SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 05/25/19 1145158 Pump the brakes: Coyotes ownership discussions 1145188 Why Pavel Francouz’s new deal could signal Semyon ongoing, not new Varlamov’s end with the Avalanche 1145189 Avalanche re-sign Pavel Francouz to a one-year deal 1145190 BSN Exclusive: Get to know , the NHL 1145159 believes depth is crucial for Bruins to succeed draft’s best defenseman now 1145191 Avalanche gets their backup 1145160 Missouri native Trent Frederic bides his time with Black Aces 1145161 plays some tough defense on Zdeno Chara’s 1145192 Jake Chelios leaves Red Wings organization for Chinese behalf team in KHL 1145162 Bobby Orr reflects on two Bruins-Blues series, 49 years 1145193 Defenseman Jake Chelios leaves apart for Russia 1145163 Five questions about Bruins-Blues, answered by our hockey writers Oilers 1145164 A closer look at the Blues’ remarkable turnaround this 1145194 Ray Whitney would like to get coaching job season with 1145165 Charlie Coyle’s path led him away from home, but he’s 1145195 Louie DeBrusk is a parent not broadcaster in back to win Final 1145166 Jaroslav Halak embraces role backing up path to the Cup 1145196 Dave Tippett’s roster deployment in Arizona and what it 1145167 Bruins’ Jaroslav Halak takes long journey for a at the might mean for the Oilers Stanley Cup 1145168 Keys to hot streak Bruins riding into Stanley Cup Final 1145169 Bruins’ Cam Neely reflects back on 2011 Stanley Cup 1145197 How North Stars legend Mike Modano landed back in championship Twin Cities 1145170 Bruins' Jake DeBrusk hopes to bust out in Stanley Cup 1145198 ‘It really is nuts’: Charlie Coyle and his wild ride home to Final: 'I have a lot more to give' the Stanley Cup final 1145171 Charlie Coyle opens up about trade from Wild to Bruins 1145172 Bobby Orr: 'I’ve got a ‘B’ tattooed on my arm' Canadiens 1145173 How Cam Neely drew from '88, '90 Bruins while building 1145199 Canadiens sign Rockets leader Alex Belzile to one-year, current Cup team two-way deal 1145174 Neely on winning as Bruins exec: 'If you can't win it 1145200 What the Puck: When will the Canadiens return to glory? wearing skates, it's OK in a suit' 1145175 Chase Rice, Lil Nas X to play Monday's Stanley Cup viewing party in Boston 1145201 ECHL hockey: switch NHL affiliation to 1145176 Could two goals in the Bruins scrimmage spark David Nashville Predators Pastrnak? 1145177 Bruins mock draft 2019 roundup: Who can B's target late in first round? 1145202 Devils’ Damon Severson scored literal last-second to 1145178 Duhatschek Notebook: A clearer picture of the trade help knock teammate Nico Hischier out of World Champ deadline hits and misses 1145203 NHL Draft 2019: The funny way Kyle Palmieri found out 1145179 ‘It really is nuts’: Charlie Coyle and his wild ride home to Devils won the lottery the Stanley Cup final 1145180 The other rebuild: While Bruins improved roster, they overhauled infrastructure for the modern NHL 1145204 What’s next for Islanders after Brock Nelson signing 1145181 Cross-Ice Pass: Similarities between Blues and Bruins 1145205 Islanders lock up Brock Nelson with six-year deal should make for a hard-fought final 1145206 ‘It was a no-brainer’: As the Islanders lock up Brock Nelson, focus moves to 3 other big-name free agents 1145182 Sabres coach Ralph Krueger thrilled by first meeting with Jack Eichel 1145207 25 years later: vows to win Game 6, then 1145183 Inside the NHL: Sam Reinhart's sharp play in World follows through with it Championships is another good sign 1145208 Make no mistake, the Rangers are John Davidson’s team now Flames 1145184 30 Things You Didn’t Know (Or Maybe Forgot) about NHL Flames’ Stanley Cup win in 1989 1145209 NHL Seattle adviser Dave Tippett to leave for the Oilers 1145185 The uniqueness of Matthew Tkachuk and the problems coaching job, report says that arise when assessing his fair market value 1145210 Faces of concussions: NHL’s head-on battle with an epidemic 1145211 The may prove a bigger test for D.J. 1145186 The players most likely to stay with the Hurricanes — and Smith than defence and -killing those most likely to leave Ottawa Senators 1145212 'PERFECT SITUATION FOR ME': Smith has no shortage 1145187 Wolves pull even in conference finals with 2-1 win in of work as he officially begins his role with Senators double overtime in Game 4 Flyers Websites 1145213 Tanner Laczynski, a Flyers prospect growing into a pro at 1145243 The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: A clearer picture of Ohio State the trade deadline hits and misses 1145214 Checking in with Oskar Lindblom, and his Flyers 1145244 The Athletic / The Athletic’s 2019 Stanley Cup final teammates, at the World Championships predictions 1145245 .ca / Truth By Numbers: How the Bruins and Blues got to Stanley Cup Final 1145215 Jacques Martin expected to stay with Penguins after bid 1145246 Sportsnet.ca / 's brilliance gives Huskies for head-coaching gig fails chance at title 1145247 Sportsnet.ca / How much can the afford to pay Tkachuk? 1145216 on the Sharks: For some, this is the final 1145248 Sportsnet.ca / 12 NHL goalies potentially available through farewell trade or free agency 1145217 Busy time ahead for : “I know I have to get to 1145249 Sportsnet.ca / Sean Durzi excelling with Storm after 'wild' work” trade from Maple Leafs 1145218 NHL free agency: Erik Karlsson thanks Sharks in possible goodbye tweet 1145219 Sharks take high road when discussing controversial calls 1145239 German defenceman signed by Jets in playoffs 1145240 Jets should target Kadri: Talented, feisty centre could fill 1145220 How Erik Karlsson could land with the Lightning this prominent role summer

St Louis Blues SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1145221 Dunn stays off the ice as Blues resume practice for Cup Final 1145222 Hochman: Proud of his First Nations roots, Blues' Berube could make Stanley Cup history 1145223 Blues are Vegas underdogs in Stanley Cup Final 1145224 The tale of the Blues' season, as told in hockey pucks mounted on a locker-room wall 1145225 Bruins not only possess big threats, they'll be hard for Blues to score against 1145226 Dunn resumes skating after taking puck to head in Game 3 1145227 Media Views: NBC expects strong ratings from Blues- Bruins matchup 1145228 Marchand appears to avert injury scare in Bruins tuneup 1145229 LeBrun: From his start in the Caps ticket department to Blues GM, ’s earned league-wide respect 1145230 DGB Grab Bag: Stanley Cup preview, schedule complaints and the Blues pull off a Monday Night Miracle 1145231 Cross-Ice Pass: Similarities between Blues and Bruins should make for a hard-fought final 1145232 Lightning’s Adam Erne earns a role with physicality 1145233 How Erik Karlsson could land with the Lightning this summer 1145234 Marlies facing elimination after Game 5 loss Checkers in AHL Eastern final 1145235 Leafs’ Newfoundland farm team playing for ECHL championship 1145236 Marlies facing elimination after Game 5 loss to Charlotte 1145237 Mix of leadership and youth has guided Marlies deep into post-season 1145241 Canucks Under the Microscope: Olli Juolevi 1145242 How the Canucks’ outdated roster construction is undermining their young stars 1145238 Sportsbooks face seven-figure loss if Blues win Stanley Cup 1145158 Arizona Coyotes Chychrun ($4.6 million); and Christian Dvorak ($4.45 million), among others.

An owner with deep pockets could change that for the Coyotes, giving Pump the brakes: Coyotes ownership discussions ongoing, not new Chayka more spending money and spearheading an effort to give the team a sustainable home in Arizona.

Richard Morin It can be exciting to think about, but there is far more work to be done until it can be a reality. Arizona Republic Arizona Republic LOADED: 05.25.2019 Published 6:38 p.m. MT May 24, 2019

It comes around like clockwork for the Coyotes this time of year; rumblings of ownership changes and arena speculation seem to berate them after the end of each NHL regular season.

The latest iteration of the rumors surfaced on Wednesday when Sportsnet’s John Shannon tweeted that there “will be an ownership change in Arizona.”

NHL source confirms there will be an ownership change in Arizona, with the Coyotes. will have a minority position.

— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) May 22, 2019

Let’s pump the brakes for a second.

As The Republic has reported over the last several months, the Coyotes have been seeking creative ownership solutions for quite some time.

Are you a sports fan? Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

According to an NHL source, there is at least one group with whom the Coyotes have had advanced discussions. If the deal were to pan out, majority owner Andrew Barroway would step into a minority role. Barroway became the club’s sole owner in July 2017.

However, there is no indication that an official transaction is imminent, with the source adding it is premature to assume that a deal is close to being finalized. There are still many boxes to check before anything is set in stone.

These situations are far more nuanced than most people realize. Discussions do not necessarily correlate to action as there are countless details to be ironed out. The Coyotes have had talks with a number of parties to this point and each one has been unique in its own way, the source said.

The Coyotes have not commented publicly on the rumors.

It is conceivable that, if a deal is reached relatively soon, the NHL Board of Governors could vote and approve an ownership change before the start of the 2019-20 season.

What new ownership would mean

New ownership might sound negative, but it would more than likely mean the opposite for the Coyotes.

Multiple sources confirmed that the Coyotes have only considered groups that would keep the team in Arizona and work toward finding a long-term arena solution in the Valley, a goal the Coyotes cannot actively accomplish until the ownership situation has been settled.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who has arguably been the Coyotes’ biggest champion over the last 20-plus years, has said publicly that the Coyotes cannot survive playing at Gila River Arena in Glendale.

Sources have maintained that the Coyotes have been actively searching for a new home closer to their main demographic (in and around Scottsdale and downtown Phoenix), although the Coyotes are exploring a number of different options.

There is also the on-ice product to insider. While the Coyotes have improved significantly over the past two seasons, President of Hockey Operations and John Chayka is still on a tight budget that does not have much flexibility.

Per a source, that budget is not expected to grow much for next season, and there are several rostered players who are scheduled for significant raises. They include: Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($8.25 million); Nick Schmaltz ($5.85 million); Niklas Hjalmarsson ($5 million); Jakob 1145159 Boston Bruins Game 7 on the road (2011, in Vancouver). Learning what it took, Neely said, has been invaluable for the younger players, even if they have yet to touch the trophy.

Cam Neely believes depth is crucial for Bruins to succeed now “Unless you go through it, it’s somewhat difficult to explain to them,” Neely said, “but at least [Bergeron et al] have gone through it and can give them some thoughts and ideas how to prepare and what to expect.” By Matt Porter Recall that this was a franchise that lay in the weeds for two years, Globe Staff missing the postseason while trying to spin forward the 2011-13 success. Three Finals in nine years is rare in a salary-cap sport. Only Boston, May 24, 2019, 6:23 p.m. Pittsburgh, and Chicago have had such a run since the cap was implemented in the NHL for 2005-06. The Bruins have done it all under Neely’s watch. Cam Neely has said before, and repeated Friday, that the next-best thing to winning a Stanley Cup in skates is doing so in a suit. “You have to have some luck, but more importantly it’s having good people in place,” he said. “I’m not a micromanager. I want the people we The Bruins president, who spoke to reporters at TD Garden clad in a hire to do their jobs, and if they don’t do their jobs, then we’ll have a white dress shirt and black jacket, did not lift hockey’s Holy Grail when he discussion. was a goal-scoring freight train for the Black and Gold. He has been to three Finals in his nine years on the Bruins masthead, including two in “Or if they’re not doing their jobs to the best of their ability, then we’ll his first three years. In doing so, he has applied the lessons from his have a discussion, not unlike a coach talking to a player. playing days to management. “For me, it’s about trying to find the best people and let them go to work Case in point: He called it “impossible” to win without the kind of four-line, and do their jobs. I think I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of really three-pair, two-goalie depth the Bruins currently possess. great people on the hockey side and a lot of really good people on the business side. “You get to be an age after you played, you’re retired, and you have these ‘what ifs,’ and there’s no question,” said Neely, who reached two “It’s not just about putting out fires. It’s about constant communication, Finals during his time as a player with Boston (1986-96). “We look at the conversations, whether it’s obviously with Don, the coaching staff. That’s years ’88, and ’90 more particularly than ’88. I thought if we had a little bit one of the reasons I like to travel with the team because you have more more depth, we might have had a better chance to win, so those are opportunity to talk with players and coaches than you normally do at things that stick with you for sure.” home.”

Would the Neely-Ray Bourque Bruins have had enough to stop the post- He’ll be traveling to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4, of course. Oilers, who still had Mark Messier and leading It’s a surprise the charge? Maybe . . . if had somehow forgotten he had Petr Klima on the bench. Neely wouldn’t reveal any of the people who might be banner captains for Games 1 and 2, saying the team has several irons in the fire . . . The Nearly 30 years later, Neely has been enjoying the moves coach Bruce NHL is bringing “Old Town Road” to City Hall Plaza. Atlanta’s Lil Nas X, Cassidy is making. He’s also thankful he and a teammate from those old whose hit by that name reached No. 1 on all the major streaming charts days, general manager , have a balanced budget. and is a staple during the Bruins’ pregame warmup, and country artist Embedded video Chase Rice (“Eyes On You”) will perform at the viewing party Monday on the plaza. The event, which is free, opens at 4:30 p.m. Performances Boston Bruins begin at 6. For those without game tickets, the game will be shown there after 8 p.m. … The Massachusetts will induct ✔ Sweeney, former UNH coach Dick Umile, former Norwich coach Michael @NHLBruins McShane, and longtime volunteer Nick Demarco (in the builder’s category) at its June 15 ceremony in Plymouth. The class also includes #NHLBruins president Cam Neely met with the media this morning for a five posthumous inductees: Bruins great Eddie Shore and US Hockey pre-Stanley Cup Final press conference: "We're very fortunate to be in a Hall of Fame members George Brown, John Chase, Jim Fullerton, and city like this that has had success with all the teams." Vic Heyliger. Former NHL power forward Kevin Stevens also will be recognized for his work in helping others in addiction recovery. The 654 deadline to purchase tickets is June 7. For more information, visit 12:26 PM - May 24, 2019 mahockey.org.

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The Bruins, whose offseason priorities include contract extensions for Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen, have flexibility because their three first-line forwards — Patrice Bergeron (cap hit: $6.875 million), David Pastrnak ($6.667 million), and Brad Marchand ($6.125 million) — are signed for at least three more years at below their market value.

The dollars have since gone up, and a young star-in-the-making such as McAvoy could command more dough than Bergeron (who signed in 2013). Carlo will not come cheap, nor will Heinen.

Neely praised his top trio for making sacrifices.

“For me, it says a lot about them as people, and it says a lot about the city to live here and raise a family, and it says a lot about what we’re doing to help them try to win Stanley Cups,” Neely said.

“Players get their money wherever they play, but what else is being offered to them? Not necessarily what they can put in the bank, but how can we make them better players?”

The aforementioned veterans, plus Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, and Tuukka Rask, have CVs of experiences that include winning a Cup in a 1145160 Boston Bruins Following his NHL debut on Jan. 29, Frederic filled in at third-line center until the team traded for Coyle. He appeared in 15 NHL games but didn’t tally any points. The majority of his playing time came in Providence, Missouri native Trent Frederic bides his time with Black Aces where he had 14 goals and 11 assists in 55 games.

With veteran Steven Kampfer waiting in the wings as a defenseman and 23-year-old Karson Kuhlman the assumed choice at forward, Frederic is By Nicole Yang the most likely option at center should one become sidelined.

Boston.com Staff Even if he logs zero minutes of playing time, however, Frederic is hoping to relish the run — especially given the teams involved. His dad told him May 24, 2019, 5:52 p.m. St. Louis is “buzzing,” awaiting Games 3 and 4.

“Just to follow along has been pretty sweet,” he said. “Hopefully, I get a Trent Frederic played 15 games in the NHL this season. chance to travel, go home, get to see my family a little bit, and watch the games. I’m pretty excited.” Once the Bruins’ opponent for the Stanley Cup Final was confirmed, prospect Trent Frederic said he started to receive text messages Boston Globe LOADED: 05.25.2019 expressing torn allegiances.

“Who should I root for?” his friends and family asked.

That question should be a no-brainer. Boston, of course.

But Frederic, a St. Louis native whose family lives about 10 minutes from the Enterprise Center, didn’t have an answer, leaving the decision to the inquirer.

“It’s up to them, right?” he said.

Unlike Massachusetts natives Charlie Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk, and Chris Wagner, Frederic’s Missouri roots give him reason to support the Bruins’ opponent, the St. Louis Blues. The 21-year-old center will have to curb his fandom, after pulling for his hometown Blues to prevail against the San Jose Sharks. Their emphatic, series-clinching 5-1 victory in Game 6 set up a matchup between two clubs central to Frederic’s hockey career — and created a twisted win-win situation for his friends and family.

“I obviously was rooting for the Blues to make it far, and now it’s Blues- Bruins,” said Frederic, who was selected 29th overall by the Bruins in the 2016 NHL Draft. “It’s unreal.”

His background isn’t the only reason the upcoming series could feel a bit odd. As a member of the Black Aces, a select group of recalled for the postseason run, Frederic only will take the ice during the Stanley Cup if a player suffers an injury.

It’s somewhat of an odd, albeit imperative, position, preparing for an opportunity that could be right around the corner but also could never happen. And if it does, it’s the result of a teammate’s misfortune. Amid the slightly awkward undercurrent, Frederic said he keeps his focus on being ready to jump in whenever his number is called.

“It’s a little bit weird, and you obviously don’t want anybody to get hurt,” Frederic said. “You just want the team to win. It’s good for the organization.”

Besides the fact that he’s living in a hotel and training in a different arena, Frederic said his weeks in Boston have been pretty similar to those in Providence. After their AHL season ended on April 26 with a loss to the in the Atlantic Division semifinals of the Calder Cup, he and the rest of the Black Aces picked up right where they left off — first at Providence College and now at Warrior Ice Arena.

Like the Bruins, their time is spent watching film, working out, and skating. But there’s not a ton of overlap between the two squads. The Black Aces don’t practice with the Bruins, nor do they travel for road contests. Thursday’s intrasquad scrimmage represented one of the few collaborative instances.

“It’d be great to incorporate them into a practice a little more, but we have our own sort of goal and agenda right now that we can’t be worried about that part of it,” coach Bruce Cassidy said.

“We try to kind of stay out of their way, but we see them around,” added Frederic. “When it’s their time to focus, we just try to get out of their way.”

Still, general manager Don Sweeney emphasized the importance of the Black Aces.

“We’ve tried to make them understand that they’re not out of sight or out of mind,’’ Sweeney said. “At any point in time, a player can find himself in that stage.” 1145161 Boston Bruins

Bobby Orr plays some tough defense on Zdeno Chara’s behalf

By Dan Shaughnessy

Globe Staff

May 24, 2019, 2:33 p.m.

Bobby Orr does not appreciate sports talk radio jockeys and fans who characterize 42-year-old Zdeno Chara as a defensive liability for the Bruins.

“I’ve heard a lot of crap recently about Chara, about Z,’’ Orr said during a lengthy interview with the Globe Friday. “Are you kidding me?

“I think if you were to ask these critics what they thought of the Bruins coaches, everyone would say they’ve been outstanding. Well, Z is the top ice guy, one or two. He kills all the penalties. When he’s on the ice, there’s just something different.

“Ask the other team. Ask Charlie McAvoy what it’s like to play with him. Ask Brandon Carlo.

“Is he as fast as he used to be? No. That happens. You don’t run as fast as you used to run. But to criticize Z is totally outrageous.

“Do you think the coaches would be playing him if they knew or thought that he was going to hurt them? Come on. If you don’t like a player, that’s fine. People used to criticize me because they didn’t like me. That’s fine.

“But this guy has been all-world. He’s a big body and you don’t want to lose him, and I think it’s outrageous when I hear these people criticize him.

“He’s not as fast as he used to be, but he’s still a very, very important part of this team. Just ask the guys that play with him. Ask the guys that play against him. Ask them how different it is when he is on the ice.

“There’s no messing around when the big guy is on the ice, and I get very upset — check his plus-minus. Come on!

“Some people say, ‘Well, he plays with the top line.’ That’s bull. His plus- minus is the best on the team. Come on. Stop it right now.’’

Boston Globe LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145162 Boston Bruins them. I think Cam [Neely] and [Don] Sweeney have done a really good job. [Bruce] Cassidy has done a hell of a job getting everyone to believe. He’s got them buying into his system.’’

Bobby Orr reflects on two Bruins-Blues series, 49 years apart Does Orr think the long layoff will be a problem?

“I think the Bruins will be focused,’’ he says. “They’ll be ready. And now By Dan Shaughnessy the Blues have six days off. With all the talk, I think this Bruins team will be even more focused and they’ll be fine.” Globe Staff Orr will be at Game 1 Monday. He will not be walking by his statue on the May 24, 2019, 2:23 p.m. way into the Garden.

“I haven’t walked by it in a long time,’’ he says. “Once in a while, I would drive by it when it was at the other end, before the construction. I get a lot Bronzed and beautiful, forever frozen in time, Bobby Orr soars through of photos from friends who are in front of it, but that’s not for me. the air above Portal Park, just a few feet from Causeway Street near the new entrance to the Boston Garden. Fans will stream past the statue and “Forty-nine years ago,” he says. “Unbelievable. We could say, ‘It seems maybe pause for a photo on their way in Monday night when the Bruins like yesterday.’ Well, it doesn’t seem like yesterday, but it doesn’t seem open their Stanley Cup Final series against the St. Louis Blues. that long ago.

It is the most famous moment in Bruins history, and a couple of years “My gosh. I do remember a lot. We used to stay at the Hilton in Lynnfield. ago was officially voted the second-greatest moment in NHL history It was so hot that day, Mother’s Day, remember that? And I believe (some stupid five-goal game won out). It represents the Derek [Sanderson] was in a tuxedo. Big Bad Bruins of the 1970s, and the last time the Blues were in the Stanley Cup Final. “But I remember that Sunday, absolutely. Oh my gosh. In overtime, [coach] Harry [Sinden] started Swoop [Wayne Carleton], Derek, and Photos and video replays of the goal are ubiquitous, and everyone from [Eddie] Westfall. Probably our best defensive lineup. Harry just wanted Ted Williams to Blues goalie Glenn Hall at one time or another teased everybody to settle down and have a good first shift.” Orr by asking, “Is that the only goal you ever scored?’’ Forty seconds into the shift, history happened. And 49 years later, Orr Does the great Bobby Orr ever tire of seeing the grainy video? still hasn’t touched the ground.

“Well, I don’t come home at night and say, ‘Well, let’s throw it on,’ ’’ he Boston Globe LOADED: 05.25.2019 says with a laugh.

Orr won’t have to fire up the old DVD or videocassette over the next couple of weeks. NBC and every other sports outlet in North America will have the moment ready for constant replay.

“Yes, I see it sometimes, but I don’t look for it,’’ Orr says. “That was a great time for hockey in Boston. It had been a long time since we’d won here for our fans and our teammates. There’s so much attention to it now.

“We’ve lost some of the guys — Johnny Pie [McKenzie] and Doakie [Gary Doak] and Billy Speer. I wish the boys were all still here. I still see a lot of the guys, so it’s nice to have that wonderful memory from 49 years ago, and these guys and fans now will have their own memories for 50 years from now. So that’s great.’’

Orr, now 71, is a player agent who sometimes feels conflicted when he represents players on opposing teams. He represented Patrick Sharp of the Blackhawks when the Bruins played Chicago in the 2013 Cup Final. This year is easier. His only client is Charlie McAvoy of the Bruins.

“I’ve got a ‘B’ tattooed on my arm — who do you think I’m rooting for?’’ Orr says with a laugh (there is no tattoo).

“I’ve watched the Bruins a lot this year,’’ he continues. “I’m really impressed with every player. The [Matt] Grzelcyk kid. They played when they’re called upon. Connor Clifton, when they put him in. On and on.

“I don’t think [Kevan] Miller will be back, but he was a solid player. John Moore. [Steven] Kampfer. Everybody contributes, and that’s what it takes to win. That’s what’s happening. They really have been solid and they’ve played some tough hockey. I’m really happy for them.

“I’m excited for what the Bruins have done. For today’s Bruins and today’s fans. We had our time 49 years ago with St. Louis. I still have wonderful memories. And I am happy for them all now.

“I think this series features two of the best stories in hockey this year. I don’t think the Bruins were picked to be in the Stanley Cup Finals. And they’ve come through injuries. And you look at St. Louis and they were in last place in the league. They’re a big team and they played really physical against the Sharks. So we have two very nice stories.

“Tuukka [Rask] is the best that I’ve ever seen him play. To win, you need your big guys to score, but the third and fourth lines for the Bruins have been really good. That gives a team energy. Charlie Coyle was a great deal for the Bruins. Everybody is contributing. Their defense has been solid. They just play solid hockey.

“The Columbus series was a tough series, but the Bruins hung in. This series is going to be a tough series. I love the team. I’m really happy for 1145163 Boston Bruins Sullivan: Hard to imagine anyone being as good as Rask has been this postseason, but give Binnington credit too. You don’t get to this point without great goaltending. However, I think there are a few things that Five questions about Bruins-Blues, answered by our hockey writers might — might — give Rask an edge. He has Stanley Cup experience. And he has some motivation from understanding this might be his last Concerns about Boston’s long break? Edge between Tuukka Rask and shot. Jordan Binnington? Key on-ice matchup to watch? Who is St. Louis’s agitator? Unsung heroes to watch? Dupont: Which is not to dismiss the fine work Binnington has turned in thus far. But it’s his first time on this stage and he is a rookie. None of which seemed to work against Pittsburgh and Matty Murray three years ago, right? By Andrew Mahoney Sullivan: Rask’s head seems like it’s in such a good place, too. He’s Globe Staff been so unaffected by everything, missed calls, disallowed goals etc. May 24, 2019, 8:20 a.m. Porter: Interesting conversation, considering a few points: Rask has been insane statistically, he has the experience edge as Kevin noted (Rask’s 2013 and Tim Thomas’s 2011 were .940 save percentage performances; We had a roundtable discussion with Bruins reporters Matt Porter and Rask’s current .942 tops both). But Rask broke Carolina, a team that Kevin Paul Dupont, as well as columnist Tara Sullivan, to answer a few didn’t finish as well as Columbus (or certainly Toronto). Binnington really questions about the upcoming Stanley Cup Final with the St. Louis Blues. settled in against San Jose, allowing two goals in the final three games, and faced some pretty good snipers in Dallas and Winnipeg over the first Q. The Bruins haven’t played since May 16. Any concerns that they will two rounds. He, like Rask, appears to be unflappable. be too rusty? Dupont: I also like the fact Rask should feel he has something to prove, Dupont: Almost impossible to predict, because they’ve never had a layoff or perhaps to correct. Any goalie, any player, wants a Cup to be part of of this length. The closest would have been during an Olympic break. his legacy. But he should have it as extra motivation, given his age, and Sullivan: I’ve found it kind of funny how much this question seems to given that he almost got there in ’13 and fell two wins short. And just incense Bruins fans, as if it’s an insult to the team to wonder if they’ll missed playing in a Game 7, if not for the ugly 17-second stretch in have to shake off some rust after 11 days between games. How could Game 6 when the Blackhawks struck twice to erase a deficit and then they not be rusty? Athletes are creatures of routine, and this schedule is clinch the Cup — at the Garden. anything but routine. However, I think this team has shown that even if Q. What is the key on-ice matchup to watch (beyond goalies)? they do come out a bit flat, or on the flip side, a bit too hyped, they know how to adjust and find their balance. Dupont: Will be interesting to see how each coach uses his No. 1 defensive pairings. Reason: Both clubs enter the Final with [at least] 18 Porter: I think they expect their first few periods to be a bit off-kilter, but different goal scorers. [Note: The Bruins have 19.] they also think St. Louis will deal with the same. It’s the Stanley Cup freakin’ Final. They shouldn’t have trouble summoning the energy — Porter: I love Bergeron against Ryan O’Reilly. Two of the game’s best perhaps they’ll have too much of it. I think the series will settle in after two-way centers, both killers in the faceoff dot. Do they face each other? Game 1, perhaps by the end of it. Can their coaches get them away from each other? O’Reilly will be looking to get to Bergy’s level. Can he? Sullivan: There might be rust on both sides too, no? Sullivan: Right. Who does Chara match up with? Does his injury status Dupont: Gut read: the Bruins will need at least one game to get back concern you guys? their mojo. It should be easiest for Tuukka Rask, because goalies generally don’t need as much time to get back their legs. Bigger issue for Related: What are the Bruins up against in the Stanley Cup Final vs. the a tender is to have his time and “feel” in the crease, and I think he can Blues? get that in practices and scrimmages leading up to the opener. But a different deal for the 18 skaters, who have to find their way back on the Dupont: So, the Bruins have Chara and McAvoy as their No. 1 shutdown highway and have to get accustomed again to hitting — both giving and unit, but against what line? All four lines score for the Bluenotes. The receiving. biggest threat is the Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko trio. But then there is O’Reilly between David Perron and Sullivan: The intrasquad scrimmage is certainly unusual, but unusual Sammy Blais. Overall I am more curious about how the defensive D units times call for creative solutions. Seems like a good idea to me just to give get used (or abused) than, say, line-to-line matching. the players a chance to follow the schedule of a game day, from morning ’til night time. Sullivan: As KPD pointed out, the depth of both teams makes this very interesting from a matchup standpoint, no? Bruins had that so much in Porter: Vets like Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Tuukka their favor the last few rounds, getting fourth-line scoring/energy from Rask. Energy/physical guys like Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari, Connor KPD fave Sean Kuraly, etc. Maybe not so much of an advantage in the Clifton. Heck, sportswriters. Everyone benefits from a bit of a break. Pros Final? know how to ramp it up. Dupont: The Bruins have their offensive versatility, too, which will have Dupont: I give the Blues a slight edge here, because the Bruins had to St. Louis coach Craig Berube deciding how to use his top defensive wait an extra five days before the Blues clinched. And slight edges are pairings: -Jay Bouwmeester; Joel Edmundson-Alex important in the playoffs. It could prove enough for the Blues to take the Pietrangelo. Based on what we saw as the first three rounds played out, first game. Berube can’t leave his No. 3 pairing (Carl Gunnarson-Robert Bortuzzo) to cover the third line with Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Danton Sullivan: As the rust story goes, however, I think Rask is the most Heinen. interesting to watch, only because he was in such an obvious zone. Sullivan: So maybe the key on-ice matchup is actually off the ice. Bruce Dupont: Tuukka was on it, no question. I just don’t see him slipping Cassidy vs. Craig Berube: How to use your D pairings. because of rest/rust. Porter: Another critical matchup: Bruins’ 34 percent power play against Q. Goalies Jordan Binnington and Tuukka Rask have both been at the the Blues’ penalty kill. Likely Boston’s most significant edge. top of their game. Is that a wash? Or does one team have the edge in net? Sullivan: As someone covering their first Bruins Stanley Cup run, watching Bergeron on the power play has been a particular joy. St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington went 24-5-1 with an NHL- leading 1.89 GAA and a .927 save percentage. Dupont: The Final, because of the intensity, often presents unexpected scenarios and story lines. Not to mention the injury factor. With the Dupont: Edge here to Rask. I am a big believer in experience helping and layoffs — players back in action from near standing starts — he’s been here before, in 2013. Contrary to the lasting image, he played hamstrings/groins could be point of concern, though I am sure trainers on very well throughout the ’13 playoffs, including the Final. both sides are working with players and coaching staff to mitigate the Dupont: I’ll go with Matt Grzelcyk on the Bruins. He has gained risk. confidence through the the first three rounds has shown he can chip in a few goals. Young, fresh(er) legs, a surprisingly good shot. Does not log Porter: Cassidy feels St. Louis is similar to Carolina and Columbus in big minutes, but shows up at interesting times. I also think Connor how they defend the neutral zone in a penalty kill situation (a 1-3, Clifton’s free wheeling teases some of that out of Grzelcyk. pressuring with one forechecker). He sees St. Louis, with its big, heavy defense that plays closer to the net, as a different challenge than Porter: Grzelcyk. Third-pair D who defends as well as a 5-9, 174-pound Carolina and Toronto, whose D allowed space between the slot and net guy can in the rugged playoffs, excellent skater, scored timely goals, (Boston was able to win battles there and score). Unless either team played top-pair minutes in Game 4 when Chara was out. makes big adjustments, Boston could keep its power play production going by finding seams through the middle. We might see more of those I’ll go with Danton Heinen, too. Doesn’t show up much on the scoresheet, cross-ice one-timers that look so pretty. but great defensively, has played both sides of all lines (except Marchand’s first left wing spot) and makes plays. A lot of “third assists” The Blues will look to slow down the Bruins top line of David Pastrnak, from him. Smart. Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand. My St. Louis hero is any fan who’s been going to games for 50 years and The Blues will look to slow down the Bruins top line of David Pastrnak, is now enjoying the hell out of this run. Much respect. Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand.(JOHN TLUMACKI/GLOBE STAFF() Sullivan: Does Jaroslav Halak get unsung hero award for entire season, allowing Rask to be so well rested for the playoff run? Loved that Rask Sullivan: Interesting — hadn’t thought of that side effect of the layoff but made a point of including him in the celebration for ECF clincher. Class so true. That’s the sort of thing I wonder if they spoke to other teams (i.e. move. the Patriots) about managing across a long layoff. Cassidy has been pretty good this postseason about rolling with the punches. Dupont: I’ll go with Ivan Barbashev, the 23-year-old Moscovite center/wing. He has picked up five points thus far this postseason. Solid- Dupont: Glad Ports mentioned power plays. Yes, huge factor. If the plucky fourth-liner who works with Alex Steen and Oskar Sundqvist. Bruins can get right back on the dime, the power play alone can win the Berube loves the trio. They typically are out there for the game-opening series for them. Such a potent power play also forces some cautiousness shift (sometimes only briefly). He is the youngest of the bunch and a legit into the opponent — fearing of getting burned. I don’t anticipate the Blues threat, despite unimpressive numbers. will take the ill-advised number of offensive zone minors that the Canes accumulated in Round 3. Two lasting no-nos in hockey: goalies who give Porter: He and Sundqvist are a great penalty kill duo, too. up shortside goal and skaters who pick up stupid minors in the attacking Dupont: Agreed, Tara. Halak is among Don Sweeney’s best free agent zone. signings in his four summers as Boston GM. He missed badly with Matt Dupont: To add to another good Ports point: The six defensemen who Beleskey and overpaid on David Backes. But Halak was solid in the early dressed in the Game 6 clincher vs. San Jose all were 6 feet 2 inches or going when Rask needed 2-3 months to get his game on track. Not only bigger. Topping out with the 6-6 Parakyo (a Brandon Carlo fav, by the bought time for Rask to get it together, but gives lineup a comfort factor, way). if he does get pressed into duty in the Final due to a Rask injury.

Dupont: The attack point for the Bruins on the St. Louis D will be Boston Globe LOADED: 05.25.2019 footspeed. Boston forwards might try to work a little more east-west into their attack, to try to get the big St. Louis D men off balance. If you see some slip ‘n falls back there, it could mean Boston forwards are forcing it. Otherwise, the choice is popping the puck to the rear wall, or on net, and trying to overpower some big lads back there. Tough work.

Q. Is there anyone on the Blues’ roster that will get under the Bruins’ skin, a la Brad Marchand?

Sullivan: Well — as KPD pointed out, both teams got through to this point without a single five-minute fighting major, so even if instigators exist, will anyone bite?

Porter: No one on STL (or BOS) has taken a major at all this postseason. I suppose STL did something to buzz off San Jose . . . the top three penalty-takers in the playoffs are Sharks.

Dupont: Yet to hear much from Marchand this postseason in his role as chief agitator. Always a possibility, I guess, but he has really tempered his act. But always worth monitoring.

Porter: Good thought, Dupes. The Bruins, though Chara and Brandon Carlo are Redwoods, are one of the smallest teams in the playoffs. Wondering if Kevin Miller/Chris Wagner absences will hurt, though the B’s haven’t lacked physicality.

Dupont: B’s really will miss Miller in this round. Could use his size in the back end, and I really liked what I saw of him with Matt Grzelcyk on the third pair. A force. Not the same with the Grzelcyk-Clifton duo. But Clifton does dish out some good thumps. I doubt he’ll back off now.

Sullivan: The agitator question is much easier for St. Louis to answer. If the rest of the country has an overall case of Boston sports fatigue, there is a very specific and targeted ire directed at Marchand. No one outside of Boston wants to see him win anything. They won’t even acknowledge that he has, indeed, tempered his act this year, even with an unseen headslap and a few errant stick pokes.

Q. Name some unsung heroes to watch in this series?

Sullivan: I’ll take the layup here and go with Cassidy’s choice from his presser earlier this week: Torey Krug. Done everything asked and more. So. Many. Minutes. 1145164 Boston Bruins “To see that every day,” Berube told reporters in St. Louis, “it doesn’t change quick enough. It’s just a negative effect.”

On Tuesday night, amid the on-ice glee, Maroon duly noted that it was A closer look at the Blues’ remarkable turnaround this season Binnington’s immediate success, including a 25-save shutout over the Flyers Jan. 7 in his first start, that provided the impetus for the turnaround. The rest of the lineup grew more comfortable and confident By Kevin Paul Dupont by the game, according to Maroon.

Globe Staff Berube has imbued his bunch with solid game-planning and structure, confidence, and will, the latter of which he stored in 50-gallon drums in May 24, 2019, 12:46 p.m. his playing days with five NHL teams — most of his time spent as a Capitals left winger (no, he did not play for Bruce Cassidy in Washington). The rock-jawed Berube fought 258 times across 17 The Blues, cream of the NHL’s expansion crop in the late 1960s, were seasons. There were only 226 fights in the entire NHL in 2018-19. three-time Stanley Cup finalists in their first three years of existence. Rarely, though, were things quite as fallow for the franchise as they were As for “Gloria,” the song that promises to drive Bruins fans loony over at the start of this January, when they stood 15-18-4, last in the Original these final 4-7 games, it became a thing the night of Jan. 6, less than 24 31. hours before Binnington made his first start. Like many warm and fuzzy hockey stories, it began in South Philadelphia, at a private club, The “I don’t have answers anymore,” veteran winger Pat Maroon told a St. Jacks NYB, less than a mile from the Flyers’ home rink, the Wells Fargo Louis Post-Dispatch reporter amid the free fall to the cellar. “It’s just kind Center. To know the area is to know that warm and fuzzy left town long of embarrassing, to be honest with you.” before was serving his expansionist Flyers hot cocoa on cold winter nights. That same collection of Blues, sparked by a last-ditch effort to give 25- year-old rookie goalie Jordan Binnington his first NHL start in midseason, A few Blues players, including defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, were at will face the Bruins in the start of the Stanley Cup Final Monday night. Jacks that night, watching an NFL playoff game, when the DJ reached throwback mode and played “Gloria.” It is the Blues’ first trip to the Final since 1970, when they were swept by the Bruins, and they enter as the only club in the post-expansion era (50 “A catchy song,” Bortuzzo later told TSN’s Frank Seravalli. years-plus) to reach the Final after being last in the standings after the 20-game mark of the regular season. Bortuzzo and his Blues buddies instantly were rocking to the glory of “Gloria,” noted Seravalli, and at one point Bortuzzo proclaimed to “This team is relentless,” an ebullient Maroon said during an NBC teammate Alexander Steen, “This is our jam!” Sports interview immediately after the Blues clinched their berth with Tuesday’s win over San Jose, “and we’ll continue to be relentless.” The next night, Binnington submitted his shutout and the beat was on. Across one stretch from Jan. 23 to Feb. 19, the Blues went on a league- The stunning resurgence, which saw the Blues finish the regular season best 11-game winning streak, and they finished out the regular season by with 99 points, borrows amply from the old English rhyme, “Something going 38-19-6 from the time Berube took over the bench in November. Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, a Sixpence in your Shoe.” The remarkable St. Louis Blues, still in search of the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, are on the run now, Gloria. ■ Olde — “Gloria,” a hit tune by Laura Branigan in 1982, back when cassettes were the thing, was adopted as the club’s rally song at the start Boston Globe LOADED: 05.25.2019 of January, before the good times began to roll. For Game 6 vs. the Sharks, all event staff at Enterprise Center in St. Louis wore “Gloria” name tags.

■ New — Binnington began the season No. 4 on the club’s goalie depth chart. With absolutely nothing else perking but the dressing room coffee pot, interim coach Craig Berube popped the ex-Providence Bruin in net, and he promptly resurrected the season with his 24-5-1 record, including five shutouts, over the second half.

■ Borrowed — Berube, a former pugilist with 3,149 penalty minutes on his NHL rap sheet, was borrowed from his associate coaching role and promoted to bench boss when head coach Mike Yeo was fired six weeks into the season after a lackluster 7-9-3 start.

■ Blue — The color of that playful, iconic musical note on the front of every St. Louis sweater. Also, things don’t get much bluer than 15 wins in the first 37 games.

■ Sixpence in your shoe — General manager Doug Armstrong, after his club failed to reach the playoffs last season, invested heavily in a roster upgrade, particularly up front, last July. His trade for Ryan O’Reilly and acquisitions of free agent forwards David Perron, Tyler Bozak, and Maroon came with a $70.25 million payroll commitment, not to mention a season cap hit of $18.25 million. Little wonder, as US Thanksgiving approached, that Armstrong gave Yeo the heave-ho.

Binnington and Berube have proven, by far, to be the most significant factors in the fast-forward Missouri makeover.

Loaned to the Baby B’s in 2017-18 when he balked at an ECHL assignment, Binnington actually has been even more important to the Blues than Tuukka Rask has been to the Bruins. No. 1 Jake Allen had made 14 consecutive starts when Berube popped the rookie, the No. 88 pick in the 2011 draft, in the net.

By that time, the Blues looked so down and out that Berube had ordered a halt to the daily posting of NHL standings on the dressing room wall. The numbers were too hurtful on eyes and pride. 1145165 Boston Bruins Four wins stand between not only the Bruins and a championship, but Coyle and bringing a Cup to his hometown — or at least, nearby his hometown of Weymouth.

Charlie Coyle’s path led him away from home, but he’s back to win He had some runs with the Wild, but never quite like this, and never quite the experience either.

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected] “We’re lucky to be here,” Coyle said. “Let’s just keep this thing going.”

Boston Herald Boston Herald LOADED: 05.25.2019

May 24, 2019 at 8:51 PM

A hair over three months ago, Charlie Coyle was hoping to make a last push for the postseason to get another chance to compete in the .

It wasn’t with his hometown team, but the Minnesota Wild, where he had been in the playoffs five years previous. The Wild were on the outside looking in, trying to crack a competitive Central Division.

Then he got the call.

He still would be battling for a playoff spot, but it would be with the Bruins.

“It’s been a blast,” Coyle said. “We accomplished some goals, but there’s more to come, there’s the big one to come. We’ve hit every one so far. It’s crazy how fast it’s been too. That’s what happens when you’re having fun, it flies by. You just try to enjoy it every day. Even practice, it’s a good mood and positive vibes. It’s been a lot of fun with this team.”

Coyle was traded to the Bruins in time to face the Blues at the end of a successful West Coast trip, where the Bruins extended their point streak to 19 games. They made the move for him a week before the trade deadline, while the team was in Vegas, shipping Ryan Donato to the Wild.

It wasn’t easy for the Weymouth native to get acclimated at first. There was so much chemistry established in the room, being the new guy has its challenges.

Once he had someone with something in common, though, Coyle felt at ease enough to elevate his game.

“It was actually kind of nice for Marcus Johansson to come a few days later,” Coyle said. “That kind of helped me to have another new guy come in, so I was only the new guy for a couple days, which was nice. That really did help, we lived in the same building for a bit so we would drive together and talk. It was nice to have someone here to go through that with.”

Coyle’s offense didn’t pick up until later, not scoring his first goal as a Bruin until 12 games into his tenure.

Some of that was adjusting to a new team and getting his feet under him, but once he felt at ease, he began to take off, and just in time for the first- round series with Toronto.

“You always think about what it’s going to be,” he said. “They were on a big winning streak when I came in, and you don’t want to be, like you don’t want to diminish anything. You want to play your game and add to that. They were all so welcoming and helped me get acclimated and comfortable.”

The Bruins sought a third-line center all season with varying success, from slotting Sean Kuraly a spot higher in the lineup to using a couple of young players. Once they had an established player such as Coyle, the rest seemed to fall into place.

That helped lineup depth, and as the rest of the team thrived with cemented roles, Coyle had time to find his game.

Turns out that’s been a piece of a Stanley Cup Final contending team, which is what he was thinking all along.

“When I got traded here, it’s what you first thought of,” Coyle said. “It’s the Bruins, a good team, they’re really hot right now. The potential is there for the playoffs and a run. I thought they had the team to do it so I was really fortunate to land here. That’s been the mindset of everyone in here before, and as soon as I got here, that’s what you think of.” 1145166 Boston Bruins

Jaroslav Halak embraces role backing up path to the Cup

By MARISA INGEMI | [email protected]

Boston Herald

May 24, 2019 at 7:45 PM

Jaroslav Halak has more than just a front row seat for the Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup.

The B’s backup hasn’t seen a second of action in the postseason while starting goalie Tuukka Rask has taken the reins and played arguably the best hockey of his career.

Halak has played a major role in making that possible.

“He played excellent for us, picked us up a number of times this year, when we were basically a two-headed monster in net,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Both guys, I think they had very similar numbers, Halak’s might have even been better in the regular season. Kudos to him. Tuukka has taken the ball and run with it in the playoffs. We didn’t know how that would play out, we were hoping we would get consistent goaltending every night. We have. But he was a big reason, Jaro.”

Halak hasn’t seen the ice and likely — if all goes well — will end the postseason without a moment of action. It doesn’t mean he’s not doing everything he can to be prepared when the moment comes.

“You just practice,” he said. “Regular practice like whenever. You don’t want to overdo it too much, just stay in the moment.”

There were times in the regular season when Halak was the Bruins’ best goalie. While Rask missed some time or wasn’t as sharp in the first part of the season, the Bruins had security knowing Halak could carry them for a bit.

He finished with a .937 5-on-5 save percentage, better than Rask’s .927. Halak’s save percentage went down the more he played as he accumulated more wear and tear, but that’s when Rask, suddenly well- rested, started playing well and took the Bruins on an extended run.

The rest of the squad hardly forgot how much Halak meant as the season went on, though.

“I know Jaro very well. We have a great friendship,” Zdeno Chara said earlier in the postseason. “He works hard. He’s always dedicated to be one of the first guys in the room and in the gym, doing the extras. He’s a big competitor. He competes and works hard. Great guy.”

Halak knew what role he would have when he got to Boston. Push Rask, challenge for some more starts, and he did just that.

From the bench, though, and at practice — he was sharp for the Black Team in the Bruins’ night scrimmage Thursday in their 5-2 unofficial win — Halak can keep pushing the B’s to get better during their run.

With 11 days of rest before facing the Blues, preparation might be the most important aspect of all, and it’s what Halak has helped the Bruins do best the entire postseason.

“So far it’s been great,” he said. “We get a goal to get to the finals and win a Cup. We’re four wins away, but it’s the same thing for St. Louis. So it’s going to be hard for both sides. The leadership here will make guys ready for Game 1, and same thing for them. They’ve been playing really good hockey, so we have to be ready and can’t give them anything.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145167 Boston Bruins steamrolled in four games by and the Rimouski Oceanic in Round 2. Halak stopped 156 shots in those four games.

“He did a great job, he was a great competitor,” Jodoin said. “He had to Bruins’ Jaroslav Halak takes long journey for a shot at the Stanley Cup make an adjustment to North American hockey, but he did that. He was a Bruins’ backup keeper had his first prolonged taste of North American very good teammate. He sometimes had a funny character, but he’s a hockey in Maine goalie, and goalies can be different.”

Through the ranks

By JUSTIN PELLETIER | [email protected] Halak had a hard time reconciling his feelings, moving back and forth between ECHL Long Beach and AHL Hamilton in the Canadiens system Boston Herald the following season.

PUBLISHED: May 24, 2019 at 7:44 pm | UPDATED: May 24, 2019 at “We used to have discussions,” Champagne said. “We used to talk and I 7:54 PM would tell him, ‘Bear down, take the grind and one day you’ll be happy.’ It’s a test, it’s a test from teams that want to see how badly you want it.

Either you pack it in or you keep moving.” Jaroslav Halak’s best save of the postseason for the Bruins has been a Halak kept moving. dandy glove stop on a deflected puck — into the team’s bench. “We had him projected for the East Coast League,” Melanson told the His reflexes still were on point, despite being firmly stapled to the pine for Lewiston Sun Journal in 2006, “but he pushed so hard, we had to notice the team’s playoff run, and he saved a member of the training staff from him.” a nasty lump. The following season, Halak started as the AHL Bulldogs’ No. 2 goalie. That he’s seen no game action in 17 contests this postseason appears to By the end of the season, he had played 16 games in the National be of little consequence to the Slovakian-born netminder, who was a Hockey League. perfect 1A complement to starter Tuukka Rask during the regular season. In 2009-10, Halak nearly made the unthinkable happen in Montreal. With Carey Price injured, Halak led the Habs on an unexpected run to the Halak posted a 22-11-4 record this season with a 2.34 GAA and .922 Eastern Conference Final before the team bowed out to the Flyers. save percentage with five shutouts. When Rask needed a break, Halak was there. Halak and Price both were restricted free agents that summer, and there was a legitimate debate — among the fans, at least — about which “Tuukka was the first one to acknowledge how important Jaroslav was,” goalie to retain. Montreal chose Price, and traded Halak to St. Louis. Bruins GM Don Sweeney said earlier this postseason. “We were very respectful of the position itself knowing that we needed to find a balance. Halak thrived with the Blues. In 2011-12, he combined with another 2003 ninth-round pick, , to earn the Jennings Trophy for the best “We didn’t have an exact number. We had mapped out the starts of the team GAA in the regular season. His personal GAA was a minuscule year and outside of injuries didn’t deviate from it and it’s a testament to 1.97, with a .925 save percentage. the way both players were playing.” In the middle of another solid season in 2013-14, the Blues sent Halak to A former ninth-round selection, Halak has found a home where he can Washington, where he appeared in just 12 games after posting a 24-9-4 showcase his talents and bring a needed sense of relief to Rask. record for the Blues that year. Those who’ve known him best for the past 15 years are not the least bit In 2014, Washington traded Halak’s rights to the Islanders, where he shocked at his success in Boston. signed a four-year, $18 million deal. In the third year of that contract, he Coming to America found himself in the AHL with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, a victim of numbers and money. The drafted Halak in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, No. 271 overall. In the summer of 2004, the Lewiston He rebounded last year, but his numbers dropped off as he played Maineiacs of the Major Junior Hockey League changed Halak’s behind a struggling team. That made him an attractive option for the career track. Coach and GM Clement Jodoin knew of Halak from his time Bruins last offseason, when they signed him to his current two-year, $5.5 with the Canadiens. million contract.

“When I was with Montreal, Rollie Melanson was the goalie coach, and “You look at his whole career, he’s been pretty steady the whole time,” he worked with him a little bit,” Jodoin said. “He said, ‘There’s an opening Jodoin said. “In any career, you have ups and downs, some low and high here, this player is really good.’ So we (the Maineiacs) drafted him in the points. He’s been battling and fighting the whole time. I’m very happy the European draft. I always believe when you build a hockey team, it starts way he did it.” in the net, and we had good depth in the net with him.” Not done yet Alongside Halak in the Lewiston crease that season was a 16-year-old This season, Halak is one of the biggest reasons the Bruins are in the QMJHL rookie named Jonathan Bernier. Now with the Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Final, despite the fact he hasn’t played a meaningful game after stops in Los Angeles, Toronto and Colorado, Bernier appreciated since April 4 — fittingly, a shutout. his year under Halak. “He was outstanding this year,” said Champagne, who still works out with “He was already having a pro mindset,” Bernier said. “He was coming to Halak in the offseason. “You need to have solid backup. I don’t consider the rink, doing his stretching, working out and making sure his body was him as a backup, I consider him a strong 1A. It stabilizes the position, healthy for the whole year. I remember he helped me a lot for the and you don’t have to worry about who’s in net.” following year, when I played 60 games or whatever it was. You understand how hard it is, and how much work you have you put into Bernier concurred. Halak’s former teammate already has his name on your body to stay fresh.” the Stanley Cup from 2012, when he was Jonathan Quick’s primary backup. Halak’s goalie coach that season, Marc Champagne, saw something special immediately. “If your other goalie can play 30 games, it takes a lot of stress off,” Bernier said. “If you look at which goalies have won the Cup, most years, “His battle level was unreal,” Champagne said. “When I was at the they’re below 55 games in the season. Goalies playing 70, 72 games, it’s Montreal rookie camp, the first thing I noticed was his compete level was a grind, and we can get pretty tired near the end.” outstanding. That goes a long way … I had a feeling he was going to go far. You get a gut feeling, you know.” This season, Halak played that role perfectly, picking Rask up when he needed it, and performing like a No. 1 for the Bruins when they needed it. In 47 games for Lewiston in the regular season, Halak had a 2.78 GAA and a .913 save percentage in front of a mediocre team. They swept the “He’s always proved himself,” Champagne said. “When I first saw him, I first round of the playoffs in a mild upset that year before getting knew his character would take him a long way. We cannot say enough he’s a great person. Now he’s in a position where, he’s close to having his name on the Cup.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145168 Boston Bruins Watching him moving from post-to-post calls to mind playing table hockey in the way that he seems to go from here to there without moving his body, as if connected to a steel pole that runs under the ice. He’s so Keys to hot streak Bruins riding into Stanley Cup Final efficient and never seems to get suckered out of position in pursuit of the puck.

Rask and mates will carry 10 days of rust, compared to five for the Blues, By TOM KEEGAN | [email protected] onto the ice Monday, but once it fades what’s left is a talented, veteran hockey team riding a hot goalie, a nice formula for Stanley Cup Final Boston Herald success. May 24, 2019 at 5:45 PM Boston Herald LOADED: 05.25.2019

Inevitable signs of rust will surface for the Bruins when they resume play Monday night at TD Garden for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, but their play during the seven-game winning streak they carry into the quest for the Cup outweighs those concerns.

So many numbers from that seven-game stretch speak of dominance.

For starters, in the final half of the six-game series vs. the and during the sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes, the B’s won on the scoreboard by a combined 28-9, an average score of 4-1.3.

Before catching fire, the Bruins had won five playoff games, lost five and trailed coach ’s Blue Jackets, 2-1.

So where did the Bruins get better, besides everywhere? The top line exploded, the penalty kill became ridiculously good, the power play picked up a ton of steam and goalie Tuukka Rask, already the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, grew even hotter.

First things, first, the first line: Early in the playoffs, the Bruins’ depth became a huge part of the story, with trade-deadline acquisitions Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson blossoming after the end of the regular season. Nineteen different Bruins have scored a goal during the postseason, leaving defensive-minded Brandon Carlo as the lone exception. The depth kept the B’s treading water.

During the seven-game tear, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have demonstrated why many consider them to be the best line in the NHL. Whatever was ailing Pastrnak early in the playoffs vanished. He’s all the way back.

Marchand (3-6-9), Bergeron (5-3-8) and Pastrnak (4-4-8) have managed to outscore all opponents, 12-9, in the past seven games. Think about how difficult that is to accomplish considering they are on the ice less than a third of the time, although not by much in the case of Marchand and Bergeron, who have had a huge role in the success of the club’s special teams.

The Bruins scored seven goals in 15 power-play opportunities during the sweep of the Hurricanes.

Torey Krug (seven assists during the seven-game winning streak) has been instrumental in the unit’s success with his play from the point. Krug also has drawn consistent praise from coach Bruce Cassidy throughout the playoffs for competing with greater attention to detail on the defensive side of his duties.

Playing with a physical edge is a huge part of what the Blues do, but bringing that mentality to the ice sometimes can lead to excessive penalties. It will be interesting to see whether respect for the lethal nature of the Bruins’ power play dulls the Blues’ nasty edge.

The Bruins have been even better on killing penalties than capitalizing on the power play. They ranked third in the NHL in the regular season, killing 79.9 percent of the penalties, a figure that has jumped to 86.3 in the playoffs. During the seven-game streak, it’s a killer 95.8. In 24 opportunities, only the Hurricanes’ wunderkind Sebastian Aho found the net.

Down a man or at even strength, Rask looms largest in the Bruins’ success.

Among goalies who have played more than one game these playoffs, Rask leads in goals-against average (1.84), save percentage (.942) and saves (517). During the 7-0 stretch, he has a 1.23 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

The Hurricanes attacked the net from puck drop as a desperate team should in Game 3. Rask somehow saved all 20 shots fired at him in the first period on the way to a 2-1 victory. 1145169 Boston Bruins “If you can’t win it on skates it’s OK wearing a suit,” Neely said. “As a player you want to win a Stanley Cup and we had a couple of opportunities but fell short.”

Bruins’ Cam Neely reflects back on 2011 Stanley Cup championship Boston Herald LOADED: 05.25.2019

By RICH THOMPSON | [email protected]

Boston Herald

PUBLISHED: May 24, 2019 at 4:45 pm | UPDATED: May 24, 2019 at 7:15 PM

Cam Neely’s tenure as Bruins president aligns with five current players who affected his finest hour as an NHL executive.

Neely was elevated from vice president on July 16, 2010, a significant transition that preceded the Bruins’ historic run to the Stanley Cup championship.

As the Bruins prepare to face the Western Conference champion St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final, their roster contains holdovers from the 2011 playoffs.

The troupe includes defenseman and team captain Zdeno Chara, centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, left winger Brad Marchand and goalie Tuukka Rask.

Rask served as backup to Vezina and Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas, but he was in goal for the Bruins’ trip to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Blackhawks. Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer played in 38 regular season games but did not participate in the 2011 playoffs.

“Obviously being around them for as many years as I have you get to know them as people and not just what they do on the ice,” Neely said Friday.

“It is really a great group of guys. The leadership that they have shown and how they have mentored a number of players throughout the year has been impressive to me.”

Vancouver revisited

The Bruins 2011 playoff drive was an arduous undertaking maintained by unbreakable men intent on bringing the Stanley Cup to Boston for the first time since 1972, a drought of 29 years.

The crusade began with a seven-game series with the Canadiens that included two wins at the Bell Centre and three overtime victories. The Bruins regrouped for a sweep of the before outlasting the Tampa Bay Lightning in a seven-game grind.

The Bruins seven-game series win over the Vancouver Canucks was like sweet nectar for Neely, who grew up in Comax, British Columbia, and was the Canucks’ first round pick (ninth overall) in 1983.

The Canucks staff considered Neely an underachiever when he was traded to the B’s along with a 1987 first-round pick () for prior to the 1986-87 season.

“I think the experience of going through those Game 7s, those are pivotal games where you are either going home or moving on,” Neely said. “To get that experience and win those games and move on and learning what it took.

“The experience those guys received from that was great for the younger players. They have gone through it and can give them thoughts and ideas on how to prepare and what to expect.’

Cup win suited Neely

Neely participated in two unsuccessful Cup Finals during his Hall of Fame seasons as a battling right winger in Boston. The Bruins were swept by Edmonton in 1988 followed by a near repeat 4-1 series loss to the Oilers in 1990.

Current general manager Don Sweeney was part of the Bruins blue line crew in the 1988 regular season and suffered through the Oilers beat down in ’90.

Neely would have preferred winning the Stanley Cup wearing the Spoked-B with stick in hand. But raising the Cup dressed in suit and tie before a tide of inconsolable Canucks fans was a welcome second. 1145170 Boston Bruins

Bruins' Jake DeBrusk hopes to bust out in Stanley Cup Final: 'I have a lot more to give'

By Joe Haggerty

May 24, 2019 7:54 PM

BOSTON – Jake DeBrusk had more goals (six) and points (eight) in the Bruins' two-round playoff run last spring than he’s had his this postseason (three goals and seven points) as the B's enter the Stanley Cup Final.

DeBrusk was a force last year in the first round when he scored five goals against the Maple Leafs, but it’s been a tougher slog for the skilled left winger while chipping in here or there for the Black and Gold. So, it’s no surprise that DeBrusk says he feels like he might be a little due in the Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. One of his patented hot streaks would be a welcome development for the Black and Gold.

The lack of a hot points stretch this postseason has been tough for DeBrusk to swallow.

“Everyone is hard on themselves and has expectations, but [the points] are not the main point for me," DeBrusk said. "The win is the biggest thing. If you don’t do what you want to do but the team wins then that’s all that matters this time of year. So that does help. But when you lose and you lose a tight game, it doesn’t necessarily creep in there…but you put more pressure on yourself or to be that guy, or be the difference. It just hasn’t happened for me personally.

“Usually for teams that I’ve been on the past I’ve had to be that guy, so it’s a little bit of a different feeling with things not going into the net as much. Goals help with my confidence, but my overall game play itself I haven’t liked at all. So, it’s just a matter of going out and doing it. It won’t be easy, but it’s a matter of doing it for the team.”

It’s also not out of the realm of possibility that it could happen based on DeBrusk’s mix of speed, power and skill going up against a St. Louis defensemen corps that’s long on size and strength while at times short on skating speed. That will be part of DeBrusk’s plan to get some separation on the Blues D-men and get pucks to the net in the kind of old-fashioned net-drive game he features when he’s at his best.

“I feel like I have a lot more to give with these playoffs. Personally, it hasn’t been what I wanted from a production standpoint, but we’re in the Stanley Cup Final. So, there are obviously bigger things at hand,” said DeBrusk, who is at least getting his shots on net with 50 shots in these playoffs. “But I’d like to find different ways to help this team and there’s no time better than now. The way that I’m going to have to play to have success is my bread and butter in a sense. It’s not going to be easy.

“It’s going to be tough. But getting into those hard areas is going to be my focus, especially against those big defensemen. That’s what I excel at. You’re going to take some bumps and bruises along the way, but I think that’s also where I can use my speed. I think that’s a big aspect I need to bring into the series.”

It could go one of two ways for DeBrusk in the Final against the Blues.

DeBrusk could continue to futilely chase after consistency and be frustrated as he’s been at times through the first three rounds. Or this could be the series where DeBrusk’s work on the second line and his net-front presence on the power play turn into consistent offense and help get him and his team exactly where they want to go.

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Charlie Coyle opens up about trade from Wild to Bruins

By Jacob Camenker

May 24, 2019 6:06 PM

Before the 2019 NHL trade deadline, Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle went through a trying experience. Then a member of the Minnesota Wild, Coyle was told that he had been traded. However, he couldn't yet know where he was going.

“I had a missed call and a text from [general manager] Paul [Fenton] and so I just knew, obviously,” Coyle said, per Michael Russo of The Athletic. “I called him and he told me I was involved in a trade, so don’t go on the plane. But he couldn’t tell me where I was going yet because it’s not finalized. He felt really bad about it.

“It was so weird because suddenly I’m at a place where I’m not on an NHL team for however many hours. I don’t know where I am. I can’t say goodbye to my teammates. It’s so hard to tell my family, my girlfriend, my friends, ‘I’m traded, we’re going somewhere … but I don’t know where yet.’”

Fenton did say to Coyle “I think in the end you’ll be OK” with the destination. And that certainly was the case.

Coyle was sent to the Bruins in exchange for Ryan Donato and a fifth- round pick. Coyle had grown up in Weymouth, Mass., and was being given a chance to play for his hometown team. And since joining the squad, he has provided a massive upgrade for a problem spot in their lineup.

Coyle has solidified the Bruins' weak third line and has proven to be a revelation for the team, especially during their Cup run. So far in the postseason, Coyle has been excellent, logging 12 points (six goals, six assists) and a plus-9 rating through 17 playoff games. That rating is tied for third-best on the team.

Most importantly, Coyle has proven to be clutch and scored a key, game- winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 1 of their series. In overtime, Coyle took a pass from Marcus Johansson and placed it perfectly into the back of the net from close range on Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a beautiful play and one that fulfilled a life-long dream for Coyle.

“I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’d put the net in front of my driveway and either play with the neighborhood kids or myself and score the big playoff-winning goal for the Bruins,” Coyle said via Russo. “And then to actually do it in reality … with my family in the crowd, oh my God.”

Coyle will certainly have a chance to perform well and etch himself into Boston sports folklore during the Stanley Cup Final. But certainly, the Bruins have to be glad about the return they got on the trade for Coyle. While some thought that giving up Donato and a draft pick was a steep price, Coyle has proven to be a key cog for the team.

Coyle will once again suit up in front of the TD Garden crowd on Monday at 8 p.m. ET when the Bruins take on the St. Louis Blues. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final can be seen on NBC or streamed on the NBC Sports App.

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Bobby Orr: 'I’ve got a ‘B’ tattooed on my arm'

By Jacob Camenker

May 24, 2019 2:46 PM

The last time the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues played against one another in the Stanley Cup Final came 49 years ago. In that series, Bobby Orr scored an iconic, game-winning goal in overtime to win the Cup for the Bruins.

Now, the Bruins will get a chance to bring home another Cup, and they will once again take on the Blues. And in a recent interview with Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe, Orr expressed excitement about the series and the incredible story of how both squads got to the Final.

I’m excited for what the Bruins have done. For today’s Bruins and today’s fans. We had our time 49 years ago with St. Louis. I still have wonderful memories. And I am happy for them all now.

I think this series features two of the best stories in hockey this year. I don’t think the Bruins were picked to be in the Stanley Cup Finals. And they’ve come through injuries. And you look at St. Louis and they were in last place in the league. They’re a big team and they played really physical against the Sharks. So we have two very nice stories.

The Blues were, in fact, in last place midway through the year but received a spark from Jordan Binnington taking over as the starting goalie. Binnington, who had a unique stint with the Providence Bruins, helped to get their team on track and kept them hot during the playoff run.

Meanwhile, the Bruins emerged from the NHL's toughest division, logged a 19-game point streak in February and March, and stayed the course in the postseason. They dodged having to play the top-seed Tampa Bay Lightning, but they outlasted their divisional rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, in the opening round and have won seven consecutive games en route to the Cup.

Though Orr praised both teams for their effort this season, he playfully suggested that his rooting interests were obvious, per Shaughnessy.

I’ve got a ‘B’ tattooed on my arm — who do you think I’m rooting for?

Of course, Orr doesn't actually have a tattoo on his arm, but the point is still there. Orr will be rooting hard for the Bruins in the Stanley Cup in hopes that they will bring home their seventh title.

Perhaps Orr will be a banner captain at some point in the next two games to try and pump up the Black and Gold faithful in TD Garden. We'll find out soon, as Game 1 of the Cup begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday. The game can be seen on NBC and streamed on the NBC Sports App.

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How Cam Neely drew from '88, '90 Bruins while building current Cup team

By Darren Hartwell

May 24, 2019 2:53 PM

Cam Neely hasn't forgotten his two losses in the Stanley Cup Final as a player. And he has no interest in repeating them.

Neely was on the 1988 and 1990 Boston Bruins teams that ran into the buzzsaw that was Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers. The B's were clearly overmatched -- they got swept in '88 and won one game in '90 -- but Neely apparently was taking notes he'd refer to decades later as president of the Bruins.

When asked Friday about the differences between the B's of his playing days and Boston's 2019 team, Neely pointed to the improved depth of his current squad.

"You get to be an age after you played, you’re retired, and you have these ‘what ifs,’ and there’s no question," Neely said during a press conference at TD Garden. "We look at the years ’88 and ’90, more particularly than ’88, I thought if we had a little bit more depth we might have had a better chance to win."

Neely admitted Boston's shortcomings in those two series against Edmonton motivated him and the Bruins' front office to build a roster that wouldn't suffer the same fate.

"Those are things that stick with you for sure," Neely added. "And then when you get in a position like we’re in to craft a lineup, you talk about depth and how do we get that depth."

Neely and general manager Don Sweeney have built an impressively deep Bruins squad that's gotten goals from 19 different players entering the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues.

Trade deadline acquisitions Marcus Johansson and Charlie Coyle both have been productive throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while homegrown talents like Matt Grzelcyk and Danton Heinen have helped complement the Bruins' veteran core.

It's a different squad than the top-heavy '88 and '90 teams, which relied on Neely and Ray Bourque to shoulder much of the workload.

Neely's lesson learned has paid off so far, but there's one more hurdle to clear in the St. Louis Blues, who come to TD Garden on Monday night for Game 1.

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Neely on winning as Bruins exec: 'If you can't win it wearing skates, it's OK in a suit'

By Joe Haggerty

May 24, 2019 2:30 PM

BOSTON – One of the biggest regrets of Cam Neely’s Hall of Fame career with the Bruins is that he wasn’t able to win a Stanley Cup as a player. The same most certainly could be said of B’s general manager Don Sweeney as well after more than 1,000 games with the Black and Gold over the course of his NHL career.

It was through no fault of theirs as the Bruins were on some good-but- not-great teams during their playing careers in Boston, and they ran head-long into the legendary Edmonton Oilers in both 1988 and 1990 when they did make it to the Cup Final. In both instances they lost to better hockey teams, but it certainly was a bitter pill in Boston that Bruins teams headed by Neely and Ray Bourque in the 1980’s and 1990’s were never able to hoist the Cup.

So now the Bruins President has one Stanley Cup under his resume as Bruins club President back in 2011, and adding another one would be just as sweet regardless of the capacity he’s filling for the organization.

“If you can’t win it wearing skates, it’s okay in a suit. You know, obviously, as a player that’s what you want to do. You want to win a Stanley Cup, and we had a couple of opportunities,” admitted Neely. “Unfortunately, we fell short. So, you learn from those experiences and hopefully we can take some of that experience and apply it in the jobs we have now.

“We’re very fortunate to be in a city like this that has had success with all the teams in the past dozen years or so. You know, hockey has been a big part of this region for many years. I mean, obviously, an Original Six franchise, so there are roots that are deeply set, but nothing beats winning. Everybody likes to watch good hockey or good sports, and they love a winning team.”

Certainly a win in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues and a second Cup in eight years would significantly elevate Neely’s tenure running the organization. And in many ways it would be different for Neely, having handpicked the general manager in Sweeney, and holding a coach Bruce Cassidy in place that was also their choice rather than the hold-over Claude Julien from the Peter Chiarelli era.

This Cup would validate all of the choices that Neely and Sweeney have made over the last four years, some more controversial than others, and mark their tenure an unquestioned success in four seasons working together as President and GM.

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Chase Rice, Lil Nas X to play Monday's Stanley Cup viewing party in Boston

By Jacob Camenker

May 24, 2019 2:08 PM

The Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues are squaring off in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final beginning on Monday. For Game 1, the city of Boston is partnering with the NHL to host a viewing party at Boston's City Hall Plaza, and they landed some pretty big names to perform at it.

According to an official press release by the NHL, both country music star Chase Rice, and Lil Nas X, the creator of the smash hit country/trap song "Old Town Road," will be performing at the party. The performances will start at 6 p.m. ET.

Marchand fine after injury scare in Bruins scrimmage

Lil Nas X, 20, first released "Old Town Road" in December of 2018. Since then, it has consistently topped charts in recent weeks including the Billboard Hot 100 and recorded the most streams in a single week for an artist. The song has been featured in numerous sporting events as well, including coverage of the NFL Draft and the Kentucky Derby.

YEEHAW 鸞@LilNasX and @ChaseRiceMusic will kick off the #StanleyCup Final at Boston's City Hall Plaza ahead of Game 1 on Monday. pic.twitter.com/NEo3JqCckn

— NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2019

Meanwhile, Rice's current hit single is "Eyes On You" from his album, Lambs and Lions. The song has over 130 million streams and was a country music chart-topper. Rice is also a former North Carolina linebacker, worked in the pit for Hendricks Motorsports, and helped write Florida Georgia Line's hit song, "Cruise."

Both musicians should bring energy to Boston and will certainly help to pump up the city before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. The event will open at 4:30 p.m. ET and no tickets are required for entry. After the performances, Game 1 will be played on giant TV screens at the venue.

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Could two goals in the Bruins scrimmage spark David Pastrnak?

By Joe Haggerty

May 24, 2019 10:51 AM

BOSTON – Certainly an intra-squad scrimmage isn’t going to amount to much in the grand scheme of things once the Stanley Cup Final gets going at the start of next week.

But maybe, just maybe, Bruins right winger David Pastrnak can start catching fire offensively in the best-of-seven game series against the St. Louis Blues after scoring a couple of goals in Thursday night’s glorified practice. Pastrnak and David Backes both scored two goals apiece in the 5-3 final score in the intra-squad, and Pasta does have a solid seven goals and 15 points along with a plus-7 in 17 games during the playoffs.

Bruins wowed by fan turnout at scrimmage

“It was good. I’m going to give it to Jaro [Halak] a little bit,” said the Czech-born Pastrnak, who scored both of his goals against B’s backup Jaroslav Halak. “He’s Slovakian, so I love to score on him. I’ve never practiced so many days without a game before, so [the scrimmage] is going to be useful.”

Certainly Pastrnak was being tongue-in-cheek about scoring on his own goalie, but the truth is that the 22-year-old hasn’t really enjoyed a truly dominant stretch in this postseason to this point aside from notching two- goal games against both Toronto and Columbus in the first couple of rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Certainly part of that is the tight-checking nature of the playoffs and the best teams’ top lines cancelling each other out in most games. But there’s also a sense that Pastrnak hasn’t been able to unleash his big shot on the power play with much regularity, and a legit curiosity factor as to whether or not he’s playing through some kind of injury.

As he said during the Columbus series when things were a little slow offensively, Pastrnak is doing the best he can and has certainly seen an uptick in his involvement since joining back up with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on the Perfection Line.

Marchand 'fine' after injury scare at scrimmage

“I think we’ve done just fine. We’re just playing as a team and every single night it’s somebody else’s turn to shine. That’s what the good teams do,” said Pastrnak. “It’s unbelievable how good every line has been in different games, and that’s what so much for us to enjoy in the room.

“I’m doing my best. Every game is different. Obviously there have been games where I’ve been better and there have been games where I’ve been worse, but this is not what I’m focusing on. I’m focusing on trying to help the team rather than whether I’m scoring or not.”

Still, Pastrnak only had six shots on net in the entire four-game conference final series against the Carolina Hurricanes, and he should be more of a consistent threat than that when he’s healthy and going well. So perhaps that scoring burst in the scrimmage can light the candle that ignites the flame on Pasta’s offense at a crucial time when a hot goal-scorer could carry his team to the Stanley Cup.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145177 Boston Bruins Position/Shot: Right Wing, Right

Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 163 pounds

Bruins mock draft 2019 roundup: Who can B's target late in first round? Last played for: Sioux City Musketeers, USHL

Brink blew up for the Musketeers this season, winning USHL Forward of the Year honors after tallying 68 points (35 goals, 33 assists) in 43 By Darren Hartwell games. The Minnesota native is headed to the University of Denver next May 24, 2019 10:00 AM season but appears to be developing into a strong offensive talent.

CHRIS RYAN, NJ.COM -- PHILIP TOMASINO

The Boston Bruins are four wins away from reaching the NHL Age: 17 mountaintop. Position/Shot: Center, Right

But if they want to stay there, finding strong talent in the draft is a good Height/Weight: 6-foot-10, 181 pounds place to start. Last played for: Niagara Ice Dogs, OHL The 2019 NHL Draft is less than a month away -- June 21 in Vancouver - - and the Bruins will have either the No. 30 or No. 31 pick pending their An excellent skater with strong hands and proven play-making ability, result in the Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues. Tomasino is another offensive-minded forward who put up 34 goals and 38 assists in 67 games for the Ice Dogs this season. The B's took three Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko are virtual locks to be the top two picks, centers in last year's draft, though, so Tomasino would be entering a but there's a lot more uncertainty after that, especially near the end of the crowded space here. first round. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 Which prospects could the Bruins target? To get a sense of who's in the mix, we've combed through a few NHL mock drafts to see who the analysts have the Bruins taking in the first round.

JOE HAGGERTY, NBC SPORTS BOSTON -- ALEX VLASIC

Age: 17

Position/Shot: Defenseman, Left

Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 198 pounds

Last played for: U.S. National Team Development Program

Vlasic has good hockey genes; his cousin is San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic and his sister, Emma, is a senior forward and captain at Yale. He also stands at 6-foot-6, so if the Bruins are looking ahead to life without 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara, Vlasic might be worth considering.

SAMMI SILBER, NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON -- ALEX VLASIC

The Bruins don't have a pressing need at defenseman with Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo in the fold, but Vlasic has been tied to Boston in a couple mock drafts. The 17-year-old boasts plenty of upside and will play at Boston University this fall, so there's a local tie here, too.

STEVE KOURNIANOS, THEDRAFTANALYST.COM -- RYAN JOHNSON

Age: 17

Position/Shot: Defenseman, Left

Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 161 pounds

Last played for: Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL

Another left-shot defenseman, Johnson doesn't boast Vlasic's size but still plays a physical game. He also has experience in big moments, tallying eight points in 12 playoff games to help lead Sioux Falls to this year's USHL championship.

DAVE STEVENSON, FANSIDED -- PAVEL DOROFEYEV

Age: 18

Position/Shot: Left Wing/Right Wing, Left

Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 163 pounds

Last played for: Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, MHL

Dorofeyev would need time to develop, but the upside is there: The Russia native racked up 31 points on 17 goals and 14 assists in 19 MHL games this past season while earning a spot in the MHL All-Star Game. He could be an intriguing project for the B's at the end of the first round.

BILL PLACZEK, DRAFTSITE.COM -- BOBBY BRINK

Age: 18 1145178 Boston Bruins Jets exited in six games, Hayes contributed three points. Lemieux probably tops out as a bottom-six forward with New York, but his agitating presence helped the Rangers in intangible ways – and his real Duhatschek Notebook: A clearer picture of the trade deadline hits and shooting percentage is probably going to fall somewhere between the misses 24.3 percent he registered in 44 games with the Jets and the 10.0 percent he managed in 19 games with the Rangers. And, of course, there is that niggling matter of the Jets having to surrender a first-round pick for the second year in a row. On a draft-and-development team, By Eric Duhatschek that’s a steep price to pay. May 24, 2019 Hit: Boston

Unlike their opponents in the final, the Bruins actually made two trades in The NHL trade deadline is one of the most curious animals in all of sport the run-up to the deadline, both of which have made a difference – – months of hype leading up to it; a flurry of action on the day it actually though they weren’t exactly overnight sensations. The first deal came on occurs; and an immediate rush to judgment over winners and losers. Feb. 20 – or five days before the actual deadline day, when they acquired Charlie Coyle in the Minnesota fire sale for Ryan Donato, plus a Then … usually nothing. fifth-round pick. Coyle-for-Donato was a hockey deal as opposed to a pure trade-deadline deal. The Bruins assumed they would get more in Eventually, the players who changed teams settle in and figure out where the here-and-now from the 27-year-old Coyle than the 23-year-old to live in their new cities and how to play in a new system – and make all Donato, a first-year pro who played 32 games in Boston this season but the necessary adjustments, on and off the ice. Then the playoffs start also spent time in the minors. Donato was actually a better regular- and it’s a six-week free-for-all until we get to this point in the postseason season fit for the Wild (16 points in 22 games) than Coyle was for Boston – the Stanley Cup final, which opens on Monday in Boston. The Bruins (six points in 21 game), but Coyle has played important minutes (15:29 face the St. Louis Blues for the title and the 29 teams on the sidelines per night) and chipped in timely scoring (12 points in 17 games, just one come to terms with why they’re not there. For some, the level of behind Patrice Bergeron) in the postseason. In short, this is the outcome disappointment is far greater because of the assets they frittered away at both sides probably imagined. Donato looks as if he could be a fixture on the deadline, hoping to make it this far, but coming up short. the revamped Minnesota roster and the Bruins got a versatile forward in Only now – some three months after the fact – can you genuinely make a Coyle who can play up and down the lineup and is contributing semi-accurate, glance-in-the-rearview-mirror assessment of who actually secondary scoring. Their other acquisition, Marcus Johansson, was a made the right calls at the trade deadline. more traditional rental – and came at the cost of a second-round pick in 2019 plus a fourth-rounder in 2020. Injuries always seem to be an issue But instead of winners and losers, let’s call them hits and misses – and for Johansson, who managed just 10 regular-season appearances – and review how it all played out. three points. Johansson’s usage hasn’t changed much in the postseason (13:21 per night now, 13:24 then), but he’s been a productive top-nine Hit: St. Louis forward. Oddly, eight of his nine points have come at even strength, For all the people cheering as their teams made aggressive moves at the when the expectation was that he might be a key member of the second deadline, you need to start with the sobering reality that St. Louis made power-play unit. But if the Bruins go on to win the Stanley Cup, the only one minor deal, adding Michael Del Zotto from the Johansson acquisition will be heralded as the 2019 version of the for the Blues’ sixth-round pick in the 2019 Draft. The Blues were the adding Michal Kempny a year ago – someone who quintessential example of a team that stood pat at the deadline, even if provided timely and necessary minutes to supplement and support the that’s a course of action that not everyone necessarily embraces, though play of the team’s difference makers. it seems to be working out OK for general manager Doug Armstrong. The Miss: Columbus two changes the Blues made to turn their season around were internal moves – promoting goaltender Jordan Binnington from the minors and I want to add an asterisk here because the Blue Jackets surrendered elevating assistant coach Craig Berube to the top job after parting ways multiple future assets in order to add Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam with Mike Yeo. In the playoffs, the single biggest difference is how Jaden McQuaid and Keith Kinkaid in a massive go-for-it push that ended Schwartz has salvaged a so-so 36-point regular season by vaulting into succeeding on a couple of levels, but not the one that really counted. the No. 3 spot on the NHL playoff scoring charts. Schwartz already has more goals in the postseason (12) than he did in the regular season (11). On the plus side, the Blue Jackets did make the playoffs (one point in Sometimes, that’s what happens if you’re patient with players who their favor) and they did record one of the greatest first-round upsets of couldn’t find their strides from October to April. Suddenly, they get it all time, knocking off the 128-point Tampa Bay Lightning (a second point going in the playoffs and make everyone forget those pesky regular- in their favor). But then, they stumbled out in the second round against season struggles. Del Zotto, meanwhile, has yet to make a playoff the Bruins and now – like any wild holiday shopper, on a dizzying appearance – fulfilling the role he was acquired for, a break-in-case-of- spending spree – the bills are coming due. I was fine with the Blue emergency insurance policy. Jackets pushing hard to win as much as possible before pending unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin walked Miss: Winnipeg away and I was equally OK with what it cost to land Duchene – two middling prospects, a 2019 first-rounder plus a conditional 2020 first- The script might be completely flipped here if the opening-round series rounder if he ends up signing in Columbus. If you assess Duchene’s between the Blues and Jets produced a different outcome. But it didn’t. production alone, he provided decent regular-season returns (12 points The Jets finished limped to the regular season finish line (a 4-5-1 record in 23 games) and off-the-charts results in the postseason (10 points in 10 in their final 10 games) and earned home-ice advantage against the games, second only to Panarin in the postseason). Where you’d want a Blues only because they owned the first tie-breaker (regulation and do-over is with the other three acquisitions they made in addition to overtime wins: 45 for Winnipeg, 42 for St. Louis). But as they were two Duchene. Duchene provided value; Dzingel, McQuaid and Kinkaid really 99-point teams, it was always going to be a coin-flip of a series. Last did not. Dzingel cost them two second-rounders; McQuaid a fourth and a year, the Jets earned a trip to the Western Conference final, in part seventh; and Kinkaid a fifth. That’s five picks – granted spread as far out because of the important contributions made by trade-deadline as 2022 in Kinkaid’s case. But still too many for what they returned. acquisition Paul Stastny. Therefore, it was reasonable for GM Kevin Dzingel played nine of 10 playoff games – he was scratched in the other Cheveldayoff to try and conjure up a similar sort of move this year. He and contributed just a single point. Neither McQuaid nor Kinkaid played added from the New York Rangers for Brendan Lemieux, a in the playoffs. It never made sense for the Blue Jackets to sell either 2019 first-rounder and a conditional pick in 2022. But where Stastny fit in Bobrovsky or Panarin at the deadline, even though they were walking immediately as the Jets’ No. 2 centre, Hayes struggled. With Winnipeg, away, because that’s franchise suicide. The Columbus market, this year Stastny averaged 17:02 of ice time in 19 regular-season games and at this time, needed to hear a positive message. That’s not really worthy positively shone in the postseason – 15 points in 17 games, plus 17:24 of any second-guessing. If they’d stopped at Duchene, you probably quality minutes per night. Ideally, the Jets wanted Hayes to slide in just could have assessed this in some sort of middle-ground ‘just right’ as seamlessly in that second-line center slot, but eventually, they had to category. It was overplaying their hand to add on the fringes that make it move him up and down the lineup, trying to find a better fit. In the end, a miss. they never really did. Hayes averaged 15:17 in 20 regular-season games for the Jets, but his total dipped to 11:59 per night in the playoffs. As the Hit: Vegas This one is tricky because the Golden Knights exited in the first round playoffs have unfolded in their merry unpredictable way, how do you – as this year — as opposed to qualifying for the final a year ago — after someone who has actually pulled the trigger on a deadline deal – adding Mark Stone, the premier trade-deadline piece, from Ottawa. evaluate if they are legitimate successes? Officially, the deal was Stone and Tobias Lindberg for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg plus a 2020 second-rounder belonging to the Dallas Or to put it another way, do you need to actually win the Stanley Cup to Stars that the Golden Knights had acquired in the Marc Methot deal. But justify an expensive trade-deadline acquisition? Is a trip to the final the Golden Knights made the trade with the Senators contingent upon enough? Or, depending upon your franchise’s health and stability, is getting Stone signed to a contract extension – and so now they have a getting to final four sufficient – as both Carolina and San Jose did this 27-year-old, 6-foot-3, 205-pound right winger locked up for the next eight spring? years. You watch how these playoffs have unfolded and it calls to mind According to former NHL general manager , many teams something Sharks’ coach Peter DeBoer said at the podium the night San telegraph what they internally believe is a reasonable postseason Jose exited – that for all the talk of small and speedy players getting a outcome by the conditions they attach to a trade deadline deal. chance to thrive in the “new” NHL, the two teams playing for the Cup are the hardest, heaviest teams in the postseason. And that’s why Stone, For example, when Dallas acquired Mats Zuccarello from the New York going forward, is going to be so valuable to Vegas. Strip the two Rangers, they had two conditions attached to the trade. Their second- Lindbergs out of the deal and the acquisition cost for Golden Knights GM rounder in 2019 would have been upgraded to a first had the Stars had George McPhee is effectively a mid-first rounder (Brannstrom, chosen made it to the conference final (they came up one win short). In addition, 15th overall in 2018), plus a second. Two pieces, in other words. When it the third-rounder in 2020 can still be upgraded to a first if Zuccarello became clear Stone wasn’t going to sign a contract extension, the chatter signs with Dallas in the offseason. In short, the Stars were prepared to around Ottawa was the Senators would reap four key pieces in any deal pay an additional premium to the Rangers for Zuccarello if they were for him because Stone was, after all, the No. 1 player on everybody’s playing in the final four. trade board. But they didn’t get that. Not even close. Brannstrom will be a Similarly, when San Jose acquired Gus Nyquist from the Red Wings, the helpful piece in the Senators’ rebuild, but if you weigh what Columbus Sharks surrendered a firm 2019 second-rounder to get his rights, but also paid for Dzingel compared to what the Golden Knights surrendered for agreed that the 2020 third-rounder in the deal would be upgraded to a Stone, you’d have to give Vegas high marks here. And we haven’t even second if they advanced to the Cup final (or Nyquist eventually signs an mentioned the 12 points in seven playoff games that Stone produced – or extension with them). Like Dallas, San Jose came up just short of the unfortunate way the Golden Knights exited the opening round. meeting the first criterion that would have upgraded the conditional pick. Miss: Nashville Predators But their criterion was different and higher – a trip to the Stanley Cup final. The Preds had the lowest regular-season point total of any of the four division champions (100), so the fact that they were knocked out in the “The manager, in making those deals, is telling you what he feels is a win opening round probably wasn’t as big a surprise as say, Tampa (128), by what he includes as an upgrade, isn’t he?” Button said. “For Doug Calgary (107) or Washington (104) exiting at the same time. Moreover, Wilson in San Jose, he’s saying,’ this becomes an upgraded pick if we Nashville’s strategy – of trying to win while their core players in goal and get to the final,’ so he’s saying, ‘this is what this trade means to me.’” on defence were still relatively in their primes -made some rational Some will argue that anything short of the Stanley Cup will leave a team sense. In all, the Preds made three moves near or at the deadline. First, with buyers’ remorse after the fact, but according to Button, you don’t they gave up a second-rounder to New Jersey for Brian Boyle, a rental. necessarily have to win a championship to deem a trade worthy. Button They then swapped Ryan Hartman and a conditional 2020 pick to the cites the example of a deal Dallas made when he was the Stars’ director Flyers in exchange for Wayne Simmonds, another rental; and finally sent of player personnel that paid important dividends down the road. the improving Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for the more established Mikael Granlund. “In 1998, when we traded for Brian Skrudland and Mike Keane, our goal was to have them help us move more deeply in the playoffs,” Button said. Yikes, nothing really panned out there, did it? “We’d lost the year before to Edmonton and we felt that our younger Granlund had one goal and five points in 16 regular-season games and group needed some veteran experience. So, we knew when we made then contributed to the Predators’ collective postseason scoring outage, that trade that we were looking for immediate help – and we got it. We with just two points in six games. If Simmonds had been healthy, that went to the conference final that year – so that was a win for us.” might have produced a different outcome. But he generated just three The next year, those two players helped Dallas get even further – and regular-season points in 17 games and then was shut out in the two win the Stanley Cup. playoff games in which he played. Boyle managed to get into three postseason contests after going 5-0-5 in 26 regular-season games. Nashville has only missed the playoffs three times in the past 15 years, Granlund, 27, and Fiala, 22, are both under contract, so that could still be but in one of those seasons – 2012-13 – general manager a salvageable move. Hartman hadn’t been much of a factor for the made one of the more lopsided trade deadline deals of the past decade, Predators after he cost them a first-rounder at the 2018 deadline, so this sending Martin Erat to the Washington Capitals in exchange for prospect grade is partly based on the erosion of assets over a 15-month span. Filip Forsberg, who has evolved into a first-line NHL forward. But according to Poile, one of the deals he made for a rental – Peter INCOMPLETE: Florida Forsberg, whom he acquired from Philadelphia back in February of 2007 Other than Ottawa, the Panthers were the purest sellers this time around, – made a huge difference, even though on paper, you might not see it. if you roll the calendar back to Feb. 1 when they completed the big deal Peter Forsberg played a total of 17 regular-season games for Nashville with Pittsburgh that sent the Penguins Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. (scoring 15 points) and five more in the playoffs (four points), but his In return, Florida received Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, plus three impact – on the team and on the market – were felt long after he moved future draft choices (a 2019 second and two 2019 fourths). As expected, on, according to Poile. the Panthers soon flipped the pending UFA Brassard to Colorado at the “Peter Forsberg was clearly near the end of his career, but that was a deadline day for a third rounder in 2020. Thus far, the net for Florida GM fantastic deal for the couple of months it lasted because it put our Dale Tallon in the two deals is four picks, a bottom-six forward in franchise on the map – and increased the interest in our community and Sheahan and the most important commodity of all, the cap space needed the popularity of hockey in Nashville,” Poile said. “We paid a premium for to bid on Bobrovsky, Panarin and other free agents going forward. The him and we didn’t win anything, but I really felt it got our franchise going Panthers have made the playoffs just twice in the past 18 years. But if in the right direction. Florida can turn that cap space into contributing NHLers, maybe they can do in 2020 what Carolina managed this past year – end a long “So, there are many ways of evaluating what constitutes a trade-deadline postseason drought and get their fan-base jazzed about hockey again. In success. The bottom line, when you really get down to it is, of the 16 theory, these moves could be the next step in the process. Trending teams that made the playoffs, almost everybody made some kind of towards a win if they can sign the right and/or draft the right players. trade-deadline deal and your analysis will come down to, only two or three teams benefited from it. But that’s the way it usually goes. Say what? Everybody else loses to some degree.” Last week, as I was polling current and former GMs about what may or As a player development guy, Button thinks that Florida’s Tallon may may not constitute a blockbuster trade in the modern NHL, I also put a emerge, long-term, as the biggest winner of all because of the draft- second question to a couple of them: Once the dust settles, and the choice harvest he reaped. “There isn’t a scout or GM on the planet that won’t tell you the same thing – you have more chances with more picks than you do with less,” Button said. “Even though we all know what the probabilities are, of finding a player after the first round, the bottom line is, if you have more picks, the greater are your chances of getting a hit.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145179 Boston Bruins “It’s weird looking at the Wild’s roster right now and seeing all the new pieces they have and how it can change so drastically. It’s just really weird not finishing the year with the same guys. Just how the business ‘It really is nuts’: Charlie Coyle and his wild ride home to the Stanley Cup side of it goes sometimes. So you roll with it and you make the best of it final and stay positive about it and you hope it works out.”

To say the least, it absolutely has.

Michael Russo As much as Coyle loved playing for the Wild, three months later, it’s gone from bittersweet to only sweet as Coyle and his new team prepares to May 24, 2019 open the Stanley Cup final Monday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Coyle has six goals and 12 points and is plus-9 in 17 playoff games. In Game 1 of Boston’s second-round series against Columbus, Coyle It was the afternoon of Feb. 20, a week before the trade deadline, and forced overtime by tying the game with 4:35 left, then fulfilled a literal the Wild’s departure time to New York was pushed back because of lifelong dream he had countless times as a child by scoring the overtime inclement weather in Minnesota. winner in an actual, real-life playoff game. Charlie Coyle decided to take advantage of the flight delay by popping FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.@CHARLIECOYLE_3 | into Neil Sheehy’s Bloomington, Minnesota, office, which is close to the #NHLBRUINS PIC.TWITTER.COM/EG9ULEVESR airport, for a little neuromuscular therapy session. — BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) APRIL 26, 2019 Forty minutes later, Coyle hopped off the NHL agent/therapist’s table, put his spiffy suit back on and was about to head to the airport when he As a kid growing up in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Coyle lived for the looked at his cell phone and had an “Oh [email protected]&#” moment. Bruins.

“I had a missed call and a text from (general manager) Paul (Fenton), From a young age, Coyle’s bedroom was plastered with Bruins posters and so I just knew, obviously,” Coyle told The Athletic during a phone and he could always be found covered head to toe in Bruins garb. In interview Wednesday night. “I called him and he told me I was involved in street hockey, in his vivid imagination, Coyle scored dozens and dozens a trade, so don’t go on the plane. But he couldn’t tell me where I was of overtime winners wearing that black and yellow Bruins sweater. going yet because it’s not finalized. He felt really bad about it. He’d leap into the air like Bobby Orr, peel himself off the asphalt and “It was so weird because suddenly I’m at a place where I’m not on an pretend to jump into the arms of his make-believe teammates. NHL team for however many hours. I don’t know where I am. I can’t say goodbye to my teammates. It’s so hard to tell my family, my girlfriend, my You know, things all hockey fanatic youngsters would do while playing on friends, ‘I’m traded, we’re going somewhere … but I don’t know where a cul-de-sac. yet.’” “I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’d put the net in front of my Coyle said the only thing Fenton would divulge was “I think in the end driveway and either play with the neighborhood kids or myself and score you’ll be OK” with the destination. the big playoff-winning goal for the Bruins,” Coyle said. “And then to actually do it in reality … with my family in the crowd, oh my God.” “So, I’m like, alright, it’s going to be at least a Cup contender, a playoff contender, or it’s got to be the B’s,” Coyle said of his hometown Bruins. Well, one person, unfortunately, was not in the crowd. “That’s the best-case scenario, the B’s, right? But I don’t want to get my By happenstance, that one Bruins game against Columbus that his son hopes up. played the hero role in was the only game during this run for which “So I get home, and I’m refreshing Twitter, and I got the NHL Network on. Chuck Coyle couldn’t make it to TD Garden. I’m trying, like, anything. I called my agents. I’m asking my dad. He’s “I mean, everyone else in my family was there, but I was in my house, asking around, buddies, everything. I’m like, ‘Someone find out where!’” watching it by myself and I loved every minute of it,” Coyle’s dad said. “I Chuck Coyle, Charlie’s dad, was at a funeral for a family member that pumped my fists a few times. This was after yelling at the TV a little bit day. There had been so many rumors all month about his son being on when he coughed up that one puck for a Columbus goal. the trading block, all of Chuck’s cousins kept coming up to him and “When he scored the tying goal, I was just like, ‘Yeah! Great! Awesome! asking, “Is he gonna get traded?” Back to even after his mistake.’ Then all of a sudden, boom, the overtime “I kept saying, ‘I know as much as you,’” Chuck Coyle said by phone goal! I was just … I was overjoyed. I was sitting in my chair overjoyed. I Wednesday. “I get home, I’m sitting in the chair when Charlie called me. couldn’t believe it. The phone was ringing off the hook. Crazy.” And he says, ‘Something’s going on.’ I say, ‘What do you mean?’ And he The Coyle family has been Bruins diehards forever. In fact, Charlie and says, ‘I’m being traded, but (Fenton) can’t tell me where. He just said I’ll Theresa Coyle’s front door 15 miles south of Boston is currently draped be happy.’ with a, “We Want The Cup, Let’s Go Bruins” banner.

“My first thought was it has to be Boston because you heard those Charlie Coyle rumors before. But it also could have been another Cup contender like Tampa or something. My brother was up the street, he came down, we The Coyle family home, complete with Bruins banner. (Courtesy the got the TV going, the computer going, got people calling because they Coyle family) know something’s happened. I’m hearing this, I’m hearing that. It was nuts. It was crazy.” As a kid, the only time Coyle would not wear his Bruins jersey to a Bruins game was when his cousin, Tony Amonte, came to town with the Over the next few hours, The Athletic Minnesota and Boston reported Chicago Blackhawks. Charlie Coyle was indeed being traded home. The Bruins had a game that night in Las Vegas and were managing a couple short-term injuries, “I’d be a Chicago fan for a night. Otherwise, it was Bruins, Bruins, so the Coyle-for-Ryan Donato-and-an-eventual-fourth-round-pick swap Bruins,” Coyle said. “Growing up 30 minutes out of the city, I obviously couldn’t be finalized until GM Don Sweeney was comfortable enough to fell in love with hockey at a young age looking up to all those old Bruins make a roster move. players. And you envision yourself hopefully doing that one day, but you don’t really think it’s going to come true. It’s such a far thing, so it’s crazy “Finally, later that night, Paul called me back to confirm it was Boston,” how it’s come to play, I guess.” Coyle said. “So that was pretty, … it was very bittersweet. Very bittersweet. Coyle, 27, who played seven years for the Wild, has never been on a team like this. “I’m there in Minnesota for six, seven years and you fall in love with the place and you make a living there and so many great relationships with There is star power, four lines that contribute and know their roles, depth people and your teammates. And you want to win with them. You want to everywhere and a goaltender playing out of his mind. win no matter how tough it is and what you go through and all that. So But what sets the Bruins apart, Coyle says, is their leadership. you never want to just kind of bug out, you know? But that’s out of my control and that’s what happens. He learned that instantly when the trade became official. Right before the together on the South Shore Kings, so they were introducing us, showing Bruins were going to hit the ice against the Golden Knights, Patrice us the ropes, introducing us to all the other parents and Bruins Bergeron and Zdeno Chara called to welcome Coyle to Boston. personnel. It really went pretty smooth.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t believe it,” Coyle said. “They’re about to play a game But, Chuck said with a chuckle, “I couldn’t wait for Charlie to go on the and they take time out to call and say, ‘We can’t wait to have you,’” Coyle road again. It costs me more money him being home even though I’m said. “I mean, I haven’t met anyone yet, and I already felt part of the getting free tickets. Running in there, you’re parking, you’re eating versus team.” going out to Minnesota a couple times a year.”

A similar welcome happened right before Coyle’s first practice with the Charlie Coyle Bruins. He stepped onto the ice in St. Louis, where he’d soon debut in a Boston uniform, and his new teammates serenaded him with a loud stick A young Charlie Coyle in Bruins gear. (Courtesy the Coyle family) tap. Coyle’s parents cannot convey how much their son loved Minnesota — WELCOME ABOARD, @CHARLIECOYLE_3.#NHLBRUINS “the team, the city, his teammates” — but Chuck said, “It was time for a PIC.TWITTER.COM/VFBL3GUCIV change. It just made it so much easier coming to Boston. If someone had asked us, ‘Do you really want him coming to Boston?’ we would have — BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) FEBRUARY 22, 2019 probably said, ‘That’s probably not the best thing at his point in his career.’ There’s some pressures there and you know maybe later on in “They do just little stuff like that all the time. It makes you feel good, you his career it would be better for him. know?” Coyle said. “No matter who it is, no matter … especially for me, a new guy coming in and first practice, you’re nervous and not knowing “But, hey, it’s happened, he’s here, it made the transition easier, he what to expect. And just something little like that just really welcomes you knows his surroundings and look where he is now.” and you feel like you’re a part of the team already. As Charlie says, “It really is nuts.” “The leadership, they just set the standard and everyone kind of follows. Everyone’s treated the same way. And it’s really, really cool to learn from It’s still sinking in for Chuck and Theresa Coyle that three months ago these guys. When I was in Minnesota, you hear these stories of these their son was a member of the Minnesota Wild. Now he’s in the Stanley guys and how they interact and how good their leadership is, and when Cup final with a chance to hoist the Cup while wearing the jersey of his you see it firsthand, it really is that way. It’s no wonder that these guys favorite team growing up. have been so successful and had winning teams and been in the Cup “All of a sudden you talk to a neighbor or something like that and they’ll finals three times the last nine years. There’s no question why.” bring it up and I’ll be, ‘Oh my God, you’re right, this is crazy this is all Coincidentally, the one player Coyle is mostly happy for is longtime NHL happening.’ You find yourself pinching yourself every day,” Chuck said, vet David Backes, the former Spring Lake Park High standout and Blaine before being interrupted. native. When Coyle first broke into the league, Coyle was always “My wife just passed a note in front of me: Tell Minnesota, ‘Thank you.’” compared to Backes and the two had several run-ins during Backes’ days with the Blues. “Yeah, we liked it out there,” Chuck continued. “What a place. It was Charlie’s first home away from home. It was nice to see him kind of grow “Man, did we used to battle,” Coyle said of his now stallmate. “When we up there. played St. Louis, Backes would be on the radar. He plays rough and tough and we would have some good battles in the corners and stuff. So “You always wished Minnesota could get to the finals one of these years to sit next to him in the locker room and just play with him, he’s a great and my kid being on it. But now, after everything that transpired this guy and he’s a great leader. And you can tell how much this means to February, to go from the high of him getting traded to the Bruins to him, just emotionally, you can see it on his face, especially when we won knowing that they had a good shot to make a run for the Cup, it’s just the last series.” unbelievable with all the hoopla going on.

Speaking of that last series against Carolina, Coyle also had one “It’s a dream come true for us. I know it is for him, but for a father, a memorable run-in with former Wild teammate and bosom buddy Nino mother, seeing your kid reach that for your hometown team, it’s like … Niederreiter. well, it’s nerve-racking, too. You hope everything goes well because Boston is a lot like Minnesota. NIEDERREITER AND COYLE ARE NO LONGER TEAMMATES, GO AT IT PRETTY GOOD PIC.TWITTER.COM/BKCVVKFA43 “It’s a big hockey town. But we are so, so proud … and excited for these next few weeks. ” — CJ FOGLER (@CJZERO) MAY 15, 2019 The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 “That’s classic Nino, stirring it up, doing his job,” Coyle said, laughing. “You never see me and Nino fight. We’re not going to fight. But I saw him and I was like, ‘Yeah, what the heck,’ you know? We texted a little bit after, and … I love Nino. That was just playoff hockey. It’s just how it goes, you know? It’s nothing personal. It was kind of fun in a way.”

Coyle added with a laugh, “He might have been a little surprised, but it’s all in fun.”

During the post-series handshake line, Coyle and Niederreiter embraced.

“I said, ‘It was great playing you. You had a great year,’” Coyle said. “And Nino just said, ‘Just bring home the Cup.’”

Life has been an adjustment for Coyle and his family since the trade.

Coyle bought an offseason home a few years back in Hull, Massachusetts, on the beach he grew up going to as a kid. But because of the long commute in traffic, Coyle rented an apartment in the Seaport area of Boston in the same building and area a handful of his buddies live in.

For Coyle’s parents and two older sisters, they have found themselves going from only a handful of Bruins games a year to virtually every one.

“When he got traded, they had that six-game homestand, and I’m not used to going to all games,” Chuck Coyle said. “I get too comfortable sitting in my chair here watching it. Just getting into that routine was crazy. Luckily we know Chris Wagner’s family. Charlie and Chris played 1145180 Boston Bruins It was no surprise, then, that zero players settled in Wilmington or any surrounding communities. Summer visits were unusual. Post-practice speed limits were tested.

The other rebuild: While Bruins improved roster, they overhauled The Bruins knew an upgrade was mandatory. Their rivals — Toronto in infrastructure for the modern NHL the Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence, Montreal at the Bell Sports Complex, Ottawa at the Bell Sensplex — were practicing in state-of-the- art rinks. During the offseason, Bruins players were working out in By Fluto Shinzawa modern facilities in consultation with industry-leading trainers. Yet during the season, the facilities lagged. The team was at risk of plunging into a May 24, 2019 crevasse too deep to overcome.

“It’s almost like you’re going to be too far behind if you don’t,” Sean This year, the weight Matt Grzelcyk annually lost amid the daily trauma of Kuraly said of training that incorporates high-end gear, trends and his profession has gone the other way. The days Bruce Cassidy would techniques. “I don’t think it’s an advantage anymore. I don’t think you’re have designated for on-ice work have been turned into breathers. going to get ahead if you’re eating well. I don’t think you’re going to be in good shape and you’re going to have an advantage. You just get yourself Prior to his arm injury, Chris Wagner managed the overall inflammation to be on the same playing field.” his hit-and-run style produced. The mornings and afternoons the players would spend elsewhere have become team-building moments at the A conversation between Neely and New Balance chairman Jim Davis led team’s in-season home. to the genesis of siting Warrior within the shoemaker’s Allston-Brighton campus. Construction began in December 2014. This was all by design. The new building, however, needed filling. In 2014-15, Peter Chiarelli’s Grzelcyk cites the pancakes, prepared by team chef Keith Garman at ninth and final season as GM, the Bruins were bare-boned at the support Warrior Ice Arena, as one of the preferred dishes keeping his wispy body level: strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides; physical from withering. Cassidy considers the data, gathered by the Firstbeat therapist Scott Waugh; and trainer Don DelNegro and assistant trainer heart rate monitors and Catapult wearable devices his players use during Derek Repucci. practice, to manage workload. After practice, Wagner would dunk himself in the hot and cold tubs. The resources at Warrior — kitchen, lounge with Virtually all of today’s sports teams are nowhere near as spare. NFL its ping-pong table and TVs, sun-soaked weight room, underground teams employ speed coaches. Analysts harvest and interpret the data parking, rehabilitation and recovery equipment — have prompted players from the wearables the players use during games. In the NBA, the San to arrive early and loiter late. Antonio Spurs work with a dribbling coach.

“The game’s so fast now. Guys have injuries all the time,” Brad It just so happened that Sweeney has always been keen on sports Marchand said. “You need top-of-the-line training equipment, which we performance. Upon retiring as a player, he had turned his personal have now. Even if you have guys back to play a couple more games, that attention toward endurance sports: running, cycling, swimming. could be the difference between winning an extra game and getting an “It’s always interested me in terms of just knowing what you can push extra point, making the playoffs or not making the playoffs. All that stuff your limits to and what indicators tell you that you need to do things matters. It’s definitely helped us be in better condition and be better differently,” Sweeney said. “Those are areas we’re all trying to figure out athletes. The extra step or the extra player back, or feeling a little better on an individual level. Then collectively, coaches are trying to take that for one game, it can make a difference, which equals millions of dollars information. It’s new for them, too. It’s hard for them when a trainer or for the team and potential Stanley Cup for the group. That stuff all someone comes to them with a set of information that doesn’t matters.” necessarily dovetail, on a piece of paper, with what they saw last night The Bruins have called their Brighton practice facility home since the and what they saw on video. It could help them. But they’ve got to be start of the 2016-17 season. It is probably not a coincidence they open-minded to it.” returned to the playoffs that season after two consecutive misses. Since Sweeney became GM, the support staff has experienced Warrior is the centerpiece of an organizational infrastructure project that significant turnover and expansion. Whitesides is the team’s director of corresponds with president Cam Neely’s consolidation of power and the health, fitness and wellness, no longer involved in hockey operations. promotion of Don Sweeney to general manager. The Bruins had been a Waugh and Repucci were fired. Hires who have come and gone include cap team to that point. But the structure surrounding their roster, which strength and conditioning coach Mike Macchioni, sports performance was also under construction, required not just reinforcement but also coach Ken Pitts and physical therapist Sean Jordan. expansion. Since May 2016, Paul Whissel, director of sports performance and rehab, “We took the approach that we were behind,” Sweeney said of the team’s has overseen the strength and conditioning and medical personnel. investment in sports performance. “I think you have to take that approach DelNegro and assistant Joe Robinson are the two on-site trainers. Head in looking for the next thing. We talked to some other sports. I think you performance coach Kevin Neeld and assistant performance coach Ken have to assume that other teams are already doing this stuff. Then you Whittier are in their first years of employment. This is nutritionist Julie try to find that next nuance for yourself. It’s an evolving field.” Nicoletti’s fourth season on the payroll.

The Bruins needed time, money and belief to build an organization that The support staff and their areas of expertise have helped to maximize qualified for the modern age of professional sports. It was their version of player health and performance. With guidance from Nicoletti and the Big Dig. execution from Garman, players eat healthy meals built around dark green vegetables, whole grains and fish. The medical personnel have The old days optimized recovery periods to grant injured players more effective returns to play. Whittier regularly makes his rounds with a MacBook in his hands At Ristuccia Arena, the Bruins’ former practice facility in Wilmington, to monitor player workload. players usually convened at the bagel station for breakfast. After practice, a delivery of sirloin tips, grilled chicken, rice pilaf and salad from “They’ve done an unbelievable job with every guy that’s been injured this Rocco’s replenished the talent — those who hadn’t bolted at their first year,” Noel Acciari said. “Quick recoveries, making sure you’re ready to chance. go when you can go, not chancing it for further injury to hurt yourself even more. With Paul Whissel, Joe and Donnie in there and Kevin, our Ristuccia served the Bruins well for decades. Ice was usually good inside strength coach, they’ve been great to make sure that when we’re ready the Arctic-cold rink. The weight room was fine. to get back on the ice, we’re physically at the best we can be when we But the Bruins had outgrown the facility. The equipment managers get back out there.” practically scraped their heads on the bottom of the bleachers where they Warrior is now so much of what the Bruins do that it’s become part of set up shop. The hot and cold tubs were tight, spare and utilitarian. their lifestyle. On game days, they have their morning skates in Brighton. Coaches used the same showers as the players. Even on days off, some players report to Warrior, not just for treatment but also for bonding. “We’re extremely blessed,” Grzelcyk said. “This place turned out “We moved up quite a bit. So he’s pretty excited about that,” Cassidy incredible over the past couple years. It makes you want to be around the said with a smile of Pandolfo. “That’s his area, right?” rink even that much more. When you’re here, you have all this at your fingertips. It makes you want to keep improving. It also leaves no In their end, the Bruins have been tight in front of Tuukka Rask. excuses. Everything is laid out for us. We have to take advantage of it. I According to Natural Stat Trick, postseason opponents have averaged think guys certainly use it to their advantage. It’s definitely helped us in 3.4 rebound attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five play against Rask. Of the long run.” the 16 goalies that started the playoffs, only six (Sergei Bobrovsky, Jordan Binnington, Matt Murray, Petr Mrazek, Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Some players have approached sports science skeptically. The fear is Vasilevskiy) faced a lower rate of rebound opportunities. that personal data can be used against the players — a benching for the fourth-liner, for example, who isn’t working hard enough in practice As for the neutral zone, Cassidy was already vigilant about fortifying the according to workload feedback. The NHLPA has yet to endorse the use blue line. But analytics have shown the correlation between controlled of wearables during games. entries and chance quality. The Maple Leafs have built their offense around this philosophy. They stress clean, rapid and controlled entries. As such, the Bruins have been clear about communicating the purpose of sports science to their players. Because of the clarity of the analytics, Cassidy has made denying entries a priority. The defensemen are taught to gap, angle and challenge — “They’ve become much more invested,” Sweeney said. “They see it. keep minimal spacing with the forwards, steer puck carriers to the We’re not hiding it. It’s not running to anything other than their room as to outside and close promptly to blunt their approach. where they can utilize that stuff. We had to make sure those walls were taken down. Because this is in their best interest. That’s really why we’ve “I was always wanting to protect the blue line. But maybe not as been investing in it. aggressively as we do now,” Cassidy said. “The data kind of shows that better offensive opportunities come when you have control of the puck on It wasn’t just the players who needed help. The coaches did, too. the blue line. Teams build their team around that. I think Toronto’s a good example. They want to attack off the rush chances. They far outweigh Strength in numbers forecheck or (offensive) zone chances. If you can defend the blue line Like every coach, Bruce Cassidy knows the best scoring chances take and not let them in clean. … That’s one I watch every day to make sure place in the slot. What Cassidy might not always have known is the we’re stubborn there.” degree to which this is true. So when the reports accumulate and show Analytics have influenced the coaches. The numbers stop there. While the same result over and over and over, they have helped Cassidy signal analytics help to shape game plans, philosophies and areas of emphasis, to his players that denying slot chances in the defensive end and they are not brought up in the room. accumulating them in the offensive zone are priorities. “I like the data,” Cassidy said. “But I’m never going to go into the locker “I do believe that teams that control the slot battle — I think that’s eye room one day and say, ‘We had 16 controlled entries last game against test too, but the numbers really back that up — win the majority of the 20!’ I don’t think the players give a crap about those raw numbers. That’s games,” Cassidy said. “For me, you keep a team out of the prime scoring more for us, backing up what we’re teaching and what we’re executing.” area, you get to the prime scoring area, that’s a big determinator at five- on-five. So we constantly look at that area.” Open for improvement

In 2014-15, Ryan Nadeau led the Bruins’ analytics department. He was The Bruins spend to the cap. It’s allowed them to invest $9.5 million in its lone member. Nadeau also served as director of hockey operations, a Rask and Jaroslav Halak, the second-most expensive goaltending role that had him assisting Neely in tasks as diverse as searching for a tandem in the league. practice facility to scouting college players. The Bruins used Sydex Sports as its outside analytics consultant. But the cap fixes, to some degree, how a GM can maneuver. It will not be easy, for example, for Sweeney to manage offseason raises for Charlie Four years later, the Bruins have created an analytics division. Jeremy McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Danton Heinen if he continues to carry Rogalski, formerly the team’s video analyst, is its director. Rogalski has David Backes’ $6 million on the payroll. three colleagues: hockey operations analyst Josh Pohlkamp-Hartt, hockey operations data engineer Campbell Weaver and hockey It’s why enhancements on the perimeter can be critical to a team’s operations assistant Colin Mayberry. The Bruins are also clients of success. Sportlogiq. “We’re a cap team, and ownership has been fully supportive of what The Bruins are working in the present but also preparing for the future. other areas can we continue to evolve and improve upon,” Sweeney Sometime next season, player tracking will go live. The analytics staff will said. “That’s where we — like other teams, every team — are starting to be responsible for harvesting significantly more data and interpreting it realize, ‘How do we improve? How do we move the needle other than accurately. just the players’ side of it?’”

Sweeney believes in analytics. He speaks in the language of the The answers are everywhere outside the roster. It is the theory of industry: regression, expected save percentages, per-60 rates. marginal gains. They add up.

Cassidy, in comparison, is like most coaches. He was trained to believe The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 in formerly bedrock principles such as grit and character. Cassidy’s first stint as an NHL coach from 2002-04 took place before the analytics boom. He spent eight years in the AHL, where access to big, clean data falls short of robust.

“We’re stubborn a little bit,” said the 54-year-old Cassidy. “We like to trust our eyes. I think that’s what analytics is good for. It gives you an unbiased opinion.”

Cassidy is progressive enough to grasp how numbers can confirm beliefs or illuminate misconceptions. There are two numbers-driven areas that Cassidy and assistants Joe Sacco, Jay Pandolfo and Kevin Dean have seen fit to improve: rebound chances and neutral-zone coverage.

According to the Bruins’ internal numbers, the team was among the worst at creating rebound chances early in the season. The forwards are Pandolfo’s responsibilities. With the numbers as poor as they were, Pandolfo reminded his charges to get inside the defensemen, to attack the slot and to rev up the net-front action. By Cassidy’s count, the team improved to as high as 10th overall. 1145181 Boston Bruins this year, and he had 14 in the regular season and now has four in the playoffs. And while Steen is on the back nine of his career, his acceptance of a fourth-line role has helped that line tremendously, and I Cross-Ice Pass: Similarities between Blues and Bruins should make for a think it emboldened the belief this year that everything is about the team, hard-fought final not individuals. Berube has been starting the fourth line every game lately, and there’s a reason — they set the tone!

McDonald: Do you really want me to mention that three of Boston’s 12 By Joe McDonald and Jeremy Rutherford combined championships this century by the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics have come at the expense of St. Louis? Haha, sorry, couldn’t May 24, 2019 20 resist. Anyway, when Bruce Cassidy said these teams are “mirror Images,” he was 100 percent correct. As long as I’ve been covering the NHL (started as an intern in 1995 and full-time since ’01), I can’t It’s time for our Stanley Cup edition of Cross-Ice Pass with Blues writer remember a Stanley Cup final with two evenly matched and similarly built Jeremy Rutherford and Bruins writer Joe McDonald. Let’s jump right into teams like the Bruins and Blues. Cassidy also doesn’t shy away from this matchup. starting the fourth line, or what they like to call the “energy line” of Joakim Nordstrom, Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari at the start of every period of McDonald: Hey, Jeremy. Hope you’re well, my friend. It’s been an most games because that trio has the ability to set the tone, too. incredible run for both the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues this season. So let’s get right to predicting the winner. It’s a tough call because the For me, the most interesting aspect of Game 1 will be the goaltending. teams are mirror Images in terms of depth, physicality, solid goaltending It’s safe to say that both Tuukka Rask and Jordan Binnington are and veteran leadership. Both teams are playing extremely well. It really is candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy, but I wonder how the layoff will a tough call, but I think the Bruins win in seven. What’s your take? impact both. Obviously, Rask will have 10 days off between series, while Binnington has to wait only five. We saw Binnington in Providence of the Rutherford: Joey, I can’t wait to get to Boston and sit down in the press AHL last season, but how is he handling the big stage of the Stanley Cup box for Game 1. I’m going to be upfront with everyone that I’m a native playoffs? St. Louisan and watched the Blues growing up. As you well know, when you’re in the media, you’re able to cut the cord, and I did that years ago Rutherford: I’ve never seen a story like Binnington. He was a third-round when I started covering the team in 2005. The reason I’m telling you this draft pick in 2011 and had played in part of one NHL game before this is because I’ve been in this city my entire life and I can tell you first-hand year. I’ll never forget in one of his first training camps, I asked him a how much an appearance in the Stanley Cup final means to these question along the lines of what he’d take back with him to the minors people. I’m sure most Boston fans are aware, but for those that aren’t, when he was eventually re-assigned, and you could tell it ticked him off this is the team’s first trip since Noel Picard sent Bobby Orr soaring. that I assumed he’d be going back down, which he was. I never told anybody that story, but recently I was talking to Marty Brodeur about Joey, the city is buzzing like I’ve never seen before with this hockey Binnington and he said that part of his job when he was with the Blues team, and they really believe these Blues have a chance to win the Cup was telling Binnington to pack his bags for the minors, and he said because of the resiliency they’ve shown through three rounds. I believe Binnington would look at him like, ‘Seriously?’ I’m going to write that they have a chance, too. We were asked by The Athletic at the start of again: Jordan Binnington looked at the winningest goalie in NHL history the playoffs to pick a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winner, and mine all and could not believe what he was telling him. He was fourth on the along have been Boston and Tuukka Rask. As you said, I believe the depth chart going into this season, but the Blues were desperate for Bruins and Blues match up very well, but I’m going to go with the Blues in goaltending in January and finally gave him a chance, and the rest is six. history. He won nine straight games, and in 32 games never lost back-to- McDonald: When I covered the 2017 Winter Classic in St. Louis, I spoke back games in the regular season. I wondered how he’d handle the with a few former Blues and Cardinals players about the possibility of the playoff spotlight, but he has been the same confident guy. It’s truly a Stanley Cup one day finally being raised in St. Louis. Former Cardinal remarkable story. Jim Edmonds, who is a huge hockey fan, put it perfectly: “Oh, fans would McDonald: Always appreciate a confident player, especially when he can go nuts. It’s a great town, it really is. They talk about it so much, about back it up with his performance. I can’t even imagine a young goalie just how much of a sports town this is, and the Blues are long overdue. giving the red ass to Marty Brodeur. Another aspect about the Blues I They’ve had some really good teams but just haven’t gotten all the way appreciate is their relentless attack with reckless abandon, especially on through the playoffs. The Cardinals get so much attention for being so the forecheck. The Blue Jackets attempted to play a similar style against good for so long, and the Blues deserve to get it. They get so much Boston’s undersized defensemen, but the likes of Torey Krug, Matt publicity from being in this city, and we’ve had a lot of great players over Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton were able to handle it and stifle Columbus’ the years, it would just be really nice to see them win for the die-hard attack with an effective breakout. St. Louis is a heavy team, and I believe hockey fans to really get to celebrate.” it can have success in this area. Has the forecheck been one of its The Blues and their fans deserve it. Fans in New England have no doubt strengths? been spoiled with the 12 championships from the four major sports Rutherford: The forecheck is probably the single-most reason I believe franchises here this century, and even though the Bruins are on the cusp the Blues have a chance to win this series. I’m not saying the Bruins of adding to that list, the overall game of hockey wins with this Stanley can’t handle it — for sure they can. Sometimes the Blues don’t even get Cup matchup between two great sports cities. to it, and when that happens, you can chalk up a loss. But when they’re Anyway, down to the X’s and O’s. It’s going to be an interesting matchup on, they’re on, and it’s all four lines and even the defensemen applying to see the Bruins’ top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David the pressure in the offensive zone. When they’re humming, it’s been Pastrnak go head-to-head with the Blues’ Alexander Steen, Ivan impressive. They’re banging and they’re winning battles, and it creates Barbashev and Oskar Sundqvist. Usually the opposing top lines have a so much zone time. They don’t shoot it as much as they should when tendency of canceling each other out, but with the Blues using that fourth they have the puck, but it does wear teams down. line against opponents’ top lines, that could change in this series. How Hey Joey, I got so caught up answering you’re questions that I didn’t ask well is that line playing for St. Louis? you much, and I know Blues fans will want to hear some of your insight. Rutherford: Joey, I hate to be your editor, but Boston has 11 So before we get out of here, let me throw a couple at you. First, how’s championships, not 12. Spy-gate doesn’t count. (Message to myself: former Blues captain David Backes looking these days, and what can we don’t read Comments section). OK, back to the matchups: I’ll wait to see expect from him against his old team? what Blues coach Craig Berube does here. Obviously they’re going to be McDonald: As you know, JR, Backes is as genuine as they come as far different home-road, depending on who has the last change. In the first as pro athletes. I’m not afraid to say that there are certain players you three rounds, we’ve seen the Blues go top line vs. top line, and you’re root for, and he’s certainly one of them. He deserves to hoist the Cup, right, they tend to cancel each other out. But Berube is certainly not and he described this opportunity as bittersweet due to the afraid to use the Sundqvist line against anyone. The line has been terrific circumstances. Interestingly enough, he did say the other day that he and is the reason why everyone has been talking about the Blues’ depth would pick this current Bruins team as the team he most wants to play up front. This is no exaggeration; Sundqvist may be the most improved with in the Stanley Cup final. Of course he would say that, but his player in the NHL this season. He had two NHL goals in his career before teammates are amped up to get him that Cup. It’s been an interesting season and postseason for the former Blues captain. For the first time in his career, he dealt with being a healthy scratch because Cassidy wanted a quicker lineup. Backes responded as a true pro and didn’t complain. When he returned to the lineup, the team fed off his presence and that’s the reason he’s remained on the second line with David Krejci. There’s no way he’s coming out of the lineup at this point, especially against the Blues.

Rutherford: Yeah, I’m happy for Backes, who is a good guy, and I’m glad he’s getting a chance to play for the Cup. I know you touched on the rest factor earlier, mentioning the Bruins will have had 10 days off before Game 1. That’s a long time. I realize these are pro athletes we’re talking about, and they can shed the rust quickly, but what kind of effect do you think it will have? I know it’s kind of hard to answer, but what have they been doing to keep their edge?

McDonald: Since this veteran core for the Bruins has been through both scenarios, I really believe the long layoff will help. It’s easier to shake rust than fatigue or injuries. The one concern I have is Rask. He’s been so dialed in and playing the best hockey of his postseason career that these 10 days could have a negative impact, at least to start Game 1. He’s always been so poised and calm that it doesn’t appear to be bothering him at this point. The Bruins held a controlled intrasquad scrimmage at TD Garden on Thursday. The place was nearly sold out too. Cassidy wanted to simulate a normal game day for the players, so they had a morning skate at the team’s practice facility and arrived at the Garden ready for “game action.” It’s an interesting exercise and Cassidy understands the risks, but it’s a good way to break the monotony of this layoff and also a good way to connect with the fans and get them fired up for Game 1. In fact, the fans at the scrimmage chanted, “We want the Cup.”

Rutherford: Well, Joey, we’ll soon find out which team will hoist that Cup, and I know we’re both looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Either way, it should be an epic series. Thanks for chatting, and I’m up for doing this again if you are. Save me some ‘chow-da’ for me, and I’ll see ya Sunday!

McDonald: Sounds good, my friend. Hope you’re wicked safe in your travels.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145182 Buffalo Sabres WATCH : https://t.co/EgOvB9Szyl pic.twitter.com/buFXkRBrv6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 24, 2019

Sabres coach Ralph Krueger thrilled by first meeting with Jack Eichel With the Sabres holding the NHL's longest playoff drought, dating to 2011, Krueger understands angst is high among the fan base and has

carried into the dressing room. By Mike Harrington "We need to be able to focus on our execution and what we need to do Published Fri, May 24, 2019|Updated Fri, May 24, 2019 and let the results take care of themselves versus worrying about them," he said. "I think getting fear out of that space where there's been some struggles in the last few years and people have been very disappointed, we need to realize it's not going to be easy. The first major conversation between player and coach looking toward the Buffalo Sabres' 2019-20 season took place this week more than "It's going to be hard work and, for me, it's just getting the culture right in 4,300 miles away. And new coach Ralph Krueger says he was thrilled by that environment, getting these players to another level with the game his first extended chat with captain Jack Eichel. also without the puck. All those things we hear all the time. It's not going to be easy. I know that. I know it's going to be hard work but I love a "It was a real natural conversation. We were both pleased at the end," challenge." Krueger told TSN's Darren Dreger in an interview aired Friday from the banks of the Danube River in Bratislava, Slovakia. "We could feel the What kind of coach can the players expect? common purpose that drives me here to the job and Jack to his daily job with the Sabres. We really went a lot deeper than I expected on a first "I'm somebody that believes I need to learn every day," Krueger said. "So contact. It was good. We definitely spoke the most about hockey but also I'm going to be looking for growth as a leader first of all off the ice. And about life and leadership, which is very important from his perspective." then as a coach, I use my personnel, whether it's the staff or the players, and try to connect them. That's what I believe I do best. If I can connect Krueger said working with Eichel was a major attraction to the Buffalo job this group, you're going to be speaking a lot about us this year I hope." after he met the team's leadership in owners Terry and and General Manager . Krueger joined Botterill in Slovakia, site Buffalo News LOADED: 05.25.2019 of the World Championship, to have face-to-face meetings with Eichel and Sam Reinhart.

Eichel's tournament for Team USA ended with Thursday's quarterfinal loss to Russia while Reinhart will be playing in a semifinal for Team Canada Saturday against the .

"It's an excellent opportunity to spend some quiet time with them before they go off into their summer break," Krueger said. "Pick a little bit into their brains about where they're at and where they want to go."

Krueger knows he has to form an immediate connection with the team's young core to get his Buffalo career off to a good start.

"I think It's really important that there's open lines of communication and the expectations are very clear," he said. "That's what the young athlete of today wants. You need to be quick, you need to be direct but you need to be open and allow for an honest conversation."

Krueger also revealed he will be speaking to unrestricted free agent Jeff Skinner next week as Botterill continues to try to get the 40-goal scorer to sign a long-term contract extension.

"Those conversations, they are going to happen here in the next few days," he said. "It's important for us to see the value of Jeff, what he's done and how he embraced being in Buffalo and became a friend of the players on the team. Those are conversations we need to have now. They're never easy but Jason has definitely asked me to be a part of that process, which I enjoy."

Krueger reiterated what Botterill said on the day of the new coach's hiring: The Sabres need to be in the playoff conversation this year.

"I believe that has to be our goal," Krueger said. "Let's be honest, we still have some building to do. There's free agency ahead. We have some conversations even with players we still have in free agency. Let's bring the lineup together. I need to get to know the others better.

"I have a few months here to really get up to speed on our competition but I certainly believe we can be in the mix here very quickly. This season needs to be one where the people feel us moving towards being a contender."

Krueger recounted to Dreger the story he told Buffalo media upon his hiring earlier this month how he went around the city stopping in bars to watch hockey games and ask fans their opinions of the Sabres. No one at that time recognized him.

"I could feel the passion of the city," he said. "It feels a lot like a city in Canada as far as how important the team is in the city. And that means a lot to me to working in an environment like that."

From the #DregerCafe: New @BuffaloSabres head coach Ralph Krueger talks to @DarrenDreger about using the #IIHFWorlds as a chance to meet his new players like Jack Eichel, his time at Southampton and more... 1145183 Buffalo Sabres • The Celtics and the (St. Louis) Hawks met in the NBA Finals in 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961. Boston won three of the four meetings, with St. Louis only breaking through in '58.

Inside the NHL: Sam Reinhart's sharp play in World Championships is Commissioner Gary Bettman is slated to have his annual Cup final media another good sign address Monday night, and it's likely that replays and the state of officiating will be the major topic of inquiry. You would also expect Bettman to get some questions on the state of women's hockey and what By Mike Harrington kind of commitment the NHL is prepared to make to kick-start a professional women's league. Published Fri, May 24, 2019|Updated Fri, May 24, 2019 Sharks enter tough time

San Jose's loss in the Western Conference final to St. Louis leaves the Jack Eichel has played in multiple international competitions for Team Sharks hanging with several key players heading into free agency and USA and had some solid moments this year at the World Championships potentially retirement. in Slovakia before the Americans lost, 4-3, to Russia in Thursday's quarterfinals. The list of unrestricted free agents include Erik Karlsson, captain Joe Pavelski and 39-year-old Joe Thornton, who could be retiring. Wingers Team USA went 5-3 and Eichel had two goals and eight points in the Joonas Donskoi and Gustav Nyquist are also UFAs (and either could be eight games. Fair enough. A good showing. But from the Sabres' attractive to the Sabres as depth forwards). Restricted free agents Timo perspective, the most interesting story has been the play of Sam Meier and Kevin Labanc will be due raises, with Meier likely to get a Reinhart for Team Canada. significant bump. Reinhart last played internationally in 2016 as a 20-year-old and did not “I feel like I can still play, that’s for sure,” Thornton said Thursday.,“but I score in the 10 games. In 2015, he joined Connor McDavid as one of the haven’t made any decision at all yet. I’m a Shark. I’m a Shark. There’s key players on the team that won World Juniors gold in Toronto, but he one team, and it’s here.” had not made much impact for his national team since then. Sharks coach Peter DeBoer was particularly disappointed for Thornton. That has changed in this tournament. Heading into Saturday's semifinal with the Czech Republic, Reinhart is tied for third on the team with three “He’s the face of the organization,” said DeBoer. "He gave everything goals and has five points in eight games. he’s got and should be there. It’s hard not to feel responsibility in not helping him get where he belongs.” Sabres coach Ralph Krueger is in Slovakia watching the Worlds with General Manager Jason Botterill. TSN reported Friday that Krueger has Karlsson had to lose money going forward with his injury-plagued season met with Eichel overseas and texted or spoke with several Sabres that saw him unable to finish the West final. You wonder how much of a players, including pending free agent Jeff Skinner. The network said fit he will be in San Jose going forward. Krueger's sit-down with Reinhart was scheduled for Friday, on Team Canada's off day before the medal round. "It’s still tough to realize we’re not playing today," GM Doug Wilson said Thursday. "Having said that, I look at the calendar, I know I have to get to Reinhart became a much bigger piece for the Sabres this season, work and get some decisions done.” blowing away his career highs in assists (43), points (65) and average ice time (18:57) while scoring 22 goals. His Corsi rating at even strength was The Sharks couldn't overcome the Blues' momentum or their own injuries over 51 percent for the second consecutive year. and have now taken over the mantle from the Capitals as the best team to never win a Stanley Cup. San Jose has made the Cup final just once, Last season was Reinhart's first of the two-year, $7.3 million bridge losing to Pittsburgh in 2016, and has played in the West final five times in contract he signed during training camp. It was a show-me deal for the its history. Sabres and a bet-on-me deal for Reinhart. Advantage to the player in Year 1. Joe Thornton says he’s not sure yet whether he’ll return next season pic.twitter.com/t49N6iFqpH It was important for Reinhart to play well for Team Canada, with Botterill serving as a key member of the management team. It was important for — Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) May 23, 2019 him to keep his momentum going from the season and to parlay a good Hughes or Kakko? Kakko or Hughes? showing overseas into a good start to next season under a new coach. And to continue to give him more leverage for a big-money, long-term Does the six-goal performance of Kaapo Kakko with Finland at the World deal. Championships give the Devils pause to draft him No. 1 over American Jack Hughes next month in Vancouver? Hughes played only sporadically When dealing with talk of the Sabres' cap, much time is spent on how for Team USA and was a healthy scratch against Canada. It will be much money they will have to pay Rasmus Dahlin and perhaps Casey interesting to take the temperature of the players when they hit town for Mittelstadt in coming years while weighing a big-money deal for Skinner. the annual Scouting Combine at HarborCenter. Not nearly enough time is spent on how much it will cost to keep Reinhart. He looks like he's on the road to cashing in. The Devils are the team in the tough spot here, with the decision to make. The Rangers are sitting pretty at No. 2: They simply take Boston-St. Louis, again whichever guy is left and Rangers assistant GM set the Media Day for the Stanley Cup final is Sunday in TD Garden, as the scene for TSN in Bratislava last week. Blues and Boston Bruins meet reporters in advance of the series opener Drury on Hughes: "Jack has fit in nicely. He’s not playing the 20-plus Monday night. minutes he’s used to for the [National Development Team] all winter, but Boston and St. Louis last met for the Cup in 1970 in the last time the he learned a lot, he’s sitting next to [Patrick] Kane in the locker room, Blues made it to the final. It ended, of course, in a four-game Bruins that’s never a bad thing. I think every day he’s just trying to fit in more sweep on the iconic Bobby Orr overtime goal. The Boston-St. Louis and more and get better and better.” matchup is the only one that's taken place in the championship round of Drury on Kakko: "He’s an impressive player, no question. As far as his all four major pro sports, and Boston has gone 7-3 in the 10 meetings. body goes, he already kind of has that man’s body and he’s 6-foot-3. Aside from the '70 Stanley cup, the rundown of the other three matchups: Playing against older guys much longer than Jack has, but I think we’re in a great spot. I think either way we’re getting a hell of a player and I • The Red Sox and Cardinals have met in the World Series four times, know Jersey is, too, so I think we’re both excited.” most recently with Boston's victories in 2004 and 2013. St. Louis won in 1946 and 1967, both times in seven games. Around the boards

• The Patriots and the (St. Louis) Rams met in 2002 in Super Bowl • The other big story out of the Worlds has been how good Leafs forward XXXVI, when Adam Vinatieri's last-play field goal gave the Pats the first William Nylander looked for Sweden, as he entered the weekend leading of their six Lombardi Trophies. the tournament with 18 points in eight games (five goals, 13 assists). The Rikard Gronborg-led Swedes are not going to three-peat a gold medal, however, as they were upset in the quarterfinals by archrival Finland in overtime.

• There has been lots of chatter the last couple of days about the Penguins trading Phil Kessel to Minnesota in a deal to include Wild forward Jason Zucker in a move first rumored by the Athletic. Kessel, who has a modified no-trade clause, would have to approve. It would be the first big piece sent packing by the Pens from their 2016 and 2017 Cup champs.

You would think GM Jim Rutherford will talk to old friend Botterill about something again this offseason after Buffalo acquired Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick from the Pens last year. Just as long as it's not Kessel. A defensively indifferent player at age 31 is not what the Sabres need (and you would assume there's little chance Kessel would accept a deal here anyway).

• With Anaheim likely to hire Dallas Eakins after the AHL playoffs are over, the one big coaching uncertainty lies in Edmonton. Former Arizona boss Dave Tippett, who didn't get the Sabres job, remains the favorite. But the Oilers might wait until new GM is done here at the Combine before finalizing their choice.

• stepped down as president of the Rangers and, as expected, longtime former New York goalie and broadcaster John Davidson left Columbus last week to take the same role in New York. Sather's departure also meant the end for Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer and former Sabres captain , who stepped down from his post as senior vice president and assistant GM.

Schoenfeld, 66, had served the Rangers in multiple roles over the last 17 seasons. He served 14 years as GM of the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, a role that Drury took over in 2017.

• Delaware North, the Buffalo-based company that owns the Bruins, is coming out with some exotic concession choices in TD Garden for the Cup final. The most notable is the doughnut burger, a double cheeseburger between two glazed doughnuts with bacon, fried jalapeños and onions.

There are also shrimp and steak skewers; a footlong hot dog with bacon, steak and cheese; a deep-fried Oreo sundae; a macaroni and cheese waffle bowl; and a baguette stuffed with a choice of pasta and meatballs or chicken and broccoli.

Buffalo News LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145184 Calgary Flames regular-season championships to Stanley Cups … So a lot of good parallels between the two teams.”

9) Twenty-three players had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup in 30 Things You Didn’t Know (Or Maybe Forgot) about Flames’ Stanley 1989. To refresh your memory, a full roll-call — Theoren Fleury, Doug Cup win in 1989 Gilmour, Jiri Hrdina, Mark Hunter, Tim Hunter, Hakan Loob, Al MacInnis, Brian MacLellan, Jamie Macoun, Lanny McDonald, Brad McCrimmon, Joe Mullen, , Ric Nattress, Joe Nieuwendyk, Joel Otto, Wes Gilbertson Colin Patterson, Jim Peplinski, Rob Ramage, Gary Roberts, Gary Suter, Mike Vernon and Rick Wamsley. Seldom-used forward Sergei Priakin, Published:May 24, 2019 who made headlines months earlier as the first Soviet-trained puckster to Updated:May 24, 2019 11:09 PM MDT receive permission to skate in the NHL, and spare defenceman Ken Sabourin suited up for one playoff game apiece and received championship rings but did not have their names etched on the silverware. May 25, 1989, was the unforgettable night. 10) The Flames didn’t have any previous Stanley Cup winners on their It has been three decades since the Calgary Flames sipped from the roster, but they had some valuable experience on staff. Bench boss Terry Stanley Cup, since the skating stars and their loved ones celebrated in Crisp, assistant coach and goaltending consultant the cramped quarters of the visitors’ room at the Montreal Forum while Glenn Hall each owned championship rings from their playing days. fans back home partied along Electric Avenue. 11) Hakan Loob knew he was heading home. Still the only Swede to post To mark the 30th anniversary, here are 30 Things You Didn’t Know (Or a 50-goal campaign in the NHL, the sharpshooting winger had already Maybe Forgot) about the Flames’ Stanley Cup run in 1989 … declined a contract extension because he wanted his children to be 1) The 1989 Flames, who defeated the Canadiens in six in the schooled in his homeland. He didn’t announce his move until after the championship series, were the only visiting team to ever celebrate a season, but he was skating his last shifts in the Flaming C. “I hadn’t told Stanley Cup crown at the iconic Montreal Forum. “To win it there and be that many, but I made a decision fairly early that year that this is going to the only team ever … ” former Flames centre Joe Nieuwendyk recalled be my last year,” Loob revealed later. “We had, as a family, come to that several years ago. “I can’t even tell you how many times people, still, to decision, I think, right before Christmastime. By taking that decision and this day, say ‘You know, you guys were the only team to do it in that having that ending, that was the ‘Bingo!’ for our family, for me. It was a historic building.’ And that’s a great feeling.” great ending.” Loob is now back on the team payroll as the Flames’ head scout in Europe. 2) Who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal? That would be Doug Gilmour, whose power-play tally — he batted his own rebound behind 12) Flames’ all-timer Lanny McDonald had been scratched for three Patrick Roy — with 8:58 remaining in the third period stood as the game- straight in the Stanley Cup final before being reinserted in Game 6. In winner. The Habs then trimmed the deficit to one, but Gilmour scored fact, Lanny was wondering until after warm-ups whether he would be in again, sealing a 4-2 victory with an empty-netter. the lineup on that special evening. It was assistant coach Doug Risebrough who delivered the news. “He called me out of the dressing 3) Al MacInnis was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner after becoming the room and into the training room, and he didn’t even say, ‘You’re in the first defenceman to lead the post-season scoring race. Macinnis racked lineup,’ ” McDonald recalled. “He said, ‘You remember the power play?’ up 31 playoff points, a half-dozen more than the most productive forward ‘Well … for gosh sakes, Riser, I’ve been doing the power-play for 16 that spring — Tim Kerr of the Philadelphia Flyers. Armed with a wicked years. Of course, I remember it!’ He said, ‘OK, great, you’re in.’ ‘Thank slapper, MacInnis was riding a record-setting 17-game point-spree when goodness, I answered that question correctly.’” the Flames completed their quest. 13) Ever wonder why fellow co-captains Tim Hunter and Jim Peplinski 4) MacInnis made history of a different sort (and pocketed some extra are wearing long-johns in that famous photo as they joined Lanny to hoist dough, too) when he declared, “I’m going to Disney World!” That tradition the historic trophy? They were the odd-men-out in Game 6 but hustled had started a few years earlier at the Super Bowl, but MacInnis was the onto the ice in their workout gear to celebrate. first NHLer to lend his voice to the promotional campaign for the famed theme park. For doing so, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner cashed a 14) Then 36 and having notched both his 500th goal and 1,000th point $10,000 bonus. In a hush-hush meeting prior to Game 6, Flames during the regular season, McDonald was pondering retirement but forwards Joe Mullen and Joel Otto and stalwart goalie Mike Vernon were hadn’t yet decided on his future. The iconic right-winger did, however, offered the same reward for a pre-taped mention of a trip to visit Mickey, mention on the morning of Game 6 to buddy Colin Patterson that he had Minnie & Co. in case they were chosen as the playoff MVP. scored his first career goal at the Montreal Forum in 1973 and it would be pretty cool to register his last twine-tickling in the same rink. He did 5) Calgary’s leading marksman during the 1989 Stanley Cup run was exactly that, going top-shelf with a wrister for a goosebumps-type tally right-winger Joe Mullen, who provided 16 lamp-lightings. Doug Gilmour that has been replayed countless time since. With a Stanley Cup on his (11) and Joe Nieuwendyk (10) were the only other Flames to hit double- resume (finally), Lanny announced his retirement in August of that year. digits in that department. “I waited kind of all summer to actually decide, ‘Is that it or not?’ I just wanted to make sure,” McDonald said. “I loved the way that Jean 6) The 1989 Stanley Cup final was a rematch of the championship Beliveau ended his career. I certainly wasn’t Jean Beliveau, but he won it showdown from three years earlier, a series won by the Habs in five. in his last year, and he was still a top point-getter for the Canadiens and Now three decades later, ’89 remains the last time that two Canadian he walked away. I always thought, ‘Wow, what a way to go out.’ ” teams squared off for the NHL’s ultimate prize and also the most recent occurrence of the top seed from both conferences having advanced to 15) How deep was this crew? Theoren Fleury, a rookie buzzsaw who had the league final. been called up from the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles in early January, skated on the fourth line. Fleury, who would become a franchise legend 7) A few jaw-dropping regular-season stats — the 1988-89 Flames and join the NHL’s exclusive 1,000-point club, scored five times that scored 354 goals, racked up a club-record 54 wins and 117 points en spring. “It was really kind of hard to believe that a year before that, I was route to claiming the Presidents’ Trophy and lost only four games on playing in Moose Jaw,” Fleury once recalled. “And here I am in the home-ice at the Olympic Saddledome. Whoa. Montreal Forum … 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and we win the Stanley 8) Flames general manager — also known as ‘Trader Cliff’ Cup. It was just crazy.” — made one swap at the deadline that year, acquiring forward Brian 16) The Flames were missing a key contributor after defenceman Gary MacLellan from the . MacLellan reached the top of Suter suffered a broken jaw during the opening playoff round. Right- the mountain again as the GM for the Stanley Cup-winning Washington winger Mark Hunter missed a chunk of action due to a broken hand but Capitals last June. “For me, to get to experience the last part of it was a returned for the final, wearing a playing cast during that series. great learning experience,” he reminisced of his stint in Cowtown. “They were similar situations … At that time, Calgary was a team that was 17) The 1989 Flames barely survived a first-round scare from the always struggling to get by Edmonton, had won a couple of Presidents underdog Vancouver Canucks, who pushed the would-be champs to Trophies and hadn’t turned them into a Stanley Cup. Washington was in overtime in a Game 7 nailbiter. Mike Vernon delivered three clutch stops the same spot — always struggling to get by Pittsburgh, didn’t translate in the bonus session — glove-hand robberies of and and a terrific toe-save on Petri Skriko — and a crease-crashing Joel he couldn’t win the big one. Dana Murzyn, whose path to the pros Otto was credited with the winner after Jim Peplinksi’s pass banked off included stints with the AJHL’s Spurs and the Wranglers, sidekicked for his skate and in. “We certainly knew how tough of a series that was and Al Macinnis on the top defence pair, while Calgary-born tough guy Tim how great Vancouver played, and we did dodge a bullet in terms of Mike Hunter — drafted by the Flames while the franchise was still home-based made some wonderful saves,” Otto recalled. “There was a lot of relief, in Atlanta — was one of the letter-wearers. Hunter re-wrote his own club and it kind of reset us to realize, ‘You know what? We are on a path now, record with 375 (!) penalty minutes during the regular season. and we have the horses to do it.’ I think a lot of guys took over after that.” 28) Flames backup netminder Rick Wamsley logged just one period of 18) The Flames won a hat-trick of overtime games during that official action during the playoff run, but he pitched a superstitious unforgettable spring. The other sudden-death goal-scorers? Take a bow, shutout prior to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final in Montreal. Canadiens Doug Gilmour and Al MacInnis. speedster Russ Courtnall had a habit of firing a puck into the empty enemy net at the end of pre-game warm-ups, but Wamsley wouldn’t 19) When the Flames faced Wayne Gretzky and the leave the crease until arena attendants shooed both guys off the ice so in the Final, Gilmour was assigned to shadow The Great the Zamboni driver could clean the sheet. One. He did a heck of a job. Gretzky managed just one marker against the Flames, while Gilmour netted five of his own, including a pair of 29) Legendary radio play-by-play man Peter Maher marked the Stanley game-winners. Cup triumph with three consecutive cries of ‘Yeah, Baby!’ That was his trademark call for the big moments. But he wouldn’t unleash three in a 20) Colin Patterson and his wife, Sherrie, welcomed their first child row again until Martin Gelinas’ overtime goal to complete an upset of the between Games 3-4 of the Campbell Conference Final against the Detroit Red Wings in the spring of 2004. (Maher also authored a book, Chicago Blackhawks, with the reliable left-winger hustling home from the Eternal Flames, that is chock-full of fascinating facts about the Windy City to meet the new arrival but never missing any of the action. championship campaign.) “The flights just worked out perfect — I wasn’t able to be there for the birth of my daughter, but I was able to hear it on a pay-phone in the 30) According to Maher’s book, the 1989 Flames split a Stanley Cup airport, dialled in to the birthing room. That was pretty neat,” Patterson bonus of $525,000, or roughly $25,000 per player. To put that sum in said. “Then I jumped on the flight, came home, saw my wife and our perspective, the highest-paid gents on Calgary’s current roster earn more newborn daughter, Stephanie, and then was able to turn around, jump than triple that — before taxes and union dues, that is — for every single back on a flight and get back to Chicago in time for the game. It was a regular-season game. pretty special time and a pretty special moment.” Calgary Sun: LOADED: 05.25.2019 21) When Al MacInnis buried the overtime winner in Game 4 of the Campbell Conference Final at the old Chicago Stadium, Flames head coach Terry Crisp was so excited he climbed the glass and planted a kiss on a woman who was sitting behind the visitors’ bench. Thing is, that wasn’t his wife. Sheila was seated nearby, but the celebrating skipper — now just one win shy of leading his squad to the Stanley Cup series — accidentally smooched assistant general manager Al MacNeil’s better half, Norma. Whoops.

22) May 25, 1989, turned out to be twice as nice for a pair of Flames celebrating birthdays that day. Rugged rearguard Ric Nattress turned 27 in championship-winning style, while second-string puck-stopper Rick Wamsley marked his 30th with a Stanley Cup bash.

23) After completing their sweep of the Gretzky-led Kings in the second round, the Flames reportedly declined the congratulatory champagne offered by the staff at their hotel in Los Angeles. They wouldn’t toast any accomplishment until the job was done. But when it was …

24) The newly-minted champions were still on the runway in Montreal when their post-game celebrations hit a bit of a snag. Before their flight back to Calgary was even in the air, they had apparently drained their supply of hops and barley. “The only disappointing part of it was we ran out of beer before we took off,” Doug Gilmour once told The Hockey News. “Whatever was available after that point — liquor, wine, whatever — was what we drank. We didn’t really care at that point.”

25) The Stanley Cup was supposed to travel back to Calgary in a secured case. The Flames had other ideas. Assistant trainer Al Murray — son of the legendary Bearcat Murray — is the guy who clipped the locks. “We’re packing up all the equipment at the rink and the last thing — they put the Cup in a crate, with six locks on it, and we put it in with the equipment. They said NHL security has keys at the other end to open it up,” Al Murray told Sportsnet. “We get to the airport, and we’re loading the plane, and the Cup is the last thing to go onto the plane … And I’m going, ‘This isn’t right.’ You work all year for this thing — it didn’t seem right to stick it in the belly of the plane.” So they didn’t. Murray mentioned his plan to a couple of players and, with their approval, borrowed bolt- cutters from the airport staff to free the shiny prize. The Stanley Cup was stashed in a lavatory at the back of the plane until the pilot announced that a special guest was on board. Must have been quite a scene.

26) Before the , Flames fans partied on Electric Avenue — a stretch of hot-spots and watering holes along 11th Ave. S.W. Officials guesstimated that about 25,000 revellers hit Electric Avenue to celebrate Calgary’s Stanley Cup capper, while twice that many braved miserable weather for a victory parade a few days later.

27) The Flames’ championship roster included a trio of local lads. Homegrown goalie Mike Vernon, who had starred for the Midget AAA Royals, the Junior Hockey League’s Canucks and then the ’s Wranglers, silenced any critics who claimed 1145185 Calgary Flames Johnny Gaudreau placing ahead of him (ie: the Flames top line). On top of all that, Tkachuk has been the most efficient Flames scorer with the man advantage, owing in part to his sublime net-front presence.

The uniqueness of Matthew Tkachuk and the problems that arise when Tkachuk has played in some tough circumstances as a very young player assessing his fair market value and flourished. His ability to drive play against stars (albeit with a very capable centre) and still score pretty effectively — all before the age of 22 — is noteworthy. Although he didn’t break the 50-point threshold until By Scott Cruickshank and Kent Wilson his third season, it’s fair to assume he would have scored a lot more had he been used in a top line offensive role. May 24, 2019 Tkachuk’s contributions go beyond offensive output and possession

numbers. At hand is a group of star forwards that has laid waste to the entry-level- Like his dad Keith — who amassed 1,065 points and 2,219 penalty contract phase. minutes in 1,201 games — there is a lot to consider when assessing his In addition to the youngsters’ on-ice wiles, obvious to even the most brand of hockey. casual of observers, is their bar-setting potential at the bargaining table. “He’s a highly talented player, man,” one insider said. “He’s a presence That’s because many of them — including one of the class’s out there.” centrepieces, Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames — are restricted free agents in need of financial commitment. Mouthguard chewed flat, smirk in place, Tkachuk can be mean, he can be brash. He’s got swagger and edge. He’s a royal pain. The negotiations of which are sure to shape the summer’s storylines and shake the league’s salary foundations. “He’s got so many different qualities to him, how do you compare?” another source said. “There’s the intangibles that you can’t measure.” “The landscape is changing with these players and this particular crop,” one NHL insider said. “I think it’s a natural progression with salaries — Around the city, the young man is openly adored — and not just by the cost of living, everything goes up over time, right? I think we’ve been Flames fans. kind of stagnant here for a while with some of these contracts. I think they’re going to take another leg up (to sign) some of these elite players. Theo Fleury on the Flames budding star, “I’d pay to watch Matthew They have to.” Tkachuk play, and there’s a lot of guys in the league now I wouldn’t pay to go see. They don’t make hockey players like Matthew Tkachuk Rounding up some of the hotshots in addition to Tkachuk — Colorado’s anymore. He is a throwback, an old-school hockey player.” Mikko Rantanen, Tampa’s Brayden Point, San Jose’s Timo Meier, Vancouver’s Brock Boeser, Carolina’s Sebastian Aho, Winnipeg’s Patrik Peter Maher, legendary voice of the Flames, had this to say about Laine and and Toronto’s Mitch Marner. Tkachuk: “My favourite player today? Matthew Tkachuk. I love him. I think he’s an awesome player. He can do everything.” Auston Matthews would have also been a part of this list, but he jumped the queue in February and agreed to a whopper, five years with an The burning question then: how do you put a price tag on all that? annual average value of $11.6 million. That’s what will be determined in the coming months by Flames general “You’re going to hear this from everybody — the deal that Matthews did manager and agent Craig Oster, who happens to be changes the game,” said another insider, referring to its big bang on a Tkachuk’s uncle. shorter term. It is worth noting that Treliving, when faced with in-house contracts, does Like Matthews, Tkachuk brings a lot to the table. well. But this is going to be a test.

He is one of the five stars/impact players to emerge from the 2016 Draft: “In my view, Matthew Tkachuk is a unique player,” Craig Button, an analyst for TSN said. “Where do you find these guys? He’s not just a Auston Matthews (205 points) good young player, he’s a good, young, unique player. He’s not just a left winger that scores, right? He’s a unique left winger that adds so many Patrik Laine (184 points) unique elements to the game. Matthew Tkachuk (174 points) “So that’s supply and demand in the marketplace.” Alex DeBrincat (128 points) Comparisons to Gaudreau and Monahan are natural since they recently Pierre-Luc Dubois (109 points) signed their own RFA long-term contracts. The cap was $73 million the season the Flames two top liners re-signed, while the expected cap next Tkachuk has scored the third most points overall amongst this group and year is $83 million. As such, it’s sensible to “correct” for cap inflation in has the same PPG pace as both DeBrincat and Laine (0.78). order to better compare the three:

Arguably, Tkachuk is the only player here who has not mostly played in a Gaudreau: $6.75 million = 9.25 percent of the cap top line/offensive type role. Deployed as a shut-down winger with Mikael Backlund, he has played almost exclusively against the other team’s Monahan: $6.375 million = 8.73 percent of the cap stars ever since he made the NHL. He has also not played with other Tkachuk: $7.68 million = 9.25 percent of the cap offensive stars at even strength, with his most regular linemates being Backlund and Michael Frolik. If we assume Tkachuk will at least match Gaudreau in terms of value, his contract comes in at 7.68 million just as a matter of inflation. Tkachuk carries the reputation of being a “unicorn” amongst younger players league-wide and it is evident as to why when you look at his Of course, we know that Gaudreau’s contract was due, in part, to the so- underlying numbers compared to the rest of his teammates. called “Giordano ceiling” the team erected in deference to its best player and captain. ’s contract was 9.44 percent of the Flames’ Three-year CF% (possession rate): 56.8 percent (first amongst all regular cap budget when it was signed in 2015-16, or $7.5 million in 2019-20 skaters) dollars. Three-year rel CF% (relative possession rate): +5.78 percent (third) Giordano and Gaudreau may seem like lofty company for Tkachuk from Three-year even-strength scoring rate: 2.02 points/60 (fourth) some angles, but if we look at Evolving Wild’s Goals Above Replacement (a holistic metric that sums all of a player’s contributions), Tkachuk Three-year PP scoring rate: 5.27 points/60 (first) places third on the team over the last three seasons, with a cumulative GAR of +30.2. Despite facing top lines right out of junior, he has the best raw Corsi rate of all regular Flames skaters over the last three seasons. His relative The two players ahead of him? Giordano (+44.4) and Gaudreau (+45.5). Corsi rate still places him top three and his scoring rate 5-on-5 is the However, it should be noted that Tkachuk was 18 and 19 years old (!) fourth most efficient — with only Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan and during two of those seasons, which is a point when most guys aren’t In the cases of Pastrnak, MacKinnon, Scheifele, those are agreements even playing in the NHL, let alone making this kind of impact. set to run six, seven, eight years, respectively.

According to Evolving Wild’s contract projections, Tkachuk comes in “Those three players have clearly outperformed their contracts — around $7.95 million over six years, which on the surface seems in the clearly,” Button said. “So why would a player want to sign a long-term right ballpark if we take his numbers and results at face value. contract? A good player feels he’ll push out of that range really quickly. Those contracts serve as an impetus for players to say no to the long It gives him a slight raise over Gaudreau, corrected for cap inflation, but it term. also doesn’t buy the Flames many UFA seasons, which may be a point of contention between player and team. “It becomes really really difficult to say what an eight-year term looks like. Mark Scheifele is a $10-million player. Nathan MacKinnon, you can’t tell However, there are a few reasons the player and agent could argue for a me he’s not as good as Auston Matthews. And David Pastrnak, you premium cap hit of $9 million or even higher. could make the argument that he’s worth nine, nine and a half. Clearly, First, that Tkachuk’s offensive results (the numbers that tend to get they’ve outperformed their contracts.” players paid the most in free agency) were suppressed over his ELC due Which can create a certain touchiness. As one source bluntly puts it: to his role and responsibilities — a role he nevertheless performed well “Nothing bothers a player more than looking at his peer group and going, above average in. Not only does Tkachuk not play with Calgary’s other ‘Fuck, am I underpaid.’ And we’re not talking about by half a million or a high-end offensive players at even strength, but they are also given million. We’re talking about four and five million dollars a year.” relatively easier minutes than the youngster. Nevertheless, he boasts some of the best overall results on the team over the last three years. That’s not to say Treliving and Oster won’t find middle ground on a deal that keeps Tkachuk in Calgary through his 20s. Second, they could “sell” some of Tkachuk’s UFA seasons at a premium above the “fair” projected cap hit, increasing the term and AAV. For many “The challenge comes in trying to find value in a long-term contract,” said players, an increase in contract length means a smaller cap hit, but for Button. “Unless a team is prepared to say — and I’ll just use Matthew young, high impact players like Tkachuk, the team often has to pay more Tkachuk as an example — ‘You know, Matthew, we believe in you so to ensure a long-term commitment. much, we’re going to give you $11 million a year for eight years.’ And Matthew might be looking at that and going, ‘You know what? I might be Finally, due to his age and positive trend upwards, they could argue that worth 12.’ Or he might say, ‘I’ll take it — that’s $88 million.’ But is a team Tkachuk has yet to peak and that his future contributions are more likely prepared to do that?” to be in the $9-million range. Tkachuk’s overall versatility — shut down forward, agitator, PP and ES scorer — not to mention his pedigree as a One byproduct of having this many plums on display — with the growing sixth overall pick (and son of an NHL star) suggests he has yet to hit his impatience of some front offices — is the potential for rivals to swoop in. peak. The fact that he hasn’t been deployed as a scorer to date favours this argument as well. Plundering rarely happens. That may change.

Even though his “current” cap projection is realistically in the $7- to 8- “I think the days of seeing an offer sheet every 10 years are over,” said million range given his contributions, one could reasonably expect an one insider. “You’ve got owners who want to win championships, so I improvement in those results — and therefore value to the team — think we’ll see more offer sheets moving forward, which is a great thing through much of the next contract. for the players.”

One insider prefaces his comments by stating that securing No. 19 is A REMINDER FROM THE NHL ON WHAT THE DRAFT PICK going to dearly cost the Flames. How much exactly? Simply put — a COMPENSATION IS FOR RFA OFFER SHEETS: franchise-record fortune on a long deal, a nearly as hefty pay packet on a PIC.TWITTER.COM/EH088TKESQ shorter pact. — CRAIG CUSTANCE (@CRAIGCUSTANCE) JULY 1, 2015

“You know what? He’s probably going to set a new bar, in my opinion. I NHL teams’ approach to compensation has already changed — and is could see that being upwards of nine, 10 (million dollars per season) — I changing — drastically. For perspective, check out the timing of the wouldn’t be surprised at that,” he said. “I’m sure the agent is going to Flames’ high-water marks for salary. want a shorter term … but I would bet the team would want a longer term. It always works in the favour of the team when it’s a longer term. Jarome Iginla getting $7.5 million (not including bonuses) on the back Look at poor Connor McDavid. He’s on an eight-year deal. Do you think half of a two-year deal after leading the NHL in goals and points in 2001- he would’ve wanted a shorter one? Right?” 02.

Added another insider: “I think you’re going to see Tkachuk taking a signing for $8.5 million (in the first year of a front-loaded shorter-term deal. I think that’s the new trend. I bet his representation agreement) after winning the 2006 Vezina Trophy. isn’t even looking at the long-term side right now … after the Matthews Both were established veterans. deal.” These days, kids are getting paid — and not based on pie-in-the-sky Would Tkachuk foregoing a max-length deal be a trend or a return to potential, but on in-your-face production. conventional wisdom? Signing five-year contracts out of their entry-level deals were the likes of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry, “The impact of the younger player in the league has become more Ryan Getzlaf. significant,” Button said. “Players are better prepared to come into the NHL at a younger age and they’re making a bigger impact at a younger After a lengthy holdout, William Nylander accepted a six-year age. So it follows … that coming out of entry-level contracts, you’re going commitment for almost $42 million, which represents a $6.96-million cap to have players with really good strong accomplishments. hit. For Button, who likes the game of the Toronto winger, this serves as a handy starting point for establishing Tkachuk’s worth. “So any time we see a class like this and it’s (considered) the first class, like, ‘Wow, it’s special’ — and I know you have Matthews and Laine and “Matthew has outperformed William Nylander,” Button said. “So it seems Connor and Tkachuk — but this is the way the league is trending. So I to me we’re already in the $8-million range for Matthew Tkachuk, at the think we’re going to see more of this.” very least. And I’m talking on a five- or six-year deal. I’m not talking about an eight-year deal.” Meanwhile, for players and agents, there is no rush to come to terms this summer — let someone else somewhere else set the precedent, then “People can say, ‘(Look at the deals of) Gaudreau and Monahan.’ use it as a lever. Different climate, different time.” “If you don’t have to be first, there’s always an advantage to that,” said an Because, in a blink, comparable contracts wind up dated. insider. “Waiting and use some comparables.” Here are just a few players that have already outgrown their contract — Also on Treliving’s to-ink list are restricted free agents Sam Bennett, Gaudreau ($6.75 million), Boston’s David Pastrnak ($6.66 million), David Rittich and Andrew Mangiapane. Monahan ($6.375 million), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon ($6.3 million), Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele ($6.125 million). Sorting out Tkachuk’s demands, though, is the priority. It has the makings of a long offseason, according to one source, who pointed to the contracts of Monahan and Gaudreau, which, respectively, took till August and October to hammer out in 2016.

“And this is going to be a harder deal to do than those ones.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145186 Carolina Hurricanes Teuvo Teravainen: The word “steal” is tossed around too much in terms of NHL contracts, but with the way Teravainen played his best hockey after he re-signed with the Canes midseason, the way his “compete The players most likely to stay with the Hurricanes — and those most level” improved along with it, and his elevated performance in the likely to leave playoffs? Five years, $5.4 million AAV is a steal.

Most players say nice things about where they play at the end of the year even if they’re lying, but Teravainen didn’t have to go so hard. By Sara Civian “I really enjoy my time here,” he said. “This is where I want to play. I want May 24, 2019 to be here to build this team to be a Stanley Cup team again. I think we have a lot of good pieces here. It feels like it’s becoming a place where

people are starting to want to come.” The Hurricanes were a healthy mix of disappointed (no Cup) and proud Nino Niederreiter: It’s not like Niederreiter for Victor Rask singlehandedly (*vaguely gestures toward their entire second half*) throughout end-of- changed everything for the Hurricanes, but it got as close as a one-for- season interviews this week. one can. He waltzed right onto the roster with the finishing touch that’d This group was far from perfect, but its members had so much respect been severely lacking for the first half of the season, and it was almost for and belief in each other that it almost eclipsed perfection. like he sprinkled little Nino magic dust over the rest of the team to give them some of his powers. Whatever the reason (mostly positive Brett Pesce and others kept reiterating that they’d never been part of regression), the rest of them started to look more like him when he such a close group. Among valid disappointments like coming so close to arrived, and you don’t really mess with that. the Stanley Cup final and falling short, ending a gusty season flailing through a sweep and individual performance regrets, you got the feeling Jordan Staal: First of all, no move clause. Second of all, shutdown that above all else they dreaded the thought of any drastic personnel center, veteran presence, willed the Hurricanes into the playoffs for the changes. first time in a decade upon his return from injury.

GM and head coach Rod Brind’Amour reassured us Likely staying Tuesday that they aren’t anticipating any changes to the coaching or Brock McGinn: McGinn has been criticized at times this season for lack management staffs. of a killer instinct, but it was mostly a matter of being forced into roles that In terms of players, though, they spout the “it’s a business” cliche in didn’t fit his style of play. His Game 7, double-overtime goal is now interviews so often for a reason. It is my understanding that the etched in Hurricanes lore, but it was also a reminder of how well- Hurricanes believe they made most of the big changes they felt they had conditioned he is and how well he fits into this system. You don’t win to last offseason. Now it’s more or less a don’t fix what ain’t broke, those grinder games without the McGinns of the world — especially his preserve the newfound culture approach. play earlier in that game, when he kept the puck out of the net. I wouldn’t totally rule out the Canes including him in some sort of package deal, but It’s just that preserving that culture could arguably take as much work as I imagine they will reach a reasonable deal in his impending restricted last season’s big moves. The Canes need to spend big money on free agency. Sebastian Aho, find a way to re-sign two goalies who outplayed their contracts, replace certain players who just won’t see eye-to-eye with Warren Foegele: Foegele and McGinn are in the same category of “can’t management on worth/term and wait to see what Justin Williams’ future see them leaving but ~it’s a business~.” holds. Brett Pesce: Solid defenseman on a solid contract. Tough to imagine a There’s a lot that could inevitably look different despite a general desire budget team that revolves around its defense will give that up, but again, to maintain and build on the new status quo. Let’s explore some of the you never know if the “right deal” will come along. possibilities. Calvin de Haan: Basically same situation as Pesce. The Untouchables: Six locks to stay The big decisions Andrei Svechnikov: The Hurricanes management and coaching staff Justin Williams: Williams’ future is the biggest story of the offseason for adore Svechnikov, and I can’t imagine anyone who has ever had a these Hurricanes. As of Monday, he hasn’t decided what he wants to do conversation with the 19-year-old doesn’t. There was obviously a lot of yet. It’s a matter of making sure he still has the tools to give everything a emphasis on how the culture shift started with Brind’Amour and Williams, player like him gives. but Svechnikov was the perfect sponge for it. Humble, super hard worker, always wanting to improve and study film. Expect him to be a “I haven’t made a decision yet,” he said. “… I put everything I had into it Hurricane (and an important one) for a very long time. this year, and if I have everything again then I’ll be here. But I haven’t gone that far yet. It’ll probably be a little ways down the road before that Sebastian Aho: The Canes and Aho’s camp tabled contract negotiations decision’s made. … Ultimately it’s going to come down to a family during the season to focus on hockey and it looks like that worked out — decision and it’s going to come down to me, how I feel, and whether I feel especially if you’re Aho, and you just had a career year, proving yourself like I can be 100 percent in. You can’t go 85 percent, you can’t go 90 as a first-line NHL center in the process. percent. You’ve gotta go all the way in if you’re going.” “I hope it’s just not something we’re still sitting here talking about in I could see him taking it year-by-year, like Zdeno Chara is doing in August or September,” Waddell said Tuesday. “You’ve got a party who Boston right now. Either way, the ball is clearly in his court — or the puck wants to be here, and from our end, we want him here. So I truly believe is in his net? that we should be able to figure this out in a relatively short time frame.” Petr Mrazek and/or Curtis McElhinney: Waddell said the “goal would be My understanding of the situation is that for a while now the Hurricanes to bring them both back if we could.” have obviously known they will have to pay their restricted free agent of a star and that it was never going to be an issue. Can they?

Jaccob Slavin: This tweet from November aged quite well if you ask The point of Mrazek signing a one-year, prove yourself deal was me… obviously to prove himself. He did. McElhinney was a waiver wire dream.

HIS NAME ISN’T POPPING UP BECAUSE JACCOB SLAVIN IS Think about the goalie market right now, how much free agents would be BETTER THAN NYLANDER HTTPS://T.CO/YJJPSLEFP9 asking for, how likely (read: unlikely) it’d be to sign Sergei Bobrovsky. Re-signing Mrazek and McElhinney while giving Alex Nedeljkovic — SARA CIV (@SARACIVIAN) NOVEMBER 13, 2018 opportunities to prove himself seems like one of the better case Jordan Martinook: Folks don’t tend to go on and on about how much a scenarios going forward. guy has meant to a culture change, re-sign him to a solid deal Most likely to be traded midseason, watch him have his first child in Raleigh … just to trade him. or Dougie Hamilton: It’s time to bring up everyone’s two favorite names to bring up when we’re talking about Hurricanes trades! Do I think the Canes are aggressively shopping Faulk and/or Hamilton right now? Not really. Do I think they’re the two big names most likely to yield a worthwhile return? Of course.

It’d be a shame to trade either of them, honestly, after their seasons and how much they seem to enjoy being Hurricanes right now. But it’s time, once again, for our favorite phrase: ~It’s a business.~

And the Canes are currently in the business of not passing up goal- scorers, especially if they let walk.

Waddell said Tuesday he was getting in touch with Faulk’s camp and would like to re-sign him. Faulk was great in the playoffs and seemed reinvigorated this season. Hamilton was crucial in the second half of the season to get the Canes to the playoffs, and admitted Monday that part of his slow start was a broken pinky that he’d been playing through since November.

Both of their situations strike me as “see what’s out there, but no need to trade either of them if it’s not for something great.”

Haydn Fleury or Trevor van Riemsdyk: I could see either of these happening in a package, maybe with one of the Canes’ many draft picks and/or one of their promising prospects. Fleury or van Riemsdyk alone isn’t usually going to get you the kind of proven scoring threat the Canes want, but it would be in their best interest to move a luxury for something they need more desperately. There’s also the fact that Fleury deserves a spot in the NHL and has been a great sport in limbo between the NHL and AHL all season. van Riemsdyk is as solid as third-pairing defensemen come, and he was playing some of the best hockey of his career before he got injured in Round 2 of the playoffs. I could see a team noticing that and wanting to trade for him, but obviously the question is if the return would be worth it.

The unknowns: Too tough to call at this point

Greg McKegg: He’s probably earned an actual NHL contract as he approaches unrestricted free agency this summer. He fit in well with the Canes, but if they trade for another center or Martin Necas earns his much-anticipated NHL spot, the Canes might not want to pay McKegg as much as he could be worth. Totally understandable from both sides if they don’t reach an agreement, but I loved the way his journeyman story panned out in Raleigh.

Draft picks: The Hurricanes are in the best spot in terms of teams that made a deep playoff run and still have draft picks to play around with.

PICKS HELD BY TEAMS THAT MADE THE CONFERENCE FINALS:

BOS 1-3-5-6-7

STL 2-3-5-6

SJS 3-5-6-7

CAR 1-2-2-2-3-4-5-6-6-7

TEAMS THAT LOST IN ROUND 2:

NYI 1-2-5-6-7

CBJ 3-7 若

DAL 4-5-6

COL 1-1-2-3-3-5-6-7 (RIP OTT)

— SARA CIV (@SARACIVIAN) MAY 22, 2019

(Dallas has a first-rounder still, my mistake on that tweet)

We’ll talk later about how they might use all these picks, but a few of them could obviously get traded away in a package.

So long and farewell

Micheal Ferland: It’s tough to imagine the Hurricanes are going to pay him what he’s seeking with the way the second half of his season played out and how it sort of coincided with Niederreiter’s establishment as a net-front power play presence. A lot of teams could use a player like him, good for him if he can find his raise somewhere else.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145187 Chicago Blackhawks

Wolves pull even in conference finals with 2-1 win in double overtime in Game 4

Chicago Tribune staff

League MVP Daniel Carr’s goal 6 minutes, 1 second into the second overtime gave the Wolves a 2-1 victory over the Gulls on Friday night in San Diego and evened the best-of-seven AHL Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

The Wolves took a 1-0 lead into the third period on ’s goal at the 4:17 mark of the second. But the Gulls got the equalizer when Justin Kloos scored 3:36 into the third.

Wolves goalie Oscar Dansk finished with 40 saves, while his counterpart Kevin Boyle had 42.

The Wolves outshot the Gulls 31-12 through two periods before momentum shifted. The Gulls had a 26-10 edge in shots over the third period and first overtime. The Wolves finished with a 44-41 advantage for the game.

Game 5 is at 9 p.m. Saturday in San Diego, and the series will return to Allstate Arena in Rosemont for Game 6 at 7 p.m. Monday.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145188 Colorado Avalanche remain open right to the end” in terms of a potential return, understanding what the unrestricted-free-agent class will look like this summer for .

Why Pavel Francouz’s new deal could signal Semyon Varlamov’s end Varlamov is expected to be the second-most-notable goalie on the with the Avalanche market behind Sergei Bobrovsky, who was already one of the marquee names in free agency regardless of position.

By Ryan S. Clark There could be a number of suitors showing interest in Varlamov and potentially offering him a contract worth $3 million annually. May 24, 2019 Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Avalanche will not be one of those teams.

Securing the future of Pavel Francouz on Friday appears to have Sakic and the Avalanche will have a little more than $37 million in provided insight into the Colorado Avalanche’s plans for Semyon available salary cap space, according to CapFriendly. That is a reserve Varlamov. that will be used to re-sign such key restricted free agents as J.T. Compher, Alexander Kerfoot, Mikko Rantanen and Nikita Zadorov, Francouz and the Avalanche agreed to a one-year, one-way deal worth among others. $950,000 for the 2019-20 season. The pact means general manager has three goaltenders under contract between the Avalanche and The team will also need to make decisions on UFAs such as Gabriel their AHL affiliate, the — with Varlamov not being one Bourque, Derick Brassard, Patrik Nemeth and Colin Wilson, along with of them. Varlamov.

And given the current landscape, it could remain that way. Sakic and team president have separately indicated that the Avalanche will be busy in free agency as they look to bolster certain Varlamov’s future with the Avalanche grew cloudy last summer. Sakic areas, such as secondary scoring. traded with the Washington Capitals to get and immediately signed him to a three-year contract worth $3.3 million Managing the salary cap was even at the forefront last summer when the annually. Having a Grubauer-Varlamov pairing was the approach the team signed Matt Calvert and Ian Cole. Sakic allocated $9.23 million organization used to fortify itself at the NHL level. between Grubauer and Varlamov’s salaries. That was the fourth-highest amount dedicated to goaltending among any NHL team at the start of the Signing Francouz, who spent his career between the regular season. and the KHL, to a one-year contract and partnering him with prospect Spencer Martin was the approach at the AHL level. On the surface, Now that figure diminishes to $4.28 million. adding two goaltenders gave the Avalanche depth at a position that fell prey to injuries as they were seeking to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs. Financially speaking, a Grubauer-Francouz partnership would prove beneficial. Now it remains to be seen how the 2018 KHL Best Goaltender But a deeper view into the future indicated that Grubauer could be can adapt to the NHL on a full-time basis. Francouz was called up as Varlamov’s successor while Francouz would fill in as the team’s backup. cover for Grubauer in late December and early January while Varlamov That, in turn, could allow Sakic to move on from Varlamov — who was was injured. He was limited to two relief appearances but finished with a earning $5.9 million in the final season of his contract — and reallocate 1.96 GAA and a .943 save percentage after stopping 33 of the 35 shots those funds toward a financially active offseason. he faced against the Arizona Coyotes and the Sharks.

Eventually, the hypothetical became reality. Grubauer overcame a poor The Avalanche were the only NHL team to offer Francouz a contract after start and used late February, the entirety of March and early April to he led the Czech Republic to a fourth-place finish at the 2018 Winter guide the Avalanche into the postseason while cementing his role as the Olympics. He was signed to a waiver-exempt deal and used the season team’s No. 1 goaltender. As for Francouz, his consistency is why he was to make the transition from playing in Europe to understanding the named an AHL All-Star while guiding the Eagles to the playoffs while nuances associated with the North American game, particularly its making the adjustment to the North American game. smaller ice surface.

Francouz finished the season with a 27-17-3 record, a 2.68 goals-against A year later, Francouz has signed another deal, but there will be no average and a .918 save percentage while being lauded by his waiver exemption. That signals Sakic and the front office believe he can teammates as the Eagles’ most valuable player. serve as a reliable No. 2 option.

Those performances are why other teams monitored Francouz’s It leaves the team with Grubauer and Francouz as the NHL options. situation. They viewed the 28-year-old as an NHL option in the event he , the team’s fifth-round pick in 2016, signed an entry-level did not come to terms with the Avalanche. contract earlier this month. The 22-year-old Werner will spend next season in the AHL with the Eagles, who will soon decide on returning Varlamov catapulted to one of the strongest starts of his career in Spencer Martin or looking elsewhere. October. But he and Grubauer began struggling at the same time. He showed more consistency in February and told The Athletic later in the The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 month that he wanted to return to the Avalanche, only to endure another difficult sequence of games. That proved increasingly costly as the team tried to reach the postseason for the second year in a row, a back-to- back accomplishment it hadn’t achieved in more than a decade.

Varlamov’s struggles, coupled with Grubauer’s success, made coach Jared Bednar’s choice of No. 1 goalie clear. The Avalanche upset the top-seeded Calgary Flames over five games in the Western Conference quarterfinal while pushing the San Jose Sharks to seven games in the semifinal round.

Grubauer ended the regular season with a 9-2-2 record, a 1.44 GAA and a .954 save percentage over his final 13 starts. He then went 7-5 with a 2.30 GAA and a .925 save percentage during their postseason run.

As for Varlamov, he finished with 20 wins but went 3-4-1 with a 3.97 GAA and a .897 save percentage over his final eight starts.

Sakic entered the offseason with a number of questions to answer. Goaltending was near the top of the list.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote earlier this week that Varlamov does not view himself as a No. 2 option. Sakic told LeBrun that “the doors will 1145189 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche re-sign Pavel Francouz to a one-year deal

By Aarif Deen

May 24, 2019

The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed goaltender Pavel Francouz to a one-year contract, it was announced on Friday.

Francouz was signed by the Avalanche a season ago and spent a majority of the season as the Colorado Eagles starting goaltender in the . He posted a record of 27-17-3 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. In the playoffs, the 28-year-old was 1-3 in four appearances.

Francouz also made two appearances for the Avalanche in relief, stopping 33-of-35 shots in 62 minutes of action.

Prior to signing in North America, Francouz was a staple among the top KHL goaltenders in Russia. He spent three seasons playing for , the last of which was in 2017-18 where he was 15-11-5, recording a 1.80 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage.

Francouz is expected to battle for the backup role in Denver in 2019-20. The Avalanche’s starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer is under contract for another two years, while longtime Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov is expected to walk in free agency. milehighsports.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145190 Colorado Avalanche be once he gets into the NHL. For Byram, one of the comparisons you hear most often is Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman , he himself a product of the WHL. There’s a pretty good reason that’s one of BSN Exclusive: Get to know Bowen Byram, the NHL draft’s best Byram’s comps – he actively models his game after the young defender. defenseman “Morgan Rielly. He’s good on both sides of the puck,” Byram said. “He can run a power play, he kills penalties. He plays well defensively as well as offensively. He’s definitely a guy I watch a lot. I also read a lot of BY AJ HAEFELE articles talking about how great of a leader he is, how great of a guy he is. Definitely a guy I can learn things from and also a guy I can look at MAY 24, 2019 and take some things from his game and put into mine.”

As one of the leaders on the Giants this past season, Byram’s job is It takes a certain kind of calm demeanor and understated confidence to going to take another step forward next year as he tries to lead them be one of the top prospects in the NHL Draft and still somehow be flying back to another deep run in the WHL postseason. Just don’t expect him under the radar. to be quiet about it.

That confidence took a few minutes to start to come out as Bowen Byram “I’m a pretty vocal guy, honestly,” Byram said. “I’m always chatting began reflecting on a great season for his Vancouver Giants team, throughout the game on the ice, in the dressing room and whatnot. I whose season finished with a Game 7 overtime loss in the WHL always have been. It’s been that way for me forever and I just love Championship. It’s obvious in his voice the 10 days that have passed socializing so that just kind of leads right into the ice. I also try to lead by haven’t quite dulled the disappointment of defeat. example. Obviously, my job sometimes is a little different than other guys but I just try to work hard and be one of the hardest working guys on the “When you get that close and don’t get to achieve the goal of winning like ice or in the gym. Whenever I’m at the rink, I try to be a hard worker and we had from the start of the year, it definitely makes you a lot hungrier, lead by example.” not that we weren’t hungry this year,” Byram said. “There’s a lot of guys on our team that gained a lot of experience through the playoffs this year One of the challenges in getting through the WHL playoffs was going so hopefully that will help us in the next year for sure.” against so many great players. This year’s draft class is WHL-heavy and as many as four players from the league could be drafted in the top 10 Before getting to next year, though, it’s time for the consensus top with many more to follow. Who was his toughest matchup? defenseman in this year’s draft to reflect back on a season that saw him accomplish quite a bit. He took a major leap in production in his second “There’s a lot of guys my age, for sure. Kirby Dach, Dylan Cozens, season with the Giants as he scored 71 points (26g, 45a) in 67 games Peyton Krebs. Those are just three names there. There’s also a couple of played. He saved his best for the brightest, however, and his 26 points in really good goalies in our league that are going to be draft-eligible. It’s the playoffs led all players, becoming the first defenseman to ever lead definitely a big year for the Western league. I think it’s kind of unique. All the WHL playoffs in scoring. of us came up in the same crop of guys and playing together at U-17s, U- 18s. It should be fun being around all my buddies at the draft and the “It’s a pretty cool stat,” Byram told BSN Denver. “I couldn’t have done it combine so I’m excited for that.” without my teammates for sure. We had such a good team. We had such good depth. I think that kind of reflects on us as a team. We weren’t a At the top, it looks like Dach and Cozens have separated themselves and team that had very many guys…no 30-goal scorers or anything like that. many have speculated they are in play for the Avalanche with the fourth We scored by committee all year. We did that again in the playoffs. If you pick, along with Byram himself. How do Dach and Cozens differ in the look, everyone was chipping in offensively so it made it a lot easier on eyes of a guy who has to defend against both? me and the rest of the offensive guys on the team.” “They’re a bit different,” Byram began. “Cozens uses his skating ability It should come as no surprise, then, that when asked to describe his own and his big body to get to the net to create chances and to use his shot to game, Byram immediately brought up more of an offensive-oriented score goals. I think Kirby is a bit more of a playmaker. He sees the ice player. really well and he has really good hands. They’re both different in their own ways but they’re also both really great talents. Watching them and “I think I’m kind of an offensive defenseman but I also take pride in my playing against them is really fun.” own end,” he said. “I can play pretty well both sides of the puck. I can play power play and penalty kill. I love to be up in the rush and I love to Byram will join Cozens, Dach, and Krebs at the NHL Combine next week create offense. When I’m needed to play tight defense, I can do that as as they show off their athletic prowess as well as go through the well. uncomfortable process of team interviews.

I think my vision and my hockey sense is one of my stronger attributes so Most teams go into the combine with their draft lists pretty well polished I think that can kind of falls into place. We had a really good power play by this point but the interview process can have a drastic effect on what this year. It really clicked in the playoffs and I think we were around 35% players teams prioritize come draft. This was certainly the case for the at one point. I had some unbelievable players on my unit and it made it a Avalanche back in 2016 when Tyson Jost won them over with a fantastic lot of fun. Power plays can be a lot of fun when you have players who interview and solidified their desire to take him 10th overall that year. can move the puck around a lot. It was definitely something I take pride Byram will try to have a similar effect on a team. in.” “I want to have a good showing at the combine,” Byram said. “It’s kind of While digging into his own game, the topic of his skating inevitably came tough for me. I just finished my season not too long ago so trying to find up. Colorado has talked a big game about going after great skaters in the the right mixture of rest and also training for the combine so obviously, I draft but outside of Cale Makar in 2017, they haven’t really targeted want to have a good showing with that. Like I said, I’m excited to see players whose skating is considered a significant trait in the first round. some buddies I haven’t seen for a while when I’m there. It’ll be good to That could change with Byram, who is considered a great skater in his chat with some teams. It’ll be a pretty cool opportunity for me to meet own right. GMs of NHL teams and head scouts and whatnot. I might be in a bit of awe while I’m there but it should be a good experience and I’ll try to soak “I definitely don’t think I’m on [MacKinnon’s] level,” Byram admitted. it all in.” “MacKinnon’s probably one of the better skaters in the world. I have a pretty long stride. I’m a bit of a lanky guy so I try to use my long stride to One thing Byram was able to soak in already was Colorado’s surprising my advantage. I think my first couple strides is where I gain most of my playoff run. While his team was still in the playoffs and he kept plenty speed so I try to be real explosive off the first couples steps. After that, busy, he was playing mostly on the weekend so he had an opportunity to try to cross over to gain some speed if I can. It’s definitely something I watch plenty of the NHL postseason but Colorado stood out to him. think I can work on and get better at for sure. I think there’s still a high “I was watching a lot of playoff hockey during the week when we were ceiling for my skating.” practicing,” Byram explained. “I watched a lot of Colorado games and Every draft season, you find people making comparisons between draft they’re an entertaining team to watch with MacKinnon, Rantanen, and prospects and established NHL players. It drives some people crazy but Landeskog and a couple of their defensemen that jump into the play as it’s simply a way to give an idea of what kind of player the prospect might well. They’re a fast team with lots of skill so they were definitely one of the more entertaining teams to watch throughout the playoffs.” Colorado’s reputation as a fast team makes them appealing to a lot of players who like to play a similar style of game and Byram certainly fits that bill. While Colorado has two young stud defenders already grooming in Sam Girard and Cale Makar, the NHL is one of those leagues that lives by the old adage “you can never have too much defense”.

The Avs are also facing some question marks with Tyson Barrie’s future uncertain, Erik Johnson’s uneven season bringing into question his long- term effectiveness, and an expansion draft two years from now looming over every decision made by every team. Colorado’s current defensive depth could be a thing of the past in a much shorter timeline than it took to build it.

“I think it’ll be interesting to see how it all turns out,” Byram said. “If [Colorado] were to pick me, it would be pretty cool. Obviously, they’re a really good team right now and they should be for years to come. Obviously, I’d have a lot of work ahead of me trying to crack that lineup in the next couple years but they have some really good players that would be exciting to play with at some point in time. Like you said, Girard, Barrie, Makar. Their roster is definitely pretty exciting to look at from my standpoint so we’ll just see how the draft goes.”

Colorado is in the unique position of drafting in the top five while also coming off a second-round playoff appearance. What that means for whoever they draft fourth overall could be a moving target as they are much better than the teams usually drafting in that position but their current talent could slow down the timeline to bring the fourth pick into the NHL simply because they have the luxury of not feeling rushed. For Byram, it’s a question he’s struggled with all season.

“I’ve been asked this question quite a bit this year,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible so it’s definitely in my mind that I want to play in the NHL next year but sometimes you have to be realistic and realize how hard it really is. I’m not too sure how to answer this question. I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible so I’ve got to put the work in, train hard, and develop my skills to hopefully put myself in position, if not this year then hopefully next year, to crack the lineup.”

While the offensive side of his game obviously blossomed this past year, there’s work to be done on the defensive end of his game and that may be the area that keeps him from making an immediate jump to the NHL.

“Defensively for sure,” Byram said of his biggest area for improvement today. “I think I can get better, my whole game can get better. Defensively is something I’ve been keying on and my strength. Moving on, I’d be playing bigger, stronger, older guys so those are a couple things I think I’m going to have to key in on to make the jump from junior to the NHL.”

Should Colorado select Byram and eventually promote him to the NHL, he could find himself on a pairing next to a bright star or two that already calls Denver home. Does he have a preference?

“I really haven’t thought about that yet,” Byram said. “To be honest, I don’t think it really matters much to me. I like to share the puck. I move the puck pretty well so having a defensive partner that can do that as well. I think there’s a couple of guys that would complement me pretty well on that team already. If I am drafted there, obviously that would be a coach’s decision but I think there could be a couple of guys I’d be pretty excited to play with. Barrie, for example, Makar. It will be interesting if I do end up going there.”

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Avalanche gets their backup goaltender

BY AJ HAEFELE

MAY 24, 2019

The Avalanche announced today they have re-signed goaltender Pavel Francouz to a one-year contract. BSN Denver has learned the contract is a one-way deal worth $950,000.

The contract gives Colorado their presumptive backup goaltender to Philipp Grubauer as Semyon Varlamov is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and Joe Sakic made it clear at his recent presser the Avalanche won’t be extending him before the market opens on July 1.

Francouz came across the pond to North America last year after earning KHL Goaltender of the Year honors two years ago. His debut season in the AHL for the Colorado Eagles was nothing short of a success as he earned AHL All-Star honors and backstopped the Eagles to a postseason appearance in their first year in the AHL.

Francouz went 27-20-1 in 49 AHL appearances with a .918 save percentage and 2.68 goals-against-average. He was called by the Avalanche on a couple of occasions but actually saw NHL action in two games. He made two relief appearances for Grubauer and managed to get two hard-luck losses, giving him a record of 0-2-0 despite a .943 save percentage and 1.97 GAA.

Francouz will look to make the transition next season to the backup goaltender for the Avalanche as they move on from the Varlamov era. On paper, it’s a risky plan to go with Grubauer as the clear-cut starter and Francouz as the backup because neither has proven themselves in the roles they’ll be asked to play for the Avs next season.

Grubauer had a strong finish to the season but until February he looked like a disaster of an acquisition for Colorado and Francouz made just the two appearances last year. It could easily work out as both players showed plenty capable but goaltenders are volatiles year-to-year.

Francouz’s signing also gets Colorado one step closer to solving its goaltending questions throughout the organization as they also inked Adam Werner to a two-year ELC earlier this month. He is likely to be the backup for the Eagles or the starter in the ECHL for the Utah Grizzlies depending on how many more goaltender signings Colorado has up its sleeve.

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1145192 Detroit Red Wings

Jake Chelios leaves Red Wings organization for Chinese team in KHL

Ted Kulfan

The Detroit News

Published 12:28 p.m. ET May 24, 2019

Defenseman Jake Chelios is leaving the Red Wings organization for the Kunlun Red Star, a team based in Beijing and playing in the Kontinental Hockey Association.

Chelios, son of Hall of Famer , signed a two-year contract with the team.

Chelios was an unrestricted free agent after having signed a one-year deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins last summer, after having played the previous three seasons with Charlotte in the American League.

Chelios, 28, played in 61 games with Grand Rapids last season with 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) with a plus-18 rating.

In March, Chelios was called up to the Red Wings, making his NHL debut. Chelios played in five games with the Wings, with no points.

Chelios, who played at Michigan State, will be joined on Kunlun Red Star by forward Andrew Miller (Bloomfield Hills), who has played with the Edmonton Oilers and last season played in Switzerland.

Miller and Chelios were teammates in Charlotte.

Chelios leaving for the KHL alleviates some of the potential logjam on defense with the Griffins, also dependent on whether a prospect or two wind up on the Wings' roster to open next season.

Detroit News LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145193 Detroit Red Wings

Defenseman Jake Chelios leaves Grand Rapids Griffins for Russia

By Peter J. Wallner | [email protected]

Defenseman Jake Chelios, who spent last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, has left to join a team in Russia.

The veteran signed a two-year deal with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, according to a Twitter post from the team Thursday.

Forward Andrew Miller and defenceman Jake Chelios officially signed! Welcome to the team! #krs #redstarhockey pic.twitter.com/f8MN3cosOm

— Kunlun Red Star (@KRSchina) May 23, 2019

The fifth-year pro was under a one-year deal with the Griffins following three seasons in Charlotte. He appeared in 61 games with 15 points (1- 14-15) and 28 penalty minutes this season. He was second on the team with a plus-18 plus/minus.

The 28-year-old, the son of Hall of Famer Chris Chelios and a former standout at Michigan State, also made his NHL debut as the Red Wings called him up late in the season. He played in five games with no points and two penalty minutes.

Joining Chelios with the Red Star will be Michigan native Andrew Miller. The 30-year-old forward from Bloomfield Hills played in Switzerland last season after three seasons in Charlotte where he was teammates with Chelios.

Michigan Live LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145194 Edmonton Oilers ON THE BENCH: Gulutzan, Trent Yawney, Manny Viveiros and goalie instructor Dustin Schwartz are twisting in the wind, not sure where they stand after working for Todd McLellan, then Ken Hitchcock as their Ray Whitney would like Dave Tippett to get coaching job with Edmonton assistant coaches. General feeling is Yawney could join McLellan in Los Oilers Angeles … Interestingly, Tippett went to Dallas in 2002 after Hitchcock was their bench boss. Hitchcock, who’ll be working as an advisor this upcoming season, recommended Tippett to Holland to kick off his coach- search … One other name to consider as an assistant coach if Tippett’s Jim Matheson hired: ex-Philly coach Dave Hakstol. They both went to University of Edmonton Journal North Dakota and are friends. Hakstol was a defenceman at UND.

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.25.2019

So, there’s been no puff of smoke to signal Dave Tippett’s coaching coronation yet.

It doesn’t mean the former Arizona and Dallas head coach isn’t coming here, but GM Ken Holland, who met with Tippett Thursday in Vancouver, doesn’t have his name on a contract yet.

And it’s not like Tippett is the only candidate he’s interviewed face-to face — Oilers assistant Glen Gulutzan and New York Islanders Lane Lambert may also have had one.

Holland, who flew back to his home in Detroit for the Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., said a few days ago that if he didn’t have a coach by this Friday, he was putting it off until the week of June 3-7. He said would be in Buffalo at the NHL Combine interviewing possible draft picks with the Oilers picking eighth, and wanted to focus solely on that.

Perhaps Tippett, who currently works for the Seattle expansion team as an advisor, is looking for the same ballpark $4 million for three years that Ralph Krueger reportedly got in Buffalo. But whether the Oilers want to go longer than that — Holland has a five-year deal — or for the same Krueger dough is up in the air.

Holland likes Tippett, who’s coached 1,134 NHL games, but he also knows that he holds the upper-hand because Tippett wants to get back into the coaching swirl. Plus, his owner Daryl Katz has to pay ex-GM Peter Chiarelli not to manage his team for one more year.

Holland, who never really had a full-out job search for a head coach in his time as Red Wings GM, says he’s talked to lots of people, some on the phone. So, Tippett isn’t the only candidate — ex LA coach John Stevens and former Philadelphia interim coach Scott Gordon may also have been interviewed, but they don’t have Tippett’s experience as head man. If Tippett, 57, gets the Oilers job, there’s a very good chance he might look to hiring an assistant coach he knows in the 45-year-old range who’s not far removed from playing as a bridge to the younger players.

Ray Whitney’s name leaps to mind. The former Oilers stick boy played two years for Tippett in Arizona, he was sounded out about an assistant job with Rod Brind’Amour in Carolina but it didn’t come off. Tippett also asked Whitney about taking a spot on his Arizona staff when Newell Brown left for Vancouver Canucks two years ago but the timing was right.

Whitney played until he was 42. He just turned 47. He could run the power play.

Whitney, currently working in the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, thinks a Tippett hire here would do the trick. He may be biased because he played for him, of course.

“He coaches a structured game from the back-end out,” said Whitney, who scoffed at the idea Tippett might stifle Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. “He’ll put in a system like Barry Trotz did in Long Island. They lost their best player () and look how they did this past year. They swept Pittsburgh.

“Heck, I got 77 points playing for Tip (best year statistically). Connor will still get his 100. It could be a 2-1 game and Connor and Leon can break it open 3-1 or 4-1 when the other team’s pressing. They’ll get their points.

“If Tippett were to go to Edmonton he might go to Leon and say we appreciate the 50 goals but would you take 40 if we made the playoffs every year and he could go to Connor and say we appreciate the 100 points but if you got 85 and we made the playoffs every year are you OK with that?”

Whitney thinks Tippett got bored after leaving the Coyotes, which is why he jumped into the Seattle front-man role.

“Tip’s doing who’s doing in Seattle to stay in the game. He’s a doer. He gets antsy,” said Whitney. 1145195 Edmonton Oilers When you’re day dreaming, you’re thinking ‘wouldn’t it be remarkable if he even made it to the NHL?’ But, it’s such a select group that does, it’s such a grind. I always told Jake if he was willing to sacrifice, though, with Louie DeBrusk is a parent not broadcaster in Stanley Cup Final his talent.”

Jake had the tools as a kid but he was often the smallest kid on his teams. Jim Matheson “I knew he had jam and would take a beating to score goals because of Edmonton Journal that. I also knew pretty early that he thought the game really well. He was cerebral,” said Louie.

Louie, who played 401 NHL games, only made it to Round 2, once. Louie DeBrusk will not standing between the benches or be up in the broadcast booth at TD Garden in Boston next week describing the action “Second round in ’97 with the Oilers. When Todd Marchant scored the in the Stanley Cup final for — that’s Craig game-winning goal in overtime in Dallas. When Todd won the Cup with Simpson’s job — but he’ll be there, loud and proud and biased, pulling for Anaheim in ’07 we got to be in the stands as his guests. They had invited the Bruins. us down to stay in their house and we went in the dressing room afterwards. Yeah. I got to touch the Cup. I was done playing then,” he He’ll be there with wife Cindy and doesn’t have to be on the fence said. because he’s not on the job as a broadcaster. He has a dog in this fight and it’s son Jake, 22, the second-line Bruins winger who’s in his first Cup “The superstitions of not touching it as a player had gone away. I’m not final. big on playoff superstitions anyway. I can remember Glenn Anderson shaved off his beard for Game 7 in 1987 against the Philadelphia Flyers “The emotions? Much worse as a dad,” said DeBrusk, who worked the and he scored the clinching goal.” first two rounds for SportsNet, including the St. Louis beating Winnipeg Jets in round one to kick off their run to their first finals in almost five Louie’s boy has a beard now, which won’t come off until playoff’s end. decades. “You’re so nervous as a parent, but it’s also so amazing. Every day I wake up I have a smile on my face. Hey, the kid has a chance to Hockey beat writer Jim Matheson and host Craig Ellingson talk about win the Stanley Cup. Jake is beside himself and I told him, ‘that’s how coaches and the Edmonton Oilers. you should feel.’ There’s guys who play a long, long time and never get There are old ones. Specifically: close to being in a final. I told Jake, at this stage ‘buckle up and have fun.’” Craig McTavish, the Oilers’ bench boss for the first eight NHL seasons of the 21st Century, lately senior vice-president of hockey Louie and Cindy will be in Boston for Games 1 and 2, then Louie will operations, and now a former member of the organization after he left detour to Buffalo for a few days for the NHL Combine because he’s last week to coach in Russia. working the draft in Vancouver in a month and wants to prepare. Ralph Krueger, head coach of the Oilers in the lockout-shortened Jake’s parents and, hopefully, daughter Jordyn who is over in Europe 2012-13 season, who was hired last week by the Buffalo Sabres as right now, will be there for the game where, hopefully, the Bruins will be coach after leaving his chairman’s job in soccer’s English Premier in a position to win their second Cup in the last eight years. League with Southampton. He had recently said he wasn’t interested in “I think I know who he’ll be cheering for,” said Jake. “I don’t think he’ll be returning to the Oilers. wearing a sweater. He usually wears a (Bruins) hat but my mom will wear And did you know Duane Sutter was once an NHL head coach? For a jersey.” parts of two seasons with the in 2000-01 and 2001-02. The Cup final is a stranger animal than watching Jake play his first NHL He was let go from his job as Oilers’ head of pro scouting earlier this game last season and scoreing in that first game. week.

“First time was a remarkable experience against Nashville,” said Louie. And, eventually and maybe soon, a new one. The Oilers are expected to “But Games 1 and 2 against Carolina in the third series at TD Garden hire a head coach perhaps by the end of the week. Odds are it’ll be were the first playoff games I’ve seen Jake play and he’s played 30. I sat former Arizona Coyotes and coach Dave Tippett, who’s beside Rick Heinen and Matt Grzelcyk’s dad, all of us in the stands and been working with Seattle’s expansion franchise, and not Todd Nelson. all three of our kids scored in that game. We were all high-fiving one Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 05.25.2019 another.

“I swear it brings you right back to minor hockey where you’re standing at the glass with a coffee in the morning watching your boy out on the ice. You’re living through their every moment back then and it’s no different now. The stage is just a little bigger.”

“This is something you, obviously, dream of,” said Jake. “I’m very lucky to be doing this now (with 138 NHL games), some guys have longer roads (teammate David Backes, almost 1,000 games), some have shorter like me. I’m trying not to take it for granted.”

When he’s working a hockey game as a commentator — one of the best in the business who also does the Oilers game on TV along with his Sportsnet duties — DeBrusk is not there be a cheerleader. As a fan, it is different story.

“Being biased goes out the window,” he said. “I get more disappointed in a non-call against Boston as a parent than if I was doing the game on TV and Jake was playing. But when I don’t have the governor on for Hockey Night in Canada, my vocabulary might, uh, be a little different at a non- call. Or if somebody cheap-shots my boy, my back gets up. I can let go in the heat of the moment as a parent.”

If Louie watches the Cup final, he’ll be in the present and the past. He can’t help it as a dad.

“Every parent has thoughts of their boy making it to the NHL and I was no different, but I was more realistic in my thoughts because I was a player. I knew it was such a long shot,” said Louie. “But, absolutely, when Jake was young I thought ‘what if?; I thought ‘oh, that would be amazing.’ 1145196 Edmonton Oilers Hanzal’s scoring numbers were no doubt impacted by his playing almost half of his 5-on-5 minutes against elite competition. The only forward over 2.00/60 scoring in the discipline is young Max Domi, and he’s playing Dave Tippett’s roster deployment in Arizona and what it might mean for some tough minutes, too. It’s incredible to see how little production the Oilers Tippet received from the forward group. The following season, under , just two men (Richard Panik and Dylan Strome) exceeded 2.00/60 scoring—with Panik and Strome both playing fewer than 40 games. By Allan Mitchell There’s way too much youth on this Coyotes roster, players who would May 24, 2019 emerge in the coming seasons but weren’t ready to help yet. That was the plan in Arizona; Tippett will want a more substantial roster of forwards in Edmonton. How many did the coaching staff have among Oilers According to reports on Friday morning, the Edmonton Oilers are closing forwards a year ago? in on hiring Dave Tippett as their new head coach. Tippett spent six years as head coach of the Dallas Stars (winning 271 games) and eight Tippett’s usage of McDavid and Draisaitl will no doubt be the subject of seasons with the Arizona Coyotes (winning 282 games and the 2010 conversation all summer long, but one of the quickest ways to spread the as the NHL’s best coach). offence would be breaking up the two impact centres. Nugent-Hopkins might receive some consideration from Tippett for the Hanzal role above. The perception of Tippett, especially in Arizona, was a buttoned-down coach who stressed defence and positioning over offensive aggression. The single biggest factor is that the Oilers have a No. 1 centre who His Coyotes teams were also known for being challenged in terms of dominates the elites. The single biggest roster frustration is that the skill, so the style perception may have dovetailed with roster reality Oilers have no one who can hammer the soft parade. It’s beyond galling. (Tippett was unable to ice an exciting team because he had few exciting It’s like buying a mansion with cash and not having enough money to players). furnish it.

We have substantial evidence of Tippett’s handling of his roster and the Tippett may tell Holland that the “actual” NHL players on this roster are results during his final season in Arizona. Here’s a look at roster usage, the captain, Draisaitl, Nuge, Kassian, Khaira and Gagner, and a couple how much he rode his best players and the types of players he relied on of those guys at the end of the list are slow enough to cause worry. during his time with the Coyotes. Tippett might like the physical play of Alex Chiasson enough to suggest signing him but offloading a slower, less productive forward. Fans should Defence 5-on-5 also at least be prepared for Tippett to have complimentary things to say about Milan Lucic, who did in fact finish over 50 percent in possession Tippett’s defensive decisions make sense based on the talent made away from McDavid (a rare item indeed) last season. available. In his final season with the Coyotes, 2016-17, he ran his best men heavily, protected the youth and aged, and tried to build on the Goaltending 5-on-5 strengths of the team (meaning Oliver Ekman-Larsson). Here are the 5- on-5 numbers (Natural Stat Trick) and 5-on-5 numbers against elites Tippett employed two goalies in 2016-17, Mike Smith as the starter (55 (Puck IQ) with the corresponding results, in 2016-17. games) and Louis Domingue (31) in the backup role. Both goalies delivered solid even-strength save percentages, with Smith’s (.924) Tippett heavily used veterans Ekman-Larsson and Stone, while also slightly ahead of Domingue (.920). Last season, Edmonton’s coaches keeping Connor Murphy in a feature role despite his relative youth saw Mikko Koskinen (.913) and Cam Talbot (.909) struggle in the (Murphy spent 42.3 percent of his time against elites in the previous discipline. Tippett will want an upgrade and that involves the additional season). Murphy was out of his comfort zone, but the options available goalie who will arrive in Edmonton over the coming weeks. (including Luke Schenn) proved no more effective. What does it all mean? One item we can give Tippett credit for at the other end of the roster is recognizing gifted youth. He kept Chychrun mere months after he was Tippett’s last NHL team was in rebuild mode and had all kinds of issues. drafted and used him out of the box — Chychrun was exceptional in The goaltending was solid, the defence had some very good things but multiple areas at 18. not enough of them and the forward group was a dog’s breakfast beyond Martin Hanzal, Max Domi, Radim Vrbata and some emerging role players How might the Arizona usage apply to the current Oilers? Tippett will be like Jordan Martinook. taking on a veteran group, so Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson, Darnell Nurse and may have high value considering the struggles in The Oilers don’t have an OEL, but do boast McDavid and Draisaitl. I think the desert. As well, Chychrun’s handling in his rookie season might offer Tippett is going to look at this roster and find the defence not far from insight into how Caleb Jones, Evan Bouchard or others will be viewed by where he needs it to be, and may further discover substantial help in Tippett in the coming season. players like Evan Bouchard that may arrive in the coming months (as opposed to years). I believe he’ll be pleased with much of the group on Murphy’s nearest comparable on the Oilers would be Matt Benning, defence. except Todd McLellan and Ken Hitchcock didn’t ask him to take on the elites at the same level. Here are the 2018-19 Oilers: The problem area, and this comes as no surprise to Oilers fans, will be at forward. Tippett has three men who can either outscore elites or deliver The Oilers don’t have an OEL, so Larsson, Klefbom and Nurse (plus enough quality to keep them at bay. The other three men who will play Russell, and Jones for a time) took on the heavy lifting. Tippett may look with 97, 29 and 93 are going to be a major topic of discussion, along with at this Oilers depth chart and decide, despite last season’s results, the names who need to be able to outscore the soft parade and serve in there’s a lot of veteran talent to work with moving forward. He doesn’t roles as penalty killers and complementary options for the skill lines. have to thrust another Connor Murphy into the breach, but rather has Klefbom-Larsson and Nurse-Russell to run next season. Oilers fans may Dave Tippett has both great riches and enormous challenges on this not like the idea, but it’s plausible Tippett endorses retention of the four roster. He’s seen it before and will no doubt have ideas about how to fix main veterans, possibly Sekera as well. the roster. I expect we’ll see a massive airlift of complementary forwards heading to Edmonton, and as we discussed the other day, an additional Forwards 5-on-5 driver won’t go amiss. He’ll want a goalie, too.

Tippett’s final Arizona team scored just 197 goals and had to work for The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 every damn one of them. I like to use 5-on-5 scoring for forwards, it’s the purest reflection of skill. Looking at Tippett’s 2016-17 forwards, one is tempted to award a medal to the entire coaching staff for surviving. Young players who can’t score at this level (yet), older players who can’t outscore tough opposition and Martin Hanzal playing the ‘climbing Everest’ role some Oilers fans may recognize from Shawn Horcoff’s final few seasons in Edmonton. 1145197 Minnesota Wild “I love working in the community,” Modano said. “That’s something that Craig and I talked about from Day One. I’m very pleased with how it worked out, and the position I’m in is exactly what I was looking for.”

How North Stars legend Mike Modano landed back in Twin Cities Now that everything with the Wild is set in stone, Modano said the goal is for his family to relocate to the Twin Cities. He and his wife, Allison, are both from the Midwest, so it’s a natural fit. By Dane Mizutani | [email protected] It’s an added bonus that the couple’s children — twins Jack and Kate (5 Pioneer Press years old), daughter Reese (3), and son Luca (6½ months) — will get to grow up skating on backyard rinks. PUBLISHED: May 24, 2019 at 11:31 am | UPDATED: May 24, 2019 at 1:54 PM “I haven’t heard from Curt Giles yet,” Modano joked about the longtime Edina boys hockey coach pitching the program to the family. “I’m still

waiting for that phone call. We’re a long ways from that.” Since the North Stars made him the NHL’s No. 1 overall draft pick in While he won’t start officially until Sept. 1, Modano plans to be at the 1988, Modano has held the Twin Cities near and dear to his heart, even NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas next month, something that will give him after Norm Green moved the franchise in the early 1990s and a chance to get a lay of the land and schmooze with some sponsors. rechristened it the Dallas Stars. “The opportunity to have him come work for us is going to give us a big “It’s always been a sentimental thing for me to start my career in the Twin boost,” Leipold said. “It’s pretty exciting for everyone involved.” Cities,” Modano said. “I have a lot of fond memories with fans and friends and everybody involved in the community there. It was a big part of my Pioneer Press LOADED: 05.25.2019 career and my life starting there. I can’t say enough about what it meant to my career from an early age.”

Which is why the Hall of Fame center was overjoyed when he was named an executive adviser in the Wild front office on Thursday. He will work hand in hand with owner and president Matt Majka in a newly created position that centers on a number of initiatives, including team sales, corporate partnerships and community relations.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for awhile,” Modano said. “I’ve been away from the game for a bit. It was good mentally to get away from it. I needed a little space and time to get away. I’ve been itching to get back into it, and the time has come. I can’t wait.”

Can’t wait to get started with the #mnwild! Honored to be joining this first class organization. https://t.co/P7qpXuE8aw

— Mike Modano (@9modano) May 23, 2019

While it might seem like this announcement came out of the thin air — especially with the Stanley Cup Final ready to get underway Monday — it’s actually something everyone involved has been working to finalize for much of the past 10 months.

Introduced through a mutual friend last summer, Modano and Leipold instantly hit it off, not necessarily surprising considering their shared passion for hockey. They exchanged text messages occasionally throughout the summer and started communicating more regularly once the Wild finally started playing again.

“Our relationship really began to solidify during the games,” Leipold said. “Obviously if the game is on the road, I was watching at home and Mike was doing the same thing. We were just texting back and forth as to what we were seeing.”

Nearly 2,000 miles apart, with Leipold at his home in Racine, Wis., and Modano at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., the two forged a friendship with the Wild at the epicenter of every conversation. In a vacuum, it was simply two fans talking shop, though Modano and Leipold soon realized there was potential for a partnership down the road.

It wasn’t long before Modano started showing up at the Xcel Energy Center, and rumors about his presence began to swirl around the Twin Cities.

Not only did those trips give Modano a chance to see the Wild in person, it gave Leipold a chance to pitch the franchise from the confines of his owner’s suite.

“As soon as Mike came to visit us, I just felt a real connection between myself and him,” Leipold said. “You could see the entire organization when he was in the building, and the entire community when he was in town, really gravitate toward him. He is such an important part of our culture in this state.”

The wheels started to turn after that as Modano and Leipold tried to figure out the best fit. They eventually landed on a role that will allow Modano to use his name recognition and, more importantly, his passion to sell the franchise to people across the state. 1145198 Minnesota Wild “It’s weird looking at the Wild’s roster right now and seeing all the new pieces they have and how it can change so drastically. It’s just really weird not finishing the year with the same guys. Just how the business ‘It really is nuts’: Charlie Coyle and his wild ride home to the Stanley Cup side of it goes sometimes. So you roll with it and you make the best of it final and stay positive about it and you hope it works out.”

To say the least, it absolutely has.

Michael Russo As much as Coyle loved playing for the Wild, three months later, it’s gone from bittersweet to only sweet as Coyle and his new team prepares to May 24, 2019 open the Stanley Cup final Monday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Coyle has six goals and 12 points and is plus-9 in 17 playoff games. In Game 1 of Boston’s second-round series against Columbus, Coyle It was the afternoon of Feb. 20, a week before the trade deadline, and forced overtime by tying the game with 4:35 left, then fulfilled a literal the Wild’s departure time to New York was pushed back because of lifelong dream he had countless times as a child by scoring the overtime inclement weather in Minnesota. winner in an actual, real-life playoff game. Charlie Coyle decided to take advantage of the flight delay by popping FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.@CHARLIECOYLE_3 | into Neil Sheehy’s Bloomington, Minnesota, office, which is close to the #NHLBRUINS PIC.TWITTER.COM/EG9ULEVESR airport, for a little neuromuscular therapy session. — BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) APRIL 26, 2019 Forty minutes later, Coyle hopped off the NHL agent/therapist’s table, put his spiffy suit back on and was about to head to the airport when he As a kid growing up in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Coyle lived for the looked at his cell phone and had an “Oh [email protected]&#” moment. Bruins.

“I had a missed call and a text from (general manager) Paul (Fenton), From a young age, Coyle’s bedroom was plastered with Bruins posters and so I just knew, obviously,” Coyle told The Athletic during a phone and he could always be found covered head to toe in Bruins garb. In interview Wednesday night. “I called him and he told me I was involved in street hockey, in his vivid imagination, Coyle scored dozens and dozens a trade, so don’t go on the plane. But he couldn’t tell me where I was of overtime winners wearing that black and yellow Bruins sweater. going yet because it’s not finalized. He felt really bad about it. He’d leap into the air like Bobby Orr, peel himself off the asphalt and “It was so weird because suddenly I’m at a place where I’m not on an pretend to jump into the arms of his make-believe teammates. NHL team for however many hours. I don’t know where I am. I can’t say goodbye to my teammates. It’s so hard to tell my family, my girlfriend, my You know, things all hockey fanatic youngsters would do while playing on friends, ‘I’m traded, we’re going somewhere … but I don’t know where a cul-de-sac. yet.’” “I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’d put the net in front of my Coyle said the only thing Fenton would divulge was “I think in the end driveway and either play with the neighborhood kids or myself and score you’ll be OK” with the destination. the big playoff-winning goal for the Bruins,” Coyle said. “And then to actually do it in reality … with my family in the crowd, oh my God.” “So, I’m like, alright, it’s going to be at least a Cup contender, a playoff contender, or it’s got to be the B’s,” Coyle said of his hometown Bruins. Well, one person, unfortunately, was not in the crowd. “That’s the best-case scenario, the B’s, right? But I don’t want to get my By happenstance, that one Bruins game against Columbus that his son hopes up. played the hero role in was the only game during this run for which “So I get home, and I’m refreshing Twitter, and I got the NHL Network on. Chuck Coyle couldn’t make it to TD Garden. I’m trying, like, anything. I called my agents. I’m asking my dad. He’s “I mean, everyone else in my family was there, but I was in my house, asking around, buddies, everything. I’m like, ‘Someone find out where!’” watching it by myself and I loved every minute of it,” Coyle’s dad said. “I Chuck Coyle, Charlie’s dad, was at a funeral for a family member that pumped my fists a few times. This was after yelling at the TV a little bit day. There had been so many rumors all month about his son being on when he coughed up that one puck for a Columbus goal. the trading block, all of Chuck’s cousins kept coming up to him and “When he scored the tying goal, I was just like, ‘Yeah! Great! Awesome! asking, “Is he gonna get traded?” Back to even after his mistake.’ Then all of a sudden, boom, the overtime “I kept saying, ‘I know as much as you,’” Chuck Coyle said by phone goal! I was just … I was overjoyed. I was sitting in my chair overjoyed. I Wednesday. “I get home, I’m sitting in the chair when Charlie called me. couldn’t believe it. The phone was ringing off the hook. Crazy.” And he says, ‘Something’s going on.’ I say, ‘What do you mean?’ And he The Coyle family has been Bruins diehards forever. In fact, Charlie and says, ‘I’m being traded, but (Fenton) can’t tell me where. He just said I’ll Theresa Coyle’s front door 15 miles south of Boston is currently draped be happy.’ with a, “We Want The Cup, Let’s Go Bruins” banner.

“My first thought was it has to be Boston because you heard those As a kid, the only time Coyle would not wear his Bruins jersey to a Bruins rumors before. But it also could have been another Cup contender like game was when his cousin, Tony Amonte, came to town with the Tampa or something. My brother was up the street, he came down, we Chicago Blackhawks. got the TV going, the computer going, got people calling because they know something’s happened. I’m hearing this, I’m hearing that. It was “I’d be a Chicago fan for a night. Otherwise, it was Bruins, Bruins, nuts. It was crazy.” Bruins,” Coyle said. “Growing up 30 minutes out of the city, I obviously fell in love with hockey at a young age looking up to all those old Bruins Over the next few hours, The Athletic Minnesota and Boston reported players. And you envision yourself hopefully doing that one day, but you Charlie Coyle was indeed being traded home. The Bruins had a game don’t really think it’s going to come true. It’s such a far thing, so it’s crazy that night in Las Vegas and were managing a couple short-term injuries, how it’s come to play, I guess.” so the Coyle-for-Ryan Donato-and-an-eventual-fourth-round-pick swap couldn’t be finalized until GM Don Sweeney was comfortable enough to Coyle, 27, who played seven years for the Wild, has never been on a make a roster move. team like this.

“Finally, later that night, Paul called me back to confirm it was Boston,” There is star power, four lines that contribute and know their roles, depth Coyle said. “So that was pretty, … it was very bittersweet. Very everywhere and a goaltender playing out of his mind. bittersweet. But what sets the Bruins apart, Coyle says, is their leadership. “I’m there in Minnesota for six, seven years and you fall in love with the place and you make a living there and so many great relationships with He learned that instantly when the trade became official. Right before the people and your teammates. And you want to win with them. You want to Bruins were going to hit the ice against the Golden Knights, Patrice win no matter how tough it is and what you go through and all that. So Bergeron and Zdeno Chara called to welcome Coyle to Boston. you never want to just kind of bug out, you know? But that’s out of my control and that’s what happens. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it,” Coyle said. “They’re about to play a game But, Chuck said with a chuckle, “I couldn’t wait for Charlie to go on the and they take time out to call and say, ‘We can’t wait to have you,’” Coyle road again. It costs me more money him being home even though I’m said. “I mean, I haven’t met anyone yet, and I already felt part of the getting free tickets. Running in there, you’re parking, you’re eating versus team.” going out to Minnesota a couple times a year.”

A similar welcome happened right before Coyle’s first practice with the Coyle’s parents cannot convey how much their son loved Minnesota — Bruins. He stepped onto the ice in St. Louis, where he’d soon debut in a “the team, the city, his teammates” — but Chuck said, “It was time for a Boston uniform, and his new teammates serenaded him with a loud stick change. It just made it so much easier coming to Boston. If someone had tap. asked us, ‘Do you really want him coming to Boston?’ we would have probably said, ‘That’s probably not the best thing at his point in his WELCOME ABOARD, @CHARLIECOYLE_3.#NHLBRUINS career.’ There’s some pressures there and you know maybe later on in PIC.TWITTER.COM/VFBL3GUCIV his career it would be better for him.

— BOSTON BRUINS (@NHLBRUINS) FEBRUARY 22, 2019 “But, hey, it’s happened, he’s here, it made the transition easier, he “They do just little stuff like that all the time. It makes you feel good, you knows his surroundings and look where he is now.” know?” Coyle said. “No matter who it is, no matter … especially for me, a As Charlie says, “It really is nuts.” new guy coming in and first practice, you’re nervous and not knowing what to expect. And just something little like that just really welcomes you It’s still sinking in for Chuck and Theresa Coyle that three months ago and you feel like you’re a part of the team already. their son was a member of the Minnesota Wild. Now he’s in the Stanley Cup final with a chance to hoist the Cup while wearing the jersey of his “The leadership, they just set the standard and everyone kind of follows. favorite team growing up. Everyone’s treated the same way. And it’s really, really cool to learn from these guys. When I was in Minnesota, you hear these stories of these “All of a sudden you talk to a neighbor or something like that and they’ll guys and how they interact and how good their leadership is, and when bring it up and I’ll be, ‘Oh my God, you’re right, this is crazy this is all you see it firsthand, it really is that way. It’s no wonder that these guys happening.’ You find yourself pinching yourself every day,” Chuck said, have been so successful and had winning teams and been in the Cup before being interrupted. finals three times the last nine years. There’s no question why.” “My wife just passed a note in front of me: Tell Minnesota, ‘Thank you.’” Coincidentally, the one player Coyle is mostly happy for is longtime NHL vet David Backes, the former Spring Lake Park High standout and Blaine “Yeah, we liked it out there,” Chuck continued. “What a place. It was native. When Coyle first broke into the league, Coyle was always Charlie’s first home away from home. It was nice to see him kind of grow compared to Backes and the two had several run-ins during Backes’ up there. days with the Blues. “You always wished Minnesota could get to the finals one of these years “Man, did we used to battle,” Coyle said of his now stallmate. “When we and my kid being on it. But now, after everything that transpired this played St. Louis, Backes would be on the radar. He plays rough and February, to go from the high of him getting traded to the Bruins to tough and we would have some good battles in the corners and stuff. So knowing that they had a good shot to make a run for the Cup, it’s just to sit next to him in the locker room and just play with him, he’s a great unbelievable with all the hoopla going on. guy and he’s a great leader. And you can tell how much this means to “It’s a dream come true for us. I know it is for him, but for a father, a him, just emotionally, you can see it on his face, especially when we won mother, seeing your kid reach that for your hometown team, it’s like … the last series.” well, it’s nerve-racking, too. You hope everything goes well because Speaking of that last series against Carolina, Coyle also had one Boston is a lot like Minnesota. memorable run-in with former Wild teammate and bosom buddy Nino “It’s a big hockey town. But we are so, so proud … and excited for these Niederreiter. next few weeks. ”

NIEDERREITER AND COYLE ARE NO LONGER TEAMMATES, GO AT The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 IT PRETTY GOOD PIC.TWITTER.COM/BKCVVKFA43

— CJ FOGLER (@CJZERO) MAY 15, 2019

“That’s classic Nino, stirring it up, doing his job,” Coyle said, laughing. “You never see me and Nino fight. We’re not going to fight. But I saw him and I was like, ‘Yeah, what the heck,’ you know? We texted a little bit after, and … I love Nino. That was just playoff hockey. It’s just how it goes, you know? It’s nothing personal. It was kind of fun in a way.”

Coyle added with a laugh, “He might have been a little surprised, but it’s all in fun.”

During the post-series handshake line, Coyle and Niederreiter embraced.

“I said, ‘It was great playing you. You had a great year,’” Coyle said. “And Nino just said, ‘Just bring home the Cup.’”

Life has been an adjustment for Coyle and his family since the trade.

Coyle bought an offseason home a few years back in Hull, Massachusetts, on the beach he grew up going to as a kid. But because of the long commute in traffic, Coyle rented an apartment in the Seaport area of Boston in the same building and area a handful of his buddies live in.

For Coyle’s parents and two older sisters, they have found themselves going from only a handful of Bruins games a year to virtually every one.

“When he got traded, they had that six-game homestand, and I’m not used to going to all games,” Chuck Coyle said. “I get too comfortable sitting in my chair here watching it. Just getting into that routine was crazy. Luckily we know Chris Wagner’s family. Charlie and Chris played together on the South Shore Kings, so they were introducing us, showing us the ropes, introducing us to all the other parents and Bruins personnel. It really went pretty smooth.” 1145199 Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens sign Rockets leader Alex Belzile to one-year, two-way deal

Belzile, 27, led the Rocket in several offensive categories in 2018-19, including goals (19), assists (35) and points (54).

MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: May 24, 2019

Canadiens general manager announced on Friday afternoon that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with forward Alex Belzile.

The deal will pay Belzile $700,000 at the NHL level and $175,000 in the AHL, with $200,000 in guaranteed salary for the 2019-20 season.

Belzile, 27, led the AHL’s Laval Rocket in several offensive categories in 2018-19, including goals (19), assists (35), points (54) and power-play goals (eight).

In 219 career AHL regular-season games with Laval, San Antonio and Hamilton since joining the league in 2012-13, Belzile has 118 points (47 goals, 71 assists) and 203 penalty minutes.

A native of St-Éloi, Belzile signed an AHL contract with the Rocket as a free agent on July 1, 2018.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145200 Montreal Canadiens Montreal finished just out of the playoff picture and will draft 15th in the first round. In other words, it really isn’t a rebuild here. So is it win now? It doesn’t appear to be that, either.

What the Puck: When will the Canadiens return to glory? Have you watched any of these playoffs? Can you imagine Montreal Newly appointed New York Rangers president John Davidson has a lining up against the St. Louis Blues or the Boston Bruins? No, neither clear plan and it's to rebuild the team. What is the Habs management's can I. They’re nowhere near ready for that. plan? Yet it was confirmed Bergevin made a strong run for Matt Duchene at the trade deadline and there is much speculation he’ll go hard for Artemi Panarin and Duchene this summer. BRENDAN KELLY When does Montreal expect to compete for elite status? My feeling is MONTREAL GAZETTE Molson and Bergevin aren’t telling us the plan because there is no plan. So maybe they are being transparent after all. They look like they don’t Updated: May 24, 2019 know what they’re doing. Maybe that’s the honest truth.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 05.25.2019 I have a novel idea for Canadiens management — how about you come up with a well thought out plan for the Habs and then tell the world what it is.

I am the first to agree that the Habs’ drafting has vastly improved during the past couple of years after a disastrous decade. But what are they going to do with these prospects? What’s the plan?

I was thinking of this again this week reading stories about the New York Rangers hiring John Davidson as president of the New York Rangers, replacing longtime president Glen Sather, who will stay within the organization as an adviser to owner James Dolan. Davidson stepped down as president of the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 17, the same day that it was announced he was taking the same position with the Rangers.

It’s nice to see a team hire a president with a large body of experience. Davidson is a former NHL goalie who then went into hockey broadcasting before entering the executive ranks of the NHL. He was president of the St. Louis Blues from 2006 to 2012, before moving to Columbus to serve as president from 2012 until this month. He laid the foundation for two very successful teams in St. Louis and Columbus. The Rangers reached out for a president with 13 years of experience at the highest level of NHL management. Montreal has a president with no NHL management experience.

Rangers general manager is staying on board and he and Sather already made it crystal clear to fans where the team was headed when they took the unusual move of sending an open letter to fans in February 2018 saying the Original Six team was in full rebuild mode. And Davidson reconfirmed that this week.

“I like that the entire organization stated that they were going to rebuild,” Davidson said. “There’s no secrets to it. There’s no, ‘Well, we’re going to do this, but don’t tell anybody.’ This is something that has been very transparent and that’s a good way to go. There’s a game plan in place. The foundation is being built.”

Just to be crystal clear myself, I am not saying the Canadiens need to rebuild. Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But Habs owner and president and GM Marc Bergevin need to tell us how they plan to turn this once-great franchise back into a contender. In spring 2018, after the Canadiens missed the playoffs yet again, Molson promised that management would be more transparent with fans.

But that hasn’t happened. It didn’t happen in June 2018 when the team failed to let the public know that Shea Weber had knee surgery until two weeks after the operation.

After the Canadiens failed to make the post-season this year, for the third time in four seasons, Bergevin at least admitted he was disappointed. But, as usual, he spoke in vague and oddly upbeat terms about a team that has won all of two playoff games in the last four seasons.

“No, we’re not happy, but we know we’re heading in the right direction and the message I got from my players today is: ‘We’re just getting started,’ ” Bergevin said in April.

That would make a great Hallmark card, but what does it mean? Bergevin keeps saying the team is in “reset” mode and not “rebuild” mode, but that’s meaningless. What Davidson said means something. The Rangers are rebuilding. They’ve been dumping older players, picking up young talent and ending up low in the standings so they can snare AAA talent in the draft. The Rangers have the second overall pick this year and will presumably snare Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko. 1145201 Nashville Predators The Everblades will serve as a developmental affiliate for the Predators and their primary developmental affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, starting with the 2019-20 season.

ECHL hockey: Florida Everblades switch NHL affiliation to Nashville The Predators, who were founded in 1998 as were the Everblades, have Predators become one of the top teams in the NHL over the past three years. They made the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017 and won the Presidents Cup trophy in 2018. They won a division title this past season but lost in the first Greg Hardwig round of the playoffs.

Naples Daily News Since joining the ECHL for the 1998-99 season, the Everblades have been the ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, with 33 Everblades Published 2:29 p.m. ET May 24, 2019 | Updated 7:12 p.m. ET May 24, players going on to play in the NHL. 2019 "I want to emphasize the departure after 21 years is not an easy thing,"

Brush said. "I wish them all of the success in the world. They've got a The Florida Everblades have been affiliated with the NHL's Carolina great organization and an up-and-coming team. I'm sure they won't skip Hurricanes since the ECHL team's inception 21 years ago. a beat."

That changed on Friday. Everblades president and general manager Nashville has been part of a development model that has seen a Craig Brush announced the club has made a switch and will be affiliated multitude of players advance to the NHL from the ECHL. In total, 661 with the NHL's Nashville Predators for the coming season. ECHL alumni have gone on to play in the NHL. Of those players, 44 have played for Nashville. Three Everblades alumni have suited up for the Everblades owner Peter Karmanos was the majority owner of the Predators — Matt Hendricks, Shane Hnidy, and Jason Morgan. Hurricanes until selling controlling interest of Carolina a year ago. The connection between the two teams runs back several years. "The relationship with Carolina has been great for all of those years," Nashville’s rookies have attended the NHL Prospects Showcase at Hertz Brush said by phone Friday. "The common denominator is Peter Arena on several occasions. Karmanos. As Pete takes a back seat, things are just not the same, obviously. That caused us to kind of want to look at the market." The Everblades are coming off the third-highest regular season win total in team history after totaling a 50-16-5-1 mark in the 2018-19 campaign. Brush didn't look very far. He has known Predators president of hockey operations and general manager David Poile, who also has a residence Florida qualified for the playoffs for the 20th time in team history and in Southwest Florida, for years. The Predators had part of their training advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight year camp at Hertz Arena, and also have had a rookie camp there. and sixth time in franchise history. In 2018, Florida lost in Game 7 of the Kelly Cup Finals. "I've known David Poile for a long time, and he's a classy guy and his organization is the same way," Brush said. "We've developed a "We would like to be playing (in the Kelly Cup Finals on Saturday night) friendship. They've been looking, so that's kind of how it all came but it wasn't meant to be," Brush said. together." Brush said that head coach Brad Ralph and associate head coach Tad The Cincinnati Cyclones were the Predators' ECHL affiliate in 2001-02 O'Had are expected back. and from 2007-08 through 2016-17. The Cyclones won Kelly Cups "They both have aspirations, but at this point, they'll be coaching the twice, and Brush sees that as evidence of the Predators organization's team next year," Brush said. commitment to player development. Tennessean LOADED: 05.25.2019 "I think the ECHL has a greater standing with the NHL teams than it has had in the past," he said. "You look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs did with Newfoundland (which eliminated the Everblades in the conference finals). They had 15 signed players on their roster. They believe in development. That's good for our whole league.

"... The deal that have struck I'm very confident is going to be extremely helpful for us going forward. Suffice to say, that we're very happy with the agreement. They are equally as happy. They like our track record. They want to put their players in a winning environment and hopefully we can continue that for years to come.

Brush wouldn't disclose the length of the deal or the details of how many players the Predators planned or were contracted to offer to the Blades. He did say the contract with Carolina had been renewed annually.

The Predators cut ties with Norfolk as its ECHL affiliate in 2017 after less than a year. The Preds did send some players to the Atlanta Gladiators last season.

Norfolk was Nashville's first ECHL affiliate in 1998-99 when it was the Hampton Roads Admirals. New Orleans (2000-01), Toledo (2003-04) and Rockford (2006-07) also have been Predators ECHL affiliates.

It's been six years since Hertz Arena and the Everblades were put up for sale. Hertz became the naming rights sponsor of the arena last year, replacing Germain.

Brush declined to comment when asked if there was an update on the possible sale of the arena and/or the team. "It's a work in progress," he said.

Hertz Arena recently was repainted highlighting the company's bright yellow color scheme, and the signage on the building has been replaced on the Interstate 75 side and additional Hertz signage was added above the main entrance.

"Our business is quite good right now," Brush said. "We're happy financially with the year we've had." 1145202 New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Damon Severson scored literal last-second goal to help knock teammate Nico Hischier out of World Championships

By Chris Ryan

Damon Severson is the reason Canada avoided a quarterfinal upset at the 2019 IIHF World Championships.

While playing Devils teammate Nico Hischier and Switzerland, Canada faced a 2-1 deficit late in regulation, thanks to a Hischier power-play goal in the closing seconds of the second period.

That’s when Severson scored his team’s most important goal of the tournament.

Skating 6-on-5 with an empty net, Severson got possession at the point with just a few seconds left on the clock, and after having one shot blocked, he jumped on the loose puck and managed to thread another shot through traffic and past Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni.

As Canada celebrated Severson’s goal, the game clock read 0:00, and the play came down to a video review to determine if Severson scored in time.

The overhead camera showed Severson’s shot trickle over the goal line with 0.4 seconds left — just barely enough to send the game to overtime, where Mark Stone ended the game for Canada and ended Switzerland’s upset hopes.

 SCORES!

With 0.4 seconds left in the 3rd period, @HC_Men's Damon Severson's (@NJDevils) point shot squeaks past the line JUST IN TIME to tie it up!!!

2-2 | #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/Rv4D87ULbq

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 23, 2019

Severson’s first goal of the tournament set up a semifinal matchup between Canada and the Czech Republic, and the winner of that game will meet the winner of Russia and Finland in the gold-medal game on Sunday.

Severson is the only Devils player left in the medal round. Cory Schneider and the United States lost to Russia in the quarterfinals, while Jesper Bratt and Sweden lost to Finland.

Star Ledger LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145203 New Jersey Devils

NHL Draft 2019: The funny way Kyle Palmieri found out Devils won the lottery

By Chris Ryan

The NHL handled the 2019 draft lottery a little differently than past years, moving its typical late-April date up to just three days following the end of the regular season and one day prior the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So Kyle Palmieri was still decompressing from the end of the Devils season, and when the order of the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft was being revealed, he wasn’t watching.

“I forgot how early it was, and I didn’t realize until I was out to dinner,” Palmieri said. “I wasn’t really looking at my phone. I got a couple of texts, my phone started going off and a couple of people with just the eye emojis, and I had no idea until I looked at social media.”

When Palmieri realized what was going on, picks four through 15 of the first round had been revealed, and the Devils knew they were picking in the top three of June’s draft.

So there was time to get to a TV to see the top three revealed. There was just one problem.

“We asked them I put it on and the guy didn’t know what channel it was,” Palmieri said. “So I wasn’t able to see it live, but I was able to look on social media, and it’s a pretty cool opportunity and obviously (Taylor Hall) is pretty good at that, among other things.”

Hall took to Twitter before the draft lottery, pointing out how well his teams had done at getting No. 1 picks in the past before the order was revealed, and he tweeted again later in the night to celebrate the Devils’ win.

So Palmieri saw all that while experiencing the Devils’ win through social media. Regardless of how he found out, he realized how monumental it was for the team to get the No. 1 pick for the second time in three years.

“It’s a huge moment for our franchise. And I think our organization and our fans are really excited about whoever we end up drafting,” Palmieri said. “And it’s going to be a guy who’s going to make a positive impact on our team, and be a part of this franchise for years to come.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145204 New York Islanders So, yes, Nelson has signed, and the wheels are in motion. But there is a long way to go before there is any clarity on this Islanders offseason.

New York Post LOADED: 05.25.2019 What’s next for Islanders after Brock Nelson signing

By Brett Cyrgalis

May 25, 2019 | 1:40am

The first domino has fallen in the Islanders’ offseason of uncertainty. So now what?

Team president wrapped up his first big pending unrestricted free agent, inking 27-year-old Brock Nelson to a six-year, $36 million deal Thursday. The $6 million annual salary-cap hit proves to be a rather equitable solution for both player and team, even if Nelson is coming off the first 50-point season of his career.

But Nelson was the only player on the team whose numbers increased under first-year coach Barry Trotz, and he was an integral part of the Islanders’ success down the stretch as they obtained 103 points and finished second in the . If his play was lackluster in the two postseason rounds — only eight games, sweeping the Penguins in the first round before getting swept by the Hurricanes in the second — it would have been minimized on the open market. Not only do the Islanders have very little organizational depth at center, but there is a lack of depth at center on the open market behind Matt Duchene and Kevin Hayes.

That’s what made this deal the easiest to do. Now comes the heavy lifting.

The biggest obstacle is first-year captain Anders Lee, who will turn 29 on July 3 and is looking for the type of contract that befits the leader of a playoff team and a player who has scored 40 goals in the past and has the 20th most goals in the NHL over the past four seasons, 117. That number, in 325 games, ties him with Nathan MacKinnon (310 games) and Steven Stamkos (254) over that stretch. It’s also one more goal than Artemi Panarin scored in 322 games.

But seven years for Lee is a lot of commitment, and Lamoriello probably doesn’t want to go more than four. The two parties likely could compromise at around $7 million per, but the term has been the sticking point since conversations started at the beginning of the season.

Rest assured, it remains a big sticking point. If Lee gets to the free-agent courting period starting June 23, and he starts hearing some nice things from Wild general manager about going back to his native Minnesota, that could lead to the Islanders losing their captain for the second straight season (You remember that John Tavares guy, right?). One thing that every agent knows is that trying to play hardball with Lamoriello normally doesn’t work out.

But Lee has a big piece of leverage. If he leaves, it would create a huge hole in the Islanders’ roster. on which the largest problem is the paucity of high-end talent. Lamoriello is surely out there inquiring about what it would take to sign Panarin — especially with the almost open interest from the Rangers. But if the likely outcome does occur and Panarin goes elsewhere, then the market for big-time wingers seems underwhelming. Jeff Skinner had a terrific season in Buffalo, but the type of deal he’s going to get on the open market is not something Lamoriello has been fond of in the past.

Which is also why the Islanders’ other top-six winger, Jordan Eberle, is a bit lower on Lamoriello’s to-do list. The two years Eberle spent with the Islanders, putting up 44 goals in 159 games, were relatively productive. He might get a deal similar to the one he is finishing now, a six-year, $36 million pact. But it might be prudent for Lamoriello to let Eberle test the market and then see what happens.

The one position at which Lamoriello has never liked instability is in nets, and that is where he has to figure out what do with Robin Lehner. A wonderful bounce-back season, both professionally and personally, has the 27-year-old set for a nice payday after finishing as a Vezina Trophy finalist. He obviously needs to think about a lot of things when deciding what he wants to do, but the comfort level with the Islanders, and the chance they gave him to resurrect his life and career, could prove valuable in negotiations. Anything less than five years around $5 million per probably makes sense for both parties. 1145205 New York Islanders

Islanders lock up Brock Nelson with six-year deal

By Howie Kussoy

May 23, 2019 | 1:01PM

The Islanders have made the first move toward keeping their core.

The team announced Thursday it has agreed to terms on a six-year contract with forward Brock Nelson that will pay an average of $6 million per season. The 27-year-old was coming off a career year in his first season under coach Barry Trotz and was set to be an unrestricted free agent after posting 25 goals and 28 assists, with a single-season best +20 rating, while playing in all 82 regular-season games for the second straight year. He had four goals in the playoffs.

Nelson has 124 goals and 117 assists in 480 career games with the Islanders.

Nelson, the Isles’ first-round pick in 2010, was a big part of the team winning a playoff series for just the second time since 1993, but the Islanders may not be able to bring back all of the key pieces of their surprisingly successful season.

Also entering free agency are captain Anders Lee, forward Jordan Eberle and Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner. The Islanders now have $29 million in cap space, according to capfriendly.com

New York Post LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145206 New York Islanders Lehner revived his career on a one-year deal, but Lehner has a better resume.

And as with Nelson, there is nothing on the horizon in goal for the ‘It was a no-brainer’: As the Islanders lock up Brock Nelson, focus moves Islanders. Ilya Sorokin had expressed interest earlier this year in buying to 3 other big-name free agents out the last year of his KHL contract to come to North America, but a source said the 23-year-old decided to play out that final season for CSKA Moscow, even after finally winning a Gagarin Cup last month. So By Arthur Staple 2020-21 is the earliest you’ll see Sorokin over here.

May 24, 2019 Eberle is more of a wild-card for the Islanders, who desperately need to upgrade the right side on their forward group — if Eberle leaves and Cal

Clutterbuck can’t start the season the Islanders would have zero right Of the four big-name Islanders who could become free agents on July 1, shooting wingers available. If Eberle’s contract demands are reasonable, none stood to cash in bigger than Brock Nelson. Perhaps that’s a there’s certainly a path to him returning — he’s coming off a six-year deal surprise, given that captain and recent 40-goal scorer Anders Lee, at $6 million AAV — but one would imagine he’s on the lowest rung of perennial 50-point scorer Jordan Eberle and Vezina finalist Robin Lehner importance when compared to the other three. are the other three. But a combination of factors meant that the 27-year- And now Nelson is done, a huge relief when you look at the center depth old Nelson would have been in the best position to find a long-term deal in the organization. The Islanders could look to upgrade their No. 3 on the open market. center spot from Valtteri Filppula, either by moving Casey Cizikas into a Fortunately for Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders, Nelson had no such more prominent role or by scouring the second tier free-agent market, interest. So the process from initial contract talks between Ben where the likes of Derick Brassard, Marcus Johansson and Brian Boyle Hankinson, Nelson’s agent, and Lamoriello moved quickly in the last few would be. If they bring back Filppula that could be a risk, given it’s almost weeks from start to Thursday’s finish, with Nelson signing a six-year deal certain he and Cizikas won’t combine for 37 goals again in their same that carries a $6-million cap hit per season. roles.

“It was a no-brainer to do this and not let it drag on,” Nelson said in a There was risk in letting all four top-line FAs walk; there’s also risk in phone conversation on Thursday as he and his wife, Karley, went house- bringing all four back and becoming a bit stale, especially when it’s clear hunting on Long Island. They flew in from Minnesota for the day in the Islanders need to upgrade the top end of the roster. There was no anticipation of the deal being finalized. “With the kids now (one-year-old hesitation from Nelson to get this deal done, which is usually a good sign Beckett and three-week-old Addie), it’s a great place to raise a family. of where the organization is headed. The on-ice and off-ice stuff all feels great so we knew we wanted to be “I honestly think we’re right there, the foundation is there,” Nelson said. here.” “What Barry and Lou brought in has been amazing, when you think back Nelson’s contract may seem large, given that he just cracked the 50- to where we were a year ago. We had a hell of a run and I wanted to be point barrier for the first time this past season. But seeing how he was a part of it for a long time.” one of perhaps three or four centers who would have drawn serious The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 interest from multiple teams on July 1, the timing was right for him to cash in — he certainly could have gotten closer to $7 million per on a six- year deal had he chosen to see who was interested.

Instead he is Lamoriello’s first long-term commitment since the Isles president took over a year and two days ago. Nelson should slot in as the No. 2 center behind Mathew Barzal and the contract numbers leave room for Lamoriello to do and spend a lot more this offseason.

As to those other three pending UFAs, their situations are currently up in the air. Lee’s negotiation has been ongoing since basically the start of the season back in October with the same sticking point, contract length, appearing to be the hold-up.

As the captain and one of the league’s top 20 goal scorers over the last three seasons, Lee is likely to command somewhere around $7 million per season. What seems clear is that Lee and his agent, Neil Sheehy, think that contract should last seven years, while Lamoriello likely wants it to last five years, or perhaps even four — Lee turns 29 in July and the NHL is littered with big, power wingers whose decline has been steep, especially after signing long-term deals (see Lucic, Milan, for exhibit A).

It’s hard to imagine the Islanders would let Lee get to July 1, but perhaps that’s a risk Lamoriello is willing to take. There is no ready replacement for Lee in the pipeline, so the Isles would have to add to their shopping list, one that likely already includes adding a top-six forward or two. Or perhaps Lamoriello is confident that Lee won’t find as many suitors as he’d like once the contact window begins on June 23.

In any event, there hasn’t been much movement between the two sides when it comes to the captain.

Lehner and Eberle share an agent, Craig Oster. Neither believed there’d been much, if any, contact with Lamoriello during the season. There’s been some talks since, according to a couple of league sources, but nothing has progressed close to a conclusion with either player.

Lehner would seem to be next in order of priority. Much like the center market around Nelson, the goalie market is really thin — thinner still if, as the hockey world assumes, Sergei Bobrovsky is already ticketed for the Panthers. Beyond Lehner, you’re looking at a group of over-30 goaltenders (Cam Talbot, Brian Elliott, Mike Smith, Cam Ward) who are hitting the market for a reason. There may also be Petr Mrazek, who like 1145207 New York Rangers “We were in the locker room for the morning skate and it was actually hilarious. The guys were giving him shit. Each person that came in was, ‘Did you hear this? Did you see this? Did you hear what he said?’ and it 25 years later: Mark Messier vows to win Game 6, then follows through just got bigger and bigger, from Keenan and Neil and everybody was with it kind of in on it, going, ‘Oh, my God, what are you thinking?’ Funny as hell.”

“It was done in jest,” Keenan remembered. “I think it helped alleviate any Rick Carpiniello insecurities that some of the guys felt or some of the pressure that would come with that kind of guarantee. So, I think it was based on levity more May 24, 2019 than anything else and in good fun.”

The Rangers had more clear and present worries anyway. They were Chaos had swept up the Rangers again. Not for the first time and not – down 3-2 to a big team playing high-level hockey in a brutally vicious as it turned out – for the last. series and one loss from making it zero Cups in 55 years – which would mean going on zero in 80 years today. But here it had swirled mightily and threatened to abruptly end what was looking like a championship 1993-94 season, the franchise having Game 6 started even worse. The Devils swarmed the Rangers, got goals already gone 54 years without a Stanley Cup. from Scott Niedermayer and Lemieux to take a quick 2-0 lead.

The storm began in the first period of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference “I remember when that second goal went in,” Richter said, “not wanting to final against the powerhouse New Jersey Devils. The Rangers entered look at the bench, thinking, ‘Please don’t pull me; please stay the course that game up 2-1 in the series (and with a 10-2 overall record in the here, let’s not panic.’” playoffs) when coach benched a bunch of players, most Keenan, known for yanking goalies, said he never considered removing notably Brian Leetch and briefly Mark Messier while pulling goalie Mike Richter this time. Richter rewarded him. Richter – the team’s three MVPs to that point and beyond. “Mike really kept us in the game to start with,” Keenan said. “It could Keenan cited injuries (Leetch had a bad shoulder and a lacerated elbow easily have gotten out of control where we’d never have a chance to get that had become infected – Keenan attributed it to a Claude Lemieux back in the game. But he was solid – more like spectacular – for us and slash) for the benchings. The players felt – and still feel – they were gave us a chance to regroup. We were able to re-establish our game and benched. At times during that Game 4, Jay Wells, the veteran of course win the game. A great deal of credit goes to Michael.” defenseman who kept being sent on the ice instead of Leetch, breathlessly begged Leetch to go onto the ice instead. Wells pleaded It didn’t get better, though. Keenan called a timeout and didn’t speak a with Keenan to let Leetch play, adding “bench me, bench me.” word to his team. Messier spoke to the bench briefly. And it got worse Meanwhile, backup goalie Glenn Healy wondered why Keenan, with the still when play resumed. Devils up only 3-1 late in the game, didn’t bother to pull him for an extra skater. When Messier took a penalty out of frustration against (for whom he was traded from Edmonton to New York in 1991), The Rangers would lose that game as more chaotic explanations, Messier’s boyhood friend Ken Daneyko, the Devils defenseman, noticed speculations and accusations would ensue – including GM ’s something. ever-growing wish to be rid of Keenan at the end of the season – and they would lose Game 5 as well, by a 4-1 score, to go to the edge of the “He thought it was over,” Daneyko said at the time. “You could see he plank, the brink of elimination. was frustrated. I saw it in his face. He thought it was over.”

On May 24, 1994, 25 years ago, Messier stood in the Rangers practice Then late in the second period, Keenan moved Alexei Kovalev up to the rink in Rye, N.Y., stuck out his chin and unblinkingly made this statement wing with Messier and Adam Graves. Something sparked. Messier set up prior to the following day’s Game 6 at the Meadowlands. Kovalev for a goal past rookie goalie Martin Brodeur and it was only 2-1. The Rangers were shot away from tying it in a game in which they were “We’re going to go in there and win Game 6,” Messier said. “We’ve dominated. responded all year. We’ve won games we’ve had to win. We know we’re going to go in there to win Game 6 and bringing it back for Game 7. We By the 12:12 mark of the third, both Leetch and Kovalev had assisted on feel we can win it, and we feel we are going to win it.” two goals by Messier and the Rangers somehow had a 3-2 lead.

The word “guarantee” was never used. There wasn’t a hint of a brag, no Glenn Anderson, whom Kovalev had replaced on that top line, took a 1969 Joe Namath-ese. In fact, reporters looked at one another and needless slashing penalty to put the Devils on a late power play. New asked if he had just promised victory. The remarks were so calmly Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire pulled Brodeur to give his team a 6-on-4 delivered that some of the TV stations present didn’t even use the sound advantage with 1:53 left. Sure enough, the puck came to Messier in the bite. middle of the Rangers’ zone, some 140-150 feet from the Devils’ net.

Nevertheless, Messier said the Rangers would win Game 6 back when “That’s one of the things I so clearly remember is just laughing as he news cycles were based on morning papers. takes that puck in our high slot and just turns without looking and wristing the thing all the way down the ice,” Richter said. “It lands somewhere Messier woke up the next morning, saw the print stories and thought, “Oh around the red line and as it lands I’m thinking, ‘You’re kidding me!’ no.” That’s when I thought about it. I didn’t think about the guarantee much, but he freakin’ called it. That’s when I went, ‘Oh, my God, that’s right. He “At the time, I was so focused on trying to find the way to get us jump- guaranteed it, he got the game-winner and he scored a hat trick.’ I mean, started again that I forgot every New Yorker, plus every Devil, would be that’s a pretty good story right there. The puck wasn’t even in yet, but you reading that story,” he said. “But, you know, it doesn’t really matter at that could tell it was going right in the center of the goddamn net and you’re point anyway. My point, ultimately, was to instill the confidence back in going, ‘You’re kidding me!’ the team. So if it did that job I didn’t care about the rest of the burden that might have followed.” “And I think the perfect kind of visual was him going over and hugging the entire bench. He didn’t go down the line and high five, didn’t (go off on His teammates didn’t seem to feel the burden either. They broke his own). He basically went to the whole damn bench and hugged it. It Messier’s chops, in fun, about what he had done. was awesome.” “Reckless stupidity,” Richter joked last week.“It’s out the next morning in Leetch was on the ice and the puck had squirted through his skates and the paper, and we’re driving to the morning skate, and you hear Leetchie through the skates of Lemieux to Messier. say it, like, ‘Nice job, Mark.’ Like, ‘Oh, boy, here we go.’ But Mark owns it. He’s laughing about it. I think everything he said had some kind of “Mess had it on his stick and fired it right down,” Leetch remembered. “As meaning and what affect it would have on the team and the fans and the I was watching it go, I knew it was giving us a two-goal lead, but then it other team. So it wasn’t without fault that he stated those things. But at kind of clicked that that was a hat trick for him. Before, even when he the same time, it can take on a life of its own. So he was kind of going, scored his first two, it was always ‘Go forward, let’s go, we can’t stop ‘Oh, man, I stepped in it.’ He totally owned it and got a chuckle out of it. here.’ So when we tied it up and even when we went ahead, in the pile it was celebrate the goal, but there were words, ‘Let’s keep going.’ So when I saw that thing going in, I realized, ‘He just got a hat trick and we’re going to win this game now.’ He’d done that at different times, whether it was a milestone goal or an overtime goal, in the few years before that, where you were just kind of, ‘Wow, that’s another example of an all-time great having a knack for making the biggest play at the biggest moment.’ He had a way of making it more meaningful, or being part of a more meaningful story. It was just another head-shaker. You’re lucky to say you were a part of it.”

The accolades, of course, poured in from around the hockey world. A guarantee, a three goals, one assist game in a 4-2 win that would force a Game 7. Another day to live, or at least survive. Another day to dream.

“If he wasn’t legendary already, certainly that was a moment that would make him legendary,” Keenan said of his captain.

He promised. He delivered.

That which doesn’t kill you,” Richter said that night, “makes you stronger.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145208 New York Rangers it comes to the New York Rangers. I end up being the guy who signs the check and cheers the team, and that’s the way I like it, by the way.”

YOU CAN HEAR THE EMOTION FROM JOHN DAVIDSON WHEN Make no mistake, the Rangers are John Davidson’s team now SPEAKING ABOUT COMING HOME TO THE @NYRANGERS. #NYR #NHL PIC.TWITTER.COM/FJWQJEAGVM

By Rick Carpiniello — MSG NETWORKS (@MSGNETWORKS) MAY 22, 2019

May 23, 2019 So Davidson should expect to have full say, or as much say as could be hoped, on major decisions. The first major decision, bigger than how aggressively to chase his former Columbus player Artemi Panarin as a free agent on July 1st, is how to handle the plan which Gorton and NEW YORK – If you thought John Davidson was going to still be the Sather sold to Dolan. The one about rebuilding by acquiring assets and fuzzy, friendly, hilarious bear of a man that he was as a player and a making transactions with an eye to the future. About getting younger and broadcaster as the new Rangers president … well, you’d be right. younger and younger still. But if you thought JD was coming home to be a figurehead and a buffer “I want to continue what was started here,” Davidson said, “And they’re between management and ownership and a glad-hander for sponsors doing it the right way. and business partners … well, that’s not even close. “When you get into a situation where you know what the goal is and you Davidson made it abundantly clear at his reintroduction at the Garden have a plan in place — and the Rangers certainly do have a plan in place Wednesday that he plans to be a hands-on executive with strong ideas, – that’s what you live for. And when you talk to Jim (Dolan), it’s what he one with his fingerprints all over the rebuilding process that was well wants. He wants us to stay with the plan. He has all the resources to try underway before he returned. to help us do what we need to do to try to become a championship After stops as team president in St. Louis and Columbus, Davidson – hockey club.” repeating that he would not have left the Blue Jackets for any other job Davidson hailed Gorton’s work on the rebuild, which is going to take a but the Rangers – choked up a couple of times. He barely got out that massive leap forward when they select Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes “dreams do come true.” with the second pick of the NHL draft next month in Vancouver. He also Then he appeared ready to roll up his sleeves and take over. praised the identity and culture of a hard-working team being built by Quinn and his staff. So make no mistake. This is Davidson’s team now. Yes, general manager Jeff Gorton is going to have a ton of latitude, just as he did with “They play hard, the play the game the right way, and they’re demanding Glen Sather in the president’s seat, though Sather had kind of about it,” the new president said. “If you want to play for the Rangers, this disappeared into the background on the day-to-day hockey operations. In is how it’s going to be. And if you don’t have that proper leadership and St. Louis and in Columbus, it was very clear that Doug Armstrong and culture within the locker room itself, it becomes hard, and it’s awfully hard Jarmo Kekalainen were the GMs and allowed to do their jobs. to change. And it looks to me that they’re well on their way in that area.”

And yes, David Quinn is still going to be called upon to build the culture a Davidson has done the rebuilding thing in both of his previous stops, in young team needs. St. Louis, which is now in the Stanley Cup Final against a Boston team whose core was built by Gorton; and in Columbus, which was eliminated I asked Davidson about the separation in those cases, and in this one, from the playoffs by the Bruins. between a president and a GM. “It takes patience and it takes resolve,” he said. “Married at the hip,” Davidson, 66, answered quickly. “I’ve said, what I want from my point of view is everybody to know their seat on the bus. Gorton has to be happy with the choice of president, because another But I don’t want to walk in as a team president and have everybody stand choice – , for example – would have wanted to also be at attention. It doesn’t work like that in our game. I want everybody at the GM. This relationship of Davidson and Gorton is going to be more ease. We’re going to work together – communication, thoughts and like that of and in Toronto. Hands-on, but ideas, lots of disagreements, but everybody on the same team, and I separate jobs. think that’s easy to attain. “It’s not going to change my life at all,” Gorton said, upon returning from “This is serious business but you’ve got to enjoy it and you have to work the World Championships (where he scouted Kakko and Hughes) in together and you have to be sure you put the work in.” Slovakia. “Like Glen, I think JD’s a really good fit for the franchise. He comes in at a really good time (for us) to have somebody like this who’s So will be hands-on? been through it a couple of times. … In a lot of ways to me, it’ll be the same. I’ll have a new boss but I’ll have a really capable person that is my “Hands on,” Davidson said. boss and I’ll talk to every day. So I don’t think a lot is going to change for But Gorton’s the GM, not Davidson. me as far as doing my job.”

“I’m not going to sit here and say he’s going to have every call on every JD, he said, told Gorton to “keep pushing that” rebuild. thing, but what happens is the general manager, that’s his job,” Davidson “Jeff’s a hard worker, seems like a terrific person, so I’m going to sit in added. “If he wants my advice or if I can steer him, I’ll be happy to help. the room and we’ll have lots of discussions,” Davidson said. “He’s got Happy to help. But he’s got his seat on the bus and he’s got to do his job. experience, too, coming out of the Boston situation and then to the Coaches are the same way. I want communication with our general Rangers. I really look forward to working with him.” manager and our coaching staff. They work together. You can’t have two separate entities ever. It’s not going to work if it’s separate. Davidson added that he loves the transparency of Gorton’s plan and its execution. “You know, you want to be – I don’t know the right word – you want to be the soul of the franchise, maybe. You want to make sure that this “There is no quick fix,” he added later. “There’s nothing magical about it. franchise carries itself well as it always has.” You need a little bit of luck at times, but it’s hard work, it’s patience, it’s having the proper resolve to understand that there’s going to be a lot of The idea of being a buffer between the hockey operations and the owner, people that are going to want to do things differently, who are on the Jim Dolan, is real and necessary. Sather handled that role perfectly outside. We on the inside have to stay with what our thoughts are, what because Dolan hired him in 2000 and trusted him to have autonomy are plans are. You deviate, possibly, but you try to build in every area. when it came to the hockey club that plays in the same building as the There’s no secrets to it.” Knicks. The plan all along has been to look for opportunities, with cap space, with Dolan called Davidson – hired after an interview that lasted several hours the new faces like Vitali Kravtsov – who’s here in America now, working last week — the “ideal choice.” on his game and his English, Adam Fox and the eventual No. 2 overall Then he thanked Sather, whom he called “one of the most successful pick to accelerate the rebuild this summer. executives” in franchise history. “He leaves me with very little do to when “I’m not a guy who walks in with a hand grenade,” he said. “I don’t do that. I want to see how everybody does. I want to see what they do, what their roles are, know their seats on the bus, and just try to find a way to make everything better. They have a game plan. They’ve been sticking to their gameplan. That’s a good thing.”

As a goalie who led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final while wearing No. 30 exactly 40 years ago, he understands how the current goalie with that number, , is an enormous piece of this puzzle, one way or another.

“I plan on having a good discussion with him,” Davidson said. “He’s been the face of the New York Rangers for a long time here and he’s had a wonderful career. So we’ll talk along the way and see what his thoughts are. He’s a proud, proud guy, he’s had a very successful career, and I can hardly wait to chat with him.”

There’s a lot to do, and Davidson repeatedly said it will require patience and time to do it right. He has both of those things.

But he’s not going to sit by idly and watch. JD’s back, and he’s not just the big man anymore. Now he’s the Big Man. And it’s his team now.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145209 NHL

NHL Seattle adviser Dave Tippett to leave for the Oilers coaching job, report says

By Alex Iniguez

Seattle Times assistant sports editor

Dave Tippett, who was hired last June as a senior adviser for Seattle’s NHL franchise, will be the next coach of the Edmonton Oilers, the Edmonton Journal reported Friday.

The Edmonton Journal story also said The Sports Network’s Bob McKenzie reported that a deal between Tippett and the Oilers had not been finalized. Reached Friday afternoon, an NHL Seattle spokesman declined to comment on the reports.

Tippett’s hockey experience, 14 years as a coach and 11 years as a player, helped inform the NHL Seattle ownership group, led by Tod Leiweke, on decisions such as where to put the team’s training facility, the layout of a renovated KeyArena and the team’s ongoing search for its first general manager.

“We’ll see, I’m not ruling it out,’’ Tippett told The Seattle Times last year about a return to coaching. “It would have to be the right situation.”

The Oilers hired general manager Ken Holland away from Detroit on May 7 after the Red Wings had replaced Holland with Steve Yzerman as GM and named Holland senior vice president. Now Holland, who had been considered a candidate for the Seattle GM job, reportedly has hired a key piece of Seattle’s hockey brain trust.

Per the Edmonton Journal, Tippett, 57, will make around $4 million per year with the Oilers, who reportedly are expected to announce the hiring Friday or Tuesday.

Tippett ended up in Seattle when Tim Leiweke, CEO of the Oak View Group managing KeyArena’s renovation and Tod Leiweke’s older brother, called Tippett about being an adviser. Tim Leiweke was the Los Angeles Kings’ president in 1999 when Tippett became an assistant coach there.

Tippett had been considered an option to coach Seattle’s team when it begins play in 2021.

As of this month, NHL Seattle was continuing its GM search by interviewing Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM , among a field of other candidates. It’s unclear how or whether Tippett’s reported departure would affect that search.

Seattle Times LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145210 NHL Carcillo spends his days now speaking out about the dangers of brain injuries in hockey and other sports. He frequently takes to social media, hoping to use the platform for the greater good.

Faces of concussions: NHL’s head-on battle with an epidemic But time is running out for the journeyman forward who played most recently for the Chicago Blackhawks. Carcillo doesn't have a full-time job and estimates he has two years until he goes bankrupt. He considers By STEPHEN WHYNO selling his two Stanley Cup rings to pay for treatment and support his family. | ASSOCIATED PRESS | "I won't let him," Ela says from across the kitchen. Memorabilia from his MAY 23, 2019 | 1:56 PM career all sits in the basement of their recently renovated home in the Chicago suburbs — framed jerseys still in bubble wrap sit next to countless pictures in a dimly lit room, all of which used to be in Carcillo's HOMER GLEN, Ill. — Wearing a black shirt with “Fight for your grandfather's house. happiness” on the front and “Sick not weak” on the back, Daniel Carcillo eats an apple as his wife makes a cappuccino nearby and their oldest Carcillo sometimes gets angry talking about his situation, how he feels daughter scampers around the kitchen. like generations of players were lied to about what was happening to their brains. He has come a long way since his darkest days. But last This is the family he always wanted, just not the life he expected. year, Ela, while pregnant, took their two other kids to her parent's place in Florida to get away. Carcillo is hurting inside and out after seven documented concussions in the and what he believes could be literally "I was like: 'I need to get out of here. It's not healthy. I'm pregnant. It's hundreds of traumatic brain injuries. Once his wife Ela, son Austin, just not fair to me,'" Ela said. "I went and it was probably the best daughters Laila and Scarlett and dog Bubba left the house, Carcillo decision I ever made just for the sake of him figuring his stuff out." explained where his head is at. It has been nearly a year since his last round of neurological treatment and right now the bad days outnumber Carcillo wants his day in court with the Blackhawks and the NHL, to chart the good. Darkness has returned. a path for the rest of his life and to save others. It is also a battle just to save himself after those 429 NHL games over nine seasons. This is a bad day. "I keep up with my treatment," Carcillo said. "I describe it as when you're "I'm going to choose when I'm going to go," Carcillo said. "I'll make that losing your quality of life. Good days and bad days are normal, all good decision of how much pain I'm going to put my loved ones through that days aren't normal and all bad days aren't normal but you just have to are around me." weigh it. I've been in really, really bad places, like on the edge of killing myself. I just kind of weigh it against that — not waiting until I get to that Brain injury survivor and former Chicago Blackhawks player Daniel place." Carcillo suffered seven diagnosed concussions while playing in the NHL. Dennis Maruk is fine for now. He is just 34, hung up his skates in 2015 and wants to be known as Daniel Carcillo who used to play hockey, not Daniel Carcillo the hockey Three decades removed from a 922-game NHL career, he is 63 and player. He spends his days now trying to manage the damage the sport knows all about his counterparts who died between 60 and 65 — if not did to him while also crusading against the concussions crisis that has hit younger. the NHL over the past decade-plus. The league has taken steps to address the topic, but it has not faded from view by any means as the "Everything's going good," Maruk said. "I worry about myself in the Stanley Cup Final opens Monday. future. What am I going to be like in two years down the road?"

The league last fall settled a lawsuit for $18.9 million with more than 300 Maruk, who joined the concussion lawsuit, hears about former players retired players after winning a key victory against class-action status. It developing dementia and wonders about the day when his brain might included $22,000 for each player and provisions for testing but no desert him. All the hits to the head absorbed from hockey were worth it acknowledgement of liability for the players' claims the NHL failed to then. protect them from head injuries or warn them of the risks involved with Now? He doesn't know. playing. Commissioner Gary Bettman has consistently denied there is a conclusive link between repeated blows to the head and the "I have grandkids and I'm concerned about that and me losing my mind," degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Maruk said. "I'm not a very good sleeper and I think a lot has to do with being concussed." Carcillo calls the concussions issue an epidemic, though even the alumni association and attorneys involved in lawsuits against the league cannot Chris Nowinski, a former college football player and pro wrestler who is or will not provide an estimate of just how many former players might be now CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation , is 40 and worries suffering the same problems as Carcillo — the kind of problems loved about his own future. When he talks to retired hockey players, he hears a ones of players like Todd Ewen, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak might wide range of things — from no concern at all to some who fear the have noticed before their suicides. worst.

Various studies have tried to determine how many concussions there are "If they come at me and they don't have any current symptoms, I invite in any given season in the NHL. One calculated an average of 63 them to get involved with research just in case they develop something or concussions each season between 2006-07 and 2009-10 among 700- do it on behalf of their former teammates," Nowinski said. "And if they are plus players over nearly 1,300 games. symptomatic, I tell them that the symptoms they have may be treatable and to not think about worst-case scenario and instead focus on getting "It's definitely a problem that players are suffering from," said Reed treatment for the symptoms you have so you can live a better life." Larson, who played 936 NHL games and was among the first to sue the NHL over head injuries. "It's a real threat." Eric Lindros is fine most days.

Carcillo isn't fine and he knows it. The jarring shoulder-to-head hit on Lindros in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference final that was applauded and legal at the He doesn't remember any of his first five concussions but can't seem to time is cringe-worthy now. It came two years after Lindros took another escape the anxiety, depression, lack of impulse control and suicidal devastating hit from Darius Kasparaitis. thoughts that creep in. He feels better in the immediate aftermath of functional neurology therapy with Dr. Matt Antonucci, but that only helps Lindros was concussed at least five times during a dominant but injury- Carcillo get back to his "new normal." It also costs $10,000 each time. shortened career that landed him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Now a 46-year-old husband and father, he isn't sure what the benchmark "My greatest fear moving forward is that I will contract some sort of should be for how he should be feeling. He is his own baseline. neurodegenerative disease like early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, CTE," Carcillo said. "And then my wife and my two "I'd like to think I'm pretty normal," Lindros said. "I think so. We all have daughters and my son will have to watch me deteriorate and die." our moments. We all have our moments with a few things. Overall I feel pretty good." Lindros could easily be the poster boy for concussions in the NHL given "Donating your brain has helped in so many ways, as painful as it was for his experience as a star whose career was cut short. He was aware of us," Joanne Boogaard wrote. "NHL still has a lot of work to do at the lawsuit and "didn't reciprocate communication" when contacted about acknowledging and accepting responsibility for players who have passed joining. He advocated for and contributed to the 2016 passing of a and those who are out there with CTE and don't even know it. You did concussion safety law in Ontario designed to protect amateur athletes help in getting more awareness out there." and educate coaches about the dangers of head injuries. That is Carcillo's mission now. He can't change the punch to the head Lindros doesn't want the threat of concussions to deter kids — even his that gave him his seventh concussion but wants to document every step own — from playing hockey. Still, he ponders an uncertain future. of his journey so that if he can't save himself, maybe he can save others.

"You'd be a fool not to," he said. "After getting to know unfortunately as “It’s been pretty, pretty miserable: a lot of searching, a lot of treatment much as I do about CTE, we'd be foolish not to think about it from time to and a lot of money spent, a lot of friends lost,” he said. “I need to get it time. Certainly not something you want to dwell on." figured out, or else I don’t think I’ll be here that long. If I continue to feel this way, it doesn’t bode well for my future.” Glenn Healy has no choice but to dwell on the subject sometimes. As executive director of the 3,800-member NHL Alumni Association, he News Tribune LOADED: 05.25.2019 fields countless calls from retired players' family members and for so long could only say, "I'm sorry."

"It's from the wives, it's from the kids saying, 'I want dad back, so how do we get dad back?'" Healy said. "We're trying to find some answers."

The alumni association recently launched a research project with NEEKA Health Canada and Canopy Growth Corp. that will test 100 former players on the potential benefits of cannabinoids as treatment for post- concussion neurological diseases. Healy just wants to give guys "some help and hope."

T.J. Oshie said he is fine and tries not to think about it.

After his fifth documented concussion and his longest absence from the game yet, the Washington Capitals winger said he doesn't put much thought into the subject.

"While you're in it here, when it happens, you just want to get back on the ice," Oshie said. "You just want to play. You want to be back in your normal routine, and you want to feel normal."

Oshie is 32, a Stanley Cup champion and two seasons into a $46 million, eight-year contract that sets his family up for life. But he also has a father who six years ago was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. On the ice last June, moments after winning the Stanley Cup, Oshie said to a huge audience: "My dad, he doesn't remember a lot of stuff these days."

Carcillo said his own family history should force him to get checked for a gene associated with Alzheimer's and thinks Oshie should get looked at, too.

Oshie isn't reckless by any means and has embraced an abundance of caution. He doesn't necessarily think his concussions have gotten progressively worse as they've piled up, still confident his second from going head first into the net in 2014 was the most severe and still battling with himself about sitting out.

"It's kind of a tug of war with, 'Do I want to get back and play or do I want to be 100 percent?'" Oshie said. "Here they do a really good job of kind of taking that out of your hands, the trainers and doctors."

Carcillo calls the pressure to rush back from head injuries "toxic masculinity" and something he had as a player.

Bettman said eliminating the culture of "playing through" it has been at the forefront of the NHL's approach to reduce concussions, along with rule changes to legislate against head contact.

"(We wanted) to educate the players and everybody associated with the game on the nature of concussions to the extent we understood it so that it was OK to say, 'I don't feel well,'" Bettman said. "It was OK for one player to say to a trainer, 'You better look at him.' It was OK for an official to say, 'He's got to go in for an evaluation.'"

Belak. Ewen. Rypien. Steve Montador, Bob Probert, Jeff Parker, . All are dead.

Many of them were enforcers tasked with delivering and taking punches for teammates and all took many blows to the head. Montador, Ewen, Probert, Parker and Boogaard were posthumously diagnosed with CTE.

Montador's 2015 death hit Carcillo hard because he saw his close friend struggle for so long even after seeking help. Christmas, New Year's and the months of January and February are still a struggle.

On the eighth anniversary of Boogaard's death, his mother put a note in their local paper written to him and signed by the entire family. 1145211 NHL Who? A country – or at least a country’s capital – gasped.

Smith, a 42-year-old former player who had a brief NHL stint, had been serving as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and had The Ottawa Senators may prove a bigger test for D.J. Smith than been in charge of defence and penalty killing. defence and penalty-killing Ironically, only weeks earlier Melnyk had said in a radio interview that he wasn’t much impressed with the Leafs in that department: “They’re going ROY MACGREGOR to have a tough time winning a Stanley Cup without defence.”

PUBLISHED MAY 24, 2019 Melnyk may have been proved right, as the Leafs quickly fell out of the playoffs, but Smith’s résumé was not much damaged by the unexpected UPDATED MAY 24, 2019 fall in the opening round. Prior to joining Mike Babcock’s staff in Toronto, Smith had coached the junior team to a Memorial Cup

title in 2015 and had been an assistant coach with the Windsor Spitfires The owner has said it himself. during their Memorial Cup victories in 2009 and 2010.

It was Dec. 15, 2017, the day before the Ottawa Senators were to play "D.J. Smith is a winner,” Dorion said in a statement announcing the hiring host to the NHL’s Winter Classic and was unwisely of the franchise’s 14th head coach since it began play in 1992. He complaining to the media that owning a team in the national capital was praised Smith as being “a great communicator and an exceptional all about “fighting every day to sell a ticket.” strategist” with an impressive ability “to teach the game.”

If things didn’t improve, he threatened, he might move the franchise. Skeptical Ottawa fans were quick to note that this was pretty much what Dorion had said about Boucher when introducing him back in 2016. Things did change – for the worse. His Senators were then in freefall, an at-times-hysterical, at-times-pathetic, at-times-heartbreaking fall through There was also suspicion that the Senators had gone cheap, many fans two successive seasons in which they finished dead last when 2018-19 convinced that the team’s announced “rebuilds” are actually “sell-offs,” came to a merciful end. with any gifted player within reach of a large new contract quickly dealt away. There has been no more talk of moving, but much more talk about selling tickets, the latest advertising press being to sell fans on themselves as When asked what role budget played in the choice of Smith, who was “The Seventh” player on the ice that could help feisty teenager Brady given a three-year deal, Dorion told reporters: “Zero. First choice. No Tkachuk and smooth-skating defenceman Thomas Chabot haul this impact at all. He could have been $10-million a year. He could be broken team out of the “dumpster” – a word the owner himself has used. working for one dollar. No impact. I say that with as much certainty as anything I’ve told you. He was the man. He’s the best coach for this job. Tkachuk and Chabot … the only two mini-names left on a team that once He’s getting paid very well.” featured Daniel Alfredsson, Mark Stone, Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris, Matt Duchene – all dispatched in trade after trade that has left an increasingly But there was quick praise for Smith from Toronto. sour taste in fans’ mouths. “I’m pumped for him,” Babcock told TSN. “He’s a good coach, he’s a With 18 games left in the regular season just finished, Senators general good man – he’s going to do a good job. They’re lucky to have him.” manager fired head coach Guy Boucher, a decent and “He lets you be young when you’re young, lets you make mistakes,” intelligent man deeply flawed as a coach who thinks too hard, Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “... the older you get, the more communicates too much and would micromanage the Canadian Tire responsibility he gives you.” Centre clock if he could. Smith assured Ottawa fans that he would bring a positive attitude to the With interim coach unlikely to be handed the big job, rink, where he promised to create a “fun atmosphere.” speculation raged for weeks about who might be hired. That would be a profound change from two seasons of losing the best Most recently, that had centred on Patrick Roy, the Hall-of-Fame and most popular players, tarping over 1,500 seats to make it appear goaltender turned coach who most assuredly would have cash-box tickets are tight, billion-dollar lawsuits over a botched move downtown, appeal in a star-struck bilingual community. indiscreet taped conversations about the coaches by players in Uber Roy is a proved winner with four Stanley Cups, two each with Montreal cabs, social-media backstabbing among players partners, billboards Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. He’s volatile – remember him attacking ownership … quitting Montreal Canadiens in the midst of a 1995 game – and quotable: “I’ve never seen D.J. Smith in a bad mood,” Warren Rychel, part owner during the 1996 playoffs he quipped that he couldn’t hear an opponent’s and general manager of the Spitfires told the Ottawa Citizen on chirping “because I got my two Stanley Cup rings plugged in my ears.” Thursday. It’s extremely rare in hockey that a coach will be the primary selling point Maintaining that may turn out to be a bigger test for the new coach than – thinking in Quebec City when the WHA launched in the defence and penalty-killing. 1972, Wayne Gretzky in Arizona after he had retired as a player – and rarer still that it works out. The Rocket quit after a single game; the Great Globe And Mail LOADED: 05.25.2019 One decided after four so-so seasons that coaching wasn’t for him.

But Roy had previous success in coaching and certainly had fans and media hoping for him. Jack Todd, the Montreal Gazette columnist who spent more than a decade following Roy, thought it a “great idea.” The hiring alone would give him two columns, Todd tweeted, the initial success another two, a couple more when the team hits the skids, two more when he tells Melnyk off and two more when he quits with three games left in the season. “Go Patrick.”

There were other names in the mix. None of the expensive available coaches were approached, such as (now with Philadelphia Flyers) Joel Quenneville (Florida Panthers) or Todd McLellan (Los Angeles Kings). But there was varying support for bringing back popular former Senators coaches Rick Bowness or Jacques Martin, letting Crawford drop the “interim” label,” perhaps promoting minor- league coach Troy Mann, maybe even turning to Brad Shaw, a former Senators captain currently an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Finally, on Thursday, the Senators announced their choice: D.J. Smith? 1145212 Ottawa Senators coach in the NHL after four years as an assistant in Toronto and that’s why he did a boatload of homework to get ready.

“Any coach who wants to be a good coach sees this as unbelievable 'PERFECT SITUATION FOR ME': Smith has no shortage of work as he opportunity to have these young guys,” Smith said. “People out there officially begins his role with Senators may think whatever they think about the team, but this is a chance to rise with them. It’s a chance for us, and myself, to prove that we can do the job. Bruce Garrioch “For me, this was one of the jobs that I looked at and I said, ‘This is the Published:May 24, 2019 perfect situation for me’. I love to develop players and I love to make players better and I love to be around these guys every day. I feel I’m Updated:May 24, 2019 6:06 PM EDT going to get the job done.”

If first impressions mean anything then Smith is the right man for the job On his first full day on the job, D.J. Smith did a media tour Friday before because he certainly strikes you as a people person and he left no stone heading to his home in Windsor with his wife Christie. unturned in his preparations for the post during the interview process with Dorion. Introduced as the Ottawa Senators new head coach during a press conference Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre, Smith, 42, a former Smith doesn’t need to have success overnight, however, he does have to Toronto Maple Leafs assistant, must now get down to business by show he can take this club in the right direction. While you can’t judge putting his coaching staff in place and also reaching out to some of the him until the puck is dropped in October, Smith gives you the feeling he’ll players to get a better handle on the personnel. have success.

While training camp doesn’t get underway until September, Smith needs Ottawa Sun LOADED: 05.25.2019 to find a home in Ottawa and hire a couple of assistant coaches as quickly as possible so that the real preparations can begin as he tries to get the Senators back to respectability after the club finished No. 31 overall in the league last season.

Smith knows he has a big job ahead of him, but he’s ready for the challenge that he’s been handed by general manager Pierre Dorion.

“I was in Toronto four years ago and they were the worst team in the NHL,” Smith said Thursday. “I walked into a very similar situation. It starts by building day in and day out with a foundation of hard work. You’ll hear me say that a lot, but it’s going to be accountability, hard work and we’re going to get better every day.

“You’re never going to put limitations on a group and I certainly won’t put limitations on this team next year but also you have to manage expectations as to what your team looks like. We’re going to build as quickly as possible, but also we need to be smart. We don’t want to rush anyone. We’re going to get our structure and we’re going to get the way we play done quickly here.

“We’re also going to manage expectations, but I will put no limitations on this year’s team.”

Smith is fully aware of the path this rebuild is taking. The Senators have a lot of good young players that they hope to build around – including Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Colin White. Prospects Alex Formenton, Drake Batherson, Logan Brown and defenceman Erik Brannstromm are expected to push for spots in camp.

White is a restricted free agent who has to be signed to a deal. The Senators have held already held talks with Chabot’s camp about a long- term extension, but nothing can be done officially before July 1 because he still has a year left on his entry-level deal.

The roster for next season is still a long way from being settled. The Senators have held discussions with RFA Cody Ceci’s agent J.P. Barry on a long-term contract and if that doesn’t get settled then he will be dealt. The expectation is the two sides will get a contract in place at some point but you can never be certain.

Veterans Mark Borowiecki, Bobby Ryan, Craig Anderson, Zack Smith and Mikkel Boedker are going to be back along with forward Chris Tierney and defenceman Dylan DeMelo. The belief is the club will try to move blueliner Ben Harpur at the draft because it certainly looks like he’s going to get squeezed out.

The organization needs to decide whether it will offer a deal to RFA forward Anthony Duclair, who was acquired in the trade that sent Ryan Dzingel to Columbus. Forwards Magnus Paajarvi, Oscar Lindberg and Brian Gibbons are all UFAs. The belief is of that trio only Gibbons will be given the opportunity to return.

All this means that there are a lot of moving parts for Smith as he looks at the club’s depth chart with Dorion and the rest of the staff.

Smith isn’t afraid of the challenge of trying to help get the Senators back on track. In fact, he looks forward to it. He wanted this chance to be head 1145213 Philadelphia Flyers done a great job of communicating with me, liking what they see, feedback — good or bad."

The Buckeyes recruited Laczynski back to his midget hockey days in Tanner Laczynski, a Flyers prospect growing into a pro at Ohio State 2013 with the Chicago Mission.

"Just a big, strong kid, had great hand-eye coordination and certainly was By Jordan Hall May 24, 2019 9:00 AM a big factor at every level he played in," Rohlik said.

The pro level will be next after four years of college, time well spent by Laczynski. When many think of forwards in the Flyers' pipeline, names like Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee and Isaac Ratcliffe come to mind. "Strength-wise, that's not going to be an issue. Work ethic's not going to be an issue," Rohlik said. "But I know there are parts of his game that he Here's a name that should be on everyone's radar for 2019-20: Tanner wants to continue to get better. He shoots the puck like a pro, but he's Laczynski. got to learn to shoot more. … Smaller areas, working on those first few steps, all the little things that are going to continue to help him get better. Why? "He's going to do whatever it takes to be the best player he can for the Because the 21-year-old center isn't all that far away. His game oozes Flyers. That has been his main goal here at Ohio State, that he's going to with pro readiness, from his size (6-1/193) to his shot and, most notably, take advantage of every resource he can here because his dream is to his preparation. play at that level. … I just think he's going to come in there and try to College has done him well. prove himself and try to be an everyday player for them at some point."

And at Ohio State, a big senior season awaits Laczynski, one filled with Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 motivating factors and a potential run at the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (top college player).

Forget that sixth-round label; he'll be a guy to watch among all Flyers prospects.

"The biggest thing for Tanner is he trains like a pro," Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said Monday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. "He's our hardest worker every day in practice, he's not easy to practice against, he competes at a very high level all the time.

"That's what's a major factor in him continuing to develop. And he takes advantage of the resources — our strength and conditioning, nutrition, off ice, on ice with the coaches, individual skill sessions, all those kind of things. I think that's one of Tanner's benefits is that he takes advantage of all those areas and that's why you see him continue to succeed and continue to get better."

Laczynski, a 2016 sixth-round selection of the Flyers, enjoyed a standout sophomore season in which he scored 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in 41 games, was named a Second Team West All-American and helped lead the Buckeyes to the Frozen Four.

The encore wasn't as special.

As a junior, Laczynski missed nine games because of injuries, including a key six-game stretch through February.

"When he came back, he certainly wasn't at 100 percent as far as where his game was," Rohlik said. "But it didn't take him long to get back into that."

He put up 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 27 games and Ohio State was upset in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals before being shut out in its opening game of the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes lost their final three games, with Laczynski going scoreless over the last two.

Not the way he wanted to go out, so it's back to school for one more go- around.

For a guy like Laczynski, why not? The Flyers have until Aug. 15, 2020, to ink Laczynski to an entry-level contract before losing his rights. His game has steadily progressed into pro caliber and another year of Division I hockey will only help. Rohlik said Laczynski will play "in a lot of situations where he can continue to improve" while handling the puck "as much as anybody."

"He wants to come back and try to finish some unfinished business and those are all goals — get a degree, get better as a hockey player, develop, become a better person and try to win your last game," Rohlik said. "I think all those things fill his bucket."

Given how far Laczynski has come since 2016, Flyers player development coach John Riley won't mind taking a few more trips to Columbus, Ohio.

"He's been at a lot of our games, a lot of communication, what they see, what we see, continued areas that we all want to see him develop," Rohlik said of Riley, Ohio State's go-to contact with the Flyers. "They've 1145214 Philadelphia Flyers mattered to me (to be drafted in the fifth round). It was positive. If you make it, you make it — it’s going to be good for a fifth rounder. So, it was fine. I was pretty relaxed, do my thing for a couple of years back home Checking in with Oskar Lindblom, and his Flyers teammates, at the and then try to take a step. World Championships Appleyard: In your draft year, did you know the Flyers were interested in you? Was (Flyers scout) Joakim Grundberg watching many games and talking to you? By Alexander Appleyard May 24, 2019 Lindblom: Well, he watched a couple of games and I talked to him once or twice. I mean, it’s hard when the rounds start going. … You never know who is going to pick you, or even if you (will) get picked. So, when I BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Coming off a rookie campaign in which he got drafted to Philly, it was just like … a good feeling about the whole flashed scoring talent — his 17 goals and 33 points ranked sixth and organization. … I can’t say anything negative about the organization. 10th, respectively, among NHL rookies — and impressed with his composed, mature two-way game, Oskar Lindblom looks to have the Appleyard: In terms of skating, even as a younger player when you were makings of a staple in the Flyers’ forward group for years to come. playing in the u-17 World Hockey Challenge, you always had good edges, and were strong down low, but your first burst wasn’t there. How The unassuming 22-year-old, who scored more goals this season than much did you work on your skating to get it to the level it is now in the any Philadelphia rookie forward since Matt Read in 2011-12, is one of NHL? nine Flyers here at the World Championships. After asking a handful of his Flyers teammates to tell us about Lindblom as a player and person, I Lindblom: I mean, I think it was more of a strength problem. I have a little spoke with him after a Sweden practice earlier this week. The different style of skating, but I felt like … I just need to get stronger and a conversation has been edited for length and clarity. little faster out there. So mostly I just worked in the gym, to try and be stronger and faster on the ice. And last summer I was in Philly for two Appleyard: First of all, hockey is in your blood. Your father, Johan, played weeks working out with the skating coach (Slava Kouznetsov) over the in the Swedish third tier, and was a very good player at that level, around summer, and I think that was good for me, too. a point-per-game (pace). Your older brother, Marcus, dressed in the SHL, and has played in the Allsvenskan. How old were you when you Appleyard: You played a lot of right wing at the start of your SHL career started playing hockey? — you were on a line with Adam Brodecki where he played left wing and you were at right wing. How does it differ, playing left wing versus right Lindblom: Ah, good question, I cannot even remember! Probably like 5 wing? years old or something … but I can’t remember, somewhere around there. We started with my dad, playing hockey, just following him to the Lindblom: It doesn’t really matter for me. I think it’s easier in your own rink every day and just watched him, kind of started skating a little bit, zone to play on the right wing, because you can protect the puck a little that’s the way I started. better. But on the left wing, you have a little more options to pass it. But like I said, it does not really matter. You just have to have a couple of Appleyard: How big of an influence has your dad been on your career? practices before the game if you change wing (positions). Lindblom: I mean, it was everything. Like I said, me and my brother The ease with which Lindblom has been able to move between wing watched him every day in practice. We wanted to be like him. Growing up positions shows his hockey IQ and versatility, traits that fellow Swede having your father as a role model … he meant everything for us, and he Robert Hagg highlighted when talking about his teammate. did everything for me, to help make me successful, so … I guess a lot of influence. “I mean, he is a really good all-around player,” Hagg said. “He can play on the fourth line and do good, and he can play on the top line and score Appleyard: And with Marcus being so close in age, you are 18 months points, get goals and all that. And he is extremely smart. You can see it apart, how much did that help with your development, being around him on the boards. He always somehow gets out with the puck on his stick, all the time? which is nice to see. And off the ice, he’s a great kid … kid … great guy! I Lindblom: I feel like he helped a lot. I was always more of a scorer when I mean, he’s one year younger than I am! I hang around with him outside was younger and he was a passer, so (we’ve) played on the same line the rink and he’s a good friend of mine.” since we were 10 years old. We knew when we were going to get the And yet, despite his versatility, there is one forward position Lindblom puck every time, and we pushed each other — off ice, too — in practice, has surprisingly never played … working out. … And I got the chance with the SHL team back home (Brynäs), and he didn’t, so it was tough to leave him, to play without him, Appleyard: Did you always play wing with your brother being a center but at the same time, he’s happy for me. then?

Appleyard: At least you dressed a few games together (in 2014-15) for Lindblom: Yeah, always. I think I’ve never played center in my whole life. Brynäs (the club in Lindblom’s hometown, Gävle), even though he was on the bench. Appleyard: Which is kind of strange for such a good defensive player. Most … you look at say Michael Raffl, or Matt Read before him, guys Lindblom: Yeah, he was dressed, but I think he didn’t play much. … But who played center and moved to wing. just to have him there, and see him get a shot at least, was fun. Lindblom: Yeah! Yeah. Appleyard: What were the biggest influences on your hockey development, apart from your family? Although he’s never played center, Lindblom’s success in his own zone and the neutral zone can be attributed to how he “thinks the game,” as Lindblom: Older players … we have a couple of guys back home. Nicklas his former AHL and now NHL teammate Philippe Myers put it: Bäckström was almost like the first guy from my old team (Brynäs), who made it to the NHL. So, I think he was the main guy I wanted to follow, “Oskar is one of the smartest guys I have ever played with on the ice. and to be like him. You know, he just sees the game really well, great shot … just smart, thinks the game so well.” Appleyard: Your draft year was probably the only “blip” of your career in a way. Every other year you were one of the top Swedish players in your Lindblom’s high hockey IQ contributes to his versatility, as he showed age group. And even in your draft year, only William Nylander outscored while playing in Sweden, especially on the power play. you on the under-18 Swedish national team. So what happened in your Appleyard: In terms of the power play, when you were at Brynäs, I think draft year? As going into the year, some people had you ranked as a first you played pretty much every power play position. Right half boards, left rounder. (The Flyers selected Lindblom in the fifth round in 2014.) half boards, netfront, slot … and left point for one game, I believe, which Lindblom: Before that year, I only played junior, so I was playing guys my was a bit strange. But what is your favorite position (on the power play) own age, and then (I) got bumped up to the big league back home (the and why? SHL), and trying to play with men was not easy, and I was still young. I Lindblom: Probably just in front of the net. That is where the puck is did not score much that year, so I think that is probably why. But I felt going to be and you can tip pucks, you can get to rebounds around there. like, so long as I get drafted I have a chance to play. I don’t think it I think that’s my spot. I can play the slot, too. One of those two are the “Me and Oskar get along really well,” Hart said. “He had a really good main spots for me, I think. year this year in his rookie season, he had 30 points or something … so for him to come out and do that, that’s kudos to him. He works hard at his Appleyard: In 2016-17 for Brynäs, did you feel differently coming into that game and he is just an awesome guy to be around, and we have a lot of year? Because the year before you played well on the second and third fun together, so I was happy for him. … It is only going to go up from lines, but then you exploded that season and were named Swedish here for him.” Forward of the Year. Lindblom’s season was not all smooth sailing, though. Lindblom: I just felt like … I started getting a couple of years in the league, and felt like I had to take a step if I wanted to go somewhere. So Appleyard: In terms of 2018-19, you started really well — 10 points in the I just worked hard that summer and I played with two good players the first 18 games — and were playing up the lineup, on the second line. whole year, so they helped me a lot. Jesper Jensen — he’s playing for Then, in mid-November, you started to lose ice time, and were relegated Denmark (at the World Championships) — and Kevin Clark. I felt like we to the fourth line. What happened from your perspective and how did you had good chemistry with each other, so that helped, and I gained deal with that? confidence, too. When pucks start bouncing your way it is easy to play. Lindblom: Like you said, I started good, and on the L.A. trip (in late Appleyard: And Jensen is such a good player through the neutral zone October/early November), I felt good and we had a couple of injuries and a good passer … before that trip. Then, some guys came back, I think it was (James) van Riemsdyk and … a couple of good guys … who didn’t get the chance to Lindblom: Yeah, I mean, so fast, too, and always open, so that made it play (before), and I got less ice time. But there were so many good guys easy for me. He can transport the puck, skate with it … and I was trying coming back that you can’t say much — you just have to take your time, to get open for him, so it helped. show you can play, and just kind of relax and don’t panic out there. Appleyard: In terms of your AHL transition, you played eight games at the That’s what I learned from that year. end of the (2015-16 season), and made it kind of look easy actually, your (Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today) first time in the AHL. (Lindblom later played 54 games with the in 2017-18.) How was the transition and what were the Appleyard: In terms of the end of the season, your final 40 games — 13 biggest differences from the SHL to AHL? goals, 9 assists, 22 points, playing on the second line, a lot of times with Nolan Patrick. What were the biggest factors for you playing so well from Lindblom: I think it was easier that year when I only played eight games January to the end of the season? at the end of the season. Some teams didn’t have much to play for … so I think it was harder my first full year. I had a rough start at the beginning Lindblom: I mean, I played a lot. I played power play, PK, I got a lot of there, but after a while I kind of bounced back to my game, got time up there. I think that when you feel good, that confidence from the confidence back and started playing well again. It’s not an easy league. coach, you feel like you can play, when you get the chances every game. You can’t just go there and think you are going to be the best player in And I was lucky, I got some bounces … it was a good time of the year, the league. There are so many good guys, and everyone is working hard. bounces going in instead of out! I just had a good feeling. It’s a tough league. Appleyard: For a young player, your defensive game is refined. You Appleyard: In terms of that year (2017-18), how was it psychologically? seem to rarely make mistakes. What are the things you really work on Because in the first 10 games or so you looked pretty good. I think you and try to do (on defense)? hit around five posts and cross-bars in those games, had a goal disallowed. How was it to deal with that psychologically and bounce Lindblom: I mean, just be a … how can I say it … just be a guy you can back? trust. I wanna be a guy who can play every minute of the game. I wanna be out there when it is tough, tough minutes at the end of games. And if Lindblom: Tough. I mean, just getting sent down (to the AHL). … I you want to play those minutes, you have to be good in the d-zone, block remember that season my main goal was to make the team from the pucks, get pucks out, just be strong on the puck. I think that is important. start, and that didn’t happen, so I got frustrated a little bit and wanted to be (with the Flyers). But after a while, I just thought … I was thinking to Michael Raffl echoed those sentiments when quizzed about Lindblom, myself, “you can’t go around being negative, you have to start playing while also praising his character: your game, relax and have fun out there.” Otherwise it’s going to be “He’s a quiet guy with a good sense of humor, though. Really, really good tough. You can’t play if you are thinking it’s boring and don’t want to be teammate, a really smart player, does all the little things right on the ice, there. So I felt better after like ten games, like you said, started feeling and that helps him create. I think quite a few guys want to play with him, good again … and I think I was happier in life, too. I probably realized because he is so good at what he does. … He would never “cheat” or that it’s not going to be easy and you have to work for it. anything. He does things right and that is where he gets the success Appleyard: You did an interview a few years ago — I think it was the from.” Brynäs trainer they were talking to, actually — and you had a comment Appleyard: Let’s touch on underlying and advanced stats. This season, about trying to make your “minimum level” as high as possible, and that when you look at Corsi, Expected Goals, these kind of things, you rate being really important for you, so that when you do have a bad game it is really, really well. Especially defensively, where if you look purely at the still acceptable. How do you go about doing that? stats they say you are one of the top defensive wingers in the league. Lindblom: Haha, I don’t know. … I think that’s just a focus, you have to Are they things you look at at all? be there every day, in practice, you can’t take a day off. You have to be Lindblom: Not at all, actually. Like … I’m not trying to focus too much on there every day, and work hard, and show yourself and everyone else that. I just want to be good, a guy you can put trust in at both ends of the that you are trying to be better every day. I think that’s when you push rink. So, it’s nothing I can work on and say, “ah, I’m good right here.” yourself. Like I said, you can be good in games even when you have a “bad” game, you are still going to be there and be good for your team. Appleyard: How much experience did — in your final year at Brynäs (2016-17) — playing for the national team, playing against teams like Jakub Voracek praised Lindblom this week, saying his teammate has Russia when they had (Ilya) Kovalchuk and (Pavel) Datsyuk, help with made the transition to the NHL look easy. the NHL transition?

“Well, he’s amazing,” Voracek said. “He took a huge step forward, and Lindblom: It was good. I mean, to see those guys who’ve been at the obviously he’s been a ‘ready’ player since he came in. He played half the NHL level a lot, to see how good there were, and to feel that you can play season in the AHL (in 2017-18), then he came up and was good for us as on their level, too, that was important for me going into that season. To well. This year he took another huge step. He’s a big part of our future have that confidence in the back of your head. and you can tell how good he is, and in the World Championships as well. For his age, I think he’s really strong, strong on his skates, and he Appleyard: What are you trying to work on going forward to get better? doesn’t lose many board battles. Which for me is really important.” Lindblom: I feel like the same thing as always. Have a good summer, get Carter Hart, Lindblom’s roommate on the road for the second half of the stronger and faster for next year. Work on my shot and … I mean, you season, said the forward’s rookie campaign is just the start. have to get better at everything. I feel like I can be better at everything every year. The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145215 Pittsburgh Penguins

Jacques Martin expected to stay with Penguins after bid for head- coaching gig fails

JONATHAN BOMBULIE | Friday, May 24, 2019 2:02 p.m.

Having struck out in his bid to win the head coaching job in Ottawa and Buffalo, assistant coach Jacques Martin is expected to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.

Martin, who has one year left on his contract, will return for his fifth straight season behind the Penguins bench, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports in Quebec reported.

The Ottawa job went to former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant D.J. Smith on Thursday. Buffalo chose former Swiss national team coach Ralph Krueger earlier this month.

Martin, 66, works primarily with the team’s defense and penalty kill.

Tribune Review LOADED: 05.25.2019

1145216 San Jose Sharks He’s probably looking at something north of $6 million per year and a term of 4 or 5 years.

Kevin LaBanc, Joakim Ryan and Dylan Gambrell will shrink the cap Drew Remenda on the Sharks: For some, this is the final farewell space by an estimated $12-13 million.

Then there are the unrestricted free agents, those who can leave: The By Drew Remenda/Guest Analyst |PUBLISHED: May 24, 2019 at 11:58 big three, Erik Karlsson and two of the greatest Sharks of all time, Joe am | UPDATED: May 24, 2019 at 7:30 PM Pavelski and Jumbo Joe Thornton. Add Gus Nyquist, Joonas Donskoi and Micheal Hayley… the numbers simply cannot be crunched enough.

That is the biggest heartbreak of all. Even though I haven’t coached this century, except for coaching my boys to a bronze medal at 2014 Western Canadian U18 Ball Hockey San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 05.25.2019 Championships, I still have some coaching habits.

I always like to watch a game a second time the next day. When Todd McLellan coached the Sharks, he allowed me to join him the next morning to watch the game with the coaches. I loved that; I didn’t love waking up at 5:30 to do it though. Even to this day as a broadcaster, I will re-watch the game I called the night before — with the sound muted, of course.

It’s a great exercise. It allows a clearer, more detached, more impartial view of the game. Watching a game live, the emotion and drama in the heat of the moment can cloud anybody’s analytical skills.

So after watching the Sharks again bow out of the 2019 playoffs I can affirm Peter DeBoer’s remarks after Game 6 in St. Louis.

The 5-1 score was not reflective of the effort the Sharks dispensed. They did make the Blues “earn it.”

Effort, work, heart. Use whatever word you want. The Sharks displayed a ton of it. Not just in the final game, missing three of their top performers, but throughout the entire playoff run.

I know that does not ease the disappointment of seeing your team bow out so frustratingly close to another Stanley Cup Final. The look on Joe Thornton’s face said it all, a heartbreaking contemplation of coming so close while still being so far away

It is simple to break down the St. Louis series. The punishment the Blues dished out game after game worked to perfection. Exhibit A: No Pavelski, No Hertl, No Karlsson for part of Game 5 and all of Game 6.

The Sharks offense was stymied by an imposing defenseive core and dedicated backtracking forwards. Do you remember any odd man attacks the Sharks were able to generate? Yeah, neither do I.

Time and space were luxuries the Sharks did not have. When they did find a sliver of space and got a chance on net, the Blues brilliant rookie tender, Jordan Binnington, made saves that disguised and defied his rookie status.

The healthier, better executing team won. I don’t think there is any shame in that if your team gave every ounce of energy in opposition. You can be confident the Sharks “maxed out.” They competed hard but didn’t have enough. It’s a hard pill to swallow.

One of the great American writers and orators from the 1800’s, Robert Ingersoll, wrote:

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”

The Sharks didn’t lose heart. They displayed courage and took their defeat as they have won and lost all year — as a team. But this will not be the team when the Sharks return to the ice next September.

With the end of the playoffs comes the very tough offseason where it’s very likely that some of your favorite Sharks will become your favorite former Sharks. GM Doug Wilson has some very busy days and sleepless nights ahead.

According to CapFriendly, the Sharks have 15 players signed for a total of $58,296,667. That leaves $24,703,333, based on the salary cap going up to $83 million.

The good news is that Doug has done a good job locking up key players to contracts with good term and respectable salaries relative to the rest of the league. Brent Burns, Logan Couture, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Martin Jones and Evander Kane are locked up.

Doug will need to address his restricted free agents. Timo Meier — 30 goals at 22 years old — has without a doubt earned himself a big raise. 1145217 San Jose Sharks Pavelski. His expiring contract had an average annual value of $6 million. Should a player coming off a 38-goal season have to take a paycut? Even if they are about to turn 35?

Busy time ahead for Doug Wilson: “I know I have to get to work” Pavelski sounded confident Thursday that something can get worked out with the Sharks. He wants to stay. He and his family love the area. But it’s quite possible he’ll be able find more lucrative offers elsewhere, both By Curtis Pashelka | PUBLISHED: May 24, 2019 at 6:01 am | UPDATED: in term and money. May 24, 2019 at 6:02 am Pavelski needed to have hand surgery two weeks ago, but feels he’ll be fully healthy again soon.

SAN JOSE — General manager Doug Wilson was still trying to put things “I’ve got a pretty strong belief system that I’ll be back here,” Pavelski in perspective Thursday after the Sharks came up six wins short of said. “It’s just things have to work themselves out along the way. We had capturing the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. a lot of things going on with many different players. It’s nothing I’m too worried about. My mindset really doesn’t change. I know where I’m at as That necessary time to reflect after the Sharks lost the Western a player.” Conference Final in six games, though, can only last so long. THORNTON’S FUTURE: One Sharks player after another Thursday said His captain, Joe Pavelski, wants to stay with the team but doesn’t have a how weird it would be to come to training camp this fall and not see contract. His star acquisition, Erik Karlsson, said he likes the organization Thornton, a pillar of the franchise and the face of the organization. But but doesn’t know where he’ll land. And his Hall of Fame-bound center, Thornton’s going to take some time to decide what his next step will be in Joe Thornton, isn’t sure whether he wants to put his soon-to-be 40-year- a career that will end one day with his plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame old body through the rigors of another season. in Toronto. The next six weeks — including the start of free agency on July 1 — FUTURE OF NYQUIST: Nyquist, the Sharks’ trade deadline acquisition, could wind up as one of the more transformative periods of Wilson’s said he wasn’t thinking about his next contract just yet. tenure as the Sharks’ GM, as he figures out how to proceed with his seven pending unrestricted free agents — including Pavelski, Karlsson “I love it here. I had a great time here. I had a great experience, a great and Thornton — under the restraints of the NHL’s salary cap. The three months,” he said. “It’s nothing I’ve thought about. it’s still a month Sharks’ other pending UFAs are Gus Nyquist, Joonas Donskoi, Tim away. I know I don’t have a contract for next year yet, but we’ll see what Heed and Micheal Haley. happens. We’ll take that process further down the road. I don’t want to think about that right now.” “Every year you’re going to have a different team. Again, that’s a cap system,” Wilson said. “You need people coming in and taking more ice HERTL’S HEALTH: Tomas Hertl missed Game 6 of the series with the time, you need young players who learn from the people they’re around. St. Louis Blues with a head injury he suffered from a hit to the head by Change is part of that. I haven’t gotten into that mode yet. Ivan Barbashev. He also had surgery Wednesday for a broken left pinkie finger he incurred in a practice just before the playoffs began. “It’s still tough to realize we’re not playing today. Having said that, I look at the calendar, I know I have to get to work and get some decisions San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 05.25.2019 done.”

Wilson said he’ll sit down with coach Pete DeBoer on Friday to begin the autopsy of a season that began with every expectation of competing for the Stanley Cup. Wilson said DeBoer will be back for a fifth season as head coach, but that other changes in regards to assistant coaches won’t be determined until later.

“I’ve got to look in the mirror before I look at anyone else,” Wilson said. “That’s the process we’ve always followed. Are there things we can do different? Pete will do the same thing, and we’ll sit and talk about it.”

Some takeaways from Thursday:

WILL KARLSSON STAY?: The first decision, personnel-wise, may be about Karlsson, who despite an injury-filled season in San Jose, figures to command big money as arguably the top player in this summer’s list of free agents.

The NHL defenseman with the biggest cap hit next season will be the Los Angeles’ Kings Drew Doughty, who begins his eight-year, $88 million extension in the fall. Will Karlsson get that kind of money from the Sharks or another team? It’s possible.

“That’s a part of this business that you never know about,” Karlsson said Thursday. “Things have changed. I kind of wish I was signing my second deal and I was 21 and promising and hadn’t accomplished anything. The people that everyone seems to want.

“Things change and you have to change with it or you’re out. I think I’m in the best position I’ve been in since I entered this league.”

The Sharks could afford to sign Karlsson, who turns 29 on May 31, to a Doughty kind of deal, although it may mean they have to slice some payroll elsewhere — either by trade or by letting some unrestricted free agents walk.

Right now they have just over $58 million tied up in 15 contracts, according to CapFriendly, and the salary cap for next season is projected to be about $83 million. Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc are each due a raise as pending restricted free agents. The Sharks’ other RFA’s include center Dylan Gambrell and defenseman Joakim Ryan.

DOES PAVELSKI FIT? The size of Karlsson’s contract, if he signs with the Sharks, could determine whether the Sharks can afford to bring back 1145218 San Jose Sharks

NHL free agency: Erik Karlsson thanks Sharks in possible goodbye tweet

By Dalton Johnson May 24, 2019 10:32 AM

The Erik Karlsson era could be coming to an end after only one season in San Jose.

Karlsson becomes a free agent at the end of Stanley Cup Final. The Sharks' star defenseman sent a thank you note to the team's fans and the whole Bay Area on Friday.

Thank you to the entire @SanJoseSharks organization, fans, and especially teammates. It was a great run that ended too early. But lots of great memories where created. The entire Bay Area has been nothing but classy and respectful to me and my family. Thank you.

— Erik Karlsson (@ErikKarlsson65) May 24, 2019

San Jose acquired Karlsson, who turns 29 on May 31, from the Senators for four players and two draft picks on Sept. 13, 2018. The two-time Norris Trophy award winner was named to his fourth straight NHL All- Star Game in his first season as a Shark.

Karlsson played in 53 regular-season games this year, his lowest since the 2012-13 season. He tallied 45 points -- three goals, 42 assists.

Injuries, however, played a large role in Karlsson's season. He missed 27 of the Sharks' final 33 regular-season games with various ailments. And he missed the Sharks' season-ending Game 6 loss to the Blues in the Western Conference final.

Karlsson is expected to be pursued by multiple teams this offseason, including the Sharks. But he could have just said his last goodbye to The Tank and all its fans in San Jose.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145219 San Jose Sharks

Sharks take high road when discussing controversial calls in playoffs

By Chelena Goldman May 24, 2019 9:35 AM

SAN JOSE – Officiating became a very hot topic during the Sharks' postseason run – whether it was for calls that went in their favor or against them.

With their run at the Stanley Cup now over, Team Teal has more of an opportunity to reflect on some of those calls.

During exit interviews Thursday, the general attitude was that the refs are doing the best they can in the middle of an extremely fast sport.

“They’ve got a tough job to do,” Logan Couture said. “Growing up my dad was a referee. He ref’d lacrosse and hockey and I got to see firsthand that it’s not an easy job.”

San Jose became the focal point of scrutiny during the Western Conference final after Erik Karlsson scored a game-winning goal in Game 3 that appeared to be set up with a hand pass from Timo Meier.

After a major penalty set the Sharks up to score four power-play goals in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Golden Knights. and a too- many-men call swung play in the Sharks' favor against the Colorado Avalanche, the lack of a call on Meier prompted a few outlets to call the Sharks lucky. (Which led to a prickly reaction from head coach Peter DeBoer.)

Couture insisted luck or favor from the officials has nothing to do with it.

“They’re not trying to pick sides or screw anyone on the ice,” Couture continued. “They’re trying to do their job to the best of their abilities. I think we’re fortunate our league we have some very good officials – some really, really good guys. They’re doing the best they can and I think they’re doing a good job.”

What the team would like to see, however, is some consistency. Tomas Hertl was sidelined for Game 6 against the Blues after being hit in the head by Ivan Barbashev – a hit that received no in-game penalty or discipline from the league. Hertl said he thought Barabshev might’ve received discipline for hitting him in the head, but acknowledged the refs' job is a difficult one.

“For sure on the ice its always tough for the ref because the game is so fast,” Hertl said of the hit to his head. “It’s quick. Sometimes in playoffs they just let it go.”

The Sharks aren’t the only team whose postseason run was peppered with controversial officiating. But the high profile nature of the Western Conference final put several on-ice calls in the spotlight, especially with regards to San Jose’s players being hit in the head. This has brought up questions as to whether the league will make changes in the offseason.

Sharks general manager Doug Wilson didn’t comment on exact calls when he spoke with the press during exit interviews. He did say, however, that he’s open to having those discussions.

“I’m on the competition committee, so I get the opportunity to speak on things like that,” Wilson said. “There are calls you’re going to like, calls you’re not going to like. Difficult job, officiating in this league. It’s our job to give them the tools they need to be the best they can be.”

How the competition committee talks shake out is anyone’s guess. Although, Wilson is expecting open and insightful discussions.

“Once we get to meetings, I like listening and hearing other people’s opinions,” Wilson said. “But I like to hear from officials who have to make those decisions on the ice, what they may need. We’re trying to do what’s right for the game. Whatever that is, we’ll discuss before any decision gets made.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145220 San Jose Sharks transition for both him and his wife, Melinda, more seamless. And after what Karlsson and Melinda have gone through, from a stillborn son to the cyberbullying scandal in Ottawa, having trusted friends and a comfortable How Erik Karlsson could land with the Lightning this summer market could be attractive.

“I don’t think there’s a better place to play,” said former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. By Joe Smith May 24, 2019 “I really feel like when you spend a lot of time in Tampa, at the end of the day, they really make you feel at home here. It’s the people and the way they treat you. It’s very, very easy to really like this town.” TAMPA, Fla. — Long before Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson dressed up as pirates during the 2018 NHL All-Star weekend — when the Karlsson got to know the Lightning staff and players quite a bit during Lightning defenseman hosted the fellow Swede at his Davis Islands NHL All-Star weekend in January 2018. It wasn’t just having late-night home — they were teenage teammates. pizza with Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Valtteri Filppula at Hedman’s house on the eve of the game. When Karlsson played against the They were a defense pair during camps — Hedman on the left, Karlsson Lightning while with the Senators late in the 2017-18 season, he spent on the right — playing together up until their time on Sweden’s 2009 time postgame at the Canadian Tire Centre chatting up Tampa Bay staff world junior team. and players in the hallway. “We came over (to the NHL) at the same time,” Hedman said. “We’re Playing in the same division for several years, Karlsson got a first-hand good friends, obviously. We have a fun time when we’re in each other’s look at the Lightning’s style and system. cities. “They obviously have a lot of good players, that’s No. 1,” Karlsson said in Could they end up in the same city next season as teammates in January. “They’ve been together for a long time. They know each other Tampa? Yes. really well. I think the chemistry that they have, the style of play they play It would be complicated, no doubt, especially with the Lightning facing a for the team they have is very successful. And they’ve got good challenging cap crunch this summer, having already committed $73 goaltending to back them up as well when they chance it for offense a bit. million of an expected salary cap of $83 million to just 17 players. And It gives you a lot of confidence.” they still have to pay restricted free agent Brayden Point a hefty raise. Is that the kind of style most guys want to play? But Karlsson, 28, was intrigued by the possibility of playing for Tampa “Yeah, for sure,” Karlsson said. “It’s a lot of run and gun. When you have Bay when the Lightning made a couple failed attempts to acquire him a smart group of players that are very high skilled, that have good from the Senators via trade before he was moved to San Jose at the start chemistry, it always looks good. It makes it easy out there. They’ve been of the season. Ottawa, however, was less than interested in moving their good for a long period of time, and the thinking process is probably not captain within their division, especially to the Lightning. as big as on a team that is fairly new. Every day, they know what to But now, with Karlsson due to be an unrestricted free agent July 1, the expect from each other.” ball is officially in his court. No trade partners needed, no top prospects Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson ranked third among NHL defensemen required to sweeten the deal. this year in goals above replacement (18.5), according to Evolving- If Karlsson truly wants to join Hedman and play for the Lightning, it’s his Hockey, behind only John Carlson and Victor Hedman. (Neville E. Guard choice. Tampa Bay executives have discussed him, as well as several / USA Today) other free agents, in their offseason planning meetings, and will no doubt The Lightning have become a desirable destination spot for free agents, make a pitch if and when Karlsson opens up his John Tavares-like whether it was in retaining Stamkos three years ago or being part of sweepstakes during the free agency interview period, which opens June Tavares’ talks last summer. It was Tavares who is believed to have 23 at midnight. initiated his meeting with the Lightning, even if it was just to bring another “Who wouldn’t want one of the best players in the world?” Hedman candidate to the table. Tavares said he enjoyed his talk with then-GM asked. Steve Yzerman, current GM Julien BriseBois and coach Jon Cooper.

If Karlsson wants to break the bank and get Drew Doughty money ($11 “It certainly came down to Toronto and (the Islanders), but certainly million AAV), there’s no chance he’s coming to Tampa Bay. But if Tampa was right there,” Tavares told The Athletic in December. “They Karlsson is open to discussing the $8-9 million range, slightly above were very impressive. The results speak for themselves on the ice and Hedman’s $7.875 million, I’m told there’s a chance. why they’re such a successful hockey team. They play an exciting style; very explosive, dynamic team. So for sure, they were a team I The key is figuring out how important it is for Karlsson to get the most considered very seriously.” money in what’ll likely be his last big deal. What impressed Tavares, especially how Tampa Bay managed to build a Karlsson just wrapped up a run with the Sharks to the Western contender in the cap world, would likely sit well with Karlsson. Conference final, and is still assessing the extent of the groin injury he played through down the stretch; he doesn’t know if it’ll require surgery “I think it was really impressive just how clear they were about their vision but says it’s “nothing major.” Karlsson didn’t give any hints about his of their hockey team and what their identity was as an organization,” future in Thursday’s exit meetings in San Jose, per The Athletic’s Kevin Tavares said. “How they build and what they’re looking for. They were Kurz, saying he “hasn’t really thought” about what’s next. Of course, the very adamant about that. And how they continually were able to prove Sharks — who acquired him last summer in a deal with Ottawa — are that with success on the ice, really managing the cap and being able to still an option. draft and develop players. They were just very sure with what they were doing and were all on the same page — from Steve, Julien and Jon — in “If we would have been healthy, we would have had a legitimate chance meetings. You can see the continuity they have, the chemistry they have of winning the Cup,” Karlsson said Thursday. “It’s something that for the as a staff. It was very impressive.” first time in my career, I’ve experienced. I’ve enjoyed that.” How/why would the Lightning make Karlsson fit in the cap? Could Karlsson end up the final piece in the Lightning’s Cup puzzle? This is where the fun begins. Here are the key factors. Keep in mind, the Lightning didn’t have room for Tavares last summer, Does Karlsson want to play in Tampa Bay? yet still pursued him. Still, I remember asking Yzerman why he was going after Tavares considering the frustrations it would cause them financially. Karlsson will have many suitors this summer, including the Sharks. Yzerman looked at me as if I had two heads. There’s also the Rangers, who have another one of Karlsson’s good “We think he’s one of the best players in the league,” Yzerman said. friends, goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Karlsson, even while playing hurt during the season, was among the This won’t be the case of Karlsson picking Tampa Bay just because game’s elite. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Karlsson was fully healthy Hedman is here. It’s a big bonus, no doubt, their relationship making the and dialed in for six weeks this year. But San Jose color analyst Bret seventh defenseman. They could bring back UFA Cameron Gaunce on a Hedican, a 17-year-veteran defenseman, said Karlsson made up for similar one-year deal that he signed last year for near the minimum of being hurt with his elite processing skills – he could see plays before they $700,000. happened. “He did some things I don’t think I’ve ever seen from a defenseman,” Hedican said. “For a 30-game stretch, he was the best With CapFriendly’s “Armchair GM” tool, I tried to find a way to make it player in the league – at least (best) defenseman.” work with a Karlsson deal (estimated at an $8.25 million AAV), dealing Callahan and Miller while promoting some prospects. I was still about As the Lightning’s Fox Sports Sun analyst Brian Engblom once said, $400,000 over the $83 million cap, and keep in mind, it’s a lot easier “Erik Karlsson at 85 percent is probably better than 99 percent of the done on a website than in real life. players at 100 percent. His anticipation, his hockey sense, is off the charts. It’s as good as anybody, Sidney Crosby, I don’t care who. He But this type of cap maneuvering has been BriseBois’ specialty for years used to not care enough about defense but I think that’s gone.” as Yzerman’s right-hand man, the former attorney is great at finding a way. Same goes for the Lightning’s new director of hockey operations Karlsson ranked third among NHL defensemen this year in goals above Mathieu Darche, a former broker and NHLPA negotiator during the 2012- replacement (18.5), according to Evolving-Hockey, behind only John 13 lockout. As Darche said, his motto is, “Show me a problem, we’ll find Carlson and Hedman. Among skaters in the league, Karlsson was 11th. a solution.” He was the best among the Sharks. What are the future ripple effects of Karlsson signing?

That solves the problem for this season, of course, but there’s more cap The biggest component of his GAR is his even-strength play. There, you craziness coming. can see how Karlsson drives offense, both from his shots from the point and ones he created. The chart below from HockeyViz shows the Sharks’ Two-time Vezina Trophy-finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy will be due a new 5-on-5 offense with Karlsson on the ice, with red showing shots above deal as a restricted free agent next summer, likely earning a big bump league average, blue shots below. from his $3.5 million AAV. Tampa Bay will likely have to make another cap-related deal by next year’s trade deadline or draft to create some Many of the shots from the point were off Karlsson’s stick. He ranked room. fourth in shot attempts at 5-on-5 with 309 despite playing just 53 regular season games; those shots also created 25 rebounds (fourth on the Then there’s the on-ice situation. team), which contributed to the high number of attempts closer to the net. How do you spread out all the minutes? Altogether, with Karlsson on the ice, the Sharks took 70.61 shot attempts per 60, which was the best on the team. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev entered last season hoping to find a top- four role, which he didn’t really get due to the emergence of Erik Cernak. With Karlsson on the ice, the Sharks took a team-leading 59.22 percent Sergachev seemed to elevate his play down the stretch, though, filling in of the shot share and had an expected goals of almost 59 percent. The on the top-pair with Hedman when Anton Stralman and Dan Girardi were shots that did go the other way, didn’t include a ton of quality shots when hurt. Getting a chance to play for Team Russia in the World Karlsson was on the ice during the regular season 5-on-5, with this Championships this month no doubt gave him a boost. HockeyViz chart showing the above and below average mark (this time blue indicates being above average, and red is a higher number of shots If Karlsson comes in, especially if it’s long-term, will Sergachev be stuck against). in a third-pairing role, one with limited power play time? He’ll be due a raise as an RFA after next season, which could get too pricey if there are According to CapFriendly, the Lightning have $8.576 million in cap space already big deals for Hedman, McDonagh, Karlsson and Cernak due. left for next season, which could be barely enough to fit Point (if his Would the Lightning, which were resistant in dealing Sergachev in a contract is in the expected range). Karlsson trade last year, have to eventually move on from the former top- Where does the extra $10 million-plus needed to fit in Karlsson and the 10 pick? remainder of the roster come in? This is assuming the Lightning can get You’d have to figure out how to parcel out enough ice time for three top- Karlsson to take a discount, likely pushing no state income taxes as pairing-caliber defensemen in Hedman, McDonagh and Karlsson. they’ve used with other players. For example, an $8.5 million annual Karlsson, on a loaded San Jose blueline with Brent Burns and Marc- average in Tampa would net the same amount as $9.5 million in New Edouard-Vlasic, averaged 24 minutes, 29 seconds per game, his lowest York (state) and $10.5 million in San Jose, according to nationally- total since his second NHL season. Hedman averaged 22:46 last renowned sports tax guru Robert Raiola, the director of sports & season, with McDonagh at 22:05. Perhaps spreading the minutes entertainment at PKF O’Connor Davies. around, like Tampa Bay did last season, could help keep Karlsson Tampa Bay is expected to try to trade veteran winger , fresher and extend his effectiveness over a long-term deal. who carries a $5.8 million cap hit next year in the final season of his Either way, it would be a good problem for Cooper & Co to have. contract. We wrote this week on five potential trade partners/destinations for Callahan. There’s not much flexibility because of all the no-trade There will be plenty said and written about Karlsson’s destination over clauses, including ones for Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn. the next month or so leading up to the NHL Draft and interview window. A lot has to happen for Karlsson to end up with Tampa Bay, with no There is, however, an opening if there’s a team interested in forward J.T. guarantees. Miller, whose modified no-trade protection (list of eight teams) doesn’t kick in until July 1. Miller will carry a cap hit of $5.25 million the next four But one thing is for certain: If Karlsson wants to be paired with Hedman seasons but is a 20-goal, 50-point type forward who can play up and again, like they were when they were kids, a lot of it is up to him. down the lineup (and the power play). If there’s a way to move Callahan The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 and Miller, getting futures in return, that would free up nearly $11 million.

The rest of the forward group could be filled in on the cheap. According to Evolving Wild’s model, restricted free agent Adam Erne’s next deal could be for $1,016,778. Cedric Paquette’s could be $1,463,096 and Danick Martel’s is at $769,044. That adds up to just under $3.25 million. There’s also Cory Conacher, who signed a one-year, one-way $700,000 deal for next season with the knowledge Tampa Bay could need help up front (on the cheaper side).

There are several prospects knocking on the door, all of whom are still on their entry-level deals with cap hits lower than $1 million (Mitchell Stephens, a potential replacement for Paquette, along with Alex Volkov and Alex-Barre Boulet). Carter Verhaeghe is an RFA, but shouldn’t cost much.

The Lightning re-signed defenseman Jan Rutta, who took a pay cut on a one-year, $1.3 million deal, which isn’t bad for a third-pairing, sixth- 1145221 St Louis Blues

Dunn stays off the ice as Blues resume practice for Cup Final

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 11 hrs ago

On Thursday, Blues coach Craig Berube said it would be a good sign if injured defenseman Vince Dunn got back on the ice on Friday.

Vince Dunn did not get back on the ice on Friday.

"He just stayed off and did off ice (work) today," Berube said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow and go from there. That's all."

The Blues have described Dunn as day-to-day with an upper body injury after he took a puck to the face in Game 3 of the San Jose series. He is thought to have concussion symptoms.

The Blues have gotten by without Dunn, who has played up and down the defensive roster during the season and has been a mainstay on the power play. They won Games 4, 5 and 6 with Dunn out.

Dunn skated on Wednesday and was supposed to have skated on Thursday, though if he did hasn't been confirmed.

Also not on the ice for the team's first practice since winning the Western Conference final was forward Robert Thomas, who had another in a series of maintenance days. Thomas hasn't practiced in a couple weeks, but has played in every game in that time. Thomas did come on to the ice at the end of practice, after the contact drills were done.

"He's fine," Berube said. "Again, just rest. ... But he's good to go. ... This time of year there's always something."

BACK TO WORK

After giving the team two days off the ice, Berube resumed practice on Friday morning at Enterprise Center. The team will have an optional practice on Saturday morning before flying to Boston later on Saturday. The team will practice in Boston on Sunday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.

"They had a couple days off the ice so we had to get out and get moving again," Berube said. "A lot of it, with the puck, get the puck moving again and touching it and get your feet moving again and ramping it up a little bit. I thought practice got better as it went along. It was slow early. It picked up at the end and we finished off with some grinding down low stuff which is always good. I thought it was good overall."

It was a longer than normal practice, with the Olympias coming out midway through to give the ice a dry scrape.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145222 St Louis Blues communities, they still speak their language. But there are not many who speak the language anymore – Ojibwe is rarely spoken on our reserve. And the kids were sent to residential schools and told not to speak their Hochman: Proud of his First Nations roots, Blues' Berube could make language anymore, so that’s how we lost a lot of our language. It’s Stanley Cup history important to keep it.”

As for the First Nations communities, Berube succinctly said: “The reserves, some do well, and some don’t. Basically the same (as in the 13 hrs ago United States).”

Benjamin Hochman During summers, Jordan and Ted Nolan have a hockey school. They go to small First Nations communities. They teach some hockey. But really,

they’re there to share their stories and experiences. Calahoo, Alberta, is so small, it’s a one-rink hamlet. “I think our youth need good role models,” Jordan said. “A lot of kids are “It’s very tiny – to drive through, it’s going to take you 10 seconds,” said struggling in these communities, and a lot of them kind of get lost, Blues coach Craig Berube, who improbably ascended from Calahoo to because lots of them live in the middle of nowhere, and they don’t have a play 17 seasons in the National Hockey League – and now is coaching in way to get out. They really don’t have too much guidance. So we try go in the Stanley Cup Final. “You got a general store on the right. Then you there and tell our story. got a church, then you got some ball fields, then you got a hockey rink. “Everybody has been through hard times, I’ve been through hard times. Then you’re out of the town.” I’ve been sober now for five years. So it’s good for our kids to hear that Berube grew up on a farm – “Not only grain crops, but cattle,” he said – story. I really just think they need someone they can look up to and say – and grew as a hockey player on frozen ponds. In later years, he’d play at ‘Wow, he was in a place that I was in, so if he can do it, I can do it.’ … the local rink, which is called Calahoo Arena. We’re trying to raise good people and good leaders in our community.”

“But it might have to get changed to the Craig Berube Rink if he wins the Hard to find a better example of a leader than the coach of a team Cup,” said Matt Berube, the rink manager, whose father is first cousins playing for the Stanley Cup. with the Blues’ coach. Craig Berube, a Cree from tiny Calahoo. Outside of the rink is a large white sign with red lettering: “Welcome to St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 CALAHOO.” Above the words is a logo similar to old logo of the Cleveland Indians – a man wearing a headdress.

There isn’t a local bar or coffee shop in Calahoo – “There’s one little table in our general store where you can have coffee,” Matt said – but when folks see each other lately, notably at the rink, they’re talking about the St. Louis Blues.

“Everybody is so proud to know that he came from here,” said Matt, who estimated that “between 75-100” Berubes live in Calahoo or within a 15- kilometer radius.

Craig’s own parents – Ramona and Roger Berube – still live in Calahoo. So does Craig’s sister. Even in his late 70s, Roger Berube played in a weekly hockey league at Calahoo Arena. Matt described it as an “old- timers league – all the elders in the town and community get together and play.” But last fall, at 80, Roger Berube finally had to hang up his skates.

The rink is often busy. The 2016 Canadian Census tallied 85 people in Calahoo itself, but those from Rivière Qui Barre and other nearby hamlets routinely come to play. Many on the ice, just like the coach of the Blues, have native ancestry.

The Canadian counterparts to Native Americans are called First Nations. Craig Berube is Cree. Well, part-Cree. He left Calahoo at 16 and soon picked up the nickname “Chief.” A lot of First Nations hockey players picked up the nickname “Chief.” Berube said his grandmother “was native,” and he grew up playing hockey and baseball with many Cree children.

“What you had to have back then was a Métis card,” Berube said of a certified ID card. “It’s a half-white, half-native type card Because, you know, I look white, and I’d go play in these hockey tournaments. They’d want to know if I had native in me. They’d check you out and stuff. Métis is what you call a person that is white and native.”

On November 21, 2013, then as the coach of Philadelphia, coach Berube and his Flyers played the Sabres, coached by Ted Nolan, who is Ojibwe. And so, it was a historic night – the first NHL game in which both coaches were of First Nations descent.

It’s believed that if Berube coaches the Blues to a Stanley Cup championship, that will be another first for First Nations.

Sure enough, Nolan’s son, Jordan, played 14 games for the Blues this season. While Jordan doesn’t dress for the playoff games, he’s with the team.

“I am definitely a proud of who I am and where I come from,” Jordan said. “My dad always instilled that in us growing up. … Ojibwe is Northern Ontario, and there are lots of Cree all over the place. Everyone has their own tribe, depending on where you’re from, and some of the remote 1145223 St Louis Blues

Blues are Vegas underdogs in Stanley Cup Final

By Dan Caesar St. Louis Post-Dispatch 15 hrs ago

The Blues have been underdogs all season, and they remain so for the Stanley Cup Final despite their unprecedented ascent from the bottom of the NHL standings in early January to the title round.

The Boston Bruins, who have home-ice advantage for the series and had an impressive sweep of Carolina in the semifinals, have been installed as the team to beat by Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Odds vary slightly between sportsbooks there, with bettors in general having to risk $150 to try to make a $100 profit if they take Boston. A successful $100 wager on the Blues would return a profit of $135.

The Westgate hotel and casino has one of the biggest and most popular sportsbooks in Las Vegas.

Jay Kornegay, vice president of its “Superbook,” said the odds there on the Blues winning the Cup were 40-1 when the the opening numbers were posted about this time last year. They skyrocketed to 300-1 in January before plummeting since.

He said one bet was placed there on the Blues at 300-1, for $20. That would be worth a $6,000 profit.

He also said the Westgate had one $10 bet on the Blues to win the Western Conference title when the odds were 150-1. He said that bettor already has collected, “with a smile.”

He added that rooting interest in the series among Vegas bookmakers varies from casino to casino. There are reports about a Blues fan having bet $400 on the team to win the Cup when they were at 250-1 odds, placing the wager at the Paris hotel and casino. If they win, the ticket would reap a $100,000 profit.

“Around town a couple books have told me they’re in pretty rough shape with the Blues” if they prevail, Kornegay said. “We break even with the Blues and we do pretty good with the Bruins. The Bruins are better for us.”

The Westgate has established odds on the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the playoffs), and the goalies have the shortest prices. Boston’s Tuukka Rask is at 5-7 ($7 must be risked to gain a $5 profit), with the Blues Jordan Binnington at 3-1. The Bruins’ Brad Marchand is next (12-1). Then three players are at 20-1 — the Bruins’ David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron and the Blues’ Jaden Schwartz.

The Westgate already has set odds to win next year’s Cup. The Blues are at 16-1. Tampa Bay (6-1), Vegas (8-1), Boston (10-1) and Toronto (10-1) are the favorites. At the bottom of the list is another 300-1 team — Ottawa.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145224 St Louis Blues “Depending how you see stuff, it’s a half-full, half-empty situation. I didn’t think negatively about it. It was just, we’ve got to pick it up.”

“I think it shows the parity of the league, how we were able to stay in it,” The tale of the Blues' season, as told in hockey pucks mounted on a O’Reilly. “We weren’t playing consistent hockey. We’d have a good locker-room wall game, think we figured it out, and couldn’t come back the next one and we were able to stay somewhat in the hunt and we kept working at it and eventually we win 11 in a row and that was amazing to see. You look at By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch 15 hrs ago the board, you think, We’re one of the better teams in the league now. We’re going to have a chance at this. It’s amazing how a season, the ups

and downs of it, there are so many highs and lows, and to be able to stay Right before the start of the season, the Blues made their annual team even keeled and keep working at it. It’s crazy to see how it pays off.” bonding trip, this time going to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. When the Blues won their first game this season, Bobby Plager was At the end of the team’s stay there, Academy superintendent Admiral given the honor of putting up the first puck. After the Blues won the Wallace E. “Ted” Carter, presented Blues coach Mike Yeo with a Western Conference final, Plager spoke to the team. “I told them, I want commemorative coin of their visit, which Yeo took back to St. Louis and one more. I want the fourth one. I’ll put the fourth one up there, too. The had mounted and hung in the Blues dressing room at Enterprise Center. first and the last.”

“It will be kind of symbolic of this day,” Yeo said in early October, “and There’s only one problem. The Blues won 45 games in the regular hopefully something at the end of the season we look back at and say season. They have won 12 in the postseason. That’s 57 wins, and 57 this day helped us get to that point.” pucks. The board has room for 60. The Blues need four more wins to take the Stanley Cup. So if they with the championship for the first time The board the coin was mounted to included six shelves, each of which ever, there’s no room for the last puck. could hold 10 pucks. The idea was to take the final puck from each win and place it on the board, a way to chronicle the team’s progress through “The last one doesn’t need to go there,” O’Reilly said. “I think it will be all the season. right.”

And for three months, that board sat there as a reminder of how poorly “We’ll add another board,” Gunnarsson said. “We’ll put it somewhere the season was going. nice.”

When Yeo was fired on Nov. 19, there were just seven pucks on the “We’ll put it in the Cup,” Edmundson said. board, not even a full row. Since game pucks bear the logo of the home St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 team, pucks from wins on the road serve as markers along the way. Four pucks into the second row sits a puck from the Dec. 22 game at Calgary. That was the last game before Christmas. Almost three full months into the season, the board was two-third empty.

“It wasn’t pretty,” center Ryan O’Reilly said. “We expected there to be a lot more pucks up there and it was frustrating.”

Look at it now. As the Blues have made their march to the Stanley Cup Final, it is almost full. What was once a reminder of how poorly things were going is now almost at capacity.

“We filled it up real quick,” defenseman Carl Gunnarsson said. “We’re doing a little bit better now.”

Not long after that Calgary win, the board shifted into overdrive. Over the next month, the team won seven games, pushing them into the third row, and then came the franchise record 11-game win streak, and by the time it was done, there were pucks into the fourth row. The number of opposing logos visible on it is a reminder of how well this team has played on the road this season. At the bottom, where the pucks from the playoff series are, there are three Winnipeg logos to be seen, two of Dallas and two more of San Jose.

“You look at that and see how our team formed over the past four months and how we became a team,” defenseman Joel Edmundson said. “I like looking at that board. The Calgary puck, that’s where we started to turn it around. You look at that and you look at where you were and where you are now.

“Halfway through the year I thought that board was way too big for its purpose. Me and (Colton Parayko) were talking about it that now it might not be big enough. Hopefully.”

If Edmundson felt the board uninspiring, coach Craig Berube agreed. When Berube took over for Yeo, he took down the standings board that sits in the hallway from the parking lot to the dressing room at the team’s practice facility, because he thought it wasn’t sending the right message to the team. “It doesn’t change quick enough,” he said. “It’s just a negative effect.” He thought about doing the same thing with the puck board. But it stayed.

While Edmundson was less than thrilled with the board in those troubled times, Gunnarsson found it motivating.

“We needed a lot more pucks up there to even get in the playoffs,” he said. “I don’t think it was, what did you call it, demoralizing? That was more like, We’ve got to get going. We’ve got a long way to go, we’ve got to get going pretty soon here. 1145225 St Louis Blues “Winnipeg had the (Mark) Scheifele line and Dallas obviously had the (Jamie) Benn line, and (Logan) Couture last series (against San Jose),” said. “All three are very dangerous lines. ... We did a Bruins not only possess big threats, they'll be hard for Blues to score pretty good job stepping up to the plate, and we feel like we have a good against matchup regardless of who’s out there on the front end and on the back end.”

Marchand also presents some challenges with his on-ice antics. Last By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 24, 2019 year in the playoffs, he ended up licking — yes, licking — the face of Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan.

The Blues’ Pat Maroon, who’s known to chirp from time to time with They’re quick. They’re skilled. They’re deep. The Boston Bruins can opponents, doesn’t plan to poke the bear when it comes to Marchand. Or score, defend — and man, can they play goal. You don’t get to the in this case, provoke the tongue. Stanley Cup Final by accident, and it’s certainly no accident that the Bruins are here representing the Eastern Conference. “I think Brad’s a guy you’ve got to leave alone,” Maroon said. “You line up to face him, don’t even look at him. ... A guy like Brad, who plays With no glaring weaknesses, and plenty of noticeable strengths, the better when guys are engaged (with) him and guys are trying to get Bruins will be a handful for the Blues in the NHL’s championship series, underneath his skin, I think he’s more effective that way.” which begins Monday at TD Garden in Boston. The Bruins’ Big 3 has been just as effective in the playoffs, combining for During the regular season, the Bruins finished tied for second overall 22 of Boston’s 57 goals. (with Calgary) with 107 points after going 49-24-9. It would behoove the Blues to stay out of the penalty box. After finishing Two of those games came against St. Louis, with the Blues losing 5-2 third in power play efficiency (25.9 percent) in the regular season, Boston Jan. 17 in Boston and the Blues winning 2-1 in a shootout Feb. 23 at has bumped that up to 34.0 percent in the postseason — tops among all Enterprise Center. 16 playoff participants. In the 5-2 loss, Jake Allen was strong in the opening period, stopping all “They get a lot of momentum from their power play,” Pietrangelo said. 13 shots sent his way by the Bruins. Carl Gunnarsson’s first goal of the season gave the Blues a 2-1 lead late in the second period. But former Defensively, it’s all about Rask in goal. He was good during the regular Blues captain David Backes tied things with a power-play goal with four season, with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. minutes left in the second. He has been otherworldly during the postseason, with a 12-5 record, 1.84 GAA and .942 save percentage. The goals-against average and The Bruins tacked on three goals in the third, the last an empty-netter. save percentage led all postseason goalies (who appeared in more than The Blues couldn’t hang onto the puck that night; they had 25 giveaways, one game). easily a season high. The team averaged 7.4 giveaways per game in the regular season. “From the games I’ve watched, he’s very confident right now,” Binnington said. “He’s had some playoff runs (previously), so he’s had some Five weeks later, with several Blues fighting the flu bug and Jordan experience. He’s a good goalie, so we’re going to have to be aggressive Binnington in goal, the teams needed overtime and then six rounds of a and get traffic on him. shootout to decide the affair at Enterprise. Sammy Blais, just four days removed from a stint in San Antonio, scored the game-winner from a tight “For me personally, I’ve just got to take care of my job and believe in the angle to beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. team in front of me to take care of that.”

Improving to 6-0 at Enterprise, Binnington credited the “Cheshire hotel” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 afterwards, specifically the room service at the Cheshire Inn, for his home success. He was living there at the time.

(Three days later, after a 2-0 home win over Nashville, he would utter his infamous “Do I look nervous?”)

So unlike the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks in these playoffs, at least Binnington has seen his Cup Final opponent in the regular season.

“Obviously, there won’t be a shootout going on,” Binnington said. “They’re a good team. That was a 1-1 game. Both teams were resilient all night. It’s two good hockey teams going at it for the Stanley Cup Final. We’re excited about it.”

For the Bruins, it begins and ends offensively with their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. During the regular season all three topped 30 goals, with Marchand (36 goals, 64 assists) one of only six NHL players to reach 100 points. Marchand also tied for second in the regular season with nine game-winning goals.

Bergeron, who scored 32 regular-season goals, tied for fourth in the league with four shorthanded goals. Meanwhile, 17 of Pastrnak’s 38 regular-season goals came on the power play, which also tied for fourth.

“With a leader in the middle of the ice, Bergeron (at center), he’s one of the best two-way players in the National Hockey League,” coach Craig Berube said. “He leads the way for those guys in all areas of play.

“But Marchand’s a very skilled forward that has high-end ability: passing, scoring, he can do it all. A great skilled winger in Pastrnak with a great shot and skill, speed.

“It’s tough. They do everything well. They can score in all different ways, off the rush, cycling in zone — they look for each other, they find each other, they have great chemistry together.”

With a hiccup here and there, the Blues have fared well against top lines so far in the playoffs 1145226 St Louis Blues

Dunn resumes skating after taking puck to head in Game 3

By Tom Timmermann St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 23, 2019

Defenseman Vince Dunn, who missed the final three games of the San Jose series after taking a puck to the face in Game 3, is making progress and has resumed skating.

“Vince is doing pretty good,” coach Craig Berube said Thursday morning. “He actually skated (Wednesday), he’s going to skate today again. I’ll know more today. If he can get on the ice with us (Friday) it’s a real good thing. He’d be going in the right direction for sure.”

Dunn is believed to be out with concussion symptoms, and if he can skate on consecutive days, that’s a sign of a closer return. While he’s been out, Carl Gunnarsson has filled in and the Blues haven’t missed a beat defensively, allowing just two goals in the three games played without Dunn.

The Blues took Wednesday, the day after they won the Western Conference final, off, and on Thursday, they limited themselves to off-ice work. Practice will resume on Friday.

“We’ll get some practice time in,” Berube said, “but rest is important too coming off the series. The series were long, physical series. We’re going to take a couple days to recover a little bit, then we’ll get back at it.”

The Blues will go five days between games, for them the longest gap other than their combined All-Star week/bye week break. Boston, meanwhile, will go 10 days between games.

“Can’t worry about rust,” Berube said. “We just have to prepare to play and, it boils down to having good energy and execution. But the energy is important, it really is. You’ve got to have the legs to get there. This is break is going to be OK mentally and physically for us.”

Some of the Blues went to the Cardinals game on Wednesday as everyone got a breather.

“I guess really the preparation starts today,” captain Alex Pietrangelo said Thursday. “We took yesterday off so most guys had a chance to take a break and spend time with their family because once this thing gets going, we’re going to be there a couple days early. Recharge the batteries as best we can because before you know it Monday is going to be here. I guess preparation really starts today and tomorrow.”

“Taking a day off, enjoy time with your family, come back today, get a workout in, get the body moving again,” forward Pat Maroon said. “It’s always nice when you have a break. You kind of need it. Your brain needs it, your body needs it. I’m a guy that likes to play every other day. It’s good because when you get in a groove, your team’s playing well, you feel good about it. This is much needed and the guys are going to take advantage of it.”

While the players had Wednesday off, the coaching staff didn’t. While Berube went over logistics of the series with general manager Doug Armstrong, seeking ways to block out the noise, as Berube says, the assistant coaches began looking at tape of Boston. The Blues already had reports from their scouts at the Eastern Conference final.

WELCOME BACK

Goalie Jordan Binnington spent last season playing for the Providence Bruins, Boston’s AHL affiliate, because the Blues didn’t have their own farm team and he wasn’t going to get any playing time with Chicago or San Antonio, the two teams the Blues had working agreements with, as those teams gave preference to to their own goalies. Finally, the Blues swung a deal to have him go to Providence to get a game a week.

On Wednesday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said that familiarity may work in the Bruins’ favor. On Thursday, Binnington was asked about Cassidy’s comment.

“That’s good, I guess,” he said, while Maroon and Pietrangelo, seated next to him, began to laugh. “They’re a good hockey team and they’ve got some talented players. We’ll see how we handle it.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145227 St Louis Blues “Unless there is imminent danger, we have to make sure we are serving the community,” she said. “We do have a severe weather plan in place, so hope to God we don’t have to activate that.”

Media Views: NBC expects strong ratings from Blues-Bruins matchup Fox Sports Midwest, the Blues local TV home, plans programs before (at 6:30 p.m.) and after every game in the series. Coverage will be on Fox Sports Plus when FSM is carrying Cardinals games. By Dan Caesar St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 23, 2019 NBCSN and NHL Network also have preview shows leading into all the games and wrapups afterward. NHL Network’s two-hour productions begin at 5 p.m. NBCSN has a two-hour show, also at 5 o’clock, for the It’s a traditional power facing a team that has frustrated its fans for nearly opener. half a century, and the matchup for this year’s Stanley Cup Final provides plenty of storylines for NBC’s telecasts. SEMIFINAL ROUT

Sam Flood, NBC Sports’ executive producer, is expecting strong ratings The Blues steamrolled the Sharks in the last two games of the Western as the upstart Blues meet the Boston Bruins in a series that begins Conference finals, outscoring them 10-1 to win the series. And the rout in Monday night in Massachusetts. television ratings was nearly as strong.

“Two fabulous markets,” he said Thursday on a conference call. “St. Nielsen, which tabulates viewership, said those games were seen in an Louis had great (ratings) numbers during the conference finals. ... average of 18.7 percent of homes with a TV in the St. Louis market. The Insanity. Then you take the Boston area and it’s not just Boston, it’s got figure in the San Francisco market, in which San Jose is included, was (much of New England). . . . It’s even got some people in New Jersey. So 3.6 there’s a beautiful market opportunity here. For the series as a whole St. Louis averaged a 15.3 rating, with the figure “And St. Louis is a great hockey town. It has been for a long time. And in the Bay Area at 4.4. obviously a 49-year wait to be in the Finals, I think it’s going to be an incredible scene there and I can’t wait to be in that building and outside In the Blues’ previous round, against the Stars, St. Louis averaged a 12.0 that building for Game 3 because I think it’s going to put things on an rating and Dallas was at 3.8. epic level of celebration and energy.” St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 Game 1 will be shown on NBC (KSDK, Channel 5 locally), the next two on cable’s NBCSN then the remainder of the series on NBC.

The Blues haven’t been to the Final since 1970 — which Boston swept — so expect NBC to have flashbacks to that series. Other angles to be covered, Flood said, will be “all the story lines for St. Louis, including going to some home towns of some of the players . . . to get some back stories. . . . We will touch on the ’70 Stanley Cup Finals and some of the activity there.

“We had so many camera ideas that we’re still working with the league to see if we can get permission to put them where we want, we think that they could bring some unique angles to the game. But we’re just waiting for clearance from the league, and that always is a process and we’ll see where we end up.”

Play-by-play for the series is to be handled by Mike “Doc” Emrick, with Eddie Olczyk providing analysis and Pierre McGuire reporting and giving commentary from between the benches.

KSDK REVS UP

KSDK is gearing up to go all out with ancillary programming around the network coverage.

The station plans to send news anchor Mike Bush, sports director Frank Cusumano and reporter Ahmad Hicks to Boston for the first two games and have a half-hour local pregame show at 6:30 p.m. leading into the network’s telecast. It is set to have a preview show before all contests in the series, and postgame programs following the contests that air on KSDK (not those on NBCSN).

“This comes around only once in a girl’s lifetime, so we’re pretty pumped about it,” Channel 5 president and general manager Alicia Elsner said Thursday. “We’re not taking it lightly by any means. . . . This is our legacy and privilege to be able to tell this story.”

She joked (we think) that she might use some current and former staffers who used to work in Channel 5’s sports department to help with hockey coverage during the Final.

Elsner said she told Art Holliday, “Well you used to be in sports, so we’ll probably put you in there, too. See if we can get Ron Jacober to come back and Jay Randolph, Rene Knott.”

There also is a much less jovial situation that could arise for the station — severe weather. When NBCSN’s telecast Tuesday of Game 6 of the Blues-Sharks series began, KSDK was wall-to-wall with coverage of tornado warnings in the area.

What will happen if a similar circumstance arises during a game in the Final? Elsner would not go into details other than saying it’s possible two boxes could be shown on the screen, one with hockey and the other focusing on storms. 1145228 St Louis Blues

Marchand appears to avert injury scare in Bruins tuneup

By JIMMY GOLEN Associated Press May 23, 2019

BOSTON — Boston Bruins scoring leader Brad Marchand returned without missing a shift after appearing to hurt his left hand Thursday night when the team held an intrasquad scrimmage to tune up for the Stanley Cup Final.

Marchand bumped into Connor Clifton in front of the net “and jammed his ... I don’t know what he jammed,” coach Bruce Cassidy said.

“Injury risk was our biggest concern tonight. It will be Saturday when we practice at the regular time, and Sunday,” Cassidy said. “He’s fine.”

With 10 days off between their sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals and Monday night’s opener of the best-of- seven Cup final against the Blues, the Bruins scheduled the scrimmage to stay sharp.

“It was good to get out there, and we appreciate the support,” forward David Pastrnak said. “It’s starting to feel real.”

Tickets were $20 and the 17,565-seat TD Garden was sold out, with the proceeds going to the Boston Bruins Foundation. Fans chanted “We Want the Cup!” and “Let’s Go Bruins!” and gave the team a standing ovation after Patrice Bergeron tipped a puck between his legs during a six-on-five, pulled goalie simulation before the buzzer.

Captain Zdeno Chara and Bergeron, the alternate captain, thanked the crowd after the scrimmage.

Marchand skated off flexing his hand near the end of the first 25-minute half. He appeared to be in discomfort on the bench, but was back for his next shift.

Cassidy left it up to the players to decide how much work they needed.

Goaltender Tuukka Rask played just one half. Chara, who missed the clincher of the East finals for undisclosed reasons, played the entire game. David Krejci showed up at the arena with an illness and was sent home, but he should be fine for Monday’s game, Cassidy said.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145229 St Louis Blues Les Jackson, a senior advisor to the GM in Dallas who has spent 37 years with the Stars organization, on Armstrong’s hire in Minnesota:

“Everyone knows Clarkey is such an outgoing guy. He pushed LeBrun: From his start in the Caps ticket department to Blues GM, Doug responsibility to whoever was there. Clarkey was really engaging and not Armstrong’s earned league-wide respect afraid to share ideas. Doug is a really ambitious guy, smart, progressive and he was in a really good situation to pick up information and ideas and learn on the job. It’s a situation a lot of guys generally don’t get. He By Pierre LeBrun May 24, 2019 was in the right spot with the right person. Then it evolved when Bob Gainey joined us. You couldn’t ask for two better guys to start your

career with. Army was in a great situation. All the way along he grasped David Poile had me totally stumped. all the lessons. You look at learning from two Hockey Hall of Famers, Army was going to the Harvard of Hockey. He had everything there for Like most people, my knowledge of Doug Armstrong’s entry into NHL him. And he was really ambitious about grasping everything they had to work began when he joined the Minnesota North Stars under Bobby say. Eventually, when he got that opportunity, he started to distribute Clarke in the early 1990s, before eventually working his way up to being those lessons in his own way which is really good. Bob Gainey’s assistant GM in Dallas. From Dallas, he would move on and eventually assume his current role as GM of the St. Louis Blues. Army has done a great job. The people who work with him in St. Louis, Dave Taylor (VP, Hockey Ops) and Bill Armstrong (AGM), for example, What I didn’t know was what transpired just before that. they’ve done a good job of providing Army with players to work with. And you know, I know Army as well as anybody, I worked with him forever, “Doug went to school in Florida and he applied for a job with the he’s both very impatient and patient. To his credit, he listened to those Washington Capitals and we hired him in our (ticket) sales department,’’ people a lot and took their advice; because I know Army, he wants to Poile recalled this past week. win, every day he’s pushing the buttons to get it done. It’s no surprise Huh? Not only did I not know that, I’m not sure many people do. he’s done well because he pushes the guys to get the work done. And that group has done it for him. Good on him.’’ Poile knew of Armstrong’s hockey lineage — his dad Neil Armstrong was a longtime NHL linesman (and former Montreal Canadiens scout) who Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello: was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. “Tremendously respectful, honest, straight-forward, no agenda. In other “Doug befriended Tod Button while with us,” Poile said. “Tod’s father words, whenever there is a question or whenever you’re trying to make a Jack Button was my director of player personnel. Tod was doing our transaction, there’s no posturing. You can skip the chase. He will tell you video. He was there at the same time Doug was there. Doug started what you need or what he thinks he can do and so forth. I have high doing more stuff for us. And that’s how he got his start.’’ praise for his directness and forwardness. Not an individual who would waste a lot of time in trying to get something done. Tod Button, these days the director of amateur scouting for the Calgary Flames, chuckles when remembering that season with Armstrong in the “He took a lot of risk this year, he made a lot of changes. It’s nice to see Caps organization. him rewarded for what he did.’’

“I got there about two months before him,’’ Button said. “And Doug did Penguins GM Jim Rutherford: more than sell tickets. He was trying to get on the hockey side. We’d go “I sit with him at the (GM) meetings and enjoy talking to him about the to games in (AHL) Baltimore a lot, that was our farm team then. We’d do different issues. I’m just really happy for him. He’s worked at it, he’s had stats for David and the coaches and this was way back before all this good teams and this might have been his toughest year that he’s turning stuff was automatic. Yeah, I’ve known Army for a long time.’’ into his most successful year. He really did a terrific job in getting it Armstrong’s time in Washington was short and by the next year, he was turned around with the different things he had to deal with from changing off to Minnesota looking for a real hockey ops job and he never looked the coach to bringing in the goalie and of course (Ryan) O’Reilly was a back. big move last offseason which has paid off. But also, all the things and that we don’t know about or hear about the inner-workings of getting I reached out to executives around the NHL this past week to get their things turned around, he’s the guy, for the most part, especially getting view of Armstrong as a person and GM. the coach in there, that has to deal with all those issues. He’s obviously dealt with them very well.’’ Flyers legend Bobby Clarke on hiring a young Armstrong in 1990 (as background, the league at the time had agreed to let the North Stars Golden Knights president of hockey operations, George McPhee: owners, the Gund brothers, take over the expansion team in San Jose and sell the club in Minnesota. Furthermore, as part of the deal, there “Well, it just goes to show you how hard it is to win the Cup in this was also a bizarre agreement in which they could take players from the business; you can be really, really good at your job and rarely get that North Stars as well any staff): chance to win it all. And he’s been good at his job for a long time.

“When I was hired as GM in Minnesota, our first draft was in Vancouver Doug is a smart guy and a high-integrity guy, really good man, really (1990). We knew after the draft that all our scouts were going to San good sense of humor, but when it comes to managing an NHL hockey Jose except Les Jackson. We had the two of us when the draft was over. team, he takes it very seriously and he’s very determined. And he will do I was standing on the steps after the draft and Doug Armstrong came up whatever it takes to do what’s best for the team. He felt last summer he to me, he had his resume in hand, he introduced himself. I didn’t know had to do a lot and he did it; he was very aggressive. And I don’t think Doug but I knew his dad Neil of course, who had been a linesman there were many people who weren’t saying that wasn’t a good team forever. Doug told me had worked part-time for David Poile and he was heading into the season. They had a slow start for different reasons. But trying now to get into the NHL full-time. it was a heck of a team. I remember telling him that last year and this year, `You’re one of the best teams we’ve played. I don’t know why So when I got back to Minnesota after the draft we had nobody on our you’re not winning all the time. But you’re one of the best teams we’ve staff other than Les and my secretary and myself. So I called Doug up played.’’ and said, `I can give you a job and how you do the job is your choice. That will dictate your future. It’s up to you.’ I told him he’d be in charge of Jets GM : all the travel and everything that has to do with flights and hotels and all “I think the fact that we did go head-to-head (in the first round), you can that. He said instantly: `Yes. I will take it.’ I don’t think we even talked gain the appreciation of how hard it is to win and the group that he about salary. We were going to play exhibition games overseas so I told assembled. There’s a lot of people that were probably second-guessing him he had to quickly get on that to set stuff up. I asked him how quickly him and the decisions that he made certainly in the first half of the he could get to Minnesota to start. He said, `Can you give me three season. Obviously, the group came together. One thing with Doug, he’s a days?’ I said of course (Clarke chuckled as he recalled the story). He guy that loves all facets of the job. You see him scouting, you see him at was there in three days and took over his job. You never had to check on the American League rinks and the amateurs; it just speaks to the him again. Things just got done with him. passion that he has for the job. Inside the (GM) meetings, you get a real When I left Minnesota he of course worked for Bob Gainey and he appreciation for just how much he loves the game. His comments about advanced to where he is now. He’s just done an incredible job.’’ rules and his comments about different goings-on in the game are very heartfelt and very thought-provoking. As a GM counterpart, when he Longtime coach Ken Hitchcock (who worked with Armstrong in Dallas speaks it makes you think about what we’re talking about and the and St. Louis) via text message: ramifications it might have. It’s a real honor to be a general manager with him at this time.’’ “We are really happy for Doug in his reaching the final. He has paid his dues and has really paid attention along the way. He has developed a Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas: great feel for how players influence the game and where they fit on a team. Doug knows when to stay on a coaching staff and when to back off “First off, I’m very happy for both he and (Bruins GM) Don (Sweeney). and I know all the coaches really appreciated that. The part all of us saw They both have been with those organizations for a long time and put a with Doug was how he always hired people he thought were really smart lot of work in and have set the vision for their programs and to see that and was never intimidated by those hires.’’ pay off for each of them is outstanding. It’s nice to see both of them get to the final. They’re both very deserving. They’re both excellent Senators GM Pierre Dorion via text message: managers. “He is one of the good guys as far as GMs. Great to talk to. Smart. “With Army in particular, with St. Louis having been close a number of Progressive. No bullshit. Honest. And funny.’’ times, to have people doubt whether they could get over the hump, and they have the Chicago teams early on where that was a roadblock, but Hurricanes GM Don Waddell via text message: they just have stuck with it and had great patience and maintained the “Dry sense of humor. His emails are always very funny. Takes his golf vision for how they wanted the club to play and continually try to improve game too seriously.’’ it. They draft well. Their contracts are excellent. He’s made some big moves in terms of trades and staffing when called upon to do so, so he’s Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen via text message: showed a lot of fortitude from my view as well. To see that pay off for “We worked together for two years before he became the GM (in St. somebody is excellent. I’m very, very happy for Doug.’’ Louis). He was GM my last draft (for the Blues) in 2010. Always liked Dubas, on a personal level as a young GM dealing with Armstrong: dealing with him as an ‘opponent,’ straight-forward, no b.s.’’

“The way and how much he values the profession of being a general The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 manager, there’s a number of veteran guys that have been this way but for me as a young guy coming in, you kind of revere these people that have been managers for a long time and had success and you never know how you’re going to be accepted by the group. But Doug has gone out of his way, whether it’s at meetings, or in phone calls, or that stretch there between (Dave) Nonis and Lou where I was in that (interim GM) role, he was excellent with me personally and genuine in his willingness to help. And I think you see how much in meetings he really tries to draw things from everybody and draw different opinions in the room and how much he values and holds in high regard the position of general manager and what that means. You really gain a deeper respect for the position.

There’s a number of guys that do that but he’s part of a very unique collection of them that really have benefitted me. Because you watch the way they handle themselves and the way they interact with everybody and include everybody in everything, it’s been great interacting with him.’’

Flyers GM :

“It’s such a hard business to win in, it’s such a hard business to get to the final. I was reading an article that showed how many years all the teams had been in existence and how the last time they had been to the Cup final if they had even been there. It’s humbling. It’s just so difficult and so rare to even get to the Cup final. They went through a lot of trials and tribulations this year in St. Louis. You have to tip your hat to Doug. He had a tremendous offseason last year. He made a lot of great additions to his team. And then obviously had a lot of ups and downs early in the season and had to make some changes. From late January on they’ve been as strong a team as anybody in the league. You have to give the guy credit, he’s battled hard there in St. Louis for many years. He’s been as aggressive as any GM bringing in players the past few years and making the changes that were necessary. He’s a manager that’s not afraid to pull the trigger on big trades.’’

Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button:

“A lot of people have taken the long path, Doug grew up in hockey with his dad being an official. You look at the people he’s learned from: Bobby Clarke, David Poile, Terry Murray (head coach in Washington when Armstrong was there), Bob Gainey, my brother Craig (Button), Les Jackson, the list goes on.

Doug grew up in it, he was nurtured in it, and he took the ball and ran with it. That’s where he is today. He’s got a well-rounded work ethic. This is a tough game. Success is not easy to come by in this league. They did it the hard way this year in St. Louis and maybe that makes it more satisfying for him.’’

Predators GM David Poile:

“In the full cycle of things, Doug hired Brian Poile (David’s son, current AGM in Nashville) out of college to be the team services director for the Dallas Stars. And then Brian went to Salt Lake City where he was the GM for their (AHL) farm club for a couple of years. That’s all I have to say about Doug right there.’’ 1145230 St Louis Blues players targeting each other. Nobody likes the system, but at this point we’re all used to it.

But what happens when a referee gets hurt? Surely that’s the rare case DGB Grab Bag: Stanley Cup preview, schedule complaints and the Blues where the league could just tell us what happened without all of the pull off a Monday Night Miracle annoying guessing games, right?

REFEREE WES MCCAULEY LEFT THE @SANJOSESHARKS / By Sean McIndoe May 24, 2019 @STLOUISBLUES GAME TONIGHT DUE TO A LOWER BODY INJURY AND WILL NOT RETURN. HE WILL BE REPLACED BY REFEREE GORD DWYER. #STANLEYCUP

The Stanley Cup matchup is set, and the Blues and the Bruins will open — NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS (@PR_NHL) MAY 22, 2019 their series on Monday. As per league bylaws, this column must now include a category-by-category preview for the series. Nobody complain, Come on, NHL, do you really think somebody’s going to target a I don’t want to go to hockey writer jail. referee’s lower body in a Blues game? (Thinks back a few months.) You know what, maybe keep playing it safe. Road to the final The second star: This Jeopardy contestant – Laugh if you want, but this Blues: Their conference final win left all of the Sharks’ biggest fans is one of the best efforts anyone associated with the Kings has had all feeling devasted and fighting back tears, although word is the referees year. should be OK in time for the final. THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER OF @TG3II, @MELVINGORDON25 Bruins: Will be looking to win a championship by beating in order the AND @JONATHANQUICK32  PIC.TWITTER.COM/B8MAFEWILA team that’s tied for the longest Cup drought, the team that had the longest playoff win drought, the team that had the longest playoff — LA KINGS (@LAKINGS) MAY 18, 2019 appearance drought and the other team that’s tied for the longest Cup The first star: Team Great Britain – They pulled off a dramatic comeback drought, because apparently just kicking a litter of newborn puppies in to earn their first win at the World Championship in 57 years. Then they the ribs would have been too subtle. celebrated the only way they could: By stealing the Senators’ team song, Goaltending apparently.

Blues: Jordan Binnington has won over all of St. Louis with an THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD. SELF-DEPRECATING LEGENDS. unorthodox style that allows him to face a center ice slap shot without jumping in the air for no reason like some sort of idiot. "WE’RE SHIT AND WE KNOW WE ARE!"  #IIHFWORLDS PIC.TWITTER.COM/XSSCFTEPSJ Bruins: An inspirational Tuukka Rask has somehow found success despite being the worst goalie in the league like three and a half weeks — CAITLIN BERRY (@CAITLINSPORTS) MAY 20, 2019 ago, according to every Bruins fan you know. Trivial annoyance of the week

Blueline The NHL released the schedule for the Stanley Cup final this week and Blues: While they still have four more games to win and nobody wants to it’s, well, pretty much exactly what we should expect by now. get ahead of themselves, it’s probably fair to start getting excited about It doesn’t start anytime soon, with a full six days between the end of the what kind of goofy face Jay Bouwmeester will make if he ever gets to lift Sharks/Blues series and Monday’s opener. So that’s six days off for the the Stanley Cup. Blues, and a ridiculous 11 for the Bruins. And there are three-day gaps Bruins: As the oldest player in the series, veteran captain Zdeno Chara between all the games with the exception of Games 1 and 2 (two days) has been in the NHL so long that he might actually remember the last and 3 and 4 (also two days). So if the final goes the full seven games, it time the Bruins played a hockey game. will take 17 days to play. That’s going to be a lot of downtime. It’s pretty much a schedule designed to strangle any momentum the two teams Forwards might deliver, if and when they remember how to play hockey after so much time off. Blues: Will be perfectly positioned to win a Game 7 against the Bruins, since they can just all turn to Tyler Bozak and ask him what not to do. So yeah, not great. But also probably unavoidable, which is why it’s showing up in the annoyance category instead of outrage or whatever Bruins: David Backes had just seven goals and has been a healthy else. We should be used to this by now, and in fact this year’s schedule scratch several times while struggling to redefine himself as a role player, follows the exact same pattern as last year’s. And that’s probably for so it’s going to be really interesting to see how he scores the Cup- good reason. The NHL probably has a good sense of what the schedule winning goal that literally every Blues fan knows is coming. for the NBA Finals will look like, and they have to make sure they don’t Coaching get stuck with any head-to-head matchups. And while travel won’t be much of an issue with Boston and St. Louis separated by one time zone Blues: Craig Berube has knocked out three opponents in six weeks, and less than three hours, that matchup wasn’t locked in when the which is actually well under his average from his playing days. league had to finalize things. It could have been Boston and San Jose, where a little bit of extra travel time may have come in handy. Bruins: Bruce Cassidy has been so good over the last three years that someday you might stop accidentally calling him “Butch” every damn As for the long gap before they get started, that was also largely time you try to write about him, Sean. unavoidable. In a perfect world they’d be starting tomorrow with some classic Saturday night hockey, but again, the league didn’t know that the Fan base Blues and Sharks wouldn’t be going to a Game 7 last night. Having one Blues: Have found it difficult to explain to younger fans who weren’t born finalist show up on two days’ notice isn’t really fair, so Monday it is. yet that there was a time when this team was a last-place laughingstock, In other words, this is all more of a case of bad luck and timing than the which is understandable given that those fans are all three-month-old league screwing up. I’m old school enough to believe that playoff series infants. are meant to be every-second-night affairs that start as soon as both Bruins: Their 2011 championship parade was reportedly attended by teams have had 24 hours to bandage their wounded and draw up a new almost one million Boston sports fans, and statistically speaking there’s a game plan. But I’m not in charge of a billion-dollar league with plenty of chance that as many as like a dozen of them were slightly tolerable. corporate partners to schmooze and TV executives to keep happy.

The week’s three stars of comedy Besides, look on the bright side. All those three-day gaps will give us plenty of extra time to argue over whichever random officiating The third star: Keeping it on the down low – This one doesn’t fall into the controversy inevitably pops up midway through the final. I don’t know category of intentional comedy, but it’s still pretty funny. We know that about you, but I’ve already pre-scheduled my Twitter screed about how the NHL has long insisted on listing every injury with either an upper- or the league should have replay review for rule 71.1, the immediate lower-body designation, because anything more specific would lead to stoppage of play whenever an extra attacker comes off the bench before playing for Calgary. The list also includes Joe Mullen, Doug Gilmour, Ric a pulled goaltender has skated to within five feet from the bench. It’s right Nattress and Rob Ramage. You know those two guys in your office there in black and white, we have to get it right people! football pool who only ever trade with each other? That was the Blues and Flames in the 1980s. Obscure former player of the week We jump ahead to the third period, as Doug Wickenheiser scores six This week’s obscure player is Greg Paslawski, for reasons we’ll get to in minutes in to cut the lead to 4-2. They refer to it as his first playoff goal, a minute but diehard Blues fans already know. and indeed it is – the former first-overall pick had been buried in an epic Paslawski was a shifty winger from Saskatchewan who went undrafted slump that had seen him held off the scoresheet in 17 playoff games despite putting up big numbers with the in the early despite having 35 shots. Do you know how snakebitten you have to be to ’80s. He signed a free agent deal with the Canadiens and spent two take 35 shots on 1980s NHL goalies without any of them going in? It seasons in the AHL before cracking the big leagues early in the 1983-84 would be easier to shoot 35 pucks at the ocean without getting any of season, scoring one goal for the Habs in 26 games. He was traded to the them wet. Blues midway through the year in the deal that saw Doug Wickenheiser The Flames actually come right back to score a minute later and restore go to St. Louis for Perry Turnbull. the three-goal lead, an important development that this clip decides to It was a good fit, and Paslawski would score 20 goals in four of the next skip over for some reason. So the Blues are still down by three with 12 five seasons, only missing the mark in an injury-shortened 1987-88. His minutes left and their season on the line. time in St. Louis came to an end in the 1989 offseason, when he was Our old pal Greg Paslawski shows up to rip a shot that Mike Vernon traded to the Jets. He’d spend one full season with the Jets, scoring 18 plays exactly as badly as it would even be theoretically possible, kicking goals and earning his first and only award vote – a third-place showing it directly to Brian Sutter for an easy goal to make it 5-3. The score stays on a single Lady Byng ballot. He’d be sold to the Sabres in 1991, plucked that way until there are four minutes left, when the same line strikes by the Sharks in that year’s expansion draft and then immediately flipped again. Sutter and Paslawski connect for the patented NHL 94 “blind pass to the Nordiques for Tony Hrkac, then finish his career with a season in from the corner while facing the wrong direction that goes directly to the Philadelphia and Calgary and a few more in the IHL. His NHL totals front of the net for a one-timer” move, and it’s 5-4. include 650 games, 187 goals and 372 points. “And they’ll go crazy!” Well, from the looks of things they’ll mostly Of course, those are just his regular season totals. He also added applaud politely. But shout out to the guy at 1:33 doing the double- another 19 goals and 32 points in 60 career playoffs games. That handed fist pump move like he’s an extra in a sports movie crowd scene includes 10 goals during the 1986 postseason, one that featured his most who’s just been told to act excited. memorable game. For more on that, meet me in the next section. The Blues complete the comeback with a minute to go, as Paslawski Classic YouTube clip breakdown picks the pocket of Jamie Macoun and scores in the same motion. It’s been a good week for the St. Louis Blues, who are headed back to Macoun had a reputation as a rock-solid defensive defenseman, in case the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1970. But in a sense, this is you were wondering why there were eight goals a game in this era. already the best playoff run they’ve ever had – it’s the first time they’ve We see the end of regulation, which is cool because it reminds me how ever won 12 games or three rounds in a single postseason. much I miss that tight shot of the actual scoreboard clock we used to That’s a rare bit of playoff happiness for a team that hasn’t had much of it have to rely on. Was it fun to not know how much time was left for 99 over the years. But we’re all about positivity around here, so let’s keep percent of each period? It was not, but those scoreboard shots were the good times rolling with a look back at one of the other greatest great. moments in Blues playoff history: The Monday Night Miracle. We jump ahead to the winning goal, which sees Bernie Federko feed Here’s the setup: It’s May 12, 1986, and the Blues are hosting the Mark Hunter before Wickenheiser jumps on the rebound for his second Flames in Game 6 of the Campbell Conference final. Calgary has just goal. He executes a fantastic two-stage stationary fist pump, and the won Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead, so it’s a must-win for the Blues on crowd really does go crazy as the Blues pile on the ice to celebrate the home ice. We’re going to join the action early in the second, after a most dramatic win in franchise history. scoreless opening period. But first: Who’s up for some Phil Collins? And that’s it for our clip. A win that may very well have been the single We join our narrator in mid-sentence, because this is a 1980s YouTube greatest in St. Louis Blues history, right up until this week. And who clip and they all start that way. But our first shot is a good one, as we see knows, maybe there’s even four more to come. Keep cheering, St. Louis, an old school NHL net casing a shadow that looks a lot like a “B.” Hmm and never stop believing. Miracles really do happen, the impossible can … B as in “Boston Bruins,” perhaps? That’s some nice foreshadowing. sometimes become possible, and those who keep the faith through the Literally. years and even decades will ultimately be rewarded.

We find out that what’s about to happen is being called the Monday Night (Epilogue: The Blues lost Game 7 and were eliminated from the playoffs.) Miracle. And indeed it is. Not to be confused with the NFL’s Monday The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 Night Miracle, which came 14 years later. Between this and the whole “power failure during a championship game” thing, the NFL really needs to lay off stealing 1980s NHL bits.

It’s also not to be confused with the Miracle on Ice, which was Team USA’s win in the 1980 Olympics, or the Miracle on Manchester, which was the Kings coming back to beat the Oilers in a 1982 playoff game, or the McIndoe Miracle, which was that one time I wrote a whole column without reference the Leafs for no reason.

I have no idea where this clip is from, but I’m loving the production values. In The Air Tonight is a great hockey song. Somebody find out if the current Blues like 1980s pop music nostalgia, I may have a theme song for them.

Despite the dramatic intro, we go pretty much immediately to the Flames scoring goals. That’s Dan Quinn getting the first two, just two minutes into the second period. Cliff Ronning scores for St. Louis to make it 2-1 and then executes the rarely seen mid-ice high five celebration. But Jim Peplinski and John Tonelli reply for Calgary to make it 4-1, and if I know anything about playoff hockey it’s that 4-1 leads are always safe in elimination games.

That’s Rick Wamsley in goal for St. Louis, by the way, one of a disturbing number of Blues players who you’re pretty sure are supposed to be 1145231 St Louis Blues acceptance of a fourth-line role has helped that line tremendously, and I think it emboldened the belief this year that everything is about the team, not individuals. Berube has been starting the fourth line every game Cross-Ice Pass: Similarities between Blues and Bruins should make for a lately, and there’s a reason — they set the tone! hard-fought final McDonald: Do you really want me to mention that three of Boston’s 12 combined championships this century by the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics have come at the expense of St. Louis? Haha, sorry, couldn’t By Joe McDonald and Jeremy Rutherford May 24, 2019 resist. Anyway, when Bruce Cassidy said these teams are “mirror Images,” he was 100 percent correct. As long as I’ve been covering the

NHL (started as an intern in 1995 and full-time since ’01), I can’t It’s time for our Stanley Cup edition of Cross-Ice Pass with Blues writer remember a Stanley Cup final with two evenly matched and similarly built Jeremy Rutherford and Bruins writer Joe McDonald. Let’s jump right into teams like the Bruins and Blues. Cassidy also doesn’t shy away from this matchup. starting the fourth line, or what they like to call the “energy line” of Joakim Nordstrom, Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari at the start of every period of McDonald: Hey, Jeremy. Hope you’re well, my friend. It’s been an most games because that trio has the ability to set the tone, too. incredible run for both the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues this season. So let’s get right to predicting the winner. It’s a tough call because the For me, the most interesting aspect of Game 1 will be the goaltending. teams are mirror Images in terms of depth, physicality, solid goaltending It’s safe to say that both Tuukka Rask and Jordan Binnington are and veteran leadership. Both teams are playing extremely well. It really is candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy, but I wonder how the layoff will a tough call, but I think the Bruins win in seven. What’s your take? impact both. Obviously, Rask will have 10 days off between series, while Binnington has to wait only five. We saw Binnington in Providence of the Rutherford: Joey, I can’t wait to get to Boston and sit down in the press AHL last season, but how is he handling the big stage of the Stanley Cup box for Game 1. I’m going to be upfront with everyone that I’m a native playoffs? St. Louisan and watched the Blues growing up. As you well know, when you’re in the media, you’re able to cut the cord, and I did that years ago Rutherford: I’ve never seen a story like Binnington. He was a third-round when I started covering the team in 2005. The reason I’m telling you this draft pick in 2011 and had played in part of one NHL game before this is because I’ve been in this city my entire life and I can tell you first-hand year. I’ll never forget in one of his first training camps, I asked him a how much an appearance in the Stanley Cup final means to these question along the lines of what he’d take back with him to the minors people. I’m sure most Boston fans are aware, but for those that aren’t, when he was eventually re-assigned, and you could tell it ticked him off this is the team’s first trip since Noel Picard sent Bobby Orr soaring. that I assumed he’d be going back down, which he was. I never told anybody that story, but recently I was talking to Marty Brodeur about Joey, the city is buzzing like I’ve never seen before with this hockey Binnington and he said that part of his job when he was with the Blues team, and they really believe these Blues have a chance to win the Cup was telling Binnington to pack his bags for the minors, and he said because of the resiliency they’ve shown through three rounds. I believe Binnington would look at him like, ‘Seriously?’ I’m going to write that they have a chance, too. We were asked by The Athletic at the start of again: Jordan Binnington looked at the winningest goalie in NHL history the playoffs to pick a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winner, and mine all and could not believe what he was telling him. He was fourth on the along have been Boston and Tuukka Rask. As you said, I believe the depth chart going into this season, but the Blues were desperate for Bruins and Blues match up very well, but I’m going to go with the Blues in goaltending in January and finally gave him a chance, and the rest is six. history. He won nine straight games, and in 32 games never lost back-to- back games in the regular season. I wondered how he’d handle the McDonald: When I covered the 2017 Winter Classic in St. Louis, I spoke playoff spotlight, but he has been the same confident guy. It’s truly a with a few former Blues and Cardinals players about the possibility of the remarkable story. Stanley Cup one day finally being raised in St. Louis. Former Cardinal Jim Edmonds, who is a huge hockey fan, put it perfectly: “Oh, fans would McDonald: Always appreciate a confident player, especially when he can go nuts. It’s a great town, it really is. They talk about it so much, about back it up with his performance. I can’t even imagine a young goalie just how much of a sports town this is, and the Blues are long overdue. giving the red ass to Marty Brodeur. Another aspect about the Blues I They’ve had some really good teams but just haven’t gotten all the way appreciate is their relentless attack with reckless abandon, especially on through the playoffs. The Cardinals get so much attention for being so the forecheck. The Blue Jackets attempted to play a similar style against good for so long, and the Blues deserve to get it. They get so much Boston’s undersized defensemen, but the likes of Torey Krug, Matt publicity from being in this city, and we’ve had a lot of great players over Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton were able to handle it and stifle Columbus’ the years, it would just be really nice to see them win for the die-hard attack with an effective breakout. St. Louis is a heavy team, and I believe hockey fans to really get to celebrate.” it can have success in this area. Has the forecheck been one of its strengths? The Blues and their fans deserve it. Fans in New England have no doubt been spoiled with the 12 championships from the four major sports Rutherford: The forecheck is probably the single-most reason I believe franchises here this century, and even though the Bruins are on the cusp the Blues have a chance to win this series. I’m not saying the Bruins of adding to that list, the overall game of hockey wins with this Stanley can’t handle it — for sure they can. Sometimes the Blues don’t even get Cup matchup between two great sports cities. to it, and when that happens, you can chalk up a loss. But when they’re on, they’re on, and it’s all four lines and even the defensemen applying Anyway, down to the X’s and O’s. It’s going to be an interesting matchup the pressure in the offensive zone. When they’re humming, it’s been to see the Bruins’ top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David impressive. They’re banging and they’re winning battles, and it creates Pastrnak go head-to-head with the Blues’ Alexander Steen, Ivan so much zone time. They don’t shoot it as much as they should when Barbashev and Oskar Sundqvist. Usually the opposing top lines have a they have the puck, but it does wear teams down. tendency of canceling each other out, but with the Blues using that fourth line against opponents’ top lines, that could change in this series. How Hey Joey, I got so caught up answering you’re questions that I didn’t ask well is that line playing for St. Louis? you much, and I know Blues fans will want to hear some of your insight. So before we get out of here, let me throw a couple at you. First, how’s Rutherford: Joey, I hate to be your editor, but Boston has 11 former Blues captain David Backes looking these days, and what can we championships, not 12. Spy-gate doesn’t count. (Message to myself: expect from him against his old team? don’t read Comments section). OK, back to the matchups: I’ll wait to see what Blues coach Craig Berube does here. Obviously they’re going to be McDonald: As you know, JR, Backes is as genuine as they come as far different home-road, depending on who has the last change. In the first as pro athletes. I’m not afraid to say that there are certain players you three rounds, we’ve seen the Blues go top line vs. top line, and you’re root for, and he’s certainly one of them. He deserves to hoist the Cup, right, they tend to cancel each other out. But Berube is certainly not and he described this opportunity as bittersweet due to the afraid to use the Sundqvist line against anyone. The line has been terrific circumstances. Interestingly enough, he did say the other day that he and is the reason why everyone has been talking about the Blues’ depth would pick this current Bruins team as the team he most wants to play up front. This is no exaggeration; Sundqvist may be the most improved with in the Stanley Cup final. Of course he would say that, but his player in the NHL this season. He had two NHL goals in his career before teammates are amped up to get him that Cup. It’s been an interesting this year, and he had 14 in the regular season and now has four in the season and postseason for the former Blues captain. For the first time in playoffs. And while Steen is on the back nine of his career, his his career, he dealt with being a healthy scratch because Cassidy wanted a quicker lineup. Backes responded as a true pro and didn’t complain. When he returned to the lineup, the team fed off his presence and that’s the reason he’s remained on the second line with David Krejci. There’s no way he’s coming out of the lineup at this point, especially against the Blues.

Rutherford: Yeah, I’m happy for Backes, who is a good guy, and I’m glad he’s getting a chance to play for the Cup. I know you touched on the rest factor earlier, mentioning the Bruins will have had 10 days off before Game 1. That’s a long time. I realize these are pro athletes we’re talking about, and they can shed the rust quickly, but what kind of effect do you think it will have? I know it’s kind of hard to answer, but what have they been doing to keep their edge?

McDonald: Since this veteran core for the Bruins has been through both scenarios, I really believe the long layoff will help. It’s easier to shake rust than fatigue or injuries. The one concern I have is Rask. He’s been so dialed in and playing the best hockey of his postseason career that these 10 days could have a negative impact, at least to start Game 1. He’s always been so poised and calm that it doesn’t appear to be bothering him at this point. The Bruins held a controlled intrasquad scrimmage at TD Garden on Thursday. The place was nearly sold out too. Cassidy wanted to simulate a normal game day for the players, so they had a morning skate at the team’s practice facility and arrived at the Garden ready for “game action.” It’s an interesting exercise and Cassidy understands the risks, but it’s a good way to break the monotony of this layoff and also a good way to connect with the fans and get them fired up for Game 1. In fact, the fans at the scrimmage chanted, “We want the Cup.”

Rutherford: Well, Joey, we’ll soon find out which team will hoist that Cup, and I know we’re both looking forward to seeing how it plays out. Either way, it should be an epic series. Thanks for chatting, and I’m up for doing this again if you are. Save me some ‘chow-da’ for me, and I’ll see ya Sunday!

McDonald: Sounds good, my friend. Hope you’re wicked safe in your travels.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145232 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning’s Adam Erne earns a role with physicality

By Mari Faiello

Published Yesterday

TAMPA — The Lightning knew it needed a grittier style of play this season.

Enter Adam Erne, a 6-foot-1, 214-pound wing who often played on the bottom two lines with some of Tampa Bay’s more hard-hitting players.

It didn’t take long for Erne to show his purpose on his team, but he also had to grow into that purpose, learning how to play with physicality while not going over the top.

He logged 159 hits in 65 games in his first full season with the Lightning. That’s 42 more hits than Cedric Paquette had in 64 games in his first full season five years ago.

It’s a great mark for Erne in his first season. Just look at where Paquette was this year, 269 hits and five away from matching the franchise record. It’s hard to snark at that.

And it’s not out of the question that Erne could reach Paquette’s level of physical play in the seasons to come.

Erne’s presence served the Lightning well this year, helping fulfill a need for it to get back some of the rougher style it had lost over past seasons. Erne’s play also helped take some of the pressure off Paquette as Tampa Bay’s go-to player on the physical front.

“I think playing in that kind of role, you have to be more physical,” Ryan Callahan said about Erne early in the season. “He’s a big body, obviously, and you can see when he throws his body around, how effective he is to create some space for himself and his teammates.”

There’s a fine line between playing a physical game and taking penalties. Learning how to walk it comes with experience. But Erne seems to have found how to do that.

“He’s playing hard, and he’s not finding himself in the box,” Callahan said.

Erne had 40 penalty minutes this season. His only majors were a misconduct (one) and for fighting (two). Of his 10 minor penalties, four were for roughing.

Erne can be a restricted free agent this summer, having finished his three-year entry-level contract at $874,167 per season. Lightning executives will be faced with another hard financial decision, with re- signing center Brayden Point, who also can be a restricted free agent, a priority.

Erne’s ability to stay out of the box and his physicality helps his case.

Erne’s season

High: He had two three-point games, at Philadelphia on Nov. 17 (one goal) and against Montreal on Dec. 29 (two goals).

Low: He had a season-high 15 penalty minutes against Pittsburgh on Feb. 9, five for fighting about halfway into the first period and a 10-minute misconduct toward the end of the game.

By the numbers

7 Hits versus the Islanders on Jan. 13, a season high

20 Points this year (seven goals)

65 Games played

159 Hits, third highest on the team behind Cedric Paquette (269) and rookie Erik Cernak (198)

10:33 Average ice time

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145233 Tampa Bay Lightning transition for both him and his wife, Melinda, more seamless. And after what Karlsson and Melinda have gone through, from a stillborn son to the cyberbullying scandal in Ottawa, having trusted friends and a comfortable How Erik Karlsson could land with the Lightning this summer market could be attractive.

“I don’t think there’s a better place to play,” said former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. By Joe Smith May 24, 2019 “I really feel like when you spend a lot of time in Tampa, at the end of the day, they really make you feel at home here. It’s the people and the way they treat you. It’s very, very easy to really like this town.” TAMPA, Fla. — Long before Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson dressed up as pirates during the 2018 NHL All-Star weekend — when the Karlsson got to know the Lightning staff and players quite a bit during Lightning defenseman hosted the fellow Swede at his Davis Islands NHL All-Star weekend in January 2018. It wasn’t just having late-night home — they were teenage teammates. pizza with Hedman, Steven Stamkos and Valtteri Filppula at Hedman’s house on the eve of the game. When Karlsson played against the They were a defense pair during camps — Hedman on the left, Karlsson Lightning while with the Senators late in the 2017-18 season, he spent on the right — playing together up until their time on Sweden’s 2009 time postgame at the Canadian Tire Centre chatting up Tampa Bay staff world junior team. and players in the hallway. “We came over (to the NHL) at the same time,” Hedman said. “We’re Playing in the same division for several years, Karlsson got a first-hand good friends, obviously. We have a fun time when we’re in each other’s look at the Lightning’s style and system. cities. “They obviously have a lot of good players, that’s No. 1,” Karlsson said in Could they end up in the same city next season as teammates in January. “They’ve been together for a long time. They know each other Tampa? Yes. really well. I think the chemistry that they have, the style of play they play It would be complicated, no doubt, especially with the Lightning facing a for the team they have is very successful. And they’ve got good challenging cap crunch this summer, having already committed $73 goaltending to back them up as well when they chance it for offense a bit. million of an expected salary cap of $83 million to just 17 players. And It gives you a lot of confidence.” they still have to pay restricted free agent Brayden Point a hefty raise. Is that the kind of style most guys want to play? But Karlsson, 28, was intrigued by the possibility of playing for Tampa “Yeah, for sure,” Karlsson said. “It’s a lot of run and gun. When you have Bay when the Lightning made a couple failed attempts to acquire him a smart group of players that are very high skilled, that have good from the Senators via trade before he was moved to San Jose at the start chemistry, it always looks good. It makes it easy out there. They’ve been of the season. Ottawa, however, was less than interested in moving their good for a long period of time, and the thinking process is probably not captain within their division, especially to the Lightning. as big as on a team that is fairly new. Every day, they know what to But now, with Karlsson due to be an unrestricted free agent July 1, the expect from each other.” ball is officially in his court. No trade partners needed, no top prospects Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson ranked third among NHL defensemen required to sweeten the deal. this year in goals above replacement (18.5), according to Evolving- If Karlsson truly wants to join Hedman and play for the Lightning, it’s his Hockey, behind only John Carlson and Victor Hedman. (Neville E. Guard choice. Tampa Bay executives have discussed him, as well as several / USA Today) other free agents, in their offseason planning meetings, and will no doubt The Lightning have become a desirable destination spot for free agents, make a pitch if and when Karlsson opens up his John Tavares-like whether it was in retaining Stamkos three years ago or being part of sweepstakes during the free agency interview period, which opens June Tavares’ talks last summer. It was Tavares who is believed to have 23 at midnight. initiated his meeting with the Lightning, even if it was just to bring another “Who wouldn’t want one of the best players in the world?” Hedman candidate to the table. Tavares said he enjoyed his talk with then-GM asked. Steve Yzerman, current GM Julien BriseBois and coach Jon Cooper.

If Karlsson wants to break the bank and get Drew Doughty money ($11 “It certainly came down to Toronto and (the Islanders), but certainly million AAV), there’s no chance he’s coming to Tampa Bay. But if Tampa was right there,” Tavares told The Athletic in December. “They Karlsson is open to discussing the $8-9 million range, slightly above were very impressive. The results speak for themselves on the ice and Hedman’s $7.875 million, I’m told there’s a chance. why they’re such a successful hockey team. They play an exciting style; very explosive, dynamic team. So for sure, they were a team I The key is figuring out how important it is for Karlsson to get the most considered very seriously.” money in what’ll likely be his last big deal. What impressed Tavares, especially how Tampa Bay managed to build a Karlsson just wrapped up a run with the Sharks to the Western contender in the cap world, would likely sit well with Karlsson. Conference final, and is still assessing the extent of the groin injury he played through down the stretch; he doesn’t know if it’ll require surgery “I think it was really impressive just how clear they were about their vision but says it’s “nothing major.” Karlsson didn’t give any hints about his of their hockey team and what their identity was as an organization,” future in Thursday’s exit meetings in San Jose, per The Athletic’s Kevin Tavares said. “How they build and what they’re looking for. They were Kurz, saying he “hasn’t really thought” about what’s next. Of course, the very adamant about that. And how they continually were able to prove Sharks — who acquired him last summer in a deal with Ottawa — are that with success on the ice, really managing the cap and being able to still an option. draft and develop players. They were just very sure with what they were doing and were all on the same page — from Steve, Julien and Jon — in “If we would have been healthy, we would have had a legitimate chance meetings. You can see the continuity they have, the chemistry they have of winning the Cup,” Karlsson said Thursday. “It’s something that for the as a staff. It was very impressive.” first time in my career, I’ve experienced. I’ve enjoyed that.” How/why would the Lightning make Karlsson fit in the cap? Could Karlsson end up the final piece in the Lightning’s Cup puzzle? This is where the fun begins. Here are the key factors. Keep in mind, the Lightning didn’t have room for Tavares last summer, Does Karlsson want to play in Tampa Bay? yet still pursued him. Still, I remember asking Yzerman why he was going after Tavares considering the frustrations it would cause them financially. Karlsson will have many suitors this summer, including the Sharks. Yzerman looked at me as if I had two heads. There’s also the Rangers, who have another one of Karlsson’s good “We think he’s one of the best players in the league,” Yzerman said. friends, goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Karlsson, even while playing hurt during the season, was among the This won’t be the case of Karlsson picking Tampa Bay just because game’s elite. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Karlsson was fully healthy Hedman is here. It’s a big bonus, no doubt, their relationship making the and dialed in for six weeks this year. But San Jose color analyst Bret similar one-year deal that he signed last year for near the minimum of Hedican, a 17-year-veteran defenseman, said Karlsson made up for $700,000. being hurt with his elite processing skills – he could see plays before they happened. “He did some things I don’t think I’ve ever seen from a With CapFriendly’s “Armchair GM” tool, I tried to find a way to make it defenseman,” Hedican said. “For a 30-game stretch, he was the best work with a Karlsson deal (estimated at an $8.25 million AAV), dealing player in the league – at least (best) defenseman.” Callahan and Miller while promoting some prospects. I was still about $400,000 over the $83 million cap, and keep in mind, it’s a lot easier As the Lightning’s Fox Sports Sun analyst Brian Engblom once said, done on a website than in real life. “Erik Karlsson at 85 percent is probably better than 99 percent of the players at 100 percent. His anticipation, his hockey sense, is off the But this type of cap maneuvering has been BriseBois’ specialty for years charts. It’s as good as anybody, Sidney Crosby, I don’t care who. He as Yzerman’s right-hand man, the former attorney is great at finding a used to not care enough about defense but I think that’s gone.” way. Same goes for the Lightning’s new director of hockey operations Mathieu Darche, a former broker and NHLPA negotiator during the 2012- Karlsson ranked third among NHL defensemen this year in goals above 13 lockout. As Darche said, his motto is, “Show me a problem, we’ll find replacement (18.5), according to Evolving-Hockey, behind only John a solution.” Carlson and Hedman. Among skaters in the league, Karlsson was 11th. He was the best among the Sharks. What are the future ripple effects of Karlsson signing?

The biggest component of his GAR is his even-strength play. There, you That solves the problem for this season, of course, but there’s more cap can see how Karlsson drives offense, both from his shots from the point craziness coming. and ones he created. The chart below from HockeyViz shows the Sharks’ Two-time Vezina Trophy-finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy will be due a new 5-on-5 offense with Karlsson on the ice, with red showing shots above deal as a restricted free agent next summer, likely earning a big bump league average, blue shots below. from his $3.5 million AAV. Tampa Bay will likely have to make another Many of the shots from the point were off Karlsson’s stick. He ranked cap-related deal by next year’s trade deadline or draft to create some fourth in shot attempts at 5-on-5 with 309 despite playing just 53 regular room. season games; those shots also created 25 rebounds (fourth on the Then there’s the on-ice situation. team), which contributed to the high number of attempts closer to the net. Altogether, with Karlsson on the ice, the Sharks took 70.61 shot attempts How do you spread out all the minutes? per 60, which was the best on the team. Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev entered last season hoping to find a top- With Karlsson on the ice, the Sharks took a team-leading 59.22 percent four role, which he didn’t really get due to the emergence of Erik Cernak. of the shot share and had an expected goals of almost 59 percent. The Sergachev seemed to elevate his play down the stretch, though, filling in shots that did go the other way, didn’t include a ton of quality shots when on the top-pair with Hedman when Anton Stralman and Dan Girardi were Karlsson was on the ice during the regular season 5-on-5, with this hurt. Getting a chance to play for Team Russia in the World HockeyViz chart showing the above and below average mark (this time Championships this month no doubt gave him a boost. blue indicates being above average, and red is a higher number of shots If Karlsson comes in, especially if it’s long-term, will Sergachev be stuck against). in a third-pairing role, one with limited power play time? He’ll be due a According to CapFriendly, the Lightning have $8.576 million in cap space raise as an RFA after next season, which could get too pricey if there are left for next season, which could be barely enough to fit Point (if his already big deals for Hedman, McDonagh, Karlsson and Cernak due. contract is in the expected range). Would the Lightning, which were resistant in dealing Sergachev in a Karlsson trade last year, have to eventually move on from the former top- Where does the extra $10 million-plus needed to fit in Karlsson and the 10 pick? remainder of the roster come in? This is assuming the Lightning can get Karlsson to take a discount, likely pushing no state income taxes as You’d have to figure out how to parcel out enough ice time for three top- they’ve used with other players. For example, an $8.5 million annual pairing-caliber defensemen in Hedman, McDonagh and Karlsson. average in Tampa would net the same amount as $9.5 million in New Karlsson, on a loaded San Jose blueline with Brent Burns and Marc- York (state) and $10.5 million in San Jose, according to nationally- Edouard-Vlasic, averaged 24 minutes, 29 seconds per game, his lowest renowned sports tax guru Robert Raiola, the director of sports & total since his second NHL season. Hedman averaged 22:46 last entertainment at PKF O’Connor Davies. season, with McDonagh at 22:05. Perhaps spreading the minutes around, like Tampa Bay did last season, could help keep Karlsson Tampa Bay is expected to try to trade veteran winger Ryan Callahan, fresher and extend his effectiveness over a long-term deal. who carries a $5.8 million cap hit next year in the final season of his contract. We wrote this week on five potential trade partners/destinations Either way, it would be a good problem for Cooper & Co to have. for Callahan. There’s not much flexibility because of all the no-trade There will be plenty said and written about Karlsson’s destination over clauses, including ones for Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn. the next month or so leading up to the NHL Draft and interview window. There is, however, an opening if there’s a team interested in forward J.T. A lot has to happen for Karlsson to end up with Tampa Bay, with no Miller, whose modified no-trade protection (list of eight teams) doesn’t guarantees. kick in until July 1. Miller will carry a cap hit of $5.25 million the next four But one thing is for certain: If Karlsson wants to be paired with Hedman seasons but is a 20-goal, 50-point type forward who can play up and again, like they were when they were kids, a lot of it is up to him. down the lineup (and the power play). If there’s a way to move Callahan and Miller, getting futures in return, that would free up nearly $11 million. The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 The rest of the forward group could be filled in on the cheap. According to Evolving Wild’s model, restricted free agent Adam Erne’s next deal could be for $1,016,778. Cedric Paquette’s could be $1,463,096 and Danick Martel’s is at $769,044. That adds up to just under $3.25 million. There’s also Cory Conacher, who signed a one-year, one-way $700,000 deal for next season with the knowledge Tampa Bay could need help up front (on the cheaper side).

There are several prospects knocking on the door, all of whom are still on their entry-level deals with cap hits lower than $1 million (Mitchell Stephens, a potential replacement for Paquette, along with Alex Volkov and Alex-Barre Boulet). Carter Verhaeghe is an RFA, but shouldn’t cost much.

The Lightning re-signed defenseman Jan Rutta, who took a pay cut on a one-year, $1.3 million deal, which isn’t bad for a third-pairing, sixth- seventh defenseman. They could bring back UFA Cameron Gaunce on a 1145234 Toronto Maple Leafs

Marlies facing elimination after Game 5 loss Checkers in AHL Eastern final

By Joshua ClippertonThe Canadian Press

Fri., May 24, 2019

Michael Hutchinson made 20 saves in a losing cause for the Marlies, who have no margin for error in the AHL Eastern final after a 4-1 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night.

Dustin Tokarski made 40 saves as the Charlotte Checkers defeated the Toronto Marlies 4-1 on Friday to take a 3-2 lead in the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference final.

Steven Lorentz and Haydn Fleury, with goals two minutes apart early in the second period, and scored for Charlotte. Clark Bishop added another into an empty net.

Trevor Moore replied for Toronto. Michael Hutchinson stopped 20 shots for the defending champion Marlies, who won Game 4 on Thursday, 4-3 in overtime, to even the series.

The Checkers can secure a Calder Cup berth with a Game 6 victory on Sunday in Charlotte. Game 7, if necessary, would also be at the Bojangles Coliseum in North Carolina. The winner will meet the San Diego Gulls or the for the AHL title.

Tied 1-1 after a first period where the Marlies could have easily been up a goal or two, Lorentz tipped a low point shot from Stelio Mattheos through Hutchinson just 18 seconds into the second.

Charlotte, the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, went up by two just 2:14 later on a Toronto power play. The Checkers broke the other way on a rush that looked to be contained, but Patrick Brown found Fleury coming late and he beat Hutchinson on another shot through the five-hole to make it 3-1 on the visitors’ second short-handed goal.

Fleury dressed for nine of the Hurricanes’ 15 playoff games this spring, while Brown suited up for eight before being returned to the Checkers after Carolina’s four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the NHL’s Eastern Conference final.

Toronto Star LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145235 Toronto Maple Leafs concussions. It’s hard to see. It was sad and hard for us to see him step away from the team. But at the same time, he’s getting better.

“But we see Clowe around, and Snowden did a great job filling the role. Leafs’ Newfoundland farm team playing for ECHL championship He wasn’t expecting it, but he’s done a tremendous job. The whole organization (was here) to help us through it. We haven’t looked back.”

By Kevin McGran Toronto Star LOADED: 05.25.2019

Fri., May 24, 2019

The Newfoundland Growlers are playing for the ECHL championship in their first year in the league.

It’s fair to say the Newfoundland Growlers, the Maple Leafs’ second-most important farm team, have made quite the impression in St. John’s this season.

“It’s been awesome the way the city and the province has welcomed us,” said Scott Pooley, a 25-year-old right winger who led the team with 31 regular-season goals. “It’s a really special place and it’s honestly something you don’t get to experience unless you come here.

“To have the opportunity ... and break ground if you will in the city again with hockey, it’s been pretty special.”

Newfoundland’s hospitality is world famous, and a few Leafs have come to know it over the years. St. John’s was home to the Leafs’ top farm team from 1991 to 2005, until Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment moved the club to Toronto and rebranded it as the Marlies.

St. John’s has housed all kinds of other teams, including teams in the Quebec junior league and the American Hockey League. But this season, they got an ECHL expansion team, aligned with the Leafs again. And the Growlers are heading to the Kelly Cup championship, starting Saturday, against the at Mile One Centre in St. John’s.

“We’re all excited, champing at the bit here to get going,” Growlers head coach John Snowden said. “Getting to where we’ve gotten to in the first year, it’s a testament to the guys, to the process we started, and continuing to grow as men.

“We’ve grown through the playoffs into what kind of team we really are.”

The Growlers replaced Orlando as the Leafs’ ECHL team this season. Toronto is at the forefront of using its ECHL affiliate as a true place to develop talent. Borrowing baseball parlance, the Growlers are the Leafs’ Double-A team.

The ECHL’s history and image is more closely aligned to the movie Slap Shot, a place for guys who’ll never make the NHL, just as happy to drop the gloves for a fight as raise their arms after a goal. But the league is moving beyond that and the Leafs are developing not just players but coaches, trainers, scouts and front-office staff.

That means regular visits from the big boys. GM Kyle Dubas, director of player development Scott Pellerin, and his top assistant, Stephane Robidas, and others have been to Newfoundland regularly to talk to the team.

“It’s a developmental league,” Snowden said. “Toronto is making a conscientious effort to utilize what this league is. If you do it the right way, and stick with the process, you’re going to produce good players, and you’re going to produce good hockey teams.

“If you can find two or three players out of this team that can one day crack an NHL lineup, I think you’ve won.”

Who those players will be are anyone’s guess. Defenceman Timothy Liljegren played a game there this season, rehabbing from a high ankle sprain. Forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, drafted last summer, has been involved in the playoffs. It’s early days, though current Marlies like Mason Marchment and goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo developed with the Orlando Solar Bears.

The Growlers’ season was not without its challenges, notably a coaching change mid-season. Former NHLer Ryane Clowe, a Newfoundlander, was the original coach but he stepped aside as he dealt with concussion issues left over from his playing days. Snowden, an assistant since the team’s days in Orlando, took over.

“It was tough what Clowe was going through,” Pooley said. “Anyone that played hockey knows someone or has first-hand experience with 1145236 Toronto Maple Leafs goal, positioning his 6-foot-4 frame perfectly for a re-direct in the trenches. The next night, an assist as Toronto took a 3-0 lead, during his usual shift disturbing. But the Checkers stormed back late in a general Marlies facing elimination after Game 5 loss to Charlotte Marlies letdown. Game 3 was a face-saving late goal, Toronto’s only strike, amid time in the penalty box.

In Game 4, the larger members of the Checkers had enough — Lance Hornby Marchment had drilled leading scorer Andrew Poturalski through an open gate — and worked him over quite harshly. But the officials let most of Published:May 24, 2019 that go and Marchment was in the bin for his own nefarious trip when Updated:May 24, 2019 11:06 PM EDT Charlotte took a 2-1 lead during 4-on-4 play. Friday night saw more hits, a boarding call, but a few clear shots at the net he’d like back.

“I have to find that line, walk around the edge of it,” the son of Bryan 'PERFECT SITUATION FOR ME': Smith has no shortage of work as he Marchment said before Game 5. “I try my best, sometimes I get caught. officially begins his ... “I take a lot of beating and feel like I bring that on myself a lot. But if Sheldon Keefe gave a lot of rope to Rasmus Sandin this season. you’re giving it out, you have to take it.”

But as much as the rookie defenceman has impressed, he and the Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Babcock are taking notes in the Marlies are nearing the end of the line. Coliseum press box.

Not that a rough night by the Maple Leafs’ No. 1 pick was the only reason “Just play my game and whatever happens will happen,” Marchment said they lost 4-1 to Charlotte on Friday, out-played twice in three games at of what September brings. home this week, but his minus-three night didn’t help. FAMILY AFFAIR Toronto is now down 3-2 in the Eastern final heading back to Carolina. If Patrick Brown emits a confidence and swagger as captain of the “He’s 19 now, but in his 18-year-old season,” coach Keefe said. “We play Checkers, it’s probably in the genes. him 30 minutes tonight and that’s a lot to ask. Because of guys like him (contributing all season, along with another young Swede, Timothy His father, Doug, and Uncle Greg were both NHLers, Doug winning two Liljegren) that’s why we’re playing this time of year.” Stanley Cups with New Jersey. Patrick, a 26-year-old centre, was returned to the farm after playing eight playoffs games in Carolina, Sandin was party to Trevor Moore’s lone Toronto goal on the power play, bringing his total to 36 NHL appearances the past few years. but burned for two short-handed, the last man back and unable to corral a puck Nicholas Roy turned into the breakaway, tying goal. But Sandin “My dad definitely helped me as a kid, giving me those little teaching refused to get down on himself or his mates as they face elimination. things when I came home from practice,” Patrick said before adding a Game 5 short-handed assist. “I had a coach around 24/7 to run things by. “It’s a good learning experience for me and the young guys on our team. My uncle was also my coach at Boston College (all three Browns went You want to play hockey as far into the season as you can,” he said. there) and he gave me a whole different perspective as a defenceman. He really worked on my skating.” Lilijegren and Sandin have alternated between crisp first-pass breakouts, which will be key to their NHL careers, with some wilting in pressure Brown insists he’s fully committed to the Calder chase now that his situations and a couple of unforced errors in this series. When Charlotte’s exciting NHL spring run has ended. forecheck revs up, it also puts heat on Toronto’s forwards, with Moore held to two points in five games since coming back gangbusters from the “He’s our leader,” Charlotte coach Mike Vellucci said. “The best way I Leafs. explain it to our guys such as Rod Brind’Amour is that he’s our Jordan Staal, the guy who stirs the drink. We have 12 first or second-year guys Dmtryo Timashov’s fortunes also summed up Toronto’s trend in this and we need his experience on and off the ice. series. From an eight-game points streak to start the playoffs and a goal in Game 1, this was the fourth straight night the forward has been shut “He has hockey sense and you usually see that if you have a parent in out. Linemates Pierre Engvall and rookie Egor Korshkov have also been the NHL.” neutralized. ICE CHIPS GAME ON If the Marlies come back to take this series and face the Chicago Wolves, Michael Carcone probably couldn’t believe finding himself with a partial Toronto has home ice. Should San Diego win the West, the Marlies open breakaway in the first period, on the heels of a hat trick and overtime in California … Roy has short-handed goals in back to back games … winner the night before in Game 4. But he and Timashov were both Dubas was once more with Babcock in the Leafs suite on Friday. After stopped and, though Moore drew a penalty and scored on the ensuing heading to Charlotte for Games 6 and 7, Dubas will be at the NHL power play, Roy and Haydn Fleury both zinged the Marlies on special scouting combine in Buffalo late next week, interviewing potential draft teams as Charlotte built its lead. picks. With no first rounder, the Leafs are currently picking 53rd overall next month in Vancouver. “They’re the No. 1 penalty-killing team in the league for a reason,” Keefe said. “But faceoffs is where it starts for me. You lose it on your power Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.25.2019 play and you’re set up for failure.”

Both teams switched goalies with the back-to-back games, giving Michael Hutchinson his first start since he spent late March and April as Frederik Andersen’s backup. Dustin Tokarski, in the rink where he won the Calder Cup with Jon Cooper’s Norfolk Admirals seven years ago, made 40 saves.

“It looked like two very tired teams,” Keefe said. “But they played a really smart game and didn’t give us much. We played into their hands and didnt get the necessary offence.”

ON THE MARCH

Like Johnny Cash, Marlies mischief maker Mason Marchment walks the line.

It’s what makes the bellicose winger effective, though sometimes a detriment, The Leafs brass, grading him for next year’s camp, have seen both sides in the series against Charlotte. In Game 1, he had a deflection 1145237 Toronto Maple Leafs The belief that the Marlies had a year ago is in the room once more, and has been for some time.

“The first couple of rounds went our way (when the Marlies swept Mix of leadership and youth has guided Marlies deep into post-season Rochester and Cleveland), but this round has been back and forth,” LoVerde said. “You’re going to deal with adversity throughout a playoff run, whether it’s giving up a goal, whether it’s having a couple of shifts in Terry Koshan your own zone and this group has done a good job handling that.”

Published:May 24, 2019 Underestimating the Kasimir Kaskisuo factor in the Toronto Marlies’ playoff run this spring would be foolish. Updated:May 24, 2019 10:57 PM EDT Kaskisuo has shrugged off an uneven regular season, posting a .931

save percentage and a 2.04 goals-against average in 11 playoff games 'PERFECT SITUATION FOR ME': Smith has no shortage of work as he while going 9-2-0. officially begins his ... We might not suggest that Kaskisuo will take a legitimate run at the When the Toronto Marlies marched to their first Calder Cup last spring, backup spot with the Maple Leafs behind Frederik Andersen next they had a feeling it would happen. season, but his play has helped ease whatever concerns there might have been regarding goaltending depth in the organization. That belief took form and was cemented throughout the regular season, when the Marlies finished first overall in the American Hockey League “His development and his progression through the season sort of reflects with 112 points before beating the Texas Stars in the Cup final. our team — up and down and struggling early, but he just stuck with it and remained resilient and played his best when it’s the most difficult and A year later, there’s faith among the Marlies again, though it might have most important time of the year,” Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It taken a little longer to solidify. has been fun to watch that. It does correlate with what has happened with our team.” With a 4-1 loss against the Charlotte Checkers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final on Friday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum, the Marlies In 30 games during the regular season, Kaskisuo had a .896 save remain two wins away from booking another appearance in the final, percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average. against the winner of the Western Conference final between the San Diego Gulls and the Chicago Wolves. On Friday night, Kaskisuo watched as Michael Hutchinson got the start in the second game of the back-to-back. While there is a substantial hill to climb — the Marlies, down 3-2 in the best-of-seven, have to win Game 6, and then Game 7, in Charlotte on “Kas has come a long way,” Marlies defenceman Vince LoVerde said. “I Sunday and Tuesday respectively to advance — Toronto has put itself in can’t speak enough good things about him. He has a calm demeanour a position envied by the majority of AHL clubs after ending the regular and that resonates throughout the team.” season in third place in the North Division with 91 points. Toronto Sun LOADED: 05.25.2019 This playoff run comes after the Marlies didn’t clinch a playoff spot until

April 5, with just four games remaining in the regular season.

“We had a decent amount of guys coming back from the championship team last year and knew what it takes to win, and we also understood it was going to be a process with the new guys we were bringing in, how young we were,” veteran forward and alternate captain Chris Mueller said.

“Last year I was proud in the way that we believed we were the best team in the league and that was the sense of pride of going out and thinking we could win every game and proving we were the best. This year, it was more staying with the process and making everyone believe in themselves. We weren’t sure if we were going to get in the playoffs.”

A leadership group that includes Mueller, Colin Greening and Vincent LoVerde not only has served as a valuable sounding board for coach Sheldon Keefe but also has set an example for a club that got younger as the season progressed.

“They are the guys who are even-keel, guys who have good perspective, they are winners and they are guys I can talk to and I can bounce things off and they can share their thoughts with me and help me make decisions,” Keefe said. “How they interact with our young players, that is most important. You get all that, and we have a number of young players here who are significant parts of our team. That has just come together. As it turns out, it seems the younger our team has got, the better we have got.”

The list of youth Keefe has helped and has at his disposal to utilize in key situations includes defencemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren, the Maple Leafs’ past two first-round picks, and Jeremy Bracco, who leads the team in playoff scoring.

Crucial contributions also have come from players such as Michael Carcone, Mason Marchment and Adam Brooks, all of whom are in the early stages of their pro careers.

Soon-to-be Leafs Trevor Moore and Calle Rosen also have been vital, while Egor Korshkov and Jesper Lindgren are getting a taste of hockey in North America at its most intense (at least, in the AHL).

A difficult test awaits as the Marlies now must beat twice a Checkers club that had 110 points during the regular season, easily the most in the AHL. 1145238 Vegas Golden Knights

Sportsbooks face seven-figure loss if Blues win Stanley Cup

By Todd Dewey / Las Vegas Review-Journal

May 24, 2019 - 5:27 PM

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Most of the country probably has grown tired of watching Boston teams win championships.

But Las Vegas sportsbooks would love to see the Bruins defeat the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final, which starts Monday in Boston. It would spare them a collective loss of more than $1 million.

William Hill, South Point, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment sportsbooks each face mid-six figure liabilities on the Blues, who were 300-1 long shots in January to win the Cup.

“The liability is close to the Golden Knights last year,” The Mirage sportsbook director Jeff Stoneback said. “There’s no big bets, but lots at very big odds.”

South Point sportsbook director Chris Andrews said he took about $1,000 in wagers on St. Louis at 300-1 odds, and a Caesars bettor placed a $400 wager Jan. 15 to win $100,000 on the Blues at 250-1 odds.

“We definitely are Bruins fans,” Caesars risk manager Jeff Davis said.

St. Louis was the worst team in the NHL on Jan. 3 before turning its season around during an 11-game win streak from Jan. 23 to Feb. 19.

“They were dead last and made that magical run,” William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich said. “People were on them early in the run and stayed on them and kept betting them. Hats off to the bettors. They smelled that one pretty good.”

William Hill bettors placed the following futures wagers on the Blues: $50 at 300-1 to win $15,000 on Jan. 15; $100 at 200-1 to win $20,000 on Jan. 23; $2,000 at 40-1 to win $80,000, $2,000 at 35-1 to win $70,000 on Feb. 15; $2,000 at 25-1 to win $50,000 on Feb. 16; and $2,000 at 18-1 to win $36,000 on Feb. 17.

Boston’s longest futures odds at William Hill were 15-1 in September.

The Bruins are minus 150 series favorites over the Blues, who are plus 130.

“It should be a really low-scoring series and a long series,” Davis said. “I would assume it will go six or seven games, and many of the games will be 2-1. There’s not going to be a lot of space out there. It’s going to be really physical.

“I think the difference will be if the Blues can stay out of the penalty box. The Bruins’ power play this postseason has been out of this world. If they can stay out of the box, the price on the series seems like a good bet on the Blues.”

St. Louis has won its past three playoff games and six of eight. Boston has won seven straight playoff games and 10 of 12.

“It’s going to be a competitive series. Both teams are playing their best hockey,” Bogdanovich said. “I can’t wait to watch it. We’ve all turned into hockey fans because of the Golden Knights.”

The Westgate sportsbook also is rooting for the Bruins.

“The Bruins look awesome now, but who knows. They’re going to have an 11-day layoff, and you never know how that affects teams,” Westgate sportsbook manager Ed Salmons said. “It’s hockey. Anything can happen. The referee could make a stupid call. That’s the way game goes.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145239 Winnipeg Jets

German defenceman signed by Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have signed defensive prospect Leon Gawanke to an NHL contract.

The German-born player inked a three-year entry-level deal with an annual salary of US$810,000.

Gawanke, who turns 20 next week, was drafted by Winnipeg in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL draft. He played the last three seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

This season, he was third among QMJHL defencemen with 57 points (17G, 40A) in 62 games.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 05.25.2019 1145240 Winnipeg Jets It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the AAV for Marner’s deal wind up in the $10 million-plus range, so that leaves the Maple Leafs in a bit of a bind.

Kadri remains an important player, but with so many high wage earners – Jets should target Kadri: Talented, feisty centre could fill prominent role and needing to add talent and depth to the blue line – Dubas probably can’t afford the luxury of paying his third-line centre north of $4 million.

Ken Wiebe Not when new deals are also required for Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.

The Maple Leafs will be looking for some budget contracts to backfill Imagine a scenario where the Winnipeg Jets could add a second-line spots on the roster, which is part of the reason they signed former Jets centre and get tougher to play against at the same time. forward Nic Petan to a three-year extension.

You can be sure Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff would love to They’d love to keep Kadri, but it will take some major roster surgery, to kill two birds with one proverbial stone in either a trade or free agency borrow a phrase used by Cheveldayoff. this summer. While it’s true the Jets have to get deals of their own locked up with The New York Islanders took Brock Nelson off the market on Thursday, fellow restricted free agent forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor and inking the graduate of the University of North Dakota program to a six- sort out what they’re going to do with RFA D-man Jacob Trouba, they’ve year deal worth $36 million. got a bit more flexibility and a bit more cap room than the Maple Leafs right now. Nelson is a guy who would have been on the radar for a lot of teams had he reached unrestricted free agency on July 1, so this was an important Plus, Kadri would immediately move into the second-line centre role with pre-emptive strike from the Islanders. the Jets and represent excellent value at $4.5 million for three more seasons. Kevin Hayes, who the Jets acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers, is a guy who is going to garner a lot of interest on the open But what would it take to pry Kadri out of Toronto? market but he’s probably looking for a contract that’s similar to Nelson (and would represent a modest raise from the $5.175 million he made The Maple Leafs aren’t going to give him away and the deal could be a last season). tad complicated.

Retaining Hayes would make sense on a number of levels, but would But what about a package that involved Jack Roslovic? require some additional moves to clear cap space. He’s shown flashes with the Jets, producing nine goals and 24 points in It’s not impossible, but at this stage it appears unlikely, so it’s time to 77 games last season. explore a possible Plan B. Roslovic wouldn’t likely to be riding shotgun with his old U.S. National Let’s present the case for acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs pivot Nazem junior team linemate Matthews, but he could work himself into regular Kadri, who would most definitely fit the criteria. work on the third line and eventually grow into a top-six role.

Kadri is a hard-nosed player with plenty of skill. The other thing to consider here would be Trouba, especially if the defenceman would consider signing an extension. Although he’s coming off a bit of a down season by his standards, he still recorded 16 goals (including five game-winners) and 44 points in 73 While it’s been long speculated that Trouba would prefer to play in the games – numbers that would have left him sixth on the Jets in scoring. United States, Toronto isn’t that far from his hometown of Detroit.

Kadri is a two-time 30-goal scorer and has 161 goals and 357 points in This isn’t to suggest a one-for-one deal for Trouba or Roslovic is or would 561 NHL games. be on the table, but they would be players that a trade could be built around. He’s produced offence at a consistent level and he’s also a major pain in the behind to play against. Deals of this nature are extremely difficult to make, but the prospect of Kadri potentially joining the Jets provides plenty of food for thought in the Occasionally he’s stepped over the line and he ended the 2019 Stanley days leading up to the NHL Draft. Cup playoffs on the sidelines after getting suspended for cross-checking Jake DeBrusk of the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of their opening-round Nazem Kadri file series. Position: Centre

Kadri was also suspended during the 2018 playoffs and is up to five Shoots: Left suspensions since 2013, so it’s possible the Maple Leafs patience could be wearing a bit thin. Age: 28

Having said that, when a guy plays on the edge, the occasional Height: 6-feet suspension is an occupational hazard. Weight: 192 pounds It’s not like Kadri is a goon, nor is he considered a disruptive teammate. Chosen in the first round, seventh overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in He would fill an important role for the Jets and help provide a spark to a the 2009 NHL Draft team that will be working to put the disappointment of a first-round exit behind them. Contract status: $4.5 million AAV for the next three seasons

Kadri has already been part of an organization that underwent a rebuild 2018-19 stats: 73 GP, 16 G, 28 A, 44 P, 43 PIM, 184 SOG, 5 GWG, and is trying to take the next step and get over the hump come playoff 16:11 TOI time. Career stats: 561 GP, 161 G, 196 A, 357 P, 387 PIM, 1,401 SOG, 21 If all of these things are true, why in the world would the Maple Leafs GWG, 16:51 TOI consider a deal for Kadri? Winnipeg Sun LOADED 05.25.2019 Well, first and foremost, they’re in a similar position to the Jets when it comes to the salary cap.

After signing Auston Matthews to an extension that carries an average annual value of $12.5 million and William Nylander to a deal worth roughly $7 million annually last season, GM Kyle Dubas must find a number that both he and Mitch Marner are comfortable with. 1145241 Vancouver Canucks Sven Baertschi

Brandon Sutter

Canucks Under the Microscope: Olli Juolevi Travis Green

Alex Biega

Patrick Johnston

Quinn Hughes

The young defenceman was supposed to make his debut in 2018-19. Nikolay Goldobin How long will his damaged knee delay his debut in 2019-20? Olli Juolevi Chris Tanev Age: 21 Alex Edler Position: Defenceman Troy Stecher Career stats: Yet to make NHL debut. Ben Hutton Contract status: Just finished first year of three-year entry-level deal. Per- season cap hit is $863,333. Whatever the injury was, it meant the harsh word “bust” started getting thrown around, quite unfairly. How 2018-19 went: Good then bad. Juolevi has done nothing to suggest he’s not going to be a solid NHLer. Drafted fifth overall in 2016, there were higher-upside, higher-risk Yes, he’s had some injury issues over the past year, but when he’s defencemen on the board, but the Canucks opted for the relatively safe played he’s shown big improvements. pick in Juolevi. He’s going to be an NHLer, we were told. Sure, Quinn Hughes leapfrogged over him in terms of hype and upside. And yes, drafted one spot after him was Matthew Tkachuk, already an But Juolevi appears on track to be a fine second-pairing defenceman. agitating scoring star and alternate captain in Calgary. If all goes well, he’ll be raring to go in training camp and will be given a Since then, three blue-liners drafted after Juolevi — Mikhail Sergachev, short stretch in Utica to find his game again before finally, yes, finally, Charlie McAvoy and Jakob Chychrun — have all blossomed into solid making his NHL debut. NHLers. Juolevi is still waiting to play his first NHL game. Greatest strength: Distribution skills. Situational awareness. He’s a smart The Canucks elected to take the slow-burn development plan with the player who makes smart decisions. solidly built Finn. A post-draft year back in major junior with the proved to be a year of mostly treading water. In hindsight, he Greatest weakness: Strength, especially in handling more physically probably could have used a dose of men’s hockey, rather than facing mature forwards. That issue should disappear from his game in short plenty of minutes against 16- and 17-year-olds. order.

After that somewhat lost year, the Canucks figured he would do well Is he trade bait? Yes? There shouldn’t be too many untouchables in playing a season in Finnish pro hockey with TPS Turku. He did well Benning’s book. That said, Juolevi should fill a role on the Canucks’ blue- there, slowly but surely earning more ice time despite being just 19 and line for years to come. Seems crazy to just ship him out — unless there’s playing in a league filled with players a decade older than him. a big name coming back the other way.

That set him up nicely for a jump back to North America this past season. The big question: How long will it be before he makes the big dance?

Last summer he had a minor back operation, which set his summer Vancouver Province: LOADED: 05.25.2019 preparation behind. With the Canucks choosing to return with the same group of defencemen to start this past season — despite their woes in 2017-18 — Juolevi never really had a chance to start the year with the big club. And he didn’t blow anyone’s socks off in training camp.

He started the year with the AHL Utica Comets and after some early struggles — mostly due to his later start on conditioning — he was showing signs of being the two-way presence GM Jim Benning believes he can be in the NHL.

That was good. The plan was to call him up in the second half of the season, to set him up on a path to success. And then, of course, it all went wrong.

Juolevi injured his right knee while being hit into the boards in a late November game. Then came a confusing timeline as the injury was initially described as minor, then likely keeping him out for a month and then suddenly becoming an issue that required surgery and would keep him out six months.

Meniscus tear was all Benning would say. Most meniscus tears don’t require that long of a recovery. So was there also ligament damage? Was it an unusual type of meniscus tear, perhaps one known as a bucket-handle tear, one that would fit the timeline provided?

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

It has been over six weeks since the Vancouver Canucks began their summer holidays, nine points shy of a wild-card berth into the NHL playoffs. Today we continue our microscopic examination of the team’s roster:

Markus Granlund

Luke Schenn 1145242 Vancouver Canucks flak because they had tougher matchups, but we can witness in the graph below that this is again an exaggerated factor that doesn’t excuse the bottom six’s paltry results.

How the Canucks’ outdated roster construction is undermining their The further right a player’s bar is in the graph above, the tougher their young stars matchups were last season. Brandon Sutter took the brunt of the tough defensive assignments when healthy, but since he was out of commission for all but 26 games, the Canucks played roughly two-thirds By Harman Dayal May 24, 2019 43 of their season with Horvat, Pettersson, Gaudette and Beagle as their centres.

Under this setup, you can see that Horvat got first-line equivalent The discussion heading into this offseason for the Vancouver Canucks matchups and Pettersson second-line competition; neither line in the top has predominantly revolved around filling two needs: finding a legitimate six was sheltered. In contrast, Beagle’s line faced league-average top-six winger or two for Bo Horvat and restructuring the back end. competition while Gaudette was heavily sheltered. While these areas deserve full attention, it’s critical to highlight the other Thanks to Puck IQ, we can take our analysis a step further and look at dangerously lagging component of the roster, one that crippled the each player’s performance against different competition levels. If one Canucks to a far greater extent than many realized last season — the were to believe that tough matchups are what’s holding back the bottom bottom six. six, we’d expect these players to do just fine against non-elite The chart above depicts each team’s 5-on-5 goal differential when one of competition, which as you’ll see below wasn’t the case at all. their top two centres (according to 5-on-5 TOI) wasn’t on the ice, a proxy Most of the Canucks’ bottom six got outshot (CF%), outchanced (DFF%) for bottom-six minutes. and outscored by significant margins when playing against non-elite The poster child of poor depth undermining high-end talent has typically competition (you can read about what constitutes “elite” competition been the Edmonton Oilers, and for good reason — their bottom six was here). miles behind every other team in mustering just 1.12 goals per 60 In essence, these results against weaker competition coupled with the minutes at 5-on-5, although because they allowed fewer than two goals zone start adjustments indicate that deployment can’t justify how poorly per 60, they weren’t among the five worst teams. Vancouver’s bottom six performed. What may surprise is you is just how far behind Vancouver lags. When What went wrong with the bottom six? the Canucks’ top two centres in Horvat and Elias Pettersson weren’t on the ice, Vancouver’s bottom six was outscored by just shy of an entire The biggest issue with the Canucks’ bottom six last year was they lacked goal for every 60 minutes they played, the worst rate in the league. a viable third-line centre — a huge vacancy when considering the value Sutter provided the team two years ago. Offensively, it isn’t a shock that their two checking lines were bottom-five in the league for goals-for per 60. But the real issue is that they In 2017-18, Sutter was deployed like an elite, shutdown centre while compounded their scoring woes by allowing 2.71 goals-against per 60; being saddled with inferior wingers (similar to Horvat this year). Once you only Ottawa, Florida, Philadelphia and New Jersey leaked goals at a adjusted the shot metrics for his difficult deployment, Sutter came away worse rate. with a neutral impact on shot and expected goal share. Sutter’s offensive production wasn’t on par with the stars who’ve historically had similar Of course, goal differentials are highly volatile in small samples and can deployment, but not only is that production unfair to ask of a third-line thus be skewed by luck. To combat this, we can also look at the centre, his two-way profile was as good as anyone could have hoped expected goal differential rates to see if the Canucks’ bottom six still considering how he was thrown to the wolves. reflects poorly once you focus on the quality of the chances going both ways independent of percentage/luck driven outcomes. However, Sutter was a shell of his former self this year.

Things appear just as grim with the Canucks’ bottom six finishing 28th in GF= goals, xG= expected goals, CF= shots, graphic courtesy Evolving- the league for expected goal differential, too. Hockey.com

This raises major concerns when you consider just how much salary sits Evolving Hockey’s Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus (RAPM) examines a either scratched or in Vancouver’s bottom six. Between Brandon Sutter, player’s isolated impact on the team’s ability to control shots (CF), quality Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson, Tim Schaller, Ryan Spooner and Markus chances (xG) and actual goals (GF) after accounting for deployment Granlund the Canucks have nearly $20-million committed to six players factors such as zone starts, teammate quality, opponents and more. who combined for below replacement level value (-0.9) according to Evolving Hockey’s WAR model. The data above shows that Sutter’s offensive impact on shots and expected goals was below par in both seasons, but there’s clear And it’s why the construction philosophy of the team’s bottom six should evidence that his defensive impact eroded by a substantial margin last be questioned. As teams around the league place an ever-increasing year. Tack on virtually non-existent offensive production to a vastly emphasis on skill and scoring throughout the lineup, the Canucks are diminished two-way profile and it was a nightmare 2018-19 season for stubborn in being one of the few teams to employ two defence-focused, Sutter even when healthy. checking lines. When Sutter was out of the lineup, the Canucks didn’t get any better two- A natural rebuttal to these results will no doubt be centred around way results in the 3C spot from a heavily sheltered Gaudette, something deployment, specifically, as it pertains to quality of competition and zone JD Burke covered extensively in another piece for The Athletic. starts. There’s a perception that the bottom six took the tough defensive matchups to free up the top two lines, but once you quantify and account This isn’t to say the 22-year-old Gaudette is incapable of ever becoming for some of these factors, you’ll realize that the narrative is not only a good third-line centre — just that he’s a work in progress at this exaggerated but not nearly as impactful on the final results as you might juncture and can’t be counted on as the surefire 3C if the Canucks have believe, either. serious playoff aspirations for next season.

Zone starts definitely impact play, but its effects are exaggerated The fourth line didn’t fare much better themselves controlling just 40.7 because the majority of shifts begin on the fly. Beagle, for instance, was percent of the shots, 40.5 percent of the scoring chances and 37.4 one of the league leaders in defensive zone start percentage and yet percent of the goals with Beagle on the ice, but as we’ll dive into later in started in his own zone on just 23.1 percent of his total shifts. this piece, it could prove to be an easier fix. Beagle’s contract is still a head scratcher, but with more complementary wingers (which is another The fortunate thing about shot and expected goal metrics is that they can issue we’ll tackle), he can be just fine as the fourth-line centre. be adjusted for zone starts. There’s a slight improvement after this adjustment for most of the Canucks’ bottom six, but as I hinted at before, Naturally, the question shifts to why the bottom six was dominated. To it’s not nearly as important as the outside narrative tends to portray it. me, this goes back to the construction philosophy of the personnel. The likes of Motte, Beagle, Sutter and Granlund endear themselves to The next contextual factor to consider is matchups. There’s a large management and the coaching staff because they’re “safe” in that they contingent of people who believe the third and fourth lines deserve less have strong defensive skills and make fewer blatant gaffes that cost goals. This much can’t be denied when examining some of the data I Beagle, especially has a tendency to float high and avoid open pockets tracked from last season. underneath in breakout situations. Combine this with wingers streaking out of the zone and the neutral zone tends to get clogged up with the Sutter, Beagle and Motte are among the forward leaders in breaking defencemen having little support on breakouts such as in the clip below. plays up in the defensive zone and blocking passes to the slot. This would naturally give them a positive reputation as checking players, but Such struggles are reflected when examining the individual zone exit the issue is hockey isn’t just about playing responsibly away from the numbers on the Canucks with the bottom six showing an inability to puck when you’re hemmed in the defensive zone. Just like an offensive assist in creating many possession exits. player needs to demonstrate reasonable defensive acumen to not be deemed a liability, checking players need to have the requisite puck skills This, of course, is a problem because not only are controlled exits to make basic plays. conducive for controlled entries into the offensive zone but more importantly, they help prevent shots, chances and goals against, I don’t think anyone articulates this point better than Oilers assistant evidenced in how almost a quarter of all 5-on-5 goals begin with a failed coach Glen Gulutzan did at a coaching conference last October. exit.

“Would you rather play 60 minutes in your own zone with the toughest, Put together, the bottom six’s persistent chip-and-chase playstyle made it best defender you have? Or 10 minutes in the D-zone and the rest in the hard to generate offence, while their zone exit issues meant they spent offensive zone? Defencemen need to make plays.” more time without the puck defending. Moving forward, they need a lot of help transitionally and that usually means an injection of skill. Gulutzan speaks about defencemen in this case, but it’s a universal philosophy that can be applied to forwards as well: you need to be able What are the solutions? to make plays so that you’re not always stuck defending in your own zone. After all, it’s pretty hard to get scored on if you have puck Heading into next season, the Canucks are left with a bottom six that possession in the offensive zone. struggles to score and allows more than its fair share coming back the other way. The third-line centre role is the biggest question mark with To that specific extent, transitional play stands out as a major weakness Gaudette still unproven and Sutter looking to rebound from a career- of the Canucks and their bottom six in particular. worst season. It’s hard to be confident in either player as the 3C of a team looking to make the playoffs. Graphic courtesy Corey Sznajder In my mind, the Canucks need a scoring third-line and that would almost The viz above from Corey Sznajder depicts zone entry proficiency. The definitely require bringing in a new centre. I’ll save the players I’d like to higher you are on the chart the more efficient you are at entering the see Vancouver realistically target in this role for a future article, but they’ll offensive zone with possession (controlled entry) and the further to the preferably want a transitionally strong playmaker who can set up many of right you are the more likely you are to follow the controlled entry up with the team’s shoot-first players like Jake Virtanen and Josh Leivo. a passing play. Someone like pending UFA Marcus Johansson who has experience Controlled entries are important because they’re roughly twice as likely to playing up the middle and checks each of the transitionally sound and generate shots and goals while passing plays off the rush are even better pass-first boxes could be a fit for the right price. with respect to creating offence. We can verify the importance of Should the Canucks find a player like Johansson to buttress the team’s generating these plays by running a linear regression that shows a strong centre depth, Sutter should be put on the trade block to shed salary and team-level relationship between passes off the rush and goals for. help clear roster space.

Regression is statistically significant as the P-value is less than 0.05, On the wings, adding legitimate top-six winger(s) (which we’ll also cover zone entry data courtesy Corey Sznajder in a future piece) would allow some of Virtanen, Leivo, Pearson, Roussel If controlled entries into the offensive zone and passes off the rush show and Baertschi to slip into third-line scoring roles with what’s hopefully a correlation with goals, it’s very concerning that the Canucks are dead-last more offensive-minded centre. I’d love to have Gaudette centre the fourth in both categories. And from the sample of games I’ve tracked, we can line, but with Beagle still in the fray, I wouldn’t be opposed to shifting identify the least effective Canucks forwards at creating offence in Gaudette to the wing. transition. It’s no surprise that most of them play in the bottom six. Gaudette has seemed to struggle at the pro level most when defending This tells us that the Canucks’ bottom six lacked the skill to hold the puck down low in his own zone, a responsibility of which he’d be free if he and make plays in transition and instead leaned on a lot of old-school, moved to the wing. dump-and-chase hockey. The end result is a team that dumps and Meanwhile, on the fourth line, Motte shouldn’t be a regular winger for chases more than any other in the league despite owning a below- Beagle. I admire the former’s hustle and energy, but you need to pair average forecheck, not exactly a recipe for puck possession and Beagle with a winger that can support his transition and play-driving offensive success. deficiencies and Motte has a decisively negative impact on the team’s As I outlined in an October article, zone exits also presented obstacles ability to control shots and scoring chances. for the Canucks. I hypothesized based on video at the time that the Viz courtesy hockeyviz.com Canucks’ forwards weren’t providing enough support on breakouts and now that we have data from Sznajder, we can see that is indeed the Interestingly, someone who clicked well with Beagle was Tim Schaller. case. Perhaps it’d change over a larger sample, but in 163 minutes together, the duo really flourished, controlling 50 percent of shots and 55.6 percent Graphic by Corey Sznajder of the expected goals. Without Schaller, Beagle was essentially With this graph, we want to focus on how high each team ranks as that barricaded in the defensive zone. represents the percentage of the team’s exits that came as a result of One theory I have that could explain these results relates to zone exits. completed passes. Given that the Canucks are one of the lowest teams Interestingly, Schaller was one of the few Canucks forwards to in creating passing exits, we can infer that they were more reliant on consistently assist in creating clean breakouts, owning the second- breakouts without the assistance of forwards. This explains much of the highest controlled exit percentage on the Canucks in my tracking sample. Canucks’ struggles at breaking out the puck because Sznajder’s tracking indicates that zone exits assisted by forwards result in clean breakouts It remains to be seen if Schaller can sustain this level of success with 49 percent of the time compared to just 35 percent on unassisted exits. Beagle, but it’s certainly worth a shot heading into next season.

In other words, the more often your forwards can drop deep, the better Conclusion your breakouts tend to be, though in the Canucks’ case, their forwards didn’t provide enough support. We covered a lot of ground here, so let’s recap what we learned.

Centres are the most important forwards in providing exit support The Canucks’ bottom six was outscored at a greater rate than any other because they can take advantage of middle pockets and play underneath NHL team’s bottom six. the forecheck. However, Sutter and Beagle struggle in this capacity. Deployment doesn’t justify the bottom six’s performance. The results are still very poor after accounting for zone starts. Moreover, tough matchups for the bottom six are an exaggerated narrative given that Beagle’s line played league-average competition, while Gaudette had really sheltered minutes. Not only that, but when you focus only on the minutes against non-elite competition, the bottom six was still dominated by shots, chances and goals.

The biggest issue for the Canucks’ bottom six was the third-line centre role. After a strong 2017-18 showing, Sutter took a huge step back and when he was out of the lineup, Gaudette was forced into a role he simply wasn’t ready for. The 3C role is a huge question mark heading into next season.

Vancouver’s bottom six was dominated in large part because it’s very weak transitionally. The Canucks as a whole had the lowest controlled entry percentage (meaning they dump and chased more than any other team). Couple that with the bottom six forwards’ inability to create passing plays off the rush and it’s no wonder they couldn’t create any offence. Defensively, the forwards didn’t provide nearly enough support on breakouts, which no doubt influenced the porous exit and thus possession results.

Moving forward, the Canucks need to move away from the archaic strategy of having two checking lines. Their best chance at changing this is finding a third-line centre who can address the team’s depth scoring and transitional woes.

Motte’s been a nice story on the fourth line, but he’s contributing to many of that line’s play-driving issues and shouldn’t stay as a regular. In his stead, it’d be interesting to see if Schaller can continue his breakout support and sustain his strong play with Beagle.

Improving the top-six forward group and the back end will surely be at the top of the Canucks’ offseason to-do list, but they also need much better play from their depth. If the bottom six issues aren’t fixed, we could be looking at another season where Vancouver’s bright, young stars see excellent performances not translate to more wins.

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145243 Websites probably tops out as a bottom-six forward with New York, but his agitating presence helped the Rangers in intangible ways – and his real shooting percentage is probably going to fall somewhere between the The Athletic / Duhatschek Notebook: A clearer picture of the trade 24.3 percent he registered in 44 games with the Jets and the 10.0 deadline hits and misses percent he managed in 19 games with the Rangers. And, of course, there is that niggling matter of the Jets having to surrender a first-round pick for the second year in a row. On a draft-and-development team, that’s a steep price to pay. By Eric Duhatschek May 24, 2019 50 Hit: Boston

Unlike their opponents in the final, the Bruins actually made two trades in The NHL trade deadline is one of the most curious animals in all of sport the run-up to the deadline, both of which have made a difference – – months of hype leading up to it; a flurry of action on the day it actually though they weren’t exactly overnight sensations. The first deal came on occurs; and an immediate rush to judgment over winners and losers. Feb. 20 – or five days before the actual deadline day, when they Then … usually nothing. acquired Charlie Coyle in the Minnesota fire sale for Ryan Donato, plus a fifth-round pick. Coyle-for-Donato was a hockey deal as opposed to a Eventually, the players who changed teams settle in and figure out where pure trade-deadline deal. The Bruins assumed they would get more in to live in their new cities and how to play in a new system – and make all the here-and-now from the 27-year-old Coyle than the 23-year-old the necessary adjustments, on and off the ice. Then the playoffs start Donato, a first-year pro who played 32 games in Boston this season but and it’s a six-week free-for-all until we get to this point in the postseason also spent time in the minors. Donato was actually a better regular- – the Stanley Cup final, which opens on Monday in Boston. The Bruins season fit for the Wild (16 points in 22 games) than Coyle was for Boston face the St. Louis Blues for the title and the 29 teams on the sidelines (six points in 21 game), but Coyle has played important minutes (15:29 come to terms with why they’re not there. For some, the level of per night) and chipped in timely scoring (12 points in 17 games, just one disappointment is far greater because of the assets they frittered away at behind Patrice Bergeron) in the postseason. In short, this is the outcome the deadline, hoping to make it this far, but coming up short. both sides probably imagined. Donato looks as if he could be a fixture on the revamped Minnesota roster and the Bruins got a versatile forward in Only now – some three months after the fact – can you genuinely make a Coyle who can play up and down the lineup and is contributing semi-accurate, glance-in-the-rearview-mirror assessment of who actually secondary scoring. Their other acquisition, Marcus Johansson, was a made the right calls at the trade deadline. more traditional rental – and came at the cost of a second-round pick in But instead of winners and losers, let’s call them hits and misses – and 2019 plus a fourth-rounder in 2020. Injuries always seem to be an issue review how it all played out. for Johansson, who managed just 10 regular-season appearances – and three points. Johansson’s usage hasn’t changed much in the postseason Hit: St. Louis (13:21 per night now, 13:24 then), but he’s been a productive top-nine forward. Oddly, eight of his nine points have come at even strength, For all the people cheering as their teams made aggressive moves at the when the expectation was that he might be a key member of the second deadline, you need to start with the sobering reality that St. Louis made power-play unit. But if the Bruins go on to win the Stanley Cup, the only one minor deal, adding Michael Del Zotto from the Anaheim Ducks Johansson acquisition will be heralded as the 2019 version of the for the Blues’ sixth-round pick in the 2019 Draft. The Blues were the Washington Capitals adding Michal Kempny a year ago – someone who quintessential example of a team that stood pat at the deadline, even if provided timely and necessary minutes to supplement and support the that’s a course of action that not everyone necessarily embraces, though play of the team’s difference makers. it seems to be working out OK for general manager Doug Armstrong. The two changes the Blues made to turn their season around were internal Miss: Columbus moves – promoting goaltender Jordan Binnington from the minors and elevating assistant coach Craig Berube to the top job after parting ways I want to add an asterisk here because the Blue Jackets surrendered with Mike Yeo. In the playoffs, the single biggest difference is how Jaden multiple future assets in order to add Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam Schwartz has salvaged a so-so 36-point regular season by vaulting into McQuaid and Keith Kinkaid in a massive go-for-it push that ended the No. 3 spot on the NHL playoff scoring charts. Schwartz already has succeeding on a couple of levels, but not the one that really counted. more goals in the postseason (12) than he did in the regular season (11). On the plus side, the Blue Jackets did make the playoffs (one point in Sometimes, that’s what happens if you’re patient with players who their favor) and they did record one of the greatest first-round upsets of couldn’t find their strides from October to April. Suddenly, they get it all time, knocking off the 128-point Tampa Bay Lightning (a second point going in the playoffs and make everyone forget those pesky regular- in their favor). But then, they stumbled out in the second round against season struggles. Del Zotto, meanwhile, has yet to make a playoff the Bruins and now – like any wild holiday shopper, on a dizzying appearance – fulfilling the role he was acquired for, a break-in-case-of- spending spree – the bills are coming due. I was fine with the Blue emergency insurance policy. Jackets pushing hard to win as much as possible before pending Miss: Winnipeg unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin walked away and I was equally OK with what it cost to land Duchene – two The script might be completely flipped here if the opening-round series middling prospects, a 2019 first-rounder plus a conditional 2020 first- between the Blues and Jets produced a different outcome. But it didn’t. rounder if he ends up signing in Columbus. If you assess Duchene’s The Jets finished limped to the regular season finish line (a 4-5-1 record production alone, he provided decent regular-season returns (12 points in their final 10 games) and earned home-ice advantage against the in 23 games) and off-the-charts results in the postseason (10 points in 10 Blues only because they owned the first tie-breaker (regulation and games, second only to Panarin in the postseason). Where you’d want a overtime wins: 45 for Winnipeg, 42 for St. Louis). But as they were two do-over is with the other three acquisitions they made in addition to 99-point teams, it was always going to be a coin-flip of a series. Last Duchene. Duchene provided value; Dzingel, McQuaid and Kinkaid really year, the Jets earned a trip to the Western Conference final, in part did not. Dzingel cost them two second-rounders; McQuaid a fourth and a because of the important contributions made by trade-deadline seventh; and Kinkaid a fifth. That’s five picks – granted spread as far out acquisition Paul Stastny. Therefore, it was reasonable for GM Kevin as 2022 in Kinkaid’s case. But still too many for what they returned. Cheveldayoff to try and conjure up a similar sort of move this year. He Dzingel played nine of 10 playoff games – he was scratched in the other added Kevin Hayes from the New York Rangers for Brendan Lemieux, a and contributed just a single point. Neither McQuaid nor Kinkaid played 2019 first-rounder and a conditional pick in 2022. But where Stastny fit in in the playoffs. It never made sense for the Blue Jackets to sell either immediately as the Jets’ No. 2 centre, Hayes struggled. With Winnipeg, Bobrovsky or Panarin at the deadline, even though they were walking Stastny averaged 17:02 of ice time in 19 regular-season games and away, because that’s franchise suicide. The Columbus market, this year positively shone in the postseason – 15 points in 17 games, plus 17:24 at this time, needed to hear a positive message. That’s not really worthy quality minutes per night. Ideally, the Jets wanted Hayes to slide in just of any second-guessing. If they’d stopped at Duchene, you probably as seamlessly in that second-line center slot, but eventually, they had to could have assessed this in some sort of middle-ground ‘just right’ move him up and down the lineup, trying to find a better fit. In the end, category. It was overplaying their hand to add on the fringes that make it they never really did. Hayes averaged 15:17 in 20 regular-season games a miss. for the Jets, but his total dipped to 11:59 per night in the playoffs. As the Jets exited in six games, Hayes contributed three points. Lemieux Hit: Vegas This one is tricky because the Golden Knights exited in the first round playoffs have unfolded in their merry unpredictable way, how do you – as this year — as opposed to qualifying for the final a year ago — after someone who has actually pulled the trigger on a deadline deal – adding Mark Stone, the premier trade-deadline piece, from Ottawa. evaluate if they are legitimate successes? Officially, the deal was Stone and Tobias Lindberg for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg plus a 2020 second-rounder belonging to the Dallas Or to put it another way, do you need to actually win the Stanley Cup to Stars that the Golden Knights had acquired in the Marc Methot deal. But justify an expensive trade-deadline acquisition? Is a trip to the final the Golden Knights made the trade with the Senators contingent upon enough? Or, depending upon your franchise’s health and stability, is getting Stone signed to a contract extension – and so now they have a getting to final four sufficient – as both Carolina and San Jose did this 27-year-old, 6-foot-3, 205-pound right winger locked up for the next eight spring? years. You watch how these playoffs have unfolded and it calls to mind According to former NHL general manager Craig Button, many teams something Sharks’ coach Peter DeBoer said at the podium the night San telegraph what they internally believe is a reasonable postseason Jose exited – that for all the talk of small and speedy players getting a outcome by the conditions they attach to a trade deadline deal. chance to thrive in the “new” NHL, the two teams playing for the Cup are the hardest, heaviest teams in the postseason. And that’s why Stone, For example, when Dallas acquired Mats Zuccarello from the New York going forward, is going to be so valuable to Vegas. Strip the two Rangers, they had two conditions attached to the trade. Their second- Lindbergs out of the deal and the acquisition cost for Golden Knights GM rounder in 2019 would have been upgraded to a first had the Stars had George McPhee is effectively a mid-first rounder (Brannstrom, chosen made it to the conference final (they came up one win short). In addition, 15th overall in 2018), plus a second. Two pieces, in other words. When it the third-rounder in 2020 can still be upgraded to a first if Zuccarello became clear Stone wasn’t going to sign a contract extension, the chatter signs with Dallas in the offseason. In short, the Stars were prepared to around Ottawa was the Senators would reap four key pieces in any deal pay an additional premium to the Rangers for Zuccarello if they were for him because Stone was, after all, the No. 1 player on everybody’s playing in the final four. trade board. But they didn’t get that. Not even close. Brannstrom will be a Similarly, when San Jose acquired Gus Nyquist from the Red Wings, the helpful piece in the Senators’ rebuild, but if you weigh what Columbus Sharks surrendered a firm 2019 second-rounder to get his rights, but also paid for Dzingel compared to what the Golden Knights surrendered for agreed that the 2020 third-rounder in the deal would be upgraded to a Stone, you’d have to give Vegas high marks here. And we haven’t even second if they advanced to the Cup final (or Nyquist eventually signs an mentioned the 12 points in seven playoff games that Stone produced – or extension with them). Like Dallas, San Jose came up just short of the unfortunate way the Golden Knights exited the opening round. meeting the first criterion that would have upgraded the conditional pick. Miss: Nashville Predators But their criterion was different and higher – a trip to the Stanley Cup final. The Preds had the lowest regular-season point total of any of the four division champions (100), so the fact that they were knocked out in the “The manager, in making those deals, is telling you what he feels is a win opening round probably wasn’t as big a surprise as say, Tampa (128), by what he includes as an upgrade, isn’t he?” Button said. “For Doug Calgary (107) or Washington (104) exiting at the same time. Moreover, Wilson in San Jose, he’s saying,’ this becomes an upgraded pick if we Nashville’s strategy – of trying to win while their core players in goal and get to the final,’ so he’s saying, ‘this is what this trade means to me.’” on defence were still relatively in their primes -made some rational Some will argue that anything short of the Stanley Cup will leave a team sense. In all, the Preds made three moves near or at the deadline. First, with buyers’ remorse after the fact, but according to Button, you don’t they gave up a second-rounder to New Jersey for Brian Boyle, a rental. necessarily have to win a championship to deem a trade worthy. Button They then swapped Ryan Hartman and a conditional 2020 pick to the cites the example of a deal Dallas made when he was the Stars’ director Flyers in exchange for Wayne Simmonds, another rental; and finally sent of player personnel that paid important dividends down the road. the improving Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for the more established Mikael Granlund. “In 1998, when we traded for Brian Skrudland and Mike Keane, our goal was to have them help us move more deeply in the playoffs,” Button said. Yikes, nothing really panned out there, did it? “We’d lost the year before to Edmonton and we felt that our younger Granlund had one goal and five points in 16 regular-season games and group needed some veteran experience. So, we knew when we made then contributed to the Predators’ collective postseason scoring outage, that trade that we were looking for immediate help – and we got it. We with just two points in six games. If Simmonds had been healthy, that went to the conference final that year – so that was a win for us.” might have produced a different outcome. But he generated just three The next year, those two players helped Dallas get even further – and regular-season points in 17 games and then was shut out in the two win the Stanley Cup. playoff games in which he played. Boyle managed to get into three postseason contests after going 5-0-5 in 26 regular-season games. Nashville has only missed the playoffs three times in the past 15 years, Granlund, 27, and Fiala, 22, are both under contract, so that could still be but in one of those seasons – 2012-13 – general manager David Poile a salvageable move. Hartman hadn’t been much of a factor for the made one of the more lopsided trade deadline deals of the past decade, Predators after he cost them a first-rounder at the 2018 deadline, so this sending Martin Erat to the Washington Capitals in exchange for prospect grade is partly based on the erosion of assets over a 15-month span. Filip Forsberg, who has evolved into a first-line NHL forward. But according to Poile, one of the deals he made for a rental – Peter INCOMPLETE: Florida Forsberg, whom he acquired from Philadelphia back in February of 2007 Other than Ottawa, the Panthers were the purest sellers this time around, – made a huge difference, even though on paper, you might not see it. if you roll the calendar back to Feb. 1 when they completed the big deal Peter Forsberg played a total of 17 regular-season games for Nashville with Pittsburgh that sent the Penguins Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. (scoring 15 points) and five more in the playoffs (four points), but his In return, Florida received Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan, plus three impact – on the team and on the market – were felt long after he moved future draft choices (a 2019 second and two 2019 fourths). As expected, on, according to Poile. the Panthers soon flipped the pending UFA Brassard to Colorado at the “Peter Forsberg was clearly near the end of his career, but that was a deadline day for a third rounder in 2020. Thus far, the net for Florida GM fantastic deal for the couple of months it lasted because it put our Dale Tallon in the two deals is four picks, a bottom-six forward in franchise on the map – and increased the interest in our community and Sheahan and the most important commodity of all, the cap space needed the popularity of hockey in Nashville,” Poile said. “We paid a premium for to bid on Bobrovsky, Panarin and other free agents going forward. The him and we didn’t win anything, but I really felt it got our franchise going Panthers have made the playoffs just twice in the past 18 years. But if in the right direction. Florida can turn that cap space into contributing NHLers, maybe they can do in 2020 what Carolina managed this past year – end a long “So, there are many ways of evaluating what constitutes a trade-deadline postseason drought and get their fan-base jazzed about hockey again. In success. The bottom line, when you really get down to it is, of the 16 theory, these moves could be the next step in the process. Trending teams that made the playoffs, almost everybody made some kind of towards a win if they can sign the right and/or draft the right players. trade-deadline deal and your analysis will come down to, only two or three teams benefited from it. But that’s the way it usually goes. Say what? Everybody else loses to some degree.” Last week, as I was polling current and former GMs about what may or As a player development guy, Button thinks that Florida’s Tallon may may not constitute a blockbuster trade in the modern NHL, I also put a emerge, long-term, as the biggest winner of all because of the draft- second question to a couple of them: Once the dust settles, and the choice harvest he reaped. “There isn’t a scout or GM on the planet that won’t tell you the same thing – you have more chances with more picks than you do with less,” Button said. “Even though we all know what the probabilities are, of finding a player after the first round, the bottom line is, if you have more picks, the greater are your chances of getting a hit.”

The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 1145244 Websites killed 11 of 13 San Jose power plays, and against a Boston team that has been a wrecking crew with the man advantage, scoring seven times with the man advantage in its four-game sweep of Carolina, that will be The Athletic / The Athletic’s 2019 Stanley Cup final predictions key. On an individual level, the Blues’ depth has been a critical factor in their trip to the final, but star sniper Vladimir Tarasenko is cooking at the appropriate time as he had three goals and five assists in the six-game series against the Sharks. By Sarah Goldstein May 24, 2019 99 JEREMY RUTHERFORD: Since the start of the playoffs, Boston was my

pick for the Stanley Cup and Rask was my Conn Smythe pick, and both And then there were two. proved to be good choices. Of the Blues’ four opponents, the Bruins will certainly be the toughest because they’ve got the depth and the The Stanley Cup final comes down to two teams that clicked at the goaltender to match the Blues. But through three rounds, the Blues’ perfect time. strengths (forechecking, shutdown defense and goaltending) got even stronger, and their resiliency (after hand pass game, following home The Blues and Bruins faced off twice in the regular season, splittng the losses, slumping stars stepping up) is even more impressive. Blues in 6. games, but none of that matters right now anyway. SARA CIVIAN: From my perspective, as someone who covered the Will the long wait hurt the Bruins? Will Jordan Binnington fold under the Bruins last season and just covered their Eastern Conference final series pressure? The Athletic’s NHL staff made its picks for the series and the with the Hurricanes, this Bruins team is just unstoppable. The first thing I Conn Smythe, plus explained what will be the biggest factor in the wrote after their second-round exit last year was that they were going to outcome of the series. win the Cup this season. Try to think of one thing they lack – you really PIERRE LEBRUN: The modern day NHL meets some throwback hockey can’t. Tuukka Rask has been lights out, and he’s in opponents’ heads in a very compelling championship. Oh, there’s plenty of speed and skill enough that they’re missing on wide open nets and ringing cross bars to underline today’s game but both these clubs also thew in some Big when he does make a rare mistake. They have power play dominance Boy physicality along the way to give us a spicy matchup for the final. (Torey Krug is the absolute poster boy of what a power play quarterback The Blues ran the Sharks out of the rink with a bullying forecheck. The should be), the right mix of rookies and veteran core players, a hungry Blue Jackets tried to overmatch the Bruins physically in the second round forecheck, and seem to be in the perfect mental headspace. Though the but found out that wasn’t going to work. Both teams get bottom-six Hurricanes seemed fatigued physically and mentally in the East final, the contributions. Tuukka Rask has the edge in goal, but rookie Jordan Bruins put on a systematic clinic. Rod Brind’Amour said, “thanks for Binnington has outduelled every goalie on the way here. The Blues are showing us how it’s done” to Patrice Bergeron in the handshake line, and road demons. Maybe a small thing, but I think the spacing between that tells you all you need to know. I am significantly less familiar with the rounds favors the Blues, five days off versus 10 for Boston. I’d be worried Blues, but their resiliency in the face of so much this postseason cannot about the Bruins getting out of synch and playing catch-up early in the be slept on, either. series. Going to be a close one. Blues in 6. KEVIN KURZ: Although I’m picking the Bruins to win the series, goals are FLUTO SHINZAWA: Goaltending is fickle. Given the volatility of the not going to be easy for them to come by if St. Louis plays the same way position, it would not be extraordinary for Tuukka Rask to come back to it did against the Sharks. Jordan Binnington was solid, yes, but the earth during the Stanley Cup final. A .942 all-situations save percentage Sharks just couldn’t get to the front of the net to find any loose pucks is not sustainable over long periods of time. But even if Rask regresses because St. Louis defensemen were constantly clearing them out of against the Blues, the Bruins are playing well enough in front of their harm’s way. Binnington made saves when he had to, but he wasn’t goalie to limit the damage. According to Corsica Hockey, Rask’s .946 5- tested nearly enough. Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, Joe Pavelski and on-5 save percentage is only .016 higher than his .930 5-on-5 expected Evander Kane — all 30-goal scorers in the regular season who aren’t save percentage. Curtis McElhinney, Marc-Andre Fleury and Mike Smith afraid to go to those dirty areas — combined for just four goals in the six- all had larger postseason deltas between actual and expected. The game series (Hertl and Pavelski missed Game 6). Combined with an Bruins, in other words, are playing almost as well defensively as Rask is aggressive forecheck that prevented the Sharks from breaking out stopping pucks. They are denying entries at their blue line. They are cleanly and not getting many chances off the rush, and that’s why you collapsing in the slot to influence high-danger chances. They have killed have a team in the Blues that allowed just a single even strength goal in 86.3 percent of their penalties. Most important: The defense is healthy. the final three games. The Bruins are going to have to get contributions So bring on goaltending regression. The Bruins are insulated against it. from their depth players, because that’s where the Blues really had an The Bruins are playing so well defensively that they can afford Rask to advantage over the Sharks. St. Louis’ fourth line was arguably its best be human. line at even strength in the Western Conference final, while the Sharks’ third and fourth lines didn’t do much of anything other than Joe JOE MCDONALD: Biggest factor in the series: Since both teams are Thornton’s three-point effort in Game 3. mirror Images of one another with depth, physicality, talent and goaltending, it’s likely every game in the Cup final will be a low-scoring THE PANEL: Arpon Basu, Arthur Staple, Charlie O’Connor, Chris Kuc, affair. That means it will come down to the goalies. Whichever team wins, Chris Stevenson, Corey Masisak, Craig Custance, Craig Morgan, Daniel both the Bruins’ Tuukka Rask and the Blues’ Jordan Binnington are both Nugent-Bowman, Dom Luszczyszyn, Eric Duhatschek, Eric Stephens, strong candidates for the Conn Smythe Trophy. The veteran Rask is Fluto Shinzawa, James Mirtle, Jeremy Rutherford, Joe Smith, Joe playing his best hockey of his postseason career, while the rookie McDonald, Joe Yerdon, John Vogl, Jonas Siegel, Jonathan Willis, Josh Binnington is as green as could be but showing zero signs of being Cooper, Josh Hargreaves, Josh Yohe, Justin Bourne, Katie Strang, Kevin rattled on the big stage. Overall, I believe the 10-day layoff for the Bruins Kurz, Lisa Dillman , Mark Lazerus, Max Bultman, Michael Russo, Murat will help the veteran group. However, I’m curious how the break will Ates, Pierre LeBrun, Rob Rossi, Sara Civian, Scott Burnside, Scott affect Rask. The Blues and Binnington have five days off before Game 1, Cruickshank, Scott Powers, Scott Wheeler, Sean Fitz-Gerald, Sean which could be just enough time for the rookie to think about the Gordon, Sean McIndoe and Sean Shapiro. challenge in front of him. Rask’s strength is his poise and calm The Athletic LOADED: 05.25.2019 demeanor, so when everything is said and done, the Bruins should have the edge in goaltending, and therefore win the series in seven games. Bruins in 7.

SCOTT BURNSIDE: First off, I’m on a roll having gone 2-for-2 in the conference final segment of the playoff tournament, leaving behind an ugly 1-11 record through the first two rounds. I like the Blues to make it a perfect 3-for-3 when it really matters with an upset of the favored Bruins. And here are the key factors for making this so. First, the Blues power play has come to life at the most critical part of the playoffs. In winning three straight to erase 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits against San Jose in the Western Conference final, they went 4-for-14 and were 5-for-21 overall against the Sharks after a miserable 2-for-22 performance against the Stars in the second round. On the other side of the ledger, the Blues 1145245 Websites selling. But sometimes you can tease out little hints from the statistics that show how much a team is willing to change on the fly, attack in different and creative ways, and be effective while doing so. Those are Sportsnet.ca / Truth By Numbers: How the Bruins and Blues got to the kinds of things I think of when someone says the players have bought Stanley Cup Final in — and the Blues certainly have.

BUY OR SELL

Andrew Berkshire May 24, 2019, 11:18 AM • The two players who led the league in 5-on-5 scoring chances in the playoffs won’t be playing in the final: Timo Meier was miles ahead of everyone with 63, Tomas Hertl was next with 48. Meier also led the league in high danger chances with 21. The Sharks might be heading The Stanley Cup Final is set, with the Boston Bruins strutting their way in into a transition phase, but the younger players they have are pretty through a four-game sweep over the Carolina Hurricanes, and the St. incredible. Louis Blues rallying around a missed hand pass, after which they completely dominated the San Jose Sharks to earn their first trip to the • The top three players in completed passes to the slot are also not final since 1970. playing in the final, and shockingly two of them are defencemen. Erik Karlsson (27), Logan Couture (25), and Brent Burns (24) completed the Like we’ve done for the previous rounds, let’s see how the flow of play most, which might have been a bit of the issue for San Jose. Passes went for the Bruins and Blues in their respective conference final series. from up high to down low aren’t often as dangerous as cross-ice passes. Strangely enough, the Bruins and the Blues advanced in very similar The top even strength slot passer in the final? David Krejci with 21. manners. Both teams lost the overall Corsi battle at both 5-on-5 and in all • The main area the Blues are going to have to key on to beat the Bruins situations, but heavily dominated shot quality, at least in terms of will be shutting things down right in front of Jordan Binnington. Twenty- location. one of Boston’s 32 goals at 5-on-5 in the playoffs came from the high The Bruins’ power play has been absolutely lethal in these playoffs, danger area, and in all situations it’s 31 of 57. They heavily rely on clicking on 34 per cent of their opportunities and accounting for just under getting in tight, with 54 per cent of their goals coming from there. The 30 per cent of their goals. But in the conference final they were actually Blues meanwhile, have scored just 44 per cent of their goals from the better at 5-on-5 than they were on special teams — the Hurricanes were inner slot, demonstrating a bit more shooting ability from further out. seemingly just cursed whenever it wasn’t five-a-side hockey. • Tuukka Rask leads the playoffs in inner slot save percentage at 87.9 At even strength, the Bruins were content to let the Hurricanes control per cent, nearly 10 per cent above expectations, which really floated the the puck most of the game (though not to an extreme amount). But they Bruins early in the playoffs when they weren’t their usual stalwart did a great job of protecting the front of their own net and at the other defensive selves. But now they’re playing like they usually do, and Rask end, they absolutely bombarded Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney with hasn’t cooled down. That’s downright scary. quality chances when they had their own offensive possessions. • Binnington by contrast has been exactly average from the inner slot, The Bruins weren’t just positionally sound and excellent at getting stopping 78.1 per cent of the high danger chances he faces, which is dangerous shots on net, they also controlled passes into the slot at an another reason why the Blues will want to focus on defending the inner extreme rate in the series, both defensively by blocking those pass slot to the extreme. They’re at a 10 per cent disadvantage in save attempts by the Hurricanes and offensively by finding ways to beat the percentage there. Can they hold off the Bruins’ aggressive forwards Canes’ defensive schemes and find their forwards in the middle of the enough? It should be interesting to watch. ice. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.25.2019 Of the total passes each team attempted in the offensive zone in the conference final, none was even close to the Bruins in how often they tended to go for the slot. They also boasted the highest success rate on those passes by a wide margin.

Surprisingly, the Hurricanes were able to out-cycle the Bruins pretty significantly and were more dangerous off the rush at 5-on-5, but neither area translated for them and the rush chance differential reversed when you include all situations.

The Bruins’ extreme focus on passes into the slot and generating high danger chances also allowed them to get seven one-timers from the inner slot or high danger area in just four games. That’s a rare occurrence and has an extremely high expected conversion rate — this was a key to their quick strike offence.

Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the country’s most beloved game.

Interestingly, the other team that was really good at creating one timers from the high danger area in the conference final was St. Louis. And while they didn’t exhibit the pass control the Bruins did, they made the most of those chances with a bevy of aggressive, net crashing shooters.

Like the Bruins, the Blues were outworked off the cycle in their previous series, and at even strength they were outplayed in terms of dangerous passes as well. But contrary to what we saw in Round 2 and what they did in the regular season, St. Louis outplayed the Sharks off the rush.

That’s an interesting thing for the Blues because they’ve struggled to defend the rush most of the year and the Sharks were a dangerous team in that area. St. Louis saw themselves being beat on the cycle, struggling to generate the chances they were used to, and adapted. It’s yet another sign of resilience for a team that has personified the word this season.

When we analyze teams using data usually the goal is to cut through some of the clichés of ‘who wanted it more?’ or how much a team believes in themselves, or has bought into what the coaching staff is 1145246 Websites The Rouyn-Noranda centre scored a pair of third period goals to help his team break the game open.

After a great individual effort by teammate Peter Abbandonato, Bibeau Sportsnet.ca / Noah Dobson's brilliance gives Huskies chance at received a pass from him in the slot and put it past Guelph goaltender Memorial Cup title Anthony Popovich.

Bibeau would net his fourth of the tournament later in the period after a Ryan McKenna | @RyanBMcKenna May 24, 2019, 11:35 PM nice cycle down low. The puck came back out into the slot again where Bibeau made no mistake.

The Mercier, Que., native has slowly increased his point and goal totals HALIFAX — With their season on the line, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies head during his three full seasons in the QMJHL. coach Mario Pouliot didn’t shy away from using star defenceman Noah Dobson. He finished the regular season with 28 goals in 63 games and added another 14 goals and 15 assists in the post-season. In all, Pouliot estimates the 19-year-old played 36 minutes on Friday night as Rouyn-Noranda defeated the 6-4 to advance to It ended up being a rough night in net for Popovich, who allowed several the Memorial Cup championship game. big rebounds and appeared shaky on a few Huskies goals.

“So, that’s good,” Pouliot quipped. Ratcliffe does it all

It’s the second time in the last four years that the Huskies will play for the Ratcliffe’s strong tournament continued with two goals and strong overall Memorial Cup but they are still searching for the first national title in play during the semifinal. franchise history. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect sniped a shot past goaltender Samuel Rouyn-Noranda will face the host in Sunday’s final, Harvey during a 2-on-1 opportunity to tie the game 1-1 in the first period. the same team they defeated for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Less than a minute later, Ratcliffe won a draw which led to Jack Hanley League’s President Cup. launching a wrist shot from the point which found its way into the net for a In Friday’s semifinal, it felt as though Dobson never left the ice and was 2-1 advantage. involved in every play, whether it was blocking shots or getting the puck Ratcliffe also used his physical presence to give Huskies defenders loose in the corner. headaches all night long and create turnovers.

“I just kind of go-go-go. I’m in the moment, I don’t really get tired out Suzuki clutch there,” Dobson said. “I mean, these are the games you want to play in as a hockey player so you have a little extra adrenaline this time of the Nick Suzuki has been absolutely clutch for Guelph in elimination games year.” this season.

Dobson finished the game with one assist, a plus-two rating and four Entering Friday’s semifinal, the Montreal Canadiens prospect had 17 shots on goal. He also broke free and was hooked on a breakaway which points in do-or-die matchups. prompted a penalty shot but was unsuccessful on the attempt. Despite the loss Friday, he kept the points streak going against the “I didn’t really want to take it,” he said. “I’m not really good at shootouts, I Huskies with two assists. think I’m 0-for-6 in my career. I was pretty tired going down the ice. I had a long shift.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.25.2019

Dobson, who has been met with boos every time he touches the puck at , talked before the game about how he has picked up his physical play this season and it certainly showed in the semifinal.

His coach said at this point in the season he’s not looking at ice time despite managing it during the regular season and playoffs.

“In the semifinal, do or die, it’s no choice,” Pouliot said. “We have to use him.”

Here are some other takeaways from the Huskies’s semifinal win:

Streak ends

They say all good things must come to an end and that includes the Guelph Storm’s streak of surviving in elimination games.

Guelph entered Friday’s semifinal having won seven-straight games when its season had been on the line. But despite a frantic fight in the final minute of the game, the Storm couldn’t make it eight.

“I felt that the feeling was really strong heading on the ice in the third period,” said Guelph head coach George Burnett, whose team had beat the Huskies in the round robin.

The champions had their best players out on the ice for the final few minutes and got a goal as captain Isaac Ratcliffe made it a 5-4 game.

But a big block by Rouyn-Noranda captain Rafael Harvey-Pinard with 10 seconds left led to an empty-net goal by him that sealed the deal.

“To be here today and to not win it and know that you’ll never get the chance, it hurts,” said Storm defenceman Sean Durzi.

“It hurts so much.”

Bibeau’s big third

Felix Bibeau picked the right time to break out for the Huskies. 1145247 Websites “A two year deal you’re not setting yourself up for life in case of a devastating injury,” said an agent.

“At five years you walk into unrestricted free agency for another big Sportsnet.ca / How much can the Calgary Flames afford to pay Tkachuk? payday wherever you choose. Going back to 2004 there’s no justification for an assumption the cap is going flat. There’s been a shifting of allocation of dollars so the middle class is getting squeezed. But if you Eric Francis | @EricFrancis May 24, 2019, 1:39 PM are a star, elite player, like Tkachuk, the money will be there.”

It’s here now, but how much can the Flames afford to pay Tkachuk?

The Calgary Flames will almost certainly have to trade one of their Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and veterans to sign Matthew Tkachuk. fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the country’s most beloved game. An informal survey of some of the league’s top agents regarding Tkachuk’s worth as a restricted free agent confirms the 21-year-old Treliving has proven to be a shrewd negotiator on deals like these, power forward will come at a cost that far exceeds his projected annual locking up Johnny Gaudreau (six years, $6.75 million annually) and Sean salary. Monahan (seven years, $6.3 million) to deals already considered to be below market. That price tag could very well include T.J. Brodie or Michael Frolik. However, the cards are stacked against him this time, and it’s likely to get Over the next few months GM Brad Treliving needs to ink Tkachuk, two worse with every high-profile RFA signing to come. starting goalies, Sam Bennett, Andrew Mangiapane and several depth players, which may also include unrestricted free agent Garnet Last year the Flames’ goalie tandem cost them just over $5 million Hathaway. dollars as David Rittich made $800,000 and Mike Smith cost $4.26 million. The Coyotes paid an additional $1.4 million of Smith’s salary. He has just $14.5 million to do so, which is problematic given Tkachuk is poised to shatter Jarome Iginla’s franchise record cap hit of $7 million. Rittich is in for a significant raise and a tandem-mate needs to be signed, realistically expected to combine for $5 to 6 million of the Flames’ $14.5 “If five years is what Tkachuk wants he’s on the right track,” said one of million pie remaining. the league’s most prominent agents. Bennett, who is arbitration-eligible, needs at least a 10 per cent raise on “I would even argue four years, but the team won’t want that. I would use his $1.95 million to qualify him. (Oilers forward Leon) Draisaitl as my floor to start negotiations (at $8.5 million annually). Tkachuk falls somewhere between $8.5 million and $10 Potential top-six forward Mangiapane is also due for a raise above his million. I wouldn’t put him above (Auston) Matthews.” $705,000 cap hit.

Matthews and fellow Leaf William Nylander upped the restricted free The numbers don’t add up if Tkachuk is due for at least a $9 million cap agent market last year with deals at $11.6 million and $6.9 million hit, meaning talk of trading Brodie ($4.6 million for one more year) or respectively. Frolik ($4.3 million for one more year) will likely heat up as we approach the draft June 21. Draisaitl’s eight-year swindle moved the needle a year earlier with a deal that infuriated GMs around the league and sets Tkachuk up brilliantly Moving either one before their contract expires makes sense on a considering he had 21 more goals and 37 more points than the Oilers number of different levels. star after their first three years in the league. Brodie is coveted league-wide for his skating ability and offensive-upside The ante will no doubt be upped again this summer by a crop of and will have high value outside of his longtime home where his superstar RFAs that includes Mitchell Marner, Brayden Point, Mikko defensive lapses and a bevy of youngsters have made him expendable. Rantanen, Patrik Laine, Timo Meier, Kyle Connor, Sebastian Aho, William Karlsson, Brock Boeser and Tkachuk. Frolik was not a favorite of first-year coach Bill Peters, who would love to move the 31-year-old checking line winger out of the top six. Each signing has the potential to set new bars for the others, driving Tkachuk’s worth closer to that unfathomable $10 million mark. Most importantly, swapping either could give the team breathing room to land the backup goalie they are comfortable with, while also keeping While some in that class have more goals or assists than Tkachuk, none Bennett and maybe even Hathaway. possess the bevy of intangibles the Tkachuk brings as one of the game’s top young leaders, not to mention one of its preeminent agitators. Signing Tkachuk and Mangiapane aren’t options – they are mandatory.

He has a history of being a big-game player whose 34 goals as a So, yes, the Flames can afford to pay Tkachuk upwards of $9 million, but member of the Flames shut-down line (read: second unit) demonstrates it will force Treliving to do what he loves most – put on his trading cap. he may one day be able to challenge for the 50-goal mark his father Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.25.2019 Keith surpassed twice.

His net-front presence certainly makes that possible.

He already wears an “A” on his jersey and is already being talked about as a future captain.

However, it’s hard to believe he’ll be around that long as the U.S.-born winger is almost certain to sign a five-year deal mirroring that of Matthews in terms of length.

“If I’m the team I want seven or eight years because I’m willing to overpay for the first few years, but the market will catch up to the deal,” said one agent, citing the lessons learned from contracts like Erik Karlsson’s.

“If I was repping (Tkachuk) I’d go four or five years. Look at Karlsson, arguably the top defenceman in the league. He locked in at $6.5 million (for seven years). Now he’s banged up as a UFA, and out of his prime, and he’s lost millions he’ll never get back.”

Thoughts of Tkachuk opting for a two-year pact made several agents scoff. 1145248 Websites If he comes to a short-term contract (three years or less) with a new team with an AAV at or even below $5 million, Varlamov could wind up being a steal.

Sportsnet.ca / 12 NHL goalies potentially available through trade or free Robin Lehner agency This is going to be a fascinating contract to watch play out. His last contract with the Sabres was for $4 million, but Lehner had to take a one- Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen May 24, 2019, 1:20 PM year show-me deal worth $1.5 million with the Islanders and finished as a Vezina finalist. It was the best performance of his career, finishing with a .930 save percentage, and while playing behind one of the toughest defensive teams in the league helped, it’s worth pointing out that Lehner The 2018-19 season was the year of the tandem netminder. has been good elsewhere before. The trend of having a 1A/1B situation in net opposed to a 65-game He posted a .920 save percentage starting 59 games for Buffalo in 2016- starter has been building for some time now and the merits of this 17. In 2013-14, he played 36 games behind Craig Anderson in Ottawa strategy have been a defining aspect of the season. Two of the Vezina and finished at .913. But the Sabres chose not to even qualify him last Trophy finalists started less than 47 games, as did both goalies in the summer after a down season so throwing term and Vezina-calibre money Stanley Cup Final. at him now comes with high risk. Of the 12 goalies who started at least 55 times this season, five missed Not the ending we wanted. I’m so proud of this group. This the playoffs and only two got past the first round. organization has a bright future! From the bottom of my heart me and my The value of load management is working its way into the NHL through family want to thank the islanders fans for the great support. Never the goaltending position. So even if you already have one of the elite gonna forget this year of my life. Good luck too Carolina. Great team. netminders in the game, if you don’t have a backup capable of playing 35 — Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) May 4, 2019 games without being a liability, you should be in the goalie market this off-season. Petr Mrazek/Curtis McElhinney

We’ve already looked at seven teams in particular that need at least one, We have to imagine the Hurricanes will sign at least one of these goalies and maybe two, goalies before next season. But who are the goalies to an extension and perhaps McElhinney is the one. After all, he’s turning those teams could target? That’s our topic for today. 36 and has been a career backup so no one will be rushing to overpay him and put him in a spot where he’d see a heavier workload. Here we look at a few netminders who potentially could be had, either on the free agent market or via trade. But some team may be open to taking a shot on Mrazek, who signed a one-year, $1.5-million deal with Carolina after imploding in Detroit and Ryan Dixon and Rory Boylen go deep on pucks with a mix of facts and then Philadelphia. At one point not too long ago, Mrazek was a hot shot fun, leaning on a varied group of hockey voices to give their take on the young netminder who looked like he may become elite at the position, country’s most beloved game. and he’s still just 27 so his potential is still enticing. Still, even though FREE AGENTS much was made about his success in Carolina, it’s worth remembering he had a sub-.900 save percentage into December and really only took Sergei Bobrovsky off in February. Injuries are a factor here too, so while Mrazek has probably earned a raise and a couple more years on his next contract, The biggest, and most expensive, UFA goalie on the market this you don’t want to have to play him much more than half of your regular summer. Bobrovsky is one of the eight goalies who started more than 60 season games. games this season and he’s done that three years in a row now. We all know what he is. Bobrovsky’s regular season track record is impeccable “We’re under the feeling that we would like to have both of them back,” with two Vezina Trophies, and he finally came through with a good Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said after his team’s playoff performance. The Panthers are most closely linked with elimination. “Saying that, they both have the right to be unrestricted free Bobrovsky, but the Islanders, Flames and Hurricanes could get in on him, agents. We will begin shortly talking to their representation, but our goal too. Unlike a lot of guys on this list, Bobrovsky isn’t going somewhere to would be to bring them both back if we could.” fill a tandem need – he’s going to continue to be a workhorse. Cam Talbot That means he’ll cost the most. Only two goalies make more than the $7.425 million Bobrovsky made on his last deal and he’ll be 31 by the It’s next to impossible to pick out who the next Lehner, Binnington or time next season starts. As tandems become more important and teams Mrazek will be, but someone is going to surprise us in the crease next look to save money anywhere they can on the roster, it’s fair to wonder season. Given Talbot is just two years removed from a 73-game, .919 how wise it is to dole out a raise and significant term for Goalie Bob. save percentage campaign, perhaps he could be the one? Especially with the surprise performances we saw at the position this The best place for him may be to just stay in Philadelphia, where he year. could backup good friend Carter Hart. But, really, as a cheap short-term With Sergei Bobrovsky expected to leave #CBJ as an unrestricted option, Talbot has a decent enough track record to suspect he may be free agent, Merzlikins, 25, has a shot to be the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 guy able to over-perform expectations behind a better defensive team. The as soon as 2019-20. He’s currently playing in the World Championships reason he went to Edmonton in the first place is that he outgrew his with Latvia. backup position with the New York Rangers, where he played 21 and 36 games in 2013-14 and 2014-15, finishing .941 and .926 save — Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 15, 2019 percentages.

Semyon Varlamov Since AV is familiar with Cam Talbot from their time together with the Rangers, I would think that's something that at least factors into whether He used to be a heavy-usage starter, but injuries have been a factor and he's re-signed by the Flyers to work in tandem with Carter Hart. Also, Varlamov may fit better starting 45-50 games. If you look at just this Kevin Hayes had some success under Vigneault with the Rangers. season for Varlamov you’ll see a goalie who started strong, then faded and lost Colorado’s top job to Philipp Grubauer. But if the term isn’t too — Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) April 16, 2019 long for the 31-year-old, there’s a chance he winds up as a bargain addition for a new team. Ryan Miller

Coming off a contract that paid him $5.9 million against the cap, it’s hard Just two years removed from being an NHL No. 1, Miller settled in nicely to imagine any team signing him for that much with any sort of term. But behind John Gibson in Anaheim, playing in 48 games the past two although he’s been up and down at times, Varlamov does have a .917 seasons and posting a .921 save percentage. He’ll turn 39 in July, so save percentage over the past six seasons, which is tied for 14th-best in retirement is on the table and you have to remember part of the reason the league. And over just the past two seasons, his .926 save percentage he went to Anaheim in the first place was a family decision and allowed at 5-on-5 is slightly better than Tuukka Rask and slightly behind Frederik his wife, actress Noureen DeWulf, to audition on short notice again. So if Andersen. he left the Ducks he may not go far – and the San Jose Sharks may Jonathan Quick require a more capable backup to volatile Martin Jones. Through his career, Quick has been much more than a tandem Anaheim Ducks have interest in bringing goaltender Ryan Miller back netminder. In seasons where he’s been healthy he’s always started at for one more year. Up to Miller to decide if he wants to play. Likely a least 60 games. The issue is he does have a fairly substantial injury bonus incentive contract #letsgoducks history, so at this point in his career it would be wise to rest him more often even if he is good to go. Quick will turn 34 years old midway — Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) May 3, 2019 through next season and injuries have interrupted two of his past three Mike Smith campaigns. This season marked the worst of his career, with an .888 save percentage in 46 games, but given his playoff track record there Just as volatile as anyone else on this list, Smith is 37 and coming off may be some team out there looking for that clutch factor in net to try and one of the worst seasons of his career. It looked like he may have turned get over the hump. a corner in February when he started to wrestle the top job away from David Rittich, but by the time the playoffs started it again wasn’t clear Why would the Kings trade Quick? They’re really at a point where they who the best option was to start Game 1. The Flames chose to go with have to start thinking about saving some money and moving to a younger Smith, and though he posted a shutout in the opener he didn’t allow less core. And while Quick struggled in 2018-19, Jack Campbell was very than three goals after that. good in 31 games, posting a .934 save percentage at 5-on-5. It’s taken the 11th-overall pick from 2010 a long time to develop, but at 27 years In all likelihood, if the Flames move on from Smith, he’s going to have to old and making just $675,000, Campbell may be worth moving forward be fine at least in a tandem next season. If you’re counting on Smith for with as Los Angeles transitions and figures out what they have. Cal 50 games, you’re probably not a playoff team at this point. Petersen, a 24-year-old RFA, showed well in 11 games as well though his AHL numbers weren’t stellar. TRADE CANDIDATES The Kings may have to keep some of Quick’s salary to make it work, Craig Anderson though. He’s making $5.8 million against the cap for another four Last summer there were reports that Anderson had asked for a trade out seasons, so there is quite a bit of risk a new team would have to take as of Ottawa, though that was never confirmed nor denied. He did, however, well. But would that risk be worth it for, say, a $4-million AAV on Quick? say in August that he was “too old for drama” and that he had no interest Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.25.2019 in going elsewhere if all that had been cleared up in Ottawa. But obviously, it’t not exactly been smooth sailing in the organization since.

Anderson is 38 years old now and heading into the final year on a contract that pays him $4.75 million. He’s clearly not going to be helping these Sens to a post-season berth or run, so as long as Ottawa can still get to the cap floor without him (they’re currently under it by about $16 million) it may just be best for the team to get a pick or prospect in return.

Anderson has historically been an up and down goalie – one good season followed by a soft one. He didn’t rebound all the way this season, but you could argue a .903 save percentage on a team that allowed a league-worst average of 35.7 shots per game would translate well to a better team. He’s cheap, low risk and you have to commit nothing to Anderson beyond next season. If he fills a need as a 1A or 1B, that’s not a bad get.

Jake Allen

Turning 29 this summer, Allen at one point was St. Louis’s goalie of the future – Jordan Binnington before Jordan Binnington, if you will. But now that a new prospect has taken over and got all the way to the Cup Final, the Blues could consider moving him out. But to do that, St. Louis would need a capable backup to come in.

It’s worth remembering that had Ville Husso been healthy, he would have been given the first look in January instead of Binnington. Husso is still just 24, a cheap RFA, and has a pretty good track record. In 2015-16, he was named the Finnish Elite League’s top netminder after leading the league in save percentage and GAA, and then in 2017-18 he was on the AHL’s all-rookie team. This season was a terrible one for him, but again, injuries limited him to 27 games. If the Blues want to move on from Allen and his $4.35-million cap hit for another two seasons, Husso may be a fit to slide in behind Binnington.

James Reimer

If the Panthers do land Bobrovsky in free agency (or any other goalie to take over), their crease would be suddenly crowded with Roberto Luongo and Reimer. If Luongo doesn’t retire, there’s almost no chance they trade him because he really is a part of the community and should end his career as a Panther. Reimer is the obvious candidate to move – and if no one trades for him initially, it’s possible he gets bought out and heads to the market as a UFA.

You don’t want Reimer as your No. 1, but he’s not been bad as a tandem option. He posted .920 and .913 save percentages in his first two seasons with Florida, and in both cases played slightly more than half the games. Luongo’s injury put a heavier workload on Reimer this season until injury slowed him as well and he finished with a career-low .900 save percentage. If that’s as bad as it gets for the 31-year-old, you can do worse on a 30-game starter. And with just two years left on a contract with a $3.4-million AAV, the financial commitment isn’t too much – especially if the Panthers would retain a little of the cost. 1145249 Websites He said going to Toronto’s training camp last fall was a lot of fun. But he also realizes his trade to the Kings is part of the hockey business.

“My goal is to play in the NHL and whether it’s in LA or Toronto, it doesn’t Sportsnet.ca / Sean Durzi excelling with Storm after 'wild' trade from matter,” Durzi said. “I want to get there and I’m going to do whatever it Maple Leafs takes to get there.”

Los Angeles signed the six-foot, 187-pounder to an entry-level contract Ryan McKenna | @RyanBMcKenna May 24, 2019, 1:04 PM on April 1 and flew him down to get rehab on injuries earlier this year.

He said signing his first pro deal has given him more confidence which has in turn helped his play. HALIFAX — Sean Durzi has undergone a wide range of emotions so far this year. But Durzi said there’s still a lot to learn and improve on.

It was nine days into January when he received an unexpected phone “It’s funny because every time you achieve something in this sport, it call telling him he had been traded from the Owen Sound Attack to the feels like the work is just getting started. Guelph Storm in an Ontario Hockey League blockbuster deal that “It’s true, the work is just getting started now.” included forwards Nick Suzuki and Zach Roberts. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 05.25.2019 And then just a few weeks later, another call. This time it was to reveal his NHL rights had been dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs — a team the Mississauga, Ont., native grew up cheering for — to the Los Angeles Kings along with Carl Grundstrom and a first-round pick.

The return? Jake Muzzin.

“That was wild,” Durzi said Thursday at the Memorial Cup. “It was almost … I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first time going through it and getting traded at the NHL level is completely different than it is at the OHL level.”

One of the first calls he made after the deal was to Suzuki, who had been traded last summer to the Montreal Canadiens for ex-captain Max Pacioretty.

Durzi and Suzuki started their friendship during the first year in the OHL when they were on the same team at training camp and have been close friends ever since.

“He went through it and he called me when he got traded,” Durzi said. “Kind of just talked about what it was like. I couldn’t do anything, I can’t control anything.

“To know that a team wants you that bad, to have you in such a big trade. Jake Muzzin is a guy that I grew up watching and to see him go the other way for myself is almost surreal at times.”

The Storm’s right-handed defenceman has been excelling at this year’s Canadian major junior championship. He leads the tournament in scoring with seven points entering Guelph’s semifinal against the Rouyn- Noranda Huskies on Friday night.

The offensive defenceman has two goals, including one on the power play, to go along with five assists and a plus-five rating. That’s an average of 2.33 points per game.

Guelph coach George Burnett said Durzi’s play at the tournament has been terrific.

“He’s creating offence, he’s worked hard from behind when he’s up the ice,” Burnett said. “He’s a leader from the back end, not just creating offence. He’s a good person.”

Durzi had 27 points in 24 games during the OHL playoffs as the Storm went on an improbable run which included seven wins during elimination games before eventually defeating Ottawa in the final.

A high ankle sprain limited him to 40 regular season games last year with Owen Sound while a separated shoulder kept him out of the lineup for all but 35 regular season games this year.

Burnett said the Storm were aware of Durzi’s injury issues before acquiring him. A reoccurrence of the shoulder injury took place shortly before he arrived in Guelph and Burnett said there was some talk of surgery but is thankful it wasn’t needed.

With the Storm’s season on the line Friday, Burnett is optimistic the blueliner’s strong play will continue.

“We hope he has the best two games of the year coming up,” Burnett said.

Durzi said being drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft was a huge accomplishment and dream come true.