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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 10/29/2020 1180010 AHL targets Feb. 5 for start of coronavirus-delayed 2020- 1180037 Predators sign contract for community ice rink in 21 season Downtown Clarksville MPEC 1180038 The Predators have plenty of cap space, so how can they weaponize it? 1180011 Report: Arizona Coyotes' Ekman-Larsson glad to remain with team after trade talk 1180039 The Belleville Senators will have to be patient as AHL targets Feb. 5 for start date 1180012 weighs in on Bruins’ roster 1180040 GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators sign free agent Alex 1180013 The Beanpot Four, sidelined: College hockey in Boston Galchenyuk to one-year deal waits, hopes for a season 1180041 How much did the Senators actually improve this offseason? 1180014 OHL's reported plan to hold season provides clarity for Sabres, Jack Quinn 1180042 AHL moves target date for opening of 2020-21 season to 1180015 ' season could begin as early as Feb. 5 Feb. 5 Flames 1180043 AHL anticipates February start to 2021 season, nearly 11 1180016 Heat, AHL set new return-to-play date for February months after coronavirus shutdown St Louis Blues 1180017 Devon Toews’ contract could impact the Avalanche in the 1180044 Blues' focus turns to 'Return to Play 2.0' Maple Leafs 1180045 ’s 31 teams aim to open next 1180018 Blue Jackets' Kevin Stenlund re-signs, prospect Jacob season in early February Christiansen headed to European team 1180046 Defence-corps factors that can result in an improved Leafs 1180019 Michael Arace: Pierre-Luc Dubois negotiations as team next season muddled as NHL's plans for next season 1180047 Travis Boyd joins the Maple Leafs eager to leave his AHL days behind him Stars 1180020 unveil new black and neon green alternate Canucks jersey 1180056 For Canucks, Turner's COVID-19 World Series celebration 1180021 ‘I wanna hate it, but I kinda love it.’ Reaction to Dallas a cautionary tale Stars’ new neon uniforms. 1180057 Steve Ewen: Warriors eye April start, but NLL has logistics 1180022 Dallas Stars ‘Blackout’ jersey: Inside how the alternate to work on before it's official uniform came together 1180048 Silver Knights’ future home taking shape in Henderson 1180023 Detroit Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi: 'Nothing personal at all' 1180049 American Hockey League gets new tentative start date after arbitration 1180050 Silver Knights excitement builds as Henderson Event 1180024 AHL, with , now aims for Feb. 5 start Center takes shape of season 1180051 Las Vegas Developer Jackie Robinson Required To Begin 1180025 Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi 'grateful' after arbitration, ready Construction Of All Net Arena On Strip In Two Years to 'prove myself again' 1180026 Red Wings' Sam Gagner pays tribute to popular Oilers Capitals dressing room attendant Joey Moss 1180052 Could the Capitals' grip on the division be loosening? Not 1180027 AHL pushes back anticipated season start to Feb. 5 so fast 1180028 Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi: Arbitration not personal, ready 1180053 Why Lundqvist will be good for Samsonov even if he tries to ‘prove myself’ to take his job 1180029 Red Wings’ 2018 pick Jonatan Berggren healthy, off to hot 1180054 Capitals keep eyes on prospects in leagues that started start in Sweden new seasons Oilers Websites 1180030 JONES: enter think tank over ways to 1180058 The Athletic / How an imbalanced Division would memorialize Joey Moss affect the standings 1180031 'Joey was a lifer': Gretzky shares inside look at Moss and 1180059 .ca / 7 NHL teams that could weaponize their the Edmonton Oilers cap space 1180060 Sportsnet.ca / Hockey Diversity Alliance calls on NHL, Coyotes to sign anti-racism pledge 1180032 AHL targets Feb. 5 for start of coronavirus-delayed 2020- 1180061 Sportsnet.ca / How the Coyotes missed a chance to lead 21 season on diversity, inclusion 1180033 AHL TARGETING FEBRUARY 5 AS START DATE FOR 1180062 Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs front office hire Eric Joyce 2020-21 SEASON brings unique resumé, experience 1180063 Sportsnet.ca / Gretzky: Moss gave 'hope' to parents of children with disabilities in Canada 1180034 Wild loans Marco Rossi to ZSC Lions in Switzerland 1180064 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Molson: team has foundation 'that can be good for many years' 1180035 Canadiens' prospects scrambling to find a place to play 1180036 Former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk signs with Senators Websites Continued 1180065 TSN.CA / Canada's Byram on flu game, learning from Makar and bubble lessons 1180066 USA TODAY / Which current sports greats need a championship to cement their legacies? 1180055 Jets depth chart: Jansen Harkins is signed, so is a trade still to come? SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1180010 Anaheim Ducks

AHL targets Feb. 5 for start of coronavirus-delayed 2020-21 season

Delay announced by hockey's top minor league could also mean the NHL pushes back the start of its season

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: October 28, 2020 at 3:27 p.m. | UPDATED: October 28, 2020 at 3:27 p.m.

The American Hockey League said Wednesday it would target Feb. 5 for the start of its coronavirus-delayed 2020-21 season, a delay of more than two months from its initial return-to-play plan and a possible hint of a further delay of the NHL’s opening night.

The AHL, the top developmental league for the NHL, originally said it would resume play Dec. 4. AHL commissioner Scott Howson made the announcement after the league’s board of governors met earlier Wednesday. There was no mention of whether fans would be allowed to attend games.

The 31-team minor league includes the Reign and the San Diego Gulls, the top affiliates for the NHL’s Kings and Ducks. The AHL and the NHL suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak in North America. The NHL returned to complete its season last month.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The he didn’t expect the AHL’s decision to impact the NHL’s opening night. The NHL has targeted Jan. 1, but it’s expected that it could be delayed by several weeks or perhaps longer after an initial forecast of Dec. 1 was pushed back.

“The NHL, they’re (looking) at sometime in January,” Howson told the AP. “We aren’t tied directly to what the NHL does, but we want to be somewhat in sync, so Feb. 5 seemed like a good place even if there’s going to be a little longer gap than usual between the two league’s starting.”

The question of whether to allow fans to attend games is one of several key issues that must be resolved. Unlike the other pro sports leagues in North America, hockey relies almost exclusively on ticket and concession sales rather than lucrative TV contracts to generate revenue.

What’s more, and perhaps equally important, the -Canada border remains closed because of the pandemic, prompting talk of an all- Canadian division in the NHL if players, coaches and staff members are still forced to quarantine for 14 days upon entering Canada after play resumes.

Four of the NHL’s seven Canadian-based teams have their AHL teams located in Canada, but Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver have U.S.- based minor-league clubs, which could force the Flames (Stockton), Oilers (Bakersfield) and Canucks (Utica, New York) to relocate their clubs north of the border temporarily.

The Reign and Gulls play in the seven-team Pacific Division along with Bakersfield, Colorado (Avalanche), Stockton, San Jose (Sharks) and Tucson (Coyotes).

Orange County Register: LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180011 Arizona Coyotes

Report: Arizona Coyotes' Ekman-Larsson glad to remain with team after trade talk

Jose M. Romero

Coyotes Oliver Ekman-Larsson hadn't been heard from publicly in almost three months since the team was last together during the NHL playoffs in Edmonton.

But the two-time all-star's name has since been tossed around often, mainly in trade rumors and reports that his time with the club was close to being over. After the Coyotes hired Bill Armstrong as general manager in September, the team sought trade offers for Ekman-Larsson, the longest-tenured Coyotes player who has been with the team for 10 seasons.

The defenseman wasn't dealt after his agent set a deadline of Oct. 9 for a trade. Ekman-Larsson broke his silence on the matter in a report posted late Wednesday morning on a Swedish hockey website. He told writer Ronnie Ronnkvist that nearly being traded was difficult for him because he'd never gone through such an experience and didn't want to leave Arizona, where he is under contract for seven more seasons.

"I have a clause in my contract, a no-trade no-move clause. At the same time, I did not want to stand in the way if the organization felt otherwise," Ekman-Larsson said in the report, in Swedish. "That's how I am as a person. It was more that if they wanted to remove me, I set up the two clubs as an alternative, but, as I said, I wanted nothing better than to continue in Arizona so it feels good that it turned out the way it did.

"In addition, I really enjoy living there. Of course, this also comes into play and would have made it even harder to have to move."

Ekman-Larsson only would have waived his no-move contract clause for Vancouver and Boston. The deadline for a deal was set for the start of the NHL free-agency period, and Armstrong decided that the return for a trade of his biggest player asset with the highest annual salary on the team wasn't suitable enough for the Coyotes.

Armstrong has said he feels he and Ekman-Larsson can move on from the near-trade situation.

"He has a job to play and be the captain and be an impact player, while my job is to look at all the assets and how can I change the franchise," Armstrong said on Oct. 9. "That's something I was brought here to do, and I did that, so I think we can form a relationship from now until then."

Ekman-Larsson, now 29, is currently in Sweden and is expected back in Arizona in mid-November. He said he was glad that the team roster didn't change much in order to gain major salary cap space.

The Coyotes did shed some payroll and added three NHL free agents and a two-way forward, Dryden Hunt, who will compete for a roster spot when the team opens training camp for the 2021 season. But most players from last season are set to return, including the top three defense pairings.

"I think we actually have a very good team on paper," Ekman-Larsson said.

Ice chips

—The Coyotes have loaned out defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, which announced his signing Wednesday. Lyubushkin played for the team from 2011 to 2018 before being signed by the Coyotes, and will be in Russia until called back for the start of Coyotes training camp.

—Forward Jan Jenik, a top Coyotes prospect, is in Finland on a loan agreement with the club Imatra Kettera. Jenik, 20, totaled 56 points in 27 games with the OHL's before a midseason knee injury.

—Gila River Arena opened for in-person voting and ballot dropoff on Wednesday and will be in operation through next Tuesday, except for Sunday when the location will be closed.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180012 Boston Bruins “It’s kind of like a couple of years ago when we gave some of those forwards (DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly, Anders Bjork) a look and they did well for us. That’s where we are right now on the back end,” said Cassidy, Bruce Cassidy weighs in on Bruins’ roster who didn’t rule out veteran John Moore playing a role.

Needs young blueliners to step up Goaltending can also cover up a few blemishes, and the tandem of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak was the best in the business last season. Cassidy is banking on that to be the case again, despite many fans’ issues with Rask leaving the bubble to tend to a family situation. By STEVE CONROY | October 28, 2020 at 5:23 a.m. “I’ve texted him a couple of times and his family is good, so that’s great,”

said Cassidy. “I think what the players are looking for is a guy who goes The Bruins still have some work to do with RFA Jake DeBrusk unsigned in the net and gives us a chance to win every night and gives us a and the status of captain Zdeno Chara remains up in the air. There are chance to be a contender and hopefully a favorite. And some intriguing UFAs available and there is little doubt that GM Don that’s how they’ll judge him — if he stops the puck and competes hard Sweeney is monitoring the trade market. and gives us a chance to win, not what happened last year.”

But it’s quite possible that there will be no more major acquisitions before Up front, Sweeney made a solid acquisition in strong, shoot-first right the upcoming season. So in this to-infinity-and-beyond offseason, now wing Craig Smith, a move Cassidy endorsed. While there are different seems as good a time as any to check in with - options for Smith, especially at the start of the season when the B’s could winning coach Bruce Cassidy and get his take on his roster. be without both Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak (both recovering from offseason surgery), Cassidy expects to give Smith a long look with Cassidy — it should come as little surprise to anyone who has listened to Charlie Coyle for what would make two-thirds of a heavy power line. his glass-half-full approach in his three-plus seasons — thinks the B’s as constituted can still be a Stanley Cup contender. But he readily concedes The third guy on that line would be a competition between Anders Bjork that there are a few major “ifs” on the back end. and Nick Ritchie. There were a couple of nights after he was obtained at the deadline that Ritchie looked like the big, nasty presence the B’s were While Chara is still a question mark, Cassidy knows he’ll have to replace seeking. But there were other nights he looked like a lumbering relic of Torey Krug, the second pair left defenseman and power-play quarterback yesteryear. As with Ondrej Kase, Cassidy is looking for a bigger sample from whom you could expect a yearly 50-point output. size to make a judgment.

There are different options on the power play. Cassidy could use Charlie “Nick needs to be able to keep pace with the game now without trying to McAvoy on the top unit. He could go with five forwards. But the most be something that he’s not,” said Cassidy. “He’s not all of a sudden going seamless replacement for Krug would be left-shooting Matt Grzelcyk. to be flying up the wing. He’s not going to be able to skate like DeBrusk. That’s not happening. But he’ll have to keep his pace up and some of “He’s not Torey, as far as where his game is on the power play, but given that will be conditioning. He’s been around the group. So he knows it’s that opportunity, we’ll see how much he can close that gap,” Cassidy said like, ‘Hey, get to a spot where you can play X amount of minutes, Tuesday. whether it’s 12, 13, 14.” The coach said that if he’s to approach Krug’s power-play success, All things considered, Cassidy believes the B’s can be right back to Grzelcyk needs to become even more of a thinking man’s player, to be where they were, slugging it out with the NHL’s elite. able to quickly go down his checklist of options and responsibilities. “We’re strong,” said Cassidy. “We’ve improved our forward group. People “That’s the part we’ve got to educate Griz on,” said Cassidy. “He’s got to are talking about the surgeries and that’s legitimate, but from what I take to it as well and he has to be a little more of a student of the game understand, those surgeries have been done to a lot of different players when it comes to that stuff if he wants to run it every night. And Torey in the past and they’ve come out of it better. So the timeline, because was excellent at that. He knew what was coming. He studied it. At the they’re hard working guys, they’ll be on time or maybe a little early meetings he asked questions. He was a guy that took to the playbook because they work so hard. And I like the Craig Smith addition a lot. I more than the others guys because he had the puck more. That’s what think he fills a void. Kase and Ritchie will have fresh starts and we’ll see we’re going to need out of Griz.” how they do. We lose (Joakim Nordstrom), so that hurts because he’s a But beyond the PP, they’ll be playing one, possibly two (if Chara dos not good, solid guy, but it may be an opportunity for a (Anton) Blidh or a return) defensemen on the left side who don’t have extensive NHL (Trent) Frederic to push through … there should be good healthy experience. Before he struggled in bubble play, Jeremy Lauzon played competition. There’s good depth up front. And the goaltending will be well on the right side. It stands to reason that his game would improve solid. I believe that the question will be on the back end and can the not only with that experience, but also if he moved to his natural left side. young guys handle the workload. We’ve talked about that internally. We like those guys. We’ve got two first-rounders and a second-round pick The development of Jakub Zboril, the 2015 first round pick (13th overall) that have played two to three years in Providence or Boston and they’ve who recently signed a two-year, one-way extension, has taken time. But played well. To what degree are they ready to push, we’ll see.” Cassidy, while conceding he doesn’t know the Czech League well, has liked what he’s seen from the couple of games he’s played. Boston Herald LOADED: 10.29.2020

“I saw a guy that was very positionally sound, he was engaged in the game, he competed physically, good first touches on the breakout, good transitions. We knew he had some of those transition plays,” said Cassidy. “I like the fact that he was competitive. To me he looked comfortable on left or right, he was not reckless at all and was in position at all times, which was good. It means he was engaged in the game. One of the problems with Jake early was sometimes he got caught drifting around and kind of lost focus as a young guy. And you know how that works out here. You get exposed. You might get away with it down there but not as much up here.”

Urho Vaakanainen will also be in the mix competitively, especially if the B’s lose both Krug and Chara. Cassidy said he’ll need his more experienced right side to step up, with Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo needing to make their move into leadership roles. And if Kevan Miller can put his knee woes behind him, that will fill another void. He also feels that the team’s strength down the middle can mitigate the lack of experience on the back end.

But the bottom line is the B’s need young, untested players to come through. 1180013 Boston Bruins “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the Ivies are skating, we’re all skating, by then. But I don’t get good vibes from the Ivies, whether they’ll play hockey or or any winter sports. I’m hoping everyone can be a little more The Beanpot Four, sidelined: College hockey in Boston waits, hopes for patient and see what happens because a month from now things could a season be different.”

Said Donato, “I did have a conversation with Jerry York about that, and I know the coaches are certainly very much in favor (of playing the By Steve Buckley Oct 28, 2020 Beanpot.) But it seems like a distant decision right now.”

In a normal, pre-pandemic season, Northeastern University already would have played five games, including a home date this past season Jerry York, the longtime men’s hockey coach at Boston College, was against Long Island University, a new entry in Division I men’s hockey. walking past Walsh Hall last week when he happened upon one of his players. “We’ve been in preseason mode since September 19th,” said Huskies coach Jim Madigan. “The kids are anxious to play games, but at the Uh-oh, York said to himself. Here we go again. same time they understand the bigger picture.” “Hey, coach, have you heard anything yet?” asked sophomore Mike The Huskies have moved along in stages from skills development to Hardman, who lives in Walsh Hall and was on his way to Conte Forum. limited contact, and, since October 14, full contact. “Any news on when we’ll be playing?” “There has been energy and enthusiasm, but, yes, players want to play,” “Not yet, Michael,” replied York, as he has said so often to so many said the coach. “So, to them, our practices are like our games. We can’t players, but even more often, it seems, to Hardman. control when we play but we can control when we practice, so there’s a “He is always asking me — when’s the first game? When’s the first little bit of normalcy there.” game? When’s the first game?” said York during a telephone interview. Sure, except the players are divided up in three different locker rooms, “Finally I had to say, ‘Hey, Mike, just practice.’ You tell them just to move and they visit the strength and conditioning room in shifts. on, you tell them to practice, and that the games will appear pretty soon.” Madigan would prefer changing lines on the fly, which is what happens Hardman, a native of Hanover, could have been asking on behalf of during games. Instead he’s adapting on the fly, day after day, practice every member of the team. He could have been asking for every student after practice. on campus. He could have been asking for anyone, anywhere, who has an ounce of interest in college hockey — including Hardman’s own One of those on-the-fly adjustments took place last Thursday, this after it grandfather, Charlie Sylvia, 77, who played his college hockey at Boston was learned that a week earlier a person not connected with the hockey University and was captain his senior year. For just as Hardman poses program who was inside Matthews Arena tested positive for the the when-do-you-think-we’ll-be-playing question whenever he sees York, coronavirus. that same question is directed at him whenever his grandfather is on the phone. “Out of an abundance of caution we put a pause on practice for that day,” said Madigan. “The safest place in Boston is our campus. We’ve “Not knowing gets a little frustrating,” Hardman said. “Last year we were conducted over 250,000 tests. We have our testing facility and four or five games into the season by now. So it’s not just me. It’s the capabilities and it is so safe on our campus. Yet you get the outside other guys as well. Everyone is really anxious to get back on the ice and influence you can’t always control. All of our players are tested on a four- start playing games soon.” day cadence and we had them tested again (Thursday) just to make sure everyone is healthy. Today was my 18th test since August 17.” In a pandemic-driven world of maybes, where the simplest plans can be thwarted by just one positive COVID-19 test, Boston’s four Division I At Boston University, Terriers coach Albie O’Connell has been able to get men’s college hockey programs — that’s right, the Beanpot Four — are most of his team on the ice, save for seven players who were attending doing what they can to prepare for a season. Three of those schools — the U.S. National Junior Team Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Mich. Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern — are hoping to be O’Connell reports that no members of his program have tested positive playing games by the end of November. The outlier is Harvard University, for COVID-19, but nonetheless there was a “precautionary shutdown by where Crimson coach Ted Donato has yet to put a full squad on the ice our athletic department” last week, this as a result of increased cases on for practice while the Ivy League mulls which, if any, winter sports campus. seasons will be held. “We’re testing twice a week,” O’Connell said. “All the student-athletes. So “I am optimistic,” Donato said. “I can’t say I have a lot of evidence that we’re in category one and everyone’s testing and the parameters they should lead me to that conclusion, but I am optimistic. For me, the only put on campus, as far as what they can do and what they can’t do, has option to take as a coach is to be optimistic and be prepared and work on kept everyone safe.” things so that if we are able to get back we’ll be in a situation where we can provide a great experience for our players.” But in the absence of actual games, and with an eye toward keeping the players motivated and involved, you do what you can do. Consider, for The Harvard campus is mostly limited to first-year students, leaving instance, that the BU hockey program is now blending in some yoga Donato with three freshmen working out. Additionally, two other freshmen sessions with the same ol’ same ol’ of daily practice. and three sophomores are working out with junior hockey teams while studying remotely. As Donato put it, “They’re starting to scrimmage and “It was a really good idea that some of our players came up with,” said play exhibition games. So if we’re not playing, there are places out west O’Connell. “The guys love it. They’ve really taken to it, and they like the where they can play and still take their classes virtually and be enrolled. instructor. It kind of morphed into an event.” Some of them would like to believe they have an opportunity to play for a In a textbook example of taking a normal, everyday activity — yoga — living someday, and for their long-term development this is the best and retrofitting it for the times in which we’re living, the BU hockey team scenario for them.” has been borrowing Nickerson Field, where the school’s men’s and The potential loss of Harvard’s season could bring an additional dose of women’s soccer and teams play their games. bad news to the local college hockey season: The annual Beanpot “We’ve been doing it on Saturdays on the field, and the instructor, she Tournament would be without one of its four combatants. can’t be on campus so she appears on the Jumbotron,” said O’Connell. The quirky and much-loved Beanpot tourney, staged each February at “So we’ve got our entire team out there and you can see students at the TD Garden, involves BC, BU, Northeastern and … Harvard. As of now, windows of their dorms doing yoga with us.” the 68th Beanpot is scheduled for February 3 and 10. But if Harvard It makes for a fun visual during these decidedly unfunny times. Right doesn’t have a season, there’s no Beanpot, right? there on Nickerson Field — where Hall of Famers Warren Spahn “I think the Beanpot is probably not going to happen, if I’m hearing (Braves) and Bob Feller (Cleveland Indians) pitched during the 1948 correct from the Ivies,” York said. “Because it looks like their basketball World Series and where, on September 9, 1960, the Boston Patriots season is going to be canceled.” played their first-ever game — we now have college hockey players doing yoga, and with students in Rich, Claflin and Sleeper halls joining in. “You look around and there’s a bunch of people up there joining us,” said Matt Quercia, a junior forward from Andover. “And after we’re done I have friends texting me and saying, ‘Good session,’ and ‘nice pose,’ kind of chirping us a bit. It’s cool that there are people on campus watching us do yoga.

“It’s a good team-building exercise but it’s also benefitting us in hockey as well,” he said.

For Jerry York, each new day begins not unlike the way things were before the pandemic reached our shores. He’s still up early, and he still makes his regular stop at the Dunkin Donuts on Mount Auburn Street in his native Watertown on his way to the Boston College campus.

“I pre-order, walk in maybe 6:15 or 6:30, say hello to all the workers, and then pick up my coffee,” he said. “But there’s no kibitzing. There are no tables where you can sit down and solve all the world’s problems. You’re in and out. But at least it gives your days something close to a normal start.”

And then it’s off to campus. York is able to run four practices a week, and there are three weekly weight-training sessions.

“So that’s kind of getting back to normal as well,” York said. “But you’re not prepping for games. We can’t be prepping as though we’re playing BU next Friday, or we’re playing New Hampshire in two weeks. And what’s not normal is that we get tested three times a week, to make sure you’re negative.”

At the time of our interview, no BC players or coaches had tested positive.

There was, however, one hiccup: A student manager did test positive.

“That was maybe two months ago,” York said. “Other than that, well, you never know. You take the test and you go to bed and the next morning you wake up and hope that it’s negative.”

In preparation for practice, half the team dresses in the locker room while the other half is stretching. The players who have dressed then go on the ice, and then the players who have stretched go inside to dress.

Eventually, all 24 players — including three — are on the ice simultaneously, although three different benches are used.

And after practice? Gone, for now, are those carefree days when players could wander over to the Hillside Cafe and order up the “New England Classic” (cranberry bread with turkey, cheese, honey mustard and apple slices), a go-to for hungry Boston College folks.

“It’s bizarre and it’s different,” said York of the current state of affairs at BC. “But it’s still hockey once I have the whistle in my hand.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180014 Buffalo Sabres

OHL's reported plan to hold season provides clarity for Sabres, Jack Quinn

Lance Lysowski Oct 28, 2020

Jack Quinn, the Buffalo Sabres’ top draft choice this month, reportedly received some clarity Wednesday on where he may be able to play during the 2021 season.

If Quinn does not make the Sabres’ roster, the 19-year-old right wing will have the option to rejoin the Ottawa 67’s if the is able to follow through on a plan it approved Wednesday to begin a 40- game season on Feb. 4. Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported the OHL's tentative start date, as well as a league calendar.

The OHL will also have a mandatory quarantine period for all players beginning Jan. 8, a training camp start date of Jan. 28 and an eight-team playoff.

Quinn, a 52- scorer last season for the 67’s and the Sabres’ draft choice with the No. 7 pick, will first attempt to make Canada’s roster for the IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be held in a bubble surrounding Edmonton’s from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5.

The Sabres have prospects playing overseas, including four who are on loan until NHL camps begin. Here’s a snapshot of how each is performing.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman continues to express optimism that the league can begin play Jan. 1. However, if the season gets moved back to February, the Sabres would likely have Quinn attend training camp after world juniors.

It is likely, though, that the Sabres will opt to return Quinn to Ottawa, which had a league-best 50-11-1 record when the OHL suspended play in March. Quinn has played parts of three seasons with the 67’s, totaling 64 goals with 58 assists in 131 regular-season games. He had a 40-goal improvement in 2019-20 after scoring only 12 during his first full junior hockey season.

Quinn has yet to sign his entry-level contract with the Sabres, who may also have compete for Canada at world juniors prior to the start of NHL camp.

It is also unclear if body checking will be allowed in the OHL this season. Early this month, Lisa MacLeod, Ontario's sport minister, announced the OHL should remove body checking if it wants to begin its season in December, which was the league's original plan.

Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180015 Buffalo Sabres

Rochester Americans' season could begin as early as Feb. 5

Lance Lysowski Oct 28, 2020 Updated 11 hrs ago 0

The coronavirus pandemic will push the start of the American Hockey League season into February.

During a meeting Wednesday, the AHL board of governors approved a tentative start date of Feb. 5 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Further details regarding the season are still to be determined, as cross- border travel remains a challenge and it's unclear if fans will be able to attend games.

The Rochester Americans have not played a game since March 11 and many of the players projected to make their roster have been idle during the long offseason. Rasmus Asplund, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Oskari Laaksonen, Arttu Ruotsalainen and Matej Pekar, all of whom could be on the Amerks’ roster, are currently on loan overseas.

An inability to have fans in arenas will create significant challenges for each of the AHL's 31 franchises, including those that are owned by their respective NHL parent club. AHL teams rely on revenue from ticket and sponsorship sales.

Commissioner Gary Bettman continues to express optimism that the NHL will be able to follow through with its tentative start date of Jan. 1. However, a recent surge in coronavirus cases could jeopardize that plan and the league is reportedly assessing several different options to play as many regular-season games as possible in 2021.

Buffalo News LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180016

Heat, AHL set new return-to-play date for February

POSTMEDIA NETWORK Publishing date:Oct 28, 2020

Calgary Flames forward prospect Luke Philp celebrates after scoring a goal for the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat.

The Stockton Heat won’t be back on ice for at least a few more months.

The American Hockey League said Wednesday it has reset the targeted start date of the 2020-21 regular season for Feb. 5 in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In July, news broke of the AHL’s return-to-play task force originally tabbing Dec. 4 as the hopeful opening night of the campaign.

But that’s now been revised — pushed back well into the new year — withAHL president/CEO Scott Howson adding in a statement that the league “continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities.”

That includes the Heat, the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate.

Further details on the 2020-21 season are still to be determined.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180017 Colorado Avalanche a reliable middle-six forward with size (Nichushkin) who became the team’s premier defensive forward. Unless it is deemed keeping Kadri is more important than protecting Burakovsky.

Devon Toews’ contract could impact the Avalanche in the expansion Remember, this is not taking into account what might happen with draft Brandon Saad. Saad, who came over in a trade with the , becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2020- 21 season. He said during his introductory press conference that it’s too By Ryan S. Clark Oct 28, 2020 early to think about a contract extension before adding that he had thought about playing in Denver in the past.

“I would look forward to playing for them for a long time,” Saad said at the At first glance, signing Devon Toews to a four-year extension simply time. appears to offer the Colorado Avalanche more short-and long-term security throughout a defensive unit that has worked to become one of Exactly how can Sakic and his front office staff optimize a strategy that the best in the NHL. could prevent them from either losing key players or players who have just signed longer-term deals? While true, it also presents another set of decisions that must be made by Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and his front office staff. As in Other Options they must sift through all of their options to determine who will be protected ahead of the looming Kraken expansion draft. From it There are a few gambles they could explore in an effort to make it all all comes a juxtaposition that the set of contracts signed this offseason to work. And the first one starts with seeing if Johnson would be interested fortify their Stanley Cup contender status are arguably the reason why in waiving his NMC. But that move could play out in a variety of ways for the organization must immediately begin to confront what happens next the club’s longest-serving player. The 32-year-old could opt to waive his offseason. clause with the belief the Kraken will not select him or the $12 million he’s owed over the final two years of his contract at that point. Doing so Here’s where things currently stand with the Avalanche and the would allow the Avalanche to protect Graves or Toews if they go with the expansion draft. Alternate captain and defenseman Erik Johnson is format that sees them keep three defensemen. But if they opt to go with automatically protected because he has a no-movement clause. Andre keeping eight skaters, then, they could protect both while knowing it Burakovsky, Samuel Girard, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan could leave Burakovsky or Kadri exposed. MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen are the strongest candidates the Avs will protect. There is also the matter of what the front But there is something that could complicate asking if Johnson can waive office will do when it comes to protecting either Pavel Francouz or Philipp his clause: Is it too grand a favor to ask of a player who remained loyal Grubauer in goal. through lean seasons to make one more concession for the good of the franchise knowing it could potentially backfire? Or does Johnson agree to It comes out to eight skaters and one . So what’s the big deal this deal with the idea he will remain in Denver and not head to Seattle? beyond leaving Francouz or Grubauer exposed? That’s just it. Sakic and his staff used this offseason to sign players like Ryan Graves, Valeri Another risky avenue Sakic and the front office could explore would be Nichushkin and Toews to contracts that are at least two years in length. Landeskog’s situation. Landeskog is the only skater expected to be protected who will be a UFA after next season. Sakic said earlier this This is where it all becomes a bit complicated. month the organization has already held initial discussions with Landeskog’s representatives about a new contract. Re-signing Must Protect Landeskog to an extension means the Avalanche would protect him. Sakic and his staff went into the offseason knowing Burakovsky had a Hypothetically, the Avs could elect to not re-sign Landeskog or leave him year of team control remaining while Graves and Nichushkin each had unprotected in the attempt to protect one more player. two years. They possessed that information before making a trade with Yet is this really the type of gamble they would want to take with a the to land Toews, who had one season of team cornerstone left winger who just happens to be captain within a dressing control left before he became an unrestricted free agent. Getting those room he has helped mold into a destination point for players around the deals done means the Avalanche have control over all four. NHL? But it also means they have a decision to make: Do they protect seven Sakic and his staff also have another decision to make when it comes to forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender? Or are they better protecting Francouz or Grubauer. The Avalanche signed Francouz to a served by protecting eight skaters and one goaltender instead? two-year extension that starts in 2020-21 while Grubauer has one more Let’s say they take the first route by going with seven forwards, three season remaining before becoming a UFA. A choice must be made. But defensemen and one goaltender. The forwards in this exercise will be could it potentially be less complicated considering how the goaltending Burakovsky, Kadri, Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen. It leaves two landscape changed during free agency? more spots. This is where the Avalanche can elect to protect Nichushkin The Kraken appear to be in a position in which there could be a few with the second slot going to J.T. Compher with the idea it could all options in net, now that more franchises are using a tandem approach. change. The Calgary Flames signed Jacob Markstrom to a long-term contract, It leaves Girard, Johnson and Makar as the three defensemen who which means , who will be a UFA, could be a possibility. The receive protection. Going this route, however, means that Graves and Dallas Stars will have to make a decision between Ben Bishop and Anton Toews are both left exposed to the Kraken. Especially upon considering Khudobin. The same goes for the Montreal Canadiens with Jake Allen’s Graves signed a three-year deal carrying a $3.16 million cap hit while the future in addition to the with Braden Holtby, who Avalanche came to terms Tuesday with Toews on a four-year contract signed a two-year deal to partner with Thatcher Demko. featuring a $4.1 million AAV. At minimum, it leaves the Avs with four None of these hypotheticals could matter in the event Sakic and Kraken returning defensemen should the Kraken take either Graves or Toews GM agree to a trade that allows the Avalanche to protect a coupled with the fact Ian Cole could depart in free agency. valued player such as when the Vegas Golden Knights made a deal with OK. Why not go with the eight skaters and one goaltender route? Maybe the Minnesota Wild. that sounds like it could be a bit more manageable? But even that route could come with no guarantees. About that. Minnesota traded Erik Haula and then-prospect Alex Tuch. Haula scored Going with this particular path still creates selection decisions. In this 55 points in his first season with Vegas before being traded to the case, Sakic and his staff protect four defensemen and four forwards. because of salary cap issues. Tuch, on the other They protect Girard, Makar and Johnson while deliberating on Graves or hand, added another layer in the form of a 6-foot-4 power forward who Toews throughout the season. The four forwards who are protected are became a 20-goal scorer that is also averaging 0.55 points per game. Burakovsky, Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen. Doing that means This is also a reality the accepted when they traded Kadri and Nichushkin are left exposed. Protecting Burakovsky means Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith as well only to see them keeping a 20-goal scorer. But it comes at the risk of losing the second- become critical players in the Golden Knights’ success that has helped line center the club desperately sought over the last few years (Kadri) or them remain a Stanley Cup contender. Part of what might soften the blow of the expansion draft is the Avalanche possess a prospect pool believed to have a few potential immediate contributors available over the next few seasons. It is possible they could rely upon forwards such as Shane Bowers, Martin Kaut, Alex Newhook and Logan O’Connor to fill a vacancy. The same can be said with Bowen Byram, Dennis Gilbert and Conor Timmins on the back end should the Kraken go after a defenseman.

Everything Sakic and his staff have done over the last few years has transformed the Avalanche from being the worst team in salary cap era to potentially being the NHL’s next long-term Stanley Cup contender. Achieving that level of success is something several executives throughout the league have noticed. Especially at a time when the flat cap has altered the landscape in a way that is forcing more front offices into difficult decisions.

It just so happens that Francis and his staff, however, are in a position to potentially benefit from whatever the Avalanche ultimately decide.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180018 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets' Kevin Stenlund re-signs, prospect Jacob Christiansen headed to European team

Brian Hedger

Their top two free agents remain unsigned, but that hasn’t stopped the Blue Jackets from reaching agreements with others.

After re-signing forward Calvin Thurkauf, 23, to a one-year, two-way contract Tuesday, the team announced Wednesday that forward Kevin Stenlund also re-signed for one-year on a two-way deal that splits salaries contingent upon play in the NHL or American Hockey League.

Stenlund, 24, accepted a qualifying offer that will pay him $874,125 in the NHL and $70,000 with the AHL’s – the Jackets’ top affiliate in the minor leagues – while Thurkauf will make $700,000 in Columbus and $75,000 in Cleveland.

Thurkauf and Stenlund both saw action for the Blue Jackets in 2019-20, filling in during a stretch with numerous NHL regulars out with injuries.

Stenlund, a 6-foot-4, 209-pound center selected in the second round (No. 58) of the 2015 NHL draft, finished with six goals, four assists and 10 points in 32 games for Columbus and and had 6-12-18 in 36 games for the Monsters.

Thurkauf, a seventh-round pick (No. 185) in 2016, is currently playing for EV Zug in Switzerland on a loan deal. He spent the bulk of last season with Cleveland, but made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets on Feb. 22 in Nashville and logged three games. He had 9-17-26 in 53 games for the Monsters.

The Jackets also announced Wednesday that defenseman Jacob Christiansen, a 20-year old prospect who played junior last season in the , was loaned to Bratislava of the Austrian Hockey League. Christiansen signed with Columbus on Mar. 4, 2020 as an undrafted free agent after a breakout season with the .

The 6-1, 190-pound blueliner led all WHL defensemen in goals (22) and points-per-game (1.32) last season after registering a scoring line of 22- 28-50 in 38 games for Everett – with whom he played five seasons and tallied 50-102-152 with a plus-84 plus/minus rating in 297 WHL games.

Christiansen is expected to return prior to the start of the NHL’s 2020-21 season, which remains in flux. Also unresolved are contract negotiations with center Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, the Jackets' top two restricted free agents.

Their next contracts will add clarity to the Blue Jackets' salary-cap situation, which currently has about $12 million in available space under the league's cap ceiling of $81.5 million for next season.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180019 Columbus Blue Jackets bubbles? The Athletic, among other publications, recently floated the possibility. Will Columbus be a hub city? It's possible.

When will fans get in the stands? Michael Arace: Pierre-Luc Dubois negotiations as muddled as NHL's plans for next season Gate receipts are critical to NHL revenues -- especially for cash-poor teams like the Jackets. The Stanley Cup bubble tournament recouped only a small cut of the revenues lost in the paused season of 2019-20. Michael Arace There are more trying times ahead.

This reality obviously impacts negotiations with prime RFAs such as Barzal, Dubois and Cirelli. That said, and taking just the case of Dubois, Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen indicated that it's business as usual. negotiations between the team and its prime restricted free agent, No. 1 center Pierre-Luc Dubois, remain stalled. This does not seem to bother Maybe the Dubois negotiations are not like the Josh Anderson Kekalainen, probably because the whole league is stalled. negotiations, which ended it acrimony. Maybe it's more like the Werenski negotiations, which ended with a short-term deal that was consummated “It’s funny how everyone’s worried about RFAs, because I’m not worried two days before training camp. Maybe no one comes away happy, not in at all,” Kekalainen said Tuesday. “They get done when they get done.” the long term.

The market for RFA centers has yet to be defined. At the top of the list of Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2020 players in need of second contracts are Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders, Anthony Cirelli of the and Dubois.

Barzal is a legit No. 1 and has the numbers (207 points in 234 career games) to prove it. The Islanders have salary-cap issues in this COVID- 19 era of the flat cap. They’ve already traded away an excellent young defenseman, Devon Toews, to clear some space for Barzal. Reportedly, Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has been trying to move defenseman Johnny Boychuk (or Andrew Ladd, or Leo Komarov) to clear more space – but it’s a tough market for sellers.

Barzal remains unsigned. So does RFA defenseman .

Cirelli (94 points in 168 career games) is a prized No. 2 whose name is newly etched on the Stanley Cup. But when it comes to cap issues, the Lightning is worse off than the Islanders – or anyone else, for that matter.

Cirelli remains unsigned. So does top-pair defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, another RFA in need of a second contract.

Dubois (158 points in 234 games) probably fits somewhere between Barzal and Cirelli. The usual questions arise: Does Dubois want Barzal money? We don’t know. What is Barzal money? We don’t know. Does Dubois want a long-term deal? At what price? Does Dubois want a bridge contract, like the three-year, $15 million deal that defenseman Zach Werenski signed last year?

Is Kekalainen prepared to stretch for Dubois, a prized, young, No. 1 center? Is Dubois' agent, Pat Brisson, pretending it's pre-pandemic 2019? The Arizona Coyotes signed right wing Clayton Keller (114 points in 167 games at the time) to an eight-year extension that carries an annual cap hit of $7.1 million? Is that a comparable?

What we can surmise is that both sides are entrenched in their negotiating positions and that is not likely to change until there is a clearer definition in the marketplace.

“The Werenski contract got done right before training camp last year,” Kekalainen said. “Why should there be any worry? I’m not worried.”

Kekalainen said he “hasn’t talked in a while” with Brisson. Which is to say that Brisson isn’t exactly breaking a sweat, either.

Kekalainen has done his work to clear cap space to make room for Dubois and RFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, and to announce to the league that he can match any offer sheet that might come Dubois’ way.

Kekalainen has also positioned himself to take advantage of a situation that continues to unfold: Nearly half the league needs some kind of cap relief and, in the ensuing weeks, they will have to shed salaries; the Jackets have the flexibility to be buyers.

They'd be in even better shape if Dubois (and Gavrikov) were signed and their cap situation was even clearer. Maybe this drags on for a while. Maybe Dubois doesn’t report to training camp. We've seen that before – but this year, we don’t even know when training camp opens.

As COVID-19 resurges and the Canadian border remains closed, the league is still figuring out what next season will look like. Even the starting date (Jan. 1, or thereabouts) is a matter of speculation.

Will it be a shortened season? How short? Will there be a temporary realignment of divisions to facilitate a system of four hub cities, if not four 1180020 Dallas Stars “We wanted to make sure it felt bigger, if you will, with more of a state of influence in it,” Reaugh said. “When we were going through different ideas, that was the one that jumped out. When we put it in Dallas Stars unveil new black and neon green alternate jersey Skyline Green, it looked awesome from the get-go.”

The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called By Matthew DeFranks10:04 AM on Oct 28, 2020 CDT "Skyline Green."

The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called Stars fans have their wish. A black jersey is back. "Skyline Green."(Dallas Stars) For the first time since the Stars redesigned their entire brand in 2013, • The outside of the back collar features a stylized version of the Texas the team will wear a black jersey, as it unveiled an alternate design flag, with a star on the left side of the neck and two stripes curling around Wednesday morning dubbed its Blackout jersey. In addition to being to the right side, symbolizing the red and white fields on the flag. black, the jersey deviates from tradition in many ways: • The inside of the back collar is inscribed with “Come and take it,” a • By using neon green for the logo and striping, a shade the team is popular state mantra adopted from the Texas Revolution, and since calling Skyline Green. It is the first shade of green used that is not Victory repurposed for a variety of causes, including Second Amendment rights. Green since the redesign in 2013. “It’s really a statement about Texas pride,” Stuchal said. “Per Razor’s • By placing its Texas-outlined secondary logo on the chest instead of the comment earlier, this is a jersey for all of Texas. We wanted to make primary one. The secondary logo typically appears on the team’s pants sure that it’s not just a Dallas thing. The state on the front, the Texas but nowhere else on the uniform. pride saying on the collar, that was the impetus for that. Tom [Gaglardi] • By using black numbers on a black background, relying on the bright felt very strongly about that. He loved it and it’s just been a good fit.” green to make the jerseys functional both in person and on television. Outside of the bright green on the jersey and the two stripes on the Currently, only the Flyers have a third jersey with black numbers on a socks, the rest of the uniform is plain. The gloves and pants are black black background. with nothing more than the manufacturer’s name in Skyline Green. The The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, helmet is black with a wordmark decal instead of the primary logo. named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called Stuchal said the Stars wanted to keep the focus on the jersey. "Skyline Green." The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, The Stars will still use their Victory Green sweater as the primary home named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called jersey, and the white one as their main road one. The NHL mandates "Skyline Green." that teams wear their third jersey 12-15 times a season, and for three The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, seasons. Given the uncertainty surrounding the NHL season next year, named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called though, it’s unknown just how many times the Blackout jerseys will be "Skyline Green."(Dallas Stars) worn in the 2020-21 season. “I will be infinitely destroyed, though, if players do not request Skyline “The fans that spoke to our merch team daily were asking for a black Green laces for their skates,” Reaugh said. “I really will. If they don’t have alternate third,” Stars senior vice president of marketing Dan Stuchal Skyline Green in their blades, I’m going to be so disappointed.” said. “Over and over and over again. We listened, and we think we answered that request in a pretty bold and impressive way.” Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts said the timing was right to unveil a third jersey for next season, giving the redesign time to settle in — not Jerseys will go on sale Thursday at 9 a.m. online at hangarhockey.com to mention not cutting into jersey sales from the Winter Classic in 2019- and in person at The Hangar stores in Victory Park and Frisco. 20. The same five-person design committee that produced the wildly popular “We really wanted the new colors, the new jersey to establish itself with Winter Classic jerseys also designed the Blackout threads, often our fanbase,” Alberts said. “We feel like it has. The fans now were simultaneously: Stuchal, owner , color analyst Daryl clamoring and desiring a third jersey.” “Razor” Reaugh, creative director Jeff Neal and merchandise director Kristopher Smith. The Dallas Stars revealed their new third jersey on Wednesday morning, named "Blackout" by the team and using a neon green the team called The group first met in December 2018 to set guidelines for Adidas to hit. "Skyline Green." They talked about whether they were open to changing the color palette or switching the logo on the chest. They decided they didn’t want any On reverse retros: While the Blackout jersey is the Stars' third for next historical ties on the alternate jersey, Stuchal said: “No nods to season, don’t expect a fourth one. Some designs from around the league Minnesota. No nods to previous Dallas designs. This was going to be for a “reverse retro” fourth jersey have leaked, including Vegas' red progressive.” jersey and other alternates from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

They didn’t want any laces on the jersey. They were set on creating a Can fans expect the Stars to release a reverse retro jersey before next black jersey — although they tested a charcoal design at one point. season?

Stuchal relayed three of the committee’s thoughts from that first meeting. “We don’t have any comment on that yet, so don’t expect anything,” Alberts said. “Radically modern, next generation and, I like this third one, screw the rules,” Stuchal said. “That in itself were some of the guideposts we gave Dallas Morning News LOADED: 10.29.2020 to Adidas.”

Reaugh said: “We wanted to do something a little more futuristic, if you will. We like to remember the future. With something dark and black, we’ve had black in our uniforms in the past and in our sweaters. If you’ve seen uniforms before where they’ve done primarily black and different tones of it, it just looks like silhouettes. In order for it to really to pop, and give it something that had never been done before, which was a big impetus for this, we thought neon.”

The jersey features a few odes to Texas:

• The secondary logo on the front of the jersey has the outline of the state. 1180021 Dallas Stars

‘I wanna hate it, but I kinda love it.’ Reaction to Dallas Stars’ new neon uniforms.

BY STEFAN STEVENSON

The Dallas Stars unveiled new, alternate uniforms featuring neon green highlights and lettering and a “Come and Take It” flag inside the collar.

The Stars say the special “Blackout” uniforms are “Inspired by Dallas. Designed for Texas.” The “Come and Take It” logo is taken from the Texas Revolutionaries in their fight against Mexico.

Inspired by Dallas.

Designed for Texas. pic.twitter.com/iRgpjT02lP

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 28, 2020

The uniforms are expected to be worn 12 to 15 times during the 2021 season, which has yet to be set. The Stars’ new sweaters received mixed reaction on social media, with many commenting that should be outfitted with black lights to make the neon color really pop. Not sure how hockey would go in a dark arena.

Lone Star hockey pic.twitter.com/qIv6yA6vcC

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 28, 2020

Back in black pic.twitter.com/WNeqXHso1n

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 28, 2020

“Inspired by Dallas” ... welp, they got both the strip club lighting and glow from radioactive oil, so spot on!

— Seanmo (@seanmohen) October 28, 2020

I want the entire arena dark, then the blacklights come on, then starts playing, them the team skates into the ice in he dark, just that neon green popping out and flying around on the ice. Please tell me that will happen. I will buy tickets and come down to see it.

— Joe Worley (@OneWearyJello) October 28, 2020

First losing the cup and now this monstrosity? There’s only so much stars fans can take.

— Deena Riley (@deenariley) October 28, 2020

For real though, can we have some black light games!? Bc that would be pretty bad ass!

— SarahBewley_Realty (@SarahB_MSRE) October 28, 2020

Inspired by Dallas.

Designed for Texas. Made in Canada.

— Mano (@LMFmAnO) October 28, 2020

I wanna hate it, but I kinda love it. https://t.co/zll3cP6meb

— Jonesy (@colelikeshockey) October 28, 2020

Star-Telegram LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180022 Dallas Stars There were also two non-starters. Absolutely be no laces and no historical references to previous Dallas sweaters or the franchise’s prior existence in Minnesota.

Dallas Stars ‘Blackout’ jersey: Inside how the alternate uniform came The Stars have been huge proponents of incorporating Victory Green in together their branding and could have continued that by incorporating that color on the black jerseys. Instead, they transitioned away from Victory Green for this jersey and opted for neon Skyline Green. This is a flat color and By Saad Yousuf and Sean Shapiro Oct 28, 2020 doesn’t have a shimmer to it the way Vegas’ gold does.

Aside from a modern look, the neon Skyline Green pops better on the black jerseys. In the early stages, the Stars considered dark charcoal The Dallas Stars added a third uniform to their rotation Wednesday gray and solid black. Once juxtaposed, it was a pretty easy decision to morning when they revealed the ‘Blackout’ jersey. Anticipation kicked into roll with the black, as it provided a better surface to amplify the neon. high gear just after midnight on Saturday when the team changed the profile picture of all of their social media accounts to display “10.28.20” in Timeline gray font on a solid black background. The Facebook and Twitter header photos showed the date and a lit-up, neon-green Dallas skyline. Alberts and Stuchal said fans had requested a third alternate jersey for years. With two promotional videos heavily featuring the Dallas skyline, some guessed (mostly reluctantly) that the new jerseys would feature the “The fans that spoke to our merch team daily were asking for a black actual outline of the Dallas skyline, reminiscent of the Dallas Mavericks’ alternate third, over and over and over again,” Stuchal said. “We listened, 2014 alternate jerseys. Instead, the skyline hints were foreshadowing and we think we answered that request in a pretty bold and aggressive neon outlines, which the Stars are officially dubbing as ‘Skyline Green,’ way.” on the black jerseys. This is the 11th rotational jersey in franchise history, The decision to finally pursue a third jersey came around the end of not counting the 2020 Winter Classic jersey. November of 2018. That’s when the Stars had to formally apply to the The development committee for this jersey consisted of the same five NHL to add a third alternate jersey. people who helped design the Winter Classic sweater: owner Tom The first meeting took place in December of 2018 to hold preliminary Gaglardi, team broadcaster Daryl Reaugh, senior vice president of discussions about what parameters they wanted to submit to Adidas. marketing Dan Stuchal, creative director Jeff Neal and merchandise Some of those questions included how open they would be toward director Kris Smith. moving away from traditional colors, if they were married to the current Examining the fit crest and whether or not there would be any historical references involved. After discussing a shift away from the existing primary logo of the “D” on a star, the committee decided they wanted a new logo for this jersey to The first iterations the team saw from Adidas was in March of 2019. “feel bigger, with more of a state of Texas influence” as opposed to Shortly thereafter, in May of 2019, the committee filed its final markings catering to Dallas alone. That’s why the logo has the outline of the state to Adidas. At that point, the design was complete. All the committee of Texas. Targeting the wider state as opposed to just the city is a could do from there was sit back and wait as uniform went into constant theme, as evident in the next few aspects of the jersey. development and production.

On the outside of the left collar is a stylized Texas state flag. A lone star Camera tests were done in December of 2019, with the team sneaking a is featured on the upper left of the collar, while a Skyline Green and cameraman into the American Airlines Center in the middle of the night to alternating Skyline Green and black hashed stripe wrap around the avoid outside eyes. They recorded the jerseys to share footage with the collar. NHL to get their approval for how they would look on camera.

This is the inside collar on the back, which features the “Come and Take The goal from the beginning was always to have these third alternates It” flag, with cannon and star in black on a Skyline Green background. ready for the 2020-21 season, which is targeted to begin on Jan. 1, 2021.

The Stars said the “Come and Take It” is not political. The timeframe of developing the alternate third jersey ran simultaneously “There have been several different groups and brands who have to the designing of the Winter Classic jerseys. The Stars found out in appropriated the Come and Take It flag for the Texas Revolution back in December 2018 that they would host the 2020 Winter Classic, right the 1830s,” Stuchal said. “There is no connection to that at all. For us, it’s around the time they had that first meeting to discuss the third alternate really a statement about Texas pride. This is a jersey for all of Texas, and jersey. They were designed with contrasting visions, the Winter Classic we wanted to make sure that it’s not just a Dallas thing. The state on the jersey leaning heavily on a retro concept while the third alternates were front, (the) Texas pride saying on the collar; that was the impetus for that. emphasized to have no throwback elements and instead represent Tom (Gaglardi) felt very strongly about that. He loved it.” something new.

There are a couple of things to note here. The first is the helmet, which How often will they be worn? does not feature the primary logo that has been on there since 2013. The NHL rule for third alternate jerseys is they must be worn 12 to 15 Instead, it has the “Dallas Stars” wordmark in Skyline Green. times each season for three years. Teams can petition to extend the Secondly, the black numbers are outlined in Skyline Green. Adidas jerseys beyond the three years, but they are at least locked in through designed them with a perforated pattern to create a beveled effect, the 2022-23 season. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming revealing more Skyline Green beneath. The Stars immediately liked it but season, the jersey could end up being worn less often than the mandated subsequently tinkered quite a bit with the crest and shoulders. .

This is a full-picture look at the Stars uniform. The striping pattern on the These jerseys are typically worn at home, but the Stars can request sleeves and hem stays true to the traditional home jersey pattern while another team to wear it on the road. That is a matter of team-to-team featuring the Skyline Green color. The pants underwent a change, communication and preference; there is no league mandate either way. eliminating the side striping and the State of Texas crest on the leg. They Where can they be bought? are all black, with no markings except for the pants maker and the NHL logo. This is in an effort to direct all attention to the jerseys. The Blackout alternate jersey will be available for purchase starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday at The Hangar locations in Frisco and Victory Park, as Design approach well as on Hangarhockey.com.

The goal was to create something new and something “futuristic.” The There will be a few other merchandise items from Adidas that will be team didn’t want to take the existing uniform and logo and simply change available in the black-neon color scheme, and the Stars will have plenty the colors to neon on black. Three guiding points that came out of that more coming in the future. The Stars opted against sharing the design first meeting in December of 2018 were: 1. Radically modern 2. Next and color scheme with too many other vendors before the reveal to generation 3. Screw the rules. The Stars submitted those, among other ensure the uniform didn’t get leaked. points, to Adidas to emphasize how open they were to different ideas. Reverse-retro coming?

There has been wide-ranging dialogue swirling online about league-wide reverse-retro jersey for teams across the NHL, including leaked sweater designs for several teams. The Sports Business Journal reported that the NHL and Adidas are planning for a broader, mid-November unveiling of the widely rumored reverse retro-style jerseys.

Alberts declined to comment on if a fourth jersey, reverse-retro, would be added to the rotation this offseason.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180023 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi: 'Nothing personal at all' after arbitration

Helene St. James

Admitting it was a different feeling that anything he’d ever experienced, Tyler Bertuzzi shrugged off taking the Detroit Red Wings to arbitration and focused on what he loves: Playing hockey.

An arbitrator Tuesday awarded Bertuzzi a one-year contract worth $3.5 million, much closer to the $3.15 million filed by the Wings than the $4.25 million Bertuzzi asked for on the strength of two straight 21-goal seasons.

Bertuzzi said Wednesday that he has not spoken with general manager since the sides went through a virtual meeting Sunday to present their cases .

“It’s a little different than anything I’ve ever been through, but it went smoothly and we’re happy we got a deal done,” Bertuzzi said. “There was a lot of talking going on. At the end of the day, we’re happy with a one-year deal. I’m looking forward to the season."

He may be looking forward for quite a while. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has Jan. 1 as the latest target date to start the 2020-21 season, but the novel coronavirus pandemic may delay that even further. For now, he’s working out and skating with a local group that includes Wings teammates Dylan Larkin, Luke Glendening, Anthony Mantha, Robby Fabbri and Valtteri Filppula. They have not been able to at the practice facility inside Little Caesars Arena.

“We’re all working out together and bonding and we’re all looking forward to coming back,” Bertuzzi said. “We’re skating, playing little games, little scrimmages here and there, trying to keep up that game feeling.

“It’s very weird. We’d already be in the season. It’s a different feeling. You have to monitor when to work out. Once we know there’s a final date to when the season is going to start, then we can kind of base all of that on that. But it’s very different, for sure.”

Bertuzzi downplayed any acrimony that can fester at arbitration sessions when a player hears his employer downplay his value, saying there was "nothing personal at all."

The Wings drafted Bertuzzi in the second round in 2013, acquiring the 48th overall pick after flipping first-round picks with the San Jose Sharks. (The Wings moved back to 20 and took Anthony Mantha; the guy the Sharks took at 18th, defenseman Mirco Mueller, most recently played for the .)

Bertuzzi was named MVP of the AHL playoffs in 2017 after helping the Griffins with the .

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AHL, with Grand Rapids Griffins, now aims for Feb. 5 start of season

Ted Kulfan

Detroit – The start of the professional hockey season keeps getting punted forward.

The American Hockey League, the minor league development arm of the NHL, announced Wednesday it’s aiming for a Feb. 5 start to its 2020-21 regular season.

The AHL had originally planned for a Dec. 1 delayed start because of the pandemic.

The Red Wings’ top minor league team, the Grand Rapids Griffins, are in the AHL. The Griffins, like all AHL teams, depend primarily on ticket sales to maintain their operations.

“The AHL continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities,” said Scott Howson, AHL president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Further details regarding the 2020-21 American Hockey League season are still to be determined.”

The NHL has been pointing toward a Jan. 1 start but admits that it could be later than that.

There has been speculation recently that the NHL is now considering a 48-game NHL season, beginning mid-January to early February, with geography-based realignment. Teams would play only divisional opponents.

Detroit News LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180025 Detroit Red Wings start, we can base everything off that, but right now, it’s very different for sure.”

But, yes, Bertuzzi is optimistic there will be an actual hockey season at Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi 'grateful' after arbitration, ready to 'prove some point. myself again' “You don’t know what to think. It changes every day, something changes every day, but that’s our life, we’re here to play hockey,” Bertuzzi said. Ted Kulfan “We want to play hockey and we’re looking forward to when it starts, hopefully in the near future.”

Bertuzzi is excited about the Wings’ personnel moves, re-signing forward Detroit — Tyler Bertuzzi has no hard feeling toward the Red Wings. Sam Gagner, acquiring defenseman Marc Staal in a trade, and signing free agent forwards Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov, Sure, Bertuzzi basically lost his salary arbitration hearing, Tuesday’s defensemen Jon Merrill and Troy Stecher (who Bertuzzi played with for decision coming in at a $3.5 million salary for Bertuzzi (he filed for $4.25 Canada during the world championships two years ago), and goaltender million and the Wings $3.15 million), but again, no hard feelings. Thomas Greiss. There's no disappointment about the arbitration decision, or the fact “I loved the moves,” Bertuzzi said. “I played with Stecher, I know he’s a Bertuzzi and the Wings weren’t able to work out a long-term contract. good player, a good defenseman, a two-way guy, and Bobby Ryan is a “I wouldn’t say disappointed,” Bertuzzi said Wednesday on a Zoom call guy that will bring a lot of offense. It’s looking good, obviously a lot better with reporters. “No, I’m very grateful to get this opportunity and I’m just than last year, and we’re excited to get back. going to go out and prove myself again this year, like I have been the last “We need to play better as a group. We need to be a lot better and with few years.” the new guys coming in, and our mentality going into this season, we’re Bertuzzi, 25, a 2013 second-round draft choice, led the Wings with 21 looking forward to get back at it.” goals last season — the second consecutive year he scored 21. Bertuzzi Buyout window opens also had 27 assists, for a career-high 48 points, while earning a $1.4 million. Because of the arbitration decision, the Wings get another 24-hour buyout window starting Thursday, if they so desire. Bertuzzi didn’t sound at all frustrated by the give and take during Sunday’s arbitration hearing. Realistically, only one player might be in danger: forward Frans Nielsen.

“It was a little different than anything I’ve been through, but it went With two more years on his contract remaining, Nielsen has a salary cap smoothly and we’re happy we got a deal done and I’m happy to be back,” hit of $5.25 million those two seasons. Bertuzzi said. “It’s something some people will never go through, and some teams don’t go through it, but at the end of the day, I’m playing With a buyout, the Wings would be hit for a $3.416 million charge this hockey this year and we’re going to go and try to win some games.” season and $4.416 million next year, followed by a $666,667 salary cap hit for the final two years. Bertuzzi likely has surpassed the expectations of some talent evaluators, posting 119 points (49 goals, 70 assists) in 199 games, a little over two Nielsen, 36, is coming off his poorest season with the Wings, with nine NHL seasons. points (four goals, five assists) in 60 games. Nielsen signed a six-year contract worth, $31.5 million before the start of the 2016 season, after There was speculation, and probably a bit of an expectation, Bertuzzi’s spending 10 years with the New York Islanders. representation and general manager Steve Yzerman, would work out a longer-term deal. Detroit News LOADED: 10.29.2020

But given the uncertainty of the NHL financial climate going forward, because of the pandemic, and a flat $81.5 million salary cap for the foreseeable future, it just didn’t work out.

Despite whatever the term was going to be, Bertuzzi said, his gritty style of play wasn’t, or isn’t, going to change.

“Whether you sign for five, or four, or six years, every year you need to perform and work hard and contribute,” Bertuzzi said. “Even if I signed a six-year deal, I’ll play every game like I’m on a one-year deal.

“Whatever the term was, it didn’t matter. I go out and play hockey every day and train hard and try the best I can, night in and night out.”

Bertuzzi is eager to get the next NHL regular season started — whenever that’ll be.

Bertuzzi is skating and scrimmaging at local rinks with Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Luke Glendening and Robby Fabbri, among others, and getting back into hockey shape.

“We see each other every day and we’re working out hard together, and obviously we’re skating and playing little games,” Bertuzzi said. “Scrimmages here and there and trying to keep up in game shape and game feeling.

“We’re doing a good job as a team and group to try and get better.”

As the calendar inches closer to November, the NHL normally would be into its second month of games, and playing and practicing would be a daily part of a hockey player’s life.

But these aren’t normal times.

“For sure, it’s very weird,” Bertuzzi said. “We’d be getting back at it, already into the season. It’s a very different feeling and approach, whether you have to monitor working out and when to take days off, when to start to amp up. Once we know a final date when the season will 1180026 Detroit Red Wings Gagner, who "hung out" with Moss at the Oilers' 2019 Christmas party before being acquired by the Red Wings in the trade in February, said the players never viewed him as someone with a Red Wings' Sam Gagner pays tribute to popular Oilers dressing room developmental disability. attendant Joey Moss "I think the best message we should get across to everyone is it's not what we did for Joey, but the other way around," Gagner said. "It's what he did for us. He gave us so much, such a perspective, always upbeat Mark Falkner through the ups and downs of a season. He brought out the best in people and I'll certainly miss him."

As for the upcoming NHL season scheduled to start in the new year, When Detroit Red Wings center Sam Gagner had eight points in one Gagner said he finally plans on taking off a bit of time in November after game in 2012 to tie an Edmonton Oilers club record set by Wayne one of the most "uncertain" years in a 13-year career which has seen the Gretzky and , Gagner received congratulations that night sixth overall pick in 2007 from the accumulate 459 points from Hall of Famers Gretzky and Coffey. in 844 career games. Gagner says nothing compared, though, to the time spent after the "At first, I prepared as if we were going to come back in March, but record-tying game with Joey Moss, the team's longtime dressing room obviously that didn't happen with us," said Gagner, who re-signed with attendant who died on Monday in Edmonton of complications from the Red Wings on a one-year contract for $850,000 last month. "I've Alzheimer's disease at age 57. been training since the beginning of the playoffs until now so it's been a Moss had Down syndrome and was a "ray of sunshine" and a fixture with long time. You've got to give your body some time to heal and rest and the four-time Stanley Cup champions for nearly 40 years. He was also a make sure you're ready for the grind when it does come." regular guest at Gagner's home during his two stints in Edmonton from Detroit News LOADED: 10.29.2020 2007-2014 and 2019-2020.

"My biggest memory after my eight points in a game was just sitting down with Joey, having a beer and chatting," Gagner said. "There was a lot going on that night. I talked to , Paul Coffey, my parents and my soon-to-be wife.

"I didn't get out of the rink until a couple of hours later and the only guy left in the rink was Joey and a couple of the trainers. He said he was proud of me and that was such a special, special moment, something I'll never forget."

Gagner, who had four goals and four assists in the 8-4 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 2, 2012, and two more goals against the Red Wings six days later in a 4-2 loss at Joe Louis Arena, said Moss' hard work, positive attitude and sense of humor was an inspiration to him, his teammates and his family.

"Right from when I first met him, we became instant friends," Gagner said. "There was a group of us, a bunch of young guys coming in who lived together. We would always take Joey out for dinner, have him sleep over. We just had a blast getting to know him. There was never a bad day. He always had a smile on his face.

"When he slept over and we had to be at practice the next morning for 8:45-9 o'clock, he would be waiting by the door at 7 a.m. We would be kind of lingering and he would get antsy. He would say, 'I got work. I got stuff to do.' He took his job very seriously and at the end of the day, he was just one of the guys."

Gagner said it's a "testament to what kind of person Joey Moss was" that teams and players as well as the league's players and alumni associations are posting condolence messages on social media.

The Oilers are preparing to pay tribute to their beloved team member, who joined the team on a recommendation from Gretzky. Gretzky was dating his sister Vikki Moss, and helped him land the clubhouse duties in the 1984-85 season.

"When the news broke, I got texts from everybody, former teammates, buddies that used to come down to Edmonton," Gagner said. "My wife and I were just talking about him last night, telling stories. We're so grateful my kids got a chance to meet him the last few years. As much as it's a sad day, it's a celebration of everything he was able to accomplish in his lifetime, his lasting legacy."

Hall of Fame retired broadcaster and St. Clair resident Mike 'Doc' Emrick says he'll never forget Moss singing the national anthem before Game 6 of the 2006 Stanley Cup final between the Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes.

"We were in Edmonton televising that game back to the United States and we always tried to cover both national anthems as much as commercials would allow," Emrick said. "We came back and Joey Moss was there, singing the words to "O Canada" as passionately as anyone could sing. God bless that young man." 1180027 Detroit Red Wings

AHL pushes back anticipated season start to Feb. 5

By Ansar Khan

The American Hockey League’s board of governors has voted to push back the anticipated start of the 2020-21 season two more months, to Feb. 5, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

AHL president Scott Howson made the announcement Wednesday.

The league previously targeted a Dec. 4 return, but it became evident that wasn’t going to happen after the NHL announced earlier this month that its season will not begin before Jan. 1.

The AHL relies more heavily than the NHL on gate receipts and needs to have fans in the stands before playing.

“The AHL continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities,” the league said in a release. “Further details regarding the 2020-21 American Hockey League season are still to be determined.”

The AHL canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season on May 11, marking the first time in the league’s 84-year history there were no playoffs or a champion crowned.

The Grand Rapids Griffins finished third in the Central Division at 29-27- 3-4, with 65 points.

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Red Wings’ Tyler Bertuzzi: Arbitration not personal, ready to ‘prove myself’

By Ansar Khan

NHL salary arbitration can be unpleasant, with a player’s side arguing why he should earn a certain amount and the club trying to contend why he is not worth that much.

This is why most cases get settled before reaching the independent arbitrator and why the Detroit Red Wings almost always avoid the process.

But after Tyler Bertuzzi and the Red Wings could not reach a deal, an arbitrator decided for them, awarding the 25-year-old forward a one-year contract for $3.5 million on Tuesday.

It is slightly closer to what the team offered ($3.15 million) than what Bertuzzi sought ($4.25 million). Now that it is over, Bertuzzi looks forward to starting the season – perhaps not until February – and continuing to show why he is a key part of the rebuild.

“Obviously, it’s a little different than anything I’ve ever been through,” Bertuzzi said. “But it went smoothly and we’re happy that we got a deal done and I’m happy to be back.”

Bertuzzi led the team with 21 goals – the second year in a row he has reached that mark – and tallied 48 points, one more than his career-high from the previous season.

He will be a restricted free agent again next offseason when he hopes to ink a long-term deal.

“Whether I sign five, four, six years, every year you need to perform and you need to work hard and contribute,” Bertuzzi said. “Even if I sign a six- year deal, I’ll play every game like I’m on a one-year deal and just need to prove every year that I’m a good player and I want to contribute for this team.”

The Red Wings have two remaining restricted free agents: Anthony Mantha could get a long-term contract worth upwards of $5 million a season and Dmytro Timashov is more likely to sign for one or two years.

Bertuzzi, Mantha and Dylan Larkin are among a handful of players working out and skating together in preparation for a camp that likely will begin two weeks earlier for non-playoff teams than the rest of the league. That still might not be until January.

“We’re working out hard together, skating and playing little games and scrimmages to kind of keep up with game shape,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s very competitive.”

Bertuzzi praised the team’s offseason acquisitions – forwards Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov, defensemen Mark Staal, Troy Stecher and Jon Merrill and goaltender Thomas Greiss.

“I love the moves,” he said. “I played with Stecher at the World Championship in the Czech Republic, so I know he’s a good player, good defenseman, two-way guy. Bobby Ryan, veteran guy that’s going to bring a lot of offense. We signed (Sam Gagner) again, we know what he brings. Our team’s obviously a lot better than last year and we’re excited to get back.”

This was the Red Wings' first contract settled through arbitration in many years. Their only recent hearing was with Tomas Tatar in 2017, but the sides reached an agreement before a decision was rendered.

Bertuzzi said there will be no hard feelings.

“We want to win hockey games,” he said. “There’s nothing personal at all.”

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Red Wings’ 2018 pick Jonatan Berggren healthy, off to hot start in Sweden

By Ansar Khan

Jonatan Berggren has been overshadowed by the two players the Detroit Red Wings selected ahead of him in the 2018 draft, set back by major injuries in each of the past two seasons.

Now he is healthy and showing why he is one of the organization’s more promising prospects.

Berggren is off to a hot start for Skelleftea in the , the country’s highest division. He is third in scoring with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 10 games.

“He’s off to a great start and it’s a good sign for us,” Shawn Horcoff, Red Wings director of player development, said. "He’s a guy who’s faced a lot of adversity with injuries the last couple years. These aren’t injuries that are easy to come back from. They’re bigger injuries, longer layoffs.

“To his credit, going through that, it’s done two things – it’s made him realize what he needs to work on, and it’s also given him time to work on those deficiencies. He was a guy we drafted who was very raw in terms of his physical development. I think the last couple of years the amount of time he’s been able to spend in the gym and off the ice has helped him in that area.”

The Red Wings selected Berggren 33rd overall, a pick acquired from the (originally belonging to Ottawa) in the 2017 trade for Brendan Smith. Detroit took Filip Zadina at No. 6 and Joe Veleno at No. 30.

Berggren was limited to 16 games in 2018-19 due to a back injury and played only 24 games last season because of shoulder surgery.

Now, the 5-11, 183-pound winger is playing with a lot of confidence, Horcoff said.

“He’s skating very well right now, he’s holding onto the puck,” Horcoff said. “Those are his biggest assets, his passing ability, his vision. Right now, you can tell he’s got confidence because he’s not rushing anything. He’s taking his time. He’s able to separate, create space for himself.”

Berggren is more of a playmaker than a finisher, as his statistics indicate. The Red Wings have talked to him about shooting more.

“He’s been in areas where he can score more goals, but he’s always been a passer,” Horcoff said. "He enjoys holding onto the puck and making plays and he’s obviously very good at it.

“He’s been very good on the power play in the down-low position, where he’s finding people and making plays. In the NHL, you have to be multi- dimensional or you’re going to be too easy to check. We’re trying to get him to work on his and just work on that shot mentality a bit more.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180030 Edmonton Oilers “I am totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love in response to Joey’s passing,” she told me from her home in Beverley Hills, Calif. “Although the story started with Wayne, it ultimately became Edmonton’s story, as JONES: Edmonton Oilers enter think tank over ways to memorialize Joey the city affectionately embraced him. Because Joey embodied what a Moss person can achieve despite his medical condition, I think he should be honoured on his own. I think it should be a place where the community can come together and continue the celebration.

Terry Jones “Maybe a community /playground with a Joey Moss Museum on its premises,” she offered.

One wish of the family involves the Down syndrome people he leaves Something significant. Something substantial. Something soon. behind. That’s the challenge for Edmonton to honour and celebrate the memory “I think the legacy is that Joey was a person with special needs and I’d of Joey Moss and create lasting legacies to preserve and extend the like to see internships with clubs throughout all of North American outpouring of emotions embracing the city and most of the hockey world professional sports,” said Adam Walker, the son of Joey’s 70-year-old since his death Monday. sister, Pattie, and co-guardian. “I know half a dozen people from Joey’s Considering the remarkable reaction since the passing of Moss and the home that could walk into Joey’s shoes and do what he did. His best testimonials to the inspiration he provided for Down syndrome individuals friend, Craig, at the house would be one. He has the same charisma, the and their families while working as a dressing-room attendant for both the same happy face, the same work ethic. NHL and League teams, a significant and substantial “I think we all hope this doesn’t end with Joey’s passing.” response should be expected. Another thing his nephew mentions is Joey’s unique memorabilia that While members of the community and hockey fans throughout the includes his own masked pro-wrestling costume and an actual real country began making suggestions Tuesday, Edmonton Oilers vice- championship belt given to him by Hulk Hogan and autographed by many chairman and CEO Bob Nicholson had a selection of team captains from superstars of the business. Joey loved pro wrestling. the Joey Moss Era on a conference call to engage them in seeking inspiration on what to do. “My mom and I packed up Joey’s room a few months ago and I’ve inventoried everything. There is such cool stuff that it would be great to “It was really energizing,” said Nicholson. “No question, we’re going to do have it on display somewhere.” something special to keep his memory alive and preserve the feelings that we all saw embraced in the short time since Joey passed away. Near his statue, I’d suggest.

“We had tons of great ideas — about 15 real good ones involving what Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2020 we could do in the rink, outside the building, in the community and involving programs for people facing the same challenges he faced and conquered.

“I think it’s important that we communicate with the Down syndrome society, the football team, the City of Edmonton and the fans and citizens for their ideas. And most of all, I think we need to sit down with the Moss family in a few days to get their thoughts.

“I think we’d like to get down to three or four ideas and go from there.”

Some of the ideas:

• A statue of Joey with his hand on his heart belting out the national anthem and a scoreboard video component of Joey to accompany the singing of ‘O Canada.’

• A park, street or area named after him in the Ice District, perhaps where the statue could be placed.

• An empty seat with his name on it behind the Oilers bench where he sat to watch games.

• Naming the community arena after him.

• A program in his name to build opportunity for those facing similar Down syndrome challenges for many years to come.

• A Hall of Fame calibre display in his honour at some appropriate location featuring all his memorabilia.

Some might suggest all of the above.

One idea I’m particularly partial to is that of the statue, especially if it was in combination with other components.

“A statue is a great idea,” said former Oilers ownership group member Bruce Saville in an email response to the suggestion in the last line of my column in Monday’s editions.

“I have $1,000 to donate if someone gets it started,” offered Saville.

I don’t know what the going rate for a Gretzky-calibre statue might be, but wouldn’t it be amazing if it was funded entirely by fans, including dimes and nickels from kids’ piggy banks?

I reached out to the Moss family.

Sister Vikki, who was dating Gretzky and thus an inspirational component to Joey getting the Oilers and Ex-imos dressing room attendant jobs, like most everybody else, was blown away at the reaction in Edmonton. 1180031 Edmonton Oilers special man. He opened doors for a lot of kids across Canada and North America.

“But what he did best is give parents hope. Parents who had kids who 'Joey was a lifer': Gretzky shares inside look at Moss and the Edmonton were mentally challenged saw Joey Moss living a relatively normal life, Oilers fitting into society, being accepted as a regular person. That’s the biggest thing Joey Moss brought to his life.”

Robert Tychkowski 1997. New York Ranger Wayne Gretzky stopped outside the Edmonton Oilers dressing room to get his to get his picture taken with his longtime friend and Edmonton Oilers dressing room attendant, Joey Moss, after practise at the Edmonton Coliseum. Tom Braid/Edmonton Sun/QMI Wayne Gretzky had no idea when he first pitched the idea of Joey Moss Agency helping out around the Edmonton Oilers locker-room that it would become one of the most beautiful relationships in all of sports. New York Ranger Wayne Gretzky stopped outside the Edmonton Oilers dressing room to get his picture taken with his longtime friend and He just knows Moss’s rise from part-time attendant to Edmonton icon is Edmonton Oilers dressing room attendant, Joey Moss, in 1997. well earned and well deserved. Postmedia, file “When was kind enough to let Joey jump on board, we didn’t When Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in 1989, people outside the anticipate him being there for 35 years,” chuckled Gretzky, on a video dressing room wondered what that would mean for Moss, thinking his conference call Wednesday to pay tribute to his friend, who died Monday spot in the organization was somehow tied to Gretzky’s presence. To the at the age of 57. guys on the inside, the subject never even came up. “Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, and I used to sit around and “There was never any fear that, when I left, Joey wouldn’t always be laugh about it all the time, saying: ‘We’re going to be gone and moved on taken care of,” said Gretzky, adding he’s so proud of how each and retired and Joey is still going to be working in the Oilers locker-room.’ generation of players carried on the relationships. “I knew that would be a “They traded me before Joey. Joey was a lifer.” part of being an Edmonton Oiler. And that’s exactly what happened. There was never a concern from anybody’s point of view that Joey wasn’t Moss, the brother of Gretzky’s girlfriend at the time, already had a job going to be a lifetime member of the Oilers hockey club and the (which is no surprise) working at the sorting table of a bottle depot. Edmonton football team. Gretzky thought there had to be something better. “He brought a ray of sunshine and a lot of fond memories to all of us. He “I didn’t think it make a lot of sense that an 18-year-old with a handicap lived a really wonderful life. It wasn’t just us making his life better, he was standing all day, taking a bus to work in 40-below weather. I made our lives better. There was nothing better than having a cup of remember thinking there must be something we can do to make his life coffee before practice with him and talking about life and his family. Or easier and more comfortable. That’s when I went to Glen with the idea.” after losing tough games and having him pat you on the shoulder and tell you not to worry, ‘We’ll win tomorrow.’” And just like that, Moss was in. The chemistry was almost instant. Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 10.29.2020 “In some ways, I was surprised how quickly he fit in,” said Gretzky, adding everyone set the tone from the start that this wasn’t charity, that Moss would have to pull his weight and do things the Oilers way.

“Glen didn’t treat him as a child who was working in our locker-room with a handicap. If something was out of place, I remember Glen yelling at Joe and Joe would jump up and do what needed to get done.

“He fit in right from the get go. Everyone treated him with a great deal of respect. We loved having him around. It was as simple as that.”

Edmonton Oilers locker room attendant Joey Moss hugs his good friend LA Kings captain at Rexall Place on March 25, 1993 in Edmonton Alta. On Friday March 26, the Kings beat the Oilers 4-1. Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Edmonton Oilers locker room attendant Joey Moss hugs his good friend LA Kings captain at Rexall Place on March 25, 1993. Postmedia, file

It had to be intimidating for a mentally challenged kid to walk into an NHL dressing room and be part of a regimented process where everything must run smoothly, but Moss never flinched. He didn’t have any reason to. All any team asks is that you can do the job and fit in with the guys.

Moss, of course, was a natural at both.

“The only way it wasn’t going to work was if he didn’t fit in,” said Gretzky. “He was comfortable, he knew his responsibilities. And he was genuinely excited to come to work every single day.

“It worked out from Day 1 that he was great for us and I like to think that we were great for him. He was never out of place. We treated him like everyone else in the locker-room. If we were teasing Barrie Stafford or Lyle, we’d tease Joey, and he loved being part of that.

“Guys like Georges Laraque and Dave Semenko would play wrestle with him in the locker-room and he thought that was the greatest thing in the world. Those are memories we can’t replace.”

Moss gets celebrated for his work with the Oilers and the team, but his reach extended far beyond sports, and still does. Gretzky believes that will be his greatest legacy.

“I can’t say enough about what he did to raise awareness, to show people that somebody with a handicap can still be part of society. He’s a 1180032 Los Angeles Kings

AHL targets Feb. 5 for start of coronavirus-delayed 2020-21 season

Delay announced by hockey's top minor league could also mean the NHL pushes back the start of its season

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | PUBLISHED: October 28, 2020 at 3:27 p.m. | UPDATED: October 28, 2020 at 3:27 p.m.

The American Hockey League said Wednesday it would target Feb. 5 for the start of its coronavirus-delayed 2020-21 season, a delay of more than two months from its initial return-to-play plan and a possible hint of a further delay of the NHL’s opening night.

The AHL, the top developmental league for the NHL, originally said it would resume play Dec. 4. AHL commissioner Scott Howson made the announcement after the league’s board of governors met earlier Wednesday. There was no mention of whether fans would be allowed to attend games.

The 31-team minor league includes the Ontario Reign and the San Diego Gulls, the top affiliates for the NHL’s Kings and Ducks. The AHL and the NHL suspended play in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak in North America. The NHL returned to complete its season last month.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press he didn’t expect the AHL’s decision to impact the NHL’s opening night. The NHL has targeted Jan. 1, but it’s expected that it could be delayed by several weeks or perhaps longer after an initial forecast of Dec. 1 was pushed back.

“The NHL, they’re (looking) at sometime in January,” Howson told the AP. “We aren’t tied directly to what the NHL does, but we want to be somewhat in sync, so Feb. 5 seemed like a good place even if there’s going to be a little longer gap than usual between the two league’s starting.”

The question of whether to allow fans to attend games is one of several key issues that must be resolved. Unlike the other pro sports leagues in North America, hockey relies almost exclusively on ticket and concession sales rather than lucrative TV contracts to generate revenue.

What’s more, and perhaps equally important, the United States-Canada border remains closed because of the pandemic, prompting talk of an all- Canadian division in the NHL if players, coaches and staff members are still forced to quarantine for 14 days upon entering Canada after play resumes.

Four of the NHL’s seven Canadian-based teams have their AHL teams located in Canada, but Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver have U.S.- based minor-league clubs, which could force the Flames (Stockton), Oilers (Bakersfield) and Canucks (Utica, New York) to relocate their clubs north of the border temporarily.

The Reign and Gulls play in the seven-team Pacific Division along with Bakersfield, Colorado (Avalanche), Stockton, San Jose (Sharks) and Tucson (Coyotes).

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AHL TARGETING FEBRUARY 5 AS START DATE FOR 2020-21 SEASON

BY ZACH DOOLEY

Some important news this afternoon from the American Hockey League – The league has announced that it is targeting February 5 as a start date for the 2020-21 AHL season.

From the league’s official release –

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson has announced that the league’s Board of Governors has approved moving the anticipated start date of the 2020-21 season to February 5, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

The AHL continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities. Further details regarding the 2020-21 American Hockey League season are still to be determined.

In operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 31 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the spent time in the AHL in their careers.

Today’s update pushes the league’s tentative date back approximately two months from December 4 to February 5. The AHL’s movement puts the league more in line with the NHL’s projected start date of January 1, as opposed to starting before the NHL does, which is not a viable option for most AHL clubs.

February 5 feels realistic, where as December 4 always felt like a placeholder, which it turned out to be. Keeping the AHL running is an important option for NHL club, as Nelson Emerson detailed in an ESPN article by Chris Peters.

“Where we’re at, Ontario is critical for us,” Emerson said to ESPN. “We want our top players under our umbrella. The AHL and when they start is very important to us. We are hoping we get good news on that front. If the NHL is going to start early in the new year, hopefully the AHL is right behind that. We love that the team is right here in our facility. It allows our staff to have constant contact with the players. We hope things can get up and running and back to normal soon. It is a concern, and we talk about it every day.”

There are certainly still several outstanding questions, such as the presence of fans, travel, etc but today’s announcement is the next step towards seeing the Reign back on the ice.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180034 Minnesota Wild

Wild loans Marco Rossi to ZSC Lions in Switzerland

By Sarah McLellan OCTOBER 28, 2020 — 1:03PM

The Wild has loaned prospect Marco Rossi to the ZSC Lions in Switzerland, but the 19-year-old center will be allowed to join the Wild once NHL training camps start.

Rossi has an out in his contract that will enable him to leave when training camp gets underway. So far, though, it’s unclear when that will be. The NHL is aiming to start next season on or around Jan.1, a target that would likely open camp sometime in December, but no formal dates have been announced.

Last week, Rossi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wild after the team selected him ninth overall in the first round of the NHL draft earlier this month.

Just the fifth Austrian-born player drafted in the first round, Rossi led the Ontario Hockey League last season in assists (81) and points (120) to become the first European to capture the OHL scoring title. His 39 goals in 56 games ranked second on his Ottawa team, and he was named the OHL’s most outstanding player – just the second European import to receive the award.

Star Tribune LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180035 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2020

Canadiens' prospects scrambling to find a place to play

With limited options because of the pandemic, players are turning to Europe, university leagues and even the BCHL to get badly needed ice time.

Pat Hickey Montreal Gazette

Gianni Fairbrother had to play hockey.

And that’s why the , a three-year veteran of the WHL with the Everett Silvertips, took a step back in his development this week and joined the , a Junior A team in the BCHL.

Fairbrother, who was selected by the Canadiens in the third round (No. 77 overall) in 2019, missed half of last season after suffering an injury in January. With the WHL not scheduled to begin play until January, he was looking at a full year away from the game.

His decision to play in the BCHL, a league known primarily for preparing players for U.S. colleges, is also important to the Canadiens. They must make a decision on whether to sign him before June 1 and they need to ensure that he’s healthy and assess his progress.

If the Canadiens don’t sign him, he becomes an unrestricted free agent, but that’s not an ideal situation for Fairbrother because teams are hesitant to gamble on an unsigned draft pick.

With most leagues in North America on hold, Fairbrother isn’t the only Canadiens prospect looking for a place to play.

The Canadiens have 11 players who are enrolled in, or committed to, U.S. college programs. The six conferences in the U.S. all hope to play, but at least two players are hedging their bets. Blake Biondi — selected this year in the fourth round, No. 109 overall — is headed to Minnesota- Duluth, but he’s moonlighting with Sioux City in the USHL. Harvard- bound Sean Farrell — selected this year in the fourth round, No. 124 overall — is in the USHL’s Chicago Steel training camp and taking online classes at Harvard.

The USHL is playing exhibitions with a planned Dec. 1 start. Farrell is facing the most uncertainty because the Ivy League schools have suspended all athletics until at least Jan. 15. That’s created problems for the ECAC conference because six of its 12 members are Ivies.

Hockey East is planning to begin play before Christmas and that means Jayden Struble (No. 46 overall, 2019) and Jordan Harris (No. 71 overall, 2018) at Northeastern, and Boston University freshman Luke Tuch (No. 47 overall, 2020) have a place to play.

The Big 10 conference could start as early as Nov. 13, which means Cole Caufield, the Canadiens’ first-round pick in 2019 (No. 15 overall), will get some ice time before representing the U.S. at the world junior tournament in Edmonton. Play usually begins on Boxing Day, but it will be starting on Christmas Day in a bubble around Rogers Place and there will be three games a day at one site rather than four games at two arenas.

Caufield is going into his second season at the University of Wisconsin, which suspended its football program this week after a dozen people, including coach Paul Chryst tested positive for COVID-19.

The OHL is not expected to play before February and Jan Mysak, a 2020 second-rounder (No. 48 overall) with the Hamilton Bulldogs, has returned to the Czech Republic to play for Litvinov. The OHL reopening is complicated because three of its teams are located in the U.S. and the border is still closed.

Defenceman Kaiden Guhle, the Canadiens’ first-round choice (No. 16 overall) this year, is hoping the WHL opens as planned in January. The WHL has five U.S.-based teams but will get around travel restrictions by limiting play within each of its four divisions, including the U.S. division.

The AHL originally announced an optimistic start date of Dec. 4, but the league announced Wednesday that Feb. 4 is the new target date. The Canadiens have loaned four potential prospects — Hayden Verbeek (undrafted), Jesse Ylonen (No. 35, 2018), Lukas Vejdemo (No. 87, 2015) and Otto Leskinen (undrafted) — to teams in Europe. 1180036 Montreal Canadiens

Former Canadien Alex Galchenyuk signs with Senators

After more than two weeks on the NHL free-agency market, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2012 agreed to a one-year deal worth US$1.05 million.

Pat Hickey Montreal Gazette

Alex Galchenyuk will have to tighten his belt this winter.

After more than two weeks on the NHL free-agency market, the No. 3 overall draft pick of the Canadiens in 2012 agreed to a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. The deal is worth US$1.05 million but, with players facing major escrow rollbacks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he’ll be earning a lot less.

Galchenyuk, 26, who has played for three teams since the Canadiens traded him to the Arizona Coyotes for Max Domi in 2018, had a cap hit of US$4.9 million last season when he collected eight goals and 24 points in 59 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild.

Galchenyuk had 19 goals and 41 points in 72 games with Arizona in 2018-19 and collected 19 goals and 51 points in 82 games in 2017-18, his final season in Montreal. His best season came in 2015-16 with the Canadiens when he had 30 goals and 56 points in 82 games.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180037 Nashville Predators

Predators sign contract for community ice rink in Downtown Clarksville MPEC

Alexis Clark

The Nashville Predators on Tuesday signed a contract to build a community ice rink in the Multipurpose Events Center, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2022.

Austin Peay State University is the primary leasing tenant of the downtown facility. The MPEC will hold approximately 6,000 people for concerts and sporting events.

Ground breaking for the 250,000-square-foot, multi-level event facility is scheduled for mid-November.

The MPEC will utilize a separate sheet of ice for youth and adult hockey leagues, as well as figure skating, said a Nashville Predators spokesman..

Ice can be added in the main arena bowl for hockey tournaments, attracting larger events like the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue TN.

The Nashville Predators are led by Powers Management, who is the facility operator.

Tennessean LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180038 Nashville Predators The Islanders, who already shipped out promising defenseman Devon Toews, are stuck with overpriced veterans such as Johnny Boychuk ($6 million cap hit through 2022), Leo Komarov ($3 million cap hit through The Predators have plenty of cap space, so how can they weaponize it? 2022) and Andrew Ladd ($5.5 million cap hit through 2023).

None of them would improve the Predators’ lineup, but Poile could take on a bad contract for future assets. In June 2019, for example, the By Adam Vingan Oct 28, 2020 Carolina Hurricanes received a first-round pick from the for Patrick Marleau, who had a $6.25 million cap hit. (The

Hurricanes then bought out the final year of Marleau’s contract.) Earlier this week, The Athletic’s James Mirtle surveyed the financial The Predators are in the process of restocking their prospect system, landscape of the NHL, determining which teams are in the best and worst and trading for an onerous contract is one way to accumulate picks and shape from a salary-cap perspective. young players. In the cases of Boychuk, Komarov and Ladd, the Mirtle found that the Predators are sitting pretty with an estimated $10.4 Predators could bury them in the minors and save on their cap hits. million in space. (That figure takes into account unsigned forward Luke The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 Kunin’s projected cap hit.)

As one of a few teams with ample space, the Predators are in a position to take advantage of high-spending clubs by poaching quality players at a fraction of the cost.

“I have an appetite to improve our club whenever we have a chance to improve our club,” Predators general manager David Poile said earlier this month. “All I know is I have the flexibility with the space available, so if an opportunity presents itself, we have a chance to do a good thing to improve our hockey club.”

Here are the most susceptible teams and possible trade targets:

Tampa Bay Lightning

The bill has come due for the Stanley Cup champions.

The Lightning found no takers for forward Tyler Johnson and his $5 million cap hit through 2024 in the trade market or through waivers. There are more appealing options, though, such as 31-year-old forward Alex Killorn ($4.45 million cap hit through 2023).

Colleague Joe Smith estimated that there is a 50 percent chance that Killorn, who scored a career-high 26 goals last season on 20 percent shooting, will be traded. The left-handed power forward could be a fit on the Predators’ second line and could even come with a sweetener in a potential deal.

Yanni Gourde ($5,166,666 cap hit through 2025) is also on the trade block, according to Smith. The 28-year-old forward, who posted 14 points in 25 postseason games, has a full no-trade clause, though.

A GM would be smart to sign one of the Lightning’s key restricted free agents — forward Anthony Cirelli and defensemen Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev — to an offer sheet. At the very least, it would create even more of a cap predicament for the Lightning. The Predators have the ammunition.

Vegas Golden Knights

In order to sign defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a seven-year, $61.6 million contract, the Golden Knights basically had to give away defenseman Nate Schmidt, who fetched just a third-round draft pick. They also dumped top-six forward Paul Stastny for a pick and a prospect.

Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this month that “a few teams wondered if Nashville would go after Jonathan Marchessault” before the Schmidt trade.

Although the Golden Knights now have less need to make such a deal, it still is an interesting thought. Marchessault ($5 million cap hit through 2024) has scored at least 25 goals and topped 50 points in three of the past four seasons. He was on pace to do so again this past season before the league halted play.

Colleague Jesse Granger wrote Tuesday that “staying below the $81.5 million ceiling is going to be a constant balancing act for the Golden Knights this season.” If that proves to be too difficult, then the Predators should come calling.

New York Islanders

Mathew Barzal offer sheet, anyone?

There is little chance of that happening, but most of the Islanders’ remaining cap space will go toward re-signing their star forward. Top defenseman Ryan Pulock also needs a new contract. 1180039 Ottawa Senators

The Belleville Senators will have to be patient as AHL targets Feb. 5 for start date

Bruce Garrioch Publishing date:Oct 28, 2020

The Belleville Senators won’t be seeing each other any time soon.

While the American Hockey League had hoped to start on Dec. 1, the board of governors circled Feb. 5 as a start date during a conference call Wednesday afternoon, which means the Ottawa Senators’ top affiliate will be sidelined for at least another three months.

“The AHL continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities,” the league said in a statement. “Further details regarding the 2020-21 season are still to be determined.”

And that’s a big problem because nobody knows where this virus is headed. The NHL is still hoping to start in January, but there’s a lot of logistics involved to make that reality. The AHL usually follows whatever path the NHL takes, so it was surprising the minor league made a decision first.

Belleville hasn’t suited up since early March when the league went on pause.

“The health and safety of Belleville Senators fans, partners, players and staff remain the organization’s highest priority, and we encourage everyone to continue prioritizing your health and that of others as we continue measures to limit the spread of COVID-19,” the club said in a statement posted on its website.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180040 Ottawa Senators their ice time, and that should make for healthy competition when the year finally gets underway.

The club has centres Colin White, Artem Anisimov and Tierney under GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators sign free agent Alex Galchenyuk to one- contract. Prospects Josh Norris and Logan Brown will get a chance to year deal push for spots in the middle, while down the road No. 3 overall pick Tim Stuetzle should be a centre, but won’t start there right away.

Who knows, Galchenyuk could be a centre for Stuetzle. He could be a Bruce Garrioch winger for Norris or Connor Brown. Really, the possibilities and the combinations are endless until we see these players suit up and the

Senators start playing some actual games. One thing this will do is give Another day, another signing by the Ottawa Senators, and this one could Smith some options. turn out to be great move. The Senators will also give young players like Drake Batherson, Alex The Senators dipped into the NHL’s free agent market again by signing Formenton and Vitaly Abramov the chance to play in camp so this isn’t a forward Alex Galchenyuk to a one-year deal that will pay him $1.05 move that’s really going to disrupt the rebuild. It makes sense to have million for the 2020-21 campaign. veteran players, and Galchenyuk has no shortage of NHL experience.

His Los Angeles-based agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey, is confident He suited up for 45 games with the Penguins before being moved to the Galchenyuk will have success because he’s hungry after making stops in Wild at the deadline. In four games in the Return to Play, Galchenyuk Arizona, Pittsburgh and Minnesota over the course of the last two was held pointless. seasons. Galchenyuk has 135 goals and 320 points in 549 NHL games. “It’s one of the most exciting contracts I’ve done in a while,” Brisson told “He can play centre or wing. He can play both. He can help the offence, this newspaper in a telephone interview Wednesday. “I’m not talking we all know about his one-timer and how he can score by shooting the about the term or the money, but we’re talking about a young, passionate puck. He’s in a good place,” Brisson said. player. It’s never easy for a player to switch teams, not only once, twice, but three teams in a one year. And the Senators are hopeful Galchenyuk can get the club to a better place in the standings. “A lot of things happen in these times: You either put your hands up and kind of give up or you roll up your sleeves and kind of look at yourself in Ottawa Sun LOADED: 10.29.2020 the mirror and say, ‘How can I be better so it doesn’t happen again?’ The reason I’m passionate is because working with him for a few years I’ve seen in the last few months how he was able to cope with what’s occurred to him.

“He’s always been a hard-working person, but now he’s realized it’s important for him to work on certain aspects of his game. His training has always been good and it’s been fantastic this summer. I’m excited for him and I’m excited for Ottawa. They made a good bet on this kid. He’s only 26, he’s not 32.”

Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion, who has been busy in the last month signing free agents and making trades, believes Galchenyuk can make an impact wherever he plays in the lineup.

This is a good deal that could work out well for both sides if Galchenyuk can have success offensively.

“Alex’s signing represents another good addition for us at forward,” Dorion said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “He’s versatile in that he can play both left wing and centre.

“He’s gifted offensively, has been a solid power-play contributor and is a proven goal scorer in this league.”

The centre situation on the Senators still has to be settled so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Galchenyuk has the chance to be in the middle for Ottawa. As noted, he can also play on the wing so it will be up to coach D.J. Smith and the staff to decide where he fits best.

The 26-year-old Galchenyuk, a No. 3 overall selection by the Montreal Canadiens in 2012, is coming off a difficult 2019-20 campaign in which he had eight goals and 24 points in 59 games.

“I’ve really enjoyed my conversations with Alex in the last few months. I give a lot of credit to Pierre Dorion and D.J. Smith for giving him an opportunity,” Brisson said. “I bet they won’t regret it. I’m telling you right now, he’s got something to prove and he’s going to prove it.”

The Senators don’t want to go with all young players and Galchenyuk will fit in well. He’s the same as centre Chris Tierney and winger Connor Brown, who both agreed to deals with club in the last week.

No, Galchenyuk hasn’t lived up to the expectations of being a top pick, but he did have 30 goals and 56 points during the 2015-16 campaign with the Habs. There is a recipe for success there if Smith can find the right fit and both sides may be able to benefit from this move.

Nobody should worry about the acquisition of Galchenyuk taking ice time away from young players because Smith has been consistent in the way he runs his bench. This move means those on the roster will have to earn 1180041 Ottawa Senators with Josh Brown (-0.3) and Gudbranson (-0.8) is projected to be a downgrade, albeit not by a huge margin.

Brown is expected to be given a shot in the top four and should perform How much did the Senators actually improve this offseason? better in D.J. Smith’s system than in Florida. Coming off major shoulder surgery, this is a big “show me” year for Wolanin. Both could outplay their projection.

By Hailey Salvian Oct 28, 2020 The No. 6 spot is shaping up to be a training camp battle between Gudbranson, Russian free agent signing Artyom Zub and potentially

prospect Erik Brannstrom. I’ve slotted Gudbranson there for now, since After a busy draft and several moves during free agency, Ottawa he was brought in via trade to add a steadying veteran presence. Senators general manager Pierre Dorion summed up his offseason in a Zub has yet to play in North America, but he has been a top-four way that should be a given for a team that finished the last three seasons defenceman for SKA St. Petersburg for the last few years and played a 30th, 31st and 30th in the NHL standings. prominent role for Russia in international competition. Meanwhile, “We feel we’re significantly better than when the season ended,” Dorion Brannstrom may need more time to develop in the AHL — Belleville said on a media call after signing free agent forward Evgenii Dadonov. coach Troy Mann has said as much — however, he has played well on loan in the Swiss League, which could help him make the jump to the To Dorion’s credit, he brought in Dadonov, Matt Murray, Erik Senators with confidence. Gudbranson, Josh Brown and Austin Watson, which fills holes at every position. But those holes were left by key players and veterans going out Ideally, Zub or Brannstrom would crack the top six and provide second or the door in Anthony Duclair, Bobby Ryan, Mark Borowiecki, Ron Hainsey third pair value with one of the defencemen in the red taking on the and Craig Anderson. seventh-man role.

On paper, it looks like the Senators made some upgrades. But are they This projection might not be as bad as estimated if some skilled young actually better today than when their season ended abruptly in March? players make a good push. And ultimately, this isn’t going to be the defensive core of the future, so there’s one silver lining. We won’t know the answer until the season begins, tentatively set for Jan. 1. However, we can assess the moves using Game Score Value The forward group does look marginally better and features mostly the Added (a player value stat created by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn same core with Tkachuk and White and middle-to-bottom six pieces in based on his Game Score model) and compare the Senators projected Connor Brown, Chris Tierney and Nick Paul all avoiding arbitration and roster with their previous roster. locked into multi-year deals.

Last week, Luszczyszyn wrote that his model had the Senators losing 0.6 It should be noted that these are not set lines. There are training camp wins (-0.6 GSVA) through their offseason moves, which he attributed to battles that could take this lineup in a different direction, but for this the players added “likely not being as good as advertised,” and “the exercise, this is my projection of the forwards. players that left.” The biggest addition via free agency is certainly Dadonov, who will give He further wrote: “It’s hard to spend $15 million and get worse, but Tkachuk a legitimate first-line teammate. While the acquisition of Watson Ottawa found a way.” will essentially replace Scott Sabourin on the fourth line. Connor Brown and Drake Batherson in the middle six gives the Senators much better It’s not lofty praise for the Senators’ moves. But it’s still worth diving depth and more than double the value (2.9) on the right side compared to deeper into the changes and where some of the differences are most last season (1.2). notable. In choosing not to extend a qualifying offer, the Senators have lost So, let’s start with a “status quo” roster — or what the Senators would Duclair, who was the team’s second best forward last season behind have looked like had the organization brought back their free agents and Tkachuk. Dadonov should make up for some of the lost offensive not bought out Bobby Ryan. production. Then, of course, there are the prospects.

GSVA chart by Dom Luszczyszyn Tim Stutzle, who is rehabbing a fracture in his hand, still needs to be released from his contract with Mannheim, but Dorion and the Senators Naturally, the same lineup that finished second-last in the league looks have been steadfast that he will be able to contribute in the NHL as soon pretty bleak according to the GSVA estimation. as this season. No player on this roster is ranked in the elite tier. Only Brady Tkachuk His GSVA appears low for a third-overall pick, which can be explained by and Thomas Chabot are considered top line or top pair players. how his Game Score is calculated since he’s never played in the NHL. In Meanwhile, seven players are considered replacement level and five this case, a prospects GSVA is found using NHL equivalency — players fall in the fourth line/third pair tier. It’s not a great outlook, albeit essentially finding what players have done in other leagues compared to not a surprising one knowing how the Senators fared last season. what they do in the NHL — plus an age adjustment. Additionally, this is It should be noted that this does not include several prospects who only based point totals. played a handful of games last season and could jump to the NHL full- After a standout rookie season in the AHL, Alex Formenton should play time this year. In the case of Christian Wolanin and Rudolfs Balcers, their in Ottawa next year, which will further help fill the void left by Duclair. injuries last season likely impact their projections. With that left wing depth chart, the Senators have only “lost” 0.3 in value There are always other variables that will decide how much better or by swapping Duclair for Stutzle and Formenton, by GSVA estimations. worse a team regardless of the changeover. For example, differing There are some big questions up the middle still, especially with Stutzle usage, declines, lineups, rookies, luck and coaching. (a projected No. 1 centre) expected to start on the wing. All of Ottawa’s Regardless, this “status quo” Senators group would have been pegged current centres are ranked by the model as third or fourth-line players. for the league’s basement again. And that’s especially true at centre, with But Josh Norris, who won AHL rookie of the year last year, still provides only Chris Tierney and Colin White projected to deliver positive value. an upgrade on Matthew Peca by the model’s estimation, even with a Even then, the pair wouldn’t project as top six centres on a contending modest projection given his upside. team. I’ve also slotted Logan Brown into the lineup over Artem Anisimov. I’m There are still some questions around the centre position after Dorion’s not confident the organization would do the same, as Brown has busy October. But in all, the outlook for the projected 2020-21 Senators struggled to take a full-time job in the NHL. Regardless of his roster is at the very least more intriguing. inconsistency, the GSVA model sees Brown as an upgrade over Anisimov. GSVA chart by Dom Luszczyszyn So while Brown, Norris, Tierney and White is not an ideal centre depth There is a notable difference on the blue line, which features a bit more chart, it is better than last year. red. Chabot is the only player estimated to play above third-pair or replacement level. And replacing Hainsey (-0.2) and Borowiecki (0.0) And finally, in net, GSVA doesn’t love Matt Murray or Marcus Hogberg as a No. 1 goalie, but the tandem is an upgrade over Craig Anderson and Anders Nilsson, who had negative value. Not to mention this model does not take into account the outside factors at play with Murray and his much-needed fresh start out of Pittsburgh.

While Luszczyszyn wrote that the Senators would lose wins, he did admit that the additions of their prospects made them slightly better than original projections.

The Senators should be marginally better next season, but considering where they are starting from, the reality is the improvement won’t be a lot when it comes to the standings. That much is illustrated in The Athletic’s first edition of the 2020-21 season’s power rankings.

The Senators were ranked — by Luszczyszyn’s model and our NHL staff — as No. 30 and a lottery contender, ahead of only Detroit.

Clearly the improvement over last year is minimal, but that’s OK.

We can still call this a transformative offseason for the Senators, just not for 2020-21 season — besides, that wasn’t really the goal anyway.

The defensive core may have taken a step back, but in adding Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven at the draft to a prospect pool that already boasts Brannstrom, Lassi Thomson and Jacob Bernard-Docker, the Ottawa blue line of the future is in a good place.

Locking in Connor Brown and Dadonov for three years will keep solid veterans in place through the rebuild into their (hopeful) contending years.

Prospects such Batherson, Norris, Logan Brown and Stutzle will only get better with time and their projected value will go up with them. Not to mention the pile of prospects still to come.

In his recent rankings, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman placed Ottawa’s “young talent” (22 and under players) third overall in the league.

“There’s been some tough times in Ottawa in recent years, for various years, but there is a cavalry coming to help,” he wrote. “There are better days ahead for this organization.”

This team is on the right path, and Dorion has made some good moves this offseason to set a solid foundation for the years to come. And if the Senators can take some positive steps this offseason, develop their prospects and add another lottery pick, thats certainly not a bad thing.

But there’s reason to believe many of the right names are now penciled in on the depth chart. The wins — both expected and actual — will come in time.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180042 Pittsburgh Penguins

AHL moves target date for opening of 2020-21 season to Feb. 5

SETH RORABAUGH | Wednesday, October 28, 2020 5:11 p.m.

The American Hockey League (AHL) announced on Wednesday it has moved the target date to open its 2020-21 season to Feb. 5.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the AHL halted played in mid-March before ultimately canceling the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have not played since March 11.

Initially, the AHL had targeted Dec. 4 to open the 2020-21 campaign.

As of now, the NHL has targeted Jan. 1 to open its 2020-21 season.

The ECHL has formal dates for some its teams to open play for the 2020- 21 campaign. The Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, are scheduled to begin their season on Dec. 12 with a home contest against the Indy Fuel at WesBanco Arena.

Tribune Review LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180043 San Jose Sharks

AHL anticipates February start to 2021 season, nearly 11 months after coronavirus shutdown

AHL’s Scott Howson announces Feb. 5 as an anticipated start date; has not played a game since March 10

By CURTIS PASHELKA |PUBLISHED: October 28, 2020 at 1:43 p.m. | UPDATED: October 28, 2020 at 2:46 p.m.

The American Hockey League now knows when it would like to start next season, though several questions remain before a date is finalized.

AHL President and CEO Scott Howson announced Wednesday the league’s Board of Governors has approved moving the anticipated start date of the 2020-21 season to Feb. 5.

The AHL had originally eyed Dec. 1 for a restart. But that became impractical after the NHL and the NHLPA earlier this month announced Jan. 1 as a target date to start next season.

The San Jose Barracuda and all other AHL teams have not played a game or practiced since the second week of March. The league suspended play for the 2019-2020 season March 12 as a result of the growing global health crisis, and officially canceled the season on May 11.

The Barracuda’s last game was March 10 in Stockton.

Although players such as Antti Suomela and Ivan Chekhovich are now with other teams overseas, most of the Barracuda’s players have not been in a game since the AHL suspended its season. The Sharks, who finished 29th out of 31 teams last season, were not part of the NHL’s Return to Play this summer.

It remains unknown how long an AHL regular season would be, where games would be held if not in each team’s home city, and whether fans would be allowed into arenas for games. For the Barracuda at least, Santa Clara County’s Public Health Department has barred spectators from attending professional sporting events, indoors or outdoors.

“The AHL continues to work with its member clubs to monitor developments and local guidelines in all 31 league cities,” the league’s statement said. “Further details regarding the 2020-21 American Hockey League season are still to be determined.”

Roy Sommer, the AHL’s all-time winningest coach, is back as the Barracuda’s after he served as the Sharks’ associate coach for the final 37 games of the 2019-20 season.

Sommer’s staff includes assistants Jimmy Bonneau and Mike Chiasson, video coach and hockey operations assistant Nick Gialdini, John McCarthy as AHL development coach and Dany Sabourin as goaltending development coach.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180044 St Louis Blues But there has been very little in the way of league-wide discussion on the matter. There was a Zoom call involving general managers last week that didn’t come close to getting into specifics.

Blues' focus turns to 'Return to Play 2.0' “The call was basically: ‘We’ll inform you when we have more information,’” Armstrong said. “I thought it was a helpful call. For me it’s much easier to measure twice and cut once in a situation like this, than to haphazardly throw out things that you have to alter all the time. Jim Thomas “I like the league and the union’s approach right now. There’s no sense

making proclamations until you know what you’re dealing with.” The playoffs have come and gone. So has the draft. Free agency has And given the NHL’s undisputed success in getting the 2019-20 season slowed to a trickle. completed with the playoff bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto, it’s hard to So what now? argue with the patient approach.

“There’s getting to be less and less to do,” Blues general manager Doug “I think the league has gained quite a bit of equity with everyone because Armstrong told the Post-Dispatch earlier this week. “It feels a lot like of how successful the return to play was,” Armstrong said. “So when your August, you know, in a normal year. It feels like offseason now, except clearest memory and closest memory is something that had success, it’s just offseason with bad weather.” you’re much more apt to — I don’t say give the benefit of the doubt — but you’re apt to trust the process because the players and the league did a For obvious reasons, this is anything but a normal year or normal hell of a job of pulling that off.” offseason in the National Hockey League. Being in a bubble for several weeks, or even longer for teams that The leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, and we’re just a advanced in the playoffs, was far from ideal last summer. But it wasn’t couple of days from Halloween, normally a time when the NHL is necessarily supposed to be fun. completing its first month of play. But in the Year of the Pandemic, it has become the heart of the offseason. “We didn’t pay an entrance fee, like you’re going into an amusement park,” Armstrong said. “It was our jobs.” And neither Armstrong, nor the NHL can tell you for sure when next season will start. Or how many games will be played. Or whether St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.29.2020 divisions might be geographically realigned in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The NHL is not giving up on the idea of beginning play on Jan. 1 — or three months later than usual — but still playing a full 82-game schedule. At least that’s the league’s public stance. But as each week passes, those goals seem increasingly far-fetched — especially the 82-game part.

An 82-game season is problematic because of television broadcasting concerns. NBC is the primary carrier of the NHL playoffs, but it is also carrying the Summer Olympics starting July 23. As a result, the NHL season has to be finished by then. Even with a Jan. 1 start, it would take some squeezing to work in 82 regular-season games and two months of playoffs by July 23.

So welcome to Return to Play 2.0. Whatever lessons the NHL learned after pausing the 2019-20 season for four months starting March 12, there are different challenges this time around, starting with the fact that you’re attempting to play an entire season this time around involving all 31 teams. Not just the playoffs.

Even so, Armstrong feels there’s less uncertainty than there was during the pause last spring and early summer.

“We’ve penciled in Jan. 1, so you have a date to point to,” Armstrong said. “So it’s not like are you coming back next week or in two weeks or three weeks? So no, that uncertainty hasn’t hit yet.”

The message to Blues players after their first-round playoff loss to Vancouver in the Edmonton bubble in August was take a few weeks off, and then start training and training hard like they would in a normal offseason. That message hasn’t really changed.

“It’s prepare to what the NHL and the NHLPA have told you — Jan. 1,” Armstrong said. “And prepare your body knowing that it’s going to be a very condensed scheduled and be ready.”

There have been reports and informed speculation about a shortened season. And a realignment that would lump all seven Canadian teams into one division. The Canadian division would solve the problem of crossing the U.S. border back and forth during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. And it would necessitate a realignment of the three other divisions.

“Whether you play 42 games or whether you play 82 games — or anything in between — you dress 18 skaters and two goalies and you go out there,” Armstrong said. “So there’s no dynamic change for us.”

Same thing for any divisional changes.

“Again, you go out and you compete against the guy on the other bench, whether they’re in a Canadian (division), or from the Southeast or Northeast. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just competition.” 1180045 Toronto Maple Leafs

American Hockey League’s 31 teams aim to open next season in early February

By The Canadian Press Wed., Oct. 28, 2020

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American Hockey League hopes to start its next season in February.

The AHL announced Wednesday it is targeting Feb. 5, 2021 as the start date for next season.

The league has not said how many games it hopes to play or the format of the schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The top professional development league for the NHL, the AHL features 31 North American teams. The league’s Canadian entries are the , Laval Rocket, and Belleville Senators.

The 2019-20 AHL season was suspended in March and eventually cancelled.

The NHL has said it hopes to start its next season in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published

Toronto Star LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180046 Toronto Maple Leafs Sportsnet’s concurs. “That should be a good pair,” Millen said. “Morgan has another level, and

I think that will only help him achieve that level.” Defence-corps factors that can result in an improved Leafs team next The Brodie factor season Brodie won’t make the Leafs tougher to play against in a physical sense

— he was credited with a mere 20 hits in 64 games with the Flames last Terry Koshan season — but his smarts and ability don’t make life straightforward for opposing forwards.

If not with Rielly, then Brodie would be paired with Muzzin, the veteran With the Maple Leafs’ off-season moves complete, or so we can assume, voice of reason on the Leafs blue line. Either way, Brodie will be a heck the Toronto Sun, in a four-part series this week, breaks down the roster of a lot more than a complementary piece. The signing finally got the and what can be expected from the team once the 2020-21 season Chatham, Ont., native in a Leafs sweater more than a year after Toronto starts. Today, we look at the defence corps. would have had him in a trade with Calgary had a deal involving Nazem Kadri been completed. In a perfect world, or something close to it, Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas would have had the funds to sign Alex Pietrangelo in free “The big (Leafs move) was the acquisition of Brodie,” NBC analyst Pierre agency, giving Toronto a no-doubt, No. 1 stud defenceman. McGuire said. “That stabilizes a bit of your defence. I don’t know what their plan is, but that guy can play. He is solid defensively, he can Instead, because of salary cap constraints, Dubas had little choice but to transition the puck, he is robust enough. I did all (of the Flames) games buckle down and pluck TJ Brodie from the next tier of available in Edmonton in the bubble. That was a really good acquisition.” defencemen on Oct. 9, and followed that with the addition of Zach Bogosian. Said Millen: “I like the way he plays the game, his play selection. He checks a lot of the boxes. And he is used to the Canadian market, which Gone from the 2019-20 Leafs club that didn’t make the playoffs are we can’t underestimate when you come to Toronto. Some players Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci, having taken their wares to Edmonton and embrace it, others have a really difficult time with it. You’re bringing in a Pittsburgh, respectively. Neither was returning anyway. Canadian player from a The signing of Brodie to a four-year, $20-million US contract instantly Canadian franchise and I think that’s going to help.” solidified the Leafs’ top four, as the 30-year-old should make Leafs Nation quickly forget about the experiment that was Barrie, who was Simply, Brodie makes the Leafs top three on the blue line the best it has misused by Mike Babcock from the opening faceoff last season and been in several years. never did cement his comfortability under . Where does Bogosian fit in? Bogosian, with a shiny Stanley Cup ring in tow from the bubble title with the Tampa Bay Lightning, will bring an element of resolve and resilience The signing of Bogosian closed the circle on the 30-year-old from the the Leafs don’t usually have from their defence corps when Jake Muzzin Leafs standpoint, as there was mutual interest between the sides before is not on the ice. Where Bogosian finds his stride on the Leafs defence he signed with Tampa in February upon being set free by the Buffalo won’t be determined now, but we would think he slots in on the third pair. Sabres.

Certainly, there’s plenty to unpack with this group. Let’s break it down a Bogosian resurrected himself with the Lightning, averaging 17 minutes little further and take a glance at what to expect in 2020-21: 40 seconds in 20 playoff games on the way to the Cup. That’s not the same Bogosian who was happy to settle for a divorce with the Sabres Rielly’s re-emergence last winter, a faltering relationship that led to a trade request before Buffalo eventually terminated his contract. Little went wrong for in 2018-19, when the Vancouver native played in all 82 games for the second time in his first six seasons “If you’re getting the Bogosian who played in Tampa, you’re getting a guy in the National Hockey League and set personal highs with 20 goals, 52 who is going to help you,” McGuire said. “If you’re getting the Bogosian assists and 72 points. that couldn’t get in the lineup in Buffalo, then you have a problem. You have to figure out which one you’re getting. Rielly, who celebrated his 25th birthday in March of that season, finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting, seemingly putting himself in that “The one that played in Tampa was really good. He was very respected distinguished conversation for years to come. by his teammates.”

From a personal standpoint, what happened last season for Rielly was as The Leafs, of course, are banking on the Lightning version of Bogosian much of a letdown as the previous year had been a success. Not long (or most of it) when they signed him to a one-year, $1-million contract. after acknowledging he had played through a lower-body injury in the initial months of 2019-20, Rielly suffered a broken foot against Florida on He was a healthy scratch at times in Tampa and there were other times Jan. 12. The recovery kept him out of the Leafs lineup until he returned when he played with Victor Hedman,” said Nick Kypreos, now behind the on March 10. mic on his Real Kyper at Noon podcast. “You hope he can come in and contribute, but Kyle had reservations (when the sides talked in February) Two days later, the NHL was shut down because of the coronavirus and we’ll see how much Bogosian’s Cup experience has changed his pandemic. mind when the season starts.”

Rielly ended the regular season with 27 points in 47 games. When he Does Bogosian have enough to bump Justin Holl out of the top four? We scored on Aug. 4 in Game 2 of the qualifying round against Columbus, it think that’s asking for too much. was the first time he’d put the puck in the net since Oct. 25, 2019. Defining a role for Bogosian once camp starts will be on Keefe’s to-do Now, heading into the meat of his prime years in the NHL, we expect list. nothing less than a full rebound from a healthy Rielly, who has led the Leafs in ice time in four of the past five seasons. “If you target-minute him, I think there is a place he can be effective,” Ferraro said. The thinking is Rielly — two years away from unrestricted free agency — will have a new partner in Brodie, who developed into a fine left-shot, Lehtonen and Dermott right-side defenceman during his tenure with the Calgary Flames. Never mind the slew of players signed by the Leafs to one-year contracts “I like that Rielly is going to have a partner he can move the puck with,” — forwards Wayne Simmonds, Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, Jimmy TSN analyst said. “Why wouldn’t you have a guy who can Vesey and Travis Boyd, as well as Bogosian and Mikko Lehtonen — move the puck with another guy who can move the puck? That can be a count on Travis Dermott to arrive a little ticked off with something to real strength for that pair. prove.

“Rielly is a great kid. He works hard. I think he will be back (to previous That can be only beneficial, from a competition angle, for the defence performance levels).” corps as a whole. Dermott had some inconsistencies last season, but to the point where Dubas had to feel around under the couch cushions to find the money to sign the 23-year-old to a one-year, $874,125 contract?

That’s what happened, but the team-friendly pact by no means should be seen as an indictment of Dermott’s potential. He should be in the top six, and if he has to earn that in camp, so be it. And if it’s on the right side, fine.

The fight for a role on the third pair also will involve ’s Lehtonen, the top offensive defenceman in the KHL. Signed in May, Lehtonen is part of the top-six plan now, but it’s probably wise to reserve full judgment until we see what he does in camp and the pre-season.

The bottom line

Beyond Rielly, Brodie and Muzzin, the Leafs blue-line picture is up for discussion. Holl knows he won’t be handed his old spot alongside Muzzin without a battle from Bogosian and Dermott.

And then there’s Rasmus Sandin, who should be boosted by the knowledge that his style best fits what Toronto wants in its offensive approach from the blue line.

Sandin won’t be won’t be 21 until March, yet he’s on the cusp of being an NHL regular.

Barring injuries, there’s no chance any of Timothy Liljegren, Martin Marincin or Calle Rosen are in the opening-night lineup.

It’s too simplistic to say the Leafs D-men must be better behind their own blue line, and up the ice, for the team’s defence to improve as a whole.

The five-men units must be on the same wave-length and hat’s on the forwards as much as Rielly and the rest of the blue-line crew.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180047 Toronto Maple Leafs graduate to the pro level,” said former Bears head coach Troy Mann, who coached Boyd in Hershey.

In his first full AHL season, his skill with the puck carried over to the pro Travis Boyd joins the Maple Leafs eager to leave his AHL days behind game. But his shot and skating still required improvement. him “He probably thought coming in that he had those qualities to be an NHL player. And a lot of guys feel that way,” said former Bears assistant coach Ryan Murphy. “A lot of guys don’t realize what the speed of the By Joshua Kloke Oct 28, 2020 AHL is like.”

The necessary improvements weren’t technical. He needed to develop a pro mindset to help him succeed in the AHL and those lessons came via Travis Boyd doesn’t know when the next NHL season will start. But when NHL veteran Scott Gomez, who had been sent to the minors in his final it does, he’ll be ready to get going. pro season. The 27-year-old centre was signed by the Maple Leafs in October to a “Gomez was pretty hard on him,” said Murphy. one-year, league-minimum $700,000 contract. When camp opens he’ll be one of a handful of players fighting for a fourth-line role. After 58 NHL Boyd recalls trying to make a saucer pass in practice that went awry. He games spanning five seasons with the , Boyd is laughed at his error. On the other side of the ice, Gomez had seen the hoping for more opportunity with the Leafs. play and was trying to get Boyd’s attention. According to Boyd, Gomez thought the laughs were directed at him, which only exacerbated the “I felt like I deserved a chance in Washington,” he said. situation. That’s what’s driving him today: Proving he belongs in the NHL. At 27, Boyd had to clarify he was “literally pissed at myself for making that Boyd’s path to Toronto has included trying times in the AHL. pass.” “I’ve had to be very patient,” he explained. “And I’ve had to work for But the damage was done. Boyd referred to what he received as “tough everything that I’ve gotten. I’m very proud of that part.” love.” But after years of paying his dues, his patience is starting to wear thin. “If I were in his shoes and I thought a rookie in the American League was “I believe I’m good enough to be an everyday NHL player,” he said. “And laughing while I was trying to give advice, I would have blown up too,” he I don’t think I was given that chance in Washington. And I’m just looking said. for a chance to prove that.” The lessons Boyd learned were evident in his second full AHL season. Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis in Hopkins, Minn. during the He played in the AHL All-Star Game and led the Bears in scoring with 16 late ’90s, there was one place Boyd wanted to play — the Mariucci Arena goals and 63 points in 76 games. Yet the season ended without a on the campus of the University of Minnesota. promotion. From the day he was drafted, he understood it might take four or five years to make the NHL. But it would take even longer. It was the same for many kids in Minnesota in the period between the North Stars’ move to Dallas and the arrival of the Wild in 2000-01. As a As the points accrued in Hershey without a call from the Capitals, his result, the NCAA Golden Gophers dominated the hockey landscape. frustration grew.

“Getting an opportunity to play there is a dream come true for many “You start seeing people get called up on other teams. And you say, Minnesota kids,” explained Boyd’s Golden Gophers teammate and friend, ‘Wait, I just played that guy last weekend? What? I’m better than he is,’” Kyle Rau. he said. “But he’s getting the call-up, and the chance. And then you start being like, ‘Hey, I want my chance. I want mine.’ It was hard.” It was no different for Boyd. When he was a child, his parents didn’t have cable TV, so they’d drive to his grandmother’s house to watch Golden He re-signed a one-year deal at a lower AAV ($650,000) than his entry- Gophers games on the weekend. level contract.

After a strong season with the US National Team Development Program, He would be assigned to Hershey again at the start of the 2017-18 Boyd was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He arrived in season, making it his third consecutive start in the AHL. There is a school Minneapolis more wide-eyed than most freshmen, and with turnover from of thought when it comes to AHL development: Good young players will the previous season, there were several openings on the roster. He was spend a season in the AHL to start their pro careers. A second season is only 17-year-old and the pressure was immediate. spent refining play. The third season becomes the make or break.

“It’s almost like if you’re not in the Frozen Four, or playing at that level Boyd’s contract was a sign of faith from the Capitals because it felt like each and every year, you’re viewed as a failure,” said former Gophers the final year of a traditional entry-level contract. One last chance. coach Don Lucia. “We were very much treated like an NHL team.” “The hardest players to coach are the guys in the third year of their Boyd found it to be a difficult transition. contracts,” said Mann. “Mentally, they start questioning themselves. They start playing mind games. Those are the most difficult guys to manage.” “I had a slow start to my career there, in all honesty,” said Boyd. After his brush with Gomez early in his AHL career, Boyd learned to keep He had the smarts and the skill but struggled with the pace of play. his head down. He became what Mann describes as “low-maintenance,” Competing against older, more developed players hampered his game. keeping his disappointments to himself. He scored one goal in 35 games. One step forward and two steps back became a recurring theme in his career. His skill was evident, but Lucia “When you get scratched, some guys take it bad, some guys don’t,” said wanted him to rely less on his hockey sense and become a more Rau. “He takes it well and turns it into challenge.” physical, well-rounded player. It wasn’t until his fourth year in 2014-15 Boyd said he spent a lot of time that season working after practice on his that things clicked. That season Boyd put up 41 points in 32 games. game. He’d always had good puck protection skills, but his explosiveness “He’s a perfect example of cumulative results,” said Lucia. “Putting in and pace of play remained question marks. But he fine-tuned his stride time year after year after year to become an NHL player.” and became Mann’s go-to guy.

He signed a two-year entry-level contract and had two points in his first Spending four seasons on the Olympic-sized ice in Minnesota meant two games with the AHL’s . As much as it looked like Boyd developed a tendency to slow down the game, and curl back with Boyd might be on the fast track to the NHL, the following season he was the puck rather than going north with the play. While it helped his vision, assigned to Hershey out of training camp. he had to learn to push the pace and anticipate plays instead of only trying to create them. He asked his coaches for feedback and more It proved to be another difficult transition. responsibility.

“When he first came into the organization, I think it was a little bit eye- In December and then again later in March, Boyd was called up to the opening, in terms of conditioning and things you needed to do to NHL, He played a total of two games. Later that spring, he would play in his first NHL playoff game with the Capitals, who would go on to win that year’s Stanley Cup. Boyd didn’t dress in the Final, but he did sign a two- year, $1.6-million extension with the club that summer.

“He’s put the time into it to become a better player,” said Mann when asked to explain why Boyd has been able to spend some time in the NHL.

For the next two seasons, including 2019-20, Boyd spent the majority of his time on the NHL roster, albeit as an occasional healthy scratch. In 2018-19 he finished 11th among Capitals forwards in scoring, but 15th in ATOI (9:50). This past season his ATOI grew by almost two minutes per game to 11:45. And while he only suited up 24 games for the Capitals, his decent possession numbers (54.03% CF% at 5-on-5) and ability to create offence (55.08% SCF%) speaks to a player that is capable of making positive contributions.

Just as he did in Minnesota, Hershey, and Washington, Boyd wants more. He believes he can create offence, but he knows he’ll first need to win a spot in camp. He believes he can, but he knows it won’t be easy, especially after the Leafs recent addition of Joe Thornton.

Boyd has had to work his way up before.

“It’s been a long grind for me throughout my first five years of pro in terms of not getting as many NHL games as I would have hoped,” he said. “And that’s ultimately one of the things that I’m really looking forward to about this opportunity I have with the Maple Leafs: to prove to everybody in the hockey world that I belong and deserve to play every night in the NHL.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180048 Vegas Golden Knights

Silver Knights’ future home taking shape in Henderson

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal October 28, 2020 - 7:11 PM

Updated October 28, 2020 - 7:28 PM

The first faceoff in Henderson Event Center history wasn’t exactly a thriller, as Golden Knights forward Gage Quinney easily beat teammate Reid Duke in the middle of what’s currently a dirt lot.

But Quinney, Duke and several other Knights and city officials Wednesday were already dreaming about all the faceoffs to come. Construction is underway at the arena, located on the former site of the Henderson Pavilion. Quinney and Duke took a ceremonial faceoff where center ice will be, with nets set up to mark the occasion.

Concrete is being poured and indoor finishes are being selected so the 6,000-seat facility will start to take shape as the Silver Knights spend their first two seasons playing at Orleans Arena. Zach Crane, vice president of design and construction team The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., said the project is 5 months old and should be done in 18 months.

It’s an exciting time for the Silver Knights, who will open their practice facility, Lifeguard Arena, and unveil their home and away jerseys in the coming weeks, according to Golden Knights president Kerry Bubolz.

“The pictures (of the arena) look incredible,” Duke said. “Even the practice facility and just this area here in Henderson, they always seem to blow you away. I don’t think we’re expecting anything less than that.”

Once it’s open, the Henderson Event Center will host 34 regular-season Silver Knights games plus numerous other events. It will be used for graduation ceremonies, weddings, concerts, performing arts productions and more community and civic events.

“We envision the events center as the epicenter of cultural activity, entertainment and local performing arts in our community,” Henderson mayor Debra March said.

The total project budget is $84 million, shared equally by the city and the Knights. It’s a community outreach and player development investment for the team.

The Silver Knights will provide a cheaper alternative for families to see professional hockey and allow the franchise to expand its youth programs in Henderson. There are also plenty of logistical advantages to having the NHL club and American Hockey League affiliate in the same area.

“There aren’t very many organizations that have both teams in the same city,” Duke said. “They’re so close. The fans here, they’re so great. It’s such a huge hockey city already. It’s a pretty great setup.”

The arrangement will be even better when the Henderson Event Center is complete and players can take a faceoff on real ice. There’s still much work to do, but the early reviews of the design are positive.

Quinney said the rink will be “jaw-dropping,” and Silver Knights coach Manny Viveiros said it essentially will be a smaller version of an NHL facility. Both are excited about adding a second pro hockey team to the Las Vegas Valley.

“I didn’t think there’d be one, and now there’s two,” said Quinney, who became the first Nevada-born player to appear in an NHL game last season. “You’re just lost for words.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180049 Vegas Golden Knights

American Hockey League gets new tentative start date

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

The American Hockey League announced Wednesday a new tentative start date of Feb. 5, moving back the beginning of the Silver Knights’ first season.

The AHL was previously scheduled to start Dec. 4. Its new target date is later than the NHL’s current one of Jan. 1.

The league has been exploring a number of scheduling options since the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to cut its 2019-20 season short. Mapping out the AHL’s return has been challenging because it is even more gate- driven than the NHL when it comes to revenue.

The Silver Knights will play at Orleans Arena their first two seasons while their new rink on the site of the Henderson Pavilion is built. Coach Manny Viveiros is excited to get going, but he acknowledged Feb. 5 is still a tentative date.

”Everything’s so fluid right now,” he said. “Right now, we’re hoping for that February start, but who knows?”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180050 Vegas Golden Knights

Silver Knights excitement builds as Henderson Event Center takes shape

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Construction Event for Henderson Event Center

Future Silver Knights players Reid Duke and Gage Quinney stood where their center ice will soon be and took a ceremonial puck drop from Henderson Mayor Debra March.

They were at the heart of the construction site for the Henderson Event Center, the future home of the city’s minor league hockey franchise, as an assembled group of construction workers, local politicians and Golden Knights staff gathered Wednesday to commemorate the evolving structure.

“It’s going to be jaw-dropping, I guess you could say, when it first opens,” Quinney said. “It’s huge. Park area, concert area, it’s just a big family gathering. It’s going to be exciting.”

Once it opens, the Henderson Event Center — which will seat about 6,000 — will be home to the Silver Knights but also to high school and college graduations, the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, community events and more. At the site of the old Henderson Pavilion, it was approved for renovation to the new facility earlier this year.

March projected it will generate $17 million to $26 million of annual economic impact, $40 million in tax revenues over the next 20 years, and 122 jobs. She said the timing for an investment of that size — about $84 million split between the city and the Vegas Golden Knights — was right considering everything going on.

“During this time of uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing that we can provide critical opportunities to create revenue and stability in our economy in Henderson is so important,” March said. “We envision the Event Center as the epicenter of cultural activity, entertainment and local performing arts in our community.”

While the facility is under construction, the Silver Knights will play the next two seasons at Orleans Arena, whenever next season begins. The AHL announced Wednesday that Feb. 5 is the targeted start date for the season, but things can always change depending on how the coronavirus is being handled in AHL markets come February.

It puts the players in a tough spot. Both Quinney and Duke traveled with the Golden Knights to Edmonton for the postseason bubble, though neither played. The last game for both of them was in March, and it could be 11 months between competitive hockey games.

“It’s a weird situation that no one has ever gone through,” Duke said. “It’s been such a weird year and it’s kind of dragging on a little bit, so it’s just making everyone a little bit more excited to get things going.”

The fact that Henderson is getting a minor league hockey team is another testament to how quickly the Golden Knights ingrained themselves in the valley. Quinney this season became the first Nevada- born player in NHL history and he said he could have never imagined a professional hockey team in his hometown, much less two.

The Silver Knights logo was everywhere Wednesday: on the makeshift center ice, on the mayor’s face covering, on the gates to the construction site and even on light poles on Paseo Verde Parkway and South Green Valley Parkway.

“The narrative was that it was a bad idea to put a professional hockey team in the desert,” Golden Knights president Kerry Bubolz said. “So guess what we did? We decided to put two teams in the desert.”

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180051 Vegas Golden Knights ESPN reported the Miller family has entered into an agreement to sell the Jazz and the arena to Qualtrics founder Ryan Smith for $1.66 billion.

ESPN said, “Smith, 40, is a lifelong Utah resident and Jazz fan who built Las Vegas Developer Jackie Robinson Required To Begin Construction software company Qualtrics before it sold for a reported $8 billion. Smith Of All Net Arena On Strip In Two Years had a long-standing relationship with the Jazz franchise, which included a philanthropic jersey patch that raised more than $25 million in recent years.”

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas would be happy to host the Jazz or any NBA team.

LA Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said he didn’t want to stay in Six years ago former UNLV basketball player and Las Vegas COVID-19 timeout, and that he wanted to play with his Dodgers businessman Jackie Robinson broke ground on 27 acres on the Strip to friends during a post-game World Series championship celebration even build the proposed All Net Arena as part of an overall $1.4 billion hotel though he was infected with the novel coronavirus. project south of Sahara Avenue. The proposed arena site is next to the Sahara Las Vegas hotel-casino. Turner was pulled from World Series Game 6 between the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays because he tested positive for COVID, but after the Back in late October 2014, Robinson said the privately funded arena will game he refused to be quarantined and joined his teammates for a cost $690 million and that he had lined up arena management celebration and team picture without wearing a mask. heavyweight and Philadelphia-based -Spectacor to schedule programming and manage the 22,000-seat retractable-roof arena. At the said, “Following the Dodgers’ victory, it is clear time, Robinson said his funding sources included the Carlton Group and that Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and the foreign investors in the federal EB-5 visa program (which allows investors instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of others. to receive visas if they invest $500,000 in projects.) While a desire to celebrate is understandable, Turner’s decision to leave isolation and enter the field was wrong and put everyone he came in Well, no construction has happened since 2014 and the Clark County contact with at risk. When MLB Security raised the matter of being on the Commission decided this month to take action itself. The county tweeted field with Turner, he emphatically refused to comply.” that commissioners gave a six-month extension for the proposed arena on the Strip’s north end. And Robinson has six months to get the bond And from the Sports Business Daily: The NFL is planning 20 percent and development agreement for the site approved. Construction must capacity at Super Bowl LV in Tampa, where seating capacity at begin within two years. Raymond James Stadium is 65,618.

Good luck Mr. Robinson. LVSportsBiz.com LOADED: 10.29.2020 It looks like the new Henderson Silver Knights will begin playing at Orleans Arena after the American Hockey League starts its season Feb. 5. The AHL includes the Silver Knights, the top affiliate for the Vegas Golden Knights.

The American Hockey League is like the Triple A of pro hockey, the league with the top affiliates for the NHL’s teams. Golden Knights owner Bill Foley bought the old San Antonio team in the AHL and moved it to Henderson to play and the Knights will no longer use Chicago in the AHL for its affiliate.

The Silver Knights will play initially at Orleans Arena before the team shifts to its permanent home at the Henderson Events Center arena at the old Henderson Pavilion site.

DraftKings and UNLV have a deal. DraftKings, the fantasy sports brand, will be the primary sponsor of the Center for Gaming Innovation, which is housed in UNLV’s International Gaming Institute.

It’s a multi-year agreement. The agreement includes the opening of the new DraftKings Gaming Innovation Studio at UNLV and provides DraftKings with access to local talent, while furthering the company’s ties to Las Vegas.

“We’re excited to be working with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and its highly regarded International Gaming Institute to further innovate global online gaming,” said Paul Liberman, DraftKings co-founder and President, Global Technology and Product. “Both DraftKings and UNLV are on the leading edge of developing the next wave of technology within the international gaming industry. Through this agreement, DraftKings not only has access to the latest ideas coming out of the Gaming Innovation Studio, but it also allows us to deepen our relationship with the Las Vegas community.”

In January, DraftKings announced the opening of a 300-person office in Las Vegas, providing the company access to some of the gaming industry’s top talent. The agreement with UNLV will create a pipeline to local talent and to innovations created at UNLV, which has a long- standing track record of success in commercializing gaming products, ranging from new games and software to Responsible Gaming technologies. Visitors to UNLV can expect to see new DraftKings Gaming Innovation Studio signage, as well as DraftKings branding, throughout the Stan Fulton Building.

The Utah Jazz and Vivint Smart Home Arena are being sold — and that will inevitably create speculation about the Jazz moving to Las Vegas, which is hungry for an NBA team. 1180052 Washington Capitals

Could the Capitals' grip on the division be loosening? Not so fast

by Nick Ashooh

Let's be honest with ourselves, the Capitals have been stale since winning the Cup.

Back-to-back first-round exits and unfulfilled expectations had the narrative of either a closing window or possibly one already slammed shut getting louder and louder around this organization. Even with five straight division titles, the way the postseason has ended recently has some even wondering whether the Capitals' hold on just the is loosening now too.

But a new coaching staff and strong additions defensively this offseason have infused some new life and renewed hope in D.C., and you can count NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen as one of the optimistic ones:

"I think they are still the team to beat," Rosen said about where Washington stands in the division on the latest edition of the Capitals Talk podcast. "I think they did a good job by shoring up their goaltending, losing Holtby but still getting a veteran experienced guy to come in and play with Samsonov. I like what they've done with their D, they've improved in that area I think. They could still score."

The coaching change really was a must, and credit the Capitals for making that decision quickly, and hiring the right coach to take over too. The state of the division is in flux, too.

"Laviolette's going to be an interesting coach for them," Rosen said. "But I think it's going to work. He always brings it along well at the start. His teams always do well when he takes over and I think they are very much the team to beat. I think Pittsburgh's taken a little bit of a hit. Carolina's good but do they have enough and is their goaltending good enough? Philadelphia's very good, but their D took a hit I think with the [Matt] Niskanen retirement so who are they all going to mesh together? Still a young D in Philadelphia. So I think Washington is still very much the team to beat in the Metro."

There's always been that old cliche about a team being "on top until someone dethrones them", and it certainly fits here. There's just too many unknowns surrounding the rest of the teams in the standings, plus, the attitude feels different since that flat, uninspired playoff loss to the Islanders, and major changes and real honest self-evaluation by the organization in those weeks after is a big reason why this renewed hope should exist.

Even our partners at PointsBet Sportsbook have Washington still in the mix beyond winning just the Metro too, with the Capitals currently tied for the sixth-best odds (+1600) to win the Cup, and tied for third (+700) to win the East.

This offseason was about resetting for another run at a Stanley Cup and putting the last two postseason failures behind them.

Even though there's been a bad taste in everyone's mouth since the summer of 2018, it's clear GM Brian MacLellan's aggressive work has gotten noticed and 2021 could bring a better result.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180053 Washington Capitals

Why Lundqvist will be good for Samsonov even if he tries to take his job

by J.J. Regan

The Capitals entered the offseason in need of a backup for Ilya Samsonov and they got one in Henrik Lundqvist. Just don't tell him that. Lundqvist has been one top netminders in the NHL over the past 15 seasons and is now coming to Washington, but some experts don't think he's coming just to settle in as a mentor.

NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen made that very clear on the day Lundqvist was signed.

As I mentioned before, Henrik Lundqvist to the Capitals on a one-year deal makes so much sense it doesn't need explaining. But Lundqvist is a competitor, not a mentor. He'll help Ilya Samsonov, but while doing so he's going to do everything possible to take his job for a while.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) October 9, 2020

But when you come into a team that just let its franchise goalie walk in free agency for a 23-year-old who the team selected in the first round, you have to know what the situation is. Clearly Samsonov is the future in Washington. Rosen, however, thinks Lundqvist will have his eyes set on taking the crease in the present.

"Henrik Lundqvist is coming in for at least one season to take Ilya Samsonov's ice time," Rosen said on the Capitals Talk Podcast episode released Wednesday. "That's who he is. He is coming in, for lack of a better term, sort of as like an assassin, like I'm coming in to win and I want to play because that's what he wants to do."

Fair enough. What else would you expect from a Vezina winner who has been the No. 1 for the New York Rangers his entire career up to last season?

Download and subscribe to the Capitals Talk podcast

But he also has to be aware of the situation in Washington, right? The Caps don't just want Lundqvist to play well for a season, they also want a mentor for their young netminder.

"[Lundqvist's] not a mentor," Rosen said. "I've heard a lot about this, like 'oh Henrik Lundqvist is going to mentor Samsonov.' No."

Well, that's not ideal.

Yes, obviously the Capitals want Lundqvist to be great in 2020-21, but if he's not also going to help Samsonov that's not a great situation.

Before you start to worry, however, Rosen clarified that he feels Samsonov will benefit from having Lundqvist on the team.

How does a young goalie benefit from a veteran who is gunning for his job and who Rosen believes won't serve as a mentor? Learning by example.

"Henrik Lundqvist is going to help Ilya Samsonov, there's no question about it," Rosen said, "Because Samsonov's going to get to see him every single day like he saw Braden Holtby come to work every single day, practice as hard as he does every single day, the way he deals with his equipment, the way he deals with the media, the way he deals with the equipment managers and all these things and the work ethic that he has. So he'll help him in that sense and I'm sure he'll show him a few things too."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180054 Washington Capitals doesn’t stick in D.C., he could be among the first to be recalled. “He’s such a good skater and such a hard worker,” Mahoney said. “He’s an honest player with his effort. It’s nice he’s putting up points. And he’s playing a lot. That’s what you want in those situations. When guys get Capitals keep eyes on prospects in leagues that started new seasons loaned out, you hope they are getting lots of ice time and therefore are able to work on the different skills they need to in order to take it to the

next level.” By Tarik El-Bashir Oct 28, 2020 Tobias Geisser, D

Team/league: EV Zug/Switzerland’s NL Under normal circumstances, Alex Alexeyev, the Caps’ 2018 first-round Stats: 5 games, 1 goal, 0 assists, 2 PIM, plus-1 pick, would be suiting up for the Hershey Bears right now. Geisser wasn’t getting enough playing time last season on a well-stocked Ditto for Bobby Nardella, who was signed out of Notre Dame last year. Bears blue line so he returned to his native Switzerland, where he’s also Meanwhile, Aliaksei Protas, Washington’s third-round selection in 2019, started this season. “It was a numbers thing last year, and the reality is would be honing his skills with Prince Albert of the Western Hockey we’ve drafted quite a few defensemen in recent years,” Mahoney said. League. “He’s getting valuable experience right now.” But, as Patrick acknowledged last week, “He’s a longer-term guy.” Current circumstances, though, are anything but normal these days. As the NHL and the North American leagues sort through their options amid The 6-foot-4, 201-pounder is expected to join the Bears once the AHL an unrelenting pandemic, the Caps and other NHL teams have loaned season gets going. out prospects and minor leaguers to start their seasons with European Hendrix Lapierre, F clubs that are playing. Team/league: Chicoutimi/QMJHL Alexeyev, Protas and Bogdan Trineyev, a 2020 fourth-round pick, are skating in the KHL, Russia’s top pro league. Nardella is playing for Stats: 4 games, 3 goals, 5 assists, 0 PIM, plus-2 Djurgardens IF in Sweden’s SHL. The 18-year-old got off to a hot start before the QMJHL’s Quebec-based In all, a dozen players in the Caps’ system are playing somewhere right teams saw their seasons temporarily suspended because of COVID-19 now. outbreaks. He still tied for 16th in points with eight, despite playing in half as many games as some of the league leaders. “Eight points in four Last month, we examined how the loan process works. Today, we’re games is fantastic,” Mahoney said. “I’ve watched his games and he’s taking a look at how Alexeyev and other top Caps prospects are doing really well. He such a smart player. He’s so intelligent and so performing abroad, with insight from director of player personnel Chris unselfish almost to a fault, to be honest. I felt the same with Nick Patrick and assistant general manager Ross Mahoney, who keeps close Backstrom when he was young. Nick was such a good passer and so tabs on all of the prospects who are currently in season. smart but sometimes you’d wish he’d maybe shoot a little more.” Stats are via EliteProspects.com and are through Monday’s games. Three weeks after the draft, Mahoney is still beaming about the fact the Alex Alexeyev, D Caps managed to land Lapierre, who wowed the veteran scout at the . “He had 11 points in five games. That’s really hard Team/league: Salavat Yulaev Ufa/Russia’s KHL to do. If you have five points in five games at the Hlinka tournament you’ve done very well. I was like, ‘Oh, boy. This kid is going to be a really Stats: 17 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 4 PIM, minus-2 high pick in the first round, probably a top 10.’ Then, obviously, he had As we mentioned last week in Capitals prospect tiers 2.0, Alexeyev has some injury issues. I don’t know if that scared some teams off or not. But, taken a step forward in terms of strength and conditioning, but it must for us, we’ve done our homework and were just really happy to call his remain a priority for the 20-year-old. Although he’s not in the mix for a name out.” full-time spot next season on a suddenly crowded Caps blue line that just Pronman ranks Lapierre as the Caps’ second-best prospect behind added Justin Schultz, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Paul LaDue in free London Knights star Connor McMichael. agency, he’s played his way into the group of prospects vying for a call- up in 2020-21. And starting the season in the KHL is only going to help ON RÉITÈRE NOTRE DEMANDE… SI VOUS LISEZ DANS LES his chances. “Some games he’s been on the third defense pair and some PENSÉES, ON VEUT VOUS AVOIR! games he’s been on the first pair, but seems like he’s been playing quite a bit on the second pair,” Mahoney said of Alexeyev’s KHL season to this ON AIMERAIT ABSOLUMENT SAVOIR CE QUI SE PASSE DANS LA point. “His skating looks good. He looks stronger, but that doesn’t TÊTE D'HENDRIX LAPIERRE. #FIERDETRESAGS surprise me. He probably went two or three summers where he didn’t HTTPS://T.CO/KCM7HHVTBK PIC.TWITTER.COM/HWUTXV8VSV have a whole lot of time to train because of the different injuries he’s had. We can see now, from the games I’ve watched, he’s gotten stronger and — SAGUENÉENS (@SAGUENEENSLHJMQ) OCTOBER 11, 2020 gotten better. He’s also playing a lot.” Aliaksei Protas, F

The Athletic’s draft guru, Corey Pronman, has Alexeyev ranked as Team/league: Dinamo Minsk/Russia’s KHL Washington’s fifth-best prospect. Stats: 18 games, 4 goals, 1 assist, 0 PIM, even Daniel Carr, F He’s tied for eighth on his team in points and receiving quality minutes Team/league: HC Lugano/Switzerland’s NL while being deployed in a variety of situations, Mahoney said. “It’s good Stats: 5 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 PIM, plus-4 experience,” Mahoney said. “It’s one thing to be 19 years old and to be in and out of the lineup, and it’s another thing to be 19 and getting a regular Carr joined HC Lugano prior to signing a two-way deal with the Caps on shift with a little bit of power-play time in that league. Four goals says a Oct. 11. The 28-year-old winger has skated in 111 NHL games, including lot about him, for his age, and the league that he’s playing in. He’s done 11 under last season in Nashville, and figures to get really well.” Mahoney added that Protas’ skating is much smoother now called up from Hershey on an as-needed basis next season in D.C. that he’s grown into his 6-foot-6 frame.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, F Pronman rates the big center as the Caps’ fourth-best prospect.

Team/league: Vasterviks IK/Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan Oskar Magnusson, F

Stats: 8 games, 2 goals, 5 assists, 4 PIM, plus-4 Team/league: Malmo/Sweden’s J20 Nationell and Malmo/Sweden’s SHL

Jonsson-Fjallby, whose point total is tied for the team lead, is among the Stats: 9 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 6 PIM, even in the Nationell, and 6 prospects who’ll have a chance at nabbing one of the final spots in games, 0 points, 0 PIM, minus-1 in the SHL Washington in training camp, Patrick told The Athletic last week. If he Mahoney said Magnusson, the team’s seventh-round pick this month, has taken a step forward early this season. “He’s a real hardworking kid,” he said. “If you’re doing a long-term projection right now, you’re probably thinking he’s a bottom-six guy who can contribute offensively. He’s got good energy, gives an honest effort every shift. He played a few games last year in the Elite League, which is really hard to do when you’re 17. He’s doing both leagues again this year, which is really good for his development.”

Bobby Nardella, D

Team/league: Djurgardens IF/Sweden’s SHL

Stats: 3 games, 0 goals, 3 assists, 4 PIM, minus-2

Nardella’s loan arrangement is different from the others in that he can’t be recalled this season. So he’ll spend all of 2020-21 honing his skills in Sweden’s top league. So far, so good. “It’s a good situation for him,” said Mahoney, who added that Nardella has seen time on the top pair and power play. “He could be back in North America just working out, or he could be playing in the Swedish Elite League. Younger players like Bobby need to play, they need ice time, they need to be playing games. You look at some players, if they weren’t doing that, they wouldn’t have played a game since March, which is a long, long time to not be playing in a game situation.”

Damien Riat, F

Team/league: Geneve-Servette HC/Swizterland’s NL

Stats: 5 games, 1 goal, 4 assists, 4 PIM, plus-1

This is a big year for Riat, and he’s off to a strong start. The 23-year-old was drafted in the fourth round in 2016 and is expected to make his North American debut with the Bears once the AHL gets going. “He’s a point-per-game player right now,” Mahoney said. “He could always skate. He had a pretty good skill level and he worked hard but he was a little bit slight. Now he’s over 180 pounds and he’s gotten a lot stronger.”

#CAPSPROSPECT DAMIEN RIAT SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON FOR GENEVE- SERVETTE IN SWISS LEAGUE. HE HAS A GOAL AND 3 ASSISTS IN 4 GAMES SO FAR THIS SEASON. #ALLCAPS PIC.TWITTER.COM/W5A1O4ZU3G

— JON SORENSEN (@JON_M_SORENSEN) OCTOBER 16, 2020

Bogdan Trineyev, F

Team/league: Dynamo Moscow/Russia’s KHL

Stats: 1 game, 0 points, 2 PIM, even

Don’t let Trineyev’s meager stats fool you; he’s having a strong season. In fact, the Caps’ 2020 fourth-round pick made his KHL debut Monday after a well-deserved promotion. Trineyev had lit up the MHL and VHL, posting a combined six goals and five assists in 17 games. “He had a point per game in the MHL and then they brought him up to the VHL, which really is the KHL’s American league,” Mahoney said prior to Trineyev’s promotion to the K. “He’s 18 years old, so that’s pretty good. He’s got really good offensive instincts. He’s a big-bodied guy and he can skate for his size, not afraid to go to the net. Hard to knock off the puck. He makes plays. We had him rated a lot higher than the round we took him.”

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180055 Winnipeg Jets Nate Thompson

Jansen Harkins Jets depth chart: Jansen Harkins is signed, so is a trade still to come? Vying for spots: Cole Perfetti, David Gustafsson, ,

Joona Luoto, C.J. Suess, Dominic Toninato By Murat Ates Oct 28, 2020 In the system: Kristian Reichel, Skyler McKenzie, Nathan Smith, Daniel Torgersson, Henri Nikkanen, Harrison Blaisdell, Santeri Virtanen, Austin Wong Jansen Harkins’ rise from AHL regular to AHL All-Star to Jets postseason goal scorer was one of Winnipeg’s best stories last season. Likely to LTIR: Bryan Little

Now, after signing a two-year, $725,000 AAV contract, Harkins’ NHL job Restricted free agents: Jack Roslovic can be written in ink. Unrestricted free agents: Nick Shore, Mark Letestu, Gabriel Bourque The Jets no longer view Harkins as a prospect — nor should they, given Departures: Cody Eakin, Logan Shaw, Andrei Chibisov, Michael Spacek, the 23-year-old’s point-per-game dominance of the AHL and the quality Seth Griffith, JC Lipon of his Jets debut. TSN’s reported Tuesday that the OHL is expected to “He works so hard that you just have to play him,” said begin its season on Feb. 4, with training camps opening on Jan. 25. during the Jets’ play-in series with Calgary. “All he does is, no matter Meanwhile, the NHL continues to target a Jan. 1 start date, although I what the situation, he just catches your eye.” believe the date will end up being closer to the end of that month. And it’s true. There is an eye-catching element to Harkins’ game — a What does this mean? unique blend of hustle, skill and grit earned through long days working out at his childhood home. It’s this combination of attributes (well, that Squint at this timeline just right and it’s easy to imagine Cole Perfetti and his new one-way contract) which conveys that Harkins has played riding an extra-competitive world juniors experience right into Jets camp. his last AHL game. Perfetti turns 19 on Jan. 1 and has used an extended offseason to his Now his impact is about to be felt in a wholly different way. advantage at the gym and on the ice in southern Ontario. There are people close to Perfetti’s camp who believe he’s much stronger and a If you assume as I do that recent signee Dominic Toninato is AHL-bound, step faster than he was in the OHL last season. Traditionally, I would Winnipeg is projected to start the season with just $2,145 in cap space. advocate the Mark Scheifele route — slowplaying by the Jets and junior That’s before signing RFAs Jack Roslovic and Sami Niku and it means league dominance by the player — for a player in Perfetti’s skates. what it’s always meant: one more move this way comes. That said, Perfetti is a favourite to make Team Canada. If he does so and WINNIPEG PLAYING ITS LTIR MARGINS WITHIN A BREATH OF then has a great tournament, he’ll have a highly competitive advantage PERFECTLY WITH THE HARKINS CONTRACT: compared to recent draftees in a typical year. His path is impeded by HTTPS://T.CO/XLTPSYS8Y0 Paul Stastny in some ways and Harkins, Mason Appleton and Nate Thompson in others but don’t count out Perfetti. — MURAT ATES (@WPGMURAT) OCTOBER 27, 2020 Meanwhile, David Gustafsson is off to a strong start in Sweden’s Even if it’s as simple as moving Bryan Little’s contract to LTIR, giving the secondary men’s league, Luoto is playing big minutes in Finland and Jets enough cap relief to sign Roslovic and Niku, Winnipeg would be left Toninato played more NHL games for Florida than AHL games for with 13 forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders. Springfield. There will be plenty of competition at the end of the roster.

A full, 23-man roster isn’t an ideal situation at the best of times. Winnipeg A final thought: Depending on COVID-19, border rules and the ability of has often chosen to keep 21 or 22 players with the big club for cap leagues like the AHL, CHL and NCAA to play their seasons, some of savings. More likely, a defenceman would be waived as soon as Niku’s these roster decisions could be made out of geographical necessity. contract is signed, whether that defenceman is Niku or one of the Gustafsson could easily “deserve” the fourth-line centre job, for one veterans ahead of him in the pecking order. example, but if he has a great landing spot in Sweden and Perfetti is stuck without an OHL to play in, all bets are off. The same applies to C.J. Even more likely than that? A trade. Suess if he has a great NHL camp but the AHL is unable to play its I continue to believe that Roslovic and Niku are Winnipeg’s most logical season. trade chips. The ideal return would be a top four defenceman, which has For now, it’s all speculation. Just keep in mind that we may see unusual always been true and will remain true until either a top four defenceman roster decisions depending on which leagues can get off the ground. is acquired or one of Derek Forbort, Nathan Beaulieu, Dylan Samberg or stuns us all with superlative play. Defencemen

One way or another, Harkins’ contract brings the Jets to 22 contracts Josh Morrissey (including Little and Toninato) with two RFAs yet to sign. Dylan DeMelo Something has to give so let’s look at Winnipeg’s updated depth chart for clues. Derek Forbort

Forwards Neal Pionk

Kyle Connor Nathan Beaulieu

Mark Scheifele Tucker Poolman

Blake Wheeler

Nikolaj Ehlers Vying for spots: Ville Heinola, Dylan Samberg

Paul Stastny In the system: Leon Gawanke, Jonathan Kovacevic, , Declan Chisholm, Nelson Nogier, Luke Green, Simon Lundmark, Anton Johannesson, Tyrel Bauer, Croix Evingson

Andrew Copp Restricted free agents: Sami Niku

Adam Lowry Unrestricted free agents: None Mason Appleton Departures: Dmitry Kulikov, Anthony Bitetto, Carl Dahlström, Cameron Schilling, Peter Stoykewich

Based on who has experience and who has a contract, Niku is on the outside looking in while Forbort and Beaulieu have the inside track to play behind Josh Morrissey on Winnipeg’s left side.

It seems reasonable to me that Niku is a candidate to be traded or even waived should the Jets prefer to keep Luca Sbisa with the big club.

If the Jets’ younger, more celebrated prospects like Samberg or Heinola earn a job, it will also come at the expense of a veteran. I think Sbisa would be first in line based on usage last season but, if we’re using last season as a precedent then injuries, absences or poorly trimmed sideburns are going to cost someone a job without the need for an additional transaction. There are a lot of moving parts.

I don’t think any of Manitoba’s defencemen are in the running to steal a job. Instead, Leon Gawanke, Jonathan Kovacevic, Logan Stanley and Nelson Nogier will be asked to carry their weight in the AHL while Declan Chisholm will hope to join them.

Finally, if the Jets do trade their RFAs Roslovic and Niku for outside help, then the player they receive in return is likely have a good shot at taking top four minutes.

Goaltenders

Connor Hellebuyck

Laurent Brossoit

Vying for spots: None

In the system: Eric Comrie, Mikhail Berdin, Arvid Holm, Jared Moe, Logan Neaton

Restricted free agents: None

Unrestricted free agents: None

Departures: None

Connor Hellebuyck leaves no question marks in goal.

Winnipeg will likely need more work from Laurent Brossoit than it has in recent years but the Jets will lean on Hellebuyck to whatever extent they can, even with the compressed schedule. There is no clear candidate for third string veteran. If injuries hit, Winnipeg will need to count on Eric Comrie to deliver more NHL quality than he has thus far in his career.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Berdin and Arvid Holm are in a tight race for the title of Winnipeg’s most impressive goaltending prospect but neither is a threat to take NHL starts.

Salary cap

Projected salary cap: $81.5 million

Salary cap space*, assuming Toninato in the AHL: $2,145**

* — includes Little’s cap hit, as he is not yet on LTIR and may not be for some time.

** — note that teams can exceed the salary cap by up to 10 percent during the offseason.

The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180056 Vancouver Canucks major sporting event under unprecedented circumstances into a serious health scare.

Turner failed to follow safety edicts following Game 6 of the For Canucks, Turner's COVID-19 World Series celebration a cautionary championship series. The Dodgers’ third baseman was replaced in the tale eighth inning and went into a stadium doctor’s office for isolation. However, despite league security protocols and warnings, he returned to "Our camp was very strict with testing and masks and when we spent 42 the playing field in Arlington, Texas to celebrate a series-clinching 3-1 days in the (Edmonton) bubble with all the security, you couldn’t walk 10 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. feet without a mask because somebody was always there to tell you to put one on. The players were aware of everything." — Canucks GM Jim It has sparked a full MLB investigation because how Turner contracted Benning the virus has been overshadowed by his recklessness. What if there was a Game 7? What if other players became infected? How long would the penultimate game be postponed?

Ben Kuzma Turner was spotted with and without a mask after the title-clinching game. He hugged and mingled with teammates in close-proximity

celebrations that included wives and children. He also posed for a team , Alex Edler, Thatcher Demko and Zack MacEwen are in picture beside manager Dave Roberts, neither of them wearing a mask. Vancouver. “It is clear Turner chose to disregard the agreed-upon joint protocols and They are training in anticipation of a January start to the 2020-21 NHL the instructions he was given regarding the safety and protection of season and a major psychological challenge for the younger, gregarious others,” MLB said in its release. and socially active Canucks is to maintain COVID-19 awareness. Following the celebration, nasal swabs of the Dodgers’ travelling party After being schooled in safety protocols before a July training camp, and were conducted. And there were more tests Wednesday for the Dodgers then enduring 42 days in the restrictive Edmonton post-season bubble and Rays to determined whether health officials would allow them to with no positive tests, there are constant reminders of how to function return to their respective cities. outside of confinement in the novel coronavirus pandemic. As for Vancouver, there’s added concern in arrival of the normal flu cycle In an aggressive second virus wave, cases continue to climb in B.C. — combining with COVID-19. 287 positive tests reported Wednesday with 87 in hospital, 25 in intensive “Everyone needs to get a flu shot when they become available to get it care and two more deaths — as community spread in large gatherings out of the way and confounding variables,” stressed Dr. Brian Conway, continues to trigger concerns of what awaits in the sheltered winter president and medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases months. Centre. “It might confuse us if people get symptoms. Get the flu shot.” As for the Canucks, the emphasis on COVID-19 protocols is continuing, — The AHL is targeting Feb. 5 to commence its 2020-21 whether they’re playing or training, relaxing or interacting with the season. The league didn’t restart when the NHL season was paused populace. March 12 bytheCOVID-19 outbreak. “As far as what they need to do now, they’re all well-versed to stay safe,” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2020 Canucks general manager said Wednesday. “Are they well educated? I would think so. They were drilled into it when they came back for (July) training camp. We had a Zoom call with our team physician Dr. Jim Bovard for over an hour and there was a list of instructions they had to follow and protocols to meet.

“Our camp was very strict with testing and masks and when we spent 42 days in the (Edmonton) bubble with all the security, you couldn’t walk 10 feet without a mask because somebody was always there to tell you to put one on.

“The players were aware of everything and when we dispersed from Edmonton, a lot of players went right back to their home cities and different jurisdictions and it was different in many part of Canada and in the U.S. and Europe.”

The Canucks learned early, even before Phase 2 of an optional Return To Play plan for optional workouts, that diligence outside a controlled team environment is just as vital. Optics are everything in a hockey-mad city and not abiding by COVID-19 mandates sends the wrong compliance message.

Jake Virtanen was in a Vancouver night club in advance of Phase 2, and a social-media video showed the Canucks’ right-winger wasn’t wearing a mask and wasn’t practising safe physical distancing.

“It’s the education of it all,” said Benning. “He drove in from Kelowna and some friends wanted to go out and the next day I got the video at 7:30 a.m. and talked to him. It’s about the optics. He wasn’t coming into Phase 2 yet and still had to test, but it’s about being out and what it looks like and how it affects your teammates.

“When he makes a decision to go out — and it’s just not him — a player affects his teammates and there’s a responsibility that goes into that.”

Athletes aren’t immune to COVID-19.Justin Turner’s unbridled enthusiasm to celebrate the ’ World Series triumph on Tuesday night, despite an inconclusive test Monday and a positive test the next day followed by an isolation order, may trigger a superspreader event.

Welcome to 2020 where the pandemic is king and impulsive carelessness to ignore virus protocols will turn the joy in culmination of a 1180057 Vancouver Canucks season opener last fall and was expected to start the coming season on the injured list if it began at its regular time.

Richardson says he could be ready to go by April. Steve Ewen: Warriors eye April start, but NLL has logistics to work on As well, defender Reid Bowering, who was picked No. 2 overall by before it's official Vancouver in September’s entry draft, could be done his field lacrosse A proposed move to an April-September season would clash with season at Drexel University in Philadelphia in the spring and get into summer club leagues like the Western Lacrosse Association Warriors action sooner than expected.

Steve Ewen Bowering’s return to Drexel for a fifth year is a result of the novel coronavirus wiping out what was supposed to be his senior season of eligibility last spring. The NCAA granted all spring sports athletes who had their seasons cut short by the pandemic another year of eligibility. The Vancouver Warriors have a start date for the 2021 season, but it could still change. In a traditional NLL season, with May playoffs, Bowering would have missed it all. The majority of early draft picks are in a similar situation. The , which is home to the Warriors, four other Canadian clubs and eight U.S.-based teams, announced Wednesday Bowering and Bilic are considered to be among the Warriors’ finest that it is “targeting” April 9-11 for season-opening games. players.

A detailed schedule hasn’t been unveiled, but the NLL is planning its The NLL shut down its season last March. Vancouver wound up 4-9, usual 18-game campaign plus playoffs and to accomplish all that with missing out on its final five games. fans in their buildings. Without a major television deal, the league finances are largely ticket driven. The top three scorers were Mitch Jones, Keegan Bal and Jordan McBride, who were all teammates in the summer with the Salmonbellies. Like so much during these COVID-19 times, it’s all hopes and maybes Richardson ended his 16-year stint leading New Westminster after their right now. There are gathering bans in the various NLL jurisdictions and 2019 season to focus more on the Warriors. there are quarantine restrictions as well. There are also issues with travelling across the U.S.-Canada border. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 10.29.2020

The Warriors and the rest of the NLL have work to do before the 2021 launch is more certainty than theory. Training camps are supposed to commence in mid-March. It’ll be “some virtual and some in-person,” according to a league press release.

“We need to make sure that we’re ready to go for those dates, and we’re going to proceed as if those dates are happening. But we also understand there are boxes that need to be ticked,” said Dan Richardson, the Warriors’ general manager.

Richardson points out the league has nearly six months for things to come together. If it plays out the way the NLL hopes, it would be a massive change for lacrosse.

The NLL has traditionally been a winter circuit. In 2019, it ran from December to May. In that form, it’s been able to share players with the summer club leagues like the Western Lacrosse Association. The WLA has generally run from May to September, climaxing with the league champion facing the top team from Ontario in the best-of-seven Mann Cup, the national Senior A championship. That trophy dates back to 1910.

Play out this current NLL plan and its playoffs could run into September.

“We still believe in the league. We still believe in the historical significance of the Mann Cup,” WLA commissioner Paul Dal Monte said of his circuit. “We still believe it all has value to the players.”

Dal Monte says he received a “heads up” from the NLL about its Wednesday announcement and that his league stakeholders are meeting in the coming weeks to work on a plan. The 2020 WLA season and subsequent Mann Cup was cancelled because of COVID-19, marking the first time since 1924 that the Mann Cup hasn’t been contested.

Entry-level players in the NLL make $12,000. Veteran players are in the $30,000 range. There are a handful of players in the WLA who get paid but it’s not nearly at the same NLL level.

It’s unlikely you’ll see players risking their NLL status by playing in WLA games if their schedules are running at the same time.

“There are good people running the leagues in the summer,” said Richardson, whose work in the WLA guiding the New Westminster Salmonbellies was what got him hired by the Warriors after the Vancouver Canucks took over ownership of the franchise in June, 2018.

“They’ll need to figure it out. I’m sure they’ll come up with a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and then some. I do feel like this is a temporary thing for us for a year and then we’ll go back to the fall schedule.”

The pushing back of the season into the spring could wind up boosting the Warriors’ lineup. Defender Nik Bilic tore up his knee in Vancouver’s 1180058 Websites the Canada division is a possibility instead of wrestling for third and fourth – and the privilege to get smoked by either Tampa Bay or Boston in the opening round. For Montreal, it also means a higher chance of even making the playoffs in terms of not having to fight for a wild card The Athletic / How an imbalanced Canada Division would affect the spot in a stacked East with at least 10-11 teams in the conversation. standings The playoff path isn’t quite as different for Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver as those three are coming from what would’ve been a similarly easy division in the Pacific – but having Toronto at the top By Dom Luszczyszyn Oct 28, 2020 instead of Vegas is likely a bonus. As for the Jets, it may still be crowded ahead of them, but I think the team will take their chances here as opposed to the Central where they would have to deal with Colorado, St. How the next NHL season will go down is still very much up in the air, Louis and Dallas – three serious Cup threats. shrouded in uncertainty and mystery, but one of the most tantalizing details coming out is the potential for an all-Canada division. What it boils down to is hockey life looking a lot easier when confined north of the border. That’s only exacerbated further by the fact that next It’s an exciting idea for hockey fans across the nation, reigniting rivalries season should also have a shortened schedule. between teams from the East and West and sparking a competitive drive toward national superiority. The idea of “Canada’s Best Team” would no In general, schedule strength doesn’t matter all that much over a typical longer be a mainstream think-piece daydream but a lived reality as a 82-game NHL season. At most, it can add or drop a point to an NHL consequence of a pandemic-ravaged world. There won’t be much need team’s bottom line and that’s because, in the end, everything evens out for fiery debate because the answers will be laid bare on the ice and when a team plays each team at least twice. Some teams are more reflected in the standings, especially with all games likely to be played fortunate in easier divisions, but not to an extreme degree. intra-division. That likely won’t be the case this upcoming season, especially for the It’s that last detail that’s the most intriguing about the prospect of a teams in the Canada Division. Only one team, Ottawa, is expected to Canada division because it, in and of itself, is the biggest benefit of the face an above average schedule next season with the other six teams all division: The Canadian teams aren’t all that special. And that means a among the 11 easiest. Toronto, the top team, is tied for first with much easier postseason path for all of them. Colorado. That’s based on the average opponent strength (according to my model) of the remaining teams in the division. Tuesday, we unveiled our first power ranking of the season looking at where each team stands after a busy offseason. Utilizing the strength of That’s a big difference from the Atlantic-Metro division where every team my team model combined with the collective wisdom of our staff, here’s a is expected to face above average competition in a stacked division with recap of where each Canadian team stands. six playoff threats and no lottery contenders. The imbalance is especially striking. Toronto (5th): The best team in Canada, but one my model loved a lot more than the staff, who had the team ranked ninth. Either way, that the For context, a team with an expected win percentage of 0.475 is a 39-win division’s best team isn’t considered a Stanley Cup contender says a lot. team, or two wins below average. The difference at the extreme ends of the scale likely jump from one point under normal circumstances to four Edmonton (12th): On the cusp of being a bona fide playoff team thanks points. to two MVP-calibre centres. There are still some questions regarding depth and defence. That’s massive and it means Canadian teams playing in an all-Canada division next season have the potential to look a lot better – all because Calgary (13th): On par with Edmonton. Better depth and goaltending but they may only get to play each other. missing that elite talent at the top unless a lot of players can bounce back. The Athletic LOADED: 10.29.2020

Montreal (14th): A busy offseason means the Canadiens are in the playoff mix. Montreal is very close to the two teams thanks to its strong depth but the Habs have a severe star power shortage.

Vancouver (19th): A popular choice for best team in Canada thanks to an elite young core and strong playoffs but they have very serious depth concerns that would very likely hold them back from contending.

Winnipeg (20th): Relied far too much on goaltending last season and still has a thin defence but lots of talent up front can make things interesting.

Ottawa (30th): Still at the bottom, no surprises there.

When laid out like that, it’s rather underwhelming and that’s furthered even more when comparing the Canada Division to the other three potential divisions, laid out by Michael Russo last week.

Essentially, every other division would have at least three other teams in the Playoff Team tier or higher (the Atlantic having four), and at least one legitimate Cup Contender (the Pacific having two). Canada has one Playoff Team and no legitimate Cup Contender.

Of course, that changes if they only get to play each other, but in terms of strength relative to the rest of the league, the top of the Canada Division is obviously lacking. The middle will feature some very interesting fights as the five teams there are all rather close in talent, but it just doesn’t compare to the high end of the other groups. The Maple Leafs as the best team in the division is not scaring any of the Oilers, Flames, Canadiens or Canucks – and it means they’ve all got a serious chance to top the division. That’s a chance they maybe wouldn’t have against the Golden Knights, Lightning or Bruins.

There’s a serious division imbalance here, one that might greatly benefit Canada’s teams in their quest to make the postseason.

Toronto and Montreal no longer have to worry about the two Atlantic juggernauts taking up two guaranteed spots. A potential top-two seed in 1180059 Websites Cap space: $12,942,190 When Nashville started clearing the decks — trading Nick Bonino, buying

out Kyle Turris, stating it would not be re-signing Mikael Granlund — Sportsnet.ca / 7 NHL teams that could weaponize their cap space there was some sense the Preds could be getting in on the Taylor Hall bidding. But one year after inking Matt Duchene on the open market, Nashville has yet to make a big move.

Staff If Nashville were going to sign Mike Hoffman, the top remaining goal- scorer on the market, it feels like it would have happened by now. It’s too

bad the Preds are division rivals with the Winnipeg Jets, who may or may Remember that feeling of coming home from the office, dropping a bag not be going down the path of trading young sniper Patrik Laine. That’s and flicking open a handful of overtaxed buttons to start the process of precisely the kind of big-ticket scorer Nashville could and should add. changing from the clothes you wear to satisfy society’s demands to the New Jersey Devils ones you exist in for 98 per cent of your home life? Cap space: $17,195,001 Of course you don’t, because we’ve all been living in sweat pants for eight months. New GM Tom Fitzgerald — who has just 16 players signed to the main roster — already swooped in and took off the Blue Jackets’ That said, when you think of NHL general managers — pandemic or not hands as the latter looked to clear a little room. The only significant long- — it’s hard to picture them in anything but the rigid, high-powered suits term commitment the Devils have on the books is to 2017 first-overall that speak to the nature of their occupation. And right now, that job for pick Nico Hischier, who’s locked up to the tune of $7.25 million per year many of those men entails figuring out ways to find relief in the face of a for the bulk of this decade. Of course, 2019 No. 1 Jack Hughes — flat salary cap. underwhelming rookie season notwithstanding — will be getting his soon Luckily, there are also some cap-flexible teams that could provide the enough, too. financial equivalent of stretchy pants — for a price, of course. Still, the Devils could really un-albatross someone for the right price. On the weekend, Luke Fox examined 10 clubs being licked by the flames The play I keep wondering about is P.K. Subban. You know how some of salary cap hell. Today, we’ll explore seven teams at the other end of teams keep their pending UFAs at the trade deadline as a sort of internal the spectrum. Some are rebuilding squads that could be looking to snag rental? Maybe the move to weaponize space for New Jersey is to eat a picks or prospect sweeteners. Others are clubs that (we think) aim to be big portion of Subban’s salary in a deal that could return a decent pick or competitive next season and might be able to pull off a move or two in prospect. He might not be worth $9 million per season for the next two that pursuit. years, but Subban is still only 31, shoots right and loves a challenge — Here, then, are the teams to keep an eye on in terms of adding salary like showing the world he’s got a lot left in the tank after a miserable from desperate teams in the coming weeks and months. (All cap figures debut season in Jersey. provided by the wonderful capfriendly.com.) Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Cap space: $12,900,000 Cap space: $15,238,611 This entry comes with an asterisk and a hyphen because Pierre-Luc Detroit has the potential to be the league’s one true dumping ground. Dubois has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract. Good as (That sounds awful; it’s actually not.) Columbus’s No. 1 centre is, though, there should still be substantial room left under the cap once Dubois signs. In the midst of a long rebuild that has, thus far, not been aided by any draft lottery luck, GM Steve Yzerman has already made one shrewd, Nobody has been more aggressive than Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen salary-related move by taking defenceman Marc Staal and his $5.7- the past couple years, so a bold move has to be in play. The Jackets million cap hit from the Rangers, while getting New York to toss in a even have a little two-year window where stud D-men and pretty tasty 2021 second-rounder. Zach Werenski combine to count just $10.4 million against the cap. Both are free agents in the summer of 2022 and it will cost the best part of $10 Its lack of lottery fortune means Detroit doesn’t have anyone in the fold million just to retain Jones. Until then, though, Columbus has a little who figures to need a big raise coming off an entry-level deal in the next something to play with. couple of years, though the Wings do need to hammer out a new deal with RFA Anthony Mantha. The Illitch family spent whatever was required Florida Panthers when its teams — the Red Wings and Detroit Tigers — were chasing Cap space: $11,563,712 championships. Cutting some cheques with the Wings now at their nadir could also help. On one hand, Florida has the space to bring in a difference-maker who could help the team improve. On the other, the Cats are a club you could Ottawa Senators see moving out a hefty contract — like the one belonging to 2014 first- Cap space: $14,302,501 overall pick Aaron Ekblad — as new GM Bill Zito tries to put his stamp on the squad. This is a tricky one. Yes, Ottawa has the space to absorb a bad contract, but it is also trying to turn a corner in short order and has young players Which way will the Panthers pivot? flooding the system. The Senators did not mess around extending Part of the reason Florida has so much room just one summer after Thomas Chabot in training camp last fall, getting a $64-million pact in inking Sergei Bobrovksy to a potentially disastrous $10-million-per- place a year before the young defenceman could become an RFA. Brady season deal is because the Panthers are apparently waving good-bye to Tkachuk is next, as his entry-level deal expires at the conclusion of this UFAs Hoffman and Erik Haula. If Zito wants to take a step back, could coming season. the Cats eat some money to acquire young assets? Ottawa is barely removed from a time when it was jettisoning homegrown Los Angeles Kings guys like Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone, who signed huge new deals in San Jose and Vegas, respectively. The Senators want to assure fans Cap space: $13,620,715 things will be different with the next generation of stars, and if those kids — like No. 3–overall pick Tim Stutzle — turn out to be as good as Ottawa Believe it or not, the Kings possess all this room despite having over $10 hopes, the Sens will need much of this space soon enough. million in cap space chewed up by dead money, thanks largely to a Dion Phaneuf buyout and Ilya Kovalchuk contract termination. Almost all of Where the Senators can take a swing is with cases like Matt Murray. that will be cleared by next year. While many teams who liked the former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie were likely hesitant to commit $6.25 million per year, Ottawa had the space to Los Angeles’s reboot got a shot in the arm with the second-overall bet on him regaining his championship form. selection of Quinton Byfield three weeks ago. The big centre now headlines a prospect pool that’s grown deep in the past couple of years. Nashville Predators There is definitely an opportunity to add more intriguing picks and young players to the mix if the Kings are willing to be a landing spot for a bad contract or two.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180060 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Hockey Diversity Alliance calls on NHL, Coyotes to sign anti-racism pledge

Sportsnet Staff October 28, 2020, 9:37 PM

The Hockey Diversity Alliance has called on the NHL and Arizona Coyotes to sign the HDA's pledge, an eight-item list of anti-racism commitments, following the Coyotes' decision to draft Mitchell Miller, who was charged with assault and violating the Ohio Safe Schools Act in February of 2016. Mitchell and another Toledo-area student admitted to bullying Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a classmate who is Black and has a learning disability.

The HDA, a group founded by former hockey players whose stated goal is to eradicate systemic racism and intolerance in hockey, issued the statement Wednesday on Twitter, urging the league and team to act.

"The Coyotes' drafting of Mitchell Miller -- who was convicted of bullying a developmentally disabled, Black classmate, and according to the victim's family has not personally apologized -- shows that 'zero tolerance' of racism can't be taken for granted in the NHL," the statement reads. "The NHL and Coyotes should sign the HDA Pledge and start practicing what they preach."

A police report obtained by the Arizona Republic, and published on Oct. 27, stated that Miller and the other student forced Meyer-Crothers to eat candy that had been in a urinal. It goes on to say that the two teens then punched and pushed the boy, and Miller lied to school officials about his involvement. Miller, who was 14 at the time of the incident, and the other teen were "sentenced to 25 hours of community service and were ordered to write an apology through the court system to Meyer-Crothers, participate in counselling and pay court costs," the Republic reported.

The Coyotes drafted Miller, now 18, in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. In a statement provided to the Republic, the team said it was aware of Miller's conviction before selecting him.

"Given our priorities on diversity and inclusion, we believe that we are in the best position to guide Mitchell into becoming a leader for this cause and preventing bullying and racism now and in the future," the statement read in part. "When we first learned of Mitchell’s story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him — many teams did. Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way — not just saying and doing the right things ourselves but ensuring that others are too."

Meyer-Crothers and his mother spoke to the Republic and said the Coyotes drafting Miller is "part of the problem."

"Put yourself in our position. Would you be okay with it?" Joni Meyer- Crothers, Isaiah's mother, said. "It's a joke that a sports team, especially with all the stuff going on with Black Lives Matter, would do this."

Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, also now 18, told the Republic that Miller had taunted him for years growing up, calling him names like "brownie" and the "N-word" while repeatedly hitting him. When he saw the news that Miller had been drafted by the Coyotes, he said it "hurt my heart."

The University of North Dakota, where Miller now plays, has since acknowledged that they knew about the assault charge. USA Hockey and the USHL’s Tri-City Storm, where Miller played last season, also stated they looked into his background.

The HDA's call to action pointed to Item 6 on its pledge, specifically, as essential to consider in this situation:

"We will not support, partner with or accept support from any organization that has engaged in, promoted or failed to appropriately respond to racist conduct in their organization of any kind (including, without limitation, the proliferation of hate speech, discrimination in the provision of goods, services and facilities and other areas such as employment)."

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180061 Websites think: how will this news be received by a young BIPOC and/or disabled prospective player or fan?

Far too often, marginalized communities aren’t front of mind when Sportsnet.ca / How the Coyotes missed a chance to lead on diversity, hockey decisions are made. Even in the above statements, there was inclusion more concern about rehabbing Miller’s reputation than there was rehabbing the sport’s reputation on race. The most difficult detail to stomach: none of the statements mention Meyer-Crothers by name.

Donnovan Bennett All that said, it would be easy to bury and label Miller, which many have done. But I’m uncomfortable saying a 14-year-old (the age Miller was

when he committed the crime) should be defined by his worst moment. “Help me help you.” That’s what I think to myself every time my timeline But I do think assault shouldn’t just be swept under the rug. is flooded with another horrifying story of racial abuse related to the Miller has taken some accountability, sending a letter to all 31 NHL game of hockey. teams explaining his remorse. He also put out a statement through the And 2020 has sadly included more than one at the NHL level. team in the same Republic article.

Back in April, it was the use of racial taunts during a video chat when the But that’s the extent of his public amends. Miller claims he apologized New York Rangers were introducing prospect K’Andre Miller. personally to the family above and beyond a court-ordered letter of apology. The family claims that in-person apology never happened. To And now the Arizona Coyotes have been scrutinized for drafting 18-year- make matters worse, the Coyotes never reached out to the family before old Mitchell Miller, who the Arizona Republic reported Monday was or after drafting Miller. convicted for bullying Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black classmate with developmental disabilities, when the two were growing up together in Miller has paid his judicial debt to society and is allowed to seek work. Sylvania, Ohio. And the reality is if the Coyotes hadn't drafted him somebody else would have. We know this because many people have chosen Miller to play on The details in the Republic story are excruciating, but are all too typical of their hockey team since the incident. the kind of treatment young people of colour and people with disabilities — the type of people hockey wants to do a better job of attracting — USA Hockey, the University of North Dakota, the Detroit Honeybaked have to endure. hockey club, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the Tri-City Storm were all comfortable with Miller playing hockey for them before the Coyotes According to the report, Miller admitted to bullying Meyer-Crothers and turned in a card with his name on it. tricking him into licking a candy push pop that Miller and another student had wiped in a bathroom urinal. Meyer-Crothers was then tested for So the message is either his on-ice upside trumps his off-ice history, or hepatitis, HIV and STDs, and thankfully those tests were negative. he’s changed. As a fan of the sport I hope it’s the latter, but the sport Meyer-Crothers claimed Miller referred to him as "brownie" and the "N- hasn’t done enough to guarantee the benefit of the doubt. word," on top of the physical abuse. According to Meyer-Crothers' Despite declarations and committees, the Hockey Diversity Alliance, and mother, surveillance video-tape evidence of the incident shows Miller great work by countless individuals, news like this devalues the efforts of “smashing Isaiah’s head against a brick wall.” those trying to change the sport’s perception. Trust is hard to earn and Miller pleaded guilty in an Ohio juvenile court to bullying and assaulting easy to break, and that’s where hockey finds itself on the topic of being a Meyer-Crothers in 2016. safe space.

After receiving interview requests from the Republic, the Coyotes — who The fact is, the game of hockey has a long way to go to gain the trust of admitted to knowing of the conviction prior to drafting Mitchell — provided BIPOC people. And the Arizona Coyotes will need to do more than have this statement: executives join a committee if they want to truly help the sport’s relationship with race. “Our fundamental mission is to ensure a safe environment — whether in schools, in our community, in hockey rinks, or in the workplace — to Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020 be free of bullying and racism. When we first learned of Mitchell’s story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him — many teams did. Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way — not just saying and doing the right things ourselves but ensuring that others are too."

The statement went on to say the following:

“Given our priorities on diversity and inclusion, we believe that we are in the best position to guide Mitchell into becoming a leader for this cause and preventing bullying and racism now and in the future. As an organization, we have made our expectations very clear to him. We are willing to work with Mitchell and put in the time, effort, and energy and provide him with the necessary resources and platform to confront bullying and racism. This isn’t a story about excuses or justifications. It’s a story about reflection, growth, and community impact. A true leader finds ways for every person to contribute to the solution. We all need to be a part of the solution.”

It's also a story they didn’t get ahead of, and thus the Coyotes missed an opportunity to be leaders.

The Arizona Republic uncovered the story, and the team and player responded when contacted. If the team really wanted to hold the player accountable, wouldn’t they have endeavoured to help him before journalists came calling? If they really wanted to help race relations in hockey and abroad, wouldn’t they have publicized and articulated why Mitchell is deserving of a second chance? What work he has done in the four years since the incident to earn that second chance and how his ongoing work can be used as an example and teachable moment?

A month prior to the draft, team CEO and president Xavier Gutierrez was selected to be part of an NHL committee tasked to stop racism. But this selection and particularly how it was handled was a false first step. Just 1180062 Websites pressures with few if any equals around the league; a lot of history albeit a lot of the most recent history being hugely disappointing.

Many executives with less distinguished academic pedigrees would see it Sportsnet.ca / Maple Leafs front office hire Eric Joyce brings unique just as clearly. resumé, experience Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020

Gare Joyce lOctober 28, 2020, 4:30 PM

On its face, the Toronto Maple Leafs appointing Eric Joyce to a role as director of hockey strategy looks like another of the organization’s data- driven hires. Joyce (no relation to the reporter here) has impeccable, maybe even unmatched analytical bona fides: an undergrad degree in systems engineering from West Point and a master’s in public policy from Harvard, the latter being heavier on analytics than politics.

On its face, it seems like GM Kyle Dubas has recruited a like-minded young(-ish) lion or at least passed over candidates from the old-boys network. At 42, Joyce has a few years on Dubas and likely a few grey hairs from his six years with the Florida Panthers, so he might be a whiz if not a whiz kid. No matter, he’s no stand-in for, say, Mark Hunter, who had been on the scene and passed over when team president Brendan Shanahan anointed Dubas as successor to Lou Lamoriello.

While Joyce’s alumni events surely contrast sharply with Dubas’s, a review of their profiles show they have a couple of things in common.

First there are the meteoric rises.

Dubas’s climb through the Leafs organization has been oft-told, but Joyce’s less so. He entered the Panthers organization with no NHL experience and in six years rose from Assistant to the GM to Assistant GM, a bigger leap than it might seem on the screen. Then-GM might not have even brought Joyce in for an interview if owner hadn’t pushed hard. Viola’s ties to West Point — he was a Major in the 101st Airborne — made Joyce the guy most likely to land the corner office at some point and given Florida’s struggles that might not have been very far off in the future.

Then there’s the minor-league connection. When Dubas was earning his bones with the Marlies, Joyce was overseeing the Panthers’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio. The AHL is the development league not just for players but also coaches and executives.

All this is to say that when Dubas and Joyce go into a confab they will be speaking to each other as peers. This wouldn’t have been true for Dubas with many and probably most in the league’s management class.

Temperamentally and stylistically, though, they are almost certainly different species. Joyce grew up in very working-class circumstances in Dorchester, Mass. When he was on a hockey scholarship to West Point, he was Army’s tough guy, the one who sparked a line brawl against RMC. You might say that he’s a take-no-prisoners type of guy … except that he has taken prisoners, detaining 100 terrorists with the unit that he commanded in Iraq. He definitely has walked miles in different boots than Dubas.

It wouldn’t be fair, however, to categorize this as an out-of-the-box hiring. Joyce wasn’t on anybody’s radar when he signed on with the Panthers, but that was six years ago. At some point you reach the rank of an industry regular. Joyce has to be in the range now. If the old boys have a network, so too will the whiz kids as they wizen.

Citing a corporate policy to only put forward the GM and the coach for media requests, the Leafs didn’t make Joyce available for interviews. It’s not quite like when he had top-secret security clearance as a point man in the U.S. Department of the Army’s computer-network ops, but it might be as close as you’d get with a NHL organization.

When Joyce spoke to (this Joyce at) Sportsnet in 2014, he not only spoke the mantra of analytics but had been immersed in it, just in entirely different arenas. “We did heavy quantitative work [at Harvard] using statistical measurements to gauge the success of policy,” he says. “You can use that same methodology to study players. Scouts have certain biases [in their evaluations] but the numbers are what they are.”

Doubtless, Joyce scouted the Leafs organization and recognized an opportunity not without issues: some elite talent albeit with salary-cap pressures; seemingly unlimited operational wherewithal albeit with public 1180063 Websites always knew it was there. But it was still a distant place until Joey, Wayne, Sather and a man named Ian Barrigan came together to make Joey the face of the place.

Sportsnet.ca / Gretzky: Moss gave 'hope' to parents of children with This wasn’t just another hospital visit/photo op. What happened between disabilities in Canada Moss and the Edmonton Oilers was real, and his legacy should be honoured accordingly.

“We made people excited by winning championships. He made people Mark Spector happy who might not even have been hockey fans,” Gretzky said. “He gave them hope for their kids. What he did was raise awareness, to show

people that somebody with a (disability) can still be part of society. EDMONTON — We veer from cause to cause in today’s sporting world, “Do people want a statue? Do people want a banner? Whatever (they) promising but not always delivering in making permanent change. decide to do it will be first-class. Something that we’ll remember for a Mental health initiatives. Black Lives Matter. The Me Too movement. long time,” said Gretzky. “We’ve got to figure out the right way to honour him that lasts a lifetime. He deserves that.” Topics might still prompt “stick to sports” posts, but they're also open for comment inside our games, by voices freed to discuss more than just Remaining Time -4:17 save percentage and WHIP. Encouraged, in fact, with people like Dan Gene Principe explains what Joey Moss meant to city of Edmonton Carcillo and Akim Aliu affecting more change as activists than they were able to as players. Today, us old sportswriters go back and forth with the younger set on what qualities of a hockey player are most important. We likely overvalue People inside the rooms feel more comfortable speaking out, yet by no what can not be quantified, like character and veteran perspective, while means is our sporting world cleansed completely of the pox that is others write off those qualities as hokey lore from days gone by. homophobia, bullying, racism and other issues. And so we remain actively aware of all that must change, yet stand by helplessly as the Here is a case, however, where the intangibles created the championship Houston Astros sign Roberto Osuna, or the add that was hiring Moss. Aroldis Chapman. What if Gretzky had not had an understanding of and empathy for Perhaps it is time, however, upon the death of Joey Moss in Edmonton, disability from his aunt? What if Sather was close-minded, too focused on to take a step back and spend a day celebrating success and inclusion. winning to take on Moss back in 1984?

“I’m not sure we’ll really realize his impact,” Wayne Gretzky said Tuesday What if the players weren’t as welcoming as those old Oilers were? Or if of his old friend Moss. “Obviously, he opened doors all across Canada. the real heroes here — the trainers and equipment staff — had given him But what he did best was he gave parents hope. Parents who had kids duties designed to drive Moss to quit? who were mentally challenged saw Joey Moss living a relatively normal life, fitting into society and being accepted as a regular person. That gave “It showed not only how good of a team we had,” Gretzky said, “but how parents of kids with (disabilities) a great deal of hope. That was the good the people inside the team were. Guys like Paul Coffey, Mark biggest thing that Moss brought to his life, helping other people.” Messier. Guys like Lee Fogolin, , Grant Fuhr and Kevin (Lowe). But more importantly how Glen (Sather) … didn’t treat him like someone Remaining Time -2:46 with a (disability). If something was out of place I can remember Glen yelling at Joe, and Joe would jump up and do what had to get done.” Former Oilers staff remember Joey Moss' joy & impact on Edmonton Gretzky was laughing at the memory of Sather ordering Moss to work. It As an Edmonton columnist, I have written more than my share of articles seemed serious then, not so much anymore. chronicling things done wrong by the local hockey club. We’ve always said, the team/athlete creates the narrative: Success begets praise, while Looking back now at the podium Moss was given to show failure brings the knives out. Within a spectrum of fairness, teams create what someone with an intellectual disability can accomplish, it does make the mood — not us scribes. you smile. Who knew, when Gretzky saw his girlfriend’s little brother waiting for that bus in an Edmonton winter, what would come of it? So we are reminded of how a team and its superstar, way back in 1984, was so far ahead of its time in seeking a way to include a young man How valuable a lesson he would provide to thousands of families with Down syndrome who was riding an Edmonton Transit bus to his job country-wide? at a bottle depot in the dead of an Edmonton winter. Certainly not the best player in the history of the game. “I remember thinking, ‘There’s got to be something I can do, or we can do as a society, that is going to make his life — not better — but maybe “Hey,” laughed Gretzky. “They traded me before Joey.” easier. More comfortable,’” Gretzky said. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020 What an intersection that turned out to be.

A young, generational player whose head was in such a place as Gretzky’s was. His boss, a crusty, hard-nosed coach and general manager named Glen Sather whose heart was, in fact, far softer than he ever let on. A girlfriend, Vikki Moss, who happened to have a little brother that shared the same disability as Gretzky’s aunt.

“I grew up in Brantford, and my dad’s sister was mentally challenged,” Gretzky began. “Back in that era, we called it Down syndrome. Today, mentally challenged is the proper terminology.

“When I met Joey I was extremely comfortable. I’d kind of grown up with it,” he said. “It wasn’t just us making his life better. Without question, he made our lives better.”

If you grew up here you knew of a school called Winnifred Stewart, named after a noble Edmontonian whose name has become synonymous with helping children who have developmental disabilities. It was a warm, welcoming place for the thousands of families that found resources there, yet distant for the rest of us who had no ties to the school.

Just east of Westmount Mall and Ross Sheppard high school, only 10 minutes from , 15 from the old — we 1180064 Websites way to do it. I’m convinced (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman and the NHL will find a way to make sure that happens.”

Remaining Time -2:50 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens' Molson: team has foundation 'that can be good Canadiens’ Julien loving all the new additions made by GM Marc for many years' Bergevin

If and when they do, a Canadiens team that’s been bolstered at every Eric Engels position — with Molson committing $79.6 million to newcomers Jake Allen, Joel Edmundson, Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli — will begin a new era. One the owner believes will be far more prolific than the one it's emerging from, four playoff misses in five years later. MONTREAL — There’s an air of excitement about Geoff Molson that’s palpable through the phone. “We’ve got the foundation now for a team that can be good for many years,” said Molson. Over a 45-minute conversation with Sportsnet on Monday, optimism reigns — the owner of the Montreal Canadiens doesn’t know when And of this coming one? revenue will start to flow again in a business that’s been checked face- first into the glass by the global pandemic, but he’s confident it will. “Marc filled every hole that he said he was going to fill, so I think that’s really exciting,” Molson said. “I’m really excited about this year coming We ask him what his biggest concern is. up.”

Molson responds, “My biggest concern? I don’t really think that way.” “We have a team that should make the playoffs, I can tell you that,” he added. “And I think the team and the organization and the fans would be The 49-year-old does have many concerns, however. The health of his extremely disappointed if we didn’t. I think we’ve gotten to the point family and his friends are top of the list, though he’s happy to report that, where we can. So, with that in mind, it would be disappointing if we “despite a scare here or there, because we were in areas where other didn’t.” people had (COVID-19), we didn’t get it.” Though Molson didn’t say it, one could infer there’d be serious Still, the virus has done significant damage to Groupe CH — the parent repercussions if the Canadiens fell short of that goal. company to the Canadiens, the Laval Rocket, Evenko, Spectra and the owners of the Bell Centre and the MTelus, Astral and Corona Theatres. We asked if he’d discussed a contract extension with Bergevin, whose No hockey games have been played in their 21,302-seat arena since current deal expires in 2022. March, and a large portion of the 1,500 concerts, festivals and events the company hosts were cancelled and have yet to be rescheduled. “With two years left, I don’t think that’s very common,” Molson said.

Remaining Time -1:37 We didn’t remind him that he extended Bergevin for five years in November of 2015. You know, when Bergevin still had close to two years Is it playoffs or bust for Julien's Canadiens after productive offseason? remaining on the five-year deal he signed when he was named GM in 2012. It was 13 days into lockdown that Groupe CH announced it was temporarily laying off 60 per cent of its employees and creating a $6- Molson continued: “I believe strongly that I have a very good general million assistance fund to top off employment insurance benefits. And in manager, so I’m not too concerned about (an extension). I know that he’s June, several more cuts were made — many of them permanent. relentless and will be in relentless pursuit of giving our fans the best team we can possibly get, so I stand behind him. And those who remain have reportedly been taking reduced pay for months. From general manager Marc Bergevin to head coach Claude “But two years is a long time.” Julien to vice-president of communications and public affairs Paul Wilson to whoever’s working the coffee maker at the office. It took three seasons — and a fortuitous bounce or two — to get to this phase of the reset plan Bergevin sold to Molson in the lead up to the “The honest truth is that everybody in the entire organization is summer of 2018. contributing to getting through this,” Molson said. The opportunity the Canadiens were handed by the NHL and the NHLPA Times are tough, but he’s still upbeat. His employees are, too. to participate in this past summer’s tournament for the Stanley Cup was a sharp turn in the road, and they gained speed coming out of it — with a “Those people can’t wait to get back to work,” Molson started. “We had a four-game, play-in round upset of the Pittsburgh Penguins that Molson great conference call as a total company last week and everyone, I would deemed “thrilling” and a six-game, Round 1 loss to the top-ranked say — I’m exaggerating when I say ‘everyone’ because I can’t speak for he felt “could’ve gone either way.” everyone — but everyone understands… this is really tough, it’s uncontrollable. It’s something that we will get through, but we need to be “And here we are now,” said Molson. “We saw a team come together, patient and we need to stay in touch and communicate with each other. through youth and veterans, and it was impressive. I think it’s the point in time that I think Marc said, ‘I can now see the depth at the veteran level, "I think that the spirit within the organization is really strong, given all the and I can see the depth at the youth level.’” uncertainty and the reduced income and challenges people have had over the first seven months and over the next four or five months, as well. Remaining Time -2:43 Or maybe more. Who knows? Nobody really knows.” Kotkaniemi’s emergence in playoffs helped Canadiens deal Domi And that is what’s dogging Molson the most. As for how the Canadiens arrived at this juncture at this specific point in But he’s confident a vaccine will emerge and be readily available within time, Molson explained that no plan he and Bergevin discussed would the coming months, that his employees will return to the office and that guarantee it. business will go back to “sort of normal,” and he’d be really surprised if the hockey club wasn’t playing games early in the new year. “Was it sold to me that it would take three years? No, never,” he said. “It was sold to me as we need to do these things (trade several players and Molson’s even hopeful that they’ll be able to do so in front of a few collect an abundance of draft picks — the Canadiens have drafted the thousand fans. second-most prospects in the NHL and used several more picks in transactions over the last three years) and we need to do them now and “I look around what’s happening around the hockey and sports world, start building a team that has the potential to be a championship team and I continue to say we can do this,” Molson said. “Will we be sold out again.” and playing 41 games in front of all our fans? I highly doubt that this year. But nobody knows the answer to that question, either, because nobody It’s clear Molson believes that’s what he now has on his hands. It’s a knows when a vaccine is coming. But, at the same time, I look at what’s belief that’s only been bolstered by decisions Jeff Petry and Brendan happening in Europe (where the 2020-21 season has commenced) and Gallagher recently made to remain with the Canadiens long-term, but what’s happening in the U.S. with football and baseball, and there’s a certainly also by Allen, Edmundson and Anderson choosing to skirt free agency and sign lengthy deals, and by Toffoli turning other teams down to move to Montreal for the next four years.

“Two years ago, any unrestricted free agent would’ve looked at our organization and said, ‘Do I want to be part of a youth movement where they’re sort of resetting?’ Two years forward to today, I think those unrestricted free agents are saying, ‘Oh, this looks pretty good. This looks like a team that’s going to be good for the next little while,” said Molson. “I think that’s the most important thing. When UFAs are attracted to Montreal, it’s when we’re at our best, and I think we’re heading in that direction.”

Hence Molson’s sunny disposition.

OTHER NOTABLE EXCERPTS FROM OUR CONVERSATION:

-On internal expectations and being willing to talk about the Stanley Cup, Molson said: “It sort of happens naturally. If two years ago anyone walked into the dressing room and said, ‘Guys, this is the year we’re going to win the Cup…’ You have to manage expectations as a team and know that it’s a process. And even with a great team… I was listening to Brendan Gallagher the other day—and everyone wants to win the Cup in our organization, there’s no doubt about that; we all want that every year—but you have to compartmentalize a season. It starts with training in the summer and getting ready for the first game of the year, and then you start thinking let’s have a really good start because with a good start will have some momentum going into the fall, and it’s a process. And then you can’t think too far ahead. You have to think every step of the way.

“But I don’t think anyone in the dressing room, on the coaching staff or in management doesn’t want to win the Stanley Cup every year. You don’t just wake up in the morning and start talking about that. It’s a process, and when you get to a point where you’re making the playoffs and you’ve got a team that you think can win, everyone in the room has that vision for sure.”

Remaining Time -4:51

Gallagher happy to sign extension as Canadiens continue to add key pieces

•On eventually re-opening the Bell Centre (and all other Groupe CH venues) Molson said he’s 100 per cent confident they’ll be prepared for a safe experience if and when fans are permitted to be in attendance, that they’re implementing designated areas for hand-washing and re-jigging things to ensure all social distancing measures are respected. And he said that they’ve invested in touchless payment processing technology as one of several key innovations.

•Plans are in place to deliver what Molson said will be a “significantly enhanced and more interactive” experience with the Canadiens’ application and from a broadcast perspective thanks to the advent of a 5G network.

•Without going into detail, Molson also said, “Diversity and inclusion has become a very important part of our company,” and that, “it’s certainly taking on a much higher importance, and there’s many initiatives around that which will be new and different for our employee base.”

•On all questions pertaining to the potential roadblocks to the owners and players agreeing on how to proceed with an abbreviated 2020-21 season — as of right now, the players have conceded 20 per cent of their salaries to escrow and agreed to a 10 per cent deferral of their remaining pay, but sources say they expect to be paid 72 per cent of their salaries whether one, 48, 60 or 82 games get played — Molson said he wouldn’t speak for the league but that he was confident Bettman, the owners and the players would do everything necessary to proceed with a season in any format.

•Eventually, Molson did say what his biggest concern was: “It would be that we’re not able to have a season.”

But…

“Do I think that’s going to happen? No,” he said.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180065 Websites After a slow start last season you really turned it on after the World Juniors with 33 points in 23 games down the stretch in the Western Hockey League. How did you assess your year?

TSN.CA / Canada's Byram on flu game, learning from Makar and bubble "I didn't have the camp I wanted to have with Colorado. Whether that was lessons confidence or whatever, I didn't quite perform how I wanted to and that kind of led right into the season in the WHL. I'm not afraid to admit that I Defenceman Bowen Byram is one of seven potential returnees for Team wasn't good enough at all. Our team struggled at the start of the year and Canada at the 2021 World Juniors and the fourth overall pick in the 2019 that definitely had a lot to do with me so when I got back from World NHL draft says watching Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar during his Juniors I just got a shot of confidence that I needed and we started to time with the Colorado Avalanche in the playoff bubble was a learning play really well. We made some trades and we became a really good experience that’s given him a boost of confidence going forward, Mark team again so it was fun to watch our team grow." Masters writes. What role do you see for yourself at the upcoming World Juniors?

"I don't think I have to put too much pressure on myself. I just got to go By Mark Masters and be myself and play how I can play. I know a lot of the guys who will be at the camp so that should make things pretty easy. Sometimes guys

can put a lot of pressure on themselves thinking they need to be a guy As he boarded the Team Canada bus to go to the semifinal game at the that's leaned on heavily and obviously I want to be that guy, I want to be World Juniors in January, Bowen Byram started to feel sick. leader, but at the same time you just have to let things play out and do things to the best of your ability so that's all I'm really worried about." "Right before warm-up, when I was getting dressed, I went to the washroom and threw up a couple times," the What was it like in the NHL bubble? defenceman recalled. "In the warm-up I had to get off about 10 minutes "You just have to enjoy it and be positive every day. Obviously, it's a long through, because I needed to throw up again and that was when the time in there and it can be lonely and depressing at times. When I was doctor said I wasn't able to go. It never really crossed my mind that I there I was in the so I just remembered that and the wasn’t going to play. I always thought I'd just gut it out, but I'm sure glad second time will be for the World Juniors so you got to remember how he pulled me, because it got pretty ugly after that." lucky you are to be there and be grateful for the opportunity. So, it's Erie's Jamie Drysdale filled in for Byram and scored a goal as Canada about just coming down to breakfast or the rink every day with a positive routed Finland 5-0 to advance to the gold-medal game, which was the mindset." next day. You have a gregarious personality, which should help in the bubble. How "I was pretty emotional, but watching the guys pull through and beat would you describe your sense of humour? Finland handily made it easy on me," Byram said. "I woke up the next "I can be pretty sarcastic and maybe a bit immature at times, but I really morning and still wasn't feeling very good. I started to feel a bit better like to have fun. I think it's a big part of the game. My dad always told me, throughout the day, but there were definitely times when I didn't think I'd 'If you're not having fun there's no use in playing.' Nowadays, it definitely be able to play." starts to feel like a job at times so whenever you can have fun at Byram consumed mostly fluids as he tried to build up the energy needed appropriate times I think that's huge." to face the Russians, who had thumped Canada 6-0 in the preliminary “Life’s serious. Hockey’s serious. But if you’re not having fun, you’re round. Byram had several conversations with Hockey Canada staff not going to be successful...” throughout the day before the decision was made that he would suit up.

"I knew I couldn't miss that one," he said. Why there's never a dull moment with Canada's  Bowen Byram on and off the ice: https://t.co/B3GWM0fe3V #TSNHockey #WorldJuniors Like Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals, Byram dug deep and pic.twitter.com/Z45jj0riHN authored his own "flu game." The Cranbrook, B.C., native led all Canadian defencemen in ice time (22:12) finishing plus-2 with one assist — TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) January 4, 2020 in a 4-3 comeback win. I want to play a little word association with you when it comes to the other "I felt like I was mentally there enough that I could just think it out," Byram potential Team Canada returning players. What's the first thing that pops explained. "There was a lot of adrenaline so I was probably running into your head when you think of New York Rangers left winger Alexis mostly on adrenaline. I just tried to do the best I could and by the end I Lafreniere? felt pretty normal." "What pops into my mind immediately is his skill on the ice. Obviously, But during the post-buzzer celebration, Byram's body finally started to last year he was the best player in the tournament. You see it every day buckle. The team was scheduled to leave Ostrava in the Czech Republic in practice and hanging out with him around the rink." early the next morning so there wasn't much time to sleep. Lethbridge centre Dylan Cozens?

"We landed and I was just like, 'Wow, feeling so, so bad,' but it was "Dylan's one of my really close friends. I kind of grew up with him so definitely worth it," the 19-year-old said. "I mean, walking through the that's a tough one. I don't know. I guess it's hard not to think about airports in Canada with your gold medal on there's so many people hockey when you hear the names of your buddies. He's a big, strong guy congratulating us and it was definitely a cool feeling." who skates really well, has great skill and sees the ice well."

#WorldJuniors COUNTDOWN: @markhmasters chats with  Bowen Sudbury centre Quinton Byfield? Byram... "Q's a cool dude. He's a lot of fun to be around. He's always enjoying Byram on gutsy gold-medal performance, potential pair with himself and a really good player, too ... he's a phenomenal player." Drysdale: https://t.co/77CY3YJw92 Drysdale? Benefiting from bubble; experiences with MacKinnon, learning from "Oh, Drysie! I think of Drysie and I think of a little, cute boy (laugh). He's Makar: https://t.co/lZVfpsSJNx#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/hHhhFOl2DB so little and cute and we always bug him about that on the team ... We — TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) October 28, 2020 had a lot of fun with him and Q. It was cool. It's not every World Juniors you see two 17-year-old guys [on Team Canada]." Byram is hoping to create some more cool moments this year. He is one of seven potential returnees for Team Canada at the 2021 World Juniors. You're a lefty, Drysdale is a righty, if you guys get paired together how do Byram, the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, spoke to TSN this you think that would work? week from Vancouver and outlined what he learned from watching "It'd be good. He's a guy that uses his feet really well. He sees the ice Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar during his time with the Colorado really well and he moves the puck. I don't think you can really ask for Avalanche in the playoff bubble. The following is an edited transcript of the conversation. much more from a defence partner. If I was able to play with him I'd be really happy. He's a great kid, too, so he's a lot of fun to be around."

When I interviewed Drysdale back in March he said he was impressed by how hard you worked in practice at the World Juniors. Apparently the data from the monitors you guys wore showed you were the hardest worker. How much pride do you take in your practice habits?

"I got ripped for that a bit (Smiles). Guys would be saying that at practice I'd be doing extra laps just so I had the highest heart rate or whatever. But, yeah, practice is a huge thing, that's where I think you tend to improve the most so I try to take practice very seriously. But, at the same time, I think practice is a time to enjoy yourself. I mean, you're doing what you love to do and you're around your best buddies. But when it's time to work, it’s time to work, and I pride myself on that, for sure."

So, legitimately, the numbers showed you were working hardest at practice?

"I'm not sure if I totally believe those devices. I think it reacts a bit differently to different people and stuff like that, but (smiles) yeah, I'll say I was the hardest-working guy, for sure."

When you have been with the Avalanche, what stands out the most about MacKinnon?

"Everything's so quick. Like, just explosive the way he stick-handles, the way he skates, the way he moves, everything's so quick and explosive ... MacKinnon is almost twitchy, like, you don't know what’s going to happen next when he has the puck. It's pretty crazy to watch and be on the ice with ... there's some guys in the NHL where [defending them] you just kind of cross your fingers and hope for the best and he would be one of them."

What do you notice about Makar?

"He's such a smooth skater. Everything he does just looks effortless. He just looks like he's floating on the ice when he's skating. He's a lot of fun to watch with the way he jumps into the play and how he plays physical as well and he's really good defensively. He's definitely a cool player and somebody I like to watch and learn from as well."

What was your focus during this weird, long off-season?

"It was nice that I got to break it up a little bit when I went to the bubble with Colorado. That was good. Obviously, I didn’t play in a game, but just to be around that kind of environment was really good for me. The biggest thing for me is my speed. I want to get faster. I want to be able to play in the NHL next year so that’s kind of been my focus."

What's an example of something you've changed when it comes to your skating?

"The biggest thing for me is just my explosiveness, my first couple strides. That's definitely something I want to improve and I feel I've been doing a good job of that. Skating is a big thing in the NHL nowadays, so I have to make sure I'm up to par there."

TSN.CA LOADED: 10.29.2020 1180066 Websites Chris Paul The NBA's active leader in assists, Paul's career is first-ballot Hall of Fame-worthy. A 10-time All-Star, Paul has also led the league in steals USA TODAY / Which current sports greats need a championship to six times, making nine all-NBA teams. cement their legacies? Across four organizations, Paul has participated in the playoffs 12 of the last 13 seasons. He's made the conference finals once, with the Houston Chris Bumbaca Rockets in 2018. Paul is under contract with the Thunder for close to $40 million in each of the next two seasons.

Marta No longer does Clayton Kershaw have to fear the Charles Barkley-Dan Marino treatment. The Brazilian soccer star finished as a runner-up at the 2007 World Cup and earned a silver medal at the Olympics the following year. Marta, 34, He and the Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series champions, an and Brazil lost to the U.S. at the 2011 World Cup in the quarterfinals, and achievement that previously had represented the lone omission from the the team has been bounced in the round-of-16 in 2015 and 2019. She is southpaw's otherwise Hall of Fame resumé. the World Cup's leading scorer — male or female — with 17 goals.

It's not that Kershaw, who just completed his 13th season, needed a ring Larry Fitzgerald to validate a bust alongside the game's greatest players in Cooperstown. But winning is paramount and titles are the currency. Championships will He has played all of his 257 games for the Cardinals and is the team's always be the highlights of one's career, especially for the all-time greats, all-time leader in catches and receiving yards. Arizona made the playoffs no matter which way it's sliced. for the first time with Fitzgerald on the roster in 2008, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. They've returned to the playoffs Which current professional athletes bound to be remembered as one of three times since, most recently losing in the NFC Championship Game his or her sport's respective greats remains without a championship? in 2015.

Philip Rivers The Cardinals (5-2 this season) compete in a difficult NFC West, and the 37-year-old Fitzgerald has 207 yards receiving. Back when they were the San Diego Chargers, Rivers led them to the playoffs five times (plus once as the Los Angeles Chargers). They made Dusty Baker it to the AFC Championship Game once. The 38-year-old is currently pursuing a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, which signed him to a Baker, 71, saw his most recent run at a first World Series (as a manager) one-year deal. The eight-time Pro Bowler's contract will expire after this end in Game 7 of the ALCS this year. With the San Francisco Giants in season, and will anyone be willing to hand him the keys to a contender 2002, his team had a 3-2 lead in the World Series before losing in seven (assuming the Colts don't win it all this season)? games. As the Chicago Cubs' skipper the next year, he endured a loss in Game 7 of the NLCS to the Marlins a night after the Steve Bartman Mike Trout incident (and loss). The Washington Nationals won back-to-back NL East titles in 2016 and 2017 before departing in the division series. Trout could retire tomorrow and even his biggest hater would have to consider him a top-five baseball player of all time. A championship or two If the Astros don't retain Baker, will he receive another chance to manage would cement his legacy as the player of a generation. The Los Angeles a contender? His chances of making the Hall likely won't be affected Angels need to help him out and put the team in a position to actually either way. make the playoffs, something the team has done once in Trout's career for a total of three postseason games. Phil Mickelson (US Open)

Lionel Messi Three Masters titles, a PGA Championship and one Open Championship. The only thing missing for a career grand slam? That One of the best soccer players of all time has won 10 La Liga crowns elusive U.S. Open. with FC Barcelona and four UEFA Champions League titles. Success on the international stage has proved more difficult to come by. Mickelson, 50, come close several times, finishing second or tied for Representing Argentina, Messi has yet to bring home a World Cup, second in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013. despite finishing second in 2014, or even a Copa América title. (He was USA TODAY LOADED: 10.29.2020 part of Argentina's gold medal-winning U-23 squad at the 2008 Olympics.)

Carmelo Anthony Anthony is the opposite of Messi, in the sense Melo has three Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016), an NCAA national title at Syracuse ... but zero NBA titles. He led the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, the closest Anthony has come to a championship. Still, he's 15th all-time on the league's scoring list.

The 36-year-old, 10-time All-Star and former scoring champ (2013) experienced a late-career revitalization this past season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Perhaps he can provide scoring and a veteran presence to a contender in his waning years to fulfill his winning ways.

Henrik Lundqvist

The Swedish goalie has been among the best since he debuted in 2005- 06 with the New York Rangers, whom he helped propel into the playoffs in 11 of 14 seasons, including a 2014 Stanley Cup Final loss. His 459 career regular-season wins rank sixth all-time and his .918 save percentage is 12th. Lundqvist won the 2012 award given to the league's top goalie with a .930 SV%. While he has won gold medals in the Olympics and world championships, he has never hoisted the prize in the NHL.

After having his contract bought out by the Rangers this offseason, the 38-year-old joined the Washington Capitals on a one-year deal, looking to win a starting job and capitalize on their contender window.