SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 09/08/19 Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers 1152033 Ducks prospect Simon Benoit making most of his chance 1152062 Oilers rookies fall 1-0 in intense battle with Flames to shine 1152063 McDavid says knee feels great, not sure about opening 1152034 Jobs are open, so watch these four young Ducks in night ‘Rookie Faceoff’ tournament 1152064 Tyler Benson finding his stride, focusing on Oilers roster 1152035 2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Anaheim Ducks spot 1152065 Even if he’s unsure about his return, Oilers’ Connor Arizona Coyotes McDavid looks and sounds like his old self 1152036 Arizona Coyotes announce schedule for training camp at Gila River Arena Los Angeles Kings 1152066 Kings goaltender Jack Campbell signs two-year extension Boston Bruins 1152067 How a Kings trade with the ‘Bicep Club’ landed them 1152037 Jakub Lauko aiming to continue his transition to hockey in fast-rising prospect Samuel Fagemo North America 1152068 ROOKIES – ANAHEIM 4, LOS ANGELES 1: DURZI, 1152038 Looking at the legacy of Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs LIZOTTE, STOTHERS 1152039 Jakub Lauko continues to impress for Bruins 1152070 CAMPBELL “EXCITED” TO INK TWO-YEAR EXTENSION 1152040 Bruins still getting over the Game 7 loss as camp WITH KINGS approaches 1152071 JACK CAMPBELL SIGNS TWO YEAR EXTENSION 1152041 Peace, love and happiness in NHL rookie tournaments WITH $1.65-MILLION AAV don’t quite fly with old-school onlookers 1152072 2019 ROOKIE FACEOFF BEGINS TODAY IN IRVINE: SCHEDULE, ROSTER, LINKS Buffalo Sabres 1152073 AFTER STRONG SHOWING THIS SUMMER, 1152042 Victor Olofsson continues to state case for NHL roster CONSTANTINOU BATTLING TO EARN CONTRACT spot in Sabres win 1152043 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 'on track' in recovery, won't MontrealCanadiens participate in Sabres camp 1152074 Power play fizzles as Canadiens' rookies lose to Senators 1152044 Arttu Ruotsalainen sees Prospects Challenge as first 'big 1152075 Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin not interested in signing chance' with Sabres Andrei Markov 1152045 Inside the NHL: Will Bruins ever overcome the pain of their 1152076 Former Canadien Brandon Prust and wife Maripier Morin Game 7 dud? split up 1152046 Sabres hopefuls are tested against elite talent at the 1152077 Canadiens Notebook: Ryan Poehling offers good advice Prospects Challenge for Cole Caufield 1152078 Nick Suzuki and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard stand out for the Calgary Flames Canadiens in the first game of the rookie showcase 1152047 Zagidulin shines in Flames Young Guns victory over Oilers 1152048 Flames prospect Luke Philp pumped for next test — pro New Jersey Devils hockey 1152079 WATCH: Live stream of Devils’ game vs. Penguins at 1152049 Flames highly-touted prospect Dillon Dube discovers the Prospects Challenge recipe for success — and salmon 1152080 Who will the Devils play with P.K. Subban in their top defensive pair? Chicago Blackhawks 1152050 Transition from forward to defense keeps Blackhawks New York Islanders prospect Jack Ramsey on his toes: ‘It’s a lot of new stuff 1152081 Prospect defenseman Noah Dobson trying to make 1152051 5 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ prospects 5-4 OT win Islanders' roster for opening night in Traverse City, including Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist 1152052 Kirby Dach loses cool as Blackhawks prospects fall to Ottawa Senators Maple Leafs 1152082 Abramov continues to shine at Senators rookie tourney 1152053 Blackhawks coverage from the 2019 Traverse City NHL 1152083 Josh Norris says he's ready to take the next step with the prospects tournament Senators 1152054 Top players from around the league filled Chicago this week during NHL Media Tour Philadelphia Flyers 1152055 Takeaways and observations: Blackhawks fall to Maple 1152084 Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, Joel Farabee: Kid Line Leafs in Game 2 at Traverse City could be Flyers’ go-to unit in future 1152085 In his first full NHL season, Flyers’ Phil Myers ready to Colorado Avalanche build off promising debut 1152056 Altitude Sports “exploring” Amazon option to break logjam 1152086 An Isaac Ratcliffe-Morgan Frost-Joel Farabee line, with TV distributors 'effortless' Philippe Myers, more on Flyers rookie camp 1152057 Avalanche player (p)review: Vladislav Kamenev 1152087 When will prospect German Rubtsov get to Flyers? Changing his game could speed things up Columbus Blue Jackets 1152088 Philippe Myers hopes new ‘less is more’ mentality helps 1152058 Blue Jackets 3, Wild 2, OT | Goalie prospect Veini him earn a full-time role with the Flyers Vehvilainen looks sharp at prospects tournament 1152059 Elvis Merzlikins builds trust with Columbus Blue Jackets' goalies coach Detroit Red Wings 1152060 Mickey Redmond's roast was fun but earnest effort for Ken Daniels' foundation 1152061 Joe Veleno continues roll as Red Wings beat Blues in Prospects tourney Pittsburgh Penguins 1152089 Penguins roster hopeful Anthony Angello looks to throw his big body around 1152090 Eying an opportunity, John Marino jumps right into the fray for the Penguins San Jose Sharks 1152091 Sharks prospects start rookie tournament: What the brass is looking for (and how to watch) 1152092 Sharks' Joe Thornton weighs in on who San Jose's next captain might be 1152093 Joe Thornton's return should benefit Sharks' promising young forwards St Louis Blues 1152094 Blues prospects fade again in Traverse City Tampa Bay Lightning 1152095 Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev uses time off to see the world Toronto Maple Leafs 1152096 There’s a long waiting list of young NHL stars who aren’t waiting to get paid 1152097 Brazeau, Elynuik looking to be towers of trouble for Marlies opposition this season 1152098 Scott's play, attitude giving Maple Leafs goaltending hope for the future 1152099 Leafs prospect Mikhail Abramov is unique in more ways than one Vancouver Canucks 1152109 Quinn Hughes hype higher as Canucks' defenceman keeps growing game 1152110 Is J.T. Miller at centre the answer for the Canucks? Vegas Golden Knights 1152100 Dylan Coghlan fires first shot in bid to make Golden Knights 1152101 Golden Knights prospect Paul Cotter thinks he’s ready for AHL 1152102 Chasing NHL dreams, Golden Knights newcomers get first taste of rookie camp Washington Capitals 1152103 Capitals score ten goals in blowout win over Hurricanes in Prospects Showcase 1152105 Alex Ovechkin does the math on how to catch Wayne Gretzky’s goal record Websites 1152111 Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Leafs fans can bank on more Matthews, less Andersen 1152112 Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens prospect Josh Brook out to prove he's a complete defenceman 1152113 Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' off-season roster shakeup leaves players with lots to prove 1152114 Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Quinn Hughes prepared to handle increasing expectations 1152115 Sportsnet.ca / Crosby reflects as he closes in on 1,000 games: 'It's gone by really fast' 1152116 YAHOO SPORTS / Antonio Brown jokingly accepts Canucks' training camp invite 1152117 YAHOO SPORTS / Auston Matthews disappointed by speculation he'll leave Toronto when contract expires Winnipeg Jets 1152106 Underdog Jets rookie Phelan making most of chance 1152107 Comrie signs up for two more years with Jets 1152108 Opportunity cost and a way for Winnipeg to exploit the ongoing Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine negotiations

SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 1152033 Anaheim Ducks Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.08.2019

Ducks prospect Simon Benoit making most of his chance to shine

By ELLIOTT TEAFORD | [email protected] | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: September 7, 2019 at 9:25 pm | UPDATED: September 7, 2019 at 9:43 PM

IRVINE — A year ago, Simon Benoit skated onto the ice at the Ducks’ rookie camp as an unknown. He wasn’t drafted by the team. He didn’t have a contract awaiting his signature. He was invited to camp with zero expectation placed on his sturdy 6-foot-3, 192-pound frame.

“I came as a nobody,” Benoit said Saturday.

After a strong camp, after a standout showing in the first Rookie Faceoff in Las Vegas, he earned a spot on the roster of the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ AHL team. After he was given an enhanced role with the Gulls, he signed a three-year, $2.775-million contract last March 4.

“I was proud of it,” he said. “I worked hard for it. Now the easy part is done and the hard part is beginning. For sure, it was kind of a relief because you worked hard since you were a kid to become part of an NHL team and then that happened and I called my mom and I called my dad and I think they were crying because I worked hard for it. Then, five minutes later, I was, like, ‘I have to work harder.’”

Benoit, a 20-year-old native of Laval, Quebec, is likely ticketed for San Diego again this season, but it’s not difficult to foresee a day in the not- too-distant future when he’s challenging for ice time with the Ducks’ defense corps. In fact, it could happen sooner than later.

General Manager Bob Murray is in the midst of a rather dramatic roster makeover. It’s out with the old and in with the new, as the franchise embraces a youth movement. Benoit’s apprenticeship is ongoing, to be sure, but he’s made significant strides in the past year.

Benoit stood out among the Ducks’ defensemen during their 4-1 victory Saturday over the Kings in the Rookie Faceoff at Great Park Ice. He moved the puck well, maintained his position and delivered the sort of physical play that the Ducks want and need from their defensemen.

He didn’t have a goal or an assist in the first of the Ducks’ three games in the Rookie Faceoff, but he was a forceful presence while paired with Dawson Davidson, a 21-year-old on a tryout after a successful 2018-19 junior season in which he scored 13 goals and 75 points.

“Mostly, I don’t look for hits,” Benoit said of his play. “I mostly wait until the play is given to me. When the play is there, I go for the big hit. I don’t want to force it because when you force it you can do mistakes. It’s part of my game. I’m 6-foot-3 and nearly 200 pounds, I have to (deliver hits).”

What happens next? Benoit knows the job isn’t done and there’s more work to be done before he’s an NHLer.

“I’ve barely even started,” he said. “I found the key. Now I have to open the door.”

DUCKS DEFEAT KINGS

Max Jones, Max Comtois, Kiefer Sherwood and Sam Steel (power play) scored for the Ducks, and goaltender Lukas Dostal made 28 saves in their victory over the Kings. Arthur Kaliyev scored the Kings’ lone goal, which gave them an all-too-brief 1-0 lead in the first period.

The Ducks play the San Jose Sharks at 5 p.m. on Sunday and the Kings face the Colorado Avalanche at 1 p.m. After a day off, the Ducks complete the Rookie Faceoff with a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The Kings play the Sharks at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

TOP PICKS ABSENT

First-round draft picks Trevor Zegras of the Ducks, who was selected ninth overall this past June, and Alex Turcotte of the Kings (fifth) aren’t eligible to play in the Rookie Faceoff because they’re collegians. Zegras is a freshman at Boston University and Turcotte is at the University of Wisconsin.

1152034 Anaheim Ducks 80 miles south of here (in San Diego). They’ll be making a statement in training camp. And you can see it by the preparation. It’s very obvious by the way they’ve skated the last two days, our guys are coming in early Jobs are open, so watch these four young Ducks in ‘Rookie Faceoff’ and ready to make a great impression here. That they’re ready to step tournament into the NHL.”

In that vein, we caught up with four would-be Ducks who could not only make the opening night roster but also stick throughout 2019-20 and into By Eric Stephens the future.

Sep 7, 2019 Troy Terry

The right wing’s season of growth ended abruptly on March 29 when he suffered a fractured tibia while blocking a shot by Calgary defenseman IRVINE, Calif. – The would-bes now occupy stalls in the Ducks’ still- Mark Giordano. pristine locker room at their still-sparkling new practice facility. They’ve finished their workout and hopped into team-issued T-shirts, hats and Terry, 22, sees Saturday’s game against the Kings’ better prospects as shorts, while a sizable group of already-ares trudge past in their sweaty the start of a new chance. equipment after their own informal skate session. “In terms of being in a mental mindset of it’s ‘go time’ again, I think it The proven Ducks are ceding their space at Great Park Ice to the does start Saturday,” he said. “All us young guys want to contribute and hopefuls, for now. Over the next few days, the hopefuls have the main be part. At the end of the day, we got to come in and earn a spot. When arena and are receiving other preferential treatment, but their true aim is you’re in that position, it does feel like you’re in the midst. You’re going to to join the proven content off to the side and take over the environs. work every day and you’ve got that mindset where you want to give everything you have. There was an intersection of excitement and caution for the Ducks on Saturday as they hosted the start of the Rookie Faceoff — the six-team “I think that does start Saturday. And it doesn’t really stop. We’re full go tournament full of prospects now in its second year after debuting in up until the first game in October.” suburban Las Vegas. An injection of youth is expected, if not planned, for a franchise in need of new blood following its two-year tumble from A star player at the University of Denver, Terry was ineligible to Western Conference finalists to overmatched victims of a first-round participate in rookie camps until last fall, after he completed his college broom job to lottery-bound outfit playing out the string with weeks to go. career. The winger turned heads in Las Vegas with his skill and vision. He had the ability to make plays even in the tightest of spaces against There are questions throughout the Ducks’ roster, which we’ve recently opposing defenders. looked at in more detail with our position-by-position preview series. But there is young talent within the organization that is on the brink of moving It earned him a plum spot alongside center Ryan Getzlaf as he opened into the lineup as the next regulars who could carry the franchise forward, the year in Anaheim. But the more he played, Terry grew increasingly perhaps even into a new period of playoff contention if they coalesce with tentative and lost confidence. Six unproductive games were enough for the existing leaders and supportive veterans. the Ducks to determine that he needed to play in the less-pressurized environment of the American Hockey League. This isn’t a situation where there might be one job (or possibly two) realistically open for these hopefuls to target. There are a few spots at The winger then buried the version of that player who was unsure of forward and on defense for the taking. Some of the participants taking himself in October. Another, one full of belief and conviction, had been the ice Saturday evening against the Kings – and in games Sunday birthed by the time he was called back up to the NHL in January. But against San Jose and Tuesday against Vegas – could be on the Honda while he showed the elements that can make him a point-producer for Center ice on Oct. 3 when the Ducks open their season against Arizona. the Ducks, Terry knows 32 games of experience don’t give him any cause to take anything for granted. So, there is excitement, for the players and the fanbase watching them. And there is caution, for the players and the coaches and executives It is an ethos that he carries. watching them on the ice. “I think this started back in youth hockey,” Terry said. “There’s guys that “I’ve got my friends back home or whatever the case is saying, ‘We can’t were the best in the country for my age and they took it for granted. And wait for you to come. You know the Ducks come in October to the best guys at age 12 weren’t the best players at age 18. It’s just the Colorado,’” said Troy Terry, who played in his hometown of Denver for mindset. It’s just the way people want to think when they’re doing well the first time as an NHL player last March. “I tell them all, ‘Just let me and think they’re comfortable. make the team.’ That’s what I’m focused on right now and I know that I “For myself, I know that I showed myself last year. It was a rollercoaster think if I have a good camp, I’m in a good spot. year, but I think I proved to myself most importantly that I can play here.”

“But I know I’m not entitled to anything.” Terry didn’t stay idle as he recovered from the fractured tibia. He was in There were few positives in the Ducks’ 2018-19 season. What did result San Diego for part of the Gulls’ push for a Calder Cup title even though was a roster turnover that had already begun. Some of that turnover is he was still on crutches and couldn’t play. He further strengthened his reflected in the lineup they have for this rookie camp. Nine players – all slight upper body while his leg remained in a cast and continued to build between ages 19-24 – dressed in a combined 231 games. himself up after the cast came off. “I think I got a frame on me,” he joked.

The three games played over the next four days can be a jumping-off The winger was skating again during the Ducks’ development camp. And point for a player to make an impact for Anaheim this season. Or more within the last two weeks, Terry has been able to do leg workouts that than one. Kevin Dineen witnessed how Alex DeBrincat, a 2016 second- concentrate on explosion. “I’m 100 percent,” he said. round pick for Chicago, went into the long-standing Traverse City (Mich.) Always well-spoken, Terry now has a better sense of self and his abilities NHL Prospect tournament in 2017 and tore up the competition. His behind the confidence he exudes. A year later, he knows what the Ducks performance served as the foundation for a rookie season in which he are all about and what they’re now expecting of him. He’ll have a coach led the Blackhawks with 28 goals. in Dallas Eakins who knows him and helped restore that confidence “Everybody has certain strengths, but they also have certain areas – we down in San Diego with a prime role and tons of ice time. look for areas of weaknesses on players too,” said Dineen, a former Now it is time to take up permanent residence in Anaheim. But it won’t be Blackhawks assistant who’ll coach the Ducks in the tournament after handed to him. rejoining the organization as the new boss of their AHL team. “You look at those. But when you see guys and you see what the comparables are, “Yeah, I’m definitely not assuming I’m on any team right now,” Terry said. trust me, there’s some incredible upsides. There’s one or two guys that I “I got to come and show that I belong. I think that’s what makes this won’t really mention that really, really – there was a very large ‘wow’ organization so successful in the last couple of years. I’d say as an factor for me just watching them on the ice for two days. organization we kind of took it for granted last year and we had a down year. I think for myself and for everyone on the team, we all need to “I’m really excited to see them over the next couple of days because I think it’s a pretty safe bet some of these players we’ll get to see here and realize we need to be better. For myself, I know I’m not a roster right And he’s lacking in experience compared to Nick Ritchie or Devin Shore. now. I’ve got to earn that. Nothing’s going to be given to me. Also, Nicolas Deslauriers was acquired in a June trade.

“I think that’s kind of the biggest thing. Not thinking that you’re going to And there is fellow prospect Max Jones, who was one of eight players do it. That you’re going to be there and entitled to anything. It’s just who broke in with Anaheim last season. The last thing Comtois can do is knowing that you got to earn it.” assume a roster spot will be awarded if he does what’s asked.

Jacob Larsson “The coaching staff has decisions to make,” Comtois said. “I’m just trying to be here and forcing their hand to keep me. It’s part of my game to be For players like Brayden Tracey, whom the Ducks selected in the first hard and give my best every day. At the end of this camp and at the end round of this June’s draft, the NHL rookie camp will be a new experience. of main camp, I don’t want to have any regrets if I go down or stay with But this is old hat for Larsson. the team. I’m going to work hard and give all my best and see what Larsson was a first-round pick four years ago. He played his first few happens with the coaching staff after.” games for the Ducks to start the 2016-17 season and has been around Claiming that spot means going above and beyond what the Ducks are several of the team’s camps. But it’s easy to forget that the defenseman expecting. That is how Comtois has approached making the other teams only turned 22 in April. he has played on – and, for some, ultimately star for.

Team brass wanted Larsson in this prospect mix, even though it’s almost “When I came here last year, I knew I was able to make this team,” time for him to shed that label. Comtois said. “Since growing up, everywhere I’ve played, people doubt “For me, I feel like it’s nice to get a couple of games before the main me. People didn’t think I was able to play at that level or go harder. It was camp starts,” Larsson said. “It’s always nice to have a couple of games the same thing at the World Juniors (in 2018). Nobody thought I was under the belt. Getting the tempo and all that. I like it. It’s nice. Get to going to be on the team. I end up playing a good role and had a good know all the new guys and all that. tournament.

“They told me to be here. I like it. I don’t have any problem with that.” “It was the same thing here to start the year. No, I don’t take anything for granted. I know that there’s a couple spots available. There’s a lot of Dogged by a knee injury that hindered his development in the 2017-18 guys in this room that can take those spots and a lot of guys in Anaheim season, Larsson made expected strides as he stayed healthy. He spent right now that – they’re not going to give those spots away easy. It’s our most of 2018-19 in Anaheim and there was growth over his 49 games job to go hard at them. Make them work and try to get better.” there. A year ago in Las Vegas, Comtois formed a union with Steel and Terry, Little was at stake from a team standpoint at the end of the year. But and the chemistry was immediate and palpable. The three were those contests mattered to Larsson. General manager Bob Murray, who dangerous on nearly every shift and highly productive. Dineen put them had gone behind the bench as interim coach, wanted to see how the together again in the first two days of rookie camp. Swede could handle the kind of minutes that go to top-four defenders. In six of the final nine games, Larsson played more than 20 minutes and The first game that truly counts might be in October. But the season for had a high mark of 25:06 in the finale. Comtois begins on Saturday evening. This one matters.

A more confident and mature player began to emerge. Larsson finished “I want to make this team just as bad as I wanted last year,” he said. “I’m the season with a strong performance for San Diego in its lengthy AHL not coming here thinking that I’m a veteran in this room. It’s not the case. playoff run. His seven points for the Gulls in 16 postseason games was I only played 10 games. It’s just experience that I have right now. second among defenders, but with the Ducks he might be more of a Obviously, I know it’s going to be way harder this year because people positional shutdown type who moves the puck around and kills penalties. know that I can play at that level.

“You learn a lot when you’re up here,” Larsson said. “You see a lot of “It’s just going to be a fun ride. I just have to keep my game simple and good players playing and learn from them. I think probably that’s the just go with what I do best and try to make an impression.” thing. You learn what to do and what not to do. Handle situations that Brendan Guhle you’re usually not that comfortable in. And I think confidence plays a little part too, of course. I think that was probably the biggest thing.” The term “fresh start” often is thrown around when a player moves from one team to another. But being dealt to Anaheim truly was that for Guhle, Assessing last season, Larsson felt he was a much different player at the a 2015 second-round pick who played games with Buffalo in three end than the beginning. Better with reading plays. Making the easier play different seasons before being nudged down the Sabres’ depth chart. more often. Shooting the puck with more confidence. Now he is taking what he learned into this fall as he seeks to lock down a position for It didn’t take long for Guhle to show why the Ducks acquired him as part good. of a package for Brandon Montour. His smooth skating immediately stood out during his Anaheim debut in Vancouver. And he was getting “One of the biggest things was in the position game,” Larsson said. plenty of playing time, which didn’t happen often in Buffalo. More than 18 “Where to be in position and when? When you’re going to have your stick minutes in that first game against the Canucks. Nineteen minutes in his (active) and when you’re not going to have your stick? Because that is next game, 24 in the one following that and 20 in another. such an important thing to have up in the NHL. Everybody’s so skilled that if you don’t have your stick in the right place, you’re gone. That’s the But the groundwork Guhle was laying for this season effectively ended main part. Even outside of the rink. I felt like more older, if that’s the right when he suffered an oblique injury during a March contest in Arizona. word to say. The 22-year-old tried to leave another impression on the Ducks by coming back for the season finale and show he could be an asset for San “Both parts. But especially the positioning game. That’s really important. I Diego in the AHL playoffs. looked at a lot of video with Marty (Wilford, Ducks assistant coach). And even with Sly (Gulls assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre) in San Diego. We The return was ill-fated. really tried to train on it and learn from the games I played.” “It felt good there at the start and then I got another shot there,” Guhle Max Comtois said. “I just knew right away after that I where I thought it was toast.”

A player who scored seconds into his first NHL shift and put pucks in the Guhle’s hope to recover and join the Gulls for a shot at the Calder Cup net for every team he played on last season will inspire excitement about faded when they lost in the conference final. But the lack of action aided his future. It is easy to see Comtois, a well-built power forward who can him in getting well. He was able to rest and let the abdominal muscle skate and has a scoring touch, being part of a group that could grow repair itself. By the middle of June, he was resuming full physical activity. together as the Ducks’ next core. That was important. Guhle sees the state of the Ducks’ defense. Michael But when will that be? The Ducks’ buyout of longtime star Corey Perry Del Zotto was brought back and Jani Hakanpää was imported from appears to have opened a door for Terry. A problematic hip injury that overseas. Korbinian Holzer was retained. But there is a major need for a could shelve Ryan Kesler, another former cornerstone, provides an No. 4 defenseman to slot in behind Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and opening at center that Sam Steel can dive into. Comtois, however, has a Cam Fowler. The Ducks targeted Kevin Shattenkirk to fill that role, but full plate of competitors on left wing. He isn’t beating out Rickard Rakell. Shattenkirk opted to sign with Tampa Bay. But that gives Guhle the opportunity he has envisioned since the trade.

“Pretty much all summer I was envisioning myself making the team,” he said. “That was my No. 1 goal. Thought about it almost every day. I’m really looking forward to camp. These next rookie games. Just playing my best and having fun.”

Like others in the dressing room at Great Park, this season is one that can provide definition. What he can be. With the Ducks, of course.

“I want to show that I’m very capable of playing in the NHL,” Guhle said. “And I want to show them how I can use my skating and how I can defend. Take care of my own end but also contribute offensively. I want to show them both sides of my games. Show them that I can be reliable and that I’m ready for the NHL.

“There’s spots there and I just have to show them that I deserve one.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152035 Anaheim Ducks Gibson is currently the exception. My model uses the last three seasons of data, and in that time frame he’s been consistently dominant, creating more certainty that he can repeat his stellar numbers.

2019-20 NHL Season Preview: Anaheim Ducks Over the last three seasons there have been 12 individual seasons by a goalie that has saved 20 goals or more above expected. Gibson is the only goalie that has done it each year, with his last two seasons being his By Dom Luszczyszyn best, ranking second (2017-18) and fourth (2018-19) among all individual goalie seasons over that span. Gibson finished first in goals saved above Sep 7, 2019 expected in both those seasons while his combined 61 goals saved is double what the next best goalie has done since 2017 and triple that of anyone outside the top six. The season before he saved another 25 to Last season was a nightmare for the Anaheim Ducks. Though many rank in the top five. expected the beginning of a decline for an aging team, what happened in the 2018-19 season is not what many pictured. The Ducks went from a In today’s game, his elite consistency is unrivalled; the only goalie since below average possession team to one of the worst in the NHL, 2007-08 to post three straight seasons saving 25 goals or more is Henrik eventually getting what was coming to them with a losing skid for the Lundqvist, who did it in four straight (and saved 20 or more in nine ages. From Dec. 18 to Feb. 9 – a span of nearly two months – they won straight). No other goalie has even saved 15 goals above expected in just two of 21 games, plummeting down the standings. The team fired three straight seasons in that time frame. That Gibson hasn’t so much as Randy Carlyle the day after, but by then it was far too late. been a Vezina finalist during this span of excellence is a farce. Actually, what’s even more appalling is that he’s only earned a single third place Many recall that version of the team, the one that couldn’t buy a win, and vote in three seasons. see a team that will likely contend for a position in the league’s bottom five. My model is a bit more bullish on their chances, though, placing the Since the voters (read: literally the GMs of this league) generally only team just outside the bottom 10 with a legitimate shot at the playoffs in a care about the best stats when it comes to goalies – wins and raw save weak Pacific Division. percentage as a tie-breaker – it’s going to take a team effort for Gibson to get the credit he deserves. It’s the porous defense in front of him That will likely be a point of contention for some and that’s reasonable; maligning his chances on both fronts as it limits the team’s chances of the Ducks were very bad last season. My model has long had a soft spot winning, and makes pucks harder to stop, lowering his save percentage. for the team, but even after switching to expected goals and putting more Last year’s .917 save percentage was Gibson’s lowest effort as a starter, emphasis on play-driving, it still has more belief in Anaheim than the but it was largely a result of an expected .903 save percentage, the general public. Last season was awful, but the Ducks were a strong team second worst defensive support a starter has seen since 2007-08, behind prior to that, and there’s reason to believe a number of their players can only Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen in 2016-17. In his time as a starter, Gibson’s bounce back. Injuries played a role in last year’s struggles too, meaning expected save percentage has never been above .910. For further better health should help. context, last year’s Vezina winner, Andrei Vasilevskiy, had an expected save percentage of .920. It makes his ability to not only stay above water The biggest potential boost, though, will be from a new voice behind the while on a sinking ship but post elite numbers all the more impressive. bench. While the Ducks were never stout when it came to scoring chances against under Carlyle, last season served as a new low where The porous defence that’s to blame for Gibson’s lack of hardware used to the team earned a 42.2 percent expected goal rate in games he was their be very well regarded, but it’s collectively a shadow of its past self. The coach. The previous two seasons the team was at 50.5 percent, which is team has lost some big names over the last few seasons, but that hardly close to where they were at after Carlyle was dismissed at 49.7 percent. excuses the mess that’s become of this group, which now ranks as the Their post-Carlyle record wasn’t that bad either at 14-11-1, good for a 91- league’s fourth worst. point pace – a bit better than what’s projected for the team here. Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson and Cam Fowler are the big three left Within that context, it’s plausible that last year’s struggles with Carlyle and last year was a trying time for all three, a massive departure from were a blip and there’s reason for optimism with Dallas Eakins now in their previous efforts. Over the previous three seasons, the trio was worth tow. If general manager Bob Murray could get the team playing average nearly five combined wins on average and all graded out as top pairing hockey down the stretch, it shouldn’t be a stretch to think that Eakins can defenders of varying degree. Now, they are only projected to be worth manage the same or perhaps even better. 1.9 combined wins thanks to last season where Lindholm wasn’t his usual elite self and both Manson and Fowler played well below What the Ducks also have going for them is the league’s best replacement level. It’s that massive difference that likely explains the goaltending, which is the biggest difference-maker between them and the difference between what my model sees and public perception. How teams below them. It’s the main reason the team is outside the bottom 10 much value the three can recuperate this season will dramatically affect despite an unimposing group of skaters, a group that ranks as the how far the Ducks go. league’s fifth worst. Anaheim finishes in the bottom third in 41 percent of the simulations, which means that scenario is still very much in the cards, Lindholm is the team’s best defender, and until this prior season he was holding the same likelihood as the team making the playoffs. one of the game’s best and most underappreciated – routinely worth over two wins of value. When he’s on the ice, the Ducks are usually getting a But if Eakins can finesse the best of that group, the Ducks could certainly majority of the chances and he’s led them in that regard every season. find a way to surprise in 2019-20 after a lacklustre effort last season. Last year, his relative numbers were as good as ever, but his actual As mentioned above, everything starts and ends with the goaltending, numbers took a big hit. From 2016-2018, the Ducks outscored opponents mainly John Gibson, who is projected to be far and away the league’s by 0.5 goals per 60 at 5-on-5 with Lindholm on the ice, identical to his most valuable netminder (though Ryan Miller ranks as one of the expected numbers. Last year, the expected goals difference dropped league’s better backups). It’s very evident from the team’s depth chart hard to minus-0.28 per 60 and the actual goals rate was just under that the rest of the roster is barren, but having a goaltender of Gibson’s break-even. He still grades out as the team’s strongest driver and is elite calibre provides some hope. He alone is projected to be worth nearly five in transition from breaking the puck out to protecting his blueline, but his wins, putting him in the same stratosphere as Connor McDavid in terms impact here is lessened as a result of being outchanced last season. of value provided to his team. He still grades out as a top pairing defenseman, though, something that That’s a bold claim at face value, especially when looking at other goalie can no longer be said about Manson and Fowler, whose efforts last year values, but it makes some sense when you dig a little deeper into how were much more worrisome. For the past couple years, Manson and goalies are graded and how these projections work. Generally speaking, Lindholm made up the team’s excellent shutdown pair, a duo was that if there’s one thing that can make or break a season, it’s goaltending, nearly impenetrable. In the two seasons prior to the last one, Manson usually deemed the most important position on the team. That’s spent 75 percent of his minutes tethered to Lindholm, but got a much something most people can agree on. The issue with projecting even the larger dose of life without Lindholm last year when he instead spent 65 best goalies with a value representative of that fact, though, is the percent of his time away from him. Things weren’t pretty then, especially uncertainty that comes with it. They may have been elite one year, but when paired with Fowler, where the duo earned a ghastly 39 percent average the next. Or bad, bad, then good. Or any other variation. expected goals share. Goaltending is the most volatile position in hockey and that’s generally reflected in each goalie’s projected value. Fowler is mostly to blame there, and while he has been overrated for games, though, the team was 13-11-6, an 87.5-point pace, with a huge much of his career he’s never been nearly as bad as he was last season. improvement in their underlyings to 47 percent expected goals. And that Posting a 41 percent expected goals rate on the season was a new low includes their massive 12-game losing streak. Few remember that just for him; it rated as the lowest of any regular defender on the team and before that the Ducks ripped off an 11-2-0 stretch coinciding with Kase’s one of the worst marks in the entire league. That dragged his projected return. After Kase went down to a season-ending injury, the Ducks went contributions way down, giving him the largest negative impact on the 15-18-1, meaning they played at a 77-point pace without him in the team in terms of play-driving at both ends of the ice. With Lindholm’s pair lineup. taking on a majority of the opponent’s best players, and a heavy dose of time next to Manson, “tough minutes” isn’t a valid excuse here, either. Using records with or without a player is generally not the best practice, Fowler can put up some points, but the amount of power play time he but in this case the team simply wasn’t the same without him. He is far gets makes those numbers significantly less impressive too. and away their best play-driver; it’s not even close. Last season he posted a 55 percent expected goals rate that was six percentage points A bounce-back is all Anaheim can hope for, and the projected win value higher than the team’s second best player. The team was 10.8 percent from above is how far my model expects each to swing back toward better with Kase on the ice, an impact that ranks second to only Mark where they’ve previously been. There’s a lot of variation here, though, Stone last season. That translated to the scoresheet too where the and that will dictate where the Ducks land this season. They can’t afford Ducks scored 58 percent of the goals with him on the ice. That on-ice to have two of their best defensemen getting caved in on a nightly basis dominance didn’t abruptly begin last season either. He’s been Anaheim’s again. leader in that regard over the past two seasons. He gets there by being excellent in transition and taking a ton of shots. As for the rest, that’s where things get even dicier. Brendan Guhle and Jacob Larsson are both 22 and have some upside. They could be the And he can score, too. Over the past two seasons, Kase has scored at a spark that propels the Ducks defense if given a chance. Guhle has great first line rate and his 2.34 points per 60 led the team last season. On a underlying numbers and had a positive expected goals rate in his limited per minute basis, only three players have scored at a more efficient rate time in Anaheim after coming over in the Brandon Montour deal, but it than Kase in the past two seasons: Auston Matthews, Viktor Arvidsson remains to be seen if he can handle a top four role. Ditto for Larsson, and Alex Ovechkin. That’s mighty fine company. That he only played who was one of the few Ducks’ regulars not to get completely caved in 15:39 last year when he did suit up was among the many questionable last season. Jani Hakanpaa appears to round out the group according to decisions of the Carlyle era. Finding him more ice time is the easiest way Eric Stephens’ last depth chart analysis, but as a 27-year-old Finnish for the Ducks to improve. import, it’s unlikely he adds much value. That looks to be what the Ducks aim to do this season, putting him next A lot of things have to go right, and the once deep group now suddenly to Getzlaf and Rakell on the top line. Kase’s scoring was at its best on a looks very thin, while lacking a true star. It’s a similar story up front, line with Getzlaf last season, and it’s with Kase that Getzlaf looked closer though on that front there at least seems to be a succession plan in to his usual dominant self at both ends of the ice. The duo posted a 55 place, one that gives the forward group a bit more upside. percent expected goals rate together, and with one being a pure playmaker and the other being a volume shooter it seems like a natural The team’s two most notable forwards, Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell, fit. were not immune to Anaheim’s struggles. Like the Ducks’ marquee defenders, Anaheim’s top duo saw their value tumble an alarming The rest of the depth doesn’t look very strong, but it is intriguing thanks to amount, with both being worth less than one win of value after being the team’s next wave of talent. It might be time for the Ducks to see what worth over 2.5 the previous two seasons according to their GSVA. That’s they have in that group. what happens when two previously dominant players go from controlling the game to chasing it, earning a 45 percent expected goals share last Sam Steel looks to be starting as the team’s second line center and was season. It meant less individual offence for both. Getzlaf’s 1.9 points per an absolute force in the WHL, scoring 131 points in his post-draft season 60 was just the third time in his career he didn’t post a first-line calibre and adding another 83 after. Last year was his first pro year, where he scoring rate, while Rakell’s production dried up even further to 1.3 points split time between the Ducks and the Gulls in the AHL, providing per 60. That’s a borderline fourth-line rate and a departure from the admirable production in both leagues. In the minors, his 41 points in 53 steady progression he had shown the previous five seasons, cementing games was solid, while his 41-point pace in 22 games with the Ducks is himself as a legitimate first-liner. He’s still close, but is arguably not that nothing to scoff at either. The Ducks also outscored teams by 1.2 goals anymore. per 60 at 5-on-5 with Steel on the ice, a very impressive mark for a rookie. With the Ducks defenders, their relative young age meant that a bounce- back season was probable, with a chance to get back up to their previous All that is enough to get excited about, but expectations should be heights. With these two up front, Rakell should be fine, but the key will be tempered. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Steel score 40-50 points this what Getzlaf, now 34, can provide at this stage of his career, a place year, especially in an elevated role, but he needs to be a much stronger where the age curve is especially unkind. The Ducks saw Ryan Kesler 200-foot player. Though the Ducks outscored teams heavily with Steel on fall off a cliff in his age 34 season (though injury issues did him no the ice, they shouldn’t let that paint their perception of him when his favours). Is it possible that Getzlaf’s drop-off last season is a sign of expected goals were the complete opposite. His goals percentage was things to come? 65 percent but his expected goals percentage was 35 percent. Go figure. In a 271-minute sample weird things like that can happen, but the fact For starters, Kesler didn’t have the same vision and wasn’t nearly as that he was greatly outchanced should take precedent. Still, after a year strong with the puck as Getzlaf. Though Getzlaf’s expected goals rates of growth I doubt his play will be as porous in his first full season and it have declined in four straight seasons, his ability to enter and exit the seems there’s a good chance he’ll be flanked by some strong wingers. zone as well as create chances for teammates has remained consistently He looks like he can be a decent middle-six center in his second season. strong throughout. That could be a good sign for next season that he can still be a strong contributor, but considering last year’s struggles, his days Steel isn’t the only player brimming with potential. In the absence of as a No. 1 center may be behind him. Corey Perry, Troy Terry looks to be the natural successor to a top six role and could see some time with Getzlaf as a result, but will need an My model no longer values him in that range, but what might help is the improvement over his first season where he scored 1.13 points per 60 addition of arguably the Ducks’ best forward to the right side of that top and carried a 45 percent expected goals rate. His point-per-game season line, Ondrej Kase. He may be Anaheim’s most important forward, in the AHL is definitely encouraging, though, as is his penalty differential something that was evident during his lengthy absences last season. which has potential to lead the team. That’s the biggest reason he’s rated That’s likely being overlooked by the public who don’t think much of this so highly, though his power play acumen also helps. His 5.98 points per team after last year’s dismal output. He provides first line value and with 60 there last season was the highest on the Ducks and he could spark a a bigger opportunity he may just be secret star – he’s easily one of the power play that has been in the bottom 10 for two straight seasons. Max league’s most underrated players. Jones looks to be starting on the fourth line and could be a decent play- driver with limited scoring upside – an improvement on what this team Health is always a concern with Kase as he played in only 30 games last was trotting out on the fourth line. Max Comtois isn’t listed, but he’s 20, season, but in those games he was far and away the team’s most produced well in a 10-game stint and has been lighting up the QMJHL impactful player. Kase was out to start the season (along with a number over the past two seasons. Nick Ritchie is arguably also part of that of other players) and the team predictably struggled, starting the season group, though comes with a little more experience at the ripe age of 23. 7-8-3 with a woeful 37 percent expected goals percentage. In the next 30 Last year was his best year yet, scoring at a 42-point pace, but he’s one favorable impressions in their first extended stay in the NHL. How of the league’s least disciplined forwards, bringing down his value. Brendan Guhle and Jacob Larsson will develop and whether they can be fixtures on a defense corps that’s now very shallow beyond the Lindholm- Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg round out the incumbents of note, Manson-Fowler triumvirate. with both providing top six value. While everyone else on the team struggled last year, their contributions looked in line with what’s usually If anything, the Ducks need players like Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell expected of them, and both should be good for another 40-50 points to bounce back and lead this transitioning group. No, they don’t need apiece in 2019-20. career seasons from the two to drive team improvement but they’re far better than the offensive threats that produced 48 points (Getzlaf) or 18 Despite last year’s wretched season, the Ducks have more avenues to goals (Rakell). As Dom noted, Ondrej Kase has the kind of actual and success than most may think. They’re only one season removed from underlying numbers that can forecast a breakout season. He can score back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back 100-point seasons (or the 30 goals. His problem has been staying healthy. If he does, the Ducks equivalent of in the case of the shortened season), and while last season lineup suddenly has something approaching legitimate scoring depth. was a massive departure from that, there’s plenty of reason to expect a bounce back. Getzlaf, Rakell, Lindholm, Manson and Fowler won’t be as Most of all, John Gibson and Dallas Eakins might be the real difference bad as they were last season. Kase will be a bigger factor with makers between a team that can muster a challenge for a playoff spot or (hopefully) more playing time and health. The kids are all right. And of one that will troll around the bottom half of the Western Conference as course, the team has a cheat code in net with Gibson. All that, plus a the kids continue to find their way. new hope behind the bench. This team is far from the write-off like which they’re being treated. Make no mistake, Gibson is a stud who often keeps his team in games they shouldn’t be in. His teammates effectively torpedoed his Vezina With that being said, last year still happened and it was as brutal as you chances as things got ugly last season. He was supported better remember it. That takes the shine off those past seasons and what those offensively and defensively in the final few weeks when nothing was at players previously accomplished. It may just be the new normal. That the stake. Eakins can provide that with improved structure, particularly of the Ducks are a fragile team when it comes to injuries shouldn’t be ignored play-driving variety that eases the pressure on their defense and goalie. either, as only Ottawa’s starters are projected for a lower average games He has coached some of the kids and they’ll be on board. But he must played projections. That matters, especially for a team that lacks depth, get the veterans to believe in what he sells them. and especially when that fragility applies to a few of their best skaters. The Ducks are getting younger and that’s a good thing. Maybe the full It’s going to be an interesting season in Orange County, and anyone fruition of that won’t take place this season. But there are enough good certain of what to expect from Anaheim is kidding themselves. The Ducks pieces in place now and potentially for the future that they can make are a wild card and could end up anywhere in the Pacific standings – serious noise again sooner than later. time will tell if they can be an actual wild-card team bound for the playoffs.

Market Expectations The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019

Anaheim Ducks: 81.5 points

The difference between my model and the market is one of the largest this season. Generally speaking, that’s not the best sign and could signify my model is missing something from the equation when it comes to the Ducks – and that’s after making summer adjustments to better account for play-driving, this team’s biggest weakness.

We’ll see who’s right at the end, and while I stand by the Ducks not being as bad as they’re made out to be, perhaps my model is a bit too high on them based on their market expectations.

What Fans Predict

Public Sample: 1,337

Fan Sample: 37

Things are all over the map here. The difference in distribution between the public and my model is stark with the average of the two being 8.8 points, the second largest projected variation this season (and the only two teams where the difference is greater than five points). So either everyone is wrong about this team or the Ducks are a model blindspot. Personally, I think it’s a little from column A and a little from column B. I don’t believe the Ducks are nearly as bad as they were in a catastrophic 2018-19 season; improvement feels like a near certainty without Carlyle manning the bench. On the other hand, the team is in decline and extremely thin outside their goaltending – a notoriously volatile position. Somewhere in the middle feels right, and lessons will be learned from whatever happens.

Not many Ducks fans participated in the survey, but their answers represent the collective uncertainty surrounding this team. A handful see a bottom-feeder, others see a playoff hopeful, others see a bubble team. It’s all up in the air.

What The Athletic Insider Thinks

Eric Stephens: This could be the most interesting season the Ducks have had in a few years – at least since they were among the West’s top teams and true Stanley Cup contenders. I’m not saying they will be good. And they could be bad. But they will be interesting as Dom noted above with some of new faces that figure to populate the lineup as regulars that GM Bob Murray hopes will carry the franchise forward.

It will be interesting to see how players like Sam Steel, Troy Terry and Max Jones move into full-time roles and handle those after making some 1152036 Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes announce schedule for training camp at Gila River Arena

BY MATT LAYMAN

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 AT 3:24 PM

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 AT 3:24 PM

The Arizona Coyotes had a big offseason, undergoing a change in ownership and acquiring Phil Kessel, as well as signing Clayton Keller to a contract extension. Now, it’s time to prepare for what’s next.

The team will begin its 2019 training camp on Thursday, Sept. 12 as players report for medicals and fitness testing. GM John Chayka, head coach Rick Tocchet and the players are all scheduled to meet with the media on that day.

On Friday, Sept. 13, practices begin. All training camp practices are free and open to the public, and fans can enter through Gate 3 at Gila River Arena.

The Coyotes will also have two home preseason games, also at Gila River Arena. Both games are free for children under 14 years old, first responders and military.

Arizona Sports LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152037 Boston Bruins It’s clear from talking to Lauko even now that he was somewhat less than thrilled about the assignment.

“The regular season wasn’t perfect for me — I struggled a bit,” he said. “I Jakub Lauko aiming to continue his transition to hockey in North America had some problem with the coach, a bit . . . but at the end of the season, in the playoffs and Memorial Cup, it kind of stabilized. I was fine . . . it was a satisfactory season.” By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff According to Lauko, the coach, Mario Pouliot “expected something else September 7, 2019, 7:31 p.m. from me . . . but we found a way at the end of the season to cooperate. I would say it was very good at the end of the season.”

Steen strikes twice BUFFALO — There is no standard conversion table, akin, say, to how kilograms convert to pounds, when trying to factor how European players Lauko picked up the primary assist on the first of Steen’s two goals in the will fit their games into North American-style hockey. 4-3 loss to the Sabres at KeyBank Rink.

The rinks here are smaller, with sheet width slimmed from 100 to 85 feet, Another Czech winger Matej Pekar, chosen 94th overall last season (17 the action therefore faster, and the smaller frozen acreage usually leads picks after Lauko) connected twice in a three-goal outburst in the middle to more physical contact. There is no room to hide. Timidity on the ice period when Buffalo moved out to a 4-1 lead. flashes like a pair of red lights at a railroad crossing. Steen, a 2016 draft pick (No. 165 overall) who has yet to play in North No one is quite sure if Czech-born Jakub Lauko has all the goods yet to America, added his second of the night on a power play with 9:30 play for the Bruins in 2019-20, but it is apparent the rawboned left winger remaining in regulation. Samuel Asselin , a left winger who had 86 points understands his way around the smaller ice surface and what it takes to in the Quebec League last season, netted Boston’s final goal, another score. power-play strike, with 4:01 to play. Steen added an assist for his third point. “He’s got some serious speed,” noted AHL Providence coach Jay Leach, who oversees all the Bruins’ kids again in this year’s rookie camp. “My Dan Vladar (24 saves) took the loss in the Boston net. Undrafted invitee biggest thing with him is that he’s not afraid to get things to the net.” Taylor Gauthier is expected to see time in Monday morning’s tourney finale vs. the Devils. Leach is uncertain if Gauthier will go the distance, or Lauko, 19, was Boston’s third-round pick (No. 77) in the 2018 draft, share the load with Vladar or Kyle Keyser. chosen in large part because he showed signs of a scorer’s acumen and ego. When it came time to assign him after last September’s training Getting their chance camp, Bruins GM Don Sweeney preferred he go to the Quebec League, where scoring ego is nearly as revered as the timber and mining industry. Kirsten Welsh , 22, called the lines in Friday’s Boston-Pittsburgh game. Originally from the Toronto area, Welsh played defense the last four Lauko’s season of 21-20—41 with Rouyn-Noranda didn’t rewrite the seasons at Robert Morris University and is one of four women — Quebec record book, but it did land him here, for his second swing referees Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke plus linesmen Welsh and Kendall through Black-and-Gold rookie camp, with a more assured, focused Hanley — the NHL assigned to work in rookie tourneys this September. attitude. From his spot behind the Boston bench, Leach was impressed with “I think I’m a little bit different player,” acknowledged Lauko, reflecting on Welsh’s work and fully embraces the idea that women can work NHL last season’s full immersion into hockey on this side of the Atlantic. games.

Leach, without a full frame of reference to compare the Euro-style Lauko “There are two important things,” said Leach after the game. “One is the to the one who’s finding his way around the smaller rink, was impressed ability to keep up with the play, which clearly, as we saw at the All-Star by the candidate’s first game here on Friday afternoon. Lauko scored game, a woman did pretty well with that.” Boston’s first goal in what turned out to be a 4-3 win over the Penguins, and he repeatedly put himself in high-percentage shooting areas. In January, Kendall Coyne Schofield tore around the ice in San Jose at warp speed in the “fastest skater’” competition during NHL All-Star “I don’t see any reservation in his game, playing on the small sheet,” weekend. added Leach. “It doesn’t look like he’s looking to find open ice where no one is . . . he is going there. Some of the European players, when they “And No. 2 is communication,” added Leach. “My mother would tell me come over . . . have to learn [open space] is really not going to be there women are much better at that than men. I would agree . . . so I think it now. Lauko, I don’t see that . . . I see him up and down the wing, I see works out all right.” him in [puck] battles, and I see him in front of the net, taking pucks to the On Saturday, Leach acknowledged that some women could be net — more of a North American style than a conventional European challenged to break up one of the few fights that still erupt in NHL games. would [show], in my opinion.” “That is certainly a safety issue,” he said. “Ronda Rousey [now of WWE Lauko was back on the job Saturday night for Boston’s 4-3 loss to the fame] would probably be able to take care of it, I would say. Again, I don’t Sabres in the four-team round robin tournament with Pittsburgh, Buffalo, want to omit all females. Some females probably would feel and New Jersey. uncomfortable in that situation, but a lot of males would feel A dozen or more of the 27 players here will join the Bruins’ varsity camp uncomfortable, too.” starting Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena.

It’s a virtual guarantee that Lauko will be among the newbies who’ll get a Boston Globe LOADED: 09.08.2019 look, along with the likes of Jack Studnicka, Trent Frederic, Anders Bjork, Urho Vaakanainen, Oskar Steen, Pavel Shen, Cooper Zech, and probably at least two or three others.

Lauko played on a line with Frederic and Steen in the tourney opener.

“I’m not even thinking about junior,” said Lauko, asked how he believes his game projects for the upcoming season. “I’m [focusing] on the Boston roster and lineup — that’s my big goal. I am just working to get there.”

A year ago, when Sweeney was eager for him to go to Quebec, he had his heart set on playing either in Providence or back in Europe, likely for his Czech club, Chomutov Pirati. He signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Bruins in late September, at which point he had less say in his assignment, other than perhaps, “Oui, Monsieur Sweeney.” 1152038 Boston Bruins perceived it would happen that way. Some of it just happenstance, really . . . the Big Dig did me all sorts of favors.”

His decision to step back from his position of sole ownership, noted Looking at the legacy of Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs Jacobs, came most from his desire to keep the team under family control and allow his children to chart the course of its future. It’s a far smoother and calculated decision than when he and a brother took charge of By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff Delaware North upon the death of their father, Lou Jacobs, who founded the company at the start of the 20th century. September 7, 2019, 2:47 p.m. “That wasn’t easy,” said Jacobs, chuckling when asked the emotional toll

that comes with handing over an asset he governed across five decades. Jeremy Jacobs, who revealed this past week that he has transferred “But my kids are in their late 50s now. They have to have a chance to ownership of the Bruins to his six children, was sole proprietor of the NHL move this themselves. As long as I am alive, it will continue the way it is franchise for 44 years, stepping back in recent months as his 80th now.” birthday approaches in January. Might the day come when his heirs opt to sell the franchise? Jacobs’s tenure, which began in August 1975, ran virtually in lockstep “Not while I’m alive, no,” said Jacobs, who noted he retains a 1 percent length with that of Tom Yawkey, who purchased the Red Sox and ownership interest, and remains the club’s governor for NHL business. “If Fenway Park in February 1933 (cost: $1.25 million) and was seen they do it sometime in the future, that will be theirs [to decide]. And I regularly in his rooftop owner’s box up until the weeks leading to his imagine [potential buyers] will be picking all over it. But they love it.” death in July 1976. The magic number, Bruins fans, is 83 — the number of days, as of It remains to be seen how Jacobs’s legacy will be viewed over time, both Sunday, remaining for GM Don Sweeney to get prime young in Boston and around the NHL. Well into the first quarter-century of his defensemen Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy under contract or suffer ownership, he was villainized as an absentee skinflint, interested far the consequences of going without one or both for the 2019-20 season. more in shaping the franchise into a cash cow than investing in the player talent that could vie for Stanley Cup championships. Per the collective bargaining agreement, Dec. 1 is the cutoff for restricted free agents to sign extensions, a deadline that last year saw the That image softened considerably in the new millennium, Jacobs often breathless Maple Leafs tie up William Nylander for roughly six years and bankrolling a top-of-the-market payroll in Boston even before the $42 million. Wee Willie then delivered an anemic line of 7-20—27 in 54 institution of the salary-cap system he helped engineer. Finally winning games, his profile and impact diminished by the two-month holdout. Yet the Cup in 2011, the only one during his ownership, also reduced some another reminder that holdouts often turn into performance hiccups. of the heat fans and media directed his way. As the weekend approached in the Hub of Hockey, it was status quo for Legacies can be tricky things, of course, as we’ve witnessed around McAvoy and Carlo, who remain penciled in as the right-side defenseman Yawkey’s name in the decades since his death. on the Nos. 1 and 2 pairings, respectively. Sweeney has contended For the most part during his lifetime, Yawkey was a beloved figure in throughout the summer that both deals will get done, that both players Boston, still remembered for playing pepper behind home plate before will be in Black and Gold for years to come. But that song has slipped games — a sort of “favorite uncle” image that perpetuated despite the down the charts faster than Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” with fact that his Sox were woefully slow in recruiting and signing black each passing day of June, July, August, and now a chunk of September. players. Meanwhile, across the league, there are 20-plus RFAs yet to sign with Over the last 20 years, there has been a gross overcorrection in regard camps about to open this coming week. Upward of a dozen, like Carlo to Yawkey’s life story. By some accounts, one would be led to believe he and McAvoy, are considered prime young talent, including Zach was among the South’s original slave owners. Current Sox ownership, Werenski, Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Matthew Tkachuk, Brock Boeser, which purchased the club out of his estate, recently led efforts to have his Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, and Brayden Point. name expunged from the street that runs along the front of the ballpark’s RFAs typically are “second contract” players, those who have phased out landmark facade. History’s rearview glance can be more puzzling, more of the CBA-defined entry-level deals (i.e. three-year rookie contracts). distorting, than a funhouse mirror. The sticking point, particularly among the aforementioned group, is that Jacobs today is a far softer, more congenial owner than the one who for they delivered veteran-level performances, usually as 18-20-year-olds, years acted as if he loathed the Boston media, and left all that work to his and now want “sophomore” contracts commensurate with their mojo, then-quotable and oft-irascible general manager, Harry Sinden. Some 30 often at a pay scale equal to that of players with far more years of years ago, Jacobs made his customary visit to Wilmington for the annual service. Media Day luncheon to kick off a new season. He sat silently, ate quickly, Headed into 2019-20, Torey Krug ($5.25 million) stands as Bruins’ and then made a dash for the door as media members moved in with the highest-paid blue liner, ranking seventh overall on the Boston payroll hope of asking the elusive owner a question or two. (David Krejci is No. 1 at $7.25 million). On deals with substantial term, “Mr. Jacobs, do you have a minute?” asked Dick Trust, then the devoted Carlo and McAvoy can make cases to earn more than Krug, all the while beat man for the Patriot Ledger, leading the charge of a gaggle of print with Sweeney operating with only some $7.3 million in cap space. The reporters. numbers aren’t working in anyone’s favor.

Jacobs offered only, “Not a second” as he walked briskly to the Ristuccia It’s far worse in Toronto, where GM Kyle Dubas is already some $4 Center doors, all but straight-arming his way by the media. million over the $81.5 million cap limit and Marner — the club’s leading scorer the last two seasons — reportedly is seeking Auston Matthews The transfer of the club to his children in recent months, said Jacobs, kind of cash ($11.6 million per season). No. 1 scorers usually want No. 1 “wasn’t easy” from an emotional perspective. As a 35-year-old, with no pay. hockey knowledge or interest, he bought the team and dilapidated Boston Garden, already nearly a half-century old, for a pittance of some Dubas landed the Leafs GM job in large part because he is considered a $10 million, and helped evolve the real estate, including the new Garden, numbers wiz, an analytics savant. He no doubt knows the ins and outs of into a crown jewel of redevelopment in Boston’s old West End. Corsi, but at the moment he looks like he could use some remedial work on the abacus in the dusty corner of the Blue and White payroll cage. The current Garden, now more than 20 years old, cost Jacobs $160 million — 40 times the price of the original Garden built in the late 1920s Longtime Toronto pundit Damien Cox this past week suggested that the — and helped groom it into the centerpiece of an elaborate Delaware remedy might have to be a Marner trade, with the Leafs getting back North buildout that includes residential and commercial buildings along young, promising (ergo: cheap) talent in the form of, say, a top-six and behind Causeway Street. forward and top-four defenseman. Enough teams likely could cough up worthy players, prospects, and picks — but how many could fit in “I think the way it looks now versus the way it did, it’s been a real Marner’s $11 million a year? As of Friday, only Colorado, Columbus, and evolution, I think — maybe a bit of a revolution — but an evolution in the Winnipeg had that kind of cap space available — and all had prime RFAs sense that the facility looks so darn good now,” Jacobs said. “I never of their own to get under contract. Deals for, say, Werenski (Columbus) and Rantanen (Colorado) look like system, was dropped by the NHL because of what ESPN termed the much easier “writes” because their clubs remain awash in cap space. At company’s “organizational and financial challenges.” the moment, that is not true for the Bruins, and less true for the Leafs. SportsMEDIA Technology Corp., where ex-Bruins defenseman Aaron For Sweeney to get both deals done at escalating market rates, it Ward has been a business development manager the last three years, appears he will have to move out other contracts, not unlike his early now will harvest the numbers — on top of its previous designation as the days on the job when he unloaded the salary albatrosses of Milan Lucic aggregator/disseminator of the data. and Marc Savard left behind by Peter Chiarelli. To keep a pair of prime young defensemen, it may mean a hard rain’s gonna fall for someone The league, eager to have Puck and Player Tracking central to its else (David Backes?) over the next 83 days. gambling and broadcast initiatives, continues to say that the new system will be up and running in time for the 2020 playoffs. If Durham, N.C.- ETC. based SMT can get off the data dime fast enough, some numbers could be seen during the January All-Star Game broadcast in St. Louis or other Opting out of CBA not worth it featured games during the regular season.

The NHL Players’ Association is deciding whether or not it wants to opt Upon announcing the new system in January, as part of All-Star out of its current CBA. Weekend hype in San Jose, the league framed Puck and Player Tracking The NHL one week ago chose not to execute its opt-out clause from the primarily as a broadcast enhancer — a way for fans to wade deeper into existing CBA (good through the spring of 2022), and now it’s up to the the numbers on the NHL’s myriad broadcast platforms. However, its Players’ Association to decide by Sept. 15 if it wants to remain in for greater role, and impact, will be on the gambling side, as more states three more seasons or essentially trigger the likelihood of a lockout next ratify sports wagering. September. The league already has sponsorship/provider deals cut with MGM Grand, Raise your hand high if you’ve heard all of this before, folks. William Hill, and FanDuel. Individual teams, based in states that have approved gambling, will be free to cut their own deals with providers. To If the players decide it’s time again to open the can of CBA paint, it likely wit: the official gambling house of the Boston Bruins. The day will be will be over the convoluted issue of escrow — the percentage held out of here, and likely sooner than later, when you can use your handheld each of their paychecks while waiting to find out if year-end hockey- device to place action on the next Bruins goal (I have Sean Kuraly) while related revenues (HRR) across the league have met preseason sitting in your loge seat (by the way, it’s Brett Ritchie and Joakim projections. Nordstrom with the helpers).

The view from 35,000 feet (standard press-box level in most NHL arenas in 2019) on this one: Since the inception of the cap system following the “lost” season of 2004-05, the cap number has risen from $39 million to Boston Globe LOADED: 09.08.2019 the current $81.5 million. The NHL today is roughly a $5 billion enterprise, about double what it was in the autumn of 2005, and the CBA dictates that the players are entitled to about half the gross take.

Related: NHL informs union it won’t terminate labor deal

Is it worth the players shoveling another bucket of sand into the paint can over what appears mainly the escrow issue? Well, in rough numbers, they are entitled to upward of $2.5 billion in salary in 2019-20. If HRR were to come up short, and each player were to end up taking, say, a 3 percent haircut, the NHLPA rank and file would be “shorted” by some $75 million.

Looks and feels like real money, doesn’t it? Heck, it is nearly the equivalent of one team’s entire payroll — even more, if said team doesn’t reach the cap. It is real money.

But keep in mind, as substantial as those dollars look, no one is being bamboozled here. The players opted 15 years ago to accept a cap system, and further to acquiesce to the escrow system as the sidecar companion.

Today’s players, precious few on the job when the cap system was ratified, are entitled to object, to opt out, and ultimately to trigger yet another nuclear winter if they so choose. It doesn’t look worth it from here, but that’s the view from a guy who started covering the league when Ray Bourque’s first deal paid him $100,000 a year, for three years.

If the players want to forecheck toward another lockout, it’s not worth it for 2, 3, or 5 percent of pay in a tussle over how escrow is computed. It could be worth it if, some 15 years gone by, they now want to dump the entire hard-cap system, and the escrow along with it, and strive to work in a world unfettered by the construct of the cap and the CBA.

Are they prepared to go there? Not based on anything your faithful puck chronicler has heard, seen, or intuited these last 15 years. The rank and file have accepted that the current system works, albeit with some warts. It’s up to them to decide now, yet again, whether to mask over the blemishes or prep for major surgery.

Tracking the latest news on data system

People watched real-time puck and player tracking technology during a January game between the Sharks and the Golden Knights.

The NHL’s ambitious data venture belched out a substantial burp this past week, as first reported Thursday by ESPN.com’s Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan. Jogmo World Corp., designated in January as the vendor to mine all the numbers for the evolving Puck and Player Tracking 1152039 Boston Bruins In a first, four women on-ice officials have been working prospect games around the league this week. Kristin Welsh covered the lines in the B’s- Penguins game on Friday and received a general thumbs up from a Jakub Lauko continues to impress for Bruins sampling of players and coaches.

“It’s terrific to see,” Leach said. “I talked to one of the refs and he said she may have been a little overwhelmed at times. It’s a fast game that By STEVE CONROY | [email protected] | Boston Herald was a fast game for this tournament. But I thought she was good. She may have missed a couple of calls. We all miss a couple of calls. I PUBLISHED: September 7, 2019 at 6:36 pm | UPDATED: September 7, missed probably three line changes. It happens. But it was nice to see 2019 at 10:04 PM her out there. I told the guys before the game and I did love the reaction. They all thought it was kind of a cool thing. It was nice to see.”

BUFFALO — Jakub Lauko does not lack confidence. Leach expects to see a female referee in the NHL some day.

When the Bruins selected the Czech-born forward in the third round a “The most important thing to me is the ability to keep up with the play, year ago, he declared he was the steal of the draft. When he arrived in which clearly we saw at the All-Star Game that there was a woman Boston for Development Camp a few days later, Lauko said he was (Kendall Coyne-Schofield) who did pretty well there,” Leach said. “And ready to play in the pro ranks, though he’d never played in North America then the other is communication, and my mother would tell me that before. If you’re going to dream, why dream small, right? women are much better than men at that. And I would agree.”

It didn’t go quite as Lauko had planned. A training camp collision with a One thing Welsh didn’t have to face was breaking up a fight because fire hydrant by the name of Noel Acciari didn’t hurt the organization’s there were none. Leach was asked how he thought a woman would argument in convincing him that a season in Canadian junior hockey handle that aspect of the game. might not be a bad thing. “There’s certainly a safety issue, but Rhonda Rousey would probably be But judging from Lauko’s performance in the Bruins’ 4-3 victory over the able to take care of it,” Leach said with a smile. “I don’t want to omit all Penguins rookies in the Prospects Challenge on Friday, that little bit of females. There are some females who would be uncomfortable, but I seasoning at Rouyn-Noranda, where he notched 21-20-41 totals in 44 should say there are a lot of males who would feel uncomfortable in the games and then led the team to the Memorial Cup, was the right call. situation.” Lauko was one of the best players on the ice. He scored the B’s first goal Frederic sits Friday off a nice feed from Anders Bjork, made a terrific move to the net late in the game that was turned away by goalie Emil Larmi and then Trent Frederic (lower body) was held out of Saturday’s game, but Leach drew the penalty that led to Bjork’s power-play game-winner. In was hoping he’d be ready for a return on Monday. Axel Andersson has Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Sabres, he assisted on the first of Oskar missed the first two games of the tourney because of illness but is also Steen‘s two goals and made a geneal nuisance of himself with his expected to be ready for Monday’s finale against the Devils and first sandpaper style. overall draft pick Jack Hughes….

One does take notice when Lauko’s on the ice. And Providence coach The Sabres scored three straight goals in the second period and then Jay Leach went so far as include him in a small group (with Bjork and held off a late Bruins rally to secure the victory. Goalie Daniel Vladar Urho Vaakanainen) from this tourney who could push for a spot on the fought the puck at times but got better as the game went on. Sabres Bruins roster. goalie Jonas Johansson stopped 35 shots, including a good chance from Dante Hannoun late with Vladar pulled. While Steen scored twice, camp “From what I remember of last year, I was really impressed with him. I invitee Samuel Asselin added the other goal in what was a testy affair. As haven’t seen him play a ton but I was really impressed with his wall play tempers flared in the second period, Jack Studnicka took a matching as a young player last year,” Leach said. “This year it seems he’s got roughing minor and then an elbowing penalty. some serious speed. My biggest thing with him is he’s not afraid to get to the net. A couple of times (Friday) night he took a guy wide. And there’s this gray area for a lot of players where they take it kind of to the net and they’ll find themselves on the backside of the net. Or there’ll be guys that Boston Herald LOADED: 09.08.2019 just take it to the net and come across that crease. He did it twice (Friday). He has a willingness to get there with his speed and he wants to finish. He wants to be a difference-maker and he clearly was (Friday). Maturity-wise, he’s maturing just fine. I thought he was probably one of our better forwards. He’s a fun kid to watch.”

Not that he shied from contact last year, but the 6-foot-1, 179-pound Lauko seems even more comfortable in North America after having spent a year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. But he’s now focusing on climbing the ladder to the NHL.

“The best part of the experience was getting to play a season in North America,” Lauko said. “But today, I’m just looking to pro hockey. I’m not looking to juniors. I’m looking at the Bruins’ lineup and nothing else. That’s just my goal.”

And one thing working in his favor is his competitiveness. Leach said that, unlike some European players when they first play on the smaller ice surface, Lauko goes to the hard areas of of the ice without hesitation.

“It doesn’t look like he’s looking to find open ice where no one is. He’s going there,” Leach said.

For him to stick in the NHL this year, one would reckon Lauko would have to do something really special in training camp. But he feels that the time he got in last year’s training camp was invaluable for him, and he’s not one to set modest goals.

“I feel that was the beat experience of my life, to play against guys in the NHL and compete against them. It was great and I’m looking forward to it again this year. I’ll do my best and see what’s happening,” Lauko said.

Women on ice 1152040 Boston Bruins Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy are still unsigned, and another key D-men in Torey Krug will be entering the final season of his contract. Zdeno Chara, John Moore and Kevan Miller are all entering the season Bruins still getting over the Game 7 loss as camp approaches still healing from injuries incurred last season and the B’s veteran core is coming off a short summer after playing in 24 playoff games.

None of it is going to be easy for the Black and Gold, but they’ve got the By Joe Haggerty hunger of getting so close to their goals to help push them through the tough times surely coming their way in the regular season. That will be a September 07, 2019 11:54 AM challenge for the Bruins, who got to within 60 minutes of their ultimate prize a couple of months ago and then fell disappointingly short.

The Bruins are very clearly going to be walking a thin line this season.

They have goals, of course. The Bruins want to make the playoffs for the Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 fourth consecutive season and know it’s going to be a season-long battle in the Atlantic Division slugging it out with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs for supremacy in the East.

But there’s also going to be a need to get over what happened at the end of last season when the B’s climbed all the way to the top of the mountain and then stumbled in Game 7 at home against the St. Louis Blues. It was clear after the first few days of Bruins captain’s practices this week that the B’s are nowhere close to being over the Game 7 loss.

Nor should they be as training camp looms toward the end of next week with the Bruins rookies already getting ready in Buffalo.

“I don’t think we’re over it. I don’t think I’m over it. But you move on. You’ve got hockey to play and I think playing hockey will help. It’s something fun to do and we enjoy it,” said B’s fourth-line center Sean Kuraly. “You play some games and feel good, and try to get back there again. That’s our goal and you realize how much you want it when you get that far and get a taste. That’s at least the focus that I’ve got.

“I [replayed the Stanley Cup Final in my head] all the time and you realize that it’s not doing you any good. You’re not doing yourself any favors by doing that. But [the thoughts] come in and that’s the way life goes. You think it should be a reward to put yourself in that situation, but it ends up feeling like the biggest disappointment. You just keep working and realize people would have done a lot to get to the point we did and have that chance. We’ll do everything we can to get back there and do it again because we’re hungry to get back.”

This past spring was, of course, Kuraly’s first experience in the Stanley Cup Final. It was the third Cup Final for 33-year-old David Krejci and the second time the playmaking center has had to deal with falling short of victory. One would expect that dropping a Game 7 against a beatable opponent in the Blues would be a little different than falling in six games to a superior Chicago Blackhawks team.

That feeling of disappointment would probably be even worse for Krejci after he managed just a couple of assists against the Blues, but it sounds as if he understands the mentality needed to back to a deep playoff mindset. It’s the kind of thinking that Krejci, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara will have to pass on their younger teammates that haven’t felt that kind of epic disappointment before.

Will Krug take less money to stay a Bruin?

The important thing is not dwelling too much on the past, but learning whatever lessons needed after falling to St. Louis.

“I’m not over it. I don’t think I ever will [be],” admitted Krejci. “But I’m excited to start the season again, get some games and get back at it. You come across some articles, or on TV, or a specific song on the radio and it was kind of attached to that Stanley Cup Final. It brings up those memories all the time. I’m sure it will keep happening, but it’s something where you learn to live with it.

“There’s only one way out of it and that’s to go out and have a good season. You make another push in the playoffs and that’s the only way out of it. The first thing you need to do is get in a position [to make the playoffs] to use those past memories. You’ve got to make the playoffs and then go from there. We don’t need to talk about it too much. We all know what happened. We’ll just make the playoffs and make another run.”

Could Krejci be making a song reference to the “Gloria” tune adopted by the Blues during their run to the Stanley Cup?

The Bruins are certainly built to make another run in the postseason. They will be returning many of the same players from last season, but there will be hurdles, particularly early. A couple of key players in 1152041 Boston Bruins times. Some games will get pretty contentious. And that’s good. You want guys that compete and work. I think we have guys that are capable of playing whichever way you want.”

Peace, love and happiness in NHL rookie tournaments don’t quite fly with Nothing happened the first time Keyser was spilled. After the second old-school onlookers flooring, Sherman took exception to Berger’s approach with some gloves- on shoving. But once Sherman emerged from the pileup, his destination was the penalty box because of interference. Berger was not penalized. By Fluto Shinzawa There would have been a time, not too long ago, when running a goalie Sep 7, 2019 in a rookie game would have been a green light for mayhem. Even a stiff check on a skilled player would have encouraged multiple players to

raise gloved hands in pursuit of gloves-off retribution. BUFFALO, N.Y. — At the 2:08 mark of Friday’s second period between It is not just that the culture has changed. There are simply not many Boston and Pittsburgh during the Prospects Challenge, Kyle Keyser young players who can claim fist-swinging experience. found himself flat on his back. Pittsburgh’s Jake Lucchini, with assistance from Cooper Zech, had trucked the Bruins’ 20-year-old goaltending “I think the personnel that teams employ to be at these camps is a tad prospect. different. There’s not a lot of Dennis Bonvies out there right now,” Langenbrunner said, referring to the Bruins pro scout who totaled 522 One period later, Keyser was in the same position. penalty minutes with Hamilton of the AHL in 1996-97. “There’s just not. This time, Pittsburgh’s Chase Berger’s drive to the net, reinforced by The players have changed. Junior hockey’s changed. There’s no fighting Wiley Sherman’s push from behind, slammed the puck-stopper to the ice. in junior hockey anymore. It’s just not part of the nature of these kids to play that way. I think that’s absolutely fine. It’s a good brand of hockey Fists did not fly either time, representing a dramatic departure from the that’s there right now. It’s just a different brand than what was there way these rookie contests used to go. And not everyone likes the before.” change. The numbers bear out the transformation. Of the 27 pups on the Bruins “Personally, no. I’m not OK with it,” Providence coach Jay Leach said of roster, forward Alex-Olivier Voyer led all players last year with 83 penalty calmer tempers in rookie games. “By no means do I want the game to minutes. Voyer, a 20-year-old invitee from Sherbrooke of the QMJHL, did get back to — I don’t want to say barbaric days, but the days where there not dress against Pittsburgh. was fight after fight after fight. … When I played in these tournaments, it was a little bit different. And I can’t say it was great. If I was a scout up The closest moment to a true disagreement was when Pittsburgh’s there, just watching fight after fight, I don’t really know what that does Brandon Hawkins, who played for Northeastern last season, asked after a little bit of time other than show some willingness. So no, I don’t Anders Bjork to fight in the third period. Bjork looked at Hawkins want to see that. But I do still think there’s confrontation in the game. I do quizzically, then skated away. think that’s how you win, down the stretch, especially. There will be “It’s still there,” Leach said of fighting in general. “The playoffs, you’ll still something we say. It doesn’t have to be a brawl. But it does have to be see it. It’s just not nearly what it was. But until they get rid of all physical met with some sort of confrontation back to the assailant, just to let them confrontation in the game, it’s still always going to be there. It’s just the know, ‘You can’t do that. You can’t do that.’” nature of it being a physical sport.” Leach is 40 years old. He is a young and progressive coach.

But when Leach played, baby-faced participants in rookie games spent The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 as much time clubbing each other in the face as they did playing hockey. It was a brutal but straightforward method for fringe players to make an impression on the hockey operations personnel judging their futures.

General managers would regularly fill out their tournament rosters by inviting goons to protect their high-round prizes. It would be a good way for players with otherwise limited toolboxes to show their willingness to do anything in search of professional employment.

Tempers, especially those of plugs facing long NHL odds, flared so regularly that GMs placed gloves-off restrictions on such tournaments. If a player fought three times, for example, he’d be booted for the rest of the tournament.

But no part of hockey has evolved so rapidly and radically as the near- elimination of belligerence. Fighting is on the way out, even in rookie tournaments where violence was once the rule instead of the exception.

Sherman, the Providence Bruins defender, played four years at Harvard. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, the stay-at-home defenseman might have been encouraged, in an earlier era, to incorporate fighting into his pro game. According to www.hockeyfights.com, Sherman fought twice as a Providence rookie last year, including once against Matt Beleskey after the ex-Bruin dropped Connor Clifton with an elbow.

“Obviously your first concern is getting better as a hockey player,” Sherman said before the tournament. “If there comes a time where you’ve got to support a teammate or have his back, I think everyone is willing.”

The most recent generation of ex-NHLers is conflicted about the waning of conflict.

“We didn’t have rookie games when I played. Thank God,” said 44-year- old player development coordinator Jamie Langenbrunner, who concluded his NHL career in 2012-13. “But I remember watching them when I was in New Jersey a little bit later on. Yeah, they got out of hand, to say the least. Three fights in the first five minutes, guys running into each other. It’s changed a little bit, I think, in the last eight years, nine years. Though there’s guys still competing. We’ve seen it in Buffalo a few 1152042 Buffalo Sabres prospects on the ice Saturday, as illustrated by him standing up Bruins winger Cameron Hughes during a 1-on-1 in the first period.

The play prevented Hughes from taking a shot on goal, allowing Jonas Victor Olofsson continues to state case for NHL roster spot in Sabres win Johansson to cover the puck. Borgen also assisted on Asplund's goal and his physical play stood out.

By Lance Lysowski Better showing: Brett Murray is trying to earn a contract with Rochester this weekend after he scored 41 goals with Youngstown of the United Published Sat, Sep 7, 2019|Updated Sat, Sep 7, 2019 States Hockey League last season.

Murray, a 6-foot-5 forward, made a nice reverse hit on Dylan Cozens' second-period goal Friday but appeared a tad slow for much of the Victor Olofsson's shot that rang off the crossbar and went into the back of game. However, Murray had a much better game against the Bruins, net Saturday night might have given new Sabres coach Ralph Krueger a looking much faster and using his size to win battles for loose pucks. few ideas ahead of training camp. Murray won't be a top-six forward at the next level, so he needs to show Olofsson, a 24-year-old winger drafted in the seventh round in 2014, he can be a checking-line player. Another performance like this should used his trademark quick release and accurate shot to score a power- be enough to earn him an invite to the Amerks' training camp. play goal in the second period of a 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins in Harborcenter. Night off: Neither center Cozens nor Henri Jokiharju were in the Sabres' lineup Saturday night, as they were given the day off after playing in the The goal, Olofsson's second in as many games during the Sabres' team's 6-4 win over New Jersey on Friday. Defenseman Kurt Gosselin Prospects Challenge, occurred at the spot on the ice in which he had so also sat out against the Bruins, with Devante Stephens, Stephen Harper much success during his first season in North America: the right-wing and Tobie Bisson drawing in to the lineup. circle. That happens to be a perfect match for Jack Eichel, who likes to run the Sabres' power play from the left circle. UPL recovering: Sabres top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will not be on the ice with the Sabres when training camp practices begin "I like that a lot for sure," Olofsson said of the right circle. "Just trying to Friday, Assistant General Manager Randy Sexton told The Buffalo News. get as many shots off as I can and luckily one went in today." Luukkonen, 20, underwent hip surgery in April and has spent much of the Many of Olofsson's 30 goals in Rochester last season were scored from summer in Buffalo working with goalie development coach Seamus Kotyk the right side. Opponents took notice. During the Amerks' first-round and Dennis Miller, the team's head of rehab and development. playoff sweep in April, the Toronto Marlies made a concerted effort to prevent Olofsson from receiving the puck in the circle. Luukkonen is "on track" in his recovery, according to Sexton, and is expected to be ready when games begin in October. Luukkonen is The Bruins didn't have the same game plan. Olofsson was given plenty expected to spend much of the season in Rochester. of space to one-time a pass from Jacob Bryson into the back of the net at 12:23 into the third period for a 2-1 lead. Final games: There won't be any Prospects Challenge games Sunday, and the event ends Monday with New Jersey facing Boston at 9:30 a.m., Any breakdown in coverage typically led to a shot ringing off the post, as followed by the Sabres playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at noon. Olofsson was held scoreless during all three playoff games. Speculating on a power-play role in Buffalo is likely premature given Olofsson must first win a roster spot in what should be one of the more competitive Sabres training camps in recent years. Buffalo News LOADED: 09.08.2019

"I think I just feel like I get a little head start, get into the pace of the game and find the timing," Olofsson said. "It’s a little bit off after a long summer. It definitely feels nice to get a couple games in for sure."

However, Olofsson has proven to be more than a scorer. He has evolved into a two-way player by breaking up passes in the defensive zone and becoming a reliable penalty-killer. The Sabres' power play ranked 16th in the National Hockey League last season, and the man-advantage is an area of expertise for Krueger.

"I thought he played really well," Rochester coach Chris Taylor, who is behind the bench for the Sabres during the Prospects Challenge, said. "He controlled the puck well and did a lot of nifty little plays. Obviously his goal was remarkable. He can shoot the puck. But I liked the other parts of his game as well."

Marchand-like: Matej Pekar has drawn comparisons to Bruins winger Brad Marchand because both players love to get under an opponent's skin. Like Marchand, Pekar also has some serious skill.

Pekar, a 19-year-old forward, scored two goals during his second Prospects Challenge game, including one on a beautiful pass from recent Sabres draft pick Lukas Rousek, and got into a few more scuffles with opposing players.

Asplund again: Rasmus Asplund is likely not ready to push for a roster spot with the Sabres. Remember, he's only 21 years old and has played only one season in the American Hockey League. Despite committing the occasional turnover, Asplund is starting to show he has some serious upside on offense.

Asplund looked calm with the puck in the offensive zone Saturday, patiently waiting for his linemates to find time and space. He also showed maturity during his goal in the first period. Rather than showing frustration following a neutral-zone turnover, Asplund helped lead a rush the other way and scored on Andrew Oglevie's rebound at 5:21.

Another defenseman: The Sabres may have trouble keeping Will Borgen in Rochester for long. The 22-year-old defenseman was among the best 1152043 Buffalo Sabres

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 'on track' in recovery, won't participate in Sabres camp

By Lance Lysowski

Published Sat, Sep 7, 2019|Updated Sat, Sep 7, 2019

The hip surgery that prevented Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Ukko- Pekka Luukkonen from competing in the Prospects Challenge will also keep him out for the duration of training camp this month, assistant general manager Randy Sexton told The Buffalo News.

Luukkonen, 20, underwent surgery in April and was given a six-month estimated timeline for recovery. He has spent much of the offseason in Buffalo, where he has worked with Sabres goalie development coach Seamus Kotyk and Dennis Miller, the team's head of rehab and development. Luukkonen will continue to work with both this month.

Though the injury will prevent him from competing in Ralph Krueger's first training camp as coach, Luukkonen's recovery is "on track," according to Sexton, and he should be ready to play shortly after games begin in October.

"He’s doing very well," Sexton said. "He’s right on track, which is great. ... No pain, no soreness. A little bit of fatigue but you would expect that. He's on track. He’ll be around here in Buffalo for a while because he’s obviously not ready to play, but we’re really encouraged by the progress he’s made and we have every expectation, barring a setback, he’ll be ready to play when the schedule starts."

With Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark set to work as the Sabres' tandem in goal, Luukkonen is likely to spend most of the season in Rochester. The team signed veteran Andrew Hammond to serve as the organization's No. 3 goalie and likely stop-gap starter for the Amerks.

Luukkonen led Finland to a gold medal with a .932 save percentage at the IIHF World Junior Championship in January and was among the Ontario Hockey League's best goalies, ranking first in the league in shutouts (six) and regular-season wins (38).

Luukkonen was announced in May as the recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy, which is given annually to the OHL's most valuable player. Luukkonen, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches, and his teammates swept Mississauga in the first round of the OHL playoffs before enduring the same fate against Ottawa. He was ranked by TSN as the sport's 12th best NHL-affiliated prospect in January.

Additionally, Luukkonen was voted the OHL's goaltender of the year after his goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts were the best in Sudbury history. He led the Wolves to their best regular-season record since 1994-95.

Luukkonen made his professional debut in Rochester's season finale, making 32 saves against Belleville to earn his first win. He was unable to practice with the Amerks during their short playoff run and later revealed that he had been playing through hip discomfort.

Buffalo News LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152044 Buffalo Sabres Ruotsalainen's first impression has to be encouraging for the Sabres. He's only one year removed from scoring nine goals among 20 points in a career-high 60 games with Ilves, and he scored only six goals in 85 Arttu Ruotsalainen sees Prospects Challenge as first 'big chance' with regular-season games from 2015 to 2017. Sabres Those early struggles scared off NHL teams when Ruotsalainen was draft-eligible. He was a highly touted junior player — he led his team in scoring as a 15-year-old in 2012, despite being teammates with Carolina By Lance Lysowski Hurricanes star center Sebastian Aho. However, Ruotsalainen struggled upon being promoted to Finland's top professional league. He was only Published Sat, Sep 7, 2019|Updated Sat, Sep 7, 2019 17 at his first training camp with Assat, where he spent his first two seasons.

The recruiting pitch to bring Arttu Ruotsalainen to Buffalo included An increased role in Ilves, as well as talented linemates, led to the Assistant General Manager Steve Greeley's visiting Finland to watch the breakout in 2018-19, Ruotsalainen said. He also scored two goals among 21-year-old center play and a number of phone calls by Sabres seven points in seven playoff games. management. "In the beginning I played really well and I got a lot of ice time – maybe The Sabres did not care that Ruotsalainen went undrafted twice or that too much sometimes – but I gained confidence," Ruotsalainen said with a some scouts wondered if his 5-foot-9, 181-pound frame would allow him laugh. "I noticed I can play in the pro league, score some goals and help to play center in the National Hockey League. Ruotsalainen's age, skill the team win. Maybe the biggest thing was I played with a good line and I and position made him a priority, and their pursuit ended when he signed got a lot of ice time. I didn’t think too much. I just enjoyed every moment a three-year, entry-level contract May 8. and tried to help the team win."

To Ruotsalainen, signing with Buffalo was the first step in a dream that The Sabres have not told Ruotsalainen if he will play wing when training dates back more than a decade. Now he must prove he belongs in the camp opens Friday. He views himself as a center and plans to prove he NHL, beginning with the Sabres' Prospects Challenge — his first real test can remain there in the NHL. However, he'll be on a roster in which even on the smaller North American ice surface. veterans such as Zemgus Girgensons must earn playing time under new coach Ralph Krueger. "This is a big chance," Ruotsalainen told The Buffalo News on Friday morning. "First time playing games here. I’m trying to show my best and "I think I need to play my own game," Ruotsalainen said. "I need to do all I can on the ice. I want to enjoy every moment I’m here. Be defend well and skate. Do a lot of work and show that I have a high work myself." ethic. Show my skills with the puck. Be myself on the ice. That’s the biggest thing for me. I need to play the way I did last year. I need to do Ruotsalainen might only have a few weeks to show the Sabres he is that here. Of course, players here are better than back in Finland, but I ready to help them in 2019-20. His contract with the team stipulates that need to learn and improve myself." he must return to Finland for one more season if he does not make the NHL roster out of training camp, unless his club, Ilves, allows him to play in Rochester. Buffalo News LOADED: 09.08.2019 Ilves might not want to part with Ruotsalainen. After all, he led the team in goals (21) and points (42) last season, while leading Liiga in average ice time per game and total faceoffs. He trained with Ilves throughout the summer, yet he was unable to practice much on a smaller ice surface.

The Sabres don't have any concerns about Ruotsalainen making that transition. Winger Victor Olofsson and center Rasmus Asplund, both of whom played in Sweden prior to coming to North America, had success during their first season with the Amerks.

Sabres management also plans to keep Ruotsalainen at center, his natural position, during his first NHL training camp, despite the depth chart including Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, Dylan Cozens and Asplund.

According to Assistant General Manager Randy Sexton, Mittelstadt and Cozens are capable of playing the wing in the NHL, so the team won't hesitate to add more talent down the middle. While the Sabres will evaluate Ruotsalainen as a center, Sexton acknowledged the position's defensive responsibilities can prove challenging for shorter players.

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"It was a number of things: his hockey sense, skill, the pace he plays, the intensity he brings and his age," Sexton said of what attracted the Sabres to Ruotsalainen. "We’re trying to build a core group of players here in Buffalo kind of in the 18-25 range. ... He’s a young player that fits the way we want to play and fits in that age range. He might not be that tall, but he’s broad, thick and stocky. This will be a great test for him this weekend."

Ruotsalainen is already showing he should be mentioned among the Sabres' top prospects. He scored in his debut with the team, shooting his own rebound in the back of the net during Friday night's 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils in Harborcenter.

Ruotsalainen also played well defensively, won most of his faceoffs and showed he can excel on the forecheck. Though he attended the Sabres' development camp in June, a strong performance at the Prospects Challenge is more important because this is when the team's management evaluates players ahead of training camp. 1152045 Buffalo Sabres Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is expected to be a juggernaut again. One of these years, Toronto will avoid meeting the Bruins and get past the first round while Joel Quenneville-led Florida and Montreal continue to take Inside the NHL: Will Bruins ever overcome the pain of their Game 7 dud? big steps forward.

The Atlantic Division is super tough. Forget about the issues of teams like the Sabres, Detroit and Ottawa making a jump to the next level. Just By Mike Harrington look at the dilemma the division poses to a team like Boston.

Published Sat, Sep 7, 2019|Updated Sat, Sep 7, 2019 More than three months later, Krug wasn't able to hide his emotions about the Game 7 loss. Coach Bruce Cassidy and GM Don Sweeney are

going to have to take the temperature of their dressing room on a daily CHICAGO — Ryan O'Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko got plenty of basis during training camp — and probably long into the season as well. inquiries about the impact of their short summers and how tough it will be Win or lose, the Cup hangover is real. to defend a Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin got prodded to give insight on what the St. Louis Blues are in for trying to "We were one game away to maybe changing the narrative to how teams defend their title. are structured and maybe following a different path," Krug said. "One game. It's tough. It's always going to be there. Even if we find a way to But the NHL Player Media Tour also showcased the other side of Game win the Stanley Cup next year, you'll be thinking how we lost Game 7 the 7 from that memorable Cup final in June. The Boston Bruins laid an egg year before and it could have been back to back." that night, blowing a chance to win the Cup on home ice for the first time since Bobby Orr's overtime winner against the Blues in 1970, and not Kane's 88 hitting rafters in London many pundits are picking the Bruins to get back to the final. South Buffalo native Patrick Kane is upbeat about his first full season in Remember, the first-round defeats of the 132-point Tampa Bay Lightning Chicago under new coach Jeremy Colliton but also has a nice distraction and defending champion Washington Capitals blew open the bracket planned on a January off night. while the Bruins rallied out of a 3-2 hole to beat Toronto in the first round for the second straight year. And then to get to the Cup final, Boston Kane got a surprising phone call from former London Knights owner/GM merely had to beat Columbus and Carolina. Hard to imagine something Mark Hunter over the summer with some big news: Kane's Ontario like that happens again. Hockey League team is going to retire his No. 88 jersey prior to its Jan. 17 game. Kane only played one year for the Knights but it was a 145- In an emotional dressing room that night, Bruins super pest Brad point season in 2006-07 that led to him being the No. 1 overall pick at the Marchand stared ahead blankly and said of the Blues, "They just took our 2007 draft in Columbus. dream, our lifetime dream from us, and everything we’ve worked for our entire lives." Mark Hunter and his brother Dale were the co-owners of the Knights in those days and Dale has returned to coach there after a stint with the The lost opportunity has haunted the Bruins all summer and will likely be Washington Capitals. Kane's jersey will be retired the night before the a narrative for this core for a long time. Blackhawks are in Toronto.

"It's always going to be there," defenseman Torey Krug told reporters "It was amazing," Kane said of his time in London. "Just working with here on Thursday. "I was on the team that lost in '13 (in Game 6 to them, they pretty much gave me every opportunity to play. They really Chicago) and there were the whys, the what-ifs and everything about show you a fun style of hockey to play, especially at that age. Great what could have been done differently. Same thing with Game 7. people, great hockey minds and they run a great organization there. They've produced a lot of amazing players. "But it's a little different because you actually had a chance to win it. You're expected to win it in your own building. So the taste is still there "I'm looking forward to that night. That was a pretty cool call from Mark. I and probably will always be there. It's how you manage it individually, wasn't expecting that but it should be a fun night." use it as motivation. Are you caught in a little bit of a lull that won't allow you to move forward? These are questions that are asked on an Summer life of O'Reilly individual basis. You just have to find a way to regroup and move on." O'Reilly said his Cup-winning summer has been a whirlwind after Goalie Tuukka Rask, who had a strong playoff but couldn't do much in parades in his honor in both Seaforth and Goddard, Ont., on his day with the 4-1 defeat, knows the questions will be coming all training camp but the Cup. tried to be more philosophical about it. "It still hasn't really sunk in," O'Reilly said. "You're so excited for that Cup "You never get over it," agreed Rask. "But in a few days, you go home, day and different times throughout the summer and you see people start hanging with your kids and there was no hockey anymore. It's just a celebrating. After the Cup day, you're like, 'OK, it's time to get back to sport. Results are just what they are at the end of the day. You try to work' and hit the ice hard and get ready for next season. You haven't prepare yourself the best way you can, try to be the guy you think you really had a huge down time to let it sink it. Already the focus has shifted can be. I feel like I accomplished that and our team played great teams to next year. It's something cool and I think I'll have a lot more reflection and got one win short of winning the whole thing. ... Game 7 in any kind later in life." of series it can be a coin flip and it just didn't go our way." Heard around the Media Tour

The theory again going around hockey is you need to have a "heavy" • A smiling Derek Stepan on Arizona's acquisition of sniper Phil Kessel team to survive in the playoffs because the Blues won the Cup. Of from Pittsburgh: "Someone said, 'He's an interesting cat.' I said, 'Well, course, the margin is so razor-thin, teams might be loading up on speed we've got a lot of dogs on our team. We could use a cat.'" even more than they already do had the Bruins simply won Game 7 on home ice. • Kane on the Blackhawks' offseason addition of former Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner: "Shooting on him in practice, he's very "Gosh, yea. It's crazy how small it is," O'Reilly said of the margin. "There competitive and not afraid to chirp the guys that are going against him. I are multiple times it could have swung the other way on us. The specific think he'll be really good for us in a lot of different ways." play I remember is (overtime of the second round in) Game 7 against Dallas with Jamie Benn. That wraparound he had was inches -- inches -- • Devils defenseman P.K. Subban on playing with No. 1 overall pick Jack away and we would have been sent home. It's crazy how tight it is and Hughes: "The focus needs to be on his development. He's got a lot of how hard it is to win. A lot of things have to line up." time and there will be a learning curve but he's a tremendous talent. You're going to see that when the puck drops I'm just excited to help The Bruins start the long grind all over again this week and they're someone like that. ... I'm excited to play with young talented players. certainly not getting any younger. Zdeno Chara is 42 years old, David That's what wins in the NHL." Backes is 35, Patrice Bergeron and backup goalie Jaroslav Halak are 34, David Krejci is 33, Rask is 32, Marchand 31 and Krug 28. And while • Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar on Eden native Alex Iafallo, who they're doing a great job of getting younger on defense with the likes of improved to 15 goals and 33 points last year -- but also went from plus- under-25s Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Connor Clifton, the Bruins 10 as a rookie to minus-17: "The first year was a really good season and don't have that kind of young depth up front. last year was down. Expectations are for him to bounce back again. A big thing in this league is consistency. We need that from him on a nightly basis."

• Stepan on Arizona's hiring of deposed Sabres coach Phil Housley as an assistant coach: "Both of the Phils can help. Phil Kessel is obviously going to be a big part of it but Phil Housley ran a pretty good power play and I had him for the World Cup with Team USA. He ran the power play and I really liked the things that he was talking about and his ideas. I think he's going to be a great add to our group. I know him a little bit from Minnesota so I want to get that mojo going."

Buffalo News LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152046 Buffalo Sabres Olofsson didn’t need to prove himself against Hughes to stand out, but the puck pressure he and his line played with created issues for all the Devils. Olofsson’s goal in the first period was a key example of that.

Sabres hopefuls are tested against elite talent at the Prospects Matej Pekar – Cozens – Lukas Rousek Challenge Nine shifts (4/1/4). Taylor made it a point to get Cozens out there against Hughes to give the 18 year-olds an equal test for one another. They each By Joe Yerdon had goals, and Cozens looked pretty good. His size helps him stand out, and the thumb injury he had during development camp was a distant Sep 7, 2019 memory based on how he handled the puck. As for how he handled seeing Hughes so much, Cozens’ focus was elsewhere.

“I wasn’t thinking about (facing Hughes) too much. I was just focused on BUFFALO, N.Y. — The first step for Buffalo Sabres prospects hoping to myself and going on playing for my team to get the win,” Cozens said. make it to the NHL this season went through the 2019 New Jersey “He’s a great player, everyone knows that, and he’s a fun player to Devils’ No. 1 draft pick. watch, but I wasn’t focusing on that too much.” If it seems weird to prepare to play against one player for an exhibition A couple of Hughes’ first-period chances came against the Cozens line game at the Prospects Challenge, you’ve never had to deal with a roster and gave goalie Jonas Johansson some early work, but although both filled with NHL hopefuls trying to make an impression against a soon-to- teams just tried to roll all four lines, it more often than not came down to be NHL star. Cozens facing Hughes, and that’s good. Elite peers should bring the best “They have some pretty good players over there, especially the one guy out of one another. …” Rochester Americans coach Chris Taylor said. As for Pekar in his first game after he broke his collarbone in January, he That “one guy,” of course, was Jack Hughes, who has gone from playing handled himself just fine: at the U.S. National Team Development Program to the IIHF World “He’s a pain in the ass for the other team, so that was a lot of fun to Championships to the NHL Draft to the Harborcenter in Buffalo in fewer watch,” Olofsson said about the Czech forward, who played in his first than six months. The stages will get larger soon for Hughes, but for the game since January with OHL Barrie. Sabres who faced off against him Friday, they’re hoping to follow him there. Olson – Ruotsalainen – Pascal Aquin

What players like Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund, Will Borgen, Arttu Five shifts (1/3/1). This group was responsible for two goals against the Ruotsalainen and Dylan Cozens had the opportunity to do was prove Hughes line. Olson’s tally in the first minute of the game got things off they can compete with elite talent like Hughes and show the coaches quickly: what they’re capable of. After a 6-4 win in which the Sabres got out to a 6-0 lead at one point, the first hurdle was cleared. Where that line found most of its work in the second was after Devils power plays. For Ruotsalainen, it was a solid game, and he’s a handful “I wanted to see different lines against (Hughes). I wanted to see if they for opponents to deal with in that he’s hard to knock off the puck and is could handle it,” Taylor said. “I even changed up one line to put Cozens strong. It’s a big opportunity for him this camp, as John Vogl shared out there just to make sure that he stayed in faceoffs against him just for recently, and how he handled himself against Hughes during the second that competition. You’ve got to see where you’re at, and it’s a prospect period (which also included three penalty-kill shifts against him) made a camp to see where guys are at. I thought it was really good. I thought clear statement that we’ll see a lot of him this month. every line handled him pretty good. He’s obviously a really good player.” Brett Murray – Bobby MacIntyre – Sebastian Vidmar It wasn’t a regular-season game, so matching lines and trying to get matchups wasn’t exactly happening throughout the game. That was even Three shifts (2/0/1). The amount this line got to see Hughes is more apparent after the Sabres got ahead 6-0 in the second period. Even interesting. Murray is a Sabres prospect without a home (as of yet) for after the Devils whittled away the deficit in the third, the matchups as far this season (we wrote about him during development camp), and as Hughes was concerned stayed consistent. MacIntyre and Vidmar are camp invites. They mostly drew Devils lines with players in similar situations, which is fair, but they handled minimal Tracking how Taylor utilized his players throughout the game when it time against Hughes without being on for a goal against. That’s a plus in came to Hughes proved to be interesting. Not only was it guys like itself. Asplund and Olofsson dealing with him up front, but it was also defensemen like Borgen, Henri Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson who had Murray – Cozens – Rousek their hands full with Hughes. Two shifts (0/0/2). Murray was moved into Pekar’s spot after Pekar finally For this first test, I tracked shift matchups. Every time Hughes hit the ice, got under the skin of New Jersey’s Michael Vukojevic. Taylor I marked down who was out there against him. I might be a professional complemented Murray’s play, but that line was on the ice for Boqvist’s writer, but a professional statistician I am not. The Sabres scored three goal that made it 6-2. Notably, that unit’s two shifts came on defensive- goals while Hughes was on the ice (Kyle Olson in the first; Ruotsalainen zone draws for Cozens. and Borgen in the second). The Devils scored two with him on, one from Defense pair even-strength shifts went this way: Hughes unassisted on a second-period power play and one by Jesper Boqvist in the third period. Bryson – Jokiharju

As for line matchups, here’s how it broke down at even strength: Eight shifts (2/2/4). We’ll be taking a longer look at Jokiharju as camp moves along, but he’s also the most NHL-experienced player in Sabres Olofsson – Asplund – Andrew Oglevie camp, so watching him against Hughes was intriguing. He’s very good Five shifts (two in the first/one in the second/two in the third). All shifts defending with his stick, and he’s slick handling the puck and can get out came off faceoffs — twice after an icing and a third following Cozens’ of trouble. He made one very noticeable mistake flubbing a pass during a power-play goal in the second that led to Borgen’s goal 27 seconds later different shift that turned into an instant scoring chance, but he was solid when he deflected an Asplund shot. in how he managed things against Hughes. Bryson appeared to pick up where he left off from the Frozen Four and was a quiet, steady performer. Hughes is an offensive dynamo, but the experienced Sabres lines took His size definitely was not an issue. advantage of his line when they were stuck in their own end of the ice. This line was outstanding for Buffalo throughout the game, but it was Brandon Hickey – Borgen supposed to be against this competition. Seven shifts (3/3/1). Taylor credited Borgen with getting things started “You want them to stand out, but you also want them to be leaders for early with his physical play. When he or Hickey was able to get near our team and the organization because that’s the culture they’ve got Hughes, their job was to get a body on him and be physical (same for the brought into the last couple of years,” Taylor said. “You want them to forwards, particularly Asplund), but this pairing saw a lot of Hughes on create that culture for these guys coming in here, and I thought they did a the penalty kill in the second period. Although forwards were able to get great job.” off the ice, the long change didn’t help them much. Even though the Devils outshot the Sabres 37-30 for the game, the majority of those shots were low-percentage and not dangerous.

Kurt Gosselin – Casey Fitzgerald

Nine shifts (3/2/4). Like the Hickey-Borgen pairing, Gosselin and Fitzgerald saw a lot of PK action against Hughes. The downside for these two was that the two goals Hughes’ line generated came against them. Fitzgerald played steady defense, and Gosselin showed a bit of what made him a fixture in the Americans lineup late last season after signing out of Alabama-Huntsville. These two are most likely destined for Rochester, but getting a healthy dose of Hughes gave Taylor a chance to see where they’re at early on.

Hickey-Jokiharju

One shift (1/0/0). This pairing happened after a penalty kill late in the first period, and they backed up the Cozens line. That there weren’t any notes about anything positive or negative occurring tells me they did fine until one of you tells me otherwise. Do your worst.

Yes, it’s an exhibition game a week before actual training camp opens, but when you have the opportunity to show what you’ve got against the one player you know is going to be in the NHL this season, taking advantage of that opportunity goes a long way. A win and more positive performances than negative ones make this a good starting point for a pack of younger players looking to storm their way into the big leagues.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152047 Calgary Flames “In practice and summer skates, it’s hard to score on him,” Dube said. “He’s such a big guy and he’s so positionally sound. He almost killed my confidence this summer.

Zagidulin shines in Flames Young Guns victory over Oilers “He’s a brick wall, it’s awesome.”

The Flames discovered the Russian puck-stopper similar to the way they Kristen Anderson, Postmedia found David Rittich, leaving no stones unturned while scouting across the pond. Like they did with Rittich out of the Czech Extraliga, director of pro September 7, 2019 10:24 PM MDT personnel Derek MacKinnon shipped video of Zagidulin playing in the Kontinental Hockey League with Metallurg Magnitogorsk as a back-up.

There, he posted a 12-7-3 record with a 1.96 goals against average and There are many question marks surrounding Artyom Zagidulin. .924 save percentage with four shutouts in 25 regular season games. Like, for example, how the heck does a guy from Magnitogorsk, Russia, “His numbers are silly, everywhere he’s played,” Speer said. “How that end up in Red Deer, Alta.? will translates to this side of the pond, I don’t know. He’s clearly a winner. What is so special about the 24-year-old netminder that compelled the Tonight he showed he’s a gamer and he’s trying to make a name for Calgary Flames to ink him to a one year entry level contract for the 2019- himself.” 20 season? Zagidulin just turned 24, just like Rittich when he first joined the There were some real-time answers on Saturday night at the Enmax organization. Centrium, at least. The book is wide open, just like Rittich when he first joined the While the score is irrelevant in the bigger picture, posting a shutout is organization. significant to a goalie prospect who is trying to make a name for himself Now, he’ll just need to learn the english language — he, along with in a hurry. Zagidulin looked calm making 31 saves in a 1-0 overtime Russian Alexander Yelesin are speaking through an interpreter who was victory over the Edmonton Oilers rookies in the team’s first game of the also with them at the summertime development camp. 2019-20 prospects camp. However, the interpreter was not in Red Deer on Saturday night and “He makes it look pretty easy,” said Flames right winger Matthew Phillips, Zagidulin, respectfully, declined to address the media. who is heading into camp with his first full professional season in the American Hockey League under his belt. “He’s a big goalie and he’s one No worries, according to his teammates. of those guys that gives you something and then takes it away right away when you put (the puck there). He reads the game really well. I was “It’s different off the ice,” Dube said. “But on the ice, we all have the same really impressed with his puck handling, too. He made a lot of things look body demeanour. He’s into it, he’s engaged. You just give him a look and really easy.” he knows, he’s battling the whole time. It’s hard for guys coming over (from Europe), but he’s been trying hard … you almost build a connection The biggest opportunity to showcase himself happened on a three-on- not even speaking the same language.” two early into the overtime frame when Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard delivered a blast to Zagidulin’s glove-side which he repelled Martin Pospisil was dominant for the majority of the game, and it’s easy with ease. to see why the Flames’ annual scouting report on the kid reads like a yearbook superlative: “most hated by other teams.” Albeit it wasn’t the hardest shot or the most difficult angle, but he was there, made the right move, and the Flames were able to turn it into a The left-handed Slovakian winger and pot-stirrer was hitting everything rush down the ice. that moved, including one of the Oilers’ top prospects, Cooper Marody, whom he crushed by the Flames bench with 2:12 remaining in the Then, it was up to some familiar faces to finish the job. Dillon Dube fed second period. He turned around, immediately anticipating retribution for Matthew Phillips who stopped and flipped a shot up as quick as he could, his actions, and was ready to drop the gloves with Oilers defenceman scoring on Stuart Skinner. Vincent Desharnais.

“A bit of rust,” said Phillips who played with Dube and Glenn Gawdin on Pospisil, drafted in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2018 NHL draft, Saturday but also skated with them for most of the 2018-19 season with finished eighth in league scoring last season with the Sioux City the Stockton Heat. “You can only do so much in practice and it’s really Musketeers in the USHL with 16 goal and 47 assists for 63 points in 44 hard to replicate a game. But I think we got better as the game went on games. and we got a few chances. You just kind of have to keep it simple in these games.” Pospisil was part of a four-forward powerplay with five minutes left in the third period along with Dube, Phillips, Gawdin and Robert Hamilton. They Kind of like Zagidulin. gained some decent traction and it looked like the Flames were going to break the deadlock, but couldn’t set up anything on Skinner. During a penalty kill to start the third period, with Gawdin in the box for slashing, he stood tall. Scrums in front of the net were not overwhelming NOTES to the six-foot-two, 190-pounder. Defenceman Montana Onyebuchi, who was invited back for fall rookie He also faced a pile of decent traffic in the first period, repelling 13 shots camp after receiving an invite to their summer development get-together, in the first 20 minutes and 30 after three periods. delivered an unexpected punch to Beau Starrett, a forward inked by the Oilers on an American Hockey League-only deal out of Cornell, which “He read the plays really well and his panic is very minimal, he still finds sent the six-foot-five, 212-pound forward sprawling on the ice. Not a ways to get in front of the puck,” said Heat goalie coach Thomas Speer, great decision by the Flames defenceman, but something appeared to who is new on the team’s coaching staff this season. “There is a lot have sparked him … With seven minutes to go in the third period, Jakob there. I’m excited to work with him. Pelletier, the first-round selection of the Flames from the 2019 draft, “The hockey world is small — the goalie world is even smaller. There are absorbed a stick to his mouth and went straight to the dressing room. He things I can point to and he gets it, for the most part. Especially when the returned to finish the game … Right-winger Eetu Tuulola did not, other goalies demonstrate, he picks it up quick. He’s a smart guy.” however, after he took an awkward spill into the boards and immediately gestured to the Flames trainers, pointing to his left knee/leg … the This is a small sample size. One game will not define what he does for Flames prospects hit the ice Sunday and Monday at WinSport at 11 a.m. the upcoming months in North America, his first experience in both days … they’ll face the Oilers rookies again on Tuesday at professional hockey on this side of the globe. Scotiabank Saddledome (7 p.m.).

But his potential makes him a low risk, high reward signing. And already, his teammates like playing in front of him. Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152048 Calgary Flames “The goal is to make it as hard a possible for the Flames to send me down to Stockton. I want to make a lasting impression and I want to eventually make the team. It’s something that you can’t think about just Flames prospect Luke Philp pumped for next test — pro hockey one thing at a time. You have to think about how you approach every day and be a professional about it, and I’ve been working towards that over the summer. Taking care of your body, eating the right things, drinking the right things . . . Wes Gilbertson “I’m excited about the transition to pro and I’m excited about the September 7, 2019 5:35 PM MDT opportunity ahead.”

Luke Philp won’t have to write any essays or exams, won’t have to Calgary Sun: LOADED: 09.08.2019 squirm through any academic lectures or cram to finish any assignments.

Effective immediately, the Calgary Flames forward prospect — signed last spring after three seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears — will be graded only on his ability to light the lamp, his dependability in the defensive zone, his commitment to climbing to hockey’s highest level.

“As my friends were going back to school, it was like ‘Whoa, I’m getting ready to play my first season of pro,’ ” Philp said prior to Saturday’s exhibition matchup against the Edmonton Oilers’ up-and-comers on neutral ice in Red Deer. “It came a little earlier than I originally anticipated, but I’m very ready for it and very excited for it.

“It’s a little different — you only have one focus now, and that’s being ready and preparing yourself to practise and play. It’s kind of one- dimensional. In school, you learn to manage your time and you learn when you have to chip away at studying versus putting the books aside and focus on hockey.”

Rookie camp is like the NHL’s equivalent to frosh week — an opportunity for the new arrivals to get acclimated before the veterans return for another semester . . . er . . . season.

Philp is one of the more intriguing additions to Calgary’s prospect pipeline.

An alum of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Canmore Eagles and the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice and Red Deer Rebels, the 23- year-old right-hander signed an entry-level pact with the Flames shortly after claiming the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as Canada’s post- secondary player-of-the-year.

Saturday’s audition against the Oilers at Enmax Centrium marked his first competitive contest since the 2019 U Sports University Cup, where the Golden Bears lost in the national championship game.

Philp suffered a high-ankle sprain that evening, an injury that has now faded in his rearview mirror. He trained this summer with a pack of Flames’ hopefuls at the Edge School.

“I think that was March 16 or 17, and I haven’t played a game since then,” Philp said after Saturday’s morning skate at WinSport. “I guess we played a little inter-squad game here during development camp, but we haven’t played against another group. It will be an adjustment, for sure, but I’m excited.

“I’ve been waiting to get after it playing for a while now. In practice, you want to make a good impression on the coaching and management staff and do all you can. But, at the end of the day, it really comes down to what you are doing in a game and what you’re doing to stand out on the ice.”

He was certainly a standout in the university ranks, capped by a 45-point splurge — 21 goals and 24 assists — in two-dozen skates last winter.

Now, Philp is trying to trace the trail of Flames centre Derek Ryan, who also stuffed the net for the Golden Bears and later proved that the ascent from U Sports to The Show was not an impossible trek.

Ryan’s quest included stints in Austria, Sweden and Charlotte, N.C.

For Philp, listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 lb., the likely next stop is Stockton, Calif., but nobody shows up to training camp and declares that their aim is to be reassigned to the American Hockey League affiliate.

“I feel extremely ready for pro hockey, I’ve said that from the beginning,” said Philp, who will likely audition at both centre and right wing. “University hockey, I felt I was always ready to move on, hockey-wise, to pro. So it’ll be a good test (Saturday) to see where I’m at. 1152049 Calgary Flames “It’s very cliche, but it’s learning to be a pro. Just your day-to-day (plan), which enables you to do your job,” Pittis said. “How are you sleeping? How are you eating? How you manage that, how you manage your Flames highly-touted prospect Dillon Dube discovers the recipe for routine, will enable you to be clear and free to play the games. If you’re success — and salmon worried about all these other things? When you get into a game, you’re not giving yourself the best chance to do what you’re paid to do.

“Figuring that out is a process.” By Scott Cruickshank Perhaps counterintuitively, backing off hockey can be beneficial. Sep 6, 2019 That had been one of Lazar’s strategies — staying fresh by finding space for yourself.

Rapt, Dillon Dube stands aside and marvels at the scene unfolding in “Turning off your brain away from the rink,” he said. “You go there, you front of him. know it’s your job, you love the game, but when you leave the rink it’s good to have a life outside it. For me and him to cruise around, check out Curtis Lazar, after hearing his rookie roommate express interest in California, it was good to just get away and we really built our friendship.” learning how to cook, has bent to the task. In less than half an hour, in front of an appreciative audience of one, he concocts a feast. Dube loved being on his own. Looking back, the 21-year-old says the experience helped him figure out who he is as a person. “You’ve got to Salmon, roasted Brussels sprouts, balsamic glazed asparagus, really become a man.” couscous. On the ice, too, there has been guidance. The defensive part of Dube’s “He couldn’t believe it,” Lazar said, with a hoot. “Funny story.” program required upgrading, which is true for nearly all pro-hockey So impressed is Dube that he offers to do all the dishes. But payback will newcomers. But not everyone listens. have to wait because Lazar, efficient in the ways of the kitchen, has Dube, according to Pittis, did pay heed. prepared supper with the minimum of fuss. Meaning clean-up is a breeze. And, impressively, even while getting the lowdown on own-zone awareness, he managed to collect 39 points, sixth-most on the Heat, It had been a culinary clinic, courtesy of the well-meaning veteran, and despite dressing only 37 times. one of the many lessons Dube willingly absorbed as he worked through his first year of professional hockey. “Obviously, having offensive production gave him some sense of accomplishment,” Pittis said. “But the thing they maybe don’t realize is, It reflects the type of education that most youngsters could use, not just yeah, it’s great to have that, but it’s the other parts of your game that those who play hockey for a living. enable you to be trusted by the coaches. Then your ice time grows. Lazar, breaking in with the 2014-15 Ottawa Senators, stayed with Chris You’re responsible. You’re not a liability. Phillips and his family. “He was someone I got to lean on.” Therefore, the “Guys, a lot of time, don’t understand that that’s what you need to get to 24-year-old had been happy to pay it forward, helping Dube any way he that next step. They’re like, ‘Oh, put me in that situation and I’ll give you could. that.’ But you have to earn that situation.” Thursday morning — following fitness testing with the two dozen other That lecture appears to have been dutifully soaked up. prospects at the Calgary Flames’ rookie camp at WinSport — Dube mentions Andrew Nielsen and Lazar as his AHL roommates and also as Asked about his totals, Dube acknowledges that it had been important to positive influences. generate offence — “I want to define that as my game” — before ably switching to the company line. “The biggest thing for me right now is not “Lazar really showed me what to do,” he said. “I think he was the biggest points. It’s playing a 200-foot game. To be an NHLer, I really have to part for me in Stockton.” focus on that.” That message is relayed later in the day to Lazar. Just getting settled in Not that time spent in Stockton was all pots and pans, X’s and O’s. Buffalo where he’ll skate for the Sabres this season, he is touched by Dube’s comments. Dube taught the organization a few things, too.

“The fact that I was able to live with Dillon and show him the ropes, Already the Flames knew he could fly, they knew he could score goals — cooking dinner here and there, just hanging out and talking about life — that’s why they made the Cochrane lad a second-round pick in 2016. it’s good to know he took in some of it and it affected him,” Lazar said. “When you’re a young kid and you’re going out on your own, it can be Now they have an accurate read on the forward’s level of gumption. overwhelming. It’s just understanding that it really is do-able. (Spoiler alert: it’s high.)

“Having your life in order is a good feeling.” “People took some liberties with him, and he didn’t shy away,” Pittis said. “That jumps out to me, that jumps off the page. Because, generally, you Because of his smart start a year ago — dominating his peers, get pushed around and you’re like, ‘OK, maybe not today,’ or, ‘Maybe I’ll unflinching in the face of established players, earning a spot in the wait for the next shift.’ But he was uber-competitive. Guys know they’re in Flames’ season-opening lineup — it was easy to overlook that Dube, still for a long night because he’s going to be back. That bodes well. a just a kid, had been in need of schooling. “After the whistle’s blown and you’re pushing and shoving? That’s not For Dube, eventually derailed by injuries and flatlined performance, toughness. That’s just posturing. Toughness to me is the willingness to Stockton was deemed the appropriate setting for that seasoning. go back to the area, right? There’s no hesitation at all from him to show that, ‘Hey, I don’t care what you do to me, I’m going back.’ That Not that a ton of grooming had been in order. But some. relentlessness wears on guys. That’s a mindset.” Part of that was the off-ice component because pro hockey is a parent- Odometre spinning — 68 pro dates already, including 25 for Calgary — and billet-free existence. There are utilities to arrange, bills to pay, Dube would seem readier than ever to nail down full-time employment in groceries to buy, taxes to sort. Nothing too dramatic — what college the NHL. student doesn’t hop over those hurdles? — just a new facet to grown-up life. Just don’t ask him to evaluate his own progress.

Stockton assistant coach Domenic Pittis is no stranger to the transition. “You know what? I can’t even tell,” Dube said while smiling. “When you’re going through it every single day, you’re practising, you’re working out, As he went from starring for WHL Lethbridge to grinding for AHL you don’t see the development that everyone else sees. You don’t see Cleveland, he remembers enduring off-ice adjustments and having this the huge gains until you get in the games.” thought: “I’m going to need to eat something other than meat pies and Kraft Dinner.” So he did. Speaking of which, rookie friendlies open Saturday in Red Deer against the Edmonton Oilers. A year ago at Westerner Park Centrium, Dube put on a show. First star by miles. Gone now is the local-boy “feel-good story,” as he puts it.

Because, regardless of assumed growth, Dube must re-establish his upside. Right now.

“I want to make an impact on the team every night,” he said. “Hockey players, we’re so competitive that you’re going to bank on yourself all the time. Every single guy here thinks they have a chance to make it — and that’s why they are here. I’m not the only one who’s pushing to make the team. You’ve got to know that.”

In addition to ample hockey gifts, Dube is an appreciative sort.

For his great work out of the gate a year ago, he thanks Matt Stajan and Mason Raymond who convinced him to not over-think tryouts or any of the uncontrollable factors that come with it. Camp, they preached, is not make or break, so relax.

For his current level of fitness, he thanks Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic, vital members of his offseason training group. “That was really big for me, just to evolve around them a lot more.”

And he won’t soon forget the contributions of Lazar, who, last winter, told him: “Don’t be complacent. You don’t want to be here in Stockton. You’re too good to be in this league. Yeah, you’re going to take what you can from it and improve. But everything’s setting you up for the long run, for having a successful career.”

Dube’s depth-chart ascension may have actually hastened Lazar’s departure. But the former Flames forward has nothing but high hopes for his protege.

“I have full faith in Dillon,” Lazar said. “He’s going to be a prominent player for the Flames for years to come.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152050 Chicago Blackhawks Ramsey understands he has a long way to go. For now, he’s content taking things slowly and trying not to humiliate himself. He’s gathering advice from his teammates, particularly defenseman Dennis Gilbert.

Transition from forward to defense keeps Blackhawks prospect Jack “Every single person I’ve talked to has said stay inside the dot lines,” Ramsey on his toes: ‘It’s a lot of new stuff’ Ramsey said. "Just stay inside the dot lines and you can’t get beat. It’s simple things like that. Just trying to keep guys in front of you. (Friday) night I didn’t think my gaps were very good just because I was so afraid By JIMMY GREENFIELD of guys blowing by me and getting embarrassed.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE “This weekend is a huge thing for me to try to pick up as many things and show I’m capable of doing it. I thought I did a good job of that (Friday). A SEP 07, 2019 | 4:29 PM lot of things I could have done better, but so far I’m happy to be playing the position.”

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. Tournament update: Philipp Kurashev, Tim Soderlund and Sean Josling scored and the Hawks outshot the Maple Leafs 35-25 on Saturday but Many hockey players choose between forward and defense when they they fell to 1-1 in the NHL Prospect Tournament with a 6-3 loss. are kids, then often live with that decision for the rest of their careers. After Sunday’s off day, each of the eight teams plays one more pool- play Some might switch as teenagers, but that’s young enough to learn the game before pairing off in playoff games Tuesday. Saturday’s loss new position and establish themselves if college or the pros come calling. eliminated the Hawks from a chance to play in the tournament final. The best they can do is reach the third-place game. The University of Minnesota came calling for Blackhawks prospect Jack Ramsey, who grew up playing forward, a position he played for four The Hawks won their opener over the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime Friday years with the Golden Gophers. When his collegiate eligibility ended and on an Adam Boqvist wrist shot 43 seconds into the extra session. 2019 it was time to move on, the Hawks asked him to consider a change to first-round pick Kirby Dach scored on a breakaway, and goalie Alexis defense. Gravel made 29 saves, including a brilliant diving stop on forward Filip Zadina in the final minute. This wasn’t the first time they had suggested a move to the blue line. After drafting Ramsey in the seventh round in 2014, the idea came up. So it wasn’t a surprise when the suggestion was floated again last spring. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 09.08.2019 The move made sense to him. Ramsey was anything but an offensive force at Minnesota, where he had just eight goals and 16 assists in 143 games. He is a self-described defensive-minded forward who always got more of a thrill keeping the puck out of his team’s net than seeing his team score.

Still, he consulted with the most important people in his life to confirm he was making the right choice. The first person he spoke to was his dad, Mike Ramsey, a 14-year NHL veteran and a defenseman on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Mike Ramsey thought it was a great idea, as did all of Jack’s coaches. In May, Jack signed a one-year American Hockey League contract as a defenseman.

“I want to make my career last as long as possible, and playing defense was the best possible option to do that,” Ramsey said.

Several factors led to the Hawks asking Ramsey to try defense, including an organizational need for big defensemen. But the biggest was that they didn’t see him as a forward.

“He probably wasn’t going to make it in our organization as a forward,” Hawks director of player development Mark Eaton said. “So if he wanted to stay in the organization and give defense a try, then he could step right into the pro levels. We always thought he had a great skill set. Athletic kid, big kid, moves well, smart. So we thought that being a defenseman could be a good switch for him.”

Over the summer, Ramsey began from the ground floor. He worked almost exclusively on the fundamental aspects of skating backward, which seems basic for someone with his experience but is required far more as a defenseman than at forward.

“I spent the whole summer working with a skating coach working on backwards skating,” Ramsey said. “But there’s so many things in games where situations you can’t work on in the summer I’m trying to get going. When do I cross over? When do I stride back? It’s a lot of new stuff.”

Ramsey’s first chance to put into action what he has been working on came Friday night in the opener of the NHL Prospect Tournament when he lined up on defense.

Not long after Ramsey scored on a wrist shot in the first period of the tournament opener, word began to trickle down the bench that this was his first game playing defense.

“I had no idea before,” defenseman Adam Boqvist said. “He did a great job. He scored. He went out there and had fun, so it’s good.” 1152051 Chicago Blackhawks Dach said. “But at the same time I’m not afraid to go in and play in those hard areas, because it’s my game and I’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

Dach’s first-period goal came on a breakaway, and he scored it with a 5 takeaways from the Blackhawks’ prospects 5-4 OT win in Traverse deke that was almost identical to one he used during development camp. City, including Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist both scoring goals He faked left, then used his long stick to sweep the puck into the far right side of the net past the helpless Wings goalie.

By JIMMY GREENFIELD “I worked on that skill a little bit in the summer, beating goalies one-on- one, and obviously they’re going to start catching on when they start see CHICAGO TRIBUNE me coming down,” Dach said. “So I’ve got to start figuring out other ways to score.” SEP 07, 2019 | 6:35 AM 3. Goalie Alexis Gravel was the Hawks’ best player.

Wings forward Filip Zadina, the No. 6 pick of last year’s draft, appeared TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. poised to score the go-ahead goal with 44 seconds left in regulation. He Few players on the ice during Friday’s NHL Prospect Tournament opener was alone in front of Gravel, who was on the ice as Zadina tried to will compete in the NHL this season — most will never make it — but maneuver around him for some open net. there still was a sense of satisfaction among the hundreds of fans who The open net was there for the taking. Until it wasn’t. Gravel recovered in came out to take in some pretty good hockey. time to stop Zadina’s shot and allow the Hawks to get to OT. “It’s nice to have a hockey fix,” one woman said. “I needed it.” When I saw (Zadina) I was like, ‘Uh oh,’ and then he moved to my right The Blackhawks have built one of the better farm systems in the NHL side," Gravel said. “One of my strengths is battling, and I just battled. over the past year, and almost all their top prospects were on hand for When I saw the puck in my glove it felt pretty good.” Friday’s 5-4 overtime win against the Red Wings’ prospects. With the Gravel, 19, stopped just 29 of 33 shots, but three of the goals were on Hawks’ top brass watching, 2019 first-round pick Kirby Dach scored a the power play and one came when Hagel gave away the puck right in pretty breakaway goal and assisted on a game-winning laser by Adam front of the Hawks net. He made several point-blank saves and appeared Boqvist, their top pick last year. comfortable throughout the game, even after the Wings scored three Those goals weren’t the only bright spots for the Hawks. Here are five goals in the second period to tie the score at four. takeaways from Friday’s victory in the first game of the tournament that Part of that comfort level comes from having played in Traverse City last runs until Tuesday. year, shortly after the Hawks drafted him in the sixth round. 1. Adam Boqvist did not play a great game but came away the hero. “Last year my eyes were open, like ‘Wow, this is so cool,’” Gravel said. “I At July’s development camp, Boqvist clearly was the most talented player know it’s cool, but now I know I can play with those guys and be a part of on the ice. That also may have been the case Friday, but he didn’t play it. So I just feel more comfortable being here.” the part ... until his brilliant game-winning goal. 4. Brandon Hagel made a costly mistake but still had a solid game. Like most of the players, this was the first competitive game Boqvist had Hagel’s second-period turnover was inexcusable, and if he wants to played in four or five months, and for him it showed. reach the NHL it can’t become a pattern. Hagel acknowledged his error “I don’t think the puck wanted to be on my stick today,” Boqvist admitted after the game and was more focused on improving his error than after the game. “First game and the head wasn’t there all the time. relishing in what was otherwise a very good game. Tomorrow I’ll be better, I hope.” “I obviously made a little ‘whoops’ there,” Hagel said. “Just randomly lost Boqvist, who played on a defensive pairing with Dennis Gilbert, didn’t the puck. We bounced back, won the game so I’m not going to dread on make any glaring mistakes, but he wasn’t flashing his talent. The few it. I’m not going to look back on it. Crap happens. Can’t do anything times he tried to show off his elite offensive skills he was knocked off the about it.” puck and didn’t come away with anything to show for his efforts. Hagel had a first-period assist, seemed comfortable as a member of the Adam Boqvist skates at practice at Blackhawks Development Camp on first power-play unit and showed considerable chemistry playing on a line July 16, 2018. with Dach and Riley McKay, a non-roster invitee.

But IceHogs head coach Derek King — who is coaching the Hawks He also had the steal in overtime that began the possession that ended prospects this week — sent Boqvist, Kirby Dach and Brandon Hagel out with Adam Boqvist’s OT goal. The most fun for him, though, might have to start the five-minute extra session, which is 3-on-3 just like in the NHL. been getting to play on the same team with Dach, against whom he The Wings controlled the puck until Hagel stole it near his own blue line, competed for three seasons in the Western Hockey League and for long then raced up and moved it to Dach, who found Boqvist standing about before that while both were growing up near Edmonton. 15 feet away from the Wings net. “We finally got to play together,” Hagel said. “It’s pretty cool.” Boqvist moved a little to his left, then drilled a wrist shot high over the 5. Not everything went well. shoulder of Wings goalie Kaden Fulcher, who made his NHL debut last season. The puck didn’t seem to have any room to go in, yet it found its Forward Philipp Kurashev was not noticeable during Friday night’s win, way past Fulcher for the winner. not a terrible thing given that it’s just one game. But if Kurashev hopes to have a shot at winning a spot on the Hawks roster during training camp, “I saw (Boqvist) kind of winding up for the shot and was thinking he’s he’ll need to make his presence more known. going to miss the net,” Dach said. “So I was pulling out of the zone. I don’t know what kind of gap he had with it. It was an unbelievable shot.” Defenseman Chad Krys committed two minor penalties, the first of which turned into the Wings’ first goal of the game. 2. Kirby Dach was a target, and he handled it perfectly. The penalty kill was abysmal, allowing three goals in five opportunities. When you’re the No. 3 overall pick, there will be a bull’s-eye on your back. When you stand 6-foot-4 and weigh 230 pounds, you’re even harder to miss. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 09.08.2019 The Wings went after Dach much of the night, giving him extra shoves and trying to goad him into a reaction. He never appeared to react with any anger. Instead, he took the hits and skated away as though they never happened.

“Just being a bigger guy you’re going to have to adjust to the league, and obviously it’s a physical league and you have to play that type of game,” 1152052 Chicago Blackhawks

Kirby Dach loses cool as Blackhawks prospects fall to Maple Leafs

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Sep 7, 2019, 7:13pm CDT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — For as smoothly as Kirby Dach’s first competitive game in a Blackhawks sweater went Friday, his second appearance Saturday proved there will be growing pains for the young star.

Dach was held off the scoresheet save for two third-period penalties — and he followed both calls by arguing with the referees — as the Hawks lost 6-3 to the Maple Leafs in their second game of the Traverse City prospects tournament.

“He’s a competitive guy, he wants to be the best guy on the ice all the time, and when he gets frustrated like that, it takes away from his game a little bit,” said Rockford coach Derek King, heading the Hawks’ team this weekend. “And that’s stuff he’ll learn as he gets older. You can maybe get away with it in the Western League. But at this level, that’s not going to help your game.”

The third overall pick in the draft looked fired up from the start. He was noticeably more physical than he was Friday and pickpocketed Leafs prospects twice early on, showing off his elite stickhandling.

But that aggressiveness burned him later on. The Leafs took a 3-1 lead in the second period when Dach drifted needlessly into a corner scrum, leaving his man wide open in front of the goal. The Hawks allowed three more goals in the third period as Dach, with visibly poor body language, spent more effort complaining about the tightly called game than adjusting to it.

King is right that Dach will soon learn better. Still, this served as a prime example that the Hawks’ top forward prospect, no matter how poised he seems off the ice and how exponential his hype has become, remains an 18-year-old kid.

“He’s used to … not dominating but pretty much doing what he wants out there in juniors,” King said. “But here, you’re playing against your peers and guys that are just as good, if not better. He’s a hell of a player. He just got a little off today.”

Outside of Dach, Phillip Kurashev might have the highest upside of any of the prospect forwards with the Hawks this weekend. Yet he didn’t show it in the 5-4 overtime victory Friday against the Red Wings, in which he was largely invisible.

That changed Saturday. Kurashev’s striking speed and agility stood out time and again as he slashed through the Leafs’ defense, much like he did against the Hawks’ blue-liners at development camp.

It finally translated to the scoreboard late, when the 2018 fourth-rounder scored a slick short-handed goal to cut the deficit to 5-3. But Kurashev was already a strong candidate for having the most impressive performance even before finding the net.

“Today, I felt a lot more comfortable. Yesterday was tough,” Kurashev said. “I just started right away to be involved and try to get some plays early, and I was able to do that for the whole game.”

The Switzerland native’s draft pedigree doesn’t imply greatness, but his stock has risen tremendously in the last year.

He was born at the right time. He’s undersized but quick and looks tailor- made for the modern-day style of hockey, particularly the style the Hawks prefer. On several occasions, Kurashev was a one-man zone-entry machine.

“He’s going to be a nice hockey player,” King said.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152053 Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks coverage from the 2019 Traverse City NHL prospects tournament

Staff Report

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Blackhawks’ youngest players will compete for the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup this week in northern Michigan.

First-rounders Kirby Dach, Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin headline this year’s Hawks prospect roster, but the group is full of promising players and interesting names.

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152054 Chicago Blackhawks

Top players from around the league filled Chicago this week during NHL Media Tour

By Ben Pope@BenPopeCST

Sep 7, 2019, 6:55am CDT

Many of the lighthearted social-media clips, funny reaction GIFs and national-TV interviews that NHL fans will see throughout the 2019-20 season have already been filmed.

“We have some of our biggest stars here, they’re accessible to the media, and what this does is give the media an opportunity to load up on content, which they don’t have to use all at once,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “And, as important, it gives the players an opportunity to get a lot of the media interaction out of the way, in terms of the long- term stories that’ll resonate throughout the season.”

DeBrincat, the young winger about to begin his third season with the Hawks, spent his morning shattering ice planks and boxes filled with pingpong balls in a dramatically lit Johnny’s IceHouse. Later, he was whisked from one room to another at the Magnificent Mile Marriott in breakneck 15-minute shifts. He handled a trash-talking Paul Bissonnette in a quick “NHL 20” video-game battle, then gamely completed a bracket of his favorite sports movies. But some of the off-the-board questions in recorded interview sessions stumped him.

“I like the questions — I just don’t necessarily know the answer, and a lot of them I’ve never thought about in my life before, so it’s hard to think of something on the spot,” DeBrincat said. “A lot of times when I’m caught in that, I can’t think of anything.”

Fans may not see or hear of the content DeBrincat and others filmed, however, for months.

The questions and answers intentionally had no time constrictions, meant to bring out players’ personalities. But fans may not see or hear the content DeBrincat and others filmed for months. The NHL Players Association, NBC Sports or NHL Network could air portions of the interviews anywhere from October into next spring.

“There’s so much content that’s captured here, it really does provide enough material to get you to the playoffs, and sometimes through the playoffs,” said Jamey Horan, the NHL’s vice president of communications. “Obviously, there’s other interviews that have to take place during the playoffs, but I saw stuff during the Stanley Cup Finals on our national rights-holders that was shot in September, in terms of the promotional stuff, the on-ice stuff.”

Chicago first hosted the Media Tour last season. For the nine years before that, it was in either New York or Toronto.

The NHL was drawn by Chicago’s central location — it’s a significantly shorter flight for West Coast stars — as well as the short distance between the two rinks used (Johnny’s and Fifth Third Arena) and the downtown. The league also hoped that moving the tour to Chicago would reflect its changing purpose — to be less and less about actual hockey.

“As it’s grown, and especially with the growth of social media, it’s been catered more to show players’ personalities, as opposed to a straight sit- down interview about the season,” Horan said. “It has expanded to have some more fun.”

Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152055 Chicago Blackhawks "Today I felt a lot more comfortable," Kurashev said. "Yesterday was tough. I just started right away to be involved and try to get some plays early and I was able to do that for the whole game."

Takeaways and observations: Blackhawks fall to Maple Leafs in Game 2 Other observations: at Traverse City — Tim Soderlund has been noticeable in the first two games. The 5-foot- 9, 163-pound Swedish winger didn't participate at Blackhawks By Charlie Roumeliotis development camp in July because of visa issues, but it doesn't look like he's skipped a beat. He's easily one of the fastest skaters in this September 07, 2019 6:30 PM tournament and is super crafty. Soderlund also showed that he's got an underrated shot when he buried a power-play goal while off-balance for

his first tally of the tournament. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — After opening the 2019 Traverse City — Chad Krys had a nice bounce-back effort on Saturday, minus the Prospect Tournament with a 5-4 overtime win against Detroit, the cross-checking penalty he committed late in the third period when the Blackhawks suffered their first loss in Game 2 when they were knocked score was 5-3. He recorded a pair of assists and was one of two off by the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Blackhawks defensemen (Nicolas Beaudin) who finished with a positive Here are three takeaways and some observations from the loss: rating (+1).

1. Tough afternoon for Hagel-Dach-McKay line

The first line of Brandon Hagel, Kirby Dach and Riley McKay was very Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 effective in Game 1 against Detroit. Game 2 was a struggle, albeit on the second of a back-to-back. Hagel and McKay were on the ice for four of the six goals against while Dach was on the ice for three of them. They were also held off the scoresheet.

Dach, particularly, had a strong first period but the Maple Leafs targeted him in the final two periods and he grew visibly frustrated, which showed in the third period when he committed a roughing penalty for retaliation. He also had a hooking penalty minutes before that, which he didn't agree with.

This is all part of the growing process for Dach, who's certainly going to face a lot of this when he gets to the NHL, whether it's this season or next. But his playoffs with Saskatoon showed that he's more than capable of handling it. It's just going to be at a different level.

"He's a competitive guy," Rockford IceHogs coach Derek King said. "He wants to be the best guy on the ice all the time and when he gets frustrated like that, it takes away from his game a little bit. And that's the stuff he'll learn as he gets older. You can maybe get away with it in the OHL or the Western [Hockey] League or college and stuuf but at this level, that's not going to help your game. He's young and he'll mature and get out of that.

"It's hard. He's probably so used to, not dominating, but pretty much doing what he wants out there in junior. But here you're playing against your peers and guys that are just as good, if not better, and everybody's working towards the same goal of getting to the NHL. But he's a hell of a player, he just got a little off today."

2. Adam Boqvist in attack mode

"I don't think the puck [wanted] to be on my stick today."

Those are the words of Boqvist on Friday after Game 1. The puck was certainly finding him on Saturday. The official shots on goal total had him at five, but he seemingly had at least double that in overall shot attempts. His best chances came in the second period when he rang one off the post and nearly pulled off a drag move in the slot but got stripped that prevented a prime scoring chance.

Boqvist had a shoot-first mentality and he wasn't afraid to keep doing so even though the puck didn't go in for him. Most of his shots came on the power play.

3. Philipp Kurashev stands out

The Blackhawks have experimented with Kurashev in different situations throughout the first two games. He's in a top-six role and has appeared on both the power play and penalty kill units, and he was one of the few standouts in Game 2.

Kurashev registered a secondary assist on Sean Josling's goal to open the game and scored a pretty unassisted shorthanded goal in the third period for his first multi-point outing of the tournament. The two almost connected again late in the second period but Maple Leafs netminder Zachary Bouthillier made a great pad save.

Kurashev, Josling and Dylan McLaughlin were the only three Blackhawks forwards who finished with a positive rating (+1). 1152056 Colorado Avalanche budged. With less than a month before the Avalanche’s regular season begins, the dispute is all about leverage. Altitude’s best leverage is that it owns the broadcasting rights to two teams with playoff aspirations. The Altitude Sports “exploring” Amazon option to break logjam with TV ratings, one would expect, would be good. Last year, Nuggets average distributors viewership jumped 74 percent in comparison to the 2017-’18 season while viewership for the Avalanche rose 49 percent compared to the previous season.

By MIKE SINGER | [email protected] | The Denver Post What is happening in Los Angeles offers another potential roadmap for how Altitude might negotiate. The Dodgers own the network SportsNet PUBLISHED: September 7, 2019 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: September 7, LA. They’ve also made the postseason the last six years and have the 2019 at 9:38 am best record in the National League this year. Due to an $8 billion dollar agreement with the franchise, only Time Warner Cable (and now Charter Communications) customers are able to watch them mow down the NL A harmonious, 15-year partnership probably wasn’t going to end without West. Anyone in Los Angeles with DIRECTV or another provider hasn’t rancor. been able to watch.

The ongoing carriage dispute between Altitude Sports and its big three “One of the new players,” as Martin referred to them, could be an option. distributors – Comcast, DIRECTV and DISH – is a microcosm of the problems plaguing regional sports networks across the country. YouTube reached an agreement with MLB to broadcast 13 games this season exclusively on its platform, including three Dodgers games. One, Locally, it’s taken Altitude off the air for more than a week as the former on July 18, registered 2.16 million views, according to YouTube. partners have been unable to reach an agreement. Nationally, the marriage between regional sports networks and distributors faces a Is YouTube a viable partner? What about another streaming service such murky future. as Twitter, Facebook or Hulu? Big tech companies have been testing the waters on live sports for several years. Financially, the barrier to entry is Broadcast rights fees for teams have escalated, placing more of a minuscule compared to what it used to be for the traditional distributors. financial burden on networks. In turn, networks, such as the Kroenke- owned Altitude, have demanded higher carriage costs from the The upheaval in the regional sports network business is apparent distributors. Now, with cord-cutters taking their money elsewhere, cable everywhere you turn. Sinclair, which was involved in the YES purchase, and satellite distributors have balked at renewing contracts. The impasse recently bought 21 regional sports networks (formerly owned by Fox) between Altitude and its big three distributors is indicative of a model in from Disney. Sinclair paid $9.6 billion – half of the bundle’s projected turmoil, if not one that’s broken altogether. value.

With little leverage in now-stalled negotiations, Altitude executives are “The big thing in all of this is Sinclair,” Miller said. “Fox Sports has always looking at other options to televise Nuggets, Avalanche and their other been the 800-pound gorilla with 21 regions. And so, most everything was teams’ games, rather than acquiesce to distributors who want to based off of that. They have a lot of leverage. … It’s not business as dramatically lower carriage costs, citing declining viewership. usual when these things have come up now because the whole world has changed.” One possible solution? A partnership with Amazon. AT&T (and DIRECTV) is considering selling its regional sports networks, “We are exploring it,” KSE president/CEO Jim Martin said. “How viable it according to Bloomberg, which could impact Colorado Rockies is and what their level of interest is, we don’t know at this point, but we broadcasts. Distributors are fed up with rising costs, networks find are interested in looking into that. We’ve had no direct conversations with themselves at a crossroads and sports fans, accustomed to broadcasts them, but we have been looking internally about what the opportunity of their favorite teams, are caught in the crosshairs. would be and we do intend to reach out to them.” “Altitude may be ground zero for these entities looking at it, like ‘OK, Added Altitude executive vice president Kenny Miller: “You look at what we’re going to make a stand on the regional sports network that has all you could do with Amazon, ‘You’re like, man is that intriguing.’” their affiliate deals up at the same time and just see what happens,’” Miller said. The YES Network, which airs the New York Yankees, was recently sold to a group including Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Yankees Global Enterprises and Amazon. Forward-thinking sports network executives are already considering pairing with Amazon due to the potential for Denver Post: LOADED: 09.08.2019 streaming capability.

On Tuesday, Altitude released a statement that doused cold water on the streaming option, claiming “today a model does not exist that can support a streaming/direct to consumer option.” But a partnership with Amazon similar to what YES just agreed to? Possibly.

“If you’ve looked at our response regarding the streaming questions, we still are of the belief that there is not a financial model there that works,” Martin said. “Maybe there is with one of the new players and we would like to explore that.”

The current state of negotiations between Altitude Sports and The Big Three – Comcast, DIRECTV and DISH – isn’t encouraging for fans upset they won’t be able to watch the Avalanche or Nuggets, or other local programming.

The two sides remain far apart, with Altitude proposing a slight decrease in annual carriage rates and the distributors insisting on cutting their fees in half. As if cutting rates from 50-60 percent wasn’t jarring enough for the executives at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, the distributors also want to elevate Altitude to a sports tier package and charge customers more than they already are to view Nuggets, Avalanche and Rapids games.

“No other regional network is being asked to do what we’re being asked to do,” Martin said.

Despite an aggressive social media campaign to steer public opinion in favor of Kroenke’s regional sports network, the distributors haven’t 1152057 Colorado Avalanche 46 254 9:05 72 77 48.3 5 24 2 6

Data courtesy Hockey-Reference.com. Avalanche player (p)review: Vladislav Kamenev Next season

Next season will be an interesting situation for Kamenev. He will have to BY CALLIE AGNEW battle for a position on this team, or be a scratch for most games. He will AUGUST 31, 2019 need to find a way to stay healthy this season as well. He did get signed to a one-year contract extension this summer so he has one season to prove his worth.

This season The addition of Valeri Nichushkin makes it more of an uphill battle than it previously was but Kamenev should still have the inside track. Call it back luck, call him injury prone. In the last two seasons Vladislav Kamenev has played 26 games with the Colorado Avalanche before If Kamenev cracks the lineup look for him to be a fourth liner. suffering season-ending injuries. Kamenev played in just three games in his first season with the Avalanche after breaking his arm in his first game and briefly returning to health near the end of the season for two BSN DENVER LOADED: 09.08.2019 more appearances. This last season Kamenev saw 23 games before injuring his shoulder.

In both cases, Kamenev was healthy to return at the end of the year but Colorado’s playoff runs prevented him from getting back in the lineup as the coaching staff preferred more known quantities in the higher profile games.

In those 23 games Kamenev found himself on the fourth line and often as the fourth line center. In his 23 games of the season he had five points (2g, 3a). He scored his first NHL goal this season against Calgary on November 1st. His first NHL point was the game before against the Minnesota Wild on October 27th.

Kamenev saw his faceoff percentage improve from the season before at 38.89% to 50% this season. His two goals on the season came on special teams as he scored both a power play goal and shorthanded goal.

NHL Standard career statistics

Scoring Goals Assists Shots Ice Time

Season Age Tm Lg GP G A PTS +/- PIM EV PP SH GW EV PP SH S S% TSA TOI ATOI FOW FOL FO% BLK HIT TK GV Awards

2016-17 20 NSH NHL 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 3 20 10:04 6 7 46.2 1 1 0 0

2017-18 21 COL NHL 3 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 1 26 8:49 7 11 38.9 0 3 0 1

2018-19 22 COL NHL 23 2 3 5 -2 10 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 22 9.1 42 208 9:02 59 59 50.0 4 20 2 5

2 yrs COL NHL 26 2 3 5 -4 10 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 23 8.7 43 234 9:01 66 70 48.5 4 23 2 6

1 yr NSH NHL 2 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.0 3 20 10:04 6 7 46.2 1 1 0 0

Career 3 yrs NHL 28 2 3 5 -5 12 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 24 8.3 1152058 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets 3, Wild 2, OT | Goalie prospect Veini Vehvilainen looks sharp at prospects tournament

Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch @BrianHedger

Sep 7, 2019 at 10:34 PM

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — It took all of regulation and nearly all of a 3- on-3 overtime period, but the Blue Jackets got another win Saturday night at the NHL prospects tournament.

Alexandre Texier scored the winner with just 6.3 second left in OT to give the Jackets a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild and rewarded goalie Veini Vehvilainen for an impressive 28-save performance.

“The game got sloppy in the second,” said Cleveland Monsters coach Mike Eaves, who is running the Jackets’ bench. “The positive of that is that Veini got some work, but he looked good.”

Egor Sokolov scored his second goal in as many games and defenseman Eric Hjorth, taken in the fourth round of this year’s NHL draft, scored his first goal in a Blue Jackets uniform — both in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Minnesota, after being outshot 10-2 in the first, climbed back into it with goals late in the second and third, sending the game to overtime.

Vehvilainen, a sixth-round pick in 2018, made some great stops, just as Elvis Merzlikins did Friday in a 6-2 win over the New York Rangers. The best of the bunch was a sprawling save with the right pad in the second period to preserve a 2-1 lead in his first game since May, when Vehvilainen manned the net for Finland against the U.S. in the world championship.

The Blue Jackets are 2-0-0 and have earned five points after picking up two for the OT win. The only way they will not advance to the first-place game Tuesday is with a regulation loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152059 Columbus Blue Jackets “I knew him a little bit (before), but what I really like from him (is) that he’s honest,” Merzlikins said of Legace. “He’s open. That’s what I like from people. Now, I’m trusting him 100 percent. He’s one of my best friends Elvis Merzlikins builds trust with Columbus Blue Jackets' goalies coach here that I have. Actually, he could be the best friend, because I don’t have that many friends here … yet.”

Great start Brian Hedger The Columbus Dispatch @BrianHedger Merzlikins made 29 saves to lead the Jackets over the Rangers at Centre Sep 7, 2019 at 5:30 AM Ice Arena. The goals he allowed could have been stopped, but he made a couple of fantastic saves that far overshadowed any lapses, including a

lunging glove save late in the second period. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The trust just wasn’t completely there. “That one save was crazy,” said forward Trey Fix-Wolansky, who scored Yet. two goals to break the game open in the second. “I think that would’ve been an NHL play of the year. He’s a very good goalie and kept us in that Elvis Merzlikins got his first taste of the NHL in April, living in Columbus one for a while there.” after his season in Switzerland ended, but his one-on-one training sessions with Blue Jackets goalies coach Manny Legace didn’t do enough to build the relationship between the two. At least, that’s how it Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 09.08.2019 felt to Merzlikins, who cherished his bonds with his coaches in Europe.

“I don’t trust too (many) people,” said Merzlikins, who got off to a good start Friday in the Jackets’ 6-2 win over the New York Rangers at the NHL prospects tournament here. “I didn’t trust him in the start, when I came in April. I didn’t trust a lot of his technical stuff. I didn’t trust his game, what he wants from me.”

That started to change before Merzlikins headed back to Switzerland, but he thought there was work to do to strengthen the relationship.

“He wanted to come over early this summer and hang out at my house,” said Legace, who lives in a Detroit suburb in the offseason. “So, he came over. He came to my house and lived with me … him and his girlfriend and his dog. It was awesome.”

Look no further for evidence than their dogs, Kody (Merzlikins’ teddy bear-esque puppy) and Cooper (Legace’s 13-year-old lab).

“Our dogs are like best friends now,” Legace said, chuckling. “Our dog hates little dogs, because they’re always in his face … and their dog’s a puppy. But their dog just leaves him alone and then ours will go over and nudge their dog like, ‘Hey, let’s play.’ He usually slides around, so we’d never seen this kind of energy before.”

It wasn’t the only Merzlikins-Legace connection that was forged.

Legace isn’t allowed to get on the ice with Merzlikins in the summer because of an NHL rule, but he did spend a lot of time with the goalie the past few weeks. They talked about life and goaltending, and they also golfed — which opened a whole new world for the pupil.

“He had played zero rounds and I play every day, and we played three times in the one week,” said Legace, whose handicap is in the low single digits. “The next thing you know, he’s got the bug.”

Legace has a text message to prove it.

In it was a photo of Merzlikins, on a rainy day, driving golf balls at his coach’s club while Legace saw to an obligation at a local ice rink. It was sent by Merzlikins’ girlfriend, who presumably took the photo while also standing in the rain.

“She goes, ‘Look what you created,’” Legace said, smiling. “The funny thing was, if he would’ve asked me … Carl’s Golfland is indoors, and it’s literally around the corner!”

If the trust wasn’t there before, it is now. And it goes both ways.

Merzlikins calls Legace a “good friend,” and Legace is quick to defend his flamboyant new goalie’s on-ice reputation, which usually precedes him.

“I heard he had a big chip on his shoulder and a big ego, and it’s not true at all,” Legace said. “Not even one bit. It’s mistaken for competitiveness. That’s what it’s mistaken for. He’s just an unbelievable human being. He treats everybody like gold.”

There is an alter ego, but Legace doesn’t think it’s an issue.

“He’s highly competitive,” Legace said. “And he’s going to rub some people the wrong way, because he’s that highly competitive — just like Patrick Roy. He rubbed people the wrong way, too, so when I heard, ‘He’s got ego and this and that,’ I’m like, ‘It’s competitiveness. That’s what he’s got.’”

Merzlikins also has a new friend, not to mention a new set of golf clubs. 1152060 Detroit Red Wings " .... we need safe, sober, long-term, affordable recovery housing. That’s what we want to do here in Michigan, build that in Jamie’s memory, and I think that we can get it done.”

Mickey Redmond's roast was fun but earnest effort for Ken Daniels' And even though he was on the receiving end of the jokes Saturday, foundation Redmond jumped at the opportunity.

“My first thought was, ‘Whatever you want to do, Ken,’ ” he said. “I knew Wright Wilson, Special to the Detroit Free Press Jamie well, I’ve come to get educated a little more about the problem that exists out there, and we can’t do enough to try to help the less fortunate, Published 9:25 p.m. ET Sept. 7, 2019 | Updated 9:34 p.m. ET Sept. 7, and try to get around this problem and get people educated about it.” 2019 The foundation is already planning the second annual roast, with Bowman in the spotlight, for Aug. 29.

Mickey Redmond has been around hockey so long that it seems everyone has a story or two to share. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.08.2019 Scotty Bowman got to know Redmond 61 years ago, when he was coaching juniors in Peterborough, Ontario, and Mickey was the 14-year- old stick boy. Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne was Redmond’s roommate when both were young Red Wings players. Ken Daniels has been his broadcast partner for 23 years.

With a crew like that — along with broadcasters John Davidson, Doc Emrick and Jim Ralph, coach Mike Babcock, and comedian Ian Bagg — there are bound to be some Redmond stories that are zingers. And many of them were made public Saturday evening at Sound Board in Motor City Casino, when Redmond was the guest of honor at the inaugural Jamie Daniels Foundation Celebrity Roast, a fundraiser for the non-profit group that was established after Daniels' son, Jamie, died of a drug overdose in 2016.

Ken Daniels.

"(Redmond is) Jed Clampett, he’s the Beverly Hillbillies, of course he’s an easy target,” Daniels said. “That’s OK, because he doesn’t care. I don’t think anybody’s going to be really mean, it’s all in fun. Yeah, he’s an easy target. He always used to say, ‘Goalies are an easy target; you’ve got to shoot at their head.’ That’s why (retired goalie) John Davidson is here. He said, ‘That ass shot at my head for as long as he did, sure, I’ll roast him!’ ”

Redmond, a Red Wings star from his acquisition in January 1971 to his premature retirement in 1975, took the jabs as good-natured fun.

“We’ve all been called a lot of names over the years, so I’m not sure that any more are going to make a difference,” he said. “You can’t exist in the hockey business for very long if you don’t have the ability to laugh at yourself and have a big set of shoulders.”

Daniels got the idea for the fundraiser when he was working with broadcaster Darren Pang during the 2017-18 playoffs for NBC. Pang showed up for one of the games at the 11th hour, flying in from St. Louis, where he was the subject of a roast the previous night.

“The bell just went off,” Daniels said. “I was thinking of doing a golf tournament, but there are a lot of those. But I thought, I don’t believe there’s anyone doing a roast. Let’s try it.”

Everyone Daniels asked was all-in.

“I called Doc Emrick, and Doc said, ‘Would your first roastee be a certain right winger who scored 50 goals?’ I hadn’t told anyone, but he knew right away,” Daniels said. “I asked Mickey, and he said, ‘Yes, let’s do this.’ Mick has shown up for everything we’ve asked and it’s not just showing up tonight, it’s doing interviews to promote it, to sign the bobbleheads that we’re giving away, to sign my book that we’re giving away. He just gets it done, and that’s hockey players for you.”

While a crowd of 700 or so enjoyed the zingers, barbs and funny stories, there was a serious side to the night. The foundation (jamiedanielsfoundation.org) is named after Jamie Daniels, who was 23 when he was found dead of an overdose of heroin and fentanyl in Florida. The group provides education, guidance and support to those battling drug addiction, along with resources for families of addicts.

“We’re getting the word out,” Daniels said. “It’s a mental illness, and addicts don’t want to be addicts. To get off opioids or any addiction that you’re on is hard. The chemical receptors in your brain have changed; that’s the problem. My son didn’t want to be addicted to opioids. A doctor prescribed them, he figured they can’t be bad. He tried them his freshman year in college, and within five days he was hooked and couldn’t get off them. 1152061 Detroit Red Wings

Joe Veleno continues roll as Red Wings beat Blues in Prospects tourney

Updated Sep 7, 6:20 PM; Posted Sep 7, 6:12 PM

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

Joe Veleno maintained his hot scoring touch Saturday at the NHL Prospects Tournament with his second two-goal game in as many days, and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the St. Louis Blues 7-3 at Centre I.C.E. in Traverse City.

The Red Wings (1-1) wrap up pool play Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-0) at 6 p.m. The winner will earn a berth in Tuesday’s championship game.

Veleno scored twice on the power play in a span of 39 seconds midway through the third period to give the Red Wings a 5-2 lead. He has scored three of Detroit’s six power-play goals thus far.

Veleno, the skilled two-way center the Red Wings selected with the 30th pick in 2018, will make his pro debut this season, likely for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, unless he excels in the main camp and wins a spot on Detroit’s season-opening roster.

Filip Zadina, the club’s first selection in 2018 (No. 6), picked up three assists, giving him four points (all assists) in two games. Ryan Kuffner and Givani Smith each had a goal and an assist. Smith, the big, abrasive forward who’ll be starting his second AHL season, had a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick,” as he fought Tyler Tucker late in the second period.

Kuffner, also competing for an NHL roster spot, scored his second power-play goal in as many games – both have been assisted by top 2019 pick Moritz Seider – to spark a three-goal outburst in a span of 1:51 midway through the second period. Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and Smith also scored, giving the Red Wings a 3-1 lead.

Jarid Lukosevicius, with his second goal in as many games, and Chase Pearson wrapped up the scoring for Detroit.

The Red Wings outshot the Blues (0-2) 32-19. Sean Romero, a free- agent invitee from Ohio State, made 16 saves for Detroit. Filip Larsson, the organization’s top goaltending prospect, is out with what the club described as a minor groin injury.

Michigan Live LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152062 Edmonton Oilers “It’s really exciting and motivating for all of us,” said McLeod. “It’s really exciting to push for a spot. I think it helps the farm system be even better with all the young prospects coming up and being so motivated.”

Oilers rookies fall 1-0 in intense battle with Flames DAY TIME

Day turns 25 in less than two weeks, which is kind of old for a rookie Robert Tychkowski game, but it just adds to the growing Cinderella story that is his career.

September 7, 2019 10:32 PM MDT “What a great story for the organization to find this player, a real diamond in the rough,” said Bakersfield Condors coach Jay Woodcroft. “He came out of Division III hockey, he impressed in camp last year and just kept finding a way to get into the line up. RED DEER — There was almost no offence to speak of, and there really wasn’t much at stake, but the rookies still managed to get the blood “He doesn’t have the same pedigree that everyone else’s in camp is, but boiling Saturday in the annual Oilers-Flames game in Red Deer. that’s what makes him special. He just goes out and plays. Last year in Bakersfield he made us a faster team. He moved pucks. He joined the Things got a pretty intense at times as the opening game of rookie camp rush. He led our defence in scoring. He was good on the power play. looked as much like the Battle of Alberta as anything you’ll see on Hockey Night in Canada. “When we got in trouble with guys being called up to the big team and injuries in Bakersfield, we were running out of bodies and we actually In the end, defence and goaltending ruled the day as the Flames posted played him up front. He had the skill and ability to go play. Not just take a a 1-0 victory on a winning goal that came 1:04 into three-on-three shift, but he was a good player for us up front.” overtime in front of a decidedly pro Oilers crowd at the Enmax Centrium. HITTING RE-SET Calgary’s Matt Phillis sealed it on the first shift, converting a two-on-one. Ostap Safin is hoping to rediscover his form after a disastrous season “Everyone is getting used to the new systems so it’s a process at the last year in which he wrestled with injuries and was limited to 15 regular beginning of the year,” said Edmonton defenceman Logan Day. “The season games and a bit part in the playoffs (two assists in 23 games). effort was there, we just have to bear down in a couple of areas.” He has size (6-foot-5, 204 pounds) and talent (58 points in 61 QMJHL It’s not often a goalie gets a shutout in a loss, but Dylan Wells had a games two years ago), but he needs to stay healthy to get back in the strong night in the pipes during his 30 minutes of action, especially in the conversation. second period when a couple of power plays swung momentum in Calgary’s favour. He finished with 18 saves on 18 shots before giving “We want to get him up and running so he’s feeling good to start his way to Stuart Skinner. season,” said Woodcroft. “We want him to come out and be who he is and show why he’s here. With that body type and his skill level, if he just “It was nice to get my feet wet and get into some game action,” said goes out and plays I’m sure he will show us what he’s got.” Wells. “It was a good first test. Usually when you play Calgary everybody dives in head first. Everyone wants to battle and to compete. That’s what we did tonight. A zero-zero game at the end of regulation is pretty good for the first game of the season. A goalie’s dream.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.08.2019

The winner capped a hard-fought night that turned nasty in the second period when Calgary’s Montana Onyebuchi sucker punched Beau Starrett, dropping the Oilers rookie face down on the ice. Onyebuchi had his gloves off and was already in the process of throwing the punch, before Starrett could even square up. The whole building booed when they showed the clip in the scoreboard.

That kind of amped up the intensity, leading to more rough stuff later on in the second when Calgary’s Martin Pospisil took a run at Cooper Marody, earning a charging penalty with a hit that bent Marody awkwardly and almost sent him into the Flames bench.

Vincent Desharnais dropped the gloves with Pospisil while Tyler Benson and Calgary’s Andrew Nielsen got into it a little farther down the ice.

“You expect it,” said Day. “Everybody is competitive and if something pisses you off you have to do something. Every time you play these guys… I don’t like them. Our whole organization doesn’t like them, so every loss hurts. It’s fun to hate a team like that.”

PRO LIFE

Ryan McLeod took the first step in what he hopes is a long and prosperous journey as a professional Saturday. After being drafted 40th overall in 2018 and notching 132 points in 131 games over the last two OHL seasons, he is now a full time pro.

“I’m really excited,” said the 6-foot-3, 205 pound centre, who turns 20 on Sept. 21. “There are obviously opportunities to make it up here and there is a really good base in Bakersfield. It’s a great opportunity that I’m looking forward to.”

McLeod wants to follow in the footsteps of Benson, who put up 66 points in his rookie season last year to move onto the first page of the soon-to- be-promoted leaderboard.

“He had a really good start, got the opportunity and did unbelievably well with it,” said McLeod. “It’s good to see that young guys are getting good chances down there. It’s motivating.”

There is definitely a buzz around the organization as the Oilers stockpile more and more young talent that seems on the verge of breaking through 1152063 Edmonton Oilers with some great doctors and the Oilers medical team and it went smooth.”

As for the Oilers, who have a new coach, new GM and a handful of McDavid says knee feels great, not sure about opening night additions that management hopes can fill some of the glaring holes from last year, McDavid is excited about the team he will be returning to.

Robert Tychkowski “It’s refreshing and exciting. There are some good players out there. (Dave Tippett) is a guy who’s been around the league a long time. He’s September 7, 2019 3:39 PM MDT coached offensive teams, he’s coached defensive teams, he’s a guy who coaches what he has. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Connor McDavid didn’t have any firm answers regarding the exact date of his return from a knee injury, but the talking he did on the ice spoke Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.08.2019 volumes.

During an informal veteran’s skate at Rogers Place Saturday, the Oilers captain showed the usual blazing speed, fast cuts and sharp edges that make him the best player in the world.

You didn’t need a degree in left knees to see that he was flying out there and didn’t seem at all hampered by the collision in Calgary last season.

McDavid wouldn’t confirm how many, if any, pre-season games he’ll be taking part in, or whether or not he’ll be ready for opening night, but the overall sense is that things have gone very well and there is no cause for concern.

“Good,” answered McDavid, when asked about the state of his left knee, which suffered a partial PCL tear in the final game of last season.

“It feels like nothing’s changed.”

It didn’t look like it, either.

The entire city held its breath when McDavid slid into the goal post in the Saddledome, with nervous fans wondering how the injury would impact his off-season and his ability to lead the team this year.

After much discussion and deliberation, the Oilers and McDavid decided to let the injury heal naturally rather than have him undergo surgery. Five months later, he says everything appears to be on schedule.

“I’m usually a guy who’s on the ice pretty early (after the season). I don’t like to take too much time off. That was the main thing that changed. I didn’t get back on the ice for a little bit.”

When he did, at the Gary Roberts program out east and by himself, he said there was no pain or setbacks at any point, which is another good sign.

“It felt good right away,” he said, adding he didn’t even really have to ease his way into his old stride.

“I jumped into it right away. As soon as I was ready to go on the ice I went on the ice and went as hard as I could, tested it as much as I could and it went well.”

While it looks and feels great, the Oct. 2 home opener against Vancouver is apparently still up in the air. It’s close, but it’s no sure thing.

“We’re working toward that,” he said. “That’s kind of out of my hands. The doctors will figure all that out. You’ll have to ask some guys who are a lot smarter than I am. I’m supposed to play hockey and I don’t make those decisions. When the doctors say I’m good to go, that’s when I’ll go.”

It’s not simply a matter of how the leg feels under him. This is too important a decision to rely simply on a player’s sense of things.

“The decision will be based on some of the testing, maybe. I already did my physical and it looked good. I think it’ll be testing from leg to leg and against old (testing) scores. At least that’s what they tell me.”

Even if he’s not ready for the first week, it looks like everything will be fine and it would only be a very short absence. He’d love to push it, like he did when he came back from a broken clavicle in his rookie season and didn’t look like he’d missed a game, but this injury was much more delicate and had to be handled with much more patience and precision.

“You take it a little bit slower,” he said. “The collar bone is a bone. I wasn’t afraid to push that. But ligaments and that kind of stuff, I’ve never dealt with that before. So, I didn’t want to push it too hard, but you have to push it hard enough to make sure that it’s healing. I was lucky to work 1152064 Edmonton Oilers “It gets you a little more excited seeing there’s a chance for you,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and I want to earn a spot this year.”

He’s at least an even money shot to make the Oilers, if not right out of Tyler Benson finding his stride, focusing on Oilers roster spot camp then sometime very soon after. For a guy who’s had nothing but bad luck, the timing, for once, is perfect.

Robert Tychkowski “That’s my goal, to come in and help the team,” he said. “This is where I want to be this year. I feel more confident. I believe in myself more. Being September 7, 2019 12:38 PM MDT out there, skating with the pros, I feel like I belong more.”

An Edmonton kid being able to slip on an Oilers sweater, especially after all he’s been though, would be pretty sweet. There is a tendency to consider Tyler Benson’s recent surge to be a bit of a surprise, a drafting gamble that paid off for the Edmonton Oilers. “It would be a special moment. I’ve put that jersey on growing up and watching the team play. Being able to play in this rink with my family and He became such a forgotten man that people see him as found money – friends would be a special moment.” a totally unexpected, but much-needed, windfall.

Truth be told, this was his plan all along. He didn’t account for the wave of injuries that pushed his development so far off course (who does?), Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 09.08.2019 but this is exactly where he expected to be at some point in his young career: A legitimate blue chip prospect ready to play his way onto the hometown team.

“I’ve always believed in myself,” said the 21-year-old left winger. “I got set back with the injuries and it took a bit away from my game, I wasn’t able to be myself on the ice, but now that I’m healthy I feel like this is where I should be.”

He’s making believers out of a lot people. Like Bakersfield Condors coach Jay Woodcroft, who watched a finally healthy Benson make an absolutely seamless transition to the AHL, where he put up 15 goals and 51 assists in 68 games as a rookie last year.

“He put in a great summer last summer and he reaped the benefits,” said Woodcroft. That’s a kid who put in the work to feel confident. And when he did, his natural skills and abilities came out. His numbers speak for themselves.

“You look at him out here and he looks fantastic. He has to feel really good about his opportunity.”

This is right where Benson thought he would be when he was putting up 146 points in 33 games for the South Side Athletic Club and going first overall in the 2013 WHL draft.

Then the injuries hit, groin and sports hernia issues that tormented him for almost three years and literally brought his progress to a standstill. By the time the 2016 NHL draft came around, his prospect status had been downgraded from sure thing to acceptable risk, but still a risk, at 32nd overall.

The Oilers were coming off a series of early second round whiffs — Anton Lander (40th), Tyler Pitlick (31st), David Musil (31st) and Mitch Moroz (31st) in four consecutive years, but knew if Benson could get and stay healthy, he’d be a steal at 32.

Actually, that’s what everyone knew, they just had serious doubts about the staying healthy part. But he is (Benson didn’t miss a game last year), and he spent the last 18 months catching up to the original script about the local boy knocking on the Oilers door.

“That might be one of my favourite accomplishments last year, playing a full season,” he laughed. “I was pretty happy with that. Mentally I was a lot happier.”

It’s hard not to be when, given his first chance to show what he could do, he responded by becoming a durable, point per game player in his first year as a pro.

“I wasn’t expecting to have that kind of success, so I was really happy with how it went,” he said. “I just want to keep building off that.

“Having that year is good mentally, it gave me a lot of confidence going into the summer knowing I can play at this level and hopefully make the step to the next one.”

For the second summer in a row, he was able to hit the training sessions hard and continue making up for lost time.

“I feel like I’ve had a really good off season and I’m ready for camp,” he said.

Benson, like everyone else, can read the Oilers landscape: there are a lot of forward spots up for grabs and the competition is wide open. 1152065 Edmonton Oilers But that concern should be mitigated by what took place before he spoke. He looked great Saturday, albeit in a relaxed atmosphere.

He called getting to share the ice with some new faces, namely Swedish Even if he’s unsure about his return, Oilers’ Connor McDavid looks and winger Joakim Nygard and Joel Persson, “refreshing” and “exciting.” He sounds like his old self even drew up a drill for his new and old mates on a whiteboard, smiling and joking throughout the afternoon.

By Daniel Nugent-Bowman It appears as if McDavid and the Oilers are attempting to be extra careful with his return to game action, the smart move considering the Sep 7, 2019 superstar’s importance to the franchise.

If he does have to miss the first game or two, it shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s clear McDavid will be back to his old self soon enough — if he isn’t There’s an old saying that actions speak louder than words. If Saturday quite there just yet. was any indication, Connor McDavid’s movements on the ice should be more of a positive indicator than the uncertainty of what he said — or didn’t say — afterwards. The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 Skating for the first time with 13 potential Oilers teammates after tearing the PCL in his left knee in last season’s finale, McDavid looked so much like the three-time 100-point-getter and elite skater the hockey world has come to know.

Speaking afterwards, McDavid kept his thoughts close to the vest and his answers mostly brief. The good news was he said he felt no pain in his knee, nor did he feel he was restricted in any way.

His motions appeared effortless. It was about as good a showing insofar as one can judge the results of an informal captains skate on the first full weekend of September.

McDavid used his incredible edgework and dexterity to fend off veteran blueliner Adam Larsson in one-on-one contactless battle drills. Then, when things moved to cross-ice three-on-three minigames, McDavid scored what was easily the nicest goal of the session.

The Oilers captain, who teamed up with Leon Draisaitl and 2018-19 farmhand William Lagesson, waltzed around defenceman Caleb Jones and then roofed a shot in tight under the crossbar on Bakersfield Condors goalie Shane Starrett. Again, a Sept. 7 skate is nothing like a game in October or later. Yet, the tuck was reminiscent of some of McDavid’s finest NHL goals.

He looked like a player on the cusp of a comeback.

“It feels like nothing’s changed,” McDavid said.

But if he was twirling around like old times and throwing caution to the wind on the ice, he sure put up a few yellow flags with his words.

Asked how many preseason games he’d like to participate in, McDavid was not only noncommittal but also unsure. It will simply be up to the doctors, he said.

His response to the follow-up question — whether he thought he’d be ready for the Oct. 2 season opener — was even less definitive.

“We’re working towards that,” McDavid said, adding later that he’s had his physical, which revealed nothing else to be worried about.

Aided by a group of doctors — including the Oilers medical team — and performance coaches led by trainer and former longtime NHLer Gary Roberts, McDavid has been carefully working towards his recovery since the April 6 injury.

Under normal circumstances, McDavid’s hiatus from the ice after a concluded season would have been measured in days, not weeks. He’s usually on the ice a lot during the summer. There’s no question his injury limited his offseason training, at least initially.

The hurt knee kept him off his skates for proper training until July. That’s when he trained on frozen and dry land in Southern Ontario with Oilers newcomer James Neal.

Once his team deemed him ready to lace up the blades again, McDavid said, he went full bore and was pain-free.

“I don’t think I took it too slow at all,” he said. “I jumped into it right away. As soon as I was ready to go on the ice, I went on the ice and went as hard as I could and tested it as much as I could. It went well.”

In a perfect world, McDavid would have stated unequivocally that he’d be in the Oilers lineup when they host the Canucks to start the season. Because he didn’t, it’s hard not to be a tad concerned. 1152066 Los Angeles Kings

Kings goaltender Jack Campbell signs two-year extension

By ROBERT MORALES | [email protected] | Press Telegram

PUBLISHED: September 7, 2019 at 1:19 pm | UPDATED: September 7, 2019 at 1:20 PM

Goaltender Jack Campbell has signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings, the club announced Saturday.

The deal will become effective at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign and will carry an annual average value of $1.65 million. He will make $675,000 this season.

Campbell, 27, has been the backup to Jonathan Quick. Campbell this past season got into 31 games for the Kings, starting 25. He had a goals- against-average of 2.30 with two shutouts.

Campbell is out of Port Huron, Mich.

Orange County Register: LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152067 Los Angeles Kings One way to (partially) describe the Kings’ Rookie Faceoff tournament opener against the Ducks on Saturday in Irvine is a (partial) unveiling of their 2019 Draft class, including Fagemo.

How a Kings trade with the ‘Bicep Club’ landed them fast-rising prospect “You’re starting to see the future unfold,” Yannetti said. Samuel Fagemo The most significant absence of the 2019 selections is their top draft choice, Alex Turcotte (No. 5, overall), who is at the University of By Lisa Dillman Wisconsin. But defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (No. 22), forward Arthur Kaliyev (No. 33), Fagemo (No. 50), goaltender Lukas Parik and Sep 7, 2019 defenseman Jordan Spence (No. 95) are all in rookie camp.

One intriguing look at practice on Friday had Fagemo on a line with Rasmus Kupari (No. 20 pick, 2018) and Jaret Anderson-Dolan (No. 41, If everything had fallen just right, Swedish forward Samuel Fagemo 2017). Anderson-Dolan was one of the few, if only, bright spots last year would have become a member of the Los Angeles Kings organization in in the opening game of the Kings’ rookie tournament, an 8-3 loss to the the summer of 2018, not 2019. Ducks, in Las Vegas. The Kings had two picks in the sixth round at the 2018 NHL draft – A year ago, Fagemo was in the Coyotes’ rookie camp, having earlier selecting Swedish forward Johan Sodergran and Canadian goalie Jacob been invited to their development camp. It helped him get over the sting Ingham – but didn’t have a seventh-round pick, so it became a moot of not getting drafted in 2018 and ultimately the disappointment fueled point in regard to Fagemo. Fagemo. “There was enough we liked about him that we considered drafting him in “Of course it was tough,” Fagemo said Friday. “It was very tough for me. I the seventh round,” said Mark Yannetti, the Kings’ director of amateur started to believe in myself more and just keep on believing and working scouting. “That’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement. If we were hard to prove people wrong geniuses, we would have drafted him in the sixth round.” “I just kept on working hard. I think I got a lot faster in my game. That was The teams with seventh-round selections took a pass on Fagemo in the biggest difference between last year and this year.” 2018, meaning the Kings were in the position at the draft in Vancouver in June to resume their pursuit. But the wrinkle was that the 19-year-old Hockey fans will remember that Tanner Pearson could have been drafted dramatically improved his stock in the past year. twice before the Kings took him with the last pick No. 30) in the first round in 2012. Two years later, Pearson had 12 points in 24 playoff This was one of the reasons the Kings found themselves dealing with the games when the Kings won their second Stanley Cup championship. Montreal Canadiens, who emerged as a leading trading partner at the draft because of the position of their two second-round picks, No. 46 and Kings amateur scout Christian Ruuttu frequently checked in on Fagemo’s No. 50. progress with Frolunda, a team that won the SHL last season. One of his Frolunda teammates is defenseman Jacob Moverare, a Kings’ fourth- It also meant that the negotiations – at least some of them – were carried round pick (No. 112) in 2016. out in front of cameras and microphones from the in-house crews of both teams. “He (Fagemo) was a different player this year than he was last year,” Yannetti said. “The way he attacked, the way he drove the net. His speed (Let’s face it: Montreal’s table de repechage was more compelling was always there. Actually, his effort, believe it or not, was there. But it theater. Side note. Dieters out there … you can reject that bag of junk wasn’t channeled very well his original draft year. food. Just watch Canadiens assistant GM Trevor Timmins do it at the draft table – “We’re the ‘Bicep Club.’ We don’t eat those. Only protein “He had energy without purpose a lot of times. Last year, he had energy, bars.”) compete and purpose almost every time you saw him play.”

Yannetti walked over to their draft table on Day 2 and talked specifics Often, rejection can end up working the other way. with Montreal GM Marc Bergevin and Timmins, telling them: “The deal for 50 is 64 and 126. If you guys want to mull that over and come back to us “Think about it: take a look at the kids that don’t get drafted, who pout, and let us know.” ‘Woe is me,’” Yannetti said. “Someone else is wallowing or pointing fingers and looking for excuses, and this kid willed himself into the “I had to tell him I was mic’d, and he (Bergevin) had to tell me he was second round.” mic’d,” said Yannetti. “Sometimes I’d be talking and I’d have to cover the microphone.” Fagemo would have seen from an early age that the hockey path isn’t always linear. His father, Linus, had a nomadic playing career, from The Kings, meanwhile, were casting another line in the water. Sweden to Germany to Denmark and even a season in the now defunct Central Hockey League with the Arizona Sundogs in 2009-10. “We talked to Ottawa about moving up in a separate deal in the second round,” Yannetti said. “And that just wasn’t feasible. What they ended up It was a grand adventure for Linus, his wife and their four young boys, all wanting was too much.” under 10, moving to Arizona. Samuel played for the Arizona Coyotes Pee-Wee junior team and even remembered playing a tournament in So it was back to the “Bicep Club.” Southern California. “They had two picks in the second and we actually wanted the higher “I was like 33, and I thought if I was going to do it I was going to do it pick,” Yannetti said. “I put together two trade scenarios. I wanted their now,” Linus said in a phone interview from Sweden. “It was unbelievable. second second-round pick. The weather is perfect every day compared to Sweden. It was very good. “We presented it and they said they’d get back to us and we gave them a The hockey part was good too I was surprised it was that good.” presentation for another pick, just in case they didn’t want it. One of the highlights was a memorable trip to Amarillo, Texas. “When it came three picks before their pick, they called and said they “We drove the bus for 14 hours and then you come to the hotel,” Linus were making their pick but they were very interested in trading. I said, ‘If said. “There was this saloon doors to the hotel. It was a funny, different our guy is there, we’ll make the deal.’ I said, ‘I’ll let you know two picks experience. before and we made the deal.’” “I think the hotel was called the Big Texan or the Big Texas … they had And Fagemo was a Los Angeles King. rattlesnakes in the restaurant.” Finally. They returned home after the year in Arizona and Linus played two more Saturday (and the following few days) represent a significant, check-the- seasons in Sweden, wrapping it up with Boras HC. He moved into the box moment for Fagemo. development ranks and was coaching at a U15 tournament in Ostersund this week when he spoke with The Athletic.

So, how much is Samuel like Linus, as a player? “He’s a right shot. I was a lefty,” Linus said. “I liked to shoot the puck too. He shoots the puck a lot and scores a lot of goals. Our mindsets are pretty alike when we played but he’s much more skilled and much more of an athlete, so to speak. A different player.”

Samuel fielded a similar question.

“He’s a hard worker,” he said of Linus. “Loved to shoot the puck and score goals, and had a great shot too.”

Linus was impressed by how quickly Samuel moved on from the draft snub and elevated his game this past season.

“It sounds stupid because I’m his dad saying this, but he was unbelievably good,” Linus said. “You know what I mean. He had his breakthrough. He played in the WJC. Sometimes I was looking at the games and thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’ I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging.”

After all, he knows from first-hand experience that this is the first rung on a long ladder, if all goes well.

“You know how much time he put into it,” Linus said. “It’s only a little step on the way, but he’s been rewarded for what he’s done so far.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152068 Los Angeles Kings you look at their lineup, they had quite a few experienced players for a rookie tournament, but I was real proud of our guys, especially in the third period. You’re trailing, it’s been a hard game, I thought it was a ROOKIES – ANAHEIM 4, LOS ANGELES 1: DURZI, LIZOTTE, great game, I thought there were a lot of positives to it. You’ve got guys STOTHERS still blocking shots, Durzi mixing it up and I was really impressed with Kupari, he stood his ground and that’s all we’re asking. You know what, they showed a good indication that they’ve got good character and they’re going to be good teammates. Then, you take the skilled aspect, ZACH DOOLEY and all these guys need is a little experience.” SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 Lizotte, one of those two players with Kings NHL experience, noted that the Kings knew the situation they were going to face heading into the game, playing against men rather than boys. The St. Cloud State product The LA Kings opened the 2019 Rookie Faceoff with a 4-1 defeat against was happy with how his team responded to the challenge, despite the the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday evening at FirstPoint Arena at Great final score. Park Ice. “Before the tournament, you can look at the rosters and obviously they’ve The Kings started and ended the game with energy and promise, got quite a few NHL games and American League games, so you knew opening the scoring midway through the first period through Arthur coming into it that you were going to be playing against men and it’s Kaliyev and ending with a flurry of chances created. In between, going to be a challenge,” he said. “I thought, for the most part, we however, was a clinical and experienced Anaheim Ducks team that responded well. It’s always disappointing to come out with a loss on the netted two goals apiece in the first and second periods, all coming from scoreboard, but at the end of the day, I felt we got better throughout the players that played in the NHL last season. game and that’s what’s important.”

Playing in what amounted to a road game, in front of a sellout crowd in On the other side, the Kings brought a talented, yet young group to the the 2,500-seat arena, the Kings started out with lots of energy and were table, though it was not a group that has spent a particularly long stretch rewarded with the game’s first goal. Forward Mikey Eyssimont fired a of time together. Outside of yesterday’s practice and a few groups of wrist shot from the left wing that handcuffed Anaheim netminder Lukas players, most of these Kings have not been teammates for more than a Dostal, before Kaliyev followed up and whacked home the rebound, couple of weeks at a time, something that takes time to adjust to. showcasing his highly-touted goal scoring instincts. “You get a group of guys, all trying to get to know each other a little bit, it Following the Los Angeles tally, however, the ice began to tilt towards the always takes a little bit to gel,” Lizotte said. “I thought as the game went Anaheim end, resulting in goals from Max Jones and Max Comtois in on, we started to gel more and make more plays and feel more confident. quick succession to end the opening 20 minutes at 2-1 Ducks. The first period was a little bit of a feeling out process and once we kind of got our grasp, I thought we got better as the game went on.” Kiefer Sherwood, who spent the majority of last season in the NHL with Anaheim, tallied early in the second period on a breakaway, beating Durzi also understood the opposition at hand, an experienced group. The Kings starting goaltender Matthew Villalta through the fivehole for his first young defenseman felt that his team went out and competed at the goal of the tournament. The Ducks added a power-play goal through beginning, noting that it doesn’t take any skill to outwork the opposition. Sam Steel later in the frame, a man-advantage unit on which all five Though a few mistakes cost the team on the scoreboard, he was proud players played in the NHL last season. of the team’s effort against Anaheim.

The script looked somewhat similar to last season’s tournament game “We knew it was a good hockey team going into the game, a lot of against Anaheim – The Kings opened the scoring, the Ducks took experience on the other end,” he said. “I think we just wanted to go into momentum into the third period…..but this time the Kings pushed back in the game and get better as the periods went on and just focus on what the third and could have closed the gap with some luck. we can do better and I think we did a good job. I thought in the first ten minutes of the hockey game we out-competed them, we out-worked Los Angeles competed hard in the third period, skating well and playing them. It doesn’t take any skill to outwork someone. I thought we did a with energy and pace. Defenseman Sean Durzi, who was active all night, good job of that. A couple parts of the game, I thought we lost a little bit fought with Max Comtois in an effort to spark his team. The Kings of our physicality and it showed. They got the momentum from a few continued to press against their more experience opposition and nearly goals, a couple good tips, a couple good bounces and that’s just the way pulled one back inside the game’s final two minutes, but Drake Rymsha’s the hockey game went. I’m proud of the guys, they battled for each other, redirected effort off of another Eyssimont shot hit the upper left post. and our focus now is to get better every day.” The game ended at 4-1, in favor of Anaheim. Villalta finished with a As tweeted, this was not the scrap I would have put my money on at the respectable 31 saves on 35 shots, and was especially sharp after the sports book were I a betting man. Outside of Rymsha challenging Hunter fourth goal went in, denying several high-profile shooters from dangerous Drew earlier in the game without a taker, there wasn’t much that looked areas. Los Angeles had 29 shots on goal, with Dostal finishing with 28 like it would escalate into a scrap, until Durzi and Comtois got into it. saves. The Kings were 0-for-4 on the man advantage, while the Ducks went 1-for-3. Durzi noted that he saw an opportunity to try and inject some life into his team, while taking one of Anaheim’s key players out of the action, and he The Kings will have a quick turnaround with Colorado next on the horizon seized it. – Faceoff is slated for 1 PM tomorrow afternoon in Irvine. Colorado was victorious by a 5-2 margin in their tournament opener earlier today “It’s just the emotions of the game and obviously when you’re down, you against Vegas. want to do something to spark your team,” Durzi said. “I think it was just the heat of the moment. He’s a good player on their team and we just Notes & Takeaways had a little tussle. Looking at the clock, there was about 13 minutes left in 206 – 6 the period, 4-1….we just want to win the hockey game. Obviously just the emotion in the game and trying to get something going for our team.” The Kings brought six career NHL games to this tournament, five from Jaret Anderson-Dolan and one from Blake Lizotte. Tonight’s opponent Durzi’s Hockey Fights page features tonight’s scrap with Comtois, along slapped two hundred more onto that number. Several of the Ducks in with one bout from the 2018-19 OHL season and one from the 215-16 tonight’s game are not eligible to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top OHL season. The OHL champion defenseman is known for his offensive rookie, were they to have a big season in the NHL. and puck-moving abilities, but showed physicality and a willingness to fight for his teammates tonight. These are good signs. While not an excuse, the experience advantage in Anaheim’s favor was prevalent throughout much of the middle of the game, as the Ducks Fagemo – Kupari – Anderson-Dolan seized control with their size and physicality, something that Head Coach The line of Samuel Fagemo, Rasmus Kupari and Jaret Anderson-Dolan Mike Stothers touched on after the game. combined for nine shots on goal in tonight’s loss, the highest total of any “I thought we had a great first ten minutes in the opening period and then Kings line. Featuring a first-round draft pick, flanked by a pair of second- you can see that their size and physicality kind of got them going and round draft picks, it’s fair to say that the hype was high on this line maybe took a little of the legs out of us,” Stothers said. “That being said, leading into the game and showed pretty well in what was the first competitive game as members of the organization for Kupari and Fagemo.

“Well, I think we saw that [Fagemo] does have skill,”Stothers said. “Kupari has skill and JAD just works, he does everything, he’s kind of a coach’s dream, just does what he’s supposed to do,” Stothers said of the line. “It’s got the potential to be a pretty good line. This is early for me to be seeing these guys too, it’ll take care of itself, maybe over the next couple of games in the rookie tournament and more importantly it’ll be nice to see what they can do in the main camp, playing against NHL players. It’s a lot faster, those guys are a lot bigger, a lot stronger. I think tonight was a good starting point for everybody.”

When asked more specifically about Kupari, Stothers again noted the Finnish forward’s high skill level, while also noting that he was perhaps a bit to “cute” at times, though it’s something to be learned from.

“I thought that line was good. I thought [Kupari] showed some real positive things and I thought he was guilty of maybe being a little too cute. Any time you’re crossing the opposition’s blueline and you try to put one between your legs, you’re going to get some attention, he’ll learn from that, but you don’t want to discourage a guy like that, who has some skill and ability, why not try it in a game like this? He’ll learn from that stuff.”

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152069 Los Angeles Kings 3:12 – Ducks Goal – PPG for Sam Steel. Goes just about top shelf from the left-hand circle. Ducks PP unit consists of five players that played in the NHL last season, going to pot a few. 4-1 Anaheim late in the second.

WATCH: ROOKIE FACEOFF VS. ANAHEIM – LIVE STREAM, LIVE 0:00 – 4-1 Anaheim through 2 periods. After a pretty sizzling start and a BLOG 1-0 lead for the Kings, it’s been just about all Ducks since. Shots are now 28-18 after 40 minutes.

ZACH DOOLEY First Period

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 20:00 – We are underway in Irvine!

16:50 – Strong start from the Kings, who have been in behind the Anaheim defense on pretty much every shift to begin the game. Best *Note – Live stream expected at 5 PM – Stream is Los Angeles television chance thus far probably a Lizotte wrister off the rush, which was kicked market only – Will be blacked out in other markets aside by Dostal.

Third Period 15:22 – Villalta makes a double save on Jack Kopacka, who got behind the LA defense down the left wing. First real chance for the Ducks, but a 20:00 – Ducks lead 4-1 as we begin the third and final period of good one for sure. regulation. 14:00 – Kings PP: Morrison slips in 1-on-1, dances around Hayes before 19:00 – Terrific early chance for Mikey Anderson, who get around the he’s hooked by Max Jones. Kings get the first man advantage of the defense and dekes to the backhand, but his shot goes barely wide. night. Aggressive start for the Kings. 10:27 – Teams trade 2-on-1’s – First it’s Terry and Sherwood, then it’s 18:51 – Kings to the penalty kill for the second time tonight. Kaliyev sits Kupari and Anderson-Dolan the other way. The big boys are going at it for high-sticking early in the third. and it’s fun to watch. 15:36 – LA gets the kill and creates a few chances after, Fagemo with a 9:05 – Kings Goal – Eyssimont’s shot from the left wing freezes the few shot attempts. Fagemo is dumped after the most recent and Kupari, Ducks netminder Dostal and Kaliyev drives the net to knock home the Anderson-Dolan take exception, leading to one of the first real skirmishes rebound. Good reward for a good start to this game from the Kings. 1-0 of the evening in the corner. LAK midway through the first. 13:52 – Comtois and Durzi drop the gloves in front of the Anaheim 6:08 – Ducks Goal – Max Jones drives the net and knocks home a bench. You knew there would be a fight, it is Kings/Ducks after all, but I rebound from Groulx. Heavy traffic in front of Villalta on that one, rebound did not have that pairing in my pre-game bets. just got away from him. 9:06 – Like the effort the Kings have put in so far in the third. Lot of 4:44 – Ducks Goal – Max Comtois with a redirection on a shot from the compete in so far in this period, not rolling over against a bigger and point, Ducks bounce back wit ha pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead. more experienced opponent. 1:21 – Big blocker save form Matt Villalta, who has had more work as the 7:49 – Kings get another opportunity on the power play, as Drew heads period has progressed – Denied Terry from a dangerous area in the back to the box for the second time tonight. circle. 6:53 – Evened up…..Durzi heads to the box after what I thought was the 0:00 – Ducks 2, Kings 1 at the first intermission. LAK dominated the first best Kings PP of the night to date. Couple nice chances for Fagemo, who half of the period, momentum started to swing in the other direction after has created his fair share throughout the evening. that. Overall, some fun action in Irvine. 1:56 – Kings almosttttt get one but Rymsha tips Eyssimont’s shot off the Pre-Game Notes post. Kings have had chances in the third and looked a lot tighter defensively. Though still trail 4-1 as we approach the conclusion. – Matthew Villalta is expected to play between the pipes tonight, with Lukas Parik backing up. Villalta was the Game 1 starter at last season’s 0:00 – FINAL: Anaheim 4, Los Angeles 1 Rookie Faceoff as well as Los Angeles played against Anaheim. Second Period – Defenseman Austin Strand will wear the “C” tonight for the Kings, with 20:00 – Back at it for the second, Kings trail Anaheim 2-1. forwards Mikey Eyssimont and Brad Morrison wearing the “A”. Head Coach Mike Stothers rewarding his experienced players – All three 18:27 – Ducks Goal – Keefer Sherwood gets in behind the Kings defense played for Stothers last season with Ontario in the AHL. and beats Villalta through the five hole on a breakaway. 3-1 Anaheim, early second period.

16:57 – Kings head to their second man advantage of the evening. Drew LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.08.2019 to the box for Anaheim just over three minutes into the second, slashing is the call.

15:23 – Best look on the Kings man advantage is a shorthanded breakaway by Sherwood, but he’s denied his second goal by the left post. Back to even strength.

12:50 – Nice look for the Kings as Dudas feeds Bergh, but his shot from a tight angle is kept out by Dostal. Good chance creation from that unit off the rush.

11:38 – Kings back to the power play, now their third of the evening. Sideroff sits for tripping, will see if the Kings can produce a bit more on this attempt.

9:38 – Better on the PP for LA, though still not particularly threatening. Kings now 0-3 on the power play and have yet to play on the penalty kill.

4:24 – Kings now take their first penalty of the game, Eyssimont to the box for tripping, an inadvertent knee-on-knee hit, though looks like everyone is okay. 1152070 Los Angeles Kings

CAMPBELL “EXCITED” TO INK TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH KINGS

ZACH DOOLEY

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

As reported earlier today, goaltender Jack Campbell has inked a two- year extension with the Kings. Campbell’s new contract, which will begin with the 2020-21 season, carries an AAV of $1.65 million per season. Read more on Campbell’s extension from Jon here.

Campbell is a great success story with the Kings. After he joined the organization in 2016, Campbell turned his career around with a strong season and a half with the Ontario Reign in the AHL, before finding a permanent home with Los Angeles alongside Jonathan Quick. With the up-and-coming Cal Petersen now also in the equation, the Kings are working from a position of strength between the pipes at the NHL and AHL levels.

I chatted with Jack earlier today on his new deal and the now 27-year-old netminder was very excited to extend his tenure with the organization for another two seasons. Quotes below –

It’s great. You know, I love this place, management, players, coaches, fans. It’s great to be around for a little longer so I’m really excited.

Yeah, I mean they took me in and gave me a chance. I’m just so grateful about it and I don’t really know what to say. It’s just a big honor and I’m just ready to keep working.

[It started] right at the end of the year, we talked and just got something done yesterday night. It’s exciting. I try to stay out of it, just kind of talk to my agent and let him handle it and it’s just nice to get something done for sure.

On what he’s working on in his game over the summer heading into the season

Just getting better. Flexibility and strength, that’s my two biggest things, and I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better, so I’m excited.

On if he approaches things any differently with a crowded crease

Nope, just one day at a time, one shot at a time. I think with all three of us, that’s our focus. All you can control is making saves, you can’t control anything else and I think all three of us are doing a good job of that.

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JACK CAMPBELL SIGNS TWO YEAR EXTENSION WITH $1.65- MILLION AAV

JON ROSEN

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

The LA Kings have signed goaltender Jack Campbell to a two-year, $3.3- million extension. Campbell, who has one year remaining on a two-year, $1.35M contract signed in November, 2017, is 12-15-3 in 38 career games with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and two shutouts. Coming off a season in which he ranked fifth among qualified goalies with a .934 five-on-five save percentage, Campbell was 10-14-1 for the Kings in 2018-19, finishing third with a .928 overall Sv% and fifth with a 2.30 GAA.

Acquired by the Kings from the Dallas Stars on June 25, 2016 in exchange for defenseman Nick Ebert, Campbell has provided quality and unsung goaltending since joining the team full-time in the second half of the 2017-18 season and earning important points down the stretch that season. Campbell’s acquisition and two extensions with the club represent good value and, by virtue of his strong play, an earned reward for the work the goaltender put in with Goaltending Coach Bill Ranford and Dusty Imoo, previously in Goaltending Development, in resurrecting a promising career. It also does bring the goaltending chain back into the spotlight, and while any team would like to have three viable options in net, the Jonathan Quick-Campbell tandem with Cal Petersen waiting in the wings in Ontario will again breathe life into the discussion over how the position sets into the future with Quick signed for four more seasons and Petersen – the only goalie last year with more than five performances to post a five-on-five save percentage greater than .950 – recently re-upped to a three-year, $2.575M contract.

From April 5:

“He’s probably our hardest worker in practice, and I think that translates for him in the game,” Dustin Brown said of Campbell, who ranks second in the league with a .930 save percentage. “He competes – I mean, that’s the one thing that’s just through the roof for him is just how hard he competes, and he’s been really good for us all year.”

It’s not uncommon to see Campbell return to the room after a practice so drained that he needs several minutes to catch his breath.

“I’ve told him before sometimes he might need to tail it back – that’s how hard he goes sometimes,” Brown said. “When Quickie got hurt, he was still going really hard in practice and he was playing a big chunk of games. It’s one thing to go really hard when you’re playing once every two weeks, but he’s managed it really well, and like I said, part of the reason I think he’s so good in games is because of how hard he practices.”

Barring anything unexpected, Campbell will open up the season alongside Quick on the Kings, with the rotation determined by Head Coach Todd McLellan, who will speak to that rhythm during training camp. But Petersen committed to the Kings as a high-profile goaltender who chose to sign with the club rather than Buffalo, which drafted him in the fifth round in 2013. Blake spoke about that while meeting with the media at last week’s State of the Franchise forum, saying, “I think that obviously comes in. We love him to battle and everything, but we know we have Quick, and we know we have Campbell, and Cal can still develop at the level by playing a lot of games in the American league, if that’s where he is. He got his taste [with the parent club] last year. Part of it was we wanted to show Cal we believe he will be the future coming in through here, and we wanted to make that commitment to him this summer.”

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152072 Los Angeles Kings

2019 ROOKIE FACEOFF BEGINS TODAY IN IRVINE: SCHEDULE, ROSTER, LINKS

ZACH DOOLEY

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

Hockey Is Back!

The Los Angeles Kings rookies begin a three-game slate in the 2019 Rookie Faceoff in Irvine, CA. See below for a hub of information in advance of today’s, and this weekend’s action.

Schedule

All games will be played at Great Park Ice in Irvine. The Kings prospects will play two games at FivePoint Arena and one game on Rink 3, all located within Great Park Ice.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152073 Los Angeles Kings have, but all the things I do have, I’m highly gifted and stuff like that, and they can’t really teach that as much. After development camp, coming back to LA for rookie camp, it’s definitely the thing that’s been on my AFTER STRONG SHOWING THIS SUMMER, CONSTANTINOU head the most. I worked all summer to be prepared for it. Like I said, it’s BATTLING TO EARN CONTRACT the first thing in my head when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to bed. I want to come here and get a contract out of it, obviously, but I want to be a part of this organization more than anything. Overall, I just want to show them that I’ll do whatever it takes to be a part JON ROSEN of this organization. I’ll put my body on the line, I’ll do the extra work. If SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 they tell me to run back to Toronto – I’ll do anything.

The 2018-19 season was a a year of transition for Billy Constantinou, LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 09.08.2019 who was traded from first place Niagara to rebuilding Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League, a pair of teams separated by 65 points in the standings.

Constantinou is like any hockey player. He wants to play, he wants to make a difference, he wants to earn trust in all situations. “I thought overall it was good for my development,” he said of the trade. “Obviously, I want to be on the ice, so it’s good for me.”

It wasn’t good for his cursory statistics. Constantinou was a minus-58 in 44 games with the Frontenacs after a 22-game spell with the IceDogs in which he was a plus-12. Overall, the right-shot Toronto native totaled 10 goals and 33 points in his draft year.

There have been defensive zone challenges – as there are with many young defenders who aren’t drafted with a lottery pick – in puck management and positioning, but there are also some gifts he possesses that aren’t easy to teach or develop. He deftly evades forechecks, he has terrific hands and showed a very good outlet pass during development camp, where Kings management came away impressed.

Even if a player passes through the draft, cream has a tendency to rise to the top over time, and Constantinou has a tremendous opportunity ahead of him. Alex Iafallo, Kurtis MacDermid, Matt Luff, Blake Lizotte, Daniel Brickley, Sheldon Rempal and Sean Walker, all undrafted, played for the Kings in the past year, which was far from a banner year. But such courtship of free agents is part of the team’s approach towards replenishing its burgeoning prospect pool and, in the case of the slightly- older college free agents the team has signed, affords low-cost, potentially mid-yield options to complement their more expensive tenured players.

“I had a good feeling when they approached me after the draft,” said Constantinou, who shared that Mark Yannetti approached him and his agent upon its conclusion. “The Kings are in a rebuilding process and they have a lot of young prospects, so I thought it’d be a good fit. And, who doesn’t want to come to LA, you know what I mean? It’s a beautiful city.”

“Obviously, going through the draft, sitting there, it was pretty tough. You kind of work your whole life for that point, and things don’t actually pan out as they go as you want them to. But you’ve just got to stay positive and the Kings came up to me and they wanted me to come, so I was excited and grateful for the opportunity.”

Constantinou has been encouraged to calm his game down and to “do less.” Make the simple play. Quick reads. Make the simple play. But the Kings are encouraged by what they’ve seen from him, and there’s the internal belief that positioning is often the last skill that a young player understands and improves.

Billy Constantinou, on how he uses his skating and evasion to fuel other parts of his game:

I try to use my Hockey IQ, my instincts to give my team the advantage. Like, if there’s a guy on me and I kind of roll off him a bit, it takes him out of the play a bit and it gives us the extra half-second to get off the ice. I just try to all-around play my game – there are parts of my game that I have to work on and stuff like that, but so does everyone. No one’s perfect. All around, you can always get better. But there are a few parts of my game, especially this summer, that I worked on a bit to come back to camp and be ready.

Constantinou, on feedback after development camp:

After camp, I had a meeting with Sean O’Donnell and Mike O’Connell, and they told me there were some things I needed to work on in the D- zone. Sometimes I get lost a bit, but they both said those are pretty easy things that they can help me with and fix. Like, they’re not bad traits that I 1152074 MontrealCanadiens

Power play fizzles as Canadiens' rookies lose to Senators

PAT HICKEY, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: September 7, 2019

BELLEVILLE — The Canadiens’ rookies looked a lot like the big team as they opened play in a three-team rookie showcase Saturday night, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

We’ll let top prospect Ryan Poehling sum up the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

“I thought we outplayed them, but we had trouble finishing,” Poehling said. “I think our power play was good, we had chances, but we couldn’t score.”

If that sounds familiar, consider the big club had the second-worst power play in the NHL last season.

The youngsters went 0-for 4 with the extra man. The power play did create more chances as the game went on, but the best chance came in the first period.

Liam Hawel, who is in camp on a tryout, had an empty net on a power play in the first period and fired wide. He was in front on a third-period power play, but failed to convert on a setup on a blind pass from Poehling. Hawel did score the Canadiens’ final goal with 10 seconds to play.

Poehling and Nick Suzuki played on the same line and they sounded like a mutual admiration society after developing some instant chemistry. Their line produced nine of the Canadiens’ 36 shots.

“He’s easy to play with,” Poehling said. “His game is similar to mine. We’re both smart players and we were able to find each other.”

“I enjoy playing with him and I hope we have the opportunity to play together down the line,” said Suzuki, who set up the third member of their line, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, for Montreal’s first goal. “Hopefully, it will be in the NHL.”

Poehling is projected as a centre, but Suzuki moved into the middle in the second period with Poehling sliding over to the wing. Poehling was experiencing some shoulder and wrist discomfort and the change came as a precaution.

Poehling and Suzuki are considered the prospects in this group, but there are some other players with NFL potential and they had mixed results.

Cayden Primeau made his pro debut and stopped 20 of 23 shots. His best moment came when he stopped Nicholas Welsh, who had a breakaway coming out of the penalty box.

But Primeau had no chance when a mistake in their own end proved costly to the Canadiens in the third period. Jonathan Gruden pressured Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin in the corner and Vitaly Abramov picked off a pass in front of the net and beat Primeau to snap a 1-1 tie. It was one of three goals for Abramov.

Josh Brook, who is challenging for a spot on the Montreal blue line, had a rough night and was minus-3.

The Senators opened the scoring on a power-play goal from Arbamov midway through the second period. Abramov, who was acquired from Columbus as part of the Matt Duchene trade, is a former rookie of the year and most valuable player in the QMJHL.

Joey Daccord, a former Arizona State goalie, made 34 saves for the Senators, but left the game when he was shaken up on Hawel’s last- minute goal.

The win gave the Senators a perfect 2-0 record after they crushed the Winnipeg Jets 8-1 in their opening game Friday night.

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Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin not interested in signing Andrei Markov

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: September 7, 2019

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin says he’s not interested in signing defenceman Andrei Markov and bringing him back to Montreal to play in his 1,000th NHL game.

Markov, 40, spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens and played in 990 regular-season games, but couldn’t agree to terms on a new contract with Bergevin two years ago and returned home to Russia to play with Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL. During his first season in Russia, Markov posted 5-28-33 totals and a plus-7 rating in 55 games and helped Ak Bars Kazan win the Gagarin Cup as KHL champions. Last season, he had 2- 12-14 totals and was plus-13 in 49 games.

Markov told The Montreal Gazette last month that he wants to return to the NHL this season and that his first choice is to play for the Canadiens.

“Two years ago, his contract was due, we made an offer,” Bergevin told RDS’s Marc Denis on a special edition of “Table d’hôte” that aired Saturday night. “Efforts were made to sign it and he chose another direction that was KHL. It was two years ago.

“Since that time, things have changed,” the GM added. “The player has aged. The organization has changed direction. We have a lot of young people growing up. I will name them. The (Noah) Juulsen, the (Victor) Mete, the (Josh) Brook … (Alexander) Romanov, who will be here in a year. Then, we really want to give our young people a chance.”

Markov didn’t have an agent and represented himself in contract negotiations with Bergevin two years ago. He has now hired agent Allan Walsh to represent him.

Two years ago, Markov said the only NHL team he would play for was the Canadiens, which didn’t help his hand in contract negotiations. Now, he’s willing to listen to offers from any NHL team but his first choice is to return with the Canadiens.

“That’s my dream, you know,” Markov said last month. “But it’s not up to me. We’ll see … we’ll see what’s going to happen. I’ll try to train hard and prepare myself. But it’s not just my decision. I’m trying to prepare myself for that, but we’ll see what’s going to happen, you know. Most probably it’s going to be my last year. I’m looking for a one-year contract and try to enjoy that and give my all.”

You would think the Canadiens might have offered Markov a professional tryout contract (PTO) to see if he has enough left in the tank to help them on the blue line and especially on the power play, which ranked 30th in the NHL last season. The Canadiens have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons after Markov left Montreal. It is believed that contract negotiations between Bergevin and Markov got personal two years ago and that there was bad blood between them, which makes the defenceman’s decision to hire an agent this time a good one. Markov would obviously like to put the past behind him and return to the Canadiens.

At Jonathan Drouin’s charity golf tournament last week, Walsh said “numerous teams” have called him to ask about Markov.

“They’re asking questions,” said Walsh, who is also the agent for Drouin and former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty, now with the Vegas Golden Knights. “They’re asking questions about his conditioning. I forwarded teams a bunch of videos of him training. There’s people who have actually been out there to see him skate in Florida, to see him train.”

P.K. Subban, who was Markov’s teammate with the Canadiens and is now with the New Jersey Devils, tweeted that he would love to play with Markov again, writing: “One of the best the game has ever seen in my opinion! Would be amazing to play with the general again! I still owe him in my opinion!”

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Former Canadien Brandon Prust and wife Maripier Morin split up

STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE

Updated: September 7, 2019

Former Canadiens forward Brandon Prust and his wife, Quebec television personality and model Maripier Morin, are splitting up.

Prust and Morin both announced an end to their relationship on Instagram Saturday. They had been together for 10 years and became one of the most famous celebrity couples in Montreal.

They were married in 2017 after Prust’s NHL career had come to an end following one season with the Vancouver Canucks after the Canadiens traded him in exchange for Zack Kassian. Prust and Morin were featured on the Hockey Wives reality-TV show on the W Network.

“Maripier Morin and I have decided to go our separate ways,” Prust wrote on Instagram. “Thanks you everyone for your love and support over the years.”

Wrote Morin on her Instagram post: “Life is not a long calm river and it brings its share of waves. Brandon and I, after a long thought, decided to continue our routes separately. I would like to sincerely thank you for your love and support over the past 10 years. These are extremely difficult moments and thank you in advance for respecting us in our desire not to talk about it further. Life is a long road and often comes with challenges. Brandon and I have decided to go our separate ways. It’s a very difficult time for both of us but it’s a good idea to have a good time. We will not comment on it, thank you for respecting us.”

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152077 MontrealCanadiens have been sent down after main camp, they’ll play a few games in the AHL and come right back to the NHL and stay. So it’s a learning curve. I know as a young player you want to get in the program. I’m not going to Canadiens Notebook: Ryan Poehling offers good advice for Cole be devastated if I get sent down to the AHL, but I want to be the first guy Caufield who gets called up.”

Suzuki posted 34-60-94 totals in 59 regular-season games last season in the OHL and added 16-26-42 totals in 24 playoff games to earn the STU COWAN, MONTREAL GAZETTE Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as MVP and help the Guelph Storm win the league championship. The Storm won seven elimination games during Updated: September 7, 2019 the OHL playoffs, which Suzuki said taught him the importance of resiliency.

While Ryan Poehling is taking part in his first Canadiens rookie camp, “We found a way to come back,” he said. “I know I have that experience Cole Caufield is adjusting to college life at the University of Wisconsin. under my belt if I get into that situation again. I feel like I know what to do.

Poehling, who played three seasons at St. Cloud State, can relate to “I think I can bring a lot of things to the team,” Suzuki added. “Through all what Caufield is going through after being selected by the Canadiens in the experiences in Guelph that I had, just building confidence. We had a the first round (15th overall) at this year’s NHL Draft and offered some playoff run. Teams love to see that you can win and I think that I can advice from his own college experience. bring that. … For me, for the past two years there’s always been in the back of mind that I’d be going back to junior. And now I know I’m either “I think what I did was I looked too far ahead,” said Poehling, who was here or in Laval. I really want to be here and I’m pushing for that. But selected by the Canadiens in the first round (25th overall) at the 2017 whatever happens, I just have to play well.” NHL Draft. “We’ve Snapchatted quite a bit and I told him just to take it day by day. You got to enjoy college. I know it’s the future, you can look A defenceman to watch into it and it looks all great. But you don’t realize how great college is and Defenceman Josh Brook is another player to watch at the Canadiens’ how many great friends you make. So once he realizes that, you’ll rookie camp. appreciate the moment way more.” The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder was selected in the second round (56th When asked if he could use his own advice now, Poehling said: “Yeah, overall) at the 2017 NHL Draft and posted 16-59-75 totals in 59 games for sure — 100 per cent. I’m only 20 years old, so to just kind of stay in last season with the Moose Jaw Warriors to lead all WHL defencemen in the moment, I guess, is something that I’ve tried to do the last two or scoring and was plus-25. Brook was runner-up to the Spokane Chiefs’ Ty three years after I realized what I was doing and it’s helped out a lot. It Smith for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s top defenceman. makes life more fun.” Smith, who was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round NCAA eligibility rules don’t allow college players to attend NHL rookie (17th overall) at the 2018 NHL Draft, had 7-62-69 totals in 57 games and camps. was plus-5 with the Chiefs.

Bouchard praises Alzner Brook played seven games with the Rocket at the end of last season, picking up one assist and was minus-2. Karl Alzner was among a large group of Canadiens players who skated on the second ice surface in Brossard on Friday ahead of the start of “I’ve known Josh since he was 16 from Hockey Canada,” Bouchard said. training camp next week. “So I have a lot of background with Josh. He’s a professional, he cares. He wants to be a hockey player and that I always knew. He’s willing to Alzner played only nine games with the Canadiens last season, picking understand and accept teaching, direction. It’s fun as a coach to have a up one assist, and played 34 games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, guy that is taking direction and there’s stuff that needs to better in his posting 1-5-6 totals. The 30-year-old defenceman is heading into the game — like everybody else. He’s no different than any other guy. third season of his five-year, US$23.125-million contract and will earn $4.625 million this season wherever he plays. “He’s a young defenceman, it’s a tough position,” Bouchard added. “He’s having a really good growth as a person and as a hockey player. He’s J.J. Daigneault, who was the Canadiens’ defence coach during Alzner’s putting in the work, he came in great shape, he wants to be better. He’s first season in Montreal, didn’t want to talk about him during a recent passionate … he has a goal to be an NHL player.” interview on Mitch Melnick’s afternoon show on TSN 690 Radio. After selecting 21 players at the last two NHL Drafts, the Canadiens “You know what, it’s probably one player that I don’t want to talk about,” prospect cupboard is full. Daigneault said. “I’ll just be straightforward with you guys. Karl is not a player that … I don’t have much to say about Karl.” Bouchard was asked if that puts more responsibility on him as the team’s AHL coach. Daigneault was fired after the 2017-18 season and replaced by Luke Richardson. Daigneault is now head coach of the QMJHL’s Halifax “My job is to coach,” Bouchard said. “I have no more responsibilities now Mooseheads after spending last season as an assistant coach with the that I ever had before or will have after anywhere you coach. Your job is AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. to maximize, to develop the player the best you can. Maximize what you have, make them buy into what you’re doing. Like I said, I like all my Rocket head coach Joël Bouchard was asked about Alzner on Friday players. I will be there 24/7 for all of them. It doesn’t matter who they are, and had high praise for the veteran defenceman who played for him last as long as they’re part of what we do my job is to give 100 per cent to all season. of them.

“Out of 10, I like Karl Alzner as a 12,” Bouchard said. “He’s an “I ask them to give me 100 per cent, so I’m excited to work with hockey unbelievable person. He worked so hard in practice and he was a great, players and the day I won’t be excited to work with them I’ll go do great competitor. He knew how to behave and our relationship was something else,” Bouchard added. “I’ll go put carpet or work in honest and solid. I thought he improved with us, to be honest. He came construction. The players that they will send us, I’m excited to work. Even in great shape … I saw him (this week), he’s looking good. Karl is a true if it’s maybe for some of you guys not a top prospect, I see it as a hockey professional, he understands situations. He’s really smart — he’s a joy to player that I got to maximize and do everything I can to make him the be around.” best hockey player possible. It’s been my philosophy and it’s always going to be.” First cut is the deepest

Poehling and Nick Suzuki are the two players at rookie camp who have the best chance of making the Canadiens this season. If they don’t, Montreal Gazette LOADED: 09.08.2019 they’ll play for the Rocket.

“I was talking to my agent about that and he said: ‘If you get sent down, you want to be the first one they’re going to call up and anything could happen,’” Suzuki said. “That’s good motivation. I know a lot of guys who 1152078 MontrealCanadiens Rocket is not out of the question. If he keeps impressing, it’ll become a legitimate discussion.

The numbers do lie Nick Suzuki and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard stand out for the Canadiens in the first game of the rookie showcase Cayden Primeau allowed three goals on 23 shots, finishing with a lowly .870 save percentage on the night.

He was beaten by a screen and a perfect 2-on-1 one-timer. The one goal By Marc Dumont he could have saved took place after a terrible giveaway by Josh Brook, Sep 7, 2019 which gave Vitaly Abramov enough time to draw up a game plan, consult several mentors via telegram, write a part of his memoirs, and eventually score.

BELLEVILLE, Ont. – The Canadiens rookies took to the ice for the first Goals aside, he demonstrated the type of calm demeanour Canadiens time on Saturday, facing the Ottawa Senators, a team that bulldozed the fans are accustomed to seeing in the NHL from a goalie that we won’t Winnipeg Jets by a score of 8-1 the previous night. Montreal controlled bother naming, but you can probably guess his name. the play, outshooting Ottawa 36-24, though they fell 4-2. For example, he made a breakaway save halfway through the second The good news is that Senators teammates Jon Gruden and Logan period after Gianni Fairbrother eschewed his defensive responsibilities. It Brown did not get into a fight, though that hypothetical Gruden-Brown wasn’t spectacular, and it was far from his best save of the game, but it altercation probably wouldn’t have made the news. But I digress… evoked memories of…well, you know who.

A few obersvations: Of course, it’s unfair to make such comparisons this early in Primeau’s career, but it’s also impossible to ignore how little energy he wastes while Suzuki was the clear standout from an offensive standpoint, offering a making saves. He already looks like an NHL goalie. glimpse of his talent at various points in the game. He took advantage of a disjointed defence to create several scoring chances, as well as a Brook’d it rather embarrassing moment for the Senators rookies. Josh Brook is just 20. He only has seven professional games under his His chemistry with Ryan Poehling was quite evident, with Poehling acting belt and he is one of the Canadiens’ best prospects on the blue line. as the playmaker and Suzuki being the trigger man, especially on the power play, where Suzuki failed to capitalize on a few decent scoring He’s going to need a fair amount of time to put it all together. Probably chances. For the record, they shared faceoff duties on Saturday night, more time than most have anticipated. though Poehling received the majority of them. It’s not that he lacks talent. It’s his lack of experience that is hurting him But we all know Suzuki has offensive talent. On top of that, his defensive at the pro level. play wasn’t just good, it was excellent. His time in Laval last season was unspectacular, as was his game Joël Bouchard only has one gear against the Senators, although that’s probably a little too kind. To put it bluntly, he wasn’t good. It may only be early September, but Bouchard doesn’t care much about calendars, nor does he tolerate wasting an opportunity to teach. That’s fine.

Following the morning skate on Saturday the Canadiens brought out two He wants to do it all at once and that’s simply not how it goes for most players, Jake Evans and Cale Fleury, with the promise of more shortly hockey players. He’ll learn, and the best way to do that is by working thereafter. But the scrums were cut short by Bouchard, asking whether through the mistakes, which were plentiful on Saturday night. the media would like to take part in the penalty kill video session. Revenge is a dish best left in the fridge

The message was sent with a smile, but it was also quite clear. At one point in the first period, Jake Evans had an opportunity to He has a finite amount of time to work with some of these prospects and absolutely demolish Jonathan Aspirot with a clean hit. If that name he’s eager to get going. sounds familiar, it’s because Aspirot is the one who concussed Evans at the rookie tournament last season. Weight watchers Instead of going for the obvious hit, Evans stole the puck and created a Cale Fleury’s exit meeting with the Canadiens focused on one thing: his scoring chance, a much smarter hockey play, though certainly less weight. satisfying for the Canadiens prospect.

Fleury is the most NHL-ready of the defensive prospects, and his play on Import draft Saturday night was further proof that he’s inching closer to the NHL. He was easily the best defenceman on the ice, throwing well-timed hits, Otto Leskinen is a newcomer in North America, but his professional driving the play up the ice and preventing a few high-danger chances experience in Europe has clearly shaped him into a confident, smooth- against his goaltender. That’s not out of character for Fleury. He’s a passing defenceman that has the ability to drive offence from the back smart defenceman and plays an impressive brand of hockey when he end. He got pushed off the puck rather easily and had a hard time finding can keep up with the play. On Saturday night he didn’t just keep up with forwards with crisp passes, though that was mostly due to the lack of the play, he was often the one leading the charge. chemistry among the players. Overall, he made smart decisions with the puck and looked good when used as the power play quarterback. That’s partly due to the work he did this summer, splitting time between Brossard and Calgary, with a focus on his skating, the one obvious flaw Surprise impressions in his game. He also lost 10 pounds, as per the team’s orders, and now I was keeping a close eye on some of the second-tier prospects, such as weighs-in at a solid 205. Allan McShane, Cam Hillis and Cole Fonstand, but it was Liam Hawel Unless he turns pro, a notion that was, and probably still is, far fetched, that took the glory. The 2017 Dallas Stars 4th-round draft pick doesn’t though he made great strides on Saturday night when it came to have the same skill level as the aforementioned players, but he convincing Marc Bergevin and company that he’s ready to take the next outplayed them by a significant margin. At 6-foot-4, he’s one of the step. biggest players in camp, which led to power play time with Hawel creating plenty of shade in the crease. He played on a line with Suzuki and Poehling, but he wasn’t just a passenger, he was leading the charge with what seemed like an endless Good vibrations supply of energy. He also scored the line’s lone goal of the game, taking You never expect a team assembled in this manner to have much, if any advantage of the time and space available in the offensive zone. chemistry, and that was definitely the case for the Canadiens against the He won’t earn a contract with the Canadiens just yet, especially since Senators. However, compared to last season’s rookie team, this year’s they’re already sitting at 48 professional contracts, but a deal with the edition has an overabundance of talent. You can’t expect every key prospect to score a hat trick on any given night unless his name is Poehling, and even then, that may only work against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But you do want the best players to stand out, especially against fellow rookies, and for the most part, that was the case for the Canadiens prospects.

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WATCH: Live stream of Devils’ game vs. Penguins at Prospects Challenge

Updated Sep 7, 4:12 PM; Posted Sep 7, 3:39 PM

By Chris Ryan

Devils prospects will continue play at the 2019 Prospects Challenge with the second of three games in the tournament at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Buffalo against prospects from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Devils lost the opening game of the tournament, 6-4, against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. The Devils trailed 6-4 before scoring four unanswered goals in a rally that fell short.

Jack Hughes, who scored a goal during Friday’s loss, will be out of the lineup on Saturday. The 2019 No. 1 pick will likely return to the lineup for Monday’s finale.

The team announced forward and 2017 third-round pick Fabian Zetterlund will practice with the prospects in Buffalo, but he will not play in any games while he continues to rehab from January knee surgery.

Defenseman and 2019 second-round pick Nikita Okhotyuk will miss the tournament after undergoing surgery on a broken right index finger last week. He is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks with the injury, so that will rule him out from participating in the team’s NHL training camp. Okhotyuk will return to the OHL to play with the Ottawa 67s this season.

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Who will the Devils play with P.K. Subban in their top defensive pair?

Posted Sep 7, 6:30 AM

By Chris Ryan

John Hynes has been running through the possibilities in his head since August.

The Devils’ influx of talent throughout the offseason has given the coach plenty to think about in his lineup, from forward combinations to specials teams units and more.

One of the biggest decisions Hynes will need to make in September and October will be on his top defensive pairing. The addition of P.K. Subban makes one choice easy, but who will play on Subban’s left?

One answer could be to partner Subban with another right-handed shot in Sami Vatanen. Subban and Vatanen both play on the right as their natural side, but the Devils also have Damon Severson, who’s capable of handling top-four minutes on the right side.

That could prompt Hynes to shift Vatanen to the left, where the veteran blue liner has spent some time over the course of his NHL career. Entering training camp next week, that move is certainly a possibility.

“(Vatanen) looks like a guy that we will take a look on the left side with Subban in camp, and along with some other guys just to see some different fits,” Hynes said of Vatanen. “I think on the D-core, the good thing is we have some competitiveness there. Who’s going to play and who’s going to play with who, and then really who’s going to play in what roles, particularly on special teams. We will take a look at Sami on the left side.”

If it’s not Vatanen, the Devils have several lefty options, including Will Butcher, Andy Greene, Mirco Mueller and Ty Smith. While Greene has played top-pairing minutes in recent seasons, he also played in a smaller role when the Devils were at full health last season. The other three haven’t had much, if any, experience in a top-pairing role in the NHL.

Vatanen hasn’t put too much thought about moving over to the left side, basically because he’s not concerned about where he lines up. He’ll leave that decision to the coaches.

“I played (left side) in Anaheim for a bit, and last year I played here sometimes,” Vatanen said. “It takes a little time to get used to it, but it’s a long season, so I’m ready to play wherever. I’ll start to be a goalie if they want me.”

One of the other questions for Vatanen entering training camp is health, after a concussion and illness limited him to just four games over the final two months of the 2018-19 season. But Vatanen feels 100 percent and has gone through his normal offseason training program. Hynes said all returning NHL players should be a full go health-wise to open training camp.

After missing a good chunk of last season and watching the Devils bottom out after a playoff appearance in 2017-18, Vatanen, like everyone else, was thrilled by the team’s additions over the summer. But he said those improvements mean nothing until the Devils show what they can do on the ice.

“It’s been a big summer for our team, but we still have to do the work,” Vatanen said. “It’s not just one guy who can bring you a playoff spot or anything. We just have to keep going and grinding out and doing our things, and good things will happen after that.”

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Prospect defenseman Noah Dobson trying to make Islanders' roster for opening night

By Andrew Gross [email protected] @AGrossNewsday

Updated September 7, 2019 6:30 PM

Prized defense prospect Noah Dobson performed well during his first training camp with the Islanders, though he was ultimately returned to his junior hockey team.

That was last year. This year, a more comfortable Dobson, picked 12th overall in 2018, certainly believes he can make the Islanders’ opening night roster.

“I think last camp I was a little nervous and I wasn’t really comfortable and that kind of affected the way I played,” Dobson said this week. “Now, I’m more comfortable and, knowing most of the guys, I feel like I’m just going to go out and play my game that’s got me to where I am today. I’m not going to change anything.”

Dobson’s potential path to the NHL begins on Sunday morning when the Islanders open their four-day prospects’ camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. It culminates in Wednesday night’s rookie game against the Flyers at Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The veterans report for training camp on Thursday and the Islanders’ open their seven-game preseason schedule at Philadelphia on Sept. 16.

Dobson, along with forwards Oliver Wahlstrom, selected 11th overall in 2018, Kieffer Bellows, taken 19th overall in 2016, Otto Koivula, a fourth- round pick in 2016, and Simon Holmstrom, drafted 23rd overall this June, are among the 30 players expected for the prospects’ camp.

Defenseman Bode Wilde, picked 41st in 2018, is expected to miss the camp with a sprained right ankle.

The right-shooting Dobson compiled 15 goals and 37 assists in 56 games as he split the season between Acadie-Bathurst and Rouyn- Noranda, his third in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

At 19, Dobson is not eligible to be assigned to Bridgeport in the American Hockey League so the Islanders must either keep him on the NHL roster or return him to Rouyn-Noranda.

“I thought I had a really good last two years in junior and that put me in a good position,” Dobson said. “Now, I’ve got to go and try and earn a spot. But I’m definitely confident in my abilities and I feel like I can make the jump this year if I have a really good camp. But it’s going to be on me to try and make a hard decision on management.”

Dobson said the prospects’ camp should provide a solid foundation for the upcoming training camp.

“It’s a good opportunity to shake off the cobwebs that you lose in the summer without playing,” Dobson said. “Get to know the guys, get a feel for the puck then, come main camp, you’re at the top of your level. That’s the goal for me.”

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1152082 Ottawa Senators Yes, Craig Anderson and Anders Nilsson have the jobs locked up in Ottawa, but there are decisions to be made in Belleville. Based on tremendous play down the stretch last spring, Marcus Hogberg has the Abramov continues to shine at Senators rookie tourney No. 1 job with the club’s AHL affiliate, Gustavsson and Daccord will battle to be the backup with the Baby Sens.

Mann is looking forward to seeing how it unfolds because the third goalie Bruce Garrioch will be sent to the ECHL’s Brampton Beast. Daccord suited up for a game with the Senators at the end of last season and started against the September 7, 2019 10:33 PM EDT Buffalo Sabres after signing out of Arizona State University.

If healthyk, Daccord has a chance to push for a full-time job in Belleville. BELLEVILLE — Give a tip of the cap to Vitaly Abramov. “The competition is going to be good,” Mann said. “(Hogberg) is coming The Ottawa Senators winger served notice Saturday night he’ll push for a in with unbelievable second half and he deserves — unless something job when training camp opens Friday at the Canadian Tire Centre by drastic happens — the opportunity to start the season as our No. 1 guy. scoring a hat trick in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game Then it’s a battle between Gus and Daccord to see who can be that No. 2 2 of the rookie tourney being held at the CAA Arena. guy and how we’re going to do that rotation.

The 5-foot-10 Abramov, acquired in the deal that sent Matt Duchene to “Ideally, you certainly don’t want to keep three and Brampton needs a the Columbus Blue Jackets before the trade deadline in February, goalie. We’ll see how that battle goes. You would think Gus would have completed his three-goal effort when he beat Cayden Primeau with 7:43 the upper hand, he’s going into his second year pro, and he’s got 36 left in the third to give the club its second straight win. starts under his belt in the AHL. Most of them were in the first half last year, but that’s still experience. I thought he was solid and moving well Jonathan Aspirot completed the scoring for Ottawa into an empty net. (Friday).

Abramov, who had a two-point effort in the club’s 8-1 win over the Jets Jonathan Gruden (94) of the Ottawa Senators skates around the net Friday night, was on fire. Earlier in the day, coach Troy Mann praised his during a National Hockey League rookie tournament game against the effort. He completed the hat trick by scoring from one knee. Abramov’s Montreal Canadiens at Belleville, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Jason second was scored with 11:17 remaining when he went top shelf on Scourse / Belleville Senators Primeau. This effort will be good for Abramov’s confidence. “That’s certainly an area of organization that’s strong and I’m excited to Max Veronneau of the Ottawa Senators skates after the puck during a see how main training camp goes and as we get closer to Belleville with National Hockey League rookie tournament game against the Montreal the Daccord/Gustavsson battle.” Canadiens at Belleville, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators Mann knows what it’s like to see goalies develop because he witnessed first-hand coaching the Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey “I worked really hard this summer because last summer wasn’t very good when he had the chance to work with Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby. because of injuries,” said Abramov. “It’s been great. When you start a season with a team, you feel more comfortable and it’s been good for “We drafted goalies left and right,” said Mann. “I coached Holtby in me. I just go out and play the way I can. It’s nice before the main camp Hersey and the only reason he had to go to the ECHL in South Carolina starts. Everyone is working hard.” was because we had Neuvirth and he was a two-time Calder Cup champion.” Naturally, Mann liked what he saw from Abramov. Ottawa-based agent Andy Scott, who represents Senators centre Logan “He’s had two really good nights. He’s fearless and he’s got some Brown and Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine, was in the house for this one. Yes, confidence and hopefully that’s really good for him next week when he Jets’ general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is in town, but the two didn’t gets to Ottawa and starts seeing some better players and better meet. Laine is a restricted free agent and there’s been a lot of focus on structure,” said Mann. contract talks with NHL camps set to open Friday.

Through 40 minutes, goals were hard to come by with the Senators and Habs tied 1-1 going to the third period. Montreal outshot the Senators by a 17-14 count. Goaltender Joey Daccord did a good job for Ottawa, but Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.08.2019 got beat by Rafael Harvey-Pinard with 3:35 left in the second when he was allowed to bang away at a loose puck in front.

Abramov, who has been one of the club’s better players in this tourney, opened the scoring at 9:47 of the second on the power play when he tipped a blast by Erik Brannstrom from the point past Primeau.

Adam Cappanelli (52) of the Ottawa Senators pursues the puck during a National Hockey League rookie tournament game against the Montreal Canadiens at Belleville, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators

Daccord had a strong performance, but he suffered an injury with 10 seconds left and wasn’t able to finish the game. He made 34 stops and was one of the club’s best players, however, he left the game when he got run into by Montreal’s Liam Hawel on a goal he scored at 19:50.

Mann said he doesn’t expect Daccord to be out long.

“He’s just being evaluated right now and I think he’s going to be fine,” said Mann. “I thought he was outstanding, especially that third period and second period.”

Mann said watching the goaltending battle in training camp will be interesting.

Filip Gustavsson made 23 stops in the victory over the Jets Friday. Daccord got his chance to play Saturday and had a strong effort against Montreal with 34 stops. Youngsters Kevin Mandolese and Mads Sogaard, who are both headed back to junior at some point, will split the game against Winnipeg Monday. 1152083 Ottawa Senators play on the goal-line. At the end of the day, when (the puck) gets to that middle position, somebody has to stand in front of the goalies eyes because the goalies are just too good and they’re going to make the Josh Norris says he's ready to take the next step with the Senators saves.

“As much as that was a really pretty goal and a nice play by (Logan) Brown to Brannstrom, you’ve got to give Norris some credit for being Bruce Garrioch there. For one game, I was impressed.”

September 7, 2019 6:47 PM EDT Norris knows the challenge will only get more difficult.

“It gives the younger guys a bit of head start to get some games in before main camp and it’s nice to go into right main camp just thrown into the BELLEVILLE — Josh Norris played the role of spectator Saturday night. mix,” Norris said. “Especially for me with my situation with the shoulder. After he suited up for his first game in more than eight months in the It’s a chance to ease back into it, I’m not playing (Saturday), so it’s a Ottawa Senators’ 8-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets to open the three- chance for my shoulder to feel good today and (Sunday) and get back at team rookie tournament at the CAA Arena on Friday night, coach Troy it Monday.” Mann and the Senators’ management/development staff didn’t think it BELLEVILLE — If Josh Norris doesn’t suit up for the Ottawa Senators to made sense for Norris, coming off shoulder surgery, to suit up for start the 2019-20 season, he’ll likely be back in Belleville their American contests on back-to-back nights. Hockey League affiliate. While Saturday’s tuneup against the Montreal Canadiens wouldn’t have The 20-year-old centre left the University of Michigan to sign a pro been the worst-case scenario for the 20-year-old, instead he’ll play the contract this past spring. Senators’ final game against the Jets to wrap up the tournament on Monday and then he’ll have to take his game to another level when the “I feel really ready,” said Norris, who was injured playing for the United Senators hit the ice for training camp next Friday at Canadian Tire States team in the world junior championship in Vancouver during last Centre. holiday season. “I felt I had a good first half last year and it’s unfortunate with the injury that it happened. That’s hockey, it’s a physical sport. Norris gave the shoulder a good test against the Jets and felt comfortable. “I felt that I was ready to go. Just physically and mentally I thought I matured a lot last year and there’s a bit of rebuild going on here with a lot “It was a lot of fun,” he said following Saturday’s optional morning skate. of young guys and I wanted to be part of that from the get-go. It’s been a “I didn’t really know what to expect because it’s my first rookie lot of fun so far and there’s a lot of talent.” tournament and it took me a period (or) maybe (30 minutes) to get acclimated and get my timing back, but I thought once the second half of the game came along I played pretty well. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 09.08.2019 “I thought our team played well to so that was a lot of fun.”

Norris is getting a lot of attention during the National Hockey League club’s four-day stay here because this is really the first chance the Senators have had to see him in action since acquiring him on Sept. 13, 2018.

Norris was taking a nap after practice at the University of Michigan when his phone rang, and San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson was on the other end of the line.

“I had no idea (the trade was coming),” Norris said. “To be honest, I was mid-nap. We had practice at like 3 p.m. and I was taking a nap before practice when I woke up to a call from Doug Wilson. He just said I was traded and he wished me the best of luck and that was about it.”

The expectations are high because Norris was one of the key pieces that came back to the Senators in the deal that sent all-star defenceman Erik Karlsson to the Sharks. Norris, a first-round pick by San Jose (No. 19 overall) in 2017, decided to leave school this past spring because he felt he was ready to take the next step to pro hockey.

He understands a lot of people are watching.

“I get that question a lot and that’s something that’s going to come along a lot with that trade,” Norris said. “I try not to look at it that way. I just try to go out there have fun and work hard. I can’t change the person or the player that I am. It’s just the nature of the business side of it and I got a taste of that last year.”

Now the Senators are getting a taste of what Norris is like as a player. He had an assist in Friday’s game, tried to get involved physically and didn’t look out of place.

“I love his skating ability. When he gets the puck through the neutral zone, he’s got his head up and he’s got some really good speed,” Mann said. “He’s got a sneaky, quick-release wrist shot, and that was good to see.”

Mann added Norris did a good job on a second-period power-play goal by Erik Brannstrom by going to the front of the net and making it difficult for Jets netminder Adam Carlson to see the puck. Little things like that can make a big difference at the NHL level and Norris has to improve defensively, but that’s normal for any young player.

“It’s not an easy job to play net-front on the power play,” Mann said. “But as a coach you love to have a guy that’s got some skill that can make the 1152084 Philadelphia Flyers

Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, Joel Farabee: Kid Line could be Flyers’ go- to unit in future

by Sam Carchidi

Morgan Frost centered Isaac Ratcliffe and Joel Farabee as the Flyers started their rookie camp Saturday morning.

That’s a lot of firepower, a lot of promise.

In the Ontario Hockey League last season, the 6-foot-6, 208-pound Ratcliffe had 50 goals. Frost had 109 points in the same league, while Farabee starred at Boston University and was named the best first-year player in NCAA Division I hockey.

Phantoms coach Scott Gordon, who ran Saturday’s camp in Voorhees, was asked if he ever daydreamed about the day when that line was together for the Flyers.

“Sometimes I say this is going to be a pretty good line for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms,” Gordon cracked.

There is a chance all three start the season with Gordon’s Phantoms. All three, however, are among the candidates for the Flyers’ third-line right- wing spot.

Gordon said Frost (6-foot, 188 pounds) played with much more pace than at this time last year, and that Farabee (6-foot, 180) displayed a solid 200-foot game Saturday. As for Ratcliffe, “the one thing to me that stood out was his strength,” Gordon said. “There’s a little more meat on him and he seemed a little stronger on his feet and (better) with puck protection. The strength coaches are doing a really good job of getting these players to get stronger every year. You don’t realize when they come in at 18 years old and then see at 20 how much growth they’ve had.”

All three have gained weight and muscle in the offseason, and it doesn’t seem to have slowed them down.

“I don’t know that we’ve had any forwards come in that are at the level of some of the kids this year,” Gordon said of the rookies.

He didn’t name names, but it was clear he was talking about Frost, Farabee, and Ratcliffe, three gifted forwards who are knocking on the NHL door. Frost and Ratcliffe are 20, and Farabee is 19

They will have a chance to win a job with the Flyers during the main camp, which starts Friday. Even if they don’t start the year with the Flyers, there’s a good chance that some of them will be in Philadelphia at some point during the season.

And there’s a decent chance that, down the road, the three players will be linemates.

“That,” Frost said, smiling, “would be pretty cool. They’re two of my best friends, for sure. We definitely have off-ice chemistry. We have to translate that to on the ice. But we’re all good friends and that makes it easier to play together.”

For the Flyers, the Kid Line is getting closer to reaching the big show.

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152085 Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 09.08.2019

In his first full NHL season, Flyers’ Phil Myers ready to build off promising debut

by Sam Carchidi

Defenseman Phil Myers is expected to be a Flyers regular this season, but he didn’t feel slighted to be one of the 26 players at the opening of the team’s rookie camp Saturday in Voorhees.

After all, he pointed out, he technically is still a rookie, even though he played in the NHL late last season.

“It doesn’t really bother me that I’m playing in rookie camp,” he said. “It’ll put me in shape a little bit and get me going for main camp,” which starts Friday. “I’m looking at it in a positive way.”

Of all the players at rookie camp, Myers, 22, has the best chance to be in the lineup when the Flyers open their season Oct. 4 against Chicago in the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-5, 218-pound Myers, a right-handed shooter, was impressive in his 21-game stint last season with the Flyers.

“I know a little bit more what to expect now,” he said. “When the time comes, I’m going to get the opportunity and I’m going to be ready. Less nerves and all that stuff. I got my first game and first goal out of the way, so I’m feeling a little better and a little more confident this year.”

On Saturday, Myers impressed Phantoms coach Scott Gordon, who had him at Lehigh Valley and while he was the Flyers’ interim coach last season.

“His comfort level, you can tell that this is nothing for him,” Gordon said after directing the camp session. “He just goes out there effortlessly and he’s so sure of himself and confident.”

In his time with the Flyers, Myers said, he learned "you have to try to be in control a lot more in what you’re doing instead of going 100 miles per hour all the time. Just try to stay calm and composed with the puck.”

“There’s always going to be a period of time where you’re not sure how they’re going to handle the size, the speed, the pace of play," Gordon said of the transition from the AHL to the NHL. "But from his very first game to the end, he stepped in and was comfortable. ... He showed good intelligence to pick his spots” in jumping into the attack.

Myers, who signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, has made strides in slowing down his game and showing more poise over the last two seasons. It is why he could be ticketed for a third-pairing assignment with Shayne Gostisbehere, his frequent partner last season.

“We get along well,” Myers said. “We talk a lot out there.”

Myers paused.

“My first couple games, I wasn’t talking that much, and so we worked on it a bit,” he said, smiling. “We got to know each other and he’s an easy guy to talk to and he’s a good guy. I really liked playing with him last year and hopefully we can do it this year.”

Myers, Carter Hart and Sean Couturier were the Flyers who played for new coach Alain Vigneault when he directed Team Canada during the IIHF World Championship in Slovakia in May.

“I’m a big fan of what I saw of him. He’s a real laid-back guy and easy to talk to,” Myers said.

Breakaways

On the first day of rookie camp, Flyers fans got a glimpse of what could be their top line some day: Morgan Frost centering Isaac Ratcliffe and Joel Farabee during drills. Gordon said Frost played with much more pace than at this time last season. ... Defenseman Mark Friedman had minor abdominal surgery in the offseason and will be ready for main camp Friday, according to assistant general manager Brent Flahr. … Left winger Ben McCartney, who was invited to rookie camp, did not participate Saturday because of a hip flexor and is listed as day to day. McCartney had 21 goals for Brandon in the Western Hockey League last season. 1152086 Philadelphia Flyers Vorobyev is offensively talented and trying to work his way back to the Flyers, while the Lehigh Valley-bound Sushko brings nice speed and Serdyuk was a sixth-round pick this summer.

An Isaac Ratcliffe-Morgan Frost-Joel Farabee line, 'effortless' Philippe Serdyuk was not at development camp, so this is our first live look at the Myers, more on Flyers rookie camp Victoriaville Tigres product.

5. Friedman update

By Jordan Hall Mark Friedman will not take part in rookie camp or the prospects game September 07, 2019 7:10 PM as he rests up from minor abdominal surgery.

The Flyers expect him ready for main training camp, which begins Sept. 13. VOORHEES, N.J. — A nice crowd turned out at Flyers Skate Zone on Saturday morning to watch the team's prospects open rookie camp. Friedman is a 23-year-old defenseman who made his NHL debut during Game 82 last season. He'll be entering his third season with the There's no shortage of talent in this year's group as the camp features Phantoms. seven roster candidates for the 2019-20 season.

Let's get into five observations: Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1. Orange you happy?

A trio in orange had everyone's attention.

With the forwards wearing different colored jerseys to make up lines, Isaac Ratcliffe, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee were put together. To no surprise, they stood out.

Last season, the 6-foot-6 Ratcliffe scored 50 goals with the OHL's Guelph Storm, the playmaking Frost amassed 109 points with the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the do-it-all Farabee won national Rookie of the Year with Boston University.

All three are turning pro this season. And if all three start the year with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms will be a hot ticket for Flyers fans. In fact, fans will get a chance to see them Wednesday night at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the rookie game against the Islanders.

I would have to say I don't know if we've had any forwards come in that have been at the level that some of the kids that we're getting this year.

2. The big easy

Ratcliffe is big, but his skilled hands and soft touch for a player his size are what make him impressive. He can get up ice and make plays away from the net. Around the net, though, there's a lot to like when you combine the ability with his frame.

After practice, Ratcliffe worked on deflecting shots. He scored 91 goals in 132 regular-season games over his final two years of junior hockey.

You'd have to believe he has some power play in his future, very possibly this season with the Phantoms.

3. A maturing Myers

Philippe Myers looks like a full-time NHL player. The 22-year-old defenseman moves extremely well for his 6-foot-5 size, has a great stick and he's gained a ton of strength. During the 2018 training camp, he was listed at 202 pounds. Now, he's 218 pounds and it's noticeable.

His comfort level, you can tell this is nothing for him. He just goes out there and it's effortless and he's so sure of himself and confident. I thought he looked good.

General manager Chuck Fletcher promoted Myers in February as the Flyers were gaining relevancy in the playoff race. Myers ended up playing 21 meaningful games.

"It made me want to work that much harder this summer," he said. "I just want to be up here this year, I want to be a part of the team, I want to help the team win. I'm going to work hard at camp and I'm going to earn it.

"They told me that I should be chomping at the bit for this training camp. I want that, too, I want to be a top-four guy, have a bigger role on the team and help the team win. They basically told me that's what my goal should be and that's my goal."

4. Different mix

A group that skated hard and showed chemistry was Mikhail Vorobyev, Maksim Sushko and Egor Serdyuk. 1152087 Philadelphia Flyers

When will prospect German Rubtsov get to Flyers? Changing his game could speed things up

By Jordan Hall

September 07, 2019 4:00 PM

VOORHEES, N.J. — Ever since German Rubtsov was selected by the Flyers in the first round of the 2016 draft, the Russian center has come with a defensive pedigree.

Reads the game, makes smart plays and cares about the ice behind him.

Sounds like goal prevention.

The Flyers are looking for significantly better goal prevention in 2019-20 — and that's about the forwards just as much as anyone else. In 2018- 19, the Flyers finished with a minus-37 goal differential and yielded the NHL's third-most goals per game at 3.41 to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven seasons.

As the Flyers creep closer to training camp, a job is up for grabs among the team's bottom-six forwards. Rubtsov, a 21-year-old who can play center or winger, will vie for the roster spot. While he may have an outside chance at making the Flyers when camp breaks, his versatility and awareness are positive traits for the vacancy.

But he wants everyone to see more.

"Last year, I was doing very well in the defensive zone but the coaches told me I had to be active and score more in the offensive zone," Rubtsov said Saturday through translator Slava Kouznetsov, the Flyers' skating coach, as rookie camp began. "I'm changing my game — being good in the defensive zone is not good enough to make the team. I'm going to work equally on both zones."

With a concerted focus on pushing north, Rubtsov saw results last season. In his first year with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, Rubtsov scored six goals and 10 points over 14 games. A shoulder injury then abruptly ended his season.

The small sample size opened eyes, though. After all, production is what often gets recognized and rewarded. The Flyers already know about Rubtsov's defensive principles, but his offensive ceiling could be an X- factor in his path to the big club.

So he's healthy and hungry to show everything.

"I'm cleared and 100 percent ready," he said.

Rubtsov looks in excellent shape. He's strong, 6-foot and 203 pounds.

"He's fit and he can play," Flyers player development coach Kjell Samuelsson said this summer.

If he's not with the Flyers, Rubtsov will be back with Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon, who watched the prospect race out of the chute last season and flash his 200-foot game.

"He's a smart player and I think that's one of his strengths," Gordon said. "I always felt — and again it's only a [14]-game window that I had the opportunity to watch him — even if things weren't happening for him offensively, he always played well defensively. That doesn't seem like much. You assume everyone's always going to play well defensively, but sometimes that gets in players' heads when things don't happen for them offensively. They try to cheat and find an easy way to get the offense and he wasn't like that."

That was Rubtsov playing with poise. If he continues to add pace, his push for the Flyers will only speed up.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152088 Philadelphia Flyers Chabot, a former teammate from the 2016 under-20 World Juniors tournament. Take the experience gained while playing at a best-on-best competition, his eye-opening late-season NHL stint, a full offseason of Philippe Myers hopes new ‘less is more’ mentality helps him earn a full- training “smarter” and a spot on the roster the general manager has time role with the Flyers publicly said is essentially his to lose, and it’s easy to see why Myers appears poised to succeed where he failed last September.

The Flyers, however, aren’t about to gift him a starting job. Like in 2018 By Charlie O'Connor with Oskar Lindblom — who played in 23 NHL games the previous season but retained his rookie eligibility — Myers will begin his quest for Sep 7, 2019 a full-time job in Philadelphia at rookie camp, skating alongside camp invites and long-shot prospects. He acknowledged that while it can be difficult to avoid looking ahead to the big camp, putting his best foot For many promising young hockey players, the only way to make the forward over the next few days involves avoiding that same Achilles heel: long-awaited leap to the highest level of the sport is to push themselves trying to do too much. to do more. More repetitions at the gym to increase strength. More hours at the rink to refine the rough edges in their skill sets. More plays on the “One thing I’ve learned is to try not to overthink,” he said. “In these past ice to keep opponents perpetually off balance. couple years, I’ve learned that. Just take it day by day, just work as hard as you can every time you’re on the ice. If you do that, good things will Philippe Myers, on the other hand, has slowly realized his path to the happen and the other stuff will take care of itself.” NHL might be contingent on him doing less. Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon, who ran the on-ice portion of camp Take last September’s training camp. When news broke just before Saturday and has been Myers’ primary coach for the past two seasons, rookie camp that Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald would miss six wasn’t shy after the opening session in expressing his belief that Myers is weeks with a lower-body injury, it seemingly cleared the final obstacle to not only approaching rookie camp with the right mentality, but also is Myers earning a roster spot. There was now an open spot, and Myers already, as expected, setting himself apart from the other attendees. was the most talented option to fill it. What could possibly go wrong? “His comfort level, you can tell this is nothing for him,” Gordon said. “He Myers, of course, would return to the AHL before the end of camp. And it just goes out there and (is) effortless, so sure of himself and confident. I wasn’t merely because MacDonald made a miraculous (and ultimately thought he looked good.” foolish) return in time for Game 1. While Myers started camp in impressive fashion, the quality of his play gradually slipped, to the point But the early portion of camp was never expected to trouble Myers; after that fellow blueliner prospect Mark Friedman actually outlasted Myers in all, he cruised through this week in 2018 as well. Myers’ immense the initial cuts. physical talent — few 6-foot-5 defensemen also boast plus skating and puck-moving ability — allows him to dominate lesser competition who As Myers explained Saturday at the start of rookie camp at Skate Zone in simply can’t keep up. Main camp won’t necessarily be the same story. Voorhees, N.J., he learned a harsh lesson about overtraining as a result. Given his rare gifts, it’s understandable that Myers might, at times, fall “Yeah, maybe I was trying to do a little too much (last) summer,” he into a Superman-esque, “I can do everything” mentality. The pro level acknowledged. “I think I came in (to camp) just maybe run down a little can function as kryptonite to that mindset, however, a lesson Myers not bit. But by all means, that’s no excuse. I’ve got to be smarter about it, only learned at last year’s camp when it came to training, but also in and try to conserve as much energy as I can through the whole camp.” terms of his on-ice play. Gordon recounted an impromptu conversation with Myers last season in Lehigh Valley, only a couple weeks after the For Myers, missing out on a roster spot at the beginning of last season coach had taken the interim job in Philadelphia, that showed as much. was a disappointment, but it didn’t derail his overall progress. After a slower than expected start with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Myers “(Myers) said to me, at that time, ‘I’m getting it now. It’s starting to come found his stride, finally received his Flyers call-up in February and then together where I don’t feel like I have to win the game every single shift. appeared in 21 games with the big club. After exit interviews in April, one Just let the game come to me.’ And that’s just maturity,” Gordon message from the Flyers brass stuck in his memory and helped to propel explained, with a noticeable hint of pride in his voice. him into the offseason: He should be chomping at the bit for training camp in September. A chance for training camp redemption, in a sense. That maturity gave Myers the confidence to do something that didn’t come naturally to him but could prove essential to his chances of making The Flyers made it clear via their deeds and words over the summer just the Flyers out of camp: He eased off the training just a bit as the summer how hungry the 22-year-old should be for camp. The June trade of came to a close. Radko Gudas for Matt Niskanen seemed at first glance to open up the right-handed, third-pair defenseman spot for Myers, and shortly after the “Towards the end of this summer, not that I took it easy, but I trained trade was announced, general manager Chuck Fletcher made that smart. I didn’t overdo it,” he said. “If my body was tired, I listened to it. (I interpretation of the move explicit. took) that extra rest, just trying to stay loose.”

“Going forward, we believe we have an in-house player in Philippe Myers Paradoxically, it’s Philippe Myers’ newfound ability to know when to hold that can come in and take on some of (Gudas’) role,” Fletcher said, back that might finally make him ready to take the biggest step forward in calling the front office “bullish” on Myers’ upside. “He’s only played (21) his hockey career. games in the NHL so there could be an adjustment period, but having the Camp notes ability to maybe slot Philippe into that third slot on the right side, we feel (it) is a real proper place for him to potentially start his NHL career.” Friedman and camp invite Ben McCartney sat out Day 1 of on-ice activities. According to assistant general manager Brent Flahr, Friedman Myers held that he wasn’t obsessively checking social media or the has been cleared after minor offseason abdominal surgery, but the internet for news related to him this summer — even if he did organization made the decision to play it safe and sit him for rookie acknowledge that Fletcher’s public vote of confidence was nice to hear. camp. McCartney, on the other hand, is dealing with a hip flexor issue. He had a busy offseason, beginning with a surprise invite to the World Championships to play for Team Canada and new Flyers head coach The top line of Isaac Ratcliffe, Morgan Frost, and Joel Farabee Alain Vigneault, and concluding with daily work with longtime trainer Rick unsurprisingly stood out the most during drills. Asked if he watched the Leger in Moncton, New Brunswick. Myers was still in the “down period” of trio and envisioned them being a good line for the Flyers one day, his offseason when he got the call in mid-May to join his national team as Gordon responded with his trademark wit: “Sometimes I say, ‘This is an injury replacement, kicking off his summer with an unexpected and gonna be a pretty good line for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.” Gordon, of exciting opportunity. course, is returning for his fifth season as coach of the Phantoms.

“Yeah, actually, I didn’t prepare for it at all. I hadn’t worked out in over a Farabee, notably, spent extensive time Saturday playing right wing rather month, hadn’t skated,” he said. “It really (was) a surprise to me, and I’m than his natural left side. With Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk happy I got it.” likely to begin the regular season at LW, and Lindblom possessing more NHL experience on the left as opposed to the right, RW would seem to Myers started out as the seventh defenseman on Canada’s roster, but he be the logical spot for Farabee if he is to make the big club out of camp. eventually moved up the lineup to play on a pair with Ottawa’s Thomas “I thought he looked pretty good out there,” Gordon said. “(Farabee) said he’s actually played a little bit on the off side, not a lot, but hopefully, he embraces it and sees it as an opportunity.”

Asked whether he made any adjustments to his training strategies in preparation for the season, Mikhail Vorobyev said that he spent extra time getting ready physically and getting stronger, to win more battles in front of the net and in the corners.

Myers might be taking a “less is more” approach to camp, but don’t take that to mean he lacks ambition. His stated goal for the 2019-20 season isn’t merely to carve out a role as a full-time NHL defenseman; Myers wants to eventually earn a place on one of the Flyers’ top-two defensive pairs, calling that “my goal for the end of this year.”

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152089 Pittsburgh Penguins While it may take further prodding, Angello has a chance to earn a spot in Pittsburgh if he continues to throw his weight around. The NHL roster features just two forwards — Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad — taller Penguins roster hopeful Anthony Angello looks to throw his big body than 6-foot-1. Bjugstad, a big man but no bully, is the lone forward listed around over 210 pounds.

Angello figures to start the season playing for Vellucci down in Wilkes- Barre. But with a pro season under his belt and a little more heft, Angello BUFFALO – Anthony Angello stepped off the ice Friday thinking he had hopes to make some noise during Penguins training camp, which starts played a pretty solid game. After all, he scored one of the Penguins’ Friday, and the preseason. goals in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins at this year’s Prospects Challenge, redirecting a Samuel Poulin shot with a tip so sneaky the “I’m ready to make a statement and make that next push to the NHL,” he scorekeepers here missed it. said.

Then Mike Vellucci let him know what he thought about his performance.

“We had a talk,” the new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach said. “I didn’t think Matt Vensel he had a great game [Friday], but I give him a lot of credit. He responded Post Gazette LOADED: 09.08.2019 and played a physical game and was smart with the puck and very competitive. And that’s what he has to be. When you’re that big, you have to be competitive.”

The 6-foot-5 forward definitely heard Vellucci’s message loud and clear.

During Saturday’s 2-1 win over the New Jersey team, Angello set the tone early by barging into the Devils crease to create havoc and a scoring chance. In the second period, he powered his way to the go- ahead goal. Later on, he tossed Devils defenseman Michael Vukojevic, listed at 210 pounds, like a Frisbee.

“I went out and tried to impose my will,” said Angello, who is looking to work his way into the call-up conversation for Pittsburgh this season. “That’s something I need to do on a consistent basis — playing harder, playing tough, playing mean.”

That wasn’t always the case last season, Angello’s first as a professional.

The 2014 fifth-round pick, after three seasons playing for Cornell, showed flashes of it. He had 16 goals, 29 points and a plus-17 rating. But Angello too often disappeared for long stretches of games, especially during his second-half swoon.

The 23-year-old admitted Saturday that he didn’t bring it every game.

“The biggest lesson I learned was the consistency aspect,” Angello said. “Whether it’s 3:30 on Saturday or 10 a.m. on a Monday for a kids [promotional] game or 7 p.m. on Friday, you’ve got to be ready to play your best at all times.”

Angello set out this summer to get stronger, particularly in his legs and core, so he could “make an impact and dominate on the ice during the season.”

He trained in Syracuse area, where he’s from, with Vegas forward Alex Tuch and a pair of high-level NHL prospects in Joel Farabee and Thomas Harley.

One area he tried to build up was his glutes. It came in handy Saturday.

With the game tied and the Penguins on a power play, Angello parked off the right post. Three Penguins battled to keep the puck in the zone and it found its way to Angello, who saw he had a 2-on-1 down low and pivoted to the net.

“I put my butt in front of the net and just kind of inched my way forward,” he said. “When the [defender] didn’t step, I decided to make a play to the net.”

With that guy suddenly on his tail, Angello, a righty, pulled the puck across the crease to his backhand then flipped a shot past Devils goalie Akira Schmid.

The power-play goal was his second in as many games, both just outside the crease. Vellucci believes there should be more to come for the 210- pounder.

“He’s got to be around the net. He’s got great hands and a big body,” he said. “I talked to him at our first practice about if he plays the game the right way and listens to me about the power play, he can score a lot of goals down low.”

Angello said Saturday that he thinks playing with physicality is one of his strengths. He quickly corrected himself, saying, “I know it’s one of my strengths.” 1152090 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins pounced. They sent the Oilers a conditional draft pick hinging on whether he signed in Pittsburgh. It took a couple of weeks to convince him.

Eying an opportunity, John Marino jumps right into the fray for the “It definitely was a tough decision,” he said. “All your buddies are going Penguins back to school. You want to get your degree. But at the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for your career and what’s best for your development. And I feel like the time was best to leave and develop as a Sep 7, 2019 1:00 PM hockey player that way.”

Added Marino, who plans to take summer courses to one day secure his Harvard diploma: “Just talking to [the Penguins], it just felt like the right BUFFALO — Maybe it was his new mindset, or maybe just jitters from fit.” pulling on a Penguins jersey and playing his first game with his new organization. But John Marino suddenly found himself deep in Boston The reports on Marino are that he is a well-rounded prospect who checks Bruins territory Friday. many boxes — strong skater, sound defender, smart puck-mover, decent shot, some size at 6-1 and 181 pounds — but may not have an A few minutes into Pittsburgh’s 4-3 loss to Boston on the first day of the exceptional attribute. annual Prospects Challenge up in Buffalo, the new Penguins blue-liner gathered the puck in his end, charged past a pair of Bruins and crossed Marino, whose offensive opportunities weren’t as plentiful at Harvard due over their blue line. to the presence of Adam Fox, said he is focusing on getting more involved on offense. He is working on his shot and trying to pick his spots His rush eventually stalled in the corner, where he probably felt like Will to jump into the play. Ferrell’s character in “Old School” upon realizing he had gone streaking by himself. So that could be why Marino decided to go streaking Friday up in Buffalo.

“I guess it was kind of the nerves,” Marino, not exactly known for his play Next weekend, Marino will participate in his first NHL training camp. in the offensive end, said, chuckling. “But yeah, I’ve been trying to work Given the number of veteran defensemen already under contract in on that.” Pittsburgh, Marino is expected to start the season in Wilkes- Barre/Scranton, playing for Vellucci. Marino made a strong first impression with the Penguins, who in July traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers to acquire him and Pittsburgh’s prospect pool is shallow, well, pretty much everywhere, but then convinced him to skip his senior year at Harvard so he could go pro especially so along the blue line. Calen Addison is likely a year or two right away. away. And Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Niclas Almari are just getting started in the American Hockey League. So the opportunity is there for The 22-year-old was not a wallflower in his defensive end Friday, seeking him to climb the ladder quickly. out the action. He snapped several pinpoint stretch passes to whisk the Penguins away on quick breakouts. And the righty led the rush on a “I know they don’t have a lot of prospects, so I’ll be able to jump in,” couple other occasions. Marino said. “Play well here [in Buffalo] and play well in camp, and see where it goes.” Marino did take a late penalty after a giveaway in his zone, leading to Boston’s game-winning power-play goal with 1.9 seconds left. But after the game, new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach Mike Vellucci, the man behind the bench in Buffalo, praised Marino, saying he has the potential Matt Vensel to be “outstanding.” Post Gazette LOADED: 09.08.2019 “He showed some offense, which is great,” Vellucci added. “He showed a lot of poise. Great stick. Long [reach]. I was really impressed with his game.”

The Oilers drafted Marino in the sixth round in 2015 and a year later watched him head to Harvard, the Ivy League institution about 40 minutes from his hometown of North Easton, Mass. Like any Boston boy, he badly wanted to play in the Beanpot. Plus, you know, that Harvard degree may come in handy.

“Obviously, the academic side, it’s an unbelievable Plan B to have,” he said.

Marino studied psychology with a secondary focus in economics. He also got an education from Harvard coach Ted Donato, the former NHLer, and his staff.

He played a role right away, contributing 15 points in 35 games as a freshman as the Crimson won its conference championship then made it all the way to the Frozen Four. He put up 16 points and a plus-21 rating as a sophomore. And, while his stats dipped as a junior, the Penguins thought he made a big leap.

“He became a top-10 defenseman in college hockey, giving himself a chance to play at the NHL level,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said about Marino last month.

Meanwhile, the Oilers were running out of time to sign Marino before they lost his rights. That franchise has a deep group of defense prospects, led by the 10th overall pick in 2018, Evan Bouchard. And the general manager who picked him four years ago, Peter Chiarelli, was fired by Edmonton this past spring.

Seeing all the obstacles — many of them also right-handed — in his path toward the NHL if he remained in the Oilers organization, Marino was hesitant to sign.

“Yeah, it’s no secret that there are more prospects in Edmonton,” he said. 1152091 San Jose Sharks “I think it’s going to be a great tournament, and not just the guys that are going there but some of the under-50 guys that are still back here. Competition is a great thing. It’s funny, younger players coming in gives Sharks prospects start rookie tournament: What the brass is looking for you that blend that almost enthuses and gets the older guys excited (and how to watch) about it because they remember when they came in and had that opportunity.

“There’s just a real good feel around the camp right now, and just By CURTIS PASHELKA | [email protected] | Bay knowing having everybody under contract, no distractions, is a great way Area News Group to start the year.”

PUBLISHED: September 7, 2019 at 1:07 pm | UPDATED: September 7, 2019 at 2:03 PM San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 09.08.2019

SAN JOSE — For three games, starting Saturday, the Sharks prospects that are taking part in the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff Tournament will have the undivided attention of the organization’s scouts, managers and coaches in attendance.

So, yes, it’s important for these players — ranging in age from 18 to 24 — to begin to stand out now before the Sharks’ main training camp begins next Friday.

“You’re looking for the compete factor in guys,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said.

“Basically, you want to see what guys jump out at you,” Barracuda coach Roy Sommer said.

The Sharks have several players in Orange County this weekend who are making the jump into professional hockey for the first time, and perhaps a few of them have a legitimate shot at cracking the NHL roster once the regular season begins Oct. 2.

To do that, though, they’ll have to show that they’re at least at the level of the players who have been through this tournament before — ones in the system who have played less than 50 NHL games.

So while forwards Sasha Chmelevski, Ivan Chekhovich and Joachim Blichfeld — among the 31 players originally slated to travel to Anaheim — appear to have bright futures, ultimately, for this year at least, they’ll be in competition with players like Dylan Gambrell, Alexander True, Antti Suomela and Jayden Halbgewachs for any open spots once the main camp begins.

“We’re looking for guys from the rookie tournament who are going to jump into the conversation with that older group,” said Doug Wilson Jr., the Sharks’ director of scouting, “and see who’s ready to make the big club.”

Wilson Jr. added the rookie tournament also serves as a chance for the Sharks to make sure the players are in the proper stage of their development, whether they’re coming off an injury or if they’re inevitably going back to junior hockey or the European ranks.

“It’s really just our first look at these guys in game situations,” he said. “So, not much of an evaluation for most of the guys in the tournament.”

The Sharks rookies play Arizona on Saturday at 3 p.m., Anaheim on Sunday at 5 p.m. and Los Angeles on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Once the tournament’s over, the Sharks will decide who will stay for the main camp.

Last year, the Sharks started camp with 39 forwards, 19 defensemen and six goalies. Those players were slotted into groups A, B and C, with the A and B groups containing the NHL players and the more promising prospects. The decisions on where to slot those younger players come from, in some part, how they perform at the rookie tournament.

“When you go down to the tournament and you’ve got three games, after the tournament’s over, you have a better view of where you want to put the guys going into training camp,” Wilson Jr. said. “So you just want to see who’s healthy, who’s progressing, who had a great summer, who took a leadership role.”

Knowing there will be spots up for grabs, the Sharks feel like a competitive camp is on the horizon.

“There’s a group of guys that will be going there representing us that will probably play for us this year,” the older Wilson said. “So you’ve got guys that want to earn their way into the big camp, earn their way into the coaches’ minds. 1152092 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Joe Thornton weighs in on who San Jose's next captain might be

By Chelena Goldman

September 07, 2019 4:53 PM

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks' roster is, as Ozzy Osbourne once sang, "going through changes" now that Joe Pavelski has departed and the captaincy is currently vacant.

For the better part of the summer, fans and talking heads alike have speculated who the best candidate is to wear the "C" this coming season. On Friday, veteran center Joe Thornton offered his two cents when asked who might be next in line to lead San Jose.

"I think you have a lot of candidates," said Thornton, who has been both a captain and an alternate captain during his 14-season tenure with the Sharks.

He isn't wrong. It wasn't long after Pavelski agreed to a deal with the Dallas Stars at the start of free agency on July 1 that the discussion over the Sharks' captaincy took off. Multiple players on the team have been thrown into the conversation over the last couple of months, mainly because the Sharks have a bevy of players in their dressing room that could rise to the occasion.

"You've got Burns, you've got Erik (Karlsson), you've got Tommy (Tomas Hertl)," Thornton began listing. "I'm probably leaving off some names. But all of these guys are great leaders."

The player whose name has been floated around the most has been Logan Couture, who Thornton agreed could be ready to fill the vacancy. As NBC Sports California discussed back in July, Couture seemed to take over some leadership duties last season whenever Pavelski was sidelined with injuries. While he would undoubtedly lead the team differently, the top-line center still seems like the most likely candidate for the position previously held by Pavelski.

When asked about the departure of Captain America, Thornton had nothing but good things to say.

"He's a good friend to all the guys in here and he's a good captain," Thornton complimented. "We're definitely going to miss him. He's going to be happy in Dallas. We've got to move on, but he was a great Shark and it was an honor to play with him."

Thornton, who at 40 years old is still considered one of the driving forces the team, sported an "A" as an alternate captain last season. In fact, Jumbo Joe served as an alternate all four seasons Pavelski captained the ship, which followed four seasons when Thornton wore the "C" himself.

Not surprisingly, Thornton was asked on Friday if he would like to wear a letter for another season, to which No. 19 chuckled and shrugged.

"Oh, it doesn't matter to me," he said with a smile.

Ultimately, Sharks' coach Peter DeBoer has the final say on who the team's next captain will be. Thornton appears confident that whoever it is will be up to the task.

"I'm sure whoever gets it is going to be honored and is going to do a great job for us."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152093 San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton's return should benefit Sharks' promising young forwards

By Chelena Goldman

September 07, 2019 2:01 PM

SAN JOSE -- In addition to hitting multiple career milestones last season, Joe Thornton was instrumental in bringing out the best in some of the younger players around him.

With a stacked crop of fresh faces looking to crack the roster this season, Jumbo Joe -- fresh off signing a one-year deal that will keep him in teal -- will likely lead the way yet again in developing some of San Jose's future stars.

"It's a privilege for all of us to be around him because it's contagious," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said of Thornton on Friday at the team's practice facility. "How he's impacted this franchise on and off the ice, but also his teammates and all the young guys who have the ability to learn and watch (him) and see what it takes to truly be great."

Last season, Thornton found success as San Jose's third-line center with Marcus Sorensen and Kevin Labanc on his wings. The 23-year-old Labanc and 27-year-old Sorensen both registered career-highs in points, many of which were scored while playing alongside No. 19. According to Natural Stat Trick, the trio combined for 23 goals during the 2018-19 season.

Thornton's ability to get so much out of the youngsters around him is "rare," Wilson said, although part of it can be attributed to how close San Jose's AHL team plays to the big club.

"It's funny, there were years (Thornton) would go to Barracuda games and he'd say 'those are my guys,'' Wilson mused. "It's one of the reasons we love to be so loyal to our own players. The proximity of the Barracuda being here, the rink being right across the street, and the fact that our players and our veterans follow them."

Training camp doesn't get underway until next week, but the Sharks are already excited about the contingent of young players looking to make the big roster this year, mainly forwards such as Ivan Chekhovich, Sasha Chmelevski and Lean Bergmann. San Jose noticeably lost some of its offensive firepower over the offseason with Joe Pavelski among the crop of players who departed in free agency. But Wilson went so far as to say the Sharks are "as excited about this group of forwards coming in as we've ever been" heading into camp.

No doubt, having a veteran like Thornton in the dressing room with such a promising young group coming in gives the team a boost.

"The energy -- it's funny to see all the young kids come in and look over and see Joe Thornton in the gym," Wilson said. "(It) just creates a lot of energy and excitement around this group."

Whether any of the young hopefuls coming into camp play on a line with Thornton still remains to be seen. At the very least, San Jose's incoming class will get a little bit of time during camp to learn from the future Hall of Famer.

"I've never met another player who loves the game like him, loves this team, and makes everyone around him better like that," Wilson complimented.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152094 St Louis Blues

Blues prospects fade again in Traverse City

By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch

For the second time in as many games, the Blues took a lead into the second period of the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Mich. And for the second game in a row things fell apart after that.

The Blues’ prospects allowed seven goals over the final two periods Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, turning a 1-0 first-period lead into a 7-3 loss at Centre Ice Arena. (The Blues led Toronto 2-1 after the first period on Friday only to lose 6-2.)

Detroit, 1-0-1 in the tournament, scored three power play goals. The Blues were whistled for seven penalties, including a five-minute major against defenseman Tyler Tucker late in the second period and a double- minor against Keean Washkurak early in the third.

The Blues scored a goal in each period, in order, by Washkurak, Austin Poganski and Robby Jackson. Colent Ellis, a third-round draft pick by the Blues this June, faced 32 shots in goal.

Sunday is an off day. The Blues close out divisional play at 4:30 p.m. (Central) Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago is 2-0 in the tournament, defeating the Maple Leafs 6-3 Saturday.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152095 Tampa Bay Lightning Sergachev wants to go back to Switzerland (another hockey destination) and see it from a new angle. He’d rent a car and drive through the Alps, exploring villages, climb mountains and meet new people.

Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev uses time off to see the world During this season’s bye week, he and Fedotova might explore Sergachev’s newest hobby: surfing.

By Diana C. Nearhos “My coach says I’m pretty good and should try Costa Rica,” he said. “That’s not too far from us.” Published Yesterday

Updated Yesterday Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 09.08.2019

TAMPA — Growing up in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, Mikhail Sergachev had a list of places he wanted to see.

Paris, Rome and London topped the list.

Now, the 21-year-old has one left to check off. And a new list.

The Lightning defenseman spends his offseason, as well as breaks during the season, traveling. This summer he and his girlfriend Liza Fedotova have been to Greece, Paris and the Maldives.

“As Russians we’re different from (Americans), and Italians are different, French, everyone,” Sergachev said. “You meet different people and see how they live and you become a better person.”

During the bye week last season they went to Turks and Caicos. Last offseason, they toured Italy, visiting Rome, Florence and Venice.

It all sounds so glamorous. But you also could see a version where someone finished a job that has him on a plane every few days, sometimes five flights in a week, and just wants to stay in one place. Not Sergachev.

“It’s a different kind of travel,” Sergachev said. “I like to go see old cities, with different kinds of buildings and meet people.”

Fair enough.

He takes advantage of the work travel, too. Sergachev doesn’t explore cities to the same extent, but nor is he one to go from hotel to rink and back. He, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy might skip the team bus back to the hotel in favor of something else in the city.

“We leave our bags in the room and go get coffee, walk around,” Sergachev said. “I like New York, Vancouver, Boston. I like a lot of cities.”

In the offseason, Moscow is home. He bought a home there last year and trains in Moscow, about 650 miles from his hometown, which also sets up well as a base for his travel.

This offseason brought Sergachev the best vacation of his life. He and Fedotova visited Maldives in June and “it was truly amazing.”

Maldives offers good food, great snorkeling and diving sites with clear water and beautiful fish, stunning views of the other islands. The couple rode bikes to explore the area and stayed in a bungalow on silts over the water.

A year ago, the trip to Italy stood out. Sergachev loved Rome with its mix of ancient, and Renaissance attractions. Fedotova preferred the way Florence took them back into the more modern past. Both enjoyed Venice.

“Venice is just crazy how the city is built,” Sergachev said. “How is it floating? It’s amazing to see that.”

Before these past two years, Sergachev had stayed closer to home with trips to Cyprus and Turkey, both a few hours’ flight from Moscow. Hockey had taken him to some of Europe’s hockey countries — like Sweden, Slovakia, the Czech Republic—and even the States and Canada at a relatively young age. Now, he enjoys the opportunity to take himself to farther-flung, no-hockey-connection places.

He’s planning a trip to London, the last city remaining from his childhood list. He and Fedotova will spend four days seeing the sights like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

There’s also that new list. 1152096 Toronto Maple Leafs have changed. These players are asking for much more, more in the $8- million range.

Subban doesn’t begrudge them that. The salary cap is bigger, and their There’s a long waiting list of young NHL stars who aren’t waiting to get star power is stronger. paid “The collective bargaining agreement has forced teams to bring in young players, and play them earlier,” Subban said. “You’re seeing a lot of By Kevin McGran Sports Reporter young players being played earlier, and having success earlier in their career. Whereas before, it took guys until they were 25, 26 before they Sat., Sept. 7, 2019 started coming into their own. Auston Matthews is what, 21, and like, wow. Seriously, he’s already one of the top players in the league.”

And paid accordingly, at an average annual salary of $11.634 million a It’s not just Mitch Marner. year. That rising tide of a salary is raising all ships. Across the league, key young players remain without contracts. Big But in the NHL’s cap system, more for one player means less for names like Patrik Laine, Brayden Point, Kyle Connor, Matthew Tkachuk, another. Krug has been caught in that squeeze most of his career, Mikko Rantanen, Brandon Carlo, Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski and signing a series of one-year deals. more. “I went through it,” Krug said. “I had two great years, full seasons, 50 They are restricted free agents, whose only leverage is to withhold their points, and had a $1.4-million contract because I didn’t have rights. It services to get the best deal possible. was the situation with a team that has great structure in salary. Guys are “There’s lots of guys, not just Mitch,” Leafs centre Auston Matthews said. trying to do their best to make an honest living, have fair deals and try to “There’s a lot of really good players not signed yet. Everybody is playing fit within the structure of a team.” the waiting game. Still got some time before camp.” Krug is on the last year of a deal now, but extension talks are on hold as Players around the league, especially those who have been through it the Bruins deal with the demands of two other defencemen, Carlo and before, are taking notice. McAvoy.

“I think you can make arguments a lot of those players deserve to be “I’m not saying I feel disrespected. I understand we have two guys that paid a lot of money,” said New Jersey defenceman P.K. Subban, who need to be signed and that can have big effects on our cap situation. Our twice went through contract talks as a restricted free agent. “Players boss has to deal with that,” Krug said. “I wish there was dialogue. You have to do what’s best for them, whatever that is.” have to be patient, be a soldier, do your part. I’ve put together a resumé that I’m comfortable with and very happy about.” They are taking a page out of the playbook used by William Nylander and others in recent years. It can anger fans, upset the chemistry of a team, Subban says it all comes down to negotiating. and shake up a team’s salary structure. “When I had my (two-year) gap deal, my mom called me and said: ‘P.K. “Look at the star power, it’s potentially damaging to some teams,” Bruins listen, you’re young, you have lots of time. If you’re ready to go play, go defenceman Torey Krug said. “I’ve been through it personally, missed a play.’ And I went out and played and won the Norris Trophy.” few weeks of camp. It’s more uncertainty with how each individual guys He was still a restricted free agent when he signed his groundbreaking deals with it.” eight-year deal worth $9 million a year. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said it’s unfair the focus is on the “The good players are always going to get paid,” Subban said. “And I players’ demands and to link winning a Cup to how a player fits into a think all those guys are great players. I can’t tell them what to do, but I team’s cap. can tell you one thing, 31 teams would take any one of those RFAs. If “I haven’t met too many guys that don’t want to win a Stanley Cup and any of them want to come play in Jersey ...” that don’t want to preserve the state of their team to be able to win a

Cup. But the rules are geared toward having the players make that sacrifice to win a Stanley Cup. People say if a guy wants more money, Toronto Star LOADED: 09.08.2019 then it must mean he doesn’t want to win. It doesn’t make sense. The league is so young now that if you don’t make as much as you can as early as you can, you might be in trouble.

“You’ve got to look out for what’s right for you. There’s no guarantees for how long you’re going to play in this league.”

Some call it a flaw in the collective bargaining agreement that these players — coming off entry-level deals — don’t have arbitration rights. But that’s not how commissioner Gary Bettman sees it.

“When people look at the RFAs, they’re getting lumped together,” Bettman said. “But they’re a series of individual negotiations. It’s not like they’re not being offered anything by the clubs. The clubs have been offering each player a contract. The players want more. And at some point they’ll figure it out.”

The likely result is that most will sign short-term contracts. That’s probably the smart play. The league is looking for a new U.S. TV contract in two years and the number $750 million (U.S.) a year is being bandied about — more than three times the current contract with NBC. Players who are free agents then will be the first to cash in.

It’s up to the individual player, according to NHL Players’ Association executive director Donald Fehr.

“I would like them all to have the contracts they want,” Fehr said. “That’s not probably the world that we live in. So that’s a matter that we leave to the individual player to decide.”

Coming off an entry-level deal in 2012-13, Subban signed a two-year bridge deal with the Montreal Canadiens for $2.875 million a year. Times 1152097 Toronto Maple Leafs GAME ON

For the second game in a row, the Leafs gave up the first goal, but again recovered when Brazeau scored at 11:48 of the first period … Semyon Brazeau, Elynuik looking to be towers of trouble for Marlies opposition Der-Arguchintsev gave the Leafs a 3-1 lead midway through the second this season and Chicago’s Tim Soderlund made it a one-goal game on a power play late in the second … The Leafs pulled away in the third, getting goals from Colt Conrad (his second in as many games), Filip Kral and Nick Terry Koshan Robertson (his third in two games) … Among the better players for the Marlies was defenceman Joe Duszak, who consistently showed September 7, 2019 10:50 PM EDT confidence in joining the play up the ice without getting caught. Also solid: 6-foot-4 winger Egor Korshkov … The Leafs will have a full day off on Sunday before meeting the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night, TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Justin Brazeau and Hudson Elynuik have with first place in the Gordie Howe Division at stake. designs on full-time roles with the Toronto Marlies.

Good luck budging them from that shared belief. Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.08.2019 Especially when the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Brazeau and the 6-foot-5, 195- pound Elynuik are finding some chemistry with each other through a couple of Maple Leafs games at the prospects tournament at Centre Ice.

Brazeau, looking to use a 61-goal season for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League as a springboard to a professional career, scored two goals with the aid of Elynuik on Saturday in the Leafs’ 6-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“There are not many guys who are 6-6 and go to the net and cause havoc for the defence,” Elynuik said of Brazeau. “I think he and I together can generate a lot of space out there for everyone on the ice and ourselves.”

Indeed. While there is an emphasis in the Leafs organization on forwards who won’t necessarily bowl people over as much as they will scoot past them, the towering players that are Brazeau and Elynuik have the potential to bring an imposing element to the Marlies in 2019-20.

While Brazeau was excelling under Stan Butler with the Battalion last season, Elynuik was helping the Newfoundland Growlers win the ECHL title and also played in 10 games for the Marlies in March and April.

The big pair spent much of the past three weeks together, whether it was skating or training off the ice.

“We’re a very similar style,” Brazeau said. “We get pucks in low and I don’t think anybody can take it off the cycle from us. It has been good so far.”

On Saturday, Brazeau demonstrated there’s more to his offensive thrust than just banging in pucks from the front of the net while flicking off hapless defenders. Early in the second period, Brazeau took a stretch pass from Elynuik, burst past the Blackhawks defence and beat goalie Nick Kossoff high on the glove side.

“He has a unique ability to score goals,” coach Sheldon Keefe said of Brazeau. “That’s one of the toughest things to find, is a guy who can finish around the net. He has that, and put it in a (physical) package like that, there is a lot of reason there to be intrigued and want to work with and develop a guy like that.

“We’re happy to have him. It’s a good contrast to the rest of the prospect pool. That is good too. I like what we see from him in that sense, but I also like some of our smaller guys, some of the things they are able to do out here. It’s really good. You need them to come in all shapes and sizes and we have a good mix.”

STRENGTH IN GOAL

Considering the Leafs were outshot 35-25, they don’t emerge with a win without the strong play of goaltenders Maksim Zhukov and Zachary Bouthillier.

Zhukov started and 12 saves on 13 shots before giving way to Bouthillier, who finished with 21 saves, midway through the second period.

“I thought they were excellent, and we talked in the room about that,” Keefe said. “Those guys held us in. With Bouthillier (a seventh-round pick in 2018), we have become a little familiar with him. I don’t know Zhukov (signed to an AHL contract after playing last season for Barrie of the OHL and Green Bay of the USHL) at all.

“I thought he was really good. Zhukov is coming into the organization here now. After an effort like that, he has made a good impression and showed why people believe in him and why they signed him.” 1152098 Toronto Maple Leafs to be the man who eventually will replace Mike Babcock behind the Leafs bench.

“Sparks was already here, (Kasimir) Kaskisuo was a free agent who had Scott's play, attitude giving Maple Leafs goaltending hope for the future signed and was older. There are lots of reasons to be excited about those guys.”

Terry Koshan TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Not that he had to battle nerves, but Teemu Kivihalme was pleased with his first game wearing the Maple Leafs’ September 7, 2019 7:31 PM EDT colours.

Kivihalme was among the players who did not play on Saturday, a day after the Leafs beat St. Louis in their tournament opener. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The message for Ian Scott from the Maple Leafs is a rather simple one: Show us what you’ve got. The 24-year-old Kivihalme, playing with an eye toward the main Leafs camp, scored a goal and had an assist against the Blues. The 20-year-old appears to be in line to get a legitimate shot with the Toronto Marlies, ready to build off a stellar season with the Prince Albert “I got the legs underneath me in the first and started to feel a little bit Raiders that culminated with a nod as the Canadian Hockey League more comfortable, thought I played pretty well,” Kivihalme said. “There goaltender of the year. were as times we were rushing plays and there was a time and place to slow things down. I thought being able to do that helped out.” Scott had the day off on Saturday at the prospects tournament as the Leafs faced the Chicago Blackhawks, the rest coming after he rebounded At even-strength, Kivihalme’s partner for the majority of the game was from a rocky start on Friday night to help the Leafs beat the St. Louis Mac Hollowell, a duo that could see time together with the Toronto Blues. Marlies if Kivihalme’s aspirations to make the Leafs fall short.

Scott is catching a bit of break at the tournament, as another young goalie with high hopes in the organization, Joseph Woll, is nursing a broken finger. Woll won’t be rushed and likely will be on the sideline for at Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.08.2019 least another three weeks, presumably giving Scott an advantage.

“I’m pretty good buddies with him and it sucks to see him go down like that, but I think we both know that whenever you get your chance, you have to make the best of it,” Scott said. “I just want to prove I can play at a higher level. I want to play as much as I can and it might take a while to get into (a starting role with the Marlies), but it’s definitely my end goal.

“The AHL is great development for the next step and I’m just working to get my foot in the door first and see where it goes from there.”

While coach Sheldon Keefe is trying to get a grasp on many of the Leafs prospects as well as the free agents invited by the club, that’s not the case with Scott, a fourth-round pick by Toronto in 2017.

Scott played in a regular-season game for the Marlies on April 15, 2018, earning second-star honours with a 30-save performance in a victory against the Belleville Senators. As much as that initial audition couldn’t have gone much better, Scott further endeared himself during the Marlies’ Calder Cup run that spring, working out with the club as it charged through the American Hockey League playoffs to win its first title.

“I was impressed how he conducted himself,” Keefe said. “You’re with a team that is in the middle of a playoff run, and has been together all year. He was a young guy and he was going about his business, worked hard when he was on the ice, never complained, just worked and soaked it all in.

“That’s what you want from a player who comes in like that. I was impressed by his overall demeanour. We like to think that that experience served him well, served his development well. His composure, you could see he was very focused and intelligent person.”

While Frederik Andersen is entrenched as the Leafs’ No. 1 netminder, it’s never too early to look ahead. Andersen has two years remaining on a contract with an annual average value of $5-million US, a favourable deal for the Leafs. Andersen, who turns 30 in October, has put himself in the conversation among the top goalies in the game — of course, that would be solidified with a playoff-round win or two — but in terms of salary, he will make less than 15 goalies in the National Hockey League this season.

Andersen will be up for unrestricted free agency in 2021, and no matter what his future with the Leafs might be, the organization would like to think the heir apparent will be well on his way by then.

Garret Sparks looked to be that goalie until his game collapsed last season and he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights; there’s nothing to suggest now that one of Scott or Woll, a third-round pick in 2016, might not be the guy.

“Both have size, they check so many boxes you look for in young goalies, and it’s one thing that we have not had in my time in the organization since I have been here,” said Keefe, who was hired in 2015 to coach the Marlies, signed a two-year extension in May and is considered by many 1152099 Toronto Maple Leafs “He’s going to have to lead offensively, for sure. But I think he’s able to do it. He’s not big yet and he has to play against better defencemen, too, because now everybody in the league knows him but it’s going to be a Leafs prospect Mikhail Abramov is unique in more ways than one good challenge for him to be a leader in the team on the ice and off the ice,” Desruisseaux said.

Much of it, though, comes back to that spirit, the one that led him to do By Scott Wheeler pushups in his billet home, after the day’s workouts were meant to be over. Sep 7, 2019 When Abramov wasn’t scoring before Christmas, he would stay on the

ice late after every practice to work on his shot, according to TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Victoriaville Tigres head coach Louis Desruisseaux. Robitaille laughed as he remembered his favourite Mikhail Abramov “Mikhail is a great kid, great personality, he’s a great kid to work with, and story. he’s really attentive. He wants to learn, he wants to be a better hockey Last season as a 17-year-old, Abramov got adjusted in the QMJHL, player, he wants to be stronger. He likes to do overtime and spend time where the Tigres selected him out of CSKA Moscow’s under-18 program on the ice,” Desruisseaux said. with their second pick of the 2018 CHL import draft, and Robitaille and After Christmas, both coaches said they saw a shift in Abramov’s game. his staff had felt that their uniquely talented, 154-pound new centre was He went from being a premier passer in the league to more of a well- getting pushed around a little too much. rounded threat. Through some combination of Abramov’s broken English and the “He started to improve his confidence and get more pucks on net, and it’s coaching staff’s even more broken Russian (they’d been trying to learn one of the reasons he started to score more. He’s got great hockey Russian so that Abramov knew they cared about his transition), they’d sense, on the ice he’s smart with the puck, he’s able to find other players tried to communicate that to him. on the ice. He’s that kind of a playmaker. But he can score when he And apparently, though they don’t know how, the message had been shoots too,” Desruisseaux said. received. Later that night, Robitaille and his staff got word from “And he can play without the puck but his play with the puck is really, Abramov’s billet that he’d been quietly doing pushups in his room. really good.” “His billet was like, ‘What’s going on?’ And he said, ‘I want to get bigger In an effort to improve his English, he and teammate Yegor Serdyuk (the and stronger, I need to keep the puck more.’ That tells you about his team’s other import draft pick and someone Abramov had briefly played passion and his commitment,” Robitaille said. with for Team Russia) also took daily classes together in the afternoon. “He came to North America to be an NHL player, his goal was to get When Victoriaville recruited the Russian pair ahead of the import draft, drafted, and I think he’s just getting started.” the pitch to their shared agent was built around how young the team Everything Abramov has done in the year since leaving his family to would be — and the leading role they would immediately take high in the pursue his hockey dream in a small town in central Quebec has been lineup. They made it clear, too, that they were committed to Abramov and about that end goal — about becoming an NHL player. that they wanted him for all three of his eligible years in junior.

By Friday evening, after wrapping up his Leafs debut (he missed “Mikhail coming from Europe, it was a big culture change on and off the development camp due to a visa issue) in Traverse City at the Red ice for a young 17-year-old to come here with no family. It’s always Wings-hosted prospect tournament, that pursuit had begun to pay tough. But I think his best asset is his passion for the game,” Robitaille dividends. said.

The Leafs downed the Blues 6-2 and Abramov, who Robitaille said now “The way he was able to keep his focus, he was always happy to be at stands 6-foot-0 (2 inches taller than he was when he joined the Tigres), the rink, that really helped him to integrate into the Victoriaville had left an immediate impression. community really well. That made him feel really good on the ice.”

His line, the team’s quote-unquote second line, featured Abramov (the When Abramov arrived, the team’s English and French players all made Leafs’ fifth-round pick in 2019 and a natural centre) at left wing alongside concerted efforts to work with him in practices and involve him away from 2018 third-round pick Riley Stotts and one of the game’s other standouts, the rink, recognizing how hard he’d worked at it and that he didn’t ever Colt Conrad. want a translator.

“I knew nothing of him coming in other than what the scouts and the staff “The language was a bit of an issue at the beginning of the year last tell. We put him in the middle on that power-play unit because from all year, but he worked really, really hard to improve his English so now he’s reports he’s got good vision and good skills and we thought he’d fit that way better. On the ice, he adjusted really well. He’s a smart kid so he group well — and he did. Even at five-on-five, I thought he looked very knew where to go on the ice,” Desruisseaux added. comfortable with the puck and looking to make a play,” Sheldon Keefe When Abramov talks about his decision to play in North America, where said. he ended up being ranked at No. 63 by NHL Central Scouting (as well as And that’s what Abramov does. He makes plays. No. 54 in my final top 100), he talks about that motivation everyone else also sees in him. “He reminds me a lot of a Nicklas Backstrom at the junior level. He’s always going to be a guy with more assists than goals,” Robitaille said. “I’m so happy to be here. I need to do good here for me. It’s really different. I have different food, everything. But I like Canada and I’m here “He needs to trust his shot a little bit more because he does have a really to play hockey. The food is so different! Now I like it more but last year … good shot and I think he felt comfortable using it more towards the end of I didn’t,” he said, laughing before quickly turning serious. the year. But at the end of the day, his best skill is his playmaking ability.” “We have a better team this year (in Victoriaville) and I will try to be a Last season, Abramov, who posted 10 points in 10 games for Team leader there. I had a good season last year, but this season I need to be Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Junior A Challenge, better for me and the team.” produced another 61 points in 70 combined regular-season and playoff games for Victoriaville, before nagging wrist and shoulder injuries caught They have similarly high expectations for him, too. up to him. “He’s going to be in our leadership group this year. He’s a guy we expect His 0.87 points-per-game rate in the regular season finished 10th among to keep improving on a daily basis. We don’t want to put too much all under-18 QMJHL players — and third among rookies. pressure on his shoulders. He was really good for us last year because he just came in and did his job and that’s what we want out of our group. Maxime Desruisseaux, an assistant coach with the Tigres last year who Do your job, be confident and improve. If he does that individually, he’s has since left the team to take a head coaching position in Quebec’s going to help us collectively,” Robitaille said. Midget Triple-A league, believes Abramov’s playmaking ability will propel him into the QMJHL’s upper echelon this season. Robitaille called Abramov arguably “by far” one of his best players by the end of the season. He credits him for the daily improvement the team’s staff — and his teammates — each saw in him.

“His ability to change speed is his biggest strength. He has that deceiving speed where you don’t think he’s going very fast but he’s a really good glider, he’s really agile on the ice, he’s a great playmaking centreman, he likes to make his teammates better, and he’s a really good passer,” Robitaille said.

“He’s kind of the brain on his line, where he likes to control the puck and dictate what’s going to happen.”

Robitaille said that improvement wasn’t just about how his game developed on the ice, either.

He saw it in his dedication in the gym and in the classroom.

“Mikhail was a guy who was well-liked by his teammates so he went to them to talk and his English improved drastically through the year. We saw big improvement in his English, and that’s only going to continue,” Robitaille said.

“He’s not the biggest guy but he’s an athletic player, he maintains a really high condition, and I think he has a lot of space to grow and mature into his body. For me, that’s never been a concern, and it’s not a concern. He’s bigger than he was last year, he’s only going to get bigger, and he’s a really, really hard worker off the ice. He knows he has to work really hard at it, that he’s not the biggest. He has been doing that since he got here.”

This summer, Robitaille encouraged Abramov to go home and spend time with his family in Russia. Still, Abramov came back early to prepare for his sophomore year.

This fall, when Abramov returns from Leafs training camp to the Tigres, the Leafs will send director of player development Stephane Robidas to Victoriaville for regular sessions with him.

“We’re going to work with the Leafs with regards to on-ice, off-ice, and what they expect from him because our goal at the junior level is to make sure these guys are ready for pro later on,” Robitaille said.

After fighting through continued wrist and shoulder pain at the combine, Abramov is now back to 100 percent and excited about his next step. He feels more prepared this season, having adjusted to the increased speed of the North American game — and everything that comes with playing on smaller ice, or learning a new language.

“I talked a lot with the guys on my team and I have an English teacher and I don’t know, I just fast learned English. Not very good but I can talk. I know the bad French words, too …” he said, smiling.

Asked to describe his game, he answers simply, much like his various coaches did.

“I’m more of a playmaker,” he finished. “I have hockey sense and I’m a passer.”

Toronto Sun LOADED: 09.08.2019

1152100 Vegas Golden Knights

Dylan Coghlan fires first shot in bid to make Golden Knights

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

IRVINE, Calif. — One of Dylan Coghlan’s biggest assets in his quest to make the Golden Knights’ 23-man roster is his booming shot.

The defenseman put it on full display Saturday in the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff.

Coghlan scored both goals, including a wicked drive in the second period, in the Knights’ 5-2 loss to Colorado at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena.

“I’ve kind of worked on it the last few years, and I think that’s one of the stronger parts of my game,” Coghlan said. “I try to shoot it as much as I can, and hopefully that catches someone’s eye.”

Coghlan skated with Jimmy Schuldt on the blue line and opened the scoring early in the second period. Center Jake Leschyshyn set a screen in front, and Coghlan overpowered Avalanche goaltender Hunter Miska with a slap shot from the right point.

In the third period, Coghlan jumped into the play and tapped in Lucas Elvenes’ feed at the back post to cut Colorado’s lead to 4-2 with 12:15 remaining.

The undrafted Coghlan led Chicago (American Hockey League) defensemen in scoring last season with 15 goals and 40 points. He is part of the competition with Schuldt, Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud and Jake Bischoff for at least one opening on defense.

“I thought Dylan did a really good job today, and obviously he had another really good opportunity as well with a big slap shot,” said Chicago coach Rocky Thompson, who is leading the rookie team. “Offensively, I thought he did some really good things, there’s no doubt. That’s what you see with D, picking right up where he left off.”

Female referee

Katie Guay was one of the referees for the Knights-Avalanche game and is one of four female officials working NHL prospects tournaments this weekend.

She was selected out of a group of 96 officials who participated in the league’s officials exposure combine last month in Buffalo, New York.

Guay refereed women’s games at the Winter Olympics last year in South Korea and was the first woman to officiate Division I men’s college hockey.

Difficult day

Saturday marked the eight-year anniversary of the plane crash that killed 44 members of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team in Russia.

Among those who died was coach Brad McCrimmon, the older brother of Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152101 Vegas Golden Knights would be really uncommon. And I guess philosophically, if we made that decision, we’d stand by it.”

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL LOADED: 09.08.2019 Golden Knights prospect Paul Cotter thinks he’s ready for AHL

By David Schoen Las Vegas Review-Journal

September 7, 2019 - 7:12 PM

IRVINE, Calif. — The Golden Knights have established a pattern of patience with their prospects. As president of hockey operations George McPhee famously said, they’d prefer to “overcook” rather than rush their young players.

Paul Cotter likes the fast track.

“I think I’m ready,” the 19-year-old said.

Cotter got a head start on his professional career last season when he abruptly left college to play major-juniors in Canada.

Now the fourth-round pick from the 2018 draft is hoping to make the Knights’ minor league affiliate rather than return to his major-junior club in the Ontario Hockey League.

Cotter was credited with three shots on goal Saturday during the Knights’ 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff at Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena.

The Knights continue the tournament at 3 p.m. Sunday against the Arizona Coyotes.

“Everybody’s goal is to make Vegas. It might be a smaller percentage chance with us younger guys, but the big goal for me is to make Chicago (American Hockey League),” Cotter said. “I’m sure along the road here I’ll get feedback from the management, coaches and stuff like that. I’m unfamiliar with the process, so I’m just kind of going with the flow right now until I hear something. Whatever Vegas wants, I’ll do.”

Cotter was one of the standouts at Knights’ development camp after he was drafted, and he began last season as a touted freshman at Western Michigan.

But Cotter left the program in November after recording one assist in eight games and signed with London of the OHL.

Cotter finished with nine goals and 17 assists in 48 games for London and was held without a point in 11 postseason games.

The Knights signed Cotter to a three-year, entry-level contract Dec. 28.

“Toward the end of the year, I started to figure it out a little bit and started to do a little bit better,” Cotter said. “The transition was tough. Obviously moving league to league isn’t the easiest, but it had to be done and it’s a signed (NHL) contract at the end of the day, so it was really cool to do that.”

Cotter was not eligible to participate in training camp last season as a college player and missed the Knights’ development camp in June because of appendicitis.

The 6-foot, 191-pound center skated on the third line against Colorado on Saturday and helped the Knights successfully kill two first-period penalties.

“I haven’t been out there in a while in Vegas, so I think it’s kind of a question mark with me right now to see, ‘Did he get better? Did he get faster? Stronger?’ ” Cotter said. “I’m just excited to play, kind of open a few eyes. People are going to say, ‘Yeah, he did get a lot better.’ I’m just looking forward to getting out there and doing my thing.”

Cotter turns 20 on Nov. 16 and is eligible to play in the AHL, according to general manager Kelly McCrimmon.

He will participate in training camp and could play at least one preseason game to show management whether he is ready for the AHL or needs another season in major-juniors.

“If we made that decision with a player (to return him to juniors), that’s likely a decision we would stick with,” McCrimmon said. “I can’t tell you that it’s impossible (to be called up to the AHL during the season), but it 1152102 Vegas Golden Knights

Chasing NHL dreams, Golden Knights newcomers get first taste of rookie camp

By Justin Emerson (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 | 2 a.m.

There’s a stark difference between development camp and rookie camp.

Development camp in June was a chance for rookies to get into the Golden Knights’ facilities and learn what the organization expects. It’s also the first introduction to the city for recent draft picks.

Rookie camp, which began this week at City National Arena, has a whole different intensity. Here, players are trying to win games against other budding NHL competition and, ultimately, a Golden Knights roster spot. And even if it’s a longshot for the 2019 draft class, they know that this week means business.

“It’s kind of nice coming back and I’m feel more comfortable,” second- rounder Kaedan Korczak said. “Coming back here, there’s a higher tempo and guys are fighting for jobs.”

Korczak and fifth-rounder Mason Primeau are the only members of the Golden Knights’ 2019 draft class in attendance this week. Fellow fifth- rounder Marcus Kallionkieli was scheduled to attend but was injured, and first-rounder Peyton Krebs is recovering from a pre-draft injury.

At development camp, the roster was split into two teams that practiced with and scrimmaged against each other. This time, the Vegas rookies travel to California for games with Colorado, San Jose and Los Angeles rookies.

“I think the cool part is we get to go to Anaheim, and we get to measure up against the other prospects on some of the other teams in the league,” Primeau said. “I think it’s different in a sense that it might be a little more competitive, but I think it’s a little more comfortable this time.”

It’s unlikely that Korczak or Primeau make the Golden Knights roster out of camp. They’re both 18 years old and figure to return to their junior teams in Canada for the upcoming season. It’s almost a rite of passage: Cody Glass has been one of the league’s best prospects since his 2017 draft and he returned to juniors out of rookie camp twice.

That doesn’t mean that the experience isn’t important.

“The competition starts,” said AHL Chicago coach Rocky Thompson, who is an instructor at rookie camp. “That’s why these tournaments are so great because you don’t always have to just compete against each other. … It gets you kind of game-ready in a positive way.”

This rookie camp could be pivotal for some players' careers. Cody Glass, Nicolas Hague and Jimmy Schuldt are among players who are looking to force their way onto the team. Some players are looking for a spot with Thompson in Chicago. Some know they’re headed to junior regardless of how well they play.

Veterans report to camp on Thursday, giving the rookies the full attention of the coaching staff for a week. And it means more now than it did in June.

“Just to show the management, coaching staff how I can play,” Korczak said of his goals for the week. “Open up some eyes hopefully.”

LAS VEGAS SUN LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152103 Washington Capitals

Capitals score ten goals in blowout win over Hurricanes in Prospects Showcase

By Rachel Hopmayer September 07, 2019 5:46 PM

In what is technically Washington's first time facing the Carolina Hurricanes since falling in seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Capitals smothered the Canes 10-3 at the first game of the 2019 Prospects Showcase hosted just outside Nashville, Tenn.

For the four-team round-robin tournament that includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals brought 18 prospects (tied with Nashville for most). The Hurricanes brought the fewest prospects — only nine.

Ilya Samsonov helped quash Carolina's efforts, stopping 37 of 40 shots faced. However, nothing could stop the Capitals incessant scoring.

Brian Pinho put Washington on board and ended the day with three points (two goals and an assist). Joe Snively and Bobby Nardella also tallied three points (each with a goal and two assists). Martin Fehérváry notched two goals, Conor McMichael scored two assists, and Shane Gersich put up the ninth goal and final assist. Recording one point each lands Beck Malenstyn (goal), Garret Pilon (goal), and Alex Alexeyev, Aliaksei Protas, and Kody Clark with a single assist each.

Through two periods, Samsonov halted 20 of 21. Shortly thereafter, Riley Sutter left the game due to injury. He collapsed in pain and skated off the ice under his own power. Hershey head coach Spencer Carbery told Mike Vogel that "all indicators are that it's not great, but I'm not sure the extent of it."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152104 Washington Capitals

Capitals score ten goals in blowout win over Hurricanes in Prospects Showcase

By Rachel Hopmayer September 07, 2019 5:46 PM

In what is technically Washington's first time facing the Carolina Hurricanes since falling in seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Capitals smothered the Canes 10-3 at the first game of the 2019 Prospects Showcase hosted just outside Nashville, Tenn.

For the four-team round-robin tournament that includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Capitals brought 18 prospects (tied with Nashville for most). The Hurricanes brought the fewest prospects — only nine.

Ilya Samsonov helped quash Carolina's efforts, stopping 37 of 40 shots faced. However, nothing could stop the Capitals incessant scoring.

Brian Pinho put Washington on board and ended the day with three points (two goals and an assist). Joe Snively and Bobby Nardella also tallied three points (each with a goal and two assists). Martin Fehérváry notched two goals, Conor McMichael scored two assists, and Shane Gersich put up the ninth goal and final assist. Recording one point each lands Beck Malenstyn (goal), Garret Pilon (goal), and Alex Alexeyev, Aliaksei Protas, and Kody Clark with a single assist each.

Through two periods, Samsonov halted 20 of 21. Shortly thereafter, Riley Sutter left the game due to injury. He collapsed in pain and skated off the ice under his own power. Hershey head coach Spencer Carbery told Mike Vogel that "all indicators are that it's not great, but I'm not sure the extent of it."

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152105 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin does the math on how to catch Wayne Gretzky’s goal record

By Matt Weyrich September 07, 2019 5:59 PM

Alex Ovechkin leads all active players with 658 career goals, 236 behind all-time leader Wayne Gretzky. Although it may take him a few years to do it, Ovechkin hasn’t counted out the idea that he could surpass Gretzky for the NHL record.

Four years, score 50+ goals per, why not? @ovi8 is only 236 goals from Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894.  ♂️#NHLMediaDay | #NHL  pic.twitter.com/8p2WNeTYw8

— Tim and Sid (@timandsid) September 6, 2019

The Capitals winger has led the NHL in goals six of the past seven seasons, including 51 last year. Although he says it’s “too far” to be thinking about Gretzky’s record right now, it’s certainly not out of the question that the soon-to-be 34-year-old could average 50 goals per year the next four seasons.

Ovechkin currently ranks 13th all time in goals scored but would move all the way up into a tie for seventh with another 50-goal campaign in 2019- 20.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152106 Winnipeg Jets Burrows just kept adding check marks until the Canucks couldn’t ignore them. He played two ECHL seasons and parts of two more with the Moose before getting the call-up to stay.

Underdog Jets rookie Phelan making most of chance Phelan has been a pro for just one, splitting last season between AHL Texas and ECHL Idaho.

Paul Friesen His three goals in 50 games don’t scream for another chance.

“Some guys are home right now and they wanted to be given a chance,” Vincent said. “These guys are here. Take advantage of it.” BELLEVILLE, Ont.—One pair at a time, they squared off in front of the net, fighting one-on-one battles for the puck. A strange kind of confidence has followed Phelan to Belleville. He’s been in rookie camps before, knows what it’s all about. It was around noon on Saturday inside a practice rink in this Ontario town, located halfway between Toronto and Ottawa. The sight of an NHL GM behind the glass at practice doesn’t really faze him. The destination goal, though, for every player on the ice is Winnipeg, and a spot on the Jets roster. This year, next year – whenever. “It’s weird to say, but I kind of feel like an old guy right now,” he said. “I have one year of pro under my belt. I’ve been in this situation before A reminder of what’s at stake was watching through the glass, not 25 feet where I’ve got to prove myself. You never know who’s looking.” away: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and his player development staff. Or where it might end up. Taking his turn in the net-front battles was a 22-year-old who wasn’t even supposed to be here this weekend. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.08.2019

Undrafted, unsigned, unheralded – and definitely an underdog next to blue-chip prospects like Kristian Vesalainen, Ville Heinola and David Gustafsson – James Phelan more than held his own.

Just like he did in the first game of this rookie tournament, Friday, when he scored the Jets’ only goal and was noticeable, throughout.

“The odds were against me from the start,” Phelan told a solitary reporter after the gloves and sticks were put away. “I wasn’t a first-rounder. I know what I have to do. I’m just trying to earn a contract.”

Far down the pecking order of forwards in the Jets organization, Phelan (pronounced FAY-len) only got to this rookie tournament because another, Skyler McKenzie, was injured.

The Jets haven’t even announced Phelan’s signing yet. He’ll attend Manitoba Moose camp on an AHL tryout.

Last week, Phelan found out he’d be coming to Belleville with the real prospects, first.

“Just more time to get some looks from upstairs,” he said.

Longshots like Phelan come and go all the time.

The product of Laval, Que., doesn’t have to look far for an example of one who stayed.

Behind the bench of the Montreal Canadiens rookies, who face the Jets here Sunday night, will be Alexandre Burrows.

Now an assistant coach with Montreal’s AHL team, Burrows took a similar road to the one Phelan is on: undrafted out of the Quebec Junior League, through the ECHL to a tryout with the Manitoba Moose, then Vancouver’s farm team, and finally to a 13-year NHL career.

Phelan has the same agent as Burrows, and the same agent and same former junior team as Yanni Gourde, a similar story who’s scored 20-plus goals in back-to-back seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Yanni’s been really a big inspiration for me,” Phelan said. “Smaller-sized guy, just a little bulldog out there, just grinds and earns his points. I’ve got a couple good mentors. It can be done.”

Pascal Vincent, the Moose head coach who’s handling the Jets rookies, says the Jets don’t care if you’re drafted or just invited.

“If they’re here, there’s a chance,” Vincent said. “We’re not going to put a pick number on your shoulders or your forehead. If you can win your battles, if you can win your shifts consistently, then you’re going to make a name for yourself.

“I don’t know where it’s gonna lead. But now you’re leaving a good impression.”

Phelan did that in Friday’s game.

“So there’s a check next to his name, now,” Vincent said. “And then we’re going to look to see if it’s consistent.” 1152107 Winnipeg Jets

Comrie signs up for two more years with Jets

Paul Friesen

The Winnipeg Jets have re-signed goaltender Eric Comrie for two more years, throwing some guaranteed money at the 24-year-old.

Comrie will earn $700,000 U.S. in the second year of the contract whether he’s in the NHL or the AHL, an indication the Jets have him penciled in as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup by then.

“We believe in him,” Pascal Vincent, the AHL head coach who’d guiding the Jets rookies in Belleville, said on Saturday. “It says that there’s some hope. It’s up to him to grab the opportunity. Good for him.”

Comrie’s deal is a two-way contract for the coming season, meaning his salary will be $700,000 if he’s with the Jets, $200,000 with the Manitoba Moose.

Winnipeg has projected No. 2 Laurent Brossoit signed for one more year.

A second-round draft pick in 2013, Comrie was called up for one game with the Jets last season, allowing five goals in a loss. In three NHL games the previous season, he went 1-2 and allowed 3.99 goals per game.

“When he got called up, things didn’t necessarily go as he would have liked,” Vincent said. “But he can play. It might take a little bit longer. For goalies, when you’re called up you might as well be over-prepared than just being called up and being sent down because things are not going well.

“Once he’s going to have that real opportunity, I think he’s going to take it and run with it.”

Comrie played 47 games for the Moose last season, his fourth with the team, recording a 25-20-2 record, two shutouts, a 2.69 goals-against- average and .917 save percentage.

He won’t automatically be the Moose workhorse this season, though, as the Jets also have rising prospect Mikhail Berdin on hand.

“They’re going to compete,” Vincent said. “Because Mr. Berdin wants the net as well. And that’s perfect.”

In two years Comrie will remain a restricted free agent.

Winnipeg Sun LOADED 09.08.2019 1152108 Winnipeg Jets It’s Carolina’s strategy — get the player, deal with the consequences afterward — that I’m curious about.

The most common line of thinking is that the Hurricanes are going to Opportunity cost and a way for Winnipeg to exploit the ongoing Kyle follow their Gardiner signing with a trade. I would think that Justin Faulk Connor and Patrik Laine negotiations — a 2020 UFA with a $4.8 million cap hit who has also played big minutes since he was a teenager — is the most likely cap casualty. If that is, in fact, the case and the Hurricanes get meaningful assets in return, By Murat Ates Sep 7, 2019 29 then Carolina comes out of its week with Gardiner plus those assets for Faulk — a clear win.

According to Evolving Hockey’s RAPM metrics, Gardiner and Faulk have There is an unknowable cost to Winnipeg’s ongoing contract had similar impacts on shot attempts and expected goals of late, with the negotiations. edge going Gardiner: That cost is opportunity. If you’re not familiar with these charts, they use math — linear I’ve praised general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff throughout the summer regression, to be more specific — to separate a player’s results when it for holding onto cap space by letting Tyler Myers, Ben Chiarot and comes to shot attempts, expected goals or actual goals from their Brandon Tanev sign in other markets. I stand by that now, with Winnipeg teammates’ results. In the chart above, “Off” references offence, “Def” sitting on roughly $15.3 million to divide between Patrik Laine and Kyle references defence, “GF” means goals for and “CF” means shot Connor. There is room on the Jets for both players’ contracts — attempts. particularly if, as expected, Connor signs long term and Laine signs a The goal here isn’t to deep dive Evolving Wild’s RAPM stat but, if you bridge deal. want to do that, you can read their write-up here. Really it’s just to show Who there isn’t is room for is Jake Gardiner, who signed with Carolina on that both of these guys help and even though Faulk’s goals-for doesn’t Friday for the bargain price of $4.05 million AAV for four years. At 29 look too impressive, I’d be completely happy to blame that on years old, Gardiner is a left-shooting defenceman who has spent his goaltending. Carolina’s has been a mess in recent seasons; Toronto’s career playing a mix of top-pairing and second-pairing minutes in has been excellent. Toronto. He moves the puck well, averages 45 points for every 82 games Instead, the goal is simply to say that both of these guys help. played and will turn an already formidable Hurricanes defence into a top- to-bottom powerhouse. So, if both of these guys help and if Carolina can sign Gardiner for less than what Faulk makes and if Carolina can trade Faulk for a meaningful For Carolina, it’s a sneaky good add. For Winnipeg, who in Dustin collection of picks, the Hurricanes come out ahead. Fair? Plus, going Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey has precisely two players with strong track through Carolina’s roster, there are no contracts as inefficient as, say, records playing top-four minutes, it’s an opportunity missed — not Dmitry Kulikov’s $4.3 million. The Hurricanes can now trade a useful necessarily because of Gardiner himself but the Hurricanes’ strategy to player on a good contract, Faulk or otherwise, for real assets. sign him was never in the cards for the Jets. There are two ways I think this affects Winnipeg. To sign Gardiner, Carolina had to exceed the salary cap’s $81.5 million upper limit. According to Cap Friendly, the Hurricanes sit at a roster of 24 First, until the day Connor and Laine are signed, Winnipeg has cap players — one over the maximum allowable limit — and a cap hit of space. It’s not realistic to assume the Jets have real, usable cap space $83.1 million. Clearly, secondary moves are on the way. — Laine and Connor will use it up — but it’s there today. If there are players left on the UFA market who are better bets than Kulikov or who To some, this will look like foolish spending. Why would Don Waddell simply offer good insurance, given Winnipeg’s lack of depth on defence, sign a player at a position Carolina already had covered just to make the Jets have the opportunity to add those players and sort out the more work for himself? consequences after their true cap hit gets finalized. In short, because Gardiner makes the Hurricanes a better team than they Second, it’s possible that Carolina targets Winnipeg in its quest to get were yesterday. cap compliant. Faulk, who has been a perennial 30-plus point THE CAROLINA HURRICANES DOING THAT CRAZY THING WHERE defenceman while playing big minutes for the Hurricanes, has a 15 team THEY SIMPLY STOCKPILE GOOD TALENT AND WORRY ABOUT no-trade clause. He’d have to sign off on a trade to Winnipeg. If he were HOW EVERYTHING FITS TOGETHER LATER. WHAT A CRAZY willing to do so — and if Winnipeg was willing to include a package STRATEGY. based on Jack Roslovic — you can almost squint hard enough to see a trade that helps both teams. — BLUESHIRTS BREAKAWAY (@BLUESHIRTSBREAK) SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 If you’re Waddell in Carolina, your defence is roughly as good as it was yesterday but now you have yet another promising young forward on his One of the strangest lessons the NHL has taught me in recent years is entry-level contract. that any contract can be moved. If a $5.3 million David Clarkson, a $4.9 million ghost of Chris Pronger, a $7.5 million KHL-bound Pavel Datsyuk, If you’re Cheveldayoff in Winnipeg, you’ve traded from a position of or an end-of-career Vincent Lecavalier with a $7.7 million cap hit can all strength to address a position “light on greatness”. You’ve given up on be traded, so can anyone. the future of Jack Roslovic — and multiple years of team control, at that — for one year of Justin Faulk. But if you believe you can sign Faulk, It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s Milan Lucic for James Neal. But, as your team achieves balance. Winnipeg proved as recently as last summer, it is possible to trade a $4.1 million Steve Mason who does not play in the NHL for his new team. It’s As explicitly as possible these are all hypotheticals. This is just a thought costly and there are consequences, but it’s not impossible. experiment.

What does this have to do with the Jake Gardiner and today’s Winnipeg Still, Winnipeg has two opportunities. Jets? One is to emulate Carolina’s clever tactics — with an admittedly limited First of all, let me be clear: Gardiner, if Winnipeg could afford him, would pool of UFAs such as Dion Phaneuf, Dan Girardi, Michael Stone and help a lot on the ice. He’s prone to the occasional misfire and tends to Marc Methot. The other is to help the Hurricanes out of their newfound give up chances in his own zone but what he creates has consistently cap conundrum by pursuing a player such as Faulk or a defenceman made up for it. He’s a legitimate top-four defenceman. But I’m not using further away from free agency such as Jaccob Slavin or Brett Pesce. him as an example to throw around the old “why didn’t Winnipeg sign There’s certainly no shortage of options, depending on the package. him?” trope. Of course, the Jets’ ultimate goal, as Ken Wiebe wrote Friday, is simply Winnipeg was never in on Gardiner. Whether this is because of to sign Connor and Laine. Winnipeg’s cap space is certainly spoken for Gardiner’s own goals, the fact that nearly all of Winnipeg’s cap space is by those two players. earmarked for Laine and Connor, or both of those things in equal proportions, Gardiner wasn’t an option. In the interim, instead of being limited by that cap space, there could be opportunity. Carolina is showing the NHL a new way of thinking and Winnipeg might someday be in a position to emulate it.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152109 Vancouver Canucks get the job done. Pairing with a towering blueliner like Myers may help, but Hughes isn’t concerned.

“It’s like everything else, it’s something I’ve always had,” he added. Quinn Hughes hype higher as Canucks' defenceman keeps growing “There are going to be tough nights for sure and it’s impossible to play game good every night. I’m going to play smart and use my skating and my stick and see how it goes.”

Ben Kuzma The confidence comes from growing up around the game and going at it with his brothers. The elbows got up in mini-stick games because Hughes was older but his younger siblings are now bigger. And even before Hughes was drafted, he couldn’t say enough about Jack as a For most NHL rookies, one game doesn’t make a season and five aren’t driving force in his development. a gauge of future potential. “He’s so competitive, he helped a lot,” said Hughes. “Some days you get However, Quinn Hughes is not an ordinary rookie. up and you don’t want to work out or skate. But he’s really dialed in and Even before the seventh selection in the 2018 draft dazzled in a knows what he wants. He’s a special player and the reason is he’s so memorable first outing with the Vancouver Canucks in a 3-2 shootout dedicated.” victory over the Los Angeles Kings on March 28, the diminutive The brothers could also be in the Calder Trophy conversation next defenceman was being compared to Brian Leetch, Phil Housley, Kris season. Letang and even the legendary Bobby Orr. “I never really thought about it and I want to keep my feet on the ground,” Part of it had to do with how the 5-10, 175-pound Hughes manipulates said the Canucks defenceman.” It’s pretty cool to go in (to the NHL) with the opposition with quickness and thinking two plays ahead. Part of it is a him.” rich family hockey lineage that includes his father, Jim, and brothers Jack and Luke. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 09.08.2019 Jack was the first overall pick in the 2019 draft by the New Jersey Devils and Luke is starting his first season with the U.S. National Team Development program.

However, the biggest part is the inner drive of Hughes to be a big deal in what has traditionally been a big man’s game.

“I prepared the same way this summer as if I didn’t play those five games,” Hughes said Saturday from prospects camp at Rogers Arena. “And they really don’t matter now. I can’t settle for that. I want to have a long career and did everything I could to prepare myself.

“On the ice, I think I got five per cent better this summer and I feel really good coming into camp in that aspect. And in the gym, it was just getting stronger and trying to prepare myself for 82 games. I feel stronger and I’m 19 and I’ll continue to thicken out.”

As much as Hughes doesn’t want to make too much of his debut, or those five games to launch his career, it’s difficult to not think of what took place and what could be next season.

In the debut, his edge work, anticipation and passing were instantly noticeable before he drew an assist on Brock Boeser’s 26th goal to provide a 2-1 lead. On the amazing play, Hughes raced down the wing and around the net and then quickly reversed on Trevor Lewis, stepped out front and put a wrist shot off the post that Boeser pounced on.

The electricity reached another level in overtime when Hughes combined with Elias Pettersson and Boeser for jaw-dropping plays that nearly resulted in the winner by Boeser, who had two chances.

“It was just about growing my game and seeing what I can do,” recalled Hughes. “Obviously, I wasn’t sure what the speed was going to be like, so I was just trying to keep it safe on every shift and by my fifth game, I felt really confident to the point where I could play my game.

“I also had six months in Michigan to prepare. I was in the gym at 8 a.m. to prepare me for March.”

The additions of Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn will provide coach Travis Green with pairing options, depending upon the opposition.

And with expected time on the power-play, Hughes is already being projected for as many as 45 points. Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres led all rookie blueliners last season with 44 points (9-35) and 20 came on the power play.

Hughes had three assists and just six shots in his five games and if the back end is going to muster more than 27 goals last season — only Anaheim had less with 23 — then his shot will have to be as effective as his speed and decision-making.

“I don’t want to tip-toe,” he said. “I want to help the team and to make an impact at the NHL level, you have to get shots on net and I have a lot of confidence in it and I think it’s pretty good.”

Smaller defencemen always have the defensive side of their games picked apart. Hughes relies on quickness, stick work and positioning to 1152110 Vancouver Canucks With Miller, however, he takes lots of draws regardless of what position he’s playing so you can’t tell the difference without going back and watching every single game from last year. Thus, I’m unable to find data Is J.T. Miller at centre the answer for the Canucks? of games in which Miller exclusively plays centre. We’ll still be able to use video from games in which he played centre for qualitative evaluation, but it’s important to keep in mind that the best research is done with a combination of data and video and we’ll obviously be missing the former. By Harman Dayal Sep 7, 2019 29 Pretty much everyone who follows hockey understands that playing

centre is a lot more challenging than the wing, but what people often You can argue whether the timing of surrendering a first-round pick made aren’t aware of is why that is. sense but you can’t dispute one thing — J.T. Miller is everything the Typically, defensive responsibilities are brought up as the first key Vancouver Canucks needed in a top-six forward addition. difference and there’s a lot of merit to that notion. Miller offers 20-goal, 50+ point-scoring ability and enticing physical tools “Nowadays in the game, all five players are playing both ways and so between his speed and size. Stylistically, he checks many of the boxes defensively it’s challenging in-zone defensively as a winger now too, but the Canucks lacked with his consummate playmaking acumen and as a centre being one of the three main defenders down low, it’s very transitional puck-carrying value. He’s been durable throughout his career taxing,” Miller said. and at 26 years old is locked up at a reasonable rate for another four years. “You’ve gotta make sure you’re taking care of your end first and being really supportive there and also having the mindset when it’s time to go Above all, however, he’s a Swiss Army knife capable of contributing in the other way to be able to skate up and down the ice, so it’s a any role handed to him, and more specifically, his experience playing all demanding position.” three forward positions, including centre, makes him that much more valuable as a player. In most defensive zone systems, the wingers are tasked to cover the defencemen at the points. Their main responsibility is simply to prevent a “Coaches love having guys that can play left, right and centre, and it’s low-to-high pass back to the point. hard to find those guys,” head coach Travis Green remarked at June’s NHL Draft following the announcement of the Miller acquisition. As Miller alluded to, however, centres face much greater responsibilities and should really be thought of as a third defenceman. Pivots must “In today’s NHL, when you have injuries, if you’ve got a winger that can swiftly read and react to constantly adjust and be in a support position play centre or a centre that can play wing … you want to make changes down low for their defencemen. in the middle of the game or shift it up a little bit, you can do that. They’ll often have to defend puck carriers below the goal line with tight “So I’m excited that not only we get a good player (in Miller) but we got a gap control to take shooting and passing lanes away, and when not versatile guy.” directly marking someone, they need to have their head on a swivel to With that in mind, one of the questions that’s been posed in recent times watch players without the puck sneaking into the slot so they can block is whether the Canucks should consider deploying Miller as a full-time passing lanes off. It takes full commitment, and if you switch off mentally centre. After all, Vancouver arguably had the worst third line in the entire or physically for even a second, the puck’s likely in the back of your net. league last year on the back of underwhelming performances from Growing up as a prospect, Miller was touted as a responsible, two-way Brandon Sutter and Adam Gaudette. centre who was reliable in his own end. For whatever reason though, in A common rebuttal echoed against this suggestion is the rationale that the two games of tape that I saw him playing centre, defending down low “the Canucks didn’t trade a first-round pick just to play him on the third was a facet Miller appeared to be inconsistent with. line.” I don’t see it that way — from my view, they acquired Miller to Miller’s foot speed, size and reach give him an edge in the physical grind provide maximum value to the team, and if deploying him as the 3C is of defending below the hashmarks, which would translate to some good how that would be accomplished, then that’s the way to go. breakups, but there’d also be plays when he’d make some key mistakes. For his part, Miller, who was a natural centre when he was drafted by the The sequence below, for example, didn’t cost the Rangers in that play Rangers, is confident and willing to play down the middle. specifically, but it very well could have had the Flyers won the puck “I feel very comfortable playing centre, it’s a position I’ve played a lot battle. when I was younger and I’m willing to fill whatever position it is (that’s) When both defencemen engage in battles below the goal line, it’s the needed,” Miller told The Athletic after a Thursday morning skate. responsibility of the centre to protect the front of the net and protect any “I think I’ve more played the wing position (in recent times), but when seam passes to the slot. You’ll note, however, as both Ranger defenders people get hurt, when injuries happen, or we need to shake things up, I drop that Miller floats behind the net as well, which creates a dangerous would be the guy that tended to go down the middle every once in a scenario if the Flyers had won the puck. while.” It’s a three-on-three battle behind the net, and if the Flyers come away We’ll discuss whether the 3C role is actually how Vancouver can get the with the puck here then the whole slot is empty. Andrew MacDonald, for most value out of Miller later in the piece, but even if you’re firmly against example (No. 47 for PHI), could creep up from the right point and get an the idea, his ability to play centre is a vital asset as an insurance policy uncontested chance from point-blank range. In this case, it’s Miller’s should Elias Pettersson or Bo Horvat go down with injury at any point in responsibility (No. 10 for NYR) as the centre to peel back in front of the the upcoming season. net to protect a pass through the slot.

The defensive challenges of playing centre and how Miller fares Another example that features a couple of mishaps is below.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves with hypothetical lineups, it’s In this clip, Jeff Carter initially wins the puck after the draw. Miller as the important to understand where exactly Miller’s centre capabilities are. opposing centre takes Carter’s space away and forces him to take a bad There’s a big difference between someone who can hold the fort down in angle shot. As the defenceman from the left point recovers the rebound, a pinch and someone who can be deployed down the middle without however, Carter circles to the front of the net. Instead of shadowing skipping a beat. Carter to keep a tight gap and ensure he has no space, Miller is lackadaisical in tracking his man. In Miller’s case, the first step I’d usually take to evaluate his performance as a centre is to look into how his numbers (point production, shot and You can see above that Carter’s got a chance to establish clear scoring chance differentials, etc.) are when he plays as the pivot versus possession of the puck while his man Miller is behind the net. on the wing. To distinguish these instances, I’d typically isolate games Fortunately, it’s a bouncing puck so Carter isn’t able to corral it cleanly, where a player’s taken a lot of faceoffs as that’s usually a pretty reliable but as the play develops, Miller must now shift to marking Carter in front proxy (if you take a lot of faceoffs in a game, chances are you’re playing of the net to ensure the latter can’t pounce on any rebounds. as a centre). Miller starts off in a strong goal-side position to prevent this (his body and stick are between Carter and the net). As you’ll note when watching the video, however, Miller loses this inside he’s able to recover the puck behind the net, he’s able to spot Puempel position, which leaves Carter with an excellent rebound chance. and set him up for a glorious chance.

The two plays above didn’t hurt the Rangers in the form of a goal against, The above clip serves as an example of how Miller is confident making but there was another that did. moves and setting his linemates up in tight spaces — a skill you need to see out of forwards who hope to make plays from the middle of the ice. Here, Miller is initially tasked with defending the puck carrier Jakub He makes a smooth 180-degree turn and slick pass that goes under the Voracek. The former does well initially to force Voracek up the wall and stick of the defender look easy. towards the point and the Rangers look to be in a strong defensive position. Claude Giroux changes this, however, by very smartly streaking The three clips above show three common characteristics — Miller has to the corner which pulls the defender out of the slot — creating space for great vision and doesn’t need to look to know where his teammate is, Voracek. he’s crafty in the ways he’s able to complete passes around sticks and he’s composed making plays in traffic. Those same qualities help him out From there, Voracek is able to cut toward the net and in the midst, Miller on the wing, but he’ll get more touches and opportunities to create these loses his tight gap which leaves Voracek with some daylight to make a kinds of chances through the middle as a centre. play. He opts to sling a puck on net and it leads to a goal. We can debate how much responsibility Miller bears for allowing Voracek a drive to the The value in spreading talent around your lineup net, but to me, I see a player who was rather lackadaisical in moving his feet. One of the most interesting pieces of research Dawson Sprigings did before leaving to join the Colorado Avalanche as an analyst revolved Only Miller’s past coaches would be able to comment on whether this is around the diminishing returns when stacking a line with three good an isolated incident, but he himself has acknowledged how he needs to players. Sprigings’ findings suggested teams should look to ensure there keep his competitive level up to succeed. are play drivers spread throughout your lineup. In other words, rather than just stack your three best forwards on your top line, it’s best to “It’s pretty black and white with me, if I’m doing a lot of watching, I’m spread talent around. After all, even the most dominant lines in hockey standing around with the puck and not moving and not getting my nose are incapable of sustainably controlling more than 60 percent of shots, into the play in the dirty areas I think that’s where I’m not playing my scoring chances or goals in a large sample. best,” Miller said. This is why the Pittsburgh Penguins, for instance, would often deploy Miller referenced this in context to his play in the offensive zone, but the Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on three different lines. same principles apply to ensure he’s not puck watching, has his legs You do see some teams like Boston that have enough depth in their top always moving and remains physically engaged are equally relevant nine to stack their first line, but you rarely see super lines like you might when breaking down his defensive ability as a centre. have 10-15 years ago.

In fairness, I think it’s also important to recognize the context of these two Keeping that in mind, if you consider the top line with Pettersson and games of tape I broke down. These were the first two games he was Brock Boeser, you’d rather see them find a supporting piece who can fill shifted to the middle following an injury to Kevin Hayes in 2017 and so a specific role (similar to Zach Hyman on the John Tavares line) like after a significant hiatus from playing centre, it’s only natural that he’s still Micheal Ferland, Nikolay Goldobin or Josh Leivo than stack the line with refamiliarizing himself with the rigors of defensive hockey as a pivot. Miller. Sure, the top line might work best with Miller, but there are While the defensive side of his game appeared a bit rusty when playing diminishing returns you’d be better off with him driving another line. down the middle, the other elements of change associated with sliding to Should Miller play on Bo Horvat’s wing or should he centre the third line? the middle were seamless and made Miller a more effective player immediately. Given what we know regarding the value of spreading talent around the lineup, it’s probably best to forego having Miller on the first line. After Increased touches on the puck and involvement on breakouts that, however, the decision becomes a lot more difficult when asking One of the byproducts of defending so deep in your own zone as a whether he should play on Horvat’s wing or centre his own third line. centre is that you’re naturally in a support position when your team Obviously, if we’re considering Miller for the latter we’d need to be sure of regains possession of the puck and looks to break out. This is a his ability to flourish down the middle. Based on the film we’ve looked at responsibility that suits the strengths of Miller’s game. earlier in the piece, the findings are generally encouraging (keeping in “You get some more touches on the puck (as a centre), I like getting it, mind that we don’t have the actual numbers to objectively measure his having it, making breakout passes in my own end,” Miller said. performance).

More involvement in breakouts can only be a good thing for the team as • Miller will get more touches on breakouts. Not only is this good for the Miller shines in being able to transition the puck out of the defensive zone 26-year-old who’s among the league’s best in leading zone exits, but with possession. given that centres can impact breakouts more than wingers, he can have more of an impact in fixing Vancouver’s breakout issues. Data via Corey Sznajder, graphic by CJ Turtoro • Playing centre also means more possessions with the puck in the Using the sample of games tracked by Corey Sznajder, Miller grades middle of the ice where you have additional playmaking options among the NHL’s very best players when it comes to leading defensive compared with running plays from the wing where the boards limit space. zone exits with possession. This is important for the Canucks as they This suits the strengths of Miller’s game, which are strong awareness, ranked among the league’s worst teams in breakouts and while Miller will puck skills and passing ability. help irrespective of what position he plays, if he’s able to get more touches on the puck playing centre, one would naturally believe he’d be • Defending below the hashmarks is a big responsibility when deployed able to make a bigger impact. as a centre and this is the only area of potential concern. I don’t want to read too much into two games of video, but Miller was inconsistent in this This is the sort of sequence that could really improve Vancouver’s ability regard. Some of the issues were occasional mental lapses and others to get out of its own zone and play quick up the ice. Miller recovers the were lackadaisical defending. I’m curious as to how much he could loose puck behind the net and even though a direct passing lane isn’t improve in this regard after he’d get a few games to refamiliarize himself available, he’s able to employ a nifty bank pass to spring Matt Puempel with the position because I think he has the physical tools to be better. on the counterattack, which almost leads to a great scoring chance. It’s the sort of non-flashy, but effective, play Miller’s able to execute on a In an ideal world, you’d have a competent 3C and Miller would instead consistent basis. function as a set-up man for Horvat and Pearson, but that’s not the reality the Canucks currently exist in. Lining up at centre would also give Miller more touches in the middle of the ice as opposed to the boards. There’s a lot to like in how he took To me, the answer of where to deploy Miller comes down to two advantage of those extra possessions in the middle thanks to his vision questions. First, can one of Sutter or Gaudette be at least competent as and confidence with the puck. the 3C (they weren’t last year, but Sutter’s coming back healthy and Gaudette is young and could improve). Second, is the winger depth Here, Miller drives through the centre lane and makes a no-look drop strong enough to sustain the top six if Miller isn’t playing the wing? pass that was so deceptive it caught his teammate off guard. Then when Personally, I’d try Sutter as the incumbent 3C and slot Miller on the second line to start the season. While I’m generally comfortable with Miller playing centre, he hasn’t played the position consistently in a very long time. I’m not sure how realistic it is to expect him to thrive right away if he’s adjusting to a new team with different systems and linemates as well as a new position.

However, in the event that Sutter falters and Gaudette isn’t capable either (which is a very real possibility), then I don’t think there’s any other choice but to give Miller a shot in the 3C position. Such a shift could also have a positive impact on the likes of Jake Virtanen, Sven Baertschi or Josh Leivo as they should find it a lot easier to produce with Miller compared with Sutter.

Even if you don’t believe Miller should centre the third line, his versatility is a valuable skill to have because he’ll need to shift over if one of Pettersson or Horvat ever goes down with an injury.

At the end of the day, Miller’s the ultimate plug-and-play Swiss Army knife. He’ll play well wherever he’s slotted, the only question that remains is how to deploy him to squeeze out the most value for the team.

The Athletic LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152111 Websites Hutchinson texted with Andersen through the summer. The two golfed with each other a few times in the off-season (“He crushes the ball,” Hutchinson says, conceding defeat on the links) and chat gear and Sportsnet.ca / Quick Shifts: Why Leafs fans can bank on more Matthews, technique with each other. less Andersen “It’s great to have the soundboard because he sees the game a little bit different than guys who play at his level,” Hutchinson says. “You just have to be a good person and good teammate. Freddy knows I support Luke Fox | @lukefoxjukebox September 7, 2019, 8:07 AM him 100 per cent. It’s a team game. The main goal for every single person in that room is winning the Stanley Cup.”

Yes, Hutchinson has adopted the Curtis McElhinney mindset. A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. So he’s not fussed with the Leafs signing veteran Michal Neuvirth, 31, to a PTO or the emergence of young talent like Kasimir Kaskisuo, Ian Scott 1. “I’m sure we’ll try to do some load management or whatever you call and Joseph Woll — all of whom, Dubas says, are being considered for it.” the backup gig. This admission from Toronto Maple Leafs starting goaltender Frederik “There’s always competition. It’s the NHL,” Hutchinson says. “When they Andersen should be music to fans’ ears. signed him, I didn’t think much of it. Since Andersen joined the Leafs three seasons ago, no NHL goalie has “Every single team in the NHL needs to have two really good goalies. had more starts (192). No one has seen more ice (11,198 minutes), Realistically, you need three good goalies in the organization. The faced more rubber (6,221 shots) or made more saves (5,708). number of teams playing just two good goalies is very minimal.” GM Kyle Dubas has made public a plan to lessen Andersen’s burden, 3. Unless you’re a moustache aficionado, you’ll have to stick around to especially in the early months of the season. the 10:30 mark of Tim & Sid’s interview with Auston Matthews (watch This is on trend with the league at large, specifically the majority of clubs below) for the most important topic: the amount of ice time, particularly in going deep in the playoffs. key situations, given to Matthews by Mike Babcock.

Minutes after eliminating Andersen’s Leafs in Game 7, it stood out that The 21-year-old ranked 38th league-wide among centres in average time Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, unprompted, bought up the fact his starter, on ice with 18:33. (The Leafs’ most-used centre, John Tavares, ranked Tuukka Rask, only saw 45 starts in 2018-19 (22nd-most in the NHL) and 26th with 19:05 per night.) wonder if the benefits were paying off when it mattered most. Matthews, who says he’d love to be out there for all 60 minutes, and his “Tonight, hopefully, we got some residual effect of that, where he was coach discussed this rather touchy topic over the summer. fresh the last couple games,” Cassidy said. “We’re all kind of on the same page now,” said Matthews, acknowledging Andersen pushed through a groin issue last season and mentioned this the dangers of overuse. week that “getting healthy” was right there alongside “getting better” in “I’d love to see myself on the ice a little bit more, especially in situations his summertime focus. where we’re down a goal or we need a goal or we’re down two goals — So, how much healthier is Andersen now compared to Game 7? doesn’t matter. That’s something we spoke about. Everybody’s on the same page.” “Better,” Andersen replies. By hockey standards, Matthews publicly asking for more shifts rails Significantly better? A little better? against the norm. In interviews, 99 per cent of players will simply defer to the coach’s decision on where and when they’re used. Players just play “Better, thanks.” and all that. Andersen looked at the club’s 2019-20 schedule and noticed it becomes We’d tell you to monitor this situation, but we know you will. more compact “after the football season ends.” Toronto has 15 games stuffed into February, the shortest month of the year, and another 16 4. As he gears up to try to outduel Garret Sparks for the right to back up between March 1 and April 4. Marc-Andre Fleury in Vegas, Malcolm Subban says he expects brother P.K. to tap him for a wedding speech. He made a point of mixing in weekly on-ice practices earlier than normal over the summer to “keep that good feeling” and not feel like he’s starting A smile creeps over Malcolm’s face when he says he has “a decent all over again as he ramped up his training in August. And Andersen amount” of ammo to draw on. sees a natural link between health and confidence. “I’m not the best at talking in front of big crowds, but I’m sure it’ll be “I’m sure it’s nice to be healthy, and once you feel you can move at 100 massive crowd there,” says the more subdued Subban, flashing a smile. per cent, I think you’re going to feel more fluid,” he says. “Same goes for “I’ll try to figure out some stuff and not slur my words like I did in this everyone.” interview a couple times.”

2. Michael Hutchinson, the presumed front-runner for the backup position 5. I’d be mad if a professional hockey player named Vyacheslav Gretsky behind Andersen, re-signed for $700,000 and feels much more at home didn’t wear number 99 (or weigh precisely 99 kilos). in Toronto after a “whirlwind” year that saw him bounce around cities and leagues and become a dad. In his KHL debut for Dinamo Minsk this week, the 22-year-old Belarusian forward failed to register a point and was minus-two. Hutchinson is aware that being No. 2 to a workhorse like Andersen means ugly, sporadic, back-to-back starts behind a tired group. And his That other 99’s legacy is probably safe. trials in Winnipeg have matured him into the type of athlete who’s ready 6. I was given a preview of the eye-opening sports/nutrition documentary, for that role. He sounds like a guy who’s accepted he won’t be an NHL The Game Changers, which premieres Sept. 16 around the world. No. 1 and that’s fine. Backed by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Novak “It’s one of those things, the older you get, the easier that role becomes. Djokovic and Chris Paul, the film piles example upon example of elite The more you see that role, the more comfortable you are in it,” Hutchins athletes—endurance, strength, speed, combat—who have cut meat out explains. “Earlier on in my career, I might get too worked up about of their diets and seen their careers soar. playing the second game on the road back-to-back with travel when I hadn’t played in two weeks. Now, as you get older, you let those things The Tennessee Titans’ switch to team vegan meals is a wonderful roll off. You go with the flow. example of how veggies can give us all the protein we need to perform.

“You have to find a role within the team. That’s supporting Freddy and And the parallel between the modern-day meat industry using athletes to being ready when my number’s called.” push their product the way the cigarette industry used to is both striking and concerning. Directed by Oscar winner Louie Psihoyos, The Game Changers will some of the free agents coming in, on paper we have a really good answer the question on all our minds: How the heck is Zdeno Chara still squad,” Brown says. playing in the NHL at 42? “I know a spot isn’t guaranteed for me yet, but I’m gonna keep working As world-record-holding strongman Patrik Baboumian says between hard and try to earn back my spot.” flipping over cars with his bare hands, “Someone once asked me, ‘How can you get as strong as an ox without eating any meat?’ My answer A bench overhaul can greatly impact how players (and which players) are was, ‘Have you ever seen an ox eating meat?’ “ used as new eyes and new systems impact the roster, particularly fringe players like Brown. 7. The loyalty Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen has shown John Tortorella last September by extending the opinionated head coach to for Before Brown left Sunrise to summer back in Ontario, the Panthers’ two more years, and continually having his back in interviews, Tortorella message was that a culture change was coming. The goal: make the returned this week by going to bat for the organization in the Zach playoffs in 2020 and stay there. Werenski stalemate. Quenneville later rang up every Panther individually to check in.

If Werenski, an unsigned RFA, doesn’t show up for physicals next week? “That was pretty cool. I wasn’t sure if I was going to get one of the phone “I’d be terribly disappointed,” Tortorella told The Athletic‘s Aaron calls. I was just a young guy. So it was pretty special to talk to him one- Portzline. “I’m not involved in the business part of it. But for a young man on-one, with all his accolades,” Brown says. “I’m excited for camp.” to miss one minute of camp… it disgusts me. Midway through his third pro season, Brown won’t forget sitting down in “He has really grown as a player. I just don’t want him to miss a beat the Panthers dressing room on his first day after being called-up and here. I won’t be disappointed, I’ll be disgusted.” seeing the No. 1 nameplate near his own.

Unlike some clubs at loggerheads with their stud RFAs, cap space is no “He was the first player, I was like, ‘Whoa. That’s Roberto Luongo.’ You longer an issue in Columbus, which lost a wave of talent on July — in the see his stall close to yours and think, ‘That’s pretty cool. I’m lacing up wake of the greatest playoff run in franchise history, no less. with this guy.’ Two-time Olympic gold medallist. I watched all those games, plus I was a big Vancouver Canucks fan when I was a kid,” he So we totally understand Tortorella’s frustration. says. “I’m glad I got to play with him, even though it was a short period.”

But imagine Werenski reading those quotes. Whoa, boy. A true professional and great guy, Congrats on a HOF career Bobby Lu! I just wish I got to play with you longer, Enjoy retirement! 8. Hands up if you had Tyler Myers making almost $14 million more than pic.twitter.com/ALoXbaAO1k Jake Gardiner on the open market? — Josh Brown (@jrbrown94) June 26, 2019 Fellow Minnesotan Justin Holl worked out alongside his former Leafs teammate throughout Gardiner’s summer of uncertainty. 10. Max Domi’s (first?) memoir, No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL, hits shelves Oct. 29. “He handled it really well,” Holl said, impressed. “Whenever I’ve talked to him, he’s been pretty relaxed about it. I think he’s confident in himself.” The behind-the-scenes tales are nearly as juicy as the ones within his father’s book. Gardiner says the process, which lasted more than two months, was more of a strain on his wife, Lucy, than it was on him. It was important Max’s story is more an inspirational one for young people dealing with Lucy liked the idea of settling in Raleigh with their baby, Henry, for the diabetes (or any challenge, for that matter), a reassurance that next four years. roadblocks must be hurdled in order to realize your dreams.

“It was a lot harder on my wife than anyone. She was saying stuff “If you’re going to write a book, saddle up. It’s fun, it’s cool, but it’s a lot of like, ‘Are we going to the KHL?’ ” —Jake Gardiner, relaxed during long work,” Domi says. “I’m open minded. I’m dead honest in everything I say UFA process in it. I just don’t talk about the glory and the awesome parts of my life. It’s a lot of the hardships and things that go with being a Type 1 diabetic. All — luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) September 6, 2019 those little stories that go in it.

Gardiner’s also cited a strong right side to the Hurricanes’ D corps, the “I took a lot of pride in it, and I hope people like it.” leadership of Rod Brind’Amour and Don Waddell, and joining a rising Cup contender as factors in his decision. Domi chuckles at his younger self, who coasted through English and French classes as a student, figuring neither would be too critical to his What’s interesting is that — unlike Wayne Simmonds, another veteran career. UFA coming off a down year — Gardiner opted for less money on an annual basis for the security of term, spurning the one- or two-year “Sure enough, I just wrote a book and I live in Montreal,” Domi says. prove-it deals that came his way. “Funny how the world works, right?”

“I don’t feel like doing that again,” he says of the free agency process. 11. The Arizona Coyotes have committed $98.15 million in long-term deals to Clayton Keller, 21, and Nick Schmaltz, 23. Good news for Hurricanes fans: Your 20th-ranked power play should only get better, and Gardiner says his back is now “100 per cent” healthy. Those two forwards combined for a grand total of 21 goals in 2018-19.

The bad news: Get ready for another barrage of Justin Faulk trade This is how GMs can win (or lose) in the great RFA guessing game. rumours. Identify a star before he truly breaks out (see: Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Scheifele), take a big swing, then cross your fingers. As Gardiner correctly notes: “The blue line is one of the best in the league already.” If it pans out, you could have one of the NHL’s best bargains — especially if labour peace, expansion, gambling revenue and a new U.S. This makes lefty Faulk, entering the final year of his deal, a nice bit of broadcast deal jack up the cap ceiling. trade bait to fetch some of the offence lost in Michael Ferland’s departure and Justin Williams’ break from the sport. If not, well, maybe you won’t have the job anyway by the time the player needs to be bought out. 9. Five years after being drafted as a sixth-round gamble by the Florida Panthers, six-foot-five defenceman Josh Brown finally broke into the NHL It’ll be interesting to see if others follow John Chayka’s lead with this last season, a rookie at 25. educated gamble.

The London, Ont., native, who trained with the likes of Drew Doughty and 12. Fun fact: Analysts have determined that if Ovi O’s can remain on Corey Perry this summer, credits recently fired coach Bob Boughner for North American shelves for seven more seasons, it has a chance to giving him that first taste. surpass Pro Stars in most boxes sold all-time. It’s a long shot, but we’re saying there’s a chance. “I really like Bob Boughner a lot. He gave me my chance. He put me in the lineup night in and night out. But with Quenneville coming in, that’s Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.08.2019 how it goes. He’s the second-most-winningest coach of all-time. And with 1152112 Websites He was given the assignment to improve his shot, to build up his upper body, and to focus on the details of his game, and he turned to Canadiens trainers and strength and conditioning specialists to help him Sportsnet.ca / Canadiens prospect Josh Brook out to prove he's a do all of it. complete defenceman The results?

“I think I’ve had a significant improvement,” Brook said. “Got stronger, Eric Engels September 7, 2019, 8:43 AM getting more point shots through. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m working towards it.

“On the ice, I just want to work on perfecting myself defensively. That’s BROSSARD, Que.— It’s Friday morning at Montreal Canadiens rookie where it all starts as a defenceman. I want to work from my end out, work camp and Josh Brook is deeply engaged in an offensive-zone drill. on my board battles, making good first passes out of the zone, boxing out and stuff like that.” The puck comes up to the 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenceman at the right point and he skates it down the wall before pivoting and dishing it off to a It’s not the eye-catching stuff Brook routinely does at the other end of the cycling forward. From there he cross-cuts his way to below the goal line ice, but it’s the stuff that’s going to get him to the next level. and then makes a hard slash to the front of the net for a rebound chance. The sequence then ends as he powers his way back to the blue line to “I just want to be a pro, keep working on getting better,” Brook said. relieve the forward that was covering his position. He’s moving quickly in that direction.

In less than 15 seconds, Brook has covered nearly every square inch of Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.08.2019 the zone. He’s exhibited the type of mobility that had me comparing him to high-flying Dallas Stars defenceman John Klingberg back in July, after I watched him motor through drills at Canadiens development camp.

About that: When I passed that idea by Brook two months ago, he was certainly flattered. But he wasn’t in full agreement with that assessment.

“I’m more two-way,” Brook said.

That’s certainly the type of player he wants to be.

Of course, it was his offence—and his use as somewhat of a rover in 59 games with the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors last season—that influenced this comparison. He was all over the ice, scoring 16 goals and 75 points and finishing as the league’s highest-scoring defenceman. So you’ll have to forgive me for thinking of him as more of an offensive type.

If the general perception is that Brook is one-dimensional, he intends to change it. He came to rookie camp this year wanting to prove that he’s an all-around player.

“Like (Stanley Cup-winning St. Louis Blues captain) Alex Pietrangelo,” the Roblin, Man., native said. “I like the way he plays. He’s not totally offensive, but he has offensive skills and I think he’s really good defensively.”

Fellow Canadiens prospect Ryan Poehling can see it. On Friday he compared Brook to a right-handed Ryan Suter, a 14-year vet who’s amassed 540 points while earning a reputation as one of the hardest players to play against in his own zone over 1073 NHL games.

“He’s a great player,” said Poehling of Brook. “He knows how he needs to play and that’s what he does, so I respect that. He’s a hard player, he’s a puck-moving defenceman, and I’d like to think he’ll do very well.”

A weekly deep dive into the biggest hockey news in the world with hosts Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. New episodes every Thursday.

Laval Rocket coach Joel Bouchard, who’s running this camp, agrees. The American Hockey League bench boss has known Brook for four years dating back to his days as a general manager for Hockey Canada. In Brook, he sees a dedicated athlete who’s in possession of a game that can translate to hockey’s highest level, and he also sees a young person who’s wise beyond his years.

“He’s a professional,” said Bouchard after Friday’s practice. “He cares. He wants to be a hockey player and that I always knew. He’s willing to understand and accept teaching, direction. It’s fun as a coach to have a guy who’s taking direction. There’s stuff that he needs to be better in his game, like everybody else. He’s no different than any other guy. He’s a young defenceman. It’s a tough position. He’s having a really good growth as a person and as a hockey player. So for me he’s just one of those guys we’re talking about. He’s there, he’s putting in the work, he came in great shape, he wants to be better, he’s passionate, he has a goal to be an NHL player.”

For Brook, who was drafted by the Canadiens 56th overall in 2017, that meant sticking around Montreal for the summer after graduating to the Rocket and appearing in his first seven professional games towards the end of last season. 1152113 Websites Now, as this experiment hits the ice for training camp beginning next week, it is up to the veterans to make sure the chemistry is just right. There is a lot, as they say, to unpack here.

Sportsnet.ca / Oilers' off-season roster shakeup leaves players with lots “The main thing is, making sure those guys are familiar with the group,” to prove Chiasson said. “Also, you have competition. Guys will compete with each other for spots, and for ice time. And you bring in guys who know how to play in the league. Mark Spector | @sportsnetspec September 7, 2019, 10:14 AM “You can’t teach games (played), you can’t teach playoffs, you can’t teach experience. Look at the majority of those guys — they’ve been around the league. We’ve all played against those guys. EDMONTON — When new general manager Ken Holland took over the Edmonton Oilers in May, he inherited a club that has missed the playoffs “I’m excited for the year to start,” Chiasson grinned. “I think we’re going for two straight seasons and had minimal cap space with which to fix his to be good this year.” roster. Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.08.2019 The realization from inside the organization was clear: They could not come to training camp with the same roster, then try to convince Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl et al that the same lineup would yield different results. There had to be definitive change, but with the cap mess former general manager Peter Chiarelli left behind, Holland didn’t have a prayer of landing a big fish in the free agent market.

“That’s just reality. It’s how things work,” Oilers forward James Neal said of the changes in Edmonton. “When you don’t make the playoffs you need change. You want to make yourself better, so they’ve made changes here, like Ken coming in. Like Tipp (head coach Dave Tippett) coming in, and all the new players.”

Holland bought out defenceman Andrej Sekera, then went to work on shoring up a group of bottom-six forwards whose ineffectiveness last season was of a historic level. And he did so by signing players to one- year deals for $1 million or less — contracts that can go to the AHL if need be, without leaving a mark on the Oilers cap situation.

In came winger Joakim Nygard and defenceman Joel Persson, two unproven Swedes who might be able to play. Add Markus Granlund, Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald, a trio of NHL veterans who all have proven themselves on the defensive side of the game.

“Tipp has a history of coming in and helping with teams’ defensive games, and we added some different pieces that are effective in that area,” said winger Sam Gagner. “You’re hoping for some little improvements across the board, and that can make for big improvement.

“As much as (small depth moves) may seem like they don’t do a lot? It does a lot.”

Without the money to accrue any top-six free agents, Holland then dealt a bottom-six winger in Milan Lucic for Neal, who has been a top-six winger for his entire career, save last season in Calgary. Yes, it’s a gamble. But it’s a minimal gamble with the possibility of huge upside, and it was one more change in a locker room that needed shaking up.

“I’ve played on enough teams to know: If you don’t put up the game you are supposed to play, there will be changes in the locker room,” said right-winger Alex Chiasson, who signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal to return as an Oiler.

Some fans have criticized Holland for not doing enough in acquiring impactful, offensive players. Instead, what he has done is used his limited cap space to make change throughout the lineup — particularly on the defensive side of things and on the penalty kill, two areas that need vast improvement in Edmonton.

Sheahan walks in the door as the best faceoff man this team has had in a long while, and the Granlunds and Archibalds will mean that McDavid and Draisaitl see less time on the penalty killing units, so they are fresher at even strength and on the power play.

With all the new guys on one-year deals, you’ve got eight forwards, four defencemen and a goalie in contract years. That works in any town.

“Look at our (expansion) team in Vegas. The Golden Misfits,” said Neal. “We were a team full of guys who were cast away. Every single guy had something to prove. We have a lot of guys with a lot to prove, who want to show everyone they can play. They want to win.

“Not making the playoffs for two straight years here, this is a great hockey city. They want playoff hockey, and when you don’t make it you have to evaluate your squad.

“We have a chance to win. I think we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong.” 1152114 Websites As he said Saturday: “There’s going to be tough nights, for sure. It’s 82 games; practically impossible to play good every night.”

A weekly deep dive into the biggest hockey news in the world with hosts Sportsnet.ca / Canucks' Quinn Hughes prepared to handle increasing Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. New episodes every Thursday. expectations But in those five nights he played last spring, Hughes was probably the Canucks best defenceman. Those five games provided some clarity Iain MacIntyre | @imacSportsnet September 7, 2019, 8:44 PM going into the summer. Hughes didn’t need to train for his rookie season wondering if he can play in the NHL. Knowing he’s good enough, he trained to be a better NHL player — Hughes doesn’t turn 20 until Oct. 14.

VANCOUVER – His brother will probably get more attention, but then he “It’s just nice to… gauge yourself a bit and just kind of know you can play always has. Still, Quinn Hughes isn’t sneaking up on anybody in the there, and not go through the summer wondering what it’s going to be National Hockey League. like,” he explained. “For me, that helped a lot.

He doesn’t want to, either. “(But) I can’t settle for that; it was only five games. I want to have a long career. I did everything I could this summer to try to prepare myself to “I don’t want to tiptoe,” Hughes said Saturday after the start of the have the best season I can have.” Vancouver Canucks’ weekend camp for rookies and prospects. “I want to try to help the team here and make an impact. We’ll see if I’m able to do He said he has been preparing for it his whole life. that, but that’s what I’m going to try to do.” Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.08.2019 The 19-year-old has already impacted the franchise.

Following in the slipstream of hope generated by last season’s rookie-of- the-year, Canucks centre Elias Pettersson, the dynamic defenceman is further energizing a fan base that hasn’t been this excited about an unproven team since Pavel Bure followed Trevor Linden to Vancouver a generation ago.

In a five-game NHL cameo last spring, straight out of the University of Michigan, Hughes showed the wonderful mobility and creativity that made him an apparent steal as the seventh-overall pick in the 2018 entry draft.

Against big, physical Western Conference teams, Hughes flourished as a five-foot-10 teenager, gathering three assists and driving possession, albeit in protected minutes. The overtime shift in his Canucks debut against the Los Angeles Kings on March 28 – Hughes skated with Pettersson and Brock Boeser at three-on-three – was probably the best 45 seconds of Vancouver’s season.

One year after Hughes’ draft, younger brother Jack was chosen first overall by the New Jersey Devils in June. All that is expected of Quinn Hughes in Vancouver is everything.

Brothers have never been co-finalists for the Calder Trophy.

“It’s a special award,” Quinn said. “If I’m in that conversation, that would be great. We want to have the best year we can. Whatever that is, we don’t really know.”

The Hughes boys – 15-year-old Luke has joined the U.S. National Team Development Program – trained together in Michigan this summer under the guidance of their dad, Jim, a player-development coach who spent nearly 10 years working for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“Jack obviously wants to have a great year in New Jersey so he was pushing pretty hard, and my little brother Luke was doing the same thing,” Quinn said. “We were working hard, but lots of fun as well.

“It’s pretty easy to get up and work out when you’re preparing to play in the best league in the world. We definitely pushed each other probably a little bit more than in past summers. Not that we didn’t (before), but the NHL is here. You’re getting ready to go.

“For me, I was just trying to get overall better at everything I do. On the ice, I think I got five per cent better this summer and I feel really good coming into camp.”

Hughes is with his age group this weekend, but will still be a focal point when the Canucks open their main training camp Friday in Victoria. He is a lock to make the NHL team and may skate on a second pairing with veteran Chris Tanev.

As we’ve said before, the Canucks have literally never had a defence prospect like Hughes. They’ve had some really good defencemen, but hadn’t drafted any with the pedigree, skillset and dynamic abilities that Hughes possesses.

He may struggle, as Pettersson did towards the end of last season, with the daunting physical demands of an 82-game NHL schedule. And like his teammate, Hughes will have to prove he can succeed while being game-planned by the opposition. 1152115 Websites

Sportsnet.ca / Crosby reflects as he closes in on 1,000 games: 'It's gone by really fast'

Rory Boylen | @RoryBoylen September 7, 2019, 1:29 PM

CHICAGO — It’s hard to believe ‘The Kid’ is about to embark on his 15th NHL season.

Three Stanley Cups, two Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Trophies, two Rocket Richard Trophies, two Conn Smythes and two Olympic Golds later, the 32-year-old is the most decorated NHLer of his time. If he stays healthy, Crosby is on track to finally reach 1,000 games played in the league, something that would have already happened if not for the injuries and multiple concussions sustained in his career.

There have been many supremely skilled players through the years who have fallen short of the 1,000-game milestone. In the 100-plus years of NHL history only 337 players have got there — and that number is still 767 short of Gordie Howe’s all-time record.

With just 57 more to go, Crosby was asked by 31 Thoughts: The Podcast at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour if reaching 1,000 means something to him given everything else he’s accomplished in his career. Crosby acknowledged “it’s pretty cool.”

“I don’t think it means any more because I went through different stuff or went through injury and that kind of thing,” Crosby told Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman. “Growing up as a kid you want to play in the NHL, you don’t know if it’s going to happen, you don’t know if it’s going to be one game. There’s a lot of things that go through your mind. Your goal and your dream is just to play in the NHL.

“I got to witness and be a part of Matt Cullen’s 1,500th and afterwards we’re sitting around like, are you kidding me? 1,500 games? Like how did you do it? What is the secret?”

A weekly deep dive into the biggest hockey news in the world with hosts Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek. New episodes every Thursday.

Crosby still has six years left on his contract with the Penguins and was again terrific in 2018-19, reaching 100 points for the first time in five years. He was a Hart Trophy finalist for the fifth time in five seasons and is still right alongside Connor McDavid in any world’s best hockey player debate. So, health permitting, there is still a lot of greatness ahead of No. 87.

Fans of a certain age will clearly remember Crosby’s draft, his first NHL game and season in the league when he and Alex Ovechkin stormed in with 100-plus point seasons. But although individually his rookie season was a spectacular success, the Penguins missed the playoffs and fell well short of expectations.

Crosby reminisced on his first few years in the league and, looking back, said there’s a lot he’s learned from over the years. If there’s one thing he laughs at most in terms of how he was as an NHL rookie compared to how he is today, it’s his relationship with the referees.

“I was so bad. I look back and I feel so bad,” Crosby said. “I think I had two 10-minute misconducts that year. Not to say I don’t get fired up now because I’m pretty emotional and I get fired up, but it was just when I look back and I put myself in that headspace, the amount of pressure and the expectation felt that year, not just me personally — the team too.

“We were supposed to win the Stanley Cup. We were a favourite going into that season, we had all these big signings. And we lost our first nine games. That was really hard for me. Up to that point I’d been on winning teams growing up and we kind of did what we were supposed to do and that was the first time I really kind of felt that.

“With the refs and stuff I think that frustration kind of showed. I look back on that and think…it was immature and it was just the way it happened, but it’s something I learned from.

“If I could apologize to every ref back then I would definitely do that.”

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 09.08.2019 1152116 Websites

YAHOO SPORTS / Antonio Brown jokingly accepts Canucks' training camp invite

Ailish Forfar

You truly cannot rule anything out when wondering what will happen next in the Antonio Brown saga. AB to the NHL? Why not?

The Vancouver Canucks might have dibs since they were the first to jump at the free agent on Twitter, extending an offer to have Brown attend their upcoming training camp.

#Canucks training camp starts Thursday - you in @AB84?! pic.twitter.com/fikML99GmK

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 7, 2019

Judging by the “A” on that jersey, they’re already offering him a leadership position with the club... move over Bo Horvat. The Canucks don’t have nearly enough cap space to match what the superstar wide receiver was set to make, but Brown joined in on the fun regardless.

See you there 珞珞 https://t.co/FujlmP53Op

— AB (@AB84) September 7, 2019

All we know is that Brown would look mighty fine rocking this old JOFA bucket in the Canucks’ blue and green.

Crazy that Antonio Brown still wants to wear this helmet in the NFL next year pic.twitter.com/zbDW13TReN

— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) August 9, 2019

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YAHOO SPORTS / Auston Matthews disappointed by speculation he'll leave Toronto when contract expires

Ailish Forfar

Auston Matthews has cracked the slow news journalist code of spewing speculation until something gains traction online. And understandably, he’s disappointed with it.

This all started last week when Brian Burke told Sportsnet 590 The FAN that he would “bet a sizeable amount of money" that Matthews will head south of the boarder when his contract expires, due to profitable tax differences in the United States.

Obviously, when a former NHL executive declares something with so much certainty it’s bound to create a commotion with fans online.

Matthews caught wind of the rumour and speculation, and spoke to Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com about the fallout.

"We haven't even started my first year (on the new contract) and then this?” Matthews said. “I think it's just August, there was nothing going on, why not just spark up a controversy. How better to do that than to talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs."

There aren’t many better markets to fire up online than Maple Leafs fans, and Burke did just that by insinuating that their superstar 21-year-old centreman might be gone in a few short years.

"It's a little bit disappointing because it's so far away and there is other stuff that could be talked about rather than that," Matthews added. "Obviously you can talk about what you want to talk about. Obviously it creates controversy and will get you a lot of clicks. But it's not really something that bothers me or that I look at because I'm just looking at today and this season and doing the best I can."

With the added uncertainty surrounding the future of Mitch Marner, Toronto fans really didn’t need to lose more sleep at night with the idea of losing both their young stars down the road.

Matthews helped add a bit of comfort to this image, repeatedly expressing his love of Toronto and the organization itself.

"I've said it quite a bit: I've never taken it for granted these past three years” Mattews said. “I love playing in Toronto. It's unbelievable. It's the best city to play in in the NHL. Our fans are amazing. The history of the organization is incredible.”

Leafs fans, this will all be settled sometime in the 2023-24 season. Just don’t hold your breath.

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