put a statement out and pandemic, which is racial inequalities in the U.S. My wife (Esther) the then had nothing to show for it or do about it. We want to take action and other day, my son (Kingston) went running and he’s 10 ½, almost 11. try and help as much as possible in the ways that we can. And that’s why And she teared up because she couldn’t see him and she was like, “He’s we went through all the charities that we thought we could help with and going up the hill and I’m scared that if something happens, he’s only not just by picking one but by trying to do more than we could and spread running for a half-mile by himself, but what happens?” And all these them out a bit and then try to call other people to action as well. We didn’t things that she never thought about. And I feel that we’re in a great want to be one of those people that just wrote some words and then community, the community I live in is Valencia, California, and it was disappeared into the distance. rated in the top-10 safest midsize communities in the United States of America. But she was scared because she saw the things happening on Brown: Obviously not having a season, it definitely helps. A lot of times the TV and she sees him by himself and as a mother she wants to our mentality is we’re just ready for the next thing. We have a game the protect them. … My wife’s a neuropsychologist, I’m an agent. We’re both next day or we’re getting ready to go to practice. There’s just so many educated people, but (what we’re trying to do) is continue to expose our other things that go on during a season. But right now, there’s nothing kids to different information. We don’t want our kids to watch what going on. There’s no distraction. It was a nine-minute video during the happened to George Floyd and actually see this street video, but we also day and what everybody saw. So I think it’s kind of not necessarily turn a have talked about why there have been protests. My son the other day blind eye, but it’s hard for you not to notice and not to want to say wanted to go to a protest and then the next morning he woke up and something, especially in this instance where we’re not doing anything. said, “I don’t want to go, I talked to my friends, and I’m scared, I don’t want to go there because everyone says there’s rioting and looting and Spurgeon: I think, too, with the platform’s of players or social media and all these things.” And I said, “Well, it’s up to you.” And then he came back being able to get their voices out, and like J.T. said, it’s a video that you to me and said, “Let’s go.” And we went, he had his little sign. And the never want to see, but everyone unfortunately had to see that. And I think two little guys, Kingston and Santana, they sat there and they supported now with a lot of players and just the way our game is going that the cause. But they also learned that, “I don’t have to be scared.” There’s everyone is more comfortable voicing their opinion and especially when people here that are peaceful, there’s people here who are doing it for you see something that isn’t right. … But for every player to be able to the right reasons. We’re constantly trying to educate, we’re trying to watch a video like that and try to be a help for the cause is what we’re all expose them through travel, through different cultures. But at the same trying to do right now. token, my son is 10 ½ years old. He knows. He’s studying Martin Luther How does this conversation continue and become the new normal once King. He’s learning in school these things about civil rights in history. And games actually start again and players return to their normal team-first, now he’s saying, “Wow, I didn’t know that what happened 30, 40 years don’t step-out-of-the-box personalities? ago is still happening today. And for him, his question is, which is hard for me to answer, “Why?” As a parent, I can’t really give them an answer. I Brown: I think it just takes everybody to hold themselves accountable and want to keep the conversation going. … We can be a part of a team but we can talk about things that we’re passionate about

Spurgeon: If people are uncomfortable with it, the only way to get over that is to keep talking about it. And hopefully now with people speaking out and more than just one person, like when J.T. was doing it (in 2017), years past when he was all by himself, that there’s more people that are speaking out about it and that we can continue to do that and there isn’t a backlash … that you can speak your mind and that everyone’s supporting it. I’m not sure if you’re scared about what you’re saying and the backlash you’re gonna get, but I think you can’t be doing that anymore. You have to voice your opinion. And like we all been saying be a part of that change.

Jason Zucker, Jared Spurgeon, Eustace King and J.T. Brown (Courtesy of Eustace King)

How do we get more diversity in hockey, both as players and working for teams and leagues?

King: Doc Boyd, he was a qualified doctor and a surgeon. So I think for a lot of us, we’re saying, there are a lot of qualified people who are highly capable that can go into positions of influence in the National Hockey League, and we want to see those people get their opportunities. There’s coaches, there’s referees, there’s different people of color that just for some reason, just haven’t been able to move up. … There’s women that are highly successful, really smart. There’s some really educated people and skilled people that have accomplished a lot on the ice, in school that should be sitting at the table.

Brown: There’s got to be a big emphasis on the youth organizations. I just think of how many kids quit … quit hockey because they felt uncomfortable or because opposing players were using racial slurs against them. That’s a big area where, if we can limit some of that, maybe more players will keep playing, where maybe the next Matt Dumba or the next P.K. Subban doesn’t quit and ends up making it. I look back at my situation, I was fortunate enough when situations like that happened in my youth hockey, my coach had my back whether the ref heard it or not. I mean, there were times where we quit the game, we forfeited the game because another player used a racial slur against me. That kind of shapes my youth growing up, knowing that I had a coach and I had a team that completely had my back. That deterred me from wanting to quit and to keep playing the sport. Having more coaches being held accountable on the youth level to keep educating these kids will make it so that the next future wave of NHL players could have more minorities in it.

George Floyd was laid to rest Tuesday. Where do we go from here so the world remains united in taking up this cause?

King: We need just to condemn racism in every fashion, in every corner, eradicate it. I also think we need to be committed to change. We need to bring qualified people of color to sit at the table so there is another voice, an opposite opinion to what we’ve seen and are used to. And I think if we do that is when we will begin to see we’ll change.

Boyd: There are things that you can do to educate yourself. I’ll leave this little vignette with you. There was a post with a woman (anti-racism activist Jane Elliott), she was a professor speaking to a mostly white crowd, and she posed the question to them: “Would you feel comfortable living as a black person in America? If you would, please stand up.” And, of course, no one stood up. And she says, “I don’t think you understand the question. If you would feel comfortable living as a black person in this country, just stand up.” And no one stood up. She said basically that means two things. One, you recognize the problem. And I think that’s true of everyone. I mean, if you really ask them, they recognize … everyone, every person recognizes the problem. And then the second part of that is if you recognize the problem and you don’t want to be treated that way, why would you let anybody else be treated that way? And I think that right there, if you can answer that question for yourself, that’s a huge jumping point, a place to take off from.

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186212 Websites “That’s why I’m leaning into what’s happening now. I really want to make sure players coming up after me, white or black, are part of a culture that really embraces everyone. It shouldn’t matter what you look like, whether it’s in the front office or playing the game, fans in the stands. Everyone The Athletic / How Anson Carter got some of the NHL’s biggest names to should be accepted for who they are. If you’re going to boo me on the unite against racism ice, it’s because I can’t play. It’s not because of the color of my skin.”

When George Floyd was killed in the custody of police, Carter wanted to do something. Lots of people and organizations were putting out By Rick Carpiniello statements. Carter hoped to do something different. Jun 11, 2020 “It was a concept that I thought about as I was watching what was unfolding, being a black male here living in the U.S. – American citizen born in Canada, having dual citizenship – and just what was happening Anson Carter has heard the versions of “stick to sports.” He’s had fans wasn’t sitting well with me,” Carter said. and friends tell him, “this is a little too heavy for us” and that they watch sports to get away from real life. Like the rest of the world, Carter watched the video of Floyd dying under a policeman’s knee. He thought about NFL player Ray Rice, and how the But real life is important to the former NHL player and current video of him assaulting his fiancee in an elevator had such an impact on broadcaster. Especially now. Perhaps more than ever. the public regarding domestic violence.

“I don’t have that privilege,” Carter, 46, told The Athletic on Wednesday. “I always thought that video was a powerful tool,” Carter said. “I always “I don’t have the ability to hang up my skin color like a pair of shoulder thought that cell phone video was the greatest innovation of the last 20 pads and just hang them up at the end of the day and, ‘whew, I can just years, I think, because now everybody can capture what we see. It’s not relax now.’ It’s part of my everyday life. It should be part of everyone’s just hearsay anymore and I wanted to put out a video. I didn’t want to put reality. This is a real life civil liberties issue. This isn’t about politics at all. out a text statement or tweet. I wanted people to see my face. I wanted them to hear my voice. I thought that was important.” “So no, this is something we can talk about because it’s a part of everyday life in the NHL community. You have black fans in the National So he thought about doing it in a medium of video and audio, and one Hockey League and black players in the National Hockey League. And that would bring together big names and faces … and voices. this is part of the reality, so I think this is something important to talk about.” “How cool would it be,” he thought, “to have a lot of different people with diverse backgrounds within the NHL community and the hockey Carter has done more than talk about it. With some technical assistance community share their voices also?” It grew quickly. from his two young daughters, he produced a video, titled “In Union There Is Strength” featuring 33 faces and voices, some of the biggest The first person Carter reached out to was Sidney Crosby, who and most prominent in hockey, from multiple continents, representing immediately said, “I’m in.” Another early one was Patrick Kane, whom different genders, and of course, races. Carter believes will be the greatest American to have played in the NHL.

The message was simple: “You don’t have to look like George Floyd … “No hesitation whatsoever,” Carter said. No questions about who else to understand that what happened to him was wrong.” would be in it, where it would be posted. Just another all-in.

Carter has had these conversations for all of his 46 years. He compared Carter got NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA leader Donald Fehr the experience to that of training for a marathon. and his own agent Brisson, and he kept going, diversifying the field as he went – prominent black players like Wayne Simmonds, P.K. Subban, top “The first 10 miles you run, the next day you’re exhausted, need a female players including A.J. Mleczko and Kelsey Koelzer, and those massage; your body’s aching, you’re sore,” Carter said. “But the more who have broken barriers, like Kim Davis and Blake Bolden have done, you do it, the more you train, the easier it becomes and that’s what along with Willie O’Ree, the first black player in NHL history. Carter and dealing with race is all about. The conversations are tough, but the more his kids put each participant’s name in their segment, so people can look we have these conversations, the more we work to try to erase it, the up who they are and how they got where they are. easier these conversations become.” “It was important for people to come together and put out a message The video was done virtually from the homes and offices of the together because that’s what hockey is all about,” Carter said. “Hockey is participants. It was done that way out of necessity. But it was also done the best team sport, I believe, out there and it was important to do this as that way to make a point. a team and not single anybody out, have everybody come together as a group. I also thought it might be more comfortable for people to initially “It was just the message I wanted to create,” Carter said. “The main point take that next step because the hockey community isn’t known as being I wanted to get across was, just because we’re social distancing doesn’t outspoken about anything. So that first step could be the great first step mean the hockey community is socially distanced. And that’s something I for people to be comfortable taking that step surrounded by like-minded really wanted to hit home. I thought about that message a lot, and it’s individuals.” true. Just because you’re not playing doesn’t mean we can’t say something.” Leading off the video was longtime Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

So he did. In a powerful manner. Carter said he never dealt with any “The reason I had Hank lead it is he’s a leader in the community, he’s face-to-face racism in his 10-year NHL playing career, never heard the been a star for the New York Rangers since he broke into the league,” N-word. He felt there were times when he and his agent, Pat Brisson, Carter said. “I believe he’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s been a pillar for might have faced resistance when it came to contracts and perhaps color that organization, a face of that organization, so I thought it would be had something to do with that. Carter, after all, had been traded at really cool to have him lead off. Plus, he’s in Europe. This is a global different times in packages for Adam Oates, Bill Ranford, Rick Tocchet, thing. This isn’t just North America. That’s why it was important to have Bill Guerin and Jaromir Jagr. If GMs thought enough of him to trade big- Leon Draisaitl, who’s from Germany, too. He felt strongly about this. name players for him, why wouldn’t they offer him bigger money? These are guys that aren’t afraid to get second-guessed.

Carter said that part of the reason he wasn’t a victim of on-ice racism “The game’s 3-3, it’s in overtime, who wants to be the guy to hop over was that “people understood I didn’t play that game. If you came at me the boards? … You want to be the guy to take responsibility to try to win sideways, we were going to have a problem,” he said. He added that he the game, and even if you don’t win the game, you’re one of the faces had great teammates – he named, perhaps for emphasis, Janne that’s going to answer those tough questions after the game, and those Niinimaa, a white player from Finland nicknamed “Ghost,” who actually are the individuals I wanted. Henrik was definitely one of those guys and got Carter to accept and even enjoy Metallica while Carter tried to sell I was so proud and so pumped when he said, ‘Yeah, without a doubt, Niinimaa on reggae and hip-hop. Anson. I’m in on this.’”

But not dealing with direct racism in hockey doesn’t mean Carter hasn’t It wasn’t without glitches. After getting all the involved people to record experienced it in his life. He surely has. He prefers, though, to not look and send their own portion of the message, Carter was fumbling while back at what got all of us here, but rather where we go and how we get editing the video with his iMovie app. It was 3 a.m., and his daughters there to fix it. Mikayla, 14, and Malia, 11 – having no school the next day – were up playing “Fortnite” with friends and cousins.

“Dad, give it to me,” Mikayla said.

“They literally hammered out the edit within seconds,” Carter said. Then they both wanted to be included. Carter hesitated because he doesn’t normally share family or personal info on social media. He told them it’s for hockey people, and it would look weird to have two kids in the video.

“I thought about it more,” Carter said, “and I talk to them about all these social issues all the time. You’re never too young to learn. My parents never thought we were (too) young to learn about stuff that was happening in the world. So we were very well prepared and equipped to handle anything that happened, even at a young age.

“So I thought it would be a great message to have them in it because it’s important to talk to our youth, because they’re our future. Also, on top of that, I thought it was important to include them because I wouldn’t ask players who are currently in the league to do anything that I wouldn’t ask my own family to do. I think sometimes guys are a little bit hesitant because they might be afraid of any pushback they might get by being out there, being current players in the league today. But I had my daughters in there, so I didn’t have any second thoughts asking guys to do it – even though my daughters were the last people to submit their videos.”

The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186213 Websites Rossi is a trusted player defensively. He played a ton of minutes for Ottawa, including on the penalty kill and tough defensive draws because of how well-rounded he is and how much he works without the puck to get it back. The Athletic / Pronman’s scouting report: Why Marco Rossi is a top NHL prospect He may be small, but he still throws his body around and can separate players from pucks.

Skating By Corey Pronman Skating Grade: 55 Jun 11, 2020 Rossi is a good skater, and you’ve seen in the video he does have some quickness, but for a 5-foot-9 player, I’d argue it’s not the elite quickness you’d typically like for a small player who is projected to be a very good Marco Rossi was the top scorer in the CHL and was the leading player NHL player. on a dominant Ottawa 67’s team. Let’s look at what makes him one of the best draft-eligible players this year. He is very elusive with the puck, showing great edge work, a strong first step and overall ability to elude checks. References to the 20-80 scouting scale are made in this column when discussing his various tools. In this scale, 50 projects as pro average, 55 I would say he lacks truly dangerous NHL-level rink-length speed to pull as above-average, 60 as top third, 70 as elite and 80 as among the very away from guys or turn the corner on NHL defensemen. best; on the opposite end, 45 is below-average and 40 is fringe pro quality. I only grade the shot if it is notably good. His skating won’t hold him back from becoming a good NHL player, but if you ask why I don’t think such a highly skilled, intelligent, competitive and Puck Skills Grade: 65 productive player is a no doubt star, it would be because of his skating.

You won’t be shocked to hear the tiny forward with more than two points Production per game in the OHL as a first-year draft-eligible has a lot of skill. Rossi has the hands to inside out defenders consistently and break open a As mentioned throughout this column, Rossi scored a lot last season. His shift. season, even with his peer group as a late birth date and older first-year eligible prospect, ranks among the most productive OHL seasons in the Rossi’s in-tight hands are fantastic. I’ve seen so many times he snatches modern era. He’s not in the Patrick Kane/John Tavares group of pucks off the wall to make hard plays to the slot, or makes plays through production at that age, but that is a high bar. Rossi outproduced 2010 legs in traffic that you didn’t see were there. first-overall pick Taylor Hall at the same age, although Hall’s underage production was better. The only caveat on the giant numbers he posted I don’t see him as the kind of guy who tries to go end to end through is he piled up a big chunk of them against bad teams, although I tend not everybody, because he is very smart and unselfish. There is no question to value that as much if a player gets a full season as opposed to a he can create highlight reel skill moments though when the opportunity partial season when the schedule can be unbalanced. presents itself. His underage production wasn’t as amazing, but it’s still very impressive You’re noticing a lot of plays I’m selecting end in goals. This isn’t me given he was the top center on the best team in the OHL in 2018-19 with pulling his highlight reel only; he had 120 points in 56 games, a lot of his a full-season pace of 37 goals and 83 points. shifts ended in goals! Andre Tourigny, coach of the Ottawa 67’s: “He’s relentless, his Hockey Sense Grade: 60 competitiveness is through the roof, he has tremendous hockey sense, It won’t surprise you that the player with 81 assists in 56 games is a very good skills and a good shot.” good passer. Rossi is a prototypical half-wall guy on the standard 1-3-1 Jack Quinn, Ottawa 67’s teammate: “He’s good at both ends of the ice. power play. He shows great patience, looks for and hits consistently, and He’s super smart, he makes a ton of plays and he can score. He works has creativity as a passer. very hard.” His seam pass rate is very high, and throughout the season you saw him NHL scout: “He is a 200-foot player that competes like a demon. He has feather passes through tight lanes to create scoring chances. elite awareness in all three zones. His skating is not elite but it’s NHL He has the patience to hold the puck for an extra second and look for capable. The only element of his game that can be knocked is his size.” trailing options. NHL scout: “He’s a very talented playmaker who competes at an elite He can hold and slow the play down but also make plays at a quick pace level and skates well. He’s very smart and skilled, but not at the same – a trait that translates to the pros. level for me as some of the other smaller players at the top of the class.”

He is a creative passer who shows the offensive intelligence to surprise Rossi on himself: “My playmaking ability, my hockey IQ, my work ethic, defenses. my competitiveness level are my biggest strengths.”

On that last play, he fakes out the defense and goaltender to make them Projection think he’s shooting, and makes a no-look pass through the seam. Rossi is an easy player to be a fan of because he checks off so many All these attributes combined equal a player who will be able to make boxes. He’s super skilled, has great offensive intelligence, skates well, plays in the NHL and help an NHL power play. works at a high level and scores in buckets. As the NHL scout I quoted above mentioned, the only real knock on Rossi is his size. Competitiveness I’ve talked to scouts who think his hockey sense gets the highest grades, Competitiveness Grade: 60 and if you agreed with that I could see why you would be extremely enthusiastic about Rossi. I’m not all the way there. I see a player who will Rossi may only measure in it at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds, but the reason why put up a lot of NHL points, but I don’t see an elite NHL playmaker. NHL scouts think he’s going to be a great NHL player is how hard he Without high-end speed, Rossi is more of a solid first-line forward as competes. opposed to a true star, in my opinion. He is fearless with the puck, often making drives right at the net. NHL scouts are split on where he slots in a lineup, but I think he could He plays in the middle third of the ice often. When I commented to him stick at center in the NHL because of his compete level and brain. Thus I about how often he gets to that area he said: “If you want to score, you could see him become a first-line center, but maybe more toward the have to go the net!” lower end of the spectrum in the league in that role.

He’s a great playmaker who can make things happen off the edge, but more often than not he’s playing around the net or in the slot area to The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 create high-quality chances. 1186214 Websites I don’t know if Sanderson’s skill is high enough for him to be on an NHL power play, but I could buy him being a second-unit player. His offense will come through generating possessions from his stops and transition play, as opposed to being the primary creator of chances. The Athletic / Pronman’s scouting report: Why Jake Sanderson is a top NHL prospect Production

Sanderson’s production at is not going to inspire: 14 points in 19 USHL games, 29 points in 47 USNTDP games. By Corey Pronman On the latter, though, I would offer a few caveats. One would be his age, Jun 11, 2020 as he’s a rather young 2002 birth date being born in July. I offer the following USNTDP defensemen who were born in the second half of the

season. Jake Sanderson is my second-ranked defenseman in the 2020 NHL Draft Now Sanderson is older than all these examples, on the low-end of the and a possible top 10 selection on draft night. Let’s dive into what a team production spectrum and lacks the skill of these players, but the point I’m should expect if it drafts him. trying to show is his production was rather solid historically compared to References to the 20-80 scouting scale are made in this column when other top NTDP defensemen around his age range. discussing his various tools. In this scale, 50 projects as pro average, 55 The other caveat is Sanderson did not have a good chunk of his USHL as above-average, 60 as top third, 70 as elite and 80 as among the very season finished nor did he get a U18 world championship, typically a best; on the opposite end, 45 is below-average and 40 is fringe pro time when players on the USNTDP can pile up points. quality. I only grade the shot if it is notably good. What the hockey world is saying Skating Seth Appert, coach of USNTDP U18: “He’s 6-foot-2, world-class skater, Skating Grade: 60 physical, hard. He eats people up. He’s very intelligent. His offensive skill The first thing any scout you talk to about Sanderson will mention is his is a complement to how good he is defensively.” skating ability. Like his father Geoff Sanderson, Jake Sanderson is a very Eamon Powell, USNTDP teammate and frequent defense partner: “His good skater who projects to skate at an above-average level in the NHL. talent speaks for (itself). He’s an unbelievable skater, he’s physically A lot of his offense comes from his ability to walk the line, to open up mature, he has a good shot, he sees the ice well.” lanes and to shake off checks. NHL scout: “He has size, very good mobility, covers a lot of ground, can His skating allows for a very quick transition, where in seconds there is a move pucks and can skate pucks out of trouble. He can log minutes in all controlled exit, controlled entry and his team is on the attack. situations. He won’t QB a power play unit, but can play a piece. He can play the tough matchups.” Sanderson’s skating is the foundation of his game, allowing him to create his offense and be so valuable defensively. NHL scout: “He’s an elite skater. He can pivot and retrieve pucks at an NHL level. You can’t get by him. The offensive creativity and vision are Defending the questions. In the NHL you will ask him to play simple and provide value through his defense.” Sanderson was the best defender I saw this season among draft-eligible players and arguably among all NHL prospects. His gap play is elite. As NHL scout: “He’s a great athlete, a great skater and a great defender. He his coach Seth Appert said, he “eats people up” with how well he defends will be able to handle heavy responsibilities in the NHL. He will be a neutral zone rushes. matchup guy who can PK and maybe be a secondary PP guy. He will get the puck out of your zone quick and help you get up on attacks. I don’t “You can’t get by him,” said one NHL scout about how well Sandersons expect him to put up a ton of points.” closes gaps, pivots and retrieves. Even versus college teams his great gap play stood out. Sanderson on himself: “I think I’m a very strong skater. When I’m in trouble I can usually skate my way out of the situation, I can jump into the And if you couldn’t skate around him, chip-ins rarely worked either due to rush. I think my vision is very good. I can break pucks out of the D-zone how well he pivots. well.” Sanderson’s value will be on the defensive side of the ice more than Projection offense. Using his skating and his frame he makes a lot of stops. Sanderson has worked his way into the top 10 discussion, and I’ve talked Physical Game to several teams who have him as their No. 1 ranked defenseman. Physicality Grade: 55 He’s a player I struggled with all season, and has bounced up and down While I wouldn’t call Sanderson a crushing type of player, he isn’t afraid my list. to play physical. And when he lines someone up, he can make a real A lot of readers ask if his stock only surged because of his MVP impact with how quickly and hard he closes on checks. performance at the All-American Game. That isn’t true, but even the His physicality, like his skating, helps him be a defensive force and keeps scouts who are his biggest backers would admit his first half was just attacks from ever getting past his team’s blue line. fine, and it was the last 2-3 months of the season that he really came on. From his play versus college teams, to the U18 Five Nations where he Offense was the best player there, and yes the showcase game, too.

The big point of debate on Sanderson is the offense in his game. He is Could he become a Hampus Lindholm or a Ryan McDonagh type? It’s not a player who is going to pop off with highlight reel skill moments or go possible. I have some hesitations saying he’s a no-doubt top pair/No. 1 end to end through numerous players. But Sanderson’s offensive touch defenseman because of how many games I’ve seen where he has a very grew on me as the season went on. In the second half of the season, he average impact offensively. established himself on the NTDP’s first power play, and at the U18 Five Nations he co-led the tournament in scoring. I’ve seen enough very good games from him though, that combined with his great athletic toolkit, work ethic and hockey sense, I could see His offense is subtle. It’s through a good outlet as opposed to a fancy someone who plays in the upper half of a lineup, regularly logs 20-22 entry. minutes a night and helps his team win games.

He moves it quickly, allowing the puck to get up the ice through his skating or passes. The Athletic LOADED: 06.12.2020 He does show some creativity and vision at the blue line, but I would say those are rare flashes as opposed to it being a core element of his game. 1186215 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Canadian teams expect easing of quarantine policy as they vie for NHL hubs

Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec

June 11, 2020, 4:00 PM

EDMONTON — The three Canadian teams vying to become hub cities are expecting news on Friday that the federal government’s quarantine restrictions have been loosened.

The chances of Vancouver, Edmonton or Toronto being chosen as one of the National Hockey League’s two hub cities hinge on the federal government’s all but promised elimination — or at least massaging — of its 14-day quarantine policy for anyone entering Canada’s borders.

The Canucks, Oilers and Maple Leafs are expecting tangible news on that front by week’s end. Though they were told the same thing a week ago, and all was quiet in Ottawa.

Even if the federal government does not entirely lift its 14-day quarantine for players and coaches arriving in Canada, sources say that it is considering “extending the quarantine area” to include both the team employee’s home and the arena. That way incoming players can at least practise while serving out their quarantine, arriving a few days before training camps open on July 10 and completing their isolation well before camp ends.

Also, should a Canadian city serve as an NHL hub, teams coming in from the United States to participate in the playoffs could “quarantine” inside the NHL bubble that will be created between the team hotel, the practice rink and the NHL arena.

Teams expected a decision from the federal government late last week, but as of Thursday, no word had come down.

Three levels of government have to be on board in order for any city to be a serious contender as a hub city, and at least in British Columbia and Alberta, both the municipal and provincial governments have been demonstrably supportive. Still, the lack of clarity on the 14-day quarantine have most, if not all, seven Canadian-based clubs exploring the possibility of holding their training camps in the U.S.

The NHL recently reached out to at least one of the teams, the Oilers, with further questions regarding testing, costs and process. That was seen as a sign that Edmonton is still in the running.

If the decision on who will host playoff games is to be based on safety and the local COVID-19 landscape, as commissioner Gary Bettman said recently, Edmonton and Vancouver would each have an excellent chance of being chosen. No city in the running to be a hub has fewer cases of COVID-19 than Edmonton, while Vancouver grades out exceptionally low for a city of its size.

Ontario has far worse COVID-19 case numbers, though Toronto would work because it is the NHL’s premier media centre. However, the extent that media will be able to participate in the five-round playoffs is still unknown. The NHL has not yet decided whether reporters will be inside the arenas, whether they’ll be incorporated inside the bubble or whether the playoffs will be largely covered using Zoom calls and video interviews.

In the U.S., Homeland Security issued a May 22 directive that exempted most professional athletes, “including their professional staff, team and league leadership, spouse, and dependents,” from any restrictions upon entering the country.

Should Canada not lift the 14-day quarantine, or at least extend the quarantine to include arenas, it is believed that the NHL will simply choose two American cities in which to play its playoff games.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186216 Websites The challenge is getting that big break, finding someone who will be your champion. As with many other businesses, there is always the question: Is who you know more valuable than what you know?

Sportsnet.ca / 31 Thoughts: Hockey, NHL pushing forward on multiple Jerrard, 55, was drafted 173rd overall by the Rangers in 1983. He played fronts five NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars, but played professionally for 10 years. His career ended on a high — a 1997 championship with the . His approach won over longtime executive Les Jackson and head coach Bob Hartley. (Hartley Elliotte Friedman | @FriedgeHNIC was the coach of that Calder Cup winner.) June 11, 2020, 3:05 PM Later, four-time Stanley Cup champion Lorne Henning would recommend him to Travis Green for an assistant job at AHL Utica. Currently at NCAA Nebraska-Omaha, Jerrard’s had three NHL stops — Colorado, Dallas “I have three stories for you,” begins Xavier Gutierrez, Arizona’s newly and Calgary. hired President and CEO — the first Latino named to that position in NHL history. “My personal experience: I’m a kid, who is born in Mexico, grows Asked about advice, Jerrard mentioned work ethic — and networking. up in San Jose, and goes to his first hockey game November of his “You need that willingness to network, to get to know people. I would freshman year at Harvard (in 1991). And I was hooked. The game was never be afraid to go up and introduce myself, start small talk with fast, the players were skilled, the passion of the fans was palpable. I someone, let them know I was around. Even if you just pop by after a know what it’s like to not necessarily be exposed as a fan, and yet you game, I went out of my way to say hi to people.” go…. I’ve shared this story: I’ve got my Harvard hockey jersey (at home); my wife wants me to throw it away, but no way. So I can personally relate That’s not easy for everyone. Jerrard chuckled a little. to the experience that your first hockey game — live, in-person — can be transformative. “Yes, there were people you could be terrified of going up to, but my mother (Merline) always talked about being comfortable in your own “That’s number one. skin.”

“Number two: I have three nephews who are Spanish-fluent, but they’re Payne’s road to Cincinnati came through current Cyclones coach Matt English-dominant, U.S.-born. And their first love, their first sport playing, Thomas, an old minor hockey teammate. The 44-year-old was with his was hockey. And why was that? Because they grew up in Hacienda family at the Aquarium in downtown Toronto in the summer of 2018. Heights, suburb of Los Angeles, and the Kings and the Ducks decided to invest in their community. Well, who does the youth in their community “I was deep in the bowels,” Payne said on the 31 Thoughts podcast, “and include? It includes Latinos. So all of a sudden, you have these three we’re watching all the sharks and everything swim around. Then I got a kids — now they’re Coyotes fans, right? — but, growing up, they’re Kings text message on my phone… and it’s from Matt. And he goes, ‘How fans, and that was their first sport. It wasn’t basketball, wasn’t baseball, would you be interested in coaching down in Cincy?’ And I said, ‘Pardon and they don’t necessarily look like the youth that is permeating the NHL me?’ Because I didn’t know he even got the job. today. But that is the future. That is the realm of possibility when you “He goes, ‘Give me a call.’” have franchises in these markets — franchises that understand you can embrace that market, bring in that youth and make them fans for life. The hiring had to be approved by Buffalo, the Cyclones’ NHL parent. It was, and Payne is very complimentary of the local ownership, too. But “The third is my hometown of San Jose, where I grew up. When I left for there will need to be more of these stories. college, the Sharks came to town. Right here, right now, San Jose is a hockey town. There’s no doubt about it. San Jose is a hockey town so In 2003, the NFL created the “Rooney Rule,” named for former Pittsburgh much that my high school has an ice hockey team. The oldest high owner Dan Rooney. It requires that ethnic minorities be interviewed for all school in California has an ice hockey team. Now tell me that isn’t senior football positions. While the idea seemed honourable, there have transformative. been plenty of criticisms that it hasn’t worked, that these candidates are given polite interviews without a real chance at the job. “The cost, the barriers to entry, they’re very high. So we have to address those. But the issue of fans like Latino fans, female fans, multicultural Jerrard is blunt about his dislike for the idea. fans — it’s going to be too hard to get them? I don’t know why that’s the case. There’s three stories right there where I believe that’s the future.” “I don’t want to be hired because I’m black. I want to be hired because I’m qualified to do the job,” he says. Gutierrez is far from alone in this vision for the future of hockey. “You’d like to say that, yeah, (it could work),” Payne says. But he adds “We have more kids of colour playing the game, more players of colour in such a rule can’t protect against the person doing the hiring knowing the NHL,” says Winnipeg-born Paul Jerrard, now in his 23rd year of another candidate better than they know you. coaching. “Those guys are great role models. They will inspire some young kids to believe in themselves, (to believe) that they can have that “You want to bring in somebody you can trust — that’s going to have option, too.” your back, that’s going to work as hard as you work, that’s going to help you as much as you help them.” At a pivotal point in North American history, we can all feel the ground shifting beneath our feet. The hockey world is no different. As Jerrard “I don’t have an answer (for a specific Rooney rule), but what we have to says, we see more and more players from minority backgrounds, do is make everyone feel comfortable that they want to apply,” said although that shift has rarely moved beyond the playing surface. The Trevor Daley, who has played 1,058 NHL games. (We will hear more onus will be on the sport to change in the boardroom, in the front offices, from him later in the blog.) behind the benches, in media — you name it. “I’m not a big supporter of the Rooney rule,” adds Kim Davis, NHL “We have a lot of players, and a lot of potential coaches out there, of Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & colour, in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, in minor hockey, in Legislative Affairs. “As you know, it’s not working for them. I’m a big college, looking to make that jump,” says Jason Payne, an assistant supporter of going into communities. I’m a big supporter of understanding coach at ECHL Cincinnati who also owns Precision Skating, in Toronto. there are different places that you source different kinds of talent and that “It’s up to people like myself — all these different coaches, not just black we have to build relationships with those places. I’m a big supporter of coaches, but minorities — to pave the way… to show that we can bring creating internship programs and pipelines. This is not something that great things to the table as well as anybody.” happened overnight and this is not going to be solved overnight. We have to have a multi-faceted, multi-pronged approach to this and we I didn’t realize (until I saw an Anthony Stewart tweet) that there were have to understand we (are) in it for the long haul. If we’re looking for three black assistant coaches in the ECHL this season: Payne, short-term answers… we’re going to be disappointed. This is a long Kalamazoo’s Joel Martin and Greenville’s Kahlil Thomas. Thomas is the game. We have to be in it and committed to it for the long haul.” father of Akil Thomas, the promising Los Angeles prospect. Davis is inspired by her own family’s experience, as her son briefly played at an all-male private school in Connecticut. “He didn’t feel very welcome. We had the option of saying, ‘This is not they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover the sport for you,’ and moving on to something else. They missed a very Canada’s most beloved game. talented young man and an opportunity for a family that had the capacity to be a really, really strong fan. I often think about that. 5. Over the last week or so, the NHL has asked its teams to submit the names of AHLers/prospects that could be added to their rosters for the “We have to go to the people that we want to embrace.” proposed Phase 3 (training camps) and Phase 4 (games). There isn’t total certainty, as the NHL and NHLPA sort out whether teams can add Jerrard said he’d been contacted by Davis’s office before emotions newly signed players for 2019–20. Unless that is allowed, defending ignited over the last couple of weeks. Stanley Cup champion St. Louis and Vegas won’t have many surprises.

“There is way more good in this game than there is bad, and I look Other considerations, Western Conference: forward to the opportunity to help it grow,” he said. “The conversations have spiked and we will keep them going.” • Dallas will add Jason Robertson up front and Jake Oettinger in goal. Their last two first-rounders — Ty Dellandrea and Thomas Harley — are “There’s always that saying, the player of colour or person of colour has on the radar if permitted. to work twice as hard to get recognition or get noticed,” Payne said. “It’s hard to overcome, but if we all work together we can hopefully overcome • Edmonton is undecided on its last couple of spots. it a lot sooner than later.” • Nashville is considering Eeli Tolvanen. In Arizona, owner Alex Meruelo, a trailblazer himself, promised that “increasing minority hiring in our franchise will definitely be a top priority • Vancouver included Sven Baertschi. for us. Xavier and I are committed to ensuring that minority candidates • I don’t think there will be any surprises in Calgary. will receive equal opportunity. Diversity, inclusion and equality will all be key values in our hiring process.” • Winnipeg is waiting on Bryan Little’s recovery. I’d totally forgotten how the Jets had 16 forwards and 10 defencemen when play was paused. “How do we bring people from different backgrounds to the table?” Gutierrez asks. “Perhaps you have people who come from corporate • Minnesota will include several players who had strong years at AHL America or the investment-management business — from the creative Iowa — league scoring leader Sam Anas, goals leader Gerry Mayhew side, from the digital media side. That, I think, is the beginning of this and Goalie of the Year Kaapo Kahkonen. broader discussion of ‘How do you bring better diverse talent — diverse • Arizona is adding 2019 first-rounder Victor Soderstrom. in the bigger sense, not just racial, ethnic or gender diversity — into the fold?’ If you think about it from that perspective, that is what will lead to a • Chicago is waiting on some of its injured players (Calvin de Haan, Brent much more welcoming approach. Seabrook, Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith) to see if any of them can play. The only player invited to Phase 2 who wasn’t with the Blackhawks or “I want to make the best business decision, and there’s no way you are AHL Rockford was OHL London’s Alex Regula. They’d like to include Ian going to make the best business decision if you don’t have diverse Mitchell from NCAA Denver, but it depends the NHL/NCAA negotiation. perspectives at the table. Sports has a powerful voice and an incredible platform to be a leader in the community, to be impactful, to say, ‘I am 6. Eastern Conference: part of this community, I can engage to make it better.’” • Boston and Tampa are still working things out, but don’t expect Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey surprises. world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it. • Washington will have defenceman Martin Fehervary, and, if permitted, 2019 first rounder Connor McMichael — although that would be for 31 THOUGHTS development, not play.

1. I don’t believe the NHL is looking to remove Ottawa owner Eugene • Philadelphia would love to reward Oskar Lindblom after his courageous Melnyk, or anything like that. But I do believe he needs to address battle with Ewing Sarcoma, but that may not be possible. Morgan Frost is allegations that the The Organ Project — which he created in 2016 — on their list. donated just 0.5 per cent of its 2018 revenues towards the cause. You can’t let that go unanswered. • Carolina is considering three of its top prospects: forward Dominik Bokk (acquired in the Justin Faulk trade), Jake Bean (the AHL’s Outstanding 2. New Jersey is continuing conversations around its GM position. (It’s Defenceman this year) and fellow blueliner Joey Keane (AHL All-Rookie also possible the position is called “Chief Operating Officer.”) Incumbent Team). Tom Fitzgerald remains a candidate. According to a couple of sources, one of the interviewees was NBC/Blackhawks broadcaster Ed Olczyk. • Toronto publicly declared Nick Robertson will attend. Asked via text if he’d spoken to the Devils, Olczyk replied, “I speak to a • Columbus has Liam Foudy. Florida’s got Owen Tippett. (As it stands, lot of people in the NHL.” 2018 first rounder Grigori Denisenko, signed in May, can’t play.) 3. The NHL and NHLPA announced Thursday that formal training camps • The Rangers are looking at both 2018 first rounder Vitali Kravtsov and (Phase 3 of return to play) will begin July 10, “provided that medical and Lias Andersson, who went back to Sweden last season. Andersson is in safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall the conversation because he played well there, and both sides are agreement.” There was anxiety around a target date, something working hard to make sure the lines of communication are strong. everyone could point to — especially once the NBA came out with a detailed calendar. 7. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told TNT last week certain coaches may not be allowed to coach from the bench “in order to protect them.” The next 10 to 14 days are going to be critical. We know the NHL/NHLPA (One prominent agent pushed back against that directive.) NHL Coaches are inching closer on selecting hub cities. They are grinding away on Association Executive Director Michael Hirshfeld said, in his protocols for Phase 3 and Phase 4 (games). They are grinding away on a conversations with the league, it will be left up to the individual to make CBA. They may not get the latter done, but can they agree on a their own decisions. framework that gives the players enough of a guarantee on a) the economic benefits of coming back to play (capped escrow), and b) health 8. One NHL player indicated that one of the things he and his teammates care in case anybody is infected. There’s no point in holding a player brought up was whether or not three or four restaurants at each hub vote without that information. Training camp could be two weeks in your could be “bought” for the duration so that only players and their families own city and six days in the “hub,” where you play your exhibition games. could go there. No general public, just them. The idea was to have somewhere else to go besides the rinks and the hotel. Adjustments are always possible, but there’s a ton of work to be done. July 10 is less than a month away. 9. In case you missed it, Montreal owner Geoff Molson threw cold water on rumours he was thinking about hiring a president of hockey 4. That said, I’ve never been so excited about the possibility of seeing a operations. hockey puck. “I have no intentions of (that),” he told local reporters on a conference Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it call. “There are very few teams that do it and there are many reasons for 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, that.” 10. Teams that are out of the playoffs can make trades with each other. 18. Speaking of the AHL, five NHL GMs (Kyle Dubas, Ken Holland, David Another idea being discussed is whether or not those clubs will be able to Poile, Don Sweeney and Steve Yzerman) will be part of group working buy out players or give qualifying offers later this month. That would be together to plan the AHL’s process for the 2020–21 season. the normal window, but this world is anything but normal right now. 19. One thing you learn in a 37-minute conversation with Xavier 11. Earlier this week, Akim Aliu, Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Evander Gutierrez: He’s enthusiastic, and I’m a firm believer that enthusiasm is Kane, Wayne Simmonds, Chris Stewart and the recently retired Joel contagious. He talked up the team on the ice, off the ice — was Ward announced the formation of the Hockey Diversity Alliance. unrelentingly positive about the Coyotes. One of the things I asked him was how many fans and media will say, “We’ve heard all of this before.” “This has been in the works four-five months,” Daley said earlier this week. “How can we make a difference? How can we help? What can we “There’s been a number of people who’ve said that,” he answered. “I say, do? The things that happened to us, how can we make sure they do not ‘Hey, I completely agree with you, but I don’t know any of those people happen to next generation? The time is now. This is what we’re doing it and I’ve never been part of those conversations.’ I’ve always had a for. We’re all equal. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you are. My trajectory in which I’m not as focused on what hasn’t worked, as much as mother was white, my father is black…. I didn’t understand why people I am thinking, ‘Where are we today, and what do we do going forward?’ didn’t accept that. ‘That’s my mom, that’s my dad — they are great people.’ I want my kids to grow up where that’s understood.” “Phoenix today, the market today, is much different than it was five years ago, much different than it was 10 years ago, and that really comes from 12. Aliu called Daley back in 2005, when he fought back against hazing my business experience. You have to be informed by what has been in Windsor. Two years earlier, Daley was the victim of a racial epithet in tried, but you shouldn’t be dictated by what has been tried.” Sault Ste. Marie. Gutierrez made the point that everything is changing because of the “Part of the conversation is our own personal situations. It’s good for us pandemic, so prior factors may be irrelevant. to sit down and listen to what Matt Dumba is saying. Chris Stewart — honestly, I don’t talk to these guys enough.” “I am bullish on the Phoenix business community. It reminds of me a lot of Silicon Valley, having grown up there.” The Alliance will grow (it indicated it has reached out to NWHL player Saroya Tinker) and will be independent of the NHL, although it intends to 20. Gutierrez knew Alex Meruelo’s brother Richard, and met the Coyotes’ work with the league. owner himself at a 2010 lunch meeting.

“I’m so grateful for the sport,” Daley says. “It’s given me everything. Are “There are two things you know for certain if you book a meal with Alex: there flaws? I’m still fielding those calls, so, yes, we can hold people He will be late and it will be a very long meal.” more accountable. I just feel if people are held accountable at the NHL Both were true — the meeting lasted almost four hours. They worked level, it will trickle down everywhere else.” together for seven and a half years after that meeting, before Gutierrez 13. What was it like on the Zoom call when Colin Kaepernick popped up left to join Clearlake Capital. (The parting was amicable — he remained a on the screen? shareholder and director on Meruelo’s Commercial Bank of California.)

“I was taken aback. It was pretty surreal,” Daley said. “To hear his story Gutierrez bought a house in Arizona and is moving his family there, and what he’s gone through — this is what he was saying. He was taking although they went back this week for a special family event — his son’s a knee for these reasons. Now the whole world world sees it.” elementary school graduation.

What did you learn from him? “I do take heart in the absence of sports that it has actually shown the importance of sports. You talk to people who say, ‘I wish I could just “Just his dedication to his mindset and what he feels is right. That’s what watch something on TV, go to a game.’ Here is my vision: How do we stuck with me the most. He knows he’s doing the right thing for a great position this organization to be a prosperous long-term enterprise here in cause. I lay my head down at night, thinking about making the world the market? I have an audacious goal of being the most beloved better for my kids and others. Why not be a part of it? That’s what Kaep franchise in the market. I have an audacious goal of being the most- has done. It’s pretty powerful when you think about it.” respected business organization, period. Not just sports, but period. I want to be a partner of choice for our business partners, our corporate 14. Daley’s contract is up in Detroit. Seventeen years as a pro, more than sponsors. I want to bring value to them. I want to be part of their success. 1,000 games. Stanley Cup champion, excellent reputation. He can’t play Those are the types of goals we have when we talk about winning off the until next season. ice.”

Could this be it for a terrific career? He believes the success of Tampa Bay and Vegas should encourage the “I will work to keep myself in shape, make myself ready… but it does Coyotes (and their fans) to think it is possible. have to be the right situation.” “I believe in technology as a driving factor for business. A tech-enabled He wants to be available for his children, Trevor (12) and Emery (8). approach to connecting with the fans and our partners is absolutely something we are going to do.” Is his future in hockey? What does that mean? “I’d love to go into player development. I love working with young guys.” “I believe, and I’m not the only one who believes it, this incredible 15. One recent entry-level deal that got plenty of attention: Arthur Kaliyev groundswell that’s only going to keep growing for e-gaming is absolutely in Los Angeles. The 33rd-overall pick in 2019 signed for a $925,000 cap the flip side of the coin for online gambling. You have young people who hit — a big number for a second-round selection. When Kaliyev was are truly engaged in e-gaming, as they then get exposed to potential taken, more than one exec thought he could be a steal for the Kings. He gambling components that are digitally based, that are on apps, that are had 98 points in 57 games for OHL Hamilton, validating L.A.’s belief in accessible, that are tech-enabled… (that eventually include) a him. There are no performance bonuses for the first two seasons of his component of augmented reality, virtual reality. I think all is in the works contract, but a $212,500 goals bonus in Year 3. That changes if he and we want to be part of that.” doesn’t stick in the NHL next year, but Kaliyev’s going to have a legit shot to stick. 21. Then there’s the arena.

16. A couple of weeks ago, NCAA Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato “I thought priority one through five was figuring out the arena,” Gutierrez indicated Philadelphia prospect Wyatt Kalynuk was leaving school to go laughed. “Alex told me it’s priority one through 10.” pro. Taken 196th overall in 2017, the Manitoba-born defenceman has COVID-19 has loosened control on the timeline, but getting an arena in a really improved. What teams are waiting for is to see if he signs with the more convenient location for the team’s fans is a big deal for the Flyers or declares his intention to become a free agent after a 30-day Coyotes. Meruelo’s hope is an announcement by the end of 2020. waiting period. Because he was 20 when drafted, he has that option. 22. I’m tearing down my golf game and starting all over. This is the 17. I think there’s real interest in Mike Stothers, recently let go as coach driving range at Eagle’s Nest Golf Club, a fun and challenging course: in AHL Ontario. I was there a few weeks ago to fit some new irons at the Titleist National He credited WHL coach Don Hay for changing that mindset and joked Fitting Centre, which is based there. that he never had a problem with fighting. His grandpa started him in boxing at the Panther Club in Edmonton. That’s a Shell station at the back. Ryan Goodridge, who showed great patience working with me, told a great story about NHL linesman Garrett 28. Iginla’s greatest successes were two Olympic Gold Medal games. Rank. Rank, who reached number 25 on the World Amateur Golf Two goals in 2002, the Golden Assist in 2010. He told a funny story rankings last summer, hit that gas station with a three-wood. That’s 300 about buying a few Team Canada jerseys in 2002 for personal use. yards. (Note: I couldn’t hit it with a three-wood.) “You can get the team to sign them, so I ordered all these jerseys, and 23. Wednesday, I wrote about “Agape” (pronounced “ah-gah-pay”), the they weren’t cheap. But I thought, “This is going to be awesome. People tribute song written by Oilers prospect Cooper Marody for the late Colby are going to want these — some family, friends.” And (then) we were Cave. (It will be released at 12:00 a.m. Friday.) Marody is pleasantly getting blown out by Sweden in our first game…. It was pretty dismal, surprised by how many players have been “super supportive” of his and I remember thinking on the bench just for a second, ‘Nobody’s going musical career. to want any of those jerseys.’”

“(Michigan teammates) Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris are some of my Betting that wasn’t a problem after the tournament was over. biggest fans,” he said. “Leon (Draisaitl) came up to me, said he heard the song and it sounded awesome. I’m thankful for that support. It sends a 29. Iginla’s junior teammate Shane Doan was also a recent podcast message that there might be a lot of people scared to try something guest. We asked Iginla if he was disappointed Doan made the 1995–96 different, especially younger kids, but if you enjoy it, don’t be afraid what Winnipeg Jets instead of returning to WHL Kamloops for a shot at a others think. Pursue what you enjoy, because good people will support three-peat. you.” Well, I was catching up with an old friend, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, seeing 24. When he goes to Nashville in the summer, Marody skates with a few how he’s doing. And I remembered he played for that ’95-96 Kamloops people in the music industry who like hockey. The list includes team as well (seven goals in 53 regular-season/playoff games). With that singer/songwriter Chris DeStefano and Warner Chappell Music VP of prompting, Rishaug told a great story of how the Blazers sent Doan a A&R BJ Hill. DeStefano is a goalie. Marody laughed when I asked if he video before Jets training camp, wishing him all the best in making the strategically went easy on him. NHL. Rishaug said he jumped in front of the camera and said, “Shane, you have to make that team, because I’m getting cut if you don’t.” We “Maybe I would have had a whole album produced by him if I shot the had a good laugh at that one. puck at his pads. He’s pretty good, though.” 30. No problem here with Nashville and Washington campaigning hard 25. Two stories that stuck with me in the last two weeks. Jason Payne for Roman Josi and John Carlson in the Norris race. If I were a played 22 years of pro hockey, and, like Johnny Cash, he was candidate, I’d want to know my organization supported me. everywhere, man. This is a guy who clearly loves the game. In 1999– 2000, he played 26 games for the ECHL’s Dayton Bombers, 31. I don’t have the words for this other than to give my support to Jake, accumulating 211 penalty minutes. One night in Roanoke stood out, for Dan and John Quesnel Jr. The gofundme to support these three children all the wrong reasons. The game went into a shootout, where an after an unspeakable tragedy surpassed its goal, proving one again that, opponent totally butchered his attempt. even in difficult times, there are plenty of fantastic people in the world.

“So all our players (are saying), ‘Nice shot, nice shot, nice dump-and- chase,’” Payne said. “So after the shot, he’s skating back… looks at me, Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 and I hadn’t even said anything. He looked directly at me, and he called me the N-word three times in a row. I laughed because I was like, ‘Did he just say that for real?’ And the linesman was standing right there, ‘I got that — I saw it, I saw it.’ And I sat there and I was kind of laughing, like, ‘Did he say that for real? Does he know I will jump on the ice and tear his neck off?’ It was funny in my mind that he had the audacity to say it when I hadn’t said anything to him. As soon as it finished, my teammates poured on the ice before I even got on the ice. It was an all-out war trying to get to this guy. They stood up for me like it was no man’s business.”

Daniel Berthiaume, a goalie who played 215 NHL games, grabbed Payne.

“He’s grabbing me, ‘Payner, sorry, man. Please don’t worry about this. He’s an idiot, he’s an idiot.’ It took a lot of them at that point because my rage started to build up. It took a lot of people to try and get me off the ice.”

26. Story II, from Jarome Iginla: Iginla said he was fortunate not to be the victim of many racial slurs when he was growing up.

“There were some incidents where something was going on in the stands, where one of our parents would go over and talk. After the game, you’d hear somebody said something inappropriate or ignorant, and one of my teammates’ dads went over and talked to them. Those meant a lot to me to have that support…. It wouldn’t have been the same if my grandpa had to go over there and talk to them. Imagine, my grandpa — older guy there — goes over and he’s yelling. Of course, he’s supposed to — I know he’s got my back. But it was way different, felt way better and wasn’t as harmful to me, I believe, as a young guy, when my buddy’s dad went over and just laid down the law…. I’m very thankful I didn’t have more and that I had people to back me up.”

There’ve been times where I’ve spoken up, and times where I regret not doing more.

27. Iginla was excellent on the podcast. A couple of highlights: He admitted “I didn’t like hitting growing up. I wasn’t scared of it. (But) I wanted to score goals, get points, help win the games, do those types of things…. Even in the NHL, I didn’t like open-ice hitting. I would feel it (as hard as) the other guy (did).” 1186217 Websites small-group workouts on Monday and no doubt will be joined by greater numbers of teammates in the days ahead as those currently in Europe and other parts of North America make their way back to playing cities.

Sportsnet.ca / Where NHL goes from here after setting Phase 3 date The quarantine issue is a major point of emphasis for the Canadian- based teams, particularly since they’d originally been hoping to receive clarity from the federal government by the end of last week. There is optimism that restrictions could be eased so that a NHL facility would be Chris Johnston | @reporterchris considered part of a player’s safe zone under quarantine — which would June 11, 2020, 4:09 PM both open the door to players on the six returning teams to get back and participate in Phase 2 while also keeping open the possibility of a playing hub being based here.

These locked-in dates are crucial to salvaging the NHL season. Senior Writer Ryan Dixon and NHL Editor Rory Boylen always give it 110%, but never rely on clichés when it comes to podcasting. Instead, Establishing July 10 as the target to open mandatory training camps they use a mix of facts, fun and a varied group of hockey voices to cover allows players to start making decisions about when to travel back to Canada’s most beloved game. their playing cities, at least for those not waiting for more clarity on quarantine restrictions. It arms the teams with a key piece of information Contingency plans are already in place if that doesn’t happen. to start putting the wheels in motion on return-to-play planning that is shifting from theoretical to very real. Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis this week that he’s willing to consider a U.S.-based training And, for the industry as a whole, Thursday’s announcement was the camp. Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal have investigated the most encouraging sign yet that we’re going to see the Stanley Cup possibility as well. playoffs staged this summer — assuming the health and safety conditions allow for it. At least they all now have a date to inform those decisions and more reason than ever to believe the planning won’t go for naught. The NHL is An agreement between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association on the inching towards a resumption. It gets closer and closer with each hurdle start date for Phase 3 basically amounts to a statement of intent since it cleared. establishes a deadline for those parties to work through the remaining issues. “I do believe that we will play,” said Rielly. “I’ve kind of always had that train of thought, it’s just kind of a matter of when. … I’ve tried to keep the They’ve basically left themselves until the end of June to finalize a return- attitude that we’re coming back and playing and try to be positive. to-play agreement to vote on. To this point the owners and players have only ratified the 24-team format that will be used if the season resumes. “Hopefully that can keep going here between now and July 10 and then They will still have a say in whether that actually ends up happening. on from there.”

Before any voting happens, the to-do list looks like this:

• Get clarity from the Canadian government on whether a 14-day Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 quarantine will continue to apply to NHL players entering the country, which directly affects whether Toronto, Edmonton or Vancouver can be chosen as a hub city and whether Canadian-based teams might choose to move their training camps to the U.S.

• Finalize the two hub cities where games will be played.

• Reach agreement on the collective bargaining issues pertaining to a return to play, which include critical dates, the 2020-21 salary cap, a potential cap on escrow and other contractual matters.

• Establish protocols that govern Phases 3 and 4, which include testing, rules governing those who produce a positive result, living conditions in the hub cities, family visits and roughly a thousand other considerations, both big and small.

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

That’s all expected to be bundled into a big package for approval by the end of June. Once we get there, it will be the first in a line of moments of truth because it will officially signify whether the league and its players are going ahead with training camps, exhibition games and progressing towards resuming a season that’s been on pause since March 12.

By comparison, Thursday’s announcement about camps opening July 10 was more of a symbolic step forward in that it finally established a timeline for all of these things to happen.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been waiting for,” said Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. “I think if you ask most players what was the hardest part about [this pause] it was the uncertainty.”

A notable subtext to the return-to-play decisions is that negotiations on a CBA extension have started as well. The sides are looking at a potential four- or five-year extension to an agreement currently set to expire in September 2022 and don’t necessarily have to hammer out all of the details before the puck drops again.

Perhaps we’ll see them reach a memorandum of understanding on key issues, though.

After weeks where seemingly no progress was made towards a return, it’s been a big few days. Players began returning to team facilities for 1186218 Websites “When I was covering baseball, Ron Gardenhire was the manager of the (Minnesota) Twins and he had a sign in his office that said that, and I remember always liking that saying. As this has happened that’s become kind of a family motto for us. That’s what we do. Losing the use of your Sportsnet.ca / Flames' Chris Snow defies odds to celebrate anniversary dominant hand is not a small thing, but he’s made it a small thing. of ALS diagnosis Everything he plays with the kids he just does with his left hand. That’s just a testament to him and to how positive he is and how he deals with

what’s in front of him.” Eric Francis | @EricFrancis Chris continues to be a workhorse in the Flames’ front office, overseeing June 11, 2020, 12:14 PM the analytics department while also assisting with player development and contract negotiations. GM Brad Treliving marvels at Chris’ resilience, positivity and insistence on remaining busy.

It has been a year since Chris Snow was told he had one year to live. The COVID-19 pause has certainly given Chris much-cherished time with his family, which has been his focus since the diagnosis of a disease One year since the Calgary Flames assistant general manager started affecting roughly 3,000 . losing the use of his right arm, prompting tests with doctors that confirmed he was the latest in a long line of family members to have ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, — a progressive neurological disease that has no known cure. gained increased exposure in 2014 with the ice bucket challenge, an online campaign encouraging people to dump ice water over their head But, thankfully, Chris’ family won’t need to mark next Wednesday’s to raise awareness and money for research. official anniversary with funeral arrangements, they have other designs. The Chris’ public battle with the disease has not only raised more than “I will probably do something intensely physical – a long bike ride or $140,000 for research, it may also be on the precipice of another viral something I never should have been in a position to do,” said Chris, campaign – the #TrickShot4Snowy challenge. between a series of Zoom interviews with draft-eligible prospects. Launched by the Flames Foundation’s Candice Goudie on Wednesday “I’ll tell myself every day, from that day on, that this is a bonus. This was as part of ALS Awareness Month in Canada, it encourages people to film not guaranteed to me. In fact, quite the opposite, it was very likely to be a trick shot of any kind, post it and nominate two others to strut their stuff taken from me. So that’s a day I’ll feel a great deal of gratitude, and every while asking for donations. day after that I’ll try to remind myself of that gratitude. “Shoot a baseball into a garbage can or a basketball over your house — “I think a lot of days it’s human nature to feel anxious and concerned, people can be fun and creative and you get to show off a little bit, which even though I am beating the odds already. But on that date, we will everyone wants to do,” laughed Chris, who will be challenging players celebrate.” around the NHL and the sports world – many of whom reached out to Just as the Snow family recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of him upon learning of his diagnosis. wife Kelsie’s stroke, which she fully recovered from, they’ll gather around “Cohen (their eight-year-old son) has been thinking about his trick shot to count the sort of blessings that come with Chris’ ability to still hoist for weeks now,” added Kelsie. five-year-old Willa onto his shoulders before heading down for morning coffee on the back deck. “It’s a really pivotal time for ALS research. If we can keep pressing, amazing things can happen, including more access to clinical trials.” “I was watching him today and thinking about where we were a year ago, and I thought, ‘Really nothing about our lives has really changed in the Amazing things have already happened. last year,’” said Kelsie, whose brilliantly written blog about their journey is a must-read. Ask the Snows, who’ve come to live life the best way possible — in the moment. “That is absolutely reason to celebrate when you get the diagnosis and the timeframe that most people that have his type of ALS get. It’s “This disease made it very easy to slow down and not look at the absolutely a miracle already. We might have had this bump in the road, following day, because No. 1, it can be a little overwhelming to project and our anniversary date isn’t coming in the perfect way we thought it forward and wonder how you’ll feel and look,” said Chris. would, but that’s life. And if we’ve learned anything over the last year it’s “No. 2, you have a greater appreciation for what is right there in front of that nothing happens the way you think it’s going to.” you. I don’t think I changed the way I lived a great deal, because I always That bump in the road came via Chris’ infectious smile. coached my sons’ teams and was always playing on the floor with my kids and going to the park every single chance I get to parent. I think it’s Kelsie recently noticed a slight droop in the grin that helped reel her in as easier to feel content in that moment and not think about what I’m doing a young newspaper intern at the Boston Globe 15 years ago. in a week or a month, because that’s a lot of time when you’re given a year.” “Every single visit I walked out of the hospital in Toronto completely unchanged created this belief in us I could potentially go forever with no change,” said Chris, who’s part of a clinical trial to combat the disease that shuts down the body and typically ends life within six to 18 months of Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 diagnosis.

“So when we noticed a bit of a change in my smile, which indicated a bit of a change of a facial nerve and muscle, it rattled me. It kind of burst that bubble of this potentially not changing me anymore at all. Now we’ve been reassured as time has gone by that whatever progression there is it could be a little bit and then nothing for a long time. If there is a progression, it’s going to be a lot slower than it would have been without this medication. What happened to me last year, with my hand, nothing is going to be as quick and pronounced as that, as we understand it.”

Unable to tie his shoelaces, cut his food or do anything that requires the use of his right arm, Chris still coaches his son’s baseball and hockey teams by throwing and catching left-handed (a la ) and using a hockey glove modified by Flames equipment staff.

“It’s been more of a mental challenge than a physical one,” said Chris.

“He improvises and overcomes,” added Kelsie, a former baseball writer, like her husband. 1186219 Websites can imagine who Montreal was rooting for, given the Penguins’ recent history.

Damphousse talked about how, after David Volek scored the winner in Sportsnet.ca / Why the NHL should consider getting rid of neutral zone overtime for the Isles, the Habs were high-fiving, excited at their faceoffs improved situation given home ice and avoiding the star-laden and battle- tested Penguins.

A segment later I joined two former NHLers (Ziggy and Anthony Stewart) Justin Bourne | @jtbourne who then proceeded to say completely insane things. I love them both, but it’s really wonderful to have been together at SN long enough where June 11, 2020, 4:42 PM I’m comfortable calling them out when they say insane things, because their stance was truly — did I mention this — insane. They were arguing that it doesn’t matter who you play in playoffs, at least partially because Each week, Justin Bourne’s column will cover three different topics in Michael Jordan used to want to beat the best opponents. varying depths. Think of it as a three-course meal with an appetizer, main course, and dessert… Please remember that when it comes to competition Michael Jordan himself is a competitive madman, and as such, his take on this topic is to Appetizer: Faceoffs used to be weird, have changed, and there’s no be more or less considered null and void. reason they couldn’t change for the better again Still, the argument isn’t uncommon in sports fandom, which is why I bring This week I enjoyed a laugh courtesy a tweet from Leafs assistant coach it up. Were the insanity isolated I’d let it go, but you hear it every season, Andrew Brewer, who reminded us of an NHL oddity that seems from light and from players too. We hear people who somehow believe “It doesn’t years ago, but was actually just removed from the routine before the matter who you play, you have to beat everyone” (note: you don’t). Or 2007-08 season. you want to beat everyone (sure), or if you’re not good enough to beat everyone you don’t deserve the championship (lunacy), or whatever your I, for one, absolutely remember. Linesmen used to see where the puck particular brand of this line of thinking is. was shot from before it went out of play, gesture vaguely to some area of the ice and be like “I’m gonna drop it here fellas.” Sometimes they’d Of course it matters who you play, you maniacs. It’s why the debate of point, often they’d spike their heel into a spot on the ice to represent the post-season brackets versus seeding is so important. If Boston drew “dot,” but it was always kind of vague. It meant that occasionally they’d Tampa in Round 2 last year after going seven with the Leafs, would they drop the puck like four feet inside the offensive zone, so it was just a have made it through Round 2 in six games? Maybe! But their odds of battle between two centres trying to shoot the puck forward. Regardless beating Columbus were undeniably better, and I’m guessing not a soul in of spot, it was a regular source of argument, with constant bickering over black and gold felt deprived of the opportunity to “beat the best” or the location of the original shot. whatever.

It turns out, you’re allowed to change the rules when something is But I really don’t want to get bogged down in one example, so please, causing problems or can be improved. So along that line of thinking, a feel as you do about the Boston/Tampa thing, but let’s move our focus simple proposal that only seems radical because we haven’t already back to the big picture. been doing it: kill neutral zone faceoffs (outside the ones at centre that start periods, come after goals, or are rectifying missed calls). They’re no Certain styles match up well against certain opponents. That’s a fact and good for the game. not up for debate. A high-flying offensive team might light up opponents with defensive weaknesses, but struggle against more stingy teams. Is it In my two seasons doing video work for the I became possible that a high-flying offensive team could draw — by pure chance fixated on the concept of “neutral zone swirl.” When you’re tagging plays — two, three, or four teams with defensive shortcomings in a single post- by watching game action, you’re identifying game state by hitting keys on season? Absolutely it’s possible. To a flawed team that succeeds one a computer (sorting for future viewing). You hit corresponding keys for way, who they draw can be the difference between what’s seen as a breakouts, zone entries, shots, regroups, and on and on. When you hit successful season or not. Even just that first round draw — and the “neutral zone forecheck,” the other team is generally in a regroup. It’s difference between a win and a loss based on playing styles — can very common that after hitting “NZFC,” you follow it up with “regroup” (as shape the narratives of individual people and careers. you’ve disrupted their regroup). And the most common after your “regroup” is “NZFC.” And … well you get it. Clean plays are rare when 10 There are teams that can play it any way you want, and in the big picture, skaters get clustered into the middle of the rink. those are the teams that have sustained success. The Cup-winning Bruins and Blackhawks in particular seemed versatile and had success Neutral zone hockey results in half a shift of ping pong once that swirl over prolonged periods because of it. But the most recent Cup-winning gets started, and that’s exactly what neutral zone draws promote. The Penguins team was a little more one-dimensional (an offensive winning team starts a regroup and hockey is played between the blue juggernaut that was in the bottom half of the league in goals against) and lines with no prolonged possession for either team. I think you can make the case that for a group like that, drawing opponents that allowed their strengths to shine was crucial to having So, bring all the draws to the end-zones. For one, it penalizes offsides success. They squeaked by, but struggled against a Capitals team that more. Go offside, and we’re bringing the puck all the way back to your could score, and probably caught decent bounces after that by facing an own end. Guess what that will do? Make players more cautious at the Ottawa team that was 22nd in the league in goals for, and a Nashville blue line, go offside less, and we’ll have fewer whistles. team that sat outside the top-10 in that category. Not to mention, around 20 per cent of O-zone faceoffs result in a slot If I ask you about the paths that were taken to winning the Stanley Cup shot for. If we kill 20 neutral zone ping pong draws in favour of 20 more by the 2013 Blackhawks, 2016 Penguins or 2018 Capitals, how many of O-zone draws, quick math…we’d be looking at promoting offence in the you could name all four opponents each team faced? How about if we go game. back to the champions of 2008, or 2006, or earlier? That part of the As fun as draws at arbitrary non-dot locations were, they’re a reminder journey fades away, because we all understand that to beat four teams in that the game still holds some small tweaks that can make it more fun best-of-sevens, whoever it was, a team had to play unbelievably well for and exciting for fans. a long time and would be deserving of the Cup, however they got there. There are very few instances where we care who a team went through to Main Course: When you imply “It doesn’t matter who a team’s post- reach the summit (save for examples like Washington finally slaying that season opponent is” you declare yourself legally insane Pittsburgh dragon).

On Thursday’s Lead Off with Scott MacArthur and Mike Zigomanis, This all seems like it’s going to be wildly relevant with the NHL’s all-new Vincent Damphousse told a story about having won a playoff series with playoff format this season, doesn’t it? The top-four seeds are going to get the 1993 Canadiens, and the ensuing wait to find out who their scrambled and teams will get re-seeded as they go. Some teams are conference final opponent was going to be. The New York Islanders and going to get dream stylistic matchups, which means others will draw the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins were nightmares. With all the moving parts for teams in the coming months, going seven games to see who would move on to meet the Habs. You the draw will be as important as any other detail. In the end, who you beat to win your Cup fades away. You don’t get a Cup and a half for drawing the toughest opponents. So with that I say death to “It doesn’t matter who you play.” It’s faux-bravado from a nonsense position. (Still love ya though, Stewy, Ziggy.)

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.

Dessert: The sweetest of all

Sound the alarms, blow the bugles. If this tweet isn’t the sweetest, most delicious Thursday Three Course-capper ever served up, I don’t know what is.

Granted, we still need this dessert to actually get served next month, but knowing what’s on the menu here, you’d be forgiven if you started salivating a little.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186220 Websites "Going into this break, we didn’t feel all that good about where we were at in the months leading up, and I think we’ve all had some time to think about that and we have a chance to change the narrative a little bit, and I think that we have to take this opportunity during Phase 2 and training Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly sees chance to 'prove some camp to really prepare and just be ready to go," Reilly said. people wrong' "It’s important that we come in prepared because that’s where the advantage will be."

Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox Rielly has been participating as much as possible in the union’s CBA and return-to-play calls, and he hit the ice this week in a group with fellow June 11, 2020, 3:50 PM defenceman Travis Dermott and forwards Alexander Kerfoot, William Nylander and Zach Hyman.

TORONTO – Until this week, Morgan Rielly’s spring hasn’t been much But in Columbus, they’re open for business too. And with two months to different from your own. game-plan, there will be no secrets in the Blue Jackets-Maple Leafs play- in round. He’s been cooking more often, reading more books. He’s streamed more films and TV programs than usual. He’s been blessed with more time to "They play hard and have a certain style and they’re well coached. To my catch up with family and friends. To widen his scope to the news. He’s understanding, they’re healthy, and like everyone else around, they’re been striving to work out most mornings to prevent his body from going eager to get going," Rielly said. full off-season. He could probably use a haircut but no longer feels the "That play-in round will be extremely competitive. You’ll have a lot of rush. teams that understand what’s at stake and don’t want to be gone in just a And, definitely like you, the Toronto Maple Leafs No. 1 defenceman has handful of games, that are going to compete very hard to keep their been trying his best to stay sane while running a marathon of uncertainty. chances alive.

"We’ve all had good days and bad days during this period," Rielly said "There’s a challenge in there for us." Thursday via Zoom, fresh off practice and the NHL and Players’ In speaking with a number of the Leafs leaders this week — Tavares, Association announcement that training camps will attempt to open July Rielly, Hyman — there is a firm sense that if this group fails to survive 10. another elimination series, it won’t be for lack of effort, half-hearted buy- "I tried to stay optimistic, and I do believe that we will play. I kind of in, or sloppy conditioning. always had that train of thought. It’s just a matter of when." "The goal is to prepare as best as possible," Rielly asserted. "So when Certainly there are worse places to be stuck in springtime than lovely the time comes to play, there’s no doubt." Vancouver with your newish girlfriend ("I’ll just say that I’m glad I’m not alone, because I think that can be challenging," Rielly said in April), but Rielly made a commitment to himself that he would fly across the county Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 and be raring to go as soon as the optional Phase 2 small-group team training opened.

Echoing the desire of captain John Tavares, he doesn’t view these four weeks as voluntarily but as an opportunity to be seized. Even if that meant an uncomforting five-hour flight with a possible virus in the cabin air.

"I think we’re all nervous. I think even just going to the grocery store, you can get nervous a little bit. But travelling back, for sure," Rielly explained. "But after I got back in Toronto, I was glad to be back here. I think this is where I feel the most at home. Just glad to be at the rink again and have something to do."

The top-down optimism from the Leafs organization on a return to play, from president Brendan Shanahan down to a black ace like Kenny Agostino, is starting to feel justified. The NBA, NHL and MLS have all taken tangible steps in the past few weeks to push team sports back on our calendars, and most of the 10 potential hub cities on Gary Bettman’s list have begun relaxing COVID-19 restrictions.

That Toronto, still in the hub running, has drawn 20 or so Leafs home, across borders and time zones, to get the jump on group training doesn’t mean fans should circle them as a Stanley Cup favourite.

It does mean, though, that this is a group of men who feels a renewed sense of high urgency. A fresh start. A blank page to rewrite the messy narrative that had become their 2019-20.

Frederik Andersen’s fatigue metre and backup goalie woes should be nonissues. The coaching change feels about as relevant today as Joe Exotic. Rielly’s attempt to come back from a broken foot is no longer a worry. David Ayers was so four months ago.

To a player, Rielly believes, this prolonged pause has been a time to stare in the mirror.

"Deep inside, you have to take it personally and be better yourself and just help the team be more consistent," Rielly said.

"We’re very motivated. We have a goal in mind. We understand there’s a chance to come back and prove some people wrong."

One could easily argue that Toronto (36-25-9) was outperformed this season by Pittsburgh or Carolina or Edmonton. But it’s a pointless argument. They’re all on level ground now. 1186221 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Erik Gudbranson: Fear kept me from speaking up. It won't anymore.

by Donnovan Bennett

As a Canadian who’s lived in the United States for seven years, I have come to love America as a second home. However, this current situation is not something to be proud of, by any stretch of the imagination.

George Floyd, 46, bought a pack of cigarettes at his local corner store and allegedly paid for it with a counterfeit $20 bill. He was handcuffed and placed in a cop car. He was then forcibly removed from the car and pinned to the ground by a police officer who kept a knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. In my eyes, and the eyes of much of the world, Floyd was killed over 20 bucks.

Ahmaud Arbery, 26, was going for a jog on a nice day, when he ran past Gregory and Travis McMichael. Allegedly believing Arbery to be responsible for recent break-ins in the area, the McMichaels decided to take the law into their own hands. They ultimately shot him to death.

Trayvon Martin, 17, was visiting his father’s fiancée when a sweet tooth led him to the local store for a snack. On his way back, he was intercepted by George Zimmerman, who claimed to believe Martin was responsible for local robberies. Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, and was acquitted of the crime. Martin had a pack of Skittles in his pocket.

In 2015 at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, nine African Americans were killed at the hands of a 21-year-old white supremacist who attacked during a bible study.

Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson, Jonathan Ferrell, Renisha McBride, Jordan Davis, Stephon Clark, Jordan Edwards, Aiyana Jones — the list goes on and on. These are just a few examples of the most recent tragic incidents involving Black people in America, and it doesn’t even touch on the injustice and inequality that Black people face on a daily basis.

Living in the U.S. for most of my adult life, it’s been easy for me to miss Canadian tragedies like the deaths of Andrew Loku and Jermaine Carby or the debate around the police practice of carding. And with the two countries so deeply intertwined and American news so prominent, maybe it’s been easy for some Canadians in Canada to miss things, too. Our country has been built in many ways through immigration and we pride ourselves on our multiculturalism. But do not be fooled — racism is still very present.

Many reading this might better remember the national headlines made when a banana was thrown at Wayne Simmonds during a 2012 Flyers- Red Wings exhibition game in London, Ontario. To most it was a blatant display of racism, but a lawyer for the man who did it said his client was “oblivious to the racial connotations.” (A whole other aspect of the systemic problem in our country.)

Which brings me to hockey, the sport I love. It isn’t immune either. Not at any level.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186222 Websites What do you notice about the way the Montreal Canadiens prospect shoots the puck?

"He's not afraid to shoot from anywhere. He'll shoot from anywhere in the TSN.CA / Wisconsin Badgers' Dylan Holloway on college life, NHL offensive zone. One thing I noticed was just how quick and accurate it interviews and WJC dream was. I was surprised, especially with his one-timers. I'd feed him some one-Ts after practice and the shot was always where he wanted it."

What was it like rooming with Los Angeles Kings prospect Alex Turcotte? Mark Masters Who was the messy guy?

"At the start of the year we were both kind of messy. Our dorm room was probably messier than anyone on the team, but towards the end of the After racking up 88 points in 53 games with the Okotoks Oilers and being year we put our heads together and said, 'You know what, we got to named MVP of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Dylan Holloway clean it up,' and we had one of the cleanest rooms. I guess we kind of decided to make the move to the University of Wisconsin for the 2019-20 grew up." season. There was an adjustment period. There were high expectations for the Badgers this season, but you guys "Guys are just bigger, faster and stronger so you're playing against much finished at the bottom of the Big 10 standings. What happened? better competition," observed the forward, who finished with eight goals and nine assists in 35 games with the Badgers. "Guys are older too. So, "We were just a young team. We had a lot of guys who were super basically, everything you do on the ice is a lot harder and you have to skilled and I feel like some games we just thought our skill would take think more." over, but at the end of the day it takes a lot more than skill to win a hockey game. You have to buy-in for each other and that sort of thing so There was also a learning curve off the ice. I think we learned a lot and it'll help us next year." "In high school you can sometimes procrastinate and get away with What was campus life like? things and get away with not doing your homework, but in college it's a lot different," the Bragg Creek, Alta., native said. "You got to stay on top "It was super cool. The Badger identity runs deep, especially with our of it and that's something I learned." alumni. Everyone cheers for the other sports teams. We were cheering for the basketball and football teams and all that." English, Holloway says, was his toughest course. Any memorable interactions with alumni? "Writing papers all the time isn't fun." "When ASU came to town it was alumni weekend so a bunch were here, But the 18-year-old, whose family had a dog most of his life, really something like 150, and we met a few and they're pretty cool guys. They enjoyed an Animal Sciences course. went through the college experience and were telling their stories." "It was all about companion animals so you learn about pets and stuff so Any story stick out? that was probably my favourite class," he said with a smile. "I learned that you can't feed live mice to a pet snake." "(Laugh) They told a couple good ones, but I don't know if I can say in this interview, but some good ones, for sure." Holloway, a natural centre who played left wing much of this season, also studied his own game and figured out how it fit within NCAA hockey. Okay, but can you tell us which alumnus told the best stories? You don’t have to give the details. "The first half of the year was a big change for me, especially getting used to school and the college lifestyle so there was a lot to learn," "Probably Dany Heatley. He's a beauty. He's awesome." Holloway admits. "I learned quite a bit and tried to apply that in the second half of the year and it seemed to pay off." How many interviews have you done with NHL teams since the season ended? Holloway spoke with TSN via Zoom this week revealing his NHL role models and how head coach Tony Granato helped him take the next step "Ah, geez, I've done quite a few, probably 25 or 26 on FaceTime." in his development. The following is an edited transcript of the interview. What's the toughest question you've gotten? At 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, how did you hold up physically this year? "Would I rather have $20 in my pocket right now or have to fish out $100 "I put on weight last summer so I felt prepared to play at that level and from a toilet? That was a weird one. I knew it was like a test." against guys who were that size. I felt pretty comfortable." What did you say? How did Badgers strength and conditioning coach Jim Snider help you? "I said, 'The $100, because I'm not afraid to go to the dirty areas.'" "In the summer his training program really helped me out and I gained Your dad Bruce played professionally, including a couple games with the some weight and that helped me in the corners. Also, during the year we Vancouver Canucks. What's the best advice he has given you? worked out quite a bit and I was able to maintain most of my muscle and that helped me as games got more tiring." "The big thing that he's always preached is that I shouldn't worry about what I can't control. Obviously, with different teams the coach is going to "He's a big reason why a lot of people come here, just to better like certain players and one coach could see you as a certain player themselves off the ice." - Arizona draft pick Ty Emberson on UW strength while another coach sees you differently so the big thing is to focus on and conditioning coach Jim Snider. what you can control and not let the outside noise distract you or get you What did you learn from head coach Tony Granato? down. That's the big thing that helped me, especially in my draft year, because I know there's rankings all the time and different scouting "He's an unbelievable coach. He knows so much about the game. He reports on you. But, at the end of the day, if you do what you're supposed helped me with my defensive-zone habits, my positional play and that to be doing things will work out." sort of thing and the transition to college hockey." Central Scouting had you at No. 12 on their North American skater list. How did you develop in your own end? How do you feel about where you stand heading into the draft?

"I became a lot better. Sometimes in the AJHL you can get away with "Well, it's a huge honour to be ranked by NHL Central Scouting, but my swinging too much and not supporting your wingers, but in NCAA hockey goal was a little higher. At the end of the day, [where I get picked] will be you got to be good at that." based on each team and what they're looking for."

What stood out about teammate and fellow freshman Cole Caufield? Which NHL player or players do you view as role models?

"He's a great guy off the ice and, obviously, on the ice the way he puts "The two players I've modelled my game after are Gabriel Landeskog the puck in the net is special. He has a special talent for scoring goals and Jonathan Toews. They're both 200-foot centres and great leaders so and it was cool to watch him every day." I definitely try to learn from what they bring." What's your life like now? How are you keeping busy?

"I'm lucky, because I kind of live in the country so there's lots of things I can do to keep busy. I've been working out quite a bit and my gym just opened up. I've played some pick-up basketball with my friends and the rivers are kind of muddy right now, but I like going fly fishing."

What's your basketball game like?

"I'd say I'm more of a three-point shooter. I try to model my game after Steph Curry, but I'm not that good."

What's your focus this off-season?

"A big thing I'm working on is explosiveness. I think having that break- away speed on the ice is super important and something that if you want to be good you need and it's something I've worked on over the years and that has paid off. I feel like my skating is one of my biggest strengths right now so I'll continue to keep working on that. That's a big goal of mine."

Speaking of big goals, how much is the 2021 World Juniors, set for nearby Edmonton, on your radar?

"It's huge. If I was lucky enough to make the team I'd have a bunch of friends and family be able to come watch so it'd be a dream come true. It's a huge goal for me."

TSN.CA LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186223 Websites important that we come in prepared, because that's where the advantage will be."

TSN.CA / Morgan Rielly: Toronto Maple Leafs eager 'to prove some TSN.CA LOADED: 06.12.2020 people wrong'

Mark Masters

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly finally has a date to circle. Provided that medical and safety conditions allow for it, training camp for the 24 National Hockey League teams still in contention for the Stanley Cup will open on July 10.

"Obviously, that's good news for us knowing the date," Rielly said during a Zoom media session on Thursday. "It's kind of what we've been waiting for. If you ask most players what was the hardest part of it all, it was the uncertainty ... To go that long without any news or hard information in terms of a start time is tough, but it's rolling now and hopefully we can keep going in the right direction."

The NHL and Players' Association have already agreed on the playoff format and with Phase 2 starting this week, allowing players to return to team facilities for voluntary small-group sessions, optim ism is growing.

"We all had good days and bad days during this period," Rielly said of the lengthy layoff. "I tried to stay optimistic and I do believe we will play. I've always had that train of thought that it was just a matter of when. There will always be that doubt that an aspect of it is not entirely in our control so as a player you have to do whatever you can to prepare yourself to play and be in that mindset and keep a positive attitude."

Rielly is among the 20 or so Leafs players who have returned to the Ford Performance Centre for workouts. The 26-year-old recently took a flight from his hometown of Vancouver to Toronto to ensure he was on hand for the first day of Phase 2. He admits travelling during a pandemic did make him a bit uneasy.

"We're all nervous," he said. "Even just going to the grocery store you can get nervous a little bit. But after I got back to Toronto, I was glad to be back here. I think this is where I feel the most at home and just glad to be at the rink again and have something to do ... I think it's important and a good opportunity to train with teammates."

Still unclear is how long training camps in Phase 3 will last and when the meaningful games, on pause since March 12, will resume. Also to be determined is the two hub cities where the teams will play and what sort of precautions will be necessary inside those bubbles.

Toronto is slated to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in a play-in series and both cities are among the 10 locales in contention to be a host. What would it mean if the games were at Scotiabank Arena?

"There might be a small advantage because of the rink," Rielly said, "but if we host, I assume all the players will have to be in hotels anyway and the rules will apply to us just like they apply to all the other teams so I don't think it will be a huge advantage."

And Rielly insists he's not concerned about the amenities that will be available to players.

"It's just about player safety," Rielly said. "If you ask guys to go play just about anywhere they'll probably agree eventually ... what's important [is] player safety and also [safety of] the general public. We have to do what's best on that front before we get carried away ... wherever we go we'll be well taken care of so I really don't see that being a big issue."

The Leafs and Jackets finished with the same number of points (81) in the same number of games (70) this season, but Toronto is the higher seed by virtue of having more regulation wins (28-to-25). After a string of first-round exits and an inconsistent regular season, the Leafs are facing big-time pressure.

"We're very motivated," Rielly said. "We have a goal in mind ... We understand that there's a chance to come back and prove some people wrong. Going into this break we didn't feel all that good about where we were at and we've all had some time to think about that and we have a chance to change the narrative a little bit. We have to take this opportunity during Phase 2 and training camp to really prepare and be ready to go. Each team will be on an even playing field and I think it's 1186224 Websites Tkachuk has a notorious knack for getting under the skin of the opposition and running up some awesome penalty differentials, which can be huge in a postseason series. Over the past three seasons, Tkachuk has handed Calgary 36 additional power plays (20th in the TSN.CA / A statistical look at the Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets play- NHL), which for an average unit would mean about seven goals added in in series the standings.

Combine that with other Calgary forwards who are similarly great at this – Johnny Gaudreau leads the entire league with 65 additional power plays Travis Yost over the last three seasons and Andrew Mangiapane gave Calgary 13 additional power plays this year alone – and you can see how Calgary can make teams uncomfortable. If not for their ability to play pace and The National Hockey League’s redesigned playoff format is official, and space in the offensive zone, then for their ability to force defenders into assuming all goes to plan, we are closing in on watching hockey once uncomfortable situations and force swaths of two-minute minors. again. The other thing about Tkachuk is calling him a pest really undersells how The new playoff format will feature 24 teams in total, and will open up effective a player he is, especially working out of the slot. The biggest with a 16-team qualifying round. The opening best-of-five series offers reason why he led the team in scoring – Tkachuk had 23 goals and 38 new life to eight teams that were below the original playoff cutline, and assists when the season paused – is because he’s as effective as should create waves of excitement for eager sports fans. anyone in the league not named Brendan Gallagher at working inside of the defensive interior. Today, we look at the first Western Conference matchup featuring the eight-seeded Calgary Flames against the ninth seeded Winnipeg Jets. That not only creates opportunities for himself, but opens up passing and shooting lanes for his teammates: Regular Season Performance The good news for Winnipeg is that they were arguably the most One of the interesting wrinkles of this matchup is that the "road" team in disciplined team in the league this season, going shorthanded just 174 this series probably has an argument to be favoured. times (second fewest in the NHL). That’s a big accomplishment, When the regular season was paused, Calgary led Winnipeg by a especially considering how poorly disciplined some of Maurice’s teams fraction of a point. Combine that with St. Louis, Colorado and Dallas were just a few years back. having better records in the Central Division, and you have Winnipeg Goalie Overview (Goals Saved Above Average) opening up their playoffs on the road. This despite being 18 goals – 18 goals! – better than their play-in round opponent. It’s a shame Cam Talbot’s bounce-back season didn’t get a lot of play outside of Alberta. After ugly stints in Edmonton and Philadelphia a year Over the past couple of seasons, no team has vexed hockey fans more ago, Talbot stopped nearly 92 per cent of shots and definitively outplayed than this Jets club. Despite a roster gushing with talent, the results at the team’s starter in David Rittich. times under head coach Paul Maurice have been quite underwhelming. It is true that Maurice has had to deal with the unique challenge of It will be fascinating to see who head coach Geoff Ward gives the keys to overhauling a defensive corps on the fly – a defensive corps left empty in Game 1. If usage is the lead indicator, it will be Rittich. But you wonder after a series of both expected and unexpected player movements. how short his leash may be.

Winnipeg has lost six of the nine regular defenders from its 114-point Maurice has no decision to make in net. Connor Hellebuyck (92.2 per team of two seasons ago. Some of the change was warranted, but this is cent stop rate; plus-20 goals saved above expectations) was the best still an incredibly quick transition for a team that surely didn’t see this goaltender in the league, spending his entire season bailing out grim type of change coming: defensive performance after grim defensive performance.

I emphasize the blueline piece because the Jets haven’t been able to It wasn’t particularly close. He should win the Vezina Trophy running fully recover from such a significant and quick loss of personnel. away. Little more needs to be said.

The team spends a lot of time sheltering in the defensive zone, which not Prediction only puts sustained burden on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, but it neuters the chances of Winnipeg’s gifted offensive playmakers. Partially Winnipeg is such a frustrating team because you feel like you should be as a result, Winnipeg is 29th in expected goal rates (45.8 per cent), 22nd getting a lot more out of a lineup with this much talent. But Winnipeg has in shot differential (48.8 per cent), and 16th in goal rate (50.7 per cent) at a couple of decisive advantages in this series, none more important than even strength. Hellebuyck. He was the team’s eraser all season long, and though Calgary will likely have ample offensive zone time, it’s easy to lose Speaking of teams with performances disappointing relative to our confidence in what they will do with those chances. expectations: the Calgary Flames. Remember when this team amassed a 107-point, Pacific Division-winning season on a base plus-62 goal This is not a good matchup for Calgary. The pick is Winnipeg in four. differential? You should, because it was last year.

You would think that such a team would be able to capitalize on San TSN.CA LOADED: 06.12.2020 Jose’s epic collapse and Vegas’ slow start. Instead, they were arguably the league’s worst team sitting in a playoff position (65 per cent playoff odds).

Most of Calgary’s troubles can be tied back to their play at even strength. Calgary was 0.3 goals per 60 minutes there, which put them 24th in the NHL. That number is actually sandwiched between the likes of division rivals in Vancouver and Edmonton, but those teams also made up some of those goals on special teams – Edmonton arguably had the best power play/penalty kill combination in the league, and Vancouver’s power play placed fifth in finishing rates.

For the Flames, it was a lot of mediocre hockey a lot of the time. Accordingly, it puts them in a tough play-in round matchup.

Skater Overview (Goals Above Replacement)

The one thing you can say about the Flames is they do have a number of capable – and, in some cases, irritable – young forwards to throw at their opponents. It’s hard to find a player in the league who covers both bases as well as Matthew Tkachuk, who harangued defenders all season long. 1186225 Websites

USA TODAY / Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella no longer against protests during anthem

Chris Bumbaca

As Colin Kaepernick began his kneeling protest in 2016, World Cup of Hockey coach John Tortorella said he would bench any Team USA player who didn’t stand during the national anthem.

Four years later, the Columbus Blue Jackets' head coach has changed his views regarding protests during the anthem.

"I have learned over the years, listening and watching, that men and women who choose to kneel during this time mean no disrespect toward the flag," Tortorella told The Athletic on Wednesday.

That's a far cry from Tortorella's comments to ESPN four years ago, when he said "if any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game."

Now, Tortorella understands that the protests are not meant as a slight to the military. He, however, will continue to stand and think of his son, Nick, a 30-year-old Army Ranger.

"When I stand for the flag and the national anthem, my reflection is solely on the men and women who have given their lives defending our country and constitution and freedom, along with those who are serving today," he told The Athletic.

Tortorella told The Athletic he'd like to see a "moment" instituted prior to the anthem for the crowd, players and coaches to contemplate racial injustice in the country.

"It’s my choice to stand in respect and gratitude to those who have and still serve to protect our country and constitution and the civil rights of all people," the 62-year-old said. "This is by no means a show of disrespect. My family and I care deeply about the families who have suffered loss from unfair, unjust treatment. We support the peaceful protest for change."

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.12.2020

1186226 World Leagues News

Coronavirus: Ravens coach Harbaugh calls NFL's COVID-19 guidelines 'impossible'

Staff Report

Omnisport

June 12, 2020

Coronavirus: Ravens coach Harbaugh calls NFL's COVID-19 guidelines 'impossible'Coronavirus: Ravens coach Harbaugh calls NFL's COVID-19 guidelines 'impossible'

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh had strong comments for the NFL after the league's latest memo outlining how franchises should continue going about reopening their facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The league's rules require physical distancing in the locker, meeting and weight rooms and even cafeterias.

Harbaugh expressed frustrations with those guidelines in an interview with 105.7 The Fan on Thursday.

"I've seen all the memos on that, and to be quire honest with you, it's impossible what they're asking to do. Humanly impossible," he said.

"We're going to do everything we can do. We're going to space, we're going to have masks. But, you know, it's a communication sport. We have to be able to communicate with each other in person. We have to practice."

Harbaugh expressed difficulty understanding how the rules would play out in practice, specifically noting players will not stay six feet apart in huddles and wondering if players can only shower one at a time.

"I think good people, smart people are involved in this," Harbaugh said. "But the way I'm reading these memos right now, you throw your hands up and you go, 'What the heck? There's no way this can be right'."

Training camps are scheduled to start in late July and the first preseason game is the against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame game on August 6.

LOADED: 06.12.2020 1186227 World Leagues News season games would end October 11th, meaning the baseball postseason wouldn't be played at the same time as the NBA playoffs. The owner's 76-game plan would end Sept. 27.

Bubbles And Empty Seats: How Each Pro Sport Plans To Come Back It's said there's about a week left to hammer out an agreement, or the Amid Pandemic owners could impose a very short season of about 50 games. Without needing the player's approval.

This week, MLB Commissioner Manfred said he's 100% sure there will Thursday, June 11, 2020 be a baseball season in 2020. What that season might look like is anyone's guess. Tom Goldman / NPR And it might make some fans wonder, what's the point? A hugely

truncated season, playing out in front of empty seats and played by angry The Great Sports Freeze of 2020, due to the coronavirus outbreak, athletes risking their health. Aren't sports supposed to divert our attention appears to be thawing. Despite increases of COVID-19 cases in nearly from all things rotten? half of the country, sports and leagues are marching ahead with plans to National Basketball Association (NBA) reopen. Status: All systems go for a restart July 31. At least as much as systems This week, men's professional golf returns, without spectators, with a can be "go" amid the uncertainties of a pandemic. Note the measured tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. It's the first language from this month's announcement that the NBA Board of PGA Tour event since mid-March. Major League Soccer has announced Governors approved a restart plan. its plan for a return early next month. The NBA is full steam ahead for a July 31 restart. Approval "is the first formal step among many required to resume the season." Oh. And then there's baseball. From NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, "We are hopeful of finishing the Here's an update on restart plans for major sports in this country. season in a safe and responsible manner based on strict protocols now Major League Baseball (MLB) being finalized with public health officials and medical experts."

Status: Unclear. And let's bring in another sport to illustrate MLB's current The Plan: Many, but not all, of the league's 30 teams have reopened their situation. Think of fans at a tennis match. As they watch a rally, their local practice facilities for voluntary player workouts. The numbers of heads swivel as they follow the ball from one side of the net to the other. players at one time in a facility are limited, and those working out have to That's what it feels like to be a baseball fan right now — watching MLB adhere to safety protocols including social distancing and wearing face and its players volley proposals back and forth as they try to agree on an masks except when on the court. Around July 8, the 22 top teams economic plan for restarting. The key ingredients seem to be the number chosen to continue the season will travel to the Orlando, Fla., area for the of games players will play, and how much they'll get paid to play those start of what's expected to be a three-month run to finish off the games. It's understood by all they won't get their full salaries because interrupted season. there certainly won't be a traditional 162-game regular season. But while Teams will train and prepare for the proposed restart date of July 31. All the players want more games which means more money, the owners teams will play eight games before a full playoff schedule begins. The want the opposite. The latest volley, this week, was a reported player NBA Finals will end no later than Oct. 12. offer of an 89 game regular season, starting July 10th, and players would get full prorated salaries. This followed an owner proposal of 76 regular Challenges: Still many, and most have to do with trying to contain a season games and players getting 75% of their prorated salaries. coronavirus outbreak inside the Orlando "bubble." Will the NBA be able to enforce expected player quarantines when they arrive in Orlando — all Baseball fans await the next move, and head swivel. of them in hotels at Walt Disney World? How will the NBA deal with Irony: During the sports shutdown, MLB was winning the unofficial race players who have health issues that might make them more vulnerable? to restart first. Just two weeks after shutting down, players and owners What will happen with older head coaches who might be more at risk? locked down an economic plan to get them through the pandemic. Last The NBA and its player's union reportedly are continuing to talk about month, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred detailed baseball's details of how the bubble plan will work. comprehensive health and safety plan for reopening. National Hockey League (NHL) Since then, however, baseball has been mired in additional labor talks and losing the PR battle as the sides publicly bicker over money. Lots of Status: It's also a go – minus two "small" details. The National Hockey money. And they're bickering at the worst possible time. League hasn't announced a restart date or the two "hub cities" where play will resume. There are ten cities in the running, one to host Western Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle acknowledged that this Conference games and one for the Eastern Conference. Each city will week. have secure arenas, practice facilities, hotels and local transportation for "It's frustrating to have a public labor dispute when there's so much players, coaches and essential staff. hardship," he said on Twitter. "I hate it. But we have an obligation to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says "we anticipate playing over the future players to do right by them. We want to play. We also have to summer and into the early fall." While the uncertainty may be frustrating make sure that future players won't be paying for any concessions we to hockey fans, Bettman says it's important to choose a conservative make." approach. A Creative Plan: Courtesy of WFAN producer Brian Monzo, who tweeted "We're not fixing dates," he said when he unveiled the NHL's plan to this baseball proposal: return, late last month, "because the schedule of our return to play will be "2 game season. Three [designated hitters] in the lineup. Each field has determined both by developing circumstances and the needs of our three hungry lions roaming the outfield. In the 3rd and 9th innings, the players. ball is lit on fire. Every player's stance must be similar to Julio Franco. "Although we're anxious to get back on the ice, we won't do anything until 85% pay." we're assured by medical professionals and relevant government One must think outside the box in baseball. authorities that it's safe and prudent to do so."

The Plan (for real): While a plan for an NBA-type bubble once was The Plan: When it is deemed safe and prudent, the NHL will dive right discussed, it now appears if there is a season, teams would play in their into the playoffs. The regular season is officially over and 24 of the own ballparks with lots of health measures in place. Teams would travel league's 31 teams will compete in a postseason. That's an increase from but would be advised to fly into smaller airports. On the road, players the usual 16 playoff teams. The top four teams in each conference, when would be advised to isolate themselves at hotels. the NHL paused in mid-March, will get first round byes.

As far as dates, both recent proposals have a July 10th start date for the (NFL) regular season. The end dates differ: the player plan for 89 regular Status: The NFL has had a "luxury" other leagues haven't: the pandemic Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour hasn't had an impact on the actual playing of football games. NFL officials continue to say the regular season is a go, in three months. Status: The women's pro golf tour is feeling less optimistic this week. It Although several teams reportedly want the September start pushed was announced one of its major tournaments, the Evian Championship in back to October. France, was canceled for this year. It's scheduled to return in 2021.

"Moving the season back is one option that I know some teams support," The Plan: Four other majors are still scheduled for this year. The says Albert Breer, senior NFL reporter for Sports Illustrated's MMQB. "It Women's British Open in August; the ANA Inspiration in September and would allow for the NFL to observe how other leagues start back up, the Women's PGA Championship in October. The U.S. Women's Open watch them do things right and wrong, and buy more time for all this stuff. was supposed to be held this month, but now is scheduled for December. But the league office hasn't been receptive at all to the idea at this point." Meanwhile, the regular LPGA Tour is scheduled to restart July 23 with a So.... tournament in Ohio.

The Plan: A Sept. 10 regular season start. A Thursday night Tennis extravaganza in Kansas City, with the defending Super Bowl champion Status: Those baseball fans mentioned at the start of this article, Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans. Well, as much as it can be an swiveling their heads back and forth? That's the closest we'll get to extravaganza with no fans in attendance. Which is the plan at this point. tennis, at the top levels of the men's and women's games, at least until Before all that, the off-season has unfolded virtually, including the widely the end of July. The men's top Tour, the ATP, and the women's, the WTA praised NFL Draft. But now teams are starting to prepare for player's have shut down — they'll reportedly update their plans this month. The return to training camps. And the union is advising its players to proceed most prominent casualty among the events canceled? Wimbledon. The cautiously. sport's legendary grass court event, scheduled to begin at the end of this month, was called off for the first time since World War II. Major League Soccer (MLS) The Plan: Two other major championships still are planned. The French Status: A green light for Major League Soccer. Open was rescheduled from May until September; the U.S. Open is scheduled for its original start on Aug. 24. The Australian Open ended in The Plan: Disney World is about to get even more crowded with pro early February, before the coronavirus was rampaging worldwide. Novak athletes. The MLS Is Back Tournament is scheduled to start July 8 and Djokovic won the men's title; 21-year-old Sophia Kenin became the run through Aug. 11, at the resort near Orlando where NBA teams will be youngest Australian Open singles champion since Maria Sharapova won competing as well. in 2008.

All 26 MLS clubs will play in a World Cup-style event that includes a Loss of Star Power: Regardless of whether the men's tour restarts this group stage followed by knockout rounds. And, of course, MLS year, Roger Federer won't be part of it. The most graceful and complete guarantees the tournament "will use extensive medical protocols and a player in the men's game (notice the absence of "arguably") and the comprehensive Covid-19 testing plan developed by infectious disease record 20-time Grand Slam winner, announced he'll skip the rest of this experts." season because he had to have an additional "quick procedure" on his The MLS regular season will then continue after the tournament. ailing right knee. He says he'll be back for the start of the 2021 tour. Still, this year won't be as much fun to watch without him. On top of that, The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) tennis insider Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated says there's talk that the game's other big stars — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams -- Status: Ready to go and excited to be the first professional league back aren't overly enthusiastic about resuming play this year because of the The Plan: The women's professional soccer league returns to the pitch at still present pandemic. the end of the month, beginning June 27, with a 25-game tournament in

Utah. Fans won't be present but nine teams will begin play with eight advancing to the quarterfinals for knockout competition. The final of the KPBS Public Media LOADED: 06.12.2020 NWSL Challenge Cup will be played on July 26.

Missing The Action: at least two stars from the defending World Cup champion U.S. Women's National team reportedly won't play, including women soccer's biggest star, Megan Rapinoe. Her coach with the NWSL's OL Reign says Rapinoe will be a no show. Also, Christen Press, forward with the NWSL's Utah Royals, is not expected to play.

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)

Status: Unclear. The women's pro basketball league was supposed to start its season in mid-May but it was postponed.

The plan: Reports say the league is mulling a 22-game regular season, down from 36 games, starting July 24. According to ESPN, games would be held at one location, the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Playoffs would end in October.

The plan is said to be tentative.

PGA Tour

Status: It's back! The best male golfers in the world are playing in the Charles Schwab Challenge this week at famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. It's the first PGA Tour event since March, when the Players Championship was shut down before it ended.

The Plan: As with all sports, this restart will be notable for the obvious health and safety measures. Players will get daily temperature checks. They'll be required to fill out health questionnaires, use hand sanitizer on the course and socially distance on tee boxes and greens.

Still, players and fans are excited golf is back. Fans watching on TV at least. There won't be spectators for the foreseeable future. And, bad news for casual fans – at the Colonial at least, there'll be no Tiger Woods. He's chosen not to play this reopening event. 1186228 World Leagues News new measures such as salary caps and squad size limits. Discussions with clubs remain ongoing."

Coronavirus pandemic set to cost Premier League clubs £1bn in 2019-20 LOADED: 06.12.2020 - Deloitte

Staff Report

11 Jun

Premier League clubs face a £1bn reduction in their revenues in 2019-20 because of the coronavirus pandemic, says financial services firm Deloitte.

The 20 English top-flight clubs had a combined revenue of more than £5bn for the first time in 2018-19.

But this season has been on hold since March, and the 92 remaining matches will be held behind closed doors.

And Deloitte's Dan Jones expects "significant revenue reduction and operating losses" in European football.

Deloitte says £500m of the reduction for Premier League clubs - in rebates to broadcasters and a loss of matchday revenue - will be "permanently lost", with the remainder "deferred" until 2020-21 if this season and next are completed.

Manchester United said last month that the pandemic had already cost them £28m - but they expect the final figure to be far higher.

Key findings from Deloitte's annual review of football finance

The Premier League clubs' revenues rose to £5.2bn in 2018-19 - up 7% on the previous year.

The 'big five' European leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France) generated a record £15bn in revenue - up 9%.

Premier League clubs' aggregate operating profits fell 5% to £824m.

The 92 Premier League and Football League clubs generated a record £6.2bn in revenue, and contributed £2.3bn in taxes to HMRC (2017-18: £2.1bn).

Premier League clubs made combined pre-tax losses of £165m.

What is the picture in the Football League?

All three divisions of the English Football League - the Championship, League One and League Two - achieved record revenues in 2018-19, topping a combined £1bn for the first time.

But Championship clubs lost a combined £300m, with a ratio of players' wages to turnover of 107%.

Deloitte believes teams in the division should work to a salary cap of 70% of revenue to ensure their survival.

Jones said: "You've got 107% of revenue going out on wages. You can see the problem looming.

"A salary cap is a blunt instrument, but if you can only spend 70% of revenue on salary, and applied that in 2018-19, you take £300m out of the wage bill and wipe out the losses."

Bury - then in League One - were expelled by the EFL in August after a takeover bid collapsed, but Jones says Leagues One and Two were "systemically in a better place than 10 years previously" prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both divisions' regular seasons have been brought to an early conclusion, with the positions decided on a points-per-match basis, although the promotion play-offs could still take place.

An EFL spokesman said: "The EFL has been consulting with its member clubs for some time regarding potential changes to financial and sustainability regulations with the aim of improving the current position in all three divisions.

"These discussions, which commenced prior to the Covid-19 outbreak and have continued throughout the crisis, have included reviews of the divisional cost controls currently in place and the potential introduction of 1186229 World Leagues News PCAC Commissioner John Woods was part of the CCCAA working group that formulated the three scheduling options. The priority, he said, was preserving opportunities for sophomores, particularly those with aspirations of transferring to four-year schools. Southwestern College won’t play football, other contact sports in fall “Unless a miracle happens with a medication or a vaccine in the next month or so, I don’t think we’ll be going in the fall with the major contact sports,” Woods said. “I just don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t see By MARK ZEIGLER it on the horizon. We have every intention of competing in the spring.” JUNE 11, 202011:47 AM That’s assuming schools are financially able to support that many sports at once, given the looming budget cuts from the anticipated shortfall in state funding. College of the Redwoods in Humboldt County announced The California Community College Athletic Association has targeted July last week it is suspending football for the 2020-21 season, no matter 17 to choose a scheduling option for the 2020-21 academic year, but at when it’s played, as part of $475,000 in cuts to athletics. least one local JC is not waiting to make a decision about fall sports. “I’ve been at the community college level just short of 50 years, either as Kindred Murillo, president of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, a coach or administrator,” said Woods, who began as wrestling coach at confirmed the Jaguars will not play football or any other contact sport Palomar College in 1973. “But I’ve never seen anything like this. We’ve during the fall semester, citing “additional health and safety precautions” had challenges. We’ve had recessions, and athletics always comes into because of the high rate of COVID-19 cases in South County. focus when budgets are tight. … Not only are we dealing with the virus, we’re dealing with a budget situation that’s unprecedented in this state. Imperial Valley College, also a member of the nine-school Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, is likely not far behind. Late last month, the IVC “I hope we can survive it.” gymnasium was converted to a federal medical station to handle overflow cases from inundated area hospitals.

And Nick Gehler, athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Miramar The San Diego Union-Tribune LOADED: 06.12.2020 College, put the chances of fall sports happening at the other PCAC programs as “pretty slim” with classes remaining online for the coming semester.

“The reason I say that is the safety of the student-athlete is paramount, and they won’t put anyone in harm’s way,” Gehler said. “You can look at it from a budget standpoint, too, given the tough state of budgets right now, but I think the safety of the student-athletes is at the forefront.”

That doesn’t mean local community colleges won’t play football or other traditional fall sports in 2020-21. It just means they’re at the mercy of the CCCAA’s July 17 deadline to pick one of three scheduling plans based on the state’s reopening status.

If California is in Stage 4, which some experts predict won’t happen for several months, the CCCAA will implement a “conventional” plan. Sports would remain in their normal seasons (although football would not start until Sept. 26) with the lone exception of basketball, which moves to the spring semester in all three plans.

If California is in Stage 3 (which San Diego County is entering this week), the CCCAA would enact the “contact/non-contact” plan that gives the green light to sports with less physical interaction in the fall: cross country, women’s golf, swimming and diving, and women’s volleyball.

The more conservative “contingency” plan is if the state is stuck in Stage 2 (as some counties still are), allowing only cross country and women’s golf to proceed in the fall and moving everything else to spring.

Basketball season would run March 1 to May 22 in the conventional plan and February through April in the two others. Football would also be February through April in those two plans, giving new life to athletes at Southwestern and other community colleges that suspend fall sports.

“It is important to note that spring 2021 is still an option for Jaguar Athletics, and our coaches can encourage our student athletes to focus on their training and academics,” Southwestern’s Murillo, who sits on the CCCAA Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Deferring to the spring will allow college and health professionals to be better prepared to take the needed steps to keep everyone safe.”

Besides eliminating state championships, the number of competition days will be reduced by about 25 percent. For football, that means playing eight or nine games. For basketball, it would be 20 or 21 instead of 28.

“I’m a little old school, with a season starting in November and ending in March,” said Gehler, entering his 15th season as Miramar’s basketball coach. “But at this point, we’ll be happy to have any season. Instead of March Madness, we’ll have May Madness.”

Said longtime Grossmont College men’s basketball coach Doug Weber: “Being online in the fall makes it tough for everybody. Playing in the spring is better than not playing at all.”