SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 06/25/17 Flames 1069010 Ducks select forwards Maxime Comtois, Antoine Morand 1069045 Flames acquire Travis Hamonic in swap with with first two draft picks Islanders 1069046 Meet the ' selections in 2017 NHL Draft 1069047 Flames target 'untapped offensive talent' on second day of 1069011 Two cutthroat GMs make indelible imprint on crazy week NHL Draft in Valley sports 1069048 Flames all in with acquisition of Hamonic 1069012 Niklas Hjalmarsson shocked by trade but excited to join 1069049 Parker Foo gets called at the 2017 NHL Draft Arizona Coyotes 1069050 Flames acquire Travis Hamonic in swap with Islanders 1069013 ‘Yotes Draft Notes: D prospects, coaching search, roster balance 1069014 Paul Bissonnette to join Coyotes radio broadcast team 1069051 Hurricanes use all their picks on second day of NHL Draft 1069015 Arizona Coyotes make selections on Day 2 of NHL Draft 1069052 Hurricanes use all their picks on second day of NHL Draft 1069016 Golden Knights may put their top draft picks to the test 1069053 prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan raised early by two moms 1069017 Even winners like the Blackhawks are looking for youth 1069055 thrilled about return to Blackhawks: 'I didn't 1069018 Shawn Thornton traded the box for the front office think it would happen this soon' 1069019 Forward Jack Studnicka headlines Bruins’ Day 2 draft 1069056 Evan Barratt on being drafted by Blackhawks: 'It brought picks tears to my eyes' 1069020 SUNDAY HOCKEY NOTES 1069057 GM Stan Bowman's gamble on huge for 1069021 Bruins draft Jack Studnicka in second round Blackhawks' future 1069022 Harris: Don Sweeney surprises when Bruins draft 1069058 A seismic week: Extraordinary 72 hours stun Chicago unheralded Urho Vaakanainen sports world 1069023 Draft process still a crapshoot for Bruins 1069059 Niklas Hjalmarsson on leaving Blackhawks: ‘Pretty weird 1069024 Harris: Only time will tell if ’s faith in Bruins feeling’ scouts will pay off with first-round draft pick Urh 1069060 Dizzying week hits hard for Jonathan Toews, Joel 1069025 Bruins notebook: Jack Studnicka continues Oshawa-B’s Quenneville pipeline 1069061 Chicago Blackhawks' Quenneville ponders the future 1069026 Plenty of Massachusetts talent taken on second day of 1069062 NHL Draft in Chicago was huge success NHL draft 1069063 Defense a top priority as Blackhawks round out draft 1069027 Haggerty: Bruins playing it pretty safe at the NHL Draft 1069064 Blackhawks' Kane, Kruger tell their draft-day stories 1069028 BRUINS GO FOR A DEFENSIVE PROJECT LATE WITH 1069065 Wake-up Call: Big Blackhawks deals on draft day; What to DANIEL BUKAC make of the Bulls rebuild?; Buehrle back in town; 'Up 1069029 BRUINS TAKE A FLIER ON SKILLED VICTOR 1069066 BLACKHAWKS NOTEBOOK: A BUSY DRAFT, FREE BERGLUND IN 7TH ROUND AGENCY AND RFAS 1069030 PARE 'BRINGS ENERGY' AS BIG-BODIED, SIXTH- 1069067 NIKLAS HJALMARSSON REFLECTS ON TIME WITH ROUND BRUINS PICK BLACKHAWKS: 'I HAD THE BEST TIME IN CHICAGO' 1069031 BRUINS TAP MAINE-BOUND GOALIE SWAYMAN IN 1069068 IT’S A BUSINESS, BUT BLACKHAWKS STILL FEEL FOURTH ROUND STING OF EMOTIONAL DEALS 1069032 BRUINS GO FOR SOME SKILL WITH STUDNICKA PICK IN SECOND ROUND 1069033 MORNING SKATE: DEVILS GET A GOOD ONE IN NO. 1 1069069 NHL draft: Avalanche selects another puck-moving PICK HISCHIER defenseman, five others Saturday 1069034 Sabres set development camp for July 8-11 1069070 Jackets tracker: Updates from Chicago on Blue Jackets 1069035 Sabres Notebook: Top European goalie picked; Buffalo draft picks at 2017 NHL Draft goes for unknown in third round 1069071 Blue Jackets | Prospect ready to carry banner for France 1069036 Mike Harrington: Draft weekend gives a glimpse to 1069072 Blue Jackets better with Botterill's measured approach 1069073 Blue Jackets | Meet the draft class of 2017 1069037 After chaotic two months, Sabres get chance to be a team 1069074 Blue Jackets | Powell’s Carson Meyer goes from fan to again prospect 1069038 Sabres use seventh-round pick on Swedish left winger 1069039 Report: Rangers to hire Lindy Ruff as an assistant coach 1069040 Sabres draft top European goalie, who's eager to fill need 1069075 5 things to know about Stars' top pick Miro Heiskanen, in organization including not being alive when Dallas won the Stanley C 1069041 Rounds 3-4: Sabres go off the board for two defensemen 1069076 Where Stars second-round pick Jason Robertson's 1069042 Sabres select top European goalie with their second competitive streak came from second-round pick 1069077 Stars' draft decisions makes free agency that much more 1069043 Sabres select Swedish center Marcus Davidsson with important for Dallas early second-round pick 1069078 5 things to know about Stars first round pick Jake 1069044 Roth: Take that Charles Barkley! Bills' Williams and Oettinger, including going back-to-back picks with his best Sabres' Eichel don't shy from being role models 1069079 Dallas Stars go forward, starting with LA-Detroit teen, as NHL Draft wraps up 1069080 2017 NHL draft: 10 from , three from Northville, 1069121 Canadiens get cooking with higher than expected NHL picked on Day 2 draft assets 1069081 Red Wings' Drew Miller: New MSU hockey coach has 1069122 Canadiens take two centres, four defencemen and a what it takes to win goalie at NHL Draft 1069082 Breaking down the Detroit Red Wings' 2017 NHL draft class 1069083 NHL free agency: Red Wings should improve decor, not 1069123 Predators not interested in trading defense to improve make sweeping changes roster 1069084 Wings' Blashill: Tyler Bertuzzi 'on verge of becoming real good NHL player' 1069085 Detroit Red Wings stock up on defensemen, big bodies in 1069124 N.H.L.’s Connor McDavid, M.V.P. at 20, Is Still Pursuing 2017 NHL draft His Idol 1069086 'We need size': Wings stockpile big bodies in draft 1069125 2017 NHL Draft: Devils quiet on trade front, add 10 more 1069087 Wings catch fifth-round pick Cole Fraser off guard picks on Day 2 1069088 Red Wings' 2017 draft class breakdown 1069126 2017 NHL Draft: Devils stand pat, add 3 prospects in 3rd 1069089 NHL Draft 17: Detroit Red Wings emphasize size, defense and 4th rounds on Day 2 1069128 2017 NHL Draft: Devils pick F Jesper Boqvist with No. 36 1069090 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings' final three picks include USHL's pick | Scouting report top scorer 1069129 What former Devils think of No. 1 pick Nico Hischier, 1069091 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings take physical defenseman Cole future of team Fraser No. 131 1069131 The Nico Hischier vs. Nolan Patrick debate is just starting 1069092 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings get big defenseman with 100th for Devils and Flyers overall pick 1069132 Devils' draft heavy on European forwards 1069093 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings take goalie Keith Petruzzelli of 1069133 Rangers pick up extra draft pick and a ton of forwards Muskegon (USHL) at 88 1069094 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select center Zach Gallant with Islanders 83rd overall pick 1069134 Islanders trade Travis Hamonic to Flames for draft picks 1069095 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select forward Lane Zablocki at 1069135 Isles ship out Travis Hamonic with another big move on No. 79 tap 1069096 NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select defenseman with first of 1069136 What would Rangers give up for a top-pair defenseman? four third-round picks 1069137 Islanders make 5 Day 2 picks in NHL Draft 1069097 NHL Draft 17: Detroit Red Wings select defenseman 1069138 Isles trade Travis Hamonic to Calgary for future draft picks Gustav Lindstrom in second round 1069098 NHL Draft thread, Day 2: Red Wings will be busy after grabbing Michael Rasmussen 1069139 Islanders, in Revamp Mode, Send Travis Hamonic to the 1069099 Pat Caputo - Did Detroit Red Wings get 2017 NHL Draft Flames right? Well, it's complicated 1069140 Lindy Ruff may join Rangers as assistant coach, to take another job with team Oilers 1069141 Rangers pick up extra draft pick and a ton of forwards 1069100 Oilers add to goaltending depth at Day 2 of NHL draft 1069142 The next steps Rangers should take now that Derek 1069101 at the 2017 NHL Draft Stepan’s gone 1069102 Calahoo's Ian Mitchell goes in second round of NHL draft 1069143 Rangers shake up coaching staff and gain a lot of to Chicago experience 1069103 Oilers span the globe on second day of NHL Draft 1069144 Rangers giving Jeff Beukeboom another job; Lindy Ruff 1069104 Oilers fans chat about trades, signings might step in 1069145 Rangers make 5 more picks in NHL Draft 1069105 Stanley C. Panther a champion, finally, at Mascot Games NHL in Orlando 1069146 N.H.L.’s Connor McDavid, M.V.P. at 20, Is Still Pursuing 1069106 Cats select two Finnish players on second day of NHL His Idol Draft 1069147 Hilary Duff's ex Mike Comrie avoids rape charges 1069107 Panthers add skilled Finns and physical defensemen on final day of NHL draft 1069108 Panthers hire assistant coach Paul McFarland 1069148 Senators Notebook: Derick Brassard's recovery after shoulder surgery 'going well' Los Angeles Kings 1069149 Senators pleased as they leave Windy City at end of NHL 1069109 Nothing ordinary about Anderson-Dolan, the Kings’ draft second-round draft pick 1069150 Senators say they'd like to keep , but other 1069110 ANDREOFF RE-UPS FOR TWO YEARS, $1.355M NHL teams are still calling 1069111 FUTA DESCRIBES DRAFT PROCESS, WITH FOCUS 1069151 Phaneuf stays with Senators for now NOW SHIFTING TOWARD FREE AGENCY 1069112 Wild and coach Bruce Boudreau endure a quiet two days of NHL draft 1069113 Wild goes for as much skill as possible on Day 2 of the NHL draft 1069114 Minnesota Wild name Bob Woods as an assistant coach 1069115 Bruce Boudreau on new Wild assistant Bob Woods: 'He gets me' 1069116 Minnesotans selected in the NHL draft 1069117 Wild 2017 draft selections 1069118 Bob Woods announced as new Wild assistant coach 1069119 It’s Day 2 of the 2017 NHL draft. Here’s a look at the Wild’s picks 1069120 Minnesota Wild name Bob Woods as newest assistant coach 1069152 Flyers grab 6-6 winger by jumping up in the draft 1069193 The Leafs get bigger on second day of NHL draft 1069153 Flyers take high school player in 5th round 1069194 Mother of Leafs’ top pick has hockey son, will travel 1069154 Flyers grab Matthew Strome in 4th round 1069195 Frontenacs GM Gilmour a fan of Leafs’ gigantic fifth-round 1069155 Flyers select Russian goalie in third round pick Eerneli Rasanen 1069156 Flyers trade up, select Isaac Ratcliffe in 2nd round of NHL 1069196 Leafs draft fearsome defenceman Eemeli Rasanen in 2nd Draft round 1069157 South Jersey's Cayden Primeau chosen by Montreal in 1069197 Babcock prepares for challenge NHL draft 1069198 Hamonic's contract is financial value in today's NHL 1069158 Flyers getting younger, but don't dare call it rebuilding 1069199 Toronto Maple Leafs focus on blueline with first two picks 1069159 Ron Hextall's moves reinforce his patient plan of 2017 NHL draft 1069160 Flyers complete busy weekend with big Day 2 trade 1069161 Flyers stay busy in Day 2 at NHL draft 1069162 Flyers' NHL draft pick profiles 1069217 Canucks finally return to second round with two key picks 1069163 Ron Hextall, Flyers follow through with wingers on Day 2 1069218 NHL Draft Recap: Canucks' selections could compare of NHL draft favourably to 2004 1069164 Ron Hextall doesn't make move for veteran goalie; 'still in the mix' 1069165 Flyers move up to draft Isaac Ratcliffe, who is 'going to be 1069200 Golden Knights go for size on Day 2 of NHL Draft a force in the future' 1069201 Golden Knights draft picks understand theirs is a long 1069166 Ron Hextall, Flyers know what they have in Nolan Patrick journey to NHL 1069167 Whoops: deletes harsh tweet about Flyers 1069202 Coyotes’ future doesn’t include coach Dave Tippett from past 1069203 Here’s a look at the players the Vegas Golden Knights 1069168 Ron Hextall on Flyers' logjam of centers: 'Someone has to drafted Saturday play the wing' 1069204 Vegas Golden Knights continue to add pieces with draft’s 1069169 Flyers’ youth movement continues, even if it means later rounds short-term pain 1069205 In a nod to the future, Golden Knights add trio of talented 1069170 Voorhees’ Primeau drafted by Canadiens with Flyers’ pick teens 1069171 With Nolan Patrick, Flyers get The Key to the future 1069172 What former Devils think of No. 1 pick Nico Hischier, future of team 1069206 Capitals spend a mostly quiet afternoon on Day 2 at the 1069173 The Nico Hischier vs. Nolan Patrick debate is just starting NHL draft for Devils and Flyers 1069207 Continuing a trend, the Caps loaded up on defensemen Saturday 1069208 NHL Draft 2017: Caps end day by drafting Norwegian 1069174 New Penguins defenseman Ryan Reaves relishes winger enforcer role 1069209 NHL Draft 2017: With 6th round pick, Caps select 3rd 1069175 Penguins GM Jim Rutherford turns attention to centers defenseman of the day 1069176 Penguins go after defense in NHL Draft 1069210 NHL Draft 2017: Caps select another defenseman with 5th 1069177 Pittsburgh Penguins will host National Women's Hockey round pick League game in Cranberry 1069211 2017 NHL Draft: Caps take Swiss defenseman in the 4th 1069178 Reaves ready to bring physical presence to Penguins' round lineup 1069212 Think the Caps' window has closed? T.J. 1069179 Lauzon 'overwhelmed' to go to Penguins in second round Oshie doesn't 1069180 Penguins focus on defensemen at day two of NHL Draft Websites 1069219 .ca / 13 NHL Draft takeaways: Rumours, trades, 1069181 Sharks’ Thornton, Marleau set to enter uncharted waters signings, surprises 1069182 Sharks replace Mueller with another defenseman in draft 1069220 Sportsnet.ca / Penguins’ Murray gets last laugh against 1069183 Sharks draft 2 Californians in NHL draft country star Bentley 1069184 Sharks conclude 2017 NHL Draft with five more forwards 1069221 Sportsnet.ca / Senators GM Dorion clears the air on Dion in the system Phaneuf trade situation 1069185 Sharks coach DeBoer had 'good relationship' with 1069222 Sportsnet.ca / Hamonic addition gives Flames as stout a Kovalchuk blue line as any 1069186 Sharks begin second day of 2017 draft by selecting a 1069223 Sportsnet.ca / Pre-draft blockbusters signal shift in NHL defenseman trade mentality 1069224 Sportsnet.ca / Penguins take defenceman Will Reilly with St Louis Blues last pick in 2017 NHL Draft 1069187 Blues take Russian winger in fourth round of NHL draft 1069225 Sportsnet.ca / Ducks draft best friends Comtois, Morand in 1069188 Blues' draft picks Saturday second round 1069189 Trade was shocking for grateful Reaves 1069226 TSN.CA / Statistically Speaking: Flames pay the price for Hamonic 1069227 TSN.CA / Trade Bait: Senators continue to shop Phaneuf 1069190 Lightning shifts search for defense to free agency 1069228 TSN.CA / Leafs stick with plan through draft 1069191 Lightning journal: Russian forwards top Day 2 draft picks 1069229 TSN.CA / Flames add Hamonic to keep up with arms race 1069192 Lightning opens day two of draft by taking Russian in West forwards 1069231 USA TODAY / These 6 NHL teams have work to do before free agency 1069232 USA TODAY / NHL Draft: Six under the radar moves from day one 1069233 USA TODAY / NHL draft 2017: Winners, losers from a wild week (through Round 1) Jets 1069213 NHL Draft: Jets boost prospect list with big D-men 1069214 Jets draft well, but goalie issue remains 1069215 Chiarot re-ups in Winnipeg 1069216 Hall call shows 'Ducky' was a difference maker

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1069010 Anaheim Ducks Right wing Kyle Olson of the ’s Tri-City Americans became their fourth-round selection while Swedish goalie Olle Eriksson Ek of Farjestad’s junior program was taken in the fifth round. Ducks select forwards Maxime Comtois, Antoine Morand with first two “We still felt the areas we needed to do something about were center and draft picks left wing in our organization,” Murray said. “With the final one, we took a goalie we didn’t think would be there. … We addressed a few things.” By ERIC STEPHENS | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: June 24, 2017 at 9:29 pm | UPDATED: June 24, 2017 at Orange County Register: LOADED: 06.25.2017 9:56 PM

As someone who cherishes his first-round draft picks, Ducks coach Bob Murray was in a unique place and not all that comfortable with it. The Ducks didn’t have one to use on the first night of the NHL entry draft at Chicago’s United Center and so they had to do all their heavy lifting Saturday, trying to unearth someone out of the five selections they had that could be a contributor down the line. Dipping into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for their first two selections in the NHL entry draft, the Ducks took forwards – and best friends – Maxime Comtois and Antoine Morand with their second-round picks at the Nos. 50 and 60 positions, respectively. Comtois, 18, didn’t score as much as was anticipated with 22 goals and 29 assists in 64 games for the Victoriaville Tigres but he is a 6-foot-2, 207-pound feisty left wing that racked up 98 penalty minutes improved his defensive game in his second QMJHL season. Morand, 18, had an offensive leap as a playmaking center with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan as he was their second-leading scorer with 28 goals and 46 assists. The Titan lost to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the second round of the QMJHL . The Ducks have done well in the first round, with Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm having become core pieces, Nick Ritchie starting to tap into his potential and Jacob Larsson, Sam Steel and Max Jones among their top prospects. So without one for the first time in 18 years, they went about digging for potential gems in later rounds. “Having no first is difficult,” Murray said Saturday. “It’s the first time I’ve never had one. … Talking to our guys last night, they were kind of down. Because they didn’t think the first two guys would still be there when we picked at 50 and 60. “They were very excited today. They were happy with it. If they’re happy, I usually feel pretty good about it. Considering what we had, I think we did very well.” The Ducks surrendered their first-round pick to Dallas in the Patrick Eaves deal but Murray didn’t lose it for a free-agent rental as he locked in the 33-year-old winger Friday on a three-year contract extension worth $9.45 million. Murray didn’t consider Eaves a must re-sign but also expressed his strong desire to keep the winger in the fold. Eaves scored 11 goals in 20 games with the Ducks and added another two in seven playoff games before suffering an ankle injury that kept him that sidelined him for good. “He was very comfortable with our hockey right away and our players were very comfortable with him,” Murray said. “In that regard, he was a very nice fit for us. And he also wanted to come back to us very badly and we wanted him back badly. But there’s no such thing as a must re- signing.” Though he acknowledged some hesitation toward making a three-year commitment to a player with a lengthy injury history, Murray said he didn’t see that as a problem and had no issue inserting a limited no- movement clause into his contract. Four other unsigned free agents – , Nate Thompson, and Jhonas Enroth – that can be unrestricted on July 1 are headed to the market. Murray only mentioned Thompson as one he talked to but said his agent “expressed a huge interest” to look at other offers. It means the Ducks need a new backup for goalie John Gibson. Bernier had a nice comeback season, going 21-7-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average. But his final game with them was disastrous, with four goals allowed on 16 shots in their Game 6 Western Conference finals elimination loss to Nashville. Three remaining draft picks also reflected a desire to address their organizational needs – forwards and goaltending. Harvard-bound left wing Jack Badini was the Ducks’ third-round pick, a recent Hockey League champion with the . 1069011 Arizona Coyotes boring style of play were his fault. To the contrary, his winning record over eight chaotic seasons in Arizona is nothing short of a sporting miracle. Two cutthroat GMs make indelible imprint on crazy week in Valley sports Somehow, Chayka’s pre-draft maneuvering turned the mourning and contempt that surrounded the team into something that almost resembles optimism. The endgame doesn’t seem so nefarious now, that somehow Dan Bickley , azcentral sports Published 4:04 p.m. MT June 24, 2017 | the new owner was severing all emotional ties on the path to franchise Updated 7 hours ago relocation. I remain skeptical of a team that doesn't have money, a future home or the gall to treat Doan like a useless appendage. But Chayka's The Suns and Coyotes should share a stadium in the near future. Their performance has my attention, and this much is clear: general managers have a great deal in common. At the end of a crazy week in Valley sports, two young general managers They are both young, well-versed in analytics and cutthroat beyond their left an indelible imprint. McDonough still needs to prove he put the puzzle years. together, and Suns fans should feel lucky that the team never acquired Kevin Love or LaMarcus Aldridge. But there’s no denying McDonough's Ryan McDonough is only 36 and a master of the NBA draft. He just golden touch when it comes to the past three NBA drafts. rigged the system to get the player he wanted most, former Kansas star Josh Jackson. He didn’t flinch when confronted with information that he Meanwhile, Chayka made two revered hockey figures in Arizona might’ve colluded with Jackson’s people to cancel a private workout with disappear. And with turmoil swirling overhead, he produced a series of Boston, the team picking directly ahead of the Suns. trades that could justify his boy-wonder status. Even better, it all went down while Boston representatives were flying Now, the Coyotes need to find someone who can procure a new stadium across the country to meet Jackson in Sacramento, a group that included deal out of thin air, amid a political minefield. If that happens, the mood team architect Danny Ainge, one of McDonough’s former mentors. That’s will change considerably. hardcore gangster.

“We played by the rules … I guess,” McDonough said on Friday. Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.25.2017 John Chayka is only 28 and even more audacious. He built an analytics company from his basement. He became the youngest general manager in the history of sports. He had the fortitude to fire Shane Doan over breakfast and push Dave Tippett out of the organization. And just when the Coyotes appeared to be a raging dumpster fire, Chayka strutted his stuff at the NHL entry draft, extinguishing most of the flames. He worked a pair of trades that drew gushing reviews. He added an elite player in Niklas Hjalmarsson, a move that did more than shore up a porous defense. It pacifies and plays to the strengths of incoming Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who is good friends with Hjalmarsson. Chayka subbed out luxury items for a team that has very little money, trading away a $6 million goalie (Mike Smith) while acquiring a $6.5 million center (Derek Stepan). He filled the void in net by acquiring one of the best backup goalies (Antti Raanta) in the NHL. And if these moves pan out, it won’t be Raanta who makes the best save of the season. It will be Chayka, who changed the narrative and the mood of many local hockey fans in a matter of hours. I find many elements of this story extremely distasteful. When Chayka pulled the plug on a Valley icon, he chose a local breakfast hangout that Doan visits frequently, where the former captain knows all the waiters and waitresses. He immediately told Doan he didn’t have time to eat and then voiced a sentence the Coyotes legend will never forget. “I’d like to thank you for your time and services,” Chayka said. Doan stood up and walked out of the restaurant, embarrassed, angry and hurt. Chayka might’ve simply been doing the owner’s dirty work. But his rise to the top of the organization is swift and stunning, where he just wrestled control from the most powerful head coach in the NHL. Chayka was once Max Domi’s personal trainer. When he was hired as general manager at age 26, it was believed that he would merely supplement Tippett’s vision with fresh eyes and a data-driven approach. At the time, Tippett signed a five-year deal, becoming the newly appointed executive vice president of hockey operations. But Chayka soon became a favorite of Gary Drummond, the former president of hockey operations who is no longer part of the organization. Chayka’s philosophy began to deviate from Tippett’s vision, a coach who wanted more commitment to winning in the present; who wanted to keep Smith in fold; and who didn’t like the way Captain Coyote was mishandled. It’s pretty clear who won that battle. While McDonough worked his plan at the NBA draft, news broke that Tippett was leaving the organization with four years left on his contract. He is one of the more respected coaches in the league, whose stoic nature helped the Coyotes navigate years of instability. I find it shameful that many Coyotes fans have seemingly turned on Tippett, embracing his departure as if the current playoff drought and 1069012 Arizona Coyotes They addressed a few key holes Friday with their pair of significant trades, also bringing in center Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta from the Rangers. The Coyotes didn’t strike any more deals Saturday but Niklas Hjalmarsson shocked by trade but excited to join Arizona Coyotes certainly ended the weekend with a much better outlook than they had at the outset Friday, as uncertainty loomed amid the departures of goalie Mike Smith, captain Shane Doan and coach Dave Tippett. Sarah McLellan , azcentral sports Published 5:49 p.m. MT June 24, 2017 Luring free agents could be a challenge without a coach in the picture, | Updated 7 hours ago but any potential pitch may be helped along by the roster improvement. “I think we got a lot of really good things going on here,” Chayka said. “So just keep the traction going.” The Coyotes enhanced their pool of defensive prospects at the NHL draft this weekend, using five of their nine picks on the position, but the defenseman set to make the most impact the quickest wasn’t among them. Arizona Republic LOADED: 06.25.2017 Niklas Hjalmarsson, acquired Friday in a trade with the Blackhawks, immediately upgrades Arizona’s blue line, giving it a legit top pairing by uniting Hjalmarsson with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. And although Hjamlarsson was shocked by the news he’d been traded by the Blackhawks – the team he’d spent his entire NHL career with – he’s looking forward to a new challenge with the Coyotes. "It was a lot of mixed emotions in the beginning there, the first 24 hours," Hjalmarsson said. "But at the same time, I'm excited for the new opportunity and being part of kind of a rebuild in Arizona with a lot of new faces and a lot of young and promising players. So I'm excited." Hjalmarsson, 30, wanted to finish out his five-year, $20.5 million deal in Chicago since he signed long-term to stay there, but his contract did include a modified no-trade clause. He knew his name had popped up in trade rumors, and once the Blackhawks asked for a list of 10 teams he’d accept a trade to, it sunk in he probably wouldn't be suiting up for Chicago anymore. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that thought,” said Hjalmarsson, who is under contract for two more years. “At the same time, I’m trying to always be a positive guy.” Ekman-Larsson was "a little bit" of a factor in Hjalmarsson’s decision to include the Coyotes on his trade list. The two Swedish defensemen played together at the and the 2014 Winter Olympics and although both are left shots, Hjalmarsson is comfortable on either side and will line up on the right next to Ekman-Larsson. “He’s one of the better D-men in the league, so hopefully I can complement him with just playing my style of hockey,” said Hjalmarsson, who won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. “At the same time, maybe try to develop a little bit more of a puck-moving element to my game and be more involved offensively. But at the same time, playing defense first has always been my strength. That’s what I’m expecting of myself.” Arizona also added some potential future options on defense with its draft picks, although that wasn’t a specific plan, as team philosophy targets the best player available. After drafting Pierre-Olivier Joseph – a slick-skating, two-way defenseman – 23rd overall Friday, the Coyotes selected Filip Westerlund with the 44th pick. The team received this pick from the Flyers, along with Nos. 75 and 108, for No. 35. “My biggest strength is hockey sense,” said Westerlund, who’s regarded as a poised puck-mover. With the 69th pick, Arizona chose hard-working center/wing Mackenzie Entwistle. Two-way center Nate Schnarr was next at No. 75. The Coyotes flipped the 78th pick to the Oilers for the 82nd and 126th selections and took right-shot defenseman Cameron Crotty, who’s committed to Boston University, at No. 82. Offensive defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer was taken 108th before Boston College-bound defenseman Michael Karow (126), speedy center Tyler Steenbergen (128) and lanky winger Erik Walli Walterholm (190). Arizona will host its prospects for a development camp starting Monday at AZ Peoria Ice, a chance for players and the team to get acclimated with each other, but the focus also remains on next season’s roster. Qualifying offers to restricted free agents are due Monday, with forwards Anthony Duclair, Jordan Martinook, Nick Cousins, Alexander Burmistrov, Peter Holland and Josh Jooris among the team’s RFAs. All of these players except Duclair are eligible for arbitration. General Manager John Chayka had yet to decide whom he would qualify as of Friday. The window to interview unrestricted free agents opens Sunday, and while Chayka plans to utilize it, it’s possible the Coyotes don’t make a splash July 1 when free agency opens, with Chayka saying they'll use an “aggressively selective” approach. 1069013 Arizona Coyotes and restricted free agent Anthony Duclair, although free agent Radim Vrbata is still an option.

Chayka said the plan would ideally be to add another right wing, but it’s ‘Yotes Draft Notes: D prospects, coaching search, roster balance also possible that one or more of the left wings could shift sides. “There are teams that have had success just by having a lot of good BY CRAIG MORGAN players,” Chayka said. “Good players make plays and they’re able to adapt and adjust.” JUNE 24, 2017 AT 2:41 PM McGinn, Keller and Martinook have all played right wing.

Chayka said he would begin the process of identifying and finding a new Michael Karow talks to media after being selected by the Arizona coach on Monday after Dave Tippett parted ways with the team on Coyotes during the fifth round of the NHL hockey draft, Saturday, June Thursday. 24, 2017, in Chicago. JpgNam Y. Huh) “I’d like to sit down with [assistant GM Steve Sullivan] and our staff,” CHICAGO — John Chayka didn’t execute more trades for existing NHL Chayka said. “We’d like to put together a profile of exactly what we’re players on Day 2 of the NHL Draft on Saturday at United Center, but the looking for; the attributes of the coach we’re looking for before we start Coyotes GM was still dealing. seeking out people. Sometimes, you write it down and it’s different than maybe the people you think you might like. When the draft was four picks into the day, Chayka traded the 35th overall selection to Philadelphia for Nos. 44, 75 and 108. Early in the “We’ll have a small group of names, a real small group at this stage, and third round, he flipped the 78th pick to Edmonton for Nos. 82 and 126. then just try and be efficient moving forward.” The logic was simple. Chayka said youth is not an overriding prerequisite. “There’s no sure thing here with these amateur players,” said Tim “I don’t think that’s necessarily the case, but with our younger players, we Bernhardt, Coyotes director of amateur scouting. “The more opportunities do want a communicator; somebody that does engage and have that you have to get players, the better chance you have to get players.” relational type of approach to coaching.” The Coyotes’ final draft haul was five defensemen and four forwards, at least two of which are centers, with No. 69 overall pick Mackenzie Entwistle also a possibility. Two of the defensemen, No. 44 pick Filip Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.25.2017 Westerlund and No. 82 pick Cameron Crotty, are right-handed defensemen. “We were trying to stockpile premier positions,” Chayka said. “Not all of them are going to hit but we got a lot of picks so we’re playing the odds, and when they do hit, you want them to be in the right positions.” Chayka offered a glimpse of how the first trade of the day went down after a phone conversation with Flyers GM Ron Hextall, who selected Guelph Storm winger Isaac Ratcliffe with the 35th pick he acquired from the Coyotes. “We had Ratcliffe at the same spot, pretty much so I just put it out there to Hexy that this is an overpayment but if you want the guy, we’ll do it and he agreed to it,” Chayka said. “That’s how it went down.” Seven of the Coyotes’ nine selections were 6-foot or taller, and four of the top five picks are 6-2 or taller. Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (No. 23 pick) is 6-2; Entwistle is 6-2, center Nate Schnarr (No. 75) is 6-3; and Crotty is 6-2. “We got a lot of size, which isn’t what we’re looking to do, necessarily,” Chayka said. “We want good players, smart players, competitive players, but if the size is there that’s great and it ended up being that way.” Four of the five Coyotes picks at the 2016 NHL Draft were defenseman; five of the nine were this season. Last year, it was an area of focus; this year, it was not. “There was no plan at all,” Bernhardt said. “We put them in groups and if that was the best player at that time or the player we felt most comfortable with at that time [we took them].” Plan or not, Chayka likes the fact that the cupboard is being stocked at such an important position. “They’re so hard to predict,” he said. “Some take forever to develop; some happen right away. I’m curious myself to see who rises early, who rises late and who falls off. “You saw Travis Hamonic get traded today (from the Islanders to the Flames) for a first and two second-round picks. They’re premium positions.” Two positions the Coyotes did not address at the Draft were left wing, where they have a glut of current players, and . After acquiring Antti Raanta from the Rangers on Friday, Flyers draft pick Merrick Madsen last week and signing Minnesota-Duluth free agent Hunter Miska, the Coyotes feel they have sufficient organizational depth to complement Raanta, backup Louis Domingue and top prospect Adin Hill (Tucson, AHL). The Coyotes have seven NHL left wings if you count Tobias Rieder. Max Domi, Clayton Keller, Brendan Perlini, Jordan Martinook, Lawson Crouse and Jamie McGinn are the others. In contrast, the Coyotes right wing position is thin, with only prospect Christian Fischer (likely to make the roster next season), Rieder (who shifted to the right side late last season) 1069014 Arizona Coyotes

Paul Bissonnette to join Coyotes radio broadcast team

Staff Report BY ARIZONA SPORTS JUNE 24, 2017 AT 11:03 AM

Former Coyotes forward Paul Bissonnette was a fan favorite for Arizona, and he’ll now be joining play-by-play voice Bob Heethuis in the radio broadcast booth, per Arizona Sports’ own Craig Morgan. The man they call “BizNasty” was with the Coyotes for five seasons from 2009 to 2014, scoring a whopping seven goals with 14 assists. Known for his physical play and frequent fighting, Bissonnette tallied 318 penalty minutes in 187 NHL games over six seasons. One of those bouts was this classic between Bissonnette and the Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo: The 32-year-old finished his career last season in the Los Angeles Kings organization with their AHL affiliate, the Reign. Bissonnette also has one of the largest Twitter followings in the NHL, undoubtedly thanks in part to his quick wit and jovial charisma. He has also been the subject of some hilarious antics on YouTube: The Ontario native replaces Nick Boynton as the radio broadcasting color commentator, who confirmed his departure from the broadcast booth via Twitter. Time for me to say farewell to The Coyotes! Wishing @BizNasty2point0 best of luck in the radio booth next season! Take care of Heeter 4 me!

— NICK BOYNTON (@NICKBOYNTON24) June 23, 2017 Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069015 Arizona Coyotes the left-handed shot scored 51-39-90 with a plus-26, as well as 14 points in 14 playoff games. He’s 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds.

190th pick, Round 7 — Erik Walli Walterholm Arizona Coyotes make selections on Day 2 of NHL Draft Walterholm is a right-handed forward at 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds. His seventh-round selection by the Coyotes marks their final pick in the 2017 BY MATT LAYMAN | JUNE 24, 2017 AT 7:42 AM Draft, and Arizona gets an alumnus of the league’s SDE HF J18. It was there that the 18-year-old scored 32 points in 20 games. UPDATED: JUNE 24, 2017 AT 11:00 AM

Arizona Sports LOADED: 06.25.2017 FILE- In this Saturday, May 21, 2016, file photo, ' Nolan Patrick, left, and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies' Anthony-John Greer are separated as they scuffle during third period CHL hockey action in Red Deer, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP, File) After trading the No. 7 overall pick and taking Pierre-Olivier Joseph with the 23rd pick on Friday, the Coyotes began Saturday with another trade. The Arizona Coyotes traded the 35th overall pick in the Draft near the beginning of round two to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for picks 44, 75 and 108. Then, during the third round, Coyotes GM John Chayka and company dealt the 78th pick to the Edmonton Oilers for picks 82 and 126. Those trades put them in position to make picks 44, 69, 75, 82, 108, 126, 128 and 190. Here’s how it went down: 44th pick, Round 2 — Filip Westerlund An 18-year-old defenseman from Sabra, , this right-handed shooter stands at 5-foot-11 and 181 pounds. Westerlund played 33 games for the SHL’s Frolunda HC last season, registering four assists and a plus-3 rating. He also appeared in 23 games for Frolunda HC J20 in the SuperElit, scoring 1-6-7 with a minus-4. His scouting report on Elite Prospects reads: “Westerlund is a defenseman who stands out with his vision and puck control. Plays a calm, cerebral game and can hit forwards with long passes from the backend. Defensively, there is room for improvement given his hockey IQ. Also, his skating could use some work, especially his first few steps. Isn’t that agile yet, either.” –Erik K. Piri 69th pick, Round 3 — MacKenzie Entwistle This forward/right-wing will turn 18 next month and has two seasons of OHL hockey under his belt with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Last season, the right-handed-shooting Entwistle played 54 games and tallied 12 goals and 13 assists. He also scored seven points in five games with ’s U-18 World Juniors team. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds. 75th pick, Round 3 — Nate Schnarr Schnarr was ranked No. 47 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. A right-handed center, Schnarr tallied 18-18-36 with a minus-19 for the OHL’s Guelph Storm in 2016-17. He turned 18 just nine days ago and stands at 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds. 82nd pick, Round 3 — Cameron Crotty A Boston University commit, Crotty is an 18-year-old right-handed shot from Greely, Ontario. With the CCHL’s last season, this blueliner scored 4-9-13 with 32 penalty minutes in 41 games. 108th pick, Round 4 — Noel Hoefenmayer The Ottawa 67’s — and now, the Coyotes — boast an offense-savvy defenseman in Hoefenmayer, who scored 14-26-40 in 62 games in the OHL last season. At 18 years old, the left-handed shooter stands at 6- foot-0 and weighs 190 pounds. 126th pick, Round 5 — Michael Karow Karow marks the fifth defenseman taken in the draft by the Coyotes to this . He’s a 19-year-old lefty committed to Boston College and has a year under his belt with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. It was with the Phantoms that he played 58 games last season, tallying 4-17-21 with a plus-9 rating. Karow is 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds. He is from Green Bay, Wisc. 128th pick, Round 5 — Tyler Steenbergen Steenbergen is a 19-year-old center from Albert who had 136 points over the last two seasons with the WHL’s . Last year, 1069016 Boston Bruins The top Boston-area talent all got bunched up in a spread of 18 picks over the third and fourth rounds:

■ Ben Mirageas, D, from Newburyport, went to the Islanders as the 77th Golden Knights may put their top draft picks to the test early pick. He will enter Providence in the fall. ■ Reilly Walsh, D, from North Falmouth and Proctor, was chosen 81st by By Kevin Paul Dupont the Devils. He enters Harvard this September. Globe Staff June 24, 2017 ■ Keith Petruzzelli, G, from Wilbraham, was picked 88th by the Red Wings. He’s entering Quinnipiac in September.

■ , D, from West Roxbury and Dexter School, was picked CHICAGO — Yet to roll their first line over the boards, the Vegas Golden 95th by the Canucks. He’ll return to Dexter, then join the Crimson in Knights in recent days have commanded more attention around the NHL September 2018. than the two-time Cup-winning Penguins. ■ Michael Karow, a Boston College commit from Green Bay, Wis., was The boys from The Strip remained on a roll here over the weekend chosen 126th by the Coyotes. during the amateur draft. After wheeling and dealing around Wednesday night’s expansion draft, the Knights showed up with 13 draft picks, three Among the many trades Saturday, the Islanders moved defenseman in the first round, and possibly will plug all three newbies into their varsity Travis Hamonic (and a conditional fourth-round pick) to the Flames for lineup come October. first- and second-round choices next year, plus a conditional second- round pick. Hamonic, 27, had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 49 That might be a reach, but gambling’s in their DNA. games this past season . . . The Kings and forward Andy Andreoff, a restricted free agent, agreed on a two-year, $1.355 million contract. The Knights chose two centers, Cody Glass (No. 6) and Nick Suzuki (No. 13), with their first two picks, then followed with a downsized, puck- moving defenseman, Erik Brannstrom (No. 15). Brannstrom, at 5 feet 9 inches and 179 pounds, has a Torey Krug-like skill package that could Boston Globe LOADED: 06.25.2017 have him vying for the power-play quarterback role when training camp opens in September. A pair of Boston University Terriers, one an incoming freshman, were selected two picks apart late in the first round, further lifting the profile of David Quinn’s pack of hounds on Comm. Ave. Towering netminder Jake Oettinger, 21-11-3 as a freshman, was selected at No. 26 by the Dallas Stars. Ottawa followed two picks later and plucked Shane Bowers, a playmaking center who’ll enter BU for the fall semester. “I thought it was the best option for me, the best route for my development,” said Bowers, reflecting on why he chose the NCAA path instead of junior hockey. “I’m really excited to start at BU. I haven’t set a timeline on how long I want to be there. I just want to go in, help the team win, develop as a player and person, and hopefully make the jump to the NHL as fast as I can — or when I am ready.” Five BU commits were drafted on Day 2: defensemen Kasper Kotsansalo (Red Wings, No. 71), Cameron Crotty (Coyotes, No. 82), and David Farrance (Predators, No. 92) went in the third round, forward Logan Cockerill (Islanders, No. 201) was a seventh-round pick, as was defenseman Ryan O’Connell (Maple Leafs, No. 203). Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, noting he was active in trade talks in recent weeks, none of which came to fruition, said he’ll continue some of those talks ahead of Saturday’s start of the free agency period. Meanwhile, Sweeney said he has yet to tell any of his pending free agents, restricted or unrestricted, that they don’t figure in the club’s plans for 2017-18. “No, we’ll address that,” Sweeney said late Friday night. “We have qualifying offers and free agency stuff that is coming up . . . the start of the interview period on Monday, when they’re due. We’ll satisfy that as soon as we wrap up the draft.” The No. 1 order of business remains finalizing a contract extension with top right winger David Pastrnak, who just wrapped up the third and final season of his entry-level contract. John-Michael Liles, who earned $2 million last season as a reserve blue liner, is free to sign with any of the 31 clubs as of July 1. After losing Colin Miller to the Knights in the expansion draft, the Bruins might offer Liles another year’s work, albeit likely at a south of $2 million. Sweeney will hold his pre-UFA media conference on Friday in Brighton, and then again on Saturday, following the first few hours of moves around the league. UMass Amherst saw its prized incoming freshman, Cale Makar, go No. 4 overall Friday night to the Colorado Avalanche. It’s the highest any UMass recruit ever has gone in the teenage mixer. Makar, from Calgary, is the prototype back-end puck-rusher who tries to model his game after Erik Karlsson. He played for Brooks last season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the same league that yielded the Bruins , the No. 16 pick in the ’08 draft. Colborne was moved to the Leafs in February 2011 for Tomas Kaberle, whose name was minted on the Cup later that spring with the Bruins. Colborne, now 6-5 and 220 pounds, played last season with the Avs. 1069017 Boston Bruins annual salary through 2021. Cost certainty is one of the qualities GMs like.

“Busy time of year,” Bowman said. “It’s not always this busy. But the Even winners like the Blackhawks are looking for youth trade deadline and the draft are probably the two times where you’re able to make the most changes to your team. Certainly that’s when other teams are more open-minded to it. It just sort of came together. I can’t By Fluto Shinzawa say that a week ago, we had this big plan and it was all going to happen. But once you get into it, start looking at what options you have, and Globe Staff June 24, 2017 looking forward — we had Marian, which was big news as well. Lot of things happening.”

His peers consider Bowman among the best in the business. A first- CHICAGO — Without Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the round exit to Nashville was not good enough to satisfy Bowman and his Blackhawks do not own Chicago. colleagues. It is unknown whether Bowman’s aggressiveness will pay off. They had a splendid supporting cast of Duncan Keith, , But he was not willing to let parts of his roster carry over into next year. Corey Crawford, Marian Hossa, and Niklas Hjalmarsson, who have all “The guys that we have brought back, they don’t play the exact same lifted the Stanley Cup over their heads three times. But Hossa is out of style as the players that are going out,” Bowman said. “You can’t say, hockey for at least one season and perhaps for good because of a skin ‘He’s going to do exactly what that guy did.’ He’s going to do something condition. Hjalmarsson has been traded to Arizona. different. Hopefully it translates to team success. That’s what we’re Toews and Kane have been the leading actors in the Blackhawks’ looking for. We’re not really looking for individuals to replace individuals. renaissance. We’re looking for our team to have success. Sometimes you can come up with a different blueprint or approach.” In any other industry, the 20-somethings would be masters of the universe. They would stand among Chicago’s titans, their identical $10.5 Sweeney, meanwhile, chose not to make Chicago-style changes. million annual salaries putting them in the company of the city’s high- Sweeney said he is still looking for outside help. But to this point, he is rolling moneymakers. counting on internal options such as Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, Matt Grzelcyk, and Rob O’Gara to serve as the organization’s shift to youth. But in the NHL, the 29-year-old Toews and 28-year-old Kane are closer to their sell-by dates than their white-collar peers. They did their heavy Time will tell if that will be enough. lifting when they were younger and cheaper, two qualities that general managers chase like lost loves. Boston Globe LOADED: 06.25.2017 The Blackhawks are not alone in considering life when their superstars do not provide as much value as before. The Bruins are in the same company. Forty-year-old Zdeno Chara is under contract for one more season. Patrice Bergeron is 31. It is no fun for GMs like Stan Bowman and Don Sweeney to think about how perpetual alpha dogs will eventually lose some of their bite. It is why constant roster greening, through the draft and via trades, is more critical than ever. The salary cap, set at $75 million for 2017-18, is the ground-evening mandate that has created the current parity phenomenon. Trades don’t happen often. Big money, like the $3.8 million the Bruins owe Matt Beleskey for three more seasons, is hard to move. The solution to bad contracts is avoiding them in the first place. Teams know the importance of drafting and developing young players while on cheap dough, then sending them packing when they start asking for raises. Over two days in Chicago, the Bruins drafted Urho Vaakanainen, Jack Studnicka, Jeremy Swayman, Cedric Pare, Victor Berglund, and Daniel Bukac. They are the team’s six kicks at the can, among 217 leaguewide selections, that could possibly assume the duties of Chara, Bergeron, and Tuukka Rask, their three best players at their respective positions. Thirty other teams went through the same exercise, although the Blackhawks went a step further. On Friday, the host team deployed Toews and Kane in another way. Bowman called Toews and Kane to the United Center podium to make the organization’s first-round pick. Kane pronounced the name of Henri Jokiharju, an 18-year-old Finnish defenseman, so perfectly that the native of South Buffalo sounded like a Helsinki resident. On Saturday, Chicago added eight more youngsters to their ranks: Ian Mitchell, Andrei Altybarmakyan, Evan Barratt, Tim Soderlund, Roope Laavainen, Parker Foo, Jakub Galvas, and Joshua Ess. The Blackhawks will most likely have to wait several years before some of these picks, if any, graduate to the NHL. For that reason, Bowman went looking for bridges. Hjalmarsson is a very good left-shot defenseman. He served as Joel Quenneville’s go-to shutdown defenseman in all three Cup runs. But Hjalmarsson is 30 years old. Bowman knew he would not be interested in re-signing Hjalmarsson upon the expiration of his current contract in two years. So Bowman shipped the three-time champ to the Coyotes, primarily for right-shot defenseman Connor Murphy, who is six years younger and locked up through 2022 for $3.85 million annually. Bowman took the same approach by wheeling Artemi Panarin to Columbus and making Brandon Saad a two-time Blackhawk. Panarin is 25, barely a year older than Saad. But based on his current curve of production, the supremely skilled Panarin is due for a bank-breaking deal when he’s up in 2019. Saad, meanwhile, is locked in to a $6 million 1069018 Boston Bruins

Shawn Thornton traded the penalty box for the front office

By Fluto Shinzawa Globe Staff June 24, 2017

Some cords are hard for Shawn Thornton to cut. The ex-Bruin, last seen in Black and Gold in 2014, still owns a home in Charlestown. Thornton will return to Middleton in August to host his annual golf tournament at Ferncroft Country Club. Not one week into his new job as vice president of business operations for the Florida Panthers, Thornton and some of his colleagues visited the New England Patriots’ minicamp. The Panthers’ contingent landed in Foxborough, via a connection with president and CEO Matt Caldwell, to learn about the Super Bowl champions’ culture. Thornton promptly mastered the Patriots’ insistence on discretion. “I’d like to be let back in,” Thornton jabbed when asked about his visit. Other cords have been easier for Thornton to snip. Thornton pitched his skates into a trash can following his final game (they were later extracted and auctioned on eBay for $2,500 to benefit his foundation). On June 1, less than two months after his last game, Thornton spent his first day on Florida’s payroll as an executive instead of a player. He did not watch a game of the Stanley Cup Final. Over the first week of his employment, Thornton had not crossed paths with general manager Dale Tallon, his boss in Chicago as well as Florida. While Thornton will still participate in occasional on-ice clinics and community events, the 39-year-old is now an office man. Thornton’s primary work station was in the penalty box. Now his desk is on the suite level at the BB&T Center, surrounded by the sales, marketing, community relations, and corporate sponsorship departments. “I’m right in the middle,” Thornton said. “It looks like a trading floor on Wall Street. It’s very open. No cubicles. Myself and [chief of staff] Sean McCaffrey are right in the middle, so if anybody needs anything, I’m right there. Right in the mix.” Part of the ease with which Thornton transitioned out of his skates is because of the job he performed while wearing them. Thornton won Stanley Cup rings with the Ducks in 2007 and Bruins in 2011. He developed into a trustworthy fourth-liner whose forechecking created chances and hockey sense limited opposing opportunities. In 2012, Thornton dropped jaws when, on a penalty shot, he faked forehand on Ondrej Pavelec and tucked a bar-down backhander over and behind the Winnipeg goalie.

Boston Globe LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069019 Boston Bruins “I don’t know that much about the Bruins,” said Pare, who grew up in Levis, at the edge of Quebec City. “I went to Boston when I was younger and I really liked the city.” Forward Jack Studnicka headlines Bruins’ Day 2 draft picks Pare was age 11 for his first and only trip to the Hub of Hockey. The family vacation included taking in a game at Fenway Park. He’ll be there again in a couple of weeks, but this time for business. By Kevin Paul Dupont

Globe Staff June 24, 2017 Boston Globe LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO — The Bruins peeled out of here for the summer with a half- dozen 18-year-olds stashed in the back of the Spoked-B station wagon, hoping one day each of the kids will graduate to the NHL. History and fate all but guarantee otherwise, but NHL drafts are built on dreams and the infinite supply of pucks fashioned as brass rings. “I think we addressed a lot of our needs,” said Scott Bradley, Boston’s assistant general manager, assessing a group that included three defensemen, two forwards, and a goalie. “You know, it wasn’t sexy, but I think we did well in addressing a lot of our needs.” Headed into the 2017-18 NHL season, following a first-round playoff knockout at the hands of the Senators, the Bruins first and foremost could use a top-six winger and a bona fide 20-minute defenseman for the left side. Such quick fixes are rarely found in the entry draft, unless clubs hold one of the top handful of choices. Even then, caveat emptor is attached to every teenager’s game sheet. The Bruins left here with defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, about to enter his third pro season in Finland, their top pick at No. 18. On Day 2 at the United Center, they added a five-pack of wannabes, including Alaska- born goalie Jeremy Swayman (pick 111), who will begin the next phase of his incubation as a freshman at the University of Maine. Prior to Swayman, the Bruins used No. 53 on a center, Jack Studnicka, who’ll return for another season with the (once a Bobby Orr hangout). With their final three picks, they grabbed Cedric Pare (No. 173), a winger from the Quebec junior league; Victor Berglund (No. 195), a Swedish defenseman; and Daniel Bukac (No. 204), a 6-foot-4-inch Czech-born defenseman who played last season in the WHL with Brandon, long ago the home of Ray Bourque’s rookie partner, Brad McCrimmon. Bradley’s quick thoughts on the lot: ■ Vaakanainen (D) — “We’re excited about him. His skating is close to a five in our system. He’s got a nice shot. Compare his skating to [Paul] Coffey at times, a really mobile, transitional defenseman. He’s been playing pro for two years, so he’s got some good mileage under him when it comes to seasoning.” ■ Studnicka (C) — “He had a very good Under-18 [performance] in the Worlds junior tourney. Very skilled. A late bloomer. A strong second half and playoff — over a point a game in the OHL playoffs. We think he can play both wing and center. He is close to 6-2, but his frame is light. We look forward to his frame developing and we’ll see what we have there.” ■ Swayman (G) — “[Goalie coach] really liked him. Most of our staff was on board with the goalie. We targeted another goalie but he went before our pick.” ■ Pare (F) — “He’s a developed kid and played well in the Memorial Cup [with St. John, as a teammate of Boston prospect Jakub Zboril]. He has pretty good speed, a lot of energy. I think his skating is undervalued. Over the course of the year, I think he’s picked it up with his skating. His stride has lengthened a little bit. What we liked is his energy and he did score in the Memorial Cup. He had limited minutes, playing on a fourth line, and I think this year he will be one of their top six forwards.” ■ Berglund (D) — “Our Swedish scouts were on top of him. They think he’s a mobile D. He is skilled, ultra-skilled, and he skates well. Small, a 6-footer, but our scouts were pounding the table for him, and we went along with it. We might have something there. We talked to his coach after the pick and he’s working on putting on some muscle and weight.” ■ Bukac (D) — “He’s raw, a project, a kid from the , played in the Western Hockey League. From the start of the year, he’s come leaps and bounds with his development. Talking to management in Brandon, they are very excited about him coming back, expecting good things from him.” Most, perhaps all, of the new picks will be in Brighton for the upcoming (July 6-9) development camp and a few will be called back for the rookie camp that opens Sept. 7 at Warrior Ice Arena. 1069020 Boston Bruins McPhee will have plenty of roster room and cap space available next summer when 10 of his players will be unrestricted.

“George had such a large task to try and pull off,” Bruins GM Don SUNDAY HOCKEY NOTES Sweeney said. “It looks like he’s done a great job to sort of satisfy his team he wants to build now, but also looking to the future side of it.” A ho-hum inaugural class indicates Vegas will build through the draft. If an NHL coach could dream up a forward, the result would resemble Marian Hossa. A 1,309-game sample size, accumulated for Ottawa, Seventeen years have passed since Columbus and Minnesota, the two Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago, has proven that Hossa is part most recent expansion franchises, planted their flags in NHL ice. Neither of a small class of players that does just about everything right. Think of organization has come close to the Stanley Cup. Their fan bases remain Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, Patrice Bergeron, Anze Kopitar, Joe hopeful that championship runs are in their futures. Thornton — players who have few weaknesses between them. Hossa belongs in this category. It is with this kind of grace period in mind that Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee went about building his first-year So it is a huge shame that there might not be a 1,310th game in Hossa’s team. As tempting as it might have been for Marc-Andre Fleury and Petr career. The 38-year-old has been declared a loss for 2017-18 because of Mrazek to play behind a right-side defense of , Jason a skin disorder. Demers, and Matt Dumba, it would not have served the Golden Knights well in their quest to become a stable and consistent franchise. At Hossa’s age, even if he enjoys a full recovery, returning to the NHL would be a tall task. A career that has been a delight to follow could So McPhee went about his business in the opposite direction. He possibly have come to a premature conclusion. It will not be possible for accepted short-term lumps for a long-term payoff. GM Stan Bowman, regardless of how sharp he’s been before, to land a similar replacement. The 2017-18 Golden Knights will not be good. If they sniff anything close to a playoff spot, it will be because Gerard Gallant performs a coaching “I don’t think you replace Hoss, because he’s a special player,” miracle, Fleury steals results on a nightly basis, and the rest of the Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told Chicago reporters on Thursday. Western Conference experiences catastrophic injuries. “I think the player coming in has got to be his own type of player. We like to have players play the right way, particularly without the puck, and When he’s on, Fleury can be an ace. is a first-line wing. Ex- offensively, play to your strengths. It’s how you want your team to play Bruin Reilly Smith is a good two-way top-six forward. across the board. Everybody’s got a different style. We don’t want to say we’re going to go look for a Marian Hossa. That recipe, we were very Other than that, there’s a whole lot of fourth-line material on the Golden fortunate the way we did acquire him and how he’s played out when we Knights’ inaugural roster. Colin Miller, who would have fought for a did have him. It’s tough to say, but I don’t think we’re going to find him, regular shift with the Bruins, may be Gallant’s best right-shot unfortunately.” defenseman. The Blackhawks declined to disclose the nature of Hossa’s sickness. But In today’s NHL, parity, luck, and goaltending are three game-changing having spent more time than desired with a dermatologist, I can guess it variables that can produce goofy results. But nothing will keep the is serious. Professionals often say that skin is an organ. It serves as the Golden Knights above sea level. In their first season, they will body’s first barrier against threats. In Hossa’s case, his equipment, of all appropriately have their heads buried in the sand. things, attacked his skin. The approach, however, is logical. At least for the first two years, the It’s unknown what Hossa had to endure, but some of the possibilities are team’s customers and corporate sponsors will be entertained by the not pleasant: flareups, open wounds, infections. The schedule did not spectacle of the NHL’s introduction. Perhaps by Season 3, some of the allow Hossa to heal. Medications to treat skin disorders do not qualify as Golden Knights’ picks will arrive in the desert. McPhee will have two mild, ranging from powerful steroids to immunosuppressants. things on his side: placement and volume. So both player and organization concluded that Hossa would be best Vegas will have a lock on 31st place in 2017-18. This will give them the served spending 2017-18 out of uniform. Even at 38, Hossa was a best odds of selecting first overall one year from now. Odds are good that valuable piece. He scored 26 goals in 2016-17, third most on the team they will have more first-rounders than their own. after Patrick Kane (34) and Artemi Panarin (31). Hossa averaged 16:51 McPhee entered his first entry draft with two additional opening-round of ice time per game, including 1:43 on the power play and 1:32 on the selections. The GM added the Islanders’ pick, courtesy of his agreement penalty kill. to take depth goalie Jean-Francois Berube instead of more attractive The NHL has not made a decision, but the Blackhawks would like to use players such as or Brock Nelson. McPhee also nabbed a long-term injury exception to exceed the $75 million cap by all or part of Columbus’s first-rounder, his price for not drafting Josh Anderson or Matt Hossa’s $5.275 million average annual value. Hossa is on the books Calvert, which he then flipped to Winnipeg for the Jets’ first-round pick. through 2021. If approved and Hossa’s career is over, the perpetually McPhee also added second- and fifth-round picks after selling off Trevor cap-strapped Blackhawks could use the exception in all four years. van Riemsdyk and David Schlemko to Carolina and Montreal. The ex- LTIR, however, is not a neat solution. It requires accounting and Washington GM knows that whatever scraps were available in expansion temporary AHL assignments before the start of the regular season to will not compare to the four-baggers he could potentially clout in the entry allow teams to maximize their cap space. The Bruins and Flyers, for draft. example, preferred to trade Marc Savard and to the The Capitals, after all, did not trade for Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Panthers and Coyotes, respectively, rather than trying to use exceptions Backstrom, John Carlson, , Marcus Johansson, Dmitry on the injured players each year. If Hossa is all done, Chicago would try Orlov, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson or Andre Burakovsky. Under to follow suit and trade Hossa to a budget club trying to reach the cap McPhee’s watch, the Capitals built the core of their Cup-quality roster floor. through picks. You could add to that list too, although “It’s a much more complicated provision than people think,” Bowman McPhee goofed in a big way when he traded the future star to Nashville said. “It’s not some easy cap solution where we just go sign a player for for Martin Erat. Other Washington selections included Cody Eakin, the same amount and off we go. It’s much more problematic than that.” , Michal Neuvirth, Mathieu Perreault, and Mike Green, all credible NHLers now employed in other cities. New England’s contributions to hockey are not taken for granted by the sport’s stewards. The US recognized this by going Burakovsky is just coming into his sweet spot as a top-six NHL forward. all in with its latest class: Jack Parker (Somerville), Ben Smith He is 22 years old, drafted way back in 2013. The arc of the skilled (Gloucester), Scott Young (Clinton), former NHL linesman Kevin Collins forward’s development emphasizes how long it takes for GMs to build (Springfield), and Ron Wilson, who was raised in Rhode Island and their organizations correctly. Quick-strike wonders such as Ovechkin, the attended Providence College. first overall selection in 2004, are generational outliers. “The associations here run pretty deep,” said Smith during a conference So it stands to reason that McPhee, with the blessing of owner Bill Foley, call on Monday. is playing the long game. McPhee got the better of Florida counterpart Dale Tallon, whose immediate cap savings in letting Smith go ($5 million For the class of 2017, the roots run deepest on Commonwealth Avenue. annually through 2022) were offset by seeing $750,000 bargain Jonathan Smith was Parker’s assistant for both of the two seasons Young spent as Marchessault walk for nothing. Vegas coaxed Shea Theodore and Alex a Terrier before turning pro. Young also played for Smith in 1988 for Tuch, both 21 years old and full of NHL promise, out of Anaheim and Team USA in the Olympics. Minnesota for not taking any of their established but older defensemen. Young also has a history with Wilson. The two played together for the press box during games . . . The Bruins will not qualify all of their Stars and Stripes in the 1988 World Championship. Eight years later, restricted free agents. Those who are not tendered a qualifying offer will Young played for Wilson for the championship-winning Americans in the become unrestricted. Don Sweeney declined to identify the players who , which still stands as one of USA Hockey’s belong to this category. Current RFAs are David Pastrnak, Ryan brightest moments. Spooner, Noel Acciari, Tim Schaller, Joe Morrow, Zane McIntyre, Malcolm Subban, Austin Czarnik, and Colton Hargrove. The 1996 win served as a sharp contrast to one of Young’s first opportunities to represent his country. In 1985, while playing for St. Dave Tippett and the Coyotes parted ways on Thursday. Tippett’s Mark’s in Southborough, Young participated in the World Junior legacy: five straight playoff DNQs, although he hardly had the horses to Championship. The Yanks finished sixth out of eight teams. make it past Game No. 82. Tippett follows 40-year-old Shane Doan (six goals in 74 games) out of the desert. At least it’s a dry heat. “We were over in Finland playing against Finland on Christmas Day,” Young recalled. “I remember playing against what it felt like, to me, were men. I was just a kid. I wasn’t fully grown yet. To go from that experience, where we didn’t win many games, to the next one in 1986, we won the Fluto Shinzawa bronze. It was the first medal USA Hockey had won at the World Junior Boston Globe LOADED: 06.25.2017 Championship. It was just a learning process. So to see where USA Hockey is now, winning gold medals at every level, is amazing.” It has not been a good offseason so far for Washington. The Capitals’ second-round playoff exit was compounded with the loss of Nate Schmidt in expansion. Washington already had committed to not bringing back unrestricted free agent defensemen and Karl Alzner. Following Schmidt’s loss, GM Brian MacLellan is down three defensemen, with few options in the pipeline or in free cash to fill the holes. Madison Bowey and Christian Djoos, who have combined for zero NHL games, are the franchise’s leading internal options for promotions. MacLellan has to save his dough for Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, and Brett Connolly, who are restricted. The team’s early departure feels even more painful now. It is about time the Islanders got John Tavares help. The world-class center did well to score 28 goals and 38 assists in 2016-17 with Josh Bailey and Anders Lee as his primary linemates. Neither Bailey nor Lee qualify as first-line material to the degree that Jordan Eberle will fit the description. Eberle, acquired from Edmonton for underwhelming center Ryan Strome, should be a good fit for Tavares as a shoot-first right wing. The 27-year-old has been a consistent finisher for the Oilers since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2010-11. Eberle scored 20 goals in 2016- 17, the sixth straight year he has reached that threshold (a prorated 27 goals in lockout-shortened 2012-13). The acquisition is also GM ’s signal to Tavares that the Islanders mean business. Tavares is eligible to be unrestricted next summer. The franchise center could hit a four-bagger on the open market. The Islanders have no intention of letting things proceed that far. The Oilers moved Eberle partly because of cap issues. They moved Eberle’s $6 million annual cap hit to accommodate the pending raises of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Strome is due $2.5 million in 2017- 18, after which he will be restricted. For GM Peter Chiarelli, acquiring Strome is similar to his deal in Boston for Connolly. Strome was the fifth overall pick in 2011. Connolly went sixth overall in 2010. In retrospect, Strome was a reach for the Islanders as a top-five selection, just as Connolly was for Tampa Bay. The fit is better in Edmonton for Strome than it was on Long Island and Brooklyn. If he stays in the middle, the ex- Islander will be behind McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, which should allow for more favorable matchups against bottom-pairing defensemen. Mikhail Sergachev was one of the three best amateur defensemen last year alongside Charlie McAvoy and Thomas Chabot. McAvoy already has graduated to the NHL. Sergachev is likely to join him. Sergachev, acquired by Tampa Bay from Montreal in the Jonathan Drouin trade, is coming off a 10-33—43 season with the , the Memorial Cup champions. Not only is Sergachev ready, the Lightning have a left- side vacancy following the expansion departure of veteran Jason Garrison. The 32-year-old Garrison has experience that the teenage Sergachev does not. But Garrison’s game has slowed to the point where he became Tampa’s odd man out. Sergachev will join a talented crew of Russians in Tampa: Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Vladislav Namestnikov. Columbus claimed two awards Thursday. Sergei Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie, while John Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach. The trophies usually go hand in hand. In 2015-16, Braden Holtby and Barry Trotz turned the trick. In 2008-09, Tim Thomas won the first of his two career Vezinas to accompany Claude Julien’s Jack Adams win. In 1996-97, Dominik Hasek and Ted Nolan claimed their respective hardware for the Sabres. The dual wins underscore an old saying: A great goalie makes his coach look really smart. Kevin Dean, promoted from Providence head coach to Bruins assistant, will be on the bench in 2017-18. Dean, a former defenseman, ran the defense for Bruce Cassidy in Providence, which makes it likely he will perform the same duties in Boston. Joe Sacco, an ex-forward, oversaw the defense after Julien’s firing. Cassidy has yet to determine whether one of his coaches (Jay Pandolfo is the likeliest candidate) will be in the 1069021 Boston Bruins

Bruins draft Jack Studnicka in second round

Steve Conroy Saturday, June 24, 2017

CHICAGO--The Bruins chose Oshawa center Jack Studnicka with their second round selection (53rd overall) on Saturday morning at the United Center. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound pivot is considered to be a heady, responsible playmaker. He had 18-34-52 totals in 64 games with the Generals last year and then rose to the occasion in the playoffs, posting 5-10-15 totals in 11 postseason games. He popped in three goals in six games for Canada in the world U-18 tournament. “I think I'm a two-way centerman who's trusted in all three zones but at the same time can contribute to the offense when he has to. I'm a reliable centerman who can put up numbers,” said the right-shooting Studnicka. He doesn't get caught up too much in comparisons. “No one specific, but being in Oshawa I got to a lot of Leafs games and Tyler Bozak was a reliable centerman who was their top faceoff guy, he was very versatile. Some nights he's playing power-play and he plays the penalty kill. That's one guy that sticks out, but other than that, I think I'm pretty original,” said Studnicka. Studnicka expects to be in Oshawa again next year, but he doesn't want to concede anything, either. “Obviously I have to develop, I have to get stronger and put some weight on. So I think I'm going to have a great year in Oshawa,” said Studnicka. “But at the same time, I'm going into camp with the mentality that I want to make the team and make it a difficult decision.” The B's do not have a third round choice, which was sent to Philadelphia in the Zac Rinaldo trade two years ago.

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069022 Boston Bruins “I have to get some strength, get my shot better, (work) on the offensive blue line,” he said. “That’s what I have to work on.”

So the Bruins and their fans have to hope he is successful in making the Harris: Don Sweeney surprises when Bruins draft unheralded Urho needed improvements, and becomes very quickly more than just a hard- Vaakanainen to-spell name on a list — but an actual contributing part of the team’s lineup. Stephen Harris Saturday, June 24, 2017 Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 Urho Vaakanainen was very surprised he was selected by the Bruins with the 18th pick in the NHL draft last night at the United Center. He was not alone. As they have so many times before, the Bruins, at least to an extent, eschewed the consensus predraft prognostications in selecting the smooth-skating, quick 18-year-old Finnish defenseman. Before the draft opened, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney also was at work on another task: Trying to trade his No. 18 pick and maybe other considerations to acquire a veteran defenseman. That deal failed to materialize. “I was on record beforehand saying we would be offering our first-round pick for targeted, specific players, and we did do that,” said Sweeney. “I don’t blame teams for not wanting to do it. So we were comfortable with our pick and continuing to build what we think is a good group of guys.” There was predraft speculation the B’s were interested in Minnesota’s Marco Scandella, a 27-year-old defenseman with $4 million a year left on his contract for the next three years. Scandella did not move. Sweeney said he will continue his search for a suitable trade to upgrade the rearguard during Day 2 of the draft today, and beyond. The B’s also explored trading down in the first round. “But we were excited when Urho was still there,” said the GM. But it probably would have surprised many if he hadn’t been. The site mynhldraft.com nailed the B’s choice of Vaakanainen with its preview, but other sites ranked him 27th, 28th and 32nd, which would have dropped him into Round 2. There was speculation the 6-foot-1, 185- pound left-shooting blueliner might be around for the B’s second-round pick at No. 53. “Good skater, good size, but not really with lot of real higher end talent,” said Red Line Report scout Kirk Luedeke after the pick. “He’s got the size and the length and the skating to be a player, but he’s kind of vanilla. He doesn’t have the wow factor. “I had him as a second-round pick. Some scouting services had him pretty high, like the middle of the first round. I wasn’t one of them. It’s interesting. They must really like him.” Fans with a perspective on unfortunate choices by the Bruins in years past could not be blamed for taking a cynical view on this pick, and thinking about other European defensemen picked by the team, including Lars Jonsson (No. 7 overall in 2000), Yuri Alexandrov (No. 37 in 2006) and Linus Arnesson (No. 60 in 2013). The Bruins’ scouts touted all three as terrific prospects, but they played little or not at all in the NHL. But with the negativity out of the way, listen to Sweeney on the kid, and Vaakanainen — yeah, we have to get used to spelling that name — on himself: “He’s a confident kid,” Sweeney said. “I think he understands what his strengths are, in describing himself as a very, very good skater. He’s got confidence because he’s played against men the last 11⁄2 years (in the Finnish elite league). That came across in his interview and I’m sure with (the press). “We think there’s a lot of upside on both sides — as a 200-foot player, getting back, being able to transition pucks, and also being able to cover the ice.” Indeed, Vaakanainen was candid and confident in speaking about his strengths and the areas he knows he has to improve. “I think I’m a great skater, I’m good with the puck, I make a good first pass,” he said. “I’m the complete package, a two-way defenseman. I was expecting to be taken in the first round, (but) I wasn’t expecting to be taken by Boston.” And the areas he’ll seek to improve on when he returns to the Finnish JYP club next season. He will take part at development camp with the B’s next month, when fans can get a firsthand look. 1069023 Boston Bruins

Draft process still a crapshoot for Bruins

Steve Conroy Sunday, June 25, 2017

CHICAGO — There is no bigger crapshoot than the NHL draft. While washouts Alexandre Daigle, Lars Jonsson and Zach Hamill were top-10 picks, others including Pavel Datsyuk and had every team pass on them at least five times before they heard their names called on draft day. Such things happen when you’re selecting 18-year-old talents to play a man’s game. But before any mistakes — or hidden gems — are revealed, optimism abounds at the draft. And with that in mind, Bruins assistant general manager Scott Bradley, who oversaw the amateur scouting after the departure of Keith Gretzky last summer, gave a thumb’s up to a half dozen teenagers. “It wasn’t sexy, but I think we did well in addressing a lot of our needs,” said Bradley. During Friday’s first round and yesterday’s rounds 2-7, the Bruins chose three defensemen (Urho Vaakanainen, Victor Berglund, Daniel Bukac), two forwards (Jack Studnicka, Cedric Pare) and a goaltender (Jeremy Swayman). According to Bradley, the draft may have lacked the generational player similar to Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine, but there was significant depth of talent. He hopes Vaakanainen, who is under contract for one more year in the Finnish Elite League, is the closest to NHL-ready of all the players the team selected. And, yes, the NHL draft is also a time for lofty comparisons. “His skating is close to a 5 (the top grade) in our system. He’s a left shot. We compared him in skating to (Paul) Coffey at times. He’s a really mobile, transitional defenseman. He’s been playing pro for two years, so he’s got good mileage underneath him. We’re looking forward to seeing him at (development) camp,” said Bradley. “We need to get him into the gym and get him on our program. We hope he’s the closest, but Pare, he’s a developed kid. He went to the Memorial Cup and we see good things for him. We think we got good value with that pick.” Pare, who the team selected in the sixth round (No. 173 overall), was a curious pick. He did not have impressive numbers (five goals, 11 assists) in 64 games for Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he was a teammate of Jakub Zboril, who was the Bruins’ top pick two years ago. But the B’s targeted Pare and clearly liked him quite a bit. Some talent evaluators believe he needs to work on his skating, but Bradley wasn’t as concerned about that. “Over the course of the year, he’s picked it up a little bit as far as his skating. What we liked is his energy,” said Bradley. The B’s first pick on Day 2 of the NHL draft was Studnicka, a two-way centerman from Oshawa. “We liked his skill. He had a very good under-18s. Very skilled. He’s been a late bloomer, too. He came on, had a strong second half and good playoff, over-a-point-a-game guy in the OHL playoffs,” said Bradley. “We think he can play both wing and center. He’s got room to develop. He’s 6- (foot-)2 but his frame is light.” This was Bradley’s first time running the amateur side of things in about a decade and he said he was energized by the new approach to the scouting game. “Yeah, it’s like riding a bicycle,” he said with a chuckle. “It was good. I worked closely with the staff and obviously it’s a whole different staff than when I was running it before. I enjoyed it.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069024 Boston Bruins So another trading opportunity has come and gone and the holes remain. Maybe the future looks a wee bit better. But the ticket buyers are more concerned about the here and now. Harris: Only time will tell if Cam Neely’s faith in Bruins scouts will pay off with first-round draft pick Urho Vaakanainen Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017

Stephen Harris Sunday, June 25, 2017

CHICAGO — Cam Neely knows very well that Bruins fans anticipated major action by the organization on draft weekend, wheeling and dealing with some of the club’s myriad stockpiled prospects and picks to acquire a player or two who could lead to something more than an, “Oh, well, good try” kind of playoff showing. Neely also knows that his team’s first-round draft choice Friday — defensemen Urho Vaakanainen, who posted a paltry two goals and four assists in 41 games this past season for the Finnish elite club JYP — may not exactly have thrilled the B’s faithful. Red Line Report scout Kirk Luedeke termed the player, “Kind of vanilla. He doesn’t have the wow factor.” Now, in his job as team president, it’s doubtful Neely spent too much time scouting games in Finland. But he takes the scouting staff’s word for it that the 6-foot-1, 18-year-old Vaakanainen will prove to be a wise pick. And as Rounds 2-7 were completed yesterday at the United Center, Neely said the Bruins did try hard to trade for that elusive left-shot defenseman who can give their too-thin group a bit more quality, balance and depth. “We were hoping to get something done,” Neely said. “It’s not a secret we’re looking for a left-shot (defenseman). We thought we had the assets that would allow us to get something done, but in the conversations we had the asking price was a little higher than we were willing to go. When we decided that it made sense to put our first-round pick in play this year we felt that, with the players we’ve drafted in the recent past — and where they’re tracking developmentally — we could part with the first- round pick to try and improve our club immediately.” It didn’t happen, and the B’s headed home with six new names on their list of prospects, but no help for next season. “We’re not giving up,” Neely said. “There’s still a lot of time.” Indeed, the next opportunity to fill that blue line hole rolls around next weekend, when the free agent market opens. The B’s will kick the tires on unrestricted free agents like Karl Alzner and Dmitri Kulikov, but the price will be steep. So B’s fans are stuck for now with the consolation prize of Vaakanainen. “Very, very good skater,” Neely said. “Makes a really good first pass. He sees the ice well and he has a good hockey IQ. He’s a good defender. He’s a very confident kid. . . . You can never have enough (defensemen). Our guys were excited about him.” Neely must have gotten a look at the Boston papers yesterday morning before the 9 a.m. start to the draft, because he twice referenced the Red Line Report scout’s less-than-glowing critique of the Vaakanainen pick. “Yeah, well, I think if I’m not mistaken, the Red Line Report had Charlie McAvoy rated 32nd,” Neely said of the B’s 14th overall pick in 2016, who has already shown signs of NHL stardom. “We’ve got to trust in our staff and scouts. They’re out there for us looking at players. In any draft, unless you’re picking one or two or three, there’s always going to be questions: ‘Did you pick the right guy? Should he have gone higher or lower?’ All the reports I read from our scouts, and being at all the scouting meetings, our guys were really high on this player. “So I can’t look at what Red Line and all these other scouting services out there are saying. They don’t work for the Bruins. I mean, there were reports that (David) Pastrnak (the 25th pick in 2014) and McAvoy went higher than they should have. So, you know, listen: I can’t say with certainty that it’s going to turn out to be the right pick. But our scouts feel it was. Time will tell.” Meantime, there are lineup holes that still must be filled. “We still have some . . . I don’t want to say hole . . . but gaps at certain positions,” Neely said. “Take our right (defenseman), for example: We don’t really have any right (defenseman) coming other than we have up in Boston. We look at center. And I’d put goalie on the list, too.” 1069025 Boston Bruins Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 Bruins notebook: Jack Studnicka continues Oshawa-B’s pipeline

Steve Conroy Sunday, June 25, 2017

CHICAGO — Jack Studnicka did not know much about Bruins lore, but the Oshawa Generals center became part of a pretty historic pipeline. Studnicka, taken by the B’s in the second round (53rd overall) of the NHL draft yesterday, hopes to join Generals before him like Bobby Orr, Terry O’Reilly and Rick Middleton to pull on the Black and Gold jersey and have a long and prosperous career. “I wasn’t aware of that, but it’s pretty special that the two organizations have a good relationship and I’m excited to be a part of it now,” said Studnicka yesterday inside the United Center. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder appears to fit the prototype of a modern day pivot, with an emphasis on being a 200-foot player. Studnicka counts his vision and play-making abilities as positives, while he needs to work on his initial burst. “I think I’m a two-way centerman who’s trusted in all three zones but at the same time can contribute to the offense when he has to. I’m a reliable centerman who can put up numbers,” said Studnicka, who doesn’t necessarily model his game after anyone in particular. “No one specific, but being in Oshawa, I got to a lot of (Toronto Maple) Leafs games and Tyler Bozak was a reliable centerman who was their top faceoff guy, he was very versatile. Some nights he’s playing power play and he plays the penalty kill. That’s one guy that sticks out, but other than that, I think I’m pretty original.” He said he met with the Bruins two or three times during the process. “I kind of went into the draft with an open mind. I didn’t have too many expectations, just enjoy the day, and enjoy the experience. And I’m glad that it was Boston,” said Studnicka. “Our meeting at the combine was pretty casual, it was just getting to know each other a little more. I think my relationship with Boston was to the point that I knew enough about them and they knew enough about me. I think the combine was a little more relaxed, but I did feel good about it.” Studnicka was a bit of a late riser. He had a strong Oshawa season with 18-34-52 totals in 64 games, then had a strong playoff (5-10-11 in 10 postseason games). He also had a good showing at the world U-18 tournament with three goals in six games. “Oshawa’s put me in a position to succeed my whole time there. My first year there we were in rebuild so it was a great opportunity for me to be put in situations a lot of 16-year-olds weren’t able to,” he said. Studnicka expects to be back in Oshawa next year, but doesn’t want to concede anything, either. “Obviously I have to develop, I have to get stronger and put some weight on. So I think I’m going to have a great year in Oshawa,” said Studnicka. “But at the same time, I’m going into camp with the mentality that I want to make the team and make it a difficult decision.” The B’s went with a goaltender in the fourth round, taking the ’s Jeremy Swayman. “We’re really excited about (Swayman), Bob Essensa (the B’s goalie coach) really liked and scouted him. Most of our staff was on board. We had targeted another goalie, but he went before our sixth pick,” said assistant general manager Scott Bradley. Swayman was watching the draft back home in Alaska. “I think I emulate Braden Holtby the most, personally, just for his quickness and athleticism and how he reacts to the puck,” said Swayman, who is committed to the University of Maine. Zachary Lauzon has the bragging rights in his household. He was taken by Pittsburgh with the 51st pick, nipping his brother, Jeremy, who was taken by the Bruins two years ago with the 52nd selection. . . . The Bruins were without a third-round pick, due to the Zac Rinaldo trade two years ago, or a fifth-rounder, thanks to the John-Michael Liles trade. 1069026 Boston Bruins

Plenty of Massachusetts talent taken on second day of NHL draft

Stephen Harris Sunday, June 25, 2017

CHICAGO — Several Massachusetts players heard their names called about where expected on Day 2 of the NHL entry draft. All described it, one way or another, as the biggest thrill of their young lives. These four went in the third and fourth rounds yesterday: • Defenseman Ben Mirageas of Newburyport, who will enter Providence College in the fall, was drafted in the third round (No. 77 overall) by the . • Defenseman Reilly Walsh of North Falmouth, on his way to Harvard, was another third-rounder (81st) who went to the New Jersey Devils. • Goalie Keith Petruzzelli of Wilbraham, heading to Quinnipiac University, was taken in the third (88th) by the Detroit Red Wings. • Defenseman Jack Rathbone of West Roxbury, going to Harvard along with Walsh, was chosen in Round 4 (95th) by the Vancouver Canucks. “It’s awesome,” said Rathbone of having all four Massachusetts players drafted within a few minutes of each other at the United Center. “I mean, this is what we’ve been dreaming about since we were little kids. I’m good buddies with all these kids. I was rooting for them. Just to hear their names called, and eventually mine, it was a dream come true.” Several youngsters already playing for Boston-area colleges, or set to begin doing so in the fall, were also drafted. Boston University made it five first-rounders in two years when goalie Jake Oettinger (26th, Dallas Stars) and center Shane Bowers (28th, Ottawa Senators) were taken. BU also saw defenseman David Farrance selected (third round, 92nd) by the Nashville Predators. Merrimack College defenseman Johnny Kovacevic went to the (third round, 74th) and Northeastern goalie Cayden Primeau went to the Montreal Canadiens (seventh round, 199th). “To hear my name called was a huge relief,” Mirageas said. “It’s definitely been a really hectic couple of months, but it’s also been the best couple of months of my life so far. I just want to thank my family and all my coaches and teammates. I couldn’t have gotten here without all of them.” Mirageas cites New York Rangers blueliner Brady Skjei as a player he emulates. “He’s just a tremendous skater,” Mirageas said. “He likes to create transition as seamlessly as possible and put up points.” Walsh gave credit to his father, Mike, who had a brief stint with the Islanders and is the longtime coach at New Hampshire’s Proctor Academy. “Growing up with my dad, he wasn’t in the NHL for long, but he did make it,” Walsh said. “It kind of put things in perspective for me that anything is possible. That opened my eyes right away. He did make it, though he didn’t stay very long. So that will be motivation for me to be better than he was — not in a competitive way, but in taking everything he learned and taught me, and using it to my advantage. My dad is everything to me. . . . I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere without him.” The 6-foot-6 Petruzzelli was delighted to find himself wearing Red Wings red. “It’s hard to put into words,” Petruzzelli said. “It’s such a great feeling. It’s a great franchise. You never know what’s going to happen, Obviously it’s a huge honor to be drafted by Detroit. I can’t wait to get started. I’m going to be hitting the gym and trying to put some muscle mass on.” Like the other Massachusetts kids, Petruzzelli had plenty of family on hand. “My brother, little sister, mom, dad, both my uncles, my grand dad,” he said. “I think my dad might have been the loudest guy in the building. He was going a little crazy. And there were tears from my mom. It’s awesome.”

Boston Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069027 Boston Bruins So let’s sum it all up after a week of additions and subtractions from the Original Six organization: The Bruins added a decidedly vanilla defenseman in the first round of the NHL Draft that might be a simple Haggerty: Bruins playing it pretty safe at the NHL Draft stay-at-home guy, and they weren’t able to muster any kind of deals for a D-man or winger to enhance the NHL roster. On the other hand, they didn’t give up much over the week as well and they didn’t do much at all to harm a solid roster that looked like they were finally on the right track By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 1:07 AM pushing into the playoffs last season. The Bruins could be in store for an action-packed Day Two of the draft on Saturday full of promising prospects and bountiful trades, but it sure feels CHICAGO – As opening nights go at the NHL Draft, Friday night was a like the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago isn’t going to be a very memorable bit of a ho-hum affair for the Boston Bruins at the United Center home of one for the Black and Gold. the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Bruins went the safe route by drafting a smooth, defensive-minded defenseman with the 18th overall pick when they selected Finnish Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 product Urho Vaakenainen, and in doing so left more dynamic forwards like Kristian Vesalainen and Kailer Yamamoto still on the draft board for other teams to claim as their own. It was a bit of a curious choice given how many defensemen the Bruins already have in the prospect pipeline, but the lack of strength in the draft class seemed to lead teams to carve their own paths looking for players. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder clearly has miles to go offensively despite his smooth skating and solid passing skills, but there’s also a consideration that the teenager has been playing in the men’s league in Finland for the last couple of seasons. It makes things a little more difficult to project for the Finn D-man, but the Bruins believe there is some upside to his offensive game given the skills, the hockey IQ and the considerable confidence that the player has in his own game. “His gap control and skating ability are really good. He’s obviously played in the Finnish Elite League at a very young age for one and a half years now and he’s played on the big stage at the world juniors. We feel like there’s a lot of upside for a 200-foot player that gets back on pucks, and then can transition them back out. Being able to cover ice is an important part of the game, and it continues to evolve in that direction,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney, who indicated Vaakenainen will play in North America in 2018-19 after fulfilling his contractual obligations in Finland. “We tracked what he did on offense at the junior league level prior to him jumping to the elite league, and it lines up pretty well with other elite players that made the jump to that level. “It’s a valid question and whether he gets put into those [offensive] situations this year is what we’re excited about with his [Finnish] team moving forward.” While Vaakenainen sounded surprised the Bruins selected him after only a single meeting at the NHL scouting combine, Sweeney said that Boston’s head scout in Finland has enough history with the family to vouch for the kid’s makeup. So while it’s far from a sexy pick and the Bruins could have tried to hit a home run with an 18th overall selection in a mediocre draft, the B’s will also get some time before anybody is ready to label the Finnish blueliner a boom or a bust. The rest of the draft night didn’t add up to much for the B’s, however. They made the selection of Vaakenainen after strongly considering dropping down in the first round, and in doing so lost one of the better trade chips in the form of their 2017 first round pick. There were discussions with Minnesota about Marco Scandella and a few trade feelers to other clubs that might listen on a D-man, but the Bruins now have to hit the reset button on trade discussions for left-shot defensemen or top-6 left wings. Perhaps Scandella’s $4 million per season salary was an issue for the Bruins, or maybe the Bruins didn’t want to give up their first round pick for a 27-year-old D-man coming off a so-so season with the Wild. Either way, there wasn’t enough momentum for the Bruins to get a trade done with a bevy of defensemen rumored to be available if the offer is good enough. “I was on the record saying that we’d be offering our first round pick for target-specific players, and we did do that,” said Sweeney. “I don’t blame teams for not necessarily wanting to go through with it, so we went ahead with a player we wanted with our own pick. We continue to build what we think is a good group of guys moving forward. “There are a couple of areas we’d like to address and get better. We’re trying to help our team currently. Certainly Brandon [Carlo] jumped into our lineup and we hope Charlie [McAvoy] will carry over what he did, and we have other players that will push. We have six returning defensemen we feel good about and we’ll certainly push from underneath, but it’s an area we’ll continue to address. We have some forwards that we also hope will come online, but we’ll never stop exploring and trying to improve our club.” 1069028 Boston Bruins

BRUINS GO FOR A DEFENSIVE PROJECT LATE WITH DANIEL BUKAC

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 6:30 PM

CHICAGO – The Bruins finished up their 2017 NHL Draft class with a bit of a project, but a 6-foot-5 defenseman with some great skating wheels is a pretty good way to go with a seventh round pick. The B’s nabbed Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Daniel Bukac with the 204th pick in the draft, and admitted afterward that he’s an ultra-big bodied player that could take some time in the development process. Bruins assistant GM Scott Bradley said Boston is more than happy to be patient with Bukac given the tools that he’s working with as an 18-year- old prospect. Bukac had two goals and 17 points to go along with 38 penalty minutes in his first season in North America after coming over from the Czech Republic, and Bradley said that B’s scouts noted that he continued to improve and get comfortable as the season wore on. "He's raw. He's a project. [He’s a] kid from the Czech Republic that played in the Western Hockey League,” said Bradley. “At the start of the year - he's come leaps and bounds with his development. Talking to the people - the coaches, the management, and the GM in Brandon, they're very excited about him coming back to Brandon. They're expecting big things from him. We look forward to seeing him in camp." Bukac is starting to garner some good international experience after playing for the Czechs in the Under-18’s and the Ivan Hinkla Tournament, but this weekend it was all about his addition to the talented group of Bruins prospects in the hockey world. "I'm so excited to be drafted by the Boston Bruins," said Bukac, who described himself as a solid two-way defenseman with a good first pass. "It's an awesome feeling. I'm so glad that I was drafted by Boston."

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BRUINS TAKE A FLIER ON SKILLED VICTOR BERGLUND IN 7TH ROUND

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 5:59 PM

CHICAGO – While the Bruins went strong two-way defenseman early in the 2017 NHL Draft, they took a shot at a more offensive-minded Swedish defenseman late with seventh-round pick of Victor Berglund. The six-foot, 165-pound Berglund clearly has a way to go in physical development and will need to get much bigger and stronger before he’s potentially ready for the North American pro ranks, but B’s assistant GM Scott Bradley raved about the Swedish defenseman’s skill set and potential. He also noted that Boston’s entire European scouting contingent, including former B’s forward PJ Axelsson, were fully on board with taking a flier on a talented player that simply needs to develop in the Swedish hockey system. “Our Swedish guys were on top of Berglund. They think he’s a mobile D, he’s ultra-skilled and he skates well. He’s a six-footer, but [PJ Axelsson, Svenake Svensson and Victor Nybladh] were all pounding the table for him,” said Bradley. “We went along with it and I think we might have something there. Talking to his strength coach after the fact he’s working on putting some muscle and weight on, so we look forward to seeing him at development camp.” In 62 games at three different levels, Berglund posted five goals and 18 points last season and displayed the kind of speed, creativity and play- making that one needs from their defensemen in today’s NHL. "I'm an offensive defenseman, who likes to play with the puck, with a great short pass," said Berglund. "I like to follow the rush up ice and want the puck." It will be a matter of building size and strength and for Berglund to continue developing his game in Sweden for the time being, but the Bruins are certainly happy with him at the 195th pick in Saturday’s second day of the draft.

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PARE 'BRINGS ENERGY' AS BIG-BODIED, SIXTH-ROUND BRUINS PICK

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 4:38 PM

CHICAGO – The Bruins aren’t ever going to shy away from big, strong centers with a willingness to play on the physical side, so it was no surprise they selected big French-Canadian center Cedric Pare in the sixth round of the NHL Draft Saturday at the United Center. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Pare was described as “a project” by Bruins assistant general manager Scott Bradley, who said that he’s looking forward to the big-bodied forward playing a top-six role in the QMJHL next season. Pare had five goals and 16 points in 64 games for the before posting three points in 18 playoff games. Bradley said the Bruins hope to see more offense as he gets more exposure as a player. “Pare is a developed kid that we got in the sixth round. He went to the Memorial Cup and we’ve seen good things from him. We think we got good value there,” said Bradley. “He plays with a lot of energy and I think his skating is undervalued. Over the course of the year he really picked it up with his skating, and his stride has lengthened a little bit. We just like that he plays with energy and he scored in the Memorial Cup despite playing a limited role. “He was playing on the fourth line last year. I think this year he’ll be playing on one of their top lines as a top-six forward and he’ll get a lot of ice time...hopefully get some good development there.” Pare indicated that the Bruins had shown interest in him throughout the season and he had an idea the Black and Gold might call his name in the later rounds. While there’s always room in the B’s prospect cupboard for a big-bodied center that plays with plenty of energy, it remains to be seen if Pare was worth using a sixth-round pick on when there are plenty of big-bodied hockey players out there willing to play with energy and aggressiveness.

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BRUINS TAP MAINE-BOUND GOALIE SWAYMAN IN FOURTH ROUND

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 4:23 PM

CHICAGO – It was thought the Bruins might swing for the fences with Boston University goalie Jake Oettinger, particularly if they traded down in the first round, but they ended up filling their goalie quota on Saturday in the fourth round of the NHL Draft at the United Center. The B’s selected University of Maine-bound Jeremy Swayman with the 111th pick in the draft after an impressive run for the Alaska native at Sioux Falls as a junior hockey player. The 6-foot-2, 183-pound Swayman posted a 2.90 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in 32 games for a poor Sioux City junior team, but distinguished himself with his size, athleticism and competitiveness as the rare goalie prospect to come out of the great state of Alaska. Swayman was eating breakfast in his Alaskan home while watching himself get drafted by the Bruins. Needless to say, he was pumped as he readies for his first season in . “I’ve been working my whole life for this and just to kind of have the notion of, your work has paid off in a small area of time or a small trinket, it’s very worth all of the hard times and tough times, and kind of working at everything for it. It’s kind of a token back and just an incredible opportunity for sure,” said Swayman, who said he models his game after Braden Holtby while also envying Tuukka Rask’s flexibility. “I would describe myself as a challenge goalie. So, a competitive goalie just kind of fighting through traffic at all times. Being able to see the puck from anywhere on the ice, whether there is a screen in front or a point shot and, of course, a point blank shot. Again, I trust my ability on my skates. I have good feet. I can stay up longer than most goalies in situations where they would have to slide. So, I can stay up and cover more net on a backdoor pass, per say. I also like to cut down the angle a lot.” Bruins assistant GM Scott Bradley admitted that Swayman wasn’t the first choice of everybody at the B’s draft table, but said the scouts were confident making him the pick after another goalie was taken off the board before him. There were three goalies taken in the fourth round, including Prince Albert netminder Ian Scott taken one pick before the B’s selection, so it’s difficult to tell which other goalie Boston had their eyes on. Clearly, the hope now is that Swayman follows in a proud tradition of stud Black Bears goalies that include Ben Bishop, Jimmy Howard, Scott Darling, Mike Dunham and Garth Snow, and that the B’s have drafted a new goalie of the future with Malcolm Subban and Zane McIntyre in the AHL. “He’s a goalie that [Bruins goalie coach] Bob Essensa had really liked, and had scouted him. Most of our staff was on board with the goalie. We targeted another goalie, but he just went before our pick,” said Bruins assistant GM Scott Bradley. “We heard good things from [the University of Maine] staff there, and we did our due diligence on him. We’re happy with him.” It remains to be seen how Swayman develops in college, but the B’s hope it’s a steady, ascending development like that of McIntyre after they drafted him prior to his starring run at North Dakota.

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BRUINS GO FOR SOME SKILL WITH STUDNICKA PICK IN SECOND ROUND

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 4:01 PM

CHICAGO – The Bruins aimed for one of their “skill” picks in the second round when they nabbed Oshawa Generals center Jack Studnicka with the 53rd selection in the NHL Draft Saturday at the United Center. Studnicka, 18, took a jump with scouts this season while scoring 18 goals and 52 points in 64 games for the Generals and dominated the Memorial Cup playoffs with five goals and 15 points in ten games. Couple that with three goals in three games at the World Under-18’s, and the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder is the kind of forward prospect that Boston was happy to add to their draft class as a center or a possible right wing. “He had a very good Under-18’s and he’s very skilled. He’s a late bloomer too. He came around and had a good second half and a strong playoff where he was a point-per-game player in the OHL playoffs,” said Bruins assistant GM Scott Bradley, who oversaw this weekend’s draft after the departure of head scout Keith Gretzky. “We addressed a need there because we think we can play both wing and center, and that he’s got room to develop. He’s close to 6-foot-2 but the frame is light, so we look forward to working with him and seeing what we develop there.” Studnicka was happy to be selected by the Bruins on the second day of the draft and said he models his game after Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak while closely watching the Leafs games as a good Ontario boy should. “I think I’m a two-way centerman that’s trusted in all three zones of the ice, but at the same time, I can contribute to the offense when I have to. I am a reliable center that can put up numbers. Being in Oshawa I got to a lot of Leafs games, and Tyler Bozak was a really reliable centerman, a good face-off guy and he’s very versatile while some nights playing power play and some nights playing penalty kill.” Interestingly enough Studnicka was coached by Torey Krug’s dad, Kyle, when he played for the Detroit Belle Tire Minor Midgets and the Krug paterfamilias gave his stamp of approval on the B’s pick. “Very cerebral,” said Kyle Krug to CSN while also mentioning that Studnicka’s dad played at the University of Maine. “Tremendous compete level. Really good skill. Good feet. Terrific work ethic off and on the ice. Great teammate.” Clearly, Studnicka sounds like a Bruins-type prospect with the reliability, smarts and skillful upside, and the B’s can only hope he develops into a true Studnicka on the ice over the next couple of years while working his way to the NHL.

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MORNING SKATE: DEVILS GET A GOOD ONE IN NO. 1 PICK HISCHIER

By Joe Haggerty June 24, 2017 12:00 PM

Here are all the links from around the hockey world, and what I’m reading, while locking the name Urho Vaakenainen into my Microsoft World spellcheck. *The New Jersey Devils got a No. 1 overall pick that isn’t going to be a generational player, but he’s going to be one heck of a player. *PHT writer Cam Tucker has fired Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett indicating that he needed a change after a long run in the desert. *The Edmonton Oilers cleared cap space by dealing Jordan Eberle and immediately filled it up with a four-year commitment to Kris Russell. Peter Chiarelli must make sure he doesn’t paint himself into a salary cap corner like he did in Boston with signings like this one. Word is that Connor McDavid is going to command a massive contract, and that could make contracts like the Russell one tough to manage in Edmonton. *Old friend Claude Julien is only a spectator at the NHL Draft, but he’s already juggling the Habs roster in his mind as it goes through changes. Both Julien and Shawn Thornton came over to shoot the breeze with the Boston media on Friday night as the first round approached, and showed once again why both men are on the All-Class team. *The Winnipeg Jets took a guy that I thought made a lot of sense for the Bruins, big Finnish power forward Kristian Vesalainen. He was available for the Bruins at the 18th pick when they opted to go defense instead. *The Washington Capitals decided not to let winger TJ Oshie get to free agency, and locked him up with an eight-year contract. *Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka is in the middle of the storm right now as he blows up his team and begins to build it the way he wants to. For something completely different: Everything you always wanted to know about Sammy Hagar but were afraid to ask.

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Sabres set development camp for July 8-11

By Mike Harrington Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO -- The Sabres have released the schedule for their annual summer development camp, with all free public sessions taking place in HarborCenter from July 8-11. The French Connection Tournament, the annual 3-on-3 challenge, will highlight the final day and start at 9:15 a.m. on July 11. The goals of the camp are to introduce prospective players to professional work habits and organizational standards, as well as the resources of the Sabres development staff.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069035 Buffalo Sabres "He's very mobile, likes to pass the puck and move the puck," said Crisp. "He's a late bloomer that's coming along nice. Our scouts have tracked him for the last two years and we know him well." Sabres Notebook: Top European goalie picked; Buffalo goes for The pick came at No. 89 overall. It was their second pick of the third unknown in third round round, acquired last year from Washington in the deadline-week trade for defenseman Mike Weber. By JOHN VOGL AND MIKE HARRINGTON The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Bryson had three goals and 17 assists last season for Providence in his first year of American college hockey. He Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017 was the defense partner of Anthony Florentino, Buffalo's fifth-round pick in 2013. Florentino layed on the Friars' 2015 national championship that beat Jack Eichel and Boston University in the title game at the Frozen Four. CHICAGO – In the ideal scenario, Buffalo was going to draft a goaltender. The situation Saturday wasn’t only ideal, it was tops. His 20 points ranked third in the NCAA for first-year defensemen. The London, Ont., native played previously for Omaha in the USHL. The Sabres used a second-round selection on Finland’s Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen. He was the top-ranked European goalie prospect, according "Sometimes we undervalue players who step into college right away," to NHL Central Scouting, after leading his junior team to the league said General Manager Jason Botterill. "It's a big adjustment playing championship. against sometimes 23-24-year-olds. He stepped into a very good program and played very well. From a puck-moving ability, he did an Though he’s one to three years from coming to North America, excellent job this year." Luukkonen adds depth and talent to an organization that needed it, especially after being spurned by Cal Petersen. The Sabres started Day Two the same way they ended Day One – with a center. “It’s a great situation when you know there’s space for you to fit in,” Luukkonen in United Center. “You know there’s something to work for, Buffalo picked Sweden’s Marcus Davidsson with the sixth pick of the and you have a goal to work for. I think it’s a great situation.” second round. He plays professionally for Djurgardens of the , where he had five goals and nine points in 45 games. The Sabres are getting a goalie who’s been strapping on the pads since He added six goals and 10 points in nine games with Djurgardens' junior he could walk. He went straight to the net when he started playing street team. hockey, and he stayed in the crease as soon as there was ice under his feet. “Our Swedish scouts really thought that he was a player that had good hockey sense,” Botterill said. “Although his production may not be as “My older brother was a goalie,” Luukkonen said. “My older cousin, he high as some other players in the draft, he can certainly be a guy that was a goalie. It’s maybe in the family a little bit, but I also liked to watch contribute offensively but also play a good solid defensive game, too. He the goalie gear, the pads, the gloves. It was just great for me.” plays with pace, will get in the forecheck.” The 6-foot-4, 198-pounder admires Finnish countryman Pekka Rinne of Davidsson won a championship with his junior club in 2015-16. He put up Nashville. Both had postseason success this year. 17 goals and 40 points in 45 regular-season games and three goals and After recording a .916 save percentage and 1.78 goals-against average six points in six playoff games. He was named playoff MVP. during the regular season, Luukkonen led HPK Jr. to the league title. He The 6-foot, 191-pound center has represented Sweden on its silver- also backstopped Finland to the gold medal in the 2016 under-18 world medal teams at the 2016 under-18 world championship and the 2015 championship, where he was named to the all-tournament team. He Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He was ranked 12th among European skaters by earned a silver at this year’s under-18 tournament. NHL Central Scouting. “He fills the net out there,” said Jeff Crisp, the Sabres’ head amateur “Davidsson has a nice mature, two-way game that coaches will love,” scout. “There’s not much to shoot at when he’s in the net.” said Crisp. NHL Central Scouting says Luukkonen’s rebound control is excellent, as The Sabres closed their draft with the seventh-round selection of Linus his butterfly style. Weissbach, a left winger for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League. “There’s a lot of times it’s more like butterfly style, but still I like to play The native of Sweden came to North America this year and had 19 goals standing up,” Luukkonen said. “I would say I’m pretty calm. There’s no and 47 points in 49 games for Tri-City. problem for me to be the goalie and play in big situations or be in big The 5-foot-8, 161-pounder had 17 goals and 48 points in 44 games for situations.” Frolunda's junior team in 2015-16. He is scheduled to attend the He noticed that trait in a fellow Finn and member of the Sabres. Rasmus University of Wisconsin. Ristolainen scored the gold medal-winning goal in at the 2014 “A competitive player, certainly can bring an offensive flair, offensive world junior tournament. dynamic,” Botterill said. “The whole Finland went crazy, so I wasn’t the only one who went crazy Nico Hischier was not only the first pick of the NHL Draft, he won the there,” Luukkonen said. “It tells about him. He has the confidence to third annual E.J. McGuire Award. It’s named for the late Buffalo native make those plays. It was just great.” who ran NHL Central Scouting. While the goalie is looking forward to meeting Ristolainen at training The award is presented by the NHL to the draft prospect who best camp, they won’t be teammates for a few years. Luukkonen has more to exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, prove at home. competitiveness and athleticism. McGuire died at age 58 in 2011, leaving “I want to have a great season with a men’s team somewhere in Finland, behind his wife, Terry, and their two children, Jacqueline and Erin. He so it would be maybe one, two or three years when I have the great was the brother-in-law of Sabres equipment manager Rip Simonick. season with the men’s team,” he said. “After that, I would want to go to "This award doesn't focus on the on-ice skills and attributes of the Buffalo.” recipient, it focuses on the person," said Dan Marr, director of NHL The Sabres appeared to go off the board, and maybe way off it, to Central Scouting. "We saw the same type of passion and motivation to augment their organizational depth at defense by taking two players who do the right thing and do it to the best of your ability similar to the way did not show up on Central Scouting's list of top skaters. that E.J. strived.” In the third round, Buffalo took Finnish bluliner Oskari Laaksonen. In the fourth round, the Sabres went with Providence College freshman Jacob Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 Bryson. Laaksonen, 17, was listed on Eliteprospects.com as 5-foot-9 and 130 pounds but the NHL had him growing to 6-1, 165. He had six goals and 13 assists last season while splitting time between and Sarja in the Finnish junior leagues. Laaksonen himself cleared up the confusion over his stats by tweeting he's actually 6-0 1/2 and 154 pounds. 1069036 Buffalo Sabres "I wouldn't say he flew under the radar," insisted Crisp, a veteran of more than a decade with Anaheim who inherited his position when Greg Royce was shown the door along with Murray. "He wasn't under the radar for us Mike Harrington: Draft weekend gives a glimpse to Botterill's measured and that was the most important thing." approach The Sabres, remember, had to trade a third-rounder to get Dan Bylsma from Pittsburgh in 2015. You wonder about this one too. It was a bizarre pick, far too much of an outlier for an organization in need. By Mike Harrington At No. 92 -- three picks after Buffalo took Laaksonen -- Westeren Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017 Conference champion Nashville took Boston University-bound defenseman David Farrance of Rochester. Maybe he was penalized for saying at the NHL Scouting Combine his favorite former Sabres player was Derek Roy? CHICAGO -- Patience, patience, patience. With the first pick in the sixth round (No. 156), Colorado took Russian You're not going to like this. That's what the Buffalo Sabres are forward Denis Smirnov, who led NCAA freshmen in scoring last season preaching. Good luck to them. with 47 points. At Penn State. As in Terry Pegula's team. Seemed like a It's going to be a tough thing to ask for this season, with the restlessness weird guy to ignore. of the paying customers clearly bubbling. But there's an organizational Botterill said he'll be watching the Nittany Lions closely because they're reset going on, so Jason Botterill and Phil Housley are going to hammer with a burgeoning program, not just the owner's team. It sure seemed like that point home. another missed opportunity. Fans have to understand it and deal with it. And, truth be told, the media But quibbling about picks in the NHL Draft is a tough sport. The real work is going to have to be receptive to the idea too. Full disclosure from this is still at hand. The Sabres need more help on defense. It remains hard corner: We'll see how long that lasts. to see how trading Kane will be good for a club already offensively It was a strange weekend in the Windy City. The Sabres made no trades challenged, but it seems like he's going. at all, even as Botterill pointed out Friday his phone had been glued to Botterill said Housley, who did not meet the media, has spoken to Kane his ear the last six weeks. There were no NHL defensemen acquired. No and all the players but the GM said he's only "texted back and forth" with assets landed for Evander Kane, who provided the most entertainment of his leading returning goal scorer. Seems like there's not much the last two days with his devilishly clever emoji tweets. relationship-building going on there. Now, you can never truly gauge the NHL draft. In stock market terms, In the coming days, there will be an assistant GM hired, a coach for the these are almost all futures. This isn't the NFL, where your fifth-round Rochester Amerks and assistant coaches for Housley also brought on pick can become a starter this season. That's just not how it works. board. But it's still about Botterill and what immediate help he can bring. Want a sobering prediction? Other than first-rounder Casey Mittelstadt, Patience is fine and the long-term prism is likely the best bet at the draft. it's not likely we see any of these six draftees with the Sabres before the As for free agency, Botterill noted there's "not as much of that big bang" 2019-20 season. Maybe later. on July 1. He's looking for "value and depth." And there will be no immediate help from the surprise top choice. Botterill is going to take things slow. It's a measured approach, much Mittelstadt is going to the University of Minnesota for at least one season more like Darcy Regier than Murray. You have to trust the results of his and maybe two. That's how hockey works. Don't get fooled by Connor work in Pittsburgh. We all better settle in. McDavid, Austin Matthews and Jack Eichel. Other than picks in the top-5, few make the NHL in year one. So it's hard to offer in-depth analysis of players almost no one but the Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 team's scouts have seen. Botterill knows this franchise hasn't been to the playoffs in six years or won a single playoff series in a decade. But he's going on a slow roll here. There will be no more damning of the torpedos and full speed ahead. "If you ever get in a rush, that's when you do make mistakes," the new general manager said after the rapid-fire second day wrapped up Saturday in United Center. "The bottom line is you do have patience. But I know Phil Housley is competitive. I know I'm competitive. We want to be competitive. We want to make changes and be more competitive right off the bat here. "It's a scenario where you're trying to balance things out. Make improvements. Bring people in, players in who will help the organization right away but you always have to have a little bit of a look long term. We can't be sacrificing young players. We can't be sacrificing draft picks for a short-term fix." Fair enough. I don't think for a second Botterill was taking a shot at predecessor Tim Murray, veiled or otherwise. He was simply stating his philosophy. Botterill likes college players. Fourth-rounder Jacob Bryson (Providence) is already there with Mittelstadt and seventh-rounder Linus Weissbach (Wisconsin) en route in the fall. Botterill was OK with projects and he sure got some of those too. The Sabres went completely off any board known to man other than their own with third-round pick Oskari Laaksonen, who wasn't listed on any rankings by NHL's Central Scouting Service. That happens with low- round choices all the time. Can't recall ever seeing that on a top-100 pick in the third round, who tweeted to fans after his pick that he had grown to a whole 154 pounds. But Botterill said his scouts were adamant about Laaksonen's offensive creativity. Head amateur man Jeff Crisp said the player has been watched for two years. "Our European scouts really wanted to stand up and get a player into the organization. If you don't step up and take a player you may not get him," Botterill said. "They sort won us over ... You have to trust your scouts in this situation and we're excited to have him." 1069037 Buffalo Sabres “It’s been interesting,” Crisp said. “Some guys had a relationship with Jason. Some of our friends are gone, which they did some great work that was used and utilized at the draft." After chaotic two months, Sabres get chance to be a team again “It’s been an interesting time, but we’re all Sabres. We’re all professionals and we just want what’s best for the Sabres going forward to win.” By John Vogl

Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017 Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO – No one denies it’s been an uncomfortable two months for the Sabres. That’s a given with a swap of general managers and coaches. Staffers wonder if they’ll be next. If they stay, they're curious where they fit. This week finally brought a little clarity. More importantly, it brought a bit of comfort. GM Jason Botterill really got to know his scouting staff. They got to know him. Though Phil Housley was busy interviewing assistants, his personality shined at the Sabres’ draft table. After all the chaos, the Sabres are starting to become a team again. “Jason did a great job making us feel welcome, making us feel comfortable with his program,” Jeff Crisp, the Sabres’ head amateur scout, said Saturday. “As advertised, he was a GM-in-waiting for a lot of different NHL teams for a reason. He’s very intelligent and very prepared. “I’ve learned a lot already and hope to learn more from him and work with him to help the Sabres.” As far as hockey goes, it was a quiet draft weekend for Buffalo. None of the five players drafted, including No. 8 overall pick Casey Mittelstadt, will provide immediate help. No trades were made. But the conversations were an internal boost. That starts at the top with Botterill and Housley. “You just see the personality that he has interacting with our scouts, interacting with players that are coming into the organization,” Botterill said in United Center. “He has a very good feel on players in the league and what he wants when I bring up names to him on possible trades or possible free-agent acquisitions. “It’s been good to get to know him more and get that dialogue going.” In addition to talking to coaching candidates, some of whom may be announced soon, Housley has been reaching out to players. He’ll be by Botterill’s side during the next week for the free-agent interview process, which begins Sunday. With some camaraderie formed, they’ll be able to make their pitch to players on why Buffalo is a fit for them. “We’re still addressing a lot of different positions in our organization,” Botterill said. “We want to bring more depth, obviously. Whether it’s through free agency or through trades, we’ll continue to look at different things. “Just in general, free agency in the last five, six years, it’s become more difficult to find high-end players. Teams are signing their good players younger. Players aren’t getting free agency. You see high-end players like T.J. Oshie signing with their old teams. I don’t think there’s as much of that big bang on July 1, but we can find some good value and some good depth.” Botterill will add an assistant GM in the next couple of days. It’s expected to be Randy Sexton, the former general manager of Ottawa and Florida. He worked with Botterill in Pittsburgh as the director of amateur scouting. While it makes sense for Botterill to want his own guys, he gave the Sabres’ holdovers a chance to prove their worth. For example, the Sabres’ third-round pick, Oskari Laaksonen, wasn’t one of the 149 players in NHL Central Scouting’s European ratings. But the scouts wanted him, so Botterill went with them. “He listened to the guys,” said Crisp, who ran the draft process with Kevin Devine, the player personnel director. “He sat in all the meetings and listened to the area guys and Kevin Devine and myself. I think we all felt part of the program." “It was maybe a little awkward with some uncomfortableness in the process of it, but I don’t think it affected the outcome of how we scouted or how we talked to players.” The inclusion was important. It’s just a start as the Sabres come together following the massive shake-up. 1069038 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres use seventh-round pick on Swedish left winger

By John Vogl Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – The Sabres closed their 2017 NHL Draft with the selection of Linus Weissbach, a left winger for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League. Weissbach, a native of Sweden, came to North America this year. He had 19 goals and 47 points in 49 games for Tri-City. The 5-foot-8, 161- pounder previously played in the Frolunda system. Weissbach had 17 goals and 48 points in 44 games for Frolunda's junior team in 2015-16. He is scheduled to attend the University of Wisconsin.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069039 Buffalo Sabres

Report: Rangers to hire Lindy Ruff as an assistant coach

By Mike Harrington Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – It sounds like the Sabres will see a familiar face on the opposing bench when they meet the New York Rangers in the Winter Classic Jan. 1 in Citi Field. Veteran writer Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that the Rangers are closing in on a deal to have former Sabres and Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff join Alain Vigneault's staff as an assistant coach in charge of the Blueshirts defense. Ruff, 59, has not been an NHL assistant since helping Florida to the Stanley Cup final in 1996 and working with the Panthers again in 1997. He left that summer to replace Ted Nolan with the Sabres and directed Buffalo to four Eastern Conference finals and one Cup final before he was fired in February, 2013. Ruff then coached Dallas for four seasons but was fired again after last season. The Stars careeneed from the top of the Western Conference standings in 2015-16 to out of the playoffs this spring after brutal goaltending and injuries derailed the season. Rangers GM Jeff Gorton acknowledged Saturday that assistant Jeff Beukeboom is not being retained on the bench but said no decisions had been made about additions to the staff. Ruff is fifth on the NHL's all-time list with 736 victories, leading the Sabres in their history with 571 and adding 165 more in Dallas. He's fourth in games coached at 1,493. Ruff, a former Sabres captain, completed his NHL career over parts of three seasons with the Rangers from 1989-1991. Former teammate Jim Schoenfeld, also a former Buffalo captain, is a senior vice president and assistant general manager for the Rangers. , Ruff's co-captain on Buffalo's 2006 and 2007 Eastern Conference finalists, is also an assistant GM for the Rangers. The Rangers declined a request by Buffalo to interview Drury for the general manager's job that went to Jason Botterill.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069040 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres draft top European goalie, who's eager to fill need in organization

By John Vogl Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – In the ideal scenario, Buffalo was going to draft a goaltender. The situation Saturday wasn’t only ideal; it was tops. The Sabres used a second-round selection on Finland’s Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen. He was the top-ranked European goalie prospect, according to NHL Central Scouting, after leading his junior team to the league championship. Though he’s one to three years from coming to North America, Luukkonen adds depth and talent to an organization that needed it, especially after being spurned by Cal Petersen. “It’s a great situation when you know there’s space for you to fit in,” said Luukkonen in United Center. “You know there’s something to work for, and you have a goal to work for. I think it’s a great situation.” The Sabres are getting a goalie who’s been strapping on the pads since he could walk. He went straight to the net when he started playing street hockey, and he stayed in the crease as soon as there was ice under his feet. “My older brother was a goalie,” Luukkonen said. “My older cousin, he was a goalie. It’s maybe in the family a little bit, but I also liked to watch the goalie gear, the pads, the gloves. It was just great for me.” The 6-foot-4, 198-pounder admires Finnish countryman Pekka Rinne of Nashville. Both had postseason success this year. After recording a .916 save percentage and 1.78 goals-against average during the regular season, Luukkonen led HPK Jr. to the league title. He also backstopped Finland to the gold medal in the 2016 under-18 world championship, where he was named to the all-tournament team. He earned a silver at this year’s under-18 tournament. NHL Central Scouting says his rebound control is excellent, as his butterfly style. “There’s a lot of times it’s more like butterfly style, but still I like to play standing up,” Luukkonen said. “I would say I’m pretty calm. There’s no problem for me to be the goalie and play in big situations or be in big situations.” He noticed that trait in a fellow Finn and member of the Sabres. Rasmus Ristolainen scored the gold medal-winning goal in overtime at the 2014 world junior tournament. “The whole Finland went crazy, so I wasn’t the only one who went crazy there,” Luukkonen said. “It tells about him. He has the confidence to make those plays. It was just great.” While the goalie is looking forward to meeting Ristolainen at training camp, they won’t be teammates for a few years. Luukkonen has more to prove at home. “I want to have a great season with a men’s team somewhere in Finland, so it would be maybe one, two or three years when I have the great season with the men’s team,” he said. “After that, I would want to go to Buffalo.”

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069041 Buffalo Sabres

Rounds 3-4: Sabres go off the board for two defensemen

By Mike Harrington Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – The Sabres appeared to go off the board, and maybe way off it, to augment their organizational depth at defense by taking two players who did not show up on Central Scouting's list of top skaters. In the third round, Buffalo took Finnish bluliner Oskari Laaksonen. In Round 4, the Sabres went with Providence College's Jacob Bryson. Laaksonen, 17, is listed on Eliteprospects.com as 5-foot-9 and 130 pounds but by the NHL as growing to 6-1, 165. He had six goals and 13 assists last season while splitting time between Liiga and Sarja in the Finnish junior leagues. The pick came at No. 89 overall. It was their second pick of the third round, acquired last year from Washington in the deadline-week trade for defenseman Mike Weber. Three picks later, Nashville took Boston University-bound defenseman David Farrance of Rochester. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Bryson had three goals and 17 assists last season for Providence in his first year of American college hockey. He was the defense partner of Anthony Florentino, Buffalo's fifth-round pick in 2013 who played on the Friars' 2015 national championship that beat Jack Eichel and Boston University in the title game at the Frozen Four. His 20 points ranked third in the NCAA for first-year defensemen. The London, Ont., native played previously for Omaha in the USHL. The Sabres currently have only one other selection, at No. 192 in round seven.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069042 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres select top European goalie with their second second-round pick

By John Vogl Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – The Sabres need more goaltending. They got the best prospect in Europe. Buffalo used the 54th overall pick to draft Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from Finland. He was ranked No. 1 among European goalies by NHL Central Scouting. “Luukkonen plays an effective butterfly style and does a good job of controlling rebounds," said Goran Stubb, the NHL's director of European scouting. Luukkonen had a .916 save percentage and 1.78 goals-against average in 35 games this season, leading HPK Jr. to the league championship. Internationally, Luukkonen backstopped Finland to a silver medal at the 2017 under-18 world championship. He also represented his country at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and the 2016 under-18 world championship, where he was named to the tournament All-Star Team after helping Finland win the gold medal. "I’m really excited," Luukkonen said in United Center. "It’s great to be part of this great organization. I knew it was going to be the second round. First round would have been great if that happened, but I knew it was going to the second round and I’m really happy about it." "I talked to them at the combine. We had a great meeting there. They said they would be interested in drafting me."

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069043 Buffalo Sabres

Sabres select Swedish center Marcus Davidsson with early second- round pick

By John Vogl Published Sat, Jun 24, 2017

CHICAGO – The Sabres started Day Two of the NHL Draft the same way they ended Day One. With a center. Buffalo picked Swedish center Marcus Davidsson with the sixth pick of the second round Saturday. He plays professionally for Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League, where he had five goals and nine points in 45 games. He added six goals and 10 points in nine games with Djurgardens' junior team. He won a championship with the junior club in 2015-16, putting up 17 goals and 40 points in 45 regular-season games and three goals and six points in six playoff games. He was named playoff MVP. The 6-foot, 191-pound center has represented Sweden on its silver- medal teams at the 2016 under-18 world championship and the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. He was ranked 12th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Buffalo News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069044 Buffalo Sabres freshman. But any teammate can be a role model by how he or she trains, behaves, treats others.

“It’s on all of us, not just because we play professionally, I think it falls Roth: Take that Charles Barkley! Bills' Williams and Sabres' Eichel don't on all of us to set a good example,’’ Williams said. shy from being role models For Eichel, becoming a professional athlete meant a relentless focus. He has notebooks from first and second grade where every entry is about Leo Roth , @leoroth 10:18 a.m. ET June 24, 2017 wanting to become an NHL hockey player. For Williams it was more about the day to day, trying to be the best student and athlete he could be, confident it would take him to some One is at the end of his career, the other at the beginning. place good in life. One scores takedowns for a living, as in quarterback sacks. The other Both paths work. scores goals. But one common denominator? They each had parents who provided One grew up in Louisiana where football is king. The other hails from unwavering love and support. Massachusetts, where hockey is a way of life. Williams’ mother would hit him ground balls and catch his throws “well One was dressed for the cover of a teacher’s union magazine: Tan sport past when she should’ve when I was throwing way too hard.’’ Eichel’s jacket, tie and the conservative shoes of a principal. The other, GQ baby: father used to dismiss him in the middle of the school day and take him Light blue suit, white shirt, black loafers, no socks. skating on his lunch break. Now that’s a hockey dad. In many ways, Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kyle Williams, 34, Each also cited an array of dedicated coaches every step to the top. and Buffalo Sabres superstar center Jack Eichel, 20, couldn’t be more different. If there’s a coach out there who thinks his advice, guidance and repetition falls on deaf ears, know that Williams never forgot what his But as this odd couple simultaneously educated, entertained and inspired high school coach said one day when he was 16 and far from getting a a crowd of 1,200 at the glitzy Rochester Riverside Convention Center for phone call from LSU coach Nick Saban offering him a scholarship. the Democrat and Chronicle’s first All-Greater Rochester Sports Awards dinner, it became quite clear the two Western New York professional “Yeah,’’ Williams' coach said. “He’s a really good player but you know if sports stars are cut from the same cloth. he just played hard and gave it his all, all the time, he could be a special player.’’ And let’s face it. If you’re going to endear yourself to us, that cloth better be denim. “I always go back to that,’’ Williams said. “It’s almost been a calling card for my career and the way I play. There are people all along the way that Williams and Eichel shared their thoughts on a wide range of topics give you tidbits, starting with your parents, but I was very lucky to be during a 40-minute question-and-answer session expertly moderated by blessed with high school and youth coaches who supported me and my colleague Sal Maiorana. challenged me to be the best I could be.’’ From their earliest recollections of playing sports, the mentors who Today, Williams and Eichel are encouraged and driven by the passion of nurtured their talents and passions, the craziness of the recruiting long-suffering fans. The Bills haven’t been to the playoffs in 17 years, the process, goal setting, dealing with setbacks, Williams and Eichel – who Sabres in six. each have in their backgrounds - touched all the bases. “When fans come and talk to me, you can feel it, you can see it,’’ But what touched me most, and everyone else judging by the applause, Williams said. “I tell them, ‘I can promise you, nobody wants it for you, was when they spoke about embracing the role of role model and how our organization, our town, more than I do. I swear. Do we need to do a they share a burning desire to bring a Super Bowl and Stanley Cup blood pact? Put my hand on the Bible? Whatever it is I need to do.' For championship to Buffalo. all the tortured souls out there, I can promise you that until they usher me out or want to get rid of me because I’m too old, I will give all I’ve got Former NBA great Charles Barkley, the Round Mound of Confound, once from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head every single play to try said athletes aren’t role models. And while I know what he meant – role and win a championship.’’ modeling begins at home – the astute athlete understands that it’s only natural for young people to look up to them and are watching their every Eichel has played just two seasons in Buffalo, a far cry from Williams’ 11. move and listening to their every word. But as the face of the Sabres’ franchise, he feels the most pressure. His thinly veiled criticism of coaches and teammates last season was “First off, we know Charles Barkley speaks a ton of garbage,’’ said awkward. But nobody can question his burning desire to win or his Eichel, not swayed by Barkley’s professed love of hockey. “For someone affection for the region. We forget how young he still is - just two years to say athletes aren’t role models is a pretty ridiculous statement. Anyone older than some of the AGR athletes he addressed. can be a role model, whether it’s parents, someone in the community, athletes who play professionally you look up to, or it’s an athlete that’s on “The people in western New York, Buffalo, the whole city has been your team. … I do look at myself as a role model and hopefully some of nothing but great to me and my family, and I can’t thank them enough,’’ you do. If I can help you in anyway, that’s what I want to do, that’s what a Eichel said. “People expect us to do well. It’s a town that is just gasping role model does. I know I have an impact on people’s lives and I just try for a winner, they want it so bad. I think the best is yet to come for us all. and make it a positive one.’’ I just can’t wait for the day you have a Stanley Cup going down Chippewa in Buffalo, there’s a big parade, and everyone is there.’’ Eichel’s comments came just hours after he and Williams visited patients and their families at Golisano Children’s Hospital, posing for pictures and With that the crowd cheered. The odd couple bowed. And we were signing autographs. They call that “walk the talk.’’ reminded that sports are life. “Charles Barkley I think meant to say he didn’t want to be one (a role model) but you have no choice in the matter,’’ Williams said. Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 06.25.2017 Williams is a father of five and acting responsibly, humbly and treating others with respect is the example he sets for his kids. But he also knows it’s a big world out there, one with cell phones, cable TV and social media. It’s normal and healthy for kids to have heroes outside the home and many exist in the realm of sports and entertainment. “As much as I’d like them to look up to me all the time, my 9-year-old daughter asked about (Jack) when he got hurt (last year), she’s a sports fanatic,’’ Williams said. “So you never know who they are going to look up to. Fast forward 10 years from now, it might be somebody here. And whether you like it or not, I’m going to expect you to set an example for my kids.’’ If there was one message our area’s best high school athletes should’ve taken from the night, that was it. A senior can be a role model for a 1069045 Calgary Flames

Flames acquire defenceman Travis Hamonic in swap with Islanders

Wes Gilbertson Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 11:15 AM MDT

The Calgary Flames are determined to build one of the NHL’s best blue- lines, and this is a significant step in that direction. The Flames welcomed defenceman Travis Hamonic in Saturday’s swap with the New York Islanders, bolstering a top-four that also includes captain , T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton. “In my opinion, those three guys are some of the best d-men in the league, truthfully,” Hamonic said. “So to be joining a defensive core that has those guys there, I think first and foremost, it’s just really exciting because you know you’re going to be playing with someone that is one of the top guys in the league, in my opinion. So to have that opportunity, I think that’s the biggest aspect for me is the excitement to try to fit in and find your role and be surrounded with some really good players. I think that’s the exciting part.” Flames general manager Brad Treliving shipped a hat-trick of draft picks — a first-rounder in the 2018 NHL Draft and two future second-rounders — to Brooklyn to complete the deal for Hamonic. The Flames also acquire a fourth-round pick, either in 2019 or 2020. The Islanders now own Calgary’s second-round holler in 2018 and another in either of the following two years. Although training camp doesn’t open until September, it’s safe to pencil the 26-year-old Hamonic — a right-handed shot — onto Calgary’s second pairing with T.J. Brodie. With Giordano and Hamilton on the top tandem, that’s a heck of a top- four. “We like it on paper. Paper and reality are always two different things, but we like how it looks,” Treliving said. “And I think the skill-set too, if you look at the three guys there with Brodie and Hamilton and Gio, they move pucks. And Travis does too, but I think he brings a little edge. I think there is some versatility in the group now. He checks a lot of boxes for us.” Hamonic is listed at six-foot-two and 205 pounds and has seven seasons of big-league experience, all with the Islanders. He totalled three goals, 14 points and 60 penalty minutes in 49 contests last winter. “My role in New York was always to try to be really sound defensively and play against some of those top guys in the league. It’s something that I always really tried to pride myself on,” Hamonic said. “But at the same time, I know that I have some offensive ability and, first and foremost, I have to prove myself to the team and obviously the fan-base is going to be closely watching. But I think that they’re going to see someone who is really passionate, plays hard and I think my game certainly suits the Western Conference style, for sure.” Hamonic was saluted Tuesday as the winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award, a recognition of his D-Partner program, which includes rink-side seats and behind-the-scenes meet-and-greets for children who have lost a parent at a young age.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069046 Calgary Flames Season stats: 37 GP, 15 G, 14 A, 29 P, 59 PIM for HV71 U-20 (Sweden) Tod’s take: “He’s a talented kid and he’s got some swagger, and (amateur scout) Bobbie Hagelin really likes that. But he also has to play Meet the Calgary Flames' selections in 2017 NHL Draft more consistently. These guys have to get their skill in the game more consistently, because they’re skill guys. And skill guys who aren’t involved consistently, they can drive coaches and scouts crazy. But Wes Gilbertson again, they think there is potential there. They think there is an untapped ceiling there that still has yet to be reached.” Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:59 PM MDT Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.25.2017 Flames’ director of amateur scouting Tod Button provides an introduction to Calgary’s five selections in the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago … D JUUSO VALIMAKI First round, No. 16 overall Measurements: Six-foot-two, 204 pounds Season stats: 60 GP, 19 G, 42 A, 61 P, 34 PIM for Tri-City Americans (WHL) Tod’s take: “We think he has explosive game. We think he has great will to win, he has great will to make things happen in the game. If there is a knock on him, he needs to develop more patience defensively because he wants to get the puck and he wants to go. But up the ice, he has really good offensive ability. He can pass the puck. He can shoot the puck. You don’t score 19 goals from the back-end in the Western Hockey League without ability, right? That’s not a fluke. Playmaker. Deception. There are no limits on him. He’s got offensive ability and we think as he gets more experience and learns to develop some patience, he’s going to be a real solid defender too. We think we got a real good player there.” C ADAM RUZICKA Fourth round, No. 109 overall Measurements: Six-foot-four, 202 pounds Season stats: 61 GP, 25 G, 21 A, 46 P, 30 PIM for Sarnia Sting (OHL) Tod’s take: “He came into the year as a highly-touted player and he’s got ability. He just didn’t get it into the game all the time … Up-and-down this year, but a great skill package. A big man. We think the experience of playing over in the OHL overwhelmed him at times, but when we watch him on the national teams, world juniors and Under-18, he was real solid. All our scouts were really high on him in the fourth round as far as untapped potential.” RW ZACH FISCHER Fifth round, No. 140 overall Measurements: Six-foot-two, 207 pounds Season stats: 62 GP, 34 G, 29 A, 63 P, 145 PIM for (WHL) Tod’s take: “I went in to watch some prospects on Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw and I noticed this guy all night. He was involved. He scored goals. I think he got into a fight that night. He might not have, but there were guys trying to fight him. He was driving them crazy … The guys that knew him from before (say) this guy has really developed a more patient game. He’s not just running around hitting guys. He scored 34 goals. He was a real good piece to a top line in the Western Hockey League, creating space. And he scores goals the hard way. There’s not a lot of fancy skill there, but there’s a lot of hard skill there.” RW D’ARTAGNAN JOLY Sixth round, No. 171 overall Measurements: Six-foot-three, 181 pounds Season stats: 66 GP, 16 G, 32 A, 48 P, 35 PIM for Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) Tod’s take: “People thought he might put up some points this year and he struggled through the first half and we just kept watching him and our Quebec guys, they were a little bit iffy on him. But as the second half of the year went on, his name kept on coming up on our calls and we sent more guys to see him. At the end, they were convinced that this kid is another guy that has more offensive potential than he showed this year.” RW FILIP SVENINGSSON Seventh round, No. 202 overall Measurements: Six-foot, 180 pounds 1069047 Calgary Flames Ruzicka, who stands six-foot-four, told reporters that he looks up to one of the NHL’s top talents.

“Everyone is different but I’m looking at (Evgeni) Malkin, just kind of. He’s Flames target 'untapped offensive talent' on second day of NHL Draft a big guy, a skilled guy. Like me,” Ruzicka said. “But I want to play my hockey. I never want to be like someone different. I want to play my hockey and I want to play like the coaches want.” Wes Gilbertson Ruzicka’s family stay back in Slovakia while the up-and-coming Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:42 PM attended the 2017 NHL Draft with his agent. MDT “My phone is driving me nuts,” he grinned, motioning to his pocket. “So probably they are texting me.” CHICAGO — In the Windy City, Adam Ruzicka’s phone was buzzing and Joly, meanwhile, had a pack of family members on his tail at United D’Artagnan Joly was beaming. Center. At his cabin in Turtle Lake, Alta., Zach Fischer was waiting for the fish to “I’m a big guy that brings a lot of offence to the team,” Joly said. “I think I start biting. have a lot of tools and I have a lot of development in me, and I think I’m going to help this team in the future.” And at home in Sweden, Filip Sveningsson was snoozing as the later rounds of the 2017 NHL Draft unfolded at United Center in Chicago. That’s the hope, but there are no sure-things in the later stages. These are the latest additions to the Calgary Flames’ prospect pool and “That’s the great part about the draft — everybody is excited today,” no matter what happens next, Saturday was a day they certainly won’t Treliving said. “But the weeks, months and years ahead will determine forget. how successful today was.” “I watched the three first rounds today and then I guess I fell asleep until my father screamed, ‘Hey, Filip, come here! You have to see this,’ ” said Sveningsson, Calgary’s final newcomer at No. 202 overall. “And then I Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.25.2017 saw my name on the Flames, and I’m so proud.” Most fans in southern Alberta, of course, arranged their schedules the opposite way. They dozed through the second and third rounds, knowing that the Flames — after welcoming Finnish defenceman Juuso Valimaki during Friday’s excitement — wouldn’t be up again until No. 109 overall. As it turns out, Calgary’s GM Brad Treliving still had the draft floor buzzing, handing over a haul of three future picks to pry Travis Hamonic away from the New York Islanders. Shortly after that swap was made official, the Flames — finally — had a turn at the microphone, announcing the name of centre Adam Ruzicka. The 18-year-old from Slovakia skated for the Sarnia Sting as a draft- eligible, managing 25 markers and 46 points in 61 showings. “I’m not looking at which round am I?” Ruzicka said. “I’m looking at it that I’m second pick for the Calgary Flames, so it’s pretty exciting to me.” ‘High ceiling’ seemed to be the catch-phrase for Calgary’s contingent at the 2017 NHL Draft. That’s what they said about Valimaki, selected at No. 16 overall after a point-per-game campaign with the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans. The same goes for the four forwards — besides Ruzicka, they’re all right- wingers — they welcomed Saturday. Fischer, who turns 20 next month and racked up 34 points and 145 penalty minutes for the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers in his final year of draft eligibility, was trying to relax at the lake when the Flames laid claim in the fifth round. (“You’re anxious to hear the news, if it does come. I’m glad the wait is over and excited to be a Calgary Flame.”) Joly, shooting to become the third of seven brothers to play professional puck, caught Calgary’s eye while skating for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL. Sveningsson, currently recovering from minor knee surgery, logged two games in the Swedish Elite League but mostly toiled for the HV71 juniors. “We wanted to add skill and ceiling,” said Tod Button, Calgary’s director of amateur scouting. “With five picks and knowing that it was going to be hard to get any more, we wanted to get as much talent as we could. Sometimes when you get to the fourth or the fifth or sixth round, that means untapped talent. That means projections, as far as guys that you think still have untapped offensive potential. Valimaki, we think, is a world-class player and solid all-around. The other four kids, we took guys that we think have untapped offensive potential.” Although it was not tops on the priority list, the Flames also added some size during the two-day proceedings at United Center, selecting a bunch of six-foot-somethings. “We look at high ceilings. We look at adding talent,” Treliving said. “When those things match up and you can look ’em in the eyes? When I can look ’em in the eyes or look up a little bit, that’s never a bad thing.” 1069048 Calgary Flames improving as Treliving tinkers with adding more character this summer. Surely will be able to be more of an impact player next season. Flames all in with acquisition of Hamonic “We made our team better,” said Treliving after drafting four players between rounds four to seven Saturday. Eric Francis “We met with players at the end of season and said, ‘we all have to do more this summer – push harder.’ We have to raise the degree here and Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 8:04 PM it starts with me. We wanted to add here and take a step forward for the MDT foreseeable future.” Mission accomplished. The long-anticipated acquisition of Travis Hamonic means one thing – Granted, a big part of the Flames future will depend heavily on 35-year- the Flames are all in. old goalie Mike Smith, whose acquisition drew mixed reaction. Management believes the group they’ve assembled the last few years in It says here he’ll change minds. finally ready to compete for a Stanley Cup. But what will also be crucial is adding a competent backup who can be And they’re not wrong. every bit as dependable as Chad Johnson was last year. Making the playoffs is no longer the goal. Perhaps Johnson himself. Winning it all is. No, at this point in time it appears the Flames won’t have a draft pick until the fourth round of next year’s draft and will be devoid of at least their You don’t give up as many first, second and third round draft picks as the second rounder a year later. Flames have this month unless you believe your cupboards are stocked with prospects and your big leaguers are on the cusp of breaking through This year they missed the second and third rounds. as a group. After a few years of reloading, they finally have the horses to be able to The addition of a proven, seventh-year defenceman like Hamonic to T.J. do that, marking a significant change in the way management now thinks. Brodie’s second pairing gives the Flames as good a top four as the NHL has. There’s work left to be done this week and with free agency on Canada Day, but fans should be celebrating the fact that everything done now is They are now up there with finalists like Nashville with an eye on stacking this team, as opposed to retooling. and Anaheim in that vein, ensuring that no matter who they face in the playoffs they won’t run into any line mismatches on the road. Take a look at all the teams still chasing high-end defencemen of Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.25.2017 Hamonic’s ilk and it’s clear almost every team in the league would kill to have the Flames blue line. Teams would also kill to be in the type of position that allows the Flames to make such a move at such a steep price that didn’t involve giving up anyone frothier roster. A big part of the attractiveness of the right-handed shooting Hamonic is that the 26-year-old comes with an extremely reasonable cap hit of $3.85 million each of the next three years. A major selling point. He’s long played against the opposition’s top players, he’s as versatile as they come, he plays with bite and he’s a man of impeccable character. Expect to see and hear plenty more about his award-winning work in the community where he runs a program hosting fatherless youngsters. Hamonic’s father died of a heart attack in their St. Malo, Man. farmhouse when Travis was 10. No one on the free agent market can bring what he can and he’ll do so at a fraction of the cost this year’s UFAs will command. Thus, the steep asking price of next year’s first rounder and two second rounders – a haul dictated by the large number of teams dreaming of adding premium talent like his in a tough position to fill. “I don’t see this at throwing chips into the middle of the table for a rental,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving, who accomplished his weekend goal, which was rounding out his top four in fine fashion. “Yes we gave up picks but the first couple years we loaded up on picks. None of these are rentals. Position by position we feel we’ve accumulated depth.” Indeed, the club is stacked with sublime, young goaltending prospects. Same goes for the blue line where the club’s first round pick Friday, Juuso Valimaki is part of a group that includes second rounders and Oliver Kylington as well as Harvard sophomore Adam Fox. Adding to the club’s all-world blue line is a crew up the middle that includes Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, and Mark Jankowski. “These aren’t 32-to-35 years olds,” said Treliving, noting the oldest centre mentioned above is Backlund at age 28. “That’s a premium position and we feel good about where we are there.” That leaves the wing where Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk, Michael Frolik and Micheal Ferland will be counted on heavily to keep 1069049 Calgary Flames

Parker Foo gets called at the 2017 NHL Draft

Todd Saelhof Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:24 PM MDT

An historic year set new highs for the on Saturday morning, as Edmonton’s Parker Foo was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Draft with the 144th overall pick. Foo is the second player in franchise history to be selected by an NHL team directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League club, after his teammate Cale Makar was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche Friday night. Foo, 18, got the call from the Blackhawks shortly after waking up and checking his Twitter feed but not finding his name among tweets Saturday morning. “They told me I had a good combine — said I blew it out of the park,” Foo, who attended a pre-draft combine a few weeks back, told the Bandits later Saturday. “I never really had too high of expectations for it. I got invited to a couple of camps and that pre-draft combine. From there on, it just kept building and building. Teams told me I would get drafted, and I had a couple of meetings. “It never really seemed real — I never wanted to get my hopes too high. It’s really incredible now that it’s actually happening. “It’s incredible (to be selected by the Blackhawks). I was there a couple of weeks ago. It’s a top-notch facility. Everything is incredible there — mind-boggling really. Obviously, the Blackhawks are an unreal team — all the superstars, and the coach is unbelievable.” The 18-year old forward is coming off a sensational sophomore campaign with the Bandits, during which he registered 66 points, including 34 goals, in 60 regular-season games. He was second-leading goal scorer for the Bandits and fourth overall in the AJHL in goals as well. He added a further 20 points, including 10 goals, in just 13 AJHL playoff games, ranking second on the Bandits in scoring, fourth in the AJHL and second in the league in playoff goals. Foo tied for the team lead in scoring at the 2017 Western , placing second overall with nine points, including five goals, in five games as the Bandits won that title for the first time in franchise history and followed that up with five points, including two goals, in five games at the 2017 RBC Cup. He was named the team’s most improved player after scoring 27 points, including eight goals, in 44 games with the Bandits in 2015-16 after being signed just before the 2015 AJHL Showcase. He is committed to NCAA Division I Union College to begin his post-secondary hockey career next season. “My skating got a lot better in my first season,” Foo said. “I was thinking the game better. My confidence was a huge key — I had the freedom to do my own thing. “There’s so many people to thank.” Foo’s older brother, Spencer, is on the verge of inking an NHL deal after three strong seasons with the Union Dutchmen, including a 62-point campaign in ’16-17.

Calgary Herald: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069050 Calgary Flames

Flames acquire Travis Hamonic in swap with Islanders

BY WES GILBERTSON, CALGARY SUN FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 09:57 AM MDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 03:13 PM MDT

The Calgary Flames are determined to build one of the NHL's best blue- lines, and this is a significant step in that direction. The Flames welcomed defenceman Travis Hamonic in Saturday's swap with the New York Islanders, bolstering a top-four that also includes captain Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton. "In my opinion, those three guys are some of the best d-men in the league, truthfully," Hamonic said. "So to be joining a defensive core that has those guys there, I think first and foremost, it's just really exciting because you know you're going to be playing with someone that is one of the top guys in the league, in my opinion. So to have that opportunity, I think that's the biggest aspect for me is the excitement to try to fit in and find your role and be surrounded with some really good players. I think that's the exciting part." Flames general manager Brad Treliving shipped a hat-trick of draft picks — a first-rounder in the 2018 NHL Draft and two future second-rounders — to Brooklyn to complete the deal for Hamonic. The Flames also acquire a fourth-round pick, either in 2019 or 2020. The Islanders now own Calgary's second-round holler in 2018 and another in either of the following two years. Although training camp doesn't open until September, it's safe to pencil the 26-year-old Hamonic — a right-handed shot — onto Calgary's second pairing with T.J. Brodie. With Giordano and Hamilton on the top tandem, that's a heck of a top- four. "We like it on paper. Paper and reality are always two different things, but we like how it looks," Treliving said. "And I think the skill-set too, if you look at the three guys there with Brodie and Hamilton and Gio, they move pucks. And Travis does too, but I think he brings a little edge. I think there is some versatility in the group now. He checks a lot of boxes for us." Hamonic is listed at six-foot-two and 205 pounds and has seven seasons of big-league experience, all with the Islanders. He totalled three goals, 14 points and 60 penalty minutes in 49 contests last winter. "My role in New York was always to try to be really sound defensively and play against some of those top guys in the league. It's something that I always really tried to pride myself on," Hamonic said. "But at the same time, I know that I have some offensive ability and, first and foremost, I have to prove myself to the team and obviously the fan-base is going to be closely watching. But I think that they're going to see someone who is really passionate, plays hard and I think my game certainly suits the Western Conference style, for sure." Hamonic was saluted Tuesday as the winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award, a recognition of his D-Partner program, which includes rink-side seats and behind-the-scenes meet-and-greets for children who have lost a parent at a young age.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069051 Carolina Hurricanes Canes’ Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin, who spent time in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. A Michigan teammate, goalie Jack LaFontaine, is a Canes prospect. Hurricanes use all their picks on second day of NHL Draft Quotable: “It’s a good opportunity. It’s a good opportunity to hopefully work my tail off and try to make a name for myself in this organization.” BY CHIP ALEXANDER Third round [email protected] 67th overall Morgan Geekie, F, 6-2, 178 The second day of the NHL Entry Draft proved to be mostly uneventful Strathclair, for the Carolina Hurricanes. Geekie made a big offensive jump last season for the Tri-City American Unless you were Canes assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour, that is. His of the WHL. He had 35 goals and 90 points in 72 games, a 65-point son, Skyler, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in the sixth improvement from 2015-16. round at Chicago’s United Center. 73rd overall The Hurricanes came to Chicago hinting it could be a busy time, possibly Stelio Mattheos, F, 6-1, 192 with some draft picks traded and moves made. After Friday’s first round, when the Canes used the 12th overall pick on Czech center Martin Winnipeg, Manitoba Necas, general manager Ron Francis indicated he might still be looking to add a forward before the end of the draft. The Canes picked up another consistent point-producer in Mattheos, who had 26 goals and 61 points in 69 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of But by day’s end, the Canes had seven picks and used them all, drafting the WHL last season. Was overshadowed by teammate Nolan Patrick, three forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender. the No. 2 pick of the NHL Draft, but also had to take on a bigger role for the Wheat Kings when Patrick was out with injuries. “We’re real pleased with it,” Francis said of the draft. “Starting with our first pick, we got a guy (Necas) who’s highly skilled, has good speed, Fourth round good hockey sense and plays with a little bit of an edge. A lot of teams had him high on their lists, and we were excited about that.” 104th overall Carolina had a pair of second-round picks Saturday and selected Finnish Eetu Makiniemi, G, 6-2, 176 forward Eetu Luostarinen with the first of the two. Luostarinen was Vantaa, Finland closely watched by Robert Kron, the Canes’ head European scout, and former Canes defenseman Joni Pitkanen, now a scout for the team Anothe Finn brought into the Canes organization, Makiniemi has played based in Finland. for the Junior team in Finland. Called a quick, athletic goalie who uses his size well, he has signed a two-way KHL contract with Jokerit. “Probably a little bit of a darkhorse, a sleeper,” Francis said, “but Robert Kron and Joni Pitkanen felt strongly that he has a strong upside.” Fifth round (no pick) The Canes took defenseman Luke Martin, who’s at the University of Sixth round Michigan, with their other second-round pick. 166th overall In an interesting twist, Luostarinen was the first of two players named Eetu taken by the Canes — they selected goalie Eetu Makiniemi, another Brendan De Jong, D, 6-5, 196 Finn, in the fourth round. A third Finn, defenseman Ville Rasanen, was Victoria, B.C. the Canes’ final selection in the seventh round. Another D-man with size, de Jong has played for the Portland “We didn’t know we’d have as many picks to spend as we did,” said Tony Winterhawks of the WHL the past three seasons. Was passed over in the MacDonald, the Canes’ director of amateur scouting. “The beauty of it is draft last year because of questions about his skating and speed, but has we got a lot of people we’re excited about. We got a couple of centers improved noticeably in the past year and become more active who are big guys and can skate and make plays. We got some big offensively. defensemen and a sleeper goaltender, an under-the-radar type.” Seventh round The Canes now go back to Raleigh for the prospects development camp next week. And Francis still has work to do leading up to NHL free 197th overall agency on July 1. Ville Rasanen, D, 6-2, 170 “We’re still talking,” Francis said. Finland The second-day breakdown: Rasanen split time between the U-20 team and the men’s team, Second round which competes in , the second-highest division of Finnish hockey. 42nd overall Eetu Luostarinen, F, 6-2, 178 News Observer LOADED: 06.25.2017 Siilinjärvi, Finland Luostarinen, another Finnish draft pick for the Canes, played for KalPa in the Finnish Liiga this past season and also played in the Under-20 league. Had three goals and four assists in limited time with KalPa, playing against older professionals as an 18-year-old. Said he has spoken with Joni Pitkanen, a former Canes defenseman who now is a scout for the team. Quotable: “I like to play with the puck a lot and like to share the puck. A playmaker.” 52nd overall Luke Martin, D, 6-3, 221 St. Louis, Mo. Martin plays at the University of Michigan and is described as a physical, stay-at-home, shutdown defender. The Canes could use more size on the back end, and Martin can give them that. Another player, like the 1069052 Chicago Blackhawks Canes’ Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin, who spent time in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. A Michigan teammate, goalie Jack LaFontaine, is a Canes prospect. Hurricanes use all their picks on second day of NHL Draft Quotable: “It’s a good opportunity. It’s a good opportunity to hopefully work my tail off and try to make a name for myself in this organization.” BY CHIP ALEXANDER Third round [email protected] 67th overall Morgan Geekie, F, 6-2, 178 The second day of the NHL Entry Draft proved to be mostly uneventful Strathclair, Manitoba for the Carolina Hurricanes. Geekie made a big offensive jump last season for the Tri-City American Unless you were Canes assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour, that is. His of the WHL. He had 35 goals and 90 points in 72 games, a 65-point son, Skyler, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in the sixth improvement from 2015-16. round at Chicago’s United Center. 73rd overall The Hurricanes came to Chicago hinting it could be a busy time, possibly Stelio Mattheos, F, 6-1, 192 with some draft picks traded and moves made. After Friday’s first round, when the Canes used the 12th overall pick on Czech center Martin Winnipeg, Manitoba Necas, general manager Ron Francis indicated he might still be looking to add a forward before the end of the draft. The Canes picked up another consistent point-producer in Mattheos, who had 26 goals and 61 points in 69 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of But by day’s end, the Canes had seven picks and used them all, drafting the WHL last season. Was overshadowed by teammate Nolan Patrick, three forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender. the No. 2 pick of the NHL Draft, but also had to take on a bigger role for the Wheat Kings when Patrick was out with injuries. “We’re real pleased with it,” Francis said of the draft. “Starting with our first pick, we got a guy (Necas) who’s highly skilled, has good speed, Fourth round good hockey sense and plays with a little bit of an edge. A lot of teams had him high on their lists, and we were excited about that.” 104th overall Carolina had a pair of second-round picks Saturday and selected Finnish Eetu Makiniemi, G, 6-2, 176 forward Eetu Luostarinen with the first of the two. Luostarinen was Vantaa, Finland closely watched by Robert Kron, the Canes’ head European scout, and former Canes defenseman Joni Pitkanen, now a scout for the team Anothe Finn brought into the Canes organization, Makiniemi has played based in Finland. for the Jokerit Junior team in Finland. Called a quick, athletic goalie who uses his size well, he has signed a two-way KHL contract with Jokerit. “Probably a little bit of a darkhorse, a sleeper,” Francis said, “but Robert Kron and Joni Pitkanen felt strongly that he has a strong upside.” Fifth round (no pick) The Canes took defenseman Luke Martin, who’s at the University of Sixth round Michigan, with their other second-round pick. 166th overall In an interesting twist, Luostarinen was the first of two players named Eetu taken by the Canes — they selected goalie Eetu Makiniemi, another Brendan De Jong, D, 6-5, 196 Finn, in the fourth round. A third Finn, defenseman Ville Rasanen, was Victoria, B.C. the Canes’ final selection in the seventh round. Another D-man with size, de Jong has played for the Portland “We didn’t know we’d have as many picks to spend as we did,” said Tony Winterhawks of the WHL the past three seasons. Was passed over in the MacDonald, the Canes’ director of amateur scouting. “The beauty of it is draft last year because of questions about his skating and speed, but has we got a lot of people we’re excited about. We got a couple of centers improved noticeably in the past year and become more active who are big guys and can skate and make plays. We got some big offensively. defensemen and a sleeper goaltender, an under-the-radar type.” Seventh round The Canes now go back to Raleigh for the prospects development camp next week. And Francis still has work to do leading up to NHL free 197th overall agency on July 1. Ville Rasanen, D, 6-2, 170 “We’re still talking,” Francis said. Finland The second-day breakdown: Rasanen split time between the Jokipojat U-20 team and the men’s team, Second round which competes in Mestis, the second-highest division of Finnish hockey. 42nd overall Eetu Luostarinen, F, 6-2, 178 Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 Siilinjärvi, Finland Luostarinen, another Finnish draft pick for the Canes, played for KalPa in the Finnish Liiga this past season and also played in the Under-20 league. Had three goals and four assists in limited time with KalPa, playing against older professionals as an 18-year-old. Said he has spoken with Joni Pitkanen, a former Canes defenseman who now is a scout for the team. Quotable: “I like to play with the puck a lot and like to share the puck. A playmaker.” 52nd overall Luke Martin, D, 6-3, 221 St. Louis, Mo. Martin plays at the University of Michigan and is described as a physical, stay-at-home, shutdown defender. The Canes could use more size on the back end, and Martin can give them that. Another player, like the 1069053 Chicago Blackhawks

Los Angeles Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan raised by two moms

Jay Cohen Associated Press

Moments after Jaret Anderson-Dolan was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, he hugged his mothers Fran and Nancy. They cried a few tears as Anderson-Dolan made his way to the floor of the United Center for handshakes and congratulations from his new team. It was a slight variation on a familiar picture at the NHL draft. And just another Saturday for the 17-year-old center, who was raised by two women. "Obviously I don't know any other way of growing up," Anderson-Dolan said. "Even though people may say, obviously, it's a little bit different, but for me it's completely normal. For me, it kind of gives you a little bit of perspective just how much the world is changing, and I think it's come a long way in the past couple of years. It's really cool to kind of be in this situation and have a voice in the community that way." Anderson-Dolan went No. 41 overall to Los Angeles after a breakout performance last season with Spokane of the Western Hockey League. The Calgary, Alberta, native had 39 goals and 37 assists in 72 games with the Chiefs, becoming the fourth 17-year-old in franchise history to score 30 or more goals in a season. Anderson-Dolan described himself as a "hard-working, two-way forward." He also pays close attention to conditioning and nutrition. "Growing up, Nancy, she has her own business with food addiction treatment. So I was raised in a house where we eat well and all organic food," he said. "For me it's kind of a habit, just talking about the things you can do to take advantage of your opponent. I was raised in a house where we eat right, so it's pretty easy for me." Anderson-Dolan started playing hockey when he was 18 months old, according to Fran Anderson-Dolan, who works in recreation for the city of Calgary and coached him when he was younger. Jaret Anderson-Dolan's girlfriend, his older brother Dorian, three aunts, two uncles, a childhood friend and his father, and a longtime shooting coach, were also on hand for his big moment in Chicago. "Just to see that, like he had been building to it for so long and to see it finally unfold is amazing," Nancy Anderson-Dolan said. The Anderson-Dolans' hometown Flames made the biggest move on Day 2 of the NHL draft, acquiring defenseman Travis Hamonic in a trade with the New York Islanders. The 26-year-old Hamonic, who made his NHL debut in 2010 and had spent his entire career with the Islanders, had three goals and 11 assists in 49 games last season. Calgary also acquired a fourth-round pick in 2019 or 2020 from New York for first and second-round picks next year and a second-round pick in 2019 or 2020. The Flames finished fourth in the Pacific Division last season and were swept by Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. The second day of the draft began with Colorado taking defenseman Conor Timmins with the first pick of the second round, and Philadelphia traded three draft picks to Arizona to jump up to No. 35 for 6-foot-6 Isaac Ratcliffe. The 18-year-old forward had 28 goals and 26 assists last season for Guelph of the , but there are some questions about his skating ability. "That's the big part of the game I'm going to have to work on, and I'm definitely going to have to get a lot stronger to try to make my way to the next level," he said. "Going into next year, that's going to be a big part of it and really show them what I can do and prove to them I made the right pick here." The expansion Vegas Golden Knights continued to stock their organization after taking centers Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki and Swedish defenseman Erik Brannstrom in the first round Friday night. They picked up defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Jake Leschyshyn in the second round. Leschyshyn's father, Curtis, won the Stanley Cup in 1996 with Colorado.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069054 Chicago Blackhawks

Los Angeles Kings prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan raised by two moms

Jay Cohen Associated Press

Moments after Jaret Anderson-Dolan was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, he hugged his mothers Fran and Nancy. They cried a few tears as Anderson-Dolan made his way to the floor of the United Center for handshakes and congratulations from his new team. It was a slight variation on a familiar picture at the NHL draft. And just another Saturday for the 17-year-old center, who was raised by two women. "Obviously I don't know any other way of growing up," Anderson-Dolan said. "Even though people may say, obviously, it's a little bit different, but for me it's completely normal. For me, it kind of gives you a little bit of perspective just how much the world is changing, and I think it's come a long way in the past couple of years. It's really cool to kind of be in this situation and have a voice in the community that way." Anderson-Dolan went No. 41 overall to Los Angeles after a breakout performance last season with Spokane of the Western Hockey League. The Calgary, Alberta, native had 39 goals and 37 assists in 72 games with the Chiefs, becoming the fourth 17-year-old in franchise history to score 30 or more goals in a season. Anderson-Dolan described himself as a "hard-working, two-way forward." He also pays close attention to conditioning and nutrition. "Growing up, Nancy, she has her own business with food addiction treatment. So I was raised in a house where we eat well and all organic food," he said. "For me it's kind of a habit, just talking about the things you can do to take advantage of your opponent. I was raised in a house where we eat right, so it's pretty easy for me." Anderson-Dolan started playing hockey when he was 18 months old, according to Fran Anderson-Dolan, who works in recreation for the city of Calgary and coached him when he was younger. Jaret Anderson-Dolan's girlfriend, his older brother Dorian, three aunts, two uncles, a childhood friend and his father, and a longtime shooting coach, were also on hand for his big moment in Chicago. "Just to see that, like he had been building to it for so long and to see it finally unfold is amazing," Nancy Anderson-Dolan said. The Anderson-Dolans' hometown Flames made the biggest move on Day 2 of the NHL draft, acquiring defenseman Travis Hamonic in a trade with the New York Islanders. The 26-year-old Hamonic, who made his NHL debut in 2010 and had spent his entire career with the Islanders, had three goals and 11 assists in 49 games last season. Calgary also acquired a fourth-round pick in 2019 or 2020 from New York for first and second-round picks next year and a second-round pick in 2019 or 2020. The Flames finished fourth in the Pacific Division last season and were swept by Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. The second day of the draft began with Colorado taking defenseman Conor Timmins with the first pick of the second round, and Philadelphia traded three draft picks to Arizona to jump up to No. 35 for 6-foot-6 Isaac Ratcliffe. The 18-year-old forward had 28 goals and 26 assists last season for Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League, but there are some questions about his skating ability. "That's the big part of the game I'm going to have to work on, and I'm definitely going to have to get a lot stronger to try to make my way to the next level," he said. "Going into next year, that's going to be a big part of it and really show them what I can do and prove to them I made the right pick here." The expansion Vegas Golden Knights continued to stock their organization after taking centers Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki and Swedish defenseman Erik Brannstrom in the first round Friday night. They picked up defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Jake Leschyshyn in the second round. Leschyshyn's father, Curtis, won the Stanley Cup in 1996 with Colorado.

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Brandon Saad thrilled about return to Blackhawks: 'I didn't think it would happen this soon'

Chris Kuc Chicago Tribune

On the day two summers ago when Brandon Saad was traded from the Blackhawks to the Blue Jackets, the winger had a conversation with general manager Stan Bowman about the possibility at some point of returning to the team he helped capture two Stanley Cups. On Friday, that came to fruition when Saad was reunited with the Hawks in a stunning trade that sent forwards Artemi Panarin, and a sixth-round pick in this weekend's NHL draft to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in the '18 draft. "It's a small league and … most players don't play the same place their whole career," Saad recalled Friday of the conversation with Bowman on June 30, 2015. "You get bounced around and you end up in different places but there's always an opportunity to end back in the same place. It was definitely a thought in my mind that I could end up one day back in Chicago. I didn't think it would happen this soon." Of all the players the Hawks have lost throughout the seasons to salary- cap constraints, perhaps the toughest departure was that of Saad to the Blue Jackets. After the winger had helped the Hawks win Cups in 2013 and '15 and with his star still rising, Saad's price tag on a new contract was too steep for Bowman and he shipped the then-22-year-old to Columbus. Trudeau praised Come From Away, a story about a small town in Newfoundland that welcomed thousands of air travelers from around the world when American airspace was closed following the events of Sept. 11, 2001. "Certainly it was a tough move a couple of years ago when we had to make that trade," Bowman said. "My conversation with Brandon (on Friday) had a much different tone. We've always thought that maybe we could get him back. This deal came together pretty quickly over the last several days (and) … now that we've been able to, I can say that we are very excited. The chemistry is there right away and the intensity for the way he plays, his all-around game is second to none." That chemistry might be the most important aspect of the deal as Saad spent much of his first three seasons in the league skating on a line with center Jonathan Toews and the duo flourished. After Saad's departure, Toews' offensive output suffered as the Hawks shuffled left wing after left wing onto the top line and very little clicked. Now, coach Joel Quenneville has the option to reunite Saad and Toews to help bolster the Hawks' No. 1 trio. "There's no doubt they had tremendous chemistry," Bowman said. "When Brandon first came in as a rookie he found a home there on Jonathan's left wing. That's really up to Joel where he wants to use them. It's comfortable knowing he had great success with Jonathan, and if they go back to that it's great." Saad, who had 24 goals and 29 assists with the Blue Jackets last season, said he was excited about the possibility of playing alongside Toews again. "He's someone I had early success with in my career and that's something I look forward to trying to rekindle," Saad said. "It can only grow from both of us getting better as players the last couple of years. Being able to do more damage and to be reunited would definitely be a lot of fun." Saad wasn't the only NHL veteran dealt to the Hawks on Friday. They also acquired Connor Murphy from the Coyotes in a deal that sent fellow defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Coyotes. The 24-year-old Murphy played four seasons with the Coyotes and had two goals and 15 assists in 77 games during the 2016-17 campaign. "Chicago has been a team that I've looked up to how they play the game," Murphy said. "They play a really competitive offensive style … with some great leaders on their team and obviously with the Cup wins in the past and a lot puck control and management. It's a lot of things that are hard to defend. It's nice to definitely be on that side."

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Evan Barratt on being drafted by Blackhawks: 'It brought tears to my eyes'

Terrin Waack Chicago Tribune

Evan Barratt’s smile was contagious. The left-handed center kept grinning like a little kid on Christmas morning. His gift: becoming the Blackhawks’ second third-round pick (90th overall) in the NHL draft Saturday. Cheers rang through the United Center as fans welcomed the Hawks’ latest addition. “Just hearing your name called anywhere is awesome but especially (for) such a historic franchise and in Chicago,” Barratt said. “Nothing compares. It brought tears to my eyes right away. “I mean, a kid from Bristol, Pa., a little town, drafted in the third round of the NHL, Words can’t describe how I’m feeling.” The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Barratt, 18, was the only one of the Hawks’ eight Day 2 present at the United Center. “It was great to see him,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “He was pretty emotional getting picked. He wants it really bad, and I think that’s the one quality about him we like the most.” The Blackhawks will monitor Barratt while he plays at Penn State next season. He doesn’t want to rush the process. “My passion has gotten me to where I am today,” Barratt said. Local flavor: Three hours before Day 2 of the draft started Saturday at the United Center, prospect Tyler Inamoto went for an early-morning run to clear his mind. It helped — a little. But by the time the second round began at 9 a.m., the nerves were back. “It’s a lot harder just waiting around because you’re still thinking who’s going to pick you and where you’re going to go,” Inamoto, 18, said. “I think it’s harder on the second day than the first.” The Panthers relieved the left-handed defenseman of his stress a little later, selecting Inamoto in the fifth round at No. 133. The 6-foot-2, 194- pound Barrington resident received a huge ovation when his name was called. “Tyler’s big, mobile and plays a mean game,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon told the Sun Sentinel. “We talked about adding speed, skill and sandpaper, and he brings that.”

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069057 Chicago Blackhawks season and how we do matchups and how we do pairings will be interesting."

Quenneville also sounded wistful to be losing Hjalmarsson, one of the GM Stan Bowman's gamble on Connor Murphy huge for Blackhawks' most reliable and durable players during the coach's tenure. future "You feel for him and what he meant to his team and his teammates and fans here and the city of Chicago," Quenneville said. "He's one of those Chris Hine guys you have an appreciation to watch and see how he competes and knowing what he fights through to stay on the ice in a lot of games. Chicago Tribune "He's a heart-and-souler."

The Hawks' heart and soul has a different composition now. Bowman While you were digesting the likely end of Marian Hossa's career and made the surprising deals Friday for the long-term stability of Saad and dusting off your old Brandon Saad sweater in your basement, you might Murphy. But as Quenneville likes to say, he's in the "short-term" business not have noticed Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman completely of winning. remade the team's defense this week. Change was necessary on the blue line after the first-round loss to the For as big a loss as Hossa is, and for as gifted an all-around player as Predators, but with Murphy here and Hjalmarsson gone, the short-term Saad is, the moves Bowman made this week along the blue line might outlook on defense is still precarious and threatens to sabotage their have the most significance next season — and beyond. championship window. On Wednesday, the Hawks said goodbye to Trevor van Riemsdyk in the expansion draft. Although fans on social media liked to pile on van Riemsdyk at his every mistake, the young defenseman had earned Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 coach Joel Quenneville's trust. He was valued so much around the league that the Vegas Golden Knights copped a second-round draft pick from the Hurricanes for him. Then Friday, in a move that will have reverberations for years, Bowman dealt core defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, 30, for the younger Connor Murphy, 24. Hjalmarsson had two seasons left on his contract while Murphy is signed for five more. Already this offseason, the Hawks have lost two defensemen who played throughout the first-round playoff loss to the Predators. And with Johnny Oduya likely gone and the uncertainty about the future of Brian Campbell, who might retire, the Hawks could enter next season with just Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook as their only defensemen who played in every game of that series. Bowman saw what was evident in that series — the Predators overwhelmed an aging Hawks defense — and he needed to address that issue. Hjalmarsson wasn't the problem, but his contract was the easiest of the Hawks' core to move, and off he went. So enters Murphy, one of the biggest bets of Bowman's tenure. Murphy will add a physical presence along the blue line but he isn't as accomplished or reliable as Hjalmarsson. Bowman fell in love with Murphy during his time working with USA Hockey. Bowman isn't just counting on Murphy, however. He said , 21, and Michal Kempny, 26, are in line for bigger roles next season. "It's up to them to take hold of it," Bowman said. "The opportunity's going to be there. It's a little bit of a different look but it's time to give these guys a chance to grow and take on bigger responsibilities." It's almost word-for-word what Bowman said before last year about the Hawks' young forwards, some of whom became important contributors by the season's end. But the track record of Bowman and Quenneville of finding and developing defenseman who can play in the Hawks' system — whether through signings (David Rundblad) or trades (Trevor Daley, Rob Scuderi) — has been inconsistent at best the last few years. The Hawks are down to just two of their top four defensemen from the 2015 Stanley Cup run, plus they have a new assistant overseeing the group in Ulf Samuelsson. That's why Murphy is such a big part of the team's future. If the Hawks are going to be Cup contenders again in the next few years, Bowman must be right that Murphy can become a consistent top-four defenseman. His advanced statistics aren't the best — the Coyotes had just 46.3 percent of all shots 5-on-5 when he was on the ice — but then again, nobody on the Coyotes had impressive numbers. Perhaps better teammates will help. Quenneville said Saturday that he envisions Brandon Saad playing again with Jonathan Toews on the Hawks' top line and Nick Schmaltz getting the first crack at left wing with Artem Anisimov and Patrick Kane. Quenneville isn't sure how his blue line is going to shake out next season. He left open the possibility Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook might play on the top pairing. "That's definitely a work in progress." Quenneville said. "I'm sure everybody is going to get a chance to play with one another early in the 1069058 Chicago Blackhawks started over when they traded Butler and the Hawks find themselves making decisions, such as the Hjalmarsson and Panarin deals, prioritizing the future over the present. All of these decisions about the A seismic week: Extraordinary 72 hours stun Chicago sports world direction of the franchises were difficult ones — but the right ones too. Change is the only constant in sports, which remain a business emotional ties only complicate. David Haugh Interestingly, in Chicago sports nowadays it seems construction season is longer than winter. To symbolize all the rebuilding going on, every Chicago Tribune team should pick a night to give away hardhats to the first 10,000 fans. So much major redevelopment is going on among Chicago's sports

organizations that it's amazing a politician hasn't tried claiming credit for As Blackhawks first-round draft pick Henri Jokiharju entered a room full it. of reporters late Friday night at the United Center, he felt someone grab In that context, the Bulls trading Butler rates just barely above the Hawks his arm. losing three members of their core as the most significant movement of a Jonathan Toews wanted to pull Jokiharju aside briefly to do what good seismic week. The Bulls stunningly chose a direction that requires getting captains do. Toews made eye contact. Then he left a lasting impression. worse by design to escape the NBA middle like teams must do before resuming their ascent. The Hawks, though worse now than they were at "They will give you my number so call me if you need anything at all,'' the end of last season, still have Toews and Patrick Kane and enough Toews told the 18-year-old who appeared in awe of his future teammate. talent to resemble themselves in 2017-18. What a week it was for memorable hellos and goodbyes in Chicago, a Then again summer has just begun — and maybe so has Bowman. sports city that went on a three-day bender so wild it still has some of our heads spinning. It all offered a sobering reminder that nothing lasts forever in professional sports, so savor every moment watching your Chicago Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 favorite hometown athletes before they are thanking you on Instagram on the way to their new destinations. Somewhere, Chris Sale and Jay Cutler nod in agreement. And Alshon Jeffery says hi. To recap, as if writing everything down will make it all easier to believe, Wednesday the Hawks announced future Hockey Hall of Famer Marian Hossa will miss next season because of a skin allergy. On Thursday, Bulls traded All-Star guard Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves of all places, reuniting Butler with Tom Thibodeau in Minneapolis, a great city to watch film in the winter. In between those two stunning transactions, the Cubs sent World Series folk hero Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa, almost as if Cubs President Theo Epstein shrewdly waited for the right time when the demotion would receive the least amount of attention. Any ordinary week, the Schwarber news would have dominated small talk among Wrigleyville bartenders and therapists — but this was an extraordinary 72-hour period. With fans still trying to process those changes Friday, Hawks general manager Stan Bowman gave everyone more to digest when he made two blockbuster trades 51 minutes apart with the Blue Jackets and Coyotes. Then, nine hours later, Bowman drafted Jokiharju with the 29th overall pick — after making his third trade of the day, with the Stars, to move down three spots and acquire a third-round pick. Bowman was so busy you wonder if he took time to tell coach Joel Quenneville he was trading away his best defensive player and a Top 10 scorer. Just kidding — Quenneville confirmed Saturday his absence from Friday night's NHL draft had nothing to do with his reaction to the trades. Maybe Coach Q just needed to find a quiet room, like some of us, to get his bearings. For those keeping score at home, Chicago sports said goodbye this week to Hossa, Butler, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte. To Schwarber, we said seeya later, probably just after the All-Star break. We said hello to new Bulls Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen — the two Timberwolves and first-round pick acquired in the Butler trade — and new Hawks defenseman Connor Murphy, forward and goalie Anton Forsberg (I admit I had to look up those last two names). We said welcome back to Brandon Saad, "Man-Child,'' the centerpiece of the Panarin trade rejoining the team with which he won two Stanley Cups in his first three NHL seasons. We said a vacation full of drinks with little umbrellas by a pool sounds good about now. What unexpected sports occurrence will come next in Chicago, the Cubs trading legendary announcer Pat Hughes for starting pitching? In this whirlwind week, how fitting that the White Sox chose Saturday to retire the No. 56 jersey of Mark Buehrle, a man who won 214 games without causing as much of a stir as athletes in town who accomplished much less. The Sox, however, do belong in the broader conversation about how this flurry of activity reflects how each of our city's sports teams, with the exception of the World Series champion Cubs, is experiencing a metamorphosis. The status quo is out. Starting over is in. The Sox declared that loudly last December when they traded Sale and Adam Eaton. The Bears finally drafted a potential franchise quarterback, Mitch Trubisky — the equivalent of hitting the reset button. The Bulls 1069059 Chicago Blackhawks

Niklas Hjalmarsson on leaving Blackhawks: ‘Pretty weird feeling’

Blackhawks 06/24/2017, 01:40PM Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus | email

Niklas Hjalmarsson has a Twitter account, but he’s not the type of guy who spends his offseason scouring hockey websites for rumors and speculation. So it wasn’t until his agent called him up and asked him to submit a list of 10 teams to which he’d be willing to accept a trade that he knew his time in Chicago was really up. “That’s when it actually hit me that I’m probably not going to put the Hawks jersey on anymore, which was a pretty weird feeling,” Hjalmarsson said. “A lot of emotions. It still feels a little strange knowing that you’re not going put the Hawks jersey on. It’s going to take some time to get used to that thought.” Hjalmarsson went from the NHL’s upper echelon to the league basement when he was dealt Friday to the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin. The Coyotes are in a long rebuild, they don’t have a coach, they don’t have a captain, and their arena situation in Glendale is tenuous at best. But when he sat down with his wife, Eliina, to pick 10 places they’d be OK with, Arizona was on the list. It helped that fellow Swede and friend Oliver Ekman-Larsson is likely to be his defensive partner on the Coyotes’ top pair. “I obviously wanted to play the full length of my contract in Chicago, that’s why you sign contracts,” he said. “But there are things you can’t control. You kind of have to roll with the punches, and Arizona was one of the teams on my list. I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my career.” The Coyotes had the third-worst record in the league last season, and haven’t made the playoffs since 2012, when they beat the Blackhawks in the first round and reached the Western Conference final. Hjalmarsson is well aware that he’s going into a complete rebuilding situation, and while he’s sad to leave Chicago, he’s embracing the challenge. “I spent my whole 20s in Chicago, and it’s been 10 unbelievable years,” he said. “I would never think I would win three Stanley Cups. And hopefully, I can get one more, please, before my career is over. I had the best time in Chicago and I enjoyed every single year playing in front of the best fans in the league. I’ve been spoiled and had a great time. Now it’s time for me and my family to move on and seize the opportunity down in Arizona, and create some fun, new memories.” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon, the original architect of the Hawks’ modern era, received a huge ovation on Friday night. “It was really special,” he said. “I’m still taken aback to it, to tell you the truth. It was incredible. … I never expected it. There were a lot of positives about what happened in Chicago. It was overwhelming. On the street or anywhere I go in Chicago, it seems people are thanking me and that makes me feel terrific. [Friday] night was an emotional night and I was really happy.” The Hawks have until Monday to tender qualifying offers to restricted free agents Dennis Rasmussen and Tomas Jurco. Stan Bowman wouldn’t commit either way, but both are expected to be back. Record numbers The NHL said that the two-day event drew a record 47,514 fans to the draft and the Fan Fest outside the United Center

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069060 Chicago Blackhawks today than they were last week. And not even the coach or the captain could put a happy face on that.

Dizzying week hits hard for Jonathan Toews, Joel Quenneville Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 06.25.2017

Blackhawks 06/24/2017, 11:22am Mark Lazerus @MarkLazerus | email

In the hockey world, the offseason is all about spin, about putting a happy face on all the signings, trade acquisitions and draft picks that are sure to make your team better and make your fans happier. But Jonathan Toews and Joel Quenneville weren’t doing much smiling on draft weekend, as they tried to wrap their heads around a dizzying three-day span which saw the Blackhawks lose Marian Hossa, Artemi Panarin and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Both were clearly excited to have Brandon Saad back in Chicago, but neither seemed able to muster the will to say the Hawks are a better team now than they were a week ago. “It’s hard to sit here and say that without sounding like you’re being disrespectful to two teammates you care for and know were huge parts of the team,” Toews said. “You can’t really say that.” Quenneville was spotted walking out of a coaches’ meeting at the league’s Chicago headquarters on Friday morning shortly after the Hjalmarsson trade and shortly before the Panarin deal became official. Quenneville’s conspicuous absence from the Hawks’ draft table that night fueled speculation that he was fuming about losing Hjalmarsson, a huge part of three Stanley Cup teams. Well, Quenneville was back at the table on Saturday morning, and said his absence had nothing to do with the trades. And this is nothing new for Quenneville, who has had to say good-bye to beloved and important players nearly every offseason since the post-Cup purge of 2010. But it was clear the Hjalmarsson trade hit him hard, as he took a few hard swallows while extolling the virtues of a player he called “a heart-and- souler.” “You feel for him and what he meant to his team and his teammates and fans here, and the city of Chicago,” Quenneville said. “He’s one of those guys that you have an appreciation to watch, and see how he competes, and knowing what he fights through to stay on the ice in a lot of games. Those guys are hard to see go.” Sure, Quenneville likes the idea of having a physical, right-handed defenseman on the back end in Connor Murphy. But it’s pretty obvious that Quenneville wouldn’t have dealt Hjalmarsson if he were in charge. It’s no concern of his that Hjalmarsson will be 31 and up for a new contract in two years, while Murphy is locked up for five more years. But that’s normal. Quenneville is a coach, and it’s his job to win right now. Stan Bowman is a general manager, and it’s his job to think long term. Some friction and disagreements are inevitable. “As a coach, we’re in the short-term business, we’re thinking about now,” Quenneville said. “So we’re going to do everything we can to better ourselves right now, looking to win today. … It’s not an easy thing to do in today’s business, when it’s hard to move players and it’s hard to find ways to manage the cap. At the same time, as a coach, my motivation is I want to be better and I want to try to win. But I think Stan’s motivation has a longer-term look to it.” The fear is that the two trades — neither of which helped the Hawks’ current cap situation, just the 2019-2020 one — were a gross overreaction for a 50-win team to one really bad week against the Nashville Predators, who went to the Stanley Cup Final and proved to be a much better team than previously thought. Bowman said the trades were motivated by a lot more than the first-round sweep, but the Hawks were pushed around by Nashville, and wanted to do something about it. So they got bigger and stronger up front and on the back end. The cost was high. The Saad deal was a home run, now and in the future, but losing Hossa for nothing and losing Hjalmarsson for a poor-man’s Hjalmarsson in Connor Murphy are undeniable steps back. And while there’s a lot to like about the new-look forward group, and while Corey Crawford and Duncan Keith are still there to shoulder the defensive load, the blue line is a huge question mark, all promise with little proof. The Hawks will be all right, and will still be a playoff team, and should still contend in the Western Conference. But no, they probably aren’t better 1069061 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks' Quenneville ponders the future

John Dietz Follow @johndietzdh

All pro coaches at every level in every sport possess a win-now mentality. Really, there's no choice, especially in the day and age in which we live where fan bases have little to no patience for rebuilding projects. On the other hand, general managers -- especially in the NHL where the salary cap can cause huge headaches -- must take a big-picture mentality to the franchise they are running. Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville gets both sides of the equation, but that didn't make Friday any easier for a coach who watched Stan Bowman trade away dynamic forward Artemi Panarin and a fearless, team-first defenseman in Niklas Hjalmarsson. "Very emotional deals. There's a lot to process there," Quenneville said Saturday while Rounds 2-7 of the NHL draft were being held at the United Center. "You look at what Hammer meant to the team and brought to the team; he was one of those warriors. … "The Bread Man had a special time here as well, and in a short amount of time made a big impact on the team and the city. It's tough when you're losing players of that dynamic." Hjalmarsson admitted he knew things were serious when the Hawks asked him to submit a list of 10 teams to which he'd be willing to be traded. "I had a great time in Chicago and I enjoyed every single year playing in front of the best fans in the league," he said. As for Quenneville, all he can do now is move forward, and he certainly is happy to have Brandon Saad back in the fold. Fans can expect the 24- year-old to reclaim his spot on the top line, playing next to captain Jonathan Toews. "I think we got it in our minds that he'd be a perfect fit on Jonny's left side," Quenneville said. As for Kane losing Panarin, Quenneville echoed Bowman's thoughts from the day before and wasn't worried about the 2016 MVP's ability to post huge numbers no matter whom he's playing with. Expect the Hawks to try many combinations with their blue liners, a group likely to consist of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, the newly acquired Connor Murphy, Gustav Forsling, Michal Kempny and Michal Rozsival. Jan Rutta, David Kampf, Erik Gustafsson and Ville Pokka also should figure into the mix. Quenneville said it's possible Keith and Seabrook will be reunited as the top D pairing. "There's a lot of options, and I'm sure everybody is going to get a chance to play with one another early in the season," the coach said. "(Assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson) is excited about working with our 'D'. The complexion changed quite a bit." Quenneville admitted these moves were made -- at least in part -- because of how Nashville completely dominated puck possession during a four-game sweep of the Hawks in the . The Hawks never matched Nashville's speed, intensity or grit in an ugly week of hockey. "Jonny's line's always been a line that's been more of a puck-possession line and been a threat in the offensive zone. I think Saader adds that element," Quenneville said. "That's one area we add that element where we've got a little bit more bite or a little more edge to be harder to play against."

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069062 Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Draft in Chicago was huge success

John Dietz Follow @johndietzdh

By all accounts the NHL Draft was a smashing success for the Blackhawks and the city of Chicago. Fans packed the United Center, streamed through the streets, stood in line for autographs, bought plenty of merchandise and no doubt tried to learn as much as possible about all the unfamiliar names on the draft board. "It's been an incredible weekend," said Hawks GM Stan Bowman. "I've been to a lot of drafts and I've never seen something like this. … I just heard before we came in here that we set a record for the weekend. You could tell there was a lot of energy." The record Bowman was referring to was the 47,514 who attended FanFest outside the UC. Friday was clearly the high point of the weekend, with some of the highlights being: • Fans mercilessly booing NHL commissioner from the opening of the draft through the 31st pick. Give Bettman credit, though -- he seems to be developing a sense of humor. "You can do better than that," he told the cat-calling masses as he announced the draft was getting underway. • When fans started disparaging the Detroit Red Wings with a chant, they were silenced and somewhat shamed when Tyler Wright, the team's director of scouting, announced this would be the first pick Detroit was making since owner Mike Ilitch passed away. • Dale Tallon, who was the Blackhawks' GM from 2005-09, received a warm welcome as he stood up to announce Florida's pick. "Right back at you!" Tallon said. • While those moments stood out, the UC was never louder than when Stan Bowman paused before announcing the Blackhawks' first pick and said, "You know, I think there's a better way to do this." Out walked Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, and up, up, up went the volume inside the arena. The two stars proceeded to tell the world that the Hawks were taking Finnish D-man Henri Jokiharju. "We're all really lucky here and we all appreciate the fact that our fans are passionate about the team," Bowman said.

Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069063 Chicago Blackhawks But that's what happens when GM Stan Bowman pulls off two of the biggest deals in franchise history just hours before one of the league's signature events gets underway. Defense a top priority as Blackhawks round out draft So who is Henri Jokiharju and what can fans expect from him? Jokiharju purported himself nicely in front of the media moments after he John Dietz was taken, wearing an enormous smile and excitedly answering every question posed to him. Follow @johndietzdh One was if Patrick Kane pronounced his last name correctly when Kane unveiled the pick alongside Jonathan Toews. With all the chaos that took place Friday, the fact that the Blackhawks "I didn't hear," Jokiharju said. "I just heard 'Henri' and I was like 'Oh, took Henri Jokiharju with their first-round pick went almost completely yeah!' " unnoticed. The 18-year-old Jokiharju piled up 48 points (9 goals) in 71 games last That's the ultimate irony isn't it? Here we have the NHL Draft in Chicago season in the Western Hockey League. He also won a gold medal with and the hometown team's first pick is relegated to an afterthought. Finland at the 2016 IIHF World U18 championships. Blackhawks' picks The right-shot defenseman says he's a good skater, that he plays with confidence and that he's a puck-moving D-man. A quick look at the 9 players chosen by the Blackhawks at the 2017 NHL Draft "I love playing power play and the PK, too, so I want to be a big part of the team, of course," Jokiharju said. (Round, overall pick) Said Bowman: "He can defend, but he can also get up the ice and join 1. Henri Jokiharju (29th overall)Position: Defenseman the rush and make things happen with the puck on the blue line. He can move around, play on the power play. I like that part of his game." Size: 6-1, 187 The rest of the draft: From: Finland The Hawks made eight selections Saturday, taking four more Stats: 9 goals, 39 assists in WHL defensemen. GM Stan Bowman said it was a priority to upgrade the 2. Ian Mitchell (57th) Position: Defenseman franchise's blue line, and he did so right away by taking Ian Mitchell in the second round (No. 57 overall). The 5-foot-11, 173-pounder is a right-shot Size: 5-10, 165 defenseman who scored 8 goals in 53 games while playing in the Alberta Junior League last season. From: Canada The Hawks also took defensemen at Nos. 119, 150 and 215. Stats: 8G, 29A in Alberta Juniors "Defensemen are really a valuable commodity and for us that was really 3. Andrei Altybarmakyan (70th)Position: Forward a priority coming in," Bowman said. "And we were able to accomplish it." Size: 5-11, 183 The Hawks took two wingers in the third round -- Andrei Altybarmakyan From: Russia from Russia and Evan Barratt from Bristol, Pennsylvania. Barratt, who was in the United Center with his family, broke down a bit when he heard Stats: 25 goals in 58 games for two teams last season his name called. 3. Evan Barratt (90)Position: Forward "Just hearing your name called anywhere is awesome, but especially (with) such a historic franchise and in Chicago, nothing compares," Size: 5-11, 182 Barratt said. "It brought tears to my eyes right away. I couldn't believe it." From: Pennsylvania Said Bowman: "That was great. Some kids try to play it cool, like they Stats: 18 goals, 38 assists in 63 games on U.S. National U18 team had it all planned out. But you could tell he really wanted that. … We had a great interview with him … and I remember walking away from it 4. Tim Soderlund (112)Position: Forward saying, 'That's a kid you'd like to have on your team.' " Size: 5-9, 163 Barratt says he models his game after Ottawa's Derick Brassard. From: Sweden Extra business: Stats: 7G in 55 games for four teams The Hawks have until Monday to decide if they are going to extend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, which include Dennis 4. Roope Laavainen (119)Position: Defenseman Rasmussen and Tomas Jurco. GM Stan Bowman wouldn't divulge his plans, but did say he's been in discussions with both players' agents. Size: 6-2, 200

From: Finland Stats: 5G in 48 games in Finland Juniors Daily Herald Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 5. Parker Foo (144)Position: Forward Size: 6-1, 170 From: Canada Stats: 34G in 60 games in Alberta Juniors 5. Jakub Galvas (150)Position: Defenseman Size: 5-11, 165 From: Czechoslovakia Stats: 5G in 63 games for five teams 7. Joshua Ess (215)Position: Defenseman Size: 5-11, 180 From: Minnesota Stats:7G in 25 games in high school 1069064 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Kane, Kruger tell their draft-day stories

John Dietz Follow @johndietzdh

With the NHL draft being held at the United Center on Friday and Saturday, we asked 12 current or former Blackhawks to recall their draft- day experience. In our final installment, we take a look at a player who should end up in the top three in franchise history in goals, assists and points when his career's over, and a center with two Stanley Cup rings. Patrick Kane No. 1 pick in 2007 "Could probably tell you stories for an hour, hour and a half. It was just exciting. You know you're going to get drafted high. … "I remember 10 or 15 minutes before the draft someone came down and kind of whispered to me and my dad that Phoenix traded for the first pick. I was all worried because I thought Phoenix wanted Kyle Turris, and my dad was worried because he thought he was going to have to drive to Phoenix from Buffalo. He doesn't like to fly. "Sure enough, the Hawks went up to pick and that rumor wasn't true. I had a meeting with (general manager) Dale Tallon about a month before, and he said that if they had the pick and they didn't trade that I was going to be their pick. Ended up working out. … "One of the more fortunate and luckier days of my life to come to a franchise like this." Marcus Kruger Fifth-round pick (149th overall) in 2009 In his Stockholm apartment at the time, Marcus Kruger kept tabs on the draft while sitting in front of his computer. Kruger's agent texted to let him know his name might be appearing soon. "I heard something it could be the team right after that (Detroit). When my agent texted me, I didn't know (who was going to pick me). "So I was sitting down with the computer and saw my name on the browser there. … Then got the call and the Hawks asked me if I could come over for the summer camp. Think I left a few days after. It was just great memories." The Red Wings ended up taking defenseman Nick Jensen.

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Wake-up Call: Big Blackhawks deals on draft day; What to make of the Bulls rebuild?; Buehrle back in town; 'Up and down' Cubs

By Tracey Myers June 24, 2017 11:45 AM

Coach Joel Quenneville stood in the United Center hallway, summing up what had been a difficult Friday. “Very emotional deals,” he said on Saturday morning, as Day 2 of the NHL Draft commenced. “A lot to process there.” Indeed, the Blackhawks had a busy and difficult day on Friday, trading defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona and swapping Artemi Panarin and Brandon Saad in a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Quenneville was seen by media leaving a coaches meeting in between the Hjalmarsson and Panarin/Saad trades on Friday morning and he wasn’t at the Blackhawks’ table on Friday, unusual for the opening night of the draft. But he said his absence wasn’t about the trades. “Not at all,” he said. Still, as Quenneville said, big moves are a lot to process, even for a team that’s done its share of shedding players since the 2010 offseason. General manager Stan Bowman said Friday was filled with, “high emotions… when you make some difficult decisions.” Jonathan Toews said on Friday night that, “everyone’s kind of shocked” by recent events, including Marian Hossa’s loss. Toews added he was wary of saying the team was better today, out of respect for departed players. “It’s hard to sit there and say that without sounding like you’re being disrespectful to two teammates you care for and know were huge parts of the team,” he said. We talk about the business side of hockey all the time. You make the tough decisions and then you move forward. But there’s a human element to all of this that’s easy to forget. Players, especially those who are with an organization for a long time as Hjalmarsson was, make their impact on and off the ice. Teammates and coaches are spending endless amounts of time together, and those bonds, coupled with what they all go through during regular seasons and Stanley-Cup runs, endure. Saying goodbye is difficult. For Quenneville, seeing Hjalmarsson leave was very difficult. “Well, certainly Hammer, he’s one of those heart-and-soul guys and was instrumental in winning some championships for us. You feel for him and what he meant to his team and his teammates and fans here and the city of Chicago. He’s one of those guys that you have an appreciation to watch and see how he competes and knowing what he fights through to stay on the ice in a lot of games. He’s a heart-and-souler. Those guys are hard to see go,” Quenneville said. “Bread Man wasn’t here long enough to really get that consistency over term. But Hammer really did give a lot to the organization. And we are very appreciative of the Bread Man, because he could wow us and entertain us and a great kid, as well.” Still, there’s the positive side. Quenneville and Toews are thrilled to have Saad back in the fold. Toews and Saad had great chemistry, the first time around and Quenneville said he’ll put those two together to start the season – “I know that [Patrick Kane] finds a way to make it happen, no matter who’s playing at center or on his left. It really adds a one-two punch that hopefully we get consistency and predictability in that area,” Quenneville said. Saad should also help fill at least some of the void left from Hossa. It’s another offseason during which the Blackhawks are feeling the losses, professionally as well as personally. You process, you deal with the sting and then you proceed. That’s the business. “As a coach, we’re in the short-term business, we’re thinking about now,” Quenneville said. “So we’re going to do everything we can to better ourselves right now and looking to win today. And that’s our challenge and that’s what we look at.”

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BLACKHAWKS NOTEBOOK: A BUSY DRAFT, FREE AGENCY AND RFAS

By Tracey Myers June 24, 2017 5:00 PM

Eight draft picks in about 3 ½ hours. It was a busy Saturday for the Blackhawks, and when general manager Stan Bowman talked that afternoon about the team’s Day 2 haul, he came prepared. “I have my little cheat sheet,” Bowman said of the paper on which he had written the Blackhawks’ eight newest prospects. After a few days’ worth of moves the Blackhawks focused on the future, taking nine players over two days at the NHL Draft. It was a successful weekend for the Blackhawks, who hosted the draft for the first time and built up assets, especially on the blue line. Five of the Blackhawks’ nine selections were defensemen. “One of the things we talked about was looking at the market. There’s a high value on defensemen. We’re not necessarily looking at the draft but our team this year and over the next couple of years; those are the assets that are valuable around the league,” Bowman said. “Look at the trade Calgary made [for Travis Hamonic], defensemen are a valuable commodity. That was a priority coming in and we were able to accomplish it.” The Blackhawks got what they wanted at this weekend’s draft but the focus will soon shift, as free agency opens on July 1. It remains to be seen what the Blackhawks will have cap-wise come a week from now. Currently, according to CapFriendly.com, they’re $1.445 million over the $75 million cap. It’s doubtful the Blackhawks apply the long-term injured reserve tag on Marian Hossa during the offseason. It’s possible they could still trade Marcus Kruger to gain some space. Bowman said, one way or another, “there will be some movement.” “We’ll bring some players in, I don’t know how many, what position or what level,” he said. “This is where there’s a lot of activity, the couple weeks in the middle of June until the middle of July. That’s when the most changes happen. We’ll go to work, now that we’re past this.” The Blackhawks also have to decide whether or not to qualify restricted free agents Dennis Rasmussen and Tomas Jurco. Bowman said that’ll be decided by Monday. “I’ve had discussions with both agents,” he said. “I don’t have an answer right now but we’ll have that worked out in the next day and a half.”

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NIKLAS HJALMARSSON REFLECTS ON TIME WITH BLACKHAWKS: 'I HAD THE BEST TIME IN CHICAGO'

By Tracey Myers June 24, 2017 3:00 PM

Niklas Hjalmarsson heard some of the rumors, but not to a large degree. The former Blackhawks defenseman wasn’t spending a lot of time on the internet reading up on his potential fate. He figured he’d still stay put in Chicago. “But when my agent called me about the 10-team list, I understood it was serious. Stan [Bowman] wouldn’t ask for that unless they made up their mind already,” Hjalmarsson said via conference call on Saturday. “That’s when it hit me that I’m probably not going to put the Hawks jersey on anymore.” Indeed, Hjalmarsson’s next jersey will be that of the Arizona Coyotes, who acquired him in exchange for defenseman Connor Murphy on Friday. Hjalmarsson’s departure marks the end of the line for another Blackhawks core player, and this one is jarring in how it will change the team’s defense. Speaking of change, Hjalmarsson faces a lot of it himself now. Sure, there’s the obvious change for a guy who’s played his entire career in one place. It’s new surroundings and a new team, on which he knows former Blackhawks teammate Antti Raanta and fellow countryman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. But the Coyotes have dealt with a lot of upheaval lately. Goaltender Mike Smith is gone. So is veteran Shane Doan. On Thursday, head coach Dave Tippett and the Coyotes parted ways. “They’re on a rebuild, a lot of new faces, lot of changes,” Hjalmarsson said. “It’s tough to know what to expect but I think they’re a hungry organization that wants to win like other teams. I’m looking forward to try to contribute with playing my game, just try to get the organization back in the playoffs.” Hjalmarsson should find chemistry with Ekman-Larsson – the two were teammates in the Winter Olympics in Sochi – and Hjalmarsson will likely play a bigger role with the Coyotes. Arizona will probably look to Hjalmarsson a lot during its rebuild, given his Cup-winning history. The first 24 hours were full of mixed emotions of Hjalmarsson. With his limited no-move clause, he was always a likely candidate to be moved from a Blackhawks team laden will full no-move clauses. He’s turning a page, but he won’t forget his time in Chicago anytime soon. “I’m trying to always be a positive guy,” Hjalmarsson said. “I spent my whole 20s in Chicago, 10 unbelievable years. I didn’t think I’d win three Cups. Hopefully I can get one more before my career is over. I had the best time in Chicago, enjoyed every single year, playing in front of the best fans in the league. I’ve been spoiled. Now it’s time for me and my family to move on and seize the opportunity in Arizona and create some new fond memories.”

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IT’S A BUSINESS, BUT BLACKHAWKS STILL FEEL STING OF EMOTIONAL DEALS

By Tracey Myers June 24, 2017 11:45 AM

Coach Joel Quenneville stood in the United Center hallway, summing up what had been a difficult Friday. “Very emotional deals,” he said on Saturday morning, as Day 2 of the NHL Draft commenced. “A lot to process there.” Indeed, the Blackhawks had a busy and difficult day on Friday, trading defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona and swapping Artemi Panarin and Brandon Saad in a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Quenneville was seen by media leaving a coaches meeting in between the Hjalmarsson and Panarin/Saad trades on Friday morning and he wasn’t at the Blackhawks’ table on Friday, unusual for the opening night of the draft. But he said his absence wasn’t about the trades. “Not at all,” he said. Still, as Quenneville said, big moves are a lot to process, even for a team that’s done its share of shedding players since the 2010 offseason. General manager Stan Bowman said Friday was filled with, “high emotions… when you make some difficult decisions.” Jonathan Toews said on Friday night that, “everyone’s kind of shocked” by recent events, including Marian Hossa’s loss. Toews added he was wary of saying the team was better today, out of respect for departed players. “It’s hard to sit there and say that without sounding like you’re being disrespectful to two teammates you care for and know were huge parts of the team,” he said. We talk about the business side of hockey all the time. You make the tough decisions and then you move forward. But there’s a human element to all of this that’s easy to forget. Players, especially those who are with an organization for a long time as Hjalmarsson was, make their impact on and off the ice. Teammates and coaches are spending endless amounts of time together, and those bonds, coupled with what they all go through during regular seasons and Stanley-Cup runs, endure. Saying goodbye is difficult. For Quenneville, seeing Hjalmarsson leave was very difficult. “Well, certainly Hammer, he’s one of those heart-and-soul guys and was instrumental in winning some championships for us. You feel for him and what he meant to his team and his teammates and fans here and the city of Chicago. He’s one of those guys that you have an appreciation to watch and see how he competes and knowing what he fights through to stay on the ice in a lot of games. He’s a heart-and-souler. Those guys are hard to see go,” Quenneville said. “Bread Man wasn’t here long enough to really get that consistency over term. But Hammer really did give a lot to the organization. And we are very appreciative of the Bread Man, because he could wow us and entertain us and a great kid, as well.” Still, there’s the positive side. Quenneville and Toews are thrilled to have Saad back in the fold. Toews and Saad had great chemistry, the first time around and Quenneville said he’ll put those two together to start the season – “I know that [Patrick Kane] finds a way to make it happen, no matter who’s playing at center or on his left. It really adds a one-two punch that hopefully we get consistency and predictability in that area,” Quenneville said. Saad should also help fill at least some of the void left from Hossa. It’s another offseason during which the Blackhawks are feeling the losses, professionally as well as personally. You process, you deal with the sting and then you proceed. That’s the business. “As a coach, we’re in the short-term business, we’re thinking about now,” Quenneville said. “So we’re going to do everything we can to better ourselves right now and looking to win today. And that’s our challenge and that’s what we look at.”

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NHL draft: Avalanche selects another puck-moving defenseman, five others Saturday

By Mike Chambers | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: June 24, 2017 at 11:56 am | UPDATED: June 24, 2017 at 2:29 PM

On Day 2 of the NHL draft Saturday, the Avalanche continued to focus on play-making defensemen and remained quiet on the trade front. With the first pick of the second round at the United Center in Chicago, the Avs chose Conor Timmins, a 6-foot-1, 184-pound defensemen who has similar attributes to Colorado’s first-round pick on Friday, Cale Makar — the draft’s highest-rated North American defenseman. Both Makar and Timmins are considered skilled, puck-moving defensemen capable of quarterbacking the power play. And both are right-handed shooters. Makar, 5-11 and 187 pounds, is loosely compared to Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, and Timmins has the traits of Washington’s Kevin Shattenkirk. Timmins, ranked fourth among North American defensemen, plays major-junior in the Ontario Hockey League for Sault Ste. Marie, where he amassed 61 points (54 assists) in 67 games. His plus-53 rating was fifth- best in the OHL. In the end, Colorado collected two of the top four draft-eligible defensemen in the continent. In the previous 10 drafts, the Avs chose just two defensemen in the first round — Shattenkirk in 2007 (14th overall) and Duncan Siemens in 2011 (No. 11). The Avs didn’t have a third-round pick — it was traded to New Jersey for defenseman Eric Gelinas in 2016 — but they went on to select three forwards, a goalie and another defenseman in the seventh and final round. Colorado, who finished with a league-low 48 points last season, did not make a trade during the two-day draft. Footnotes. As expected, incoming University of Denver freshman defenseman Ian Mitchell was selected in the second round. Mitchell, who was ranked No. 26 among North American skaters, went to the Chicago Blackhawks with the 57th pick. Future DU classmate Dayton Rasmussen was not among the 21 goalies selected, despite entering the draft at the No. 6-rated North American goalie. But Rasmussen, 18, will also be draft-eligible next year after his freshman season with the Pioneers. … The Avalanche used its first two picks on defensemen first the first time since 2007, when it selected Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen (second round, No. 45). … Each of the Avs draft picks played in different leagues last season (AJHL, OHL, WHL, NCAA, Russia, Czech Republic, U.S. high school). … Englewood native Cal Foote was among five Americans selected in the first round Friday, and 49 overall.

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Jackets tracker: Updates from Chicago on Blue Jackets draft picks at 2017 NHL Draft

By Tom Reed The Columbus Dispatch Posted at 12:07 PM Updated at 1:35 PM

CHICAGO – The Blue Jackets didn’t wait until the third round to make their debut pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. They traded forward prospect Keegan Kolesar to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights for the No. 45 overall pick and the chance to select center Alexandre Texier from Grenoble, France. The Jackets were not supposed to choose until No. 86 overall, but vaulted into the second round for the opportunity to take the 6-foot, 185-pounder. The 17-year-old Texier becomes the highest NHL draft pick from France. The honor previously went to Max Sauve, who was taken No. 47 overall by Boston. In the third round, the Jackets drafted goaltender Daniil Tarasov. He’s a 6-foot-4, 181-pound netminder from Novokuznetsk, Russia. They followed that pick with center Emil Bemstrom, of Sweden, at No. 117, and center Kale Howarth, of Canada, at No. 148. Texier registered 10 goals and nine assists in 40 games while playing for his hometown Grenoble of the French senior league. He’s considered a quick, highly-skilled center. Texier said he knew the Blue Jackets were interested in him as they scouted several of his games. He’s been playing against men for several years His stock rose dramatically in this season’s second half as he jumped from the 39th to the 16th rated European prospect in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings. Texier expects to participate in the Jackets’ development camp next week. He isn’t sure where he will play next season as he’s exploring options Sweden, Finland and the Canadian juniors. Columbus parted with Kolesar, a power forward, who scored 56 goals and contributed 65 assists over the past two seasons for the Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. Kolesar was a third-round pick in 2015. Tarasov was projected a year ago to be a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but he missed the entire 2016-17 season after having a benign growth removed from one of his shins. He’s been skating and practicing for the past two months in Spain, said his Russian-based agent, Aljosa Bilko. Blue Jackets goaltending coach Ian Clark traveled to Spain to visit Tarasov in recent weeks and check on his recovery. There are two connections between Tarasov and the Blue Jackets. Clark has worked closely with Tarasov’s father, Vadim Tarasov, who had a 20-year career as a goaltender in Russia’s pro leagues. One of Vadim Tarasov’s biggest fans during his career was a young goaltender in Novokuznetsk, Russia, by the name of Sergei Bobrovsky. Doesn’t hockey always come full-circle? Now Daniil Tarasov lists Bobrovsky as one of his favorite , along with Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Montreal’s Carey Price. Texier wasn’t the only center the Jackets selected Saturday. They picked Bemstrom, a 5-foot-10, 180 pounder from Sweden. He scored 21 goals in 28 games for Leksands of a Swedish junior league.

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Blue Jackets | Prospect ready to carry banner for France

By Tom Reed The Columbus Dispatch Posted Jun 24, 2017 at 9:28 PM

CHICAGO — Ask Americans to name popular French sports Images and many conjure tennis players sliding across the red clay of Roland Garros and cyclists pedaling through the Alps on their way to the Champs- Elysees in Paris. Few probably picture hockey in the land of baguettes and sidewalk cafes. Alexandre Texier wants to change that image, and the Blue Jackets have offered him the platform. The Blue Jackets made the 17-year-old center the highest NHL draft pick from France, selecting him No. 45 overall Saturday at the United Center. The club, which began the day without a second-round selection, traded prospect Keegan Kolesar to the Vegas Golden Knights for the right to choose the 6-foot, 185-pound kid nicknamed “Tex.” Texier becomes just the ninth player drafted into the NHL from France and among the few who received all his training in his homeland. “It’s cool,” he told reporters in French. “I am proud for myself, for France and for my (club) team in Grenoble. I am proud to represent my country. I hope that French hockey will evolve in relation to that.” Texier was accompanied to Chicago by his parents, who stoked his interest in the game. His father, Fabrice, was a defenseman who played one season (1986-87) in Canada. Last season, Texier was named the best young player in the French senior league, scoring 10 goals and adding nine assists in 40 games. “It’s unbelievable for me and my family,” Texier said in his limited English. He would have represented France in the world championships if not for a shoulder injury that will keep him off the ice at this week’s development camp in Columbus. Texier is deciding whether to play next season in Sweden, Finland or a Canadian junior hockey league. “We drafted a guy we would have taken in the first round if we had a late first-round pick,” Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekelainen said of a selection that was dealt to Vegas as part of an expansion-draft side deal. “We feel like we have a very good prospect with him.” Playing for Grenoble in the French senior league, he saw his stock rise as the season unfurled. Texier finished 16th among European skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Rankings after being rated 39th at midseason. Goaltender Daniil Tarasov was projected a year ago to be a first-round pick, but he missed the 2016-17 season after having a benign growth removed from one of his shins. The Jackets selected him in the third round, No. 86 overall. He has been skating and practicing for the past two months in Spain, said his Russia-based agent, Aljosa Bilko. Blue Jackets goaltending coach Ian Clark traveled to Spain to visit Tarasov in recent weeks and check on his recovery. There are two connections between Tarasov and the Blue Jackets. Clark has worked closely with Tarasov’s father, Vadim Tarasov, who had a 20- year career as a goaltender in Russia’s pro leagues. One of Vadim Tarasov’s biggest fans during his career was a young goaltender in Novokuznetsk, Russia, by the name of Sergei Bobrovsky. Now, Daniil Tarasov lists Bobrovsky as one of his favorite goaltenders, along with Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Montreal’s Carey Price. Fifth-round selection Kale Howarth, of the in the Hockey League, is a nephew of former NHL player Scott Mellanby. ... Sixth-round pick Carson Meyer, a Powell native and Miami University sophomore, was one of only nine players taken from the NCAA college ranks.

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Blue Jackets better with Artemi Panarin

Staff Report Posted Jun 24, 2017 at 8:50 PM Updated Jun 24, 2017 at 8:50 PM

The Blue Jackets gained 20 assists this weekend. That is no small thing. It is just what they were looking for, and they got it in the form of Artemi Panarin, who may be the most gifted forward to ever pull on a Union Blue jersey. OK, there was — but he was 35 when he washed up on the shores of the Scioto. And there was Rick Nash, and we can argue about that. It’s a good argument to have right now. Panarin is 25. He was acquired Friday in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. He is a left wing with elite-level creativity, vision, puck-handling skills and shooting ability. The Jackets gave up Brandon Saad and prospect goaltender Anton Forsberg in the deal. They exchanged draft picks. They also acquired a bottom-six center in Tyler Motte. Chicago general manager Stan Bowman’s thinking is clear. Hawks superstars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane each carry an annual cap hit of $10.5 million through 2022-23. This heft must be managed with an eye toward the future. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and Panarin will be unrestricted free agents two years hence. They will command big numbers — especially Panarin, who is a budding superstar. By trading Hjalmarsson to Phoenix for defenseman Connor Murphy, a good Dublin boy, and Panarin to the Jackets for Saad, the Hawks gain a measure of “cost certainty.” Murphy is locked up for another five years and Saad for another three. Bowman is taking a gamble. Kane is losing the most potent linemate he ever had. Murphy, 24, is being asked to take the place of Hjalmarsson, which is no small task. Bowman accepts the risks for a number of reasons. Kane and Toews both lobbied for Saad’s return, Toews is getting his favorite linemate back, Saad adds some needed size up front and the defense is getting an infusion of youth. Plus, the problem of a backup goaltender may be solved in the form of Forsberg. Plus-plus, there is that measure of “cost certainty.” The Jackets are getting 20 assists. That is no small thing. It is the difference between Saad, a 50-point scorer, and Panarin, a 75-point scorer. It is exactly what the Jackets needed: Saad is not a game- breaker; Panarin is. Coach John Tortorella had the best take. “Look at our series against Pittsburgh,” Tortorella told The Dispatch. “I thought we outplayed Pittsburgh quite a few minutes in that series, but for us to score a goal it took seven or eight chances. Pittsburgh goes down the ice, they make something out of nothing and it’s in the back of our net. That’s what this guy (Panarin) can do. That’s where this changes us. It’s another level offensively for our team.” Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had a good weekend. Kekalainen managed to protect Josh Anderson, Jack Johnson and Joonas Korpisalo in the expansion draft. (They are more valuable to the Jackets than the package that was forked over to Vegas. Period.) He lost to Vegas, but he picked up help in Motte. Best of all, he filled a need that is most difficult to fill. He got a game-breaker. Kekalainen, like Bowman, assumes some risk. Can Panarin play for Tortorella? Saad was ambivalent on the subject. Can Panarin produce without Kane? That is a fair question. Is Panarin a defensive liability? Maybe, but he is a power-play monster. Will Panarin command a huge price as an undrafted free agent in two years? Yes, he will, in Columbus or elsewhere. This is what we know right now: The Jackets are better today than they were Wednesday. They are better because their most glaring need has been addressed, to some degree. That is aspirational.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069073 Columbus Blue Jackets Info: Thrust himself onto the radar of many NHL teams with a breakout season two years ago in the USHL, scoring 32 goals in 56 games. ... The Powell native will be a sophomore at Miami University in the fall and Blue Jackets | Meet the draft class of 2017 could spend at least two more seasons at Miami. ... Needs to improve his skating, but has plenty of skill and offensive instinct.

ROBBIE STUCKER Staff Report Rd.: 7, No. 210 Posted Jun 24, 2017 at 8:49 PM Position: D Updated Jun 24, 2017 at 8:49 PM Height/weight: 6-3, 178

Info: The lone defenseman drafted by the Jackets. ... Stucker has been a Meet the Jackets’ draft picks standout in Minnesota high school hockey (St. Thomas Academy) for three years. He’s committed to Colorado College in the fall. ... Stucker ALEXANDRE TEXIER was ranked No. 88 among North American skaters, so it’s a bit of a surprise he lasted on the board this long. Rd.: 2, No. 45

Position: C — Aaron Portzline Height/weight: 6-0, 187 Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.25.2017 Info: Believed to be the first player taken in the NHL draft who was born and trained entirely in France. ... Texier is a highly skilled, fast-skating forward who will play next season in Sweden, Finland or Canada. ... His father, Fabrice Texier, was a defenseman in the French pro league in the 1980s and 1990s. DANIIL TARASOV Rd.: 3, No. 86 Position: G Height/weight: 6-4, 180 Info: Was projected to be a first-round draft pick this year but missed all of 2016-17 after having surgery to remove a mass from his lower leg. ... A tall goaltender with elite athleticism and reflexes. ... His father, Vadim, had a 20-year pro career in Russia. ... Signed for two more years in Russia but plans to play in North America. EMIL BEMSTROM Rd.: 4, No. 117 Position: C Height/weight: 5-10, 177 Info: Dominated at the junior level in Sweden last season (21 goals, 33 points in 28 games) before he was elevated briefly to the men’s league. ... Not a big body, but plays a reckless style and is highly competitive, losing few one-on-one battles. ... A responsible two-way player. KALE HOWARTH Rd.: 5, No. 148 Position: LW Height/weight: 6-5, 208 Info: A big, lanky forward who was draft eligible — though not drafted — the previous two years. ... Committed to the University of Connecticut, which is why he spent last season in the British Columbia junior level, preserving his NCAA eligibility. ... Nephew of former NHL forward Scott Mellanby. Rd.: 6, No. 170 Position: RW Height/weight: 5-11, 185 Info: Big day for the Davidsson family. Brother Marcus went No. 37 overall to Buffalo in the second round and Jonathan went four rounds later to Columbus. ... Played most of last season in Sweden’s top league, totaling three goals, nine assists in 44 games. ... Is expected to remain with Djurgardens at least for next season. CARSON MEYER Rd.: 6, No. 179 Position: RW Height/weight: 5-10, 180 1069074 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets | Powell’s Carson Meyer goes from fan to prospect

By Aaron Portzline The Columbus Dispatch Posted Jun 24, 2017 at 8:48 PM Updated Jun 24, 2017 at 9:47 PM

CHICAGO — Carson Meyer swore he wasn’t going to obsess over getting picked in this year’s NHL draft. After not hearing his name in the last two drafts, he didn’t want to build it up just to be let down. But, yet again, there he was sitting on pins and needles in his Powell home as the fourth round played out on television from the United Center. Then the fifth round. Then most of the sixth round. “When I heard my name on TV,” Meyer said. “I was just stunned.” The rest of what he heard made it even sweeter. The Blue Jackets made their hometown fan a hometown prospect, taking Meyer, a skilled forward, in the sixth round (No. 179) on Saturday. “My sister started shooting a video with her phone right after the pick,” Meyer said. “Everybody in the room was just jumping up and down and going crazy, and I was sitting on the sofa, just stunned. I’ve always had certain goals to achieve. This is a big one. An absolutely huge one.” Meyer is the second Columbus kid to be drafted by the hometown Blue Jackets. Ten years ago, Dublin’s Trent Vogelhuber was drafted by the Jackets with the last pick of the draft — seventh round, No. 211. “It’s probably the most fulfilling thing that has ever happened to us with Carson,” said his mom, Holly Meyer. “He has worked so hard for so many years and is finally getting the recognition. And for it to be the Blue Jackets? Unreal. It’s just so incredible and so unreal.” The Blue Jackets made it clear that a feel-good story had no part in picking Meyer. Two years ago, he opened eyes around the scouting community by scoring 32 goals in the United States Hockey League. Last season, as a freshman at Miami University, he had 10 goals and 26 points in 32 games. “It’s a fantastic story, the local team drafting the local kid,” said Chris Morehouse, the Blue Jackets assistant director of amateur scouting. “But he had really good production in the USHL. His production in Miami was great for a first-year kid. That he’s from Columbus is sugar on top of it, but we’re really excited about his future.” Meyer came to development camp with the Blue Jackets last summer, and he likely would have done the same this year as well. (He had at least eight offers from NHL clubs to attend their summer camps.) But the Jackets didn’t want to let him get away, especially after seeing how he handled the dejection of not getting drafted the last two years. “Full credit to him,” Morehouse said. “He didn’t pout, he didn’t quit. He went right back to work.” Meyer will return to Miami in the fall. He’ll need to work on his skating if he’s going to continue to ascend the hockey ranks, but now he has a path before him. And it could lead to the Blue Jackets one day. “It’s just a huge confidence boost for me,” Meyer said. “I’ve always had certain goals I wanted to achieve, and this is a big one to check off the list on my way. The confidence that Columbus has shown in me, believing in me enough to draft me. It’s going to be a huge boost.”

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5 things to know about Stars' top pick Miro Heiskanen, including not being alive when Dallas won the Stanley Cup

Staff Report By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter: @SportsDayDFW

The Dallas Stars selected defenseman Miro Heiskanen with the third overall pick in the NHL draft. Get to know one of the newest Stars.... The Basics Name: Miro Heiskanen Date of Birth: July 18, 1999 From: Espoo, Finland Height: 6'1" Weight: 172 lbs Pos.: Defenseman Wait, he's how old? You read that correctly. The third overall pick in the NHL draft is only 17 years old. To put that in perspective: One June 19, 1999, the Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals to win their first (and only) championship -- and Heiskanen wasn't alive to see it. He was born a month later. He may be young, but there's a reason the Stars made him the first defenseman taken in the draft. From Elite Hockey Prospects: "An elite two-way defenseman in the making, Miro Heiskanen has a toolbox bursting at the seams. Very smooth skater whose general agility and athleticism is excellent and on display every shift ... Willingness to play a physical game is not an issue, as he is often seen throwing the body. Defensively very diligent and proactive." A combination of really good teams and bad luck in the lottery kept the Stars away from the top of the draft for a long time. The selection of Heiskanen at No. 3 was the Stars' highest draft pick since they selected some guy named Mike Modano No. 1 overall in 1988. Finnish roots Heiskanen played for HIFK of the Finnish Elite League in 2016-17 and is expected to remain in Finland next season. He also represented his country at both the 2017 U-20 World Junior Championship and the 2017 U-18 World Junior Championship. He'll also have fellow young countrymen on the roster to bond with including Julius Honka and Esa Lindell.

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Where Stars second-round pick Jason Robertson's competitive streak came from

By Mike Heika , Staff Writer Contact Mike Heikaon Twitter:@MikeHeika

Jason Robertson grew up with two brothers who loved battling, so he believes he has a good competitive streak. "It was pretty much every day, so yeah, that's what I've been around my whole life," said Robertson, the Stars' second-round draft pick. "I think that's helped me a lot." Robertson's improvisational hockey games around the house in Northville, Michigan, did a great job of developing his hands. He is a skilled center who has a knack for scoring, and the Stars say they are hopeful they found a gem at 39th overall. "He's a great skilled player, and we really think he has tremendous upside," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "I think the scouts had a great draft." Dallas finished Day 2 with five selections in Rounds 2-7, and Nill said he was happy with the haul. The Stars added a top-level defenseman in Miro Heiskanen with the third pick in the first round, then moved up to take goalie Jake Oettinger at 26th on Friday. On Saturday, Robertson headlined the day. Robertson, 17, tallied 42 goals among 81 points in 68 games with Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League. He said waiting to be drafted was stressful, and that knowing his team now paves the way for the future. "It was a tough night of sleep," said Robertson, who some projected to go in the first round. "But once you hear your name, I think you get a real feeling of where you're going. You can start planning the next year and visualizing where you're going." Nill said the development curve for most draft picks is three to four years, so the Stars won't know for a while whether the scouts got it right or not. But he said he loved the feel of the draft. "I just felt prepared the whole time," Nill said. "We moved the one pick [trading the 70th pick to move up from 29th to 26th] and we talked about some others, and they were ready for anything. They prepare all year for this. It was their weekend, and I thought they were great." Also added by the Stars on Saturday were: Center Liam Hawel (101st overall): Hawel split his season between Sault Ste. Marie and Guelph of the OHL, recording 28 points (9-19-28) in 66 regular-season contests. The 6-4, 175-pound native of Kanata, Ontario, also skated in five games for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship. Center Jacob Peterson (132nd overall): Peterson, 17, had 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) with Frolunda in the Swedish Junior League. Right wing Brett Davis (163rd overall): Davis, 18, tallied 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 59 WHL games with Lethbridge and Kootenay. Goaltender Dylan Ferguson (194th overall): Ferguson, 18, was 16-10-2 with Kamloops of the WHL. He had a 2.74 GAA and .922 save percentage.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069077 Dallas Stars Up front, the Stars might need more help. Dallas has lost Eakin and Patrick Eaves and no longer has contracts with Patrick Sharp, Jiri Hudler and Ales Hemsky. Mattias Janmark is hoping to come back from a knee Stars' draft decisions makes free agency that much more important for injury, and Valeri Nichushkin might be able to get out of his contract in Dallas the KHL and return to Dallas. If neither returns, the Stars will need several players.

"We definitely could use some help on the right side," Nill said. "So we'll By Mike Heika , Staff Writer Contact Mike Heikaon Twitter:@MikeHeika be looking." T.J. Oshie was expected to be the best right wing available, but he re- signed with Washington. That's part of the juggling of player acquisition. Jim Nill had to make a tough decision Friday -- give up a potential Other teams are trying to build their teams, and their needs can get in the franchise-level player to help his team now via trade or trust that his way. scouts are right about Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger. There has been plenty of discussion during the expansion draft and the He chose the latter. entry draft, because teams are seeking answers. Nill said Saturday was relatively quiet because teams need to breathe and reassess. That means free agency could be much more important for the Stars general manager. Those that didn't add players in trade could take another stab this week or they could wait for July 1 and free agency. Vegas has acquired a lot of Dallas still would love to get a left-handed defenseman to play beside players and needs to unload a few, so maybe the trade route still is a either John Klingberg or Julius Honka. Many believed Nill's best possibility. But acquiring a player just because you can pay him a lot of opportunity was to use some combination of the third and 29th picks in money is still a good way to build. the draft. Nill had options to move back in the draft and possibly give up the 29th pick, but he said the opportunity to add Heiskanen and Oettinger Dallas valued its draft picks Friday and Saturday, and passed on a changed his mind. couple of possible trades. That means it might study free agency instead. Here are some possible targets for the Stars: "You just don't get a chance to get those players every day, so we weighed our choices and decided to make the picks," Nill said of taking Karl Alzner - The steady defensive defenseman would be a nice talented defenseman Heiskanen third and moving up to 26th to get big complement to Dallas’ skilled defensemen goalie Oettinger. "We really feel good about it." Trevor Daley - Veteran could possibly provide nice bridge before draft That's because there are other ways to add defensemen. pick Miro Heiskanen is ready for NHL Yes, Nill's biggest bargaining chips for a trade are gone, but he could still Alexander Radulov - Big money forward would be long-term answer at work a deal with the assets he has, or he could simply sign one in free right wing. agency. The Stars have used free agency in the past to make big acquisitions, and this might be another year when they swing for the Justin Williams - Older right wing has history of success in playoffs fences. Patrick Eaves - Injuries are still an issue, but Eaves scored 30 goals last After losing Cody Eakin's $3.85 million cap hit when the versatile center year and likes Dallas was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, the Stars have about $20 million in cap space. They will probably add $3 million Patrick Sharp - Potential late signing in case either Valeri Nichushkin more with a buyout of . While they have to sign several (KHL) or Mattias Janmark (injury) can’t play next season restricted free agents, including Radek Faksa and Esa Lindell, the Stars are in good shape financially. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 06.25.2017 So why not at least dip your toe in the free-agent market? Karl Alzner is a big, steady defenseman who could play on the left side next to Klingberg or Honka. The 28-year-old former Washington Capital has made $2.8 million per season, so he probably is looking for a big raise. Does he need to get above $5 million? Does he need six years or more? It could be both. Do the Stars want to pay that much? It's a great discussion to have. "It's one of the tools we can use, so we need to look at it," Stars president Jim Lites said. "You overpay, but you also don't give up any assets, and there is appeal to that. If we have the room to pay, then why not protect our assets?" Dallas has a history of adding key pieces in free agency, and there has been success and failure. Ed Belfour, and Pat Verbeek were key pieces of the 1999 Stanley Cup team. But Dallas ended up buying out Bill Guerin when they signed him for $9 million several years back, and Nill's signing of Niemi for $4.5 million a year probably will end up in another buyout. So you have to go in with your eyes open. "We're looking at trades, and some of these players are available because teams are looking at cap issues," Nill said. "So when you are doing your building, you have to be aware of what can happen to you." In other words, getting good value from a free agent is great; overpaying for a player when value could decrease in the future can be dangerous. The Stars' defense, for example, could really use a player like Alzner. However, it also could go into next season as constructed. Esa Lindell and Dan Hamhuis could play the left side in the top four, and that would leave the quartet of Jamie Oleksiak, Stephen Johns, Patrik Nemeth and Greg Pateryn to battle for the final pairing. "We are always trying to improve, so we want to add a good player," Nill said. "But he needs to be a very good player. We don't need to panic, because there's no reason to panic." 1069078 Dallas Stars

5 things to know about Stars first round pick Jake Oettinger, including going back-to-back picks with his best friend

Staff Report By SportsDayDFW.com Contact SportsDayDFW.com on Twitter:@SportsDayDFW

The Dallas Stars made two first round selections in this year's draft, and traded up to guarantee they would get their hands on a goalie. Not only did the Stars grab potentially the best defenseman in the 2017 class, they also arguably snagged the best goalie in Oettigner. From SI's Michael Blinn: "Whichever team selects the 18-year-old will get a goalie who's toolbox includes much more than sartorial know-how and size. There's also a hand often described as unbeatable to go with top-notch awareness and puck handling. He's a building block in the crease who has the skill and mental makeup scouts and coaches alike fawn over." Just before Oettinger was selected by the Stars, his best friend from back home in Lakeville - St. Cloud State University's center Ryan Poehling - went No. 25 overall to the Montreal Canadiens. When asked if they ever thought about this scenario when they were younger, Oettinger told Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Maybe in our wildest dreams. The fact that my best friend goes one pick before me in the first round of the NHL draft is ridiculous." 'The coolest words I've ever heard' Oettinger let fans follow his path to the NHL draft through a series of 'diary entries' for NHL.com. Here's a partial entry from the morning after he was drafted. From Oettinger: "To hear [NHL Commissioner] Mr. Gary Bettman say to me when I reached the stage, "Welcome to the NHL," was probably the coolest words I've ever heard in my life. I don't even know if I fully realize how great this is, but all the Dallas people are first class. I had a good feeling about them after I left the interview with them at the NHL Scouting Combine." On January 8, 2017, Oettigner stopped 26 of 29 shots as Boston University topped University of Massachusetts 5-3 at Fenway Park during this year's 'Frozen Fenway' series. Oettinger just completed his freshman season at Boston University with a 21-11-3 record and four . He was named as a Hockey East Second Team All-Star and was also named to the Hockey East All- Rookie Team. He also earned a gold medal representing the United States at the 2017 World Junior Championship.

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Dallas Stars go forward, starting with LA-Detroit teen, as NHL Draft wraps up

From staff and wire reports

The Dallas Stars selected four forwards and one goaltender Saturday as the NHL Draft in Chicago concluded with rounds two through seven. Heavy on forwards is “just how it works out,” said Joe McDonnell, director of amateur scouting, via the Stars’ website. “We’re not drafting by position at that point. We are getting what our area guys are thinking, what they like, who they are real strong on.” On Friday, the Stars went with defense in the first round, selecting defenseman Miro Heiskanen with the No. 3 overall pick and Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger with the No. 26 pick. The Stars moved up from 29th in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, who received Dallas’ picks at Nos. 29 and 70 (third round) in the swap. In the second round Saturday, the Stars used the 39th overall pick to take Jason Robertson, a left wing. The American player scored 42 goals in the Ontario Hockey League last season. “We had him rated in our first round, and it was the old cliché that we were shocked that he was still available,” McDonnell said. Robertson, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound forward, was projected as a possible first-round pick on some lists, the Stars said. “We’re excited. He’s a great scorer, and I think he is going to be a good fit for us,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. Robertson, 17, grew up as a Los Angeles Kings fan, Yahoo! Sports reported, having lived in LA until he was 10 before moving to Detroit. The other Stars selections: Center Liam Hawel in the fourth round (101st overall); center Jacob Peterson in the fifth round (132nd overall); center Brett Davis in the sixth round (163rd overall); and goaltender Dylan Ferguson in the seventh round (194th overall). More info from the Stars’ website: Hawel, 18, is listed at 6-5, 179 pounds and was on Canada’s 2017 Under-18 World Championship team. Peterson, 17, is 6-foot, 165 and played in Sweden’s top junior league last season. Davis, 18, is 6-1, 178, and rated as a good skater. Ferguson, 18, at 6-1 and 181, played 31 games as the backup goalie for Kamloops in the Western Hockey League.

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1069080 Detroit Red Wings

2017 NHL draft: 10 from Michigan, three from Northville, picked on Day 2

Brandon Folsom, Special to the Detroit Free Press 9:12 p.m. ET June 24, 2017

At least 10 skaters with Michigan ties, including three from Northville, were chosen on the second and final day of the NHL draft Saturday. That included Northville native Jason Robertson, who the Dallas Stars selected in the second round. The 39th overall selection had 99 points in 79 games as a left wing for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. Michigan freshman defenseman Luke Martin, a former player for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth, went 52nd to the Carolina Hurricanes, and Oshawa Generals forward Jack Studnicka, also of Northville, landed with the Boston Bruins one pick later. The Red Wings stayed local when they drafted (United States Hockey League) goaltender Keith Petruzzelli in the third round. Also going in the third round, the Minnesota Wild picked (OHL) right wing Vanya Lodnia, a Novi native. The Los Angeles Kings selected Sarnia Sting (OHL) center Drake Rymsha in the fifth round. Rymsha is from Huntington Woods. Ottawa’s Sasha Chmelevski of Northville went in the sixth round to the San Jose Sharks. The Flint Firebirds (OHL) saw defenseman Fedor Gordeev get drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round, and the rival Saginaw Spirit had center Brady Gilmore get drafted by the Red Wings in the seventh round. Brighton native and NTDP left wing Logan Cockerill went to the New York Islanders in the seventh round.

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Red Wings' Drew Miller: New MSU hockey coach has what it takes to win

Brandon Folsom, Special to the Detroit Free Press 8:46 p.m. ET June 24, 2017

BATH – Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller hopes new Michigan State hockey coach Danton Cole can return the program to greatness. "I think everyone is excited with him being an alumnus and the (former) coach of the U.S. (national developmental) program," Miller said before playing in Drew Stanton's celebrity golf tournament Friday at Hawk Hollow Golf Course. "With his resume, he comes in (prepared for success), and I think he'll be good for the team. "I'm just excited because I want them to get back on track and see the Spartans hockey team back to being where we all know they're capable of being and being one of the powerhouses in the country." Miller knows plenty about MSU's hockey tradition. He was the 10th person in his family to play for the Spartans. He was a part of 68 wins for the Spartans from 2003-06, advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals his junior season. Cole, whom the Spartans hired April 11, has a similar past with MSU. He was on the 1985-86 NCAA championship team and played all four years there before joining the . He has since had coaching stints with the , Alabama-Huntsville and, most recently, the U.S. national developmental team. Miller thinks Cole can use his experience as a both a college and professional coach to lure big-time recruits to East Lansing and get the Spartans turned around. "From an outside looking in, I think you just got to get the bigger recruits," Miller said. "That's something that I know Danton can do."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069082 Detroit Red Wings Overview: Giant goalie who is figuring out how to make the most of his size. Will take longer to develop, as is often case with bigger goalies (see Ben Bishop). Athletic butterfly style. Breaking down the Detroit Red Wings' 2017 NHL draft class D Malte Setkov Selected: 4th round, 100th overall. Helene St. James , Detroit Free Press 7:09 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 Vitals: 6 feet 4, 185 pounds. Past season: 2 goals, 10 assists in 38 games with Malmo J20 (SuperElit) Free Press sports writer Helene St. James breaks down the 11 players Overview: Tremendous growth the second half of last season. Dedicated taken by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL draft: to improving. May have most upside of all the defensemen the Wings F Michael Rasmussen picked. Smart, can move the puck. Selected: 1st round, 9th overall. D Cole Fraser Vitals: 6 feet 6, 221 pounds. Selected: 5th round, 131st overall. Past season: 32 goals, 23 assists in 50 games for Tri-City Americans Vitals: 6 feet 2, 192 pounds. (WHL). Past season: 6 goals, 13 assists in 61 games for Overview: Goes to the hard areas. Plays the net-front on the power play. (OHL). Good scoring touch around the net. Competitive. Good skater. Has Overview: Admires Niklas Kronwall and Shea Weber because of their chance to be really good. physical games. Loves to throw his body around, relishes contact. Detroit Red Wings stock up on defensemen, big bodies in 2017 NHL Started out as a forward, which he says he uses to his advantage to read draft plays. D Gustav Lindstrom F John “Jack” Adams Selected: 2nd round, 38th overall. Selected: 6th round, 162nd overall. Vitals: 6 feet 2, 187 pounds. Vitals: 6 feet 5, 194 pounds. Past season: 2 goals, 7 assists in 48 games for Almtuna AS (Allsvenska) Past season: 37 goals, 23 assists in 56 games with Fargo (USHL). Overview: Nicklas Lidstrom told the Free Press: “Gustav is good with the Overview: Big guy, has to work on his foot speed and skating. Has very puck and good at finding open players with his first pass. He plays hard good hockey sense around the net. Hard person to handle in front of the and his ‘compete level’ is high. Room for improvement in his skating but net. Has good scoring touch. Size and skill, could be dark horse if skating that will come as he plays against older players this year.” improves. D Kasper Kotkansalo D Reilly Webb Selected: 3rd round, 71st overall. Selected: 6th round, 164th overall. Vitals: 6 feet 2, 190 pounds. Vitals: 6 feet 3, 198 pounds. Past season: 1 goal, 11 assists in 47 games for Sioux Falls (USHL). Past season: 1 assist in 12 games for Hamilton (OHL). Overview: Going to Boston University. Played for Finland’s U19 team, Overview: Missed chunk of season because of shoulder injury/surgery. wore the captaincy. Good leader. Good skater. More offense to his game Good skater, competitive, can move the puck. than showed in USHL this year. Really good hockey sense. F Brady Gilmour F Lane Zablocki Selected: 7th round, 193rd overall. Selected: 3rd round, 79th overall. Vitals: 5 feet 10, 170 pounds. Vitals: 6 feet, 185 pounds. Past season: 20 goals, 21 assists in 65 games with Saginaw (OHL). Past season: 26 goals, 26 assists in 64 games split between Regina and Overview: Needs to put on weight. Pretty good year on team that Red Deer (WHL). struggled. High character kid. Overview: A Tyler Bertuzzi type player in that Zablocki thrives in playoffs. Hard guy to play against. He competes, has good hockey sense, and if he is not factoring in on the score sheet, he is factoring in on the penalty Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 side. Detroit Red Wings draft picks Colin Fraser, Zach Gallant and Keith Petruzzelli talk with reporters Saturday, June 24, 2017 at United Center in Chicago. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press F Zach Gallant Selected: 3rd round, 83rd overall. Vitals: 6 feet 2, 187 pounds. Past season: 21 goals, 26 assists in 60 games for Peterborough Petes (OHL) Overview: Good two-way player, sound defensively, good on face-offs. Character, size, competitiveness, possible growth as offensive player. G Keith Petruzzelli Selected: 3rd round, 88th overall. Vitals: 6 feet 5, 180 pounds. Past season: 21-10-1, 2.41 goals-against average, .917 save percentage with Muskegon (USHL). 1069083 Detroit Red Wings Let Larkin and company mature and grow into their prime years as the Wings try to sustain themselves via the draft, possibly the trade market. Free agency this summer best serves as an avenue to improve the décor NHL free agency: Red Wings should improve decor, not make sweeping rather than set the foundation. changes Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 Helene St. James , Detroit Free Press Published 6:59 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Updated 8 hours ago

CHICAGO -- As the Detroit Red Wings approach free agency, the most sensible – and realistic – option is to add a stop-gap player or two. For the right price. The Wings spent this weekend focused on the future as they mined the 2017 NHL draft for big, skilled defensemen and centers to sustain the team down the road. Now, they'll hit the free-agent market, which officially opens July 1 at noon. It makes no sense for the Wings to shell out the money it would take to secure Kevin Shattenkirk, the marquee defenseman expected to be available. Would he help them? Yes. Would he transform them into contenders? No. The Wings can’t do it anyway because salary space is an issue. They have about $8 million to play with as it stands, but a chunk of that will go towards re-signing restricted free agents Tomas Tatar and Andreas Athanasiou, among others. The Wings have said they are not interested in tanking – and this year showed why doing so doesn’t guarantee a reward. The Colorado Avalanche finished with the worst record in the NHL – but the draft lottery left them with the fourth overall selection. The Wings finished with the sixth-worst record – and the draft lottery and inclusion of expansion Vegas left the Wings with the ninth pick. The goal for the Wings next season is to make the playoffs. That won’t happen because of anything the Wings do via free agency. If the Wings make the playoffs, it will be because enough of the players who underperformed last season have bounce-back years. That list includes Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar (he reached 25 goals, but had nine at the halfway point), Riley Sheahan, Danny DeKeyser, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader. Petr Mrazek also is among the underachievers, though he may be the most bankable rebound candidate, as he is entering a contract year and surely was humbled after being exposed to the expansion draft and eliciting no interest. What makes sense on July 1 is to bring back forward Thomas Vanek on a two-year deal averaging no more than $3 million a season.The Wings took a gamble on the skilled Austrian winger last summer, after he was bought out by Minnesota. He worked out better than expected: Vanek produced 15 goals and 38 points in 48 games, earning a .79 points-per- game average that was second on the team behind Henrik Zetterberg. He had great chemistry with Frans Nielsen, and Athanasiou was a good fit with those two. Vanek was part of the Wings’ hottest line to start last season, with Helm and Nyquist, and when Vanek got hurt, those two got very quiet offensively. Vanek was traded to Florida at the trade deadline. The Wings also should consider signing one of defensemen Dan Girardi or Trevor Daley for a year – two at most – to help the back end. Girardi recently was bought out by the New York Rangers, so he may come in as motivated as Vanek was last season. The Wings have to be wondering how much more they will get out of defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who is playing on a permanently bad knee. Kronwall pushes himself as much as possible, but one big hit could spell the sidelines. At least Girardi, 33, has some offensive ability. He also shoots right. Daley, 33, is another guy who could add offense to the back end. If the Wings slip out of the playoff picture by the trade deadline, flip the players for picks, like this year with Vanek. It’s a relatively low-risk investment that should make the Wings better. The Wings have good young assets in Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Evgeny Svechnikov, Tyler Bertuzzi and Athanasiou. The 2017 draft saw the Wings stock up on big defensemen who can move the puck, and big centers. 1069084 Detroit Red Wings

Wings' Blashill: Tyler Bertuzzi 'on verge of becoming real good NHL player'

Helene St. James , Detroit Free Press 6:22 p.m. ET June 24, 2017

CHICAGO -- Jeff Blashill kept an eye on who the Detroit Red Wings picked as they went deep into the draft – but his keener interest is in which prospects can help the Wings as soon as next season. It sure sounds like Tyler Bertuzzi has made the 2017-18 roster barring a major setback. Speaking after today's Day 2 of the NHL draft saw the Wings add five defensemen, four forwards and a goaltender after selecting 6-foot-6 center Michael Rasmussen in first round, Blashill was asked about the 2017 Griffins, and whether someone like Tyler Bertuzzi could soon join the Wings. Bertuzzi, 22, was named MVP of the AHL playoffs after producing 19 points in 19 playoff games. He had 37 points in 48 regular-season games. He has a knack for getting open, and plays a deceptively smart game. Grand Rapids Griffins Tyler Bertuzzi, Martin Frk, Tomas Nosek, Todd Nelson and Jared Coreau talk after the Griffins clinch the 2017 Calder Cup championship Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at Van Andel Arena. Video by Helene St. James, DFP. “Bert to me is somebody that looks like he is on the verge of becoming a real good NHL player,” Blashill said. “He brings a lot of qualities that we don’t have – he’s hard and has skill. We’ve got a lot of guys with skill that might not be hard. We've got some guys that are hard that might not have as much skill. He's got a pretty good package in my opinion, as a fit on our team. I think the playoffs he had certainly puts him in position to grab a spot next year and make our team better.” Bertuzzi-Nosek-Frk a hit with Griffins; what about the Red Wings? Bertuzzi benefits from the Vegas Golden Knights having selected a forward in the expansion draft (Tomas Nosek) because it opens up a spot in Detroit. Bertuzzi is vulnerable to starting the season in Grand Rapids as he can be sent down without waivers. But with one less roster spot spoken for, a terrific exhibition season from Bertuzzi should help secure a foothold in Detroit.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069085 Detroit Red Wings The only Wings picks in attendance Saturday were Fraser, Gallant and Petruzzelli. Fraser came away with a funny anecdote.

“I thought because there was a timeout I’d have time to go to the Detroit Red Wings stock up on defensemen, big bodies in 2017 NHL washroom and get back,” he said, smiling. “I was going down the steps draft as I heard my name.” Fraser oozed personality. Asked which NHLers he admires, Fraser didn’t Helene St. James , Detroit Free Press Published 4:53 p.m. ET June 24, hesitate to name Shea Weber and Niklas Kronwall. Especially Kronwall 2017 | Updated 11 hours ago (in his prime) because “if your head is down he is going to catch you and you are going to regret it.” Fraser described himself as a “physical shut- down defenseman. I like to play hard in the corners and I won’t let you get to the puck.” CHICAGO -- The Detroit Red Wings came away from the 2017 draft bigger and stronger, and with some intriguing prospects, especially on Gallant described himself as, “a good two-way guy, I play competitively, I defense. like to finish my check and I go to the net hard. I have to work on my skating, my first step. I've got to shoot more and play with the puck a little After drafting 6-foot-6 center Michael Rasmussen in the first round, the more. Wings used Saturday’s Rounds 2-7 at United Center to draft five defensemen, four more forwards, and a goaltender. Ten of their 11 total Petruzzelli said he admires Montreal’s Carey Price for his fluid style, “so I picks are at least 6 feet. try to incorporate that. I have to continue to work on foot work and try to put some muscle mass on.” “We wanted to get bigger, but we wanted to get bigger and still keep the identity of what we are known for,” director of amateur scouting Tyler The Wings missed the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons this spring. Wright said Saturday. “And that is skill and sense.” The goal is to get back there as soon as possible. This draft saw the Wings pick the highest they’ve had since 1991. The hope is at least The Wings picked defenseman Gustav Lindstrom in Round 2. Four third- some of the class of 2017 can, within a few years, help a cast round picks saw the Wings add defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo, forward consisting of the likes of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Evgeny Lane Zablocki, forward Zach Gallant, and goaltender Keith Petruzzelli. Svechnikov, Tyler Bertuzzi and Andreas Athanasiou, among others. Defenseman Malte Setkov was added in Round 4 and defenseman Cole Fraser in Round 5. Two sixth-round picks were spent on forward Jack “I think the days of us leaving kids down in the AHL for 3-plus years — Adams and defenseman Reilly Webb, and the last round brought forward we don’t have the luxury of having Nick Lidstrom & Pavel Datsyuk and Brady Gilmour. Three of the five forwards are centers. such up top,” Wright said. “Larkin has shown that, AA, Mantha shown that, Bert is going to push this year. We are trying to speed up that Lindstrom, Kotkansalo and Setkov are all skilled defensemen to varying process, but it is a real fine line. degree. “Not all these kids are going to play. But if they do, they are going to “You just can’t have enough of those guys that can skate and move bring an element that we lack. We wanted to be bigger, and we want to pucks,” Wright said. “That’s why we tried to load up on those guys.” be a harder team to play against. We addressed that.” Lindstrom’s name brought to mind how often legendary Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom’s last name was mispronounced, prompting director of European scouting Hakan Andersson to joke “we Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 are trying to get the ‘n’ away from his name.” Andersson invoked the name of superstar Erik Karlsson, and 20-year-old Jacob Larsson, while elaborating on Lindstrom. “He is a good all-around defenseman,” Andersson said. “Competes well, has a good first pass, good shot. I can’t tell you he has an Erik Karlsson upside, but one name that comes to mind is the guy in Anaheim — Jacob Larsson. Just a good, all-around player. A lot of teams thought they would get him in later rounds. Andersson also scouted Setkov a good deal as he plays in Malmo, Sweden (while commuting from his native Denmark). “The junior coach told me, they have junior A team there, and a junior B team,” Andersson said. “He started the season on the junior B team. And the junior A coach told me, when I was watching the junior B team practice in August, I kind of laughed at this big, little bit wobbly, kid. “And he said, come January-February, he was on my power play on the junior A team. So he developed like that. It looks like he is on a mission. And he is still growing. He is 6 feet 6 and still growing.” Andersson said the Wings wanted big defensemen because “we have three smaller defensemen that we all believe in very much in (Joe) Hicketts, (Ville) Sarijaarvi and (Filip) Hronek. But can you play with a team full of guys of that size? Probably not. So we talked about (that). “At the same time, the main thing is, are they good hockey players? Do they have a weapon? I think the big Danish kid has maybe the higher upside of the two. But Gustav Lindstrom is just a very good all-around player.” Kotkansolo “is a little bit like Gustav Lindstrom,” Andersson said. “Just a good, all-round player. Seems to compete well.” Fraser was added for his unaffected love of physical play. “We are not expecting him to run a power play by any means,” Wright said. “When he is out there, people are going to be aware of him being on the ice. He is going to make life miserable for the opponent’s skilled players. Can he be a -type of player? That is why we targeted him.” Detroit Red Wings draft pick Michael Rasmussen talks on June 23, 2017 at United Center in Chicago. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1069086 Detroit Red Wings

'We need size': Wings stockpile big bodies in draft

Ted Kulfan , The Detroit News Published 5:14 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago

Chicago — The Red Wings got bigger this Entry Draft. They're bigger overall, with 11 more bodies drafted into the organization. But they also got bigger physically, with 10 of the 11 players drafted over 6-foot tall (ninth-round pick Brady Gilmour is listed as 5-foot-10). “We wanted to get bigger,” said Tyler Wright, the Red Wings' director of amateur scouting. “We wanted to get bigger but also keep the identity for what we’re known for, and that’s skill and hockey sense.” The Red Wings selected several bigger defensemen, who, if they pan out, will greatly add to the physical nature of this team. Gustav Lindstrom (6-2, second round), Kasper Kotkansalo (6-2, third round), Malte Setkov (6-6, fourth round) and Cole Fraser (6-2, fifth round) all are miles away from reaching the NHL, but have the potential. And if they do, they’ll add an element the Red Wings haven’t had in great quantity. “It’s a huge asset if they do (play in the NHL),” Wright said. “Everybody knows the price of what it is to get a defenseman in this league. We wanted to get bigger and be a harder team to play against and we added that.” The Red Wings also added 6-5 forward Jack Adams in the sixth round, and two 6-foot forwards in the third round in Lane Zablocki and Zach Gallant, who is 6-2. And that’s not forgetting first-round pick Michael Rasmussen, a 6-5 center. As coach Jeff Blashill sees it, it’s important to balance the speed and skill in a league that is shifting toward size again. “As a hockey team, you look at our roster up front and we need some size,” Blashill said. “The only way to ultimately have size is to draft some size. “I know there’s a lot of talk of the league going fast and faster and Pittsburgh has just won two Cups in a row. I also remember not long ago there was a lot of talk being big and heavy and strong when Los Angeles won its (two) Cups. “Everybody is working to find that balance. The best teams have it all — speed, size, skill. You have to have it all.” Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings’ director of European scouting, said the organization talked about emphasizing size to add to the smaller defensemen in the organization currently — Filip Hronek, and Vili Saarijarvi are all under 6-foot. “The main thing is are they good hockey players?” said Andersson, about simply adding size. “Do they have a weapon? What is their thing when they get to the NHL? “We have three smaller defensemen (in Grand Rapids) who we really believe in. But can you play a full team of players that size?”

Detroit News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069087 Detroit Red Wings Detroit News LOADED: 06.25.2017 Wings catch fifth-round pick Cole Fraser off guard

Ted Kulfan , The Detroit News Published 5:47 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Updated 8 hours ago

Chicago — Cole Fraser figured he had a minute while there was a time out called by a team in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft on Saturday. So, Fraser headed to the bathroom. Just as he was getting out, he heard his name called by the Red Wings. “I thought I might have some time to go to the washroom,” said Fraser, a rugged 6-foot-2 stay-at-home defensive defenseman from Peterborough in the Ontario Hockey League. “I ran back real quick and I got stuck going down the steps.” Fraser said his mom told him he better get down to the Red Wings’ table quick, which he did. “You can’t get your hopes up too much,” Fraser said. “I was hoping to get my name called. It was something I can’t even imagine. “I wasn’t sure what to expect today. Just being able to walk down and get picked into the NHL, it’s something I couldn’t even dream about.” Fraser, incidentally, has a current teammate who was also drafted Saturday by the Red Wings. Center Zach Gallant was picked in the third round. Both played with the Petes last season and will be teammates again this fall. “We’re pretty close,” Fraser said. “We used to drive to school together every day last season. We have a good friendship.” Gallant is a two-way forward, who improved his offensive capabilities in the last two years in Peterborough. The Toronto native was thrilled to be joining the Red Wings. “I met with the Red Wings at the combine and had a great conversation,” Gallant said. “This is one of the best days of my life. To be drafted by the Red Wings, it’s unbelievable and I’m real excited. “The Red Wings are a fun team to watch. It was a tough year last year but they’ll be good again here soon.” Coach Jeff Blashill said he hasn’t spoken to goaltender Petr Mrazek or any of the players the Red Wings left unprotected last week during the expansion draft. “I know Kenny (general manager ) talked to each guy before we exposed the list,” Blashill said. “I’m sure Kenny will talk to each guy. My conversations will be closer to camp. I don’t believe in spending a lot of time in the past. “If there are explanations that are warranted I’ll have certainly have conversations, I believe in communication. “I’m sure Kenny will have conversations from his end and I’ll have them from my end.” Holland did not talk to the media this weekend. Blashill said he did speak with forward Tomas Nosek, who was picked by Vegas in the expansion draft. “I like Tomas a lot, he’ll be a good NHL player,” Blashill said. “He’s real versatile. I talked to him on the phone after he was drafted and he was shocked, caught a bit off guard. He wanted to be a Red Wing. But he’s excited about his new opportunity. “We were going to lose a good player and we did in Tomas.” Blashill caught many of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ games on their way to winning the Calder Cup. Blashill felt one player who helped his cause to move up to the Red Wings next season is forward Tyler Bertuzzi. “He’s somebody that looks like he’s really on the verge of becoming a real good NHL player,” Blashill said. “He has a lot of the qualities we don’t have. He’s hard and he has skill. “Now, he has to put himself into position to grab a spot and make our team better.” 1069088 Detroit Red Wings KEITH PETRUZZELLI Pick: No. 88 overall (Round 3) Red Wings' 2017 draft class breakdown Position: Goaltender Height/weight: 6-5, 180 Ted Kulfan , The Detroit News Published 7:14 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Last season: Muskegon (USHL) 21-10-1. 2.41 , Updated 8 hours ago .917 save percentage. Scouting report: Big goalie who uses his size to his advantage. Nice combination of size and athletic ability. Committed to Quinnipiac 2017 NHL Draft - Round One University for next season. Glove hand is good. Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News profiles all 11 of the Red Wings' Entry Keith Petruzzelli was selected with the No. 88 overall Draft picks. MALTE SETKOV MICHAEL RASMUSSEN Pick: No. 100 overall (Round 4) Pick: No. 9 overall (Round 1) Position: Defense Position: Center Height/weight: 6-6, 185 Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 200 Last season: Malmo (Sweden) 38 games, two goals, 10 assists, 12 Last season: Tri-City (Western Hockey League), 50 games, 32 goals, 23 points. assists, 55 points. Scouting report: Continues to get better and get comfortable in his size. A Scouting report: A big body who loves to play around the net and down good skater who is can initiate offense and is getting stronger low. Rasmussen has great size and isn’t afraid to use hit, and scouts feel defensively. Moved up from his Junior B team to the higher level over the he does a nice job finishing plays and some have compared him to course of a season. Has enormous upside. Tomas Holmstrom. Has to improve his skating and defensive play. COLE FRASER GUSTAV LINDSTROM Pick: No. 131 overall (Round 5) Pick: No. 38 overall (Round 2) Position: Defense Position: Defense Height/weight: 6-2, 192 Height/weight: 6-2, 187 Last season: Peterborough 61 games, six goals, 13 assists, 19 points. Last season: Almtuna (Sweden), 48 games, two goals, seven assists, nine points. Scouting report: A self-described shutdown defenseman who plays a physical game. Don’t look for Fraser to be an offensive force. His forte is Scouting report: A bit of a sleeper. Played tier-2 junior in Sweden and stopping the other team. may not have been heavily scouted. A right-hand shooting defenseman who is sound in most aspects of the game. Skating might be the lone JACK ADAMS issue. Pick: No. 166 overall (Round 6) KASPER KOTKANSALO Position: Right wing Pick: No. 71 overall (Round 3) Height/weight: 6-5, 194 Position: Defense Last season: Fargo (USHL) 56 games, 37 goals, 23 assists, 60 points. Height/weight: 6-2, 190 Scouting report: Big player who is growing into his frame. Very good Last season: Sioux Falls (USHL), 47 games, one goal, 11 assists, 12 around the net and has good hands. Skating and speed are an issue at points. this point, but his hockey instincts make this a worthy pick this late in the draft. Scouting report: Headed to Boston University. Kotkansalo plays a physical game, and is strong defensively. His offensive game has the REILLY WEBB potential to get better. Scouts like his vision on the ice. Pick: No. 164 overall (Round 6) LANE ZABLOCKI Position: Defense Pick: No. 79 overall (Round 3) Height/weight: 6-3, 192 Position: Center Last season: Hamilton (OHL), 12 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point. Height/weight: 6-foot, 185 Scouting report: A separated shoulder curtailed Webb’s season. A good Last season: Regina (WHL) 33 games, nine goals, 16 assists, 25 points; skating defenseman when he’s healthy. A fine gamble at this point of the Red Deer 31 games, 19 goals, 10 assists, 29 points. draft. Scouting report: Scouting director Tyler Wright called Zablocki a mirror BRADY GILMOUR image of Tyler Bertuzzi, an agitator who plays a hard game but also has the ability to score goals. Zablocki plays with a lot of heart and doesn’t Pick: No. 193 overall (Round 7) back down. Position: Center ZACH GALLANT Height/weight: 5-10, 170 Pick: No. 83 overall (Round 3) Last season: Saginaw (OHL), 65 games, 26 goals, 21 assists, 47 points. Position: Center Scouting report: A smaller player who plays with a lot of heart and Height/weight: 6-2, 187 character. The Red Wings liked his tenacity. A safe pick this late in the draft. Last season: Peterborough (OHL) 60 games, 21 goals, 26 assists, 47 points. Scouting report: A character player who OHL coaches voted the best Detroit News LOADED: 06.25.2017 defensive forward in the league and best faceoff player. Has a strong compete level and an improving shot. Offense needs to continue to get better. 1069089 Detroit Red Wings "He was a high pick in the OHL midget draft (fifth overall)," Wright said. "He's got big, wide shoulders, a big body frame. We hope that there's a little bit more offensive side to his game. Again, character, size, NHL Draft 17: Detroit Red Wings emphasize size, defense on Day 2 competitiveness." Petruzzelli (6-5, 174) led USHL rookies in wins (22) and save percentage (.918). He posted a 2.40 goals-against average and two shutouts in 35 Updated on June 24, 2017 at 5:15 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 4:44 games. He will play at Quinnipiac next season with older brother D.J., a PM forward. By Ansar Khan Red Wings goaltending coach Jeff Salajko worked with him a few weeks ago in a camp in Boston and provided good feedback.

"He's got size, he's athletic," Wright said. The NHL's emphasis these days is speed, but the need for size remains. Ironically, the Red Wings selected big right wing Jack Adams (6-5, 204) The Detroit Red Wings, long criticized for being too small and having too at 162. He's no relation to the legendary Red Wings coach. He led the many soft players, targeted big bodies in this year's draft, in some cases USHL with 37 goals with Fargo after going undrafted the past two years. at the expense of good skaters. The Red Wings continued focusing on size on the blue line in later That was evident with their first pick Friday, 6-foot-6 center Michael rounds, with Malte Setkov (6-2, 165), a Denmark native who plays in Rasmussen of Tri City (WHL) and it was apparent again on Saturday, Sweden, at pick No. 100, Cole Fraser (6-2, 195) of Peterborough at 131 when the Red Wings bulked up during the second day of the draft at the and Reilly Webb (6-4, 195) of Hamilton (OHL) at 164. United Center in Chicago. Fraser brings toughness; Wright even likened him a bit to Philadelphia's Of Detroit's 10 selections during Day 2, eight are 6-foot-1 or taller, Radko Gudas. including defensemen Gustav Lindstrom (6-2, 187) of Sweden and Kasper Kotkansalo (6-2, 196) of Finland, their top two picks. "When he's out there, people are going to be aware of him," Wright said. "He's going to make life miserable for the opponents' skilled players." "We put an emphasis on size, defense," Tyler Wright, the Red Wings director of amateur scouting, said. "I thought we filled a lot of holes." The Red Wings selected center Brady Gilmour (5-10, 170) of the OHL Saginaw Spirit with their last pick (193rd). Detroit drafted five defensemen, two more centers, two wingers and goaltender Keith Petruzelli, who played last season for USHL Muskegon. The need to improve their skating was a common theme for many of He was the last of their four third-round picks (88th). Prior to that these selections. selection, the Red Wings landed right wing Lane Zablocki of Red Deer (WHL) and center Zach Gallant of Peterborough (OHL). "I believe that skating can improve and you can get faster," Wright said. "But you have to have the heart. The people that have that commitment "We wanted to get bigger and still kind of keep the identity of what we're to put that time and effort in, they're the ones that get better." known for and that's skill and sense," Wright said in a phone interview with MLive. "We wanted to become a harder team to play against." The selections of Lindstrom and Kotkansalo at 38 and 71 might have Michigan Live LOADED: 06.25.2017 surprised some, since they were projected by some draft analysts to be taken later, but Wright described them as good puck-movers the staff had rated extremely high. Lindstrom, a right-handed shooter, had two goals and seven assists in 48 games for Almtuna in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan, a tier below the top men's league. "Just a real solid, steady, puck-moving guy," Wright said. "Good heads- up player, jumps into the play at times, plays a 200-foot game. I think you just can't have enough of those guys who can skate and move pucks." Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson called Lindstrom a "good all-around defenseman." "He competes well, he has a good first pass, a good shot," Andersson told DetroitRedWings.com. "I've already had four or five (scouts) come up to me and said they liked him. A lot of teams thought they would get him later in the second round or early in the third, so I think we were right on." Andersson said of Lindstrom's skating: "On a 1-10 scale, he's in the 6-7 range, so it's not a problem." Wright described Kotkansalo as a leader with offensive upside and good hockey sense. He had one goal and 11 assists in 47 games for Sioux Falls (USHL). He also played 13 games for Finland's U-20 team, getting two goals and four assists. He will play for Boston University next season. "The USHL is a hard league to play against and he wasn't on a great team," Wright said. "The biggest thing for us is when we went over to Switzerland and he played for Finland's under-19 team, he wore the captaincy. He's a good leader, a good skater, showed a little bit more offense than we saw in the USHL." Zablocki (5-11, 179) is one of the smaller players the Red Wings selected, but Wright said he is gritty, likening him to Tyler Bertuzzi, one of the organization's top prospects. "He competes, he's got good sense," Wright said. "If he's not factoring in on the scoresheet he's a hard player to play against." Gallant (6-1, 198) rebounded from a rough first year at Red Deer (no goals in 51 games) by collecting 21 goals and 47 points, along with 74 penalty minutes, in 60 games in 2016-17. 1069090 Detroit Red Wings

NHL Draft 17: Red Wings' final three picks include USHL's top goal scorer

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 1:40 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 1:35 PM By Brendan Savage

The Detroit Red Wings selected the USHL's leading goal scorer among their final three picks in Saturday's NHL Draft. Right winger John Adams - who goes by Jack, just like the former Red Wings coach - was the first of Detroit's two sixth-round picks and the 162nd overall in the draft. Adams played for the USHL's last season. The Red Wings also took defenseman Reilly Webb of the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs with the 164th pick and center Brady Gilmour of the Saginaw Spirit in the seventh round with the 193rd pick. The 6-foot-5, 204-pound Adams had 37 goals, 23 assists and 55 penalty minutes in 60 games for Fargo last season. That was after he had just eight goals and 16 assists in 2015-16. Adams, 20, was not part of NHL Central Scouting's final rankings but was listed at No. 172 by Future Considerations. He'll play for Union College next season. The 18-year-old Webb (6-3, 195) has been limited to 20 games with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs the last two seasons after separating his shoulder twice. He had one assist and nine PIM the last two years. In 12 games last season, he had one assist, give PIM and was plus-3. He appeared in seven playoff games with seven PIM and a minus-1 rating. He played nine games in the Greater Ontario Hockey League in 2015-16, getting one goal to go with three assists and six PIM. Gilmour (5-10, 170) had 26 goals, 21 assists, four PIM and was minus-8 in 65 games for Saginaw last season. He was one of the Spirit's alternate captains last season. In 2015-16, he had seven goals and 16 assists in 61 games for the Spirit. Saginaw drafted him No. 6 overall in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection. Gilmour, 18, was ranked No. 156 by Red Line Report and No. 226 by Future Considerations. "Small with good vision and work ethic," wrote Red Line Report.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings take physical defenseman Cole Fraser No. 131

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 12:43 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 12:41 PM By Brendan Savage

The Detroit Red Wings went back to the OHL's Peterborough Petes when it was time to make the 131st overall pick in Saturday's NHL draft. The Red Wings used the eighth of their 11 overall picks in the draft to select 6-foot-2, 192-pound defenseman Cole Fraser from Peterborough. The used the 83rd overall pick to take center Zach Gallant of Peterborough. In 61 games for the Petes last season, Fraser had six goals, 13 assists, 82 points and a plus-4 rating. He was second in the OHL with five fights. In 12 playoff games, he had 20 PIM and was plus-1 with no points. Fraser was ranked No. 197 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He is the fourth defenseman to be selected among the Red Wings' top eight picks.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings get big defenseman with 100th overall pick

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 12:12 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 12:09 PM By Brendan Savage

The Detroit Red Wings went big with their final third-round pick in Saturday's NHL draft, selecting 6-foot-4 defenseman Malte Setkov from the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden's SuperElit league. Setkov, who was born in Denmark, had two goals, 10 assists, 18 penalty minutes and a plus-7 rating in 38 games for Malmo's U20 team. He also played 10 games for the U18 team, getting four goals, five assists, 10 PIM and a plus-7 rating. In 16 games for Denmark's U18 team, he had two goals, seven assists and six PIM. He was not part of NHL Central Scouting's final rankings this season. Setkov is the third defenseman selected by the Red Wings, who had six picks among the top 10 and a total of 11 in the draft. They previously selected defensemen Gustav Lindstrom in the second round (38th overall) and Kasper Kotkansalo in the third round (71st overall). Barring any trades, the Red Wings will also pick No. 131, 162, 164 and 193.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings take goalie Keith Petruzzelli of Muskegon (USHL) at 88

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 11:54 AM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 11:41 AM By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings chose goaltender Keith Petruzzelli of the Muskegon (USHL) with the 88th pick, their fourth selection in the third round, Saturday at the NHL Entry Draft at the United Center in Chicago. Petruzzelli (6-5, 174) led USHL rookies in wins (22) and save percentage (.918). He posted a 2.40 goals-against average and two shutouts in 35 games. NHL Central Scouting's Al Jensen said of Petruzzeli: "His style resembles the way Penguins goaltender Matt Murray plays. He's good on his angles and is square to the shots. He's tough to beat low as he seals the ice and five-hole with his leg extensions. He has good rebound control with soft pads and absorbs the higher shots well into his body." Petruzzelli will play Quinnipiac next season along with his older brother D.J., a forward. He is native of Wilbraham, Mass.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select center Zach Gallant with 83rd overall pick

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 1:49 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 11:45 AM By Brendan Savage

The Detroit Red Wings used the 83rd overall pick in Saturday's NHL draft to select center Zach Gallant of the Peterborough Petes. Gallant was chosen with the third of the Red Wings' four third-round picks. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Gallant had 21 goals, 26 assists and 74 penalty minutes in 60 games for Peterborough last season. He's the second center the Red Wings drafted this year. They used the ninth overall pick in the first round to take Michael Rasmussen of WHL's Tri-City Americans. Gallant was the third forward taken among the Red Wings' top five picks. "It's a feeling like no other, especially when you're drafted by Detroit," he said. "It's a real honor and I'm excited. It's awesome. "I played against a lot of the guys who are in the organization. I don't really know too many of them on a personal level. But I'm real excited. There's a lot of guys I like to watch. "Tomas Tatar is real good. (Andreas) Athanasiou is real fun to watch. Even (Pavel) Datsyuk when he was there, so there's a lot of guys in Detroit who are real good to watch." Gallant was described by NHL Network analysts as a big reason the Petes improved over their 2015-16 showing and had the best record in the OHL's Eastern Conference last season. He was selected fifth during his OHL draft year but failed to score a goal in 51 regular-season goals in 2015-16. Gallant was ranked No. 64 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and No. 83 by Red Line Report, which described him as having "all the consistency of an NHL disciplinary decision." At the NHL Combine, he finished second in pull ups and in the top 10 in six of the physical tests.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select forward Lane Zablocki at No. 79

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 11:36 AM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 11:27 AM By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings selected right wing Lane Zablocki of Red Deer (WHL) with the 79th pick Saturday at the NHL Entry Draft at the United Center in Chicago. Zablocki (5-11, 179) split last season between Regina and Red Deer. He finished with 28 goals and 26 assists in 64 games. He added six goals and two assists in six playoff games for Red Deer. Zablocki made a commitment to training since the season ended, dropping down from 200 pounds.

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NHL Draft 17: Red Wings select defenseman with first of four third-round picks

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 3:35 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 11:22 AM By Brendan Savage

The Detroit Red Wings used the first of their four third-round NHL draft picks Saturday to select Finnish defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. They chose him with the 71st overall pick in the draft. Kotkansalo was the second straight defenseman the Red Wings selected. They took Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindstrom No. 38 overall in the second round. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound Kotkansalo played for Finland's U18 World Championship gold medal team in 2016, picking up four assists and a plus-5 rating in six games. Kotkansalo, 18, had one goal, 11 assists, 43 penalty minutes and a plus- 12 rating in 47 games for Sioux Falls last season. He also played 13 games for Finland's U20 national team, getting two goals, four assists and eight PIM. He was ranked No. 92 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and will play for Boston University next season. Red Line Report ranked him No. 70 and said he's "much better" than he showed in the USHL. NHL Network analysts described Kotkansalo as a mobile, physical defenseman with a good work ethic. He's considered a reliable two-way defenseman and a good skater.

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NHL Draft 17: Detroit Red Wings select defenseman Gustav Lindstrom in second round

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 3:25 PM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 10:13 AM By Ansar Khan

The Detroit Red Wings selected defenseman Gustav Lindstrom from Sweden with their second-round pick, 38th overall, in the NHL entry draft Saturday. Lindstrom (6-2, 187) is a right-handed shooter who had two goals and seven assists in 48 games, with 26 penalty minutes and a minus-11 rating for Almtuna in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan, which a tier below the top men's league. He was projected to be taken much later by many draft analysts. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 25th among European skaters. TSN rated him 85th overall. McKeen's had him at 103, Hockeyprospects.com at 109, ISS Hockey at 159 and Red Lin Report at 314. Lindstrom showed some offensive upside in Sweden's Under-20 League, with six goals and 10 points in six games for Almtuna. Lindstrom picked up a goal and seven points in four games for Sweden in an under-19 tournament against Switzerland, Finland and Germany. His uncle, Marcus Ragnarsson, was selected 99th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1992 draft and played in 632 NHL games. The Red Wings began the day with 10 picks. They have four third-round selections.

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NHL Draft thread, Day 2: Red Wings will be busy after grabbing Michael Rasmussen

Updated on June 24, 2017 at 9:10 AM Posted on June 24, 2017 at 9:05 AM By Josh Slagter [email protected]

For the Detroit Red Wings, Friday night was a little odd. They picked ninth overall in the NHL Draft, the first time the franchise has had a top-10 selection in more than a quarter century. (Detroit grabbed Keith Primeau at No. 3 overall in 1990.) With this year's first-round pick, the Red Wings picked center Michael Rasmussen. Now on it's on to Day 2, and Detroit is slated to be busy, with 10 scheduled picks.

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Pat Caputo - Did Detroit Red Wings get 2017 NHL Draft right? Well, it's complicated

By Pat Caputo, [email protected], @patcaputo98 on Twitter Posted: 06/24/17, 3:13 PM EDT | Updated: 10 secs ago

Michael Rasmussen is 6-5, 220 pounds. The thought of the Red Wings’ No.1 pick in the NHL Draft on the same line as Anthony Mantha, roughly the same size, suggests a different team. The NHL Draft, however, is the ultimate wait-and-see proposition. It will be several years, many more than the NFL and NBA, before we’ll know if Rasmussen was the correct choice. It doesn’t make the NHL Draft any less important, just the curtain is much slower rising. Rasmussen is skilled. He has soft hands. He is a smooth skater for his size, although it takes a bit too long to hit full stride. There is a mean streak. The glass half-full: Rasmussen’s trademark is getting in front of the net and scoring inside. It’s a glaring need for the Red Wings, particularly on the power play. The glass half-empty: He was minus 13 on a winning team, the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League. The Red Wings didn’t stretch here. Rasmussen was a consensus Top 10 pick. The Rasmussen selection will hinge on whether they passed on a better player for similar needs in Gabe Vilardi. He starred for Windsor, which won the Memorial Cup. Vilardi is 6-3, 200 pounds and gritty. He was this year’s version of Jakob Chychrun the OHL (Sarina) defenseman who dropped unexpectedly last season before having a solid rookie season at just 18 for Arizona. Vilardi is is a right-handed shot and more adaptable to playing the wing. Think of a future line top line with Dylan Larkin centering a right-handed shot (Vilardi) with a left-handed shot (Mantha). Rasmussen is a left-handed shot. The Kings, a solid organization, picked Vilardi two selections later, although there are questions about his skating. Makes you wonder. While adding grit to the forward lines was important, the Red Wings’ biggest problem is inability to move the puck. It’s been painful observing the Red Wings attempt to navigate the neutral zone. This draft was not deep overall. The last couple years, for example, Rasmussen would have been a Top 20 pick, not Top 10. This draft was especially thin on defense. The Red Wings desperately need a puck moving defenseman. They selected one in Gustav Lindstrom in the second round, but must see something nobody else does. He wasn’t a projected Top 100 player taken 38th overall. But Swedish defenseman Timothy Liljegren, the biggest wild card in this draft, was chosen 17th overall by Toronto. He’s incredibly skilled, unique, really. He also had a terrible year, reportedly isn’t consistent with effort and didn’t flash at all with a lower end team after suffering mononucleosis. The big danger: He was selected by the Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander - the Leafs have incredible young talent. Skill-wise, Lijlegren was a top 5 pick. He was No.2 overall on some lists entering the season. Passing on him could haunt the Red Wings, especially considering he was picked by arch-rival Toronto. In fact, selections 14-18 were defensemen. Cal Foote is former Colorado defenseman Adam Foote’s son. He was taken by Steve Yzerman and Tampa Bay at No.14. He is rugged and big. More on the skilled side, Las Vegas picked Erik Brannstrom, a very small defenseman (just 5-9, 170), a big reach, frankly, at No.15. At 16th, the Flames took Juuso Valimaki, a teammate of Rasmussen’s with Tri-City. If you watch highlights of Tri-City, Valimaki stands out as a puck rushing defenseman and setting up Rasmussen. This is the first time the Red Wings have drafted in the Top 10 since 1991. Did they get it right? Rasmussen was a safe choice, solid even, but it doesn’t mean he was the right one.

1069100 Edmonton Oilers “He puts in the time, he works at it,” said Green. “Physically he’s very fit. All these guys have things to work on, but with his size and the way he moves, his strength and ability to skate, it was an easy pick.” Oilers add to goaltending depth at Day 2 of NHL draft And now the Oilers, who’ve long been short on goaltending depth, have an NHL-ready Laurent Brossoit along with two youngsters (Skinner and Dylan Wells) who are on the development camp roster. Robert Tychkowski “Nobody ever complains about having too many good goalies,” said Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 3:40 PM Green. “You can never have enough. You have to have good depth there MDT because it’s a very important position.”

CHICAGO — With so much of the attention in Edmonton being given to Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 06.25.2017 young superstars who can put the puck in the net, the Oilers shifted their focus Saturday to a guy in charge of keeping it out. With their first pick on Day 2 of the NHL entry draft (78th overall), they selected Edmonton-born goalie Stuart Skinner from the . “We really like him, obviously,” said Oilers Director of Player Personnel Bob Green. “(Goalie coaches) Dustin Schwartz and Sylvain Rodgrigue saw him at the Hockey Canada development camp last week and really liked him there. We liked him all year. He’s played three years in the Western League and played a ton of games. He’s big, he moves well, he’s athletic and he works at his game. “We thought he might go a little earlier, but you never know with goaltenders.” The Oilers wanted Skinner, badly. So much so that as their pick (No.82) got closer they became spooked and traded 82 and 126 to Arizona for 78 just to make sure nobody stole him away. “When he’s getting that close it’s tough,” said Green. “You’ve had your heart broken before in the those situations so we thought it was a good move.” Skinner is a six-foot-three, 200-pounder who posted a 3.26 goals-against average and .905 save percentage this season for Lethbridge. He had a .916 save percentage in the playoffs. The book on him is that he casts a big shadow in the net, battles hard in the crease and has the strength to hold his ground and play with authority. He’s also a workhorse, playing 60 regular season games and 20 more in the playoffs. “I love the workload, I love playing more games. Having that pressure is a really important part of being a goalie, being a leader, being the backbone of a team. I love the workload. Hopefully, I can grow and keep on developing so I can play for the Edmonton Oilers.” A hard-working guy to begin with, he just got a huge shot of energy when the Oilers spent their pick on him. The fact they traded up to get him shows they really wanted him badly, which makes the selection that much sweeter. “I was always hoping,” he grinned. “Being from Edmonton it’s an absolute blessing that I get picked up by them. It’s an unbelievable feeling, I can’t even describe it in words. Getting drafted by your home town is a great day for me and my family.” Being an Edmonton kid selected by the Oilers would be a huge moment no matter what the era, but joining the organization now, with the team on the rise in a brand new downtown arena, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl the new cornerstones, is really special. “Absolutely,” said Skinner. “It’s an incredible team to go to. I remember watching them when I was really young. I was always in Rexall Place watching the games. I remember our run with the Carolina Hurricanes for the Stanley Cup. I remember . There’s a lot of history there and a lot of great players. “And obviously now they’re an amazing team so I’m really excited to get started.” Skinner had no indication the Oilers were interested, so hearing his name called came as a complete surprise. “I had nothing, no. I had no idea. I hadn’t heard anything, didn’t have any interviews. It just kind of happened. It’s been great, being in this experience and trusting the process. It’s been a fantastic time for me.” While you never know with goalies, especially third rounders, Green says Skinner has the physical tools and the work ethic to given himself a very realistic shot of growing up to be an NHL starter. 1069101 Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers at the 2017 NHL Draft

Edmonton Journal Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 3:41 PM MDT

Seven players joined the Edmonton Oilers organization via the NHL Draft Friday and Saturday, June 23-24, 2017 in Chicago. The first round — held Friday at the United Center, home of the Blackhawks — produced right-winger Kailer Yamamoto, who the Oilers selected with the 22nd overall pick. The second round of the draft saw the team take six more players. Just before the Oilers were slated to pick in the third round, they traded the Nos. 82 and 126 picks to the Arizona Coyotes for the No. 78 pick, which they used to draft goalie Edmonton native Stuart Skinner of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes.

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Calahoo's Ian Mitchell goes in second round of NHL draft to Chicago

Jim Matheson Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:46 PM MDT

Ian Mitchell of Calahoo, Alta., who led the Saints defence this season before heading off to Denver University in the fall, went in the second round of the NHL draft Saturday to the Chicago Blackhawks. Fitting, actually. “I have Oiler jerseys, not Chicago, but funny thing is the Calahoo team I played for from when I was six until 13 was the Chiefs and our logo was the same as the Hawks,” said Mitchell, the puck-moving, right-shot defenceman who went 57th overall on Day 2 of the draft in Chicago. “I have a couple of old Calahoo jerseys, pretty much the same thing. Same colours, red, white and black,” He chose not to make the trip and sit in the seats at the United Center, but the call from the Hawks came bright and early Saturday morning as his family was planning a barbecue. “This day’s very humbling for sure. The Blackhawks are one of the most prestigious teams in the NHL right now. Pretty special that they took me. I felt my talks with them were really solid. I knew they had a lot of interest. Really exciting for myself and my family,” said Mitchell, 18. “This is the really the sweetener to the barbecue.” Mitchell will be going to the Hawks prospect camp in Chicago July 15, but on his parents dime. College players can’t be at NHL prospects camps any other way, or they lose their eligibility. Mitchell also followed the Oilers taking Lethbridge Hurricanes goalie Stuart Skinner in the third round Saturday. “That’s really cool for him, hometown guy. I know him a bit and I texted him,” said Mitchell. “Pretty cool to get drafted by the team you grew up cheering for.” Winger Lane Zablocki from Wetaskiwin, who finished the year with , went in the third round (79th overall) to Detroit Red Wings. “He’s a competitive, gritty kid,” said Central Scouting Bureau’s area bird- dog Rick Jackson. “Getting under people’s skin has always been part of my game,” said Zablocki, who played in the AJHL for the Crusaders and went on a fitness regimen when the WHL season ended, dropping 20 pounds to where he’s leaner (179) to go with being meaner. “He scores his goal and points down low. He’s got a National League shot,” said Jackson. Spencer Foo, the local right-winger who’s leaving Union College and will make his decision next week to sign a free-agent deal here, Detroit or Vegas, also saw his brother Parker get drafted by the Hawks in the fifth round. Parker, a left-winger, played at Brooks in the AJHL with Colorado’s fourth overall pick, D-man Cale Makar. “Parker’s off to Union College too. He went through last year’s draft (not taken). He’s 19, so four years difference in he and Spencer’s age. He’s a little bigger than Spencer was then, he was slight,” said Jackson.

Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069103 Edmonton Oilers Green admits bloodlines (he is the son of Rod Brind’Amour) influenced the pick.

“They’re around it all the time, around the game all the time,” he said. Oilers span the globe on second day of NHL Draft “My experience with those guys is they’re pros quicker. Their habits are good right away because it’s been instilled in them in an early age.” Robert Tychkowski Brind’Amour will play for in the BCJHL this season. Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:40 PM Philip Kemp D 6-3, 201, US U18 team MDT He’s a right shot defenceman who’ll be attending Yale in the fall. CHICAGO — The Oilers were all over the map Saturday in the second He’s a stay-at-home defenceman who likes “killing penalties, blocking round of the NHL entry draft, taking two Russians, a Czech, two shots. whatever it takes for the team.” American-born players and a kid from Edmonton. Kemp spent a full four hours waiting for his name to be called, so it was a On a day when the game plan was to attack specific needs, the Oilers tremendous relief hearing it with only 10 picks left in the draft. looked at skill and position long before they got around to passports – taking a goalie, two defencemen, two right wingers and a centre. “I had a lot of family here so it was awesome,” he said. “There was definitely some nail biting, but it was electrifying to hear you name called, “That’s just the way it works out,” said Director of Player Personnel Bob it was an electric feeling.” Green. “You’re not really worried about where they come from, just how good they are.” After spending their first pick of the day (78th overall) on Edmonton born Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 06.25.2017 goalie Stuart Skinner, the Oilers raided the European cupboards with their next three, taking defenceman Dmitri Samorukov 84th, winger Ostap Safin 115th and winger Kirill Maksimov at 146. From there, they took American-born centre Skyler Brind’Amour and defenceman Philip Kemp. Dmitri Samorukov, D. 6-2, 185, Guelph Storm (OHL) Samorukov is the 14th-ranked European skater by NHL Central Scouting and does come with a pretty significant upside. He had 20 points in 67 games, along with an ugly -24 rating, although that was on a pretty mediocre Guelph team. “He’s a good skater, a nice-sized kid, moves the puck really well,” said Green, who saw improvement as the year went on. “We thought he took over games a little more offensively. He’s not a really physical guy, but he likes to step up and if he sees opportunities he can make big open ice hits. We like that about him as well.” Samorukov couldn’t get the new sweater on fast enough. “Amazing feeling, it’s a big day in my life,” he said, describing himself as a “two-way D, good shot, good skate. Need to work more and should be good.” Despite being born in Russia, he doesn’t have a lot of hockey heroes from there. Asked if there is a Russian player he looked up to growing up, Samorukov replied: “Not really.” Ostap Safin, RW, 6-4, 198 Sparta Praha (Czech Elite League) He is a big player with a very heavy shot and a nice one-timer. He saw a lot of international tournament play this year, excelling at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, Five Nations and U18 championships as well. “He’s a big guy who can skate and really shoot the puck,” said Green. “There is a little inconsistency in his game sometimes but we saw him a lot this year, Plymouth in November, February in Sweden, then the U18s in April and like the way he plays the game. He’s got a lot of physical tools and he’s a big kid.” He’s definitely motivated. “(When did the NHL) become a goal? When I was born,” said Safin. “The first time I went on the ice it became my dream.” Kirill Maksimov RW 6-2, 192, Niagra IceDogs (OHL) After putting up just 16 points in 37 games for Saginaw, Maksimov came to life after being dealt to Niagra (22 points in 29 games) and jumped from 185 to 66 in the NHL Central Scouting rankings for North American players. “In Saginaw he was a little bit stymied,” said Green. “He went to Niagra and came out of his shell and had a pretty good Worlds as well. He has some things to work on, needs to be a little quicker, but he has good size, good skill and he can finish.” It’s a long way from Russia to Niagra, but Maksimov was determined to immerse himself in the North American game. “I wanted to train myself in the Canadian hockey atmosphere,” he said. “Every game I gain more experience, have more opportunities to adjust to this game and it’s getting better and better.” 1069104 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers fans chat about trades, signings

DUSTIN COOK FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 05:31 PM MDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 05:39 PM MDT

The locker room sale was not the only thing on the minds of Edmonton Oilers fans Saturday following a busy week for general manager Peter Chiarelli and the team in the midst of preparing for next season. The Oilers traded seven-year veteran Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for 23-year-old Ryan Strome Thursday and re-signed Kris Russell to a four-year, $16-million deal the following day. The Eberle trade cleared up cap space to re-sign Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. But fan Kevin Chambers said he thinks they traded him too soon. "The cap crunch isn't this year coming up so I felt like we should have hung on to him for another year and then dealt him hopefully when his value was higher than it is right now," he said. In return, the Oilers got a younger Strome who Chris Welch said seems to have room to grow. "I think putting him with the right team — and hopefully that's the Oilers — that's a good move by Chiarelli," he said. Ben Thomas said the re-signing of Caroline, Alberta native Kris Russell is "the greatest thing." "I think their win record is so much better with Russell," he added. The Oilers added seven players through the NHL Draft that wrapped up Saturday, picking five-foot-seven right-winger Kailer Yamamoto in the first round, 22nd overall. Although he's the smallest player ever drafted in the first round, fans are generally pleased with the pick and excited to see what the "little guy with a big heart" will bring to the table. "I love the pick," Chambers said. "We have the size but now we just need a bit more speed and skill." Welch said his dad grew up with Yamamoto's family in Spokane and is excited to see how he fares as an Oiler. "They just need to develop him the right way," he said. "I think he's got a little bit of scrap in him, too."

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069105 Florida Panthers

Stanley C. Panther a champion, finally, at Mascot Games in Orlando

By Jim Varsallone [email protected]

Stanley C. Panther of the NHL Florida Panthers finally raised the Cup, an achievement which has eluded him for years. It wasn’t Lord Stanley’s, but Stanley could be considered a Lord, after helping the OUC The Reliable One Green Team win day one’s tournament of the Mascot Games at the Amway Center. This marks the first time Stanley is part of a champion Mascot Games team as he’s been on runner-up teams before...until now. Stanley proved dedication and hard work pay off, and he is returning to South Florida with the Cup. Sebastian the Ibis of the NCAA University of Miami and Billy the Marlin of the MLB Miami Marlins are other local mascots who’ve held, hoisted, hugged, and kissed the Cup on championship teams in past Mascot Games. This time it was Stanley C. Panther’s turn. The Games, presented by Wawa, benefited New Hope for Kids on June 23 and 24. Divided into four teams, mascots from MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, and ECHL battled through gladiator themed games to see who are the true champions of the mascot world. The winning OUC The Reliable One Green Team won dodge ball and joust after intermission to capture the championship. The champs feature Stanley C. Panther, Chomps of the NFL , Tommy Hawk of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, Hugo of the NBA Charlotte Hornets, Rocky the Bull of the NCAA University of South Florida, and team captain Stuff the Magic Dragon of the NBA Orlando Magic. Twenty-two of the best and most popular Mascots from across North America joined Stuff, the event’s host mascot, for the 24th Games.

Miami Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069106 Florida Panthers Heponiemi, who hails from the same hometown of Tampere, said he remembers watching Barkov growing up, as Heponiemi’s older brother is the same age as Barkov. Cats select two Finnish players on second day of NHL Draft Repo played in Tampere and remembered the adulation the town has for Barkov. BY DANIEL I. DORFMAN “He’s like a god there,” Repo said. Special to the Miami Herald Repo played with another Finnish player, Henrik Haapala, who just signed as a free agent with the Panthers earlier in the offseason.

Tallon praised scout Jari Kekalainen for his efforts in finding Finnish CHICAGO One day after selecting Owen Tippett with the 10th overall talent. pick of the NHL Draft, the Panthers continued to add to their roster with four new players, including two from Finland. “We like what they bring to the table,” Tallon said. “They play hard, they are passionate, they play a North American-style game, and they also With their second-round pick, the Panthers chose forward Aleksi have a lot of skill and a desire to play in the NHL.” Heponiemi, 18, a native of Tampere, Finland, who had 86 points in the Western Hockey League last season, setting the pace for all rookies in the league on his way to being named Rookie of the Year. Miami Herald LOADED: 06.25.2017 Heponiemi was listed at only 5-10 and 149 pounds. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon is cognizant that he has some work to do in the training room. “He has great skill, great vision, great hands, a heck of a release and a good shot,” Tallon said. “He just has to get stronger. That’s all.” Heponiemi agreed he has to add to his frame. “I’m still going to grow up; I’m going to get taller and, obviously, I am working on my weight all the time, and I am going to get stronger and stronger,” Heponiemi said. “I don’t think it is going to be a problem at all. There are a lot of small players in the NHL at the moment, so I don’t think it is going to be a problem.” In the third round, the Panthers grabbed defenseman Max Gildon of Plano, Texas, and two rounds later they chose his world juniors teammate, defenseman Tyler Inamoto. Inamoto, who didn’t have far to travel to the draft since he lives in suburban Chicago, impressed Panthers executives because of his attitude on the ice. “We were getting to the point that we were a little too easy to play against,” said Jason Bukala, the Panthers’ amateur scouting director. “[Inamoto is] a relentless competitor. He’s a nasty individual around the net and in the corners, and I think we would be lying to ourselves if we felt we didn’t need to add that element back into the equation.” In the sixth round, the Panthers used their last pick of the day to take winger Sebastian Repo of Finland. With the five selections over the two days of the draft, Tallon expressed enthusiasm as the club heads into its development camp. “Things are kind of turning around quickly for the Florida Panthers, and we are going to be in this for the long haul and for a long time with these players,” Tallon said. Paul McFarland was named an assistant coach and will work under new head coach Bob Boughner. For the past three seasons, McFarland, 31, was coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. Prior to that, Boughner said McFarland worked as a teacher and accountant before moving into coaching. “He’s very intelligent,” Boughner said. “That’s someone I was looking for. Someone who is young, up and coming and a passionate guy. So I’m happy to have him.” McFarland will be joined on Boughner’s staff by former New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano, who was hired on Friday. “I think we have touched all the bases,” Boughner said. “We have some young energy in Paul McFarland and some experience in [Capuano]. I’m excited to get going and get the players in town and get to work.” Boughner said he has been watching Tippett since he was 14 or 15 and likes what he sees in the Panthers’ first-round selection. “I’m very familiar with him. I love his speed,” Boughner said. “He has an NHL shot already. I talked to him [Saturday] to come with the mind-set of trying to make the team because you can’t teach what he has in his package.” Two of the Panthers’ draft choices spoke of a connection to Florida top- line center Sasha Barkov, a fellow Finn. 1069107 Florida Panthers Repo, a tough, 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, is physically more NHL-ready than Heponiemi. He scored 11 goals and 32 points in 46 games for Tappara, along with 78 penalty minutes. Panthers add skilled Finns and physical defensemen on final day of NHL “I’ve just been waiting my turn,” Repo said. “I know many Finnish guys draft who went to NHL without getting drafted so I kept my mindset and knew I could do it some day.” Harvey Fialkov Contact Reporter Sun Sentinel Bukala said that Gildon, a Houston native who will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall, possesses a booming slap shot reminiscent of former Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison. After getting goal-scoring machine Owen Tippett on Friday, his intended “I’m looking to improve my all-around game, get to the NHL level and target in the first round, Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon stick for a long time,” said Gildon, who grew up in the Dallas Stars junior wasn’t finished. program. So he continued his recent trend of amassing as many Finnish players as Tallon said the Panthers’ pipeline is loaded with young, talented players he can in the organization by selecting center Aleksi Heponiemi with the and five picks was plenty. 40th pick in the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. “Sometimes you want to clean out the cupboard,” Tallon said. “Now we Heponiemi, 18, is from the same hometown of Tampere as Panthers’ need to be more selective and put the pieces in the right place because top-line center Aleksander Barkov, the second overall pick of the 2013 our depth chart is nicely balanced and deep. With five picks, it’s quality draft. The sleightly built 5-foot-10, 150-pound Heponiemi notched 28 over quantity.” goals and had 86 points in 72 games for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. Panthers coach Bob Boughner completed his staff a day after hiring former New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano by adding former Then with his last pick (184th, sixth round) Tallon plucked right wing Kingston Frontenacs coach Paul McFarland to help run the offense. Sebastian Repo, 21. And like Barkov, he honed his game playing with adults for Tappara of the elite Finnish Liiga. “He’s an alumni of the [Windsor] Spitfires, so I had a lot of contact with him. I know him and his family,” Boughner said. “He’s an up-and-coming With former enforcer Shawn Thornton now pushing pencils instead of guy with a lot of structure and detail. opponents, and the trade of rugged defenseman last summer, Jason Bukala, Florida’s director of amateur scouting, said the “He’s a pretty unique guy. He’s 31 years old; he’s already been an team needed to add more grit. accountant and school teacher, and now he’s an NHL hockey coach. He’s a great communicator and that’s what I was looking for, an up-and- Thus, Tallon focused on improving the Panthers’ physical play in the coming, passionate guy.” back end in the middle rounds with a couple of rugged defensemen by snaring teammates for the last two years on the U.S. National under-18 McFarland, who guided the Frontenacs to three consecutive playoff and -17 development teams — 6-foot-3 Max Gildon in the third round and berths, is the older brother of former Panthers forward John McFarland 6-4 Tyler Inamoto in the fifth round. (2nd round in 2010), whi is now playing in Europe after playing just three games for Florida in 2015. “Tyler’s big, mobile and plays a mean game,” Tallon said. “We talked about adding speed, skill and sandpaper and he brings that element to “I look forward to working with the Panthers and helping a talented, our draft.” young team compete toward their goal of winning the Stanley Cup,” Paul McFarland said. Inamoto, 18, a New Jersey native who moved to Barrington, a Chicago suburb four years ago, received a huge ovation when his name was called in the United Center. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 06.25.2017 Inamoto is headed to the University of Wisconsin after notching 147 penalty minutes in 59 games with the U.S. under-18 team last season. “I’ll work on my stickhandling, passing and shooting skills and keep watching game film in the offensive zone,” Inamoto said. “I’m physical in the offensive zone and hard to play against, and I make the good first pass.” Tallon isn’t alone in his Finn affinity, as six Finns, led by defenseman Miro Heiskanen at No. 3, were drafted in the first round and 23 were taken overall. Last season, Repo played with recent Panthers free-agent addition, forward Henrik Haapala, who led the Finnish league with 60 points last season. They’ll be competing for jobs at the Panthers’ development camp. Also attending camp on Tuesday will be Finnish center Henrik Borgstrom, last year’s 23rd overall pick, who led the University of Denver to a national title with 22 goals and 43 points in 37 games. Tallon drafted Finn center Juho Lammikko in the third round of the 2014 draft and veteran forward Jussi Jokinen is entering his third season with Florida. Both Tallon and Bukala, heaped praise on European scout Jari Kekalainen for finding the Finns. “Finns play hard; they’re passionate; they play the North American style game; have a lot of skill and the desire to play in the NHL,” Tallon said. Rather than play in the adult Finnish league, Heponiemi chose to move to Canada and play in the WHL so he could acclimate to smaller rinks and North America culture. “Canada has the best junior leagues, so obviously I want to play in the best,” he said. “It wasn’t too big a thing for me. … “Obviously, it’s a huge honor to go there, a great organization, and lots of Finnish guys is a great thing. … My brother is the same age [as Barkov] and I watched him my entire junior career.” 1069108 Florida Panthers

Panthers hire assistant coach Paul McFarland

Harvey Fialkov Contact Reporter Sun Sentinel

The Florida Panthers continued to fill out Bob Boughner’s coaching staff Saturday by hiring Paul McFarland. On Friday, the Panthers hired former Islanders coach Jack Capuano as associate coach. Boughner said that McFarland will work with the offense, while Capuano will focus on the defense and penalty kill. “He’s an alumni of the Spitfires so I had a lot of contact with [McFarland]. I know him and his family,’’ Boughner said. “He’s an up-and-coming guy with a lot of structure and detail. “I’m just happy to have him. He’s a pretty unique guy. He’s 31 years old; he’s already been an accountant and school teacher, and now he’s an NHL hockey coach. He’s a great communicator and that’s what I was looking for, an up-and-coming, passionate guy.’’ Boughner, who didn’t know Capuano before the interview process, explained why he chose him as his associate coach. “It’s really important and I wanted to make sure I had one guy like that with experience,’’ he said. “He impressed me with how detailed and structured he was and I think that’s going to help our young defensemen. “Paul will help me up front. We’ll all be together at our development camp next week for our first chance to talk about training camp, schedule, travel and all those things.’’ Boughner said Capuano’s title as associate coach is more out of respect than him being a head coach in waiting. “We just want to win. It doesn’t matter who gets credit for it or what title you have,’’ Boughner said. “If that happens, I think everyone will have success and he’ll go on to become a head coach again. We all know that. For me I feel fortunate to have him on the bench next to me to draw off his experience and make me better.’’ McFarland, 31, is the older brother of former Panthers forward John McFarland, a second-round pick (33) in 2010 who played three games for Florida in 2015-16, but is now playing in Europe. “I'm thrilled about joining the Panthers organization and having an opportunity to work with Dale, Bob and the tremendous staff that Bob has assembled,” McFarland said. “I look forward to working with the Panthers and helping a talented, young team compete toward their goal of winning the Stanley Cup.” Before joining the Panthers, Boughner was as assistant coach under former Panthers coach Pete DeBoer in San Jose, and McFarland played for DeBoer with the from 2002-04. They won an OHL championship together in 2003. For the last three years McFarland has been head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs (2014-17) of the OHL, compiling a 111-71-22 record and three trips to the playoffs. Prior to joining Kingston, McFarland, a native of Richmond Hill, Ont, served as assistant coach of the Oshawa Generals (2012-14). McFarland played for Windsor (2005-06), a season before Boughner began coaching the Spitfires and eventually owning the franchise. McFarland was captain of Windsor. Following his OHL career, McFarland played four seasons for Acadia University where he was named an Academic All-Canadian three times and served as captain for three seasons (2007-10). During his time at Acadia University, McFarland was named University Male Citizen of the Year in 2008 and 2009. The Paul McFarland Award was established in his honor which recognizes the combination of athletics, academics and community involvement.

Sun Sentinel LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069109 Los Angeles Kings Orange County Register: LOADED: 06.25.2017 Nothing ordinary about Anderson-Dolan, the Kings’ second-round draft pick

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Daily Breeze PUBLISHED: June 24, 2017 at 9:28 pm | UPDATED: June 24, 2017 at 9:56 PM

Jaret Anderson-Dolan grew up on skates, which doesn’t make him all that different from most of Canada’s 35 million citizens. But he scored a hat trick in his first game as a 15-year-old with the junior-level Spokane (Wash.) Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, a sign he was extraordinary. Anderson-Dolan also had more points (76) than games played (72) during this past season with the Chiefs to cement his status as one of the top North American skaters eligible for the NHL draft this weekend. He was ranked 21st by season’s end. The Kings selected Anderson-Dolan, a 17-year-old center, in the second round of the draft Saturday (41st overall), as their quest for young players with outstanding offensive skills continued after they picked center Gabe Vilardi in the first round Friday (11th overall). Anderson-Dolan described himself as a “hard-working two-way forward,” during an interview with NHL Network. “Love the offensive game, love to produce, but I take a lot of pride in the defensive side of the game. I think my shot and my skating probably are my strengths.” Anderson-Dolan has a strong connection to the Kings via Don Nachbaur, who was hired as an assistant coach Thursday after spending seven seasons coaching in Spokane. Nachbaur helped ease Anderson-Dolan’s initial transition from his hometown of Calgary to Spokane and life in the WHL. In the end, it wasn’t all that difficult. Anderson-Dolan credited his home life, with his brother, Dorian, and their mothers, Fran and Nancy, for instilling a rare level of maturity for someone his age. Anderson-Dolan is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ communities in Calgary and Spokane and organized a Pride Night at a Chiefs game. Teammates supported Anderson-Dolan by applying rainbow-colored tape to their hockey sticks. “I know it’s a little bit unique, but for me, I don’t know any other way of being raised,” he said. “So, it’s really normal for me. There’s been a lot of attention on it. I think, for me, if I can continue to voice my opinion and show I’m proud of it, then I can make an impact in the community.” Anderson-Dolan’s family was a non-issue for the Kings. “If anyone has a problem with his family situation, they should go screw themselves and go find another job,” said Mark Yannetti, the Kings’ longtime director of amateur scouting. “It was nothing we ever discussed. He has two loving, wonderful parents who raised him.” Anderson-Dolan plans to forgo his annual summer vacation to Hawaii to visit his uncle, Thomas Dolan, a life coach in Honolulu, in order to prepare for the Kings’ training camp in September. First, though, he plans to attend their development camp Tuesday at their El Segundo training facility. In addition to Vilardi and Anderson-Dolan, the Kings also picked goaltender Matt Villalta in the third round; defensemen Michael Anderson and Markus Phillips in the fourth; and defenseman Cole Hults and center Drake Rymsha in the fifth. The Kings traded their sixth-round pick to the New York Islanders for a sixth-round pick in 2018. They didn’t have a seventh-round pick after trading it to the Tampa Bay Lightning, which then flipped it to the Philadelphia Flyers. “Obviously, you’re going to have the same sound bites every year,” Yannetti said when asked to summarize the Kings’ selections. “It was a very successful draft. (But) no one will know for sure for three to five years.” Also, the Kings signed forward forward Andy Andreoff to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $677,500. Andreoff had two points, both assists, in 36 games last season with the Kings. He would have been a restricted free agent next Saturday. 1069110 Los Angeles Kings

ANDREOFF RE-UPS FOR TWO YEARS, $1.355M

JON ROSEN JUNE 24, 20170 COMMENTS

In advance of Sunday’s 2:00 p.m. deadline to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents, the Los Angeles Kings signed RFA forward Andy Andreoff to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $677,500. Though he received nearly two minutes of ice time beyond what he averaged the year prior, Andreoff wasn’t able to capitalize on his 60- game, eight-goal season in 2015-16. The scoring chances appeared to be there late in the year, and there’s never questioning his energy or fearlessness, but with two assists in 36 games, the production simply never came. With 98 shots on goal in 114 NHL games, he’ll also need to improve his shot rate over the duration of his contract. One significant note in Andreoff’s favor is that he’s inexpensive. With a $677,500 cap hit, his salary is only marginally more expensive than the $660,000 qualifying offer he would’ve been due. He’s also versatile, and while it doesn’t appear that he’ll grow outside of a fourth line role, he’s able to slot in at both center (where he has a 52.0% career faceoff rate) and wing. Also, he’s still comparatively young at 26, so there’s the possibility that he can regain the encouraging trajectory and continue to build his identity as a player, efforts that seemed to materialize in his game late in 2015-16. With Andreoff’s contract, the Kings now have $64.99-million committed to 17 players who are currently under contract for 2017-18, based on financials provided by Cap Friendly. That figure includes the contract for Adrian Kempe, but not Oscar Fantenberg or Jeff Zatkoff. It also includes Mike Richards’ cap recapture and termination penalties, as well as Matt Greene’s buyout. With that figure, Los Angeles has roughly $10.01M to allot to up to between three and six players (though likely six) via extensions, trades and free agency (and the highly unlikely scenario in which a 2017 draft pick makes the opening night roster). Given that Jonny Brodzinski, Nick Shore, Justin Auger, Kevin Gravel, Michael Mersch, Kurtis MacDermid and Paul LaDue are also among the restricted free agents who will need new contracts, there appears to be an upcoming game of musical chairs that should elicit good competition at training camp. MacDermid, Auger and Mersch will no longer be waiver exempt. Nor will goaltender Jack Campbell, though the Kings will be looking to continue to bolster their goaltending pipeline, and that includes exploring both the free agent and trade market for a back-up. In 114 regular-season games over three seasons in the NHL, Andreoff has 15 points (10-5=15), 164 penalty minutes and an even rating.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069111 Los Angeles Kings

FUTA DESCRIBES DRAFT PROCESS, WITH FOCUS NOW SHIFTING TOWARD FREE AGENCY

JON ROSEN JUNE 24, 20170 COMMENTS

On the draft process, and whether there were any wrinkles he had anticipated? No, it’s been a really smooth process. We were very excited about last night. In the draft, we were trying to upgrade our skill level. It’s one of those things where sometimes you work really hard to move up and you overthink things about trying to move up to get players because you clearly have them in another spot. There wasn’t a lot of talk about movement. I mean, there were a lot of trades made – big trades with players involved – but as far as picks and stuff like that with movement, there was really nothing for us to do, even in spite of the effort. But the players that we wanted were falling to us, so again, it certainly happened last night with Gabe, and then today it started the same thing off with Anderson-Dolan. He’s a kid that we coveted. It’s like a MacDermid-like intensity in his combine interview. We actually had to tell him, ‘kid, smile, take a pill.’ It’s a good burn, it’s a really good burn, and of course when you hire Don Nachbaur as an assistant coach, now you get a whole new different ramp up of how much he was appreciated in that organization. We hit it off at the combine interviews, and our guys were really thrilled, and that kind of momentum just carried on. To get him to start the day off just kickstarted everything, and I’m excited. On the dynamic in meetings and at the draft table under new management: Well, for one thing, the relationship that myself and Mark have and the chemistry we have, it’s a different role now, but I got a lot to see the first couple picks, and I said, you talk about the way Dean was, Dean said when you get into that role when you don’t see all these kids, the job is to go in [to meetings], and I clearly have been with them and know how hardly they work and the work ethic’s second-to-none, but just ask the right questions. Challenge the right spots. Again, it’s asking the right questions and challenging the guys in a real positive way about certain people, and that continued over throughout the meetings this year. But this is a group that we have, and knowing them the way I do, it gave me a different opportunity to get in there from a different light. Again, just ask the right kind of questions. Dean used to do it a different way, but it’s the same thing. Just make sure they’re sure and confident about who they’re taking, and that they’ve done the homework on the character of the kids and stuff like that. And again, the work ethic’s never an issue with this group. On trying to add skill and scoring to the organization: We’re trying to improve our team everywhere, right? But the reality of it is, I think it was the first sentence Blakey uttered at his press conference was ‘we don’t score enough goals,’ and that’s something that we’re trying to address, and as much as we feel we’ve added some layers of scoring and skill here in Chicago, those guys aren’t ready to come in and help the team that we need to help right away. Under every avenue, be it via free agency, trade, we’re looking at every possible way to get this team better and to get our offense kickstarted in another direction. On having some cap space: I anticipate us trying every avenue possible to make the team better, and we’ve never been a team that’s been shy to spend the money up towards – we’re a cap hockey team – to make it better. There are some interesting options, but there are a lot of teams trying to make their teams better, too. We’ll have to see how things unfold, but it’s certainly not going to be due to any lack of effort. Every stone’s being overturned here to make sure that we can add some scoring to the lineup.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069112 Minnesota Wild pursue players with experience, plus depth players to put on two-way contracts.

Also, the Wild is in the market for another goalie to compete with Stalock Wild and coach Bruce Boudreau endure a quiet two days of NHL draft for the backup job. "[Stalock's] going to have to earn it," Fletcher said. "He put himself on the Michael Russo radar last year, but by the same token, we want to foster competition." June 24, 2017 — 4:05PM In Fletcher's mind, this weekend was all about the draft "and maximizing our darts" by drafting six players with skill and not worrying about things like size or development stage. CHICAGO – As Bruce Boudreau sat at the draft table "bored out of his That's what happens when your first pick is in the third round. mind," according to General Manager , on Friday night, the Wild coach fired off a text message to someone asking, "Is no one Still, Boudreau didn't stick around for Day 2. He saw enough Day 1, yet making any moves?" he isn't worried. A couple of trades trickled in late, but Boudreau is a hockey nut. So he "We don't have to do much," he said. "We were the best team in the too, had hoped to witness a couple of league-shaking trades, even from league for two-thirds the year, so I think a little tweak here and a little his own Wild. tweak there is going to be what's necessary to get over the top. But we could do something big as well. I don't know. But alas, none from the Wild came, even on the second day of the NHL draft that was spent Saturday with Boudreau … at the airport, then in the "I have all the confidence that if he's going to do something, it'll be a good sky. move for us." "Nothing's happening," Boudreau said, laughing, before boarding a flight Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 to Minnesota. "You'd love it this time of year. It creates excitement for the fans, for us — me included. We all love moves. But you don't want to cut your nose to spite your face. If it's not there, don't make it." Most anticipated that Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher would trade a defenseman — probably Marco Scandella — in Chicago, especially after manipulating the expansion process by persuading the Vegas Golden Knights to take center Erik Haula over any of his blue-liners by delivering them prospect Alex Tuch. But so far Fletcher hasn't executed a swap. Saturday, after the Wild drafted six players, Fletcher said he didn't have as many conversations as one would think "for whatever reason" and if somebody wants to make a "hockey trade," he's all ears. The Wild had a couple of chances in a defenseman trade to get a first- round pick, but Fletcher's right-hand man, Brent Flahr, said, "We weren't desperately just trying to move a player to get a pick. If it happened and it included a pick, that's fine." If no trade comes to fruition, Fletcher said he's perfectly content to return roughly the same group next season from the team that had the second- most points in the Western Conference last season but bowed out in five games in the first round of the playoffs. Boudreau, however, still thinks "something's going to happen. I just don't know what it is. Chuck's playing his cards close to his vest. But I've got to believe something will happen. Whether it happens today or in a month from now, I don't think he's in a hurry unless he gets what he wants to get." The reason many think a trade's on the horizon is the need to re-sign and and still have cap space to conduct other business this offseason. The Wild is roughly $13.5 million from the cap ceiling with only 15 regulars, including rookie Joel Eriksson Ek and goalie Alex Stalock, signed. "The one thing I know I'm not is creative," Boudreau said. "I don't think of things the way GMs think because they have to maneuver money around. On the surface it might look like [we have cap issues], but if we're moving anybody, Chuck can be as creative as anybody. I mean, no one thought at the expansion draft we would have done what we did, but Chuck was thinking ahead of everybody and was being creative and we were able to keep all five defensemen … at that point." Fletcher said if the right deal doesn't come, he'll be able to re-sign Granlund and Niederreiter and navigate being tight to the cap ceiling like he has the past three seasons. "I'm not too worried about that," he said. "We have some young guys ready to make the team that will carry good cap hits. We need to fill a couple spots probably in free agency, but again, we're looking more at fourth-line type players. We like our group, the defense is the strength of our team, we've got three lines up front that we like. "Again we might have to look at inventing a fourth line in free agency and through our guys in the American league, so that'll be a change. Otherwise we can start the year the way we're at." Some fourth-line options include Matt Hendricks, Nate Thompson and Brian Boyle, and you can bet Boudreau would love to try to dissuade three-time Stanley Cup champ Matt Cullen from retiring. The Wild will 1069113 Minnesota Wild Hometown: Moscow, Russia. 2016-17 team: CSKA Moscow (KHL). Wild goes for as much skill as possible on Day 2 of the NHL draft Stats: 4 goals, 16 points in 37 games; Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov’s teammate in the KHL and world juniors

NICK SWANEY Michael Russo Seventh round, 209th overall June 24, 2017 — 2:26PM Position: Center

Height/weight: 5-10, 178. See below for quotes and insight from Senior VP of Hockey Operations Brent Flahr, who ran his eighth draft table with the Wild, on the Wild's six Hometown: Lakeville, Minn. picks. 2016-17 team: Waterloo (USHL) Also, check out my column on startribune.com/wild in a bit on what's next after no trades were made by the Wild this weekend. Stats: Former Lakeville South High player and future University of Minnesota-Duluth forward, 26 goals, 51 points in 47 games. The Wild, as GM Chuck Fletcher said, tried its best to "maximize their darts" by taking as much skill as they could, no matter the player's size, Flahr quotes and then develop them. On getting skilled players: Here are the Wild's picks from today. Click on the player's name and Yeah that was our thought process going in, go for upside and obviously you'll see their elite prospects bio. skill. Lodnia is a highly skilled kid. He played on an Eerie that was IVAN LODNIA extremely deep. So I think late in the year he didn't get to play as much. You know, next year he's going to put up significantly higher numbers Third round, 85th overall and he'll have more of an offensive role obviously. Mason Shaw we've seen playing for the national team before. He puts up big numbers Position: Right wing already. He's a ball of energy, high character. He's one of those guys that Height/weight: 5-10, 178 our guys think has the chance to beat the odds. He'll run through a wall for his teammates and play in any situation. Just a character kid. Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. On getting value because these guys are small and we'll never make the 2016-17 team: Erie Otters (OHL) NHL: Stats: 24 goals, 57 points in 66 games. Yeah I think so. Especially at the point we were picking in the third and fourth round they're not going to have every asset compared to a pick in His parents are from the Ukraine and came to the U.S. with $100 in their the first round or something. A lot of these guys have assets that we think pockets. will give them a chance to play. MASON SHAW On Misley: Fourth round, 97th overall Well he's a kid we're going to have to be patient with. He's got a very good skillset. He's got good hands and can see the ice. Physically he'll Position: Center need time to develop but he's going to a college program where he'll get Height/weight: 5-9, 175 that opportunity. He had a strong year at the tier-two league. He played well in the tournaments when he had the chance. Hometown: Wainwright, Alberta. On Golden: 2016-17 team: Medicine Hat (WHL) Golden is another kid that played on a very good London team so he Stats: 27 goals, 67 assists, 94 points (8th in the league) in 71 games. didn't get to play a lot. He's an elite skater. He really moves the puck well. A couple of our guys that got to see him when he was playing early Stud player for Lloydminster, and he's more of a playmaker. Buddies with were really high on him. For where we got him we think it's a good pick at Wild prospect Carson Soucy. that point. BRYCE MISLEY On "that Russian kid" (I couldn't pronouce his name on the spot): Fourth round, 116th overall Well he was on our list a couple years ago. Last year he played for the Position: Center men's national team, he played for CSKA, and our guys followed him. He's a very smart player. He played both ways. For a young player he's Height/weight: 6-2, 188 already playing on the men's national team which says a lot about what they think of him over there. He's under contact for a couple more years. Hometown: Calgary, Alberta. We'll have to find out all the details. He's a guy at that point we wanted to 2016-17 team: Oakville (OJHL) throw in the hopper. Stats: University of Vermont-bound, 26 goals, 62 points in 46 games. On whether it was a tactical move with Kaprizov there: JACOB GOLDEN No. He was on our list before that. Fifth round, 147th overall On if it helps that he's played with Kaprizov: Position: Defenseman. Well they played on the same line two world juniors ago for part of the tournament. He's a competitive kid but he's also a very smart player both Height/weight: 6-0, 182 offensively and on the defensive side of the puck. Hometown: Toronto, Ont. Swaney: 2016-17 team: London (OHL) “Swaney is a kid, obviously he’s gone through a couple of drafts, but Waterloo, he’s a very, very smart player on offensive side of the puck. Stats: Two assists in 38 games. He’s gotta get stronger, probably a step quicker but he’s ... we talked when we were going through names at teh end, we were talking about a ANDREI SVETLAKOV kid, if you don’t draft him, you’re going to be chasing him as a free agent Sixth round, 178th overall in a couple years. We can get him to camps and help work with him. We know he’s going to a good Duluth program that we have a lot of respect Position: Defenseman. for.” Height/weight: 6-0, 182 One of those guys you can afford to be patient with now? “Yeah, obviously, we have close ties with Duluth and their coaching staff there. We’re confident, they develop players consistently. He’s already got a pretty good offensive skill set, he’s a smart offensive player. He’s going to need time to get stronger and quicker and he can certainly do that there.” Tempting to trade into the first on Friday? “We talked about it a little bit, but it’s more than just picks, there’s other things going involved in some of the deals we talked about. But we weren’t desperately just trying to move a player to get a pick. If it happened and it included a pick, that’s fine. But no, it was interesting how the first round went.” Out of whack? “No, I think most people had 27 or 28 of the 31 in the first. Some of the orders were a little different, a couple of the Minny kids probably fell a little further than I thought they were gonna go. But they’re all first rounders.” Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069114 Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild name Bob Woods as an assistant coach

Staff Writer June 24, 2017 — 10:15am

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild has named Bob Woods as an assistant coach. The 49-year-old Woods served as an assistant last season for the Buffalo Sabres, which had the top-ranked power play in the NHL. Before that Woods spent two seasons as general manager and head coach of the Blades in the Western Hockey League. This will be his fourth stint as an assistant under Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau. They last worked together with the Anaheim Ducks in 2012- 14. A former defenseman, Woods played pro hockey for 13 seasons. Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069115 Minnesota Wild

Bruce Boudreau on new Wild assistant Bob Woods: 'He gets me'

Michael Russo June 24, 2017 — 9:30am

A year after many in the hockey world thought it would happen, Bruce Boudreau and Bob Woods have been reunited. Woods, Boudreau longtime confidante and friend, will be announced as Scott Stevens’ replacement as a Wild assistant coach this morning. He’ll join John Anderson, another of Boudreau’s best friends, on the bench. Darby Hendrickson remains in his role as assistant coach, too. Woods, 49, a former defenseman, was Boudreau’s player assistant with the 1998-99 championship Mississippi Sea Wolves team in the ECHL. After Boudreau left for AHL Lowell then Manchester, Woods stayed in Biloxi to coach and be GM before joining Boudreau in Hershey as an assistant. They won the Calder Cup together their first year in 2005-06, then lost in the finals the next year. Boudreau got “called up” to be the Washington Capitals’ coach in 2007-08 and Woods took over the Bears before winning a title in 2008-09. Woods joined Boudreau in Washington the next 2 ½ years before coming to Anaheim with him for two seasons. Last season, Woods, after a stint as coach and GM with the in the Western Hockey League, was an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres and largely credited for coaching the league’s top-ranked power play. In his career, Woods has helped develop young defensemen like Cam Fowler, Karl Alzner, John Carlson and Mike Green. He's looking forward to working with the Wild blue line. “They’re all mobile, they can move the puck, and this day and age, that’s a big key,” Woods said. “There’s a lot of experience there. I think they have the opportunity to do something special, and anything I can do to help, I’m there for them and I can’t wait to get to meet them and start building that relationship.” Added Boudreau, "He’ll push me and I’ll push him. He knows how to coach and mold young kids, and he knows the game well enough and he’s old enough that I think he’ll be a great communicator with the Suts’ () and the older guys that we have on our team.” Woods will coach the defensemen and penalty kill. He’ll call the blue-line line changes from the bench. Anderson will continue to work with the power play, but as always, Boudreau said it’s a collaborative effort amongst the coaching staff. “I thought long and hard about it and I think we’ll work really good as a group,” Boudreau said. "He’s very supportive of me and we’ve won everywhere. And he knows me. He knows when I’m going off the edges and stuff like that, he knows when to pull me in. It’s like an old girlfriend that you’ve been around for a long time. They know you after awhile. And he does. He knows me and he gets me.” Said Woods, “I think we both know each other very well, and I think we complement each other. I think part of my job is filling in the cracks. Bruce doesn’t have many of them. But I try to seal anything that I can. I love working with him, I love his passion for the game. I love his relationships with the players. This is a guy that has success for a reason. The one thing is I know Bruce will do everything in his power to try to bring that cup to Minnesota, and I’m going to be there right beside him. Boudreau also wanted it known that a report in Canada that Mike Kitchen turned down the Wild’s job is untrue. Boudreau and the longtime coach are friends and Boudreau talked to Kitchen about the job, but Kitchen said he doesn’t want to coach this season and the job was never offered to him. Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069116 Minnesota Wild

Minnesotans selected in the NHL draft Seventeen players from the state were chosen.

JUNE 24, 2017 — 7:20PM Staff Writer

A look a the Minnesotans chosen in the NHL entry draft on Friday and Saturday in Chicago: Player, Hometown, Last team, College commitment, Drafted by, Round, Pick Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie H.S., Gophers, Buffalo, 1, 8 Ryan Poehling, C, Lakeville, St. Cloud State, St. Cloud State, Montreal, 1, 25 Jake Oettinger, G, Lakeville, Boston Univ., Boston University, Dallas, 1, 26 Dylan Samberg, D, Hermantown, Hermantown H.S., Minnesota Duluth, Winnipeg, 2, 43 Grant Mismash, LW, Edina, U.S. U-18 program, North Dakota, Nashville, 2, 61 Clayton Phillips, D, Edina , Fargo (USHL), Gophers, Pittsburgh, 3, 93 Scott Reedy, C, Prior Lake, U.S. U-18 program, Gophers, San Jose, 4, 102 Mikey Anderson, D, Roseville, Waterloo (USHL), Minnesota Duluth, Los Angeles, 4, 103 Noah Cates, LW, Stillwater , Stillwater H.S., Minnesota Duluth, Philadelphia, 5, 137 Nick Perbix, D, Elk River, Elk River H.S., St. Cloud State, Tampa Bay, 6, 169 Benton Maass, D, Elk River, Elk River H.S., New Hampshire, Washington, 6, 182 Nicky Leivermann, D, Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie H.S., Notre Dame, Colorado, 7, 187 Sammy Walker, C, Edina, Edina H.S., Gophers, Tampa Bay, 7, 200 Nick Swaney, RW, Lakeville, Waterloo (USHL), Minnesota Duluth, Wild, 7, 209 Robbie Stucker, D, Ramsey, St. Thomas Academy, Colorado College, Columbus, 7, 210 Matt Hellickson, D, St. Louis Park, Sioux City (USHL), Notre Dame, New Jersey, 7, 214 Josh Ess, D, Burnsville, Lakeville South H.S., Wisconsin, Chicago, 7, 215 Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069117 Minnesota Wild 2016-17 team: London (OHL) Stats: Two assists in 38 games. Wild 2017 draft selections Comment: “He played on a very good London team so he didn’t get to play a lot. He’s an elite skater. He really moves the puck well. A couple of A look at the players selected Saturday by the Wild: our guys that got to see him when he was playing early were really high on him.” JUNE 24, 2017 — 11:24PM ANDREI SVETLAKOV Staff Writer Sixth round, 178th overall Position: Defense Details on the Wild’s draft picks, with comments by Brent Flahr, Wild Height/weight: 6-0, 182 assistant general manager: Hometown: Moscow IVAN LODNIA Andrei Svetlakov, Wild draft pick, 2017 Third round, 85th overall Position: Right wing Andrei Svetlakov, Wild draft pick, 2017 Height/weight: 5-10, 178 2016-17 team: CSKA Moscow (KHL) Hometown: Los Angeles Stats: Four goals, 16 points in 37 games; Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov’s Mason Shaw, Wild draft pick, 2017 teammate in the KHL and world juniors. Comment: “He’s a competitive kid, but he’s also a very smart player both offensively and on the defensive side of the puck. For a young player Mason Shaw, Wild draft pick, 2017 he’s already playing on the men’s national team, which says a lot about what they think of him over there. He’s under contact for a couple more 2016-17 team: Erie Otters (OHL) years. We’ll have to find out all the details. He’s a guy at that point we wanted to throw in the hopper.” Stats: 24 goals, 57 points in 66 games. NICK SWANEY Comment: “He’s a highly skilled kid. Next year he’s going to put up significantly higher numbers and he’ll have more of an offensive role.” Seventh round, 209th overall MASON SHAW Position: Center Fourth round, 97th overall Height/weight: 5-10, 178 Position: Center Hometown: Lakeville Height/weight: 5-9, 175 Nick Swaney, Wild draft pick, 2017 Hometown: Wainwright, Alberta 2016-17 team: Medicine Hat (WHL) Nick Swaney, Wild draft pick, 2017 Stats: 27 goals, 67 assists, 94 points (eighth in the league) in 71 games. 2016-17 team: Waterloo (USHL) Comment: “He’s a ball of energy, high character. He’s one of those guys Stats: Former Lakeville South High player and future Minnesota Duluth that our guys think has the chance to beat the odds. He’ll run through a forward, 26 goals, 51 points in 47 games. wall for his teammates and play in any situation. Just a character kid.” Comment: “Very, very smart player on offensive side of the puck. He’s BRYCE MISLEY got to get stronger, probably a step quicker. … If you don’t draft him, you’re going to be chasing him as a free agent in a couple years. We can Fourth round, 116th overall get him to camps and help work with him.” Position: Center Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 Height/weight: 6-2, 188 Hometown: Calgary, Alberta Bryce Misley, Wild draft pick, 2017

Bryce Misley, Wild draft pick, 2017 2016-17 team: Oakville (OJHL) Stats: University of Vermont-bound, 26 goals, 62 points in 46 games. Comment: “He’s a kid we’re going to have to be patient with. He’s got a very good skill set. He’s got good hands and can see the ice. Physically he’ll need time to develop.” JACOB GOLDEN Fifth round, 147th overall Position: Defense Height/weight: 6-0, 182 Hometown: Toronto Jacob Golden, Wild draft pick, 2017

Jacob Golden, Wild draft pick, 2017 1069118 Minnesota Wild linemate. The Wild discounted that this looked like a tactical decision to draft a friend, but nobody from the team has ever met Kaprizov and wants to ensure the prized prospect signs with the Wild to play the 2018- Bob Woods announced as new Wild assistant coach 19 season. Head coach Bruce Boudreau and Woods will coach together for the “Svetlakov is a guy with tremendous ability,” GM Chuck Fletcher said. fourth time. “I’m not sure when we’ll be able to get him over here. He’s already an older player. But if he does come, he has a very good chance of playing.”

Etc. Michael Russo • Fletcher didn’t meet with the agents of restricted free agents Mikael JUNE 24, 2017 — 7:09PM Granlund and Nino Niederreiter this weekend but plans to start the process this week.

• The Wild might not tender defenseman Christian Folin a qualifying offer CHICAGO – One year after Bruce Boudreau hired John Anderson to Monday but hopes to work out a contract. coach alongside one of his best friends for the first time, the Wild coach will reunite with another longtime confidant. • From its expansion draft deal, Vegas opted to give Minnesota a third- round pick in 2018 instead of this year. The Wild made the hiring of Bob Woods as assistant coach official Saturday. • Wild prospect Joel Eriksson Ek’s brother, Olle, a goalie, was selected 153rd by Anaheim. This is the fourth time the two men will coach together. Not only was Woods Boudreau’s player-assistant once upon a time for the Mississippi Star Tribune LOADED: 06.25.2017 Sea Wolves, Woods was Boudreau’s assistant with the , Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. Woods was considered last year’s front-runner to coach the Wild’s defense until Hall of Famer Scott Stevens expressed an interest to coach. Stevens has since stepped down. “He’ll push me and I’ll push him,” Boudreau said of Woods, a former defenseman and member of the ECHL Hall of Fame. “He knows how to coach and mold young kids, and he knows the game well enough and he’s old enough that I think he’ll be a great communicator with the Suts [Ryan Suter] and the older guys that we have on our team.” After Boudreau and Woods won a championship in Mississippi, the two men won a Calder Cup together in Hershey in 2005-06. When Boudreau was promoted to Washington, Woods took over the Bears and eventually coached them to a Calder Cup, too. Last season, Woods was an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres and coached the league’s top-ranked power play. He is looking forward to working with the Wild’s talented cast of blue-liners. “I think they have the opportunity to do something special, and anything I can do to help, I’m there for them and I can’t wait to get to meet them and start building that relationship,” said Woods, 49. Woods, who will be in Minnesota to help run development camp July 7- 13, will coach the defensemen and penalty kill. He’ll call the blue-line line changes from the bench. “I thought long and hard about it and I think we’ll work really good as a group,” Boudreau said. “He’s very supportive of me and we’ve won everywhere. And he knows me. He knows when I’m going off the edges and stuff like that, he knows when to pull me in. It’s like an old girlfriend that you’ve been around for a long time. They know you after a while. And he does. He knows me and he gets me.” Added Woods: “I think part of my job is filling in the cracks. Bruce doesn’t have many of them. But I try to seal anything that I can. I love working with him, I love his passion for the game. I love his relationships with the players. This is a guy that has success for a reason. The one thing is I know Bruce will do everything in his power to try to bring that Cup to Minnesota, and I’m going to be there right beside him.” American dream Without a first- and second-round pick, the Wild drafted 5-10 winger Ivan Lodnia in the third round at 85th overall. For the Memorial Cup runner-up Erie Otters, Lodnia scored 24 goals and had 57 points in 66 games and will be on Erie’s top line next season. Lodnia was born in Los Angeles. His father, Konstantin, came to the United States from the Ukraine in the mid-1990s with $100 in his pocket. “They just wanted to see what America was like,” Lotvia said of his parents. “My dad played hockey, he just kind of got me on skates. He’s the reason why I’m sitting here today. He’s done everything for me.” With its first of two fourth-round picks, the Wild took center Mason Shaw from Medicine Hat. The playmaking, energetic center finished eighth in the WHL last season with 94 points and is buddies with Wild prospect Carson Soucy. One interesting pick came in the sixth round when the Wild took supremely talented center Andrei Svetlakov, who happens to be prospect Kirill Kaprizov’s CSKA Moscow and world junior teammate and former 1069119 Minnesota Wild

It’s Day 2 of the 2017 NHL draft. Here’s a look at the Wild’s picks

Dane Mizutani June 24, 2017 at 2:37 PM

CHICAGO — Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher joked that coach Bruce Boudreau was bored on Friday night during the first round of this year’s NHL draft. Fletcher started to get a little bored himself as potential trades became less and less likely as the night wore on. “There weren’t that many conversations,” Fletcher said. “We like our group. We worked hard to keep this group, so we’re certainly content to start the year this way. If something happens that we can improve our team, then we’ll do it. To me, this was a weekend about the draft, and today was a little bit more exciting than yesterday.” With no picks in the opening two rounds of the draft, the Wild finally made their first selection on Saturday morning at the United Center, taking Ivan Lodnia of the Eerie Otters of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the No. 85 overall pick. Fletcher, along with senior vice president of hockey operations Brent Flahr, made it clear that the Wild specifically targeted players who they felt had a lot of potential. “That was our thought process going in,” Flahr said. “Go for upside.” Lodnia, a Los Angeles native, finished last season with 24 goals and 33 assists over 66 games regular-season games. He chipped in with a pair of goals during a playoff run that saw the Otters win the OHL championship. “He played on a team that was extremely deep,” Flahr said. “So I think late in the year he didn’t get to play as much. You know, next year he’s going to put up significantly higher numbers and he’ll have more of an offensive role.” Lodnia described himself as a two-way player with potential to be a playmaker at the next level. “I try to be an offensive threat in the O zone and really reliable in the D zone,” he said. After Lodnia, the Wild snagged Mason Shaw with the No. 97 overall pick and Bryce Misley with the No. 116 overall pick. Shaw played on the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, finishing with 27 goals and 67 assists in the regular season, while adding 12 assists in the playoffs. “He’s a ball of energy,” Flahr said. “He’s one of those guys that our guys think has the chance to beat the odds. He’ll run through a wall for his teammates and play in any situation. Just a character kid.” Shaw said he plans to spend one more year in the WHL and then hopes to turn pro. “That’s my goal,” Shaw said. “I’m going to do everything I can to achieve that.” Misley was a member of the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJHL) last season, finishing the regular season with 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) and the playoffs with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). He plans to attend the University of Vermont next season. Other picks for the Wild included Jacob Golden of the London Knights of the OHL (No. 147 overall), Andrei Svetlakov of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia (No. 178 overall), and Nick Swaney (No. 209 overall) of the of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Fletcher said ultimately this year’s draft was about taking chances. “We tried to maximize our darts for higher skill and we weren’t as concerned about size,” he said. “Just trying to find really good players, and I think Brent and his staff found a few good ones.” Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069120 Minnesota Wild

Minnesota Wild name Bob Woods as newest assistant coach

Dane Mizutani June 24, 2017 at 10:38 am

CHICAGO — After nearly a month of looking, the Minnesota Wild officially named Bob Woods as an assistant coach on Saturday morning. Woods takes over for Scott Stevens, who resigned last month in order to spend more time with his family on the East Coast. It serves as a reunion of sorts for Woods and coach Bruce Boudreau. Woods previously served as an assistant coach under Boudreau with the Anaheim Ducks (2012-14), the Washington Capitals (2009-12), and the Hershey Bears (2005-07) of the American Hockey League. Woods is looking forward to getting the gang back together. “We both know each other very well,” Woods said. “I think we complement each other. … I love working with him. I love his passion for the game. I love how he is with the players. You know, he’s a guy that’s had success for a reason. Woods served as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres last season. He joins a Wild coaching staff that also features assistant coaches John Anderson and Darby Hendrickson, goaltender coach Bob Mason, video coach Jonas Plumb, and strength and conditioning coach Sean Skahan. Woods will work predominantly with Wild blue liners. “They are a pretty excited group,” Woods said. “They move well with the puck. In this day and age that’s a key thing. There is a lot of experience there. They are guys that have a very good opportunity to do something special. Anything I can do to help I’m going to be there for them. I can’t wait to get to meet them and start building that relationship.” Woods and his wife, Mary Sue, recently bought a home in Buffalo so they are unsure when they will officially move to the Twin Cities. Nonetheless, Woods assured that they’re both both excited to be coming to Minnesota. “(They) are trying to bring that (Stanley Cup) to Minnesota,” Woods said of the current coaching staff. “I’m going to be there right beside (Boudreau) trying to help out as much as I can.” Pioneer Press LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069121 Montreal Canadiens will join the other prospects at a development camp beginning July 1 in Brossard.

“Go back and look at any tape on this guy, he has a lot of similar Canadiens get cooking with higher than expected NHL draft assets characteristics to Lehkonen,” Timmins. said. ”He’s really driven, he can make plays, he drives the net. The talent level is high, but the talent is the floor and the character is the ceiling. He gets to the ceiling.” Pat Hickey Canadiens 2017 entry draft pick Scott Walford, seen here in 2016, of the June 24, 2017 4:32 PM EDT Victoria Royals, right, battles Brendan Semchuk of the in a WHL game in Langley, B.C. Ben Nelms / GETTY

SCOTT WALFORD, 68th overall, is a 6-foot-1, 193-pound defenceman CHICAGO — The Montreal Canadiens used the NHL entry draft to from Victoria in the WHL. He had six goals and 24 assists and is restock the larder with a heavy emphasis on what player personnel chief regarded as a responsible defenceman whose vision allows him to move Trevor Timmins described as assets. the puck and make good passes on breakouts. “We were able to add some defencemen we had targeted and we picked “He wasn’t at the NHL combine so he was little under the radar but we up a couple of centres and then we added a goaltender we liked in the new what he could do,” Timmins said. final round,” Timmins said Saturday. CALE FLEURY, 87th overall, is a two-way defenceman from the “We felt that most of the players we picked would have gone higher,” Kootenay Ice of the WHL. He’s the younger brother of 2014 first-rounder Timmins said. “Our list going in was two and a half pages and we never Haydn Fleury, but says they have two different styles and two different got off the first page,” he said. personalities. Cale says he plays with an edge and was used in all situations on a terrible junior team, which might explain his minus-61 A case in point was Ryan Poehling, the centre from St. Cloud State who rating. was the Canadiens’ first-round pick at No. 25. He was projected to go in the top 20. “We have a young team, but we have new owners and new coaches and we’ll be better,” Fleury said. Ryan Poehling posesafter being selected 25th overall by the Canadiens during the 2017 NHL Draft on Friday, June 23, 2017, in Chicago. Stacy James Patrick has been hired to coach the team with Jon Klemm as his Revere / GETTY top assistant. “He’s a player with a lot of upside,” Timmins said. “As a scout, it’s hard to “This is another guy who was under the radar because nobody wanted to get a good projection on a player at the NCAA level at such a young age, go see Kootenay because they were the worst team in the entire CHL ,” a true freshman at 17. But I had a good read on him, I saw him at the said Timmins. “But go back look at the CHL top prosects game and he high school level for two years and than at the international level at the had an excellent game. He’s another big defenceman who can skate.” Hlinka and the world under-18. Cale Fleury meets with executives after being selected 87th overall by “He’s a good-sized centre, a two-way guy who plays four corners, 200 the Canadiens during the 2017 NHL Draft, Bruce Bennett / GETTY feet of the ice,” Timmins added. “I think he has more skill than people give him credit for based on his NCAA stats (nine goals, eight assists), JARRET TYSZKA, 149th overall, is a 6-foot-2, 188-pound defenceman but when he’s played with his own age group, he’s at least a point-a- from Seattle of the WHL. He helped the Thunderbirds win their first-ever game. He needs time to develop, but eventually he can play in the top WHL title. He was projected as a second- or third-round pick and the nine and help the Montreal Canadiens.” Canadiens were surprised he was available. He’s a classic stay-at-home defenceman, but he’s known for his crisp passes on breakouts ,while an None of the Canadiens choices were from the Quebec Major Junior accurate wrist shot has earned him time on the power play. Hockey League, but Timmins said there was an effort to move up in the second round. “He separated his shoulder in January and he may have come back too soon, but he picked him on what we saw early in the season,” Timmins “Our first pick in the second round was 56 and (general manager Marc said. ”He dropped because he didn’t have a good Memorial Cup, but the Bergevin) worked hard to move up, but it’s tough to move in the second whole team didn’t have a good tournament.” round,” Timmins said. The Canadiens had targeted left winger Maxime Comtois from Victoriaville, but he went to Anaheim at No. 50 and Rouyn- CAYDEN PRIMEAU, 199th overall, is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound goaltender Noranda defenceman Zachary Lauzon went to Pittsburgh at No. 51. from Lincoln in the USHL. Primeau is the son of former NHLer Keith Primeau. The elder Primeau played five seasons in Philadelphia and, in Here are thumbnail looks at the Canadiens’ selections Saturday: an ironic twist, the Canadiens acquired this seventh-round pick in a trade with the Flyers. He’s committed to play college hockey at Northeastern JOSH BROOK, 56th overall, is an aggressive two-way defenceman from University in Boston. Moose Jaw in the WHL. The 6-foot-1, 191-pounder played in all situations and had eight goals and 32 assists. He also represented All the prospects are expected to be in Brossard for a five-day Canada at the world U18 championships. development camp. Brook viewed the draft from his home in Roblin, Man., explaining: “My Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.25.2017 agent told me it was going to be a weird draft and I didn’t want to be there getting mad.” “This guy’s a little under radar,” Timmins said. “He’s put together a little like John Carlson in Washington. We like that his skating is the best part of his game and his potential is untapped. Through the course of the season, he’s one of the players who improved the most and we hope that continues. We see him as someone who can log minutes in every situation and be a good partner with whoever he plays with.” Josh Brook was one of five second round picks by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2017 NHL entry draft. Canadiens de Montreal / via Twitter JONI IKONEN, 58th overall, is a 5-foot-11, 183-pound Finnish centre who has followed the lead of Artturi Lehkonen and moved to Sweden to play for the Frölunda juniors. He had 22 goals and 19 assists in 40 games. He also had four goals ad four assists in seven games to help Finland win a silver medal at the world U18 championships despite suffering a separated shoulder midway through the tournament. He also played 10 games with the Frölunda team in the Swedish Elite League, but failed to earn a point. “I had a lot of ice time with the juniors and I didn’t play a lot with the senior team, but I tried to make the most of the opportunity,” Ikonen said from his home in Espoo. He intends to remain in Europe next season, but 1069122 Montreal Canadiens With their first-round pick on Friday night, the Canadiens selected Ryan Poehling with the No. 25 pick. The 6-foot-2, 177-pound centre with St. Cloud State University had seven goals and six assists in 35 games this Canadiens take two centres, four defencemen and a goalie at NHL Draft past season. “I think he has great range and has a nice, long, strong stride,” NHL Central Scouting’s David Gregory said about Poehling on NHL.com. “He Stu Cowan used good puck protection and has a long reach. He can be effective in traffic and out of traffic and I like his vision. There is really nice upside with this player.” The last time the Canadiens had a second-round pick at the NHL Draft Poehling was ranked No. 13 among North American skaters by Central was 2013, when they selected forward Jacob De La Rose 34th overall. Scouting. After three years in which the Canadiens had traded away their second- Jonathan Bernier of Le Journal de Montréal posted an interesting tweet round pick, they had two on Saturday in Chicago, picking 56th and 58th ahead of the draft, noting the Canadiens’ lack of success in previous overall. The 58th pick was acquired from the Washington Capitals last years. Bernier noted that since the 2008 draft, only four players selected summer in exchange for Lars Eller. The Canadiens also received by the Canadiens have gone on to play in 100 or more NHL games. The Washington’s second-round pick at next year’s draft in the Eller deal. four are: Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Nathan Beaulieu and Sven Andrighetto. Anaheim and Ottawa are tied atop of that list with each On Saturday, the Canadiens used the No. 56 pick to select Josh Brook, a team drafting 16 players since 2007 who have gone on to play 100 or 6-foot-1, 191-pound defenceman with the WHL’s . more games in the NHL. With the No. 58 pick, the Canadiens took Joni Ikonen, a 5-foot-11, 177- pound centre with the Frolunda junior team in Sweden. Depuis 2008, 4 joueurs repêchés par le #CH ont joué 100 matchs et plus dans la #LNH. Le nombre de choix par équipe diffère, mais quand Brook was ranked No. 49 among North American skaters by NHL Central même. pic.twitter.com/6nUomF3KLT Scouting in its final rankings, making a jump from No. 75 in the mid-term rankings. In 69 games with Moose Jaw this past season, Brook posted 8- — Jonathan Bernier (@JBernierJDM) June 23, 2017 32-40 totals along with 61 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, Brook was the leading point-getter for the Warriors with 2-5-7 totals in seven games. “This is my 15th year in Montreal,” Timmins told reporters in Chicago on Thursday. “Every day of the 15 years I feel pressure. I came here to win Ikonen was ranked No. 17 among European skaters by Central Scouting a Stanley Cup … I left Ottawa on my own accord. That’s why I’m here. I and posted 22-19-41 totals with 42 penalty minutes in 40 games with want to win a Stanley Cup and do everything that I can to help the team Frolunda. He also played for Finland at the World Under-18 win a Stanley Cup. So do I feel pressure? I sure do, every day I wake Championship, posting 4-4-8 totals in seven games. up.” The Canadiens ended up picking seven players in the seven-round draft: Poehling told reporters Friday night that he had talks with the Canadiens two centres, four defencemen and a goalie. during the NHL Combine and met again with team officials Wednesday, when he also got a chance to speak with Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin. “If we go back in history we got P.K. Subban in the second (round),” Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens’ vice-president of player personnel, said “I think that was really when we started to begin our relationship and I felt when he met with the media Thursday in Chicago. “When I was with like I have a good shot going there,” Poehling said. Ottawa, we got Mike Fisher in the second. We got (Artturi) Lehkonen in the second. So those types of players are available there. “A prestige organization like Montreal, it’s definitely something special,” he added. “You hear so many big names go through that organization. I “Every year the draft differs,” Timmins added. “It’s hard to compare drafts mean even right now: Shea Weber, Carey Price (Alex) Galchenyuk. I and when you look back and say: ‘Well, you didn’t hit on a second-round mean they got a great organization … they have (Max) Pacioretty. They pick that year, or your first pick … late first pick in another year.’ It got great guys … I mean it’s definitely an honour to be part of that depends what other players are there, too. Not every draft is equal in the organization now.” amount of quality prospects available. But we feel confident in this on that there’s quality prospects and we’re excited that we have those two When asked what type of player he is, Poehling said: “I’m for sure a 200- second-round picks.” foot player. I play defence just as hard as I play offence and I think that’s why they respect me. I stay true to the game and I think when you do that The Canadiens also had two third-round picks on Saturday. the game stays true to you and I think that’s a big part of myself. That’s big because when offence maybe isn’t clicking that night you got defence With their first third-round pick (68th overall), the Canadiens took Scott to rely on. I think that’s a big part of me.” Walford, a 6-foot-2, 193-pound defenceman with the WHL’s Victoria Royals. Walford was ranked No. 90 among North American skaters by Poehling added that he can play wing, but is more comfortable at centre. NHL Central Scouting after posting 6-24-30 totals in 60 games with Victoria. “I see myself most productive and helpful at the centre position,” he said. With their second third-round pick (84th overall), the Canadiens took Poehling said he’s working on going more direct toward the net in the Cale Fleury, a 6-foot-2, 199-pound defenceman with the WHL’s offensive zone and that he has been a “pass-first person”, but is trying to Kootenay Ice. Fleury, who is captain of the Ice, posted 11-27-38 totals in get away from that. 70 games this past season. Fleury was the No. 62 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. His brother, Haydn Fleury, is “I watched the playoffs a lot this year and noticed everything on net’s got also a defenceman and was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the a chance to go in,” he said. first round (seventh overall) at the 2014 NHL Draft and spent this past Poehling said his model as a player is centre Ryan O’Reilly of the Buffalo season with the AHL’s , posting 7-19-26 totals in 69 Sabres. games. “You can rely on him if there’s a minute left in the game and you’re up or The Canadiens didn’t have a fourth-round pick, trading it to the Dallas down by a goal,” Poehling said. “So that’s definitely the guy I want to be.” Stars in the Jordie Benn deal this season. With their fifth-round pick (149th overall), the Canadiens took Jarrett Tyszka, a 6-foot-2, 188-pound Montreal Gazette LOADED: 06.25.2017 defenceman with the WHL’s . In 54 games this past season, Tyszka posted 6-19-25 totals. He was ranked No. 41 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The Canadiens didn’t have a pick in the sixth or seventh rounds, but traded their seventh-round pick in 2018 to Philadelphia in exchange for the Flyers’ seventh-round pick Saturday and used the No. 199 overall pick to take goaltender Cayden Primeau from the USHL’s . Primeau, the son of former NHLer Keith Primeau, is a 6-foot-2, 186- pounder and was ranked No. 7 among North American goalies by NHL Central Scouting. He posted a 14-11-1 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and .895 save percentage this past season with Lincoln. Habs’ first-round pick Poehling a 200-foot player 1069123 Nashville Predators Assistant coach search: The Predators are in the midst of their search for a new assistant coach to replace Phil Housley, whom the Buffalo Sabres hired as their head coach June 15. Predators not interested in trading defense to improve roster “We’ve got a list of a few people that we’d like to talk to," Poile said. "While (Laviolette) was here, he talked to three different candidates. When we go back to Nashville, we have our development camp this Adam Vingan week, we’re going to sit down and see if there’s any more people that we’d like to interview and maybe make a decision from there." 9:55 a.m. CT June 24, 2017 Tennessean LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO — The Predators, as evidenced during the past year and a half, are unafraid to make newsworthy trades. Just don’t ask them about their defense. “We’ve traded enough defensemen in my recent history,” Predators general manager said Saturday at the conclusion of the NHL draft. “I think everybody would be pretty much on the same page that our defense drives our team and our corps is as good as any in the league. “We will not be touching our defense in the near future here.” Since January 2016, Nashville has traded defensemen Seth Jones and former captain Shea Weber to Columbus and Montreal for center Ryan Johansen and defenseman P.K. Subban, respectively. The Predators protected their top four defensemen — Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm — in last week’s expansion draft. As a result, the Predators lost veteran forward and nine-time 20-goal scorer James Neal to the Vegas Golden Knights. Neal’s departure removed an offensive threat from the Predators’ lineup and $5 million from their salary cap, leaving the team with roughly $22.7 million in space, according to capfriendly.com. Multiple reports during the weekend linked the Predators to Avalanche center Matt Duchene, who has long been rumored to be available. Colorado, however, reportedly wants an NHL-ready defenseman as part of the return. Poile is confident that the Predators’ young forward depth, which shined during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, can help overcome the loss of Neal’s production, specifically mentioning Pontus Aberg and Kevin Fiala. But Poile still will investigate the trade market, using the draft to initiate discussions. “I think I touched base with just about everybody in the two-and-a-half days that I’ve been here,” Poile said. “I think our team is still pretty good. … If we could get a top-six forward, that would probably be my first choice. “I’m not desperate to say we’ve got to go out and do something specific, but obviously I want to weigh all the different possibilities. There are still some good players out there whose names have been mentioned that could be available in a trade. I’m going to make sure that we put our best foot forward if we think it can improve our hockey club." Free agent market: On Sunday, NHL teams can begin to talk to pending unrestricted free agents throughout the league. The Predators intend to speak to "five or six different players" Sunday, Poile said. Free agency opens July 1. “It’s not maybe as plentiful as past years," Poile said of this summer's free-agent class. "It depends on what you need. If you’re looking for a checker or you’re looking for a fourth-line player, you might be able to find exactly what you want. If you’re looking for somebody that scores 30 Fiddler, Parenteau out: Poile said center Vernon Fiddler and forward P.A. Parenteau won't be returning to the team next season. Both players, acquired in separate trades from the New Jersey Devils this past season, are pending UFAs. The Predators have spoken to pending free-agent forward Harry Zolnierczyk, but Poile said "we haven't had any agreement yet." Ellis, Fisher updates: Poile didn't provide further details on the status of Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis, who played through an injury during the Stanley Cup Final that coach Peter Laviolette previously referred to as "pretty serious." An update is expected next week. Poile said that he will reach out to captain Mike Fisher next week to gauge his interest in returning for an 18th NHL season. Fisher, whose contract expires next week, is considering retirement. 1069124 New Jersey Devils “He has spent 10 years in the league and he’s done a lot already, but it’s hard for me to say that I want to be there right now,” McDavid said of Crosby. “I’ve only been there a year and a half. There’s a lot of steps you N.H.L.’s Connor McDavid, M.V.P. at 20, Is Still Pursuing His Idol have to go through. There’s a lot of different things you have to do. Do you want to get there one day? Obviously.”

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LAS VEGAS — The image marks a single moment in hockey’s long history. A smiling and shaggy-haired Connor McDavid, six weeks removed from his 16th birthday, posing for a photo while standing between the Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and the team owner and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux. Taken after a Penguins home game during the 2012-13 N.H.L. season, the photo has since been viewed widely on the internet. But for McDavid, who captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player Wednesday night at the annual N.H.L. awards show, it was an opportunity to witness in person the standard he wanted to meet in his career. “It was very cool to go meet him,” McDavid said of Crosby. “It’s pretty well known that I looked up to him as a kid.” Now the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and the most decorated young N.H.L. player since Crosby entered the league in 2005, McDavid was completing his first season with the Erie Otters in 2012-13. Back then, the comparisons of his game to Crosby’s were only beginning. Granted exceptional-player status in 2012 by the Ontario Hockey Foundation following a review by Hockey Canada, McDavid was able to enter the Ontario Hockey League at age 15, a year earlier than typically permitted. As a member of the Otters, McDavid made regular trips to Pittsburgh to watch Crosby play. After being picked first on 147 of 167 Hart Trophy ballots this year — Crosby was first on 14 — McDavid became the third player to earn M.V.P. honors before his 21st birthday, after Crosby and Wayne Gretzky. By winning the Hart Trophy as well as the Art Ross Trophy as the N.H.L.’s leading scorer and the Ted Lindsay Award for league M.V.P. as voted by its players, McDavid, at age 20, may have already bridged the gap between himself and his childhood idol. But in the hours before the league’s awards showcase began, McDavid didn’t see a potential Hart victory inching him any closer to Crosby’s legacy. “It’s more about team stuff, and he’s got all that,” McDavid said. “I’m sure personal accolades are nice and you appreciate them very much. But it’s about winning Cups and winning Olympics and winning World Cups and that kind of thing. He’s done it all.” There is one distinction afforded to McDavid that has so far eluded Crosby. Along with the awards he garnered Wednesday night, McDavid was named the cover athlete for the latest iteration of Electronic Arts’ hockey video game franchise. Crosby has never appeared on the game’s cover. For a confessed gamer like McDavid, the honor was almost as humbling as the hardware. At the season’s close, though, the ultimate honor went to Crosby when he lifted the Stanley Cup for the third time and became the third player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff M.V.P. in consecutive years, a feat previously achieved only by Lemieux and Bernie Parent of the Philadelphia Flyers. McDavid didn’t watch any of it; he said he effectively tuned out the playoffs after Edmonton was knocked out in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks. “Once we were eliminated, I kind of went away for a week and didn’t even watch one second,” he said. “I didn’t even know what the scores were. Once I came back, I tried to pay a little bit more attention. At the end of the day, if we didn’t win, I didn’t really care who won.” That McDavid is already being mentioned in the same breath as Crosby, a three-time N.H.L. champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist who turns 30 in August, is no small feat. After a fractured collarbone forced McDavid to miss 37 games as a rookie, his trophy haul rewarded a first full N.H.L. season in which he helped the Oilers end a 10-season playoff drought, the longest in the league. If his breakout season is any indication, McDavid should have plenty of opportunity to at least challenge the considerable standard that the player he grew up admiring has already established. 1069125 New Jersey Devils

2017 NHL Draft: Devils quiet on trade front, add 10 more picks on Day 2

June 24, 2017 at 1:48 PM CHRIS RYAN

Despite entering Day 2 of the NHL Draft with nine picks, the Devils were relatively quiet on the trade front. They did make a late swap, sending the 185th pick to the San Jose Sharks for the 205th and 214th picks, giving the Devils 10 for the day and 11 for the whole Draft. The Devils did make one acquisition one week before the Draft, when they sent second and fourth-round picks to the Sharks for 22-year-old defenseman Mirco Mueller and a fifth-round pick. The Devils used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft on Halifax Mooseheads forward Nico Hischier. The forward edged out Canadian forward Nolan Patrick for the top spot, and now the Devils officially have the prospect they hope will jump start their rebuild. Here is everything you need to know about the newest Devil. After adding forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Reilly Walsh in the third round, plus forward Nikita Popugaev in the fourth round, the Devils added players from every position in the later rounds. They took 21-year-old goalie Gilles Senn in the fifth round before adding Marian Studenic with the 143rd overall pick -- the selection they got from the Sharks in the Mueller trade. With the one sixth-round pick they had left, the Devils drafted center Aarne Talvitie with the 160th pick. Talvitie will play at Penn State next season. They swapped the 185th pick to the Sharks before making their first seventh-round pick at 191st overall, where they selected defenseman Jocktan Chainey. Chainey was a teammate of first overall pick Nico Hischier with the Halifax Mooseheads. The Devils took Russian defenseman Yegor Zaitsev with the 205th pick from the Sharks, and they ended their draft with defenseman Matthew Hellickson with the 214th pick.

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NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2017 NHL Draft: Devils stand pat, add 3 prospects in 3rd and 4th rounds

June 24, 2017 at 12:01 AM CHRIS RYAN

The Devils entered the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft with two picks, and they ended up using both of them. They pick forward Fabian Zetterlund with the 63rd overall pick to start the round, and they added defenseman Reilly Walsh with the 81st pick. The Devils have been known for using their third-round picks to add other assets under GM Ray Shero -- they used a third-round pick (plus a second-round pick) to add forward during the 2015 NHL Draft, and they flipped a third-round pick for forward Beau Bennett in 2016. The debate between Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick is just getting started between the Devils and Flyers. Zetterlund was the second Swedish forward they picked on Saturday after they took center Jesper Boqvist in the second round. Zetterlund gives the Devils another player who could develop into an offensive asset in the coming seasons. New Jersey broke the string of forwards taken when they opted for a defenseman at No. 81, taking Walsh, a high school skater committed to Harvard. He went for 30 goals and 39 assists in 30 high school games at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, and he also posted 10 points in 24 games for the Chicago Steel in the USHL. The Devils took another forward with their only fourth-round pick, going with LW Nikita Popugaev with the 98th selection of the Draft. Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069127 New Jersey Devils

2017 NHL Draft: Devils stand pat, add 3 prospects in 3rd and 4th rounds

June 24, 2017 at 12:01 PM CHRIS RYAN

The Devils entered the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft with two picks, and they ended up using both of them. They pick forward Fabian Zetterlund with the 63rd overall pick to start the round, and they added defenseman Reilly Walsh with the 81st pick. The Devils have been known for using their third-round picks to add other assets under GM Ray Shero -- they used a third-round pick (plus a second-round pick) to add forward Kyle Palmieri during the 2015 NHL Draft, and they flipped a third-round pick for forward Beau Bennett in 2016. The debate between Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick is just getting started between the Devils and Flyers. Zetterlund was the second Swedish forward they picked on Saturday after they took center Jesper Boqvist in the second round. Zetterlund gives the Devils another player who could develop into an offensive asset in the coming seasons. New Jersey broke the string of forwards taken when they opted for a defenseman at No. 81, taking Walsh, a high school skater committed to Harvard. He went for 30 goals and 39 assists in 30 high school games at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, and he also posted 10 points in 24 games for the Chicago Steel in the USHL. The Devils took another forward with their only fourth-round pick, going with LW Nikita Popugaev with the 98th selection of the Draft. Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069128 New Jersey Devils

2017 NHL Draft: Devils pick F Jesper Boqvist with No. 36 pick | Scouting report

June 24, 2017 at 11:30 AM CHRIS RYAN

The Devils picked center Jesper Boqvist with the 36th overall selection -- the fifth pick of the second round -- on Saturday at the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago. The 6-0, 179-pound center skated with Brynas IF in Sweden last season, and he is described as a player with tremendous puck and skating skills. What Nico Hischier wants to improve in his game after being picked No. 1 by the Devils. NHL Central Scouting had him ranked as the No. 10 European skater. Here is the scouting report on Boqvist from NHL.com: "The left-shot forward has great speed with offensive skill. He had 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 19 games with Timra on loan from Brynas in the Swedish Hockey League, where he returned earlier this month. Boqvist (6-0, 179) is a very good skater with good first-step quickness and balance. He's a skilled puck carrier, and effective in traffic." Like many Draft prospects, Boqvist will aim to add size to make the jump to the NHL, but the Devils added another player who could create offense down the line.

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What former Devils think of No. 1 pick Nico Hischier, future of team

June 24, 2017 at 9:24 AM MARK FISCHER

NEWARK -- Fourteen years ago, Grant Marshall made his mark with the Devils after scoring off a rebound in triple overtime to send them to the Eastern Conference Final. The retired right wing reminisced about the 2003 Stanley Cup run, including his game-winner against the Lightning, and the day he was drafted by the Maple Leafs a decade earlier as he took in the scene at the Devils Draft Party Friday night. While the Devils are a ways away from contending for another Stanley Cup, the team took a step in the right direction to get back there after taking Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in the draft. Like many fans on hand, Marshall was leaning toward Hischier over Nolan Patrick. "I think I like Nico more, I think he's a little bit more electric," Marshall said, before adding, "Listen, can we have them both? Guess not. I'll take either one." For months leading up to the draft, NHL pundits debated whether Hischier or Patrick should go first overall. Patrick went second overall to the Philadelphia Flyers, as both teams continue to retool their rosters. Following five straight seasons without playoff hockey, there hasn't been much buzz around the since the Devils made a cinderella-like run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. What Nico Hischier wants to improve in his game after being picked No. 1 by the Devils. But the atmosphere around the arena during the first round of the draft made it seem like better days are ahead for the franchise. "This is just a great experience, to come here, see this event, see the turnout," former captain Bryce Salvador said. "Everyone having a good time for something as special as this. It doesn't happen often, unless you're Edmonton," he added with a smile. The Oilers had the first selection in the draft four times in the past eight seasons, including three in a row from 2010-2012, a streak that began with current Devil going to Edmonton with the top pick. Salvador understands that in order for franchises to have sustained success, they'll have to go through a dark age. "Pittsburgh was really bad for a long time," Salvador said, referencing the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions. "Chicago was really bad for a long time. Los Angeles was bad for a long time. So you have to go through a period of this." Those three teams have combined to win the last six Stanley Cups.

Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069130 NEW JERSEY DEVILS

2017 NHL Draft: Devils quiet on trade front, add 10 more picks on Day 2

June 24, 2017 at 1:48 PM CHRIS RYAN

Despite entering Day 2 of the NHL Draft with nine picks, the Devils were relatively quiet on the trade front. They did make a late swap, sending the 185th pick to the San Jose Sharks for the 205th and 214th picks, giving the Devils 10 for the day and 11 for the whole Draft. The Devils did make one acquisition one week before the Draft, when they sent second and fourth-round picks to the Sharks for 22-year-old defenseman Mirco Mueller and a fifth-round pick. The Devils used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft on Halifax Mooseheads forward Nico Hischier. The forward edged out Canadian forward Nolan Patrick for the top spot, and now the Devils officially have the prospect they hope will jump start their rebuild. Here is everything you need to know about the newest Devil. After adding forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Reilly Walsh in the third round, plus forward Nikita Popugaev in the fourth round, the Devils added players from every position in the later rounds. They took 21-year-old goalie Gilles Senn in the fifth round before adding Marian Studenic with the 143rd overall pick -- the selection they got from the Sharks in the Mueller trade. With the one sixth-round pick they had left, the Devils drafted center Aarne Talvitie with the 160th pick. Talvitie will play at Penn State next season. They swapped the 185th pick to the Sharks before making their first seventh-round pick at 191st overall, where they selected defenseman Jocktan Chainey. Chainey was a teammate of first overall pick Nico Hischier with the Halifax Mooseheads. The Devils took Russian defenseman Yegor Zaitsev with the 205th pick from the Sharks, and they ended their draft with defenseman Matthew Hellickson with the 214th pick. Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069131 New Jersey Devils

The Nico Hischier vs. Nolan Patrick debate is just starting for Devils and Flyers

June 24, 2017 at 6:05 AM CHRIS RYAN

Now that Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick are officially off the board as the top two picks of the 2017 NHL Draft, the debate between the two can stop, right? No, it's just getting started. The toss up between the two as the No. 1 overall pick was settled when the Devils took Hischier first on Friday at the NHL Draft in Chicago, with Patrick going No. 2 to the Flyers. But Patrick's landing spot ensures the debate will rage on. Potentially for years, if not decades. If the two stick with their respective organizations, they will meet at least four times per season while playing about one hour away from each other. What Nico Hischier wants to improve in his game after being picked No. 1 by the Devils. The two did get to know each other throughout the Draft process, and while both made the push for the top pick, they got to know and like each other. "I got to know him better, and he's a great guy, really funny," Hischier said. "I'm really happy for him as well, and he's happy for me." After Devils general manager called Hischier's name from the podium, Patrick congratulated Hischier after he donned the red and black jersey. "I really appreciated it," Hischier said. "Not every guy is doing that." The dynamic will likely shift a bit once they start playing in games against each other, as the Devils and Flyers already have enough tension built up in the rivalry. But for now, Hischier is just relieved to know where he's playing. "I'm really happy to know now where I am and which team I'm on," he said. "Now I can focus on the summer and practice. One thing I know, tonight I really want to enjoy tonight with my family and enjoy the moment." Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069132 New Jersey Devils and athleticism. …” Hischier will take batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. …Sunday is the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers to its restricted free agents. For the Devils, that includes forwards Devils' draft heavy on European forwards Blake Coleman, Blake Pietila, Kevin Rooney, Joseph Blandisi, Beau Bennett, Stefan Noesen, Jacob Josefson and Ben Thomson, defensemen Damon Severson and newly-acquired Mirco Mueller and goalie Scott Wedgewood. Players who are not qualified become Andrew Gross unrestricted free agents. 7:52 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 Bergen Record LOADED: 06.25.2017

It may have looked like a trend. But Devils Director of Amateur Scouting Paul Castron said the team’s run on European forwards on the second day of the NHL Draft at United Center in Chicago was simply the organization following its draft board. After selecting Swiss-born center Nico Hischier with the first overall selection on Friday night – the first time since the team moved to New Jersey in 1982 it had picked first – the Devils selected 10 more prospects as rounds two through seven were conducted on Saturday. Devils' Day 2 of the NHL Draft Hischier not the safer pick, but the one with more upside Hischier 'cannot find the words' after going No. 1 Including Hischier, their first three picks and six of the first eight were European forwards. “I think we got some nice skill,” said Castron of the incoming class that includes six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie, with eight of the players coming from Europe. “It wasn’t by design that we drafted all those Euros, or that we didn’t have any defensemen on the list. It was just how it fell with the team picking ahead of us. We tried to stick as tight to the list as we could.” In all, the Devils selected eight European prospects, two from the U.S. and one from Canada. Picking fifth in the second round, the Devils took 5-foot-11, 165-pound Swedish forward Jesper Boqvist. “Size is not an issue with his speed,” said Castron, emphasizing Boqvist’s skating ability. “He’s going to get stronger. Maybe he’ll put on 10 or 15 pounds but he’s not small by any means.” The Devils used the first selection of the third round on 5-11, 196-pound Swedish forward Fabian Zetterlund. After taking 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman Reilly Walsh of Andover, N.H. with the 81st selection, the Devils selected Russian left wing Nikita Popugaev at No. 98. The 6-6, 202-pound Popugaev, who played Canadian junior hockey last season in the Western Hockey League was scouted as having first-round talent. However, he slipped to the fourth round because of concerns about his consistency, particularly in how he competes. “He was rated for the first round and he’s got a great shot,” Caston said. “But 31 teams passed on this kid for three rounds. Give him credit for coming over here [to North America] and trying to adjust. He speaks English. He probably got a bad rap for not working as hard as he could or competing consistently but he’s still a kid. Our job is to develop that part of his game. “The bottom line is that sometimes guys have to fail before they can succeed,” Castron added. “Maybe this will be a wake-up call for him, ‘Holy cow, I was supposed to be a first-round pick at the beginning of the year and I go 100th? Maybe I do have to make some changes to my game.’” Gilles Senn of Switzerland was the lone goalie taken by the Devils, going at No. 129. Senn is 21 rather than the usual draft age of 18 and has played in the Swiss-A League the past four seasons. The Devils’ other picks were Slovakian right wing Marian Studenic at No. 143, Finnish forward Aarne Talvitie at No. 160, defenseman Jocktan Chainey, a teammate of Hischier’s with Halifax (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) at No. 191, Russian defenseman Yegor Zaitsev – not related to Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev – at No. 205 and defenseman Matthew Hellickson of St. Louis Park., Minn. at No. 214. General manager Ray Shero completed one trade on the day, shipping pick No. 185 to the Sharks for Nos. 205 and 214. BRIEFS: Hischier was honored with the E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence, presented annually to a “candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness 1069133 New Jersey Devils

Rangers pick up extra draft pick and a ton of forwards

Brett Cyrgalis June 24, 2017 | 5:17PM

CHICAGO — At least Jeff Gorton was self-aware of how these draft recaps go. “We always come here and tell you we got all our guys,” the Rangers general manager said Saturday at United Center after Rounds 2-7 were completed. “So that’s what I’m going to tell you.” His Blueshirts had two first-round picks Friday and completed their draft Saturday with five more picks, eventually taking five forwards and two defensemen. First, they traded their top slot No. 102, to the Sharks to obtain Nos. 123 and 174. With 123, they took 20-year-old defenseman Brandon Crawley, who played with the London Knights of the OHL this past season, ranking second among the league’s defensemen in plus-minus rating (plus-55) after helping them win the Memorial Cup in 2015-16. Crawley is 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, and is a native of Glen Rock, N.J. With pick No. 145 they took Swedish defenseman Calle Sjalin, 17, who led junior players of his Swedish league in points this past season. In the sixth round they took forward Czech forward Dominik Lakatos, and with their second pick in the round, they took forward Morgan Barron, from St. Andrew’s College, who is committed to Cornell next season. Their final pick in the seventh round was Patrik Virta, a 21-year-old Finn who won the Saku Koivu Award as the best forward in the Finnish Elite League. After having no first-round picks, the Islanders had five selections in Rounds 2-7, starting things off with Finnish 18-year-old Robin Salo — to relation to former NHLer Tommy Salo — in the second round (46th overall). Salo was second on his team among defenseman with 15 assists, and he won a gold medal at the Under-18 World Junior Championships in 2016. With pick No. 77, they took Benjamin Mirageas, an 18-year-old defenseman from Massachusetts playing in the USHL who is committed to play at Providence next season. At No. 139, they took Sebastian Aho — no, not the Hurricanes player who was in the Calder Trophy conversation this season. Aho is a 21-year-old Swedish defenseman. The Isles finished things off by taking 18-year-old defenseman out of the QMJHL Arnaud Durandeau and 18-year-old American Logan Cockerill, who is committed to play at Boston University next season. The Devils finished their draft off with 10 picks, starting with forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Reilly Walsh in the third round. They added forward Nikita Popugaev in the fourth round, goalie Gilles Senn and Marian Studenic in the fifth round. They took Penn State-bound center Aarne Talvitie in the sixth round, and then added Hischier’s teammate from Halifax, defenseman Jocktan Chainey with No. 191 overall. They finished things off with two seventh- round picks, Yegor Zaitsev and Matthew Hellickson. New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069134 New York Islanders

Islanders trade Travis Hamonic to Flames for draft picks

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS STAFF Saturday, June 24, 2017, 8:54 PM

The Islanders traded defenseman Travis Hamonic, their second round pick of the 2008 draft, to the Calgary Flames on Day 2 of the NHL draft Saturday. The Islanders received first and second-round picks next year and a second-round pick in 2019 or 2020. The 26-year-old Hamonic, who made his NHL debut in 2010 and had spent his entire career with the Islanders, had three goals and 11 assists in 49 games last season. He played 444 games in seven seasons as an Islander, scoring 26 goals and totaling 120 assists. “This was a situation that we felt we could capitalize on bringing in some assets, whether we use those in the future in the draft or use them as currency in a future player transaction,” Islanders GM Garth Snow said, according to Yahoo! Sports. “That’s a good luxury for our organization to have.” Calgary also acquired a fourth-round pick in 2019 or 2020 from New York. The Islanders fell short of the playoffs after a first-round victory the previous season. New York Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069135 New York Islanders New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017

Isles ship out Travis Hamonic with another big move on tap

Brett Cyrgalis June 24, 2017 | 12:24PM

CHICAGO — There is no more hollow talk from the Islanders about trying to win now. Instead, they spent draft weekend making big moves and preparing themselves to make more in the coming days. General manager Garth Snow completed his second blockbuster trade on Saturday, sending heart-and-soul defenseman Travis Hamonic, along with a conditional fourth-round pick in either 2019 or 2020, to the Flames in exchange for a first-round pick in 2018, a second-round pick in 2019 and another conditional second-round pick in either 2019 or 2020. The condition is based on if the Flames make the playoffs in 2019, then a trade already in place has their second-round pick that year going to the Coyotes. So if that happens, the Islanders would get their 2020 second- rounder, and the Flames would get the Isles’ 2019 fourth-rounder. If they don’t make the playoffs that year, it would be reversed. Snow already made waves on Thursday by trading Ryan Strome to the Oilers in exchange for talented winger Jordan Eberle. By shipping off the 26-year-old Hamonic, Snow cleared an annual $3.857 million salary-cap hit over the next three seasons and stockpiled more picks that he doesn’t seem intent on sitting on. “Definitely look to improve the club,” Snow said Saturday afternoon at United Center during Rounds 2-7 of the draft. “It takes some time to build up a prospect pool, draft picks, in order for the organization to be sustainable for the short and long terms. I think we’re at that point. I think the luxury now to use is currency to improve our club for the near future.” That would turn all eyes to the two most coveted forwards available: Matt Duchene of the Avalanche and Alex Galchenyuk of the Canadiens. Both are very talented and experienced, and both absolutely would help the club in the short term. A move also would give the Islanders a little more stability going into the opening of free agency on July 1. “I don’t envision anything happening here in the next two days, but that can change,” Snow said. “We have a good hockey team, we have a team that’s built for now and for the future. When you look at our prospects and our draft picks, we also have the ability to use some of those assets to bring in a player to improve our club.” All of this adds intrigue to the situation swirling around the contract extension talks with captain John Tavares, who is set to be a free agent after this coming season and can sign an extension starting July 1. If Tavares left, it would crush the organization, and it seems he is waiting to see how the team is shaking out before committing to a long-term deal. “We think the world of him,” Snow said of his captain. “We want him to retire as an Islander.” Of course, to get to this point, Snow had to make a difficult decision in trading Hamonic, a homegrown player who he said was like “a little brother.” Harmonic had been an alternate captain and one of the strongest voices in the locker room since the Isles took him with their second-round pick (No. 53 overall) in the 2008 draft. He also won the NHL Foundation Award this year, presented to the player “who applies the core values of hockey — commitment, perseverance and teamwork — to enrich the lives of the people in the community.” At this time last year, Hamonic had asked the Islanders for a trade to be closer to his hometown of Winnipeg. He then rescinded the request and played out the season, but it was clear that if it was possible, he still wanted to be closer to his family. “I’m not going to speak for Travis, we’ve talked a lot. Those will remain between Travis and myself,” Snow said. “I think he’s in a good place to play, for his family, and the Islanders got a solid return. So I think it’s a win-win for both teams.” Snow also was confident in his group of young defensemen, including Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, both of whom he protected in the expansion draft earlier in the week. But losing Hamonic means there is a big piece of the Islanders missing, and now it’s on Snow to make the deal worth it. “This was a situation where we felt we could capitalize on some assets we can use in the future in a draft, or use them in a currency in a future player transaction,” Snow said. “That is a luxury our organization has.” 1069136 New York Islanders On the day of Game 1 of the Cup final, Gary Bettman said the offside coach’s challenge had worked “exactly as intended” during its first year of operation, which is tantamount to suggesting the Rangers’ defense What would Rangers give up for a top-pair defenseman? against the extra attacker had worked “exactly as intended” against the Senators.

Three weeks later, though, the commissioner apparently changed his Larry Brooks mind, for we’re told it is Bettman who is the driving force to assess teams with minor penalties rather than with a timeout for incorrect offside June 24, 2017 | 9:13PM challenges. It is a suggestion as idiotic as the concept of the offside challenge itself. Linesmen more often than not cannot be sure whether infractions I don’t believe Alain Vigneault should feel threatened by Lindy Ruff’s occurred after four or five minutes of studying video, but coaches are anticipated, if not imminent, addition to the coaching staff in place of Jeff now charged with having to be sure in the 30 seconds or so after a goal Beukeboom, but it also would be silly not to infer Ruff would be next in is scored? line when a change at the top ultimately is made. Safe apparently will continue to mean death in Columbus. For after It is always a matter of “when” — isn’t it? — but don’t forget it was only a acquiring world-class skill forward Artemi Panarin from Chicago in few months ago ownership extended the Rangers head coach’s contract exchange for Brandon Saad, who somehow spent a fair amount of time through 2019-20. Adding Ruff’s veteran eyes to the staff only can bolster on coach John Tortorella’s fourth line, the Jackets are expected to be all the Blueshirts’ decision-making process on and off the ice. in on Kovalchuk, too. And Vigneault, who met with Ruff, is an enthusiastic supporter of the We’re told Bettman was needed to intervene in the discussions between move. owner Andrew Barroway and outgoing coach Dave Tippett, who With Derek Stepan’s trade following Dan Girardi’s buyout, Vigneault has apparently agreed to leave up to $10 million on the table to secure his lost both the center and right defenseman he relentlessly matched exit. against opponents’ top lines. At the moment, there is no one on the It was just a year ago that Tippett was able to use his influence with the roster to fill either void. then-majority ownership to force GM Don Maloney out the door. The Blueshirts, we understand, did attempt to deal with Dallas to move As sand through the hourglass, shifting winds, and all that. up to the three-hole in the draft, where they presumably would have selected dynamic defenseman Cale Makar, but could not pull it off. What does 30-year-old T.J. Oshie’s eight-year, $46 million contract extension mean? It means he will become a Washington amnesty buyout I left the season with the sense the Blueshirts likely would have to deal following Owners’ Lockout IV. J.T. Miller or in order to get a top-pair right defenseman, and later thought Stepan might be enough to do the trick, but his contract New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 proved to be a non-starter for everyone other than the Coyotes. So now we’re back to square one: Would — or could — the team sacrifice one of its top two young guns up front to get a top-pair defenseman? And with questions down the middle, would it be at all wise to even consider dealing Miller, who might be called upon to move to center, if not to start the year, then in case of injury? Ch-ch-changes: Including Kevin Klein, just 10 players from the 2015 Presidents’ Trophy winners remain on the Blueshirts’ roster. It is unknown whether Joe Thornton — who underwent postseason surgery to repair the torn left MCL and ACL, through which he played the final four games of the playoffs — would have any interest in coming to New York to hook up with his buddy, and one-time Team Canada linemate, Rick Nash on a one-year commitment if he leaves San Jose after 12 seasons. But expect general manager Jeff Gorton to check in on the impending free-agent center, who will turn 38 on July 2. There is no one with more pressure to step up his game in the wake of Stepan’s departure than . It is likely an unpopular opinion and perhaps a far-fetched option if New Jersey GM Ray Shero attempts to hold up the Rangers for ransom, but I would love to see Ilya Kovalchuk wearing the Blueshirt next year, and beyond. For not only do the Rangers lack a first-line center and first-pair right D (and will lack a top-four right D if they cannot keep Brendan Smith), they lack a game-changer and game-breaker. Kovalchuk would take care of that. At the end of the day, the Islanders effectively traded Travis Hamonic, Ryan Strome, Mikhail Grabovski, Jake Bischer, J-F Berube, a first- rounder this year and a fourth-rounder down the line in exchange for Jordan Eberle, a first next year, a second in two years and a net gain of $5.357 million in cap space. Which leaves GM Garth Snow still with oodles of assets to wheel for immediate aid and comfort for John Tavares, who is proving to be one of the most loyal and patient players in pro sports. Is it worth mentioning (again) that Snow used his fifth-overall on Strome (who went to Edmonton for Eberle) in 2011 when Mark Scheifele, Sean Couturier, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Brodin were on the board and that the GM used his fourth overall on Griffin Reinhart (who previously went to the Oilers for a first and second) in 2012 when , Hampus Lindholm, Matt Dumba, Jacob Trouba and Filip Forsberg were there for the taking? Nah. 1069137 New York Islanders

Islanders make 5 Day 2 picks in NHL Draft

June 24, 2017 6:30 PM Arthur Staple

CHICAGO — These are the selections the Islanders made Saturday on the second day of the NHL Draft: From Isles head scout Vellu Kautonen: Salo is “a solid, two-way defenseman that’s very smart with and without the puck. Good puck mover, good first pass, has some offense too. Kind of a limited role in the Finnish League this year but that’s normal because he’s a young player in a pro league. Can be used in all situations.” Ben Mirageas, defenseman, Chicago (USHL) No. 77, 3rd round. 6-1, 180. Born: May 8, 1999, Newburyport, Mass. Stats: 59 games, 2 goals, 17 assists for Bloomington and Chicago Kautonen’s take: “Similar type of player to Salo, two-way defenseman from the USHL. Not as offensive as Salo, but very reliable in the defensive zone. Very strong in one on one battles.” Headed to Providence College in the fall. Sebastian Aho, defenseman, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden) No. 139, 5th round. 5-10, 165. Born: Feb. 17, 1996, Umea, Sweden Stats: 50 games, 10 goals, 20 assists for Skelleftea Kautonen’s take: “We have followed him for 3-4 years now and he really had a breakthrough in the Swedish League this year. Thirty points in 50 games as a defenseman, played I think 12 games with the national team. He’s somebody who can definitely start right away in Bridgeport.” Arnaud Durandeau, left wing, Halifax (QMJHL) No. 165, 6th round (from Kings). 5-11, 183. Born: Jan. 14, 1999, Beaconsfield, Que. Stats: 64 games, 15 goals, 26 assists Linemate of No. 1 pick Nico Hischier, Isles traded into this slot to grab him. Logan Cockerill, left wing, U.S. National Development Program

No. 201, 7th round. 5-8, 165. Born: Mar. 3, 1999, Brighton, Mich. Stats: 16 games, 4 goals, 6 assists Speedy, small winger who is committed to attend Boston University in the fall. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069138 New York Islanders

Isles trade Travis Hamonic to Calgary for future draft picks

June 25, 2017 12:42 AM Arthur Staple

CHICAGO — The Islanders sent Travis Hamonic to Calgary for first- round and second-round picks in next year’s draft on Saturday, finishing off a busy draft week with a moderately revamped roster and a few more future assets in the bank should general manager Garth Snow look to further add to his team before next season. Hamonic was rumored to be on the move all week, even as he accepted the NHL Foundation Player award in Las Vegas on Wednesday for his charity work during seven seasons with the Islanders. The 26-year-old defenseman has been a heart-and-soul player during his 444 games with the team and endured a personal roller-coaster in 2016-17, when he requested a trade to be closer to his Winnipeg home to deal with a family issue and then rescinded the request after the season. “Just a first-class player, a first-class person,” Snow said. “These deals are always tough to do because there’s an emotional element to how he is in our community, in the locker room. It’s a move we’re willing to make because of the depth on our blue line. I think he’s in a good place to play, for his family. And the Islanders got a solid return.” With three years left on Hamonic’s contract at a modest $3.857-million cap hit, the Islanders opened up some precious cap space and the Flames were giddy about adding Hamonic to a top-four defense that includes Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie and Dougie Hamilton. In comments to the Flames’ website, Hamonic also sounded giddy. Sources had said he was resigned to moving on from the Islanders. “I’m really excited,” Hamonic said. “I have a pretty awesome opportunity in front of me. We were kind of in limbo wondering if it happened or not, and then we found out and we’re all pretty excited about going to Calgary, to say the least. That’s an understatement. We’re pret ty jacked up.” After wheeling the Isles’ first-round pick and Mikhail Grabovski’s $5- million cap hit to Vegas to keep the from selecting an Islanders regular on Wednesday, Snow sent Ryan Strome to the Oilers for proven scorer Jordan Eberle on Thursday, setting the stage for a Hamonic move as the draft unfolded. Snow had an offer out to the Avalanche, with Hamonic and the Islanders’ 2018 first-round pick as part of a package for Matt Duchene, while at the same time shopping Hamonic to defense-hungry teams such as the Flames and Maple Leafs for an asking price of two first-round picks. Those were two very different paths Snow was staring down. Avalanche GM Joe Sakic balked at a Duchene move, as he has for months. The Flames and Leafs balked at Snow’s asking price as Friday night’s first round unfolded, with Toronto reportedly offering a package that included forward James van Riems dyk and a 2018 first-round pick. But Snow went exclusively with futures to keep that cap space open — the Islanders have roughly $9 million in space right now, with restricted free agent Calvin de Haan needing a new deal — and keep the Isles’ options open should Duchene not be moved elsewhere. Two league sources said Pat Brisson, Duchene’s agent (also the agent for John Tavares), is seriously unhappy with Sakic’s foot-dragging on a deal. That could lead to a reduced price tag later on should Snow still be interested. For now, he seemed quite happy with his team’s situation. “Over the course of the last few days, five days, there was a few different scenarios where it was about potential players coming in or draft picks. We weighed what the best deal was for our team and we pulled the trigger,” Snow said of the Hamonic trade. “It’s going to give some of our younger D an opportunity to get some playing time. We’re really confident in that position moving forward. “This was a situation we felt we could capitalize on bringing in some assets, whether we use those in the future in a draft or use those as currency in a future player transaction. It’s a good luxury for our organization to have.” Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069139 New York Rangers After taking the Swiss center Nico Hischier with the top overall pick on Friday, the Devils chose five forwards, four defensemen and a goaltender on Saturday. Three of them were taken in the seventh round. Islanders, in Revamp Mode, Send Travis Hamonic to the Flames On Saturday, Hischier, 18, received the N.H.L.’s E. J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which recognizes an outstanding draft prospect based on his personal traits as well as his athletic skills. The previous two No. 1 overall ALLAN KREDA and JEFF ARNOLD picks, Connor McDavid of the Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, have risen to instant stardom. On Wednesday, Matthews JUNE 24, 2017 was named the league’s rookie of the year, and McDavid was named the most valuable player.

Ray Shero, the Devils’ general manager, said late Friday that Hischier CHICAGO — The Islanders continued to overhaul their roster on would be given every opportunity to earn a roster spot in training camp Saturday, trading defenseman Travis Hamonic to the Calgary Flames for but that the team would not rush him along. three high draft picks. “It will be apparent to us and probably to him where his game is,” Shero Hamonic, 26, has played his entire seven-year N.H.L. career with the said. “But at the same time, he’s a real good player. He’s certainly got the Islanders. He has 26 goals and 120 assists over 444 games. Two smarts, he’s got size to make it and that’s where we want to go.” seasons ago, he said he wanted to be traded closer to his family’s home near Winnipeg, Manitoba, but he decided to stay with the Islanders. In the second round, the Devils added the Swedish forward Jesper Boqvist. Then they took forward Fabian Zetterlund, also of Sweden, and The Islanders received Calgary’s first- and second-round picks in next defenseman Reilly Walsh of the junior-league Chicago Steel in the third year’s draft, as well as a second-round choice in either 2019 or 2020. round. The Russian forward Nikita Popugaev was taken in the fourth; the The Islanders sent a fourth-round pick in either 2019 or 2020 to the Swiss goaltender Gilles Senn and the Slovakian forward Marian Studenic Flames. in the fifth; the Finnish forward Aarne Talvitie in the sixth; and three The Islanders have Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, two 22-year-old defensemen in the seventh: Jocktan Chainey of Canada, Yegor Zaitsev defensemen who seem ready to assume larger roles. The hard-shooting of Russia and Matthew Hellickson of Minnesota. Pulock, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, spent most of last season Other notable picks on Saturday included Matthew Strome, a scoring with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn., forward from Hamilton of the Ontario Hockey League, who was taken by while Pelech played 44 games for the Islanders. the Philadelphia Flyers in the fourth round. The Islanders chose his “It’s a move we are willing to make because of the great depth on the brother Ryan as the fifth overall pick in 2011. Another brother, Dylan, was blue line,” said Garth Snow, the Islanders’ general manager. “We got a taken third over all by the Coyotes in 2015. solid return. It’s a win-win for both teams.” In the sixth round, Edmonton selected Skyler Brind’Amour. His father, The trade continued a busy week for the Islanders, who narrowly missed Rod, played 1,484 games over 20 seasons in the N.H.L., with the Flyers, the playoffs last season after having reached the postseason in three of the St. Louis Blues and the Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Stanley the previous four years. Cup in 2006 with him as their captain. On Thursday, they sent forward Ryan Strome to the Edmonton Oilers for New York Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 Jordan Eberle in a trade of scoring forwards, and on Wednesday they shipped the injured forward Mikhail Grabovski and his $5 million salary- cap hit to the Vegas Golden Knights. In that deal, they also gave up defenseman Jake Bischoff, this year’s first-round draft pick and a second-round pick in 2019. In return, the Golden Knights agreed to select the Islanders’ backup goaltender J. F. Berube in the expansion draft rather than other unprotected players. The Islanders now can work toward re-signing their captain, John Tavares, who is entering the final year of his six-year contract. Snow said that trading Hamonic, whom the Islanders drafted in 2008, had been difficult because of his charity work and his connection to the fan base. “He’s a first-class player and first-class person,” Snow said of Hamonic. “There is an emotional factor to it, especially when you are dealing with good people. At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for the hockey club.” The Islanders selected the Finnish defenseman Robin Salo with their second-round pick on Saturday, then added defenseman Benjamin Mirageas, who will play at Providence College next season, in the third round. Next came the Swedish defenseman Sebastian Aho in the fifth round, and then two forwards — Arnaud Durandeau from Halifax of the Quebec League in the sixth round and Logan Cockerill of Michigan in the seventh. After taking forwards Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil with their two first- round picks on Friday, the Rangers did not have another selection until Saturday’s fourth round, when they took defenseman Brandon Crawley. He is a 20-year-old blue line player from Glen Rock, N.J., who played the last three seasons with the London Knights. The Rangers followed with Swedish defenseman Calle Sjalin in the fifth round, forwards Morgan Barron of Canada and Dominik Lakatos of the Czech Republic in the sixth and Patrik Virta of Finland in the seventh. After trading Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, the Rangers have about $20 million in salary-cap space ahead of the free-agency period, which begins on July 1. “It’s flexibility that we have. There’s opportunities that we have to make our team better,” Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton said. “And we can listen to some things that maybe we weren’t able to listen to a few days ago.” 1069140 New York Rangers

Lindy Ruff may join Rangers as assistant coach, Jeff Beukeboom to take another job with team

JUSTIN TASCH Saturday, June 24, 2017, 7:52 PM

After one season as an assistant coach for the club, former Ranger Jeff Beukeboom won’t return behind the bench for next season. GM Jeff Gorton told reporters in Chicago that Beukeboom will remain with the organization in a different, yet-to-be-defined role. Earlier this month a Sportsnet report indicated the Rangers were interested in bringing in Lindy Ruff for an assistant-coaching role. Ruff just finished a four-year run as the Dallas Stars head coach. At the end of the season, with Ruff’s four-year contract expiring, the Stars announced Ruff wouldn’t return after they finished with 79 points and missed the playoffs. The year before Dallas won the Central and lost in the second round. Ruff coached the Sabres for 14-plus seasons and was fired during the 2012-13 campaign. Ruff was linked to the Rangers’ head-coaching job at the end of that season when John Tortorella was fired before ultimately the Rangers hired Alain Vigneault and Ruff ended up in Dallas. FAST MOVING Gorton told reporters he hopes to get a deal done “rather soon” with restricted free agent Jesper Fast, and with fellow RFA Mika Zibanejad he’s not looking for a specific contract length. “We’re open to anything as far as Mika. We want to make a good deal.” Gorton said. “It could be short-term, it could be long-term. We’re wide open.” DRAFT DAY The Rangers made five selections Saturday during the second and final day of the NHL Draft in Chicago. They began the day by trading their fourth-round pick, No. 102 overall (previously acquired from Florida) to San Jose for the No. 123 pick (fourth round) and the No. 174 pick (sixth round.) Here are their picks: Jesper Fast. 4th round, No. 123: Brandon Crawley, 20, defenseman, London (OHL); Glen Rock, N.J. 5th round, No. 145: Calle Sjalin, 17, defenseman, Ostersund (); Ostersund, Sweden 6th round, No. 157: Dominik Lakatos, 20, center, Liberec (Czech); Liberec, Czech Republic 6th round, No. 174: Morgan Barron, 18, center, St. Andrews College (CISAA); Halifax, Nova Scotia (Committed to Cornell for 2017-18.) 7th round, No. 207: Patrik Virta, 21, center, TPS (Liiga); Hameenlinna, Finland Friday night the Rangers made two first-round picks: Center Lias Andersson (No. 7) and center Filip Chytil (No. 21.) New York Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069141 New York Rangers

Rangers pick up extra draft pick and a ton of forwards

Brett Cyrgalis June 24, 2017 | 5:17PM

CHICAGO — At least Jeff Gorton was self-aware of how these draft recaps go. “We always come here and tell you we got all our guys,” the Rangers general manager said Saturday at United Center after Rounds 2-7 were completed. “So that’s what I’m going to tell you.” His Blueshirts had two first-round picks Friday and completed their draft Saturday with five more picks, eventually taking five forwards and two defensemen. First, they traded their top slot No. 102, to the Sharks to obtain Nos. 123 and 174. With 123, they took 20-year-old defenseman Brandon Crawley, who played with the London Knights of the OHL this past season, ranking second among the league’s defensemen in plus-minus rating (plus-55) after helping them win the Memorial Cup in 2015-16. Crawley is 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, and is a native of Glen Rock, N.J. With pick No. 145 they took Swedish defenseman Calle Sjalin, 17, who led junior players of his Swedish league in points this past season. In the sixth round they took forward Czech forward Dominik Lakatos, and with their second pick in the round, they took forward Morgan Barron, from St. Andrew’s College, who is committed to Cornell next season. Their final pick in the seventh round was Patrik Virta, a 21-year-old Finn who won the Saku Koivu Award as the best forward in the Finnish Elite League. After having no first-round picks, the Islanders had five selections in Rounds 2-7, starting things off with Finnish 18-year-old Robin Salo — to relation to former NHLer Tommy Salo — in the second round (46th overall). Salo was second on his team among defenseman with 15 assists, and he won a gold medal at the Under-18 World Junior Championships in 2016. With pick No. 77, they took Benjamin Mirageas, an 18-year-old defenseman from Massachusetts playing in the USHL who is committed to play at Providence next season. At No. 139, they took Sebastian Aho — no, not the Hurricanes player who was in the Calder Trophy conversation this season. Aho is a 21-year-old Swedish defenseman. The Isles finished things off by taking 18-year-old defenseman out of the QMJHL Arnaud Durandeau and 18-year-old American Logan Cockerill, who is committed to play at Boston University next season. The Devils finished their draft off with 10 picks, starting with forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Reilly Walsh in the third round. They added forward Nikita Popugaev in the fourth round, goalie Gilles Senn and Marian Studenic in the fifth round. They took Penn State-bound center Aarne Talvitie in the sixth round, and then added Hischier’s teammate from Halifax, defenseman Jocktan Chainey with No. 191 overall. They finished things off with two seventh- round picks, Yegor Zaitsev and Matthew Hellickson. New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069142 New York Rangers New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017

The next steps Rangers should take now that Derek Stepan’s gone

Larry Brooks June 24, 2017 | 3:57am

The last thing the Rangers should do and the last thing the Rangers intend to do is to leap head-first into the free-agent pool and dole out the kinds of long-term, big-money contracts to players on the wrong side of 26 years of age that have handcuffed this franchise the past two seasons. The temptation and the cap space in the wake of Derek Stepan’s departure to the desert are both there, all right, for general manager Jeff Gorton to outbid the world and grant defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and center Alexander Radulov lengthy deals for $40 million plus. But that would be all wrong for this franchise, which is kind of mystery meat at the moment. This is the time for Gorton to take a deep breath and etch a plan for the future through which the Blueshirts retain maximum maneuverability and are not caught with guys who can be expected to naturally regress three or four years into their respective contracts. The Rangers just escaped cap hell in a painful process in which they essentially were forced to shed Stepan and Dan Girardi, franchise bedrocks who became contract anvils. They are not going to take the immediate plunge back into it by signing Shattenkirk, whom they have had repeated opportunities to acquire over the past 15 months, or Radulov. Gorton tried to get a top defenseman for Stepan. He talked and talked and talked. But the market never developed for this estimable veteran who was at the heart of the team’s considerable success over the past six seasons. The combination of the center’s $6.5 million cap hit for another four seasons plus the no-trade clause that would have kicked in July 1 created a buzz-saw effect that left Gorton with what became no choice other than to take the lone legitimate offer that came his way, even if it also cost Antti Raanta. The core took the Rangers as far as it could. There were good times, too. The past six years, which featured three trips to the conference finals, one trip to the Stanley Cup final and one Presidents’ Trophy, might look like nirvana measured against what could be ahead. But it was time and everyone knows it and everyone in the room knew it on breakup day following the dispiriting Round 2 loss to the Senators. Lias Andersson, the Swedish center the club snatched Friday with the seventh-overall pick in the draft — and whose dad, Niklas, was a teammate of Henrik Lundqvist’s with Frolunda — could compete for a job, but surely won’t fill the role as 1A/1B that Stepan did. And Anthony DeAngelo, the 21-year-old skill defenseman who also came in the deal, will be in the mix for a spot, but surely won’t be a top-pair guy. We have talked about the Rangers’ vanilla flavor that might have become a detriment. Well, DeAngelo is the antithesis of that. Already on his third organization in three pro seasons after going 19th overall to Tampa Bay in 2014, the New Jersey native was suspended for three games for abuse of an official last year as a Coyote, as he was once in junior league. But that’s a mere footnote compared to his two suspensions in 2014 for violating the OHL policy “to keep homophobic, racist and sexist language out of the game,” for, we’re told by an individual familiar with the cases, using race-based language. His Twitter feed is filled with tweets supporting Donald Trump and his agenda and, during the campaign, attacking Hillary Clinton. Management did its due diligence, but who knows what we’re getting here? Probably not milk and cookies, though. The Blueshirts have approximately $20 million in cap space that will increase to nearly $23 million once Kevin Klein is off the roster by hook or crook. The Rangers still have to sign impending Group II free agents Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast, and they are talking with impending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Brendan Smith. There are holes all over the place. But that doesn’t mean they have to or should go down the rabbit hole again on long-term deals for guys whose best days are behind them. In fact, they can’t. And it says here that they won’t. 1069143 New York Rangers

Rangers shake up coaching staff and gain a lot of experience

Brett Cyrgalis June 24, 2017 | 5:45PM

CHICAGO — Now that the NHL draft is over, the Rangers can focus internally, and that’s starting with a change in the coaching staff. First-year assistant Jeff Beukeboom will no longer hold that job next season, and all signs are pointing to veteran headman Lindy Ruff taking over the defensive responsibilities, if not more. Because the deal with Ruff was not completed, general manager Jeff Gorton would not confirm the new hire. But he would confirm that Beukeboom is not leaving the Rangers organization, just shifting roles. “We met with Jeff and we agreed on both sides to offer him another job,” Gorton said on Saturday afternoon at United Center, where rounds 2-7 of the draft took place. “He wanted to do something else, so we’re going to put him in another role. It’s yet to be defined, but he’s definitely going to be part of the Rangers going forward. As far as his replacement, that’s ongoing, trying to figure that out now.” This was Beukeboom’s first year behind the Rangers bench after a stellar career as a Rangers defenseman and four years as an assistant with AHL Hartford. Ruff spent 15 years as the coach of the Sabres and four with the Stars before being fired after this past season. He would certainly bring more experience to the staff, and head coach Alain Vigneault is obviously quite secure in his job to bring on such a big name in support. “It’s always nice to have experience,” Gorton said. “[Beukeboom] had plenty of experience, but it’s just a mutual thing, and I think we have a better role for him right now. As we move forward, who replaces him, if he’s going to be experienced or not, we’ll see. We’ll talk to some people and hopefully have some results soon.” As far as the Rangers’ big two remaining restricted free agents, forwards Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast, Gorton said he is working on getting both signed — with Zibanejad’s deal possibly waiting to see what the market bears. “We’re open to anything as far as Mika,” Gorton said. “We want to make a good deal. It could be short term, it could be long term; we’re wide open. I’ve had conversations with [his agents]. I think we’ll see how the market plays out a little bit and then we’ll go from there.” The discussions with Fast seem closer to getting done, with Gorton saying he would “like to have something done relatively soon.” The expansion draft that happened Wednesday kind of threw a wrench into negotiations, and Fast held some leverage with a certain amount of players needing to be exposed to the Vegas Golden Knights. “In some cases, it’s whether they’re more attractive with a contract or not to another team, like Vegas,” Gorton said. “Those are questions we ask. Jesper has been a good Ranger, and hopefully we get it done soon.” Veteran defenseman Kevin Klein is contemplating retirement, still with one year on his deal that carries a $2.9 million salary-cap hit. Gorton said he spoke to Klein recently, but all they decided was that they would talk again soon. “I don’t really have an update,” Gorton said. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.” The Rangers need a backup goalie, but impressive 21-year-old Russian prospect Igor Shestyorkin is not in the mix. He is still under contract in the KHL for the next two years, a deal that Gorton called “pretty iron clad.” New York Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069144 New York Rangers

Rangers giving Jeff Beukeboom another job; Lindy Ruff might step in

June 24, 2017 5:07 PM Steve Zipay

CHICAGO — The Rangers not only are changing on the ice this offseason, but behind the bench. Assistant coach Jeff Beukeboom, the former Rangers defenseman who was added last summer to oversee the defense on head coach Alain Vigneault’s staff, has been offered another position with the club, general manager Jeff Gorton said Saturday. It is widely believed that former Buffalo Sabres and Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff will step in, but no official announcement has been made. “We met with Jeff, and we agreed on both sides to offer him another job, he wanted to do something else and we’re going to put him in another role, yet to be defined,” said Gorton. “As far as his replacement, it’s ongoing, we’re trying to figure that out right now. There’s rumors, but we don’t have the answer yet, hopefully soon.” Ruff, 59, who could not be reached for comment, has not been an NHL assistant since 1996 with the Florida Panthers before going to Buffalo where he was the head coach until 2013. He then coached in Dallas for four years, but was fired at the end of last season. He is fifth on the NHL all-time list with 736 wins and fourth in games coached at 1,493. He also played three seasons for the Rangers from 1988 through 1991. “It’s always nice to have experience,’’ Gorton acknowledge when asked about Ruff. Buekeboom was an assistant in Hartford for four seasons before joining Vigneault’s staff. The Rangers have about $20 million in salary cap space to add players, such as defensemen, a center and a backup goaltender via trade or free agency starting July 1, following the buyout of Dan Girardi and the trade of Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona on Friday. About $2.9 million more would be available if defenseman Kevin Kevin, 32, decides to retire from the NHL, forego the final season of his contract, and play in Europe. “I talked to Kevin maybe 10 days ago, we agreed to talk again soon, so we don’t really have an answer as to what he’s going to do,” Gorton said. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.” Gorton is also working to sign two restricted free agents, current top line center Mika Zibanejad and right wing Jesper Fast. Zibanejad, who arrived from Ottawa last summer in exchange for Derick Brassard, had a salary of $3.25 million last season and a salary cap charge of $2.625 million. “We’re open for anything, as far as Mika,” Gorton said. “We want to make a good deal, it could be short-term, it could be long term, we’re wide open. I’ve had conversations with his guys.” Zibanejad, who broke his leg and missed 25 games early in the season, finished with 14 goals and 37 points in 56 games, and was 2-7-9 in 12 playoff games. As for Fast, who will not be ready until about November following hip surgery, his contract will be less expensive. He was paid $1 million last season, with a $950,000 cap charge. “We’ve been talking to him for a while, it’s ongoing. Jesper’s been a good Ranger, hopefully we’ll get it done pretty soon.” Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069145 New York Rangers

Rangers make 5 more picks in NHL Draft

June 24, 2017 6:30 PM Steve Zipay

CHICAGO — These are the selections the Rangers made Saturday on the second day of the NHL Draft: Brandon Crawley, defenseman. London Knights, OHL. No. 123, fourth round. Acquired from San Jose for pick No. 102. Born in Glen Rock, N.J., the 20-year-old, 6-foot-1 lefty had seven goals and 27 points in 61 games last season . . . known as a physical, defense- first player. Calle Sjalin, defenseman. Timra, Swedish league. No. 145, fifth round. The 6-foot-1, 17-year-old lefty was ranked 44 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Before being loaned to Timra at the end of last season, he was 5-10-15 in 34 games for Osterlunds IK, a Division 1 team. Dominik Lakatos, center. Bilo Tygri Liberec, Czech Republic No. 157, sixth round The 20-year-old also plays left wing, and was ranked 50th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He was 10-12-22 in 41 games last season and 8-5-13 in 16 playoff games. Morgan Barron, left wing. St. Andrew’s College, Ontario No. 174, acquired from San Jose for No. 102 @Newsday Tweets from @Newsday/newsday-staff Born in Halifax, the 18-year-old Barron is 6-foot-2, 201 and committed to Cornell University next season. In 46 games for St. Andrews, a boarding school in Aurora, he was 28-22-50. Patrik Virta, left wing. TPS Turku, Finland No. 207, seventh round Virta, 21, is a right-hander who scored 14 goals and 26 points in 49 games last season and was 5-1-6 in six playoff games. He’s 5-11, 176 pounds. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069146 NHL “He has spent 10 years in the league and he’s done a lot already, but it’s hard for me to say that I want to be there right now,” McDavid said of Crosby. “I’ve only been there a year and a half. There’s a lot of steps you N.H.L.’s Connor McDavid, M.V.P. at 20, Is Still Pursuing His Idol have to go through. There’s a lot of different things you have to do. Do you want to get there one day? Obviously.”

New York Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 TAL PINCHEVSKY JUNE 24, 2017

LAS VEGAS — The image marks a single moment in hockey’s long history. A smiling and shaggy-haired Connor McDavid, six weeks removed from his 16th birthday, posing for a photo while standing between the Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and the team owner and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux. Taken after a Penguins home game during the 2012-13 N.H.L. season, the photo has since been viewed widely on the internet. But for McDavid, who captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player Wednesday night at the annual N.H.L. awards show, it was an opportunity to witness in person the standard he wanted to meet in his career. “It was very cool to go meet him,” McDavid said of Crosby. “It’s pretty well known that I looked up to him as a kid.” Now the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and the most decorated young N.H.L. player since Crosby entered the league in 2005, McDavid was completing his first season with the Erie Otters in 2012-13. Back then, the comparisons of his game to Crosby’s were only beginning. Granted exceptional-player status in 2012 by the Ontario Hockey Foundation following a review by Hockey Canada, McDavid was able to enter the Ontario Hockey League at age 15, a year earlier than typically permitted. As a member of the Otters, McDavid made regular trips to Pittsburgh to watch Crosby play. After being picked first on 147 of 167 Hart Trophy ballots this year — Crosby was first on 14 — McDavid became the third player to earn M.V.P. honors before his 21st birthday, after Crosby and Wayne Gretzky. By winning the Hart Trophy as well as the Art Ross Trophy as the N.H.L.’s leading scorer and the Ted Lindsay Award for league M.V.P. as voted by its players, McDavid, at age 20, may have already bridged the gap between himself and his childhood idol. But in the hours before the league’s awards showcase began, McDavid didn’t see a potential Hart victory inching him any closer to Crosby’s legacy. “It’s more about team stuff, and he’s got all that,” McDavid said. “I’m sure personal accolades are nice and you appreciate them very much. But it’s about winning Cups and winning Olympics and winning World Cups and that kind of thing. He’s done it all.” There is one distinction afforded to McDavid that has so far eluded Crosby. Along with the awards he garnered Wednesday night, McDavid was named the cover athlete for the latest iteration of Electronic Arts’ hockey video game franchise. Crosby has never appeared on the game’s cover. For a confessed gamer like McDavid, the honor was almost as humbling as the hardware. At the season’s close, though, the ultimate honor went to Crosby when he lifted the Stanley Cup for the third time and became the third player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff M.V.P. in consecutive years, a feat previously achieved only by Lemieux and Bernie Parent of the Philadelphia Flyers. McDavid didn’t watch any of it; he said he effectively tuned out the playoffs after Edmonton was knocked out in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks. “Once we were eliminated, I kind of went away for a week and didn’t even watch one second,” he said. “I didn’t even know what the scores were. Once I came back, I tried to pay a little bit more attention. At the end of the day, if we didn’t win, I didn’t really care who won.” That McDavid is already being mentioned in the same breath as Crosby, a three-time N.H.L. champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist who turns 30 in August, is no small feat. After a fractured collarbone forced McDavid to miss 37 games as a rookie, his trophy haul rewarded a first full N.H.L. season in which he helped the Oilers end a 10-season playoff drought, the longest in the league. If his breakout season is any indication, McDavid should have plenty of opportunity to at least challenge the considerable standard that the player he grew up admiring has already established. 1069147 NHL

Hilary Duff's ex Mike Comrie avoids rape charges

MEGAN CERULLO Saturday, June 24, 2017, 1:21 PM

Hilary Duff’s ex-husband, former NHL player Mike Comrie, who was under investigation for alleged sexual assault, will not be charged with rape, prosecutors said, TMZ Sports reported. Prosecutors said there was reasonable doubt as to whether Comrie’s accuser consented to anal sex during a Feb. incident in which Comrie invited two women to his L.A. home, for drinks — and sex. The accuser said she and Comrie first had consensual sex, before later engaging in anal sex without her consent. She claims Comrie didn’t stop when she asked him to, choked her and declared she couldn’t tell him what to do, the report said. Despite the alleged sexual assault, the woman then engaged in another consensual sex act with Comrie, she told prosecutors, TMZ Sports reported. But then Comrie slapped her in the face, she said, prompting her to jump out of bed, and begin recording audio of herself accusing him of sexual assault. Police obtained the recording and said Comrie, who sounded intoxicated, denied any wrongdoing. He insisted his accuser consented to all the sex acts that took place, according to official documents obtained by TMZ Sports. Hilary Duff's ex-husband, former NHL star Mike Comrie, will not be charged with rape, prosecutors said, after he was under investigation for alleged sexual assault. Investigators said they can’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Comrie acted without believing he had consent. The charges against him were dropped. In February, the LAPD confirmed that Comrie was under investigation for rape. “There is an open investigation of sexual assault involving Mr. Comrie,” officer Liliana Preciado told the Daily News. The 14-time major champion hit another obstacle after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence on May 29, 2017 in Jupiter, Fla. Woods saw his reign come to end in November 2009 when his personal life exploded into a now-infamous sex scandal. Woods, whose chronic infidelity broke up his marriage with Eli Nordegren, entered rehab in 2010 for sex addiction, and has struggled with lingering back issues throughout his troubles off the course. Woods has yet to resemble his former, dominent self, and has won just one PGA event since 2013. New York Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017

1069148 Ottawa Senators

Senators Notebook: Derick Brassard's recovery after shoulder surgery 'going well'

BRUCE GARRIOCH June 24, 2017 6:30 PM EDT

CHICAGO — The Ottawa Senators are keeping their fingers crossed that centre Derick Brassard will be ready to start next season on time. Senators head coach Guy Boucher said Saturday he had spoken with Brassard and the 29-year-old forward was making progress after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. “I talked to him the other day and he’s training already,” Boucher said. “He’s had an operation before and it’s worked out great on that shoulder. They’re trying to get rid of this problem and the doctors say it went very well and there were no complications. “I think it’s just going to take its course and he’ll be ready somewhere around the beginning of the season.” If Brassard isn’t ready to start the 2017-18 regular season in October, Boucher said, a replacement may have to come from within the organization unless the Senators can land another centre in free agency. “It’s a concern, but the centre position is always a concern,” Boucher said. “You have your guys and, the minute you lose one, it’s tough because you can move centres to wing. I’m a big believer in stacking up on centres. With a centre missing, we’ve got (Colin) White, who’s knocking at the door, plus (Jean-Gabriel) Pageau and (Kyle) Turris. Right now, I hope to be able to rely on what we’ve built this year.” He indicated after Saturday’s amateur draft at the United Center that his top priority was to try to get unrestricted free agents Mike Condon, Viktor Stalberg, and Tommy Wingels under contract before they would hit the open market on July 1. The talking period for unrestricted free agents begins Sunday. Dorion also planned to touch base with restricted free agents Jean- Gabriel Pageau and Ryan Dzingel. “Ideally, with the exception of one or two veterans that we’ve moved on from, we’d really like to keep the same team,” Dorion said. “We felt that this team really grew and we made a step in the right direction. I think the players really cared for each other and that was the one common denominator from exit interviews: They’re a great bunch of guys that care for each other.” That didn’t stop Dorion from trying to make a trade or two Saturday. “If I was in school, I would have gotten an A-plus for effort today,” he said. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069149 Ottawa Senators the process of leaving with this group. I’m proud of our picks and the work that we put in this year.”

SENATORS 2017 DRAFT PICKS Senators pleased as they leave Windy City at end of NHL draft No. 28 Shane Bowers, centre, Waterloo (USHL)

2016-17 season: 60 games, 22 goals, 29 assists, 20 penalty minutes Bruce Garrioch Age: 17. Height: 6-2. Weight: 178 pounds June 24, 2017 5:58 PM EDT SENATORS SCOUT TRENT MANN SAYS: “He does so many things well. That’s the part you like about his game. He takes key faceoffs at CHICAGO — Like everybody else, Ottawa Senators representatives both ends of the rink, he competes in those hard areas, he can shoot the wore wide smiles as they packed their bags and left their table at the puck and make plays. He backchecks hard. It’s just the constant draft on Saturday. compete and wanting to win the puck battles. That’s always the part you leave the game thinking that every shift that kid competes.” The mission was to restock the shelves with prospects and, though they won’t find out for five years if they were indeed successful, initial No. 47 Alex Formenton, left-winger, London (OHL) reactions suggested the Senators were pretty pleased. 2016-17 season: 65 games, 16 goals, 18 assists, 50 penalty minutes After taking centre Shane Bowers No. 28 in Round 1 on Friday night, Age: 17. Height: 6-2. Weight: 166 pounds they picked winger Norm Formenton from London of the Ontario Hockey League in Round 2, centre from Cape Breton of the MANN SAYS: “This kid has great speed. Really, he has NHL speed. He’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in Round 4 and goaltender Jordan hard-working kid. He has some abilities around the net. He’s a highly- Hollett, who will suit up for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League competitive kid. We’re happy with him on the wing. He’s just a natural next season, in Round 6. skater. Some kids have to work hard. With him, it’s there, it’s effortless. When he’s in camp with us, you’ll notice him right away because the “We’re really pleased with how it all went down,” Senators chief scout speed is noticeable right away.” Trent Mann said at the United Center. “We were happy, first of all, to get a goalie. We were a little worried if he was going to be there that late. No. 121 Norm Batherson, centre, Cape Breton (QMJHL) “We got some speed, we got some skill, we got some goaltending. 2016-17 season: 61 games, 22 goals, 36 assists, 70 penalty minutes Overall we’re pretty happy with the way the day went based on only having a handful of picks.” Age: 18. Height: 6-1. Weight: 187 pounds. The day started out with the Senators taking a speedy forward and a MANN SAYS: “He has grown four inches over less than two years. He player regarded as one of the fastest in the draft. has made a lot of gain in his skating. He’s highly skilled, he’s got great vision. He has an ability to score as well. He comes good bloodlines. His Formenton was selected No. 47 overall. dad was a pro hockey player, his uncle is Dennis Vial, so there’s hockey in the blood. He’s lived around the world. He’s a mature kid, a hard- “You can’t put words to it,” he said. “You work all your life for this, to put working kid and he wants to play hockey. He was a good pick.” on that logo and, once you finally put it on, it’s mind-blowing. Being from Toronto, and them being close, I’ve played pretty close attention to them, No. 183 Jordan Hollett, goaltender, Medicine Hat (WHL) so it’s something pretty special to go to the Senators.” 2016-17 season: 19 games played, 2.83 goals-against average, .901 Formenton played three seasons with former Toronto Maple Leafs star save percentage Wendel Clark as his coach with the Toronto Nationals of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Age: 18. Height: 6-4 Weight: 184 pounds “Wendel was a great coach to me. He taught me a lot of things off the MANN SAYS: “He played in Regina and they were going for it. They ice, but on the ice, just where to shoot on the goalie when I was younger. wanted to win the WHL and go to the Memorial Cup. He doesn’t have a He’s definitely developed me as a player into what I am now,” Formenton ton of games behind him, but he was traded to Medicine Hat, and so he’ll said. get a chance to play plenty of games next year. We had Pierre Groulx and Cory Cooper watch lots of video and give their input on him. At the Batherson, picked No. 121 overall, comes from a hockey family in end of the day, he’s an athletic kid that will require time.” Antigonish, N.S. His father, Norm Batherson, spent a year in the Ottawa organization with the NHL club’s minor-league affiliates in Thunder Bay PLAYERS WITH LOCAL TIES SELECTED SATURDAY: Brockville and Prince Edward Island and, after his AHL career, had a successful defenceman Cameron Crotty, an Ottawa native, went No. 82 to the stint in Germany. Arizona Coyotes; Guelph centre Liam Hawal, from Kanata, was taken No. 101 in Round 4 by the Dallas Stars; Arizona chose Ottawa 67’s If that’s not enough of connection, Batherson’s uncle is former Senators’ defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer with the No. 108 pick; Sasha defenceman Dennis Vial, who played with Ottawa from 1993 to 1998. Chmelevski, a 67’s centre, was selected in Round 6 by San Jose at No. 185. “I know a lot about the organization, so I’m really excited to get going,” Batherson said. “I play with a little bit of grit, but I wouldn’t say I’m the Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 06.25.2017 same type of player as (Vial). He was pretty tough.” Batherson said both his father and Vial told him to enjoy the NHL draft experience “and just take it all in and have fun. Pretty much everywhere I lived, I’ve been around hockey ever since I was born.” Getting a goalie was important and that was why it might have been the biggest move of the day for the Senators. They don’t have a lot of goaltending depth in the organization and goalie coach Pierre Groulx liked what he had seen from Hollett. He didn’t play a lot for the WHL’s this past season, but has been dealt to Medicine Hat and should get the opportunity to be a starter. “It’s no secret in the system for goaltending,” Mann said. “We didn’t take a goalie last year. We had goalies we targeted for each round and we did our homework on the goaltending to make sure that we knew where we wanted to take (Hollett). He fell into that area and we were really happy to get him in the sixth round.” The Senators tried to acquire a seventh-round pick from another NHL club, but couldn’t. “It was fun,” Mann said. “Our guys, they work hard. It’s a lot of miles and lot of hours and it’s an opportunity for them to be a part of it. That’s how we work. We work together and we work as a group, and we just enjoyed 1069150 Ottawa Senators “I don’t know. I’d like to think not,” Boucher said Saturday. “Dion was a great leader for us. He did a terrific job. At the end of the year, I was honest. I thought he did unbelieveable. He helped Erik with his Senators say they'd like to keep Dion Phaneuf, but other NHL teams are leadership. It was a great tandem. still calling “I thought he held a lot of guys accountable and he’s the old-style leadership, which you don’t see anymore. Those guys are rare. I think he really did his job. For us, it’s a business that has to be managed and BRUCE GARRIOCH that’s something I really stay away from as a coach. I really stay away from contracts, years left, negotiations.” June 24, 2017 5:13 PM EDT Dorion said Phaneuf didn’t do anything he wasn’t entitled to do.

“Isn’t it a good thing that somebody wants to be in Ottawa?” Dorion said. CHICAGO — Dion Phaneuf is still with the Ottawa Senators, but there’s “I think it’s a good thing that people want to be in Ottawa and I think it’s a no guarantee that will be the case next season. good thing that Dion still wants to be part of what we’re trying to build here. While the veteran defenceman hadn’t been dealt by the time the National Hockey League amateur draft wrapped up Saturday, Senators general “I have no problems with Dion. I’ll reach out to him. I don’t need go manager Pierre Dorion confirmed other teams had been calling about through an agent. Everyone knows when we exposed , I Phaneuf after he refused to waive the “no-move” clause in his contract, phoned him personally. When we exposed Alex Burrows, I phoned him which would have allowed Ottawa to expose him in the expansion draft personally. When we exposed Marc Methot, I phoned him personally. I’m for the Vegas Golden Knights. not going to hide behind anybody. When I have something to say, I tell them to their face or I tell them on the phone. That’s the way I was raised While the Senators would prefer not to deal Phaneuf now, the sense is and that’s the way you get people’s respect.” that could change with one phone call. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 06.25.2017 “We’d like to keep Dion. Everyone know’s what happened. We asked to waive his ‘no move,’ and I think you always have to explore all options,” Dorion said Saturday at the United Center. “Dion has been a great player for us over the last (18 months). He has been tremendous in our room. He’s really well-respected. “Teams are phoning because we had to look at the trade market for all our defencemen … except for Erik Karlsson. People have kept phoning because there’s not an endless supply of quality, top-four defencemen in the league and teams are phoning. You have to take calls. Teams have phoned. I’m not going to mislead you.” Because of Phaneuf’s decision, which he had every right to make, the Senators lost defenceman Marc Methot to the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. Still, it’s wouldn’t be surprising to see a deal involving the 32-year-old Phaneuf before training camp if the Senators can find the right deal. Though many believe it may be difficult to move Phaneuf with four years and $7-million annual cap hit remaining on his contract, there is genuine interest from a few teams, but he may have to expand the 12-team list of destinations to which he would accept a move, and he doesn’t want to do that. It might take until after free agency starts July 1 before teams are willing to close on a deal. Indications are the Los Angeles Kings have shown more than a passing interest in Phaneuf, and Dorion had a long talk with Kings general manager Rob Blake as the draft wrapped up Saturday, but the Senators swear they’re not trying to run Phaneuf out of town. “Everything is fine between me and Dion. If he wants me to go visit him at the compound on (Prince Edward Island), I’ll definitely go visit him,” Dorion said. “I wanted to wait until after the draft (to speak to Phaneuf again) because teams have been phoning on him and we’re exploring all avenues. “I’ll probably reach out to him in the next week and just talk to him. We had a great conversation. Dion’s as good of a pro as I’ve ever seen in my career. When we had the conversation, it was good. They’re not an easy conversation and he understood. It was a man-to-man conversation. There was no bulls—t.” Dorion said the reason for asking Phaneuf to waive the “no-move” clause had nothing to do with where the defenceman stood on the team. “It was that we wanted to keep our top four intact and it was a big part of our success because of our top four,” Dorion said. “We lost Marc Methot and we’re not very happy about losing Marc Methot, but it’s not the end of the world. “I think the best quote I gave was that we didn’t lose Erik Karlsson, we lost Erik Karlsson’s partner. There’s a big difference.” The Senators are choosing their words carefully with regard to Phaneuf because he could be back next season. They were happy with his contributions on and off the ice last season and head coach Guy Boucher wasn’t about to get involved in debate about the “no-move” decision. Does Phaneuf have to mend some fences in that room in camp? 1069151 Ottawa Senators “I thought he held a lot of guys accountable and he’s the old-style leadership which you don’t see anymore. Those guys are rare. I think he really did his job. For us, it’s a business that has to be managed and Phaneuf stays with Senators for now that’s something I really stay away from as a coach. I really stay away from contracts, years left, negotiations.”

Dorion said Phaneuf acted within his rights. BRUCE GARRIOCH “Isn’t it a good thing that somebody wants to be in Ottawa?,” Dorion said. SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 03:41 PM EDT “I think it’s a good thing that people want to be in Ottawa and I think it’s a good thing that Dion still wants to be part of what we’re trying to build here. CHICAGO- Dion Phaneuf is still with the Ottawa Senators. “I have no problems with Dion. I’ll reach out to him. I don’t need to go through an agent. Everyone knows when we exposed Bobby Ryan, I There’s no guarantee that will be the case next season. phoned him personally. When we exposed Alex Burrows, I phoned him While the NHL draft wrapped up Saturday without the veteran personally. When we exposed Marc Methot, I phoned him personally. I’m defenceman being dealt, Senators GM Pierre Dorion confirmed teams not going to hide behind anybody. When I have something to say I tell are calling about Phaneuf after he refused to waive his ‘no move’ clause them to their face or I tell them on the phone. That’s the way I was raised to be exposed in the expansion draft and though the club would prefer and that’s the way you get people’s respect. You don’t hide behind not to deal him the sense is that could change with one phone call. people.” “We’d like to keep Dion. Everyone know’s what happened. We asked to Ottawa Sun LOADED: 06.25.2017 waive his ‘no move' and I think you always have to explore all options,” Dorion said Saturday at the United Center. “Dion’s been a great player for us over the last (18 months). He’s been tremendous in our room. He’s really well-respected. “Teams are phoning because we had to look at the trade market for all our defencemen - except for Erik Karlsson - people have kept phoning because there’s not an endless supply of quality, top-four defencemen in the league and teams are phoning. You have to take calls. Teams have phoned. I’m not going to mislead you.” As a result of Phaneuf’s decision, which he had every right to make because he had the clause, the Senators lost defenceman Marc Methot to the Vegas GoldenKnights in the expansion draft and if the belief is if Senators can find the right then it wouldn’t be surprising to see the 32- year-old moved before training camp. Though many believe it may be difficult for the Senators to move Phaneuf with four years and $7 million cap hit, there is genuine interest from a few teams in Phaneuf but he may have to expand his 12- team list of acceptable destinations and doesn't want to do that. It might until after July 1 to see how the free agent market shakes out before those teams are willing to act on a deal though. The indications are the Los Angeles Kings have shown more than a passing interest in Phaneuf and as the draft wrapped up Dorion had a long talk with GM Rob Blake but the Senators swear they’re not trying to run Phaneuf out of town. “Everything is fine between me and Dion. If he wants me to go visit him at the compound on (Prince Edward Island) I’ll definitely go visit him,” Dorion said. “I wanted to wait until after the draft (to speak to him again) because teams have been phoning on him and we’re exploring all avenues. “I’ll probably reach out to him in the next week and just talk to him. We had a great conversation. Dion’s as good of a pro as I’ve ever seen in my career. When we had the conversation, it was good. They’re not an easy conversation and he understood. It was a man-to-man conversation. There was no bulls---t.” Dorion said the decision to ask Phaneuf to waive had nothing to do with his standing on the team. The club still feels he's a top four defenceman if he's back with Ottawa. “It was that we wanted to keep our top four intact and it was a big part of our success because of our top,” Dorion said. “We lost Marc Methot and we’re not very happy about losing Marc Methot but it’s not the end of the world. “I think the best quote I gave was that we didn’t lose Erik Karlsson, we lost Erik Karlsson’s partner. There’s a big difference.” The Senators are choosing their words carefully on Phaneuf because the reality is he could be back on the club’s blueline next season. The club was happy with his contributions on and off the ice last season and coach Guy Boucher wasn’t about to get involved in any debate about his ‘no move’ decision. Does Phaneuf have to mend some fences in that room in camp? “I don’t know. I’d like to think not,” coach Guy Boucher said Saturday. “Dion was a great leader for us. He did a terrific job. At the end of the year, I was honest, I thought he did unbelievable. He helped Erik with his leadership. It was a great tandem. 1069152 Philadelphia Flyers Hextall was also pleasantly surprised to be able to draft left winger Matthew Strome in the fourth round (106th overall). He was ranked as the 44th-best prospect by Button. Flyers grab 6-6 winger by jumping up in the draft Strome has good bloodlines. The 6-4, 206-pounder is the brother of NHL players Ryan and Dylan, and he scored 34 goals for Hamilton in the Ontario Hockey League last season. June 24, 2017 — 4:48 PM EDT Strome said he would use his drop to the fourth round as a motivation “to Sam Carchidi prove people wrong.” Hextall said Strome’s “skating has to improve. But he’s a good hockey player. He’s got good size, and he makes plays and can score a goals. CHICAGO — Ron Hextall went against his usual strategy Saturday. … He has one deficiency he can rally focus on, but we really like where we got him.” The Flyers’ general manager is fond of stockpiling draft picks, but he felt so strongly about the player he wanted — big left winger Isaac Ratcliffe Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 — that he dealt three selections to the Arizona Coyotes at the United Center. Hextall moved up in the second round to the 35th overall spot, and he nabbed the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Ratcliffe. “He’s a prototypical kind of power forward,” Hextall said. “He doesn’t quite have the power part down yet in terms of his body. He’s got to put some weight on and add strength. But he’s a young kid, and he’s raw. And like I said, we’re really excited about him.” The Flyers sent their second-round pick (44th overall) and their 75th (third round) and 108th (fourth round) selections to the Coyotes. The latter pick was acquired from Tampa Bay in the Mark Streit deal. “When you really like a guy, you go after him, and that’s what happened,” said Hextall, who said he considered taking Ratcliffe with the 27th overall pick in the first round Friday but instead drafted center Morgan Frost in that spot. “He fit one of our positional needs. He’s got real good size. He plays hard. He can score goals.” Hextall said Ratcliffe has “some work to do” before developing into an NHL player, “but we really like his upside and his attitude.” Playing for Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League, Ratcliffe had 28 goals and 54 points in 67 games last season. He was rated as the 27th-best prospect by draft expert Bob McKenzie and 47th by draft guru Craig Button. “I’m numb,” said Ratcliffe, adding he has known Flyers winger Travis Konecny for a while. “It’s going to be awesome.” Ratcliffe said the draft was “unpredictable” and that he didn’t know if he would go in the first round Friday or slip into Saturday’s rounds. “I’m just unbelievably proud and excited to say that I’m now a Flyer,” he said. “It feels surreal.” Ratcliffe said he needs to gain weight and get stronger “to get to the next level.” “I believe I can be one of the top players in this draft with my size and with my talent and with my progress in the future,” Ratcliffe said. Ratcliffe said the Flyers were one of the first teams to interview him at the recent scouting combine in Buffalo. He has played left and right wing and center. The London, Ontario, native said he tries to model his game after Rick Nash’s. “He’s a big guy like myself, and I think he moves well,” Ratcliffe said. “He has that offensive instinct, but he can play well in the defensive zone, too.” Overall, the Flyers took seven forwards (three centers, three left wingers, one right winger), a defenseman and a goalie among their nine selections in the two-day draft. They sent one of their seventh-round picks to Montreal for a selection in the same round next year. With the selection, the Canadiens took goalie Cayden Primeau, a Voorhees resident and the son of former Flyer Keith. The Flyers drafted Russian goalie Kirill Ustimenko with their third-round selection (80th overall) in a pick they acquired in the 2015 deal that sent Zac Rinaldo to Boston. The 6-foot-3, 179-pound Ustimenko was ranked fifth among European goalies by the NHL’s Central Scouting. In 27 games with MHK Dynamo last season, he had a 1.74 GAA and .938 save percentage. “We were surprised he fell there,” Hextall said. “Our guys really liked him.” 1069153 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers take high school player in 5th round

June 24, 2017 — 1:13 PM EDT Sam Carchidi

CHICAGO _ The Flyers opted for a high school player when they chose left winger Noah Cates in the fifth round Saturday at the United Center. The 6-foot, 165-pound Cates had 20 goals in 25 games last season for Stillwater (Minn.) High. He had seven points in 11 games with Omaha in the USHL. Cates has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Here’s a video of Cates making a nice move and scoring the winning goal in the Section 4AA Minnesota state championship game. In the sixth round, they selected a center from Sweden, Olle Lycksell (5- 10, 163), who has put up good offensive numbers on several teams. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069154 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers grab Matthew Strome in 4th round

June 24, 2017 — 12:27 PM EDT Sam Carchidi

CHICAGO _ In the fourth round Saturday, the Flyers selected a player who has good bloodlines. They drafted Matthew Strome with the 106th overall pick. The 6-4, 206- pound left winger is the brother of NHL players Ryan and Dylan, and he scored 34 goals for Hamilton in the Ontario Hockey League last season. Strome was projected to go higher in the draft; prospect expert Craig Button had him ranked 44th, which would have put him in the second round. Strome said he would use his drop to the fourth round as a motivation “to prove people wrong.” One pick after the Flyers chose Strome, they selected 6-foot, 181-pound right winger Maksim Sushko, who said he models his game after Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov. Sushko scored 17 goals in 54 games with Owen Sound in the OHL last season. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069155 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers select Russian goalie in third round

June 24, 2017 — 11:52 AM EDT Sam Carchidi

CHICAGO _ The Flyers selected Russian goalie Kirill Ustimenko with their third-round selection (80th overall) in the NHL draft Saturday. The pick was acquired in the 2015 deal that sent Zac Rinaldo to Boston. The 6-foot-3, 179-pound Ustimenko was ranked fifth among European goalies by the NHL’s Central Scouting. In 27 games with MHK Dynamo last season, he had a 1.74 GAA and .938 save percentage. The Flyers chose forwards with their first two picks: center Nolan Patrick on Friday and big left winger Isaac Ratcliffe. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069156 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers trade up, select Isaac Ratcliffe in 2nd round of NHL Draft

June 24, 2017 — 10:34 AM EDT Sam Carchidi

CHICAGO _ The Flyers traded up in the second round and selected left winger Isaac Ratcliffe with the 35th overall pick Saturday at the United Center. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Ratlcliffe, who says he models his game after Rick Nash, was acquired after the Flyers sent their 44th, 75th and 108th picks to Arizona. Playing for Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League, Ratcliffe had 28 goals and 54 points in 67 games last season. He was rated as the 27th-best prospect by draft expert Bob McKenzie and 47th by draft guru Craig Button. “I’m numb,” said Ratcliffe, adding he has known Flyers winger Travis Konecny for a while. “It’s going to be awesome.” Ratcliffe said the draft was “unpredictable” and that he didn’t know if he would go in the first round Friday or slip into Saturday’s rounds. “I’m just unbelievably proud and excited to say that I’m now a Flyer,” he said. “..It feels surreal.” Ratcliffe said he needs to gain weight and get stronger “to get to the next level.” Added Ratcliffe: “I believe I can be one of the top players in this draft with my size and with my talent and with my progress in the future.” Ratcliffe said the Flyers were one of the first teams to interview him at the recent scouting combine in Buffalo. He has played left and right wing and center. He said he tries to emulate Nash’s style. “He’s a big guy like myself and I think he moves well,” he said. “He has that offensive instinct, but he can play well in the defensive zone.” Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069157 Philadelphia Flyers

South Jersey's Cayden Primeau chosen by Montreal in NHL draft

JUNE 24, 2017 — 8:03 PM EDT Sam Carchidi,

CHICAGO — It was difficult to figure out who was more excited, the player who had just been chosen in the NHL draft, goalie Cayden Primeau, or his proud father, Keith, a former Flyers standout. “There’s no one word to describe it all,” said Cayden Primeau, 18, who grew up in Voorhees and was selected by Montreal in the seventh round Saturday with a pick it had acquired from the Flyers, who are overflowing with goalie prospects. Primeau’s dad said he was an “emotional train wreck” before his son was selected, and that he was “thankful that the Flyers gave Montreal the opportunity to draft Cayden. It’s an Original Six team, and the opportunity to put on a Habs jersey is … I mean, my mom was crying.” The younger Primeau was excited to be with an organization that features Carey Price, one of the league’s elite goalies. “I want to learn from him and take from him anything he does on the ice or off the ice that puts him above and beyond everyone else,” he said. Keith Primeau, a former Flyers captain, said he once tried to discourage his son from being a goaltender, but he eventually accepted the idea. “He loves the position, and he’s a real student of the position,” he said. Cayden was three months old when Keith Primeau was traded from Carolina to the Flyers. Now 17 and a graduate of Bishop Eustace Prep, he has a four-year scholarship to Northeastern University. The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Primeau had his ups and downs this season with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL — he had 3.16 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage — and he was the seventh-ranked North American goalie prospect in this year’s draft, according to the NHL’s Central Scouting. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069158 Philadelphia Flyers As for next season, the Flyers could have as many six rookies in their lineup. Lehtera, a three-year veteran, also seems like he has a spot based on Hextall’s comments. Flyers getting younger, but don't dare call it rebuilding St. Louis needed to free cap space and insisted the 6-2, 210-pound Lehtera be part of the deal. His production has dipped in each of his seasons (from 14 goals to nine to seven, and from 44 points to 34 to 22) JUNE 24, 2017 — 10:53 PM EDT but Hextall believes he will bounce back. Sam Carchidi “He’s a big player. We like his two-way game,” Hextall said. “In saying that, he didn’t have a great year last year, and he has to get himself in tip-top shape in training camp. I talked to his agent today. … He’s committed himself. He’s been working out for three weeks and has a CHICAGO — Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is betting on the skating coach for the first time.” future, plain and simple. Lehtera figures to move to wing. He played up and down the lineup with Oh, he isn’t exactly throwing in the towel on the 2017-18 season, but he the Blues. clearly views it as a rebuilding year. “Somebody may have to move to another position,” Hakstol said. “That Right? has to play out over time.” Hextall almost choked at the suggestion. Flyers GM Ron Hextall at the Flyers Skate Zone in April. When you run a professional sports team, as Hextall does, you want to Hextall said he was still trying to re-sign winger Jordan Weal, who can wash out a person’s mouth with soap if they use the dreaded r-word. become an unrestricted free agent Saturday. “We’re getting younger, but rebuild? Absolutely not,” Hextall said “He’s a free agent. I can’t grab him by the throat” and make him accept forcefully after the two-day draft ended Saturday at the United Center. the Flyers’ offer, Hextall said. “He has choices.” “We have young players, and at some point here we have to open up opportunities for them to play. … We feel we have some young players Weal, Hextall hopes, will be an important part of the Flyers’ rebuilding who, if they’re not ready, they’re close. But rebuild? Absolutely not. plans, uh, I mean .. Let’s see. Let’s call it their Young Retooling Methodically getting younger? Yes.” Movement. By trading Brayden Schenn, one of the few Flyers forwards who was a Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 06.25.2017 dependable scorer the last two years, Hextall opened a top-six spot for a young left winger (hello, Oskar Lindblom) and improved his already strong farm system. Coach Dave Hakstol said he envisions a lot of Schenn’s minutes “going to a young player or two or three. … Not only guys that are new to us this year, but even a guy like Travis Konecny. Guys like that can benefit from more minutes.” Schenn, whose 17 power-play goals were tied for the most in the NHL last season, struggled in five-on- five play. He was sent to St. Louis for two first-round picks and Jori Lehtera, a veteran center with a $4.7 million cap hit — or about $671,000 for each of the seven goals he scored last season. St. Louis couldn’t wait to unload Lehtera’s contract, which has two years remaining. Schenn has three years left on a deal that has an annual $5.13 million cap hit. The Flyers’ Brayden Schenn skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 in Philadelphia. Schenn was traded to St. Louis Friday night during the first round of the NHL draft. The Flyers finished 20th out of 30 teams in scoring last season and, even with expected increased production from Konecny (11 goals last year) and Shayne Gostisbehere (seven), among others, it won’t be easy to replace Schenn’s 25 goals. It also won’t be easy finding ice time for so many centers. The Flyers now have seven, so you may see a player move to wing, or a couple demoted to the Phantoms. One of the centers with a good chance to stick is Nolan Patrick, who was taken No. 2 overall by the Flyers in Friday’s first round. Sending him back to juniors would seem to be counter-productive, and Patrick will be given a chance to make the team in training camp. “He’s impressive. A great physical package,” said Hakstol, who has watched video of Patrick and met him at the draft. “He’s obviously a great two-way player who makes plays.” Patrick is close friends with Schenn, who was dealt the same night the 18-year-old center became a Flyer. The most favorable part of the Schenn trade was the first-round conditional pick the Flyers will get in 2018 because it looks like a strong draft class. If St. Louis gets a top-10 pick, it has the option of keeping it and deferring the traded pick to 2019. If that happens, the Flyers would also get a third-rounder in 2020. With the first-round selection (27th overall) the Flyers received from the Blues this year, they grabbed center Morgan Frost. That raised some eyebrows because, based on numerous scouting reports, there was a decent chance Frost would have been available with the No. 44 overall pick the Flyers had Saturday. But the Flyers made some shrewd selections on the second day of the draft, during which their best picks were 6-foot-6 Isaac Ratcliffe and 6-4 Matthew Strome, high-scoring left wingers who are the definition of a power forward. 1069159 Philadelphia Flyers

Ron Hextall's moves reinforce his patient plan

Wayne Fish

If you look back at some of the Flyers’ great draft years of the past – like 2003, 1991 or 1972 – one thing comes to mind. A game changer at the forward position. No one is ready to predict 2017 will match up with that ’03 crop which included Jeff Carter, the ’91 class that offered Peter Forsberg or the ’72 crew led by Hall of Famer Bill Barber. But if Nolan Patrick, the so-called “consolation prize’’ at pick No. 2 in this draft , turns out to be anywhere near as good as scouts are predicting he is, the Flyers just might have a draft crop for the history books. After three years at the Flyers’ helm, GM Ron Hextall could then breathe a sigh of relief, especially if his team turns it around next season and shows it’s headed in the right direction again. Wouldn’t it be something if Patrick makes the team and has an impact on its fortunes? It’s happened before. Remember when Sean Couturier, a No. 8 overall, stepped right into the lineup as an 18-year-old in 2011 and went on to outplay Pittsburgh’s Evgeny Malkin in the playoffs? Hextall is known for being patient with young players. Sort of like the wine commercial, no consumption before its time. So Patrick will have to show he can stay healthy and be competitive as he tries to make the jump from junior to pro at age 18. That said, Hextall was bold this weekend, making two big trades; first sending Brayden Schenn to St. Louis for a No. 27 pick (along with a conditional first-rounder next year) he used to take Morgan Frost, another skilled forward. Then on Saturday, he wasted little time shipping three picks to Arizona to move up to No. 35 where he grabbed big power forward Isaac Ratcliffe. These offense-based picks were fairly predictable. After all, the Flyers are loaded with prospects at defense and goalie. With Sam Morin, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg on the way, there isn’t much of a need for backliners at the moment. What the Flyers have to do is get their development system restocked with forwards who can score. As for letting Schenn go, the move really wasn’t all that shocking. While he has turned into an effective scorer on the power play, Schenn’s five-on-five play has tailed off in recent years. Plus there was always the debate as to whether the Flyers should fit him into his natural position, which is center, or play him on the wing. The arrival of veteran center Valtteri Filppula last season pretty much ended that discussion. And when the Flyers took an up-and-coming center in Patrick, Schenn was made expendable. Hextall is building something here. A few years back he traded fan favorites Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn for high draft picks. More recently, Zac Rinaldo and Mark Streit were shipped out for more picks. So with 11 in hand this weekend, Hextall had quite a stockpile to work from in Chicago. Listening to and reading from people around the league who monitor this stuff closely, the feeling seems to be that the Flyers are on the verge of something special. They probably need a quality goaltender to seal the deal but at least the development system is ready to continue producing quality players, as it did last year with Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny. It all starts with the draft and in a program like Hextall’s, which relies so much on homegrown talent to succeed, the events in Chicago looked quite productive. Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069160 Philadelphia Flyers “I just know it’s a huge hockey town,’’ he said. “What I bring to the game is going to fit really nice there.

“That’s what my brothers said, I’ll fit in well with the Broad Street Bullies.’’ Flyers complete busy weekend with big Day 2 trade Hextall likes Wyatt Kalynuk, the defenseman he grabbed at No. 196 in the seventh round. Wayne Fish “Good mobility, good size, good puck skills,’’ Hextall said of the 20-year- old. “He’s been through two drafts (wasn’t taken). He’s going to the University of Wisconsin.’’ Offense is what the Flyers need and offense is what the Flyers obtained in Day 2 of the NHL Entry Draft. The GM decided to trade his final pick (199) to Montreal for the Canadiens’ seventh-round pick in 2018. After making one blockbuster trade in Round 1 on Friday (Brayden Schenn to St. Louis for a package that included the No. 27 pick — used Barratt goes to Blackhawks to take center Morgan Frost), general manager Ron Hextall came back Evan Barratt, the Bristol native who now calls Morrisville home, was with another fairly big deal in the second round on Saturday. selected 90th by the Chicago Blackhawks. Barratt will compete for Penn Hextall shipped his Nos. 44, 75 and 108 picks to Arizona in exchange for State in the fall. the Coyotes’ No. 35 pick. Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 With that selection, Hextall chose towering forward Isaac Ratcliffe from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. Hextall began the weekend with 11 draft picks (most in the NHL) and he used that stockpile to good advantage. “When you really like a guy you go after him,’’ Hextall said at the United Center in Chicago after the draft ended. “And that’s what happened. He fits part of our organizational needs. He has real good size, he plays hard but he’s really raw. He’s got work to do, but we really like his upside, his attitude and the way he plays the game.’’ Hextall believes Ratcliffe even could have gone in the first round, but he fell to No. 35, much to the Flyers’ delight. Ratcliffe stands 6-foot-6 but weighs only about 200 pounds. He’s been working on building up his frame, but doing it the right way, through proper diet and training. He’s looking forward to the challenge of trying to become an NHL player, especially in Philadelphia. “It’s just an unbelievable feeling,’’ Ratcliffe said. “I’m shaking a little bit now. Just going through this process has been awesome. “I’ve been around a few guys who have been in the organization. A guy like Travis Konecny, who I’ve known for a little while. Even going through the city, I’ve been to some hockey tournaments there. Being in this organization, being in this city, it’s definitely going to be awesome for my future.’’ With four of his last remaining draft picks, Hextall also took forwards. Flyers stay busy in Day 2 at NHL draft Add those to Frost and the No. 2 overall pick, Nolan Patrick, and you have a pretty impressive array of possible future goal scorers. A few eyebrows were raised when the Flyers took a goalie — Kirill Ustimenko from — in the third round (No. 80) because the Flyers have a bunch of young goalies such as , Felix Sandstrom, Carter Hart and already in the system. “We were surprised (Ustimenko) fell there,’’ Hextall said. “We didn’t chase him. We thought about him much earlier.’’ Ustimenko was ranked fifth among European goalies. “Our guys really liked him,’’ Hextall said. “He’s one of those guys who came on the scene late in the year.’’ The Flyers scouted him in Russia. “Our comfort level with him was probably better than some teams because he came on the map in mid-February,’’ Hextall said. In the fourth round, the Flyers took Matthew Strome (at 106), who has two brothers (Ryan, Dylan) playing in the NHL. Hextall likes Strome’s toughness but says he needs some work with his skills. “Call a spade a spade, his skating has to improve,’’ Hextall said. “I think we all know it. But he’s a good hockey player. He has size, he’s heavy, he can score goals. If you look at a kid like that, he’s got one deficiency he can work on. But we like where we got him. Now it’s up to him to put the work in.’’ Strome pretty much knows if he ever makes it to the Flyers, his blue- collar style will be popular with Philly fans. 1069161 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers stay busy in Day 2 at NHL draft

Wayne Fish

The Flyers made a blockbuster trade in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday night, then followed it up with another big deal on Saturday. Flyers general manager Ron Hextall made a swap with the Arizona Coyotes, sending their No. 44, No. 75 and No. 108 picks in exchange for the No. 35 selection. With that pick, the Flyers took 6-foot-6 forward Isaac Ratcliffe. Later, in the third round, the Flyers selected goaltender Kirill Ustimenko at No. 80. With the 106 pick, forward Matthew Strome came on board. He has two brothers playing in the NHL. At 107, the Flyers took Maksim Sushko and at 137, Noah Cates, a center out of the Minnesota high school system. Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069162 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers' NHL draft pick profiles

Wayne Fish

Round, name, age, position, height, weight, team, league, goals, assists, points, scouting report: Round 1 (2nd overall): Nolan Patrick, C, 18, 6-2, 198 pounds, Brandon (Western Hockey League), 20 goals, 26 assists, 46 points. Skinny: Great hockey sense, strong level of competition. Has to stay away from the medical treatment room. Round 1 (27th overall): Morgan Frost, C, 18, 6-0, 170, Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario Hockey League), 20 goals, 42 assists, 62 points. Skinny: His numbers shot up this past season (seven goals to 20) and impressed scouts in playoffs with eight points in 11 games. Round 2 (35th overall): Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, 18, 6-6, 200, Guelph (OHL), 28 goals, 26 assists, 54 points. Skinny: He’s aware he needs to put on some weight but he’s doing it the right way through proper diet and weight lifting. Round 3 (80th overall): Kirill Ustimenko, G, 18, 6-3, 179, MHK Dynamo (Russia), 1.74 goals-against average, .938 save percentage. Skinny: Ranked fifth among European goaltenders. Bit of a surprise pick since the Flyers are so loaded with goaltending prospects. Round 4 (106th overall): Matthew Strome, LW, 18, 6-4, 206, Hamilton (OHL), 34 goals, 28 assists, 62 points. Skinny: Has two brothers (Dylan, Ryan) playing in the NHL. His toughness should make him a Philly fan favorite. Round 4 (107th overall): Maksim Sushko: RW, 18, 6-0, 185, Owen Sound (OHL), 18 goals, 14 assists, 32 points. Skinny: The Brest, Belarus native stands out on offense but scouts say he still needs work on defense. Quick release on his shot. Round 5 (137th overall): Noah Cates: LW, 18, 5-11, 165, Stillwater (Minnesota) High School, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points. Skinny: Headed for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Flyers personnel director Chris Pryor a big advocate of his skills. Round 6 (168th overall): Olle Lycksell, RW, 17, 5-6, 139, Oskarshamn IK (Sweden), 0-0-0. Skinny: Talk about skinny, this kid needs to put on a few pounds, and a couple more inches in height wouldn’t hurt, either. Round 7 (196th overall): Wyatt Kalynuk, D, 20, 6-0, 168, Bloomington (USHL), 6 goals, 25 assists, 31 points. Skinny: He’s an older, more mature player than your average 18-year-old and that might help accelerate his development. Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069163 Philadelphia Flyers "Entering my first OHL year, they told me there would be ups and downs and I would have to work through it," Strome said. "The past couple weeks, they told me, 'Enjoy the moment, it goes by fast.' Ron Hextall, Flyers follow through with wingers on Day 2 of NHL draft "Once it's over, you're on that team for three years and you've got to make [sure] that first impression on them is really good." Tim Panaccio At No. 107, the Flyers tabbed 18-year-old Russian right winger Maksim Sushko (6-0/185), who last season played for Owen Sound (OHL), where June 24, 2017 4:00 PM he scored 17 goals with 32 points in 54 games. He spoke through an interpreter.

"I model my game after [Nikita] Kucherov of Tampa Bay," he said. "I like CHICAGO — If the Flyers had somehow managed to finagle a third pick a physical style of play and give out assists. I'd like to become a better in the first round of the NHL draft on Friday night, they had a specific kid sniper." in mind. In the fifth round, at No. 137, the Flyers tabbed 18-year-old left winger Guelph left winger Isaac Ratcliffe. Noah Cates, from Stillwater High School in Minnesota. "When you really like a guy, you go after him and that's what happened," He served as captain of his team and scored 20 goals with 65 points in general manager Ron Hextall said after trading up in the second round 25 games last season and has committed to the University of Minnesota- Saturday at United Center to draft the power forward (see story). Duluth. "He fits the organizational needs at left wing. Real good size. He plays In the sixth round, at No. 168, the Flyers chose smallish (5-10, 163) 17- hard and can score goals. He is really raw, at the front end of the year-old Swedish center Olle Lycksell, who played for Linkoping last process. Some are average and some on the back end of the process. season in the Super Elite League where he had nine points in 29 games. He's got work to do. We like his upside." "He's a hard worker who understands the game and has good hockey The Flyers swapped their own second-round pick, plus two more (75th sense," Hextall said. and 108th overall selections) with Arizona to move from 44th to 35th and select Ratcliffe (see Day 2 draft tracker). Hextall had two final picks in the seventh round. "He is a prototypical power forward," Hextall said of the 18-year-old. At No. 196, the Flyers took their only defenseman in this draft, overage "Didn't quite have the power down yet in terms of his body. He needs to Wyatt Kalynuk, who is 6-2, 186 and 20 years old. put some weight on and add strength. Real excited about him." "Really good skater," Hextall said. "Good mobility and size, good puck The Flyers came into the draft with 11 picks and ended up with nine skills. He's been through drafts and he's going to Wisconsin, which we because of a couple deals. They finished with seven forwards (three left really like. So we have four years with him." wingers), one D-man, a goalie, and have 10 picks already stockpiled for 2018, too. Ironically, Hextall traded their final pick at No. 199 to Montreal for a seventh-round pick next year so the Canadiens could choose goalie Speaking of goalies, Hextall didn't foresee himself taking one early in the Cayden Primeau, who happens to be Keith Primeau's son. draft. Yet he did, selecting Russian Kirill Ustimenko at No. 80 in the third round. Habs GM Marc Bergevin called and asked for the pick. "I'm not gonna chase a goalie," Hextall said days earlier. "I thought he would go sooner than he did," Hextall said. Did he chase this kid? Well, Ustimenko, 18, was considered to be a Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 possible sleeper. NHL Central Scouting had him ranked fifth internationally. The Flyers saw a lot of him overseas. "We did not chase him," Hextall said. "We were surprised he fell there. We actually talked about him much earlier. Our guys really liked him and our comfort level was better than other teams." The 6-foot-3, 187-pound Ustimenko catches left and had some impressive numbers in 27 games for MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg this season with a 1.74 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. If you are keeping track, that's Anthony Stolarz, Carter Hart, Alex Lyon, Felix Sandstrom, Matej Tomek and now Ustimenko. That's an enormous number of Flyers goalie prospects at this point. Left winger Matthew Strome fell into their laps in the fourth round, where the Flyers had back-to-back picks at 106 and 107. They took Strome (No. 106), the third brother in recent drafts, joining Dylan (2015 draft/Coyotes) and Ryan (2011/Islanders), who has played 258 games for New York. "Call a spade a spade — his skating has to improve," Hextall said of Matthew. "We all know it. He's a good hockey player with good size. He makes plays, scores goals and knows how to play the game. "He's got one deficiency there he can focus on and we like where we got him. It's up to Matthew to put the work in." A 6-3, 207-pound left winger, Strome, 18, was projected to go in the second round. Upset? "Not really," Strome replied. "Just being drafted and being one of the top 300 players or whatever it is, just to be honored, it's very special. "I'm going to use it as motivation to prove people wrong. If people did think I slipped down, I'm gonna prove them wrong, that they made the wrong choice." He said "all" the attention in his family has been on his brothers. Now it's his turn. His brothers helped prepare him for the moment. 1069164 Philadelphia Flyers

Ron Hextall doesn't make move for veteran goalie; Steve Mason 'still in the mix'

Tim Panaccio June 24, 2017 3:45 PM

CHICAGO — While the Flyers picked up a young first-round centerman in Nolan Patrick — who many feel will be in their lineup this season — at this weekend's NHL draft, they returned home with one major dilemma unresolved. They still don't have a veteran goalie to pair with Michal Neuvirth next season. The draft is usually a pretty good place to piece together a deal for a goalie about to become a free agent or one already under contract who a team might be willing to move. In the Flyers' case, general manager Ron Hextall said nothing came about. That might be because a couple of teams made some moves prior to the draft involving goalies and there doesn't seem to be a rush to fill the spots. "I didn't expect to [do a deal]," Hextall said. "I would have liked to have it done a month ago. But I am not going to do something just for the sake of having something in place. "We are going to do our due diligence. Sometimes you have to wait and sometimes it's part of the process to see what is out there. It's a high priority. We have to get something in place." Three teams have three goalies — Arizona, Dallas and Carolina. And there are several in free agency. Hextall likes to get a jump on free agency but … "I don't know," he replied when asked if that is where he's headed. Maybe a trade? Again, no commitment. Hextall said he's not worried. "My comfort level is there are a number of goalies out there," Hextall said. "So, there's not six No. 1 spots out there and just one goalie. I have comfort in that. "We are still doing our due diligence and in the end, it's probably going to come down to a guy we take and term and money. I might like this guy, but is he asking unreal term? We'll go somewhere else. I keep telling you, [Steve Mason] is still in the mix." Like a lifeboat in the vast ocean. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069165 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers move up to draft Isaac Ratcliffe, who is 'going to be a force in the future'

Tim Panaccio June 24, 2017 11:50 AM

CHICAGO — Isaac Ratcliffe was the biggest player in this year's NHL draft at 6-foot-6, though a little light at 200 pounds for that frame. He plays like at the net with a physical edge and he's a left winger, too. How badly did the Flyers want him? So much so, they moved their second-round pick (44) along with a third (75) and fourth (108) to Arizona on Saturday morning to take the Coyotes' pick at No. 35 and select the big winger from the OHL's Guelph Storm (see Day 2 tracker). "They definitely showed interest and going through a trade like that to get me here, it definitely makes me feel happier where I am," Ratcliffe said. "Even on top of all the emotions and the excitement I am feeling right now, being in this organization and city, it's definitely going to be awesome for the future." He models his game after the Rangers' Rick Nash, who is 6-foot-4, 212 pounds. "He's a big guy like myself and he moves well," the 18-year-old Ratcliffe said. "He has that offensive instinct but he plays well in the defensive zone. Any position on the ice, whether power play or penalty kill, he can take over any aspect of the ice with his size and abilities." General manager Ron Hextall forecasted coming into the draft that the Flyers would be looking to beef up on the wings, given the lack of such on the organizational depth chart. Ratcliffe plays both sides of the ice. He met with the Flyers at the NHL Scouting Combine, but most of the contact came before that with amateur scout Rick Pracey. Ratcliffe seems like a prototypical Flyer. "I'm a big guy, I think I can play both offensively and defensively," he said. "Really, that full-ice game and playing all areas in the zone. Adding that to their lineup, and being able to maneuver my way into their lineup, being with a lot of those guys ... I think I can bring a lot to the table." He was ranked 15th by NHL Central Scouting. "Coming into the draft, I didn't have any expectations," Ratcliffe said. "I knew how unpredictable it can be. I know there are a lot of great players in this draft. I didn't know if I'd go [Friday] or today." His goal is to add more speed to his game and to fill out his tall frame. "I'm definitely going to have to get a lot stronger, too, to try and make my way to the next level," he said. "I need to prove to them they made the right pick here. I'm still developing. I got the height now, I need to put on a little weight now to get that size." Ratcliffe had a prediction for Flyers fans, too. "In the next one to two years, you're going to see that progress and start to see how big a player I can be and that I can be one of the top players in this draft with my size, with my talent," Ratcliffe said. "I can definitely be a player who's going to be a force in the future." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069166 Philadelphia Flyers

Ron Hextall, Flyers know what they have in Nolan Patrick

Tim Panaccio June 24, 2017 2:00 AM

CHICAGO — Ron Hextall had no idea which way New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero was leaning. Would Shero take Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier with his No. 1 pick? "I asked Ray 10 minutes before he picked and he wouldn't tell me," Hextall said. "I give him credit. That is what he should have done … I didn't have an expectation one way or the other." Shero wanted a dynamic player to put bodies in the stands at Prudential Center. He chose Hischier. That made it easy for Hextall at No. 2 to select Patrick (see story). If rumors were true that Shero was scared off by Patrick's several injuries this past season at Brandon, well, the Flyers weren't. "What I believe, we gather a lot of information," Hextall said. "There's some stuff out there you want to prove wrong and we did. We're comfortable with the injury part of it. He is a really good young man." Patrick is a two-way player and a natural center. The Flyers have seven centers right now (see story), including Patrick, who is expected to play now. Hextall said he doesn't envision switching Patrick to the wing. "I would rather have too many centers rather than five wingers on each side and no one to go in the middle," Hextall said. Interesting that German Rubtsov, last year's top pick for the Flyers, has already been converted to a left winger since coming to North America to play junior. Will Patrick be a No. 1 center as scouts project? "Nolan has to answer that," Hextall said. "We see a kid with a big body, extremely high hockey sense, really good skill set. You get drafted today? The work starts now and Nolan has to put the work in. "This is another level … this is the National Hockey League. In September, he comes to camp. He needs a big summer." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069167 Philadelphia Flyers

Whoops: Morgan Frost deletes harsh tweet about Flyers from past

Josh Ellis June 24, 2017 12:50 AM

It's a tradition unlike any other. After a player gets drafted, he gains thousands of new fans and new followers on social media, many of whom decide to go back in time to learn a little more. Oftentimes, these hunts through Twitter history unearth a few posts that probably should have never happened or have been deleted a long time ago. Enter Flyers draft pick Morgan Frost. The Flyers traded with the St. Louis Blues to select the 18-year-old Frost with the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft on Friday night and immediately, this Tweet surfaced — which has now been deleted. Morgan Frost tweet Life comes at you fast, Morgan. On that night, the Flyers lost to the Washington Capitals, 7-0, in a game that included a late melee in which Brayden Schenn, involved in this trade, received a game misconduct and goalie Ray Emery traded barbs with Braden Holtby. In another Tweet, Frost was critical of the move the Flyers made to sign Vinny Lecavalier. Lecavlier to flyers for 5 years #wow #overpaid — morgan frost (@_morganfrost_10) July 2, 2013 Born in Barrie, Ontario, Frost can root for any team he wants growing up and fans should probably give him some slack on these tweets surfacing, but a message to everyone on the night before you're going to get drafted: go through your feed and delete anything that could find its way onto this blog. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069168 Philadelphia Flyers on becoming more of a two-way forward. That’s more of the player I want to become.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 Ron Hextall on Flyers' logjam of centers: 'Someone has to play the wing'

Tim Panaccio June 23, 2017 11:40 PM

CHICAGO – The Flyers already have a familiar problem coming out of this NHL draft and heading training camp next fall: they’re too deep at center. Friday night, they added three centers and traded another. Brayden Schenn was sent to St. Louis for the Blues’ 27th pick in the first round, plus a conditional 2018 first-round pick and veteran utility center Jori Lehtera (see story). General manager Ron Hextall wanted to trade back into the first round late and he did so by tabbing Morgan Frost at No. 27 with that Blues’ pick. NHL Central Scouting had Frost ranked 31st among North American skaters. He is a 6-foot, 170-pound forward from Aurora, Ontario. He has raw speed and skill, but scouts say other parts of his game will need time to fill out. Frost had 20 goals and 62 points for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL this past season. Friday’s other first-round pick, Nolan Patrick, is a natural centerman. Patrick is expected to play in the NHL this season. So right now, the Flyers’ centers are Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Valtteri Filppula, , plus Patrick and now Lehtera. Lehtera had 30 goals and 100 points in 218 games with the Blues. He was both a first- and second-line center for the Blues this past season despite weak numbers — seven goals and 22 points in 64 games. He is a decent playmaker and two-way player, who has centered Alex Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko. “He is utility guy with a well-rounded game and can play in the middle,” Hextall said. “We like the player. Gives coach more options.” Best option: Lehtera can move to left wing if needed. “Someone has to play the wing,” Hextall said. “He can play the wing. Our scouts have seen him play the wing, but he plays center most games. I am assuming he prefers center like most of them. Someone has to play wing.” Schenn had improved every year he was with the Flyers, but too much of his scoring is on the power play and not five-on-five. He had 109 goals and 246 points in 424 career games for the Flyers. This deal seems strange unless you consider the Flyers got another first- round pick (Frost) and a top-10 protected, conditional first-rounder next year. The Blues have the option to defer the 2018 first-rounder to 2019 but if they do so, the Flyers will also receive the Blues' 2020 third-round pick. “It was a combination,” Hextall said of the advantages’ from the Flyers side. “It was one of those [trades] that came out of nowhere. Not like we were shopping Brayden. “This deal came along and we really like the draft next year. We like the late pick this year and Jori. It made sense and we got a couple more young players.” Young players like Frost, whom the Flyers are excited about. “Our whole staff really liked the guy,” Hextall said. “He’s an extremely intelligent player, his No. 1 asset. Really smart. Reads the ice well. He has a very deft touch moving the puck. “Good two-way player who showed up good in the testing. We believe he is a kid with a lot of upside. Good speed, but he dissects the game better than most players.” Frost’s father Andy was the longtime former Toronto Maple Leafs PA announcer. “I talked to them a couple times,” Frost said. “I’d say I had a bit of a gut feeling. I wasn’t too sure, but they took me and I’m super happy about it. “I think first and foremost I’m a playmaker. I think I’m a high-skilled player that likes to use his vision and hockey sense to create plays. I’m working 1069169 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers also selected winger Maksim Sushko in the fourth round, forward Noah Cates in the fifth and center Olle Lycksell in the sixth. They took Russian goalie Kirill Ustimenko in the third and defenseman Wyatt Flyers’ youth movement continues, even if it means short-term pain Kalynuk in the seventh. Not all will make it to the NHL, but it’s another sign of the Flyers preparing for the future. Losing Schenn for Lehtera, who had only 22 Dave Isaac points last season and carries a $4.7 million cap hit for two seasons, may hurt in the short term, but the spotlight now shifts to younger players. 4:19 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 “I envision a lot of those minutes going to a young player or two or three,” Hakstol said. “We have to wait and see who’s ready to do that, who’s ready to step in. That’s my thought process.” CHICAGO — With all the different areas general manager Ron Hextall needs to improve the Flyers, decision-making needs to be prioritized and Courier-Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 made quickly. Friday night it came at him fast. He traded Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues for a package that included two first-round picks and was contingent on the Flyers taking Jori Lehtera back in the deal. Hextall used this year’s first round pick to add center Morgan Frost to what had been a thin crop of forwards. The Sault Ste. Marie pivot has “elite” hockey sense, Hextall said, but won’t help in the immediate future. Neither will 6-foot-6 left winger Isaac Ratcliffe, whom Hextall traded up in the second round Saturday to select. While the Flyers may be “methodically getting younger,” Hextall needs to find a way of replacing Schenn’s 25 goals last season. “Yeah, we’re getting younger. A rebuild, absolutely not,” Hextall said. “We have young players. At some point here we have to open up opportunity. We’ll let them play when we feel they’re ready to play. Unlike what people think about our philosophy, we do not want to hold players back. When they’re ready to take that next step we’ll allow them to take that next step. In saying that, we feel like we’ve got some young players who, if they’re not ready they’re close.” Years of talk about patience will come to a head when some of those young players enter the fold. There are two voids on defense expected to be filled by prospects. With Schenn’s departure they will have another void to fill which could come with No. 2 pick Nolan Patrick or Oskar Lindblom or even a bigger piece of the pie for someone who is already in the fold. “It’s a lot, but I think that’s where some of it has to come from,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “Some of the quality minutes that Brayden Schenn has been in, not necessarily all, some of those minutes could go to young players. Not only a couple guys that may be new to the roster this year but a guy like Travis Konecny, guys like that that can benefit from more minutes in more situations.” In addition to Konecny, the Flyers could have an incumbent take on more in the form of Jordan Weal, but the Flyers have to re-sign him first. Hextall and Weal’s agent, JP Barry, were still negotiating Saturday. Hakstol doesn’t want to lose someone who he called “an important part of where we’d like to go.” “Our stance on Jordan hasn’t changed. We’d like to sign him,” Hextall added. “Simple as that. Nothing really has changed for us. We do believe we have a couple guys down that can play so if Jordan chooses to go somewhere else, we’ll figure it out.” Weal, 25, is the same age as Schenn. The addition of Patrick, 18, would make the Flyers a younger club and down the road some of the guys they drafted Saturday. Ratcliffe, who plays for the Guelph Storm, racked up 28 goals in 67 games this season. He could some day be a big force in the paint. “I think in the next one to two years you’re gonna see that progress and you’re gonna start to see how big of a player I can be,” Ratcliffe said. “I believe I can be one of the top players in this draft class. With my size, with my talent and with my progress in the future I definitely could be a player that’s gonna be a force in the future as well.” Of a similar ilk, the Flyers selected Matthew Strome, a 6-foot-2 left wing, in the fourth round. Strome’s brothers, Dylan and Ryan, are in the league already with the Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers respectively. “Theirs was a lot shorter wait than mine,” Strome joked. Both Dylan and Ryan were top-five picks. “But they just said, ‘Take it all in. A team’s gonna want to pick you and then after that you’re owned by them for three years and after that just make the biggest impression you can on them.’” 1069170 Philadelphia Flyers

Voorhees’ Primeau drafted by Canadiens with Flyers’ pick

Dave Isaac 3:27 p.m. ET June 24, 2017

CHICAGO — It was kind of poetic, although no one in the moment caught it. The Flyers traded their seventh-round pick, No. 199, to the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs used it to take Voorhees native Cayden Primeau. The son of ex-Flyers captain Keith is a goalie, a position in the prospect pool that the Flyers have well stocked. “The Flyers had some interest in Cayden as well, but they’ve drafted a lot of goaltenders over the last couple years,” Keith said. “Actually I’m thankful the Flyers gave Montreal the opportunity to draft Cayden. An Original Six team, the ability to pull on a Habs jersey…my mom was crying.” Keith had been Cayden’s coach for years, but on Saturday was “an emotional train wreck,” and credited his son for his ability to be even- keeled on the ice. The younger Primeau is heading to Northeastern University this fall to play for the Huskies. Montreal will have his rights for four years if he stays in school that long. He’s already got experience away from home. This was the first season he was away from home after going to Bishop Eustace for four years. His performance dipped a bit at the next level, playing 30 games for the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League with a 3.16 goals- against average and .895 save percentage. Now he has newfound motivation between being drafted and heading to college. “There really is no one word to describe it all,” Primeau said. “Just being able to be in an organization with great goalies from the past and right now Carey Price, being able to learn from him and take from him on and off the ice puts it above and beyond. “Every time something big happens you think of how you can improve. Ultimately I want to play in the NHL. I want to be a starting goalie for the Canadiens. So anything I can do to get there I’m gonna do my best.” Primeau was three months old when he moved to Voorhees, his father traded to the Flyers by the Carolina Hurricanes for Rod Brind’Amour. Ironically, Brind’Amour’s son Skyler was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round Sunday. At the combine Primeau met with 20 NHL teams, the Flyers among them. “I was surprised. Our group thought he would go sooner than he did,” Hextall said. “I’m glad he went. That’s a start for him. I thought he’d go before that.” Courier-Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069171 Philadelphia Flyers Someone who could be such a big piece to the franchise gets under the microscope even more.

“I believe Nolan’s a really good young man,” Hextall said. “You guys can With Nolan Patrick, Flyers get The Key to the future ask Ivan (Provorov) about him. Really good young man. Works hard, wants to be a National Hockey League player. We couldn’t be more excited to have him on board. The big, prototypical power Dave Isaac centermen…hard to find. They’re really hard to find.” 1:16 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 Courier-Post LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO — If Joel Embiid is The Process then perhaps Nolan Patrick is The Key. His season-claiming injuries, the Flyers hope, are over. He's been medically cleared by the team and could give the team a huge leap forward in becoming contenders again. They have a piece to build around in the middle. The 76ers may be further along in the process — they believe top-pick Markelle Fultz is the final piece of the puzzle and the Flyers still need to add — but Patrick has the potential to be a No. 1 center that could change the landscape for the Flyers. “Nolan’s gonna have to answer that,” general manager Ron Hextall said. “We see a kid with a big body, extremely high hockey sense, really good skill set, but you know what? He got drafted (Friday). The work starts now. Nolan’s gonna have to put the work in. He’s gonna have to do the work. He can play junior hockey and everything else. This is the National Hockey League. In September he’s gonna come to camp and he needs to have a big summer.” The 6-foot-2, 200-pound center was the presumed No. 1 pick for most of the last year. Between injuries keeping him off the ice and Nico Hischier’s meteoric rise, the New Jersey Devils opted to let Patrick go by the top slot. Hextall prepared for both scenarios, knowing either one was going to be a key piece of the future. Devils GM Ray Shero didn’t tip his hand, either. Hextall asked him 10 minutes before the pick was made and he still wouldn’t tell him. “I give him credit. That’s what he should have done,” Hextall said. “He kept it quiet right to the bitter end. Honestly I didn’t have an expectation one way or the other. We liked both players.” Either way, this pick was always going to play a huge part in moving the Flyers back to contention for the Stanley Cup. With a defense corps maturing toward the NHL together and a franchise goalie — probably either Carter Hart or Felix Sandstrom — on the way, a young center that can score was a missing piece. “I still need to make the NHL and establish myself,” Patrick said. “I’m just gonna try to play my game and contribute as much as I can and obviously I think the Flyers are a really good team. You look at their D core coming up they’ve got some real good prospects. I think in a couple years we’ll be a real good team. Even this year coming up they’ve got all the tools to do that.” Patrick comes from a hockey family. His father, Steve, was a first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1980. His uncle, James, was selected by the New York Rangers ninth overall the next year. Both have been the biggest influences in his hockey upbringing. “My dad’s real different from my uncle, their personalities,” Patrick said. “My dad’s a goof and he’s always been a good coach. My uncle is a little more serious. They’ve both been good for me.” The pedigree is there for Patrick and if the expectations of him matching a player like Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar or Chicago’s Jonathan Toews are correct, the Flyers are set for a long time. The Flyers selected Nolan Patrick with the second-overall With all the hype sometimes things can come easy. Hextall recently made that assessment for 2012 first-round pick Scott Laughton, who may have found his game in the minors this season. “Personally, Scotty, I think a lot of things came to him very quickly and I think it hurt him,” Hextall said. “I really do. Last year I think he figured it out.” Laughton played five games in his draft year and was also the captain of Team Canada in the World Junior Championships the next season. Patrick is a different person and different player, but the risk of being handed too much too quickly is something that Hextall is always aware of. 1069172 Philadelphia Flyers

What former Devils think of No. 1 pick Nico Hischier, future of team

June 24, 2017 at 9:24 AM Mark Fischer

NEWARK -- Fourteen years ago, Grant Marshall made his mark with the Devils after scoring off a rebound in triple overtime to send them to the Eastern Conference Final. The retired right wing reminisced about the 2003 Stanley Cup run, including his game-winner against the Lightning, and the day he was drafted by the Maple Leafs a decade earlier as he took in the scene at the Devils Draft Party Friday night. While the Devils are a ways away from contending for another Stanley Cup, the team took a step in the right direction to get back there after taking Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in the draft. Like many fans on hand, Marshall was leaning toward Hischier over Nolan Patrick. "I think I like Nico more, I think he's a little bit more electric," Marshall said, before adding, "Listen, can we have them both? Guess not. I'll take either one." For months leading up to the draft, NHL pundits debated whether Hischier or Patrick should go first overall. Patrick went second overall to the Philadelphia Flyers, as both teams continue to retool their rosters. Following five straight seasons without playoff hockey, there hasn't been much buzz around the Prudential Center since the Devils made a cinderella-like run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. But the atmosphere around the arena during the first round of the draft made it seem like better days are ahead for the franchise. "This is just a great experience, to come here, see this event, see the turnout," former captain Bryce Salvador said. "Everyone having a good time for something as special as this. It doesn't happen often, unless you're Edmonton," he added with a smile. The Oilers had the first selection in the draft four times in the past eight seasons, including three in a row from 2010-2012, a streak that began with current Devil Taylor Hall going to Edmonton with the top pick. Salvador understands that in order for franchises to have sustained success, they'll have to go through a dark age. "Pittsburgh was really bad for a long time," Salvador said, referencing the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions. "Chicago was really bad for a long time. Los Angeles was bad for a long time. So you have to go through a period of this." Those three teams have combined to win the last six Stanley Cups. Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069173 Philadelphia Flyers

The Nico Hischier vs. Nolan Patrick debate is just starting for Devils and Flyers

June 24, 2017 at 6:05 AM Chris Ryan

Now that Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick are officially off the board as the top two picks of the 2017 NHL Draft, the debate between the two can stop, right? No, it's just getting started. The toss up between the two as the No. 1 overall pick was settled when the Devils took Hischier first on Friday at the NHL Draft in Chicago, with Patrick going No. 2 to the Flyers. But Patrick's landing spot ensures the debate will rage on. Potentially for years, if not decades. If the two stick with their respective organizations, they will meet at least four times per season while playing about one hour away from each other. What Hischier wants to improve The two did get to know each other throughout the Draft process, and while both made the push for the top pick, they got to know and like each other. "I got to know him better, and he's a great guy, really funny," Hischier said. "I'm really happy for him as well, and he's happy for me." After Devils general manager called Hischier's name from the podium, Patrick congratulated Hischier after he donned the red and black jersey. "I really appreciated it," Hischier said. "Not every guy is doing that." The dynamic will likely shift a bit once they start playing in games against each other, as the Devils and Flyers already have enough tension built up in the rivalry. But for now, Hischier is just relieved to know where he's playing. "I'm really happy to know now where I am and which team I'm on," he said. "Now I can focus on the summer and practice. One thing I know, tonight I really want to enjoy tonight with my family and enjoy the moment." Star Ledger LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069174 Pittsburgh Penguins

New Penguins defenseman Ryan Reaves relishes enforcer role

Jonathan Bombulie Saturday, June 24, 2017, 6:47 p.m.

The last time imposing winger Ryan Reaves played at PPG Paints Arena, he scored a pretty second-period breakaway goal in January to help his St. Louis Blues beat the Penguins. When he got home from the road trip, he shared a thought with his wife. “I keep having good games against Pittsburgh,” Reaves recalled saying. “They're probably going to trade for me one day.” “I was literally just joking, but here we are.” Here we are, indeed. Reaves was traded to the Penguins on Friday night for prospect Oskar Sundqvist and a swap of draft picks. Reaves said the news shook him emotionally. The 30-year-old from Winnipeg worked his way up through the ranks in the Blues system, starting in the ECHL in Alaska and spending four long years in the AHL in Peoria before establishing himself as an NHL player in 2010-11. The blue note on his chest had become part of his identity. “I call St. Louis home now,” he said Saturday. “It was a little shocking to be traded.” Now, when the shock wears off, Reaves' identity will be formed by protecting some of the game's greatest stars. General manager Jim Rutherford said the acquisition of Reaves was in large part a response to seeing players such as Sidney Crosby getting manhandled over the past two seasons. The chiseled, tattooed, 6-foot-1 right wing figures he can help with that. “I'm always playing physical. I play physical before anything else,” Reaves said. “I think that buys guys on my team a little extra room, maybe a little more security on the ice, knowing that if you go run one of our guys, I'm coming and I'm 230 pounds coming at you. Maybe think twice.” In the early days of his NHL career, Reaves might have gone about playing his role by simply asking the toughest player on the other team to fight. That's how it was usually done back then. From 2010-14, he fought 38 times. Lately, though, he has refined his approach. Over the past three seasons, he has recorded only 19 fighting majors. “I think I do it more with my presence on the ice,” Reaves said. “I think everybody knows that when they come after guys on my team, that wakes me up instantly and it makes me go after their guys. I've changed my game to the point where I can catch those guys. I can catch guys who play big minutes or are the superstars in this league. I'm not just trying to run a guy who can't turn. “I think I'm more of a presence than a guy who's just going to go beat up somebody if something happens, but that's also sometimes part of the game.” As his time in the penalty box has decreased, so has his time in the 40- yard dash. Two summers ago, Reaves said he refocused his offseason training regimen on improving his footspeed. It was a necessity in the modern NHL. “They were telling me I needed to get faster to keep up with the pace of the game and the pace of the NHL, so that's what I did,” Reaves said. He posted career highs with seven goals, 13 points and almost nine minutes of even-strength ice time per game last season. As such, he doesn't think he'll be left behind when he joins a Penguins team that makes playing with pace a top priority. “I know the East is a little more wide open,” Reaves said. “I know Pittsburgh plays with a lot of speed. Obviously I'm going to have to adapt a little bit more, so I'm going to be on it this offseason, trying to get a little faster.” Tribune Review LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069175 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford turns attention to centers

Patrick Williams Saturday, June 24, 2017, 5:57 p.m.

CHICAGO — With the draft completed, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford will turn his focus toward his NHL roster. The deal that brought in tough winger Ryan Reaves on Friday night cost Rutherford young center Oskar Sundqvist. After Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the depth chart thins out down the middle for the Penguins with uncertain futures for Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen, who will be unrestricted free agents. “(Center is) the priority,” Rutherford said Saturday. “We have to see what Nick is going to do. We've been talking to him and his agent. Hopefully we can figure out something there, but if not, we have some options that we'll be comfortable with.” Rutherford plans on a busy week before the free-agency period opens July 1st. “We're going to have to be fairly busy because we've got some holes to fill,” he said. “I'm going to check back in and see where these (unrestricted) guys are at. If I don't know for sure by July 1, we're going to have to look at our options. We've put a plan together, got a list of players, but it will be a busy week trying to fill it all in.” Cullen's future is also unclear, and Rutherford is not sure whether the 40- year-old veteran will retire. “I'm not making any assumptions,” Rutherford said. “I'm not sure what to think about that.” Depending on how the roster shakes out this summer, one possibility for an expanded role is Carter Rowney, who played center and right wing during the second half of last season. “He can play both (positions), and that's a real advantage,” Rutherford said. “We like him at center, and if he ends up being our fourth-line center, we're happy with that.” However, Jake Guentzel is not a possibility to play center. “We'd prefer him to play the wing,” Rutherford said. Rutherford also has at least one hole to fill on defense with Trevor Daley and Ron Hainsey headed to unrestricted free agency. “It depends what happens with Daley,” Rutherford said. “That could be a possibility, a trade or a free agent, depending on where we think he is going to end up numbers-wise.” One aspect of the lineup that Rutherford is content with is team toughness after the addition of Reaves. “It takes the pressure off to go in that direction,” Rutherford explained. “If a player comes along that has that, then that's fine. But I don't feel any pressure to add any more. That guy can take care of a lot.” One carrot that Rutherford can offer his pending free agents is an opportunity to play for a team that will pursue its third consecutive Stanley Cup next season — but that's useful only up to a point. “You'd like to think it helps because it's fair to say they all want to come back,” Rutherford said. “But they've worked hard for a big payday, and when you're in a cap system, as much as you'd like to bring them back, you might not be able to.” “They're going to do what they think is best for themselves.” Tribune Review LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069176 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins go after defense in NHL Draft

Patrick Williams Saturday, June 24, 2017, 1:57 p.m.

CHICAGO — Twelve hours after addressing the toughness void on their NHL roster, the Penguins went about replenishing their prospect pipeline at the draft. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford and his scouting team started by choosing a pair of defensemen, a position he said was a priority. The Penguins used their second-round choice, acquired from St. Louis in a swap of picks in the Ryan Reaves trade the night before, to select defenseman Zachary Lauzon from Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 51st overall. Next up in the third round, 93rd overall, was blue-liner Clayton Phillips from Fargo of the United States Hockey League. “We have a very specific style of play that we like to play,” Penguins director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton said. “We like defensemen that are mobile, have great vision and can move the puck.” Said Rutherford: “The way the game is played today, it's important to have (mobility).” Lauzon, 18, is 6-foot, 187 pounds and captained Rouyn-Noranda this past season. He had three goals and 18 assists to go with 90 penalty minutes in 63 regular-season games. His work earned him the Award as the QMJHL's best defensive defenseman, an award Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won in 2007. “You never know what to expect,” said Lauzon, who had interviewed twice with Penguins management before the draft. “I wasn't expecting to be drafted this early, so I'm very happy and just can't believe it.” When asked to provide a self-assessment of his game, Lauzon said, “I think I'm a good two-way defenseman, but what stands out in my game is my defensive play. I'm very physical. I compete very hard. I'm excellent in my one-on-one battles, so that's what I'm going to try to bring to the Penguins.” The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Phillips will turn 18 on Sept. 9. He will return to Fargo this coming season and eventually play at the University of Minnesota. He had seven goals and 13 assists in 56 regular-season games for Fargo this past season. Phillips already has ties to the Penguins. Minnesota associate coach Mike Guentzel, the father of Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, helped recruit Phillips to play for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota hired Penguins amateur scout Scott Bell as an assistant coach June 12th. The Penguins added two more defensemen in the last two rounds. In the sixth, they took Finnish puck mover Antti Palojarvi. In the seventh, with the final pick in the draft, they chose 6-3 Will Reilly, who had 15 points as a freshman at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute last season. They took two European forwards in the fifth round, adding Slovenian winger Jan Drozg 152nd overall and Swedish center Linus Olund 155th. Tribune Review LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069177 Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins will host National Women's Hockey League game in Cranberry

Jeremy Boren Saturday, June 24, 2017, 10:54 a.m.

The National Women's Hockey League will play a regular season game and host a hockey clinic in 2018 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Friday. The game and clinic will be held Jan. 14, 2018, as part of the NHL Girls Youth Cup, a tournament the Penguins will host. In February, the Penguins and NWHL held the 2017 All-Star Game, Skills Showdown and Clinic. “After a terrific All-Star Weekend, we're excited to have the National Women's Hockey League back to Pittsburgh next season,” said , President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The NWHL teams that will play next year will be announced when the league releases its schedule this summer. “The Penguins are the champions of the NHL, and they continue to show that they are also dedicated champions of women's hockey,” NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore said in a news release. This is the NWHL's third season. The league is the “first professional women's hockey league in North America to pay its players and share in revenue from select apparel sales.” The four founding teams are the , , Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. Tribune Review LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069178 Pittsburgh Penguins It’ll be a bittersweet moment for Reaves, who was drafted by the Blues in 2005. He had become a fan favorite in St. Louis, and had received no indication that he could be traded as the draft approached this week. Reaves ready to bring physical presence to Penguins' lineup “It was a little weird, but that’s the business,” he said. And then, after that wore off, he saw the brighter side of the situation. SAM WERNER “I’ve made a lot of really good friends there over the years, and we’ve got 5:21 PM JUN 24, 2017 a really tight group there,” he said. “Then it sunk in a little bit, ‘I’m going to the Stanley Cup champions. I guess I could be going to worse places.’”

Post Gazette LOADED: 06.25.2017 CHICAGO — After the Blues were eliminated from the playoffs this spring, Ryan Reaves still watched the remaining rounds. He saw the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, and he saw the physical treatment their star players got from opposing teams. Now, it’ll be his job to stop it. The Penguins acquired Reaves in exchange for a first-round pick and center Oskar Sundqvist Friday night, and Reaves is well aware of his job description when he arrives in Pittsburgh. “Being able to patrol the ice in a way that’s not going to hurt my team, and clear up some room for those top guys,” Reaves said. “I know obviously watching the playoffs, Sid and Malkin and a lot of the top guys took a lot of abuse, and they had nobody to really set the tone or push back. I’m coming in there to make sure those guys are taken care of, and also play a responsible game, help out the team any way I can.” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was very clear that the goal in acquiring Reaves was adding a bit of a physical edge to the Penguins’ lineup, and Reaves is up to that task. That doesn’t mean, though, dropping the gloves every game next season. Reaves pointed out that fighting is on the decline league-wide, and he has personally gotten in fewer fights over the past two seasons. “It’s more just making sure everybody on the ice knows I’m coming every night,” Reaves said. “You go run one of my guys, you’ve got 230 pounds coming right back at you. Sometimes that makes guys think twice. When you’re 190 pounds soaking wet and you’re going after somebody on my team, and you’ve got somebody that’s 230 coming after you, sometimes it’s a deterrent, sometimes it’s not. But I think that’s kind of how I’ve established myself over the last year.” That mini-reinvention has also included a focus on his skating ability, which will be absolutely essential for Reaves to fit into the Penguins’ up- tempo system. For as much as Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan wanted to add Reaves’ physicality, they didn’t want to do it at the expense of a lineup spot for a player that can’t keep up. They believe Reaves can, as both praised his skating ability Friday night. Reaves said leg strength and power has been his primary focus in training over the past year. “A lot of skating with weighted vests, a lot of jumps with weighted vests,” he said. “Just to get faster, a lot stronger in my legs, get more powerful. I know Pittsburgh’s a very fast team, they play with a lot of pace, so obviously it’s going to be a big focus for me going forward this summer, too.” Clayton Phillips meets with assistant general manager Bill Guerin after being selected 93rd overall by the Penguins during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center Saturday in Chicago, Illinois. Reaves isn’t being brought in to be a top-six, scoring winger for the Penguins, but when they’re at their best, all four lines are chipping in offensively. That means Reaves knows he’ll have to pull his weight there, too. “I’m not bringing 50 goals to this team,” he said. “I don’t think that’s why I’ve been brought in here, but obviously you have to be able to chip in and play responsibly in this league now.” His first opportunity to do so in a Penguins’ jersey will come next fall, against a team he’s all too familiar with. In the hours after being traded away from the only NHL franchise he has ever played for, Reaves didn’t take the time to look up his new team’s schedule for next season. He eventually did, and saw “Oct. 4, St. Louis” as the first game listed. “I literally dropped my phone,” Reaves said. “Like ‘Oh my God, they’re starting against St. Louis.’” 1069179 Pittsburgh Penguins

Lauzon 'overwhelmed' to go to Penguins in second round

SAM WERNER 12:10 PM JUN 24, 2017

CHICAGO — Zachary Lauzon knew NHL Draft weekend was going to be a bit of a surreal experience. So when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions called his name midway through the second round, that only added to it. “It goes by really fast and it’s overwhelming,” Lauzon, 18, said. “I kind of blacked out when it happened.” The Penguins made Lauzon, a left-handed defenseman from the Rouyn- Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, their first pick of the weekend at No. 51 overall Saturday morning. “Everybody says when you get drafted, you don’t have words to describe it,” Lauzon said. “It’s true. The feeling is just overwhelming. It's incredible to be drafted by such a classy organization, and a successful one. It’s really something amazing.” Lauzon, a native of Val d’Or, Quebec, measures in a 6 feet tall and 185 pounds. He had three goals and 18 assists for Rouyn-Noranda this season, with a +42 +/-. Perhaps most importantly, though, he was selected as this year’s winner of the Kevin Lowe Trophy, given annually the the best defensive defenseman in the QMJHL. Current Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won the same award in 2007. As far as NHL players go, Lauzon said he tries to model his game after San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. “I think I'm a good two-way defenseman,” Lauzon said. “What stands out of my game is really my defensive play. I’m very physical, I compete very hard, I’m excellent in my one-on-one battles, so that’s what I’m going to try to bring to the Penguins.” Moving forward, Lauzon said he specifically hopes to improve his skating ability and strength to help pave his eventually path to the NHL. “You have to be fast on your skates, and that’s what I think every player needs to improve, and that’s what I’m going to try and improve this summer,” he said. “And just obviously get stronger. The guys are so big at the next level, so get stronger physically and just be a better skater. That’s what I’m going to concentrate on.” Lauzon said he met with the Penguins twice throughout the draft process, but still had no idea coming into Saturday they would pull the trigger on picking him. He was No. 143 out of North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting’s final prospect rankings. “You never know what to expect, you never know what can happen in a draft,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to be drafted this early, so I’m just very happy. I still can’t believe it.” He also can’t quite believe that he will soon share a locker room with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two players he grew up watching and idolizing. “It is surreal,” Lauzon said. “All the hockey cards I have from these guys, all the NHL video games. I don’t really believe it’s happening right now, so I’m just trying to just enjoy it because it’s amazing.” Post Gazette LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069180 Pittsburgh Penguins Phillips is committed to enroll at the University of Minnesota in 2018. He was recruited there partially by assistant coach Mike Guentzel, father of Penguins’ winger Jake Guentzel. Mike was in attendance at the United Penguins focus on defensemen at day two of NHL Draft Center for Phillips’ selection Saturday. “He was pretty happy, that’s for sure,” Phillips said. SAM WERNER He wasn’t the only one, either. 4:44 PM JUN 24, 2017 “It’s the best you can get, without a doubt,” Phillips said. “[The Penguins] just won back-to-back Cups. For me, I’ve always been a huge Penguins fan. To actually be drafted by them, it really is just unbelievable and a dream come true.” CHICAGO — If Jim Rutherford’s objective at the NHL Draft this weekend wasn’t clear enough going in, it only became more and more apparent Lauzon and Phillips were soon joined by a trio of European prospects in with each pick the Penguins made. Drozg, Olund, and Palojarvi. Drozg and Olund play in Sweden, while Palojarvi is in Finland. Load up on defensemen. Lots of them. Drozg is expected to come to North American and play in the Canadian The Penguins spent four of their six picks on blue-liners in rounds two Hockey League next season, while Olund and Palojarvi will spend at through seven of the draft Saturday, after not making a first-round pick least one more season in Europe. All three, though, will be in Pittsburgh Friday night. next week for the team’s prospect camp. “That’s fair to say [that we wanted to take defensemen], and we did,” Post Gazette LOADED: 06.25.2017 general manager Jim Rutherford said. “We’re real pleased because the first two guys we took, we could have easily taken at 31. Of course it’s always debatable about this, whether it’s right or wrong. Time will tell. But we’re pretty pleased with the players that we selected.” The Penguins acquired Ryan Reaves in exchange for a first-round pick Friday night. Those first two guys Rutherford was referring two are Zachary Lauzon (second round, No. 51 overall) and Clayton Phillips (third round, 93rd overall), both defensemen. They were joined in the Penguins’ draft class by winger Jan Drozg (5th round, 152nd overall), center Linus Olund (5th round, 155th overall) and defensemen Antti Palojarvi (6th round, 186th overall) and William Reilly (7th round, 217th overall). Beyond just restocking the farm system on the blue line, though, the Penguins were looking for some specific skill sets out of the defensemen they took. “There’s certain criteria they have to meet for defenseman,” Penguins director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton said. “They have be mobile, they have to have vision and they have to be able to move the puck. We don’t like clydesdales, we like thoroughbreds. All these d-men can skate.” That’s a vital skill to have in the NHL these days, especially in the up- tempo system the Penguins like to employ. “The way the game’s played today, it’s important to have,” Rutherford said. “Smart players can get away without it, but the more mobile you are, the easier it’s going to be for them to make it.” The Penguins believe Lauzon fits that bill, and that’s why they made him their first selection of this draft Saturday morning. Lauzon had three goals and 18 assists for Rouyn-Noranda of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. He also won the league’s Kevin Lowe Trophy, given annually the the best defensive defenseman QMJHL. Current Penguins defenseman Kris Letang won the same award in 2007. Clayton Phillips meets with assistant general manager Bill Guerin after being selected 93rd overall by the Penguins during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center Saturday in Chicago, Illinois. “I think I'm a good two-way defenseman,” Lauzon said. “What stands out of my game is really my defensive play. I’m very physical, I compete very hard, I’m excellent in my one-on-one battles, so that’s what I’m going to try to bring to the Penguins.” Sexton agreed that Lauzon’s scoring numbers might not pop off the page, but his skill set fits what the Penguins are looking for. “He’s a tremendous skater, got great vision, he moves the puck well,” Sexton said. “He’s not as offensive-oriented as other people, but he defends very well. Highly competitive, he’ll fit right in in Pittsburgh.” Lauzon was the first member of the Penguins’ 2017 draft class, but he was joined shortly thereafter by Phillips, who the Penguins chose out of Fargo of the USHL. Like Lauzon, Phillips’ offensive numbers aren’t overwhelming — seven goals and 13 assists in 56 USHL games this season — but Sexton likes what he sees. “Both Zach and Clayton will have more of an offensive role on their team next year, so we do expect to see their offensive production improve,” Sexton said. “But I would define them more as mobile, transitional, puck- moving defensemen.” 1069181 San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Thornton, Marleau set to enter uncharted waters

Paul Gackle June 24, 2017 at 1:08 PM

SAN JOSE — Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau appear to be headed into uncharted waters. Unless the Sharks re-sign the pending-unrestricted free agents to contract extensions Saturday, both players will receive the opportunity to start interviewing with other teams for the first time in their careers with organization on Sunday. Thornton and Marleau are both slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. In his 12 years with the Sharks, Thornton has signed three contract extensions with the team (2007, 2010, 2014), all three-year deals, without testing the free agent market. Marleau has re-signed with the Sharks four times (2005, 2007, 2010, 2014) during his 19 seasons with the club without entering unrestricted free agency. Both players inked three-year contract extensions with the team on Jan. 24, 2014. Marleau is the Sharks all-time leader in points (1,082), goals (508) and games played (1,493) while Thornton ranks second on the team’s all- time scoring list (937), second in games played (914) and first in assists (722). Both players expressed a desire to remain with the Sharks after the team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in April. “We’ve had conversations with them all along, both the agents and the players. I’ll just leave it at that,” general manager Doug Wilson said. “They are cornerstone players that we’ll treat with great respect.” The Sharks will be able to extend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents Chris Tierney, Marcus Sorensen, Barclay Goodrow, Nikita Jevpalovs, Patrick McNally and Mantas Armalis starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069182 San Jose Sharks The selection continues the Sharks trend of using the draft to stockpile centermen. The Sharks used their first-three picks in last year’s draft to select centers Dylan Gambrell, and Manuel Wiederer. Sharks replace Mueller with another defenseman in draft General manager Doug Wilson believes a team can never be too deep down the middle and the Sharks tend to acquire centers, like Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl and Melker Karlsson, who have the flexibility to Paul Gackle play on the wing. June 24, 2017 at 2:49 PM “We’re looking for guys that can play hockey,” Wilson said. “We’ve got a lot of competition there (at center), whether they end up at the center position or wing will be decided by their game.” SAN JOSE — Exit Mirco Mueller, enter Mario Ferraro. But unlike Norris, Gambrell and Gregor, Reedy isn’t a high-flying centerman who will augment the organization’s speed at forward. Listed The Sharks replaced a former-top blue line prospect in the second round at 6-foot-2, 204 pounds, Reedy is known for his physicality, the presence of the 2017 NHL Draft in Chicago Saturday, using one of the picks (No. he brings to the net-front area and his shifty playmaking ability. 49) they acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the Mueller trade last weekend to acquire a slick-skating defenseman from the United States “Size is a big part of my game,” Reedy said. “I’m a skilled power forward. Hockey League. I’ve got a lot of creativity in my game.” With the No. 49 pick, the Sharks selected Mario Ferraro, a mobile, puck- Although the 18-year-old center is considered deceptively quick for his moving blue liner who collected 41 points (8g, 33a) in 60 games for the size, he will be looking to add speed to his game in college, increasing last season. the strength of his power-twitch muscles to improve his acceleration. “I haven’t been the biggest defenseman for most of my life, so I’ve had to “Just keep working on my leg strength,” Reedy said, describing his post- rely on my skating ability and my quickness out there,” said Ferraro, draft game plan. “Keep getting quicker, those first three strides. I think who’s listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. that’s really important.” Like Mueller, Ferraro has the elite-skating talent to potentially thrive in the Reedy collected 42 points (22g, 20a) in 60 games with the U.S. Under-18 modern NHL where mobile defensemen are all the rage in the wake of National Team last season. the Nashville Predators run to the Stanley Cup Final. Sixth and seventh rounds “It’s a big part of the game,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “You always talk about looking where the game is at and where it’s With the No. 159 pick, the Sharks drafted right wing Jacob McGrew of going, and his style of hockey certainly fits.” the WHL’s . McGrew is an Orange County-native who grew up playing in the Kings junior hockey program. Mueller’s development hit a snag after he was rushed into the NHL as a 19-year-old rookie during the 2014-15 season. The Sharks are hoping for McGrew, who’s listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, missed the entire 2016- a better outcome with Ferraro, who recognizes that his game will require 17 season with a lower-body injury. a lot of growth and development before he can bring his swift-skating abilities to the world’s top league. The Sharks acquired a second sixth-round pick (No. 185) from the Devils for the No. 205 pick and the No. 214 pick. The 18-year-old defenseman is determined to improve his shot, so he can create more offense from the backend, like Norris Trophy winner With the 185th pick, the Sharks selected center Alexander “Sasha” Brent Burns. He also wants to make strides with his decision making Chmelevski, who racked up 43 points (21g, 22a) in 58 games with the abilities. In the NHL, he won’t be able to compensate for poor choices Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League last year. with his speed. Chmelevski is a cerebral player, who was named the OHL’s scholastic “Watching San Jose, Brent Burns has such a great shot from the point. player of the year this season. Like McGrew, Chmelevski is an Orange That’s one thing I really want to work on in the future,” Ferraro said. “I County native. also want to work on knowing when and when not to go up in the play. At “California (hockey’s) been growing ever since the (Anaheim) Ducks won the end of the day, I’ve got to work on everything.” the Cup, now the Kings,” Chmelevski said. “Hopefully, the Sharks do So much excitement from Mario Ferraro after joining the #SJSharks soon. and the @NHLNetwork booth on Day 2 of the #NHLDraft. “I’m super excited. That’s the first thing my mom said to me when she pic.twitter.com/532SPTOZHr hugged me. She said, we’re going back (to California).” — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 24, 2017 The selections of McGrew and Chmelevski mark the first time in The 18-year-old defenseman will receive an opportunity to hone those franchise history that the Sharks have selected two California natives in aspects of his game when he kicks off his NCAA hockey career at the same draft. UMass in the fall. “It’s great,” Wilson said. “A lot of the athletes that have other sports to Although Ferraro is considered undersized, scouts tend to agree that he choose are choosing hockey. plays a big man’s game. Ferraro wants to be a mobile defense who plays “They’re from California, but it really didn’t matter to us. They’e good with an edge, like his hero Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. hockey players.” “He competes. That’s really all you want no matter what size you have,” The Sharks drafted Russian center Ivan Chekhovich from Baie-Comeau Wilson said. “They say he plays big, but to me, it just transfers over to Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with their final pick that he’s going to defend, he’s going to jump in and he’s going to (No. 212). Chekhovich recorded 59 points (26g, 33a) in 60 games last compete in all situations.” year. Fourth round San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 06.25.2017 The Sharks moved up in the fourth round from No. 123 to No. 102 by sending a pair of picks to the New York Rangers (No. 123, No. 174). With the 102nd pick, the team drafted center Scott Reedy, an incoming freshman at the University of Minnesota. The No. 123 pick that the Sharks dealt to the Rangers was also acquired in the Mueller trade with the Devils last weekend. Reedy spent the last two seasons playing in the U.S. development program where he developed a strong friendship with Josh Norris, the Sharks first-round selection. “It makes it that much more special that we’ll be going to the Sharks together,” Reedy said. “I’m very excited to get things going with him.” 1069183 San Jose Sharks

Sharks draft 2 Californians in NHL draft

Staff Writer 7:15 pm, Saturday, June 24, 2017

The Sharks have selected two California-born players in the same draft for the first time in franchise history. San Jose selected five players Saturday on the second day of the NHL draft, bringing its draft class to six overall. After selecting 18-year-old center Josh Norris with the 19th overall selection on Friday night, the Sharks on Saturday picked 18-year-old defenseman Mario Ferraro (second round, 49th overall) from Des Moines of the United States Hockey League; 18-year-old center Scott Reedy (fourth round, 102nd selection), a teammate of Norris on the U.S. U-18 national development program; 18-year-old right wing Jacob McGrew (sixth round, 159th pick) from Spokane of the Western Hockey League; 18-year-old center Alexander “Sasha” Chmelevski (sixth round, 185th pick) from Ontario Hockey League team Ottawa; and 18-year-old left wing Ivan Chekhovich (seventh round, 212th pick) from Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who represented Russia at the U-18 World Junior Championships. McGrew, who missed the 2016-17 season with a lower body injury, is from Orange (Orange County) and Chmelevski was born in Huntington Beach (Orange County) and represented the U.S. at the 2015 World U- 17 Hockey Challenge. Ferraro will attend the University of Massachussetts in the fall, and Reedy will attend the University of Minnesota. Around the league: The Calgary Flames made the biggest move on Day 2 of the draft, acquiring defenseman Travis Hamonic in a trade with the New York Islanders. Hamonic, 26, who made his NHL debut in 2010 and had spent his entire career with the Islanders, had three goals and 11 assists in 49 games last season. Calgary also acquired a fourth-round pick in 2019 or 2020 from New York for first- and second-round picks next year and a second-round pick in 2019 or 2020. The Flames finished fourth in the Pacific Division last season and were swept by Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. The second day of the draft began with Colorado taking defenseman Conor Timmins with the first pick of the second round, and Philadelphia traded three draft picks to Arizona to jump up to No. 35 for 6-foot-6 Isaac Ratcliffe. The 18-year-old forward had 28 goals and 26 assists last season for Guelph of the OHL, but there are some questions about his skating ability. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights continued to stock their organization, picking up defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Jake Leschyshyn in the second round. Leschyshyn’s father, Curtis, won the Stanley Cup in 1996 with Colorado. Sharks 2017 draft selections 1st round, 19th overall: Josh Norris, 19, center 2nd, 49th: Mario Ferraro, 18, defenseman 4th, 102nd: Scott Reedy, 18, center 6th, 159th: Jacob McGrew, 18, right wing 6th, 185th: Alexander “Sasha” Chmelevski, 18, center 7th, 212th: Ivan Chekhovich, 18, left wing San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069184 San Jose Sharks

Sharks conclude 2017 NHL Draft with five more forwards in the system

Kevin Kurz June 24, 2017 12:04 PM

CHICAGO – After nabbing a center in the first round on Friday, the Sharks added four more forwards and one defenseman to conclude the second day of the annual NHL Entry Draft on Saturday, held this year at United Center. The Sharks weren’t explicitly trying to restock their forward cabinet, according to general manager Doug Wilson and scouting director Tim Burke, although the club did make two separate moves in surrendering some later round picks to move up in the fourth round (to take center Scott Reedy) and sixth round (to take left wing Sasha Chmelevski). First, though, it was defenseman Mario Ferraro in the second round at 49th overall. The offensive defenseman was a player that the Sharks targeted, using the pick they acquired from New Jersey last Friday as part of the trade for Mirco Mueller. “He’s got a lot of speed, offensive guy, exciting,” Burke said. “Puck- moving type of guy.” Wilson said: “We’re very pleased with the d-man. He’s a very dynamic, athletic guy, great skater. He was a guy that we moved up a little bit aggressively to get because that round, you could see people going after who they wanted. He is a guy that we identified.” After moving up from the fifth round to the fourth round last Friday, again because of the Mueller trade, the Sharks jumped up 21 more spots in the fourth round by obtaining the Rangers pick at 102nd overall for the 123rd and 174th selections. Center Scott Reedy is a player that Burke has high hopes for, projecting the Minnesota native as a “second line right winger [with] high-end potential.” Burke pointed out that Reedy, who is friends with first round pick Josh Norris, occasionally played on the same line with Norris for each of the last two seasons with the U.S. Under-18 team. “He’s a big, strong forward that can play both positions (center and right wing),” Burke said. Right wing Jacob McGrew, an Orange, CA native, went to the Sharks in the fifth round despite missing all of his first season in junior with a lower body injury suffered in training camp with Spokane (WHL). “We knew about him before he went up there,” Burke said. “He’s a California kid. … If he was healthy he probably would have gone earlier.” The Sharks again moved up to snag Huntington Beach native and center Chmelevski at 185 overall, and made their sixth and final pick in the 212th position by taking left wing Ivan Chekhovich in the seventh round. Both players look to have some offensive skill, based on their numbers and Youtube highlights. Burke was surprised that both players were around so late. “I thought they had pretty good years and they kind of slipped in the draft,” he said. “We weighed that versus some other more project-type guys, and we thought they had more offense and finish to their game. They just kept sliding, so we took a chance on them.” Wilson said: “We moved up for the guys we wanted, and then there were some skilled guys at the end that we were surprised were still there. … We’ll go back and take a look how it all went, but we feel, I think, really good about where we ended up with this.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069185 San Jose Sharks

Sharks coach DeBoer had 'good relationship' with Kovalchuk

Kevin Kurz June 24, 2017 9:39 AM

CHICAGO – Ilya Kovalchuk is still reportedly mulling over a return to the NHL, four years after he surprisingly walked away from a monstrous contract with the New Jersey Devils to play in the KHL. The Sharks have been linked to Kovalchuk, in large part because of Pete DeBoer, who was Kovalchuk’s most recent head coach. In 2011-12, Kovalchuk was a dangerous scoring winger under DeBoer, helping the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Final. It was apparently a good working relationship between the player and the coach for the two seasons they were together, DeBoer said on Friday at the NHL Entry Draft at United Center. “I loved Kovy in New Jersey,” DeBoer said. “We went to a Stanley Cup Final together. He was a huge piece for us there. I really enjoyed coaching him. I haven’t seen him in four or five years now. I’m sure there’s still a lot of game left there.” DeBoer said he’s had no contact with the 34-year-old Kovalchuk, who would have to be traded by New Jersey before signing a new contract with any other NHL club. Still, it seems like the Sharks’ coach might welcome a reunion with Kovalchuk, who posted 78 points in 60 games with SKA Saint Petersburg last season, and has 816 points (417g, 399a) in 816 career NHL games with Atlanta and New Jersey. “I had a really good relationship with him. I had a lot of respect for him as a player and a person,” DeBoer said. * * * DeBoer seemed as uncertain as everyone else as to whether Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau will return to the Sharks or move on to other clubs as free agents. But, naturally, it’s on his mind. “You think about it all the time,” DeBoer said. “They’re obviously important pieces in the history of the franchise, and in our group. I also understand the business side of this, and there’s always tough decisions to make. The way I approach these type of things is I’m going to go to Canada and relax, and Doug [Wilson] is going to make those decisions. I’m sure we’ll have a good group come training camp.” “We’ve got a really good core group of guys and some tough decisions that have to be made. The one thing Doug and his group has shown over the years is their ability to stay competitive, to find a way even after making tough decisions. I have all the faith in the world in that, and I’m excited about training camp.” * * * The Sharks lost David Schlemko in the expansion draft earlier in the week. Vegas then flipped him to the Canadiens for a fifth round pick in 2019. “I think for David, it’s a great opportunity for him, especially going to Montreal,” DeBoer said. “For us, it’s an opportunity for a young guy to jump in. The one thing we have in the organization is some depth. There’s a lot of guys knocking on the door, and guys hungry to grab that job.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069186 San Jose Sharks

Sharks begin second day of 2017 draft by selecting a defenseman

Kevin Kurz June 24, 2017 8:14 AM

CHICAGO – The Sharks used their first pick on the second day of the draft to select defenseman Mario Ferraro at 49th overall. The Sharks acquired the second round pick from New Jersey earlier in the week as part of the trade for Mirco Mueller. Ferraro, a five-foot-11, 185-pound Toronto native, will attend the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in the fall. The 18-year-old posted 41 points (8g, 33a) in 60 games for Des Moines of the USHL last season. “I describe myself as an offensive defenseman that takes pride in the d- zone,” Ferraro said. “Obviously, I like to get involved offensively. I think I’m a good skater, and I transition the puck up the ice quick. I also like to be physical in the d-zone and use my body.” Ferraro said he needs to work on "my shot, especially. Getting pucks through to the net to create scoring chances, and I also want to work on when and when not to get up in the play, and reading the play better.” Ferraro, the 78th-ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting and a left-handed shot, had about 20 friends and family in attendance at the draft. “I’m very honored to be wearing this jersey right now. It was amazing. It’s been an amazing day so far.” The Sharks chose center Josh Norris with their first round pick (19th overall) on Friday. * * * The Sharks swapped picks with the Rangers in the fourth round, sending the 123rd and 174th overall picks to New York to jump to the 102nd slot, where they chose six-foot-one, 201-pound center Scott Reedy. In 60 games with the U.S. National Under-18 team last season, the 18- year-old Reedy posted 22 goals and 20 assists for 42 points. He considers himself "solid friends" with Norris, after playing with him for the past two seasons. Reedy, who had a large contingent of friends and family in attendance, will play for the University of Minnesota in the fall. “I’d say I’m a skilled power forward," Reedy said. "I use my hockey IQ to create time and space to make plays. I’m good around the net, use my body well.” He had good things to say about Norris, too. “He’s a fast guy," Reedy said. "He’s got a great shot, that’s one of his many strengths. He’s very versatile. He can play last five minutes when you’re down by a goal, or just by a goal. He brings leadership to the table, so I have a lot of respect for him in that manner. I think we can work well together.” * * * The Sharks added three more forwards in the later rounds of the draft, including a pair of California kids. Jacob McGrew, a right wing, missed all of last season in Spokane (WHL) with a lower body injury. The Orange, CA native, a former member of the Jr. Kings, was selected in the sixth round (159th overall). Center Sasha Chmelevski, born in Michigan but raised in Huntington Beach, was chosen in the sixth round (185th overall). He had 43 points (21g, 22a) in 58 games with the Ottawa 67's last season. The Sharks concluded the draft by taking left wing Ivan Chekhovich in the seventh round (212th overall). The Russian native had 59 points (26g, 33a) in 60 games with Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) last season. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069187 St Louis Blues

Blues take Russian winger in fourth round of NHL draft

Tom Timmermann

The Blues went back to Russia to start their second day at the NHL draft, taking Alexey Toropchenko, a right wing who was ranked 21st among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. The Blues didn't have a pick in the second or third rounds because of trades, so they started in the fourth round with the 113th pick. They finished out the draft by taking three defensemen. Toropchenko played on some of the same teams that Klim Kostin, one of the Blues' first round picks on Friday. He played last season for MVD Balashikha 2 of the Russian junior league. He had 19 goals and 12 assists in 45 games and 50 penalty minutes. In 2015-16, he played for Dynamo Moscow's U-17 team and 13 goals and 11 assists in 30 games. Kostin had 10 goals and 5 assists in 10 games for that same team. The two also were teammates at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in 2016-17. In the fifth round, with the 130th pick, the Blues took David Noel, a defenseman from Quebec who split time between Chicoutimi and Val- D'Or of the QMJHL. He had 11 goals and 21 assists in 65 combined games. In the sixth round, the Blues took Trenton Bourque, a defenseman who played juniors for Owen Sound of the OHL last season. He's ranked No. 154 by Central Scouting and he had no goals and 11 assists last season. In fact, he hasn't scored a goal in the past three seasons. In fact, the only two goals of his organized hockey career came in his midget AAA season in Hamilton in 2013-14. Sounds like a stay-at-home defenseman or a guy who's really unlucky. With their final pick of the draft, the Blues took Anton Andersson, a 6- foot-3 defenseman from Sweden. He had 9 goals and 12 assists in 19 games for a Swedish junior team. And 41 penalty minutes. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069188 St Louis Blues

Blues' draft picks Saturday

Tom Timmermann

ALEXEY TOROPCHENKO • 4th round, 113 overall Position • Forward Ht., wt. • 6-3, 187 pounds Age • 18 Stats • 19 goals, 12 assists in 45 games in 2016-17 for MVD Balashikha 2 of the Russian junior league. Also • His father, Leonid, was drafted No. 260 by Pittsburgh in 1993 and played two seasons in North America, one in the AHL, one in the IHL, but never made the NHL. Likes to play in front of the net, and is better on the wing than at center. Comes equipped with good height and reach. DAVID NOEL • 5th round, 130 overall Position • Defenseman Ht., wt. • 6-1, 175 pounds Age • 18 Stats • 11 goals and 21 assists in 30 games in juniors last year. Also • He has a good shot and is a good passer, but needs work on the defensive side. Offense really took off when he changed junior teams at midseason. Ranked No. 136 by Central Scouting among North American skaters. TRENTON BOURQUE • 6th round, 175 overall Position • Defenseman Ht., wt. • 6-2, 201 pounds Age • 19 Stats • No goals, 11 assists in 67 games for of OHL. Also • If you’re looking for scoring, he’s not your guy. He has scored just two goals in his past four seasons of hockey, though his transition game and defensive play earn good marks. Very fast skater. Ranked No. 154 by Central Scouting. Nephew of longtime NHLer Dan Maloney. ANTON ANDERSSON • 7th round, 206 overall Position • Defenseman Ht., wt. • 6-4, 216 pounds Age • 18 Stats • 9 goals, 12 assists in 19 games in Swedish under-18 league, 2 goals, 1 assist in 13 games in junior league. Also • Began playing in Sweden’s under-18 league when he was 15, split last season between Lulea’s under-20 and under-18 teams. Penalty minutes jumped from 8 to 41 in his final season as a U-18 and is still a bit raw. But his size is a plus. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069189 St Louis Blues teammates and friends I’ve made over the last couple of years. I’m going to miss them all.”

The trading of Reaves was just part of the dramatics Friday that included Trade was shocking for grateful Reaves a trade sending center Jori Lehtera to Philadelphia for Brayden Schenn. The second day Saturday was much quieter, with no trades and just four draft picks. Jeremy Rutherford The Blues didn’t have picks in the second round (sent to Pittsburgh in the Reaves trade) and third round (sent to Edmonton in the Nail Yakupov trade and then by them to Arizona), and with their picks in the final four Ryan Reaves was well aware of when the Blues’ protected list would be rounds, they went back to Russia for one and then took defensemen with released last week. It was a personal goal to be one of the seven the final three. forwards general manager prevented the expansion Vegas Golden Knights from drafting. The Russian pick was forward Alexey Toropchenko, who was ranked No. 21 among European skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. He’s “It meant a lot,” Reaves said. “‘Army’ had to make a couple of tough been a teammate of Blues’ first-round pick Klim Kostin at various points decisions and a couple of good players were left unprotected. In my in his career, playing with him for Russia at the Ivan Hlinka tournament head, I really wanted it. I’ve been with the Blues’ organization for 10 and on Dynamo Moscow’s under-17 team. Last season, Toropchenko years and that’s where I wanted to stay.” played for MVD Balashikha 2 of the Russian junior league and had 19 goals and 12 assists in 45 games, along with 50 penalty minutes. Reaves was not aware that Friday was the first round of the NHL draft in Chicago. He forgot and was playing ping-pong when he received back- The Blues used their other three picks on defensemen: David Noel (pick to-back text messages from Armstrong, as well as former Blue and close 130), who had 13 goals and 11 assists in 65 combined games with two friend Chris Stewart. junior teams in Quebec; Trenton Bourque (pick 175), from Owen Sound in the Ontario junior league; and Anton Andersson (pick 206) from “It clicked in my head, ‘It’s the draft, something must have happened,’” Sweden. Reaves said. “I turned on Twitter real quick and the first thing I saw was, ‘It sounds like Reaves is going for a first-rounder,’ so I was like, ‘OK, St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 06.25.2017 obviously that’s a bunch of garbage. I don’t know what’s going on, but obviously that’s a joke.’” It was no joke. The Blues protected Reaves because, as a club official said, he was one of their top assets. And that was supported Friday when Pittsburgh gave up the final pick of the first round — No. 31 overall, which the club used to select Russian forward Klim Kostin — and prospect Oskar Sundqvist in a deal for Reaves and the No. 51 overall pick. “It was a little shocking,” he said. “The first thing I thought of was all the boys in St. Louis. I truly love every one of the guys on the team. A lot of the guys on the team that are over in Europe got the news when they woke up (Saturday) morning. I talked to (Alexander Steen) and that was a really tough one. After I hung up with ‘Steener,’ it kind of hit me a little harder than I was expecting it to. “But at the same time, I’m going to the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and you can definitely be going to worse teams in the league. I’m honored that they felt so highly of me that they traded to get me. And I’m actually honored that’s what they gave up for me. Ten years ago, when I was playing in Alaska, if you would have told me that one year the Stanley Cup champions were going to trade a first-round and a prospect for me, I would have probably slapped you in your face.” Pittsburgh hopes that Reaves will save that for opponents. After seeing star Sidney Crosby battered and concussed again on the Penguins’ way to their second straight Stanley Cup, they targeted the 6-foot-1, 225- pound Blue who was 10th in the NHL in hits last year with 239. “When you want to get the guy that’s the best at doing what he does, then you have to pay a price,” Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford told reporters. “Regardless of what we paid, we’re very happy to have him.” Reaves already received a text from Crosby, saying, ‘Really happy to have you on the team, looking forward to playing with you and we’ll talk soon when everything settles down.’” That may be awhile. On Tuesday, Reaves will leave for Sweden to attend Steen’s wedding with 10-12 former Blues’ teammates. “I guess that’s a bonus to this whole thing, that I get to see all the boys one last time and have a good time with them,” Reaves said. “Then after that, Game 1, I guess they’ve got to keep their heads up.” That’s right: Recalling from the recently released schedule, the Blues will open the regular season Oct. 4 in Pittsburgh. “The schedule gods, that’s what happens,” Reaves said. “You might see a lot of guys not going into the corners Game 1.” But after showing a cocky side, Reaves turned sentimental when reflecting on his Blues’ career. “It’s been a fun ride,” he said. “For me, it was just, get better every day and see where it takes you. All of the sudden, I’m 30 years old and I’ve been in St. Louis for seven years. I’d like to thank everybody in the Blues’ organization for everything they’ve done for me, especially all the 1069190 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning shifts search for defense to free agency

Joe Smithiter Saturday, June 24, 2017 6:24PM

CHICAGO — As much as he tried, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman left the weekend's draft without acquiring another top-four defenseman. You can see how expensive that type of player is. The Flames sent their 2018 first- and second-round picks plus another second-rounder to the Islanders for Travis Hamonic on Saturday. The Wild's Marco Scandella is drawing interest from several teams, including Tampa Bay. "It's supply and demand," Yzerman said. But Yzerman will continue to try to improve his team, seeking a defenseman and at least one top-nine wing. And it continues with Sunday's midnight opening of a window to speak with pending unrestricted free agents from other teams, players who can be signed starting July 1. "We've got some spots on our roster. We've got some cap space," Yzerman said. "We need to see if we can re-sign our own free agents, and we'll focus on that. We'll look into some of the players in free agency and see if we can address some of our needs that way. It's going to be a busy week, but what we actually accomplish, I'm not sure." The Lightning has $23 million in salary cap space, but likely around $10 million of that will go into re-signing pending restricted free agents Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, both of whom are coming off identical three- year, $10 million bridge deals. Negotiations — said to be going well — are expected to pick up now that the expansion draft and amateur draft are over. Yzerman also wants to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Yanni Gourde. "We'll continue to talk, and I plan to get them signed," Yzerman said of Johnson and Palat. "I can't tell you if that's (July 1) or later on. But we'll keep trying." There are notable free agents the Lightning could explore this week. On defense, Kevin Shattenkirk leads a small class, though he's going to be expensive, and he already reportedly nixed a trade from St. Louis to Tampa in January. Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner is available, as are the Blackhawks' Brian Campbell and the Sabres' Cody Franson. At forward, there's Canadiens 30-year-old right wing Alexander Radulov, who had 18 goals last season, and big names Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau of the Sharks. The Lightning could more likely find a fit in a veteran such as Justin Williams or Sam Gagner, though Gagner is due a big raise from $650,000 after his 32-goal season in Columbus last year. Jarome Iginla, 39, who nearly signed with Tampa Bay a few summers ago, is also available. So is former Lightning center Brian Boyle. "There aren't a lot of players out there," Yzerman said. "So the players that are, are probably going to be paid pretty well." What Yzerman finds out this week will likely give him a better feel for whether his needs can be filled via free agency July 1 or via trade. Scandella is one of several defensemen still being shopped. The Lightning has a deep prospect pool of forwards to deal from. And after having to do so much work to get out of cap trouble — thanks to last season's trade-deadline deals of Valtteri Filppula and Ben Bishop, and ensuring Vegas took Jason Garrison in Wednesday's expansion draft — Yzerman appears wary of overpaying. "You better be prepared to give more term and more money than you want on July 1," Yzerman said. "Or you wait until after. Or you wait until after and you might miss out. It's tricky. "We've done a lot here to give ourselves a little bit of flexibility. We don't want to put ourselves right back in the same position if we're not confident that it's really going to make a difference." Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069191 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning journal: Russian forwards top Day 2 draft picks

Joe Smith Saturday, June 24, 2017 6:03PM

CHICAGO — After taking a big, right-shot defenseman in the first round, the Lightning's second day of the draft was headlined by a few skilled Russian forwards. Tampa Bay selected 6-foot-1 wing Alexander Volkov, 19, in the second round (No. 48 overall), with hopes to sign him and send him to AHL Syracuse next season. In the third round, the Lightning was thrilled to have C Alexey Lipanov, 17, fall to them at No. 76. Tampa Bay is no stranger to drafting Russians. It picked No. 1 G Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round in 2012, and forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov with back-to-back picks in 2011. The Lightning acquired D Mikhail Sergachev from Montreal in this month's Jonathan Drouin blockbuster trade. "There's still some bias somewhere with some Russian players. We don't have that bias in our organization," said Al Murray, Lightning director of amateur scouting. "We want the best players." Murray said the Lightning got a jump on Volkov, who likely fell under the radar due to an ankle injury suffered before the World Junior Championships in December, which forced him to miss most of last season. Several other teams congratulated the Lightning on the Volkov pick, Murray said, noting that he was coming up quickly on their draft list. "He's a big, strong, responsible right wing," GM Steve Yzerman said. "He's a good two-way player, (has) really good hockey sense. We really like the way he plays the game, believe he fits the style that we play." Lipanov, who likens his style to Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews, will play for Barrie in the junior Ontario League next season. Both Russians were lauded for their creativity, hockey sense and style. Murray said Lipanov was one of the top players on Russia's under-18 team. "He's a very intelligent hockey player," Yzerman said. "He's got really good skill. He's smart, really responsible." College bound The Lightning used its two sixth-round picks to two captains and St. Cloud State commitments, right-shot D Nick Perbix (Elk River High, Minnesota) and F Cole Guttman (Dubuque, junior United States League). Perbix, 6 feet 4, will play one season in the USHL before heading to St. Cloud State. Guttman, who had 27 goals last season, will be at St. Cloud. "A high-energy guy who can skate," Murray said of Guttman. Tampa Bay's final pick came in the eighth round, F Sam Walker from Edina (Minn.) High. Walker, who had 46 points in 25 games last season, can go back to Edina or play in the USHL. All six Lightning picks, including first-round D Cal Foote, are expected to be at development camp Tuesday-Saturday at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. Family matters Cool moment with Lightning forward prospect Mathieu Joseph in the stands to see his younger brother, Pierre-Olivier, taken 23rd overall Friday by the Coyotes. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069192 Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 06.25.2017

Lightning opens day two of draft by taking Russian forwards

Joe Smith Saturday, June 24, 2017 10:44am

After taking a big, right-shot defenseman in the first round, the Lightning's second day of the NHL Draft was headlined by a couple skilled Russian forwards. Tampa Bay selected 6-foot-1 winger Alexander Volkov in the second round (No. 48), with hopes to sign him and send him to AHL Syracuse next season. In the third round, the Lightning was thrilled to have center Alexei Lipanov fell to them at No. 76. Tampa Bay is no stranger to drafting Russians, picking No. 1 goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round in 2012, and Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov with back-to-back picks in 2011. The Lightning recently acquired D Mikhail Sergachev from Montreal in the Jonathan Drouin blockbuster. "There's still some bias somewhere with some Russian players - we don't have that bias in our organization," said Al Murray, Lightning director of amateur scouting. "We want the best players." Murray said the Lightning got a jump on Volkov, who likely fell under the radar due to an ankle before the World Juniors, which forced him to miss most of the season. Murray said several other teams congratulated them on the Volkov pick, noting he was coming up quickly on their list. "He's a big, strong responsible right wing," GM Steve Yzerman said. "He's a good two way player, really good hockey sense. We really like the way he plays the game, believe he fits the style that we play." Lipanov, who likens his style to Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, will play for Barrie in the OHL next season. Both Russians were lauded for their creativity, hockey sense and style. "He was nervous, because every pick was passing by and passing by and nobody would pick him," Lipanov said through a translator. "He was waiting for the Lightning." COLLEGE BOUND: The Lightning used its two sixth round picks to two captains and St. Cloud State commits, right-shot defenseman Nik Perbix (Elk River High, Minnesota) and forward Cole Guttman (Dubuque, USHL). Perbix, a 6-foot-4 defenseman, will play one season in the USHL before heading to St. Cloud. Guttman, who had 27 goals last season, will be at St. Cloud. "A high energy guy who can skate," Murray said. Tampa Bay's final pick came in the eighth round, forward Sam Walker from Edina High in Minnesota. Walker, who scored 46 points in 25 games, can either go back to Edina or play in the USHL. All six picks, including first-round D Cal Foote, are expected to be at development camp this week in Brandon (Tuesday to Saturday at the Ice Sports Forum). DEVELOPING: With a deep forward prospect pool, the Lightning could afford to take a swing, and it looks like that's what Volkov is. Then, in the third round, the Lightning took another Russian, Alexei Lipanov. Lipanov, a 6-foot, 169 pound center, split time between Dynamo Balashikha of Russia's VHL and HK MVD Balashikha of the MHL. He also fared well in for the Russian Under-18 team at the World Juniors, with three assists in seven games. Lipanov is expected to play for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League next season. He describes himself as a two-way forward, likening his style to Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. "He was nervous, because every pick was passing by and passing by and nobody would pick him," Lipanov said through a translator. "He was waiting for the Lightning." The Lightning addressed another need in Friday's first round, taking big, right-shot defenseman Cal Foote, son of former NHL'er Adam Foote. And in the sixth round, Tampa Bay got another big right-shot defenseman in Minnesota high school kid Nick Perbix, who is headed to St. Cloud State University. Tampa Bay has two more picks today No. 180 (sixth), No. 200 (7th). 1069193 Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Fifth round, 141st overall The Leafs get bigger on second day of NHL draft Hometown: Omsk, Russia Vitals: 6-foot-6, 211 pounds Kevin McGran Shoots: Left Sat., June 24, 2017 Junior: Flint (OHL) Stats: GP 62 | G 3 | A 10 CHICAGO—Maple Leafs assistant general manager Mark Hunter ran his The skinny: Family moved to Etobicoke from Russia to find a better life third draft and if there was a theme, it was “a big, strong guy.” The Leafs when he was eight. Has that combination of size, speed and skill scouts took two six-foot-six defenceman on Saturday — and nobody under six- drool for. feet tall — on the second and final day of the 2017 NHL draft. Hunter says: “A big, strong defenceman who can dunk a ball. He’s got a Counting Timothy Liljegren, chosen in Friday’s first round, the Leafs took bomb. He can shoot a puck. Got skill, just needs to calm down and make four defencemen with their seven picks. better plays consistently on the ice.” “We took who we thought was the best player at the moment. It seemed Ryan McGregor like there was more defence in the draft this year,” Hunter said. “We filled some holes. Now it’s time for our development department to take over Centre, left winger and help make these young men better.” Sixth round, 172nd overall Here’s how Saturday’s picks size up and what Hunter likes about them. Hometown: Burlington Eemeli Rasanen Vitals: 6-feet, 159 pounds Defenceman Shoots: Left Second round, 59th overall Junior: Sarnia (OHL) Hometown: Joensuu, Finland Stats: GP 65 | G 14 | A 23 Vitals: 6-foot-6, 214 pounds The skinny: Wendel Clark is his hockey hero and he admires Johnny Shoots: Right Gaudreau. Junior: Kingston (OHL) Hunter says: “He needs strength. He’s got hockey sense, he’s got skill. Didn’t have a great year last year. I believe he’s got some upside and will Stats: GP 66 | G 6 | A 33 take off next year.” The skinny: Tries to model his game after Rasmus Ristolainen ... Has Ryan O’Connell represented Finland in Under-18s, and Under-17s. Offensively minded, and uses his impressive size well and is tough in the corners. Defenceman Hunter says: “A big, strong guy. He needs to develop his body. He’s a Seventh round, 203rd overall little inconsistent because his legs don’t carry his body. He’s got a great Hometown: Gloucester, Ont. shot. Huge upside on his skill level.” Vitals: 6-foot-1, 170 pounds Ian Scott Shoots: Left Goaltender Junior: St. Andrews College (OHSL) Fourth round, 110th overall Stats: GP 47 | G 6 | A 27 Hometown: Calgary The skinny: Bound for the Vees of the BC Tier II league next Vitals: 6-foot-3, 169 pounds year and has committed Boston University for 2018-19. Junior: Prince Albert (WHL) Hunter says: “Right out of our backyard. A good program in BU and this Stats: 12-31-0 | GAA 3.24 | Save % .892 kid has a good upside. We’ll be patient with him and watch his development.” The skinny: Models himself after Carey Price. ... Represented Canada at the world under-18s, and won gold for Canada White at the world under- Toronto Star LOADED: 06.25.2017 17s. Hunter says: “Played on not a great team, so his stats aren’t as good as it should be. His technique, and his size and his quickness side-to-side is very good.” Vladislav Kara Left winger Fourth round, 124th overall Hometown: Salekhard, Russia Vitals: 6-foot-1, 187 pounds Shoots: Left Junior: Irbis Kazan (MHL) Stats: GP 31 | G 11 | A 9 The skinny: Smooth skater. The only overage player taken by the Leafs. Hunter says: “A big, strong winger who can play a two-way game and can skate, handle pucks and drive the net.” Fedor Gordeev 1069194 Toronto Maple Leafs Liljegren will be a focal point of the Leafs’ development camp next month, and will be invited to training camp in September. By his own admission, he probably needs at least another year, probably in Sweden, before he Mother of Leafs’ top pick has hockey son, will travel makes the leap to the NHL. But when the time comes, will Lina also make the move, as she did four years ago? Kevin McGran “I want to, but he told me: ‘Mommy, now I’m growing up, I want to live Sat., June 24, 2017 alone,” she said. “I love hockey. I want to see every game he plays.” Toronto Star LOADED: 06.25.2017 CHICAGO—Not much by way of hockey players come from Kristianstad, a town of about 40,000 in southeast Sweden. It’s most famous athlete is Lisa Norden, a 2012 Olympic silver medallist in triathlon. So when Timothy Liljegren was a youngster — a 14-year-old playing against much older players — scouts encouraged his mother, Lina, to let her son move to a town with a better hockey program. What was the single mother of three boys to do? “We moved,” the mother said, “so he could play with guys the same age. I moved with him because he was just 14.” The family moved 100 or so kilometres west, to Angelholm, home of the hockey program of Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League. That program produced former Maple Leafs defenceman Kenny Jonsson. “They always told me: ‘Your son is a very good hockey player,” Lina Liljegren said. “I wanted to give him every chance to he could to carry on, to get better.” That life-altering decision led to her son becoming one of Sweden’s top defensive prospects, and the Leafs’ first pick, 17th overall, on the first day of the NHL draft on Friday. “He’s going to be enjoyable for the fans of Toronto to watch,” Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter said. “He will bring people out of their seats.” Liljegren’s two older brothers, William, 25, and Anthony 22, made the trip to Chicago as well. And the moment when Timothy Liljegren’s name was announced was as emotional for Lina as it was for her son. “I almost cried, I was so happy,” she said. “Since he was a little kid, I drove him to hockey, it’s all he wanted. I have three boys. I am alone with the boys. It has been so much work, but to see Timothy to grow up and be that good a hockey player, it’s unbelievable.” And Toronto, she said, is the perfect spot for him. “Toronto is this big hockey town. Hockey is everything. And I can see Timothy is so happy, I see it in his eyes. He is so happy to be in Toronto. I’m so glad for him.” Liljegren said he felt he had a good connection with the Leafs when they scouted him and when they interviewed him at the combine. But at the same time, he was nervous meeting Hunter and the rest of the Leafs brass. “He’s very honest about his game. That’s important,” Hunter said. “Some young men think they’re good when they’re bad. He’s very humble and honest for where he has to go. That’s important for a hockey player.” While the Leafs took six more players in Saturday’s later rounds, the focus will be heavily on Liljegren, a player deemed to have been good enough to go in the top five of the first round when the season began. His stock fell due to a bout of mono that sidelined him for two months and slowed him down when he returned. “Coming into the season I had real high expectations on myself,” Liljegren said. “It was hard dealing with mono. But coming back, I let go of those expectations and I really just wanted to finish the season strong.” He also ended up playing for five different teams, between the national one and loans between junior and senior teams. “It was pretty hard to find a balance. It was a tough season.” His mother said she was proud of the way he handled his illness. “I was so sad for him when he got sick,” Lina said. “But he is so grown up. There were so many expectations around him. People thought his should be the best player in the SHL. But when he got sick, the expectations were not so high on him “When he got sick, he was just realistic: ‘Now I’m sick.’ I’m so proud of him. He did not just lie down feeling sorry for himself. He said: “I have to do this, and do a little bit more when I come back.’” 1069195 Toronto Maple Leafs After the Leafs finished the fourth round by plucking overage forward Vladislav Kara from the Kazan team in the secondary Russian league, it was time to snap up another towering blue-liner in Gordeev, who Frontenacs GM Gilmour a fan of Leafs’ gigantic fifth-round pick Eerneli compiled 13 points in 62 games with the OHL Flint Firebirds last season. Rasanen Hunter said there was no pre-set mandate to keep adding defencemen but “they fell to us.” MIKE ZEISBERGER, The final two picks: forward Ryan McGregor of the Sarnia Sting in the sixth and O’Connell in the seventh. SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 06:38 PM EDT As Gordeev met with the media after being selected, he was informed that the Leafs two hours earlier had drafted another 6-6 defenceman in Rasanen. CHICAGO - Doug Gilmour has a warning for those opposing forwards who cut into the middle against hulking 6-foot-6 Kingston Frontenacs “I’m aware of that,” he said with a smile. defenceman Eemeli Rasanen, drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round Saturday. The rest of the hockey world had better be aware of Toronto’s two new Twin Towers in the event they develop into NHLers one day. Do so at your own risk. Tears of joy for Gordeev “He hits hard,” the Frontenacs GM and NHL Hall of Famer told Postmedia. “And when he does, guys just bounce off him.” CHICAGO — Even 6-foot-6 giants weep. Obviously the Maple Leafs brass is hoping Rasanen can maintain his And so it was with young Fedor Gordeev, who began shedding tears crushing ways when he reaches the National Hockey League level down yesterday afternoon when the announcement was made that the Maple the road. In fact, given the pair of behemoths Toronto assistant general Leafs had made them their fifth-round pick, 141st overall. manager Mark Hunter added to the organization’s blueline yesterday, The towering defenceman was born in Russia but moved to Toronto you had to wonder if the truculent-seeking Brian Burke was still running almost 11 years ago. As such, the news that he’d been drafted by his the draft. adopted hometown team left him overcome with emotion. In Rasanen and fifth round pick Fedor Gordeev, the Leafs added 13 feet “When I heard that, I started crying,” he admitted. “It was unbelievable.” and 420 pounds of blue-line beef to their system. In the process, Hunter, general manager and the Toronto staff managed to Gordeev grew up watching the Leafs and says he admires Nikita Zaitsev. augment the cache of blue-line prospects for a position that is But when it comes to a player he’d like to emulate, he gives the nod to acknowledged to be the organization’s primary need. Tampa’s Victor Hedman, another towering blue-liner. The selection of Rasanen and Gordeev came just one day after the Gordeev had 13 points in 62 games for the Flint Firebirds last season. Leafs, at No. 17, obtained what scouts consider to be one of the steals of the draft in Timothy Liljegren, the kind of right-shooting defenceman who Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.25.2017 is projected to become a member of the team's Top Four one day. Add Ryan O’Connell of St. Andrews College into the mix — he’s listed at 6-feet tall, modest in stature compared to Rasanen and Gordeev — and the Leafs left Chicago having used four of their seven picks to bolster the blue line. And know this: Rasanen and Gordeev, both 6-6 and 210 lbs, come by their towering heights honestly. Just ask Joe Bowen. As they posed for a photo together, the Maple Leafs play-by-play man needed to crink his neck while looking up at a smiling Rasanen. Way up. Rasanen is almost a foot taller than Bowen. Can’t wait to see those Maple Leaf practice drills when he goes into the corner against diminutive Mitch Marner. “I’m a physical player,” Rasanen said. “I like to hit.” As Hunter points out, where the big Finn gets himself into trouble is when he goes for the big check. “When he does that, he gets himself out of position,” Hunter said. “He’s got to let the forwards come to him.” Gilmour is banking on the kid’s return for 2017-18. “We had first seen him at the Four Nations Cup and we knew he’d be a project,” Gilmour said, recounting his first in-person experience of watching Rasanen play. “But when he got to our camp, he was better than expected.” Rasanen went on to accrue six goals and 39 assists with the Frontenacs this past season, drawing Hunter’s attention along the way. “I’m not surprised the Leafs selected him. I knew Hunts had been sniffing around on him,” Gilmour laughed. “(Rasanen) has a great shot but he needs another year down here. He needs to get stronger. “I think he has a really bright future.” Having surrendered their third round pick to the Detroit Red Wings as compensation for signing coach , the Leafs selected goalie Ian Scott of the in the fourth round. Scott’s 4.02 goals-against average might not wow anyone at first blush, but Hunter said his numbers are a by-product of playing for a poor team. 1069196 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs draft fearsome defenceman Eemeli Rasanen in 2nd round

LANCE HORNBY SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 02:13 PM EDT

Simmons: 'Highly regarded' D-man Timothy Liljegren a steal for Leafs at 17 The Maple Leafs went big - really big - with their second round pick as Day 2 of the NHL draft unfolded in Chicago on Saturday. Eemeli Rasanen, who stands 6-feet-7 and more than 200 pounds, was a fearsome defenceman with the Kingston Frontenacs after coming from Finland last season. One of the biggest players on the board at the United Center, he had 39 points in 66 games, a good playoff through two rounds in the OHL and admits he loves to hit. He’ll have to fill into his 18-year-old body and was picked a little higher than many scouts predicted, but he fits the Leaf plan of growing a mean back line in the future. Those seeing him rise from his seat at the United Center immediately thought of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger, who does have Finnish blood. In Friday’s first round, the Leafs scooped 6-foot-2 defenceman Timothy Liljegren 17th overall. The Leafs had no third round pick, having surrendered it to the Detroit Red Wings as compensation for signing Mike Babcock. The club does have a handful of other selections through round 7. Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069197 Toronto Maple Leafs round. Not a fair on-ice comparison to the Hall of Famer, but both have Finnish blood ... Toronto held the 172nd overall pick, but the better karma was at 171 where both and Pavel Datsyuk were chosen Babcock prepares for challenge with no fanfare before morphing into NHL stars ... In scouting and choosing Ian Scott, the Leafs have made two significant visits to Prince Albert, Sask. for a goalie this year. Earlier, native son Johnny Bower’s No. 1 sweater banner from the ACC was returned to PA as part of the LANCE HORNBY NHL franchise’s centennial ... It was 11 years ago Saturday that GM John Ferguson Jr. had one of the team’s most successful drafts. Of SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 10:33 PM EDT seven picks, Jiri Tlusty, Nikolai Kulemin, James Reimer, Korbinian Holzer, Viktor Stalberg and Leo Komarov all played for the Leafs. TORONTO - For Mike Babcock the meet-and-greet of the NHL draft Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.25.2017 means a new season isn’t far off. Two months after the Maple Leafs were eliminated by Washington, the work begins for the coach and his large staff, who’ve gained playoff expectations but lost the element of surprise around the NHL, to quote his general manager. The Leafs went big on draft day again, putting some new towers on the Toronto skyline in future defencemen. While a veteran blueliner and a back-up goalie are still required this season, it’s Year Three of the Shanaplan and no one is yet cutting corners on construction. “We’ve discussed it quite a bit — is there any guarantee (of going further in 2018)?,” the coach told the NHL Network in Chicago. “No, but it’s our job to improve our team and we’ll do that over the summer. With our sports science guys, to make sure our training is going well and guys don’t rest on our laurels after working hard at getting stronger, quicker and being dialed in. “The league gets tough for us. The reality is you become a dominant player, you become identified and checked harder, so it’s a challenge for the kids.” FAMILY AFFAIR On Friday night, after introductions with No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren were done, Babcock went over to talk to his family in the seats at the United Center. Liljegrens and his brothers were raised by their mom, but the Toronto coach just wanted to give some assurances to them all as the Swede begins the next phase of his career. “I just think it’s so important you tell the family you’re going to look after their kid,” Babcock told Postmedia’s Dave Stubbs. “To me that’s a big deal. If I have my boy there, I want someone of good moral fiber drafting him and looking after him. “When you put in all the time like they do, let’s face it, the family gets drafted, not just the boy. It’s an exciting day for those kids. It’s a chance. That’s all you can ask for in life — a chance. “I don’t know (Liljegren) I see him on video and (scouts) tell me they’re drafting him on potential. Now, it’s what you do with him as an organization, get him where you want to go. That’s a huge part of it. We’ll see him at our development camp (in July) and then kind of set a path for him for a few years. The quicker we can get him to an NHL player level — that doesn’t mean he plays in the NHL, but that he’s over-ready when he arrives — the better off we are.” THANKS BABS With Babcock at the Leaf table, the Detroit Red Wings made a third round selection, 79th overall, with the pick Toronto had to give up as compensation for Babcock signing here in May of 2015. Detroit GM Ken Holland used it on Lane Zablocki, a good name for a penalty killer, but actually a productive 6-feet-1 forward from the Red Deer Rebels. TRADE TALK The Leafs were in on the Travis Hamonic talks with the Islanders, but in the end, will be happy to see the defenceman go to the Calgary Flames and the Western Conference. He had more than 40 blocked shots and hits against Toronto in his 20 Leaf-Isles games. Colin Miller and the surplus defencemen on the Minnesota Wild are still possibilities as the Leafs and 30 other teams look at trades while preparing for free agency on Saturday. “As you can see with Hamonic, it gets to be expensive to get a marquee defenceman in our league,” Babcock said. “It’s even better if you can draft them.” LOOSE LEAFS A few people thought of Chris Pronger when 6-foot-6 defenceman Eemeli Rasanen rose from his seat when Toronto called his name in the second 1069198 Toronto Maple Leafs “You as an organization have to determine what you will pay for a player you think can help you. Every transaction is made for today with tomorrow in sight.” Hamonic's contract is financial value in today's NHL Lamoriello is likely to take more shots at upgrading the defence between now and mid-July. What he can’t determine now is how valuable a chip vanRiemsdsyk will be. STEVE SIMMONS His salary is reasonably low in terms of salary cap space at $4.3 million SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 07:29 PM EDT and reasonably high with an actual salary of $5 million for the coming season. Some teams value having a one and done player. Others don’t want to give up a lot for a player entering free agency a year from now. CHICAGO - What the Maple Leafs learned on Saturday afternoon: And there’s even a discrepancy of thought about where vanRiemdsyk fits James vanRiemsdyk may not be the trade chip they believed him to be. in to a team’s lineup. Some teams view him as a Top Six forward. Others see him as more of a complimentary player. The Leafs view him as an Lou Lamoriello was taking a run at Travis Hamonic, the rather affordable asset they can move. yet certainly expensive right-handed shooting defenceman with the New York Islanders. The Leafs figured him to be a pretty sound compliment The question is, what is their next move? At this point, happy after two to the young defence corps they already have. days of drafting, Lamoriello, smiling, wasn’t saying. And coming off a less than spectacular year with the Islanders, there was Toronto Sun LOADED: 06.25.2017 some thinking that maybe the asking price would come down - although as soon as negotiations began, it was almost like the past 12 months hadn’t happened for the defenceman. Hamonic was a commodity, signed to a reasonable contract of $3.8 million for the next three years. That’s financial value in today’s National Hockey League. And if he could return to the way he had played prior to this past season - rarely do you see a high end defenceman available who doesn’t have some kind of question - then this could represent a win for all involved. The Islanders began negotiations with anyone interested around the NHL by informing them they wanted two first round draft picks in exchange for Hamonic, who is still only 26 years old. That price seemed too high for many - and some interested teams instantly backed out. But the Leafs continued to talk and the Calgary Flames continued to talk and just as the trade negotiations carried on last summer, there was one player of value basically for sale - and the same two teams bidding on him. Last June, the Leafs won and came away with Andersen, the goalie. The Flames, 12 months later, have gambled on Mike Smith to be their goaltender for the next few seasons. Lamoriello balked at relinquishing two first round picks in exhange for Hamonic. He did make some creative plays in between though - his best offer apparently included next year’s first round pick and the pending free agent winger, James vanRiemsdyk. Lamoriello thought it was enough to get the trade made. But when dealing with Garth Snow, the Islanders general manager, you’re never quite sure how anything is going. After picking up Smith, the Flames took a look at the landscape of the Western Conference and decided to play the copy-cat game. Who played in the Western Final? Nashville and Anaheim? What do they have in common? Terrifically deep defensive teams. Nashville was led by Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis, probably the strongest four man defence in hockey. Anaheim had all kinds of depth and speed on defence with Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanaen and Josh Manson. And how do they slow down the Edmonton Oilers with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? Answer: Trade for Hamonic, to go along with Dougie Hamilton, Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie, giving the Flames a strong back end as well. The Leafs offered the first round pick and JVR. The Flames offered their first round pick next year and two second round picks. In addition, they asked for a fourth round pick to go their way. Islanders made the deal with Calgary, partially because they valued the two second round picks more than they valued vanRiemsdyk and partially because it gets Hamonic to the Western Conference, a team they don’t have to compete against in the playoffs. Snow was determined to make the trade once negotiations to acquire Matt Duchene from Colorado never had much traction. How close were the Leafs to a deal? “You never come close to anything unless you get it done,” said Lamoriello. “You always try to make your team better. That's our responsibility. that’s our job.” Even if the price is high. 1069199 Toronto Maple Leafs OHL, splitting time with Hamilton and Flint. It will be another case of letting hockey skill and co-ordination catch up with a gangly frame.

Centre-winger Ryan McGregor from the Sarnia Sting was claimed in the Toronto Maple Leafs focus on blueline with first two picks of 2017 NHL sixth round, an alternate captain with the club, who had 27 points in 65 draft games. He’s another local product from Burlington, Ont. General manager Lou Lamoriello and assistants Mark Hunter and Kyle June 24, 2017, 2:04 PM EDT Dubas capped the draft with pick No. 203, their fourth defencemen, Ryan O’Connell, who spent last year with St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ont. Lance Hornby National Post LOADED: 06.25.2017

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a can’t miss pick with No. 1 Auston Matthews last year and might have received another gift in Friday night’s first round of the NHL draft in Chicago. Looking to improve their defence in-house, they snared Timothy Liljegren, a big Swede once in the same conversation at the top of the 2017 draft class with No. 2 overall selection Nolan Patrick. The six-foot, 192-pounder was rated as high as top five at the start of the season by scouts, but an eight-week bout of mononucleosis impeded his progress this season in Sweden. He had five points in 19 games for the Rogle senior team and was snubbed for the Swedish world junior squad. That all mattered very little to assistant general manager Mark Hunter as Liljegren stayed on the board through the first 16 picks. “When he fell that far, it was a no-brainer,” Hunter said. “He’s a talented young man. He was out a long period of time and anyone who’s had mono knows how much it takes out of your body. He’s an elite talent and Leaf fans will really enjoy him. We’ll bring him to camp and see how he does, play it day by day ” Liljegren, who had 22 points in 29 games two seasons ago, is known for quick acceleration and told reporters he likens his game to Erik Karlsson, the Swedish sensation on provincial rival Ottawa. There will be work required on his defensive game. “I’m an offensive defenceman and like to be in the offensive zone and create points,” Liljegren said. Liljegren is currently under contract in Rogle and might not stay in Toronto for more than the July development camp. Liljegren, a native of Kristianstad in southern Sweden, performed very well at the draft combine in Buffalo, especially in the demanding Wingate Cycle Ergomator test that underlined his strong leg power. Liljegren’s father is based in the United States and Timothy was quick to credit his mother for raising three sons by herself. Toronto coach Mike Babcock, after shaking hands with Liljegren, went to visit her in the stands. Liljegren also did well in the long jump at the combine, while providing photographers with lots of art of his long dark locks whipping around during the drills. “I know I have to cut my hair,” Liljegren said of joining the conservative Leafs. While in Buffalo he had a good meeting with Toronto management, helping clinch his chances of coming to Toronto. In the second round on Saturday, the Maple Leafs went big – really big. Eemeli Rasanen, who stands six-foot-seven, was a fearsome defenceman with the Kingston Frontenacs after coming from Finland last season. He had 39 points in 66 OHL games, and a good playoff through two rounds. Toronto selected him a little higher than many scouts predicted, but he fits the Leafs plan of growing a mean back line in the future. Those seeing him rise from his seat at the United Center immediately thought of Hall of Famer Chris Pronger. The Leafs had no third rounder, having surrendered it to the Detroit Red Wings as compensation for signing coach Mike Babcock, but went big again in the fourth round for a goalie. They opted for six-foot-three Ian Scott of the Prince Albert Raiders, whose bad numbers last season were skewered by playing on a weak WHL team. Mystery forward Vladislav Kara, who plays for the Kazan team in the secondary Russian league, closed out the fourth round. Most observers have no scouting book on the 19-year-old winger. He he was taken with a pick Toronto received from Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh in the Frank Corrado trade. A number of Leafs bird dogs in Russia liked what they saw of the 6-foot-2 player who had 25 points in 38 games. Next came defenceman Fedor Gordeev, a Toronto native of Russian descent. He’s listed at six-foot-six and had 13 points in 61 games in the 1069200 Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights go for size on Day 2 of NHL Draft

By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal June 24, 2017 - 9:03 am Updated June 24, 2017 - 11:28 am

CHICAGO — The Golden Knights were looking for size and strength in Saturday’s NHL Entry Draft and they found plenty of both on Day Two. The Knights had three picks in the second round and set the tone drafting 6-foot-6 defenseman Nicolas Hague with their first pick of the second round at No. 34. They traded their second pick, the 45th overall, to Columbus, for 6-2 power forward Keegan Kolesar. With their third second-round selection, they chose Jake Leschyshyn, a 5-11 center from the Regina Pats. In the third round, the selection was Jonas Rondbjerg, a 6-foot right wing from Denmark. As for a goaltender, the Knights waited until the fourth round and selected Maxsim Zhukov who played for the of the United States Hockey League. They also took a goalie in the sixth round with Jiri Patera from the Czech Republic. The Knights spent their fifth-round picks on Lucas Elvenes, a right wing from Sweden, and Jonathan Dugan, a center from Northwood Prep who will be playing for Chicago in the USHL next season, then Providence College in 2019. The other selections were Nick Campoli, a center from Clarkson University, who went in the sixth round, and Ben Jones, a center from the Niagara Ice Dogs, the team’s final pick, in the seventh round. “We accomplished a lot of things in this draft,” general manager George McPhee said. “We got some skill, we got some size and we got some goaltending.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069201 Vegas Golden Knights There is time for all of them to mature. A player not signed by his drafted team within two years can re-enter the draft, and a team owns the rights of an NCAA player until 30 days after he departs college, the latter of Golden Knights draft picks understand theirs is a long journey to NHL which could come into play with fifth-round pick Jonathan Dugan, a forward from Rochester, New York, who is scheduled to play at Providence in 2018-19. By Ed Graney Las Vegas Review-Journal “What’s important is we feel like we made good picks, but now we have to develop these kids properly,” McPhee said. “Each kid will do it in June 24, 2017 - 8:18 PM different ways. We’ll watch all of them and be really smart about it. We’re not going to fast-track anyone. Even some of the kids that aren’t as big Updated June 25, 2017 - 12:18 am as others, I’ve always felt if you’re good enough, you’re big enough. But it never hurts for a kid to play an extra year of juniors or two years. It’s better to overcook them than throw them in there raw. CHICAGO — Two days and 217 picks later, the NHL Entry Draft had successfully proven an obvious point: Big Baller Brand probably won’t “It’s like having a kid in the eighth grade suddenly go to 11th or 12th ever moonlight into making overpriced skates, because I’m not sure it grade. It’s too much, not only on the ice but socially for some of these could find a young player self-absorbed enough to wear them. kids. We’ll be open-minded. If someone is ready, you play them, but there’s a good chance all these kids are going back to amateur.” These kids and their altruistic attitudes would drive LaVar Ball batty. That thinking sure wouldn’t fly as a motto for Big Baller Brand skates. Hockey’s culture, perhaps more than any other sport, is to exhibit patience in developing skill, to encourage growth at lower levels and allow nature to take its course for things such as size and speed and LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.25.2017 strength. It’s most like baseball this way, only with development leagues spread across the globe. So it happens that all but one of the Golden Knights’ selections on Friday and Saturday probably will return to their amateur teams next season, the exception being a 20-year-old right wing named Keegan Kolesar, acquired from Columbus for the 45th overall pick. He probably isn’t coming straight to Las Vegas, either, slated to start his Knights journey with the , the team’s American Hockey League affiliate. It’s more than self-restraint on management’s part not to rush players who are clearly unprepared for the game’s highest level, but also the understanding of those players to embrace such a timeline. They all want to reach the NHL like, well, now. They also know it’s not how things work. Beyond names such as Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid and players of a generational magnitude, the idea that an entry draft pick, other than perhaps the top few taken annually, will go directly from hearing his name called to an NHL arena is impractical. Said one fourth-round draft pick Saturday: “I just started shaving.” It’s this unassuming attitude of most young hockey players that is so endearing, the fact that when they are asked to describe their game, many begin with those areas in which they need to improve rather than where their strengths exist. Good luck finding that perspective from 18-year-old athletes drafted into other sports. “I don’t shoot the puck enough,” said Ben Jones, a seventh-round Canadian center pick of the Knights from the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. “I need to get into the dirty areas more where the puck is. I can improve every part of my game, but mostly my skating. “Going in the seventh round, I have a chance to prove people wrong, but the only way that happens is by having a hunger to work hard and learn and push through. You can always get bigger and better.” This kid would really struggle as an NBA lottery pick. It went that way for seven rounds, those general manager George McPhee selecting as the first draft class in franchise history talking more about what they need to do than have already done. Most never have been to Las Vegas — something that will change Tuesday when the team’s development camp opens at the Las Vegas Ice Center — but several of them associated the city with the same movie. They know all about the jungle cat in the bathroom. “I’ve seen ‘The Hangover,’ ” said first-round pick Erik Brannstrom, possibly the draft’s best defenseman, who plays in the Swedish Hockey League. “I’ve seen all three.” Let’s hope he doesn’t think Mr. Chow is the prototypical resident, though some of the crazies along the Strip might give him that impression. 1069202 Vegas Golden Knights “They were very fair to us,” Vegas general manager George McPhee said of the schedule makers. “We asked them to move a couple of things around, and they were able to help us.” Coyotes’ future doesn’t include coach Dave Tippett LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.25.2017 By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal June 24, 2017 - 7:32 PM Updated June 24, 2017 - 7:34 PM

CHICAGO — While the hockey world was fixating on Las Vegas and what the Golden Knights were doing in the NHL Expansion Draft, weird things were happening in another part of the Southwest. The Arizona Coyotes were in full reboot mode. Andrew Barroway bought out his partners and took over full control of the franchise. On Monday, he informed team captain Shane Doan, the face of the franchise and clear-cut fan favorite, that his services no longer were required. But it didn’t end there. On Thursday, Dave Tippett, the team’s longtime coach and vice president of hockey operations, was suddenly out. The news release said the two sides agreed to mutually part ways. Sure they did. This all came in the wake of the NHL Entry Draft. The Coyotes traded their seventh pick in Friday’s first round to the New York Rangers, obtaining Antti Raanta, who will replace Mike Smith in goal, and center Derek Stepan. It’s clear Barroway has a different vision of the franchise’s future. Does it mean 27-year-old general manager John Chayka has full control? It was eight tough years as coach for Tippett. The external issues with management, arena talk, losing Don Maloney as his general manager a year ago and working with Chayka, who is big on analytics. Plus, a team that lost its heart and soul and popular goalie when Smith was dealt June 17 to Calgary. Tippett was 282-257-83 with the Coyotes. He should have no problem finding a job. The NHL’s move of the draft to Chicago was a huge success. Blackhawks fans turned out along with fans from the other 30 franchises. Attendance was announced at 47,500 for the two days at the United Center. Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic won’t have to commute to Brooklyn anymore. The Isles sent Hamonic to Calgary on Saturday in a blockbuster deal that saw the Flames give up their No. 1 draft pick in 2018 and a No. 2 in 2018 and 2019. The 2019 second-rounder is a conditional pick. The Flames get a top-four defenseman to play in front of Smith. The Islanders, who hope to re-sign captain John Tavares, now have two firsts and two seconds in 2018, expected to be a deep draft. Closer examination of the Golden Knights’ schedule reveals back-to-back games 11 times. The first time is opening night Oct. 6 in Dallas, then at Arizona the following night. On Oct. 30 and 31, the team will stay in New York, playing the Islanders in Brooklyn, then the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Knights are in Toronto on Nov. 6 and Montreal on Nov. 7. They will play San Jose on Nov. 24 at T-Mobile Arena, then travel to Arizona the next night. The team will play Dec. 8 in Nashville, then travel to Dallas the next night. The Knights will meet the Ducks in Anaheim on Dec. 27 and the Kings at Staples Center on Dec. 28. Vegas will play at St. Louis on Jan. 4 and at Chicago on Jan. 5. The Knights will head to Florida to play the Lightning on Jan. 18 and the Panthers on Jan. 19. The team will play at Winnipeg on Feb. 1 and at Minnesota on Feb. 2. The Knights will play at the Kings on Feb. 26, then host Los Angeles on Feb. 27. The final back-to-back games will be March 30 against the Blues and March 31 against the Sharks, both at T-Mobile Arena. 1069203 Vegas Golden Knights 2016-17 stats: 2.25 GAA, .913 save percentage Why him: Put up good numbers in the offensive-minded United States Hockey League. He has a good glove and did a nice job for his native Here’s a look at the players the Vegas Golden Knights drafted Saturday Russia at Under-18 World Championships. Lucas Elvenes By Steve Carp Las Vegas Review-Journal Position: Right Wing June 24, 2017 - 5:54 PM Team: Rogle BK Jr. (Sweden Junior) Updated June 25, 2017 - 12:12 am Age: 17 Hometown: Angelholm, Sweden The New Knights Height/weight: 6-0, 172 Nicolas Hague 2016-17 stats: 15 G, 30 A Position: Defense Why him: His dad played professionally in Europe, and he made a Team: (Ontario Hockey League) positive impression last August at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He had been on the Knights’ radar since. Age: 18 Jonathan Dugan Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario Position: Center Height/weight: 6-6, 207 Team: Northwood School (New York) 2016-17 stats: 18 goals, 28 assists Age: 18 Why him: Has great size and is a superior puck-handler. Was expected to go in first round and will use snub as motivation. Hometown: Pittsford, NY Keegan Kolesar Height/weight: 6-2, 185 Position: Right Wing 2016-17 stats: 32 G, 61 A Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (Western Hockey League) Why him: He knows how to find the net, as he had 93 points playing prep school hockey this year. He’s in no rush to go pro, and the Knights can Age: 20 wait on him as he plays in the United States Hockey League next year and Providence College in 2018-19. Hometown: Brandon, Manitoba Nick Campoli Height/weight: 6-2, 223 Position: Center 2016-17 stats: 26 G, 34 A Team: North York Rangers (Ontario Junior Hockey League) Why him: Obtained in trade with Columbus for the Knights’ second pick in the second round (No. 45 overall). He’s big and tough and will win the Age: 18 battles in the corners but also has a scorer’s touch. Most likely to play for Chicago Wolves of American Hockey League next season. Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Jake Leschyshyn Height/weight: 5-11, 190 Position: Center 2016-17 stats: 9 G 23 A Team: Regina Pats (Western Hockey League) Why him: He’s going to play collegiately at Clarkson, so he’ll remain a Golden Knight. Was slowed by injuries last season, which, along with his Age: 18 decision to go to college, probably caused his stock to drop. Hometown: Grasswood, Saskatchewan Jiri Patera Height/weight: 5-11, 189 Position: Goaltender 2016-17 stats: 17 G, 23 A Team: HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech Junior) Why him: Excellent hockey sense, no surprise since his dad, Curtis, Age: 18 played in NHL. Excellent penalty killer who is reliable in defensive end. Hometown: Praha, Czech Republic Jonas Rondbjerg Height/weight: 6-2, 209 Position: Right Wing 2016-17 stats: 2.61 GGA, .933 save percentage Team: Vaxjo Lakers Jr. (Sweden Junior) Why him: He was the No. 4-ranked goalie by NHL Central Scouting. Age: 18 Played well at U-18 Worlds despite being on a subpar team. Hometown: Horsholm, Denmark Ben Jones Height/weight: 6-2, 194 Position: Center 2016-17 stats: 9 G, 22 A Team: Niagara Ice Dogs (Ontario Hockey League) Why him: Mature for his age and has good size and strength. Needs to Age: 18 be more responsible defensively. Hometown: Waterloo, Ontario Maksim Zhukov Height/weight: 6-2, 187 Position: Goaltender 2016-17 stats: 13 G, 37 A Team: Green Bay Gamblers (United States Hockey League) Why him: He competes well and is a solid two-way player. Wins his Age: 17 share of faceoffs and understands the game. Hometown: Kaliningrad, Russia Height/weight: 6-2, 194 LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069204 Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Golden Knights continue to add pieces with draft’s later rounds

By Jesse Granger (contact) Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 10:47 a.m.

The Golden Knights came away with a haul of players today in the second day of the NHL Entry Draft. After taking three players in the first round on Friday, Vegas entered the day with 10 picks in the second through seventh rounds. They used the first pick today — No. 34 overall in the second round — on Nicolas Hague, a bruising 18-year-old defenseman from the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League. At 6-foot-5, 207-pounds he is the biggest of Vegas’ draft picks. Hague registered 18 goals and 28 assists for the Steelheads this season and played for the under-18 Canadian national team. “We were happy to get Hague because we thought he was a first round pic,” Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee said. “Every once in awhile somebody slides for unknown reasons.” The Golden Knights took American Jake Leschyshyn with the 62nd overall pick. The center dropped down the prospect rankings after tearing his ACL in February. Prior to the injury he had 17 goals and 23 assists in only 47 games in the Western Hockey League. The Golden Knights traded their third pick of the second round to the Winnipeg Jets for 2015 draft choice Keegan Kolesar. The 20-year-old winger was a third round pick two years ago for Winnipeg, and has racked up 121 points over the last two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Vegas selected Swedish winger Jonas Rondbjerg in the third round and Russian goaltender Maksim Zhukov in the fourth. Zhukov had four shutouts in 31 games with the Green Bay Gamblers in 2016-17 and finished with a .913 save percentage. In the fifth round the Golden Knights picked up Swedish forward Lucas Elvenes and American winger Jack Dugan, and in the sixth they added center Nick Campoli and another goaltender in Jiri Patera. The final Vegas selection was Canadian center Ben Jones out of the Niagara IceDogs in Ontario. All of the Golden Knights’ draft picks will be in Las Vegas for their inaugural rookie development camp, which kicks off Tuesday at the Las Vegas Ice Center. “We took a lot of skill in the first round with highly intelligent skilled players,” McPhee said. “We weren’t intentionally trying to balance it out but it happened that way getting the big guy in Hague… and adding some size and some muscle.” Coaches from the Golden Knights, Chicago Wolves and Quad City Mallards Tuesday will be in town for the five-day camp concluding next Saturday.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069205 Vegas Golden Knights

In a nod to the future, Golden Knights add trio of talented teens

By Jesse Granger (contact) Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 2 a.m.

When the NHL awarded Las Vegas with an expansion franchise — to become the Golden Knights — majority owner Bill Foley set a lofty goal. Win a Stanley Cup in year six. Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee made his three first- round selections in the entry draft Friday night in Chicago with that long- term goal in mind, taking three teenagers barely old enough to see an R- rated movie without their parents. Cody Glass, who the Golden Knights drafted with the No. 6 overall pick, is the oldest of the three, and he only turned 18 in April. Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom, taken 13th and 15th in the first round, are both 17. The trio are believed to be among the most skilled in the draft, but they are also nowhere near ready for the NHL. McPhee's picks weren't about winning now — but in a few years. Glass, Suzuki and Brannstrom will likely make little impact for the Golden Knights until at least 2020. As head coach Gerard Gallant said, “The goal is to win a Stanley Cup, not to be competitive for a couple years and get close to the playoffs." Glass is a skilled centerman who has shown vast improvement in his game over the last year. After registering only 27 points for the of the Western Hockey league in 2015-16, he skyrocketed to 94 points this season. He will likely return to the Winterhawks for a year or two before he makes his debut in Las Vegas, but he has the potential to be a first-line center for the Golden Knights down the road. The Winnipeg native weighs less than 180 pounds and will need to put on some size to survive in the NHL. Speaking of needing to put on weight, Brannstrom was one of the smallest defensive prospects available. The Swede is 5-foot-9, 179 pounds but has exceptional offensive skill for a defenseman. In three years Brannstrom has the potential to be a weapon from the blue line — particularly on power plays. He passes the puck exceptionally well and has proven he can compete against bigger men in the top professional league in Sweden. The pick sandwiched between Glass and Brannstrom was Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League. Appropriately named, Suzuki skates as fast as a crotch rocket but his mind is faster. Suzuki’s on-ice intelligence has been heralded by scouts from around the league, and once his body catches up he will be an asset for the Golden Knights. For now, the 5-foot-11, 183-pound teenager will need to bulk up and likely spend at least a couple more years in Ontario. These three picks could be great but they will require a lot of patience to pay off. The “win in six” plan for the Golden Knights is an ambitious one, but if the team does hoist the Stanley Cup in 2023, we will look back on this day as a major reason why. By then Glass, Suzuki and Brannstrom will be old enough to drink celebratory champagne out of the cup if they choose.

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069206 Washington Capitals with the 182nd pick. The Capitals took forward Kristian Roykas- Marthinsen with their last selection of the draft in the seventh round.

“Just taking the best player that was available to us,” Mahoney said. Capitals spend a mostly quiet afternoon on Day 2 at the NHL draft “There were defensemen that we liked that were still on the board, so we took them. … I think teams are always looking for defensemen, and so for us, there’s no problem in having extra defensemen in the farm By Isabelle Khurshudyan June 24 at 3:12 PM system.”

CHICAGO — Brian MacLellan and Marc Bergevin stood at a back corner Washington Post LOADED: 06.25.2017 of the draft floor in United Center on Saturday afternoon, an indication a trade between MacLellan’s Washington Capitals and Bergevin’s Montreal Canadiens was being considered. A year ago at this event, the two general managers shook hands before Montreal sent center Lars Eller to Washington in exchange for two second-round picks. But on Saturday, the two men returned to their draft tables without a deal, and the rest of the afternoon was uneventful for the Capitals. In each of the past nine NHL drafts, Washington has made some sort of a trade, a streak that was broken this year in Chicago with the organization seeming content to watch its fellow teams hog all of the action. Washington had a pick in each of their last four rounds and its first pick didn’t come until the fourth round, when the team selected Swiss defenseman Tobias Geisser in the 120th slot. “We looked to trade up a couple times,” MacLellan said. “[Assistant general manager Ross Mahoney and his staff] liked a couple guys, so we tried to move up and get those guys. But unfortunately, they got taken before we got there.” Mahoney added, “When you don’t have a first, second or third, you obviously know there are going to be taken, but we were very happy with who was there when we picked in all rounds.” The Capitals made their splash on Friday by re-signing T.J. Oshie to an eight-year, $46 million deal, marking their only notable move of the weekend. Meanwhile, every other team in the Metropolitan Division was busy. The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers had the top two picks, respectively, and Swiss center Nico Hischier went first overall with center Nolan Patrick going second. The Flyers also loaded up on first- round draft picks by trading winger Brayden Schenn to St. Louis and taking on center Jori Lehtera’s contract. Some blockbusters happened before the draft even started on Friday, with the Islanders acquiring a top-six forward in Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle in exchange for Ryan Strome. New York then shipped defenseman Travis Hamonic and a 2019 or 2020 fourth-round pick to the Calgary Flames on Saturday for a 2018 first-round pick and two future second-round picks. That also cleared roughly $4 million in salary cap space to free the Islanders to potentially secure another acquisition. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets added Artemi Panarin, who scored 31 goals and 43 assists last season, and dealt Brandon Saad back to Chicago. The Rangers moved center Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta to Arizona for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh-overall pick in an effort to clear salary cap room for free-agent signings. Pittsburgh added muscle with physical forward Ryan Reaves, sending the Blues center Oskar Sundqvist and a draft pick in exchange. The Carolina Hurricanes added to their young defense on Thursday by trading Vegas a draft pick for Trevor van Riemsdyk. The Metropolitan Division was the most competitive in the NHL last season, with five teams finishing with at least 94 points and just 10 points separating the top three teams, which were three of the top four teams in the league. The Capitals finished with the league’s best regular season record, and while their counterparts in the division made some moves to potentially overtake them next season, Washington was in part handcuffed from doing too much because it still has five restricted free agents to re-sign and is now limited in funds thanks to Oshie’s new $5.75 million cap hit. Still on Washington’s wish list is a top-four, left-shot defenseman after Nate Schmidt was taken in the Las Vegas expansion draft. MacLellan said the Capitals intend to extend qualifying offers to all five of their restricted free agents to retain their negotiating rights, with the deadline on Monday. The first day of unrestricted free agency then arrives July 1, and MacLellan said Washington may explore that route in replacing Schmidt on the blue line. In the meantime, the Capitals stocked up on blueline prospects for their future, drafting Geisser in the fourth round, Swedish left-shot defenseman Sebastian Walfridsson with pick No. 151 in the fifth round and right-shot American defenseman Benton Maass in the sixth round 1069207 Washington Capitals

Continuing a trend, the Caps loaded up on defensemen Saturday

By Tarik El-Bashir June 24, 2017 3:45 PM

CHICAGO—The Capitals tried to move up a couple of times on Day 2 of the NHL Draft, but those deals did not materialize. Instead, GM Brian MacLellan and his staff used the four picks they began the day with...and continued a trend the organization has established in recent drafts: selecting defensemen. In fact, three of the players the Caps drafted Saturday at United Center were blue liners—Switzerland’s Tobias Geisser in the fourth round, Sweden’s Sebastian Walfridsson in the fifth and Minnesota high schooler Benton Maass in the sixth. (Winger Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen was the team’s seventh round pick.) Going back to last year's draft, Maass' selection marked five straight defensemen drafted by the Caps. “It’s not a conscious effort,” MacLellan said of using three of the team’s four picks on defenseman. “The philosophy has been to take the best player available and our amateur staff liked these guys here today.” Assistant General Manager Ross Mahoney added: “It comes down to taking the best player that was available to us, and there happened to be defensemen that we liked that were still on the board, so we took them.” Conscious or not, the trend is tough to ignore. Dating to the 2015 draft, the Capitals have chosen defensemen with nine of their 15 picks during that span. Among them are highly regarded prospects Lucas Johansen (first round in 2016), Jonas Siegenthaler (second round in 2015) and Connor Hobbs (fifth round in 2015). Mahoney acknowledged that have a surplus of blue liners in the pipeline can be a good problem to have. “It is for sure,” he said. “Teams are always looking for defensemen. There’s no problem having extra defensemen in the farm system.” Mahoney also said that as the game gets faster, finding and developing smart, puck-moving rearguards will become even more critical. “You want your defensemen to be able to skate and have good sense and be able to make quick decisions because the game is so fast now,” he said. “The forwards get on the defense really quickly, so you want to make sure you get guys that can skate and move the puck well.” None of the Caps’ draftees were in attendance. It was unclear as of Saturday afternoon if any of them will attend next week’s development camp at Arlington.

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NHL Draft 2017: Caps end day by drafting Norwegian winger

By Cam Ellis June 24, 2017 2:04 PM

Despite taking three defensemen with their earlier picks, the Caps ended their 2017 draft by taking Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen in the 7th round. Roykas-Marthinsen, an 18-year-old winger out of Norway, was the only offensive player that Washington took in the 2017 draft. Listed at 6'0 and 185 lbs, Roykas -Marthinsen has shown some offensive prowess during his time in Europe. While at the Junior World Championships, he scored eight points in five games. During the tournament, he scored five goals and assisted on three. With those four picks, the Caps' 2017 draft is officially over.

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NHL Draft 2017: With 6th round pick, Caps select 3rd defenseman of the day

By Cam Ellis June 24, 2017 1:11 PM

In the span of about 60 minutes, the Caps have drafted three young defensemen. After taking European blueliners with their 4th and 5th round picks, Washington took American defenseman Brenton Maass with the 182nd overall pick. Maass (6'1, 185) comes from Elk River, Minnesota, where he played at Elk River High School. While both of the Caps' previous picks today were lefties, Maass is right-handed. NHL.com ranks him as the 159th best player in the draft.

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NHL Draft 2017: Caps select another defenseman with 5th round pick

By Cam Ellis June 24, 2017 12:52 PM

With the 151st overall pick, the Capitals again took a defenseman - this time, selecting Sebastian Walfridsson. Walfridsson (6'0, 194) is a bit smaller than Tobias Geisser, the defenseman the Caps took in the 4th round. An 18-year-old out of Sweden, Walfridsson provides depth at a position the Capitals are clearly targeting this year. He played for the Swedish 18- U team at the 2017 World Championships. Last year, in the Swedish junior league, Walfridsson collected two goals, five assists, and seven points in 38 games played.

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2017 NHL Draft: Caps take Swiss defenseman in the 4th round

By Cam Ellis June 24, 2017 12:15 PM

With the 120th pick in the NHL draft, the Caps took Tobias Geisser, an 18-year old defenseman out of Switzerland. At 6'4 and 200 lbs, Geisser, who is the 30th-ranked defenseman in the draft according to NHL.com, already looks the part of an NHL blueliner. According to eliteprospects.com, his biggest strength is in the transition game: "Geisser is two-way defenseman with excellent size and mobility. Sees the ice well and plays crisp passes to spark a team’s transition game. Has a long reach and shows a smart defensive game, while keeping his plays simple. Needs to improve his physical play and has to make better use of his excellent frame, as he plays a soft game. Owns a hard shot, which makes him a valuable option for the power play."

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Think the Caps' Stanley Cup window has closed? T.J. Oshie doesn't

By J.J. Regan June 24, 2017 7:00 AM

There were three things T.J. Oshie was looking for when it came to his next contract, he told reporters on a conference call Friday. He wanted security, he wanted a family friendly destination and he wanted to go "somewhere that has a realistic chance at winning a Stanley Cup." Security? Check. He got security both in term with eight years and money with $46 million. Family friendly? Check. Oshie's wife and family love Washington and his daughter Lyla seems to be very happy to see them stay put in Washington. A chance to win a Cup? Well, depending on who you ask, this one is debatable. The Capitals have reached the end of the two-year championship window that was self-imposed by general manager Brian MacLellan. With several free agents expected to be leaving Washington as well as the sudden departure of Nate Schmidt thanks to the expansion draft, Washington will not likely boast a team as good or as deep as last year. But Oshie doesn't think that means the Caps have missed their chance. "I have no doubt in my mind that we'll be able to win a cup here in the next couple of years," Oshie said. Washington may well ice a very good team next season, but there are a lot of questions they have to answer first. How do they replace Nate Schmidt? How much money will they have left after they re-sign their restricted free agents? Are the younger players and prospects ready for an increased role? We do not have the answer to those questions yet and neither does Oshie. That made digging into what the team's plans are for this offseason part of the negotiation process. "I think that was one of the questions was with the free agents that we have, who was going to be able to come back?" Oshie said. "Who were they going to be able to fit in? I think everyone understands that, just from a salary cap this year, we're not going to be able to keep everyone back so it's going to be a little bit of a different look, but I think for the most part the nucleus is still there." When evaluating Washington's roster, Oshie ultimately reached the same conclusion as MacLellan after the season: The Caps' core group is still good enough to make a championship run. "I've been a part of the history now for the last couple of years," Oshie said. "I understand that we've fallen short, but I don't think anyone can deny that when you look at our roster, if we play together how we should and how we can, there's no reason we wouldn't be in those top couple teams that have a chance to win a Stanley Cup."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069213 Winnipeg Jets "We think he’s a bit of a late bloomer. He’s a big 6-4 defenceman, a really good skater and puck-moving defenceman. His game is just starting to come on its own and we think there’s good things to come," he NHL Draft: Jets boost prospect list with big D-men said. "It’s hard to rate his speed on defence but the agility and feet are really good for a big man."

Kovacevik said Jets scout Max Giese paid close attention to him during By: Jason Bell the school year and he had a feeling he might wind up with Winnipeg. Posted: 06/24/2017 10:26 AM | Last Modified: 06/24/2017 12:56 PM "I was really hoping, to be honest, before the draft to be a Jet, so I | Updates | Comments: couldn’t be happier right now — the fact it’s an up-and-coming team right now, a really exciting team, to be a part of," he said. "To be a part of it is truly humbling and such a huge honour. CHICAGO — Grabbing defencemen with some loft to them became a "It’s crazy how they do like their big D, so, hopefully, I can fit in there." repetitive procedure for the Winnipeg Jets on Day 2 of the NHL Draft. In the fourth, the Jets chose Finnish-born forward Santeri Virtanen, 6-2, Four of the seven players Winnipeg selected Saturday at the United 194 pounds and later selected diminutive winger Skyler McKenzie from Center were blue-liners, while the Central Division club also took a pair of the Portland Winterhawks in the seventh round. forwards and a goalie. McKenzie, just 5-8, 161 pounds, had a breakout season in the Western Ben Chiarot signed a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets. Hockey League, putting up 42 goals and 84 points as a 19-year-old after just 25 points the previous season. Stockpiling sizeable defencemen is never a bad thing, but in the Jets’ case bringing young, skilled defenders into the fold was a top priority for He played portions of the season with Winnipeg-born centre Cody Glass, a club short on prospects with those specific attributes. who was drafted sixth overall by the Golden Knights. In the second round, the Jets used their 43rd overall pick to take Dylan "(Skyler) is one of those real competitive players that when you go and Samberg, a 6-3, 190-pound defenceman from Hermantown High School watch a hockey game, he just jumps out at you," said Cheveldayoff. "He in Minnesota. He also played six games with the Waterloo Black Hawks took a real jump in his offence this year and put up some really good of the United States Hockey League. numbers. But the skill and the skating draws you to him, but the compete, the tenacity, that he plays with is why he could be a guy that bucks the Winnipeg went with a big body again in the third round, drafting odds and makes it." defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic, 6-4, 212 pounds, who just completed his first year at Merrimack College (NCAA), north of Boston. Winnipeg also took Swedish-born goalie Arvid Holm in the sixth round. Winnipeg grabbed German-born defenceman Leon Gawanke, 6-1, 180 pounds, in the fifth round and then used a second pick in the seventh round — acquired from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2016 draft — to Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 06.25.2017 take Croix Evingson, a 6-5, 209-pound defenceman from Anchorage, Alaska. Notice there’s a theme here. Yet, Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said taking four young D-men that stand taller than six feet wasn’t necessarily by design. "They are (big). It wasn’t so much targeting for size, but it did happen in that way," he said. "(These are) players that have some development path in front of them but who we think are going to develop nicely and play the game the way the game needs to be played. "We certainly addressed some depth needs in our organization with respect to some of the players we drafted," Cheveldayoff added. "It’s interesting, at least off our list you started to see a lot of defencemen get taken in the draft. It takes a long time to develop a defenceman. That’s why when they fall into your spots when you’re drafting and you feel comfortable in taking them, you do." On Friday night, the Jets used their first-round pick (24th overall) — originally the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ pick but acquired in a deal that allowed Winnipeg to surrender only unrestricted free agent Chris Thorburn in the expansion draft — to select 6-3, 207-pound Finnish-born winger Kristian Vesalainen. Returning to the draft table Saturday, Cheveldayoff and his scouting staff went to work bolstering the depth on the blue line. They used the 12th pick of the round to take Samberg, recently named the top senior high school hockey player in Minnesota. He described himself as a big, puck-moving defenceman, noting he models his game after Minnesota Wild defenceman Marco Scandella. "My shot is definitely a big part of my game and my physicality. Keep guys to the outside, don’t let them get around you," he said, adding he’s very familiar with one Jets veteran, in particular. "(Dustin) Byfuglien. That’s a big one. He’s definitely a big role model with all the heavy hits." Samberg, 18, has committed to play next season for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Jets’ director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier said Samberg is an intriguing prospect. "There’s a bit of a raw element to him. He’s going to skip a year in the USHL to go right to college, so we’re excited about his upside," he said. Some would argue Winnipeg jumped the gun on Kovacevic, taking him with the 74th overall pick when NHL Central Scouting had him at 155th. Hillier said the Grimsby, Ont., product is worth the risk. 1069214 Winnipeg Jets better players to get to them. We felt those defencemen we took were the best players available when we took them.”

Samberg said he patterns his game after Minnesota Wild defenceman Jets draft well, but goalie issue remains Marco Scandella, Kovacevic after Calgary Flames blue-liner Dougie Hamilton. Those could be two pretty nice additions, given time to grow. BY TED WYMAN, WINNIPEG SUN “I’m a big, physical, puck-moving defenceman,” Samberg said. “Keep guys to the outside, don’t let them get around you. FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 03:10 PM CDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 05:52 PM CDT “There’s also things I need to work on. Obviously skating is a big part of it, with that mobility. I need to be a little bit more flexible with that. I always work on shooting and skills and footwork and things like that.” CHICAGO — The Winnipeg Jets picked up a goaltender on Saturday, Kovacevic, who was an OHL cut before making a name for himself in but not one who is going to help solve their most pressing problem any U.S. college hockey, calls himself a smart defenceman. time soon. “A two-way defenceman … I take care of my own zone first,” the 19-year- The question is: When are they going to make a move to address that old from Grimsby, Ont., said. “I can contribute offensively by some good glaring weakness? passes, or some good plays on the offensive blue line.” General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was working on a deal on NHL It certainly sounds good. But every player does on draft day. draft weekend and thought he had something hammered out before it fell apart. The Jets development coaches will have their work cut out over the next few years. There’s no guarantee he was trying to acquire a goaltender but he has never denied that he is shopping for one, so it would make sense. Of course, unless that goaltending issue is rectified soon, the same could be said for everyone in the organization. With no trade completed, the Jets left Chicago with only one new goaltender in the fold — 18-year-old Swede Arvid Holm, whom they CHICAGO — One grew up a fan of an arch rival, while the other has drafted in the sixth round, 167th overall. been hoping to get drafted by the Winnipeg Jets for a while. Something more impactful has to get done in that area between now and The Jets drafted defencemen Dylan Samberg of Hermantown, Minn., and next Saturday, which is when the NHL free agency period opens. Jonathan Kovacevic of Grimsby, Ont., on Saturday, recognizing that both are projects for down the road. “We’re going to be active obviously,” Cheveldayoff said at the conclusion of Saturday’s draft. The two players are certainly eager to get started. “We’re going to a take a look at whatever is available to us and if there’s “I did grow up a Wild fan but obviously that’s going to change now,” a good opportunity there that can help us, we’ll jump at it. We can start Samberg said after going in the second round, 43rd overall to the Jets. talking to free agents at midnight tonight. We’ve got a list of names lined “I’ve always liked (Dustin) Byfuglien. That’s a big one. He’s definitely a up to reach out to their representatives and see if we’re a fit for them as big role model with all the heavy hits.” far as they want to consider us.” Kovacevic has been eyeing Winnipeg all year, intrigued by the team’s While many other teams made significant deals this week, with names interest in him and a roster that includes star power in the form of Patrik like Travis Hamonic, Derek Stepan, Antti Raanta, Jordan Eberle and Laine, Mark Scheifele and Nik Ehlers. Ryan Strome changing teams, Cheveldayoff’s only trade was a swap of draft picks that allowed him to keep his roster intact through “I was really hoping before the draft, to be honest, to be a Jet,” Kovacevic Wednesday’s Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft. said. “I couldn’t be happier right now. It’s an up-and-coming team right now and it’s a really exciting time to be a part of it. I knew they were That was a commendable move by the GM but it won’t help the Jets interested all year. The Boston-area scout, Max Giese, was high on me improve on their team goals against average of 3.11 (27th in the NHL) and such a great guy with me the whole year. I’m going to make it my from last season. It’s hard to imagine anyone picking the Jets to improve mission to do everything I can to help this team and to be as ready as I if they start the season with only Connor Hellebuyck and Michael can to be hopefully a Winnipeg Jet one day.” Hutchinson between the pipes again.

At the actual draft table, the Jets did a good job of building organizational depth, especially at the defence position. They drafted size, they drafted Wyman players who can skate and they drafted players they said were rated much higher on their lists than where they went (doesn’t everybody?). Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.25.2017 They drafted with a telescope, taking mostly players who are at least a few years away from making an impact at the NHL level. It’s far from the instant fix many people believe an experienced goaltender will give them, but it’s another solid building block. Take, for example, their first two picks of the draft — first-rounder Kristian Vesalainen, a big winger from Finland and second-rounder Dylan Samberg, a big left-shooting defenceman from a Minnesota high school program. Neither will be in Winnipeg anytime soon — Vesalainen plans to play in Finland next season, Samberg at the University of Minnesota-Duluth — but they have the potential to grow into something special. It won’t happen overnight either for third-rounder Jonathan Kovacevic, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenceman from Merrimac College, fourth-rounder Santeri Virtanen, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound centre from Finland, fifth-rounder Leon Gawanke, a 6-foot-1, 186-pound defenceman from Germany, or seventh-rounders Skyler McKenzie, a high scoring but small Portland Winterhawks winger and Croix Evingson, a 6-foot-4, 213-pound defenceman from Alaska. One thing that is clear — the Jets organization is going to be big in the future, especially on defence where they filled a need with the glut of blue-liners. “We wanted to add some D to the mix and that’s where it fell for us,” Jets director of amateur scouting Mark Hillier said. “We didn’t have to jump 1069215 Winnipeg Jets

Chiarot re-ups in Winnipeg Jets resign top-six defenceman

SCOTT BILLECK, WINNIPEG SUN FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 07:12 PM CDT

For Ben Chiarot, it was a no-brainer to re-sign in the city that gave him his first National Hockey League game. Chiarot, a restricted free agent prior to signing a two-year, $2.8 million extension late Friday night, said he welcomed the opportunity to re-sign with the team that drafted him in the fourth round, 120th overall back in 2009. “I love being a Winnipeg Jet,” Chiarot said from his home in Southern Ontario on Saturday. “Being a Canadian guy in a Canadian city, it’s a special feeling. It’s kind of hard to describe, but me and my fiancé are both Canadian and we got engaged in Winnipeg. We’re happy to be coming back to Winnipeg, somewhere we feel comfortable.” Chiarot, who has 170 NHL games under his belt in Winnipeg, didn’t hesitate to pick out a single memory thus far. “Those playoff games against the (Anaheim) Ducks two years ago, the games back in Winnipeg,” he said. “I’ve never been a part of an atmosphere like that. It was incredible and I think it’s something we are going to see a lot of here over the next couple of years.” Chiarot had two goals and 10 assists in an injury-shortened season in 2016-17. The 26-year-old played in just 59 games after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury to close out the season and a further 12 games earlier in the year with a separate upper-body ailment. Chiarot’s role in the Jets defensive corps has ranged from playing big minutes with key injuries affecting the backend, to sliding down to the third pairing and imposing his physicality. “I feel like I have room to grow and improve and my goal is to become an important part of the team and a piece of the puzzle to help things move forward here and become a playoff team each year,” he said. The Winnipeg Jets drafted four defenceman over seven rounds of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday, all eclipsing the six-foot mark. Chiarot, who measures 6-foot-3 and tips the scale at 219 pounds, says size in a defenceman is always something teams will favour if two players are equal in skill and ability. “(Size) still has importance, but it’s definitely changed since I was drafted,” he said. “You used to see guys, big, who couldn’t really skate that well when I was getting drafted. They couldn’t move that well and they’d get picked. Now, they’ll go with the smaller guy who is a better skater. “Skating has always been the No. 1 thing. You look at the best guys in the league… Connor McDavid is the best skater in the league and it’s not a coincidence that he’s the best player.”

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.25.2017 1069216 Winnipeg Jets

Hall call shows 'Ducky' was a difference maker

SCOTT BILLECK, WINNIPEG SUN FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 06:19 PM CDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2017 06:29 PM CDT

Dale Hawerchuk wanted to come to Winnipeg and be a difference maker after he was drafted first overall by the club in 1981. On Nov. 14, he’ll watch his name and number ascend to the rafters of Bell MTS Place in the city where he got his National Hockey League start after the Winnipeg Jets named the Toronto native the fourth inductee into the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame, a sign clear as any that he accomplished what he set out to do all those years ago. Despite this being his third hall of fame nod (he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 2011), Hawerchuk says Winnipeg will always hold a sacred spot in his heart. “When you go somewhere when you’re first drafted… that team is pretty special and pretty important to you,” he said. “I can’t say it much more, really, how important Winnipeg was in my life, going there at 18 and doing a lot of growing up there. “When you’re 18 and you’re put in the spotlight, you learn to grow up and the people there, I can only say the people in Winnipeg helped me do that.” Hawerchuk played nine seasons with the Jets, recording 379 goals and 550 assists in 713 regular season games. “Ducky” won the as the NHL’s top rookie for his efforts during the 1981-92 season, amassing 45 goals and 58 points in 80 games. He scored a career-high 53 during the 1984-85 season, his best year statistically with 130 points, and one of the highlights he mentioned of his time in Winnipeg. “Playing that first game, skating out for that first game, that was pretty special,” he said. “And, of course, the whiteout crowd in the playoffs.” Hawerchuk was traded to the Buffalo Sabres prior to the 1990 season and played with the St. Louis Blues and the Philadelphia Flyers before retiring in 1997. He finished his career with 518 goals and 891 assists in 1,188 career NHL games. Hawerchuk’s achievements and accolades in hockey are numerous, including two Memorial Cup wins, a Memorial Cup MVP nod and CHL Player of the Year honours before he stepped foot in the NHL. He went on to be a member of two Canada Cup championship winning teams in 1987 and then again in 1991. He played in five NHL All-Star Games and became the first NHL player to reach 1,000 games before age 31. The Arizona Coyotes (who moved from Winnipeg in 1996) inducted Hawerchuk into their ring of honour in 2007 and his number 10 has been retired by the franchise. In 2010, Hawerchuk became the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts and coach current Jets superstar centre, Mark Scheifele. And yet, despite all he has done and all that has been credited to his name, Hawerchuk still holds one regret. “We couldn’t bring a (Stanley Cup) to Winnipeg,” Hawerchuk said via conference call on Friday night. “It wasn’t for a lack of effort from myself or the other guys. If we could have won it there, it would have been so special. I think for the club now, how special it would be to bring the Cup to Winnipeg.”

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 06.25.2017 1069217 Vancouver Canucks was pushed to play in all situations in Kelowna and nothing was handed to him.

“It was a lot about earning ice time and hard work pays off,” added Lind. Canucks finally return to second round with two key picks “It changed my game into more of a 200-foot game rather than just all offence. It helped me translate my game into the best pro I can be. I’m a capable guy who can do anything and play off wing or right wing play Ben Kuzma everything this year. Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:54 PM “I like watching Filip Forsberg and that’s a guy I’d like to be able to play PDT like.” As for Gadjovich, he will tell you that size matters. In a game that’s trending smaller and quicker, his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame and CHICAGO — Jim Benning had a pair of players slotted in the first round presence were attractive to the Canucks. He was ranked 39th amount who weren’t selected Friday. North American skates by the CSB and 48th by TSN. That only added more intrigue and urgency to what the Vancouver The Canucks hope they will eventually have a power forward in Jake Canucks general manager was hoping to accomplish Saturday. He had Virtanen and Brock Boeser can play wing with authority, but he’s not an two second-round selections — No. 33 and the No. 55 compensatory imposing physical figure. Gadjovich is. pick for Columbus hiring John Tortorella — and hasn’t had a second- rounder since the latest goaltender of the future Thatcher Demko arrived “In today’s game you see a lot of speedy guys, but in order to win puck in 2014. battles and be heavy on pucks you need size,” said Gadjovich. “And that’s what I can bring. I improved all aspects of my game and I got more The Canucks could have actually had three second-round picks had they responsibility on the penalty kill and in the offensive zone.” showed Vegas their best poker face Friday. One thing the Canucks are lacking, or have yet to really develop, are The Golden Knights, who picked sixth, wanted Portland Winterhawks wingers who can consistently come off the wall, get the net, stay there centre Cody Glass and the Canucks had slick Swedish playmaking and finish. centre Elias Peterrsson at top of their wish list at No. 5. “I’m a power forward and I’ve alway admired David Backes,” said Vegas dangled a second-round pick to move up one spot to get Glass Gadjovich. “He’s heavy on pucks, has a great shot and shows great because they owned three second-rounders, but backed off when the leadership and I’m trying to model my game after him.” buzz was that the Canucks were going to take Pettersson. They could have got him sixth overall and had another second-rounder Saturday. In a 2017 draft that lacked a generational player like centres Auston Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 06.25.2017 Matthews or Connor McDavid, the No. 33 selection was essentially a first-rounder and Benning was bent on taking a forward. Selecting centre/winger Kole Lind 33rd overall was no surprise because his 30-goal, 70-point production, versatility and ability to excel in a premier program sold the Canucks on the Shaunavon, Sask., native. And taking big Owen Sound Attack power winger Jonah Gadjovich addressed a need to add size and skill. His 46 goals and 74 points from left wing proved that he does more than just talk about playing a heavy two-way game and can get to the net. It was a priority. “Absolutely, we addressed some skill and scoring, and we’re always looking to do it. It’s the hardest thing to do,” said Judd Brackett, the Canucks’ director of amateur scouting. “It was important to address some needs for the future. “Kole has good hockey sense and awareness and spacial recognition. He protect the puck well and has a good shot. And he can play in traffic because he’s a feisty player. Jonah is a high-character guy with a net presence and is good with rebounds around the net because he has a high motor. “He’s going to keep coming with his skating and he knows it and we’ve talked about it. But he brings something we’re lacking in our depth.” “But we really believe in him and we think he’s going to get there. We knew we could target some players today who were probably deserving of being first-round picks and we feel fortunate. We think we got good value.” For Lind, his rise from a tiny town that produced well-decorated Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser made a lasting impact. So did elite programs in Swift Current and Saskatoon and living up to expectations in Kelowna. Toss in skating on frozen slabs of ice in his frigid hometown and you can understand the motivation to pursue a dream. “I lived right across the back road from my town’s outdoor rink, so I was literally basically out there every day,” said Lind. “I would skate down the road, it was so cold. I would skate until supper, take a half hour to eat, and I’d be back out there. “I was always playing with the older kids and that strengthened me.” So did crossing paths with Wickenheiser. “I’ve talked to to her quite a few times and she has always helped me chase my dream,” said Lind. Lind was ranked 23rd among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Bureau and TSN had him 54th, but the Canucks clearly saw how he could add to a franchise need for versatility and productivity. Lind 1069218 Vancouver Canucks “In moving down, we targeted players and added a pick,” said Brackett. “The players we wanted were still there and it was a wise decision. Gunnarsson is an abrasive and hard defender, who contains well and NHL Draft Recap: Canucks' selections could compare favourably to 2004 has a good stick and a smart first read and clean first pass.” “Palmu drove the Owen Sound offensive and his height (5-foot-6) catches you by surprise, but he’s stocky and like a fire hydrant who can Ben Kuzma play through traffic and has good hands.” Published on: June 24, 2017 | Last Updated: June 24, 2017 5:29 PM PDT Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO — Their best draft since 2004? That’s how one well-respected scout not connected to the Vancouver Canucks described what the National Hockey League club accomplished here with eight selections over two days. They landed a playmaking centre, a versatile forward who can play the middle or the wall, a big and productive power forward, a Memorial Cup championship goaltender, a small but effective sniper and three defencemen, two of them who can move the puck. The Canucks actually did what general manager Jim Benning said they planned to do Saturday. They selected two impact forwards in the second round who they identified as possible first-rounders. They added goaltneding depth and traded their second pick in the fourth round (112th) to Chicago to land a fifth-rounder (135th) and sixth-rounder (181st), rounds in which they didn’t have picks. In the 2004 draft, four of seven Canuck selections in Cory Schneider (26th), Alex Edler (91st), Mike Brown (150th) and Jannik Hansen (287th) not only made it to The Show, Schneider, Edler and Hansen have become roster mainstays. “We always feel better after today,” said Judd Brackett, the Canucks director of amateur scouting. “We identified players and targeted them in particular rounds and they were there. We were fortunate in some spots and I feel we accomplished some of the things we set out to do. “And it’s good to have picks in the early rounds, it’s easier to address needs.” The Canucks knew they had to add a goaltender to the organization and Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires in an interesting selection. Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires lifts the Memorial Cup trophy defeating the Erie Otters in May. Winning a championship in your hometown is a tall order, especially when you bow out early in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and wait 44 days to host the Memorial Cup. And when you’re just six feet tall in the land of goaltending giants, you better pack a mobile and reactive game. “I model my game after and use my flexibility and my compete level to make saves even when I really shouldn’t,” said DiPietro. “But I need to get better in all areas, particularly my patience. I lunge at pucks and have to be in better spots for the second save rather than being in desperation mode.” Brackett said what DiPietro may lack in size is trumped by his athleticism. “It’s his quickness and determination and he doesn’t give up on pucks,” said Brackett. “And he’s a winner.” With their first pick in the fourth round, the Canucks selected high school defencman Jack Rathbone, who will return to high school next fall and then attend Harvard. The Canucks like his energy to get up ice and power-play potential. There’s also a hockey lineage. His father, Jason, was a winger and drafted in the sixth round by the New York Islanders in 1988. “He was a huge influence on my career and today I love watching guys like Kris Letang and Duncan Keith, and anybody who is a pretty dynamic offensive defenceman and can jump into the play,” said Rathbone, who missed two weeks of this season with a concussion. “I also developed a good relationship with Harvard coach Ted Donato and I wanted to play for a guy who played in the NHL and be able to pick his brain. He knows what it takes to get to the next level.” The Canucks then moved down to grab Swedish defenceman Kristoffer Gunnarsson in the fifth round and winger Petrus Palmu of Owen Sound. Their final pick was defence man Matt Brassard. 1069219 Websites When Joel Quenneville learned of the moves, he abruptly left a coaches meeting and did not stick around the United Center for draft night.

Quenneville returned Saturday and spoke to the media. Sportsnet.ca / 13 NHL Draft takeaways: Rumours, trades, signings, surprises “My motivation is I want to be better and I want to try to win. But I think Stan’s motivation is a longer-term look to it,” Quenneville said.

Bowman, who acquired younger D-man Connor Murphy and forward Luke Fox Laurent Dauphin from Arizona, said he was thinking big picture and not @lukefoxjukebox just reacting to Chicago’s first-round sweep by the Predators. June 24, 2017, 3:13 PM Factor in the news that Marian Hossa will be sidelined all of next season due to an allergic reaction and some of the other departures (Scott Darling, Trevor van Riemsdyk), and Chicago appears to be trending down. Think of the children. “These moves were not based just on one playoff round,” Bowman said. But pay even more attention to the adults. “It’s more about looking ahead to the future.” The NHL’s draft weekend is about the hopes and dreams and untapped The GM smartly brightened the home crowd by bringing out Toews and potential of 18-year-olds. Yet increasingly — and especially in a low-tide Patrick Kane to announce the Hawks’ first-rounder. year after the back-to-back generational tsunamis of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews — the draft is about juggling and firming up rosters “Everyone’s kind of shocked,” Toews said of the trades. of established players. “I could sit here and go on and on about Hammer and Hoss, and just the In our cap world, the NHL’s free agency market is losing some of its character and personality they brought to our team. What they’ve proven juice. In March, the term “trade dudline” was coined. So, alas, the draft in the hockey world. But what matters most is what they’ve proven to acts as the league’s great trade (and rumour) convention. And 2017’s their teammates. edition in Chicago was no exception. “To see Bread Man go hurts as well. Even though there’s a language Adding highly coveted right-shot defenceman Travis Hamonic, 26, from barrier there, he wanted to learn. It’s tough to see a guy like that go after Garth Snow’s bold-moves New York Islanders Saturday thrusts the only two seasons with him.” Flames top-four D core into the “best in the NHL” conversation. (We see you, Nashville.) On the heels of the greatest season in franchise history, the Columbus Blue Jackets will enter what should be a vicious 2017-18 Metropolitan The Manitoba-born Hamonic, who has patiently awaited a trade West Division race with aggression. since 2015 for family matters, joins Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton in a fantastic top four. Not only have they added Panarin, who instantly becomes their highest- paid skater, but the Jackets paid a price to Vegas to keep their core Expect Mike Smith’s save percentage to go up. intact and have been rumoured as a front-runner to land KHLer Ilya Kovalchuk, Panarin’s former SKA teammate. Also expect Michael Stone and Dennis Wideman to hit the open market as a free agents on July 1. Metro Division just added Artemi Panarin and Jordan Eberle, and after tonight, it'll have added Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier. Have mercy. With Deryk Engelland off to Vegas, Calgary’s D is getting younger, cheaper, more mobile and more top-heavy. As per hockey’s trend, three more coveted impending free agents were locked up this weekend in advance of July 1, weakening the UFA market Snow’s original ask for Hamonic was two first-rounders. That price was for forwards especially. too steep for suitors Calgary, Toronto, Dallas and Tampa. Washington handed T.J. Oshie a juicy eight-year, $46-million extension The Flames gave up a first-rounder and two second-round picks to the on the heels of a career season, highlighted by an unsustainable Isles and also recouped a fourth-rounder. A high fee, no doubt, but one shooting percentage. that may be worth it. Heckuva player, but as with most UFA deals, the Capitals may regret the Matt Duchene will still be traded, right? steep cap hit in the second half of Oshie’s term. The Colorado centre is the most talented obvious trade piece left The Anaheim Ducks wisely committed to UFA Patrick Eaves at a standing after a busy week of player movement. reasonable $3.15 million cap hit over three years. Eaves fit nicely on captain Ryan Getzlaf’s wing, and was treated to a fun surprise by fans Avalanche GM Joe Sakic told reporters he still doesn’t like the offers he’s Saturday morning: getting for Duchene, who had a down year production-wise. The 26-year- old’s 18 goals and 23 assists were both four-year lows. His minus-34 This leaves Montreal’s Alexander Radulov as the best forward set to hit rating was a career worst. UFA status. Considering the addition of top-line winger Jonathan Drouin and the gap in negotiations, Radulov may not be returning. Sakic threatened to start the season with Duchene if offers don’t improve. The Predators, Islanders and Canadiens are a few teams said to be On the UFA back end, the Edmonton Oilers also committed four years interested. and $16 million to defenceman Kris Russell, who would’ve had more suitors on July 1. Not-so-bold prediction: Sakic eventually drops his price and Duchene starts 2017-18 in a fresh sweater. Coyotes accelerate rebuild… to sell? Blackhawks down? Host city shakes with blockbusters A popular theory on the dramatic goings-on with Glendale’s hockey team this week: Andrew Barroway, now the Coyotes’ sole owner, is shaping up There is no subtle way to trade away the guy who beat out Connor the team to sell. McDavid for the 2016 Calder Trophy. In a matter of days, Mike Smith, Shane Doan, Connor Murphy, the By dealing away dynamic scorer Artemi Panarin to Columbus, the seventh-overall pick and Dave Tippett were all wiped away. The nagging Blackhawks subtracted a two-time 30-goal scorer and a 25-year-old who arena issue won’t disappear. produces nearly a point per game. Play-now guys like centre Derek Stepan, goaltender Antti Raanta and When Panarin’s two-year, $12-million bridge deal expires in 2019, GM Hjalmarsson have been added, and there is a sense GM John Chayka Stan Bowman believed he wouldn’t be able to give the Bread Man his and his $25.2 million in cap space will be looking to add more. bread, man. Such is the cost of paying two forwards, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, $10.5 million a year through 2023. Thumbs up for this move, though: The Blackhawks welcome the return of Cup winner Brandon Saad, who Nico trumps Nolan had great chemistry with Toews on the wing. Nico Hischier rode a late surge in the mock polls all the way to a No. 1 Chicago also dealt top-three defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson to Arizona overall selection by the New Jersey Devils, making history as Friday afternoon. Switzerland’s highest-drafted player. Hischier is the first non–North American chosen No. 1 since Nail — isaac ratcliffe (@isaacratcliffe) June 24, 2017 Yakupov in 2012. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 But anyone who caught a glimpse of this photograph from Hischier’s childhood knew his fate had already been written… Any Original Six team will do The draft’s Freudian Slip Award goes to Canadiens Round 1 pick Ryan Poehling, who couldn’t be more overjoyed to be heading to Toron— uh, Montreal. Finland, Finland, Finland! A record six Finnish-born players were selected in Round 1: Miro Heiskanen (No. 3, Dallas), Juuso Valimaki (No. 16, Calgary), Urho Vaakanainen (No. 18, Boston), Kristian Vesalainen (No. 24, Winnipeg), Henri Jokiharju (No. 29, Chicago) and Eeli Tolvanen (No. 30, Nashville). Breakdown of first-round selections by birthplace: Canada (11), Finland (6), United States (6), Sweden (4), Czech Republic (2), Russia (1) and Switzerland (1). Top-four blueliner Marc Methot, who was plucked off the Senators at the expansion draft, was offered a trade to the Canadiens and politely declined. All of the Canadian clubs (Toronto and Edmonton are also hunting for D) save Ottawa are on Methot’s no-trade list. In theory, Methot could be dealt back to the Senators as early as Jan. 1, but Vegas will surely hear from U.S. teams, such as Dallas, who missed out on Hamonic. “We have a few more contracts than we need,” Vegas GM George McPhee said. “There’s lots of interest. We have to make the right decisions and create some space for the kids that we’ve drafted.” As if losing Methot isn’t enough, Sens GM Pierre Dorion is still entertaining offers for Dion Phaneuf. Pierre Dorion: "We'd like to keep Dion … but you have to look at all options." Crosby now has one of the league’s best bodyguards We learned that fourth-liner Ryan Reaves is worth a first-round pick. The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Reaves — one of the NHL’s most respected enforcers and “dressing room guys” — from the St. Louis Blues for the 31st pick, trading down to give Sidney Crosby some muscle and grab Oskar Sundqvist. To the surprise of some, the Blues protected Reaves in the expansion draft. Well, the Blues — who also chased and landed Brayden Schenn from Philly — spun a fourth-liner into Klim Kostin, Central Scouting’s No. 1-ranked European skater. After loading up on elite forwards in the past three drafts, Toronto used its 17th pick to select a right-shot defenceman, Timothy Liljegren, out of Sweden. “When he fell that far, it was a no-brainer,” Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter said. The Leafs then used their second pick on another right-shot D-man, Eemeli Rasanen. At six-foot-seven, Rasanen is the tallest prospect in the entire draft class. Toronto scooped four defencemen in total and will look to trade or sign more. “If we can set ourselves up to improve in that area, we will,” coach Mike Babock said. “Calgary got Hamonic. As you can see, it’s expensive to get marquee D in our league. It’s better if you draft them and develop them, and then you have them coming.” The Flames won Best Name of the Draft when they selected D’Artagnan Joly…. The Oilers obtained the smallest talent in the draft, five-foot- seven, 148-pound Kailer Yamamoto… Avalanche second-rounder Connor Timmins has two different coloured eyes, like Max Scherzer…. Love the irony of Steve Yzerman being excited to draft Adam Foote’s son, Cal…. The Flyers went hard after Guelph Storm wing Isaac Ratcliffe, trading three picks to Arizona in order to grab him at No. 35. Ratcliffe back story tells of resiliency; the kid bounced back from being hit by a car when he was five years old…. Sportsnet’s John Shannon reports that the 2018 draft will likely be held in Dallas, though it’s not a done deal yet.

1069220 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Penguins’ Murray gets last laugh against country star Bentley

Sonny Sachdeva @sonny_sachdeva June 24, 2017, 11:56 PM

Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Matt Murray made his name by staying cool as a cucumber while snagging two Stanley Cups before his 24th birthday, but it seems the young champion may have a little more bite than he often shows. Murray made that clear on Saturday, gifting a signed jersey to country star Dierks Bentley adorned with a savage message: “To Dierks: It’s all your fault.” It appears the Pittsburgh backstopper hasn’t forgotten his tumultuous experience in Bentley’s town during the Stanley Cup Final, as Murray spent a portion of his time at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena being serenaded by a chorus of accusations that it was, in fact, all his fault.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069221 Websites Dorion was working the phone right until the end of Saturday’s draft and had a conversation with Los Angeles Kings GM Rob Blake on the draft floor. There was nothing to suggest the trade talk would stop here. Sportsnet.ca / Senators GM Dorion clears the air on Dion Phaneuf trade At minimum, the Senators GM plans to call a couple agents at Newport situation Sports Management in the days ahead regarding restricted free agents Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Ryan Dzingel. That group also represents Phaneuf. Chris Johnston He plans on phoning the player, too, and even joked that he’d be willing @reporterchris to make a trip to his "compound" on Prince Edward Island. June 24, 2017, 4:16 PM "I don’t need to go through an agent," said Dorion. "Everyone knows when we exposed Bobby Ryan (in the expansion draft) I phoned him personally, when we exposed Alex Burrows I phoned him personally, when we exposed Marc Methot I phoned him personally. I’m not going to CHICAGO – At some point soon, Ottawa Senators general manager hide behind anything. When I have something to say to someone I tell Pierre Dorion plans to have a conversation with Dion Phaneuf. them in their face or I tell them in their phone. A lot has been said about the 32-year-old defenceman over the last 10 "That’s the way I was raised and that’s the way … at least you get days. First he was asked by the Senators to waive a no-movement people’s respect, you don’t hide behind people. And I’ll reach out to Dion clause for the expansion draft – and declined – and then his name at some point in time, and I’ll just explain to him, ‘Don’t worry, you’re emerged prominently in trade rumours during the NHL’s draft weekend. welcome in this room.’ I told him over the phone: ‘Dion, I’ll shake your As a result, Dorion figures he should probably clear the air. hand, there’ll never be an issue ever again.’ "I think I wanted to wait until after the draft here because teams have "Not that there was one, but there won’t be an issue." been phoning on him," Dorion said Saturday afternoon. "From there, we would explore all avenues and then I’ll probably reach out to him in the next week and just talk to him. We had a great conversation (about the Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 expansion draft request). "Dion’s as good of a pro as I’ve ever seen in my career." The lines of communication will have to remain open if the Senators continue trying to trade him. Phaneuf recently submitted a list of 12 teams where he can be dealt and it’s believed that some of the interest on Day 2 of the draft came from an organization not included on it. Despite all of the speculation, Dorion believes he has a good working relationship with a player who had to adjust his no-trade list to facilitate the blockbuster deal that sent him from Toronto to Ottawa in February 2016. "They’re not easy conversations when you ask someone (to waive a no- move clause), but he understood," said Dorion. "It was a man-to-man conversation. There was no bulls**t. When we talked to him I explained to him: ‘I said it’s not that you’re the fourth-best defenceman on this team, Dion.’ It’s ‘we want to try to top keep our top-four intact.’ "It was a big part of our success because of our top-four last year. I think if you look at Nashville it’s a big part of their success." When Phaneuf refused to waive his no-move clause, the Senators were forced to expose Marc Methot in the expansion draft. The popular defenceman was then claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights. While disappointed to see Methot go, Dorion doesn’t blame Phaneuf for the loss of Erik Karlsson’s defence partner. "That’s his right and I respect the right that Dion can say, ‘No,"’ he said. "Isn’t it a good thing that someone wants to be in Ottawa? I think it’s a good thing that people want to be in Ottawa. I think it’s a good thing that Dion still wants to be part of what we’re trying to build here. "So I’ve got no problems with Dion." The Senators are coming off a season where they lost to Pittsburgh in double-overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. They will have a different look in the fall. Dorion is currently in the market for some help on the blue line and will presumably need even more if he winds up trading Phaneuf, who has four years remaining on a contract with a $7-million AAV. During the playoffs, Phaneuf spoke glowingly of his move to Ottawa and seemed to be fitting in well with his new team. He also made a positive impact during the first playoff run of his career to extend past the first round. "He’s a character guy," said Dorion. "I think people forget like when we were struggling a bit, what he did in Dallas (on March 8), I don’t think I could ever forget. He went up to – probably arguably one of the best players in the league – and fought him. Showed that ‘I don’t care if we’re in your building, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win.’ "That says a lot about Dion Phaneuf." At this point, it’s unclear where things head from here. 1069222 Websites children to Islanders games, spends time with them, and as such was awarded the NHL Foundation Player Award in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Ironically, one of the finalists he beat for the award was Giordano. Sportsnet.ca / Hamonic addition gives Flames as stout a blue line as any

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 Mark Spector @sportsnetspec June 24, 2017, 1:14 PM

CHICAGO — Like everybody across the hockey map, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving watched the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks play in the Western Conference Final this spring. Sporting two of hockey’s deepest defensive corps, the Preds and Ducks went deep out West. Today, Calgary can claim as stout a blue line as any in the National Hockey League, adding the sought-after Travis Hamonic to a Top 4 that will see two excellent pairings. Flames captain Mark Giordano and 50- point defenceman Dougie Hamilton will be followed over the boards by the smooth-skating T.J. Brodie and the rugged defender Hamonic. “We’ve got two pairs now,” Treliving said during Day 2 of the NHL Draft at Chicago. “On the road, where you’re not in control of matchups, we can put two pairs out there who can play against anybody. We’ve got to be able to match up (against) Edmonton, they’ve got a heck of a team. But there are a lot of good teams in the West.” In return, the Flames surrendered their first- and second-round draft picks in 2018, and a second-rounder in 2019 or ’20. The Islanders’ fourth-round choice in 2019 or ’20 will transfer to Calgary as part of this transaction. Hamonic carries a cap hit of just less than $3.9 million for the next three years, with the Flames having their Top 4 locked up for that long as well. That Calgary gave up a largesse of draft picks that is eerily similar to the price paid to Boston for Hamilton two years ago (a first- and two second- round picks), suggests a commensurate value — at least in the eyes of Treliving. “You can never have enough top defencemen,” he said. “Yes, we’ve made two deals over the past two years and given up some assets, but people aren’t just begging to (give up defencemen like this). “You hate paying the price, but… he moves pucks, he’s a character kid, and he’s got some bite in him. I think he’ll fit in great for us. He checks a lot of boxes.” After years of muddling around the nether regions of their conference, there is suddenly an arms race between the two Alberta clubs, with the Edmonton Oilers speeding past Calgary in the standings this season. The Oilers have their goalie in Cam Talbot, and the Flames ended their search when they traded for Mike Smith last week to fill the gap in goal. The Oilers have an edge when you stack the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up against Calgary’s young offensive leaders, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. But with this move, the Flames maintain a deeper blue line than Edmonton, as they try to avenge a season sweep at the hands of the hated Oilers last season. “It’s fun,” Treliving said. “Both teams are progressing, and I look at that (Oilers) team and I see a team on the come.” With this D-corps, so too are the Flames. That is, assuming Hamonic can find a game that abandoned him in an injury-shortened 2016-17 season. Hamonic broke a thumb early in the season, sprained a knee later on, and then tore some ligaments in a thumb when he came to the defence of captain John Tavares in a scrap late in the year. The result was only 49 games played, a four-year low for the right- shooting defenceman, just 14 points and a woeful minus-21 defensive rating. His game is rugged, steady, and he can lay a lickin’ on you in a pinch, an asset with Deryk Engelland having moved on from the Flames to Vegas. A warning light goes on when you consider that Hamonic has had knee ligament problems in each of the last three seasons. But whatever health concerns might exist, there is absolutely no questioning the character of this 26-year-old, who grew up in Manitoba farming country near St. Malo, Manitoba. After having lost his father Gerry at age 10, Hamonic struck up something called the “Hamonic D Partner Program.” He invited fatherless 1069223 Websites And now, the hockey world boards a plane at O’Hare, and moves towards the “courting period” for free agents, which opens on Sunday. Agents and GMs have a chance to speak over the week leading up to the Sportsnet.ca / Pre-draft blockbusters signal shift in NHL trade mentality July 1 opening of free agent season, while players can tour a city, check out schools, and generally make a wise decision on which NHL city they and their families will call home over the next several years. Mark Spector By July 2, all the big names will likely be signed. Then, NHL folks will head to their summer places, renew acquaintances with wives, husbands @sportsnetspec and kids. June 24, 2017, 2:17 PM Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 CHICAGO — The landscape of the National Hockey League’s transactional calendar is changing, and as the 2017 NHL Draft comes to a close, we find ourselves just trying to keep up. There was a time when Trade Deadline Day featured non-stop deals, from morning ‘til night. Then a few general managers began to make their trades during the three- or four-day period preceding the deadline. And as the cap system took hold and draft picks became the cleanest form of trading currency — as they arrive with no cap hit — the juiciest trades began to occur later on the calendar, on Draft Day. This week in Chicago, we saw another shift. Day 2 of this draft saw the Calgary Flames pull off a major deal, with Travis Hamonic the only real live player changing his address, and a bevy of draft picks filling out the trade. But on the much-anticipated Friday night, the St. Louis Blues’ involvement in a pair of deals that included first-round picks marked the only significant trades. The biggest deals had already happened that morning. The rite of spring — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stepping to the microphone amidst a chorus of boos, to state “We have a trade to announce!” — was by and large left wanting. Instead, the hockey insiders broke the news on Twitter all afternoon, as GMs jockeyed for the likes of Antti Raanta, Derek Stepan, Brandon Saad and Artemi Panarin. So why is that? Well, there are a number of theories. For one, drafting and developing has taken on an entirely new level of importance in this cap system. Just ask the Vancouver Canucks what happens when that department is neglected for a period of time. Teams with cap issues will always deal picks, then squirm to get some back in time to stock their cupboards. Conversely, the Vegas Golden Knights stocked up on draft picks and chose three players in Friday’s first round. But they also held on to a mitt full of future picks, and you can bet some of those will be used to “help out” teams down the road who need to dump good players in return for picks. Today, teams are built in the summer and can only be mildly tweaked during the season, and that’s exactly what Treliving did this week, adding goalie Mike Smith from Arizona and rounding out one of the NHL’s best Top 4’s by acquiring Hamonic. You know how they say that everyone copies the winning teams? Well, Nashville and Anaheim had the two deepest defence corps in the West last season, and they met in the conference final. Treliving noticed. Now, the Flames will ice two pairings of Mark Giordano with Dougie Hamilton, and T.J. Brodie alongside the rugged Hamonic, who was long- rumoured to be available off the New York Islanders roster and was at one time a target of Alberta rival Edmonton as well. “We’ve got two pairs now,” Treliving said Saturday. “On the road, where you’re not in control of matchups, we can put two pairs out there who can play against anybody. We’ve got to be able to match up (against) Edmonton, they’ve got a heck of a team. But there are a lot of good teams in the West.” Across Canada, teams completed their mission this weekend, with the Toronto Maple Leafs thrilled to see Timothy Liljegren still available when it was their turn to draft at No. 17. Give me a smooth-skating, right-shot Swedish defenceman any day of the week, considering the wealth of good, young blueliners the Tre Kronor have produced in recent years. Edmonton drafted the smallest player ever to go in Round 1 when they picked Spokane, Wash., native Kailer Yamamoto at No. 22 — all five- foot-seven, 153 pounds of him. Vancouver walked away with Swedish centreman Elias Pettersson, who will have a choice of which Sedin brother he wishes to board with when he makes his way over to the NHL, likely after next season. 1069224 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Penguins take defenceman Will Reilly with last pick in 2017 NHL Draft

Josh Beneteau June 24, 2017, 7:43 PM

Someone always has to be last. In this year’s NHL Draft, Canadian defenceman Will Reilly took home that honour. The Pittsburgh Penguins took Reilly with the 217th pick Saturday afternoon and he was thrilled about it. “I was kind of surprised,” Reilly told Sean Leahy of Yahoo Sports. “I only talked to them a couple of times. Definitely very honoured that they chose me.” The soon-to-be 20-year-old wasn’t expecting to be picked after being passed over in the past two drafts. In 2015 he was tabbed by NHL Central Scouting as the top prospect in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) but he went unclaimed that year. If the Penguins hadn’t drafted Reilly Saturday, his draft eligibility would have expired and he would have become an unrestricted free agent. “William Reilly is an offensive defenceman, has good size, he skates well,” said Randy Sexton, the Penguins director of amateur scouting. “He moves the puck and he can really shoot the puck. We have some hope for him as a puck-moving, offensive defenceman.” Listed at six-foot-one and 197 pounds, Reilly is coming off his first season in the NCAA with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Engineers. In 35 games with the Engineers, he had two goals, 15 points and 68 penalty minutes. Reilly is the fourth player on the current RPI roster to be drafted into the NHL. Teammates Todd Burgess (Ottawa, fourth round, 2016), Chase Perry (Detroit, fifth round, 2014) and Mike Prapavessis (Dallas, fourth round, 2014) have all been chosen in recent years. Reilly also becomes the 63rd player drafted into the NHL in school history. Notable alumni include Hall of Famer , goaltender Daren Puppa and forward Joe Juneau. If Reilly is discouraged about his chances to make the NHL after being drafted last, he shouldn’t be. He only has to look at new Penguins teammate Patric Hornqvist for inspiration. Hornqvist was taken with the last pick, 230th overall, by the Nashville Predators in 2005 and earlier this month, he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal. At least for now, Reilly says he doesn’t care about when he was taken. He’s just glad to have finally been given a chance by an NHL team. “I don’t really care [about going last], to be honest with you,” Reilly told Leahy. “Someone’s got to go last. I’m just really happy to be drafted.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069225 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Ducks draft best friends Comtois, Morand in second round

Sonny Sachdeva @sonny_sachdeva June 24, 2017, 9:37 PM

The jump from junior hockey to the big leagues isn’t the most effortless of transitions, but for two 2017 NHL draftees, the impending journey may not be as unnerving as expected. Late in the draft’s second round on Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks wound up giving a pair of best friends a draft-day dream, selecting Maxime Comtois with the 50th-overall selection and adding his long-time pal Antoine Morand 10 picks later. Needless to say, the two QMJHL prospects were thrilled to be donning identical threads. “It’s unbelievable,” Morand told Kyle Shohara of AnaheimDucks.com. “It’s a day I’ve dreamt of for a long time. To get drafted with my buddy, Maxime, on the same team, it’s incredible. We’ve been together since we were young. We’ve been through a lot together. We support each other. It’s going to be awesome. I’m excited to get things started with him. The two Quebec natives have plenty of tools to potentially help Anaheim’s offensive efforts down the line. Morand finished as the second-highest scorer for Acadie-Bathurst, posting 28 goals and 74 points through 67 games. Comtois took a slight step back after a strong 60-point effort in 2015-16, but still managed 51 points in 64 games for the Victoriaville Tigres.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069226 Websites really starting to decline at 26 (just typing that, it seems unlikely) then the Flames may regret it. Odds are, though, the Flames will be a better team over the next three years because of this deal. TSN.CA / Statistically Speaking: Flames pay the price for Hamonic TSN.CA LOADED: 06.25.2017 By Scott Cullen

The second day of the NHL Draft didn’t have a whole lot of wheeling and dealing, but the Calgary Flames did make a significant move, acquiring a rough-and-tumble physical defenceman from the New York Islanders. Statistically Speaking breaks down the deal sending Travis Hamonic to Calgary. 2016-2017 NHL STATS PLAYER TEAM POS GP G A PTS CF% CF%REL PDO OZS% ATOI Travis Hamonic N.Y. Islanders D 49 3 11 14 43.0 -5.7 97.3 43.9 20:27 The Flames Get: D Travis Hamonic and a conditional fourth-round pick Hamonic, 26, is a hard-hitting right-shot defenceman who has taken on tough defensive assignments for most of his seven years with the New York Islanders. He’s also had success in that role, for the most part, but is coming off a season in which he struggled, missing 33 games with knee and wrist injuries, and finishing with the worst possession stats of his career in the 49 games that he did play. In Calgary, Hamonic should be a good fit alongside T.J. Brodie on the Flames’ second pair. It was a rough time for Brodie last year, who played mostly with Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland, with Michael Stone trying to fill the role after he was acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline. Hamonic should represent an upgrade there that gives Calgary a formidable top four on defence. Part of what makes Hamonic a desirable acquisition is that he has three years remaining on a contract that pays $3.857-million, a very reasonable price for a defenceman who can play 22 minutes per game. The whole issue for Hamonic is whether last season was an aberration. He’s been a positive play driver while playing tough minutes in the past, but certainly struggled in 2016-2017. If he bounces back and gives the Flames reliable top-four minutes, this figures to work out well for Calgary. 2016-2017 NHL STATS PLAYER TEAM POS GP G A PTS CF% CF%REL PDO OZS% ATOI Travis Hamonic N.Y. Islanders D 49 3 11 14 43.0 -5.7 97.3 43.9 20:27 The Islanders Get: A first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and a 2019 conditional second-round pick Losing Hamonic does open up a significant spot on the Islanders’ blueline, and it will be interesting to see if they dip into the free agent market for someone like Karl Alzner or Michael Stone to fill that void, or whether this will present an opportunity for veteran warhorse Dennis Seidenberg or prospects Matt Pelech or to move into the Islanders’ top four. Cpnsidering the Islanders seem to be making a push to show John Tavares that they can be contenders, it would make sense for them to seek a veteran option to fill Hamonic's spot. The first-round pick next year has real value, but just how valuable it is will depend on Calgary’s finish. They’re probably a safe bet to fall in the middle range of the draft, but if goaltending falls flat or stars gets injured, maybe the pick turns into a valuable Top 10 selection. Alternatively, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, if the goaltending holds up, for the Flames to be among the top eight teams, which would make their first-round pick obviously less appealing. Second-round picks tend to have about a one-in-three chance of turning into an NHL player, and there are a bunch of conditions that follow on the second-rounder that comes after 2018. All told, the Islanders should come away from those picks with a couple of NHL players, though it may be difficult to land a single player as valuable as Hamonic. Verdict: The price that Calgary paid to get Hamonic is significant, but sure seems like a reasonable price to pay to give the Flames one of the best top fours on defence in the entire league. This does presume that Hamonic’s 2016-2017 season is an aberration, but if it’s not and he’s 1069227 Websites

TSN.CA / Trade Bait: Senators continue to shop Phaneuf

By Frank Seravalli

CHICAGO — Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion insists he harbours no animosity toward Dion Phaneuf after he declined to waive his no-move clause for the expansion draft, but the Senators continue to explore options to trade the blue liner. Phaneuf, 32, submitted a list of 12 teams to the Senators earlier this month to which he will accept a trade, as per the terms of his contract. Dorion said “teams have been phoning” Phaneuf to inquire about his willingness to move. There has been trade interest from some of the other 19 teams that are not on Phaneuf’s list and the Senators have reached out to Phaneuf’s agents at Newport Sports Group to gauge whether he would be flexible, according to Darren Dreger. Dorion said he hasn’t spoken to Phaneuf since their conversation earlier this month, when his decision forced the Senators to make him one of their three protected defencemen, thus exposing Marc Methot. “I think I wanted to wait until after the draft here because teams have been phoning him,” Dorion said Saturday. “From there, we would explore all avenues and then I’ll probably reach out to him in the next week and just talk to him.” Dorion admitted the Senators weren’t “very happy about losing Methot,” the longtime partner to Erik Karlsson. He was claimed by the Golden Knights in last week’s expansion draft. Vegas is actively trying to trade Methot, but he can’t be reacquired by the Senators until Jan. 1, 2018, according to league rules. “It’s not the end of the world,” Dorion said. “I think the best quote I gave was ‘we didn’t lose Erik Karlsson, we lost Erik Karlsson’s partner.’ There’s a big difference.” Dorion also said it wasn’t an easy conversation to have with Phaneuf to ask him to waive his no-move clause. “It was a man-to-man conversation. There was no bull****,” Dorion said. “When we talked to him, I explained to him: ‘I said it’s not that you’re the fourth-best defenceman on this team, Dion. It’s we want to try to keep our top four in-tact. A big part of our success is because of our top four last year.” The Senators advanced to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2007 and took the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins to double overtime in Game 7. Phaneuf was acquired by Ottawa in 2016 in a surprising trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Senators were one of the teams on Phaneuf’s approved trade list that time around, a list structured with the idea that the Leafs would not be dealing with a division rival, thus further limiting the number of likely destinations beyond 19. Losing Methot and trading Phaneuf would represent major change to Ottawa’s blue line. Phaneuf put together his best season since 2014 with Cody Ceci and was even better during the Sens’ playoff run. Even if Ben Harpur and Fredrik Claesson are ready to take the next step in the NHL, that could mean a rough start to next season without further support, particularly if Karlsson misses any time after his offseason surgery to repair torn ankle ligaments. Dorion seemed to get agitated when asked if Phaneuf would be welcomed back. “That’s his right and I respect the right that Dion can say ‘No,’” Dorion said. “Isn’t it a good thing that someone wants to be in Ottawa? I think it’s a good thing that Dion still wants to be part of what we’re trying to build here. So I’ve got no problems with Dion. “I’ll reach out to Dion at some point in time and I’ll just explain to him, ‘Don’t worry, you’re welcome in this room. I told him over the phone: ‘Dion, I’ll shake your hand, there’ll never be an issue ever again.’ Not that there was one, but there won’t be an issue.”

TSN.CA LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069228 Websites a little inconsistent because his legs don’t carry his big body around [so well],” said Hunter. “But he’s got a great shot and there’s a huge upside on his skill.” TSN.CA / Leafs stick with plan through draft Goaltender Ian Scott (fourth round, 110th overall) 2016-17 stats with WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders: By Kristen Shilton GP: 50 GAA: 3.69 SV%: .895 For the second straight year, the Maple Leafs took a goalie in the middle CHICAGO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have a plan, and they’re sticking of the draft. In Scott’s case, his numbers from last season don’t really to it. impress, but Hunter was confident those were more reflective of him playing on a bad team than his skill set. Scott demonstrates solid “Trust the process” has become a buzzy phrase around sports, but it’s technique and moves well laterally in the crease, and at 6-foot-3 he has exactly how the Leafs approached the 2017 National Hockey League the size teams covet in net. Experience will help fill the holes in his game. Entry Draft, which wrapped up rounds two through seven on Saturday afternoon. They were in on at least one big trade that was consummated, Forward Vladislav Kara (fourth round, 124th overall) but refused to go over the price they set for themselves, one that 2016-17 stats with VHL’s Bars Kazan: wouldn’t handicap the future they’re so carefully cultivating. GP: 34 G: 3 A: 5 P: 8 Instead, after a quiet week leading up to the draft, Toronto walked out of the United Center with seven new players - four defencemen, two 2016-17 stats with MHL’s Irbis Kazan: forwards and a goalie, all of whom will join one of the most impressive stables of prospects in the league. It might not be sexy, but the Maple GP: 31 G: 11 A: 9 P: 20 Leafs continue to show they have no interest in catering to anyone's Hunter touted Kara as a “big, strong winger who plays a two-way game,” expectations but their own. but didn’t shed any more light on the selection of the 19-year-old who is “Every transaction you make is for today with tomorrow in sight,” general the most mysterious of the Leafs draft haul. manager Lou Lamoriello said Saturday. “Where we are as an Defenceman Fedor Gordeev (fifth round, 141st overall) organization, we have to make sure we’re doing that. We’ve said that right from the beginning - we’re in a process. We’re not going to try and 2016-17 stats with OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs: jump-start anything, we’re going to let it take it’s course.” GP: 2 G: 1 A: 0 P:1 Lamoriello did admit that if there were opportunities along the way for the Leafs to improve - without compromising the team’s future - they’d do it. 2016-17 stats with OHL’s Flint Firebirds: The search continues in the trade market, and will likely ramp up when GP: 62 G: 3 A:10 P: 13 free agency opens on July 1, but until then Toronto is pleased with how the weekend unfolded in Chicago, particularly with how they were able to Gordeev and his family moved from Russia to Toronto when he was just shore up the organization’s blue line depth. seven years old, and right away, a Maple Leafs fan was born. Admitting he cried when he heard the Leafs had selected him, the blueliner has “[It wasn’t] really a mandate [to draft defencemen], it was about who fell impressive size (he’s 6-foot-6 and can dunk a ) and a blistering to us and who we thought was the best player in that moment,” said shot, but his overall game is still developing. “He’s got skill, he just needs assistant general manager and director of player personnel Mark Hunter. to calm down and make better plays consistently,” Hunter said. “It seemed there was more defence in the draft this year, and you don’t usually see right defence as much, so this was one of those years there Forward Ryan McGregor (sixth round, 172nd overall) was more that fell down to us.” 2016-17 stats with OHL’s Sarnia Sting All seven players Toronto selected are at least 6-feet tall, with two of their defencemen measuring 6-foot-7 (Eemeli Rasanen) and 6-foot-6 (Fedor GP: 65 G: 14 A: 13 P: 27 Gordeev). While excited about the potential upside of the new additions, Lamoriello preached patience as they continue growing their individual The 18-year-old is another local selection (he’s from Burlington) who’s games - and as the foundation of the Maple Leafs continues to take coming off a down year with the Sting where he didn’t produce to the shape. level the Leafs expect he’s capable of. “He needs strength,” Hunter said of the 6-foot, 159 pound winger. “He’s got hockey sense, he’s got skill. I “Everyone feels really good today. We put some size and strength in the believe he’s got some upside and is going to take off next year.” lineup,” he said. “There’s no question you’re better because you have Defenceman Ryan O’Connell (seventh round, 203rd overall) players who are now assets, players that you’re developing, and you have to be developing. You feel good about [Hunter and his staff] 2016-17 stats with CISAA’s St. Andrew’s College: because they know the type of people we want and the types of players we’re looking for.” GP: 7 G: 0 A: 4 P:4 Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Class 2016-17 stats with BCHL’s St. Andrew’s College: Defenceman Timothy Liljegren (first round, 17th overall) GP: 47 G: 6 A: 27 P: 33 2016-17 stats with Swedish Elite League’s Rogle BK J20: Pulling O’Connell right from their own backyard, Hunter said he “can really skate,” but will be patient in his development. Right now the 18- GP: 12 G: 5 A: 2 P: 7 year-old is slated to play with the BCHL’s next season and attend Boston University starting in 2018-19. 2016-17 stats with SHL’s Rogle BK: GP: 19 G: 1 A: 4 P: 5 A right-shot, puck-moving defenceman with good skating ability, Liljegren TSN.CA LOADED: 06.25.2017 became perhaps the biggest steal of the draft when he fell to the Leafs at 17. A bout of mono last fall stalled his season and he shuttled between four different teams before the campaign was over. But Liljegren is impressive to watch and has the ability to “lift fans out of their seat,” as Hunter said. He has a high hockey IQ to match his skill set and as he continues to mature, his upside appears sky-high. Defenceman Eemeli Rasanen (second round, 59th overall) 2016-17 stats with OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs: GP: 66 G: 6 A: 33 P: 39 Standing at 6-foot-7, Rasanen dwarfs just about anyone around him. And while you can’t teach size, the right-shot Rasanen needs to develop the rest of his body to help improve his skating and mobility on the ice. “He’s 1069229 Websites Calgary was swept by Edmonton last season - and outscored by a 20-11 margin - marking the first time one team had ever swept the other in a regular season series of at least four games in Battle of Alberta history. TSN.CA / Flames add Hamonic to keep up with arms race in West That didn’t go unnoticed. “It’s fun when both teams are progressing in the right way,” Treliving said. By Frank Seravalli “Edmonton is a heck of a club. I look at that team and I think that’s a team that’s on the come. I think in this league, the way we look at it, we’ve got two pairs out there now that can play against anybody.” CHICAGO — It was Mike Babcock who made headlines when he went to watch the elite defencemen on display in the Western Conference Final. TSN.CA LOADED: 06.25.2017 But the rest of the NHL was already paying attention. The engine of both the Ducks and Predators’ Stanley Cup playoff successes was their blue line. So, if the road to the Stanley Cup Final runs through either Nashville or Anaheim, the onus was on the Calgary Flames to keep up in the arms race - and find a way to slow down Connor McDavid and the Oilers in their own province in the process. The Flames did that on Saturday, acquiring defenceman Travis Hamonic and a fourth-round pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for a 2018 first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and another second- round pick from either 2019 or 2020. With Hamonic joining Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton, GM Brad Treliving believes the Flames size up well with the big boys in the West. The Maple Leafs and Oilers were believed to be among the teams also kicking the tires on Hamonic. “To me, this solidifies our depth,” Treliving said. “He’s certainly a guy that we’ve had our eye on for a while. At the end of the day, you’ve got to pay the price, you’ve got to give to get. You hate paying the price - but where he fits, we think he fits in real good with our team. I like the looks of the top four.” The Flames were swept in the first round by the Ducks, but Treliving has been able to solve two of Calgary’s most glaring needs - in goal and depth on defence - without giving up anyone from his roster. Veteran netminder Mike Smith was acquired one week ago for the rights to pending UFA Chad Johnson and a conditional second-round pick. “For a guy who hates giving up picks, I’ve given up a lot of picks,” Treliving said. “We’ve made two deals [including Hamilton] and given up assets, but those type of guys don’t come around too often. At the end of the day, we thought the price made sense for us.” Perhaps the biggest key to the Hamonic acquisition is not that he fits Calgary’s age range, but that the Flames now have their core four on defence locked down for the next three seasons. Hamonic, 26, has three years left on his deal at $3.85 million. That type of cost certainty Hamonic provides allows Calgary the potential flexibility to re-sign a pending UFA in Michael Stone. Calgary currently has just over $15 million in salary cap space with 15 players signed and Curtis Lazar, Alex Chiasson, Sam Bennett and Micheal Ferland as restricted free agents. The interest to potentially re-sign in Calgary is mutual with Stone’s camp. Stone, 27, posted six points in 19 games after a trade from the Arizona Coyotes last season. “We’re still working away at our team,” Treliving said. “Stoney was a good fit for us. We’ll keep working to see if we can make our team better.” The Flames were also able to move the picks, Treliving said, because his scouts “restocked the cupboard on our reserve list.” His forward core is exceptionally young, there are young defencemen in the system, and he has two of the best goaltending prospects not in the NHL in Jon Gillies and Tyler Parsons. Treliving said Hamonic gives some “versatility” to the Flames’ defence. The one question mark surrounding him was his injury history. He has sustained an MCL injury in each of the last three seasons, missing 33 games last year also with a thumb injury,. His minutes were down, he was a minus-21 and netted just three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 49 contests. That he is tough to play against, is steady in his own end and can skate well, will go a long way in playing against McDavid five times a year. Those factors were a big selling point. “Slide him in there with Brodie,” Treliving said. “[The other three] move pucks. Travis does, too, but he’s got a little edge. He’s a character kid, he’s got some bite to his game. He checks a lot of boxes for us.” 1069230 Websites really starting to decline at 26 (just typing that, it seems unlikely) then the Flames may regret it. Odds are, though, the Flames will be a better team over the next three years because of this deal. TSN.CA / Statistically Speaking: Flames pay the price for Hamonic TSN.CA LOADED: 06.25.2017 By Scott Cullen

The second day of the NHL Draft didn’t have a whole lot of wheeling and dealing, but the Calgary Flames did make a significant move, acquiring a rough-and-tumble physical defenceman from the New York Islanders. Statistically Speaking breaks down the deal sending Travis Hamonic to Calgary. 2016-2017 NHL STATS PLAYER TEAM POS GP G A PTS CF% CF%REL PDO OZS% ATOI Travis Hamonic N.Y. Islanders D 49 3 11 14 43.0 -5.7 97.3 43.9 20:27 The Flames Get: D Travis Hamonic and a conditional fourth-round pick Hamonic, 26, is a hard-hitting right-shot defenceman who has taken on tough defensive assignments for most of his seven years with the New York Islanders. He’s also had success in that role, for the most part, but is coming off a season in which he struggled, missing 33 games with knee and wrist injuries, and finishing with the worst possession stats of his career in the 49 games that he did play. In Calgary, Hamonic should be a good fit alongside T.J. Brodie on the Flames’ second pair. It was a rough time for Brodie last year, who played mostly with Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland, with Michael Stone trying to fill the role after he was acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline. Hamonic should represent an upgrade there that gives Calgary a formidable top four on defence. Part of what makes Hamonic a desirable acquisition is that he has three years remaining on a contract that pays $3.857-million, a very reasonable price for a defenceman who can play 22 minutes per game. The whole issue for Hamonic is whether last season was an aberration. He’s been a positive play driver while playing tough minutes in the past, but certainly struggled in 2016-2017. If he bounces back and gives the Flames reliable top-four minutes, this figures to work out well for Calgary. 2016-2017 NHL STATS PLAYER TEAM POS GP G A PTS CF% CF%REL PDO OZS% ATOI Travis Hamonic N.Y. Islanders D 49 3 11 14 43.0 -5.7 97.3 43.9 20:27 The Islanders Get: A first-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and a 2019 conditional second-round pick Losing Hamonic does open up a significant spot on the Islanders’ blueline, and it will be interesting to see if they dip into the free agent market for someone like Karl Alzner or Michael Stone to fill that void, or whether this will present an opportunity for veteran warhorse Dennis Seidenberg or prospects Matt Pelech or Scott Mayfield to move into the Islanders’ top four. Cpnsidering the Islanders seem to be making a push to show John Tavares that they can be contenders, it would make sense for them to seek a veteran option to fill Hamonic's spot. The first-round pick next year has real value, but just how valuable it is will depend on Calgary’s finish. They’re probably a safe bet to fall in the middle range of the draft, but if goaltending falls flat or stars gets injured, maybe the pick turns into a valuable Top 10 selection. Alternatively, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, if the goaltending holds up, for the Flames to be among the top eight teams, which would make their first-round pick obviously less appealing. Second-round picks tend to have about a one-in-three chance of turning into an NHL player, and there are a bunch of conditions that follow on the second-rounder that comes after 2018. All told, the Islanders should come away from those picks with a couple of NHL players, though it may be difficult to land a single player as valuable as Hamonic. Verdict: The price that Calgary paid to get Hamonic is significant, but sure seems like a reasonable price to pay to give the Flames one of the best top fours on defence in the entire league. This does presume that Hamonic’s 2016-2017 season is an aberration, but if it’s not and he’s 1069231 Websites It's unfair for a player of his age to be so unsettled. It would be best for the Montreal Canadiens and Galchenyuk if they dealt him in the next week or two. USA TODAY / These 6 NHL teams have work to do before free agency There is considerable interest, and what the Canadiens want in return may depend on whether they can re-sign winger Alexander Radulov. Kevin Allen , USA TODAY Sports Published 3:49 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Updated 12 hours ago USA TODAY LOADED: 06.25.2017

CHICAGO – After the Nashville Predators marched to the Stanley Cup Final on the strength of elite defense and savvy goaltending it's easy to understand why the Calgary Flames surrendered a 2018 first-round pick and two second-round picks to land defenseman Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders on Saturday. The Flames' top four defensemen – Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie, Dougie Hamilton and Hamonic – now rank in the top three in the Western Conference. “We feel like we have two pairings we can put out against anyone,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. “We really like the player, love the character of this kid.” That's why the Flames didn't blink at the price for acquiring Hamonic, a 26 year old who has appeared in 444 games for the Islanders. In addition, Treliving appreciates the value of having Hamonic tied up for three seasons at the below-market cap hit of $3.8 million per year. Now that the draft is over, here is some unfinished business as the free- agency period bares down on July 1. With Derek Stepan traded to Arizona and Dan Girardi bought out, the New York Rangers have $20 million in cap space to sign restricted free agents Mika Zibanejad and Jesper Fast and to find a backup goalie. But before assuming the Rangers are in position to sign unrestricted free agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, remember they were up against the salary cap because of overpaying on lengthy contracts. They don’t want to go there again. Going after defenseman Brendan Smith and pursuing another puck-moving defenseman in a trade might be a more prudent course of action. Defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, acquired from Arizona, has offensive abilities and becomes a candidate for playing time next season. But he’s not going to solve the Rangers’ problems on defense. While it is fine if the Colorado Avalanche don't trade center Matt Duchene because the offers are not good enough, it’s not acceptable for them to stand pat after a 48-point season. The Avalanche registered 21 fewer points than the second-to-last team. They gave up 122 more goals than they scored. The team owes it to its fans to make moves, such bringing in a new goalie and acquiring two defenseman, perhaps from Vegas, which has a few to spare after last week's expansion draft. Speaking of the Golden Knights, GM George McPhee claimed 13 defensemen in the expansion draft, and he’s already traded David Schlemko and Trevor van Riemsdyk. It's safe to assume McPhee will move other defensemen, especially after free agency begins and teams miss out on their targets. Colin Miller should draw considerable interest. Luca Sbisa, with his 465 NHL games, should probably be dealt. It would make sense to trade Jon Merrill for a young forward. Michal Neuvirth isn’t going to play 60 games this season. The Flyers have to add a true No. 1 or someone to share the load with Neuvirth. Options include free agent Brian Elliott or talking to Detroit about Petr Mrazek. Would come east on a one-year deal? There’s also veteran Cam Ward sitting in Carolina with one season remaining on a $3.3 million deal. The simplest solution for the Coyotes would be to promote associated head coach Jim Playfair. The time of Dave Tippett's departure on Thursday isn’t ideal. But there are intriguing options, such as veteran Lindy Ruff or Denver University coach Jim Montgomery, who was in the race for the Florida job, or Todd Nelson who just won the American League’s Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids team. He’s only 23 and his name has been in the rumor mill this year. 1069232 Websites

USA TODAY / NHL Draft: Six under the radar moves from day one

Kevin Allen , USA TODAY Sports Published 12:59 p.m. ET June 24, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

Here are six happenings on the first day of the NHL draft that may have flown under the radar: Red Wings drafted a giant: Owning the earliest draft pick the Red Wings have known in 27 years, they selected 6-foot-6 center Michael Rasmussen with the ninth pick. He weighs 221 pounds and skates impressively for a big man. Red Line report chief scout Kyle Woodlief, owner of the independent scouting service, said Rasmussen has as much potential as anyone in the draft. He scored 32 goals in 52 games for the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Backlash over Penguins’ and Blackhawks’ deals: Fan bases in both Pittsburgh and Chicago expressed disappointment over trades their teams made on the opening day of the draft. Some fans in Pittsburgh didn’t appreciate Jim Rutherford giving up a first- round pick and younger center Oskar Sundqvist for St. Louis 225-pound tough guy Ryan Reaves. Likewise, Chicago fans used social media to express their dismay over GM Stan Bowman’s decision to trade Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin. Rutherford said that he was tired of his team getting beat up. Clearly, the Penguins are trying to protect Sidney Crosby. Considering that Rutherford has won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and Bowman owns three Cups, the fan bases would have unwavering trust that these two guys know what they are doing. Power of the Troll: Josh Norris, a center on the U.S. National Team Development Program, brought his team’s Dustin the Troll good luck charm to the draft with the hope of having a good day. It worked. Norris was ranked 34th in North America by the NHL’s Central Scouting, and was projected to be a second round pick by most services. Instead, the San Jose Sharks drafted him with the 19th pick. Norris did have 61 points in 61 games this season, and wowed scouts at the combine with his physical testing. He’s a superb skater. Steal of the draft?: The Blues took Russian Klim Kostin with the first round pick they received from the Penguins for Reaves. That was the last pick of the first round. Some scouts see Kostin as having top 10 talent. He is a gifted offensive player who lost much of the season to a shoulder surgery. Blues GM Doug Armstrong had an exceptional day, also landing veteran Brayden Schenn from Philadelphia, Best Foote forward: The Tampa Bay Lightning selected defenseman Cal Foote with the No. 14 pick. He is the son of former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote. Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman knew Foote well because he played for the Red Wings when the Avalanche were their No. 1 rival. It’s fair to say that Foote went out of his way to pound Yzerman at every opportunity when they played against other. Now he controls his son's NHL fate. Young Foote doesn’t play as mean as his father did, and he’s considered a better offensive contributor than his father. But Yzerman told reporters at the draft that he sees similarities in their games.

USA TODAY LOADED: 06.25.2017 1069233 Websites Maybe this is nitpicking considering that GM Peter Chiarelli has done a commendable job pushing the Oilers in the right direction, but shouldn’t they have gotten more for Jordan Eberle this week? USA TODAY / NHL draft 2017: Winners, losers from a wild week While it is true that Eberle hasn’t lived up to his potential and his $6 (through Round 1) million salary was an issue, he's a five-time 20-goal scorer. He’s still only 27. Kevin Allen , USA TODAY Sports Published 12:07 a.m. ET June 24, In return, the Oilers landed Ryan Strome, a 23-year-old who has never 2017 | Updated 12:22 a.m. ET June 24, 2017 reached 20 goals, from the New York Islanders. He is making $2.5 million in the upcoming season.

Winner: Vegas Golden Knights CHICAGO — The Arizona Coyotes had no coach, no goalie and no captain heading into the 2017 NHL draft. But they had a general After winning league-wide praise for his work in the expansion draft and manager who isn’t timid about making deals to improve his team. his side trades, Vegas GM George McPhee had a strong day at the draft table. GM John Chayka became one of the big winners at Friday’s draft when he made two bold trades to acquire a new defensive partner for Oliver He used the No. 6 pick to select Cody Glass, a creative center from the Ekman-Larsson in Niklas Hjalmarsson, a starting goalie in Antti Raanta Western Hockey League. With pick No.13, the Golden Knights picked up and a new top center in Derek Stepan. (He also drafted defenseman Nick Suzuki, a high-scoring center from the Ontario Hockey League. Pierre-Olivier Joseph with the No. 23 pick.) At No. 15, they went with Eric Brannstrom, a dynamic, puck-carrying “This organization has been looking for a No. 1 centerman for more than Swedish defenseman. a decade and he can fill that hole,” Chayka said. Suzuki is 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, and some scouts had him ranked in the Chayka said that the allure of Stepan was his all-around game. He can top five. He had 45 goals and 96 points in 65 games. Everyone knows he play on the power play, kill penalties and win faceoffs. “He checks all of has impressive skill, but no one was willing to pull the trigger until the boxes as a top-line center for us,” Chayka said. McPhee did. The Rangers were looking to improve their cap space outlook, and It was like in 1987 when the highly skilled Joe Sakic, the same size as Stepan had four years remaining on a deal paying $6.5 million per Suzuki, lasted until pick No. 15. season. The Coyotes gave up the No. 7 pick to the New York Rangers in Loser: Colorado Avalanche the draft for Stepan and Raanta. The Coyotes missed the playoffs and they are changing their coach, their “There was a large group of goalies in the (unrestricted free agent) and goalie, and several players on their roster. trade market, but (Raanta) was at the top of our list,” Chayka said. "It wasn’t like he was in the top five. He was the top guy in our analysis.” Bowman is miffed enough about being swept in the first round that he made two major trades. GM Garth Snow is being aggressive with the Hjalmarsson will be a defensive specialist that gives Ekman-Larsson Islanders. The Rangers are changing on the fly. more freedom to use his offensive talents. Chayka also liked Hjalmarsson’s three Stanley Cup rings. The Avalanche were the NHL’s worst team by far last season and we’ve seen no signs that they are taking steps to change that. “We need winners,” Chayka said. No one is suggesting they have to trade Matt Duchene, but shouldn’t The Coyotes gave up Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin to land they be showing signs of life? Hjalmarsson. The draft is the place where you make something happen. Cale Makar Chayka’s deals couldn’t have come at a better time because the (No. 4 pick) might be the defenseman they need up the road, but they franchise had been overrun by bad publicity. The cause of the criticism need to do something now. and second-guessing: They traded starting goalie Mike Smith. They announced they weren’t bringing back popular captain Shane Doan; plus, Winner: St. Louis Blues it wasn’t handled in a way that made everyone happy. On Thursday, it was announced that coach Dave Tippett was leaving through mutual One of general manager Doug Armstrong’s objectives was shedding the agreement. $4.7 million contract of Jori Lehtera, who hasn’t lived up to expectations. “When you have endured what we have in Arizona, it wears on you,” Somehow Armstrong was able to achieve that and bring in Brayden Chayka said. “It’s tough, it’s not easy for anybody.” Schenn to replace him up front. This is the same Schenn who has scored 51 goals over the past two seasons. He will carry a $5.125 million cap hit Here is a look at the other winners/losers of draft week (through Round 1; for the next three seasons. Rounds 2-7 will be completed Saturday): Armstrong also turned tough guy Ryan Reaves into a first-round pick and Loser: Hjalmarsson young center Oskar Sundqvist by trading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This has to be difficult for Hjalmarsson. He has spent all 10 seasons of Loser: Philadelphia Flyers his career in Chicago where he played 623 regular season games and 128 playoff games. He’s leaving all of his friends and the team he won It’s hard to like this trade from the Flyers’ perspective, even though they three Cups with to play for a team that has made the playoffs three times ended up with two first-round picks. The second first-rounder is since 2003. contingent on the pick not being in the top 10. Winner: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman Schenn generates offense and Lehtera’s value has decreased dramatically. Schenn is only 25. Aren't the Flyers supposed to rise up Regardless if you like the two major trades that Bowman made Friday, next season? Those first-round picks better yield good results. there’s no denying that Bowman works diligently at keeping the Blackhawks in contention. The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, and Bowman USA TODAY LOADED: 06.25.2017 pushes as if he is trying to win his first. In the name of becoming younger, and perhaps hungrier, Bowman swung two trades Friday. He acquired Murphy, 24, from the Arizona and Dauphin, 22, for Hjalmarsson, 30. He also reacquired Brandon Saad, 24, for Artemi Panarin, 25. They gain in age and contract certainty. More importantly, they bring back a player who is a perfect fit to play with Jonathan Toews. Loser: Edmonton Oilers